#Man I wish I could play frontier

[tatsugiras]

Burning Zero Dragon - Eruzerion

[mllemaenad]

Listening to Wyll's backstory in context of all the details we're acquiring on devil's contracts and soul selling is fascinating.

See - I listened to Lann Tarv's three tales to get my soul coins. I felt bad for making Karlach listen to that, obviously, but to be honest I didn't even want the coins that much. I actually wanted the stories. I wanted a better understanding of how this works.

And what I'm learning is - for the gods (and godlike beings) of this world, cruelty seems to be the point. I mean - it's possible there's a god in this world I wouldn't want to stab to death with a rusty fork, but if so I have not met them yet.

These beings have the power to save people and places, to change lives, to do anything. And when someone asks them to - they demand a terrible price. But they don't just demand a price. They subvert the original request in such a way that they utterly fail to deliver on the original promise.

An abused woman wishes to be loved - and her true love appears, but dies instantly. A man wishes to save his children from starvation, and ends up personally growing masses of meat on his own body - not only painful for him, but forcing his children into survival cannibalism, which they were trying to avoid.

Auntie Ethel works the same way. Every one of her customers is left in a tortured state, while Ethel still takes her payment.

The idea is that the person must come to regret their wish long before the payment comes due. Every cry for help must be met with a boot to the face. Or else the mortals will get uppity? Or something.

What is interesting is how consciously Wyll defies that. And how much Mizora is dancing around, trying to force him into that state of miserable regret.

Wyll was manipulated into selling his soul. He was a kid, and he was summoned into a terrible situation - and in that moment, he could see no other way to save the city. Mizora did need to save Baldur's Gate to serve her boss's purposes, so she couldn't take that victory from him - but she did everything she could to take the joy of it.

He didn't get respect, or admiration, or his father's pride for saving the city. He lost his home and his family. He was assumed to have done something monstrous because he was denied an opportunity to defend himself.

That was supposed to fill him with bitterness and regret - but he got to work building his own life instead. By the time you run into him, the Blade of Frontiers is a hero of some renown. He's remade himself, and found a way to enjoy what his powers can do, however he came by them.

So that didn't work.

Then Mizora sent him after Karlach, and that was a mission tailored to break him. Karlach is kind and heroic herself, and that the start she has been sold into slavery, mutilated and forced to fight in a war against her will. If Wyll killed her, and then found out who she really was, then he betrayed everything the Blade of Frontiers is supposed to stand for - and he would lose the life he made for himself.

But he didn't, and that didn't work either. He's got a friend, now, who at least knows part of what he's dealing with.

So Mizora gave him demonic features. That would destroy the life he's made for himself, because no one would trust him to help them.

Except now Wyll basically goes nowhere on his own, and a small army of people can attest that he got those horns and eyes as punishment for being a good man. Mizora might be able to shut his mouth, but she can't silence his friends - and the group absolutely have shouting sessions about everything. Wyll's horns become a battle scar, like his missing eye, and nothing more.

And beyond that, if you are playing as a heroic character, a significant throughline in the game's story is the journey of the tiefling refugees. The story makes it clear that these people experience a constant barrage of racism, due to their appearance and "demonic" heritage. It also makes it abundantly clear that this prejudice is entirely undeserved - they're just people, with virtues and flaws like everyone else, and what is happening to them is terrible. So Wyll turns up to assist a bunch of people whom he now at least somewhat resembles - and with Karlach along, you have two people in the group who technically count as "infernal", but haven't got an evil bone in either of their bodies.

Mizora created solidarity. Oops.

Wyll is deeply suspicious of gods and higher powers. He doesn't want to make more deals with devils. When Elminster arrives to tell Gale what Mystra demands of him, he explicitly says he does not do religion. When you get Mizora to agree to let his contract expire in six months, he starts by casually invoking the gods - but switches to thanking the player character instead, because he knows who helped, and who did not.

But he utterly refuses to regret the pact he made. That can be a struggle. He clearly misses his dad, and would like that relationship repaired. The fact that he was transformed very much against his will is clearly a source of distress from him.

But if he regrets, then Mizora wins. That's it. Game over. She gets what she wanted all along. So he doesn't.

The main companion characters all have this kind of problem, and naturally have different ways of dealing with it. You have characters like Shadowheart and Lae'zel, who were indoctrinated as children, or Gale, who was literally seduced by one of these nightmare deities - and with them you have to start out by convincing them they they were the wronged party in the first place.

But Wyll knows exactly what game he's playing, and he's been screaming defiance the whole time. It's just that, in his case, the "defiance" is grinning and carrying on every time Mizora inflicts some more bullshit on him.

[torukmaktoskxawng]

run away with me

Pairing: Nor/Sarentu!Reader

Warnings: Spoilers for Avatar Frontiers of Pandora, fluff, angst, mentions of brainwashing and residential school trauma

Taglist: @mooniequeen

A/N: No one has requested me to write for AFoP so I decided to take matters into my own hands *cracks knuckles* Let's get to work.

This is basically my rendition of the cutscene you see when playing the game, after the title card. I made it lean more toward the angsty, romance play that we were robbed of when the game finally came out XD Enjoy!

Part 2

When So'lek told you that Nor had left Resistance HQ to have some time to think, you knew you needed to seek him out.

Using your new abilities and talents to track him down, it didn't shock you when you found Nor on one of the highest cliffs near the base of their new home. You remember he made a comment earlier about how there were more colors on Pandora than he remembered and how he had no names for them. You suspected he'd be all the way out here, admiring those colors and maybe trying to invent new names for them.

He didn't react when you approached the small fire he made, likely expecting you to come find him. He turned to face you with lowered ears and a forlorn look in his eyes, "What must our ancestors think of us? Do you think they pity us? Sad to see what we've become?"

"We're still Sarentu."

"Teylan barely speaks our tongue, but then... he always preferred human words."

"Alma says we all need time to adjust."

"Alma is not Na'vi." He growled lowly, turning away to kneel down in front of the fire.

You weren't deterred by his attitude, knowing Nor better than you sometimes knew yourself. He felt things stronger than most. He was passionate about what or how he felt and he wasn't afraid to admit it, hence why he didn't shy away when he proudly proclaimed his feelings toward you. It was years ago now, just the night before Alma snuck you and your friends into cryosleep to wait out the war. All that time you could've been with Nor... lost to cryosleep.

Nor felt the same loss as well, and that is why he wasn't wasting any more time. When neither of you are out on missions, you're with each other, safe at HQ, making up for lost time. Your relationship is technically still new and can easily be chalked up to young love, but Nor didn't see it that way. He claimed that was the way only Sky People saw it, but not the Na'vi. He wanted to do this right, and in his mind, the only right way was the Na'vi way.

So he asked So'lek for advice, on standard Na'vi customs and what the older man might know about the Sarentu ways to court someone. Nor was determined and straightforward about what he wanted to make sure you only got the best treatment. The Na'vi treatment, something that you deserved to have when you were younger but it was taken from you.

That's what you loved about him, growing up beside him. He reminded you so much of your sister at times with their shared determination as kids, though you refused to continue making that comparison after she died... afraid that if Nor acted too much like Aha'ri, then he would die just like her. You couldn't bear to lose him, too, not after everything Mercer and TAP have done to you.

Even now, as you two stood on top of that cliff, you were afraid of losing him, either to death or to life, should life and fate decide to tear you two apart. You wished you could vocalize your fear to him, but you were never as brave or as straightforward as Nor. You were grateful he had approached you about his feelings first, or else neither of you would've ever known.

Although you were not one with words, you were one with actions, and even Nor knew that you communicated with deeds.

Walking up to him, you slide your hand over his shoulder, and while he doesn't say a word, trapped with the demons in his head, he places his own hand on top of yours, a gesture of gratitude. He was thankful for your comfort, knowing that your way of communicating stems from being touch-starved and you would rather voice your thoughts through your actions instead of just saying them because, to you, that means so much more.

You keep your hand on his shoulder, the warmth of his palm bleeding into your skin while you look up and over the cliffside, admiring the scenery with a sad tone in your voice, "Why did the RDA come back?"

"They wanted more of Pandora," he responds with defeat, "They always do."

"Then we'll need to fight," you express with determination, squeezing his shoulder, "Aha'ri would have wanted us to fight."

You try to pull away, but Nor is suddenly too fast. He grasps your hand, gently, and you pause in your movement. He stands to his full height to gaze into your eyes, trying to relay what he's thinking without saying a word. But he wasn't like you. He wasn't good at sharing his thoughts through actions. He was better at it by talking, so that is what he did.

"Or we could run," he suggests and is quick to continue when the expression on your face falls, "Leave this place. Find somewhere else to call home."

"We've talked about this, Nor," you sigh tiredly, recalling not long ago when you, him, Ri'nela and Teylan were all sitting around a fire as Nor suggested they could all run away together. You express the same thing you said back then, too, "Alma brought us here for a reason. She believes in us."

He snarls, though there isn't much heat behind it, "Alma just wants to control us."

Not even you believed what he was saying, lowering your voice to a comforting whisper, "Alma is not Mercer. She actually cares about us as People."

"She left us."

"She thought we were gone."

He steps closer until he's nearly pressed against your chest, his hands sliding up to gently grasp both sides of your face, entwined in your hair. His voice wavered, desperate eyes staring back into yours, "If it were me instead of her, I would've clawed through the rubble of TAP, and I would've looked forever. Un... until I knew for sure if I lost you or not."

You wanted to be touched by the statement, your heart fluttering in your chest while Nor could no doubt feel your heartbeat, pumping through his hands as they rested near both sides of your neck. You shake your head slightly, "That is different. What Alma feels for us is not the same as... as what you feel for me. For all of us."

He shivered, almost proud that you managed to admit your confidence in his feelings toward you. He leans his forehead against yours, breathing in the same air as you while he matches the intimate moment with a whisper, "Exactly. I can't trust Alma with my family. I can only trust myself or you to take care of the four of us, to ensure we stick together."

You wet your lips when they felt dry, deciding to play into his dream for a little bit, "Suppose we did run away... where would we go?"

