#and archie’s like well we were only talking about it we didn’t actually do anything. luckily he fell down the hold!! and i’m glad he did!!

[cosmic1oves]

mutiny is great bc horatio (+bush and buckland too) spends most of it in a state of inner turmoil about Duty; his duty to the captain vs the fact it’s increasingly clear he’s unfit, and duty to the ship + fleet + navy. and the fact that doing something would be mutiny, likely leading to hornblower’s death vs not doing something will probably cause everyone’s death

meanwhile from about 5 minutes in archie is like ‘this guy is crazy and we need to do something about it.’ and then he takes another five minutes to get to ‘horatio let’s get rid of this guy. we need to get rid of sawyer guys’

[statticscribbles]

Stutter

Summary: Sweet Pea/Reader, Reader comforts Sweet Pea as he confronts a fear of public speaking

Sweet Pea has been in more near death experiences than he can count. He’ll always come away from it laughing a little, everyone chalks it up to shock and they make jokes once everyone is safe and the bruises or wounds have healed by a few days.

“Seriously guys, that was nothing compared to my one true fear.” 

“Nah I would rather do that ten times again than face my real fear.”

“I can handle it, I fear way worse.” 

He has an endless parade of comments and jokes to make and everyone teases that his biggest fear is losing you. He doesn’t comment back on that and everyone keeps teasing him about how hard and fast he’s fallen for you, considering you’ve only been dating for a shorter time.

“Sweet Pea are you okay?” You wave your hand in his face. He’d been staring at Pop’s wall and occasionally taking bites of his burger.

“Yeah, I just forgot about the presentation part we have to do.” He shrugs but you can see the way his hands shake, the same way they do when he thinks you’re in danger.

“You don’t like public speaking?” He chokes out a laugh and you don’t say anything else, you know he’ll just avoid talking about it, but you can also see how truly terrified he is.

“It’s, It’s fine Y/N you don’t, it’s fine you don’t need to bother, I ca-I can handle it on my own.” Sweet Pea’s smile does reach his eyes and you sigh through your nose at him and offer a reassuring smile.

“I Already did this last week, I know you’re nervous but try running through it a few times with me.”

“The problem is it isn’t you! When I think about talking in front of everyone, for class, they’ll, they’ll find out how stupid I am.”

“Didn’t you already get a ninety five on this project?”

“Yes but…”

“So you just have to tell everyone about it.” You smile and Sweet Pea does his best to look convinced, he’s actually a horrible liar.

“How about you just tell me what you want to say now, and I can write little notecards to help?”

“Yeah that sounds good.” He’s not looking you in the eyes and you know he’s just agreeing so you feel helpful but he points to the printed out slides he’s using for reference as he talks. You notice he only stutters twice, and even then it’s only over some of the more complicated scientific words.

“What if you pretend there’s other people here, would that make it worse? Just pretend it’s me and Toni.” He nods and closes his eyes before opening them and restarting the presentation; you notice he stutters four times, and backtracks over half of part of it he had no problem saying only moments ago.

“The notecards might help.” He sighs after he’s been quiet for a few moments, and you realize he’d forgotten what he wanted to say completely.

Sweet Pea grimaces but nods to the teacher who nods back.

“Good job. That’s all for today, we’ll get to the second half of the presentations tomorrow.” Sweet Pea can’t help but chuckle at how Reggie and Archie groan, thinking they had both gotten out of presenting.

“You did so well baby!!! I’m so proud of you!!!” You smile at him, fingers running through his hair as he slumps in the chair gathering his strength for a minute, you know having to do that presentation was terrifying for him, and you’d told everyone to meet at pop’s later. None of them had questioned it, as far as they knew you were the one that had a huge fear of public speaking and Sweet Pea was comforting you.

The class is empty now and you sit on his lap, hands curled in his hair.

“You did so well, I’m so proud of you.” You hum at him and he grins nodding slowly, you can see how tired he is.

“Did you pretend everyone was naked?” You laugh when he blushes.

“Don’t think I could picture you naked and talk at the same time.” He chuckles and then nods towards the door, assuring you he’s okay to go to Pop’s.

“I did just pretend I was talking to you in my trailer, like when we practiced.”

“I mean that did lead to me being naked.” You laugh when he blushes again.

Support My Writing?

[tenebraevesper]

Locke’s Mistreatment of Shadow & The Shadow Android Theory

So, welcome back to yet another analysis of the Sonic media, featuring Shadow the Hedgehog. I wasn’t really planning on this, but after reading Issue #145 of Sonic Archie, I realized there was something I wanted to address. Now, just as a note, if you guys like my Sonic Analyzers/Posts, you’re free to suggest which topic I should tackle next (I had been partial to addressing the fact that some people claim Lanolin is Sally 2.0. and why that’s disrespectful to both characters).

In any case, let’s go back to our actual story, Issue #145: Shadows of Hope. There are two particular topics I want to talk about here, first being that Locke the Echidna is an awful person and the second being that the writer of this Issue is either a believer of the “Shadow is an Android” Theory or he, as usual, didn’t care to do proper research.

Before I start, I’ll do a quick recap. This story features the return of Shadow the Hedgehog in the story after a lengthy absence, and from my understanding, the focus on him in this and future Issues was an editorial mandate due to his popularity and attempt to increase comic sales, as well as the fact that the year this Issue came out was also the year Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) came out. With that said, note that SEGA wasn’t heavily involved with the Sonic Archie comics, sharing only minimal information about the video games they were developing with the writers whenever they needed a promotion. There was also no way of getting a faithful adaptation of the video game since their attempts at adapting Sonic Adventure 2 proved that the comics cannot serve nor bend to the video games they are based on.

