#we are really nice and respectful and unhinged

[riteliso]

S01E04

Yeah, I get it, my girl's bed is WAY too soft

AND I MEAN MY REAL GIRFRIEND

I'M NOT CALLING ADORA MY GIRLFRIEND I'M NOT THAT KIND OF KINNIE

MY GIRLFRIEND IS REAL SHE GOES TO A DIFFERENT COUNTRY

MY GIRLFRIEND IS REAL AND SHE'S NOT A CARTOON CHARACTER

I'M THE CARTOON CHARACTER

LAUGH AT HER NOT ME

Why would a bed work this way

More parallels but I forgot this one happened so I don't have the first half where shadow weaver does her "don't disappoint me" bullshit

Also I appreciate the parallel and I appreciate that our Queen here has plenty of faults that have impacted her daughter negatively but the parallels kinda don't hit as hard when shadow weaver is so

And Queen Angella is so

WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU FUCKIGN LESBIANS

YOU FUCKIN WEIRDO

I HAVE TRIED TO DISSECT THIS SCENE SO MANY TIMES IN MY HEAD

DID CATRA JUST TELL HER THIS IS HOW FRIENDS SLEEP TOGETHER

WHAT IS WRONG WITH HER

WHAT'S WRONG WITH EITHER OF THEM

YOU FUCKIN FREAKS

GOD

Yeah, hi, you fuckin milquetoast headass

I love you too but you're boring

Come over for board game night all ready for some Oath or Arcs or Gloomhaven and they've got out TROUBLE

FUCKING TROUBLE

THAT'S NOT EVEN AS GOOD AS SORRY

They're lovely they're just old they remember 9/11 you know how it is

Put little nametags for where everyone's gonna sit :(

You set a dumbass up to fail :(

I feel like they almost kissed in spin the bottle or something and they're both still mad about it

They've just got a bad energy between them

He's actually really very nice

Prrow

^ :-) v

I can't get her ears right

Also nice pits, girl, we love tank-tops in this household

I got caught being bad so now I can't lie and pretend I wasn't being bad :(

Me forcing my friends to explain their fumbles until I can tell them to talk to her about beyblades and tamagotchis and hello kitty next time

Chicks are easy just be interested in stupid things

Picking up autistic chicks is a series of knowledge checks that ends with the kind of head where you stop being able to feel anything below your knees

She's literally so gay that people are confused about it

People I watch this show with repeatedly don't understand that she drew that

Now, why did she hang it up on her locker? I dunno

She clearly likes to

I feel like it's odd how she CONTINUOUSLY hangs things up on her locker and then gets embarrassed about them, but there's high school kids out there wearing ahegao hoodies so what the fuck do I know

What's important is she fought with her girlfriend then went home and did a shitty drawing of her beautiful girlfriend on that awful horse

and then was so gay she HUNG IT UP ON HER FUCKING LOCKER

DESPITE THE FACT HER GIRLFRIEND IS AN ENEMY OF THE FUCKING STATE

THAT'S VERY CUTE, KITTY, BUT IT'S ALSO MIND-BOGGLINGLY STUPID

Old homophobe is like "I knew I shouldn't have let you two listen to that band with the horrid name 'scissor sisters.' I knew you couldn't be trusted. Now she's gay and it's your fault and she ran away and it's because she's gay and not because I hate gay people. She wasn't gay before"

These losers would have loved "I Can't Decide" AMVs. Catra biting Adora's arm while Adora clicks over to "You're Gonna Go Far Kid - Nightcore" because it has ponies in it

Fuckin dweebs

WHAT ABOUT YOUR OUTLIER, LADY

I think it's kinda interesting and we'll talk about it later but Catra loves Adora and hates She-ra, which is kinda in opposition to a lot of the world that surrounds the two. Of course, part of Catra's arc is learning to love She-ra and the responsibilities and role her girlfriend plays in everything, but also to temper Adora's unhinged enthusiasm for constantly playing the selfless hero. She learns to respect Adora's desire to do good, to play a bigger role, without buying into the idea that Adora deserves anything less than complete happiness.

Catra also does something I have noticed that I do, where when I talk about superheroes I actually like, mainly spider-man, I refer to them by their secret identity name when I'm happy with them, and by their superhero name when I'm upset with them. It's a very specific thing that kinda shook me when I noticed we had it in common.

Yeah, she's pretty. Yeah. YEAH OKAY. YEAH SHE'S PRETTY OKAY. I forgot what I was originally gonna type

I kinda hate this bitch

NOT AS A CHARACTER

She's a great character

This is not a swift wind situation

I just know that if I met her I'd hate every second of it

Disagreeing with her would be a pain in the ass and the only thing worse would be AGREEING WITH HER

EVERYTHING YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT IN THE WRONG WAY

FUCK YOU

Don't gas up a girl with anxiety she'll piss her pants and cry

You're the worst

Why are they all laid out the same

Why would they ever be

Also, counter-point,

NO THEY'RE FUCKING NOT

How much time passes over the course of this show

It doesn't make any sense for-- Adora JUST got here.

Like, IN this episode. It was her first time sleeping here.

ADORA WHY DO YOU HAVE SUCH AN OUT OF DATE CODE

YOU FUCKING IDIOT

Good early character establishing work. Bow is realistic, if not a BIT underconfident, and Sparkles can't wait to bite off more than she can chew and get her ass handed to her.

Ignore the data moshing MY EYES ARE UP HERE

You could have done this the whole fucking time and you didn't your people were starving for nothing

You suck

My first time watching it this is the line that shook the dust from my bones and made me realize that we weren't looking at your average lesbian sci fi fantasy

We were looking at that PRIMO sci fi TOXIC fantasy WESTERN YURI, BABY!!!!

Jokes aside, this is a line that really does do a good job illuminating the horde's suffocating grasp on these young women and how they're able to express themselves. Using homophobic language and homoerotic language in different situations to highlight these characters' struggles while within a different context is something extremely, EXTREMELY impressive and beautiful. I don't think it could have been executed better.

Kitty wants to bring her girl back into the closet and see how many minutes they can spend in heaven before they get dragged back out

Another good parallel

This is how Catra just genuinely feels due to her unyeilding adoration of Adora. Everyone loves Adora. She loves Adora even more than most. Of course it'd be easy to get frustrated growing up in that environment.

Oh right that's where it ends is on the first Best Friend Squad mention

ALRIGHT SO

Here's how we're doing things, right? We're gonna go one episode at a time, and I'm gonna give my thoughts whenever they come up. This is a train of thought type beat, alright? Unlike my usual grandstanding authorial and analytical self, this re-watch is purely for the rant factor. If you don't know me, and you just happened upon this thread because you like reading she-ra rewatches, hello. I'm a writer from Canada who found she-ra in 2025 and is currently on her sixth watch through. From that, hopefully you can discern that I like this show, even if I'm likely gonna criticize parts of it. We good to go? Good. We start with S01 E01.

RIGHT, THE SWORD PART 1! A zoom in, with an angelic singing being drowned out by digital bloopy fright zone vibes, and then Adora being a fuckin dweeb as her leitmotif plays in a decidedly crystiline synth-y tone.

Now, what do we learn from this? This, aside from one gripe I'll have more to speak on later, is an excellent introduction. With the music alone we're essentially taken from the beauty of the planet, the overwhelming dread of the fright zone, and then into a hopeful tune that isn't FREE from these sort of digital themes in the music, but is very defined and separate FROM them.

This isn't gonna be one of those things where I praise literally every single fuckin thing so keep your panties on, I'm not gonna full-on overanalyzing avatar this shit, but the most important parts of a story are the beginning and the ending.

Now, when I say that, I am speaking pragmatically. Every part of every story is important-- but when it comes to what people remember, what they love, what they never shut up about-- it's the start and the end. You need to nail the take-off and the landing, people will forget the turbulence from the rest of the trip.

Now, what does THIS bitch's intro tell us about her? Well, a lot, honestly. Most of what we know about Adora at this point is she plays by the rules, but she is a notably goofy person. She's goofy, but she's unwilling to goof-OFF too much.

And while we get a taste of the rivalry they have instantly, with "That's low, even for you." "You know nothing's too low for me~"

We instantly see that that is not the CORE of their relationship.

I'd like to praise the voice direction in this show for the first of many times here. The voice actors do amazing work in this, and the direction can be felt throughout.

"Come on, you look stupid hanging there" can obviously be a seen as a strange first line to show the warmth these two share, but the inflection from Catra's voice actor, AJ Mikalcha, makes it read as downright sweet.

Also don't get used to me using names of the crew besides ND Stevenson because I'm so awful with names I was still calling Catra Katara half the time on my second re-watch and I was like 90% of the way to realizing I kinned her at that point

Also don't make fun of me for kinning Catra there's no RESPONSE to people making fun of you for kinning Catra THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU SEEM MORE LIKE FUCKING CATRA OKAY

Anyway, the following scene makes it clear that this is not a one-way dynamic. The two banter, and it's clear Adora knows how to get under Catra's skin and annoy her as well. This is notable in a few places MUCH further on, but it is a difference worth highlighting NOW.

Once Adora leaves, Catra's primary goal is still to get under her skin. She's angry about it, she's mean about it, but she's still just doing what she's always done. The relationship between the two doesn't actually change as much as the context does. I'd say the relationship itself doesn't change much until the final season, at a scene I'm sure I'll have a lot to say about.

On the flip-side, Adora's goal when it comes to Catra is simply to fight her off. But that's not all there is. At points, it's clear that Adora holds some sort of REVERENCE for Catra, and while Catra is very capable of very mean things, don't get me wrong, Adora sees Catra as more of a threat than she realistically is.

At a few moments I'll point out she also relishes in getting under Catra's skin, but admittedly those are few and far between.

People have gone over this introduction billions of times, so I won't BORE you to death with it, but Shadow weaver's introduction does hint at a lot of what we'll learn later. I think it's very notable that while Shadow weaver brings a dark gloom that encompasses both our leads, her vile tendrils only dare to touch Catra. We learn the specifics of the dynamic these three have later, but it is a very unique and terrible situation to be the least favourite of an abusive guardian. Especially if you are repeatedly reminded of that fact.

I'm not gonna go over all the body language shit I've seen other text posts about it there's plenty of them a lot of focus in this show goes into tiny details where characters are constantly reacting to the world around them, and very rarely do we get lame stretches where anyone's face is just frozen and unflinching while they listen to someone else.

with all due respect to the setting at this point in time the bright moon rebellion is so pathetically anemic it's the two teens, some movie night lesbians, an immortal princess queen, and a bunch of fucking trees.

And you'd think the one carrying the team would be THE IMMORTAL PRINCESS QUEEN, BUT NO, ITS THE FUCKING TREES DOING ALL THE GOD DAMNED WORK

This introduction is fine. I don't particularly like it, nor have any strong feelings about it. It establishes the relationship between glimmer and her mother, but besides that it doesn't honestly do much. And don't come at me with "Uh, all it needs to do is establish that relationship?" Yeah, no shit, but we just had a better introduction to our other lead characters. And yes, those are the MAIN leads, the sort of heart of the show, but that doesn't mean that the other characters are unimportant. Glimmer's development later on is truly interesting, and Bow becomes a massively inspiring character. Fun jokey times are fine or whatever to show that they're immature and don't know the first thing about war, in contrast to our full-blown child soldiers raised from birth in the fright zone, but we really don't learn anything particularly INTERESTING about our best friend squad compadres in their intro, nor do we really see any of it until episode 2, to be frank.

This is something we don't actually see much of-- Catra has this ideal of being a conqueror, but it's very clear that she doesn't want that. Her threats are vapid and aimless-- She can enjoy some chaos, sure, but a shit-stirrer isn't gonna use that feces to build brick shithouses that they never intend to fall.

I think this should have been elaborated on more, personally. Catra is comically terrible with authority, and her plan, as stated later, is to wait it out until her and Adora are the ones calling the shots. But we don't really see what she thinks conquering even looks like, and it's not clear whether that's that she hasn't even imagined it and just likes evil words, or if she genuinely wants to rule with Adora as her Queen.

I gravitate towards the first, but that's partially because I wake up and post shit like "I want to destroy the world and rule its dust" and then forget I posted it when someone likes it 5 minutes later. If she do, in fact, as studies point toward, "be just like me fr," then I fully understand. If not, then I'd like to understand.

aw :(

Fuckin dweeb pulling the "my mom doesn't want me hanging out with you anymore" card

HA! Ah, what a bitch. Anyway, she's lashing out, but it's also quite tragic. A lot of people seem to think Adora IS, in some way, a people pleaser, but in reality she just has such an ingrained and violent sense of justice that she wants to right every wrong she has ever and will ever come across. She believes her validity is tied to what she can provide to the world, and she's got a natural sense of charisma, so it's natural for someone who refuses to blend in and naturally tends to put people off like Catra to have this view of her.

In reality, Adora is just-- a good person. And people LIKE good people. She's not a good person with an asterisk-- a good person with terms and conditions-- someone who falls into the definition of a good person while feeling and being treated like something else. Catra is the "a tomato is a fruit" of good people. Adora is just, like, a 1 dollar costco hotdog of a woman. An inarguable good treading water on this earth, no matter how hard it tries to pull her under.

Imagine falling for a brat with mad hops, like a fucking 50 foot vertical, you say you're too tired to play their favourite board game and they go hang out on your neighbour's roof, couldn't be me. Get fucked I guess

Yeah this is sad. Empathy is very much a learned skill, and people who don't learn empathy don't GET happy FOR people. Catra's not a complete person yet. She's not ready to be. That doesn't happen for a really long time, during an exceptionally long manic spiral. We'll get there, calm down, don't think about how far away that is and how much I've already yammered on.

Anyway, if you find yourself getting jealous or annoyed instead of getting happy for people, consider empathy isn't what you thought it was, and that you might still need to work on yourself.

fucking porno framing. Immensely sexual image, really. These bitches violently gay I suppose, I think I'm picking up on that during this sixth re-watch.

Buddy you got no idea how many problems those two already have you literally lose your little tiara at some point I think it ends up in the middle of a tree in space or something it's kinda unclear

Adora elbows her square in the nose during this so to everyone accusing Catra of physical abuse I just want it to be clear that Adora started it :/

Actually I'd like to retract that joke immediately because I know how people get about these two

My feelings are that they are literally child soldiers who were likely raised sparring each-other.

