#the omniscience rule saga

[simplegenius042]

Late OCs as Horror Themes/Tropes, Ships as Tarot Cards, and 15 Lines or Less Tag

Tagged by @nightbloodbix @aceghosts @inafieldofdaisies @voidika @direwombat and @g0dspeeed

Tagging @socially-awkward-skeleton @softtidesworld @strafethesesinners @strangefable @adelaidedrubman @wrathfulrook @corvosattano @cassietrn @derelictheretic @shellibisshe @florbelles @cloudofbutterflies92 @starsandskies @onehornedbeast @josephslittledeputy @josephseedismyfather @afarcryfrommymain @megraen @turbo-virgins @minilev @carlosoliveiraa @shallow-gravy @titiagls @thewanderer-000 @snake-in-the-garden @purplehairsecretlair @chazz-anova @ladyoriza @la-grosse-patate @skoll-sun-eater @yokobai @bitchofedensgate @deputyash @ec-10 @foofygoldfish @gaeadene @henbased @vampireninjabunnies-blog and @trashcatsnark

You can find the OCs as Horror Themes/Tropes quiz here and the Ships as Tarot Cards quiz here. One OC for the first quiz, Two Ships for the second quiz, and three OCs for five lines each for the 15. The results and lines are below the cut:

DISCORD, THE MAD KIN OF CARNAGE (A Radioactive Calamity Of Love, Bombs & Gore and the Unnamed Original Works Trilogy)

Discord was a second-generation reality bender (or more commonly known as "Kin"), and one of the most devastatingly powerful as well. His very presence was capable of reverting anything and everything around him back to its basic essential form/s (until it became rusted, rotten, and/or dust and eventually nothing at all). Had technically been killed during the Extermination Purge War, however, Arcane Urias' Chapter of the Occult, a group of warlocks, liches and dark magic users that aimed to preserve ancient magic (regardless if it was forbidden or destructive) and bring back the Old Kin (which mostly consist of the extinct first, second and third generations, as well as some fourth) to rule over the Multiverse once again, had found a way to bring back Discord, in a universe where Earth had been ravaged by nuclear war. NOTE: This result kind of describes how Discord's second death more-or-less is like.

THE BAPTIST AND THE QUOKKA [JOHN SEED X NADI SINCLAIR] (Far Cry The Silver Chronicles)

While Nadi and John have this "loyally serving the other while yearning for each others love but beating around the bush due to bad timings and stuff and still caring and possessive of the other to an obsessively unhealthy degree"... I will have to say that Nadi's affection isn't John's only priority; Joseph and his family plus the project is John's focus and is probably what he would choose over Nadi. Nadi though views John as the person who gave her something to believe in again, to put her skill and faith in (especially after losing faith in the military and governments after the events of Call To Arms), so to her, Eden's Gate' faith is personified by John. But if either lose each one another, it will greatly impact the other's life.

HAOYU ANABUKI X ICARUS GALATOS (Life, Despair & Monsters)

Ah yes, another main LGBTQ+ couple I made to add to my collection alongside Sonya and Jennifer. Haoyu (Non-Binary, 25) and Icarus (Male, 23) fit each other well. At first both thought the other was a jerk. However, both got to know each other, related about their experiences with distant, long-lost and/or found family (Haoyu with their father, mother and Monika plus the Literature Club, and Icarus with his parents, siblings, alters and the Dupain-Cheng Family), coming to terms with their personal lives (Haoyu with their ability to open portals and travel through reality breaches, and Icarus plus his alters with the ability to switch dimensions with this magic fungus dude named Hatter whom one of the alters had eaten inadvertently on a dare), as well as near-death experiences (Haoyu with the Ruins of the Midnight Rise, and Icarus with Evermond Scowlzka trying to dissect him and his alters to get Hatter) plus their encounters with Sir Enigma Malvolio (Haoyu is Malvolio's foil and therefore targeted as a rival, and Icarus, while never meeting Malvolio until much later, had seen the aftereffects of Malvolio putting the essence of the Court King into a close friend of his, Marinette Dupain-Cheng). They also manage to work through each other's flaws; Icarus was reserved and arrogant but self-sacrificing (hence the requirement for his alters, Hatsukami Hinode and Xavier Tulip), and Haoyu was bold and selfish yet unambitious. Icarus teaches Haoyu how to be driven, pointing them towards a goal beneficial to not only them, but everyone, while Haoyu taught Icarus how to listen and take care of himself more, as well as be open-minded. Wherever they end up after the fight with the Ruins of the Midnight Rise, know that they're both at least together.

15 LINES, 5 EACH FOR 3 OCS IN THE UNTITLEDVERSE

Calvin Darling (The Perfect Storm saga)

"Ah, back in this shit again?" He grumbles, getting up.

"Haven't you learned by now? "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before the fall"," Calvin quoted, "Try to checkmate that, you pompous dick."

"I need a drink," Calvin pauses, reminding himself of another task, "But first I shall pray."

"Mario! I'm a cartoonist, not a mechanic."

"...I'm simultaneously impressed by how smart you can be but also disappointed in how stupid you are."

Rick Thompson (The Omniscience Rule saga and The Ender saga)

6. "I don't remember hunting down clowns to be part of the initiative...?" 7. "My dream came true Ma... I am IN a Musical." 8. "Ms Darling, if I may compliment outside of regulations, you're stunning beauty is increased tenfold by the stellar addition of grime and demons blood." 9. "I may be an agent, but I'm no where near professional." 10. "Ian Graveheart is the kind of man Pa described as the worst combination you can give a loaded weapon without safety on... legs and batshit insanity."

Urijah Calaghan (The UnTitled Stories (from The Omniscience Rule saga) and The UnTitled Ventures saga)

11. "You don't matter. Nothing matters. Nothing except this mission." 12. "How cruel are our lives where we must live out a path hostile to our treading feet as the unknown entities above and beyond mock and degrade us? And what fate awaits us then? Release? Freedom? Death? A second round for your soul to enter the world again and go right back into the cosmic mechanism that grinds us down again and again and again like a broken carousel? Or a decrepit record stuck spinning on the same tune? But that's only if you're lucky enough to die." 13. "My mission is to release us, painlessly and mercifully, from the one who holds onto us; the Hand at Fate's Table, one abhorrently callous and cruel enough to take pleasure in the suffering he puts us through." 14. "You must find this tiring. For a man to commit himself against an endless stream of challenges for what is ultimately a short speck of time in our universes must come at a great unnecessary cost to your body. Do you not wish to rest, Joaquin? Wouldn't it be best to live the final minutes of your life resting? Taking a moment to hold your family one last time before our Peace?" Urijah softly questioned. 15. "That doesn't matter," Urijah softly breathes out with a smile, hot air colliding against the cold breeze as the countdown reaches its conclusion.

[mycharacterlistandwipdump]

The Plot Synopses of The UnTitledverse Masterpost

Note: May update over time. TW: A few possible lackluster descriptions.

The Perfect Storm saga

Jurassic World: Before The Storm (Jurassic World) - Lisa Cobalt finds herself in a predicament; she is the legal guardian to her foster brother, Joaquin, but cannot financially support him and herself. That is, until an opportunity to fill the role of a paleo-veterinarian at the marvelous Jurassic World presents itself. However, not is all as it seems. When an abnormal dinosaur makes a sudden appearance, it brings with it mistrust among the staff, and a conspiracy that shrouds an inevitable doom. Life gifts lessons and fortune. Those who do not heed these lessons are fools bound to repeat history.

A Blast In The Past - In 1936, you return to your old workplace at Carmine Studios, your old partner wanting to have a reunion. What you did not anticipate was the darkness that welled up from the consequences of your departure. Live or die, trust or betray, kill or be killed, again and again, follow the path laid out for you, and dwell in the regret of crossing me.

FNAF: Ask Goldie Anything (Five Nights At Freddy's) - Goldie and the Fazbear Gang (both the Originals and the Toys) are asked questions by the readers on Wattpad, AO3, Tumblr and fanfiction net (and possibly more), influencing the plot into varying directions. Based on Grawolfquinn's FNAF comic Ask Goldie Anything, but with a twist.

Adapt To Survive (Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous) - Left behind on Isla Nublar, Joaquin Cobalt traverses the years spent on the dinosaur populated island, with the reluctant help of an industrialist by the name of Edward Carmine. Indo recovers from his fight with the Indominus, grieving the loss of his pack.

Jurassic World: Into The Eye Of The Storm (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) - Isla Nublar is on the brink of a volcanic destruction, so when mercenaries make their way to the island to collect the dinosaurs, Joaquin, Edward and Indo take separate paths to get off the burning island. All these paths lead them to the same Manor on the Mainland.

The Tale Of Mario Emmet (FNAF: The Silver Eyes) - Charlie and her friends return to Hurricane, Utah for the memorial of Michael Brooks and the children who went missing at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. When exploring the old pizzeria, they discover the ruined building is being used as a nest... and the creature is not too far away.

The Aftermath Equation (Jurassic World) - Evading death once more and tying up loose ends, Edward Carmine traces his obsession to the Dolomite Mountains of Italy, in the Biosyn Sanctuary run by Lewis Dodgson. He offers his services and funding. Meanwhile, Maisie learns more about the Joaquin who saved her.

The Adventures of Debra Holmes And Her Amazing Space Friend Mario Emmet - Set before The Tale Of Mario Emmet, in 1988, a Texan girl by the name of Debra Holmes makes the discovery of an alien shapeshifter who she refers to as "Mario Emmet" taking residence on her homestead. The beginning of a wholesome and tragic friendship, both human and alien have the time of their lives while Mario hides away from the U.S Government.

SPECIALS - A novelisation of a roleplay (that I have yet to make), in which the plot is not a priority and is merely a fun and chaotic celebration of several holidays hosted by Calvin Dearing... right?

The Dark Awakening - The sequel to A Blast In The Past, you have had enough with the narrator's torment and venture to break the cycle out of the purgatory he's left you in. A battle between first-person POV and second-person POV, hoping to finally reach third-person POV.

Jurassic World: The Perfect Storm (Jurassic World: Dominion) - The finale to the Jurassic World arc, Edward makes his final move to uncover the Aftermath Equation from the mechanical beast that keeps knowledge within itself, in order to evade death once more. It is up to Joaquin and Maisie to not only sabotage Edward, but also ruin Lewis Dodgson and Biosyn's plans until help arrives.

Honour Thy Father (Transformers Prime) - After a botched mission that held uncertain revelations, Autobot Arcee ventures across Earth to figure out her origins, with the aid of a droid by the name of Timekeeper, whose Time Watch had fallen into enemy hands.

Walking Fate Season 1 (The Walking Dead Game Season 1) - Lee Everett is given a second chance at life, in a world where the dead roam. He takes a girl by the name of Clementine under her wing, and they join up with more survivors as they endure the new world where death can be around every corner.

More Than An IT (IT (2017)) - IT has gone by many names, many forms. ITs' most favorable form being "Pennywise the Dancing Clown". IT has spent centuries devouring the fear and flesh of children. But what can it do against a child that has no fear of it?

Trust In Us (TFP) - The Autobots are lured to a possible energon lab buried underneath the Grand Canyon. The Decepticons had also followed the lab's signal, engaging in combat when meeting the Autobots. Decepticon Communications Officer Soundwave manages to enter the lab first, with Arcee hot on his heels. Events take a turn for the worse, as both Autobot and Decepticon find themselves locked inside a stronghold that's sole purpose was not to create energon, but keep mechanical horrors from reaching the surface. And they have the capacity to deceive.

Not The Strangest Thing (Stranger Things) - Hawkins, Indiana is a hot spring for supernatural occurrences. Follow a party of kids as they traverse the sinister realm that has broken into Hawkins, with government conspiracies and the Cold War looming over an opportunity to weaponize the creatures on the other side.

Gravity Falls Gets Weirder (Gravity Falls) - Twins Dipper and Mabel Pines are sent to Gravity Falls, Oregon, to spend the summer with their Great Uncle, or "Grunkle", Stan at his tourist attraction; the Mystery Shack. Here they attempt to make friends with the locals, and even two additional teen newcomers; Jack Bolt and Maze Woods. But after the discovery of a journal, Dipper and Mabel's summer vacation is flipped upside down and inside out once Gravity Falls reveals a more supernatural presence amongst the populace.

Demonic Clown Guardian (IT (2017)) - Georgie Denbrough makes friends with a lost clown by the name of Pennywise; and he lives in the sewers too! The Losers Club... take time to get used to this peculiar clown.

DOOMed (DOOM (2016)) - The demonic forces of Hell invade the UAC facility stationed on Mars, and in a desperate gamble, Samuel Hayden awakens the Doom Slayer to wipe them out and kill the progenitor behind the invasion; Olivia Pierce. The Slayer and his allies however discover that the Demonic forces have made another pact with the supernatural forces of the Wicked.

IT Gets Stranger (IT (2017)/Stranger Things crossover) - A crossover where the Losers Club take a school trip to Hawkins, Indiana, where they meet the Party.

Walking Fate Season 2 (TWDG Season 2) - After being separated with her group, Clementine fends for herself until she comes across survivors living in a cabin. This fateful encounter leads Clementine to face new enemies, meet familiar faces and the breakdown of a friendship thought to be unbreakable.

Strings Of Fear - A group of outcasts who form a friendship with each other investigate the odd disappearances surrounding Hurricane, Utah. Here these Outcasts come across a vile evil that feeds on the innocent.

Walking Fate: A Dark Era (The Walking Dead: A New Frontier) - Javier Garcia has watched as society had been overrun by the dead and pocketing factions of survivors wage war on each other; the New Frontier being prominent. To protect what remains of his family, Javi allies with a group co-lead by Clementine, despite the bounty on her head.

