#she has some funky figure but this one's endearing

[jewishcissiekj]

my computer just crashed on me for no reason but guess who's gonna have Asajj merch in a few daysssss

She (the ship and Asajj) was pretty cheap and I like getting gifts when things happen to my fav characters so she will be mine

[zeestarfishalien]

Oops, John Constantine Found Family

[Day 1 dpxdc week 2023; John Constantine // Found Family // Oops]

• John Constantine/Box Ghost/Lunch Lady

John curses the Infinite King the first time he’s asked out to dinner.

It’s ridiculous, the parents of the little ghost child are loud and obnoxious and…definitely not endearing in the slightest. He’s sure he’ll be sick of the word “beware” before the end of the night.

But it is and he’s not.

He agrees to another dinner, more to prove to himself that this would never come anywhere close to working. He doesn’t get nice things and these two are just so…ridiculous and it’s so different from how his entire life has been, one nitty-gritty moment after the next; dooming his soul for power and favors.

But they aren’t turned off by his life or his rude demeanor. They like him and they show it. Against all odds, they just work.

And to think it all started with the end of the world…

~•~

John hates when he’s the last call, the hail mary pass, for the end of the world. Most of the better options for solving problems take time to put together, which is something few on the Justice League seem to understand and even fewer (read: None) seem to remember when a big threat comes about.

Since it’s potentially the end of the world, what’s one more time selling his soul going to hurt?

Possibly a lot this time. The King of Restless Dead holds sway over those that fall in the in between. They are historically stronger than most demons and spirits and on par with most deities. And since it is a title one by conquest most of the time the one to take over the throne is more powerful than the previous holders.

Now John really isn’t all that keen on joining the King’s legions but like he’s mentioned previously, end of the world and all that.

It’s a fitting enough end for him, he thinks and he hopes that his planned contract doesn’t have any loopholes for the King to take advantage of. Loosing the King of Restless Dead, King of the Infinite, King of the space between worlds, upon Earth for them to wreck havoc would probably cause Batman to revive John just so he can kill him again.

So it’s with a heavy heart and skyrocketing blood pressure that John starts chanting the words to bring the King of Ghosts to Earth, this Earth here and now. He’s got to be specific. Every single word matters…

…

John doesn’t know what he was expecting. A terror of the night? A horrific figure or possibly some sort of Eldritch entity that nearly melts his brain with its very presence?

Not a teenager that’s for fucking certain.

He’s not…he’s not certain what exactly he’s seeing as a funky little girl with blue skin and pigtails hikes herself up to peek over the teen’s shoulder.

He opens his mouth, probably to spit out some snarky comment or another but something in the teen’s eyes stops him. Then the overwhelming power hits him with the full force of a speeding freight train.

His lungs are too tight, too full. He can’t breathe, he can’t even twitch a bloody muscle under those glowing toxic waste eyes. The teen tilts his head, assessing John, weighing his tattered and bloody soul.

“What do you want, Laughing Magician?”

And that’s a fucking title. The King has his fucking title in hand with just a glance at him. The teen is all seriousness despite the little girl floating up to rest her upper body on his head like being The King just means he’s a glorified babysitter. She’s unaffected by the roiling waves of power washing off of him and crashing into John repeatedly.

He swallows and chokes on it because his throat is suddenly too dry. He coughs a few times before sinking into a bow.

“Oh King of Restless Dead and all those trapped in between death and life, I came seeking your aid to save this world and its inhabitants.” He doesn’t dare look up no matter how crawly his skin feels or how the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.

“Ohhhh. Oh yeah, I was keeping an eye on that but then Boxy asked me to babysit the tyke here. It’s that bad already?”

John has to fight every cell in his body not to look up at the King and give him a taste of the incredulous look on his face.

“We’ve lost several heroes already and countless civilians. Superman is stuck in recovery after an attack, he can’t be out there. Wonder Woman has a broken leg and Batman is no-“

“Okay, okay I get it.” He interrupts, “It’s bad. I’m on it. I just need one thing in return.”

“My soul?”

“Ewww no.” John finally does look up at that just to catch the genuine disguston the teen’s face. “I need you to watch little Boxy junior here while I take care of this. She’s too young for the battlefield.”

“But I’m not qualified to take ca-“

“Thanks!” The King plops the little ghost girl on John and she grabs onto him while he’s too shocked to respond. It’s a good thing she’s a ghost and can fly since it takes him entirely too long to wrap his arms securely around her.

She’s studying him furiously and seems to find him suitable since she eventually grins and introduces herself.

“I’m Box Lunch. Who are you?”

“John,” he answers and that’s all he planned to give her but she stared him down with her beady little red eyes, waiting. “John Constantine and as His Majesty said, I’m also sometimes called the Laughing Magician.”

“Ohhh, so you have lots of names like Danny does.”

“Danny?”

She sends him a flat look.

“You’re kinda slow aren’t you.” When he doesn’t respond she lets out a big sigh, something she definitely doesn’t actually need. “You call him King and use one of his titles but you don’t know who he is?”

Now that’s an answer. And an alarming one at that. Just how high in the ghostly courts are her parents that she can casually call the King by name?

“I uh…” he fumbles a moment for words. “News and info about your world doesn’t cross the veil to here very well.”

“Oh…” She says it like she didn’t realize that. “Oh yeah, that’s Danny’s world. I’ve never actually been to a living realm that wasn’t Danny’s.”

“Not even when you were alive? Or were you from His Majesty’s world?”

She levels that unimpressed look at him again before sighing the worlds biggest sigh. Highly entertaining coming from someone so young and so small.

“Come sit with me.” She floats to the floor and snags his hand to drag him down too. “I will teach you Silly Magician.”

He follows, not sure how to tell her no thanks without upsetting her, so he goes along with it.

~•~

By the time that The King in all his teenager glory popped back in, John and Box Lunch were snuggled into a nearby couch with John reading to her from a spell book (it’s the only thing he had on hand and he made sure to only read the kid safe parts to her).

And the rest is, as they say, history.

More accurately the continuation of John’s very very strange life but details, details.

[the-s1lly-corner]

Hear me out on this please

TADC crew x itward like reader

If you want to ignore this request you can I totally understand lol

TADC cast x itward type! Reader

Imma be so real with you anon originally I was gonna save this request for later since I have ZERO ideas (funny since fran bow as a game has had a choke hold on me since it released) but then I realized I can be evil and introduce people to the game

Anyways guys go play fran bow! Or better yet theres a full fandub, as well as several lets plays on YouTube!! I also recommend little misfortune as it's made by the same creators and takes place in the same universe!

Kind of wrote this as their general thoughts and dynamic with you since I struggled a lot with thinking of romantic stuff with them, especially with characters that I dont think would like. Be interested in characters like itward

CAINE:

You guys. Can talk up a storm, I think. Literally it's just you two "interrogating" one another and learning more about each other. As scared as you are of the current situation at hand, you can't help but be intrigued by everything, including the self proclaimed ring master!

Curiosity is damned, damn you curiosity/ref

Your curiosity ends up with you learning as nearly as much caine is willing to let on about the digital world...

Thinks

Two well dressed fellows, as well.. bonus if you have a red suit like itward so you kinda match with Caine

Caine loves watching you build your little machines, too, usually hovers over your shoulder

POMNI:

Sure you might not be able to fly away in a flying ship and return to the real world, but who's to say you cant make your own exit..? Possibly manipulate the code or something...! Sure you're main thing is machinery and technology, but theres usually some level of coding in there... so you and pomni team up to try to come up with a plan... honestly you probably lightly scold her when you find out she tried to leave, knowing ragatha needed help. On one hand you cant bring yourself to fully blame her, but on the other you would rather try to escape with everyone, you know? Pomni is sometimes put off by your odd nature, though... not enough to push her away from working with you though!!

RAGATHA:

You guys bond over your shared interested in sewing! You both make plushes! For you it's more so for gift giving, and for ragatha she does it to pass time! I like to think you guys both have nights where you just hang out, either in her room or yours, and just. Chat and sew! Probably finds your weirdness a little endearing in it's own way; afterall never once were you malicious, in fact you're quite kind to everyone around you and are more than willing to offer second chances even to those who dont deserve it. You and ragatha would be really good friends, I think!

JAX:

Finds your weirdness a little annoying and he probably asks you a ton of stupid questions on purpose. Probably asks a stream of dumb ones before asking one he knows will peak your interest, but insist he needs to go do something when you start answering. That aside he has probably asked if you could build him a funky little gadget (that he totally wont use for mischief).. probably tries to get all buddybuddy with you because he knows you wont give it to him for the...actual reason he wants

You personally dont hate him, but theres no real solid friendship there I think

KINGER:

Ah, the two strange father figures! Both with funky interests; kingers is bugs and yours is forks! ....okay well it's hard to combine those two interest so I guess we can use a different one, mechanics! You've definitely made kinger wind up robotic bugs before, and the fact it made him happy makes you happy! You guys both have a habit of spacing out, though on different levels and for different reasons...you both mutually keep an eye on one another, though!

You've probably dreamed of building a flying machine and escaping this place at least once, leaving with kinger. Too bad the reality isnt going to be that simple.. besides you'd bring everyone with you anyways

ZOOBLE:

honestly they get annoyed how sometimes you dont give direct answers and be vague when you're asked for a solution. It's not that you're trying to be malicious or incompetent, youre just trying to push for everyone to get creative and explore the world around them themselves, you know? Finds it a little off how you sometimes zone out, as if youre thinking about a dozen things at once... but nonetheless, zooble cant bring themselves to hate you. In fact you have this weird comforting aura around you.

GANGLE:

Youre so so nice with her and always trying to build her up. And honestly I think that's so sweet. Hugs. Give hugs! Side note I bet itward gives the most comforting hugs so by extension the reader gives the most comforting hugs!! You're always there to stand up for her, too, when people *cough cough jax* are mean to her. You probably also try to helo her make a new mask... not like "oh you help her fix her masks" no I mean like you try to make her a mask that's made of a stronger material so it's harder to break

Honestly I cant see a romantic relationship between a reader like this and gangle, I personally see it more as close friends or even found family

[thornsofdeath]

bucci gang dynamics

my dear friend asked me how i see their relationships so here is my word dump

bruno and abbacchio def have something going on. whether or not the gang or even if they themselves know it, being the "mom and dad of the bucci gang" have made them feel things for one another. bruno is very caring and patient with everyone and loves them all dearly. abbacchio is the crabby guy like the muppet hecklers but he is also very caring- he just doesnt know how to show it. ig he only lets those colors show with bruno. he and fugo also get along nice and calmly. as weve seen abba and giorno have a rocky relationship, but probably because abba sees his younger self in him? idk. narancia is immature in an endearing younger brother way, for fugo and gio who are younger than him he is more older brother but ykwim. him and mista are bromanicng it up i cant even lie. mista is one funky guy. mista has some of the most questionable yet campy fashion of the group but still respectable, fugo giorno and nara all look up to him in diff ways. abba thinks he is a silly rascal and bruno sees them as kind of equals (not in a condescending way more of like. hes one of the first ones on the team and bruno respects him greatly) fugo…. omg fugo my fav��� he has so much going on. so bruno is obv his most trusted person bc he saved him from jail and gave him a new life and allat and he is incredibly grateful and HUGELY respects him and doesnt tolerate bruno slander at all. mista is like fugo's weird gay older brother, nara is very dear to him from the day he picked him off the streets but he does get frustrated with his stubborn nature and simple math skills. him and giorno… fugo respects giorno greatly also from when he helps with the illuso battle to also when gio becomes don and they have that scene in purple haze feedback (mefinks they are gay but thats aside the point). next is giorno who admires everyone in the group silently, as a new gangman he wants to show them he is worthy but also take time to highlight all of their strengths, similar to fugo, he sees mista as like a cheeky weird gay brother. they go to each other with occasional gossip and secrets and all sorts of weird stories. finally trish (not technically part of the gang but yk. she is in my heart) she and mista are great friends and also narancia and her are close. she sees bruno as sort of a father figure because he was the closest thing she had before she "met" diavolo and also helped save her when diavolo tried to kill her.

[thesillygoosetapes]

Apple Experiments

Word Count: 2500

POV: Third Person

Commission for: Laine

Note: i didnt know what pronouns to use for Colress so i went with what the commissioner referred to Colress as! If you do not like transfem Colress i suggest you look the other way! I have permission from Laine to post this!!

“This isn’t what I thought you had in mind when you said, ‘let’s go apple picking.’” Laine said, sitting on the ladder as Colress picked one of the low-hanging fruit.

They were currently in an orchard, a ladder stood up next to the tree that Laine was currently sitting on and Colress on the ground picking apples from the tree. Laine took an apple, bit into it, and watched as Colress examined the apples with such awe and amazement. She just couldn’t get it, how could Colress find apples of all things interesting now? Laine knows of all the things she could get up to, and in part she has helped him in the past. This time was no different, helping Colress find the perfect apple for her experiment.

“Apples are fascinating things, are they not?” Colress asked. “We eat them every day yet we don’t dare to distinguish between what makes a good apple and what doesn’t. Or what the difference between a biologically engineered apple or a fresh one is like.”

“Here we go…” Laine mumbled, putting her head in his hands. “Can’t we just pick apples like normal people?”

They weren’t the only ones in the orchard picking apples. Couples all around them picking different types of fruit, smiling and hugging each other as they had fun. Among the trees were oranges, peaches, and other fruits that people went to pick, meanwhile Colress was still here picking apples and examining them for her experiment. What that experiment was, Laine still didn’t know. Laine almost felt a little embarrassed sitting there on the ladder as Colress still stayed at the same tree for minutes at a time looking at apples that all honestly looked the same to Laine. There was something endearing about it all though.

Laine would be the only person to put up with Colress’ weird experiments. Laine was always the first person Colress went to if she needed help with an experiment. There was that one thing Colress needed help with an experiment on plants, and while most in her department called her insane, Laine was the only person to indulge her in her weird antics. And it worked, by the way. People were surprised to see that, yes, you could turn plants into animals. (She made a dog-plant hybrid of some sort.)

Laine didn’t mind it when Colress did weird and funky things like this. Sure, it was boring, but it was what Colress loved doing the most, and he couldn’t deny Colress. So, that’s what Laine ended up doing for most of the day; picking apples with Colress. Laine would eat the apples and Colress would examine whatever Laine didn’t eat. Laine was in for a long day, because Colress wasn’t stopping anytime soon. They had gone through about 40 apples by this time, and there were still apple trees full of the fruit waiting to be picked.

“Normal people?” Colress asked, “When have I ever been normal?”

“Never, sweetheart.”

“Then there’s your answer. Now, come, we’re done with this tree.”

