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thebunnednun · 4 months

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Ahoy! U write about Shanks? Our sweet red-haired daddy? I just found out Shanks is younger than Katakuri I'm shocked

Dancing Under the Stars Red-Haired Shanks X Bar-Maid! Reader

Dear God, I have never written this man as love interest before, I am so sorry if he's outta character!

I hope you didn't mind the long wait! Stuff happens and then I just have to keep these in the chamber until I can post again. Okay, the red haired daddy of the pirates is gonna be a handful. Let's make him dance~ >:D

This was a request from my Follower Fridays! If you have a character or story in mind, go ahead and ask because my requests are open!

05/26/2024, a poll is open too for a community vote, so place your bet now before it closes!!

On with the show!~

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The sun set in a brilliant display of colors, casting a warm glow over the tropical island. The beach was bustling with life, and the sound of laughter mingled with the rhythm of the waves. Shanks and his crew had just docked and were making their way to the island’s most famous spot: [Name]'s Beach Bar.

The bar was a beacon of light and sound, drawing pirates and locals alike. Music filled the air, and the scent of tropical flowers and salty sea breeze created a perfect atmosphere for a night of fun. Shanks, with his trademark straw hat perched on his head, led his crew inside.

"Ahh," Shanks sighed, stopping at the doors before grinning. "This is the place."

Behind the bar, [Name] was mixing drinks with practiced ease, her smile lighting up the room. You were by far, Shanks favorite reason to stop at this island.

[Name] is a stunning vision of beachside beauty, with features that reflect the paradise that surrounds her.

Your skin is always warm to the touch from endless days spent under the tropical sun, giving you a radiant glow that seems to illuminate the room. Your eyes sparkle with mischief and warmth, hinting at the playful spirit that resides within.

Shanks found himself walking a bit faster towards the bar, Beckman on heels. For him, [Name]'s smile is her most captivating feature, brightening her face and drawing others to her like moths to a flame. Her lips are full and plush, often adorned with a glossy sheen that adds to their allure. With every movement, you radiates joy and positivity, infusing the room with her infectious energy.

In summary, [Name] is a vision of beachside beauty, with features that reflect the sun, sea, and sand that surround her. Her radiant smile and captivating presence make her the epitome of tropical allure, a true goddess of the shore.

Or that's what Shanks was going on and on about to the crew until he finally arrived at your station.

Inside, the bar was alive with activity. Patrons were dancing, laughing, and enjoying the warm night. Strings of fairy lights were hung from the palm trees, casting a soft, magical glow over the scene. Behind the bar, [Name] was mixing drinks with practiced ease, her smile lighting up the room. She looked up and spotted Shanks, her eyes twinkling with recognition.

"Well, if it isn't the famous Shanks!" she called out, waving him over.

"Welcome back to my bar!"

Shanks approached, his usual confidence slightly tempered by the lively atmosphere. "Thanks, [Name]. I've missed yo- this place."

"And I've you too," [Name] replied, leaning on the bar with a playful glint in her eye. "It's not every day a legendary pirate visits my humble establishment. Let's get you something to drink."

Shanks ordered a drink, and the two quickly fell into easy conversation. They exchanged stories of their adventures, [Name] recounting tales of her bar's colorful patrons and Shanks sharing snippets of his journeys. Shanks found himself captivated by her lively spirit and infectious laughter.

"So, tell me," [Name] said, resting her chin on her hand as she listened to one of Shanks' tales, "what brings you to this part of the Grand Line?"

Shanks shrugged, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Just looking for a good time, some good company. Seems like I came to the right place."

"You certainly did," [Name] replied with a wink. "We know how to have fun around here."

As the night wore on, the music shifted to a faster tempo. Couples began to pair off, moving to the dance floor. Shanks watched them, a flicker of unease crossing his face. He admired how effortlessly [Name] interacted with everyone, her energy drawing people in like a magnet.

"You know," [Name] said, catching his look, "dancing's a big part of the fun here. How about it, Shanks? Care to join me?"

Shanks hesitated, glancing at the dancers. "I'm not much of a dancer," he admitted, his voice uncharacteristically shy. "Especially with... well, you know." He gestured to his missing arm.

[Name] smiled warmly, her flirtatious nature coming through. "Who says you need two arms to dance? Come on, let's try something different. How about a square dance? It's more about having fun than anything else."

Before Shanks could protest, [Name] took his hand and led him to the dance floor. She signaled to the band, who started playing a lively tune. Shanks found himself in a group with [Name] and several other patrons, moving to the beat in a series of coordinated steps.

At first, Shanks stood with an uncharacteristic stiffness, his gaze shifting uncomfortably as he became acutely aware of his missing arm. But [Name]'s infectious laughter and encouragement gradually worked their magic on him. She moved with such effortless grace and joy that it was impossible not to be swept up in the moment.

"See?" [Name] exclaimed, spinning gracefully to the music's rhythm.

"You're doing great!"

A genuine laugh escaped Shanks' lips, his usual air of confidence returning. "This is actually fun! You're not too bad yourself, lass." He flashed her a crooked grin, though there was a hint of vulnerability in his expression.

In a bold move, [Name] playfully pinched his side and deftly removed his cloak, revealing the scarlet hue that tinged his cheeks. Leaning in closer, she whispered teasingly in his ear.

"I could say the same thing about you, Daddy.~"

Shanks flushed, a deeper shade of crimson than his hair, as [Name] giggled mischievously and twirled him around once more. Despite his initial reservations, he found himself enjoying the dance more than he had anticipated, grateful for [Name]'s playful spirit and her ability to make him feel at ease in his own skin.

As they danced, more people joined in, the dance floor becoming a sea of smiling faces and twirling bodies. The atmosphere was electric, everyone feeding off the collective energy and joy.

"You're a natural, Shanks," [Name] teased, giving him a playful wink. "I knew you had it in you."

Shanks grinned, a spark of his usual confidence returning. "Maybe I just needed the right partner."

Their laughter mingled with the music, creating a harmonious symphony. The energy on the dance floor was contagious, drawing even more patrons to join in the square dance from the beach.

Shanks and [Name] found themselves at the center of a growing circle of dancers, their movements becoming more synchronized with each beat.

"You know," Shanks said, catching his breath during a brief lull in the music, "I never thought I'd enjoy square dancing of all things."

"It's all about the company," [Name] replied with a smile. "And you're pretty good at keeping up."

The night continued with more laughter and dancing. At one point, the band transitioned into a slower, more romantic tune. [Name] took the opportunity to lead Shanks into a slower dance, her hand resting gently on his shoulder and chest while his arm wrapped firmly around her waist.

"You're full of surprises," Shanks murmured, looking down at [Name]. The soft lights reflected in her eyes, giving them an enchanting glow.

"So are you, Red-Haired Shanks," [Name] replied, her voice soft and playful. "I never would have guessed the great pirate captain would be shy about dancing."

Shanks chuckled, the sound low and warm. "You make it easy."

While the dance continued, the rest of the bar seemed to fade away. The connection between them grew stronger, the chemistry undeniable. Shanks felt a sense of ease and happiness that he hadn't experienced in a long time. For a moment, he allowed himself to forget the responsibilities and dangers of his life as a pirate and simply enjoy the present.

As the night at the beach bar continued, the energy remained high, with patrons laughing, dancing, and enjoying the lively atmosphere. At one point, the karaoke machine was brought out, and [Name] couldn't resist dragging Shanks up to the stage.

"Come on, Shanks, let's sing something together!" [Name] exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.

Shanks hesitated, not used to being the center of attention in such a way, but he couldn't resist [Name]'s infectious enthusiasm. "Alright, why not?" he chuckled, taking the microphone from her.

Together, they sang a lively sea shanty, their voices blending surprisingly well. Shanks was pleasantly surprised at how much fun he was having, his initial self-consciousness fading away with each verse.

Meanwhile, Shanks' crew sat at a nearby table, watching the scene with amusement. Yasopp nudged Benn Beckman, a smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like the captain's found himself a duet partner."

Benn chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Who would've thought the great Red-Haired Shanks would be singing karaoke?"

Lucky Roo grinned, clapping along to the music. "They make a good pair, don't they? Maybe we should join in!"

Shanks and [Name] finished their song to applause and cheers from the crowd. Shanks couldn't help but smile at [Name], grateful for her infectious spirit and the way she had helped him let loose and have fun.

"That was amazing!" [Name] exclaimed, giving Shanks a playful nudge. "Who knew you had such a great singing voice?"

Shanks chuckled, a hint of color still lingering on his cheeks. "I suppose you bring out the best in me, lass."

As they made their way back to their table, Shanks' crew greeted them with cheers and applause, their earlier teasing replaced with admiration.

"You two were fantastic!" Yasopp called out, raising his glass in salute. "Who knew the captain was a karaoke star?"

Shanks laughed, feeling lighter and more carefree than he had in a long time. He was grateful for [Name]'s presence and the way she had helped him break out of his shell, if only for one memorable night on the beach.

By the end of the night, Shanks felt lighter than he had in years. As the music faded and the crowd began to disperse, he turned to [Name].

"Thank you," he said sincerely. "I haven't had this much fun in a long time."

[Name] smiled, her eyes warm and inviting. "Anytime, Shanks. You're always welcome here."

As the stars twinkled overhead, Shanks and [Name] stood on the beach, the waves lapping at their feet. It was a night neither would soon forget, a reminder that even the most legendary pirates could find joy in the simplest of pleasures.

Shanks looked at [Name], a mischievous glint in his eye. "You know, I might just take you up on that offer."

[Name] laughed, the sound like music to Shanks' ears. "I'll hold you to it, Strawberry Shortcake. Next time, maybe we'll try a waltz."

"I look forward to it," Shanks replied, his heart lighter than it had been in a long time.

As they parted ways, Shanks couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected evening. He knew he'd be back to [Name]'s Beach Bar, not just for the music and the dancing, but for the company of the captivating woman who had helped him find his rhythm once again.

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Shanks being nervous about dancing was very much inspired by: @fanaticsnail and their story: Dancando Lambada it's freaking great and you all should go check it out!!

As a caribbean latina, I fucking loved that shit and it's so rare to see something of my culture make it to mainstream media.

In the words of Emily Rudd, "Shanks is a daddy!"

Make sure you check out the a03 account by the same name. I also have other daddy's of One piece posted in the masterlist! Give them a read if you please!

Be sure to leave likes and comments, they really help. Drop a follow as well if you please. Don't be shy to leave me a little reblog if you want.

I promise I bite~

Also, don't be shy, send me your requests! I wanna write lots this weekend!

Seen you soon my loves!!~ <<33

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bluestarjay · 5 months

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It's kind of shocking how Hinata is so commonly characterized as someone who is perfect at making friends and is a 100% extrovert-- which yes, he is, but I think people are forgetting how much anxiety he has and how much of a people pleaser he is. I'm rewatching Haikyuu rn and I'm on S1 E5, and the way Daichi came up to Hinata and his immediate response was "I'll block, I'll set, I'll do whatever you need me to!!" And the way he makes promises he can't keep because he wants people to like him is kind of sad. I doubt he had many friends growing up other than Izumi and Kouji, and was probably bullied for being loud, obnoxious, and a weirdo for playing volleyball with the girls or being so into volleyball. So now he makes promises he can't keep and tries to go above and beyond for the team because he doesn't want them to get rid of him or not take him seriously. Yes, he's good at making friends, but I doubt he knows how or why. He's clearly worried that people are only friends with him out of convenience and his jumping skills; that since they play together, they /have/ to be friends. He just wants to finally be of use to someone; for someone to take him seriously; someone who won't ignore him around other people bc they don't want to be seen with him (silly funny little hc of mine 🥰🥰) . But that's also why Karasuno is so great, because they really are a family. They love Hinata and are friends with him, and they like him because he's a good person, not because they have to be since they play together, or just because he's skilled and they want to take that from him. And maybe at first, Hinata didn't realize that, since after being ignored and bullied and mocked, he thought the only way someone would possibly want him around was because he could help them win. And since he's so short, of course, taller, older, buffer players would intimidate him because they could easily take advantage of the height difference, so all of his bathroom encounters are NOT helping his anxiety 😭😭😭 and the puking??? When hinata threw up on Tanaka?? Everybody is always so focused on Yamaguchi's anxiety that they don't look at or even realize Hinata's anxiety. LITERALLY, THE ENTIRETY OF EP5 IS ABOUT HINATA'S ANXIETY AND PEOPLE PLEASING BEHAVIOR,,, WHY DOES NOBODY TALK ABOUT IT???? THE KEY SCENE LIKE 20 MINUTES IN??? (For ref, Daichi, Suga, and Kageyama are talking about Hinatas behavior, and Daichi imagines a scene: He hands Hinata the club room keys, Hinata says he'll take it, Daichi says, "I never told you where to keep it, so I brought it", and Hinata bows repeatedly saying he's sorry (about 6 times)) THAT IS NOT NORMAL!!! And then he's so worried about not doing well because he feels like he needs to make up for everything (his height, his lack of skill, his lack of experience on a team, the incident with Kageyama, etc), AHH HE LITERALLY SAYS, "This isn't like junior high...because I can be replaced! I don't want that. I don't want to be replaced. " BUT NOBODY CARES?? NOT ONE PERSON IN THIS FANDOM (THAT I HAVE SEEN) TALKS ABOUT ANY OF THIS!!! All I ever see is how Hinata has tons of friends and is so popular and is a people magnet, but does anybody ever think that he's probably anxious because those friends might get bored of him and find new friends?? That since Kenma has known Kuroo a lot longer and already doesn't really like people, he might just decide to stop talking to him?? Or that Kageyama might get bored of Hinata and stop hanging out with him outside of volleyball?? Or that Daichi and/or Coach Ukai will one day realize that he isn't really that special, and anyone can jump or run fast, so he gets replaced??? Literally I bet his WORST FEAR is being replaced and forgotten.

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bigskydreaming · 3 months

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The Vampire Daniel Molloy, when Louis asks what he's looking forward to most about the next stage of his newly immortal life:

Hmm. With how much my maker already complains about me ruining his life and how every day I give him a new reason to regret ever siring me, if I had to pick just one thing, I'd say the thing I'm most looking forward to is when I hit vampire puberty.

