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withthewindinherfootsteps · 4 months ago

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Wei Wuxian and Narrative Agency – Part One

For Xiantober Day One: Genius… albeit stretching the prompt so it refers to MXTX and MDZS itself, but at the end of the day it’s still about WWX – so no harm done!

(Part Two | Part Three | Full version on AO3)

The narrative is a very active player in MDZS’ story. How it presents information, what it chooses to show and omit, often reflects important facets of its themes and characters – Nie Huaisang, for instance, is so good at hiding behind his mask that not even the narrative can hold him accountable; the present day’s storyline as a murder mystery and the slow reveal of information about the past both prompt the reader to think critically about the truth of events, when the importance of thinking critically is an important theme; and the dangers not thinking critically (and instead basing conclusions on rumours without much evidence) are shown by tricking unquestioning readers into the very same trap the cultivation world falls into, as the information given by the title, summary and in-universe rumours – which contradicts how we see actually Wei Wuxian act – turns out to be false.

But nowhere do I love this trait more than in its treatment of Wei Wuxian – and, more specifically, in its way of emphasising his agency. We’re not just told how much his active choices define his character, and we’re not just shown this in-universe through his personality, worldview and the events he causes. I’d argue that this aspect goes a step further, and shapes the structure of the out-of-universe narrative as well.

There are two main ways this happens: one, in how the aspects of Wei Wuxian’s life that are shown and hidden directly tell us what’s important about his character (which is good writing but isn’t necessarily tied to this shaping of the narrative), which is what we’ll explore today; and two, how what’s shown and hidden reflects what Wei Wuxian himself prefers to dwell on, resulting in the narrative respecting his own thoughts and feelings on matters (which very much is tied to it). We’ll explore this at a later date.

But as for now – let’s explore my favourite aspect of MDZS.

(Here, narrative agency will be considered the ability of a character to meaningfully influence their events and the story they’re in.)

Tragedy, Circumstance, Choice

If we simply look at Wei Wuxian’s backstory in a vacuum, it seems almost typically tragic. His parents died in circumstances beyond his control, he was left alone as a child with nobody to care for him, he was forced to grow up fending for himself on the streets, he was faced with abuse when he finally was taken in… as with all typical woobies, everything simply happened to him, and none of it was good. It’s just another example of the lack of agency being used for sympathy points, right?

…Except there’s one problem with that idea. We don’t actually see any of this.

It would’ve been easy to start the flashbacks during these times. We’re telling the story of Wei Wuxian in (largely) chronological order, and these are likely important experiences for him! But instead of starting in his street days, or evenat the moment Jiang Fengmian took him in*, we start at the lectures in the Cloud Recesses. That’s not even something mentioned in, and therefore something that’s able to disprove, the rumours at the start of the novel. So why is this the case?

Well, there are multiple reasons – the main one being that MDZS is also Lan Wangji’s (and Wangxian’s) story, and having the flashbacks open with their first meeting is very satisfying. But I want to focus on something else.

This period doesn’t have to be shown, because what happens to Wei Wuxian, especially out of his control, isn’t what’s important about his character.

We’re not even at Lotus Pier here, where Wei Wuxian certainly has more agency than he would’ve had as a young child, but where the harm caused by Madame Yu is still completely out of his control. Here, he has agency! Though there are consequences, he is free to act, and what happens to him is a result of those actions and not of circumstance. Yes, he gets punished more than others who also take those same actions (due to classism); yes, it’s not his choice to be picked on by Lan Qiren in class (yet look how he responds, twisting the situation to his advantage and ending up tricking Lan Qiren into letting him leave, which is what he wanted to do. He is not at all helpless here!); yes, these choices have been influenced by his learned mindset from Madame Yu that punishment is arbitrary and will happen anyway, so you may as well do what you want regardless. But there is cause-and-effect here. It’s not circumstantial tragedy.

Therefore, instead of our first impression of past!Wei Wuxian being that of an unfortunate woobie, it’s of someone who has the freedom, ability and will to choose and act (and that’s after these initial tragic events have taken place). This is compounded by the fact that before we see any of his backstory, we get a similar impression of him in the present day.

If the purpose of his tragic past was to earn him sympathy points, to make us pity him due to how much he was influenced by events out of his control, this would’ve been a terrible way of going about it… and it’s this that betrays the true reason for its existence. Because now, the flashbacks instead show us how little these tragedies define who he is! From the very start, Wei Wuxian isn’t someone defined by circumstances out of his control, but rather by who he is as a person and by what choices he makes in the present day (which is both a mindset in-universe, and a nice little out-of-universe detail that lines up! Because out-of-universe, this means he’s not defined by sympathy points from a backstory, but rather by his great character writing… aka, by who he is as a person and what choices he makes). And this refusal to be defined by tragedy is a conscious choice on his part, too – but we’ll explore that more later.

The important thing is that this idea of Wei Wuxian isn’t because of what exists in his past, it’s because of what parts of his past are shown to us (as well as what he chooses to do, with agency, in the present).

Now, if this relationship between what’s displayed and what’s omitted was just a one-time thing, I might’ve considered it a cool detail or a nice way to establish a character, but not something the narrative is actively focusing on. But it’s a pattern that continues throughout the flashbacks. What, arguably, are the two other most important times in Wei Wuxian’s life where he doesn’t have enough agency to meaningfully influence his circumstances? His three months in the Burial Mounds (before escaping – he managed to assume some control of the circumstances but not enough to substantially reduce his suffering in his time there), and his loss and death during the First Siege. And we’re not shown either of them! We skip to when Wei Wuxian has emerged from the Burial Mounds and is torturing the Wens, or we skip to the present day – both times he has agency once more, because, again, what he’s like without it doesn’t matter enough to be shown.

Furthermore, I’d argue this does actually contrast the other tragic events we see in Wei Wuxian’s later life. Things do go horribly wrong, but it’s either due to choices he knows the consequences of (see: rescuing the Wen Remnants in the first place), or instances where he still has some ability to act in the situation and influence it within the limitations. If he’d had no ability to influence circumstances at Qiongqi path, he would have died in the ambush; if he’d been unable to do that at Nightless City, he would’ve died then, too (of course Lan Wangji helped him escape as well). The attention drawn to him losing control of his actions in both instances is very interesting, but intentional or not, it’s still his actions influencing the plot. And that influence happens to be detrimental. The very ability to act and influence, at a base level, is not taken away (though, of course, that doesn’t make these events any less tragic).

So, so far, the narrative seems to be telling us that the ability to act and choose is key to Wei Wuxian’s character. And it’s doing it through omitting his moments without agency in favour of instead showing us his moments with it.

Let’s see if this is echoed in the text itself before we go further – because even with this pattern, nothing would end up mattering if Wei Wuxian’s agency wasn’t actually that important to the story itself. But thankfully it is, and that first impression we get of Wei Wuxian in the Cloud Recesses turns out to very much be accurate! Though there are defining circumstances out of his control that occur, such as the massacre of Lotus Pier, the majority of the important events of his life are due to his own choices. He didn’t happen to be forced to cease traditional cultivation and solely use guidao, didn’t happen to lose his Golden Core in a fight with Wen Zhuliu or due to some force in the Burial Mounds, it was his own choice to give it and his spiritual powers away. He didn’t tragically happen to get targeted by the cultivation world, it was a result of him acting on his morals and protecting the Wen remnants (a choice which he was fully aware of the implications of). He isn’t a protagonist to whom things simply occur, and that activeness and agency is my favourite thing about him.

That’s not to say that the times Wei Wuxian doesn’t have agency, or feels like he doesn’t have any, don’t exist at all, either – but they are rare enough to have attention directly drawn to them in his internal narration:

Or else what could he do? He could do nothing. He was powerless. Lotus Pier had been destroyed, both Jiang FengMian and Madam Yu were gone, and Jiang Cheng had disappeared as well. He was the only one left, alone, with not even a sword in his hands. He didn’t know anything, he couldn’t do anything! For the first time, he discovered how little his power was. In front of something as large as the QishanWen Sect, it was the same as a mantis trying to stop a chariot. - Chapter 59, EXR translation

(And even in this circumstance, note that he still does force himself to act – to carry on searching for Jiang Cheng, to place his faith in Wen Ning – and does accomplish his goal (albeit with the help of others)! So even in dire situations, he isn’t simply passive. This is actually also the case with his time in the Burial Mounds, almost certainly the First Siege, and even his days on the streets as well (Chapter 20: he did actively fight with dogs to get food despite their danger and his growing fear of them, rather than just waiting and hoping to somehow receive some more). He can’t influence or immediately influence his circumstances, but that doesn’t stop him from trying.)

Overall, although they do influence him, Wei Wuxian is very much who he is in spite of his circumstances, not because of them. We’re shown the importance of his agency both in-universe by the major impacts his choices have on himself and the plot, as well as by narrative presentation – important periods where he lacks the ability to meaningfully influence anything are often mentioned but not directly shown, which suggests that such moments and circumstances aren’t as important to understanding Wei Wuxian’s character as moments where he does have this agency are. And I’d argue this works very well. Depending on the version of the story you consume, you may end up having different interpretations as to how much circumstances were at play nearer the end of his life – but nobody comes out of MDZS thinking about Wei Wuxian, the poor bearer of yet another generically tragic backstory.

(Part Two | Part Three | Full version on AO3)

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*We are shown this moment in more detail in Chapter 23… but even then, it’s through the framing of Wei Wuxian remembering Jiang Yanli’s narration, not through a flashback proper or even him remembering the experience itself!

#there are three parts to this #part two dwelling on how wwx not dwelling on tragedy is a conscious choice #part three about how that choice and wwx’s preferences are ALSO behind what’s shown and what’s not #i originally wanted to post them all at once but life was very busy and they haven’t been finished yet #and i wanted to release SOMETHING on this day (it is after midnight but i haven’t slept yet and in a lot of timezones it’s not yet)#judging by the current length of it it’s probably better to be posting individual parts anyway…#so here we go #a complete version will br put on ao3 when done #also because i’m not sure where to put it in the meta – i’m aware external circumstances did impact this too #eg mxtx not wanting to write power-up/transformation sequences influencing her not to write wwx’s time in the burial mounds #i’m also aware a lot of this could be writing efficiency and not the deeper meanings i’ll (mostly later) assign to it #ultimately there’s not enough evidence either way to say if this was intentional or not #(i don’t doubt mxtx is an amazing writer but *i* feel i’m overanalysing while writing this which i do tend to do)#but even if it wasn’t it’s still a part of the story #and it still remains one of the things i love it the most #so i WILL explore it (taking the approach of death of the author here – i do believe context is important but i just love this throughline-#-so much)#xiantober #xiantober day 1 #mdzs meta #my meta #wei wuxian #wwx #mdzs #mo dao zu shi #魔道祖师 #grandmaster of demonic cultivation #gdc

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flightfoot · 3 months ago

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Miraculous Halloween Fic Recs

It's Halloween, so I figured that people might be in the mood for some spooky, supernatural, or just plain Halloween-related fics! All of these are complete.

Herbs And Steam by @liiinerle

Juleka le Flor Blef, nature witch from near the forest of Couffaine, arrives at Eiffel Castle so she can partake in the Queen's Trials - a contest to determine the strongest witch in all of France. She wants to prove the strength of her magic, but when she arrives, her attention is quickly distracted by two very interesting women: Kagami, the princess, who seems to act nothing like a princess should; and Marinette, the blacksmith, who has created a magic all her own through metal, steam, and ingenuity. Juleka is immediately besotted with both of them, and needs to work extra hard to focus on her magic. Juleka also soon becomes aware that there is stronger magic at Eiffel castle than she had expected. For one thing, there's a tree in the courtyard put there years ago by a witch whose powers seem to surpass hers; for another, there's Alya la Pluvie Versaunt, who must be the most powerful mage Juleka has ever met...

Unusual poly here, there aren't a lot of Juleka/Kagami/Marinette fics! I love the world here, getting to see all these different witches honing their craft, and Juleka making friends with many of them - though especially the nonwitches Kagami and Marinette, of course XD. If you like some femslash or a good fantasy AU, this fic should scratch that itch!

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Soul Seeker by hislittlelady

After a shooting on her 6th birthday, Marinette Dupain-Cheng died. She was brought to the afterlife by her grandmother. She was content. Until the paramedics did their jobs and suddenly she wasn’t dead anymore. Waking up to find that half of her soul had remained tethered to the afterlife, allowing her the ability to see things others can’t, Marinette grows up an outcast. It isn’t until she moves in with her only friend, a detective she’s known since preschool, that she finds her purpose, solving his harder cases with the help of her spiritual connections. Three years later, she’s thriving. Her own business, two best friends, a K-9 drop out as a companion- life couldn’t get better. Until she meets Chat. A ghost with amnesia and a mask to match, Chat isn’t sure what he needs to move on to the afterlife (and, considering he’s stuck around for another three years, he doesn’t seem in all that much of a hurry to figure it out either!) When Amelie Agreste, a socialite from out of town, comes to Marinette for help locating her missing nephew, Marinette knows her career and her life will be on the line. But even a murderer intent on silencing her forever can’t keep Marinette from seeking the truth.

This is a really fun detective story. You can probably guess one or two of the major twists (not counting the twist of "Adrien is Chat Noir" which I certainly HOPE isn't a spoiler to anyone reading this), but that doesn't make it any less satisfying, especially with how Marinette's and Chat's relationship is developed. Or well, what interactions we see from them, since they've known each other for years by the time the story starts. I adore the "my friend is a ghost" trope, and the identity shenanigans and mystery around what actually happened to Adrien kept me wondering.

It's an M-rated fic, which I'm guessing is mostly due to an attempted sexual assault at one point in the story, though it doesn't get very far before it's stopped. I also want to warn Luka fans that he's not shown in the best light in this fic, though it's not too extreme.

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Through Yellow Eyes by @echo-has-queries

"Nooroo bleeds and Paris drowns in his blood." The day of the Blight, Paris bore witness to a horror too grand to comprehend. Only Chloé Bourgeois bore witness to a miracle. Marinette, Alya and the rest of Paris will need more than faith in Gimmi to survive. As the city's sanity hangs by a thread, bodies, minds, and souls are traded with the unknown in order to hold on to the things they each treasure most. Written for the AU Roulette Challenge 2024 with the prompt: Cosmic Horror AU

If you like Cosmic Horror (Lovecraftian I think? Though this isn't really my wheelhouse), then this is the story for you! I love seeing how Paris copes with the madness seeping through its streets, somehow going about daily life despite it all.

Kwamis here are more inhuman, more separated from humanity. There's no cute little miniature form to help bridge the gap. While humans can still meld with kwami, it's not all quite as firmly in the human's control as it normally is, and the side effects are worse. It doesn't help that the kwamis can't fully understand squishy little humans' wants, needs, or morality.

Like, as Ladybug, Marinette can't remember her human name, and her human concerns are somewhat muted. While as Marinette, she can't remember certain aspects of her time as Ladybug, and only regains those memories when she transforms again. She also has to be careful about restoring everything, as she can't just give Tikki a cookie and call it a day. Instead, she herself needs to eat enough to compensate for the lost energy, which can be a substantial portion of the goods in her parents' bakery.

