#I really can't deal with this any more; especially this unit.

[bnhaobservation]

Did Enji atone to Touya (and his family) and stepped up on his role as a father?

Boku no Hero Academia has a grave 'flaw'. The fact that's strongly tied to Japanese culture and Buddhism makes it a very interesting work but also makes it a hardly international work because way too many cultural things are left unexplained because they're assumed to be a given. Only they're not when the work is read by foreign readers. And this lead to confusion.

The Todoroki plotline is an example of this.

In the west many feel Enji did nothing for Touya or did too little because the little he did is a given in the west. The point is... it's not a given in Japan. In Japan is a BIG DEAL. So let's go though it.

First, the fact that he doesn't want to kill Touya even though he's a criminal

Todoroki Enji ‘Ore wa ikinobite mo... ENDEAVOR wa shinda. Tairyō satsujinsha (read: musuko) to tatakaenai.’ 轟炎司「俺は生き延びても...エンデヴァーは死んだ。大量殺人者（むすこ）と戦えない。」 Todoroki Enji “Even if I survived... Endeavor is dead. I can't fight against a mass murderer (read: my son).”

Let's compare it to these two scenes of "Death Note" and see how Yagami Soichiro, a policeman, is taking the idea his son might be a killer and how, although Misa protests, the story doesn't present it as him being crazy but as it being his duty.

That's why Hawks doesn't want to send Enji, who's on an atonement path, to face Dabi, because Enji might end up in a situation in which he would have to kill his son and he would refuse... which is more or less what happens.

Second, Enji acknowledges that what Touya said is true, Touya is his son and Enji did what he did. In such a situation many would lie. Dabi's video proves nothing. He is a Villain, they had a doctor in the team who could create Nomu, the paternity test could be fake, even if Dabi were to provide a sample of his blood or skin they could insist that's fake.

Society didn't want the truth, they don't want Enji to confess, they wanted him to reassure them, they even commented he should have lied because yes, that's what's done often.

Basically he put his honor on the chopping block. A public apology like this one is a BIG DEAL in Japan. It's much more serious than in western countries and he does it when he could have spared himself and say Dabi lied but that would have meant to deny his son.

Third, it connects to the first in a way. While Enji is unwilling to kill Touya, he's willing to die with him. It's ‘shinjū’ (心中 Lit. “Mind/heart center/inside” but more likely means “oneness of hearts”, probably reflecting a psychological link between the participants) and it’s a word used in common parlance to refer to any group suicide of two or more individuals bound by love, typically lovers, parents and children, and even whole families. People who commit shinjū believe that they would be united again in heaven, a view supported by feudal teaching in Edo period Japan, which taught that the bond between loved ones would continue into the next world, and by the teaching of Pure Land Buddhism wherein it is believed that through shinjū, one can approach rebirth in the Pure Land. By volunteering to die with him, Enji is basically agreeing to remain with him in their next reincarnation.

For us it's crazy, it's Enji giving up on saving him. In Japan it sounds like 'I love you and I want to be with you'.

Forth, he'll apologize to Touya. As said before it's a BIG DEAL, especially since Enji is the family head and, although for us most of what he did is wrong, in Japan most of what he did is well within what he can do. Marrying a woman you don't love in a combined marriage to expect the child who'll be born from it will fulfill your ambitions and not really bothering to raise it because that's a mother job, well, things are changing in Japan but none of the above is a crime. In a not so distant past it was actually the norm. Yet Enji apologizes even though normally a family head wouldn't.

Fifth it's a bit in the first point and in the second but it'll drag on through all the story, Enji won't reject Touya. He's the only one (except Fuyumi who however doesn't get to say much) who never calls him Dabi after the reveal, and he won't strike him out of the family register but will keep on considering him his son.

Look at the Tobitas instead and at how they kick their son out.

Don't think Hawks is cutting strings with his parents solely because they were abusive, the Tobitas show us how you should just cut strings with a criminal. Same as the Togas.

Have "Theseus no fune" in which a man accused to be a murderer, send a birthday gift to his son and watch the reaction of his wife.

They don't want to keep contact with a criminal. It's scary because they'll be mistreated if they are discovered to be related to him.

And, in this vein, the fact he wants to go see him, that he'll keep on seeing him till the end instead than turning his back on him, is seen as important. It's seen as him being his father.

To many of us it seems as if he's forcing his presence upon Touya. Actually, from a Japanese perspective he's instead not abandoning him like many others would.

And since Touya is dying, very likely the talking will be the talking that's done in a Buddhist culture when someone is dying. Death should occur in a calm and peaceful environment, with close friends and family in attendance. Together they should reflect on the good deeds the dying person has done throughout their life, in the hopes it will help them in their next reincarnation. Additionally, family and friends can perform good deeds on behalf of them, which they believe will be of merit to the deceased.

So, since Touya is dying he won't get a scolding like Chisaki, they'll all only tell him nice and soothing things so he'll die peacefully.

Now... in the west all this is absolutely way too little, and in some points even feels wrong. Dying together instead than insisting in trying to save him? Deciding unilaterally to show up every day? Not our thing...

We can totally say 'thanks, I hate it' because we grew up with Darth Vader who instead gave his life to SAVE his son. All this accepting that Touya instead is going to die so Enji can at best die with him or keep him company until he does... well, it's mostly not our cup of cultural tea.

In in Japan though, all Enji does is important. Enji is doing something for Touya as a father, something important many fathers wouln't do for their sons.

Does it would satisfy a Japanese audience? They'll get the message better than us... but things are changing and anyway it can still feel too little. "Death Note" is dated 2005/2006 and back in it Misa was already questioning the idea of a father killing his son and then killing himself. BNHA is more innovative as Enji doesn't think to kill Touya but he still goes for the 'let's die together' route... and Horikoshi subtly criticizes it by having the rest of the family decising they'll try to stop the fire before just giving up. They're willing to die, but not before trying.

Enji represents plenty of old theories after all, which Horikoshi acknowledges were moved out of wrong beliefs, not moved by mean intents... which, is possible, would still not be enough for Japanese readers either because among teenagers, the target audience, there's an increasing number of teen who, in Japan, are forced to leave home (the Toyoko Kids) and often ends up committing crimes to survive and the league seems to be based on all the kind of homeless people Japan has.

While for a kid at home with a loving family being told that your father will die with him if he messes up instead than just dumping him might be comforting... for a kid that was abused and forced to leave home this might feel not enough.

People want to be saved, being told it's too late to save them, might be a lesson for those who hadn't done anything wrong yet so that they won't do it, but it's surely not a hopeful message for who instead got himself into troubles.

But well, that's something for the Japanese audience to ponder.

There's also to point out that, even though the message is not hopeful, Horikoshi is seeing the homeless people and acknowledging they should be helped.

Japan in regard to the Toyoko kids is mostly like the old woman who pretended not to see Tenko but that, in the end, helps that new boy.

I think Horikoshi's message desperately wants to be hopeful even for them, that he wants BNHA be like Midoriya's final stand, something that will push people to acknowledge they exist and reach out to help them.

It just that... it gets lost in what I'll call the 'litteral translation'.

No one explains us how we should jusge the scenes and, since we lack the cultural background, to us they are perceived differently because to us things work differently.

And, personally, even when I think I figured out the author's intent and can see the positivity of it, the cultural filter is still too tick and the picture gets blurried.

It's like being beginner at speaking a foreign language and having to constantly translate it in your head. The message loses its natural beauty, get simplified and not fully grasped.

I think I understand how Enji's atonement work in regard to Touya... it still doesn't feel fulfilling to me. But enough about Touya.

'Now,' you might rightfully say, 'fine, I'll bite, let's assume what Enji has is an atonement arc for Touya. It doesn't work at all in the west but let's give it a pass. What about his other kids?'

Natsuo and Fuyumi's wishes are in conflict.

Fuyumi wants the five of them to be a family (at the time she doesn't know Touya is alive), Natsuo doesn't want to be part of a family with Enji.

Enji's solution is giving Fuyumi a house in which she can welcome her mother and live with Natsuo (and Shouto when he comes home), while he removes himself from the equation. The solution fulfills Natsuo's wish of not seeing Enji because it makes him feel bad. It only partly fulfil Fuyumi's wish because it'll allow her to have her mother back (Rei couldn't bear meeting Enji either) and to stay with her siblings... but Enji takes responsibility for it, he doesn't tell her it's due to Natsuo that he can't live with them, so, in theory, it won't be Natsuo the one who's stressed to be at home when Enji is there and the one who has to leave home because he can't stand the sight of Enji.

There are many things I can say on how this is not a good solution (it doesn't make Natsuo feel better, it just stops him from feeling worse), but there are two points to consider. The first is that Enji is getting old and it would be his children's duty, due to filial pity, to take care of him, instead he's basically giving them the means to leave and take his wife with them.

Actually, since Natsuo is now the oldest MALE, it should fall on him specifically. Yes, Enji always intended to have Shouto inherit his mantle but this doesn't free Natsuo from his duties. Instead Enji is letting all his children free.

Even with Shouto, he doesn't insist anymore for Shouto to learn Flashfire Fist as his heir but just as an intern.

I take this is big in Japan.

Here again, not so much, especially in the countries in the west that think kids should leave their parents' home as soon as possible and we don't think our children are obliged to inherit our mantles.

Note how the story implies that this was meant to be the end for the Natsuo/Enji arc.

Natsuo made clear he didn't want to meet Enji again, he does it solely because they've to stop Touya and, once they've stopped Touya, he makes clear he doesn't want to see him again.

If we want though, the fact he's leaving the family can be seen as a concession in a way.

Since apparently Rei wants to stay with Enji (and likely their old house was devasted because that's what happens to relative of criminals) Enji can now move with Fuyumi and Rei and Natsuo won't have to see him because he'll leave home... to make his own home.

As for Shouto... Horikoshi answered his request by basically showing him Enji being a father for Touya and then promising he would protect them from the fiery fallout, which Horikoshi doesn't show at all because it's another thing that's a given in Japanese culture, it'll be hell for Enji to protect them, but not for us.

Just to get an idea of the fiery fallout here are some images from "Theseus no fune" again showing you how bad is this sort of thing.

Back to Enji, Horikoshi gives us verbal confirmation that Enji is now being a father by being willing to do this, by having Natsuo, who never called him as such, calling him father for the first time.

For Horikoshi that's Enji being a father.

Again, we've no idea of which hell Enji will suffer because that's not part of our culture. I've posted above screencaps of "Theseus no fune", that's how the fallout should be so not pretty at all.

So the fact that Enji will try to protect them from it is, again, BIG.

So yeah, Enji did do BIG things to atone and keeps on doing them and if he'll ultimately get forgiven by Natsuo (the rest of his family wanted to forgive him way before he were to do something), that's up to Natsuo... Horikoshi likely left this as open ending because he wanted to let it up to readers so as not to make them feel they were forced to forgive Enji.

In the general hopeful theme of the manga and with Natsuo acknowledging him as a cool father I guess his idea is that Natsuo too will eventually forgive him because he's kind.

I don't want to say that Natsuo forgiving Enji would be a culture clash because there's people even here that forgive their horrible parents and that's valid. Forgiving is a personal choice and one has the right to make it even if said horrible parent did nothing to deserve it.

It's up to you.

But sure is, if again we take the story at face value and not in its cultural contest, we can't see what Enji does to atone, because for us is nothing big.

It's even made worse by how Horikoshi doesn't show at all the hell Enji will go through (as for him is a given) so for us IT DOESN'T EXIST. We see Enji as having it easy, talking big but not having to face anything at all.

Honestly though... I think this is a bit of a flaw of the manga as a whole.

Way too often it prefers to focus on the good than on the bad so that the bad gets sidelined to much to the point people forget it.

There were horrible Heroes who committed crimes and had no intention to repent or stop... and we never met them. Nagant killed them off but we never met them.

Mountain Lady, who became a Hero for money and fame, then sticks to the job even when it's bad. Desugoro, who left the job when it turned bad, then came back to help. Enji is on an atonement path and, anyway, on work he was always a good Hero.

In the same way Horikoshi prefers not to show Enji's hardship but focus on how he'll have the support of his sidekicks, driver and Hawks... partly also because it ties in so well with the general message of everyone reaching out.

The result is that the Midoriya plotline of everyone reaching out becomes more important of the Enji atonement arc and overshadows it.

Enji's atonement arc ends in 426, chap 430 doesn't feel the need to tell us if Enji is keeping up with it despite the hardship, nor how his family is doing. It feels the need to reassure us that people will reach out for him even if he's in hell, that even if he had to give up on his family, he now as a new found family.

It's thematically consistent with the theme of reaching out but... the fact it overwrites the atonement arc honestly FOR ME doesn't work so great.

I think it's an overall problem of the 'reaching out message'.

While in itself is beautiful... it saves nothing I was lead to care about.

In Enji's case I was interested in his atonement arc, in how he could help his kids. I wanted more of that, partly because his atonement arc is so far from my culture, partly because it touched characters I cared about, I wanted to be reassured he would keep on working on it and that his family would be well.

Yes, he should be in hell, but the story didn't really work hard on trying to make me worry for him as it established already a support network for him. The story made me worry for the kids, for Touya, who was dying, for Fuyumi, who wanted back her family and won't have it, for Natsuo, who's marrying an unknown character so young, for Shouto, who has to cope with the loss of the brother with whom he wanted to connect.