Also, trigger warning, this was written by Ken Penders, so be prepared for the mess he wrote. Things will get really disturbing.

So, not even a whole page in, and there is already a problem with this narration.

“Shadow was created onboard a lab located in geosynch orbit over the planet Mobius, and originally considered a product, a construction, a weapon, anything but what it truly was, a biomechanical lifeform!”

Biomechanical lifeform... are you serious?!

Now, now, I won’t be flying into another rant yet, because Sonic Heroes had come out by this point, and we know that Team Dark came across the Shadow Androids, robots that Eggman had created in Shadow’s image in that game.

Sonic Heroes implied that the real Shadow had died in Sonic Adventure 2 and that the Shadow in Sonic Heroes was just an amnesiac android. Shadow the Hedgehog (2005) later debunks this theory by having Eggman tell Super Shadow as he fights Devil Doom that he is the real deal and that Eggman had saved him when he fell after the battle with Finalhazard.

So, perhaps I should ignore this one as this may have been the lead theory at the time, right? Well, I would, except this is Penders we’re talking about. This guy prides himself in never having played the Sonic games nor knowing anything about the Sonic lore aside from the stuff SEGA tells him to write.

Oh, but it gets even worse, because Penders proceeds to basically dehumanize Shadow:

“By every known definition, it was sentient! It could think, reason... and feel!”

I don’t know what was even going through Penders’ head when he wrote this, but why is he writing Shadow as if he wasn’t even a living being?! Why is he acting as if Shadow is a mindless tool/weapon and not his own person?! Hell, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The story starts in typical Penders’ fashion, with Shadow spying on Hope Kintobor. Note, her resemblance to Maria Robotnik is purely accidental, as she appeared in the comic before Sonic Adventure 2 came out, but the writers certainly milked this coincidence for all its worth. We also get a more wholesome interaction between the two once Ian Flynn takes over.

So, Shadow is spying on Hope, when suddenly, a hooded figure appears and... you know what, I’ll just transcribe the description from Sonic_Speed because their take on what happens in this story (you can find the timestamp in the comments of their video, just click on the link here) is hilarious:

Speed: “...until a hooded figure comes behind him and asks him for help. Shadow’s like ‘The fuc- No! Who are you?’

Aaron: *laughs* “Shadow’s being like ‘Aaah, I see, an Agent of Penders... Fuck off! I will not be tainted by your bad writing!’”

Speed: *laughs* And one of... You know what, that’s actually a pretty apt analogy, because the figure says ‘I respect your choice, Shadow, but I cannot accept it!’ and hog ties him!

Aaron: “You’re gonna get dragged into this plot whether you want it or not!”

So, yeah, our mysterious figure and narrator is Locke the Echidna, probably the most hated character in this comic besides Geoffrey St. John and King Max. Some of his crimes include microwaving Knuckles as an egg in Chaos Energy, then later on lie and manipulate him, faking suicide in front of his young son and making him believe for 10 years that he was the only echidna left alive. Even after their reunion, he keeps being emotionally abusive and lying father towards Knuckles and trying to control his life, all under the guise of “I’m your father, I know better”.

I’m not gonna lie, I legit cheered when Locke finally died.

Good riddance and no tears were shed, now Knuckles is finally allowed to be his own person.

Anyways, back to the current story, which is currently being hijacked by Penders’ OC. Note how Locke addresses Shadow in the narration, calling him a “creature”. This is their first (and only) interaction they have, and this is foreshadowing of how Locke sees Shadow.

Shadow has none of this nonsense, attempting to punch him, but Locke presses a button on his belt and envelops them in a blue light, with Hope running into it and being transported to somewhere else (speculated to be Haven, headquarters of the Brotherhood of Guardians, by Speed in his video).

There, Shadow proceeds to continue attacking Locke (YAY!!!), but Locke manages him to throw over his shoulder (BOOOO!!) and then proceeds to trap Shadow inside a glass tube, while still calling him an “It”. Unless we’re talking about Pennywise, this is just plain rude.

The situation Shadow finds himself in basically triggers his memories of what happened on the Space Colony ARK, of his awakening and Maria’s death (just ignore the thoughts in the second panel above, it’s just bad). I’m just gonna add “kidnapping Shadow and triggering his traumatic memories” to Locke’s growing list of “Reasons why Locke’s an awful person”.

Snapping out of the flashback, Shadow confronts Locke, demanding to state his intentions.

Okay, I will have to dissect this particular dialogue between Shadow and Locke, because it’s just that awful and incredibly infuriating.

Locke dares to ask Shadow: “Have you any idea what it’s like to lose everything?”

And Ken Penders (yes, I’m putting the blame on him) has the audacity to have Shadow respond: “I wouldn’t know! I’ve never had anything!”

How?! HOW CAN YOU EVEN WRITE SOMETHING LIKE THIS?! HOW CAN YOU HAVE A CHARACTER WHO LOST HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, HIS SISTER, SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT?! THE SOLE REASON HE WANTED TO DESTROY HUMANITY?!

This is disrespect to Shadow’s whole backstory on a whole another level! And no, you cannot pretend that Shadow forgot the events of Sonic Adventure 2 because he never suffered from amnesia in the comics. He remembers everything that happened!

