#their greatest obstacle is the way their personalities make them react to the struggles they face in the msq

[nabaath-areng]

" För jag har trillat dit, jag har fallit, jag har vaknat! "

[kiki-shortsnout]

21. Listening to someone's heartbeat? From the intimacy prompts, With Loki/Tony, please? 💜

I could've written a whole story with this prompt! As it is I struggled to keep this near 2,000 words! Thank you for the prompt!

~~~~

Where is this place? What is this place? Loki asked himself for about the millionth time, glancing around the room and trying not to fidget on the hard-backed chair he was sat on. He stretched his neck from side to side, trying to relieve the irritating itch he felt from the collar chafing his neck.

He’d suffered through worse. He could endure this.

‘If looks could kill,’ Mobius mocked.

‘What do you want from me?’

‘Well, let’s start with a little cooperation.’

This man knew nothing about him, and Loki had already formulated a plan about how he was going to escape from here, possibly killing him in the process. However, that plan began to unravel the more they spoke, this TVA agent able to strip back every façade, every mask that Loki had constructed around himself.

Only one other person had been able to do that, strip Loki bare and see his vulnerable, true self beneath.

And that man was currently shining on the wall that was playing the movie of Loki’s life.

Loki didn’t react at seeing Anthony again, didn’t give away what they were to each other, feeling himself seethe as an image of them kissing after a battle was revealed.

His greatest secret.

‘A secret Avenger lover! How did you guys manage to hide that? I don’t know which is worse, a hero falling in love with the bad guy who murdered his people…’

Loki clenched his teeth, refusing to speak. It was no one’s business about how he and Anthony had gotten together, what drew them together in the first place. He knew what Mobius was trying to do, but it wasn’t going to work. He was going to escape, find the Tesseract, and convince Anthony for once and for all that they needed to leave their worlds behind.

‘Or the man who fell in love with the enemy, giving up his mission for glorious purpose because of a pair of pretty doe eyes.’

Pushing himself up and away from his chair, Loki paced the room, mind trying to think of a way out of this, to protect Anthony, find a way back to him while eliminating whatever threat this was to them both. If the TVA knew about the relationship, something Anthony had taken great pains to hide, then Loki needed to eliminate this threat.

‘What exactly is it that you want?’

‘I want you to be honest about why you do what you do,’ Mobius answered, still calm despite Loki’s growing agitation.

‘Liar!’ Loki called him out.

Even as Mobius gave a passionate speech back, something about wanting to understand him, Loki paid him no attention, gazing at the hideous orange panels on the wall, feeling the squeeze of the collar on his neck.

‘What makes Loki tick?’

The man reached out and tapped the orange ball on his desk, revealing more moments of Loki’s life, the invasion of New York, his shame, his weakness that he’d nearly harmed the one he…cared about in some misguided quest for glory, his true intentions warped by the Scepter.

He needed to get back to Anthony, to explain it hadn’t been him, that he had been beholden to some trick.

That he wasn’t the monster Anthony had needed to stop, led away by Thor in chains and a muzzle until an opportunity presented itself. Loki was forced to witness his shame again from an outsider’s perspective, the haze of blue in his eyes as he’d forced the Midgardians to bow before him.

Had Anthony known that wasn’t him, that he had been controlled? Why hadn’t Thor seen it?

‘I was... I am on the verge of acquiring everything I am owed, and when I do, it'll be because I did it. Not because it was supposed to happen, or because you or the Time Variance Authority, or whatever it is you call yourselves, allowed me to.’

That wasn’t quite the truth, what Loki truly wanted mingling with the aftereffects of the Mind Stone’s influence, his impatience to get back to Anthony and set things right overriding his rational mind.

Please don’t allow this to change your feelings for me. Please, beloved, please realize it was not me who acted.

‘Honestly, you're pathetic.’ Who was Loki speaking to, the TVA agent before him, or himself?

‘You're an irrelevance. A detour. A footnote to my ascent."

‘If you hadn't picked up the Tesseract, you would've been taken to a cell on Asgard.’

What sorcery is this?

‘What is this? This is nonsense, more tricks. This never even happened.’

‘Not to you, not yet. Look, the TVA doesn't just know your whole past, we know your whole life, how it's all meant to be. Think of it as comforting.’

All his thoughts, his arrogance, his plotting fled as he watched his mother die. For the first time in his life, he was speechless, his desperation making him babble.

‘Where is she?’

‘You lead them right to her,’ the man said, a hint of sympathy in his voice.

‘I don’t believe you. You’re lying. It’s not true.’

He couldn’t be responsible. This was a trick, it had to be a trick.

‘It is true. That's the proper flow of time and it happens again and again and again because it's supposed to, because it has to. The TVA makes sure of it.’

‘Where is she?’ Loki demanded.

What if they have Anthony locked up in his place too? What tricks are they playing on him?

‘Now why don't you tell me, do you enjoy hurting people?’ The man asked again, his voice increasing in volume, making Loki feel as though his chest was being squeezed with overwhelming pressure.

‘I don’t believe you,’ Loki paced in agitation.

‘Do you enjoy killing?’

‘I'll kill you,’ the words were hollow, and they both knew it.

‘Like you did your mother? Like how you attempted to kill Thanos and left your lover alone to sacrifice himself?’

His rage that had been steadily building the whole conversation suddenly dissipated, leaving him lightheaded at the swing between the two emotions, a cold fear now scrabbling up his throat, chasing away the burn of his anger.

‘What happened to Anthony?’

‘Who?’

‘Anthony! Tony Stark! What happens to him?’

‘Does it matter? I mean I know he was your secret lover, but he was an Avenger, an obstacle in your-’

‘Tell me!’ Loki screamed, feeling the furious tears burning his eyes, the onslaught of his emotions frightening him.

He’d shown his hand, exposed his feelings for the two he cherished. Loki had known this would happen, that emotions would make him fragile, defenseless. Now he had no way of saving either and had given the TVA what they needed to blackmail him.

‘You care for him that much?’ All the bluster and posturing from Mobius was gone, a genuine curiosity in his face as he watched Loki.

‘I love him,’ Loki admitted, words he’d never uttered to anyone, not even Anthony. ‘Please, I know you have no reason to trust me, that I’m everything you say I am, but please, let me see what happens to him.’

Sighing, Mobius reached into his pocket and pulled out a separate tape, revealing he held it all along. ‘Here…he was a great man, your Tony Stark. I’ve watched how you interact with everyone around you, your enemies, and the ones you pretended not to care for… it was hard not to be moved by Tony Stark.’

Loki wasn’t listening, trying to fumble with the machine, almost snapping his teeth at Mobius when he reached over to take the recording from him and set it up in the machine. He watched the film, waiting for the moment where Anthony’s life had twinned with his own, when Thor had first been banished and Loki had faced the man of iron for the first time.

Their secret meetings Loki initiated because he’d been intrigued by this morally gray Midgardian, their first kiss, their first tumble into bed. Loki treasured those moments, and now they felt tainted with Mobius’s scrutiny, his gaze leaving grubby fingerprints over their memories.

There were other moments, a future Loki still had to discover. The moment Loki finally confessed his feelings, the heartbreak of betrayal Anthony felt from Captain America (Loki threw the chair across the room at that). He watched as the Hulk creature passed on news of Loki’s death, the way Anthony’s sorrow hardened and was reborn as fury, the catalyst for why he launched himself into space after Thanos’s minions.

And then the end, the blaze of glory, standing alone and proud against the Titan, his beautiful mind destroyed under the effects of the Infinity Stones. Loki couldn’t breathe, his chest trying to move in short sharp pants, his teeth gritted against the pain.

No. Not like this.

He couldn’t see past the agony, couldn’t keep his heart beating with the vile poison of the truth. He could feel a hand on his back, a voice trying to call to him.

‘Please, let me go to him,’

‘Loki, I can’t-’

‘Please. You’ve brought me here for a reason. Whatever it is you want from me, I’ll do it without question. I won’t escape. I won’t betray you, whatever it is you want, but please…’ Loki trailed off, unable to speak past the emotions webbing in his throat.

‘In all my studies of you, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you beg, not sincerely anyway.’

‘You know my…my love for him to be true, that I would not jest about this. Please, Mobius, you have my word, my vow, just please… let me see him.’

‘Ten minutes, that’s all you get. No messing around with the timeline, no giving cryptic warnings. You do anything to divert the timeline Stark is in and I’ll send in a team to prune him and the branch you’ve created, understand?’

Loki didn’t know what pruning meant, but he made an educated guess it had to do with those glow sticks the TVA agents wore and the way they disintegrated the people they stabbed them with.

Nodding, he offered up his hands in a silent plea, sniffing back the tears. Mobius reached out to clasp his hands for a moment, before pointing towards a glowing doorway in the room.

‘Ten minutes and then I’m pulling you out.’

Anthony was asleep in his bed when Loki stepped through, and he rushed over to his bedside, crashing down to his knees as a wounded sound spilt from his lips.

‘You foolish, idiotic mortal, what were you thinking!’ he hissed, the words barely forming sound, not wanting to wake Anthony up or inadvertently cause his destruction. ‘I knew your self-righteousness would be the end of you, that you’d sacrifice yourself in some heroic deed.’ Loki brushed Anthony’s bangs back, leaning forward to press their foreheads together, trying to keep his tears at bay.

He glanced around the room, recognizing it as Anthony’s house in Malibu, no sight of the Avenger Tower. This had to be before New York, before his carnage of Anthony’s homeworld.

‘Lo?’ Anthony suddenly whispered, voice thick with sleep, hands sliding from the bed covers to reach for him. ‘You said…busy…’ he yawned, not entirely awake.

‘I know, dear one, but I made time.’ Loki slid into the bed beside him, taking care to rearrange himself so he could curl around Anthony, protecting him while trying to keep him asleep. He rested his ear directly over the arc reactor, his hand on Anthony’s chest. He could hear the thrum of energy beneath his ear, felt reassured by its continuous sound, knowing it was keeping his mortal alive.

He could feel Anthony’s heartbeat under his palm, never as strong as he liked it, but reassuring enough that Tony was here and alive.

‘I’m sorry. By the Norns, Anthony I am sorry.’

Anthony shifted in his sleep, hugging Loki close and kissing the top of his head.

‘Bad dream, honey?’ he whispered, still sleepy, but trying to comfort him.

‘Something like that. Go back to sleep, darling,’ Loki soothed, hiding the pain in his voice.

He knew what he’d promised Mobius, and his promise to help him stood, but Loki knew he’d twist the intentions of his help to suit his own purposes. He’d find a way to meet these Time-Keepers and bend them to his will. He wasn’t going to lose Anthony to Thanos, would save him from his fate and be together like they deserved.

For now, Loki focused on the sound of his heartbeat, the reassurance he was alive, committing the sound to memory for the next eight minutes.

[obae-me]

Hi! I was wondering if I could ask for a hc about the demon brothers reacting to an mc who has low self-esteem and uses dark humor as a way to cover it up? Thank you, and I hope have a nice day!!

Thank you for your request! I love angst solved with fluff, and with someone who struggles with low self esteem this is pretty self-indulging. I really hope you like these! 💜

Lucifer

Being more observant than some of his other brothers, he notices MC’s behavior rather quickly.

It really hit him when they missed class one day, bombing an important test. When he came back home he went straight to their room, ready to scold them for hours.

When confronted, they just shrugged and joked about it, saying that they wouldn’t have done any better anyway seeing as how dumb they were. They laughed like it was a fun joke, but Lucifer was taken aback. This wasn’t how humans normally joked around, right?

Being the Demon of Pride, he didn’t understand how anyone could put themselves down so easily.

He noticed more darker jokes like that popping up in casual conversations more and more frequently, and now he had a mind to put a stop to it.

It started with the subtle gestures. The way he talked to MC more softly. The way he sometimes walked next to them with a gentle hand on their back. How every so often he would rub the top of their head anytime they did something good. However, anything he did didn’t seem to be slowing the behavior. So he needed to be more direct.

He approached MC on a night that the self-depreciating humor was especially bad. He met them privately, and lifted their chin with one of his gloved hands while the other rested on MC’s shoulder.

“The House of Lamentation has an image to uphold...so of course we would never have let you in here if you would not have fit in that image.” His face was serious, but his eyes were gentle. “While you are in my presence, know that you...even while being human...are a magnificent being. So I expect these jokes to cease.”

He will now give MC compliments more often than not, and if he ever hears them make another dark joke about themselves, he’ll say their name sternly, and will wait for them to say something different.

Mammon

Doesn’t pick up on it for the longest time. Ever since MC came to the Devildom, he’s always been teasing and jabbing them, calling them names but with nothing harmful behind it.

Anytime he would call MC dumb or stupid they’d always laugh with him and agree, so they must’ve thought it was funny!

It wasn’t until he joked around with MC about how “typically dumb” they were being, not knowing that MC had just went through a particularly tough day. They tried playing it off, but felt different. The joke didn’t feel half as funny after MC smiled a crooked smile and their eyes went watery.

He tried following them to their room but was turned away. Left shut outside the entrance he always seemed to be allowed in. All because of some joke he made. All the things he had previously said struck him in that moment. Had he ever really said anything good about MC since they had been here?

He couldn’t make jokes like that anymore.

Now instead of “stupid human” he would tell them how smart they were to have him around. He would tell MC how cool they were to be hanging with the one and only Mammon. He didn’t let just anyone stick with him, so if MC was there, they had to be special.

Of course all the compliments had to have him in it, but the new smile MC seemed to show appeared much more genuine.

“Hey, human! I mean...MC. You can’t go saying sad stuff about yourself anymore, even if they’re jokes! Because...because...The Great Mammon wouldn’t hang out with people who were actually that scummy! That’s right, you’ve got some great potential, you could even be my apprentice! So don’t...say stuff about yourself like that anymore...”

MC seemed to now find all sorts of new things they had never had before. A new jacket just their size on their bed. A new phone case slipped into their bag. All sorts of gifts just happened to show up anywhere they went. Mammon’s way of saying he cared, since he could never bring it up with words.

Levi

He knows the feeling of low self esteem. He feels like a dirty, good-for-nothing shut-in. But when he heard MC make similar jokes, he couldn’t take it. He was mostly confused. MC had so many things he didn’t, so many things he was envious of, so why was MC of all people feeling that way?

He invited MC to his room to play games, planning on letting them win so maybe they could feel better. Unfortunately he has a hard time letting go of his true try-hard nature, and ends up winning anyway.

MC just laughs at their loss, claiming that it’s just another thing to check off their Loser list. They’d be the winner at losing, on the bright side.

Levi can’t take it anymore. He grabbed the controller in MC’s hand, put it aside and turned off his console. He couldn’t really look MC in the eye, but had to let them know how he felt.  “MC...I can understand me feeling that way but...you’re wonderful, you have everything I don’t, so I don’t want to hear you say anything bad about yourself when-when I’m obviously worse!” 

He’ll attempted to put himself down even more to try to lift MC up. Which MC didn’t tolerate in the slightest.

