#seen in the context of the rest of my room it's obvious i'm taking the piss but if it's just an american flag that's a lot less clear.

[kpmeat]

hung up my bear flag and i'm realizing how much effort ive put into not having any american flags in my house

[silverstrayz]

Oh! This one took a while to draw. It's definitely something different as far a design and car type. A fun and more complex look for my favorite bot.

Context, 'From across the room, you admire the dangerous deception that recently switched sides.'

You are sitting at a table with your elbows on the surface, resting your chin in the palms of your hands. Taking short glances you are trying to be subtle and not obvious that you are checking out the features of the new bot recently joining your team. His alt mode is your dream car 'Audi R8' and you are in awe to see one in person.

Being from the country, far from any big cities or places that could bring rich tourists from afar. Living in such an area, nobody could even afford such an expensive car.

You wish he'd just transform back into his alt mode so you could get close up in person look at the car. You've not seen it yet, since he walked in the base through a ground bridge, but it's completely obvious what model car he's taken. Taking another look you begin thinking if it would be rude to ask him to transform.

Meanwhile, KO acknowledges you staring while you are in your own little world. You've slightly zoned out while deep in thought, which is why you are completely unaware that KO has closed the distance between you both. You suddenly jump when you realize you weren't paying attention and notice he's looking down at you. His red eyes make him look threatening, and his intense stare seems to bore into your soul. You feel a twisting in your stomach as his eyes focus on you. He starts to kneel down on one knee and rests his hand on the other. You sit back in your chair in a weak attempt to scoot further away.

KO narrows his eyes and smiles ever so slightly. Then in a low voice he says, " Listen fleshy, it's rude to stare you know?"

You swallow and sheepishly reply, "I'm so sorry, I was lost in thought and didn't even realize I was staring."

His smile grows more sinister, and he replies, "You know, just because I'm on the autobots side doesn't mean you'll be safe around me. I suggest you watch your back carefully when I'm present, cause sometimes, I dissect victims to pass time."

Your whole body quivers and your face goes pale.

KO breaks his intimidating character and begins laughing. Leaving you confused and nervous. He brings his attention back to you. Glancing at the look on your face, he is clearly amused. "Alright human, don't worry it was all a joke. I just thought I'd have some fun before you got to know me and I could no longer pull a scenario like that off. The look on your face was priceless."

Still feeling sick to your stomach from the whole traumatic encounter, you decide to just shyly smile instead of actually replying.

Slowly he stands back up and casually smiles, "I could tell what you were lost in thought thinking about....So to make up for the intimidating introduction, would you like a ride?" After the question he winks at you.

......hope you enjoyed the little story, please don't take or use my artwork or repost on other websites. Thank you.

[gamerism]

This is my "I think Ishin is trying to imply Okita and Todo have a relationship off screen that Ryoma just isn't really aware of" essay. Finally written down so I can stop repeating it all the time.

[Spoilers ahead for events that take place late into the events of Ishin, including major character death.]

I'm going to start by saying that I think Okita is immediately slightly queercoded by association, as Majima is a queercoded characer. (If you require evidence, simply read the dialogue in any Majima Everywhere event.) And Okita is acting as his mirror in this story. By acting the same way Majima does, he also subtly shows the same queer traits as Majima, but that alone isn't really enough for me to call Okita queercoded, more just that he has the potential/background work.

Todo and Okita don't have much in the way of interactions outside of group contexts, which effect the way they act with each other. So the first thing that really points to potential queerness in either of them (beyond what I've already said about Okita) that I want to mention is not directly related to Okita or Todo but from someone else. It's Takeda expressing interest in Todo in this creepy-as-hell scene:

This dialogue is the second line that makes Takeda's interest in men explicitly clear to the audience (the first being a come-on towards Ryoma), but if you're familiar with the way in which relationships between samurai were for a time somewhat accepted, though as I understand it not exactly outright acknowledged (please correct me here/add nuance if you know more about the subject), this does, in it's way, reflect back on Todo. At least as the subject of interest. (And give it's implications about Todo's orientation and the perception of his orientation in the Shinsengumi.)

Moving on to the direct interactions between the two. At the meeting in Ryoma's room after the Shinsengumi splintered into two factions, Okita follows the reveal of Todo ('Heisuke' to him, the only character he does not use an honourific with to my knowledge, implying their closeness*) being a supposed traitor clearly surprised and despondent.

(*Cont. Okita's a straightforward person, everyone is -chan to him because he's a playful & impertinent guy, except Inoue, who is -san out of deep respect. The lack of honourific would also have a straightforward meaning.)

Okita is known for big emotions but not deep ones, and rarely honest ones if they don't relate to the people he really cares about (seen with how real he gets emotionally about his mentor dying and him going on a warpath). So this reaction is understated, but it feels real rather than fabricated as most of his reactions to things (somewhat) are.

This follows with Todo making his entrance and the reveal that he faked his betrayal to act as a spy in the ranks of the Goryo Eji. We focus on Okita's reaction to this news (both now and before we aren't given much on Ryoma or Nagakura's reactions, Okita's is the focus) the relief is obvious in his voice.

Next we skip ahead to Todo's death. Okita is shown to be the one who carries him in to the scene, laying him down gently on the ground. Immediately as we're shown the reactions of everyone in the scene he's clearly the most emotional externally based off expressions.

He stares down at Todo on the ground in the background as Ryoma discusses the plan with Hijikata.

When Ryoma turns to Okita, Okita threatens him. Something he hasn't done in a serious manner since the scene in Mukurogai following Inoue's death (and his brief belief that Ryoma was the one responsible). As Okita threatens him a tear visibly falls.

This is by FAR the most vulnerably emotional we've seen Okita in the game. It's hard to say if he's more distraught than when his mentor (and seemingly somewhat father figure) was killed but he's going so far as to be vulnerable enough to cry. And we know Okita has a special connection to Inoue and Nagakura that sets the group apart from the rest of the Shinsengumi captains. Sure, he's had the chance to grow close to Todo since the man joined. As it is stated early on that Todo joined the organisation soon after that fateful night where Hirayama, Hirama and Serizawa 'died'. So while he wasn't in on the secret he has been around for quite a while. (At least as far as I understand that part, the game is a little so-so about explaining if anyone beyond those present in the scene where the real Okita, Nagakura & Inoue die are in the know or not.)

But I feel that the game leaves us with the implication that Okita would not get anywhere near this emotional over the death of anyone besides Nagakura and Inoue, with their shared history. So why does Todo's death hit him so hard?

It feels to me like they're trying to subtly imply that the off screen relationship between the two of them was just different to Okita's relationship with the other captains, even the ones he got on with. So pair the off screen, not quite acknowledged nature of this with real historical context....it feels like a romantic implication to me personally.

in conclusion:

But also I can't tell if I'm just reading way into at this point, tell me if I need to go lie down and think less about the text until I stop seeing gay ppl everywhere or no

[megarywrites]

Hi! For the bard ask game: Drum, Candlelight & Tavern? I hope you're having a lovely day/night!

~ @mxxnlightwriting

hi! thank you, and I hope you're having a good day/night too!

drum | share an exciting snippet or talk about a scene that you're excited to write?

something that I'm really looking forward to rewriting is coming up in the next part of Seafoam — Thala's first murder. It's a very emotional moment for her in more ways than one (look at me, stating the obvious lmao), and it's like a secondary inciting incident for the rest of the story. I've still got a little while before I get to it in the 2nd draft, but here's a little bit of it from the first draft:

He was already dead—he had to be—but I kept stabbing him. For me. For the other girls. For [redacted]. Arms wrapped around me, pulling me off of his corpse. Screams filled the captain's quarters. Whether they were my own or not, I wasn't quite sure. I started slashing at the hands holding me with what was left of my precious shard until it was ripped from my hand and I was dragged out onto the quarter deck. So, I started biting. Fingers, arms hands. Teeth gnashing and grinding on skin until I was dropped onto the deck in a tangle of limbs and blood. It took four of them to subdue me with how much I was kicking and scratching and biting.

candlelight | share a gentle snippet or talk about a favorite scene that you've written?

to completely contrast the above question lol the chapter that I'm gonna be working on as soon as I post this will be a very gentle the whole way through. For a bit of context, in the previous chapter, Thala and Solera have snuck out to go visit Thala's mom (because she hasn't been answering Thala's letters) and they discover that her mom is very sick. The chapter I'm on atm is them heading back to the latridom and the aftermath of finding Mitapi like that. Again, since I technically haven't written it yet, here's my absolute favorite very soft Thalera moment that will be officially rewritten at some point today (hopefully)

She patted her lap, and I succumbed, scooting down so I could rest my head on her thigh. Her fingers were immediately in my hair, massaging my scalp gently. As much as I tried to, I couldn't tear my gaze away from her. The soft, flickering light from the lantern between our beds painted shifting shadows over her face. It caught on her eyelashes, on the sculpt of her lightly-freckled cheekbones. Where the light settled, it set her dark, russet complexion aglow. It gleamed in her loose curls, along the curve of her full lips. And, when her gaze met mine, the reflected flame danced in her dark eyes. She was truly the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and would ever see, in my life. My lips parted to say as much, but when her attention fell to them, I had forgotten how to speak. She licked her lips and let out a quiet little sigh, breaking the spell of the lantern light.

tavern | do you have any cozy settings (or, if non-cozy, favorite settings) in your world?

I do have a few fairly cozy settings in Seafoam (if we're talking all of Dracrie, then absolutely, but I don't want to get into that here lol)

Obviously, Thala and Solera's room (in the above snippet) in Katania is as cozy as it can be, considering. Another really cozy setting for them is happening in the third part of Seafoam where they take their bedding and spend the night up in a room made entirely of stained glass. Chitrenikos, while underwater, will have it's cozier moments, especially in this rewrite, because I'll actually have the space to describe it lol, and so will Tinua Springs (a location that Thala will be at in the final parts of Seafoam) to a certain extent.

Thala's hometown of Psari is hopefully on the cozier side. It's very small-town coded, which is both a blessing and a curse. I like how quaint it is compared to the capitol (Aspyra). And the Galanis' home, too, is as cozy as it can be, considering lol

send me bard-themed asks?

[ahungeringknife]

I've been tagged so many times by the nice @aziz-reads I don't have the spoons to tag myself but I should at least fill mine jfc. So this is just... all of them

Out of context line

Nothing got her ready to defend the Earth and all of Sol like having some otters eat right out of her hand and knowing she was directly protecting all life in the System including these cute little animals.

which: girl same

Nine sentences

Shin then set his hands alight and started burning the egragore around him. He didn’t touch the fungus but he did scatter Solar Light and fire into the creeping darkness mycelium. The egragore hissed and sounded like shrill screaming at a distance as it burned away. “Fox! Bear! In here,” Wolf said sternly over comms and Shin had never seen such powerful Guardians run like some scolded children in his life. It took them all day and into the night to burn away the egragore mycelium until it was properly contained back in the ‘clean room’. Eris had come at some point and Wolf had laid into her as well and then Ikora had come because Wolf was yelling at everyone and Wolf had given her some strong words too. Shin had just stayed in the main room of the H.E.L.M. and kept flushing white hot fire through the vents to burn any spores that had taken hold in there or along the H.E.L.M.’s edges. He was staying far away from the scolding but he could hear it from here as Wolf wasn’t doing it over comms. “In case it wasn’t obvious,” Shin said after a while to the rest of Glitterbomb who were cleaning the H.E.L.M. if they couldn’t burn away the spores, “her vacation is over.” “Shut the fuck up, Malphur,” Cat said.

OC take over tag: Rules: for any OCs you’d like, if they stole your phone and got on your tumblr blog, what would they do/post on it?

Wolf: would just look up fanart of anime she likes/knows

Cat: thirst traps, post and look for

This tag was not the one to do directly after a nap. I can't think of anything else. But also I can't see my OCs engaging in social media.

last line tag

She slowly got to her feet, Shin looked up at her. What now? “Ghost, call everyone; the Witness is coming.”

that's the big bad

writing share tag

I already post all my writing I'm just bad at cross posting.

last line tag x2

“I’m old enough to see those words you know,” Magpie said, Shin chuckled as Magpie transmatted him out of the H.E.L.M.

slight context is Wolf signed some VERY rude words and Shin covered Magpie's eye when she did

Favorite things tag

share the top five things I enjoy writing about

Slow burn getting to know each other before they hook up. Not even in a friends/enemies to lovers type way. Or either way I guess. I like the build up.

Dialogue. Love a good snappy dialogue. I have written chapters that is like 85% old men arguing in a room and its one of my fave things

Soul Mates. All varieties. Red string, marks on your body (writing, or images), vision changing, all of the above and any other version you can think of

Queer Platonic relationships. I like... cry? when I think about OCs QP boyfriend and how much they love each other?

Autistic coded characters. I especially love rubbing my autistic hands all over your canon fave; too bad he's autistic now bitch :)

Out of context line x2

Shin had always been a ‘problem’ Hunter as far as Hunters went. Renegade and all that. Osiris didn’t like ‘problems’.