Laine sighed, stepping down the ladder and hauling it with them as they made their way to the next tree. It wasn’t too unbearably hot outside, a nice spring breeze waved through the air, so that was a plus on Laine’s side. Colress thought it to be good as well, since the orchard would be in its prime for picking. She made sure it was the right time for this apple picking date (if you could call it that) so that the apples would be in their prime when they were picked. It was careful and meticulous planning on her part, spending days and nights trying to figure out the best day to pick apples.

“What do you mean you want to go pick apples?”

Laine asked this while sitting on the couch of their shared apartment. Colress seemed to be in another fit; this time about apples. She was pacing around the room mumbling to herself about apples and their taste and looks. Colress had been like this for days, non stop muttering about apples and in the lab doing research on all types of apples. Looking up red versus green, unripe versus ripe, waxed versus not. Laine sighed, knowing she’d never get out of this fit on her own, and stood up grabbing Colress by the shoulders lightly.

“Calm down. I’ll take you to an orchard.”

“You will?” there was an uncharacteristic amount of begging and enthusiasm behind that voice, something that Laine couldn’t help but say yes to.

“I will.”

Colress smiled big, wrapping her arms around Laine. Despite looking lanky and unforgiving, Colress gave the best hugs. There was something warm about the hugs she gave, especially since she gives them rarely. Laine would savor these hugs knowing that they weren’t given for free. It was a tight hug, probably from the fact that Laine was giving into Colress’ indulgences, and one that lingered on. Colress pulled away thinking in a frenzy.

“I have to plan! I have to figure out what day is best for picking apples…the wind speed, the temperature, even the location is all important!”

“Woah there, slow down Colress.”

“I can’t!” she exclaimed, walking away from Laine. “I have to figure this stuff out! I’ll see you in a bit!”

So she did. She spent the next few days figuring out what days were best. Wednesday’s weren’t the best due to the constant wind speed on those days, and Thursday wasn’t good either because of the rain. Monday’s were too busy, and Colress didn’t particularly like people all too much. Laine had to beg Colress to go to bed a few times because she would accidentally not sleep for a couple days, or eat. After all was said and on, Friday of next week was the best time to pick apples.

“Alright, do we have everything?” Laine asked.

Laine checked through her bag, looking for all the necessary things she was bringing with her. Half the stuff Laine didn’t even know the name to, and the other half he didn’t even know what it did. She just kept quiet and let Colress do her thing. With a single thumbs up from Colress, they headed off to the orchard. It was some orchard on the other side of town, apparently with a lot of good apples, as Colress said. It wasn’t too busy, and the temperature was just right this day. Everything was made sure to go to plan.

“When did you even have time to go check out this orchard?”

“A couple of days ago after some research on the orchards in town.” Colress said simply. “It took me a few hours but I found the perfect one with good apples.”

“What is your experiment anyways?”

Laine shrugged. “Not sure yet. Could be the biological foundations of apples or the differences between green and red. I just need to see them for myself to determine the next step.”

Colress was always doing things like this. Going into an experiment without a solid hypothesis. It wasn’t the most soundproof and ideal way to do an experiment, but it was Colress’ idea of a fun experiment. If you don’t know your hypothesis then there’s the fun in doing the experiment! Something that Colress’ would do is make up a hypothesis along the way, and Laine figured that’s what Colress’ was doing now. Making up a hypothesis to have a sound experiment.

Which brought Laine back to here, sitting at a new spot under the tree eating red apples that taste super sweet. The sun was now in the evening and most of the couples had left the orchard. Meanwhile, Colress was still as interested in apples as she was when she first came into the orchard. That made Laine have a question though. “What’s the difference between a green apple and red apple?”

“Colour, for one thing.” Colress started as she plucked another apple from the tree. “Taste is second. Green apples tend to be more sour than red apples, while red apples have a sweeter juicier taste. I suppose that’s what you’re tasting now.”

Colress was right. There were red and green apple trees and whenever Laine had tasted the green apples his face would scrunch and pucker up. Laine didn’t mind the sour taste of the green apples and continued eating them, and the red ones were juicier. They would often make a mess and drip down Laine’s face, which she had to wipe off the excess juice afterwards. There was something else that Laine had a question of…

“Anything else?”

“Their skin,” Colress said, poking the red apple in her hand with a gadget, “Red apples have thin skin and green apples have thicker skin. There’s also the vitamin differences too. Green apples have vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin K, while red apples are full of antioxidants.”

That was something that Laine noticed whenever she bit into a red apple versus a green apple. It wasn’t much of a difference, but there was an obvious thickness to the green apples than the red ones. The way it was a tiny bit harder to bite into the green ones. They were cleaner, though, than the red ones. Laine chewed through the red of the apple in his hand and threw the core on the ground.

“What about unripe apples?”

“They’re usually smaller and greener. They also taste sour, much like green apples. I assume they taste even more sour than green apples…” Colress plucked an unripe apple and a ripe green apple. “Ripe apples have more colour and when you pluck them,” Colress plucked a ripe apple, “they come off the tree easily.”

On all the trees Laine did see apples that did look green, but not as green as the green apples they had been eating. They looked smaller, and had more spots on them than regular green apples. Laine had made the mistake of biting into one earlier and making a sour face as they threw the apple on the ground. It was unmistakably sour than a green apple, but Laine wouldn’t tell Colress that. She could find that out for herself.

Laine bit into a red apple, looking down at Colress who looked at the green apple with such intensity. “So, have you figured out your hypothesis yet?”

“Other than the sourness of a green apple versus an unripe apple, no. But I’m getting there.”

“It’s starting to get late,” Laine said, looking at the horizon. “We can always come back tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow it will rain.” Colress said in a deadpan still looking at the apple in her hand. “Won’t work tomorrow. At the least we’ll have to wait until next week, again.”

The sun was still high up in the sky that Colress could still search for a few more minutes, but it was starting to dip below the horizon-line. Laine didn’t much mind the night sky, but didn’t want to be spent in an orchard overnight either. Not that the owner would let them. They had a specific time they closed at, and Colress was nearing that time. Colress continued to examine more apples, having a basket full of them already piled up.

Although Laine complained about going to an orchard for simple research there was something about spending time with Colress that was endearing to his heart. The fact that Colress didn’t want Laine to do anything except sit there and hand her apples when she needed them. Laine guesses this is what people call ‘quality time’ in terms of expressions of love. Colress loved quality time, asking Laine to come into the lab whenever she was super busy just to keep her company. While it wasn’t Laine’s preferred expression, she still loved that Colress loved it.

“Havin’ fun there?” one of the owners of the orchard came by. “Pretty interested in the apples, ain’t she?”

Laine looked at Colress who looked at a green apple, before tossing it in the basket. Laine couldn’t blame Colress for her eccentricity though. If she was passionate about something she was going to put her mind to it. No one else would go through a million apples in an orchard just for an experiment. She was also persistent, and headstrong, not willing to leave until she had all the data she needed for her collection.

“Yeah…” Laine sighed. “Come on, Colress, it’s time to go.”

It was Colress’ turn to sigh, as she put up the clipboard in her bag and walked over to the basket full of apples. Despite her lanky figure she was strong, at least, strong enough to pick up a basket full of apples. Holding a basket full of apples, Colress nodded, and headed off towards the car. The owner of the orchard looked at her with wide eyes and his mouth agape. “Need that many apples?”

“Yeah.” Laine repeated, sighing again.

Laine got in the car with Colress while the apples sat in the backseat. The evening sky started to loom over them as they made it back to their apartment on the other side of town. The day was over just as quickly as it came. Laine thought of it to be a somewhat eventful day, spending time with Colress as she poked and prodded apples of all different kinds. The car ride was silent until Laine decided to break the tension between the two of them. “I thought this was a date.”

“A date?” Colress asked. “Did you want it to be?”

“Yes,” Laine grumbled. “But I didn’t mind. Watching you pick apples with that expression on your face is something that I love about you.”

“No…no,” Colress shook her head, “I mean. You want to date me?”

Laine looked at Colress in disbelief, but wore a smile on his face. “Sweetheart, we’re already dating.” Laine laughed. “We live together.”

“Oh…” Colress looked down at her lap, folding her hands together. “So this is dating…”

“You seriously didn’t know?” Laine asked, albeit a little more seriously now.

“I’m joking, of course.” Colress joked. “Of course, I know I’m dating you.”

“Oh, thank God.” Laine sighed in relief. “I had fun today.”

“I love you too,” Colress said, looking at Laine endearingly on the ride home.

It was moments like these that Colress wouldn’t dare to ever forget. Although she was known for her friendly nature, she wasn’t known for trusting so easily. Trusting, much less than loving someone. There was a sense of openness and vulnerability that came with loving someone as deeply as Colress loved Laine. A sense of belonging. Whenever Colress would look at Laine it was like her entire world would light up, knowing that there was someone in her corner to indulge in her every whimsy. Colress may have asked for a lot, but Laine was always there to give, and never asking for anything in return.

And Colress wouldn’t have it any other way.

[prongsmydeer]

Ayesha Liveblogs She-Ra S5 

“You’re not She-ra anymore, remember?” Unlike Bow, Adora is not adjusted to fighting without her powers LOL

You know, it didn’t really occur to me to question it until now but why do only five of the princesses have runestones? Spinerella and Netossa are princesses but they don’t get to be part of the balance of planet LOL

Scorpia, Entrapta and Micah in the intro ahhhhhh! I love this for all of them

“What is this?” Akorradora trying to access the Avatar state again:

Shockingly tactful for Entrapta to suggest they’ll figure out where Glimmer is soon. You know what that is!! Growth!!!

“You saved me, and you’re gonna save my little girl.” Micah said: Have you heard of father figures. I am available

Ffhkjhg @ Adora defiantly charging every enemy she sees, magicless

“It seems [Hordak] had very little love towards you at the end.” Hordak said: I looked into my brother’s memories just so I could figure out how to hurt your feelings, Catra 

How nice of Horde Clone #1 to warn Team ScorDorBow that their camp was being attacked LOL if Micah hadn’t sent a signal they still could’ve gone back

[Shadow Weaver saves Micah from a bot] [Micah grunts, perhaps in both thanks and resentment] “You’re welcome.” The funky little aunty trauma emerging from Micah and Shadow Weaver. Call me compelled

Horde Prime offering his flagship speciality, Genoc!de Jello: 

How does Glimmer get this whole view of the camp being attacked but somehow DOESN’T see Micah. Feels intentional 

“Ah, here she is, your beacon of hope. Adora.” Horde Prime is smarter than I gave him credit for in identifying Adora as the leader

Though, he saw all of Hordak’s memories. So. Eh on credit

“These princesses are so predictable with their feelings.” “As were you. Elevated heart rate, dilated pupils. Adora means something to you.” I was half-kidding about Horde Prime trying to figure out how to hurt Catra’s feelings but it was true

“Cast aside this false hero and deliver her to me.” Okay Lorde Hordemort

I know I’m like. Technically Millennial/Gen Z cusp. But as a self-identifying Millennial, the way this show was DEEPLY written by a Millennial. The media influences are clear 

I googled it and he was born in ‘91. HA

LMAO @ BOW TOSSING EVERYONE OUT OF ADORA’S TENT INCLUDING THE KING. PRIME MEDICAL ADVOCATE:

I think Frosta should get to punch Horde Prime, as a treat

UNBELIEVABLE THAT ENTRAPTA STILL CARES MORE ABOUT TECH THAN FINDING GLIMMER HAHAHA. DIDN’T YOU JUST SAY LIKE TWO EPS AGO YOUR MAIN COMPLAINT WAS BEING ABANDONED. ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK LMAO

Whatever, much like Mermista, I’ll take it if she’s not pro-Horde

Also: Djjfkjfkhfkj funny that Scorpia is now the mediator

Also also: Scorpia’s really good at impressions! 

“Little sister, why do you rebel against my commands?” Horde Prime calling Catra his little sister gives me the heebie jeebies. You are nothing like Daddy Hordak!!!! Not that Hordak was a good guy, but like. Hey. He had something to offer as a family dynamic

Ohhhhhhhhh poor Glimmer: 

HAHA @ PERFUMA PUTTING ENTRAPTA ON A CHILD LEASH

“You don’t care about Glimmer or any of us. You only care about tech.” Are we FINALLY going to have Entrapta show some remorse. I hope so. AGAIN. I get that she’s probably representing a specific like. Cognitive situation. But NEURODIVERGENT PEOPLE CAN CARE ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS!!!!!

“I thought maybe, if I could use tech to help you, you’d like me.” This line is a hard sell. Why then, do they have to talk Entrapta into doing anything for/with her friends by offering tech? Literally done so in this same episode? Just lean into the fact that she didn’t realize how much she’d hurt them rather than rejecting responsibility and suddenly deploying a tragic underlying motivation! 

I do genuinely like Entrapta!!! She is endearing in her way. I just think that they make her so neutral towards most people (save for Hordak, with whom she shares both technology and a seemingly familial-esque bond), and then inconsistently suggest she is people-motivated. Be accountable to your actions, babygirl!

“Glimmer needs us.” FINALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY

“Focus, Entrapta! Glimmer needs you,” said Entrapta, to herself. Loving Entrapta’s Empathy Era. Good for her!!

Ahhhhh Adora needing to let go of She-Ra to move on. <3333

“Yeah, it turns out I’m an awesome leader, so we’re gonna be fine.” Also loving Mermista’s Rebellion General Era!!!!!!!

“You want She-Ra? Come and get her!” MICAH, KING OF COSPLAY

“See you soon, babygirl.” I SWEAR IF I DO NOT GET A MICAH, GLIMMER AND ANGELLA REUNION, I WILL BE SO SAD

“You remember me, don’t you? Here’s a clue. You don’t like me. Hordak.” RETURN OF DADDY HORDAK AND THE FUCKED-UP FAMILY REUNION:

Bow’s mediation skills and level-headedness are unmatched. If Adora is the Heart of the Rebellion, then Bow is the Head

The powerful healing energy of teenage girls sitting on the floor:

“Your Adora causes you nothing but suffering.” Actually, I think Catra causes most of her own suffering, Horde Prime. This is just the manifestation of her Repressed Furry Space Lesbian Feelings

Platinum Hordak has such sad little eyes as he goes to the memory bath

Poor Bow is clinging onto his hinges for dear life trapped on a ship with the two princesses with the worst impulse control (aside from Bestie Glimmer LOL) kjhgkjhgjh

“You will be exalted, raised up above the other creatures of your wretched home world.” Is this Horde Prime’s way of saying Catra’s gonna be in his museum of war horrors

“I’ll never say sorry to anybody, ever,” said Catra, at age 7, and then she stuck to it for the next ten years of her life

“I want to do that one good thing in my life. Like you said.” YEAHHHHH CATRA AND GLIMMER

(Cannot help but feel this will immediately bite Catra in the ass though)

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH CATRA SAVING GLIMMER (AND INDIRECTLY, ADORA) AT THE COST OF HER OWN SAFETY. I LOVE U CATGIRL

“There’s no one left in the entire universe who cares about me.” [Immediate cut to Adora] WRONG

“Adora, I’m sorry, for everything.” I FORGIVE YOU IMMEDIATELY CATRA, THAT WAS ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR

Me last season: Catra/Adora is gonna be hard sell given how hurtful Catra has been for every single episode of this show

Me this season, after seeing Catra be nice twice: IT’S FINE

I keep thinking how unrealistic it seems that no one is being killed but at least with Catra it makes sense that Horde Prime would keep her, as she is the Adora Bait 

Adora is taking being used as a weapon WAY better than I expected jkghkjghg. I mean good for you but you’re allowed to be a little mad at Glimmer! 

