#the idea of who a character ‘belongs’ to is iffy when looking up the long chain of command and production that led the character into fandom

[captain-astors]

Finished up my attempt at Deuce within @where-does-the-heart-lie's fighting game AU! Feeling a little iffy about it but I might've just been staring at this for too damn long. Anyways thoughts, symbolism explanation, and sketches I made in the attempt bellow the cut.

Okay! So in general I worked with a rule of 2's when it came to Deuce's hearts with the exception of his camera, but that's supposed to pair with the pen with the little heart cap, I just didn't remember to keep that in my final drawings somewhere. Trying to strike a balance between "Just a guy" and "fun stylized outfit" was hard and I don't think I quite got it, but it was enjoyable nonetheless!

Heart glasses- Representative of how he loves observing the world and aspires to adventure through it. The cracked lens represents how the damage he's received from people he loved has caused him to look at others cynically at times. Meanwhile the unshattered lens sort of represents his tendency to look at those who earn his love with extreme levels of internal praise, half of Ace's first novel is just him waxing poetic about how lovely Ace is and I think that's hilarious.

Hearts on the gloves- He shows his love for the world and for people through the writing he does with his hands! But they're somewhat damaged because they've been utilized for the medicinal legacy that was forced upon him.

Heart on the camera/pen- A specific love for journalism and writing and telling a story, credits to Whery for the first one.

Spade on the shirt- Not technically a heart but it's a little play on how he keeps the Spades close to his heart/tends to be kind of pokey if you try to get close.

Spade/heart on the back of the shirt- Symbolic of the whole life-devoting love within him, so it's large, but it's kept guarded and tethered by the camera strap and can only be seen beneath a layer and if he trusts you enough to turn his back. It's mostly upside-down to look more like a heart if I'm honest, but that as well as that it's on his back and so guarded is all representative of how the family that he presumably once loved shamed and pressured him, making a sort of "weight on his back". It's spade shaped because that's who his devotion and love belongs to, but also when counted with the other one, Deuce!

One of my scrapped ideas was having the coat be a doctor's coat with the only hearts on it being scorched edges because something something fire set him free but he still uses his medicinal abilities to benefit people in his new life, but I couldn't get it to look right so I went with the summery looking thing he's wearing now. It's fine but it kind of lacks a personality, I think that's the main thing I'd try to revise if I redid this but I've already overthought it to hell so. Another day.

Ace in Dr. Robotnik's outfit from the sonic movie is there for facial reference and emotional support I guess, I made that a while ago.

And in one last vaguely related tangent, yours truly has a very distinctly heart-shaped birthmark on my foot. It symbolizes that I'm tired. (Jokes aside I think it's cool, afab actually stood for Assigned Fighting game character At Birth)

[moonlight-fan2008]

Bought and read the kindle version of Angel Of Vengeance: The Novel that inspired Moonlight. It was okay… Kind of. You can tell it was written by a boomer. It was idk just not what I was expecting I guess. There’s just a lot of things written in here that are a product of its time in the way to talks about women or people who don’t fall into the stereotype of their gender/sex. Idk at first I got the sample and with only prologue and first chapter it was something that was not piquing my interest but I had to finish the book cause maybe it will get better right? Yeah not so much.

Spoilers under the cut:

I’m going to do this a bit differently with pros being things that I liked (obviously lol), cons things I didn’t like (again obviously), different (plot points and things etc that are different, that stood out to me or whatever), interesting (tidbits that aren’t bad or good just idk interesting), Idk (things that I feel are bad but not like the worst things ever but also like I just don’t know how to list it), and then Similarities (book = show)

Pros:

The way Mick interacts with police or bad guys can be funny with how snarky it can be

People notice that Mick has no body temperature and comment on it, not mean just a hey you’re really cold

For the most part Mick doesn’t like the idea of hunting people for food and prefers criminals (only one of few details that is similar to Mick St.John)

Kind of iffy on this but it feels like Mick kind of had a say in being a vampire but also seems like Coraline finagled him into being one. He also refers to himself as a monster at times (so another point for similarity)

Mick thinks vampires should have rules because “If there was any point to any of this, then there had to be an attempt to rise above one’s nature; to be better than one’s basest needs and desires. Otherwise we were no better than animals. None of us.”

Cons:

Micheal “Mick” Angel, just like everything

Also Mick has no friend like none whatsoever

Mick constantly wears a fedora

Mick is also a smoker. I hate smoking and cigarettes so that’s a turn off for me

Mick’s character is not a great person first 12 chapters and I don’t like him at all. There’s not even like endearing or a charming thing about him like with Josef. You know he can be a little bit of a cocky guy and he’s a playboy, but there’s something endearing about him. Yeah not with Mick Angel.

As I said in spoiler free review you can tell this is written by a boomer. There’s lots of “back in my day” type of things and references to or talking about women in not so great ways and also there’s a scene where Mick Angel is on the hunt for a witness and goes to a goth club and says “I prefer to how back in my day men looked like men” when looking at a guy with long hair and tells the guy to his face that he doesn’t belong in the men’s room or is he sure he belongs there.

Mick let Coraline pimp herself out so he can get money for drugs

When Mick is turned to a vampire it takes him 3 months to rise from the dead. That just seems impractical to me idk 🤷‍♀️

Right after returning from the dead and now being a vampire, Coraline bites her nipple (idk how she did that but okay) and tells Mick “growing boys need to eat” and he feeds off her breast like a baby….

Expert from book “You’re weak, Mick, you know that?” she said, her eyes ugly and derisive. “It’s embarrassing.” Coraline says this to Mick when he’s reluctant to feed off a couple. She could be dismissive to Mick in his flashbacks but even I couldn’t see her saying this to him

Coraline also kills a pregnant woman and rips the fetus from her belly and eats it…

Mick a few times thinks that he’s old enough to have banged someones mom or grandma and then follows that up with a “maybe I did” it’s gross and weird and annoying

Reesa (Mick’s client) is an awful person, her sister is raped by her (Reesa’s) boyfriend and she blamed her fourteen year old sister and sacrifices said sister to vampire…

Different:

Mick is called Micheal “Mick” Angel

Mick’s car is red

The inciting incident that starts the story is a woman (Reesa) “looking” for her missing 14 year old sister

Mick and Coraline met at a club he was performing at and he threaten her date

Mick was turned at 33 years ago

I guess you can call her a love interest since they sleep together but anyway Mick’s love interest is a burlesque dancer and named Reesa (she’s the one looking for her sister)

Mick played the trumpet in his band not guitar

Vampires can only see in black and white unless that color is red

Vampires have a hypnotic ability to make people do things though not tell the truth just things like you’re going to let me into the club or make people do things that you want, you know things like that

Coraline was not turned in the 1700s nor born in France. She was turned in 1943 and is from Kansas

Instead of kidnapping a child to turn them into a vampire and have her be part of Mick’s and her family. Coraline kidnapped a child to eat them

The child in question is “Lisabeth” Not Beth

Coraline is visibly scarred from the incident when Mick “killed” her

Also apparently you have to spread ashes of a vampire to prevent them from coming back

Interesting:

Mick uses grave dirt mixed with blood to help speed the process of healing

Sires can read their creations mind but if you drink the blood of your sires sire that severs the connection

Vampires have reflections but they just look like their vampire form in it

Vampires can’t drink blood from dead bodies because it’s spoiled like “rotten milk”

Expert from the book “The way it really works is like this: first you get bit, which transmits the infection, then you become a carrier until whatever point you die, then, depending on how long you’ve been a carrier, there is a gestation period of complete unawareness, and then slowly, gradually, like a newborn infant, you begin to become aware of the world around you.” Just thought how Mick describes becoming a vampire is interesting because it kind of sounds like a disease or something but overall it sounds impractical for turning new vampires just sounds like a drawn out process

This is an expert from book “Brasher was an old vampire from the time before electric freezers. He slept in only a coffin and the whole place smelled of rot as a result.” Brasher is Coraline’s sire and so I guess the strong scent of decay is because older vampires didn’t have freezers back in the day to help slow the process down?

Idk:

Mick used to be a drug addict when he was human like it’s not awful but like idk and he also got Coraline addicted to drugs. Not intentionally but she wanted to try what he was doing and he helped her because she’d do it with someone else and didn’t want her to do it with somebody else

Mick went to prison and was put to death for a murder Coraline committed

Mick’s father was abusive and killed his mother when he was a young kid

Coraline has a new lover she uses to manipulate a woman (Reesa) so they can trick Mick

Coraline dies for good and begs Mick to spread her ashes this time cause she doesn’t want to come back

Later lover boy’s girlfriend (Reesa) and Mick are in the house where Coraline and Lover boy are at and it’s implied Mick’s going to kill them all for good but is just working up the courage

Similarities:

Mick kills Coraline protecting a child

Stakes still only paralyze vampires

Silver is deadly to vampires

Mick still gets his butt kicked lol I think it’s just a cannon event he’s always going to get caught off guard and knocked out

Coraline still manipulates Mick

Mick is still self loathing for the most part

Final Thoughts:

It’s fine I guess ? I mean I just don’t really care for it, definitely would only work as a movie than a series. Also if you’re expecting the Mick St.John we love, you’re not going to get it. I would say this is just an okay read. It was like $8 (usd) so not the end of the world but also like more money than it’s worth.

Overall it’s a 5/10 not great but not the worst just meh

[absolutepokemontrash]

The Brothers and Side Characters Play Ticket To Ride

Guess who just had a family game night and decided this would be a good idea? Meeeeee!

Last Minute Road/Track Buyer (Lucifer)

This smug son of a bitch doesn’t even complete his trip cards. He just amasses a massive deck of cards and then buys all of the five and six roads, effectively messing up everyone’s strategies.

Luci would have a good poker face if it weren’t for how giddy he gets when he sees the hope drain from his opponents faces as he takes the coveted fifteen point six road.

His main colour is black because he’s an emo bitch.

Lucifer can and Lucifer will take that two road you need to connect your trains, thus ruining everyone’s lives.

He basks in the chaos and rage like a god before Beel tells him that he’s eaten all the game night chips.

He’ll win sometimes, but his lack of trip cards will often be his downfall. Lucifer is just here to fuck everyone over.

FUCK YOU! DON’T YOU DARE TAKE THAT CARD- (Mammon)

Mammon’s greedy little heart sank when he heard that Monopoly had been passed over for family game night, but he caught onto the rules of Ticket to Ride very quickly.

Being the gambler he is, Mammon’s poker face is completely god-tier… except when he has all the cards needed to make his road or someone else takes the cards he needs.

Levi is often the main culprit and fights have started over this.

He argues with the rules a lot if he thinks they’re stupid, this gives Satan a migraine.

Mammon doesn’t save his cards, the moment he has all the ones he needs, he’s buying his road, which is good at the beginning, but often leads to him ending up with no cards by the end.

He is SO insufferable when he wins, please beat him so we don’t have to hear him gloat like an asshole.

Rule-Whore (Leviathan)

“That’s against the rules!” “You can’t have more than three wild cards in the draw pile!” “You need to take three trip cards!”

…so annoying…

Levi is such a rule whore he’ll try and take the instructions from Satan, which will usually result in Levi getting socked in the jaw.

He mains blue because obviously.

Levi tends to plan out his route ahead of time, but he makes it too obvious and his roads end up getting sniped, thus rendering all the cards he had amassed completely useless.

He gets super iffy about his trains being in perfect formation both on and off the board.

Beat his ass for being annoying.

Ha! I’ve Planned for This- Aw Fuck…(Satan)

You fool, you stupid human, Satan had planned out his route ten years before the first turn even happened!

All he has to do now is- DID LUCIFER JUST SNIPE HIS FUCKING ROAD?!

…he’s cool, he’s calm. He can work around this. Satan just has to get the cards he needs- SON OF A BITCH MAMMON WHY’D YOU TAKE BOTH THE ORANGES?!

Worried about your asshole fellow players not giving you your points? Fret not, Satan has everyone’s points memorized and will adjust accordingly. He’s winning this fair and square.

Satan manages to win pretty frequently solely because he picks up so many trip cards and completes a good chunk of them.

Satan mains green because I said so.

Annoying Spectator (Asmodeus)

For the love of God Asmo, you aren’t even playing! Shut up and go away!

He leans over people’s shoulders and criticizes their choices like the world’s most annoying guardian angel… or demon.

“Pick up red.” “Asmo, piss off.” “I’m just trying to help, Belphie! Look, Mammon’s gone and taken your road!” “I DIDN’T EVEN NEED THAT ONE!”

When Asmo does play, he doesn’t play well at all, he just has the worst luck with cards and has the worst poker face.

If someone just took a card that Asmo needed, they are going to get glared at from across the table.

Almost never wins, but when he does, he’s INSUFFERABLE.

“It’s so nice to have the family together :)” (Beel)

Sweet man is just happy everyone’s together, he’s also happy about the multiple party size bags of chips that are on the table.

Beel builds his roads from point A to point B, no fancy skipping or strategies. This often serves him quite well because he can just shift where he’s going on the fly.

Though, he does get confused on where some of the locations are, he’ll end up accidentally cheating and looking at people’s cards when he leans over to see the whole board to try and find out where TF he’s going.

He tries to complete every trip card he has, and he mostly succeeds at that, buuuuut he never thinks to pick up more, which is his downfall.

He mains red, because Duh.

Overall, Beel’s a surprisingly formidable opponent, his resting bitch face serves him well.

“*Snrk* H-huh? What the fuck… what’d I knock over? Where am I? Whose turn is it?” (Belphie)

This little shit- THIS LITTLE BASTARD FUCKS EVERYTHING UP. He falls asleep and when anyone wakes him up for his turn, he “accidentally” knocks everyone’s trains off the board.

He’s doing terribly. Don’t help him.

Belphie loses motivation the moment someone ruins his carefully formulated plan, and making a new one’s too much work so… *snore*

He takes what he can get with the trip cards, he’ll complete the smaller ones and kind of eyeball the big ones and make it up as he goes along if everything goes to shit.

If Belphie gets bored, he’ll purposefully break the rules just to piss of Levi and Satan. He’s a little goblin…

Belphie wins when he puts the work in… which is never.

…Wait what? (Diavolo)

Diavolo is literally the worst at this game at first. He’s picking up two wild cards when he’s not supposed to, he’s buying roads when it’s not his turn, he somehow messed up the points, ugh…

He gets really confused about the rules, he’ll often interrupt people mid-turn to ask a question that spirals into a long explanation.

But when he finally understands the game… May the demon king have mercy on your souls…

He goes from zero to hero and crushes everyone without fail.

It doesn’t matter if he had shitty luck in the beginning because he’s come back to completely ruin your entire route.

Oh, Solomon needed that road? Too bad. It belongs to Diavolo now. Give him his fucking points.

Peace between the realms can wait, he’s got noobs to pwn.

The Wise Mentor (Barbatos)

Barbatos can see the future, he’s cheating by default.

When he sort of… turns off his powers, people still think he’s cheating because he’s just that good at guessing where people need to go and crushing their hopes and dreams.

Except for Luke. Barbatos is teaching him how to be as brutal a player as he is. He will not crush Luke.

As good a player as Barbatos is, one bad trip card will crush his entire strategy. This may be the one time you hear him swear.

It’s a very quiet “son of a bitch..”

Cheater. Asshole. Fight instigator. (Solomon)

Okay who the fuck invited this guy?

Better question, who the fuck let him be in charge of the cards?

Solomon cheats and lies about it, all with a smile on his face. Think you caught him? No you didn’t.

He peeks at cards before he grabs them, gives people the worst possible ones for what they’re doing, AND he gets potato chip grease all over the cards!

When he’s no my allowed to cheat, Solomon’s only half decent at the game overall. Luck is usually on his side, but sometimes luck isn’t enough.

0/10 kick his shifty ass out.

“No, stop,” *Pulls out popcorn* “Don’t fight, oh no.” (Simeon)

Fucking Simeon… he sits back and watches the fight even though he knows he can stop it.

When he’s playing the actual game, he’s pretty average, but when he gets on a roll, oh boy…

He doesn’t snipe roads on purpose, but he’s gotta get where he’s going. Sorry not sorry, may the good lord bless your loser ass.

Sexy shoulder-man’s poker face isn’t anything special, it’s 5/7 overall.

Simeon’s fatal flaw is that he picks up cards only when he needs them, he doesn’t plan ahead, so it’s super easy to swipe the cards he needs before his turn.

He is nice enough to move everyone’s points for them^.^ so he’s better than the rest of those dirty sinners.

“NO PLEASE I NEED THAT ROAD-” (Luke)

So you know how everyone is an awful person? This is proven whenever the gang plays Ticket to Ride with Luke.

Luke demands/begs that no one takes the roads he needs and almost no one listens.

It’s heartbreaking to watch please give the little angel a hug.

But listen, listen, after a bit, Luke gets scary good at the game and very close to winning. His little victory dance is so fucking cute 10/10.

But oh my… it appears that Luke has one tiny road he needs to connect his trains… it would be a shame if Lucifer just… took that.

Luke gets petty, he just puts his hand over the spot and refuses to move it. This goes on for like five minutes until Levi brings up that it’s not even Lucifer’s turn.

Gasp! Hope! It’s Solomon’s turn- HE TOOK THE FUCKING ROAD.

…betrayal.

Luke’s moving out. He can’t go back to Purgatory Hall. He’s going to become the little Victorian street urchin he was destined to become. He is packing his little rucksack and fleeing from this household.

————

I love family game nights… all of you should get together with your family and your squad and break out some board games. Just not Monopoly. Anything but Monopoly…

[moonlit-imagines]

Headcanons for being Jane Foster’s child

Jane Foster x child!reader

Thor Odinson x Foster!child!reader

warnings:

a/n: no not a foster child, jane foster’s child 😌 also im so super glad you liked those!!! hope these are just as good!!! and im genuinely so sorry these took so long

prompt: anonymous: “Hey! I just read the Tony Stark x Potts!child!reader HC and I loved it! Would you do the same but with Thor and Jane? ❤️”

no babysitter = go to work with mom

dr. selvig gave you a rubik’s cube to keep you entertained

“fuck that! here, y/n, you can play my DS” -darcy

“can you not swear in front of my child?” -jane

you thought tonight would be boring, but then your mom and darcy collectively hit a homeless guy with a car!

“holy crap, we’re all going to jail!” -you

“don’t say ‘crap,’ y/n! we need to get him to a hospital!” -jane

ngl this dude was kinda funky

darcy used her taser and your mom covered your eyes, but you still peaked ;)

ride to the hospital

“don’t touch him, y/n”

“sorry, doc”

and the very next day you guys stole him 💕

“mr. thor, where are you from?”

“i am from asgard! it is much different from this realm, but your’s is adequate, i suppose”

“thanks?”

you could see the way your mom looked at him, though

he ate all the pop tarts >:(

she gave thor her ex boyfriends clothes

“yeah, donald was a real ass—” -you

“don’t say ‘ass.’ darcy curses too much” -jane

“sorry, mom...anyways, donald forgot to pick me up from soccer practice like, a dozen times. he sucked” -you

“this ‘donald’ doesn’t seem like a very good man...also, what is ‘soccer?’” -thor

you grabbed a soccer ball and tried to show him how to play but there was some other stuff the *scientists* had to take care of

you were a regular at izzy’s diner (well, mom was) and they always made you cute pancakes in different shapes!!

“ah, it’s a smiley face! that’s adorable!” -thor

“yeah! they like to surprise me whenever i come in. they’re pretty awesome” -you

*your mom literally beaming at how good thor is with you already*

you and thor were drawing on paper placemats

and then he broke a glass and you started giggling hdhshshs

but he had to leave

“no, thor, please don’t go!”

“i hope to meet you again one day, little one. hopefully fate sees it through”

:((((

no time to be sad bc ur mom’s lab got hijacked by the government

“hey, no fair! that’s my diary!” -you

“sorry, kid. there are constellation drawings we have to observe” -coulson

“aw, you draw constellations? wait, not now. you can’t just take all our stuff. especially that! that belongs to a child!” -jane

“sic ‘em, y/n!” -darcy

“don’t listen to darcy, y/n” -selvig

chilling in the trailer and missing thor bc he was the most interesting thing to happen to you and your mom in a while

and you wanted her to be happy even tho he was kind of crazy

“hey, mom? do you want to watch the stars tonight like we used to do? we could make s’mores?”

“that sounds like a great idea, baby! i’ve gotta go take care of some science stuff, so i’ll pick up some s’mores stuff while i’m out. love you!”

yeah she went to go see thor and he kinda got arrested but your mom came back home so you could watch the stars!