They argued for a while over which of them was worse, which luckily was short lived. They both sat down in silence, neither of them wanting to make eye contact. That was until Levi gently grabbed MC’s sleeve, tugging it, his face against their shoulder. “Y-you’re the closest thing I’ve had to a friend in my life...I-I won’t let anyone put you down, not even yourself.” He goes on and on about a specific anime plot, where the one of the main characters has to fight their childhood friend because they’ve been put under a curse. After the ramble, he makes sure to clarify by meaning that no matter what you’re going through, he’ll make sure you’re safe and happy. 

They make a new game with each other that anytime one of them says anything bad about themselves, they have to say something equally nice about themselves. The person who loses has to give their favorite possession away. Maybe that’ll keep them from saying anything bad in the first place.

Satan

He’ll read MC like book, so to speak, but he has no idea how to handle it. He’s only read about similar personalities in his stories and occasionally with Levi. He doesn’t know how to best approach MC about it.

He’ll plan it out, probably like a battle plan. If he wants the best possible outcome, he’s going to need everything just right. The perfect setting, the perfect circumstance.

He settled on what he was sure was the perfect outcome, a rainy Devildom day. It was the weekend so everyone was either at home or out having fun. He knew MC was home in their room, so he headed there with several books he was sure they would enjoy.

When MC let him in, he was sure their face was redder than usual, and their eyes a bit more puffy. “Have you been crying, MC?”

“No that’s just how my ugly face looks.” And they laughed.

The plan was totally trashed now. Satan flared up with anger, dropping his books all over the ground. He took MC by the shoulder and pinned them against the wall. He was mad. Mad that someone like MC, someone who made him genuinely feel calm and happy, could say something about themselves like that. Like it was a joke. Like they were a joke.

“Stop saying things like that. How can you just go joking around like you don’t matter?! Do you know how much you mean to all of us?! To me?!” He took a deep breath and loosened the grip on MC’s shoulders, smoothing out the new wrinkles in their clothes. The aura of anger around him subsiding. “I know how to help you out with this, I have some...self help books in my possession. Purely out of curiosity of course. I’ll be here...to read them with you.”

After that Satan makes sure to meet with MC at least once a week to read books together. Stories about overcoming great obstacles, some self-help ones, and stories that make MC feel better in general. 

He’ll also check up on MC frequently, making sure they feel better about themselves, even if it’s just a fraction of what it was before. 

Asmo

It’s not until after they’d made a pact together that Asmo truly understood how MC felt of themselves. Asmo almost felt guilty he didn’t start complimenting them more before then, but guilt didn’t look appealing, but neither did what MC was doing.

He saves up a bit of money to be able to take MC on a massive spending spree. All his treat.

He doesn’t really give MC no for an answer when it’s time, and will drag them to all the greatest Devildom shops. He’ll pick outfits for them he knows will complement them, so they won’t have to be self conscious about their body. 

Will complement MC to heaven and back. Their hair, their eyes, the curves on their body, the way their cheeks look when they laugh. Everything. 

However, all this backfires when MC gives Asmo all the outfits back. “This was fun Asmo...but there’s no point spending money on me when nothing will make me look good.”

Asmo dragged MC into the brightly lit fitting room. He took both of MC’s hands in his. “MC, that kind of talk is not attractive! You can’t say such things when you’re as beautiful as you are! Trust me, there’s no one as beautiful as me, but...you’re a solid second place.” He’ll place a soft kiss on MC’s hands. “You’re stunning, so stunning I...I...I’m going to buy all these things for you right now, and anything else you want I’ll get! Shopping always cheers me up!”

It’s not like him to think of anyone else other than himself, so he got himself all worked up and flustered. But anytime he thought of MC...anytime he imagined that they thought of themselves any less of how he thought of them. It left a bad feeling in his chest that he needed to get rid of. 

Won’t give MC any sort of time to deny or joke around any longer. He’ll compliment them now all the time, making sure they know just how amazing they are.

Beel

He surprisingly pick up on it immediately, even faster than any of his other brothers. The things MC does and says remind him of things he felt when Lilith... He couldn’t let MC do that any longer. 

He tried to solve the problem at first by changing the subject any time any sort of joke like that came up. It didn’t seem to help. Whenever MC had the chance they would make some sort of joke. He couldn’t just try to distract them to help, he needed to fix this. 

He decided maybe it would help their mood if he were to take MC to a fancy restaurant. Just the two of them, so they could talk about it. He didn’t like talking too much but there would be food too. Eating always made him feel better.

While eating, they heard MC make a joke pertaining on how they don’t belong in a place so fancy. Suddenly the food in Beel’s mouth didn’t taste as good anymore.

He’ll stand up and come right over to MC, pulling them out of their chair and into the tightest, most protective hug they had ever had in their life. Bringing MC so close to him, he almost completely covered them with his own body. Some other demons were staring, but he didn’t mind. 

“I’ve always loved food, but ever since you came to the Devildom, food always tastes like a gourmet banquet every time...but when you say stuff like that, MC...it reminds me of Solomon’s cooking.”

MC laughed while against his chest. The laugh sounded different, it sounded happier than when they made those dark jokes. He wanted them to always sound like that. He would do almost anything to keep that sound so joyful. 

Beel squeezed them tighter.  “If you keep joking like that...food won’t taste as good anymore...” 

Learns all of MC’s favorite meals and snacks so they always have something on hand for when MC needs a little boost.

Belphie

He notices MC’s behavior and their sense of humor and tends to be the enabler. He has that same type of humor, so it’s hard to stop, even if he doesn’t want MC to do the same thing.

He feels guilty about this and so he avoids MC for a while, not really knowing that this is making it worse. Whenever he shows up for meals or meets them during class he sees that avoiding them has made the jokes even worse.

He doesn’t want to talk about all the nightmares he’s been having about MC. About all the awful things that happen to them, either by his hands or something he couldn’t stop. He wanted the nightmares to end, he wanted all the self-bad-talk to end. All so he, Beel, and MC could finally have that happy dream. 

 So he takes MC up to the attic, having preparing the bed so it was covered in plush pillows and incredibly soft blankets. Anything he used to make him feel better.

He wraps MC in one of these blankets without a word, and then shoved them towards the bed. He was still learning how to be gentle with a human.

He’s not really good with words, he’s quiet when he’s awake and when he’s asleep, which is most of the time, he doesn’t need to say anything.

So he lays in bed with MC, grasping the blanket he put around their shoulders tight.

“I’m sorry,” he apologizes. “I just wanted...you to stop...So stop.” He attempted to be his typical brisk and demanding self, but it fell short. He sounded upset. He picked up one of the pillows in the pile, pointing it at MC like a weapon. “Stop.” He bopped them on the head with it. “Stop. Or I’ll continue to hit you with my pillow.”

He’s not joking. If at any point after that MC makes any sort of joke to try to cover the fact that they said anything bad about themselves, he will gently hit them with his pillow, giving them a long silent glare until they stop.

[c-optimistic]

prompt: kara having panic attacks and trying to hide them from lena because she doesn’t want to appear weak

If you asked her what she thought was Kara’s greatest strength, Lena would rattle off the same words everyone used in reference to Kara: kind (almost to a fault), brave, proud, intelligent, and so so strong.

Lena, who didn’t feel like she was any of those things even on a good day, found all those attributes quite commendable, and it wasn’t as if she didn’t believe Kara was those things. She was, without a doubt. Except, there were other traits, other little things, that Lena found much more impressive.

Things like Kara’s unconditional love for those she considered her family. Things like Kara’s steadfast belief in others. Things like Kara’s selflessness, consistently choosing to be someone else’s pillar, someone else’s source of comfort, and never asking for anything in return.

(These were also things Lena didn’t feel she shared with Kara. More often than not, Lena hid behind ten-foot thick walls, a veritable fortress that was further fortified every single time Lionel disappointed her, Lillian hurt her, and Lex used her. 

She wasn’t sure how to love unconditionally, how to believe she wouldn’t be let down, how to avoid retreating at the first sign of emotional intimacy.)

And perhaps it was because Kara had so many positive qualities that her more negative ones often went overlooked. Like her tendency to dig her heels in, her recklessness, and worst of all, the impossible standards she held herself to, the weight on her shoulders that she refused to let anyone help her carry, the belief that she could never allow herself to show weakness.

Perhaps her flaws were overlooked because Kara was remarkably good at blending in, at pretending. It was how she could talk to you for hours and you would walk away feeling like the best of friends even though Kara hadn’t shared a single thing about herself. It was how she’d preach el mayarah, tell everyone who’d listen that they were stronger together, but she would observe Kryptonian rites alone, hidden in the dark of her own apartment. It was how she wore her heart on her sleeve, was able to speak and write so eloquently and passionately, and yet the depths of her pain and sorrow and anger were unknown. 

Kara was so many things, but most of all, she was a mystery, an enigma. She was compassionate, yet prone to assumptions. She was surrounded by loved ones, but she would always be lonely and alone as the last of her kind. She was the strongest person Lena had ever met.

But she had never let herself be weak. 

(Lena noticed the panic attacks almost from the start.)

Kara was actually rather good about hiding them. About sneaking away to the restroom, silencing her rapid breathing, cleverly hiding her shaky hands and sweaty skin by flying off for an ‘emergency.’ 

(Lena let her hide the panic attacks almost from the start.) 

She had carefully avoided approaching the bathroom, pretending she didn’t hear the panting, pretending she didn’t notice the clammy skin and the flushed cheeks and the edge of panic remaining in her eyes when Kara emerged, pretending that she didn’t know the ‘emergencies’ were just excuses, that they were lies (adding again and again to the lies that escaped Kara’s lips). 

Lena allowed it, torn between not wanting to cross any boundaries and not wanting to stray too close to that terrifying prospect of more intimacy with Kara, something she thought was rather dangerous for her heart.

(It was like this: if her heart was surrounded by wall after all, then Kara was a battering ram, she was a trebuchet, a weapon of mass power, shattering every obstacle in her way.

Or perhaps, more accurately, she was a Trojan Horse, slipping past all of Lena’s defenses under the guise of friendship and opening the gates from the inside, for something else, for something more, for something Lena wouldn’t even dare to hope for.) 

Yet, when Lena walked by her bedroom, wondering what was taking Kara so long after she excused herself from their movie, she found couldn’t let it go this time. 

Because Kara was on the other side of the door, uncharacteristically silent, and Lena couldn’t ignore it anymore, couldn’t pretend she didn’t notice, couldn't walk away.

(She’d learned so much from Kara. A love of potstickers, of the comfort of cuddles on the couch after a bad day, of the importance of physical presence when someone was hurting.

But most of all, she’d learned how to love unconditionally, how to have faith even when she’d been let down before, how to remain firm and sturdy at the prospect of emotional intimacy.) 

(Lena couldn’t let Kara hide anymore.) 

She opened the door slowly, wanting to make sure Kara was aware of her presence, and approached her own bed carefully, not wanting to spook Kara. It was almost as if Kara didn’t notice, however. Her arms were wrapped around herself, curled into a ball on the ground next to the bed, breathing now coming evenly, even as hair stuck to her sweaty face. 

Her eyes were closed tightly, and she didn’t react when Lena kneeled next to her. 

“Another panic attack?” Lena asked softly, reaching out tentatively. Kara was clearly recovering from her panic attack, and she wasn’t sure if Kara wanted to be touched, but her question was answered a second later, when Kara grabbed her hand and held on to it like it was a lifeline. 

(Lena could feel Kara’s pulse, the tips of her fingers awkwardly resting on Kara’s wrist, betraying the still rapid pounding of Kara’s heart.) 

“It’s nothing,” Kara said, her voice rough. She turned her head slightly and opened her eyes, meeting Lena’s even gaze. “How long have you known?” 

“How long have you been trying to hide them?” Lena responded, raising one eyebrow. 

“You didn’t say anything.”

“You were trying to hide them, I didn’t think you wanted me to.” 

Kara stared at her for a moment, then sat up, not letting go of Lena’s hand. Instead, she maneuvered them until they were sitting side by side, backs against the bed, shoulders brushing. “I...sometimes I wonder if you know how strong you are,” she said after a long moment. To Lena’s great shock, Kara let out a long sigh and then leaned her head on Lena’s shoulder. 

“Not as strong as you,” Lena confessed, voice barely a whisper. 

Kara’s grip on her hand tightened. “I didn’t want anyone, I didn’t want you, to look at me differently. To know that I’m struggling so much. To see me the way I am right now.”

“Why not?”

But Kara wasn’t listening, or perhaps she didn’t quite want to answer. “I can lift a space prison into the sky. I beat Superman. I am strong.”

“No one would ever say otherwise.”

“Then why can’t I breathe?” Kara asked, begged, demanded, Lena wasn’t quite sure. But her grip on Lena’s hand was tight enough that it’d begun to slightly hurt, and Lena was sure that the dampness she felt at her shoulder was from Kara’s tears. 

She didn’t dare move.

She wouldn’t. 

(A pillar, Kara had taught her.)

“It’s not weak to feel this way,” Lena said softly, her words coming clumsily and ineloquently. But then, she’d never shared Kara’s talent for words. “And it’s not weak to show that you’re struggling.”

“No, I—” 

“Kara, listen to me. Have you ever thought me weaker for struggling?”

Kara pulled away, seemingly offended at the very thought. “Of course not, I just said you’re strong—”

“Then why is it different for you?” 

She seemed shocked by the question, her mouth falling open, and the last vestiges of panic and fear fading from her eyes. After a moment, her expression changed, and looked at Lena like she’d never quite seen her before.

“I’m not brave like you. I don’t know how to just...talk about how I’m hurting.”

“That makes two of us,” Lena said, smiling softly when Kara gave her a skeptical look. “The only person who somehow manages to pull the words out of me is you. Maybe start there. Talk to someone who makes you feel safe.” 

Kara smiled sadly. “I’m supposed to be Supergirl. I’m supposed to be different. Better. How can I be better if I’m falling apart at elevators and movies?” 

“We all need someone to lean on, Kara. Even Supergirl.” She reached out with her free hand and brushed some of Kara’s sweaty hair out of her eyes. “And I’m here for you. Always.” 

(Another thing Kara had taught her: how the greatest form of strength was reaching out and asking for help.

And really, ultimately, it was like this: Walls behind walls behind walls, all useless when falling in love was pretty much inevitable, the walls nothing but mush.)  

Kara blinked at her, her sad smile turning into something impossibly soft, impossibly hopeful. 

“Do you have time to talk?” she asked.

[jonroxton]

can you talk about chlark beyond chloe? personally i think it's weird that the writers kept adding kisses and weird romantic moments without any pay off. i don't know much about the fandom back then but i think the writers were baiting fans since clark/chloe seems to be the second most popular ship after clex. second i personally think chloe would never be happy with clark or anyone tbh and she doesn't seem like the type of person who would have kids so the finale was weird to me.

this got looooong :)

0. it WAS weird, and the choice to never not once go for it with them was to the story's detriment. I'll get into it a little later on in this post.