Strings Of Fear: The Second Part - Years after the first defeat of the cosmic horror that plagued their home town, the Outcasts return to end the creature that haunted them once and for all. But is there more to the horror than meets the eye?

DOOMed: From The Beginning (DOOM (2016)) - Set several months before the events of DOOMed and the fateful "Bring-Your-Kid-To-Work" Day, read how the staff of the UAC facility began its descent into horror and madness through the eyes of a recently transferred doctor and security guard; Leslie Who and Alfred "Jeff" Hopper.

Strings Of Fear: The Finale - The ending chapter to the Strings Of Fear arc. Trapped in a repetitive cycle of hatred and guilt, can one cretin escape his confines?

SCP: Confining Spaces (SCP: Confinement) - Connor, a young man who cannot die, is forced by the SCP Foundation to confront and interview multiple classes of SCPs. Though things take a dark turn upon one reality warper calling himself Jester taking an interest in Connor's nature, leading to the discovery of two warriors; an academic cyborg war hero by the name of Haven, and the Sarcophagus of Shame which houses the Wicked's tactician general, called the Overlord.

More Than Bargained For? (FNAF) - Lillian "Lena" Elliot is hired as the newest Night Guard for Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Fazbear Entertainment believed she'd end up like the other guards... only to prove that she isn't trapped with the animatronics; the animatronics are trapped with her.

Kicking The Bucket Spills The Truth (TFP) - With Flatline's faction making their move, Autobots and Decepticons come to a decision; mark a truce to end a threat, or adjust to this third party?

Detroit: Battleground (Detroit: Become Human) - After Markus' recent victory in the android revolution, both humans and androids move to build a better future with each other; however, Elijah Kamski unleashes his hidden weapon to revert the androids back to servitude; a sentient megavirus designated "K.I.L.L.J.O.Y". However, he did not anticipate K.I.L.L.J.O.Y's capacity for strong emotions such as rage and the desire to dominate.

Smile Tunes (Hellaverse) - Samuel Who is the Morningstar Family's top advisor, trying to balance being Charlie's best friend and looking out for her as a royal advisor. Especially when it comes to her recent venture to redeem sinners with the help of Alastor, the infamous "Radio Demon", due to the upcoming Extermination. He's even more cautious when the strangest Exorcist comes under their care.

DOOMed: Death Isn't Eternal (DOOM: Eternal) - The sequel to DOOMed, follow the Doom Slayer once again as he continues his quest to wipe out Hell's ongoing invasion of Earth. The Slayer meets new allies, faces threats old and unfamiliar, and races against time as the Khan Makyr and the Wicked doom this Earth for their own ambitions.

Walking Fate: Reign Of Sin (TWDG The Final Season) - Clem leads what remains of her small family to a new home in the form of Ericon's Boarding School, lead by troubled teens. She uncovers plots, confronts the one person who embodies her traumas and fights against both the undead and the living.

Pet Sematary: Where Dead Is Better (Pet Sematary (2019)) - The Creeds move to Ludlow, Maine; a decision Louis had agreed to so he could land a stable job while being able to spend more time with his family. The family discover a burial ground hidden in the woods, near their home. Warnings are shared, but not heeded.

Down Memory Lane (Multifandom Crossover) - Calvin and Mario unite again to bring back a lost friend home, without gaining the attention of the Carver of Fate, the Chairman.

Red Dead Redemption: Peace For Thy Sinners (Red Dead Redemption 2) - Maddilyn Darling has been in the Van Der Linde Gang ever since she was nine, raised alongside Arthur Morgan and John Marston into the life of an outlaw by Dutch van der Linde, Hosea Matthews and Abigail Emmet. Through her eyes, she watches her family grow, some members more likeable than others, and she watches as they fall. Her story begins before, during and after the fall of the Van Der Linde Gang.

Truth Or Dare? (Multifandom Crossover) - A menagerie of characters are collected by the dealmaker Jester to play the most intense game of all time... Truth or Dare?

What If? (Multifandom/Crossover) - A collection of alternate routes a story or one of my fics could have taken. What if Kiyotaka Ayanokoji came to the ANS with Ichika Amasawa and Takuya Yagami? What if Clementine died instead of Lee Everett? What if Abigail Emmet never learned to appreciate human culture, and raised Mario in her species traditions? And much more you will be able to ask before and after The UnTitledverse and the other series ends.

Pet Semetary: Let The Dead Rest (Pet Sematary (2019)) - Almost twenty years after the events of his family's destruction, Gage Creed returns to Ludlow, Maine, to put his family to rest.

Yo-Kai Watchlace (Yo-Kai Watch) - Katie Forester was just an average eleven-year-old girl attending Springdale Elementary School with her friends Nathan "Nate" Adams, Edward "Eddie" Archer and Barnaby "Bear" Bernstein. Over the weekend, she comes across an old crank machine, which gifts her a Watchlace and a Yo-Kai butler by the name of Shallow. He "guides" her to compete against the other Yo-Kai Watch user in the area to help as many Yo-Kai as possible for means unknown to Katie.

The Devil Of All Time - Follow the trial of Edward Carmine in the mid-nineties, accused for the ritualistic murder of Leslie Who's child.

Walking Fate: The Final Season (TWDG) - The final confrontation between Delta and the survivors of Ericson, and the end of Clementine and Malcrum's journeys.

We Stand Together (Multifandom Crossover) - The Wicked have banded an army together to accomplish their goals of domination across this corner of the Multiverse, all in the name of their dark master. Joaquin, Calvin and Mario unite their allies to push back against the evil that has risen to claim their glory again.

Gravity Falls: Next Gen (Gravity Falls) - Thirty years after the events of Gravity Falls, Gwen Pines and Sara Gleeful return with their families to visit Soos and his family at the Mystery Shack. However, an old enemy awakens, and with him a plan to bring some new friends to the party. Based on turquoisespace35's Next Gen AU comics.

Subnautica: Deeper Depths (Subnautica: Below Zero) - Taking place five years after the Aurora's crash and Planet 4546B's liberation from the Kharaa, Robin Ayou returns to the antarctic region of the planet after recovering from an accident on an Alterra expedition three years beforehand. However, she finds her half-sister, Sam, had taken lead in the expeditions after Robin's absence, and went missing for some time. To find out the truth, she has to go deeper in the cold, dark depths of the treacherous ocean... where she discovers secrets under the ice.

Supremacy (Multifandom Crossover) - The finale to The Perfect Storm saga, the culmination of the journeys of not only Joaquin, Calvin and Mario, but Edward Carmine and the Wicked's as well. Who will win in this fight between resistance and domination?

The Omniscient Rule saga

The Omniscience Rule (Multifandom Crossover) - Saved from the destruction of his universe, Joaquin faces down trials guided by the firstborne Eldritch, Amari the Apothecary, to strengthen himself to become a leader capable of protecting the very essence of the Multiverse itself; the Omniscience.

Life Is Cruel (Life Is Strange) - After sacrificing her closest friend, Chloe, to save Arcadia Bay, Max finds that her powers have not dissipated as she initially believed they would, and that Arcadia Bay's destruction has only been suspended rather than averted... and replaced with a far more viscous force of nature than a hurricane. Can fate be fought against? And what is the nature of Max's powers?

Our Family Shelter - After retiring from the Omniscient Rule, Malcrum Darling finds a new purpose; protecting a group of children from the sinister clutches of an organization called C.Y.P.R.U.S.

The Omniscience Rule: Web Of Lies (Star Wars) - The Omniscient Rule take an assignment from the Time Bureau Authority to ensure the events of one universe does not diverge from canon, while also finding and arresting the rogue members of the Time Guard. The further they get into the Clone Wars conflict, the more they find out the reason the Time Guard are ruining the canon.

All Who Remain (The Last Of Us Part One) - Joel Miller lives amongst a dying civilization where hardened survivors and the infected fight to determine humanity's preservation or extinction. He is hired by a rebelling group called the "Fireflies" looking to change the fate of humanity by smuggling a girl by the name of Ellie to one of their facilities. Easier said than done, as Joel and Ellie face obstacles upon obstacles, human and infected alike, and worse of all; a maniac with the distinct ability to command the Cordyceps movements, and an obsessive hatred towards Ellie herself.

Enjoy Your Stay In Eastview! (Multifandom Crossover) - With the revelation of "dead worlds" amongst the Multiverse, full of abandoned survivors seeking refuge from destruction, Joaquin and Haven determine the best course of action for the Omniscient Rule, chasing after a myth in the form of a world powered by the Omniscience itself.

SPECIALS: IN 2 REALITY - A maddening sequel to the SPECIALS roleplay, here the Omniscient Rule adapt to the oddity that is Eastview.

Time Guard: Khronos' Law - Jeff Hopper joins the Time Guard in helping catch a wanted criminal by the name of Maddison Darling; a mass serial killer determined to irreparably change the flow of time.

Happy Accidents At The Dark Circus (FNAF) - Mario and Charlie just wanted to go on a date at the newest attraction in Hurricane, Utah; the Dark Circus. However, not only do they run into Charlie's friends, including her distant former best friend, Elizabeth, but the menagerie of next-gen animatronics; Fizzer Pop and his Merry Band of Rocking Friends, seem to get a bit... quirky in the night.

A Lovely Murder Musical (Multifandom Crossover) - Charlie's hometown of Hurricane had been taken over by the Prime Minister of Hell themself; Alamach, with help from a spirit by the name of Kara Darling, to perform the musical of a lifetime. Mario brings his fellow compatriots from the Omniscient Rule to help him save Charlie and her friends from the inside.

The Omniscience Rule: Dark Omen - Maddison's rampage across time had caused a ripple effect, both good and bad; returning Lena Elliot to existence, but also causing a group of curse-preserving warlocks known as "the Occult" to come into power; intent on bringing the "Great Malevolence" to Eastview. An unlikely alliance between Jeff Hopper, Lisa Cobalt and Fizzer is formed to put an end to the most recent chapter of the Occult.

All Who Remain: Madness Reincarnate (The Last Of Us Part Two) - Five years after All Who Remain, Ellie embarks on a journey of revenge against a militia lead by a bitter woman by the name of Abby; even if it means aligning with her detested rival, Malcolm Darling.

The UnTitled Stories (Multifandom/Crossover) - A collection/series of short stories that happen in the canon of The UnTitledverse, with the express purpose of tying loose ends and expanding the stories. A number of these stories can be viewed below The UnTitled Stories section near the bottom.

Red Dead Redemption: Pandora's Box (RDR) - Maddilyn Darling thought her days of donning the guns for anything other than bounty hunting were over, until she meets relatives who came from the future; twins Malcrum and Cassandra Darling who intend on stopping Maddilyn's dead aunt, Kara, from creating a second Divine Holy War between Heaven and Hell.

The Omniscience Rule: C.Y.P.R.U.S Uprising - The Omniscient Rule have been cleaning up the mess left behind by their enemies. In this final entry of The Omniscient Rule saga, they engage with another group; C.Y.P.R.U.S, an organization that kidnaps and trains children into soldiers, assassins and spies, lead by their director, Madame Callaghan, and her children. Madame Callaghan seems to have an intense focus on Joaquin, recognizing him from a past he no longer remembers.

The UnTitled Ventures saga

UnTitled Venture: Hazardous Residence (Resident Evil: Biohazard) - Joaquin Lockwood was supposed to be retired from the BSAA, however an old pal asks him a favor to provide reconnaissance at a family homestead in Dulvey, Louisiana due to suspicious activity which could be B.O.W in nature, and he's the closest person with experience there. Joaquin agrees, but finds himself trapped with a civilian by the name of Ethan Winters, and both begrudgingly work together to survive the onslaught that awaits them.

UnTitled Venture: Whisper My Name (Resident Evil: Revelations) - Agent Maisie Lockwood races against the clock as she searches for her partner, Joaquin, through Umbrella's connections with an organization called C.Y.P.R.U.S.

UnTitled Venture: Village Of Shadows (Resident Evil: Village) - On a drive from Romania to visit the Winters in Hungary, Joaquin gets into a car crash, and his adopted daughters are taken to a Village in the dark Romanian forests, where the locals worship the matriarch who rules over them; Mother Miranda, the head of the Four Lords. While Ethan gets together the BSAA and Taskforce ECHO, Joaquin fights his way to his girls.

UnTitled Venture: Balancing Roulettes (Resident Evil 6) - Joaquin and Maisie Lockwood trace after a series of bio-terrorist attacks across the globe, hunting down the B.O.W's and the people behind them, as the BSAA's finest agents try to stop the spread of the C-Virus.

UnTitled Venture: Old Smoke - Joaquin settles in his new life in the Village, which is disrupted by the presence of a vengeful Roy Lockwood; Maisie's close great uncle, who has a vendetta against B.O.W's.

UnTitled Venture: Perverse Justice - The BSAA are attacked by C.Y.P.R.U.S, lead by Madame Callaghan's second son, the nihilistic Urijah Callaghan, searching for the whereabouts of Joaquin Lockwood. Urijah's end goal threatens the very state of life itself, and Joaquin won't be going down without trying to fight.

UnTitled Venture: Viva La Révolution (Multifandom Crossover) - Saved in the nick of time, Joaquin is presented with an opportunity by a being who calls himself Benny with getting his life back from the clutches of the Orchestrator; Zachariah.

UnTitled Venture: Found Out (Multifandom Crossover) - With the flames of revolution alight, Joaquin and Benny face a counterattack lead by the Apostles of Zachariah.

