#that whole plotline in the tower

[reliquiaen]

in which Alviarin is the most relatable character

[markantonys]

WOT season 3 episode 1 title is "to race the shadow" (source)

[psychoticfemmm]

Hia! Can you do another Peter Parker x Stark! Reader, I absolutely loved your last one. Could the plotline be along the lines of : Tony walks into your room and finds you and Peter asleep cuddling after you snuck him in the night before. Maybe the whole team gets involved and starts taking photos for blackmail 🤣 Thank you!

 Caught in the Act

pairing: Peter Parker x stark!reader

summary: read the request

The sunlight streamed through your bedroom curtains, falling perfectly on the two of you. Peter Parker’s arm was draped over your waist, his face nuzzled into your neck. His warm breath tickled your skin, and you groaned softly, stirring from your sleep.

The events of the night before were hazy but thrilling: a whispered phone call, Peter scaling the side of the Avengers Tower, and an impromptu movie marathon that ended with the two of you tangled up in each other’s arms.

Peter shifted in his sleep, his nose brushing against your collarbone. A soft hum escaped him, and you smiled, reaching up to lightly ruffle his messy curls.

“Good morning, lovebirds.”

The unmistakable voice of Tony Stark shattered the moment.

Your eyes snapped open, and your heart dropped. Standing at the foot of your bed was your dad, his arms crossed and an expression caught between amusement and absolute mortification.

“D-Dad?!” you stammered, sitting up abruptly. Peter groaned at the sudden movement, blinking himself awake.

“Morning, Mr. Stark,” Peter mumbled sleepily before realizing where he was and who was standing there. His eyes went wide, and he bolted upright. “MR. STARK! I—uh—this isn’t what it looks like!”

Tony raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Really? Because it looks like Spider-Boy snuck into my daughter’s room and decided to cuddle his way into trouble.”

“Dad, it’s not like that!” you protested, though your flushed face said otherwise.

“Oh, so it’s worse,” Tony quipped, cutting you off. “Got it. And by the way, the entire team is outside, loving this.”

Your jaw dropped. “You didn’t.”

“Oh, I did,” Tony replied smugly. “Because if I have to suffer through this, everyone else does too.”

Right on cue, the door creaked open, and Steve Rogers stepped in, his phone out and snapping a picture. “Morning, kiddos. Cute couple pose, by the way.”

“STEVE!” you yelled, grabbing a pillow and chucking it at him.

Natasha followed, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. “Aw, I remember young love. You guys were adorable—until Stark called us in for backup.”

“Seriously?” Peter groaned, burying his face in his hands.

“Oh, it’s not just us,” Natasha added as Thor poked his head in.

“Why was I not informed of this bonding moment?” Thor boomed, grinning. “Ah, Spider-Man and Stark’s offspring. A powerful duo!”

“Can you all get out?!” you shouted, grabbing another pillow.

“Not until I get my blackmail photo,” Natasha teased.

Peter tugged you closer, his lips brushing against your ear. “You know, if this keeps up, I might have to climb out the window.”

“Don’t tempt me,” you muttered back, glaring at the group.

Bruce finally showed up, shaking his head with a soft laugh. “Tony, you’ve really outdone yourself this time.”

“I like to think I’m setting the bar,” Tony said smugly.

Finally, the team filtered out, laughing and bantering as they went. Tony lingered for a moment, fixing Peter with a look. “You’re lucky I like you, Parker. But if I catch you sneaking in again, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

“Yes, sir,” Peter stammered.

As the door shut, the room finally fell silent. You let out a sigh, flopping back onto the bed. Peter lay beside you, covering his face with his hands.

“Well,” you started, “that went about as horribly as it could’ve gone.”

Peter groaned. “They’re never going to let me live this down. Your dad is probably going to build a tracker for me now.”

“Probably,” you teased, rolling onto your side to face him.

He peeked at you through his fingers, his face still flushed. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Maybe a little,” you admitted with a grin.

Peter leaned in closer, his voice dropping slightly. “You know, we could’ve avoided all of this if you hadn’t convinced me to stay the night.”

You raised an eyebrow, smirking. “I convinced you? Last I checked, you were the one who said, ‘But I can’t leave you now, you’re too cute when you’re sleepy.’”

His cheeks turned redder. “Okay, fine. Maybe I did say that.”

You leaned closer, your lips brushing against his. “Guess you’ll just have to make it up to me later.”

Peter’s breath hitched, but before he could respond, you pulled back, smirking. “Now, get up, Spider-Boy. We’ve got breakfast to deal with—and probably a million jokes from the team.”

“Great,” he muttered, though a small smile tugged at his lips. “But next time, we’re sneaking into my room. May wouldn’t call the Avengers on us.”

“Deal,” you replied, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the door.

[moreespressoformydepresso]

Well fuck, you’ve triggered an expansion of the HP AU that was lurking in the back of my mind for months that’s gotten so big I have to write it now. Why would you do this to me T-T

lamina is hufflepuff and treech is slytherin I will not elaborate further

[viharbinger]

can i request a fred weasley x slytherin (maybe someone from black family) reader? thank u so much!!

๋࣭ ⭑ The Lion and the Snake

Pairings: Fred Weasley x Reader

plotline: reader is a Slytherin with a death eater family. You're kinda disconnected from them and gives valuable information to the order of the phoenix, letting you stay at Grimmauld Place— where the notorious troublemaker Fred Weasley is. not to mention his giant crush on you.

A/n: I would like to do Fred x reader from the black family but I can't because I think it's kinda weird I'm sorrey 😭

Warnings: mentions of blood and violence and also it's a bit rushed sorry I was writing until 5am and didn't even sleep plus it's a school night😭💔

Grimmauld Place was where you and Fred Weasley met each other for the first time. Surely as fellow Hogwarts students, you've met each other before once or twice, right? Nope! You were part of the Slytherin house and he was in Gryffindor and shared only one class together.

But you've definitely seen him before for sure, whenever he and his identical twin were getting detention or losing house points very loudly in class. Even when you've been ushered out of the library when it was starting to get late at night, you'd notice the twins sneaking off somewhere from their tower.

They'd never taken the initiative to talk to you, though, as they never really needed to. But Fred does notice the way you've been targeted for your family name. Even Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson might try to talk with you to join forces but you just ignore them everytime, earning some foul expressions in return.

Yet he can't seem to ignore the fact that you're breathtaking. He can't believe it himself that he's thinking of you in such a way.. And he definitely lingered his eyes on you a little too long one time during the Yule Ball. Eventually, he started asking people around what you're like, what you're up to if you left the class abruptly or who you went to the Yule Ball with— which was weeks ago.

He could never catch you alone though. You would somehow always blend into the crowd and disappear or just be too busy with something else to be talking to anyone.

Fast forward, you spent the last few months sharing information with your favourite teacher, Professor Lupin on some information about the death eaters' plans you heard from your family which granted you a spot in Grimmauld Place. Your family isn't exactly the kindest folk and will likely not even notice you gone for a whole summer.

Everything Fred's ever thought about you became old and he could learn everything about you all over again— properly.

"Fred, right?" That was probably the first time he's ever heard your voice. Well, the first time he's ever heard it clearly because he'd only ever hear you softly whisper questions to the teachers privately about upcoming tests. And he wouldn't lie... He liked your voice. He liked the way you said his name.

"The one and only." He jests, sticking a hand out for you to shake. You beamed up at him and proudly shake his hand. He had an eruption of butterflies all over his stomach there, but painfully ignored it.

"How come I've never met you in Hogwarts?" He questions, even though he perfectly knows why. The question colors your face into a darker hue, "Well, I just didn't really like talking to people." You shrugged.

"Not even me? I'm sure me and my brother have been quite the topic is every conversation these days." He boasts, to which you laugh at. "No.. I've just been a little busy with my own studies is all." A little busy? He's been trying to catch you at every opportunity! "Are you sure you're a Slytherin? Seems like you're an overachieving Ravenclaw to me." He teases, peering over the books you held up to your chest.

"I plan to do something big in the future." You smiled before walking off. That's definitely the most he's ever heard you say in one sitting. Has something changed you over the summer or what? Not that he doesn't like it of course.

Despite your efforts in telling the Order some truths and details, Molly wouldn't let you in on the meetings because you were too young. Like Harry, Fred and the rest of the group, they were frustrated about it!