'Wherever we want! All of us,' he wanted to say the same thing he told Teylan down by the campfire, but he says it differently with you, "Anywhere, far away from here."

"Just the four of us?"

"The four of us," he confirms with a nod, thinking that he had you convinced, "We'll start our own clan. We'll renew the Sarentu."

"And what will happen when the war eventually finds us?"

Your question drives Nor to freeze, and so you continue, "Either Mercer, RDA, or TAP, it won't matter. They'll find us. You know they will."

He unfroze finally, huffing with determination, "Then we will fight."

"But if we fight now, and we win, then we can leave and we will never have to worry about the Sky People again," your hands moved until they were wrapped around Nor's waist, a bold move to match his own, his fingers still wrapped up in the hair on the back of your neck,

"We would never have to keep running or look over our shoulders ever again," you continue, "If we can end this sooner than later, I will go with you. I'll go wherever you want. But... But I can't leave now knowing what the Sky People are capable of. I can't leave knowing that there would be another child out there whose clan was wiped out and I wasn't brave enough to stop it from happening. I would never forgive myself."

Your words stun him into silence, and the intensity of his gaze causes you to feel shy and embarrassed, lowering your head to avoid him until his hands pause your movement. He gently uses his thumbs to push your chin to tilt back up, and when your eyes meet, he pauses for a moment, his intense eyes scanning your expression before his lips twitch up into a small, fond smile, "Heh."

"What?" You tilt your head, hesitant but smiling as well.

"Nothing. It's just... Aha'ri would be proud of you."

He says it so confidently that you know you believe him, and his words make your heart swell with pride and grief, missing your sister. Nor leans back and digs in the pocket of his pants, "I have something for you."

"What is it?"

He provides a carved stone, bearing the mark you both have on your face to signify your long-lost clan, "It's something to remind you of me, whenever you leave HQ and I cannot follow you. It's also a promise."

"What promise?"

"That if I ever leave, it will only be when you are ready to come with me," he leans back into your space, pressing your foreheads together once more as he closes his eyes, taking in your scent, "This time, my love, I go wherever you go."

You clutch the stone in your hand, wanting the carved mark to brand into your skin as you close your eyes as well. You already plan to tie Nor's stone into the songcord So'lek had given you, and you hope that in time, the songcord will grow, and there will be many more milestones to signify. Milestones that you hope that Nor and your friends will share with you, as Sarentu and as your family.

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[e-vay]

if it’s okay to ask, What are top 5 favourite sonic games and what is it that you like about them?

Mine are 1. Sonic Unleashed, 2. Sonic Adventure 2, 3. The Murder of Sonic The Hedgehog, 4. Sonic Riders Zero Gravity, 4. Sonic Frontiers

Those are some great picks!

Mine are constantly changing, but my current top 5 as I'm typing this are:

1: The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog. This game was so unexpected and it did not need to be as awesome as it was, but man they put everything into it. The art is GORGEOUS. The writing is HILARIOUS. The gameplay is actually fun! And Amy's (basically) the main character? An absolute treasure! I can only hope we get more like it!

2: Sonic Adventure 2 Battle. The game I think of when I think "Sonic." It's the perfect balance of great story and gameplay. It's heavy but it's also fun. The Chao Garden. The main storyline already has great replay value, but the individual challenges for each level were actually fun (and killer) and made you explore each level in a new way. I never get tired of playing this game!

3: Sonic Frontiers. This game is so beautiful not only visually but emotionally. I can't tell you how many times while playing I would specifically scale to the top of a structure just so I could enjoy the view. And every time it rains in the game it's breathtaking! I LOVED that we got a story with serious, heartbreaking themes. I cried multiple times (AND ESPECIALLY DURING EGGMAN MOMENTS!?!). Don't get me wrong, I think it's important for Sonic games to be fun too (and I had a lot of fun playing this, for sure) but I love when the writers aren't afraid to delve deeper and explore the vulnerability of these seemingly unshakable characters.

4: Sonic the Hedgehog 3. My favorite of all the classic Sonic games. I enjoy the graphics in this version the most and the music tracks and levels are peak in my opinion. And even though the bonus level drives me nucking futs, I actually love it (I'm a masochist I suppose).

5: Sonic Dream Team. I was not expecting this level of quality from a mobile game. The character models ARE SO GOOD I CAN'T TAKE IT. They're so beautiful??? Let me kiss them PLEASE. The levels are vivid and so detailed and really look straight out of a dream. There are VOICE LINES?! I constantly replay levels as both Sonic and Amy because I just love hearing them so much. I also love games that offer different gameplay styles depending on the characters you play (though obvi I prefer playing as Sonic and Amy). It's reminiscent of SA2. I just wish it was a console game and not limited to Apple Arcade. More people should be able to play it, especially on a big screen where you can appreciate it!

Thanks for the question!

[aph-japan]

“‘Come out, English soldier; come out here to us.’ For some little time we were cautious, and did not even answer. Officers, fearing treachery, ordered the men to be silent. But up and down our line one heard the men answering that Christmas greeting from the enemy. How could we resist wishing each other Merry Christmas, even though we might be at each other’s throats immediately afterwards? So we kept up a running conversation with the Germans, all the while our hands ready on our rifles. Blood and peace, enmity and fraternity - war’s most amazing paradox. The night wore on to dawn - a night made easier by songs from the German trenches, the pipings of piccolos and from our broad lines laughter and Christmas carols. Not a shot was fired." -Peace on the Western Front: Goodwill in No-man's Land - The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce {Smithsonian Magazine}

Hetalia ~ Episode 100 ~ Japanese Version + Germany & England

Gifs by @aph-japan {Do Not Repost or Reproduce without my Permission} {Do Not Remove Caption} {DO NOT Use my Posts for overly negative commentary} [Positive or Respectful is OK!] (Please ASK to Use)

During the first eight weeks of World War I, French and British troops stopped the German attack through Belgium into France outside Paris at the First Battle of the Marne in early September 1914. The Germans fell back to the Aisne valley, where they dug in. In the First Battle of the Aisne, the Franco–British attacks were repulsed and both sides began digging trenches to economise on manpower and use the surplus to outflank, to the north, their opponents. In the Race to the Sea, the two sides made reciprocal outflanking manoeuvres and after several weeks, during which the British forces were withdrawn from the Aisne and sent north to Flanders, both sides ran out of room. By November, armies had built continuous lines of trenches running from the North Sea to the Swiss frontier.

The Christmas truce (German: Weihnachtsfrieden; French: Trêve de Noël; Dutch: Kerstbestand) was a series of widespread unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front of the First World War around Christmas 1914. The truce occurred five months after hostilities had begun. Lulls occurred in the fighting as armies ran out of men and munitions and commanders reconsidered their strategies following the stalemate of the Race to the Sea and the indecisive result of the First Battle of Ypres. In the week leading up to 25 December, French, German and British soldiers crossed trenches to exchange seasonal greetings and talk. In some areas, men from both sides ventured into no man's land on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to mingle and exchange food and souvenirs. There were joint burial ceremonies and prisoner swaps, while several meetings ended in carolling. Men played games of football with one another, creating one of the most memorable images of the truce. Hostilities continued in some sectors, while in others the sides settled on little more than arrangements to recover bodies. The following year, a few units arranged ceasefires but the truces were not nearly as widespread as in 1914; this was, in part, due to strongly worded orders from commanders, prohibiting truces. Soldiers were no longer amenable to truce by 1916; the war had become increasingly bitter after the human losses suffered during the battles of 1915.

The truces were not unique to the Christmas period and reflected a mood of "live and let live", where infantry close together would stop fighting and fraternise, engaging in conversation. In some sectors, there were occasional ceasefires to allow soldiers to go between the lines and recover wounded or dead comrades; in others, there was a tacit agreement not to shoot while men rested, exercised or worked in view of the enemy. The Christmas truces were particularly significant due to the number of men involved and the level of their participation—even in quiet sectors, dozens of men openly congregating in daylight was remarkable—and are often seen as a symbolic moment of peace and humanity amidst one of the most violent conflicts in human history.

-from Wikipedia's article; "Christmas truce"

"Having a gunfight on {a Holy night/timeframe} wouldn't be right." -Germany

Say what you will about "Hetalia", but this sequence was semi-based on real historical events - Real events that should be much more well known.

[gemtopia]

Niney the Na’vi girl

This is a short story I wrote about my Avatar OC named Niney. Niney is the half-human/half-Na'vi child of So'lek, a Na'vi warrior, and Ziva, a human who used to work for the RDA but is now part of the Resistance. The story is told from Niney's point of view and explores the ups and downs of being a hybrid, what it's like to be rejected by your own people, and finding a friend in the most unlikely places.

This was an idea that came to mind after playing Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. For reference, here is a list of Na'vi words that I used in the story and what they mean in English.

Sempul- meaning "Father" Sa'nok- meaning "Mother" 'itetsyip- meaning "little one" Kaltxi- meaning "Hello"

“Toruk Makto!” said Sempul.

“So’lek! It’s good to see you brother.” said Jake.

The first time I met Jake Sully and his family was when I was nine years old. The year was 2170 and the Resistance had been talking about how the RDA had been tracking Jake Sully down ever since they arrived back on Pandora. There was a lot of talk about the RDA’s new base called “Bridgehead City” and how it was supposedly five times the size of “Hell’s Gate”.

“It’s been a long time,” said Jake in Na’vi.

The two of them talked for a few minutes before I slightly peaked out from behind my Sempul’s legs, catching Jake’s gaze before quickly hiding myself again.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.” said Jake.

Was he talking to me?

“She does not get to see many Na’vi.” said Sempul, “And she has been through a lot in the last few months… we both have.”

Sempul placed a hand on my back and urged me to come out from behind him. I was hesitant but did as my Sempul wished. Jake kneeled down to my level but was still much taller than me.

“Your name is Niney, right?” asked Jake.

I nodded my head yes.

“There are some people I would like you to meet.” smiled Jake.

As he stood up I suddenly became very shy and hid my face in my Sempul’s side. Just a few months beforehand I had lost my Sa’nok to the RDA.

