#For all his intelligence and wit and prior successes and charm and just - everything that makes him /him/ to be dissolved into abject fear

[sysig]

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5 underrated Richard Donner movies you need to see

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Richard Donner will forever be remembered as the filmmaker who created the blueprint for the modern superhero blockbuster with 1978’s Superman starring Christopher Reeve.

Yet that doesn’t tell even half the story of the Bronx-born filmmaker’s brilliant filmography.

Donner was in his late 40s by the time Superman came along, having made a name for himself in Hollywood two years earlier, with 1976’s suitably terrifying The Omen.

Prior to that, he was a budding director making the transition from the small screen to the world of cinema. Donner worked on everything from Gilligan’s Island to The Twilight Zone. Even then, it was clear he was destined for bigger things though, as anyone who saw  “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”, the iconic episode of The Twilight Zone he directed, starring William Shatner, can attest.

While a disagreement with producers ultimately saw him walk away from Superman II, the 1980s saw Donner establish himself as an incredibly versatile big budget director capable of handling everything from the epic family adventure fun of The Goonies to the balancing act of action and comedy found within the buddy cop antics of Lethal Weapon.

It was a skillset that drew admiration from the very best in the movie industry, including Steven Spielberg who was among the first to pay tribute to Donner after learning he had passed away, aged 91.

“Dick had such a powerful command of his movies, and was so gifted across so many genres,” Spielberg, who worked with Donner on The Goonies, said.

“Being in his circle was akin to hanging out with your favourite coach, smartest professor, fiercest motivator, most endearing friend, staunchest ally, and – of course – the greatest Goonie of all.”

Donner may not have had the same impact in the 1990s and early 2000s but he still enjoyed major success with the Lethal Weapon franchise and as a producer with movies like Free Willy and X-Men.

More importantly, the other films he made during that period and in the years between some of his biggest hits remain well worth revisiting or seeking out for the first time – starting with these five.

Ladyhawke

Coming hot on the heels of The Goonies and two years prior to Lethal Weapon, Ladyhawke represented another major departure for Donner. A dark medieval fantasy, it centred on Rutger Hauer’s mysterious Captain Etienne Navarre and his female companion Lady Isabeau (Michelle Pfeiffer), a pair of star-crossed lovers on the run from a vengeful bishop who has placed a demonic curse on their heads. While Navarre transforms into a wolf by night, Isabeau exists as a Hawk by day. Teaming up with petty thief Philippe Gaston (Matthew Broderick) they embark on a quest to overthrow the evil bishop and break the spell.

Something of a passion project, Donner had attempted to get Ladyhawke off the ground several times before finally getting the green light from Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox in the mid ’80s. The film then suffered another setback when Kurt Russell, originally cast as Navarre, dropped out during rehearsals. 

That ultimately proved a blessing in disguise with Hauer going on to deliver arguably his best performance since Blade Runner. Not everything about Ladyhawke works – Broderick’s character feels a little too close to Ferris Bueller while the runtime could be trimmed down – but it remains a beautifully realised fantasy epic, full of memorable action set pieces, stunning cinematography and a spellbinding turn from Pfeiffer.

A box office bomb upon release, Ladyhawke has stood the test of time too, garnering a cult following as an authentic and fresh take on the sword and sorcery formula. 

Maverick

Maverick is the film Will Smith must have hoped Wild Wild West would be; a funny, clever action comedy based on a classic TV show. Coming in an era when most westerns were deadly serious, Donner’s film also felt like a breath of fresh air and benefited hugely from a masterful William Goldman script that was both witty and unpredictable.

The latest in a series of films featuring Donner’s muse-of-sorts, Mel Gibson, this time out Mel plays Bret Maverick, a brilliant card player and equally impressive con artist trying to collect enough money to earn a seat at a high-stakes poker game. Along the way he is forced to contend with a fellow scammer in the form of Jodie Foster’s Annabelle Bransford as well as lawman Marshal Zane Cooper, played by James Garner, who starred in the original TV series.

While the glut of cameos from country music stars and the likes of Danny Glover can be a little distracting, there’s something wonderfully charming about Maverick with Gibson, Foster and Garner all on top form and boasting an undeniable chemistry that helps keep things entertaining. 

The climactic poker game which sees Maverick face off against Alfred Molina’s psychopathic Angel is also expertly handled by Donner, who cranks up the tension as Maverick reveals his final, decisive, hand with a slow-motion toss of the final card towards the camera. A critical and financial success, Maverick has been largely lost in the shuffle since its release but should be sought out.

Conspiracy Theory

There’s something strangely prescient about Conspiracy Theory given the current predilection for such thinking on the internet at large. One of Donner’s most inventive and intelligent outings alongside Gibson, this time out Mel plays Jerry Fletcher, a New York City cab driver with a penchant for paranoid conspiracy theories.

Jerry’s life takes a turn for the strange when he finds himself being targeted by a set of shady government goons led by Patrick Stewart’s Dr Jonas. He quickly realises one of the conspiracies he has been promoting in his weekly newsletter (this was the ‘90s) is based more in reality than he thought. The question is: which one?

An engrossing thriller featuring Donner’s trademark dashes of witty humour, Conspiracy Theory is bolstered significantly by the presence of the ever-reliable Julia Roberts as a government lawyer with a soft spot for Jerry. Despite a lengthy run time, Donner also keeps the action moving along at an engaging pace while Gibson’s performance is just the right side of manic to keep you rooting for him.

A first foray into the kind of deep state conspiracy thrillers that were commonplace in Hollywood at the time, the film also boasts some genuinely striking moments, not least the sequence where Jerry undergoes “psychotic testing” at the hands of Dr Jonas, which wouldn’t have looked out of place in A Clockwork Orange.

Though it was a hit with audiences, Conspiracy Theory earned mixed reviews but appears increasingly worthy of reappraisal.

Timeline

Some movies are big, dumb but lots of fun. Timeline sits firmly in that category despite what many naysayers would have you believe. It’s a brash, simplistic sci-fi flick to rival the likes of The Core and Geostorm and thoroughly entertaining to boot.

The fact that it features Gerard Butler, as well as the late, great, Paul Walker only adds to that sentiment.

