#two days straight of only ninja turtles but it’s okay because he’s super into it and living for it

[dystopiagnome]

idk about anyone else but I would love to see any and all anaroceit content you are okay with posting <3

signed,

the roceit anon from a little while ago

:0 roceit anon, my beloved.

Anyways permission from one is permission to post!

[thdorkmagnet]

Match Set (Turtle Tots: Before the Rise)

@flufftober 2024 Day 7- Hoodie Weather

Fandom: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Chapter Summary: Just the disaster twins and their matching hoodies.

Duo: Disaster Twins

A/N: You guys have no idea how much I've been wanting to do a Disaster Twins chapter aaaaaaaa!! They are by far my favorite duo and I love them with all my heart and soul!! I would die for these boys ajdklsjfdksljsl

“Make sure you dress warmly, it's going to be chilly out!” Splinter yelled from the TV room. 

Leo gasped. A glance over at Donnie and Leo knew he was thinking the same thing. It was tradition, after all. 

“Matching hoodies?!” Leo screamed louder than necessary.

“Fine,” Donnie moaned dramatically as if the smile tugging at his lips wasn't super visible to everyone. 

Leo cheered and ran to go grab them.

…

Leo and Donnie held hands as they darted from rooftop to rooftop with the rest of their siblings, extra clingy with each other as they proudly displayed their twinness to the world. Leo’s hoodie was a bright pop of blue with bits of purple peaking out in places: the pockets, the drawstring, the lining of the hood. Donnie’s was the inverse of this, mainly purple with small spatterings of blue where it was tasteful.

It fit them perfectly.

An undoubtable matched set and yet, opposite in every way. 

Exactly like the disaster twins.

The two moved in perfect sync as they hopped from one landing to the next, taking up the rear of their little party, though they kept arguing about who was leading who. Raph and Mikey mostly ignored them as the two seemed to exist in their own little bubble, jumping from one train of thought to the next with seemingly no rhyme or reason, telling inside jokes that only the two of them would catch, the whole works. The two were operating on a different wavelength from the rest of the world right now, although Donnie would dispute calling it “twin sense” with every fiber of his being. 

The two were so caught up in each other that they nearly ran straight into Raph’s back when he came to an abrupt stop. The snapper gave them a perplexed look over his shoulder but the twins just stared back blankly. “We’re here,” he said and they quickly moved to the edge of the roof to see. It was a little corner store that the turtles had raided for supplies plenty of times in the past, Leo’s eyes lighting up when he saw the display window.

“Oh! Oh! They got blue and purple backpacks, Dee! We should totally buy those!”

Donnie tapped a finger to his chin, thinking, though there was a tug of a smile on his lips indicating he was already on board. “Hmmm, it could be useful to have. And it does match my hoodie…” 

“Plus, twwwwinnns,” Leo added with a charismatic lean closer. 

The smile spread across Donnie’s entire face now and he nodded. “Alright, you’ve convinced me.”

“Yes!” Leo exclaimed and Mikey hopped up and down excitedly. 

“Oooh, me too, me too!”

Donnie squinted down at the display window. “It looks like they don't have it in orange, Michael.”

“Awwww, boo.”

“Well it doesn't matter because Pops didn't give us enough money for backpacks anyways,” Raph suddenly stated, rifling through an old, beat up wallet. 

Now all three boys were booing, giving their big brother disapproving thumbs down. 

“Well he didn't!” Raph cried indignantly, frowning to himself. 

However, Leo’s spirits weren’t one to be dampened so easily, suggesting with a mischievous smile, “We could always pay them back later.” He looked to Raph as he said it, giving him his most charming and persuasive grin. 

Raph nodded, agreeing a lot faster than expected, “Okay, I’ll allow it.” 

“But isn't that considered stealing?” Mikey, the resident moral compass, asked.

Now it was Donnie's turn to smirk, a look nearly identical to his twin's as he stated with his own unique brand of charisma, “Only if you get caught.”

…

It was much warmer in the little shop than outside, but neither Leo or Donnie made any move to remove their hoodies, even as Raph and Mikey took off theirs. Instead, the slider bolted for the clothing section, his twin fast on his heels. Mikey went to check out the toy aisle for anything new, leaving Raph to (once again) pick up the supplies they were actually there for. The snapper sighed once and started loading up on groceries because someone had to make sure they had food to eat… even if he kinda wanted to check out the toys too. 

There was actually a pretty decent selection of backpacks available and while looking for the ones Leo had spotted in the window, the blue turtle came across something even more amazing. 

The slider gasped loud, latching onto his twin’s arm in an iron grip. “Donnie! Donnie!” he shouted despite being side by side, shaking the poor softshell relentlessly in his excitement. 

Donnie, agitated by the violent shaking, snapped loud, “Okay, okay! I’m right here! You can stop!” 

The slider did but only so he could drag him closer and point to what exactly had caught his eye. “They have unicorn backpacks!” he said wistfully, eyes practically twinkling in wonder. 

“Fascinating,” Donnie said, dry, trying to pry his brother’s fingers loose. 

“We have to get them!” Leo was practically vibrating in joy, even as his twin stayed stiff in his grip. 

“Absolutely not,” the softshell snapped, finally managing to free his arm. 

That made Leo snap out of his fantasy and straight back to reality, turning to Donnie with a pout. “Whaaaat, but whhhhyy?” he whined incessantly, hoping to guilt his twin into agreeing.  

But Donnie stood his ground, not so easily swayed by Leo's manipulations. “I agreed to a set of backpacks in both purple and blue. Not unicorn themed garbage.”

“It’s not garbage!” Leo snapped back, jumping on the offensive. “And look-” He snatched up two backpacks from the display shelf, holding them up for his brother to see. “They still come in purple and blue. So what’s the problem?”

“The problem is I don’t wanna be seen wearing unicorns on my back, for pizza’s sake!” Donnie huffed, exasperated. 

“Oh, come on! Who’s gonna even see you? April?”

“Yes! And don’t want to make her think I like this stuff!”

Leo rolled his eyes. “She already knows you're a nerd, it’s not like you can get any lamer.” 

Donnie huffed and pulled his own backpacks off the shelf. “Well then how about we just get these, instead?” The pair in question were covered in algebraic formulas and symbols and Leo instantly wrinkled his nose in disgust.  

“Ew, gross! No way! Keep your nerd stuff away from me.” He took a harrowing step backwards as if just being that close would infect him with cringe. 

“But they have them in our colors, so what's the problem?” Donnie mocked, using Leo’s own words against him. 

Leo frowned, giving his twin a challenging glare which Donnie met with his own. “It was my idea, I should get to pick.”

“Your logic is flawed.”

“No it's not! You're just not being fair!” 

The stare down continued, both far too stubborn to admit defeat, twin telepathy on full blast as they silently dared each other, ‘You break first!’

“Why don't you both just get the ones you want and not fight about it?” Raph suggested, sounding completely exasperated. 

“Because then we wouldn't be matching?!” Leo shouted like it was obvious. 

“Duh, that's the whole point, Raph,” Donnie added, the two oh so quick to gang up on their big brother, even mid-fight with each other. 

Raph sighs deep before snapping an order at the two. “Then how about you ditch the backpacks for a minute and actually help me get what we came here for!” 

“Fine,” the twins groaned as one, shooting each other one last lingering glare. 

Only there's a rattle at the front door and all four sets of eyes swerve in that direction, pupils wide and afraid. The store owner stands just outside, looking tired, cold, and miserable as he slits the key into the lock. The twins seize up in panic when they hear the click, frozen like deers in headlights. 

As the door swings open, the man's loud grumbling fills the space, putting the boys impossibly more on edge. “-making me do inventory this time of- what the?” The man's eyes immediately zero in on Leo and Donnie and there's a flash of confusion. The twins' faces go about six shades paler. This guy was a lot bigger than he looked from the rooftops. 

Leo offers his best disarming smile but it comes out too much like a grimace to be all that effective. 

It doesn't take long for the man to put two and two together- especially with the incriminating evidence of a backpack in each hand- and suddenly he's glaring hatefully at the pair. “Why you little thieves! You got a lot of nerve tryin to steal from Victor Bytes!” 

Realizing his mistake, Leo tossed the backpacks away, Donnie quick to do the same, both frantically shuffling backwards till they hit a wall. “We- We were gonna pay you back later,” Leo tries to plead in a near quiver, taking a protective stance in front of his twin. 

“Yeah, sure you were!” The guy snaps, disbelief and hateful spite dripping from every word. “Nice try but I wasn't born yesterday!” He starts rolling up his sleeve, stomping towards the two with malicious intent. “I think someone needs to teach you brats a lesson!” 

It was then that Raph darts out from between two aisles, flinging the large bag of groceries as hard as he can at the guy and roaring, “Hot Soooouup!” 

The bag hits the shopkeep with enough force to fully knock him off his feet, the thin paper ripping down the middle and sending an explosion of food tumbling. The man is left dazed and disoriented for a moment, laying in a pile of crushed produce. 

It was all the advantage the boys need, Raph yelling over his shoulder, “Go!” 

Leo and Donnie don’t have to be told twice, racing for the back door. Raph headed that way as well, pausing only to scoop Mikey up on his way out, the little box turtle tucked away in his shell the moment the shopkeep had entered. 

The human manages to struggle to his feet, spotting the four escaping figures and shouting, “HEY! Get back here you little punks!” 

The back door still hangs open from when they’d all broken in, letting the four slip from the store’s warm central heating to the frigid New York City air in a matter of seconds. Raph and Mikey run one way, so Leo and Donnie run the other, escaping deeper into the dark alley. For whatever reason, the man chaseq after the twins instead of their elder and younger brothers, yelling obscenely as he pursues them with all he's worth. He was far more out of shape compared to the two tots, but was quickly shortening the distance thanks to his height advantage.

Luckily, there's a metal fence ahead dividing the alley in half, with just enough room for the two small turtles to squeeze through if they suck in a breath. Donnie goes first, making it through with no issue. But when it came Leo’s turn…

His sleeve catches on something sharp, bringing him to a staggered halt. He yelps, tugging his arm desperately in the hopes of wiggling loose. Donnie instantly turns to check on his twin when he hears the scream, only for his heart to plummet when Leo looks back at him with scared, watery eyes. “I'm stuck!”

Donnie is at his twin's side in half a second, fiddling with the caught sleeve, trying to pry it loose but the thing isn't budging! “Take it off!” Donnie shouts, voice shrill with fear. 

But Leo stubbornly shakes his head. “No!”

“Leo-” Donnie starts to scold only for something to grab his brother tight by the wrist. 

Leo cries out in fear, both boys looking up at the now grinning face of the shopkeep. “Got you now, you little brat!” 

He starts to drag Leo back through the fence, so Donnie wraps both arms around Leo’s waist and digs in his heels, fighting with all he's worth against the much stronger grip of the adult man. Inch by horrible inch, Leo is tugged ever closer to his fate, so Donnie just grits his teeth and digs his heels in deeper. 

“No, let me go!” Leo shouts, completely hysterical at this point, and kicks the fence as hard as he could. 

It startles the man, grip loosening for a single instant. And Donnie, fueled by love and impossible desperation, pulls Leo with strength he didn't know existed, something tearing loose and sending the two sprawling to the ground. 

Donnie is back on his feet quick, dragging Leo behind him as the angry shopkeeper shouts obscene threats at their retreating backs. 

The two run until the voice long fades into the background, ducking into the nearest manhole the moment they were sure they hadn't been followed. 

Once on solid ground again, the pair doubled over, panting and gasping for air, their heartbeats a loud, thunderous roar against their eardrums. “What was that, Leo?!” Donnie hissed, shooting his twin a sharp glare. “Why didn't you take off the stupid hoodie so we could-”

But then Donnie noticed Leo curled over his arm with a miserable frown and the anger died on his tongue. "Are you hurt anywhere?” he asked softly, accessing his brother for any noticeable injuries. 

Leo shook his head, uncurling enough so Donnie could see his sleeve. “It ripped,” he said sadly, poking a finger into the quite sizable hole. 

“Oh.” Donnie inwardly sighed in relief that Leo wasn't hurt physically. Only he was hurt mentally and that was much, much harder for Donnie to fix on his own. He shuffled awkwardly for what was probably too long of a moment, trying to cobble together something soothing to say. He finally settled on, “Well, it doesn't look that bad. I'm sure we can get it stitched back up.”

“But then we won't match!” Leo shouted, sounding really torn up about it. 

And the thing was, Donnie understood why. 

He knew how much Leo loved matching with him, because Donnie liked matching with Leo, just as much. Maybe even more. 

Honestly, it had never even occurred to him just how much it mattered until now. 

But it did matter. 

So much. 

As cheesy as it was, wearing those hoodies around had been their way of physically proving they were twins. That they belonged together. That even if they fought or argued or made each other mad that they still choose each other as their other half. 

So to see that symbol of their bond severed in such a way… yeah it was pretty upsetting for him too if he was being honest. 

It was so important to Leo he’d risked capture over losing this incredibly valuable piece of their connection. 

For a moment Donnie just stared at his twin brother. And stared and stared and stared. 

Then he turned on his heels and marched straight over to the nearest trash pile littering the sewer tunnel, Leo just watching in growing confusion. He dug around a bit before pulling out the sharpest object he could find, using it to slice through the sleeve of his hoodie. 

“Wha- Donnie!” Leo squeaked, rushing to check on his genius brother, who it seemed had completely lost his mind. 

But Donnie just gently grabbed his wrist and guided his arm till it was side by side with his, showing off the two identical rips in the arms of their hoodies. “Now we match again. Happy?”

Leo blinked, eyes flickering between the two torn holes in disbelief. But his bewilderment soon turned to giggles, laughing at the complete absurdity of such a ridiculous solution. He pressed his head against Donnie’s shoulder and his twin released his hand to give him a proper hug. “Weirdo,” Leo teased, voice warm with affection.

Donnie rolled his eyes but smiled. “Better a weirdo than a dumdum,” he said, equally as fond, rubbing a hand up and down Leo’s carapace the way he knew he liked. 

That made Leo laugh harder and cling just a little bit closer. Donnie felt his chest warm, though he wouldn’t admit it out loud. And then because he maybe wanted to make Leo even happier, he offered, “Do you want to sneak back in later and steal those unicorn backpacks as revenge?”

Leo abruptly broke off the hug so he could grin mischievously at his twin. “Heck yes!” 

Donnie smirked back, knowing without any kind of mirror that it was a perfect match to Leo’s. 

Exactly as it should be.

A/N: For anyone wondering the shopkeep was based off Vic aka Spider Bytez from the 2012 series (or at least that's what I know him from since it's the only other series I've seen) I thought he fit the role pretty well though his design I imagine being a lot different to better fit the Rise style. And y'know he doesn't turn into a spider mutant *ahem*

[love-killed-the-superstar]

The Last Ronin 2: Re-Evolution Issue #1 LIVEBLOG

SPOILERS ABOUND. I'M NOT GOING TO BE NORMAL ABOUT THIS IT'LL PROBABLY GET SUPER LONG

Okay so Casey Marie's muscles are something I'm never going to get over. SHE LOOKS GOOD!!!!! Her getup is feeling a little too reminiscent of a cape-wielding superhero for my tastes to be honest - I really loved the more practical outfits she wore in TLR Lost Years, especially in issue 4 when she was running the training mission for the kids. But ah well, I'm sure this will grow on me. It may not be practical (edna's law of no capes is coming to mind, also PLEASE TIE YOUR HAIR UP WHEN YOU'RE FIGHTING GIRL!!!) but it's very cunty anyway which I appreciate

Straight up thought she killed this guy - what was that sound effect if he's still able to walk??? I fr thought she snapped his neck

IDK if we needed a whole 8 pages of punching and kicking to exposition dump what we kinda already knew from what's been shown in the lost years (esp the lost day special) but IT'S FINE IG... NOW ONTO THE BABIES

SORRY, SORRY. TEENAGERS NOW.

GIGGLING KICKING MY FEET. We're ALREADY getting the leo-v-raph adjacent dynamic with these two and I'm living for it. if one of them drops a stone cold 'fearless leader' jab i will lose my shit

HI? HELLO, EXCUSE ME, MIND-TALKING? PICTURES IN HEAD? ARE WE A FAMILY THAT LUCID DREAMS OR SOMETHING?!?? I DON'T REMEMBER THIS BEING SOMETHING THEY COULD DO?? every new speech bubble here is like a punch to the gut, wdym telepathy wdym secret lair wdym honouring everything master splinter taught you???? (although i'm proud that when this panel dropped on news sites i was immediately like THAT ISN'T THE KITCHEN FROM LOST YEARS. turns out it was a Secret Lair TM)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Seance -- TURTLES COUNT IT OFF!!

not gonna screenshot the whole backstory but they're basically doing a telepathic puppet show explaining the backstory and it's pretty much the mirage origins with a bit of extra tlr flair. as always it HURTS ME seeing the turtles dying so thanks for that tlr2 :'')) icb these kids watch a mind movie of their uncles dying every fucking night. yall are messy

SOBBING AND CRYING,, I WISH YOU'D ALL HAD THE CHANCE TO KNOW HIM TOO!!!!!! I WISH YOU'D GOTTEN TO KNOW ALL OF THEM!!!!! (tlr splinter doesnt count tho because hes a dick)

there was a cool sequence of them rooftop hopping n stuff but i wont cover it bc we already saw it in a bunch of news articles weeks ago

i just did the SHARPEST INHALE. casey marie you and your beautiful muscular arms have aged like the finest wine

YI NO!!!!!

lmaooo moja is JUDGING your taste in women u two

lots of text... blah blah blah jobs, crimerates, blah blah... jiro in pig uniform jumpscare.. casey marie i thought u were going to fix him :(((

YESSSSS KIDS ARE GOING ON A MISSION WITH THEIR MOM, LETS FUCKING GOOOOO

MY BABIES ARE KICKING ASS!!!!!

....,.HUH

WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO MY BABY BOY ODIE!!!!!!!!!!! WHO DID THIS TO HIM!!!!!!???? WHAT??!???? HUH/1?!!? EXCUSE ME????

I'M . LIKE WHAT DO I EVEN SAY TO THIS. IT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE??? WHAT IS GOING ON!!!

