#I fault no one for wanting more of Batch Adventures

[niobiumao3]

.

Endlessly weird to me that people blame Pabu, the island and the episode, for somehow ruining the Batch.

I feel a way about this because Pabu is a) introduced to the group by unambiguously dark-skinned human characters and b) a refugee settlement. So to place the blame for the 'softening' or 'loss of coolness' of the show on that is really ugly looking. Like it just fucking is, sorry not sorry.

Acting as if without Pabu, Hunter super totally woulda been all in on rescuing Crosshair, is to pretend like the entire rest of S1 and 2 didn't happen. He was crushed by what he perceived as a complete loss of Crosshair at the end of S1 and has plainly spent a year telling himself to accept it. You can swap out Pabu with any one of a hundred other locations and the result is the same: Hunter isn't convinced Crosshair wants to come back with them, feels just as abandoned as Crosshair does. (Whether or not this is fair for either of them is a wholly different topic.)

None of that is about Pabu. Pabu is simply the place they come across--brought there by a fellow refugee who understands a need for solace and safety, even briefly--which reveals to them, like Safa Toma did for Tech specifically, that their lives CAN be something else. If you don't find that particularly interesting narratively, okay, but to blame Pabu is really a stretch. (Let's not forget, Phee is not about settling on Pabu either. She calls it a 'home away from home' for a reason. So she's not suggesting it as a forever place as it's not even that for her.)

Anyways. Kinda exhausted with this idea that 'Pabu' is somehow at fault for making the Batch not adventurous or heroic, as if any of them would never again leave the planet for a romp. Where does this weird ass idea come from, they have a spaceship! They can leave and come back at will!! Hunter being depressed and in his emotions about Tech being taken as some sort of 'because Pabu is an option' thing is weird to me. He coulda said Kashyyk. He could've said any number of other places. Pabu was just the place they were currently safest on.

Real over fandom not wanting narratives to play out, for characters to change and grow and become. That's how stories work.

[blueikeproductions]

Welp EarthSpark is officially done in Japan via the latest Figure King magazine.

Sorta rubs the Nucleon in the Energon wound that the news of cancellation comes in a magazine celebrating 40 years of Transformers, with a cover drawn by the Kiss Players guy no less, huh?

It’s also looking more apparent EarthSpark is finito in the States too. And some staff of the show are looking to blame fans for being the b-word and the p-word. Look fella, those words lost meaning just as much as “woke” did, just take your lumps like the rest of us and admit your show didn’t work because people simply had no interest in it. Also just terrible, TERRIBLE writing and pacing. I can forgive Rise of the TMNT’s faults due to Nick not knowing what to do with it and giving the staff unhelpful feedback that kept changing it (the Netflix movie finale was a much better look at what the show was trying to be and could’ve been, but alas), but EarthSpark I have no such compunction.

Hasbro was allegedly pretty hands off and was fine with what they were doing (at least at first) so the blame can only land on the writers who clearly misunderstood what they had. I detest modern shows that have uneven pacing, tone and characterization. It’s why I don’t look fondly on Adventure Time the moment it stopped being a goofy kids show and started being some college art student’s angsty wet dream.

Clearly something changed for EarthSpark internally, and I can’t help but think Hasbro and Paramount looked at the abysmal launch of the first batch of episodes and told the staff to drastically change the story for S2. That the trailer is a more traditional Autobots vs Decepticon conflict with them hunting for Emberstone pieces ala Transformers Animated and most importantly having evil Decepticon Terrans (something fans had stated as happening in some form from the start), shows they wanted to make this into a better boy brand thing again.

The first season overcompensates by focusing too heavily on the female cast, most of them bordering on obnoxious, while making most of the male characters into morons, again Robbie dying for contrived reasons but the Maltos instead choose to love up Mo while Robbie lays there clinging to whatever life force he has left at that moment.

Instead Robbie seems to be the primary focus, with a b-plot about him having a crush on someone. I’m guessing this is where the rumors saying Hashtag comes out as gay comes from as I suspect Hashtag remarks on Robbie’s female crush being adorable and tries to be his wingman (with probably the same results when she tried helping Jawbreaker).

I feel like the intention may have been to have Mo be the focus of S1 and Robbie for S2, but it doesn’t fully come off that way as the focus is too rambling on top of trying to focus on the Terrans and Bumblebee in an RiD15 style role again.

Also what the slag is this?

If there’s one thing I hate more it’s lazy photoshopping.

Not only do they just swap Bee and Prime’s renders around, they just crudely put the kids heads on these altered bodies from their preexisting stock art… Like no Quintessons or Terracons or nothing. Nothing to make you more legitimately excited for something new. Just the same Autobots and the kids in ReBoot Guardian Code suits, ick. It’s a bit of a downgrade compared to the Prime Apex Armor suits the toys use.

Despite the cancellation, the Japanese magazine refers to a “Slash Malt”(o). Presumably this might be a Terran version of the Dinobot Slash, whose only proper media presence has been a minor cameo in Japanese manga as the kid sister of the Dinobots and a supporting role in Rescue Bots Academy.

Frankly becoming a Terran might be the best thing for Slash, and it’s something I’m surprised toy wise wasn’t attempted anyway with characters like Lightbright, Lickity Split, Rubble, Gauge, Nightscream, and others.

So once again, what comes next? We don’t know still as of typing. Skybound is still knocking it out of the park with its Energon Universe, with the Joe portion moving on to Destro and Scarlett after having wrapped up Cobra Commander’s miniseries. Of note on Destro is the possibility MASK might be getting another go again, as what appears to be Miles Mayhem, the leader of the villainous VENOM faction, makes an appearance. The MASK and VENOM teams tend to be depicted as off shoots of Joe and Cobra in modern material, and with the pitch of the EU mentioning Energon being able to power machines, the transforming vehicles might be among the first specially designed vehicles developed to combat the Decepticons… Especially since Destro took interest in the idea of a transforming jet when he learned of Starscream.

The next cartoon is being worked on now, but we don’t know yet what it is. The easiest assumption is it’s a spin off of TFONE like how Mutant Mayhem has Tales of the TMNT, but it may be something else altogether. Barring anything TFONE does, EarthSpark was the last hold out of IDW’s post war ideas, and with Autobot Megatron mark II being viewed like this:

I think Autobot Megatron is largely done as a concept and with how merciless Skybound Megs is shown to be (though interestingly he did spare some Cobra-La guys when they told him what he wanted to know after stepping on one), I think we’re gonna be back to a traditional Megatron.

People are still not really feeling TFONE via recent upload on a TF fan convention YouTube channel, calling it terrible and cringey, so at this point I’m honestly just writing it off now (even though I’ll personally like it fine like the new Garfield Movie).

I stand by a new TF anime with a fun Mini-Con like gimmick built in the story is the way to go, because this incessant need to reject its toyetic roots is aggravating. At this stage I say let Skybound do the comics, and let Japan handle the cartoon, because clearly most people working now can’t write a decent TF cartoon without getting out of their sanctimonious way.

It’s time to Transform and Rise Up from this nonsense, and hopefully One helps with that more, but atm it’s all on Skybound until the next cartoon is ready. No pressure.

[gunslinginnhogtyin]

Anna and Butch for the kid meme 👀

If they had a kid… // @dragonskxn

• Name: Soleil

• Gender: Female

• General appearance: has Butch’s hair color but Annalise’s big ol fluffy hair as well as her dragon horns. She’s pretty small, taking after the both of them in that regard and as a baby dragon skin, has a bunch of blue feather peach fuzz all over her! She’s often seen wearing overalls or animal themed outfits (cow print is one of her favorites) and hats such as her pig hat and her frog hat. Annalise often puts her hair up in pig-tails.

• Personality: Soleil isn’t the brightest but she’s always well intentioned. She’s very outgoing and explorative, and she absolutely ADORES life on the farm as animals bring her great joy. She also seems naturally gifted in getting along with just about any animal she comes upon, including wild and feral animals. She’s loves the outdoors and horseback riding as well as baking and cooking with her parents. She’s still growing in those dragon teeth so she’s always chewing on something, usually a bone of some sort she’s brought along with her. She’s always eager to jump into a new adventure as well as explore, and she’s never afraid to get dirty or scrape a knee in the process.

• Special talents: as a dragonskin, she has the ability to shapeshift into her dragon form as well as breathe fire, though she’s still growing into her wings and getting the hang of it all. She also has incredible strength which can sometimes cause problems as she’s not completely aware of how strong she truly is. Though her dragon-like qualities are prominent, her demonic qualities are more so dormant at the moment, all except for her tail (and her wings in her dragon form when she’s able to fully shapeshift) which share a resemblance to Butch’s in his demon form.

• Who they like better: Honestly? I want to pick a favorite but I feel like she would absolutely adore and look up to both of them. There’s so much that Annalise and Butch enjoy doing both together and separately, so I’m confident she will be spending more than enough time with both of them doing fun things like taking care of the farm animals, knitting, horseback riding, shooting, and hunting to name a few! also, she’s pretty well behaved so neither parent needs to do much scolding… in fact, I feel like Butch and Annalise would both have little moments where they let her stay up a little later than they should or they give her extra sweets after dinner, just cause she’s so darn adorable.

• Who they take after more: definitely Annalise, though she did inherit Butch’s single brain cell. Soleil is so pure hearted and kind; I feel as though she might even have trouble hunting animals at some point, feeling bad for hurting them. She’s definitely naive to a fault, especially when she’s young, but she’s always well intentioned and fair.

• Personal headcanon(s): once as a baby, Soleil got into the hen house and ate a whole batch of eggs all at once; she didn’t hold it down for long (RIP one of Anna’s favorite sundresses). She treats Smudge like a big brother, following him around on all fours and all. She takes after Butch in terms of taste, and will eat literally anything no matter how bitter or plain. Butch and Annalise sing songs to her before bedtime using his guitar. Puts her right to sleep everytime!

[eriexplosion]

Tribe! Another fun one off.

Honestly with all the stress and everything of TBB lately given the Wait for season 3, I'm just appreciating these one off adventures, I honestly wish we had more of them putting me at odds with a ton of the fandom.

God I love Tech insisting they do not need to check the chain codes because HE MADE THEM HIMSELF like bby they don't know you and also that is the MOST suspicious thing you could have said.

I feel like Echo is on guard duty because they had DISAGREEMENTS about delivering fake chain codes to whoever the hell. Also the way Omega doesn't even wait ten seconds after Echo goes inside to start wandering off because she just feels something is Wrong.

GUNGI <3

His reaction to clones is painful, it makes complete sense after Order 66 but still. My heart ;_;

The droid hearing "We have a situation" and immediately looking up at the batch like this has to be their fault.

"The cause of that blaster fire is either Echo or Omega..... most likely Omega." Tech is the funniest man in this show.

God Gungi with sad eyes is the SINGLE MOST HEARTBREAKING THING. BABY. I want to cherish and protect this carpet.

Echo and Hunter conferring is one of my favorite things still, they're really co-leaders at this point, even if the orders still come from Hunter.

"He's a Jedi, he's not safe anywhere" WAILING

I'm sorry Hunter calling it a laser sword like he's never worked with a jedi before is still SO funny.

Gungi only remembering Kashyyyk from his dreams is the kind of thing I will think about and then immediately get sad again that is the saddest possible thing to say ever.

The music when they arrive at the destroyed village is GREAT.

"The Empire destroyed our home too. Don't worry, we'll find your people." - this is something that's going to come back in season 3 I'm sure, when Pabu is destroyed. This is why I think that what will end up being irrevocably lost through the show isn't people, it's places, dealing with the loss of a place you Belong, and moving past that by having your People, your community and your family, with you. It permeates through Echo's focus on rescuing other clones, Omega's desire to keep the batch together and reunite everyone, Pabu as a city of refugees who found and support each other.