I was raised sparring other children and I ended up fine! Not for war, for Karate. And I didn't end up fine. And neither did they. Anyway, my point isn't even specifically that because this is sci-fi fantasy it's ridiculous to hold real life standards to it, it's more-so that because it's sci-fi fantasy there's extenuating circumstances that are going to affect how these two characters treat each-other. I'll go into hotter takes later, I'm sure, and get people to send me plenty of death-threats, but I'm gonna go into the nuances of exactly what forms Catra's abuse takes, and how it differs given by the separate circumstances we're shown the two in throughout the show.

my girl when I'm tryna live my best life playing as blue toad in mario 3d world

also holy shit we're only like halfway through this I am an AGONIZING yapper jesus fuck

Okay, what to say about lighthope-- well, their first words are "balance must be restored," far before they say Adora's name, so it somewhat lays out their secret priorities for us there. Besides that, I dunno, they got circuits on them? I don't have particularly strong feelings about lighthope, nor their introduction. I think they serve the setting and are written well, I just subjectively am not a sucker for the way they be. Their friendship with Mara is cute tho

I was gonna point out this is cute and how often I do this exact brat tactic but instead we data moshin, nothin wrong with a little data moshin, I'm down

This is the only reason she even wears a ponytail I'd stake my fuckin life on it

Once she leaves the fright zone that thing's fucking vestigial like a tailbone or having "any pronouns" in your bio when it's pretty clear you're very much a "she/they" type of bitch by now

glimmer why don't your windows have glass

or alternatively

how the fuck do you open and close that window

you can absolutely fucking hear her from this distance what on earth are you trying to pull

you a pillow princess tho how many of those arrows are just hitatchi magic wands attatched to a stick with duct-tape after the series ends do you think

The fuck you mean BOTTOM drawer we lookin at left and right here

or is this similar to my pillow princess comment and she's just addressing him and giving him an order

"Bottom; drawer."

It's established later on that he's a tech wiz but at this point in time they don't really give us much to lead us to the fact that he made that fucking thing

she's a freak

yes it's very sweet that she sleeps this way but I don't think it's some bdsm powerplay thing or anything like that, which would honestly be more tolerable, I think she's just like that

like how the way I'd sit in high school was to get two chairs and face them toward each-other then sit cross-legged across both

even if there weren't enough chairs to go around

people would sit on the FLOOR because I wanted to sit criss-cross-applesauce across two chairs, they wouldn't even ask for one of my chairs

also since I was sitting, again, cross-legged, it would have made more sense for ME to sit on the floor

I mean I think I got asked ONCE for one of the chairs and I just said "fine" but besides that people just let me sit on my fuckin throne

She really is kinda dumb, though. Like I ain't complaining, it's a character trait, but like obviously even if just you get in trouble Catra's gonna get blamed, you've seen it like at least once a month for your whole entire life

Mind you, can't really have Catra for the next part, because Catra's reaction to Bow and Glimmer wouldn't be "just let me have the sword" it'd be murder

oh wow we hit the image limit looks like we're doing TWO SEPARATE POSTS FOR THE VERY FIRST EPISODE YEE-HAW!!!!! THIS IS GOING TO TAKE ME FUCKING FOREVER

[f1incorrectquotess]

Any Lewis fans who wanna join a discord server?

[fizzie-frog]

SINSMAS!!!

part two here

The gag of Stolas really going through it when it comes to him being poor is funny. We already speculated that Stolas doesn't quite realize his privilege (and why his attitude to Blitz may come across as arrogant sometimes), but this was really a trip.

The big eyes:

Whatever tf this is:

Once again, Stolas having no clue how normal (not rich) society works, just casually skipping the whole queue.

But Blitz defending himmmm

"Stolas bird daughter" love the clarification:

Blitz really out here rough taking those mice for Stolas... Really trying to get him something familiar.

Stolitz trying clothes togetherrrr

I love how much of a Blitz gremlin is... He is really growing into it. The respective royals can't rest.

"We can afford nice things" (rich man noises)

M&M roughhousing

Tbh normal reaction from Stolas here

I really thought he said "Today we got Stolitz in the office" and I was disappointed to find out he didn't

"He just like me fr"

"I'M POOR NOW :(((" hysterical.

Yas queen

Yes, we can kill your asshole... Immediately, just bring it here

Crying secretary Stolas on the phone is the best thing.

Blitz really trying lol... He's so careful with him gtrgfkdv

The hell is that "frafrafrafrafra" laugh I can't everybody's so unhinged. Weirdly enough Blitz is the only put together person this whole episode for once.

Almost.

Found the happy pills, aaaaahhghfs.

"Here's an idea, you could shut the f up" my man's going through it.

He's losing it...

ALSO THAT'S A CHRISTMAS TREE IN A MAMMON HAT

Real footage of me working retail during the holidays:

And I exceeded my image limit so that's it for now...

[queenofmorningstar]

Caught Between the Vees

The Vees x f! Intern Reader

Summary: You're Vox's date to the gala, where information is flowing like champagne, and you're quick to grab it.

CW: The Vees being unhinged, Vox has some brain cells. Vox tries hardest not to simp, but fails. P in v, fingering, blowjob. Appearance Of Helluva Boss Villains.

Word Count: 4.8K

Part 1| Part 2| Part 3| Part 4| Part 5

Chapter Four: Tv Star

Vox’s arms were crossed, lips pursed as he leaned against the wall, eyes flicking between Val and Velvette, who were both lounging far too comfortably.

Vel was upside down on the couch, legs kicking up over the backrest, her phone in her hands as usual. “So, is no one gonna talk about the fact that I technically called dibs?”

Valentino snorted around his cigarette and waved lazily from his seat. “You didn’t call dibs, you just moved fast. That’s not the same thing, baby.”

“Fast?” Velvette grinned. “She came onto me. I didn’t even need to ask nicely.”

Vox leaned against the edge of the bar and gave a short laugh. His screenface flicked to a flat-line smile, and an expression of exaggerated boredom. “You two act like I wasn’t gonna get there eventually,” he said, sipping his liquor. “I’m playing the long game.”

“Is that what we’re calling sulking now?” Val drawled, flicking ash into a crystal tray. “Damn, baby, just say you are salty and move on.”

Vox rolled his eyes and smirked, but the twist of his mouth said he wasn’t denying it. “I can’t believe you guys fucked her first.”

“Skill issue, darlin’.” Vel mocked him. “You’re trying to be mysterious but we all know you have a large file of her in your system.”

The other two seemed in a mood to irritate him.

“She was delicious,” she drawled, stretching like a cat in sunlight. “Like, I knew she’d be fun, but—ugh. That whimper she makes when she’s close?,” She flicked her gaze across the room with purpose, “And she did—twice.”

“I just think it’s funny,” he said, the pitch of his voice warping just slightly, “how you two couldn’t wait. I mean, really? I was working on a connection. She actually talks to me. We have shared interests. But you two jumped on her like horny animals the second she stepped into the room.”

Valentino took a slow sip, unbothered. “We just didn’t waste time.”

“She’s smart,” Vox snapped. “She respects my ideas and innovations.”

Velvette bit her lip, eyes glittering with mischief. “Mmm, she respected my mouth just fine. Especially when I had her legs shaking around my shoulders.”

Vox’s grip tightened on his glass.

Val snorted. “You didn’t see her when I had her bent over the couch. Both holes full, moaning like a bitch in heat. She loved it.”

Vel chuckled. “I did see some photos of her in that pearl set from your cameras. Lovely. I get why you’re jealous.” 

“I’m not jealous,” Vox hissed. “I just think I should’ve had the first go. She likes me.”

Val hummed, amused. “Sweetheart likes all of us. That’s kind of the point.”

Velvette went back to her phone. “Don’t worry too much. She asks about you all the time. Gets this little smile when your name comes up.”

Vox relaxed at that.

Velvette was the first to break the brief silence that followed Vox’s pissy tantrum, stretching her arms overhead.“So…who’s gonna be the first to say it?”

Val cocked a brow. “Say what?”

“That we don’t want her to leave.”

Vox raised an eyebrow. “…Obviously.”

Val shrugged, slow and lazy, like the idea hadn’t occurred to him in full until this very moment. “Huh. Shit. You’re right. I kinda do want to keep her.”

“I mean,” Velvette said, “we could always just lock her up. Real pretty cage. Satin sheets, room service, a wardrobe full of lingerie and nothing else.”

Valentino let out a low, dark chuckle. “She’d look damn good behind gold bars. All spoiled and pampered. I’d collar her. Something delicate. Diamonds, maybe.”

Vox leaned back, watching them both with a raised brow. “You two sound deranged.”

“Oh please,” Vel purred. “You’re worse than us. You’re just good at hiding it.”

He didn’t respond, which, of course, was answer enough.

“Or or… we kidnap her?” Val offered, completely serious.

“No,” Vox deadpanned. “We are not kidnapping her.”

Val’s expression was halfway between offended and amused. “Why the hell not?”

“Because she’d escape,” Vox snapped. “She’d outwit her way out and have the whole building wired to explode, if she was pissed enough.”

Velvette looked surprised. “Oooh, I guess it does help building that long connection.”

“She’s not gonna want to stay if we trap her,” Vox continued, pacing now, caught in the kind of manic calculation. “She has to want to belong to us.”

Vel raised her brows. “I know that face you’re making. You've got something on her?”

Vox shrugged. “She has too much of a clean slate, it’s suspicious. I’m sure I’ll find something soon.”

__________________________________

The morning light was unforgiving. Everything ached.

After dragging yourself through the usual routine, you were getting ready, and then the doorbell rang. 

When you opened the door, a sleek black box sat neatly on the mat, with Vox’s logo, so you brought it inside. 

Inside, nestled in dark velvet lining, was a dress. An elegant, asymmetrical number in deep, midnight blue. Sleek fabric that shimmered subtly when it caught the light—simple at first glance, but clearly tailored for someone he’d studied. Your curves, your height, the way you move. He’d thought about this.

And below the dress—matching heels. Jewelry. And it wasn’t the only thing matching. A bra and panties, with Vox’s logo. That smug fucker.

Tucked into the side was a handwritten note. You swallowed, suddenly far more awake than you’d been two minutes ago.

“A gift to wear for today’s meeting. It’s more of a show for fake smiles and business. Though I know I won’t be bored with you by my side.

—V”

You saw the invitation attached to it, your name under Vox’s plus one. A very fancy invitation. This was full fucking gala. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

_________________________________

It draped your body with uncanny precision, as if tailored by hands that had studied you from every angle, memorized every curve. The sweetheart neckline framed your curves, the plunge dipped low, scandalously so, a narrow line of bare skin begging to be traced. The slit along your thigh was high, as you tugged on the gloves.

Your nervousness was at an all time high as you smoothed your hands over your hips and stepped into the heels.

The static began before Vox arrived.

You had…chatted with him online, if one can call it that. You had commented on one of his public projects, a design overhaul. 

You had ideas. Not critiques, not flattery. Actual, tactical improvements. Vox hadn’t expected it. He certainly hadn’t expected to agree.

Since then, the messages had become... frequent.

The part he didn’t admit, not even to himself, was how often he found himself waiting. For your name on his screen. For your thoughts. For a sentence that would needle under his skin in that way only yours could.

He’d caught himself adjusting projects to see what you’d say. Leaving things half-finished so you could find the gaps. Vox had never made room for anyone like that, never cared to.

The static got louder.

A flicker in the far corner of the room, from your TV. The faint crackle of a dead channel and flickering of lights.

You didn’t turn. You simply reached for a pair of earrings, deep sapphire drops and fastened them without urgency.

He was behind you by the time you adjusted the last one. “Subtle as ever,” you muttered.

When you met his gaze in the mirror, he was leaning casually against the frame in a deep navy suit, not quite matching your dress but definitely meant to compliment it. Like he’d walked out of a magazine and into your personal space with full awareness of the effect he had.

“You’re early,” you said without looking.

“I like watching the process,” he replied, voice near her shoulder now. “Seeing how something magnificent comes together. It looks better than I imagined.”

“I bet you imagined a lot.” You quipped before you could stop yourself.

“Oh, I did,” He immediately whispered, his hands on your shoulders. Too close.

“And the rest of the… ensemble?” he asked, voice dipped low.

You gave him a long look. “I suppose you’ll spend all evening wondering.”

His grin glitched wider. “Cruel.”

Vox took a slow turn around your apartment like it was a showroom he was about to purchase. Sleek blue claw-like digits trailed across your bookshelf, tapping one spine, then another. 

“I see the other two got to you first,” he said casually, plucking a mug from the counter and inspecting it like it offended him. “Sloppy work. No follow-through. And so unsophisticated.”

You gave him a flat look. “They didn’t hear me complain.”

Vox’s smile curled on his screen. “Ah, but you didn’t beg them to stay either, did you?”

Your pulse raced. It didn't seem like he was competing, no, he seemed to say...I know I'm your favourite.

He stepped closer; but you didn’t step back. Wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. You had a feeling he didn’t tell you this ‘meeting’ was a gala on purpose. He wants to watch you falter just once.

Vox murmured. “You wear my color like it was always meant to be yours.”

Your breath caught.

Your situation has gotten more complicated now. You have to betray them at some point but… you didn’t want to leave either. And you don’t want to betray Charlie either.

He stepped back finally, offering his arm like a gentleman.

__________________________________

The car ride had been silent and you were content watching out of the window, and Vox tapped on various screens displayed in front of him.

The gala was already in full swing by the time they arrived. 

Soft chandeliers hung low; wealth filled the space. Everyone here was somebody, or trying to be. The gala had gothic red colours, like the rest of Pride Ring.

Heads turned as they entered, and whispers followed them. You tried to keep your face neutral, and observe. Vox’s hand remained on the low of your back. 

Conversations faltered mid-sentence, eyes turned to follow their path. Some greeted with over-familiar warmth, others with caution. 

And yet, despite the gravity he carried, he never walked more than a step away from you.

They stopped at clusters of power-players—investors, tech moguls, architects who influenced Hell’s politics. Vox's voice was smooth, clipped, and professional, and you enjoyed watching him in his element.

He didn’t walk ahead of you or present you like a prize, which surprised you. He kept you precisely at his side, a half-step within reach. And every time Vox leaned toward someone with a proposition or a promise, he glanced at you first. For your insight.

You answered back to him in small nods and murmured observations, only for his ears.

The crowd noticed.

They noticed how his attention, sharp as it was, always bent in your direction before it snapped back to whoever he was dealing with. They noticed how he adjusted his approach based on your words. And more importantly—they noticed how he listened.