My story begins at the first Resistance headquarters. The year was 2161 and my Sa’nok almost died giving birth to me.

Sa’nok’s name was Ziva Shapiro and back before she joined the Resistance she was a pilot for the RDA with her friend Trudy Chacon. The day Sa’nok and Sempul met was the day of the Battle of the Hallelujah Mountains. My Sempul, So’lek, was a hunter who had a vengeance towards the humans. My parents didn’t fall in love immediately because after the battle Sempul kept to himself but over time they found peace in each others company. Their relationship was a secret for a long time but when Sa’nok discovered she was pregnant with me the secret could no longer be kept hidden.

I grew up in an old RDA field lab that had been confiscated by the Resistance.

It sat on the outskirts of the Kinglor Forest in the Waterway Valley. Life was peaceful and we were happy… until the RDA arrived.

Sempul’s intentions of bringing us to the island were to keep me and Sa’nok safe and to this day he still blames himself for what happened. On the morning that it happened Sempul wasn’t even home, he was on a mission with the Resistance to rescue a group of kids from the RDA called the Sarentu. It started with soldiers in these tall machines coming onto the island. Sa’nok knew their intentions and feared for our lives so she sent out an emergency frequency to the Resistance as they made their way onto the island.

Everything happened so fast. Somehow word got back to John Mercer, a very powerful man in the RDA, of my existence and he had sent the soldiers to bring me to him.

“Come on out Shapiro!” shouted one of the soldiers, “We just wanna talk.”

Sa’nok didn’t trust them and was afraid of what Mercer would do to me.

I had been swimming when I spotted them coming and so we hid in the lab. Sa’nok was already prepared by the time they reached the front yard with stun grenades on her hip and a shotgun at her side.

“When I tell you to run, you run out the back and hide in the tree house. Understand?” whispered Sa’nok.

I was beyond scared and a little bit confused as to what was actually going on.

“John Mercer sent us here. We have a great opportunity for you and your kid!” taunted the soldier, “John says if you two come with us back to Bridgehead City that he’ll drop all charges from the RDA.”

“What does that mean Sa’nok?” I asked.

“It means they’re going to do experiments on you and God knows what else to me if we go with them. It’s a trick Niney.”

Sa’nok went over to the tarp door and looked through the crack. From the looks of it we were surrounded by AMPs.

“What do we do?” I asked.

“You see that large tote over there in the corner? I want you to go over there and dump everything out and crawl inside and close the lid. Okay?”

I ran over to the tote and dumped out all of the clothes and gear that was inside. I took one last deep breath before Sa’nok closed the lid and stacked the clothes ontop. I could hear her shuffling around and then I heard her shout back at the soldiers.

“Your too late fellas! She’s not here. Her father took her back to his clan.”

“Is that so?” said one of the soldiers, “And what clan would that be?”

“You really think I’m gonna tell you that?”

“If you value your life you will.”

There was a moment of unnerving silence.

“The Zeswa clan,” said Sa’nok, “Up in the plains, that’s where they are.”

“Much obliged!” said the soldier, “But you see, John wants you too and we need to know if your going to come willingly or by force.”

My heart was pounding out of my chest. I could hear heavy stomping outside coming from all around followed by what sounded like metal gears grinding.

“There’s no need for any kind of brute force,” said Sa’nok, “I’m compliant.”

Sa’nok shuffled around some more and I heard her whisper to me.

“Don’t come out until you hear total silence. I have to go with them in order to lure them away but I’ll be fine. Knock if you understand.”

I knocked on the side of the tote.

I was starting to smother and my chest was becoming tight.

The heavy stomping started up again except this time it was rapid.

“Alright boys!” said the soldier, “Light her up!”

I remember hearing Sa’nok scream in horror and then everything became really hot really fast. The soldiers had flamethrowers and were given orders to burn everything down. I scrambled to get out of the tote but it wouldn’t budge. That’s when I felt the tote being dragged and the lid was ripped off. Sa’nok had managed to break free and run back inside but we weren’t safe yet.

The entire lab was filled with smoke and bright orange flames engulfed the ceiling. We crawled along the floor to where Sa’nok had placed her shotgun. She grabbed one of the grenades and pulled the key.

“Cover your eyes.” she said.

She through the grenade and there was a loud boom. We were now under fire from the soldiers.

“Get to the treehouse!” yelled Sa’nok.

I crawled over to the back entrence and made a run for it. I didn’t get far before I something snagged my braid. Whatever it was began to lift me up into the air and I felt an excruciating pain radiate throughout my head.

“I caught it sir!” yelled one of the soldiers.

Suddenly there was a bright flash and the soldier dropped me. I couldn’t see anything but I could hear repeated gunfire so I stayed close to the ground. I was afraid I was going to be stepped on by one their machines but I couldn’t see where to go.

Once my sight came back I crawled my way to the little space underneath the foundation of the lab. From there I could see everything that was happening. Sa’nok was hiding behind a massive tree, jumping out every little bit to shoot at the soldiers. In the distance was the treehouse that they hadn’t yet burned. The main soldier leading the fight noticed me tucked under the foundation and began making his way over to me, the ground shaking as he grew closer. 

“Sa’nok!” I cried.

Sa’nok heard me and ran through the gunfire. It was too late though and the soldier in the big machine grabbed ahold of the structure of the lab and lifted it off the ground flipping the entire thing over. As he reached down to pick me up Sa’nok yelled for him to stop. The soldier turned around holding me by my braid.

“You just had to make this difficult.” said the soldier.

Sa’nok was aiming at him as she slowly walked closer.

“Put her down!” said Sa’nok, “I’ll do whatever you say just put her down!”

“Lower your weapon! NOW!”

“Put her down!”

“I said lower your weapon or I will shoot her!”

Sa’nok lowered her shotgun to her side. The soldier sat me down but kept his grip on my braid.

“Now here’s how this is gonna go. You and your abomination are coming with us back to Bridgehead City and if you try to stop us we will kill both of you right here on the spot. Do I make myself clear?”

Sa’nok regetable tossed her shotgun to the ground and raised her hands.

“Book ‘em.” said the soldier.

Sa’nok made eye contact with me as one of the other soldiers walked up behind her to place hadncuffs on her and shouted to me in Na’vi.

“Run to the tree!”

That’s when Sa’nok reached behind her back pulled out a real grenade and threw it at the soldier that was holding me. He threw me to the ground at the sight of the grenade and raised his gun towards Sa’nok. I quickly ran as the grenade went off causing me to lunge forward.

As I layed on the ground covering my head, my ears started ringing. I raised my head to look around and just as I did I saw Sa’nok fall to the ground, her body riddled with holes.

My heart stopped.

“Sa’nok!” I cried.

I ran over to her lifeless body.

“Sa’nok! Sa’nok!”

The remanding soldiers pointed their guns at me as the began to surround me. All I could do was sit there, holding her in my arms as I screamed and cried. The soldiers were yelling at me to stand up but in that moment something in me changed. Something strange happened that I don’t even know how to explain. Everything felt as though it were in slow motion.

I remember raising my hand out infront of me and screaming as if to stand my ground.

That’s when it happened…

Suddenly, dozens of thanators appeared out of nowhere and began attacking the soldiers.

I don’t remember the carnage or the gore of what the thanators did but I do remember entering a trance-like state where everything around me was like a dream.

According to Alma it was nightfall before anyone could get to me. When the Resistance finally showed up they said they had never seen anything like it before. I was laying next to my Sa’nok’s body, asleep, while dozens of thanators were encamped around me as if to protect me. Supposedly it took them forever to actually reach me, having to work their way around the vicious thanators.

I was covered in Sa’nok’s blood. I don’t remember the next few weeks after that and apparently I didn’t talk for a long time.

Sempul was lost without Sa’nok and was emotionally absent for while as well.

“I believe Eywa has a plan for people like us,” said Kiri, “You just have to believe it and keep faith.”

Growing up I was never treated or seen as an equal by other Na’vi but by some ironic twist it was always Sa’nok’s people, the humans, who treated me with kindness. I didn’t have any friends until I met Kiri. I remember telling Kiri that I had lost all hope and recently questioned the Great Mother’s very existence.

To put things into perspective allow me to fully describe what people witness when they see me.

I don’t look like a human and I definitely don’t look like the average Na’vi.

I don’t stand at a towering ten feet tall, I’m only four foot ten and that’s how tall I am now. When I was nine years old I was even smaller than that. I don’t have blue skin, I have white human-like skin with faded pink markings. I do have a tail along with Na’vi facial features like a big yellow eyes and pointed ears. I also have a tswin or as the humans call it, a neural queue, like other Na’vi that starts at the top of my head and goes all the way down my back. I don’t have black hair but a whitish blonde that gives me an albino appearance and instead of having only four fingers and toes I have five.

When I met Ney’omi along with the other Sarentu they were fascinated by my very existence. They were taken from their clan and raised by the RDA in a residential school and were used to seeing humans and Avatars but not hybrids, not people like me.

Ney’omi was kind and Teylan was fun to be around but I could tell Nor and Ri’nela were leary of me. As time went on and the RDA grew closer to HQ, Nor became more bitter towards the humans and got to where he wouldn’t even enteract with the humans in the Resistance.

He especially despised Alma but at the time I didn’t realize what she had done to the Sarentu. Even before Nor stabbed Alma I didn’t like him. The day I lost all respect for him was the day he told Alma to stop teaching me about other Na’vi cultures because she wasn’t a true Na’vi and neither was I. Sempul didn’t like that and told me to stay away from Nor. I won’t lie when I say that I was relieved when Nor ran away and despite Ney’omi and Teylan being kind to me and playing with me every now and then, even they were distant from me at times but I like to tell myself that it’s because they were so much older than me.

“Niney,” said Jake, “I want you to meet my kids.”

Right from the start it was Kiri who was the most excited to meet me.

There was four of them and they were all captivated by me. There were two boys that almost looked like twins, a little girl who was still much bigger than me, and there was Kiri.

I was nervous and backed into Jake’s legs.