Ugh the destroying the carved stones, the importance of culture and how the Empire just destroys it without any care while Phee tries to restore and preserve it. But tying in with the previous - as long as the people survive, not everything is lost.

YANNA <3 I LOVE YANNA

"Jedi or not, he's still a child. He needs his people." MORE THINGS THAT MAKE MY HEART HURT IN THE BEST WAY.

Today on 'Cultural Sensitivity With Echo' we cover 'eating unknown foods'

"We'll stay and help you fight them. You don't have to do this alone." AGAIN, THEMES THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

I love how open and chill they are with 'the trees have a plan' like fuck why not, we're following the trees lead here.

Goddddd waking up the giant spiders to attack the Trandoshans, I love it.

The bad guy just being dragged away screaming. Don't want to see what happens to Venomor! Though to be fair, we don't see him die he might be fine. Still, dragged into the spider nest is generally considered Not Fun.

The cut between 'the fire is spreading too fast' and 'the fire is out never mind' is still AWFULLY ABRUPT.

Echo finally trying some soupdrink and proclaiming it Not Bad. See your extreme disgust was unnecessary.

"They're both just kids. But they don't get to be. Not in this galaxy." "When a young one leaves, the trees weep. But when they return, the trees sing. As this child has found his new home, perhaps one day we all will find a new path."

This episode I think also gets passed over as filler a lot but literally Tribe lays out the themes of the show SO explicitly. I think that it would feel a little less terrifying to think of season 3 if we remembered more about episodes like this.

[tinywitchgoblin]

hi! i dont know if you're still doing ship requests for the bad batch, but I would love to submit one if you'll have me!

I'm just over five feet tall, so friends of mine call me Fiver as a little nickname. I have Auburn hair, super light skin, but a lot of dark freckles. I have full lips and narrow, up-slanted, green eyes. I’ve got a good few tattoos as well.

I've been called scarily patient and loyal to a fault. It really takes a lot for me to get angry. I try to be kind, even if in situations where I do not want to be. I tend to be more on the quieter side, but I know how to laugh. When it comes down to small things like cleaning or giving rides or covering a few dollars, I’ll do it if I can. I do have depression, and that's been a lifelong struggle, but Im finding ways to cope everyday. We deal, y’know? Honestly, the one habit I can’t kick is smoking (oops).

I’m also I biology student! I really enjoy lab work, and I love studying things like plants, fungi, soils, bugs, algae, and marine biology. I hope to work either in botany or holistic health care. I love being outside, whether it’s the beach or the mountains. I love both so much. I love swimming, hiking, staying in and reading, gardening, dancing! I pole dance, do barre, pilates, yoga, and aerial lyra.

But other than that, I’m just a bartender who really enjoys star wars lol.

Thank you so much!! I love your blog.

Omg thank you 🥺

(Also I relate to so much of this- I have a bio degree and love plants & marine bio too! I even did a couple of research projects with guppies and soil bacteria!)

I ship you with...

Hunter!

The first thing that caught Hunter's eye was your tattoos. Having one (or multiple?) himself allows him to appreciate other peoples' tattoos as well. He'd asked you about them, and as you and he talked, the conversation flowed freely and you found that you enjoyed his company.

Hunter loves being outdoors, and when he found put that you feel the same way, he couldn't help but capitalize on it. Sometimes his family would come on adventures with you, and other times it was just you and him. From taking you on beautiful hikes, to finding somewhere to swim, to even sitting with you while you garden, being outside with you made his heart burst with happiness.

He also loves to hear about your studies. Listening to Tech infodump is one thing, but with you, it's completely different. He finds himself mesmerized by your passion, even if you're talking about a topic he doesn't really understand. Going back to the topic of spending time outdoors, when he finds out you enjoy learning about marine biology, he takes you to various places on Pabu (think tide pools & such) so you can study the life found there.

Hunter doesn't really understand what depression is at first, but he knows something is up when your symptoms start kicking in. He's super supportive, helping you in any ways he can. Whether it be getting you medicine, making sure you eat/drink enough, or just staying by you, he will put everything else aside to do everything he can to help you feel better.

-

Thanks for reading! If you want a ship request like this one, drop it in my ask box, and don't forget to reblog 💚

[pesterloglog]

Dave Strider, Rose Lalonde

Act 6, page 5398

DAVE: whats up with the fish punk troll following kanaya around

ROSE: Seems she's passing through. Kanaya doesn't want her to cause trouble.

DAVE: cause trouble

DAVE: what the fuck could she even do here

DAVE: like kick over an old pile of garbage and cause the property value to fall even lower than jack shit

DAVE: i say let her go nuts

ROSE: Feel free to take it up with Kanaya.

ROSE: But if you authorize her to flip a bitch, just make sure she's nowhere near my chemistry table.

DAVE: yeah

DAVE: cant be droppin your vials and shit all over the floor

DAVE: the only one whos got clearance to drop science is me

ROSE: Dork.

DAVE: dont even hate

DAVE: been shoring up my muthafuckin CRAFT over here

ROSE: I know. I've been in the same room, right over there, listening to you mumble lyrics to yourself for the last couple hours.

DAVE: rose you know what sucks

ROSE: Yes.

ROSE: To which sucky thing are you referring?

DAVE: it kinda just occurred to me

DAVE: while i was spitting ill verse to no end

DAVE: i got this weird feeling that i might be getting like

DAVE: a little dated?

ROSE: Is this about Terezi?

DAVE: what

DAVE: no no

DAVE: dont be disingenuous word girl you know what im saying

DAVE: i mean sorta passe

DAVE: like a lumbering pop reference dinosaur

DAVE: remember we are both kind of stuck in 2009

DAVE: so im like popculturally frozen in that period

DAVE: all my references feel like they might be getting a little stale

DAVE: even though the earth ended and all and there was no culture after that point anyway

DAVE: but still

DAVE: i can feel it

DAVE: like in my bones

DAVE: i just know on some hypothetical earth that kept going my shit is starting to get so lame

DAVE: and i know it doesnt matter because its just us here so who cares

DAVE: but i care

DAVE: its a matter of integrity i am a fucking artist

DAVE: like i think if i make one more rap about like some fucking dane cook movie from 2008 to piss karkat off or some tired bullshit like that im going to

DAVE: i dont know

DAVE: ill just start feeling like a fraud

DAVE: my game might be drying up rose

DAVE: but its not my fault like im totally hostage to this freezedried backlog of cultural garbage that can never move forward again

DAVE: so i have to pick through it like im looting a fucking tomb while still all tryin to act RAP SASSY

DAVE: like YEAH take THAT motherfuckers

DAVE: OF THE PAST

DAVE: all in your mass graves somewhere in a dead frogiverse

DAVE: i be representing some god damn STANDARDS about your media do you feel me

DAVE: im depressing myself here

DAVE: all im saying is it would be cool to have some fresh shit to work with

DAVE: like just to know

DAVE: to know what the world would be like in the year it would be for us now

DAVE: which would be 2011 i guess

DAVE: wow 2011 really

DAVE: damn

DAVE: i just want to know what would have happened

DAVE: theres so much shit we were primed for

DAVE: it was gonna be exciting

DAVE: like barack obama just turned president remember that

DAVE: we never got to see if he fixed the economy

DAVE: remember how you were dying to see if he would fix the economy you were asking me about it every damn day

DAVE: just joking nobody gave a shit about that

DAVE: but like

DAVE: i never got to check out the next batch of stiller jams and see how bad i could mock them

DAVE: we never got to find out how the midnight crew adventure ended

DAVE: if ever

DAVE: rose

DAVE: ROSE??

DAVE: what the fuck man

DAVE: whyd you go back to your bottles and shit i was right in the thick of hella elocution

DAVE: dont give me that

DAVE: yes

DAVE: uh yeah

DAVE: yes i do ACTUALLY want you to come back over here

DAVE: im waiting

ROSE: Fine. Here I am.

DAVE: wow was that so hard

DAVE: this is what civilized people do rose they fucking talk to each other like actually in each others fucking vicinities

ROSE: You just have a tendency to go on for a while. I assumed we progressed to the traditional mumbling monologue stage of Striderian discourse.

DAVE: no thats not even a thing

DAVE: i was actually like

DAVE: trying to get your take

ROSE: Take on what.

DAVE: i dont even know

DAVE: i bet john would have stuff to say

DAVE: hes probably going through the same frozen fucking caveman from 2009 syndrome as me

DAVE: actually what am i saying the dude is a caveman from 1997

DAVE: hahaha like he could give a shit as long as hes got his cage dvds

ROSE: Oh! I saw him the other night.

DAVE: what

ROSE: In a dream. It was very brief, only a few minutes. I waved to him and then woke up.

DAVE: whoa what was he doing

ROSE: He was fighting Jack. Actually, he was doing quite well!

DAVE: oh man

DAVE: you have to tell me all about this

ROSE: I will. Later, though. I'd like to get back to work.

DAVE: ok when

DAVE: tonight?

ROSE: I have plans tonight. How about tomorrow.

DAVE: plans

DAVE: what plans

ROSE: Just some plans.

DAVE: can i come

ROSE: No!

DAVE: fuck fine

DAVE: tomorrow then

DAVE: maybe ill just dream up my own john tonight and well have an awesome time without you what do you think about that

ROSE: ...

DAVE: fu

[sskim-milkk]

Bad Batch season 2 thoughts

This was originally going to be my thoughts about the finale, but it seems like everything I want to say has already been said so here are my thoughts about the season as a whole :) (quick warning this is going to be all over the place lol)

Such an amazing season, oh my goodness! I loved the first season so much, and I think this one is even better!

I love that each character had their own development, with Tech, Echo and Crosshair being in the spotlight, as opposed to really only Hunter, Omega and a little bit of Wrecker last season

Tech: this dude is literally the best! I’ve always been a Hunter girly but this season they were neck and neck 👀 I love that even though Tech’s the brainiac of the group he seemed to learn so, so much. He learned a lot about people and himself. In the cave with Omega he was able to understand her more and her upset about Echo leaving, get her to understand his own thoughts about everything that’s happened so far, and figure out for himself some of these thoughts that he has. And through Phee he’s learned the importance of preserving things, not for monetary value, but for sentimentality. I’m sure with being a soldier, sentimental things were few and far between. It was important to travel lightly. Another thing I love with Tech is just how much of a badass he is. There are just so many times throughout the season where he was doing the coolest things and being confident during it. Ahh I love him! And lastly, his sacrifice, Omg it’s hurts. It hurts so much. I’m praying praying praying that he didn’t actually die. It shows how much he loves his family though 🥹 so yeah, Tech is amazing, I'm in denial about his death, and I want him and Phee to be together forever.

Speaking of Phee, I love her SO much! She's so fun and I love how important preserving people's cultures are to her. She seems like a great adventurer, even if she stretches the truth during the retelling of the stories. Ugh, I want those two nerds to be together forever!

Echo: I’m so happy that Echo found a new purpose this season. I missed him so much when he left, but based on his stances through the first season and this season, it makes so much sense. This isn’t to fault Hunter for not wanting to join him and Rex though. It’s clear how important this is to Echo, and I'm so happy he listened to his heart and went to go fight for his brothers with Rex.