๋࣭ ⭑

After a quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor, Draco Malfoy couldn't keep it in himself to make fun of the Weasleys. He got a little too far and started insulting Molly and the aftermath of it wasn't pretty at all. Draco got beat up by George and Harry, Fred had to be restrained by his teammates, and Umbridge started being unfair again.

She took away Fred, George and Harry's brooms and positions in their quidditch team permanently. This earned a foul mood from Fred the entire week, which even got you concerned.

You finally got him to alone one day outside the Gryffindor tower when you were on your way down to the library. "Hello, Fred. Fancy a study with me at the library?" All of a sudden, his bad mood seemed to falter. But he hates the idea of studying now that he's realised his dreams, honestly— which was to open up the joke shop with George. Not to mention he was planning to cook up some more products to ruin Umbridge's day at the moment. But this was the first time you've ever invited him somewhere and he wasn't going to say no!

At the library, you sat side by side sharing a book, awfully close to each other. "I've heard you lost your broom and can't play for Gryffindor anymore. I'm sorry about that." You whispered, not looking up from the book. "Sorry for what? It just gives me more reason to need to ruin Umbridge's life." He grinned, completely forgetting about the book in front of him.

"I saw you earlier, you looked like you were throwing daggers behind Malfoy's head—" You were about to say but was cut off by his words. "Let's not talk about that right now. I want to know more about you." He says suddenly, earning an eyebrow raise from you.

"What do you want to know?" You eyed him carefully, earning a nervous feeling from him. "I just wanna know what my favourite Slytherin is up to these days." He shrugged casually. "I've been busy reading up on the syllabus lately and decided to watch your game a few days ago." You start off.

"Fred, you've got to do something about her! She's driving me mad! I could barely take enough from the other Slytherins, let alone her!" You suddenly exclaim before he could form up a response to the first thing you said. He's never heard you be so worked up over something, earning a sharp glare from Madame Pince the librarian.

"Okay, okay. I was planning to anyway. Just hold on, because me and George are gonna give her hell." He whispers to you, earning a lovely smile on your face which he wants permanently etched onto his mind. "Promise me that. I don't want to see Ron get his broom taken away either." You held up your pinky to him.

Ignoring the temperature rising in his face, he hooks his pinky around yours. "I'll do it for your sake so you don't end up in Azkaban for something worse." He jokes so you wouldn't notice how giddy that childish pinky promise got to him.

๋࣭ ⭑

Weeks go by and the school was taken over by Umbridge. Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy were giving you a hard time everyday for some reason. One day, you spoke out of turn with Pansy when she started probing you on why you never talk to anyone, earning a hard slap on the face.

Then, came the blood out your nose. No amount of tissues could help you out then. As onlookers go by, Fred was walking around with George when he notices your never ending nose bleed. He ushers George away before you could look up at them, earning a smug look from the other twin.

"What happened? You alright there?" He immediately sits by you, patting your back. "Pansy." You grunted, keeping the tissues over your nose. "That slithering...!" He was about to stand up but you pulled him down.

"Shut up and help me. I know you can fix this, that's why you're here, right?" You glared at him, your innocent and shy facade seemed to be replaced by a true Slytherin at the moment.

"Oh. Right." He quickly pulls out a purple coloured sweet from his pockets and hands it over to you. A few seconds went by and the iron taste in your tongue and blood were finally fading. "Perhaps I didn't take care of myself properly these days to be bleeding this much over a slap..." You muttered, fidgeting the wrapper and tissues in your fingers.

"Maybe you should put down the books for a change. I know our exams are coming up but you could use a little relaxation." He smoothly slides his arm over your shoulder, inching closer to you. "Your product really worked! You must be really clever to be able to pull this off. Is this what your mum gets so worked up about at Grimmauld?" You exclaim, examining the wrapper closely.

Perhaps the praises he was getting from you was making his stomach do flips. He was up close and personal with you now, to tell you something over the noise of the students walking by.

"Well... Okay, I'll let you in on a little secret. I—" He was cut off by a magical force that pulled you and Fred apart. "Remember the rules, children!" Umbridge tuts with her wand out, and walks past you both with her loud heels echoing in the hallway.

That interaction certainly made you both blush a dark hue, even though you weren't about to do anything... Were you? "I'll be seeing you then. Thank you for... This." You stood up to clear the tension, waving the wrapper to show what you meant. "Oh, yeah. Don't worry about it." He plays it off as you walked away.

He sighs and brushes his hair and mentally curses that god awful Umbridge. Why did she have to come by just then?

๋࣭ ⭑

Fred and George just played the craziest prank on Umbridge. They disrupted the O.W.Ls with their charmed fireworks- beautiful fireworks. They have always said they wanted to do something outside of their academics, so they wouldn't really care if they were expelled.

Their act of bravery became legend, they were now even conversation expressions. Students were now pulling pranks on Umbridge as well and saying "I'm about to pull a Weasley!" It was really funny. But you never got to see the twins after that because you were still stuck in school with your nose in books, dreadfully waiting for the next holiday break to see them.

The most dreadful day for the Order came. Sirius Black passed away from the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange. And the announcement of Voldemort returning for good was grim. Everyone was dreadful and sad for weeks.

However, the opening of the Weasley's Wizard Wheezes brought smiles upon faces and yours too. You've finally got the chance to meet your favourite Weasley twin.

"Thought I'd never see you come by, L/n." Fred says, puffing out his chest to show off his new outfit. "Fred, this store is amazing! And you're looking dapper." You gasp, looking him up and down.

"Oh, you make me blush." He plays it off. "Can we have a chat? I think George can handle himself for a little bit, no?" You tugged on his sleeve, slowly pulling him towards the entrance. "You mean I can get away from him? Don't mind If I do." He laughs, looking at George for a moment before following you outside.

The outside of the store was depressing. Not many shops were open and the mood was different compared to the inside. Ever since the attacks from the death eaters and Voldemort, everyone's been too scared to be outside.

You hugged Fred tightly the moment you got him out. "I missed you. Why couldn't you wait to get expelled till it was our exams?" You whined, swaying him back and forth.

"If I knew you'd miss me this much, I wouldn't have done it." He pats your back, dropping his head onto yours. "I loved those fireworks you did, it was brilliant! Smart! And your store... I can't believe you're really making it out there." You gush, looking at the store.

"Yeah, well... Me and George just thought people needed a laugh these days." He shrugs it off like as if his insides aren't fluttering right now. Has the weeks that had gone by while he was gone made you even more gorgeous?

"I think you're amazing with what you do, Fred." You lowered your voice. Was it just him, or was the street getting really quiet, too? The proximity between the two of you was getting closer. "I just did what I thought was right." He pretends to not notice the warmth from your body being so close to him.

"I'm sorry but would you mind if we... Kissed?" He quickly says, clearly frustrated by how painful the tension was. "Not at all." You replied, your face just inches from his. And the gap closed.

You were kissing... You and Fred were kissing! You couldn't believe it yourself. You reckon it was the quiet street driving you mad to start kissing this troublemaker. Your left hand were clenching his hair, the other on his cheek. His was on either side of face, like as if you'll run away if he lets go. The kiss was so soft and sweet, he wanted more. But you had to let go when George called out for Fred to come back.

"I'm not done with you, yeah? I know you've graduated, so you can certainly come back here anytime. So.... Come back here, soon?" He looks at your eyes with so much love. "Why are you talking to me like I'm not already dating you?Of course I will." You joked, beaming up at him before slowly letting go of him.

For the rest of the day, Fred was buzzing with excitement and excitedly promoted products to his customers with even more enthusiasm. George thought he's lost his mind.

© This is my works please don't steal or copy.

Like and reblog to help a girl out!

[autisticrosewilson]

so I’m not a fan of Talia (this is important to my ask) but i see a lot of Talia fans. and i really want to ask, without anyone getting angry, why people are fans of her with her history?

the main things i know about her are how she drugged Bruce to make Damian in Batman and Son, and her relationship with Nyssa in Death and The Maidens.

is there more to it? i don’t want to explore on my own if its just that it’s never explained, is there an arc to reference or anything?

That arc is actually retconned because Grant Morrison admitted that it was racist characterization.

Talia had 30 years of characterization before Damian needed a sad backstory. She WASN'T raised as an assassin, she was studying to be a doctor when her and Bruce met. Because she was invented in the 70's she was modeled more after your typical bond girl, and leaned more towards spy than assassin. She hated killing and felt immense guilt the few times she had to.