Louis: ....

Daniel: Vampire puberty's when the really wild superpowers kick in, right?

Louis: I suppose technically that's not....inaccurate.

Daniel: Hey, what are the chances of me getting the 'set shit on fire with my brain' thing you've got? Can you even imagine how much that would piss him off? His disappointment of a fledgling having the same gifts as the ex who dumped his ass....oh, man. C'mon now. I bet I could do some real damage with that.

Louis: Actually, while we're near the subject: would you please stop introducing yourself as 'the reason your vampire parents got divorced?'

Daniel: No, Louis, Louis! You're not getting it, see....the thing that makes it funny is its true.

Louis: You've really decided to lean into the whole 'second childhood' angle, huh.

Daniel: Mmmm. And just think. If you'd turned me fifty years ago when I first asked, I'd be well past this stage by now. And also still twenty. And hot.

Louis: Ahh. Its like that, then, is it.

Daniel: Oh, only a little bit. Really though, its like, every day I discover a new way to make Armand rue my very existence all over again, and maybe I'm just a simple man with simple needs, because that's just....very fun for me. I mean, there's just something extra validating in knowing the guy you're all "fuck that guy, I hate him, he sucks" about hates you waaaay more than you can be bothered to hate him. Because then its like you win the feud, right? You still get to hate that guy, which is great, because fuck that guy, he sucks, but you also get to know your very existence drives him way crazier than his ever makes you, and I mean, let's be real. Who doesn't like winning things?

Louis: Well I'm so glad you've found something that gives you a sense of purpose at least. Its very -

Daniel: Yeah, yeah, immortal blood drinkers need hobbies other than mass murder, it keeps the body count low and is good for the environment. Relax. I know. I literally wrote the book on it. You were there.

Louis: That's what you got out of it?

Daniel: Why, did you want me to fixate on your sex scenes instead? That seems weird. A little narcissistic even. And at the risk of self-awareness, when I'm the one -

Louis: Right. Well. I just wanted to make sure you had something to focus your energies on. It can all be a bit overwhelming at first and with your level of public attention at the moment, its very crit -

Daniel: Nope, all good here. Got myself a steady supply of Deadbeat Dad jokes that make my maker's eye twitch - apparently base word play is "gauche" or some shit - ugh, my god, its like nothing I do is ever good enough for him, and I only ate one of the editors on my shitlist to test drive my shiny new murder skills. He had this thing about Oxford commas, used to bug the crap out of me. Its like we get it, you hate them. They're literally dots on a page, they can't hurt you, can we please move on....

Louis: ....

Daniel: Louis, I'm kidding. Look, you don't have to worry about me. I already decided I find emotional evisceration way more satisfying than the physical version. Less clean up and it lasts longer anyway. I'm not going to get myself into trouble by cosplaying as Jack the Ripper where paparazzi can catch me red-fanged, and even if I do, I hereby absolve you of all responsibility. You can stop mother-henning me, you didn't turn me, you literally said no when I begged you to, its the whole reason I have eternal wrinkles instead of youthful tautness.

Louis: Not gonna let that one go, are you.

Daniel: Gimme a few centuries and ask me again. I'll let you know then.

Louis: Mmhmm. So this was....memorable and we definitely won't be doing it again. But you do seem to have things figured out so I'll leave you to it, then.

Daniel: Wait, Louis, don't go! Don't you want to hear my five-century life plan for annoying Armand into an early retirement mausoleum? I made visual aids!

Louis: Goodbye, Daniel.

Daniel: Fine, leave then! I don't care! You're not my real dad anyway! Et cetera, et cetera!

#iwtv spoilers #iwtv season 2 spoilers #iwtv season 2 finale spoilers

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fantasy-relax · 8 months

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@muffinsin I blame you for this, I write the reader point of view of reader you write Cassandra, deal? deal.

Fucked up! Reader x Cassandra dimitrescu

Warning: violence Cassandra being Cassandra, really what do you expected of this tag?

You always have been a Little... different that's what your family used to say. You were blunt and honest but the thing that trouble them most was your prediction for violence.

You got in a fight with a neighbor when you were a kid, your father had to pick you off the boy, the rock you grabbed to beat him was full of blood.

People keep their children away from you after that. Your parents too keep their distance.

Now all grow up, you are in the Dimitrescu Castle, working as a maid. The only thing you hated was the dress. As for everything else...

"AHHHH PLEASE LADY DANIELA I'M SORRY"

You actually don't mind. People die all the time, people suffer all the time and nobody of them were someone that you particularly care for, so being in a castle full of death and blood was pretty easy for you, do your job and that's all.

Rounding the corner, you see a pretty common scene.

"Look what have you done! My favorite sword has a scratch! You useless woman!"

" I'm s-orry Lady Cassandra my arm was tired and I-AHH"

The cut was fast and made with lethal precision. The arm was in the carpet, it will be a pain to clean luckily this was not your assigned area.

"Not tired anymore I bet"

The maid keep screaming, until Cassandra cut her head in another clean swipe of sickle. You can't stop the low hum in your throat. She looked at you her sadistic smile displaying her fangs.

"What is little morsel? Want to be next?"

She was full of blood, ready to cut your head too but the only thing you could think was:

"That was a clean cut my lady, you have a steady hand"

Cassandra freezes for a moment, you get closer to the body not too much as you still have to clean and getting your uniform dirty before that was a bad idea.

"You also have to be pretty strong or have a sharp weapon to make this so smoothly"

You stand up. Looking at the still frozen fly girl.

"Truly impressive"

At the end of your words Cassandra just swarmed away, her prey forgotten in the floor. You shrug walking to your duties.

For a moment you though that she was blushing.

The next day there is a leg outside your door something carved in the skin.

"How is this cut for you?"

Again it was very precise but what caught your attention was the handwriting, it was messy and the message feels like if she was pouting when she wrote it.

"Aww, My lady is pretty cute"

You hear something move above you, looking fast you catch part of one swarm, you know exactly what sister was spying. You laughed softly, very cute indeed.

The next week you were assigned to take some things to the dungeons. A chore that all the maids are terrified to do, the scream of the unfortunate souls trapped there and the sadistic daughter that was always ready to take more were more than enough to make them beg at the feet of the head maid for a change that like them never comes.

You just pick the box and go. The screams were annoying but you just tune then out, you put the thing down. Looking around you see one of the victims, Stella?Sara? you don't remember, she had cuts all around her body, how long was she here? Was two weeks ago? Three? And she was still alive?

"Seeing your future, little maid?"

You flinch surprised. You don't hear her come.

"I make sure to keep her miserable as long as possible by-

"Making cuts that are painful but not mortal, absolute brilliant, nothing less of expert like you"

You take a look around you see a man being held by hooks that goes through his hands, his legs are broken you can see that clearly, either he put his weight in the legs or in the hands , both choices painful.

"Very creative"

Full of curiosity you keep exploring. Praises to Cassandra talents never stopping

"Astounding"

" Visionary"

"Imaginative"

Until you feel the swarm pick up you up and rapidly throw you outside and closing the door as fast.

"Rude"

You stand up going to report the head maid of your completed chore.

If you could saw through walls you would have see a peculiar image of the so called monster sitting on the other side of the door, face red, hugging herself and purring happily.

More limbs were given to you as well as some organs, luckily they were of animals, so you cooked them. You keep a journal were every gift is written some examples were :

Deer leg with the following message *you have pretty eyes*"

Boar heart *Did you know they are the most similar to humans? * she is such a nerd

Full Bunny *Small like you* the small was more like a smoll it made you laugh.

One day a group of hunters try to raid the castle and kill the monsters inside, they only end giving you more work.

Bodies, blood and all kind of gore is in the floor AND in the carpet. It will be a pain to clean, even lady Bela it's looking at you with pity. You sigh pulling you sleeves up when you are tackled by certain brunette.

"Are you okay?! Did they hurt you?! Tell me who-"

"I'm fine lady bela take care of them"

"You took three"

"oh yeah, that reminds me"

You point at the three bodies.

"They are all yours Lady Cassandra"

The sisters have a particular rule, prey that they hunt, prey that they eat. Cassandra was the strongest not the fastest, Daniela and Bela surely got more than her.

"I killed them so they are mine but i don't gonna eat it so they are all yours."

Cassandra keep looking at your face you cleaned her face with you apron the only red was in her cheeks, she was so cute that you can resist it anymore you grabbed her neck and kissed her, it took a few seconds but he eagerly returned the kiss.

"FINALLY, the pining was killing me"

"SHUT UP DANIELA"

You were in a relationship with the sadistic sister something that you still were processing, you could easily live freely without working at all. But you were sorry for Bela having to work with short staff because her sisters were little shits with zero self control. So you keep working, in Cassandra side mostly and sometimes in Daniela.

Today was one of that days were you work was in Daniela hall. Everything was going well until a new maid decided to ruin the mood

"I told you, someday that bitch a Cassandra will get what she deserves, maybe I could let her live if she eats my pussy real good".

The other maid was new too but a lot smarter she looked like she wanted to stay away from her and was making signals to the absolute imbecile that was talking.

" I would tear her ap-UGH"

You grabbed her head and bashed her harder against the wall.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. She is out.

You let go of her head and looked at the other maid she just picked up her cleaning tools and continue her job, she was learning fast.

You walk and pick one leg of the imbecile, you start walking to the library were you beloved was having a sisters day.

No one interrupt you or try to help her. They know better.

The newbies considered you a depraved traitor. Sleeping with the monster that could kill them any day. But still survival is priority so they keep working.

The older considered you a blessing. The amount of death and injury since you started dating Cassandra was lower. Keep working, Survival is priority.

You were at the doors of the library you opened the door.

"knock first I know you have manners"

"aw did Draga mea miss me so much?

Focusing on the sickle on the table you entered in the room, dropping the maid in the middle of the room you pick the sharp blade.

You bend and grab the little bitch head again, you pull out her tongue and with a quick swing cut it out.

"AHH-UGH"

You grabbed her again and bashed her against the floor again.

One, two, three, four, five. She is out.

You dropped her and walked to your beloved, you throw the sickle on the table, she was silent looking at you with that pretty blush, so adorable.

You grab her chin, kissing her deeply until she is panting, the blush in her face just grow bigger and the soft purr in her chest is music, yours she is totally yours.

Grabbing her gloved hand you drop the tongue, you point to the crying woman in the floor.

"Here my love, a snack"

You kissed her again.

"I still have duties to attend, I see you later."

She looked like a lovesick puppy. A puppy whom you will play with later. What a good life.

#resident evil village #cassandra dimitrescu #my work

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withonly-sweetheart · 15 days

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Feathered Fiend

You unburden yourself on a creature that should have no burdens. You tell it of your unrequited love, but is all truly what it seems?

a/n: MINT ANON!!! IM SO HAPPY THAT I COULD WRITE THIS FOR U! PLEASE REACH OUT AND TELL ME IF U LIKE IT BC THIS IS SUCH A GOOD IDEA!! AHH KISSING YA RN

also if you think there should be a part two...? with a war and everything... between the two... hahahaha lmk! <3 <- READ IT HERE !!

tw: angst, mentions of blood, i think the kiss scene is a bit like nsfw but not really so be ready!

wc: 4.8k

You feel horrendous.

Your world is coming very close to tipping one side, like an uneven scale of glittering gold, blurring at the edges of your eyes as you press the rim of the champagne glass to your lips, swirling the sickly liquid around your tongue before it swims down your throat.

Almost immediately you recoil from the taste, setting it down where it stands proudly, precariously, against the high ledge of your balcony. One swipe and it would splinter the pillows of snow, turning them a shade of maroon you won’t dare to imagine.

You nudge the blueberries on the plate resting on the connecting area of the railing, where the ornate designs curve into a final smile, disappearing into the concrete. You fight to keep disdain from your expression as one of them passes your lips, staining your mouth with a honeyed juice.

You roll your tongue and glance over your shoulder, at the threads of light and velvet weave the tapestry that is the gala down the hall, where everyone is draped in dramatic, auburn brushed chandeliers that bronze their flushed faces and carry their lively chatter across the room.

Suddenly you find yourself longing for the bitter wind misting your skin that you had cursed away, the icy daggers pinching your skin, crawling into your blood, turning you cold.

Out here, with only the moonlight for company, you could forget that somewhere in those halls roams your mother, arms linked with yet another noble, feline eyes slanted as she paws at his crisp suit, whispering sweet nothings into his ear. You know for a fact that eventually, you’ll be shaking his hand, forcing a smile and pushing responses past your gritted teeth as you bet with yourself how many days he’ll last.

But you’ve forgotten that, eyes trailing a bird that has joined you. It’s a peculiar looking thing, with dappled, sunny and sky blue feathers and an underbelly of soft white. You curl a finger, mouth quirking in amusement as it hops near, tilting its head curiously.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen such a little thing,” you murmur as it pecks at the cloying remains of fruit left on your fingertips. However gingerly, you pinch the remaining berries between your fingers and hold them out, as an offering to this free spirit.

You watch as it chirps sweetly. How long has it been since you’ve had birds resting on your hands, laying serenely in a patch of sunlight in the forest, when your father would shake his head at you, standing at the edge of your little area, with that small smile that only you could coax from him?

As all things do, the bird quickly finishes its meal and hops away, flexing its wings to take off, leaving you breathless in its absence. It seems to hesitate, looking back at you for but a moment before soaring back into the sky.

If only you could do the same.

<><><><>

Just as it was when you left, everyone entertains themselves with far too animated conversations and laughter, and you feel perfectly alone in the midst of it all. Claire nudges your shoulder gently before linking her arm with her date - an imposing, tall figure with striking brown hair and a stoic expression on his chiseled face. He nods at you in a formal and somewhat cold manner before turning away into the swirling crowd of dancers.

"You okay?" Claire whispers in your ear, her brow creasing with concern as she glances around to ensure her date doesn't abandon her.

"Of course," you reply, digging your fingernails into your palm to keep your voice steady. Claire’s eyes narrow as she studies your face, clearly not convinced by your attempt at seeming unconcerned. However, she decides to let it go for the moment and hands you a glass of shimmering purple wine.