Hunter: what a cautious, caring and calculating guy. I think it’s clear from the start of the season that Hunter wants to stay out of the radar of the Empire. I think he was a bit lost season. A solider’s life is the only thing he’s ever known. He’s good at it, and that’s how they make money. But with the empire growing and Cid becoming more suspicious with each episode, it’s clear that Hunter wants something different, better for his family and for Omega. Once he got to Pabu, I think that vision became clearer. He saw how happy everyone was, how happy Omega was; what more could a leader hope for? Sadly, THE FINALE TOOK THAT AWAY! 😭😭😭 now Hunter has to do exactly what he was avoiding all this season: face the empire. It’s worth it for his girl and brothers though 🥹 also side note Hunter was so pretty this season 😍so pretty and so buff and so fatherly hnnnggg

Omega: ahhhhh the bebo is not such a bebo anymore 🥹 I’m so proud of how much she’s grown. I’ll admit, in the first season I was annoyed when she kept running away and putting herself into danger that could have been avoided. However, I think that now makes her character growth this season so much more satisfying. She can really hold her own now! And she’s grown so much in maturity! I love that there were plenty of opportunities for her to still be a kid though. Getting excited for treasure, being a bit gullible with Phee’s (maybe true) stories, making new friends, and so much more. I wish we got to see more of her training. It’s clear she’s made a lot of progress; I would have loved to see her brothers training her with her and how to be stealthy and stuff like that. I just love this girl so much and she’s so smart and just a little ray of sunshine and I just hope everything will be okay next season 🥹

Wrecker: I love this man SO MUCH! Even though we didn’t get immense character growth, I think he still showed a lot of instances with more maturity than last season. I’m completely okay with him not getting a full character arc or something. He’s just such a fun-loving character, it would be difficult to see him go through a whole arc, in my opinion. Anyway, he gave Gungi his food when he noticed Gungi looking at it, as opposed to last season when he almost took Omega’s food until Hunter stepped in. He’s better at stealth now, and made that rocket launcher or whatever out of scraps?! Ahh that was so cool! I just hope after everything that’s happened this season, that Wrecker is still light hearted and fun 🥺

Crosshair: oh goodness. What a doozy. I think Crosshair is one of the most interesting characters ever written in Star Wars. Even though we only got about 3 episodes with him, he grew so much. Cody got him questioning the empire, and then the outpost and Hemlock going after the Batch really sealed the deal for him. All while having plenty of badass moments! I’m so scared to figure out what’s going to happen to him next season. It’s clear how much he cares about his brothers and sister, going through TORTURE and being POISONED just to not give up information about them 😭 what a guy. He's lost so much even though he thought being a soldier for the empire was the right thing to do. He's done so much for the empire and what have they given him in return? Nothing. Heck, he waited for a MONTH on that platform. I'm glad he's beginning to realize that he truly is just a number to the empire, like Hunter said. Crosshair I love you. I feel like there’s so much more I could say about him but I would be rambling even more than I already am.

Also, the music this season was out of this world! Need More Speed is an absolute banger and I'm so glad Tech got to be the reason for it

I think next season will take on a darker tone. Tech is presumed dead for now, Crosshair and Omega are with the Empire, Cid is out of the picture, and Wrecker, Hunter and Echo are grieving while trying to find a lead on where Omega might be. It's seeming like there will be a few plots going on at once too.

I'm very interested to learn more about Omega's 'sister' too! And why she's working with the Empire.

It's safe to say waiting for the next season will be grueling! I can't wait though

[archivenutritionproject]

My adventure making Peanut Butter Vegan Cookies

This will be a journey, so buckle up! 

Firstly, this is the recipe that I chose to make: 

notes**  > I used pure cane sugar, water, and 1-1 gluten free flour when I made mine > the original recipe uses a pinch of salt but i’m a salt anti so I didn’t use it 

Here are some pics of me getting the ingredients! I managed to find the Flour and Sugar at bulk barn, I also bought the peanut butter form there (which I regret because wow that was some sucky peanut butter) 

when I got back form my shopping trip, I set up my haul and was ready to bake!

Everything was going great so far, however, this is all about to change.

Just like the recipe said, I added the peanut butter and the sugar first, mixed it nice and well, added the wet ingredients (water & vanilla), mixed that well too. Then lastly, added in the flour and baking soda. This recipe didn’t require a mixer or to freeze the dough, so I did it by hand and didn’t freeze before baking. 

More pics!

This is how it looked when I was done mixing and well.. well.. It wasn’t looking promising to say it nicely. When I tried to make them into balls, they did somewhat stay together but it was very crumbly and quite frankly sad. I tried my best to make them pretty but i’m not magical. 

I was really sad about this too because the only reason I chose this recipe was to have cute little patterned peanut butter cookies but instead of a cute crossed pattern it looks like I just stabbed it with a fork. 

Well, time to put it in the oven and hope for the best!

I put on my trusty timer (the recipe said it would take 15 mins to cook) BUT, here’s the kicker. There is a reason I don’t bake much at home, and well, your about to see why, and I timed it too to paint a good picture of what happened. 

I placed my cookies in the oven, turned my back to go wash some dishes. Almost exactly 6 mins have gone by (only 1/3 of the time it’s suppose to take to bake these cookies) and suddenly I see smoke from my oven... 

uh

and here’s the even funnier part! 

The recipe said to bake at 350 F 

Anyways, this is why I don’t bake at home, my oven has a mind of itself. I can’t do anything when there’s literally like satan’s demonic flames cooking my food.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I did a second batch though, added a bit more water because I really wanted them to turn out better, and turned off the stove for a bit to hopefully cool down the flames. Here’s how those looked!

Much better right?! well, it’s at least not burnt. It didn’t get as golden as I wanted it too at the top but it was going to burn if I didn’t take it out so :/

Review of the Recipe: 

Honestly, the burnt cookies tasted a lot better than the not burnt ones. The little kick of crisp was nice I don’t know how else to explain it. There’s some things I liked about the recipe, some I didn’t.

Pros: 

I really liked the taste of the cane sugar in the cookies. Because I didn’t get a sweeter peanut butter it carried all the sweetness and it tasted pretty good.

It was pretty easy and quick to make because it didn’t require very much to set up.

Cons: (not counting the burning because that is my oven’s fault)

The recipe never really came together? I could taste all the ingredients in the cookie but it didn’t really taste like a cookie but more like a bunch of random ingredients...

Perhaps I just didn’t add enough water the first time, so it could just be my fault, but even after adding more water its a pretty dry cookie.

Overall Experience: 

Perhaps a little stressful, but I did enjoy trying to make something new. Luckily because I live near a bulk barn I was able to find the ingredients I needed fairly easy however if I didn’t, i’m not sure where else you would get something like the pure cane sugar. I’m not sure if I would make this recipe again, even if everything went right, I just don’t really like dry cookies that much and would prefer something a lot softer. I would use pure cane sugar again that is very sweet and I like it a lot. 

[feyre-darling92]

No Time To Die

Crosshair x reader

A/N: This is my first crosshair x reader so sorry if it sucks, might be a series.

T/W: Blood, post order 66,  imperial crosshair never happened , enemies to lovers, injuries, violence, language, bad writing, let me know if I missed anything.

Word Count: 1,434

Two years before the Jedi Order fell. Two years ago you lost everything.

You had hidden your lightsaber, changed your last name, and tried to live a normal life while keeping a low profile. Not that it was easy.

You used your abilities to work as a bounty hunter, a dangerous job but with no family or friends behind you didn’t have anything to lose.

That was until you met the Bad Batch, five clones, unlike anyone you’d met before. They accepted you and you were now a part of the family. A strange family, but the best you could ask for.

Smiling to yourself you brought back the memory of the day you met.

------

You were running through the alleys of a small town on an insignificant planet, being chased by some guards. You had taken a bounty, and in the beginning you thought that it would be easy but the end had proven you wrong.

You saw a couple of them running next to you but surprisingly they didn’t even acknowledge your presence. 

No, they ran towards a group of five people, clones you realized later.

Before you knew it you were running next to them, falling on a dead end.

“Who are you?” one of them asked.

“Now is not the time” you took your blaster and started shooting. With their help soon they were all dead and you allowed yourself to breathe.

You were ready to leave when you heard one of them, “Hey, wait!”

“What” you turned and discreetly placed your hand on your blaster which was now resting on your hip, ready to shoot for one more time.

“Who are you?” a modulated voice asked.

“That’s not important. What do you want?”

He looked at the others and then turned to you. “Want a ride?”

You thought it for a second. The bounty was lost and you had no way out. Why not?

“I could use transport. With what exchange?”

“You helped us out. We drop you wherever you want and we’re even”

“You have yourself a deal then-”

“Hunter” you exchanged a handshake. He nodded to follow them.

“So? Who are you?”

-----

Soon they offered you a place in the group and you had gladly taken it.

You were close with everyone, running a few projects with Tech, talking with Echo about your adventures (he was the only one who knew your true identity and although he insisted on telling the rest of the group the truth, he agreed to keep it a secret), Hunter coming to you for advice about a plan and you and Wrecker constantly teasing each other.

The only one you hadn’t managed to get close to was the broody sniper, Crosshair. In fact, there was some kind of... what could you call this, rivalry?

 Well, let’s just say that you didn’t enjoy each other’s company even though there wasn’t a particular reason.

--------

You were reading a story on your holopad when you heard Hunter from the back, “We need to land on the closest planet for fuels and medic supplies. Tech?”

“There’s a small planet one hour away. Setting route”

“Y/N can you go in charge of the medic supplies? Wrecker, I need you for the fuels. Echo and Tech, you’re in charge of food supplies” Hunter was now standing next to you.

“What about Crosshair?” Wrecker asked.

“Will you go with Y/N?” He asked him.

Crosshair looked at you with an unreadable expression and you looked at him back. The staring contest continued for a few seconds until Hunter broke the silence.

“C’mon, don’t tell me you can’t put up with each other for a few hours”

“It’s fine, Hunter” Crosshair muttered and left the room.

“What did I do this time?” you exclaimed and leaned back crossing your hands against your chest.

“It’s not your fault, he always is- you know- Crosshair,” Tech said, failing to make you feel better.

You sighed and accepted your fate and after about an hour you landed.

“Great” Crosshair muttered under his breath when you got out. It was raining heavily, mist hiding the town in front of you and it was obvious that a storm was coming.

“Good thing we’re not made from sugar then” you replied and put your hood on. He side-eyed you but said nothing as you left in search of supplies.

A couple of hours had passed and tiredness had taken over you, the uncomfortable silence between you and the sniper not making the situation any better. As if these were not enough you were soaked to the bone, the rain heavier than before.

“Do you see any markets?” he broke the silence after a few more minutes.

“Do you think I’d seen anything and wouldn’t tell you just because I like standing in the rain?”

“I thought we were not made of sugar”

“I liked you more when you didn’t talk”

“I liked you more when you were silent too”

You sighed and finally spotted a small market where you could buy what you needed. You took the boxes and met him outside where he was waiting for you.

“Is anything wrong?” you asked when you realized that he was checking the perimeter.

“No” he searched for the last time and turned to you, “Give me these”

“I am capable of carrying them”

“I never said that you were incapable. I am just saying that you’re the one who is soaked and I am the one in the armor. Not fair”

You gave them to him and continued your way back on the ship.

“Thank you”

He gave you a nod you guessed was you're welcome.

When you were close to the ship you felt through the force that something was wrong. You may haven’t used the force for a long time but you were sure that something bad was going to happen.

You brushed it off and met the others who were waiting for you.

“Everything alright? What took you so long?” Hunter asked as you checked around waiting to see something unusual only to find nothing.

“Couldn’t find a market” Crosshair replied instead of you.

“Y/N, is there anything wrong?”

