#the fact that all 9 realms agree he messed up is so funny

[transfreyr]

everyone: who in their right mind freed the hound of hel?

atreus:

[ladyfeldspar]

By the power vested in me by my RNG, I give you...

6x09: Free Hat (aka the reason I broke the second disc of Season 6)

This is hella long, sorry not sorry.

Some days I think season 6 is my favorite season.

Tweek standing behind the other three at the SP sign will never cease to make me happy. <3

I hate ET because I think he's a creepyass little alien and I don't appreciate seeing him first thing in this episode. 😂

Okay but I love when Kyle's saying, "...to make ET more PC," he's doing little air quotes with his one hand, like:

Stan: "That's gay." Back when saying things like that was only mildly offensive and wouldn't cause riots.

I've never seen Saving Private Ryan, and I know that it's said that it can be really triggering for people who have actually been to war and everything and I don't want to diminish that in any way, but whatever I paused on here looks like some kind of nether realm squid ghost monster and it's amazing.

I love the progression of their expressions here: angry, unimpressed, concerned, and "why is this happening?!"

And they're all so excited for Star Wars, that's the cutest fricking thing! I would love to see Tweek and Craig watching Star Wars together, just try and tell me that wouldn't be adorable!

ALL OF THEM ARE SO MAD! I fucking love when Tweek gets the little angry eyebrows.

I will never ever not want to hug him whenever I see Tweek shiver like crazy while the other kids just stand perfectly still.

The message in this episode is actually so good though. "Movies are art and art shouldn't be messed with!"

"Yeah we could form a club that takes food stamps from poor people and then we could sell them back to the government for a profit!" Tweek’s face here is priceless.

Poor Tweek. There's kind of a pattern in these episodes where multiple times he tries to stand up for himself or walk away from the main kids, but Cartman bullies him into staying and it just breaks my heart. As opposed to Craig in the Pandemics who's just like, "Fuck this." And as much as I adore all of the S6 Tweek episodes, I'm really glad he didn't stay hanging out with them for any longer and that he went back to the group of guys that are actually his friends. <3

"I'm not, I'm not a team player!" 😭 That being said, I could listen to Tweek talk all day.

"You have to offer fabulous prizes if you want people to show up to your stupid crap!" is just the S6 version of, "More people will come if they think we'll have punch and pie!" 😂

Stan: "Tweek, you go make fifty hats." Look, okay, I don't hate Stan, all right, but what the hell dude, go make your own hats! Why would you give the anxious kid a big responsibility like that!? At least have Kyle help him or something. Like you say you need to get the gymnasium ready which means what, make a banner and set up some chairs? And you're telling me you couldn't have split up the making of the hats? Jesus Christ.

(Yeah, okay, I know, chill out, they're 8.)

I posted this on my Tumblr before, so I'm not going to do it again, but that TINY LITTLE SHRIEK THAT TWEEK DOES after his dad says his name. I just. Literally. Die. Of cuteness. Every single time. It's my favorite Tweek shriek of the entire show, hands down.

On another note, his bedroom is so empty in this episode compared to in Tweek x Craig! I wonder what changed between here and then.

Tweek being able to calm himself down with some meditation is honestly so cute. And look at his happy place! I would love to have this on a shirt or a bag or just like as a piece of art hanging on my wall or something.

Cartman's giant face showing up there. 😂 I remember the first time I saw this episode that actually startled me so much.

"I was up, all night, making hats! I only slept for an hour- and then I DREAMT about making hats! But I only made fifteen!" - This has been one of my favorite lines since forever. I make it my status on things a lot and then everyone asks me why I was making hats all night. 😂

I love Stan's expression here.

"I don't have nearly 1000 hats!" "They're gonna kick your ass, Tweek!" 😡😡😡

Look at this shot! It really looks like Stan is the only one remotely concerned about Tweek's well-being here.

We get so much of Tweek yanking on his hair in this episode. </3

How am I less than five minutes into this and I have talked this much?

The townspeople are literally so stupid. Good job, Skeeter.

Stan makes good speeches when he wants to. Although, you know, you shouldn't make promises without fully knowing what you're doing.

Only Tweek would think going on a TV show is terrible news. (Just kidding. I agree with you, Tweek.)

I've never understood the "1-2-3, dibs!! "Knee!" thing. Like I know what dibs is, but where I come from knees were never involved.

Typical Cartman. I feel so bad for Tweek, but I love when he looks down to see "Advocate of Toddler Murder" underneath him. Cartoon logic is the best logic.

There's also a lot of good Tweek shrieks here too.

"It's easy!?" "Yes... It is easy."

"We believe that films have to be taken away from people like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas because they're insane." The way Kyle matter-of-factly delivers this line kills me every time.

They honestly made SS and GL look so creepy. 😂

I like that Cartman's voice kind of cracks when he's like, "That's Steven Spielberg and George Lucas!"

Someone just let Tweek go home, please!

"Uh, we thought we were speaking for the children." "Yeah, we're children."

"I'm not a Jew!" 😂 Thank you, George Lucas.

Okay, full disclosure, when I first saw this I hadn't seen Raiders of the Lost Ark and I didn't get the big deal. 😂 But I do now!!!

"He...killed 23 babies in self-defense?" "Hat was attacked maliciously and unprovoked by a gang of babies in West Town Park. When that many babies get together they can be like pirahna!" 😂 I say this all the time.

Skeeter. 😂 Honestly, you are no help at ALL.

Second time this episode Tweek tries to say no and walk away.

"People aren't that into you, Tweek. They find you kind of annoying." This is so meta because I remember people complaining all the time that Tweek was a one-note character and that he had nothing really to add to the show and I just want to say SUCK IT TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE BECAUSE LOOK HOW LOVED TWEEK IS NOW. Everyone who was on board the Tweek train from the very beginning say, "Cupcakes!" 😂<3

These kids, man. I love that it’s so easy for them to just get into all these places.

"Get it, Tweek!" "Huh-uh!" I love the way Tweek says no. But, I mean, AGAIN, he tries to say no and Cartman bullies him. I don't think he ever really wanted to be in their group in the first place. I think they picked him arbitrarily in Professor Chaos because they saw him as weaker than them, and then Cartman just didn't let him quit.

The little debate about melting his icy heart with a cool island song is also something I quote often. AND THEIR LITTLE OUTFITS! I love that Tweek's is green and pink! I don't know what the hell is going on with the sleeves on everyone else's though.

"Those rams can do to us what they will, Mr. Lucas." 😂

Oh, George Lucas. You were so close to being a hero.

Stan: "Fuck you Steven Spielberg!" I've watched this censored so many times that hearing it uncensored is so fricking satisfying.

RUN TWEEK RUN!!!

The walkie talkies are such a nice touch. 😂

"The one with the cocaine problem escaped, Mein Director."

Mannn, I miss when they used to throw live action "commercials" into the episodes like this. This also is from the time where I was like hella attracted to Trey Parker so seeing his face is always welcome. 😂

"We always meant to have Imperial Walkers and giant Dewback lizards in the background, but simply couldn’t afford it."

Oh my God, I'm always so proud of Tweek for talking to this huge crowd of people and trying to get them to help him! His little talking through his teeth, like, "We are not talking about Hat right now, okay?!" He's trying so hard!

"Oh God, I'm gonna have to do this myself! Oh, God!" just breaks my heart! YOU CAN DO IT, TWEEK! 13 seasons from now you'll have someone who helps you believe in yourself, just hang on!