“Like, one time, Kyle told me he had a crush on Rogel—” the Lizard Boy who speaks no words??? Kyle please. Also Kyle/Rogelio forever ❤️

“This is all my fault. Horde Prime only found us because—” “Because YOU activated the Heart of Etheria.” Bow is mad enough for the both of them, actually:

”That was forever ago. A lot’s changed since then.” Bow said: Now I have broader shoulders, you have a different hair, and you’re a war criminal, Glimmer. Times have changed

I looked it up on the UN website to see which War Crimes Glimmer has committed, and I count at least two:

“Intentionally launching an attack in the knowledge that such attack will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects or widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipated.” (Using the Heart of Etheria)

“Subjecting persons who are in the power of another party to the conflict to physical mutilation or to medical or scientific experiments of any kind [...] and which cause death to or seriously endanger the health of such person or persons.” (Turning the princesses into the weapon)

Starla with her boomerangs and magic owl and immediate sharing has already won me over

Do the robot arms imply that Tallstar is a double or quadruple amputee? Wild as hell

“I’m not leaving anyone behind!” YEAHHHH ADORAAAAAAAAA

“Ready to do something that probably won’t work?” “Always.” Oh, how I’ve missed the Best Friend Squad

“We’re going to fight Prime, and take back our home.” Love this for the Star Siblings as well ❤️

“You get to be mad, for as long as you need to be. But I’m not going anywhere.” Glimmer is speaking MY love language

Swift Wind making magic radio calls to Adora every night is v sweet

How have none of the Horde clones alerted Horde Prime about the intruders in their server room lmao

Are we sure this isn’t Hordak? The crying seems kind of on-brand:

Hahahaha, Wrong Hordak is a delight. The implication that all of the Horde clones are incredibly emotionally vulnerable sad boys if left to their own devices kjhgjhgkjgh. Hordak never stood a chance of being well-adjusted lmao

“I brought her to the light. Isn’t that right, little sister?” Hate every part of this for Catra. However. This animation fucking rules:

“But you have already hurt me. Prime has set me free of that pain.” Quit blaming Adora for your repressed gay middle school crush, Catra. If it were about abandonment issues, please see the past five seasons when Adora has repeatedly extended her hand to you

I also like Catra’s new haircut. The hair changes in this show are good

“We both know I don’t matter.” “You matter to me!” 💞

BABYGIRL BACK IN ACTION. NOW I BELIEVE SHE’S 8 FEET TALL:

I really hope the Helpful Hordak that they brought with them IS actual Hordak. I want to see him and Entrapta reunited

Update from thirty seconds later: It was not him, but he knows she is looking for him. Daddy Hordak will get his favourite daughter reunion soon enough

Helpful Himbo Hordak is my new favourite character. If anything happens to him I will [redact] everyone on this ship and then myself:

IGFHKJFHKFJH SCREAM THEY ADDED HELPFUL HORDAK TO THE INTRO. I’M LOSING IT HIM HOLDING THE WRENCH AND SMILING 

“What do you care? I know you all hate me.” “I never hated you!” I am glad Catra is literally the first ex-Horde soldier to actually be dealing with some lingering guilt and complex dynamics emerging of her actions

Also. also. For the final time. Someone desperately needs to fix the captions of this show and stop dropping important words. The captions here drop the words ‘I know,’ which are important, because it signifies 1) Catra’s pre-empted conclusion (i.e. I don’t need to talk to anyone, I know how they feel about me) and 2) That this feeling of being hated is entirely rooted in herself (I feel that I am hated). I get that it probably has been outsourced and done as quickly as possible. But it is deeply inaccessible to people who rely on captions to understand what’s being said 

All of this caption mess is really a piss-poor-how-dare-you-say-we-piss-on-the-poor moment

Also. Kind of unrelated but something I’ve been thinking about since I looked up the Millennial who wrote this show. Why do the credits use a name he doesn’t go by anymore? The show is recent enough to reasonably be updating it. Like Umbrella Academy also had someone involved in the change their name, and they changed the credits on every prior episode to say Elliot. Did the creator for She-Ra choose to leave it? On Wikipedia it describes his production credits for this show as ‘credited by deadname’ which like, to me, suggests it’s not something he actively chose. For a show which tries to weave representation and inclusion into its fabric, its Netflix presentation is bizarrely thoughtless when it comes to real people!

We interrupt all the meta concerns to say: Hee hee, leetle kees on the volleyball court

“Did you think she was going to just instantly become a different person?” LMAO @ ‘a different person’ being Glimmer and Adora’s code for ‘Catra trying not to be mean for more than 30 seconds at time’

There’s something very poetic and funny about Micah desperately wanting Frosta to accept him as a friend, like Frosta wanted from Glimmer

[Ominously] “Why don’t you stay for supper?” I KNEW something would wrong with Elberon ever since the Flutterina thing. Something has been brewing in the water here

“Horde ships coming right for us,” from Entrapta also sounds kind of like, “hardships coming right for us,” which is also true

I really feel like Adora should’ve yanked the chip out of Catra when she was still in She-Ra mode. Is it like. Connected to her brain stem?

[Groaning] “My daughter’s gonna hate me.” Micah is the love of my life

“It’s like they’ve been replaced by totally different people.” Hmmmmm

Elberon has gone full Spooky Mode. I love the constant Haunting Lighting:

Entrapta clearly remembers every time she’s been wronged (being left in the Fright Zone, Catra taking her work and sending her to Beast Island). But somehow NEVER retains anything she’s done to wrong others (hacking the Black Garnet, creating the portal which took Glimmer’s mother). What kinda selective memory jkghkjghgjh. [Entrapta as Aslan meme voice] I forgor 

Wow. Catra admitting she wants Adora to stay is a real breakthrough!

“Just stay with me while I do it okay.” It’s a day of breakthroughs for Catra. I’m very proud of her!

You know. Aside from Adora being a literal alien. They’ve already established that she’s impervious to the cold, so why not, to her free-floating in space? 

Bold of her to jump out without checking though!

“Chip appears to be fused with the subject’s nervous system [...]” I guess Horde Prime did put it in her brain stem!

Catra said: I do apologies AND thank-yous now. I’m a new catwoman!

Glimmer and Bow immediately moving aside so Catra can sit between them. I love the Best Friend Squad!

Not Spinerella being chipped!!!! Don’t harm our happy background emotional support couple

“Onward to a secret underwater party adventure.” Screaming over the fact that Scorpia, Perfuma, Mermista and Sea Hawk have decided the way they’re going to deal with the citizens of Etheria being turned into robot spies is by having a fancy dress party:

I love that Perfuma is an excellent actress, good for her

LMAO @ MERMISTA AND SEA HAWK HAVING TO BEAT UP HALF OF THE PEOPLE THEY SEE. Feels like perhaps the easiest version of this plan would be leaving Sea Hawk at home 

“I just wanted to know what [setting someone’s boat on fire] felt like.” [Gasps] “You are everything I’ve ever wanted.” Mermista x Sea Hawk 5ever

The ratio of musical numbers really does increase as the shows goes on. Also losing it at Scorpia literally singing her deception to a room full of people: 

“Strangest thing but I think we’ve met before.” DHJKDHDJHD has Prince Peekablue been replaced by Double Trouble

Update from 30 seconds later: Yes

Good for Netossa for noticing right away but for someone who has full access to his victims’ brains Horde Prime is sure not good at acting in-character for them. He should take a lesson from Double Trouble 

I should’ve figured that Mermista would be the one to get chipped at the incredibly convenient and inconvenient location of underwater but NOOOOOOOOOOO MERMISTA

They are messing with ALL of the emotional support background couples this ep

This party is not really going well for Team Princess at all: 

THEY GOT PAPA GLIMMER TOO??? OH MICAH 😭😭😭

“That’s your cue, Hot Stuff. Let’s go.” Hahahah is Double Trouble calling Sea Hawk Hot Stuff because he likes to set boats on fire or just because they think he’s cute kjghkjghgkjhg

Kind of bizarre that Scorpia, despite being under water, has seen no impact of water conducting an electrical current. SHOULDN’T THAT BE A MAJOR ADVTANGE? 

SCORPIAAAAA. I THOUGHT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A NICE LITTLE REPRIEVE NOT HALF OF THEIR FRIENDS BEING LOST TO THE HORDE. THE FANCY DRESS OUTFITS BETRAYED ME:

Very haunting when they end episodes with just silence ahhhhhhh

Ohhhhh the chipped friends going into the antagonist slot in the intro 😧

“Your plan is to ram through an armada of ships?” “No... Maybe!” Rare voice of reason moment for Catra LOL

Dhdkjhdjjdh Helpful Hordak immediately spilling Horde Prime’s vulnerabilities at the slightest prompting. Me oversharing about my health problems when people ask how I am 

Someone please clarify how they had a spacesuit with cat ear slots so readily available to them in the middle of hiding from a nearly omnipresent enemy. Was Adora just keeping this on board always in the hopes Catra would get her act together hahahaha: 

LHFKJHFJHFKJH Bow and Glimmer looking between Adora and Catra perplexed whenever they make Lesbian Eye Contact 

Lesbian Eye Contact Count 1: Adora giggling at Catra as she tries to take off her unexplained custom-made helmet 

“So, wait. The plan is to barge ahead into the structurally unsound building to find some mystery person that we know nothing about, in the hopes that they somehow know how to defeat Horde Prime?” Catra is experiencing culture shock from the Rebellion planning strategies

It really takes Shadow Weaver like seconds to figure out how to get under everyone’s skin: 

You know, surely there’s some kind of risk in plugging Helpful Hordak into this new building. You don’t really know what his reset button is

Lesbian Eye Contact Count 2: Adora staring as Catra makes a new door in their mysterious abandoned building:

“Seems Wrong Hordak has begun to question the meaning of life. [Sobbing] “Who am I if not an exaulted brother of Horde prime?” Helpful Hordak bursting into tears the moment he has to deal with anything that he’s not used to. Relatable content

Catra was right to hesitate to take her helmet off, I think. Just because they can breathe doesn’t mean those glowing spores are safe

“I think the feeling I had about this place is a bad feeling,” said Glimmer, as they were chased out of a hallway by numerous spikes trying to impale them 

[Deadpanned and emotionless] “Go through the door on your left.” That Entrapta message doesn’t at ALL sound suspicious

Update from 1 minute later: It was not Entrapta speaking 

“I thought it was bad but it’s not. It’s magic.” Ohhhhhhhh love that Glimmer’s understanding of magic has grown with time!!! Her being the first to understand the illusions they’re seeing: 

Is the illusion creature a cat or did it just choose to be a cat for Catra?

“I’m sorry I got angry. It’s something I’m working on.” [Endeared] “Oooh. You are?” Me and Adora being impressed and endeared whenever Catra shows the bare minimum of growth hahahaha

I can’t believe the payoff for Catra’s five season fursona is that she can speak alien cat hahahaha

“They dug into the ground. Built machines.” “The First Ones. That’s what they were doing. They were mining this planet’s magic, just like on Etheria.” Everything eventually circles back to space colonization

God I love the addition of Melog, Space Cat to Team Princess

“Brothers, Horde Prime lied to us. He is a false ruler. We must rise up against him and free the universe from his unjust reign.” We love the self-radicalization of Helpful Hordak. He said we will seize the means of production and overthrow the bourgeoisie (his rude brother)

“Etheria isn’t a weapon. It’s a living creature.” Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh Shadow Weaver said I see your Space Cat Friend and Raise You Planet Friend

“We can destroy the restraints the First Ones built, set the magic of Etheria free and use it against him.” Didn’t work too well when you tried that on Daddy Hordak, did it, Shadow Weaver? Shadow Weaver said: Never forgive, always forget

“What is this tingling sensation?” “That’s warmth, buddy.” That’s Rough Buddy vs. That’s Warmth Buddy stand-off in the streets

I was wondering if Melog was going to be added to the intro in this ep and while Melog wasn’t, I did notice how the Catra and Adora fight has changed to more of a friendly and playful ahhhh I love when intros match the emotional stories of the protagonists

What good is the Hive Mind if it can’t see She-ra right in front of them LMAO

“Oh... expressing facial emotion is a privilege reserved only for Prime,” said Helpful Hordak, like doesn’t burst into tears every time he’s stressed

Obsessed with Helpful Hordak mimicking any expression he sees ❤️: 

[Horrified gasp] “Princesses? Where?” [slams door] wild that the princess propaganda that Catra and Adora were raised on as Horde children has eventually circled back to being true 

Hahahahah Glimmer and Bow are incapable of not trying to recruit people to the Rebellion for even 30 seconds in a shop

I like that Melog is now Catra’s means of using magic. If you're not born into royalty, adopt a giant cat with whom you develop a symbiotic magic relationship and it’s basically the same

“My fight is over. Lord Prime has given me peace.” [popular Netflix show voice] There’s no war in the City of Light

HAHAHAHAHA @ CATRA BEING OFFENDED AT ADORA HESITATING TO FIGHT HER CHIPPED HOMIES, WHICH IS NOT AT ALL THE SAME AS FIGHTING A FRENEMY WHO WAS A BELIGERENT BELIEVER IN TYRANNY UNTIL 4 EPISODES AGO

Adora: How are we supposed to fight our own friends?

Catra, scoffing, like she didn’t instigate 98% of their fights: It never stopped you before

I think Spinerella’s use of the word beloved (a term Netossa has said they don’t use) is Horde Prime being purposely cruel ☹️

“I must access the memories stored in this version.” Can’t believe we’ve graduated from Daddy Hordak to Grandpa Hordak 

Speaking of Daddy Hordak, I have been waiting all season for him to find Entrapta and join the Rebellion. It feels like a matter of time 

Side note though: I do think he will sacrifice himself for the Rebellion and Entrapta. He’s done a lot of damage so I can only imagine that’s how his story will end with four-and-a-half episodes remaining

“So the only person I’m fighting here is... my own wife?” WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HER WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD

“We were gone. We weren’t here to help our friends.” Bow you literally were helping your friends!! You can’t be every at once, sweet boy

“We won’t abandon Erelandia,” said Glimmer, before teleporting away

Perfuming crying because she hates managing people. Same girl:

“But can we circle back to your not-at-all-weird-and-very-detailed theories on our weaknesses?” Netossa said: I have a had a lot of time and trauma while you were gone

“Glimmer: Crippling self-doubt mixed with overwhelming hubris.” “Whoa, whoa, whoa, that’s like, really personal compared to fire.”

1) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

2) True

3) Same

“Your negative vibes aren’t appreciated here, Catra.” Perfuma directly calling Catra out for being a vibe killer

“They can’t defend themselves. They’re dads.” This is such a wonderful line, I feel like they just breeze past it jkdhkdjhdj

“’What did the First Ones say when they burned dinner? It was ruined.’” Bow’s parents leaving him a note about their secret hiding place with a doodle of themselves, drawn hearts and a joke inside is peak parenting. Lance and George deserve an award for this kind of communication:

“This one’s mine.” Perfuma wants to stay above fighting her friends but Netossa truly has no such qualms about fighting her wife. She said: Are you kidding me, my wife will kill us, we gotta kick her ass

“Mara wasn’t alone. She was working with a group of rebels going against their First One’s leaders.” OOHHHHHH ARE WE FINALLY GOING TO RESOLVE MARA’S PLOTLINE? I LOVE

My money is on Arxia being the Fright Zone or Bright Moon

“Friendship isn’t a weakness. It’s my greatest strength. And Scorpia’s too.” Is this cliché? Yes. Do I adore Perfuma being too nice to hurt her friends anyway? Also yes!!!

“Because Spinny, you’re my weakness.” AHHHHHHHHH NETOSSA:

Perfuma reassuring Catra that it’s okay to keep your heart open is why I think she should date everyone she interacts with. She just has the vibe of everyone she knows living in her heart

Well, colour me incorrect! Arxia is on Mystacor, I kinda forgot about Castaspella and Shadow Weaver LOL

Netossa and Spinerella being reunited in the intro with a kiss 🥺💘 I’m love them

“Would a ‘please’ kill you?” Fjlfjfjhfjkh that ‘a’ really sounded like an ‘I’ and was really thinking Castaspella was escalating hahahah

“Micah was an exceptional sorcerer even then. It’s a shame it didn’t run in the family.” Shadow Weaver is determined to antagonize everyone who has joined her on the Arxia Rebellion Field Trip

“This isn’t about tech. It’s about our chipped friends. If I can get this to work, I can save them.” THAT’S RIGHT BABYGIRL, ENTRAPTA’S EMPATHY ERA HERE TO STAY

Lesbian Eye Contact 3: Adora loving that Catra is trying to rescue her and Catra being embarrassed about it

RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR TERRIBLE FOSTER MOM LMAO

“I see you and Catra are close again. Do you really think that’s wise?” Yaddah Yaddah Generational Trauma: Emotional Distance Edition 

Also this is horseshit, every time Adora has transformed this season has been in the interest of protecting a loved one

Speaking of generational trauma, DADDY HORDAK IS BACK BAYBEE:

This is certainly a rough way for Glimmer to reunite with her father 

“Adora, it doesn’t always have to be you!” Ohhhhhhh Catra

Vhjkvhjvhkjvh I know it’s like. To prevent them from wreaking magical havoc. But wild for Adora cave-in Micah and two other sorcerers in a hidden magical prison without food or water 

“[Sacrificing yourself for Etheria] is what you’ll always choose. I don’t have to stay and watch it happen.” Someone was listening to Shadow Weaver’s emotional distance lecture a little too hard

“Adora doesn’t want me! Not like I want her.” It took her 51 episodes but Catra is finally admitting that her feelings for Adora are not entirely platonic LOL

Having non-verbal communication and comfort from an animal friend was really an element we’ve been missing until Melog. A talking horse just doesn’t hit the same feelings: 

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH GO REBELLION:

We are back to the realm of the Romantically-Charged Friendship Simulation. I wonder what Bow and Glimmer will see in here, if anything

You’re telling me instead of needing a bunch of princesses, all Horde Prime needs to do to activate the Heart of the Etheria is to invest in an auger drill? LMAO

"I never could’ve done any of this without you. Thank you for being the best friends anyone could ask for.” ADORAAAAAA ☹️☹️

Catra going back to warn Adora only to stumble on to Shadow Weaver getting drunk in the middle of a war while Adora takes all the world’s burdens. Incredible. Truly representing the average parenting energy of this show

FINALLY they’re acknowledging that water conducts electricity. Just as the planet is about to explode

I can only imagine Entrapta being captured will trigger Daddy Hordak to turn. [Rafiki voice] IT IS TIME

“Take care of her, Horde Scum.” “That’s the plan, Sparkles.” I LOVE CATRA BEING IN THE BEST FRIEND SQUAD 😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️

“Bow. I love you. I love you. I love you.” “I love you too.” Kind of figured Bow and Glimmer were headed in that direction. Every single friendship in this show is romantically charged hahahaha

More like the Best-Friends-To-Lovers Squad, am I right? 

“You’re worth more than what you can give to other people.” MARA 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

“Doesn’t it remind you of the first time we met? You also tried to kill me then. 😌❤️” Sea Hawk for Most Boyfriend in the History of Etheria

Everyone’s suddenly being really forthright about their romantic feelings. That’s TWO I love you exchanges from the Team Princess and self-admission from Catra. They said if we’re gonna die we might as well speak our feelings

“Hello Babygirl.” Micah for Most Haunting Use of Babygirl Award:

“How strange. I must have fought her. I must’ve known her face. But I have no memory of it.” Last minute theory of Light Hope/Mara/Horde Prime love triangle. I don’t really think it’d happen, but it would HILARIOUS to me if it were true 

CATRAAAAAAAAAAAA (also Shadow Weaver). Ex-Horde reunion LOL

“My mother raised me to be brave. My friends taught me to be kind. And I’m stubborn. I get that from you. I will never stop fighting. And I won’t lose another parent.” GLIMMER 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Side note: Until this point I have kind of been assuming Angella would be freed from her dimensional trap during the finale, but it doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen 

I love that Bow and Entrapta’s knowledge together is what takes down the chips!!!! TECH BOY AND TECH GAL FORCES UNITE

“It’s time to take back our world. It’s time to fight.” BABY BOY BOW INSPIRING ALL OF ETHERIA TO FIGHT BACK

WHAT DO YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS SHADOW WEAVER CAN LEARN SOMETHING:

“It’s too late for me. But you, this is only the beginning for you. I am so proud of you, Catra.” Shadow Weaver said: The cycle ends with me, actually

“Whatever happens, I am staying with you.” Catra said: ‘Til death do us part, Adora

“I made a life of my own. I made... a friend. I am Hordak, and I defy your will.” I knew Daddy Hordak was incapable of killing his favourite child: 

Hordak didn’t really think through the whole Hive Mind thing when he threw his brother/parental figure/supreme overlord into a bottomless pit

Adora’s dreams for the future are so sweet ahhhhhhhhhhhhh:

(On a less serious note: What wild hair choices for everyone LMAO)

“Don’t you get it? I love you. I always have. So please, just this once, stay.” They got there eventually! GOOD FOR THEM 

Not to be dramatic but lesbian love is literally going to save the whole universe. I repeat: GOOD FOR THEM ❤️❤️❤️

I’m not sure if I fully understand why the hell the First Ones did all of this planet weaponization if all it took to defeat Horde Prime was She-Ra finding a lover she could find strength in. They really took the path of Most Resistance 

“I remember you.” I cannot believe that She-Ra just exorcised the Horde Prime out of Hordak as if he were a particularly vindictive ghost and not his clone brother/paternal figure/supreme overlord controlling via Hive Mind:

“Hordak! I’m so glad you’re back.” AWWW ENTRAPTA AND DADDY HORDAK REUNION 

(Does no one care that Hordak has been terrorizing society for over a decade prior to this, and is probably responsible for killing a bunch of their parents? No? I really thought he was going to die, LMAO)

Edit after posting: Befuddled by what the creator had to say about this relationship, DO BETTER AT DEPICTING AGE AND DYNAMIC LMAO 

“Hello! I’m your dad.” GLIMMER AND PAPA MICAH REUNION 😭❤️

Scorpia said, to Catra: My kekkei genkai is forgiveness

“So are we all just like, okay with this?” asked Mermista, glancing at Hordak suspciously, verbalizing what I believe they should all be thinking jgjhkgh

The Fall of Salineas could not be THAT long ago omg 

“Look at us. From capturing you to us now being buddies. This is so dope.” Hahahaa, the off-screen dialogue in this scene is def improv

“What a sweet and optimistic ending of everyone having a peaceful friendship, familial and romantic reunions and the protagonists deciding to plan a fun little road trip to bring magic back to the universe, which could not possibly backfire on them given the amount of space colonization that has happened in order to harness magic as a weapon thus far. As with Hordak, we will pretend we do not see it 😌❤️:

[a-tale-of-legends]

yaknow what since im obsessing over sims and stressing over ignoring animal crossing; what's all of your ocs fave video games? (or just genre works too!)

Ooooh that's a good one. I don't play a lot of games IRL so. Just mostly the genre here

Jin - Hmmmmm, I can see Jin using video games as an outlet for their anger when they were younger. Essentially those beat em up games that don't really require strategy and just beating things to a pulp. It's very cathartic.

Kohaku - Doesn't usually play video games, but she would like those survival/scavenger games. She already does it irl, so it comes easy to her.

Kenji - I think Kenji has a wide variety of tastes when it comes to video games, despite his appearance. I think the only thing he doesn't really care for or stomach are those war games n horror. His top faves would be jrpg and general turn based rpg's ( so think omori and undertale). Racing games are also very good.

Aiko - Fighting games,I think. Like smash, or street fighter. She would really enjoy those.

Beryl - Beryl has two older siblings, one of which is a more avid gamer than they are, so any equivalent to Smash or Mario kart is something they would absolutely enjoy. They have a guilty pleasure of beating the others in said games: you can't blame her! She's a younger sibling, they deserve some victories.

Danica - Indie horror is a favorite, surprising no one. But she actually tends to lean towards more cozy games. Think stardew valley or animal crossing.

Kiran - Puzzle games are something that Kiran gravitates to! But if I'm being honest, he's more likely to listen to video games soundtracks while working ( or napping) than sit down and play a game. He's more of a watcher than doer.

Alexis and Elliot - they have most experience with group party games ( with Cheren and Bianca) and absolutely love rhythm/ music games. Surprising no one lol.

Eva - Hmm. This one's hard. I have no doubt that Eva plays video games but not sure if I can place a personal favorite for her. She kinda just goes with whatever.

Wayne - Anything sci-fi. This kinda goes for movies too. Specifically stuff with cool aliens n stuff.

Jude - Horror lol. Indie horror, they think those are more compelling than triple A games.

Dante - Also horror, but don't tell anyone.

Ames - Hmmmmm. Another hard one. Really shows my lack of knowledge here lol. The best I can describe it is like ...funky? Funky little games, if that makes sense.Ream weird but endearing ones. Maybe Undertale like her brother. Yeah.

Ray - is very good at puzzle games, but also games in general??? The type of guy who you call to do a hard level for you. Actually now that I think about it, he would like Hollow Knight.

Naomi- Cozy relaxing games! She would find games like stardew valley amusing.

Carol - MYSTERY GAMES!!!! Ghost trick would be a fav. Also otome games, ironically.

Luca - I think he would really like the pokemon equivalent to Mario kart!

R.B- Doesn't exactly know, she's still figuring herself out in terms of her likes and dislikes. Penny and Luca are helping her with that. Right now she just goes with whatever.

[orioo]

Playlist to Set the Moods

a long and sudden conversation about this story with my good friend (yuri, if you’re reading this, ily <3) made me realize just how many songs have inspired me to write certain details, have influenced my decisions in the creaiton of this project and/or have set me in the right mood for whatever scene i was coming up with or describing.

so, obviously, i compiled them all in a playlist! :D originally it was simply meant to be shared with my friend, since it was a subject we discussed, but then inspiration took over and ... well ... this is the labor of it.

i have yet to familiarize myself with spotify, so the playlist can be found on youtube right here! i wish everybody a pleasant time listening! ^^

ahead i will list all the songs in their respective order (+links) and offer a small explanation as to what mood they’re meant to represent - both for myself, so i won’t forget, and for you, dear readers <3

1. Curses - The Crane Wives: funky and jazzy song that sets the ambience of the world - light fantasy/medieval with a sprinkling of magic. it could also fit the positive feel of the witches, as well as offer a slight description of their habitat.

2. Afterglow - Ed Sheeran: how Filip is seen through Kaji’s eyes, when the pining is at its peak and after he has come to terms with his romantic feelings. could also be called Kaji’s pining theme song.

3. Heaven Knows - Five For Fighting: this song determined me to have Filip die at the end of the final battle for justice. however, i’m a weak-hearted person that has gotten way too attached to these characters. he won’t be dying, but he will be on the brick of death for the sake of Milo’s character arc apex. it’ll also help Kaji figure out his feelings run deeper than he thought! :D tldr; this song fits Filip’s almost death scene.

4. Queen of Nothing - The Crane Wives: Phala’s self-doubts and uncertainties about herself as a goddess and her (very important) role of the mender. this only applies to the beginning of their adventures - as the apostles train and begin being more in sync with their powers, Phala grows significantly more confident in her abilities and the subteam’s potential.

6. Sunshine - OneRepublic: Milo’s feel good theme song ^w^

5. The Moon Will Sing - The Crane Wives: Shreya and Maple’s relationship theme song. can especially be seen from Shreya’s view - she has been a merenary her whole life; somebody that has no home and is only appreciated for her prowess in battle, but Maple has chosen and loved her for herself.

after main6 get detected as magic users by the upper class elders, 2 of the best fighters across all A.G hqs get sent after them to hunt down their source or magic - if external, then to be destroyed, if internal, then detainment and further actions would be decided. one man and one woman; of which the man will be Phala’s love interest towards the end of the series. they’re not necessarily villains, but have been brought up with the conception that all magic wielders are evil. those 2 (currently still unnamed) have been in a relationship at some points, but broke off and remained partners in combat - they can;t really stand eachother though.

7. A Little Wicked - Valerie Broussard: brief explanation needed for this and some other songs ahead. read below then return. welcome back! this song has the perfect vibes for the woman. (ugh, i hate having unnamed characters)

8. Running with the Wolves (WolfWalkers Version) - AURORA: the official Main6 theme song! :D they’re a happy bunch of strangers turned friends that are loyal to eachother; similar to wolves! the song also feels adventurous, which is exactly the genre of my story ^^

9. Touch The Sky (From "Brave"/Soundtrack) - Julie Fowlis - perfect theme song for a training montage in which the apostles learn to use their powers. featuring lots of hilarious fails, endearing bonding moments between the protagonists and emotion-filled hugs of success.