“so, do you like thor?” -you

“what? what makes you say that?” -jane

“it’s cool if you do, i think he’s awesome. a little weird, but at least he’s nice”

then thor and selvig came home and selvig was drunk as a skunk

*poking him while he giggles and tells you about thor*

“i wish your grandfather could have met that guy! he would have loved him...i wish you met your grandfather, too” -selvig

thor inviting you back outside

“i’d like you to teach me more about this ‘soccer’”

by the time you guys were done, it was 3am and you were too pumped to go to sleep

so thor told you stories of his home and battle and family

you didn’t want him to stop, you were fascinated by it all

and uhhhh yeah then earth kinda had some vikings show up

they told you that you’d “make a fine warrior one day”

and then yall got attacked by a ????? a what??? a destroyer???????

“get y/n out of here now! they shouldn’t have to see this!” -thor

you were still nearby and saw thor become thor again

after he was done fighting the destroyer, you ran to give him a hug

“that was awesome! can i hold your hammer?”

“maybe someday, little one”

then you didn’t see him for 2 years

which upset your mom a good bit, you had to help her through that episode. lots of sitting on the couch and eating ice cream together talking about how he wasn’t worth her time even tho you missed him too

but he came back! and then your mom sent everything flying bc she had an “infinity stone” inside her and thor took you two to asgard

“y/n! you’ve grown so much, i almost didn’t recognize you!” -thor

tbh you really digged the outfit they gave you, but also you were on another planet? thor insisted on giving you a tour (by flying you around)

“i do hope you’re having fun, little one!”

worrying about your mom simultaneously bc you overheard she was sick

but asgard got attacked and you and jane were confined to a room in the palace, which sucked because you wanted to see it all

but thor sent guards to bring you anything to keep you entertained

“maybe we’ll skip the mace for now, thank you” -jane

after several events that count as child endangerment, this chapter came to an end and your mom and thor finally made it official

loki called you a rodent and then saved your life so you were kinda iffy about him

about a year or two later, your mom had to travel a great deal in order to get some work done, so you were left in the care of thor, who took you to avengers tower

“oh, my girlfriend’s child is an angel! and they’re so intelligent, just like their mother!” -thor gushing to other partygoers

“yeah, thor, your ‘angel’ is sneaking drinks from the elderly” -tony

*sipping his beer* “they’re a growing teenager”

you did have an amazing time interacting with the avengers

and once they tried grabbing the hammer, you knew you had to get in on it (but you failed like the rest)

“don’t worry, my y/n, you have to be eighteen years of age to be able to lift mjölnir!” -thor

“oh, that makes sense!” -you, while thor aggressively shakes his head at the other avengers. he just wanted to make sure you didn’t feel bad you weren’t worthy yet :(

more child endangerment but really what did you expect?

thor went off world and your mom split it off w him but you did have his email so you were still in contact with him

swearing you saw odin on the street once or twice (fast forward)

and then your mom dusted and thor found you as soon as he possibly could, it was so good to see him

he took you in since you were alone now, you moved to new asgard and became prince(ss) of the new land by relation?? makes sense right

basically you and valkyrie made all the calls while thor grieved for years

but he still took care of you

“y/n, would you like to play video games with me? i think it may be a good bonding experience, what do you say?” -thor

“duh!”

uncle korg made you help him with fortnite while thor was asleep

you wished to wield stormbreaker one day

showing thor earth media! his favorite star wars character is r2-d2 dont ask why

he taught you asgardian recipes and you taught him...earth recipes?

when he was drunk he’d ramble on about his childhood and battle and enemies and jane and loki and hela and frigga and literally anything that came to mind

“y/n, could you please get me a beer? and get one for yourself, too” -thor

valkyrie most definitely gave you some battle training so you you blow off some steam, you were glad she taught you how to fight like a true warrior

thor wanted to teach you battle tactics so you could fight alongside him, but he never got around to it

a raccoon and bruce banner visited later on, proposing a way to get your family back, thor was an emotional wreck

his debriefing on the reality stone was tense when he started crying about your mom and everyone stared at you

“hey, don’t look at me. i don’t control the god, i just keep him company”

ending up waiting 1 second for the avengers to come back from their mission, resulting in you being stuck in the middle of a very heavy battle

“y/n, get out of here!” -thor

“don’t worry, thor! valkyrie taught me a few moves!”

“you make me incredibly proud, little one!”

“i’m not so little anymore, am i?”

“you will always be my little one, y/n. blood or not, that will not change!”

victory, but at what cost? it was a rough ride, you needed to get patched up, but your mom was finally home and thor...he decided it was time to leave earth again

“don’t worry, my y/n. i will see you again.” *tearing up* “i’m so glad i got the pleasure of raising you these past few years. i love you dearly, now go be with your mother”

you straight up wanted to bawl your eyes out right there

“well, y/n, you’re next in line for the throne of new asgard. what is your first command?” -valkyrie

“actually, i think you’d make a much better ruler than me. i’ve got to spend some time with my mother now that she’s home”

“you’re so much like him, you know that?”

staying with your mother, who was diagnosed with cancer not long after returning from the soul stone (a/n: jane getting cancer is canon in the comics and confirmed for thor 4)

“i missed five years of your life and now i’m sick, that’s just our luck, isn’t it?” -jane

she was understandably upset, but she also felt guilty

“mom, don’t beat yourself up. everything is okay, we’re still together right now. i won’t be going anywhere, i promise”

taglist: @alwaysananglophile // @rorybutnotgilmore // @locke-writes // @sweetheartliz07 // @queen-destenie // @natasha-danvers // @lokihiddles // @frostedgiantfavs // @emygirl // @lotsoffandomrecs // @johnmurphyisbisexual // @teenwaywardasgardian // @pappydaddy // @captainshazamerica // @freya-xo // @ravenmoore14 // @purpleskiesstorm // @ofthedewthesunlight // @canarypoint // @zoeyserpentluck //

[aesariwritessometimes]

BNHA 314, Lady Nagant and war crimes, the take of history nerd.

This text will contain a discussion of war crimes, human experimentation, and genocide. Please, if you find such topics uncomfortable and upsetting, don't read.

When I was twelve years old, I visited what remains of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp complexes in Oświecim, Poland. I heard about the utter torture people of various nations had to go through. I walked through the cells in which people were starved. I saw names long gone written upon the thousand of thousands of luggage left behind. I saw shoes, belonging to men, women, and children alike. I saw where those alive slept, the pits in which you wouldn't hold a dog, much less a human. I saw the walls against which people were slaughtered.

I looked at what remains of the endless list of names of people who died to the Third Reich's death machine.

Arbeit macht frei, says the slogan atop of the gates, Work sets you free.

Our guide told us the nazis used to smile and add, Durch Krematorium Nummer drei. Through the Crematorium Number three.

The Auschwitz Museum is not all of the testimony of the pain the people suffered under Nazi Germany, but it's the symbol. I can talk much more about it, about the horror of living in Nazi-occupied Poland, about the terror the Jews come through, about the evil residing in the hearts of men but I can never describe it all. You can't really describe the horror of those times.

During the Nuremberg Trial, the war criminals responsible for it all, one after another, claimed they did it all because they were told to.

This argument didn't hold.

In 1942 Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox, was ordered to execute the war prisoners in Africa. Supposedly, he burned Hitler's orders. Nothing happened to him. He was never punished by the nazi regime for disobeying their leader.

Most of the war criminals on the Nuremberg Trial were sentenced to death. Society decided that the excuse of being ordered to do something meant nothing.

The year is 2021. The leaks of the BNHA 314 chapter are out. I feel... complicated.

I did it because I was ordered to.

It could mean nothing. Just coincidence, right?

But.

The name of the character who said it is mocking me. Lady Nagant is badass; she is the female villain character I was waiting for. She is powerful, she is interesting, she has such potential.

But.

Her name.

People pointed it up already. Rifle Mosin-Nagant, one most famously used by both Simo Häyhä, the White Death, and Lyudmila Pavlichenko, the Lady Death. It seems so badass and cool at the first glance but I always felt somewhat iffy about it. She is named after a weapon, and yes, a weapon is not responsible for committing the crimes, it's always the people.

But for me, this weapon screams the Soviet Union and they didn't use it only in wars. Soviets committed unspeakable crimes, the ones for which they were never punished. They slaughtered people, they starved people, they committed genocide. Soviet Regime was not better than the nazis.

Deportations. Massacres. Gulags. All of it is not as widely discussed but I always felt there was a good, macabre example of how cruel they could be.

There is a book in Polish I read for my literature classes, The Another World by Gustaw Herling-Grudzieński. It talks about the author's memories of living in a Soviet gulag, in starvation and cold, working in inhuman conditions. What heinous crime did he commit to ending up on the end of the world?

You see, Mr. Herling-Grudzieński was wearing the army's boots. And yeah, his name sounded somewhat German. That's all. Only those boots and last name for years of painful labor, starvation, and death.

Am reaching with all of it? Probably. But emotions are not logical. It feels wrong for me to call a character after a weapon that committed genocide but maybe it's just me. After all, I know I'm biased, I was listening to all those things since I was a little girl.

I just don't like the connotation of Lady Nagant's name and those words. Even more, because we see people threatening her while something like that never happened in reality. Are we supposed to feel sorry for her? Are we supposed to forgive her and Hawks?

And that, for me goes further: Are we supposed to forgive war criminals now because of orders? Is that what he is trying to say? What is your manga about now, Mr. Horikoshi?

Because I can't. I will not. Too many people suffered because of them. Too many people died.

My thinking does sound like reaching and overinterpretation, but then, I remember the last straw of it all, something I really can't forgive because of how malicious it felt.

When Ujiko's real name was revealed as Maruta Shiga in reference to the human experimentation on the Chinese civilian population by Imperial Division 731, I didn't understand what exactly it means. I don't speak Japanese. But then, oh, god, I learned.

Japanese war crimes, compared to those committed by nazis, are controversial topics. Most of them were swept under the rug by the politics of that time. I wish I could not judge those people for the choices they made. I wish I could say I'm not utterly disgusted by how the perpetrators of those crimes were never truly punished. I can't. Like said, I'm very biased about the subject, I feel strongly about all of it.

I'm not Chinese, though, I can't even imagine how they feel about all of it.

I never learned about what the Japanese did in school, I had to uncover the depravity of Imperial Japan myself. Is it wrong? Absolutely yes. Does the educational system suck? Yes. The thing is, people just try and try to keep those heinous crimes under this stupid rug and I'm ashamed of that, I'm ashamed of myself, and most of all, I'm ashamed of what Horikoshi did as a human being.

I learned that the only country in which nazi is treated as a hero in China. Why? Because even he was so disgusted by what the Japanese did. Because he actually tried to protect the Chinese people.

A nazi.

What does it say?

What did the Imperial Division 731 did, though? Human experimentation, as I mentioned earlier. They infected people with viruses, they tested flamethrowers and weapons on them, they poisoned people, they vivisected humans. They were not better than their western allies, nazis which people are so afraid to speak of.

What happened to them? They exchanged their freedom and lives for the results of their experiments. They were never punished.

I'm going to be cruel: Horikoshi and all of the Jump deserved the backlash they got, their apologies mean nothing. How the hell they let it through in the first place? How the fuck all those editors, all of the staff, saw it and nobody cared? Nobody thought oh, that's a bad idea, let's change it? If they didn't know, it doesn't help either! It only confirms the stereotype of Japanese people not knowing and not caring about the crimes they committed.

Hot take: In some way, calling him that is just as bad as if he was named after Mengele.

All of the people who suffered under the Japanese regime deserved better than being a footnote, a simple reference in Japanese manga of all things. Those were the people we are talking about, for fuck's sake, people who went through hell and never saw justice.

That's... my take on all of it.

All of my words are pretty emotional but the subject is very emotional; it's hard not to feel in such a way when you know what happened. The sheer lack of respect BNHA holds toward the people who suffered through those awful things is astounding.

I always had problems with BNHA, okay? I disagreed about a lot of things Horikoshi did, but I always kept quiet, not wanting to speak up because there were some things I loved.

But it makes me so angry, how the author does things like that. If they did it one time, it could be an accident. Two times would be dangerous. But three? Three creates a habit.

Please, stop that, Mr. Horikoshi.

Your manga is about heroes and their corrupted society. It's action shounen, not a dark story about the war which still haunts people. It's not about our rotten world and making all of those references is disrespectful toward the victims. Stop playing with history like that.

TLDR; Soviets bad. Nazis bad. Imperial Japan bad. Hori, stop this pls, and let me see Dabi already.

[evermorehaikyuu]

Day 3

Title: The Last One Standing

Note: I’m sorry this was a bit later than usual, everything’s been wild today but anyways, here it is! On the bright side, no one dies in this one! But it is kinda wack though, man, I’m kind of iffy about it, I won’t lie to you. I will make up for it in the future angst fics.

˜”*°•.˜”*°•.•°*”˜.•°*”˜

“Don’t come on our team, Tendou!”

A lacuna in his heart.

“Monsters aren’t allowed on human teams!”

A shell. 

“Yeah, he does look like a monster.”

Monster. An imaginary creature that was typically large, ugly, and frightening. He was only a child and he was already called a monster. Was it because he was good at guessing people’s steps? Was it because of his physical appearance? What was it about him that made people look away from him and talk about him behind his back? Tendou didn’t know what it was, but it stung. It stung that people would take a look at him and immediately scrunch their faces up in disgust.

The volleyball game that ensued, he came out victorious. He could only see the frustrated and desperate expression on the boy’s face and the feeling of power washed over him. A one touch wasn’t enough to feed into what he wanted, he needed more. 

Day after day, he kept practicing, trying to ignore all of the words that everyone would say about him. None of that was important. Getting better at guessing people’s actions was much more important. 

That’s how his life was until he met her. They met in high school and she had gone and opened her arms, welcoming him into her life without hesitating. Usually people wouldn’t welcome him into their lives unless they wanted something from him. Shiratorizawa saw his potential. The volleyball team had welcomed him, hell, Ushijima Wakatoshi himself invited him into this whole new world.

He was comfortable with everyone around him and when she walked into his life with a bright grin on her face, he couldn’t help but trust her on the spot.

Y/N L/N, his savior, the person who introduced him to the world again, reassuring him that not everyone was bad. There were a few aspects of this world that were horrendous, but with her by his side he could do anything.

At least, that was what he thought but he didn’t really expect it for the time being. He just wanted to be with her as long as he could.

However, some things don’t last as people wish they would. 

~

“Hey, Y/N, are you done with my manga yet?” Tendou asked, bounding into her house, not really expecting her to be done with the manga. If Ushijima could barely finish, he didn’t expect much of her but he’d be pleasantly surprised if she had. 

Y/N looked up at him, horror in her eyes. “Tell me you have the next volume, I’m not going to be stuck on this cliffhanger, Tendou!”

He stared at her and at the closed manga being gripped tightly in her hands. Her knuckles were turning white just from the force of her grip and he started smiling brightly. “You finished?!”

“Yeah! Now tell me you have the next volume, cliffhangers suck!”

“Well, lucky for you, I do have the next volume with me just in case you finished it quicker than Wakatoshi. He only reads the ads, it’s strange. But at least he tries, that’s what’s important.” He plucked the manga out of her hands, sliding the new volume into her empty palms. 

She grinned down at the new volume and flipped it open to the first page, scanning the page quickly, her eyes almost becoming a blur. “You want to eat anything? I’ve restocked on your snacks and you’re welcome to my Netflix account.”

Tendou ruffled her hair, internally warm from her hospitality. Moving over to the cupboard, he decided to inquire about the new volume. “So what’d you think about the fights? They were pretty cool, huh?”

“Yeah! They were so cool, I can’t wait to see them animated. But the villain is the absolute worst, his character development better not be messed with or else I’ll throw something.”

He couldn’t help but smile as he pulled out the snack he had been looking for, munching on it as he walked over to her. Sitting on the chair near her, he looked over at the page she was on and thought, Wow, she really does care. She cares about something I love so much that she’s chatting on about it and it seems genuine. Maybe I can let my guard down around her. 

One thing that he didn’t expect were his creeping insecurities coming for him. Nothing good was ever free in this life. You had to earn it and at the moment, he wasn’t sure if he had earned it. Either way, it was just an obstacle that he had to get through in his life. There wouldn’t be a problem. At least he hoped not.

Letting your guard down and being vulnerable around someone could bring bliss but it could also be the bane of your existence. There was no way no one in this life had their guard down completely. Once someone had ruined a person, there was no going back. It was all or nothing. Hurt was something unshakeable. Once it was there, once there was a new person in your life, you can’t help but lie like a prey waiting for its predator. The question that remains is always, “What’ll happen next? What’s their next movement? What if this is too good to be true?”

Some things were too good to be true, after all.

~

The last spike of the game, slamming down onto Shiratorizawa’s side of the court. The last spike made by Karasuno’s shortest middle blocker. The thud of the ball caused everything to be silent.

Y/N could only stare with the other spectators in the Shiratorizawa stands, nothing happening for a moment. Her eyes flickered over to Tendou, who was currently in shock, but his face wouldn’t reveal much. 

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Until Karasuno started screaming and cheering, the third years hugging each other and crying, everyone else on the team feeling like everything was surreal. 

The team members that were not on the regular roster stood out of the court, gasps lost in their throats as they stared at the defeated team. Tendou could only look at the court and whisper, “Farewell, my paradise” before looking over at Y/N with a thwarted beam.

That’s what broke Y/N’s heart. The only place where Tendou felt like he truly belonged, truly loved to be in and now he was leaving it because of a team. After everything was over and the major events finished, Y/N raced out of the stands, dodging through the crowd, trying to find Tendou and his team.

All of them were currently walking out of the gym and heading to the buses, quiet at their expense.  Y/N quickly said, “Hey, can I talk to Tendou for a second?”

Tendou walked after Y/N, slouching over until he felt a warm body pressed against his, arms around his waist. He stalled for a moment before wrapping his arms around Y/N as well. His heart was racing at the proximity, but he believed it was from the events of the game. 

“Listen. You did your best. You did everything you could in your power. I can’t tell you that it’ll be fine, because it won’t. You’ll probably look back at this moment as nationals escaping from your grip, but believe me, Tendou--” She pulled back, placing her hand on his cheek, smiling sadly at him. “No one blames you or anyone. You were absolutely amazing out there and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, okay? You stunned me with every block, you were spectacular.” She reached up to kiss his forehead and looked behind him. “You gotta go. Go get on the bus and you can come over later.” 

Looking at her receding back, he touched the spot she had kissed and his heart swelled with pure adoration for Y/N. It was rare when someone was genuine with him and wanted to be friends with him and not anything else. But it was extraordinary that someone had fallen for him, especially when he thought he was unlovable.

Maybe everything was going to be okay. 

~ 

About two or three years had passed since he had graduated. He was currently in college, studying something other than volleyball. Tendou wasn’t going to be a professional volleyball player but he had no idea what he wanted to do.

Y/N got home, sighing as she placed her shoes by the door. “God, today was so exhausting, I’m so tired.” She draped herself across his lap like a cat and he reached out to put her hair. 

“What happened today?”

“Eh, the normal, a ton of work for the weekend. I’ll start it tomorrow, let me take a nap here. Night, Satori.” She closed her eyes.

“It’s only 3 pm?” He stared down at her with an amused grin and she raised an eyebrow. 

“Your point being?” She replied playfully before drifting off to sleep.

Oh, what fun the two of them would have in their last year of being together.

~

“Isn’t that the Guess Monster?”

“Yeah, he’s kind of scary if you ask me, he was on Shiratorizawa.”

“That’s a powerhouse school, isn’t it? Well, he certainly looks like he could guess your next step and bite your head off.”

Tendou walked through these rumors with his head held high, a facade of him not being hurt put over his face. Why was he still being treated like an unearthly being when he was only human? As a human, it was logical that he’d get hurt by these words and people still had the audacity to spread rumors and talk behind his back. But soon, he had had enough: he started sprinting, trying to get away from the ties that fastened him to his dark and traumatic past.

He got home quickly, shutting the door as he leaned against it, sliding down and burying his face in his hands as he swallowed. “Am I really a monster?” He mumbled to himself. He stayed there before hearing keys jangle in the door and thinking, Y/N’s here.

Then his thoughts turned tenebrous as he stepped away from the door. Y/N was not there for him. She was only there because she wanted something from him, but the question was what. There was no way Y/N L/N, the most adored person in Shiratorizawa, had been with him for this long. There was no way.

Tendou Satori’s fatal flaw was letting his insecurities get to him. He made mistakes because of it. And all of those mistakes could lead to him losing what he loved most. 

“I’m home--Satori? What’s wrong?” One look at his voice and she was already worried. “You okay? What happened?” She put her stuff down and walked over to him, reaching for his hand.

But he nimbly pulled his hand away from hers. “Why are you still with me?”

“Huh? What do you mean? Satori, is this because of the rumors?” She tilted her head, squinting at him in confusion.

“How do you know about the rumors?” He demanded. “Did you start any of them? I bet you did, there is no way you could’ve stayed with me this long. You probably just stuck around to ridicule me just like everyone else! You were too good to be true.” Tendou turned away from her, not wanting to look her in the eyes, afraid that he would only see the maliciousness he had expected within them.

