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I love the Red Silk intro so much. Also the movie itself is the most fun I've had in years.

I wish I could make a DX/DXIW intro in the same style because you also have a sense of ticking clock there and some kind of mechanism that put all of these characters each with their own specific role and goals into motion. (Then again, I'm not sure the plot of DX, and especially DXIW, would work in a 1920s setting. The outfits would've been gorgeous though.)

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Vladimir Titov / "Letters" / 1970 / Magnitogorsk Art Gallery

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Re: previous post

Heh, I've been thinking for years that JC and Paul in the IW are sort of mirror!versions of Page and Simons, because they use similar strategies for similar goals, but, you know, for the greater good (or so they claim). But maybe similarities go even deeper than that. Like, JC doesn't bother to punish people who wronged him because he has more important stuff to do (when his life isn't treatened at least). And Paul is the one that gets impatient, injects himself with the tech that sends him into coma (dude, test it on your clones, what's wrong with you), and also can't wait to run and fight his enemies again.

Like, it would've been fun for not just Dumier, but also for Tong to just snap out of it at some point and go "Oh shit, I've suddenly realised who you guys remind me of". And Alex is very confused because really she doesn't know any of these people.

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I would argue that Bob Page is the most forgiving character in the DX universe. Like, I don't know what Dowd was going on about, I aspire to be as patient with people as he is. He didn't even fire the guy that botched Paul's murder and he doesn't start to yell at JC up until the very end, when he's about to die.

Unless he was trying to look cool for JC specifically? Maybe he did scream at Simons for hours, and we just never got to see it. Like, after he lost the UC, he was really mad, and Simons probably pointed out that Page should've added JC to the blacklist at least to avoid that very thing everybody was trying to warn him about, and then Page almost murdered him by strangling him through the internet somehow.

By the way, Simons himself has zero patience - either with people or anything else. Like, I'm 91.6% sure the reason his face is fucked up is because waiting for the nanotech to get better seemed too annoying, he had waited long enough, and he wants it NOW.

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My brain decided that my dead fandoms aren't dead enough and the pairings I ship in DX make too much sense, so now I ship Soviet architects in 1920-1930s with each other, and there are zero people I can discuss this with, and I hope now my brain is happy.

Like, even if somebody showed up and said "yes, Alabyan/Melnikov all the way, finally somebody said it", it still wouldn't help me much. Because I don't even pair up people, I pair up the ideas they represent for me (architecture styles in one case and the idea of having complete control in another). So I'm not even sure how to discuss it, and I certainly don't want explicit content about it.

So basically, I'm a big fat fandom loser.

P. S. I swear, one-sided fem!Alex D/Adam makes total sense, timeline be damned.

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Re: Why JC Denton is cool

I said this before, but it's still true. I don't believe that JC is cool because he's a smartass with deep voice and nice weapons - he's cool because of his compassion and determination to make things right. He willingly risked losing all of the priveleges that the abusive system gave him because protecting other people from it felt more important - now THAT'S badass.

Also JC is a giant dork, and people are constantly making fun of him, which makes him even more endearing.

On the other hand, he trusts Paul who previously tried to get him killed on several occasions for no good reason, which is pretty lame. But meh, it probably wasn't the first time Paul set him up and then asked to do a favour for him, hence why JC wasn't even bothered by the whole "Paul said not to take any chances" turned into "Go save the bad guys I swear are actually the good guys" thing.

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How I picture Page and Megan working together

"Mr. Page..."

"Bob."

"I have a few questions about the D project."

"What is it, my dear?"

"We're supposed to carry out our experiments on children."

"No, no, on that child's clones."

"Which are children".

"Technically yes, but not really."

"The law is all about the technicalities, so we do need his parents consent."

"Megan, really think about this. Did his parents create these units? No. I did, in a lab. And you have my permission to do with these units whatever you need to do."

"By units you mean children."

"Yes."

"I have another question then. In the lab I found the note that says that if dealing with primary unit, and I quote, gets too annoying, WS has your permission to get rid of it. Does it imply what I think it implies?"

"No, it's... I really need to stop leaving my notes- no, I mean we pay the family for their silence and... Whatever, is that all?"

"I don't know, experimenting on DNA is one thing, experimenting on children is..."

"Relax, it's not like you have a choice."

"... You're right. I helped my ex-idol to turn thousands people into zombies, screw my ex-boss over and kill my ex-boyfriend, so..."

"Ah yes, your ex who is totally 100% dead. Speaking of, did he have any kids?"

"Not that I know of. If it's really important, I could ask his friends..."

"No need, I was just... wondering. It would probably be easier for you if these units would've been his."

"Easier?"

"Well, you know, since you're already used to experiment on his DNA without his consent."

"No, it would complicate... Wait, how do you know that?"

"I don't have all day to answer your questions, Megan. So unless you found some other, shall we say, questionable notes..."

"Not really. I mean, it's weird both you and David believe that the Illuminati are ruining your lives, but I figured it's a CEO thing."

"Of course it is. Now, my dear, I'm afraid I have to leave- Walton! There you are! What the actual fuck, next time just send my notes straight to Lucius, and don't you fucking tell me you read them... In the lab! What do you mean you don't even work there, EVERYBODY here works in a lab, isn't that right, Megan?"