There was something dangerous in that. Because Vox didn’t listen to anyone.

He cut through conversations like a scalpel, left deals on the table half-finished if they no longer amused him, left people hanging on promises he’d never intended to keep. He brought you into the fold of every discussion, every negotiation, every web he wove.

They were halfway through the circuit of the room when a familiar imp, Crimson, approached them.

“Vox, my friend,” Crimson drawled, reaching out a hand. “I've been waiting for a moment with you all evening.”

Vox returned the greeting with his usual detached politeness. “You and half the room, Crimson. What makes your moment worth my time?”

Crimson didn’t flinch. “Because I’ve got an exclusive shipping corridor through the lower circles—clean, untouched, and ready to be digitized for your network. Imagine it: your signals running through every infernal trade route. We split it fifty-fifty.”

You said nothing at first. Vox casted a glance at you, silent.

Crimson, oblivious, pushed on. “No interference, no watchdogs. I’ve even paid off the Greed ring enforcers. You’d be foolish not to take it.”

You tilted your head, just slightly. “And how long before your 'exclusive' route is compromised by your interference?”

Crimson blinked. “What—”

“They’ve been scouting that same corridor for weeks,” you continued, voice calm, almost pleasant. “You haven’t bought off their informants. You’ve just distracted them. Temporarily. The moment Vox invests in your little scheme, they’ll know. And they'll come for it. Hard.”

The air tightened. Crimson’s smile strained. “And you are…?”

Vox didn’t let him finish.  

He turned slightly toward you, as if Crimson didn’t exist now. “Go on.”

You went in for the kill. “You’re selling a liability dressed up as an opportunity. And you thought Vox would be too distracted by the gaudiness to notice the risk.”

The silence that followed cracked like ice. Crimson’s mask faltered, fury and embarrassment clawing at his composure. “I don’t recall inviting her into this conversation.”

Vox’s screen turned slowly back toward him. His voice dropped to a dangerous calm. “Then you’ve made your second mistake tonight.”

The tension snapped. A few nearby demons subtly drifted away, pretending to be interested in the art installations, but their ears stayed tuned to the fallout.

Crimson muttered a curse, smoothed his coat, and retreated with as much dignity as he could muster, which wasn’t much.

Vox said nothing for a moment. Then, quietly said to you, “I would’ve let him string the pitch a little longer.”

You gave a soft, knowing smile. “You would've been bored within a minute.”

A low burst of laughter escaped him. “Correct. And now I’m entertained and unburdened.”

His gaze lingered on you. You didn’t just protect his interests, but enhanced them. Where he tore things apart, you slipped the knife in between the ribs with surgical precision. 

_______________________________

The waltz began with a slow melody, the crowd shifted to form pairs in smooth precision, toward the center of the ballroom.

Vox was speaking with two high-level investors near the dais, his tone clipped but magnetic. You could hear the trace of static in his voice—his usual sign that he was barely restraining the urge to end the conversation. He wouldn’t miss you, not for a few minutes, right?

You stepped away with the kind of practiced silence that wouldn’t draw attention. Your eyes swept the floor until they landed on him—Striker.

The outlaw and Vox’s secret little weapon supplier. He shouldn’t have been here. He hated galas. But Vox had insisted, probably to keep the weapons trade on a short leash. And Striker, ever the opportunist, never said no to a chance to stir the pot.

You caught him just as the music pulled into a smooth dip. “Dancing alone, cowboy?”

Striker blinked, surprised but not displeased. “Doll, I didn’t know Vox let you off the leash.”

You smiled sweetly. “I don’t work well with leashes.”

He chuckled low, offering his hand with a dramatic bow. He took her hand, and they joined the swirl of bodies under the blood-crystal chandelier. Striker moved well, unexpectedly elegant for someone who normally solved problems with violence.

They moved in a quiet rhythm for a moment. “Tell me,” you said lightly as you spin, “how someone like you ends up dealing in such... divine materials.”

Striker raised an eyebrow, but he grinned. “You mean the angelic steel?"

That confirmed your suspicions. “I mean exactly that.”

He twirled you, letting the movement give him a moment to think.

You pressed forward. “So, this smuggling pipeline of yours… how do you pull it off without the Exorcists breathing down our necks?”

Striker’s pride swelled at the question. He saw an opportunity to impress. And god, did he take it.

“Well,” he said, voice dropping into that conspiratorial drawl, “most of these uptight angels don’t bother watching the lower districts. We gathered all the angelic steel left behind after extermination. The angels have endless supply, so they litter it around there. Black market salvagers sweep it, I get it refined, and poof, it’s in Vox’s vaults before sunrise.”

You raised your eyebrows, just enough to look impressed. “Clever.”

“Damn right it is. It’s all about timing and contacts. I use a backdoor through Lust’s border—nobody checks shipments going out of Asmodeus’s territory. Too busy with... other things.”

You laughed softly, your work was done here. You pulled back, gave him a coy little smirk, and twirled herself out of his arms, spun backward into another set of arms waiting just behind you. Arms that caught you without hesitation, like they’d been expecting you all along…

________________________________

It took less than a second for Vox to find you. You were on the far side of the dance floor, with Striker.

Striker’s hands rested a little too comfortably at your waist, his cocky smile in full display as he leaned in to say something, likely some arrogant pitch masked as flirtation. Vox saw the curve of your lips, soft and amused. You tilted your head, inviting more.

But Vox knew better. He’d seen that tilt before. It was the angle you used when you were dissecting someone. You were studying Striker, and Vox didn’t know why. That was what irritated him most.

Vox’s hands flexed at his sides, sleek fingers twitching in suppressed agitation. A thousand calculations ran behind his screen. What were you after? What was he offering? And why hadn’t you told him?

It wasn’t about trust. Against his better judgment, against the nature of Hell itself, he trusted you. Which made this sting more.

He began to move. He crossed the floor with precision, never breaking eye contact with the pair, though only Striker noticed. And Striker, of course, smirked. That was the moment Vox arrived.

In one seamless motion, you slipped from Striker’s grip and pivoted gracefully into Vox’s arms, your body aligning against his like it was the only place you belonged.

Your smile returned, faint and unbothered, as if this had all gone exactly to your plan.

Vox caught you instinctively, arms settling around your waist. His screen flickered once. “Enjoy your detour?” he asked, voice low, modulated just above the music.

You looked up at him with those bright, clever, utterly unrepentant eyes. “Immensely. Striker’s quite talkative when he thinks he’s being clever.”

Of course you had a reason. He pulled you closer, turning them into the rhythm of the dance with practiced grace.

“And here I thought I was the manipulative one,” he murmured.

You leaned into him, just slightly. “I learned from the best.”

That did it.

You moved with him, matching every step, every subtle shift of weight, as if you had always belonged in his orbit. And Vox knew, more clearly than he ever had before, that you weren't just his partner in business. You were his partner in war.

With a sound like a channel switching frequencies too fast, the ballroom around them flickered and vanished.

They rematerialized in a burst of blue light, the air humming with residual voltage. His room was bathed in electric cobalt glow, the walls covered in various screens.You would have thought it was the room of a nerd gamer. The room looked straight out of cyberpunk fiction. The ceiling was…part of an aquarium. The water rippled above, and you saw sharks swimming around in circles above.

“You really couldn’t wait till dessert?” you teased, walking deeper into his space. But your teasing smile dropped when you saw his expression.

He stalked toward you until he was close enough that the glow from his screens painted your skin in electric blue. “I want to know every thought you’ve ever had. Every theory, every witty remark, I want everything you have, darling.”

Oh. oh.

The second his mouth touched yours, the world fell away. His lips were soft but hungry, like he was trying to memorize your taste, like he was starving and you were the answer to every ache he’d never named. Your heart thundered against your ribs, frantic and traitorous.

Everything about you—the tilt of your head, the way your fingers grabbed at his jacket like you couldn’t decide if you wanted to pull him closer or push him away—it all made his blood race in the best way. Finally. Finally.

But then you kissed him back, and Vox felt something unravel. One of the screens cracked behind them, reacting to the sudden spike in his pulse.

His mouth descended to your throat, kissing, licking and bit down, just enough to make you gasp and smiled against your pulse when he felt it flutter like wings. His fingers dipped under the hem of your dress, tracing the line of your thigh, not touching anywhere you truly wanted him but just close enough to make you ache.

Vox’s lips were on your jaw then your collarbone, then lower, his teeth scraping just enough to make you squirm. “I want to see how fast I can make you forget every clever thought in your head,” he whispered.

This kiss was filthier. All tongue and teeth and desperate friction. His hips pressed into yours like a question, and your answer was the soft moan he swallowed whole. Every part of him wanted to be everywhere—his hands roaming, mapping you like he was trying to memorize your body.

"You're unreal," he muttered against your lips, his fingers sliding to trace your ribs then down the small of your back. “Like someone designed just to fuck with me.”

The moment the zipper hit the base of your spine, your dress slid down like it was relieved to be dismissed. Vox’s hands followed it, palms dragging over your skin slowly, like he needed to feel every inch of what had been hidden from him.

“Fuck,” he breathed, just looking at you. “You actually wore it.”

The bra was delicate and right between your breasts, stitched in electric blue shimmered his logo. The matching panties clung to you like a second skin with the same signature mark in front of your pussy.

He spun you around, catching you effortlessly as he dropped into the bed behind them and dragged you onto his lap, facing away from him. Your back to his chest, your thighs spread over his. 

Since the screens were off, the black surface reflected them. You felt blood rush to your cheeks.

“Look,” he said, one hand sliding up her stomach to cup her breast, thumb brushing the embroidered logo. “Look how fucking perfect you are in my colors.”

His other hand slid between your legs, pressing over the logo on your panties before slipping beneath it. Two fingers dragged through slick heat, slow, teasing, making you gasp and buck back against him.

He moaned, rutting up against your ass. “I want to watch your face when you come. I want to see every twitch, every whimper, every time you lose control.”

His fingers plunged in and you cried out, legs spreading wider instinctively. He curled them just right, and your hips jerked in his lap, the friction driving you insane.

You managed to open your eyes back to your reflection. Your head rolled back on his shoulder. His hand buried between your thighs. Your bra pulled down, exposing your breasts—one already in his hand, the other bouncing with every panting breath.

“You’re so fucking tight,” he growled. “And you’re going to come just like this. On my fingers and wearing my name.”

“Vox—” Your voice cracked, high and desperate. 

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Vox,” you moaned, nails digging into his thighs, legs trembling. “I’m gonna—fuck!”

He bit down on your neck, fingers working faster, harder, relentless and perfect.

Your body arched, mouth open in a silent scream as you come hard, clenching around his fingers, your thighs shaking.

Vox groaned, burying his face in your neck as he slowed his fingers, coaxing you through it. “That’s it,” he whispered. “So fucking beautiful. I could watch that forever.”

You were still panting when he finally pulled his hand away and brought it to his mouth, licking your cum off his fingers with a hum of satisfaction.

You didn’t like his smug grin, as if he knew he was always in control. You shifted in his lap, but instead of turning to straddle him like he expected, you slid down.

Vox stilled. “What are you—?”

Your fingers moved to his belt, your gaze locked with his as you unbuckled it. “You’ve had your fun,” you said, voice smooth, almost casual but your hands betrayed you, shaking slightly.  “Now I get mine.”

Vox’s head tipped back, a sharp hiss escaping him as you unzipped him and pulled him out. He was achingly hard, flushed and leaking at the tip. You wrapped one hand around him, giving a single slow stroke, and watched his body twitch.

“Look at you,” you murmured, thumb swiping over the head. “So fucking needy.”

You smiled innocently and leaned in. The first drag of your tongue along the underside of his cock had his hips jerk. His blue-tipped claws scratched into the sheets. “Shit…fuck—”

You licked him again, slower this time, savoring him. 

Then you took him into your mouth. You sucked in just the head, tongue swirling around it. Vox’s hands twitched, desperate to grab you, to thrust up, but he held back barely.

His hand found the back of your head, fingers threading through your hair. “Deeper,” he whispered. “Please—fuck—deeper.”

You took him down slowly, letting his cock slide past your lips, past your tongue, until your nose brushed his pelvis and he groaned like you’d stabbed him with pleasure. You pulled back, slow and wet, then repeated it, faster, then again—until your head was bobbing in steady rhythm.

Vox was falling apart.

The way his voice cracked when you gagged a little, the way his thighs trembled when you moaned around him. Then you sucked him in, hard and deep, while stroking the base with one hand.

With a sharp, guttural groan, Vox’s whole body tensed. His hips bucked just once, and then he came—hot, thick, spilling into your mouth as he cried out your name like it hurt. You tried swallowing most of it, then slowly pulled off with a lewd pop.

He was still breathing like he’d just fought off a damn riot, head thrown back, lips parted, cock twitching despite just finishing in your mouth. But seeing you like this–

Vox was on his feet in a second, lifting you effortlessly and tossing you onto the bed behind them like you weighed nothing. You bounced on the plush mattress, laughing breathlessly as he stalked after you, already pulling his shirt over his head.

Your legs parted for him instinctively, and he settled between them, one hand braced beside your head, the other running down your side like he couldn’t believe you were real. 

His eyes roamed your body, then his mouth crashed onto yours, tongue plunging in deep, and his hips aligned with yours, cock pressing hot and hard against the soaked fabric of your panties.

Vox pulled your panties aside and slammed into you in one rough, hungry thrust. You cried out, arching under him, nails clawing at his shoulders. You felt him so deep, stretching you open with a delicious burn that made your head spin. “Fucking hell, Vox—”

His rhythm was brutal at first, but then he slowed, grinding in deep, letting you feel every inch as he stared down at you like he was gazing at art.

Your eyes fluttered open. “What are you looking at?”

“You,” he whispered, brushing hair from your face. “The smartest, most infuriating, most perfect thing I’ve ever seen.”

You pulled him down and kissed him hard, legs wrapping tight around his waist, locking him in.

He picked up the pace again, pounding into you now, the sound of skin slapping skin filling the room along with your moans, his groans, and the creak of the mattress as he drove deeper into you.

“You feel…fuck—you feel so good,” he gasped, voice losing control and buffering. “So tight, so warm—god.”

He shifted, grabbing one of your legs and hooking it over his shoulder. The new angle sent him even deeper, and you screamed, back arching off the bed as your orgasm slammed into you like a wave.

He watched you unravel completely under him. Your mouth open, your body shaking—and it shattered his control. He thrust wildly now, panting your name like a prayer, chasing his release.