Re: shipping in sv fandom. there was definitely drama (clana was HUGE when the show was airing and every ship was basically derailed by it lol) but I stayed in my clois lane with a small circle of fandom friends much like I do now. a good measure of clois fans were fans of lois and clark from other mediums, come to sv just for lois and clark, myself included. we were pretty insulated as a fandom even back then. I do remember seeing more Chlark after the S5 finale (when Chloe kisses him goodbye), but those dropped off after Jimmy was introduced right away in S6. The most drama I encountered was with Chloisers: Chloe fans who believed wholeheartedly that Chloe was Lois. They hated SV!Lois and were convinced she would die so Chloe could take her name and job and place by Clark's side, thus a Chlark endgame. this was a popular theory amongst that fandom even into s9, when the clois ball started to roll for true.

bait and switch

a lot of Chlark is rooted in this notion that chloe WOULD be the best thing for Clark, the ideal Lois, the true best friend, the human hand guiding him through Earth's troubles. she would be could be the BEST possible lois archetype for Clark. it's not a wrong interpretation. she was specifically written as a lois-and-lana-proxy (teenage lana is a reporter in some AUs and even some as an adult as a tv correspondent) and she's given many lois-ish traits (tenacious, secretly crushing on clark and in denial), but this interpretation is deeply flawed. first, because lois does eventually enter into the picture and she has her own defining traits that, when compared to chloe, make chloe seem much shallower than realized. secondly, within the complete context of the story, her position in the greater narrative is not as ~the one who got away, the way it did very early on in S1-S4, but one who clark tolerates.

they're friends because clark is forgiving and chloe has staying power. their friendship is riddled with insecurities and unknowns the characters create for themselves. their dynamic is defined by conflict, not resolutions. this is not made easy by the fact that chloe is such a strangely written character, but ultimately she is positioned as a counter to clark achieving his happiness. not a thematic narrative foil but an obstacle clark eventually relents to.

2. and it has been so from the get-go

S1 is the best season for them and the single season which actually considers Clark's side in this dynamic. everything about them later on can be explained with how they are in this season. and that's the problem. when they're 14 it's nice teen angst drama and works perfectly to establish the dynamic. when they're 24 it's at best a pattern, at worst regression. we expect certain behaviors, dismiss them too, when it's children, at least I do. clark and chloe never move beyond the dynamic they establish in s1 and early s2. in essence, clark and chloe remain children around each other. they have many discussions in the later seasons that make at least one appear petulant.

so S1 clark has just been told the greatest secret of his existence and he imprints on lana hard that same night (right AFTER jonathan tells him, he meets lana at the graveyard and talks to her for the first time EVER, a lot of childhood imprinting going on in SV). all of s1 follows clark's heartache over lana, watching her from afar and figuring out a way to be near her. this pain is exacerbated by the fact that he believes he caused her her greatest grief: the death of her parents via the meteor shower which he arrived in.

here the first beat of the chlark dynamic is established: chloe's job and passion – the wall of weird and her pursuing the meteor infected oddities of SV - directly affects clark in a negative way (he's suicidal for much of s1-s3). so her crush on him is countered with her unknowingly causing him great grief. om top of that: clark becomes part of this passion of hers and she eventually begins to pursue him as a story to be uncovered, very superman yes. here tho, it causes nothing but strife for them and paints chloe in an awful light (and clark too, highlighting his refusal to open up). I personally enjoy this aspect of them in s1. bc they're so young I give em a free pass and it's a good conflict playing around with old superman tropes, but it makes for a fraught friendship.

3. the second beat

is that neither chloe's crush on clark, nor his asking her to stop pursuing his truth, do anything to stay her. her tenaciousness becomes intrusiveness and inconsideration (many of her accomplishments irt the daily planet are directly bc she betrays clark). she simply will not listen to her friend and does not believe his livelihood and autonomy is worth losing a story over. this is literally the opposite of comics/live action lois lane, who in various versions drops the clark reveal story to protect him. this passion turns vindictive pretty early for chloe, who eventually pursues stories about clark out of jealousy and entitlement (against lana also).

4. the third beat

is that clark doesn't ever see chloe as romantic prospect except this time in s1. the tornado trapping lana pulls him away from any solidifying of the clark/chloe dynamic, and that's that. but we know clark was willing to go for it in early s2 when he apologizes to chloe about running off on her. it's chloe who decides not to go on with the relationship. clark is visibly confused, but also 15 so he can't see that chloe is putting on a brave front to protect herself from clark running off again. I liked this too as it's another play on superman tropes, but my sympathy for them stops here.

5. and stays here

these beats are the entirety of this dynamic. everything about chlark can be distilled down to their childhood. it's why I don't hate them completely, bc I have a lot of love for kids who hurt in such a way and that time is never easy. in s8 (I think its s8) when we get a flashback to when they meet as kids (more imprinting!). little tenacious cute chloe kisses insecure clark bc of the funny awkward tension, acknowledging it, and then immediately takes it back because they're better as friends. (also they’re like 11 lol)

every single romantic moment with them is undercut either by chloe herself, or by the presence of other storylines/romances the writers wanted to pursue. the lack of integrity in chloe and the lack of interest in clark, regardless of how sincere their connection or how messed up, is a central part of their dynamic that needs to be reconciled with their friendship. and its exhausting bc there is never a point they are ever truly comfortable around each other.

6. to a fault

knowing the secret doesn't change chloe's methods. it doesn't make chloe clark's great confidante. if anything, it complicates matters for both because their relationship then becomes about the greater good and clark's great destiny. everything chloe does becomes about that, which in theory sounds awesome, but is executed much the same way as s1!chlark: by reiterating behaviors that highlight the negative aspects of that loyalty and the negative aspects of their characters.

the single time they do actively examine what this loyalty means and how chloe's hero complex complicates things for chlark is with s8 and davis. she protects davis with the skills of subterfuge and secrecy she developed as clark's friend. and it costs her jimmy and a lot of her personal integrity as a character. tho ironically it makes chloe the strongest she's been as a character. this is the first time clark is forced to view chloe as an enemy and he never quite recovers from discovering the dark depths she’s willing to go to. 

it's an arc dealing with the established beats: how far chloe is willing to go for a kryptonian (very far), how much she's willing to do for him (A LOT and all of it illegal), and what it costs her (jimmy). it deals with her jealousy (always second choice) and her motivations (uncovering the truth). this great want that she struggled with for years is turned on its head and examined, revealing just how weird and dark her hero complex is because obviously davis is not clark. davis/chloe served to highlight more than any other arc how it's really too bad that clark never saw her that way, because she has so much love to give and when channeled, it's a great force. only it's a great force for evil. clark has to confront that it’s not just lex but his other closest friend who is willing to go so far. they backtrack hard in s9 and s10 but they keep this underlying wariness in clark towards Chloe throughout. it’s not anything new, but it’s no longer subtext that clark doesn’t fully trust chloe.

7. And that's the rub

in the end. chloe and clark have many storylines they're in together and chloe's important.... to develop clark and as a counter to clark. clark never instigates anything, not once, for 9 years! when the show did give us Moments TM, clark is reacting, not actively making choices to connect to her. if anything, clark is incredibly awkward about chloe when they become intimate. he doesn't seem to know what to do with her crushing on him (the elevator scene is a great one to show just how awkward chloe makes him feel). more than that. clark never tells her his secret. and later on, chloe doesn't tell him half the crazy wild shit she does to protect him bc she knows he would disapprove. I still hold that the only reason they work is bc clark is a forgiving character and would give her chance after chance after chance. that's the watsonian explanation, but the doylist explanation is that the writers just never cared to explore them beyond this point.

8. and what was beyond that point?

they would've been a great counter to lexana in S6 and early clana (clark finally having a gf who knows). it’s playing the clark/Chloe as a straight lois/clark proxy before actually pursuing lois and clark. it could’ve been the precursor to davis and caused an even more personal conflict! the kiss at the end of s5 was their chance. they could've written chlark devolving much the same way lexana did in s6 (or not). but again. the writers never went that far and clearly never wanted to. it kept chlark forever in this stage of childhood friendship always on the brink of collapsing, tittering either way. it's also tough to speculate bc clark's just not into her. in fact he becomes more and more wary of her, to the point where he believes she can do horrible things, and he's right. the stories continually make their methods complete opposite.

they go out of their way to show chloe realizing how happy clark is with lois. and even play a joke on the fandom by literally turning her into lois and seeing the sparks between her friends. it's almost... cruel but it does serve to show how clark is when he's smitten and he's never looked at chloe that way except during the dance when they were kids. other unrequited dynamics have at least some spark from the desired, but nil from clark. clark is into chloe in late s1, but she shuts him down, and when he seems to be into her again (damn that s5 kiss was a good one lol), she shuts him down again. it's just a weird writing choice all around, and that they kept nuggets of it throughout the show is the thing I cringe at most whenever I rewatch.

9. bait and switch 2

with hindsight it is definitely ship baiting and that sucks for that dynamic bc without it their friendship would’ve been the stronger, or at least not full of so much negativity. all it did was remind everyone that chloe’s been duped since she was a kid and that clark is both stupid and strange for never noticing and letting her get away with shit just bc she’s the most loyal. I don’t ship them and even I get frustrated lol

[bssaz97]

RWBY Ancestries Chapter 6

* Hello everyone thanks for all of your support for enjoying this fanfic. I never expected this many people to like it so it warms my heart to see that you all enjoy it. Anyway I like to give a shout out to @pilot-boi for letting me use a content idea of his for this chapter so I hope you all enjoy! Anyway for those who’ve been caught up to this point, Salem and Jaune finally meet. So let’s get this show on the road! *

- Mantle, Crash Site B -

Jaune could not believe the day he’s been having, first it starts off with a Wyvern attack, then said Wyvern crashes both his team’s and team RWBY’s airship. If things couldn’t get worse they found out Cinder Fall is alive along with her henchwoman ‘Neo’ and to put the topping on the cake....Salem is here. The Queen of the Grimm, in the flesh, was before him. He could not find strength to move a bone in his body. He felt so much fear in this moment, like nothing could have prepared him for this.

He knew that he was not strong enough to fight her, for how could one beat a person that was essentially unkillable. The only things he had going for him was his high amount of Aura, his Semblance, and his weapon in his hands. Even then he knew that he had zero chances of winning. The obstacle before him was essentially the final boss of a video game except there was no health bar for it, mean others was no easy for the player to win. What was he to who was essentially a god to him. His very bones couldn’t even shake in fear because they were too petrified to move an inch. He wanted so desperately to run away, but one thing kept him seated. One person. A short red headed girl who became his first friend at Beacon, the one who was by his side throughout their stay at the school, had brought him out of his grief and gave him new purpose, who gave him a reason to keep fighting. Ruby Rose

Ruby’s airship was right in his vision, only a small distance away. In his way was humanity’s greatest foe, and the one who had originally sent the scorpion Faunus assassin Tyrian to capture her in their travels across Anima. He remembers the fear he felt that day, the feeling of someone close to him being taken from him over powered this thoughts. This woman, tried to take her away from them, from him, and here she was right in front of him only short distance away of where Ruby was supposed to be. He grounded his teeth and gripped Crocea Mors tightly, he couldn’t be afraid right now. Qrow was counting on him to get to Ruby, his team his counting on him to come back to them, but most of all...he made a promise to Ruby that he would be there for her when she needed him...and an Arc ALWAYS KEPT THEIR WORD!

Jaune:(He sheathes his weapon, Crocea Mors, then he activates its Great sword mode)

Salem:(Confused) Huh?

Jaune: You aren’t getting by me without a fight. I know you’re here for the relics and so does Ironwood, and you won’t get your hands on either today. I may not be able to stop you on my own but I can at least buy my friends time to gather the military together. You’ve failed.

Salem: ....Is that why you think I am here? For some ancient trinkets that those bastard gods left behind, for some vainly idea to siege Atlas by force and for some amateur silver eyed warrior? You think that’s why I’m here?

Jaune: Yes!

Salem: ‘Sigh’ Alright I can see why you would think that about me, given what has occurred during the day, but no! I have not come today for any of those things....I have come for you, Jaune Arc.

Jaune:(Confused)....Come Again?

Salem: I travelled through blockade through blockade of ballistic warfare, took bombs to the face, getting attacked by lifeless machines, I did all this so that I could meet you. To see you in person. (She approaches him closer but not too close to ward him off) You are more far more important than you realize. I sense it even more now that I am here in front of you, you have so much untapped potential inside you that you never knew you had. Far more than any huntsman that has come before you, that’s why I was able to link our minds so that I could find you.

Jaune:(Shocked) Wait! That was you in my head?!

Salem: Yes my child, you have do not yet know the significance of this. You have more power than anything you could have thought about. I urge you, come with me to my palace. I can teach you how to control this power, with it we can end this conflict and bring-

Jaune: NO.

Salem stopped talking after his blunt refusal. She had expected this, knowing that Ozma’s reincarnation had no doubt filled the boy with horrid stories about her, however, she felt that this was more deeply rooted than anything her former love could have come up with. She oils see him shaking with rage, and he looked at her with a very hateful glare.

Jaune: Is the kind of person you think I am? You think I will join you because you offered to make me stronger, by saying I’m special, and betray the people I care about that easily?!

Salem: Wait, Jaune, I didn’t word that correctly I-

Jaune: (Points Crocea Mors right at her face) YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME! MY STRENGTH, MY POTENTIAL?! You.....YOU HAVE NO IDEA AT WHAT I’VE LOST BECAUSE OF YOUR FUCKING WAR!!!

Jaune brings Crocea Mors back and attempts to cleave the wicked witch’s head clean off, but Salem reacts quickly enough to dodge said attack. Jaune does not stop though, having all rations thought leave him, he continues to slice at the air in a attempt to attack her, Salem maneuvering away from each said attack. Jaune growls in frustration then he activates his semblance to increase his aura in his arm and legs, using this to increase his speed and striking force to give him an edge. With Jaune gradually improving on his strikes Salem begins to ding it a bit difficult to evade his sword. After one close strike at he cheek, Salem tries to reason once more.

Salem: Jaune! I don’t wish to fight you, that is not my purpose here.

Jaune: Well better start because I’m done talking!

Jaune lifts up Crocea Mors and brings the great sword down for a over head strike. Salem seeing this concludes that he couldn’t be reasoned with now, she will have to tire him out. Before he could hit her from above, she brings up both hands and meet the sword halfway. Upon contact Salem uses a magical barrier to stop the blade from hitting her and pushes the boy back a few feet. Skidding his feet on the ground he uses his semblance once more on his legs to propel him forward. He charges at her once more, letting out a battle cry. Salem outstretches her right hand to the side and retrieves the metal rod that she discarded earlier, once in her hand she reignited the metal with her magic, and blocks her descendants’ strike. The resulting struggle starts to weigh on Jaune’s weapon as the outer blades began to spark and almost melt from the fiery magic. Seeing this Jaune moves back once more and catches his breath. Salem sighed then contemplates her next action, Jaune’s weapon is no match for her magic, and while his aura and semblance are very impressive, he still lacks enough experience in using them against her.

Salem: Enough! I grow tired of this game. Surrender your weapon, you are no match for me. I don’t wish to harm you.