“Satori, I don’t know where you heard that, but I swear I’ve never started any rumors about you! I’ve tried to break them off, I’ve tried to help you out, I wanted everyone to give you a second chance. I gave you a do-over, I want them to see you as I see you!” She cried out.

“As what? A monster?” He scoffed before she could say anything. “There’s no way you wanted to just be around me because you liked me. Tell me this, Y/N, what do you get when people have been bullying you from a young age? You get hurt. I don’t want to be hurt by the person I love.”

“You think I’m trying to hurt you? I’ve been trying to help you all of these years, Satori! I’ve been by your side at all times! What’s making you talk like this?!”

Tendou deliberately ignored that last question. “Well, you didn’t have to! I don’t think you’d want to be with me. After all, I’m just a Guess Monster, I could probably guess your next move and swallow you in a minute, huh? Right? Am I right or not?” In a moment of boldness, he looked up at her, fury clear in his eyes. Hysteria was blinding him from the truth and so were his self-doubts.

“I stayed because I wanted to! I wouldn’t have stayed otherwise! You’re being overdramatic, why are you so blind as to my true motives?! I’m not them, I could never be them! Why do you even doubt me for a second that I don’t want anything bad happening to you!” She swallowed dryly, her voice shaking now. “If you want me to leave, tell me. Please, Satori, I don’t want to lose you.”

Tendou could not stop his next words. “Y/N. Just….go. I know what your true motives are. I don’t want you to be with a monster like me, a monster that you obviously never cared for. I’m so stupid to believe that you did. You’re dense if you think I’m falling for another trick of yours.”

Y/N clenched her fists, staring at the broken boy across from her. She picked up his pieces long enough. “I gave you your chance and you used it to stab me in the back. You’re just like everyone else. You’re not different.” With those words, she marched back around and opened the door, looking over her shoulder. “You know, maybe someone’ll come along and fix the mess neither of us could fix.”

With the closing of the door, Tendou’s metaphorical vision shattered. Every single word he had said came rushing back to him, making him double over as he realized what he did singlehandedly. He just made the person he loved him the most--and who he loved the most--run away from him. He wanted to tell her to come back, but Y/N, as loyal as she was, was also stubborn and ruthless.

Tendou sunk onto the floor, his hands in his hair, almost trying to yank it out as he started shuddering. “Oh God...what have I done?”

Tears started pooling in his eyes and he blinked, the droplets falling slowly down his cheeks and making miniscule puddles on the floor. It hurt. It hurt that the person he loved so much tried so hard to stay with him but he couldn’t blame Y/N for leaving him. After what he did, he didn’t expect anyone to love him the way she did.

Hysterical gasps of anguish started coming from his throat until he was full-on crying his eyes out, his eyes closed shut to hold the tears back only to open them and have them fall again. So much was going on, reality was smacking him in the face. She wasn’t there to help him. She would never do it again.

It was his fault.

He made sure she wouldn’t come back.

Now he had lost the greatest treasure in his life and there was no way he could fix that.

After all, his biggest rival was his prejudices. They had taken over his mind and now they had taken her away. 

Everything was broken.

~

Taglist: @skyguy-peach​ @jovialnoise​ @versatilewindow​ @tsukiibaka​ @jaegersblogh​ @kodzuken-pie​ @sugusho​ @kara-grayson04​ @erialexerz​ @attixca​ @multishippers-trash-blog​

[vaguely-concerned]

The Mandalorian Chapter 13 reactions

Well, that was... well. in short I quite enjoyed some of what happened while din was there and I didn’t really care about what happened while he wasn’t there lol. I think it’s becoming increasingly clear that I just don’t care for the episodes dave filoni writes for this show, which is simply a matter of taste I guess. 

(if you loved this episode wholeheartedly -- probably look away now, I’m going to be a bit of a downer about it and I don’t want to shit on your joy haha)

- let’s just get this out of the way first: there’s a lot of stuff around rosaria dawson and transphobia in real life and yeah, of course that affects how I watch the show. I don’t even want to talk that much about ahsoka in this because of it. she was not that good in the role, after seeing how it played out I don’t think the character needed to be in this show at all, and she should never have gotten the role in the first place and that’s about it for what I’ve got to say. 

- dave filoni consistently does things with din’s characterization that feels off and weird to me, subtly out of place with what we see in other episodes (he’s... ruder? more short tempered/cocky/actively or aggressively interpersonal? more prone to express himself directly than he is usually? idk how to describe it but filoni!din always feels one step to the left of what he should be and I’m so hyper-attuned to this character that when something’s a bit iffy with him it throws everything else off haha. it feels like a shallower, more convenient read on him and I don’t like it)  

I also think filoni is almost too familiar with and in love with the source material sometimes? “A Mandalorian and a Jedi? They’ll never see it coming” is undeniably a great line that echoes in decades of deep lore and so on, but dave my good man din had no real idea what a jedi even is until literally this morning. we, the audience, know about this long and storied history, but unless ahsoka spent the afternoon explaining it to him din still only knows the faint outlines of it, he has no personal experience of or attachment to it. it’s not bad, as such, it just rings false to the character based tone of the show for me personally 

- positivity break: baby sitting perched on the dashboard to be close to papa while they’re in hyperspace........sd sdfskdjhfdsakjksdhfkasjd  

also this is some full on madonna and child in the manger shit and I am LIVING for it (odds he’s crying quietly behind the helmet here? pretty damn good if you ask me). the mundanity of what’s essentially the shitty spartan bathroom of the razor crest on one side contrasted with the light and tenderness and love on the other? amazing, a perfect microcosm of what this show does with combining the grittier everyday down to earth stuff in the star wars universe with myth and wonder and magic and through it elevating both

 - the idea of having an iconique samurai/sword duel standoff and a western standoff going on simultaneously is genuinely inspired, but in action it didn’t really work for me. (the sword duel stuff needs these moments of stillness with sudden outbursts of violence and then stillness again, the western standoff needs mounting tension until it’s nearly unbearable, and cutting between them the way they did you sort of didn’t get either to its full potential. again it’s a cool idea, though, I hope someone picks it up and does it better at some point)

- seeing a jedi and a mandalorian wander together through a burned out wasteland left desolate by greed and warfare should have hit me harder than it did but for some reason it didn’t, idk. thematically sound, though, I like it a lot on the metaphor level

- I LOVE that pure beskar makes a specific sound, and that it’s an almost ethereal noise like the high clear chime of a distant bell. also now din has something to fight light sabers with that isn’t the dark saber which makes me so happy because you guys I do not want him to be the mand’alor. keep that funky laser sword away from my dad, apart from killing him at the end that is literally the most boring way to end his arc pls do NOt 

- wow they really went in hard on the samurai stuff in this one huh! there is a part of my mchanzo-loving heart that thrives on seeing a space cowboy and a space samurai team up, *wild otp-fuelled whisper* they’re twin genres inextricably entwined okay they belong together if you see this spreadsheet I’ve made over here -- 

- even knowing it was just a trick I felt such intense distress seeing the signet pauldron away from din. like the attachment I have to these pieces of metal because That Armour Means Dad... wild  

- they really chose the dumbest name possible for the baby huh fsajdfhsaj I agree with din his name is ‘kid’ now (eh just give me a while to get used to it probably I’ll come around)

also... you know what I’ve said before about shrinking the big unknowable galaxy ‘the mandalorian’ has been setting up? wow did they do that big time in this one, and it makes me feel decidedly :/. why does the baby have to come from the jedi temple, is there truly no other tradition of force users in the entire galaxy he could be from? WHY do you have to pull thrawn into this when most people watching this show won’t even know why he’s such a big deal? is this a stealth tease for a rebels sequel? if so why spend an entire episode of this show that only gets eight precious episodes a season on it??   

- on a more fun positive note: baby’s clothes are clean again, so it’s confirmed that din does wash them (and I guess that he does have some means of washing clothes aboard the razor crest!). I loved... most of the dad and baby stuff in this one, but then don’t I always I’m easy to please that way haha (the ‘playing catch’ sequence felt a bit off to me but I don’t know why. din being like ‘he’s so stubborn’ wasn’t... eh. didn’t land right. “that would be a first” was fun tho lol) 

- having ahsoka state the baby’s feelings out loud like that felt... weird? and also kind of unnecessary in parts, like yeah he’s a baby who’s been passed along to different groups of strangers and experimented on by empire scientists, you don’t need to spell it out for me that he’s been scared and lonely, or at least spell it out more interestingly? it’s such blunt force storytelling where it didn’t need to be? there are more elegant ways to get the same things across, I am absolutely convinced 

- ...wow while I was watching the episode I was mostly like ‘okay this is Fine I can go along with it’ but seeing what I’m thinking about in hindsight... yeah probably my least favourite episode of this show full stop haha, it took the spot from chapter 5 which was also a filoni ep

- I did 100% genuinely adore the whole part of din approaching the town and meeting the magistrate. consistently hiding the baby behind his cape and his arm? being deliberately, teeth-grindingly dispassionate with everyone, just giving them nothing? getting to see a bit of professional bounty hunter din again? wonderful in every way, I love this man  

- lots of meaningful shots of baby in the middle with a mando on one side and a jedi on the other, it’s almost like they’re setting up some Themes here lol 

- ...do you think din told ahsoka about either the rhino-levitating or the force choking. because girl I don’t think not training him is going to make this just go away haha, he just won’t know what he’s doing  

- it makes me so sad that baby connects his force powers with being abused :( (also a heartbreaking sign of just how much he cared about din from the very beginning, since he used it on the mudhorn to save him anyway ;________; was that like. literally the first time he sensed kindness and affection in anyone in like twenty five years or... ) 

- I understand why ahsoka would feel this way because of her past and specific traumas, but tbh attachment in a baby? probably a good thing, he doesn’t really have the higher brain functions to cultivate non-attachment yet and needs a safe figure because again. he is a baby. 

good on her for realizing it’s not a task she can take on both for the baby’s sake and her own, and also that din is that baby’s Dad though. the way she smiled at the end watching them leave seemed vaguely hopeful/had a little bit of wonder in it, like maybe she felt the potential for something good there, something she couldn’t conceptualize from her background but could sense the tentative outlines of anyway?  

(also so much pressure on a lil bb to decide his path... his dilemmas should be limited to what colour socks he wants to wear today not the course of his entire life :( I know he’s a magic baby but.......) 

- idk maybe I’ll find more affection of this episode through rewatches, you never know

[ordinaryschmuck]

Top 20 BEST Animated Series of the 2010s-8th Place

It’s funny. Four years ago, there was no doubt in my mind that this show would easily make the top five best-animated series in the last decade. But the more it went on, the more...controversial it got. However, despite all the hate this next series has been getting recently, I still believe that there’s something to be desired within it.

#8-Steven Universe/Steven Universe: Future (2013-2020)

The Plot: For years, immortal warriors known as the Crystal Gems have been defending the Earth from anything that seeks to do it harm. Until one day when Rose Quartz, the Gems leader, had fallen in love with a human named Greg Universe. From that love, Rose gave up her physical form to bring her son, Steven, into the world she was sworn to protect. Taking guidance from the other Crystal Gems-Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl-Steven will try his best to grow up into the same warrior that his mom was. But as he learns more about the Gems and his mother, Steven will soon realize that he’ll have to grow up far faster than he thought.

Right out the gate, I should mention there's a 60%-40% chance that you’re either going to love this show or think that it’s pure garbage. And honestly, I believe it all depends on perspective. Like the quality of most shows, the enjoyment depends on the viewpoints you chose to take with it. Some people will look at specific decisions as well done, where others will see it all as a mess of storytelling. For instance, one person can make a two-hour-long video about how Steven Universe is garbage, and another person can make a video arguing about how it isn’t. Everyone has different reasons why they like or hate something. If you genuinely hate Steven Universe or think you might not like it, that's perfectly fine. I just hope you’ll give me the chance to explain why I personally enjoy it, and why I think it deserves all the adulation it has. 

For instance, the main thing I really enjoy about Steven Universe is its style. From the designs, to the animation, to even the music. Everything about how Steven Universe both looks and sounds leave me awestruck. First is the show’s designs of both the backgrounds and characters. Nearly every part of the world in the series looks absolutely amazing, fitting seeing how the Crystal Gems fought for Earth due to its beauty. There are also times when lore and backstory can be seen through the backgrounds, giving some fantastic utilization of visual storytelling. Such as when the Crystal Gems visit war zones and temples that they’ve spent years fighting in, showing hidden secrets that can make much more sense by later episodes. As for the character designs, they all look pretty good. Each character has a dynamic and unique style, making them all fun to look at. It’s even better when the character’s personalities are shown throughout their entire designs. I especially love how the artists managed to get creative with how real life crystals (lapices, bismuths, and jaspers) will look like people when designing the Crystal Gems and their enemies. However, I should first mention that Steven Universe is another show where the art style depends on who’s storyboarding the scene. While not as bad as OK KO: Let’s Be Heroes, it can be pretty distracting given how character sizes and proportions are inconsistent. Regardless, I still like how good the designs look for a majority of the characters. And at a practical standpoint, I think it’s great that the artists kept the figures as simple as possible as it makes animating the characters a lot easier.

Speaking of which, I really like how Steven Universe is animated. It’s not entirely groundbreaking like The Amazing World of Gumball’s or as fluid as Wander Over Yonder’s, but the animation in Steven Universe is still pretty dang good. The characters' movements look believable, and the expressions each one makes is downright amazing to see. It gets more aspiring for the show’s fight scenes. You can almost feel each punch, jab, and slash that the characters trade with each other, and the fights themselves are pretty fun to watch. As for the action itself, Steven Universe might just have the most creative action set pieces I’ve seen from any animated series. Case in point, there is an entire fight scene that’s also a fantastic song at the same time.

On the topic of songs, let the record show that showrunner Rebecca Sugar really understands music. I say this because Steven Universe has some really great music in it. From background music to full-on musical numbers, this show proves how important melodies are in a series. Look at the background music, as it not only does a suitable job at making audiences feel the right emotions but also sounds really good when isolated. As for the character motifs, each note perfectly encapsulates the character's personality that it’s meant for. Like Pearl, who has a piano melody to show off her classy and orderly personality, and Peridot, who has a more 8-bit tune to her leitmotif as a way to show off her tech side. And since we branched into talking about 8-bit, there are times when this show’s soundtrack sounds like it belongs in a really cool video game (Google Lion’s and Obsidian's themes if you don’t believe me). As for the actual songs in the show, Steven Universe has a pretty good selection. As they can be beautiful and downright awesome to listen to. And even though the show uses songs to develop the characters and story, these musical numbers can still be pretty fun to listen to on their own, with no context (most of the time).

But while a show's style is essential, it’s the substance that truly matters. And here is where we go back to the discussion of perspective. To some viewers, you might think that the substance in Steven Universe is handled well, where others...Well, I think it’s pretty obvious how they might feel.

Let’s look at the story because Steven Universe actually has an intriguing and compelling story...Or at least it does when it tries to eventually tell that story. Whether you’re a person who either loves or hates the series, everyone can agree that the slice of life episodes are easily the show’s weakest. Personally, I don’t mind them, and that’s because I view these episodes as giving me a choice between eating a chocolate cake or a carrot. The story-driven episodes are a chocolate cake. Their sweet, delicious, and I’m always craving more after just having one piece. As for the slice of life episodes, they’re like carrots. I can eat a carrot. I can digest a carrot. I might even enjoy a carrot. Hell, there are times when I’m willing to ask for another carrot. But if you’re going to give me the decision of a carrot over a chocolate cake, then I’m always going to pick the chocolate cake. Even if I enjoy episodes like “Laser Light Cannon," “Too Short to Ride," and “Alone Together," they can never hold a candle to “Jail Break," “Reunited," and “Change Your Mind." This is because the slice of life episodes give off a sense of distraction from the main story. After all, they rarely add anything new (read: meaningful) to the tale. And going back to the carrot and chocolate cake analogy, there’s one aspect that doesn’t do the slice of life episodes any favors. You see, where most shows feel like you have to eat the carrots before having the chocolate cake, half the time Steven Universe feels like you can skip most of the carrots and go straight for the chocolate cake instead. And Steven Universe isn’t the only show to try this. In fact, tomorrow I’ll be talking about a show that perfected this idea. But tomorrow's series manages to make both the story and slice of life episode the chocolate cake instead of the carrot. And it has everything to do with the fact that the characters care about the situation they’re in. There are actual moments in the show where Crystal Gems refuse to participate in everyday antics because they simply don’t think those antics are worth their time. Which is something you never want to do. Because if the characters don’t care, then why should the audience? Speaking of the characters--

I want it to be known that I like the majority of the characters in Steven Universe. Greg, Connie, Peridot, Amethyst, and Garnet are all enjoyable to watch in their own way. Not only is their development on point, but their personalities are all likable, and their issues are also relatable. It’s three other characters that things get a little iffy. Those characters being Steven, Pearl, Bismuth and Lapis. If you ask me, I like these characters, and I think it’s fun to study/analyze their personalities. However, these characters make decisions that audiences are either going to hate or love. It’s sort of like that optical illusion of the old lady/young lady (Google it). Some people can see the ugly old hag, where others will see the beautiful young woman. You’re most likely going to see one or the other, and it isn’t until someone else points out what you couldn’t notice that you are capable of seeing both. It’s something very similar to Steven, Pearl, Bismuth and Lapis. One response is that you’re either going to see characters who are selfless heroes that are victims of circumstance. The other is seeing toxic idiots who cause more harm than good to the people they love.

And then there are the people of Beach City. These are mostly hated by both fans and critics of the show. Personally, I don’t hate most of them. Don’t get me wrong, characters like Lars and Ronaldo deserve every ounce of hate they are given (Although Lars does get better). As for the rest of the Beach Citizens, I don’t think they are that bad of characters. In fact, I think they’re good characters placed in the wrong show. Some of them have issues that most people deal with (Sadie, in most of her episodes), where others seem to be slightly layered and almost intriguing (Mr. Smiley and Onion in “Future Boy Zoltron” and “Onion Gang”). In fact, if these characters were a part of a different series, I’m sure people will be more willing to watch their struggles. It's just compared to the Crystal Gems and company, the people of Beach City are not as interesting to watch or dissect. And because of this, the show drags down to a screeching halt whenever it focuses on these characters.

And the most controversial element of these characters is (semi-spoilers ahead) when the show tries to pull off redemption arcs. Steven Universe seems to work off the logic that nobody is evil, just misunderstood. There’s both a right way and a wrong way of illustrating that logic, and Steven Universe, unfortunately, does it the wrong way. And the best way for me to describe how to do this idea is to use the game Undertale as an example (I’d warn you about spoilers, but odds are you already know everything about that game). In Undertale, you play a character who fell into an underground prison full of monsters, and you have to find your way back to the surface. The monsters you run into give the impression that they’re dangerous and want to destroy you (or at least most of them do). However, the game allows the player to interact with the world and characters around them, soon discovering that the monsters are more complex than one might think. In fact, the game allows you to actually interact with monsters who tried to kill you, showing the logic and reasoning as to why. By the end of Undertale, you learn that every character you encounter is not the villains in the story, but rather victims of a war that forced them away from the surface. Steven Universe has a similar idea but fails to do it properly. All it reveals is that the villains have done bad things, realize that they’ve done wrong, and decide to have an out of nowhere change of heart by the end. The problem is that except for one character, the turnarounds don’t feel earned. Instead, they feel forced than anything else.

These elements are what make Steven Universe slightly controversial to enjoy.

(And also the ridiculous amount of hiatuses. But that’s not really an issue I have with the show, but the network running it.)

But if there is one thing I hope we all can agree on, both the pessimistic and forgiving, I think it’s safe to say that the best thing about Steven Universe is how important it is for the LGBTQ+ community. There may have been kids' shows in the past that hinted at same-sex relationships and they deserve some respect as well. But I'd say it’s Steven Universe that popularized the idea with the characters Ruby and Saphire. Not only are these two downright adorable together, but they also manage to be enjoyable characters on their own (Even though it isn’t often you see them apart, but their personalities still shine through). And I’m willing to make the argument that it’s because of these two why children’s animation is less afraid, but still cautious, of being explicit with having same-sex couples. Like I said, most shows decide to hint at these relationships, so they don't get in trouble for doing so. Nowadays? Most of Cartoon Network’s series seem to have more gay relationships than most children’s networks in recent memory. Nickelodeon allowed The Loud House to have gay parents in a children's cartoon, and one of the main characters being canonically bisexual. Hell, even Disney is currently taking steps in the right direction with their smash hit called The Owl House. Now, more than ever, kids can learn at an early age that gay relationships are more than just acceptable, but they’re also completely normal and should be accepted as such. And I’m more than willing to give Steven Universe credit for giving this trend the push that it needed, like other creators for these shows usually point fingers at it as well.