When he came, his whole body seized as he spilled inside you, deep and messy and claiming.

He collapsed on top of you, breath ragged, heart pounding like a war drum against your chest. As you tried catching your breath, you chuckled at his screen with error messages.

[WARNING: LETHAL LEVELS OF BEAUTY DETECTED]

[PROXIMITY ALERT: GOD-TIER BABE IN RANGE]

[MELTDOWN IMMINENT]

[CRITICAL FAILURE: HEART RATE UNSTABLE]

[REASON: HER]

[SOLUTION: UNKNOWN. MAYBE JUST DIE??]

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

Notes: The dress I imagined for the reader.

Vox’s room as I imagined.

The Foursome and Finale is coming soon and I can't wait for you guys to read it!!

Next>>>>

[mari-lair]

Koukane is beautiful, a solid rare pair that's dear to my heart, so let's talk about them!

Kou is easily overwhelmed by Akane, kind of stumbling into being his friend when it clearly wasn't in his plans.

Their first interactions are adorable in a pitiful way because Kou can't keep up with Akane's mood swings, he is so nervous he calls Akane "Sir" completely umprompted, constantly being at lost for words near the older boy.

And while Kou aknowladge Akane can be scary and unhinged:

This nervousness is born from admiration, he gets flustered near Akane when the older boy isn't even trying. Stuttering and startling and awkwardly reaching out for him without daring to approach.

His habit to awkwardly reach out likely involves wanting to help Akane, he just can't force himself to actually close the distance and be of help.

The one time Kou was able to help, delighted to the point of happy tears by the opportunity, Akane killed part of his pride by showing off a power Kou seems to think is much cooler and stronger than his own, judging by the way his big blush turned into sweat.

To further stab his poor heart, when he was honest about how cool Akane powers are, Akane dismissed his own as pathetic. So I don't blame Kou for being so nervous about trying to help his 'cool upperclassman' during the entire arc.

Akane has no nerves when it comes to Kou so he is the one that always approaches Kou and get them closer,declaring Kou his friend, kicking Hanako when it looked like he was mocking Kou's desperate determination to save Nene, and being the only one who touches Kou, Kou never dares to touch Akane.

Surprisingly, Kou's respect seem to extend to Akane's view on Hanako, cause we don't see his reaction to Akane's "you're a murderer, you make me sick" rant, but we do know Kou isn't nearly as unseatled as Nene about it, he isn't even angry, when he brings it up again later with Hanako, he is pretty casual about it. And in the recap he is just confussed.

Maybe Akane reminds him of Teru, and he is used to such a harsh stance, or he is thinking of the young exorcist arc where Hanako's beliefs were the same as Akane's 'I am being nice now but i murdered someone kid. What would ever justify murder? How can a murderer ever be good?' so I think Kou is mostly shocked someone with Akane's belief decided to go through with the alliance anyways. Teru would never.

Back to Kou being extremely nervous!

During the clock keepers arc, after Akane dons his clock keeper uniform, Kou never disagree with Akane directly. Even Kou's habit to back up Nene doesn't get in the way, hyping Nene up but not agreeing with her contrasting views like "hanako isn't bad" or directly refuting what Akane says.

This hesitation/nerves slowly dissapears as they grow closer, nowadays Kou isn't scared of speaking his mind, able to be extremelly rude and not filter his offence.

We aren't show them interacting much in the main manga but we are told that they do talk outside classes, likely alone (?), so Akane's declaration they're friends was not a thrown away line, he genuinely vibe with Kou, he even gave him his phone number.

Kou got more comfortable with Akane, able to express that the boy is a weirdo but still keeping his respects for Akane, seeing him as a wise older boy and following his lead without question: He is excited to hear about Akane's romantic advise and he listened to Akane's advise even when it comes to dealing with his own brother.

Akane likes Kou, he is the one who declared them friends. He admires his determination and want him to succedd in his goals, he wouldn't have stopped his time on what he consider an 'imposible task' to save Nene otherwise. He also really appreciates that Kou doesn't like Aoi. And he is constantly comparing Kou with Teru, baffled by how much they differ.

Akane grows to like when Kou is cheerful, either overwhelmed by Kou's expectations and feeling pressured into doing what Kou wants or charmed by it, unable to resist the urge to tease him.

There is a translation where he refers to Kou as Teru's 'cute little brother' and considering how he treats Kou, even if it is a mistranslation i wouldn't be surprised if that's how he think.

Specially with the way he acts as if Kou is too good to be related to Teru, touched by his kindness, seeing him as a sparkling/glowing figure.

Akane also loves his food, blushing when he eat it. He respect him as a chef.

Akane trying to cheer Kou after his fight with Kou up is really sweet to me because he sucks, they aren't close enough for hugs or shoulder pats but still enough for Akane to take his distress seriously. He is unconfortable and sweeaty, awkwardly reach out, as if he want to help Kou but has no idea how. It remind me of Kou's own awkward reaching out gestures in the clock keepers arc.

Their friendship is beautiful and funny but every flavor of koukane is good, so let's add a puppy crush on Kou. He already finds Akane attractive.

This is attraction by the way, he isn't flustered because Akane is being suggestive. Even if we put asside how pretty Akane was drawn here, Kou is not weak to sexual comments, he is used to Hanako, whose pervy jokes are far more explicit, but he isn't a fan of them, always gets mostly annoyed not flustered.

In the spin off it is revealed a girl Hanako isn't 'his type', but when Hanako possessed Nene's body (who Kou used to have a crush on so he consider her an attractive girl) he becomes imcapacitated. It is a big weakness.

So Akane's smirk is what got Kou flustered. Reading Kou's nerves as half admiration and half the poor boy feeling way too bi to know how to handle Akane would be fun.

I can imagine Akane talking about Aoi, since Kou is one of the few boys who doesn't have a crush on her and Kou feeling awkward cause everytime Akane send him a cute smile thinking of Aoi, Kou short circuit.

Considering we only see Kou call Akane "sir!" after his transformation I headcanon he is more attracted to Akane's keeper form than his usual apparence. If Akane teases Kou while on the keeper uniform Kou may explode.

If we keep this ship one sided, it would never leave the dock, Kou would never go after Akane, but I can see him trying to help Akane get with Aoi when they become close friends, similar to how he had helped Nene with Hanako during the donuts chapter. Boy got the 'he is so out of my league i won't even try' doubts mixed with a sprinkle of i don't like boys' cause internalized homophobia is one fo the ingredient of Kou's 'i want to be tough and reliable! I don't want to be a housewife' complex.

(Just realized Kou think using your bare fists to fight is the peak of toughness and guess what Akane's fighting style is. Guess.)

Akane liking him back is amazing because they both got the acts of service displays of love, something Akane will be touched by and Kou will be comflicted because he is the acts of service guys that's his one thing he can do right, let him do stuffs!! What Kou is weak to is words of affirmation, so he would explode if Akane says he does a good job, is handsome, or kiss well or anything really.

Akane can consistently overwhelm Kou when he is being confident so if he say "Sit down I'll clean today," Kou would try to argue but inevitably cave in and have to awkwardly let someone help him. I am telling you right now, when they live together breakfast will become Akane's role.

Kou may be a hard working boy that carries his family on his back but he is NOT a morning person. A single sleep over would be enough for Akane to notice that and let his wondeful boyfriend rest. Depending on how sappy he is feeling, or if it is a important date like birthdays or valentines, he'll give Kou breakfast in bed.

Kou being easily overwhelmed/having low self steem and Akane's habit of being very open about his love, puting his partner first, would result in Kou being super flustered and flattered and uyguygyugu at the start but slowly turn into a problem if unchecked.

Akane is reliable so he can help Kou with chores, studies, or supernatural problems, which Kou would appreciate, and rely on, but it would slowly make Kou feel useless by comparation.

(It would feed into Teru's fears that his siblings are growing out of him too buuut i'll make a post on Teru's amazing potential roles/affect in the ship for later)

Even when Kou does help he has a habit of focusing on what he can't do instead of what he can, feeling like all he does right is cook, and that Akane doesn't trust him, since Teru is the one Akane goes to when it comes to supernatural troubles and help him in the student council. He worries about Kou more than he ever relied on him, at least, when it comes to battle.

Unlike with Mitsuba, I can't see Kou being angry Akane doesn't rely on him, there was never any illusion that Kou can 'grant his wish' or that he is the only one trustworthy in Akane's life. Kou is the one who usually seek him for help from the start, and he respect the people Akane work with more than he respects himself, so he would just be extremaly frustrated with himself that he isn't capable enough to be Akane first option in troubling times.

Thankfully, unlike Aoi, Kou's poker face sucks, and he is an incredibly bad liar, when he bottle up his emotions it easily overflows. Anger, sadness, nervousness...

Just look how he acts with Nene after he learn about her lifespam, how easily his smile breaks after his visit with mitsumom, how reactive he get with Hanako, and so on...

So Akane, who is used to playing hard mode (since he grew up reading Aoi's eternal smile) would notice all of Kou's mood swings right away. If Kou dismisses it, Akane will let him be, but when it keep happening, or he is visibly very troubled, a talk would occur.

I think the first time a misunderstanding would hapen relatively earlier, over something small: Such as Akane thinking Kou is cute when Kou wants to be cool. Kou would be embarrassed at first, he is never complemented on his apparence in the manga in any way, in fact, he is comparaed to a delinquent in apparence, but find it kind of pathetic after a while that the main thing Akane calls him is cute.

Imagine Kou trying out cooler clothes and Akane being somewhat baffled but endeared. Akane won't even question, if Kou want to have a punk era, good for him, but when he finally connect the dots at his anxious behavior he will figure out exactly what kind of compliment Kou craves and overwhelm the poor kid.

Eventually every little piece and small issue would connect and Akane will call him out on his "I need to be useful" complex. Probably result in tears from Kou and regular training sessions.

Kou is incredibly powerful, he is a Minamoto! The only one who caught Mirai mid air, and all the monster he killed at the aquarium was while his weapon was sealed, so Akane would absolutely grow to respect him. Kou would also be a non tradicional fighter, knowing some tradicional exorcists attacks and some judo tecniques.

Akane consider getting homemade food the peak of displays of love (it's a fantasy that is brought up a LOT/ he was extremelly flustered when Aoi gave him a little homebaked sweet)

So despite Kou not thinking much of every bento he makes for Akane, his upperclassman would be delighted. Specially when Kou's meals become more and more tailored to Akane's tastes everytime Kou learns more about his preferences, made with Akane in mind. Add in how Akane naturally loves Kou cooking, even ship lenses, and every meal will be Akane's favorite time of the day.

Instead of leaving Akane to his fate when he is having even day to day troubles Kou would try to help now that he isn't so nervous anymore, and can move instead of reaching out and awkwardly staying in place. Just like when Tiara was troubling him and Kou immediately went to help.

They teamed up for damage control flawlessly. Just saying if they ever live together the chores would be split and all would be nice.

Akane always try to do things alone, and we are constantly said Akane get stuck with jobs no one want to do, helping others but not asking for help. Kou naturally always tries to do things for others, so he would tell him to relax when he is too tired and offer help in small tasks he can, like delivering papers to various clubs, things he would consider pretty unhelpful but Akane would be touched by, specially pre-relationship/the very start.

ALSO! Their height difference is cute! It would start with Akane being taller:

And if grown up Kou REALLY is the same as Teru, he'll become a little taller than Akane.

The idea of Akane either in complete denial his Kou looks like Teru when he gets older, or him genuinely being so in tune with every detail of his features that he is the only one who sees Kou as completely different and far more beautiful than Teru are equally funny to me.

[labyrinthofsphinx]

Damn the Au Vox character design talk is really interesting. ...now I'm curious to see a breakdown of Au Al’s design 👀

Anon asked: Can we get a design breakdown of Drift and Alastor too??

Let's start with Al. To be honest, most of the original elements taken from Al were kinda informed by some of Viv's early streams on a theoretical human Alastor design. Like Vox, I adapted a few things to better fit with the AU I was making though. The eye shape, for example, I made bigger if mainly to add expression to it, especially since I am keeping to the Alastor only 'smiling' rule. The smile can wobble and turn oddly, but the ends must always be up by some measure.

And, in contrast to demon Alastor, human Alastor has a lot more soft lines, adding into the more 'human' aspects of him. He's skinny, and generally non-threatening in build, buttt, there is always meant to be something a little...unsettling or not quite normal about Alastor, even from design.

While I made the eyes larger, I did change the iris of the eye quite a bit. The oval shape makes it between the soft rounded look of Vox and the more demonic like cat eye of demon Alastor. I also run with the idea that the eyes are the 'window to the soul', and thus reveal quite a bit of character in them. The blackness of them means you can't quite separate the pupil from the iris which, while making it appear more 'friendly', kinda reflects the internal darkness finding 'its way out' in a sense.

Alastor also has...stages of unhinged, which you may have noticed. Like I said Al...isn't quite 'normal' anymore, in certain respects. And the more bloodlusty he gets...the stranger things tend to become. He also snaps between the phases to further add to his unpredictability. In the show, Alastor snaps between different emotions on a dime, such as his conversation with Husk in the hallway, and I wanted to keep that threatening unpredictability in the AU.

Overall, Alastor was meant to look more friendly than his demon form, but still have something distinctly...not normal about him. Like Alastor in the show, he can play the 'nice guy' but he's not fooling anyone, unlike Vox. Everyone is on edge around canon Alastor, with Angel even calling him 'creepy'. Again, this is something I kinda wanted to bring into the AU. He's too nonthreatening appearing to cause suspicion logically, but that illogical, emotional center of people looks at him and may feel uneasy, even if they can't name why.

I've done breakdowns of Drift in the past, but it's been a while and I don't mind retreading :3

So, Drift is actually almost exactly as he was when I first deigned him, wayyyyy back when the pilot of Hazbin and Helluva first came out. As such, the demon form of him came first! His story came first before the design was finalized because a lot of how Sinners appear seems to be influenced by their life and their death, like Al being a deer because of being mistaken for a deer, and Vox's face being a literal television and being some kind of TV personality while alive.