Walker plays Chris Johnston who, along with Butler’s Andre Marek and a team of fellow archaeologists travel back in time through a wormhole to 14th century France to rescue their professor, Dr Edward Johnston (Billy Connolly), who just happens to be Walker’s character’s dad too.

Based on a book by Michael Crichton, Donner had been in the running to direct Jurassic Park a decade earlier and jumped at the chance to adapt Timeline for the big screen. While filming went off without a hitch, Donner repeatedly clashed with Paramount Pictures in post-production and was forced to re-cut the film three times in a development that saw the release date pushed by nearly a year. The resulting edit did not sit well with Crichton either, who disliked it so intensely he stopped licensing his work for a few years after.

Whether Donner’s original cut would have earned better reviews or Crichton’s approval remains to be seen but what remains of Timeline is still a well shot, enjoyable sci-fi yarn with some neat medieval action flourishes. 

16 Blocks

Donner’s final film also ranks among his most unappreciated. On the surface, 16 Blocks sounds like the perfect fodder for a game of buddy cop movie bingo.

It stars Bruce Willis as Jack Mosley, a worn-out NYPD Detective with a drinking problem tasked with transporting Mos Def’s trial witness Eddie Bunker to court. Problems arise when some of Jack’s fellow officers arrive to kill Eddie and prevent him from testifying. Eager for redemption, Jack decides to take the would-be assassins on and get Eddie to court on time.

A formulaic enough premise, 16 Blocks is emboldened by the fact it plays out in real-time with Eddie required at the courthouse by no later than 10am. In this sense, Donner found himself in new territory with an action thriller that thrives on a unique sense of urgency. 

While the filmmaker is no stranger to the action formula, this setup sees him imbue events with a renewed sense of chaos, as Jack and Eddie fight their way through armed adversaries, busy crowds and bustling traffic, all against a cacophony of shouts, car horns and gun blasts.

Ostensibly a chase movie on foot rather than four wheels, the action traverses 16 blocks in 118 minutes and rarely lets up for a second with Donner proving a dab hand at balancing the action with the engaging back-and-forth between Willis and Def who are both understated yet effective throughout.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

Throw in the ever-watchable David Morse as the leader of the shady cops baying for Eddie’s blood and you have arguably one of the most underrated action thrillers of the early 2000s 

The post 5 underrated Richard Donner movies you need to see appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[montaguehphm]

Hogwarts Mystery Asks: Jacob Donohue

I decided to finally compile my answers for this lovely questionnaire by @batgirl-87 and @cptaincarswell and answer the whole thing so people could get to know my iteration of Jacob better. The original intention is for followers to send which questions they want answers, but I decided to answer everything now after doing some of the questions a few weeks ago with some changes here and there. So, here you go. Enjoy!

Full name & nickname(s)?

Jacob Erhard Donohue

When was Jacob born?

7th October 1963

What does Jacob look like? 

Jacob and Montague look very similar in that they both have thick eyebrows, round brown eyes, rich dark hair, and require glasses. Jacob, however, has darker skin, smaller eyes, cheekbones (like their father), and an undercut compared to Montague’s tan skin and messy hair. Nowadays, Jacob sports a nice clean beard and a messy bun with his undercut in an attempt to look like one of those “rugged hipster biker boys who work as historians”.

Do you two have any other siblings?

None other. The Donohue parents decided two children was enough.

What is your MC’s relationship like with Jacob?

Prior to Jacob’s disappearance, Montague and Jacob were always close. Jacob would send Montague owls every week about his school life and all the cool things that happened at Hogwarts. Montague, in return, would send Jacob drawings of his older brother and his best friend, Duncan Ashe, and a creative interpretation of the events Jacob mentions in his letters and all about the things he’s learning while their mother brings Montague to work. When Jacob became a third year, he would send Montague some Honeydukes sweets, specifically Peppermint Toads, along with his letters to him and his parents. In the summers, Jacob would even try to teach Montague some cool spells he learned over the course of his enrollment at Hogwarts.

The one topic Jacob never talked about were the Cursed Vaults, a secret he kept from his brother because he didn’t want to have Montague tangled with R like he was. When Jacob disappeared because of the Cursed Vaults, Montague was shaken to his core because his brother never told him about the Vaults. He believed it wasn’t true at first because he believed his brother would tell him everything, but at some point, he started thinking that maybe he doesn’t really know his brother at all. In fact, he even believed that everything his brother told him in all those letters were lies.

After Jacob was located and reunited with Montague after the former disapparated from the Portrait Vault, Montague lashed out at his brother for leaving him just when they finally found each other again, for keeping the Cursed Vaults a secret from him, for lying to him, and for everything he felt inside. Jacob understood the hurt and pain he caused Montague and his family for entangling himself in such a dangerously ambitious excursion, but managed to apologize to Montague for the pain and stress his dangerously foolish decisions have caused. He assured his younger brother, however, that he never once lied to Montague about anything in his letters (except for the parts about Duncan) and that he only kept the Cursed Vaults a secret from Montague and their family for their own safety.

They eventually made amends and became much closer than ever. When the war against R was won, Jacob attended Montague’s graduation party at The Three Broomsticks with his family and friends.

What is Jacob’s relationship like with your parents?

Jacob had a good relationship with his parents prior to his disappearance. Converse to Montague's close relationship with their mother, Jacob was closer to their father, who also would bring Jacob to his work in his earlier years. Seeing how passionate his father was about his job perhaps ignited Jacob's taste for danger. Mrs. Donohue, on the other hand, would worry a bit more about Jacob getting too passionate about things that were dangerous. She did take pride in how well Jacob excelled in school, given her children's natural intelligence and flair for academic excellence. Every year during the summer break, she would take Montague and Jacob to some Muggle attractions around London and they would have a grand time together, especially at their favorite bakery.

When Jacob disappeared, his parents were devastated. While their reputation in the Ministry was also put into question because of it, they were more concerned over the safety and well-being of their missing eldest, leading Mr. Donohue to request for several investigations into the Cursed Vaults, none of which were allowed for reasons the family couldn't understand. Mrs. Donohue had to keep a strong front, given her high-ranking position in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. At home, it was not as happy as it used to be, but they tried to keep it together for Montague, who understood and knew just how hard his parents took Jacob's disappearance.