Tweek with the bazooka, oh my gosh, always makes me so happy. I can't tell you how much I wanted him to just blow them all the fuck up the first time I saw this.

"All I want are my friends. Except for Cartman, you can keep him." YEAH, TWEEK!

I hate that Steven Asshole Spielberg manages to talk enough crap to make Tweek hesitate. He was so close! I wonder how he would have felt if he actually did it though, Maybe it's better he didn't? It might have made his anxiety worse if he actually blew people up now that I think about it.

"In the tropical isles with the coconut trees, the air is fresh and the people are free, but here in the mountains there's no freedom like that, there's a man in prison and his name is Hat!" This gets stuck in my head so often.

It makes it so much better having actually seen Raiders, especially for this part. I honestly thought the melting faces was just a South Park thing but nope.

I also really love what they look like turned away with their eyes closed too. <3

Like what even is going on in this scene. 😂

Oh my God, okay, and I know that Hat is a terrible person and I want to clarify just in case, I do not think killing babies is funny, but just the way that baby crawls up the person's arm to avoid getting passed to Hat is always so so funny to me and I can never explain why.

Tweek being the only one to be appropriately horrified by the fact that Hat is being given a baby.

"Sometimes the things we do don't matter right now. Sometimes they matter later. We have to care more about later sometimes, you know? I think that's what separates us from the Steven Spielbergs and George Lucases of the world." This is still so relevant.

The ending of this episode is also so much better after actually seeing Raiders. 😂

And we close off with a 9/11 joke. Perfection, Matt and Trey, thank you & goodnight.

[welcome-to-the-dreamy]

An introduction to Oliver

Oop new OM MC leggo

It surprised everyone that when Lia was summoned to the Devildom, she was not alone. Facts are, she was having a wrestling match with her little brother. And as fate would have it, he materialised next to her. It’s safe to say that the demon prince was certainly shocked.

“Welcome to the Devildom Lia-” The crown prince blinked, looking at the two teenagers sprawled on the floor. They both looked up at him with those bright green eyes of theirs, before turning back to each other and squabbling some more. They had some decency, however, and got to their feet, brushing themselves off.

The young male was around 5’10, easily surpassing his older sister in height. He was lanky however, and looked like you could easily break him in two. He shared the girls eyes and hair colour, though unlike Lia’s, his overgrown hair curled at the tips. His black headphones were strung around his neck, and his hand creeped up to hook them over his ears. And while Lia seemed to spew chaotic energy, this boy seemed more… reserved. Perhaps it was only in public. Diavolo had a split second to take this all in before clearing his throat “Ah, Mister Oliver, I don’t seem to recall inviting you” He said, amused, though quite disheartened when the boy couldn’t seem to make eye contact and shuffled his feet, clearly uncomfortable in such a large crowd. 

Lucifer leaned in and whispered something to the red haired man, sending occasional glances towards the two siblings. Diavolo nodded, before asking his friend to take care of things before asking Oliver to follow him. …. “My name..?” The brown haired boy shifted in his seat slightly, feeling slightly uncomfortable in the presence of a man who radiated such power “I thought you already knew….” Diavolo laughed at the boys antics, slapping a large hand on his shoulder. “Indeed I do, but let’s pretend I don’t, for this interrogation.” Oliver blinked a few times. Interrogation? He didn’t do anything wrong. He opened his mouth to argue, before seeing Diavolo’s eager puppy eyes, as if he had always wanted to do this. Oliver gave in, clearing his throat and putting a serious look on his face.

“My name is Oliver Elijah Garcia.” Diavolo seemed to almost clap with excitement, before getting a hold on himself and pulling out a clip board.

“How old are you, Oliver?” “16.” Diavolo scribbled something else down, though he probably knew all this, it was fun to pretend. “Tell me a bit about yourself, Oliver”

The boy opened his mouth to say something more, but found nothing came out. Man he hated this question, especially when he was put on the spot. Bit about himself? He suddenly remembered where he was, and who he was talking to. Why was he telling this strange man his information? “I would like to know what I’m doing here, or what Lia is doing here.” Diavolo sighed, upset that his little game wouldn’t be continuing. “Oh of course, you wouldn’t know.” he lightened up, eager to explain to the human boy about his idea

“My dear boy, you are in the Devildom, home to demons of all kinds.” Oliver merely gaped at the demon prince. Demons??? Nah that only existed in games, and books. No way in hell that was real. He let the large man continue, ready for a good laugh “My name is Diavolo, Prince of the demons-” Oliver snorted, leaning back in his chair. His nerves seemed to vanish, what was he so scared about? This man was just an idiot. Diavolo frowned at him, wondering what was so funny “Might I ask what you’re laughing at?” 

“Prince of the demons” Oliver mocked “Demons don’t exist. Nice try, now where am I, really?” 

The dark skinned man stared at the human boy in front of him and sighed again. “It seems I have no choice.” Death flashed in front of Oliver’s eyes as he saw Diavolo shift. He stammered and gaped once he saw how… exposed he was. He couldn’t drag his eyes away from those.. Pups of his lets just say. Eventually he dragged his face up to meet the demon’s eyes, his heart dropping into his shoes. Diavolo knew he had made a mistake once he saw the terror in the poor boy’s face. He immediately shifted back, and watched Oliver slump down into his seat. “Your sister has been chosen to partake in an exchange program, to unite the 3 realms, the third being the celestial realm of course, containing angels.” Diavolo pondered for a bit, wondering on what to do next “I suppose the logical thing would be to send you back…” His face lit up, giving the green eyed boy a near heart attack “But we’ve already got so many human exchange students, what's one more?” … After staying for a week in Diavolo’s castle, as they prepared a room for him in the house of lamentation, Oliver finally got to meet the 7 lords, as well as the other exchange students “Right, Olly, humans, humans, Olly.” Lia introduced her friends to her younger brother, using the nickname he so very much hated. “Don’t call me that Lia.” He mumbled, feeling nervous again in such a large crowd. Sen felt sorry for the younger boy, and softly introduced herself, holding out a hand for the boy to shake. Oliver nodded at her, his hands still remaining firmly in his pockets. Lia elbowed him “Y’know, it’s considered polite to shake someone’s hand when they offer it to you” she berated her younger brother. It was quite funny to see Lia lecture her brother, especially since he towered over her. “No it’s fine-” Sen tried to interrupt, but Lia insisted he shake her hand. Oliver grudgingly obliged, after a bit of grumbling, and the girl could feel how nervous he was when she shook his clammy hand. It went on like this for a bit, there were people the boy seemed more comfortable talking with, such as Gerik, Yen or Levi, but otherwise he stayed pretty reserved, staying in his room to play games, or playing them with Levi and Bernadette. Oliver and Bernadette indeed did bond over hating Lucifer quite a bit, as Oliver saw quite a bit of his sister in him. Well, alongside the fact that Lia seemed infatuated with him. If she liked him, it meant he was a dunce and Oliver would refuse to be in the same room alone as him. Surprisingly, he got along quite well with Satan, despite the two being so similar. Perhaps it was the mutual hating of Lucifer, needless to say, he soon became a fan of the Lucifer sucks club. 

Having another pair of siblings in the house was an absolute mess. Lia and Oliver squabbled so much, you couldn’t even imagine. Both of them seemed to take pride in baiting the other person, 9 times out of 10 causing yet another argument between them. On the rare occasion they would team up against someone, it was safe to say that one person wouldn’t leave without feeling slightly scarred. 