As for Adrien... well, this is still going off of Sentimonster Adrien, though the ritual to create him went differently... and went wrong. But he is still Adrien.

Chloe's interesting as well, she's this sort of priest, this missionary for the kwamis, but her methods are... well, not the best. She still has a bunch of her canonical hangups, even though she IS somewhat helpful.

I love Alya in here, she's just desperately trying to figure out what's going on so that she can try to fix it, especially since Nino's one of the people who's been driven mad by the Blight. She does find some answers, and even ends up being partially responsible for Ladybug's creation and Chat's and Ladybug's subsequent fight against the worst effects of the Blight, but the risks, danger, and side effects she suffers are still significant. Though some of those side effects can be used to her advantage.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this AU and thought it was an interesting take on the subject, I highly recommend checking it out!

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Centuries Overdue by @rosie-b

Long ago, an evil Darkness spread across Europe, claiming the lives of many in the magic community. Trained by Plagg himself, Adrien made it his mission to stop the Darkness before it snuffed out the lives of more Mages and Talents, as it did to his own parents. Though he seemed to succeed in his mission, the pages of his old journals tell a different tale. In the modern world, Marinette is a fashion student, working at a small library for the summer to earn extra credit. She’s never believed in magic before, but when she finds the old Agreste journals in her library, her beliefs about reality begin to crumble. Determined to find the truth, both about magic and the unsolved death of one Adrien Agreste, Marinette begins on a journey that will eventually lead her deep into the city’s catacombs, where an ancient force sleeps, but is ready to awaken once more…

If you want a nice Magic AU, this is your jam! I slowly became more invested with Adrien's fate as Marinette did, and I loved seeing bits of this magic society. And of course, Adrien and Marinette always find their way to each other, even if Marinette happens to be a few centuries overdue.

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the monster who loves you by @purplecatghostposts

Mum nods, clapping her hands together. “Your brother is finally feeling better and is coming home today! Isn’t that so exciting?” Félix pauses mid-bite, processing her words. Mum waits expectantly, as if expecting him to jump for joy, or his equivalent of it. But… Félix doesn’t have a brother. (Or Félix’s brother is a monster, but only in the most literal sense. Félix’s father is a monster despite being very, very human. He learns to navigate the world through these two truths.)

I loved how this story emphasized the differences between different kinds of monsters - the type who inhabit horror stories, who look terrifying, and the mundane, human sorts of monsters who are often the most dangerous. And how monsters can choose to act humanely, while humans can choose to act monstrously.

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See This Chance by @19thsentry-blog

Luka died in 2016. Yep. Crushed by the Arc de Triumph when Mayura’s Robustus slammed into it. It was kind of a big deal, but once you’re dead, you’re dead—especially when there’s no Lucky Charm to bring you back. Luka’s been dealing with it in the typical ways. Written for FeLuka week 2023.

Yes, this is FeLuka. Not one of the typical ships I read, but I ain’t opposed to it, and this is a nice foray into the pairing. I love ghost AUs! Luka’s just fumbling around, unsure what to do with his incorporeal existence, until he starts haunting Felix. It’s an intriguing plot and I gotta admit, I wish it was longer so it could be fleshed out more, but what’s here is good.

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Attack of the Crystal Zombies by @trainsinanime

Kagami had spent more and more time hanging out with Zoé, talking about things like families, expectations and crushes on Marinette. It was only natural, probably, that she would help Zoé practice flirting. That was definitely a great idea. Granted, the deadly Akuma battle around them was a bit of an issue…

Quality Zoegami fic here! I loved how Kagami kept thinking she was bad at flirting, but it was sure working on Zoe XD. The akuma attack going on around them, interweaving with their conversation, added a bit of spice to the whole affair!

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Anchor by @liiinerle

“Marinette. Please take that sabre out of your neck.” “Right. Thanks. I forgot it was there.” She grabbed hold of the guard and pulled; the blade slid out like it had only been run through butter. After dropping it on the floor, she picked up one of the teacups and picked up a biscuit from a tin she’d brought in; she placed the biscuit on the saucer plate and handed the whole thing to Kagami, who could only really resign herself to accepting it. —– Marinette has raised Kagami from the dead, and also happens to be dead herself. It turns out some bad choices were made in the past. But that doesn’t mean they’ll lead to bad outcomes for them now.

I love this, Marinette’s incredibly blase about being a zombie - which makes sense, given how long she’s had to get used to the idea. And she’s waited so long, tried so hard to bring Kagami back as well, though if she didn’t WANT to be back, she’d accede to that request. Luckily, Kagami doesn’t seem to mind as long as she’s with Marinette XD.

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delicate in every way but one by katrinette

When Marinette finds a wanted ad that provokes just enough questions in her mind that she can’t help answering it, the reward is sweeter than she could have imagined.

I love the little bit of worldbuilding we get here about vampire society, and Adrien’s usual awkward adorableness in asking Marinette for a certain necessary favor. It’s always neat to see such familiar characterization in a supernatural setting like this.

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How Marinette Learned to Stop Worrying And Love The Ball by @rosie-b

Hidden from the crowds thronging around the busy fairy portal in Paris’s town square, a fae gate sits at the edge of the forest, locked, rusty, and full of ancient magic. Marinette thinks that this abandoned gate must not work anymore… but one day, a fairy disguised as a black cat steps through it.

Ah, Fantasy Soulmate AUs, my beloved XD. This ain’t the only one of this fic type I’m gonna be recommending. This is just a cute fluff fic without much strife. I love Marinette and Chat Noir being able to be childhood friends via his visits, even if he has to pretend to be her cat whenever he comes over, and I ESPECIALLY adore Alya being his chaperone and quickly becoming friends with Marinette in her own right. It ain’t a complicated plot, but it is a nice and warm fic.

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a winter so warm by @rosekasa

winters were hard for even the best of vampires, but at least adrien had marinette to keep him warm with her cuddles. december was going to suck without her. so it was only to be expected to get extra cuddles in before she left, right? (well, not really, considering those heating supplements he was taking, but she didn’t need to know about that).

This one’s mostly just cute cuddly adorableness! It’s basically like all those “Marinette gets the Ladybug trait of needing to cuddle up to someone for warmth”, but with Adrien instead. And of course featuring Marinette being a very talented witch who just wants to help Adrien stay warm when she isn’t there XD.

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Stitched Together by @nedjsmlfavs

Stitch Witch Marinette was just supposed to be having a nice, terrifying outing with her best friends. She never expected to find a magically trapped kitten, but here we are! Whatever happened to this poor little guy?

Poor Adrien, being transformed and chained up for ages, having no idea that he was gonna be rescued. But at least he got to have fun at Marinette’s place as a cat!

Most of this fic is adorable, though with some dark undertones lying in wait. After all, SOMEONE chained up that poor little kitty…

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I Put A Spell On You by dazaimaru

Friday, October 25. 6 days until Halloween.

It’s their first high school Halloween dance, and Marinette and Adrien are ready to throw on some non-superhero costumes for once--that is, until an akumatized witch spoils the party and threatens to reveal what lies underneath everyone’s disguise.

With Hawkmoth taking full advantage of the spooky season, the days leading up to Halloween are certainly going to be thrilling! Especially considering Marinette’s growing feelings for a certain black cat…

This one’s mostly just some really cute Lovesquare shenanigans around Halloween, with some really fun sequences like Marinette and Adrien getting body-swapped and Marinette temporarily becoming a vampire (and also Marinette repeatedly stunning Adrien with her outfits. I was just waiting for him to pass out from blood loss from a nosebleed).

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don't you worry child by @mexicancat-girl

Marc and Nathaniel have a good life, married and living together in a cottage in the woods. But they consider having children at some point. Marc in particular really wants to start a family with his husband. He knows the fey are real, so he goes searching in the woods to find one to strike a deal. He may get a bit more than he bargained for in the process.

This is based on a tumblr post that’s been going around, which I think a lot of people will recognize as they continue going through the story. That post is credited at the end of the fic, so as not to spoil the plot.

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The Convention by Peppermint_Shamrock

“Oh, sure, when Ladybug comes up with unusual solutions, it’s “clever” and “inspiring”. But when I do it, it’s “oh no” and “you’re going to get us all killed, Marinette”,” she grumbled. “At least Adrien believes in me.” When an Akuma rages through a comic convention, everyone is forcibly transformed into their own cosplays. Unable to transform into Ladybug, Marinette has no choice but to fight as a civilian alongside her friends. At least she was dressed as her partner. Written for Miraculous Spooktober Day 5 Prompt - Costume Party

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Ghost of You by its_just_lori

It finally happened. The akuma attacked at the wrong time. They weren't prepared. For the first time, there was a casualty. Someone was killed. Marinette didn't care that her identity was exposed to the world; she couldn't stop blaming herself for what happened. If only she'd been ready... if only she'd done more... There's nothing for Adrien to say. There's nothing he can do other than stay by her side and help her through this pain.

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The Pink Lady: Marichat May 2018 by @seasonofthegeek

In this story, Chat Noir, Carapace, Rena Rouge, Queen B, and Paon are the heroes of Paris. The Ladybug Miraculous has been lost for almost a century and it takes all of their combined power to cleanse akumas sometimes but they’ve found something that works since they don’t have another option. Hawkmoth is one of their villains, but not the only one plaguing Paris. Chat Noir happens upon an old hotel one night on patrol and discovers something and someone he didn't expect.

#ml fanfic rec #halloween #miraculous ladybug

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danganronpasurvivoraskblog · 1 month ago

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Dangancember 2024 - Danganronpa Top 24 Class Trials - Number 4: Danganronpa 2 Case 6

//Oh shit! OH SHIT! INCOMING HATERS! ABORT RANKING! ABORT RANKING-!

//GAH! GET OUT! AAAH! Fuck...! Gah...Okay...Okay fuck...Phew...Woah...Alright...

//Look...I fucking KNOW! Okay!?

//I'm not expecting to get RIDICULOUS levels of hate for this, but I am more aware than anyone that having ANY of the final trials THIS HIGH on the list. Especially since I have already said myself that they all have the same problems. And Danganronpa 2's final trial is FAR from exempt of these..

//This final trial often gets labeled as overrated by some fans, who argue it’s too flashy, too convoluted, or too dependent on high-stakes melodrama. It's still anime as fuck, its super long, it's super difficult so suddenly, and it's a massive plot dump. I will deny none of this.

//HOWEVER, I don't know what it is about this case specifically, but the more I look back on this trial, the more I LIKE it!

//We're in what I think is basically the S-Tier of this list. Even if this trial isn't S, it's still the top of A. And the defining factor that decides which of these cases gets this high up is "Which of these Class Trial do I like revisiting the most?" And this is definitely one of them, and I will gladly die on that hill.

//This case takes everything Danganronpa is known for; over-the-top twists, ridiculous logic battles, and moral dilemmas that make you question your own sanity; and cranks it up to eleven. Yes, you’re solving a murder while simultaneously wrestling with existential dread and facing down a genocidal AI.

//Yes, it’s bonkers, and yet for me, it works. Every wild revelation feels like it’s been carefully building from the beginning, paying off countless threads in ways that are surprising but satisfying.

//And that's it really. This is a SATISFYING CONCLUSION. Case 5 isn’t just a great finale; it perfectly captures what Danganronpa does best: mixing absurdity and sincerity into a neon-soaked cocktail of despair and hope.

//Unlike the first game’s ending, which leans heavily on Makoto Naegi’s generic optimism, or V3’s finale, which breaks the fourth wall so hard it practically demolishes the entire franchise, Danganronpa 2’s ending feels emotionally complete.

//And here's why:

//Let’s break down the key issues that this trial, and, let’s be honest, all Danganronpa final trials, tend to suffer from. First up, the obvious one: length.

//This trial is long, no doubt about it. But compared to some of its peers, it’s downright modest. V3’s final trial feels like a four-hour debate marathon, and Another 2’s third trial drags so much it feels like it got lost in a time loop. By comparison, Danganronpa 2’s finale uses its time well.

//Sure, it’s a commitment, but it’s packed with so many high-stakes moments and engaging revelations that I'm rarely looking at the clock. In fact, there are only four trials in the entire series that kept me glued to my seat from start to finish, and this one’s comfortably in that elite category, with the other three being the three trials above this one. Every topic of discussion felt purposeful, and I was never bored, which is more than I can say for some of its peers.

//Next is the dreaded plot dump problem.

//Let’s face it: of all the final trials, this one might be the guiltiest of shoving exposition down your throat. Junko Enoshima is less of an inquisitor here and more of an overly dramatic history professor, dumping lore at every opportunity like she’s trying to hit a word count on her evil dissertation. Unlike the first game’s finale, where she taunts you into piecing things together yourself, this trial often skips the mystery and goes straight to the lecture hall.

//But...at least that plot is GOOD.

//The revelations about the island, the survivors, and the Future Foundation are some of the most fascinating lore drops in the entire franchise. Sure, it’s a lot to take in, but it’s delivered with enough flair to keep me invested, and that’s a big part of why I’m still hooked on this series today.

//The next issue? The ridiculous difficulty spikes.

//This trial hits you with an "Improved" Hangman’s Gambit right out of the gate, which is ironic because the only thing it improves is your blood pressure.

//Let’s not sugarcoat it, "Improved" Hangman’s Gambit is a nightmare minigame in every trial it infects, and this one is no exception. But once you push through that, the rest of the challenges strike a much better balance.

//Take it away ProZD.

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//Sure, it’s tough, but unlike some trials where the difficulty feels like a punishment for daring to play, this one leans into "frustrating yet fair" territory. It’s challenging enough to keep you on your toes without making you want to chuck your controller out the window.

//And finally, the most meme-worthy complaint: the anime-esque absurdity of the villains’ defeat.

//Let’s not kid ourselves, this trial goes full Saturday morning cartoon by the end. Hajime literally turns into a golden-haired Super Saiyan and screams “FUTURE!” at Junko until she dies.

//It’s so over the top that it should derail the entire mood. And yet… it doesn’t. At least not for me.

//Instead, it feels triumphant, cathartic, and downright epic. Because even with it, the survivors still face an incredibly personal and difficult choice, confront their inner demons, and ultimately earn their victory. Sure, it’s a bit campy, but that doesn’t diminish the emotional weight of the ending. It’s goofy, it’s dramatic, it’s everything Danganronpa is, and honestly, I loved every second of it.

//These are still ultimately nitpicks that go against this trial and stop it from being one of my absolute favourites, even though it is a Top Tier spectacle for me. And I have one more big, pretty standout issue with this case, before I get into the stuff that I actually love about it.

//The Investigation segment...SUCKS!

//Unlike most of the final trials of the Danganronpa series, the actual "Daily Life" segment of this chapter is pretty long and full of detail and dialogue before the investigation starts. Which makes sense, considering what this trial comes off the back of.

//This chapter hits hard emotionally, coming fresh off the deaths of Chiaki and Nagito, arguably two of the most important and beloved characters in the game.

//Or at least, it should hit hard...if it weren’t so mind-bogglingly CONFUSING!