Her and Bruce loved each other deeply, but Talia also loved her father. Ra's tends to get sanded down to "insane, cruel, and needlessly violent", but the whole point of the league is preserving the environment and endangered species. Talia agrees with his goal, but not his methods and this conflict is what allows Bruce to come between them.

For a lot of her history her main conflict is between the man she loves and the man who raised her, which changes in Damian's ORIGINAL origin, Son of the Demon. Bruce enthusiastically consents and is excited to have a baby with Talia, but Talia realizes that Bruce will never give up Batman and that whether she raises the child herself or gives him to Bruce he'll never get to have a normal life. So she tells Bruce she lost the baby and gives up Damian for adoption in secret.

The next big change in her character happens in JLA: Tower of Babel, explicitly said to be the FIRST time she's ever helped her father with one of his big schemes and she hates it. This marks her breaking point as she ditches Ra's entirely. This leads into President Luthor Secret Files where she takes over Lex Corp and GUTS it. Naturally Clark is suspicious of her, but she continues to help Bruce.

Then, Death and The Maidens happens. Talia is tortured and brainwashed. Batman, supposedly the world's greatest detective, explicitly said to LOVE Talia, sees this extreme shift in loyalties and behaviour, and leaves. Either not noticing or not caring. There is no resolution to this plotline.

Damian's nonconsensual origin follows this up on the basis that Talia's character after she's been brainwashed is just, who she is and who she's always been. Unfortunately it became her most popular story, and even though it's no longer canon it's done UNTOLD damage to her character.

Talia is so deeply compassionate and she cares so much for everyone and everything. She's endearing and she's insanely competent and her moments with Bruce are some of the most genuinely heart wrenching I've ever read. Batman Chronicles #8 continues to be one of my favorite comics EVER. I highly recommend you read her 70's-90's comics.

[treatsformeeko]

This dialogue has always baffled me. It is locked behind a 30 cunning check, which I think may be impossible to reach without cheats at this early stage in the game (?) but its implications are INSANE. Entirely too long tirade below the cut:

How could the darkspawn possibly know the plan? Does it have anything to do with darkspawn showing greater signs of intelligence (re: the Architect, the Messenger)? Awakening was being written before DAO came out — was this meant to tie into that?

Many people online have discussed that it may be a remnant of abandoned plot threads that paint loghain as more of a mustache-twirling villain, working with the darkspawn (either willingly or perhaps under their influence?) to make sure the signal fire doesn’t get lit. David Gaider explained at length that the Ostagar plotline and the Cailan/Loghain conflict were subject to numerous rewrites. And while it is true that there is no further dialogue to suggest that Loghain was working with the darkspawn as this dialogue implies, my next question is what were his men doing in the tunnels underneath the Tower of Ishal?

Even before I had seen this exact line, in my first playthrough I operated under the assumption that Loghain had purposefully sabotaged the Tower in order to place blame on the Grey Wardens (an already easy scapegoat given their very recent return from exile) once he inevitably quit the field. I never once thought that his decision to retreat from Ostagar was made in the heat of the moment — after all, why would Howe already be making moves on Highever if he thought that Cailan would be alive after the battle to punish him for it? And if it were the case that Loghain planned for Cailan to die at Ostagar, why would he allow the signal fire to be lit on time and still quit the field knowing that some of his men would see this as betraying the King, regardless of how good he was at being a leader? Was it just a very happy accident that the darkspawn overwhelming the Tower and delaying made him look less villainous to his own army? Why would he leave this up to chance when so much of his plan before this seems to be so carefully crafted?

Frankly speaking, much of the deeper DAO lore seems to be happy accidents — constant rewrites and abandoned plot threads coming together to create a genuinely interesting story where the truth is not easily identified. And honestly, I think it benefited greatly from this! The truth is messy, especially when there are this many players vying for power in some way or another.

Personally, I’m of the mind that dev-lore comes secondary to what actually makes it into the game, even when the devs had better ideas than what we got. Which is why it is so fascinating that this line still exists in game and yet is nearly impossible to obtain! Why does it still exist? Why is it so hard to obtain? What implications does it have on the greater plot?

I don’t necessarily have an interesting conclusion beyond the fact that I am still in awe at the reactivity of this game that is objectively pretty clunky and ugly by today’s standards. I love Loghain as a villain in part because he is so human, and as much as I enjoy the sequels I really think that he is one of the best antagonists of the entire series. I find it really interesting that his reputation is not entirely shredded to pieces by Inquisition, as some Ostagar vets still sing his praises, which just further drives home the point that he has the capacity for good AND evil! I mean hell, the whole game is about making sacrifices for the greater good. Couldn’t you still argue that that was what Loghain was doing (or at least thought he was doing)?

All of this being an entirely too-long wind up to say: fuck you Quartermaster Threnn. I know what I saw.

[cosmerelists]

Ranking the First Five Stormlight Novels

For the record, this is not meant to be an objectively correct ranking or anything--but it is my personal ranking. I wanted to wait to do this until Stormlight 5 came out!

And I gotta say--I like all of the books. But I can rank them by "least favorite" to "favorite," even if they're all among my favorite books in general, you know?

[Spoilers for Wind & Truth! ...And all the other Stormlight books too!]

#5: Wind and Truth

I feel bad ranking the newest book at the lowest spot...but so it goes. The thing is: I'm a simple woman. I come to Stormlight Archive looking for people with huge fantasy swords fighting each other in the sky. And while I do respect and understand Kaladin finding his place outside of battles and becoming a Therapist to the Stars, I did honestly miss him getting to duke it out against overwhelming odds.

I will say that this was probably my favorite Adolin book--his WAT arc was my favorite. I also loved the new ways that Shallan is using her powers, to say nothing of finally getting the Rlain/Renarin love story. It was also extremely gratifying to finally get a lot of the backstory about the Stormfather and Honor and the Recreance. I'm also fascinated that so many arcs involved oaths being broken framed as a good thing.

Lots of great stuff in Stormlight 5. But my monkey brain really wanted more sky fights.

#4: Oathbringer

I have to imagine that if you are a Dalinar stan, Oathbringer is probably your absolute favorite book. I'm a Dalinar fan but not a Dalinar stan, so that definitely flavors my reaction to this book.

This one does have one of my favorite Sanderlanches--the battle of Thaylen city is amazing (and Shallan single-handedly fighting an entire army does legitimately make me tear up every time). The invasion of Kholinar storyline is also great, and I loved meeting Azure.

Again, lots of good stuff, but not as much good stuff as some of the other books, at least for me.

#3: Rhythm of War

Rhythm of War was challenging for me because Kaladin is having the ABSOLUTE WORST time in his whole life and it's sometimes legitimately hard to read about it. At the same time, we get such great Kaladin fights thanks to the Pursuer, and one of the all-time great Kaladin Dramatic Entrances at the end.

Plus, I mean....Navani and Raboniel? So good! So toxic! Such an accidental toxic yuri horrifying love story. I'm such a sucker for self-sacrifice too, so Raboniel sacrificing herself to save Navani AFTER Navani killed her? That could have been created in a lab just for me.

PLUS this book had Maya and Adolin, both their kata fight and the whole "WE CHOSE" scene.

Incredible book, IMO.

#2: Way of Kings

I go back and forth about whether Way of Kings or Words of Radiance is my favorite, if I'm being honest. At the moment of writing this list, it's turned out this way.

I really love Way of Kings. The whole bridgeman plotline is horrifying but so compelling, and I love watching Kaladin build himself and his man back up. I love seeing all of the ways they manage to survive, from the side-carry to, well, war-crime armor I guess. The scene of Kaladin surviving the highstorm--with Syl in front trying to block it--is one of my all-time favorite scenes ever. The Tower Fight is fantastic all the way through. And the end with Dalinar giving up his shardblade to save the bridgemen is so earned.

On a first read I was less compelled by Shallan's narrative but it honestly gets more compelling the more often I reread which I've done...let's say a few times. She's such a great character from the first line.

#1: Words of Radiance

As I mentioned at the beginning, I am a simple woman sometimes when it comes to my fantasy series. Words of Radiance wins for me because it contains my three favorite plotlines / scenes:

The 4 v. 1 duel. So amazingly fun to read. Such a good scene for Adolin, for Kaladin, for Renarin. "Honor is dead but I'll see what I can do." Come ON.

Kaladin & Shallin fieldtrip in the chasms. I loved the way their relationship developed over the course of this scene. The end when they're huddled in the cave in the middle of the highstorm while listening to the Fused above them, telling each other their true stories--top-notch. Plus I'm a sucker for storylines where people have to both use and hide their powers, and so the fact that they're both Radiant and trying to hide that from each other makes me giggle maniacally.

