#very high stakes for leo

[tangledinink]

question for ur gemini au: do they ever get cloaking broaches/do they have cloaking broaches and if yes why do they use them?

me: im not gonna draw anything for any of these asks, just simple easy answers, that's all--

idiot-mushroom, my beloved mutual, asking this and giving me the opportunity to make yet another set of TMNT human designs:

ANYWAY! they don't OWN cloaking brooches of their own, but every now and again they'll get a pair for the evening for some topside dinner or charity event or what-have-you that Mama wants them present for. And they look a little like this!

this is a rare occasion and has only really been something they've been asked to participate in a handful of times over the past several years. they both find it horribly stressful for a variety of different reasons.

[astrologydray]

Astrology observations 3😵‍💫

🪡 People with Pluto in the 10th house can go from being underestimated to running the whole damn show😫.

🪡 Saturn in the 9th house can make someone skeptical of belief systems until they’ve done their own research.

🪡 Moon in the 4th house people are deeply connected to their childhood memories—good or bad.

🪡 Mars conjunct Pluto people don’t get mad often, but when they do? It’s nuclear😊.

🪡 Sun conjunct Mercury people talk about themselves without realizing it—it’s not ego, it’s just their mind and identity fused together.

🪡 Saturn in the 1st house can make someone look more mature or serious from a young age.

🪡 Neptune trine Venus people have an ethereal beauty that feels almost otherworldly😇.

🪡 Jupiter in the 2nd house? Money seems to find you, but you probably spend it just as fast😭.

🪡 A person with a Grand Cross in fixed signs You’re incredibly determined but may struggle with stubbornness.

🪡 Neptune in the 1st house people often get misread because they reflect what others want to see.

🪡 If you have a Grand Cross in your chart, you’re built for high-stakes situations—you thrive under pressure.

🪡 Neptune conjunct the Ascendant? People either idealize you or misunderstand you completely😔.

🪡 Moon square Saturn people often felt like they had to suppress their emotions from a young age🖤.

🪡 A Yod with Mercury at the apex(point)? You’re meant to share your ideas, even if your communication skills took time to develop🧠.

🪡 Pluto square Sun people go through multiple ego deaths in life—each version of them is stronger than the last.

🪡 Venus conjunct Mars people have undeniable sexual chemistry—whether they realize it or not🥵.

🪡 people with Jupiter conjunct the Midheaven Success tends to find you, even when you’re not looking for it🍀.

🪡 Mercury square Neptune placements struggle with daydreaming mid-conversation or saying things that don’t quite land.

🪡 A Grand Trine in water? Your intuition is your superpower, but your emotions can be overwhelming😖.

🪡 If you have a Grand Trine, your talents come naturally—but you might not fully appreciate them because they feel effortless.

🪡 A Virgo might correct you, but it’s only because they care (and can’t help themselves)🖤.

🪡 Gemini placements have five different versions of themselves, and they rotate depending on who they’re around😭.

🪡 If a Leo goes silent, something is very wrong. Please go check on em😖.

🪡 If a Scorpio lets you in, they’ve already tested you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

[personastrologyhub]

Degree Theory Series: The Leo Degrees (5°, 17°, 29°): Unveiling the Complexities of Power, Prestige, and Presence

☆ Leo degrees represent a striking influence—one that combines ambition, charisma, romance, and a near-magical allure. The house that Leo is in your chart is reflective of the area of life that you have the potential to receive a lot of attention.  It is literally the sign of reaching for the stars.   But beneath the well-known themes of fame, leadership, and power, these degrees have deeper, sometimes hidden qualities that shape the lives they touch. Here’s an exploration into these powerful degrees, plus the distinctive flavors they create when combined with different planetary energies.

5° Leo: The Catalyst for Expression and Presence

Keywords: Bold action, self-expression, initiator, elite status, teaching and guidance.

☆° ✩࿐

Personality and Physicality: Known as a degree that heightens presence, 5° Leo lends a dignified, commanding air that can be quite magnetic. David Hasselhoff’s for example has a Venus at 5 degrees of Leo. Back in the day, David was known for his magnetic charm and stage presence. He had set the Guinness world record of the most watched man on Tv. This degree supports his appeal as the central figure of Baywatch, Knight Rider and other things, and it shows his ability to thrive under the spotlight. He had set the Guinness world record of the most watched man on Tv.

5° Leo isn’t just the “leader” degree; it often marks those who naturally attract authority and influence without having to seek it.

Hidden Quality of Resourcefulness: A lesser-known quality of 5° Leo is its connection to resourcefulness in high-stakes situations. Those with this degree on key planets often discover remarkable ingenuity under pressure, especially in challenging or isolating circumstances. To thrive in the spotlight, you have to be very resilient.

17° Leo: The Degree of Visionary Influence and Endurance

Keywords: Legacy, public service, intellectual pursuits, mentorship, teaching roles, family connections.

Social Reach and Legacy: 17° Leo reflects someone whose influence extends over time, resonating through a legacy, particularly through teaching, law, or service roles. the 17th degree is the 2nd highest degree amongst the leo degrees (5, and 29 are the other leo degrees) meaning that it has a “longevity” behind it. There’s often a connection to mentorship or guiding others, and those with 17° Leo placements may be naturally drawn to academia, justice, or philosophical pursuits. They often think in terms of generations and long-term impacts.

Oprah has her MC in 17 degree of Libra.

Elvis Presley is a prominent example of a celebrity with a 17° placement, specifically with his Sun at 17° Capricorn, which is influenced by the “Leo degree” due to degree theory. This degree is associated with lasting fame, a magnetic stage presence, and the ability to create legacy and extend over time. Elvis Presleys music has the ability to transcend time—this aligns with Elvis’s legendary status as the “King of Rock and Roll.” The 17° Leo degree amplifies qualities like charisma, recognition, and impact in the public eye, traits strongly reflected in Elvis’s career and enduring influence in music and culture.

Another example is George Michael, whose Ascendant is at 17° Cancer, lending him a path aligned with Leo qualities—drawing attention, captivating fans, and excelling as a charismatic performer in the entertainment industry. Both figures illustrate how the 17° Leo degree enhances the potential for significant, long-lasting public impact and memorable artistry.

These cases highlight how the 17° degree is seen as one of prestige and enduring influence in charts of famous figures, marking individuals with an aura of distinction and an ability to maintain a lasting legacy in their field.

The Role of Family and Support: This degree frequently connects individuals with family lineage, both in values and sometimes through inheritance or positions of responsibility within family networks. The “father” degree, it suggests an ability to support or uplift family lines or nations—carrying a certain gravitas that inspires collective respect. Just as 17° Leo was prominent in Bill Clinton’s chart, it speaks to enduring influence, as well as the idea of a “national father figure.” Again with Presley he was considered the Father or King of Rock and Roll.

Lesser-Known Influence in Social Structure: Lesser known is 17° Leo’s gift for navigating social structures, from rallying support to surviving intrigue. Individuals with this degree may exhibit a resilient streak, successfully facing threats or challenges within power structures=Much like Elvis who did receive multiple death threats and kidnap warnings, particularly while performing in Las Vegas. 

29° Leo: The Degree of Transformative Leadership and Strategic Vision

Keywords: Finality, transformation, intuition, covert planning, prestige, challenging circumstances.

Mystery and Power Dynamics: Known as an “anaretic” degree, 29° Leo carries themes of completion, change, and high-stakes decisions. People with this degree tend to face intense personal or public challenges that demand creative problem-solving and often put them in complex or strategic roles. A bit of a “chameleon” degree, it suggests someone who can operate under the radar and emerge victorious, often as a reformer or innovator within traditional structures.  Leaders like Winston Churchill, who had his Moon at 29° Leo, epitomize the strength of this degree. Similarly, Donald Trump's 29° Leo Ascendant underscores a charismatic presence and his controversial but impactful role in the public sphere, navigating complex political power structures. They guy became the president of the United States at one point and is up for office again. 