Shin that is the LEAST of it.

one word worldbuilding

Does this world resemble earth? yes

What is a defining characteristic of this world? post-post-apocalyptic

What creatures roam this world? many

Is there a magic that is used? yes

What languages are spoken? some

What is special to this world? Guardians

What makes it fantastical? Light

Is Earth mentioned in this world? yes

What clothing do creatures here wear? armor

Describe the aesthetic sci-fi

Is it similar to another fantasy world? kinda

Give us a brief description of the history killing

What is the government system? Is there one? junta

How about describing some of the diversity? global

What is ideal of this world? redemption

What is a distinct inequality in this world? kinda

Is the world a background or woven into the plot? background

What is the coolest thing about this world? Light

What inspired this world? Destiny

What would you give to go there? nothing

Why would you want to go there? utopia

[askshivanulegacy]

Hey this isn't like me yelling-callout-post-NOW or anything but I was scrolling through replies on the trolley-problem-palestine post and I do want to say that I have to unfortunately be invested in US Politics as a non-US citizen because of the way these elections affect the rest of the world, culturally and politically. The US is one of the richest and most influential countries in the world and the way it decides to interact with the rest of us, where it sends money and military to, and the conversations people in the US are having even about domestic issues end up shaping the conversations that happen outside of it (trans and immigration issues for example). It's horribly unfair and I'm fuming about it always why can y'all veto shit ❤️ but uh yeah, just a minor nitpick with the influence of the elections on everyone else. I could be entirely wrong in my perception of the way things are but that's how it seems to me rn.

That post was a long time ago, so I can't remember specifically what I said about it, but I don't disagree with your ask.

My big beef (and what I typically rant about) with most of the chatter about the US elections and Palestine isn't that the elections influence other countries. They definitely do.

My beef is that all the US tumblrites are making Palestine into the one single issue ever, in the world and in the US, and they're putting on blinders to everything else.

Palestine isn't even CLOSE to being the single issue or even the most major issue. It simply is not.

And in a US election, Americans NEED to take a look at OUR issues. The issues that affect everyday life. Affordable and accessible education, housing, healthcare, LGBTQ+ issues, rights to bodily autonomy, etc., etc.

In a US election, those are the things that are the most important. In a lot of ways, those are the only issues that functionally exist, within the context of the election bubble. Yes, you can and should consider foreign policy as a factor, but it should NEVER be the only factor ... not when there are so many raw and bleeding gaps at home, and clear, obvious, and impending threats to the very lives of the people these sjw tumblrites claim to care about.

I'm saying that election time is the time for Americans to focus on America for just a minute. And when all I hear is Palestine to the exclusion of all else - all rational thought, all sense - with the conclusion being "punish Biden because he happened to be president when Israel was being a little shit," then that's when I say none of that matters.

Because the US election is not about Palestine or any other country. It's about the US.

People desperately need to remember that.

No, I don't want to put America first, and I care a lot about how we interact in the world. But by God, you don't put your own country LAST in the election that is specifically for your country and will determine how you survive ... and IF you survive. You don't throw your country and everyone in it under the bus.

We have the right to be a little selfish for our election. Not Trump-selfish, but selfish enough to have some sense for the things happening here. It's time to set Palestine on the shelf for a while - at least long enough to realize that "punishing Biden" is idiocy.

Also that Biden is not only America's best strategic option, but he ALSO happens to be Palestine's and the rest of the world's.

Honestly, I've seen more of that perspective from non-Americans, and I hugely appreciate it. I just need the actual Americans in the room to realize that 1) they need to take off their fucking blinders, and 2) their stupid little short-sighted Biden-punishment stunt will not only harm themselves but also all the other countries they seem to care about more than their own.

And I want them to start giving a fuck about the country they currently live in.

[toomanyfandoms02]

Shameless // Fred Weasley

Summary - The gang challenges Fred and the Reader to fluster eachother after each being called shameless.

Word Count - 1.7k

I'm not gonna lie this was hot LMAOO

Fred and I were often compared to eachother. These were usually the words we were called

Outgoing

Spontaneous

Idiots

Humorous

Shameless

Pranksters

Delinquents

These were said by a mixture of people, but most knew us as best friends. I marched the halls with the twins every day, but everyone knew I was a just a little closer to Fred. There was just some connection there. A connection lots of people took out of context.

Sure, we flirted, but I flirt with a lot of people. Theres another word we were called, flirts! Though this had a good majority of my friends convinced that we were in love. It was at the point where people openly talked about it in front of us.

*"Nice ass Weasley!" I shouted as I entered the Great Hall. This drew a few eyes towards me, snickering. Fred turned around and looked to me, gesturing to his bum.*

*"Oh this old thing? Nothing compared to yours." I licked my finger and made a sizzle sound. Everyone was right, we really had no shame.*

And that's what my friends were on about at the moment. A big group of us were sitting in the Gryffindor common room. This included Harry, Hermione, Ron, the twins, Seamus, Dean, Angelina, and Ginny.

"You two flirt all the time without getting all ruffled. How do you do it?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know, it's just how we are I guess." I shrugged to Fred as I answered. He nodded in agreement.

"Matter of fact, I don't think I've ever seen either of you flustered." Dean butted in.

"I say we change that." George said with a simple nod. Fred looked at him with furrowed brows. "I say we challenge them!" It was clear that not one person in the room knew what George was on about, so he continued. "Alright see, I give them 3 days to see who can fluster who first. One of us has to see it though, to know it happened. Can the unflusterables fluster one another you think?" Georges arms were crossed at his chest cockily.

"I think that's a brilliant idea." Hermione agreed.

"That's easy, I'll totally win. I have no shame, no embarrassment." Fred announced with glee.

"We will see about that." I smiled at him with one eyebrow raised.

*Oh its on.*

After barely an hour of thinking about this whole challenge alone in my dorm, I realized that I walked myself right into failure. It wasnt that I though Fred could win, it was that I *knew* I would lose. In the way that I had never really charmed any boy. I didn't have anything up my sleeve. I was really just going to have to wing it.

That being said, Fred was quite the charmer. It was hilarious watching 1st years see him for the first time and swoon over him. Pulling girls in with simple winks and little waves across the room.

But now it was dinner time, so I see this as round one to this weird challenge George has concocted.

I made sure to make my way into the Great Hall nearly unnoticed, walking in with a sea of other students. I immediately spotted Fred and made a beeline towards him. Some of the group spotted me but said nothing, letting me go with my improvised plan.

I stood right behind Fred, reaching my hand into his hair and running my fingers though it. He turned his head slightly to see me.

"Hello love." He smiled at me sweetly. I continued, wrapping my arms around his neck lightly and leaning down so my chin was rested on his shoulder.

"You're hair is so soft." He turned his face to mine, our noses almost bumping.

"Thanks sweet cheeks." He put a small kis on my nose which made me smile, sitting next to him after.

"Nothing? Really? No blushy cheeks, or stuttered speech?" Angelina was flabbergasted clearly, her hands gesturing wildly in the air as she spoke.

"I honestly don't know if it's possible." George shrugged. "I just thought it would be interesting if it was."

"Oh I've got plans don't worry, this sexy ass will be blushing to the moon and back when I'm done with her." Fred looked down to me, smirking. He gave a challenging face.

"I know your deepest darkest secrets Weasley. Don't test me." I raised my eyebrow cockily as the whole group just stared puzzled.

"I wish I could talk to Cho like that." Harry huffed, earning a laugh from most of the group. (Aside from Ginny, who I was quick to tap her hand under the table at the comment. She had told me weeks ago how agonizing she felt.)

Later that night a good portion of the gang was hanging out in the common room again. I had just walked through the entryway and saw Fred sitting on the couch. As soon as we made eye contact he patted his lap. All heads whipped my way. I walked over and sat right on his lap, making myself comfortable. He grabbed my face lightly and put a small kiss on my jaw.

"Where were you love, we missed you." The few first years that had joined whatever conversation was going on looked as if they were going to be sick.

"Just went on a walk handsome." Everyone shook their heads with disappointed looks.

"Nothing, seriously?" Hermione laughed in disbelief. The youngins asked about the situation and it was explained to them. They all giggled about it for a while as we watched. Soon Fred was leaned very close to my ear.

"You should just give up now beautiful, you know you're going to lose." He whispered ever so lightly in my ear. I pushed his face away from mine so his ear was towards me.

"Really cute of you to think so." I whispered back. That was the last we spoke that night seeing as it was 10 pm.

I woke up the next morning hearing giggles from Hermione and Angelina. I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. They got very quite as they saw me waking up.

"What are you two up to?" They looked down at the books they had in their hands, ignoring me. Just then I heard our shared bathroom open, seeing Fred come out wearing only a towel hanging low on his waist. I looked him up and down with a smile. "Not bad Weasley. Working out lately?"

I would never admit it outloud, but this one almost got me. He's only in a damn towel. I mean come on, everyone found Fred attractive.

Right?

"Yeah. Maybe you can try this whole thing in my dorm later? Maybe surprise me?" He winked and left the room quickly.

"Hey! Get your arse back here, that's my towel!" The girls followed us close behind, peaking out of the door to watch us in the hallway between the rest of the dorms.

"Oh you want it back? Her you go love." He pulled it right off his body and handed it to me. I knew if I closed my eyes, or covered them, they would count it as a loss for me. So I just maintained eye contact with him and yanked it from his hands. "Nervous?" He squinted at me. Man was the boy lucky there was not one else in these halls at 6 am.

"Never." I replied with a smile and turned away, walking back into the dorm. "Nice try ladies!" I dropped the towel in our hamper and they fell back onto Hermiones bed with a loud groan.

Later that day Hermione, Fred, George, me, Dean and Seamus had free time in Care of Magical Creatures.

"He was literally naked in front of her and she didn't even blink." Mione deadpanned.

"Maybe it's because shes seen it before." Fred elbowed my side.

"You wish." I rolled my eyes.

"Maybe I do." He stared daggers into my eyes.

"At this point I feel like even if you guys made out nothing would happen." George shrugged. This gave everyone a collective evil smile.

"Oh are we doing that now?" I asked as nonchalant as possible. Even with my heart racing a mile a second. Fred looked at me with confusion. "Unless you're too pussy." That wiped the confusion off his face.

"Nope." He grabbed my face and pulled it inches from his.

"I'm just going to warn you, I've never kissed, let alone made out with, a boy before. So I apologize in advance." I laugh-whispered to him, pushing my lips onto his. I grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him closer, running my hands through his hair.

His hand traced my jaw with one hand and the other was gripped to my hair.

"Pretty good for never kissing anyone, you sure you arent lying?" He said quietly in between kisses.

"I would never lie to you." He took my open mouth as an opportunity to use his tongue and deepen the kiss. I was ready to give up at this point, this boy was unknowingly ruining me. "Would you ever lie to me?" More questions between kisses.

"Never."

"You like me don't you?" His nose bumped with mine at the question. Starting to kiss up my jaw near my ear.

"Of course love." He laughed lightly, pulling back from the kiss. We turned back to the group which was a mixture of disgust, confusion, and knowing glances.

"Seemed like a lot of whispers for just making out don't you think?" Georges arms were crossed over his chest. We both shrugged.

"Sometimes friends just make out." I admitted, which was a very obvious lie.

"So you would make out with me then?" George challenged. Fred grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him with a glare to George.

"I think I won in a different way than anticipated." George smirked. "So are you guys going to get together or what?" Everyone nodded.

"Was that what this bullshit was about?" Fred asked loudly.

"Yeah of course. Two dimwits you are, walked right into it." Hermione shook her head. Fred grabbed my hand and squeezed it, making me blush furiously.

"I win!" He pointed to my heated cheeks.

"Shut up ares hole." I elbowed his side lightly.

"It didnt even take 3 days!" George cheered.

*Boy are we going to have some stories when we get older.*

[hellotvshowtrash]

Say You Love Me

Request from @perriexlover​:  Okay so since I'm a sucker for Elijah, can you write a fluffy smut¿?; like where it's reader' first time and she's super nervous cause she's never been in a relationship before and she doesn't want to let him down. And maybe it's their first anniversary? [sorry if it's a mess] thank you, love ❤️

A/N: First of all, this is such a sweet prompt. I hope you enjoy this, i kind of took some liberty with the request, so it might not be exactly what you wanted and it’s not super smutty but like it’s fluffy smut so. I very much enjoy sweet Elijah and yeah i kinda just wanna go on a date w him!

Warnings: fluffy smut, first time sex, unprotected sex (WRAP IT UP MY DUDES) 

Word count: 2.6k

Elijah x female!reader

A hum escaped her lips as his fingers danced over her skin, gently leaving a trail of goosebumps where he touched her. Elijah kissed her, on her lips, her chin, her neck, her ear, everywhere she needed him. Her vision came in flashes as she opened her eyes in surprise and closed them again in pleasure. Her hand gripped the sheets beneath her, the other tangling in his dark hair.