“Everyone, this is Niney,” said Jake, “So’lek’s daughter, the one I told you about.”

Kiri clasped her hands together and smiled at me with pure joy as she slowly made her way over to me, the others following behind.

“Kaltxi,” greeted Kiri signing Hello.

I sheepishly smiled and signed Hello back.

“Niney, this is my oldest daughter, Kiri, and my youngest daughter, Tuk.”

“Your so cute!” exclaimed Tuk.

“Tuk!” scolded the oldest boy, “She’s not an animal.”

“I didn’t mean anything bad! She’s just so small.”

“Tuk!” scolded their Sa’nok.

“You’ll have to forgive Tuk. She’s never seen anyone quite like you.” said Jake, “This is my son, Neteyam and my other son, Lo’ak.”

The two boys stepped forward and signed Hello.

Neteyam went as far as to kneel down and shook my hand like a human. Gathering up a little more courage I stepped closer to them. 

“And this is their Sa’nok, Neytiri.” said Jake.

Neytiri smiled at me and got down on her knees, gently cupping my tiny face in her hands as she spoke to me in Na’vi.

“Hello, little one.” said Neytiri.

For whatever strange reason a wave of emotion hit me as I looked into her eyes and my heart began to ache. I felt my eyes swell with tears and in an instant I threw my arms around Neytiri’s neck and began to silently cry.

“I miss my Sa’nok.” I whispered in Na’vi.

Neytiri wrapped her arms around me and stood up, holding me as if I were one of her children.

“What’s wrong?” asked Tuk, “Was it something we said?”

“No, Tuk. I think she’s just been through too much.” said Kiri.

Jake walked over to Neytiri who was also emotional by my sudden embrace, and layed a hand on my back. Sempul joined us outside. Neytiri smiled at my Sempul and handed me to him where I hid my face in his neck.

“I’m sorry for your loss, brother,” said Jake.

“We will manage with Eywa’s strength.” said Sempul, “I am just thankful that they did not take my ‘itetsyip.”

“I can’t imagine losing Neytiri that way,” said Jake, “The RDA will pay for all the lives they’ve stolen.”

“Ziva was my everything… but now she rests in Eywa’s embrace.”

The Sullys stayed at the Resistance for a few days before they returned to the Omatikaya. They were there to trade weapons and help restock essential items like medicine, bandages, food, and ammunition. While they were there Kiri and I grew very close. We talked about our favorite things and exchanged stories. She showed me simple weaving patterns and taught me about basic herbal medicines. She was very passionate about the wildlife of Pandora and showed a strong faith in Eywa.

The day before the Sullys left HQ Kiri sat me down and had a heartfelt talk with me.

We were sitting on the floor, relaxing, in the lounge area of HQ when she took my tiny hands in hers.

“Niney I wish to talk to you about something.” said Kiri.

“What is it?”

We had been putting little braids in each other’s hair and adding beads. I was slightly distracted by one of my braids but kept listening.

“Tomorrow morning we have to leave and something you said has really been on my mind.”

I knew where this was heading and I tried to change the subject.

“Sa’nok used to do my hair in something called a dutch braid. You want me to show you?” I asked.

“Niney,” said Kiri, “I know you miss your Sa’nok and I know you lost her in horrific way… but I don’t want you to lose hope.”

I lowered my head to avoid the conversation we were about to have. Kiri could see that this was painful for me and hugged me in an embrace.

“I know what you did that day,” whispered Kiri, “I know what happened with the thanators and how they kept you safe.”

My heart dropped.

How did she know about that?

“I want you to know that I can do weird things too,” said Kiri, “And I want you to understand that the Great Mother hasn’t forgotten about you. This thing that you and I are capable of it’s strange but it’s a gift.”

I looked up at Kiri and she was smiling at me with the most loving and motherly presence.

“Eywa loves all her children Niney. Please, promise me you won’t give up on her.”

The love and concern in Kiri’s eyes was legitimate and sincere. I could tell that she truly meant everything she was telling me.

“I promise.” I said.

“Have you ever connected with Eywa, Niney?”

“I did once when I was a baby but… I don’t remember.”

“When you and your Sempul come to visit us we’ll take you to the Tree of Souls and we’ll connect to Eywa together. Would you like that?”

I smiled back at Kiri.

“Sounds exciting.” 

The morning the Sullys left, Kiri ran up to me and handed me a trinket.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“It’s a wooden shell I made to match the one on my songcord. I figured you could add it to yours to represent our friendship.”

“But I told you, I lost my songcord in the fire.”

“I know but it’s never too late to make another one. The songcord is a symbol of your entire life! It’s important for every Na’vi to have one.”

“I’m not a real Na’vi, not like you are.”

Kiri looked crushed at my statement. She reached into the pouch on her side and pulled out three different kinds of cord along with a few stray beads and gave them to me.

“You are more than Na’vi…” said Kiri, “you are my sister.”

I felt a twinge in my chest, not one of heartache but one of love and hope. Kiri hugged me and for just a moment I felt at peace. As the Sullys flew away I held onto the things Kiri gave me and watched as their ikrans disappeared into the Pandora sky. Little did I know that that would be the last time I saw Kiri for a very long time. Within a week after their stay at HQ, we got word that the Sullys had to flee the Omatikaya clan to avoid being caught by the RDA. They fled to the islands of the Metkayina clan where they still ran managed to get caught. As for me things were just getting started. While the Sullys were going through their own battle across the ocean we at HQ were about to go to war with John Mercer and Colonel Angela Harding. Luckily, I was kept far away from the battlefield but as I grew older and the war grew closer to home I learned quickly how to fully use my “gifts” from Eywa… and so did Kiri.

[shelyue99]

I came across BoB only last year (thanks Netflix the best thing you have done to me) hence 22 years late. I wish I had done it earlier (I definitely heard about the title, maybe in the 2000s, but I was too young at the time to take interests in it and I forgot about it), but because of it there are already a lot of resources and materials (and numerous fanfics) to dig into. I love research and meta and here are something I found interesting and relevant to BoB (with a focus on Winters and Nixon) :

Documentary:

Ron Livingston's Band of Brothers Video Diary

We Stand Alone Together: The Men of Easy Company

He Has Seen War

Book:

Band of Brothers, by Stephen E. Ambrose

Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoir of Major Dick Winters, by Dick Winters, Cole C. Kingseed

Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, The Man Who Led the Band of Brothers, by Larry Alexander

Conversation with Major Dick Winters: Life Lessons from the Commander of the Band of Brothers, by Cole C. Kingseed

Hang Tough: The WWII Letters and Artifacts of Major Dick Winters, by Erik Dorr, Jared Frederick

Parachute Infantry: An American Paratrooper's Memoir of D-Day and the Fall of the Third Reich, by David Kenyon Webster

Tinderbox: HBO's Ruthless Pursuit of New Frontiers, By James Andrew Miller

Podcast:

HBO's official Band of Brothers 20th Anniversary Podcast

The Ross Owen Show, this blog has all the BoB cast interview recordings.

Dead Eyes

Other Materials:

"Band of Brothers" 20th Anniversary Symposium, the video can be found here.

Re the symposium, I love some of the trivia stories the cast shared, like when some replacement guy (I remembered it's Rene Moreno who played Ramirez but my memory could be fuzzy) were having dinner with the OG Easy men at this posh restaurant after shooting. Someone asked Moreno what he did today and he said he cut his hair and got to shoot the gun something like that, and Neal McDonough (Compton) asked him to drop and gave him 20, Moreno looked at Ron Livingston for help, who he thought was the only normal person at the table, but Ron was like yeah you had to do it, and so he dropped and did 20 push-ups and startled the waitress and other customers.

The other interesting episode is that when they were shooting for the river crossing scene in Ep 8, a replacement guy (Ramirez or Hashey?) who wasn't in the bootcamp and wasn't that immersed, jokingly told Dexter Fletcher (Martin) to fuck off, everyone went quiet like how dare you say to that to the officer, and Ross McCall (Liebgott) asked, "Permission to throw him off the boat, sir," Fletcher said let him think about it. They didn't throw him off the boat but I find the comparison between those who went to the bootcamp vs. those didn't and thus didn't have a clue is so interesting. Oh, and Matthew Settle still scared the other cast and staff because Speirs is so scary lol.

[thankskenpenders]

In the wake of Frontiers I've been thinking a lot about Sage, so here are some spoilery thoughts on her and the possibilities for further stories with her

One of the most interesting things to think about with Sage is where she could go next. And I hope that she does have somewhere to go next and that she doesn't become yet another one-off character who's off limits for the comics and future games. You can't just introduce a character like "Eggman's AI daughter who he actually genuinely likes" and then just memory hole her like she was just created to be a story hook for one game and nothing else. My main worry is just that they would consider her appearing elsewhere a spoiler for the five minutes you spend thinking she died at the end of the game, which I really really hope doesn't mean it'll be 5+ years before we see her again

Really, though, she creates some interesting conundrums if placed outside of the context of Frontiers, and I really wanna see how they tackle this

The thing is, Sage is a sympathetic character. She's nice, once you get to know her. She's level-headed and avoids unnecessary conflict. She encourages Eggman to work with Sonic when she sees it as the best option, and she's kinda friends with Sonic by the end? But... she's also still Eggman's new second-in-command. And they have an adorable father/daughter dynamic, sure, but this still makes her Sonic's enemy in the long run. This isn't a critique - in fact, just the opposite! I think it leaves the door open for a lot of interesting possibilities. They didn't really have to address this much in Frontiers since Eggman isn't the villain of that game, but should Sage come back as a recurring member of Eggman's team, I'm fascinated to think how they square these conflicting sides of her

Do they make her more villainous, supporting Eggman's attempts to conquer the world, playing up the Sage who gleefully reported on her wins against Sonic? Does she try to reign Eggman in more? Hell, how will Sonic feel about her once the truce with Eggman is over? Does Sonic try to get Sage to leave the Eggman Empire? Or do they make her a friendly rival of Sonic's, one who works against him due to her allegiance but still respects his capabilities with no actual animosity between them? I could see this working well with how nonchalant Sonic often is about having to fight Eggman, and "villain who the protagonist just has fun fighting against without really hating them" is a pretty shounen thing to do, but it's not the only route

Should she appear in the comics, the other elephant in the room is Belle. On a BumbleKast a couple months ago, Ian acknowledged the parallels and said that Sage and Belle just happened to be conceived around the same time - and that he felt sorry for potentially undercutting Evan there. But he also said that the possibilities for interactions between them in the comics were fascinating, and BOY do I wanna see that happen now. Belle was created by Eggman when he was Mr. Tinker, and therefore resents him now that he's back to his normal self. She struggles with whether or not he's even the same man now, and how being created by Eggman reflects on her. Sage, though? Sage just loves Eggman, period. She loves him as her father, and she seems to love working with him. The possibilities for the two as foils of each other are endless. Does Belle wish Sage would come over to the Restoration? Does she envy Sage for being loved by Eggman? Is Sage cool with the fact that Eggman technically has another daughter out there who just isn't part of the Eggfam? Does she view Belle as a traitor? There's so much you could do there

And also yes I want to see her interact with Metal Sonic like in all the fanart. Sage is good! We need more Sage!!