Transformation and Symbolic Rebirth: 29° Leo may indicate the ability to work behind the scenes or in covert ways, potentially in intelligence, diplomacy, or advocacy roles where resilience is paramount. Often, individuals here face life events that force them to “become someone new,” such as a leader rising unexpectedly or a figure dealing with transformative personal setbacks. Just as Churchill rose during Britain’s darkest hour, those with 29° Leo can emerge from crises as symbols of strength and change. his degree also enhances adaptability, suggesting a capacity to emerge stronger after setbacks or public scrutiny. This is also seen in Drake (BBL Drizzy) and Heidi Klum, both with Ascendants at 29°, which contributes to their enduring relevance and adaptability in the ever-changing entertainment landscape.

Lesser-Known Themes of Hidden Loyalty: There’s also a lesser-known aspect of loyalty and readiness to defend others, even to the point of self-sacrifice. This degree attracts followers or allies who support them in unlikely ways, often during critical transitions or public shifts.

Planetary Combinations:

Mercury at 29° Leo: Mercury here indicates someone who speaks with finality and influence, often giving speeches or communications with a lasting impact. They may find themselves in pivotal discussions, historical moments, or transformative media.

Pluto at 29° Leo: This pairing suggests a powerful leader who can influence others profoundly, sometimes by overturning existing power structures. Pluto at 29° Leo is highly transformative, especially in public roles, and may attract both fame and intrigue, giving the individual an almost mythic quality.

Uranus at 29° Leo: With Uranus, there’s a push for radical change and an ability to innovate under pressure. Individuals with this placement can disrupt the status quo effectively and are unafraid to act independently, even if it means losing support temporarily. Their vision is ahead of its time, and they may be involved in pioneering work or historic moments of change.

Hidden Qualities Across the Leo Degrees

Each of these degrees in Leo also carries unique subtleties, especially when it comes to handling public pressure, love for prestige, and overcoming personal trials. Whether seen in how they survive adversities (often with an unexpected inner resilience) or in their commitment to their people or causes, Leo degrees add depth and charisma that’s impossible to ignore.

If you hold one of these degrees in a major placement, consider it a call to embody love, loyalty, and leadership in your unique style. The Leo degree asks for authenticity and confidence, even when the stakes are high.

Observation:

Sun at 5° Leo: A classic position for leaders who are highly visible and admired. The Sun here drives an ambition that others respect, even if they don’t fully understand the drive behind it. There’s a fierce desire to succeed on one’s terms, often in high-profile careers or pursuits.

Moon at 5° Leo: Emotional expression is vital here, with a need to connect in visible, memorable ways. A Moon at 5° Leo can feel happiest when making an impact in social or familial spheres, perhaps guiding or inspiring others. There’s a special talent for evoking loyalty and support from people, often based on an instinctive understanding of group dynamics.

Mars at 5° Leo: Mars here is a warrior spirit that fights with purpose. It’s often associated with a physical stature or confidence that commands space, possibly leading to military or athletic pursuits. There’s a heightened ability to rally others, leading to leadership roles that arise naturally in tense situations.

[bayetea]

jason and hazel's beef in hoo was always way more interesting than whatever percy and jason had going on sorry. the differences in gravity and intrigue in the jason/hazel relationship vs jason/percy are only further compounded by the ways they're connected and the ways that their stories are similar

because 1. they have a HISTORY they knew each other before he went missing!!!!! they were in the fifth cohort together!!!! hazel is the ONLY person in the prophecy 7 that was in jason's life before he disappeared and had his memories stolen. yes they didn't know each other well but if you ask me that was just a bad writing choice rick made. can you imagine if they used to be friends/if jason had grown to be a big brother figure to hazel only to go missing for months and then they have a very awkward reunion on the argo because he barely remembers her and then she's even more betrayed because he doesn't wanna save nico initially. the drama. we could have had it all man

2. beef between a son of poseidon and a child of zeus/jupiter from the grace family? yeah been there done that why are we doing this again (and it was way more engaging the first time). god I wish we had gotten a big fight between a child of jupiter and a child of pluto instead

3. their issues regarding nico were way more high stakes than the silly alpha male posturing rick was trying to force between jason and percy especially considering how mega nerfed jason is written in hoo because no one's allowed to be on equal footing with percy

4. the tacit layer of betrayal in jason being hazel's ex-centurion/praetor only to end up preferring chb (to be clear this particular conflict belongs to jason and reyna and is more impactful between them - but since hazel is actually on the argo and reyna isn't she can still be an opportunity for this camp jupiter/camp half-blood conflict to be explored with jason)

5. I'm just gonna say it - I think hazel ought to have complicated feelings about white authority figures in a military camp as a black girl from the freaking jim crow era (not that this would have ever been explored satisfactorily in the books because as far as rick is concerned hazel is colorblind and hardly ever thinks about race despite growing up segregated. which is crazy unrealistic but whatever)

6. something something about the parallels that jason and hazel have about making hard choices about their pasts in order to have a more fulfilling future

7. this isn't necessarily interesting in and of itself but I just think it's neat that they're both big three roman kids with greek siblings that they didn't grow up with. what could have been interesting is jason seeing how close hazel and nico are and feeling some type of way about everything he never got to have with thalia and some exploration into how that impacts his feelings about the rescue mission. I'm starving for more grace sibling content by the way

8. they both have really awkward romantic conflicts in their pasts that intrude upon the present (whether he and reyna were ever even slightly romantically involved or not) because the jason/reyna thing is written as a initial source of conflict/uncertainty for jiper in the same way that hazel/leo (sammy) was a conflict for frazel to grapple with. this is interesting to me because like... hazel is connected to reyna and jason is connected to leo. like there could have been a moment of connection over letting go of pasts loves to wholeheartedly pursue new ones in the way that both of them are (were) with piper and frank

9. they both died. this bullet is a joke but I just thought I should put it here

10. percy is a well-established character and hazel and jason are new in hoo. percy has 50 povs in hoo and hazel has 28. economically speaking it would just be a more effective use of your limited pages to spend more time developing important interactions and conflicts between two new characters (esp new big three kids) who already have a more interesting foundation than the one involving our previous protagonist of 5 entire books

11. beryl grace and marie levesque. think about this for a second. ok that's all

imo hazel and jason are the most weirdly written new additions to the main cast but I strongly feel that rick severely underutilized the way that characters like those two could play off of each other. hazel isn't just a sweet little cinnamon roll she is passionate and contemplative and morose and guilt-ridden and jason isn't just a bland rule-follower he is kind and committed and loyal and conflicted and they're both painfully self-sacrificing and I just think it's such a shame that these two characters with great concepts on paper and so many obvious threads to connect them didn't get as much as attention as.... whatever happened in kansas did

and I mean if you like the jason/percy conflict that's fine, but I think it's worthwhile to compare the merit of them because rick chose to centralize and build up to one more than the other when he had such perfect material to expand on the other instead and I think that says something about his biases. and I think part of the issue is that rick struggles with strengthening tension and applying complexity to conflicts between male/female characters that aren't romantic or onesidedly antagonistic like clarisse/percy. we have several noteworthy conflicts between male characters but when women are involved it's like rick doesn't know how to put them on equal footing and apply platonic depth. imo this is just another reason why big three girls (hazel/thalia/bianca) don't get to be as powerful and transformative in the overall narrative as big three guys (percy/jason/nico). all this world-changing narrative weight is afforded to big three kids but hazel in particular is weirdly excluded from all of that and doesn't get to have much impactful interconnectedness with the prophecy or with other big three kids. what happened to big three kids being super dangerous when put together or when they're on opposing sides of conflicts!!!!!!!! we had impactful percy/thalia and percy/nico and jason/percy and jason/nico conflict where is the fleshed out jason/hazel beef!!!!!!

anyways tldr all I'm saying is that jason and hazel complement each other well and rick was too hung up on the Colliding Of Alpha Male Strong Dudes (that he didn't even write well) to see everything that hazel and jason could have had instead

[turtleblogatlast]

Thinking about how Leo says he uses his jokes to cope and y’know, thinking harder on it I think it may very well be because of what else uses one-liners and puns and that type of humor.

Specifically, 80’s action movies and campy sci-fi. Even more specifically, the protagonists of these.

So I can imagine why, exactly, Leo leans toward this brand of humor. It’s directly linked to things he loves! But even more than that is why I think it’s used as a coping mechanism.

In these genres, these quips tend to be said by the winner - or, if not a winner, then someone who will stay alive. So there’s a confidence behind them, an assurance, almost, that even if things go wrong, things aren’t ever too serious. There’s no bad endings here! It’s all good fun, even if the stakes seem high.