Her eyes opened slowly as she exhaled another soft moan. Slowly waking, she realized she had been dreaming, one of the more intense dreams she had been having as of late. She blinked slowly, awkwardly becoming aware of her boyfriend watching her from his position in the bed next to her. His head was rested in his hand, propped up as he laid on his side looking at her. A small, amused smile danced on his lips. She grinned embarrassedly, her hands coming up to her face and covering her blushed cheeks as she laughed at herself.

"Good morning, beautiful," he smiled at her.

"Good morning," she giggled. She peeked at him through her fingers. He chuckled and grabbed one of her hands and kissed it. Elijah had been nothing but a gentleman this past year. He made sure she was comfortable with everything, and they took the relationship at her pace. Lately, she'd had her mindset on their one year anniversary being their first time together. They had slept together - however, it was in the same bed and fully clothed whenever he stayed the night with her. Tonight she decided that she wanted him to know that she wanted to be with him. The thought of being with Elijah in her entirety made her heart flutter. He smiled at her again.

"Are you ready for tonight?" He asked her quietly. He hadn't known what she'd been planning, except for the obvious dreams she'd been having. He had to have had some idea at this point. He was planning something entirely different, and she wasn't allowed to know until that night. She huffed playfully at him.

"I wish you'd just tell me what you're planning," she winked, but she enjoyed being surprised and she knew he enjoyed spoiling her.

He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in close. "You will find out, darling, but for now," he nuzzled into her hair, "let's just stay like this," he whispered into her neck and sent shivers up her spine.

—

Elijah spent the day doting on her, taking care of every need and want as they came, starting with making her favourite breakfast, followed by spending the day shopping for anything she could possibly want. Every time she looked at him, his eyes were on her, following her movements and making her blush.

"You're staring," She commented finally while she was looking through a rack of shirts in a nearby boutique.

He chuckled in response. "How could I not?" He moved toward her, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind her, "You're just so beautiful. I'm so lucky," He moved his lips to her ear and she blushed again.

She turned around in his arms and placed hers around his neck. "I'm the lucky one. I love nothing more than spending time with you," She lifted herself onto her tip-toes and placed a small kiss on his lips. She used the "L" word but not in the context he was hoping for. Even after a year, that had some very important firsts to get to. He grinned at her and kissed her again.

"Let's go home. I want you to see what I've planned," He pulled away and grabbed her hand.

"Ahh, so shopping was a distraction?" Y/N smiled as she was pulled along.

"Not entirely," He stopped abruptly in front of the sleepwear clothing section. "Pick a pair of pajamas." He gestured to the section and she looked at him, surprised.

"Pajamas?" She stepped forward and reached for a soft pair of bottoms. "Will you be getting some as well?" She asked him.

"I've already got a pair." He smiled. Y/N lifted her eyebrows again and smiled. She browsed and chose a light pink silk pair, small shorts and a tight tank top. "Not what I had in mind, but definitely welcome," he winked at her. Her outfit was a subtle hint to him that she too was planning some things.

They returned to Y/N's small apartment, which had mostly become their shared apartment without officially deciding they lived together. Y/N was stunned to see candles lit and dainty lights were strewn about, perfectly lighting the blanket and pillow covered mattress that took up the living room floor. Blankets hung from the ceiling, creating a perfectly adult-sized fort. The lights twinkled in her eyes as she gently gasped, the smell of pizza filling her nose and she eyed the pizza box at the edge of the bed. She turned to him and grinned.

"How did you pull this off?" She asked him, breathlessly. He grinned back at her and ushered her farther into the apartment, closing the door behind them.

"I wanted our first anniversary to be a celebration of us, just between us." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently. "Now go change and get comfy and I'll get the movie in."

She hummed and chuckled excitedly, "what movie are we watching?"

"I'm going to make you guess." He spun her in the direction of her bedroom and patted her butt to make her walk. She gasped and laughed at him, rolling her eyes as she made her way to the bedroom. Elijah hurried to the bathroom to change into his own pajamas, a pair of grey sweats and a white t-shirt fitted snug against his muscular figure. He exited the bathroom and got the movie prepared in the DVD player. He sat back against the pillows and blankets on the bed and waited.

Y/N exited her bedroom shyly, her confidence waning after she put on the pajamas. She was scared this was too soon, or maybe he didn't want to see her like this. She tucked her hair behind her ear as she closed the door behind her and turned to face him. She shuffled her feet anxiously as Elijah caught sight of her. His breath left his lips as he took in the sight of her, the silk pajamas flowing over her body gently, parts of her he had dreamt of seeing. She blushed and looked at the floor.

"Is it too much?" She asked quietly. He shook his head, slowly at first and then vigorously.

"Not at all. You're stunning," he complimented. He realized suddenly his sweats were getting dangerously tight, and he grabbed a blanket to conceal himself. He gestured her over and grinned at her. She really was beautiful. "I'm so lucky to be with you," he whispered as she laid down next to him. She blushed again, and got comfy at his side, legs slightly parted. She nuzzled into him, grabbing his arm and snuggling it, placing his hand on the inside of her thigh. Her breath hitched and she tried to play it off like it was nothing, but he squeezed her thigh and she hummed happily. She looked up at him and reached her hand behind his neck, pulling him into a kiss. He obliged, kissing her softly. She tugged on his hair, indicating she didn't want gentleness. He pulled away slightly.

"Y/N, I..." she shushed him as she kissed him again, more hunger built in her. He kissed her back, maintaining a gentle edge but desperation started to fill him. "Is this what you want?" He managed to whisper between kisses. She nodded quickly, grabbing his hand and moving it up her thigh, over her new silken pajamas. He took to control of his hand and gently circled just above her clit, hard enough that she could feel it but soft enough to leave her wanting more. She moaned into their kiss. That was all it took for Elijah. Her moans drove him crazy. He flipped suddenly, moving to put himself on top of her, his hand still working her over her shorts. She squealed as he moved, but slid her hands from his neck to his shoulders and over his chest.

She pulled away slightly and let her head fall back on the pillow. She locked eye with him and felt herself blush and her confidence falter. "Elijah, I... you should know," he stopped the motion with his fingers and pulled away immediately, worried he had gone too far. He sat back on the bed in front of her, not touching her. "No, it's nothing.. bad. That was nice, but you should know.. I've never done this before." She blushed and looked down, realizing how vulnerable she was. He raised an eyebrow.

"With anyone- ever?" He asked quietly. She nodded.

"I've been waiting for the right person," she said sheepishly. Elijah's heart nearly burst in his chest. A fool's grin slapped itself on his face.

"Y/N. I need to tell you something." He leaned on his knees closer to her again, moving in between her splayed out legs. Her eyes never left his as his face came inches from hers, his breath just reaching her lips. "I love you," he whispered. His eyes flickered from hers to her lips as a small smile spread across her face.

"You do?" She asked.

"I do," he answered.

"I love you, too," she whispered, "I want you to know how much I love you," She kissed him, trying to convey her desire, her passion, her love for him, but the kiss wouldn't suffice.

She moved her hands to lift her tank top above her head, her hair moving wildly about as she undressed. He paused their kiss, moving away to take in the parts of her body he had never seen before. He had waited a long time for this and it was more worth it than he could have possibly imagined it. He moved to cup his hand over her soft breast, rubbing her nipple between his fingers. She let out a soft gasp turned moan, a feeling she hadn't experienced coursing through her. Obviously, she had touched herself before, but this was different. Her head fell back on the pillows behind her. Both of his hands were on her body now, moving around her breasts, her chest, moving down to her waist. He tugged lightly at her shorts and she lifted her hips, letting him pull them off. He took a moment to drink her in, her entire body was gorgeous and he wanted to worship her. He pushed her legs open wider, her wet folds opening as he did so. He licked his lips and his eyes met hers.

"I want you to only look at me, okay? he commanded. She nodded and watched as he lowered himself onto his stomach, laying down flat with his head between her legs. Her eyes never left his as he kissed around her thighs and her labia. She gasped at the contact, her breathing labored already. His tongue licked at the sides of her opening, not quite making the contact she so desperately wanted.

"You're a tease," she gasped. He grinned wickedly, then gave her exactly what she wanted. He licked and sucked at her clit, making her head fall back again and a moan escaped her lips. His tongue explored her fully, entering her slightly and making her moans escalate. He worked her with his mouth, his eyes not leaving her face. Her moans were exactly what he wanted to hear. He picked up his pace and moved a hand up to her breast, squeezing gently. Her hand flew to his head, grasping his hair tightly as her hips bucked slightly. "Elijah," she moaned loudly. She was getting too close, and he wanted her first time to be worth remembering. He pulled away and she whimpered lightly.

"Darling, you taste divine. I want to feel you, now." He said to her. She squeaked at his commanding, lust-filled voice. He stood from the bed and began to undress. Y/N began to feel self-conscious and began to close her legs, but he stopped her. "I want to keep looking at you. You're breathtaking." She blushed and left her legs spread for him. He took her in as he took his shirt off. He began to pull down his sweats and underwear, his cock springing out of the confines. She gasped at how large he was.

"This isn't going to hurt, is it?" She whispered. He chuckled.

"If you experience any discomfort whatsoever, you tell me immediately and we'll stop." He said. She nodded as he made his way back onto the bed over her. He positioned himself just in front of her entrance, the heat emanating off her. He began to kiss her neck and chin. "I want you to enjoy this. If you want something, don't be afraid to tell me," he whispered to her. She nodded again and he began to enter her, slowly and in increments so she had time to adjust to him. She let out a low moan as he filled her, her eyes closing and her face relaxing. He moved himself in entirely and paused, waiting for her okay. She took a deep breath and nodded. He began to move slowly, thrusting in and out of her. She gasped as he picked up speed, creating a steady rhythm between them. Her hips moved naturally to meet his thrusts. Her moans came more frequently as he moved, his name leaving her lips breathlessly. It would be his undoing if he wasn't careful. He paced himself and kissed at her neck and chin, his hand moving to cup her breast again, something she seemed to enjoy very much. He slowed his pace and lowered herself down onto his elbows, his face inches from hers. He watched her intently, his eyes noting the different reactions to his movements. He dipped his head and kissed her, gently and tenderly. She moaned into his lips, then hooked her arms behind his neck and deepened their kiss, not letting him go.

"Faster, Elijah," she begged. He raised his eyebrows, but obliged, his arms still creating a cage around her head as he thrust into her faster now, the sound of skin on skin mixed with her moans filling the room. He grunted hungrily, quickly becoming unable to control himself. He kept speeding up, losing himself in her. "Elijah, I think I'm-," she began to speak but the tension she felt in the pit of her stomach snapped. A gasp took over followed by his name in long drawn out moans.  Hearing his name spill from her lips like that drove him over the edge and he stilled inside of her, letting his orgasm take over. His head snapped back and he groaned as he came, filling her. He pulled in and out a few more times as they both came down, unwinding from their highs. She panted heavily and a grin broke out over her face.

"Happy anniversary, baby," he pulled out of her and kissed her before flopping onto the bed next to her.

"You love me. Say you love me again, please," she said, her grin still covering her face.

"I do love you," he smiled back at her, taking her hand in his and kissing it.

She bit her lip and closed her eyes in content, "I love you, too. Can we do that again?"

-

Taglist: @elijahs-wife @soul-revoir @akshi8278 @njeancastro316 @dumble-daddy @nikmikaelsonswife

[qwanderer]

Loki in the Hall of Mirrors

This story is complicated. Not, like, as a plot, not particularly, but philosophically and thematically. It's got that great play of hero against villain that I love about the Loki story in general and that makes it all so divisive and messy. And I love it even more than I did on first watch.

The first time I watched the desert landing scene, I was like, "Wait? What happened to Allspeak?" because the people who live there don't seem to understand him. But on the second watch, I realized it could be a lack of context, rather than a break in translation. These people probably have an even chance of knowing nothing about Norse myth. Like, what if an alien came up to you and said "I am Boogle of Bofgar, I carry a burden"? You would still have questions like "What the hell is a boogle and why are you carrying your shit here?" So the basic dynamic of Allspeak is probably still functioning, and Loki probably understood their questions, but he was still trying to figure out how to answer when he got distracted by the TVA people.

It could even be an innate psychic ability rather than a magical one, as he seems to understand everyone in the TVA, including the man who can't be fluent in all languages like the field agents because he has never heard of a fish and the seemingly nonverbal robot. (Which of course makes me want Loki talking with Dum-E and the other shop bots! But I digress.)

Okay. I want to start talking about the next-level manipulation shit the TVA are pulling on Loki here. Time, as they say, moves differently in the TVA, and one might even assume that they can avoid having to deal with more variants at once than they can handle. And yet we see them dealing with exactly two other troublemakers during Loki's onboarding.

The first, I'm going to call little echo man.

Little echo man is incredibly annoying to Loki, because he does and says everything Loki might find himself inclined to do and say if he wanted to be difficult. Little echo man does these things in little annoying undignified ways, making them look silly and petulant. Little echo man protests and questions and pushes back, in his business suit and his long dark hair and pale skin, and clearly thinks everyone should treat him as important even though every indication is that he is an annoyance and an afterthought.