The Ender saga

Chapter One: The Truth Seeker - Decades after the disappearance of her adoptive father, Elise Lockwood strays from the only home she knew to find his whereabouts, even in the darkest crevices of her world.

Chapter Two: The Change You Can Be - With a head start, Elise conjures the wrath of Zachariah, but is rescued by two unlikely individuals she never knew she'd get the chance to meet.

Chapter Three: The Feuding Houses (Multifandom Crossover) - With Zachariah's plot kicked into gear, Joaquin Cobalt and the Omniscient Rule escort Elise to Benny's Domus Memoriae... and find out the struggle of keeping allies together.

Chapter Four: The Soulless Opposition (Multifandom Crossover) - Alliances start to forge as the end date closes in, but the Omniscient Rule aren't out of the woods yet when Zachariah sends his Apostles newest monstrosities; a cross between the brute determination of the Soulless Husks and the deadly intelligence of the Exterminators.

Chapter Five: The Shining Miracles (Multifandom Crossover) - Joaquin's capture dwindles hope, but Elise does not discard it yet. With Benny and Maisie, they locate the best world to open up a doorway to Zachariah's pocket dimension; Earth Prime. All they need are a couple of Shiners to summon it.

Chapter Six: The Ender (Multifanfom Crossover) - Zachariah lays his cards on the table as he engaged the Omniscient Rule in an all out battle for the fate of the Omniscience; continue its freedom or fall under Zachariah's control? Meanwhile, Joaquin and his allies traverse the dank and treacherous landscapes of "Wonderland"; a prison dimension set on an infinite loop in what seems to be a combination of the 15th and 20th century in a town called "Prehevil" with some other prisoners.

Original Spin Offs

Jagged Instincts Novelization - The novelisation of a Wattpad/Discord roleplay I had been in. A group of strange creatures escape auction and traverse a world of technology, interstellar travel and mystical intrigue.

Mario: Mother's Boy - Abigail Emmet balances the struggle of teaching her newborn son how to be self-sufficient while surviving in a world where fear is rampant, and keeping her own hunger satiated as human's terror dwindles less and less.

The Time Guard - Discharged from the duty of a Time Lord, Timekeeper brings together a team of delinquent individuals who have no effect on the time stream (none except of which they leave behind when present) to do Judge Khronos' dirty work.

The UnTitled Stories

Unnamed The Last Of Us (2023) Malcolm Darling fic - Malcolm Darling continues his spree across the Multiverse, killing all the Ellie William's he can find. Until he enters one world that forces him to reflect on his self-perceived "righteous" revenge.

Unnamed Classroom Of The Elite fic - Kiyotaka Ayanokoji enrolls in the prestigious "Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School", intent on using the three years of no contact with the outside world to answer a question; what controls us? Is it the mind that controls the body or the body that controls the mind? Little did Ayanokoji know how much merit a footprint can leave behind on others... nor how they can return the same impact back. A heartfelt story about self-identity, healing, and regaining a piece of humanity back.

Hitman: Evangeline (Hitman: Absolution) - After leaving the circus life behind, Evangeline hitches up with the International Contract Agency as an independent hitman they can hire. Her first target is a rogue agent by the name of Diana Burnwood. What follows afterwards is an example on how not to fail your task successfully.

Unnamed The UnTitledverse Joaquin, Maisie and House of Thanatos fic - Joaquin has tea with the Gods of Death and afterwards he and Maisie process the events of The Omniscient Rule: Dark Omen, including the loss of Lisa.

Unnamed The UnTitledverse Mario Emmet, Charlie Emily and Elizabeth Afton fic - In the eve of their retirement of the Omniscient Rule after the events of A Lovely Murder Musical; Mario, Charlie and Elizabeth go on a solo adventure and learn that godhood can be achieved without resorting to murder and spilling blood.

Unnamed Inside Job Fic - Cognito Inc. manage to earn two contracts in one day, one with the Envy Ring of Hell and the other with C.Y.P.R.U.S, resulting in two representatives sent to help the corporation; Urijah Callaghan, a bright mind with a cynical outlook, and Oswaldo Thanatos, the son of two members of the House of Thanatos. What shenanigans do they get up to?

Unnamed Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure OC's crossover from the Multiverse into one world fic - Zhan Tiri triggers multiple breaches into the realm of Corona, leading to four unknown individuals to be sucked into the kingdom; some more dangerous than others. It is up to Rapunzel, Eugene and Cass to round these trespassers up and send them back where they belong.

The Heinous Crimes Of One Elusive Maddison Darling (Multifandom Crossover) - Exiled from C.Y.P.R.U.S after multiple assignment failures, Maddison finds being a hitman isn't her specialty; but finds a passion in being a mass-murdering serial killer. Follow her string of crimes before her eventual tomfoolery in The Time Guard: Khronos' Law.

[the-untitledverse-blog]

The UnTitledverse DND Alignment

Eleanor (The Perfect Storm, The Omniscient Rule & The Ender sagas and The Time Guard volumes) - A Knightess of the Light, Eleanor is one of the most moral characters in The UnTitledverse, repenting by serving good.

Leviticus (The Omniscient Rule & The Ender sagas, Jagged Instincts novelisation & The Time Guard volumes) - A lawyer of the Time Court, had a disdain towards Timekeeper but ultimately upholds honor and goodwill above all else.

Joaquin Cobalt (The Perfect Storm, The Omniscient Rule & The Ender sagas) - A young adolescent who got lost in the Multiverse before rising up to become a leading and respected member of the Omniscient Rule.

Leslie Who (The Perfect Storm & The Omniscient Rule sagas) - A doctor who lost his son to an old business partner, Leslie is on a mission of revenge against Edward Carmine and his crimes. However, he cannot stop himself from doing good in spite of the nature of his mission.

Benny the Révolutionnaire (The UnTitled Ventures & The Ender sagas) - The seventh-borne Eldritch, was made to assist Zachariah at Fate's Table, however was exiled to the Void. Not that it stopped him.

Calvin Dearing (The Perfect Storm saga) - A Dream Spirit and a former Cartoonist murdered by his boss, Terrence Carmine, Calvin was stuck in a repetitive cycle of purgatory rigged by Jester, but managed to get out. He became good friends with Joaquin Cobalt and Mario Emmet, when they were both lost in the Multiverse, he went out of his way to find them.

Allyson "Alice" Darling (The Omniscient Rule & The Ender saga) - Alice is the eldest Darling child, and was recommended by Malcrum during his leave from the Omniscient Rule to replace him.

Joaquin Lockwood (The UnTitled Ventures saga) - The previous incarnation of Joaquin Cobalt, Joaquin Lockwood was a former agent of the BSAA before becoming the mayor of the Village and then aiding Benny in his revolt against Zachariah.

Timekeeper (The Perfect Storm & The Omniscient Rule sagas) - A Time Lord droid created to overlook Time and utilize the Time Watch. Wishes to change the corruption he's noticed bleed inside the Time Bureau Authority.

Mario Emmet (The Perfect Storm & The Omniscient Rule sags and Mario: Mother's Boy) - A shapeshifting soul-type alien, Mario was taught by his mother Abigail, his first best friend Debra, his love interest Charlie, and his brother-figures Joaquin & Calvin to gain some better morality. Mario also adopted an appreciation for humanity just as his mother did.

H.O.S.T (The Time Guard volumes) - The warden of the Time Prism (a prison sub-dimension in Time), he joined the Time Guard on their adventures. He is unprepared for their unorthodox illegalities.

Elise Lockwood (The Ender saga) - She just wants to find out where her family is man.

Jerome Amber (The UnTitled Stories) - The Lord High Protector of Corona and the half-brother of Empress Cassandra. He feels only loyalty towards Cass... whether she was a knight or a usurper.

Mordecai Callaghan (The Omniscient Rule saga) - Also known as "The Huntsman", Mordecai only commits amoral acts (like bounty hunting) and immoral acts (like child trafficking) to survive and to earn his freedom from Madame Callaghan and C.Y.P.R.U.S.

Maddilyn Darling (The Perfect Storm and The Omniscient Rule sagas) - An outlaw apart of the Van Der Linde Gang, Maddilyn follows Dutch closely. However this does change later in 1899.

The Chairman (The Perfect Storm saga) - Dude eats people that go against existence, even if they're innocent.

Jeremiah (The Omniscient Rule saga and The Time Guard series) - A Time Agent who honestly doesn't give a fuck about the law, and just most fucks around and finds out. Jeremiah is apart of Khronos' corruption though.

Malcolm Darling (The Omniscient Rule saga) - A Darling twin taken into C.Y.P.R.U.S before failing a mission that resulted in him being bisected and set alight, he gets infected by the Cordyceps and manages to control it enough to remain conscious, setting out to eliminate his rival; Ellie Williams.

Jester (The Perfect Storm saga) - This guy is a scamming dealmaker who will screw over whoever is not the winning side.

K.I.L.L.J.O.Y (The Perfect Storm saga) - A virus/security drone of Edward Carmine's that becomes his most loyal servant.

Zachariah The Orchestrator (The UnTitled Ventures and The Ender saga) - The second-borne Eldritch and the Hand at Fate's Table, Zachariah has a disdainful view on humanity and wishes to control and punish them for their existence.

Edward Carmine (The Perfect Storm saga) - A petty industrialist and robotics expert, he craves power over everyone and believes himself to be the superior human. Edward also cannot let go of a grudge, going to insane lengths to settle the score (even if it puts his own life in danger).

Quintin the Unknown Evil (The Perfect Storm saga) - The Unknown Evil is the fifth-borne Eldritch that represents the concept of Evil and is the leader of the Wicked.

Madame Callaghan (The Omniscient Rule and The UnTitled Ventures sagas) - Madame Callaghan is the leader of C.Y.P.R.U.S who abuses her power and position, a result of her sanity degenerating on a horrific level.

Ian Graveheart (The Omniscient Rule saga) - The leader of the current chapter of the Occult, he is fully indoctrinated by the Occult's doctrine.

[the-malewife-ever]

its 5am. i am very tired. i do not want to go through and pick out all the best responses when i have a test today. so what youre getting now is:

every single character that was submitted [unless i didnt feel comfortable adding them to the data]

^ this includes:

- i didnt feel comfortable putting them in [they are a kid is the most likely answer]

- they break the rules

and goodnight everyone im going back to bed you get your pairings later today. feel free to demand your malewife be in the pairings in the notes of this post all you want but be nice

and sorry to the ppl checking the tags in the search bar for ANY of these characters

read more because we got 301 and then some submissions:

The Top Submitted Characters:

Crazy Dave [Plants Vs Zombies] - 14

Kazuki Kurusu [Buddy Daddies] - 8

Hero [Omori] - 8

Saul Goodman/James McGill [Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad] - 7

Tatsu [Way of the House Husband] - 7

Thoma [Genshin Impact] - 7

Laszlo Cravensworth [What We Do In the Shadows] - 5

Percy de Rolo [Critical Role/Vox Machina] - 5

Ron DeLite [Ace Attorney] - 5

Brett Hand [Inside Job] - 4

Puss in Boots [Puss in Boots] - 4

Sanji [One Piece] - 4

Spamton G. Spamton [Deltarune] - 4

Got 3 Or Less Votes:

9 [9 (2009)]

Adrian Graye Vernworth [The Owl House]

Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir [Miraculous Ladybug]

Alador Blight [The Owl House]

Alistair Theirin [Dragon Age]

Andre Legris [Innocent/Innocent Rouge]

Asgore Dreemurr [Undertale]

Axel Summers [Lemon Soda and Coffee (Webcomic)]

The Baker [Into the Woods (1991)]

Bandit Heeler [Bluey]

Barry Draxum [Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]

Beacrox Molan [Lout of the Court’s Family]

Benny [Fallout: New Vegas]

Bilbo Baggins [The Hobbit]

BJ Hunnicutt [MASH]

Bob Belcher [Bob's Burgers]

Briefers "Brief" Rock [Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt]

Brock [Pokemon]

Bruno Buccerati [JoJo's Bizzare Adventure]

Bruno Madrigal [Encanto]

Calculester Hewlett-Packard [Monster Prom]

Caleb Wittebane [The Owl House]

Cardan [The Folk of the Air trilogy by Holly Black]

Cecil Palmer [Welcome to Night Vale]

Chakotay [Star Trek Voyager]

Charlie Kelly [It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]

Chisaki Kai (Overhaul) [My Hero Academia]

Chris Pearson [Dan Vs.]