[randomfanner]

Wyll + the Bitchest Bitch to ever Bitch out of the Bitch Plane of Existence SFW Headcanons

So I kept thinking Wyll was crashing my game whenever I talked to him after I rejected him at his dance cutscene. Turns out I just needed to power click x until whatever cutscene was supposed to play was skipped. Now I have Wyll back!

I probably would have done this sooner had it not been for that. He is the Sweetest Prince Charming

Also fuck Mizora. I hate Mizora. I really wish she would get the fuck out of my camp.

Wyll really likes to spar and just practice with wooden rapiers. No stakes, no life or death, just dueling with someone who he is closed to. He loves to teach the kids because it reminds him of that and when they are a bit older then the tiefling children were, he does like to duel the same way.

When he does spar with kids under less horrible circumstances he will play the roll of a big bad villain rather then the Mighty Blade of Frontiers. Of course let them skewer him in the end. Letting them learn and get the feeling of victory.

It feels like passing down lessons the way his father did to him. Wyll truly misses his father and spending time with him more than anything in the world.

If you offered to spar with him he would jump to his feet and he is so excited. He has an extra bit of showmanship, playing the role of a villain who wishes to steal a kiss. He may beat you, just so he may plunder his nefarious rewards.... if he may.

He likes to buy things for the party. His love language is gift and he gifts a lot when you all get back to Baldur's Gate. The shopping trip with Karlach and Astarion happens with Wyll and you if it happens because Wyll wants to buy everyone stuff.

It's a shame the money is pooled/managed by you but please let him take the lead it will make him so happy for this. When he does get money that is solely his he does spend it on everyone else(and fancy wines for himself but shush)

When things have fully calmed down, things have started to be rebuilt and Wyll is allowed to ask for a favor from his father. That favor being gold so he can treat you like the prince(ss) you are.

He will buy you anything you ask. Literally anything. He may also buy something nice for himself.

Before he could buy you things, he liked to bring you small trinkets and flowers he found. He would also buy some of the wines from the kids at Last Light to both encourage their business skills(especially with Rolan being an asshole) and to share with you for later.

He really likes to share his wine with you. It is one of his favorite things to bond with you once you get closer.

Wyll would love to carry you bridal style but unfortunately for our 8 strength friend that is not a realistic possibility on it's own. However Wyll is no strange to using extra forces to cover blind spots, and so he will drink a potion of giant strength to be able to whisk you away.

Now well Wyll is the sweetest man in the world he sometimes does have to deal with the fact he is a devil now. Well he himself has not changes, he may have some new habits he isn't expecting.

it is never anything bad of course. He gets things like wanting to rub his scent on you much like a cat, brushing his nose into your shoulder and giving you a small kiss. Bringing you a fresh blood, cute things he wouldn't have done before.

Also some slightly more territorial things than he would ever do normally... such as pulling you just a tiny bit closer to him. He doesn't even realize he doing it because he isn't a super jealous guy.

Oh he may also have other side effects of being a devil but that is for the NSFW headcanons.

Mizora constantly loves to try and give Wyll horrible, horrible relationship advice. When she is bothering you at camp she will just go to Wyll and tell him he should do things that count as devil courting rituals but to most humans are just attempts at murder.

Wyll of course ignores her and tries to get her to leave him alone, doesn't happen of course it is fucking Mizora. Out of spite he starts going over to court you in the most gentlemanly way possible, not listening to her advice at all.

Mizora also tries to give you unsolicited on what Wyll likes... and of course tries to sew any doubts she can about your relationship. Of course it is best to ignore her and if you can, give Wyll all the positive attention you can.

Mizora will also pop in or have some fiendish force pop up just fuck with any date Wyll may take you on. Perhaps a waiter spills soup in your lap because something tripped him, or maybe the waitress gets a bit bold and flirts with Wyll.

Mizora makes herself such a nuisance at every chance she gets.

[crehador]

quickfire thoughts on fall 2023 now that everything i'm watching has had at least three eps out

EXCELLENT

sousou no frieren: still very easily anime of the season, beautiful in visuals and in story. a quiet, subtle look at loss and grief, and life continuing beyond that. the structure is working perfectly imo, it never feels like there are too many or not enough flashbacks, i feel connected at all times to both the present day party and the himmel-era party

migi to dali: still doing an exceptional job of balancing creepy and funny, i said before that the only thing i can think of with a remotely similar vibe is the movie hot fuzz and while i think there's a different flavor of comedy here, i still stand by that (and that's a compliment bc hot fuzz is an excellent movie)

kamonohashi ron no kindan suiri: although i wouldn't say this is mind-blowingly outstanding in any single way, it's very well-done in just about every conceivable way and comes together as an extremely solid series

BORDERLINE EXCELLENT

overtake: after four episodes i'm so tempted to put it with the 'excellent' shows but have to admit it's just not objectively on that level, it is subjectively one of my current favorites of the season though. silly at times, fairly simple story, but really effectively done so far

ADORABLE

s rank musume: feel like this one is largely going to slip through the cracks because it looks like your typical fantasy-action/adventure series, but doesn't stand out in that genre. the cute/soothing family moments are what stand out to me, but understandably that's not what most viewers of the genre are looking for. remains to be seen if a more action-y plot will build up, have doubts about how effective that will be

yuzuki-san chi no yon kyoudai: VERY CUTE with some very real moments and struggles, the cr subs debacle in the first ep however did it no favors

atarashii joushi wa dotennen: VERY CUTE i almost wish they'd cast literally anyone except umechan for shirosaki bc with him the similarities to cool doji danshi are just too much lmao however umechan is in fact perfect for this character so why not let him play it twice i guess

hoshikuzu telepath: moe yuri that isn't afraid to say rocket science is for autistic lesbians, what could be better?

wataoshi: YURI OF THE SEASON SORRY HOSHIKUZU TELEPATH HERE'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE BETTER i actually would put these two on a similar tier but wataoshi gets the edge for me because rae is so unapologetically, exuberantly gay and that is just so nice to see

SEQUELS

houkago shounen hanako-kun: tragically only four half-length episodes but it's nice to see these kids again, ogata megumi's hanako voice just hits in a way the jjk yuuta voice doesn't, for me, so very glad to hear it again

arknights s2: i'm liking the art even more than i did in s1? not sure if it's actually changed/improved, and imo s1 was already good, but anyway just really enjoying seeing all the faves moving and speaking!

spy x family s2: still cute of course what more can i say

b-project s3: MAN I'M TORN i don't dislike this season (we are getting so many kitakore shots) but i am so stressed out for tsubasa and i just want to see her catch a break! i'm sure the season will end in an uplifting way, but all the stress she's under right now makes me want to punch things

dead mount death play s2: it was good and is somehow still getting better, s2e3 which just came out is one of the best yet imo

GOOD FOR THE ACTION BUT NOT TERRIBLY MUCH ELSE

undead unluck: i kind of... don't like anyone here lmao but the over-the-top, high-octane action is not badly animated, it's just not gripping me on any level beyond that. it does however have the op of the season

ragna crimson: again it's failing to get me really invested in the story/characters but the action is not bad i guess, cast for this one is absurdly stacked so i'm not going anywhere

shangri-la frontier: this one's doing a GREAT job with its pacing and action imo, it's introducing the game mechanics in a way that doesn't feel too fast or too slow. only issue is there really... doesn't seem to be any stakes? like at all? which is not a problem for me personally, it just feels a bit like we're waiting for another shoe to drop

WATCHABLE BUT...

bullbuster: i'm kind of vibing with this after three episodes but i really can't imagine it finding an audience, it's not mech enough to really appeal to mech fans and it's not... typical office drama enough to appeal to typical office fans. it's a strange little combo that just happens to work for me, personally

NOT GOOD BUT I LOVE IT

kawagoe boys sing: this is a ridiculous series, i would say not as wild as number24 but kind of getting there. like number24 but more vanilla, less homoerotic. i loved number24 and I'M LOVING THIS TOO there are some genuinely interesting characters already and though i still currently want to punt kick that teacher into the sun i remain cautiously optimistic that he'll see some character development. at some point. maybe

NOT GOOD. JUST NOT GOOD. SORRY.

bokura no ameiro protocol: really feels like some late-2000s/early-2010s male wish fulfillment dramedy. lots of weird and unnecessary het nonsense going on. honestly would consider dropping if it were 24 episodes but since it's only 12 i guess i'll stick it out. for kimuryo. who is unfortunately playing such a rancid character

[egg-emperor]

we beat Sonic Dream Team!! man I'm so glad I could get the chance to play it after all. it was a ton of fun, I went back to 100% everything across all the stages myself because I enjoyed it so much so all that's left to do is the Tails challenges now which are a time locked renewing thing- if it were my choice I would've done all of those by now XD