//At this point, the game fully commits to the twist that the island is actually a virtual reality simulation, and things spiral into absolute chaos. The world starts glitching like it’s running on a bootleg copy of Windows XP. Dead characters suddenly reappear, casually hanging around like nothing happened, and nobody seems to notice or care.

//I spent the first half of this chapter feeling like I’d walked into the wrong save file. It’s only when you enter the locked building that things start to click...or, rather, don’t click...because the weirdness keeps escalating.

//Monokuma, ever the fan of recycling his own shtick, drops a familiar ultimatum: "Solve all the mysteries and decide whether to leave or not." Then, boom, investigation time.

//Now, don’t get me wrong: unraveling the mysteries of the island and the Future Foundation is undeniably cool. But this investigation? Easily one of my least favorites in the series.

//Why? Because the glitches ramp up to such a dizzying degree that I felt like I was trapped in a bad fever dream.

//One moment I’m in the school, and the next I’m teleporting across random locations like that one scene in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 where they're jumping through several space time holes, and it feels EQUALLY AS PAINFUL as it looks!

//And don’t even get me started on the moment the entire world literally flips upside down. Yes, I get it, game, you’re driving home the point that we’re in a simulation. But do you have to give me vertigo while you’re at it!? It’s like they sat in a meeting and said, "What if we made the player understand the story by making them insanely fucking motion sick!"

//Well, mission accomplished, I guess!

//TLDR; This is NOT an investigation. It's an incredibly nauseatic FETCH QUEST.

//The clues themselves also aren't that interesting until you actually get in the trial, and it does open very well with the obvious twist, but we'll get to that. The only clue that stood out to me immediately, and that kind of interested me from the get go, was the fact that Hiyoko looks very different OUTSIDE the sim than she does INSIDE.

//And that's more of just a cool graphic, not necessarily anything that shocked me.

//But even though the investigation is a pile of dog shite, the character dynamics we see, and the way these dynamics carry on into the trial itself, is amazing. This trial not only has some of the best moments for the characters in this game, but vastly improves upon characters that we've already seen.

//Halfway through this trial, Hajime and his fellow survivors are joined by Makoto, Kyoko, and the real Byakuya. And even though their involvement here isn't THAT consequencial, it's still great to see them all back.

//Speaking of Hajime...

//I fucking LOVE Hajime!

//I mentioned earlier how heavily Shuichi is involved in the final conflict of Danganronpa V3, and I also briefly touched on how important Makoto is to the final showdown of the first game. However, I feel like I really missed the mark by not giving Hajime enough credit for how deeply he’s tied into the greater conflict of Danganronpa 2.

//This is, of course, entirely my personal opinion, but I believe Hajime plays a more central role in the story’s conflict than either Shuichi or Makoto. I just love the way Hajime reacts to the insane revelations during the final trial.

//The moment that stands out the most is when Junko casually drops the bombshell that Hajime is actually a fabricated personality of Izuru Kamukura. While the other characters are going to wake up and, you know, probably turn into supervillains, Hajime’s fate is way worse...he's going to be completely erased and vanish forever. As soon as this information hits him, he doesn’t just panic like you’d expect; he has a full-blown identity crisis.

//Hajime’s been struggling with his sense of self throughout the entire game, but this is the point where his existential meltdown reaches DEFCON 1. His anguished screams and his heartbreaking willingness to just give up and live in a world where everything repeats itself are gut-wrenching. Watching him go through this is honestly painful, and I find myself empathizing with him more than any of the other protagonists.

//This, I think, is the reason Hajime stands out to me. It’s not just about his struggle, it’s how human he is in his struggle. And holy shit if Johnny Yong Bosch's voice acting doesn't sell this:

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//These two moments in particular are the best parts of his traumatic breakdown ^^^

//But Hajime isn’t the only character who stands out here.

//Alongside the returning gang from DR1, there’s also Junko, who, surprise, surprise, is once again the villain.

//Now, I get it, some might find it a little tiresome that Junko is back as the mastermind, but I honestly think this is her best appearance in the whole series. I mentioned this when discussing the final case of the first game, but while Junko’s twist as the mastermind is certainly cool, her over-the-top, goofy persona kind of makes it hard to take her seriously as the main villain.

//In Danganronpa 2, however, when we encounter her as an AI counterpart, it’s a whole different story.

//Junko Enoshima’s role in Danganronpa 2 is one of the rare instances where a returning villain improves drastically in their execution, and it all comes down to how her presence is expanded and her actions take on a life of their own, literally and figuratively.

//She’s still got that signature cartoonish vibe, and she does still do the very sudden personality shifting, but now her tone is laced with a level of sadism and menace that feels downright chilling.

//It’s as if she’s crossed a line, and in this game, she’s not just the silly, chaotic villain we’ve seen before. She really feels like a true THREAT!

//Especially since her motivations, and what she actually hopes to achieve THIS TIME, are different from the stakes in DR1. Different in the sense that they feel SO much higher, and as a result, Junko feels like more of a monster.

//Junko is essentially trying to secure her posthumous victory by corrupting the Neo World Program and plunging the remaining members of the Future Foundation into despair, as well as take over the vegetable bodies of the people who died in DR2, and "Junko-fy" all of mankind, just as the tragedy is dying down.

//This makes her appear more threatening and influential compared to her more confined role as the mastermind of the Killing School Life in the first game.

//And there are more reasons than just this. Since Junko is already dead by the time Goodbye Despair begins, she becomes less of a direct antagonist and more of a haunting legacy, a force of despair that refuses to fade away. This shift gives her a mythic quality, as her influence looms over every event in the story, showcasing her obsession with cementing her place in history as an eternal agent of chaos. It’s no longer just about what she’s doing now, it’s about how far-reaching and inescapable her madness truly is.

//One of the reasons Junko shines brighter, or darker, rather, in Danganronpa 2 is the freedom her AI form grants her. Stripped of the limitations of her physical body, Junko fully leans into her larger-than-life persona, appearing in absurd and exaggerated digital forms.

//This form really advocates the idea that Junko is a living virus rather than a person. Her essence infects the virtual world, just as it infected the real world with Despair, in ways that make her feel omnipresent and almost godlike.

//This also allows her to interact with the cast in visually dynamic, surreal ways that simply weren’t possible in the more grounded setting of the first game. And as ridiculous as it is, the imagery of an absolutely HUGE AS FUCK Junko NEVER gets old.

//What really sets her apart in Danganronpa 2, though, is her personal connection to Class 77. These aren’t just random students she’s toying with; they’re the very people she manipulated, broke, and used as weapons during the Tragedy. She’s not merely taunting them, she’s forcing them to confront the darkest parts of themselves, the memories she erased, and the atrocities they committed under her influence.

//This makes her presence not only more menacing but deeply personal. The stakes feel higher because the conflict directly ties into the characters’ own identities and sense of guilt. Compared to the first game, where Junko’s relationship with Class 78 felt more detached and her villainy relied on spectacle rather than emotional stakes, her dynamic with Class 77 is far more engaging.

//What seals the deal is the eventual defiance of Class 77. When they choose to stand against Junko and reclaim their identities, it’s not just a victory over her philosophy, but it’s a victory over the very Despair she’s weaponized against them. This resolution gives her role in Goodbye Despair a sense of narrative closure that the first game didn’t quite achieve.

//She’s still the same chaotic, cartoony Junko, but here, her sadistic edge and personal ties to the cast create a version of her that feels more terrifying, more compelling, and, dare I say it, more entertaining than ever. It’s a much darker take on her character, and in this context, she’s far more convincing as the mastermind pulling the strings behind the scenes. It's a subtle shift that makes her presence feel less like a punchline and more like the horrifying force she was always meant to be.

//But I think that's mostly it for the outside context, and to cap this off, let's talk about the nitty-gritty details of the trial itself. I am sorry, but I will be repeating some of my previous points, just to cover them.

//But before diving into the labyrinthine twists and emotional sucker punches of Danganronpa 2's final trial, let’s start with one of the most hilariously sadistic Monokuma moments in the entire series. It's a subtle moment that doesn't last for very long, but it's a good sign right from the get go with the way that this trial treats it's most obvious plot twist right out of the gate in a way that is very entertaining.

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//Right at the beginning of the trial, Monokuma insists that everyone clarify one simple truth: the entire world they’ve been living in is a virtual reality. But instead of letting this revelation sink in gracefully, Monokuma drives it home with comedic precision.

//Every time someone tries to refute or question this revelation, he cuts them off with a deadpan repetition of "Because it’s a game!" over and over, reusing the same voice line for maximum effect. It’s like he’s saying, "This is the truth, and I am not debating this with you. Accept it, move on, or fucking die."

//It’s the kind of humor that is both maddening and brilliant, encapsulating Monokuma’s trademark blend of sadism and absurdity.

//Now let’s get to the meat of this trial: the twists. And oh, are there twists.

//First, as already established several times already, there’s the reveal that the world you’ve been inhabiting for the entire game isn’t even real. It’s a simulation.

//It's a very obvious twist if you'd bothered to pay ANY attention to the chapter, but that fact alone is a mind-blower. But the pièce de résistance is what comes next: the realization that the "World Ender," the ominous, evil-sounding organization you’ve been trained to despise and aim to destroy, are actually the good guys, and Chiaki and Monomi were working for them.

//The Future Foundation, the supposed villains of this story, are the heroes. And the bad guys? That would be…YOU! The very characters you’ve spent hours befriending and rooting for!

//I'm just gonna come straight out and say it: The Remnants of Despair are my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE PLOT TWIST in this ENTIRE SERIES.

//Only two twists rival it for me: The Tragedy in Game 1, and the Protag switch in Game 3.

//When I first played this, I entered the final chapters with the mindset of a righteous avenger, ready to bring down the dastardly Future Foundation. But as the truth unraveled, I distinctly remember thinking, "Wait, what? We’re the bad guys? The organization trying to save the world isn’t evil, and we were the problem all along? What the actual hell is happening here!?"

//I just love how it flips the narrative on its head and forces you to confront a deeply uncomfortable truth: the characters you’ve grown attached to were once Junko Enoshima’s most loyal disciples, the infamous Remnants of Despair.

//Before, obviously, Danganronpa 3 went and ruined any tension and emotion we could have with that twist.

//But ignoring it, it's still great!

//Danganronpa 2 explains that the cast of characters were brainwashed into becoming Junko’s pawns of destruction. The simulation you’ve been playing through was created by the Future Foundation, including Makoto, Kyoko, and Byakuya from the first game, to rehabilitate them by erasing their memories and allowing them to live in a paradise free of Despair.

//The twist becomes even more gut-wrenching when it’s revealed that the killing game wasn’t part of the plan. It happened because an AI version of Junko was uploaded into the simulation, hijacking the entire system. Because she planned to take over the Remnant's bodies, and turn every person in Japan/the world, like her. Into Despair.

//Classic Junko plot, sure, and I know that a lot of you might disagree with the notion that this is the best twist, because some could argue that it is presented as so violent, it creates plot holes.

//What I mean specifically is the part where the Remnants salvaged Junko's corpse after the end of Game 1, and replaced their body parts with hers...

//...Also Mikan fucked it?

//But the problem there is that it creates a plot hole because Junko's body was crushed at the end of the execution, so there'd be no body to salvage.

//But the reason why I excuse it personally is because this is a plot hole OF A PLOT HOLE. Junko's execution had her going through every death trap she'd created in Danganronpa 1, all of which had killed the characters on their own. I know Junko is OP, but there's no way she's any more durable than Mondo, or any of the other characters who died here. Any one of these could have killed her at any point, and it made no sense that she survived all of them.

//And even putting that aside, assuming this IS a plot hole, it's not enough to ruin my enjoyment of the trial. Let me break it down for everybody:

//At the beginning of Danganronpa 2, the characters are portrayed as hapless victims trapped in a sadistic killing game. This setup fosters sympathy and camaraderie, much like the cast of the first game. However, the final twist subverts this perception entirely, revealing that these characters were not innocent victims but villains responsible for unspeakable atrocities as members of Junko Enoshima's Remnants of Despair.

//The stark contrast between their apparent innocence and their horrific past actions under Junko’s influence is nothing short of awesome, in a terrifying way, leaving an indelible mark. But this reveal isn’t just shocking for its content; it also serves as a brutal demonstration of Junko’s unparalleled ability to manipulate people into despair.

//The twist ties back to the catastrophic events of Danganronpa 1, Junko’s masterstroke of spreading despair globally. Here, the game goes further, showcasing the devastating depth of her evil by illustrating how she corrupted even the brightest students of Hope’s Peak Academy.

//And Danganronpa 3 enforces this idea, with Class 77 being quite possibly the most integral class to the school at the time, especially with the bond they form with Chiaki and Chisa, and how ripping that away from them was enough to completely break them.

//It's still not great, but I understand the basic implications at least.

//It’s a chilling reminder that Despair is insidious, capable of twisting even the most virtuous intentions into darkness. Junko’s role as the ultimate antagonist is cemented, her terrifying legacy casting a long shadow over the entire series.

//The twist also recontextualizes everything we’ve seen about the characters up to that point. Suddenly, Gundham’s theatrical fascination with death, Fuyuhiko’s violent streak and harsh demeanor, Nagito’s unhinged obsession with hope, and, most importantly, Mikan’s terrifying breakdown in Chapter 3 take on new, darker meanings.

//What were once quirky personality traits or personal flaws are revealed as remnants of their time as Junko’s followers. This added layer of depth makes the twist even more effective, turning each character into a tragic figure grappling with the scars of their past.

//Nagito, in particular, stands out as a character whose behavior becomes infinitely more complex in light of the reveal, especially because he learns the truth right before the trial in Chapter 4. His obsessive pursuit of Hope and simultaneous disdain for Despair now reads as deeply self-aware.

//He knows they are the Remnants of Despair, and he hates himself and his peers for it, and the way that this duality kind of mirrors the player's own conflicting feelings about the cast post-reveal, adding emotional weight to an already loaded twist. It adds an element of method to Nagito's madness.

//Moreover, the twist reinforces Danganronpa's overarching themes of Hope and Despair in ways that, I would argue, the first game didn’t quite achieve.

//The fact that the Remnants of Despair were once Hope’s Peak Academy’s shining symbols of hope adds a layer of profound tragedy. And their journey to reclaim their humanity and hope serves as a microcosm of the broader struggle between these two forces that defines the series. This isn’t just about saving the world, it’s about saving themselves.

//This thematic resonance ties directly into what makes the twist so powerful: it doesn’t just set the stakes for the trial, it sets the stakes for the entire Danganronpa series. The twist paves the way for an emotional and poignant redemption arc for the cast. Despite their horrifying past actions, these characters are given the chance to prove they are more than their despair. This struggle resonates deeply, emphasizing themes of growth, forgiveness, and the ability to move past one’s darkest moments.

//It’s why it’s such a shame we never got a spin-off series exploring the Remnants’ lives after the events of Danganronpa 3. I would have much rather watched THAT anime.

//Seriously, Mod Freeze and Mod Poi, thank you for doing the fandom’s work on this front.

//The integration of the Neo World Program into this twist is another stroke of subtle brilliance. What initially seemed like little more than a sci-fi backdrop for the killing game gains profound significance.