When Jacob resurfaced, he was able to contact his parents but had to keep communication to a minimum for their safety. This lifted a great weight from their hearts, knowing that Jacob is alive and well, but worried that both their children are in grave danger. After the war against R was over, Jacob was able to reunite with his whole family, which ended in a tearful embrace and an exchange of stories over the events that transpired.

What is his wand?

Pine, Phoenix Feather, 14 ½ inches, Unyielding

Pine wands always choose an independent, individual master who may be perceived as a loner, intriguing and perhaps mysterious. Pine wands enjoy being used creatively, and unlike some others, will adapt unprotestingly to new methods and spells. Many wandmakers insist that pine wands are able to detect, and perform best for, owners who are destined for long lives, including Garrick Ollivander who had never personally known the master of a pine wand to die young.

Phoenix feather wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world. These wands are the hardest to tame and to personalize, and their allegiance is usually hard won. A wand of this flexibility finely tunes itself to its original owner’s preferences and doesn’t stray from those preferences, even in the hands of a new owner; the new owner will just have to get used to it. It is particularly good for combative and healing magic.

Unyielding wand owners tend to be very confident in themselves and/or in the things they believe in. They tend to be intelligent, somewhat cynical, and usually have well-defined principles that they will not stray from ever. Sometimes, this combination can lead to arrogance because of them insisting on how right they are without considering other points of view or whether or not they might be wrong.

What is his favorite subject?

His best subjects were Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and Herbology. Among those four, he had the deepest inclination to DADA, most likely because of his father's influence as an Auror.

What is his least favorite subject?

While the topic of history was interesting to Jacob, he absolutely hated History of Magic because of the ever-so-boring Professor Binns.

Who is his favorite professor?

Professor Filius Flitwick was not only Jacob’s Head of House, but he was also incredibly patient and paternal with Jacob, especially given how much trouble Jacob constantly got himself into during his time at Hogwarts. Flitwick was Jacob’s go-to professor for any concerns he had with improving on his magical abilities. In turn, Jacob excelled in Charms and even got an O in his O.W.L.’s and was even destined to excel in his Charms N.E.W.T. Flitwick did not want to see his star student face expulsion, but given the overwhelming evidence against Jacob, he had no choice but to let the expulsion happen.

An honorable mention for this is Professor Pomona Sprout, who noted not only Jacob’s adeptness for Herbology, but also how his kind and caring nature was an essential part of his success in the subject. Jacob successfully garnered an O in his Herbology O.W.L. and proceeded to N.E.W.T. levels. She was among the group of professors who didn’t want Jacob expelled, but had no choice as well.

Who is his least favorite professor?

Professor Cuthbert Binns. He was incredibly boring.

What House is Jacob in? (I know he’s supposed to be in your mc’s same House but is he really in the same house as your mc?)

Jacob Donohue is a Ravenclaw, but he was also a hatstall for Gryffindor, which somewhat disappointed Professor Sprout when she got to see Jacob's kind and caring side during her classes when Hufflepuff wasn’t even considered during Jacob’s hatstall. Jacob's most prized trait is his intelligence, a trait that Montague and Mrs. Donohue also prized. Jacob was also one of the most academically gifted students of his year, if not the most, excelling in every required class and elective he took.

Did he play Quidditch? Was he a fan of the game? Or not so much?

While he was actually a far better flyer than Montague, he never played Quidditch. He wasn't particularly close with the sport, but he appreciated it enough. He would even cheer for his friends who made the team. When he became romantically involved with fellow Ravenclaw Calum O'Connor, who was also the Ravenclaw Quidditch captain at the time, he gained more interest in the sport.

Did he have any pets?

He has a Great Horned Owl named Mercury and a Kneazle named Diana.

What are his top 3 positive personality traits?

Intelligent: Jacob prized his clever nature as he relies on this to help him ease through a situation, especially with the Cursed Vaults and earning O’s in all of his O.W.L.’s. He also attributes his ability to solve problems well to his out-of-the-box thinking and his quick wit.

Good-Hearted: Professor Pomona Sprout noted his kind and caring nature. Jacob has always been a kind and caring person, most especially to his brother, Montague. He was also noted for how much help he would give underclassmen when they were having academic troubles without anything in exchange.

Courageous: Jacob would basically do everything in his power to protect his loved ones, even if that meant sacrificing a bright future for himself to keep them safe from R.

What are his top 3 negative personality traits?

Stubborn: After his imprisonment in the Portrait Vault, Jacob became at times hardly dissuaded from his beliefs, a trait that Montague noted became much more event some time after the brothers reunited. His stubbornness led him to be quite secretive as well, refusing to give any information and preferring to do things on his own.

Arrogant: At times, Jacob’s ego over his smarts would get the better of him and would bruise him quite badly. His arrogance over his intelligence also would translate to a stubbornness to change his opinions over something, which could be quite detrimental.

Reserved: This isn’t necessarily a negative trait. Sometimes, being reserved allows Jacob to make rational decisions. In worse cases, however, he doesn’t acknowledge how he really feels about a situation till it’s too late and he explodes into a ball of intense reactions.

What does Amortentia smell like to him?

What is his patronus?

Granian Winged Horse

“A Granian Winged Horse can represent an owner who is stronger minded, the owner of this patronus will never give up on there opinion no matter how much others try to change there mind. The owner of this patronus is also incredibly witty and intelligent much like Ravenclaw, who are witty and intelligent as well!”

(description from @hogwartswelcomesyou)

Fun fact: Both Donohue brothers had winged horse patronuses before Montague’s patronus became an occamy after his wedding. Montague’s used to be an Abraxan Winged Horse.

Is he an animagus?

No, he isn’t. He did think that if he could be one, he’d like to be a huge bird like a Philippine eagle. Also...

What is his boggart?

Watching his family be executed by R, specifically by Patricia Rakepick, who would say that everything really is Jacob’s fault that everything turned out the way it did.

What were his career goals?

At first, he wanted to join his father and become an Auror. He thought it would be a fun idea to be a father-and-son duo. Later on, he decided to change course and become a Curse-Breaker.

What were his hobbies?

Like Montague, Jacob had a thing for the arts. He loved sketching, which was one of his favorite ways of recalling an event when he tries to put things down in his diary. He also enjoys cooking without magic because it gives him a sense of control and achievement when he’s able to do it without a help of a spell. He also loves a good book with a hot mug of cocoa by the fireplace (or the furnace in the tent, if he’s traveling) before bed.