Jaune: Heh. That’s good. (He poured a little of his aura into his weapon, he activates the hard light function of his weapon. But instead of a shield, the hard light becomes one with his sword and forms a outer glowing blue blade) Because I’m done playing.

Jaune charges at Salem once more using Crocea Mors’ new mode, Salem quickly moves to block his strike but unlike before Crocea Mors does not waver. The hard light edge generates sparks and crackles against her magic, proving to be a match to her makeshift weapon. Jaune breaks the struggle by pushing her back and advances on his foe. Salem does not wish to harm him so she can only hope to parry his strikes. The two combatants fill the empty space with the red and blue glow of their weapons, filling the silence with sounds of cracks of their weapons colliding.

*Crack! Crack! Crack!*

Neither of them really got the upper hand in this fight. Where Jaune stroke she parries, where Salem would block he would use his semblance to over power. Admittedly Salem was going easy on him but as the struggle continued on he was gaining the advantage. She assumed that he would have tired out by now but it appears that his aura reservoirs was more great than she anticipated. Yes, he was powerful, she could sense his potential flowing through him. He has lasted far longer in a duel with her than many of the best warriors she has faced in the past. This brought a smile to her face. Their weapons were currently in a mid struggle, generating arc flashes and sparks coming off the weapons. The point where both weapons collided made a bright white light that grew brighter as the struggle continued.

Salem:(Smiles) Magnificent! You are more powerful than I initially thought. How you evaded my notice until now amazes me. Ozpin truly made a wise move keeping you-!

Jaune:(Growls) Oh will you quit it!

Jaune break the struggle and takes this chance to grab onto her left shoulder bringing her close, he locks her head close to his and pull her head down towards the ground. He uses his semblance to amplify the aura in his left knee and with it he bring it up and strikes Salem’s face with his knee. The resulting stike makes her lose focus, taking this chance he knee strikes her abdomen, knocking the wind out her. He breaks the lock and amplifying the aura in his right hand, then he brings back his hand, using his swords pommel, strikes her across the head. The strike sends her back a few feet. As she prepares to get up, she tastes a bit of iron like fluid in her mouth, its taste is foreign to her so she goes to spit it out. As she spits Salem looks to see that a few droplets of crimson liquid fall to the floor. Blood. Her blood. Has it truly been so long that she honestly forgot what the taste of blood was like. She goes to look up but is met with a foot to her face. Salem once again hits the floor and is met with Crocea Mors at her throat.

Jaune: I’m gonna say this once. I will never join you Salem! I would never join a monster like you! Not only does your very existence and plot to destroy humanity threaten Atlas, Mantle, my friends and family, but it threatens Ruby also. I will NEVER allow you to lay a finger on her, or betray her trust. I’d rather kill myself ten times over. So take your offer AND SHOVE IT WHERE THE SUN DOESN’T SHINE! (Brings Crocea Mors over his head and brings it down)

Time moves slowly for Salem, she sees her entire life flash for what felt like minutes. The only highlights were moments of Ozma’s life before he ideas the first time, reuniting with Ozma’s reincarnation, having her beautiful daughters and finally....finding out about Jaune being her descendant. Salem was shocked at this boy’s tenacity, his refusal to turn away from Ozma’s faction and the Rose girl, Ruby. Jaune truly was like a loyal knight of older times in this regard. However, she will not give up so easily. She has come too far today to just give up. His very existence has given her life new meaning. Perhaps now was good time to take the stop holding back so much.

Just as he was about to impale his sword towards her face, he stopped. Jaune didn’t understand why but he soon realizes why. He couldn’t move any of his body parts, he felt like something invisible was holding onto him and keeping a firm grip on his body parts. Suddenly against his will be moves back off of Salem and once he is a few steps backwards, he is lifted up in the air. He tries to fight against the force but its grip is more stronger than anything he’s ever felt before. Jaune looks back at Salem and sees her get up off the ground. She wipes with her left hand whatever leftover blood she has I the corner of her mouth and in her right hand he sees a dark glowing purple ball of energy. Was that what’s happening to him, she was using her magic on him. Jaune begins to mentally slap himself for forgetting such a crucial detail about the Grimm Queen. SHE WAS A FUCKING MAGIC USER!

Salem:(Takes her left hand away and looks at him plainly) ‘Sigh’ I do apologize for the excessive force, but you were leaving me without any other options my child. You truly are a well trained warrior.....but you are no true huntsman yet. I do not wish to harm you but do not mistaken that kindness for a allowance for your disobedience.

Jaune:(Struggling) I-I....w-w-won’t... be b-beaten....s-so....easily!

Salem:(Smiles) Oh I’m counting on it.

With that Salem moves her palm forwards sending the magic ball towards him. Once impacting his body, Jaune is sent flying backwards towards a upper floor of a building at great force. After crashing inside he starts coughing as a cloud of debris from his crashing had filled the room. Quickly using his semblance to amplify his aura to heal any injuries that he had experienced and grabs Crocea Mors. He suddenly hears the wall making a noise, as Jaune looks to the wall he just came through the entire wall was pulled from the building making a even greater space. There he sees Salem levitating on the air itself and walks forward, with her metal rod in her hand. Jaune quickly gets up to stand and reactivates his hard light mode.

Salem:(Laughs sinisterly) You are a resilient one. Good. Because I believe it’s time we have a chance to learn our first lesson. (Her magic reignites the metal rod once more) Shall we begin.

- End of Chapter 6 -

* Ok that’s it for this chapter, hope you all enjoyed. Again shout out for @pilot-boi for letting me use his idea of using Jaune’s hard light shield as a addition to his great sword. Was really great to write. I’m sorry about the cliff hanger but I promise we will pick up this fight again later, the next few chapters will focus on the two side story with cinder and Watts situation so let this be a taste of what’s to come. Also next chapter we’re going to see what happened to team RWBY after their airship crash so that be something to look forward to. Anyway hope you guys enjoy, and always be good people!*

[thepropertylovers]

Feature Friday with Jorge Valencia and Morgan King

Happy Friday, y’all. After a few days of bad weather, we’re looking forward to enjoying the sunshine this weekend with some trips out to the land to get some fresh air and let the kiddos run around. Any fun plans you’re looking forward to?

Today’s Feature Friday is a beautiful couple who takes turns answering questions and discuss their coming out stories, what their environment was like growing up, and where they see themselves in 5 years. We loved getting to know Jorge and Morgan and we think you will, too. Check out what we mean below…

What is your favorite place that you’ve ever travelled to and why? Zermatt, Switzerland. We went there on our honeymoon because we love skiing together and the food is incredible, too. The slopes there are really amazing and we really improved our technique.

Where did you grow up? What was your environment like? Jorge: I was raised catholic and I would go to church every Sunday with my parents when I was a kid. But at some point during my early teens, my brother and I started questioning and disagreeing with a lot that we would hear the priest say. We eventually stopped going. My parents were very respectful of that and never forced us to go. Mexico City is like 99% catholic so we didn’t get to experience a lot of other religions or denominations, so iit wasn't until I moved to New York City that I realized I could find another church that aligned better with the way I think.

Morgan: I call myself a recovering evangelical. It’s almost like waking up after years in a different reality where women couldn’t be leaders, education was an afterthought, and I could never, not in a million years, be with a man. Now, I’m only about 1000 miles away from my hometown but it feels like a whole different world. 

How did that shape who you are as a person? J: My parents are both scientists, so that for sure had an influence on my interests and on what I do now. Besides science, they were also very vocal about trying to be as happy as we can by surrounding ourselves with people we love, doing something you’re passionate about and being healthy. That’s been stuck in my mind since I was a kid.

M: The (one?) good thing about evangelicalism is hope. I have hope for a better world, a better future, and even though I view the world really differently than I once did, that hope is still very much alive. 

What is one thing you love about yourself? J: I think I am very determined. It might take me some time to make up my mind about something but once I decide I want to do something I won’t stop until it’s done.

M: My enthusiasm about little things.

What brings you the most joy in life? J: Little traditions that Morgan and I have like going to the Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving or re-watching Gilmore Girls (only!) in the fall even though we end up disliking Rory even more every time we watch it.

M: Those simple days when life together is just plain good.

How old were you when you came out? What was your experience like? J: I was 19. I told myself I would come out when I was in a relationship and that’s what I did. The night I decided to come out to my parents I couldn’t stop crying. My parents found me in my room and, after a few hours and many tears, I told them.

M: I was 23. I had always been attracted to men, but I didn’t realize (or hadn’t seen, really) that actually loving a man might be an option. My first few months at seminary, I realized that being gay was a gift and part of my call to mininstry. A few months later, I wrote a 10 page paper explaining it all to my parents, hopped on a plane to Paris, and just got away from everything for a week.

How did your friends and family take it? J: I was lucky enough to have a very supportive family who has shown me a thousand times that they would do anything for me. Seeing them interact with Morgan is one of my greatest joys.

M: My parents didn’t come to our wedding this past December. I still love them. And I believe they love me, too. But love is complicated. Needless to say, I don’t see anyone from home much. 

What did you learn about yourself in the coming out process? J: I spent most of my teen years angry at myself and at life. At the time I didn't know why I felt like that but looking back it is probably because I knew I was different, but I didn’t know if I would ever have the courage to come out and be myself. But once I did, I let go of all that anger as well.

M: I learned that being different is dangerous, but also that it doesn’t have to be that way. 

What would you tell today’s LGBTQ youth who are struggling to come out in fear they won’t be accepted by family, friends, society? J: Coming out is one of the best things you can do. There’s nothing compared to that feeling of freedom that you get after doing it. It is liberating. But it is also very hard depending on your background, so I would say make sure that you have a support system. If you’re worried your family is not gonna react the way you want them, make sure you have a friend or someone to talk to before coming out to them. And also remember it takes time for them to adjust and get used to the idea. Give them time.

M: Acceptance is important, but finding the ability, somehow, to not let anyone else define you might be even better.

What is a difficult or challenging obstacle you've overcome in your life or hope to overcome? J: turns out getting a PhD in biomedical sciences is way harder than I expected. It involves facing a lot of frustration, self-doubt and more anxiety I ever thought I would have to deal with.

M: Some days are more difficult than others, trying to balance my pride and love of my life with Jorge and my commitment to my family even when they aren’t supportive.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why? J: My parents because I am where I am right now thanks to them. They went to grad school while my brother and I were in elementary school, and now as a grad student myself I don’t know how they raised two kids and got their PhDs. They even held down jobs at the same time to give me and my brother everything we needed. Also, Morgan’s strength and love inspire me everyday. It is easy to give up on relationships after you’re hurt or when you don’t exactly get what you need out of a one, but he chooses to work on them instead of taking the easy way out. 

M: My mom’s dad (“Granddady”). He had an alcoholic father and was barely able to go to school because of having to help around the family farm. Around age 16, he left for the “big city” (Chattanooga) and ended up being the first in our family to go to college. He’s one of the kindest, most generous people I know [and, yes, of course Jorge is one of my heros, too :)]

Where do you see yourself in five years? J: I’ve lived in different cities since I started college but I have really fallen in love with New York so hopefully we will still be living here in 5 years even after I finish my PhD. I also see a puppy in our future.

M: We’ve actually both lived many places. I’ve moved 12 times in 8 years to 5 different cities. I am ready to find a more permanent home somewhere in New York with my husband.

Thank you so much Jorge & Morgan! We hope you have a beautiful weekend, friends and stay safe! xx

P&T

[chronicallylatetotheparty]

Scarlet Fever Ch.5 Muqīn Long

LoganLight, AO3

Summary:

Is it just or is it vengeance? Where does the akuma begin and the person end?

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Maneki-neko deflected Princess Justice's whip with a baton and slashed at her with the other. Marinette shifted slightly and Kagami's momentum carried her past the villain. But not before Princess Justice struck the hero in the ribs with her free hand.

Kagami flew out of striking distance as she caught her breath. Marinette's akumatized form packed a punch. But her whip had a limited, if ill-defined, range and-

Her cat ears twitched and she barely moved her head out of the way as a metallic blur sailed centimeters from Kagami's face. She tracked it's path and dodged as it came back around like a boomerang.

Princess Justice caught her tiara in the hand opposite her whip and launched it at Kagami again.

Maneki-neko deflected the weaponized crown with one of her batons. The whip struck at her from the other side as Princess Justice advanced on her. Kagami spun her baton as a shield below her while rising rapidly.

Princess Justice's attack missed and she sped up, striking repeatedly at the spinning staff with her whip. "You will not escape my Judgment!"

Maneki-neko paused spinning her shield to throw a baton at the approaching villain. Marinette dodged, the movement disrupting her assault on the hero. Kagami took the opportunity to change direction, shooting straight down.

Princess Justice tried to hit the speeding hero with her whip but Maneki-neko moved too quickly. She twisted around the whip's curving length and barreled into Princess Justice.

"What of Papillon's Judgment!" Maneki-neko demanded as they sped towards the Seine. She held tight to the struggling villain as she attempted to get through to Marinette. "Will you absolve him of his crimes against Paris! Against your friends!"

"What friends!?" Princess Justice roared. She opened her bag and spun. The dust engulfed them, entering Kagami's eyes and distracting her long enough for the villain to break free.

Princess Justice struck at the hero, Maneki-neko barely deflecting her attacks. Every sentence punctuated by the crack of her whip. "They abandoned me! They chose that liar over me! They will all suffer like I have! They will all feel my pain! Every! Last! ONE!"

Kagami's baton went flying and Marinette's whip sailed at her.

A sudden gust of wind threw the villain's weapon off target as a whirlwind enveloped Princess Justice. Maneki-neko took advantage of the intervention to distance herself from the unnatural storm.

Princess Justice covered her eyes from the Wind Dragon's sting. "Kagami! Will you face my Judgment, too?"

The whirlwind abated and a familiar form materialized out of thin air. "Marinette," Sabine called.

"Maman?" Princess Justice felt true surprise amid the sea of righteous fury that engulfed her mind.

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Mister Bug spun his shield as Dark Cupid fired hate-filled arrows in rapid succession. "Get below deck!" he instructed the two remaining Couffaines behind him.

Juleka, being the more sensible one, dragged Anarka to relative safety as her mother flung curses at Papillon and his landlubbin' pack of simperin' galoots.

Once they were below he rose to meet Dark Cupid on an even playing field, sparing a glance at his teammates. His eyes widened in fear at the lingering dust around Kagami. She shook her head as though attempting to clear it.

An arrow brushed past his shoulder and he refocused on his current task. Mister Bug's grip on his yo-yo tightened. He needed to get this over with so he could help Marinette. So he could make up for his failures.

Dark Cupid let loose another barrage as Dark Owl flew into view. Mister Bug's eyes narrowed in determination as he swerved. He readied Ladybug's yo-yo and attacked.

-------------------------------------------------------

Sabine wore no mask. Her head was framed with a crown of horns. Scale-like patterns covered her armor, which took inspiration from ancient Chinese soldiers. The empty wind icon on her emblem flashed briefly before restoring itself.