Is Steven Universe a perfect show? No. But that doesn’t mean I think it’s garbage. There are some legitimate faults that this series has, some of which I’m inclined to agree with. But with all the good it does and how much fun people have while watching it, I can’t really say I hate this series. If you think you’ll hate this show, you have every right to. I can’t change how you feel, but I can ask you to keep an open mind. Because who knows? You might be someone who will find the diamond in the rough of this series.

(Now that’s a pun you’ll be willing to appreciate by the time you reach season 5).

[crashdevlin]

New Romantics 11- Hell, Hope and Her Majesty

New Romantics Masterlist

Author’s Note: This is a multi-chapter sequel to Wildest Dreams

Summary: Y/n tells Dean the truth, but doesn't get to finish before Crowley shows up to talk to her.

Pairing(s): Sam x Reader, Dean x Reader, Sam x Ruby, mentions of past Crowley x Reader

Word Count: 3793

Story Warnings: Smut, 18+ HERE BE SEX, DO NOT READ IF YOU’RE A YOUNG’UN!!, anal sex, oral sex (fem and male receiving), vaginal sex, unprotected sex, rough sex, bloodplay, canon-appropriate character deaths, manipulation, BoyKing!Sam and Intended Queen!Reader!

Chapter Warnings: Blood Drinking, angst, mutual pining, Smut, 18+ HERE BE SEX, DO NOT READ IF YOU’RE A YOUNG’UN!!, vaginal sex (not explicit), Canon Divergent

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You just exorcised an angel," Dean says, shock emanating from his every pore.

"Well, yeah. I mean, they're riding around in human meat sacks, just like the demons do. If you couldn't kick 'em out somehow, that'd be completely unfair, right?"

"R-right," Dean agrees, apprehensively. What the fuck happened to her?

"Are we gonna talk or what, Winchester?"

"Yeah, yes, of course." God, I hope I don't have to gank her.

I chuckle. "Nice try, Dean. Gimme your gun," I demand, holding out my hand. He tries to fight it but I'm stronger than him, and he pulls his precious gun out and puts in my palm, wondering if I can hear his thoughts. "Full disclosure, I've been able to hear your thoughts for years. There was actually only a short window of time when I couldn't hear them, couple days after you put Azazel down...before Crowley found me. Now! I'll stop using my powers on you, just...come with me, huh? Let's talk it out."

"Talk it out," he says with as much skepticism as words can possibly carry. "You think you can make everything better by talkin' it out?"

My lips twitch as I fight the nervous smile. "Don't know 'til we try, do we?"

He looks at Sam, then swallowed heavily. “Okay. Let’s go for a walk,” he says finally.

I smile as I tuck the pistol into the back of my waistband. “Great. Come on.”

We leave Sam and Chuck in the motel room and start walking in the general direction of the river. “So, where you wanna start? Excuses for the lying or rationalizations for the powers?”

“How ‘bout I start at the beginning? I mean, you know the beginning-beginning; Azazel fucked with me as a baby, Dad lost his mind, somehow found it through Pastor Jim’s guidance, powers started activating at twenty-two, I ended up in Cold Oak, Sam died and you blamed me and then I tried to drink myself to death.”

He nods, remembering holding Sam’s lifeless body in his arms. “I remember.”

“Well, that’s where things get a little bit...iffy. You remember I left Issac and Tamara’s place because I didn’t like his fucking tone?” He nods, a flash of watching me stomp out of the house hitting his mind. “Well, I walked into town, found a bar. Azazel brought a war and that wasn’t something I wanted to deal with sober. A demon approached me at the bar.” I shake my head, tucking my hands into my jacket pockets.

“He picked a good vessel for sales, an attractive older man. Armani suits and silk ties, but I could smell the sulfur under his cologne, knew what he was. To his credit, he didn’t try to pretend. He knew who I was, what I was, and he offered to help. He said he wanted things to be the way they were before, before Azazel let out all these ancient demons to play in his sandbox. He offered to give me my powers back.”

“And you agreed? Knowing nothing about this evil prick, you agreed to let him give you--and how’d he do that, huh?” Dean bites out and stops walking.

I turn to him and lick my lips. “Azazel gave us the powers through his blood. Crowley gave them back through his.”

Disgust and fear fill him. “You drank demon blood? On purpose?”

“I wish I could say it was an accident, Dean, but it wasn’t.”

“Why the fuck would you do that, Y/n?”

“I did what I had to!” I defend. “Ya know, considering I just saved the world with demon blood powers, I’d think you’d give me a little slack.”

“Yeah, I don’t think I can do that!” He steps closer to me, anger on his face, but fear in his mind. “So, you killed Lilith and stopped the Apocalypse. Awesome! But at what cost? You have been Dracula-ing demon blood for years! Do you even know what’s gonna happen to you?”

“Whatever happens had to happen. It’s no different than you selling your soul for Sam.”

“It’s a lot different! When it’s you or Sam, it’s a lot-” He cuts himself off, eyes going blank as memories of seeing Sam use his powers over the last few months flood him with realization. “Ruby,” he breathes out.

I nod solemnly. “Sam didn’t like Crowley. Never met ‘im, just didn’t like the idea of him. So we had to find another source for the blood. Ruby fit the bill.”

“Is it addictive?” he asks, quietly, memories morphing to Sam looking strung-out and sick. “Is it a drug?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“You got my brother hooked on-”

“I didn’t want him to have anything to do with it!” I snap. “I kept it secret for a year so that no one would see me as a junkie, you think I’d willingly expose Sam to the same addiction?”

Dean’s jaw ticks and he looks away from me. “As soon as he realized we could use the powers to get revenge on Lilith, he wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

“You shoulda tried harder,” he growls.

I nod. “Yeah. Probably. But sayin’ ‘no’ to Sam once was hard enough.” I take a deep breath. “Look, Dean, I’m really sorry...mostly for lying and-”

The sound of someone clearing their throat pulls my attention away from Dean to Crowley, who is suddenly standing next to a tree to my left. “A moment of your time?” he asks, nodding toward the woodline.

“I’m a bit busy right now. Can it wait?”

Crowley gives me a pointed look. “I’m sorry. The situation’s quite emergent.”

I sigh and roll my eyes. I turn back to Dean, who’s correctly guessing who the demon in Armani is, and lick my lips. “Stay right where you are until I get back,” I say.

What the- “You said you weren’t gonna use your powers on me anymore!”

“I know and I’m very sorry, but we aren’t done with this conversation and I can’t have you running Sam down to berate him about the blood before I get back, okay? I’ll make it quick,” I promise before walking away. I see Dean throw his hands up in frustration as he tries to move. “What?” I bite out as soon as I reach Crowley’s side.

“You remember the power vacuum we discussed?” he responds quietly. I nod. “Well, it’s a bit more like a black hole. I went to the Princes. Ramiel wants nothing to do with Hell, wants to keep up the simple life. Asmodeus said he’s far too weak to rule. I couldn’t even find Dagon.”

“So?” I ask, shaking my head at him.

“So, Hell’s already in chaos an’ it hasn’t even been an hour.” He rolls his hazel-gold eyes and sighs dramatically. “Chaos below claws its way up and out into your precious human lives. We need a leader.”

“And what exactly do you want from me, Crowley?”

“You know the answer to that...My Queen.”

I scoff. “You can’t honestly think Hell is gonna bow to me.”

“I think you just killed Lilith an’ any demon with bollocks big enough to stand against you won’t last very long.” I look back to Dean, who’s looking ever more frustrated to just be standing there. “Look, just come downstairs with me, make a show of power, take yer throne an’ then you can come back and finish yer...conversation.”

I run my hand down my face and sigh. I don’t really want to be queen of Hell, but...I guess better me than whatever demon might take over next. “Fine. Let’s make this quick,” I demand. Crowley puts a hand on my shoulder and the world shifts.

The very first thing I notice is the smell. It’s sulfur, yes, but also coppery blood and vomit, piss and shit. There’s a distinct decay in the air. I take a deep breath, fighting the urge to gag on the smells. If I keep breathing through my nose, I know I’ll get desensitized, but it’s horrible in the interim. “God, why didn’t you warn me about the smell, Crowley?”

“Honestly...I wanted to see the look on yer face, your Majesty,” he says, smirking.

“Prick,” I mutter.

“This way, Y/n,” he says, leading me down a staircase.

“If I’m gonna be your queen, it’s not gonna be from here. I can’t...we’ll have to set up something topside.” I shake my head, praying for the smell to go away.

He opens a set of large wooden doors and walks in, a dozen sets of black eyes turning to us. “Let me present yer new queen, Y/n Y/l/n.” He gives a little bow as he steps out of the way.

“How dare you bring-” one of the demons starts, but I grab the corruption in him and pull hard. He starts coughing on his own corrupted soul as I step forward.

“Let me make this absolutely clear to every single one of you.” I toss the demon to the floor and look around at the others. “I just killed Lilith. I decimated your leader. I am officially stronger than the very strongest of you."

"You don't belong-" another starts.

I do that one exactly the same way I did Lilith. I smother his corrupted soul like a fire. "Do you really think I care where I belong?!" I shout, grabbing each of them and holding them tight against the dark stone walls. "Make no mistake that I despise each of you and everything you stand for. You are scum under my thigh-high boots, you get me?"

Crowley smiles and a feeling radiates off of him, something like pride at having had me...being the scum under my boot that made me cum. It's striking for a few reasons, mostly because I can feel his emotions, but also because...well, Crowley's proud he fucked me.

I shake the thought away and continue my 'show of power'. "I killed Lucifer's first. Daddy's not coming home, the Princes aren't coming to save you from me, Hell. Is. Mine. Any of you who has a problem with that can meet the Empty." They seethe a bit, but none say a word. "That's what I thought. Now…"

I drop them and turn back toward the door. "For the moment, there will be no changes in policy or direction. Keep doing what you're doing."

"For the moment?" one of them asks and I grab him, pull him to his knees in front of me.

"Look, I recognize the need for Hell. I recognize that you are purveyors of the highest form of corporal punishment and that fear of this place keeps certain weak-minded people from doing the terrible shit they really want to do. For now, I'm not going to change anything." The demons all look around at each other. "Change will come, eventually. But not yet. So, keep up your work and I'll let you know when I'm ready to tweak things." I turn and start to leave but another voice calls out to me.

"You need Sam!"

"Excuse me?" I snap, spinning back around.

"You need Sam Winchester. You need a king...one with an instantly recognizable name and a huge, muscle-bound body type. That's the only way this..works." The demon speaking falters as I glare at him. "T-two of Azazel's...Azazel chose you and Sam. Both of you. And I've been a demon for a long time, Y/n...I know what works down here. The only way you don't get destroyed in a massive uprising is if you can convince Sam Winchester to wear the crown, too...just like Azazel wanted."

I look to Crowley who sighs and nods. Bloody Winchester be my king. "If you could get Sam on board, things would move smoother."

"Fine. I appreciate the advice. What's your name?" I ask.

"My meat suit was Brady and I've been answering to that for several years now." I get a flash of a stressed-out premed student choking on black smoke, Stanford colors in the dorm.

"Okay, Brady. You're gonna work with Crowley, find and set up a Hell on Earth, so to speak. I refuse to come down here anymore than I have to and I know you want nothing to do with this place, either. Hell is Hell. So, find me somewhere topside to set my throne. Cool?" Brady nods, and I hope I can get some good use out of him before Sam sees him and obliterates him. Demon wearing his old best friend. Terrible. "Crowley, let's go. Take me to Sam."

The smell of demon blood assaults my senses as soon as we land. Ruby's laid out on a table, Sam fucking her in hard strokes that make the legs screech across the floor. His mind is full of anguish and anger, still devastated by the fact that he wasn't strong enough to put down Lilith and angry that I walked away with his brother, who I need to go retrieve as soon as I'm done here.

Ruby, covered in bloody cuts with Sam hammering his cock into her like a fucking animal, is thinking about Lilith. Ruby is lost...doesn't know where to go from here...because her master is dead. I knew I hated her for a fucking reason.

Sam sees me and Crowley, but he doesn't stop. He just leans down and licks at the blood pooling at Ruby's collarbone and keeps fucking her. I lean against the wall, arms crossed over my chest. I lean my head toward Crowley. "Go get a bacon cheeseburger and a beer and take 'em to Dean. I don't know how long this'll take."

Crowley disappears and I watch, boredly. “You’re done with my brother, already?” Sam spits out, hips still moving.

“No. I got interrupted,” I answer. “I did have time to tell him how we got our powers back, though. So expect an earful about...blood.” I lick my lips, mouth watering a bit as I watch a drop of blood travel down Ruby’s breast. “Look, can you hurry up with her, please? I need to talk to you about Hell and your little traitor is bugging me.”

Her eyes snap to me at the words. “Traitor? Where do you get off-”

“Nowhere recently,” I interrupt, disinterestedly. “Traitor means exactly what you think it means, Ruby. It means I’m stronger than you. It means I can hear you,” I sing a bit as I say it, tapping my temple. Fear floods her and it’s fucking beautiful. Can’t wait for her to get what’s coming to her. “What do you think’s gonna happen when I let Sam in on your thoughts, Rube?”

She starts to try to squirm away, but Sam holds her tight. She starts to smoke out in desperation but I push her back down into her vessel. “None of that. Don’t wanna leave Sammy with his dick in a dead girl, do we?”

“What is she talking about?” Sam asks, pulling out of her because the idea of fucking a dead girl has turned him off.

“She was working for Lilith, manipulating you the entire time.” I smile and chuckle lightly. “Working you for Lilith to bring Lucifer home.”

“Wh-what do you-”

“You, Sam, were supposed to pop the last Seal on Lucifer’s Cage and Ruby was sent to make that happen.”

Sam turns rage-filled eyes on the demon, shoots his hand out to grab Ruby’s throat. “You were sent by Lilith?”

“I-I...Sam, I-”

“See, you were supposed to be Lucifer’s vessel and if Lucifer’s vessel kills Lucifer’s first demon, the last Seal goes bye-bye. That’s why I had to do it, Sam. Because my demon buddy actually wanted to stop the apocalypse, unlike yours.”

Rage overwhelms him and he starts bashing his fist into her face. I smile. I’ve been waiting for this. I watch him destroy her vessel's pretty face and it makes me legitimately happy. Sam stumbles back from her once she goes still and yanks his jeans up, turning to me. "Why are you still here?"

"Well, beyond wanting to see that," I say, gesturing at Ruby. "I need to talk to you about Hell." He licks the blood off of his knuckles and my pussy clenches at the sight.

"What about it?"

"You remember the power vacuum after Azazel died, the one that Lilith stepped into?"

"Yeah, I remember getting targeted because Azazel wanted us in charge of the armies of Hell."

"Well, there's no one in Hell powerful enough to step into Lilith's shoes," I start.

"Hmmm. That sucks for the demons."

"No, it sucks for us. Chaos in Hell finds its way up and out. They need someone to keep them in check or the demons are going to make things Hell for us." I don't mind that I'm using Crowley's rationalization. It worked for me, didn't it?

"So, what?" Sam shakes his head. "You wanna power someone up to take the throne?"

"We don't need to power someone up, Sammy. We're already powered up."

"Are you-" Crazy bitch. "You are not suggesting what I think you're suggesting."

"I'm not crazy. I'm a genius, remember? And I can't do this alone. Azazel told all of Hell that we were going to be in charge. The Boy King of Hell and his Queen, a great strategic mind." Sam shakes his head, disgust and disbelief filling him, and I step closer, setting a hand on his bicep. "Sam. If I don't get your support on this, I'll never be able to control them. You are my king...always have been."

"So now you need me." He looks down at my hand. "Now I'm your king again."

"You never stopped being my king, but you stopped treating me like your queen."

"So you crawled back to Crowley," he accuses, angry thoughts of me fucking the demon filling his head.

"I haven't fucked him. Not since Dean went to Hell." I reach up to caress his cheek. "I went back to Crowley because I had to get rid of Lilith. And he's turned into a fairly...transparent source of support." I sigh. "I need you, Sam. The demons, they know your name. They fear and respect you. I need you to be my king."

"I don't want to live in Hell, Y/n."

"You wouldn't have to." I run my hand up into his hair. "I have them looking for a spot on Earth that we could rule from." He looks at me, confused. "I already took over, but I need my king to keep-"

"We're hunters. We kill demons, we don't lead them. We-"

"-fuck them and drink their blood," I snap. "The demons aren't going anywhere. We're never going to stop them from being demons. We're never going to win against them, but we can control them. Please, Sam."

He grabs my wrist with one hand and my hip with the other, pushing me into the wall. "We are hunters, Y/n."

"And we could still be hunters. We could be better hunters. We could have a team of demons tracking monsters for us, finding hunts. We could make things safer for everyone by being King and Queen of Hell."

"That-" Makes sense. "I don't know."

I put my hand on his chest and push him back a step. "Think about it, huh? I won't pressure you, but...ya know...we could do a lot of good."

"Y/n." He stops me as I move toward Ruby. "If you want to be my queen...you'd have to be mine."

I shake my head. "You need to learn to share, Sam. I shared you with Ruby."

"I wouldn't want-"

"I'm in love with Dean," I interrupt. It strikes me that I've never admitted that. I've never even really thought those words. I've told myself how I want him, how I care, but the word 'love' has never crossed my brain. "I love you, too, but I can't deny how I feel for Dean."

Sam's lips purse as he steps away. "You've given me a lot to think about."

"Good. I'm gonna take her. She'll make a good example."

"Not for you," he snaps. "You can take her, but if she's going to be an example...she'll be my example."

I chuckle as I pull out my phone and call Crowley. "Look at you, still being all possessive. Come get me, Crowley," I say as soon as the line connects and he appears beside me immediately. "Take me back to Dean, then take Ruby to my basement and fix the Trap."

"I'll be stuck too," he whispers, just a hint of doubt in his tone.

"I'll come get you," I promise and Crowley relaxes. He trusts me. That's so crazy. "I just need her somewhere I can find her when your King decides it's time to make an example of her."

"Of course, your majesty." He grabs my shoulder and suddenly I'm on the roadside with Dean, who throws a burger wrapper at my face.

"I can't believe you left me here!"

"I'm sorry. Hell is...an issue." I shake my head. I'm not gonna get into that, yet. "I'm sorry that I left you here and I'm sorry that I lied and I'm...Dean, how do I fix this, huh? How do I fix us?"

"Us?" he asks, eyebrows raised.

"Yes."

"There's not an us."

That hurts but I fight it down. "You forget that I've been able to hear your thoughts this whole time, Winchester? I know how you feel about me."

He looks away, eyes filling in with sadness. "You weren't supposed to be in my head."

"It wasn't intentional," I say, reaching up to turn his face to me. "Look. I love you and I want to fix this. Please. Please, I know you feel the same. Please," I beg.

He searches my eyes, thinking of how he can count the number of times he's heard me say 'please' on one hand. "Y/n, I-" Did she say she loves me?

"I do. Dean, I do and I know you love me, too. Please. I'll say 'please' as many times as you wanna hear it. Please, please, please, ple-" Dean cuts me off with a kiss, hard and passionate, hands grasping at my head. I grab his shoulders and pull him down closer to me.

He steps back and looks down at me with wide green eyes. "What am I supposed to do here, Boots?"

I smile at him. "Let's just take it a day at a time, huh?"

"It's not gonna be that easy, is it?"

"Never is, Dean," I say. "Never is."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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[writeyourownlifestory]

Sometimes . . . Dead Is Better

Chapters: 1/4 Fandom: IT Rating: E Warnings: Character Death, Zombie(?), Literally Pet Sematary. Gay bashing. Homophobia. Murder. Animal death. Relationships: Eddie Kaspbrak/Richie Tozier, Beverly Marsh/Ben Hanscom Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, lots of death.

Tag list: @richietoaster, @beproudtozier, @that-weird-girls-blog, @s-onora, @s-s-georgie, @bellarosewrites, @iamcupcakefrosting, @reddieonwheels, @ghostnebula, @madidraw @madi-main, @gazebobullshit, @thoughtfullyyoungduck​, @airbenderking, @ambitiousskychild, @tozierking​,

You know what they say about Derry, no one who dies here ever really dies.

IT + Pet Semetary = fun times for no one involved

It all started when their dog passed away.

They had decided to spend their summer vacation in Maine, a terrible decision on their parents as the city had far more to offer than their sleepy little town. Eddie had just started a new job and was only given a week to take off during the months of June to August. They chose July because that’s when it would be the least offensively hot in Maine.

Richie had landed a pretty sweet job interviewing celebrities for Podcasts. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted to do with his life, but he’d take it over being unemployed. Rather than sit around in their apartment for a week like Richie had hoped they would, they packed up their travel-sized belongings and headed back to the town they grew up in.

Despite his mother begging him to stay in his old childhood bedroom, Eddie put his foot down and settled to rent a room in the local townhouse. Sonia Kaspbrak wasn’t happy about it, but so long as Eddie was back, she’d deal.