//The program isn’t just a high-tech gimmick, it’s a lifeline, a tool designed to erase despair and offer these characters a second chance. The twist aligns seamlessly with the game’s science-fiction elements, grounding the shocking reveal in a way that feels both logical and emotionally resonant.

//But above all else, what truly elevates this twist, though, are two key aspects: The juxtaposition of innocence and guilt, and the reinforcement of hope as a deliberate choice.

//The game plays on the player’s affection for the cast, built over hours of shared experiences, only to reveal their horrifying pasts. It forces one to grapple with complex questions about identity, culpability, and redemption. Can we separate who they are now from who they were under Junko’s influence? Should they be forgiven, and, more importantly, can they forgive themselves?

//By the end of the game, the characters confront these questions head-on. Rather than succumbing to Despair or clinging to a hollow version of Hope imposed by others, they choose to forge their own path forward.

//Hajime’s declaration that only they can decide their futures is a defining moment, encapsulating the game’s core message: Hope isn’t something you’re born with or handed, it’s something you actively choose. And this decision is all the more powerful because of the twist. It reaffirms the series’ ultimate thesis: Hope, like Despair, is a choice, but one that requires courage and conviction.

//It's just...very powerful. In almost every regard.

//However...it does fall a LITTLE flat in one regard for me. Not nearly enough to ruin it, because I do still LOVE this part of the twist, but it's something that we've already talked about, and something that I feel I need to share my concerns over.

//It's how Hajime, who was revealed to be a Reserve Student, slots into this whole thing.

//This is by far the most horrifying aspect of this twist, and one that really works for it, but the reality is that even though Junko ran this whole Killing Game, the fact is due to her AI status, she could not have done it by herself. After all, someone had to actually get her INTO the Neo World for her to host the Killing Game in the first place.

//Naturally, the big question arises: who uploaded this digital Junko? Enter the grand crescendo of this twist—the person responsible for all of this chaos is none other than…Hajime himself.

//But, of course, it’s more complicated than that. Hajime wasn’t acting as himself...It's revealed in this trial that Hajime wasn't just a random Reserve Course student, and there's a reason why he turned out to be the only survivor. He was, in actuality, Izuru Kamukura, an emotionless superhuman created by Hope’s Peak Academy to embody "Ultimate hope."

//As we later see in DR3, Junko and Mukuro manipulated Izuru, flipping him to the side of despair and effectively kickstarting the apocalypse. The revelation that the character you’ve been playing as is not only part of the problem but the problem is one of the darkest and most compelling twists in the series.

//Now, for starters, I want to say that I really like how well this twist slots into the greater lore of Danganronpa, and Izuru is a well-deserved part of the franchise.

//The Hope Cultivation Plan, and what Hope's Peak's Steering Committee actually DID to Hajime, hits like a ton of bricks because it completely flips everything you think you know about this guy, the school that this entire franchise is BASED ON, and even the concept of "Hope" itself, as well as the idea of Hope itself.

//Hajime, the seemingly ordinary and relatable protagonist, turns out to have undergone a horrifying transformation to become Izuru Kamukura, a superhuman "Ultimate Hope" with every talent imaginable. It strips away the idea that Hajime was just a regular guy thrust into extraordinary circumstances, and instead, his backstory reveals that he was a victim of Hope's Peak's ruthless experiments, sacrificing his entire identity for a twisted ideal of perfection. It's tragic, unsettling, and is especially harsh in the way that this was Hajime's "Hope" for the world, and Hope's Peak EXPLOITED him for it, so what does that Hope really mean?

//This twist also pulls back the curtain on Hope's Peak Academy, exposing its darker side. Up until this point, Hope's Peak is painted as a prestigious school that nurtures the best and brightest, but the Izuru Kamukura Project shows that it’s anything but noble.

//The school literally erased Hajime’s personality, emotions, and memories to create a living symbol of hope; and didn't tell him they were going to do that. And it feels like a process that feels more like something out of a dystopian horror story than a prestigious institution.

//It reframes Hope's Peak as a place driven not by ideals of nurturing talent but by exploitation and control, highlighting the hypocrisy of its mission.

//What makes it greater is that Junko even has a sick as fuck line in this trial that perfectly summarizes this, and how Hope can be dangerous in the way that what people actually define AS Hope, can easily turn out to be another person's (in this case, every other person EVER'S) Despair, and it's this line:

"Do you reaaaaaally hafta sacrifice yourselves to protect the world in the first place? What if the world's hope is different from your hope? Even if the world is happy, it's meaningless if you aren't happy."

//And not only does Makoto not have an immediate response to this line, but Hajime's later actions prove her to be RIGHT. And I feel like not a lot of people realize that this is the very basis that the Kamukura Project was founded on.

//The ENTIRE REASON Hope's Peak was founded was to create Izuru. Because they thought that he would be the Hope of the world. But Junko turned him into the world's Despair instead, and it was very easy because of Hope's Peak's moral corruption.

//The thing they saw as "Hope" was not what the rest of the world saw.

//What makes this twist even more impactful is how it recontextualizes the entire "Hope vs Despair" conflict in the series. Izuru, as the "Ultimate Hope," is depicted as so indifferent and detached that he ultimately finds no value in either ideal.

//This shows that striving for absolute hope can be just as damaging and dehumanizing as falling into despair. It adds a layer of nuance to the series’ central theme, suggesting that extreme ideals, no matter how well-intentioned, can lead to monstrous outcomes.

//And this twist, while not the most standard way to end a character arc, is the perfect cherry on top of Hajime's identity crisis arc.

//He starts as someone insecure about his lack of talent, someone who envies the Ultimates around him, and really falls into depression upon learning that he never had one in the first place.

//But then learning that he was surgically altered into a talent-filled, emotionless being makes his journey to reclaim his identity and humanity all the more powerful. Because he GOT the talent that he sought; just at the cost of everything else.

//By choosing to reject Izuru’s detached worldview and embrace the messy, imperfect reality of being Hajime Hinata, he shows that true strength doesn’t come from talent or perfection but from accepting and valuing yourself as you are. It’s an almighty aspect of a twist that deepens the story’s themes and makes Hajime’s eventual triumph over despair even more meaningful.

//And it's also largely thanks to Chiaki that Hajime was able to overcome this. And if there's one thing that I can credit Danganronpa 3 on, it's what they actually did with the dynamic between Izuru and Chiaki, and how it laid the groundwork for this resolution...PERFECTLY.

//Chiaki Nanami wasn’t just the heart of Class 77. She was also the pivotal force that led to the group’s victory in Danganronpa 2. And I cannot understate that the only reason they managed to attain this victory is because she broke the barriers to speak to Hajime one last time.

//I'm one of very few people who think that as a character, Chiaki is...KIND OF overrated. But just because she's overrated, that doesn't mean she's a bad character. And she IS important to the game. It's just not easy to see how until a lot later into it.

//Even after her tragic death in the Neo World Program, Chiaki's impact lingered. As the AI created to guide her classmates toward hope, she became the catalyst for their redemption. Her steady support, unwavering kindness, and ability to see the best in others made her a beacon of hope in a situation engineered to breed Despair.

//It’s no exaggeration to say that without Chiaki’s influence, the Remnants of Despair might never have found the strength to reclaim their humanity.

//And that doubles for real Chiaki in her brief interaction with Izuru in DR3.

//Junko made Izuru see the power of how Despair affected him, despite his boredom, and how it went against his preconcieved notions. But it was Chiaki's determination, willingness to keep going, and the love and Hope she had for people, despite the fact that she was facing a cruel and absolutely miserable death, that made him rethink things. That made him see the benefits in both sides.

//Had this scene not happened, Izuru would not have been such a neutrally aligned character in the end. He would have been just a straight-up monster of a villain.

//Which, if you think about it, is basically what Utsuro is. Utsuro didn't have a Chiaki. He never saw the benefits or the power of Hope. He was in Despair his whole life, and even after it. But this meant something to Izuru. The tears that showed Hajime was still somewhere in there, meant something.

//Izuru in tandem, Chiaki’s relationship with Hajime is particularly critical, both to the story of Danganronpa 2 and the broader series. From the moment they met, Chiaki believed in Hajime, even when he struggled to believe in himself.

//It obviously did not end well, but that was no fault of Chiaki's own.

//This bond between these two wasn’t just one of mutual respect and understanding, it was a reminder of the power of genuine connection, something the Danganronpa series constantly emphasizes. Hajime’s eventual deevolution into Izuru, and then his reclamation of himself as Hajime, is deeply rooted in the strength he drew from his connection with Chiaki.

//Furthermore, Chiaki didn’t just push Hajime to become the leader the group needed. She showed all of Class 77 that they could rise above their Despair by supporting each other. Her presence as an AI was a guiding force during the trials, and her ultimate sacrifice demonstrated what it meant to choose hope, even in the face of overwhelming odds. When Hajime rallied the group in the final moments of the game, it was as much a tribute to Chiaki as it was a declaration of their collective strength.

//Chiaki and Hajime’s story ripples across the series in profound ways. In Danganronpa 3, her role as a real person solidifies her influence. As the one classmate who never gave in to Despair, Chiaki became a symbol of hope not just for Class 77 but for the audience as well.

//Her loss was devastating, yet it was her memory that ultimately pushed Hajime and the others to fight for a better future. Chiaki wasn’t just a character; she was the embodiment of what Danganronpa is all about. The idea that even in the darkest times, Hope can find a way to shine.

//So with all of this to say, why is this still my least favourite part of the twist?

//It's largely because of Izuru himself, not because of what Hajime goes through, or because of Chiaki's connection to both him and Hajime.

//Do you know how long it takes to beat Danganronpa 2 on average?

//It takes, on average, 32.5 hours.

//Do you know how much screentime and attention Izuru is given in this game?

//Not including the repeat of the scene on the boat with Nagito that we see first from Izuru's perspective, and then from Nagito's, he's ON SCREEN for a total of around 2.5 minutes.

//Doing the math, and putting that into perspective for all of you, that means that Izuru is in Danganronpa 2 for roughly 0.13% of its full runtime.

//And by the way. Izuru first becomes a CONCEPT in THIS CHAPTER! He's not brought up, or eluded to, at ANY OTHER POINT in the game, besides one photograph of the original headmaster that he's named after. Something that has NOTHING to do with Izuru himself.

//Which means that in the main series, this is ALL OF HIS SCREENTIME!

//Danganronpa finale's have a tendency to randomly introduce plot points that never happened before. V3-6 is bad with it as well, especially because it shows a cutscene from earlier in the game that straight up DIDN'T HAPPEN.

//However, as mind-bogglingly terrifying as the Hope Cultivation Plan is, it is by far the WORST OFFENDER of this idea.

//And what makes it even worse is that a screentime that is THAT LIMITED means that Izuru does not get a chance to be an actual character.

//Danganronpa 3, Talent Development Plan, and Summer Camp later try to reprimand this by making Izuru an actual central character...Emphasis on TRIED.

//Okay, to be fair, in the bonus games, I do love seeing Izuru try to establish his own identity by interacting with Chiaki and co. However, it feels very ironic to me that the character who's catchphrase is "How Boring..." ends up being...really boring.

//At least as a character. As a concept, he's BRILLIANT. But as a character, he's nothing, and that's the whole point.

//This is what I was saying when I was talking about Utsuro before. Even though they are equally as stoic, Utsuro has a pretty well-structured personality, and backstory that makes him sympathetic. But Izuru is so one-dimensional, being a being comprised entirely of talent and nothing else, that he's just a function in the grand scheme of things.

//Utsuro is also present for only one trial, but he is in it for FAR LONGER than Izuru is, and he was foreshadowed MUCH better. The hints are, granted, very subtle, but they are still THERE. If you play DRA a second time, you will NOTICE them.

//Not with Izuru and the Hope Cultivation Plan. There's absolutely NOTHING for them.

//Izuru is one of those characters who feels like he should be compelling, but in practice, he falls flat because he’s so detached and lifeless that it’s hard to care about him. The idea of a person who’s been stripped of their identity and turned into a superhuman is fascinating on paper, but Izuru’s execution leaves a lot to be desired.

//He spends most of his time standing around, delivering cryptic one-liners, or just looking bored. While his apathy is supposed to be a reflection of the emptiness of ultimate talent, it ends up making him feel more like a plot device than an actual character.

//One of the biggest problems with Izuru is that he lacks agency or personal stakes in the story. He exists primarily as a shadow of Hajime’s past and a foil to Junko's chaos, but he doesn’t have any strong desires or goals of his own.

//His indifference to both Hope and Despair, how he's experienced the power of both sides though Junko and Chiaki respectively, might be thematically relevant, but it robs him of any drive or personality that would make him engaging. Even his interactions with Junko in the anime, which could have been a clash of two intellectual giants, come off as underwhelming because he just doesn’t seem to care about anything.

//Put simply, it’s hard to invest in a character who doesn’t invest in themselves.

//Another issue is that Izuru’s overpowered nature makes him unrelatable. He’s described as having every talent imaginable, to the point that nothing challenges or excites him. Again, to reiterate, this makes him feel less like a person and more like a concept, and concepts don’t make for compelling characters on their own.

//Even when he does take action, like helping to orchestrate the Tragedy, it feels hollow because his motives are so abstract. There’s no emotional weight behind his actions, so it’s hard to feel anything for him as a character.

//Ultimately, Izuru ends up being more of a plot twist delivery system than a fully realized individual.

//Granted, he is a FANTASTIC plot delivery system, but he’s there to show the dark side of Hope’s Peak Academy and to highlight Hajime’s journey of self-acceptance, and doesn’t stand on his own. Without a personal arc, meaningful relationships, or even a shred of humanity to ground him, he feels more like a missed opportunity than a compelling addition to the cast.

//He is INSANELY COOL as a concept.

//But JUST as a concept.

//Still, as I said, this doesn't stop the Remnant twist from being fantastic. If anything, it serves to double down on how fucked the situation is for the characters. It's the perfect way to pull it off a second time, just as impactful, if not moreso, from the way the first game did it.

//I just love that the game pulls NO punches in showing just how far gone the Remnants of Despair were under Junko’s influence. They didn’t just spread chaos and destruction; they mutilated themselves, committed unspeakable atrocities, and yes, there’s even an implication that some of them…had sexual inclinations toward Junko’s corpse.

//I mean, that one was probably Mikan mostly, given what we know about her now, but it could have been more than just her...

//It’s grotesque, horrifying, and deeply unsettling. A STARK contrast to the lovable, quirky personalities you’ve come to know over the course of the game. So while some aspects of this backstory strain believability, the sheer audacity of these revelations makes them unforgettable, and insanely entertaining.

//So after all of this, let's end it by talking about how the trial ends.

//The solution to defeating Junko isn’t choosing hope or despair. It’s rejecting both and forging your own future. It’s a thematic mic drop for the game, aligning perfectly with its sub-theme of learning from past mistakes and embracing personal growth.

//However, the way this idea is portrayed is peak anime absurdity. Hajime, now back in control of his identity, goes full-on Super Saiyan, screaming the word “Future!” at the top of his lungs until everyone agrees with him and Junko is silenced.

//It’s over-the-top, it’s ridiculous, it's...honestly kind of dumb, and it’s hard to take seriously. But somehow, it still sort of works.