I don't really care Burnin, Onima, Kido and Hawks are willing to continue to protect Enji, to reach out to help him, I knew they would, I wanted to be reassured Enji's kids are safe, well and protected. I wanted to see ENJI reach out and help them.

In this vein I don't really care the old grandmother saved a nameless abused kid, or, at least, not as much as I cared for Tomura to be saved. It's nice she saved him, it's nice he gets to live the life Tomura was denied but honestly, he's a mob character with a super tragic backstory created deliberately to force us to emotionally connect to him.

The message he now will be saved is good, but my emotional investment to him is too little.

The same applies to Uraraka's Quirk counsueling program, we knew next to nothing about the Quirk consueling previous program beyond that it didn't work (a real problem in Japan as they have a school consueling program that didn't work... and changes are in progress) and that now it supposedly does.

To how Shouji now solves peacefully plenty of conflicts caused by Heteromorph discrimination, which Horikoshi tossed in later and never really showed how to solve (and, don't take me wrong, it's not solved even by Shouji, he just solves peacefully the conflicts, how is up to everyone's speculation).

Long story short, I think Horikoshi worked really hard for BNHA to have an optimist, hopeful message... but part of it goes lost in cultural differences and part of it goes lost in how the story didn't try to get me invested in the things it's now saving.

So yeah, I'm still sad for this little panel in chap 430

I guess I'll eventually get over it. Today though, it's not that day.

On a positive note... if we count the pages of all the chapters that should go in vol 42 they're only 132. The chapters that were meant to go into Vol 39 had 165 (which yes, Horikoshi further expanded once the volume was released).

So yeah, unless Vol 42 will be slimmer than usual or that he'll add to it some sidestory or extra story, it's possible we'll get more plot in terms of epilogue. We'll see.

(also yes, I'm not touching Rei in this post. Rei is another can of worm entirely and one, I fear, Horikoshi doesn't care about. The poor woman doesn't even get a profile while Ikoma Komari does. And really, I do think Rei is much more important than Ikoma Komari)

Last, but not least, since someone seems to get the wrong idea, in case it wasn't clear enough, I'm not Japanese. I research on this. Through books, through the net and yeah, since I like to read manga and anime also through them which I often use as a source of comparison because they're easy, accessible to many and represent the same kind of media BNHA is so they more or less move according to the same or similar rules. I might have messed up somewhere. I encourage you to also research on the topic and take everything with a grain or two of salt.

[racefortheironthrone]

What differs a Bronze Age Monarchy from a Feudal or Modern State Monarchy? For whatever reson I have always been given the impression that Bronze Age Monarchy is the ancient version of either the former or the later, but that does not sound right.

Yeah, that would be a major misconception.

Bronze Age monarchies:

were far more centralized than medieval monarchies, with large, year-round palace complexes that functioned not just as fortresses but also as judicial centers, religious centers, storehouses, state planning apparati, and so on. To operate all these various functions, they employed a large bureaucracy that had, if not a monopoly, something of an oligopoly, on literacy, numeracy, and higher learning.

were highly involved in planning the economy, from organizing irrigation and other labor-intensive farming practices to keeping detailed records on production and taxation to coordinating the complex network of international trade that regulated the flow of both key commodities like tin but also luxury goods.

had more of a monopoly on military force, especially when it came to elite units like chariots. Training an archer and a driver to work in unison with a team of horses specifically bred to the task and custom chariots was a long and expensive process that only a monarch could provide the necessary surplus food and other resources for.

were not Christian. I can't stress enough how important this was as a structural force - Bronze Age monarchs did not have to deal with a large, European-wide, literate bureaucracy, with immense cultural power, that owned more land than they did. This isn't to say that there was no interaction between the temples and the state - I've talked recently about the tendency of Bronze Age monarchs to either be god-kings or priest-kings - but that the terms of interaction between the two much more heavily favored the state.

By contrast, medieval monarchies - and I'm aware that the term is something of a moving target, because what it meant to be a king in CE 600 is very different from what it means in CE 1100 or CE 1600 - were:

decentralized. They had small, peripatetic courts, and initially almost no bureaucracy. Governing power was much more broadly distributed down to the regional and local level through feudal contracts, and it was a long and very fraught process for the monarchs to gradually wrestle that power back.

much less engaged in the economy. Aside from tariffs and monetary policy, which is important, you don't really see medieval monarchs telling peasants when to plow and which fields (outside of the monarch's own personal fiefs), because that was an interference with the decentralized manorial system. You see fewer and smaller building projects, in no small part because the monarch usually couldn't afford to do them.

had less of a monopoly on violence. While the feudal exchange was supposed to give kings military service in exchange for land, in practice feudal levies could be slow to form, quick to disperse, and very fractious about their terms of service. This meant in practice that the nobility could exercise more hard power than their nominal overlords, which is why noble revolts were a common feature. Similarly, it took a long time for the monarchs to establish the necessary fiscal architecture for assembling professional armies and then eventually turning those professional armies into standing armies and then eventually turning those armies against the nobility - and by that point, we're not really talking about the Medieval period any more.

were Christian. And while there could certainly be exceptions of Emperors who picked Popes (instead of the other way around) or kings who could weirdly judo-flip their piety into Galician-style control of their national church, over time the pendulum definitely swung in favor of the Church having more power than any one monarch. They were wealthy, their wealth tended to grow over time because they were a corporate institution that invested their profits back into the company, they had huge amounts of cultural power, they had huge amounts of political power, and so on.

[yoitsjay]

hello hello, i saw your requests are open!!! (i got so excited)

might i request some tech x f!jedi reader where they start by just working on the marauder together. and like over time both of them get more comfortable with each other and start opening up to one another. then one night after a battle on her homeworld they finnaly realize they have mutual feels and kiss? thanks sooo much!!

i hope you have a great day/night!!!!!!!

Yes requests are always open! Feel free to request any time 😊

This is so cute, enjoy!

Don't Want You Hurt

Pairings: Tech x Fem jedi! Reader

Summary: you were on your homeworld fighting droids when you got swarmed by more separatists. You almost got hurt and Tech realizes he can't hide his feelings or concern for you any longer.

Warnings: cannon violence, fluffiness, reader gets hurt, kisses

Word count: 1,992

As a padawan you were faced with many hardships, you were only a child when you were thrown into the clone wars. Your master Aayla Secura taught you all she knew while also teaching you the harsh faces of battle and how to deal with the death that followed.

But you were an extremely gifted jedi and the council knew this. You had rare force abilities that not many jedi had anymore, life force healing as well as battle meditation. Aayla taught you how to harness those capabilities and amplify them without harming yourself.

You had passed your trials when you had turned 20 and often assisted Aayla’s battalion while you waited for your own. However that never happened, and instead you were told that you would be assigned to an experimental clone unit.

When you first joined them you felt very out of place, you tried bonding, amongst other things but it didn’t really get you that far, so you just focused on missions. You only ever really spoke to Hunter when it was about planning, since you were their commanding officer they did have to listen to you.

It had taken a while, but the way you fought so fiercely and protected many of them from harm, they started trusting you and actually holding conversations with them. Tech especially had asked you many questions once he got comfortable around you.

You were currently on Coruscant doing some repairs on the Marauder as well as getting it fueled up. You were out of your armor and instead wore a thin tight pair of workout shirts and a sports bra, sweat dripping down your back as you worked outside the Marauder.

You didn’t know why it was so hot outside, but you heard the news broadcasters mention something about heat flashes for a week so that could have been it. “Y/n i need your abilities to lift up the new hyperdrive.” Tech requested as he stepped out of the ship, you stood up, wiping the sweat of your brow as you nodded.

The hyperdrive had been damaged in a battle, you managed to get it repaired in order to jump but had to stop in Coruscant to get a new one.

You closed your eyes and with both hands you reached out, using the force to pull out the old and busted hyperdrive before replacing it with the new one. You could feel Tech’s eyes on you as your muscles flexed and you grunted before standing up straight stretching out your arms.

“Okay i’m gonna go take a break.” You told Tech, offering him a smile as you walked back onto the Marauder, graning as you slumped down onto the cold floor of the bunk room. Crosshair poked his head in, smirking as he saw you on the ground ass up.

“hot sweetheart? i bet i can help” he flirted, but you just groaned and flipped him off, pushing yourself upwards before getting off the ground. “I just don't get how all of you can still be in your armor while I'm dripping sweat down my back and thighs.” You huffed, walking out to the little fresher in the Marauder. Tech had walked inside, watching you slink into the fresher before shutting the door.

He looked over at Crosshair who was snickering to himself before he entered the cockpit.

By the time you were sweat free and dried off from your shower, Hunter and Wrecker were back with a new mission and fresh rations. So you got dressed.

You had long forgotten standard jedi robes in favor of hard plastoid armor which was even painted to match the bad batch’s armor. Granted you still had significantly less armor then Hunter or the others since you still needed that added mobility, but you had a chest plate, pauldrons, arm bracers and lower leg armor, leaving your lower abdomen to above your knees more vulnerable.

They had tried to get you to wear a full set but you just wouldn’t budge on it, always arguing back that if any armor hindered your movements you could put the team at risk, and you always had your lightsaber to deflect shots.

“We have a new mission, boys- and Y/n.” Hunter spoke up as he entered the Marauder, you rolled your eyes, but followed him into the cockpit. “We're being asked to travel to Onderon since they reported some separatist activity. So we’re gonna destroy it.” Hunter explained, however your eyes went wide.

“Onderon?” You repeated, Hunter nodded. “Yeah? Why what's up?” he asked. You sighed, sitting down in the cockpit as you rubbed the back of your neck. “It's just- that’s where I was born… I haven't been to Onderon since… since I was a baby.” You started, shaking your head. “I’ll be fine, it's just… kinda crazy.” You muttered.

Tech turned to look at you, raising an eyebrow before he spoke up. “Why is it crazy?” He asked, you turned to look at him before sighing and leaning back in your seat. “It’s nothing, seriously I'm fine.” You stated, not wanting to really talk about it anymore.

But you had a bad feeling growing in the pit of your stomach.

-

Turns out you were right about the bad feeling bit.

After some scouting you found the separatist base outside of Onderon’s city but it was empty. You decided to do some solo scouting and told the rest of them to stay back and watch your back in case anything had happened, but eventually you slipped out of view.

What they didn’t see was you getting knocked out by droids, your double bladed lightsaber was taken, and force blocking cuffs were put on your hands as you were taken prisoner inside the base.

Hunter knew something was wrong when thousands of droids emerged from the forest at once and walked into the facility, so he, Tech, Wrecker and crosshair scaled the wall of the base when the coast was clear and started searching for you.

“I can’t believe we captured a jedi!”

“General Grievous will be so excited!”

“Maybe I'll get promoted!”

The battle droids conversed, and Hunter raised his hand and pointed in a direction, Tech followed where he was pointing, eyes widening as he saw you, suspended in the air with your arms and legs bound.

“We have to get her.” Wrecker whispered, Tech nodded in agreement as he lowered the visor part of his helmet and surveyed the area as Hunter came up with a plan.

You on the other hand were starting to wake up, a sharp gasp leaving your lips as your eyes flew open.You pulled at your restraints, growling at every droid that passed by you. “Let me outta here you dung heaps! I swear to the maker when my men get me out of here I'll sever all your heads!” You shouted angrily.

This caught Tech’s attention, and he couldn’t help but smile as his brothers chuckled.

However before they could begin their plan, a lone fighter ship had entered the atmosphere and flew down into the base. Emerging from it was none other than grievous himself. You spat at his feet when he reached you, narrowing your eyes as he roughly grabbed your jaw.

“My my, what a fine specimen… you’ll be a wonderful addition to my collection.” he stated. Igniting one of the lightsabers he held.

“Wait!” You exclaimed, and he paused as he held the green blade to your neck. “If you're gonna kill me, why not make it fun? Let me down and give me my lightsaber and let me challenge you. If you win you kill me, if I win- well- I win.” You breathed out, turning your head away as you closed your eyes, fully prepared for him to just cut off your head.

“Yes… yes I will grant you this request.” Grievous said, before releasing your restraints. You dropped to the ground with a thud, and a droid waked over, tossing your saber to your feet. A circle of droids was made, and now you and Grievous stood in the middle.

He ignited all four of his lightsabers, but you had yet to ignite yours. You circled each other, but as you did you unclipped your chestplate and pauldrons, letting them fall to the ground.

Grievous then charged you, but you dodged his quick and angry blows, ducking, jumping and just overall avoiding his swings. You glanced up, catching the flash of a rifle. You grinned, knowing your men, your friends had these droids surrounded.

As Grievous swung his sabers at you you finally ignited your dual saber and blocked the attack, however he had only attacked with three sabers, using the fourth to stab you in the abdomen, You let out a choked sound of surprise, clenching your teeth as you closed your mind before calling on the force to push him away before you jumped back.

Pain burned through your abdomen, but you didn’t let one stab cripple you, or kill you. You then ran forward, jumping high into the air as you nodded to whoever was looking, and a bomb charge was thrown into the air.

Mid jump you directed the bomb towards Grievous, landing on the ground as you cut through some droids before jumping up and onto the wall beside Tech. “Miss me?” You asked, teasing almost despite the growing burning pain in your torso.

“You are critically injured Y/n, we are returning to the Marauder.” He stated, catching you in his arms as you stumbled forward when the pain had gotten too much. You nodded weakly, allowing Tech to pick you up in his arms.

You weren’t surprised at his amount of strength, he had shown many times that he had the muscle and the skill for many things outside of blaster combat.