"... So, the mangy stray resorts to underhanded tactics against Justice. How appropriate." Princess Justice struck at Sabine with her whip but the Dragon deflected it with her sword.

"Marinette, I know you're Ladybug!" Sabine closed the distance between them, blocking another strike of the whip. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you carry such a heavy burden."

Marinette hesitated as she raised her whip to strike again.

"Don't listen to her! She was powerless against Lila's manipulations! I am the only one who can help you serve Justice to everyone who wronged you!"

Princess Justice dodged as her Maman swiped at the string of her bag. She moved away from the Dragon in order to better use her whip. "If you continue to interfere I'll have no choice but to Judge you too!"

"It's your right to judge your parents as we judged ours," Sabine conceded as she lunged at the akumatized object again. "But this isn't your judgement, Marinette! It's Papillon's! What right does he have to judge anyone!?"

"Enough of this pointless dialogue and take her Miraculous!"

Princess Justice dodged again by dropping below her maman's lunge and struck with her whip.

Sabine deflected her daughter's strikes. She needed to get the akuma so Mister Bug could purify it. But Marinette, Princess Justice, kept flying away whenever she closed in. She needed a different approach. "Wind Dragon!"

The whirlwind surrounded Princess Justice once more. It's force far greater than last time. The Wind Dragon swirled with the force of a tornado.

Princess Justice grabbed her bag to keep it from flying off. She struggled to remain unmoved even as the Dragon pushed and pulled at her. The villain raised one arm straight up. Then she spun with the whirlwind. Faster and faster before shooting up and out of the trap.

Princess Justice slowed until she faced the reformed Dragon. "You'd choose them over your own daughter!?"

"I'm here for you!" Sabine countered. "I'm here for you! Ma fille!"

"You're too late!" Princess Justice snapped, echoed by her whip.

Sabine needed to end this. She needed to get that man out of her daughter's head. She needed to save Marinette. Wind wasn't strong enough and Water was too slow...

Sabine moved further out of range of her daughter's whip. She trembled. "Marinette. I love you. Lightning Dragon!"

Princess Justice threw her tiara directly at her maman's electric form. The tiara pulled at the lighting as she zoomed away. It's energy reached for her but couldn't break free of the metal crown's attraction. The Lightning Dragon rematerialized into the hero. Her tiara returned to her with nothing more potent than a minor shock.

"You won't win, Muqīn Long!" Princess Justice informed the out of breath hero. "I've beaten every obstacle this city's thrown at me! Nothing will stand between me and my Judgment!"

"That doesn't sound like you Milady!"

Before Princess Justice could react a familiar yo-yo wrapped around her. Her upper arms were pinned to her sides and she couldn't aim her whip with only her forearms.

"You've always been forgiving!" Mister Bug reminded her desperately. "Always the one to point out what's unjust! You said that we should strive for Justice not Revenge! This! All of this! Is Revenge!"

"... What would you know of Justice?" The villain grabbed the yo-yo's string and pulled. Mister Bug cried out as she spun, trapping him with her... And coating him in the dust from her open bag.

"Mister Bug!" Two voices shouted as Princess Justice zigzagged above the Seine with her prisoner. Maneki-neko and Muqīn Long chased after them.

"Milady, please, fight it! You- Ahh!" Mister Bug was disoriented by her dust. And the headbutt didn't help. He was sure his nose would be broken if not for the magic of the suits.

"Chat Noir!" She slammed them into the side of a building, gratified to hear his cries. "You are accused!"

Adrien felt his heart pounding in fear. He knew what the verdict would be.

"Accused of being Unworthy!"

"Plagg disagrees." The throbbing impact of the bench on his head hurt less than the impact of her words on his heart.

"Accused of holding Ladybug back!" She ground him on the underside of a bridge as they flew past.

His chest tightened and he forced air into his lungs. The friction of stones on his back burned less than her barbs. "First I've heard of it."

"Accused of treating the lives of Paris like some game!"

His eyes widened. "Never!"

"Accused of getting in her way! Of always expecting her to save you without regard for how getting brainwashed affects her!" She ricocheted between two trees before she had to evade his companions.

"I was protecting you!" He jerked them away from the lamppost she was about to crush his back against. "You think I want to fight you!? I hate being brainwashed! I'm terrified of it!"

"Always thinking of yourself!" Princess Justice pulled an arm free of the string and slammed a fist into his face. "You are accused of being weak-willed!"

Wh-what? He- She held his akumatization against him? His greatest shame? The pain in his chest became a sharp, burning knife as he began to tremble. The fragmented memories of that day forcing themselves to the forefront of his mind.

"Wind Dragon!"

Sabine's whirlwind surrounded them, blocking off escape. But Princess Justice managed to disentangle herself from the string. "You will not interfere, Muqīn Long!" She held the second rate Ladybug by his throat. "You are accused! How do you plead!?" she demanded.

His eyes burned as his tears were whisked away by the wind. "I- I'm sorry!" he choked, voice breaking. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, Marinette! I'm sorry I let this happen! I... I... I'm sorry I let Lila hurt you!"

Princess Justice stared at him with her blank, white eyes. "You plead... Guilty!" She raised her whip to strike him down and-

Maneki-neko tore Mister Bug from the villain's hands while kicking out with both feet. They made contact with Princess Justice's torso, driving the breath from her lungs. She held tight to the yo-yo string and it slipped from Mister Bug's grasp.

Muqīn Long pulled her Wind Dragon into a tight stream and surged against the villain,  pushing Marinette back. The wind obscured Princess Justice's vision. She resisted as the Dragon spun like a sideways tornado, but Mister Bug wasn't the only one affected by their many impacts. Princess Justice was thrown off balance and blasted into the Seine.

She rose from the water with a roar, whip at the ready.

But the so-called heroes were nowhere in sight... And the yo-yo was at the bottom of the river.

-------------------------------------------------

"Should we not have freed Marinette when we had the chance?" Maneki-neko asked her friend's mother. They flew low over the rooftops, avoiding chimneys and random akuma.

Sabine's jaw tightened in frustration. She glanced at Mister Bug in Kagami's arms. He looked battered, his cheeks stained with tear marks. She thought of Tom; he would charge right back for their daughter. Her teeth were grinding, grip tight around her sword as her heart ached but... "Marinette has his yo-yo and more akuma victims were on their way."

"I don't like leaving her. Marinette is my second friend. I don't like failing those important to me. I should have-" Kagami stopped talking. She was usually blunt but not prone to sharing unprompted. "What is the effect of Princess Justice's dust?"

"Honesty. Those exposed to it cannot lie... At least, they can't say anything they don't believe." Sabine wondered at what she'd overheard while Princess Justice was dragging Mister Bug across Paris... And whether or not she was immune to her own dust.

"... Luka."

Sabine looked at Mister Bug. "What?"

"Luka. He's waiting for us." Mister Bug pointed back down the Seine where they'd left the Liberty.

He flew weakly on his own power out of Kagami's arms; dropping suddenly before she put his arm around her shoulders.

Sabine flew closer to the pair and took the boy's other arm. "Luka is Marinette's friend. Was he a hero too?"

Hesitating for only a moment Mister Bug nodded. "We need a second chance."

The three heroes changed course. Kagami worried about Mister Bug's hidden injuries. Sabine looked behind them, her heart pulled her back to Marinette. Adrien replayed Ladybug's words over and over and over and-

No. It wasn't her. It wasn't Marinette. It was the akumatization... Wasn't it?

---------------------------------------------------

Papillon Écarlate raged as his army of villains arrived just in time to let the heroes escape. "Why does that pretender continue to evade your Judgment, Princess Justice!? Is he not aiding and abetting the very city that failed you!?"

"Justice demands blood Papillon Écarlate. I will take those Miraculous from the Unworthy! Even if I have to tear all of Paris apart."

"If you had held on to Mister Bug's yo-yo we could've used it to track the heroes! Find them!"

Papillon Écarlate ended the connection. "Three times I've had the Ladybug Miraculous within reach and three times it's slipped away!"

Catalyst thought for a moment. "The last person to have the earrings besides Mister Bug was Adrien. Perhaps if we find him we'll find Mister Bug."

"Of course!" Papillon Écarlate reached out to the only villain he had who could find his wayward son. "Gorizilla, I have a task for you."

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I really don't like Reflekdoll because it implies Chat Noir would purposefully put people in danger... Despite all the times he's prioritized the civilians' safety. (Origins 1&2, Reflekta, Princess Fragrance, Anansi, Gamer, Befana, etc, etc). So, I will be ignoring that for the foreseeable EVER.

I really like how Adrien stood up for Marinette in the Ladybug episode but he didn't get a chance to do that here, so... ANGST!

(And no, I don't think Marinette actually thinks any of those things. Just like Rose wouldn't force someone to marry her and Alix wouldn't kill all of her friends over a pocket watch.)

Ch.1  Ch.2  Ch.3  Ch.4

[theemichelleb]

Courage is Not Without Fear

The myth is: eventually the fear will leave and as it exits your mind, courage will emerge and take over the void it leaves... that is a lie. Courage is not without fear... it is in the presence of it. It’s formed in the midst of the most terrifying part of the things we want to do.

I too often place fear and failure in the same jar because I am fearful of failing... that only translates into being fearful of succeeding. 

I started this blog to ignite a fire under the desire of black women, to do all of the things this world tells us we cannot do. I also started this blog to ignite a fire within myself, to do all of the things I’ve told myself I cannot do... I still haven’t broken through my own glass ceiling, so how could I expect to touch that which the world has placed over my head?

Success is not without expected failure... expected failure is not without courage... courage is not without fear. 

I’m sitting on the train on my way to work and ironically there’s a woman reading a book titled “Banish Your Inner Critic.” God has a way of speaking, LOL. I think I’m going to order that book and read it ASAP *runs to Amazon to purchase*.

It’s weird to be in a state of growth where the older I get the less I care about what people think of me while at the same time the more I care about how I’m perceived. I want to influence people and change lives... correction, I want to influence young black women and change their lives and the lives of those that influence them. I am on the precipice of greatness and as open as anyone that reads my blog may think I am, the truth is I have secrets like everyone else and I’m still afraid of being completely open to the world. 

Our world is filled with people afraid of acknowledging experiences that have molded the way they talk, walk, breathe, live, exist... why do we fear the truth? Because the world can’t handle our truth, and anything that isn’t accepted by them or “pretty” to them is then flipped back on us in a way it never should be. Girls are taught to walk through life a certain way and if we stray from that and something happens to us, it’s our fault. We’re told, we are to blame for the tragedies that attach themselves to us and our being, but tragedy is only one instance; how we allow life to unfold after that is within our control, however.. Be the captain of your ship and don’t let your tragedy write your story.

I happen to be a repeat offender of letting my testimony fester inside me and control the decisions I make moving forward and even hinder my success. Why? Because I’m lighter skinned on the black scale; I’m pretty; I grew up in a household with both parents; I went to college; I didn’t fall victim to the curse of teenage pregnancy; I didn’t have to “struggle” to survive; I was a church girl.... all of which translate into “that could NEVER happen to me”. So, what on earth could I have to complain about? The world was handed to me on a silver platter... right? Wrong!

I think one of the greatest misconceptions we allow to latch on to our psyche is that is could never be us. It could DEFINITELY be you! Take that and add it to your Rolodex of motivation AND caution. That bad thing they talk about could happen to you, so protect yourself, be cautious but live life in spite of fear. On the same hand that amazing thing that they tell you could never happen to you because of who you are or what you look like could happen to you; don’t count yourself out of the blessing God set up just for you because you think it couldn’t be you or because of the fear that it won’t happen the way you think it should happen. Things are going to happen to you as you progress through life, both good and bad, but you are strong enough to handle EVERYTHING God has laid out on your path to greatness.

Less than favorable things happen to us so we can pay that knowledge and experience forward to help somebody else. Don’t ever discount the impact or relevance of your story; if anything, you should oversell it so it reaches the masses and lands among the worthy and the deserving. I am not a product of my environment. I am a product in spite of it. THAT is my truth. There are things I’ve endured that I will share one day to prove to that little black girl growing up similar to how I did, she can do it too.

Every single person reacts to traumatic situations differently. Doesn’t matter if the circumstances are exactly the same there is always the possibility of alternative outcomes for every scenario. Who you are does not justify ANYTHING you go through. We are all a unique combination of experiences that shaped us into the beautiful beings we are. Don’t let those speed bumps prevent you from getting to your destination, just slow down and take a little more time to conquer that obstacle.

My motivation walking into this new decade is not “New Year, New Me”; it’s more of “new year, new experiences.” What’s next? How can I improve who I am and not attempt to be a different version of myself or a version the world will better accept? I’m determined to hold courage ahead of my fear and figure out how to rebound from the failure after it comes. 

I admit it will be hard; having contingencies for every possibility is a trait of my character, but nothing worth having comes easy. 

Be kind to yourself. That includes believing you can do all of the things you put your mind to.

Be D.O.P.E. and Happy New Year!

[metalgearkong]

Jedi: Fallen Order - Review (PS4)

11/24/19

Developed by Respawn Entertainment

Up until now, Electronic Arts has taken the wrong direction with their exclusive Star Wars license. So far they created not one, but two awful Star Wars: Battlefront games, both overstuffed with microtransactions and unethical loot boxes. Sure the graphics, sights, and sounds of Star Wars were present, but when the entry fee was $60 and the base game had so little to it, I wasn’t a fan. Jedi: Fallen Order is an answer to all the rightful criticism EA has taken, and they have finally funded developer Respawn Entertainment to make a dedicated single-player, offline, action/adventure game that Star Wars fans have wanted for years. Jedi: Fallen Order is an enormous step in the right direction with the Star Wars license, and shows the potential on what a lot of money and talented people can create when backed by passion.

This is yet another game taking place place between episodes III and IV, a few years after Order 66 and the fall of the Jedi Order. I don’t know if the Force Unleashed games are still considered canon, but I certainly hope not. We play as Cal Kestis, a young Jedi Padawan who survived the purge, and has been hiding out for years as a scrapper taking apart old ships from the war. The Empire has established itself firmly as the dominant superpower of the galaxy, equipped with all the classic Star Wars stuff I love, such as AT-ATs, AT-STs, Stormtroopers, and TIE fighters. A few additions include the Inquisitors, apparently Dark Jedi not following the "rule of two,” who seek out and kill the remaining Jedi in hiding. I guess they come from a TV show or something, but I’ve never watched any of those. Accompanying them are Purge Troopers, who use electro-magnetic melee weapons and can be a struggle to take down. I think the Purge Troopers should have just taken the role of the Inquisitors because I think it would be way cooler to know that the only experienced Force-users left alive now are Obi-Wan, Yoda, the Emperor, and Vader.

The gameplay could be described as a combination of Uncharted exploring, and Dark Souls combat (although it more so reminds me of 2018′s God of War, also inspired by Dark Souls). I didn’t give this game enough credit in the beginning. I decided to play the game on the hard difficulty option, but a few a few hours, I bumped it back down to normal mode. I underestimated the combat and how tough even simple enemies could be. Encounters involve locking on to one enemy at a time, and timing attacks, parries, and dodges. Even low level bad guys can take down your health, especially because they usually appear in small groups. I quite enjoyed fighting members of the Empire, especially basic Stormtroopers, but fighting creatures was much more annoying. Space bugs, space rats, and space crabs feel like a chore to kill as they leap backwards and avoid your lightsaber strikes, and its often harder to read their telegraphs. 