Chrom [Fire Emblem Awakening]

Clay Rockridge [The Sexy Brutale]

Colin Robinson [What We Do In the Shadows]

Connecticut Clark [FlorkofCows/The Saga of Clark]

Cove Holden [Our Life: Beginning & Always]

Cyclonus [Transformers (IDW1)]

DaLey Vigil [The Great Ace Attorney]

Daniel Cain [Re-Animator]

Darius Deamonne [The Owl House]

Dedue Molinaro [Fire Emblem Three Houses]

Dick Grayson [DC Comics]

Dick Gumshoe [Ace Attorney]

Do Hyun Soon [Flower of Evil]

Ed [Our Flag Means Death]

Eddie Munson [Stranger Things]

Elliott [Stardew Valley]

Faria [Thrilling Intent]

Flex Mentallo [Doom Patrol]

Fox Mulder [The X-Files]

Fukuo [Kiki’s Delivery Service]

Furio Giunta [The Sopranos]

Gao Yizhi [Iron Widow]

Garmadon [Ninjago]

Garry [Ib]

Geto Suguru [Jujitsu Kaisen]

Gilbert Nightray [Pandora Hearts]

Gomez Addams [The Addams Family]

Grover Underwood [Percy Jackson Series]

Hannibal Lecter [Hannibal]

Harrier du Bois [Disco Elysium]

Hazama Masayoshi [Samurai Flamenco]

Heinz Doofenshmirtz [Phineas and Ferb]

Herlock Sholmes [The Great Ace Attorney]

Hordak [She-Ra (Netflix)]

Howl Jenkins Pendragon [Howl's Moving Castle]

Hugh Neutron [Jimmy Neutron]

Hugh Test [Johnny Test]

Ianto Jones [Torchwood]

Ignis Scientia [Final Fantasy XV]

Ingo [Pokemon]

Izzy Hands [Our Flag Means Death]

Jake Sully [Avatar]

James [Pokemon]

Jason Todd [Batman]

Jesus Christ [The Bible]

Joel Hammond [Santa Clarita Diet]

Johnathan Harker [Bram Stoker's Dracula]

John Silver [Treasure Island (1988)]

John Watson [BBC Sherlock]

Jonathan Byers [Stranger Things]

Kaiden Alenko [Mass Effect]

Kai Satou [Your Turn to Die]

Kaito [Vocaloid]

Kakashi Hatake [Naruto]

Katsuya Serizawa [Mob Psycho 100]

Ken [Barbie]

Kermit the Frog [The Muppets]

Kim Dokja [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint]

Kim Gongja [SSS-Class Suicide Hunter]

Kingsley [Papa Louie Games]

Kisuke Urahara [Bleach]

Klavier Gavin [Ace Attorney]

Kojiro “Joe” Nonjo [Sk8 the Infinity]

Laurance Zvahl [Minecraft Diaries]

Lazarus Bleeze [The Hex]

Leon [Pokemon]

Lestat de Lioncourt [Interview with the Vampire (TV Show)]

Lieutenant Columbo [Columbo]

Light Yagami [Death Note]

Link [Breath of the Wild]

The Lobby Boy [The Hotel Podcast]

Loid Forger [Spy X Family]

Luigi [Mario Franchise]

Luo Binghe [The Scum Villain's Self-Saving System]

Mac McDonald [It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]

The Man in the Yellow Hat [Curious George]

Manolo Sanchez [The Book of Life (2014)]

Mario [Mario Franchise]

Marshall Eriksen [How I Met Your Mother]

Marvin [Falsettos]

Mendel Weisenbachfeld [Falsettos]

Me [The Mod]

Michael [The Good Place]

Miles Edgeworth [Ace Attorney]

Min-Gi Park [Infinity Train]

Minato Namikaze [Naruto]

Momo [Stray]

Mr. Mime [Pokemon]

The Narrator [The Stanley Parable]

Naven Nuknuk [Epithet Erased]

Oliver Queen [DC Comics (Green Arrow)]

Olruggio [Witch Hat Atelier]

The Onceler [The Lorax]

Palamedes Sextus [The Locked Tomb]

Paper [Inanimate Insanity]

Peeta Mellark [The Hunger Games]

Percy Jackson [Percy Jackson Series]

Peter Nureyev [The Penumbra Podcast]

Preminger [Barbie: Princess and the Pauper]

Qifrey [Witch Hat Atelier]

Quirrel [Hollow Knight]

Ramsey Murdoch [Epithet Erased]

Randy Valentine Jade [Dialtown]

Redd Rockridge [The Sexy Brutale]

Reigen Arataka [Mob Psycho 100]

Ronaldo [The Vampire Dies in No Time]

Rouxls Kaard [Deltarune]

Roy Mustang [Full Metal Alchemist]

Ryoji Kaji [Neon Genesis Evangelion]

Ryuuji Takasu [ToraDora!]

Samwise Gamgee [Lord of the Rings]

Sasuke Itachi [Naruto]

Satan [Puyo Puyo]

Satoru Gojo [Jujitsu Kaisen]

Seven [Zero Escape]

Shinya Fujikawa [Corpse Factory]

Sig Curtis [Full Metal Alchemist]

Silco [Arcane (Netflix)]

Sojiro Sakura [Persona 5]

Sokka [Avatar: The Last Airbender]

Soldier [Team Fortress 2]

Spirit Albarn [Soul Eater]

Spongebob Squarepants [Spongebob Squarepants]

Steve Harrington [Stranger Things]

Steven Grant [Marvel]

Suoh Tamaki [Ouran High School Host Club]

Sword Boyfriend [Transistor]

Tanjiro Kamado [Demon Slayer]

Thomas Sharpe [Crimson Peak (2015)]

Tohru Adachi [Persona 4]

Tom Wambsgans [Succession]

Travis Matagot [Campaign Skyjacks]

Tsukasa Jinguuji [Fabiniku (Life with an Ordinary Guy who Reincarnated into a Total Fantasy Knockout)]

The Tumblr Boyfriend [Tumblr]

The Twelfth Doctor [Doctor Who]

Tyrell Wellick [Mr. Robot]

Vanitas [Vanitas no Carte/The Case Study of Vanitas]

Vash the Stampede [Trigun]

Victor Nikiforov [Yuri on Ice]

Waymond Wang [Everything Everywhere All At Once]

Whizzer Brown [Falsettos]

William "Spike" Pratt [Buffy the Vampire Slayer]

William “Dex” Pointdexter [Check Please!]

Yeza Brenatto [Critical Role]

Yoo Joonghyuk [Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint]

You [The Voter]

Zagreus [Hades]

[sizhui]

Unrelated to that though how is your literature class going ^_^ I think I will minor in literature at college. I'm really interested in the topic and I'm trying to read more because my attention span got screwed over by the internet but I think that happened to a lot of people. What books do you recommend and do you have any advice for trying to study literature at a more advanced level without having gone to college yet?

HIII part 2! im currently working on a large essay on surrealist novels for a final grade in avant-garde class, as well as catching up with dramaturgy because I missed a lot of those classes due to being sick last semester ^_^! im really enjoying doing some solo research and reading because my professors sent me a LOT of materials and it's so fun because it helps me understand my interests better, too! I'm really happy you're interested in studying literature - i feel that you and your thoughts would fit perfectly into my classroom, and i do hope you'll find a lot of joy and worth in your future classroom! That definitely happened to me too ... throughout highschool, i didnt read as much as i was supposed to and i got very rusty. still getting back into it, it's a long process but it's very rewarding!

I have some literary theory texts from my freshman year narratology class that I feel are really helpful for beginning to study literature seriously, but I sadly have pdfs only in croatian and serbian and i'm not sure how easy they are to find online in english, but i'll mention them anyway: Viktor Shklovsky's Art as Technique , A. J. Greimas' Reflections on Actantial Models, Gerard Genette's Order, Duration and Frequency, Schlomith Rimmon-Kenan's Narration: Levels and Voices, Gerard Genette's Types of Focalization and Dorrit Cohn's Narrated Monologue. If not, i still sincerely recommend doing some googling on : estrangement and russian formalism, actantial models, narrative levels, focalisation, and types of narration...

To "read like a literature student" aka at a more advanced level, my golden rule is simply to QUESTION EVERYTHING ON THE PAGE! Try to read not for the story, but for noticing the patterns and literary devices beneath the story and figure out why each bit is the way it is! Thats's not to say DON'T ENJOY THE STORY, but I find that trying to trace the story back to its mechanic parts is just as fun!

My brain is a little blank when it comes to book recs rn, but I really recommend Pachinko by Min Jin Lee for one of the most masterful examples of manipulating focalization and omniscient narration (as well as a deeply touching saga about the lives of Korean immigrants) and Babel, or the Necessity of Violence by R. F. Kuang for a truly masterfully woven story about languages and translation and hauntingly good writing. These two books live in my head at the moment!

thank you for coming to me with that question, good luck and lots of love!

[dominaharper]

As someone who loved this show, I actually agree with basically this entire post; I think my only counterpoint is that it was not the best version of herself (Osha), but the version she wanted to be/the version that made her happy.

I have a very interesting relationship with Star Wars; several close people in my life are invested in degrees beyond narrative, having read the books, being wholly into the lore/mythos behind the Saga Edition of the TTRPG, and even aspects past that.

As a Schizoid, I’ve spent my entire life controlling my emotions, but at my core, when there is no filter/I’m not exerting myself, I’m angry. Rage and wrath are the only things I understand, and they are the only things that feel right.

So it is surprising to the casual friends who ask my diehard TTRPG Star Wars bestie “But wouldn’t Dom make a good Sith?” And she laughs and says “No, she’s a Jedi.”

Because Jedi aren’t inherently morally good. They CHOOSE to be good. And that’s something that I do believe The Acolyte failed to convey (probably because they didn’t acknowledge that aspect of the Jedi at all). I related to Osha in the sense of knowing that unmasking, unfiltering, untethering myself from control would grant me my most authentic self. I even relate to the thought that “so long as I have this one person or one thing, the rest of the universe can burn.”

But that does not mean I agree that’s the ethos that Star Wars has relegated over its many decades. Star Wars has always been good triumphing over evil, and understanding that the dark side is not what is bad, but succumbing to it is what’s bad. (I am not a bad person because I am a Schizoid; I’m a bad person if I choose to let that rule my interactions with others and the world around me). A proper Jedi knows you don’t control the emotion, you don’t squash it, you just choose how you react to it, and you make sure to not let it cloud decision making and actions.

I loved Acolyte because of how I related to it, but I agree here that it’s not really how Star Wars posits its ideologies. Osha may be the main character, but narratively, it’s a practically omniscient view (no inner monologue, for example), and in a TV show, we assume then that we are seeing the reality, and the reality they portrayed was one of Jedi as a stand-in for Christianity in Western politics (and as a Catholic-raised converted Buddhist, this was VERY weird to me) and Sith as free-spirited rebels. Which basically makes Jedi the institution and Sith the punks. Not really how the reality is of that world.

(That being said, full disclosure, I did kick my feet in glee at Darth Plagueis.)

How 'The Acolyte' Disappointed Me, and Why the Themes of 'Star Wars' Matter

Someone recently commented on my 'On the Dark Side, the Jedi and the Moral Decay of Star Wars' essay with these words: 

"A lot of words for saying 'I don't like the newer media, but I won't get into specifics as to why.'"

Okay! I shall then finally clarify those specifics....

That first essay has, so far, been my biggest success on this blog, and it's attracted a number of interesting responses. Full disclosure: I wrote that fresh off the heels of feeling depressed over how the Acolyte ended, and after reading/listening to several of Leslye Headland's interviews, where she went into great detail about her ideas behind the show's choices, the themes she's trying to get across, and what personal baggage she brings to Star Wars. 

Why was I depressed?

Because the show's finale ended with the deeply problematic implication that Osha, by killing Sol and joining Qimir, has achieved true self-actualization. As Leslye herself put it, it's a 'positive corruption arc.' Interesting way to phrase it. 

Furthermore, Vernestra's actions that frame Sol for several murders, all to protect her own reputation, and to avoid oversight by the Senate, confirmed one of the things that I was really worried this show would do as soon as we began learning plot details, which is that it's leaning into this very persistent edgelord take that the Jedi are actually big ol' bastards not worth seeing as heroes. 

It's the Dave Filoni gospel of the Jedi Order as a morally broken and fundamentally hypocritical institution, a decaying monument to religious hubris, who brought about their own destruction with their arrogance and so-called rejection of emotion making them lack empathy. 

This is, as many of my followers know already, a giant misreading of George's storyline in the prequels, and what he was actually telling us about the Jedi's philosophy and code. And in my experience, it gets us some vicious pushback when we try to inform fans of it, even if we back it up with proof of George's words. 

George really did intend the Jedi to be the ultimate example of what a brave, wise, and all-loving hero should be, and are very specifically inspired by Buddhist monks. They do not 'repress emotions': they learn to regulate their emotions, so as to not let the negative ones feed the Dark Side, and they have the moral fortitude to focus on their spiritual duty. They're professionals that have dedicated themselves to a higher calling, and who still feel and display the same emotions we all feel, unless I watched very different movies from everyone else. We see that Jedi characters can still crack jokes, cry when they are sad, become scared or anxious, feel strong love and loyalty to their peers, and can even be righteously angry in some situations BUT always knowing when to pull back.

The Jedi of the prequels were victims of manipulation by Palpatine, and were caught in between a rock-and-a-hard-place with the Clone War, and they were ultimately destroyed not by their own actions, but by the treachery of Anakin Skywalker, who failed to overcome his own flaws because he refused to really follow the Jedi teachings, and was gaslit by Palpatine for decades on top of that. 

Leslye's take on Star Wars, based on how she wrote the story of the Acolyte, is that "yup, the Jedi were doomed to destroy themselves by being hypocritical and tone-deaf space cops," and she also outright compared them to the Catholic Church (this reeks of Western bias and misunderstanding of Eastern religions). The one that really stunned me, was when she said she designed Qimir to be her own mouthpiece for the experience of being queer and suppressed, who isn't allowed to just be her authentic self in a restrictive world. Which, to me, implies that Leslye wanted to depict the Dark Side as actually a misunderstood path to self-actualization that the Jedi, in keeping with their dogma of repressing emotions, only smear as 'evil.' 

Let me remind you all: Qimir is officially referred to as a Sith Lord, by Manny Jacinto, by Leslye, etc. And what are the Sith, exactly? 

Space fascists. Intergalactic superpowered terrorists. Dark wizard Nazi-coded wannabe dictators, whose ideology is of might-makes-right, survival of the fittest, and the pursuit of power for power's sake. To depict followers of this creed as an analogy for marginalized people who have literally been targeted and murdered throughout history BY the real-life inspirations for the Sith.... I find revolting and tone-deaf by Leslye. 