Ken Penders should know this! He could’ve had Shadow tell Locke that “Yes, I too have lost everything”, but he didn’t. I don’t know why, but I believe that this was so Locke would come off less as an asshole. We are supposed to sympathize with Locke here, not Shadow.

I hate this so much!!

...

Oh, but it gets even better.

“That’s not surprising! From what I can tell, you’re neither biological, mineral, nor vegetable.”

Okay, let’s first address Locke’s (and Penders) IQ level here, because it’s that of a potato (I apologize to all the potatoes in the world). What the hell do you mean by “neither biological, mineral nor vegetable”?! So vegetables are now artificial constructs?! And you call yourself a scientist, Locke?!

*shakes head*

Oh, who am I kidding... We’re talking about a guy who thought microwaving his unborn son because of a dream was a good idea.

What I should be talking about is the fact that according to Locke, Shadow is not a biological lifeform... completely ignoring the fact that Penders wrote in the recap that Shadow is supposedly a “biomechanical lifeform”.

*calmly*

Penders, what exactly do you think the bio in biomechanical stands for? *scoffs* Yeah, I rest my case.

It also doesn’t help that this belief that Shadow is more synthetic than biological is reinforced in further Issues. Thank goodness it gets dropped soon, because I swear, I couldn’t read more of this nonsense.

Lastly, Locke tells Shadow that he believes Shadow is the key to helping him find the Brotherhood he’s been searching for.

Uh, Locke? SHADOW IS NOT OBLIGATED TO FIND YOUR GODDAMN FAMILY!! YOU KIDNAPPED HIM, TRAUMATIZED HIM, DEHUMANIZED HIM AND NOW YOU’RE DEMANDING HE DOES YOUR JOB!!! SCREW YOU!!

Anger aside, this interaction also implies something very disturbing, which had been addressed in another post (I just realized something kinda creepy) and you can click on the link presented, but to summarize, this person asked what exactly was Locke planning to do with Shadow and how was he going to use him to find the Brotherhood?

They noted how Locke (and Penders’) interpretation of Shadow was that of a violent creature with identity issues (or rather a self-aware android) and how Locke had been observing Shadow for a while. It isn’t explained whether Locke even knows that Shadow is the Ultimate Lifeform, and with Locke being able to use Chaos Energy, why would he need Shadow?

To quote the poster:

See, for all Locke should have feasibly known, Shadow would have been just another hedgehog. While it could be argued that Locke sensed immense Chaos potential in Shadow, that still wouldn’t have made much sense, because if Gerald had done his job and properly limited Shadow’s power, as well as have created a fully “sentient” squishy hedgehog being, as Penders specifically wrote in issue 145′s prologue:

“ … it could think, reason … and feel!”

… Locke shouldn’t have felt that power … and there shouldn’t really be any reason for Locke to think of him as anything but the real deal as a natural-born hedgehog.

Why would he have questioned what his make-up was? And yes, I do realize “Locke’s Gary-Stu status makes him l33t” is a possible explanation, but I’m speaking in terms of in-universe.

Plus, he must have seen Sonic in action at least once—which once more begs the question of why Shadow specifically. And why now.

Unless Locke knew something.

The poster suggests Locke did dig into the archives of the Space Colony ARK in search of other beings able to use Chaos Control and learned about Shadow, believing he could override Shadow’s original programming:

Here’s when I realized that not only did Penders probably intend to use Shadow as a tool, but if left to his own devices, Locke would have performed another Chaos energy experiment on Shadow.

Think about it. Nuking Knuckles didn’t go so well, what with him effin’ dying, so who better to subsequently do a follow-up experiment on than an “immortal” being who, per Locke’s twisted perceptions, may or may not even be sentient or real? If Shadow suffered ill effects, well, no harm, no foul—seeing how he couldn’t feel like other anthros, right?

“Do you know what it’s like to lose everything?” Locke asks, almost as if he doesn’t expect a response; and indeed, he even looks surprised when Shadow gives one: “I wouldn’t know; I’ve never had anything!”

Consider that Locke lures Shadow into an abandoned lab complex, and traps him inside a capsule “unlike any that have held me before” — paraphrasing Shadow here.

Consider that Locke calls Shadow “creature,” and even puts his biological status into question. That in subsequent issues, Shadow speaks robotically and bonds with a fellow droid, Isaac. That Isaac, Wiki Robot Extraordinaire, can’t ascertain whether or not Shadow is biological.

This is stretching the memory banks a little bit, but does anyone remember that one moment in issue 158 where, right before going into Rosie’s hut, Shadow repelled some oncoming Metal Sonic troopers with a shield he didn’t even know how he generated? IIRC, there was a display of Chaos energy in the following issue that Shadow was also at a loss to explain.

I’d wager that had this story played out, the temporary shield would have been a foreshadowing, maybe a byproduct of Locke’s tinkering, of the echidna’s effort to turn him into a supersoldier of some sort. Same as what Hunter turned into for Eggman.

tl;dr … I would have punched Locke into next Tuesday, Penders

Yeah, I did say that things would get disturbing. If this theory was correct (or if anyone else wrote this story but Penders), this would be horrifying. Not to mention the fact that Locke would’ve performed all those experiments on Shadow and be portrayed as being in the right. After all, Shadow couldn’t possibly be a real living being with feelings and wants and dreams and hopes, right? Even then, all this torture would’ve been waved off as being done for the greater good (aka for stupid echidna agendas).