"Come on," she drawls teasingly, perhaps on her seventh drink, when you hesitantly decline her offer. "It's a party, enjoy yourself!"

You absently turn your head to survey the room and find yourself fixating on Leon. He stands across the crowded ballroom floor, surrounded by his family and friends. You’re pondering his absence for the first phase of the gala when your heart clenches involuntarily at the sight of a woman you don’t recognize, a vision in white and baby pink, clutching his arm possessively as if she owns him entirely. Her eyes glitter in the chandelier's light above you while a wide smile adorns her face that refuses to fall.

"Ignore them," Claire tells you softly, sensing your growing discomfort as she squeezes your arm reassuringly before abandoning her somber expression for a warm smile. "Promise me you won't spend the entire evening torturing yourself by watching him."

"Promise," you lie quickly, intertwining your finger with hers to seal the falsehood that hangs between you. Claire seems to sense the insincerity behind your words, but refrains from pressing further. Instead, she gently pats you on the back in solidarity before departing towards another group of friends as her long black hair flows gracefully behind her like a dark river.

But your thoughts inevitably wander back to him, and with them come the revolting parasite that attaches herself to him at every waking moment. Her strawberry blond hair is perfectly styled into a neat bun, and her stunning gown billows around her in soft ruffles of white and pink that seem almost ethereal.

With the threat of loathing searing your skin, you choose to turn and focus on the colorful assortment of snacks meticulously arranged on the long, elegant table nearby. However, it soon becomes impossible for you to ignore the situation, as she attractively lifts up her slender fork and taps it against her delicate glass with incredible poise. The resulting light, tinkling sound resonates through the grand and spacious manor, effectively quieting the gathered guests down.

"Thank you all for being here," she gracefully begins, a sinister yet charming smile curving her full lips. "I would like to commence this lovely evening by expressing what an honor it is for me to be present here amongst such distinguished company." Her words ooze deceit, dripping like thick layers of sweet honey on poisonous thorns just waiting to ensnare any unsuspecting victims.

"I am equally thrilled," she continues with feigned enthusiasm, "that my close friend - someone whom I hold near and dear - Duke Leon Kensington, has graciously invited me to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the prestigious Arklay Academy."

The room responds with a unanimously enthusiastic round of applause. Feeling compelled by the atmosphere, you too mechanically tap your palms together, not truly understanding the need to celebrate her undeserved moment of fame. An ugly surge of jealousy courses through you as an alternative explanation for your unwillingness to participate in the celebration presents itself - you find it incredibly disheartening that it is this strange woman’s hands tightly wrapped around Leon’s arm instead of yours.

All around you, glass chandeliers cast dazzling reflections on the polished marble floor as sophisticated conversations fill the air. Delicate strings of pearls and fine silks brush against one another as finely dressed men and women exchange pleasantries with glittering smiles. You gaze down for a moment, closely examining the intricate embroidery on your sleeves, while your lips form a tight purse.

Your mother catches your eye as she slips between the crack of the door. There is a man’s hand on her hip, cupping the dip of her body. Her gaze seems somewhat apologetic, but you turn on your heel and march the other way, hoping no one sees her eyes trailing you, trying to leave behind the lingering embarrassment that tugs you back.

<><><><>

"Why have you dragged me here?" Leon’s smooth, unblemished voice sends shivers crawling up your spine. Curiosity takes hold of you as you muster enough courage to slightly peek around the corner of the door frame - only to find the same woman standing there in front of him.

"The king cannot stop me now," she asserts defiantly, as she grasps a fistful of his shirt collar and forcefully presses her lips against his. They don’t fit right.

You can't quite remember what it was that you choked out in response to the scene before you. What you do remember is the overwhelming sensation of feeling like your soul was akin to a fragile mirror that he had smashed unreservedly, leaving jagged shards that pierced your chest, drawing blood and suffocating you from within.

Leon eventually pulls away from the girl with a noticeable expression of uncertainty on his face; however, his eyes undeniably glint with intense desire. "Duchess Graham… what if we're discovered by someone?" he questions nervously.

Ashley Graham. You haven’t heard much of her, but you don’t truly care for the gossip that passes through the kingdom, over who is courting who, over who was found with one too many glasses of salt-rimmed wine.

"Let them see," Ashley speaks softly as she trails her delicate fingers down the sleek contours of his muscular form, asserting possessively, "I want everyone to know that you're mine." She pulls him closer and once again locks her lips against his.

And with one erratic swing, you aren't just sad anymore. You are angry as well. It is sickening to see the affection between her and this man who has so easily captured your heart with his stunning azure eyes, smooth tawny hair that seems effortlessly tousled, and his dazzling smile that makes you weak in the knees.

Pain pounds against your chest as you realize how easy it is for you to imagine yourself in Leyla's place. Your thoughts wander to a fantasy where his long, slender fingers are tangled in your own hair as he touches you with practiced expertise, knowing exactly where you crave his touch the most. He would lean in, planting kisses on areas you didn't even realize needed attention, the pool of desire widening through your body, drowning you both whole.

As you storm back through the room from where you emerged, still trembling with anger coursing through you, the only sound that seems to mock your pain is the relentless echo of their muted kisses.

<><><><>

As Ashley wraps her arms tightly around his shoulders, he can't help but suppress a gag reflex and force a bright smile onto his face. His body tenses as he scans the bustling room, spotting no one he wishes across the crowd, his deep blue eyes fixed intently on the floor. The sight of his defeated expression fills him with a sense of disgust that's hard to shake off.

He notices your eyes dragging across his body, leaving him flushed when you look elsewhere. But the girl at his side assumes it's her doing.

Being led into the hallways by Ashley, she suddenly pushes him against the cool tiled wall. Her cold fingers trail slowly along the skin of his exposed arms while he offers no resistance. Instead, he reaches out to bury his fingers in her thick, flaxen hair, the strands feeling like delicate spider silk. As their bodies press together, he can't keep his gaze from wandering toward her enticingly exposed thighs.

Kissing her is like experiencing something that he never knew he was going to. He isn’t sure whether or not he likes it, whether or not he finds it pleasing.

But as all men do, he expects to be overwhelmed by seductive desire as he tugs on her soft hair and melts further into her. He’s always felt that their only interactions are either at such social gatherings or the results of his mother’s malicious manipulation; sending him storming down the kingdom roads, only to find respite in Ashley’s comforting embrace. Whenever he lands in her arms, his troubles seem to transfer themselves into the air of his muffled sobs into the ruffles of her dress.

This time, though, something feels different.

Opening his eyes as they remain locked in their intimate position, he can't help but notice the complete absence of emotion in her distant gaze - a void that mirrors his own feelings at that moment. The once alluring smile has vanished from her face as she tilts her head to one side, letting her dress slip seductively off her shoulder without bothering to adjust it.

With nonchalance in her voice, Ashley asks him, "What's wrong?" Unable to find any words to respond, all he can do is focus on her hollowed cheeks. Suddenly finding her much less attractive than before, he fights the urge to pull away. Desperately trying to forget his unease, he presses his right hand deeper into her hair while allowing his left hand to hang limp at his side.

However, no matter how hard he tries, he cannot escape the vision of you cradled in his arms, hair weaving seamlessly through his fingers and eyes wide with innocence.

Had you been completely oblivious to what had happened mere minutes ago? The thought makes him smile faintly, which Ashley misinterprets as a signal of his enjoyment. Responding to that cue, she sensually guides his other hand onto her inner thigh, fixing him with a lustful gaze.

The sensation is overwhelming as every fiber of his being screams desperately for him to let go of Leyla, push her away, to reject her advances altogether. Panic rises within him like thick toxic smoke as she begins unbuttoning his shirt, exposing his vulnerable skin to the cold midnight air.

Suddenly, it strikes him that they are standing in the middle of nowhere, everywhere and existing in the plane of blank space all at one, his arm firmly pressed over her head, effectively trapping her against the row of cold metal lockers. The strands of her luscious caramel hair seem to capture the ethereal glow of the moonlight seeping in through the windows. Her plump lips, glistening with a layer of moisture, remain slightly parted and poised just inches away from his, patiently waiting for another taste.

And he’s always found her attractive, perhaps even more so than the other women who fall at his doorstep, with their silly, useless, profuse apologies that fall from their thin lips, with their meaningless gifts that end up stored in a closet somewhere in the castle.

But now, he struggles to find his voice, something that’s never happened with her. "I-I..." Something clicks inside his mind, and as if emerging from a trance, he swiftly pulls away from her.

Leon’s eyes widen with confusion and shock as he tries to comprehend what has just happened. Leyla's expression is nothing like his own, fully aware of what is unfolding between them. She tugs at her dress to reposition it and then meets his gaze with a fierce glare.

“Bored already?” she asks quietly.

Leon cares, he truly does. However, he suspects that it has always been this way. The brief solace that she provides him whenever he’s fled from the thin definition of home that he has held close to his heart has always been the string connecting them.

And he’s just severed it.

<><><><>

The bird flutters back to you, after the moon and sun have exchanged greetings and said their farewells twice now, and you find yourself sighing in remorse.

“Did you know, little bird, that there is a boy?” You chuckle to yourself, shaking your head as amusement tints your expression. “No, not boy. He is a man now, yet I will always see him as the little boy who offered me lunch every day, back when we were all the same to each other.

“I will not tell you his name, for I fear you will utter a curse upon him to the gods, and then where would I be? More or less heartbroken, because if he is gone, no one else may love him.”

The bird stares back at you, beady eyes seeming to narrow in concern. You might as well entertain yourself with the idea he understands you, at least for the few hours you have before yet another gala your mother has requested your presence at.

Surprisingly enough, the woman in question waits quietly as you stroll back inside, shooing the bird from your balcony, wishing for it to not be burdened with your troubles.

There’s a sheen of fabric splayed out on your neat bedsheets. There is a sense of guilt that hangs between you two, but you suppose, just for her pleasure, you could do this one small thing.

And you would be lying if you said you didn’t like the dress.

It fits perfectly. Waves of satin and gold shimmering together, like polished fish swimming in a clear ocean. They had arranged your hair in curls that fell over your shoulders and cascaded down your back like a waterfall. It felt prim and proper in a way that you had never experienced before - the feeling itself sent electric shivers running through your body. Perhaps you can treat yourself, just this once.

The looks are infinitely more worth it, especially when your presence renders even Leon speechless. You notice, with a small, smug smile, that Ashley is nowhere to be seen. You wonder what’s become of her. Perhaps her parents finally found the inevitable love child.

“You certainly know how to command a room,” he remarks, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.

“Flattery will get you everywhere,” you reply, your tone light yet teasing.

“Everywhere?” he suggests, voice dropping low as he shifts his weight to stand closer to you. If last night’s events had not transpired, you might’ve allowed it. But all you can think of is her skin under his, not yours, and suddenly you realize that must be such a normal occurrence.

“Watch your tongue,” you hiss, stepping back. With a small, knowing smile, you tilt your head slightly, a silent message that you are not easily swayed by mere words or charm.

You hold your power, in your quick tongue, holding your ground, even as Leon’s face contorts with confusion, with hurt.

“Whatever happened to the curse of gods,” he mutters.

“Are you referencing the required reading from the passage?” you drone.

“Yes, no. Of course. That is what I meant.” He clears his throat yet his eyes cloud with an emotion you cannot identify. He glances past you, gives a little wave, dipping his head respectfully to you before stalking past.

You wait a moment, perhaps two, before twisting over your shoulder. He is standing alone at the wine table, cupping a glass carefully between his fingers, as if pondering the ripples that his lips send out through the crimson liquid.

You hope it will slip, staining the white of his linen shirt.

Perhaps that will show him your agony, how your heart had turned inside out and painted your chest red when he kissed her and not you, hidden in that hallway.

<><><><>

Bloody and broken is how the bird arrives, that same night, as you sigh your troubles away into a plate of cucumber, sprinkled with chili flakes you had stolen from the kitchen. It chirps in sorrow, pecking at the fabric of your dress.

You pull away, raising an eyebrow before finally noticing the red dripping down its wiry legs, pooling in small beads around the talons that scratch the concrete. When you reach to cup the feathery, suffering animal between your hands, the dust stirs and floats down to the dying snow.

“Oh, you poor thing,” you coo, ushering yourself back into your room. Where your mother has hidden the aid kits, you do not know, so you wrap its damaged wing in some gauze you find underneath the sink.

There doesn’t seem to be an infection, but perhaps you should call Duchess Chambers, plan for her expertise. But the moon has already swam up to its high perch in the sky, and you know she will be tending to the late night patients.

And, of course, when you wake, the bird is gone. Only the crimson splatters on your desk remain, staining the letter that had arrived the evening before.

Blood so perfectly covers the name of the man you are set to wed in a few weeks.

<><><><>

"What happened there?" you inquire casually. His gaze follows yours, and he prods at the bandage covering his right hand with a wince.

"I participated in a fight," he admits with a hint of amusement. Your eyes widen in horror, darting around to confirm no one else has arrived in the abandoned hallway where you once sought solace, now only fear.

"T-The peasants?" you stutter, taking a step back. He could be joking, yes, yet he seems unworried and advances toward you.

"No," he muses. "I… engaged in combat with a tree."

You pause. “A… tree?”

He nods solemnly, as if the problem was truly within his supposed ‘opponent’. “You need not inform me. I already know.”

You scoff, unable to stop the sarcastic response that climbs up your throat. “Of course you would fight with a tree. Who has upset you now, your mistress?”

He cocks his head to the side, confusion swimming in his distressed eyes, echoing, “My mistress?”

“Baroness Graham,” you seethe. “Do not fret, I suppose everyone has seen your bond.”

“We aren’t…” Leon flushes, staring back down, eyes glued to the carpet. “That has never been the case.”

“Perhaps look at your surroundings next time you exchange intimacy in a public area,” you mumble. “Just about anyone may have caught you both.”

If it were possible, you are sure he would’ve turned an even deeper shade of red, matching the burgundy curtains. You rub the bridge of your nose and turn away, unable to watch his flustered, regularly smart mouth open and shut.

“I even thought of courting you,” you say, slightly bemused. “That was how enamored I was with the idea of being yours. Of you being mine.”