FINAL THOUGHTS:

dude that first issue was wordy but the kids were ON POINT. they were so fun!! their dialogue is fun and they kick ass.

i loved yi announcing the punishment for casey while the others were like NOO SHE DIDNT MEAN THAT DONT LISTEN TO HER. we're getting more of their personalities and it's great!! it was a nice throwback to issue 2 of lost years when they were cleaning - yi refused to help because of how strictly she was following instructions. im picking up that she might be neurodivergent but i did get that from the lost years too - only doing things within strict instructions, getting frustrated at teaching odyn chess, not because of him playing horseys with the knights but that it was Against The Rules Of Chess - and now not picking up on some social cues. It's nice to see!! I love her very much, but it feels like besides rehashing the origin story she took a bit of a backseat to the other three.

i want to know more about why uno said being a rebel was moja's 'thing', since she didn't seem to be any more rebellious than the other three in this issue. we didn't get any unique interactions between her and casey marie which is what i felt was lacking from lost years but i wonder if this is hinting towards a more turbulent mother-daughter dynamic with them... I REALLY HOPE SO!! her and uno butting heads in a leo-raph way is very fun - i don't mind one or two prior group dynamics leaking into the new turtle siblings because they're all so different from the original 4.

uno seems to be taking on slightly more of a leader role than moja so i think he won the title of fearless leader. which is fine, i think it'll be fun to see and he's definitely less of an asshole now than when he was growing up in lost years. still picking on odyn a bit but seems to snipe at moja just as much. even when he was commenting on yi's storytelling he didn't make fun of her, though - i think she may have inherited the 2k3 don ability of being Completely Unbullyable.

i was really pleased that odyn felt more involved!! i feel like he took the backseat a few times in lost years - it was fun seeing more of his personality shine through! he and yi seem to get on the best, and i giggled at them rolling their eyes at moja and uno's raph-leo schtick. i didn't expect him to TURN TO FUCKING STONE THOUGH, so i'm nervous about that. WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHO DID THIS TO MY BOY? IS HE GOING TO TURN BACK NEXT CHAPTER OR IS HE OUT OF COMMISSION UNTIL THE END OF THE RUN??? (if it's the latter i'll be a bit annoyed - don't take odyn away from the equation please!!)

I do wonder if by introducing casually that they can PSYCHICALLY CONNECT, the turtles will use that as a technique to reach odyn's mind to make sure he's still in there and piece together what's happened to him. i mean, their casual telepathy has gotta be some sort of chekhov's gun right?

and shit.... april was so fucking mad casey took the babies out so she's going to EXPLODE when she finds out what happened to her baby boy, her beloved favourite, her baby odyn :''(( im giggling rubbing my hands together waiting for the fallout but also if she cries i might cry too. speaking of april, she seems to be working on a new project and i saw nano particles mentioned - are we going to have a roninverse version of nano in this run???? I NEED MY ROBOT SON

as always, casey marie... u have aged like fine wine. u are stunning. disappointed that ur still believing that jiro can do good as a cop when their entire police force and government is corrupt as fuck. just feels very naive of her. i'm excited to see her break down at the concept of losing odyn - in fact i need everyone to mourn this beautiful kid. they tell us so much that shes a super clingy helicopter mom and i am picking up on the strict part, but it would be nice to see more of her just... hugging her kids. holding them. i get why she didnt in this issue but id love more mama casey squishing their cheeks and kissing their foreheads.

i have zero fucking clue what's going on with odyn. im wondering if it's somehow related to nano, or to whatever project April is working on - she says it's to do with clearing the tunnels, but I''m not convinced. who knows, there might be some ulterior motive happening.

Anyway, that's the end of my liveblog!! thanks for reading all the way to the end... go read it wherever you read ur comics!!!

[bay-did-nothing-wrong]

Tell All (Donatello x Reader)

Synopsis: Don and the Reader had been hiding their relationship from his family but they decide its finally time to come clean.

Genre: Fluff mostly, some crack, literally one sex pun

Word count: 1946

Soft.

So soft.

Wasn't his skin supposed to be rougher all together? How were his lips so soft and smooth then? Just another mystery.

Your mouths split with a tiny wet sound, but neither of you was in a rush to go anywhere.

But you should have been.

"Dinner's ready!" came Mikey's energetic shout from somewhere withing the lair. Probably the kitchen.

A soft longing sigh left your lips, and you felt a warm current of air hit your face - Don felt the same.

"We should go." you state, convincing yourself as much as him.

"Do we have to?" he whined breathlessly.

Yes, yes, you did. And he knew that. You both did. Otherwise his brothers and his very observant father will notice you're acting suspicious. They'll probably figure out he wasn't just helping you study for that AP Statistics exam. That is, if they hadn't already.

Your hands slid down his shoulders in an attempt to separate you two but instead they fell onto the top of his plastron, thumbs running softly over the last uncovered skin there, where you knew he was sensitive.

"Hmmm..." it came out as a low growl and it surrounded you on all sides. "You're not helping."

"Am I ever?"

"DONNIE! (Y/N)! DINNER!" at least Mikey stuck to the strict "No entering during study-sessions" rules. That's good to know that he can be intimidated into compliance. Or blackmailed... Point is, it worked.

Donnie's head falls in defeat, forehead leaning on yours for support.

So glad he took those goggles off. You can see more of him this way.

He sighed again, defeated - he was too smart to not figure out that at some point your behavior will raise suspicion. His head lifted back, and turned to the door.

"Coming!"

And your cheeky ass giggled at that.

"Oh, Donnie." you teased, "I haven't even started."

"Pfft. " chuckle, and a snort.

He really did like your dirty puns.

The man took your hand into his cool giant one, somehow providing comfort like no other, as he pulled you to the lab entrance. But once at the door you had to split. It's part of the arrangement.

His family shouldn't know about you.

You two decided at the early stage of your budding romance that keeping the whole thing on the down-low for a while was the smartest choice. It would prevent his brother's jealousy, it won't incite any fights, it won't change their relationship with you and you'll get to feel things out at your own pace - no pressure or prying eyes.

Just you.

But there was a list of downsides too. For one, neither of you was a great actor, Don was even shit at lying, so you'd had to take extra steps to remain as friendly-looking as possible. Then there was the trying-to-set-you-up-with-Vern thing that April was doing and every time the topic came up you could act regular-disgusted but not in-a-happy-relationship disgusted, and so would your favourite turtle. And then there was the hiding, coveting each other in the lab or in small stolen moments in the lair, and the lying about going topside to do recon or install something somewhere, the covering up - no, of course Donnie wasn't with you at your place, he must have gone somewhere else.

You were quite honestly sick of it. You were ready to tell his brothers. You were ready to tell the world.

"We should tell them." his voice was once again low, quiet as if to preserve the last few moments of the secret to yourselves.

Once again you were entirely in sync despite being vastly different.

He was a genius, you, decidedly, weren't.

He was really into sports, you weren't.

He was a 6'8 ninja turtle raised underground by a rat dad, and you obviously were not.

And yet somehow, you clicked.

"I agree."

At that point you knew that your approval would kick into gear the most destructive process in Donnie's mind - overthinking.

Your hand immediately darted out and grabbed one of his pulling it up to your lips and kissing the knuckles in reassurance.

"We'll figure it out."

But still, you had to split. Even if you did plan to tell them, there would be a time and a place for that.

"What took you so long? The lasagna got cold." Mikey was positively outraged - as much as he could be - by your lack of interest in his usually excellent cooking.

"Sorry, Mikey." you butted in, trying to save the day, "There's just something about Inferential Statistical Analysis that I can't wrap my head around." Bullshit, you knew exactly what it was and how it worked - it's part of the basics but he didn't need to know that.

"Still smells great though!" Don sounds cheerful enough even though you'd just agreed to break the fragile peace in your relationship just a minute prior. He was getting really good at the lying part. Too bad it won't be needed for much longer.

Dinner was as uneventful as it can be around five mutant ninjas. Master Splinter asked about your day, you told him about the nearing finals season and he offered some comforting words after which the conversation bounced around the rest of the family in a natural progression.

Once you were full, and once all of Mikey's delicious food had been virtually inhaled by the four giant men around you, you got up to get the dishes to the kitchen and help clean up. It was only fair, after all.

Apparently it was Ralph's turn to wash dishes and there was no wiggling out of that because Splinter said so. Well, at least you can dry them.

And dry them you did, meanwhile casual conversation about whatever kept flowing and you figured you won't be able to go back to the lab and do some more 'Statistics'.

You were just drying and putting away the last plate when a thiqq arm stretched over your head to reach a cupboard you couldn't even get to in your dreams.

Your head whipped back, eyes landing straight on some hard looking chest plates under a pair of suspenders. And then you looked up and saw Donatello, the cheeky shit, with a pop tart in his mouth and a shit-eating grin around it.

"Oops, sorry, (Y/N), didn't see you there."

Oh, I'll give you Oops, didn't see me, my ass. You'll see.

He was being unusually open about his closeness to you and that was less then an hour after you'd decided to come clean.

He was ready then.

"I was planning on checking out the meatpacking District tomorrow." Leo was going on about that idea he had to check out some building or another, Mikey was wiping down the table, and Raph was finishing up the dishes, and for once Don was just there chilling.

His treat was gone, meaning he ate it all, he seemed relaxed, his shoulders loose and shell leaning on the wall.

No time like the present.

"You guys, I'm gonna head out. I've got work tomorrow and after that I've got a study group to attend so, I should head to bed."

"You need us to walk you home?" Leo asked more out of courtesy, he knew you lived close and would usually decline.

"No, no, that's okay." you replied, looking for your bag and jacket where you'd left them near the kitchen table.

"Aaaw, you're leaving already? Well, at least you ate." Mikey quickly swept you into a hug goodbye and turned back to sorting his ingredients in the cupboards.

"Thanks to you, Mikey Steward." to which he giggled in response.

"See you tomorrow, shorty." Raph waved as he turned to get a beer from the fridge.

"Stay safe out there, okay?" Leo always the guardian, warned you for the hundredth time, again just out of courtesy.

And then you walked to where Don was leaning on the wall, took his chin in your hand and pulled him down.

Oh, shit, am I actually gonna do this!?

Your lips met, your heart pounded, the room became super hot and that wasn't just because of the brilliant piece of man-candy in your hands. You could feel their eyes but then again that was the whole point.

A loud dramatic intake of air was heard, a drop of something metallic and then silence.

Your face pulled away from him, eyes opening slightly to look at him, as your weight fell back onto your heels from standing on your tiptoes. His face had that same dazed, satisfied-yet-hungry look that he usually had whenever you'd had to break apart.

He tasted so sweet, you just had to lick your lips at the memory.

"I'll see you tomorrow." you whispered, that was all you could force out in that moment.

"See you tomorrow." his voice was as soft as yours even though his brothers could probably hear.

You fully pulled away from your man, now certain that there'd be no secrets between you and the ninja clan.

You were not an actor, you quickly got embarrassed with your performance, however brilliant it may have been, and speedily scammed to pick up your belongings and jogged outta there.

You turned one last time, because something in you said you should and what you saw was truly a sight.

All three of Don's bothers with their mouths hanging open and Splinter peeking out of the door to the dojo with his eyes like saucers and then there's Donnie - the image of peace, hands in his pockets, a soft smile on his lips, now shiny from your lip gloss, and looking you straight in the eye as you retreated.

"Bye." you shout to no one in particular and scramble for the exit.

-_-_-_-_-

Phone - charging

Alarm - set

Pajamas - on

What's missing then?

Ding!

Your phone notified you that someone was requesting your attention and you were more than happy to find out it was your man.

'Hey, Laika' Oh lord it so got you giggling like a schoolgirl when he called you that.

'Hey, Tyson' and then he told you that he loved to be compared with the biggest name in astrophysics today.

'How did it go?' you felt super bad for bailing on him but at the same time there was this relief that came with the cat being out of the bag.

'Surprisingly well. No one was mad that we kept it a secret.' well, that's good. You won't have to jeopardize your relationship with the boys. 'Dad still wants to talk to you tho'

Ah, well, that's to be expected. Even though Donnie is an adult, the were still a very tightly knit family unit so, you supposed that something like that would be a pretty big deal.

'That's fine, I'd do whatever'

'I wish I could kiss you rn'

It honestly shocked you how chill about it he was. Probably because he wasn't being grilled for information anymore, neither of you would have to lie anymore, and because he could now tell Vern to fuck right off, with no worry about how it would look.

You were so looking forward to being solely and entirely his.

'Tomorrow we start anew'

He had a point, things would change. But hopefully not between you.

'Can't wait to meet you for the first time again lol' you didn't know if you were being funny or just cheesy but it felt right.

Despite your smile, your eyes started drooping, your breaths slowing and you felt the exhaustion of the day slowly hug you like a blanket.

'Goodnight'

'Goodnight, (Y/N)'

[upstartcrow42]

Fic Writer Interview

Thanks for the tag, @chelsfic!

How many works do you have on AO3?

16

What’s your total AO3 word count?

201,056 👀

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

If we’re just counting AO3, then it’s just one. What We Do in the Shadows. I’ve only had this username for a year. Under different names in different places I have other fics for other fandoms. That would bring the grand total up to 5. I tend to have huge fic dry spells.

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

66 - Especially For You - Nandor/Guillermo. Gen - Gift fic for @jujubeas. Guillermo is injured (very minor) and Nandor cares for him by buying him food from Panera Bread.

44 - Tell Me Things Will Be Okay - Nandor/Guillermo. Gen - Gift fic for @riskylatte and a collaboration with @andyandnormski. Nandor tries to calm Guillermo’s frayed nerves after they arrive home from the theater massacre.

35 - The Protocols of Revenge - Nandor/Nadja that leads to Nandor/Nadja/Laszlo. NSFW - My first fic for the fandom. Laszlo makes Nadja made, so Nandor proposes revenge. Nadja eventual relents but on the condition that Laszlo watch.

33 - Just Right - Nandor/Guillermo. Gen. Gift fic for @andyandnormski. A seasonal storm spooks Guillermo, so Nandor takes matters into his own hands as far as his relaxation goes. Naturally, things go awry.

32- He Demands Satisfaction. - Nandor/Guillermo Gen. Tumblr Prompt request for @andyandnormski. Nandor and Guillermo are taking their relationship to new levels post theater massacre, but the threat of sunlight puts a damper on things. 

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

I get so few comments on my fics these days, so I reply to them all. I understand why people don’t comment on fics, especially NSFW ones, but I love hearing from readers, even if the comment is super short. I love getting replies back from authors when I comment, so I try to do the same for anyone who comments on my fics. I like engaging with the readers.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Rooftop Reflections. Nandor/Nadja. She’s been missing Laszlo since he want on the run and tries to escape by sitting on the roof. Nandor joins her and then leaves her be. She is really bummed out at the end after Nandor leaves and has to be alone with her thoughts about Laszlo.

Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve written?

I have not yet, but I’m not against.

I’ve been wanting do a weird one with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/What We Do in the Shadows. They’re both in NYC, and they both have to keep to the shadows, so it makes sense that they’d run into each other. Leonardo vs. Nandor as leaders, lol. Donatello and Colin Robinson getting into technical details about topics. Raphael and Nadja being just the rudest. Micaelangelo and Laszlo straight up chillin’. And Master Splinter and Guillermo shaking their head at their charges acting like such fools.

I’ve also thought about them running away to Canada and meeting the crew from Letterkenny.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

When I was writing HP, yes. It was mainly about how I was ending my chapters, and to be fair, the endings were not great for what I was trying to achieve (setting up some context - kind of omncient). I’m pretty sure I’ve deleted all of those from existence now.

Do you write smut? If so what kind?

Most definitely. I’ve written mainly mlw and wlw with reference to mlm. I’ve also written OT3 situations with mmw.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I’m aware of. How does that even happen?

Have you ever had a fic translated?

I have not.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes.

I mentioned Tell Me Things will be okay earlier. Andy and I were very equal partners on that one and it was fun take their lead and then run with it and then see what they came up with next.

Nandor the Relentless: Conqueror of Courting. Nandor/Guillermo. A round robin fic where ideas were thrown out and shaped as a team. Nandor tries to court Guillermo in one-sided fake dating scenarios to protect him. I contributed to the last chapter of this gem of a fic series. I’m really proud that Nandor’s lament of the Windsor name was kept in.

Shoot Your Shot. Fendermo. Another round robin known by the writers as the Basketball AU. Nandor is a WNBA pro and Guillermo is her assistant. They’re even stupider in this story than in the show. It’s not complete, but one day we’ll finish it. I’m really proud of the text chain I wrote in the first chapter.

What’s your all time favorite ship?

I know nearly all the stories I’ve talked about are Nandermo, but that’s not my all time favorite ship. I don’t know if I can really pick a favorite. It’s just Nandor/Anyone really.

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

A Chance Encounter. Nandor/Silvia de la Cruz (Guillermo’s mom). NSFW. I’m only afraid I won’t finish it because I’m stuck on the next part for how the story should flow now that the smut is out of the way.

What are your writing strengths?

I’ve been told that I’m good and smooth dialogue.

What are your writing weaknesses?

I think I use the same descriptive language too much. The same facial expressions and dialogue reactions. I also need to work on differentiating my imagery and adding more figurative language to my stories. I love seeing that in other people’s works, but suddenly forget to do it in my own.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I love to see it, or even incorporating English language learning sentence structures into fics for characters whose primary language is not English. When I write in another language, I have had a friend who can speak that language check my work and phrasing to make it sound realistic. There was a lot of that in A Chance Encounter and @theoceanismyinkwell was immensely helpful with the Spanish dialogue and the Spanish Speaker in speaking in English lines too.

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

The first one I ever published on a fic site was Gundam Wing. I really hope that is not floating around still as I can’t even remember the site it was pubished on. It was peak cringe.

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

It’s not complete, but Written in the Stars has consumed an epic amount of my time. The word count alone is two novels worth. It’s been fun to look into Nandor’s past, but also make him somewhat of a softie at that time too for a fic that could be otherwise very dark (there are defintely some mildly dark elements, but it’s generally just regular flavor NSFW). And it’s fun to take a semi-canon character who has one trait and flesh her out into a full person. At least I hope she comes across that way.

Tagging: @safetyhazardfics

@walkwithursus

@andyandnormski

@mapnerdbloodbag

@satincowboys

@nandoor

[gildedmuse]

I was totally going to post about what makes Raizo awesome, answer a question and fill a request but then my phone got destroyed. While I spend the next day or so fixing that. Here. Enjoy this....

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Poor guys, their dreams were crushed...And it was a simple dream. They just wanted mystical shadow assassins to be real. ...And now I'm imagining a crossover between One Piece and Ninja Turtles.

@gildedmuse replied:

Which one does Luffy inevitably ask to join his crew? Cause I feel like the easy answer: Michelangelo. But actually I think it would be Master Splinter.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

I can see Luffy and Law fighting to get all five on their crew, and being forced to settle on shared custody. 😂

@gildedmuse replied:

I asked my brother and his expert opinion was, "I don’t know, you're probably right. But Donatello and Franky be bros."

Also, we agreed that Raphael is just an angry Zoro. Which I was like, "You don't think Luffy would ask Law to join his crew?" 

His reply, "Well, he hasn't asked yet. Probably jealous of all that sweet time Law got with Zoro on the way to Wano." 

I HAVE TRAINED THIS BOY SO WELL PEOPLE

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Clearly! 😂 I think Donny would get along well with Law, too, as would Leo, while Raph and Mikey would prefer Luffy if only because he gets into the craziest adventures.