SO.... seeing how that show ended, and reading up on how Leslye intended it to be interpreted (Osha's 'triumph' over the 'toxic paternalism' of Sol/the Jedi in general), really put me in a funk, because deep down, I could just sense that this was not at all compatible with the ethos of Star Wars. It made me go on a deep-dive into the BTS of the writing of the prequels and George's ideas about the Jedi, and it's how I discovered the truth that Dave Filoni has been pretty egregiously misrepresenting George's themes for several years now, usurping George's words with his own personal fanfic about the motivations of characters like Anakin, or Qui-Gon, or the Jedi Council, etc. 

His influence on the franchise has caused this completely baseless take on the Jedi to become so widespread as to rewrite history for modern fans. Who are utterly convinced now that this anti-Jedi messaging WAS George's vision all along, and they get real mad at you if you show them actual proof of that being a lie. 

And the Acolyte is perpetuating this twisting of the very core of Star Wars. This is what I meant by the 'moral decay of Star Wars.' 

The Star Wars saga was made by George Lucas in 1977 to accomplish these specific tasks: 

To remind people of what it really means to be good.

What evil actually looks like, and how it comes from our fears and greed.

To teach kids how to grow up and choose the right path that will make them loving, brave, honest people that stand up to tyrants.

To give the world a story that returns to classic mythological motifs and is fundamentally idealistic, to defy the uptick in cynical and nihilistic storytelling after the scandals of Vietnam and Watergate broke Americans' belief in there being such a thing as actual heroes anymore. 

THAT is the soul of Star Wars. That is what George meant for this remarkably creative universe to say with its storytelling. But I sincerely think that what the Acolyte told, was that morality is relative, the heroes of this saga are actually bastards, the fascist death-cult is misunderstood, and a young woman being gaslit into joining said death-cult is a triumphant girlboss moment. When it actually comes across as the tragedy of a broken person choosing the wrong path that will only make her miserable, full of hatred and powerlust, and hurt innocent people along the way. 

The Acolyte betrayed one of George's most critical lessons: that the Dark Side ruins people, and if you want to truly become your best self, you must choose the path of Light, and the Jedi are the ones who have best mastered that path. So if the future of Star Wars is to continue framing the Jedi and their teachings as some corrupt and immoral system that is making the galaxy worse, then I would rather stick to rewatching the classic scripture of Episode 1-6. George wrote a complete and satisfying story, that is thematically consistent, and in my opinion should have been allowed to rest. 

I will not hate on new fans that love the new material, but I will pity them if they really think any of this is actually faithful to George's vision (they may very well simply not care, either, which troubles me too), and I am afraid of a show like Acolyte teaching young people to see the Jedi's philosophy as wrong, and the Sith as having a point. 

(P.S. I have a moral duty to clarify this, given the discourse around the show: No, this is not a problem with 'wokeness,' or diversity, or representation; that side of the fandom is very sick in the head and not to be taken seriously. 

It's a problem with Leslye's themes and tastes as a storyteller, being fundamentally against the ethos of Star Wars and how it soured the entire show in hindsight for me... a show that I was actually really liking, before the finale dropped its thematic nuke.)

[45percenterthen]

Belated bday fic for bearer of cursed fruit facts @seraphlm and thee plant dad cas truther @cactuscas !! Love u guys v much, happy bday <3 (ao3 link here)

“Fuck’s a horoscope again? It’s like, stars and shit, right?”

He bumps Cas’ elbow, who’s squinting at one of his fern-looking-things like he’s experimenting with horticultural telepathy. The saga of the fern-thing has been turbulent, to say the least. It’s wilting a bit, leaves curling in on themselves like tiny fists. Cas has spent the past few days carting it from one window ledge to another, muttering to himself about humidity levels with a familiar air of irritated devotion. Dean reckons the whole underground bunker situation probably isn’t helping. It’s well travelled, though, for a plant. Dean thinks it should be more grateful.

Cas nods, releasing a leaf with a sigh and sitting down next to Jack. “Indeed. Stars and shit.”

Jack’s engrossed in some magazine, finger tracing the words as he reads. Cas reaches for the edge of the page to hold it taut for him, and Dean can practically see his other hand itching for his phone. Diagnosis time for the fern-thing. Dean’s never seen a favorites bar so wholly taken up by gardening websites. Dean’s pretty sure the definition of true love is pausing Die Hard to read an article about potting soil drainage.

“Do you want to hear yours, Dean? It’s for this week.”

“Sure, kiddo.” To be honest, Dean thinks the concept of fate can very much, actually, go fuck itself. Jack looks delighted though, so he keeps it to himself. He stirs a bit of extra butter into the eggs because that’s the way Jack likes them, dutifully not looking at Cas to avoid a depressing conversation about his cholesterol levels.

“Oh! It says you’re lucky this week, Dean!”

“Awesome, bud! Time to stock up on the scratch cards, eh?”

Sam chooses that moment to come lumbering in. The state of his hair suggests a sleepless night, or that a recent localized hurricane that targeted his bedroom only.

“Hi Sam! We’re reading horoscopes. Dean’s an Aquarius.”

“Oh, cool.” Eileen had been delayed on a salt and burn with some of the new-hunter-network people. Sam looks suitably mopey about it, forlorn housewife that he is. “Mercury’s in marmalade, and all that.”

“Aquarius is ruled by Uranus,” Jack continues, and Sam instantly chokes. On air, apparently. Bastard.

“One more time, Jack? Dean’s ruled by his –”

“You’re a child, Samantha.” Dean looks around for the nearest something-painful-not-fatal to throw at him. Plant’s a no. Instant divorce. He glances at the eggs, but decides he doesn’t want to spend his morning getting egg yolk outta the tile grouting.

“Dude, oh my – I should’ve just checked your horoscope,” Sam walks over to the fridge, catching the Mary Berry’s Baking Bible that Jody sent them for Christmas in mid-air. “Would’ve saved us a talk.”

“Eat your pineapple and shut up, man.”

“Did you know that pineapples are technically berries?” Jack says. Dean wonders if Cas introduced him to WebMD-for-plants. Or maybe this is just a side effect of being The New God on the block. Berry omniscience. “Well. The outside bit is. Bananas are berries too.”

“That’s weird,” Sam closes the fridge door. Stares into his bowl like he’s offended. Dean’s offended Sam eats nothing but fruit in the morning. “After the heaven rebuild. You should, like, fix berries.”

Jack turns to Cas solemnly. “Should I fix berries?”

“Perhaps you should concentrate on heaven, first. Then we can see about berries.”

“I don’t want to ruin the fabric of our established universe,” Jack says, and Dean’s struck, once again, with the sudden realisation that he’s making eggs for the most powerful entity in Creation. Mondays, man.

“I don’t think Chuck had any such purity of intent in mind,” Cas says darkly, pouring more milk into God’s glass for strong bones and teeth, and yeah, Dean’s pretty keen to steer Cas away from that particular line of conversation.

“Hey, what’s Cas’ horo-whatever?” He takes the eggs off the heat and walks over to the table, leaning over to see what the hell magazine this is, actually. Looks Rowena-y. Is the Queen of Hell sending his son-God care packages? That’s one way to establish diplomatic relations.

He rests his hands on Cas’ shoulders, stroking his thumbs at the neckline of his t-shirt when he feels tension. He decides against pressing a kiss to Cas’s hair. Just ‘cause he’s with a dude now, doesn’t mean he’s gonna be all gay about it. Cas’ left hand comes up to cover his own. Their rings clink.

“Cas doesn’t have a birthday, though.” Jack frowns at the page slightly, apparently looking for the section on fallen angel anomalies.

“Then we’ll have to pick one –” Dean starts, just as Cas says, “September eighteenth.”

Cas tips his head back against Dean’s chest, peers up at him. He’s got dried toothpaste at the corner of his mouth. Dean grins stupidly at his upside-down face. “September eighteenth, yeah.” Something swoops in his chest. Cas is earnest, and it’s unbearable. He loves at full volume, and Dean’s as grateful as he is undeserving. He squeezes Cas’ shoulder. Tradition, and all that.

Jack taps the page. “It says you’re a Virgo, Cas!”

They’re still staring at each other as Jack starts reading aloud. Dean brushes hair off Cas’ forehead and thinks, for once, he’s landed himself the permanent kind of happy. Dean’s pretty sure he’s loved him for years and years, quietly, achingly.

There’s the sound of cutlery against ceramic, and Dean looks up to check Sammy’s not weeping into his fruit bowl out of sheer girlish pride or whatever. He’d made it six words into his best man speech before the waterworks. Dean’s never letting him live it down.

⁂

“So,” Dean says later, after Sam’s gone to collect Eileen from town, and Jack’s off on heavenly refurb duty. “My lucky week, huh?”

Dean circles his arms round Cas’ midriff. Lets his chin rest on his shoulder, because he can, and also to check Cas isn’t half-assing the washing up.

“Apparently so.”

Dean hums. It’s funny. They’re married. And yet moments like these, the big ones, still manage to make him a bit nervous. It’s stupid. He’s hardly gonna say no. But Dean supposes they’ve never managed to get anything in the right order. Two deathbed confessions amidst a decade of friendship. An ‘I love you too’ echoing off brick in an empty room. Two kids co-parented before they even kissed, and they were already living together when they started dating. Someone get Nicholas Sparks on the phone.

“Perfect week to put an offer down on a house then, right? That one on the lake?”

Cas drops a fork into the bubbles. He turns his head to reply and Dean takes it as an opportunity to kiss what’s within reach. The smile lines around his eye, his temple greying with the proof that Cas loves him. He’s all in. Dean is too, terrifyingly.

“Really?”

“Yeah, dude.” Dean nods at the fern guy. “Your plants would appreciate the sunlight, right? And there’s a room for Jack.”

Cas spins in his arms, leaning against the sink to look Dean in the eye. Dean grabs at his soapy palm, intertwining their fingers, confident in his sappiness when no one’s watching.

“I know I always say Sammy didn’t make the most of his college experience, but dorming in my forties isn’t exactly what I meant –”

“You’ll miss him, though.”

“Of course, man. Lived with Sam my whole life. But,” Dean relinquishes the hand to cup Cas’ face, “I kinda wanna do my own thing now. With you. So, move in with me, Mr. Winchester? Somewhere… overground?”

It’s so off-your-feet sweepingly romantic Dean feels like he deserves a medal. Maybe this is their karmic justice after the proposal debacle.

Cas is smiling at him, soft and sweet. “Okay, Dean.” He puts wet hands around his waist and Dean doesn’t even care that it’s seeping through his t-shirt. “Lake house it is.”

Dean leans in, kisses him three times in response. He lingers on the last one, smiling against Cas’ mouth. Cas knows what he means.

[twh-news]

‘Loki’ Gives Tom Hiddleston’s Antihero the Spotlight, but Sticks to Marvel’s Superhero Basics: TV Review

It should only take a few minutes before “Loki” viewers know whether they’re down for what the show is serving up or too tired of the Marvel Cinematic Universe machine to follow this chapter of its increasingly complex saga.

[NOTE: Maybe read further after you've seen the first ep 😁]

The new Disney Plus show — the third under Marvel’s burgeoning TV offshoot — opens with dashing villain Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in the Avengers’ custody circa the 2012 movie that first brought the team together. In this version of those events, however, Loki manages to escape — thus upending the reality in which the character eventually dies at the hands of Thanos and freeing him up to anchor a show all his own.

Unfortunately for this Loki, his spontaneous getaway gambit sends him straight into the path of an armored guard (Wunmi Mosaku) who stares him down and declares that, “on behalf of the Time Variants Authority, I hereby arrest you for crimes against The Sacred Timeline.” Imbuing such a wholeheartedly cheesy line with hyperbolic gravitas is a superhero story staple, and yet this one’s grim righteousness still made me laugh in a way it was probably not supposed to.

For a new Marvel production, introducing a powerful league of militaristic cops is practically a prerequisite for whatever story is yet to come. But it’s nevertheless a bit of a letdown when you realize halfway through the dense first episode that one of the MCU’s ostensibly most unpredictable lead characters has somehow landed in the most predictable of setups.

To be fair, some of this irony is by design. As written by Michael Waldron, Loki very purposefully couldn’t be a worse fit for the monochromatic, bureaucratic order of the Time Variants Authority (or “TVA”), nor more offended when he understands exactly what it represents. As a chipper cartoon clock (“Miss Minutes”) informs him in an explanatory animated video, the TVA is an organization tasked with keeping every multiverse moving forward on the same “sacred timeline” as prescribed by three almighty  “Timekeepers,” which sometimes means snuffing out “Variants” like Loki who might mess it up.

The implication, Loki quickly grasps with real horror, is that there’s almost nothing anyone can do to change their fate; even his tricks are preordained parts of the greater whole. That emphasis on fate, paired with Kasra Farahani’s deliberately drab and vaguely midcentury production design, is what sets the TVA apart from something like SHIELD, though both share the same affection for unilateral authority and quips without punchlines.

I’ll leave it to bigger Marvel fans than me who can unravel exactly what the TVA’s level of authority means for the MCU at large. At first glance, though, it does seem as though the mere existence of the TVA should have huge implications, especially as upcoming big screen installments are set to explore the multiverse in more depth (including “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,” also written by Waldron). For now, Loki has found himself outsmarted by this seemingly omniscient organization, forcing him to reluctantly team up with Agent Mobius (Owen Wilson), who’s convinced Loki can help them sift through an infinite number of timelines to track down one particularly pernicious Variant.