Honestly, the way Locke/Penders dehumanizes Shadow is disgusting. It also shows just how much of a self-righteous monster Locke is.

Fortunately for everyone, Hope approaches the two, telling Locke to let Shadow go. He appearance triggers another flashback in Shadow’s mind... oh, and Locke continues calling Shadow “the creature” and an “it”.

Fortunately for us, Shadow breaks out of the glass tube and is about to beat Locke up (GET HIS ASS, SHADOW!).

Unfortunately for us, the next panel has Locke use his Chaos Powers, but Shadow still fights back (you’re doing great, sweetie!). Also, Locke, would you stop pretending like you don’t know why Shadow is trying to kill you?!

Sadly, before Shadow has the chance to kill Locke, Hope interrupts them, saying how she’s now afraid more of Shadow than of Locke... Yeah, of course Penders had to write that. He just had to put all the blame on Shadow, even though Locke literally kidnapped him!

Shadow snaps out of beating up Locke, yells at Hope how she isn’t Maria and how he doesn’t need any friends, and leaves.

While Penders will continue to write Shadow as if he was an self-aware android and dangerous weapon in the next few Issues, this interaction will never be brought up again. I believe there are several reasons for this, one being that Penders at the time was trying to return the story to status quo after Karl Bollers shook things up in his The Return to Angel Island Arc (the link presented leads to the Sonic_Speed video, with Speed and Aaron having covered the whole arc), hence why Locke is searching for the Brotherhood. Add in the editorial demands of promoting Shadow more because of his popularity and the fact that Penders is leaving after Issue #159 (they even called in Ian Flynn to edit the last Issue Penders wrote before him taking over in Issue #160 as lead writer), and his dislike for writing any story that doesn’t involve his OCs hogging the spotlight, it’s clear why this was never addressed in any form.

Frankly, it’s for the better, and while I do know the real reasons why Penders left, I love to think that Shadow was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

#Sonic the Hedgehog Analyzer (Masterlist)

[blindrapture]

THURSDAY JULY 14TH, 2011 (Guy Fawkes)

10:02 AM I dreamt of metal orbs flying down out of the clouds, filling the world with electronic noise. I saw this happen out my bedroom window but didn't really pay attention to it. Instead I just played Half-Life.

10:06 AM Donnie's awake. We're ready for the day. This won't be so bad. Together, we can face anything.

10:11 AM everyone’s wearing a Guy Fawkes mask today great I hate you guys

10:15 AM This dude’s giving the masks out. Advertises them as “our symbol.” To tell who’s human from zombie. Okay. I can live with that. Even if it means I can't tell who's human and who's... not? What did I even see last night.

10:20 AM There seem to be less people alive than usual. That is, I see a lot of dead people lying in the streets. a voice speaks to me, do you want to see ..that message keeps appearing in my journal. it means they're here. ..screams.

10:24 AM an alley filled with guts. from the sounds of the crowd, this was human once. maybe a group of three. someone's saying this was caused by the Black Dog. the Omen, someone's correcting.a trail of blood leads out of the alley and off down the street. Donnie wants to follow. fuck. okay. I guess I'll go too. o_e

10:28 AM Gunshots, more screams. We’re definitely going the right way.

10:30 AM People are hiding in the buildings, slamming their windows shut. There's a smell in the air. Something rotten is following us. "Zombie." ...yep. it's just a zombie shambling our way. "More of them." More of them? ..oh. we're surrounded by dead people. and they're just.. picking themselves up off the ground. sigh. fucking Archie.

10:35 AM Where’d Donnie go? Fuck. She must have run off in the frenzy. No no no no no

10:39 AM Barking.

10:41 AM That one didn’t sound like a bark. It sounded like a human trying to be a dog. Tiger Stripes, we’re gonna have to face another Fear. That, or some dude dressed up as a dog.

10:45 AM This is the building where we found the dead mayor or whatever. There's no Door here anymore. The uncanny barking’s coming from the back.

10:46 AM …SHIT DONNIE Big black dog's standing over her, snarling. Get away from her, you bitch.

10:47 AM I FUCKING HATE DOGS WHACK SMACK GIVE ME BACK MY GUITAR MOTHERFUCKERRRRR GET BACK HERE. I want my Tiger Stripes back. ._.

11:03 AM When I got here, the Omen was standing over Donnie, and she was unconscious. She was covered in blood. I was freaking out. But it turned out she was only bitten on the shoulder. It’s.. actually, it didn’t get much flesh. Only a little. The blood must have been from the fucking dog. Anyway, I got her back inside the building, and I found a first-aid kit in a bathroom. She’s good, breathing, cleaned as much as I could without taking off her clothes.

11:08 AM She woke up and asked for some water. She’s fine now. "I saw it when we were crowded by zombies. I wanted.. I needed to make sure I went after it. If I have a chance of actually helping people…" You did the right thing, Donnie. ._. I'm just so worried. It's really risky to go confront a Fear, let alone one we don't even know. "Lots of them have been willing to talk. But this one really is just a dog. Are we sure it's a Fear? It might just be another weird monster from the rabbit hole worlds." People are saying it's a Fear, and I.. guess I trust them on it. We can always ask EAT about it? "You're so trusting of that one…" Well. It's, like. I don't know. I keep thinking these things can be charted, can be explained, can be followed, but none of it is consistent. This one had a chance to kill you, and it only bit you. What is there to understand about the Fears?