Leo canonically has been known to steer his brothers away from the more brutal villains and toward more fun, lighthearted activities and not-so-dangerous criminals. So for Leo, these jokes definitely make things less heavy, make the situations they find themselves in less intense.

It’s kinda not just coping, but also can be seen as a form of escapism. A safety blanket. A way for Leo to defuse the tension of knowing just how dangerous their lives are and replace that with a levity which implies that things will be okay.

Unfortunately, levity alone does not alter reality.

[myokk]

I had so much fun writing this up as I drank my coffee this morning, thanks for making the templates @kiwiplaetzchen 🥹🙏

A little bit of backstory for Eloise - I’ll do an actual drawing etc etc in the future but for now if you’re interested!!:

Eloise has a brother, Leonard (Leo) who is a year older than her (I want to draw him soon!!) and her parents are both (unfortunately 😔🙏) still very much alive. If the family had continued to the 1930s, they would DEFINITELY have been part of the Sacred 28, making it the Sacred 29 instead. Her father was an only child so he inherited everything, and her mother is Elladora Babbit née Black, the woman who started the Black family tradition of beheading useless house elves😭 (and yes unfortunately that makes Headmaster Black Eloise’s uncle😫).

Eloise was kept a secret from the rest of magic society her whole life. In my imagination, the pureblood families have so much inbreeding amongst themselves that it’s not uncommon for them to give birth to squibs. Part of pureblood culture is not announcing they’ve given birth to a child until they’ve shown signs of magic - normally around 3/4 years old at most. When Eloise never showed ANY signs of magic, she was just their shameful secret. On her eleventh birthday when it was all but confirmed she was a squib, she was burned off the family tree and spent the next five years at a muggle finishing school. Always looking to take advantage of whatever they could get, however, Eloise’s parents arranged a marriage between her and the firstborn son of a wealthy muggle landowner when she came of age.

Her family had no idea that she was admitted to Hogwarts (they cut off all ties to her and disowned her) and Leo, who had always been fiercely protective of her growing up was simultaneously devastated and ecstatic that he could see his sister again. It’s been really hard to repair the relationship though, as there is a lot of resentment that they cannot get over even though they want to😭. And, for as much as her parents dictated everything about how her life has gone, Eloise can’t help but try to work hard to get their love and approval as it’s all she ever thought she wanted. And now that she’s in a position to become the daughter they’ve always desired, she feels a lot of resentment towards herself. She feels as if she’s betraying the young girl who was abandoned by her family, because she wants their approval so badly (it will take a while for her to get over this😔🙏)

In terms of the personality I did it a bit like the sims where I just max things out bc I think everything in the middle is boring jajajaja. But:

Shy: not shy in the sense she can’t talk to other people and she isn’t necessarily socially awkward. She just doesn’t always know what to say and will remain silent if she thinks she has nothing to add to a conversation instead of yapping away (BUT unfortunately rambles and over explains herself to not be misunderstood when she does talk, THANKS narcissistic mother), and normally she wishes people would ignore her. When the Daily Prophet article came out about her “miraculous” recovery and introduction to magical society she HATED it & she HATES all of the people trying to talk to her and befriend her.

Active: NOT active as in super energetic. She just wakes up really early and always needs to keep herself busy. She gets anxious if she doesn’t have anything to do - but, she includes thinking as doing something, and often retreats into her thoughts and doesn’t realize when people are talking to her.

I think grouchy and nice can exist together so with this one I put it in the middle. She’s both simultaneously😭

Aaaand with cowardly/brave, she thinks she is really cowardly for going back to her parents so easily and wanting their love so badly, and hates herself for it (not realizing it’s an accumulation of a lifetime of emotional trauma). But lots of times when things get very high-stakes she will jump in and do incredibly reckless things without thinking of the consequences, although if she stopped to think before she acted she would definitely NOT do them. So maybe brave in actions, cowardly on the inside (IDK)

If you read all of this I love you!! I want to share more about her but this was getting crazy long jajajajajajaja😇🙏

[coffeegnomee]

The nature of opposing your lore.

It is in the nature of Lifesteal to see you do a character, and violently, psychologically and verbally, oppose your character. 

And not even just rigid characters, though the more rigid the greater the opposition. 

And the more rigid, the less room you have to defend yourself. 

S6 Zam is the easiest example; he chooses to kill nobody, and Planet, Bacon, Mapicc, Flame, Mane, Wemmbu, Kab, Ash, Derap, and given the opportunity, literally everyone, opposed him choosing to not kill. All tried to get him to kill or tried to talk him out of his logic.

S4 Vitalasy chose to explore a character who is not evil but has ultimate power. Everyone became hell bent on opposing him and making him see that he was being evil even though he was insisting he was not. 

S5 Ash, Jumper, Minute all chose to be “the good guys” and end the server in peace and Zam, Bacon, Mapicc, Ro, Clown, Leo and the whole server with their voting, diametrically opposed that as the ending and tried to get them to see how they were not good. 

S3 Zam chose to make an empire to repair spawn. Everyone opposed it, even at the last second when he got everyone to join his side again they all turned and joined the opposition when he said it would still be the “PrinceZam” empire. His character's empire.  

S5 Ro chose to “preserve spawn” with medusa and tried to “save everyone” with the end trap, and was violently opposed in the first case by everyone, and in the second by Mapicc who opposed not just with betrayal but with blowing himself up dramatically and banning himself to make Ro rethink his character deeply and realize he was completely alone because his beliefs. 

There’s a concept that it is a law of lifesteal that power must be opposed. 

This is true for simply having 20 hearts. Or being good at pvp. 

But it is more violently - psychologically, not physically - opposed when you are trying to influence the story with character motivations. Which I find imminently fascinating. 

Because the thing is, s3 Spoke was not opposed in the finale. People joined Zam, but as the server ticked towards its inevitable end, most players joined Spoke in ending it, or banned themselves off. But Zam, doing the character of saving the server, was opposed by Spoke and torn down through the convo on the hill and the convo in the base. 

And the opposition given to Spoke s4 wormhole wasn’t trying to stop him from doing it, to shame him out of it, it was just accepting the inevitable and trying to survive. 

But the opposition given to wormhole Zam by Parrot (and lesser extent by Planet) was to try and get him to stop this character and swap back to their side.

Do you get what I mean? It’s like every time you do anything “lore” you get torn down by everyone else. But when it’s a more objective content moment it’s just accepted and fought physically. 

Like nobody tries to talk Clown out of doing anything. 

But Zam Pangi and Mapicc all tried to talk Flame out of blowing up spawn, or violently opposed his methods for getting what he wanted. Flame wasn’t doing lore, but he was pushing the boundaries of content (fight me) and lore (blowing up spawn as a way to influence you to do my fight) 

Somehow, even though lore very much exists on this server, it will always be opposed. Out of spite, out of boredom, out of believing that you’re being boring with the character. 

But it’s a brutal environment honestly. One that you either survive or leave. And not everyone survives. 

The stakes are high. And every good story need high stakes.

And if you manage to survive, you become an unstoppable force capable of weaving lore and story and character and emotion that goes far beyond any story created by another minecraft server. 

[rottmntincorrectquotes]

Pickles:

*POV: The Turtles are in the middle of a High Stakes/Dangerous Situation*

Leo: How do you eat pickles?

Donnie: What do you mean?

Leo: I mean, there's a whole process. It's not like you can grab them from the jar with your hand, because it's cold and the juice burns if you have a cut, plus, it's pretty unsanitary. And you can't use a spoon because you'll have to scoop it out, and it'll be way too difficult to grab more than three or four without taking 10 minutes along with half the brine in the jar, even if it's one with holes.

Mikey: Yeah, that's why you use a fork.

Donnie: Okay, sure, but what if you don't have one of the big ones clean? It's weird to use a small one. But there is always one of those smaller sharp knives clean.

Leo: But the straight edge doesn't really fit the cylindrical shape, and you have to make sure you don' t break it, it's too much work.

Leo: It makes me feel like I deserve the pickles though. Like, "Yeah, I did it. That's right. Good job me." It's empowering. But even after that, it's not like you can use a bowl.

Donnie: I get that, it's not ascetically pleasing.

Leo: Exactly! And it looks weird if you don't entirely fill the bowl, but you also can't eat that many. My solution? Use a mug.