//The sheer silliness of the moment doesn’t detract from its emotional impact; if anything, it makes the victory sweeter by providing a cathartic, if laughable, resolution to a deeply harrowing story.

//And Junko's defeat here is a lot more satisfying than it is in Game 1. Unlike with then, you actually feel like you've beaten her once and for all, and this wasn't part of her grand master plan; especially because in order to beat Junko in a conflict that settles on Hope and Despair, finding a way out that doesn't necessarily aquait to either, is the perfect way to end it.

//So...yeah...This is my fourth favourite trial in the series, and absolutely my favourite ending.

//Despite its occasional reliance on exposition dumps and its plot holes , the final trial of Game 2 is a masterclass in storytelling twists and emotional payoff. It takes the series’ penchant for high-stakes drama and amps it up to eleven, delivering a finale that is equal parts disturbing, thought-provoking, and outrageously entertaining.

//The blend of personal stakes, thematic depth, and anime absurdity cements this trial as one of the franchise’s most memorable moments.

//God bless you Danganronpa 2.

#danganronpa survivor #danganronpa #danganronpa 2 #dr2 #mod talks #ranking #hajime hinata #fuyuhiko kuzuryu #akane owari #sonia nevermind #chiaki nanami #kazuichi soda #makoto naegi #kyoko kirigiri #byakuya togami #alter ego junko #junko enoshima #dangancember 2024 #Youtube

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lemonxdaisybby · 10 months ago

Note

Unsure if it has ever been requested but could I request jealous/possessive headcanons for Sawashiro? If I could be greedy and ask for some NSFW of those I would be forever grateful 🥰 I absolutely adore how you write him!

Thank you so much! I stg I am obsessed with this man, so I’m glad to be getting asks for him 💕

Sawashiro is not insecure in himself by any means, but he is fairly protective of you, and because you’re the only good thing in his life, sometimes he can be a tiny bit possessive of you too. He knows he isn’t the easiest person to be with, and that he does act cold at times, and for that reason, there is always a small fear deep inside him, that maybe one day you’ll up and leave him, just like everyone else has. Of course, he would never admit this. Just like he would never admit to being jealous. He’s a prideful and stubborn man, and would likely feel a little embarrassed, or even ashamed, when feeling jealous.

If an unknown male ever approached you, you just know Jo’s attention would immediately be locked on to the two of you. He would try to remain subtle, but his eyes are practically burning holes into the side of your head. If you turn to look at him, he’d just raise a questioning eyebrow, as if he hasn’t been staring at you and the mystery guy for the past five minutes. Afterwards, he would casually ask you who the person was, more so out of curiosity, but also because he’s trying to figure out if he needs to be wary of the other person.

If Jo noticed someone flirting with you, he’d be a lot less subtle, and wouldn’t try as hard at remaining casual. His gaze would turn dark and deadly, and he’d be staring over at the two of you broodingly, wondering if he needs to step in, or if you’re going to send this guy packing yourself. He does trust you of course, but he’s been betrayed quite a few times at this point. There’s always going to be a tiny doubt digging at the back of his mind.

He likely wouldn’t approach you and the other person, unless they started to get touchy with you. That would definitely ignite some sparks in him, and he’d immediately be walking over, tall and intimidating, and wearing a deadly glare. His arm would be around your waist immediately, and though he isn’t one for PDA, he might even give you a quick peck on the cheek, his eyes almost never leaving the other guy. He’d almost stare at them challengingly, as if daring them to continue with their flirtatious antics. Of course, the other guy would pretty much scarper off immediately. Who would be dumb enough to start an argument with Sawashiro, when he’s looking absolutely murderous?

If Jo thought you were flirting back with the other person, or indulging in their flirtations, he may be a bit colder and quieter towards you, not entirely sure how to react. He doesn’t want to admit that he’s jealous, but he’d secretly be so annoyed, and maybe even a little hurt. He isn’t a big fan of mind games, so purposely flirting with others is not a good move.

In terms of possessive sex, it could go both ways to be honest. If he thought you were egging the other person on and purposely trying to make him jealous, he would be pretty annoyed, and this would definitely show during sex too. He would be brutal, which is saying something, as he would usually be pretty rough anyways.

Jo would degrade you so much, calling you a whore, telling you how pathetic you are chasing other men. He would make you apologise and beg for him, only giving you what you want once he’s satisfied you won’t be playing any more tricks like that again.

Honestly, he would just fuck you until you’re numb. He’d have you a quivering, weak mess once he’s done with you. He’d hold you down by your throat as he slams in to you, his other hand gripping on to your hip so tightly that he would definitely leave marks. He also wouldn’t finish inside of you, and would opt to cover your face and tits with his cum instead, wanting to further degrade you as a form of punishment.

On the other hand, if the other person was flirting with you and you didn’t encourage them, or you shut them down, Jo would almost be less rougher in bed than usual. He’d still be intense, and wouldn’t exactly be gentle, but he’d be a tiny bit more loving with you. The thought of you leaving him definitely scares him, though he won’t admit it. He’d maybe kiss you a bit more during sex, his grip would be less harsh, and instead of having his hand wrapped around your throat, he’d instead leave a trail of bites and kisses on your neck, his hands pinning your wrists above your head instead. He’d even mumble a rather gruff and quiet ‘I love you’ after sex, once the two of you are settling down, which he tells you very rarely. Poor man is just lowkey worried of you betraying him and going off with someone else, and wants you to know that he does appreciate and care for you, even if he isn’t always the best at showing it.

#ryu ga gotoku #yakuza like a dragon #yakuza 7 headcanons #yakuza like a dragon headcanons #yakuza headcanons #jo sawashiro x reader #sawashiro jo #jo sawashiro

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runawayonryo · 1 year ago

Text

In the beast's den

(Karl Heisenberg x Gen!neutral reader)

chapter six:

a greeting from the tall lady

CW: blood, mention of murder, mentioned abuse

The scent of whiskey and cigar smoke fills your nostrils as Heisenberg beckons you to take a seat beside him at his desk. He offers you a glass of the sweet and oaky alcoholic beverage, which you felt like you couldn’t refuse.

“Alright ‘kid… tell me- what do you see when you take a good look at yourself?”

Confusion and curiosity is planted on your face; glancing over at the lord. His gaze is intense, not the usual cold and calculated gaze. Rather, it is… soft, maybe even proud. You shrug, not fully knowing how to answer the question.

“Myself?”

You respond sheepishly; hoping that would satisfy him. Of course, that isn’t what he wants to hear. He snatches the glass of whiskey from your cold hands, gulping down the remaining bit himself. He takes a deep breath, his hazel eyes boring holes into your soul.

“Don’t fuck with me, kid. Y’know what I see?”

He asks, his bearded cheeks puffy as a smile brings the corners of hip lips upward. His face is illuminated by the yellow-ish dim light that provides minimal lighting to his office. He waits for your response, which is only a nervous shrug; causing his smile to drop by a hair.

“What I see, kid… Is someone with courage, someone with-”

His words are interrupted by a loud clang and ringing of the vintage telephone on his desk. Heisenberg grumbles and with annoyance, picks up the phone. He tosses his cigar on the ground; watching the lit tip slowly dies out as he listens to the mysterious caller.

“What?”

He asks coldly; Heisenberg wasn’t fond of whoever is on the other end, obviously. You glance at him with a puzzled expression; he just rolls his eyes, motioning for you to be quiet.

“And why should I fix your stupid gates?”

He asks the caller; his voice now louder and booming, almost as if his temper is being tested. There's a few moments of silence, only the distant sounds of machinery and metal clanking audible. Heisenberg holds his breath, trying to remain calm, when suddenly-

“Oh no you won’t, you entitled big bitch!”

The atmosphere within the room darkens; his rage is prominent as he growls into the speaker. With a loud huff, he gives in:

"Fine! I'll fix your damn gates if that'll shut your fucking hole"

You didn't expect him to take you with you, but he did. Heisenberg takes you to a large castle near the village; looking tall and imposing. By now, the snow storm is over; thick layers of snow and ice covering the grounds and buildings. As you approach a side entrance, the door is already opened to you. A silent invitation to come inside.

Heisenberg seems less than pleased, ever since he received that phone call he was agitated. Stepping inside the castle; you're greeted with lavish decor, expensive wooden flooring, beautiful portraits of women on the walls, an overall elegant and expensive aura. This is quickly overshadowed by a tall figure approaching. It was around 9ft tall with a large hat on it's head.

It moved slowly and so pridefully, the long white dress slowly coming into view.

"Ah, there's my idiot little brother~"

As the figure steps closer, you recognize the face. It's that woman with the red lipstick, jet-black hair and unnaturally pale skin. The very same woman Heisenberg has a picture of with the word "witch" underneath. The lady stood before Heisenberg, glancing down at him in disgust as she turns her attention to you.

"And who might this be?"

Heisenberg snarls, glaring at the tall woman. He snaps back at her:

"My assistant, now, which gate needs fixing?"

The lady raises an eyebrow, slowly bringing her cigarette to her red lips before speaking.

"The large metal gate at the main entrance. Get it over with so I can rid you-"

He snarls, glaring at the tall woman as he tightly grips your hand, starting to drag you along with him.

"Oh, leave the mortal here for me… I wish to have a conversation with them~"

The Lord turns in his heels, his eyes flashing a dangerous yellow as he pulls you closer to him. This is unexpected. You had just met him recently, and yet he's already protecting you?

"No way I'm leaving them here for you to drink from!"

The lady sighs, taking a step closer.

"I only wish to speak to them, for a brief moment of course"

The metal lord glares at the lady, then looks back at you, as if asking for your input. Not knowing what to do, you nod slightly, in fear of the lady.

Reluctantly, Heisenberg lets your hand go, glaring at the tall lady once more.

"If you lay a damn finger on them, I'll teach you and your bloodsucking daughters a fucking lesson!"

He shouts, he's stubbled scarred cheeks red in Anger. The lady nods with a faint smirk as her gloves hand reaches out and pats your head.

"Come, child-"

She calmly speaks, leading you to a nearby couch as Heisenberg leaves to fix the lady's gate. Why didn't she hire a mechanic? Is there no mechanic in this village? And how did she convince him to come here in the first place? The sofa is a red velvet colour, definitely worth more than some cars out there. Hesitantly, you take a seat; watching as the talk lady towers above you.

"Now… I won't hurt you little one, as that fool Heisenberg's assistance, you're not worth the bloodshed"

Though that comment hurt, it's a relief that for now, you are actually safe. Heisenberg isn't that far away, hopefully that is.

"I would like to know, how you got yourself in this predicament? Of anyone you could serve, why my little 'brother'?"

The lady glances, not intimidatingly or maliciously. It's surprisingly soft, yet not quite caring or loving. It was obvious to you that the two don't get along; though why is she questioning your trust towards him? Does she know of your hidden feelings towards him? She can't, she literally just met you.

"He saved me… I was going to freeze to death"

There, it was a simple yet understandable answer. And seemingly, it makes sense to her. She nods, thinking for a moment before responding:

"I see. Just know that my little brother isn't known for kindness or loyalty. His devotion to Mother is doubtful, not to mention the experiments he's conducted."

Mother… was this lady speaking of that 'Miranda' Karl mentioned? You know little of Heisenberg and his past, though, he has a strong hatred for Miranda. That's clear.

"He's kind to me, my lady"

She chuckles, as if mocking you for a brief second.

"My child, his manipulation and deception skills are impeccable. Don't let him fool you"

Before being able to respond, a swarm of flies appears right behind the tall lady. Wanting to warn her, you mention this, but she simply brushes you off. She doesn't seem bothered, not even as the swarm of flies assembles and forms into a girl. She wears a dark dress, a scythe in her hand, her blood stained lips wide with a smirk. Shocked but also intrigued, you glance at the younger woman, admiring her terrifying yet intriguing beauty.

"Who is this mother? Fresh blood?"

The tall lady shakes her head, shushing the seemingly excited daughter.

"No, Cassandra. This mortal, is Heisenberg's"

Cassandra seems a tad bit disgusted, but tries to remain calm. She smiles broadly, her wavy black hair framing her face beautifully.

"A mortal? Here?! I must tell the other, mother"

The tall lady nods, her smug attitude returning quickly. She takes a prideful step closer, folding her hands in front of her chest.

"My child, would you like a glass of wine?"

For one or the other odd reason, this doesn't seem trustworthy. Heisenberg did refer to them as 'bloodsuckers' before, Combined with the fact that Cassandra's lips were covered in said red substance, this wine, likely isn't wine at all. Thankfully, in this moment Heisenberg storms inside once again, his face covered in dirt and rust.

"Fixed y'damn gate, Bitch"

The lady doesn't flinch or even fully acknowledge him, though Cassandra turns abruptly to face him.

"Mother, why is he here?"

The tall lady shushes her again, a faint scowl forming on her lips.

"We needed our gate to be repaired, dearest. Your efforts are mildly appreciated, child."

If he wasn't already angry before, he's brewing up a storm now. His hand waves and magnetically pulls a nearby pair of scissors to his gloves hand. It seemed far less intimidating than his usual hammer, though… heisenberg is capable. Far more capable than most.

"I'm the child? You were threatening me with Miranda if I didn't fix your shitty fucking gate! If anything, you're a super-sized bitch child with an ego larger than her damn head!"

You gulp, glancing between the tall lady that heisenberg so kindly referres to as 'super-sized bitch'. Cassandra seems appalled on the lady's behalf, as the lady doesn't seem to care about his venomous words. Before she can return any words, Heisenberg grips your hand and shoves the scissors into the wooden table; dragging you along with him out of the castle.

The two ladies watch as you leave, Cassandra waves at you whilst the tall lady smirks, hoping she had some influence on your opinion of heisenberg. When you're out of close proximity of the large castle, the Lord turns to you.

"What did that bitch Dimitrescu say to you? Did she talk about Miranda? About me? Let me guess, she tried to convince you to betray me and join her?!"

He asked, his words laced with anger and hatred. He gripped your shoulder, not noticing his own strength as he leaves bruises behind.

"TELL ME!"

Tears well up in your eyes, not expecting such a reaction from him. He sees this, and his grip loosens. He looks down at the ground, sighing deeply before his eyes meet yours again.

"I'm sorry, kid. I just… hate that bitch"

Did he actually just say sorry? You must've heard him wrong, yet again; he's full of surprises. You nod, sniffling as you try to prevent more tears from escaping your eyes.