Only two episodes of “Loki” were screened for critics, making it hard to know exactly how successful the 6-episode season might be in shaping its own identity within the onscreen Marvel universe. Of these first two episodes, however, the second was far more engaging. The pilot has such an extraordinary amount of ground to cover that director Kate Herron only gets a couple opportunities to find humor in between the exposition, and Hiddleston can barely get into the pithy groove that made Loki such a standout in the first place. The second, at least, can have a bit more fun.

Waldron’s scripts do their best throughout to layer in moments of pathos for its central antihero to make clear exactly where his head is at in this point of his life. (To make it even clearer: this version of Loki has only lived through the events of the first “Thor” movie and “The Avengers.”) By the time Wilson’s Mobius extracts Loki from the TVA’s courtroom, presided over by an annoyed judge (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), Loki is so exhausted and annoyed that he can barely muster the energy to resist too many of Mobius’ probing questions about his end goals. “Why does someone with so much range just want to rule?” Mobius asks, voice thick with pity and admiration. Loki has no good answer besides the one he’s resisted ever since arriving at the TVA: he wants to rule because harboring that burning desire is just his fate.

After establishing all the wheres and whys, the series is then free to move on to the second episode, which gives Loki a bit more room to explore his surroundings and make some calculations of his own. (Emphasis on “a bit”; Hiddleston never quite gets enough time to play around with his character given the show’s pressing need to get to the next timeline and/or twist.) From there, the show establishes a new rhythm as Loki, Mobius and Time Monitor B-15 (Mosaku) ricochet throughout time. Given his experience on “Rick and Morty,” Waldron is comfortable with this dynamic of an odd couple traveling through time and space to potentially disastrous results, but still constrained by the ever-complicating Marvel narrative web surrounding Loki and Mobius. The end of the second episode teases an intriguing new direction for the series to take, but without knowing what happens next, it’s hard to say how much it might deviate from the usual script.

The most fun “Loki” has is when Hiddleston and Wilson get to banter — a distinction from when Mobius playacts as Loki’s placid therapist, a dynamic neither the character nor actor can fully sell. But Wilson’s singular comedic delivery, which somehow combines both a dry deadpan and puppy dog enthusiasm still strikes an amusing balance against Hiddleston, especially when he gets to drop Loki’s existential angst for genuine curiosity about the strange new world around him. And yet: when Loki sighs in frustration about the TVA’s tedious overreach dictating his story when he could be doing something much more dangerous and strange, it’s hard not to agree.

“Loki” premieres Wednesday, June 9, on Disney Plus.

[geekcavepodcast]

Marvel Comics “Darkhold” Saga to Grip Iron Man and Blade

The Darkhold Alpha #1, from writer Steve Orlando and artist Cian Tormey, goes on sale on September 22, 2021, but in October the Darkhold saga will affect Iron Man and Blade in special tie-in one-shots. In fact, the entire saga is being told through a series of one-shots.

The Darkhold Alpha #1 centers around the recently resurfaced Darkhold, or Book of the Damned written by the elder god Chithon. The Darkhold Alpha #1 follows Scarlet Witch and Doctor Doom’s efforts to stop the chaos. 

The Darkhold: Iron Man #1, from writer Ryan North and artist Guillermo Sanna, is a body horror tale in which Iron Man, recruited to help face Chthon, reads from the Darkhold. Now, “the armor that has saved him countless times is about to become a prison—one whose only escape is a fate worse than death.” (Marvel Comics)

The Darkhold: Iron Man #1, featuring a cover by Valerio Giangiordano, goes on sale on October 13, 2021.

The Darkhold: Blade #1, from writer Daniel Kibblesmith and artist Federico Sabbatini, finds Blade, also recruited to stop Chthon, reading from the book and trying to enter the elder god’s dimension. “But reading the book has changed all their lives and histories…and for Blade, the consequences are far-reaching. Vampires rule the world, and he rules over them all. But there are some heroes left—and Blade is not as omniscient as he thinks.” (Marvel Comics)

The Darkhold: Blade #1, featuring a cover by Juan Ferreyra, goes on sale on October 27, 2021.

(Images via Marvel Comics)

[roxannepolice]

Do you ever think that Shmi might have been force sensitive? Just in a way that she was closely tuned into the force's will, or something and that's why she was always so calm about stuff?

Oh anon, this is such a beautiful question, prompting so many more interesting questions. But my straightforward answer is yes, absolutely, Shmi Skywalker, The Galactic Madonna Hodegetria and Dolorosa, was force sensitive.

Now, leaving actually meaningful matters and proceeding to whine about culture reception.

I have a general impression that the way audience reads the sequel trilogy - and the creators instead of ingoring this phenomenon play on it to later overthrow it in what is effectively a pretty empty act - suffers from force sensitivity being perceived in what I would call Harry Potter terms. And I’m really sorry I have to use that book for negative comparison again, I really like it, movies too, a Slytherin/Horned Serpent with a cypress-dragon heartstring wand here, but seeing how people compare Rey’s bond with Kylo Ben to that between Harry and Voldemort and knowing the term “squib” has been used to describe Leia by those who were shocked by her using the force in tlj, I think there’s enough reason to believe the generation being deeply influenced by HP is the culprit here.

Because in much of the discourse force sensitive - non-force sensitive basically translates to wizard - muggle, a zero-one system. Force sensitivity is now apparently something inheritable, the way magic is in HP, with squibs and muggleborns being maybe not complete exceptions but not a general rule either. Oh, and of course it all further plays into Kylo being Voldemort who inherited force sensitivity from his  “squibbish” mother and hated his muggle father and by extension despises all muggles like really one moment Kylo supposedly despises non-force sentisitives, next wants to kill all force sensitives make up your mind haters and Rey being a muggleborn like Hermione and Lily.

And if you play on it in an au, go ahead, and please tag me so I don’t miss it.

But none of this has ever been supported by the main Star Wars saga. I mean, republic-era jedi are kriffing sworn to celibacy, main story siths don’t seem that promiscuous either. So either all of the new padawans were Yoda’s secret bastards (?….) or there is no HP-like inheriting mechanism here. Look, all of the Rey parentage discourse was (is…. grits teeth) not caused by saga logic telling us her parents had to be force sensitives only because TFA was begging an average viewer to be interested in her parentage.

Whereas I’d say a better, although also simplified, universe to compare force as magic to, is Doctor Strange. As Yoda Swinton explains, magic is basically a way of manipulating the source code of reality. Technically everyone can do that - practically some people are more talented at it, just as technically anyone can be a neurosurgeon - practically…. well. And talent here is a combination of hard work, education, patience and yes, some natural gifts, but not something sorceres just have in their blood, unlike non-sorcerers. Would any person in DS universe who has any idea of existence of magic, say doctor Palmer, be able to instinctivelly use it to save their life? Probably yes.

Is it still better to have some natural gifts in this directin, teachers, books and google translate (oh, another paralel to SW - technology is anything but redundant)? YES. 

because you all needed multiple arm hindu god stephen strange on your dash

So I think the simplified model above is closer to what we have in Star Wars - some people are more attuned to the force, but it’s not like some people just have it or not, a concept I’m both happy st is enforcing and surprised it needed to be enforced in the first place. Maybe helpful would also be the concept of mana, which is usually associated with magic, but can in fact manifest itself in other forms, like, say, hitting the target with a blaster while barely looking or leading - armed or not armed - opposition.

There is of course another matter - force isn’t simply magic in the GFFA. Enter anthropological nerding.

There are two major anthroplogical differences between religion and magic, understood as elements of culture. First, the former is a system explaining all of the surrounding world, including its beginnings and afterlife: for an ancient person bad weather was plain divine will, but for an elightenment deist scientist God would still be The Great Clockmaker and even modern believing scientists give divinity for an answer to What Caused The Big Bang. Thus, magic is also culturally seeped in local religion: a christian black magician makes a deal with the devil and white calls on angels, for example. Secondly, and more interestingly, magic is a more mechanical phenomenon: you do this - that is bound to happen, unless you’ve made some mistake while casting the spell. The devil may trick you, and most likely will, but can’t break the deal you made. (There are, btw, very interesting theories regarding the fact that modern man’s attitude towards technology is in fact closer to magical that scientific thinking) Religion on the other hand assumes that Divinity has Its own will and that will is more important than man’s. A man may pray, ask or beg, but not struck deals with God - no matter how penitent David was, his firstborn with Bathsheba still died, though none of that affected Salomon.

Exit anthropological nerding.

sorry no good movies with actual anthropologists in them had to settle on the acrheologist

So, and it’s not a great surprise, force in GFFA is some form of divinity, first and foremost, and if there are magic tricks available to some people then it’s on similar terms as magic functioned in majority of belief systems. In this light, it’s not Rey who should be a headscratcher as far as her extensive force powers are concerned, force just found itself a worthy champion in dark times, only Ben - and Anakin, for that matter, their cases being different from your averare Maul or Sheev as they are both results of force’s physical hierophany. You might say they both defy at least one of three of assumed - by this trilogy more than the former, playing heavily as a deus ex machina obviously prefering the good guys™, at least thus far - attributes of  the force: justice understood as egalitarianism, goodness and omniscience. Basically, their turning to the dark side brings back the favourite question of western theology - why did All-good and All-knowing God give people free will, which brought all evil to the world - and how much power actually lies in individual free will. As I wrote few days ago, in any proper drama it would be revealed renperor is at least as much if not more of force’s will as is Rey rescuing the resistance: plainest irony being the character who thinks they fulfill divine will actually doing what they want and the one thinking they selfishly shape their fate actually fulfilling divine will.

Well, that became a philosophical digressive poem... I suppose the only two actually valuable reflections here are that force sensitivity shouldn’t be perceived in the same zero-one terms as is being a wizard in HP - and that Shmi very much was force sensitive.

[simplegenius042]

Music Monday

Tagging @socially-awkward-skeleton @direwombat @adelaidedrubman @strangefable @strafethesesinners @shallow-gravy @cassietrn @chazz-anova @josephslittledeputy @josephseedismyfather @bitchofedensgate @nightbloodbix @afarcryfrommymain @inafieldofdaisies @carlosoliveiraa @skoll-sun-eater @henbased @trashcatsnark @corvosattano @wrathfulrook @g0dspeeed @minilev @softtidesworld @deputyash @dephellseed @deputy-morgan-malone @snake-in-the-garden @derelictheretic @ladyoriza @florbelles @fourlittleseedlings @la-grosse-patate @megraen @onehornedbeast @voidika @titiagls @redreart @starsandskies @thewanderer-000 and @vampireninjabunnies-blog

Three songs for three series, The UnTitledverse, Far Cry The Silver Chronicles and Life, Despair & Monsters, underneath the snippet below:

During some time in The Omniscience Rule saga, Joaquin Cobalt finds himself at the mercy of Archibald Thanatos, the current Head of House Thanatos, of which the patriarch has a deal for the boy; face his untimely death or become his Count because the heirs of House Thanatos are shortly staffed. The irony here is that Joaquin is on the receiving end of being convinced to do or join something, with the exact same song he used no less.

"Right here, right now I put the offer out I don't wanna chase you down I know you see it You run with me and I can cut you free Out of the drudgery and walls you keep in So trade your typical for something colorful And if it's crazy, live a little crazy You can play it sensible, a king of conventional Or you can risk it all and see

Don't you wanna get away From the same old part you gotta play 'Cause I got what you need So come with me and take the ride It'll take you to the other side 'Cause you can do like you do Or you can do me Stay in the cage, or you'll finally take the key Oh, damn! Suddenly you're free to fly It'll take you to the other side."

"Okay, my friend, you want to cut me in Well I hate to tell you, but it just won't happen So thanks, but no I think I'm good to go 'Cause I quite enjoy the life you say I'm trapped in Now I admire you, and that whole show you do You're onto something, really it's something."

...

"So go and do like you do I'm good to do like me Ain't in a cage, so I don't need to take the key Oh damn! Can't you see I'm doing fine I don't need to see the other side."

I was listening to Camila Cabello's "Shameless" when I wrote the fight between Silva and her Bliss hallucination of a former opponent from the Apostles, Zhan Tiri, that will occur in Silva's Hope (it's not really her old foe, merely a manifestation an overexposure of untamed Bliss is projecting through Silva's own psyche/trauma), which I showed in this snippet post here.

"Don't speak, no, don't try It's been a secret for the longest time Don't run, huh, no don't hide Been running from it for the longest time

So many mornings, I woke up confused In my dreams, I do anything I want to you My emotions are naked, they're taking me out of my mind

Right now, I'm shameless Screaming my lungs out for ya Not afraid to face it I need you more than I want to Need you more than I want to Show me your shameless Write it on my neck, why don't ya? And I won't erase it I need you more than I want to Need you more than I want to

No, uh, uh, don't wanna do this now No, uh, uh, don't wanna do this now No, uh, uh, don't wanna do this now No, uh, uh, don't wanna do this now."

And here's a song for The Thorned Crown Of Iron Thrones, focusing on Corvus Targaryen's relationship with his sister, Rhaenyra, their friend Alicent Hightower, his uncle who he despises, his cousin Caecilius "Cecil" Royce, as well as the rest of his family and friends (Viserys, Laenor, Laena, Rhaenyra and Alicent's children, and Otto when the older man is tolerable), as he tries to make sense of the tragedy in the making while out on a ride on his dragon Stormreign (and later Maleficent), as well as resist against the Court King squats rent free in his head.

"If you're not the one for me Then how come I can bring you to your knees? If you're not the one for me Why do I hate the idea of being free?

And if I'm not the one for you You've got to stop holding me the way you do Oh honey, if I'm not the one for you Why have we been through what we have been through?

