#trying to keep all the relationships and motivations straight was a memory called empire and that had nothing on this

[lexalovesbooks]

Anyways that was a great book, a wild ride all the way through

[candythemew]

OkLach headcanons?

Now you’re speaking my language! (Oh! And if anyone wants to ask me about headcanons about them with their skekling please send your asks my way! This is just gonna be main canon HC’s)

𝔚𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔢𝔩𝔰𝔢 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔯𝔱 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔟𝔢𝔤𝔦𝔫𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤?

✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰

     First off, when the Skeksis were young still finding the specific role, niche, and place that they fit into as they asserted their authority over Thra, SkekOk and SkekLach absolutely HATED each other.     SkekLach saw SkekOk as a pathetic weakling who used his silver tongue and quick wit to charm the gelfling and other skeksis to do his bidding, and to buy into his way of thinking. Convincing people to do things they wouldn’t do normally through flattery and shallow promises. She didn’t like his pompous attitude and held more respect for the beings of Thra who put their thoughts into action like her. Ones who thought tactically, but weren’t afraid to take risks. She didn’t see what anyone saw in him. All she saw was just another one of the Emperor’s lapdogs. Spitting lies and weaving tall tales to uplift himself above the rest.

     SkekOk however saw her as a brutish barbarian! Her avarice knowing no bounds as she raged and pillaged all those who stood in her way. Nothing befitting of a Lord of the Crystal. The gelfling worshiped her like a goddess, no doubt like they did the rest of his peers. But he saw the fear in their eyes. If the skeksis were going to rule properly, they must first create a level of relationship and trust between their subjects. Not fear. Although he himself was prone to flights of fancy, he found her ambitions foolish at best, and dangerously compromising to the empire at worst. Be it her insistence on the thrill of a good raid, or trying her hand at taming one of the most fearsome of beasts of Thra; The Arduff. He couldn’t stand it. Her amazonian demeanor made The Scroll-Keeper see her as nothing more than a ruthless brute. But at the same time, there was a tad bit of jealousy there. As many of his peers saw her as incredibly desirable and beautiful. As well as incredibly wealthy… Some had even attempted at winning her hand; only to be quickly shot down and berated by her. If he was being completely honest, he craved the attention that she received. She was always center of attention. At the time, she was the Emperor’s favorite. This jealousy led him to talk poorly of her behind her back. He stayed far from her as he spread rumors about The Collector in hopes to ruin her reputation.      Although ironically over time, as they were forced to work with each other and face various trials with one another they developed a mutual trust after proving themselves to one another. And even saving each other’s lives a few times! If either of them were to be told at this point that they were going to eventually fall for each other, they would have laughed straight in your face! What a foolish thought? Why would I love them?! ✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰

Their relationship went in an order similar to this:

Hatred ➺ Reluctant Respect ➺ Acquaintances ➺ Friends ➺ Mutual feelings ➺ Lovers ➺ Mates. ✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰

𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔩𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰:

     SkekOk tries to give SkekLach little reasons to keep her chin up. He reminds her to take care of herself and gives her little bits of advice to improve her life. Sometimes he’ll ask for her help for small tasks so she has something to do since she dosn’t have the same motivation she used to before her illness took over most aspects of her life.

     SkekLach is the reason why SkekOk isn’t a dog person. One word. ARDUFF!     SkekLach will intentionally follow SkekOk around his library and mess with his things if she feels like he hasn’t given her enough attention.

    SkekOk suffers from narcolepsy, So SkekLach is there for him to make sure he arrives to meetings on time, or carry him to another room if she finds him asleep somewhere.

     Insulting each other is a regular occurrence between them. Although neither of them have any ill intent towards each other when they do it. It’s like a game to them! Light hearted banter that calls back to their youth before they fell in love. Hence why SkekLach isn’t hurt when SkekOk says she was “NEVER BEAUTIFUL!” and then affirms is with a “Nevaaah~” if you pay attention to the scene, SkekLach can be seen laughing alongside him, even though she’s the butt of the joke. They’re both genuinely having fun bickering.     I also personally like to HC that most Skeksis find simple gestures of affection peculiar and strange. Like everything in a skeksis’s life, gestures of affection are showy and grandiose. But OkLach’s more subtle and slow approach confuses their peers.      They can make each other laugh very easily. They know how the other ticks. One of the things that made skekOk fall in love with hre was SkekLach’s ability to make him genuinely laugh his lungs out! His teasing can also cause a similar reaction. SkekOk’s laughs arranging from childish giggling, to incoherent teary eyed laughter!      Although not as strong as she used to be, the other skeksis are still wary of SkekLach due to her past reputation. Also because she’s not afraid to give you a disease if you REALLY tick her off. She acts as sort of a bodygaurd or wall for SkekOk when he shoots his mouth off or gets in trouble. Nobody’s going to get him except through her! ✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰

𝔓𝔥𝔶𝔰𝔦𝔠𝔞𝔩 𝓐𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫:

     Intertwining tails is a very very intimate thing in Skeksis culture. It shows that you genuinely care for your friend/partner and that you enjoy their presence. For a human it would be kind of like a really good hug. But sadly, SkekLach lost a part of her tail long ago. So doing this is near impossible for them to do unless they’re sitting right next to each other or laying down beside one another in bed. Instead, they have adapted to holding hands like the Gelfling do. Be it for comfort, taking a walk together, or just to feel close. Heck! They do it so frequently that sometimes they don’t even realize they’re doing it! It’s become somewhat of an involuntary habit for them.       When they sleep together, they like to cuddle. SkekLach is the big spoon. Sleeping is hard for her, (I personally HC that she has insomnia) but she sleeps better if she has something to hold on to. Thankfully SkekOk likes being held so this arrangement is perfect. It’s just comforting for both of them.

     They don’t “Kiss” often. I think you can imagine why. Pustules leak and it’s NASTY

     The Scroll-Keeper sometimes has the habit of resting his head on top of The Collector’s when he’s tired.      Neither of them have much hair to preen anymore, but sometimes when they’re alone, in their more intimate moments; skekLach will take off her cowl for skekOk to preen her mane. Her hair has a coarse texture. It’s color mostly grey with small streaks of a faded black. Salt and pepper if you will. It’s a small bit of beauty she still retains even in her disgusting, decrepit state. However, it’s only for his eyes as she’s very self-conscious. ✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰

𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝕸𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖎𝖆𝖌𝖊~♪ ♫ ♩

     SkekOk and SkekLach are mates. And they have been a mated pair now for the past 400 years. If the Skeksis care to have any sort of marriage/mating ritual, they have done it. You bet your bottom dollar that it was extravagant! A true fairy tale... They can only see each other as life partners and want to make sure that everyone else knows it. Especially SkekLach. Who is known to be dreadfully greedy of her most valuable possessions...

     Much like how many birds mate for life, Skeksis do too. Although being a rather (for lack of a better word) promiscuous race, this is rare. If two develop a strong enough bond, they’ll stick together in an attempt to feel whole. Only sticking with said mate for the rest of their lifetime. However long that may be. Their much more steadfast and patient Mystic counterparts also share this trait.  (By “their” I just mean the race as a whole. Nobody specific.)    Ok and Lach have their own chambers made for themselves. But they also have a shared bedroom that they occasionally sleep in together from time to time.

    SkekOk is a hopeless romantic, and SkekLach couldn’t care less when it comes to flowery poetry. But she admires his passion to his interests. Something she lost desire for in her own life. The Scroll-Keeper will occasionally write her poetry and love letters expressing his feelings to her. Sometimes, in return, she will write him something back. Although riddled with intentional grammar mistakes and poor spelling. Sending him into a flustered angry mess as he corrects her. Only to find something even worse written down as he continues. He’ll read these aloud for all to hear. SkekLach likes to see the reactions he’ll have to her writing. What can she say? He makes her laugh.  ✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰

𝓢𝔞𝔡 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔠𝔞𝔫𝔬𝔫��� 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔠𝔲𝔱: ︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