10. Queendom (Harp Version) - AURORA: roll credits song in which ‘queendom’ refers to the Kingdom. presents the outcome of every character we’ve become aquainted with and their respective character arc’s resolution. must be noted that Filip will get a dedicated moment at minute 2:50 of the song in which he will kneel before his brother’s grave as the new king of his region.

12. Far From Home (The Raven) - Sam Tinnesz: Kaji’s theme song - more specifically his way of viewing the world before Filip saved him from himself. as an orphan, he never really had a home. that is, until Filip took him under his wing and became his brother (brotherhood was Kaji’s initial way of perceiving their relationship, way before he realized that his feelings run way deeper than a familial bond). 

11. Sleeping Giants - The Crane Wives: the overall song represents the adventure theme of this story. the chorus (specifically the last one where "i feel something calling me" is repeated 4 times) depicts the 4 apostles each hearing their amulet for the first time and obtaining it! kudos to the crane wives for making up almost half my list. :D

13. Killing Butterflies - Lewis Blissett: the vibe-setting song of the man from the enemy duo (bruh, calling them ‘the man’ and ‘the woman is so flippin weird urghhhhhhh. let’s call them EW and EM as in enemy woman and enemy man). he might seem a bit of a psycho, but he’s mentally stable, i swear.  ... well ... yeah, i don’t and won’t apologize for anything related to this man. i’ll make sure he deserves Phala by the end though, since Phala deserves only the best <3

14. Natural - ImagineDragons: Shreya’s theme baby! she’s a natural fighter, wanderer and -surprise- apostle! imagine dragons does her justice so well, my god.

15. Hell's Comin' with Me - PoorMansPoison: Main6 fighting song :D they might be a childish and bubbly squad in their leisure time, but when it’s time to get serious, i can assure you that they are professionals - at least, after they recieve their training ^^”.

16. HUSHH - AViVA: bit of a surprise with this one. Maple’s not a villainous character, being Piper’s sister and Shreya’s eventual lover and all, but don’t forget that she is a witch and has been on the run from humans her whole life. she has lost her sister to their hands and plenty of other witches from her colony. this turned her into a slightly cunning character, with (some) moments of dubious morality. feel like this song encapsulates her devious side pretty well.

18. High Horse - The Crane Wives: Filip’s song. he’s a high horse - a prince!, but he has a ‘heavy crown’ with all the burdens he must carry as a 2nd son to the throne and all the prejudices thrown his way for his seer nature. “we get what we deserve” just sounds like Filip a lot, also. poor man’s used to all those mistreatments, so bless Kaji’s soul for being the temperamental one in their relationship and not standing for others bullshit. (potty language, sorry!)

17. It Took Me By Surprise - Maria Mena: defines the toxic relationship between EW and EM, while it was a thing. it could also give a feel of their current team dynamic - they detest eachother but have eachother’s backs, hence they are a good combo on the battlefield.

19. Cosmic Love - florencemachine: not exactly sure what this might represent, but it gives me such a good feeling that i couldn’t not include it. it could be about a relationship. it could also be about Phala’s role as the mender of the subteam. kinda leaning towards it being Phala’s battle song, honestly, since she does kind of adore the galaxy, and it sounds celestial enough to fit a goddess.

20. Colors of the Wind - Judy Kuhn: Maple’s theme song. it mostly sums up her ordinary persona, as well as her witch nature and the aesthetics of it and the wilderness. the savage mention at the beginning refers to the humans’ preconceptions of witches.

(more to come)

[osint-diary]

Spy Planes & UAV’s Above Europe

✈️🌍 A Helpful Guide 🌎🛩

-

🛩Forte : RQ-4 Global Hawk

An UAV that has been a constant figure over the Black Sea and Eastern Ukraine since long before the war. People have been watching it consistently for at least a year. Nothing is certain in life, except death and Forte.

The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high altitude and long endurance UAV that collects imagery intelligence (IMINT). (That means it takes pics📸).

It can fly for up to 30 hours in a single go and usually launches out of Sicily in the Mediterranean. Sometimes elsewhere.

-

🛩 Yank : The Guardrails

The Guardrails collect signals intelligence (SIGINT).📡 They usually fly in Lithuania just north of Kaliningrad and Belarus. They are modified Beechcraft.

Kinda goofy looking, but an endearing little spy plane nonetheless.

-

🛩 Jake/Homer (Occasionally Different Names) : The Rivet Joints

Unlike Forte and the Yankies, the Jakes and Homers pop up in a lot of places around Europe. It usually launches out of Mildenhall and I’ve seen it checking out Kaliningrad, Murmansk, and the Black Sea. One time Russia even released a missile at/near it, which made headlines.

When the Jakes and Homers check out Murmansk, they usually take a stratotanker with it. It also usually turns its transponder off when it gets up there.

Rivet Joints do a lot of things related to intelligence. Per Wikipedia: sensor suite allows the mission crew to detect, identify and geolocate signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum.

The Jakes and Homers have a lot of diverse adventures, basically. And sometimes they’re not even called “Jake” or “Homer” at all!

-

🛩The Bombardier Challenger: aka Totally Not a Spyplane (It Is)

This is a sneaky one that can look like normal traffic unless you click on it and see its weird path. It usually stays near Moldova over Romania. Sometimes it does mix it up a bit and heads towards Belarus and Kaliningrad.

This is likely the one that has Aerial Reconnaissance and Targeting Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System (ARTEMIS). But it’s mysterious so 🤷🏼

-

🛩NATO: The Sentry.

She has the best loops in the business!

The Sentry is an AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System). It does… everything. Weather surveillance, command, control, and communications, and so on. 📡

It usually circles over Romania coming from Konya. It does sometimes circle elsewhere.

-

🛩The Swedish Air Force Gulf Streams

Another modified passenger aircraft that tends to hang out up in the Baltic Sea checking in on Kaliningrad. Sometimes these could just be passenger planes, but these tracks can be sus! And these planes can be easily modified.

-

🛩Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS)

It also does a lot of things. Per wiki: it tracks ground vehicles and some aircraft, collects imagery, and relays tactical pictures to ground and air theater commanders.

-

🛩 Saab 340 AEWCS

Swedish AEWCS plane. Funky lookin little dude. Similar to the Sentry, but with some limitations.

[y0itsbri]

Falling for You

ballet au one-shot for @gallavichthings 's a.u.gust

summary: dance instructor mickey! ian keeps messing up the lifts with the dancers, and mickey cannot have his girls injured because of this himbo, even if he is hot. he makes ian stay after class to practice on him -- and he swears there's no ulterior motives. but they're so close and his hands are all over him and he can feel his breath and it is so unprofessional but fuck it.

words: 2k

Mickey had a new guy in his class that wasn't doing... well... by any standards. Alright, the dude sucked. Mickey had been a ballet instructor for several years and not once has he met a dancer as uncoordinated and unbalanced as Ian fucking Gallagher.

Somehow, Ian had managed to not only rip the ballet barre off of the goddamn wall in his attempt at a grand plie, fallen flat on his face after pas de chat gone wrong, but he also managed to launch his fellow ballerinas onto the floor instead of the air.

He was a disaster.

Mickey had better shit to do with his time at the studio than patch up his dancers, and studio, after Gallagher's classes. Svetlana's father would have his ass if she got injured on his watch. And Ian being the only guy in their class, there was no way for him not to share the front-and-center spotlight with Svetlana.

Yeah, Mickey wasn't letting Ian any-fucking-where near Svet if he could help it. At least in his current state. Dude was a piece of work.

Mickey figured he would be a lot more upset about all this if Ian's apologetic puppy dog eyes weren't so goddamn convincing.

Fucking Gallagher.

--

"Ayo, Mands! Come help me with this!" Mickey called, echoing in the studio, now nearly empty besides the Milkovich siblings and a six-foot-tall ginger man looking both utterly clueless and utterly terrified. Mickey was utterly hopeless.

Mandy popped in the doorframe, sliding her shoes on but leaving them untied.

"Can't! I got actual shit to do! I don't live and breathe the studio like your sorry ass. No offense, Ian, my brother is great, please stay. Full offense, Mickey, get a fucking life!"

Mickey was left speechless and slightly embarrassed by Mandy's outburst and only managed to flip her off before she was out the door.

"Charming sister you got there," Ian let a quiet laugh slip before schooling his expression at Mickey's lack of amusement.

Mickey sighed and rubbed his hands down the length of his face for a moment. Ian and Mickey held eye contact a bit longer before Mickey abruptly straightened up and clapped his hands together. The noise startled Ian from his own amused trance.

"Alright, Clifford, how do you feel about private lessons for a little bit until you're not tripping over your own feet?"

Ian stepped forward to argue, but, proving Mickey's point, stumbled over the shoes on the floor in front of him. He didn't miss the way that Mickey's mouth quirked up on the side.

"Can't afford extra classes," Ian shoved his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants.

"It's on me," Mickey swiped his top lip. He didn't miss the way that Ian's gaze lingered on his mouth,"Kinda need you..." really want you, "to, uh, look good..." as if he doesn't already, fucking red-headed alien-looking motherfucker, "on the floor..." of my bedroom, goddamn it, Mick, get it together! "the, uh, dance floor."

Ian paused, considering the way that Mickey was stumbling over his words in a way that one might call endearing, another might call the-worst-fucking-experience-of-his-life.

"I'll do it."

Do me. Seriously, go drink some water, oh my god.

Mickey literally took a sip from his water bottle, hoping that it would at least calm his nerves. He was a professional!

He crossed his arms over his chest. "You free after class?" A pause, "To work on some skills, I mean."

"It's a date," Ian smirked, leaning down to pick up his shoes from the ground in front of him. By the time he was upright again, Mickey had already started walking away, but the blush on his cheeks and the back of his neck could be spotted from a mile away. He was utterly fucked.

--

Mickey yawned and got up from his stretching position on the floor. He walked over to the stereo, systematically knocking his dancer's feet on his way over until they were all turned out and pointed.

"No Orange Boy today?" Svetlana asked, meeting Mickey's eyes with a challenging stare.

Mickey ignored the chorus of "He's so hot!" "Have you seen his arms?" and "Ian's the nicest!" from the rest of the girls.

Svetlana raised her eyebrow in question and Mickey's defenses flew out the window. This goddamn power dynamic was going to be the death of him.

"I put him on private lessons until he's no longer a disruption to the class," he shrugged.

"Aww," one brunette pouted.

"Disruption to class or disruption to tiny bulge in your pants?" Svetlana smirked, earning some scandalized gasps from the other dancers.

Mickey flipped her off, "The fucker made me take out a greater insurance policy with all his accidents, don't be fucking absurd."

A blonde nodded understandingly from the back of the class, "My ankle is still a little funky from the last lift we tried."

Mickey held his arms out in a display of I-told-you-so and Svetlana rolled her eyes.

"Great!" Mickey clapped his hands together, earning the full attention of his class as they hurried to their feet, "Now that all the hot drama is outta the air, let's do a quick warm up combo across the floor. Chasse step pas de bourree double pirouette step arabesque, in 5, 6, 7, 8..."

--

Ian had been waiting outside the studio for the last ten minutes of class, more-so watching his instructor shift around than paying attention to what the dancers were actually doing. That's probably what got him into his current predicament, and he couldn't decide whether that was a curse or a blessing. Mickey's arms flexed as he pointed across the room to call out someone's weak spot.

Yup, it was a blessing.

Oh shit, Mickey was looking his way. Was this a double sided mirror? No, of course not. Why would there be a double sided mirror? Oh, Mickey was definitely staring at him. Fuck. Wait, did he just wink? No way, he must've just blinked. With one eye. Yeah, totally normal. Nothing to overthink, Ian.

Get it together!

--

Mickey dismissed his class five minutes early and it had nothing to do with the Jolly Ginger Giant standing outside his studio.

While most of his dancers wordlessly accepted the easy out, Svetlana stayed back to taunt. "Have fun with private lessons," she sneered, jerking off an invisible cock.

"Choke on it," Mickey retorted tossing her warm-up jacket at her face, which she swiftly caught.

Svetlana turned and made a show of looking Ian up and down, his cheeks turning pink under her intense gaze. She faced Mickey head on, "You will be vegetable stew by the time this man is done with you."

The fuck does that mean?

Sometimes Mickey thought that Svetlana spoke in riddles just to mess with him. He blamed it on the Russian accent, never mind he was part Ukrainian himself. The languages were similar, but not identical, fuck you very much.

But, damn, forget that, Gallagher looked good. He was wearing his usual white tank top and grey sweatpants, but Mickey never got the opportunity to openly ogle in class. Not that that was what he was doing now.

Ian returned the long look appreciatively before stepping closer and Mickey snapped back into professionalism, well as far as professionalism goes, Milkovich-style.

He turned his back on the bane of his pathetic existence and snapped a quick but polite, "Get your shoes on and we can get started."

"Oh, right."

That seemed to be enough to get the gears in Ian's head going again as he dropped his bag to the floor, echoing in the truly empty studio, and dropping down onto the floor himself to secure his ballet shoes, which may as well be clown shoes for as big as his feet were. Mickey fit into the same brand as the girls, but he had to order special for Gallagher.

"Thanks for doing this, Mickey."

Mickey. The way that this man said his name was making him feel all sorts of flustered that he would most definitely deny.

"Mandy said you don't usually make exceptions."

"Gotta catch you up to speed or you're gonna be dancing with the 5 year-olds, man."

Ian tilted his head considering.

Mickey frowned, "Don't do it."

Ian smirked and Mickey had to look away as a grin and blush creeped up on his own face.

"Alright, so we'll start you off with the basics."

Mickey went through their normal class routine, but broke it down slowly, pausing to explain certain positions in details he couldn't afford to spend time with in class, specifically how not to fall. It should have been fairly obvious in his opinion, but Ian still managed somehow. The first few times, he was on the floor before Mickey even knew he was going down.

But the third, Mickey made a mistake. Mickey instinctively reached out to catch him.

As soon as he realized where his hands were, he pulled them off like he'd been burned, which he may have well been. He pulled his gaze to his feet, studying the floor while he composed himself.

"Mickey," Ian waited until he looked up, and then he spoke so quietly, "You can touch me."

And what made things worse was that Ian's dazzling eyes left little to the imagination. They both knew where this was going, and the moment was too intense too quick. The longer their eyes held, the hotter Mickey felt his neck grow.

"Ya know," Ian stepped closer. "To fix my positions..."

Mickey swallowed, "Uh, I think we're done for today."

He regretted the words the moment they left his mouth. He never meant them to begin with. But if Ian stayed any longer, Mickey was going to climb him like a tree and that really wasn't under his personal code of professionalism, no matter how loose those terms may be to begin with. It was getting late anyways, he reasoned with himself.