Perhaps he's a plant, and perhaps he's just a variant of an annoying but predictable regular they see who they lined up at the same time on purpose. But he is on purpose. Everything he does screams directly at Loki, "Don't do this."

We'll get to the second convenient intersection later.

The most obvious layer of manipulation is simply the beraucracy. They put him up against a series of obstacles which he needs to deal with to get anywhere else, and nothing he does can get him past those obstacles except compliance. All of these obstacles have personality, but they are not personable. They treat Loki like a bag of trash they have been tasked with taking to the curb. Annoying, distasteful, but ultimately routine. His silver tongue isn't going to get him anywhere because these people simply don't care.

I think a lot of these he just goes along with to see where it gets him, since at this point he still believes he has his magic in reserve. But the fact that he steps through the robot fryer even though he thinks he might be a robot without knowing (as others have pointed out, he spent thousands of years as a frost giant without knowing it, and he's recently spent time in the control of the being who shaped Nebula) is a testament to how deep they've already got their hooks in him.

They treat the robot fryer like it's routine, but come the next obstacle, they kill little echo man like it's routine, too. Because he didn't comply.

Loki is slowly being ironed flat to thread into their compliance mill.

And then - I love this, because it reminds me of one of my favorites among the multiplicity of Lokis, GoS!Loki - they put this line in as punctuation between the impersonal, compliance, don't phase of their manipulation and everything that comes after it.

When he's set before the judge, someone actually paying some attention to him, this is his chance to use his silver tongue on someone who will listen. But, although the judge listens, she treats him the same as all the other obstacles have - like listening is a distasteful chore she would like to be done with.

So it seems like the perfect moment for a dramatic escape. Except his magic is gone.

"It's not your story," the judge says. "It never was."

That hammers in all the worst things Loki has ever believed about himself - that he stands in the shadows of others, that he will never have the central place he was raised to desire, that he is, and always will be, a villain to be vanquished rather than a person with choices and agency.

Enter Mobius.

Mobius is a big echo.

He draws all the attention in a room. He is everything that Loki wishes to be - he is powerful, informed, prepared, in control. Capable of charming the judge. And most importantly, he is actively interested in Loki.

At this point in Loki's journey - both in the show and in his life - that has to be irresistible.

So Mobius is in a perfect position to wrap Loki right around his pinky finger.

He listens to Loki without shutting him down, the way all the obstacles have. When Loki tells Mobius he's going to burn down the TVA, Mobius suggests a couple of places he might want to start. One concrete, small, mischievous. One an indication that he's open to Loki doing larger, more significant things here in the future.

He shows Loki his own past and future - but carefully edited, to paint a particular picture.

So many echoes, so many reflections - Loki is in a house of mirrors. Lost, disoriented. Distorted one way, then the other. Magnified and examined.

Loki snarks, and Mobius comments, "Makes you sound smart." Affirms Loki for that little mischievous bit of personality.

Mobius shows Loki some of the most terrible things he's done, and questions them. Pushes Loki away from them. Then changes direction before he can get too heavy-handed, to basically fangirl over the DB Cooper adventure. That's mischief. That's good. I like that.

Punishes him for a small infraction, just to remind him who is in control and that even looking threatening could be seen as a problem.

I think it was at about this point that I got hard reminded of the dynamics of the show White Collar. It's a buddy cop show on a basic level and sometimes the relationship can be very sweet, but sometimes Peter spends one too many times reminding Neal that he can send him back to prison any time he wants and the power dynamic shows its messed up edges.

Mobius is part of the machine, and the machine is doing terrible things to Loki, but I have at least a sliver of hope that the relationship could gain more balance - more genuine balance, not based on the faux freedom that Loki has gained by the end of the episode. There's something to be said for making changes to a system from within that system, but for that to be meaningful change, Mobius would have to change as a person.

Anyway, this current nastily powerful Mobius pushes Loki as hard as he can, and then is conveniently interrupted by the actions of another variant, leaving Loki alone with his remote.

It could easily have been on purpose. The only thing Loki learns by escaping that room is that the TVA is more powerful than any force in the universe, in his experience.

Let's talk about the other Loki variant for a minute. It took me until the second viewing to realize the symbolism of leaving a small child the only survivor in a place of worship, then giving her something to turn her blue.

Odin said he found Loki in a temple, in the aftermath of a battle.

It's actually frighteningly easy to imagine how a distraught Loki could get to a place where he feels the need to genuinely burn down the TVA, and kill every agent in it. Because the TVA put certain clips in his little future show, focusing on the death of his mother, the way his own actions affected it, and the futility and brutality of his own death at the hands of Thanos.

They don't show him the destruction of Asgard, his own role in helping save the evacuees, and the way Thanos decimated the population of that transport before it could even reach Earth. They don't show him the devastation of his home or his capacity to do good.

A Loki who knows that the power of the TVA exists and that he has the capacity to be Asgard's heroic savior would do anything to get that power and save his people.

But we haven't met that Loki yet. I'm sure we will, and it's going to be exhilarating.

This Loki is being taught the importance of control over little things, and so when he gets his collar off and onto that guard, he toys with her, just to see that he can. They have been toying with him and it's oh so satisfying to turn the tables. But it's still compliance in its own way, the petty little mischief that Mobius has been steering him towards.

Loki has been given just enough freedom, just enough choices, that it seems like his own choice to watch the rest of the slide show and come to the obvious conclusion - there's no "out" to go to. His life has gone on without him, and ended. And there's really no point in his trying to fix it. No putting things back the way they were.

So he admits to Mobius - the person who has listened hardest, probably, besides his mother - he admits that he is small and scared and lashing out. That he doesn't know what to do.

Of course, this is when Mobius introduces the task the TVA has for Loki - to take down his other self.

Oh, I can't wait for the next episode! I want to know where this is going.

(I've popped in some panels from Loki: Agent of Asgard because it's my favorite and the show is giving me feelings about it.)

[duitle]

A Place Further than the Universe Ep. 6, 8 ,10, 12

In viewing these four episodes, I'm tempted to watch the rest of the series on my own time. I think finally leaving that introductory phase to the characters gave the show room to expand on certain ideas where it previously could not. Furthermore, I noticed that following this introductory phase these episodes could be watched out of context without much difficulty. I guess slice of life is meat to feel seamless when it comes to presenting the current situation for characters.

In any case, I think one idea that the show does well in these episodes is touch on the idea of human relationships. Lets take the most obvious instance: Yuzuki. We see her struggle with the idea that people can become friends without a firm affirmation or confirmation of it. We see this with her attempt to create a contract of friendship with the other girls.

At first, I was a little confused considering I personally just recognize someone as a friend if I talk to them regularly, carry out activities with them regularly, or have developed trust with them. However, the idea that you can't be sure of a relationship with someone becomes more apparent when we see the relationship between Gin and Shirase. Although they have known each since Shirase was much younger, they don't really have an understanding of what they mean to one another. They feel awkward and the one person who seem to dispel that awkwardness is no longer with them. When they try to communicate, it feel like they are radioing in at slightly different frequencies despite them being so similar.

So, when we see Mari cry at the sight of the contract being presented to her, I think it's supposed to play into the idea that not being able to recognize the relationships we form with those around us, or even form them to begin with, can be harmful when it comes to living a fulfilling life. Personally, I can relate to that idea given I sometimes misjudge how close I've grown to someone when they start asking me to remember shared memories or ask for personal advice.

In a similar manner, the shows tries to teach the audience that it is important to maintain the integrity of relationships you already built. We see this in episode six over the lost passport situation. Initially, Hinata takes the initiative stating that the other girls should leave her alone in Australia if she fails to come up with a copy of her passport before their flight. While logically it would make sense to go along with this since she shouldn't be the cause for the misfortune of others, Shirase's, despitely her characterization and cool and calculating, firmly opposes it. During the climax of the conflict, she admits she does this because she does not want to undermine the meaning of their friendship. Although it is logical, I'm sure anyone of us would feel betrayed if our friends chose to leave us to our own demise. Like, isn't the point of your friends to help you out? Similarly, this idea of preserving relationships is seen between Shirase and her mother. In these episodes as well as the last ones, we see her sending emails to her mother. While initially it just seems like a habit she picked up after grief, we see this reoccurring fulfill its purpose in episode twelve when all the emails start pouring into the laptop inbox. These emails were a way for her to communicate with her mother although she had already passed. A method of remembrance like lit lanterns. In fact, the motif of a lit lantern could be seen within the weather balloons that they launched. So, when the inbox start receiving all those messages, it conveys the idea that despite it being over three years Shirase still loves and remembers her mother dearly.

To end this blog post, I'd like to say that the title "Somewhere further than the Universe," developed a different meaning from start to finish. At first, I thought it was supposed to refer to the idea of motivation since often vast, icy mountains are images used in motivational instragram posts. However, toward the end, I began to see that the title is meant to allude to things that are intangible, such as human relationships and memories. If the universe is beautiful, how amazing is what lies beyond it?

[kira-ani-mcgrath]

I've little interest in Frozen stuff but I've seen bits and pieces of this Hans stuff you've mentioned on and off and I'm curious about something. When you say someone is acting un-Christlike by saying a character is irredeemable, what is it you exactly mean? Because sometimes yea, it can be narratively unsatisfying to randomly redeem a character in a story. Example: People debating if it would be narratively satisfying if Azula got redeemed. It's got nothing to do with worldview imo.

For context, this ask comes in the wake of this post.

I’m posting this reply publicly so I can refer back to it if needed in the future. I received a similar ask [hopefully that link works] on the heels of this post, which I answered privately without saving a copy of my response, and it would have been useful if I’d saved and/or posted it. Thus, here we are.

I want to make something 100% unquestionably clear to anyone who follows me or reads my posts: whenever I criticize someone labeling Hans “unredeemable”/“irredeemable” it is ALWAYS in the context of someone declaring him un/irredeemable because of what he has done.

It is NEVER people saying they don’t think Disney should redeem him because they’re worried WDAS will do a terrible job of it. It is NEVER people saying they don’t want him redeemed in an unsatisfying manner (i.e.: “BTW he’s good now, he changed off-screen and now he’s back like nothing bad happened.”). It is NEVER people saying that his redemption may not fit well into a particular scenario. It confuses me that people are interpreting my words this way, because if I were to express concern about the way a character’s actual or potential redemption were handled, I would never do it by labeling the character irredeemable or saying the character shouldn’t be redeemed at all, full stop. I would include the nuances I am referring to, such as “The character shouldn’t be redeemed off-screen,” or “The character shouldn’t be redeemed in this movie.” Therefore, if I am saying people shouldn’t call a character irredeemable, I’m not referring to specific cases such as “The character shouldn’t be redeemed by this creative team,” or, “The character shouldn’t be redeemed in this manner.” I am referring to a much larger picture.

I am criticizing people who say Hans is evil, malicious, unfeeling, manipulative, abusive, a villain, a sociopath, and/or a murder, and therefore he can never and should never be redeemed. I am criticizing people who don’t want Hans redeemed because they have a personal grudge against the character. I am criticizing people who think that once a character crosses a particular line (and apparently this line is unique for Hans, based on what he actually did compared to every other “bad guy” in fictional history), the character is now 100% bad and can never be good in any way ever again.

A Christian should never think this way. There is no unforgivable sin (besides attributing works of the Holy Spirit to Satan, as some of the Pharisees did). We are to love our enemies and desire what is best for them - to be saved, redeemed - and yet I see people with the word “Christian” in their bio bragging about how much they hate Hans because he was so terrible to Anna and Elsa, rejoicing that Hans remains unredeemed in canon, cheering when Anna punches Hans in Frozen, laughing when the Frozen Fever snowball crashes into him, agreeing with Elsa calling him an “unredeemable monster” and approving of her destroying his snow-figure in Frozen II. I see those who say they belong to Christ - the Savior who took on every sin imaginable - saying that Hans is simply too mean, too horrible, too evil to be redeemed. I hope this is obvious, but there should be no such thing as “too [x] for redemption” to the Christian. There is never anyone, real or fictional, beyond salvation and redemption. [The only exception I could think of would be a fictional world where the rules are the antithesis to Christianity - then you could say a character is irredeemable because the very nature of that universe doesn’t allow for the character’s redemption. But that certainly doesn’t apply to Frozen.]

Now to address the Azula example brought up at the end. I’m not an A:TLA fan, but I did watch the entire show and I see the occasional meta cross my dash now and then. I’m not familiar with any debates as you have referenced, so I’m just going to give my own examples to hopefully add some extra clarity to my position.

First, I fail to see how a well-done redemption arc could ever be “narratively unsatisfying,” particularly for the Christian. If it’s well-written and you see the steps the character takes, their failings and their successes, I would think that'd be quite a satisfying story. So what is the actual issue when debating characters’ redemptions? I believe it’s concerns of quality, characterization, and actions.

Given where we see Azula at the end of her fight with Zuko in the finale, it would certainly be unsatisfying if she was chilling in Iroh’s tea shop with everyone in the final moments of the series. Likewise, I would not want to see a Hans redemption where we are re-introduced to Hans and he’s completely apologetic and ready to right any wrongs. In fact, I am put-off by fanfics that start with Hans having already repented, changed, etc., from his canon actions and self. I want to see the process of change, so that it is satisfying when he finally makes the right decision.