Favorite magical creature?

As a child, he was a huge fan of Hippogriffs. He always wanted one as a travel companion to take to the skies someday. He also has a soft spot for kneazles, crups, and puffskeins.

Why did he get involved with the Cursed-Vaults?

Jacob’s involvement initially began as a curiosity that needed to be satisfied. The way his mind works is that the more he ignores something he wants to solve, the more desperately urgent it begins to feel that he needs to solve it. His curiosity and the involvement of his friends, Duncan Ashe and Olivia Green, drove him deeper into this obsession to prove the existence of the Vaults. His partnering and eventual manipulation by R turned the whole thing into a necessity for survival not only for himself, but for those he loved and held dearly.

In what state do you think you’ll find Jacob in? (alive, dead, death eater, etc.?)

Jacob is found alive and trapped in a portrait in the Portrait Vault during Montague's fifth year. They had a quick and joyful reunion before Jacob found out that Madame Rakepick lead them to the Portrait Vault. He decided to chase after her in an attempt to stop her while the trail was still hot, leaving Montague and his friends behind.

If Jacob survives, what future do you see for him?

After Montague's graduation, Jacob decided to take an indefinite break from anything dangerous and life-threatening and took up a more calm and cyclical lifestyle. He bought himself a small fairytale-like cottage somewhere in Surrey. He decided to live a more routinely life and become a Healer at St. Mungo's for patients who got into terrible and traumatic incidents. He found solace in caring for them because he understood these patients. Outside of St. Mungo's, he does a sideline of growing fresh potion ingredients and develop some quality fertilizer in his greenhouse, which delighted Professor Sprout. She would ask Jacob to do some guest lectures for her prior to her retirement. He also took up baking and floral arranging to help himself out when he can.

In regards to having a love life, he does eventually have one. Back in Hogwarts, Jacob dated Asher Davies, who was the brother of Montague's former prefect, Chester (yes, that Chester). Asher was a Ravenclaw prefect a year below him who did reciprocate Jacob’s feelings and dated him for six months, but mutually decided that it wasn’t going to work out between them. At some point as grown-ups, Asher spotted Jacob exiting a coffee shop in London one afternoon. The two shared a happy albeit awkward hug when the two saw each other. Asher invited Jacob, who was planning to head home after his shift, for a drink at The Leaky Cauldron to catch up. Jacob said yes. After a couple months of seeing each other, they decided to try their luck and become exclusive again. (I can write more about this if y’all want that.)

During the Second Wizarding War, he joins the Order of the Phoenix as a Healer and helping other Order members with debriefings. He was asked to consider being a Scout alongside Montague, but he convinced himself that he wasn’t ready for field work after all the things he experienced with the Cursed Vaults. He fought valiantly, however, at the Battle of Hogwarts and survived after dueling a number of former R members who've allied with Voldemort's forces. During the down time in between battles and after the second battle, he volunteered to assist Madame Pomfrey to help heal and comfort the injured.

After the war, Jacob resumed his life as a Healer at St. Mungo's, growing potion ingredients, baking, and floral arrangements. However, a few months after Montague and Barnaby's wedding, Jacob couldn't help but wonder what if he went back to the field and tried to become the Curse-Breaker he wanted to be till he could no longer resist the urge to do it.

He eventually decided to retire from St. Mungo's and began to offer his help to his little Curse-Breaker brother by supplying the research and co-planning the strategies whenever a big client came up. On his first mission since forever, he was a bit rusty with his defensive and offensive spells but managed to do well. He admits that it took him a while to get back into the groove because he was afraid of another R-like incident. It was then Montague's turn to help his brother in any way he could from helping him repolish his spellwork to helping him better manage his internal dealings. Eventually, the two brothers made a family business out of their freelance Curse-Breaker gigs. Barnaby, during his breaks from his research work, assisted on several missions from time to time, which the brothers deeply appreciate.

When Montague retired from Curse-Breaking to become a professor at Hogwarts and Barnaby followed suit on professorship, Jacob took over and employed a team of people (a healer, two researchers, a logistician, and an accountant) to help keep the new family business afloat.

Misc. - Any other Jacob headcanons you have OR asker’s choice - ask any question you have about Jacob not on the list =)

Jacob was also a Prefect during his time. Just like his brother, Professors Dumbledore and Flitwick thought that his academic achievements, his nurturing the Ravenclaw underclassmen, and his continued showing of Ravenclaw traits outweighed the amount of trouble he caused. They hoped that giving him the privilege of becoming a Prefect would help keep Jacob out of trouble. Flitwick and Dumbledore thought of applying the same principle to Montague when he was considered to become a Prefect himself. Up until Jacob’s expulsion, Jacob was a shining example of what a Ravenclaw Prefect was.

Jacob was one of the people who formed Montague’s taste in Muggle music, and introduced him to pop and rock music.

One of Jacob’s (and Mrs. Donohue’s) favorite places in London was the Tower Bridge on the River Thames because he enjoyed seeing London from such a high place. He finds the view rather calming.

Jacob loves chocolate. In fact, Jacob’s favorite Honeydukes sweets were all chocolates: Honeydukes Best Chocolate, Chocoballs, Cauldron Cakes, and Chocolate Cauldrons.

Jacob’s bisexual (male-leaning but bisexual nonetheless) ass had a number of crushes during his stay at Hogwarts. Some notable ones were the following: Duncan Ashe himself, who didn’t reciprocate Jacob’s feelings but stayed friends with him nonetheless; Sakura Inoue-Clarke, a Gryffindor prefect in the same year as Jacob who also couldn’t reciprocate his feelings because she was dating somebody else at the time; and, Asher Davies, a Ravenclaw prefect a year below Jacob and was one of his more serious relationships. Jacob’s longest relationship with a fellow student was with Calum O'Connor, the Ravenclaw seeker and captain during his fifth year, with whom he had a number of flings with before they eventually became romantically exclusive and steady before they mutually broke up prior to their seventh year.