Hunter, Wrecker and Crosshair covered your exit, but soon you were all back on the Marauder and tech was already looking at the small hole in your abdomen. It was entirely cauterized, so all he had to do was put bacta on it and cover it.

Hunter piloted and also sent a message to the council that Grievous was there and that the operation was bigger than they thought, and that they were injured. You groaned and winced as Tech cleaned up the area a little bit before placing the bacta over both sides of the wound. He was being as gentle as possible with you, and you couldn’t help but stare.

His helmet was off, but as you studied him, you noticed a tear fall down his cheek, and then another. “Tech?” You called out, placing your hand on his. “You don’t need to cry, you know I'll be okay.” You whispered, holding his hand in yours. “I know, but you…”tech trailed off, avoiding eye contact.

“Tech, you can talk to me.” You whispered, hearing him sigh. “I find myself caring for you, more than I should. I don’t want to ever see you hurt.” He explained. You frowned, but nodded, gently reaching up to cup his cheek. “I care for you too Tech.” You whispered, slowly sitting up with a grunt before pulling him into your arms.

“I started having these feelings for you a while ago.” He muttered into your shoulder. You chuckled, pulling him back as you cupped his cheek again. “Me too Tech… I love you.” You expressed honestly, seeing him smile at you.

“Don’t ever duel Grievous on your own again.” He ordered sternly, but you simply rolled your eyes before pulling him into a gentle kiss.

Wrecker cheered in the background, only for Hunter to slap a hand over his mouth, pulling him into the cockpit with crosshair to give you and Tech some privacy.

“You can't give me orders, you know, I outrank you.” You whispered to Tech, who just rolled his eyes and pressed his lips to yours again.

➺

Tag list:

Tech tag:

Tbb:

@moomoog017 @only-my-unexistent-fiances

[ashleywool]

Some thoughts and lessons from my first week on Broadway

(in no particular order)

Insecurities don't magically disappear when you hit The Big Dream. But the Big Dream has made it clearer than ever that my default instinct to downplay my achievements is kind of ridiculous. I need to accept that there's just no casual way to talk about my life right now. There is no pretending that any of this isn't a big deal. It's a huge freaking deal, and I earned it, and it's awesome, and I am no less deserving of its awesomeness than anybody else.

Autistic people have more allies out there than we realize. In advocacy circles, we tend to get rather cynical about what people don't understand, or don't want to understand. But there really are so many people who think we are worth listening to, learning from, and amplifying. There are so many people rooting for us, and actively seeking ways to include and affirm everything we are. They know they aren't going to get everything "right" immediately, and they know we won't always have the emotional energy for the hard conversations, but they are THERE, and they are there because they WANT to be. Yes, even on Broadway.

Fun fact: my first survival job was "Starbucks barista." (Other fun fact: the day I made my Broadway debut, Starbucks Workers United announced a massive strike for the very next day.) One thing that my time on Broadway has with my time at Starbucks is that I never seem to have enough Sharpies. At Starbucks, the Sharpies were for marking cups by hand (yes, I'm that old), and on Broadway, they're for signing Playbills at the stage door. (Like I said, there's no casual way to talk about this stuff.)

I honestly underestimated how much Broadway performers have to eat. It's easy to think most Broadway performers tend to be predominantly thin/buff just because the industry is fatphobic--and don't get me wrong, it totally is--but I also don't think most people really understand how athletic it is to do a full musical eight times a week, and what you have to do offstage to make sure you have the strength and stamina for it. It's genuinely harder than I thought it would be to make sure I'm not at a calorie deficit--and my less-than-stellar autistic interoception means that I can't always rely on "hunger cues" the way most people can. I really do have to PLAN to eat. And eat more than I would usually think I need.

I'm getting a lot better at doing my own wig prep. And I'm very excited about how pretty my hair looks at the end of the night when I release it from the pincurls.

Thanks to Mayte Natalio and Team Choreo, I'm also getting a lot better at learning choreography without a mirror. Poor proprioception is common in autistic people and it's one of my biggest insecurities, so it is always very stressful and overwhelming for me to learn choreography without a mirror, especially if I'm in a large group. It's difficult for me to visualize where I am in space and what my movement looks like in relation to others. But the choreo team knows this about me and helps me find other ways to learn and feel confident in the moves without constantly needing immediate visual proof. And that's something I never thought was possible before.

If I had the authority, I would ban pedicabs. Those things are like sensory assault. And they're RIGHT outside our show (and my bedroom window) every night with their lights flashing and their subwoofers blaring. But as a consolation prize to the drivers, I would equip each of them with a food truck. Let them solicit us and our patrons with chicken shawarma and Nuts 4 Nuts instead. That'll certainly get more business from patrons coming out of a show about autistic people.

[buddiebeginz]

https://www.tumblr.com/buddiebeginz/752112763763097600

So do we take this as confirmation that it’s not happening since they once again shut it down.

No, for me this is an even bigger confirmation that Buddie is in the plans we just need to be patient. I firmly believe that they wouldn't have even gone down the route with making Buck bi especially not how his bi awakening happened in 704 if there was never any intention of making Buddie happen. It centered very heavily around Eddie.

Some might argue well maybe Tim wanted to make it happen but then changed his mind and or someone behind the scenes stopped it. I think it's likely that the network didn't want both Buck and Eddie coming out in such a short season. They also probably wanted to wait and see how the ratings went after making a major change to a newly acquired show. I also think it's likely that Tim wanted to wait and tell Eddie's story when he had more episodes to do it in. Buck's coming out was told as a relatively simple and happy story. I don't think Eddie's is going to be the same. We're probably going to see Eddie struggle and it's going to be harder for him to accept who he is than it was for Buck. Telling that kind of story properly does need more time.

Also like I talked about in this post, I think Tim wanted to do his artsy Vertigo story with the whole Kim/Shannon thing. So it wasn't just that the network paused it I think Tim had other ideas for this season and he chose to focus on that.

The other thing you need to remember is that if Buddie was really off the table for good they would have lessened the amount of time they had them on screen together and I'm positive more effort would have been put into B/T. This season was already very crunched for time so there was definitely episodes were they didn't need to include Buddie but they did.

Look at ep 707 with the Buddie and Chris scene (when Eddie drops Chris off so he can go on the date with Kim) where Buck compliments Eddie's cologne. Even all the way into episodes 709 and 710 where they had plenty of time to lessen Buddie and add in more B/T if that's the direction they wanted things to go leading into s8. But they didn't.

In fact in 709 we had Buck apparently ditching T*mmy to go talk to Eddie after seeing Kim at the fire station. There was very little of T*mmy even in that episode and the short scene we got between him and Buck T*mmy was being kind of snippy with him. There was also the shot where when Buck got his award the camera pans to Eddie not T*mmy. This had to be a delebrite choice because even the DP Joaquin Sedillo liked a tweet about it.

Then Buddie were together most of 7x10 and were a real family unit. Both in dealing with everything with Chris and also with sitting by Bobby's bedside together. This is incredibly important with it being the season finale because 911 has always used the final episodes of every season as a preview of where things are likely headed.

We did get that date scene with T*mmy in 7x10 but the message there was what it's been all season and that's T*mmy doesn't really get who Buck is. If T*mmy was being set up to be this important person in Buck's life he would have been at the hospital with Buck or at the least had an emotional conversation with him about all he'd been dealing with. Instead we saw Buck trying to be vulnerable and T*mmy turning it into a joke.

I am more sure now than I've ever been that Buddie is a when not an if. We just can't let that other part of fandom get to us or over think if we see things Tim posts on FB or Lou posts with his cameos.

Not sure if you were around in fandom years ago but Taylor stuck around for two seasons and she's gone now. T*mmy will be soon enough too. The best person for Buck is Eddie and the best person for Eddie is Buck. No matter who else they bring into the show they'll never be able to compete with the chemistry and history that Buddie have. Tim and ABC know this and they also know the popularity that Buddie have. They know the amount of attention and praise they'll get when Buddie finally does happen. They're not going to pass that up.

[bigfan-fanfic]

Yellow Light, Blue Light (Male!Reader x Connor DBH)

so, there's barely any connor (dbh) content, so what abt an scenario where connor waits for his boyfriend to come for work and they both live with hank and sumo? i mean like since connor started to feel love he gets so excited when seeing his boyfriend coming back with new things to show him and the three of them + sumo eat dinner together like a family (it sounds so wholesome 😭💞)

Nobody would ever be able to make him admit it, but Hank would've been lonely without Connor around.

So at the terse point where Markus' revolution created a new way of life in Detroit and across the United States, Hank very casually offers that Connor stay with him.

Their relationship often fluctuates confusingly, as Hank sometimes does feel like he takes on a fatherly role to Connor, especially in dealing with emotions now that he's accepted that he's a living being

But then they become more mentor and protegee at times, and then there's the most often state where they're very close friends and the one of the only men robots people Hank currently feels okay with hugging.

Yeah, the bucket of bolts is a hugger and now that Hank can't pretend androids aren't alive anymore he doesn't have the heart to push Connor away when the man hugs him.

It's also a little confusing for Hank because Connor doesn't particularly mind whatever terminology he uses, while other androids with their new autonomy still argue about whether "man/woman" or "human beings" are desirable and acceptable terms or microaggression or outright hate speech in reference to them.

In any case, it comes as a surprise to Hank when things go back to his comfort zone and Connor asks him about very familiar emotions.

It's immediately clear to Hank that Connor is experiencing love for the first time, and when Connor asks if he might need repairs (despite several diagnostics coming up with no problem), Hank practically needs to go to the hospital for a collapsed lung from laughing so hard.

Hank doesn't quite understand what a human-android relationship would entail - he still hasn't had the courage to ask if Connor's like a Ken doll down there, and he doesn't know he really wants to know.

But Connor seems fulfilled, and happy. In his weird analytical Connor way. And it makes Hank happy, in his own grumpy way, that Connor keeps asking him for advice, for help.

Hank isn't really sure how it ended up that Connor's boyfriend started living with them, but honestly he doesn't really mind. It's... nice to have another human in the house, and to feel the house being alive.

And to have someone else to walk Sumo when he feels lazy.

It's also kind of adorable to see Connor on the back foot scrambling around to make food for when his boyfriend gets home from work on their anniversary of moving in together.

"Connor. Con- Con! You don't need to measure the salt out to a grain. Jesus, Connor, don't give me the puppy eyes - I'll back off. Just... calm down a little."

He's a little surprised when he opens the door (Connor's dealing with the food) and you hug him. He's even more surprised that he doesn't mind.

Hank always gets a kick out of seeing just how much Sumo gets excited when Connor's boyfriend gets home - almost as excited as Connor does.

Connor acts all casual about making dinner, letting you unwind and relax and pretending like he wasn't just measuring every ingredient out to the gram.

Hank good-naturedly ribs you both about being so affectionate, playfully accusing you two of practically sitting in each other's laps at the dinner table.

Connor smirks - full on smirks and just says "Well, Hank, since I don't need to eat, shouldn't I have something to do with my hands?" and Hank chokes on his food and laughs and bares his teeth in a grin as he calls Connor a sick little bastard and it's mean words but the intent is fun and you all laugh together.

It's interesting - Hank notices how Connor sometimes acts more 'human', and sometimes doesn't do those mannerisms programmed into him by Cyberlife, like imitating breathing or blinking. It makes Hank a little proud, even more than the uneasiness. It doesn't make him less of a person, just... different.

And seeing you love him anyway. Hell, seeing Connor love you back, clearly and obviously - Hank can't help but smile and needs to listen to some metal in order to get his head back on track.

Besides, Connor's boyfriend is a pretty cool guy - he's helpful even if Connor generally insists on doing the chores because he doesn't need to sleep, and he even likes to introduce things to Hank as well as Connor.

They feel like a family. A weird, silly, neurotic family, but family all the same.

[icarusredwings]

Hot take-

Spoilers.

More memes below, Plus, Im yappin... AGAIN

The doctor is definitely not Monogamous. No, duh, we know that already.

BUT

Depending on the AU and your imagination, he could infact express his feelings for those he loves in all ways. We have:

Sax x 14 aka

#Retired Time Lords aka #saxten

They literally share a bed in Donna's attic...

And are married but are on the brink of divorce 24/7 .So what if they do nothing but argue? They cuddle sometimes.... while arguing..

But they're in counciling as we speak so not to worry.

(If I had a nickle...)

River x 14

I'm not sure what their any doctor ship name is, but I like to call this #RetiredSong.

He visits her in the computer all the time, and she teases him about remarrying, but he always wears her ring when visiting. They're still married. 14 already cried and asked if she wanted a divorce since he was unfaithful. She laughed at his face and then kissed him. He felt like a fool afterward for even asking.

Melanie x 14 aka

#DoctorDonut seems to fit this well. Or #CarrotDoctor im yet to decide.

They go on casual dates often (but aren't "together together" since the Doc has decided to stop dating humans) especially on holidays, in which Mel doesn't have many people to spend them with. You bet your ass he's showing up at UNIT with flowers on Valentine's Day, and the WHOLE office talks about it. It's THE TEA for daaayyzz. Rosie gets a bit embaressed when ever her uncle shows up to her job just to flirt with her coworker.

Yaz x 14

#Foryaz or #Yazteen

Same with Yaz. He's already apologized to her profusely about everything that's happened and told her that if she ever wants to go out "as a gender non disclosed partnership," he'd be in Donna's backyard. He takes out her for ice cream after break-ups. This time in a car, not in space, though it's still difficult for Yaz to see this wrinkly old married man as the young spunky woman she once knew and was head over heels for. "You tell me if you ever become a woman again, and no secrets this time, yeh?" "Deal."