The Kaladin vs. Szeth duel. This fight has EVERYTHING. They're in the sky. It's a highstorm. They literally run across enormous boulders that were RIPPED from the GROUND by the storm while said boulders are SPINNING THROUGH THE STORM. It's so over-the-top and it's my favorite fight in the whole series.

So that's me! I know there are tons of "What's your favorite Stormlight book" polls out there, but if you want to put your ranking in the tags I'd be interested to see it!

[sixth-light]

WoT 3x01-3x03 thoughts

Book spoilers aplenty! Cut for those and length because I had more to say than I thought.

These are basically random things that stood out to me, assume I really enjoyed all 3 episodes and think the show has really hit its stride as of this season, as someone who has enjoyed it from the start and is a book fan from way back.

I continue to just be deeply, deeply grateful that my very first early-teens fandom is giving me a big-budget adaptation which is almost perfectly tailored to my interests and tastes as a middle-aged queer woman - like, that certainly hasn't happened with other adaptations of stuff I've loved, I know this adaptation doesn't hit that way for everybody who loved WoT as a teen, but it is more or less perfect for me and what a profound gift that is.

On to random thoughts:

These people like each other!!! Possibly the key reason this show works so well for me is the script and cast sell 100% that these are people who like and care about each other, not just in the big moments but the little stuff. The platonic chemistry is so bonkers good across the whole main cast. There was a bit of tonal whiplash in 3x01 from big setpiece battle to People Just Chillin' but I am willing to forgive it because I love the Just Chillin' bits so much. Mat making a dick joke about the White Tower and Egwene/Rand/Nynaeve reacting perfectly in character? No notes.

Much has been said about that big setpiece battle because it's been out a while but I genuinely do appreciate a show that lets a bunch of middle-aged women go to town in mortal magical combat - it makes me think of that infamous anecdote about the MCU female actors being told to not move their faces in big fight scenes because it looked bad - this is like the polar opposite of that. Love it.

Controversial take but I do think the choice to only show one key part of Egwene's Accepted test was the right call. Doing a whole episode focused on Nynaeve's means we know how it works, and they did one very effective scene to ram home the key conflict for Egwene right now. They get eight hours a season, it's fine.

The bubble of evil (with the twist of Lanfear doing it with Moiraine's contrivance!!!) was so well done. I was a bit confused by Mat and Nynaeve's scene because as a book reader I fully expected the cards to attack him but on a second watch I don't think I would be. The axe cutting off Perrin's wedding ring???? goddamn.

I was spoiled (happily) for the Avilayne hook-up scene (!!!) and it is early for that, but I like that it was played very much as a hook-up where both parties would like to take it further if they get a chance but can't be in the same place right now, I think that's going to lead both to some sweet future romance and some very funny Elayne-Aviendha-Rand dynamics. If we ever get Aviendha extolling Elayne's skill in bed to Rand in an attempt to get them to hook up, or vice-versa, I will die (complimentary). MAKE IT HAPPEN R2J2.

They're really letting the weight of compounding trauma hang on all the main characters, not just Rand, and it's making the big fantasy arcs feel grounded. But also...oh, babies, you've got so much more to come.

I'm glad Moghedien is very effectively creepy (it is so easy to forget HOW creepy she is at the start) but I hate and am bored by torture scenes so like...less of that in future I hope, except we're getting Semirhage, so probably not less. Sigh.

The show continues to use book canon in such fun ways to create show-specific plots - in the books Morgase does come to Tar Valon to demand Elayne back and leaves Elaida behind, it creates a rift between Andor and the Tower, it just happens off-page and before Elayne returns. This is such smart re-writing!

Tsutama survived!!! I am obsessed with all the Red Ajah stuff, yes it's setting up for the Coup but it is also setting up for a Black Ajah Hunters/Asha'man Warders plotline and they've established Tsutama really clearly as a level-headed and reasonable Red sister. Whether she ends up standing in for all the 'good Reds' (mostly Teslyn and Pevara, maybe Silviana as well?) I don't know but I like that we've got an early start on that. Yes, I love all the minor Aes Sedai plotlines, no apologies.

Fascinated by how show!Elaida seems to have a very similar backstory to book Lelaine and Romanda - an older sister who had semi-retired but used to hold significant power, was an almost-but-not-quite Amyrlin Seat, and sees opportunity in a time of crisis. It will I think make either Lelaine or Romanda seem obvious foils for her and Egwene's position more obviously precarious.

The way the Waygate opens when not channelled open is fucking cool, the VFX have stepped up a level even on last season.

Also obsessed with the way they've done Rahvin's plot - the long pauses before Leane and Elayne are caught were perfect - and the way he's been positioned, in an extremely Hugh Jackman Magazine Cover way, as a powerful woman's dream later-life partner instead of the somewhat generic rapist of the books (who is nevertheless an accurate portrayal of a kind of man who specifically enjoys abusing powerful women). Book!Rahvin would have been way creepier with Elayne, show!Rahvin is cosplaying Best Stepdad with her even when he has all the cards. And this too is an accurate take on how abusers are good at showing a caring face to people they need on side. It's going to make the reveal much more insidious. Now regretting my former takes that show!Morgase needs to die. I think she probably will but it's going to be so awful.

RYMA ISN'T A DAMANE FUCK YEAH. NGL this was also necessary (along with Tsutama) to balance out the show's very real S1 colourism issue which casting Alviarin as another dark-skinned Black woman would otherwise have, uh, not helped with. I mean maybe she still dies in the Coup or something but at least she's alive and free now.

Elayne with that line about the novice rooms being small - lmao ok I know this is an exigency of TV sets where they can't be that small but that room is HUGE compared to the book descriptions, like twice the size of the Accepted rooms. I guess she's a princess but still.

Galad literally white knighting his way around the Tower - there is a Character Arc coming here, I think it will also be very significant that the cold open for 3x02 set up the precedent of the male relatives of the High Seats murdering them to make peace with Morgase and Trakand and we'll see an explicit plotline about the Whitecloaks intervening in the Succession. Anyway he's not pretty enough but he's exactly annoying enough and I'm ready for his full fall and rise arc. Gawyn...was also there? Sorry Gawyn fans I'm sure he'll get more of a glow-up once his love interest status comes into play.

Everything in Liandrin's plotline is building towards her getting murdered by Moghedien so Moggy can win that promotion to Nynaeve's #1 Enemy status. Given that she's already sent Grey Men after her twice I am currently betting on Liandrin dying to try and save Nynaeve and Nynaeve having to live with that (and being mad about it forever, like HOW DARE LIANDRIN DO THAT).

Shout-out to the Evil Glow-ups Nyomi and the other Black sisters got in Tanchico. Is it a bit silly? Yes. Is it also fun? Yes. The costuming is so good this season, it's always been good but it continues to be spectacular and a real and heartfelt thanks to the costume team for deciding that in this turning of the Wheel, even though it's a fantasy show, women can wear trousers. (Butch Tower servant disguise Min? Impeccable).

Lots of scenes straight from TDR/TSR, all very well-executed (Siuan and Mat a stand-out) but I have fewer notes on those simply because they're doing what already exists well, it's the new or changed things which excite me. If I want to read the books I can read the books. Which doesn't mean I don't want those key scenes done well but there's just less to say about them.

Final note: I can't believe Nyomi had a non-book-character name so they could hide she was Black Ajah, I fully thought it was so she could die in the Coup. Good job writers there. I hope she adopts some cats, though, Marillin and her cats constantly outing them is one of the funniest subplots of the whole Liandrin crew storyline because it's so deeply exactly what some real person would do.

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

Hi, I've been watching s4 (unfortunately) and one thing I've realised is that part of it's weird "secrets" plotline is how... chopped up it is? I'm so sorry, but I might rant a little.

Ep 1-4 (including mr pidgeon 72 since it directly leads off from gang of secrets) are mostly connected regarding the issue of the superhero secrets messing with the Main Characters civillain lives. Ep 3 resolves this somewhat. This then leads to Alya Knowing, but while it's used a few times, its generally a background thing that's not used in the plot itself save a few episodes.