Richie was content with this choice. For one, his own family no longer lived in Derry, so it wasn’t like he had anywhere to offer. Second, Eddie’s bedroom, which was basically a shrine to the poor guy, was too small for them to both fits. Not that Sonia would even allow Richie to stay there. She had never lived Richie, neither as Eddie’s friend or boyfriend, so Richie was sure if they were going to stay at the Kaspbrak house, he’d be sleeping on that uncomfortable couch.

Luckily, Eddie cared about his well being enough to not force him to do that and they got themselves a room with a mattress big enough for them both.

It started off pretty good. Eddie’s mother was beginning him to come over and spend time with her, wanting him to use up all seven days with just her. He compromised and gave as much time as he could while also meeting up with some old friends. Mike Hanlon still lived in Derry, running the library as the local historian.

Most of the group had moved on out of Derry, choosing to have lives of their own. The only ones they saw often enough were Bill Denbrough and Stanley Uris, who went back and forth from Long Island to California depending on whether or not Bill’s latest novel was to be turned into a script. The last time Richie and Eddie saw Ben Hanscom and Beverly (formerly Marsh) Hanscom was when they announced the birth of their first child.

It was tough growing up and growing apart from the people you always left closest to. Eddie and Richie were lucky as they always had each other. Through all the ups and downs, the trials and tribulations, Eddie had Richie and Richie had Eddie. It wasn’t easy because hello, being gay in Maine was never easy, but they made it work back in high school and they’d make it work here.

The first day had been them getting comfortable and meeting up with Mike for dinner. It was nice seeing a friendly face to talk about all the things that changed. The Aladdin was still standing, still looking as beaten up as ever. The standpipe was still the obnoxious eyesore that made the town look ever so picturesque. Keene’s drug store was still around and Richie made sure to tease Eddie about picking up his inhaler replacement.

They hung out and enjoyed themselves in the townhouse. Eddie was still iffy about certain things and made sure to change the sheets on the bed with the ones they had brought from home. It was for the best and Richie wasn’t going to argue with him, especially since Eddie was more than kind enough to allow Richie to messy them up in their own way when they got home from dinner.

It was the following day that everything turned to shit. Eddie had promised to spend the entire day with his mother, leaving Richie to fend for himself in the penthouse. Along with their luggage, they also brought along with dog Penny. She was a preciously little Pomeranian who was sweeter than candy and the apple of their eye. They had been thinking of getting a pet for a while and after finally buying a place of their own, they went down to the shelter to pick one out.

Pure breed dogs like Penny weren’t usually brought to places like that, rather sold by a breeder, but they were in luck. Her mother had been put up for adoption while pregnant and the puppies were scattered across the shelter. They took the smallest one because it reminded Richie so much of Eddie and welcomed her into their home.

They weren’t too sure where the name came from. Richie joked that they called her Penny because she was dirt cheap compared to so many other dogs that literally cost you an arm and a leg just to have. Eddie liked to think they got it from “Penny Lane” the Beatle song, but neither was right or wrong.

Now, the thing about the townhouse was that the whole thing hadn’t been updated since they were kids. No nice TVs or anything from the modern era. There were fans offered, but no AC unit in place. Richie was suffering from the heat and opened the far window in hopes of casting a bit of fresh air into the place.

He sat on the couch with his computer, trying to come up with some new material for the standup special he had been working on. He was funny and knew he could be funny outside of the podcast world. All he needed was the material to show it off.

Well, Penny was a precocious little pup and always liked to inspect things. She hopped up onto the window sill and began yapping at the birds on the outside. She had done the same thing yesterday, except the difference was there were several inches of glass keeping her at bay. Now there was no barrier between them, so nothing stopped the poor thing from leaping out the window, charging at the birds.

Unlike the birds however, she didn’t have wings to keep her from falling the several stories down onto the pavement below. It was only the sound of her whimpering that caught Richie’s ear. It didn’t take much for the man to realize what happened and by the time he got down to the street belong, Penny was suffering more than any animal should.

Richie was distraught. Despite never having been known to be an animal person, Penny was as close to as a child that Eddie and he were going to have for a while. She was literally their baby. They had taken her at the moment she was able to get off drinking from her mother. They bought her toys and little outfits. Eddie talked about buying a carriage so he could push her around while jogging because her little legs were just too short for the three-mile trip he’d take around the city.

She even had her own corner in their bedroom and a dog house in the living room of their place, but at the end of the day, she always ended up sleeping on their bed.

Eddie even put a little staircase at the foot of the bed so she could hop on up without issue.

And now she was dead on the ground, having fallen from their fucking room because Richie couldn’t just put up with the heat.

He felt awful. Disgusting and terrible. Eddie would hate him for this, that much was obvious. He’d call him every bad name in the book because he just had to open up the window. Even if it was a mistake, an innocent one, that didn’t stop Richie from feeling like garbage.

He called Mike because he had no other idea of what to do. He didn’t know if there were any local vets or anything like that. There was no way they’d be burying her here. The last thing Richie wanted was to leave their precious little Penny behind.

Richie thought about cremating her and bringing her back up to New York. They could scatter her ashes along the water or keep her in an urn in their apartment. Eddie would probably want to leave a little memorial at her favorite park. They didn’t have a backyard or anything like that, so they took her to the dog park two to three times a week.

When Mike came, they sat together, with Penny tucked away inside one of the meatpacking boxes.

He wanted to wait for Eddie. He had to wait for Eddie because if they guy came home and Richie told him that he was gone and Eddie didn’t even get to say goodbye, then that would just make it so much worse.

They sat together in the alleyway behind the townhouse, smoking as Richie thought about his fate and how angry Eddie would be.

“She used to curl up on Eddie’s lap whenever he was trying to work.” He mentioned to Mike with a loving smile. “All she ever wanted to do was cuddle us and we let her because we were mushes. Now she’s gone.”

Richie rubbed his eyes behind his glasses, ignoring the fear of tears coming on. He felt sick to his stomach and looked over to the box just a few feet away from him.

“My dog died when I was a kid,” Mike admitted quietly. “It was before we met. Henry Bowers gave him meat that was laced with insect poison. Guess he thought the old mutt was an eyesore.”

Richie shivered at the thought of Bowers and all the old memories came flooding back to him. He had been a thorn in Richie’s side even before he realized he was gay though the latter didn’t help matters much. He was a racist, homophobic shit who probably went nowhere in life. Or worse, actually made something of himself.

Either way, the less they spoke about Bowers the better.

“My grandfather told me about a place high up on the hills near the old Native American tribute. Apparently, the place still has some magic hidden up there or something. Anyway, he  carried the old boy there and the next day, he was back.”

“Back? Like . . . back from the dead?”

“I can’t explain it, but he was back. Different, but back.”

“Different how?”

“Mean,” Mike confessed, putting out the butt of his cigarette on the nearby wall. “He was pretty vicious. Broke into the barn and killed a couple of sheep. My grandfather ended up putting him down because he was becoming such a problem.”

“Penny couldn’t kill a thing. Barely weights five pounds.” Richie mentioned, looking from Mike to the box. He didn’t believe in magic or anything of the sorts, but he was a desperate man. “Where was this place?”

Turned out to be twenty minutes away by car, out towards where Mike lived and even further than that. The sky was turning dark by the time they got there and passing through the woods didn’t make it any easier.

“I want you to know the only reason I brought you here is that you’re my friend,” Mike told him calmly as they made their way down the path. There was a small area with handmade gravestones and a sign reading “Pet Sematary” hanging above. The incorrect spelling would drive Eddie crazy and Richie found himself smiling just thinking of it.

“So what, I just . . . pick a place?”

“Not here,” Mike said and carried down past the bushels of woods and up the hill town until they came upon a bleak circle with Native American carvings all along the ground.

“Have you been here before?” Richie asked carefully.

“Once. My grandfather and I were looting the area for anything we thought we could sell.” Mike admitted.

“You stole from Native Americans? Don’t they have enough to deal with?” Richie inquired.

With a slight glare, he continued. “He showed me this place and told me a few things about it. He didn’t want me to be curious and find it on my own. Mike paused, turning to hand Richie the shovel as he took the box that contained Penny. “You bury your own.” He told him. “That’s the rule.”

With one last sigh, Richie got to digging. He didn’t think any of this would work, but he was desperate to find out. If it all turned out to be some sick joke on Mike’s end, then at least they could call the trip short. Richie would dig up Penny and they’d go to the next town over to cremate her. They’d handle her ashes properly and Richie would take whatever punishment Eddie had planned for him.

When he was finished, he found himself more tired than expected. Like the place took away whatever energy he had to offer it. He got back to the townhouse and fell into the bed, falling asleep before even realizing it.

When he woke the following morning, it was to the sound of Eddie yelling at him. He jolted up, not knowing what day it was or why he was being hassled. He pushed himself up and out of bed, realizing only now he still had his muddy shoes on.

He stepped out of the bedroom and found Eddie on the floor, kneeling down beside a very dirty Penny. Her normally golden fur was matted with dirt and she was yipping around and around, much like the bubble ball of energy she was before.

“Seriously? What the hell did you do, take her running through the woods?” Eddie demanded, looking up to Richie. “And you! What, did you sleep in dirty clothes?”

“You didn’t come home last night,” Richie mumbled, rubbing his hand against his face.

“Mom had me watch one of those Turner Classic Movie Marathons. I fell asleep on the couch. I texted you but I never got a reply.” Eddie stood them, carrying Penny in his arms. “Come on, pretty girl. You need a bath. And Papa is gonna be the one to do it.”

Penny was shoved in his arms before he could even properly respond. Shuffling off to the bathroom, he listened to Eddie go on and on about his day with his mother while he got the tub set up for Penny.

He watched the dog curiously, trying to piece together what the hell happened. For a split second, Richie thought that the entire events of last night had been a horrible dream. Maybe he had just taken Penny out somewhere and they both got dirty. This town always gave him headaches, a little memory loss was no surprise to him.

“Rich, why is the window open?” Eddie asked as he popped his head into the bathroom. “In the living room. It’s wide open, you didn’t leave it open all night, did you? What if a bird got in? I swear I leave you alone for a fucking day.”

Richie stared with wide eyes at the dog that was digging into the bathroom rug. If last night wasn’t a dream, then that would mean Penny came back from the dead. How the fuck did she get back to the apartment? How did she get into the apartment? Nothing made sense to Richie, but he tried to ignore it all as he lifted her up and put her into the tub.

Normally, Penny was a lover of bath time. At their own apartment, they had plenty of room in their double-sized tub so it wouldn’t be a surprise for her to whine and whimper until Eddie lifted her up and they all bathed together on nights when they just needed some relaxation.

She would sit and allow Eddie to wash her and blow bubbled with her nose. Richie had countless pictures of her on his phone where she had colorful shower caps on to keep her ears or rubber duckies to keep her entertained.

Now, the former majestic and comforting dog was growling and yipping at Richie, going so far as to bite his arm when he tried to wash her. Richie couldn’t remember a single time that Penny had a bit at him, had snapped at all, but he chose not to question it.

She was back and they’d live with the attitude adjustment for now. He made a mental note to message Mike and give him a heads up about the place, but for now, he had a zombie dog to wash.

After the bath, Richie let Penny go and she moved around the apartment, going into the corner sit alone. Richie also took a shower, washing away all the dirt under his hair and somehow in his hair. He changed into clean clothes and found the dirty sheets had already been stripped and changed by Eddie, who was back in the kitchen, typing away on his computer as he drank his coffee.

“I thought we agreed on no work?” He asked casually, going to plop down onto the couch.

“Not work. Social stuff. Updating statues and all that.” Eddie moved forward, going to sit beside him on the couch. He held up his laptop, showing a picture from facebook. It was from Beverly and Ben with their baby on the beach. An adorable scene with Beverly completely slathered in sunscreen because of her pale complexion and Ben wearing the ugliest fucking hat he has ever seen. “Aren’t they adorable?”

Richie had to smile. He wasn’t wrong. They were very, very cute because how could they not be? They had been together since the end of high school. Lots of back and forth before Beverly finally grew a brain and realized the one she wanted and needed was Ben. They were a gorgeous family and Richie was envious of her happiness.

“That could be us someday,” Eddie ventured with a smile.

“Babe, you wear like . . . three times more sunblock than Beverly and if you think I’m wearing a hat that horrendous, you’re mistaken.”

“Not that, dumbass. The baby!” Right. The child.

Eddie had talked about it before. The whole adoption thing. Richie wasn’t opposed to it. Eddie had originally suggested fostering but Richie shut that down hardcore because he knew better. He knew Eddie would never be able to let the kid go so at least if they adopted right off the bat, they wouldn’t have to deal with anybody coming and trying to take the kid away from them.

“Eds, we’ve tried to remember? We just can’t seem to get you pregnant,” Richie teased, the tip of his nose nuzzling Eddie’s cheek.

Eddie sighed, closing the computer and placing it onto the coffee table beside Richie’s. They had talked about a lot of things. Adoption. Marriage. Growing old together. His own parents lived happily together raising two kids before retiring to Flordia. They weren’t perfect, but they didn’t have to be. Richie just hoped to be half the kind of partner his father had been, even if he wanted to be a better father.

“Your mom's not gonna cry and beg you to spend the night again, will she?” Richie asked curiously.

“Probably, but I won’t go. I told her I’d see her later this week but I want to use this time wisely and actually enjoy my vacation. Not just run around and do errands for her.”

“What a good son you are, Eddie Bear,” Richie said, kissing his cheeks wetly. Eddie groaned and pushed him away, causing Richie to laugh out. “Seriously, though. Do you have any plans? Did you sign us up for anything? No one to have dinner with?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Well, then what do you say to a good old fashioned date, huh? I was thinking: movies, dinner, and a walk along rickety Kissing Bridge?”

It was what they did when they were teenagers. Hang back at the top of the theater, grabbed pizza at the local parlor, and spit loogies off the bridge to the river below. Of course, as they got older and became an item, things became more romantic. They held hands during the movies and separated from the others for dinner. The only spit they shared at the bridge were kisses shared in secret. It wasn’t ideal, but it was good enough for them.

“I think you got yourself a date, Tozier.” Eddie decided, turning his head to kiss Richie.

It almost deepened then and while Richie would have been more than happy to let Eddie have his way with him right on the couch, they both turned away to see Penny pissing on the TV stand.

“Penny! What the hell?” Normally when the pup had to go she would let out a whimper and circle at the door. She was well trained; they had her certificate at doggy school and everything, but none of that seemed to matter anymore. Eddie pushed up off the couch to clean up and Richie watched as the dog walked on, obviously not giving a single fuck.

They changed and left the apartment. Richie worried about what Penny would do when they were gone, what trouble she would get into. She wasn’t a messy dog; she had been a wonderful puppy and didn’t even chew on a single shoe, but now that she was . . . different, he worried about what would come of it.

Richie couldn’t think about that right now. He wanted to focus on something better and that was going out on a date with his boyfriend. They chose whatever the theater was playing when they arrived. Didn’t bother to check online, mostly cause Eddie wasn’t even sure the Aladdin even had a website. They chose The Monkey’s Paw, some old black and white film that was playing; bought their large popcorn and sodas and went up to the top ledge as they did as kids.

Richie kicked his feet up, waiting for Eddie to do the same so they could intertwine their ankles. They shared the popcorn and a few kisses as the film played on. It wasn’t a horrible movie; definitely worth the time to see it through Richie found he much preferred to watch Eddie than to watch whatever was happening on screen.

When it was over, they tossed out their containers and left the theatre. Eddie was talking a mile a minute about the movie they just watched, all the while Richie just smiled and nodded along. They went to the nearby diner for dinner and Richie watched as Eddie searched and searched before finally deciding to go with a plain burger. He asked what kind of grease they used, but gave up trying afterward because it was fucking Derry Maine, they couldn’t expect anything to be healthy around here, even with the growing vegan trend.

They shared fries and onion rings, talking about all the fun they used to have when they were kids, trying to split the bill with their allowances; counting nickels and dimes just to make it. Now they were both making money and paying for the bill was with a quick swipe of the credit card.

It was a calm night, sitting and chatting with each other as Richie continued to flood the table jukebox, playing all the songs they grew up with. He ended on “Together Forever” by Rick Astley because it was loud and dramatic, the exact opposite of Eddie. Richie sang it to him lovingly, not caring if anybody watched. The look he got from Eddie was more than enough. A glance that says: you’re a total idiot but you’re my total idiot.

What more could he ever want?

When they finished, Richie persuaded Eddie to take a walk with him. It was late, but not too late. The moon was high in the sky, just after sundown. The heat settled and the breeze was beginning to pick up around them.

They walked down the lane together, right up to Kissing Bridge. Eddie read the names aloud, trying to think if he knew any of the people. They stopped when they came upon the all too familiar carving. Richie had done it back when they were just kids. Barely fourteen at the time and completely in love with his best friend. The carving was faded by now, but the sentiment meant the same.

R + E

Richie plus Eddie.

“Forever and ever, babe,” Richie mentioned, going to lean against the bridge. He watched Eddie, catching the moonlight in his eyes and in his hair. He was gorgeous and always would be. “You know . . . I had been thinking about this for a while.”

“You: thinking? Oh, that can’t be good.” Eddie laughed softly.

“It’s kind of obvious that you’re it for me, Eduardo. And unless you can find another ugly mother fucking with a gangly body, I think I might be it for you too.”

“Depends on if the circus is coming to town,” Eddie mentioned, a loving smile coming across his face.

“Eds. I’m sure there are thousands of ways I could do this and maybe waiting until we get back to New York is the better choice, but call me a sentimental fuck, but I can’t imagine anywhere else I’d rather ask you this.”

He had both the ring a month ago, knowing eventually they’d have the time together and he’d be able to ask. Richie couldn’t think of a better place than their hometown. Not because of the idealistic ways around it, but rather because what would be a better fuck you to this horrible town than being extremely gay smack dab in the middle of it?

Richie got down onto one knee, holding out the ring box he had fished from his jacket pocket. It was white gold with an overlay of diamonds. Simple and elegant, just like Eddie himself.

“Eddie Spaghetti,”

Eddie laughed, his cheeks turning scarlet in the moonlight. “Christ Rich,”

“Would you do the honor of marrying me?”

“Do you really think I’d say no, asshole? Yes! One hundred times yes,”

Richie’s smile was as bright as the fucking moon. He slipped the ring on, which was the perfect size because he knew exactly what size finger Eddie had. He knew more about Eddie than he knew about himself sometimes.

When all was said and done he stood, towering over the other male, though he bent forward to kiss him, not caring at his glasses were pushed up against his nose. They’d deal with it later.

Lost in their kiss, neither noticed the car stopping in the middle of the bridge or the driver getting out of it. When they broke away, Richie turned to see an all too familiar blue thunderbird idling on the bridge and coming over to them was the same mullet-wearing asshole that made his life a living hell all those years ago.

“Well, ain't this a pretty sight.” Henry Bowers muttered, looking over to his companions.

“Hello to you too, Bowers,” Eddie said, looking the group up and down slowly.

“Tozier and Kaspbrak. Haven’t seen your ugly faces around here in a while.” Henry mentioned. “Thought I got rid of your losers.”

“No, that was college. We went there while you stayed and jerked off into a bucket.” Richie replied back easily.

“Always knew you two were fucking each other. What? Marsh’s puss wasn’t good enough so you two turned into a couple of faggots?”

“There is so much wrong in everything you just said.” Eddie groaned, rubbing at his temple. The ring caught the moonlight and Henry’s attention.

“Well, I guess congratulations are in order,” Henry mentioned, approaching slowly. He placed a hand on Richie’s shoulder, that sadistic smile that always sent a shiver down Richie’s spine shined darkly. “Welcome home,” He said cheerfully before driving his fist into Richie’s stomach.

It wasn’t their first beating. They had taken blows by Bowers and his gang before and back in New York they were used to someone shouting something at them despite it being new age. They went back and forth, each putting up a fight because they weren’t going to let Bowers win this round.

It came to a close when he tried to take Eddie’s ring. The shorter male bought back, going so far as to land a punch right in Henry’s eye. That pissed him off enough to brandish the knife he always kept in the back pocket. He held onto Eddie’s hand tightly, threatening to cut off his finger and wear the ring around his neck as a souvenir.

At this point, it wasn’t worth it and Richie was shouting for Eddie to just give it up. The other assholes were holding him down, refusing to let him up to help Eddie.

Bowers licked the knife slowly, bringing the tip of it to Eddie’s face to teach him. In a swift move, Eddie jerked forward, kneeing Henry in the dick. The pain was enough to send a surge of angry through him and Bower buried the knife in Eddie’s face, cutting deeply into his cheek.

Eddie cried out, both in shock and pain, while Bowers decided to let the knife stay there as he punched the rest of Eddie’s face until his knuckles were bloody.

Richie thought it would end there. He thought they would be left beaten and bloody, but alive in the middle the street.

They couldn’t get that lucky.

Using the last bit of strength he had, Eddie muttered one final thought. “You should cut that fucking mullet. It’s been like twenty years, man.”