Donnie and Mikey: *Nods in agreement*

Raph: That is all very interesting, BUT WE'RE TRYING NOT TO DIE RIGHT NOW! USE YOUR LIMITED ATTENTION SPANS AND FOCUS!!!

Leo: Jeez, okay!

Donnie and Mikey: Quit yelling at us already!

[bvckbiter]

some thoughts on characterization of the seven in hoo, VERY long post ahead:

for each of the five books in the series, i read them right as they came out and endured the year-long wait til the next release. like many readers, i was thrown off by the introduction of the new trio in the lost hero. but that was offset by 1) the seemingly more mature vibe/themes that riordan wanted to explore, 2) the monumental tension that was being built around the greek-roman separation, and 3) percy's comeback in son of neptune, even as an amnesiac.

mark of athena, released october 2012, was extremely anticipated because it was set to be the long-awaited percabeth reunion as well as the true crossover for the greek and roman spheres. there were a lot of theories being made at the time. would piper be able to mediate between eons-long enemies in a genuinely diplomatic way, or was she going to brainwash charmspeak them into compliance? how is reyna going to take jason suddenly having another girl and a new set of friends and another life after abruptly disappearing? will we get to learn more about jason's relationships within camp jupiter? would nico be dealing with any fallout from essentially boating along two riverbanks (translated directly from a tagalog idiom, so if the wording seems clunky thats why)? it didn't help that the first avengers movie came out in 2012, so the idea of a huge crossover event was all the hype then.

the published work, in my opinion... fell considerably short of expectations.

to be fair, we got some very good character moments. i did not find the judo flip scene cute, just kinda weird in the sense that i felt the author didn't know how to handle such a huge emotional turning point, but percabeth for the most part of moa was enjoyable, really giving you the high of this teenage couple finally being able to resume the honeymoon period they were probably in after four years of pining and a war lol. everything the fans wanted! unfortunately, we didn't get the same with other characters.

while i wouldn't say that percabeth was the reason, the difference in spotlight is nonetheless very staggering. the roman-greek reunification goes bad, sure, but it begins due to outside interference more rather than any actual intrinsic differences between the two camps; so the built-up tension from the previous books kinda falls flat. we get none of jason's backstory, so next to percy, he barely leaves an impression on the reader. hazel, frank, and leo get shafted into this weird love triangle where their enemy is leo's long-dead ancestor who ultimately makes no impact on the plot other than to have hazel and leo intersect somehow, contributing to leo's man-angst of being the seventh wheel. frank, who arguably has the most interesting set of powers and lineage, is basically relegated to being the muscle and hazel's (understandably) jealous boyfriend. piper... good lord. thats probably a whole other post, so i'll just say: cornucopia.

and yet, despite the disparity in characterization... you don't really feel that percabeth has a character arc or development per se. it's an odd contrast, with percy and annabeth getting a lot of time but pretty much remaining stagnant characters, as opposed to the other five who are written pretty blandly, but have valid, explicit inner struggles and questions they must face. for jason, it's being greek or roman. for hazel and leo, they want to parse their connection, even at the expense of frank, who is still struggling with his self-esteem. piper comes into her own power.

so despite being a book full of twists and turns, especially for percabeth, this is where you really feel the stakes begin to slump. decisions are being made to move the plot from point a to point b pretty straightforwardly, but there's not a ton of effort to make you invested in these characters other than what we know about them from previous books and the fact that they have a role to play in this apocalyptic second great prophecy.

but there's still two books left! the yearlong wait demands patience and creativity. surely percabeth falling into tartarus is going to make for some interesting development and impact. it was a brilliant plot twist, after all. with the darker turn that hoo was seemingly taking, there could have been so many consequences. percabeth could shut the doors of death from their side and come back alive, but come back wrong—unearthing old traumas, questioning and ultimately foreswearing their loyalty to the gods, threatening the reunification of the greek and roman aspects, etc.

and once again, house of hades... only semi-delivered? the tartarus chapters were certainly harrowing: percy choking akhlys is still a Scene of All Time to me because it felt earned, after all that percy has been through and what the series has been building up to! annabeth also having to face all the times she's been abandoned in her life, while less focused on, was also a very poignant moment for her character. they were events that seemed to push for development.

back on the argo ii, there's a continuing case of kind of low-effort writing on the other characters. frank and his mars blessing, for one; you kind of understand what rick was getting at, but... what! piper... girl idk what she was doing other than seeing visions in her dagger. leo... ue ue ue. jason commits to chb, but ofc he does because neither he nor we know/remember much about cj, so we don't really feel the loss! but there is one exception for his part, and that is of course the (in)famous cupid scene with nico, but i'll talk about nico much later.

hazel is an interesting case, so here's another paragraph for her. she gets to come into (more of) her powers just like piper did in the previous books, but from my viewpoint, it was considerably less engaged with who she was as a character compared to piper. in mark of athena, piper still struggles with being a daughter of aphrodite and how she can be "useful" as we know she struggles with internalized misogyny. on the other hand, hazel gets in touch with her mother's background... kinda? idk if controlling the mist can be considered equivalent to marie's voodoo; i dont think so. she certainly gains more understanding of her pluto heritage, too, and has this nice back-and-forth with hecate about creating her own path, but you don't really get the sense that doing so has consequences, or that she concretely shirked other paths to get where she was at.

where mark of athena fell flat with character stakes, house of hades to its credit does manage to up the ante—but only truly for percabeth. with all the resolutions to the character arcs in this book, you don't feel that the characters have anymore stakes or reasons to fight gaea other than the fact that she's still coming for them and they are in turn prophesied to defeat her. the one big thing that could be personal to them, which are the camps, ultimately fall under the purview of coach hedge, nico, and reyna, who are side characters, upgraded to main characters in the last book of a series already overbloated by shifting povs and favoritism.

ultimately, this is why blood of olympus falls apart. the best characterization work done, which is on percabeth and their time in tartarus, is in the end of no consequence and is barely mentioned. it's as if nothing has happened. all the build-up and investment fizzles out because in boo and beyond, even though they went through literal hell, they just shook it off (because accdg to rick demigods are extra resilient and don't get traumatized lmfao). the climactic face-off against gaea is headed by jason, piper, and leo, and it has no pay off. the books haven't dwelled on them as a trio after tlh because leo was too busy angsting about his love triangle, and jason's and piper's arcs, both individual and romantic, are shoddy, to say the least. to add insult to injury, leo's sacrifice is a fake-out! so he can finally shed the fucking seventh wheel arc that came about not because of a genuine exploration of how he has been outcasted all his life, but because the argo ii mysteriously became demigod tinder and also because rick thought "haha how funny that the latino is the outrageous flirt!" frank and hazel... just get shafted im so sorry babygirls T_T

what saves boo is not the cast of the seven that we have spent the five books journeying with. no, what saves boo is the three side characters suddenly made main characters because. well, fan favoritism and pandering. nico, reyna, and coach hedge comprised the only arc that wasn't an absolute slog to read through—high stakes, chemistry, and well-rounded character arcs that complemented each other. no hoo scene is honestly more heartwarming than reyna embracing nico. it makes you question if hoo's length and frankly shocking quantity of main ensemble members even constricted the narrative that could've been told, as opposed to the original intention of expanding the world of percy jackson through more povs. five books with at least 700-800+ pages each for five years. what a tremendous amount of time and energy to be wasted.

and there is, of course, the question of "should percabeth have been in hoo." until house of hades, my answer was yes. the fact that their tartarus arc fizzled into nothingness changed my answer to no. taking the whole series into perspective, if their treatment in boo was all that the hype and tension would amount to, it would've been better if they'd been relegated to side characters with mentor/helper roles as opposed to taking the spotlight away from the rest of the seven. their succeeding cameos in the other series + the new college reco trilogy makes the blunder all the more grievous.

heroes of olympus did give us a new cast of characters to love. along with all its racist stereotypes and pitfalls, it also diversified the percy jackson world. if not for the mid-2010s fandom who took up the slack of unexplored storylines and potential, these characters would be very much not impressioned on us. and as a successor to a series that was so deeply driven by family, friendship, love, and belonging, that it couldn't consistently humanize its main cast was the biggest sin.

[thesweetestdevotion]

enhypen on coachella reading please!!