And Master Splinter would just want to listen to his shows.

@gildedmuse replied:

Leo: We need a plan. 

Luffy: Good point, Lion Turtle! 

Law: THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYING THE ENTIRE FUCKING TIME!? 

Luffy: Huh. I guess never heard you before because you're not a giant turtle ninja guy.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Oh my god, that's exactly what would happen! 🤣 And Zoro teaming up with Raph to pick on Sanji, while Donny joins up with Usopp and Franky to build some crazy stuff while Mikey rolls around the deck with Chopper like a dork.

@gildedmuse replied: 

Raphael's and Zoro's Sole Interaction: 

Raphael: *Nods to Zoro* Nice swords. 

Zoro: *Nod returned* Nice Sais. 

Small But Morally In The Right Group Of Fans: Oh, well, I would ship the FUCK out of these two.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

That sounds about right!

Poor Master Splinter, I think he'd hide on the Polar Tang for some peace and quiet...

@gildedmuse replied:

Leo suggests all the most Law like shit only Luffy actually acknowledges him and takes it into consideration because he’s a goddamn ninja turtle. Law spends the entire time just over Leo's shoulder in various states of sullenness, outrage and indignation. This is exactly the advice he gave yesterday and Strawhat-ya straight up ignored.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

I figure he'd just take advantage of it and work with Leo to get things back on track after a while, still muttering under his breath about how Luffy never listens to him.

@gildedmuse replied: 

For some reason all I see now is Law being like, "Alright, I'm agreeing to leave Leo here because God knows someone should reign in the Strawhat. But goddamnit, Raphael comes with me. You only get one!" 4

Luffy: Okay if we also keep the rat monster! 

Nami: No, Luffy, that doesn't make sense. There are 4 turtles and 2 of you! 

Luffy: Oh, yeah, thank God we have this navigator-

Bepo: That is not what navigation is! 

Luffy: What do you mean we only get one?

Law: -pointing between Zoro and Raphael- You. Only. Get. One.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

I can definitely see Luffy just assuming everything Nami does as a 'navigator' thing. And Law trying to barter for Donny so he doesn't get stuck with Mikey. 😂

Oh my gosh, YES. 🤣

@gildedmuse replied:

You know Zoro tries to just stare down his captain as Luffy looks between the two like he isn't secretly nervous. Like... He believes in Luffy and their connection but also.... It's a goddamn ninja that's also a turtle and has goddamn awesome sai. So... You know, could go either way. He understands. It's a fucking ninja turtle.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

I would definitely be torn! And there's Sanji, egging Luffy on to keep the turtle. 😂

@gildedmuse replied:

Sanji: come on he's exactly like Zoro only useful! 

Zoro: Oi! 

Sanji: What? At least if we're stuck out at sea we can make turtle soup out of him. 

Chopper: Using food to guide Luffy's logic isn't fair! (Turtle soup does sound yummy though)

And Zoro just standing there like come on, Chopper, you too?

@dragonprincess18 replied:

And Mikey asking to go on the Tang because he doesn't want to be made into soup, while Raph grabs him by the mask like, I'm not getting stuck with you!

@gildedmuse replied:

I love that both Raph and Zoro are like well, you know what? I've accepted my date of being forced to go with Law. That is some good sidekick vision. They know who the fucking protagonist is!

Actually, phone, I meant fate but fuck it. I'm sticking with date.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Raph hates it, but he's a natural second-in-command. And he also doesn't want to be stuck with Leo. 😂

There are no accidents.

@gildedmuse replied: 

Raphael: Well, I'm choosing Law. 

Zoro: -At the same time- We'd obviously both like to stay with our actual Captains so- 

Zoro:... 

Zoro: Wait did you just pick Law? 

Zoro: -Eyeing Leo- 

Zoro: Yeah... I'm gonna go ahead and go with Law as well then.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

And Luffy goes all anaconda on them, like NO! Law only gets one! Zoro's mine!

@gildedmuse replied:

On the sidelines Nami, Chopper and Usopp who do not want to be left without a super strong swordsman are just like WHAT!? 

Zoro can't explain. There's just something about some other dude with blades that he would definitely fight To The Death that he inherently trusts.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

And Sanji is trying to convince him to let Zoro go while Leo just tries to massage away a headache, and Donny raises a hand, like "I...also want to go with Law now."

Though I could also see Zoro taking Leo as a sparring partner.

And Usopp bartering for Donny, while Brooke quietly hides Master Splinter behind him.

@gildedmuse replied:

But that would be like Zoro taking Law as a sparing partner. Like I see it... I get where you're coming from. But there is sparing partners vs people you want to be on a crew with. Said with all the love in her heart. (Also, let's face it, it's Zoro. He can argue about it but whoever Luffy says they're taking... Those are now the people he would die for.)

@dragonprincess18 replied:

True...Zoro would do pretty much anything for Luffy. Except be nice to Sanji. There are lines.

@gildedmuse replied:

Also, for the record, Bepo considers them all minks and try to treat them as such and the turtles just like, "Well, no bro." And Bepo continuously shocked by this. Continuously.

I mean there are lines than there are fucking impassable mountains forever separating two spots.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Yeah, Bepo would be so confused. 

Exactly, there are some things that can't be done.

@gildedmuse replied:

Luffy: Zoro, I need you to die for this crew

Zoro: I have already accepted this sacrifice and moved to make it so. Just as long as you become pirate king and my crew lives.

Luffy: Zoro, legitimately the only way the crew will survive is if you are nice to Sanji for like an hour... At most.

Zoro: Well, Captain, you and the crew can go fuck yourselves cuz that ain't happening.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Yup. That's a canon conversation they've had in their minds. No need to voice it, Luffy knows. It's hard enough when Zoro has to work with Sanji for two straight minutes!

In comparison, Leo and Raph are best friends!

@gildedmuse replied:

For the record, if you were writing some weird NT/OP fanfic that was also ZoLaw friendly that is right there how you would get Zoro on the Polar Tang. 

Law: Actually, we'd have to take the turtle bladesman. Obviously yours is too invested in staying here with you... And black leg-ya who will also be on this ship. 

Zoro: FUCK IT, HAVE THE TURTLE I’M GOING WITH NOTSA... WITH LAW.

Law: -I got your swordman. Whatcha gonna do Strawhat? But nonverbal cuz Law-

I mean yeah because Raphael clearly a second. I know this because I have an unfortunate love of seconds. Like just love a main character or at least the fucking leader goddamnit. But still... You always love your captain, even if he has a stick up his ass.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

And Luffy pouting, but letting Zoro go... Because he plans on never letting Law leave, either. 😝 Neighbors!

 It's an unfortunate truth. Especially when you're the second-oldest.

@gildedmuse replied:

Oh well you've broken me. That's too cute. Just Luffy pouting like fine... But NAMI NEVER LET THAT SHIP OUT OF YOUR SIGHT! 

Zoro just like "I'm an adult and also.... Two years."

Luffy: I will never. Let you. Leave me. 

Zoro: I am in no way trying to. 

Luffy: -Dark eyes of Determination- Never.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

And Law standing there like, I'm never getting away from this, this is my life now, what did I do to deserve this? While the turtles are mostly relieved they're all staying together.

@gildedmuse replied:

Law: -Despair- 

Bepo: There there captain. At least you got a Swordsman now. 

Law: I AM A SWORDSMAN! Leo-ya is a swordsman! Why does no one think of us!? 

Penguin: Well no one actually forgot about Leo, we just accepted him as staying with the Strawhats so.... 

Meanwhile, Across The Ship

Zoro: Alright, so Kid and Drake are out. Why not the Bonney Pirates? 

Nami: Again,not physically here. 

Chopper: AND WHY DO YOU WANT TO ABANDONED US!?

Law: -DESPAIR-

The only argument regarding Law being all, "You know what? Fine take him back" is regarding if it's Zoro's destructiveness or Luffy's stubbornness that drives him to the edge.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Zoro: It's me or the shitty cook. 

Sanji: I'm not going anywhere, mosshead! 

Zoro: See? 

Chopper and Usopp: 😭

Or both. Both is possible. And Luffy will still follow him everywhere because "We're allies, Torao! That means we're friends, and friends don't run from friends!" "THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS!"

@gildedmuse replied:

Law: GET OUT! 

Nami: Now would you say it was Zoro or Luffy's behavior that finally broke you? 

Law: Excuse me? 

Nami: Look, there is actual money on the line here, Law, so I will not hesitate to kill you.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Law: ...Luffy. 

Nami: I knew it! Pay up! 

Usopp: Aw man, I swore it'd be Zoro's sense of direction...

@gildedmuse replied: 

 "JUST BECAUSE WE'RE ALLIES DOESN'T MAKE US FRIENDLY, STRAWHAT-YA! YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE YOUR SWORDSMAN BACK BECAUSE YOU MISS HIM! 

Luffy: I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF THAT I’M GONNA JUST KEEP ON ASSUMING YOU KNOW THE RIGHT WAY BECAUSE WE BESTIES! 

Law: I DO NOT LIKE YOU! 

Luffy: LOVE YOU TOO!

Bepo is just like "Usopp is not wrong it's pretty bad you guys " No one pays him any attention. Maybe if he was a fucking ninja turtle....

When a Kung Fu polar bear just isn't enough

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Law is a grumpy panda teddy, and Luffy knows it. There's no denying it now. They've all seen it. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if he and Mikey both read Sora: Warrior of the sea.

Poor Bepo, he's still cute enough for me! *hugs Bepo*

@gildedmuse replied:

I mean you know Raphael reads that shit but doesn't openly tell anyone right? Because I feel that is definitely true.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Raphael has a reputation to uphold. And a baby brother to annoy. 😂

[popculturebuffet]

Ducktales 87 Review: A Whale of A Bad Time (Catch as Cash Can Part 2)

A SEA MONSTER ATE MY ICE CREAM! Yup come with me under the cut as I cover one of the most infamous moments of all Ducktales.. and the absolutely bonkers episode attached involving robot ice cream trucks, giant robotic whales, Optimus Prime as a navy admiral, and semen.. er seaman Donald Duck!  All of this and more commissioned by @weirdkev27​ is waiting under the ocean and under the cut! Come aboard!

So yeah....

And not the adventure time or regular show or what have you kind of intetionally weird I mean all the elements just sort of conjeal into a mess of poor decisions in and out of universes, robotic whales and the most insane scheme to get a noble peace prize of all time. If that and the intro didn’t hook you I don’t know what will, let’s do this. 

PREVIOUSLY ON DUCKTALES:

Okay maybe not THAT previously... guess I gotta do this myself. *Grumble grumble* : Last time we met a steoyptical-ish foreign leader give Scrooge and Glomgold a deadline to literally weigh their fortunes in his country at ten days, with Glomgold’s sending the Beagle Boys after Scrooge in an attempt to cheat.. and springing from jail in a giant blimp shaped like a cow because your guess is as good as mine. Scrooge naturally won and here we are. As said last time, these episodes were still basically written as done in ones, able to be digested on their own, just with the overall framework of the four parter, in this case Scrooge and Glomgold’s contest, tieing it together. So with that out of the way. 

We open as Duckburg is hit with a heatwave. 

No that’s Heat Wave.. and besides he works out of central city, not Duckberg silly.. wherever those images come from.. me I guess? I dunno. Point is the boys are sweaty and uncomfortable, just like me 90 percent of the time, and decide to cool off by visiting Scrooge’s new ice cream factory for free samples. We’re only about a minute, and a recap about the contest on the news, in and already the characters this episode are acting kind of dumb.. get used to it. One of Scrooge’s primary, most consistent, most iron clad character traits is he does NOT give away something for nothing. Even for Charity he’ll often try and pench pennies and how much he donates, and in older harsher comics like Carl Barks famous “A Christmas For Shacktown” good luck getting him to donate any money to anyone else AT ALL. If he DOES give someone a gift, it’s usually with an alterior motive or some sort of scheme brewing, with Donald or the Nephews or all four rightly questioning him. The idea any factory of any product of his would give out samples unless he got something out of doint so or that they wouldn’t be tiny or use flavors that don’t sell or some cost cutting measure like that is nuts and while it’s not out of the boys characters to be stupid it is a bit for them to just blindly think he’d be okay with this.  Their soon distracted by other matters once they arrive though as the Guard won’t let them in despite being Huey, Dewey and Louie as much like bill and ted their a package deal, and yes they do a team pose and yes.. it’s actually pretty adorable. Again nepotism has never been a trait of scrooges either boys, why would he start now? They try flagging down one of his ice cream  trucks but they totally ignore him. and seem to be driving automatically... they also look human which... yeah. Just.. yeah. The boys are naturally suspicious and plan to ask scrooge at Dinner. This fails because Scrooge isn’t coming and Beakly refuses to let them disturb him on his orders.. and refused to let Webby eat till everyone’s at the table. I’ll come back to Beakly in a second, and there will be blood dumpster. 

The boys sleep that night, but are woken up by the ice cream trucks and wondering why the hell their running at night... which yeah is weird and was a bad part of the plan. We’ll get to why that plan’s a bit totally fucked in a second though as the boys assume someone is doing something shady with scrooge’s company and pull a Marty McFly, attaching their skateboards to a bumper and then hopping onto one of the trucks. And given that Magica, the Beagle Boys and Flintheart have all gone up at scrooge several times at this point judging by the episode guides, not to mention all the one off thieves, scumbags, con artists and warlords they’ve fought, you honestly can’t blame them for being super suspicious. 

Their suspcions of this being some kind of elaborate theft are semeingly confirmed when instead of , and this is really the flavor they use “Bubble Gum Pistachio Fudge” they find Scrooge’s money. And let’s just take a sec to .. unpack that flavor as none of those go together. I mean in a three scoop cone or bowl maybe, but in the same ice cream your just throwing shit together at that point. And the flavor isn’t outlandish enough to really be a good joke.

 I’ts just three flavors jammed together that don’t belong. It’s not like the, ironically in the same year, 87 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle’s love for weird pizza toppings. That.. actually comes off as a joke. It didn’t always land in the episodes i’d seen but I get what their going for. Thanks to this infographic I know they put ALL of this on pizza at some point, omitting actual pizza toppings for obvious reasons: Granola, Licorice, Fudge, Marshmallows, Clams, Peanut Butter, Avacado (Which didn’t sound bad in theory but once I thought about it I winced), Pickles, Asparagus, Butterscotch, Onions (Yes I know this is an actual regular pizza topping but no just.. no.. everyone hones in on anchovies, which i’ve never had but no.. onions are the real scourge of the pizza world), Toast, Tea (okay that one actually shocked me), Clam Sauce, Chocolate Sprinkles, Jelly Beans, Yogurt, Coconut, Strawberries, Oatmeal, Grape Jelly, Gucamole, Tuna, Popcorn, Sardines, Whipped Cream, Bannans and Goulash. The point i’m making is it’s not hard to come up with even a weak wacky flavor of something and it was  a weird line to just utterly botch but they somehow did it. Also that the Teenage Mutant Turtles have serious issues to address. I mean onions, really? onions? Guys you can do better... onions are a next mutation topping!

One Tangent Later, the boys and the trucks arrive at the docks where they see the money filled ice cream trucks loading onto a boat and a shadowy mystery man. Who could it be? My money is on

But my money is always on Crab People. It’s likely why i’m poor. But the boys chuck a bag of cash at him, then Louie... prepares to break his legs with a crowbar?

Seriously the truck was automated and they came straight form home. he had to have brought that with him. Whelp at least Louie has a unique character trait: He likes to make people bleed. I don’t know if that’s necessarily a GOOD thing for a 8-10 year old to want to do but it’s better than nothing. Before Louie can get up to a bit of the ultra violence, Huey finds out it’s Scrooge who explains himself: Naturally the sudden new Ice Cream Factory he built in days right next to the bin is a front, and the trucks are his own, a stealthy way to outfox glomgold. While the news said he was transporting the loot by air, he’s doing it by sea stealthily to prevent glomgold from attacking it. Which given he hasn’t a giant cow Zepplin, fair enough. 

The rest of this though is ludicrously overcomplicated: First off it’s not REMOTELY stealthy to build a giant fake factory next to your bin, days before you transport your cash, something so obvious i’m suprised Glomgold dind’t just come to the factory himself and set some explosives. Second while Robot Drivers isn’t a bad idea, Glomgold has many spies with many eyes, it’s a BIG gamble to both have active trucks around, especially at night carrying large sums of cash. I mean what if the police stopped them? Sure Scrooge could get his money back legally, but Flintheart might get to it first or bribe some cops first. Or some dirty cops might take it for themselves. It’s also WEIRDLY costly for someone as spiendthrift as Scrooge, I mean while he owns the land for the factory he had to buy a ton of trucks, pay for gyro’s, i’m assuming Gyro’s at least, material to make the robots, and pay for the guard to keep people out as well as presumibly either well paid workers or more robots inside to get the money into the trucks. It’s just hilariously overcomplicated and while not an intentional joke clearly got a laugh out of me as it just makes no logical sense for scrooge’s character and he’s done similar ideas for far less money in the comics. It’s a carl barks style “hide the money bin’s cash” plot, funnled through bloodshot eyes of someone having done a small mountain of cocaine to get this script done on time and I love it for that. The boys applaud their uncle for his wacky scheme while a mysteroius periscope watches them from a distance. 

The Next Morning Beakly is still awful as despite everyone being there, she now refuses to let Webby eat till everyone’s settled. And NOW we can talk about 87 Beakly. I don’t like her. She’s had one or two moments in the episodes I watched, but outside of that she’s a bland character who mostly fusses over the boys and webby, worries things are too dangerous, or is there for a weak joke. She’s just not all that intresting, and while i’ll grant the 87 Ducktales cast isn’t the deepest set of characters and the boys can be annoying depending on the episode.. their at least INTRESTING. The boys are clever, rambunctions and curious, Webby has all of that and an underlying swetness that while cloying at times is mostly just really endearing, Launchpad is a klutz and a crash magnet but means well and keeps trying and genuinely is a good scoutleader and person, and Scrooge despite his rough edges is a hardscrabbled adventuerer. The rest of the main cast here at least has a drive and character to them that makes the stories work when their at their best. Beakly is just kinda.. there. Why I also go into this is because 87 Webby gets a lot of shit.. and she really dosen’t deserve it. Yes she’s clearly a studio executives idea of what a little girl should like and that’s bad. And yes she got kidnapped a bunch.. but so did everyone else. But she makes up for that by being the heart of the team, offering love and empathy to all of them, easily bonding with varous animals and people they meet, and genuinely offering a naive but optimistic worldview that nicely contrasts with scrooge and the boys understandable cyncism. And she CAN handle herself more often than not. Wheras frank and co basically took almost everything about beakly and started over with Webby they simply tweaked her for the times: Made her about the same age if not older than the triplets so their equals, took away the triplet’s outdated and utterly loathsome sexisim, and added badassery and intellegence to her already admirable emotional skills and naive optimism, along with some boundless energy on top.They took a decent character and made her an amazing one.  With Beakly.. they took a dodering, easily frightned old lady whose overly proper and stuffy and turned her into a taciturn, snarky, badass former secret agent whose the sanest person in the mansion and when she IS wrong, will not only admit it but usually had some good reason for it. She also goes from being mostly deferent to scrooge to one of his few equals, to the point that the “87 Cent Solution!” lampshades the fact that if they’d called her the episode would’ve been over, as she’s , outside of a few exceptions the one person he listens to. She’s a throughly likeable, throughly complex character and one i’m glad their doing more with this season while I really hope I don’t see the original her more than I have to.  Okay with that rant done for this and any future retro ducktales reviews, we can get to the reason your all here and Kev comissioned me to do all 4 of these episodes: You’ve seen it on youtube, you’ve seen it in “Let’s get Dangerous”, you’ve seen it in dreams, ladies, gentleman and others, A. SEA. MONSTER. ATE. MY. ICE. CREAM. 