With that, Bowers offered one more blow before standing to his feet. He shouted for the others to come over and help him. They left Richie on the other side of the road to watch as they dragged Eddie over, to the wall of the bridge. And in one smooth move, they lifted him up and tossed him over into the river below.

Richie was left screaming, spitting out blood onto the road as Bowers and his gang drove away. Using whatever strength he had left, Richie pushed himself up, scooping his glasses from the ground, and hurried around to where the opening of the bridge led to the river. He tripped twice and fell first into the edge of the water, pushing himself up onto wobbly legs as he went deeper into the water and over to where Eddie was floating.

“Eddie. Eddie! Wake up, babe. Baby, wake up.” Richie muttered, rolling Eddie over so his face was out of the water.

His eyes were open and his neck was slack. Richie could think of countless times he had gazed into those eyes as a child, as a teen, as a man. No matter the situation, Eddie always seemed to have a wonderful glimmer there.

That glimmer was gone now and replacing it was nothing more than a vacant stare that went nowhere.

His face was mutilated and despite lying in the water for over three minutes, there was no washing the blood away. It stained his skin in the worst way, leaving him wet and icky.

He was completely unresponsive and while it was plain to see that he wasn’t dealing with shock or just fell contentious, Richie continued to hold onto him and mutter his name, rocking him slowly until someone above spotted and alerted the authorities.

Richie was treated for his wounds at the hospital while Eddie was taken away by the coroner. It still hadn’t hit Richie yet that this happened. That Eddie was dead. When he spoke to the hospital officials, they said a full autopsy hasn’t been done but their best guess was a broken neck and drowning.

They cleaned him up and stitched up any wounds he had, leaving him looking more like Frankenstein than anything. He called Mike, not knowing what else to do in this situation. And Mike called Stanley and Bill because this wasn’t something Richie should have to deal with alone.

When Richie tried to report the crime, however, he found himself being rebuffed.

“Henry Bowers couldn’t have done this,” The officer on call explained to him. “He’s on the force. He might be a hothead like his old man, but he wouldn’t break the law. He is the law.”

“Do you think I am fucking lying about this?” Richie practically screamed.

“You already said his dad was a hothead. What makes you think Bowers wouldn’t do this?” Mike challenged the officer.

“Because he is an officer. Now, unless you want to give me a real report, I suggest you deal with your own trouble.”

The officer walked away and the only reason why he didn’t straight up maul the officer was because of Mike holding him back.

“I haven’t even seen him!” Richie shouted to Mike, beginning to pace the hospital, having not seen Eddie since they arrived at the hospital. “I don’t even fucking know where he is.”

He was breaking down. He knew he was breaking down and there was no way to stop it. Richie wanted to fall to the ground and cry, not caring who saw him. He had just proposed. They were going to get married. They were going to look into adoption, they would have a family. Everything was going so fucking well for them and now it felt like the world was falling apart around them.

Mike ended up sweet talking one of the nurses into letting Richie see Eddie. He was given a five-minute window, which seemed cruel for a man who watched his lover died.

He laid on the slab completely still, eyes still wide open as he looked out over nothing. They washed away the blood, though the bruises still remained. There was no point in stitching him up, leaving the wound open on his cheese.

There was no denying it anymore. He wasn’t just frozen in the moment or in a vegetative state. Eddie Kaspbrak was dead and there was no going back.

Richie could only apologize so many times but he’d go on and on for as long as it took. He was so fucking sorry. Sorry that he let Penny fall from the window. Sorry that he fought with his mother to the point where she didn’t want him at her house. Sorry that he bothered to propose in public in such a fucked uptown.

Richie was just so fucking sorry.

All their plans were gone. All their hopes were gone. Eddie was gone.

But he didn’t have to be.

In the darkest part of Richie’s mind, he knew there had to be a way it would work. It worked on a dog, so why not a man? Anything was possible, right? And if it didn’t work, then at least then he would know and he could have closure. If it didn’t work then he’d confess to everything and they’d bury Eddie for real. They’d give him a proper burial and his mom would have Richie even more but that was fine.

It was worth a shot.

Stealing a body from a hospital wasn’t easy and he didn’t really know what to do once he slipped through the back door. He carried Eddie, wrapped up in the sheet from the hospital, all the way to the area that Mike had first taken him too. Richie had never been very strong, but he found the strength to take Eddie all the way up there.

He walked down the path and up the hill. He went passed the dead animals and into the circle. He found a place right in the middle and started digging. He dug, and dug, and dug until there was nothing left but a gaping hole.

He pulled Eddie into it, holding him for just a moment longer.

“Come back to me,” He muttered, laying him down in the dirt. “You fucking come back to me, you understand?”

Pulling himself out of the hole, Richie pushed all the dirt back on until Eddie was completely covered. Lightening light up the sky and rain began to fall down, though he carried on until the hole was complete. He walked back down the trail in a trance, stopping only when he found Mike at the bottom.

“I couldn’t find you,” Mike said, his voice low and shaking. He looked over Richie, seeing the dirt on his clothes and on his hands. “I couldn’t find you and I knew. Richie . . . whatever you did-”

“It’s done,” Richie told him simply, pushing passed him to continue ongoing down the lane.

“Whatever you think you did, it won’t work. Whatever returns to you, it won’t be Eddie!” Mike warned. He reached back, grabbing Richie’s arm to stop him from walking. “My grandfather had a friend, Rich. His son died overseas and he was so desperate to have him back-”

“It’s done, Mike!” Richie shouted to him, pushing him off. “The law won’t do anything, what other choice did I have?!”

Nobody would listen to Richie, nobody cared about what he had to say. He was just another gay man. Useless and pathetic. Wanting all the attention. There was no way they would believe him if he tried to bring this to outside police or even to court. An off duty police officer vs a homosexual.

There would have been proof. They found the knife that was plunged into Eddie’s cheek; it had the initials of Bower's father along the body of it. And it wasn’t like Richie could kick the shit out of himself and Eddie and still have the strength to push him over the bridge.

All the proof was there, but they still wouldn’t listen. Richie, in his desperation and depression, saw no real solution to this problem.

“Using a fucking Native American burial ground should have never been a choice!” Mike insisted.

“You showed it to be in the first place.”

“For your dog! Not your boyfriend!”

Richie’s eyes glazed over, his head shaking as his glasses became fogged up from the rain. “Eddie will come back. Just like Penny did.”

“It won’t end well, Richie,” Mike warned, but the other man wasn’t listening.

He just kept walking down the lane, all the way back to the townhouse.

[isitovers]

1) Hi Fiona, I’m back for my chapter 2 review! And I have to say, this is probably my favorite chapter of the entire story (keep in mind I’m probably going to say that about all the chapters from here on out). So there are three things from this chapter that I mainly want to talk about and I’m going to save my favourite for last. So first of all in this chapter I love that we get to see a little bit more of Harry’s job and his work life.

2) We see it first with Chiffon which is done so well because we not only see how great Harry is with her but we also get to see more of how the magazine actually works and what he actually writes. The facade idea is really cool too. We also get to see a bit more of his relationship with his other coworkers. He seems to have a good relationship with Camryn, most likely due to him helping her out in chapter 1.  He goes for drinks with Eric and Jared sometimes

3) (btw I really love his friendship with Jared). But most importantly I love how you set up his relationship with Mallory. I really think you did such a good job with it Fiona, because I don’t think it’s something I picked up on when I first read Home. But it’s so clear to me that Mallory had some serious feelings for Harry. At first I thought it was just a mutual attraction kind of thing but through a lot of little things you do it’s easier to see that she would want something more.

4) The little happy smile she has when Harry says he loves her (in a joking way), the fact that she came into the break room all the time for coffee when Harry was there. And the thing is, Harry picks up on it too. And he might kind of have a connection with her but he doesn’t really like her in a romantic way. It’s just really good set up for things that happen later. Secondly, we get to see Harry bonding more with Taylor’s friendship group so that he’s more than just Taylor’s friend.

5) We know that he’s been going out with them more. He helps out Teo out with his shoot. He’s being invited to a friend’s sibling’s birthday party (lol can’t wait for that). And most importantly, he’s bonding more with Karlie and thus finding out more and more information about Taylor. She doesn’t let out a whole lot of info this chapter but it does a good job of cementing Karlie’s place in the story as the character who kind of pushes things along.

6) There isn’t much Sam in this chapter but from his one scene we get the picture that even if they’re both playing nice they both have the understanding that they don’t quite like the other. Ok, so thirdly is of course Harry and Taylor’s relationship and this chapter does such a good job at showing so many different things about their relationship and how it’s moving. I mean we’ve gotten the idea that Harry has fallen and he’s fallen hard.

7) But there’s also a few clues that Taylor might be heading in the same direction. I mean why does she spend so much time with him? Why does she want to look after him when he’s sick? Why does she care so much about making a good impression on his mum? Why does she take her shirt off and let him take pictures of her?? (Believe me I’m gonna talk more about that). Yes, part of it is just her personality but there’s also something more there.

8) Another thing that amps up this chapter is THEIR GODDAMNED SEXUAL TENSION!! LIKE HOLY SHIT!! Harry can’t go five minutes without getting a hard on. In that opening scene, when he’s trying to talk himself out of jacking himself off to the thought of her I literally die. Because I agree with him. It is creepy to do that to the thought of a friend but at the same time I love it so much. Poor boy is just so horny and he does have to listen to them fuck fairly regularly.

9) And then afterwards all he can notice is her boobs and and her legs and I’m dying of embarrassment  for him. None of that though is as good as the scene in her apartment. I mean sure at first they’re just innocently drawing on each other but before you know it he’s drawing on her ribcage, then she’s taking her shirt off and he’s taking pictures, then she’s just walking around without her shirt on AND I’M DYING!! Poor Harry. I mean Taylor had to know what she was doing.

10) This is where morally, it gets kind of iffy I think. Because I mean she could be doing these kind of things with her other friends but probably not in such a flirty way. Also the scene where Harry comes to sleep in Taylor’s bed is one of my favourites. It is so funny but also so heated. I love it. Harry thinking about how much better he would fuck Taylor than her boyfriend and giving himself a hard on while she’s sleeping next to him is so wrong but also so good!

11) I love it and honestly just reading it gives me blue balls (I’m a girl lol). The end to the chapter is also great. ‘I sleep naked,’ will certainly give Miss Swift something to think about during the day. Ok, this it. Sorry, it got so long I just have a lot of thoughts lol . Also I haven't edited so sorry if it makes no sense.

omg this is so long and I'm living!! this is exactly the sort of thing I wanted when it came out!

okay so again I was concerned that the work parts wouldn't be so interesting for readers who only wanted them but I thought it was important to show more about harry's life and what it's like in this au. I don't know how magazines really work so I just did what I always do: make things up and sound confident about it even when internally I'm like ???? also I'm glad you liked the theme thing because I actually sat down and wrote a whole list of possible themes at the time I was trying to get into planning at a time when I was kind of stuck, as well as a bunch of characterisation questions that I don't know if they actually helped but would be fun to go back and read

jared was the friend I felt like he really needed, meanwhile mallory was a bit of fun for me that also make it more realistic. because hello! a cute brit living in new york? there's no way someone doesn't have a thing for him! so I tried to weave that in as an extra plot that would hopefully make things more interesting

being a part of a friendship group outside of work was also important for him because, going from all his uni friends to a place where he was on his own, it helped him feel more like he belonged. I wanted to have him get along well with the others since even if things never happened with taylor, at least he would still have people in his life who made new york enjoyable and worthwhile

not featuring sam a lot hints at the amount of time they spend alone together and that it means something. sure they're neighbours and it's convenient and they get along well together but maybe it's a little too well. since it's only making his feelings for her grow and become harder to deal with (pun intended). which okay all the sexual tension was so much fun to work on and I regret none of it!! she shouldn't have been so flirty with him and he needed to control himself but where would be the fun in that? I made him suffer and it was worth it

[spellwords-remade]

  Wolf-light embraced the fey maiden as she danced in phantasmagoria.   She was make-believe beyond belief; imperiously ethereal, floating just   beyond the senses— kafkaesque in every sense of the word. A star-pale,   rose-lipped, pearl-tressed naiad; her pulchritude was haunting. Faintly   shimmering alabaster skin was nearly diaphanous, so fine that it seemed   the beat of a butterfly's wing would mark a contusion. Her aura was ineffable;   nightmarishly complex and illogical, disorienting in gravitas. If she caught a   raindrop on her tongue, it would surely cool into a flake of snow.       Untouchable, almost, as if this realm had no rights to the idea of her.

*// LOOKING FOR RP CONTACTS    more info below the cut !  ⋆    ( boosts appreciated )

NAME: mystearine hana ivycrow (in game, variants of martyr).

RACE: shandaral highborne.

CLASS: mage.

*// ART / DOSSIER

CAN CURRENTLY BE FOUND IN: dalaran, boralus, stormwind, northrend, northern kalimdor (namely winterspring, quel’thalas.

HOW SHE WOULD BE KNOWN: to those who lived in shandaral or have knowledge of it; the daughter of the iudicatrix, one of the highest ranking members of society not involved with the magocracy-- the high judge. one of the many children to the troubled arcanist, her father, who pioneered the magic of radiomancy. to those with knowledge of ancient arts; founder of the sect of elves in shandaral known as the alara’do, who often appeared alongside courtesans at magocratic galas and feasts. they embodied highborne etiquette and beauty, performing arts such as song and dance, and providing chaste companionship. to those of quel’thalas; served as a guide and a source of knowledge to the high elves who had departed to winterspring in search of the crystal of zin-malor. to those involved in the nexus war; with intimate knowledge of the blue dragonflight’s crystallizing magic, she was of value to the ethereum, as she wasn’t quite ready to leave seclusion at the time. she was the recipient of the highborne artifact dor’arkhana for her service to the ethereals.

PERSONALITY: intellectually curious, but, possessing an oppressive air of chilling mystery. strange, and, by all accounts, exceedingly difficult. behind every sardonic glance in the absence of archaically composite words is a lady who longs to understand the inner machinations of everything, and often that includes others.

LANGUAGE(S): darnassian, thalassian, common, ravenspeech.

HEIGHT: 4′6″.

BODY TYPE: embonpoint.

EYE COLOR: starlight.

HAIR COLOR: pearlescent, silvery white.

AGE: unknown (ancient, 6000+).

NOTABLE SCARS, MARKS, ETC: white eyelashes and other traits of albinism, pupiless eyes, fangs, floor-length hair, downturned languish ears, diamond-shaped scar on center of forehead, scars on lower back.

TATTOOS/PIERCINGS:  runes along wrists and spanning her back.

FIRST APPEARANCES: often the first to approach, due to the fact that she seemingly appears out of nowhere at times-- witty remarks and often absurd questions are soon to follow. figures of interest tend to be those with a tangible magical aura, or those who walk with a sense of power. reality doesn’t seem to interact with her the way it should be known to.

WHAT TO EXPECT: oppressive mannerisms and surreal musings leave her to carry the presence of one who doesn’t wish to belong, with her witty remarks often leaving a taste of uneasy coldness. she is one who seeks to understand the workings of the mind, and this may come with incessantly prying curiosity. the concept of close relationships are foreign at best, and although she seeks companionship, it’s not the easiest path for her to take, being more likely to pull someone into one of the outlandish escapades of her mind than to talk to them in any manner of polite existence.

WHERE I RP: discord, tumblr, and in-game. for long threads, i almost always will prefer discord due to my iffy schedule of being online for things other than pvp.

WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR: character-focused and storyline-driven progression. i love meaningful stories and arcs that can impact all involved, and the effects can be felt for a long time to come. due to the nature of my character’s magic, she has the potential to be mentor figure in that respect, but, she lacks knowledge of the world outside of what she knew and has subsequently built up in her mind. though i don’t have time to form a guild, i had the thought of a sort of cult-following building around magics of reality manipulation, like a dark academia-- it could be doable as a community, rather than a guild, if anyone takes interest.

FANDOM: world of warcraft.

SOLE FACTION OR CROSS-FACTION: character is entirely factionless.

FACTION I PLAY: alliance, rarely horde.

SERVER: moon guard, rarely wyrmrest accord.

VENUES I ACTIVELY ROLEPLAY IN: discord, tumblr, and in game-- in game tends to not be in tavern environments, and rather out in the world, unless it’s a minor occurrence in her overarching storyline.

FAVORITE TYPE OF RP: surrealist, grimdark, psychologically thrilling. my character is one that is meant to mess with the perception of reality, and get into the mind of those she interacts with, evoking thought.

TRIGGERS: will speak privately. please read my rules, though!

THINGS I WILL NOT RP: erotic roleplay, romantic relationships, child characters (unless it’s the child of an adult character that is present), permanent character death or disfigurement (without extreme plot significance). character is not receptive to romantic or sexual themes, but, i will do them as long as it doesn’t extend into a relationship or erp.

RP STRONG POINTS: thought-provoking dialogue, lore that isn’t typical to the class fantasy but still fits within warcraft’s lore, surrealist themes. plotting.

RP WEAK POINTS: i’m painfully shy and paranoid, and often times have a hard time responding. my work schedule also makes it tough as well. when i’m in game, it’s usually just for pvp. i’m also terrible at spontaneous meetings.

CONTACT ME: send an ask or tumblr im, my discord friend requests and dms are turned off, so i’ll add you if you drop yours! or catch me in game on Martyrium-MoonGuard (A), Martyred-MoonGuard (A), Martyrs-MoonGuard (A), Martyred-WyrmrestAccord (A), Martyize-WyrmrestAccord (A), Martyrized-WyrmrestAccord (H) * i play my character on so many classes for pvp, she is only a mage ic.

[itshansolo]

my review of the last jedi

spoilers, very much so

It’s easy to understand why the critics love this film. It’s very different from The Empire Strikes Back, it’s got some excellent acting, surprising moments and good action scenes. For people who get paid to analyze films as their own entities and do so countless times a year - and as such probably don’t remember much about The Force Awakens aside from “Han was killed as Luke showed up in the last few seconds” - that’s all it takes for a 10/10 experience.

The film ends on a high note, so you walk away from the theater in ecstasy and still absorbing what you just saw. But the euphoria doesn’t resist 10 minutes of critical thinking. For a film that praises itself for digging deep into its characters, The Last Jedi is surprisingly superficial. Presumably, one of the first questions Rian Johnson asked himself was “what is Luke Skywalker doing on that island?”. Turns out he feels guilty about what happened to Ben Solo and the Jedi order he was building. Wait, you might say, I thought the previous movie had already made that clear? That’s because it did. The Last Jedi was supposed to be Luke’s movie and we get no insight whatsoever into his character that we didn’t already know or make educated guesses about.

Except for one thing. Turns out he tried to kill his nephew when he sensed the darkness inside him. Yeah. Exactly. He didn’t give up on Darth Vader of all people, but he was ready to slaughter his teenage nephew. There is no plausible explanation for this. That was before shit hit the fan in the Skywalker household, so any psychological trouble that might excuse his odd behaviour when Rey finds him does not excuse this.

That’s not the full extent of Luke’s iffy characterization. We all remember how he went against his masters’ teachings and faced Darth Vader with nothing but compassion under his sleeve. So tell me how does it make sense for a Force Ghost Yoda to appear and lecture him on all that was wrong about the old ways of the Jedi? It doesn’t. Their respective beliefs were flipped.

In the last few months, the powers that be have repeatedly stated in interviews - as a weird badge of pride - that each director is entirely free to come up with the story of each film, with nothing but the previous instalment as a starting point. Long story short, the trilogy is being written as they go along. And it shows. Snoke was nothing but a plot device. The Knights of Ren are nowhere to be seen. There’s no explanation for how and why the Skywalker lightsaber ended up in Maz Kanata’s possession. Maz, by the way, has the most inorganic introduction I’ve ever had the displeasure to watch. I just have to presume it was in Lupita Nyong’o’s contract to be in at least two films.

If Lupita’s contract might explain Maz’s atrocious cameo, Benicio Del Toro can only be a close friend of Rian Johnson’s with a lifelong dream to be in a Star Wars movie. The character, whose name we do not learn, is completely useless and badly portrayed. The necessary skills that he has could have been easily transfered to Rose. As a side effect, the whole Canto Bight detour - also a waste of time - could have been thrown out altogether.

Speaking of Rose, she’s one of the few elements that actually work in this film. Kelly Marie Tran is excellent and the character is immediately likable. We learn more about her than we learned about Rey in two goddamn movies. Her storyline with Finn, as mentioned above, could have used a little trimming, but I have to disagree with critics who claim it’s the biggest/only weakness of the film. The sheer charisma of Kelly and John Boyega carries the storyline. 

The truth is there a lot of weakness and they are spread out. Case in point, the dynamic between Amilyn Holdo and Poe, my least favorite part by far. Rian Johnson came up with the character of Amilyn and Claudia Gray borrowed the name to write a different character in her novel Princess of Alderaan. Those who have read this book know that she’s the Luna Lovegood of Star Wars and her charming personality completely vanishes in the film. She’s virtually a different woman. Did the story group of Lucasfilm and their supposed responsibility for continuity in a galaxy far far away take a vacation while Claudia was writing the book?