Technically, this is going to go into spoilers for my fic series, but I'll keep it light ;)

With Drift I was kinda proposing the question of what it takes to actually get into Hell, and what it means to be redeemed. Could someone have 'one bad day' but otherwise be a honest to goodness good person and still wind up in Hell? What would that look like? As such, he's really playing on the innocent look, big ears, head, and eyes. He's meant to look out of place a little among the scarier denizens of Hell. Being a fox plays into his backstory quite a bit, from certain familial affiliations and fact that foxes are very commonly roadkill (which is how Drift died), but also the concept of being very low on the rung of Sinners, looking almost like a hellhound (who are at the bottom of the overall pyramid). Likewise, foxes are associated with being tricky, more street smart than wise.

The inspiration from the Fennec fox is meant to showcase the kind of twisted 'Peter Pan' syndrome going on, in that Drift will never be any older than he is, and fennec foxes always tend to look like babies. It also plays into the place he's from, environment-wise, someplace hot and dry.

Human Drift I made basically right after I was done with demon Drift's more finalized look. The only thing I changed for the AU were the clothes he wears, as Demon Drift will often dress in 90s skater kid clothes to Murder Partners 1930s ragamuffin look. There's a lot of 3s and 2s that I carried over between deigns. I also kept the large head and ears, but small mouth. It also secondarily adds the effect of Drift being the kind of person to hear/see a lot of things, but keep his mouth shut.

Funny enough, when I was done with everyone's designs and I was taking a look at the silhouettes, Drift ended up kinda looking like a combination of Alastor and Vox's appearance in certain respects, like the hair styles. An accident, but one that I'm pretty happy with. He is kinda their kid after all...and also mostly by accident! XD

Thanks for the asks!

[takumi-sumino]

I've seen a couple of people do stuff like this, so I'm gonna take a stab at it. My thoughts on every character so far! (Long post, so the opinions are all under the cut)

Darumi

She feels like an audience insert of sorts, with her immediate mention of death games and her outfit looking like something a stereotypical "2020 danganronpa cosplayer" would wear.

She's a bit unhinged from what we've so far, but she also seems like she'll be a lot of fun to watch on screen, and isn't that what's most important?

Definite and overwhelming red herring for something, however. Unsure for what yet, but she screams red herring to me.

Also, the fanart of her has been spectacular. Keep it up, lads.

Eito

I'm sure we've all seen *the scene*, so there's that. If that's not out of context somehow and consensual, then- yay? Good for the yaoi fans.

I immediately liked him when I first saw his design, he just *looks* nice. I'd let him hold my drink at a party. I've read somewhere that he becomes Takumi's closest friend, and I dearly hope that that's true, because that means we get lots of Eito content.

I'm also unbelievably excited for that one ending where he inevitably goes off the deep end and does something absolutely horrific. There has to be one. Manifesting it. I love watching my favourite characters commit atrocities.

Gaku

Can I just say how different he specifically looks in his two different outfits? I didn't even recognise him when his sprite of him in the uniform was revealed. His casual outfit is so silly, and his uniform looks the most like he's about to beat my ass. The gattling gun also helps, probably.

That aside, I don't feel that strongly about him. He's probably a nice enough guy, nothing else to say about him.

Hiruko

She's actually drop dead gorgeous. One of the best casual outfits.

Moving on, I think she's the one who's the leader of the squadron? She seems to have experience with facing the enemies, and she's still alive, so I admire the heck out of her for it. She also has an axe that is bigger than her; you can have all the gattling guns or scythes or floating knives in the world, but nothing bests a good old-fashioned ginormous axe.

Ima

Goofy face, what's he looking at me like that for?

This guy has a bit of a reputation, I know, but I'm choosing to have faith.

A sister complex is not inherently sexual or romantic (although it often is) and I find complicated and toxic family relationships in media quite interesting.

I am, however, almost entirely leaning on Uchikoshi here. Clover and Snake's sibling relationship was extremely well written, and I'm hoping that even if he does feel romantically inclined towards his sister, it's just as well written. I'm choosing hope.

Also, his weapon is phenomenal. I might need to make a weapons tierlist at some point.

Kako

She's a cutiepie, and I haven't missed the fact that she and her brother have angel/devil symbolism with their weapons.

Apparently, the two of them are a bit younger than many of the other students, so that should be interesting- Takumi I know is 17/18. Apparently, they're still in Junior High, so 14/15? I wonder if there'll be any split because of the age groups?

I want nothing but the best for her and I hope she gets it. And doesn't die too many times.

Karua

Likely the one this story revolves around, and one of the more mysterious characters.

I'm curious about her, but I don't really feel anything that strong about her. I am fairly certain that Takumi will tear apart reality itself for her, so she'll probably be a pretty nice character. And hopefully, NOT a twist villain.

Kurara

Absolutely wild to have a masked character in a game that Uchikoshi is writing, I'm sure that has never happened before.

She's filthy rich and has a tomato for a head, I- really don't know what to say about her. Her weapon is hilarious to me, "rich girl above all rich girls" and has a shovel for a weapon. I respect the grind, at least.

I'm sure in true Zero Escape fashion, we'll unmask her in one timeline and use that information in another.

Kyoshika

I genuinely have nothing to say about her- I learned she existed a couple days ago? Had never noticed her before, honestly.

She has a cool outfit in any case.

I just remembered there's a 10 image max on the app, so I'll continue this in a reblog

[timetoddddavis]

Have I mentioned here how I'm low key obsessed with Sakito? He's like this... showboating, deeply traumatized, hungry, yankee manchild who's nice to kids, and I dunno if you know this but this is 100% my brand.

Like he never grew up, he's Peter Pan all the way down, he ran away as a child and now he's back and he's still! A child!! His changer is a game controller ffs, when he gets here, it's all a game to him. He does not care about the stakes at all he just wants to go FAST. Because none of this is REAL to him, this place isn't real. These people aren't real. It's a GAME until he meets back up with his one tether to earth.

Watch him when we see him interact with his childhood friend, the downwards gaze, the mumbled apology, his parental figure giving him little pushes. His motivations are all id, he just wants to eat home cooking and play games with his friends. He is a KID. He's the naughty little boy who lives in your neighborhood who fucks up your flowers and cusses at adults and eggs the cops and gets into fights, but he shows up at your house and gets shy and doesn't ask for anything and you feed that kid because you know SOMETHING is going on with him and he needs support.

Sakito is SO NICE to kids, too, it's so sweet, it's the only time he's really openly warm and it adds such a good shading to his character. He's a traumatized kid who grew up to be a BIG traumatized kid, right? So when a kid is troubled, when he's faced with kids, he treats them with respect and warmth. He gets down to their level. He smiles and speaks gently. He believes them.

The episode with Taiya's school and the dream, when Sakito's trapped in his own head, he doesn't even treat the ILLUSION of a child with his usual roughness. And I think that's really beautiful! We don't know what happened to him as a kid, but we do know he doesn't pass it along.

AND JUST, AN ASIDE, BYUUN D IS SO GOOD. THE ALIENS SAKITO MET WERE BORDERLINE SCARY, ANYTHING COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO HIM. BUT BYUUN D WAS THERE. AND HE'S STILL THERE. AND SAKITO IS A DANGEROUS VIOLENT LITTLE SHIT, BUT HE GETS FED AND HE READS HIS CREATIVE WRITING AND THEY NEVER GO ANYWHERE APART. It's like Sakito met his imaginary friend and he was real and he took him away from all the bad things and he took care of him. Do you get it??

And also Tsuta is sooooo good as Boon Violet, if you watch him he puts in these tiny little pauses when he hits a particular pose so it has time to really hit you in the eyes, it looks so fucking good on camera. That could totally be the action director's doing, I don't actually know, but it doesn't seem like every suit actor is doing it quite as pronounced so I'm willing to give it to Mr. Tsuta.

And he's. He's... you know. A lil thicker. Nice butt. Nice *gestures broadly* legs... and like... *gesturing becomes more unhinged* torso. Good to watch at his craft and also just good to look at. I look forward to seeing him do more main roles, if that's the direction he goes in.

I would shell out for those suit actor 'racer cards' so fast, you have no idea.

[oneslimybastard]

Another underutilized aspect of N, Natural Harmonia Gropius himself, is that he's conceptualized as not just a Math Guy, but a Math Genius if we go by some interview trivia notated on Bulbapedia.

It clearly shows in the way he speaks since his (translated) dialogue (idk about the original japanese one) is full of hamfisted references to formulas and frustration expressed when the chaos of the world does not align with them — which to me is like, the core of his character, something that makes him both An Asshole to deal with but also a very intellectually curios and creative individual. It's just a brand of creativity not a lot of people can keep up with nor understand.

N likes math because a lot of math is about clearly defined variables and their relationship to one another. If you come across an inconsistency that doesn't fit any prior definitions, you iron out a new definition and suddenly the field has expanded upon itself tenfold. It aligns with how his Very Autistic Brain functions, x + y = z, if I do x to y then z will happen. If z doesn't happen, then that just means I have to identify the hidden variables within the exchange and rewrite the formula to be more accurate.

Black and White's quality of writing is. Like pokémon often is. Questionable at best. The foundations are there but the execution is dumbed down and corny because it's still aimed at kids, BW in specific really cutting the theme of pokémon trainer ethics short in favor of just "dang u beat me in the pogiebattle guess ur right!". How-ev-er. In my head, and the reason why I still find the plot of those games compelling (aside for my unhinged thirst for goth man-milf Ghetsis) is that to me they're about local cult-raised autist Normal Henry Gropus bashing his head against the world over and over to desperately try and make the formulas make sense, to distill it into variables he can understand and predict on a consistent basis, and failing miserably at it. Because even if the world is Technically made up of a bunch of chemistry that you could, in theory, predict, there's just a lot of random noise in there from microscopic complexities that fuck everything up.

Pokémon are simpler creatures (discounting the eerily intelligent ones) who will be nice enough to behave like math problems most of the time. Humans rarely extend that grace, the more N studies them like a science project the more contradictory variables pop up. They have a million thoughts in their head he doesn't have access to, that brew into feelings he doesn't understand, which leads to actions he can't do a proper traceback through. Which is frustrating, devastatingly frustrating. At least at first.

Due to how BW2 pans out and my own yearning for thematic mirroring, whereas Ghetsis gives in to the Autistic Bitterness over all these NTs he doesn't fuckign understand, I like to think N develops a sort of joy in studying people like the impossibly complex math problems we are. Because he likes math, he likes figuring shit out, he likes buying a nightmare rubik's cube and charting the squares out on a nightmare variable graph (listen i am not a math guy. i respect the hustle but my skill level is too low to accurately attempt to simulate the process in writing. im sorry math guys) so he has a home-made flexible cheat code on how to solve any possible mix-up of it. It's fun for him, it stimulates his brain and he is so stupid good at it that he can only share that joy with like a stray alakazam or metagross because he's a bit of a tarzan just hanging out in the wilderness, he doesn't know any high end mathematicians he can casually geek out about combinatorial game theory with, and the normies just do not get it .

I think this math enjoying is kind of a big part of his ~Innocence~ as well, since there's a lot of childlike glee to being a Math Guy. It's the love of problem solving as a process rather than a means to an end, it's playful, but severely misunderstood to the point where people kinda might assume things about you if you are a math guy.

N's love of math helps him love the world but it also isolates him. He's a genius, but since he can't communicate it in a palatable way it'll get overlooked in favor of him just being a loomy weirdo on the street chatting up the local patrats.

If introduced to DnD though he'd spend so much time on forging ridiculously optimized multiclass builds, then migrate to digging through old obscure sci-fi ttrpgs from the 80s with hellishly complex systems just for the funsies of learning how the presented variables behave within a variety of frameworks, but then if you actually invited him to play with your group he'd look at you like you'd just called his mom a llama.

He's a neat guy to me, STEM guy who's also one of those animal rights activists who's a little too PETA-coded, I like him :)

[popculturebuffet]

Transformers More than Meets The Eye Retrospective: Issues 31-33: The Road Not Taken (Patreon Review for Brotoman.EXE)

Hello all you happy autobots and welcome back aboard the lost light as we venture deeper into space and into the awkardness of having a captain who defintely murdered at least one person you know. Megatron: The Blood Soaked Kevin Bacon of Cybertron.

Anyways last time we had a time skip that Rodimus spent moping in his quarters as Megatron was named co captain because Optimus really dosen't have boundries, Prowl continued to see civil rights as a suggestion and is thankfully gone for the foreseable future, Nautica arrived and was the best, Megatron got some much needed therapy, Chromedome did not and saw his dead husband, and the ship done disappeared. Now your all caught up, let's see what those wacky robots are up to now in the second half of this story.

And this second half.. is the better half by a mile. It's why it feels like two diffrent, if consecutive story arcs: While the first part sets up the mystery and the new status quo, it also feels dour and bitter: no one is happy Megatron is there, everything's about that, and thus the cast is all bitter and angry. While there is some great material here: Megatron in therapy, his fight with Whirl, Nautica and Brainstorm being best friends, FINGER TO THE HEAD and Rodimus unhinged behavior and clear sexual tension with megatron when he finally rejoins the story, it's more.. bitter than usual, not helped by the long trial segments and Rodimus being largely abesent. Even in the darkest moments ther'es usually a sense of hope and camraderiy that's largely absent.

We get that sense back as while the first issue is full of tension, i'ts more intresting given the setup and the series goes back to it's strengths: it's strong characters, dialouge and high concepts. The result is one of my faviorite bits of storytelling that I was happy went down just as well this go round. So let's get on board the rodpod under the cut as we have a mystery to solve

We open with the secret origin of the lost light... it was the day before the big announcment and Rodimus, being rodimus, didn't even have a ship yet and sent someone else to take care of it, in this case Drift. Riptide is here too. Commuincating with some Nails via paddycake, Drift easily secures them the ship. All that's left is a name and while Pipes, whose also there, suggests a contest. Sure they could do that...

We're back in the present and Megatron is being grumpy about storytime. Turns out Riptide wasn't saying it for nothing though: Nautica asked, as the Lost Light is far from a normal ship.

As it turns out the Engines are far more advanced, even past Perciptor and Brainstorm levels. I also find it very cute that she calls Perciptor brainstorm levels of brilliant. It's about time someone put respect on the name. He may be a weirdo, but who on this ship isn't a bit weird or has deep baggage to deal with? It's what makes this book great.

Anyways she points out something that the audience and the crew weren't aware of: Quantum Engines shouldn't be able to have made the jump these did... with her help of course. And after some nervous Nautica noises as she's not used to people actually respecting her, complimenting her or attention in general.

So with everyone intrested, Nautica decides to give a brief lecture. Best I can break it down as even in a one panel lecture it's.. a lot, the engines are powered by the pull between what's possible and what's impossible, the reality of the ingines weighed against the heft of the IDEA they can go faster than light. It's a bizzare yet neat idea. Nautica theorizes the reality part one and the Lost Light poofed itself out of existance.