As the family sits for pancakes, Wippleman, Scrooge’s accountant and what I can only assume is this universe’s version of WWE manager Harvey Wippleman, comes in and has some bad news for Scrooge: A Sea Monster of some kind sunk one of his ships.. but the good news it was only Ice Cream. Knowing what it really was Scrooge goes absolute APE shit and procedes to hop around the table going absolutely insane, destroying everyone’s breakfast, with poor webby bemoaning she’ll never get to eat, Beakly remarking “it must’ve been some ice cream’ which isnt’ a bad line, Huey explaning what’s up with the weirdly delivered “It was half his fort-une!” and the boys finally restraining Scrooge with an impromptu tablecloth straightjacket, which calms him down and he hops off to get his money back. Wether you’ve seen the scene for yourself and ESPECIALLY if somehow you haven’t, it’s right here if you want to take another look. 

This scene is not only the most remembered part of the special, and easily the most beloved, it’s one of the best scenes in all of Ducktales 87 and easily one of the funniest across duck canon. Everything just clicks: The concept, the animation showing off just how manic scrooge is, how he never does the same move twice, how rather than looping it Alan Young very clearly said the word a bunch of times each time with a different more manic and uniquely hilarious delivery, Beakly’s deadpan reaction, and the boys vain attempts to restrain him before finally succeeding. Everything about this works and in an otherwise just really off center episode, this sparkling gem of a scene stands out. I waited till now to talk about Alan Young’s scrooge and honestly the man defined the roll for a reason: he can do a dramatic or emotional delivery just as effortlessly as a comic bit like this, and plays the character with the sternness and stubbornness expected. He got the character perfectly and it’s unsurprising Frank and Matt wanted him to reprise the roll and he only didn’t because he sadly passed on, though I will say David Tenant is a perfect replacement. Though even HE couldn’t do the Sea Monster Ate My Ice Cream bit as well as Alan, as his felt a bit more stilted and was clearly looped, but really I don’t think anyone could top him at this. It’s his shining moment as the character and he earned it square. 

So getting back to the ten car pileup that is the rest of this episode, the boys and Scrooge head under the sea, doot doot doot, to find his ship. But while under water they instead find the navy who’ve quarantined the ship.. yet aren’t wearing face masks inside their little suits. How odd. Guess the giant glass dome and giant ocean of water between them and the ship helps but still, you can’t be too careful.  Point is both sides are being kind of douchey: The Naval Guards, rather than direct Scrooge to their superior to PROVE it’s his vessel and ask questions to him directly since their aircraft carrier soon turns out not to be far from here just tell him he can’t pass and Scrooge is as bill gerent as you’d expect. I’m not saying people aren’t this dumb in real life, just google any video of a karen of any gender throwing a giant tantrum in a store over masks, i’m just saying i’td be nice to move the plot along without unnecessary cul de sacs.  The boys however naturally have a way around this and sneak in with scrooge on the underside of a sea turtle. It’s a genuinely clever tactic. They find the ship with a large bite out of it.. and the Navy then swoop in to take them in. 

On the ship Scrooge continues to not help his case and pulls a classic old white guy and demands to see their superior. Or white person in particular really. Point is he throws a strop on their way to what could easily be a trip to the brig with his behavior and possible criminal charges, while the boys muse that this is Donald’s ship. For the uninitiated, the in-series reason Donald left the boys for this series was he was called back to the Navy, and thus left the boys with Scrooge. Out of series it was an executive mandate: As Tad Stones, future creator of Darkwing Duck and story editor for Ducktales 87, explained, and I found out about this via looper, Disney was nervous about having one of their biggest characters overexposed by having him as part of 65 episode tv show. This was combined with the fact they were worried Donald’s voice would make stories confusing.  I also believe, if with no proof there was at third reason: Tony Anselmo had just started as Donald Duck, taking over from the late great Clarence Nash at Nash’s request after Nash died in 85, and they likely feared putting Tony through such a ringer this soon might sour audiences on him before audiences had gotten used to the new voice actor. So with all this Donald was kept to the occasional guest roll, though I will say while there have been complaints about Donald’s voice on this show I have no issue with it. It’s not as good as the reboot.. but the reboot also comes after Tony’s been playing the roll for over 30 years and is just as iconic as his predecessor in the roll at this point versus two years after his mentor died and he picked up his sword.. or squawky duck voice in this case. 

Scrooge is escorted to Admiral Grimitz, the head of this aircraft carrier whose showed up in other Donald episodes, specifically his segment of the Treasure of the Golden Suns series opener. He’s the gruff but mostly fair head of the ship and is voiced by, of all the va’s possible, Peter “Optimus Prime” Cullen, using a voice that is DIFFRENT but not by much. It’s hard not to be distracted by it. The Admiral waves scrooge off from his entirely justified fear the Army stole his money, but refuses to give any details since i’ts classified. Scrooge angrily.. decides to do the next shipment anyway and tells them to stay out of it instead of calling the president like he threatened to get some answers. Or threaten to pull funding for his military contracts. I know Scrooge never would, but they don’t know that. It’s just.. odd to see scrooge give up and it would’ve made more sense if the Admiral threatened legal action first or something that would get him to back off.  The Admiral then brings in Donald, and gives him the truth: Their own scientist, Dr. Bluebottle, stole an experimental sub shaped like a whale and stole the money for reasons they don’t know. So since he can go undercover easily, he sends Donald to go with scrooge and slaps a transmitter on him so they can track him. Donald also does some slapstick. That’s my boy. And yes it was a very nice surprise to see him again since i’d forgot he was in this episode. Especially since aside from “The Trickining!” he hasn’t been in any episodes since Ducktales came back. Justifably though as none of those NEEDED him and the show’s massively improved from it’s “donald might as not well exist” days of season 1, I just miss him is all and it’s nice to see some form of him again.  And this is where the episode kinda lost me, as this scheme, while not really out of the bounds of the reality, just.. feels like it overcomplicates the plot for the sake of padding. I mean I buy the Government going iwth a far more complex plan to cover their own asses.. but it would’ve made more sense from a plot standpoint to have it go this way: The Admiral is honest with Scrooge, tells him about bluebottle.. and threatens him into helping them by pointing out he broke into a federal quarantine and defined naval orders and could be brought up on charges, and if he tired telling anyone about Bluebottle could likewise be tried for leaking federal secrets. That way instead of using an unknowing scrooge as bait he goes into the situation KNOWING he’s probably going to get captured and while grumbly about it uses it to his advantage. Donald could still plausibly be sent along as naval lisaon/as a seemingly nice act/to have the bug to track the sub. Instead it just feels like they added an extra uncessary step to things to pad the episode more. I mean if you needed to do that just add more of the sea monster or give launchpad a cameo. He’s been missing for days at this point. 

So Scrooge and family, which naturally includes Webby and Beakly even if I don’t like classic bleakly she’s still family, head out with the second half of his fortune which makes next to no sense when he has days left in the concept and you know, half is missing, but whatever. Naturally the obvious happens and we meet the famous Sea Monster.. which actually looks neat.. it’s drawn like your standard cartoony killer whale but has bits of indents much like a sub would to show it’s not entirely a beast. It’s a nice bit of design work. The whale eats the cash and Donald and Scrooge but the navy pick up the boys, webby and beakly.  Donald let’s things slip on the sub, while back at the carrier the good Admiral explains the rest and my other issues with the plot aside this scene is a good bit of exploition as it explains some obvious questions away cleverly, something this plot could’ve used more of frankly but it’s refreshing to get at least a little: The reason they don’t just attack the sub en masse, besides it being you know incredibly valuable is that it’s made to be torpedo resistant, it’s sonar resitant so they can’t track it easily, and it’s faster than any ship. After all it was made to be a super weapon, so naturally the carriers standard barrage of navy vehicles can’t match it. However again to the episodes credit the tracker is actually vitally important, as it allows them to see the ship and where it is, so they can attack.. though right now their holding off on it since a crewman and a civilian are on board but if it comes down to it they’ll have no choice. I also gotta admit..t his concept is pretty cool. Kind of ridiculous? Sure but a super sub shaped like a whale that can still bite like one and outrun and outlast any other sea vehicle? It’s undoubtly awesome and a point in this episodes favor.  But now we get to most gloriously insane and convoluted part of the episode.. yes NOW we do. Donald and Scrooge naturally sneak around the ship, and find Dr. Bluebottle at his controls, talking to Flintheart on a video monitor. Turns out, to no one’s surprised, Flintheart subcontracted out his plans to Bluebottle and in exchange for keeping the money under the ocean till the contest, Glomgold is going to make sure he gets the Nobel Prize, and covers on all the magazines.  Okay at first I genuinely thought this plan made no sense.. until I realized it does, but ONLY for Glomgold. Bluebottle comes off as the smartest moron that’s ever lived for agreeing to any of this. But I have to give Glommy this the plan works out great for him: He convinces an already Rogue scientist to steal scrooge’s money, which prevents Scrooge from finding out what’s going on as he, correctly, guessed the government would cover this up because of course they did. He then correctly figured either the government would work with scrooge to trap bluebottle or they’d just use scrooge as bait anyway without a formal agreement, thus netting him scrooge’s entire fortune. He knows bluebottle won’t take it up because he gave bluebottle a bribe specifically for him and the only thing he wants, and even if he does take the money, Glomgold has more and Bluebottle could still remotely blow up the sub or something. And if he can’t the Navy would have to hold the sub, and money included , as evidence for the trial. And even if Bluebottle DOES rat him out, Glomgold could easily bury the evidence. The only way glomgold gets caught is if Bluebottle recorded their video chats or if scrooge saw them talking.. which he did, but given the two are direct competitors his testimony is dubious at best as is donald’s. So basically Flintheart almost certainly wins no matter what, and Bluebottle takes the fall no matter what. It does make Bluebottle comeff as a massive moron for not thinking of this, but props to glomgold.  Also yeah.. it’s clear to me at this point that if he hasn’t said it somewhere Frank clearly did the same thing he did with Gyro here with Flintheart: Take one accidental trait from the original (Glomgold’s penchant for overly complicated schemes and Gyro’s tendency to make robots that go rogue.) and make it a part of their personality instead of just a coincidence and turn it up to 11 for hilarity.. which worked in both cases. I genuinely thought this Flintheart was saner but no he’s just less interesting.  So Bluebottle gets an intruder alert.. and turns around to find Scrooge and Donald. Who rather than just whap the guy on the head while his back is turned, just stood there to confront him directly. 

Look this review is running long and is behind, I don’t have more time to marvel over how plot conveniently stupid they are being right now. A fight ensues with blue bottles inventions till Donald threatens to pull a big lever. I’ts thankfully not the self destruct lever like Donald thinks or Bluebottle’s equivlent of the blow up the engine button because he’s clearly just that smart, but a lever to dump all the gold.. which isn’t a terrible idea for once as if the ship gets stalled it can float up, as we’ll naturally see as there was no way they weren’t going to pull this chekov’s lever at some point. Scrooge stops him, Bluebottle uses gadgets to tie both up and finds out about the bug , as that’s why the miltary have been able to attack him which happened but I didn’t get to becuse of all the stupid. Bluebottle snuffs it out and then fully assaults the aircraft carrier, and things look grim. But Scrooge and Donald aren’t put down that easily and escape and scrooge pulls a donald and just starts breaking shit and breaks the sub.  Now with the sub plumiting, and Bluebottle bragging that only he can fix it as the sub will just keep sinking into the ocean’s depths.. and that only it’s design has kept compression from crushing them to death. But Scrooge has another solution and a suprisingly, and badassingly self sacrifical one: He dumps the money into the marinara trench, nice pun, and thus the whale floats up, Bluebottle is arrested, and Glomgold... still wins for now as Scrooge still has to get his fortune out, but Scrooge figures Gyro can help with that. We get an everybody laughs ending and we’re out. 

Final Thoughts: This one is a mess. While it has a great moment here or there, Donald and Tony as him are fantastic as they are now, and of course A Sea Monster Ate My Ice Cream! is an utterly classic scene and an utter joy to watch. The attached episode is just a mess structurally, if still a fun watch. Yes despite my bitching about it the sheer slapped together nature of it means it’s fun to pick apart and make fun of, so it’s not unwatchable. I’ve seen worse episodes of this very show, and worse episodes of tv. But as an old friend would say.

Not a terrible sit, but it easily could’ve been better. I’m also getting tired of scrooge being enitrely usless and just throwing up his hands at times. Stop that he’s better than that. With this one THANKFULLY AND FINALLY out of the way, next up is Aqua Ducks....... 

Oh god. Well if you want to see the next one follow me. If there’s an episode of any animated show you’d like to see me cover classic ducktales, modern ducktales, disney in general, etc, etc, just send me a PM and you can comission a review. 5 bucks for one episode, 15 for a movie and 5 bucks off one episode when you order three or more like say a multiparter like this. Until then say safe, check your house for Busey’s and hopefully we’ll meet again. 

[mlovesstories]

Shake It Off Part 1

Shake It Off Part 1

AN: Spangenrebingo: Jared Padalecki 

Reader age 25

Words ~4000

Summary: Jared has a medical emergency, and a fan surprises the boys with help.

Warnings: Seizures, hospital, medical emergencies, panic feelings, flangst

Jared x Jensen (platonic)

Jensen x reader (platonic)

Jared x Reader (platonic)

Gen x Jared

Tag List

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Masterlist of Masterlists

Chicago

“Hi, guys. I’m nervous.”  The fan gave Jensen and Jared a hug each.  

“Don’t be nervous! We don’t bite.”  Jared smiled lovingly.

“Yes, please don’t.”  The adoring fan chuckled.

“What pose would you like?”  Jensen asked.

“Can I just get a hug, please?  I just need a hug.”  She beamed at her current situation.

“You okay?”  Jared asked, concerned at her comment.

“Yep!”

They took the photo and then continued interacting and posing with other fans.

—————

“Hey, darlin’.”  Jared walked into one of the break rooms in the hotel.  He saw the con volunteer in her required outfit eating her lunch.  “You took a photo today!  It was so nice to meet you!  I’m Jared.”  He extended his hand.  She stood and shook it. “Nice, strong shake you got there.”

“I’m YN.  Nice to meet you too.  Hopefully I didn’t freak out too bad.  I am a volunteer. I need to get my crap together.”  YN looked away from him.

“We’re just people too, kid.  You want some pizza?”  He gestured to the table with boxes of pizzas on top.

“That’s only for the cast and crew.  Volunteers have to bring their own.”  YN shrugged.

“Here, have some pizza.”  Jared took some pizza from a box, put it on a plate, and handed it to her.

“Thanks,” She said quietly.

“What’s up with you?  You don’t like pizza?”

YN laughed. “I’m like the Ninja Turtles. I am fueled by pizza, actually.”  YN kept a straight face.  Confused, Jared tilted his head as she started laughing.

“You’re good, kid, you’re good,”. Jared acknowledges her sense i humor.  “Jensen and I pull that crap all the time on set.  You would fit right in.”

“Yeah, I don’t act. That would never happen.”

“You never know, darlin’.  Okay, onto autographs.  I’ll see you around!”

—————

Jacksonville

“You’re okay. I know this is super exciting, but they are kind and loving. How long have you been watching the show?” YN tried to sooth a fan who was anxious to take her photo with Jensen, Jared, and Misha.

“Ummm,” She sniffled. “Two years.”

“Me too!  Are you caught up yet?”  YN kept her engaged to calm her.

“Almost!”  She shrieked.

“Next!” A photo op volunteer yelled.

“Go. You’re going to be great. They are lovely.”  YN encouraged her to walk into the photo room with the cast.

“Okay, thanks!”  The girl wiped her tears and smiled back at YN as she walked to say hello to the boys.

Phew.

YN took a deep sigh as she escorted the last fan away from the photo op area.

“Hey!  You okay?”  Jensen and Jared walked up to her.

“Yes.  I’m sure you know nothing about long days.”  She offered them a dry chuckle.

“Not a clue.  I’m Jensen.”  

YN shook his hand and smiled.

“How long have you been volunteering?”

“A while, right?”  Jared guessed.

“This is my third con.  I’ve been a fan for a few years though.”

“Thank you for helping us make this whole ‘con’ thing.  It makes a difference,” Jensen grinned.

“Well, you’re welcome.”  YN beamed.  “I need to go clean up, excuse me, boys.”

As the cons continued, YN seemed more tired.

“What’s going on?  You’re exhausted, kid.”  Jensen looked YN over.

“Nothing for you to worry about, Dean Winchester,” she gave a small smile.

“Jensen!  We need you!”  A staffer called for him.

“I’ll talk to you later, YN.”

With J2 on stage, YN was charged with overseeing the fans in line to ask questions. She had noticed that Jared seemed absolutely lethargic earlier.  YN saw how close he stayed to Jensen, and she found it odd behavior for him based on her previous experience. As another fan stepped to the microphone, out of the corner of YN’s eye, she saw that Jared fell out of his chair after slumping over. She noted his whole body shaking. Jensen quickly moved the chairs out of the way.

Without thinking, YN ran on the stage and grabbed a microphone. “Cameras down and all available volunteers on stage now!”

As the volunteers arrived, she told them to line the stage and face the crowd so that no one could take video or see Jared in that state.

“He’s having a seizure,” she informed Jensen and a few band members who tried to help. “Don’t touch him. Get medical now. He’s been seizing for 30 seconds already. We need help.” YN saw people in white shirts move everyone, including herself, out of the way while the crowd was silent. Before Jensen knew it, Jared was off to the hospital. Not allowed in the ambulance, he walked off the stage in shock. After taking a breath, YN followed him backstage. “Jensen?” She asked quietly.

“Not now, kid.” He turned to her, his eyes glassy.

“Breathe,” was all she said. Surprised no one had come back to check on Jensen, she continued.

“He-. He just started shaking!” Jensen’s voice went high.