"What about the lifts? That's the important part, right?" Ian questioned, eyes pleading like he would die without this one skill being taught to him by his oh-so-unprofessional instructor.

Mickey sighed. Ya know what? Fuck it.

Mickey sauntered over to Ian, pressed his back to Ian's front, and grabbed one of Ian's massive hands and placed it on his own waist.

Ian gave an experimental squeeze and Mickey softened in his grip.

Ridiculous.

"We're not doing the lift are we?" Ian murmured breathily, hot air making the hairs on the back of Mickey's neck tingle.

"What do you think, Firecrotch?" Mickey pushed his weight back into Ian's chest, which would be the second mistake of the day.

Ian toppled over backwards, landing with a painful sounding thud and sending Mickey down on top of him before he rolled off the the side with a groan.

Ian started laughing and Mickey was concerned. Was this idiot actually fucking concussed this time? He wasn't sure how he would explain this to his insurance company.

Mickey straddled Ian's lap, gently slapping his face, "Are you good, man? Alive?"

"Never better." Ian was still smiling like an absolute goof.

Mickey raised an eyebrow in concern.

"Seriously, I just can't play things cool," Ian raised his hips to grind against Mickey's ass, "Obviously."

"You're an idiot," Mickey rolled his eyes, and all Ian could do was grin and reach up towards Mickey's neck, pulling his down until their lips almost touched, sharing breaths and excitement.

"Maybe," another breath, "But I still got you to fall for me."

It was Mickey's turn to laugh, more of a raspy exhale than anything. His "fuck you" was almost lost between them as they fell together at last.

(side note: this was the lift that they were going to do, so i feel like the hand on the waist makes sense -- gotta have a visual lmao)

[pocketramblr]

The followup to the Thought™

"Ugh." You say, waving to the screen. "Look at that, now that's who should have been the main character-"

"Oh?" I say, a small glowing figure appearing in front of you. "I can show you that if you want, wish granted." I wave my magic wand, and you blink to find yourself watching a different universe's show.

It's about a blond boy, with a minor superpower that's difficult to work with. He only has one friend, with major anxiety. Both of them want to be heroes, which is about the coolest and nicest thing anyone can be in this world.

But the blond boy is only in middle school. He doesn't get the best grades, he's a bit of a class clown, a bit of a delinquent. He's not exactly cool or over powered, but his earnest, bright nature endears him to the watchers and readers of the story. He's nice, and not worried about competition. He'll put cheering up his best friend over studying- and he'll put just enjoying video games together over training his power on his own.

He doesn't, by the way, train on his own. He makes meager progress in the class provided, and works hard when he's thinking about it, but he honestly doesn't even know where to start with his power.

He takes the entrance exam, and by some manner of luck, manages to permeate through blasts and rubble while shoving other students out of the way. He's used to watching out for his best friend, at least, and that carries over in his natural, if clumsy, attempts to help others here.

With more luck, he is accepted into the school on those points. So is his best friend, though they're in different classes. He still doesn't have many friends, but they meet a new girl in his bf's class: she's gorgeous and powerful- the most raw energy in any of their quirks, and no anxiety or complications holding her back.

She's a bit of a ditz, though, a bit much for others to hang around all the time, so even though she should be a shoe in fit the most popular, she slides easily into their group instead.

The fandom likes her a lot, and you feel impatient. This isn't the story you wanted to see, not really.

"Don't worry," I say. "Time flies when you're actually a school story instead of a daily battle with villains story."

And it does- they compete in the first sports festival. The main character, to little surprise, doesn't do well. But he manages to keep himself and the others smiling and laughing through it, and that brings the attention of the mentor.

The mentor that you like, of course, the mentor you believe was right.

The mentor trains the main character. It's hard, but he can actually break down what exactly he needs to improve on, and now that he has support, the main character takes it seriously. Like all children do, he rises to the expectations on him when he's given the material to do so.

Not made to find the material. The kid would have never dreamed of just assuming and asking such a high ranking hero to focus on him. Rather like another boy, but we'll get to him later.

It's another year. The girl tried her best at the beauty pageant. The best friend tried his best at the liscence exam. The main character has still been training at his internship.

"His second year." You say, thinking. "Now this is when All Might shows up in the timeline, ten months before February in what would be Mirio's second year."

I raise an eyebrow, but wave my magic wand.

All Might does appear. The mysterious top hero, always in the background- ads, all over the mentor's office. They used to work together, but no one in this universe knows anything more than that.

The mentor and the principal happily tell the main character that the number one hero wants to meet with him directly! The boy is nervous, of course, excited, of course, and a tad confused.

But meet they do.

And offer his quirk, he does.

The episode and chapter end on that, of course, and you feel a surge of excitement. Finally!

You look around and realize others in this fandom do not see it that way. Many critique the twist as coming out of nowhere, with no build up that it was even possible, breaking the established rules for no reason. Many others are proud of how much the main character has to work at the difficult power, and do not want him to have a second before he masters this one. Some feel it's a trap- a secret test of character, or a villain in disguise who will ruin him. Some wonder if it's more metaphorical- he's offering the power of support and more guidance, maybe a connection, but not his literal superpower.

You do not know how to feel about it, but you know this will be for the better. He will be perfect for it.

At the beginning of the next update, the boy turns down the quirk. Grateful, more than he could say, but he's worked so hard for his own power and he's not even up to snuff with it yet. He's unsure he's the best option. The girl, after all, is used to weilding such power, maybe he should try her, maybe he should keep looking.

The top hero nods, and asks if he can visit again later, if he can find no other. The boy is a good hero after all, and maybe he needs to believe in himself as much as he is telling his friend to. It will be hard to train a second quirk, yes, but he can manage. It will make him stronger and pay off, after all.

The boy agrees, tentatively. No one can really say no to the number one hero, after all.

"Ok." You say, nodding. "There's an opening. It can build more, since that's how the story is here, way more slowburn."

I shrug. That's what happens when you start the story three years early, but whatever.

The story goes on. The main character does better in the sports festival, but not by any measure good. His friend finds a mentor, a character popular. Much warmer than the blond's mentor. The girl gets a really good mentor, a top tenner.

And then they start to get really good. They're used to training now, and getting it all bit individually and together. The mentor is motivated as of by fury, pushing more and more. And the main character grows to reach it.

Another year. They're seniors, now. Just one year left before they're pros, but they're already about at that level. They're called the Big Three.

The third year is different. Chaos every few weeks. A class of first years attacked.

"Oh, because All Might is still looking for a successor among the students- checking over the freshmen but they won't be able to compare."

I hum in a way that could be interpreted as agreement.

The sports festival. Finally, real victory. They do so well, even with one anxious at crowds. And one that is seemingly allergic to staying clothed. They do well.

The chaos continues, always at the sides. The others in this universe who follow the story talk about that and the offer the top hero made. Is he getting weaker? Did that power leak somehow and now someone wants it?

The tension grows, especially for you. If the hero doesn't give the main character the power before the summer....

The main character doesn't get the power before the summer. The hero falls on tv while the blond and his friends watch in horror.

After the summer, the main character decides to meet the freshmen. You wonder who will replace a certain someone's seat, or if this is playing the original quirkless hero storyline.

When the main character challenges the class of freshmen and you see that sparking green, you seethe.

"I said I wanted Mirio to have OfA! Why is he-"

"Actually," when I speak, you cannot. "You asked for him to be the main character. He still is. A beloved one, even."

"You know what I meant!"

"Perhaps. But then you asked for another change, and so I allowed All Might to meet with him a few days before he would have in the old timeline. He had a chance, he turned it down. Why are you mad at him having his own ambitions and autonomy?"

"He was supposed to take it! He's the worthier option, and you know it."

"What makes him worthy?"

"He works hard!"

"So does Izuku."

"He worked hard before he was offered everything by All Might!"

"Yes," I will admit. "Though, that's only because he met Sir before he met All Might. Were you so focused on how slow it was going that you didn't actually watch what he was doing?"

You will not admit to anything, still angry.

"He'll get another chance." I remind you.

You huff, but the story continues on.

The main character takes a liking to the boy you despise. So does the fandom, dubbing him the cutest little kohai. He's awkward and eager and sunny, like a fusion of the main trio.

He's also impulsive, and on their first patrol together they run into who will obviously be the big bad of the arc- and his abused daughter.

The fandom is split on if the story is going to go with a "In this arc, the blond must pass his experience on patience to a boy who it all about speed and too naive" or if it's "In this arc, it's the mouth of babes- the boy will inspire the main character to do good more impulsively."

You sit and wait for it to be "the boy will finally fork over the power he's now spent over a year working to hold and use to the real main character."

The raid happens. We finally see how the main character met his best friend. It's very sweet. The girl is a lead character and gets focus on her fight too, though the two freshmen working with her don't really. There's another funky freshman boy who turns out to be more like the best friend than we thought.

Finally, we get to the main fight.

And the main character is shot, quirk erased. For good, if the villain who's really not actually that good an example of a scientist is to be believed.

"Oh. What if the former top hero offers his power again, after this arc? It's about loss but always moving on?" The fandom asks. They aren't sure if the buildup to this is better than before, but it's certainly am interesting turn, and not as controversial as the last time.

The best friend saves the day by awakening right at the perfect moment to drag the teacher in. The quirk is kinda super deus ex machina for this arc though.

At the hospital, the mentor dies. The former number one hero is there.

The fandom wonders whether to hope or fear how long he'll wait to replace the mentor and the quirk.

You wait, knowing it's soon.

Then the freshman offers his quirk, and the fandom flips again.

"We should have known!" They cry. "He had super speed and strength the whole time, maybe the sparks are from his own quirk, but it's the same power! Oh, this hurts much more than just if it had been the retired hero!"

Once again, the fandom divides. Many can't bear to see the kohai they love shoved aside after this one moment. Will be be able to use his original power? Then they won't mind the strength for the blond. Some say to wait for his power to come back. A few pipe up about the possibility of him doing it quirkless. He has trained physically too, after all these years.

"No thanks," he says again. He does smile though- just like Sir told him to- and tells his kohai that he’ll do great things with the power, just like All Might did. Tells him that he already has.

You're past the point of fury now.

"Why?" You demand.

"Keep watching." My tone is cold. "Keep watching, the next five months where he does nothing but babysit a girl in hopes she'll magically make himt not quirkless again. He doesn't even ask if he can be a quirkless hero. He doesn't even go to school to keep training. You demanded the other boy figure it out himself. This boy doesn't. He just hopes the same thing that did this to him can undo it."

You don't know what to say about that.

"Neither took it seriously in middle school. That's the nature of middle schoolers. Neither of them tried to go solo quirkless, when no support was provided. But they're both good kids. Hard workers. Heroic. They love each other, honestly, they're friends. It's sweet. And it's sad that it took me doing this for you to see it."

I shake my head.

"Sir Nighteye never saw how Mirio was much more like Izuku than All Might. That was his mistake, because he didn't know the meaning of worthy. Not that it was his choice to make even if he had. There's no magic to this. OfA isn't Excalibur or Mjölnir. All sorts of people have had it. And All Might wasn't doing much to train before he found Nana ether, as much as he got into trouble. OfA is more about connections they have to each other. It's about people's relationships. As it happens, that just doesn't include Mirio and wouldn't be at its most meaningful if it did."

"You just are too much a Deku stan and hate Mirio-"

"Accuse me of hating Mirio again, and I will leave you here." I threaten, pointing my wand at you. "Now. Did you learn your lesson?"

You grumble, but you do nod.

"Good." I say, before waving my wand one last time. You're back where you were before, not a trace of me or magic.

The lesson, though, sticks.

[azurajay]

I would like to know anything about the ocs u are willing to share who are they where are they from why does one of them have a tail why so many crosses

OHMYGODD HI HELLO HI I HONESTLY DID NOT EXPECT AN ASK AT ALL FROM THAT UEUEUE you are also literally my first ever ask so thank youu u so much for that im so excitedhsjdfgjkfjg

This might end up a long post so apologies in advance, I will try to keep it minimal ksdjk

OKAY okay so the baker lady in the first drawing, her name is nancy, she is the one with the tail<3 she's a mermaid!! if youve ever seen the tv show h20, her mermaid abilities are like that, in that if she touches an amount of water she undergoes the transformation. but unlike in h20, she was a mermaid First before she was human, she just lives more as a human now because she wanted that experience instead, and runs a lil bakery :DD

she wears the bandana on her head to cover some of her hair post-mermaid transformation, because it turns her hair Pink and it takes a day or so to go back to brown again. she also gets scales that show up on her skin, so she dresses accordingly after she's spent time as a mermaid so that they're hidden sjdkfgj but her group of friends help to keep her secret too :]

the whole story is set on this (made up) tiny island just off the south-ish UK coast in the 80s (but both time and place are kept relatively vague throughout), and that's where all of the characters are from!!

as for the crosses, one of the staple centre pieces of the island is the church!! pretty much everyone on the island was brought up religious, but in the story, one of the main characters (elias) and any of the other teens/young adults who are also on the religious side focus more on the saint of the church, st. eudocia. this leads to some uh,,, Interesting characters, one being the man with the cross earrings at the centre of the poster plan drawing (his name is greysen), who has a slight obsession with the saint figure and is attempting to reach immortality to be on her level !! fun !!

this causes a wholeee lotta trouble which is essentially the domino for the overarching plot so i simply will not go into all of that, but basically the boy in front of greysen (elias) is lead to believe his brother teddy (the guy Behind greysen) is dead/has been killed, and funky murder mystery shenanigans ensue :DD

(elias actually ends up being sort of "chosen" by st. eudocia, much muchhh to greysen's anger (which again leads to trouble) but elias has always looked to eudocia for guidance and to praise so it's sweet. she's got his back.)

teddy is also the one with the glasses in the first pic, and he's with jackie - i imagine that's not long after him and jackie meet, and teddy's taken him over to see nancy, who's one of his rly good friends!! :DD

then the second pic is during a moment when nancy is having a Rough Time following the news of teddy's death, and lars shows up to check on her, and they have a moment of quiet together as lars helps her bathe. they make me soo :((((

I JSUT REMEMBERED I HAVE THIS IMAGE okay so here is a Labelled Diagram of who everyone is :DD

greysen is the leader of the little evil-doers gang, consisting of pippa, sadie, and harywn, and then teddy is the leader of the little good guys gang consisting of lilith, nancy, lars, and jackie :D (both gangs need official names i just simply cannot think of anything yet <\3)

lilith is teddy's longterm childhood bestie, and they end up partly framed for teddy's death, which (alongside teddy's disappearance) is cause for turbulance btwn teddy's lil group - which is also something that plays into that second drawing with nancy and lars :(

BUT this image completely misses out elias' childhood best friend, toni, who is the most endearing little guy<3 the two of them spend an obscene amount of time together, and they work on dumb lil pranks and projects all the time. (this,,, gets offset by the disappearance of teddy, and the introduction of a new friend that toni makes, alongside greysen-induced-factors, drives the two apart at the lowest part of the story, but Fear Not because i hate sad endings, everything gets resolved<33)

this is her!! :D

okay now in favour of keeping this from getting any longer than it is, i will end it there, but i need you to know that pippa and sadie are in love. that is all.

but also seriously thank you so much for the ask, i really didnt expect anyone to see the post at all, let alone send an ask, so it means a wholeee lot ;-; thank you for lettin me ramble about my funky little guys :]]]

[obwjam]

pls ma'am.... ur headcanons for the hargreeves siblings finding a tiny...