"C'mon kid… let's get back to my factory"

#smut #karl heisenberg #karl heisenberg x reader #resident evil #resident evil village #karl heisenburg fanart #request #neil newbon

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justmeinatree · 1 year ago

Text

03 - the greatest show : all the coloured lights

Summary : a group of misfits, a mysterious leader, a string of murders, and a life on the road.

previous part /// jump to pt. 1

TW : transgender / bodily anomality misconceptions and hardships in victoria era europe

Word Count : 3.5k

Series Masterlist

GIF : unknown - msg for credit

she’s been exploring france for a few weeks now. or so she assumes. she’d stopped counting after day 6.

misses white was right, she loved france. she hadn’t been questioned once, just flowing with the crowds of people. night time was the hardest, as she doesn’t have a place to call home. so far, park benches have been her best friend, spending nighttime alone with her thoughts, sometimes wandering about to another town, sometimes too tired from her daytime exploring to bring herself to walk the long distances.

the time on her own, however, has taught her that there are different types of lonely. she’s always felt a level of loneliness, being the only person like herself, no one to speak to about her real problems and her real reservations and fears. alienation, if you will.

but now, with those fears and reservations gone, with her problems suddenly completely different, more along the lines of being physically alone. and now she knows what isolation feels like.

and although both can be described as its own version of loneliness, she’s spent her life dealing with alienation. but she was incredibly unprepared for isolation. usually with little emma by her side, or her mum or dad puttering around the house. she always assumed she’d love the silence of being totally alone. and well, now, she’s discovered that complete silence is mind numbing. she has too much time to fall into a deep spiral of thoughts.

which is right where she is tonight. it’s late. like late, late. it’s been dark for a long time now, her bum getting a bit numb on the hard wooden bench. looking up at the stars, thinking of how much she misses her honey bee. how much emma would love france.

but her thoughts are momentarily disturbed by the unnerving feeling that she’s being watched, the tiny hairs raising on the back of her neck. she chances a quick glance behind her, eyes met with nothing but the darkness of night, even darker under the cover of the tall trees.

she sighs, turning back around, shaking her head, gaze falling on the moon again. that is, until she hears a rustling sound, her body going rigid in fear, hearing the faint sound of a large inhale and a satisfied puff of breath.

“hello ?” she asks quietly, with as much confidence as she can muster. but she’s met with complete silence. nothing but the crickets to echo through the open field.

with her body still on high alert, little hairs standing on themselves, goosebumps erupted all over her skin, she decides that maybe this isn’t the best spot to spend the rest of her night.

her thoughts are confirmed when the breeze picks up just slightly, an eerie nip to the air, and a quick swoosh floating by her, making her skin crawl. without a second thought, she heads off, picking one of the paths at random, and walking down it.

she isn’t sure how far she’s walked, or how long. the major downside to not having access to any sort of clock, and relying solely on the sun and the moon. her attention is piqued though, as she notes a large array of tents and train cars, seemingly abandoned, in the middle of an open field. she also spots a small town in the distance, but is much too preoccupied by her discovery to really care.

she’s learned that no matter where you are, the town is fairly the same. homes and cobble roads, all converging down towards a town centre. businesses of every kind lining the outskirts, church standing tall and proud right in the middle.

this, however. an abandoned cluster of circus like tents and box cars. well, now, this she hadn’t ever seen. and she’s ecstatic.

could she have stumbled upon a place for herself to call home ? at least having some sort of roof over her head would bring a certain level of comfort. especially from the cooler nights and rainy days.

the closer she makes it though, she notices that it may not be quite as abandoned as she had assumed. and although she hasn’t spotted anyone per say, she does read over the poster that’s been tacked onto a post, at what she can only assume is the entranceway to whatever this was.

upon further investigation, and if she wracks her brain enough to figure out what day it is, this is for an event happening tonight. but what really catches her attention, is the large print, boasting the presence of an invisible man. because, how can anyone see him if he’s invisible ? and how on earth have they made an entire show about something you can’t see ?

but then, the word “freaks” also catches her attention, and well, she’s a freak isn’t she ? in her own way. a misfit, someone that’s nowhere near the norm. and so maybe, just maybe, she’ll wander back here tonight. see what the show is all about. what the people are all about. and most importantly, if maybe she can stowaway on this traveling event. she’s a freak, herself, isn’t she ? maybe she could blend right in.

waiting until the sun falls, she trudges her way back to that clearing, the scene in front of her much different than when she left it.

not a shred of evidence that this place once looked abandoned, as it’s now a hopping spot, people mingling about inside, a lineup outside waiting to pay the entrance fee. the tents and train cars now all lit up, each in different colours, casting the most rainbow like glow she’s ever been privy to.

from afar, it’s absolutely breathtaking. and the closer she ends up, the more in awe she becomes. she assumes the entire town is here, can’t imagine anyone ignoring the beautifully bright, multicoloured glow coming from the clearing.

she keeps to the outskirts, wandering around slowly, trying to find a spot for herself to sneak into. having been on the run, she has no means of legally purchasing anything. and luckily enough for her, she’s become fairly skilled at the art of pilfering, and breaking in.

and as awful as she feels every time she’s forced to resort back to her criminal ways, she’s always been reasonable. only taking the food she needs, not letting a bit go to waste. she’s not in the habit of stealing to ruin other peoples lives. it’s more along the lines of keeping herself alive.

although it doesn’t necessarily make it better, she hopes god can forgive her. hopes that her true good nature shines through, no matter what. and so she finds a spot, behind one of the tents to slither her way in, joining the crowd as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

with all of the action surrounding her, her eyes aren’t sure where to land. there were so many different places to go, each of them lit up in their own hue, with big words on top of each doorway. “oracle,” “bearded lady,” “games - test your luck,” “conjoined twins,” “beauty of burlesque,” and so on.

and well, for once, she’s attending an event without her parents. without people to force her to follow, or to force her to leave before she’s ready. so she takes full advantage. deciding to go into every tent, she doesn’t want to miss a thing. it was the most excitement she’s had in a long time.

a warm smile gracing her lips, eyes sparkling, she works her way through the loop of units, having the opportunity to see not only the tallest man, but then the shortest lady right next to him. completely awestruck by the sheer size difference, her gaze flicks from one to the other.

she hears the whispers around her, the way these people are talked about as if they were animals at the zoo. and for what ? because of their size ? she never thought she’d have much to sympathize about with the tallest man, but here she is. and being the sweet girl that she is, she sends them both a wave, and a friendly smile, before continuing on.

she ends up seeing all sorts of people, all of which were labeled as some sort of freak of nature, or so she keeps hearing from the towns people. it makes her heart crack with every whisper that gets carried to her ears. these people have done nothing wrong. they were born, and their bodies did something different. she can almost bet that they’re all much more kind and sympathetic than any of these “normal” people walking about, paying good money to gawk at humans that were most likely shunned for the same general reason as her.

as she wanders more and more, noting that people are starting to gather around the large tent in the centre, making her way there as well, wondering what the commotion could possibly be, she starts to think about god again.

she can’t possibly fathom that god, this being that’s supposed to judge you based on your good deeds, is quite pleased with the way the people that preach goodness, are treating humans that are just a wee bit different than they are. wasn’t jesus all about helping thy neighbour ? no matter what or who that may look like. how far we’ve seemed to come as a society.

but she wants to be adamant, she doesn’t hate god. how could she ? he brings her comfort, and peace, and love. especially in the moments she needs it most. but the older she gets, the more she starts to hate religion. none of it seems to make sense to her anymore.

on that note, her train of thought is quickly cut off once she enters the large tent, taking a seat. looking around, she notices that this is the only tent with different coloured lighting. swirls of reds and blues and pinks and oranges and greens, all lighting up the middle of the open ring in the middle of the tent. there are also an array of mirrors all around, a few photographers spread out in between.

and then, for a moment, the lights stop swirling, and all converge onto the centre of the open space, a tall man walking out.

he was gorgeous. she wasn’t sure she’s ever seen someone so downright beautiful. with chocolate coloured curls resting atop of his head, winding down just over his ears, piercing eyes, beautiful porcelain skin reflecting all of the colours in an almost shimmering glow. his clothes were extravagant, dressed in all white, surely as a way to reflect the different hues.

her jaw is slightly slacked, body buzzing, as she can’t seem to look away from him. and honestly, she doesn’t want to. she thinks that if she had to look at him for the rest of her life, she wouldn’t be missing out on much. her palms were sweaty and her heart was beating erratically, and is this what a crush is supposed to feel like ?

as his eyes flick up, looking around the crowd, gaze falling on hers, a small smirk taking over his features, she knows she’s been caught staring. she quickly snaps her mouth shut, looking away from him in sheer embarrassment.

she was nervous. didn’t want him to single her out. she’d dye of stage fright, she thinks. she’s never understood how people can stand up in front of hundreds of others, all eyes on them. it’s the most awful thing she can think of.

she chances to look back at him, thankfully his eyes wandering around again, before his arms lift, beckoning the attention of the room, everyone instantly going quiet.

“hello everybody !” and oh, he’s british too. “welcome to the greatest show. i’m harry, or as people like to call me, the invisible man,” he smiles wide, taking a twirl around the open ring.

well he’s not invisible at all, she thinks. she can very clearly see every bit of beauty, that god decided to bless him with. and for a moment, she’s never been more thankful to be looking at someone that very much isn’t invisible. that is, until her eyes fall on the mirrors behind him.

she can see the crowd, see the lights, see the different photographers. but as he moves and dances around, not a single mirror has picked up his figure.

how is he doing that ? how is the crowd reflected back in the distance, but he’s completely missing from the image in the mirror.

as his portion of the show continues on, she feels her heartbeat accelerate, her fingertips buzzing to find out more. she can’t fathom what she’s seeing, and based on the reactions around her, she isn’t the only one.

she thought she was intrigued when he came out, but she’s definitely intrigued now. even more so, when the photographers start snapping pictures, the flash blindingly bright in comparison to the coloured lights floating around the open space.

and once the photos start slipping out of the polaroid cameras, he’s not in any of them. as if this harry character wasn’t standing in front of her at all.

he rounds the ring, shaking hands with a few people, she assumes as a way to prove that he is real, and he is really there. but how can a man completely disappear ? almost as if light passes right through him. but it doesn’t, because she can see all the beautiful colours reflecting right off of him.

she hasn’t taken her eyes away from him for the entirety of the show, both in hopes that she can figure out how on earth he’s doing what he’s doing, and for her own pleasure, creating the most intricate mental image of him that she can.

as she watches him move around so gracefully, engaging with the crowd, making them laugh, making them ohh and ahh, she lets her mind wander. he really is the most gorgeous human she’s ever been blessed enough to see. and for a moment, she lets herself fantasize about what it would be like to cuddle up with him. what it would be like to be lucky enough to kiss him.

she knows it would never happen, could never happen. she’s not in the right body, and really, how could anyone love her in that way ? especially if she can’t really be the entire person they’d want in return.

but harry’s moment is coming to an end, the entire crowd standing to the feet, clapping and cheering, clearly enjoying the main attraction.

as harry’s eyes scan the audience, soaking in the moment of applause, his eyes lock on hers again, another little friendly smirk taking over his features. she quickly looks away, embarrassed to have been caught a second time. with a bout of paranoia, she swears that he can read her mind, must surely know that she’s dying of a schoolgirl crush on him. why else would he be looking at her like that ? twice no less.

but then, suddenly, all the lights go off, the entirety of the tent left in pure darkness. a sudden gasp from all the people around her. and just a moment later, they’re turned on again, harry nowhere to be seen, spectators sighing in relief, starting to flow out of the room.

as she exits the tent, the buzz around the grounds has grown exponentially, everyone ecstatically chatting about harry’s performance, trying to decipher how he does what he does.

her mind is reeling. she’s not sure what to focus on, the amazing performance she just saw, or the gorgeous man she was watching. because in both instances, she almost can’t believe her eyes.

she lets herself be stumbled around with the crowd, still making her rounds, her mind preoccupied with harry. he was such a mystery. she wanted to talk with him, wanted to spend some time with him. honestly, she finds herself gravitated towards him. a man she’s never met, she scolds herself, because really, she needs to calm down.

having no one to talk to, no excitement in her life, just slowly drifting through it all for weeks now, was probably catching up to her. maybe she was delirious. and that’s when her eyes flick to a tent, glimmering in purple light, “oracle” written over the entrance of the tent.

and well, she definitely isn’t one to ignore a sign. so she walks in, her senses invaded with purple, candles burning all around the small space, gemstones of a multitude of colours spread around, and a lovely looking young lady sitting at a table in the centre.

“hello,” she smiles, “i’m clara. clara the clairvoyant, come sit,” she hums, beckoning her over.

“clara the clairvoyant ?” she smiles, sitting in the chair opposite her.

“yeah, i know,” clara giggles, shrugging her shoulders. “to be fair, when my parents named me, they had no way of knowing what i’d become. it’s something i laugh about now. like the universe wanted to play a little joke.”

“i like that,” she laughs along with clara, enjoying the first tiny bit of cozy conversation she’d had in a long time. “i’m lady bug.”

“lady bug ?” clara hums, one eyebrow raised. “m’gonna assume that comes with a nice little story. maybe some time you’d like to share it with me,” she smiles, almost knowingly, as her hands reaching instinctively for one of her card decks, starting to shuffle the cards as they speak. “but for now, i’m assuming you’re here for me to tell you about your future ?”

“honestly, i was just toying with the question of how delirious i am,” she sighs around a laugh. “then i landed on your tent. figured it was a sign. i guess i’m here for anything. anything that feels right.”

“hmm, i like you,” clara murmurs, almost more to herself. but it makes her smiles none the less, hearing such a sweet remark. it’s been a very long time since she remembers being complimented. “alright, well, lets draw a few cards, see what happens.”

and so she watches. watches as the cards flow through clara’s hands, shuffling them so eloquently. something she’s obviously done time and time again. the wear and tear on the cards she was shuffling seemed to be a clear indicator of that as well.

as clara lays out a few cards, she hums, smiling, “you’re searching for home. you’ll be finding it sooner than you think. it doesn’t come without a price, though, does it ? you haven’t had the easiest past.”

“n-no,” she stutters quietly, “i haven’t. i’m looking fo-“

“happiness, acceptance, love,” clara cuts her off, adding a slight suggestive tone to the latter, a smirk as she makes playful eye contact with her. “you know, we’ve all been there,” she adds more seriously.

“we ?” she asks.

“all of us,” clara nods, waving her arms around. “everyone that’s a part of this show. we come from all over europe, searching for a place that would accept us, love us.”

“that’s what i need,” she whispers, hoping, praying, that this may be her way in. she liked clara. wasn’t getting any off vibes from her. and if she seemed to like this place enough to stick around, well, that’s a good sign, right ?

“are you asking to join us ?” clara asks, smiling, a knowing glint in her eyes.

“yeah,” she nods, adding with more vigour, “yes, i guess i am.” could it really be that easy ? did she just find herself a place to stay ? some company ? maybe even a friend ?

“great, well, lets go introduce you to harry,” clara quickly stands, excitement evident in her tone.

“wait. what ?” she asks, her heartbeat suddenly erratic at the mention of harry.

“oh, he kind of has to approve of you. he’s like our leader,” she explains. “not in a bad way, you don’t have to be scared. just that, well, this is his show. he’s the one that’s brought us all together. the one that’s given us a home.”

shit, she thinks to herself. well that’s that. there’s no way she’ll be allowed to join. she has nothing to offer. she must not hide her disappointment well, clara offering her a soft smile.

“really, lady bug, don’t be scared. he comes off as a bit of an asshole at first. please understand he’s very protective of everyone here,” clara coaches her, taking her hand, and leading the way to the set of train cars lining the back of the setup. “just be yourself, he’ll love you, i promise,” she smiles encouragingly, stopping in front of a specific cart, knocking on the door.

“come in.”