Oliver turned out to be quite the little gremlin once you got to know him. He got even worse when he met Solomon. He had seen the mage do magic, and his eyes lit up like the stars on the white haired man’s wand. He had begged Solomon to take him on as an apprentice, saying he would do anything, even become his slave. Having heard that, Solomon agreed. And life in the HoL became even more chaotic. With the brown haired boy picking it up quite quickly, he soon began to play many pranks with magic, omfg he loved freezing Lia when she would try to talk, stopping her in her tracks. It got so bad, with him learning attack spells and flinging people across the room when they annoyed him, that Lucifer snapped and broke his wand. Oliver learnt how to use a spellbook and pentagram after that, his magic only becoming stronger. He kept the poor black haired demon up for days at an end. It didn’t help that Solomon encouraged all this, and gave the young boy more ideas on how to get on the demon’s nerves. That wasn’t to say the boy was all bad though, being very nice if he liked you. Hell, he even summoned Mammon up some money once, making the demon cry with happiness. This is too long already so let’s stop it here

[anosrepasi]

Chapter 9: The Slate Clean

Read it on AO3 Start From Chapter 1

Oh Belladonna be laughing, Bilbo had done it this time.

His mother would be boxing his ears if she saw the mess he had just made for himself. One of the leaves on the newly formed oak tree seems to agree with him and has the audacity to get displaced from its branch and float down until it nestles itself into the hair of the God of Death standing next to Bilbo. The God of Death who makes no motion to remove it.

The God of Death who Bilbo is doing his best not to look at as they stand silently under the tree, craning their neck in order to see it’s uppermost branches.

The God of Death who is eerily silent. With every second Bilbo feels more and more like a fish thrown into a boiling pot, slowly being cooked alive in his shame. He is the Deity of Planting, of growth and change, for Elrond’s sake. And here he lost control like a godling who had just discovered the way their power manifests through their blood.

Thorin was rash in telling him to get out earlier, but now Bilbo can’t deny that his removal from Erebor will be well and truly earned.

Damn his foolish and prideful temper.

“This hall has been here at the heart of Erebor since my grandfather first carved it from the mountain to create the halls of death and take his place as the King of Erebor.” Thorin finally speaks, his voice tight and Bilbo images how he would feel if he came to find half of Bagend burned down- it’s not a particularly great feeling. Bilbo pointedly keeps his gaze focused on the broken slabs of stone beneath his feet as the god beside him continues, “This hall has outlasted him, and my father after him, survived an invasion of shadows— and in a few minutes you managed to conjure a plant that quite possibly could have caused the ceiling to collapse.”

For a second Bilbo’s anger flares again at Thorin’s haphazard words, calling the tree that towers above them both a mere plant, but the flicker of annoyance is blown out by the severity of Thorin’s words.

Bilbo gathers his courage and looks up from the floor and finds Thorin looking directly at him, the young oak leaf still caught near the crown of his head.

Thorin’s expression is blank, like he had just commented on the weather. Bilbo swallows and shoves his hands into his pockets, before they cause him any more problems. “I can shrink it- I’m really really sorry and that was unprofessional of me-”

Thorin’s expression breaks, only to be replaced by confusion and something fiery, “What? No- This is fantastic!”

“I- what?” It’s Bilbo’s turn to be dumbstruck.

“Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve seen a plant in this city? In this palace? And now I’ve got one right in the main audience chamber, this is unexpected sure but-” Thorin’s words catch up with him, and Bilbo watches as the King drifts closer and closer to the trunk, his neck craning up with each step to marvel at the branches above, “It’s fitting. A tree that almost caused part of the mountain to collapse, ha!”

“So. You like it.” Bilbo supplied, “Because it would have probably crushed us if I hadn’t stopped ranting?”

“You’re rather pessimistic for a gardener. I respect it’s ability to cause us to get crushed to death, not that fact that it would have gotten us crushed.”

They look at each other and in the silence of the empty audience chamber, the absurdity of the situation suddenly becomes unavoidable. It’s just them, an empty stone room at the heart of a mountain in the middle of the Underrealm, and an oak tree.

Bilbo doesn’t know who laughs first, but one moment they’re staring at each other and the next they’re both just laughing. At themselves, or the tree, or at the ridiculousness of Thorin’s philosophical answer, or just all of it, Bilbo does not know but whatever it is, it’s hilarious and he can’t help but let out a giggle as his laughter starts to subside. He turns his attention back to Thorin, who gives one last little laugh and shakes his head, an easy smile on his face- and Bilbo can see it in that moment- the way his citizens describe him as being open and easygoing.

“So you like the tree?” Bilbo calls out with a little humor in his voice and Thorin’s expression sobers a little bit,

“Yes, I do. I’d be very glad if I could keep it.” The king replies before taking the last few steps to ascend the raised platform the throne sits on and from where the tree’s trunk is only an arms length away. Thorin reaches out and stops and Bilbo doesn’t miss the moment of hesitation. “You know you can touch it if you want to.”

Thorin looks back at him with a conflicted look and Bilbo shrugs, “If you kill it, I can just bring it back to life.”

Thorin maintains his gaze for a few seconds before turning back to the tree and pressing his palm against the bark of the tree.

Nothing happens.

Thorin lets out a breathless laugh and Bilbo can’t help but smile, something warm and proud pooling in his chest. He had seen how the citizens of Erebor had reacted to his gift, the way they had been awestruck or thankful in turn- the same way a living mortal would come and leave an offering after Bilbo had walked through their fields and their harvest had exceeded all possible expectation. He has known the feeling well, but this was different. He doesn’t quite have the words for it himself.

Thorin turns back to him, hand still on the tree with concern on his face, “Will it be able to live in here? Or-”

Bilbo nods, “It’s born of magic so it’ll act like a normal tree but it won’t follow the same rules as a normal tree. It’ll thrive in here unless you cut it down yourself.”

“Alright,” Thorin backs away from the tree, letting his eyes wander up again to the top-most branches that gently brushed against the ceiling, “Will it grow any more?”

“No it’s done, since I’m no longer affecting it.” Bilbo replies with a smile, “I promise you won’t have it going through the ceiling.”

Thorin just laughs and comes to stand next to Bilbo again. They stand in silence, looking at the tree and this time it’s not tense, or funny, it just… is. Thorin breaks the silence after a pause, “I think we’ve started out on the wrong foot.”

He turns and offers out a hand, mirroring the way Bilbo had offered his the first time they met, “Can we start again?”

Bilbo smiles and takes his hand, giving it a firm shake, “Bilbo of Bagend of Elrond’s Realm, Master of Planting at your service.”

Thorin’s smile mirror’s his, “Thorin, son of Thrain of Erebor, God of Death at your service. Welcome to Erebor.”

“Thank you, it’s been great so far.”

Thorin laughs once again and goes to pull the oak leaf that’s stubbornly clung to his hair away, twirling it between his fingers. “We better return to my nephews before they start worrying.”

—

He finds Frerin later, after seeing his nephews and Bilbo off and rightly thanking his nephews for their surprise. It’s been a an hour or so since then and Frerin is now sitting along Erebor’s shore with a pipe and a smile on his face. “I take it our guest and the boys are safely across?” Thorin asks, softly taking a seat next to his brother.

“Aye, but the boys got into a row about a red haired god and Kili ended up having to swim a few yards to the shore.” Frerin chuckled, offering the pipe to Thorin, “Poor Master Bilbo looked like he couldn’t decide between being worried for Kili or worried for himself with all the commotion.”