     SkekLach’s death hit SkekOk harder than anyone will ever know. She was a part of him. She was his closest friend, and the love of his life. His mental health suffered immensely from her loss, and he was never truly able to grieve her properly and move on. Instead, over time he developed an unhealthy coping mechanism of talking to himself for hours on end. He pretended that she never left his side.  “No gelfling trick could have ever gotten the best of me!” She would boast...      Eventually he started to hear her voice in whispers... He could swear he could hear her voice from just beyond the hall... Down the corner in her chambers! Only to find an empty room devoid of anything but dusty old trinkets and bittersweet memories. Other times he would hear the distinct metal clang of her blades against her opponent’s weapons as he would wander the now garthim-filled training rooms. He could hear a younger, much more determined tone! Calculated and precise. Once again to wander in and find nothing but empty training grounds chock full of the dark arthropodan soldiers. But it was the nights that were the hardest. On cold starless nights, laying alone in his decadent yet lonely chambers, he would lie alone for hours on end, eyes closed as he tryed to let the soothing grasp of sleep claim him... In the uttermost difficult moments as he drifted off to sleep, He could swear that he could feel her arms wrapped around his scrawny frame. Tails intertwined as she softly whispered a tired “I love you.” Gently leaning her head on his shoulder, The Scroll-Keeper let out a sigh of relief as he fell sound asleep in the arms of his lover... Only to be greeted with an empty bed as he rose once again the next morning. Truly cementing the fact of how alone and incomplete he truly is. He only wishes for these delusions to stop and yet... He can’t bear to let her go... ✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰       Sometimes these hallucinations can get so bad that he’ll fall into manic babbling fits where the voices of not only her, but all sorts of beings from his past will haunt him. After these spasms, he returns to his work or simply passes out due to exhaustion. He apologizes for his random outbursts should someone he cares about see him in this state. If he even remembers they were there at all. ✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰

     Remember when I said that skeksis mate for life? Well that grief an animal or human might face hits just as hard to a stone-hearted, cold blooded skeksis as it would to any man. That sorrow that SkekOk faced upon SkekLach’s sudden death caused him immeasurable psychological and emotional damage. As the Skeksis are naturally selfish beings. Besides the support he would receive from his lifelong friend SkekEkt the Ornamentalist, not many were there to comfort him. If The Scroll-Keeper were able to relive one last day with The Collector, even for just a moment. He would do it in a heartbeat. Savoring every second like it was his last day on Thra. ✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰

     Although she doesn’t admit it to anyone else, disguising her distaste of herself under a veil of irony and self deprecation, SkekLach has issues with loving herself. She constantly reminisces over “The glory days.” The skeksis are a dying race and she knows it. They can’t fool her. And on that topic, she’s the worst of them on that regard. Due to her hideous appearance and the immense emotional and physical pain she endures everyday, sometimes she wonders if SkekOk even loves her at all. Is he only staying with her because he has to? Out of obligation, or does he just pity her? Does he wish she were like the skeksis she was all those centuries ago? She struggles with this fear more than she’d like to admit.

     SkekLach feels extremely insecure about the fact that she can’t intertwine her tail with SkekOk’s due to her traumatic injury that left her with only half of her tail remaining. SkekOk, having a much longer flexible tail will often try to wrap it around her waist if they’re sitting right next to each other. The feeling is bittersweet, but much appreciated. ✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰      In the main timeline, SkekOk and SkekLach did attempt at having a baby. But since the skeksis are completely infertile in that universe, they yielded no results. They keep a small handmade doll in their shared bedchambers of what could’ve been the skekling that they had wanted so badly. Its not much, but it helped them cope and move on. ✰ ︵‿︵‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵✰︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧- - - - -୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵ ✰  

𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔫𝓀 𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔣𝔬𝔯 ℜ𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔦𝔫𝔤! - ℭ𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔶𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔐𝔢𝔴

[holylulusworld]

The queen of Lebanon - Part 5 – The day I killed what you love

Summary: Your father died years ago, all men in the business believed you are too weak to take over his Empire – they were wrong. Anyone trying to get into your hair will feel your wrath. What happens when a cocky mobster tries not only to steal your empire but your heart too?

Pairing: Mobster!Dean x Mobster!Reader, Cole Trenton, Dick Roman, Sam Winchester

Warnings: angst, ‘the family business’, love-hate relationship, age gap (reader is 28; Dean 32), tension, flirty/cocky Dean, mentions of characters death, language, a burial, sadness, threats

The queen of Lebanon Masterlist

Now…

Shrieking you hear the shotgun hit the door of the wardrobe again, destroying it completely. You can’t see Dick any longer, as he destroyed one of the cameras, but you can hear him over the hidden loudspeakers.

He’s yelling orders, telling his men to get a grenade launcher or something similar to get the door open. You can hear the coldness in his voice and start to shiver.

“Shit, Y/N. Do you think that door will withstand an impact like that?” Dean glances at the other monitors, clenching his jaw as he must watch Dick’s men destroy your house. “I’m going to rip them apart…your house.”

“Winchester, shut up and let me think, okay.” Taking deep breaths you look around the room, trying to remember what your father told you about the ‘panic room’.

“I got it. In the right closet are guns, bulletproof vests, and ammunition. Get the bag under the bed and put the ammo in. We will need to be prepared for the worst.”

Dean smirks, loving the way you order him around while you are in a life-threatening situation.

“Sweetheart, you can order me around anytime, but for now…let me take the lead. That man is a monster and I don’t want him to hurt you.”

Glaring at Dean you fist his jacket, bringing him close to your face. “I’m not a child, nor a damsel in distress, Dean. I killed people before, and I’ll do it till my last breath. I don’t need your macho attitude right now. Be useful and do as I say while I try to reach my men…”

Another impact hits the door, this time with a loud bang and you flinch, fisting Dean’s jacket harder.

“We better hurry, Y/N. I hate to say it, but those assholes might be able to get in here.”

“Then I’ll go down in a blaze of glory, Dean.” Smirking Dean nods, pecking your lips and you freeze before you press your lips to his. “If we make it out here, I’ll fuck the life out of you for one night…”

“Damn…” Dean rushes toward the wardrobe, checking on the guns and vests while you try to find a functional phone in the room. “I will remind you of what you said. You, me and my bedroom the whole night.”

“Yeah, dream on Winchester. I bet you can’t even give me a good time, cocky bastard…”

“I…” Flinching Dean hears another impact hit the concrete wall and your eyes widen as the pictures fall off the walls. “We better hurry and get into those vests. I want you to stay behind me when they come in…”

“Dean, I’m capable of…” Dean presses his palm to your mouth, pushing you against the wall as his features darken.

“Listen and listen carefully, Sweetheart. I’m in this business since I’m fourteen years old. I killed the first man at the age of sixteen thanks to my obsessed father. I know how to kill, and how to survive. For once in our relationship, do as I say…please…” 

Searching Dean’s face, you nod, and he presses a soft kiss to your forehead. “I can’t promise you we will get out of here alive, but I promise to protect you…”

“Dean…I’m scared…” Whimpering you hear something heavy hit the door and you fist Dean’s jacket. “If they get hold of us…”

“They won’t, Y/N. I die before I will allow them to touch you…”

---- 

Six years ago, one day till the burial…

“Y/N, I can’t apologize enough for not coming here sooner. I just heard about my good friends, your father’s death and want to offer my help.” Crowley offers his hand and you reluctantly shake it.

“Mr. Macleod, it’s an honor to finally met the man behind the name…” Giving the man you assume to be your parent’s murderer a fake smile you point toward a chair. “Please, have a seat.”

“I will be completely honest with you; I think you will appreciate it. I didn’t kill your parents, Y/N. While I had some trouble with your father lately, even tho we were, as I would call it, friends, I didn’t have a reason to kill him. To be honest…without your father in town, the business will go downhill for a while.”

Crowley’s words make your gaps. Never in your wildest dreams would you have imagined he would tell you so.

“And I shall believe you?” Voice trembling you shove the folder with the pictures of your dead parents toward Crowley, and he hisses at the sight of Jody.

“I know you do not have a reason to believe me, girl but I can tell, I liked Jody…a lot.” Smirking Crowley looks at you, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

“We had a date, but your daddy was faster and stole her heart. That was the moment we became friends, as I forced him to promise me to take good care of Jody.”

“I didn’t know you were interested in mom…” Gripping the leans of your chair tightly you search Crowley’s face. “I still don’t have a proof it wasn’t you…”

“You’ve got a point there, Y/N. I was out of town, business two states away, still, I could’ve sent someone to do it.” Pointing at the pictures of Jody he shakes his head.

“Even if I wanted your father dead, I would’ve never laid hand on Jody. Whoever did this, wanted to send a message to me and everyone else. There is a codex among us mobsters in Lebanon and surroundings…”

“Codex?” Crowley’s words catch your attention, so you lean forward to listen to his explanation.

“Since your mothers and John Winchester’s wife’s death, we all agreed to keep our families out of business, except they are part of the business. Jody was never involved. No one in town would’ve dared to touch her.” Wide-eyed you look at Crowley, swallowing the lump in your throat.

“What do you mean with my mother’s death? This was an accident, right?” Shaking his head Crowley sighs heavily at the memory of Bobby asking him to avenge his dead family.

“Your father, he had problems with someone back then and for sure your mothers’ death wasn’t an accident. It was on purpose to make sure your father gives in.” Your throat tightens and you start to pant heavily.

“Let me get this straight… Someone killed my mother and Michael? All those years…” Sniffling you throw the picture of your father against the wall. “He lied to me. How could he lie to me?”