Oh is Enhypen gonna be in Coachella??👀 lets see the energy of it!!

Enhypen at Coachella, Reading the Energy:

Dice: 7th house, Venus, Pisces

Their Overall Energy:

Tarot: Eight of Wands, The High Priestess Reversed, Ace of Swords, Nine of Cups, Two of Coins, The Star, Nine of Swords, Ten of Wands, The Lovers Reversed, Knight of Coins, Ace of Coins Reversed

There’s a lott of energy here about this hehe. Im seeing they’re kinda nervous. they feel like it happened very fast? Or that it is approaching quickly and there is a lot of emphasis put on their work at the moment. they could be feeling overwhelmed and stressed, there seems to be a lot of work to do and many things to account for at this time. they feel very stressed about this haha, but there’s also an overwhelmingly exciting feeling from them too. I think it’s something they’ve thought about doing before, but now that it is happening there’s a lot of emotions about it. They feel nervous about how they will be perceived, but also excited about having the opportunity to be there. They understand the stakes, it seems like there was a lot of time and money put into this so they feel like they have to do their best to show up and be perfect. they could be overworking, practicing, smoothing over any details and flaws at the moment. I also think they feel unstable, since they don’t know what is going to happen, all they can do is trust in each other and their teams to do the best they can.

How will it go?

Dice: Mercury, 3rd House, Leo

Tarot: Ten of Cups, Knight of Swords, Ace of Cups, The World, Eight of Coins Reversed, Seven of Cups, The Emperor Reversed, Five of Cups

I think it will go very well!! Im seeing they will be emotional after? Maybe some tears haha. But I see this will catapult them into many new opportunities, I’m seeing they’re gonna be overwhelmed with how many choices they will have. this will feel like they’ve completed a cycle and are going to start a new one. They might also feel very out of control, like the universe is putting them in paces without them having to ask or do anything about it. I also see they will be able to rest after haha. I feel like they’re going to be well liked? In the area in which they will be preforming, i think they’ll be able to communicate well with the audience and the local people. There is an aura of success, big celebrity energy! They’re gonna have fun lol, we might see them having fun around the place of the performance.

Wishing them the best!!

Hope you guys like this, lmk if you like these kinds of readings too! <3

[sugarpasteltmnt]

i am currently catching up on neon void, and it is a delight to read. your descriptions of leo’s mind is mesmerizing and grabs the reader’s attention so well. it’s very diverse and unique compared to other interpretations and fics♥️

i’m curious to know what your thinking process was like while writing leo’s insanity and his own thought processes.

(spoilers for ch11) the scene that stuck out to me the most was when leo was about to infect donnie. it felt so vulnerable and raw ahh

anyways i just want to dig into your mind a little to know how it works.

keep up the great work, you are doing wonderful.

WAAA THANK YOU SO MUCH 😭😭😭 you are so sweet thank you!! 💙💗‼️and ohmigosh what a fun ask.

tbh i sat on this one for a while to think of how to dive into it-- beware of my (VERY) long ramblings below!

this question really got me Thinkin' and i kinda popped off but!! If i may indulge myself, here's sort of a wild explanation of how i approach Leo's Insane Brain for this specific fic:

does it meet R.I.S.E???

R - Realistic? I - Interesting? S - Silly? E - Existential?

R - Realistic

"How the hell do i make this sound realistic" is often an obstacle i run into. but it's also the Secret Sauce. What really gives the thought process direction. Given Leo's current situation, he's battling between what he wants and what he needs to do. Which is often a very real problem real people have. Exaggerating it helps create a fun back-and-forth dialog that can make his thoughts seem muddled.

With Leo in this fic’s setup, there are about five main key factors i rely on with his decision making:

Happiness The root of Leo’s general personification. He’s the guy who beat Krang One. The one who escaped a place worse than Hell. After years of missing home so much he’s FINALLY home. He’s drunk on happiness. He was finally home. And that relief and joy is what makes him so jubilant and goofy.

Awareness of his goal Though Rise Leo is a very funny dude, he's still a Leonardo. Throughout the series, Leo is the voice of reason when things are getting out of hand or are potentially dangerous. Leo's had nothing but time to think. Wishing what he'd done different. Wishing he had been more serious. After five years obsessing over his mistake and missing his family, the moment he see's the opportunity to make sure this never happens again he'll latch onto it. And when the stakes are high, accentuating that tension can help with frantic impact of his thinking.

His desire to see his family This desire often clashes with point number 2. Writing his internal struggle between the two helps with the “overwhelmed thoughts” vibe. It’s hard for him to choose! And he doesn’t wanna have to choose! Playing out the conflict between his 'want' vs his 'need to do' helps me bring out his nervous thinking process.

He's self-reprimanding thoughts We all love an Angsty Leo. It was hinted in the show that he had some self-esteem issues, but who doesn't love ramping it up to 11 for a fic??? That, and he was trapped with Krang this whole time. After hearing he was nothing but trash for five years PLUS the guilt of nearly ending the world, the guy doesn't exactly see himself in a great light you know? This can help clash with point 1, again helping with that 'what he wants' vs 'what he needs to do' inner conflict.

Instinct to Survive / Feral Tendencies This one is super fun. I love feral AUs/tropes. With little to no socialization in the Prison Dimension, Leo's sanity started to slip, leaving his body's natural instincts to become more profound. Plus, with the Krang Parasite, I like to exaggerate how feral/dangerous he could be outside of 'turtle' instincts. (Seeing that parasite hosts in the movie were very violent). Sprinkling in feral moments is just a delicious thrill I love adding, and it makes the insanity factor skyrocket and it's so fun to write 🩵🩵🩵

I - Interesting

Is Leo's thought process interesting to read??? Honestly, I just gun for what I think is the most interesting; Leo's relationship with his brothers (especially Raph), and the cause and effects of his shenanigans.

Also, I liked to experiment with wonky texts to help emphasize key moments or words to grab attention. Mostly because it feels like a fun surprise to read them in my opinion. Though not necessary in writing, I thought using some funky fonts might entice and excite 💙

S- Silly

THE BIG ONE!!! EVERYONE'S FAVORITE!!! 🎉🎊🥳🎉 Something I really love love love about Rise's style is that it's silly It's unique! It's fun! I love that Leo and the others are goofy and have some slap-stick moments. And I wanted to keep that with Leo despite everything. Plus, I ADORE that in this iteration of TMNT, the characters are such showmen. They are DRAMATIC. They are SILLY. And that's something I wanna celebrate!! Plus, as much as I love angst, writing nothing but pure angst is exhausting. (And I'm sure reading pure angst isn't enjoyably to everyone.) Throwing in Silly moments is like a little moment of refreshment to me 🩵

I also like to believe that Leo kept his sense of humor out of sheer SPITE. The 'wipe that stupid grin off your face' line in the movie really stuck with me. I feel like Leo would smile through his fear and still be a clown just to spite Krang One.

E - Existential

At the end of the day, Leo is dealing with a VERY big issue. I felt like the Rise movie did an excellent job portraying the severity of an alien invasion for the setting Rise had. And the weight of the situation would be too great for one person. And this is often what I refer back to to make Leo snap. A relapse in clarity of mind. A moment for the panic and PTSD to come back in full force and make him rely on his instincts. Usually the feral instincts he became more attuned with while fleeing/fighting Krang One. It also goes hand-in-hand with his awareness of his goal (as mentioned in 'Realistic' above).

And that's kinda a word-vomit of how it goes!! Honestly??? The tug-o-war between conflicting thoughts helps me write the madness in his head. It's been super fun and interesting, and I hope it's been fun to read!!! (Though I'm telling you now I will NOT be doing those floating text tables again OOF)

Thank you again for the ask it was super fun to think about ;w; 🩵‼️

[wendichester]

𓂃˖ ࣪ 𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔭𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔟𝔦𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔶 𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔡𝔦𝔫𝔤

˚₊‧꒰ა @cowboysandcigarettes ☆ dean winchester ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ ⋆˙⟡ where aquarius, aries, capricorn meets aquarius, leo*, saggitarius. ⟡˙⋆

𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑✧˖⋆𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑✧˖⋆𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑✧˖⋆𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑✧˖⋆𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑✧˖⋆𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑✧˖⋆𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑✧˖⋆𖤐

ꔛ. meeting each other,

with your aquarius sun and venus, you radiate an energy that catches dean's attention in an offbeat, unpredictable way. this isn't a conventional "love at first sight" situation--more like a "what the hell just happened?" kinda encounter. give dean's lifestyle, your paths likely cross in a high-stakes scenario, and with your aries rising and mars in sagittarius, you're not the type to sit on the sidelines. maybe you're investigating something on your own--half skeptic, half adrenaline junkie--when you run into dean mid-case. your mercury-aquarius intellect and natural curiosity might have led you down the rabbit hole of lore and missing-person reports, only to end up face-to-face with a very annoyed ( and very intrigued ) dean winchester. your capricorn moon makes you practical, the type to question everything first, whiel dean's sag moon rolls with the punches. that contrast would create an instant push-pull: dean's instinct says, "you don't belong in this world, sweetheart". but your aquarius sun and venus say "too bad, i'm already here".