This statement seems to spark something in him, because he rests a gentle hand on your shoulder, but there is nothing gentle about the way he whirls you around, forcing you to face him. You are mere inches from the wall, you think, and if he chose to corner you, your only option would be to throw your punches. Which hand, now, was the question.

“And why do you think I stopped?” he replies with just as much exasperation, pinching the bridge of his nose before glaring down at you.

“Because I will always be a lesser priority to you.”

“You must be missing some pieces,” he grumbles. “Because never once in my life have I ever thought of you less than me.”

“Less than Ashley?”

“Never.”

“Then why did you stop pursuing her?”

“Because you told me!” he seethes. “Yes, I heard everything you said about me. Perhaps find better confidants than woodland creatures.”

His words leave you with broken sentences clumping in your mouth, your tongue feeling awkward and clumsy as you stammer, “T-The bird… you?”

“The bastard child of a nymph,” he admits with a dry chuckle. “Yet I will say that nothing you said was untrue, and that you are more glorious than a morning blossom. Still interested?”

“You… oh… dear.” You flush. “Your lineage matters… not to me.”

He arches a curious eyebrow, eyes glinting. “Our heirs will be of the forest. Does it bother you that your trusted little bird is truly me?”

A small part of you must’ve suspected this from the day in the gala, where he had alluded to your conversation, but it was a silly thought, no? A noble, a figure of society, a fluttering little thing that chose, of all maidens, to spend time with you?

You rest a hand on his chest, gazing up at him.

“I would not have it any other way, little bird.”

<><><><>

It was your secret, meant to be between you. But the walls have ears, and behind the shades of violet and maroon are listeners, people waiting to break apart what must be the only good thing that’s ever happened to you.

His face is ashen, cheeks hollow when you finally gain the courage to visit him in the dungeons below the castle. You do not understand the cause for his punishment. Who is he harming if he is but two souls in two bodies, one of which is meant for your realm and the other, a wild, free spirit?

“My dear,” he rasps when you approach, clutching the bars like a madman. You stare blankly into his crazed eyes, unable to find the man you once loved.

It has not even been a full month, you remember. You were to be wed, to love one another for eternity, however his lifeline works. You had assumed he would die to join you in the haven past the clouds.

“Leon?” you whisper.

“It is me, truly,” he chokes out. “Please, tell them.”

Your mother is standing beside you, touching your arm with those soft, slender fingers that always had the strange power to make you submit to her will. Perhaps she is also a creature of the woods, perhaps that is how she has managed to fancy all the eligible suitors even at her age.

But whatever she has done, she will always be your mother.

“Tell them what, Leon?” you ask softly. “Your kind has obviously caused us some harm, lest you be in this troubled, pitious situation.”

He looks up at you, confused, fingers slipping from their hold on the iron to reach out for you. As if on instinct, you and your mother step back, her face contorting in disgust.

“Do you see what happens if you keep secrets, dear?” she whispers, voice toxic in your ears. In some sick way, you realize that she must’ve manipulated some part of the puzzle, because how are you free from the consequences that both of you should be suffering?

“I have done no such thing,” Leon says, voice low since that seems to be all he can manage. In his disarray, in his mangled state, you find yourself unable to take any of his reasoning to heart.

“Pray tell,” you say quietly. “Is Baroness Graham also one of your kind?”

He draws back as if you have pinched him. “No. I thought my lineage did not matter to you.”

Your mother scoffs, cutting back in. “Lineage is everything, you deceiving traitor. You know that magic is forbidden in our kingdom, yet you sought to take my dear child away.”

What surprises you the most is that Leon offers no response. He purses his lips in a straight line and looks back down at his feet. You feel your own tremble.

“Is it true?”

“Would you have trusted a wolf at your door?” he mumbles. “I could’ve taken you at any moment, yet I resisted. I presented myself as the being you wished to be.”

“The beast admits to it, fooling you,” your mother seethes, and without another word, she turns and marches away.

"Mother, please," you cry, hurrying after her into the widening dusk. She stalks ahead, shoulders set in stony resolve.

You glance back at his silhouette, limned by flickering torchlight, and your heart strains near to breaking. But family has always come first. With a grimace, you tear your gaze away and redouble your pace to catch your mother.

"Why must you shun all who are different?" you ask as you fall into step beside her. "Leon has shown me only kindness."

She cuts you a sharp look. "Do not be deceived. His motives are not as pure as they seem."

"And yet I went out of my way to save him," you insist. "He owes me his life - does that mean nothing?"

Your mother's eyes flash with some inner fire. "You should’ve let him die! You know not what evils his kind are capable of."

Her strides lengthen, as if to outpace the doubts you sow. You match her pace, heartache weighing your every footfall. "Please, I beg you to give him a chance. Is peace not worth the risk?”

“You still do not understand,” she says, voice eerily calm.

“Then explain it!” You scuff the ground, stopping in your tracks. Your mother is not easily swayed, but her cloak billows around her, making her seem more intimidating than you know she is. “Explain why you hate such creatures-”

She raises a hand to silence you.

You do not foresee the tears that well in her eyes.

Her voice is broken.

Shattered glass once again pricks at your heart.

“Would you love a beast that has your father’s blood on his hands?"

#leon kennedy #resident evil #leon s kennedy #leon kennedy x reader #resident evil 4 #leon scott kennedy #leon kennedy fanfic #leon x reader #leon kennedy angst

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phoenixtakaramono · 2 months

Text

OPERATION BABYLON - PART VIII

aka the butchlander sugar baby AU.

Tumblr Navigation (note I have not shared the prologue here with its premise setup; I’ve only started sharing this twitter threadfic on tumblr starting from the 2nd 🔞 scene): I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII

Update Schedule: weekly/ biweekly

Although Billy initially didn’t know what to make of the whirlwind Manhattan high-rise house tour Homelander insisted on bringing him on, he thinks he’s figured out Homelander’s game and the unspoken rules by the time he’s carted off to the second flat. So he settles into the routine of making the appropriate “ooh” and “ahh” noises hearing the Yank regale him, the foreigner, about the supposed history of each place.

(You can read the rest of the threadfic update here!)

Keep in mind, all of my AU Butchlander threadfics on Twitter are the unpolished first draft versions of what’ll eventually be polished up into long fics on AO3 under the Shock and Awe series. So you may regard this threadfic as an experimental first prototype and exclusive preview whose contents may or may not be changed in the future final draft version. We’re just loosely playing around with ideas and concepts for now!

If you don’t have a Twitter account, screenshots are provided below the line break so you can read this update on Tumblr as well:

TBC

(A/N) - Place your bets on which location Billy’s going to choose as his base of operations y’all voted for it so…. From this update, if there’s things I’d probably change from the threadfic in the edited AO3 version is going more into detail about the fascinating lore of 432 Park Avenue (here’s the tl;dr vid of why it’s the most hated building in NY), draw out the scene of the g0ry reveal to heighten the tension of what Billy had just missed out seeing, and provide a better description of the architecture of Hudson Yards shops. Alas I am constrained by Twitter’s character limit per tweet, haha, and this is the first prototype so I’m not too worried.

#butchlander #the boys tv #homelander #billy butcher #billy butcher x homelander #the boys #the boys amazon #operation babylon #threadfic #sugar baby au #I actually had a different version of this update—but my PC restarted on me #I’d delved deeper into the horror aspect about the dead body #as well as the backstory and descriptions of each property #but y’all get the sanitized version cuz your girl didn’t want to retype all that 😭

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yaggy031910 · 1 year

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A fun little ask: the Marshalate is informed there is cake in the break room. How do each of them react?

Who ever you are, thank you for this sweet little question and I apologise for my late response. 🙈💕

I have ideas for some of them, however I am **not** aware of the maréchals eating habits so any input is welcome here. Also, I don't know all of the marshals well enough but I will try to include as many as possible. Don’t expect any historical accuracy in this.

See this post as a very big headcanon and as one ongoing story where I am going to try to mimic the marshals characters and miserably fail.

Shall we begin? :D

Les Maréchals and cake

Berthier would hear about it and quietly get excited by the idea of having a nice little piece of cake, just for him to be too busy with everything so that he isn't able to leave his desk. Either this or someone (probably one of his adcs) would be nice enough to get for Berthier his piece of cake.

Murat: You bet he is one of the first ones to look at this cake. His reaction might depend on how the cake looks. If it's a huge cake with a lot of golden details, Murat will carry it around so everyone admires this phenomenal cake because it deserves to be looked at.

Augerau and Masséna wonder why there is such a fancy a cake in the break room in the first place and who might have put it there. Augerau asks Masséna with a low voice: “How much money do you want to bet on the cake being poisoned?” Before Masséna is able to answer, Lannes enters the scene.

Lannes runs after Murat with the cake knife demanding to finally get his damn piece of this cake while Murat can't make himself to cut it because this cake is “so damn beautiful that it would be a waste to eat it.” This little game goes on for a minute or two until the other marshals grow impatient, one of them being Ney.

Ney who is known for his hotheadedness tries to save this cake from a disaster aaaaand fails. :) The three of them dispute over who is the actual culprit of this mess.

L: Murat, what have you done? M: I have done nothing. You followed me with a knife. N: You let the cake fall. M: You intervened in my business with Lannes.

The cake has fallen to the ground as Davout, Suchet and Macdonald watched. “Aaand here goes the cake”, Macdonald says; “At least the floor was able to taste it.” Suchet asks: “What do you think was its flavour?” ”Chocolate vanilla.” Davout answers. After a moment of silence, he adds. “Soult has a good recipe.” Mortier walks in, seeing how Lannes, Murat and Ney are loudly disputing while Masséna and Augerau get themselves black coffee and Davout, Suchet and Macdonald talking. Lefebvre who was walking right behind Mortier gestures him to move away from the door so he can get into the break room: “What is going on?”

Suchet: “We found a cake-“ Davout interrupts him: “We found a chocolate vanilla cake which we don’t know how it got here or if it was poisoned and now it’s inedible because his royal highness, the King of Naples, made it fall.”

Murat shouts from the back: “I didn’t let it fall.” Lannes: “Oh, you did.”

Lefebvre offers a solution like the good fatherly figure he is: “Do you still want cake? We could bake a new cake, messieurs.” Davout replies: “This sounds like a smart idea, Monsieur. Maréchal Soult knows an excellent recipe.”

Lefebvre: “Ahh, excellent. Where is our maréchal?”

Mortier: “He is in his office.”

“Then this where our journey goes next.” Lefebvre slams the door open and accidentally hits Oudinot. “Ah, Monsieur, my apologies. If I had known you were there, I wouldn’t have slammed the door as hard as I did. Are you alright? Yes? Until the next time then.”

Davout walks up to his friend to make sure how Oudinot is doing and explains to him in the meanwhile what is going on and also promises Oudinot to bring him a piece of the cake they are going to bake.

Lefebvre takes the lead and walks straight to Soult’s office while Davout and Mortier follow him. Suchet decides to stay behind while Macdonald thinks about it. Lefebvre knocks on Soult’s office door: “Monsieur, le maréchal? Are you here?” *Lefebvre knocks again with his energetic manner.* “Monsieur, le maréchal, it’s me, Lefebvre. Open the door!*

Soult opens the door with his usual unimpressed demeaner: Hm? Lefebvre: “Excusez-moi, mon maréchal, I heard you have a recipe for a delicious cake?” Soult: Cake? What cake? Davout: The chocolate vanilla one… the one you baked for your daughter Hortense’s birthday. The delicious one. Soult: Ah, yeah. That one. What of it? Mortier: We would like to bake this cake, which is why we want to ask if you mind us borrowing the recipe? Soult stares at his co-maréchals for a second, he shuts the door, opens it again with a piece of paper in his hand which he gives to Lefebvre. “Here. Is there anything else you need?” Macdonald who decided to join the baking group walks up to them and asks Soult: “Would you mind to lend us your baking equipment?” - “No. Have a nice day.” Soult shuts his door while Lefebvre shouts: “Thank you for your help, Monsieur Soult.” Macdonald asks: “What are we going to do now?” “We are going to bake the cake now, my good friend”, Davout answers. Mac: “Where? Where do you want us to bake the cake? Do we have the right ingredients?” D: In the kitchen and I don’t see why we shouldn’t have the ingredients. Macdonald looks at Davout with suspicious eyes about the matter if they are going to manage to bake this cake… The group of maréchals appear in the imperial kitchen where they start to gather the right ingredients. While the group is busy with the preparations, les maréchals Pérignon and Sérurier appear, wondering what is going on. As Lefebvre is explaining these two their baking journey up until now, Pérignon and Sérurier decide to join them: “A cake made by maréchals for maréchals.”

What could possibly go wrong with two additional heads in the kitchen? As it turns out: Everything. Pérignon and Sérurier manage to overdo the cake by confusing salt with sugar. The cake tastes salty, the icing itself is fine because it was made by Davout who religiously followed Soult’s directions. In addition to that, monsieur Lefebvre manages to mix up usual paper with baking sheets.

Bernadotte walks into the kitchen as he sees his fellow maréchals working on their baking project. He comments on the scenery: “This is just pure chaos without any discipline, a chaos which can’t possibly create something edible.” Davout replies “Well, have you ever baked anything in your miserable existence which you so call your life?”; to which Bernadotte says: “wELL, no, BUT-“ Davout continues: “Then get out of this room and give me my peace back or shut up.” Bernadotte decides to leave.

As Bernadotte is leaving, Jourdan walks right into the scene with an apple in his hand. A fire starts to break out in the oven and Jourdan, like the team player he is, turns and leaves this mess to his co-maréchals without saying one word.

Nothing is going as Davout had it planned. He sits in a corner, mourning this beautiful chocolate vanilla cake he had in mind. Macdonald sits right next to him with a spoon, telling him: “Well, at least the frosting you made yourself is delicious.” Davout, completely shattered by the fact that he wasn’t able to make his desired chocolate vanilla cake, puts his face into his palms until a surprise visits the kitchen: It’s maréchal Soult. With a cake. A chocolate vanilla cake. A chocolate vanilla cake which is neither burnt nor oversalted. A chocolate vanilla cake according to the recipe. Next to Soult is Oudinot who cuts two pieces of the cake: one for himself and one for his good old friend, Louis Nicolas Davout.