Rose x 14

#RetiredRoses or just #Timepetals.

While he can't talk to her anymore directly, he dreams of her often and gets almost memory like snipets of himself holding a baby or seeing her cooking in the kitchen. Simple, domestic things. He thinks they're just dreams, but in reality, they're shared dreams between them. Nothing ever, too crazy happens. And they're usually no more than 6-10 seconds of connection. He'll look around, look at the baby in his arms that shares her nose, look up to Rose, and smile. "She's gorgeous." She smiles back. That's it. Short. Tiny. Teasing snipets of what he could have had. These dreams are barely remembered, but when he does, he goes to her fake grave and tells her about them. Leaves Roses and praises her for how much of a good mum she's grown to be.

Meanwhile, Rose revisits Bad Wolf Bay and talks to the ocean, tells her gorgeous baby girl stories. The story of the big bad wolf she once met with two hearts and a big howling blue box. One that saved a piggy instead of killing it. "And then he said wee wee wee all the way home to his mummy and daddy. Speaking of daddy's, where's yours wondered off too this time? Come on. Best go find him, huh?"

Clara x 14

#Osteen or if you really wanna angst, #RetiredRaven

Just the same as Rose, He visits her grave too. Mainly when he needs advice and can't trust to tell anyone else. He comes to the graveyard often to visit various people, but this one is the one he sits at, puts his forehead on, and cries to himself. This is where he goes to vent. If you stand there long enough, you'll hear him beg for her to tell him what to do. "I can't run anymore, Clara! I-.. I just can't.. but.. you told me to - you told me to run, but everyone else is telling me to stay put. Now what!? ... please.. just tell me what to do.." and usually, he will get an epiphany. He thinks it's because she "told him," but in reality, getting all of this out of his system just clears his head enough to think. He still glares at ravens whenever he sees them in the grave yard. Cursing at them. "Haven't you taken enough from me?" It's not the same one, but none the less it infuriates him that the universe rubs it in his face like so.

And so many more. Bassically, if they're still alive and on decent terms, they've been on at least ONE date, if not? He talks to their grave. Hell, he's even let Jack take him to the pub. Just once. (Even though they ended up crying over River, and somehow Jack ended up buttnaked on a table. Let's just say they're not allowed there anymore...)

This is what's in MY head, idc that much if you disagree. Civily debate me, you cowards, he has enough attention and love for everyone, and two hearts is a lot to fill, oh and ofc the TARDIS is a part of this. In a weird.. sentiant.. machine.. kinda way.. It's complicated..

And before anyone comes at me with the ridiculous notion of "Well that's cheating"

THEY ALL KNOW.

So no, it's not. Consensual non monagamy has been a thing since before the beginning of time. The worst thing that happens is Sax gets jealous and tries to kill someone when, in reality, he just wants more attention/to come along too. He may make a shit ton of "gasssp you cheated on me!?" Jokes, but he knows. He's fully aware. Not of every tiny detail, but yes, he does indeed know that his husband is out having lunch with another woman right now, Linda. "How about you stalk your own husband ya nosey bitty before I fuck him myself." - the Master, Probably.

The only thing he really whines about is if 14 is A. Late coming home, B. Doesn't bring him back a treat or C. He doesn't invite him to come along. 70% of the time, the Master says no. It's just the principle of the matter.

And yes, They have rules. Just like any other relationship. Communication is definitely key for everything. Obviously, the Master isn't allowed to come to UNIT, and very rarely does he wish to come with his husband to watch him have a meltdown in a grave yard.

He has, however, came with him a few times to the library and now has a wee crush on her, too. (Who wouldn't?) But 14 doesn't exactly enjoy that the whole time they're bassically gossiping about him, in front of his face.

I call this #Retired Time Lords³

Sax: And then this one time in school-

Doc: Oh god not the academy-

River: YES the academy!

Sax: He slipped and hit his head and- *wheeze* HE WOULDN'T STOP CRYING BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO REGENERATE

River: *falls over* 💀

Doc: -_-

As always. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

[voidandabyssal]

Can I get add the swap and swapfell brothers to the Amalgam request? Maybe even Horrortale?

Of course you can! here's the link to the first amalgram post! I'll just do the Swap and SwapFell brothers for now though.

Blue:

when you go missing he's the first to notice. Both of you text pretty frequently when your not around each other (which is pretty rare in of itself). He visits your home, then your job, then any other areas your known to frequently vist. Getting more and more worried as you remain missing for longer and don't respond to his calls.

He calls Stretch out to help with looking for you, his brother knows a lot of people so they'd both find out pretty soon that you were last seen visiting Undyne.

Blue decides to sneak into Undyne's lab. Though he does think the best, "probably just some medical check up you forgot to tell him about. Nothing big!"

Immediately goes to comforting you when he does find you.

Keeps hugging you even when you try and push him away, apologising for melting over him.

He confronts Undyne he confesses to hiding both yourself and the rest of the amalgamites away.

Blue calls in Alphys to help deal with the situation and re-unite everyone. Then he and Stretch take you back home. He promises to help you in any way.

He tries to do what you want, if you want to find a cure, then he's recruiting Stretch, even a regretful Undyne to the cause. You just want to learn to live again? Yep and he's by your side every step of the way

Stretch:

Immediately suspicious when you just disappear. That's unusual for you. He asks around and finds that a few of his bar friends saw you and Undyne together. Weird, especially cause you don't really know her.

He shoots a text to Undyne asking her where you are. When she starts acting weird, changing subject, ignoring phone calls, asking dumb questions, he gets really suspicious

He goes down into the old lab his father used to work in. Guessing that Undyne still uses it.

Imagine his surprise (and horror) when he finds you, malformed, melting and in constant pain.

He carries you up and confronts Undyne. It's not a confrontation that goes well...

Of course Undyne is heartbroken and riddled with guilt. She had never thought that determination could do something like that.

Stretch keeps you in the lab. Hoping that with him and Undyne's intelligence, a cure could be found quickly.

He grabs things from your home that he knows would comfort you. Blankets, clothes, books, anything that keeps you stable and happy.

Somehow still manages to make time for cuddles.

Black (SF Sans)

boy if you even think you're leaving his eyesight!!!

seriously tho, I can only imagine Black would ever let someone like, euugh, Undyne, if you were in serious trouble.

Likely you had some serious health issues, or maybe you even fell down.

Whatever the case, he was desperate to help you and Undyne's kind of the only qualified doctor they have left. So off you go...

yeah, it doesn't go well. Black genuinely tries to murder Undyne. He takes this not only as a slight against you, but as action against him.

You're under HIS protection, meaning when someone fucks with you, they fuck with him.

Mutt steps in and manages to calm his brother down, pointing out that Undyne may actually be one of the only people to be able to help you.

Black keeps a VERY close eye on you. If you haven't already moved in with him, you are now!

Tasks his brother with keeping you safe when he has to leave.

Mutt (SF Papyrus):

probably the one to fuck up this time, ngl.

He was actually apart of the royal scientists before he left it. Like Black, he wouldn't want any science experiment stuff going on and he tries to keep you seperate from it.

We don't always get what we want though, from one reason to another, bad timing, thoughtless decisions, etc. You ended up overdosing from two much determination.

the guilt almost cracks his soul in two. He can't look you in the eye after what happened.

Keeps you hidden away in the true lab, occasionally popping in when he's either really drunk, high, or holding some new serum that's supposed to cure you.

Poor boy already struggled with substance abuse, this just makes it worse.

When he shortcuts in drunk; he just cries, holding your malformed body and crying apologies and begging for forgiveness.

Then he disappears in the morning when he wakes up hungover as hell and realises what he'd done.

[kradogsrats]

A Song of Love and Loyalty (and Loss): General Miyana

So thanks to @raayllum I have been thinking about Miyana. Miyana is a very interesting figure in the cast of a story where the central conflict is shaped around what an individual will do for the sake of love, whether to themselves, to others, or to the world—because Miyana, in her initial arc, is characterized by what she won't do for love. She's very much a facet of the same theme, but in a way that people are liable to find unsympathetic: she doesn't support Karim when he's relatively harmless, to the point that could be considered a betrayal of him, but then she does when doing so means doing serious harm in a definite betrayal of "the good guys."

But I love a complicated woman, so why not do a deep dive on the motivations, story arcs, and thematic future of a character most of the fanbase probably can't name and most of the rest likely hate?

So What is Miyana's Deal?

Miyana is one of the "Six Horns," the best and most respected of the Sunfire generals, named for the six horns of Sol Regem. The Six Horns, as at least part of their duties, form a tribunal that is is implied to be the highest level of Sunfire justice. Their role appears to be determining innocence or guilt, and the sentencing is left up to the monarch—however, they are also powerful enough to completely displace the monarch if they unite in intent to do so.

In their role as judges, the Six Horns adopt ceremonial regalia that hides their emotions and gives at least a symbolic curtain to their identities, creating a sense of impartiality... but it does not appear to be any kind of secret who they are. Miyana is still one of the Six Horns when out of "uniform," and she and her colleagues freely mingle and discuss things among themselves.

From her role, we can assume that Miyana is smart, politically astute, likely good at reading both people and situations, and has demonstrated loyalty to the Sunfire kingdom (... empire?). It's difficult to tell whether being a warrior is also part of her skillset, because she doesn't demonstrate any combat ability or inclination in her appearances—ex. she does not walk around armed. The "general" title would seem to imply some amount of combat experience, especially with our one other "general" example being Amaya, an extremely hands-on commander. However, given the intertwining of government and military there appears to be in Sunfire elf culture, the position is more strategic and advisory in nature than front-line combatant.

Miyana and Karim: a Secret vs. a Symbol

Miyana and Prince Karim are engaged in a romantic relationship that is secret... but also not particularly subtle, at least on his part.

When Karim bursts into Miyana's... office? Quarters? Whatever, she's the one who is disturbed and slams the door behind him. He doesn't really appear to give much of a shit.

This makes sense, because Miyana is the one with something to lose if their relationship gets out. She's meant to be an impartial judge, even against the monarch—an entanglement with the royal family significantly compromises her. Presumably, if she wanted to be with Karim openly, she could relinquish her position... but she does not, either because she doesn't want to, or because Karim doesn't want to make things official.

Speaking of...

Karim, somewhat hilariously, suggests to Janai that she keep Amaya as a permanent consort, rather than officially marry her and have that marriage be a "symbol" of what he perceives as the beginning of the end for Sunfire power and culture. This suggests that it could be Karim who insists on maintaining secrecy over his and Miyana's relationship, assuming he feels the same way about making sure his own eventual marriage is appropriately symbolic for his people.

Personally, given the way Karim behaves, I think it's Miyana who isn't willing to abandon being one of the Six Horns for him—whether because of the power and status it affords her, or because she values being in a position where her service to her people has a strong impact, or because it took her a fucking long time to climb the ladder. Who knows.

But basically, Karim? Not subtle:

Look at this guy, he might as well have literal heart eyes. He also doesn't avoid openly socializing with her:

Not to mention that they have matching earrings, for fuck's sake.

Anyway, he doesn't even respond to Miyana's concern about them being seen together when he barges into her space. He's not exactly behaving as if he's committed to the secrecy.

Season 4 Arc: Gently Convincing Your Royal Boyfriend that He's an Idiot

Miyana is introduced in the s4 Sunfire arc when it pivots toward Karim moving directly against Janai. Immediately after being dissatisfied by the result of Lucia's trial and Janai revealing the Sun Seed to him, Karim meets with Miyana and their relationship is revealed to the viewers. She does appear before that, with Karim (the three previous screenshots are from before that point), but this is where they are formally connected.

This scene, immediately before Karim tells her that he has seen "the truth" that Janai must be removed, is the last time we see Miyana smile until the end of s5. She spends the entire rest of the season going through various stages of concern and doubt about Karim's... frankly unhinged plans.

She questions him at basically every turn, but never goes so far as to say outright that what he's proposing is a bad idea. She acknowledges that the others of the Six Horns might be sympathetic to his take on Janai's direction, but more than once cautions him that she does not believe they will be willing to turn against her.

So how does she really feel? Karim certainly implies that he sees her as his "woman on the inside," secretly feeding him information on the Six Horns and influencing them in his favor, in turn. There's a cut segment that has been referenced in interviews in which Karim cautions Miyana that she must not be the first to vote in his favor, because that will possibly reveal their relationship—which, while he may be thinking about her preference for secrecy, would also kind of invalidate the entire vote.

Miyana, on the other hand, expresses a lot of concern for Karim. She's very worried that he's misjudged the situation and will fail—possibly because she knows she cannot rescue him if he's wrong. And she doesn't, even when he cries out to her, specifically:

I bet that was real fun for her to try to explain. It's possible she could have helped him more after the fact if he hadn't implicated her that way, but it's also entirely possible there's nothing she could do—the monarch, after all, is the one who sentences the guilty.

Even if Miyana is 100% behind Karim's vision for the future of the Sunfire people, at no point does she appear to agree with the way he's pursuing it, and in the end she refuses to go down with him. (Contrast with, say, Sarai... who firmly expresses her disapproval to Harrow about his approach, but then backs him 100% with action.)

Season 5 Arc: Can You Even Trust Yourself?