So, that’s it on my iteration of Jacob. I hope you enjoyed this! Also, do let me know if you’re interested in me writing about Jacob Donohue’s love life. 👀

[ladyemeraude]

Nephrite/Masato Sanjouin Bio (my fanbased version)

Did a bio on Nephrite years ago and thought I would refit it since I rewrote the fics since then. This is basically how he is in my little "miniseries"  fanfic.   Name:Nephrite aka Masato Sanjouin Age: appears 19 Birthday: January 3 Astrological Sign: Capicorn Height:1.80m (5'11) Weight:73 kg Hair: chestnut brown, wavy, slightly past midback Eyes: sapphire blue Favorite Food: Chinese, Italian, Greek, gourmet, cheesecake, chocolate parfait, stir-fry, the occasional glass of wine Least Favorite Food: liver, kidney..basically anything that bothers his stomach immensely Hobbies: stargazing, going to the opera, meditating, playing tennis, hanging out with Naru Strong Points: loyal to those he protects, honorable, protective, charming, somewhat proper, calm, reserved, dignified, practical, intelligent Weak Points: slightly arrogant, used to be a bit deceptive(he eventually changes that), can have a horrible temper when ticked off, stubborn Has Trouble With:his pride at times Likes: the finer things in life, music, Naru, driving his Ferrari Dislikes: cowards, Beryl, idiots, bullies, control freaks, people with no decorum Fears: certain hospital equipment (the ones that would turn him into an experiment), losing his honor and dignity, losing Naru Abilities: flight, teleportation, levitation, telepathy,telekinesis,possessing with the magical crest, tapping into the stars, variations of his Starlight Attack,hand-to-hand combat, and is a superb swordsman History: Nephrite is the second shitennou of the Dark Kingdom. He used to serve alongside his fellow shitennou as Prince Endymioin's guardians before he surrendered his soul to Queen Metallia for power. Not very long after his conversion to the dark side, he was approached by three elite youma, who were initially under Beryl's servitude and desperate to escape that fate, requesting that he allow them to serve him. He was not particularly keen on the idea at first given his preference for solitude, but gave in, deciding there was no harm in having extra minions to do his bidding. It did not take him long to see how efficient and devoted they truly were, and he gradually came to tolerate their company, eventually enjoying it,even showing concern for them following the destruction of the Moon Kingdom. A millennia later, Beryl made the decision to reawaken Metallia from her dormancy in order to continue to wreak havoc on the universe. She recruited a lower ranked shitennou, Jadeite for the task of gathering energy, much to the dismay of Miki, Yukari and Ruby. They felt Nephrite was far more worthy of that post. Despite finding the decision unwise, Nephrite encouraged the henchwomen to remain patient, reminding them there were ways to take advantage of the waiting period. During that time they monitored Jadeite's progress (or lack thereof), and Nephrite familiarized himself with the human culture, wishing to see if it was the same as before he had surrendered his soul, not to mention he had grown quite weary of Beryl's affinities. It was also part of his plan to strategize and perfect his plan for when he became commander. It wasn't long before Beryl's patience with Jadeite's failures came to an end, but using Thetis in his scheme without her permission sealed his fate. This was good news for the trio of youma, who were desperate for their master to get the position he deserved. Nephrite had been rather stoic about the matter, but showed his glee at witnessing Jadeite being cast into Eternal Sleep and reminded himself to succeed so he wouldn't suffer the same fate. He informed Beryl of his capability of gathering more energy from one person than Jadeite was able to collect from a massive crowd. Whilst the witch queen was somewhat intrigued, his arch-rival Zoisite poked fun of him for being ambitious, which earned the sakura a tongue-lashing from the henchwomen. Nephrite merely dismissed the younger shitennou, and Beryl approved his plan. He used the power of the stars to seek his victim, and Ruby provided him with a magical energy draining crystal ball that would enable him to still have the energy captured even if the senshi interfered. She and the other henchwomen were eager to aid him in any way, and although he preferred working alone, he saw how astute, proficient and efficient they were so he assured them they would be granted the opportunity to. He used helpful advice and flattery to ensnare his victims before cursing their items with the magical crest. Due to the crystal ball he received, he was partially successful in his scheme. However, Beryl was concerned about why he had so much trouble defeating the senshi when he did such a commendable job capturing the energy. Zoisite appeared and feigned concern as well, offering to assist. Beryl ordered the star shitennou to work alongside with the sakura shitennou, but Nephrite flatly refused, angering the queen with his defiance and arrogance. Zoisite, however, was thoroughly tickled, as it meant Beryl was losing faith in Nephrite. Just like previous times, the star shitennou succeeded in capturing the energy but failed to defeat the senshi. It was then Nephrite decided the failures were becoming quite bothersome and decided to take matters into his own hands, telling his henchwomen they could assist him,much to their delight. He used the stars to find out Sailor Moon's greatest weakness and was confident he would defeat her, as he was hitting her where it hurt most. He sent love letters signed Tuxedo Mask to all the girls that attended Juuban Junior High, believing he would lure Sailor Moon into his trap that way. Before that night, he crossed paths with Naru, after having met her at a tennis tournament a week prior and having a rather interesting encounter he didn't care to repeat. She asked him if he wrote the love letters, causing him to grow suspicious that she was Sailor Moon. Brushing that thought aside, he told her he would love to spend an evening with her and left. On the following night, Naru came to see Nephrite before time so she could have some alone time with him. She told him she loved him. He thought she was trying to seduce him, and so he captured her energy, rendering her unconscious in the process. He felt maybe she could be of use for future schemes and knew he would need her unharmed for that, so he requested that Ruby take her to the hospital. Soon after,  Sailor Moon showed up and he revealed his true identity before increasing his energies and summoning Leo the Lion.  