"Yes, sir."

"Megan, did I forget to hang up again?"

"No, sir."

"Take notes, Walton. And also learn how to actually read them."

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So. Paul is my favourite DX character. Also Paul, to me, is the hottest DX character. I feel like there's some kind of connection between these two facts.

I mean, I also really love Megan, and she's easily in the top 3 of the hottest DX characters list, so...

Then again, JC is nowhere near that list, but I love him so much more than Adam who's in the top 5 (or top 3, depending on my mood). Maybe I'm not THAT shallow... (Nah, I am.)

Also the competition is so strong Page isn't in the top 3 even if we're talking just male characters and despite the fact I'm kind of obsessed with him.

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Alex D childhood chronicles

Paul: So, what's your life goal, kid?

Alex: What's a life goal?

Paul: Something you want to achieve no matter what. Stuff you really want to do for years.

Alex: Sounds boring, I'd rather not have it.

Paul: But... What are you going to do with your life then?

Alex: I'll ask Billie.

Paul: TONG, I TOLD YOU SHE HAS SIMONS GENES, NOT MINE

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I've realised that Alex is basically Adam, but without the strong "woe is me" energy. She just... accepts that the world is crazy and is acting accordingly, because what else is she supposed to do. If you're doing something bad, she'll point that out to you and see what happens.

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Also I like to imagine that Adam eventually became an instructor in the UNATCO Academy, and after all he'd been through by far the worst thing in his life was having to deal with Paul for a few years. IDK, I just like the idea of their personalities clashing. (Then again, I also like the the scenario where Adam is actually Paul's dad... I'm a bad Deus Ex ideas encyclopedia basically.)

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I love this VTMB exchange from reddit. It's hilarious on its own (Ming Xiao IS that obvious), but I also like to imagine that Tong and Paul had somewhat similar conversation about Maggie, especially the last two lines. (Wouldn't it be hilarious if she tried to send Paul to rob the police station too because that's her way of saying "fuck off".)

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trick or treat?

AAAAAAAAAH

THIS IS ALL I HAVE ALSO MY FANGIRLING OVER PAUL DENTON HAS BEEN ENTIRELY IRONIC I SWEAR

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One of the many reasons I love Alex are her priorities.

The entire city was obliterated right before her eyes? It happens, I have nothing to say, really.

There's a nanite plague in the city? Eh, maybe I'll fix it if I have nothing better to do.

Coffee shop manager struggles? No matter how many enemies are hunting me, no matter how urgent my current mission is, I WILL put the entire world on hold just to make sure that my favourite coffee shop chain prevails in every city I visit.

Like, I'm 91.6% sure that if there was a coffee shop in Antarctica, JC would've been dead.

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Okay, so DXIW Sound Drone and associated (?) tag editor might just be the coolest simple things I've ever seen. (Well, it's either that or ArtMoney.)

Also I've finally learned what Billie says if you join the Templars, and as it turns out, she's even more delusional than I thought. Like, she wasn't trolling, she didn't do all of this just because she wanted to see the world burn, she was dead serious.

When this is all over, they'll call us heroes and saints.

Alex, it's so good to see you come to your senses and join our cause. I knew you wouldn't fall for the lies of ApostleCorp or the Illuminati. Purity is the only way to save humanity from ruin.

Alex... Why were you friends in the first place? Because you figured "what the hell"?

Btw, this one broke my heart a little:

You said you'd kill me but I guess you didn't have the heart.

I prefer to think it was canon because it adds a bitter irony or something. Alex seems cold and actually is a skilled killer but she doesn't have the heart to kill her friend, even though said friend is a dangerous criminal. Paul looks warm and goes on and on about the beatuies of pacifism, and yet he's willing to sacrifice everyone around him, including his younger brother - the kindest person in the entire DX universe.

I'm also curious what's this all about:

Your actions in Antarctica prove you're honorable - you let me go and didn't shoot me in the back. I've realized that we've known each other too long to let others order us to assassinate each other. I'm supposed to keep this area secure, and I intend to take down anyone else who comes by, but you're free to go, Alex.

Like, in Antarctica I was telling Billie I don't want to fight (I think), and she still attacked me, and I had no other option. Now I learn I could let her go? Hm.

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DXIW missing scenes

Paul: What's so hard to understand? I'm asking you to rename it to "Denton Industries".

Page Industries current CEO: But you don't own the company. You and your brother just stole from us everything you didn't blow up.

Paul: So technically, we do own it.

Page Industries current CEO: Technically, both of you are criminals.

Paul: Oh come on, what happened before the Collapse stays before the Collapse. Just sign the papers, it's gonna be fine.

Page Industries current CEO: No.

Paul: Fiiine, I'll launch my own company.

Page Industries current CEO: By the way, you can't use "Denton" in it's name because mr. Page trademarked it.

Paul: Why do people only die once?

Paul: Okay, so hear me out. We create another clone. For science. But. This time it's the female version of me.

JC: No.

Paul: Into the freezer you go.

Tong: Is that... a teleporter?

Paul: Yep.

Tong: Is that physically possible?

Paul: Nope.

Tong: Then how...

Paul: Wait till you see the monkeys I gaslighted into thinking they're telepathic aliens.

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I wonder if there's a single player that joined the Templars completely unironically.