Miyana does not appear a single time in s5 until she reports Kim'dael's infiltration of the camp to Janai. At this point, Janai entrusts her with concealing and protecting the Sun Seed.

This is an interesting exchange, since on Janai's end it indicates that she and Miyana probably don't know each other well. Janai at least suspects what they are facing, based on the description of "a ghost"—if she suspects that it's Kim'dael specifically, she would be aware that the only person who could have sent her is Karim. It's not clear whether some of Miyana's involvement with Karim might have come out after s4, but even if it did, it was probably brushed off because she didn't stand with him in his ill-judged coup.

Also, like... what does Janai expect her to say? "No"? This isn't really a question—Janai has decided that, absent other immediate options, she can trust Miyana as a member of the Six Horns to safeguard the future of their people. She's indicating to Miyana that she is being given an incredibly important, secret responsibility.

And personally, I fully believe that Miyana thinks she is being 100% truthful in her answer. I don't think she's been sitting around waiting for the perfect moment to run off to Karim—she loved him, and still loves him, but she chose being able to continue having a role in shaping her people's future over throwing away everything for him. She has no idea where he is or what he's doing. He's gone. Exiled. No longer a factor.

So what changes? The ransom demand:

Karim sends Pharos with a message that says, simply:

He has Janai.

He wants the Sun Seed in exchange for her life.

He wants Miyana to come to him with it.

For Miyana herself, this potentially changes everything, because what she's hearing is:

Karim is alive.

He is still fighting for his vision, and has gathered allies powerful enough to overcome Janai.

He has some kind of plan requiring the Sun Seed, which likely plays to his actual strengths (he's a mage, the Sun Seed is a powerful magical artifact).

He wants her at his side.

Personally, if I was her, I'd be at least a little worried that he wants her as the delivery person so he can punish her for her betrayal of him... but he's also such an unbelievably soft boy that I can see why that might not cross her mind. Like, his reaction to seeing "Miyana" riding toward him is unrestrained joy and affirmation that his belief in her was correct—if anything, what he's expecting here is that Miyana will convince the others of the Six Horns to agree to his demands, thereby getting him the Sun Seed and reuniting them.

Miyana, for her part, is now in a position to significantly shift the balance of power. She still loves Karim, and she presumably still believes in his direction for the future. She can bring him the Sun Seed. She can bring him her segment of the Sunfire army. Both of those will significantly weaken Janai's position, while putting Karim much closer to success. Unlike Karim's s4 plan, this is a good bet. This is worth throwing away what she has, in favor of something she could gain.

Removing the Mask: Miyana's Final Turn (So Far)

Bear with me for a moment, because we're going to briefly circle back to s4 and Miyana's position as one of the Six Horns. Throughout s4, there is demonstrable tension between her role and her relationship with Karim, for both of them:

Each of them, in a private moment, contemplates the mask she wears as tribunal judge—a symbol of what keeps them apart. Both of them know that this is her central choice, between her love for him and the duty (loyalty?) to her people that she won't let go. Karim, poor fool that he is, thinks that those will never come in conflict. Miyana spends all of s4 knowing that they will. Maybe even knowing what her choice will be.

In Amaya's deception to rescue Janai, she puts on Miyana's clothing and mask, pretending to be her in order to get close to Karim. Karim completely falls for this, and thereby suffers a second emotional betrayal from the "General Miyana of the Six Horns" mask.

He's so happy that his faith in her wasn't misplaced, and then he gets literally hit in the face with it:

So that sucks for him. However, when Miyana ultimately returns to him, she has stripped all aspects of her Six Horns role, wearing neither her tribunal mask/robe nor her usual fancy tunic and adornments (what Janai was wearing):

She professes her loyalty to Karim having only the most basic layer of her personas: the bottom-layer red tunic and pants that go under both outfits. She has, it is implied, completely discarded the position that previously held her back from Karim.

She also claims that her loyalty has never wavered (debatable), and equates her loyalty to Karim with her love for him, also unwavering (probably true).

This, the moment when Karim receives her (after literally starting to cry), is the first time she smiles again. She continues to smile through the end of the sequence, revealing to him both the Sun Seed and the army she has brought. She appears to have zero conflict about this—she has shed it all with the shell of her identity as one of the Six Horns.

So What Does This Mean for the Future?

Miyana has explicitly equated her love for and her loyalty to Karim. And what is love, in this series, but something to be tested?

Even having stripped away all the aspects of her dedication to her people that are related to the Sunfire mainstream rather than Karim's rebellion, Miyana is still going to have to reckon with whether Karim's vision is the future she wants and whether she can support how far he may go for it. She has handed Karim, and by extension Pharavos, a great deal of both magical and martial power. When Karim's ambitions collide with Aaravos's, he will almost certainly double down—accepting what Aaravos offers and/or foolishly believing he can somehow come out on top.

Miyana is the only one of this trio who is potentially even a little clear-eyed, though she could absolutely be blinded by love. She may follow Karim to the bitter end and self-destruction. She may try to save him. She may try to save others from him. She may realize she can only save herself.

Of the characters with close relationships that carry this loyalty/love tension of loving someone but not necessarily being able to support their decisions and actions, we have:

Soren, who was unable to continue following Viren's downward spiral and instead chose loyalty to his king. His father may be a lost cause, but he still believes he can save his sister.

Terry, who has been left by Claudia with the aggressive guilt that she has robbed herself of his support because she believes he will eventually abandon her, and has several directions he could go: doubling down on his loyalty to Claudia and aggressively following her descent, prioritizing his love for Claudia and focusing on finding a way to save her, or he might cut his losses and fuck off completely (unlikely).

Lissa, whose precise situation we don't know the details of, but who left behind everything she loved and never looked back (or was never allowed to).

While I'm sure whatever resolution they write for Miyana will be fine (*grits teeth*), at this time I think the best one for her would be a Lissa-style ending. Janai's path may lead to the end of Sunfire history, as Karim put it, but his path will lead to the end of their future. Miyana will eventually recognize that, and that like in s4, she can't save him from himself. However, this time she has already irrevocably cast aside her former position—leaving Karim also means giving up her chance (or perception of her chance) to be someone who actively shapes and safeguards her people's future. If she returns to Janai, she faces exile at best. Might as well skip the painful part of that and just... go. But in having given up her complex loyalty to Janai, and finally separating her loyalty to Karim from her love for him, she's left with an opening where loyalty to herself and her own principles can blossom.

[misc-obeyme]

Could I please request the brothers + side characters reacting to an MC who has an obsession with mugs? Like it’s quite literally taking over the kitchen. They cannot go a single outing without buying a cute mug that they see. There’s too many mugs. They won’t stop buying them. Thank you!

Hi there, anon!

This was super cute, I had fun writing it. Turns out I think most of our characters would be enablers lol.

GN!MC has a mug obsession and they're taking over the kitchen

Warnings: None!

Lucifer

He notices the first few times you bring home a new mug, but he doesn't think about it too hard. Until one day he goes into the kitchen and finds that there are too many mugs to fit in the cupboard. Now he's stressed about it. They can't even cook properly in there anymore.

He's going to make you get rid of some. MC, there are too many mugs. They don't fit in the cupboard anymore. You have to get rid of a few. If you refuse, he'll sigh and try to find a spot where they can build you a special mug shelf. But listen, if you fill up that shelf, there isn't space for another one. Please, you have to stop with the mugs.

If you're out and about with him and he sees you getting too close to some mugs, he will redirect you. He can't watch you all the time, so of course you still end up bringing home new ones, but if he can prevent it, he will. Distracts you with something else you like.

If you like to share your mugs, make Lucifer some hell coffee in one and bring it to him when he's buried deep in stacks of paperwork. The minute he drinks some and tastes how bitter it is, he's going to be attached to that particular mug of yours. This makes him less likely to force you to get rid of them.

Mammon

Okay, this mug situation is getting a little crazy. He noticed right away that you love mugs. You were always bringing a new one home. But uh… the cupboard's getting pretty full.

Still, he makes the problem worse because he's constantly buying you new ones. Any time he sees a cute mug, he thinks of you and wants to get it for you. He will deliberately show you the mugs if you're in a store that has them. Look at these mugs, MC! Ya need a new one, don't ya?

At some point, Mammon will start keeping some of your mugs in his room because Lucifer is losing his mind about it. When the shelf is finally installed, he brings them all back to the kitchen except for one that he keeps for himself. It has some special meaning for the two of you and he can't stand to part with it.

If you give him something to drink using one of your mugs, he's going to be so happy. Acts like it's no big deal, but he notices and he's thrilled. If you have soup bowl sized mugs in your collection, bring him some spicy instant noodles in one and watch him lose his mind. Really make him crazy by using a matching mug for yourself.

Leviathan

Collector solidarity. He knows this feeling, this need to buy just one more object of your obsession. Notices right away. Notices when you're constantly buying new ones and notices when the cupboard starts to overflow. This is an unacceptable state for your collection.

Lucifer may be the one who purchases the mug shelf, but Levi is the one who chooses it for you. He knows exactly what kind of storage unit to get so that they can be displayed in all their glory. Let him show you how best to organize your collection, MC!

Absolutely ready to help you collect as many mugs as possible, but he's especially good at locating unusual and rare ones. Limited edition mugs? He gets his hands on them somehow. Handmade one of a kind mugs? Watch him procure some for you. In fact, he might even make you one himself. Levi is nervous to give it to you, but he manages somehow.

Considering how you can't help yourself from buying mugs, you likely end up with some that are themed around his special interests. Give him something to drink in a Ruri mug and you might never get it back. Unless he's the one who got it for you, then don't worry he already has three of his own.

Satan

Another collector who understands, but organization is not his priority. Have you seen this guy's room? He's going to think you should just pile the mugs around where they're within easy reach. Why display them on a shelf at all? Doesn't actually mind the state of the kitchen when the mugs are everywhere.

When you get the shelf, though, he does help you come up with a storage method that makes sense to you. Satan's books may be in disarray, but he still knows where every single one is. Helps you figure out how to organize them in a way that works for you, too. It may mystify everyone else, but the two of you are on the same wavelength about it.

Kind of in the middle when it comes to enabling your obsession. On the one hand, he loves to see how happy you get when you purchase a new cute mug. But on the other hand, he knows that bringing yet another mug into the house might cause the end of Lucifer's sanity. So whether or not he tries to distract you from them just depends on his mood that day. If he's particularly annoyed at Lucifer, he'll try to get you to buy multiple mugs.

Bring him something to drink in any cat themed mug you have and he starts feeling things. You really know what he likes, don't you, MC? Come sit with him while he drinks this. He wants to chat with you about your mugs.

Asmodeus

Mugs! Mugs everywhere! MC, you silly little thing. It's so cute the way you keep bringing mugs into the kitchen, but the place is getting kind of cluttered. He doesn't mind them and he thinks it's really cute that you do this, but you know… they still have to be able to use the kitchen.

Loves your mug shelf. Always helps you pick out whatever mug you want to use that day. If you drink coffee every morning, this will become a daily ritual with him. Choosing the right mug in the morning will set the mood for your entire day, after all.

Does not try to distract you from buying more at all. He's going to pick out some for you. He will buy you more if he sees one that makes him think of you. He will actually design one for you himself. Asmo gets a whole line of mugs made, all of which feature his original designs. But there's one he does just for you. It's so limited edition that you're the only one who owns one.

Fully appreciates any time you bring him something to drink in one of your mugs. Especially loves when you've clearly chosen one you think he'll like. You might lose a couple to him, though, when he discovers how handy they are for holding makeup brushes.

Beelzebub

Due to the fact that Beel is always in the kitchen, he is aware of your mug obsession right away. Notices when they really start to pile up. Doesn't mind, though. Just moves them out of the way as needed.

He's actually rather happy about the addition of the mug shelf to the kitchen. It gives him something to look at while he's scarfing down whatever's in the fridge. He likes to look through your mugs and identify any new ones that have been added recently. He really likes your newest mug, MC.

Does not encourage or discourage the purchasing of new mugs, but if he sees one he thinks you'll really like, he'll point it out for you. Considering how often he sees the collection, he probably knows it pretty well. He'll be able to tell you if you have a mug like that already or not.

Bring him a drink in one and he'll recognize it immediately. If you really want to make him happy, show him how to make something like mug cake or a brownie in a mug. Bring him ice cream in one of your mugs. Get creative in any way with making food for him in any of your mugs and he'll be so happy. He's thrilled that you not only brought him food, but you made it yourself in one of your precious mugs.

Belphegor

Only gets annoyed about the mugs when it's his turn to do dishes or cook. Seriously, MC, your mugs are taking up so much space in the kitchen. They're everywhere. It makes it hard to do anything in there, you know?

Cares a lot less about it when the shelf is installed. In fact, if there's a big enough gap, he's going to start sleeping under the shelf. It's a cozy spot there in the kitchen and he gets to hang out in there with Beel while he's eating and still get some sleep in.

Due to Lucifer constantly trying to prevent you from buying new ones, Belphie is absolutely going to deliberately show you where the mugs are in any store you're in. He wants to watch Lucifer scramble to stop you. He will show mugs to his brothers too because he knows they'll want to get them for you.

Before you can even think to bring him something to drink in one of your mugs, he's going to choose one from your collection that he informs you is his. This one mug of yours is actually his, he's just letting you keep it with the rest. You always bring him drinks in it. Every time you do, he notices and blushes a little bit, but he never says anything about it.