“I know,” she responded calmly. “If you want to be there for him, then you have to calm down. You don't know anything yet. I know it’s scary, but you have to be calm.”

Still in shock, he fumbled with his phone and dropped it.

“I have to call Gen. Or Dee. Or-“ he scrambled.

“I’m sure someone has already let her know. Looks like everyone has gone to the hospital.” She peered around the curtain. Seeing no one out there and fans slowly leaving,  YN saw the urgency in his eyes. “I’ll get you a ride. You have Uber on your phone?” He nodded. “Give it to me.” Jensen picked it up and shakingly gave it to the girl. “Come on. The driver will meet you outside.” YN led him to the hotel entrance. When the car arrived, she verified that it was the correct driver, and she said goodbye. “Wish him well,” YN waved. “It will be okay.”

———-

@JensenAckles Thank you to the lovely fan who made such a difference today. Sasquatch is recovering. Updates to follow. We love our #SPNfamily !

@Spnfambam that girl was in charge. So glad she hid Jared from the crowd. I wouldn’t want my medical emergency all over the internet either.

@mollypolly that idiot ruined some good gossip! Bitch.

@samanddeannnn the fan was so calm. I was in the audience. So respectful and caring of her to do what she did. I think she was a volunteer, too.

———

Jared recovered slowly. The past few months’ memories were gone, but his current short term memory was active.  After only a few hours in the ER, he was released into Jensen’s care. Since they were in Dallas, Jensen rented a car and drove it home to Austin. The show had to be out on hold for a week, because Jared needed to rest.

“Do you remember what she did?” Jensen asked Jared in the Padalecki home.

“What?”

“Here,” Jensen pulled up a convention video that displayed YN’s heroics.

“She did that for me? No one saw me?”

“She had the volunteers stand in the way. Most people put their phones down anyway. YN got me an Uber to get to the hospital. They wouldn’t let me ride in the ambulance,” Jensen smiled appreciatively at her helping them.

“Wow. Wasn’t she that volunteer? My memory is really bad, so maybe not. I can’t re-“

“Oh yeah! Umm… YN, I think. We really do need to thank her,” Jensen suggested. “No, dude.  Take a breath.” He saw Jared’s face change and breathing quicken.

“I can’t believe I did that in front- of-”

“We took care of it, and no one really saw anything anyway.”

Jared’s expression froze.  Speechless, he searched Jensen’s face.

“Breathe, buddy.  Let’s change the subject. You wanna watch some bad TV?” The older one smiled.

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

@JensenAckles as many know, the moose had a little emergency today.  Thanks to the fan who helped us today. He is recovering.  Updates to follow.  Thoughts and prayers appreciated.

“Oh, crap!”  YN whispered in her Dallas apartment.  “Jensen tweeted about me?”  She slammed her laptop shut.  “Shit.”

Her phone kept buzzing.

“What?!” YN growled to herself. 

BEST FRIENDDDD

What in the actual hell did you do at the convention? You’re a hero!

YN

JA tweeted about me!  I’m so-  I don’t know! 

BEST FRIENDDDD

Check insta!  If you don’t tell him, I will!

YN opened the app and found Jensen’s profile. A screenshot of a fan’s video showed YN at the mic after Jared had landed on the ground.

@JensenAckles Anyone know who this is?  Jared and I want to say thank you.

YN

No!  It’s not a big deal!

BEST FRIENDDDD

They’ll find out.  Creation has your information and will recognize you.

YN

Damnit.  Well, let ‘em, I guess.  Thanks for the heads’ up. I need to go sleep off the day.

BEST FRIENDDDD

Good night, sweetie.

______

“Tell me who she is.” Jared called the Creation Entertainment volunteer coordinator.

“It’s confidential, Mr. Padalecki,” she responded with a huff.

“I will have you fired,” he growled.  “I know it’s not against the law, now tell me.”

He heard rustling in the background, papers shuffling.

“YN LN.”

Jared also demanded her phone number.

“Was that so damn hard?”  Jared hung up and threw his phone on the couch.

“You need to chill,” Gen walked into the room.  “You are okay, and you have to calm down.  I get that you feel a little out of control, but you better damn well not growl at our babies like that,” she wrapped her arms around him, grace evident in her voice.

“Sorry,” he whispered into her hair.  “Woah, dizzy.” He fell back into the couch, and Gen stumbled almost falling with him.  “Sorry, lost my balance.  Must be the meds.  Didn’t mean to trip you.”

“I’ll go get you some water.  Relax a minute.”  Gen exited

————-

Jared had some trouble maneuvering, but he went back to work. Not being able to run much, the writers and directors gave Jensen more fight scenes, Dean protecting Sam mostly.

“I could protect myself, ya know,” Jared sighed to his TV brother.

“Yeah, yeah,” Jensen responded with a deep sigh. He looked over his forearms which had scrapes and bruises covering them.

“I’ll ask them to give me more of the fighting so that you don’t get hur-“

“No. You can barely walk straight. We don’t need a head injury. You are already compromised.” Jensen tried to walk past Jared while the younger one lay on the couch, but Jared grabbed his arm.

“I CAN,” he growled.

“I’m not having this fight with you. The stunt coordinator will never give you stuff to do when you are stumbling over yourself!” Jensen loudly exclaimed his frustration with a groan coming from the back of his throat.

“Why?!” Jared screamed back.

“Because you had a seizure! You’re on meds, and you’re still recovering, that’s why!” Jensen turned to face him fully, staring him down.

“I’m so tired of people treating me with kid gloves! Come on!” Jared stood up, puffed out his chest and backed Jensen into the corner of his trailer.

“Sit down before you fall over, Jared,” Jensen gave a warning. The taller one went to latch onto Jensen’s collar. Jensen pushed him off as smoothly as he could as to not knock him down. He took Jared’s wrists and walked him backward, pushing him to the couch again. “You aren’t you before the seizure. I get it. But you don’t get to feel sorry for yourself either. Now own where you are and work to recover!”

“I can’t!”

“Get out of your damn head, or I swear I will fly your therapist here in person.”

“No! Don’t!” Jared put his hands up in defense.

“Then call him, and get your head on straight,” Jensen handed him a phone and crossed his arms. Jared dropped it on the couch dismissively.  

“Fine.  I’ll do it.”  Before the younger one knew it, Jensen had the psychologist on the phone.  “....Yeah, he needs to get it through his skull that he is okay.  Here,” Jensen handed the phone to Jared once again.  Glaring, Jared sighed in defeat and took it, putting it to his ear.

“Hi, doc,” he gulped.  

Feeling as though his job was done, Jensen exited the trailer.  

A half hour later, the wardrobe department called for Jared to change clothes.  He wiped a hand over his face as he walked down the steps  of his trailer to walk across the set.  

“Feel better?”  Jensen asked his friend.

“Go away.  Stop trying to help me,” Jared tried to shove the oldest man. Jensen spun him around and slammed him against the trailer, his chest hitting the wall.  “Ow!” In his haze, he landed on his knees.  Jensen held Jared’s head against the side of the trailer with pressure to keep him still.  

“Stop! You need to stop.  This is where you are right now.  It sucks.  Feel it.  Get emotional.  Punch something.  Just own it!” Jensen stated authoritatively.  “Breathe.  One thing at a time,” the friend let go of his head. Jared looked back at Jensen in defeat, eyes sad.  “You can do this, but you have to accept where you are right now.  You’re dizzy, tired, and frustrated.  You have trouble doing stuff.  You’ll get better.  You already have and it’s been two weeks.  It’s okay not to be okay.  Do you want to live, or do you want to sit back and be overwhelmed?” Jensen stepped and turned so that he could face Jared.  The older Winchester extended his hand.  “Come on.” Jared accepted the gesture and stood up with Jensen’s help.

“Okay,” he whispered. Wiping his face again, the tallest actor walked toward the wardrobe trailer.  

________

YN’s phone started ringing.  Since she didn’t recognize the number, she dismissed it to her voicemail.  Surprised that a voicemail was left rather than just a missed call, YN listened to it.

“Hi, umm.  This message is for YN LN.  Uh-”the voice took a breath.  “This is Jared Pada-”  YN ended the recording and gasped.  In shock, she started breathing quickly.  Landing on her bed, she rocked herself back and forth to calm down. After a final deep breath, she listed to it again.

“... Jensen showed me a video of what happened, and I just wanted to say thank you.  I knew you were an amazing person, but I didn’t know you were kickass like that.”

YN smiled but kept listening.

“Umm.  This is my personal number.  Text me or call me.  I want to ask you something.  Have a good night.  Always keep fighting.”

She heard a click.

“What does he want with me?”

YN froze.  Should she call him back?  Ignore him?  No, she couldn’t do that. Call him, it is.

He answered on the first ring.

“Hi, YN.”

“Hi, Mr. Padalecki.  Are you feeling better?”

“Please call me Jared.  You did save my life after all,” he laughed into the phone.  “Yes, much.  And I have you to thank for that.  The reason I was calling was because I don’t really remember what happened.  Doc said that was normal.  How did you know to do all that stuff?  I mean, you just jumped in and took charge.”

“Sir, it’s not a big deal.  Really.”

“Please just answer my question,” he pleaded.  

“I just respect you a lot and seeing you like that made me want to protect you, I guess,” YN shrugged even though Jared couldn't see her body language.  

Silence.

“Jared?  You there?”

She heard his pitch change.

“Yeah.  I don’t know what to say other than thank you.  Something like this is a lot to deal with anyway, but the fact that it happened in front of thousands of people…”

“Well, you’re welcome, sir.  I love your show and respect you a lot.  Are you recovering?”

“Slowly.  Jensen had to set me straight a few times, but I am okay.”

“I understand.  It takes a while,” she affirmed him.

“Wait, what?” Jared backtracked.

“It’s going to be okay.  Promise,” YN said vaguely.  

“How do you understand?”  Jared pressed her.  

“Have a good day, Jared,” she cut him off.

“Wait!  I’m sorry.  I need to go, but thank you for everything.  Can I contact you again?”

“Sure,” YN answered.  “Bye, Jared.”

———

YN

Jared Padalecki called me! Like… what?!” 

BEST FRIENDDDD

Huh?! What did he say?!”

YN

He thanked me for what I did. He kind of pushed for info when I said that I understood, but I kind of shut him down. Still hard to talk about.

BEST FRIENDDDD

Oh, sweetie. I’m sorry. It’s okay. He would realize what you’re feeling if he knew.

YN

I know.

————-

“Hi, YN. It’s Jared,” he said calmly into the phone.

Tentatively, she gave a ‘hello’.

“Did you have a medical emergency?” He asked abruptly.

“Jared- please,” she stopped.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m drowning over here. Gen’s here and she suggested I call you again. I feel so… stuck.”

“Oh. Hi, Gen,” YN quietly stated.

“Hi!” The wife yelled via speakerphone.

“Trust me. You will be okay.”

“How? How do you know that?”

YN took a deep breath.

“I had a minor stroke in front of a crowd once. No one stopped to help me other than one person calling for emergency services,” the young adult admitted. “It’s hard to talk about.”

“That I understand.”

“It sucks. It just does. I’m sure you know to take it a step at a time, but that was the only way I could deal with it. I took the wins, big and small. I had to drop out of school for a semester and get my medicine and therapies figured out. Jared, I loved school, and I had to give it up. But it was okay. I could have thrown in the towel, but you say to always keep fighting, so I fought. Went back the next semester, and I earned my degree. I am not going to sit on my ass when there is life to be lived,” she stated with conviction. “Get up, take a deep breath, and fight one battle at a time.”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-five. Why?”

“You’re wise for your age.”

“Nah. Just learned some life lessons. I’m sorry that you’re struggling, but you CAN do this. Promise.”

“How did you recover, YN?”

“Friends. They drug me to physical therapy. And eventually regular therapy. It was a small enough stroke that I could do exercises to make my body fully recover. You wouldn’t know now.”

“What about your family?” Jared asked.

“Umm. They don’t know that I go to therapy.  They’re a very “just deal with it,” kinda group. That’s why I moved out. And the reason I also started volunteering for IAmAlive. I can give back. It’s my own kind of therapy.”

“Wow. That’s amazing.”

“You gave me the strength to get out from under the control of people who hate feelings,” YN admitted. “I needed to fight for me.”

“That’s right. Look, you wanna come to Vancouver? We’re back and shooting now before the next convention. I’m trying to stay under the radar since everything happened,” he got quiet.

“Umm. Sure. I- I don’t know what to say.” YN stuttered.

“Well, you can say yes, because I would really like to hear more of your story, YN.”

“Great!”

“I’ll have my agent call you and get you a flight, okay? Can’t wait to see you!”

“Same. Bye, Jared!”

————

YN arrived in Vancouver for the week. She was treated well with drivers and a nice hotel room near the set of Supernatural. When she was picked up, both Jared and Jensen were inside the van.

“Uh. Hi, guys,” shocked they were right in front of her.

“Hey, come on!” Jared motioned for her to enter the vehicle.

“Right,” she remembered to move her feet.

They drove fifteen minutes before they got to the set.

“Come hang out in the trailers.” Jared led the group of three.

The cast and crew welcomed her with open arms. As the boys got ready, the makeup and hair department pulled her aside for a Winchester makeover, but she didn’t know the purpose yet. Wardrobe fitted her with jeans, boots, and an oversized flannel that she suspected was Sam’s since it smelled like Jared. The ends of her plaid shirt were tight into a knot so that it fit her body style better.  She turned around after putting on the clothes and looked in the mirror. Her braided hair and simple makeup made her smile.

“I like the boots! And everything!” She exclaimed. When YN walked down the steps to the lot, Misha saw her and complimented her.

“Do you like your Supernatural makeover?” He laughed.

“It’s amazing,” she sighed happily.

“There you are! Okay, let’s go!” Jared wrapped an arm around his new friend and guided her to the set. Her jaw dropped at everything in front of her. She was on the set of supernatural. With some of her favorite celebrities. Ever. What?! “Okay. You wanna act, darlin’?” He looked down at her.

“Uh. Excuse me?”

“You said you would never be able to act. Now’s your chance. You want to?”

“Please?” Jensen whined playfully as he walked up to the pair.

“Were you planning this all along?” YN smirked.

“You get to be an extra today. Just follow the direction of the PA. She’ll take care of you. Promise,” Jared smiled.

“Yes! Thank you!” She hugged them both.

After getting instruction from the crew, she learned that her job was to be annoyed with the boys.

Dean walks into dinner near a college campus. He notes all of the students studying.

“Nerds,” he huffs. Dean sees a girl with books in her arms with narrowed eyes at him. After hearing him, she rolls her eyes and elbow-checks him, he stumbles backward. Sam starts cackling as she exits.

“That’s what you get, you jerk!” Sam laughs.

“Cut!”

The PA said, “Back to One!”

YN returned to her beginning place in the scene with a grin on her face.

“Hey!” Jensen yelled for her attention. She froze. “No laughing in Supernatural!”

YN almost dropped her books from laughing so hard at the variation of the famous line from the show. The cast joined in when she continued to giggle. YN took a breath and sat down at the booth to start the scene over.

They did the scene a few more times before moving on. She sat in her official cast chair while the cast and crew worked. It was amazing to see them in their element.

“How’d you like that?” Jared asked.

“So fun! I mean, I’m angry at Dean all the time for being an ass on the show anyway,” she giggled.

“HEY!” Jensen growled. “I’m offended!” He put a hand to his chest.

_______

“I’m still a little out of it.  It’s tough tripping over everything, and I have to gain some skills back.  I talk slow and I can’t carry a conversation.”

“Jared.”  YN interrupted him. “What have you improved on?”

“Oh gosh. Not you too.  Jensen was asking me that earlier,” he chuckled as they ate their lunches together.

“Take the wins.”

“I am just struggling so much.”

“I know.  It’s okay.  But struggling means you’re getting somewhere.  Fight.  You know you have to.”

“But what if I don’t want to?” 

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[startofamoment]

that’s rough, buddy

Jake’s always had a complicated relationship with fire.

(A character study of sorts on firebender!Jake.)

Hi everyone! Welcome to this incredibly self-indulgent thing, in which I mash together my primary obsession of years past with my current reason for living. (Nevermind that they don’t intuitively mesh well. We’re just going to say that Brooklyn is kind of like Korra-era’s Republic City and call it good.)

An anon had asked me ages ago whether I had any headcanons on what type of bender each person in the squad would be. I hadn’t felt inspired to write an actual fic for this AU until the super talented @microfroggo took on my silly pitch to draw our boi Jake as a firebender a couple months ago. Because tumblr is tumblr, I’ll include the relevant links in a separate reblog down below – def check out Mikko’s work if you’re at all interested in getting something done!

PS: I should probably mention that I don’t do very much to explain the Avatar-related side of this AU. If you’re unfamiliar with the animated series, I’d recommend at least skimming through the wiki page so you get a basic understanding on the different forms of bending. (And honestly, if you have time, GO BINGE-WATCH A:TLA! I promise, you won’t regret it.)

PPS: FMA:B fans out there will note that I’ve included a little nod to everyone’s favorite Flame Alchemist… Because, yes, this is definitely just a gratuitous homage to all my hyperfixations. I’m sorry. (Not sorry.)

“That’s it. Use your breath, son.”

Jake inhales deeply then exhales, focusing intently on the small flame between his hands. He’s supposed to be making sure that it doesn’t blaze wildly or just die in the wind.

He’s done this particular exercise a bajillion times now. (Or maybe less – Mrs. Stratton did mention that he needed to work on his math.) Still, his dad says it’s very important to practice his control. Jake supposes that’s fair, given that it’s only been a few months since he nearly singed Nana’s eyebrows off while blowing out the candles on his blue birthday cake.

What he really wants to do is skip forward to launching fire missiles with his fists or propelling himself through the sky on flaming jets, exactly like he’s seen it done in the movies. But his dad says he’s got a long way to go before he can attempt anything more than a basic fire stream, so Jake just nods and does what he’s told. He’ll become a firebending master eventually.

Truthfully, though, Jake thinks that maybe if his dad weren’t working or golfing so much, maybe they’d get to train more often, and maybe he’d be able to progress to something other than breathing.

The funny thing is: when his dad officially walks out of his life, despite all of their training, Jake’s not sure he even still knows how to breathe.

--- 

 His mom’s an airbender, and Nana’s an airbender, and Gina and her mom are airbenders. So Jake wants to be an airbender. (If only it worked that way.) 

He’s unfortunately stuck as a firebender, with no one to teach him how to actually firebend, so he has to resort to copying the Ninja Lion-Turtles on TV. Raphael’s naturally his favorite, although he can’t make heads or tails of how to replicate his fire daggers.

He almost never experiments with bending at home, of course. He’s not the brightest, but he at least knows how dangerous it would be for one of his attempts to go wrong without anyone around to help extinguish the fire. On the rare instance that his mom isn’t at her multiple jobs, she lets him practice while she paints ceramics or cooks. She’s only had to run in with a bucket of water once, but, well– once is enough.