IT’S FEEDING TIME

diego: would be very soft with any tiny he found under any circumstance. very much the stereotypical leans down, gasps, eyes are wide, staring at the tiny in utter fascination, asking for their name, promising that he won’t hurt them. he would insist on taking the tiny to safety and he immediately hides all his weapons because lawd knows what a million giant knives would look like to someone so small. he would offer them food and shelter and companionship and he would be super duper protective. like constantly going out of his way to keep them safe and make sure they didnt get into any trouble. also is a very good listener and is very understanding of them and their feelings. he never makes the tiny feel lesser

allison: she is a mother to the MAX. like so insanely protective of a tiny the way a mother protects her young. when she finds the tiny she wouldn’t even ask them what they wanted to do, she would just carefully scoop them up and b like “yeah you’re coming home with me and you’re my child now.” very much a helicopter parent in the sense that she NEVER lets the tiny go anywhere or do anything dangerous, and she sometimes has trouble remembering that they are self-sufficient, but she respects them and does it all because she cares. she makes the tiny a bed and little stuff like that to make them feel more at home. also, home cooked meals every day and every night (she is abhorred by the fact that a tiny’s diet is just stale food and crumbs)

klaus/ben: ugh. UGH. klaus would very much act demeaning without meaning to. he doesn’t see a tiny as a pet or anything like that, but he’s just obsessed with how adorable they are and he is very grabby and touchy. ben is constantly telling him to knock it off and he feels terrible that the tiny had to be found by klaus, of all the people that walk the earth. he would talk to them and obviously they cannot see or hear him but he enjoys the one-sided conversation anyway. ben is very fascinated by the tiny and likes to just look at them. klaus would lowkey pamper a tiny too, like those people who build fancy beds and rooms for their dog. he wouldn’t at all be surprised or fascinated by the existence of a tiny. he would be like “you know i kind of always suspected something was up” and it’s kind of relieving that klaus doesnt pepper them with questions or stare wide eyed at them all the time. but nevertheless he selfishly wants to keep the tiny around because he thinks they’re funky and it’s a mutually beneficial relationship where he gets another companion who can’t leave him and the tiny gets shelter, safety and food

luther: man is just the biggest dumbass of all time around a tiny. so clumsy and is constantly doing things to freak them out and he always sheepishly apologizes and then keeps doing the thing anyway. he means well, he really does, and he tries his best not to scare them too much or put them in any danger. he’s always trying to do things for the tiny to alleviate his guilt, so he’ll bring them food or find some trinket and be like “i got this for you, i thought you’d like it” and it’s like, a penny. but he’s very sweet and endearing and hey it’s the thought that counts right? is also very touchy and no matter how many times the tiny demands he ask before picking them up, he just never listens so the tiny just accepts their fate

vanya: she’d be SUPER nonchalant. like the cool aunt type. she would discover a tiny and immediately be like “do you want anything? i’m cooking dinner rn” and she just always knows what to ask and when to ask it. like after growing up as a hargreeves sibling she barely even cares that there’s a tiny person living in her walls. she’s like “aight bet we all need to survive” and she tells the tiny they can come out any time they want to take something or just to talk. vanya leaves food out for them every night and the tiny always takes it. she’s content with leaving the tiny alone, def doesn’t mind having their company but has no desire to bother them. she would help them with anything they ask and it’s very sweet. like the tiny shyly comes out and asks for water or something and vanya just goes oh yeah yeah of course! and get them water. she is a very relaxing person to be around and the tiny likes her a lot

five: hnnnnng i said this before but it would entirely depend on how five found a tiny. if he found them going through his shit and they were equally as combative, he would be a total bitch and jar them and intimidate them and everything. but if they were just really scared and clearly not looking to anger anyone, he would actually feel a great deal of sympathy and he wouldn’t be able to just forget them and leave them in danger. like he would be halfway gone, groan and then turn back around to get the tiny. he doesn’t really know what to do with them, like is he supposed to let them be free? is he supposed to keep an eye on them 24/7? but either way he figures something out and finds that he really doesn’t want to see them get hurt. he knows the world is dangerous and that hanging out with him is dangerous but he knows he can keep them safer than they would be alone. eventually it gets to a point where his enemies want to steal the tiny away from him as leverage and he would literally go fucking mad. like murdering the commission board mad. he doesn’t open up a lot but his actions are what show the tiny he really cares. five finds he would do just about anything to keep them safe and happy and it lowkey disgusts him but also he just has such a soft spot for the tiny

[power-chords]

Post-trip round-up, integration, thoughts (cut for length & some Heavy Shit)

WOW I needed that and I am so glad I realized I needed that. It has been well over ten years since I last took LSD, and my reluctance to indulge in psychedelics again was rooted in a long and complicated history that I don't really need to hash out here, but doing a mild dose of mushrooms last weekend gave me the confidence and conviction that I was ready.

Would it have been wiser to take a less bonkers dose for the first time in a decade plus? Probably! Do I regret a single moment of it? Not a whit! It's tough to overstate just how powerful, therapeutic, and restorative a good acid trip is, even an occasionally intense, uncomfortable one. I do not recommend eating multiple tabs of extremely good blotter on your first rodeo, but Adam's even more of a veteran psychonaut than I am, so I was 1000% well cared for, totally safe, and in a comfortable, familiar environment. In that setting, and in a positive frame of mind, acid is not going to throw anything at you that you are not equipped to handle. I would love to make this an annual or biannual thing.

The cool, funny, wacky delightful stuff:

Put it under my tongue at 10 AM-ish. Went to go listen to some music and doodle until it kicked in. I forgot that the come-up is like, do not make any fucking plans involving hand-eye coordination LMAO. I was trying to doodle Bowery Ballroom in an old sketchbook, and that devolved quickly. The markers were old so some of the caps were really stuck on there, and I wound up devolving into fits of laughter from the absurdity of pulling the caps off with my teeth.

Ink stains on my hands started writhing and trailing and were very cool. That was the first thing I noticed. I got very sad that I stopped drawing and making art, which was something I did all my life and almost went to school for but stopped doing as an adult. And then I realized I could start drawing again any time if I wanted to, and I didn't have to be GOOD at it or a proper artist for it to be worthwhile and fun. Felt immediately happy again.

Adam decided to watch Lethal Weapon???? I was like, Don't Like That. Even though he had headphones on and I couldn't hear anything. I am ambivalent about screens at best when I'm tripping, and at worst I don't even want to be in the same room with them. Guns and violence seemed comically, brutally stupid. Turned my back to the TV and continued drawing and writing until I could no longer hold a pen. Eventually Adam got on my wavelength and was like yeah, this is too much! (He took like, twice the dose that I did. I have no idea how he was even able to talk to me, but he managed!)

Felt the need to message Liana while peaking, picked up my phone, and saw that she had already sent me this:

I thought that was HILARIOUS (tbh it actually was, and it was not just the acid talking)

For the first few hours of teeth-grinding, reality-shearing intensity, Adam and I mostly lounged in bed with the shades pulled all the way up and the window open, cuddling and petting Ernie. Fantastic bonding experience for the whole fam.

Looking at every surface in the apartment became like looking at a stained glass ceiling, or an infinite mandala, or the muddied rainbows in oil-slicked puddles. It looked like Ernie's fur was breathing and someone had colored all over the white parts of him with a highlighter. Adam agreed with this assessment. Formica on the kitchen counters was bananas. So were the trees outside, rippling like celluloid and brighter green than I had ever seen them.

The two of us spent a good 15 minutes doubled over with laughter because Adam suggested a contraption for funneling Fancy Feast directly into Ernie's mouth, kind of like shotgunning a beer

Adam: "I can't believe I used to to this and get on the subway and try to do things with people." Me: "What? How did you even figure out how to get from Point A to Point B?" Adam: "I mean, we didn't, really. We usually got lost. It was fine, though." Truly, it's about the friends you make along the way!

The second half of the trip, when things are starting to mellow out a bit, is when you become a real rock star. I went outside for a walk around the neighborhood, and to sit in the park with my headphones on while watching kids play on the playground, and it was ECSTATIC. I was just overjoyed. My face still hurts from smiling.

Forgot that I needed money to realize my goal of obtaining a popsicle, so I had to detour back into the apartment and explain all of this to my husband before resuming the popsicle quest. He thought it was very funny, but sympathized.

Fresh air, popsicles and San Pellegrino on acid. On another level! 100/10.

Bathrooms still universally suck, LOL. -10/10. Not a fan of that bathroom while tripping face! Every time I had to pee it was like WELL here we go again into the Pink Squirming Hell Chamber (I am making this sound like more of a big deal than it actually was)

15 HOURS. 15 HOURS Jesus Christ lmao I did not stop seeing weird shit on screens and surfaces until like 1 AM. And even then, if I stared long enough, funky colors and patterns would re-emerge. It's a commitment. I feel happy and refreshed, but also totally exhausted. Definitely have to budget a full weekend of No Plans for any future trips.

The Heavy Shit:

There is some Cronenberg-level body horror right before the visuals get super rainbow-stained and stereotypically psychedelic, which sounds bad, but I promise it isn't. It's watching the veins pulse under your skin and change into very saturated colors, pores and hair and scars become very defined and wiggly, and as someone who has so much bodily anxiety related to my alopecia/IBS, it was weirdly... freeing? You get to experience all this stuff in an entirely new frame of mind, shedding judgment and old thought ruts. I remember thinking, "I do not need to feel shame about my body," and letting go of so much baggage.

At some point mid-afternoon I decided to retrieve my phone from the drawer again, and saw that I had a missed call and a voicemail from my dad. I decided to play it back, and he was just phoning to tell me that he was listening to a live version of "Sally Simpson" and Keith was doing this thing where he wasn't even touching the cymbals, and had I listened to that specific performance before and noticed the same thing, and wasn't he truly the greatest drummer that ever lived? "Anyway, no need to call me back, just wanted to let you know. I love my bubbie!" (His term of endearment for me.) And I went to go sit in bed and weep for a straight 15 minutes, the most cleansing, purging cry you could possibly imagine, while Adam hugged me and rubbed my back. I was overwhelmed, overcome by this feeling of cosmic Love and Connection with my family and my husband and all of my friends.

I had been sitting on and burying so much fear and distress from the past 18 months, the chronic, low-grade trauma that was worrying if COVID was going to kill my father, my best friend and closest confidante and the one person on earth who I feel truly Gets Me on a spiritual level, and all of that came out. Fully processed and released every ounce of grief. What replaced it was the absolute, unshakable faith that no matter what happens — including my greatest fear, which is inevitable, no matter how far off it may be — he will always be with me, and a part of me, in the music we both love, and I will never, ever lose that.

[sepublic]

Luz and Eda

           I’m thinking about how Eda’s first time transforming was probably one of… if not THE most traumatic event of her life; That she’s so terrified and had her bodily autonomy violated in what sounded to be a physically painful way, turned into something she’s not, and then she turns for help and… A bunch of ADULTS, who are supposed to represent the best of society, who are meant to inspire future generations?

           They don’t help- They immediately jeer and start throwing rocks at Eda, and she runs off… Her own sister does nothing to help, and it must’ve been an incredibly humiliating experience. Who was it that first cured her? Eda’s potential friend from the Bard Track? Principal Bump?

           …Regardless. It really recontextualizes Episode 1’s ending, even moreso than The Intruder. Because again, not only was there this shock that anyone would want to willingly hang around with her, instead of going back to –what Eda presumes to be- a loving and comfortable life… But Eda no doubt sees herself as a monster and a freak because of the curse. It’s already enough expecting others to reject you because of this, especially since Eda never told King either until she got ‘outed’… But considering Eda’s first memory of becoming the Owl Beast was pain and rejection?

           Like, Eda must be TERRIFIED at the thought of transforming, because she’s already been ‘outed’ this way once and been actively hurt for it… So a part of her must be panicking at the idea of this human being around her, wanting to tell Luz to get away from her, she’ll get hurt, that it’s for her AND Luz’s sake… She’s wondering why this stranger is so endeared to her, and what could POSSIBLY be going on back home that would make Luz immediately prefer a freak like her…?

           And then add onto Luz’s hugs, which Eda doesn’t recognize, not because Lilith is a bad sister –not to say she isn’t either- and it’s just… Such an ALIEN concept to her, this idea of being acutally accepted as a person. To actually be chosen, not as a last resort, but out of an active desire to be with her… And when Eda realizes she’s transformed, she’s been outed to this human kid who clearly doesn’t realize how awful she is?

           Luz… doesn’t care. She’s more fixated on what she’s learned today, and she barely even bats an eye.

           I imagine that prior to THAT scene in The Intruder, Eda was actively holding off on being close to Luz, on teaching her, because she just knew that Luz would eventually see Eda for ‘what she really is’ and be turned off, and leave… Or Eda’s curse would be revealed, and THEN Luz would immediately book it out of there! So no point in getting close, in establishing anything meaningful…

           …But still, this human is also clearly alone, so she’s got to take care of her. And even if Luz is obviously misguided, she deserves to be treated well for such an unconditional kindness. But then seeing Luz accept Eda’s curse, continuing to stay even when there’s seemingly nothing Eda could provide by this point, as Luz learned her own way of Magic on her own… With Eda being a criminal and a monster, an active liability towards Luz?

           Luz still chooses Eda, not because she’s her last option… If anything, Eda is Luz’s first choice, amidst so many other ‘better’ options. And it just… BAFFLES Eda, but also gives her hope that maybe the life she chose for herself isn’t so worthless after all. That maybe there really IS something to it, that Eda wasn’t just lying to herself when she said that she enjoyed her current life and thought it was meaningful!

           Luz told Eda that she was a person, and one worthy of love… That she was someone to stick with in spite of the law or any other risks, because that’s how much Eda meant to her! That there was no pragmatic benefit for sticking with Eda, if anything there was nothing but risks… But Luz loved Eda and her lifestyle THAT much! Luz stuck by her side, this random human who seemingly has nothing else to gain from Eda besides Eda’s own personal charm, when her own sister prioritized her entrance into the Emperor’s Coven over looking after Eda when she first transformed… As if Lilith had rejected her for being a monster (and this was BEFORE Eda knew the culprit behind the curse)!