“Y/N, please calm. Bobby did what he believed was the best to protect you. Jody helped him back then, that was when he fell in love with her. I know for sure your father avenged your mother’s death.” 

Glancing up at you Crowley gives you a file he hid since your mother’s death. “In this file, you will find the name of your mothers’ murderer. Please be aware, the death is avenged, so don’t do anything stupid now.”

With shaking fingers, you look at the pictures, the files and then you read the name of your family's murderer and your blood runs cold.

“John Winchester…?”

“As I said, Y/N. Bobby avenged your mother’s death. He was the one killing Mary and John’s bastard son, Adam. He took a wife for a wife and a son for a son…”

Crowley gets up to hand you his number. “Call me anytime you need help, Y/N. I know this is all too much right now, but don’t kill John Winchester. He paid for his sins…”

Turning to leave Crowley reaches for the door handle as he hears you calling his name.

“Crowley…”

“Yes, my dear? Anything else you need to know?”

“Why did he kill Adam, not Dean?” Blinking a few times Crowley smirks. 

“It hit John harder as he kept him out of business, you know. He dragged Dean and Sam into business but Adam, he was his good boy, the one he took to baseball games and stuff…” 

“You mean he wanted a normal life with that son and used his others to run the business. A-parenting for sure.” Laughing you glance at the number in your hands. “One day, I’ll kill John Winchester…”

“I know, my dear. Give me a call if you ever need help…”

“I will…and thank you…”

----

Now…

“If we die, you should know I killed your father.” Blurring out the truth you feel Dean press you against the wall a moment later. He doesn’t do anything, just looks you in the eyes before he smirks. 

“I know, Sweetheart. Did you believe I didn’t know it was you, Baby? I loved my father, selfish bastard or not, he was my blood.”

“I know that feeling…”

“But…” Panting against you, Dean presses his body against yours as another impact hits the wall with a loud thud and you hide your face into his neck. “I know he killed Michael and your mom, Y/N. I found everything out…”

“You never said a word…”

“No one knows except for me and Sammy. This is a secret we will take to the grave. Anything else you want to confess before Dick comes in here?” Laughing you wrap your arms around Dean’s neck. 

“I thought the biggest dick is in here with me…”

“You’ve got no clue how big my dick is but for now let’s focus on killing those assholes and getting out of here alive. I got to show you a thing or two tonight…”

A cocky grin plastered all over his face Dean pecks your cheek, pointing toward the monitor. “I guess times up. They got a grenade launcher…”

“Son of a bitch, Dick! Who shall clean my house after that?” Cursing you grab one of the bulletproof vests, a shirt, and pants. “We need to kill those bastards for making my house look like a battlefield, Winchester.”

“I’ll do anything to fuck you later…” Smirking Dean grabs a vest too, glancing at the monitor as Dick walks around your office, tossing papers and the pictures of your family to the floor. “Asshole…”

“Finally you admit you are an ass…” Chuckling you grab a handgun, a knife and one of the shotguns. “Loaded and unlocked, Dean…” Dean leans closer, to cup your face with one large palm before he presses his lips to yours.

“I always loved you, Y/N. If we die, we do this together…”

“Great motivation speech, Winchester. Now I’m drier than a desert.” Wiggling your eyebrows, you flinch as the first grenade hits the door, making the metal creaking. “I’m afraid the door won’t withstand much longer…”

----

Six years ago, the day of the burial…

“Please tell me if you need anything…” Coles offers his arm and you take it silently. Holding tight onto your adopted brother, your closest friend you walk toward the coffin, not missing the way Dean looks you all over.

There’s anger pumping through your veins as John Winchester dared to attend the burial too. 

“One day…Winchester…”

“Y/N, not here, not now. We need to make sure we do this when no one expects us to strike. Now take your time and mourn your loss.”

Cole leads you toward the coffin of your father and you take a deep breath before you look at your father one last time.

“Whoever did this, they won’t get away with this. If it was John Winchester, he will suffer even more.” Your voice is hoarse, but you keep your tears at bay. No one will see you week today or any other day. “I’ll take over your business, daddy…”

Kissing your father’s forehead, you hide two pictures in his hands. One with your family before the accident, the other with Jody, the last you took of all of you.

“Goodbye, daddy. I’ll make sure everyone knows my name soon…”

While Cole leads you toward Jody’s coffin other people walk toward your father to say goodbye.

Sucking in a breath you must watch John Winchester stand right next to you, offering his hand and you need all your strength to not take your gun out and shoot him.

“My condolences, Y/N. Please tell me if you ever need anything.” John rumbles and you want to laugh at his words.

“That’s generous, Mr. Winchester but I don’t think I’ll need your help, like ever.” Eyes cold, just like your voice you do not show any emotion. “I think our families never were on good terms, never…”

Turning to leave you meet Dean’s eyes and he gives you a cracked smile as he feels his father’s eyes darken. 

“Y/N…” Dean tries to talk to you, but you pass him by without paying attention to him. “Please…”

“Son…” John warns, and Dean falls silent. Even after John gave up his position as the head of the family Dean feels like he must follow his father’s orders. “Leave her be for now.”

“Yes, Sir.” Snarling the words through gritted teeth Dean glares at his father. “I guess she would’ve been useful to you after all. If you would’ve let me marry her…” Smirking Dean walks toward Bobby. “You could have taken over here fathers' empire…”

----

Now…

The door creaks as you hear the men ram something heavy against it. “Battering ram…” Dean whispers as he aims the shotgun toward the door. “Stay behind me, no matter what.”

“Gosh, Winchester, you can be so demanding.” Placing your hand onto his shoulder you kiss his neck softly. “If we don’t make it out of here, you should know I never had sex with Sammy.”

“You lied?” Cocky a brow Dean smirks as you squeeze his shoulder. “Knew you are not into Sammy’s dick.”

“Is this a dick party or can we stop talking about Dick now?” Laughing Dean raises his fist as the house is suddenly silent. 

“What?” Gasping you hear gunshots echo through the house. Glancing at the monitors you smirk. Sam is storming into the house, followed by Jimmy and your men.

“Sammy saves the day, huh?” Dean points at the camera, watching Cole and Gadreel walk behind the others. “Cole is indestructible, I guess…”

“He is, Winchester…” Sniffling you hear Dick yell orders. He’s glancing at one of the cameras, giving you a wink.

“What a pity, Y/N I didn’t have the chance to meet you in person. We will another time, for now, this is goodbye. Oh, did you like my surprise back then? I thought it’s nice if you find your mother first…”

Grinning from ear to ear Dick rushes out of the house, trying to dodge any bullet fired into his direction.

You are frozen to the spot. With shaking fingers your try to secure your gun but Dean needs to help you. He takes the shotgun out of your hands before he wraps his arms around you.

“I’ve got you, Sweetheart…”

“I…I killed your father believing it was him killing Jody and dad…”

“I know, for now let’s get the fuck out of here and I’ll bring you to my house…” Dumbfounded you look up at Dean. “Why?”

“You said that you will fuck me the whole night so…that’s that…” Blinking a few times you try to process all information, but your brain has problems recognizing the door gets unlocked and Cole steps in.

“We need to get away from here. Artemis has fallen…” Cole orders and you nod, pointing at Dean. “You sure?”

“He wanted to protect me, Cole. That man, Dick, he killed Jody and my father. Can you get my emergency kit and bring it to Dean’s house? I guess whole Lebanon will burn if we do not stop that dick…”

“Dick?” Laughing Cole looks at Dean who glares at him. “She means Dick Roman, Trenton. Now move and bring her shit to my house. I’ll take care of Y/N. Where have you all been?”

“I was busy with not bleeding out, while Jimmy and Gabriel guard me as ordered. Gadreel and Arthur wanted to get guns and stuff. The others guarded the house and are dead, Winchester…”

----

Following Dean and the others out of your house, the pictures of your parents in your arms you take deep breaths as you can see Gordon and Rufus lie on the ground. A bullet to their head ended their lives.

“We lost five more men, boss. Arthur and Kevin or on their way to Ares.” Cole explains as Dean looks at you, dumbfounded.

“Codewords for my houses, Winchester. I have a thing for Greek mythology, you know. Artemis, Goddess of hunt. Ares, God of war…” Smirking you lean closer so Cole can’t hear your words. “I got a hideout called Aphrodite too…Goddess of Love…”

Walking toward Sam who opens the door to your SUV you take deep breaths to calm your nerves. “Sam, thanks for the rescue, my friend.”

“Anytime, Y/N. Did my brother annoy you or was he civil?”

“We will see that Sammy…we will see…”

----

“So…Ares is your next destination?” Dean’s brings you out of your thoughts, laughing as you rub your tired eyes.