And then the next time the issue of the superhero-related- secrets comes back is... Optigami, ep 13. There's about 9 episodes of not really caring about the secrets plotline in favor of Zoe and the Felix thing. (I'm not including Guiltrip or anything in the secrets theme since they feel more standalone)

Optigami is the next time the whole "secrets" plot is brought up, finally addressing miracle queen and also not fixing the hole they pointed out. It also leads to Alya going full time and directly into Sentibubbler, possibly the First Time we see CN noticeably upset about being left out of the loop. Possibly also the first time in s4 we see that there IS a possible issue between the heroes.

And then it's picked back up for "Hack San" with the Scarabella thing and "Rocketear" with Nino, even if it's a bit strange in tone as to what exactly is the wrong action in these situations...and of course dropped again for another 4 episodes before "Ephemeral" (which only counts more than Wishmaker since it's CN seems slightly upset at the end about LB keeping secrets, I don't think he's ever told what she was going to talk about, why viperion was there, or why she had a timer on?)

(Slight tangent but it seems that this convo, basically having CN ok with having the team cover for him,

Ladybug: The countdown has begun. It's 1 am, and we've got just five minutes before you transform back. So we've got to be done by 1:05. You'll rewind on my signal.

Cat Noir: (upon landing on top of the Eiffel Tower) I'm sorry, but I really couldn't make it earlier.

Ladybug: (waves) Hey, no big deal! That's the good thing about a team. It's not the two of us anymore!

Cat Noir: Oh, yeah! So then, why did you need me exactly?

Technically no longer exists in main canon. In the current timeline the convo is cut off:

Ladybug: The countdown has begun. It's 1 am, and we've got just five minutes before you transform back. So we've got to be done by 1:05. You'll rewind on my signal.

Cat Noir: (upon landing on top of the Eiffel Tower) I'm sorry, but I really couldn't make it—

(The lights are flashing alternately, while the malfunctioning cars are making a lot of noise)

So we Could assume that CN, instead of being reassured that things were fine and being chill with it, is instead more upset due to there being a Mysterious Meeting that's left unexplained. Thats probrably the best way to explain his perceived heel turn over the team in Kuro Neko.

But also the sheer existence of that exchange means that you'd mostly remember that, AND him being upset at the end, it's really confusing and the audience is forced to fill in too many gaps. But I digress)

Kuro Neko is basically the climax of this issue that was spread out from episodes 14, 16-17, and 22. It ends with this issue seemingly resolved at the end. Since the inbewteen episodes have Ladynoir acting completely normal, CN seems to ping-pong between whether or not he's upset woth Ladybug about secrets.

(Also, on the topic of Kuro Neko, it's the only episode before the finale I can clearly note CN offering help and LB rejecting it, this help being helping her retrieve the other Miraculous from the temps faster. A reasonable offer that she unfortunately doesn't take, but it's like once only. He offers again in Risk, and honestly I think the only reason they put these moments in is so the audience has at least once instance of her refusing help when LB later mentions it in her breakdown. They only bothered putting it into later episodes so its fresh in our memories and nothing else, so its not built up well.)

To put it simply, while s4 appears to have a theme of "secrets" being... bad? Good? I'm not sure, The only real times it's brought up even briefly are spread out horribly: Eps 1-4, then nothing till 13-14, 16-17, 22-23, and then the finale 25&26.

Even when the episodes are close together theres at least one episode in between messing with the flow. In short, would the conflict have been done better if they had stuck those later episodes together, or would it at least have helped fans perspectives on it? Again, sorry for the long rant ask.

Also, on the topic of Kuro Neko, it's the only episode before the finale I can clearly note CN offering help and LB rejecting it, this help being helping her retrieve the other Miraculous from the temps faster. A reasonable offer that she unfortunately doesn't take, but it's like once only.

THANK YOU!!! I recently brought up the fact that I couldn't remember Chat Noir offering to help outside of Kuro Neko, but I was worried that I was forgetting something. It's nice to have it confirmed that he really did quit after a single rejection. Writers, wtf are you doing? This is not how you write a good conflict where Chat Noir comes across as deeply wronged!

Anyway, don't apologize for the rant, I enjoyed it! Much like the Kuro Neko thing, it was nice to get confirmation that season four played out the way that I thought it did. While I've reread the scripts for certain episodes while running this blog, I only watched season four once so there was always a chance that I'd forgotten some random nuance. This risk was only enhanced by how badly the writing setup the supposed conflict between Ladybug and Chat Noir. I didn't even realize that the Ladynoir conflict was going to be a thing until we were at least a few episodes in so I always wondered if I missed something subtle in the early episodes. Sounds like I didn't.

Then there was the issue of what the conflict was even about. I thought that the Ladynoir conflict was going to be over Alya learning Ladybug's identity and basically getting promoted to Ladybug's partner. That's a solid conflict in which both sides have valid points of view. Ladybug should get to choose who she trust! However, it's also perfectly valid if Chat Noir is not interested in being partnered with someone who doesn't seem to trust him. We even had a solid set-up for Ladybug's actions costing her everything without Chat Noir holding any blame because Chat Noir was never told about Rena Furtive. That could have lead him to do something dangerous in battle because he mistook her for an enemy, which would have been 100% Ladybug's fault!

None of that ended up mattering, though. Instead of using these lovely setups for complex and nuanced conflict, the Ladynoir conflict ended up coming to a head over...

Plagg: For a while now, you've been neglecting this camembert— I mean Cat Noir, and going on adventures with the all other cheeses! Ladybug: But he should be happy about it, it gives him more time off. Plagg: Cat Noir doesn't wanna have time off, Ladybug! He is in love with you! And your persistent calling on all the other heroes has broken his heart.

Ladybug relying on other heroes in battle.

Why would you pick that as the reason Chat Noir quits??? That is the one issue where Ladybug is objectively completely right! When it comes to battle strategy, feelings legitimately do not matter!!! Ladybug shouldn't prioritize Chat Noir in the middle of a battle! She needs to do whatever is required to save the day even if it means picking a temp hero over Chat Noir. Paris' safety matters more than Chat Noir's need to feel special!

Also, as anon alluded to in the ask, Chat Noir feeling like he isn't special enough isn't the right conflict to focus on. It isn't properly set up! The Ladynoir conflict comes to a head in episode 23 (Kuro Neko). The last episode to address this conflict was episode 17 (Rocketear). The conflict introduced there was this:

Adrien: Huh? You're... Carapace? But... the two of you know?! You know each other's secret identities?! Nino: Of course, Alya and I have never kept anything from each other. Until now, though that Cat Noir's business! Adrien: Wait a sec, I don't understand! I thought that secret identities had to be protected at all costs. If it were true, you'd never just tell me like that. Ladybug would never agree to that! Nino: Are you kidding? Ladybug is the one who gave us both our Miraculous at the same time.

This is yet another decent source of conflict. Ladybug didn't reveal Alya and Nino's identities on a whim, it was an emergency! But Chat Noir doesn't know that and this is right after he learned that someone else knows Ladybug's identity, so it makes sense for him to feel like he's not a true part of them team. In spite of this, identities never come up in Kuro Neko nor is the conflict focused on Chat Noir feeling like he's not part of the team. The Kuro Neko conflict is about Chat Noir wanting to be more than just another part of the team. This is what leads to the argument where he quits:

Clara: (from TV) By the way, where's Cat Noir? You've saved Paris without him quite a few times recently. Are you two at odds with each other? Ladybug: (from TV) Of course not, it's just that... umm, he's a partner like any other! The most important is to pick the best superheroes for each mission, with or without Cat Noir. No matter what, we've got a great team and we'll always be here to save Paris. (Adrien is shocked.) Adrien: (turns off the TV and sighs) "A partner like any other..."

None of that fits the rest of the season! The conflict you set up was him feeling left out, not him feeling like he wasn't special enough!!! If the conflict was supposed to be him wanting a bigger role, then write that! Have him ask for more responsibility outside of this one episode! Have him learn about Rena Furtive and get upset about her having a special role! Let him think that Alya and Nino know each other's identities because of some special role they've been given! Without those moments, this conflict comes out of nowhere. It also makes him look weirdly demanding and self-centered.

I'm starting to rehash my season four rant, so lets cut this off here and give some final thoughts.

My best guess is as to why this season's main conflict was such a mess is that this is yet another case where the show's commitment to being an episodic formula show cost us good writing. Chat Noir quitting after finding out about Rena Furtive or the identity reveal is a complex plot that's hard to pull off in 20 minutes, especially when you have to include an akuma fight along the way. It also doesn't really standalone as it would be bringing in plot points from other episodes. Add in the fact that a proper resolution to the conflict would probably take more than a single episode and this just doesn't work in canon. None of that fits an episodic formula show so the show couldn't do any of it.