It's so cold out here In your wilderness I want you to be my keeper But not if you are so reckless

If you're gonna let me down, let me down gently Don't pretend that you don't want me Our love ain't water under the bridge If you're gonna let me down, let me down gently Don't pretend that you don't want me Our love ain't water under the bridge Whoa-oh-oh, oh-oh-whoa, oh-oh Say that our love ain't water under the bridge

What are you waiting for? You never seem to make it through the door And who are you hiding from? It ain't no life to live, like you're on the run Have I ever asked for much? The only thing that I want is your love

If you're gonna let me down, let me down gently Don't pretend that you don't want me Our love ain't water under the bridge If you're gonna let me down, let me down gently Don't pretend that you don't want me Our love ain't water under the bridge Whoa-oh-oh, oh-oh-whoa, oh-oh Say that our love ain't water under the bridge."

[falcophoenix]

the saga continues, reacting to re:coded so spoilers below

-man i totally forgot in what way were namine and xion significant like they did even less than kairi

-original simple and clean mix eyy

-i assumed re:coded was just remade kh1 with more scenes but i guess not so thats why we're here

-not an interesting premise with a digital sora revisiting stuff from kh1 so i hope there's some significant info later on

-dat japanese lip sync, that's a strange sight for this series

-black cloak's voice is familiar, gonna call it's repliku

-woomy

-i guess this is one of those entirely cinematic recreations since they sort of animate the minor fights and sidequests, actually so far every character has been fully animated and not had the flat texture models for minor dialogs except for a few occasions

-EYY REAL SORoh huh this just got weird

-i knew it was repliku

-oh he's a good boy after all and now the gang is TRON'd

-eyy it's good old cloudcent valenstrife

-hades is still a riot

-the journal is the omniscient cutscene camera

-kh genie is still not funny, i wish they did as well writing him as they have with Hades

-maleficent you do realize this is all just a computer right it's not worth ruling

-oh so the aim is to use it as a hub to conquer actual reality got it

-trancended friendship!

-i knew repliku would turn up in the heartless outfit as soon as he got grabbed

-clever use of clipping lol

-wanna give poor journal hugs

-ohh there's another black coat, of course it is

-is it riku's real doubts talking or the journal becoming its own entity and wanting real friends hnngghh

-saving the bad guys gets you in trouble later you know this....

-oohh heartless sora, thats a neat inclusion

-oooh journal boy is v important ancient magic, nice

-something is off about journal-riku, it might be the memory of the evil repliku from CoM

-oh shit its not repliku is it roxas or ven or a dark sora??

-yyyep roxas is pissed

-oh data roxas once again, bad luck for that boy

-and theres namine finally, please remind me what the point of all this was

-so there was literally no point to all of this, like why does a data sora have to bear the brunt of painful memories and get put through a hundred trials just for that....i guess so the real sora wouldn't have to....?? poor data boy

-so it was just about remembering the nobodies--

-THE SAD KIDS

-so i guess all the rigamarole was to discover oh hey the sad kids exist

-the majority of that felt so pointless and longwinded tbh

-oh! they're trying to find vens heart!

-and they're alluding to old nort gearing up to fuck em up in dream drop

-yep there it is

-oh hi young nort

-yyyep this one was entirely pointless and only told us what we already knew. waste of 3 hours lol

[the-untitledverse-blog]

May 1st 2024 - "Evening Downpour"

"You know we could've taken the car, right?"

Mario's upper lip lifted in perplexity as they walked across the road, "And who'd be driving, hmm?"

Elizabeth raised a brow, "Uh, you? I mean, I'd assume so. Keep up the "human illusion", y'know?"

Mario frowned but didn't retort as they entered the storefront. Elizabeth's lips pursed into a tight pout, "You didn't answer my question."

"I have no need for a vehicle. I've just popped in and out of here and be done with it," Mario explained, "But you begged Charlie to be let outside, and leaving you unsupervised would be the irresponsible decision."

The strawberry blonde didn't argue, and both went from aisle to aisle, grabbing what they needed. They exited the store just as a downpour began.

"You know," Elizabeth spoke up, green eyes glinting with mischief, "I bet you've never walked home in the rain before. You'd zip back to the house by now, right?"

Mario shrugged, but didn't deny it. Donning a playful smile, Elizabeth smacked Mario's unoccupied arm, "Race ya!"

Elizabeth dashed ahead into the rain, leaving a dazed Mario. He tsked in amusement, a grin stretching across his face as he ran after the menace.

[ill-be-istj-if-no-one-else-is]

Sci Fi character typing: The Vorkosigan Saga

I’ve mentioned this series a bunch of times, so here’s the quick sell if you haven’t read it (in which case the character typings probably won’t make sense as I don’t give tons of context): It's a long series following one major character at the center with a couple secondary protagonists who get a book or several (noted in their character type info). The bulk is space opera/political thriller with some mystery elements, but depending on where in the series you’re reading, it may lean more space opera, more political thriller, romance, or mystery, and one book that is genuinely the best comedy of errors I’ve read that isn’t by Oscar Wilde or Shakespeare. Also: plenty of social commentary, cool sci fi stuff, and snark.

Because it’s a massive series with many books, and I tend to reread my favorite few over and over, I’ve only typed a handful of characters so I may revisit later. If you’ve read this and I didn’t type your favorite character, please let me know!

Miles: ENFP. He’s wildly creative and gets bored easily, and tends to jump from idea to idea. He’s a skilled improviser and masterful bullshitter. His main struggle and motivation made clear in Memory (one of my favorite books in the series) is that of identity. His father and grandfather were great military heroes, and he’s not sure if he wants the same for himself or something entirely new - he just knows that he wants to be his own person. He’s willing and even excited to try out new identities. His morality is definitely influenced by his parents’ guidance but is his own and often clashes with the mores of his home planet. He also shows a lot of leadership combined with a realism to his logic. He likes to bend, break, or otherwise get around the rules, but always for a purpose, and ultimately respects them and the authority.

I wondered if his creativity and improvisation were ESFP, especially since he does enjoy a lot of physical things, but since he’s a viewpoint character in a third-person omniscient series we have the luxury of actually seeing his thought process, and while he guides one of his friends to go on more than just intuition, ultimately he favors starting with the intuition and then going back to find the exact proof later. He also has a lot of tiny traditions and a complicated relationship with internal sensations that strike me as very inferior Si.

Cordelia: Strikes me as an ESTP. From a quick glance, she’s as creative as her son but in a more immediate, practical way: she tends to not put anything off the way Miles does. She wants to see her environment change when she takes action. She’s very quick with words, and incredibly giving towards others, but when she was younger she struggled with reading the intentions of others and got burned badly for it (tert Fe that is very well-developed in her middle age/adulthood- one of my favorite scenes with her has her guiding Fi-aux Miles to see things from someone else’s point of view). Her Ti shows up in that she loves to tackle problems and projects and push things to see how far she can go, and isn’t afraid to take risks or use new methods to solve things. She makes a lot of pretty cold decisions for the better of the community (and, arguably, planet).

Cordelia is the viewpoint character in several books, and a major player in many others.

Ekatarin: ISFP. Aesthetics are her thing. She loves botany and has a flawless eye for gardening, and is good with her personal appearance even when she’s on a tight budget. She’s described as a ‘show something once’ learner (that is, show her once and she’ll get it) and she’s usually quick to react to a situation. She also has a very strong sense of duty, which is tied up with her sense of identity, so when she decides to end her marriage it becomes a major point of cognitive dissonance because she sees herself as an honorable wife.

That sense of duty also choked out her Ni and Te when she was in her unhappy marriage, but once it’s over and she no longer feels trapped, she’s highly driven and her outspokenness develops as well. Late in the series, she’s a pretty capable Te user (when once she was only able to tap into it in emergencies).

Ivan: ISFJ. He sleeps around, but his success comes from a combination of charm, good looks, and being born into a massive amount of privilege, plus the ‘boys will be boys’ attitude of his society. Basically, he’s behaving roughly how people would expect him to, much of the time. He takes a military job, which is expected, works in operations, and is responsible but doesn’t go above and beyond. He hates confrontation and basically wants to be left alone to enjoy himself. He likes things to be predictable (so Miles is a constant thorn in his side). In the high-achieving family he was born into, Ivan is considered a bit of a screw up, but most of it is because he’s not interested in rocking the boat or winning like the Vorkosigans, he’s bright but not as brilliant as Gregor, and he does sometimes make poorly thought out remarks (which I attribute to the fact that he’s an Fe-using man in a society that exalts ESTJ men). He tends to be a little less methodical and goal-oriented in his logic than Miles and instead looks for shortcuts and loopholes. He also does feel deeply for others and will put himself on the line for their sake.

I went back and forth on ISTJ for Ivan, since he’s a combination of charming but sometimes a little socially blind (not in an So method, though I think he’d be Sp/Sx), but I think it’s a lack of self-awareness plus that leads to most of his mishaps. Contrast that with Miles, who is acutely aware of himself, and tends to fuck up due to underestimating others.

Emperor Gregor: INTJ. While his identity isn’t quite the same struggle for him as it is for Miles, most of his conflicts are finding who he is when he’s not the emperor (which he’s been since before he can really remember). He’s very good at picking up subtleties and figuring out how things develop, and he has a practical view of logic. He’s quiet, and prefers to see how things appear to be playing out, but he’s a little too focused on one possible outcome to be an Si-Ne user.

Gregor’s one of the few characters I find it easier to type in terms of enneagram. He never really knew his father, but figured out in his late teens/early 20s that his father, who died as crown prince, had been pretty sadistic and terrible. He is definitely an Enneagram 1: his greatest fear is developing that same madness and corruption, or passing it on to his children. His rule is marked by major reforms.

Lady Alys: ESFJ. Specifically my favorite kind of ESFJ character - the ‘silk hiding steel’ lady who quietly runs everything. Alys serves as Gregor’s social secretary, in the sense that she is resposnsible for planning and organizing most imperial balls/events including the eventual royal wedding. She is acutely aware of etiquette and social taste and has a thorough understanding of tradition and social structure. She’s great at reading people, and is incredibly trustworthy. A common theme in a couple of the later books is that while she holds no political office, she’s arguably the most politically connected woman on the planet and underestimating her pretty much guarantees you’ll lose.

Illyan: I think ESTJ, but he’s really hard to type because he has a brain implant that gives him perfect recall (basically, a video recorder in his head that he can replay at will). I considered all the other TJ types, but one of his major skills is that he’s good at considering multiple possibilities until such time as there is proof of one or the other, which indicates he’s probably an ESTJ over an ISTJ (decent Ne). He lives an extremely boring and routine life, partially by necessity as head of the intelligence agency, but he doesn’t seem to mind. He gets along very well with Miles while also clashing in a way that strikes me as duals interacting. He’s very no-nonsense, efficient, and reliable.

I also considered some perceiving types, but Illyan strikes me very much as a TJ. He by definition has to function with ‘good enough’ logic, and his decisions are primarily made based on that, not morals. His identity or morals don’t actually come up much since so much of what he does is dictated by his role, but he does hold firm beliefs in putting one’s self in other’s shoes.

He seems introverted at first glance, but again, I see high Si in him but not much Fi, whereas I see a lot of Te and a decent amount of Ne. I think that’s also a matter of necessity; his work and his life are pretty much one and the same so he doesn’t have much going on socially, but he does work as head of an intelligence agency so he spends a good deal of time interacting with others and thrives off it.

People I plan on typing but haven’t figured out yet: Mark, Duv, Aral, Kareen. I lean towards ISTJ for Duv, ENTJ for Aral, and ExFJ for Kareen. Mark is...complicated.

[recentanimenews]

FEATURE: Head Space - "Saga of Tanya the Evil" An Ode to Tanya

If nothing else, Saga of Tanya the Evil turned out to have quite a twist, taking what appeared to be an indulgently violent war story with a simple premise and revealing something quite a bit more complex. There’s a lot to enjoy about this madcap series, even if you’re just in it for the magic-fueled warfare, although your tastes may lean more toward its theological meditations or its creative cuts. The true standout of Saga of Tanya the Evil, however, is its eponymous protagonist, a scheming capitalist turned unscrupulous fascist. Her bizarre backstory and the ludicrous juxtaposition of a tiny girl gleefully committing atrocities on the battlefield alone are notable, but the appeal of such a character shouldn’t come as a surprise. From Light Yagami to Lelouch, there is something fascinating about someone with a big ego, a ruthless disposition, and a flair for the dramatic. Where most would expect grand personal designs or an insatiable bloodlust, however, Tanya wants just the opposite.

    It’s fair label Tanya as unprincipled, deceitful, and malicious, but she does live by a sort of code which separates her from your average antihero. Although she schemes, she has an unshakeable faith in the integrity of the administrative structures designed by mankind. Her complaints are never with the organization, only those who hold power within it. She’s meritocratic to a fault, but implicit in this belief is that no strategies are off limits so long as they do not break the word of law. All else is irrelevant. No deed is too distasteful so long as it leads to personal success, as that is the only measure of value. Her eagerness to layoff her coworkers and kill her enemies reflects this belief. If others too squeamish to commit an act, that only makes her willingness makes her even more valuable. She happily takes part in these activities, every body she steps over representing another obstacle overcome and further validation her personal worth. Even praying to a deity she holds no belief in is performed with gusto if it puts her ahead.