Diavolo

Hears about the mug problem happening at the House of Lamentation and thinks it's just about the cutest thing he's ever heard. No doubt he first heard it from Lucifer who was likely complaining about the situation, but you know the complaints basically went in one ear and out the other. Diavolo just heard MC collects mugs and that's it.

Comes over to the house to see the new mug shelf. Brings you a set of new mugs to add to it. They are high quality mugs and they're pretty unique too. You put them on the top of the shelf because these are officially Special Occasion mugs. Wants to know about all the mugs. Tell him where you obtained all of these, MC! He wants to hear all about it.

Constantly finding new mugs to bring you. Always brings you one when he comes over. Sometimes he buys you a new one, but sometimes he just takes one from the castle to give to you. Drives Barbatos crazy at first when random mugs go missing until he figures it out. Starts keeping extras so Diavolo can bring you whatever mugs he wants.

Whenever he's there, bring him something to drink in one of your mugs and he's going to be so happy. Since he doesn't live with you at the House of Lamentation, if you choose a set of matching mugs and give one to him to take back to the castle, he's going to lose his mind. Refuses to use any other mug but that one.

Barbatos

He's perfectly happy to hear about how your mugs have taken over the kitchen at the House of Lamentation. Finds it humorous. But you know that if it was his kitchen, your mugs wouldn't stand a chance. He wouldn't get rid of them or anything, but he would absolutely keep them washed and categorized. They would always be put away safely. He would have a whole storage area for ones you don't use as often.

Pleased to learn of the new shelf Lucifer got for your mugs. When he's over visiting, he doesn't comment on it other than to say something about how your collection is growing. He doesn't expect his level of dedication to such things here - he's just glad you guys have done something to keep the collection in check.

He won't buy you a lot of mugs himself, but he won't prevent you from purchasing new ones, either. He might show you some other things - after all, don't you realize how superior teacups are to mugs, MC? Here, let him show you. However, he does find a mug that is also a tea pot and he gets that for you the instant he sees it. It's like the perfect combination of his interest and yours.

When it becomes evident that you are always wanting to use your mugs, Barbatos makes sure you have a nice group of them at the castle. That way whenever you come over, he can serve you tea using one of the mugs from your collection. Keeps teacups nearby in case you decide you want to use one, but defaults to one of your mugs.

Simeon

Kind of in the middle about it. He loves to see how happy you are when you get a new mug, but he also thinks you should probably try to keep your collection from getting out of hand. It's really taking over the kitchen, you know? That can't be safe.

Definitely becomes a little less concerned when the shelf comes into the picture. At least now you've got a place to keep them all out of the way. He wouldn't even have considered using the House of Lamentation's kitchen while it was so cluttered. But now he might use it if he's there for something.

He's worried about Lucifer's stress level, so he's far more likely to distract you from buying additional mugs. Steers you away from them whenever he can and doesn't usually get you any himself. He will make exceptions sometimes, though. If he sees a mug that he just knows is going to make you incredibly happy for some reason, he can't resist. He might also get one for a special occasion.

More than happy to use one if you bring him something to drink in it. He's actually really creative about cooking with mugs, too, and comes up with all kinds of random pastry ideas for them. They're great little containers for making a single serving of something. Simeon gets the idea to incorporate your mug collection into baking desserts for parties. What do you think of a little cheesecake in a mug, MC?

Solomon

He thinks it's hilarious. Any time he's at the House of Lamentation, he uses magic to expertly stack your mugs. They look rather precarious, but don't worry, they won't fall! Once the shelf becomes a thing, he offers to use magic to make it hold a lot more than it normally can. Kind of like one of those bottomless bags, this is a never ending shelf. You can put mugs on it forever.

If this is happening in the Nightbringer timeline and you've got your mug collection in the kitchen at Cocytus Hall, you can be sure Solomon will enable you. Don't worry, he'll go the Lucifer route and make you some kind of storage situation for them, but unlike Lucifer he'll never make you get rid of any. Does the same kind of magic that makes it so you can keep adding new mugs until the end of time.

Absolutely buys you more mugs. Gets you special ones, makes you magic ones, constantly adding to the problem. Never tries to distract you, always points them out instead. Ask him for any kind of mug magic and he's on it. You want a mug that always stays hot? Done. Need a mug that never spills? He can do that too.

You know, MC, these mugs are just the right size for mixing potions. He can't help but wonder if the material would change how the potions turn out. Give him some to use and he'll be so excited. Keeps them forever, even if it turns out that making potions in mugs is not really very effective. Keeps ingredients in them. Just make sure you never drink from one of the mugs that end up with him.

Luke

MC! Your mugs are everywhere! Why do you need so many? You'll have to explain to him that you just have a collection because you love mugs so much. He's still concerned about the state of your kitchen. How do you cook anything in there?

Calms down quite a bit once the shelf exists. Probably rearranges it every time he sees it. Because you guys are not very good at keeping those mugs in check so he has to take it upon himself. When he's there, let him choose his own mug to drink from. He might end up choosing the same one every time. Make him happy by giving it to him. He'll bring it back to Purgatory Hall and insist on using it every single day.

Tries to follow Simeon's example by preventing you from purchasing more mugs when he can. However, he also really likes to see how happy you get when you find a new one you like. Sometimes can't resist showing you because he wants to see you smile. Let him pick out which one you get.

Fascinated by mug baking. Makes Simeon teach him how to do it. Ropes Barbatos into making them, too. Starts just making himself little mug cakes whenever he gets a craving for something sweet. Always uses the mug you gave him. Maybe give him a couple more so he can have a rotation.

masterlist | Thank you for reading!

[leithanienwnt]

This is a big one. My very first time niching a CC, and I pushed it to the absolute limit. I'll break it down below:

So this is only 510, but it's way harder than the 620 I did with my full roster (and the 500 I did with the niche before this, but I'll go over that later). That's a common thing with niching because it just doesn't give you as many options (and honestly, that's kind of the point), but it's actually not just my operators that are different. The thing about niching this cc is that your niche can easily just lock you out of a huge number of tags. Without a vanguard, I can't take any dp related risks; without enough guards or casters to be able to just rely on one or the other, I can't take the class bans; without more than one unit that has offensive recovery, and relying on ranged units who have their non reed tiles banned, I can't take the sp down tags; etc. Add the fact that those things break set bonuses and lock me out of a number of other tags that my niche might be able to do, and I'm very limited in what I can take. Because of this, the only way I can maximise my score is by pumping as many points as possible into making the enemies as strong as possible. I took all the drone tags and all the car tags (though I took the non-invis option for them, since blocking them was a non-option, locking me out of another set bonus). I took the enemy caster buff tag, I added the extra evocators, and on top of all of that, I maxed out all enemies' attack, minimised my units' HP, and reduced my units' attack substantially. With all of this, there's little to no room for error throughout. But let's get to what I'm doing here.

So the opener is Bassline and Eyjaberry. Bassline cannot survive there on his own, with either skill, as the burn burst, the melee mobs, and the caster together all provide just too much pressure for him to heal through, requiring Eyjaberry. Then Lessing sets the tone for how tight the rest of the clear will be, by taking out the first enemy in the blue box. He goes really hard on this map, particularly on S2. Reducing the damage from the seeds, casters, and evocators lets him live things that no one else would manage. After that I activate Eyjaberry S3 to make sure Bassline is at max HP before I retreat her (and to leave him with some lingering heals from her talent), and I swap in regular Eyja to clear out the enemies that Bassline is blocking before I retreat him and place Vivi. (I can't open with Eyja, as she'll use all her S2 charges on the caster that's there, meaning she'll leak the melee mobs that open the map. Managing her charges is very important throughout the map, but I'll touch on that more as we go).

When I M9ed Viviana, I had no intention of using her S1 seriously. I just wanted to finish her M9 before I got to any of the more practical ones because she's my favourite character, and if I was going to invest those kinds of mats into any character, it was going to be her. I did not expect to then use it to AFK more or less an entire lane in a CC, especially not with the -30% attack that I took. It just happens that it works perfectly for taking each enemy out before they enter the reeds and turn invisible. The only exceptions are the first enemy that spawns before I can place her and the two that enter the map together. Her being able to do all of that is huge, as it lets me focus my five unit deployment limit to taking out the map's big threats, and means that I don't have to block/heal on that side beyond those two enemies that come together.

Next come Eben and Diamante. Diamante is my main option for dealing with the seeds in this map, and that first deployment is half to clear them out so that they don't expend Eyja's S2 charges, and half to deal extra damage to the rush. Meanwhile Eben uses his delta mod for extra damage to take out the rover, and Lessing takes out one evocator and more than enough of the next one for Eyja to deal with it later (again, I cannot stress enough how massive his damage reduction is on his S2. The fact that he survives for his full skill duration there is nuts). His placement is also really, really tight, as I want him to get hit by the second evocator right before he takes out the first. This means that he'll take that damage while blocking, reducing it massively, and giving him as much time as possible before its next attack so that he can maximise his damage. Though while I'm managing that timing, I miss something and make the one mistake in this run.

I was supposed to retreat Diamante the second that caster fell, so that I'd have DP to deploy Carnelian ASAP. I missed that by a few seconds, meaning Carnelian was just slightly too late. This almost cost me the run. A second or two later, and it actually prevents her from taking out the evocators and doing extra damage to the rover, meaning that it would move far enough to reveal Eyja, letting the caster that's walking down the middle take her out. In my desperation to let her get as much damage in as possible, I end up missing retreating her, costing me some valuable dp as the caster and seeds take her out. This ultimately works out still, but it makes everything else even tighter. One more missed retreat and I won't have enough for later.

After that is just setting up for the leak. Lessing and Eyja thin out the enemies on the left, leaving just the one that Bassline needs to block for the eventual invis drone leak. But I can't talk about the drone leak without talking about the 500 point clear I got before this. The difference was that I swapped the -20% ally attack for the -30%. That doesn't sound like much! But wow did it mess things up.

So most of my units do just fine with the reduction. I was a bit worried about Lessing and Eben, since they both scale so hard off of attack, meaning any decrease to that base attack gets magnified, but they were actually totally fine. The problem unit, however, is also the one that I lean on heavily to deal with all the seeds: Diamante. Without him dealing with the seeds, this is not possible. His +90 ASPD and hit-two from his S2 is desperately needed. With -20% attack, he two shots them, letting him deal with them efficiently and making the painful process of baiting out the last few seeds (including the ones that spawn INSIDE the blue box) doable. But with -30%, he needs three hits. This extra hit is the difference between him clearing them out and him getting overwhelmed. But I can't let that happen. Having only four ground units, baiting the seeds is really hard, and with all the attack up and HP down that I stacked, no one can live getting hit with three or more. Enter Earthspirit and Czerny.

Earthspirit was the only unit that didn't actually get used in my 500, and she isn't out for long here, but she is VITAL. She slows down the seeds, keeping them away from my ground units, and crucially gives Diamante the third hit that he needs to take them out, easing the pressure while he's off skill. But still, that can only last until they start spawning outside of her range.

Czerny, on the other hand, was used in my 500, but mostly just as a body. He still needed to do that first deployment to block the enemies in the reeds, and then I'd use him again at the end to bait some seeds. But here the margins are so much tighter that I actually need him to bait two rounds of seeds. The timing on this is incredibly tight, but with placing him at the right point, and activating Bassline's S2 at the right moment to get him up again in the moment between two seeds hitting him, he can live long enough to activate his S2, giving him +100% HP, and making him the only unit in my niche that, with Eyjaberry's S3 also giving him +30% HP, can tank more than one round of the seeds. However, the other thing complicating that is that his S2 blast going off would destroy the stall that I need for the seeds that spawn in the blue box, so the timing on it all is unbelievably tight. Actually, yeah, speaking of the stall, let's talk about that.

So leaking the drones is possible, but it's a major pain. I fully believe that HG did not intend for us to be able to leak them, as it's difficult enough to let them get to the blue box in the first place, but then they both spawn seeds INSIDE the blue box. Now, there are some units that, with some work, can attack/destroy them before they leak, but that wasn't really an option for me. Instead, I have to bait them, but the ones that spawn deepest in the box only have one tile in their range. And that tile is the bottom left, in the reeds. You know, where your unit is invisible. This means that to make the leak work, you need to stall an enemy on a blocker there to the end. But you also need to keep that blocker alive, so they can't actually bait a wave of seeds themselves until the ones that come from the blue box. This requires a lot of bodies. My niche, however, does not have a lot of bodies. That meant that there was no margin for error here, and that each and every seed had to be individually accounted for, especially to manage leaking both of the invis drones.

The second drone was much easier to leak in my 500. There, because Diamante handled the seeds just fine, I was able to save Eyja to deploy her where I have Carnelian here, and the splash damage from her S2 would take out the seeds that spawn in the blue box that time (though they would have been out of her range for the first one, and even if they were in her range, they spawn too close to the leak point itself for her projectile travel time to let her take them out before they leak, so I did still need to have Bassline stall up until the first drone leaked). (Also, no, Carnelian isn't doing anything here. She's just kind of an emergency button in case the seeds end up taking out Bassline and I suddenly need to get rid of the enemy he was blocking). But here I need her to replace Diamante, as even with skill, he won't be able to stop enough of the seeds from hitting my ground units. Because of this, I need to keep the stall going for EVEN LONGER, so that Bassline can bait the seeds from that one too. It's all so tight, and you can see that based on how much I keep the operator select bullet time going, as well as in me going back and forth on whether to place a unit or not at various points. Fun fact, this clear's recording is about two minutes longer than the 500 point clear, because of just how long I kept the bullet time going. Even after it works, I still place Eben and activate Carnelian out of paranoia for a potential extra seed spawn. But ultimately, it works out. All the things that I'd planned and theorised would work finally did. And Vivi even gets the final kill.