In spite of this, the writers apparently wanted a Ladynoir conflict, so they did the worst of both worlds and just threw in a bunch of random conflicts throughout the season even though those conflicts could never be properly addressed. They also didn't want to make every episode depressing because this is supposed to be a fun show for kids and so the majority of the season sees Ladynoir being totally fine, completely undermining this supposed conflict. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Ladynoir are simply way too happy in season four for me to buy into this supposed conflict.

I'll end by once again thanking anon for the rant! It was a genuine relief to read near identical thoughts from someone fresh from a rewatch where they watched with the full knowledge of what the conflict was supposed to be.

(Note anon I did get part two of this ask. It's queued for tomorrow.)

[markantonys]

day 71 of asking why reddit has suddenly become convinced that the 'finn and mat's rhuidean trip are a waste of time and easily cut, and that season 3 will obviously feature him splitting off from the friends he just reunited with in order to spend the entire season dicking around with thom and getting into shenanigans, as that is much more important to his overall character arc than his 2-book waste arc

like there have been SO MANY posts like this lately and all of them are filled with comments of universal agreement! am i having a stroke? what the hell is going on???? i'll admit mat doesn't have a huge amount of specific stuff to do in the waste aside from rhuidean, but rhuidean is crucial to his character and s2 had Mat-Finn Connection Foreshadowing out the wazoo, plus the waste plotline is MUCH more fertile ground for creating additional Specific Mat Stuff and enhancing his character development & relationships with other main characters than his TDR plotline of dicking around with thom is.

[butterflydm]

Additional 3x05 thoughts

Spoilers through 3x05 of the show and through A Memory of Light in the books.

It does crack me up how Egwene INSTANTLY breaks her word to the Wise Ones. You've had a single night of training, girl! I mean, also very book canon - promising that she isn't going to mess around by herself in the dream only to proceed to do it constantly is fully book canon. That plus the fact that she is definitely letting them believe she's full Aes Sedai like she did in the books does make me think she's going to need to 'meet her toh' to the Wise Ones before she parts from them, like she does in the books.

We really do need 3x06 to fully judge the fallout of the Randgwene breakup but right now it's the only plotline that I'm like "idk if this is a change that improves the books". It's certainly more High Drama than an amicable parting would be, but in a way that can potentially flatten both Egwene and Rand in the eyes of viewers - Egwene by turning her into a symbol of a Perfect Woman Done Wrong; and Rand into a symbol of Cheating Man Never To Be Trusted.

Avirand continues to be perfection (which is why I'm trying to be "okay okay let the show cook" over Randgwene's break-up, because all of the Rand & Aviendha scenes; and our two Rand & Elayne scenes, were so wonderful).

I do want to rewatch the Moiraine & Siuan scene, for sure (I mean, I'll rewatch the whole thing this weekend lol), because I was getting "shit maybe they ARE killing off Siuan and/or Moiraine for real" vibes from how much closure the two of them got, but it could be foreshadowing for a long separation because of Moiraine moving to Finnland. Moiraine specifically saying that she's (Moiraine) not at the Last Battle, though...

Delaying the vote in the Hall because Siuan and Elaida have (temporarily) come to terms with each other really worked. I liked everything in the White Tower plotline.

Alanna and Maksim's plotline really got to me! Their mutual but clashing grief over Ihvon, and how they finally come back to each other at the end. <3

Perrin's plotline also really worked to cement Faile as someone that he cares about -- her insisting on coming with, and being a key part of saving him (and the shot of the two of them near the end of their scene in the Whitecloak camp reminded me, framing-wise, of Rand & Elayne's first meeting. Can't explain why. Vibes).

Everything with the Sea Folk ship plotline was great. I finally got the conversation between Min & Mat that I wanted in the previous episodes, where Mat mentions the vision of him stabbing Rand! I loved Elayne & Nynaeve learning about the Sea Folk. <3

And Elayne still wistfully thinking of Aviendha even as we're hearing Aviendha talk about how she doesn't get how monogamous relationships can even function and how you need more than one partner -- all of that feels like a great set-up for future Avirandlayne.

So, yeah, the only part I'm like... idk if I feel like this change works is the Randgwene stuff. Both Josha and Maddy talked in interviews in ways that implied that we would actually be getting broken-up Randgwene growing into being post-breakup friends, but with such a High Drama ending between them and only one episode afterwards (since 3x07 is a full Perrin/Two Rivers episode), it's hard to see how we get there. Their breakup in the books doesn't have a "bad guy" so I'm kinda sad that it feels like Rand is gonna be the "bad guy" in their breakup in the show.

[squirrelwrangler]

OOooh, another theory on the whole Bryne plotline (aside from he falls for Leane, hyper-competent support battle couple). Because his role as Rebel Aes Sedai General is necessary for at least some dude to be there in that position, even if it's not big.

Gawyn doesn't stay in the Tower loyal to Elaida, but instead joins the Rebel Aes Sedai and gets hired by Egwene to lead their army. This gives them interactions together, since they have yet to meet in the show- and in fact would give them more time together than in the books. He's with her throughout Salidar and the Siege. It makes Gawyn less of a Failure, so it's a bit OOC for him sure, but the audience would root for him and Egwene as her more natural second-love.

[athena-xox]

Ever After High Facebook posts of note 👀

They give a lot of quotes from characters we don’t see in any other media

I definitely recommend checking out their Facebook because they give a lot of friendships there. Every post is linked

Also I’m making a post about all the confirmed birthdays later, keep your eyes peeled

They post this June 7th 2013, possibly written by Giles Grimm to the students/rebels/raven

I’ve got no clue what this means and what they’re referring to but they say this about apple and briar “The Ever After Royals hope to put their best foot forward in the Forever After Reveal! Hex in daily beginning 6/24 to discover the whole story behind these best friends forever after” (post here) they also make a similar post about all the rebels here.

Briar referred to as an it girl #canon

Rebel inspiration post

They announce the legend of shadow high

Post about dex and dare

They make a post about tiny before any chapter two characters 😭😭

Even though confirming she’s a myth they quote cupid saying she can’t wait to discovers her destiny …

A scroll Apple sent her mom…

Raven talking about cerise

Quote from Daring (I’m not sure if this is in any other media or not)

Apple quote on destiny

Cedar quote

Confirming the charming brothers + their roommates as friends

Hopper quote

Confirming that years are chapters? Or months? Either way new years post. Separate post about briar planning the party

Blondies thoughts on Raven not signing

Blondie on huntlynn

Sparrowchess confirmed on sparrows side ??

Cupids arrow

I just thought this was cute - Dexter watching romcoms - possible dexven

Every four years coach gingerbread makes winter games

Leap years canonically exist

Ashlynn plans Hunter a surprise birthday party

Spring unsprung is confirmed to be the first day of spring … even though true hearts day is said to be in spring. Although this is posted before both spring unsprung and thronecomimg come out. It’s bizarre that they talk about wonder though.

Cedar is confirmed to be like her dad

Blondie goes to the tower salon monthly

Cedar accidentally tells something about or to Raven … we don’t know what though

There’s a forest full of charming family trees, likely more than dex and daring mention in Blondie branches out

Daring quote

Both Maddie and Apple the student presidents support courtly in going to eah

They make a post about Maddie’s mh reference

Dappling art??

Whatever the heck this means about Farrah and Ash. “They’re united by a magical friendship that lasts for centuries.” Do they mean like the past cinderellas and godmothers???

Magazine about eah. Yall does anyone have this?? I want to know what interesting facts it says about briar

They asked if cedar should follow her destiny or fully commit to being a rebel … but they don’t do anything else with cedars plotline

Darabella propaganda 😒

WAIT WHAT MONSTER HIGH?!?!

More darabella propaganda

Barbie reference??? “Fairy secret”

Castle designs is possibly not a class but a summer break project

They learn about our world ?? They are a globe of earth

They spellebrate Halloween (this is after they say it’s a new school year so it could be a new thing Cupid taught them)

Yall don’t be surprised Disney canceled them… look at the book Rosabellas reading…

They spellebrate thanks giving (in November)

[brekker-by-brekkerr]

The potential for found family in the Avengers was something that drew me and so many others to the MCU in the early days. Those Avengers Tower fanfics where they were just hanging out were everything to younger me. But in the actual movies, we barely got close to that. There's the Shawarma bonus scene in the first Avengers movie, and we get crumbs in other places (personally I'll always be an Age of Ultron lover if only for getting to see them hanging out for a bit), but it's not a lot in comparison to the total screen time of the MCU.