11:14 AM Donnie wants to go back out there. I insist we stay, just for a little bit. I will protect you.

11:32 AM Zombies outside. No. Don’t go out. Let them come in. It's just you and me right now.

1:54 PM wrups, Donnie's waking me up; I dozed off a little there. cursory glance, no zombies got in. they shambled off. good. "jordan" yeah? :) "jordan." ..yeah? o: she's looking over at the oh the window it's a guy fawkes mask... face… breathing through its mouth, looking in at us how long has it been standing there "it was there when I woke up" "Please let me in." fdisfdifa that was its voice. are we. are we gonna? "not a chance." right. yeah. good.

1:56 PM CRASH Some dude's got the Fawkes Thing on the ground, outside. They're grappling and attacking each other. Maybe we should at least, like.. take this as an opportunity to sneak out back? Donnie's agreeing

2:04 PM ..what do you think it is? Some kind of Fear that can.. transform your face into a mask? "It reminds me of ghost stories." Like. BBC Christmases. "Yeah. What? I guess." Well, what should we call it? "Uh. Mask.. guys? The names are usually your thing." Hm. Guy Fawkes... but freakish... fucking freakish... a motherfucking ghost… The MotherFawker? ...she's patting my head. "You can call it what you want. I'm not gonna call it that."

2:05 PM She wants to go back to kicking some major zombie ass. Well. ..alright.

2:58 PM Okay, I’ll admit, it is pretty fun to kill zombies just for the sake of killing zombies. .w.

3:09 PM All the zombies are running away. ..oh hey, it’s the dude who stopped the MotherFawker! He’s wearing a Fawkes mask, and he looks quite happy to see us. ..wait a minute.

3:10 PM RUN

3:14 PM THE MOTHERFAWKER, HE IS THE MOTHERFAWKER SOMEHOW MAYBE THERE’S MORE THAN ONE

3:15 PM Wait. Why do we keep running. We should stand and face this thing. Donnie’s all for it. Okay, so let’s do it!

3:23 PM ..I guess he’s not coming. So let’s go to him.

3:30 PM Where the hell is he?

3:35 PM I see nothing. The town seems completely empty.

3:40444444444444444444444 i am alone i have been alone for 13 years, to the day, since 2011 donnie never even existed, that was just a story I told myself, someone to accompany me through a horror story i am completely alone i cant find anyone and it is so cold the snow is falling in england in the middle of july the air is abnormally cold thermometer says were twenty degrees below zero this is cold and no one's reading...

3333333333333333333333333 5:03 PM What. Where am I. What was. That sign mentions St. Louis. Yes. Of course. I'm in St. Louis. It's.. 2011. What the fuck was that? That was, like, spiritually cold. The coldest thing I've ever felt. I’m.. warming up now.

5:11 PM Okay. I feel better. Relatively speaking. I found Tiger Stripes! :DDDD It's covered in dog slobber, and a zombie was kicking it around like an idiot, but, I found it!! But where the hell is Donnie.

5:18 PM I found her. She was in an alleyway, huddled up behind a trash can. She looked kinda.. unstable. So I gave her a hug. We’re all better now. Not sure what the fuck just happened, but we’re better.

5:22 PM The town looks completely destroyed. And now it looks damp, thawing over that sudden ice storm. I think the Fears won. In a matter of hours, the Fears won. And that was only a couple of them. We’re thinking we should start heading out now. Before the Fears pick off stragglers.

5:35 PM We hit the Missouri border. It’s a river. On the other side of this river should be the city of St. Louis. ..’cause we were in East Saint Louis, see.

5:40 PM Okay, found a bridge.

5:43 PM …splashes. Coming from below. Maybe we should just.. walk on. They're just splashes. We don't have to know what's causing every little noise... <:D

5:49 PM ..okay, it's been constant, I've gotta know, going over to the side of the bridge, what the fuck IS that that’s a lot of fish fish fish rising WAVES OF FISH like the headcrabs but FISH AND RISING OUT OF THE WATER AND OH MY GOD THAT’S A GIANT TENTACLE it's all just writhing around down there kinda disturbing to look at

5:54 PM WELCOME TO MISSOURI GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM THE RIVER

5:57 PM now what's that noise "oh my god." oh. tidal wave… that'll put the fear of god in you TAKE COVER

6:00 PM The streets are absolutely flooded now. This is carnage. ..this is EAT. >___<

6:02 PM People are walking out of the river. ..Camper. The Camper are walking out into the streets.

6:03 PM We’re hiding in a shop. I hope they don’t look in the window.

6:06 PM did they see did they hear did they sense us ..no. u_u;; Phew.

6:10 PM I think it’s safe to leave the shop now.

6:15 PM There’s fish flopping everywhere.

6:24 PM I hear struggling nearby. o_o

6:27 PM It’s a Camper and an Anon. Guy Fawkes mask, y’kn …oh that’s the MotherFawker. The mask’s mouth is moving, it’s definitely him. I think the Camper wants to fight it. ..let’s watch.

6:29 PM …the MotherFawker just keeled over and died, right there on the spot. o___o Is it.. safe?

6:30 PM no NO WHAT THE CAMPER JUST ITS FACE ITS FACE BECAME A GUY FAWKES MASK ITS EYES HOLLOWED OUT, BLACKNESS UNDERNEATH ITS NOSE BENT AND MORPHED ITS CHIN AND JAW CRACKED AND GROUND AROUND UNTIL FIXED IN A PERMANENT GRIN IT GREW PLASTIC FACIAL HAIR AND ALL COLOR WENT FROM THE FACE TO ITS CHEEKS oh god we are so running right now

6:35 PM so so the motherfawker is like some kind of virus once it’s done with your body it kills you and hops off to a new host Just what the fuck. o_e;; WHAT IS IT.