Part 4

……

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

tags : @daphnesutton @niallthebadboi @gorlsinmultifandoms @walkingintheheartbreaksatellite @cc-horan

#harry styles #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfic #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles masterlist #harry styles series #harry styles x oc #harry styles x trans reader #harry styles one shot #harry styles blurb #harry styles imagine #harry styles au #harry styles writing #writings #justmeinatree

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wonderfulworldofmichaelford · 4 months ago

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Michael in the Mainstream: Top 100 Movies #75 - #51

Here is part 2, a follow up to the previous part! Let's not waste any time here, no need for a big ass intro for the second quarter:

75. Blue Velvet

This is weirdly one of David Lynch’s most straightforward works and yet is still one of his best ever. It’s a dark, seedy thriller that has the single best Dennis Hopper performance of all time—and this is a man with no shortage of great performances.

74. Wet Hot American Summer

I love comedies that are just a random collection of the funniest possible people you can think of doing gags, and that's exactly what this cult classic is. It’s hard for me to decide what’s funnier between Paul Rudd tossing children out of moving vehicles or H. Jon Benjamin portraying a talking can of mixed vegetables.

73. The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Easily one of the darkest films in Disney’s entire filmography, something that helps it stand out and shine. Yes, it isn’t a perfect film—the gargoyles can be extremely grating as I’m sure you know, though I’m a lot more forgiving than most because I just love hearing Jason Alexander’s voice—but I think the rest of the movie is so exceptional it makes the bad bits easier to swallow. Tony Jay’s performance as Frollo helps solidify him as one of the greatest and most depraved Disney villains ever. The dude is both horny and genocidal, a feat only matched by Thanos.

72. Jaws

The original summer blockbuster, and one of my favorite thrill rides since I was a teen. The sparing use of the shark really helps build the suspense like nothing else, and that opening is still utterly terrifying due to how chillingly plausible such a thing could be. This is an adaptation that is leagues better than what it’s adapting; muchlike the shark at the end, the movie blows Benchley’s novel out of the water.

71. Glass Onion

I think I may be a lunatic, because I genuinely prefer Glass Onion to Knives Out. Yes, the mystery is far less clever here mainly because the murders are caused by an egotistical idiot with no common sense. And yes, the comedy is amped up in this one. But these are all things that make me love it more. You’ve got Edward Norton playing a self-righteous pastiche of Elon Musk, which makes it so satisfying to see him flounder, and then you have the rest of the core cast portrayed by heavy hitters like Kathryn Hahn and Dave Bautista as well as a shockingly impressive turn as the co-lead alongside Daniel Craig from singer Jenelle Monae. In a world where obnoxious billionaires and other rich assholes are constantly getting away with crimes they’re flagrantly flaunting, it’s nice to see a character who resembles the worst of that group get what’s coming to him.

70. Holes

It is genuinely astonishing just how faithful to the book this movie is. Stanley being skinny is the most notable change, with everything else being just as it was in the novel. The Kissing Kate Barlow backstory segments are easily the best part, but the whole movie is a fun hunt movie with a delicious villain performance courtesy of Sigourney Weaver. This movie is as sweet as a peach and as savory as an onion.

69. Unbreakable

Forget The Sixth Sense (or don’t because that’s still a classic), this is M. Night’s magnum opus. The man completely deconstructed the superhero movie genre before it was even a thing, and he got Bruce Willis to give a performance second only to his role as John McClane in my humble opinion. Plus that final twist… Hoo boy. It’s honestly impressive that it hasn’t been as spoiled to Hell and back as The Sixth Sense’s twist, but that’s just a sign that this movie needs to be experienced for yourself.

68. Candyman

An epic meditation on the nature of urban myth with amazing atmosphere and a haunting score, all from the mind of horror master Clive Barker. Tony Todd plays horror’s sexiest supernatural slasher, which is all the more impressive when he is covered with thousands of live bees and yet still somehow oozes seductiveness.

67. The Goonies

80s kid adventure movies never got better than this one. There’s such a sweet, cheesy earnestness to the proceedings here; this is such an unbelievably goofy premise, but it’s played so straight that I can’t help but love it. All of the child actors here feel fun and natural, with Jeff Cohen’s Chunk easily stealing the show with his antics, but I’d also like to highlight Anne Ramsey as Ma Fratelli. She’s such a delightfully nasty villain, and she plays it with such conviction.

66. The Truman Show

Jim Carrey is a fantastic comedic actor. Everyone knew that back in the day. What many didn’t realize was that the man could deliver one of the most heartfelt and powerful dramatic performances you’ll ever see, all with a light comedic touch to pull it all together. I will say that if he deserved an Oscar for anything, it would be Eternal Sunshine, but this movie is far more enjoyable in my opinion. The movie was also scarily prescient in its vision of a future where every moment of a person’s life is recorded for the entertainment of others, to the point where this can almost be considered a horror film.

65. The Crow

A Gothic supernatural superhero story about revenge, a film that is sadly trapped in the shadow of the tragic on-set accident that claimed the life of its star Brandon Lee. It really is sad watching this, imagining the career his immense talent and charisma would have so easily given him, but it’s also awesome because this film kicks so much ass that it’s unreal. Considering I’m literally writing an urban Gothic horror fantasy series as we speak, it should come as no surprise that this movie is one of my favorites (as well as a minor inspiration).

64. The Lego Movie

When you put actual effort into your toy commercial, people will actually forget it’s supposed to be a toy commercial. And boy, did they go the extra mile with this one! This is animated so brilliantly it really emulates stop-motion, just with more polish. And where the sudden transition to he real world in the third act could have easily derailed the movie, it leads to a really powerful, heartfelt emotional reconciliation that ties the whole film together. The plot may be your standard family film adventure, but it just goes to show with enough skill (and Batman) you can do any plot really well.

63. Whiplash

I’ve called this one of the scariest horror movies in recent memory, and I stand by it. This is a movie where an abusive man in a position of power slowly erodes the willpower and self-esteem of a young man and drives him more and more insane in his never-ending chase of perfection. It’s far more chilling than any masked lunatic butchering girls for sick thrills.

62. Halloween

Ok, well, almost more chilling. John Carpenter is just that damn good at it… Though, to be fair, this movie basically invented the tropes the genre would later run into the ground. As far as slashers go, this is still one of the few that genuinely feels like more than just a showcase of gore and sex, and it’s also the last time for several decades that Michael Meyers truly felt like the unknowable, evil Shape.

61. Deadpool

You can say whatever you want about Ryan Reynolds, but you can never convince me he is not passionate to the character of Deadpool to a degree most superstars aren’t these days. Think about how Craig hated being Bond (I do not blame him); it’s just nice there’s a guy who not only adores the role he plays to the point he practically lives the role, but also worked tirelessly to ensure the character was brought to life properly on the big screen. As far as a straight Deadpool film goes, this is easily my favorite.

60. Spider-Man

Sam Raimi came out the gate swinging with his first shot at Spidey. Equal parts heart and cheese, just like a classic comic, this is as good of a Spidey origin as we could see on the big screen. As much as I love Spidey though, it’s Dafoe’s Green Goblin and J.K. Simmons’ JJJ who really steal the show here.

59. Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Forget Endgame. Forget Super Smash Bros. This right here is the single most ambitious crossover of all time. Bugs goddamn Bunny and Mickey motherfucking Mouse share a screen together; we are never gonna see something of this magnitude ever again. But let’s not pretend like the crossover part is the only reason I love this film; being a perfect blend of film noir and classic cartoon silliness is what really makes this the stone-cold classic that it is.

58. Army of Darkness

Ditching horror for comedic fantasy seems like a bad move for anyone else, but no one else is Sam Raimi. This is the movie that codified Ash Williams as one of my favorite heroes ever, solidifying his status as a snarky, quip-spouting badass who wields a boomstick and chainsaw with equal finesse.

57. The Shining

This is proof that sometimes being pragmatic when it comes to adapting novels. Maybe it isn’t the most faithful to King’s vision, but when you get one of the most atmospheric horror films ever made complete with an amazing soundtrack and career-defining performances from Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall, it’s hard to be too mad that they left King at the wayside so Kubrick could do his thing.

56. Spider-Man 2

This movie has a reputation as one of the greatest action films ever made. And, well, have you seen that fucking train fight? I love Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy a lot, but it is undeniable that this is where everything came together. Peter’s struggles in this film are more relatable than ever, Molina’s Doc Ock is sinister and tragic in equal measure… As far as Spider-Man in live action goes, this is as amazing as it gets. Guess when Doc Ock and Spidey collide it always results in a superior Spider-Man, eh? Eh?

55. Avengers: Infinity War

I think the reason Endgame gets a lot of flak for feeling more like an event than an actual movie is because it is following up an actual movie that is also an event. This is The Empire Strikes Back of superhero films, an epic step forward for the story that ends in a crushing defeat. Thanos picks up the pace after almost a decade of slack and effortlessly cements himself as one of the superhero movie genre’s greatest villains, in no small part to Josh Brolin’s compelling performance. It’s fun, funny, exciting, sad… It was always gonna be an uphill battle for Endgame to live up to this one.

54. A Nightmare on Elm Street

I always go back and forth over which between the first and third one is my favorite, because both are excellent slashers in their own right. It really depends on what day you ask me, really. Still, if we’re talking about which of the movies is actually genuinely chilling, the one where Freddy’s at his scariest, it is hands down this one. This is before he became more of a quipster, so he’s just a nasty fucking freak with a dark sense of humor here. What really gives this movie an edge, though, is you get to see Johnny Depp brutally murdered in a giant geyser of blood.

53. House

Surreal, trippy, dream-like horror films are totally my jam, and this is one that stuck with me ever since I saw it. It’s so strange and inventive, so batshit insane, so fucking cool! It also has the scariest piano this side of Super Mario 64 (that thing has to be an homage to this film).

52. Freddy Got Fingered

This movie is not simply “so bad, it’s good;” no, this movie is so bad, it’s art. Only an absolute genius troll of the highest order could create something that defies every bit of logic and crosses every single boundary to such a degree as this film. Tom Green absolutely knew what he was doing, and by god did he succeed beyond his wildest dreams! I didn’t get this film the first time I saw it, but boy do I get it now.

51. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The middle film in a trilogy is always the hardest one to stick the landing on I feel. You make one misstep and no one’s coming back for the third one, you know? This movie does not have that problem at all. It starts with the full Gandalf vs. Balrog fight, it has Legolas deliver his world-famous line about where they’re taking the hobbits, it has Viggo Mortensen kicking that helmet (DID YOU KNOW HE BROKE HIS TOE FOR REAL? BET YOU NEVER HEARD THAT ONE), it has Treebeard, it has the epic battle of Helm’s Deep, it has dwarf tossing, it has it all! But most importantly, it has one of the best characters ever: Gollum. Andy Serkis as Middle Earth’s resident split personality crackhead is one of the most compelling characters in a movie that is genuinely stuffed with compelling characters. How he didn’t get an Oscar for this I’ll never know.

#Michael in mainstream #list

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xaharadesert · 1 year ago

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7 More of My Favourite Horror (Adjacent) Movies and Why You Should Watch Them

(Not in any particular order or subgenre. TW are vague, spoiler free, and from my memory, but you should Google any of these before you watch them. Not all triggers are listed because it’s horror and stuff like death and murder is common)

Part 1 here!

1. Fractured

A man waits in a hospital for his daughter and wife to return from some tests, but they seem to have gone missing.

If you like being sad and also confused (like me), then this is a great film for you! Don’t worry, the end will clear things up, but until then you’ll have a hundred of your own theories developing. Definitely a movie that you have to pay attention to, but it’s not difficult once the mystery begins.

Scary: 1/10

Gore: 2/10

Disturbing: 4/10

Psychological: 9/10

Actual genre: psychological thriller

TW: insanity

2. The House

An animated anthology of three short films all centring around the same house.

Gorgeous animation, fast paced, and constantly off-putting. Each of the short films is vastly different, but they’re all very unsettling in their own way. The second was my personal favourite, but I’d say the first was the most disturbing. The third one is a nice way to ease you out of the absolute horror of the first two so you can go about your day without letting the film consume your thoughts.

Scary: 3/10, 3/10, 1/10

Gore: 0/10, 0/10, 0/10

Disturbing: 6/10, 5/10, 2/10

Psychological: 3/10, 4/10, 2/10

Actual genre: horror comedy

3. I Saw The Devil

After a man’s wife is brutally murdered, he puts his life on hold to hunt down the killer and make him suffer.

As far as non-horror movies go, this is by far one of the most disturbing. The murderer is one of the worst you’ll see play an extended part in the movie, which would be awful if it weren’t for the fact that most of the film is the protagonist purposely letting the killer get away just so he can hunt him down and attack him again. The protagonist isn’t an objectively good character either, but there is something very satisfying about watching him take out his extended revenge.

Scary: 3/10

Gore: 7/10

Disturbing: 7/10

Psychological: 3/10

Actual genre: action thriller

TW: rape, sexual assault, graphic gore, cannibalism

4. Hard Candy

A 14 year old girl decides to meet up alone with an older man she met on the internet and go to his house.

Elliott Page my beloved. One of his earlier works, but still amazing. I’m not sure if these one really qualifies as horror, as it’s definitely more of a revenge fantasy, but the first 20 or so minutes had me very worried. Definitely an unsettling atmosphere, but after the first little bit it’s absolutely amazing. Would recommend to anyone, but especially to women who are tired of seeing other women and girls victimized by the narrative.

Scary: 2/10

Gore: 2/10

Disturbing: 4/10

Psychological: 3/10

Actual genre: psychological thriller

TW: pedophilia, surgery, suicide

5. Last Night in Soho

A young girl rents a room while off at college and starts dreaming of the life of the girl who lived there before her in the 60s.

This movie made me cry more than once (but in a good way). I genuinely forgot it was a horror movie for the first 45 minutes or so, and then was very rudely reminded. Gives off the same vibes as Coraline, but in a more adult sense. Absolutely gorgeous cinematography and the character arcs make me feel so many emotions. Also it has Matt Smith, and that immediately sold me on it. Another movie I would recommend especially to women.

Scary: 3/10

Gore: 3/10

Disturbing: 6/10

Psychological: 8/10

Actual genre: psychological horror

TW: rape, prostitution, suicide, insanity

6. As the Gods Will

Every high schooler in Japan is abducted by aliens and made to compete in murder games to determine who is the most worthy.

Absolutely batshit insane movie with some of the weirdest… everything. Genuinely hilarious at times, but also immensely gory and occasionally heart touching. I urge you to go into this with zero expectations. Just have fun. Probably the type of movie to watch with your friends when you’re drunk, or alone at 3am when you’re sleep deprived.

Scary: 2/10

Gore: 6/10

Disturbing: 5/10

Psychological: 3/10

Actual genre: supernatural horror

7. Tusk

A podcaster visits an old man’s remotely located home to interview him.

OKAY HEAR ME OUT. I know this made the rounds on TikTok for being awful, but it’s seriously one of my favourite. Also batshit insane, but with a perfect blend of comedy, psychological horror, and really creepy practical effects. There’s no one to root for in this film; everyone is awful. But seriously, a great movie to watch if you have no expectations. I’ve seen it 3 times. Also, oddly specific, but I feel like if you like Angel’s of Death for the psychological aspects, then you’ll like this too.