“No, I just-” you turned back to him, “I have a bad feeling about this”

“Hope you’re wrong. If there’s nothing else we can-”

The sound of a blaster shot interrupted him and you felt a sudden pain in your right knee.

You lost balance and dropped to the ground.

Echo was immediately on your side while others were trying to spot the shooter.

 You looked down at your leg which was now red from the blood and you tried not to panic while trying to find a way out of this.

You were right and you hated it.

You heard shots being exchanged but you couldn't focus, the pain was unbearable and you had begun feeling lightheaded.

Why had they shot you? The only explanation you could think about was that someone had discovered the truth.

You tried to focus on the voices around you but before you could realize it you were unconscious on the ground.

---

In the meanwhile, Crosshair had spotted the sniper and shot him, a killing shot that would keep him alive long enough to take some information.

He dragged him out and threw him on the ground pointing his rifle at him.

“Who are you and why did you shoot her?” Hunter said standing next to Crosshair.

“Are we really going to make the acquaintances, Sergeant?”

“You better answer him or I’ll kill you now”

“Alright, alright. I was hired”

“From who?”

“Anonymous client. I just took the money and accepted it”

“Why do they want her?”

“Oh, you don’t know? Well, look at that. Your little friend is a Jedi”

They all looked at each other not believing what they’d heard. You? A Jedi? And why hadn’t you told them?

Crosshair made the final blow and the bounty hunter was dead on the ground.

Wrecker lifted you up and took you to the ship where Tech took care of your wound.

“Did you know it?” Hunter asked Echo who didn’t seem as surprised as the others.

“She told me. I don’t remember seeing her back in the days  but I’d heard her name, she was a general. She begged me not to tell you, that she’d tell you when she was ready”

“I guess we’ll have to wait until she wakes up,” Crosshair said more skeptical and distant than ever.

[imma-potatoo]

I need more of Janus being genuinely nice but hiding it under the guise of being self preservation.

Logan being stressed out of his mind, pulling all-nighters constantly, he forgets to eat due to the work load and forgetting the time period, his eye bags are darker then Virgil's eye shadow. But he gets a note attached to his door one day telling him to go to the living room, he finds a full batch of crofters jam tarts, a set up a doctor who marathon, and a note of assurance that the others will leave him alone so he can get a break.

Virgil being overly anxious due to the new relationship in Thomas's life, fretting over every tiny thing, and staying up late watching shows that would trigger his anxiety. But Janus leaves a basket of new stress toys,a new pair of headphones, a hand sewn weighted blanket with his aesthetic, and a box of chamomile tea to help calm his nerves. All in one basket, so Virgil wouldn't have to even talk to him.

Roman being in a creative slump after the wedding and barely being able to lift a pencil, let alone getting the energy to write anything. All Roman can do is stare at the ceiling and think about what he did wrong, but then an envelope gets slipped under his door. Inside is 4 tickets each to the musicals Hamilton, Be More Chill, Heathers, Grease, Chicago, and many many more. There's tickets to over 20 shows in one envelope. There's also a small note that simply reads to have fun with no sign of who it's from. Roman takes Patton, Logan, and Virgil to the shows.

Patton completely tearing himself apart with guilt. Blaming himself for every little thing that goes wrong in the the mindscape, only to have recipes slid under his door every night. Some days it's cookies, others its muffins, another is for grilled chicken. While the food is cooking, Patton's favourite movies was already queued up in the living room and his playlist waiting to be played on the radio.

Remus generally feeling bad about himself and feeling as if he isn't worthy of love, only to have an ornate letter slipped under hia door, inviting him on an adventure, where he could terrorize towns, help the evil, and use his new weapons without the other sides yelling at him. Remus also gets a plain maple baseball bat, and a note saying to decorate it how he wants too.

The five of them meeting up one day and discussing whats been happening and the strange acts of kindness that they keep encountering. Piecing together the clues slowly.

Janus feeling sleep deprived and worthless, feeling like everything was his fault and if he only tried a little harder then things would be okay. Him throwing himself into his work, taking on the patreon as a distraction from his swamped work on both the deception and self care fronts, but also taking every ounce of his free time working on things for the others. Janus believing that he's only there to work. Only for a knock to sound on his door. The others standing there with thoughtful handmade gifts made to fit the snake's aesthetic. They drag him out of his room and give him his favourite dinner and put on his favourite movie. Assuring him that the night has just begun and that they can't thank him enough for his work.

I need more of Janus being genuinely nice and the others appreciating that fact.

[theotheroccassionalfanficwriter]

Between Lust and Love 2/?

Summary:  You are standing on a bridge enjoying the view; Someone’s watching you from a balcony. The moon adorns your window; You adorn someone else’s dream. (Fragments, Bian Zhilin)

Rated E for explicit description of Zhongli’s wet dream

A/N: implied semi-public 3some

Chapter 2: I Adorn Your Dreams

-

The gentle and almost reverent touch of your fingertips as it ghosted through the skin of his chest was enough for Zhongli to be drunk on. The usually kept and proper funeral parlor consultant was lounging atop of his soft bed, his outer coat was left lying on the floor, his vest unbuttoned along with his white shirt. You sat between his legs, crawling on top of him with a sultry look in your eyes.

The tent of his pants was noticeable, and Zhongli knew that he would not be able to remove the stain of his precum as your other hand lightly touched his groin, all the while smiling like a vixen as you placed kisses on his stomach slowly making your way up, each touch of your lip sent an electric shot down his spine, making his cock ache for you. And yet he made no move to hasten you, he waited for you to serve yourself to him, an arrogance well-deserved for a man—nay, a god like Zhongli.

The way the soft orange light of his room illuminated you brought out your sensual side, the kind of eroticism that only existed between lovers found in stories, the red color of your hanfu was enough to make Zhongli think that this was the bridal chamber, and you were his eager newly wedded wife. The redness of your plump lips as it hovered before his lips tempted him to grab a hold of you, pressing your groin against his as he captured your lips. And that was what Zhongli did, the sudden friction caused by his hard cock that was pressing itself against your wet groin made you moan.

Opening your mouth wide enough for Zhongli to slip his tongue in and devour you, like a parched dragon finding a sweet oasis after a drought. Your sweet moans as your body surrendered itself to him only drew to make him want you more. Your clothes were removed from your body as Zhongli’s large hands explored the smooth expanse of your skin, he paid a particular attention to your chest, groping it and teasing it in the exact same way he had seen Childe done. His mouth had moved itself from your mouth to your neck biting  and kissing as he listened to the melody of your moans.

The broken call for his name as one hand groped your chest and the other gently caressed your thighs, sliding it open to rub your wet pussy easier against his hard cock. Your slick had drenched his pants and Zhongli let out a soft grunt of pleasure as you began to move your hips on your own.

His tied up hair was left undone, making it fall to the side and frame his face as he laid you on the bed, gently kissing your lips and committing into memory the taste of your sweetness. 

“Zhongli…” Your sweet voice called him and he smiled, you were such a sight to behold.

Your flushed face, coupled with tears that gathered at the edges of your eyes made his heart burn, the rapid rise and fall of your chest from the lust only made his cock harden further.

“Shhhhh” He comforted you as he placed a gentle kiss between your breasts before leaving a mark. He stood up and freed his hard cock from its confines, delighting at the way you drooled at the sight of it.

“Please...put it in already…” You begged, the innocent begging coupled with your lewd action of spreading your legs further apart and using your own fingers to spread your own pussy brought a tantalizing erotic sight that spurred him on.

“Anything for you” Zhongli replied as he grabbed his dick and slowly entered your wet pussy.

You moaned and your body arched as you felt his tip slowly enter, and then all at once you were filled with his thick and long cock, your toes curled in pleasure as you felt him move slowly before finding the perfect rhythm that made your mind melt from the amount of pleasure he was giving you.

The soft moans you let out, with the occasional broken call of his name made Zhongli pleased. He fucked you like the whore that you were, hands leaving bruises on your thighs with each hard and fast thrust he gave to your squelching pussy. 

“Zhongli—I—!” You came from one of his particularly hard thrusts, your pussy squeezing his cock so good that Zhongli came inside you. Spilling his thick white seed inside your pretty and glistening cavern. His eyes were closed from the pleasure of fucking you, the feel of your cunt and the sound of his name as you moaned appeased his inhuman side.

Zhongli let himself rest for a few moments before opening his eyes, to an empty room, devoid of you and any evidence of the lascivious deeds you had done together with him. The soft morning chirps of the birds outside his bedroom window, and the sizable stain in front of his sleeping robe made him pensive.

Zhongli sighed, and closed his eyes before opening it again.

“How am I going to face them today?”

While Zhongli pondered on his own day, neither you nor Childe were doing nothing. You were doing commissions for both the Mondstadt and Liyue Adventurer’s Guild while Childe was collecting information to prove your claim of Zhongli’s inhumanity.

Though you both knew that the Adventurer’s Guild was a strict non-partisan guild that held no ties to any of the nations of Teyvat, Childe also knew that it was an open secret within the Adventurer’s Guild HeadQuarters that you took private commissions.

Commissions that were illegal in nature, ones that were almost no different from the ones the Northland Bank occasionally did. So it hadn’t surprised the new recruits that you were to lead them for the day, Childe made no secret of his ties with you, though both you and him kept your romantic entanglement under strict wraps, that the two of you knew each other from birth was not unknown to those who knew to ask.

Your strength and undeniable mastery of your Cryo vision also led to the awe of the new recruits that was lent to you. It made your job considerably easier, more so since you were collecting information on the events that took place in Mondstadt, the Honorary Knight and the Dragon.

You knew how the Fatui worked, there was no reason why La Signora and Scaramouche would linger in the vicinity of Liyue. The Tsaritsa made sure to never let her Harbingers gather in one place for too long. 

‘Signora should have left after taking the Gnosis, there’s no reason for her to stay here this long and in hiding unlike Scaramouche’ You thought as you coldly watched over the recruits practice in Sal Terrae, ‘Scaramouche has been stationed here to prepare for Inazuma...there’s no reason for the two to linger, not when the entire plan has been ironed out.’

“Good job, Men!” You praised them, facade easily taking over your serious face “Lord Tartaglia would be pleased to know this particular batch of recruits are talented.”

Your smile turned sweeter upon seeing their pleased and puppy-like enthusiasm, “I’ll be sure to tell him that you lot are worthy of a spar for him.”

“““Thank you, Lady Columbina!!!””” 

You hummed as you looked in the direction of the dawn winery, the cogs of your brain turning, ‘Unless there’s another plan...one that my darling Tartaglia was not made aware of…’

As you played with this thought, the more likely it seemed, “Well then, as good as your battle prowess is, the Fatui must also be discreet in its dealings…”

The recruits listened attentively, standing straight as you walked between their ranks, inspecting them with the cat-like glimmer in your eye. You were living up to your fame as an S-class adventurer, you continued as you stopped behind them, smiling in the direction of Mondstadt and its repurposed castle walls, “For your next training, infiltrate Mondstadt without alerting your fellow Fatui and the Lord Harbinger assigned to it.”

You paused at their silence, “Ah, hesitating? How smart” 

Their unease could be felt in the air, and you couldn’t fault them. You weren’t a Fatui, you were just someone who was strong enough to work exclusively with one of their harbingers. 

“Face to the left!Face!” You barked at them, and they did so, “Face to the left! Face!”

You smiled at them once they were facing you, and yet the recruits could tell that despite the smile on your face, you weren’t smiling at all. You invoked a certain fear and awe, one that reminded them of Her Majesty’s Ever Winter.