6:49 PM PEOPLE. We found real people. They led us down into a bunker. Filled with more real people. They made sure neither of us had so much as a Guy Fawkes mask on us. So these guys are clean. Oh god yes.

6:54 PM This guy here, name is Sean Hayes, says the MotherFawker’s another Fear, called the Host. My virus theory was right, it seems. Sean tells us that this Fear invasion was long in coming. “It was gonna happen eventually; we were an ambitious bunch and the Fears had their eyes on us for a while.”

7:32 PM Apparently, the East/St. Louis branch of the RAF has been winning towns back and tricking Fears into going into completely deserted areas. It hasn’t been easy. They’ve lost many more men than they really should have, and they’ve even resorted to enslaving regular humans in order to have all the men they needed for some of their plans. I remember hearing that Anonymous was Chaotic Neutral at its finest. It does amazing things, but then it can also do some downright horrible things too. So I guess I’m not.. entirely surprised these guys have resorted to slavery. Disappointed, certainly. Disgusted! But. ...that was that corner of the internet for you. But yeah. The Fears have known for a while that this is where a lot of rebels have been hiding. These guys are really just surprised it took them this long to strike. I asked why they didn’t prepare for this. “We did. What we didn’t prepare for was the Omen. “We had no idea that thing even existed until last night. It moves like a cloud, and its eyes burn your mind to look at. We thought it was just a regular dog, but no. It’s a Fear, alright. It snuck into our defenses; as I said, we thought it was just a dog! It can disguise itself way too well. It tore us apart. Our plans were shattered. Hell, it left a lot of us with nothing but minor injuries. That’s what scares us the most. What the hell is it trying to do, y’know?” Y..yeah. .__.;; Note to self: Don’t let Donnie leave your sight.

9:30 PM WHAT THE HELL That dude over there just went crazy. He’s attacking everyone who comes near. I’m.. gonna try to see what I can do.

9:33 PM ..he called me “Rael.”

9:35 PM I bonked him on the head with Tiger Stripes, and then he just.. ran out of the bunker.

9:40 PM ..I’m. I dunno. I’m gonna look around. Donnie’s coming too.

9:51 PM This alleyway leads to an Aztec temple. Rabbit hole. I guess it’s time we drifted out of town.

10:03 PM We’ve been looking around this temple for a while now. It actually seems to be more of a maze than anything else.

10:09 PM The ceiling is getting higher.

10:20 PM The maze stops here. There’s a steel door here. We’re gonna try to break it down.

10:26 PM CRASH! In here’s.. huh. This is the Camper Festival. The crowd looks a lot bigger than last time. On the stage is Muse. They’re playing “Citizen Erased.”

10:30 PM That was a pretty bad performance. o_o Matthew Bellamy apologized for it. “We’ve been doing this every day for two months now.” The crowd is shouting “EXOGENESIS.” The band looks exasperated. Bellamy is saying that they’re tired of playing the same songs. “Don’t you want to hear something else, like.. ‘Stockholm Syndrome?’” “EXOGENESIS!”

10:31 PM Wow, that takes balls. They’re playing “Stockholm Syndrome” anyway! ..what The crowd stood up all at once.

10:32 PM Are they really They’re storming the stage!

10:33 PM …oh my god. As the crowd tears them apart, Muse keeps playing. They’re improvising some of the most beautiful progressions I’ve ever heard. They’re turning “Stockholm Syndrome” into a progressive masterpiece, and yet the Camper doesn’t care.

10:34 PM oh god Bellamy’s piercing scream marked the end of Muse’s career. .__.

10:35 PM Next up is Yes. They look terrified. o_o;; donnie "let's get the fuck out of here" okay

10:39 PM We’re out in the concert lobby. Dream Theater is here.

10:40 PM They look so relieved to see fans who aren’t Camper. .w.;;

10:53 PM We’ve just been standing here, chatting and laughing about things. John Petrucci is an awesome man. :3

10:56 PM I asked how they hope to survive. “Well, we’re just gonna.. keep playing!” LaBrie sounds determined, but not too happy. Mangini says the crowd loves his drum solos, and he loves playing them, so he could go on for a while more. In fact, that seems to be the general consensus. They still enjoy playing, so they can continue for a while.

11:00 PM Donnie asked them what they knew about the upcoming Rapture. Silence. ..John Myung. “It’s coming faster now.”

11:01 PM We’re leaving now.

11:05 PM We’re in the town of Carrolton, Missouri. According to the signs. It’s quiet, as every other town seems to be these days. We’re just looking for a house so we can sleep.

11:11 PM I wish we can figure this Rapture business out.

(Attached: “Camper Festival promised some good bands, even bands who had long since disbanded, and performances were powerful to start out. Show quickly lost steam within few days. Show kept going. Weeks later, show still going. Months later, show still going, bands clearly not into it anymore, made me grow to hate some of my favorite songs. Crowd picky. Food pretty good. Never did get to see DragonForce play. Not ideal, one star.”)

[PREV LOG] [TABLE OF CONTENTS] [NEXT LOG]

[nikibogwater]

Final Daniel Spellbound Blethers:

They were. So. Close. 