“Did Fili push Kili into the water?” Thorin asked, drawing his brows together at the thought of his nephew’s uncharacteristic behavior. “No-” Frerin continued with a laugh, “He was running his mouth so Kili lunged for him- and Fili ducked. Kili went right over the side with a shout and the water sobered up his temper real fast.”

“I forget that for how much the boys grow each year they’re children still.” Thorin mused, taking a puff from the pipe before passing it back to Frerin as he blew out a column of smoke.

“Galadrial be thanked for that,” Frerin replies with candor in his voice, “And may they be children for a couple ages more, as they should be.”

Thorin hums in agreement and thinks back to their own childhood. He had been older than Fili when he was made the God of Death, true, but Frerin had been Kili’s age and Dis had been even younger than that. “Thank you.” Thorin says suddenly, thinking about how his younger brother has managed to still be so kind, no matter what the fates have lead them through as young gods. Frerin merely shrugs beside him in response. “It was all the boy’s idea- I’m just the ferryman.” Frerin spoke plainly but Thorin bumps into his shoulder, mimicking his brother in a higher pitch, “’I’m just the ferryman’ he says.”

Frerin shoves Thorin back, making the king have to scramble to remain his place and not get pushed off the rock they’re sitting on, “You’re supposed to be the serious one.”

“And Erebor is filled with plants again, I am being serious.” Thorin replies, smiling and bumping back against his brother’s shoulder as he settles from being shoved, “Thank you, Frerin. I know you can’t see it but this…”

He trails off and Frerin picks up the thought as easily as if it was his own, “Makes things seem a little bit lighter?”

“Yes.” Thorin settles on the word. “I had forgotten what it felt like, to be honest, to see Erebor and not immediately just see everything that was lost.” “Aye, that’s a weight you’ve been carrying around for too long, brother.” Frerin responds knowingly, setting the pipe down in his lap and looking out across the river, “You should invite the gardener back to visit.” Thorin only gives Frerin a questioning looks and Frerin just shakes his head. “The boys mentioned he made some friends among Erebor’s citizens- plus it’s generally considered rude to have someone over once and then never invite them to visit again afterward.”

“I know that.” Thorin shot back and Frerin just laughed. “Sure you do, brother dearest. That’s why Dis, Vili and the boys have been the only gods to visit us in… forever. Basically forever.”

“It’s not my fault the other gods are unbearable.” Thorin rebuked and Frerin gave him a pointed look. “No it’s not, so let’s try and be nice to the one god in an era who is somewhat friendly.” Frerin chided while Thorin sighed.

“If the God of Planting wished to see Erebor again, I have no qualms of that.” Thorin said finally while Frerin just hmm’s in response, leaving the two to enjoy the pipe in silence. They stay there on that shoreline for a while, watching the fog, and Frerin breaks the silence after they had sat there long enough for their bodies to feel stiff from the cold. “You know, brother, you are completely wrong about one thing.” “And that is?” “I don’t have to see Erebor and the improvements to know how much of an impact they have.”

—

Later on, Dis would ask him when Thorin was preoccupied by the boys to notice them speaking, after she had heard all about her sons exploits and seen her home city renewed with her own eyes, “How did he react?” “Remember the year Amad gave him that chain of soul-silver she had made and he had been ecstatic from Durin’s day to the next?”

Dis nodded and Frerin smiled.

“He sounded like that.”

[mostfacinorous]

Whumptober 31st

aka guess who got sick just in time for the end of this series??!?

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Showdown Frigga stayed with them for a week, and in that time Loki improved considerably. In fact, he was all but fully healed three days into her visit, but there were things that Steve hadn’t even realized were wrong-- when Loki had turned back to his more human looking skin, he was more flushed, had more color in both his eyes and his face, and Steve doubted any of the others would notice, subtle as it was, but he seemed-- different.

He sat up straighter, smiled a little wider, and more of his smiles made it up to his eyes. He seemed… happy, and for the first time Steve realized that he hadn’t been, even in the quiet moments they’d shared, there’d always been a weight, a dark cloud hanging over Loki.

It made sense, of course; Steve knew what it felt like, having that burden on your soul, knowing people had died because of you. It was good to see Loki relieved of that, at least where his family was concerned. Good to see that he had family still, even if Steve felt a slight pang around losing that connection to him-- which was selfish, he knew, and made him feel like a heel.

He was happy for him, though. Happy to see him doing better. He was glad he’d been tricked into bringing Frigga to Earth, even-- just all around glad about how everything had turned out.

Right up until Steve realized he was losing him.

It had been a sudden discovery. He’d been giving Frigga and Loki some space, now that he was well again, giving them time to talk and catch up, but he heard them in the kitchen together, on his way there, and paused, only to be sure he wasn’t interrupting something he shouldn’t.

“--I’m unwanted.” Loki was saying.

“Come back with me. We can change your appearance, I know you’ve mastered the guises of several nonexistent guards. Come and live with your family, and once we hold some sway again, we will change the hearts and minds of the people.”

Steve grimaced. That seemed like a big ask, for Loki to hide and risk being hurt or worse, if he was found out.

“Mother, I thought I could never come home.” Loki answered solemnly, and Steve looked around the corner to see him holding both of her hands, earnest. “To find that I can now…”

Steve’s heart stopped, and he had heard enough. He couldn’t ask Loki to stay. He couldn’t be so selfish. Particularly if Loki felt he was unwanted here. And it was… fair, he supposed. They’d come to respect him, to trust him, but it had taken time, and Loki was still so hesitant to leave the tower. He had so little here. Next to nothing. A few books he’d acquired, but he could take those with him. Some clothes. Steve.

And Steve had thought, maybe, there was some hope that Loki… wanted him. That that had been what he’d meant with what he’d said about crossing lines. But Loki hadn’t shown much sign of interest in him other than that. Oh, there were little things, but nothing… solid? Just things that made Steve’s heart flutter and his head go a little stupid. A kiss on his hand, a lingering look, little touches, but nothing that couldn’t be explained just by their being friends.

And that was… fine. If that was all they were-- friends didn’t get in the way of friends going home. Hell, even if they were more, as someone who really never could go home, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if he was the thing that stood between Loki and him being happy.

---

It took Loki some effort to get up his courage, but with his mother’s encouragement, he went to Steve right after lunch and knocked on the door of his bedroom. He’d been somewhat distant of late, though in fairness Loki had been distracted with the sudden discovery that his family lived, and catching up on the news of the other realms.

Still, when Loki knocked, Steve opened the door almost immediately.

“Steve, I ah-- I wanted to talk to you, about a matter of-- of some import.” He began, feeling ridiculously nervous. After all, if this went wrong…

“May I come in?” He asked, just as Steve, with a huge grin, asked, “So when do you leave?”

And Loki felt as if he’d been hit in the chest with Thor’s hammer.

Steve was so glad to be rid of him, so eager-- and it was a fair reaction. Loki had been more of a burden than anything, a liability. Steve had been tortured because of him, and burned, had to travel to another realm… This was no doubt better, for him. Better than any hopes Loki might have had for being something more.

“I ah, my mother thought we might leave tonight.” Loki said, ducking his head. He watched from his lowered eyes, though, hoping to see some reaction, something that would prove his supposition wrong.

But if anything, Steve smiled wider. “Yeah? That’s pretty quick. Do you need help packing your room up, or…?”

Loki shook his head. “No, no-- I can do that myself. Ah, I just wanted to thank you--”

Steve waved his words off, and Loki stifled the pang he felt at that, too, falling silent. Even his words, it seemed, were unwanted. Well, Steve had forgiven him the mistake of burning him… but he had never denied that Loki ought to go. Steve let the silence stand for an awkward moment before asking,

“Was there anything else you needed?”