Given the existing three seasons of A:TLA, people are free to debate on whether or not room could have been made for an Azula redemption arc. Given the current Frozen material, people are free to debate on whether or not room could have been made for a Hans redemption arc.

Had there been further canon A:TLA material, and there was an Azula redemption arc done as well as Zuko’s (such as described in this Twitter thread), I would have found that very narratively satisfying. Now, others may not like how that theoretical redemption was handled, plotted, etc. That’s perfectly fine. Likewise, people may have certain ways they don’t want a theoretical Hans redemption handled, plotted, etc. Again, perfectly fine. One can disagree on the way a redemption arc was/might be handled without dismissing the redemption altogether.

People may want Azula to remain unredeemed because they believe she would choose to be so. That’s fine (though others are allowed to disagree). For example, if she were to maintain that she did nothing wrong and reject any help Zuko and Iroh offered, then she would remain unredeemed. Alternatively, she could realize that what she did was wrong, but then go the opposite direction and believe she doesn’t deserve anything good, so she would reject love and help at every turn for the rest of her life, and thus remain unredeemed. However, I have never seen anyone call a character “irredeemable” and mean that they believe the character would actively choose to reject offers of redemption.

People may say Azula or Hans shouldn’t be redeemed because it would be out-of-character. From an unbeliever’s perspective, that may be correct, as they think certain traits as immutable. However, that’s wrong from a Christian perspective, as anyone can change if enabled by the grace of God. In fictional worlds that don’t have any Christianity, you simply use an imperfect archetype to play a pivotal role in the character’s transformation (i.e., Uncle Iroh to Zuko).

People may not be against an Azula or Hans redemption in and of itself, but think it makes the most narrative sense to leave the characters unredeemed - whether it be because there wasn’t enough time in canon, or there’s other characters to focus on, or some other behind-the-fourth-wall reason. That doesn’t make the characters irredeemable, it just means that’s the way the story currently stands. There’s no reason that story can’t change in the future.

However, if people are saying Azula shouldn’t be redeemed at all because what she did was too wrong, then that is un-Christ-like. Likewise, saying Hans is irredeemable because what he did was too wrong is indisputably un-Christ-like. Now, of course, I can’t expect unbelievers to act Christ-like, so it doesn’t surprise me when I see them express such sentiments. However, when a Christian argues against redemption on these grounds, I absolutely question why. You claim to stand on the Word of God, but declare there are actions too heinous to be forgiven and characters that don’t deserve redemption? God rebuked a man for his desire to see people punished instead of forgiven [Jonah], forgave adultery and murder [David], and transformed a man from persecuting to teaching the Church [Saul/Paul]. Yet you put your stamp of approval on a lack of redemption for a character because of the actions of that character? Further sanctification is needed, whether in love for the lost or in fully surrendering all to Christ. A lack of redemption should only serve as a warning of what happens to those who reject truth, love, and forgiveness - because, as we know, not everyone will be saved. A Christian should never be against redemption because they personally hate the character, or think the character is unforgivable, or believe the character doesn’t “deserve” it, or any other reason antithetical to who Christ is and what He has done.

[creepy-crawley-crowley]

Naive - Crowley X Angel Female Reader

This was requested, and it was requested byyyyy: @adela-topaz-caelon

My lil request is a Crowley x Angel Reader where said Angel is an angel who was booted out of heaven because she's vaguely out of character for an angel, but is definitely one, and often helps the two men and they blatantly love each other but don't know, and Aziraphale is so tired of it, because he's noticed it since the beginning, and he just had enough. I don't mind if it's fluffy or smutty, or both, if you decide to take it on. I just would love your writing on this 😊

One: I FUCKING LOVE THIS REQUEST SO MUCH PLEASE SEND MORE I BEG YOU

Two: Oblivious but in love idiots are the best idiots haha

Warnings: uh, spicy at the end but it isn't full smut because I won't write full on smut like the furthest I will go is clothes removal you can imagine the rest.

You all know the drill, right? Gimme a shout if you wanna be on the taglist, too.

"Oh my, they are...hopeless! Oblivious! Absolutely...agh! Fools in love, that's what they are...ugh." Aziraphale groaned. He was pacing in the back room of his bookshop, fretting about his two closest friends.

Now, the context of this situation: Crowley, a demon, Aziraphale's best friend, is hopelessly in love with Y/N, an Angel, also Aziraphale's best friend. She's also hopelessly in love with Crowley. Why is Aziraphale so annoyed? Because they're so obvious! But yet neither of them seem to notice.

See, it all started at the start, in the Garden Of Eden. Aziraphale was stood on the wall, watching Adam and Eve, yada yada, and Y/N was with him. Y/N was...unique. She'd been kicked out of heaven for being...out of character. Hadn't fallen, though, not really, much to Aziraphale's delight.

And then Crowley came along. He slithered up the wall, and stood beside the two Angels. He knew instantly who Aziraphale was, but who was that? Who was the other one? The thing that confused him most, though, was that Y/N's wings were a mix of black and white.

Was she fallen? Kinda. Was she a Demon? No. An Angel? Yes.

Crowley felt his confusion grow by the minute.

In fact, he was intrigued. He was going to get to know this stranger, whatever it took.

The next time the two really met was in Paris. Aziraphale had gotten himself into a spot of trouble, and Y/N had seeked Crowley out, and dragged him to Paris. Aziraphale, after being set free, wandered off, probably to get food. Perhaps some crêpes.

This left Y/N and Crowley to talk. And talk they did. They'd met many, many times before Paris, obviously, but it had been a while since they'd had a proper chat...3000 years, give or take.

Aziraphale thinks that this moment is when Crowley realised how hopelessly in love he was with Y/N. Aziraphale could see it on his face, they way he looked at Y/N with gentle eyes from behind black glasses. Crowley denied it whenever the subject was brought up. "We're just friends!" He would protest, scrunching his face up in faux disgust.

Or maybe he had fell in love when Y/N had ran off after a unicorn, and returned riding it, smiling as if she had just won the lottery, although that didn't exist then. In fact, that occurred during the Noah's Ark problem.

Aziraphale was a being of love. He knew love when he saw it. He saw the love in shared glances when they thought nobody was looking, he saw the love in the way they spoke to each other, he saw the love in the tiny touches they shared. He saw it all.

He thinks that Y/N fell for Crowley when he saved his books after blowing the church up. Not that it was his fault...kinda. Anyway, Y/N had flown in on trembling wings, having seen the bomb go down, and knowing who was there. She had literally tackled both of them in a hug, engulfing them with her wings too.

"You idiots! You stupid, stupid idiots!" She had yelled. "I can't believe - who made the bomb fall?" She seethed, and Crowley had sheepishly raised a hand, and she had glared that him for a few moments, before her gaze softened, and she smiled, yet again hugging the Demon.

Or perhaps she had fallen for him in Rome.

Don't even get Aziraphale started on the 80's. They were at their worst then, Crowley was trying to hide his obvious feelings, and so was Y/N, but they did terribly, and only worsened the situation, because they both most certainly did not get drunk, and certainly did not drunkenly make out. (They did.)

Yeah, that never happened, as far as Aziraphale thought they knew. But Aziraphale knew, of course he did. That was one image he couldn't erase.

And then there was the 90's. They weren't so bad, actually, Aziraphale had decided. They had fallen out after an argument about Crowley and his need for holy water. Y/N had assumed the worst upon being told.

"You what? Aziraphale gave you holy water?" She had screamed at Crowley, wings out, and her eyes were narrowed to the point that they were mere slits. Crowley had nodded, slightly frightened by Y/N's reaction. "Crowley, you can't have holy water! You know what it'll do to you! It'll...It'll destroy you! Or is that why you wanted it? An easy way out?" And as soon as the words had left her mouth, Crowley had reacted.

Aziraphale shivered at the memory. It hadn't been pretty, actually. Crowley had accidentally burnt a few books in his momentary anger, although as soon as Y/N had left, he regretted it, turning to face Aziraphale, his golden eyes wide, looking rather shocked.

They ignored each other for seven years, which had mildly impressed Aziraphale, who hadn't thought they'd even be able to stay away from each other for a week. But no, both of them were even more stubborn than a mule, and boy oh boy, could they hold grudges.

They managed to fix things in '99, when Y/N had been in the bookshop. She had had a run in with a few demons, and although she had never revealed what had really happened, it had scared her to the point where she was quivering in the back room of the bookshop, curled up, cocooned in her wings. And that's how Crowley had found her. Originally he'd come in to find Aziraphale, but he had heard gentle sobs from the back room, and went in, curious. Upon finding Y/N he had darted over, closing the bookshop with a snap of his fingers as he fell to his knees in front of her.

Not realising it was Crowley, Y/N had scuttled away, backed into the corner, trembling. Crowley was confused, that was for sure, but more than anything he was concerned for his friend.

"Y/N? Y/N what's wrong?" He had asked softly, sitting in front of her. Y/N had looked up with bloodshot eyes, peeking out from behind her black and white wings, and she had flinched slightly. "What happened?" He repeated, removing his glasses. Y/N had shook her head, and Crowley had frowned.

"There were some demons." Y/N had whispered, so quietly that Crowley could barely hear her. She didn't say any more than that. She had then slowly shuffled forwards, towards Crowley, and wrapped her arms and wings around him, burying her face in Crowley's shoulder, and that's where they stayed for a while.

They went back to their usual antics after that.

Aziraphale was relieved that they were back to normal, but now he was dealing with them dancing around their feelings again, and there was only so much dancing he could take, and he loved dancing...and food.

But now Aziraphale was just about done with them both. He was going to take things into his own hands, and began planning his master plan. There was no way it wouldn't work, right?

So, the next day, he led them both into the back room, and then locked them in there together. He had pinned a note on the door, the side that they'd be able to see, and Crowley ripped it off, reading it, and Y/N witnessed a rather amusing event. Crowley went red, and then sighed, and read it out.

"Hello Crowley and Y/N, this is Aziraphale, and I'm not sorry for locking you both in here. You two need to talk about stuff, and when I think you're done I'll let you out." Crowley read, grumbling, and Y/N chuckled.

"We can sneak out, you know." She stated, and after saying that, she shrunk herself, and wandered out, under the door. Crowley followed.

They snuck out, to the Bentley, and they both got in after returning to their natural sizes.

Aziraphale was state in the back, much to their surprise.

"I knew you'd try to sneak out, you know." He stated, smiling brightly. "This was my plan all along! Now I can talk to you both." He grinned. "You two are the most oblivious people ever, and I have therefore decided that I must do this myself."

Crowley realised what was happening, and hissed. "Aziraphale, don't you dare!" He growled, although there was no real threat. Y/N looked on, merely confused.

"Crowley, do it, otherwise I will." Aziraphale sighed. Crowley turned to face Y/N, and made a strangled noise, one of objection. "You can do it!" Aziraphale encouraged.

"No I can't! I've had...since the Ark to do it! If I could, I would have done it by now, Angel." Crowley managed to say.

"It's okay to be scared, Crowley." Aziraphale said, rather softly. Crowley hissed, almost angrily.

"I'm not scared! I'm just...just..." Crowley's shoulders fell. "I'm not scared. I just don't want to lose anyone."

"Hey, can someone tell me what's going on?" Y/N huffed, folding her arms, mildly annoyed, but confused, and overly curious, as usual. Crowley and Aziraphale looked at her. Aziraphale then looked at Crowley, who shrugged, then sighed.

"Don't...worry. Uh, it's not that important." Crowley smiled. Y/N sighed, knowing he had lied. "Okay, okay, Aziraphale get out, just for a minute." Crowley looked at Aziraphale, who smiled at him, before getting out of the Bentley.

"Y/N, I know it's stupid but there's something I really need to say to you." Crowley started, and his eyebrows fell as he tried to think of what to say. "I know I'm a Demon, and you're an Angel, kinda, and were supposed to be enemies, but there's nothing I could do. I tried to fight it because I didn't want to be like a human." He bit his lip, then removed his glasses, and his golden eyes stared into Y/N's. "I...I uh, how do I say this?" He mumbled. "I...like you? I really like you?" He blurted out, sounding slightly confused. Y/N smiled.

"I mean, it'd be problematic if you didn't." She chuckled, not realising what Crowley mean. The Demon groaned, mildly annoyed by her obliviousness.

"No! That's not what I meant! I meant that I really really like you and how on Earth do I say this? Okay...I don't like you as a friend, I like you as...more?"

Y/N realised what he mean, and her eyes widened, and she suddenly disappeared, leaving Crowley by himself.

Y/N had actually teleported herself inside the bookshop, and she had sat down, near Aziraphale. Aziraphale took notice of her shocked expression, and sat next to her.

Crowley stayed inside his car, groaning loudly, instantly assuming that the worst had happened and that she didn't like him back. That she didn't love him. Crowley growled at the thought. Love. What a useless thing.

"Y/N, my dear, what ever is wrong?" Aziraphale asked, confused. Y/N laughed softly, but as she laughed, she seemed to slowly descend into madness.