“Yeah. We should talk about Dick and stuff first but then I’ll leave…”

“No, no…Sweetheart…” Bringing you onto his lap Dean smirks. “I will have my night first. You once said that you always keep your words so…you, me and my bed the whole night…”

The queen of Lebanon

@alyssaforever2671, @xcastielbabyangelface, @bitchwhytho, @rosiehayes

SPN Forever Tags

@donnaintx, @screechingartisancashbailiff, @fallen-wolf22, @sister-winchesters99, @mogaruke, @the-is13, @helloitsmeamie203 @strayrosesbloom, @thewinchesterco, @hobby27, @kittycatlover18, @gh0stgurl, @marvelfansworld , @sandlee44, @alexoloughlinlover31, @unlikelysamwinchesteronahunt, @katpatrova17, @notyourtypicalrose , @heyitscam99, @flamencodiva, @echoesofpassion, @cocklesbelli, @voltage-my2dlove, @fandom-princess-forevermore @thenamelesschibi, @lauravic, @fandomsrourlives, @wittysunflower, @drakelover78, @lemondropirwin, @lonewolf471, @wronglanemendes, @spnhollis, @void-imaginations, @jay-and-dean, @shatteredabby, @juniorhuntersam, @helpmeluci, @neii3n, @goodgodimaweirdperson, @alltimesamantha, @chonisberonica, @supernaturalonice, @stuckys-whore, @shadowkat-83 , @officialmarvelwhore, @wecantgiggleitsafandom, @meganywinchester, @shikshinkwon, @miraclesoflove, @yolobloggers, @lu-sullivan, @maniacproffesor, @hollymac79, @straycuties9, @kayla-2000, @ilovefanfic86, @gracefultrenchcoat494, @babygirls-fav, @spnwoman, @amiquette, @linki-locks11, @geekofmanyforms, @eggingamazinglove, @jessica-marsh09, @spnficgirl, @shut-themoonscone, @thequeenreaders, @countrygal17a, @kteelou, @soryuwifeyxx, @kricketc28, @atomicfandombomb, @defenderrosetyler, @shortwinchester, @maybesomedaygayyyy, @tmiships4life, @deanmonandnegansbitch, @exo-nova, @laxe-from-outer-space, @sabascio, @that-place-called-middle-earth, @the-broken-angel-13, @bunnybaby89, @pandabiiissh, @maddiedott, @fandom-imagines1, @lilulo-12, @theoneandonlymelol, @mblaqgi, @sea040561, @clawsandshotguns, @justsomedreaming , @differentstudentrunawaysposts, @hhiggs, @deepmuffinspymaker, @certaindeanwinchesterforcastiel, @cassiopeia-barrow, @mep6811, @jo-like-josette, @supernaturalenchanted, @mscarter213, @trumpettay, @waywardbaby, @its-the-timey-wimey-winchesters, @zxph-yr, @i-love-superhero

Dean/Jensen Forever Tags     

@spnfamily-j2, @supernatural-bellawinchester, @butifulsoul125, @lyinginthegingerlocks, @deans-baby-momma, @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester, @20gayneen, @janicho88, @thefaithfulwriter, @dreaminemz, @negans-lucille-tblr, @akshi8278, @midnightsilver16830, @mrspeacem1nusone, @ria132love, @caligraphee, @the-witch-in-silence, @multisuperfandom, @deansgirl-1968, @justanotherwinchester, @jadesupernatural, @squirrelnotsam, @gaveherhearttotheliontattoo, @roonyxx, @jason-todd-squad, @thevelvetseries, @spnsuper17, @adoptdontshoppets, @woodworthti666, @frederikkeborup, @psychicforest​, @luciathewinchestergirl,  @michellemxndes, @addictedtofictionalcharacters, @gabifernandessn​, @magssteenkamp​, @neerness, @jxackles, @tranquility-or-chaos

[theharellan]

THE POSITIVE & NEGATIVE; Mun & Muse - Meme.

fill out & repost ♥ This meme definitely favors canons more, but I hope OC’s still can make it somehow work with their own lore, and lil’ fandom of friends & mutuals. Multi-Muses pick the muse you are the most invested in atm. tagged by: stolen from @dansiere tagging: @ghiassan, @deathsreflection, @altuspavus, @windrunnerrs (velanna), @hopewrought, @willbeshot, @seahaloed (iron bull), @asterfed​ (noctis), @ anyone who wants to steal it! also multis feel free to choose a different character

My muse is:   canon / oc / au / canon-divergent / fandomless / complicated (i’m open to roleplaying with non-dragon age characters, and have AUs for other fandoms)

Is your character popular in the fandom? YES / NO. solas is both wildly popular and wildly hated. he’s been more consistently popular than the controversial women in the series, like sera or vivienne, who have only recently begun to get to the point where their tags are less vitriolic (although i’m sure it’s still out there), but there’s still a sizable hatedom that can’t have his name breathed in their vicinity w/o them talking abt how much they hate him. even if you’re currently cosplaying him!

Is your character considered hot™ in the fandom?  YES / NO / IDK. again, you have ppl who are super into him and ppl who think he’s ugly. my personal opinion is that i think he’s weirdly pretty, and wish ppl would commit more to his unconventional features rather than try to chisel him into sb more traditionally attractive and that ppl who don’t find him attractive would maybe chill w/ calling him ugly. find him unattractive by all means, but lets embrace the fact that inquisition let their love interests have skin flaws etc and accept that some won’t be our cups of tea.

Is your character considered strong in the fandom?  YES / NO / IDK. its hard to deny at this point tbh.

Are they underrated?  YES / NO / IDK. frustrating as the hate in the tags he has enough fans that i couldnt say he’s underrated w/ a straight face.

Were they relevant for the main story?  YES / NO. he’s the reason the game starts with a bang and not the inevitable dissolution of the conclave b/c the sides are disparate.

Were they relevant for the main character? YES / NO / THEY���RE THE PROTAG. regardless of solas’ relationship with the inquisitor, there are parallels and contrasts in their stories and he also is the reason they survive inquisition.

Are they widely known in their world? YES / NO. fen’harel is well-known and revered, if feared, among the dalish, yet at the same time he’s not remembered for a lot besides locking the gods away-- and the context of that decision has also been lost. as solas he’s relatively unknown until inquisition and especially trespasser.

How’s their reputation?  GOOD / BAD / NEUTRAL. again, polarising!! he has loyal agents and people are willing to speak well of him despite everything, including his enemies sometimes (depending mostly on the inquisitor). 

How strictly do you follow canon?  — generally i try to have a canon basis for my interpretation, even if i interpret the text differently than the author.

SELL YOUR MUSE! Aka try to list everything, which makes your muse interesting in your opinion to make them spicy for your mutuals.  —  solas is an immortal who is simultaneously jaded and very much invested in the small moments of life. far from being weary of the day-to-day lives of ordinary people, it is systems and orders he is most tired of. he walks an interesting line that feels far less misanthropic than other immortal characters i’ve experienced, yet still he’s quite cynical. as a character who has fought against religious based tyranny before, but in a completely different era, he is in a unique position where what he sees around him is both horrifyingly familiar and yet completely new. it allows an exploration of the wrongs of thedas’ society from an outsider’s perspective. his motivations are complex and multifaceted, often condemnable and yet also understandable. his character arc in inquisition (if befriended, or regardless in the case of my solas) takes him from a dispassionate, disconnected antagonist to someone deeply invested in the people of thedas, deeply conflicted and actively hoping he will be proven wrong again. i think his story is a testament to human (or elven, or dwarven, or-) connection and how even when we resist we can’t resist creating bonds with the people in our lives. i personally see this bond going beyond the inquisitor hence why i play low-approval solas as conflicted as high-approval, if not when it comes to the inquisitor.

Now the OPPOSITE, list everything why your muse could not be so interesting (even if you may not agree, what does the fandom perhaps think?).  —  solas is selfish and motivated solely by revenge, he’s clinging to a past that clearly no longer exists, if you ignore all the people from it who are still alive. he’s totally unaware of all his flaws and never owns up to any mistakes ever. no, i haven’t listened to a single word solas has said in my life why do you ask. he’s also critical of my faves which means he’s #cancelled, there is clearly no validity to what he’s saying. ksjdf no but in all seriousness i think a lot of reasons ppl don’t find solas interesting are just... weird readings of his character that sometimes have no basis in the text of inquisition, but also there are plenty of perfectly valid reasons to not find him interesting. usually those ppl don’t like... talk abt how much they don’t find him interesting constantly tho. they just chill and aren’t invested in this particular villain. for one thing i think the game missed out on opportunities for exploring how someone who may not have even had a body at the beginning of his existence would feel about gender and sexuality, so making him presumably straight and cis was a boring choice. i also think that the dragon age games being very protagonist-centric hurts solas’ character, there’s no real reason why the inquisitor is the only one who can throw his plans into question but making the player the center of the universe means he’s not allowed to change due to the effects of other companions or NPCs. thank god this is rp and i do what i want.