Loki swallowed. “No, that was-- that’s all. We leave before your dinner time-- if you want to see us off.” Loki told him.

Steve nodded. “I’ll do that.” he said, and Loki returned the nod and turned away, barely able to hold back his tears.

He’d thought it was only Asgard and Jotunheim that did not want him, but it seemed Midgard held no home for him either. At least he knew Asgard. Knew the rules and the way of the land and how to avoid everyone, if he so desired.

He returned to his mother to tell her, stiffly and distantly, that he would be returning home with her after all. Thankfully, she understood, and the sympathy on her face felt like a killing blow.

She hugged him, clearly both gladdened for herself and saddened by the news, for his sake.

Loki packed, taking with him all of the memories he had, and the few items that tied in to them. Once they were safely tucked away, he waited to say goodbye to the Avengers, his erstwhile friends during his exile, and then Heimdall took them, and they returned to Asgard.

---

Loki had only been gone for a day, and Steve was doing his best to pretend that nothing had happened-- nothing was different, or suddenly missing from his life. The others noticed, he knew they did, but for once, even Tony kept his big mouth shut. Steve ran, hit the punching bag, and cooked lunch for everyone. Distractions and keeping moving were how he’d always managed his losses in the past. This would be no different. And, given a little time, it would start to hurt less.

But it turned out that wasn’t in the cards.

Jane Foster showed up as Steve was beginning to dry the dishes he’d just washed.

She looked distressed and out of breath, and he immediately felt himself tensing up.

“As-asgard.” She said, as if it was a secret password, or some form of greeting. “Loki’s been captured. Thor and his mom can’t get to him without setting off a civil war. Heimdall will smuggle you in-- you need to go save Loki. They’re going to kill him.”

Steve was halfway to the door before he realized that he was on a collision course for Jane, and even then he just picked her up, paused to set her down, offered her a hurried “Thank you!” And ran for his room, for his shield, then up to the roof.

“Heimdall!” He called, and not a moment later he was pulled away again-- and he found it a little funny that he’d wanted to see Asgard. Though… not like this.

---

He’d been in nicer cells. Much nicer. But he supposed the bastard son of Laufey, who made an attempt on the life of the king, who led frost giants into their realm… Well, needless to say, Loki’s comfort didn’t rank very highly in the minds and hearts of his captors. The guards had turned against his family before, now they claimed to be protecting them, but the threat remained. And the people of Asgard agreed with them. Loki was dangerous, always so known for his silver tongue.

He should be flattered, he supposed, that they thought so highly of his abilities at persuasion.

But if that were true, he wouldn’t be waiting to die tomorrow. He would have talked his way out of this mess. He would still be on Midgard, having talked his way into the Captain’s heart, his bed, his life…

Loki sighed. But it was a comforting thought, for all the sadness it held. And, why not? It wasn’t as if he could get out, wasn’t as if he would ever see him again. The very least Loki could do was create himself a replica, to watch over him as he slept. He didn’t think Steve-- The Captain-- would hold that against him. With a slight shimmer, he fashioned the man’s likeness, and sat him in an equally non-existent chair, beside Loki’s bed. He considered, for a monet, bringing him into the bed, curling up with him as they’d done in Latveria, and in Africa. But that seemed like too much-- and besides, he knew the image would fade where he touched it.

“I die tomorrow, Steve.” He whispered softly, feeling very foolish, and very sad.

“I’ll watch over you,” his spectral Steve answered.

“Not if I have anything to say about it,” A stronger, more real voice said, and Loki sat up, shocked to find Steve-- the real Steve-- outside of his cell. He banished the false one with the flick of his wrist, vaguely humiliated, but much more concerned.

“You shouldn’t be here.” Loki hissed, approaching the door. “If they catch you--”

“If they catch me, you’re claiming asylum on Midgard, and I’m the Midgardian representative come to fetch you back.” Loki bit his lip, but nodded, secretly thinking that they had better not be caught-- Steve had no idea how these things worked on Asgard.

“And how will you release me?” Loki asked, but Steve was already fiddling with a key that he wore around his neck.

“Come on,” he said, beckoning Loki out as soon as the door opened, and Loki came gladly, though he wished, as he swept past, that he had the courage to embrace Steve. That Steve wanted that, from him.

He wondered what would become of him, on Midgard, now. Surely Steve would feel he ought to provide for Loki-- out of duty, responsibility, if nothing else. But if he did not want Loki around…

“I don’t have to go back to Midgard.” Loki said quietly, even as he donned an illusion to make him look like a different guard than the one he’d been caught as. “I could go to a different realm.” It was the best he could do, in the circumstances, he thought. The best offer he could make to let Steve live his own life, without the burden of him.

Steve twiched, nearly flinched, and then said, in a studiedly even voice, “If that’s what you want, Loki, I’m not going to stop you. I just… want you to be happy.”

Loki felt the already sharp edges of his emotions pressing at him from within, threatening to shred him from the inside out. “I don’t know how to do that, without you.” He admitted quietly.

As he did, they turned a corner-- right into several armed guards. One looked them up and down and touched an amulet-- like the one that had been used earlier, to see through Loki’s disguise.

“It’s the traitor!” He shouted, and Steve stepped forward, spreading his arms-- and his shield, to block Loki from them.

“And who are you?” The man beside the amulet wearer asked with a sneer, as the others readied their arms.

“The leader of Midgard’s finest warriors.” A voice boomed from behind them, and everyone turned to look as Thor and Frigga strode forward. “My shield brother in our battles, there, and hero among his kind. What brings you to Asgard, Captain?” Thor asked, as though he didn’t know.

“Your shield brother is attempting to escape with the traitor Loki.” The man with the amulet said, handing it over to Thor so that he might see for himself.

Thor had never been a good actor, but he feigned surprise reasonably well. “Explain yourself, Steven-- what claim have you on him?”

“He came to Midgard for Asylum.” Steve said, and Loki suddenly learned that he was an even worse actor than his brother. It was obvious someone had given him these words, or he had rehearsed them himself. Loki wished he could hide his face, but he could not look away from the disaster that loomed.

“And he left Midgard to return here-- thus losing that Asylum.” The guards’ leader said. “His crimes were here, his punishment decided. I will give you this one chance to leave, before you, as a representative of Midgard, begin a quarrel your realm cannot hope to win.”

“Loki is also a hero of Midgard.” Frigga said, speaking up for the first time with a sort of fierce pride. “He worked and lived alongside the Avengers-- and he returned for my sake, to heal his mother’s broken heart. Were we not together when you discovered him?” She challenged.

“Be that as it may, I do not see what that has to do with the Captain’s claim on him.”

“He is one of my men, my team, and as such is under my protection, and that of my realm.” Steve said, sounding like he thought he was gaining ground.

“He is not serving you now.” Another guard pointed out.

“I am.” Loki said, a spark of inspiration coming to him at long last. “I owe this man a blood debt; my life in his service for his having saved me. I am his, to do with as he pleases-- surely you would not break an oathline older than your entire house.” Steve was staring at him.

“Is this true?” Thor prompted, looking entirely too pleased for the part he was meant to be playing.

“Yeah?” Steve asked, then, “Yes. I saved him from torture, saved his life when I found him a beaten and bloody mess, a knife still in him. I would say that your justice has already been served, considering how close to death he was, when he came to me.”