[bambi-kinos]

@yulia-k-blog

Sorry it took me a while to answer this, I wanted a short break from meta and there's more to write still. John and Yoko's relationship eh.

I think they had a genuine camaraderie and artistic connection. Yoko was doing something interesting when John was bored, frustrated, and angry. I think that her ideas genuinely excited him especially since she was using abstract thinking in her art, as well as focusing on audience participation in a way that John had never thought of before. What I noticed from reading about Yoko's exhibits and props was that she wanted to invoke reactions and emotions in the audience. Like she once constructed a box made out of plywood and stuck it full of pickles or something and the whole deal was that you were supposed to stick your hand in it. Feels creepy and gross but at least you felt something right? That's what she wanted.

Now whether Yoko's art was actually any good is a completely different question. She was not the only or first performance artist to be creating exhibits with the idea of making audience participation as the focal point. She wasn't the only or first abstract thinker to come out of Japan at that point either. John was kind of a dumbass for being so taken with her honestly because by the time November 1966 rolled around, Yoko wasn't doing anything new or even interesting. John met her at Indica because other performance artists setting up their crappy little exhibits there. Yoko's whole thing was that she came to the UK because she deduced that the British were more willing to put up with her half baked ideas. She couldn't get traction in the United States specifically because artists from France and Germany and other Western European nations had moved to New York City to GTFO out of their wartorn nations and find their fortunes overseas. So it wasn't just that Yoko was behind the curve and trying to play catch up, it's that the sophisticated international globetrotters in New York City spent a lot of time putting her in her place with regards to her art hustle lmao.

But anyway. John and Yoko, they had a genuine connection. I think that was real. John couldn't make anyone give a shit about her but hey, he was impressed with her. Can't fake that. I think Yoko had a genuine affection for him too, even if it was more like a Hollywood actress doting on her purse puppy a la Paris Hilton.

The problem is that this was manufactured lmao. Yoko pestered Paul for manuscripts in 1965 or thereabouts (yes it really was that early), he deflected her to John, and she began stalking John at his fucking house to the point he changed the phone number a few times and she sent him tampons, once jumped into his car and demanded a ride while Cynthia was also in it, and other crazy shit like that. Yoko was really, really desperate for his attention but she was also desperate for his money: she wrote up a goddamn contract with her then husband Tony Cox where they agreed to split the proceeds that they got from John Lennon 50/50. I don't know if this was before or after """meeting""" John at Indica in 1966 but Yoko's original plan was to steal everything she could from John and split it with her husband. What a nice lady looking after John's money for him like that, making sure it wouldn't get stolen, huh.

I do wonder sometimes if the Beatles thing got out of Yoko's control and if she was just as much along for the ride as Paul was. But anyway. Again, sorry, about myself, I editorialize.

Yoko wanted a patron and she decided to aim high for a Beatle. John wanted to escape the Beatles and go on a "fuck Paul" spree. They both gave each other that. And I think they both succeeded admirably in what they wanted to do. Yoko got to have her Beatle and she has never been without money ever since. John got to jump on the "fuck Paul" train and he never got off it, regardless of what his true feelings about the matter were.

It was not a phony relationship by any means. I think that John legitimately respected Yoko as an artist. He saw something there that no one else does. It's just that it was always lopsided. Yoko liked having John as her pet and he liked being her pet. It was never a relationship between equals like it was with John and Paul.

And I mean. To John's credit he did not want a relationship between equals. Multiple reports from the Dakota confirm that John actively wanted Yoko to handle everything and he resented the idea that he should take charge of his finances and his diet and his life. When Yoko fired John's lawyers so he would have no legal representation in her impending divorce plans (god that was a quagmire) he did not raise a peep as far as we know. What makes their relationship so baffling is that Yoko did so many awful things to John and the worst he would do in response is use their tarot reader Charlie Swan as a marriage counselor and vent his feelings about his wife before quietly returning to their dynamic.

How do you keep a man like John Lennon? How do you make him stay? Yoko shows us how! Ignore him! Do not speak to him for weeks on end! Insult him and call him names! Give him a limited allowance of money and unlimited drugs! Take over his legal and financial representation and absolutely do not allow him the choice to take it back!

tl;dr Cyn and Paul loved John and he ran from them. Yoko squeezed John for everything he had and he clung to her. That is their relationship.

[not-goldy]

What's funny as hell is Tae flat out saying in everyone's faces he's excited to go to military alone and do his own thing and will look forward to coming back together afterward to see what its like for everyone. He said you bitches later lol. Vmin shippers & tkk sitting there listening to Tae say that right in Jikook's faces & still think he's dating their favs. What a joke. If my partner said in my face I'm happy we're going our different ways for 2 years, the way Tae said in Jimin and Jk's face I'd probably take that as a sign he's not that into me & call it a day. lol And then there's Jikook saying not us, we going together. Same way Tae said he was happy to be living on his own & spending time by himself & it cuts to Jikook stuck up each other's asses eating at Jimin's together while the other members are doing their thing. So what I gather is Tae likes his space. He likes being alone away from other members and has no problem doing that and saying that to their faces & then there's jIkook saying we come together as a package deal to everyone, including the military officials. I can't.

People are slow to catch on to things and yet they hate on those who do for no reason at all.

I spoke a lot about Jungkook and Tae seemingly wanting to go solo and for Tae he gave me panick attacks at night thinking he wanted out like really out of BTS💀💀💀

This dude looked depressed for years in the band but suddenly when it was time to actually Kickstart his Solo career he came alive 😩😩😩😩😩

I took offense at that not gonna lie🤣

And running off with his Wooga squard doing THE SAME DAMN things he'd done with BTS now zuht wus offensaaaave.

They've been together for years and I get that not everything was great- but most things were and some of us are hoping they BTS till the wheels fall off- it's a scary thought to think some wouldn't want to come back- I'm looking at you Namjoon Tae Suga and Hobi 😩😩😩💀

Most of them were so over living in the same dorms and I recall Hobi talking about how he loved the members but wouldn't want to go back to share a room.

Personal space is so important and independence is never underrated. I don't fault Tae for wanting his independence he's a grown man and needs to feel like it.

No matter how tough it is, I think getting away from eachother for a few years especially knowing yall will soon be back together as a boy band is healthy.

It breaks whatever unhealthy attachments that were formed and will help erase the disadvantages of over familiarity such as breaching and disrespecting eachother's boundaries all the time and taking certain things for granted.

When they come back I expect to see that maturity and respect amongst them however close they get.

It's also possible some might become more prideful and think they are better off without the others.

I'm saying all this to say that I'm side eyeing Jikook. Like I didn't even know the buddy system existed till those two used it.

They didn't just go individually and coincidentally ended up in the same camp they enlisted together with a program that will guarantee they in the same unit same dorm same bed

A very deliberate and calculated move.

So I laugh when people say they were coerced into it especially when you consider that the whole enlisting was their idea. BTS would have eventually been exempted THEY CHOSE TO GO ON THEIR OWN ACCORD because they were tired sitting around waiting for their government to make up its mind. Enlisting was a power move.

Deep deep sigh.

Lord, I don't want followers I just want to find the mature sane rational honest and bold jikook followers even if there's only 2 of them hide me from any other person account or bot in Jesus name

[missvelvetsstuff]

Just a Number

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: Reader meets Bucky at a party and the attraction is more than either one of them wants to resist.

Notes: Since most stories are younger readers I felt like having a more mature reader could be a nice change of pace. Especially since I'm creeping up on senior discounts and want to believe Bucky could fall in love with someone like me.

I try to keep my readers description vague but, as always, she's female, tall and this one is obviously 40+

Chapter 11

After Val left, Y/N went in to speak to Pepper about her unexpected visitor. Pepper shared her concerns about this strange woman showing up out of nowhere and they spent the rest of the afternoon researching and compiling information on Val. Her jet set upbringing, parents murder, her relationship with Nick Fury and alliances with a number of bad guys painted a murky picture of someone who was obviously high up in the intelligence communities pecking order. Pepper gave her some tips and tech for dealing with that crowd.

When Y/N and Dawn made it home the first thing that Y/N did after greeting Olivia and the dogs was take an electronic device and check the rooms until it started beeping around the dinner table. She looked all over it and found a small electronic device stuck to the underside, which she crushed under her heel then dropped into the dogs water bowl. She set the bowl on the kitchen counter and did the same thing a few times when she found other devices.

When she was sure they had all been found and destroyed Y/N sat down on the couch and slumped into the cushions. Dawn made them all drinks, then she and Olivia sat and waited for Y/N to explain what was happening.

Y/N took a long drink before sitting back up and looking at her sisters.

"I had a surprise visitor at work today, I think you've met her" she looked at Olivia who didn't know what to say so Y/N went on "Contessa Valentina Allegra deFontaine or "call me Val" stopped by the office to let me know how she thinks I'm really good for James and should encourage him to accept her offer so she can keep my family safe."

Dawn let out a string of expletives before asking "Who the Hell does she think she is? Coming in and threatening our family. I have half a mind to-"

Y/N tried to calm her "Sissy, calm down. There's a reason I searched for bugs before talking about her. Pepper and I have spent the afternoon looking into this woman and she is high up in the intelligence community with some interesting history. Not the type we can just bury in the woods."

Dawn was seething "I'm just tired of being fucked with by outsiders. What is this project she wants him involved with."

Y/N shrugged "She never told me but seemed awfully sure I could influence him into accepting her offer. Based on what Pepper and I found on her, I don't think it's something James will want to be involved in.

If I ever even see him again, which is doubtful, I would never push him towards anything he wasn't comfortable with. On the off chance that we do see him again we won't be mentioning any threats against us, regardless of who she is. I won't have him doing something because he thinks he has to protect me."

She looked at them both with a question in her eyes and Dawn nodded, always having her sisters back.

Olivia looked sacred and couldn't offer the same promise "But, Y/N what if she-"

Y/N held her hand up "No matter what, Olivia. We must stand united, as a family. Always."

Olivia looked at her and nodded meekly.

Y/N smiled softly "I know it's scary but we can't let her bully us."

A few days later, on Saturday night, Y/N was woken up by someone pounding on the front door, her puppy bolting out of the bed and barking his way to the door.

"Loki! LOKI! Sit!" He promptly sat but she could still hear him growling softly and patted his head.

She looked thru the peephole and gasped, not believing her eyes, standing shocked for a minute before she opened the door. "James?"

Bucky felt his knees weaken when he saw her, mussed hair, sleepy eyes full of confusion....he had never seen anything so beautiful. Suddenly all the words he had wanted to say to her were caught in his throat and he was at a loss, unable to do anything but stare at her longingly.

He felt something touching his hand and his heart sped up, thinking it was her reaching for him but the cold, wet nose pushing against his hand shocked him out of his daze and he looked down to see the dog licking his hand.

He looked back up at Y/N and she giggled "Loki. That's enough."

She gave Bucky a small smile and opened the door "You've been cleared by security if you want to come in."

As he entered, Dawn wielding a baseball bat, and her dog were stumbling down the stairs.

Dawn stopped at the bottom of the stairs to assess the situation but her dog went to check out the new person.

"Thor! Get back here, don't go kissing on the intruder." She snapped in annoyance.

Bucky looked at the dogs at his feet and couldn't help but laugh "Loki and Thor? Holy shit!"

Dawn shook her head and looked at Y/N with an eyebrow raised, questioning. Y/N nodded and Dawn headed back up the stairs "Thor! Bed!"

Her dog whining, looked at his brother and reluctantly followed her up the stairs.

Once Bucky stopped laughing and closed the door he felt her staring at him and he lost his words again.

He reached for her and sighed sadly when she pulled back "Y/N, doll, I'm so sorry for showing up in the middle of the night but we just landed at JFK and I couldn't wait any longer to see you, it's been so long and everything is such a mess and I-  I can go if you want."

She shook her head and looked at him tiredly "Well I'm awake now. Come in and have a seat. You want some coffee or something?"

Bucky shook his head "No, thanks. I'm alright." He stared at his hands before taking a deep breath and stammered

"I, fuck I uh I don't know where to start I feel like I haven't seen you in ages and so much has happened."

He looked up at her hopefully. "I want you to know I never wanted her. I mean, those pictures. I didn't want her. She kept flirting with me and I told her no a hundred times but I didn't, I mean I guess I did something but she drugged me and I never wanted her. I don't even remember anything. You could even ask Sam and Captain America can't lie, you know." He gave her a small smile that she returned, making him feel warm inside.

Y/N listened as he rambled nervously, her heart fluttering at how hard he tried to convince her but her brain was more skeptical. "She drugged you? How does that work on a super soldier? You told me you can't even get drunk except on Asgardian liquor so how?"

He shrugged "I don't know specifics but she must have given me a strong enough dose, way more than a regular person would need to knock them out. We were drinking shots playing some crazy card game and then I woke up naked, next to her. I don't want to sound paranoid or like I'm making excuses but I think John was in on it with her because they were fucking around the rest of the trip-"

A gasp caught both of their attention and they turned to see Olivia, eyes wide, filling with tears and with a hand over her mouth. "Who wh who was John messing around with?" She was barely able to spit it out.

Bucky looked to Y/N helplessly, deducing that the strange woman must be John's wife Olivia.