I like both but this was more my kind of modern Sonic game over Frontiers in design choices and gameplay. the levels look gorgeous and even with my heavy bias of IT'S EGGMAN THEMED aside, they're colorful and fun and well designed. every level was the most fun to play over all of cyberspace, a little too easy but it came with it's occasional fun challenge when getting 100%

the music is the weakest part, some good tracks in there for sure but most just aren't that memorable beyond 3-4 that got stuck in my head because they were good so hey. I really loved the story and overall concept too, it was simple but the concept of exploring Eggman's twisted dreamscape is fucking awesome and I of course have many thoughts about that

Ego City is my favorite stage and I knooow that sounds like bias coming from me but it's well designed and a ton of fun. there wasn't much going on with the bosses and they were super easy but they still all had really cool designs. I looove Nightmare Eggman so much 🥰 I just wish we could've had some more direct combat with him in the boss level but I still appreciate him a lot

I had so much fun it's addictive. I like all classic and modern games that have released in the past few years but it's been a while since I was THIS hooked on a newer title. the only reason I'm not still playing it right now is that it's my bro's TV and that there's nothing else to do on it until those Tails challenges renew dhfjdbdjgkshfj. EXTREMELY HIGH recommend

it's really unfortunate how it's limited to Apple because everyone needs to play this, I hope there is a way for them to branch out eventually. if you want a cheap TV to play it on, the model A1842 is recommended, you can play just fine at max graphic settings! it only had a couple of loading errors that required restarts but other than that it was clear and smooth

[notathingjustthere]

Hinge III (short)

Modern Ivar x reader

(More of Hvitserk and readers' friendship)

Note: I wrote this right after the second one and never finished it because I could not decide how I wanted to go about it. Now I definitely don't remember any of my ideas so I just want help. Any ideas would be helpful and appreciated. I think it's been a year already :( cause I graduated and the 9-5 has left me without a life so I need a hobby.

Word Count: 1.2K

*I do not own this gif*

Wednesdays were movie nights, a tradition you and Hvitserk had established throughout the past few months of your friendship. His feet were always comfortably stretched on your furniture, despite the numerous times you berated him for his lack of home etiquette. You shoo his feet off your couch, wondering how your relationship had even developed this far. 

“You’re not gonna get that?” His eyes were glued to his phone, though he seemed to be ignoring the incessant ringtone that he refused to let up. Shaking his head no as he fixed himself up allowing you a stolen glance at the caller ID.  

Banter easily ensued after Hvitserk chucked his phone somewhere into your couch, wanting to focus on the night planned out. Triple Frontier was the winning choice for the night after the game of rock, paper, scissors that he suggested. The two-hour screen time of some of Hollywood’s finest would be just what you needed after a long day. Takeout was on its way and with everything already set up the night could not get any better. 

The loud vibration from Hvittserk’s corner was hard to ignore forcing you to pause the movie while he struggled to search the crevices of the couch for the source. 

“And who do we have here?” You had assumed it was Ivar calling him again, but your disinterest was cut short when it turned out otherwise. “It's your mother.” Hvitserk’s teasing only dragged on as he pulled the phone behind him, out of reach. Fewer calls were exchanged over your busy period, but your mom never failed to check in on her only child from time to time.

Eventually quitting the childish play Hvitserk gave up the cell phone, already having picked up the call, eager to greet the woman that raised you. 

“I see why I can't even get a call back these days. You found yourself a man and you didn't tell me?” The belly laugh Hvitserk let out deepened the frown on your face at your mother's leap of an assumption. You walked further away from him in feign of privacy, but he could still hear you both. 

“Oh please, that boy wishes.  I've just been busy with the move and the new job, I am sorry I didn’t call back earlier.” 

You can't help to smile at the offended look on Hvitserk’s face after your comment. Your jab was short-lived, as an eager Hvitserk redirected his pestering regarding your love life towards your mother. 

“Your child won't let me play matchmaker, even though I found the per-.”

The doorbell cut his piece short, the universe honouring its favour to you. Taking the cue to leave the conversation, you made your way to the door grabbing a hundred from his wallet. A nice tip that would also compensate for the headache of a chat you would have later with your mother. Besides, he wouldn’t even miss it.  

“What's this about finding you, someone?”Your mom’s voice brings you back to the moment not long after setting down your food. 

“Ma, no. Don't listen to him, he’s full of rubbish. I gotta go, but I will call you later, alright?”

“Wait let me say goodbye first” Hvitserk cuts in, too excited. 

“I see this one’s got some manners. Just let the boy say hi.” your mother encourages his behavior, but you refused and were quick to glide a finger over the red button.

Unsure of how you were feeling, you made note of the buzzing heat that resonated through your being. “Really? Mr. Matchmaker?”

“Well he’s my brother, I gotta look out for him. Besides, I’m proud he listened to me for once.” he shrugs.

Your brows raised curiously at his admission. Had he put his brother up to this?

“Hvittyyy.” You whined in frustration at the decision you had to make. 

So much had happened in the past few months of your big move, that nothing in the world could have prepared you when Ivar randomly asked you out. Downtown was significant in size, yet it was criminal how easy it was to run into someone familiar. It was why you and Hvitserk became so close in the first place.

Your semi-success story improved your lifestyle and social circle. Having little to no social skills outside of work you had somehow made a friend or two in the past few months. With Hvitserk it was easy, the natural charm and free-spirited aura complimented a hidden adventurous side of you. He had earned the title of your best friend and had bugged you since after.

Right now you weren't so sure if he was deserving of the title. “Are you sure you're not just here to talk me into this date or something?”  Hvitserk picked up on the slight annoyance in your tone. 

You had been first to arrive on a lunch date with Leila, a friend from work when you noticed Ivar at the entrance. He looked so casual that you were caught off guard when he made his way toward you with a smile? Your brain screamed at you, anxious when forced to make small talk to pass the time. The interaction did not turn out as unpleasant as you thought it would be.

“Funny seeing you here. Figured you only ate at high-end restaurants or something.” 

Ivar had kept a serious face at your small attempt at a joke, and before you could stop yourself, you started rambling out an apology, an old habit. He realised his muted reaction was what caused your response, making do with a needed apology

“My godfather owns the place, so I find myself here often.” 

He offered another smile, an attempt to soothe the disquiet tension, before changing the topic. He gestured to the seat across from you, asking if you were expecting anyone. He’d never been so civil with you, and honestly, you found yourself weirded out by it. 

As luck would have it, Leila’s head peaks far behind his shoulder, a confused look on her face as you waved her over. You thought the interaction would end then until Ivar approached you again after Leila left for the bathroom. It was almost cute seeing him struggle to let out his request but you were too stunned to notice even after he finally let it out. He was just as flustered as you were and before you realised it you were nodding in agreement to get coffee with him. 

“What’s the big deal? He likes you and now the question is, do you?

“What is this kindergarten?” 

You hadn’t given the situation much thought, but Hvitserk’s spying did not help, forcing your fretting mind to dwell on it further than you would have preferred. Ivar’s surprised reaction when you agreed to his request stayed fresh in your mind.  

You wouldn’t deny your attraction for the younger Lothbrok, however, something held you back from admitting it. Under his employment, your mind would roam wild at times, filled with silly scandalous plots involving a CEO and his assistant.

That was in the past when the relationship had been strictly professional. But now nothing was stopping you from living out the PG versions of some of those fantasies. Would it be weird? An assistant and her ex-boss? Maybe you were overthinking it. 

“It’s one date, Y/N”  

“Can we maybe not talk about this and just watch the movie” 

[shadowmonkstone]

You know what would be nice? If just one person I meet with a tadpole problem had a boring, plain life story. Honestly, this lot are going to drive me mad long before I start sprouting tentacles.

So, turns out Wyll’s not a sorcerer or a wizard. No, the bloody Blade of Frontiers sold his soul to a fucking demon called Mizora, and bloody Mizora works for bloody Zariel which is why Wyll was told to kill bloody Karlach.

Honestly, you couldn’t make it up.

Fair play to the bloke though, he told Mizora where to shove her orders. Mizora responded by turning into some legal expert like the pompous wankers in a Neverwinter courtroom. Judge jury and fucking executioner she was, and transformed Wyll from a man into a demon. Horns and all.

He’s taking it with much greater grace than I would’ve.

Then again, I’m not the dickhead who sold his soul to a sexy smile and blue cleavage.

And yes, before you say anything, I’m going to try and find a way to help him wriggle out of this contract of his. Despite it all, he’s a decent lad and one (admittedly monumental) fuck-up shouldn’t define his life.

Karlach seemed pleased with this plan and smiled again. Fuck me I wish I could touch her. Still, as long as I keep getting those smiles I’m happy.

[tenderandalsotired]

In Another Life

Astarion/OC! tav

Tag : ANGST, Love confessions, Yearning, Sort of unrequited love

Also on AO3

Astarion needs to see Orienes after he read the news about her marriage with Gale on Baldur's Mouth.

Among crates and chests on the cargo deck of the ship that headed to Waterdeep, Astarion sat inside one of the crates. The one that he could get in had holes on the side to let the air circulate. He was wondering why he subjected himself to all of this because of one person.

The thin thread that connected them together had been cut off. He should forget her already.

None of this would happen if it weren’t for that damn gazette.

An old edition of Baldur’s Mouth gazette was floating on the wastewater stream in front of him while he went through his life as usual. It floated toward the end of the sewers, where all the debris from above piled there. Astarion would never care about the old gazette if the picture on the front page didn’t catch his eye.

It showed him two familiar faces: a charming man with silky brunette hair who came with a dazzling smile. Standing beside him was a female tiefling whose short, wavy hair was white like sunlight. The big headline above the picture read The Heroes of Baldur’s Gate Ring the Wedding Bells

He waded across the wastewater and grabbed that gazette. He didn’t care that the foul odor was going to cling to his clothes for days. Luckily, the content inside was still readable, as the ink hadn’t been dissolved by the water yet. After he had gotten out of the stream, Astarion sat on the floor and read the gazette.

The Heroes of Baldur’s Gate Ring the Wedding Bells

People rejoiced in the union between Paladin of Tyr and the great wizard - Orienes and Gale, both the heroes who saved us from the invaders; The Netherbrain and Mind flayers, announced their marriage after having been in a relationship together for quite some time.