    The irony of Tanya’s relentless pursuit of success is that her ambition couldn’t be more mundane. She simply wants to climb the ladder to a comfortable position in upper management. From her original goals in the corporate world, this new and dangerous setting has done nothing to shift her priorities except to seek a cushy position as a rear officer away from any threats to her life. Her decision to join the military to ultimately achieve safety in a wartorn world is questionable, but the ruthlessness with which she strives for the mediocre is oddly admirable. Just as Yoshikage Kira’s eagerness to murder rather than allow his tranquil lifestyle to be threatened was strangely admirable, so is Tanya's relentless training, studying, manipulating, and killing in the pursuit of safety and security. Her last private thought before the events which sent her to this world were “There is nothing easier than following the rules.” Tanya believes all of the trouble she goes through is the easiest thing for her to do, because the simplest way to live is working within the system. It’s just what comes naturally to her.

    Of course Tanya’s heartless tactics drew the ire of an omniscient deity Being X and now her quest to simply live a comfortable life is complicated by its influence pushing her toward mortal peril. Since her faith lies completely within the system and its promotion of individuals by merit, the concept of prayer or belief is inimical to her. In fact the very existence of a God implies that her belief in social darwinism may be fundamentally flawed. Characters of Tanya’s archetype typically stand out because they challenge society, demanding it bend to accommodate them rather than conforming themselves. Light faced off against genius investigators and Lelouch a dictatorial state, both seeking to change the world itself. Tanya has somehow found herself in a position where she may be forced to kill God itself before she can enjoy an unremarkable existence, secure in her understanding of the world.

    Typically it’s the fate of schemers to be brought low by their own plans and, in Tanya’s case, this has essentially already happened. The tragic flaw in her monomanachial beliefs may have rendered her blind to any lessons she may have learned, however. Answering a question regarding military law, she spoke without irony stating that a commander is neglecting their duty in failing to anticipate and stop any deviation among their subordinates, where she herself was killed because she failed to anticipate a disgruntled ex-employee might decide to shove her in front of a train. Despite her tremendous proficiency as a cog in a beaurocratic machine, Tanya may not have much talent as a schemer. Although many of her plans seem clever at face value, many of them result her being pushed deeper into the battle lines, even without the aid of Being X. Her latest manipulation to prove her value as a strategist having placed her at the head of a military unit of her own creation and destined for constant battle.

    There is a great deal of commentary which can be drawn from Tanya’s unique idiosyncracies and even more unique predicament but, at the end of the day, she is undeniably fun to watch. Maybe it’s because there is something admirable about someone who is passionate about their work, even if it could be described as evil. The sadistic glee Tanya takes in metting out carnage and her self-congratulatory inner monologue make her slow descent all the more satisfying to experience. While she claims no particular pleasure in killing, she’ll eagerly undergo any action which will progress her plans. The defeat of her enemies represents a triumph of the the system to which she has dedicated her life. Her crazed fanaticism is just impossible to ignore, aided by some truly inspired animation and facial expressions courtesy of Studio NUT. Whether you want Tanya to succeed or simply suffer, it’s fun to watch her work.

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[simplegenius042]

WIP Wednesday & Last Line/s

Tagged by @socially-awkward-skeleton @noodlecupcakes @voidika @imogenkol @josephseedismyfather @aceghosts and @inafieldofdaisies

Tagging @icecutioner @derelictheretic @shallow-gravy @shellibisshe @direwombat @strangefable @rhettsabbott @josephslittledeputy @cloudofbutterflies92 @skoll-sun-eater @cassietrn @carlosoliveiraa @adelaidedrubman @g0dspeeed @wrathfulrook @afarcryfrommymain @strafethesesinners @turbo-virgins @raresvtm @softtidesworld @starsandskies @ladyoriza @la-grosse-patate @florbelles @titiagls @minilev @yokobai @thewanderer-000 @omen-speaker @justasmolbard @alypink @thesingularityseries and @nightwingshero + anyone else who'd like to join.

Guess who finally got their documents working again! Anyway, WIPs and Last Lines for The UnTitledverse and The Silver Chronicles. Specifically; a WIP for Jurassic World: Before The Storm and The True Sinners, and a Last Line for two Classroom Of The Elite fics and Silva's Hope and No Snake, Only A Boa In The Garden. Kind of a lot, but I've missed this so much. You can find these below the cut:

Here's a WIP for Chapter 2 of Jurassic World: Before The Storm:

Regret.

That is what overcame me when I followed Lisa off the ramp of the ferry.

Once I stood on sturdier ground, the unforgiving heat swept over me quickly.

Lisa had told me to put some summer clothes on; the sleeveless shirt and accompanying short skirt that she had paid for had been her initial suggestion. But I didn’t want to wear those. I didn’t want strangers to see how scrawny and soft I was. And the loose long-sleeve shirt, long baggy pants and my jumper were just too cozy, even if they were more for the colder months.

The uncomfortable temperature had me reconsider if this was a small lapse in judgement.

But no one was paying me much mind, so maybe the clothes helped. If that’s right, then maybe a little heat wouldn’t be so bad.

“Jackie,” Lisa gritted my nickname past her teeth, impatient towards my slow pace. I hadn’t realized that my baggage would be so heavy. I obliged her by picking up the pace.

Though I sped up in pace, Lisa was swifter, and the increasing amount of people clustering together made it more difficult to stay behind her lead.

Luckily the crowd started to dissipate.

I rushed to be by Lisa’s side, lugging my baggage with as much force as I could. The sun lifted an unwanted blanket of hot air over us, and I could not find it in my heart to appreciate the climate. In response to this uncomfortable pressure, I unzipped my jumper. I took a glance at Lisa and found her attention elsewhere.

Here's The True Sinners WIP, where Silva's planning murder while making coffee... but who can blame someone whose recently been kidnapped by the resident ginger soldier:

Jacob dragged Silva through the halls of the old veteran's center, his right hand gripped onto the hem of her dirty coat.

They reached what she assumed to be his office. Jacob opened the door and unceremoniously threw her forward inside. She caught herself from falling, twisting around to face her captor.

He shut the door behind him, the handle's lock clicked in a twist. Jacob crossed his arms as he regarded her, face thinned into a stoic mask.

Blue eyes raked over her disheveled body, specifically how she positioned herself; legs spread apart and slight bent, her left arm spread forward in preparation while her right arm remained closest to her hip, and her dull grey eyes glaring at him. Focused.

He sharply exhaled through his nose, almost like a whistling snort. He leaned against the wall next to the door, eyes on her. Silva didn't drop her guard, not even when he gestured over to a small table.

"Coffee," Jacob tells her. Silva remained in her stance, though confusion did etch across her face.

Jacob gestured once more to the small table. Silva hesitated, eyed Jacob's stature. She took a brief glance over to the table, not enough to lose Jacob in her peripheral though, and opted not to change her stance either, just in case.

She spotted a kettle and some paper cups, and what she assumed to be a jar of grounded coffee beans.

She swiftly placed her eyes back onto him, uncertainty and anticipation brewing within her. Jacob must have noticed, as he stated, "Get yourself a cup of coffee. And if you get one for me, I might be open to explaining your purpose here."

Her eyes narrowed, but refrained from speaking. Silva wasn't sure what his game was. She focused past him to the office door.

She silently exhaled, taking small steps toward the table, grey eyes always on Jacob in case he made any sudden moves.

Once she planted a gloved hand on the small tabletop, she gave one more glare towards him before reluctantly turning her back to him.

With an ear out for any inconspicuous movements Jacob could make, Silva quickly pressed a knuckle against the kettle. Finding it lukewarm, she flicked down the switch.

She dared another glance at Jacob while the kettle heated up, only to stiffen when their stares connected. A palish blue invading her dull grey. A contrast to the sharp grey of Father and the pale hazel of Paul.

He was a militar man. The green forest jacket with the Americana flag was enough to tip her off when they first met, but the ambush... the training grounds of the veteran center had all confirmed her suspicion.

She had been unprepared when she fought back during the raid, only managing to catch him off guard with an admittedly surprised hit, but nothing that could have incapacitated him with his support running at her.

But now they were alone... and once she heard the rising whistle, she twisted her fingers around the handle of her new weapon.

Here's four Last Lines, two each for The UnTitledverse and The Silver Chronicles.

The first Last Line is for a Classroom Of The Elite chapter in The UnTitled Stories (a collection of short fics). Ayanokoji and Horikita have lunch together:

"So," I had paused to swallow down the crumbed fish before I asked you, "The first step is to rehabilitate the failures?"

It hadn't been an unsound plan. In fact it was quite logical, which made sense, in hindsight.

"If you've grasped that, you can guess what I'm about to propose," you had told me, and you were correct. The implication was as easy to notice like a car speeding down a crossing.

My initial response was to decline. The word 'no' was on the tip of my mouth, but I refrained. I took a glance at you, and reconsidered my reply.

Knowing you thus far, you would never have allowed me to get as close as you'd already let me back then if I had rejected your proposal. You had made sound points and made your intentions clear. While I had no ambition to reach Class A, as it had not been my goal, you were a curious oddity that I wanted to learn more about. And helping you meant getting one step closer to the answer I sought.

So, I made the only acceptable answer.

"Okay, I'll help."

"I thought you'd say-," you had paused mid-sentence, my words being swiftly picked apart in your mind as you realized what I had said, "Wait, seriously?"

"Dead serious," I parroted your words back. I'd imagine the look of momentary shock should have been amusing, though I couldn't find much humor in the displace as my chopsticks picked up the rest of my crumbed fish.

The second Last Line/s is for a "What If?" Classroom Of The Elite scenario where Amasawa and Yagami went with Ayanokoji to the school. Anyway, have Class D's reaction to the trio:

As Ayanokoji began to depart from his desk, he paused. Horikita heard him let out a sigh, and much to her confusion, dropped his bag on top of his desk.

"What are you-?" Horikita wanted to question, but Ayanokoji soon interrupted her.

"Accepting my fate," he disclosed, not with much emotion, but certainly not his regular monotone.

Horikita blinked at him, shaking her head in confusion, "Huh?"

Ayanokoji only pointed toward Class 1-D's door in response. She turned her gaze toward it, the sliding door left ajar by the few students who left for break. She wasn't sure why...

She stopped her thoughts when she heard it; the rushing steps of someone fast approaching. It wasn't until a familiar magenta-haired fiend slid in front of the door way, cast her gradient dark-red eyes onto her target and propelled herself inside the classroom at such unnatural speed.

"Senpai~!" the twin-tailed girl cheered out as she threw herself at Ayanokoji, who (reluctantly) welcomed her with deflated open arms. The girl tackled Ayanokoji, the force causing both of them to crash to the floor. The ruckus caught the remainder of Class D's attention.

Before Horikita could process what she just witnessed, she heard another rush of footsteps towards the doorway, but this one slowed down to reveal the second of Ayanokoji's companions; a boy with brown hair and green eyes, softly panting and non-discreetly leaning against the frame to recover from the chase.

The third Last Line/s is for Silva's Hope, and Silva gets a short break and a new friend:

"Hey, Dep, so... you hungry?" Boshaw asked, fidgeting with the beer bottle in his hand. Silva glanced at him, raising a brow, "I was gonna heat up the leftover pizza I had in my fridge, and since you're crashing the place, I'm just wondering if you want some."

He seemed anxious, giving her a forced smile as he awaited her answer. At the mention of food, the rumbling pain in her gut demanded she attend to its needs. Silva blew out a relenting exhale.

"Honestly Boshaw... I'd love some pizza," she told him, and she saw how his brown eyes lightened up; like how Elsa was given permission to do a dangerous stunt or Hurk given the go-ahead to blow a Peggie chopper out of the sky. Or given the thumbs up to set something ablaze.

With that reminder, she quickly added, "As long as it's not reheated with your flamethrower. Understood Boshaw?"

Boshaw blew out a playful huff as he stood up on the trailer's roof, "Nah, I learnt my lesson last time I did that. Gets too charred. Don't worry, I've got a microwave laying about inside. And ya can call me Sharky, Dep."

Silva chewed the inside of her cheek, but after some thinking, couldn't see the harm of calling him by his preferred name, "Alright Sharky... as long as you call me Silva. I'm doing a lot more than what's in a deputy's paycheck. Deal?"

She opened out a gloved hand for him to shake on, and it lightened her mood to see the wide cheerful grin as he took her hand, and managed to pull her up onto her two feet, "You've got a deal there, Silva."

The final Last Line/s is for No Snake, Only A Boa In The Garden, and have a crumb of Hudson and Pratt content... as they chat waiting for a passed-out Coroner!Silva to wake up:

Watching how quietly [Silva] slept on as Pratt had loudly chugged down his coffee, Joey couldn't disagree with Pratt's comment, regardless of how ill-mannered the jest was.

She's almost like a corpse, she conceded, frowning at the soft breathes she could barely see part their coroner's lips, the egg-shaped timer ticking beside the dark-haired woman's head, within arm-length.

"Hudson, you need to relax. She's a grown woman, remember? She's made the decision to deal with her personal issues herself," Pratt yapped on, and shared a thought, "Not the best way to deal with any issue, true, but it really isn't up to us to interfere if it hasn't affected her job thus far. Besides, you've got to admit she's a bit fun when she's tipsy. Night-outs are never short of entertaining when she's around. Cheeky and funny, too."

Joey gave Pratt a deadpan look, and sighed, "I don't know Pratt. You ever wonder why she drinks though? It worries me. We're pretty much the only ones here she goes out of her way to talk to, with exception to Earl. And she's just cooped up in here, surrounded by... death."

She gestured around the morgue, to the units housing whatever bodies were brought in this week. Once again, she settled her gaze on the deep bags under Silva's eyes, a combined result of the coroner's known insomnia and the amount of effort in she puts to stretch herself thin in overworking herself. Joey huffed, a somberness in her voice, "It's so... isolating. She never shares anything outside her personal life either, and we're the closest people to friends that she's got. It's not normal."