What inspired you to rp your muse?  —  i have a history degree so when the inquisition companions were being teased, solas describing bias in primary sources from the memories he’s seen got me interested in him. but my first playthrough i didn’t actually take him with me all too often, i think my main party was dorian-blackwall-varric. i liked him, and i think he or dorian were my first friends in skyhold, but my initial interest was in other characters. between his dialogue that appealed to the historian in me tho and how his spirit opinions sort of turned everything i’d felt about spirits in the last two games on its head, i started vibing with him more the farther i went in. like merrill set me up for the “spirits are people” thing and solas hit it out of the park. then temple of mythal happened, and i did bring solas with me there. i found his dialogue fascinating and also suspicious, i’d just finished masked empire like the day before da:i came out so i definitely thought solas was an ancient elf in the same vein as felassan. it was after temple of mythal that i actually decided to make his blog, although like as one idk linchpin to cement my status as solas trash... i was hit BAD by the banter bug on my first playthrough, probably got like a dozen banters total. but then at some point late in the game i took solas to the forbidden oasis and he wouldn’t stop talking to people, and i really loved his banter with the rest of my party at the time.

What keeps your inspiration going?  —  replaying inquisition, new DA content when the bioware gods deign to grant us a lifeline, but the biggest thing is my rp partners. i wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for the people i write with, new and old. my activity of late hasn’t been the best, work and the summer heat has really been sapping me of energy, and does even during years when we aren’t going through a pandemic. but it’s the thought of my rp partners and love of solas that keeps me coming back.

Some more personal questions for the mun.

Give your mutuals some insight about the way you are in some matters, which could lead them to get more comfortable with you or perhaps not.

Do you think you give your character justice?  YES / NO / I SINCERELY HOPE I DO? i have my doubts sometimes, but i think i do ok.

Do you frequently write headcanons?  YES / NO / SORT OF? there is no headcanon too small for me.

Do you sometimes write drabbles?  YES / NO. but not lately * gestures to the low activity * i’ve been in this cycle where i get anxious abt late replies, so prioritise them, then burn myself out and can’t write the fics i want. i’ve had two i’ve been DYING to write tho i just... need to find the space in my brain to let myself.

Do you think a lot about your Muse during the day? YES / NO. i mean it depends on the day. if i work closing shifts at my store it gets very quiet and boring around 8:30 so i spent the next 90 minutes thinking about character stuff.

Are you confident in your portrayal?  YES / NO / SORT OF? 

Are you confident in your writing?  YES / NO / SOMETIMES. 

Are you a sensitive person?  YES / NO / SORTA.

Do you accept criticism well about your portrayal?  —  i’m going to say ‘no’ because like, i don’t ask for criticism. this is a hobby based on my interpretation of a character, if you think i write solas too soft then you’re welcome to think that, but i’m happy with the balance i’ve struck with his internal versus external behaviour and how he changes based upon who he’s speaking to. if you think i’m erasing straight people by making solas pan then ksjdfs. ok.

Do you like questions, which help you explore your character?  —  yes!!! even if they retread ground already trodden, a) my interpretation may have adjusted since the last time i played or b) a reminder is nice. if it’s new stuff then it’s fun to think about.

If someone disagrees to a headcanon of yours, do you want to know why?  —  it’d depend on why they disagree. if they just disagree on a subjective opinion about what i took from a certain line, then they’re welcome to their opinion but i don’t necessarily care to hear it. if it is unintentionally hurtful then i would like to know. although rather than a comment i’d rather a non-anonymous message.

If someone disagrees with your portrayal, how would you take it?  —  same as the above.

If someone really hates your character, how do you take it?  —  if they’re vocal about it i typically just unfollow / softblock if i was following in the first place. people can feel how they want about solas, but i’ve found over the years that if people really hate solas ooc it can often bleed into their ic interactions. it’s really weird seeing your character being brought up repeatedly in threads with others specifically to dunk on, for no reason other than i guess solas is living rent free in their heads, so at least we have that in common. but anyway unfollowing is just the best choice to avoid getting kinda pressed if i’m having a bad day.

Are you okay with people pointing out your grammatical errors?  —  roleplay is the wild west of writing, so i think it’d depend on what the error was. coming at me like “you shouldn’t start a sentence with a preposition” would get a laugh, but i don’t edit my replies much if at all and mistakes will 100% happen. pointing out typos is chill so long as you do it politely.

Do you think you are easy going as a mun?   —  it depends! i’ve learned that being too easy going actually just means i’m subjecting myself to negative emotions to please people. so i’ve gotten less easy going as the years go by. how does one define “easy going” anyway? does asking that question mean i am objectively not easy going? the longer this thought goes on the more the answer seems to be “probably not,” but i like to think it could be a lot worse.

[in-aether-case]

How I’d react to tropes:

In most body-snatcher movies, there’s a trope where the group have to prove they are who they say they are e.g. The World’s End comparing scars. This is normally done by asking questions only they know the answer to. In the case of The World’s End, I have a scar over my eyebrow. In any other case I’d be fucked; memory of a goldfish.

Only one bed would be very boring with me; I’d either take the floor or just go straight to sleep.

Enemies to Lovers - I’m too fucking petty to actually get to the lovers part. This would just be a lot of gentle roasting.

Fridging - it is technically a trope but the only requirement for it is death so I’d mourn, it’d motivate me to do jack shit.

Evil Empires - So, you’re telling me I live in a country responsible for thousands’ suffering and I’m an inconsequential cog in a large machine? Anyway back to the trope, hey if I have a living wage and an internet connection I don’t need much else.

I'm going through a list, "Power of Friendship" came up and I laughed so audibly that my mother asked me what was so funny. I'm a shit friend, is what I'm trying to tell you.

Mind control - I've always been adamant that I'd just forgive someone for the shit they did while mind controlled if it was like they had no agency but realistically I'm far too petty.

Losing powers - as stated with fridging, I am a difficult person to motivate, even if I could get them back I'd just use it as an excuse to bail on whatever quest my powers thrust me on in the first place.

Time travel - I have a lot of people to shag/kill/befriend also it'd make research a lot easier if I could just go and ask people what the fuck is going on.

Apocalypse - While my initial reaction was to play "The Final Countown", I think I'd find the optimum location to be killed by the apocalypse because there's no way I'm helping rebuild society if anyone survives and start belting out "I'm so excited" by The Pointer Sisters if it's an instant death like I'm standing in the path of an asteroid, if everyone's slowly being killed (e.g. zombie apocalypse) I'd start singing "Always look on the bright side of life"

Tournaments - knocked out first round

Plot twist - surprised pikachu meme, followed by "called it."

Evil minions - Evil corporation, if the hero doesn't kill me outright which they could, I'd fight to keep a cushy job, plausible deniability and pension scheme, bb

Macguffins - there is a tangible solution to life's problems and all I have to do is go and get that thing? One quest and I'm free of all this bullshit? Imma go get myself a thing!

Immortality

If it's like no illness, no ageing immortality - invest everything, find the cure to every disease, cliche but fuck it I'd be curious. Set up a string of false identites in case people turn on me. Do dangerous shit to see how long is takes for fear to stop effecting me. Honestly, if I keep my current memory I'd probably forget I was immortal twice a day

If it was closer to longevity rather than immortality, fucking hell the mid life crisis would take ages, so would puberty. I would have so many creative projects and finish none of them. I'd be the Leonardo DaVinci of procrastinating and the Arnold Rimmer of art, just complete failure

Magnificent bastards - If I am a magnificent bastard find ways to not be punched. If I am saddled with a magnificent bastard, punch them.

Fates worse than death - suicide

Sins of the father - I've got some things to take up with that bastard too tbh

Queer coded villains - it me

Pure of heart - fail on the spot

Love triangles - Duck out, everyone loses when I'm in a relationship. Hey, shout out to my girlfriend btw!

Cursed artifacts - How cursed? normally there's an upside otherwise you wouldn't bother with the damn thing.

Magical other-worlds - tells my landlord to shove his £250 a month

Are we the baddies? - "I told you so."

Space horror - suicide

Deus Ex Machina - existential crisis followed by pure, unadulterated nihilism

Lamp-shading - I’m fucking stupid, I’d be oblivious

I've had this one in the drafts a while, it'll probably be ongoing.

[minaminokyoko]

The Last Jedi (A Spoilertastic Review)

So I stayed off Twitter for almost ten straight days and I reduced my Facebook usage by about 80% in the last 48-hours in order to avoid spoilers for The Last Jedi, as I was spoiled for Han Solo's death in The Force Awakens literal days before attending its premiere years ago. Was it worth staying off social media to stay unspoiled and unbiased?

Eh. I dunno.