Daniel Spellbound was just inches away from being amazing every second of its runtime. They had the creativity, they had the intrigue, they had the interesting world and likable characters, but every time this show approached the line of Greatness, it would always trip in some small, but still painfully noticeable way.

(Mild spoilers and a very long rant/review under the cut)

Daniel as a character is ripe with potential for meaningful development. He’s just likable enough for the audience to care about, but still has those rough edges to him that need to be sanded down over time. He starts the series as largely cynical and self-centered, perfectly set up to go through an arc that would result in him growing into a loyal and selfless hero. Except....the writers forgot to give him a solid arc, and by the end of the first season, he’s just magically (ha) become a better person without any clear development. He doesn’t really learn anything, he just....changes for no real reason. And yet the pieces were right there, the writers had given themselves everything they needed to craft a great character arc, and they just didn’t use any of them.

This also extends to the relationship between our main trio. The dynamics are there, we can see that these three work well as a team, and by all appearances, they seem to care about each other, but we’re never shown any real growth in their relationships. These characters never sit down and just talk to each other. There’s nothing to their friendship outside of the main plot. I can’t really see these three hanging out and being friends in any situation besides the one they’re currently stuck in. Which is extremely frustrating, because again, the potential is RIGHT THERE, I can practically taste it. Daniel and Lucy have a fun rapport, their friendship could be something very compelling and emotional, but the writers stopped just short of the goalpost. 

And Hoagie--ohhhhh do NOT get me started on Hoagie. I really liked him in the first episode. In that context, his non-stop snark and obnoxiousness made sense and fit the situation he was in. But the episode ends with him and Daniel becoming business partners--and perhaps, maybe even friends. SO WHY IN BLAZES DOES HOAGIE CONTINUE TO SPEND THE ENTIRE SEASON BEING AN OBNOXIOUS LITTLE SNOT WHOSE ONLY CONTRIBUTION TO THE STORY IS THAT HE CAN TRACK THINGS BY SCENT?! And another question: WHY DO DANIEL AND LUCY PUT UP WITH THIS LITTLE JACKASS?! And a follow-up to that question, WHY DO THEY NOT ONLY PUT UP WITH HIM, BUT ACTUALLY LIKE HIM AND CONSIDER HIM THEIR FRIEND?! 

I’m not exaggerating when I say Hoagie does absolutely nothing to endear himself to these characters, or to the audience. He has zero positive traits, apart from sometimes occasionally deciding to do the noble thing because Plot Reasons. He made me smile one time throughout the entire season, and that was in episode one. And to make matters worse, just like with everything else in this show, this issue would have been such an easy fix. Either take away Hoagie’s ability to speak altogether, or sprinkle in some of those quiet character moments where we actually see him make an emotional connection with the others. 

I hate to keep comparing this show to Tales of Arcadia--really, I do, I know it’s not entirely fair--but I have to bring up Archie the talking cat again because he is the perfect example of what Hoagie should have been as a character. Archie is snide, mischievous, deadpan, and haughty. But he is also shown to be loyal, affectionate, and loving towards Douxie. (I mean, he’s also much quieter than Hoagie and has much better comedic timing with his jabs, so there’s also that). For every snarky comment that comes out of Archie’s mouth, we also see him actively working to keep Douxie safe and accomplish their goals. For all his teasing, we can still see how much he genuinely cares about his friend. 

Hoagie desperately needed that balance--something to make the audience believe that at the end of the day, he is truly Daniel’s friend, no matter how much he may bluster and complain. So much of his characterization could be forgiven if they had written in even just one scene of Hoagie and Daniel opening up to each other emotionally. I kept waiting for Daniel to bring up Hoagie’s missing eye, or for one of Hoagie’s jabs to sting just a little too much, and lead into a conversation where he (and by extension, the audience) learns a little more about why Daniel is all alone, why he takes the dirtiest, sleeziest jobs, why he has this disdain for magic users. But it just never happened. It was all set up and ready to go, and the writers just never got around to it.

There were other small factors dragging the show down, most noticeably in its music, moments of painfully bad action choreography, cringe-inducing snippets of dialogue (especially from the villains), and weird contrivances. What’s most bizarre about all of this is that this is not a consistent issue throughout the entire show. Some of the action sequences work just fine, sometimes the dialogue is snappy and fun, sometimes the music perfectly sets the mood of the scene and every beat works to reinforce a certain ambiance. 

I know all of this makes it sound like I hate the show, but I actually really loved everything they had to work with. I loved Daniel and Lucy as characters, I loved the way the writers delivered important worldbuilding information to the audience without it feeling forced or overwhelming, I loved the amazing creativity on display with the visuals. I loved the endless potential this show had for a heartfelt and exciting story. And yet somehow, in spite of giving themselves all the groundwork they needed to accomplish something like that, the writers couldn’t quite put all the pieces together. I had the same issue with Roster Teeth’s RWBY series. I was never able to enjoy that show for what it actually was, only for what it had the potential to be. And somehow that is so much worse than just watching a terrible show and hating everything about it.

The last episode of Daniel Spellbound does set up a plot for a second season, and in spite of all my criticisms here, I do really want to see it get one. I think a lot of these problems can be chalked up to inexperience, and that maybe with one season under their belts, the Daniel Spellbound team will finally be able to cross that line of Greatness that they’ve only managed to briefly touch with this first season. I want this show to do well, and it has everything it needs for that. I want to see more shows like this, not connected to any pre-existing IPs or writhing under the thumbs of greedy corporate execs who couldn’t write their way out of a wet paper bag. 