And yes, he could technically be enrolled in lessons… but that would cost money, and Jake would really rather have a full belly than a proper fighting stance. His mom is overworked and overwhelmed as it is; he couldn’t possibly ask her to look into registration fees at the local dojo.

 ---

 Occasionally, when he’s alone in the park with Gina, he’ll run through the few basic exercises he remembers then attempt some fire-jabs and kicks. He’s not supposed to, but he’s fairly certain that nothing will catch on fire in an open field and that, on the off chance that anything does, a patrol officer will handle it. Gina doesn’t mind at all and usually just uses the time to meditate. 

It’s on one particular trip to the park that it happens. He’s not even sure how he does it, just knows that he goes from buzzing from the inside out to shooting electricity from his fingertips. He lifts his hand up in wonder, trying to get a closer glimpse at the little iridescent bolts. He’s so enraptured that he doesn’t realize where his other hand is pointing. He doesn’t see the string of lightning hurtling straight toward his best friend.

Everything turns out fine in the end. The blast wasn’t strong enough – he isn’t strong enough –  to fatally wound her, but Gina still gets brought straight to the hospital.

“I’m okay, Jake,” she insists with a huff, waving off his umpteenth apology. “Besides, I swear I met Raava in the two seconds your lightning hit me. Did you know she’d be ethnically ambiguous? The scrolls have not done her justice at all.”

Jake chuckles, accepting the jello cup she offers him.

For the most part, he’s glad that she’s fine and that she apparently met the Avatar Spirit and that she still likes him enough to give him her dessert.

Deep down, he feels terrible. He’s never going to lightningbend again.

 ---

 Jake had assumed that he’d find his path in college and know what to do by the end of it. Instead, he’s a new graduate back in his childhood bedroom, freeloading off of his mom for as long as she’ll let him. He’s really just coasting through life and going through the motions, aimless.

Eventually, his clarity comes – not in a spark, but in a short-circuit fire erupting just a few houses away. 

He’s woken up by loud sirens blaring and screams echoing in the night. He acts on instinct, running out before remembering to put shoes on and running into the blaze without a second thought. The ground should be blistering hot beneath his feet, but he doesn’t notice at all. He keeps going until he’s parting walls of flames, ushering the family of nonbenders to safety.

In the thick smoke rising from the still-burning house, he sees destruction. In his hands, for the first time in a long time, he sees something good.

He thinks that maybe he should join the local fire department, that he should use his bending to help control and extinguish rogue flames. He thinks about it, and then thinks about it some more, and then figures that he probably wouldn’t enjoy the constant reminder of how devastating fire can be.

Months after mulling over it, he finally comes to a decision: “Mom? I think I’m going to sign up for the police academy.”

“That sounds like a great idea, honey,” she replies, pulling him into a tight embrace. “I’m so proud of you.”

 ---

 It’s rough because all the other trainees have been honing their bending for years, whereas he’d been spending most of his life trying to restrain the inferno inside him.

Most of them laugh; one of them actually slams him against the lockers and calls him a “sorry excuse for a firebender.”

“Don’t mind him,” a voice says. “He wouldn’t know a good bender if the Avatar kicked him straight into the Spirit World.”

Jake looks up from where he’s slumped on the ground and recognizes her as the fierce metalbender no one’s been able to talk to all week. There’s a distinctive scar through her right eyebrow, and he wonders whether it came from a freak accident. (He also wonders how she got into the men’s locker room, or how she knew he needed somebody, anybody.)  

“I’m Rosa,” she says, reaching out a hand to help him up. “Wanna spar?”

 ---

 He gets better. 

He trains with any firebender that’ll take him on, watches instructional videos, goes on Yahoo! Answers… Soon enough, he’s wielding whirling discs and shooting comets of fire like the best of them.

The only thing he doesn’t even consider attempting is lightningbending. At least not until he’s in his thirties, watching wide-eyed as his new captain generates a cracking stream of electricity out of nothing. It’s just strong enough to stun the escaped convict they’ve been tailing, no real damage done.

“You want me to teach you how to lightningbend,” Holt says without preamble the next day.

Jake opens and closes his mouth dumbly, feeling thoroughly seen and not quite knowing how to respond.

“Before anything, Peralta, I should let you know that not everyone is able to manipulate lightning. It takes a different level of power and a certain kind of–”

“I can do it,” he interrupts quickly. “I’ve done it before, sir, when I was a kid. I just don’t know how to control it.”

Holt regards him for a long moment before nodding. “We start at seven tomorrow.”

 ---

 Jake’s always thought that fire meant power and aggression and pursuit. Instead, it’s weakness when he’s face to face with particularly-skilled waterbenders – those who can render him useless, temporarily buried within thick sheets of ice; or who send downpours of unrelenting, freezing rain over his head.

(He thinks, as Amy smirks and bends a rapid torrent of water toward his sternum, flinging him halfway across the training room, that he’s weak for her in a different way.)

 ---

 It had never occurred to him to measure the intensity of his flame. He’s always figured that the fire he produced was hot enough – hot enough to take down perps, hot enough to never turn the heat on in his apartment, hot enough to discreetly keep Amy’s coffee warm throughout the morning. (If she’s noticed him repeatedly finding excuses to pick up her mug, she hasn’t said anything about it.)

Charles, of all people, makes him check. “Hey Jake, do you know if you can keep a flame constant at say 350 to 425 degrees Fahrenheit?”

Jake turns away from his computer screen to look at him, his brow scrunched together in confusion. “Why?”

“I was thinking of doing an open-fire roast for the precinct’s Turkey Day dinner this year.”

“Boyle, you want me to firebend our main course?”

“It would make me so happy.”

Noting zero sarcasm in his response, Jake shrugs then swivels his chair back to his desk. “Okay, yeah– But ask Gina if we can book the training room for this. I’m not firebending a turkey in my apartment.”

 ---

 It turns out that being a walking furnace really does have its perks. Or at least that’s what Jake realizes as Amy burrows into his side, pressing her nose into the crook of his neck.

“You’re warm,” she mumbles sleepily, exhausted from the day’s departmentally-mandated sparring practice and the just-as-steamy bedroom activities that followed.

(It had to have been well over their thousandth time facing off in the precinct gym, both of them familiar enough with each other that they could anticipate nearly all of their attacks… Except he really could never have foreseen Amy’s final move: completely disarming him, not with a tidal wave but with a kiss.)

“Warm?” he scoffs teasingly. “I think you mean hot.”

She groans loudly but cuddles closer to him still, her smile burning against his bare skin.

 ---

 He gets thrown for a loop when their major serial murder case boils down to a ring of firebenders, all stuck in their old way of thinking.  

“You’re not them,” Amy reminds him, running a gentle but steady hand down his back.

I could be, he thinks. Because even now – especially now – in the calm silence of the evidence lockup, he can feel the sheer power thrumming beneath his skin. All it would take is for him to get too angry or too drunk or too anything, and the worst could happen.

“You’re a good person, Jake,” she says, her tone more firm than before. “You always have been.”

He swallows thickly and nods, letting her pull him into a long embrace.

 ---

 If there’s one thing he’s wished he could do with his firebending, it’s healing. He’s watched Amy do it countless of times, stepping up as the precinct’s unofficial healer whenever necessary. He’s felt the soothing power of it himself – cool water coaxing at his skin, repairing everything from a black eye to a bloody nose to a stiff back.

Right now, watching the love of his life start to bleed out before his eyes… He’s never felt more helpless.

“Damn it!” Jake yells, pushing his jacket into her side, willing the bleeding to stop. With the shooter knocked out and cuffed in the corner, he’s finally free to assess the damage. “When is the ambulance going to get there? You need a healer, now! ”

“J-Jake,” she chokes out, bringing a shaky hand to his clenched fist. “F-f-fire c-can cauter-r-rize.”

He lets out a sharp gasp, his eyes wide with shock. “You want me to burn you?!” He shakes his head vehemently. “No, Amy, no. It’s too dangerous. I could kill you–”

“Y-you won’t,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. The open trust in her eyes makes him want to sob. “Jake.”

“Okay,” he says, wiping hot tears with the back of his hand. “Okay.”

 ---

 “Can you do the twinkling lights again, Uncle Jake? Pleeaaase?”

It’s bedtime at the Jeffords household, and two little girls are decidedly not asleep.

“Please, Uncle Jake? Aunt Amy? One last story and the twinkling lights?”

He meets Amy’s gaze and raises an eyebrow. She shrugs, her lips curling into a smile. “I suppose just one short book wouldn’t hurt. Right, Jake?”

He hums, feigning thought while glancing at the clock. “We might have just enough time before your daddy and mommy get back.”

Cagney and Lacey cheer as he switches off their bedside lamp, and then watch with glee as he fills their room with dozens of tiny, carefully-placed flames. He makes them flicker with a precise movement of his hands, makes them float like fireflies in the night sky.

The twins fall asleep soon enough, lulled by the soft tone of Amy’s voice and the amber glow of the lights.

Sometimes Jake forgets how enchanting fire can be.

 ---

 Yet again, he’s at the mercy of a waterbender.

This time, it’s his daughter, only two-weeks-old and somehow already able to cause ripples and waves as she moves a tiny hand through the warm water in her tub. She lacks any real control, which is perhaps the biggest problem.

“Amy!” he calls out, equal parts awed and panicked. There’s nothing much he can do right now, apart from maybe distracting the baby with a dancing flame. (Not that he’d allow her anywhere near fire, at least not yet.)  

 ---

 “I’m going to be a waterbender like Mommy,” his son declares one day, with all the confidence of a child that’s crossed the jungle gym for the first time. He’s a little older than most kids are when they start bending, but it’s too early to be concerned about it; he could just be a late bloomer. (Granted, it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t start bending at all. They’d love him just the same if he were a nonbender.)

“How about firebending?” Jake jests lightly, feeling a bit wounded but also kind of relieved.

“Hmm, maybe,” Max shrugs, before running off again to play.  

Of course, of course, when the boy eventually does start bending, it’s a scorching stream of fire that bursts from his small outstretched fist. He’d been mimicking the probenders they’d seen on TV the day before, copying their fighting stances down to a tee.

Jake meets his eyes and sees the same mixture of fear and amazement he’s come to know so well. He quickly takes control of the wild flame, tamping it down to a low ember before gently passing it back to his son.

Max nurses the glowing warmth between his two palms, staring at it in fierce concentration. It flares too-strong for a moment, then recedes but doesn’t fizzle out.

Jake nods at him and smiles, pride blossoming in his chest.

“That’s it. Use your breath, son.”

[atamascolily]

Continuing with The Vein of Gold exercise, more films, more themes. I’m so predictable, y’all.

(Aka what Captain America has in common with Matilda)

9. Matilda

Nobody does montages like this film. There are at least three, and they’re all amazing.

10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (live action I, II, and III)

(I didn’t hallucinate these films, okay??)

11. The Shadow

12. Jurassic Park

13. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

This particular gif looks like it ought to be Renaissance painting or something.

14. Night at the Museum

15. Hanna

Apparently, freeway fight scenes are a thing for me? They’re a staple of CA:TWS, along with Terminator and the Matrix films. Not to mention a lot of the Inception set pieces. Basically, if a film is set in modern times and has any action scenes whatsoever, I want one on a freeway, kthanx. Maybe because I hate being stuck in traffic? Or maybe just because it looks cool?

Identity issues: boy does CA:TWS have them in spades. From Bucky’s brainwashing--”Who’s Bucky?”--to Natasha’s “Who do you want me to be?” questions abound. Natasha is constantly changing her identities--literally in the climax--and her hacking saves the day. Her final scene is very reminiscent of Sarah Connor’s in Terminator, too. For the first time, Steve faces an opponent who’s literally his equal and opposite, so the doubling/duality motif is reminiscent. And the Winter Soldier is also a slightly-more-human version of the Terminator! He even has a metal arm and programming!

Also, the film as a whole is super-suspicious of technology, and there’s the ‘80s references of the old computers in the bunker and “Shall We Play A Game?” Not to mention HYDRA’s surveillance thing is kinda like Skynet, plus they intend to target people for what they might do in the future, and not stuff they’d already done...

(NB: Both Terminator and CA:TWS are thematically reminiscent of Three Days of the Condor--which I have not seen, but have read the novelization. I fucking hate Condor, because it is such an obvious Male Fantasy, with an obvious Male Gaze, Cardboard Cutout Female Characters and a Doormat Obligatory Love Interest. Maybe the movie is better?? God, I hope so. But aside from its initial premise, Condor  is thoroughly grounded in “the real world,” lacking super-soldiers or robots to make it engaging for me.)

What can I say about the three live-action TMNT films? Um, so they tap into the “underground” theme I have going, and also “nifty puppets/sfx”, “so much the ‘80s/early ‘90s,” and martial arts mastery. April and Casey are weird foils to Sarah Connor and Kyle Reese, and the Shredder and Darth Vader have a lot in common, as do Splinter and Yoda. April is inducted into the weird alterworld of mutant turtles and yakuza gangs, and the turtles get mistaken for entertainers/performers at several key points across the three films. The first two films are set in New York, with a focus on sewers and urban squalor, but also a pastoral retreat to April’s family farm during the training montage/rest and recovery sequence. Leonardo--always my favorite--communicates telepathically with Master Splinter, and the turtles stage a rescue like Luke tries in ESB and succeeds (on several occasions) in ROTJ. There’s a constant tension between maintaining the masquerade and uncovering the truth. There’s even a time-travel plot to take them back to medieval Japan, thus melding all of the themes/motifs together!

Not to mention the radioactive ooze that creates the turtles in the first place as a comment on questionable tech--it also creates some of the antagonists in The Secret of the Ooze AND GIANT MUTANT DANDELIONS.And there’s a sequence where they break into a lab full of early ‘90s computers that could be straight out of Jurassic Park. So, um, yeah, about that....

Jurassic Park:  amazing sfx and puppetry. Human interactions with the other--usually but not always negatively. Badass botanist (wish Ellie were the main character instead of Grant but still!). Ominous jungle setting. Tension between science/tech and biology. Mutations as a plot point. “Life, uh, finds a way.” A corporate museum getting trashed by a T-rex in the climax--contrast with Night at the Museum, for a more docile take on the same motif! Tension between the truth and maintaining the masquerade. The perils of corporate power--see Ian Malcolm’s speech on the importance of moral responsibility and power. (Yes, he is an asshole and the author mouthpiece, but he’s also Jeff Goldblum, so he gets away with it.) Contrast this with Cyberdyne System in Terminator, and HYDRA’s surveillance system in CA:TWS. Also, shirtless Jeff Goldblum - contrast with the male nudity in Terminator, and Captain America’s and Luke Skywalker in tank tops and short sleeves. Also, “Dinosaur eats man / Woman inherits the earth” exchange. And GIANT REPTILES just like TMNT!

The Shadow: huge Asian/martial arts influence on the hero. Rigorous training with mystics in the wilderness. Psychic powers. Secret identity, keeping up appearances, and maintaining the masquerade. Self/shadow--it’s the hero’s superhero NAME; IT’S NOT SUBTLE. “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? THE SHADOW KNOWS! *ominous cackling* Fabulous fashion. Plot points involving a sarcophagus and busting into a museum (paging Night at the Museum). Amazing scenery, especially all of the hotel sequences. As always, I’m more interested in the female side character--in this case, Margo Lane--than anything else. Also, a scientist character played by Ian McKellen with questionable tech!

(I will never claim this film is good, and it has a TON of problematic elements, but even so, it made an impression on me, especially since I had been listening to a lot of vintage “The Shadow” radio dramas before I saw this, so I was familiar with The Shadow’s basic schtick. Also, even though it sounds like a cliche, The Shadow pretty much invented all the superhero tropes, so technically Batman and Dr. Strange owe him a debt and not the other way around... )

Hanna is very similar to Terminator, CA:TWS, and Matrix in that it features a protagonist being relentlessly hunted--in this case, by government agents very similar to those in the latter two films, only played by Cate Blanchett. Amazing underground lair/chase sequence, plus a fight in a German subway station; not to mention great desert sequences (hi, Star Wars!) and an abandoned theme park.

Matilda: the power of reading, a young girl saving the day because Adults Are Useless, classics references, newts, telekinesis. Like Steve Rogers, refuses to be cowed or lie, even when it would be in her own best interest to give in to tyranny. Interesting foil with Hanna, in that both are named after their super-powered protagonist, only Hanna’s powers are all based in incredible violence. Hanna is also wrestling with the question of who she is and what her purpose is in life, and she’s a survivor, just like Sarah Connor in Terminator. Also, a question of heritage and origins, as in Star Wars.

Night at the Museum: I usually don’t like Ben Stiller, and I think this movie would be stronger with a different lead actor, but Robin Williams is great as Teddy Roosevelt (mentor figure!) and it’s a natural history museum coming to life after hours with a giant T-Rex skeleton. Also, the miniatures are hysterical, and Akmenrah is great (contrast with The Shadow for their museum MacGuffin, too). Great sfx, too. Contrast with Jack Pumpkinhead and the Gump in Return to Oz, too. See also Steve stealing his uniform out of the Smithsonian in CA:TWS. It’s also a Found Family (or Family Reclaiming, depending on your point of view) along with The Secret Garden, and Matilda, and Star Wars and...

Anyway, I’m pretty sure a bot armed with this information could be used to generate stories tailor-made for me, which is both hilarious and frightening to think about.

Stories: I have a type.

[araliyaintheskywithdiamonds]

A Million Eyes You Are The Brightest Blue - A CrissColfer Fic

Loosely based on this prompt: “You broke into my apartment drunk thinking it was your friend’s house and I should call the cops but my cat kinda likes you so we’re good” AU

Bc I can’t seem to stop writing, and was suddenly inspired to write a NYE fic. 

Word Count: 2215 AO3

*Title from A Great Big World’s This Is The New Year 

This is the third New Year’s Eve Chris has spent alone. He’s actually gotten so used to it that he no longer feels that sorry for himself. Living in downtown LA should’ve meant that he’d have made at least some friends, but clearly that hasn’t happened yet. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s a struggling college student slash writer who holes himself up in his too-small apartment, and gets his groceries delivered to his doorstep.

Maybe. Probably.

Chris has already set himself up for the night- several cans of diet coke are set out on the coffee table, along with some boxes of Thai takeout and all three Lord of the Rings movies lined up on Netflix. He’s about to settle himself on the couch, from where he probably won’t move for at least four or five hours, when there is an almighty crash in the hallway.

Chris’ heart almost stops, and in a flash of panic, he grabs the television remote, wielding it like like a weapon. He sits as still as he can, keeping his ears out for any more noises. This is it. This is totally the night he dies. He can almost imagine the headlines- Innocent Man Brutally Murdered By Thugs On New Year’s Eve: A Tragic Ending To The Year-

An excited yelp and a hiccup startle Chris out of thoughts of his imminent obituary, and he frowns in disbelief when he hears someone cooing animatedly, as if to a baby.