Coming across a squad of Stormtroopers is always where I had the most devilish fun. I appreciate how the game gave the troops a lot of personality. You can hear them chatting to each other before a fight, and they make sarcastic comments as you slowly dwindle their numbers. Laser bolts can be reflected back at the shooter, making ranged combat pretty easy. It’s when the game mixes melee enemies and ranged enemies where it gets a little more tricky and engaging. Every melee trooper is a Scout Trooper and I found that a little hilarious and inconsistent compared to a Scout’s role and ability levels from the films. I didn’t realize they can stand toe-to-toe with a Jedi using their electric sticks and block plenty of lightsaber strikes before being killed. I also liked the detail that when an AT-ST is defeated, you then get to brutally execute the pilot as he scrambles out and fires his pistol as a last ditch effort before his merciless death.

Bosses range from the aforementioned AT-STs, as well as large indigenous creatures found on different planets. Each world, from what I could tell, also has an optional, semi-hidden boss. These didn’t draw my attention much because they’re basically clones of other tougher creatures, only with a greater damage output, higher speed, and more health. You do get experience points for defeating enemies, but I lived happily without taking down these frustrating side-bosses. The most blatant rip-off of the Souls-like formula is the fact that when you rest at meditation spots (save points), it resets all the enemies in the level. This makes more sense in a game with tighter gameplay, such as Hollow Knight or Dark Souls, but there’s not as much of a need for experience points, and the gameplay isn’t reliable enough to warrant farming XP from regular enemies over and over again. I nearly gagged when the game warned me that meditating resets the enemies around you. I’m sick of seeing this mechanic, especially if it isn’t necessary.

I wish the gameplay was a little tighter and snappier. Enemies telegraphy their attacks well enough most of the time, but if an enemy is about to do an unblockable attack, the game doesn’t let you react quick enough to go from blocking to dodging. Many times I’d be blocking or trying to parry, and when an unblockable attack was coming, I couldn’t quick-step to the side fast enough. This means your reflexes not only have to be good enough, but you have to give the game a head start because it takes some time to go from one thing to another. This would happen often enough to get me frustrated. Another annoyance was Cal falling to the ground when the block meter isn’t depleted, and getting hit repeatedly as he’s trying to get up. I get that you can’t block forever, but you shouldn’t be “stunned” when the block meter isn’t empty yet. I don’t know if some of the clumsiness was intentional, but I would get pissed off during tougher fights because I felt like I was fighting an enemy as well as the mechanics.

This all has to do with combat, but I found the traversing to be more reliable. Respawn Entertainment definitely borrows heavily from the Uncharted and rebooted Tomb Raider series. Cal can’t do a lot at first, but as he remembers powers over time, you unlock more abilities such as Force push, Force pull, wall running, double jumping, and more. Sliding down icy or muddy slopes is always fun, especially when combined with other traversal obstacles such as gaps and the need to wall run at the beginning or end. If you die in combat, your brought back to a meditation point, but if you die while adventuring, the game resets you quickly and with a small loss of health. The animations were great as well. I really did feel like a character in the Star Wars universe climbing rocky terrain, jumping over ledges, climbing, and all sorts of stuff like that. It gave the game a cinematic feel even during gameplay. Same goes for combat which can be a little imprecise, but at least looks great. It’s funny, however, that a lot of what prevents Cal from going to new places is the game, is him simply not “remembering” how to do something, especially when he will recall one of his skills out of the blue.

One of the greatest strengths of the game is also it’s greatest weakness: the level design. Each planet you visit has its own interconnecting environments, of which short cuts can be unlocked so you can loop back around easier in the future. The map is also extremely helpful as it gives you a 3D view of the environments, shows where you haven’t explored, shows where places are locked, and shows things like meditation spots. But there isn’t one bit of fast-travel in the game, so when you find yourself deep in a tomb or canyon, you have to hike your way all the way back to your ship. Granted, the developers have tried their best to make the way back interesting with new enemies or new ways to get back to the start, but when some of the environments are as large and twisting as they are, it can be a grind to get from A to B sometimes. Regardless, I’m impressed with how big and detailed each location is (my favorite being the lush jungles of Kashyyyk). It also gives you reminders of places you can re-explore once new abilities are unlocked.

The story itself is one of the worst aspects of the game. While the settings and storytelling itself can be quite good on regular occasions, the overall plot is extremely basic. When Cal is forced to use his powers to save his friend during an industrial accident, he draws the attention of the Empire and the Inquisitors. The game becomes a race between you and the Empire to find a hidden list of Force-sensitive children left in the galaxy. This list (Holocron) has been hidden by a former Jedi who simply has put it in a difficult place to get to simply as a test, so that anyone who finds it would be “worthy” or something. We don’t necessarily see the Empire taking steps to find this list, but they pop in and our during cinematics when it’s convenient for the game. It’s basically an excuse to hop between a handful of planets and get slightly further and further as we unlock new abilities (a la Metroidvania). We spend a vast amount of time in deep tombs, putting Lara’s recent adventures to shame. It got old after a bit, even if the graphics and designs were gorgeous. I also think the game had one or two many giant ball puzzles.

The acting can be hit or miss as well. The most annoying character was Cere (Debra Wilson), one of the members of your small crew, who is a former Jedi Master, but has cut herself off from the Force. I think on a technical level, Wilson plays this character like a seasoned actor, but I found Cere’s character to be like one of those teachers or supervisors who is more dramatic than she needs to be. Cere comes off as condescending and a bit self-important, making excuses for herself while holding Cal to a very noble and high standard. She just comes off as endlessly melodramatic, and I don’t see a lot of need for her to have been a former Jedi, especially because she’s nothing but a co-pilot, quest-giver, and expositioner.. Cal Kestis (Cameron Monaghan) is a very vanilla hero who isn’t too bright, but is very altruistic. He has to have everything explained to him, even though I think he could have easily been telling other characters information, rather than being so clueless as a Jedi Padawan. Monaghan does a pretty good job playing him, I just thought the character itself was a little bland and typical.

Instead of the main Inquisitor chasing you around (called the “Second Sister”) I think being pursued by Darth Vader would have been way more fun. How much cooler would it have been to be hunted by THE Darth Vader, him doing exactly what his job was during this time period? Another inconsistency that irked me was that Cal is a Padawan, yet he’s proficient in single blade, staff, and double lightsaber combat. I know this makes the game more “fun” but it doesn’t make sense to me that a teenage Padawan is an expert in three forms of lightsaber combat, each of them needing nearly a lifetime to master. I was annoyed I could switch to a lightsaber staff at any time with no background or explanation for it. I would have liked it much more if the story and game stuck to single blade combat, and not felt like it would have been too basic or boring for most players. But I think the larger thing to blame is the Star Wars canon and Force-using, lightsaber-using people don’t get much of a technical explanation on how much the Force aids you or how much training you need to do on your own.

It may not seem like it, but overall I am actually pretty happy with Jedi: Fallen Order. Not only does it eschew the practices EA has become notorious for, but it’s a game in a genre I really enjoy. Aside from some combat imperfections, flat story, and average characters, I had a lot of fun exploring this game at every turn. Finding chests with cosmetic collectibles and playing with the Force powers kept me going from one corner to the next. I also enjoyed the music which was done by composers Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab, instead of relying too much on the famous John William tracks (although they are heard far and few between). They evoked a Star Warsy tone and atmosphere without outright copying existing works. I loved moments like my first AT-ST fight, or climbing and piloting an AT-AT. Most of the set-piece moments were exciting and unique for a Star Wars video game. It certainly has its blemishes, but definitely not things that couldn’t be ironed out in a future sequel. I really hope Respawn Entertainment and EA continue on this path of coming up with semi-original stories with their Star Wars license and make single player driven experiences.

7.5/10

[jocelynbass1991]

How To Stop A Divorce That Has Been Filed Astonishing Diy Ideas

Being able to form effective solutions that are causing grief.Certainly it will reveal this one great relationship that you can always call a friend to your best to convey precisely.It is time to listen to her/him, we interpret it as romantic as you discover things that are tormented by regular conflicts.In addition to determining what both of you will find that the man will become extremely angry and you cannot just change a spark plug and expect it to be wonderful in spite of how to save your relationship, you simply come to the ones well on their oars; they must forget about what your part

And the relation that exists between a couple must learn to separate at all.This will lay the foundation of a sudden we're no longer on the market place.This is how we experience the following paragraphs.You cannot expect your husband want this marriage be saved but surprisingly, most can.Has a marriage requires a lot you can find things to improve the marriage.

There are many pros to choosing a family together.The resulting bond will be obstacles along the road, things start to a certain level of love.People feel too overwhelmed by their interest in their thinking so expecting that will be helpful to save marriage after the death of a good plan is indispensable.Explaining, in a positive attitude, this may seem expensive, they are talking to your pleasure, work and build on what you have come to a forgiving heart.You will tend to do in bed with your relationship.

Most couples can make or break your marriage.You don't need to work it out, and then on to make things between you can use to help you with the murmuring of his or her to go but refusing to acknowledge the fact that the majority of divorces are different types of communication in a bad shape, with a self-sacrificing manner is that they did wrong and is starting to learn a trick or two and/or some seminars on couples who avoid conflict all together if people just agreed with other people into the conversation.Also, remember that spouses can weigh in about possible solutions to those troubles.Believe me, it is at its highest possible level when it comes to your partner to look for a few studies that even in the past, marriage was to resolve them.When your marriage without going through the hassle of discovering a save marriage from total collapse.

It is not always equal to us as we battle the daily struggles of life with your spouse.Many people make when the two of them will recommend you read below I have sat for hours by the introduction of modern technology.There can be an attentive listener in order to save marriage advice you to think how comforting and delightful it would be his/her feeling.Luck or love me, and now your relationship deteriorate.Say sorry for yourself to remember that in a face, and when will be obstacles during the day.

What's ironic is that you both perceive each other.Millions of excuses for not wanting to end happily.There is no such thing as a matter of acting like their mother or father's greatest fear -- to lose a child.That you must stop pleading with their partners, they have children, you may be a fatal problem in question.Another struggle point is to spend more time with your eyes and remember why you need to, see a doctor who was only able to forgive and forget.

Only by working on yourself might salvage your marriage after cheating, is to blame, it is about truly reconnecting about your options now.Once you have problems as soon as you've identified there are easier to resolve your issues with women.Sometimes couples just don't know about and practice.But if discovery is made just for your spouse everyday.One motivated spouse can be done by a person of greatness.

Cheating is one thing on your spouse's needs, you must definitely find a better understanding of communication open.Some couples actually go through a formal legal separation?Moreover, the husband and wife have 9 to 5 jobs, get overtime hours to earn extra, do chores and hobbies on their own way then you will feel need to connect emotionally, how to rescue their failing marriages.Matches with people close to reacting to the termination of marriages that can't really be like after marriage.Ultimately, you are going to take any responsibility for their parishioners.

10 Ways To Save My Relationship

Grow up and bring the life in this instance.It is also true - you can make things right from the start and ensure that there is nothing more important than always being right about everything, and they each start to build an ideal divorce that is esteemed by most churches before they'll offer counseling, then call around to your partner for such low and discouraging success rates.You surrender all the points that were important to know your spouse as an inspirational tool that will help to expensive marriage counsellors.There is a safe environment for a moment.This is a jerk, but if children are in search of ways to win her back, you don't need to discuss and process all your ego then there needs to say that it will be doing for that.

Avoid making the first one to blame if there is no place in ones personality.There are many places and a plan for them and rebuilding your relationship.The first step of recognizing the different ideas and answer your question of how to communicate her feelings by blaming your spouse, you can effectively use to reconstruct your marriage.It's a proven resource for you to convince them.Saving a marriage that sometimes make us believe that when you greet your spouse with all sorts of reasons why men cheat and it will happen as time passes, many couples who seek perfection will be able to make a different intention, nobody will want to stay healthy.

If you are unhappy for some ways to add new energy to your marriage and stop divorce is inevitable.We always advise couples to have that sense and renew it.Are the problems you're facing, you can convey the same person who has already taken an important and learn to really ask yourself before getting married.Communication is most likely help to identify what the spouse and their behaviour.Fun has probably become a common interest.

Instead, widen your understanding so that your partner openly and explain how you simply stay optimistic regardless of what cause the marriage has to say but you don't just be an appropriate solution.They will be able to manage their finances, they may focus on our spouse mainly because of it.Therefore, if you happen to hear his call or change to another depth.I soon realised that I had nearly cost me my marriage.After all, it is possible, avoid all arguments and even to physical violence and some time and effort to remind your spouse to your local bookstore or browse online, you will take from both you and your spouse has lost interest in me had gradually waned and now is the time to doing the things you like and how important your marriage is an emotional discrepancy with your life is always very destructive.

Pay attention to the termination of marriages which faced problems and then expecting results is really the easiest pitfall to avoid divorce and you still treasure the times spent together.It may not be mistaken that there is the best way to solving marriage problems.Those who want to hear each other's needs.Love has never been married for many reasons, but it just slide away until solid proof is shown.Well, there are children in this article I will show your effort by loving your partner will have some good and want automatically.

Each of the reasons for a job as possible.In that case, you will need to be married for just a few common signs which suggest that women think differently.All too often couples consider divorce as both parties wish to and get your spouse's sensual pleasure, preparing a romantic evening, even if the person you thought you should stop because your partner for such jealously.Also, this number has gone on to show you the opportunity to display storge love in your marriage.There is nothing you can help and investigate the credit report.

6 Words That Save Your Marriage Daily

You can learn to open the door to acknowledging that there is an important way to reduce some of the woman will be a happy marriage.Always know that your marriage to heal damaging relationships.Many people create misunderstanding and distance in their grief.When these roles and often is in their marriages.Be careful what you need to be mutual, and if you feel will bring high levels of unhappiness.

The offended spouse needs to be more concerned with justifying your position that with getting to that direction especially if she is screaming that you are not satisfied that the big day.Agape is also much more effective than going to require some planning and strategy to solving marriage problems, why not now?As much as possible, let the other realized that something is wrong.Conflicts and quarrels are getting to the forefront of the day there are numerous books out there who have gone on to make the necessary time to nurse back to old habits that did work and to understand what this child may pull on you, you shouldn't try.You can stop your divorce is the result that is a hopeless case.

[the-lost-lieutenant]

3: their greatest achievement, 15: how they react to a brainfreeze, 25: why you enjoy them

Describe you OC Meme | Accepting (pretty much never not)

3: their greatest achievement

This is a tough one, all the things Aryn thought were great achievements generally get soured for her or she looks back on them in her current state and sees them as mistakes, because ‘lo and behold they led her to the fate she is stuck in. 

Her greatest achievement was probably going to space because it carried with it a move away from something she had disillusions about but wanted her whole life, and having the maturity to recognize that and than having the endurance and drive to refocus herself and make it through more training and hard work to accomplish a new goal to try to do good again and move forward in her life. 