After Soult, Ney and Lannes enter the kitchen. Ney silently takes a piece of Soult’s cake, saying nothing except a simple “thank you”. So do Macdonald and Mortier. Soult tolerates Ney’s presence. Lannes on the other hand goes straight to the oversalted and burnt cake which the older maréchals made and are also eating. Kellermann and Grouchy, as late to the party as ever, also go for Lefebvre’s bad cake while Soult’s good cake is still sitting there. Soult can’t hide his look of disgust.

At some point, Bessières and Murat join or rejoin retrospectively the scene, walking up to Soult’s cake. Bessières, as well mannered as he is, takes one piece of a cake to which Murat comments: “I know how much you like this lovely type of cake, Bessières, take a second piece.” - “No”, Soult replies: “That’s not your cake. Take your piece and leave.” Murat adds: “For whom are the other pieces then? I don’t see anybody who would possibly want to eat this gorgeous baked good. We want to eat your delicious creation of a fabulous cake.” - “One piece each. You can give him your piece if you like to.” Bessières interrupts the two: “I am content with my piece.” Murat doesn’t listen to what Bessières says and continues his conversation with Soult: “My fellow maréchal, I don’t understand, why do you struggle so much with allowing somebody to have one additional piece of cake than the other ones?”

While Murat and Soult continue their dispute which leads to nowhere, one adc enters slowly the kitchen. He looks at Soult who recognises this man as one of Berthier’s adcs. He came to get a piece of cake for his marshal. Soult lets him take one of the few pieces left. All of a sudden, Kellermann seems to be chocking on his salty cake piece. All the maréchals are gathering around him and in the chaos, the last few pieces of Soult’s cake fall to the ground. Soult looks at his cake or what’s left of it. One could argue that everyone who wanted to eat it was able to eat it. One could argue that these fallen pieces can be ignored and Soult could go on with his day never ever thinking about the pieces again. However, we are talking about maréchal Soult here who sees the art in baking. The love, the accuracy of it. Today he didn’t just bring cake to his fellow maréchals. Today he witnessed how some of them have no sense of dignity for what it means to be able to eat good food. Good cake. Soult is leaving the room, not bothered about Kellermann as he wouldn’t be able to help anyway. He is going to his wife, his Louise Berg, who asks him about his day. He tells her the whole of it. How he was surprised by his fellow maréchals who wanted to bake a cake. How he knew that they are going to mess up his recipe. How he baked that cake properly and how a part of it went to waste. “Some of them ate oversalted and burnt cake. Who eats bad cake? Who likes bad cake???”

Davout on the other hand was thankful for Soult. With a smile on his face, Davout enjoyed his so desired chocolate vanilla cake, unbothered by the event surrounding him. The end. :)

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tobiasdrake · 2 months

Text

Digimon Adventure 01x32 - Tokyo Tower is Hot! DeathMeramon / Gatomon Comes Calling

Previously on Digimon Adventure: FUCKING. CATS. Why are you like this?

The Eighth Digivice is still out in the wild, last seen in possession of a crow. But now that it's been spotted, Vamdemon has left Hikarigaoka and is zeroing in on Odaiba Shibaura. The home of the Eighth Child has been found!?

Ooh, I've been waiting for this. Vamdemon's first night in Tokyo, getting his Dracula on. I vaguely remember this scene and have been looking forward to revisiting it.

We open on a slow build-up of a young woman walking alone at night. Vamdemon's carriage pulls up and he steps out to meet her. The woman, in a dreamlike state, leans up to kiss him.

Vamdemon sinks his fangs into her neck instead, drinking her blood. When he's finished, she falls limp to the ground. Vamdemon gets back in his carriage and departs, leaving his victim lying in the road with two visible fang marks in her neck.

This entire scene plays out with no dialogue and only a quiet, haunting melody for background music. The dub, as usual, adds dialogue. Myotismon greets us with a monologue.

Myotismon: Ahh, darkness. The perfect cloak for my evil. Ideal conditions for producing fear. Human blood always tastes better with a dash of fear in it. Woman: (stops walking and gasps) What is that? A carriage?

Once Myotismon arrives, they stop talking in words though there's still vocalized utterances, including a lot of ominous mouth-breathing from Myotismon. They do learn in hard on the "Woman and Myotismon are about to kiss PSYCHE HE'S A VAMPIRE" bit, playing this cute little romantic ditty over their initial embrace before the fangs come out.

Then they have the woman making muffled screams while he's drinking her blood. Oddly, they censor out the shot of the woman crumpling to the ground when he's finished, but they leave in the closeup of her lying on the road with fang marks in her neck.

They do, however, add in some audible groaning from the woman so you know she's okay. Don't worry, American kiddos; Myotismon did not kill a woman. She's gonna be fine.

We're going to hear about this again later on. Place your bets now if you think they censored out a corpse.

From here, we join PicoDevimon, waiting on a boat for Vamdemon's arrival and wondering aloud what could be keeping him.

I have some guesses.

PicoDevimon: He's late. What could be keeping him? Eh? (Vamdemon's carriage rolls up) PicoDevimon: Vamdemon-sama! Hurry!

The carriage door opens, and another woman flops out the door so abruptly that it's practically comical.

PicoDevimon does not enter the carriage but instead flies up to the window to speak with Vamdemon.

PicoDevimon: The dawn will be here soon! Vamdemon: No need to rush. Now that I know the Chosen Children are here, I must store up enough energy to fight them in this world. PicoDevimon: But if you're too reckless-- Vamdemon: No matter. This world will belong to me in the end.

Once that's settled, Vamdemon's carriage levitates into the air, settling down onto the waiting boat.

The woman from inside the carriage has mysteriously vanished due to a continuity error in the animation. So either she crawled away to safety or she disintegrated into pixel dust.

In the dub, DemiDevimon's getting frustrated.

DemiDevimon: I hate this fog! Master, where are you!? I'm getting mildew on my wings! ...Aha! (Myotismon's carriage rolls up) DemiDevimon: Finally! Sheesh, you couldn't take a cab like everyone else!?

They censor out the woman flopping out of the carriage. This censoring ironically makes the animation flow more smoothly, at the cost of the near-comical realization that Myotismon's been binge-drinking all night.

DemiDevimon: At last! I was starting to worry! Myotismon: Calm down. I went out to have a bite to eat and to get familiar with the city. It is always so difficult to get a good meal when one is away from home. DemiDevimon: You're right! So what do we do next, boss? Myotismon: We are continuing the search for the Eighth Child. The details are of no concern to you! DemiDevimon: Well, as I always say, uh, whatever you say!

The dub drops the context both that we're near dawn and that's why PicoDevimon's worried and also that Vamdemon's hunting has a purpose. Drinking those women is how he's accumulating power for his next confrontation with the Chosen Children. The dub plays it like Myotismon's just hungry, and also he only drank one.

However, I do like how wickedly he describes attacking that woman. Solid vampire-ing right there.

The dub inserts their first commercial break here, separating out Vamdemon's cold open from the start of the episode proper. Good spot for it.

The following morning, Taichi attempts to rifle through his and Hikari's belongings.

It does not go well. The crashing sound from everything in their room exploding at the speed of mistakes brings Hikari in. Also the sound of Taichi screaming in pain and surprise.

Hikari: What are you doing? Taichi: I'm looking for my phone book. The one from first grade. Agumon: Yeah, his phone book. Hikari: Phone book?

Agumon seems to have recovered enough to regain Child-stage last night.

Realizing their mother is out in the kitchen, Hikari steps into the room and shuts the door behind her.

Out in the kitchen, Yuuko's washing dishes while listening to the news for background noise. Staticky amateur footage of Raremon emerging from the bay plays on the TV.

Anchor: Viewers are advised to take caution against the possibility that more of these mysterious creatures could emerge in the future. In other news, two young women from the Nerima and Itabashi districts were found collapsed in the streets last night. They were taken to the hospital to be treated for anemia.

Yeah, the dub got that one right! The women aren't dead. If you wagered that they were then you owe the Americans a cookie.

Incidentally, identifying that second woman as being in Itabashi tells us exactly what route Vamdemon's taking to Shibaura. The floppy woman is a map marker. Here, I've drawn a red circle around Odaiba and a green circle around Shibaura.

Nerima, which is where Hikarigaoka was situated, is in the top left corner of the map here. Itabashi is east-northeast of it. On the other side of Itabashi is the Sumida River, which will take him all the way down to Tokyo Bay. Not the big river but that smaller squiggly one next to it that exits out right in front of Shibaura.

But, in any case, with the boat trucking along while Vamdemon takes shelter from the sun, he'll be in Shibaura well before the next sunset.

More maps to come as we follow the kids' and Digimon's trek through the city today.

While the news is talking about current events, the doorbell rings. Yuuko answers it, then comes back.

Yuuko: Taichi! It's Koushiro-kun! Taichi: Got it!

The dub gives Tai some extra dialogue while he's searching for the phone book.

Tai: Aw, c'mon! Where did I put that thing? (opens drawer) Junk. (opens another) Stuff. More junk. More stuff. Man, I was a messy kid. Can't believe how unorganized I was--AUGH!!! (catastrophe) Kari: (opens door) Whatcha doin'? Tai: Looking for my old phone book. It'll have exactly what I need. Agumon: And I'm helping! Kari: (comes in and closes the door) How come?

I like Tai's "Junk, stuff," exchange. Feels his age, right along with the "I was a messy kid!" from someone who is still a kid. He's getting to be that age where kids become impatient to be considered grown up.

Also, Agumon shouting "I'm helping!" while lying helpless under a pile of stuff got me. XD

Anchor: And now, today's top story: The monsters that are plaguing the city! Still no official comment on where the creatures are from or what they might be after. We will keep you updated throughout the day. Meanwhile, in other news, health officials report young women all over the city are being hospitalized for anemia. No word on whether the cases are connected but doctors are voicing concern that so many seemingly healthy young women are being struck down so suddenly. Yuuko: (checks the door) Tai, it's your friend Izzy! Tai: Coming!

Oh, so that's why Myotismon was late.

Vamdemon attacked two women on his way to Sumida River. Myotismon, I guess, went on a bender. This is even funnier when you remember that they cut the plot point of Vamdemon storing power to fight the Chosen Children. After declaring at the end of last episode that he's going to go deal with the DigiDestined himself, Myotismon then spent all of last night roaming the city randomly drinking women left and right for funsies.

DemiDevimon frantically pacing on the boat wondering where he is. And then Myotismon rolls up like, "Chill out, little bat dude. I had to get my thing on with the ladies, bruh."

Taichi very unsuspiciously smuggles Agumon past Yuuko's peripheral vision, and they head outside to see Koushiro.

Taichi: Yo. Koushiro: Good morning. Ah, Agumon! Agumon: I ate so much, I evolved. Tentomon: (approaches) Mornin'. Taichi: Tentomon! I almost didn't recognize you. Tentomon: Thank you, thank you.

Even the simple way everyone greets each other is dripping with personality.

Tentomon is still wearing his disguise from last episode. Fortunately, wearing a hat and cloak makes it impossible to tell that you're a ladybug monster. In fact, the hat is new, so that's even more disguise power.

This is the same energy as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles wearing trench coats to keep anyone from ID'ing them as turtle monsters. Some things are universal.

Taichi: It looks pretty good on you. Agumon: Eh... Taichi? Taichi: You want one too? Agumon: (nod) Mm...

This promises to be a disaster.

In the dub, that subtle parallel of greetings is gone.

Tai: Hey. Izzy: Hey, ready to go? Agumon, you Digivolved! Agumon: You bet I did! All I needed was a good meal. Tentomon: Psst! It's me! Tai: Tentomon! Nice disguise, dude! Tentomon: Thanks, Tai. I put it together myself. Tai: Wait 'til Mimi sees you. Agumon: I need one too. Tai: Yeah. Any ideas? Agumon: (nod) Mhm....

Tai is using Mimi as a cudgel to bash Tentomon's disguise passive-aggressively.

The Chosen Children all head to a nearby park to meet up, with varying degrees of disguise for their Partner Digimon. The award for best disguise goes to Mimi and Palmon.

Haha. Hahaha. Hahahahahahahahahaha.

It's kind of perfect because she looks like a young girl pushing her doll around in a baby stroller. That is a form of play that girls are encouraged to do under the rigid gender binary. Mimi Purity/Sincerity Tachikawa: Disguise sensei!?

On their way to the meetup, Koushiro and Taichi briefly discuss Taichi's failures.

Koushiro: Were you able to find the student phone book you had back in Hikarigaoka? Taichi: Uh... Well, y'know... Sora and I were in the same class, so.... Koushiro: (disappointed) You didn't find it, did you?

The children meet up in the park, and the narrator briefly explains the intent of this meeting.

Narrator: All of the Chosen Children were notified that the Eighth Child was spotted last night in Shibaura. Sora & Piyomon: (running to join the others) Good morning! Narrator: In order to discuss what to do about this turn of events, they decided to meet up.

No word as of yet about what happened when Taichi went bird-chasing. I guess by the time he made it out of the complex, the crow he was unknowingly chasing was long gone.

Note: Sora's "Good Morning" is distinct from Koushiro's earlier "Good Morning" in a key way. As Sora and Piyomon are running up, they call out, "Ohayou!" This is a casual way of saying "Good morning" to close friends and family.

What Koushiro said was "Ohayou gozaimasu." The addition of gozaimasu makes the phrase formal and respectful. He greets Taichi as if he were greeting a colleague in the workplace. Which is not a measure of their relationship but of Koushiro, as we spent last episode learning that he's talking like this to his parents too. This is how he is, and has been for as long as we've known him.

(But not as long as they have.)

Both of these greetings, meanwhile, are still more respectful than Taichi's "Yo."

Mimi arrives after Sora, pushing Palmon in her stroller.

Mimi: Palmon, you're heavy. Come out. Palmon: No! You said I have to stay in here, Mimi! Mimi: It's fine now!

Palmon was the one who told Patamon to say nothing when their train pulled into their stop too. Palmon takes this whole disguise thing very seriously.

The dub uses Tai again to snark at Agumon and Tentomon's bad disguises.

Tai: (sarcastic) Yeah, real inconspicuous!