The guards murmured, but Thor stepped forward. “Take him and go. And Loki-- you are banished, never to return to Asgard. You may come no closer than the Bifrost’s dome. Are we understood?” Thor sounded threatening, but Loki immediately understood. Frigga and Thor himself could meet him, under Heimdall’s watchful eyes. He could see his family, if not his world. It would have to be enough.

“I do.” He said, bowing, and the guards murmured again, but Thor stopped it by rapping the end of Gungnir on the ground. The tension in the air was palatable, and Loki held his breath, only hoping that Thor’s will, his power, was enough to win this showdown between the forces of Asgard and of family and the crown. “I am Thor, Son of Odin, Son of Bor, wielder of Gungnir and King of Asgard. It shall be as I say.” Lightning crackled around his hands, from his eyes, around his head, and no one seemed to be so much as breathing. Thor waited to see if there would be any argument. The silence that followed was absolute.

“Now traitor, Captain-- begone from my sight.” Loki did not need telling twice, grabbing Steve’s hand and making a run for the edge of the city and the long bridge that would take them to Midgard. To home.

They did not stop until they stood just outside the dome, and Loki looked back for one last glimpse at the only home he had ever known.

“You don’t owe me anything, you know.” Steve said softly, and Loki turned to find him watching him. “You can still go to some other realm, if you want.”

“I meant what I said,” Loki told him, equally quiet, though he knew Heimdall heard it all. “I do not think I can be happy without you. But… I could learn, if you do not want me.” He still wanted Steve to have the option to leave him, to go to his own life, to live without guilt.

Instead, Steve stepped in and took hold of Loki’s shoulders. “I don’t think I have ever wanted anything or anyone more in my life.” He admitted, words so much shyer than his actions, as he leaned in and kissed Loki for the first time. Loki kissed back, his heart soaring, and heard the Bifrost coming to life behind them. When the kiss ended, he looked into Steve’s eyes, and smiled, for the first time in what felt like years. “Shall we, then?” He asked, gesturing toward where Heimdall waited.

“Yeah. C’mon Loki, let’s go home.”

[radical-rad1986]

Ebr commentary

Lol I rambled A LOT. Warning for LONG. I’m not sure how to post this on Tumblr so that people can respond to specific things. Or if I should post this to Slack? I miss messageboards!!

Please please reblog with commentary, don’t respond. It’s too hard to actually see responses. Thank you.

Ep 1: Is Van using an energist-arrow?? It certainly LOOKS pink and not silver. But then again people call H’s pendant red and I see pink.... Pink EVERYWHERE official...

Ep 2: Merle: “You foreigners.” (in H’s room) In the English dub she makes it sound like there’s been other foreigners that have hit on Van??? But I guess if he’s near his dragonslaying rite + crowning then he’s marriable age?? Unless M is referring to the time that the Astons visited?? But would M remember that?? Plus at that time it would have been F being the rite age... (Though assumedly she’d be protective of F too...)

Re the guymelef fight: H is already practicing her dowsing/divinity... by being overly attentive.

Ep 3: “You let two of those bumpkin samurai damage two of my Al-say-dis-units?” Gawd did that line always bother me... “Alseides units” like it’s one word. 

Pyle is named on-screen!

Gawd A do you practice in front of a mirror??

“Castle.” No that’s not a castle A.

I think we discussed the “Give me back my Escaflowne, and give me back my guymelef!” line.

Yeah sure A, traumatize the poor young man EVEN MORE.

A&D dialogue: Subtle A, reeeeal subtle.

D literally has NO IDEA what King Van Fanel looks like?? He goes right through him and focuses on H. Did... Did F hold back that information? Did Zaiback not KNOW? How does D NOT KNOW????? Like I get that H is an intrigue but D’s WHOLE GOAL is the King of Fanelia (and the guymelef Escaflowne).

MM: “Did I get the wrong room again?” Yeah bc he travels through the fort a gazillion times in his life... (Well, that does fit with my headcanon that he’s Therese’s companion and keeps up with A to satisfy Mil.)

V: “What, you’ve heard of Balgus?” WELL DUH. One of three world-famous master swordsmen.

-- We (Drk and I) discovered that there isn’t a complete Series in English. :(( Oh well. *Adds that to To Do list*  So we watched most of it in Japanese with English subs. ... We also had to deal with some weird looping weirdness too. --

Ep 4: I’ve seen D’s “Burn, burn” in Japanese written “Moreo, moreo!” (I think I spelled that wrong.) I didn’t watch the Japanese version much, ever. So I thought it was pronounced “More-ooo, more-ooo!” literally. Not the literal “More-a-oh” that I’m hearing in the subbed ep we’re limited to watching.

Ep 5: Yeah D really doesn’t know who V is. (Flashback to the Castello with V popping out of Escaflowne on the Vione.) I don’t think D truly knows who F is either... Just a Fanelian traitor, not the lost king.

H’s tarot reading: Literal foreshadowing. Its not even “shadow.” More like forelighting. XD

*D approaches Escaflowne* Me: D es el stupid-o.

Holy cow... the Crusade is MINUSCULE compared to the Vione... Like I knew that but it just now hit me...

Ep 6: Dear Mil: They both think you’re strange, so there! XD

Fabric DOES NOT rip like that. ........... LUCK.

Ep 7: Possible Naruto reference with one of the bounty hunter guymelefs??

I agree with Drk, I’m reading too much into it; but it’s still funny!

... It’s really lucky how the Asturian disguise just FLOATS right of Escaflowne instead of, y’know, GETTING CAUGHT on something.

HUH. A lot of the inconsistencies can be explained by PURE LUCK.

Ep 8: Merle “You were nearly sold off to that Meiden guy.” But... HOW DOES SHE KNOW IT WAS MEIDEN???

I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE PENDANT ORIGINATED FROM ATLANTIS AND THAT IT AND ESCA’S PINK HOLDER-THING WERE TOO CLOSELY RELATED FOR COINCIDENCE. Headcanon is that there’s four main pendants and four main Ispano guymelefs that were commissioned from the Ispano right at Gaea’s beginning, to be protectors of that world.

Dear V. F didn’t actually try to kill you. I know it looks that way but he didn’t. That was D.

AHAHA V you’ll ALWAYS need H’s help!!

Buncha scary floating fortresses.

Grava’s spewing lies... A totally had nothing to do with Escaflowne’s escape...

A LOT of scary floating fortresses!!!

I think I said this before with Trudy. I don’t think Allen has actually Kissed Millerna before, she’s the one doing all the kissing. My reasoning? The way she stops and is breathless in the carriage. Damn is that a kiss. (Too bad nearly all the kisses in Esca are for manipulation of some sort. :((( )

That is a DAMN LOT of energists.

I wish snake guy had been given an actual NAME.

Ep 9: Varie’s voice and name is SO PrEtTy in the JVA!

Wow. Wowow. I do not remember Varie wailing at Goau’s death?? There seems to be more obvious background noises in the HD version. 

Yes. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.

Then RUN LIKE HELL is after you; because IT IS.

Hm. H goes straight to envisioning the pendant. Isn’t it ... to early for her to know about her dowsing abilities? Or something? ....... Or is she more focusing on Where are they? and the pendant does its thang?

A river. Perfect. LUCK.

.... So is that one Ds dead? The one stuck in the molten ... filler thing.... from his guymelef? (... Actually I’m pretty sure it’s Miguel. That makes perfect sense. You can here D say “Miguel” and there IS Miguel as a prisoner later. Yeah. That’s the most logical reasoning.)

.... There’s more language in the Japanese version than I remember in the English. (Obv. But it’s still a little jarring.)