Megatron.. still grumbles: they know a POSSIBLE why, but not what to do now with a small scattered fleet of ships and him stuck in the worst one. I find his disdain of the rod pod both unsuprising and a nice character bit to tuck away for later. I told you the rod pod would be important and while this isn't why, it does play off that intrestingly.

Blaster, whose one of the bots aboard, gets a commuincation from Rodimus> There's a planet they can rodevue on, Ofsted. Ofsted was a lectureworld, a world that taught knowledge. This one focused on Ethics and was presumibly taught by emma frost. Naturally being deeply corrupt the Galactic Council took it over, changed the cirriculum and instituted fees. Cyclonus finds this objectinable as does his new pal Crosscut. Crosscut... I guess has always been here, but hasn't been relevant yet. The Lost Light has a LOT of extras aboard.

Crosscut is one of 20 autobots aboard: Along with him and Cyclonus we have: Megatron,Crosscut, Skids, Gears, Blaster, Getaway, Nautica, Ammo, Huffer ,Chromedome, Swerve, Hoist, NIghtbeat, Riptide, Tailgate, Dipstick, Hound, Ratchet and Highbrow.

I highlighted the main characters... Riptide counts at least for this arc.

And then.. Crosscut disappears and the concept begins. People are gonna start vanishing and our heroes are gonna try and beat the clock. A cool thing the comic does is use a page of everyone on board to keep track of who goes missing.

Bot Count: 19/20

It's then things go sideways as everyone panics a little.. but Tailgate decides to pull a gun on megatron

It does not, though to his credit Megatron doesn't pull a gun back and is more.. amused than anything. Things break down the second Megatron pulls his gun though, not wanting to be locked up for something he did not do.. or period which given his horrifying pass being tortured in prison.. is reasonable. Sadly the autobots aren't and all pull guns.. while they were on his side, Riptide ven admits as much, this is a step too far and it's not long before Cyclonus, being the adult in the room, trying to deescalate things leads to calls to throw them in the brig.. then tailgate. Then uh... (checks chart) Hound pulls a gun on Nautica whose understandably freaked the fuck out. Only it's not her he's aiming at it's RAVAGE!

Bot Count: 20/21

Yup the cat is here. And having always loved Soundwave's casettes, I just love the concept, this cassette beast joining the cast was welcome. Megatron has no idea WHY his old friend is here, and knows damn well no one buys that but it's the truth, advising the cat to play dead for his own sake via sign language. Good for Megatron for being talented in more than just murder, literature and being a grumpus. While he trains a cat, another talent in itself, Cyclonus is pissed Tailgate did a stupid.. while Getaway compliments him for being brave.

While all this was going on though.. .a BUNCH more people disappeared Megatron, Skids, Getaway, Nautica, Swerve, Hoist, NIghtbeat, Riptide, Tailgate Dipstick, Cyclonus, Ratchet and Ravage

12/21

With the party dwinlding Nightbeat tries to solve the mystery and Megatron rather than grousing about things.. actually helps. He points out the power outages before each dissapearnce aren't a concidence but a symptom: whateve'rs going on with the ship, the lights, the rumbhles.. it's connected.

So Nightbeat tries to find a common denominator and asks who was forged and who was constructed cold? While this concept was introduced in Remain in Light, here it gets fleshed out more as we find out there's two generations: first were the ones back on cybertron that lead to all the debate and what not, and the second were MTO's, models forged not for work or what have you but for war, not even having a birth city: just whatever conflict they were made for. It's a truly bleak concept but one I love: that part of the reason so many cybertronians are having trouble moving on.. is they were BUILT in war. They were built for this. It also leads to another intresting train of thought, one we won't fully get into this time, but will be the backbone of our next arc

It's an engaging double edged sword: Megatron's reign of terror murdered billions.. but it also created billions. Removing him could save lives.. but it'd also cause undo genocide by well.. undoing a genocide. Are the lives that would exist worth the ones that would be lost?

Megatron dodges the question, and this will naturally be important later as "This will be important later' could be the series catchphrase, but Ratchet knows whose who.. and construction isn't a related factor.

As Nightbeat bangs his head against the table in frustration the rest give us some more worldbuiding: originally MTO's were given a through course, ten steps from frozen to gun in your hand. They eventually wittled them down as High Command assumed learning about the world wasn't important as "can you shoot people y/n?" We also find out religion is more common in MTO's and that info creep may be the cause..that what could've just been a flash of light becomes conversatoin with the primes over time. Nautica then breaks down, wishing Windblade and Chromia were here as she feels their better than her, and wondering if she'll never see them again. It's a sobering reminder that some of the lost lighters DO have friends outside this ship and how close they are to death. Quite a few bots didn't make it out of season 1 alive and without giving away who, several will not make it out of this one in one piece.

One blip later and we're down to the main cast... and down one of the main cast.

Megatron, Skids, Getaway, Nautica, Swerve, NIghtbeat, Riptide, Tailgate, Ratchet and Ravage

10/21

So things are only getting worse: Magnus arrives in his holomatter avatar.. but has nothing. Their having the same problem and he too is soon gone.

Nightbeat grasps for straws trying to find ANYTHING that matches.. but no go and with that we're down to our final roster for the arc

Megatron, Skids, Getaway, Nautica, NIghtbeat, Riptide, and Ravage

7/21

Nightbeat finally gets his break though as Riptide mentions all the crazy stuff "they" got up to... and is thrown off. Wasn't riptide in the origin story? He was, and fully intended to go aboard, but when investigating the guys they got the ship from found they were shady and got beaten into a coma. As a nice bit of tying up loose ends their also WHY the sparkeater was on board as they were transporting it and left it to be the next owners problem.

So with that , if you hadn't figured it out, we have the common deniomnator: everyone left came onto the lost light AFTER it first took off. Skids was picked up in issue 2, Getaway joined in the season finale, Nightbeat during the crossover, and Megatron, Riptide, Chromia and Ravage all joined when the ship left cybertron the second time.

Megatron gets one final moment of being a dick about things telilng Nightbeat he failed because he failed to figure it out BEFORE everyone was gone... Nightbeat admits the how has to count right... and spoilers it totally does. And the evidence of it is right in front of them as our maginficent seven find.. the lost light... looking beat to shit and surrounded by weird red bands

We begin the next issue with some context for what the heck the creepy red stuff is: it's quantum foam, which sounds nice and sciency but like many a thing with a nice sciency name will kill you if you so much as look at it wrong so our team does their best to manuver inside.

The atmosphere is eerie: the lost light is trashed and while they arrive at swerves.. it dosen't look like a bar, more like a theater. The kinda Nautica would've gone to on caminus had her anxiety not noped her out of there anytime she got within ten feet of the place. Or whatever the transformer equilvent is.

Everyone thinks this is the future.. and i'll just let "thinks" do the heavy lifting for now as Megatron has arrived with Ravage to no one's pleasure, with Megatron pointing out that he can pay for trying to attack them later, right now they need his sniffer. So the team splits up gang... not the wisest move in any derlict spaceship surrounded by space-time blood slowly leaking out of the engines, but Chromia explains they dont' have long before said space-time blood explodes, so they need to find any possible survivors. Chromia's alt mode can go short distances in space so she has night beat get inside her

While the rest find Magnus corpse. There is some dithering for a second as despite Ravage identifying him by smell, Minimus has been dragged out of the armor. Thankfully drift knows about all that and confirms the corpse.. and that it was killed by fusion canon. While Megs protests his innosense, he had that thing smelted, this time.. he actually agrees to be locked up in a show of character. He realizes he really CAN'T prove it's not him and geninely dosen't want to hurt anyone. This is entirely for his own good too: the only two around him are Riptide, whose a dick and Skids, and he has Ravage as backup. No one would know until everyone came back, if they came back.. but he does the right thing anyway because he just dosen't WANT to kill people. He will but for all Megatron's faults, his ego, his coarsness, his lack of empathy... he genuinely WANTS to be better on some level.

So while Megatron gets locked up, Natucia and Nightbeat bond, with Nightbeat filling her in on rewind and his ghost earlier, and just flat out asking if she's single. I mean I would and yes i'm aware she dwarfs me in size, that's part of it. Same goes for Rodimus though just for one night... the dude is even messier than I am. I can't see that ending well.

Chromia admits that no, same with Night beat and the two find something intresting to distract from dwelling on both being single: brainstorm's briefcase.

Back with Megatron, he's busy talking to his cat who quickly scratches him in what has to be the most violent garfield comic ever made using space robots.

Ravage is PISSED though as Megatron abandoned the cause.. and while Megatron points out the decipticon cause isn't him, Ravage disagrees, revealing Galvatron is leading them now and saying outright that if Megatron said the word he'd gut their new glorious leader himself.

Unsuprisingly Ravage was sent by Soundwave, who is also spinning out over this and wanted to make sure this was REALLY megatron and if so have Ravage take him out back and claw him a bit so to speak. Ravage is also the reason those decipticons attacked the trial a test for megatron he failed. What follows.. is the second best scene of the arc and one of my faviorites series wide

It's a great callback to Chaos Theory and the main reason WHY I covered it: it covers the gap between the over the top evil of megatron in the previous runs and the tired layred old man in this one. He was once a better man.. but that quote up top says it all. I also love Ravage's face... his sheer worry as he realizes the man he knew isn't the same... that part of why this all weighs on him now.. is time. There isn't much left, Megatron is aware of this: even if the quest goes on for years, he dosen't HAVE years left. And he's aware of it. He's too tired to be a monster, to keep doing horrible shit and justifying it... he doesn't want to be that person anymore and took a quick cheap route to get there. But as Ravage puts it when megatron answers who he was was dead "dead... or just sleeping?". It's the core of Megatron's character arc: can you really atone or is your worst self always there, watching you?

For now there is no answer, just corpses... but there is at least an id on who the murder victim is as he finds... a brain cog. The others also find corpses thoguh before that Gateway talks with Riptitde, who feels guilty.. as Gateway puts it "the bigger the tragedy the harder it is to process". It's hard to put what Megatron did into sheere scale so it's easy to forget just HOW much harm he's done.

At any rate the corpses not only include Overlord, who should be gone.. but spell out WHO did this and why they need to run the fuck away: the DJD. After the omnious set up of them last time they've crashed into the main plot in a bloody rampage.

Nightbeat is starting to figure it out though: they found a beheaded overlord... who shoudln't BE here to get beheaded as he supposidly died when Rewind sacrified himself. Still the ship's collapsing so they should get going... but Ravage finds one survivor and well.. i'ts worth showing twice

It's a fantastic panel not only showing that Megatron has indeed changed, happy SOMEONE surivived.. but also leaving the reader in shock. Rewind LIVES... and we'll find out why.. right now.

So everyone attends to Rewind whose understandably in shock.. not just due to what he's been through but finding out Skids is alive, Nightbeat is alive (Both were assumed dead), Megatron is an autobot and there are female cybertronians. He isn't a dick about the last part mind, wish I didn't have to clairfy that but .. the times we live in. He just..d idn't know it was a thing and is fine with it. He gives Nightbeat a data slug.

Meanwhile Chromia while talking with Riptide finally figures it out and we get the big twist this has all been leading to: the lost light didn't disappear... it split in half back when the launch happened. See quantum engines work by getting someone from point a to point b using quantum stuff. The point a is always fixed.. but B could be billions.. and the explosion threw it off, so instead of narrowing it down to ONE option.. it became two. Thus two lost lights were born and two perfect copies.

As Nightbeat and Skids found from the data slug, the Alternate Lost Light went through a diffrent set of circumstances: Rung died in the crash and was replaced as bait and Rodimus timing in throwing the spark eater into the engines was off so part of his head got clipped, hence his corpse.

In the aftermath Drift came clean about overlord... and that's what caused the massacre. Someone on board learned about him.. and leaked it to the DJD who came for Overlord.. and then kept going with everyone else. They learned the traitor thing as Tarn's a sadistic bastard , of course he's going to tell them about the betryal before he tortures everyone.

Rewind.. was forced to film the massacre to save Chromedome's life, and it's just.. an awful thing ot think about: recording everyone you care about dying... only for them to make the condition of your partner living that he erases his memory of you.. and jamming his needles into his head when he refuses. We'd seen from their intro how bad the DJD were... but this arc really hammers it in: their monsters, sadists who use their loyalty to megatron as a thin excuse to kill people and satisfy their addictions. Rewind barely survivied falling into the magnus armor and they mercifully left.

He dosen't have time to process this, nor does anyone as the foam's getting tighter.. and what's worse.. it's going to envelop the planet bellow. Priority shifts from "save ourselves" to "save the world" as tends to be for the autobots.... with Megatron holding out. If their not cybertronian why does it matter. Skids counters perfectly: If wearing the badge dosen't alter his behavior.. waht the fuck has any of Megatron's time as an autobot meant. If he can't see all sentient beings as valid... why be here.

So he relents. The Foam is tight but rewind offers to squeeze through as he's tiny. Chromia appricates it, but points out they need tow people to deactivate the quantum drums simeltaniously: if done it should erase the other lost light and thus the paradox. As for why it's only happening now it's simple: the two lost lights got close enough for the universe to stop ignoring the paradox.

Getaway makes a quip about "unless someone can pull a minimus ambus".. and Skids gets an idea; Search Brainstorm's lab as he used a shrink ray that one time. While searching it we iron out how all this works in way si've already descirbed, and our heroes find Brainstorm's corpse... who has a face. I geninely forgot about that.. and the reveal attached

Brainstorm was the traitor, something poor Nautica dosen't take well. They don't have time to process this reveal, and the fact if they restore him THEIR brainstorm is a traitor too. It also begs a question I forgot the answer too: if brainstorm learned about overlord, why didn't he tell the DJD on everyone even if he'd just blown up real good? Or report into the other decipticons present when the crossover happened? Why'd he stay undercover?

The next arc will answer these questions for now we find out that Brainstorm never made the mass displacement gun in this timeline... but Megatron pipes up: he could once transform into a smaller carryable gun and once your spark is primed for mass displacement, it's always primed. He just didn't stand up because as he puts it "when people are lining up for heroic sarcifices, stand at the back of the queue". And while pragmatic ... I get it. If they could get EVERYONE to do it with the gun, then they all could go through the foam. More numbers. There was no sense playing his hand until he had to.