I mean. It works. Nobody stops them to ask about the monsters. So don't knock it.

Izzy: So, Tai, did you find your address book from school? Tai: Oh! Uh... Well, Sora was in my class so I thought we'd just use hers. Izzy: (skeptical) Uh-huh. Couldn't find it, huh?

Izzy and Tai's brief discussion is a straight adaptation with no changes, and then we move on to the meeting. Tai has to fill in for the narrator.

Tai: Alright, listen up, everybody! I called you all here today because... Well... There was nothing good on TV! Matt: Ha ha. Very funny, Tai. Now where are the others? Sora: (runs up) Hey, wait! Don't start without me! (gasps for breath as she reaches the group) Good morning. Tentomon: Okay, so where's Mimi? Izzy: (dismissive) She's probably out buying clothes. Mimi: (pushing Palmon's stroller) Oh, get out and walk! You're too heavy to push! Palmon: Mimi, how's that going to look? I'm supposed to be a widdle baby. Mimi: You just grew up! Now get out!

Bit more context missing here. We lose the explanation that we're meeting up to take next steps now that we know the Eighth Child is in the area. Tai's remark is clearly not meant to be taken seriously; He's goofing off while they wait for the others. But it replaces the actual reason why they're meeting.

Also, (ugh), another sharp comment directed at Mimi for no reason. It's not even a laugh line like Tai's earlier Mimi barb at Tentomon was. Izzy's being pointlessly mean to fill silence. She shows up immediately after he says that.

The gang's all here, save for one conspicuous absence. Mimi, too, has brought her school phone book. You can't see it in this shot but even Takeru has one with him.

While they wait for Jou, the kids chat about what's happening.

Sora: This is turning into a mess, isn't it? Yamato: Ever since I woke up, it's all they've been reporting on TV. Taichi: It's weird, though. Agumon: What is? Taichi: When Agumon and I came back to this world earlier, the Digimon appeared. But back then, only Hikari and I could see them. Now everyone can see them and it's getting media attention. Izzy: It may be because they used Vamdemon's Gate to get here. Yamato: That must be it. If more Digimon use that Gate to enter our world.... Takeru: That would be terrible.

The group collectively imagines Seadramon, Shellmon, Vademon, Devimon, Kuwagamon, Ogremon, and Etemon all attacking the human world.

(In fairness to Seadramon, we started that shit. They were minding their own business when we set them on fire. They do not deserve to be lumped in with the rest of these assholes.)

Mimi: Oh no. Koushiro: That's a likely outcome. Taichi: Then we should hurry up and find the Eighth Child, so we can make sure that doesn't happen! And to save the Digimon World too! Sora: (momentarily taken aback by Taichi's enthusiasm) ...right! Koushiro: Let's do it. Yamato: Yeah. Jou: HEEEEEEEEEY!!!

We should probably also gank Vamdemon while we're at it. He's the lynchpin in the "Digimon coming through the Gate" threat. If he isn't there to unlock it then it can't open.

In the dub, Matt demonstrates that Izzy did not recap them about Raremon.

Sora: Hey, did you guys see it? It was all over the news on TV this morning. Matt: More and more of Myotismon's Digi-bozos are popping up in the city! Tai: And they're very real. Agumon: What do you mean? Tai: The last time we came back, there were Digimon all over the place like now. But only Kari and I could see them. Everyone else walked right by 'em as if they weren't even there. Now even normal people see them and they're on the news and everything. It's like they're really here this time. Izzy: Maybe it's because this time they came through the Gate that Myotismon made. Matt: I don't like it. If they can be seen then they're physically here, and if they're here physically, they can do a whole lot of damage. T.K.: Yeah, like what? (Imagine Spot of attacking evil Digimon and one unfairly maligned sea serpent) Matt: Do I really need to remind you what those evil Digimon are capable of!? Mimi: Creepy! Izzy: Complete systems failure. Tai: Agh, so what are we sitting around here for? We'd better get out there and find that eighth kid if we want to stop these guys. Save the Digi-World and we'll save our own! T.K.: Go Tai! Sora: Uh-huh. Matt: What's the plan? Izzy: Well I've got a theory-- Joe: STOOOOOOOP!!!

Man, Matt woke up on the Captain Obvious side of the bed today. Yes, Matt, we know that they can do damage if they're physically here. They've done a lot of fucking damage thus far. This replaced a salient point that more and more Digimon forces could be moved into the human world through the Gate, meaning the humans could be facing full-scale invasion if Vamdemon wins here.

Sora's momentary shocked Pikachu before hesitantly agreeing with Taichi gets drowned out by T.K. talking over it. It's easy to miss her quiet startlement.

That said, I do like how Tai gives his "It's like they're really here" explanation.

For reference again, the green circle is Shibaura, where Koushiro encountered Raremon last night. The red circle is Odaiba. Shibaura is directly across the bay from Odaiba, connected by the Rainbow Bridge - A huge double-decker suspension bridge allowing both vehicle traffic on one layer and rail transit on the other.

Jou sprints up, finally joining the group.

Jou: HEEEEEEEEEY!!! I had a hard time finding my old phone book! Taichi: Talk about killing the tension.

Now that Jou's here, we can talk about where we go from here.

Koushiro: The Eighth Child should have seen the Digimon with us during the incident in Hikarigaoka four years ago. Also important is the events in Shibaura last night. Mimi: Does that mean the child is living in Shibaura now? Yamato: They might have moved like we did. Koushiro: That's why I think we should split into groups and thoroughly search Shibaura. Yamato: Agreed. Mimi: It's a little hot, but that's fine by me. So what do we do with these phone books? Koushiro: There's a strong chance the Eighth Child is listed in one of them. We should call around and ask if anyone was in Shibaura last night. Jou: ...I start my summer classes tomorrow. I can make my phone calls, but I won't be able to go all the way out to Shibaura. Group: Eh!?!? Taichi: That's low! Jou: I can't help it! I'm studying for my entrance exams!

Education in Japan is a big fucking deal. Jou is about to graduate from elementary school into junior high. The exam he's talking about is to get him into a selective private junior high school, which will put him on track to a higher-paying career in the future.

This is what was so important to Chi-Chi in Dragon Ball that she had Gohan studying for it since he was four years old.

The tests he's studying for may shape the course of his entire life. It's something the other kids won't have to even think about for another year or two, but for Jou it's coming up fast.

In the dub:

Joe: STOOOOOOOP!!! I want to hear Izzy's theory! Don't start until I get there! I love Izzy's theories! Hold on! Tai: Alright! We won't start without you!

Aww, that's sweet.

Izzy goes on to explain his theory - while also getting confused on... basically everything about what we're trying to do here.

Izzy: We've already concluded that when the Digimon attacked four years ago, all of us including the Eighth Child were there. It is also safe to assume that each of us were given Digivices for a reason. Last night, I picked up an unidentified Digivice reading. I think it was the Eighth Child. Obviously, I lost the signal, but it's clear that the Eighth Child was in this vicinity. That's why the monsters are here too. Mimi: Monsters? Worse than snakes! (holding phone book) And this is supposed to help us? I'm lost. Izzy: My conclusion is that the Eighth Child is somewhere in one of these address books. Somehow we have to make a lot of calls and patrol the city for monster attacks at the same time. Joe: Well, I guess I could do some calling, as long as my folks don't find out. But I really gotta do some serious studying, so I won't be able to go on the search with you. Tai: What!? Joe, it's summer! Joe: I'm getting an early start! This year I'm really going to be prepared.

Yeah, this plot point for Joe was turbo-fucked from the get-go. It was going to be difficult to explain why Joe needs to spend all summer cramming for junior high without spending this whole scene explaining the Japanese education system to the American kids at home.

It was gonna be either this or sending Joe to summer school because he failed out of 6th grade. That he ends up looking like a useless flake is the price you pay for culture shock.

The bigger problem is Izzy, who is once again using smart words to be incredibly wrong about the plot. First off, the monsters aren't here. They haven't come to Odaiba at all. The Eighth Child is here because he's so wrong that he wrapped around to being right again. But the monster he encountered was in Shibaura, across the Rainbow Bridge.

Which, second off, is where we're going back to so we can find the Eighth Child. Patrolling the city for monster attacks, Izzy? The monsters aren't attacking random--

...

The monsters except Mammothmon aren't attacking randomly. They're trying to find what we're trying to find, and that's why we keep getting in punch-ups with them.

We do not have the manpower to be running all around Tokyo like Spider-Man looking for rogue Digimon. Nor would that help us find the Eighth Child. There was a plan here. A bad plan, because the Eighth Child is in Odaiba, but a sensible one.

In the wake of Jou bowing out of this mission, Mimi has an idea.

She deposits her phone book in his hands before he even knows what's going on.

Mimi: Then make my phone calls for me, okay? There's my address book from Wakaba Preschool. Jou: Huh!? Yamato: That's a good idea. (places his book on top of Mimi's) Here's mine from Dai-yon Elementary School. I'm counting on you. Koushiro: (places his book on top of Yamato's) It might be good if one of us focuses on making the calls. Sora: He has a point. (places her book on top off Koushiro's) Thank you, Senpai! (Taichi approaches Jou) Jou: N-No, not you too, Taichi! Taichi: Relax. I'm not gonna push my workload on you. Jou: T_T Aww, you're the best guy ever! Taichi: Ehehe.... You don't need to go that far. Sora: (to Koushiro) He couldn't find his phone book, could he? Koushiro: How did you ever guess?

To be fair, it would have been the same as Sora's anyway. So if you think about it, Jou's already doing Taichi's.

There's only one change in the dub: Matt is super aggressive about his line.

Matt: Joe, we're talking about the fate of the world here! If you're going to chicken out then you can call all the names in my book too! Seeya!

I want to say Matt's being his usual English Jerkass Matt but given that Jou's entrance exams have changed to Joe wanting to study for no particular reason, Matt's got the right of it. I'd be pissed too.

The kids take the train across the Rainbow Bridge, giving them a good look at the wreckage in Shibaura.

Taichi: So that mess is from your fight last night.... Yamato: It looks like a disaster zone. Takeru: The Eighth Child is somewhere around there.

However, they're not the only ones closing in on Shibaura. Vamdemon's boat has reached Tokyo Bay. Inside, PicoDevimon is steering it.

PicoDevimon: If I remember right, this is where the Eighth Child was last night.

Both factions race to Shibaura, on a collision course as they seek something that isn't there to find.

The dub lightens up the kids' exchange, taking out the somber tones of the original.

Tai: Whoa, look at all that damage from last night's battle! Matt: And there'll be a lot more too if this goes on. T.K.: We've gotta hurry up and find that Eighth Child! Matt: We will! We're not called the DigiDestined for nothing!

For the dub, this is a hoorah moment of rallying the team for action, rather than a somber moment of reflection on the carnage Kabuterimon and Raremon unleashed upon Shibaura.

Meanwhile, DemiDevimon makes me want to throw things.

DemiDevimon: Master, are we almost there yet!? 'Cause all this water's making me queasy!

Who the fuck are you talking to? He's in the carriage right now. Also, YOU are the one who knows where we're going! He's trusting you to get us there! Oh my god, DemiDevimon.

As the boat passes under the Rainbow Bridge and moves northeast, the fog follows it, blanketing the area in its wake.

See that building with the big spherical structure? That's the Fuji Broadcasting Center in Odaiba. We're going to see quite a bit of it.

Inside, two men gaze out the window at the mysterious weather phenomenon.

Man 1: Look outside. It's foggy. Man 2: I've never seen fog this thick before. I heard there was even snow falling in Tama. What is causing these strange phenomena?

Holy shit, Tama! There was snow in Tama! That must be where their camp was!

...is what you might be thinking, but no. The real-life route they took to return from camp doesn't go anywhere near Tama. It's in the wrong direction from Tokyo entirely.

In the dub, DemiDevimon delivers a silence-breaker as the boat passes under the Rainbow Bridge.

DemiDevimon: Those DigiDestined brats are probably miles away by now!

This is a continuation of his whining, but there's no reason for him to say this. It's a joke, with the irony being that the kids' train is passing over the Rainbow Bridge at the same time his boat is passing under it. But it falls flat because. Like. Why is he saying this joke?

Man 1: Hey look, that fog's coming in again. I've never seen anything like it! Man 2: At the same time, we're having the hottest weather on record! Man 1: And I heard that somebody saw snow falling last night. The ozone layer must be messed up worse than we thought.

The dub also misunderstands where the fog is coming from. Vamdemon and/or his carriage is producing it. It followed him from Nerima through Itabashi and now it's arrived with him at Shibaura.

All of the weather phenomena are being created by those weird Digimon that seem halfway in and out of reality. There's Meramon creating the droughts and Yukidarumon creating the snowfalls. Vamdemon and/or his carriage is producing this fog.

So. No. The fog is not coming in "again". This is the first time it's visited Shibaura.

Good catch on it being hot, though. They changed Mimi's line earlier where she sets up that it's a blazing hot day, so adding that in here lets them compensate for that and still foreshadow the plot-important heat wave.

Vamdemon's carriage departs the boat and moves into Daiba Park. A void in the shape of a grave appears beneath it, and the carriage descends into a dark abyss. There, waiting in silhouette, are Tailmon and her forces.

Let's take a moment to appreciate his choice of venue. Daiba Park is a man-made island named for the daiba for which Odaiba takes its name.

The daiba were gun batteries created in the 19th century to repel invasions by sea. It's a beautiful park now, but Vamdemon's squatting in what is effectively a historic military fort.

Tailmon: We've awaited your arrival! Crowd: Vamdemon-sama!

Tailmon sounds very enthusiastic when she shouts "Vamdemon-sama" but the rest of the crowd is murmuring it with zero energy. That's fair. They're here for the paycheck, not to join a cult.

Vamdemon: (stepping out of the carriage) This is a good place. We will make this our new headquarters.

From there, Tailmon ascends back up to the grassy field. She starts walking, but PicoDevimon calls after her.