And then there was Eternals. And they were actually found family. We got to sit with these characters in a way the fast pace of the Avengers movies had never allowed. We didn't have to rely on a post-credit scene to see them spending normal time together; we got to see them bantering around a kitchen table like family! We saw them at their jobs, in their normal lives. Sprite and Sersi chatting on their nighttime walk. All of the past flashbacks. So many moments where you're like yes! This is a family! Like Druig passing the box of Twinkies to Ikaris, the whole reunion scene with Druig, etc.

Sure, I would have loved to know even more about these characters, and a TV show would have given us space to flesh them and their relationships out more, but we didn't get a TV show; we got a movie. For a movie that takes place over centuries and has this huge Celestials plotline going on, I'd say they did a pretty great job introducing us to these characters and their dynamics. Also just the fact that there was still such a huge, save the world, high-stakes plot and YET. And yet we still got to take our time with these characters. We had this character-focused, philosophical, morally complex story (with the best cinematography of any MCU movie) and on top of all of that, more found family than the Avengers movies ever had.

[s12-kittie]

Tales of Seven Stars: The Sixth Ring

Chapter 1: An Offer One Can't Refuse

Trix week day 6

Prompt: Cannon Divergent

@trixweek @bellatrixobsessed1

For the day 6 of the Trix Week I wanna present you my 2 babies: chapters 1 and 2 of the book 1. Also, I might change them later if the whole plotline goes another way.

The stuff is happening a year after season 3, so seasons 4-8 are not fully considered as cannon for this fic.

It was a nice, warm day. The sun shone high in the clear sky, and a pleasant breeze blew, bringing fragrances of different flowers growing on distant valleys.

Even the Black Mud Swamp looked less disgusting and ugly than usual. A hot, rainless summer made the mud dry out, so most of the mosquitoes had left, looking for a more humid place to live in.

That was beneficial for the students of Alfea and Cloud Tower, who came here with their teachers to have a merged practical class. After defeating Valtor, the headmistresses of both magical schools decided to fix the relationship between witches and fairies, which had not been very trusting and pleasant. For that, some changes in the studying program took place, such as merged lessons and student-exchanging programs.

Now fairies and witches were standing opposite each other, while Professor Palladium held a small speech to explain the contents of the task.

“Today you’re going to have a small practical test to sum up the material you’ve learnt last year.” The teacher explained. “Your skills at working together will be tested as well.”

Some of the Cloud Tower students rolled their eyes.

“You’ll have to divide in pairs.” The teacher continued. “But you must choose a partner among the students of another school. Learning to use opposite kinds of magic together will help you to…”

“… to see you more often, handsome?” The witch with scarlet hair whispered with a snort.

She appeared tall, but only because of the platform high-heeled boots, still impractical for the swamp, and had a long, pointed face with heavy make-up on it and pinkish-purple eyes. Her straight hair was cut in a so-called “jellyfish cut," so most of it was short, while the lower half of the back hair nearly touched the grass with its ends.

“That too, miss Ruby.” Palladium said, truing his face to the witch, whose face immediately blushed from the sharp chin to the forehead, hidden below the tick fringe. “But most importantly...”

“What’s with the face, Ruby, darling?” The witch with long and shiny reddish-pink hair slapped her friend in the back.

“I… I-it’s just..." The latter mumbled. “W-well, he’s handsome, right?”

“Oh, don’t tell me you have a crush on him, sweetie!” Her friend chanted.

“Miss Acid, be quiet and listen to the professor!” The professor from Cloud Tower hissed.

“…and, last but not least, you will be prepared for an unusual situation and…”

“Well, an unusual situation indeed!” A witch with long, half-up wavy brown hair whispered, and most of her classmates giggled.

Just one of them, standing a little aside from the others, rolled her eyes.

This witch wasn’t even close to beautiful; short and thin, with a square chin and jaw. Pale wax-like skin and lank, shoulder-length, dirty-green hair, getting yellowish-green to the ends, cut in a short asymmetric fringe, made her look lifeless and even quite unattractive, except for some tiny yet noticeable details, like emerald-shining eyes, a straight nose, or bright orangish-red lips. She was wearing an oversized forest-green hoodie, black skinny jeans, and brown laced jackboots. Her only accessory was emerald-green rhombic earrings.

The witch exchanged gazes with a petite fairy, standing opposite her. The fairy had short, straight brown hair, big, turquoise eyes, twinkling with curiosity, and seemed three or four years younger than her classmates.

“Can’t these witches handle themselves?!” A fairy with short, light-blue hair snorted irritably, making the girl flinch.

“Yeah, they show so much disrespect!” Someone nearby said.

“He’s our teacher; that’s why they try to make fun of him!” Another voice from the fairy group hissed.

Professor Palladium raised his hand as the whispers among both groups were becoming louder and louder:

“Please, be quiet, ladies. I haven’t finished yet. In the middle of this swamp, I hid some magic spheres. You will have to use all the converging skills you’ve learnt to find one of them and bring it to me. Now, who can tell me what you should avoid while doing this exercise?” He looked at the two groups.

The green-eyed witch raised her hand.

“Yes?” Palladium pointed at her, a little surprised.

“The spell should be fed from the equal doses of magic of both partners; otherwise, it would result in one of them feeling sick because of an impact of an opposite magic source.” She answered in a bitter tone.

“And why is that?” Professor raised a brow and gave her a bright smile.

“In order to converge, two or more people create a temporary bond between their cores, which leads to free magic circulating among them. If the magic is applied in 1:1 proportion, the opposite sources neutralise each other, and no side effects happen.”

“It’s correct! You’ve earned an ‘A’, miss…”

“Jade.”

“Right… Thank you for your answer, miss Jade. Now, back to the task. Those who find a sphere will pass the test; for an ‘A’ it should take you not more than thirty minutes. Don’t try to compete with each other. The quantity of the spheres is the same as the quantity of the pairs. Now, you may begin.”

Jade and the petite fairy came closer to each other and headed to the centre of the swamp.

“So, the locator spell should do the trick.” The witch turned to the fairy.

The fairy nodded.

“Isn’t it too simple?” She asked in a high-pitched voice.

“For the professors, it would be just right. They lost hope in students long ago and will give an ‘A’ for just completing the task in time, so those idiots I have to study with don’t look so miserable and humiliated. Did you hear what they asked me, Daisy? The safety rules for converging. What a comedy.” Jade scoffed. “As if these imbeciles will memorise anything after me repeating these rules out loud for the Dragon-knows-what time. And I also need time to talk to you, so the locating spell it is.”

Daisy nodded again.

By that time, the girls had reached a little plain clearing. They stopped in its centre and clenched hands together.

“Just don’t give me more than needed.” The witch told her friend. “I think at least you are capable of remembering those safety rules.”

“I’ll try.” The fairy closed her eyes.

A few moments later, a shiny ball of bright-green and light-yellow energy appeared and floated to the left. The girls followed it.

After a few more minutes of walking, they reached a valley covered with dry grass.

The ball stopped near a group of bushes, growing to the left of them. A dusty-pink transparent sphere lay among their roots.

“There it is.” Jade noted contentedly, picking it up and hiding it in the pocket of her hoodie. “Let’s go back.” She turned around.

At that moment, Ruby rushed out of the farther bushes, pulling a fairy, who, despite light-pink hair and a serious expression of her face, looked much alike with the witch herself.

“Oh, darn!” Ruby cursed at the sight of Jade. “What are you doing here, Psycho?! This is my sphere!”

“Too late.” Her classmate gave her a smirk while walking away together with Daisy. “See you back at school. Unless you drown somewhere, to my great relief... ”

“Dream on. The swamp is dry! How am I supposed to drown here?!”

“Oh, you could.” Jade chuckled and turned away.

Ruby paused for a few moments, confused, then dropped at her partner:

“It’s your fault, Quartz! What took you so long with this spell?!”

“Says the one who did nothing!” The fairy hissed. “And why did I agree to be your partner?!”

“Because you hate other witches a bit more than your own twin sister!” Ruby pushed her in the chest. “Now find another sphere and fast! I need a good grade!”

“Are you still sharing your room with her?” Daisy asked quietly, casting a glance at Ruby.

“Unfortunately.” Her friend sighed. “Now she’s a little more bearable, though. Seems like all she needs is a permanent threat to her life to stick to Cloud Tower roommatehood rules.”