So I'm now hearing, as I return to social media, that some fans hate the movie. Color me shocked. (That's sarcasm, if you can't tell--we really do need a font for that.) There is a large chunk of the Star Wars fandom that contains some of the nastiest, pettiest, most immature hypocrites on the planet earth, and I can see those same fans hating this movie. Well, maybe I can help balance the scales.

To be frank, I'm not a Star Wars fan. I saw the originals as a kid and liked them okay, I hated the prequels and I still think they have zero justification and do not stand up to even the slightest film criticism or storytelling criticism at all, and I liked The Force Awakens quite a lot. For me, The Force Awakens finally gave me a reason to personally invest in the Star Wars franchise. Don't get me wrong--as a kid and a teen, I liked Han and Leia. I liked the setting of the original trilogy and the memorable stories and performances and dialogue. However, Luke was, well, this is an unavoidable pun, a lukewarm character for me. I didn't really care about him and I didn't understand him from a personal standpoint, so while I enjoyed the story, I just didn't take anything away from it. Force Awakens introduced me to an ostracized girl who had a miserable existence who always felt like she was waiting for something to happen to give her life meaning, and a terrified slave/survivor who defected in order to run away from something he feared but he instead found a reason to stay and fight. Plus, adding in the fact that Finn is awkward and likable and now I am emotionally invested in the new main leads of the franchise.

Sadly, though, The Last Jedi falls short in most of the aspects that made me like Force Awakens. Keep in mind, it's still an enjoyable film, but it most definitely suffers from Middle Movie Syndrome, where there's a lot of wheel-spinning because they need action set pieces, but in the end, what happens doesn't really change much about the characters or their motivations. Allow me to explain below. Naturally, spoiler alert.

Overall Grade: B-/C+

Pros:

-Creative scenarios. I like the film's creativity in terms of the scenery. The Force Awakens lived in the shadow of the original films. It was a very strict sort of format in order to make the older fans feel at home and to bring the new fans into the franchise at the same stepping off point. However, this film was able to stretch out a bit and not feel as bound by the same look and feel of the original trilogy. I know a lot of fans bitched about that with Force Awakens, and I think it was a semi-legit complaint, but I felt it was mostly the studio being cautious and trying not to piss off such a massive number of fans. Here, the scenery feels new and fresh, from the casino to the large part of the plot taking place on unfamiliar planets or with the rebels in space.

-I'm not going to sit here and lie--Oscar Isaac finally got to me a little bit in this one. Don't get me wrong, I liked Poe but I noticed Isaac amassing a legion of fangirls and was mystified as to why. Poe was a good character and Isaac's a good actor. Then when I saw Poe getting passionate about the rebellion, I admit I started to swoon a bit. There's just something about the way that he cares, how he makes the war feel that much more personal, and his relationship with Leia that floats my skirt up quite a bit. I like that he is hardheaded and impulsive, but he still feels like his own man. At first, I was worried he'd be our Han Solo replacement, but they drifted away from that idea. He's a very enjoyable character and I give a damn about him. I like that he grew this time, that he was able to recognize that he can't make every mission a suicide mission because the rebels have limited numbers and every man is precious. That's cool. I can dig it. Nice work, Mr. Isaac.

-I enjoyed seeing Finn take another step towards becoming a more stable rebel. He was still naive and brash, but he gave it his all and he was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to do what he felt was right. I appreciate the hell out of that and I'm glad they didn't kill him. I threw my hands up in the theater because I like him a lot and I thought they were going to do the dumb thing and waste him. Phew. Bullet dodged, for now at least.

-I enjoyed seeing Yoda pop back up. Granted, he took his sweet ass time, but that was a nice surprise for me. I thought it was very touching to see him again, and well timed since Frank Oz is on the older side and we don't know how much longer we'll get to enjoy him.

-The Luke and Leia forehead kiss almost made me cry. Fuck. God. It was eerily appropriate as our goodbye to the amazing Carrie Fisher. I miss her terribly and seeing them reunite for the last time genuinely tugged at my heart strings.

-I liked the idea of Luke wavering when he found out Darth Temper Tantrum--excuse me, Kylo Ren slash Ben Solo--and being faced with a terrible choice. I like that Kylo's interpretation of danger is what screwed everything up and made him run away. It's a simple misunderstanding on a grand scale that is important to both of them and it's about the only thing that I think works about Kylo Ren's character. We'll discuss more about him in the Cons section, though. I like it because it's reminiscent of something I love from The Dresden Files series, where Karrin Murphy and Harry Dresden are talking about the fact that some people become monsters because you treat them like monsters. The possibility that maybe he wouldn't have turned if Luke hadn't gone there to stop him is great motivation to cut yourself off forever and feel that you deserve to die alone with the last of the Jedi kind.

-Luke's projecting power at the end was a nice aversion to being slain by the whiny git Kylo Ren. I'm still angry he dies anyway, because what the fuck was the point if you still killed him off, but that was a cool power that I don't recall seeing before and it made Luke seem even more badass than I ever thought possible. Nice work, Luke.

-We'll discuss my problem with Ren's fake redemption arc momentarily, but I did like the scene where he kills Snoke. That was a nifty idea and I like that Snoke's smug ass didn't see it coming. He was so convinced he knew everything and that manipulating Ren and Rey would give him what he wanted, but it didn't and that's a satisfying story element in a movie that kind of botches most of its pay off.

-I liked the Purple Haired Lady (sorry, I didn't catch her name, I have a bad memory) light-speeding right through the fucking Empire ship. That was a badass way to go. Now, granted, I still think it's pretty ridiculous that all the main characters managed to survive a catastrophic event like that no problem, but it was still cool as hell.

-Rey's a nobody. Called it. I love that she didn't have super special plot relevant parents. They were just scumbag assholes, much like Yondu's parents in Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2. Thanks for disproving all the nonsensical fan theories. I knew she wouldn't be Luke or Leia's bloodline, but I like it even better than her parents don't even get names or anything. That's baller storytelling.

-Leia surviving the cruiser explosion. What. A. Badass. Motherfucker.

Cons:

-The biggest problem I have with the Last Jedi is Kylo Ren's fake redemption arc. Look, I get what they were going for. It's reminiscent of what happened to Zuko in the amazing Avatar: The Last Airbender series, and that to date is still the best redemption arc I have ever seen with my own two eyes. That's possibly why this one fell so flat for me. The set up for Kylo Ren is relatively solid. He was raised by heroes of the rebellion and so it was expected of him to become something great, and Luke training him sounds like a great bit of backstory as well. However, by not showing us details, Ren's redemption arc rings hollow as hell. Let me explain. They never showed us the details of the darkness that was apparently building in Ren. What is it driven by? Is it just a feeling? Was he just dangerous and unwilling to listen to Luke while he was in training? You can't just give such a blanket statement without reasoning or showing the actual backstory itself where we see what made him someone Luke thought would kill or massacre the innocent. I think the movie should have had a flashback segment of Luke and Ren's training days where we see that, yes, the kid was powerful but he had no restraint and he was arrogant and cruel or at the very least, unfeeling. Most of the time when you have that type of character, it's one of those traits that leads to evil. He thinks he's above the law or above reproach because of his power, or in Ren's case, it could have been because of his parentage. That was a huge missed opportunity. Maybe he was just a spoiled brat from being the son of two war heroes and the nephew of one of the greatest Jedi of all time. But we get none of that. We just get that he was a bad apple and Luke panicked and his panic made Ren run away. But that brings me to the next part that doesn't work in this film. Okay, so you think your uncle tried to kill you. Why did you immediately decide to join up with the fucking Space Nazis? How does that work for your desires? We don't know why Ren joined up. It's one thing to abandon your family out of anger and shame, but the Empire literally slaughters billions of innocent lives on a daily basis. We don't know why Ren said yes to them because we haven't been told personal details about him. Why did he blame Han and Leia? It's totally backwards. He should have gone to them and told them what Luke did, and there should have been repercussions. Maybe they didn't believe him and that's why he ran off, but the film doesn't tell us any of these things that would help us understand him more. Then, the final nail is the idea that Kylo murdered the other young Jedi, murdered Han, tried to murder Leia, and has been in the company of genocidal maniacs for years, and yet the film wants me to believe he can be saved. Nah, bruh. You gone. You been gone. You're not gonna flash your puppy dog eyes at me and think I want you to come to the light side. You stood by and watched billions of people die and yet Rey's big blues make you change your mind, but only for your own ambition? Fuck off. That entire thing fell to shambles for me. I like the idea of Rey and Ren having a connection because they are both alone and unsure of themselves, but this was not the way to do it. Ren's actions are beyond irredeemable. They were irredeemable the second he killed Han. Han didn't do shit to that snot-nosed punk bitch. He was his father and he wasn't the one who turned on him, it was Luke, so frankly, Ren can fuck off the edge of my non-existent dick, and I don't like that the movie swept all his indiscretions under the table to say maybe there was still good in him. He's a selfish bastard and that's that.