“Lord Tartaglia would be pleased to know that this bunch of recruits can think for themselves…” You dropped your smile and leveled them a cold look, “Don’t worry, this training was meticulously planned by our beloved Lord Harbinger, Tartaglia.”

It was a lie but no one needed to know that.

“You have three days to prepare for the training mission, once you’ve decided on how to infiltrate Mondstadt, report to Ekatrina of the Northland Bank. You’ll be given your funds and then be dispatched.”

You left them and began your trek back to Liyue, Mondstadt’s wind gently blowing through your hair. You felt your good mood coming back, 

‘Ah~Today would be a good day.’

There were a few things in his life that brought him great unease, for Childe one of them was being subjected to your displeasure, the other was being on the receiving end of Zhongli-xiansheng’s unfathomable stare. And right now he was experiencing both, Childe cursed himself for forgetting his schedule.

He knew of your suspicions towards Zhongli, and he also knew that you understood Zhongli was necessary to achieve the Tsaritsa’s goals. He was lucky in that regard, you knew how to draw a clear line between your professional and personal life. It was one of the reasons why he had pursued a relationship with you. Beyond the love and bond forged from the harsh winter of Snezhnaya, whether he was Tartaglia, Childe or Ajax, the one thing constant among his identities was his love for you.

Which was why he had always done his best to make you happy, ensuring that you would live a comfortable and carefree life. It was the least he could do for being the way he was.

“My dear—”

“Mr. Zhongli, I know how lovely my Childe is but there’s no reason for you to intrude on our date.”

“Actually I’m—”

“Yes, our Childe is certainly a lovely individual, however our lunch appointment had already been scheduled prior to your arrival.”

“Xiansheng, I’ll buy you whatever you—”

“Oh? You’ve booked my Childe for lunch for his entire stay here in Liyue?”

“That-Darling it isn’t set in stone so—”

“Yes, after all is he not the diplomat sent over by the Tsaritsa herself?” Zhongli smirked, it was an uncharacteristic sight for him. One Childe hardly ever saw unless the man had solved a particularly interesting puzzle or problem.

Childe glanced at you and saw the hard look in your eyes, bit by bit the cogs of his brain turning rapidly as he pieced together your revelation and the information he had gathered over the course of the morning. Slowly the fog was lifting and the bigger picture was slowly becoming clearer.

He didn’t really understand what was happening yet but Childe trusted you, even though the churning of his gut was unpleasant... he could and easily stowed the unpleasant feeling away.

“Xiansheng.”

Zhongli turned and found himself the recipient of Childe’s charming smile, one devoid of any honesty. It was his business smile, often directed to the bank’s clients or in one particular case the Liyue Qixing.

“We’ve known each other for a while now,” Childe began as his hand reached for his teacup, “You aren’t the type to push something unless it was important.”

Zhongli could feel the temperature in the air change, and privately thanked Childe’s foresight to book a private room. On the other side of the table, you sat with your back straight and deceptively relaxed as you poured Childe his tea.

“Yes” Zhongli admitted as he stared at the floating tea leaves on his cup of green tea, he lifted his head to stare straight in Childe’s blue eyes, “I would like to offer a contract between you, your lover, and me.”

Childe blinked, his eyes staring at the odd glow in Zhongli’s eyes, one oddly reminiscent of a beast. A warrior.

‘Adepti’ his mind whispered. 

Childe wasn’t aware but the slow lift of his mouth, curving into a smile carried no trace of humanity, it was a smile that reminded Zhongli of the height of the Archon Wars. It was a captivating smile that took Zhongli’s breath away.

‘Ah, I really want both of them right now.’

Once lunchtime was over, the streets of Liyue was ripe with new gossip. In particular, involving the esteemed gentleman of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, the consultant Mr. Zhongli, the Childe of Northland Bank, and the S-Class Adventurer from Snezhnaya. 

The three had left Liuli Pavillion, you and Childe were flanking Zhongli, attached on either side of him in a suggestive way. That you had left both Childe and him with a kiss on the cheek only served to fuel the confusion. No one knew what had occured over the private room of Liuli Pavillion but the barely noticeable mark on Zhongli’s neck and the slightly disheveled look of your clothes and Childe’s knowing grin left much to imagination.

Previous || Next

[flowerflamestars]

i remember that you once said something about privateer nesta could you elaborate? please? *shrek cat eyes*

WHO TOLD YOU I AM COMPLETELY VULNERABLE TO THE CAT EYES??

okay, so admittedly I don't remember the context in which I said this?? But I still SUPER super love the idea

and it matches with what we'll call the Dream ACOTAR Extended Universe Plot, almost canon.

We begin with the final battle against Hybern. Tamlin dies, closing the loop of his tragic, misspent life. Amren stays dead, a magical being on to the next adventure.

Rhysand stays dead.

He functionally (magically) threw himself on a bomb, and took the whole blast. He's not the Cauldron- and no one man could repair what it once was, but he could contain the fatal, drastic implosion of an object that was meant to endure forever, fractured into more and more peices.

Why is this important?

Because it leaves a world where Feyre Archeron- twenty-ish, romantic hero, prop, prisoner- becomes High Lady in her own, true right.

(I don't think she's necessarily good at this job, because why would she be? It's not even her fault- Feyre has no idea about how faery politics work, no real tangible knowledge of her own inherited kingdom.)

But both the men who stole her and defined her and loved her and hurt her are dead.

And it not only sets her on a journey to become, on her own, an actual character in her own life, but it galvanizes the Archeron sisters.

Feyre's basically fucking comatose after the battle. Elain has been a mess this entire time, but after that last fight with Grayson, walking into the war and stabbing a king in the throat- she is as vital and herself as Nesta has seen her in years.

Nesta just watched her father die and felt nothing- and she hates herself for it. She and Elain had taken the head of the man who stole everything from them- and she doesn't have a single regret.

Feyre screamed until she could no longer- there's so much magic seething out her it hurts to look at-

There's a dark well inside herself that could rise. But why should Nesta let it? So what, if she doesn't mourn her father? He'd never cared about her and Elain- not when they were young, too busy and important to even speak to his own children. Not when they lost everything, and he'd tried one last time to sell them both into marriages to recoup the family loss. Not after, in the starving cold, no matter what she'd tried to force him into action.

Nesta had been mourning all along a human girls human life- what is an absent, neglectful, shitty in the most ordinary of ways human parent if not a part of that lost future?

Their sister owns a fucking country- their sister is, at this minute so hemmed in by her followers no one can see her, much less comfort her- there's a war camp falling apart around them- there's Nesta, Elain, and Azriel, unhurt, upright, alive.

(she does not let herself think that an hour before she'd been ready to die and thought it right, the ending the meant to be conclusion of her story. she does not think about how she'd wished Cassian healed beneath her hands and that he had healed, that she'd wept to learn she could do more than destroy.

that she'd still been weeping, her mouth bright with his blood, when he'd pulled away, dragged himself to Morrigan's waiting arms)

Nesta Archeron is alive. Her sisters are alive. They're free, and she'll be fucking damned if this all falls apart before Feyre can heal.

Nesta turns to Azriel and asks if he can take control of the legions.

She has no time for his blank, angry eyes- she knows he's hurt, he's mourning, he's lost- but she needs him. Cassian's...down. Rhys is dead. Feyre and Morrigan are not coming out of that tent.

And he just listens. Thoughtfully. Asks what Nesta intends to do.

And Nesta looks at Elain- soft, kind, gentle Elain who'd never once wavered now when life was on the line. Who hadn't cried a tear for their father, or for the man who'd kidnapped and then married their baby sister.

The danger wasn't over- and neither had the steel faded from Elain's spine.

Nesta tells Azriel she's going to find Keir.

Nesta isn't blind- she's walked the Hewn City, spoken to the eldest darkness. She was also at the joke of a Summit- Autumn wants new territory, Keir wants to rule Night. And here Night is, weakened, a lamb to slaughter.

Nesta's not going to lose again- she's not going to give these ancient, cruel lords another chance.

Elain grabbed her hand and squeezed- the one person, always, who Nesta never need explain herself to.

Aren't the High Fae technically Morrigan's Elain asked, a bare whisper as they walked through the camp.

It went without saying yes, but Nesta had never seen any indication they respected her enough to listen to her. She made a face, and Elain made one right back, rueful. She had eyes too, after all.

They're not going to listen to us in these clothes, Elain also told her.

She was right, of course. They were High Fae, and that mattered to those vile pricks, but they'd been outfitted for flight. She would do almost anything, actually, to be free of leather pants.

Which Elain, a gleam in her eye that Nesta was learning meant magic, dreamy and happy- led her precisely to a gold topped tent, stepped inside, bowed, and asked without a trace of hesitation if Helion Spellcleaver, Lord of Day, would perhaps do them the favor of loaning them some garments.

Solid gold eyes gleaming against blood and smoke tinged dark skin, beautiful, glorious Helion, smiled.

Day-white against Night- but also, Nesta knew, taking care with her crown of a braid, the splatter of blood left on her throat, her mouth, her cheeks like fine paint- white was the color of death.

Elain covered herself completely- shawl wrapped over her hair, tucked around her neck, breathing easier now, in human modesty- but hung from a golden belt that Helion, with the clear air of someone who knew something about seers, had found, metal hammered with stars and flames, was Truthteller, the long blade without a sheathe, black metal swallowing up light.

Keir was easy to find, and in fine form, surrounded by Darkbringers, who looped back behind the sisters the second they were close.

Nesta was not afraid- she'd thrown power into the sky and it had hurt. Not in depth, but because she was still holding on- it wanted out-it wanted to devour-

Elain dipped a flagrantly rude, swallow bob of a curtsey. Nesta didn't even bother- just let Keir hail them, royal family that they were. He liked the sound of his own voice, but he was also clever- they'd come here of their own volition and now they were trapped.

She could smell the reinforcements, the utter Autumn reek.

Nesta interrupted, and asked Keir to come and swear fealty to her sister.

It was never going to get the right answer, but it had to be said. It had to be heard.

She'd been right- they'd been right- Keir enjoyed the cruelty of getting close to Nesta, denying straight to her Archeron face that no, Rhysand's bloodline was ended. It was time, it was right, for the House of Truth to once more hold their throne.

He spoke his treason aloud, looming over Nesta- close enough to touch.

So Nesta did.

She'd willed Cassian alive and whole. It was so, so much easier to remember fire, death, drowning, to push and want the revolting man's destruction.

And when he fell, silvered fire that had filled his lungs spilling from his throat, Nesta did not flinch. She looked to the next lieutenant, a frankly indistinguishable golden haired pale-eyed blandly handsome man in black armor, and asked, if he, as the new commander of the Darkbringers, would like to give a different answer.

He did.

Azriel met them halfway back to Feyre, grim mouth flickering for a second at the sight of Elain, before looking, stone-faced, at Nesta beside her, leading a crowd of the highest ranked Night Court faeries she could find.

Keir? He asked.

Dead, Elain answered, and that was that.

The Shadowsinger fell in step with the Seer, a threatening shadow to two pale beacons.

It was Azriel who actually went inside the tent. Who said what needed to said, what made Morrigan splutter loudly enough to be heard outside, before she burst out the tent in a whorl of hair, before blanching.

Nesta had just enough control not to roll her eyes. They come to swear fealty.

And Morrigan, chewing her lip with all the dignity of a child- Elain and Nesta had been trained out of such gestures at eight, what did she think was happening here? - shook her head. She's not well, it can wait.

No, Azriel said, from behind her, it can't.

He was supporting what looked like the entirety of Feyre's weight. Dead-white, blue eyes a blaze, Feyre looked blearily out at all of them like she recognized no one.