***

“Have you heard the latest news?” Jade asked, as soon as Ruby and Quartz were left far away.

The two girls now entered the darkest part of the swamp. The trees grew everywhere, blocking the sunlight, except for several golden rays, piercing the air.

“About the cases of power loss?” The fairy cast a glance at her friend. “Yes, I did. Do you think it’s…”

“Shadow Vampires? Most likely.” The teen frowned. “The whole situation looks exactly like the cases described in that book.”

“I wonder why no one else thought about it.” Daisy looked at the witch.

“Griffin might have; she’s not a complete idiot.” The latter disagreed. “And there’s a good possibility that she’s planning to take action.”

“So, what do we do?”

“We get to the rings as soon as possible.” Jade stated. “I don’t want to give up school, but it doesn’t seem I have a choice.”

“Maybe… Maybe we should... tell the teachers?” The fairy asked unsurely.

Jade shook her head.

“They will choose the future keepers by themselves.” She rolled her eyes. "And there's no way I’ll even have a chance to be the candidate. I hope I don’t need to explain the importance of this ring for me once again.” The witch clenched her fists.

“Sorry, I…” Daisy began but didn’t finish the phrase.

They continued to walk in silence.

“So, we need a plan.” Jade finally said. “I already found the portal, but it’s not enough. We also need a map.”

“What map?”

“It was created by the Ancestral Fairies long ago and should be hidden somewhere in Alfea. I’ll look for the exact location later. Curses, I didn’t expect it to happen so soon.” The witch sighed. “Fine, I’ll think about it after classes... Hey, what’s that on your neck?” She suddenly pointed at the golden amulet Daisy was wearing over her turquoise T-shirt.

“It’s a special amulet. Faragonda insisted that I always wear it, so I don’t accidentally use more power than needed.”

“Interesting…” Jade bent closer to her friend. “Can I try it on?”

“But Faragonda said I should never take it off…” The girl protested weakly.

Jade rolled her eyes:

“She worries too much. Come on, D, you don’t really expect anything to happen during these thirty seconds, do you?”

“I… Well… I think you’re right.” Daisy took the jewel off and gave it to the witch.

“Strange, I don’t feel anything unusual.” The latter put it on. “Now, let’s see…”

She closed her eyes and started reciting a spell. Magic started swirling around the witch, together with ice-cold wind.

“Just… Don’t break it, please…” Daisy’s eyes widened with fear.

“Everything’s under control." The witch murmured, frowning. “There. I feel a barrier. Yeah, I guess that’s the edge.” She grunted. “I can’t get through.”

The teen opened her eyes. The swirls disappeared, and the wind stilled.

“Well,” Jade exhaled, taking the amulet off and returning it to her friend, “if you didn’t need it, I'd..." Suddenly she frowned with tension. “Wait. Someone’s around.”

“Hey, Psycho! I didn’t finish!” Ruby went out of the trees.

“I don’t have time for your nonsense today, so just skip it and shut up.”

“Dream on, weirdo! It’s your fault that I got a bad grade!”

“I’m not the one to blame for you being born without brains.” Jade rolled her eyes.

“You stop that! I could get an ‘A’ I needed, but then you appeared and screwed everything up! As always! You enjoy it or what?!”

“I just don’t care, neither about your plans nor about you in general. And if you don’t want to be burnt to ashes right now, then…” The witch turned around. “Well, now it’s serious… I sense three big auras nearby. They’re definitely not students.”

“That’s right.” The cold and strong voice behind them said.

The girls turned around and saw three figures, appeared out of thin air. Jade had seen their mugshots before at several billboards in Magix, together with a caption "wanted,” and she’d heard a lot about these witches. They were the Trix, the notorious witch trio. Three sisters looked exactly like in the mugshots: Icy, blue-eyed with straight silver hair, tied in a ponytail; Darcy, with yellow eyes and dark-brown hair with dark-blonde front strands; and Stormy, curly, greyish-purple-haired, with grey front streaks and turquoise eyes.

“Stay behind me.” The teen whispered to Daisy.

“The heck?!” Ruby jumped back, stumbled over something, and ungraciously fell on the grass with a loud exclaim.

“Well, well.” Icy continued, stepping forward. “Students from Alfea and Cloud Tower. Just like we needed, sisters.” She turned to Stormy. “Do your thing, and fast.”

“With great pleasure.” Stormy smirked, turning to the girls. “Lightning shot!”

“Mirror defence!” Jade blurted out, stretching the hand towards the three sisters. A bright green shield appeared in less than a second, reflecting the violet lightning. Stormy didn’t expect it and fell on the ground, blasted by her own spell.

“What?!” Darcy exclaimed. “But it's high-level magic!”

“You deal with it, then.” Icy replied indifferently.

Darcy nodded and shut a spell towards the girls:

“Dark confusion!”

“Mental barrier!” Jade exclaimed, creating a green barrier around them, which bounced the spell back, so Darcy hardly managed to jump away.

“Curses!” Icy swore. “You’ll pay for this, little brat! Freezing wave!”

“Fire barrier!” Jade created a wall of acid-green fire, stopping the spell.

“Huh?!” Icy exhaled, losing her breath in rage.

“The students can’t be this strong!” Stormy hissed irritably, glaring at the two girls.

The teen grabbed her friend’s hand.

“Daisy, let’s get out of- ouch!”

One moment was enough for Icy to hit both girls with a paralysing spell, throwing them on the ground.

“You stay down, too.” Icy sent the same spell towards Ruby, who still stayed on the ground, already paralysed by fear.

“Not so confident now, are you?” The witch of ice bent to Jade. “Now, before we get rid of you three-”

“Wait.” Jade stopped her. “I have a deal for you.”

The witch of ice raised a brow:

“A deal?”

“Exactly. Hope you know what that is.”

“Don’t talk to me like that, you little brat, or I’ll finish you off right now!” Icy hissed.

“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Jade rolled her eyes. “I’ll be brief; there’re objects that are thousand times stronger than the Dragon Flame.”

“Thousand times stronger than the Dragon?” Stormy asked, then broke into laughter. “Yeah, right!”

“Shut it!” Icy barked at her, then turned back to Jade. “Go on.”

“I already said everything. You leave me and the fairy alive now, help me get close to these objects, and then you can take some of them for yourselves. Don’t worry, they’re enough to make you unstoppable.”

“Aren’t those too many conditions?” Darcy looked at the teen with interest.

“For the greatest power in the whole Universe?” Jade chuckled. “I don’t think so. Besides, I have nothing against you still taking that one with red hair. Her existence is a mistake anyway.”

Ruby let out an unclear exclaim.

“You’re wasting our time.” The witch of darkness replied.

Icy remained silent, deep in thought. Her eyes fixed on Daisy’s necklace.

“Fine.” She finally said. “I accept your deal.”

The witch of ice clicked her fingers, cancelling the paralysing spell.

“Wha-” Stormy began before Darcy pushed her in the stomach with an elbow.

Jade and Daisy stood up, shaking the dirt off their clothes.

“We’re setting off in the centre of Gloomywood at midnight.” Jade told the three sisters. “Hope you didn’t have any other plans for tonight.”

“Not a thing.” Icy told her in a cold tone. “And if you’re trying to trick us, you’re doomed.” She clicked the fingers for one more time, and the three witches disappeared.

“‘Having that one with red hair’!” Ruby finally stood up. “You will sure pay for this one, Psycho!”

“Well, turns out you’re so hopeless, even the worst criminals don’t want to deal with your stupidity.” Jade chuckled. “Come on, D.” She passed by her roommate with Daisy following.

“Great, it makes everything even easier.” The teen smirked when they were far enough from the witch of gemstones. “Let’s get that sphere to Palladium, and then I’ll think up a plan.”

***

“Why did you agree?” Stormy asked. “That brat was obviously lying.”

The three witches returned to their hideout, almost the only one the police of Magix couldn’t find. It was way below the Gloomywood, protected with many strong spells, which were still functioning, even though Valtor, who had cast them, was caught and drained. From the inside, it looked like something between a cave and a large hall with high ceilings, full of magical books and artefacts.

“Of course she was lying.” Icy agreed. “But did you notice what her fairy friend was wearing?”

“A sort of stupid amulet. So?”

“These amulets used to handle an immense amount of magic inside one’s body, you dumb thing.” Darcy explained. “So that girl must have very outstanding power.”

“Right. And tonight, we’ll capture her without making any useless noise.” Icy smirked.