Y/N gave him an apologetic look and hurried to Olivia's side as the sobs started coming.

Dawn appeared like out of nowhere and put an arm around Olivia's shoulder then nodded her head towards Bucky, wordlessly telling Y/N she had Olivia before leading her back to her room with Thor.

Bucky shook his head when Y/N returned to him "Shit, I'm so sorry. That's his wife Olivia isn't it? I I didn't-"

She shook her head "Of course you didn't, you couldn't have. She received a letter that Johnny was MIA over a month ago and has been staying here ever since. They haven't had any kids yet and he won't let her get a job or any pets so would have been home alone all this time. She's been helping train the puppies and has dinner ready most nites when we get home."

Bucky carefully reached for her hands, scared she would pull away again, and sighed in relief when she didn't.

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, doll. I've really missed you."

He slowly pulled her into him and wrapped his arms around her.

Y/N let him pull her into him and felt her eyes filling with tears as she hid her face in his chest, fighting to hold them back, fighting to hold back all of the emotions she had been dealing with since the last time they were together but the sobs beat her and he squeezed her tighter and rubbed her back, burying his face in her hair.

"I'm so sorry sweetheart. I never meant to be gone so long and I'm sorry that you got those pictures and I'm just sorry."

Y/N nodded and sniffled, trying to wipe the tears on his shoulder "I know, it's ok. I mean not ok but it wasn't your fault."

Bucky looked in her eyes and even tired, red and full of tears they were the prettiest eyes on the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"I can't promise there won't be any more long absences but I can promise no one will ever catch my eye or my heart like you have."

Y/N giggled "Yeah, I met another one of your other girls while you were gone."

Bucky was confused "Other girls? I don't have anyone but you. Who did you meet, exactly?"

Y/N nodded "Yeah, I guess that's not fair. She didn't really seem like your type and had a very long name but insisted I call her Val."

Bucky stiffened "Val was here? What did she want?"

"Not here she stopped by Stark Tower to meet me. She made sure that I knew that she knew every single detail about me and my family before telling me that I should encourage you to accept her offer but wouldn't tell me what it was. So I didn't make any promises. Pepper and I looked her up, she's pretty high up on the intelligence community tree which makes me wonder how much she can be trusted to follow through on anything she promises."

Y/N paused to let him tell her about his interactions with Val but he was quiet too long for her liking so she pushed. "You've obviously met her so tell me, what's her deal? What does she want from you?"

Bucky looked at her for a moment, considering how much he should tell her since he didn't want to endanger her or her family but realized that Val visiting indicated Y/N was already in danger, no matter what he did.

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair

"She works for, or maybe with, General Ross and they are making plans for if he becomes president. I say if but she seemed pretty confident he will win."

Y/N nodded to encourage him to continue "They are putting together a team, like the Avengers but all with, I think she said troubled, pasts. Me, John and she mentioned people from the red room where Natasha, I mean Black Widow was trained. Val strongly encouraged me to work things out with you, said you would help keep me grounded. I just don't know if I want to get into a team under a man who pushed the Sokovia Accords and has threatened to send me to the raft more times than I can count. I mean, can I really trust either of them? And do I want to weigh you down with a partner who has to be away risking his life?"

Bucky paused to catch his breath "To make matters worse she didn't really give me a choice. I can join their team or they'll get my pardon revoked and I spend the rest of my life in the raft."

Y/N looked at him confused and she was so adorable he wanted to kiss her but restrained himself and explained

"The Raft is a top secret ultra high security prison created for enhanced individuals that's located somewhere in the North Atlantic. It is underwater unless someone is coming or going but prisoners don't leave."

He saw her brow furrow and her face grew red, she started shaking

"What?! That's no fucking choice, they can't do that to you. We need to tell someone. Can't let that little bitch make you join their team. Why, I have a good mind to-"

Bucky rubbed her back "Calm down doll. Unfortunately they can. If it happens, then he is president and a traitorous assassin vs a highly decorated general slash president, isn't a fight I can win."

Y/N whined "But Jamie, you can't-"

He shushed her "Hey, sweetheart. It'll be ok. I'll be ok. You're the one I'm worried about."

"Why? What's she going to do to me? I'm no good in a fight so she doesn't need me for her team." Her nerves twitched, hoping Bucky wouldn't realize she hadn't told him everything.

He heard her heart speed up and saw the small drops of perspiration on her forehead "Y/N honey, did Val say anything else when you spoke to her? Are you sure there wasn't anything else? She didn't threaten you did she?"

She jumped a little "Threaten me? What do you mean? Like she would kill me or something? I don't know what you mean."

He saw her pupils dilate and how she wouldn't look him in the eyes. "Baby" he said softly while stroking her back "I need you to tell me everything. If we're going to try to make this work we need to be honest with each other."

His hand moved some hair out of her eyes and held her chin gently until she looked back at him and quickly away

"It's nothing" she mumbled something else he couldn't understand.

Bucky sighed "Ok well I guess that's my answer. Take care of yourself doll. I'll get out of your hair." And started to pull away.

Y/N couldn't bear the thought of him leaving again "Wait. Jamie."

He kissed her on the forehead "Look doll, it's alright you can tell me anything."

She looked away and mumbled again.

"Y/N" he gently scolded

"Fine. She said if we were together and you took her offer that she would make sure my family stayed safe, like we'd get hurt if you didn't. I didn't want to put more shit on your shoulders that's all."

Buckys eyes flashed anger "I'll have to talk to her about that. Threatening the people I care about is a deal breaker."

He caressed her cheek with his flesh hand "I don't know if I want to put any trust in Val or Ross but I do believe they would lock me up and never think twice about it and if I'm locked up then I'm not with you and I really want to be with you."

Y/N looked at him, searching for any trace of uncertainty in his stormy blue eyes but there was none. "Good. I want to be with you too."

Bucky grinned at her "You're sure? Cuz once you're mine, you'll never get rid of me. I'll follow you to the ends of the galaxy."

"Isn't that supposed to be ends of the earth?" She questioned with a giggle.

Bucky shook his head "Not with some of the friends I have."

He looked at her for a moment before pulling her close and kissing her. The kisses started soft and gentle until she let him in and Bucky groaned at her taste, she felt the rumble in his chest to the tips of her toes and whined at the rush of wetness in her panties.

Bucky kissed down her neck mumbling against her skin "so sweet, never get enough of you doll"

He stopped suddenly and sniffed when she whined and growled "dammit baby, you smell so fucking good" before kissing her hard holding her with his hand on the back of her neck. He moaned as she ran her fingers through his hair, pulling gently.

When he had to pull away to catch his breath he looked at her guilty and pulled away "Fuck, I'm sorry. That's not taking it slow, I just missed you so much and I-"

Y/N looked at him with lust darkened eyes "Shut up and carry me to my room, Sarge."

Buckys breath caught "Anything you want doll, is yours."

Chapter 12

@supraveng @cjand10 @440mxs-wife @kandis-mom @dtba-grey81 @calwitch @ozwriterchick

[goodnightmemes]

LONGLEGS (2024) SENTENCE STARTERS

❛ There she is, the Almost Birthday Girl. ❜

❛ That kid smelled like narcotics. ❜

❛ Just relax. I'll go take a look. All right? ❜

❛ Half-psychic is better than not psychic at all, I'd say. ❜

❛ You can read about it in the file. ❜

❛ I'm telling you, she's not ready for this. ❜

❛ It's hard to explain. It's like something tapping me on the shoulder, telling me where to look. ❜

❛ Anything like that ever happen to you before? ❜

❛ Well, maybe we'll just call you "highly intuitive". ❜

❛ You know, there's such a thing as looking too long. ❜

❛ I must have lost track of time. ❜

❛ You didn't call to say goodnight. ❜

❛ Even veals grow a little. ❜

❛ Is it scary being a lady FBI agent? ❜

❛ Do you have to let the phone ring so long? ❜

❛ I'm okay. I just can't sleep. A lot on my mind. ❜

❛ Somebody's birthday's coming up. ❜

❛ Still your only daughter. ❜

❛ I don't think the Bureau has a division for nice things. ❜

❛ Are you still saying your prayers? ❜

❛ Xs mark the spot. ❜

❛ I know you're not afraid of a little bit of dark...because you are the dark. ❜

❛ I don't know what that was supposed to be. ❜

❛ I've seen you before, ain't I? ❜

❛ Gosh, I don't ever wanna forget him. ❜

❛ If'n he told me to kill you right-right here in this room with my bare hand, I'd surely do. ❜

❛ Just happy as peaches to watch your heavy heart go pop-pop, and your eyeses to go all to blood. ❜

❛ Yeah, that couldn't be anything but a coincidence. ❜

❛ [name] is just a man, not a witch doctor. ❜

❛ What aren't you telling me? ❜

❛ I never said my prayers, never once. They scared me. ❜

❛ All our prayers don't help us. Prayers don't do a goddamn thing. ❜

❛ I can't believe it's gonna be your birthday again so soon. ❜

❛ What a day that was. I bled...bled... bled...bled… ❜

❛ No one ever came to visit us. Not any family. No strangers. No big, bad wolves. No anybody. ❜

❛ But these are things a little girl shouldn't know. ❜

❛ I'm not a child anymore. ❜

❛ You're not a child because you were allowed to grow up. ❜

❛ This is a cruel world. Especially for the little things. Not all of them are allowed to live. ❜

❛ I might have forgotten everything I possibly could, for both of our sakes, but I never threw anything away. ❜

❛ You really don't remember this guy? ❜

❛ You sure you wanna start a manhunt with this? ❜

❛ I mean, he worships the Devil, that's for sure, but in the United States of America, he's allowed to do that. ❜

❛ I'm more concerned about the fact that he knows who you are. ❜

❛ He's downstairs. Right under your feet. ❜

❛ I'm a friend of a friend. ❜

❛ We had such a big laugh about it. Although, it was only me who laughed, not she.❜

❛ You don't work alone, do you? Someone's been helping you. ❜

❛ I knew then that the work we were doing was immaculate. ❜

❛ But your work's over. It's done, and you're gonna be in here for the rest of your life. ❜

❛ Well...I'll let you get started now. ❜

❛ Hail Satan. ❜

❛ We had the guy, and now we got nothing! ❜

❛ You didn't have to come with me. ❜

❛ I wasn't gonna let you drive after what you saw today. ❜

❛ It's okay. It's...it's done now. ❜

❛ You could've made nice with me, but you didn't...and now that has led to all of this. ❜

❛ That was the deal that she made. ❜

❛ Why are you doing this? ❜

❛ If they don't die, then we will burn...and twist, and burn, and twist, in hell, forever and ever. ❜

❛ I'm doing this for you just like I've always done. ❜

[sourb0i]

Just got out of Beetlejuice 2! I'd give it a 4/10 overall

Pros:

All the original actors (Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara etc, Wynona Rider) reprised their roles really well; Catherine O'Hara in particular

The relationship between Lydia and Delia was nice; I enjoyed the whole 'you did it to me, now it's happening to you' between Celia, Lydia, and Astrid

Practical effects were good; honestly it was just refreshing to have any at all. I especially liked Charles' shark-bite effect

There were some genuinely funny parts, especially the (first part of) the wedding musical number

I thought Dolores was interesting as an antagonist, and I liked her character design (though I have gripes- see below)

Cons

The vibe just wasn't there. The plot didn't really feel committed to any one thing, and when the movie ended my first thought was "what the fuck was that about?"

There were also a lot of plot holes-- or at least, worldbuilding holes. Why was Beetlejuice working in the Afterlife office? Why is there a crime unit (and laundromat)? Why couldn't Lydia see her dead husband, even though he said he "checked up on [her and Astrid]" periodically?

I am honestly really pissed about how Barbara and Adam were written off. Obviously they can't have the original actors reprising their roles, but they deserved a better ending than a hand-waved one liner.

While Dolores had a lot of potential as an antagonist, she wasn't given nearly enough character. Her only lines (as far as I can remember) were "Where's Beetlejuice". Why is she so obsessed with him? What does she hope to gain by reuniting with him? What's the deal with her soul-sucking quest for immortality? So much wasted potential

The same was true of...the Murderous Boyfriend Who Was Such a Non-Character That I Forgot His Name As Soon As He Said it.

Seriously. They could've set up a great plot twist if they'd given him more character/more set-up with the parents. Instead the guy was a walking red flag.

I also wasn't a huge fan of Astrid's character. Like they set her up to be this girl who is ostracized bc of her mom (fair), but then instead of leaning into that they made her into this Gen Z Feminist/Eco-Warrior archetype, and it just felt like the writers were trying to make fun of that instead of actually making her into a whole person. Like, ok, she knows who Marie Curie is (even tho she got the nationality wrong), but what does she do for fun? What kind of music does she like? Does she have any hobbies outside of activism?

While I enjoyed some of the musical numbers (the wedding, and the soul train particularly) on their own merits, they just felt really out of place. The original had a solid musical theme, but this felt all over the place

Also! I wish we'd gotten to see more of Lydia interacting with ghosts in her day-to-day life! That seems like something that could be really traumatic and/or played up for comedic purposes. I loved the gag with her and the other actress in the bathroom! Give me more of that!

Overall, the movie felt like it didn't really know what to do with itself. There were so many out-of-place cameos (Burn Goreman, I'm looking at you), and stylistically and thematically it never really felt committed to one thing. It was an empty movie with nothing to say, and that's really disappointing, because it had a lot of potential to be something fun.

(Also. Produced by Brad Pitt?????)