Elain, treasure that she was, came forward to take her sister's other hand, whispering both condolence and explanation.

And so the High Houses of Night knelt in battlefield mud, and swore eternal loyalty to the youngest Archeron.

It was only after they were gone that Nesta hugged her sister- hard enough Feyre protested, a fresh batch of tears soaking Nesta's shoulder even before Elain joined them.

It's Azriel, voice a little less like a phantom, who tells Feyre they're handling things. That if she wants to rest more, that's fine.

She was so clearly shattered- Nesta half wondered how much of that Azriel can literally feel/hear with his shadow...things.

Feyre protests that there's things to do- Feyre makes it halfway through a sentence about plans before she says Rhysand's name like he's still alive and collapses in on herself like a wave crashing.

Nesta and Elain tuck Feyre back into the blanket pile. Nesta manages to kiss her forehead before Morrigan is there, hugging Feyre putting herself bodily between the sisters.

They leave, and outside, Azriel is waiting.

To hand Nesta a gaudy, enormous platinum ring. The seal of the Night Court- Nesta recognizes it from shipping manifests, but she'd never actually seen it as an adult. Here, as a faery.

Her thoughts on Azriel's powers hold true, as he answers the dismay: Rhys only used it when he had to. It had passed between the whole Court of Dreams hands, there had not been a vizier, a lord of stars, since the time of Rhysand's father.

Nesta puts on the hideous ring, barely flinching at the brush of magic, it resizing to her hand.

Elain grasps her other, squeezing, and asks Azriel who is next.

They work ceaselessly, pausing only to sleep. Azriel, Nesta is quite sure, isn't sleeping at all- until she goes looking for him with a question and finds him finally, finally out cold, face tucked in Lucien Vanserra's neck.

In silence and gestures, they come to something of an agreement- and when the Night Court comes to the table to talk peace, it's with Lucien. Jurian, who Nesta immediately liked.

By the time they return to the North, there is not a Lord one who does not know the names and nightmarish qualities of all three Archeron sisters.

Feyre mourns, and learns to govern slow. Cassian goes back to Illyria and does not return for a long, long time. Morrigan becomes Feyre's second- Nesta laughs, not altogether kind, when Lucien tells her this. No one has been able to answer her as to why, if Morrigan is so powerful, why did she not fight? what does she actually do?

What answers to her questions she does find are appalling. Why does Winter block our every turn? oh, Rhysand killed more than a dozen children. Why is Summer refusing our trade? Well, Rhysand stole their ancestral pride. Why is the Hewn City so wrathful at even the slightest form of intervention? Because Rhysand had left Keir to rule alone.

Nesta doesn't want to rule the fucking court. She thinks she could leave all of these politicians to rot- but she won't let Feyre misstep her way to death, shouldering a burden of her dead mate.

There's nothing they can give Winter but apology and so that's what Nesta does. On her knees, in a gilded palace of ice, stars caught in her hair and the seal on her. Kallias, bright and young, seems to know something about inherited problems- he does not ever forget, but he forgives, at least, the Archerons.

Summer is more complicated- but Nesta does what she can. Gives them every melted, ruined piece of the Book. Offers reparations for the next millennia. Ends up paying for what she is appalled and embarrassed to learn is a two hundred year old debt for a building the head of the Night Court's armed forces- Cassian, fucking Cassian the ghost haunting Nesta- had destroyed. During a brawl. At a solstice party.

She deals only with Cressieda, and they come to understand each other very well.

Nesta was not raised for politics and bullshit- her mother wanted her to marry a crown, but Nesta wanted the family empire. Trade. The Archeron legacy, denied to a girl. She likes Summer more than any place in Prythian, and she doesn't hide that. She relearns old lessons of tide and routes in secret, before Cressieda reveals that of course, she knows who the Archerons were.

It goes well, until Morrigan finds out what she's been doing, and tells Feyre.

The youngest Archeron had been doing better. Morrigan has been right by her side, through everything. Cassian is in Illyria, and Feyre understands why, writing him letters. She writes letters to Rhys too, if only to have a way to direct the words.

Azriel, spectral and busy she sees the least of, but Feyre never doubts his presence, keeping her safe. Elain comes, drags her out into sunlight, brings Lucien and it makes Feyre happy to see them together. Nesta comes too, with them both and alone, with papers from Feyre to sign, with affection sharp-edged but true.

Feyre knows she owes them all more than can be said- she's not stupid, she knows they're keeping Night together. That slowly those responsibilities will fall to her, when she's ready.

She does not think about how much of those responsibilities is cleaning up the tangled mess of betrayal Rhysand left behind. In her head, there is only Rhys- beloved and shadowed, kind and tortured.

Until Morrigan tells her that it's been acknowledged, in public, by Night, that Rhysand was a thief, and a murder of children.

Feyre loses her shit.

Rhysand had done what he had to. Who was Nesta, to say such things? She'd always hated Rhys. Rhys had always hated her, maybe he was right- the children. Rhys had mourned them in screaming nightmares, but he hadn't hurt them-

(Feyre does not stop to think it strange, that Rhys could have nightmares of memories not his own. That he might have fractured just a bit, under Amarantha. That the Red Lady had no daemati- that was why she'd kept Rhys all along.)

The fight is as ugly as can be imagined. And what proceeds is of course, worse. Feyre says terrible things she will ultimately regret and apologize for, but what becomes clear is that Morrigan thinks that Nesta means to hold power forever.

That she's taken advantage.

And Cassian, called home by rage, believes her.

That is, more than her ungrateful sister, more than the ongoing weight of cleaning up after a man she despised for good reason, the end of Nesta Archeron's Night Court career.

She'd thought she loved him- she'd been willing to die with him- but they'd lived. This was the life, the next life, and what did he think of her? That Nesta was a power hungry snob. That she was paying too much heed to politics.

That Nesta belonged quietly at home. That she should have learned to fight somewhere along that way- a point so convoluted it made Lucien laugh- that she hadn't learned anything that mattered.

That she had no right to kill Keir, because it had hurt Morrigan.

Had he ever, Nesta would wonder later, even liked her? Enjoyed anything about her but for that magical tether, telling him he was blessed with something special?

Nesta was something special, and she knew it.

And so she returned the ring to Azriel, packed up her possessions, and left.

First to Day, where Elain had bought a house. Fury and tears both met the explanation of what happened- fury and tears that turned to getting inadvisably drunk in sunlight, when Lucien and Azriel snuck away to join them.

For the first time in Nesta's adult life, she had no obligations. Magic, money, freedom- the whole world was out there.

She stopped wearing black. Learned pants where actually lovely, when they fit correctly and weren't made of leather. Learned Azriel could laugh, and Lucien was as clever as she'd always thought.

She read books, she ate fruit, she took Helion up on several of his more lascivious offers.

She thought of Cassian, and it ached, but not enough to go backward.

Elain's house was by the sea, right on the water. The scent of salt reminded Nesta of Summer- but also of her oldest, most secret dreams. The warehouses of goods, like mysteries to solve. The account books she stole, learning by candlelight the trade in her blood.

Ten years after the war, Nesta bought a ship.

She set out to be a merchant, use what she knew, but what happened was this: Nesta Archeron did not care anymore for rules. And so when she came upon Hybernian remnants-for they were an island kingdom, even more one with the water than Prythian- pillaging a Summer town, she destroyed them.

She stole their treasure, gave much of it back to the people.

Found, unexpected, that she had much more of a taste for marauding than she would have expected. There was still trade of course- proft made and shared- but Summer needed someone willing to do some destroying out on the sea.

Twelve years after the war, Nesta Archeron became a privateer under the Summer flag, pearls in her hair and a true smile on her lips.

Things grew, as all things do. Feyre wrestled herself the reins of government, stymied by the councils Nesta and Azriel set up as much as she often was by Azriel himself out of truly petulant action. Morrigan remained second, golden blades bright as her gowns within reach. Cassian became a sort of seneschal, reigning over Illyria in Feyre's name cold and alone as the wind through the mountains.

(Feyre thought he might never get over the war, but Azriel knew the truth.)

Elain took herself wherever the future led, a sort of mediator and councilor, walking in all Courts- but always back to home, that isolated green, green cove, where Nesta would land.

When war came again, there was no great Lordly alliance, no cut-throat summit. There was a fleet of ships whose sails where edged in purple, whose announcement across the water was silver fire, whose accompaniment were monsters of old.

Violence did not touch Prythians human shore, because Nesta Archeron did not let it.

She was death on the tide, and she remembered what shores had borne her.

She had a home in Summer, a place in Day, her family across the continent- she had her ships, full of faeries from every walk of life, who wanted as she did the freedom as much as the profit, the endless, endless blue, where sea meets sky.

It was eternity, and the Archeron sisters, free, had made it their own.

[cc-0420]

“who is that?”

rex snapped the holo away to glare at the intruder, before softening. “oh, ezra, hi. sorry.”

ezra knew not to intrude, despite doing it often, but he’s never seen rex’s eyes so wet.

“just some old friends from the war, you know?” he continued trailing off.

ezra took a seat next to him, “tell me about them.”

pausing, rex scanned ezra’s face to see if he was serious. he must have found something to urge him to continue because he started talking about a man named echo.

the man began telling his stories of his vod, the adventures and violence they had seen. the good that was in them. ezra listened about the death and revival of echo, only to choose to join the bad batch, not that rex blamed him.

than he shifted to fives, echo’s batch mate. he seemed more hesitant with everything he said, like he was carrying an overwhelming burden on his shoulders.

“he was right you know,” rex stopped after awhile of talking about fives’ humor and passion, looking at the holo.

“he knew about the chips, and i- and I ignored him,” the tears began flowing, “he found out, and he was- he was killed. if i had listened… i could have stopped this all. cody said that we had to move on, but if i had listened i could have even saved him!”

there was it was again — cody. an name ezra has heard multiple times since he met rex.

ezra decided to cut in, “it’s not your fault. even if you decided to do something about it, you would have been killed and many more people would be dead, including ahsoka.”

before rex could start talking again, he continued, “this is cody?” pointing at the only one in the image in yellow armor, “you talk about him a lot.”

“he was the marshal commander of the 3rd army of the gar, specifically in the 212th legion to general kenobi. we often worked together due to general skywalker being kenobi’s former padawan. he had his chip in during the order and killed his general on sight. now he’s either stuck in the empire or dead.” rex recited robotically.

ezra can feel the pain radiating off rex in the force, “but how did you know him? i probably could have found that info on the holo net!”

rex gave an empty chuckle, “he was on the command squad and practically adopted me. the one to recommend me to captain. i would have been dead many times over if it weren’t for cody. not only was he a good soldier, but a good man, who fought for what he believed in. he was everything i wanted to be as a person and a soldier. i wish- wish i could have saved him.”

silence fell upon the pair as they continued to stare at the holo. “they sound like great people. i wish i could have met them.”

(insert unfinished rebels arc where cody is the villain)

[wristpockets]

Can I throw some prompts at you? All fluffy but with potential for Deep Emotional Talks™ if that's what you're after. Anyway: 1. Essek and jester trying to cook/ bake for the first time (two rich kids who have never been in a kitchen while food has been made) lots of potential for comedy but also ways to explore the differences and similarities in their childhoods?? 2. Caleb and Essek teaching each other dances from their homelands, (I feel like Essek probably had to learn formal dances in his youth and absolutely despised them until he realized that dancing with someone you actually like can be fun) Anyhow, happy writing!

Thanks for the suggestions! Going with the first one!