At that moment, the real Tuxedo Mask arrived, furious about the trickery. He told Moon to escape, but Nephrite called for Leo to attack her. The monstrous lion proceeded its ferocious onslaught, severely wounding the heroine. Tuxedo Mask sprung into action to rescue her, but the trio of youma blocked his way and challenged him. It was an even match, but much to the masked man's horror, the moon senshi was a bloodied mess. Nephrite laughed as Tuxedo Mask took her into an elevator as it was the final part of his trap. He and his youma left in satisfaction, only to discover later from Beryl that somehow Moon managed to survive. However, he was able to escape being punished due to the love energy from Naru. He returned to his mansion, summoning an image of the red head girl. He realized his anger might make her suspicious of him and knew that was not a luxury he could afford if he intended to use her to assist him, so he did a memory wipe of the incident. He was partly grateful to her, but mostly amused that she was foolish enough to fall for his disguise without knowing his true nature. Nephrite later decided it was time he unleash his most powerful battle youma, Castor and Pollux, desperate to dispose of the senshi once and for all. Knowing it would take much energy, he sought out a victim who would be more productive than usual, who turned out to be animator Hiromi Matsuno. After possessing her pencil, he encountered Sailor Mercury standing on the roof of his car. Enraged by her audacity to do such a thing, he simply knocked her off and warned her about his powerful youma before speeding off. Feeling a bit less stressed, he treated himself to a glass of white wine and some gourmet chocolate chip cookies his henchwomen had baked before continuing to monitor Hiromi's energy progress. Once it reached its peak, Nephrite seized it and summoned the Gemini Twins, this time inviting Zoisite to watch the battle. It took everything the trio of youma had to not show their uneasiness, although they understood Nephrite's reasoning. Castor and Pollux proved to be quite formidable with their ability to imitate the attacks of Mars and Mercury. Unfortunately, they got into a heated argument over who would finish the senshi, which nearly gave the girls an opening for a counterattack. Not wanting the twins to die as a result of rivalry, Nephrite ordered them to retreat from battle. This was a subject of ridicule for Zoisite, but Nephrite shrugged it off, knowing he had gathered more than enough energy to revive Queen Metallia. Several weeks later, Beryl announced the arrival of Princess Diamond and mentioned that the princess could be in possession of the legendary ginzuishou, which peaked Nephrite's interest. Although finding the ginzuishou was originally Zoisite's job, Beryl gave it to the star shitennou so he would have a chance to achieve greater success, bringing the sakura shitennou to tears of anger. Oblivious to this, Nephrite hatched his plans to investigate, accepting assistance from his henchwomen again. Once at the party, he noticed Naru standing in a corner alone. He approached her and they  shared a dance together. The star shitennou then led her out on the balcony and flattered her before possessing her with his shadow. He then alerted his trio of youma that it was time to put the scheme into motion. Princess Diamond, possessed, came outside, and  Nephrite ordered her to hand over the crystal. As she prepared to throw it to him, she was stopped by Sailor Moon, only for the possessed princess to push her over the balcony. Luckily for the moon senshi, Tuxedo Mask caught her before she plummeted to her death. Infuriated at Moon's attempt to foil Nephrite's plan, Ruby attacked her, wounding her and retrieving the treasure from the princess. The red head youma then delivered it to the star shitennou, who gleefully accepted it. He got a feeling he should make sure it was the artifact he was sent for and followed his instincts, his feelings of exhilaration fading upon realizing it was the wrong crystal. His henchwomen were furious as well. Trying to suppress the anger, Nephrite prepared to launch an attack at Tuxedo Mask. Before he could, Mars launched her attack at the veteran shitennou. Ruby was able to create a shield to protect her master, redirecting the attack at the senshi of fire. Having managed to hold off two of the senshi, Ruby, along with the twins, turned their assault on Tuxedo Mask, causing him to nearly lose his grip on Sailor Moon and both of them to fall over the balcony. Luna quickly tossed the parasol to Moon, and so she used it to allow her and the masked man to safely glide them to the ground. Nephrite and his trio of youma fled the scene, disgusted at the time wasted. It was then they resolved to quit following Beryl's orders completely. Such defiance proved to be Nephrite's downfall as the witch queen grew extremely livid, Ruby getting a taste of it as she sassed Beryl. Nephrite was unaware of this, trying to concoct a scheme to locate the ginzuishou until interrupted by Zoisite, who "advised" him to teach his minions respect and to step aside. Naturally Nephrite would have none of it, and vowed to make the younger shitennou look like a failure. Zoisite swore revenge and left, whilst Nephrite secretly swore for allowing someone like Zoisite to rattle him. After taking a moment to compose himself, Nephrite tapped into the stars' powers, channeling his energy to create an object that would guide him to the ginziushou, the kurozuishou. The dark colored crystal glowed, revealing an image of Naru, causing the star shitennou to conclude the red head was in possession of the ginzuishou and making him freeze in surprise. He then went to make plans with his henchwomen.   An argument Naru had with her best friend over Masato Sanjouin's true nature left her unable to concentrate on her studying. However, a phone call from Nephrite asking her to meet him at a nearby park cheered her up considerably. She didn't think twice and wasting no time at all, she changed shoes and headed to the park, picking a rose on the way. She was filled with anxiety as she wondered what was up but at the same time she didn't care as she was just happy to hear from him. She gave him the rose she picked, which he gratefully accepted despite his surprise. He feigned regret for making the young girl come out late and was nearly distracted when she expressed her joy at him calling her. Her joy faded when the star shitennou said he was saying goodbye as she figured it was because he was tired of someone as young as she was bothering him. He quickly denied it, explaining he just didn't want her to be hurt, which confused Naru. He went on to say he was being targeted by dangerous people and he liked her too much to see her involved. Naru's confusion turned into worry at this, and she instantly asked what she could do to help. He made brief mention of the ginzuishou, then told her to forget it, as if to show he had doubts whether she knew what he meant. Naru, however, recalled her mom speaking of a rare gem. Thinking that might be it, she ran off to retrieve it, only to be caught by her mother. Unable to think of a decent explanation, she mumbled an apology and ran out of the store. Mrs. Osaka could only stare after her daughter and wonder what her actions were all about. She went out to look for the young teen, bumping into Usagi and Luna. She frantically notified them of the situation, and an infuriated Usagi ran off to find her friend, determined to smooth things over and make her understand.