“Oh my god, you’re adorable- Jules totally didn’t say she had a cat- who are you, my lovely-”

Whoever it is, sounds either raving mad or incredibly drunk, and seems to have found Brian. Oh god. Brian. Brian, who must now be in the hands of a cold-blooded killer. Brian, who could just as well be about to join Chris in his fast-approaching grave.

Scrambling to the kitchen, he fumbles for a knife from the drawer, and picks up his phone, fingers already on the number 9. Pointing the knife away from him, he tiptoes over to the opening to the hallway.

Heart thudding in his throat, breathing shallow and fast, Chris is totally prepared to use the knife against a ferocious attack, but what greets him is not a psychotic serial killer who gets distracted with house pets before a murder. Instead, it’s a completely harmless looking man, sitting cross-legged on the ground, with a purring Brian in his lap.

Chris drops the knife.

It makes a clattering noise against the wood, and the burglar slash murderer slash cat whisperer looks up at him. Chris is immediately greeted with a blindingly enthusiastic smile.

“Heyy, man! You a friend of Jules?” he slurs, Brian falling out of his lap with a disgruntled yelp when he makes a move to get up and greet Chris.

Chris immediately backs away, brandishing his phone as a warning. ���I am going to call the cops right now, if you don’t get out of this apartment.”

The man’s face falls almost comically, and for some reason Chris feels bad. The guy looks genuinely heartbroken.

“Wait, why? I know Jules, she’s like one of my best friends!”

Chris would probably feel like he was talking to a toddler were this guy not clearly a grown man in at least his early 20s, and also a very hot grown man at that. Which is totally an inappropriate thought to think about a felon, since breaking and entering is a felony in California, but Chris really can’t help himself.

He shakes himself out of rather un-PG thoughts of those dark curls and stubble, and brings his mind back to what the guy just said. “Who is Jules? Why would you think Jules lives here?”

The man’s (weirdly shaped yet insanely attractive) eyebrows furrow in confusion. “This isn’t Jules’ house?”

Chris groans exasperatedly. “No, this isn’t Jules’ house. Clearly, in your inebriated state, you’ve come to the wrong apartment. Broken and entered, actually.”

The man leans heavily against the wall. “I didn’t break anything. The door was open.”

Oh. Shit. Chris must’ve left the door open when he got his food from the delivery boy. Maybe not a felon, then.

“I’m Darren.”

He’s introducing himself, why is he introducing himself? Chris just wants to get back to his warm blankets and thai food, not make friends with a drunk stranger, no matter how hot he is.

“You also need to leave.” Chris means it in a firm way, but it just ends up sounding mean. Darren pouts and Chris winces. He looks like a puppy left out in the rain.

“Why?” Darren whines, and then his eyes flicker with recognition. “Oooh- are you with someone? Am I interrupting something?”

Chris flushes. “No, I’m not with anyone right now-”

“Wait, you’re alone? On New Year’s Eve?”

Chris stomps towards Darren, ignoring the fact that he could very well be walking straight to his death (what if he was just a really good actor?), and holds the door open wide. “Yes, I’m alone. And that’s not actually a bad thing. Maybe I want to be alone!”

Chris tries to make it sound confident and assured, but it ends up sounding painfully defensive.

Darren pouts again, and Chris almost melts. “Don’t you want company? I could be your company!”

Chris raises his eyebrows. “Don’t you have somewhere to be? Jules or someone?”

Darren waves his hand airily, thereby removing his anchoring on the wall, leading him to stumble precariously. Chris grabs his waist on instinct, ignoring how well it fits under his arm.

“Nah, I won’t miss much. Everyone’ll be smashed anyway.”

“Like you are?”

“I could sober up!”

Darren sounds almost hopeful, and Chris wonders why on earth he would be. In his ninja turtles t-shirt and shapeless pajama bottoms, Chris doesn’t really look like the most interesting person on the planet.

“I should be calling the cops.”

Darren waggles his eyebrows. “But you haven’t, even when you could have.” His grin is like the cheshire cat’s.

Chris can already feel himself caving. “Won’t your friends miss you?”

“Nah, they saw me yesterday. They’ll live.”

“You’re still drunk. I don’t want to have to babysit you.”

“Then catch up. We’ll both be drunk, and then you won’t have to babysit anyone.”

Chris narrows his eyes and lets go of Darren’s waist, wincing when he falls against the wall with a thud. “Why are you doing this?”

Darren looks confused. “Why am I doing what?”

“Why are you offering to hang out with me when you don’t even know me?”

“That’s how you get to know people. By hanging out?” Darren says it like he’s telling Chris that water is wet.

“But why me?”

“Well, I feel like you’d be more interesting than my drunk friends that I see like, every day, and plus you’re like, beautiful- in a surreal, elfin way.”

He’s drunk, Chris tries to assure himself. He’s drunk and he probably didn’t mean that.

“How are you still able to use words like that?” he asks instead.  

Darren shrugs, and leans his arm against the door so that it falls shut with a soft click. “I’m not that drunk.” As soon as he says it, his arm gives way, and he’s falling to the floor in a heap.

Chris rolls his eyes. “Clearly, I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

He tries to ignore the swooping sensation in his stomach when Darren whoops with glee.

***

“That is a lie.”

Darren’s sprawled over his couch, legs tangled with Chris’, while Chris watches from the other end. It’s probably weird, because they’ve literally only just met, but Chris is ready to start doing weird things. He’s also partway drunk, so it helps.

“There is no way you haven’t ever had a boyfriend.”

Chris raises his eyebrow and downs the rest of his glass of rum and diet coke. “Not a lie. No one wants to date me, and even if they did, I wouldn’t know. I barely ever go out.”

“But you’re like-” Darren gestures wildly. “Gorgeous.”

A pink blush joins the alcohol-induced redness on Chris’ face. There cannot be any way he looks gorgeous right now.

Darren however, is on a roll. “You’re also super fucking smart- you write for fuck’s sake, and you’re funny, and kind, and you let me into your house without even knowing who I was.”

“I’m also stupid, then.”

Darren’s gasps indignantly. “That was like the best decision ever! I am so glad you actually let me stay! I’ve never spent a New Year’s with someone like you.”

Chris suddenly feels sick. He sets down his empty glass, and curls up under the blankets. “I think I’ve drunk enough for one night.”

Darren seems to notice the change in the atmosphere. “Okay, then. I think you’re sufficiently caught up anyway.”

Chris suddenly feels bad, and decides to ask about Darren’s family. Darren’s eyes light up and it’s enough to ward away images of Darren with other people on New Year’s Eves, doing things that make Chris heart ache to think of.

***

“Do you have sparklers?”

Darren’s looking through Chris’ cupboards, and Chris is hoping that there’s a sufficient amount of healthy food in there so that he won’t be judged.

“Why do you want sparklers?”

“It’s New Year’s!”

“And?”

Darren stares at Chris like he’s sprouted two heads. “You light sparklers during New Years.”

“I know that, Darren.”

“Don’t you want to?”

Oh, and it’s back. The lost puppy face.

“Is it safe to light them inside?”

“We’ll go out on the balcony! Please?” Darren looks so excited that Chris finds himself caving, once again.

“I might have some left over from Hannah’s birthday party.”

Darren squeals like a little girl, and Chris tries not to think about how he’s already told him all about Hannah, and their relationship. He also tries to ignore the fact that no one he knows in LA has ever been close enough to him for him to even mention his sister.

Chris retrieves the sparklers, and suddenly Darren’s grabbing his hand, leading him out to the open balcony. The air is cooler that he expects, and sends a pleasant shiver up his spine.

“Seven minutes to midnight,” Darren whispers, and Chris startles.

Oh yeah. This is happening. He’s on a balcony with a gorgeous stranger (not a stranger anymore, Chris reminds himself), and they’re about to count down to the New Year. Said stranger also swings both ways, a useful tidbit of information Chris garnered when he told Darren he was gay, fully ready to kick him out if he even got the slightest whiff of homophobia.

They’ve got the sparklers and matches at the ready.

The mood is suddenly serious, standing out here in the open, wind whistling in their ears. There’s a distant pulse of music from one of the other apartments.

“Are you wishing for anything?” Chris asks quietly.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t tell me, or it won’t come true.”

Darren’s eyes glow amber in the moonlight. “Can I tell you if it does come true?”

“Are you that confident?”

Darren holds his gaze, lifting up Chris’ unlit sparkler to light it with a match. It fizzles to life immediately, bright and brilliant between them.

“More like hopeful,” he replies, using Chris’ sparkler to light his own. They’re one of the long ones that go on for several minutes instead of several seconds. They take turns drawing patterns in the sky, until Darren’s phone pings to let them know it’s almost midnight.

“I’ve never had a New Year’s kiss,” Chris whispers into the darkness. He doesn’t know why he says it.

“Neither have I.”

Chris turns to look at Darren in surprise. “That’s impossible.”

“Really. I always clear out as soon as they start the countdown.”

“Why?”

Their sparklers glitter closer to the ends of the sticks, and Darren gently takes Chris’ hand in his own to hold them away from their bodies.

“I guess I’ve never really wanted to have a New Year’s kiss that’s meaningless. They say the person who you kiss at New Years is the person you’ll spend the rest of the year with.”

“And you’ve never met someone you’d want to stay a year with?”

“I have.”

“And?”

They’ve somehow moved closer together, so that they’re sparklers are touching and there’s barely a hair’s breadth between their bodies.

“And I really don’t think a year’s enough.”

Fireworks explode out from behind them. Chris recognises them as the ones that are lit at Grand Park, in downtown LA.

“We missed the countdown-” Chris starts, and suddenly Darren’s kissing him, one hand cupping his jaw, and the other twined with Chris’ where their sparklers share a flame.

Darren’s kissing him, and it feels like the world just stopped turning.

Darren’s kissing him and all he knows is how soft his lips are and the feel of his hair under his fingers and the smell of sparkler smoke.

Darren’s kissing him, and Chris really just needs to know. He pulls away to rest his forehead on Darren’s, gasping slightly. His lips still tingle from the memory of Darren’s touch.

“Who was that someone you said that a year wouldn’t be enough with?”

Darren’s lashes brush Chris’ cheeks as he steals another kiss.

“You.”

[sambart93]

Final 31: Day 6! Top 10 Ensemble Stars Characters

I imagine this one will be harder than the Touken one... I still don’t know most of the characters all that well.

10. Natsume - he was one of the first characters that I liked in the game. I’ve gotten some really nice cards of his (like this one) which I love, so that helps. Also I love that he wears a pendant (which hit me in the SUPERNATURAL feels), and he’s an oddball so he is right up my street! I really like his group, SWITCH too!

9. Ritsu - my like for him mainly comes from two things A. he loves to sleep and does for most of the day B. MakiChan played him. Also his cards are really nice too! Especially this one!

8. Tori - This little shit is a little shit BUT he’s totally cute so I like him! Remember I love kawaii characters! xD But I don’t think he likes me that much.. I hardly ever get his cards in gachas and stuff. But he’s so cute! And I enjoy Hoshimoto’s performance as him too.

7. Wataru - he was my very first card and character I chose! He’s so ridiculous that he cracks me up! I especially love his ‘AMAZING’ that he yells in my face now and again. He TOO also has some really, really pretty cards! And I also really love his hair!

6. Shu - As weird as this is going to sound; as soon as I saw him talking to me with a doll in his hand, I was sold. I immediately went ‘yup that’s my boy!’. I love how attached he is to his doll - even though I should be freaked out by it. But I think it’s totally adorable that he freaking sews clothing for her and everything! So dedicated! Fav card here.

5. Shinkai - He’s such a fluff-pot. He has literally nothing in that head of his. It’s all air and that’s why I love him. He’s so adorable with his PUKAPUKA noises and just taking it all easy and being all day-dreamy all the time... I’ve just realised... I love four of the five oddballs in EnStars xD CLEARLY I have a type that isn’t just locked down to ‘kawaii’ type characters xD Seriously, I love the oddballs -- they’re so interesting. Also Shinkai with his freaking fish obsession is the best! My favourite of his is here.

4. Mika - Valkyrie was the first group after initially starting the game that I ended up liking. Straight away I liked both the members and that’s why both of them have ended up on this like! But as you can tell, I like Mika more because... well, for starters: I LOVE Mika’s eyes! I absolutely love the two coloured eyes he’s got going on. Also he reminds me of MakiChan when he was in Hatsukoi Monster and to be honest, I’ve ALWAYS wanted MakiChan to play Mika from day one of meeting Mika. I personally think he suits Mika better than Ritsu but not my call. Anyway, he looks great in his stage outfit too! AND AND AND he speaks in Kansai-bem/accent which is just... MY LOVE! Next to Kyuushuu-ben <3

Now to the TOP 3!

3. Hajime - my main love for this fellow comes from Keito’s performance of him in EnStage. Keito does such a freaking cute, adorable, kawaii job as Hajime! He is perfect! AND I also love just how much of a worry wort and a mess Hajime is and he’s just a huge cutie anyway! WE ALL KNOW I LIKE CUTE TYPES BY THIS POINT! But seriously Keito... Hajime cries ALL the time and worries and jumps to the wrong conclusion so easily - it’s not good for my heart! - especially in the damn EnStage plays and it just gets me crying buckets too! And can we all just remember the stupid Tea scene from EnStage 3 for a moment - how good was that! Keito was on point and Hajime was so adorable! I am also a huge sucker for Ra*bits anyway and the longer I play this game and watch the stages, the more and more I like them! Both individually and as a group.

2. Kanzaki - If Hakuouki and Touken Ranbu and Senbura is anythnig to go by then it become pretty apparent that I am a sword and samurai lover -- so of COURSE I’m going to love the only sword holding guy in the entire damn game! And to top it off, he has a PET TURTLE! I LOVE TURTLES! And his constant faking of seppuku cracks me up; he’s just wanting attention okay! And can we talk about how amazing Higuchi Yuta is as him?! OH MY! He’s so coooool and kakkooiiii as Kanzaki! But also pretty stupid when he does dumb things like take his turtle for walks xD Akatsuki also have a lot of my fav songs too! They’re so cool as a group when they perform! And Kanzaki’s sword thingy that Higuchi does <3 Fav card here.

1. Shinobu - this cute this ninja! I love him sooooo much! It really helps that he’s practically in a group of super sentai! Also I love that he finishes with DE GOZARU all the time! And that ONE card where he’s crying just breaks my heart every time! How dare you make him cry Eichi! -_- AND! His colours are purple and yellow and I LOVE purple! AND AND AND Taiga plays him in EnStage and I LOVE Taiga too! He does such a great job as Shinobu also, I cannot wait to see what he does in this next stage as him. My favourite card of him is this and this.

** All the cards I picked are ones that I have of them.

[f0x-meets-w0lf]

your faves are problematic: the vancouver crew edition

ryang

regularly beatboxes ‘drop it like it’s hot’ by snoop dogg in its entirety even though he would be perfectly capable at doing other songs

got a job at the local ice cream shop just to be able to ‘sample’ every single flavor every single day but somehow hasn’t gained any weight

still counts on his fingers for simple everyday math problems

owns more pairs of shoes than most people do t-shirts and has an entire cubby shelf storage system in his closet for them

is naturally talented at cooking but is usually too lazy to actually make the effort and mostly depends on top ramen and dried fruit from trader joe’s for his nutrition

lee-squared

has eaten a whole pizza by himself on more than one occasion, and not just cheese, either - he prefers either loaded supreme or meat-lovers

kills every plant he has ever attempted to own, including several different species of succulents and cacti

quotes and references outdated memes that only he remembers

couldn’t decide which teenage mutant ninja turtle to name his pet tortoise after so he combined them all and named it leoraphdonangelo (which cheng2 thinks sounds like a species of dinosaur)

won the spelling bee five years in a row in middle school and has impeccable grammar yet types his text messages and blog posts like a shitty dumb frat boy on tindr looking for a hookup

sicksteve

inherited a huge collection of vinyl records from his older brother and owns a record player but primarily listens to spotify through his awful laptop speakers

buys his hard-to-find specialized hair products online even though the shipping costs are ridiculous

refuses to get snapchat because it’s ‘stupid and pointless’ but often sabotages cheng2′s dog filter and flower crown selfies

has perfect eyesight but wears glasses anyway purely for the aesthetic

took up guitar in seventh grade and is a natural, learned classical and jazz techniques but insists on playing mainly post-punk acoustic jams (with whiny vocals happily provided by lee-squared)

koh

only ever joined the aglionby soccer team because he thought the goalie was cute (and just happened to actually be pretty okay at soccer)

still wears heelie sneakers out in public

is afraid of piranhas to the point of having nightmares about them even though he has never been in any waters where they are naturally found

exclusively drinks super fruity cocktails (mainly tequila sunrises and malibu bay breezes) even though they give him terrible hangovers; often vows to ‘never drink again’ but never holds to it

plans and budgets entire trips to europe and asia almost monthly but closes every tab without actually buying any tickets or booking hotels because he hates flying and is waiting for teleportation to be invented

henry broadway/cheng2

prefers eggo waffles over ryang’s homemade belgian waffles and eats them straight out of the box (still frozen). also does this with frozen blueberries and then complains when he gets brain freeze

regularly gets too stoned to do his homework and has to copy off of henry cheng’s in the mornings before class

has read the whole harry potter book series seven times and has watched all of the films even more than that and still cries every time dumbledore dies

names 99.9% of his possessions even though he usually forgets what he names them and then has to rename them

has spent a shocking amount of time on his playstation4 building an incredibly accurate minecraft replica of the litchfield house

rutherford

is very academically gifted but puts in minimal effort whenever he can and often scrolls through reddit instead of paying attention in class

joined the aglionby lacrosse team on a dare from ryang even though he’d never played lacrosse in his entire life (he was terrible)

learned american sign language with his younger brother just so the two of them could complain about their parents’ strict rules without their parents knowing

has seen every true crime documentary on netflix at least once

can’t tolerate spicy food at all. at ALL. he thinks uncooked and unseasoned green bell peppers are spicy

[barbosaasouza]

Review: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore (Nintendo Switch)

I want you to understand straight away that those picking up this game solely because they’re into Fire Emblem are going to be extremely disappointed. The #FE connection is dubious, at best, offering only a few characters, some musical cues, weapons, and references. All that remains of the Fire Emblem battle system is the weapon triangle, and all but one of the FE characters featured in the story are covered in masks. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is no more a Fire Emblem game than is Super Smash Bros.

All that said, I absolutely love it. It was one of my favorite games on the Wii U, and now it’s one of my favorite games on the Switch.

The game takes place in modern-day Tokyo where ghostly figures called mirages are stealing “performa” from the unexpecting citizens, causing them to become mumpish. Most people can’t see these mirages, but there are a few out there called mirage masters who can not only see them but also control one of their own. Here’s where the Fire Emblem characters come into play, as each of our heroes gets a mirage based on a character from a couple of Fire Emblem games. They interact with the mirages throughout the game’s story, but more importantly, the mirages become weapons during battles.