PicoDevimon: Where are you off to, Tailmon? Tailmon: Our mission is to search for the Eighth Child. PicoDevimon: Trying to take the credit, huh? That's just like you! Tailmon: (feigning innocence) What? PicoDevimon: It's true, isn't it? I'm the one who found the Eighth Child first. Tailmon: Hmph! Do you really expect the Eighth Child to stick around in one spot? PicoDevimon: If that's what you think, then I'm sure you won't have a problem searching over there instead! Good luck finding them, if you can!

PicoDevimon flies off to get started on his search. As he departs, Tailmon's face contorts into a furious snarl. She was, in fact, trying to steal the credit from him.

Since he caught her red-handed, she gets stuck with the shit work. The "over there" he's referring to is this side of the bridge. He's sending Tailmon to go wander uselessly around Odaiba while he gets to go find the Eighth Child in Shibaura.

There is an irony at play here.

In the dub, there is no lukewarm team cheering of "Vamdemon-sama".

Gatomon: Welcome, oh great one! All is ready. Myotismon: (stepping out of the carriage) Perfect, Gatomon. As always, you have done excellent work. (Gatomon heads up topside) DemiDevimon: Hey whiskers, what do you think you're doing? Gatomon: I don't think. I know why I'm here; I'm finding the Eighth Child. DemiDevimon: That's my job, Furball! I'm in charge here. Gatomon: Yeah, right! DemiDevimon: Listen up, Puss in Boots! Quit sucking up to the Master! "I'm the Master's cute little pet!" GAG ME WITH A FURBALL!!! Gatomon: It's really hard to feel threatened by a bowling ball with feathers. DemiDevimon: Blah blah blah blah. Just keep out of my way! I'm finding that kid, not you, got it! Take a cat nap, kitty litter! HAHA!!! Gatomon: (scowl; thinking) That flappy-winged joker couldn't find water if he fell out of a boat.

Once again, the plot is just... not here in this version of the scene. The plot-specific rivalry of Tailmon trying to steal PicoDevimon's thunder and then accidentally talking herself out of it is gone, replaced by Gatomon and DemiDevimon generically bickering for six lines over who sucks more.

While PicoDevimon and Tailmon split up to scour Shibaura, the Chosen Children do the same.

Koushiro: Does everyone know which areas they'll be covering? Yamato: Yeah. Taichi: Don't worry! Sora: Let's get started!

Going their separate ways, they set out to do the same thing Tailmon's mercenaries are doing: Finding places where kids would be and holding up their Digivice to see if they get any readings.

Taichi and Koushiro buddy up for one team. Exploring the district, they momentarily pass a restaurant.

Agumon: Taichi-- Taichi: No!

They find some kids to scan, but get nothing.

Yamato and Takeru partner up because of course they do. They head down to the harbor.

Takeru: (checking Digivice) They can't be around here. Yamato: Yeah....

Jou starts making phone calls, as agreed.

Jou: Hello? This is Kido. I used to be in your class in second grade....

While Mimi and Sora explore the residential areas, pushing Palmon and Piyomon together in Mimi's baby carriage. It's only big enough for one of them, unfortunately, and the space is causing some hostility.

Palmon: You're smothering me! Why don't you go fly instead, Piyomon? Piyomon: Palmon, you've gotten fatter! Palmon: That's rude! Sora: Don't fight, you two. Babies don't act like this. Mimi: Could the Eighth Child really be around here? Also, it's really hot....

This isn't going well for anybody.

In the dub, it's Tai making the plan as usual rather than Izzy.

Tai: Okay, so we'll split up into pairs so we can cover more of the city, got it? Matt: Got it. Izzy: Let's go! Sora: Good luck everybody!

Fittingly, Koushiro's plan designated each team to a particular place but Tai's plan is just "Split up and go looking."

Agumon: I see food! Tai: Agumon, keep your mind on our mission, okay? (Tai and Izzy scan some kids and get nothing. Meanwhile, down at the harbor) T.K.: Aww, doesn't look like he's down here. That would have been too easy anyway. Matt: Yeah right. (Joe makes some calls) Joe: Hi, I know this is kind of strange but I was in second grade with you.... (Mimi and Sora deal with pushy Digimon Partners) Palmon: Hey! Stop pushing! Biyomon: I am not pushing you! You're kicking me! Palmon: You pushed the line onto my side, you big cheater! Biyomon: I am not a cheater, you're a liar! Palmon: I'm telling! Sora: Knock it off! If you two keep fooling around, someone's going to get hurt. Mimi: I know how they feel. Just walking around in this heat's enough to make anybody cranky. You know what this is, Sora? A big fat drag!

It's pretty much all the same, but longer. Palmon and Biyomon's fight once again demonstrates that Americans are the masters of writing characters behaving like assholes.

Also, we have immediately abandoned the dub's plot. Remember, according to Izzy, we're not looking for the Eighth Child; We're patrolling for monster attacks. That stopped being a thing almost immediately after it was spoken and now we're back on script with the Eighth Child search.

While the kids are out searching, Tailmon is doing the same.

Alright, let's break out the map again. Green circle is Shibaura, where PicoDevimon and the Chosen Children are all hunting the Eighth Child. The black circle is Daiba Park, Vamdemon's base of operations. Tailmon begins her search at Odaiba Beach, which stretches from Daiba Park around to Odaiba Seaside Park; That's the blue circle.

The red map marker below the blue circle is the Fuji Broadcasting Center, in case you're curious where that was.

Fun fact: If you look close enough next to it, you might also see a blue marker labeled "Statue of Liberty". That's exactly what it sounds like. There's like four copies of the Statue of Liberty in Tokyo. That other marker on the other side of the Fuji building is a life-size Gundam statue. Tokyo is just. Like that.

So, we find Tailmon on Odaiba Beach watching the humans have summertime fun.

Tailmon: How peaceful. There's not a chance the Eighth Child is among them.

She departs the beach and moves deeper into the district, entering Odaiba Seaside Park.

At that moment, Hikari too is in Odaiba Seaside Park, searching for her cat. We briefly see Meeko run past before Hikari enters the frame.

Hikari: Meeko! Where are you? Meeko! Where could she be....

Hikari and Tailmon briefly pass one another. Then Hikari stops, looking Tailmon over and studying her more carefully. Tailmon, too, stops to look back at Hikari.

Hikari: Are you one of Agumon's friends? Tailmon: !!! Hikari: You are, aren't you? Tailmon: ...meow! Mrooowr! Hikari: What's your name? Tailmon: Mrowrowr! (runs away) Hikari: Huh? Wait!

Tailmon's rejection leaves Hikari sad, but she doesn't give chase. She's here to look for Meeko, after all. She turns and walks away.

Tailmon V.O.: That girl! How does she know about Agumon!? Could she be the Eighth Child!?

Yeah, that's probably bad. PicoDevimon should have let Tailmon search Shibaura with him.

Over in the dub, Gatomon takes offense at all the fun being had on Odaiba Beach.

Gatomon: What silly creatures! Pea-brained dolts! Laugh it up! When Myotismon is through, you won't be laughing!

Okay? They're windsurfing, Gatomon. Chill out. Unlike the Gatomon and DemiDevimon argument, this doesn't replace much in terms of plot cohesion, but it is another bit of dialogue erased in favor of having the bad guys just spout Bad Guy Speak.

Kari: Meeko! Come back here! Where'd you go? Meeko! (Kari passes Gatomon) Kari: What a funny looking kitty. (stares, slowly realizing) ...hi there. Are you a friend of Agumon? Gatomon: !!! Kari: (cheerfully) Are you one of them? Gatomon: Meow! Meow! Kari: What's your name? Gatomon: Meow! Meow! (runs away) Kari: Wait, don't go! Mm... (isadly walks away) Gatomon (V.O.): So, she knows about Agumon. Hmm... Is it possible this little squirt is the Eighth Child?

It's mostly the same, with one key tonal difference in Gatomon's last line. Tailmon was freaking the fuck out when she realized she might have found the Eighth Child, while Gatomon is calm and contemplative.

Her Cosplay Crest doesn't react, but that's because it reacts to her Digivice as established last episode. She doesn't have that on her.

Once Hikari leaves, Tailmon chases after her in secret. Stalking Hikari all the way home.

Once Hikari gets to the front door, she turns towards Tailmon who's creeping around the corner. Tailmon panics and hides, but she's obviously been seen.

Hikari: Come here! Tailmon: MROOOOOWR!!! (bounds around the corner) Hikari: My mom's out. I'll leave the door open.

Nat 1 on her Stranger Danger check right there.

True to her word, she leaves the door wide open for Tailmon and goes to watch TV. The news is now talking about the mysterious fog that's rolled in over Tokyo Bay.

Reporter: The extreme humidity in the Tokyo Bay area of Odaiba is rare, even for summer. The cause behind it is unknown.

While she's watching, Tailmon creeps into the Yagami home. Studying Hikari carefully, like an actual cat.

No change to Kari's line in the dub, though the news report is a little different.

Reporter: Weather experts can't explain the unseasonable fog. In fact, they have no explanation for any of the bizarre weather conditions we've been having, including this heat wave.

They add in a reminder about the steadily rising temperatures going on in the background of this episode. Though they also seem to think fog can't form in the summer, which isn't so. Summertime fog isn't uncommon in a humid climate like Japan.

You'd think "weather experts" would know how advection fog forms on the Pacific coast. This isn't even a culture thing; The coastal U.S. gets it too, particularly California.

We return to Sora and Mimi, still searching Shibaura while pushing their Partner Digimon in a stroller. Mimi has questions.

Mimi: Why do we still have to do this even though we just got home? Let's take a little break, Sora-san. Sora: Again? Okay, but make it quick.

The girls all sit down at a bench in the shade. Sora, however, still has her eye on the ball, checking a map of the surrounding area and marking it with a red pen.

Mimi: Ahhh. I slept in a soft bed last night with the A/C on. That's when it really sank in: Home is the best. Palmon: The food was great too! Mimi: Yeah! My mom's cooking has never tasted so good. Piyomon: The food at Sora's house was amazing. Sora's mom seems really kind, too. Right, Sora? Sora: (looking up from her map with a smile) You think so? Thank you. Now, back to work.

Sora marks up the map with X's.

Sora: Let's see... hm.... Mimi: She's working so hard (ganbaru). Isn't she hot? Palmon: You two have different levels of endurance. Mimi: ...I'd rather be a delicate girl. Oh! Sora-san! Let's try a place with huge crowds of people! Sora: Huge crowds of people? Mimi: Yes! Over there!

Mimi points to the Tokyo Tower, circled in blue on the map. We're about two miles out from Shibaura right now, albeit two miles of whatever city-combing manhunt pattern we've been making. We're resting in that park right by the tower.

Tokyo Tower is a major landmark for the city. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower - Again, Tokyo is just like that - Tokyo Tower serves two purposes. Its lofty height makes for a fun recreational place to visit, giving people a gorgeous view of the city from its two observation decks. Additionally, the tower has transmitters for broadcasting various network signals, such as those from Fuji TV back in Odaiba.

Even in this brutal heat, Sora remains mission-focused on finding the Eighth Child. Ganbaru wa ne. She's persevering and working hard to push through these conditions. Mimi has trouble relating to that.

In the dub, Mimi's upset because pushing the stroller is hard, which takes the nuance out of her position.

Mimi: I'm not meant for this kind of work! If I ever have a baby, I'm gonna hire somebody to push her around, that's for sure. Hold on, how about a break, okay? Sora: Again? Well, make it quick. (They sit on the bench) Mimi: Ahhhh! Last night, I got to sleep in a soft bed with the A/C cranked up watching my own TV; Wasn't that the best, Palmon? Palmon: Dinner was really something too! Mimi: Wasn't it great? My mom knows all the best takeout places in the city; She never has to cook! Biyomon: Sora's mom made our dinner and it was terrific! Well, all of it except for this kinda green mushy stuff. What's it called? Sora: (looking up from her map with a smile) What? Spinach. Now let's see, where was I...? (Sora resumes marking the map) Sora: Hmm.... Mimi: Would you look at that. She's not even tired. Palmon: You're different. You like to take things easy. Mimi: Finding this kid's harder than finding a good sale. (gasp) Hey Sora, if we really want to find this kid, we should go where lots of people gather. Sora: You thinking of any place in particular? Mimi: Yep! Right there! (points out Tokyo Tower) Besides, we can see the whole city from up there. Really get the lay of the land, you know?

Besides Mimi complaining about pushing the stroller, there are a few other differences. Mimi's mom no longer has fine cooking but instead fine takeout skills; This is presumably to mesh with the dub's characterization of Mimi as coming from extravagant wealth. Though if she's rich enough to shit-talk Cockatrimon's cruise ship, you'd think their family would have a private chef or something instead of ordering takeout.

A subtle difference, but the original exchange with Palmon was about Mimi having low physical stamina; By her admission, she wants to remain that way. She likes being soft and delicate, and doesn't aspire to be a hard, rugged tomboy like Soccer Striker Sora.

This goes along with that other comment the dub didn't bring over, about "Why do we still have to do this?" It's unfair that they finally got to go home but still have to be Digimon World child soldiers.

The dub's version of this has Palmon call Mimi a slacker. Mimi then quips instead of responding to the accusation.

The girls head to Tokyo Tower. Unfortunately, someone else has his eye on this same spot.

One of Tailmon's mercenaries approaches the tower, looking up at it. Then he notices Sora and Mimi entering the building.

The girls take the elevator up to the observation deck, stepping into the refreshing coolness of an indoor environment.

Mimi: Ahhhh, it feels so good! It's great to be in a place with air conditioning! Palmon: I'm coming back to life! Sora: Yeah, I thought as much.

Sora saw right through Mimi's plan, but went along with it anyway. You know, as someone who had to spend weeks without functioning A/C in the midst of a heat wave, I sympathize with Mimi. This is an ironic episode to do right after getting the A/C fixed.

The girls approach the observation window to gaze out at the city.

Piyomon: Sora, that's where your house is, right? Sora: That's right. This is the world we live in.

In the dub, Sora's a bit slower on the uptake.

Mimi: Ahhhh, there! Isn't that better? Nice and cool. I knew this place would have A/C. Palmon: Feels great! Sora: Should have guessed you had an ulterior motive. (The girls go to the window) Mimi: Isn't your house over there? Sora: Yeah. It sure is strange being back in our own world again.