(If anyone else has any fic prompts/ideas/requests feel free to send them my way!)

This kind of got away from me 😅 Ended up a lot longer than expected. Not going to spend too much time proofreading or editing bc this was supposed to be fun. Anyway

Essek is leaning over the railing on the Nein Heroez, a glass of wine in his hand. He can hear the party going on behind him - the rest of the Nein get together every month for dinner - but he needed to get away for a moment. He watches the moonlight reflect off the waves as he swirls the wine in his glass.

He doesn't notice Jester until she's right next to him.

"What's wrong, Essek?" she asks, her voice laden with sincerity and sympathy.

He sighs, takes a long sip of his wine, and says, "I feel inadequate."

"Oh no Essek," Jester says. She moves closer, until she can bump her hip against his. "You're so powerful. And!" She lowers her voice conspiratorially, "I saw the way you floated in Cognouza. You were faster than Caleb, which I think means you're even smarter than he is."

Essek actually smiles at that. Lets out a little laugh. "You're not wrong. But I'm not concerned with my power or intelligence."

"Then how do you think you're inadequate? In what way? Is it-" Jester cuts herself off, looking over at him while wiggling her eyebrows.

"No," he says quickly, his ears heating up. "Everyone else is so..." He looks for the word and comes up blank. "Caleb and I see Beauregard and Yasha for dinner quite often. Yasha will have freshly baked bread, or even cake. Beauregard works all day, and Yasha stays home and cooks."

"I think she's happy though," Jester says.

"I think so too," Essek says quickly. "Caleb works all day too, and I stay home and do nothing." He lets out a little laugh. "I cannot believe this is my problem. Feeling bad that I cannot cook dinner while my - while Caleb is working."

Jester's eyes light up. "Okay," she says. "Okay okay. For our next get together, we're making dessert. Me and you."

Beauregard and Yasha are hosting the next meetup. Essek had collected Jester, Fjord and Kingsley early that morning, to give Jester and Essek time to make dessert.

They sent Caleb and Fjord out of the house and set to work in Caleb's kitchen.

But when Essek takes the third batch of cupcakes out of the oven - burned on the outside, somehow raw inside - he's ready to give up.

"I don't understand what I'm doing wrong," Essek says quietly. He floats there, uselessly, staring at another failed attempt at a fairly simple baked good. "Is this how you normally make them?"

"Hmm?" Jester says, looking over at him. She dips her finger into the frosting she'd been working on. "I've never made cupcakes before."

Essek turns toward her. "What? You've never-"

"Nope," Jester says, matter-of-factly. She puts the icing-covered finger in her mouth, tasting the frosting, before scrunching up her nose. "This is awful."

Essek deflates a little. "So we are currently lacking both edible cupcakes and edible icing."

Even Jester's smile falls. "I'm sorry, Essek."

"It's not your fault," Essek says. "We still have some ingredients - what do you know how to make? What could we make quickly that's simpler?"

Jester looks down at the floor. "I don't know."

"Anything," Essek pleads. "Anything you've baked successfully-"

"I've never baked anything," Jester admits quietly.

"Oh," Essek says.

"Yeah."

Jester turns so her back is to the counter, then slides down, sitting on the floor. "I know how you feel. I feel like I should know how to do this."

Essek floats over, then sits down next to her. He can't bear the look on her face. "Two powerful adventurers, brought low by mere cupcakes," he jokes.

"I wanted to do this," Jester says, still quiet. "I wanted to bake something for everyone, something delicious! Something everyone would eat and say, 'oh Jester, your baking is so delicious,' and then maybe I'm not just the girl who draws dicks on things."

"You're a lot more than that," Essek tries.

Jester nods. "I know. I just feel bad."

"I feel that way too," Essek says. "All this power and knowledge and ability - for what? What good is it doing me here, now? And I know it's not an either-or thing. Caleb cooks. Even Beauregard does sometimes. I've never so much as fried an egg."

"Neither have I," Jester admits. "When I lived at home..."

"I understand," Essek says, and he knows he does.

"It's just embarrassing," Jester says.

"Yes," Essek agrees.

They sit like that for a moment, until they hear the front door open.

"Essek? Jester?" Caleb calls from the entryway. "Am I allowed in the kitchen yet?"

"Not yet!" Jester yells. "Almost done! Fifteen minutes!"

Essek looks at her in shock, and she just shrugs her shoulders.

"I do not possess the arcane ability to create cupcakes," Essek says blankly. "And I am unsure of how else we might make a dessert in that time."

"I panicked," Jester says apologetically. "Maybe some of the cupcakes aren't so bad-"

"They are," Essek says as Jester leans over batch number two, tearing off a piece of cupcake and trying it cautiously. After a few bites she scrunches her nose, then spits it out into the garbage.

"It looked good," Jester pouts. "I can't believe cupcakes would lie to me."

Something connects and Essek can feel his eyes widen. "I have an idea."

Several hours later, Jester and Essek are ready to present their cupcakes to the rest of the Nein. At the very least, they look nice - frosting is apparently close enough to painting for Jester to have some skill at it.

"These look delicious," Caleb says, smiling up at Essek. The compliment in front of their friends makes Essek's cheeks heat up, and he's grateful his complexion doesn't let it show.

"I might need to get some pointers from you," Yasha says as she carefully peels off the cupcake wrapper. "I wish I could frost like this."

"Don't eat that!" Beau shouts, quickly leaning over to slap it out of her hand.

Everyone stops to stare at Beauregard, Yasha's mouth still open, the cupcake discarded on the floor.

"What's wrong, Beauregard?" Essek asks nervously.

"They've been tampered with," she says. She picks up Yasha's dinner plate. "These plates are enchanted. They change colour if any of the food on it is fucked with. A few crumbs fell off of it." She points to a few speckles of bright purple on the plate. "I watched the plate react to the crumbs."

"Tampered with?" Fjord asks. "Tampered how?"

"I don't fucking know, man," Beau says. "It doesn't like, tell me."

"Um," Essek says carefully. "Would a magical alteration to the dish set off that reaction?"

"I should fucking hope so," Beau says, "since that's the whole point."

"In that case," Essek says, shooting Jester a worried look, "then yes, they were tampered with. But they will not harm you."

"Essek," Caleb says, looking at him worriedly.

"It's just prestidigitation," Essek says hurriedly. "We used it to flavour the cupcakes and the frosting." He takes a bite of his own cupcake. "See? They're safe."

"But why?" Veth asks. "Surely it can't be any worse than that fish stew Fjord made us all eat last time."

Essek looks at Jester again, who looks resigned. He waves his hand, dismissing the spell. "See for yourself."

Caleb is the first one that takes Essek up on that, tearing off a piece with his fingers and tasting it. Essek can see Caleb trying very hard to keep his expression neutral. He eventually - with some difficulty - swallows the bite of cupcake. "Ja," he says, eventually. "It's not that bad." He offers Essek a warm smile.

"Well that's obviously a lie," Veth says, pushing her plate a few inches away from her.

"Sorry guys," Jester says. She's looking down at the table and looks absolutely lost. "We just wanted to make something nice."

"Have either of you ever baked anything, ever?" Veth asks, picking up a tiny piece of the cupcake and trying it. "This is awful. I love you Jessie, but who taught you to bake?"

Jester looks too crestfallen to answer. "Both of us are, ah, new to this," Essek admits instead.

"Maybe cooking lessons are in order," Fjord says. "I used to cook on the ship, back when I was getting started. I could show you a few things, Jester."

Jester nods, still looking down at the table.

"And I could teach you," Caleb says to Essek.

"That would be appreciated," Essek says.

"Okay," Jester says. She sighs, then looks up at everyone. Forces a smile. "Okay. Me and Essek are going to learn how to cook, and then we'll make something for next time."

"Maybe not cupcakes," Beau says.

"Maybe nothing for anyone who complains about my baking again," Jester retorts.

"There are some desserts from Rosohna I'd like to recreate, if possible," Essek says. "If I can find a recipe."

"That sounds nice," Caduceus says.

"I am not much for sweets, but I do like some of the ones in Rosohna," he continues. "They're, ah, made with cinnamon. I don't think they do that here in the Empire."

"They don't!" Jester almost yells, smiling. "I know! It's crazy!"

[spidernerdsblog]

🎄First Times🎄

A/N : This is an extra for my first ever series I Forgot That You Existed. Feedback and suggestions are always welcome.

Pairing :  Dad! Tom Holland x Reader

Summary : Your and Tom's first Christmas with your baby girl.

Warnings : fluff

There's something about first times. The first time riding a bicycle, first love, going on your first date, first kiss. There's an unknown excitement in it, a thrill, a feeling of adventure. Those first times will always be special. Just like your first Christmas with your baby girl. 

After 3 years of marriage you and Tom are proud parents of your one and only daughter Vienna. She was the apple of your eye after all she's your first born. The first time you got to know that you were pregnant was during one of your recording sessions when you suddenly felt nauseous and had to run to the bathroom to throw up. You knew this wasn't mere food poisoning from your past experience and to be honest you and Tom had been trying for a baby for quite some time after you finally decided that you are ready to embrace motherhood again. 

You were rather thrilled than scared this time while you took the test and seeing the two pink lines made your heart swell as a few tears of joy slipped your eyes. When Tom returned home you just ran into his arms to reveal the news that you were expecting and joy knew no bounds for him. He immediately lifted you up and spinned you around in the living room in excitement. 

The first time you went for your check up and saw your baby girl on the monitor Tom was literally sobbing. You were being very careful this time. During the last trimester Tom didn't want to leave your side at all. You had to literally throw him out of the house (pun intended) to go for his shoots. 

You couldn't believe how time flew so fast that the little human you both brought to this earth is almost a year old now. It felt like yesterday you brought her from the hospital wrapped in a blanket in your arms and now she crawls around the house as well as has learnt to stand on her little feet. You never get tired of listening to her continuous babbles with some broken words she has learnt eventually. 

And not to be surprised her first word was obviously ‘Dada’ ofcourse she was daddy's girl because the way Tom has spoiled her rotten since the day she was born you really are gonna have a hard time in future saying no to her and hearing that Tom went on a shopping spree that day, if he could he would have bought the whole toy shop you thought. 

Christmas was around the corner and everyone was in their festive mood. You were in the kitchen baking cookies when your husband came down the stairs hastily. 

"Honey where is my Christmas jumper?" he asks from across the living room. 

"Tom, what is your obsession with that old jumper? Now even the jumper also says let me go Thomas." You joke from the kitchen. Tom huffs rolling his eyes. 

"That jumper carries a lot of sentimental value for me. C'mon now tell me where is it?" he whines. 

"It's in the left bottom shelf of the cupboard." You yell from the kitchen. 

"I already looked there."

"Then look hard it's there only." Sometimes you really feel that you are actually looking after two babies.

Tom ran upstairs again to your bedroom where your 12 months old daughter was sleeping peacefully. He searched through the cupboard and finally found his jumper but the noise he made while doing it woke Vienna up. Tom turned to see his little princess sitting up on the bed with sleepy eyes. 

"Oh did I wake you up bubs? So sorry peanut. Daddy was looking for his jumper." He went and sat beside her on the bed. She instantly got up on his lap, her little hands clutching onto his t-shirt as support and standing up. Tom forgot about everything and began playing with her, her little giggles making his heart melt. After a while she started to get a little fussy and Tom knew that his baby girl was hungry. 

"I know baby it's time for you to have some brekkie, let's see what mommy is doing eh." 

"Look who’s up." Tom announces cheerfully walking down the stairs. You turned around and your face instantly lit up seeing your morning sunshine resting her head on her daddy's shoulder suckling her thumb. 