Speaking of the story, we mostly follow Itsuke Aoi and Tsubasa Oribe, a young “will-they-or-won’t-they” couple living in Tokyo. Tsubasa has dreams of becoming an idol like her older sister before she disappeared in the first mirage attack five years prior. Itsuke accompanies Tsubasa to a big public audition, and must quickly save her when she’s taken by mirages into an Idolasphere (various alternate dimensions with gateways scattered throughout Tokyo). There, Itsuke discovers his mirage, Chrom from Fire Emblem: Awakening. Tsubasa gets one of her own—Caeda from Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon—after being rescued.

It ends up that Itsuke’s best friend—an aspiring actor named Touma Ikagi—is already a mirage master, so he takes these two to his boss, Maiko Shimazaki. To the public and idol industry, she’s the head of Fortuna Entertainment. She’s to the mirage masters as, say, Splinter is to the Ninja Turtles. Only sexier. And more flirtatious. And probably a heavier drinker. You have to know how to deal with those the idol industry, after all.

The beginning chunk of the game introduces us to the playable characters (seven good-looking young entertainers and their respective mirages) as well as plenty of NPCs both in and out of Fortuna Entertainment. The story is told in chapters, each involving an idolasphere to explore and a boss monster to overcome. Some bosses are named after villains from the Fire Emblem series, but never really bear a resemblance to their namesake. The idolasphers are all inspired by the various components of the Japanese idol industry: pop music, TV, film, modeling, etc.

I’ve focused thus far on the story and scenery because it’s all so absolutely bonkers that it really carries the game. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is a constant explosion of color and pep that somehow manages to keep up its frantic pace without ever getting too sugary. There are darker moments, of course, and many of the enemies you’ll battle along the way are quite creepy (if you’re afraid of clowns, just wait until you have to take on Nickelwise), but it’s nothing that friendship, hard work, and a fully animated J-Pop video can’t overcome.

Between each chapter are intermissions in which you can pick up sidequests from the people about town (find this thing, talk to this person, attack these monsters, etc.). The best ones come in the form of side stories for the main characters, through which we learn their motivation for entering the idol industry and help them overcome their insecurities. These are important because they open up new performa that can aid you in battle. Also, they’re often very funny and occasionally quite touching. Every single controllable character in this game is distinctive, interesting, and entertaining.

Of course, none of this would matter if the game wasn’t fun to play, but it is. The turn-based battle system is amongst my favorite ever devised. Although each character has his/her own strengths, you can augment these with skills learned throughout the story—Nintendo fans familiar with Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei games will feel right at home here. Whether you choose to enhance your natural strengths or try to balance your characters with new ones will affect how they perform in battle.

Battles begin when you bump into an enemy in the Idolasphere. You can avoid them if you prefer, but engaging at all times will keep you appropriately leveled. All battles take place on a “stage” in front of an “audience.” Three members of your party will fight at a time, but you can swap two of them out at will (only Itsuke must remain active). A timeline shows you the order of who attacks when, so that along with your strengths and your opponents’ weaknesses (revealed as you attack them) shape your strategy for battle.

You have a standard physical attack you’ll hardly ever use because the special attacks can set up chains. Here, your attack is followed up by one from your party members who have a complementary skill regardless of whether they’re actively in the battle. I especially like that swapping out party members doesn’t penalize you; the person you pull in gets to attack right away instead of having to wait until the next round. And here’s a pro tip; be sure to swap in everyone during the boss battles as everyone who gets in at least one attack will get experience points, even those who aren’t active when the battle ends. That experience (along with the items you collect after battles) will lead to better weapons, new skills, ad-lib performances, duo attacks, and more. The game helps you keep an eye on your upgrades by pushing them on you after battle and through the game’s Topic system, which is basically a text messaging app that originally popped on the Wii U GamePad and is now called up on the screen with the + button.

Assuming many of you have already played that original Wii U version, I’ll spare you the further gameplay intricacies and look at whether the Encore edition is worth a second look. Honestly, you don’t really get much. The original’s DLC for easier level grinding is now built in, and you get a bonus dungeon that provides new costumes and story elements. The dungeon is perfunctory, but maybe that’s okay considering the complicated and discombobulating mazes that make up the standard Idolaspheres (especially one towards the very end). The costumes are fun, however, and it’s good to not have to spend the in-game cash in order to change the look of the characters (unless you want to, of course).

More helpful is the fact that Tiki (another Fire Emblem character who runs the Bloom Palace where you enhance weapons and learn new skills), Maiko, and Barry (a former metal guitarist and mirage master who’s now a trainer for Fortuna) get to join the end of your session attacks to provide a bit more damage. There’s also a new song to enjoy. None of this is really enough to call previous players back into the arena, but the game is so much fun that it’s worth a double-dip regardless.

I feel I should address the controversy that arose when it was announced that the Encore edition for Switch would be based on the western version of the game which “censored” (some people have difficulty distinguishing censoring from editing for content) certain elements from the Japanese version. Specifically, cleavage is covered up in parts and sexy imagery is randomly toned down. None of this impacts gameplay, and it’s not like there’s not enough fanservice spread throughout the game. It’s much ado about nothing. We still don’t have access to the hot springs DLC, however, and that’s too bad. I couldn’t care less how animated characters are dressed in a game, but it annoys me when there’s available content to which I don’t have access.

Still, none of that alters my overall opinion of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore. It’s a vibrant, bonkers, incredibly upbeat game that’s as fun during the downtime as it is in the battles. The lack of an autosave is going to annoy you more than once, and the game does seems to repeat itself quite a bit, but that’s the extend of my complaints.

The post Review: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Review: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore (Nintendo Switch) published first on https://superworldrom.tumblr.com/

[barbosaasouza]

Review: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore (Nintendo Switch)

I want you to understand straight away that those picking up this game solely because they’re into Fire Emblem are going to be extremely disappointed. The #FE connection is dubious, at best, offering only a few characters, some musical cues, weapons, and references. All that remains of the Fire Emblem battle system is the weapon triangle, and all but one of the FE characters featured in the story are covered in masks. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is no more a Fire Emblem game than is Super Smash Bros.

All that said, I absolutely love it. It was one of my favorite games on the Wii U, and now it’s one of my favorite games on the Switch.

The game takes place in modern-day Tokyo where ghostly figures called mirages are stealing “performa” from the unexpecting citizens, causing them to become mumpish. Most people can’t see these mirages, but there are a few out there called mirage masters who can not only see them but also control one of their own. Here’s where the Fire Emblem characters come into play, as each of our heroes gets a mirage based on a character from a couple of Fire Emblem games. They interact with the mirages throughout the game’s story, but more importantly, the mirages become weapons during battles.

Speaking of the story, we mostly follow Itsuke Aoi and Tsubasa Oribe, a young “will-they-or-won’t-they” couple living in Tokyo. Tsubasa has dreams of becoming an idol like her older sister before she disappeared in the first mirage attack five years prior. Itsuke accompanies Tsubasa to a big public audition, and must quickly save her when she’s taken by mirages into an Idolasphere (various alternate dimensions with gateways scattered throughout Tokyo). There, Itsuke discovers his mirage, Chrom from Fire Emblem: Awakening. Tsubasa gets one of her own—Caeda from Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon—after being rescued.

It ends up that Itsuke’s best friend—an aspiring actor named Touma Ikagi—is already a mirage master, so he takes these two to his boss, Maiko Shimazaki. To the public and idol industry, she’s the head of Fortuna Entertainment. She’s to the mirage masters as, say, Splinter is to the Ninja Turtles. Only sexier. And more flirtatious. And probably a heavier drinker. You have to know how to deal with those the idol industry, after all.

The beginning chunk of the game introduces us to the playable characters (seven good-looking young entertainers and their respective mirages) as well as plenty of NPCs both in and out of Fortuna Entertainment. The story is told in chapters, each involving an idolasphere to explore and a boss monster to overcome. Some bosses are named after villains from the Fire Emblem series, but never really bear a resemblance to their namesake. The idolasphers are all inspired by the various components of the Japanese idol industry: pop music, TV, film, modeling, etc.

I’ve focused thus far on the story and scenery because it’s all so absolutely bonkers that it really carries the game. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is a constant explosion of color and pep that somehow manages to keep up its frantic pace without ever getting too sugary. There are darker moments, of course, and many of the enemies you’ll battle along the way are quite creepy (if you’re afraid of clowns, just wait until you have to take on Nickelwise), but it’s nothing that friendship, hard work, and a fully animated J-Pop video can’t overcome.

Between each chapter are intermissions in which you can pick up sidequests from the people about town (find this thing, talk to this person, attack these monsters, etc.). The best ones come in the form of side stories for the main characters, through which we learn their motivation for entering the idol industry and help them overcome their insecurities. These are important because they open up new performa that can aid you in battle. Also, they’re often very funny and occasionally quite touching. Every single controllable character in this game is distinctive, interesting, and entertaining.

Of course, none of this would matter if the game wasn’t fun to play, but it is. The turn-based battle system is amongst my favorite ever devised. Although each character has his/her own strengths, you can augment these with skills learned throughout the story—Nintendo fans familiar with Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei games will feel right at home here. Whether you choose to enhance your natural strengths or try to balance your characters with new ones will affect how they perform in battle.

Battles begin when you bump into an enemy in the Idolasphere. You can avoid them if you prefer, but engaging at all times will keep you appropriately leveled. All battles take place on a “stage” in front of an “audience.” Three members of your party will fight at a time, but you can swap two of them out at will (only Itsuke must remain active). A timeline shows you the order of who attacks when, so that along with your strengths and your opponents’ weaknesses (revealed as you attack them) shape your strategy for battle.

You have a standard physical attack you’ll hardly ever use because the special attacks can set up chains. Here, your attack is followed up by one from your party members who have a complementary skill regardless of whether they’re actively in the battle. I especially like that swapping out party members doesn’t penalize you; the person you pull in gets to attack right away instead of having to wait until the next round. And here’s a pro tip; be sure to swap in everyone during the boss battles as everyone who gets in at least one attack will get experience points, even those who aren’t active when the battle ends. That experience (along with the items you collect after battles) will lead to better weapons, new skills, ad-lib performances, duo attacks, and more. The game helps you keep an eye on your upgrades by pushing them on you after battle and through the game’s Topic system, which is basically a text messaging app that originally popped on the Wii U GamePad and is now called up on the screen with the + button.

Assuming many of you have already played that original Wii U version, I’ll spare you the further gameplay intricacies and look at whether the Encore edition is worth a second look. Honestly, you don’t really get much. The original’s DLC for easier level grinding is now built in, and you get a bonus dungeon that provides new costumes and story elements. The dungeon is perfunctory, but maybe that’s okay considering the complicated and discombobulating mazes that make up the standard Idolaspheres (especially one towards the very end). The costumes are fun, however, and it’s good to not have to spend the in-game cash in order to change the look of the characters (unless you want to, of course).

More helpful is the fact that Tiki (another Fire Emblem character who runs the Bloom Palace where you enhance weapons and learn new skills), Maiko, and Barry (a former metal guitarist and mirage master who’s now a trainer for Fortuna) get to join the end of your session attacks to provide a bit more damage. There’s also a new song to enjoy. None of this is really enough to call previous players back into the arena, but the game is so much fun that it’s worth a double-dip regardless.

I feel I should address the controversy that arose when it was announced that the Encore edition for Switch would be based on the western version of the game which “censored” (some people have difficulty distinguishing censoring from editing for content) certain elements from the Japanese version. Specifically, cleavage is covered up in parts and sexy imagery is randomly toned down. None of this impacts gameplay, and it’s not like there’s not enough fanservice spread throughout the game. It’s much ado about nothing. We still don’t have access to the hot springs DLC, however, and that’s too bad. I couldn’t care less how animated characters are dressed in a game, but it annoys me when there’s available content to which I don’t have access.

Still, none of that alters my overall opinion of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore. It’s a vibrant, bonkers, incredibly upbeat game that’s as fun during the downtime as it is in the battles. The lack of an autosave is going to annoy you more than once, and the game does seems to repeat itself quite a bit, but that’s the extend of my complaints.

The post Review: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Review: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore (Nintendo Switch) published first on https://superworldrom.tumblr.com/

[barbosaasouza]

Review: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore (Nintendo Switch)

I want you to understand straight away that those picking up this game solely because they’re into Fire Emblem are going to be extremely disappointed. The #FE connection is dubious, at best, offering only a few characters, some musical cues, weapons, and references. All that remains of the Fire Emblem battle system is the weapon triangle, and all but one of the FE characters featured in the story are covered in masks. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is no more a Fire Emblem game than is Super Smash Bros.

All that said, I absolutely love it. It was one of my favorite games on the Wii U, and now it’s one of my favorite games on the Switch.

The game takes place in modern-day Tokyo where ghostly figures called mirages are stealing “performa” from the unexpecting citizens, causing them to become mumpish. Most people can’t see these mirages, but there are a few out there called mirage masters who can not only see them but also control one of their own. Here’s where the Fire Emblem characters come into play, as each of our heroes gets a mirage based on a character from a couple of Fire Emblem games. They interact with the mirages throughout the game’s story, but more importantly, the mirages become weapons during battles.

Speaking of the story, we mostly follow Itsuke Aoi and Tsubasa Oribe, a young “will-they-or-won’t-they” couple living in Tokyo. Tsubasa has dreams of becoming an idol like her older sister before she disappeared in the first mirage attack five years prior. Itsuke accompanies Tsubasa to a big public audition, and must quickly save her when she’s taken by mirages into an Idolasphere (various alternate dimensions with gateways scattered throughout Tokyo). There, Itsuke discovers his mirage, Chrom from Fire Emblem: Awakening. Tsubasa gets one of her own—Caeda from Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon—after being rescued.

It ends up that Itsuke’s best friend—an aspiring actor named Touma Ikagi—is already a mirage master, so he takes these two to his boss, Maiko Shimazaki. To the public and idol industry, she’s the head of Fortuna Entertainment. She’s to the mirage masters as, say, Splinter is to the Ninja Turtles. Only sexier. And more flirtatious. And probably a heavier drinker. You have to know how to deal with those the idol industry, after all.

The beginning chunk of the game introduces us to the playable characters (seven good-looking young entertainers and their respective mirages) as well as plenty of NPCs both in and out of Fortuna Entertainment. The story is told in chapters, each involving an idolasphere to explore and a boss monster to overcome. Some bosses are named after villains from the Fire Emblem series, but never really bear a resemblance to their namesake. The idolasphers are all inspired by the various components of the Japanese idol industry: pop music, TV, film, modeling, etc.

I’ve focused thus far on the story and scenery because it’s all so absolutely bonkers that it really carries the game. Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE is a constant explosion of color and pep that somehow manages to keep up its frantic pace without ever getting too sugary. There are darker moments, of course, and many of the enemies you’ll battle along the way are quite creepy (if you’re afraid of clowns, just wait until you have to take on Nickelwise), but it’s nothing that friendship, hard work, and a fully animated J-Pop video can’t overcome.

Between each chapter are intermissions in which you can pick up sidequests from the people about town (find this thing, talk to this person, attack these monsters, etc.). The best ones come in the form of side stories for the main characters, through which we learn their motivation for entering the idol industry and help them overcome their insecurities. These are important because they open up new performa that can aid you in battle. Also, they’re often very funny and occasionally quite touching. Every single controllable character in this game is distinctive, interesting, and entertaining.

Of course, none of this would matter if the game wasn’t fun to play, but it is. The turn-based battle system is amongst my favorite ever devised. Although each character has his/her own strengths, you can augment these with skills learned throughout the story—Nintendo fans familiar with Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei games will feel right at home here. Whether you choose to enhance your natural strengths or try to balance your characters with new ones will affect how they perform in battle.

Battles begin when you bump into an enemy in the Idolasphere. You can avoid them if you prefer, but engaging at all times will keep you appropriately leveled. All battles take place on a “stage” in front of an “audience.” Three members of your party will fight at a time, but you can swap two of them out at will (only Itsuke must remain active). A timeline shows you the order of who attacks when, so that along with your strengths and your opponents’ weaknesses (revealed as you attack them) shape your strategy for battle.

You have a standard physical attack you’ll hardly ever use because the special attacks can set up chains. Here, your attack is followed up by one from your party members who have a complementary skill regardless of whether they’re actively in the battle. I especially like that swapping out party members doesn’t penalize you; the person you pull in gets to attack right away instead of having to wait until the next round. And here’s a pro tip; be sure to swap in everyone during the boss battles as everyone who gets in at least one attack will get experience points, even those who aren’t active when the battle ends. That experience (along with the items you collect after battles) will lead to better weapons, new skills, ad-lib performances, duo attacks, and more. The game helps you keep an eye on your upgrades by pushing them on you after battle and through the game’s Topic system, which is basically a text messaging app that originally popped on the Wii U GamePad and is now called up on the screen with the + button.

Assuming many of you have already played that original Wii U version, I’ll spare you the further gameplay intricacies and look at whether the Encore edition is worth a second look. Honestly, you don’t really get much. The original’s DLC for easier level grinding is now built in, and you get a bonus dungeon that provides new costumes and story elements. The dungeon is perfunctory, but maybe that’s okay considering the complicated and discombobulating mazes that make up the standard Idolaspheres (especially one towards the very end). The costumes are fun, however, and it’s good to not have to spend the in-game cash in order to change the look of the characters (unless you want to, of course).

More helpful is the fact that Tiki (another Fire Emblem character who runs the Bloom Palace where you enhance weapons and learn new skills), Maiko, and Barry (a former metal guitarist and mirage master who’s now a trainer for Fortuna) get to join the end of your session attacks to provide a bit more damage. There’s also a new song to enjoy. None of this is really enough to call previous players back into the arena, but the game is so much fun that it’s worth a double-dip regardless.

I feel I should address the controversy that arose when it was announced that the Encore edition for Switch would be based on the western version of the game which “censored” (some people have difficulty distinguishing censoring from editing for content) certain elements from the Japanese version. Specifically, cleavage is covered up in parts and sexy imagery is randomly toned down. None of this impacts gameplay, and it’s not like there’s not enough fanservice spread throughout the game. It’s much ado about nothing. We still don’t have access to the hot springs DLC, however, and that’s too bad. I couldn’t care less how animated characters are dressed in a game, but it annoys me when there’s available content to which I don’t have access.

Still, none of that alters my overall opinion of Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore. It’s a vibrant, bonkers, incredibly upbeat game that’s as fun during the downtime as it is in the battles. The lack of an autosave is going to annoy you more than once, and the game does seems to repeat itself quite a bit, but that’s the extend of my complaints.

The post Review: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pure Nintendo.

Review: Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE: Encore (Nintendo Switch) published first on https://superworldrom.tumblr.com/