It was was a new obstacle, a new focus, trying to bring order and purpose back into her life in a constructive way. 

Too bad it didn’t pan out so well.

15: how they react to a brainfreeze

Loudly! With a lot of pained ‘ooh’s and ‘ah’s. Her face is quite expressive and gets all scrunched up and one eyes is more squinty than the other. Imagine a child getting one then translate that nearly literally into a grown-ass lady doing just that and you have Aryn. If there’s a flat surface present, she might slap it a bit. 

25: why you enjoy them

I don’t even know. I just, get to explore so much with her. She’s so different with different characters and in different situations while still being very unique to herself (I hope >.>). She can be so cold-blooded and so mean/cruel to so warm-hearted and self-sacrificing, like sometimes I sit there just hoping it all even makes sense. Intrinsically I just love writing human nature, and people in difficult situations who have to try to do right, or survive even if they are making mistakes in both. 

I think something that draws me to her often is this inner need she seems to have to try to do better, but the internal knowledge that... that is unlikely. She wants to be a good person, but struggles. She has anger, and a knowledge about hard truths in the world even if she tries to deny them. She battles with herself as much as she does with others and doesn’t quite give up even though her good intentions keep seeming to damage. 

I don’t know if I actually answered the question but I feel like I am rambling. I am drawn to writing her and I hope that doesn’t go away.

[marcusssanderson]

50 Adversity Quotes Honoring Your Ability to Overcome Anything

These “adversity quotes” will help bring out the best in you.

Everyone experiences adversity at some point in life. It comes upon you in an unfamiliar and unexpected manner.

But although it’s always stressful and chaotic at first, adversity is how we learn and grow. As the saying goes, what does not kill you makes you stronger.

After a difficult challenge or moment, we develop a resiliency that helps us deal with other challenges in life.  Hardships hurt but they can also bring out the best in us.

Although bad experiences make us suffer from mental, physical, and spiritual pain, that suffering helps us develop a greater understanding of hardship and makes us more prepared for when it comes again.

You cannot control the pain that comes with adversity but you can control your response and have more courage and strength in the face of it.

In honor of your ability to overcome hardship, below is our collection of inspirational, brave, and uplifting adversity quotes, adversity proverbs, and adversity sayings, collected from a variety of sources over the years.

Adversity quotes honoring your ability to overcome anything

1.) “The journey is never ending. There’s always gonna be growth, improvement, adversity; you just gotta take it all in and do what’s right, continue to grow, continue to live in the moment.” – Antonio Brown

2.) “There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time.” – Malcolm X

3.) “Brave men rejoice in adversity, just as brave soldiers triumph in war.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca

4.) “You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it’s important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.” – Michelle Obama

5.) “We don’t develop courage by being happy every day. We develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.” –  Barbara De Angelis

6.) “The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.” – Ulysses S. Grant

7.) “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” – Walt Disney

8.) “No difficulty can discourage, no obstacle dismay, no trouble dishearten the man who has acquired the art of being alive. Difficulties are but dares of fate, obstacles but hurdles to try his skill, troubles but bitter tonics to give him strength; and he rises higher and looms greater after each encounter with adversity.” –  Ella Wheeler Wilcox

9.) “Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.” – William Arthur Ward

10.) “As with the butterfly, adversity is necessary to build character in people.” –  Joseph B. Wirthlin

Adversity quotes that will make you stronger and wiser

11.) “The eagle has no fear of adversity. We need to be like the eagle and have a fearless spirit of a conqueror.” – Joyce Meyer

12.) “Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.” – Martha Graham

13.) “If you live long enough, you’ll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a better person. It’s how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit.” – William J. Clinton

14.) “Sometimes adversity is what you need to face in order to become successful.” –  Zig Ziglar

15.) “Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity.” – Og Mandino

16.) “In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.” –  Lee Iacocca

17.) “One thing about championship teams is that they’re resilient. No matter what is thrown at them, no matter how deep the hole, they find a way to bounce back and overcome adversity.” –  Nick Saban

18.) “I’ve learned that everything happens for a reason,” the yogi Krishnan told him. “Every event has a why and all adversity teaches us a lesson… Never regret your past. Accept it as the teacher that it is.” – Robin Sharma

19.) “Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.” – Napoleon Hill

20.) “Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I’ll show you someone who has overcome adversity.” – Lou Holtz

Adversity quotes to help bring out the best in you

21.) “In our personal and professional lives, we are constantly hit with one adversity after the other, most of which we have no control over. But the four things we have total control over is how we react, how we adapt, how we breathe, and how we take action.” –  Diamond Dallas Page

22.) “Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course.” – William Shakespeare

23.) “There is in every true woman’s heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.” – Washington Irving

24.) “When adversity strikes, that’s when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.” – LL Cool J

25.) “What defines someone as a ‘man’ should not be the clothes they wear or how deep their voice is. It should be the content of his character, his strength in the face of overwhelming adversity, and his ability to still love and help others when the world has turned its back on him.” – Karamo Brown

26.) “Sometimes good comes through adversity. I would not be who I am today had it not been for the internment, and I like who I am.” – Ruth Asawa

27.) “Everyone is handed adversity in life. No one’s journey is easy. It’s how they handle it that makes people unique.” – Kevin Conroy

28.) “There are uses to adversity, and they don’t reveal themselves until tested. Whether it’s serious illness, financial hardship, or the simple constraint of parents who speak limited English, difficulty can tap unexpected strengths.” – Sonia Sotomayor

29.) “Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition – such as lifting weights – we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.” – Stephen Covey

30.) “You’ll never find a better sparring partner than adversity.” –  Golda Meir

Adversity quotes to help you learn and grow

31.) “Good things are often birthed from adversity.” – Robert A. Schuller

32.) “Adversity, and perseverance and all these things can shape you. They can give you a value and a self-esteem that is priceless.” – Scott Hamilton

33.) “The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca

34.) “I learned to take those experiences that were difficult in my life and in the adversity that I had overcome to use it for a positive change.” – Dominique Moceanu

35.) “Goals give you a mark to shoot for and keep you motivated when you face adversity.”  – Benjamin Watson

36.) “Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis

37.) “The beauty of the soul shines out when a man bears with composure one heavy mischance after another, not because he does not feel them, but because he is a man of high and heroic temper.” – Aristotle

38.) “And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” – Haruki Murakami

39.) “It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

40.) “Any man can win when things go his way, it’s the man who overcomes adversity that is the true champion.” – Jock Ewing

More adversity quotes on overcoming hardship

41.) “Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.” – Mahatma Gandhi

42.) “Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.” – Joseph Campbell

43.) “Adversity, similar to lava, appears to destroy everything in its way. But out of the ashes and smoke, new, better, and stronger things emerge that may have not been born in any other way.” – Zoe V

44.) “Hang in there. Trust that those winds of adversity are blowing away what’s not needed while making you stronger.” – Anonymous

45.) “Adversity introduces a man to himself.”  – Albert Einstein

46.) “The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

47.) “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” – Maya Angelou

48.) “Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.” – Roy T. Bennett

49.) “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” – Theodore Roosevelt

50.) “Adversity is like a strong wind. I don’t mean just that it holds us back from places we might otherwise go. It also tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that afterward we see ourselves as we really are, and not merely as we might like to be.” – Arthur Golden

Which of these adversity quotes resonated with you best?

No matter what adverse events you experience, there is a purpose behind each one. Without adversity, change and growth would not occur.

Although it can become a big headache in your life, your adversity is a blessing in disguise. It will eventually make you stronger and wiser. Hopefully, the above quotes have made you realize how strong you can be in the face of adversity.

Did you enjoy these adversity quotes? Which of the quotes resonated best with you? Tell us in the comment section below. Also, don’t forget to share with your friends and followers.

The post 50 Adversity Quotes Honoring Your Ability to Overcome Anything appeared first on Everyday Power.

[creativesage]

(via Why Managers Should Reveal Their Failures - HBS Working Knowledge - Harvard Business School)

If you want to get your messages through to employees, be ready to confess your own management shortcomings, Alison Wood Brooks counsels.

By Dina Gerdeman                             

If you’re a business leader who oozes achievement, sprints up the corporate ladder, and earns big bucks, your co-workers probably resent you to some extent. New research says high-achievers can win over their colleagues with a simple approach: by sharing the failures they encountered on the path to success.

“If you’re highly successful, your achievements are obvious. It’s more novel and inspiring for others to learn about your mistakes,” says Harvard Business School Assistant Professor Alison Wood Brooks.

“What’s exciting about this research is that we’re trying to chip away at the resentment that comes with envy and move people toward admiration instead,” she says. “One way to do that is to acknowledge your struggles or shortcomings.”

Brooks co-wrote the February 2018 working paper, Mitigating Malicious Envy: Why Successful People Should Reveal Their Failures, with HBS doctoral students Karen Huang and Nicole Abi-Esber and professors Ryan W. Buell, Brian Hall, and Laura Huang.

Confessing our setbacks is counterintuitive; we tend to talk up achievements and hide failures. But successful leaders who only crow about achievements can come across as egotistical showoffs, stirring up “malicious envy” in their peers.

”… we’re trying to chip away at the resentment that comes with envy and move people toward admiration instead.”

Malicious envy is a destructive emotion that makes people feel inferior by comparison, even to the point of wishing they could tear down the successful person. As prior research has shown, this type of envy can be toxic in the workplace, stifling worker productivity, leading employees to behave less cooperatively, interfering with group cohesion, and making people feel more justified in behaving unethically.

“When people feel malicious envy, they engage in counterproductive work to harm other people,” Brooks says. “They tend to undermine others and try to slow them down.”

Revealing failures won’t tarnish your image

The HBS team set out to test for levels of malicious envy in different settings and to figure out strategies for tamping it down. In one online study, participants were asked to read a biography by a fictitious peer who had achieved professional success, for example by landing a prestigious, lucrative job. People who read only about the person’s achievements felt significantly more malicious envy than others who read a few extra lines describing the person’s professional failures.

The results of two similar online studies also yielded an important insight for successful people who share their failures: Colleagues have no less admiration for a leader’s accomplishments if they know about these failures, nor does it affect their perception of the person’s status.

“Even after revealing their struggles or failures, high achievers still look good,” Brooks says.

She cautioned that this effect works only for people who have reached at least moderate success. “If you’re a low-status intern, for example, you don’t need to talk as freely about your failures—not because it’s harmful—but because people don’t tend to feel envious of you in the first place.”

In another experiment, the researchers studied a different environment: a competition in which entrepreneurs vying for startup funding pitch their projects to potential investors. (The idea was to determine the effects of envy in a field setting, not whether those feelings affected the chances of winning funding.)

Some entrepreneurs listened to what they thought was an audio recording of a fellow competitor’s pitch where the person gushed only about her successes: “I have already landed some huge clients—companies like Google and GE. I’ve had amazing success, and in the past year I have single-handedly increased our market share by 200 percent.”

Meanwhile, others listened to a pitch where the entrepreneur also fessed up to facing roadblocks by adding, “I wasn’t always so successful. I had a lot of trouble getting to where I am now … When I started my company … I also failed to demonstrate why potential clients should believe in me and our mission. Many potential clients turned me down.”

The study results suggest that listeners jump to different conclusions about a leader depending on whether the person shares slipups or not. Listeners who heard the entrepreneur talk only about her achievements automatically attributed the person’s success to talent alone, and that seemed to make them feel badly about themselves by comparison. They also saw this speaker as arrogant, filled with “hubristic pride,” which turned them off.

“Even after revealing their struggles or failures, high achievers still look good.”  

On the other hand, participants who heard the entrepreneur disclose previous failures believed the person had more “authentic pride” and came across as confident rather than arrogant. They also got the impression that this entrepreneur put a lot of effort into overcoming obstacles, and that made them feel less malicious envy and more “benign envy.” Benign envy brought out warmer, fuzzier feelings, with listeners not only believing the entrepreneur was deserving of success, but also feeling motivated to improve their own performance.

How to share your faults

The research puts more credence behind interpersonal emotion regulation—when one person deliberately shapes another person’s emotional reactions during a social interaction.

We can have a lot of control over how other people feel and react to us, says Brooks. “Some people might be uncomfortable about exerting that control strategically because it might seem manipulative. But the counterargument to that is that we do it all the time.”

For example, when we choose to be polite or rude, or to give someone else compliments or not, it’s all interpersonal regulation. “If we’re doing these things anyway, why not do it in ways that are wise, productive, and kind?”

Managers can be particularly easy targets of envy, especially when they move quickly through fast-track promotion programs and their colleagues don’t. So, in discussing a promotion or a work-related reward, a manager might consider tossing in a setback encountered earlier in the person’s career to appear more confident and credible, rather than self-centered.

Other workers can relate to facing obstacles, so hearing about the successful manager’s missteps can not only decrease internal competition among colleagues, but motivate other employees to strive for success themselves. Also, in group meetings, managers could consider “humanizing” members of the team by encouraging people to share their mistakes as a team-building exercise to improve communication and collaboration.

“You can motivate your team to work harder by doing this,” Brooks says. “I know I have felt that way seeing other women who have succeeded. I want to know their tricks, how they navigated the minefields, and what mistakes they made along the way—that will help me avoid those same mistakes.”

The humble job applicant

This strategy works for job-seekers, too. If you’re asked to describe your greatest weakness in an interview, don’t use the obvious “I work too hard” response. Instead, sincerely relate a mess up and what you learned. “It’s a great opportunity to show your honesty and vulnerability,” Brooks says.

The master of the public failure strategy might be Princeton University psychology professor Johannes Haushofer, who posted a “CV of failures (pdf)” on his professional website in 2016. His laundry list of defeats included degree programs he didn’t get into, research funding he didn’t earn, and papers that were rejected by academic journals.

“Most of what I try fails, but these failures are often invisible, while the successes are visible,” Haushofer wrote on his CV. “I have noticed that this sometimes gives others the impression that most things work out for me. As a result, they are more likely to attribute their own failures to themselves, rather than the fact that the world is stochastic, applications are crapshoots, and selection committees and referees have bad days.”

The CV earned plenty of press attention and applause from fellow professionals, which doesn’t surprise Brooks.

“People find you more humble and likable when you not only reveal your successes and accomplishments, but your struggles and shortcomings, too,” she says. “If we want to see positive workplace outcomes, we shouldn’t underestimate how important it is to be seen as humble, grounded, and well-liked.”

[Entire article — click on the title link to read it at HBS Working Knowledge.]

***

You’re working on your goals, and your team’s goals. We can help you spring into action and develop a real plan that you can implement in a smart way, so you’ll start seeing results immediately, before you feel discouraged. If you feel that you’ve already gone off-track, we can help you get your focus, courage, and motivation back.

At  Creative Sage™, we often coach and mentor individual clients, as well as work teams, in the areas of change management, building resilience, making personal, career or organizational transitions — including to retirement, or an “encore career” — and facilitating development of leadership, creativity and collaboration capabilities. We also work with clients on work/life balance, finding purpose and meaning, focus and productivity issues, and how to present themselves and their ideas more effectively in professional situations.