"He said he liked me as more as a friend, Zira. More than a friend! What does that even mean?" Y/N snorted, and Aziraphale sighed, glancing outside. Crowley was still sat in his Bentley, but now he was listening to Queen...probably.

"Y/N, it means he wants to...date you, I believe that is the correct modern term." Aziraphale hummed quietly. "It means he loves you. Y/N, I know you love him too. Everyone in Heaven and Hell might as well know, you two are so obvious! You've been dancing around each other for hundreds of years and I am just about done with it! Now go and talk to Crowley before he drives off and goes and does something stupid. Go." Aziraphale explained, and Y/N nodded, and ran back outside, clambering into the car.

"Crowley, let's go home, please." Y/N said, and Crowley raised an eyebrow, but drove anyway. "I don't want to cause a scene in the middle of a street. I have no idea what's going to happen next, Crow, but I'm hoping it's good." Y/N added, and Crowley raised an eyebrow, looking at her.

"Explain." He mumbled, mildly confused.

"Okay, okay...just...get inside first." Y/N said, rushing inside, to Crowley's flat. Crowley simply teleported, and sat on his throne as he waited for Y/N. Y/N ran in, and Crowley smirked slightly. "Okay, Aziraphale had to explain what you meant but I know now and I like you more than a friend too, or as Aziraphale said, love you and I guess he's not wrong." Y/N blurted, and Crowley suddenly coughed, standing up and walking to her. "And you're a really...cool demon too, so, I guess that's a bonus. You're pretty nice-" Y/N continued, and Crowley snarled, automatically darting forwards, and he (though gentler than usual) pushed Y/N against the wall.

"I'm not nice!" He snapped, and Y/N blinked. "I'm...not...nice!" Crowley repeated, through gritted teeth, and then he suddenly felt a gentle hand cup his cheek.

"Huh, Zira wasn't lying when he said you didn't like being called nice." Y/N mumbled, and Crowley didn't miss her eyes quickly flitting from his lips to his eyes. Or glasses, rather. He smirked, and edged slightly closer.

"You knew exactly what you were doing, damn. Little Miss Innocent isn't as pure as she seems." He remarked sarcastically.

"Well, obviously, I was cast out of heaven for a reason." Y/N stated, rather dryly. Crowley snorted, and Y/N smiled, and down her eyes went again, and back up, and Crowley hummed softly. "Are you just gonna stand there then?" Y/N asked, starting to shift slightly so she could get away. Not that she really wanted too, but it worked, because Crowley rolled his eyes, before pressing his lips to hers.

It was everything that Y/N had wished for and more. His lips were soft and gentle against hers, and might have well been puzzle pieces, slotting perfectly against hers. She realised that she could faintly taste wine, ands she smiled into the kiss, hands coming up to wrap around his shoulders, holding him as close as possible. Crowley's glasses were hard against her features, but she didn't mind because, finally, after thousands of years she was getting what she wanted. Crowley pulled away, quickly removing his glasses.

"How long?" He asked quietly, and Y/N smiled, lips still brushing against each other.

"Since Rome." She admitted, and Crowley hummed softly. "What about you, Crow?"

"Since the Ark." He mumbled, and Y/N smiled more, before seeking out his lips again.

Crowley gently held her hips, absentmindedly rubbing circles into her skin with his thumbs. "I love you too." He whispered, and Y/N nodded slightly, playing with the ends of Crowley's red hair. She connected their lips again, a little more force, a bit more want, and lot more need and Crowley knew where this was leading but he didn't mind. Besides, he was a demon, he was supposed to sin.

So he went along with it, revelling in the moment, and he unintentionally let Y/N take the lead. But only for now, he thought to himself. But he was still a Demon, and still decided to tease Y/N a little, his hands sometimes moving a little lower than they should've.

Y/N's only reaction was to huff, and gently bite his lip, which would cause Crowley to gasp, and allowed Y/N to have her way, not that Crowley minded. He certainly didn't.

He soon grew tired of just enthusiastically kissing though, and pulled away, pressing a uncharacteristically soft kiss to the corner of her mouth, and he began to trail kisses down to Y/N's neck, humming 'Somebody To Love' as he went. Y/N's grip on his shoulders tightened, and Crowley smirked, gently nipping at her skin, causing Y/N to gasp quietly.

"Crowley, you better not leave marks!" She hissed, and Crowley merely winked, before grazing his teeth across her skin again, before suddenly just nuzzling into the small crook of Y/N's neck. Y/N blinked, confused, but she smiled anyway, resting her chin on top of Crowley's head.

Then Crowley did the opposite of what Y/N had told him. He left a hickey.

Now, Y/N could pretend to be angry all she wanted, but she wasn't really, she never really could be. After all, it was Crowley. Who could be mad at Crowley? (A lot of people.)

So instead, she softly flicked him when he was done, and sighed.

"You're lucky I love you, Crowley." She grumbled, and Crowley shrugged, and pecked Y/N's lips, smiling. He then began working on the buttons of Y/N's shirt, and, well.

The rest is history.

Tags: @dekahg , @steampowerednightvaler

[creatikermit-ar-ts]

GUILT: A Plausible Option for the Next "Dark Side"

@alltimevirgilant made a post about how Guilt could definitely be the next "Dark Side", as it follows the lines of the plot of the latest episode (Selfishness VS Selflessness - so obvious SPOILERS AHEAD if you haven't seen it yet). As stated in the video, Thomas is a very empathetic person and with choices influenced by empathy, or, in fact, choices that sometimes are made without empathy in mind, often come with guilt. @/alltimevirgilant continues to explain how the idea of guilt fits into the character of Thomas in their post, so you can click here if you want to read that.

Now, I want to follow on from their original point because there are actually quite a few hints from the video that may allude to Guilt being the next "Dark Side" (and if not a new Side, then perhaps a possible video topic).

So far, we only know of one definite "Dark Side" - or, very simply put, a new Side that was not introduced in the same way as Logan, Roman, Patton or Virgil - and that is Deceit. Our first (and pretty much only) hint to Deceit that wasn't in his debut episode was featured in MOVING ON: Part 2/2.

Roman suggests lying to Thomas's ex, which leads to these responses:

[P: Now, Roman, lying is wrong.]

[T: Yeah, that's a side of myself that I would prefer not to feed into.]

Other than the obvious hints to a trait that at the time had not been introduced to the series, I think there is one other thing important to note. Yes, the idea of dishonesty is being mentioned (and when placed in the context of Sanders Sides, I suppose that this is the personification of said trait), but what I think is more important in helping to find future hints to possible "Dark Sides" is the fact that through mentioning deceit, they want to avoid it. Both Patton and Thomas (and I suppose Virgil too) are making the effort to make a decision that does not feature deception in any way. They are trying to avoid deceit because they believe it is a bad thing or that it is unhelpful, as well as possibly hurting Thomas and the people he surrounds himself with. They mention and hint at something that we now know as a "Dark Side", but they also mention the idea of not wanting to "feed into" that trait or use it as possible option for solving the current dilemma. Still with me? Simply put, when searching for hints of new Side that we do not know of, we must also search for how they (the characters - whether it be Thomas or one of the Sides) want to avoid that trait/aspect of Thomas's personality/decision making.

So, now we've covered that, on to the new video!

Starting off, we get the first mention of guilt, where Roman is responding to Patton's scolding on the idea of lying:

[R: I would have stayed in my room if I knew Dad was gonna take us on a guilt-trip.]

Notice how Roman is saying he would have "stayed in [his] room" if it meant he could avoid feeling guilty, or at least, the talk about something that could potentially make him feeling guilty. Our key word is there: avoiding. Roman wants to avoid guilt.

Next point, which I think is rather interesting! The next mention of guilt is further on in the video, and a little harder to find. Again, it stems from Roman, when he is placed at the witness stand and Deceit is questioning him.

[D: Can you spell your name for the court?]

And, of course, Roman spells it correctly.

[R: R-O-M-A-N!] [D: Ooh, I'm afraid that's wrong.]

Deceit insists that Roman's name is in fact spelt differently.

[D: It's actually spelt W-R-O-A-M-M-I-N.]

Now, at first glance, it seems that Deceit is just messing with Roman, and, to a certain extent, he is. But, this joking doesn't serve Deceit's argument or point in anyway whatsoever. Nor does it really fit into the rest of the discussion or topic, so I think it has to mean a little more than what it does on the surface. Especially the way Deceit spells Roman's name. It seems rather specific, and certainly not just gibberish or random letters. So, I did some digging and found that when translated from Western Frisian 'wroammin' actually translates to 'remorse':

((Now, please keep in mind that Google Translate isn't always reliable, so this translation may not be accurate.))

Remorse is a synonym of guilt. We are missing the key phrase about avoiding said remorse and I think that this part could definitely be implying that Roman feels remorse rather than hinting at a new Side, but it is certainly too odd to be a coincidence. And it is certainly implying that guilt is playing a large part in this dilemma, whether just the emotion or a personified trait.

And the next mention of guilt is towards the very end of the video, where Thomas is giving his concluding monologue.

[T: Listen to your empathy because you might be sparing yourself some future guilt by doing good for someone else.]

This is very important because it is a concluding statement - it's the final decision. Here, Thomas is saying that empathy is a good thing to listen to and that you should allow it to influence your decisions because if you do you can avoid future guilt. Here, he is holding empathy as more important than guilt and shows guilt as a bad thing. Whether you believe that avoiding guilt and your actions taken in order to do so are selfish or selfless doesn't matter here. He has decided that guilt is bad a thing, and must be avoided.

But here's the thing, in both videos (for the sake of this argument) that we are going to assume hint at possible "Dark Sides" (MOVING ON: Part 2/2 and Selfishness VS Selflessness) decide that whatever trait they mention must be avoided at all times. The characters take one situation that is provided in the video and apply the exact same setting to any and all future situations. They say: lying is wrong and guilt is bad, so therefore they must be avoided. And not to mention, both of these principles, in fact, stem from Patton.

What I'm trying to say is that a "Dark Side" has always tended to come about or at least be hinted at when the rest of the characters are trying to avoid that trait. Even Virgil! The reason Virgil "lashes out" is because the others sometimes ignore him (paraphrased from EMBARRASSING PHASES).

Whether these mentions of guilt are to hint at a new Side or a future video topic (perhaps even the follow up video Joan was talking about? Empathy VS Guilt, maybe? haha), it's hard to ignore these subtle mentions or write them off as just coincidences. The reason for that being, is that guilt isn't actually brought to the viewers attention - or the characters', for that matter - until the very end, and even then it's not a large part of the video. Even though it's quite clear that guilt is playing a role in the uncertainty of the final decision and during the course of the discussion of the dilemma, none of the characters really outright say it. Perhaps this is why the video ending seems... unsatisfying, without sounding like I'm criticising the video harshly (it's actually my favourite episode to date) and why so many viewers found it hard to agree with the final decision. Because not all the points were really discussed (among other things that I'll talk about in other posts).

With the kinda cryptic post Joan made about the follow up episode and the original decision to name the episode Selfishness VS Selflessness Part 1/2, which was then scrapped to avoid confusion, all in the back of my mind, it's hard to imagine that this debate is over. Perhaps a follow up video won't link directly to this video, but I'm sure it will make reference to it.

And I think Guilt, whether as a Side or topic, is going to definitely play a part in it.

[rowanthestrange]

I think the intended theme of Kerblam was hugely overshadowed by the fact that the episode didn't address that Kerblam didn't even try to keep their workers safe. The main issue I found was that the scene at the end implied the murders couldn't have been prevented without the doctor's expertise. A responsible employer would have supended work until the power drains were fixed (I'm assuming that's why any security systems were down allowing charlie to escape notice)

*hides face in hands*

You’re right. You are - my expression is not…oh it’s not for you.

I mean I’m not sure there was a set intended theme, it was bothsided to hell, but yeah, definitely…there was definitely an issue there with it not actually addressing anything.

*leans back*

The power drains were - in my understanding - because of both Terrorist Boy messing around with the system, but far more importantly, was because the system itself was trying to channel a lot of energy into one place. The power-drain that occurs when the bot tries to kill him for example.

It isn’t clear. How much of it is under the system’s control is not explored.

Leading neatly to your next point - the system needs the Doctor’s expertise.

Why?

It would have succeeded in killing Terrorist Boy had it been smarter about it. Not done it around people. Sure maybe it’s trying to basically scream ‘He’s the bad guy!’ but that’s not obvious, nor apparently necessary, because kill him and there’s no backup, no deadman’s handle, you’re done. Statistically the guy has been alone at some point, and there were no ‘we cannot murder’ rules implied, so off you go chums.

Maybe the robots didn’t want to murder him - a good theme that would have tied perfectly into both the terrorism and the themes being built in this series, and does work with them knowing the Doctor would stop it.

But that didn’t happen. I just made that up. None of this stuff was explained, nothing addressed. The roots for this episode are so good and go nowhere.