I'm not sure why Mimi knows where Sora lives and can point it out. I do, however, like Sora pointing out that it's as much an adjustment coming home as it was going to the other world. They spent months adapting to life in the Digimon World and now they have to re-adapt to what was once normal.

Or, at least, she does. Everybody handles things differently. By her admission earlier, Mimi has no adapting to do at all. To her, this was a bad disruption to normality that finally ended. I love this implied commentary on their character dichotomy, that Sora got used to the Digimon wilds but Mimi never stopped longing for home.

Then someone else arrives on the observation deck.

Tailmon's mercenary steps out of the elevator, and instantly the room stops being so relieving.

Palmon: Mimi, does it feel a little hotter in here to you? Mimi: Yeah, I guess the air conditioning isn't very strong over here.

The girls move over to directly beneath the A/C vent to escape the sudden pervasive heat.

Palmon: Ahh, a cool breeze. Piyomon: Feels great!

But then the A/C shuts off.

Mimi: (pout) It's getting warmer.... Sora: Maybe the air conditioner broke-- Mimi: (turns her head and notices Tailmon's mercenary) EUGH!? HOW IS HE ABLE TO WEAR A FULL-LENGTH COAT IN THIS SUMMER HEAT!?!? I'm getting hotter just looking at him! Sora: Mimi-chan, he'll hear you! Mimi: It's true though.

Ironically, Mimi is absolutely correct to blame that trench coat man for making her feel hotter, but not for the reason she thinks.

In the dub:

Palmon: Does it feel like it's getting warmer? Mimi: Yeah, it does. Let's move over closer to the blowers, ahaha!

For some reason, they play the A/C shutting down noise on the first shot of the vent, while it's still blowing, instead of the second shot where it shuts down.

(A/C blows fine but makes shutdown noise) Palmon: There, that's more like it. Biyomon: Wonderful! (A/C shuts down silently) Mimi: (pout) What happened to the air? Sora: Hm, maybe this heat wave finally got to be too much for it. Mimi: (turns her head and notices Gatomon's mercenary) EUGH!! Look at that weirdo wearing a coat in this heat! And such an ugly one too! Sora: Hey, Mimi, be quiet! He'll hear you! Mimi: Oh, and what's he gonna do?

Mimi is dripping with personality in this scene. Both versions go hard on their particular Mimi takes.

The man in the trench coat turns around suddenly, facing the girls.

Sora: See, he heard you!

To everybody's surprise, he flames up. Blue flames cover his body, burning away his trench coat and revealing his true identity. Blast! It was another Ninja Turtle trench coat disguise all along! With an actual trench coat!

Sora and Mimi scream when they realize he's here for a fight.

Sora & Mimi: AHHHHHHHH!!! Palmon & Piyomon: A DIGIMON!!!

In full view of the rest of the crowd on the observation deck, Palmon and Piyomon leap from the stroller to face down Tailmon's mercenary.

No change in the dub. But after the mercenary burns off his coat, Mimi helpfully comments:

Mimi: Well, I guess that explains the coat!

XD It sure does, Mimi. It sure does.

Now that the mercenary is raring to fight, the heat turns up so high that Taichi and Koushiro can see it from a distance.

Agumon: I think it just got hotter all of a sudden. Tentomon: I can't believe it.... Koushiro: Tokyo Tower looks like it's bending. Taichi: That's impossible.

The heat around Tokyo Tower is now so thick it's distorting the air.

Taichi: It's true!

He takes out his mini telescope to get a closer look at the tower. Giving him a chance to see Birdramon explode out of the window with Tailmon's mercenary leaping out to pursue her.

Taichi: IT'S A DIGIMON!!!

No change in the dub.

Birdramon kicks off the fighting with an inadvisable Meteor Wing. Her flames strike the mercenary, swirling harmlessly around him. Togemon steps up with Chiku-Chiku Bang-Bang. The mercenary counters, slapping her needles out of the air with his flaming chain and cracking her across the face and knocking her on her ass.

Kabuterimon flies in overheard, ferrying Taichi, Koushiro, and Agumon to the fight. Koushiro pulls up their opponent's information on the Digimon Analyzer.

Koushiro: That's DeathMeramon! He's Perfect-stage!

DeathMeramon is a Perfect-stage Data-type Flame Digimon. Hailing from, you guessed it, the Nightmare Soldiers release, DeathMeramon is the evolved form of Meramon.

Narrator: DeathMeramon. A Perfect-stage Digimon whose body is enveloped in blue flames. His special attack is Heavy Metal Fire.

Not the most informative of rundowns, to be sure.

In the dub, despite having the Digimon Analyzer open, Izzy asks Agumon of all people to deliver the rundown.

Izzy: Explain this to us, Agumon. Just who is this guy? Agumon: He's SkullMeramon. His element is Fire. He's tough and he can sure dish it out!

His element is Fire? What, do we have to keep track of a Pokemon Type Chart now?

Note: I'm just poking fun. Some Digimon video games do in fact have a Pokemon Type Chart, in addition to the Vaccine/Virus/Data triangle. But that hasn't been a thing in the anime up to this point.

DeathMeramon's name was apparently too intense for the censors, despite the fact that we have had usages of "kill" and "die" in the show before. So they swapped it out for SkullMeramon, which is still pretty edgy. But. Like. He has a Jason Voorhees mask; Where does the skull come in?

In any case, I don't know why we're turning to Agumon for this. The Analyzer was added to the show so we could stop leaning on the Digimon for explanations, since they aren't supposed to know much about Digimon from outside of File Island.

As soon as the narrator finishes explaining Heavy Metal Fire, DeathMeramon shows us exactly what that is.

Of note: That's not fire he's breathing. He's spewing liquid metal. It's heavy, it's metal, and it's fire. Kabuterimon evades, but his shot of Heavy Metal Fire lands on a support beam for Tokyo Tower. The glob of burning blue liquid comes to rest on the beam, melting straight through it.

The tower above containing the second observation deck begins to fall. There are probably people in there.

Koushiro: It's falling! Kabuterimon, hold it up!

Kabuterimon's forced to withdraw from the fight so he can hold up the tower and prevent it from falling on the city below. Which he manages successfully. Holy hell, the force of those gossamer wings.

DeathMeramon: I'll burn you all to the ground! Taichi: We won't-- Agumon: --let that happen!

Agumon leaps from Kabuterimon's back, evolving to Greymon to join the fight.

The dub calls SkullMeramon's attack "Metal Fireball".

Tai: The tower's gonna fall on the city! Izzy: Grab it, Kabuterimon! Hurry! (Kabuterimon holds back the tower) SkullMeramon: Don't you know not to play with fire!? Tai: Are you ready!? Agumon: Yeah!

They add a line so that Tai can be involved in the tower support.

The combat banter is all different, but in a way that isn't better or worse than the original. Lateral change.

Taichi and Greymon barrel into the fray and immediately make everything worse.

Greymon lands on DeathMeramon, divekicking him in the chest. When DeathMeramon shrugs that off, Greymon follows up with a Mega Flame. DeathMeramon absorbs the attack and grows twice as large as before, much like Meramon did way back when.

Taichi: He got bigger after absorbing the Mega Flame! Koushiro: He's Perfect-stage. An Adult-stage like Greymon is no match for him.

In the dub:

Tai: Now we've really made him mad! He swallowed that Nova Blast like a hot fudge sundae! Izzy: All it did was make him stronger! Unless Greymon Digivolves again, he's toast!

Is Izzy implying that we need to Super-Evolve because of the buff? Because we don't. We needed to Super-Evolve from the beginning, and the buff only made things worse.

The dub hilariously picks here for Hey Digimon. A point in the fight in which Greymon achieves nothing and gets dunked on. They make the weirdest choices in how they use that ditty.

Errors have been made. Avoidable errors if Taichi wasn't so reckless and had paid attention when Koushiro talked. Greymon Super-Evolves to MetalGreymon and continues to struggle against the now buffed up DeathMeramon.

MetalGreymon and DeathMeramon throw themselves into a grapple. But in his buffed up state, DeathMeramon's strength wins out, forcing MetalGreymon to his knees.

Birdramon and Togemon return to the fight. Birdramon strafes by DeathMeramon, pulling his attention while Togemon rushes him from behind. Unfortunately, he's on fire, so this backfires in hideous and predictable ways.

Togemon: (charging in) TOGEMOOOOOOOOOON!!! (DeathMeramon moves slightly backwards and strikes her with his back, engulfing her in his flames; Togemon runs screaming) Mimi: Togemon! Get a hold of yourself!

Even Mimi's yelling at them for how bad that plan was. Maybe we should have a Pokemon Type Chart to drill into everyone's' skulls. Everybody is fucking up today.

Sadly, Dub Togemon does not scream her own name as a battle cry moments before being hilariously shitstomped.

Togemon: Lightspeed Jabbing! (SkullMeramon moves slightly backwards and strikes her with his back, engulfing her in his flames; Togemon runs screaming) Mimi: Watch out! This guy is scary!

It's not nearly as funny.

While Togemon KO's her own goddamn self, DeathMeramon lands a direct hit of Heavy Metal Fire on Birdramon's center mass, knocking her from the sky.

The distraction, however, buys MetalGreymon the time he needs to get up into the air and out of close combat. By. Uh. Flying? I guess he can fly with those tattered wings of his.

MetalGreymon fires his Trident Arm at DeathMeramon. DeathMeramon jerks aside and wraps his chain around it as it passes, so that when it retracts, he now has a grapple around MetalGreymon.

DeathMeramon: I've caught you! HEAVY METAL FIRE!!!

MetalGreymon twists sideways in the air to dodge the attack.

MetalGreymon: Who caught who now? DeathMeramon: What?

MetalGreymon spins in the air, using the leverage from the chain to yank DeathMeramon off the roof of the observation deck and hurl him up into the air. There, he lets off his Giga Blaster, obliterating DeathMeramon with two direct hits.

The dub adds a taunt to MetalGreymon's attack.

MetalGreymon: Hey! Up here, bucket of bolts! MEGA CLAW!!!

Uh. Pot, meet kettle? DeathMeramon isn't even a cyborg. He just has a spooky face.

No other change in the dub.

While all this fighting is happening at Tokyo Tower, something else is going down in the Yagami home.

Hikari is still watching the news, with Tailmon lurking around the corner of the couch.

Reporter: According to eyewitness reports, kaiju have been spotted fighting with each other. Tailmon: (thinking, kinda freaking out) She is definitely not an ordinary child! I should kill her now! Reporter: Speculation has arisen that this may be connected to the kaiju uproar that occurred yesterday.

Tailmon hops up onto the back of the couch and creeps up on Hikari. She raises her sharp, gloved claw to strike.

Hikari: (turns around and holds out her hands) Come here.

Tailmon is so startled that she loses her balance and falls off the back of the couch.

Losing all of her nerve, she turns around and heads for the door.

Hikari: You're leaving? But you'll come back, right?

Tailmon breaks into a four-legged sprint to get out of there as fast as possible.

Tailmon: I can't act when I have no proof that she's the Eighth Child! Narrator: At this time, Tailmon had yet to realize that this girl, Yagami Hikari, would soon hold special meaning for her.

Spoilers, narrator. Fuck. Why are you like this?

In the dub:

Reporter: While the clash of the monsters caused extensive damage to the tower, no casualties were reported. Gatomon: (thinking) She isn't so bad, for a human. Better company than some Digimon, that's for sure. Reporter: But fear is in the air and there's a general feeling of public unrest. (Gatomon climbs up on the couch and stealthily approaches Kari, holding out her claw to strike) Gatomon: (thinking) Still, orders are orders and I'm not gonna be the one who lets the Eighth Child get away. Kari: (turns around) Hi! Gatomon: HUH!?!? Uhhhhhhhhhhh.... Kari: (holds out hands) C'mere! (Gatomon falls off the back of the couch, then gets up and starts to leave) Kari: Are you going already? But you'll come back again, right? (Gatomon flees at the speed of panic) Gatomon: Her sweetness makes me lose my edge. But I'll be back and next time, I'll be ready for her! Reporter (V.O.): While no one knows where these monsters are from or why they're here, it's clear the Earth is at some sort of crossroads. The question is, down which road does our destiny await?

Credit where it's due, the use of the reporter to stand in for the narrator and deliver some genuinely ominous parting comments? Inspired. I love it.

Gatomon remains cool and composed compared to Tailmon's panic attack, but it remains clear that Kari is a chink in her malevolent armor. I like Tailmon's more emotional performance better, but as I said about Mimi in the observation deck, both of these scenes make great use of their respective interpretations of the character.

The episode ends here and I have absolutely no idea how we're going to repair Tokyo Tower. I bet it stops being a problem between episodes. That seems likely.

Assessment: Taichi again shows up to steal Mimi's thunder because we're holding off on letting Palmon hit Perfect. I thought this was the episode. Tragic.

It felt like they were going somewhere when Mimi and Palmon were comparing her relationship with her femininity to Sora's. Like this was going to be Sora and Mimi's episode to explore their differences. But then they fucked off once the fighting started so Taichi could be the rockstar.

That's disappointing. Nothing happening from a plot perspective is the point; Everyone's searching the wrong area. Given that, it's good to have an episode where nothing can happen. The funniest thing in the episode is when PicoDevimon punishes Tailmon for trying to get a head start on him by banishing her to where the Eighth Child actually is.

But it also feels like nothing happened from a character perspective, which is more damning. Sora and Mimi had a chance to have an interesting side adventure and learn about each other. But they didn't. They got hot and then went up Tokyo Tower. That is all they got to do.

So this one kinda sucks? It's pretty good while the story is moving all the characters into Shibaura, but the back half of the episode comes off like filler to give Hikari and Tailmon's plot time to transpire.

And the dub isn't any better. It screws up multiple times at explaining the plot as we're getting the characters into Shibaura.

I understand that they weren't going to be able to explain the geographic elements of this episode but they could at least have compensated. Yeah, kids won't know which side of the Rainbow Bridge is which, but they've said the kids are in Odaiba in the past. DemiDevimon could say something like, "Shibaura is mine! You can go search Odaiba."

But they didn't bother. This one isn't great in either version.

#digimon #digimon adventure #revisiting digimon #revisiting digimon adventure

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