ꔛ. friendship compatibility,

your friendship would be an adventure in itself. you challenge each other in all the right ways--both aquarius suns give you a foundation of mutual understanding, a shared sense of humor that leans toward dry sarcasm and inside jokes. your aries ascendant makes you more direct and action-oriented, while dean, with his leo ascendant, naturally takes the lead. there might be occasional power struggles, but there's alos a strong snse of respect between them. you'd be the type of friends who constantly dare each other into reckless situations--dean with his sagittaarius placements and you with your aries rising? chaos. bar fights. last-minute road trips. but your capricorn moon adds a layer of caution, the voice of reason when things go too far. you'd be the one calling dean out when he refuses to take care of himself, and dean, with his protective streak, would secretely appreciate having someone who actually sees him beneath the bravado. this is a friendship that could last a lifetime--unconventional, rebellious, and fiercely loyal.

ꔛ. romantic compatibility,

your relationship would be built on intellectual attraction first. dean is naturally drawn to your sharp mind, and with your aquarius venus conjunct his aquarius mars, the chemistry is electric. there's something about you that keeps him on his toes, and he likes it. you challenge him in ways he's not used to, refusing to just be another fleeting romance. strengths : your connection is mentally stimulating--conversation flows effortlessly, and you get each other in ways that others don't. your aquarius venus makes you independent in love, which works well with dean's sag venus--neither wants to be tied down in the traditional sense, but there's an undeniable pull between you. your capricorn moon provides an emotional anchor, something dean secretly craves but doesn't know how to ask for. weaknesses : emotional expression might be an issue. you, with your capricorn moon and aquarius venus, tend to intellectualize emotions rather than express them outright. dean, with his sag moon, needs a partner who can match his fire, his spontaneity. there could be momebts where he feels like he's always trying to get through to you, and you might see his emotional outbursts as exhausting. could it work ? absolutely, but only if you find a middle ground between emotional detachment and intensity. if you can learn each other's love languages, this could be one of those rare, once-in-a-lifetime love that never truly fades.

ꔛ. request, friends to lovers

dean had always known there was something different about you. maybe it was the way you never back down from him, always meeting his sarcasm with your own deadpan comebacks. or the way you could sit in silence for hours, both lost in thought, only to break it with a single, perfectly timed joke that send you both into laughter. you weren't supposed to be here, in this life, running alongside him through ghost towns and monster nests. but you were. and damn it, dean had stopped trying to push you away. he didn't know when it changed. when your late-night motel talks turned into lingering glances. when the casual touches--fingers brushing over his when you passed him a beer, shoulders pressed together in the front seat of the impala--became something more. maybe it was that one night, after a case had gone south. he'd been quiet, and you'd called him on it, like you always did. "you're thinking too much again,". and he'd scoffed, shaking his head, but when you placed a hand over his--solid, grounding--he'd looked at you and seen it in your eyes. something unspoken. something waiting. and for once, dean didn't think. he just acted. your lips met in a slow, hesitant kiss--one that said finally. one that tasted like cheap whiskey and unsaid things. and when you pulled away, breathless, you only smirked at him and said "took you long enough".

ꔛ. overall, score : 9 / 10

this relationship has everything: tension, chemistry, a deep intellectual connection, and a natural friendship as its foundation. your biggest hurdle is emotional expression--both have a tendency to keep feelings close to the chest, which could lead to misunderstandings. but if you're willing to break down those walls? this could be the kind of love that survives even the darkest nights.

𓂃˖ ࣪ request a compatibility reading here .ᐟ

* since the birth time of dean hasn't ever been mentioned, I've placed him as a leo rising, since it's the sign that makes more sense to me.

[rudimentaryflair]

My totally objective and correct tier list ranking of TKDB characters:

Explanations below cut.

(Note: I haven't ranked anyone below a 5 because I generally feel positively about all the characters. That being said, there's still a definite hierarchy to how much I like them.)

S - favs:

Ren - Guaranteed entertainment every time he's onscreen. I'm a sucker for characters who don't act how I expect them to; you can pretty accurately deduce the rest of the ghouls' personalities based on how they look, but Ren is surprisingly more expressive than what I had originally pegged him for. As of ep13, I think he's the only ghoul to have a scene where he becomes so emotional he cries. He's also the most out-of-place "straight man" of the cast: seemingly no combat experience, disinterest in all things ghoul-related, just wants to keep his head down, work his part-time job, play his games, and pass his classes with no extra responsibilities. For all intents and purposes, he might as well be another one of the general students, but unfortunately he is a ghoul and therefore is forced to participate in the plot. The difference, however, is that while everyone else is embroiled in the complex high-stakes supernatural-political conspiracy at Darkwick, Ren is trapped in an eternal Looney Tunes episode where everything is designed to personally inconvenience him. And I love it. 15/10 raises my dopamine.

Subaru - Love a guy who micromanages every part of the identity he projects out into the world. He took a while to grow on me, but after Fatal Prison I couldn't stop thinking about him. He's just so authentically inauthentic that it would be an oversimplification to call him two-faced. Like yes, that man is putting on an act. Yes, he is suspiciously private. Yes, he is probably not as soft-hearted, even-tempered, or socially anxious as he seems. But also yes, he cares so much about being kind, about respecting others' spaces, about the well-being of not only his friends but all living things, anomalous or not. Whenever the mask slips, nothing sinister is implied, just anger/annoyance or desperate violence in defense of a friend, which makes me hopeful he has a good heart. However, if he turns out to be a yandere, he will quickly move down to C-tier and I will be devastated. 12/10 deserves to have all the tea he desires and a nice, quiet trip to Shibuya.

Jiro - Cool character design. Seems to be a chill, uncomplicated, and intelligent guy who just wants to do research. His murky involvement with the Clash is already very intriguing, but add in the brother-amnesia angst and I'm absolutely hooked. Also, chainsaw artifact best artifact. 10/10 would ask him to work on a research project with me.

A - bring me great joy:

Sho - There's something so wholesome about how passionate he is for cooking. The amount of care and effort he puts into maintaining the food truck and taking care of Bonnie really softens his delinquent side. His friendship with Subaru is very cute, and I like how it both contrasts and compliments his relationship with Leo. Clearly, he has a thing for sweet-looking guys with misleading public images; I'm excited to see how his bet with Leo is going to shake out. I'm also looking forward to learning more about his relationship with Hyde, and finding out why Ren has one-sided beef with him. 9.8/10 get this man on Top Chef.

Tohma - The unobserved mastermind is a character trope I really like. Right off the bat, it’s obvious that even though Tohma speaks and holds himself like an aristocrat, there's something really cheeky about the way he does it that implies someone more unruly is hiding beneath the formalities. Then we find out he used to be in Vagastrom, which combined with his intelligence, ambition, and now high-status position beside Jin, basically primes him to become a changemaker at Darkwick. What kind of change has yet to be seen, but all the secretive running around and clandestine midnight meetings have me very intrigued, and the suspense only keeps building. 9.8/10 what are you planning.

Haku - Just an easygoing, down-to-earth guy. Great friend material. Despite how prominent his family name is in-universe, there's really not much else to say about him, but that's kind of the draw here. He's the type of person that supports others in significant but barely noticeable ways, like how he helps Subaru take care of Hotarubi's affairs or provides a human connection for Zenji. I'm also a little jealous of how well he handles his responsibilities while being so laidback. 9.6/10 unproblematic king (for now).