It’s clear that Holdo was introduced in the movie to prop up Poe Dameron’s character development, but the trouble is that such development is not necessarily welcome or well done. I don’t know how a movie that lasts two and a half hours can feel rushed, but here it did. Poe and Holdo’s altercation is truncated, confusing, almost impossible to get invested in.

Did you notice how I failed to mention Rey until now? You may think Daisy Ridley was just being humble when she kept saying in the press tour that Rey is not necessarily the main character. She wasn’t though. Rey does not feel like the main character at all. As a matter of fact, Poe feels more like a protagonist this time around. And that’s saying something, considering his character was supposed to die early on in The Force Awakens.

I’m not gonna ramble at length about the godforsaken topic of Rey’s parentage. I’m just gonna say that, aside from being almost comical how The Force Awakens missed the mark when introducing the child of literal nobodies, The Last Jedi takes its sweet time to settle the debate once and for all, as it continues to tag people along like Lucasfilm and Disney have been doing for two years. As soon as Rey and Kylo have their first bizarre Sense8-esque Force meeting, my seatmate whispered to his friend “wait, are they siblings?” and I wanted to take a bullet to the brain right the fuck there. BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT WOULD HAVE MADE SENSE. Mere seconds after one of their Force connections, Luke has a similar scene with Leia. You know… Leia. HIS SISTER. At some point, Kylo tells Rey that he knows she’s gonna join him eventually… because he’s seen who her parents are. Geez, Louise. I wonder why the identity of her parents would compel her to get closer to Kylo. Maybe because they are HIS PARENTS TOO?? No, that would have just been too good.

And it doesn’t end there! Remember that teaser in which something sinister is calling to Rey and Luke yells “RESIST IT”?. That was awesome, wasn’t it? Who was calling to her? Snoke? Kylo? Turns out it was… a cave. A cave in which Rey has a borderline psychodelic experience that involves mirrors. She asks to be shown the face of her parents and the music intensifies until… we see Rey staring at her own reflection. That’s brilliant, Rian. Keep building up the mystery only to reveal later on that her parents were alcoholic junkers that may or may not remain nameless for eternity (and Rey shall remain just “Rey” forever).

I’m still trying to figure out the purpose of that cave scene. This goes back to how disappointingly shallow the movie was. We were supposed to learn some pretty interesting lore about the Force and what did we actually get? We learned that the Force doesn’t belong to the Jedi (duh)… and that’s it. Are you serious?

Let me get into what I did like about the film. Like I said, John Boyega and Kelly Marie Tran are a tour de force of charisma. They’re the most endearing pair and just plain fun to watch. Although Finn has been criminally demoted from his leading man status, his confrontation with Phasma (who’s Phasma again?) brought nice closure to his arc as a former stormtrooper.

I know many of my mutuals and followers cannot stand Adam Driver. I have side-eyed some of the things he said recently myself. But the guy is phenomenal in this movie. I caught myself looking forward to his appearences, because he is simply magnetic. I have no idea what’s gonna happen to Kylo, but I’m invested either way. The one thing The Last Jedi taught me is that speculation is pointless, because fans put way more thought into the story than the powers that be. That’s depressing, but it’s the reality of the situation.

I think my favorite scene in the whole movie is Kylo and Rey in Snoke’s throne room. The tension was palpable. The way Kylo ended Snoke had everyone in the room on the edge of their seats and the battle against the Praetorian Guards right afterwards was simply breathtaking.

Carrie Fisher is so Leia in her last appearence. I’m pretty happy with her send off, all things considered. She felt way more at ease in the role when compared to The Force Awakens and we gotta give Johnson some credit here, even if I want to strangle him most of the time. The infamous Superman scene is pretty awkward, but it was about time she showed some badass Force powers. The old hologram from A New Hope being what motivates Luke to finally help Rey was a stroke of genius. Such a simple plot development, but literally no one saw it coming. There wasn’t a single dry eye in the audience.

LUKE AND LEIA REUNITE! Well, sort of. But it was enough for me. Which brings me to Luke projecting himself across the galaxy. It sounds cartoonish on paper, but boy did it work! If you didn’t get goosebumps when he became one with the Force to the sound of Binary Sunset, something is wrong with you. The shoulder wipe was LEGENDARY. Some of the humor didn’t work in this film, but most certainly did, especially Chewie and the porgs (which are adorable and thankfully not overused) and Luke hitting Rey in the hand with a stick when he asks her to reach out.

As a standalone film, I give The Last Jedi an 8 out of 10. But as a follow-up to a seven-part saga, it’s a 6/10 with a pinch of generosity.

[harrish6]

String Stitches - Chapter 1 - Finding The Thread And Needle

Shears!Sans and TailoredTale belongs to JuneTheGlassesBearer, I do not own them. They were nice enough to give me permission to use them both, so thanks again for that! You have no idea how much I ship Shears with my version of Error. I'm trash, but so proud of it right now. Like, I can't stop smiling and laughing after JuneTheGlassesBearer gave me permission to use their OC - I'm most likely freaking out my dogs right about now.

Error is my Forced Destroyer and Forced God Of Destruction Error. Just wanted everyone to know in case there was a misunderstanding. This isn't the Threadverse - JuneTheGlassesBearer made Threadverse, not me.- it is set in my Forced Destroyer Universe.

You all should go check out JuneTheGlassesBearer! They can be found on Wattpad, AO3, deviantart and Tumblr. They even have a story for Shears - that is called Tailoredtale - that while unfinished is still great, that's where I fell in love with the character.

No, you all don't understand. I have been eyeing Shears like a piece of candy for so long. I finally bit the bullet and asked to use him. Remember this, sometimes all you have to do is go for it and things work out for you!

-Chapter Start-

"WhY CaN'T HE juST StOP! iS iT thAT haRD!? iS IT a ADdiCtION oF soME kIND oR IS tHIS whoLE thING liKE a GamE TO hIM?!" Error snarled to himself, stumbling into the shadows of a random AU he fled to. Blood was seeping off him, dust flaking off. Sometimes he wished he could just rip Ink's head off, but he was Fate's favorite as well as needed for the balance. But was it really Balance when the creation side of everything is throwing said Balance out the window? Where was his break in it all. "StUpID, INsaNE CreaToR iS GoinG TO bE tHE dEaTh oF EvERyTHinG!"

Not that Error cared too much for the other Au's, but he didn't want everything to die out. There were some AU's that he liked in fact, but the issue was that there were too many AU's, and then copies of those AU's as if there already were not enough. Ink didn't know where to drawl the line.

Error had just been doing his job, destroying some AUs that were close to touching and making some room for others to grow in. He also had destroyed some new AU's, ones that were not fully developed. It was easier that way, and made sure that he killed less Monsters and people. Killing was all well and fine, Error even enjoys it depending on who and why, but killing children and babies? Yeah, no. He'll do it if he has to, but up far away with his Gaster Blasters so he doesn't see or hear their screams.

In any case, while on the job, Ink decided to come out of nowhere and fight him for the AU he was about to destroy. A undeveloped copy. Not a Original, so what was the issue here? They fought like always, with Fate on Ink's side as always. Error could win, he knows this, but what was the point really. As long as the AU is destroyed, then his job is done no matter how many new scars he gets. So, after getting whaled on, Error got in a few hits then destroyed the AU, leaving while Ink screamed and yelled.

He landed in a random AU, not thinking about it too much as he tried to gather his thoughts. Making sure to stick to the shadows of the random Snowdin so that no one freaks out and gets Ink or Dream.

Breathing heavily, Error had to thank his high pain tolerance. Broken bones, SOUL having one more scar - one that he didn't put there - and blood seeping out with dust mixing in. He knew that if he looked in a mirror, then he would see a Monster that looked like he was about to die.

Heh, if only he was that lucky. Death would never come to take him.

"tCh!" Error clicked his tongues, eyes narrowed as he formed a portal to the Anti-VOID. "bEttER ResT whILE i CaN." The Voices will be sure to tell him when he had to go and destroy once more if he doesn't feel it first, but before that, he wanted to relax for a bit. With that in mind, he took a step into the portal.

And stepped out into a place that was not in fact the Anti-VOID. The Anti-VOID was completely white with only his blue strings, dolls, puppets and whatever the hell he stole to bring any type of color to it. So why was there a a bunch of colors in the endless white that Error has known his entire life of being formed?

Blinking, Error took in the white place that was covered in colorful strings, each string and thread giving off it's own magic, it's own life. Blinking once more, Error turned his head to see the portal he went through was now gone. Weird, as he didn't call off the portal. Finally, blinking for a third time, Error pulled out the Codes of this place to make sure that this was in fact, not the Anti-VOID.

The Codes in the small portal told him that this was in fact, a AU. A very small one, almost invisible next to the other AU's and without a name, but still a AU. Well, that's one reason he never knew it existed. There is no reason, as the likely hood of him needing to destroy this place is low with how tiny it is.

If he didn't know better, he would think someone was pranking him by going to the Anti-VOID and messing with it to throw him off. But everyone hates the Anti-VOID - himself included - no one would willing go into it unless they had to. Ink may do it, but he just got out of a fight with the creator. Even Ink couldn't have done this in a short amount of time. There were strings and threads as far as the eye could see, meaning that the whole AU must be covered in them if not mostly all of it. Not to mention that they have magic in them. Why would Ink give him magical strings? Simple, he wouldn't. Ink knows and hates his strings, so why give him more? So, that option was out...So what was going on?

Rubbing his bleeding skull, Error glanced around in confusion and wonder just how in the hell he came here when he made a portal to the Anti-VOID. Looking to the ground, Error found that some threads on the ground were bunched and grouped together like it was being tied on the other end.

Now, any sane Monster or person would have left by now. Landing a weird place when you shouldn't have, in some place where you are not for sure is and having no idea what is going on makes leaving generally a good idea to do.

Error never admitted to being sane. In fact, he would own up to it and tell everyone like it is; He's insane.

Swiftly, the dark skeleton started to follow the threads that were grouped together. This was the most interesting thing to happen to him in many years, and he knew if it came down to it he could take anyone in a fight even as battered as he is. While confused, massively confused, on what is going on and how he even got here, Error figured this couldn't be worse then just sitting in the Anti-VOID and listening to the Voices as he knits and sews something together.

Eventually, Error came across a small figure sitting on the ground, turning the threads into strings. Snipping and moving the threads as needed with some shears. Tilting his head, Error took in the other. Obviously a skeleton monster, most likely a Sans. The other wore a reddish pink shoal and had fake silk flowers that were the color of the seven SOULS on the left side of his skull. He was also wearing a green dress that stopped at the ankles and had what looked like a hoodie under it or even attached to it. All in all, a very pretty skeleton from what Error could see. And as Error has yet to run in or even feel any other Monsters here, then he's betting that this Monster was the only one here.

Shifting, Error debated on what to do. On one hand, he could leave now that he knew what was on the other end. Try to leave that is, he's pretty iffy on what is going on with his portals after landing here. On the other hand, Error was still confused and wanted answers on just where he was and what was going on. For all he knew, this skeleton had answers...or not.

While thinking on it, Error started to scratch his skull out of habit, making the wounds on it worse.

The noise drew the attention on the other skeleton. Said skeleton slowly stood from where he sat, glancing around until his eyes settled on Error. Soft foot steps sounded out before a light gasp sounded out. Multicolored eyes shot down and met the face of the smaller skeleton. Both took each other in for the first time, eyes searching the other.

Now that Error could see the other's face, he took a closer look at it. Bending down lowly to take a better look, Error was slightly amazed with how different this skeleton was. Cracks and stitching on the other's skull caught his eye first before he slowly lowered his eyes lower to take in the rest of the face before him. In his left eye socket, he had a bright blue eye with magenta lines surrounded them in a almost hypnotic way. His right eye socket was droopy - much like Error's own - and had a normal magenta magic eye with a yellow shade to it on the side. Taking in the other's body language and expression, he could tell the smaller one wasn't going to suddenly attack him. In fact, the skeleton - which was a Sans, easy to tell once you see the face shape - looked very shocked to see him, if not a bit horrified and worried for some reason. Maybe he's heard of him? Wouldn't shock him.

While Error took in the other, the smaller one took in Error.

The Skeleton saw a new skeleton, something that had never happened before. The darker one was tall, taller then him as he only came up to his stomach! The newcomer wore a black trench coat with blue glowing stitching, ones that had magic in them much like his own strings. The inside of the trench coat was a dark blue with yellow stitching. A red sweater with black and yellow stitching on it, a blue scarf with red stitching on it, black pants with blue stitching and then some heavy duty sturdy looking black boots. The dark skeleton was unlike any he has ever seen before, with all his colors. The marks on his face looking like tears falling from his eyes, making his SOUL sadden at the sight. The taller one was glitching slightly, and covered in scars, cracks and marks, he was even bleeding and had dust flaking off him right now!

"Oh my goodness!" Error blinked at the voice coming from the Sans. It was slow and lazy, just as many other Sanses, but it was also smooth and feminine in a way. It was elegant and soothing, something that Error has never heard from a Sans before. "Stranger, you're bleeding!"

Blinking, Error took off his hand from his skull, glancing to it to see that he had been scratching one of the newer scars on himself. Seems he scratched it too hard, making more blood and dust come out.

The Sans fretted, reaching into his dress. Error tensed, expecting a weapon, but was shocked still when the Sans just pulled out a small magenta handkerchief. Still bent down, all the Sans had to do was each up to put the handkerchief on the heavily bleeding wound. The strange eyes took in all the scars and wounds that were bleeding with heavily concerned eyes.

Error didn't know how to deal with this.

The Sans blinked when the taller one slowly lifted his bloodied hand, stopping just inches from touching his own from where he was holding the handkerchief on the other's skull. "Sir?"

"...YoU DOn'T KNoW WHO i AM, DO yOU?" The Sans shivered at the other's voice. Deep, dark yet ever changing, like his voice was glitching.

"I can tell you are from another world, there is only me in this endless white." The Sans gently smiled at the taller one. "It has been that way for quite some time now."

Taking his clean hand, Error softly took the other's hand off him but not letting go even as he straightened. He just looked at the hand and now dirtied piece of fabric in the smaller hand. "yOU'RE liKE mE tHEN?" Seeing the other tilt his head, Error went on. "I livE iN thE anTI-VOID, WhERE thERE iS ONlY whiTE - EndlEsS whITE lIKE thIS. OnlY, I bROuGHt colOR TO iT diFFeREntlY."

"Like me...." The Sans breathed in wonder at this. "I never thought that there was someone like I."

"yoU aRE nOT liKE ME." Error pointed out, finally letting go of the smaller hand. "yOU ArE ToO pReTTY TO bE liKE mE." The darker skeleton bluntly stated.

The other started up at him, shocked with color coming alive on his cheeks. Then, he started giggling, hand coming up to cover his mouth. "Ffuffuffuffuffuffuffuffu~! Thank you for your sweet words!"

"thEY'RE noT SwEET woRDs, tHEY'RE tHE TRuTH." Error waved it off, glancing around once more, not noticing how flustered the other is now.

"If I may ask..." Error blinked, looking back down at the small Sans. Really, he only came up to his stomach, but a lot of Sanses are like that compared to Error. "How did you get here otherworldly stranger?"

"i mADe a poRTaL thAT EnDEd Up TakinG mE hERe FOr soME reASOn." The glitch answered with a slight frown. Now that he was thinking about it, where was here again? Ink always made sure to name his creations, that much Error was for sure. The Creator named them like they were his children, yet treated them so horribly. What sane kind of skeleton makes a HorrorTale or DustTale?

"A portal...." Shears hummed at this answer. "How amazing it must be to travel outside to other worlds."

"noT TOO amAziNG." Error grumbled out lowly, eyes glazing a bit as he remembered trying to leave the white for so long, only to end up outside and getting the worst kind of shock. insanity followed along with anger for awhile, but those cooled quickly.

"WhaT AU iS tHIS?" Error asked aloud after a moment, wondering for a moment if Ink and Fate are once more trying to do what they did to Error on another Monster. But this was a AU, it had the Codes to prove it, unlike the Anti-VOID which was pretty much a VOID in it's own right.

"AU....?" The Sans asked, a bit confused. "I'm not sure what you mean."

'Isolated...much like I was.' Error sighed, twitching slightly. "thERE aRE mANy DifFERenT woRlDs, WHAt mANy CaLL AltErnAte UniVeRsEs. AUs oR AU foR shoRT. ThEY aRE aLL namED aND NUmbEREd iF tHEY haVE copIES. i CHEcKEd thE COdES foR tHIS aU, iT doESn'T havE a namE tHErE." Now that Error was thinking about it, he didn't know what to call the other. Too many Sanses to go around calling him Sans.

But then again, once Error tells the other what he does, he's not going to want Error around him anymore. Might as well take in all this interaction as he can, not like he's going to be getting any more of it after today. There is the option of lying, but if there was one thing Error wasn't - it was a lyre. Oh, he'll tell half-truths and give vague answers, but not outright lie unless he has too or something of his was on the line. Not that he has anyone like that really.

The Sans blinked at this information. "I...I did not know this." He hummed, thinking on it. "I will have to come up with a name then..."

"SuRE." Error shrugged in answer. He just wanted something to finally call this place. Maybe that would lessen his whole confusion on this. "bY tHE waY..." The Sans looked up to him with a gentle smile and soft eyes. "WhaT DO i CaLL yOU? thERE aRE toO manY SanSEs TO calL yoU 'SaNS'."

"Oh! How rude of me! I haven't introduced myself yet, forgive me. Hmmm....!" The Sans shuffled about before his eyes lit up, bringing out his shears and waving them about. The only reason Error didn't lash out was because of him watching the other closely and he could sense no threat in the skeleton at all. "Shears! Call me Shears, after my beloved pair of course." Taking a closer look at the shears in Shears's hands, Error could see they were sharper then some of the knives that Charas use. But he supposed everyone needed a weapon in reach. Better to be prepared and all that. He could respect and understand that.

It never crossed his mind that there was a high possibility that Shears in no way uses his shears to stab other people. It said a lot about him that he immediately went to the more violent option.

"ShEaRs thEN...noW aLL yoU nEEd To DO iS NAmE yoUR aU. bUt thAT coulD bE laTER, nO RusH." Error said, only to blink in confusion when Shears lifted his free hand to him. Looking to Shears, Error had no idea what was going on.

"Hello, kind sir!" Error held back a snort at that. 'Kind Sir', there was nothing kind about him. "I am Shears, it is a honor to meet you...." Shears trailed off, looking up at Error as if he expected a answer of some kind.

- Music fills the air.... -

...ba-thump....

Error looks down at the hand, something too fast swimming in his mind. Blurred and fried at the edges, but still making his body move as if he has done so for many years.

- Dancing all around. Twirling tailcoats and dresses fill the place with color. -

...ba-thump....

Putting his bloodied hand to his chest over his heart, Error put his feet together and straightened.

- Someone stands before him, offering a hand... -

...ba-thump....

Using his clean hand, Error takes the offered hand and bends down straight and gracefully. Eyes locked on Shears, who was now looking wide eyed and pink.

- The royal purple dress and crown tells of her standing. -

...ba-thump....

Placing a soft kiss on the back of the hand, Error made sure to not break eye contact.

- There is only one way to greet a Lady of such high standing. -

...ba-thump....

Lifting up, Error stood tall and straight. "It IS a hOnoR tO mEEt yOU SheaRS. I aM ErRoR, KNoWn DesTRoyER, oTheR hALF oF thE balAncE aND GoD oF dEsTRucTION."

Whatever was in his head was now long gone, no memories of what it was. Error had no idea why he did what he did, but there was no use worrying. Right now he had to think on the fact that him being the destroyer is out in the open and how Shears was going to react to it all. Letting go of the smaller hand, Error waited for a reaction of any kind.

...ba-thump...

You think a God would ever pay you any mind?

Shaking those thoughts off, Shears put a hand to his chest to where his SOUL was beating wildly as if to calm it. Glancing to the hand the taller one kissed, Shears tried to focus. But it was a hard thing to do. "Ffu..." Error blinked, watching as Shears lost it. "Ffuffuffuffuffuffuffu~!"

'Did I break him?' Error frowned at this, jolting when a hand lightly gripped his arm. Twitching, Error looked down at Shears's now lightly dusted pink face. 'Or maybe he's sick?...But in what way?'

"Such a gentlemonster~!" Shears giggled, lightly tugging on Error. Seeing this, Error started to follow the other. Eventually they came to where Shears had been sitting before. Shears sat elegantly once more, tugging Error down as well. Shrugging, Error swiftly sat with crossed legs. "Please, otherworldly Destroyer, I must ask what you mean by that." Shears pouted in thought. "I've never heard of such a thing!"