-Implying that Rey would turn to the Dark side fell flat on its face as well. She had no reason to turn. The movie played with the fact that she was alone, but that still doesn't work. She's not alone. She has Finn and the rebels. Sure, none of them would be able to understand the Jedi aspect of her personality, but it's still stupid for them to act like she would just be magically okay with the genocidal maniacs who slaughtered everything in the galaxy. It was weird, too, because Ren says something to the effect of "I saw you turn" and that doesn't happen, so was he lying to manipulate her or did the movie drop the subplot altogether? There was never a moment that I doubted her. I knew she had a pure heart because of what we've seen from her before. All we knew is that she was simply scared and alone. None of that translated to her joining the fucking Space Nazis, so why did they even pursue it? I think this could have been done better if instead of Ren killing Han (but to be fair, it's all Harrison Ford's goddamn fault, if he didn't hate Han, then this idea could have worked) we saw Ren and Rey starting to understand each other BEFORE he killed Han. Love is a strong motivator for if you want to have this idea of Rey possibly wavering from the light. I sure as fuck don't ship Reylo and I think it's gross, but if you rewrote the movie so that she and Ren bonded in the first film rather than him simply terrorizing her, then sure, the second film where she feels a connection with him and wants to rule at his side because she loves him now makes sense. The idea is similar to something from my urban fantasy series that I wrote, where the villain has no plans of ever turning good, but he has a soft spot for the leading lady and he doesn't want so much to turn her as make her his so he can be with her, and she doesn't so much want to turn him good as she recognizes that there is something inside him that calls to her. This is one of the only cases where I think a canon romance would have made more sense than whatever we got in the film itself. I could see Rey doubting herself if she fell in love with Ren. The starcrossed lovers angle is much stronger and much more believable than just "Rey doesn't know who she is and she thinks maybe she can bring Ren back to the light."

-I didn't like Finn and Rey being apart for the entire film. I think their friendship was easily the best and strongest thing about the Force Awakens. Both of them had strong motivations to do what they did and it made sense for them to both care so deeply for each other because they crashed into each other's lives and saved each other. They work better side by side, not in separate storylines. Their friendship was charming and adorable and this film really should have used it.

-If you add everything up, Finn's entire mission was pointless. The stand-in commander already had a plan and so everything Poe, Rose, and Finn did was pointless in the end. That sucks. You wasted their time and the audience's time, and that's what I meant when I said this movie has Middle Movie Syndrome. It feels like they just needed to find something for Finn, Rose, and Poe to do and so they just threw them this B Plot that is entirely useless and that's a huge disservice to them as characters.

-Rose is pretty forgettable. That's not knocking the actress playing her. It's just she's sort of a tool to the story and they really should have given her a better role with better stakes. I also don't like the shoehorned "love" line. It was a good line for the rebellion, but not for those two characters. I don't buy Rose falling for Finn. Finn's awesome, but they didn't go through nearly enough and didn't bond at all during their journey, so that "love" line is awkward and unwanted to me.

-Luke's death. Look, the fucking movie is called The Last Jedi, but did you really have to fake us out only to kill him anyway? That was fucking lame. What would have made it go down easier is if Luke had known when we first see him again that he was on his last legs. Build up his final days. Have him be old and tired and coughing constantly or knowing by the Force that he's reached the last moments of his lifetime, and that's why finally spurs him on to help the rebels once again after he meets Rey. Don't spring it on us. It didn't have a good impact because it just felt obligatory because it's the future franchise and we have to have our original three protagonists all bow out for the new kids on the block. I wanted a more touching death scene for him, even though I liked Han and Leia more from the original films. It just felt like a waste of a great legend for him to die out of nowhere. I actually thought from that shot that he saw an Empire ship firing at the island to kill him and I sort of like that more, as it would have been a good sucker punch (and we did hear Snoke mention that before he died) so I think this was yet another missed opportunity.

-Though the entire movie focuses on Rey, I feel like it told me less about her than the first film did. I like that she's a nobody. That's good. That's strong. That's interesting. But I don't like that she didn't really bond with Luke and I don't feel as if she learned a single damn thing on that island aside from maybe Ren was starting to falter, but in the end all he did was kill Snoke and assume command. He didn't turn back to the light, so why was there all this focus on him that took away from her? I was excited for the film because I thought Luke would come around and train her the way Yoda trained him. That would reveal more of her abilities and her strengths and weaknesses, but we didn't get much of that at all and it's not fair to her. She has so much potential, but it felt squandered to me.

-The goddamn Porgs. Look, Disney, I know you gotta sell toys, but I haven't seen such a transparent fucking commercial for toys since Olaf from Frozen. Jesus H. Christ. They literally just keep popping up on screen like a goddamn commercial. It's so obnoxious. They are not that cute. They're just gerbils with duck feet. I think Star Wars fans overreacted about the Ewoks, but if they all hate the Porgs, sure, I'll light a torch to march in that parade. Stop that. I'm watching a movie, for God's sake, not a toy commercial.

-I'm not really sure where things are heading with where it ends here. It just seems sort of vague and undefined, and as if we didn't get much accomplished in the long run. Very wheelspin-y.

-There’s a million plotholes and plot contrivances. I can’t be bothered to count them all, so a year from now when CinemaSins does a video, then I’ll post a link, Just know there are a lot of plotholes this time around.

Bottom line: if the neckbeards are out here hating the movie, cry me a fucking river. It is in no way that bad. The prequels are still by far the worst movies in the franchise. I think The Last Jedi is simply misguided. It brings up great questions, but then doesn't answer or address most of them. It introduces too many ideas without flushing them out and making you connect on a personal level the way The Force Awakens did. It's mainly just that the goals are unclear and so are the characters. I think it's still possible to get the franchise back on track with the final film. I certainly don't think this movie is bad by any stretch. I just feel that it missed its target. Maybe they'll hit it next time.

[yavemiel]

Top Ten Fic Recs

Tagged by  @callioope and @justkeeponthegrass thanks guys!

This says top ten fic recs and I was like ‘I guess I can limit myself to ten’ and now having started going through them I’m like ‘ahahahahahahah NO’ so without further ado, split into three categories, here are thirty-nine of my favourite Rebelcaptain fic recs, listed in no particular order, because you see how easy it was for me to cut down the list I have, there’s no way I could chose between them. The only concession I could make was to keep it to one per author, but know that if one is on the list, all the rest of their stuff is amazing too! All the links are to AO3 and I’ve tagged the authors on Tumblr when I know their handle, but if you spot one of yours and I’ve not tagged you, let me know! :) Recs are below the cut because this is a LONG POST.

List One (>20,000 words, complete)

- floating, sinking by @shu-of-the-wind (shuofthewind), NR, 188k words [One of the quintessential Rebelcaptain fics, which tells an AU version of A New Hope. The character voices are so spectacular in this, every point of view is perfectly written, and it’s so SO believable. Cannot over-recommend]

- to treat everything as if it were a nail by @things-with-teeth (thingswithteeth), M, 103k words [What if Jyn had been found on Lah’mu and been taken by Krennic? This fic answers that question spectacularly, which such depth and character strength you kind of forget it’s not how it happened in canon]

- gray areas (series name cassian andor nonsense) by @theputterer (theputterer), T, 371k words [This series is a love song to Cassian Andor. If you’ve been looking for the tragic backstory that explains how he got where he is in Rogue One, THIS IS WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR. Bring tissues. Also goes well beyond Rogue One into what might have happened to Cassian and Jyn in this universe, an unbelievable epic]

- Won’t You Let Us Wander by angel_deux, T, 243k words [I have so much love for this series, it’s Cassian/Jyn focused but the other characters are so amazing as well, particularly Leia. It’s basically 243k words of Cassian and Jyn working through their respective issues and building a family and a team as they go and it is a delight.]

- The Words Would Only Rhyme by @betweentheheavesofstorm (betweentheheavesofstorm), T, 51k words [I really love this story, Jyn has visions and it takes a completely different tack to canon AND has ‘fake relationship’ one of my favourite tropes ever and I really don’t think I can do it justice without spoiling it, so just take my word for it and read it] - as the fates unwind by Jaxin, T, 45k words [A look at what might have happened if Lyra had lived to bring up Jyn, it’s been a while since I read it, but the thing that sticks in my memory about this one is the characterisation, it’s Spot On]

- Intersections by Caedus501, T, 139k words [This series is spectacular: intersections is a great name for it, it basically retells the history of Cassian and Jyn if they had run across each other in various guises during their pasts, and how that would affect the events of Rogue One. Excellent writing.]