Scary: 3/10

Gore: 2/10

Disturbing: 6/10

Psychological: 4/10

Actual genre: body horror comedy

#horror #horror movies #horror movie recommendations

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goldom · 6 months ago

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AFoLiS author commentary Part 5-2

And here is all the rest in a way too long post.

You can only shake your head and laugh. “You’re making too much of it. A knight is naked under their armor, too. It doesn’t mean anything.” “I’m pretty sure they’re not, actually,” Stelle says.

I wanted to add in a joke here like, "I'm never looking at Argenti the same way," but couldn't fit it without messing up the pace of the scene.

Probably my biggest writing weakness is finding anything to say when no one is talking. It's always been that way even way back in school – praised for my dialogue, but try to write a few paragraphs of prose and I'm dying. I've managed it a few places, but Chapter 10 here is an example of not doing it well – time seems to jump past the entire afternoon in just a few lines because I don't describe enough stuff happening.

Maybe if you didn’t see how she looks over her shoulder when you walk together, maybe then you’d believe that there isn’t a part of her that’s still terrified you’re going to vanish.

I wanted to hammer this home more, but knew the correct writing choice was to let it just be one little line and trust the readers to understand. But this is commentary, so I can say it outright here: this is calling back to Stelle's behavior all the way back in Part 2, which is itself a callback to the way Dormancy swooped in from behind her when it 'killed' Firefly. She's doing better, but she can't stop looking back... metaphorically and literally.

Firefly blames herself so much for every little mistake she makes, because she's stuck thinking that she's already in Stelle's debt. It's not a healthy way to be in a relationship.

I'm glad literally everybody thinks Firefull Flyshine was the dumbest title ever. But I also enjoyed contrasting her saying that – the most trying-too-hard line – with the next thing she thinks, which is just as Extra, but actually good: "I’ll burn away every shadow in your life."

Then she carries Stelle away, because 2.3 didn't get to happen, and Stelle can't not get to be princess carried. That scene did things to me, folks. I realized how much Stelle in 2.3 is not the protagonist, she's the love interest. Firefly could so easily be the game's star, and Stelle is, after all, her backup dancer. And so I have Stelle say it outright: she's tired of being the hero. She wants to feel what it's like to be the princess, to be protected. I can't say I'm not a little jealous of robot hugs.

And the way Firefly senses that it's wrong, that she shouldn't let Stelle step back from the spotlight, yet she also has the matching urge, to protect her, to be her knight. I love that.

At the arcade, the fighting game they play was described as a reference to Soul Edge, and Firefly is playing as Siegfried, who does in fact have a cheap mash-one-button move. That's who I used back then, because I am no good at fighting games.

The martial arts machine Firefly plays, as I described in the author's note, is a real thing called Makoto, but they've largely gone extinct. They look like this:

A place near me when I was a kid had them, but way bigger than this image. They were a few yards across, so you used a long staff rather than your hands as shown here. I don't know why this memory suddenly came to me, I was just trying to think of anything Firefly could find at an arcade that she would be good at.

Okay, so, murder time. Why did I do that? Well. Back before this part started, I was lamenting having no idea what to have them do now that their main story arc – missing each other and the illness – was dealt with. One random thought I had was, well, we're headed to an island planet, what if they're stuck on an island and get wrapped up in a murder mystery? Problem is, I have not read very many murder mysteries, and did not think I could pull off a satisfying one.

So then I thought... what about an unsatisfying one? What if Stelle becomes obsessed with solving the mystery, because if she's doing that, she's not thinking about death. But there's no mystery. There never was. She has to confront her own feelings.

Even I am not particularly happy with this. I'm sure some readers felt cheated by it. But that is, ultimately, the point. The mystery is a dud, but going through it progresses their relationship. It's a romance novel, not a mystery. Plus, it brings Silver Wolf back into their lives, so really it's a win all around.

I briefly toyed with the idea of revealing, unbeknownst to the girls, that there was a murder and they missed the solution. But there would be no point other than "wow what a twist," so I didn't. I did leave it open-ended though, which I think does serve the character growth: they will never know for certain what actually happened, and they have to accept that. Maybe they did miss something, but it's not their problem.

It’s a good moral to the story, no matter if it’s true or not. She learned that sometimes good people die, and it’s no one’s fault. She learned that she can see it happen and get through it. It’s a fitting end to the script, but it isn’t satisfying.

The ironic thing about Firefly feeling so guilty all the time is that her doing that actually makes things even harder for Stelle. Stelle feels like she can't say how she really feels, because Firefly's only gonna use it to beat herself up even more.

It's interesting to think that, in Chapter 19 when Firefly offers to take the Brumedew Concentrate the first time, Stelle comes across as so strong and in control, turning her down for her own good because it's Firefly's POV. If that chapter had been from Stelle's point of view, I think we all know it would not have sounded nearly so confident.

“And… the second time? You’ve never told me how you broke out of the Order’s dream.” “…I don’t want to.” You know what it took. You don’t want to hear how I did it. Trust me.

It's weird to me I keep hearing people saying "when are we gonna learn about her second death?" because it's always been obvious to me what they implied. She recognized she still wasn't awake and had to die again to wake up, as quickly as possible. She did it to herself. We don't need to see it.

“It’s not you that’s hurting me now,” Stelle says. “Maybe it’s the aeons, or ‘God,’ or the universe itself I can’t forgive for its cruelty.”

This is really Stelle's problem with everything, with life and death itself. The universe is too cruel. Only, she's not quite right. The universe isn't cruel. It's uncaring. That might be even worse.

You’d be her knight – HER emanator – and fight all of humanity in HER name if you had to.

I play with this idea a few times around here, because it's one way I could see the game actually going. My personal pet theory is that Stelle will have the chance to ascend to Aeonhood to fight Nanook, but will instead find the power she needs through all the allies she's brought together on her journey, letting her win and remain human. This isn't something I'll be writing about though, at least not any time soon.

Still can’t stand Blade though, you think, amused.

Neither can I. The rest of SH has grown on me; Blade has not. Wanting to murder Dan is reason enough, but dude is just squandering a goddamn superpower 'cause he's too cranky. Get some therapy and go do something with your life. And like, I know Firefly canonically does like him, so I have to say here she does too, but I cannot see how. Can you even imagine, you're, like, in your early 20s and dying of an incurable disease, fighting to survive every single day, and you have to work with this old man who won't stop moaning "LIFE IS SUFFERING, SOMEONE KILL ME ALREADY." Read the room, man. "Blade needs to get a damn hobby," Stelle said in Part 4, and I say it every time I have to think about him.

I considered actually giving them a shared surname instead of just joking about it, but couldn't think of anything I liked enough to justify flat-out renaming canon characters. I mean, besides Phoenix. That one was good enough.

She didn’t take Stelle’s memory because the Stellaron needed it, not that I know about. Come on, Firefly, think about it.” She did it because of me. It’s my fault you had to die. “She had to,” Silver Wolf says, “because if she didn’t, that lovestruck idiot never would have stayed away long enough to get her job done.” Wait, no… that can’t be right. If it were just about keeping her from me, there’d be no reason to hide her past from her anymore.

This is a corner I've backed myself into. I almost published without that last line, but then I realized the huge plot hole I almost created. Why not tell Stelle everything now if the only reason to wipe it was to keep her from running back to Firefly? Well, I don't know why, because the game hasn't told me! Honestly, Stelle's past has become enough trouble that I'm wishing I'd just made up my own reasons for it several parts ago rather than trying to stick to canon, because canon isn't going to tell me for years (and I'm sure when they do, it's gonna be too depressing for my liking). At this point all I can say is... please don't pay attention to it lol. Maybe I'll figure something out eventually.

“You could run away with us too.” You say it like a joke, and you know it is, but wouldn’t it be nice if she said yes?

Stelle has influenced Firefly so much. Stelle's trying to immortalize everyone she knows, and Firefly's trying to recruit her friends to the AE with her. Neither of them can get everything they want.

Stelle wants to read a romance novel, but

She eventually returns with a shake of her head. “They’ve all got men,” she says, defeated.

Tell me about it. Really, despite what I said about not reading much mystery, I've read even fewer romance novels, but here we are. Though I guess if we count yuri manga...

Stelle shares a bed with Phoenix and everyone loves it. Can you believe, I almost missed this? I'd been counting days the entire story, trying to remember that come Thursday, I need to have Firefly suited up overnight again, after saying it was weekly back in Chapter 1. Then I went and moved onto writing Friday without doing it. Thankfully I remembered before reaching that point in publishing.

Companion mission accepted: Kiss Firefly You look up. “How did you do that?”

This was a silly post on my Tumblr for weeks and weeks before I found a place to make it part of the story :) But the line that got stuck in my head was

“Here? In front of the Thestang tree?”

Sitting on the cliffside, the girls discuss parenthood. Stelle can't see it, but is mainly stuck in the idea that she's not good enough for it. This really came to me because of the frequent fanart showing Caelus/Firefly with a child, and the exactly zero images of Stelle/Firefly with one. I get it, but again, it's one of those things that wears you down little by little. It just feels... unfair. I'm not about to have them start having children in the middle of the Trailblaze mission, but I wanted to at least discuss it.

This theme is not finished. Not by a long shot. Again, not saying they're gonna have children any time soon, but now it's in Stelle's head, and she has not overcome her feelings of inadequacy in that regard.

Yes, I really did ask ChatGPT for those dumb names I said came from an AI, though it had plenty more that were both dumb and not funny I had to prune through. On the other hand, I was surprised how on the nose some of its transformation lines were, given that I didn't offer it any detail about the context. "Eternal flame, awaken!"? I didn't even mention Phoenix in the prompt!

Firefly finally finds a way to accept Stelle's wish for her, but it comes with a heavy cost. Like Dan says later, it really isn't fair of her to put that on Stelle, but she's not wrong: Stelle will take that deal. But she'll never stop hoping that Firefly will change her mind before the time comes for her to uphold her end of the promise. Stelle is, always, a selfish moth.

Everyone knows the fireworks scene in 2.3 was beautiful, but no one points out that if you were really skydiving in the middle of fireworks, you'd go completely deaf. Those things are too loud, man. I can't stand them myself because of it. Thought I'd make a bit of a silly point about that in the fireworks show here.

Then the author I mean Stelle gets sad about the end of the story I mean vacation approaching.

How can you care about whatever crisis you find on the next planet you visit when it feels like the defining event of your life has already passed?

Me worrying that I'll never care about another HSR main story after Penacony. I don't care about any of it anymore. I just want the romance. I'm doomed, because that's not what this game is. So it's what I have to write.

“I do have one regret though,” you realize and say simultaneously. “I never came up with my own name for you.”

I settle on "She is Love," but it's not really an answer, not something she can actually call Firefly (at least without getting embarrassed). I wasn't planning to actually come up with one, but realized I'd teased it so many times that I couldn't just end the story without something here. Problem is, I can't think of a good nickname for her either, and I have tried so hard. I've never even seen any other fanwork use one I liked. Oh well.

“I’ll show you what I can do. And I’ll thank you when you fall before me.”

Given how much I make Stelle cry and demand pampering, I always like when I get a chance to pull out her badass side.

For Firefly’s sake, anyone and anything else is forfeit, and you’re not scared to admit it anymore.

This being specifically a reference to the "I would set fire to the stars for you" journal entry. She still feels that way and is no longer ashamed of it. Yes, people keep calling my Stelle Otto Apocalypse, and no, I still have not played HI3, but I've gleaned the point. Too bad. I'm on Stelle's side. You do whatever it takes for someone you love, even if it means breaking the rules of society and nature alike.

“She’s not… not really my girlfriend. Xianzhou, yeah. Qiangwei.” March’s words can’t fool you. You see what her face does when she says the name. “Just… just a couple dates. Just while we’re here, you know?” You shrug. “No clue. I married the first person I dated.”

I also married the first person I dated, and I have no idea how to comprehend a casual relationship, yet am currently trying to write one for March. That's Part 5.5, coming up in the very near future.

Oh, here's another parallel but it's just a silly. Part 5 Chapter 31, Stelle says about Welt:

You laugh. “Wow. Rude, Dan, he’s not that old.”

Whereas back in Chapter 17, Stelle is the one making fun of his age:

“I could ask Welt. Old people take a lot of medicine.” Stelle’s deadpan face would look serious to anyone else, but you can see she’s kidding. “Wow. Rude.”

I'm fairly certain I missed some other parallels in my skimming, but I think I got the big ones all called out.

“Want to join us?” “She does,” Dan Heng answers for you. “She was just having a Stelle moment.” “Hey,” you grumble, “you don’t have to tell everyone.” “Come here,” Firefly says, extending an arm. You sit next to her on March’s bed, and she hugs you to her side. “We all know you. You’re safe here.”

Every time I read this line, on every single editing pass, it made me tear up. Stelle always, always just wants to feel safe. That's what it's all about. It's why she wants immortality, why she wants it for her friends. Just to feel safe. And here Firefly offers it – not safety from the world, but safety from judgment. "We all know you." It's okay to be yourself around us. It's okay to show your weakness and be sad. You're safe.

It's only a secret for a couple lines, but I enjoyed not labeling the POV of the epilogue, emphasizing how those first lines could apply to either of them. They're parallels of each other. Even Dan thinks it's gonna be Stelle, but no, it wasn't this time.

My voice and memories would travel on the Astral Express forever. Literally forever. Stelle would love that so much… Me too.

I almost didn't have this idea. In the original draft, she was just going to tell Dan and he was gonna type it up. I only thought of the voice recording at the last minute, and I'm so glad I did. Stelle would love it. Even long after they're gone, Firefly's voice can still speak to passengers on the Astral Express. She'll never be forgotten.

And that's the end so far! Now that this is done, I really need to get going on this promised March side story, because I only have a tiny bit of it done. It's not going to be very long though. I actually have a lot more of Part 6 already done, because bits and pieces of that have been coming to me throughout Part 5. Anyway, look for March's story A New Path to start in the next few days. I'll post about it here when it's ready of course. For the very small audience reading all this, thank you for indulging my narcissism, and here's a sneak preview.

“But… butbutbut, what do I do?!” You stare at Dan Heng, waiting for an answer he doesn’t give. “Daaaaaan Heeeenggg, what! Do! I! Do?” “You spend all your time obsessing over being cute, but as soon as someone thinks you are…” He shakes his head. “Do whatever you want.” She thinks I’m cute??? Ohgodddd but she was so pretty! “But we’re only visiting for a couple weeks! I can’t do anything.” Saying it aloud brings you back down to ground. Right. Just a traveler passing through. I can’t get attached. I need to tell her tomorrow. With a sigh, you take out another roll. At least I got free bread.

“Another lovely show today, March,” Qiangwei says with a flawless smile as you enter the bakery. Your will wavers. She looks away for a moment, then adds, “You look adorable in that uniform.” Aeons help me, she really is flirting with me. She said I’m adorable. I’m finished. I’m dead. That’s it. Rest in peace, March 7th’s self-control. “Hehe~ Thanks,” you say, uncontrollably.

#afolis

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