"Aww you are up my little pumpkin wait a moment mommy is almost done" Tom strolled around the house with her. He went and stood near the glass doors overlooking his snow covered lawn. 

"Look at that peanut, it's snowing isn't it beautiful." He cooed, rocking her gently in his arms making her giggle. Tom was about to slide the door open to the lawn to take her out. 

"Tom it's freezing outside, V isn't wearing enough warm clothes. She will catch a cold" You stopped him. 

"Your mommy is way too paranoid." Tom says rolling his eyes dramatically looking at your daughter.

"I can hear you." You say in a sing-song manner from the kitchen. Tom makes his way to you in the kitchen. 

"Here I can do the rest of the batch" he offers, taking the tray from your hand."My little princess needs to be fed first." He says and you take Vienna from his arms. Tom continued with preparing the rest of the batch of cookies as you fed your daughter. 

Later in the evening you were busy decorating the christmas tree with Tom when you noticed Vienna playing and tugging on to some wires. You panicked out of your motherly instinct.

"Baby no don't touch it, you'll get hurt." You came rushing, taking away the lights from her small hands. She stared at you with her doe eyes for a while before crawling away to get the other decorating stuff from the box.

"God, she's such an active baby, never sits in one place." You shake your head smiling. 

"Well she's my daughter." Tom says proudly.

"Okay Billy Elliot, now go and put Billy Elliot Jr in the crib or else she will not let us set up the tree." Tom did as you said as he placed Vienna in the crib when your attention went to the lights you were holding in your hands and you frowned.

"Tom, why did you bring the bigger lights?" 

"Why what's the problem with the big one?" He asks casually.

"Tom the big ones are for the lawn and the small ones are for the tree. It has always been like that." you state in disappointment.

"For a change let's put the big ones on the tree this year." He suggests.

"No way! it will look odd." you say annoyed. 

"Gosh you're such a control freak." he huffs. 

"No I'm not, it's just my tastes are better than yours." You retort. Soon you both began arguing and seeing the tension between her parents Vienna started crying. Both of you stopped arguing as your full attention turned to your one year old and you both felt guilty of arguing in front of her.

"Aww baby did we scare you? We are so sorry honey." You rushed to her picking her in your arms, rocking her gently pacifying her. She stopped crying after sometime. You sat down on the couch with Tom beside you.

"We shouldn’t have fought like that on such a petty issue I’m sorry I over reacted." You felt sorry.

"No it’s my fault that I messed up the lights, I’m sorry Y/N" Tom apologises

"Hey it’s ok we can put the big ones this year." Tom and you leaned in for a reconciliation kiss but was interrupted by your little munchkin’s hand as if she didn’t want you to kiss Tom.

"Someone seems to be a little possessive." You pout scrunching your nose.

"Well what can I say my little girl loves her dad more, isn’t it princess?" He boops her nose gently to which she giggles.

"Don’t flatter yourself mister." you snicker.

"Aww don’t get disheartened, love." you slap his chest playfully.

"Shut up and do the rest of the decoration I need to put her to sleep, it’s almost her nap time." 

"Okay mam." You took Vienna with you to the bedroom to put her to sleep while Tom carried on with the rest of the decorations. After finishing he went upstairs to call you for watching a movie together.

"Hey Y/N" Tom popped his head through the door.

"Shh!" You hush him immediately. "She just fell asleep". You whisper.

"Sorry." He mouths. I have set up everything. He whispers.

"Okay I’ll be down in a minute." You whisper back. You went down to the living room to find two cups of tea and snacks kept on the coffee table while Tom was lounging on the couch busy choosing a christmas movie to watch for tonight. You went and sat on the couch snuggling close to him resting your head on his broad chest, he smiled wrapping his arm around you. Even though you were totally enjoying parenthood, you also cherished these alone times with your husband. Just two of you cuddled close into each other’s warm embrace. The intimacy of the moment is so soothing and relaxing after a long day. You wondered what you did to get this perfect man as your husband with whom you brought an angel in your lives. You felt you have everything you could have asked for and you are grateful. Tom noticed you lost in deep thought.

"What’s going on in this little mind?" He taps on your head lightly.

"Just can't imagine she's already one. Soon she will go to school then college and a few years later she might bring a boy for the Christmas Dinner to meet with us and then get married and have her own children" you went on as Tom perked up.

"Woah woah slow down, love. You are going way too fast forward. And moreover she isn't dating until she turns 30." He says like a protective father, you let out an airy laugh.

"Look now who's been paranoid huh?" you raise a sly brow.

"Well you know there’s a lot of no good sons of bit.." 

"Uh uh language." You interrupt.

"Sons of butterflies out there." He corrected his dialogue as you both chuckle softly turning your attention back to the movie playing in front of you. 

........................................................

Taglist in bio.

[danwhobrowses]

Star Wars Visions - Review

So I finally finished watching all of Visions, the ambitious anime project set in a Star Wars loose if at all canon, and I truly had a good time with it, as a fan of anime and Star Wars I was curious how they would deliver.

Spoilers for Visions, watch it then come back here to read what I thought about it. Reminder: This is my own personal opinion

So as I said, really enjoyed this experiment Disney decided to take, the 9 episodes weren't all flawless but they weren't awful either, so I'm gonna go through what I liked and disliked about it.

We'll start with the negatives, since they're few, picky and it gets it out of the way.

What Wasn't Great

Runtime A veiled negative has to be many episode's runtimes being too short, some only lasting 10-15 minutes. Before watching I was expecting all to be at least 30 minutes, so it was a shame that none lasted that long.

Episode 2: Glorified Music Video I think Episode 2 was perhaps the weakest episode of the nine for me, because it was all building up to a song. I think it probably leaned a bit too much on existing characters like Jabba and Boba, as well as Tatooine, to carry interest, so it was a bit of a low point.

Episode 3: Studio Trigger keep their balls away from the wall Episode 3's The Twins wasn't bad, it just lingered a bit too much on the less fun things. Studio Trigger had made a name for themselves for striking visuals and absolutely batshit crazy fight scenes that ignore all manner of physics with the likes of Promare, Kill La Kill and Darling of the Franxx (and kinda Gurren Lagann, the company was made as a result of that so it's like a Studio Ghibli thing with Nausicaa) but The Twins didn't have enough of the major fight scene for my liking, given how most of what we saw was in the trailer. Maybe it's the fault of the trailer, but it did feel like you could just watch the trailer rather than the episode, which is a bad thing.

Episode 7 too, but it also lacks bravery The Elder was also a good episode, but it too lacked in the final fight, the ending being very abrupt. The Elder also had a problem in that they wasted their good characters, but also failed in stakes. Had the padawan been killed instead of simply being wounded by a lightsaber slash to the belly it probably would've worked more, since we were shown that the Elder is precise in his cutting and it would've served to increase the urgency of the master fighting him too. The fight was short and out of the characters we lost it was the most important character that bit the dust.

The Episode Order could've been Better My final criticism has to be that the order of the episodes felt like it could've been better. Starting with The Duel was right but following it up with Tatooine Rhapsody brought the mood down, likewise putting The Elder after T0-B1 was perhaps too jarring a theme switch. The bigger sin was probably ending with Akakiri. Akakiri was good, but it was a downer and you don't really finish a Season 1 on a downer because you want people to feel excited for more rather than feeling bleak about it; with the options of Lop & Ocho, The Elder, The Village Bride and The Ninth Jedi (which would've been my pick for episode 9) it was an odd choice to pace the episodes in such a way - even when knowing that people would binge in this order. FYI if you wanted to know how I would've ordered the episodes it would've been The Duel -> The Elder -> The Twins -> Lop & Ocho -> Tatooine Rhapsody -> T0-B1 -> The Village Bride -> Akakiri -> The Ninth Jedi

This way we start strong with Sith-heavy episodes that grip with combat, we have the Duel to set us off, we show off the Elder to sell the Dark Side's strength, which blends into the Twins and that sibling relationship blends into Lop & Ocho, we use Tatooine Rhapsody as an intermission of sorts but then carry the lighter theme with T0-B1, whose artistic elements and worldbuilding leans into the Village Bride. We make Akakiri the penultimate since we show the Jedi succumb to the Dark for love in contrast to the Elder where the Jedi succeeds by steeling emotions, before finishing strong with Ninth Jedi.

What Was Great

Anime is perfect for Star Wars Star Wars has of course delved into animation before; Clone Wars (both), Rebels, Resistance and Bad Batch, but never like Anime. So Visions was allowed to shine by showing off everything anime can offer which more realistic CGI and live action could not. Bright colour grading, physics-defying movement, as well as unique character and lightsaber shapes.

(Mostly) Not Wasting Time While I have criticized some episodes for not making the most of things, and not having enough time, but many episodes would last 12-15 minutes and still feel like they had a coherent storylines with no gaps in getting to know the brand new characters or a lack of important information and investment. It is a testament to the good writing of the episodes that episodes got so much from such little time.

We're Left Wanting More In spite many episodes' brevity, the good writing also provided us stories with great potential to be fleshed out. Who wouldn't want to learn more about these new characters? See most of their adventures? The franchise potential from certain stories' one episode makes the experiment an unequivocal success.

The different styles add to the story Using a different anime studio for each story allowed each episode to stand out in their own way, and lean on different areas of importance. The Duel for instance applied a Kurosawa aesthetic which made the audience anticipate samurai themes. As much as the animation will get props for its visuals, environments and character design we should also give a hat-tip to the amazing music, especially in The Village Bride, and the voice acting from both JP and EN. We had some recognizable faces on both sides with EN having Joseph Gordon-Levitt, David Harbour, George Takei, Neil Patrick Harris, Allison Brie, Simu Liu, Karen Fukuhara, Lucy Liu and Taemura Morrison reprising as Boba, while on the JP side we had names familiar with One Piece (Zoro - why you gotta be a sith Zoro!, Brook, Tama, Kiku), DBZ (Goku), Naruto (Hidan, Tayuya and if you count Boruto; Chocho and Kawaki), Jujitsu Kaisen (Itadori, Megumi, Nobara) and more. The different styles also allowed a greater freedom to lore between studios, I know the lightsaber colour thing was done in High Republic but I did like how in the Ninth Jedi Kara's lightsaber started out translucent (I actually preferred it that way), while not diverting too far away from the canon.

The Samurai style episodes were the strongest While some episodes leaned on other elements of Star Wars, the best of the bunch kept true with the correlation force users had with samurai. The Duel, Village Bride and Ninth Jedi - alongside Akakiri, Elder and kinda T0-B1 - had strong showings by maintaining their force user characters as samurai or samura-esque, which only added to the themes of the episodes too.

Its success will hopefully entice more Studios and Directors A positive for the future is the fact that there is a future. Visions has plenty of mileage as both a series of one-off stories or stories that can be expanded upon, and its success will mean that more will be on the cards. Imagine now what other studios may want to try their hand at their own story in this universe? And what it does not only for the franchise but also the animation studios themselves, because this in itself becomes a bridge for fans on either side to be introduced to the other; new anime fans, new star wars fans, everybody wins.

Conclusion

Visions provides an alternative in Star Wars media outside of live action but also away from the CGI tv shows, but it has started off strongly almost as well as The Mandalorian and in my opinion better than the Bad Batch did. My favourite episode was probably the Ninth Jedi, but Village Bride and the Duel are close runners up, soon followed by Lop & Ocho, I hope very much that the stories these ones started especially can be fleshed out and maybe even greenlit for their own series, while also curious about what more Star Wars can deliver.

All in all, good job for everyone, they took a risk and it paid off.