SO Rewind and MEgatron bond with some sycnronized dodging the death goo and Megatron tiptoes around his horrible death. The two make it to the drums.. and Rewind is hit with a relization... if the lost light is restored and the duplicate goes away... won't he go away too? Nautica is horrified to realize this while Megatron asks if he wants to go back. It's a human moment from a very stoic asshole: that if they have to find another way out they will, he won't force someone to make a sacrifce they didn't sign up for.

But rewind.... is fine with it

So it's hours later. The lost light has remateralized, and everyone is slowly coming back. Chromedome arrives and skids has a suprise for him outside.. and we get one of the best sequences in the entire comic. Two entirely silent pages as Chromedome... finds exactly who you hoped out there and the two work thorugh their emotoins... before the ineveitble happens

I wish I could show you the whole thing. It's so damn beautiful. Just two people who thought they'd lost each other finding one another, thorugh time, through space and through pure fate. There will be more to sort out later, to the series credit it dosen't sidestep over the complications here, but for now it just lets us have the catharsis.

So how do I feel about Rewind's return? I'm okay with it. It dosen't dilute the impact of his death as that Rewind.. is gone. He blew up. He truly is dead and the pain Chromedome felt was still very real. And as I hinted at, the series does tackle the fact these aren't the exact versions of Chromedome and Rewind they fell in love with. It could do more with it, but they dont' completely just fall into "this is the same rewind." he went through diffrent stuff and the true horror he went through sets up the DJD as the big bad of this season very well: We saw them plow through some unamed decipticons and the scavengers barely escape.. but now we see they could easily kill everyone we care about with zero effort. They commited a gruseom slaughter that was easy to shake off the first time I read this: it wasn't OUR lost light... but on this run.. I got that these guys easily could've BEEN the crew we know. They aren't that diffrent. The few additions they gathered, first aid, skids, aren't enough to flip the tide. They have more NOW as seen with this issue, but it simply may not be enough. And Megatron himself thinks at first thier coming FOR HIM... and with Brainstorm seemingly a traitor, it's only a matter of time till word gets to them. The clock is ticking and our heroes may not be ready when it runs out.

Speaking of Brainstorm Megatron needs to tell Rodimus there's a decipticon on board.. and offers his decipticon on board a spot, pointing out that Ravage has now seen the worst extreme of the Decepticon cause... does he still want that?

Before our cliffhanger, Nautica has no idea how Rewind survivied. My honest guest is since there was no rewind on the lost light to replace, Rewind 2 stayed. But it dosen't explain another anamoly.. the other briefcase. And after being a mystery all series we finally find out what's inside.. kinda. Brainstorm realizing he's made opens it in Swerves and....

Yup. So that's where we're leaving for a few months. A bunch of the cast may be dead and Brainstorm is free to do whatever the hell he wants while also being a traitor maybe

For now we end this arc.. whic his good as I remembered it: it's an atmospheric tale on a derlict spaceship, perfect for this series with a heartwarming ending.. and a chilling vision of things to come.

Next Time: We travel in time to get answers as to what Brainstorm's endgame is. It isn't pretty. But that's a few months for now, we go back to the power rangers who aren't fairing much better.

[gothamite-rambler]

Kite-Man is the right type of goofy villain who won't (hopefully) commit a horrible crime like certain DC villains

Kite-Man carried a bag of stolen money when he was knocked down by a flying batarang. Initially locking up in fear, he sighed when he saw it was Spoiler.

Kite-Man: Whew, I thought you were Batman… or Nightwing… or Red Robin. That last guy scares me.

Spoiler (pocketing her batarang): He can be unhinged sometimes. Chuck, what are you doing?

Kite-Man: Stealing money from a bank. I helped out a guy, and he let me take a bag of cash with me.

Spoiler: Vinny’s oddly nice to his henchmen like that. He’s also been arrested by Batman.

Kite-Man: Aww, not Vinny. Hope Bats didn’t beat him up too badly.

Spoiler (shrugging): It was a tame beating. Anyway, dude, what about the bar with Glider? Thought that’s where the money was.

Kite-Man: It is… but I live for the thrill of stealing without having to serve drinks to jerks. It’s exciting, you know what I mean?

Spoiler (disabling her comm to chat privately): Chuck! Chuck! Don’t bring up stuff I might agree with. I live for the thrill, but I’m all about saving the day, not breaking the law. Take my hand, let me help you up.

Spoiler held out her hand, and Kite-Man took it without hesitation. Once standing, he let out an exhausted sigh, leaning forward.

Kite-Man: You’re going to arrest me?

Spoiler: No fighting or trying to escape first?

Kite-Man: Nah, I’ve got a great attorney. He’ll get the charges dropped. I always give him discounts on Shirly Temples at the bar.

Spoiler: That’s actually pretty cool of you. And yeah, I gotta arrest you. If it were me, this would be your second strike, and I’d let you go. Batman though, yeah not dealing with that... monologue again.

Kite-Man: You'd let me go like that?

Spoiler: Yep. I think you’re pretty harmless overall. No offense, but you’re not really a threat. I like to operate on the three strike rule with villains like you.

Kite-Man (cocky): I used to be. Back in my early villain days, I was a real threat.

Spoiler rolled her eyes, her disguised smirk hidden behind her face mask.

Spoiler: I’ll take your word for it. Honestly, I’d probably let you walk tonight. You’re fun to talk to, and I lowkey enjoy your energy.

Kite-Man (surprised, then cocky, then doubtful): I am? I mean, I do have a… You seriously mean that? Not messing with me?

Spoiler: I’m being honest. Cross my hero heart. Batman’s such a bore. You’re a goofy villain, and I need that sometimes, especially when dealing with scarier guys like Scarecrow, Joker, Penguin, or Riddler.

Kite-Man (pretending to be offended): Edward’s scarier than me? Spoiler, you wound me.

Kite-Man laughed afterward, and Spoiler smirked, crossing her arms.

Kite-Man: Alright, he can be more threatening. But he stole my green suit, though.

Spoiler: I’ll make sure to tell him that when I make fun of him next time. I actually admire your willingness to never give up or get depressed. I feel like Perry the Platypus.

Kite-Man (not offended): I’m your Doofenshmirtz? Yes! My life sucked just like his too.

Spoiler: Aww, that sucks. Your name is literally Charlie Brown, and you like kites. That makes you a double threat of unfortunate life.

Kite-Man: Don’t get me started. I always related to him.

Spoiler: I don’t doubt that. I’m surprised you’re closer in age to Batman, you don’t seem to age. That’s impressive.

Kite-Man (flattered): Wow, thanks! Honestly, I’m in my late thirties, but that was nice to hear. We should probably quit talking and you arrest me. I need to look less like a joke, so tell them I put up a good fight.

Spoiler smiled with understanding and nodded. She turned Kite-Man around and cuffed him.

Spoiler: On the bright side, you won’t be locked up for long. That attorney you know is really good. He reminds me of that one slimy lawyer from Law & Order, but I respect the hustle.

Kite-Man: Hell yeah! If you don’t mind me asking, why are you doing being nice to me?

Spoiler: You’re not an asshole. You stick to your silly costume and basic crimes, which reminds me of Catwoman; don’t tell her I said that, she’d kill me. And you’re like Doofenshmirtz, plus you’ve got that wedding. You can’t serve time in Arkham when Golden Glider’s waiting for you.

Kite-Man: You get me. Glider told me you stopped by the bar last week.

Spoiler: Yeah, she told me that alcohol shouldn’t be overdone because it leads to drunkness, quoted a Bible verse, gave me cookies… I felt like I was talking to my mom. I loved it.

Kite-Man: She adores you. Oh, and Cluemaster’s been talking crap about his daughter, the one who’s part of the LGBT. Is she doing okay?

Spoiler: She’s great. Trust me. Ever since she had me reveal to her dad that she’s bi, she’s felt better than ever.

Kite-Man: That’s fantastic. I punched Arthur after the fifth time he called her a slur. He doesn’t deserve to be called something as cool as Cluemaster.

Spoiler: Thanks, Chuck. I keep telling him 'Cluemaster 'isn’t cool enough for him! I was thinking “ass-face.”

Kite-Man: Douche canoe.

Spoiler (laughing): He’s more than a canoe. Daffy Duck?

Kite-Man: Wait, if we’re debating cartoon names, what about… Bebop?

Spoiler (wink): With Rocksteady? See, they're at least competent and funny. Like you, Kite-Man, although you suck as a villain.

Kite-Man: I’ll let that insult slide, because you're cool in my book.

[mrstellmeafuckingsecret]

how do you think Mary's friends would react after she started dating Pandora? I have a feeling Lily would NOT be happy about it like she would hate her,, but idk about Marlene and the marauders? and idk whoever else you hc Mary being close friends with

oh my GODDD THIS is one of my favourite aspects about saintcurse. i stalked my blog to find this which is amazing and wonderful because mary's harem is a series i want to talk about more definitely.

lily would hateee pandora she sees this girl who eats with her mouth open and doesn't respect the rules of magic or, yk, her. and pandora really doesn't respect lily, she hates her too, because lily's so possessive of mary and pandora wants people to know mary's hers. they would hate each other. lowkey ruin mary's life (she lets it happen because she likes feeling important) (they're all deeply ill)

marlene !! marlene and pandora are soo amazing wonderful great to me they're distant but coexist in the same friendgroup and marlene has no opinion on pandora other than "cassie's bsf" and she's super close w mary and pandora's ... okay. so she's alright. when saintcurse happens (sixth ish year) marlene's really trying to make it work with mary and dorcas so ... she's Okay about it

dorcas is pandora's bestttt friend and pandora is dorcas' so she's super happy !! like ... too supportive. like girl best friend of your boyfriend core. almost. im sorry i make everyone secretly evil i just think a woman without a personal vendetta is incomplete.

emmeline is not really mary's friend but is the cool senior mary tries to appeal to! mary trauma dumps about the time pandora bit her so hard she touched mary's bone and emmeline is just ... mildly displeased. "leave her" "noo she's so nice-" "ok"

sirius and mary are going through a TOUGH time here. they had their post relationship situationship and it was obviously horrific. lesbians 🙄. but he keeps totally normal sane checks on her and he's BITTER she's in a proper relationship before he is, even more so that it's the worst person in the world (an ugly girl). all his friends are like "she clearly has a type for the unhinged" and he kills himself

james and mary are an amazing friendship howeverrr james would find pandora so weird. saintchaser never meet up (they're more of a "we bumped into each other at breakfast then spent the entire day tgthr idk") but they're close so james is like "should i tell her she was practicing necromancy the other day. prbly not right."

umm her other friends would get repetitive :( (also i haven't figured them out yet)

[burntblueberrywaffles]

the desperate anidala bitches shall rejoice, because i come offering a second rec list 😌 /lh

My Anidala/Vaderdala rec list! (part 2)

You can find the first rec list here!

sorry I took so long this got buried way down in my drafts but it's finally out 🫡

some of these are not complete so do check chapter count and pls dont yell at me asdfhgkjfh

Modern AUs

The Bet

Anakin's had a crush on Padmé since fourth grade, and after putting up with his pining for seven years, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka are finally stepping in and making a bet that he can't ask her to junior prom in the spring. Meanwhile, Padmé is realizing that Anakin isn't as annoying as she'd always thought. In fact, her feelings towards him are starting to go in quite the opposite direction...

Snow Place Like Home

For genre-typical convoluted reasons involving ill-timed blizzards, Padmé is forced to spend the holidays at Anakin's house. Anakin isn't as upset about his boss staying with him for Christmas as he probably should be.

Second Chances

When Luke Amidala and Leia Skywalker meet at summer camp, they're shocked to discover that they're long-lost twins. The logical next step? Getting their estranged parents back together.

I usually avoid Parent traps AU just because I dislike it as a setup, but when it comes to Anidala a bitch is desperate, and this was a cute and fun one, I really enjoyed it!

Lemon

“What other secret fantasies do I have that are glaring neon signs for you?” Anakin asks. “You’re conflicted,” Padmé says, “because on one hand you want to be a very good boy for me, but on the other you want to misbehave so I have a reason to punish you.” He blows out a plume of smoke and taps the ash off his cigarette. “You know, I really thought you were a nerd. I thought I'd have to be like, ‘Hey, how about you tie me up sometime.' Get you into this stuff little by little. But no, you’re diving right in like we met on a BDSM subreddit or something.” Or: Padmé has car problems. Thankfully she knows a good mechanic.

normally, I probably never would have checked out this fic, (mommy kink is just not my thing) but as previously stated, A BITCH WAS DESPERATE and you know what it actually slapped 😌

Rebound

Padmé Naberrie has just been broken up with. She wasn't prepared for a night out with her girls to find her a rebound. She certainly wasn't prepared for Anakin Skywalker.

Sith-Raised Anakin

the inevitable end of dancing with the devil

"Maybe it was too crass to compare the devil to such a creature—Lord Vader wasn’t the devil, he was worse." Senator Amidala was undoubtedly one of the most respected and adored public servants to walk the galaxy. Lord Vader was not. Vaderdala AU. Arranged Marriage AU

A Worthy Sacrifice

Chancellor Palpatine has dropped the act and decided to rule the galaxy openly as Darth Sidious. His reign wouldn’t be half as successful without his unhinged attack dog Darth Vader, a much rumoured warbringer who appears in black robes with a saber red as blood and brings even the strongest revolutionaries to their knees. Padmé is not only fighting for her home country but the freedom of the known regions and she is desperate to turn the tides of this war which is why she agrees to the deal Sidious offers her: A child with this favourite Sith Lord in exchange for her home: Naboo.

This is one of my favourite fics with this trope!

Pearl in My Head

Padmé's just starting her career as a Senator when she attracts some unwanted attention from the Emperor, who has decided on a very different role for her in the Empire. [empire already exists, arranged marriage/forced proximity au! loosely follows some aotc/rots events]

What Was I Made For?

Darth Vader was not a man made for love, but this was not love. Or, Basically, Padme and Vader are friends with benefits, but she's so nice to him that it makes him question his entire existence.

FOR YOUR LOVE (i’ll do whatever you want)

𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰? 𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐰? 𝐢'𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐡, 𝐢’𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐢’𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 He gave her that devilish smirk of his. The one that had gotten her into this mess in the first place. “I’ll give you what you want.” OR, A rare moment of intimacy happens for Padmé and Anakin – whose relationship is strictly carnal.

I have yet to read the second chapter (will get on that when I get out of the snowbaird hole lol) but I really enjoyed the first one!