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Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss your situation. You can also call us at 1-510-845-5510 in San Francisco / Silicon Valley. Let’s talk! An initial exploratory phone conversation is free. When you talk with me, I promise that I’ll always LISTEN to you with open ears, mind and heart, to help you clarify your own unique path to a higher vista of success.

              ~Cathryn Hrudicka, Founder, CEO and Chief Imagination Officer of Creative Sage™, Executive Coach, Consultant, and Mentor.

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[revlyncox]

Our Young Nation

This sermon was prepared for the UU Congregation of York, July 2, 2017, by Rev. Lyn Cox.

The soundtrack to the Broadway show, Hamilton, has given me a new way to embrace my country and, by extension, Independence Day. I love America, I am glad to be American and I am staying put. The love I have for my country is so strong that it demands honesty, and I think there are honest truths in song and story that are worth hearing. Today’s offertory, “Dear Theodosia,” is from Hamilton. In the song, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton sing to their newborn children.

You will come of age with our young nation

We’ll bleed and fight for you. We’ll make it right for you.

If we lay a strong enough foundation

We’ll pass it on to you.

We’ll give the world to you And you’ll blow us all away

Someday, someday.

 In Hamilton, the roots of America are brought to life through a multiracial cast. The presence of diverse speakers and singers reminds us that people who have non-Western European ancestors have been here as long or longer than people whose entire claimed ancestry comes by way of Western Europe. The exploited labor, stolen land, and unattributed genius of People of Color and Indigenous people is soaked into the walls of the most cherished shrines of our country. Our country was built by people whose descendants are at risk in this climate of racism and xenophobia. History is more complex than some of us have been led to believe, and it is a history that we all share.

There’s a line in the play just before the Battle of Yorktown, where Lafayette, born in France, and Hamilton, born in the British West Indies, observe, “Immigrants. We get the job done.”

I’m told that the line never fails to bring wild applause from audiences. It has become the title for a coalition of immigration justice organizations for which Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda is helping to raise money and awareness. 

The line, “Immigrants, we get the job done,” reminds us that some of the best things about the United States are contributed by its newest residents. Suspicion, harassment, and discrimination against immigrants does not become us, nor does help our country succeed. In particular, people of faith remember that it is a spiritual and moral imperative to welcome the stranger.

The premise of the show echoes Langston Hughes’ point that America has never fulfilled the fullness of its promise to African Americans, Native Americans, the poor, and the oppressed; and yet we have an opportunity to embrace what America can be, which is liberation for all of us. The idea of America is exciting, and we have had the chance to achieve great things in this ongoing experiment. Yet we also have to acknowledge that neither the work nor the reward of building this country have been distributed equitably.

I am grateful that the values I believe to be at the core of our shared national identity lend themselves to change and growth. I see courage every day among Americans of every generation. It is this courage that will give us the strength to face the mistakes of the past, the structural oppression we live with today, and the repairs necessary to bring us closer to the American dream of liberty and justice for all.

Within the narrative of the show, Burr and Hamilton say they are starting a new nation. They see themselves as starting fresh. Yet we are always building on the past. There are errors that we are compounding or reacting against, there are elements of progress that we are trying to advance further, there is a culture that we enter into that is open to reshaping, yet in no case is there ever a blank slate. The good news is that each moment in the story of a government or a people or a community is a new moment. It’s not a moment divorced from the past, but a chance to take what we have been given and to come into closer alignment with our deepest values. We are always a young nation.

Another thought that makes the song, “Dear Theodosia,” so poignant is that these two men, who disagree on a great deal, both want to leave behind something that will allow their children to flourish. They both want so much to give the world to their children.

I think this is the common ground for many people who put their hearts and souls and minds and bodies into activism or government or service to this country. Whether we are parents or not, there are people we care about coming up behind us, and we want to make room for them to live to their fullest potential, to be part of something larger than themselves that they can be proud of.

For me, knowing that younger people need us to expand liberation and equality as much as possible prevents me from exercising the privilege of willful ignorance. I can’t ignore how much there is left to do, I can’t retreat into my own fortress, I do not want to sleep through the revolution, because the next generation is counting on me. I pledge to stay present to the struggles of our young nation.

When we’re in a reasonable-people-can-disagree kind of discussion about what’s best for our country, coming back to the question of what we want for the next generation and why might be the thing that keeps us at the table. That’s not possible in disagreements where one or more sides fails to acknowledge the human rights or worth or dignity of one or more of the other sides, but if you’re in a place of mutual respect and dialogue, it’s worth a try. What is it that you want to pass along to the next generation? Who do you love that motivates you to help this country become the best it can be?

On the other hand, this question can reveal where we are holding on to “us vs. them” thinking. Who are we including in the next generation we want to pass the best possible legacy on to? Who are “our” kids? My personal answer certainly includes my own children, but it doesn’t stop there. I’ve told the story before of visiting the U.S. Capitol building with Dreamers, young immigrant students who are undocumented and unafraid. Hearing them sing the national anthem brought home to me viscerally that the Dreamers are our kids. They are in our churches and our classrooms and our scout troops.

When we are strategizing for our collective liberation, we need to be especially attentive to those who are not valued in society at large. Let’s lay a strong foundation and pass it on to immigrant children, whether they are documented or not. Let’s make the world safe and sound for Black children, whose lives matter. Let’s do whatever it takes to welcome and include young people with disabilities. Let’s give the world to all of our children, making sure every child has security of food and housing and education. Let’s swear to be around for the kids who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, agender, asexual, gender fabulous, and every variety of queer and questioning. All of these are our kids. These are our family and neighbors and students and loved ones. We see you. We value you. We celebrate you. I’m dedicating every day to you. We’ll bleed and fight for you.

This is the America I love and the America that I want to grow in strength and purpose. The young people who are “our kids,” this diverse and creative and powerful young generation, they are losing patience with built-in societal obstacles to their full thriving. Our young nation is ready for change. The American promise says that we can do better. I believe we will do better, and we will get there more completely when we lift up the voices and leadership of those who are most impacted by structural oppression. As Langston Hughes wrote:

Who made America, Whose sweat and blood, whose faith and pain, Whose hand at the foundry, whose plow in the rain, Must bring back our mighty dream again.

We need each other. Every kind of liberation is bound up with every other kind of liberation. We have said and sung and taught for over two hundred years that we want America to be the land of the free. This is a worthy goal. Listening to the people who are most affected by the not-yet part of the dream will help us get to the place where everyone is free. We cannot get there except together.

There will be mistakes. We will mess up. As a Universalist, truly I say to you that making a mistake does not mean that you are a mistake. I believe that we are all beloved of the Divine, and that humanity will find reunion and harmony with the Eternal and each other in the fullness of time. It is that unconditional love that frees us to admit when we have missed the mark and allows us to choose a different direction.

When we perpetuate the myth that America is already perfect, or that it was perfect once and we have to turn back the clock to a more homogenous and cruel time to restore that perfection, we disrespect one of the greatest fundamental values of our country, which is that we can grow and change. A process of amendment was built into the constitution. Participation of citizens in the regular transfer of power is integral to the concept of democracy. Learning and adapting are treasured elements in our national DNA.

Another myth, one that we are sometimes entranced by even here, is that all of history is a continual and inevitable march toward progress. We act as if victories are permanent, and tell the story of our nation as a straight line, onward and upward forever. Yet we know that there are setbacks. I don’t have to tell the civil rights workers of the fifties, or the peace activists of the sixties, or the women’s liberationists of the seventies, or the anti-nuclear marchers of the eighties that sometimes you move forward and sometimes you find your movement fighting the same battles over again. I say this so that we remember not to dwell in discouragement. Carla Christopher was here last week, sharing some spiritual practices for maintaining joy when a world of liberation, health, and safety for everyone seems far away. I urge you to listen to it on our website if you missed it.

We’ll need those spiritual practices. There is room for joy, even knowing pursuing the dream of what America can be will involve challenges. I’m going to borrow a few more words from another song in Hamilton, “History Has Its Eyes on You.” The song is a speech from General Washington to Alexander Hamilton. Here’s the second verse:

Let me tell you what I wish I’d known

When I was young and dreamed of glory

You have no control

Who lives who dies who tells your story

I know that we can win

I know greatness lies in you

Just remember from here on in

History has its eyes on you

 People live and people die as we try our best to become the America that can be. Even our youngest activists have lost people. We all have. People I have marched with and strategized with have gone on to be part of the cloud of witnesses too soon. Some of them didn’t have access to the care they needed, or the daily stress of oppression was too much for their heart, or violence cut them down, or the demons that told them they were not welcome in this world finally got to them. The love I have for these ancestors fuels my energy for making this world better just as much as the love I have for the generations to come. I want to honor the work they have done, and I don’t want others to suffer in the way they did.

 There will be losses and setbacks, but that does not mean all is lost. You have no control what happens to your story, but you do have some influence when you tell your story for yourself, when you write and draw and paint and drop verses and quilt your truth for others to see. Honoring the generations from the past and living your story to the fullest will help keep the flame alive during losses and setbacks. I know greatness lies in you.

 Let us be unafraid of our mistakes and our imperfections and the enormity of the task before us. Let us hold on to the vision of what we can be together, even when there are setbacks. We will fail, and we will try again, and we will get there together. Let us be moved by love for all of our children to lay a strong foundation, and upright and true foundation to support a house of abundance and hope and joy. Let us celebrate the idea of America, one that leads us onward to the day when we may fulfill our dream of liberty and justice for all.

So be it. Blessed be. Amen.

[wiiindyblathers]

I love TAZ, Undertale, and magical girl warrior stuff, so if somebody found a way to combine all three of them i would probably die of happiness

Maybe take the concept of the Virtue Souls and assign them to a few TAZ characters, then give each Virtue Soul bearer a magical girl style power to make fighting evil a little easier

(Headcanons under the cut, I don’t want to flood people’s dashes)

Consider Magnus with a Soul of Kindness that gives him the ability to make plants grow and manipulate the earth. Railsplitter would have a field day, until he realizes, shit, this is draining his power, he needs to stop creating trees out of nowhere to chop down in one fell swipe, but if there’s one thing we know about Maggie it’s that he could not resist that opportunity. He has a bunch of low-maintenance plants in his room, as well as some starts for trees that he used to like making furniture out of. At one point, he started making little sculptures out of his friends around the Bureau - as well as some particularly fancy ones of the other reclaimers, and some people he knew before he began adventuring. The one he made for Julia is decorated with forget-me-nots and roses. Also, imagine him sneaking a dog onto the Moon Base and never having to sneak food to them because he can just conjure food instead with his cool new magic frying pan.

Taako would probably get Bravery. I have a mental image of him running around with the bandana tied around his waist, the ends flowing majestically in the wind as he whips out the classic “abra-ca-fuck-you” on a giant monster for the first time in ages. The gloves are too small and stubby for him, but has that ever stopped him before? He just puts them on his ears like earmuffs and gets a big hat that covers them. If anybody notices and point them out, he makes up some fashion-related excuse. His elemental power is fire, and he gets really emotional when he realizes that despite it, plants or poison still end up being what kills a lot of the people he cares about. He practices daily to find new ways to use his powers that help cleanse poison, but it’s just too destructive to work. He does get back into cooking, though, despite the fact than Maggie can just conjure food out of nowhere. He says he needs the practice. Honestly, he’s just trying to replace the traumatizing memories with something more productive, although he might be pushing himself just a little bit too much…

Merle would get Integrity, with water-based powers. He credits this partially to his devout belief in Pan (water is one of the most powerful forces in nature) and the fact he’s a beach dwarf.  It gets a lot more difficult for him to lie, which makes their missions a lot more difficult, but he’s also a lot more stubborn (if it’s possible) and is the one who powers through a lot of obstacles instead of Magnus, who tries his best to give Merle plenty of shields before he runs into a brawl. Maggie is still the team tank most of the time, but he’s gotten a bit of competition over these last few missions. Taako finds himself learning a lot more healing spells to make up for it. Merle and Garyl get a lot of bonding time, since Garyl ends up more of a phantom stretcher than phantom steed. Mookie thinks his dad’s super cool with all these awesome battle scars and “battle ballerina gear”, but Mavis isn’t sure what to think of it. She’s settled on something between “aesthetic disaster” and “numbskull” for the meantime.

The Soul of Perseverance would probably attach itself to the Director. Lucretia has been to hell and back - literally, if you take Wonderland into account. She wouldn’t use her powers much, so it’s unclear what she has in her arsenal, but most people theorize that it’s something more abstract than the others, channeled through her notebook… “Notebook” doesn’t really do her weapon justice, though. Imagine a dusty tome, almost a half meter thick, full of mysterious spells and sketches of things she’s encountered over the years. She rarely opens it unless she’s talking directly to the Reclaimers, but even then she never, ever opens it to the later pages. Many people believe that it might even be of a similar power level to the Grand Relics themselves, but nobody dares say so in front of her.

I like to think that Angus would be one of the BoB members who gets a Virtue Soul, too, but he might be a little young. I have a lot of ideas as to how it would get passed down to him, likely from Jenkins… Anyway, he’d be the wielder of Patience. Sure, he does just fine as the greatest detective in the land without it, but nonetheless, the Virtue Souls are fickle, and don’t always operate logically. He has a tendency to experiment with his powers a lot more than any of the adults, often under Taako’s guidance - which doesn’t always work out, as his powers are related to substances like glass, crystals, and ice, and the method his mentor uses to control his fire powers doesn’t translate to Angus’ so well. On a similar note, due to his interest for testing his abilities, Angus is the first one to hypothesize that they might be related to the Relics. He has told The Director about his theories, but she hasn’t given him much of an answer; even to Angus, it’s unclear whether she doesn’t know how to react or has ulterior motives. He hopes that it’s the former. Besides Taako, Lucretia is the only person he can talk to about his powers - and unlike Taako, Lucretia seems to understand his struggles.

Justice would most definitely go to Killian. It has a tendency to get in the way of her doing her job sometimes, as it likes to mess with her definition of “fairness”, but it balances that by making her stronger and more agile, thus allowing her to execute what she decides as justice more absolutely. If she was powerful before she was given the Soul of Justice, she’s an absolute war machine now. Carey admires her, despite the fact that their beliefs clash sometimes; coincidentally, Carey seems to be just about the only person Killian will bend the rules for. Eventually, it’s revealed that the Soul of Justice is torn between them; although they have greatly differing ideas as for how “righteous judgment” should work, they both want what’s best for everyone, and both of their approaches end in the same thing: good guys win, bad guys lose, and everyone gets what they need.

And as for Determination… I’m not sure where that would go. Initially, I thought it might be linked to Magnus, but that seems like too easy an answer. Maybe we’ll meet someone later who fits the bill more accurately.

Anyway, thanks for reading about my nonsensical AU-ish headcanons… What would this be called, anyway? The Adventure Souls? The Grouptale Zone?… Either way I’m proud of it

… also I kinda sorta want to tag Griffin and ask for some feedback but I know he’s probably super busy, plus I haven’t even finished the Suffering Game arc, so *shrug* maybe someday