- For A Good Time Call by @jynsanity (jormaperalta), T, 28k words [This is SUCH a feel good fic, sweet and funny, I can’t tell you how much I love it. A modern AU where Jyn writes her name on the wall of a bar and Cassian texts her, and it works so well.]

- in the spaces by @gizkasparadise (nymja), E, 27k words [I come back and re-read this fic so often, I really feel like it’s one of the truest to canon characterisations out there: Jyn and Cassian are so committed to the cause, but also to each other, and the conflicts that that causes are obvious and heart-breaking and perfectly perfectly written.]

- spes semper mihi adest by @rain-sleet-snow (rain_sleet_snow), T, 27k words [this is another one that I’ve re-read so much, it’s amazing, following Cassian and Jyn all the way through the original trilogy in a way that really makes you believe they probably were running around in canon. Also has a lovely coda set during The Force Awakens called but sometimes it rhymes which I would also highly recommend]

- In the Shadows by @hurricanedancer (StormDancer), M, 21k words [The White Collar AU you never knew you needed! I love this one, the characters work so damn well in their transplanted home, particularly Jyn as the ex-criminal trying to go straight but chafing at her bonds.]

- long way home by @realitycheckbounced (noelia_g), E, 25k words [I love this series, it’s so feel-good, and the relationship between Cassian and Jyn is so joyful!]

List Two (>20,000 words, WIP)

- Resistance is Built on Hope by @chronicolicity (ChronicOlicity), T, 133k words [A stunning WWII AU which actually follows the plot of R1 pretty closely within that setting, fabulous writing and characterisation, and a really really great slow burn relationship between Cassian and Jyn]

- Jagged Edges by @mediumsizedfountain (jncar), M, 105k words [Essentially a story about the survivors of Rogue One learning to live with the consequences and finding their place within the Rebellion, and about Cassian and Jyn figuring out where they stand with each other, a really lovely read]

- In a dark time, the eye begins to see by @imsfire2 (imsfire), NR, 87k words [I love this story so much: Cassian is an artist and Jyn is his muse, but it’s more a canon divergent fic than an AU, as the events and motivations of Rogue One are still very much centre stage] - Chaconne by @ibohe (ibohemianam), T, 221k words [This is one of the first series I truly fell in love with in the fandom and it remains a firm favourite now! A great take on a possible backstory for Cassian, and a look at how he and Jyn might work through their issues together after the war, with a generous smattering of EU influence throughout. I especially love the way they’re written together in domestic scenes in this series: their issues and foibles are all still there but they’re so happy in each other nonetheless] - Whatever I Do (I Do It To Protect You)  by @callioope (Callioope), T, 62k words [Another look at what might have happened if Lyra had lived to raise Jyn, first within the Partisans and then within the Rebellion, and a beautiful, BEAUTIFUL slow burn relationship between Jyn and Cassian]

- per ardua ad astra by @anghraine (Elizabeth (anghraine)), T, 58k words [I don’t want to give too much away about this fic, but essentially, Cassian, Jyn and Bodhi end up on the Death Star and this is the story of how they manage to survive that and infiltrate one of the most secure parts of the Empire. This is so well written and seems so plausible as a continuation of canon!]

- And The Next by @mienuxbleu (ienablu), T, 52k words [This is essentially Groundhog Day Rogue One style but infinitely, infinitely more heart-breaking! It’s so well thought out and so engaging, and you really really get a fantastic insight in Jyn’s character]

- The World Through a Scope by @ruby-red-inky-blue (guineapiggie), T, 46k words (One of my favourite modern AUs, in which Cassian and Jyn meet in the waiting room of their counselor’s office and are drawn to each other despite their respective issues, before finding out that their lives are far more closely entangled than even they realised. A real gem!]

- The Germans Wore Grey, You Wore Blue by @justkeeponthegrass (randomdreamer01) [This is a collection of WWII AUs that are mostly unrelated, and they are so SO well researched and well written, you really get a sense of the history behind the stories, and the characterisation is always spot on]

- only fools rush in by @andromeda3116 (andromeda3116), T, 36k words [I love, love, LOVE this AU, it’s a modern setting and basically has all of my favourite things rolled up in one: fake relationship, bed-sharing, protectiveness, pining: it’s an absolute delight!]

- The Remembrance of Pain (Time Will Explain) by @operaticspacetrash (Jaded), T, 22k words [I could have chosen literally any story by this author and gushed about for a few paragraphs, she never puts a foot wrong! This particular one is a Persuasion AU set in the Star Wars universe, and it’s brilliant, so well conceived and written and you can really feel the shared history and the pain between Cassian and Jyn]

- the light by @ssimpleandclean (Irelando), E, 71k words [A fabulous post Scarif series that runs through what our favourite crew might have been doing during A New Hope, and then continues to describe their adventures and their coming together as a family long after that, great read!]

List Three (<20,000 Words)

- Talk Tonight by @rapidashpatronus (RapidashPatronus), T, 1213 words [I cannot overstate how much I absolutely love this story. The subject matter is so tough and so important, but the ending is hopeful, and honestly, every time I read it (which is often), I come away crying but uplifted. Everyone should read this one.]

- Counting Weeds by @rapidashpatronus (RapidashPatronus), T, 8021 words, WIP [I said only one per author, but I literally couldn’t chose between this and Talk Tonight, so I’m breaking my own rules, surprise surprise: I adore this story. It’s so original, the characterisation is so great, the OCs are a delight, just...gah, everything! Definitely one to subscribe to!]

- I fought the war (but the war won) by @incognitajones (ephemera), E, 9075 words [Ahhh my favourite AU ever: the MSF AU that I didn’t know I needed until it showed up and now I re-read on a near weekly basis! I can’t describe how well this works, Jyn as a roving war reporter and Cassian as a harried MSF doctor, it honestly has to be read to be believed, and their relationship is just perfection.]

- This Here Now (it’s where we touch down) by @mosylufanfic (mosylu), T, 1772 words [Jyn and Cassian become farmers and put down roots and are happy and this is one of my favourite stories, I always feel warm when I read it]

- the sharp edge of survival by @longclaws (with_the_monsters), T, 3950 words [I think the summary of this fic does it far more justice than I ever could: “They're heroes, now, but the not the type of heroes the Republic wants. Not bright and clean and effortlessly Light. Not able to sit still or give up the fight. The fight built each of them, after all. Made them what they are.“ It’s painful and beautiful and excellently written and you should all read it.]

- where my caution should be by @venusmelody (ivyspinners), T, 1242 words [I don’t want to say too much about this one for fear I’ll give the ending away, but suffice to say it’s 1242 spectacularly written words that will rip your heart out in the best possible way. Bring tissues.]

- the road that sets into the sun by @thegirlwholied (lyin), G, 5190 words [A beautiful story set in the EU, about how the end of the war might have looked for a Cassian and Jyn in that slightly different universe. The ending of this one in particularly is just so hopeful and beautiful!]

- the quiet we hold by @dazy-laze (ithacas), NR, 12228 words [Cassian and Jyn both suffer from PTSD after Rogue One and go somewhere quiet to recover. This is such a lovely story, painful in parts, but in a good way, and watching Cassian and Jyn heal together is a joy.]

- when we were young and crossed the stars by @leralynne (katsumi), G, 4008 [Jyn joins the Rebellion at a much younger age and grows up around Cassian. I love this story so much, it weaves their backstory seamlessly and their relationship is so believable.]

- my knees are cold (running home) by @jynersq (jynersq), T, 7302 words [Cassian and Jyn recover together after Scarif, both physically and mentally. I really love how much they look after each other in this story, warms my heart every time I read it]

- all the rest by tomorrowsrain, T, 8334 words [This fic is the best written aftermath of torture I think I’ve read, it’s heart-breaking and difficult but beautifully written and ultimately hopeful.]

- a person can be a home by @ladytharen (mollivanders), T, 3047 words [A really gorgeous look at Jyn and Cassian’s developing relationship in the aftermath of Scarif, the characters are so perfectly written here and their relationship progresses so naturally, I love it]

- The Last Poem of Jedha by @schweinsty (schweinsty), T, 15486 words [This is actually a Bodhi-centric fic with the Rebelcaptain firmly in the background, but there was no way I could leave it off a rec list because it is AMAZING. I am in awe of the world-building for Jedha, the description of a culture and a way of life and the poetry and literature and everything, it’s just...read it, you will not regret it]

- cast some light by @brynnmclean (brynnmclean), E, 16049, WIP [This verse is spectacularly NSFW in the best possible way, it is hot like BURNING, but also with excellently written character voices and really great interactions, such a favourite of mine!]

- Trading Favours by @mellamymake (caramelle), E, 7206 [Another one for the ‘hot like burning’ club, this is roomates-to-lovers modern AU via friends-with-benefits and I love it, it’s so well written and humourous, always makes me smile!]

And that is it, finally the end of the list! Happy reading! :)