According to our source, the couple will return to Gale’s hometown, Waterdeep, to hold the wedding with only friends and family members invited.

The rest was information about them that he knew already during their journey.

The sharp pang struck right at his heart that he thought had gone numb. Another time that he felt like this was when they told the group about their relationship.

“You istik can do whatever you want as long as this nonsense doesn’t interfere with our traveling.” Said Lea’zel. She glanced at the couple for a moment and turned her back to go back to her tent.

Shadowheart didn’t seem surprised at all about the revelation. “I knew something happened between you two by the way Gale was looking at you.”

Karlach and Wyll were the ones who were happy with their relationship. The Blade of Frontiers gave them best wishes, then there was the giant tiefling. “That explains those sparkling eyes and red cheeks of yours, Orienes! Congratulations, guys!” She said cheerfully. “I also want this to happen to me as well! If I ever meet one, I’m gonna hug them so tight while riding them-”

Wyll cleared his throat to stop her from speaking the full sentence.

He felt he needed to say something. Something that a person like him would say, a sly and cunning vampire, the role that he was playing right now.

He blurted out those teasing words. “I understand why you want to be with Gale. Next to Wyll, he’s the other man in here who looks like a prince in a fairy tale that a girl like you would have dreamed of.”

Orienes pouted. “Is it wrong to like someone because they are kind-hearted?”

“Not at all, darling.” A drop of sarcasm trickled into his words to make this performance look believable in the audience’s eyes.

Even though he fell in love with her for the same reason.

He had always believed that people were inherently selfish. No one did anything without expecting something in return. But Orienes’ existence proved that he was wrong. Even he tried so hard to hold on to his belief that no one is pure, not even the paladin of Tyr.

In the moment Orienes rejected that blood merchant drow, who asked her to make him drink her rank blood in exchange for some potion, his belief collapsed immediately.

She could force him to do it. They were just strangers. sharing the same fate of having a tadpole in their heads.

“I…” Astarion hesitated. He didn’t know how to express his gratitude without sounding sarcastic.

“Something wrong?”

“No, I just want to say… Thank you for not forcing me to drink that drow’s blood.”

“Isn’t it the right thing to do? You also didn’t want to do it either.”

“Some people might not do the same as you. They will make me drink her blood. and I just need to endure it. Just like everything I have done in the past.”

“What have you been through?”

She was holding his hand the entire time he told her about his past.

The vampire elf therefore chose to do the right thing, sacrificing a life under the sun that didn’t have to live in fear because of her. He still remembered her plea to him not to complete the rite of ascension vividly. “I know you think this will set you free, but it won’t. This power will trap you, just like it trapped Cazador.”

Orienes rushed to hug him after he had finished killing his master. His body was soaked with blood, but she didn’t seem to be disgusted by it at all. She just kept comforting him for the entire time they were there. “I’m really proud of you, Astarion.”

He wrapped his arms around her small frame tightly for a moment and released it. He knew he couldn’t hold onto this light.

Since then, he has buried his feelings for Orienes deep in his heart and watched her smile and laugh from afar. He knew those smiles and laughs weren’t for him.

The news was like a key to Pandora's box, letting his feelings that he had suppressed overflow.

Before he knew it, he was now at the cargo desk, blending with these shipments.

After sitting in the crate for quite some time, Astarion got out of it and stretched a little bit. He turned his head around, looking for today's meal. When he had seen a rat run past him, he caught this unfortunate vermin instantly, snapping its neck and sinking his fangs into it without delay. He fed off rat blood throughout this journey.

It didn’t fill your stomach, but what could be done? If a ship crew started to disappear one or two, others would notice about it and start to get suspicious. They would probably be on a hunt for the culprit.

“If you really must drink blood, may I ask that it be the blood of an animal? or even our enemy blood?”

“Animal blood and enemy blood? As you wish, darling.”

He snorted as he reminisced about those old days.

——————————————————————————

When the night fell, Astarion crawled out of the crate and sneaked out of the warehouse after he had observed the surroundings, making sure the route was clear. He searched for a place that glowed brightly in the night because the only place that could be lit up at this time was a tavern. A place where drunkards from every class could mingle with each other. Their loud chatter mixed with lovely music that came from a bard.

What a lively atmosphere!

It was also a good place to find information.

“You’re looking for Wizard Gale? You mean Gale Dekarios? Gale of Waterdeep?” A nobleman whose Astarion forgot his name asked. He was already drunk, as he had coaxed him to drink pint after pint of beer, tricking that man into thinking he would pay for it because “he liked him” and getting the information he wanted before fleeing. “But I understand why you asked something like that. I know you’re not from here because of your accent.”

“You got me there.”

“Everyone in Waterdeep knows about the Dekarios. There are few families that can afford a manor with a tall tower. The manor also became more notable with a ceremony they had.”

“And the ceremony in question is?”

“It was a wedding! Gale that you asked about? He just got married to The Savior of Baldur’s Gate,” the nobleman said, raising a finger and asking for more beer. “I’m going to be honest with you. I was quite surprised to learn that the Dekarios family allowed their beloved son to marry a tiefling. I suspect that with the title she has, along with all the good deeds she did, plays a part here.”

A smile appeared on the vampire elf; however, his ruby eyes were empty.

“I have to excuse myself a little bit. You know, relieve myself.”

“Feel free, pal.”

Astarion laughed at the word ‘pal’. - a pal that was going to leave him facing the bill alone.

True to what the man had said, when he came out of the tavern, amidst houses and buildings, there was the tall tower standing beside the beautiful manor. He kept walking along the street until he reached his destination. The moon above casted a pale light over a manor, and therefore all the plants and flowers that are beautifully decorated around the house can be seen. Let everyone know that a celebration had been held here.

A light shone through the window of the tower. showing that someone was still awake.

Astarion knew who was up there on the tower.

Because of the nature of his kind, though Astarion didn’t want to meet Gale or any of his relatives at all, he had to wait outside the manor, waiting for someone to invite him inside. He couldn’t sneak in like he did back then, when he still had a tadpole in his head.

He knocked on the door and waited patiently.

Behind the door that was opened slowly was a maidservant who greeted him drowsily in her sleepwear. the young woman spoke to him in a sleepy voice. “Who are you?”

“Go fetch your mistress. Tell her… an old friend pays a visit.”

She looked at him from head to toe. deciding whether or not she should let this stranger come inside.

“If I’m going to commit a burglary or assault you, I wouldn't bother to knock on the door and wait for someone to invite me inside."

The maidservant was silent for a moment before speaking. “I’ll tell the mistress”

She led Astarion to the living room and excused herself to go upstairs.

Inside this big living room, where Astarion sat on the sofa, waiting for her, bookshelves were put here for guests to read, killing some time. He chose to stare at the fireplace instead. A blazing flame danced in front of him, its light reflected in his eyes.

“Astarion?”

He turned around to see her.

Orienes was in a white cotton nightgown with long, puffy sleeves. Her wavy, white as snow hair that used to be short now was shoulder-length. Those white flame eyes went big when she saw his face. She raised her hand to signal the maidservant to return to her bedroom so they could talk in private. “How did you get here?”

“By ship.”

“And you don’t…”

“As long as I don’t touch the water directly, I’ll be fine. Why are you still standing like that? Come sit with me!” He said it as if he were the owner of the house and not her. She did what he told her though, sitting down beside him.

“I saw the lights in the tower were still on. I guess that’s Gale who is still up there.”

“You know him; he just had an idea for a new spell.”

“And left your wife to be alone in the bedroom.” Astarion clicked his tongue lightly. If he were him, he would never let her sleep alone like that.

She just smiled at him. “Only tonight, Astarion. The other time, he would just come to sleep with me as usual.”

“Is that so?”

She nodded.

He examined her face again. There was no trace of unhappiness in it. No tiredness or melancholy at all. She wasn’t lying.

Astarion hated that he expected her to suffer for a moment.

“And about the wedding, I’m sorry for not inviting you. I tried asking them to let me hold the wedding at night, but Gale’s family insisted that it must happen during the day.” This time, Orienes’ smile revealed a hint of exhaustion.

“It’s fine. Even if the wedding was held at night, you probably won’t be able to track me down anyway.”

“I don’t think so. There are not many places in Baldur’s Gate where you can live, and if what you said were true, I could just ask Wyll to help me find you as well. But I don’t believe you came to Waterdeep just for this, right, Astarion?”

The crackling fire was the only sound that was heard in this room. Silence became the answer to her question.

“I can’t believe it! You really wanted to come to my wedding!” She laughed brightly.

Astarion knew she was waiting for his snarky reply, just like what they had had in the past while traveling to find a cure for the tadpole. But at this moment, the vampire elf didn't want to hide behind a mask any longer. He decided to speak his mind with as much sincerity as he could.

“Yes, I wanted to come to your wedding, Orienes. I wanted to see you in a bridal gown, holding a bouquet, and walking down the aisle, saying your vow to a man who has your heart in front of your stupid god, while I was sitting there at the bench, thinking why my past self was such a fool to not care about anything beside my own end, and letting the light slip through my fingers. When I realized this, it was too late.” He forced himself to smile for her.

After hearing what Astarion had said, Orienes was speechless. Once she finished contemplating, she reached out to cup his cheek with her hand. The touch made him tremble slightly. The warmth of her skin started to spread throughout his cold body. He was so sure that this must be like when sunlight hit the skin.

“Astarion…”

“Don’t, Orienes, don’t pity me.”

“No, all I want to say is, thank you for letting me know.”

No one would ever see this side of him except her.

Astarion turned away from her, adjusting himself a little bit and returning to play his role as usual. “I think I should go. I don’t want to trouble you any longer.”

"Stay for a night. In the morning, I’ll ask Gale to create a portal for you to travel back safely.”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea, darling,” He spoke in his honeyed voice. His finger twirled her white hair. “Especially if he knew someone visited his beautiful wife at night.”

The sight of her being bashful always delighted him.

“If you insist, I won’t prevent you.”