Naru watched Nephrite intently as he tested the rare gem with his kurozuishou, looking both anxious and pleased with herself. It was all Nephrite could do not to look disgusted because it was not the ginzuishou, but an ordinary jewel.He then gave a confused frown as the kurozuishou began to glow.He saw it was reacting to the girl herself, which peaked his curiosity about her even more. He asked her to come with him, which didn't take much coaxing. He placed an arm around her shoulders to lead her away, oblivious to Yasha spying on them. However, his henchwomen spotted her and were instantly repulsed. Not wanting to give the monster too much thought, the women refocused their attention on Nephrite and Naru. Despite being disdainful of the girl at first, they couldn't help but feel slightly intrigued watching her and their master together. Before Nephrite could lead the red-head too far, they heard an all-too familiar voice yelling for them to stop. Much to Nephrite's displeasure, it was his archenemy Sailor Moon. He warned her not to meddle in his affairs, but she simply ignored him, delivering her speech. Naru grew nervous and also a bit irritated, but did her best to suppress both feelings, not wanting to get into another dispute. Instead she protested she wasn't in danger, but the blonde superheroine gave her the shock of the evening, telling her who the young man really was. Naru had her doubts about whether hearing the same speech again was a coincidence, but she felt too drained to be angry this time. She turned to the man who had her affections and asked him to confirm the blonde was lying. Instead, he fired a burst of star energy, knocking Moon off her feet with great force. He missed with his other variations of the attack. Undaunted, he vowed she would not escape again. Hearing the voices of Mercury and Mars gave the moon senshi much joy, along with a boost to her confidence. Nephrite taunted the girls that he would kill all of them at once and prepared to launch his attack. Mercury used her bubbles to disorient him, and Mars shot her fireball at which point Naru quickly pushed him out of the way. The senshi were positively dumbfounded by such an action, and so was Nephrite. Not only was the girl not frightened away, but she defended him despite his true colors.While he appeared to be distracted, Moon took it as her cue and tossed her tiara at him. The star shitennou cursed loudly as he was frozen with fear and knew he would be at least fatally wounded. Much to his and the senshi's surprise,Naru dashed in front of him and spread her arms out. He chided the teen girl for her recklessness, but she was determined to protect him.Filled with fear, Moon yelled for the tiara to stop, which it did before falling on the ground.Naru gave the senshi a hard look whilst declaring she would not allow Nephrite to be harmed by them. Mercury tried to reason with her and Mars ordered her to step aside, but the red head was defiant. Nephrite marveled at her strong desire to protect him. Mercury questioned Naru about protecting the young man. She admitted with tears streaming down her face that she loved him with all of her heart and she would rather die than see him get hurt or killed. Moon wanted to protest, but was at a loss for words. After a brief period of silence, Nephrite's trio of youma appeared before Naru, bewildering the girl.Ruby introduced all of them,and thanked her for protecting the star shitennou. Naru wasn't entirely sure what to make of the ladies, but felt warm inside by their gratitude.The kurozuishou started glowing again, and Nephrite wondered if it was possibly reacting to Naru's deep love for him. All of a sudden, he heard a shrill voice asking him if he had the ginzuishou. The creature revealed itself before trying to snatch the crystal from him. He knocked her hands away, but dropped it in the process. Naru picked it up, and Yasha lunged at the young girl, causing her to cry out in fear. On impulse, the star shitennou fired a burst of star power at the creature, splitting her mask in two. The senshi of the moon was amazed by this and for Naru, it confirmed that he indeed felt something for her. The emotional episode caused her to faint. Nephrite stared at his hands as if to show his disbelief at protecting a mortal girl. Yasha revealed her true form and unleashed her attack on the dark general,which he evaded. The creature continued to berate him, which prompted an attack from Yukari. In a twist of fate, the brunette youma ordered Moon to deliver the final blow. Wasting very little time, the moon senshi did as she was told, all the while thinking how odd it was for a Dark Kingdom agent to fight on her side. Nephrite wrote down his contact info on a small piece of paper, placing it and the rare gem into an unconscious Naru's hand before turning to leave. Sailor Moon thanked him for saving Naru's life, and he dismissed it, indicating it may never happen again. He requested Ruby to escort the young girl home before taking his leave. The twin youma left as well, whilst Ruby carried out her master's orders. During the early hours in the morning, Nephrite returned to Naru's room. Before he could get too distracted by how beautiful he thought she looked while asleep, his kurozuishou started glowing again. It was still a mystery since he never came to a proper conclusion. He wondered if maybe the ginzuishou was inside her body. To test this theory, he allowed his kurozuishou to hover over the girl's body. It projected a beam of energy, providing a transparent view. However, there was no gem resembling the ginzuishou. Nephrite was perplexed at first, but his mind replayed the encounter with Naru just hours prior. The kurozuishou reacted whenever her love for him was shown. That was when he got his answer. It did little to help soothe his complicated feelings about why the kurozuishou had not done its job, and what he would do about this revelation. Late the next night, Nephrite was still trying to ponder the previous day's events and what course of action he should take about his most recent discovery. He no longer had any use for the kurozuishou, but that was only one of several dilemmas he was faced with. Once again, his mind drifted to Naru, her smile and the deep love she had for him, despite seeing his true colors. All of that made his heart feel warm inside, which he found ludicrous. His musings were interrupted by Ruby appearing before him to find out about his next move as well as discuss what she and the twins had been thinking. She asked him how he felt about the girl and he admitted he had feelings for her. Try as he may to deny it in the past, he couldn't any longer. The cherry-haired youma also told the star shitennou he should leave the Dark Kingdom, at which he was taken aback, but she reasoned with him reminding him how fond he was of certain aspects of planet Earth. He couldn't deny that, either, and conceded he would give her advice some thought. She warned him to be careful, which he acknowledged. Nephrite recalled how vehement the moon senshi was when she warned Naru about him, and found it odd unless she knew the red-head. And he knew if he did end up leaving the Dark Kingdom, he would need to know of Moon's identity so he could see her whenever he wished. He believed who better to get the information from than Naru, and disappeared from the mansion. Unbeknownst to him, Zoisite was there and heard his musings about the kurozuishou, as well as his conversation with Ruby, and decided he would keep a close eye on the elder general. Ruby caught a glimpse of the sakura shitennou just before he left, and got a bad taste in her mouth, so she decided to go to keep watch on him. Nephrite appeared in Naru's room, spending a few minutes watching her sleep. He was moved by how peaceful she looked. To avoid getting too distracted, he hid behind the curtain, which roused the young girl from her sleep. She was surprised but also quite happy to see him. He told her his real name and how much he regretted deceiving her for so long. She assured him he was forgiven, and he proceeded to tell her how she impacted his life, not