Vaderdala

love me, love me (like you used to do) 

In which Vader fails to capture his son, but gains a daughter, his wife, another pair of twins... and the past.

this fic was SO GOOD holy shit literally made me feral when i fiorst read it

Love Like Ghosts

There are very few people who know the location of the Rebel Alliance’s base on Naboo. Even fewer who know the names of any of the people who work there. So when Padmé gets up on a cold morning, the windows frosted and harsh wind rattling the doors of the large house that’s been the headquarters of the Alliance for nearly two decades, to see a package with her name on it sitting on the doorstep, her heart stops in her chest.

loved this fic but as a heads up it doesn't provide "they get back together" closure so be ready for that

news of old by @ineedausernamel829

Padme is a member of the rebel alliance. During a mission, her past relationships with darth Vader comes to light

No vaderdala interactions, but exploration of the relationship through Padme talking about it - It’s so so good

Sad Vaderdala hours

Imperial Socialite

In a timeline where Darth Vader doesn't face immolation and Padmé Amidala lives, their marriage continues in a form that is at once far more honest and deeply dysfunctional. Though Padmé tries to remain within the Imperial Senate, the trauma of her husband's betrayal--and the apparent deaths of her children--force her into early retirement. Too much of a liability to aid the emerging Rebel cause directly, Padmé seeks out new avenues of defying the Empire: by leveraging her connection to Vader to mess with the Imperial Elites of Coruscant.

it could be sweet

an interconnected collection of stories based on the idea of what would have happened if Padmé had lived. (aka me finally writing down my self-indulgent vaderdala daydreams aka me living my best life)

This series is so good in a "rip my heart out of my chest and steps on it" way

all joy sucked dry

Her husband had fallen, her life’s work had crumbled, and her own babies were strangers to her. But she didn’t even care, and that was the worst part. Or: Padme deals with postpartum depression, and Vader is ill-equipped to help her

Others

Across the Seas

Padmé Amidala - the daughter of the royal governor of Jamaica - never expected her life to be much more than it already was. Her routine is to dress in her finest clothes, put on a pretty face, and ensure she is presentable to not only the people but to the many men attempting to court her. However, Padmé's world is flipped around when pirates attack, and the young woman finds herself in the company of their fearsome, brash, (dashing) Captain. Initially sickened by the roughish man, Padmé will quickly learn there is so much more to the mysterious Captain Skywalker. A pirate's life for me

The pirate AU I didn’t know I needed. So good

Right & Wrong

After they watch a holoshow that portrays reprehensible content, Anakin unwittingly reveals the concerning way Chancellor Palpatine acts towards him. Padmé will not let anyone harm her husband — and she’ll make this Obi-Wan, the Jedi Council, and even the whole galaxy’s problem if she needs to.

when the grooming is actually adressed >>

cestrum nocturnum

Summer on Naboo, the Clone Wars have yet to begin, and Anakin is tasked with protecting Senator Amidala after an attempt is made on her life. It's too bad that every moment with her has him in agony, and every moment apart is even worse—especially after that night in the courtyard ... Or: Anakin spends a torturous time on Naboo in the company of the person he loves because he doesn't know how to tell her his true feelings.

Naboo smut 🤭

And that's it! if anyone has recommendations for a fic that isn't in either of my rec lists, please let me know! I am so so desperate I need my anidala fix

Since I was deep into the Star Wars hole and desperate, I’ve also been reading non-Anidala/non-Anidala centric fics about Darth Vader/Anakin/the Skywalker family, so I will be posting a rec list for that soon! (When i say soon it can mean anything from a day to months, my brain is not always great at tasks, if anyone wants to be notified when I do post it lmk and I’ll tag you ❤️)

[importantdestinydefender]

Chapter 140 Reaction

We again pick up were we left off. Sadly no flashback but I hope we get one next chapter. It is kind of needed - to see how different yet the same Imposter Shapur acts to the Shapur Isfan knows and remembers.

Anyway-

I love how we start with a kind of reintroduction with Isfan. But instead with the flashback it is over the first crossing of blades while the shock is still making Isfan react slow. It kinda made me tear up a little (also @tired-reader-writer can't wait to see what you'll do with this)

Also glad to see that Isfans hourse is only injured and not dead.

"Isfan's mother held Isfan tight as wolves prowled through the wintry mountains around them" with Shapur killing the soldiers as a backdrop panle makes me feel things. It also somehow immediately made me atributte it to the current situation and conect Imposter Shapur to the wolves.

Kubard immediately jumping into action is very good characterisation. He is a seasoned marzban compared to Isfan so it would make sense that he would regain his composior the quickest.

That chapter cover is giving me diabetes

CUTE ISFAN ALLERT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I like that we spent an entire page in the city and how much damage the horror apes caused. But they do seem to have been brought somewhat under control.

Also love that Gieve hears the fight and immediately reaches for his bow!! Such a nice detail

Poor Isfan. Even though he and Zandeh never really met (at least in the current time) their situations are so similar. Needing to fight the family member that they most respect and love and also RAISED THEM ugh my heart.

And just like Hilmes, Kubard steps up to save Isfan. And also with later Gieve showing up is similar to Saam. The few paralels to the previous fight are just ugh.

LMAO KUBARDS REACTION How does it feel to be rejected AGAIN hm? First Farangis and even his old flame- uhm comrade lol

GIEVE SHOOTING BETWEEN THE LEGS OF KUBARDS HORSE UUUAAAAAAA so cool

And this time Shapur caught it

Good thing that is now cleared up. Gieves face is hurting me somehow as much or even more than Isfans...

Cat is also finally outta the back with Kubard and other ordinary soldiers as Shapur talked about the Snake King and Gieve confirming that sorcerers are involved and that they are reviving the dead

I like that we finally see Gieve genuinly angry. It is such a rare sight. I hope he gets to kill a sorcerer as well

HE IS CALLING ARSLAN THEIR NEW KING AAAAAAAAAAAA

Oh Kubards nows somethings up! (Also apes spotted)

That goodbye is hitting me so hard. No other words, only looks- Man

Right back to fighting. No other things to say to that. I really hope we get a flashback next chapter with a similar fighting choreography to see how similar or not Imposter Shapur is to the actual one from Isfans childhood - and so that we can get our heart ripped out

Oh, that house from earlier is getting a close up~

Finally! A mustache! The other sorcerers all had smooth faces. It was kinda hard to tell them apart beside the masks. Alas he won't be here for long lol

Man am I glad that Kubard is on our side. I would have first pissed myself and then died on the spot if THIS MOUTAIN came towards me.

Also the nochalent hey there and lean against the door. Such wonderful posing

Love that he didn't give the sorcerer even a second to actually react and IMMEDIATELY went for an attack to make him be at a disadvantage. So nice to see experienced Marzabns and warriors use that ecperience!

I love when he can be unhinged. Like look at that gleeful smile. Sends shudders down my spine. Still glad to not be on the other side of that

Glad to see that Team Arslan is ACTUALLY working as a team now. Like sharing information on enemies with everyone. And that that info is ALSO ACTUALLY BEING USED!! Especially if that info came from Gieve. He is still not very much liked among the men and this solidifys his position beside Arslan A LOT

It just satefies me to no end

MAN this ending panel is just so powerful!! It somehow shows more emotion we have ever seen from Kubard. Just like Gieve, he hides himself behind a farce of this carefree drunkard who is skilled but usually not interested in politics or anything that would make his life hard (except beutiful women, of course). But this - this is his raw unfiltered emotion. Just pure rage and hatred towards the sorcerers. And dispare of the bittersweetness of it all. He finally was able to bid Shapur goodbye but at the cost of thousands of good soldiers and men as well as citizens being dragged into this mess.

Also his last line is twisting my heart real good. Shapur/Kubard shippers really have won the lottery with this. Gotta hand it to them and this really makes it a very appealing ship... The doomed yaoi speaks to me

And that is all for this chapter reaction. Glad that it is a two parter. Shapur deserves nothing less. It would have feeled weird to give Kharlan more than two chapters (and fights) while Shapur is done in one. Like a disservice to his character and importans to Isfan and plot between Gieve and Isfan.

[potahun]

A FRKZ timeline?

i was wondering about the dynamics in M20 between furukaza and how it might differ from subsequent movies (being kazami's first ever appearance). we all know that M20 kazami was almost jarringly ruthless and cruel towards curaçao, and when we see him in ZTT (ultimate moe) and in the main manga (moe and moe again), it makes one wonder what happened to this character, beyond "he has gap moe".

my final impression is that M20 fits nicely as a story that takes place soon after kazami's been appointed as furuya's liaison. i think, taking into account all of kazami's appearances in detco media, kazami can be interpreted as being sensitive to social context, status and hierarchy. i personally can see him riding on the high of his new role and having a cocky phase in which he's over-compensating a bit to match the part (or his image of the part): furuya rei is a member of the highest-ranking agency in the police. he's infiltrating an extremely dangerous organisation and god knows what that entails. as his liaison, kazami too should be able to stomach anything (or so he thinks)

By M22, he's starting to grow disillusioned and skeptical of furuya's ways. perhaps, getting his hands dirty simply doesn't feel the same in practice as it did in theory. perhaps, he didn't think it'd involve that much fucking around with the lives of innocent people. he still obeys because respecting structure is how he has always worked and he has his own convictions about what Public Security is, at the end of the day... He's just not convinced that furuya rei is fully aligned with him on what is just and fair (until the end of M22, when, furuya does redeem himself a bit with haba)

meanwhile, ZTT happens! And kazami slowly goes through all the stage of moe and shoujo manga love interest, from being overly conscious about his boss and how to speak to him, to slowly being power-harrassed led into co-raising a dog with him, visiting him at ungodly early hours, going to play baseball and other games with him...until all the lines blur between private and professional, and furuya-san stops being a perfect being in his eyes, instead becoming a person who judges, gets trapped in basements, is childish about the color red, and will lose his cool about his dog eating ice cream...

And then, M25 rolls around. Personally, I see this as a time where kazami has truly come to be at peace with his own role vis-à-vis furuya, the things they do, their ups and downs, and whether or not he likes everything he does, M25 kazami gives this vibe of someone who's accepted the bond between him and furuya as "ah, well, our hands are both dirty anyway, and the red string of fate will drag us both to hell, so i guess i'll follow him even in death". (Cue in the wedding vows being spoken at the beginning of the movie during their scene) he'll step into furuya's quarantine box and disarm his bomb with his own hands. no questions asked.

In parallel though, kazami has definitely grown to become more and more relaxed and cute in furuya's presence. and the gap moe IS real. hatoyama farm case and his "yatta!" at furuya, the kid heist and his "eeehh! please let me stay!!! i'm dying of curiosity!!!"

Professionally speaking, M25 is where they're at. Ride or die and completely unhinged, but cool about it, and will not address the unhingedness of their bond in any way. In private, or even when they're even slightly aside from others, kazami has grown into the most moe of subordinates. he's spoiled. he's been fed hand-cooked bentous every other morning. furuya just cannot get really mad at him anymore....

And now, we've come to M28...and I wonder what it reserves for us.

++++

PS: the only remaining question i have about M20, is the amount of reliance furuya seems to have on kazami in it (which is more than i'd expect if they were paired up only recently). we see him confirm more than once that he's "counting on" kazami for things. he even reflects at one point that he has to "meet up as soon as possible" with kazami. It does feel like he trusts him and knows him very well already! but hmm, i guess it wasn't jarring to the point of being irreconcilable with the rest. after all, furuya too is a guy who respects structure. i can see him as someone who feels "closer" to a counterpart in the beginning of their professional relationship because of their respective roles. that is the person "assigned" to him. before getting to know that person on a personal level, this person is his "liaison", his partner, his teammate, someone he can trust. and so, he does.

at least, that's one way it would make their whole relationship work chronologically for me!

[11queensupreme11]

Hii queen , i just read chapter 51 and omg my posy heart has been FED 💙💙 the smut was so yummy, i just KNEW he would be the first because narratively it just makes sense and my boy already got, not just the FIRST husband title stolen but also the SECOND, so you had to do him justice somehow 😭

This HAS to be mentioned too: The fight between the yans was SO cooollllll ugghh youre really good at describing actions. Its really easy to imagine them in my head. And the way you get creative with their respective myths for their moves, it really does make them more “godly” cuz it doesn’t restrict them to one ability. Its just so damn cool like anubis spreading his arms out while everything and everyone crumbles before him, beelzebub’s unholy screech and then raining literal hellfire, and hades using the darkness to suck up all the water ahhhh🔥🔥 

Not to mention, of all solutions, i really didn’t expect you to go down the vampire percy route, that surprised me sm (and then it transitioned to percy getting dicked down and now my awe turned into 👁️👄👁️ ). And before that we got demeter’s and zag’s extremely brutal deaths but i just didnt have the time to grieve with all the things youre throwing at our girl 😭😭 daddyseidon is so unhinged and its only act TWO of four 😭

also, congrats to getting to act 2!! were so close to meeting cu and ughh i cant wait for their interactions, im already conflicted on whos my number 1 yan and i feel like i’ll really like cu… im also a SUCKER for reaction fics too so im very excited on that one as well hehe queen youre spoiling us, truly 💙

to celebrate, here’s fanart for act 2’s arrival!! 🥳🥳

happy new year, queen! Cheers and stay safe mwah 

LMAO I LOVE HOW THE APRON ISN'T EVEN BIG ENOUGH TO COVER POSEIDON'S SLUTTY BOOB SHIRT THING 😭😭😭

and omg thank you so much for all the nice things you said about my fight scenes 😭😭 fight scenes are so hard for me because while i can IMAGINE the coolest fight scene in my head ever, it's so hard for me to write about without getting too wordy and hard to understand. the best part at least, is that with arsenic blues the fighting also includes POWERS and it's lot easier for me to describe tsunami waves crashing on a person, dark bolts of energy striking someone down, etc. compared to.... a very elaborate hand-to-hand combat scene 😭😭😭😭

also! they're gods and i don't need to ever limit myself cuz they can literally do ANYTHING. it's just so much fun writing about powers lol

AND YES I DON'T WANNA RESTRICT THEM TO ONE ABILITY/POWER. asdfbajhfv i hated how they did that in ror cuz they just seemed like superhumans instead of gods, and the fact that most of those abilities were more... physical-wise and not power-wise. it reminds me too much of superhero tv shows where characters got ONE superpower smh, you people are supposed to be GODS, GIVE ME MORE 👹