Explain why they don’t care about power outages in a 90% automated factory. Use it for character development with the woman - she doesn’t care and is lighthearted about it because she’s in people, while the rest of the company is having kittens - because that is a big deal and everyone would have noticed.

And this place clearly can’t just shut down for a month, are you joking?! Unless you’re playing a Bad Wolf Satellite Whatever with this, the consequences would be absolutely huge. Space Amazon shuts down, only gives its workers half that time off as paid leave, and it’s clearly the backbone of the Kandokan economy, that’s on last legs enough that Kira’s never got a goddamn Amazon delivery in her life, but also where six year olds print metal pendants for their Daddies.

And if you still want to do all this, then make it a goddamn point that THIS IS WHY YOU NEED PEOPLE. Not in meaningless goddamn packing, but that if you had PEOPLE paying close attention, they would have been more likely to catch the flaws in the system, or notice it being abused and be able to act on it. Slade was clearly useless - cut that character, he’s only a red herring anyway, and use all that time and energy to give us context with the robots.

Warning From The Future: This fix-it got long

But if I’m allowed to make changes, just off the top of my head, I axe Kira too. Don’t kill off Lee Mack (no I’m not gonna learn the character’s name) so quickly, and then you already have a ‘human’ element in the plot and he fits it well. Kira only exists for man-pain and to humanise Terrorist Boy - which you’re already doing with Graham (Their scenes should have been much the same, but highlighting some extremist tendencies - particularly his odd choice of referring to the system as He - and clearly indicating that no-one talks to this kid enough to see them). Also fewer humans would help sell this idea of the 90-10% thing. Swap team positions - the Doctor goes down and meets Mack (because she’s already sympathetic to the robots so needs to become less so, and this leads to lots of little opportunities to dig at Amazon, capitalism, workers rights etc), and Yaz and Ryan are on packing. It gives Ryan a chance to be good at something in front of Yaz for a change, lets Yaz do some competent police work that actually goes somewhere (seriously McTighe), and Ryan we’ve seen be sceptical but sweet before with the baby situation, so therefore he takes notice of the robots (because he needs to be more sympathetic to them and is a better audience avatar). The combination of him being emotionally intelligent, and Yaz cognitively intelligent, means they work out the origin of the ‘Help Me’ which also fits the fact that Yaz was the only one to notice the message at all. Meanwhile, the Doctor and Mack are facing robot villains. Hmm that’s weird. They run to find each other, Yaz and Thirteen probably doing the grabbing each others forearms thing, and say at the same time “The robots are trying to kill us” “The robots are asking for help”, look at each other in confusion, and that’s when Graham and Terrorist Boy (foreshadowing) show up with the maps. Woman (don’t remember if she had a name, sorry) can show up again, having done some digging and phoning around (she uses a large phone, not a large tablet), and has found the people never made it back home. She’s panicking, the Doctor still gets her ‘If you are lying to me’ moment, etc. etc. things progress, plot as before, but instead of losing Kira, we lose Mack - pendant left behind. In trying to find him, the tracker lures Yaz and Ryan away from the others (Terrorist Boy’s intent was to get everyone, but that’s this Scooby-Doo team for you with the splitting up). Ryan is the one that nearly gets blown to bits by the bubble-wrap because of course he does, his defining character trait is to effing touch everything. Terrorist Boy gives himself away by legging it as Ryan moves to grab it, and Yaz saves him, cus she has good instincts and reflexes. Maybe a robot then says “Would you like me to dispose of this an an environmentally conscious way” - subtext layers, and at a safe distance, pops it - the system showing what damage it can do. This also acts as a set-up for the scene with the robots exploding it later, and makes it look less like the Doctor committing mass robo-murder (and prevents the robots from having to be deliberate murderers themselves). Doctor having got Twirly etc. hijacks a bot teleporter, and with the Woman and Graham finds the soup, etc. etc. same as before. That Terrorist Boy pegged it before, makes sense as to why Yaz didn’t catch him and restrain him, and everyone meets up again. This time though, we have some space. Have the Doctor excitedly (almost obscenely) working things out, while Graham explains the soup - clearly ruffled, and Yaz gets the Woman to bring up the details of Lee Mack’s family. If there’s thirty seconds to spend on how she’s had to call in a lot of dead bodies but never explain it to people’s families, do it now, leave her staring at the phone. Doctor comes to her excited conclusion, and the Terrorist Boy suddenly shows up threatening people with a detonator. Yaz stands (she looks extra shaken), but she’s behind, clearly looks to the Doctor who takes charge (characterisation, shows where she sees herself and her trust in the Doctor, and explains why she isn’t more active yet). Scene, scene, etc, etc, all the bullshit about millennials = bad obviously removed, Graham actually gets most of the attempted calming lines, and it nearly works. But as it fails, the Doctor gets in with him “Killing the people he was supposed to be trying to save”, that to him the people are no more real than the robots - oh no? Prove it. Grabs the phone from Yaz’s hand, which is still on, turns the volume up, and forces him to listen to the six year old asking for her Daddy and telling him to stop being silly. It’s almost on the edge of cruelty, and we see that glimmer in her eyes again. It doesn’t work. It’s his plan, his vision, he’s going to be the one to take control, he he he. But it’s not funny. It’s all about him and his power fantasy, and that becomes increasingly clear the longer you let him talk. (Him stomping on the device is more explicitly visually framed as a mirror for the Doctor doing the same for the neo-neo-nazi’s Vortex Manipulator, but it isn’t explained, just complex forshadowing for the Doctor’s monster breakdown later). Yaz never grabs for him and fails, we just go straight to him running into the bots - maybe standing on the balcony railing first to get a proper little-hitler shot above his tin soldiers, then jumping down to hide among them. But as before, the Doctor doesn’t stop him getting blown to pieces. At the end, the need for more humans to manage the system and particularly to work with each other is noticed, and that’s what the human positions should be for - what humans are good at, noticing patterns and each other. There’s no ‘lol Graham what are you like’ moment in the TARDIS, it’s just Yaz’s feeling of failure as a Police Officer shining unspoken in her eyes, and her request to go see the daughter personally being honoured, while Graham is drinking a cup of tea and watching Ryan intently (clearly been hammered by events, but taking comfort in his own odd-but-blessedly-harmless boy), while Ryan pokes and prods at Twirly, whom apparently they never actually gave back. And it ends with the Doctor once again being rebuffed as company, Yaz leaving the TARDIS, kid’s necklace in hand, and walking into a room across the camera - the Kerblam! poster with Mack’s face on the wall behind her.

I’ve only watched the episode once, and I don’t have a transcript to refer to yet, so might be missing some pieces, but broadly speaking.

And I appreciate that the Kira scene and the ‘You had a plan, but you weren’t expecting to fall in love’ is almost certainly meant to be a Direct Mirror for a future scene with The Doctor and Yaz, but without Chibnall over my shoulder and saying that has to be in there, the transition to the concept of general filial/agape love works for me.

Apologies. Bit longer than I expected. I just started writing and it kept flowing. Apparently I did have some concrete ideas about how to fix it. Sorry, wow.

[parachutingkitten]

Season 4 Analysis

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: I am going to be applying the concept of criticism to a TV show you presumably love and adore as much as I do. If you do not want your idea that the show is immaculate to be challenged, I would not advise reading past this point.

Mood for the season: It's a SuPeR fUn HaPpY pLaCe!!!!!

You don’t need to, but if you are interested, and haven’t seen my analysis of past seasons, you can find those here:

Pilot

Season 1

Season 2

Season 3

Hey guys! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Season 4! We are here! I am SO biased with this season. It has problems man. It has ALL the problems! ALL the plot holes! ALL the stupid, stupid stuff, but I LOVE ALL OF IT! okay, let's back up. I'm about to drop some context on you. 

So, when you're a military brat you tend to make friends with whoever you can, and when I lived in Germany I had a friend who was fandom OBSESSED. She, at the time, was super into Homestuck, something I managed to avoid being sucked into, though I do know more about it than I would like. Anyway, this was the point at which I started getting sucked into Ninjago. So, I figured that if I could trust anyone with a strange obsession, it was her. I showed her the last episode of season 3, and she decided she was just going to dive head first into it with me. We watched season 4 together as it came out, we talked about it, had a bunch of inside jokes about it, I wrote some very short fanfiction about it, she made some OCs, one in particular that I remember was Stormy, a ditzy cloud master who wore pink, we shipped him with... one of my OCs, I don't remember. She hadn't watched the first two seasons, so I had to fill her in on a lot, but she was the first person I ever fandomed with, and it was over season 4. So I guess you could say season 3 was the grand beginning of my love for this show, and season 4 was the peak of my fangirl experience (at least for that phase of my life).

Plot

This season is a real mixed bag. Coming off the heels of the first season, nothing makes sense. Suddenly there are more elements, completely discrediting Lloyd's supposed power of four powers. And now it's genetic, which brings up the problem of Jay, who... if either Ed or Edna were masters, they would have slipped by now (but also like, how cool would it be if Edna just busted out with lightning powers) and then Zane who... doesn't have genes. It makes the world bigger, yes, but it also discredits the lore of the last two seasons, and brings up the question "Where the hell were the rest of the EMs when the Great Devour attacked? Or the stone warriors? Or the final battle?!" Anyway, it's a bit jarring and sudden to say the least. It definitely was not planned beforehand. There aren't even any hints in season 3. Like wouldn't it be cool if in season 3 we saw them go to the noodle shop, or Wu was really vague about elemental questions. It would make a lot more sense then. Idk. It opens the universe up to the plotlines of most of the future seasons, but it does sort of discredit the first two. This season is also kinda choppy feeling wise. You go from the mood the past season have had in the first episode to this sort of native tribal feel on the island, and then the factory and then back to Ninjago. It's kinda a mess. Overall it was just an excuse to put these characters in cool situations (which I have done before, I understand). Which I get, and it makes for some cool stuff, but I don't think any of it ends up meshing together super well in the end. When I think of this season I think of the tournament. I forget about the whole snake stuff at the end most of the time. I forget about the while Garmadon conflict. The fact that I forget that's there has to be a bad sign, right?

Characters

Character work this season is really pretty good for the most part! There are a lot of new characters. And they all are very distinct and fun, and even when two people you don't know especially well battle, you're still really invested. All of the Cole and Jay stuff is pretty good this season! Major upgrade from season 3. The whole fight scene is absolutely fantastic. Garmadon is freaking awesome this season. He keeps on trying to kill himself, and it's stupid, and the show sort of acknowledges that it's stupid, cuz Lloyd is just like 'dude, what the heck'. Kai's arch this season is pretty good, exploring his darker side and putting that intense conflict in front of him was good. I can tell you one thing, I like it a heck of a lot better than season 7, but we'll get to that when we get to that. So, yeah. Overall improvement in character! It doesn't dive super deep or anything, but it all works and is all interesting.

Skylor

So... she is one of the reasons I call this season the fanfiction season. We have a whole bunch of other elemental masters we've never heard of, and one of them their power is... all the powers. I can not tell you how much this ticked me off! And she hardly ever uses them! She has pretty much infinite power, and she doesn't think to use it, pretty much ever! There are no restrictions on her! This is what I hate Skylor for. And I do mean hate. BUT aside from that, strictly character wise she is done pretty well. She feels pretty fake and overly sassy at the beginning of the season, but there's a reason for that. It's an act. But it's not like she changed her personality to fool him, she intensified her personality to cover her intentions. Her arch feels pretty natural. That one scene where she does the evil laugh... that was weird. But aside from that, it feels okay. She was raised to think that lying and cheating is the norm, so when someone presents her with another option she begins to change. It makes sense. I love the scene where Kai and her look at each other through the prison bars and (even though their freaking legos) you can feel her realization that she's ashamed of what she's doing now. And after she makes the transition, she's just really chill. Like, I would like to hang out with her. I guess it is kinda sweet that even though she had all of the powers of... ever, at the end she's happy to just run her noodle shop. It's kinda poetic. Anyway, she may be a bit overpowered, and she feels like a bit of a Mary Sue, but overall her personality and interactions are enjoyable enough for me to mostly ignore that. I do agree that she is best used in moderation. She doesn't need to be part of the team. I wish we had a quick cameo each season, but whatever. What we have now in season 9 is nice, but she definitely needs to step back out of the spotlight in future seasons (knock on wood) in order to remain as likable as she's been.

Karlof

Love him. Freaking love him. Honestly, I probably relate to him the most. He's the first loser of the tournament, he avoids trouble, he sticks to what he knows, and he says it like it is. I love his interactions with everyone down in the noodle factory. He's like this perfect blend of optimism and pessimism. His interactions with Cole are beautiful. Their chemistry is really great. One of, I think everyone's favorite masters, and there's a reason why.

Shade

So... typical darkness character. Obviously selfish. But once the climax hits, I actually like him a lot. He kinda serves as an antagonist at first and then flips. It's kinda cool seeing a character with moral boundaries that far out. He's purposely suspicious to take attention away from Skylor, which I get. I think he has a lot of missed potential, but nonetheless, a decent character.