They walked down the long corridor to go to the front door, passing through many rooms without a single word being spoken. Orienes stopped at the threshold as Astarion walked to the outside of the manor. He turned to her to say goodbye.

“Are you really going to be fine?” She asked with concern.

Astarion pretended to roll his eyes. “If I could survive living under Cazador’s thumb for two hundred years, this trip shouldn’t be a problem for me.”

She only smiled back.

“Thank you, again, for listening to my rambling words.”

“It’s nice to let it all out, isn’t it?”

Silence would occupy this area again if Astarion didn’t start speaking once more.

“I hope that… in another life, I’ll be the one who stays by your side.”

“I hope so too.”

[blueempty]

Someone forgot to pay the cloud bill bro they shut off our clouds

Didn't quite sleep enough but my partner made pancakes this morning. Then since I got paid I went to our local boba place for lunch before work. They had been using some kind of mexican food wrappers for their sandwiches for a while but they must've run out cuz they're back to normal. It was just funny seeing bahn mi wraped in sombreros and cacti and stuff lol

Me and my brother have some deep ass philosophical conversations about shit at work that are lost like tears in rain every time we leave, I wish we could figure out what to do a podcast about. I guess you can just talk about nothing if you talk enough. People would get sick of me shitting on Sonic Frontiers though

While I was mentally preparing to go into the cleanroom I finished what I believe to be the last low rank village gathering quest in Monster Hunter GU. So now I'm in this gauntlet of fighting the low rank versions of half the games monsters and its gonna be fun cuz striker Longsword goes stupid. You still have to try though, like, man, I was playing Rise the other day and I love that game but I need to institute some sort of handicap cuz I feel like I'm losing brain cells when I play that game. You're so overpowered. Especially Longsword and Swaxe. I gotta get rid of evade extender

The stars were fuckin mentol tonight. The first pic I didn't even adjust thats just how they looked. I was staring up for like 10 minutes outside work

Peace and Long Life

[canonicallysoulmates]

Jensen Saturday Afternoon JIB12 Solo Panel

At the beginning of the panel there was a problem with his mic so it was changed and to test the new mic he made a reference to Lionel Richie's Hello, and said he got to hear him sing that song in person a few months ago. Cool.

He also complains about his hair, says he’s not a fan of how it currently is and that he misses the Dean hair. Briefly mentions his Soldier Boy beard and that maintaining it took more product than the rest of his body which was a new frontier for him. But he just doesn't know what his current hair is, it's up, it's down it's floppy. Jensen baby you need a nap.

Starting the questions: If he could have a Diabolical ep about Soldier Boy what would it be about? 

Real quick for those that don't know Diabolical is an anthology animated spinoff of The Boys with each story set within that universe.

If he had his wish about the story of Soldier Boy, it would be a story back in time when Soldier Boy was in like his Homelander prime which would be around the 50's or 40's. That's something he would like to see (so would I Jensen, so would I) and thinks would be really interesting.

Before he was asked the question the fan congratulated him on his Saturn award nomination, and Jensen said that Antony Starr, who plays Homelander, texted him congratulating him on his nomination like 20mins after Jensen found out about it and Jensen's reply was 'thanks, man! that's great'. Antony is also nominated so Jensen felt like a dick because he didn't congratulate him till the next day 😆

Is he considering directing an episode on The Boys or Big Sky? Or maybe another episode of Walker?

Answers that while he loves to direct, and it’s a treat when he gets to do it there’s a lot of work in front of the camera that he’s doing right now which doesn’t allow him to have the time.

Directing take a lot of time, it’s not just the six, eight, ten, fifteen days it takes to shoot an episode of xyz show. Becasue for example The Boys one ep is roughly 15 to 20 days of filming (wow 🤯). SPN was 8 days. He shot his Walker ep in 6 ½ days. Big Sky is 9 to 10 days. So it varies from project to project.

He would love to direct a Big Sky ep but he doesn’t think that’s gonna happen that’s not in the cards right now he’s also hoping to direct an episode in the new year of The Winchesters. That one is probably on the list of directing things to do first that is if they get picked up for a full season. He says networks don’t like to order whole seasons until the show has proven itself so if that happens then he'd be looking to direct in the latter half of the season and he's looking forward to it if it comes to pass. x

For him what is the most significant part overall of Dean’s entire character arc? He’s not sure there's a specific season or story that can be pinpointed when it comes to this but the progress he enjoyed the most was Dean becoming the man he needed to be and not the one his father wanted him to be.

Obviously, he was heavily influenced by his father but, John’s shortcomings aside, Dean idolized and looked up to his dad even though it may not have been the best parent-kid relationship on the planet it’s what he knew.

Here he goes on a bit of a sidetrack and says he himself deals with that in his real life that people will ask him how his kids deal with him being away so much or how his wife deals with him working away so much, and it’s because it’s what they know. It’s their normal it’s all they’ve ever known and to say that’s wrong or that it’s not right or it doesn’t fit inside what society says a family should be he thinks is obtuse. Ooookay then.

Getting back on track he thinks everyone has their normal that is unique to them, and Dean’s normal was having his dad leave him in a motel room with his younger brother saying ‘listen I’m gonna go kill some sons of bitches I need you to look after your litte brother’ and he'd (Dean) say 'yes sir' and was a soldier from the get-go and he grew up to be a soldier but then, and this is the story that Jensen loves about Dean, he went from being a soldier to a general. x

This question was originally meant for him and Jared: after 15yrs of SPN which aspect of Sam and Dean’s personality was hardest to act? 

He buffers for an answer, because at this point he is in the buffering zone of being tired, then admits he doesn't know so he's gonna go with his first impulse reaction which is Dean’s insensitivity.

He thinks Dean was very insensitive in a lot of situations and that’s not something he tends to be, he's a little more sensitive. He wouldn’t say it was necessarily hard to act but that it was against the grain to act. He’s sure there were many things like dealing with a father the way he did or dealing with his mother having the conversation with Mary when he really confronted her that’s not something he’s ever had to deal with so it was probably more situational than it was character aspect.

He tries to answer on Jared's behalf and says he would probably have a lot of things to say then jokingly says probably dealing with an older brother shorter than him.

Which makes him mention Jeff, who is Jared's actual older brother, and is taller than Jared which makes according to Jensen makes him a giraffe; and he is a doctor so he walks in and is like 'all right what seems to be the problem today?' and one goes 'not you. you are not the problem you handsome tall son of a bitch' This is both adorable and funny 😂

He also mentions that now going on all these new sets he’s the tall guy. They’re all ‘I didn’t expect you to be so tall’ and he's all 'oh, you haven’t met sasquatch.' x

Does he have any personal projects he wants to do? Projects specifically for him that he wants to accomplish?

He wants to sit down like really sit down but when he does he’s like nope. 

He answers that he has had time to internalize and think about what it is he’s doing because he has been spending a lot of time on the move and doing a lot of different projects, and his time is spent spread out quite a bit, and he does have moments of reflection where he doesn't go ‘i wish i didn't have to do this’ or ‘i wish i had more time to do this’ or 'i wish i could comparmentalize a b and c' instead he sits back and goes 'man, I really love this. i really love doing what i do'.

He does wish he could clone himself and be in multiple places but obviously that's not the case so he has to be really smart about where he puts his energy and time, and he has to make sure it fulfills his obligations, and supports his family, and fulfills him. So, no there's nothing on the horizon where he's like 'if I could just get to do a road show or a sailing trip'. He's looking at right here, right now at what's in front of him says that he's more of a roll with the punches, take it day by day kind of person but that he does steer way from what he doesn't enjoy and what he's steering into is things like cons, and work, and that while he facetime's his kids constantly that he's either in their face or with them, and he got to spend a lot of good time with them during covid now he’s like we got that reprieve we got to spend that time with each other but now daddy’s gotta go to work because that’s for him. And much like Dean he is a soldier and a general who needs to be working, he keeps his head down and he works, and that fulfills him it truly does he loves it.

Mentions that there was a covid nurse, who was actually in the crowd of this panel, who told him earlier in that day that like him she kept her head down and kept working no matter how hard it was, and that meant something to him. That she said that because he feels like if anything that’s the hardest thing to do; to not look up and be distracted or look up and be like 'what about me? give me accolades pat me on the back I want an award I want recognition' and sure that’s needed as a human but he’s someone who likes keeping his head down, keep driving, keep moving forward. x

Any funny stories that he has experienced during his travels?

The fan who asked this question was almost not able to attend the con because her dog chewed up her passport which makes Jensen crack up. You know when you're so tired that the smallest thing can make you laugh? Yeah, he's reaching that point.

Anyways to answer the question he shares a story that just happened on the way to JIB. He was in New Mexico shooting before his flight, got home at around 2am, hadn’t packed anything, got to bed at around 3, woke up a few hours later to find somebody had messed up the car service so he hopped into his car and drove to the airport in NM. And as he’s cruising down the highway at around 9am which means it’s pretty busy a car comes in the wrong direction in his lane! He’s cruising at 75mph, going pretty fast in a four-lane highway and there’s this car coming right at him but luckily he was able to quickly change lanes and as he gets closer to the other car he lays on the horn and as he looks he sees it's just an old man gripping the steering wheel going the wrong way. At that point he wondered what to do so he called 911 to let them know, they tell him they know that they’d gotten a bunch of calls and instinctually he wanted to do a 180 and go chase the old man down and jump out of the window and grab the steering wheel. In his mind, that’s what he wanted to do, and he has no idea what happened he had kept an eye on the news to see if anything was said but he hadn't seen anything and he hopes nothing happened and the man made it to his destination safe.

I'm so thankful he was able to switch lanes safely and quickly or he could have found himself in a very bad accident.

He also mentions that when he was in Toronto for a con he had to get a work visa because he was going from Toronto to Van to shoot the movie so he was sitting in the customs hall there, and it took like 2hrs and in those 2hrs he took photos with half a dozen customs officials and kept asking them if they knew who was dealing with his paperwork. x

And that was the last question, or at least it was for me there was a slight crossover between the end of his panel and the beginning of MC's so this is when I checked out.

Jensen's Saturday Afternoon Panel