Lucas - He's a nerd. He's a jock. He's the friendliest guy ever. He will throw hands at the slightest provocation, regardless of whether it's an appropriate location to do so. His only two settings are 0 or 100, and he has one brain cell for swordfighting and another for manners. 9.5/10 best boy.

Haru - Embodiment of the "and I stay silly :3" meme. Surprisingly happy-go-lucky despite being burdened by the responsibilities of 30 men and having rice crispy bones. Even though he possesses many caring and nurturing qualities, Haru is not very good at being a parental figure to his underclassmen, handling Towa like an elusive anomalous creature and looking out for Ren in ways that border on harassment (which is funny and I support). Despite his playfulness, however, we've seen multiple times that he's very capable of locking in when the situation requires it and thinking fast on his feet (hah). In fact, I personally believe Haru has displayed the most amount of competence on missions than any of the other ghouls (save for maybe Leo). Anyways, 9.2/10 has earned an ice-cold sake bomb and a spa vacation.

Rui - I feel like it's impossible not to like this guy. He's very charming, and the flirting seems to be more friendly and a part of his personality than anything serious, which I enjoy. I do think he plays it up to disguise how lonely and depressed he really is, given his current situation, but that just serves to add more flavor to his character (see: Tea with a Twist of Murder). Combine that with his role as Obscuary's single mother trying to make this house a home and he's *chef's kiss*. 9/10 someone (carefully) give this guy a hug.

B - not as instinctively delightful, but still likable:

Ritsu - Autism headcanon. A little unvaried on his own, but luckily he's in Sinostra AKA Darkwick's most batshit crazy House, so his character interactions are still plenty entertaining. His stringent adherence to the lawyer persona is pretty funny, especially the recurring bits of him recording everything or abruptly cutting conversations off due to the workday ending, and his unyielding lawful-neutral temperament is the perfect immovable object to Romeo and Taiga's unstoppable deranged behavior. Also, I love how he uses his stigma; it’s such a power move to just stand there unbothered while tanking an explosion. 8.5/10 weirdo (affectionate).

Kaito - If Kaito Fuji has a million fans, then I am one of them. If Kaito Fuji has ten fans, then I am one of them. If Kaito Fuji has only one fan that is me. If Kaito Fuji has no fans, then I am no longer on this earth. If the world is against Kaito, then I am against the world. 8.5/10 they could never make me hate you.

Taiga - I’ve been describing this guy to my friends as “Sukuna from JJK if he was a college student and also had unrestricted access to a machine gun”. Pretty straightforward crashout character. I'm curious to find out what his stigma does and whether it has anything to do with his face-blindness or hunger compulsions. 8/10 menace, no notes.

Romeo - I feel similarly about him as I do to Taiga, which is to say I think he's also a hazard to society, just in a slightly different direction. Where Taiga would be arrested for aggravated assault, Romeo would get busted for being a false front merchant. Where Taiga would commit second-degree murder, Romeo would commit first. I do think his deal with Hyde is interesting, though. 8/10 somebody check his tax records.

C - kinda boring ngl:

Jin - Surely I'm not the only one who thinks the arrogant prick with a soft spot is a tired trope? Maybe? His “quadruple the Laurel Crown reward” declaration was iconic, but I only really started becoming invested in his development during Murder at the Masquerade. 7.8/10 carried by the JinTohmAlan infidelity arc.

Alan - Part of the problem is that he doesn't get a lot of screentime, but as with Jin, I don't feel like there's much for me to be invested in. His thing with Dante is interesting, but outside of that Alan's character is just “I am burdened by a terrible and violent power, therefore I will be silent and broody”. 7.5/10 inoffensive but flat.

Lyca - Eh. His situation with Darkwick and the implications of what happened with the Ultio prison are cool, but he himself seems to have moved on from it pretty quick, and I can't say I find myself very compelled by his goal of integrating with other humans. It's a good and in-character goal for him to have, but it just doesn't hold my attention well. The end of the Tea Time episode did make me feel for him, though. 7.2/10 strong side-character energy.

Towa - This is honestly more of a me problem than a Towa problem, because he /is/ objectively one of the most mysterious characters in the story, but everything about him is so strange that it loops back around to being boring again. Like, his only qualities are that he's odd and endearing. Idk if I'm explaining this well. 7.1/10 this guy is a creature.

Zenji - I have no idea why I'm not on the Zenji train. I want to be, because he is wholesome and wonderful, but he just doesn't compel me. 7/10 a gift I don't know how to appreciate.

D - boy if you don't quit pissing me off:

Leo - Poster child of conniving and manipulative behavior. Would be a slay if he also wasn't incredibly annoying about it. His sole redeeming quality is how capable he is at solving cases. 6.5/10 praying for his TikTok cancellation.

Yuri - Pulled his personality straight from r/iamverysmart. I do biology research irl and if he was in my lab I would have no choice but to fight him. 6/10 needs to check his hubris.

E - ew:

Ed - The pretty anime boy face doesn't stop him from being a creepy old man. I feel violated every time he interacts with the MC. 5/10 why you gotta do all that man.

[tagthescullion]

I just realized that Cabin 9 lost two head counselors in fiery explosions that left no body behind a year apart. No wonder Harley was so desperate to find Leo. He'd already lost one big brother last year.

no kidding, they really are cursed, huh?

to be very, very honest, though, I think leo should have died in HoO, otherwise it feels as if there were no high stakes. all 7 main characters (plus the three extras) survive with minor issues, where's the drama? the angst? the brutality of demigod life?

[orchard-keeper]

!!!~Fic Recs~!!! (Pt. II)

Here is a follow-up to my last post of Fic Recs (in which I listed my favorite completed multi-chapter ROTTMNT fics).

In this post I'll be recommending ongoing multi-chapter fics. In no particular order, here they are:

There Must Be Something in the Water by Filsamek

-This fic has been such a delight to read. The premise is interesting and even chilling, and the ways in which the turtles have to puzzle out how to solve the problem at hand has been exciting to follow along with. Very interested to see how the conflict will be resolved and what further Mystic concepts the author will introduce!

Blood, Water, and Thicker Things by JumpingInMuddyPuddles

-While this fic has but 4 chapters thus far, I am absolutely psyched for future updates! This is, in a way, a "sick fic" but combined with Leo pushing his needs aside and facing imminent danger while suffering AND featuring a Leo-Donnie team-up mystery with action and high-stakes...! In the words of Donnie in Lair Games: Nom nom. Nomnomnom.

The Old College Try by theashemarie @theashemarie

-There is just something about this fic that grips me in such a way that it almost hurts to discuss. Leo's characterization feels very accurate and very real, and somehow the ways in which he struggles with his identity in general as well as his identity surrounding intelligence/academia really hit me in the heart. I don't know if it's because I already relate to Leo so much, or if its because of my own (academic) experience of feeling like no one will take me seriously and having that odd and alienating (ADHD-related no doubt) infantalization grate on me, but... the ways in which Leo has to confront his relationship with his place on the team, the character he plays, his true interests and passions, and his relationship with his brother who has claimed the title of "the intelligent one" is hard-hitting. Add to that the struggles of humanity/fitting in with society, of the seemingly inherent selfishness of valuing your own pursuits despite risks or pitfalls therein... the tension is amazing. Oh, did I mention-- this is about Leo and Donnie going to university lmao. But its actually also about so much more, as you can see... Overall: this author is a master of character depiction and I cannot wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds...! Donnie in this fic is also so wonderfully rendered. Best of all are Leo and Donnie's interactions in such a foreign setting, and them having to (re-)learn to navigate one another's feelings this new environment brings out. Ah! Good, good stuff. And if that does not convince you, there's also action, a prominent villain, impossible choices....!

All the Ashes in My Wake by paperxcrowns @crows-murder

-Ooh, I can just tell this one is setting up to be some serious Leo angsting. The premise works so well, and I'm eagerly awaiting for that moment when Leo can no longer keep hiding things from his brothers and the dam breaks. The suspense of wondering how that's going to happen is so, so good. Also, insane dramatic irony that is causing sooo much angst. Leo's brothers hurting him/unknowingly forcing him to do things because of a curse... Dramatic! Irony! Delicious.