"i WaS FoRMEd BY FatE tO bE thE otHER haLF oF tHE balAncE. A skELeTON CalLEd InK iS thE cREaTOR, thE onE whO mAKEs thE AUs." Error looked at Shears who was making strings once more, a piece of clothing with a flowery design to it was right next to the smaller Monster. Not perfect or complicated by any means, but well done. "i DesTroY AU's whEN tHEY GEt tOO cRoWdED, WhEN thEY aRE tOO fuLL oR aboUT to TOucH. iF thEY TOuCH, tHEn THeY wiLL crumBLE anD DesTRoy tHEmSelvEs, cauSIng mASSiVE dEstrUCtION anD miGHt lEaD TO ThE mulTIvERsE kILLinG iTsELf...."

Shears eyes went to Error's injuries. At least they had stopped bleeding, but they still looked painful. "Is that how....?"

"HM, YEs." Error nodded with a dark chuckle. "FaTE faVORs INk, AS FatE cREatED INk WhERE i WaS foRMED. TakEN anD thEN trAPPEd inTO thE Anti-VOID To bEcoME whAt i AM ToDaY. mANY loVE iNk, hIS woRD iS lAW. AS iNK haTEs mE, mOSt oF thE AU's haTE mE as WeLL. FOR doING mY joB in pRoTEctING thEM, i hAVE To KiLL anD DesTRoy AS INk WOn'T sTOP CreaTinG. i AM...." Error gestured to all his scars, feeling good about letting this all out for once. That someone was listening to him for once. "haTEd foR iT TO saY thE lEaST."

Shears felt saddened for the other. To be hated for doing such a thing. Sure, Error admitted to destroying and killing, but this Ink was forcing his hand. In a way, this makes Ink the murder. Placing a hand on Error's knee, he softly smiled up at the glitching skeleton. "Well, you now have another Monster who doesn't hate you."

How could Shears hate someone who has had no choice in the matter? Someone who fought so that others could live? It seems like the Destroyer had a SOUL of gold underneath all that LOVE. Taking his hand off the knee, Shears quietly giggled at Error's shock. It was cute to see such a tall and otherworldly skeleton be so expressive. Such a powerful Monster, yet at the same time so gentle. If Error was truly a killer, he would have killed him before Shears even knew what was going on. He didn't even notice Error at first until the taller one made some noise.

When Shears first saw Error, he had been so happy and worried. A tall, dark skeleton had came out of nowhere and looked ready to dust in a moment. Yet, here the skeleton sat. His injuries healing before Shears's very eyes. They would scar, but they wouldn't be bleeding or dusting anymore. The power of a God he assumed.

Error's head snapped to Shears when the other said this, searching for any lies. Finding none, Error relaxed finally. This was new territory for him, so he had no idea where to go from here. He knew he should have read that 'Friendship For Dummies' book he found in a random Post-Pacifist AU. But at the time, he had laughed at it as he never thought he could make a friend....normally that is. His friendship with Berry and Nightmare's gang was in no way normal or started normally.

"hOW...DiD yoU mAKE thIS?" Error awkwardly asked, pointing to the articular of clothing Shears was making. He wondered if Shears was like him and his strings, forming things with them.

"I've been working on this for many hours, but I ran out of strings fit for weaving and knitting. So I had to get to work making more strings again..." Shears answered as he went to work once more.

"thEsE sTRIngs anD thREaDS haVE maGIc iN thEm." Error stated, glancing to the threads and strings all around him. It reminded him of his own strings in a way.

Before Shears could say anything on this, Error pointed to the clothing near Shears. "yOU mISSeD a StiTCh."

Blinking, Shears looked down to find that Error was right. "You're right....How could you tell?"

"i SeW anD KNiT a lOT." Error admitted with a shrug. "i uSuaLLy mAKe DOllS anD puppETS mosTlY, bUT i CaN makE CloTHEs EasiLy." Lifting his hands, he made his strings appear to the amazement of the other. "thEsE aRE mY sTRings, FoRmEd wiTH mY maGIc. I caN foRM thEM inTO juST aboUT anyTHinG. tHouGh, i CaN SteaL FabRICs iF nEEd BE...."

"Ffuffuffuffu~!" Shears was now excited. "You must have a lot of experience sewing and such?"

"yES...i'vE bEEn DoinG So FoR aS loNG AS i CAn REcaLL." Error nodded in agreement with the question. "AnD conSiDeRinG i'VE bEEn aliVE foR a lONG timE, thAT's SayiNG a loT."

"Then....maybe..." Error's brow frowned in confusion at Shears hesitation. "Could you teach me? Everything I know is by self-teaching, so some instruction would be appreciated."

Shears was greeted with the sight of Error's eyes lighting up in pure delight, a grin on the taller's face. "SuRE!"

With that, both got to work and talked about everything and anything. Error talked about the Balance and all the different kind of AU's he has seen. Shears talked about his past projects and asked questions to the taller one. It was one of the most peaceful moments in Error's long, long life.

Shears was in pure joy to have someone with him, to have some company. Error was a great teacher, if not blunt with his words. Shears could tell that Error was very socially awkward, but well meaning. As the red and yellow tipped hands lead and guided him through a complicated stitch, Shears felt more alive then ever. He has been alone for so long.

Shears had once prayed for someone to come to him, to keep him company. It seems like a God finally answered him. A God himself came down to visit him. It was like he was on cloud nine all throughout the whole thing.

Error didn't know how much time passed while he was with Shears, but it must have been a while because a familiar feeling crawled up his spine and into his SOUL. It felt like something was wrong with everything, like he was tipping over and being stabbed. He knew this feeling very well, and not just for the fact he knows what it is like to be stabbed.

Ink has created more AU's. Time to get back to work.

'At least the Voices aren't here to scream at me.' Error sighed, gaining Shears attention.

"What is wrong my dear Error?" Shears asked in concern, smiling in amusement when Error lightly blushed yellow at the pet name. It was adorable how this tall and intimidating skeleton of mass destruction could get so flustered with a few words.

"i hAVe TO GO baCk To WoRk." Error called away his strings, standing up once more. "iNK hAS mADe nEW AU'S. i HAve TO GO DesTRoY tHEM oR a FEw copIEs TO mAKE RoOm FOR thEM bEfoRE tHE BalAnCE tIPS."

Shears shot up, stumbling after Error. "W-Wait, please!"

Error frozen when a smaller hand grabbed the back of his trench coat. Looking over his shoulder, Error looked down at Shears's worried and anxious face. "WhAT."

"W-Will..." Shears looked so hopeful, eyes pleading to Error. Pleading for what, the darker skeleton had no idea. "Will you come back?"

"CoME BaCk?" Error titled his head in confusion. "YoU WanT ME tO ComE bACk? i AM a kILLER yOU knoW?" The taller skeleton clarified just in case there was a misunderstanding.

"A killer with the noblest of reasons." Shears argued lightly, frowning at Error's lack of answer. "I do not care for that...so, will you come back my friend?"

"...okAy." Error eventually nodded in agreement, not knowing how to react to someone calling him noble and a friend of all things. This must be what they call a twilight moment. "i DO noT hAVe mUCh To DO aFTeR dOING My jOB. SO i SHoUld bE bAcK wiTHiN a FEw DaYS aT tHE MOsT...iS thAT AlRiGHT?"

...ba-thump....

"Yes!" Shears brightened, letting go of Error's tattered and worn trench coat slowly and clasped his hands together tightly. "Do...Do you promise?"

....ba-thump....

Shears blinked when a hand softly touched the top of his head. Blinking and looking up, he found Error smirking down at him gently, laying his clean hand down on his head. "i pRomISe. aNYthINg FOr My FRiEND."

....ba-thump....

"H-Here!" Error blinked in surprise when Shears suddenly gave him the handkerchief that had been used on his skull. Taking it with his bloodied hand, and making sure not to touch Shears with it, Error put it in his pocket. With that out of the way - and feeling very confused on the whole matter but what else is new? - Error smiled down at Shears, not noticing how the other froze at this. "SEE yOU sOOn ShEaRS."

Error then took his hand off him, making Shears shiver at the lack of touch. The smaller skeleton looked dazed at the touch and flustered. Taking a step back, Error made a portal hoping that it would actually work this time. He does in fact, have a job to do. So he hopes he isn't stuck here, no matter how pleasant Shears is. But he would hurry, get cleaned up and come back. It wasn't always that someone claimed him as a friend, and mean it.

As he took a step through the portal, it hit Error. 'What do friends do? Normal friends that don't try to kill others and each other for giggles?' Thinking about it all, he knew he couldn't treat Shears like Nightmare or his group, not fully and he didn't want to. Shears looked so fragile compared to them, Error didn't want to hit him like he does with Dust when they 'play' fight or even think about it. So, what do you do with non-killing friends?

'This might require some research....'

Shears watched as Error took a step into the glitching portal, it closing as soon as he was through it.

Do you really believe that he'll come back? Why would he?

'He promised.' Shears argued with himself, smile growing into a grin and joy over took him. "He promised! He even called me his friend!"

What difference does that make? He is the God of Destruction, no matter if he was forced into it. Did you forget what your friends did to you? You are more of a fool then I thought you were. He'll destroy you.

'Error is nothing like those impostors.' Shears frowned harshly just thinking about it all. 'Although threatening looking, his SOUL must be made out of pure gold for taking Mercy on me. I can see that Error would never hurt me no matter what, even if we did just meet. He saw that I was alone and even agreed to teach me! He is nothing like them.'

Determination over took him, killing all those doubtful thoughts.

- "...okAy." -

Error will come back.

- "i pRomISe. aNYthINg FOr My FRiEND." -

Error promised he would.

- "SEE yOU sOOn ShEaRS." -

Error even said he would be back in just a few short days, at the most. It might take some time, but he will be back sooner rather then later. Shears knows this.

Turning back, a thought hit Shears as he took in his world.

'This world of mine has gotten so big in such a small amount of time....'

Going back to where he usually sat, Shears went back to work on his clothing. He hoped to accomplish the technique Error showed him for stitching. Maybe then, Error will smile at him once more. He had such a handsome smile....

But it was all in good time. He had so many strings to use after all. More then enough to practice with until he gets the stitch just right.

- Meanwhile, With Error In A Random AU -

"WhAT Do yOU DO wiTh NoN-kILLinG MonsTERs? I mEaN, MOnsTERs thAt dON't huRt oTHErS iN somE ShoW oF aFFecTION oR juST WanT To kILl SOmEOnE anD ENjoY iT. WhAt Do yOU DO wiTH noRmAL mONStERS, i GuESS i SHoULD saY...riGHt?" Error asked a struggling Monster in his grasp in complete sincerity. He held the Monster by the throat with one hand, up in the air choking him. "oR givE tHEM? GiFts aRE nORmAL RIGHt? iS thAT somEthING thaT hapPENs? hE gaVE mE SomEthING aFtER aLL...."

"W-W-Wha-?!" The struggling Monster - a bear Monster - choked out in confusion and pain.

"FoRgET iT...thIS iSN'T helpINg mE." Error sighed, snapping the Monster's neck. Although it was normal to kill a Monster by their SOUL, physical injuries can kill them just like humans. The Monster didn't even have time to whimper or scream before they turned into dust before they even hit the ground. "i'LL juST haVE TO wiNG iT lIKE alWAyS...bEtTER huRRY thoUGH!" Error brightly grinned down at the dust pile, leaning down and whispering to as if sharing a secret. "i hAVE a FriEND waiTIng FOR mE!"

Screams of death filled the AU while strings over took everything and Gaster Blasters sounding off.

Then silence.

The last living Monster then opened a new portal, crushing numbers, symbols and letters of all kinds in his hands.

With him gone, SwapFell-39 crumbled before disappearing as if never there.

Giving the new original AU that was too young to be named more room to grow.

-End Chapter-

Here it is! I hope I did Shears justice. JuneTheGlassesBeaer has given me their blessing to developed him as much as I want or need, to take him in any direction for my story pretty much. But I want to keep him in character as much as I can.

As soon as I started reading JuneTheGlassesBeaer's story, 'Tailoredtale', and got to know Shears, I started shipping him with my version of Error. I am trash, and I will own up to it. If being trash gives me the courage to ask permission to use such a wonderful OC, then I am proud to be it! Never mind that JuneTheGlassesBeaer offered to make a cover for this book after I asked to use of their already existing artworks for it.

I am just so happy right now~!

In any case, I am hoping that this will be a long story. So buckle in for the ride that I am about to take you on!

Error is still the Forced Destroyer and Formed God of Destruction, Ink still doesn't know about the balance either. Error hates his job still, but doesn't really care about all the AU's in the end. Too much pain to forget on his part to really care about them all. Error, while found of Nightmare's group, is not for sure if he can really call them friends. They are his, and he will protect them, but he doesn't feel like they are friends. This will be explored and explained more later on.

Also, Error has kidnapped Berry and already let him go in this story. He has yet to see him after finally letting him go, knowing that Stretch would try to do something and believing that Berry doesn't want to see him after all he has done.

Now, on to the next chapter!

Words: 6,032

[sagemonsters]

This is a complicated question that doesn’t have an easy answer. Although I can’t point you towards a specific resource, I can do my best to tell you how to figure it out for yourself rather than relying on outside sources that might be biased/inaccurate.

For a start, I would recommend looking closely at any creature from a mythological tradition (as opposed to, say, run of the mill cryptids like the Jersey Devil in America) and doing research into them on a case by case basis. Off the top of my head…

Christian demons & angels are okay. People have been writing about and using demons in various pieces of media since time immemorial (example: the character Mephistopheles from Dr. Faustus, a piece of literature from the European Renaissance). Succubi and incubi are also good examples of this.

Jewish demons & angels are not okay to use. Judaism is a closed religion (I would highly recommend looking up the difference between closed and open religious traditions if you don't already know) that has been oppressed and appropriated from for a very long time; nobody with a conscience wants to continue that.

W*ndigo and Sk*nwalkers are both from Native American cultures that are 100% closed to outsiders. Don’t use them unless you belong to those traditions. Likewise, avoid indigenous Australian creatures such as the rainbow serpent unless you’re an indigenous Australian person.

If you are white, anything involving African folklore is probably a bad idea.

Nagas and rakshasas are creatures from Hindu folklore. You’re on shakier ground here if you aren’t Hindu yourself; Hinduism is a semi-open religion, but that doesn’t mean you can cherrypick monsters from it willy-nilly and expect everyone to be cool with it. If you want to use these creatures, I would suggest researching Hinduism and thinking carefully about what (if any) stereotypes you are perpetuating by the way you characterize these creatures in your fiction.

Yetis specifically are part of Nepalese folklore. Again, tread carefully.

Yokai are of course creatures from Shinto, the most famous (in the West) of which is the kitsune. A lot of Western media appropriates and sexualizes kitsune characters when they are featured, which is part of a greater problem involving the fetishization of Asian people and their culture(s).

Dragons, dragonborn, orcs, goblins, drow, kobolds, etc, are fine! A good resource to mine for monster romance creatures would be anything contained in the Open Gaming License published by Wizards of the Coast for Dungeons & Dragons. I’ve drawn a lot of inspiration from those, and since they’re mostly public domain creatures you don’t need to worry about copyright nonsense.

Creatures from Greek, Roman, Celtic, Germanic, Scandinavian, and Ancient Egyptian mythology are also fine! Although there are absolutely modern pagans who practice these religions, they aren’t closed traditions. Think about Thor being used by Marvel Comics (and now Disney) and how nobody raised the hew and cry over “disrespectful” depictions of Norse mythology in film. It’s fine.

Slavic mythology is more iffy. I’ve heard people say that Slavic paganism and their creatures (such as the domovoi and bannick from Russia, and the leshiy from Poland) are part of closed traditions due to how heavily oppressed the historical Slavic pagans were during the Baltic Crusades of centuries past, but I’ve also heard others say that that tradition is open. There’s also a problem with white supremacy and Russian/Polish nationalism in those pagan communities, so I’m not wholly sure that the “Slavic paganism is a closed tradition” attitude isn’t just white supremacists trying to keep out POC.

That’s just off the top of my head. Again—research is your friend! When in doubt, ask a few people from that religious/cultural tradition if the creature you have in mind is (for lack of a better phrase) available to the public domain. Own up to your mistakes if you make ‘em, but it’s not the end of the world if you do. You’ve got this! Happy writing <3

Would anyone have any resources or could point me in the direction of some information on supernatural beings that *don't* belong in media? I'm talking like sacred figures like the w*ndigo, or I think the original bigfoot legend is considered a sacred tale to some native groups?

I'm worldbuilding for my next book and I want to include as many cultures' mythologies as I can, but I'd hate to step on any toes out of ignorance

[queeneve84]

On cancel culture (warning:  Long and probably controversial)  

So I just watched the last ep of the Flash (after hearing of Hartley Sawyer’s firing).  I’m not going to go into him specifically; I haven’t read his tweets and to be honest, don’t really care to.  But this issue is MUCH BIGGER than it seems.

I read a screen rant article that said the following:  “ Hartley Sawyer's firing is no mere example of 'cancel culture,' but rather indicates how important a role superhero actors play in modern society. The actors who portray superheroes become almost indivisible in the public consciousness from the heroes themselves.” Three questions are being asked/answered here.  One, can an creator be separated from the works that they create/take part in?  And Two, what obligation does a creator have to live up to the values the work represents?  And most troubling, three:  Does a creator/actor have to already be better BEFORE they take create/take part in that work?

(Opinion time!  As a disclaimer, I’m a straight white girl that doesn’t claim to understand the experiences of marginalized groups)

Question one:  HELL NO.  This, of course, calls to mind JK Rowling’s Trans-exclusionary tweets.  Were they awful and wrong?  Yes.  Was it right to call her out?  Yes.  Will the people she’s upset refuse to support her in the future?  Yes, that’s a natural consequence.

Does it ruin Harry Potter, though?

I am firmly on the side of Daniel Radcliffe here.  He writes:  “ “If these books taught you that love is the strongest force in the universe, capable of overcoming anything;...if you believe that a particular character is trans, nonbinary, or gender fluid, or that they are gay or bisexual; if you found anything in these stories that resonated with you and helped you at any time in your life — then that is between you and the book that you read, and it is sacred.” 

Once a story is released into the world, it no longer belongs to it’s creator.  It is YOURS.  You take the words on the page and build your own world with them.  Heck, I’ve even ignored parts of canon because I don’t like them.  Because it’s MY story now.  Should you knowingly support someone who is actively being awful, no.  BUT that doesn’t mean you can’t love something regardless, even more so if you had no idea when you started.  This isn’t even a situation without precedent, just look at Elmo.  (If you just went, what about Elmo?, you might not want to click).  

Question two:  Yes and no.  People are people, superheroes are by their very nature are super...and heroes, and created to do so.  This is an actor doing a job, they screw up.  Last year Jared Padalecki, by most accounts a nice guy, was arrested on assault charges.  He is well-loved by his fanbase (including me), and appears to have come out of it fine.  Do they agree with what he did?  No.  But they seemed to have shown him sympathy and support, where others get ‘cancelled’.  Would they have treated him harshly if his character was a superhero?  But really, how is it different?

Okay, now for the tough one.  Cancel culture get REALLY iffy for me at this point.  Should we hold someone responsible in the present for who they were?  If you ask me...not necessarily.  Hartley’s offending tweets were from 2012 to 2014--6-8 years ago.  Think about yourself 8 years ago?  Have you not changed at all?  Did you learn nothing?  Did you change zero opinions when presented with new information?  If you didn’t, you’re doing life wrong.

This goes back to superheroes, and it’s the one that really irks me.  Superheroes are not about being good, they are about being BETTER.  It’s especially apparent in the Flash, which is a show filled with villains that were shown mercy, then compassion, then friendship.  They are stories of redemption.  Now they are indispensable parts of the team.  They’ve saved the friggin world!  In the finale (SPOILERS) The flash jumps in front of a total dirtbag, getting shredded by glass shards in the process.  He’s distraught when the dirtbag dies anyway.

But in the real world, this flawed and imperfect one, past actions are ‘found out’ and this person is dismissed--FOREVER.  They are offered zero chances to change and grow, and any contribution they would have made (world-saving or otherwise) is lost--Forever.  Well, good riddance, you’re thinking, so I have two and a half words for you:  Robert Downey Jr.  When the casting was announced, he was nearly laughed out of the job.  He was a mess!  Irrelevant!  Useless!  But, where would the superhero fandom be without him?  He’s Iron Man!  But, like his character, he wasn’t born that way.

I went to a BLM protest the other day.  We met some detractors.  During a speech, a (very) old man shouted ‘You’re doing too many crimes!’  He was, predictably, shouted down as a racist.  And is he?  Probably.  But I saw him, and I saw that he was more afraid than angry.  He was misinformed.  But he was dismissed, forever, by the people who could have shown him compassion.

When we ‘cancel’ someone for who they used to be, we’re also cancelling everything they can be.  And honestly, that hurts all of us.