So earlier the Crusade was tiny compared to the Vione. Well now it’s MINUSCULE compared to the Freid cargo ship!!

Ep 10: AHAHAHA V is mistaken for A! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Rotfl

... But I guess that just drives home that D didn’t know who V was in the third ep??? LOOOOOOL.

Mil: On her way out “Let’s be friends.” ALSO. THE BAG returns to H.

Oh Mil. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A IS THINKING. 

V’s observation skills don’t falter do they.

.... The Zongi-sucking-Plaktu scene is horrifying in HD. O.o

No H. Not just “anybody.” (Personally I think H has some Atlantean in her.)  ... Yeah Merle. Open your big mouth.

A being a traitor is so much buull sheet. The fact that Chid and Voris fall for it for even a second is ridiculous. Like I get that they’re on edge bc they’d know that Fanelia burned. But. BUT. (I feel like Voris has to have a clue as to Chid’s true parentage too.)

Ep 11: .... I always felt like the positions of H + Plaktu and Chid + Voris should have been reversed... Why is Chid in the cage and H on the carpet? AND WHY ARE THERE BARS AT THE CEILING?? What’s going to get out??

... Huh. That must be a subtitle error. Earth is NOT the name of H’s country. Japan is. Earth is the name of the planet. But that might be a communication /understanding error on Plaktu’s part. 

.... What would have happened in the “vision realm” if Zongi HADN’T grabbed H? He wasn’t meant to die then-and-there, just that H was predicting it. Would they have “jumped” back to the real world?? *Plotbunnies rear their heads*

Poor H. Ripped from her home. Weird visions. Scary visions. Love triangles. DYING.

Chid’s ABSOLUTE JOY that his daddy is back.

Ep 12: DINOSAUR LIZARD THINGS!

Ok Pyle/Crusade Crew: At least V is helping to care for Escaflowne. And he probably didn’t have his own personal Crew to care for Escaflowne. And he damn well DOESN’T have a place to care for Escaflowne now! Rub it in why don’tcha??

WHY is little five year old Millerna IN THE CROWD?? Wouldn’t she be in the balcony like Eries and Grava are at her own wedding?? WHY? She’s FIVE and the PRINCESS OF THE COUNTRY?? I call animator error.

I ALSO call animator error on A in his Caeli uniform during the flashback. Mar’s watching his tournament that DETERMINES his possible Caeli status. So he SHOULDn’t be in that uniform. Unless we’re seeing it through Mar’s eyes and she’s daydreaming it?? (I’ll accept it as her daydream. I headcanon she’s a daydreamer.)

Ep 13: The animation of Voris striking the trigger is EXTREMELY familiar. Pretty sure V has Escaflowne doing that somewhere. Which makes sense; reusing animation for money’s sake. 

So. .... ........ HOW OLD is the Freidian castle that SOMEONE thought to put in such a boobytrap??? 

Dear Mahad... Go easy on the poor kid... Though it IS interesting that he says “Those born in Freid ... “ and “Those who rule.” 

Hold your freakin’ horses Dornkirk!

What I never understood: If Freid's religion is based on the Atlanteans. And known Gaea HATES the demon Atlanteans and Draconians. WHY is Freid as a country accepted?? They're Atlanean religion/beliefs must not be a widely-known thing. OR The "Atlantean/Draconian = DEMON" might be a mostly Fanelian thing?? (Backwards country that thinks windmills deter demons. Though there might be actual Science behind that one.)

No H. Keep your boundaries. You might have been a little hysterical but you have EVERY RIGHT.

So the wrong time to say that A’s hair is finally messed up would be Mahad’s death scene... which is also the MaMa scene that BREAKS MY HEART.

Ep 14: SEE?? Mil doesn’t even say “Draconian,” she says “He has wings!” A says “He’s a Draconian!” with NO maliciousness! 

Lol Dryden doesn’t even recognize Mil... though it has been seven-ish years. 

.... Did we talk about D’s “phone home” line?? WHAT IS IT IN THE ORIGINAL JAPANESE? Does D actually say “phone home” bc he knows SOME Earth language?? Does he say something else and the closest English translation is “phone home”?? ?????

Ep 15: The whole “my friend” scene. Just ugh. Mil’s brattiness really shines here. I’m so glad she got character growth!! There are just SO MANY reasons to love Mil. 

Ep 16: LEON. GRANDMA KANZAKI. (Except there’s no proof she’s a Kanzaki. Oh well.)

This F & NE interaction must be more for the viewers... How did NE not know F was a Sorcerer? I find that hard to believe. Though they do say something like “We haven’t seen you in a while.” But his Sorcerer-ship can’t have been that short. Or I doubt NE were away from F for THAT long.

Is it just me or does the Sorercers’ floating fortress have a Freidian feel to it?

Ep 17: (Carryover from 16) Does Folken... outright disbelieve in the (Gate to) the Mystic Valley? I never noticed that before.... Like yeah he’ll follow Dornkirk to the literal end of the earth (figuratively follow the actual man, literally past the end of the known earth). But he won’t believe in the Mystic Valley? He must have believed in the Power of Atlantis / Power Spot in Freid. He got the damn sword-key thing. .... BUT DID HE DO ANYTHING WITH IT? I mean the Vione DOES beat the Crusade to the Gate of Atlantis for crying out loud! (Was the Freidian sword-key more a symbol between Chid and F?)

NO Varie... *Sigh* Grandma is right; H needs to believe in her friends, to have faith in them. Yeah she shouldn’t wish so much... But for crying out loud... She’s been torn from home, visions, scary visions, seen WAR AND DEATH, love triangles. Give’r a break!

DUDE. Leon is killed by Zaiback while ON Asgard, RIGHT? So. SO. Zaiback had a whole MINI FLEET of SNOW-TRAVELLING vehicles there?? And PEOPLE?? That means that a large ship/floating fortress made it across that treacherous “edge of the map”!! WHAT THE WHAT??

Dear Leon... How much time has passed since you saw Grandma? Not that much I don’t think... But still... WEIRDNESS. 

Oh pillar of light... YOU TEASE.

Yeah I’m with Aerika; why didn’t Celena get mentioned in the ghost-Leon scene??? (Yeah time, etc, yadda yadda yadda.)

Waitaminute! Poor V has been fighting ghosts that WHOLE TIME? Then NE show up. :/ Yeah sure, traumatize him SOME MORE. BOOO. 

B-b-b-but... More fighting means MORE FIGHTING.

Of course, not fighting means captured and / or death...

Yeah sure Varie. That’s very loving/motherly.

Wait... ALL of Gaea’s future is determined by V’s will? Nooo... Surely not....

Ep 18: Poor Merle; left behind from her V-sama. ... Not so poor Mil; left behind from not-her A.

... Did Dornkirk actually “alter fate” and bring H, V, and A into Zaiback? If he “altered fate,” therefore ‘redirected’ them... WHAT WAS THEIR ORIGINAL DESTINATION? Their original fate? Did Dornkirk control the pillar of light? Bc later H asks F about the pillar and F is all surprised. (Though it would make logical sense that Dornkirk didn’t tell F everything.)

OR MAYBE DORNKIRK GOT FREAKIN’ LUCKY.

.... Does pre-”saved” Zaiback look Freidian to anyone else...?

There’s a “Destiny Oscillator” in one of the previous episodes. WELL HOLY HELL does “oscillation” come into play in Esca...