Neuro

I absolutely love his power! I love his manor, I love his voice. He may well be my favorite EM. I don't even know what else to say about this guy. If Karlof is who I am, Neuro is who I'd like to think I am. Calculated, calm, reasonable, and much like Karlof again, not too risky. I like him a lot. Cool guy. I like seeing how far he's willing to go for the ninja, and where certain lines are for him. It's kinda cool to watch. He could use a friend though. I HC he and Paleman hang out. Both quiet. Both reserved. Neuro could probably locate him in a room even if he's not visible. Idk. Anyway, I like him a lot! Great character.

Griffin Turner

Classic speedster. Good enough. Not much to say. He's fun. He's cool. He's what you'd expect. Decent screen time. None of it particularly character developing. For what he is, he's good at it.

Jacob

So, let's ignore the part where they made us think he was dead. He's a lot of fun. Good for them getting a blind character in there. Still confused on what his powers can... do? But I like his spunk. I think we all have a little soft spot for him.

Chamille

One of the only girls and she's pretty much evil. Why do girls have to be evil at one point to be interesting? Idk. Don't really care for her, don't really think much about her. Whatever. She's there. She serves her purpose. Fine. Okay. Moving on.

Paleman

Friggin love him. For the master of light to be invisible is a great move, and pretty creative. His voice is kinda obvious, but very distinct. It's a creative background character to have. I like him a lot. Again, I feel he could use some more love. See above Neuro HC. Like him a lot and... yay.

Bolobo

Kinda missed the "mother nature" pun... could have had at least one more female master... that's okay. He's cool enough. Kinda disappointing though. I mean, vines? Is that it?

Gravis

Gravity is a dang cool power. Idk what else to say. He doesn't get a ton of screen time, so it's hard to praise him too much, but yeah. I really like that. Actually had an FC (she was a villain but you know whateves) with the power, so seeing that be a real element they used is really cool.

Ash

I don't like him. He's very strange. He's just got that one laugh. He seems comically over the top a jerk. I like the way his mouth looks though. Unique and kinda cool. I was looking on his Wiki page, and it said he and Chamille kissed in the background at one point? Is that true? I am way curious now

Tox

Okay. She's nonexistent here, no personality. I guess she's kinda tough. Yeah, this gets confirmed later in season 9, when she speaks. But even there she's pretty nonexistent. Here's my idea. Instead of having all your females being 'tough' why not flip expectation on its head? I think it would be way funny and clever if the master of poison was super friendly, and bubbly, and genuinely a nice person. I'm thinking almost like Jay's (lightning... or I guess adopted) mom, levels of talkative and nice. Wouldn't that be kinda fun? Idk. Whatever. It is what it is.

Kapau and Chope

Best villains ever 10/10. 'Nuff said.

Romance

KAILOR

Okay, I freaking love them! They're not my favorite couple or anything, but they work really, really well… under certain conditions. There are a few bumps I can't ignore. Can we have a protagonist in the show who doesn't send googly eyes at their future love interest the first moment they see her? And remember when they made us think Kai and Skylor were related... yeah... why did we need to do that? That was... kinda uncomfortable. BUT other than that, Skylor is exactly what Kai needed. First, he needed a redhead. Duh. Second, he needed someone who would see right through his Kai shmoltz and be real with him. Third, she had to be fun. And finally, she needed to wear the pants in the relationship. And Skylor fills ALL of those requirements! I like that Kai falls for her right away, and I love that she doesn't think she likes him until... she totally does and it's like 'Oh SNAP!'. I love that weird scene where Chen walks around with Kai like he's already his son in law, that cracks me up! I guess I like them more in theory than in practice. It feels a touch forced, and it needed a bit more time. Point being, the beginnings of the relationship are extremely awkward and strange, but towards the end of the season, it gets good! I just wish we could see more :)

The... love... triangle

Alright, by now, you guys should know how I feel about these things. They suck. They're stupid. I hate them. They're pointless. And this season is... quite possibly the stupidest. So... the whole Garma-Wu-Sako... thing this season is that Wu wrote a letter to Misako a long time ago, and Garmadon stole it, and then... Misako *groan* used it to determine which of them she was going to marry... okay. Yeah, Garmadon, that was a crap thing to do. But you know what, he was evil. Wu should have just signed the thing when he wrote it. But also, Misako... WHAT ARE YOU DOIN' GIRL?! Why... would you let a letter... be the final deciding point? I don't get that. And my main problem is that she basically chose her husband based on his writing ability. The thoughts Wu had in the letter obviously directly express what Garmadon wanted to say. In the end, his feelings for her were still the same. The only thing different is that he didn't write it. He's not good with words the way Wu is. But the show treats it like he lied about his feelings, and didn't even like her. Like he was using her for personal gain or manipulation or something. Idk. The whole thing makes no sense. Now, maybe if he did something to make Wu directly look bad or disingenuous THAT would be understandable. But... idk. I don't get it. Misako sucks. Let's move on.

Villians

Chen

Chen is my favorite villain. Hands down. No competition. Any way you slice it. I friggin love the heck out of this dude. And here's why. First off, he's a very comedic villain that still remains extremely threatening, which is an extremely thin line to walk. I mean, think about it. With all the other villains, they were intimidating, and the henchmen provided the humor. Here, I guess you could say they flipped it cuz Clouse is pretty intimidating, but Chen is still crazy scary on his own. And here's how they do it: He's insane. Straight up, he has lost his mind. Nothing he does makes sense, but that's fine, cuz it probably makes total sense to him. You can laugh at the quirky things he does, but also live in fear knowing that he has trap doors installed EVERYWHERE. Why? Cuz he likes them! Is there a better reason than that when you're crazy! That was my problem with people with Pythor. He is so smart, why didn't he ever think that the devourer might eat him too?! There is no explanation. But with Chen, that doesn't matter! He wants to be a snake! Why? Why not?! No flaws in that thinking, right? This is also why I like Ultra Violet so much. She's the only one to rival his position, but because she's more of a side villain, I don't feel that's enough to dethrone him. With insane villains, you never have any idea what they're playing at, if it's smart, or how to counteract, cuz they're just insane. I mean, seriously,

"Chen, the ninja have figured out our plan, what should we do?"

"COOL! Let's tell EVERYONE our plan!"

And it works! I love his voice. Just the way he says things makes me so happy! He's having so much fun, and I have fun with him! 10/10 villain. Great work.

Clouse

I can't get past the voice. It sounds so over the top evil and... it's kinda annoying for me? He has a decent backstory and such, but whenever he's on screen I always find myself wishing it was Chen. He just sucks the fun out of everything and leaves nothing there, so most of his interactions aren't particularly interesting. I don't know. Never really thought much of him.

Humor

Needless to say everything with Chen works! Everything with the EMs works. Jay's whole Positive Thinking streak is amazing! There's not a lot that falls flat on its face. It's really pretty fantastic.

Favorite joke: too many to count. If I had to pick one...

Chen's: the reds, the purples, the super dark purples!

Drama

This season has some damn good drama. It has my personal most sad moment in all of Ninjago. I'm of course talking about Garmadon's death...  JK! XD I WAS LAUGHING ALL THE WAY THROUGH THAT SEQUENCE! But we’ll get to that later. Okay. But for real, my personal most heartbreaking moment is when we find out Pixal is scrapped (of course it's Pixal related) but seriously, watching this for the first time, it broke my heart hardcore. I audibly gasped. They have these conversations, and she realizes he doesn't remember her, and it hurts her because they were comPATABLE GOSH DANG IT! And then he starts remembering, and she knows she can't go with him, so she lies to him to give him the motivation to make it out, and then the reveal, and Zane's heart breaks, and your heart breaks. This whole scenario reminds me of my own writing, it has all these things I enjoy using. Distinctions between fantasy and reality, characters lying to each other to protect them, and an ending realization of total and complete emptiness. Of course, Pixal is added into his head, and all is fine and dandy. It works for this season but serves her worse in future seasons. Regardless, that moment when Pixal says 'scrapped' is the most depressing thing I've ever seen. All of the Zane drama this season works really well. Zane having an identity crisis is something I didn't think the show would handle. When Zane says he's just a clone if himself I was like 'oh, dang! They went there!'. It's almost like he's comparing himself to Cryptor, and it's some heavy stuff. Everything this season is shrouded in mystery. I love that. For the first half of the season or so, I really like the tournament stuff. But as we get Cole, and especially Jay in the noodle factory, that plotline gets much more interesting. I don't get into the Nya and Lloyd and Garmadon stuff that much. The stuff with Kai is okay. But overall, there's some good stuff.

Climax

Okay, so... I... I mean I like the build up. The thing with all the trucks is really good. Most of it was really pretty good with all the EMs doing stuff the ninja would usually do. But the whole ending thing, with getting mini Pythor involved, and you know. The whole Garmadon death thing. He died an honorable death and all that, but... idk, I can't get past Lloyd's voice. As he reads him off I just couldn't stop giggling! It's so overdramatic, they feel like they need to make Lloyd mad at his dad for whatever reason so he can come back at the last second, and it all feels so forced. And then the ending is super overly cheesy for how serious the show wants to take itself at that moment. Idk. I don't like it. One of my least favorite finales.

Spotlight episode

There are some good ones to choose from this season. Some real good ones. But the one I find myself watching the most is Ninja Roll. This episode doesn't have too high stakes, it doesn't make much sense, it's kind of pointless, but it perfectly encapsulates the reason I watch Ninjago. I don't know exactly why I watch Ninjago. I'm not into the action most of the time. The romance is cute, but not potent enough to warrant watching the show. The humor isn't revolutionary, the characters aren't especially deep. No, the reason I watch Ninjago is cuz it's fun. Ninjago is just a good time. It has just enough of all of those aspects to make for something I love. It makes me smile. With seasons 8, and especially 9, Ninjago has shifted into this darker action based, lore-driven thing, which I thought I would like, and I do, but I think it's lost a bit of that fun factor. In my opinion, Ninjago is it's best when it's self-aware, and doesn't take itself overly seriously. When you don't have to end the season on an ominous dark cliffhanger. I mean really. What is this? Chima? No. I just want to go hang out with the ninja and the gang, whatever it is their doing. This episode takes advantage of every situation a roller derby with the ninja provides. Of course Jay roller skates with his mom. Of course, Kai is incompetent at it. Of course, Chen cheats, of course, it all comes down to Lloyd. Of course, there's freaking buggies that Chen releases! This whole episode makes me smile and laugh and it has a good message. This is what I miss about Ninjago, and that's why it's my spotlight.

Misc

I know everyone always teases Jay about his TV show, but what about Kai and his wrestling career? I just feel like that would come up more often

I completely subscribe to the theory that Pixal was scrapped to fix Zane cuz they beat him up so badly when capturing. I'd kinda like to think Pixal even volunteered herself for it... ONE SHOT IDEA

I have to scratch... my face.

I need a number on the trap door to button ratio on the island

This season has my favorite intro of any season. Mainly cuz the remix is FIRE and I hate the fact that they don't have an extended version that sounds more like the opening itself. 

So all together, the word to sum up season 4 is fun. Definitely not technically the best, or the smartest, or the most well done, but it's my favorite because of nostalgia, my inner child, and because it makes me smile. I love this season.

- Maya (Parachutingkitten)

[mercy-of-the-ashes]

The gray monokuma managed to take out the obvious hostile one. "Looks like those groups of kids got away again... What's this."

The gray bear picked up a paper before tossing it behind her in a ball. "Those adults made the lethal kuma types is possible if not true...ugh those adults have been trying to kill Tenshi for a while if not abuse her. I'm getting sidetracked. I need to get at least one of those children." The gray bear run off on all fours.

Tōru looked confused as to what he seen. It didn't make sense at all.

"Oh great another like Shirokuma. At least it can defend itself." Toko said disregarding how her negative context about Shirokuma got her and Komaru in trouble before.

Tenshi shifted a little bit before getting up, "...Why am I here again?"

Scout jumped onto Tenshi where he was caught in an embrace.

Komaru looked at the Hellkuma. She grew fearful of the possibility of an encounter with another in the future.

🐾 @thelittleveterinarian 🐾

Aidan’s eyebrows narrowed so tightly, it looked like a vein might pop. “Did dat gray Monokuma just say adults abuse the girl?”

“Aidan, calm yourself,” Tristan begged, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“I wish to beat dese adults to a bloody pulp!” He shook his fists and punched the air. “I don’t trust the lass myself, but dat is no excuse to abuse her. When I get my hands on dose goddamn bastards, dey won’t know what hit ‘em!”

Tristan smacked a hand over his face. “Tis is hopeless,” he murmured, repulsed yet unsurprised about Aidan’s violent threats towards these rogue adults. He drew his attention to Toko. “Who was dat Monokuma, anyway? She resembles Shirokuma, except she’s gray. Err, apparently.” Then he got excited. “I’m goin’ to guess her name’s Haiirokuma!”

———————————————————————

By the time Tenshi finally came to, Haiji had dozed off and was now snoring. His faint snores were the only sound in the medical room. He had fought his exhaustion as hard as he could and promised to rest his eyes only for a little while. But by the time his eyes closed, he fell asleep. Taking a nap became too tempting to resist.