to mention that of his chief henchwomen. Naru felt her heart melting by this, and she asked Nephrite to come closer, for she also had something to tell him. He obliged by sitting next to her, having a hunch about what the red head wished to say.She told him for the second time she loved him, adding that she had since the moment they met. He told her he loved her too, and it took everything in her not to cry tears of happiness. He then asked her if she knew where to find Sailor Moon, for he wished to fight alongside her. The red-head tearfully told him she didn't, since the heroine only showed up when there was trouble. Nephrite wiped her tears away and told her to contact him when she found out. He gave her a peck on her cheek before exiting the bedroom. However, he made sure to remain nearby. He was curious to see the action she intended to take, given the tenacity she possessed. Meanwhile, Zoisite, along with three plant youma were spying on the veteran shitennou. While he made no mention of the ginzuishou, the fact that he cared deeply for a human gave them another reason to plot his demise. The plant sister known as Grape wanted to kill him right away, but Zoisite told her not to be hasty, for Nephrite was a fierce warrior and that blindly rushing into battle would only get themselves hurt or even killed. He suggested kidnapping Naru and setting a trap. Suzuran, who had only been listening, asked whether it involved Nephrite's henchwomen, too, and Zoisite said to leave them be for a bit. The Plant Sisters left to set the nefarious plan into motion, Zoisite smirking to himself. Naru was wide awake, both from Nephrite's confession and the situation he was in. She wracked her brain for a way to help him, then remembered the conversation she had with Usagi that afternoon and how her best friend had sounded slightly more supportive. She got the phone and dialed the blonde's number, feeling guilty for calling so late, not to mention worried that no one would be awake.A wave of relief washed over her when Mrs. Tsukino answered and put her on hold. Usagi came to the phone, albeit groggy, and Naru told her what occurred during Nephrite's visit, breaking down in tears at how useless she felt. Although hidden, Nephrite listened to the entire conversation, smiling to himself when Naru hung up, for he had gotten his answer. He went by the street light and made himself invisible, keeping watch for the young girl. He was pretty sure she would not deny Naru assistance, and so therefore, she would be playing into his hands in the process. Using his magic, he warped the road so that it would appear crooked and watched as his nemesis struggled. His lips curled into a smile when she transformed, and he materialized, making the road normal again. He thanked the moon heroine for revealing her identity, coercing her to admit it when she squirmed. It came as no surprise to him, but he secretly hoped she would keep it together for once, so he decided to test her. The fact that she was such a stammering mess had not helped matters, until she managed to prick his conscience, which sounded a lot like Naru. He assured Moon her secret was safe with him, to which their first civil conversation ensued. There was still a bit of tension in the air, however, so the star shitennou considered it a good thing when his trio of youma appeared. The relief faded when Ruby mentioned Zoisite and his youma were up to no good. Her warning was cut off by Naru crying out for help and Nephrite caught on to what the red head youma was trying to tell him. He told Moon they would meet again before disappearing with his trio of henchwomen. As quick as Nephrite and his trio of youma were, Naru's kidnapper was quicker because when they got to the room, it was empty, save for a small piece of paper on the bed. Nephrite picked it up to read. The writer of it demanded for him to hand over his kurozuishou if he wanted Naru's life to be spared.For a moment he burned with anger at Zoisite's level of insolence, then an image of Naru laughing and running towards him popped into his head.He crumpled the note in his hand, engulfing it in flames. Miki asked him about it and when Nephrite told her, she and the other two youma were just as enraged. Not wanting to be useless in such a detrimental situation, Yukari suggested she and the other two young women come with Nephrite just in case he was walking into a trap. The star shitennou gave them the green light on the condition that they remained hidden. The youma trio agreed, as they had heard when Suzuran ask whether to kill them too. They waited as Nephrite ordered the kurozuishou to show him Naru's whereabouts, which it did instantaneously. According to the black crystal, she was at an abandoned nightclub called Rag Time. They all teleported to the site together, the trio of youma concealing themselves as Nephrite ascended the stairs. When he was about halfway down, he saw the Plant Sisters watching him intently. He gave them a brief stare of death and then averted his eyes toward Naru, who was bound to an overturned table. The star shitennou more or less expected such a set up, but it still infuriated him all the same. Naru cried out a warning to look out, and the next thing he knew, a barrage of small grenades were headed his way. He quickly avoided the onslaught, and while Suzuran's sonic waves did little to faze him, they threw him off, causing him to land awkwardly and nearly stumble. Even with that minor setback, the sisters were simply no match for the shitennou in terms of strength and even speed. He conjured his star-sword, reducing two of the plant creatures to ribbons. Facing off against Grape was a bit more challenging, but he dodged her vine arm with ease. He chopped it off and bisected her for the final blow.  Knowing the destruction of the sisters wouldn't be enough for his rival shitennou to leave him be, he pulled out his kurozuishou and crushed it in his gloved hand, letting the shards litter the ground. He wandered over to the young girl, exchanged a loving gaze with her and used the sword to slice the ropes that ensnared her. He then picked her up and carried her out, taking her back home.Not long after he gently rested the red head down, she embraced him and thanked him for rescuing her. Nephrite told her how much he wanted to make up for having lied so much to her in the past, and she embraced him again, telling him he already had, as she got the feeling he had a good heart deep down. For a moment, he seemed a bit perplexed by her words and her affection towards him. Naru remembered back at the battle with the Plant Sisters, Nephrite appeared to have hurt his ankle. She was sure of it when she noticed him limping slightly while bringing her home. She inquired whether he felt any pain, and he confirmed that he was, knowing she wouldn't buy it if he told her otherwise. As soon as he sat on the young teen's bed, she had him remove his boot, which he did without question. She gave him a gentle massage and tore a piece of cloth from her pajama to wrap the ankle. He thanked her, retrieved the boot and gingerly stood up, deciding the soreness was nothing he couldn't handle. He gave Naru a quick hug before disappearing from the room. After giving Ruby instructions to watch over Naru, Nephrite left with the twins. Ruby took Naru to the mansion to visit with Nephrite the next day as the red head was concerned that the ankle injury was worse than she was led to believe, and bothered that he got it on her account. He considered her visit to be a pleasant surprise, but it pained him to see her in emotional distress. She voiced her concerns to him and he reassured her that she wasn't at fault. Feeling a sense of relief, Naru mentioned to the reformed star shitennou how it had always been a dream of hers to share a chocolate parfait with him. He promised they could make it happen, at which her eyes brightened. This would be the beginning of their courtship until the young girl was old enough for a long term committed relationship. In regards to aiding the senshi, he opted to keep a low profile, assisting them in an inconspicuous manner.