Last Grain of Sand in the Hourglass by TjLockticon @last-hourglass

-This fic is a sort of alternate take on the ending of the movie, wherein Leo stays trapped in the prison dimension, but not because Mikey's portal failed– rather, because it brought Future Leo back to the past instead. The ensuing chaos and angst is really well-done, and my favorite parts were actually how each brother came to terms with the situation and how to react around this version of their brother, all while their 'true' brother is still trapped and suffering. The chapters with Present Leo in the prison dimension are a really unique take on his experience there. Another thing I found very intriguing is how Leo's Mystic powers and his swords are included in the plot. I'm looking forward to seeing what further angst lays ahead and how the author chooses to resolve the complexities of feeling introduced with the bros getting attached to Future Leo and also Casey's suffering at the idea that this situation cannot endure, and he will lose his sensei all over again. Wild!!

Alpha Stage by snailsnaps @snailsnaps

-Oh I have so much to say about this fic. The premise is so heart-wrenching and interesting, and scratches that itch (in a way) of having had the planned turtle tots episode canceled. And yet, Donnie is still totally himself, mentally, despite being tot-sized. What is a total delight is the art in this fic. Each illustration is so charming and impeccable and adds to much to the story. I keep coming back to it, and I'm excited to see where the author takes the narrative!

The Same Little Faces by awkwardusagi

-This fic also scratches the itch of the canceled turtle tot episode, but the focus on this one is particularly on Leo being turned back into a tot! I love this take because the author explores the dynamic between Mikey getting to be a big bro for the first time, Donnie and Raph witnessing this, and Splinter giving all of them tips and tricks he knows about how to wrangle hyperactive turtle mutant babies. It also has the interesting and really innovative idea that tot Leo retains the memories and experiences of teenage Leo in his subconscious, and this plays a significant role in the plot. I won't say much more, but the cast of characters and how they slot into the big kerfuffle at hand is also so fun! Particularly my favorite Hippo and Worm duo... and Señor Hueso! The relationships explored are so captivating and heart-wrenching in their tenderness. Leo's insecurities manifested in the form of a turtle tot who cannot hide away their pain from their family... ahhh! It's overall super fun and super sweet and I felt so gripped by the narrative. I'm really interested to see how the author will resolve the conflict!

I May Be Invisible, but I Still Look Good by Dandy @dandylovesturtles

-Ohhhh my gosh, where to even begin with this fic... It follows Leo's (mis)adventures dealing with a Mystic curse that renders him invisible, intangible, and inaudible. I feel like I can't say much about the plot because I don't want to spoil the experience of reading it– each installment of puzzle-solving regarding Leo's curse is so unique and intense and gratifying to experience, so I won't go into too much detail. Leo's characterization is so wonderful and feels so real. His thoughts and reactions and struggles and how he chooses to endure them and cope with them is just... so Leo. Which means that there is a lot of silent suffering, of course! We love to see it. (I'll also briefly note that this extends to all the brothers! I just mention Leo particularly because we are in his head.) The author's ability to depict Leo's panic attacks and dissociation is my favorite I've encountered. It's also, of course, entirely heartbreaking to read. The enemies and the Mystic curse are incredibly engaging as well; they feel very much like classic fantasy adventure obstacles/antagonists that I used to read as a child, which is such a fun thing in the setting of Rise, and fits in very well. It's so believable within the universe. I'm super excited to see how the breaking of the curse will play out! I've probably re-read the fic in its entirety 2-3 times now, and each time it was equally as engrossing. Not only that– the author is such a master that I've noticed foreshadowing interlaced throughout, and that has been such a delight! This fic inspires me, and invigorates me, and leaves me wanting to read basically anything else from the author. I cannot recommend it enough!

Mutant Ninja Midlife Crisis by a_platypus

-This fic includes Future Leo being transplanted into the past, but his meeting with the turtles and April and Casey as well as the circumstances surrounding his presence are not so innocent. The tension and dramatic irony created by this set-up are gripping and exciting. And kinda makes me wanna smack a Leo (or two). The dialogue and relationships are so well-written, and the pacing is really nice. Everything feels very in-character and believable and intense. Also, just an aside, but the interactions between Present Leo and Future Leo feel so believable, and the way they change how they relate to one another over time feels very organic and natural. It's handled and presented very well, and is one of the central reasons I'm excited to see how the plot progresses moving forward.

The Aftermath by Starrcrossrose

-This fic is set post-movie, and focuses on the healing process Leo (and the others) have to undergo, and all the complicated emotions involved. There's particular emphasis on the relationship between Leo and Donnie. The author does an amazing job showing the reader what is going through both their heads and how they're struggling under the burden of Leo's decision to sacrifice himself, as well as the circumstances surrounding this (namely, Leo's mental health). It's heart-wrenching to see them both struggle under this burden and knowledge, and even more so to witness how it drives a wedge between them. Another aspect of this fic that I love is the angst surrounding the idea that Leo is doing all he can to cope and to heal, but his family is so worried and so anxious for him that they push him to recover more quickly, and this actually ends up complicating things and even making things harder for Leo. The frustration is real! The depiction of a well-meaning family making a suffering family member feel even more isolated, ironically, feels very realistic and therefore all the more maddening and heartbreaking. The recent chapters made me have to go and like. Lie down. It's that intense. And that good.

As before, I did my best to figure out which authors have accounts on here and tag them, but if I've missed you/you know the author's @, please let me know and I'll update the post!

[splosh-crime]

Lazarus Pit - DC x Riordanverse

Nico di Angelo and Pollux meet and save either Jason Todd, Tim Drake, or Damian Wayne at the Lazarus Pit and take them to Camp Halfblood.

Hades & Thanatos requested that Nico di Angelo and the only surviving Son of Dionysus, Pollux, rectify the problem of the Lazarus Pits.

Every Death/Underworld God of every pantheon has agreed that the Pits are an abomination of maddeningly corruptive resurrection that never should have been used, especially not for immortality. Ra’s al Ghul will face eternal punishment for his crimes in whichever underworld he ends up in.

As the most experienced child of Hades alive and the only one with teleportation powers, Nico was an obvious choice for the mission. Pollux, however, was chosen because of his father’s control over insanity and lesser known association with rebirth. Unfortunately, because Nico is a Prince of the Underworld, it goes against his very nature to touch liquid resurrection, and doing so would leave harsh burns on his skin in addition to the average effect of Pit Rage. A bottomless pot was forged and enchanted to fully drain the pits but even then, the essence bleeding through is too much. In order to combat this, a son of rebirth and insanity (Pollux) must be sent to drain and hold the pot while Nico acts as transport and defense from the League of Assassins.

While most of the Pits are drained with little to no problem thanks to Leo’s hacking and Nico soul sight, it’s the last Pit where the plan goes awry. Which bat the boys meet next is up for your choosing. A choose your own adventure for writers who already have that option anyway.

Personally, I believe either Jason or Tim to be the most plausible to be in the Pit Room and in such a bad situation that the demigods would feel the need to intervene. Jason because, obviously, he’d be about to get dunked in it to restore his mental capacity and demigods know that’s an awful idea. Not to mention that Pollux could ask Dionysus to fix that instead if needed. Once his mind’s back, he’s going to be absolutely pissed that so many kids are being used as child soldiers, cannon fodder, and monster food with little to no outside help. After he reunites with his family, he’ll definitely be setting up a series of fully-stocked safe houses with hero contacts taking shifts to protect them from monsters if not all are secure enough with bat tech. When he’s older, he’ll probably adopt some.

Tim because he just lost his Spleen and surgery isn’t cutting it so they also need to dunk him. The demigods take him to Camp for Apollo Cabin surgery. It’d be kind of weird for Will Solace to be a better surgeon than one hired by the al Ghuls (even if he’s a demigod) but it’s action/adventure fiction so we can afford to be handwavey about it. He’d definitely set up a safe house system too, but might not adopt a demigod when he’s older.

The demigods could also meet Damian since obviously he grew up there but I seriously doubt he’d be in there without Ra’s and/or Talia personally overseeing his safety. And while these demigods are good, 500 yrs of combat experience is pretty damn hard to beat (especially since many of the giants and titans probably relied more on brute force/power than skill) and Talia’s no slouch either, not to mention that it’s unlikely that Damian would be physically abused in that room badly enough to need intervention during such a high-stakes quest. He might not see the need for a safe house system, but when he meets/reunites with the batfam, Jason at least would probably still set it up.