Aerika had a snippet of shooting down “Women-hating A” with examples. He’s chauvinistic to / as a fault, yes... But if he ACTUALLY hated women, therefore H, he wouldn’t have let her do the Tarot reading way back when. He wouldn’t have let her decide when V says “Go, we’ll leave from the roof.” He wouldn’t have let her lead / take turns leading..... Boy do I miss Aerika.

Ep 19: ... Yes Four Generals. That’s F’s DIABOLICAL plan. Has been ALL ALONG. Pfffft.

I REALLY want in on that conversation between Mil and D on that X days journey back to Asturia.

Dear H: Don’t argue with Mil’s new maturity. Yeah D prolly talked her into the early marriage bc wartime. But she’ll get over A. She never truly had him in the first place. (Headcanon) She actually grew up with D in her backyard palace. They actually KNOW each other. A little. At least the Mil&D relationship isn’t based on half-truths/lies and lack of knowledge.

ERIES. SToP. WHOSE GRAVE IS THAT?? Encia’s? Marlene’s? Celena’s? (Probably Encia’s.)

Ep 20: Paying less attention to this one as this particular episode seems to be mass MIA on YouTube... We’re suffering through a sped-up and pixelated  version. Though it’s not too bad...

I wonder what the Lovers card actually refers too.... Mil/A or Mar/A? Bc Mil/A weren't actually lovers, not really not truly. But H's visions have never been so... subtle. (The generic Wikipedia says it’s a FUTURE vision of them BECOMING lovers??? WHUT???)

Oh poor H. No girlfriend. The Tower’s prediction was always there. The wedding itself is a grand idea... Just maybe not right now, in the middle of a war. And Zaiback was going to attack either way. Mil has to take her time to learn that Dryden is the man for her.

And yeah mebe he has to leave for the both of them to figure that out.... Meh.

Ep 21:  ... Did Mil and D go change and come back to have that heart-to-heart with H? (And D got bandaged.) Bc... Yeah. Just odd. Prolly animator error. (Or not. I need to watch those scenes closer. Later.)

Ep 22: Rad is losing her attention span. My eyes are hurting from looking at the computer screen for so long. I had originally wanted to cast from the computer to the TV screen but I couldn’t immediately get the mouse and the keyboard to talk to the computer. So I’ve been at my husband’s shiny new dual-screen computer.

Dear MM: Don’t spread false rumors. *Sigh*

Merle. Drama queen Merle.

SHUDDUP ALLEN. NO BIRDCAGES. You didn’t put Natal in one!

Aaaaand the Four Generals start to realize that their Emperor isn’t actually fully about mass conquest....

Dear V: Dragons DO NOT work thata way.

... So F escaped death bc he had Atlantean blood? Bc he was a Draconian? I feel like maybe he was closer to the earth and it’s creatures bc he’s a Draconian... Not that it was Fate. So much... Bah. That’s too much Thinky Thoughts for one day.

*Waves Folken naked torso in front of Konstantya and Pethics*

Ep 23: Well yeah, like hell M WASN’T going to follow her V-sama.

Dear A: ENOUGH WITH THE BIRDCAGE CRAP.

Sewingyoukai:  (T)hey (women) don`t need Allen, just his hair care products.

Yes F; H’s power is CARING. (Sometimes too much.)

Wow A; that’s some horrible proposal.

*Waves naked Dilly torso in front of Drk-stars and Nehasy*

Nope Dry wouldn’t complain about Mil in an apron doing laundry... A WOULD. BIRDCAGE DISCUSSION ENSUES.

Silly H; trust your heart! Trust both of them (to an extent).

Interesting that the pillar of light takes away Dil and not V... But it IS the immediate point where Dil is breaking. And he IS the triggering point of V’s actual RAGE.

V and A in unison: Hitomi!

Ep 24: De ja vuuuueeee.

(Sewingyukai and I accidentally rewatched Ep1: Fateful Confession when we wanted Ep24: Fateful DECISION. LOL. Drk made fandom history and the eps were ordered by name.

Sooo... How much DID H tell Amano about her journey on Gaea?? And it makes him look bad to change subjects... But Fate/reality must go on... And yeah sewingyoukai said he’s moving away from her “nightmare.”

Also. Sewing’s contribution: What if V went through H’s things and asked about the tampons?? XDDDDDDDDDD

AH YES, THAT FATEFUL PICTURE.

I LOVE HITOMI IN STREET CLOTHES!

... That symbol above A’s fireplace must be the Schezar family crest. It’s on Scherazade’s cape (I’m 99.99% certain) and it’s on Leon’s journal. I thought it was a partially-English letter (or Atlantean!!!~~) but that doesn’t make sense either.

It just hit me. Dornkirk must have some Fate Reading Machine too... Or that’s the thing the telescope is looking at? I mean, he’d eventually realize what represents H and V and yadda blah blah etc. But it’s never really named like everything else most other Destiny Things are.

I think I’m on Ep 25 now.

*Cries* V’s maturity in sending H away. “You don’t want me to rely on your powers so I must send you away; I’m respecting your boundaries.”

Dryden leaving... eh.... Reasons yes, Reasons NO.

Well Mil, you’ll be waiting a long time for A bc Celena’s back on the scene (or will be at the end of the episode / Series. GAWD I need to go back to my fanfiction with that scene!!!)

Re: TIME JUMPING Such a headache. I tend to think [Gaea and Earth] are pretty concurrent. Because that's EASY on our poor brains. Sometimes little things like... pocket jump around? "Pocket" meaning outside of actual reality. SewingYoukai: Maybe they jump to the time they’re most needed? Time jumping happens so infrequently. (Or it might be like LOST where it's snuck in.) Bc it happens infrequently it's hard to gauge what's happening, if time jumping is actually happening at all.

JICHA.

I WANT TO KNOW HOW THEY THOUGHT OF THE ENERGIST BOMB. Headcanon is that a spy was at the dragon graveyard and saw the obvious and brought the information back and then some scientists HAULED SERIOUS HIENY to create the bomb. (Personal universe is that a certain UNKNOWN [redacted redacted] was involved.) Yeah the energist bomb has Japanese origins/roots/reference. But in-universe. I WANT TO KNOW.

Ep 26: Holdover from ep 25 ending: Action, Reaction, Reaction, Reaction, etc. Zone of Absolute Fortune. 

Ugh more fighting. Grow up men. (Let women inherit the earth.)

Sewingyoukai and I are debating the Reasons that the Crusade Crew aren’t effected... affected... whatever - by the Zone of Absolute Fortune. We’re thinking some combination of being “covered” by A/H/V’s “lucky/destiny/fate” or a combo of all three AND their past. The rest of the men on the battlefield are (probably) either actual soldiers or men drafted to fight and fed “you’re doing something good for your country and Gaea.” Whereas the Crusade Crew were forced into the military because they were criminals/thieves/etc. 

JUST TELL V YOU LOVE HIM, H. 

V is just going to misunderstand you.

No. DUH. Dornkirk.

I want to see the moments when H goes back home! To whom?? To where?? TO WHAT TIME? Clearly at some point Yukari and Amano get together. So knowing what she knows does H skip the whole “pendant is a pendulum; would you give me my very first kiss” thing?? Sewingyoukai’s very good point: H doesn’t have the pendant anymore! H literally alters the time line.

Was it a dream? Or maybe a vision? No, it really did happen.

My poor brain. My poor eyes too, looking at the screen for about 11 hours straight.

With sewingyoukai: Loving Fanel family ftw! (With Varie teaching F and leetle V how to FLY!) [Re: How does V know how to fly so well??]

MaMa!! NE & Folken! Varie and Goau!!

Mil and Er being sisterly!!!