           Like, guys. Amidst everything else we have in Season 1, post-The Intruder, and it’s no wonder Eda is willing to throw her life for Luz, and outright treats her existence beforehand as practically meaningless until Luz came along. Luz was a chance for Eda to do things right, to help a kid succeed where she failed in being her own person, while still having friends and a proper education… Maybe Eda felt like a ‘parasite’ to society, especially with how others regarded her, as if she contributed nothing.

           But now? Eda feels like she’s contributing everything towards Luz, and she’s not necessarily treating Luz as something to vicariously project her missed youth through… Because in the end, even if Luz hadn’t succeeded where Luz had failed, Eda had fallen for his funky little human from the get-go when she chose her, when Luz decided that she LIKED Eda that much in spite of everything telling her otherwise! That dang… Eda must really be THAT good, huh?

           And… it really does continue this idea of characters who have had nothing beforehand, who have had so LITTLE prior to meeting this one person… That when this one person DOES extend grace, and make them feel like something again? Then those characters all collectively decide to dedicate their lives –to varying degrees, some more dependent than others- for this one person who makes them feel happy. And for some of them, like Eda, the idea of failing that one person who thinks highly of you, of lowering that good opinion they have of you, of not being able to live up to the very reasons that made them decide you were worthwhile… It’s terrifying. And so some do EVERYTHING to abate that kind of failure.

           Of course, Luz would never ask this of anyone. Her love is unconditional, all she wants is for those closer to her to be happy, and be their own people, by any means possible… She’d HATE to have so much power over others, and it shows! Others, though… Other characters, I have to wonder if they’re exploiting this kind of grateful dedication? Perhaps people like Emperor Belos or Mrs. Blight abuse it?

           So it says SO much to Eda, when Luz’s own life is on the line, and she prioritizes Eda’s… That Eda isn’t even in danger, Eda seemingly has NOTHING to lose here… But Luz focuses on her. And then, right THERE, Eda really understands that this kid wants nothing but good for Eda, that it isn’t a matter of figuring out what Eda provides for Luz that makes the girl stick around, and then giving that… It’s simply just wanting Eda happy.

           And at that point? Of course Eda is going to give her life for Luz. And when Luz comes back to stop the petrification, Eda has to reassure her that there’s no need to justify or make up for their relationship, that Luz doesn’t have to prove anything to Eda and ‘hold her end of the bargain’ by being the faithful surrogate daughter that allegedly made Luz so worthwhile…

          No, Eda wants Luz to know that she loves Luz for who she IS, not necessarily for the acts of kindness she gets from her –though those definitely contributed to those close feelings- and that Luz isn’t obligated to keep doing these kind acts… That really, TRULY, their love is unconditional. Luz expected nothing of Eda, so Eda expects nothing of Luz.

          Maybe Eda felt the need to make up for who she was in her relationship with Luz by giving Luz everything the girl had wanted from Eda… But it’s clear in the end that Luz doesn’t love Eda for what she gives to her, not necessarily. Real love isn’t founded on such a system of bartering and trading… So Eda tries to remind Luz that she doesn’t love the girl for what Luz has to give Eda, not necessarily. 

          By this point, Luz doesn’t owe Eda anything, and she doesn’t have to keep doing grandiose gestures for Eda just to earn more and more love… No, Luz has reached a point where all love from Eda is pure and unconditional, and always coming no matter what! Luz just being Luz and being happy is all Eda could ask for, if one wants to be technical… So Eda doesn’t need Luz to take care of her, to love her back.

          And she wants Luz to know that.

[asterekmess]

(I was gonna save this for tomorrow, but FUCK IT) Eyyy, still being salty over here. Pls block the tag ‘rant’ if you don’t wanna see anymore of these. Or maybe ‘anti-scott mccall’ though, tbh, I’m not sure how much fun it would be to follow me if you aren’t anti-scott mccall. I’m pretty vocal abt disliking him.

ANYWAY.

I wanna talk about the concept of Derek being a ‘creeper’ because of all his wandering around the lacrosse field, at lydia’s party, etc. And by talk about, I mean ramble about incoherently. By which I mean, please know that I’m not trying to insult or fight anybody who makes this joke or uses this concept in fic or whatever. I’m just ranting bc I love this boy and his trauma makes me sad.

ANYWAY. (This is insanely long, so I’m adding a “Read More”)

I just have a lot of feelings about people seeing Derek as a stalker/creeper because he keeps showing up at lacrosse practice and in Scott & Stiles’ rooms, etc. It gets mentioned in loads of fics (I see a lot of “Creeperwolf” which I think is supposed to be an endearment?) (And there’s lots of fics that talk about how ‘you used to be/are really creepy, following us around’ Again, not judging) (Dude it’s even a whole tag on AO3 ‘Creeper Derek Hale’) and it’s joked about a lot in fandom (the vine with the ‘every step you take’ song and the swans on the building comes to mind). I see it a lot, and dude, it hurts me.

Let’s look at Derek’s current mental state and what he’s been dealing with, going all the way back to Paige. (Or, tbh, his birth) Derek is a werewolf. He was born a werewolf, to a family of werewolves. He grew up within the supernatural world, in a whole different culture to humans (honestly, my fury at the lack of werewolf culture/history/worldbuilding is worthy of its own post. Let me know if by some ungodly chance, you actually wanna hear my thoughts on it.) and presumably the number one rule in all of werewolfdom is “Keep the Secret.” Now, Derek’s fuckin’ 14/15 (I put his birthday on Christmas, like most of fandom, and if his house burned down when he was 16, in the spring, and he was dating Kate for a while before, he would’ve dated her when he was 15, and we don’t know how long there was between paige and kate, but let’s give him a summer of mourning. So. 14ish with paige) and he starts dating this human. He’s kinda shit at keeping the secret, implying that either he’s only dated werewolves before, or she’s his first girlfriend ever (also implying that maybe some of the people on his basketball team are werewolves, bc they don’t seem to notice his weird way of talking [pack members maybe? fuck, my heart]) and he’s maybe not as careful as he should be. (More implications arise, and we begin to build our own history. If Derek was never taught not to say dumb shit like ‘i caught a scent’ then was he even in public school before freshman year? Were the Hales all homeschooled before high school to help keep the secret? How soon do wolfy abilites arise? Do they hit with puberty? Fuck, I digress.) He says some dumb shit, and Paige gets suspicious. Of course, he doesn’t know that, and he has some kind of meltdown about her eventually finding out his secret. We hear from Peter (who’s villainized, so we’re not supposed to necessarily believe what he says, but what we see in the flashback doesn’t make a huge amount of sense either so *shrug*) that he enlists Ennis to bite Paige, believing that if she is bitten she won’t spill the secret and she’ll be more inclined to accept that Derek is a werewolf. Now, she fucking dies. Paige dies in Derek’s arms because of this, and he finds out at the last second that she already knew the secret. He feels guilty enough abt getting her killed but now he’s got a whole new batch of guilt from finding out that apparently he’s so bad at keeping the secret of his ENTIRE SPECIES that she found out he was a werewolf. She could’ve exposed them all at any time. He had to be terrified. Next, he’s 15/16 and he meets a gorgeous older woman who presumably showers him in affection, and all the horrors that go with that whole situation (I don’t wanna go into detail, because obviously). But again, whether Derek tells her himself or she just knew or she finds out, whatever it is, Kate knows Derek and his family are werewolves. AND SHE KILLS THEM ALL. Derek has no clue what the fuck is going on. All he knows is he is the only link between Kate and his family, which must mean that it’s his fault she knows about them. Once again, he’s revealed the Big Secret and people Died. He and Laura bolt to NY for six years, where presumably they live in hiding thinking the Argents are coming after them to finish off the Hales. Then Laura gets sent a funky letter and goes back to Beacon Hills. Now, we have a lil more confusion (i’ve got a whole buttload of issues with the timeline, but let’s not get into that now) because he says he came looking for Laura, but later he mentions that he knew she was in Beacon Hills and was searching for...whoever burnt down their house...that whole plotline confuses the shit out of me (derek knew kate did it. he blamed All the argents, but he knew kate was involved. So why was Laura looking for the pendant. and if he didn’t tell her then why was he looking for the pendant?? And what did the pendant have to do with the deer and the spiral?? Halp.) but whatever. He shows up and finds his sister dead, the hunters arrive in town the next day, and suddenly there’s an angry alpha Attacking Humans.

We’re finally in the present. Derek has lost what little family he had left, except for a catatonic uncle. He already has two instances in his past where the worry of keeping werewolves a secret has caused deaths. And now there’s this teenager. No, actually, two teenagers. One who was bitten, and one who shouts out “You’re a werewolf!” in the middle of the preserve, instantly figuring out a centuries-old supernatural secret. Derek is fucking terrified, and things are only getting worse. This kid who got bitten? Derek follows him to see if he’s really a wolf, to find out if he knows what’s happening to him, if he believes the other teen. He finds the kid JUMPING OVER PEOPLE’S HEADS in broad daylight in front of everyone. Derek might’ve had a couple verbal giveaways but this is just ridiculous. Then, even better, the kid goes on a date on the FULL MOON with THE YOUNGEST ARGENT. There’s about a billion reasons to follow Scott to the party. It’s a FULL MOON, for one. HE’S WITH AN ARGENT for another. And of course he can’t just walk into the party. He’s fucking 22 for fuck’s sake. This is a high school party. He’d get arrested. And of course he doesn’t introduce himself to Scott beforehand. He has no way of knowing if this kid is on the Alpha’s side. He’s the Alpha’s Beta, it would make perfect sense for him to be obeying the Alpha. OR since he’s with the Argent, maybe he’s working with them. Maybe he’s a plant of some kind. a hunter pet. Laura was used as bait to catch Derek, why not Scott too? But he sees quickly that Allison has no clue what’s going on, at least with Scott, and he takes her home and steals her jacket to lure Scott into the Preserve where he can’t hurt anyone. Then, when he sees Scott get chased by the hunters, with no Alpha coming running to protect him, he decides “Alright, guess this kid’s my ally. Gotta protect him.” Yeah. He says some weird shit. But the evidence points to Derek not knowing much about bitten wolves. He tells Scott that he doesn’t know how to train a bitten wolf, but he does know how to help Scott recover memories (the memory loss appears to only happen in the early days of shifting, which lends more credibility to the possibility that born wolves don’t start shifting properly until later in life [puberty being the most likely milestone] and he therefore has experience with that, but not with the kind of control Scott needs, that he’s known his whole life). Born a werewolf, he’s never considered the bite anything other than a gift. He also just lost his entire family, so sue him for trying to find some kind of connection between them. (It honestly makes total sense for him to use the term ‘brothers’ bc he KNOWs Scott won’t understand the concept of ‘pack’ yet) So, now that’s decided to help Scott, to protect him, he goes back to the school. SURELY now that Scott knows what he is and how dangerous he is when stressed, he’ll reign himself in during lacrosse, or even just back out of it altogether. There are lives at stake here, be them human, or if Scott exposes the secret, werewolves. SURELY this kid wouldn’t put everyone in danger over a fucking game. But no. Not only does he keep flaunting his abilities, but he SHIFTS ON THE FIELD. If Stiles hadn’t Dragged Scott out of there, the entire supernatural world would be EXPOSED by this ONE KID. Derek passed Terrified about a hundred miles back. He’s gotta be fucking out of his mind with fear. I don’t blame him even a little for threatening Scott. If Scott’s not gonna do the right thing on his own, then threatening him is worth it if people don’t DIE. Then, bc Scott’s a pissy baby and goes to shout at him and be a fuckwad, and Stiles is nosey and neither of them have boundaries (I love Stiles, but fucking seriously, digging up a grave?) Derek gets ARRESTED. He pleads with this lanky teen who is brave enough to climb into the cruiser with a WEREWOLF. Who’s FRiends with a Werewolf. Who figured it out so quickly. He pleads with him to understand how dangerous this is, to stop his friend. And Stiles looks like he’s gonna, but Scott bolts bc of the wolfsbane (Which...listen if I’m being really salty, a deep bitter part of me genuinely wonders if he was that freaked out, or if he overheard Derek beg Stiles not to let Scott play, and Scott ran away from Stiles so he wouldn’t get told no, bc he wanted to play.) and by the time Stiles finds him he’s already dressed for the game. And DEREK WAS RIGHT. Scott DID lose control. He DID shift on the field. At LEAST one human saw him shift, and the coach for the other team knew something was up too. He DID expose them, and he did it further bc Jackson is suspicious now. Now, I’ve reblogged a gifset of it before, the moment when Derek shows up at the lacrosse field and finds Jackson standing in it after Scott’s run off, staring at a glove with a claw hole in it. He is watching his worst nightmare come true. Scott has exposed them and Jackson is going to figure out werewolves, just like Stiles did. He knows right that instant that people are going to die. I’ll reiterate what I said in the tags on that gifset. It’s extremely likely that Derek bit Jackson out of self-preservation. Jackson had been threatening to tell the hunters and the entire world if he didn’t get what he wanted. The safest thing to do was give Jackson the bite so that at least he would be putting himself in danger too if he exposed werewolves. He forced Jackson to have to keep the secret for himself because he knew Jackson wouldn’t do it for anyone else. (And he knew Jackson had some self-preservation, compared to Scott, and wouldn’t want to expose himself.)

Listen, I just. I just get so sad watching Derek sneaking into people’s rooms and standing on the edge of the field and showing up in the locker rooms. He’s trying to help. He’s trying to protect. He wants to be there in case Scott does something stupid (which he does, again and Again) to protect him, even after Scott REFUSED to help him stop a SERIAL KILLER because there wasn’t anything in it for him. Even after Scott fucking blackmails him by leaving him hanging on a grate with wires plugged into his side and his abuser on their way back to hurt him, he still helps him protect Allison (who watched him be tortured and did nothing. [He still has the capacity to acknowledge that it’s not her fault. That she couldn’t save him. He doesn’t blame her for it and he certainly doesn’t want her to die.]) He wants to keep his Betas safe. He stands in the parking lot waiting for them to test Lydia because he doesn’t want them to have to go through with killing her alone (and he only tries to kill her because she DOESN’T pass the test [although I admit it’s a dumb test] and because the kanima is KILLING people. More people have died and I don’t know how the fuck Derek manages to keep standing, let alone having such capacity for empathy and optimism and sarcasm after everything he’s dealt with. He’s constantly being hunted by hunters or humans, or fuck even Scott himself, since every time Scott gets upset he blames Derek for everything (I’m still fucking disgusted that he turned up at Derek’s place and accused him of murdering his own sister.) And STILL he shows up. No matter how many times he’s shoved away and ignored and yelled at. He shows up and he stands on the fringes and he waits for the chance to help.

And what’s creepy about that?