So if you have time and are even remotely interested, I would recommend checking out Daniel Spellbound for yourself. It’s only 10 episodes so far, and if nothing else, I can safely say that it was never boring, nor do I feel like it wasted my time. It was a very earnest effort at creating something new, and for that alone, I give many kudos to everyone who worked on it. 

[youllallriseintheink]

The Infiltrator, chapter 9: A Higher Cause

Four villains, each capable of great destruction but each desiring something higher than it. In a sense, this was what N had been raised for: to inspire others to act out of compassion and be their best selves.

N figured that Cyrus would be easiest, since he already wanted to leave this universe for his own. It was evening, and many of the workers had left their posts for the day. Thankfully, Cyrus wasn’t one of them. N found him preparing chemicals for some experiment in one of the laboratory areas in Stage 2. N stopped at the door, unsure of how to open the conversation.

“Can I help you?” he asked N, not even bothering to look at him as he poured a sickly green substance into a vial and capped it.

N took a deep breath. “Cyrus, Nihilego won’t help you get back to your universe. I spoke to Lusamine. It’s not the Pokémon she used to open a portal. And Giovanni didn’t use a Pokémon at all for it- he used a machine. I saw it in the memories of another admin. But I want to help you. Neither of us want Giovanni to take over the world, and neither do the other admins. I think that if we put our heads together, I could get you all back to your universes to fix things. Will you join me?”

“Why would I trust the intentions of a spy?” Cyrus asked, turning to N and delivering him a death glare. “You want to weaken Giovanni by taking me out of the picture. And there are plenty of ugly ways to take a person out of the picture.”

N took out the espeon and took it in his arms. “I’m telling the truth. Look into me if you don’t believe it.”

Hesitantly and with a skeptical look in his eye, Cyrus put down the vial, stripped off his gloves, and touched the espeon. N felt the paralysis take over his body, but this time it only lasted a few seconds.

“You were telling the truth. Very well. How can I help you?”

“Well, the first thing we have to do is find the other admins- except Ghetsis, he isn’t joining us. Where do they tend to go after hours?”

“Maxie and Archie often go off together in the evenings. I’ve heard them talk about going to the beach together.”

“Then that’s where we’ll go.”

Soon, N and Cyrus were flying over the beach on Reshiram. They eventually saw the two admins walking along the treeline. N landed his Pokémon, and the duo approached them.

Archie was the first to notice them. “Oh, well if it isn’t the new boy. What can we do for you, N? You look like you came here with a purpose. And can you please tell Maxie that you’re my assistant and not the go-fer he saw yesterday?” Archie passed a smug, competitive grin at Maxie.

Maxie looked miffed. “I’m telling you I saw him, and I heard what he said. He’s a go-fer. Tell him, N.”

“Actually, I’m a spy, and I told you conflicting stories. But I have something to offer you. I think we could figure out how Giovanni travelled through dimensions if we put our heads together, and then you could use Groudon and Kyogre to balance out each others’ universes. What do you say?”

Archie and Maxie glanced at each other indecisively.

“He isn’t lying, and I suggest you join him,” Cyrus added. “Life has thrown us a chance of escape. Who knows when the next might come?”

“Cyrus has a point,” Maxie admitted, “If Giovanni catches us trying to escape... I don’t want to know what would happen. But if we do nothing, there’s no chance of our lives or our universes getting better any time soon.”

“I’m in,” Archie announced.

“Me, too,” Maxie added.

“Great. Now, do you two remember anything about the machine that Giovanni used to get you here?”

“Just that it was underground,” Archie replied. “Giovanni put us in blindfolds before he walked us back to the hideout. It was maybe a mile’s walk through the woods.”

“I was much the same,” Maxie said. “Sorry we aren’t more useful.”

“It’s fine,” N assured him. “Giovanni seems to trust you two the least, and Cyrus was unconscious when Giovanni took him through dimensions. Do you guys think that Lysandre will have more information?”

“Oh, if anyone knows, it would be him,”  Maxie said bitterly. “He’s Giovanni’s enormous little lap dog,” 

“Perfect. Then let’s find him.”

Lysandre proved hard to find. After a fairly thorough look through some of the nearby town areas, the group settled on waiting in Lysandre’s room. The group became increasingly antsy as a couple hours ticked by. Giovanni would be back the next day and they were burning precious time. If nothing else, it gave Maxie and Archie a moment to grab the red and blue orbs.

Finally, Lysandre opened the door. His mouth hung open as he saw the party gathered in his room.

“Um. Hello, everyone. What are you doing here?”

N was not in the mood to waste any more time. “Lysandre, I’m a spy, and I’m from this universe. I know what you did to your world and how to fix it. During its time as a terrorist organization, Team Plasma hacked into the PC system and found a way to release everyone’s Pokemon. I could give you the code and you could use it in your universe to restore the ecosystem. But only if you help us. Are you in?”

Lysandre turned around and walked out. N followed him out and found that he was digging out his cell phone as he walked down the hall. He punched in numbers- most likely Giovanni’ number.

“Lysandre, think of your team!” N called after him. “I know you only left them because there was nothing you could do. Now, you can save them from miserable, infinite, deprived lives. Do what you know is right.”

Lysandre clenched his fist and stared at the phone in his hand. Giovanni picked up, and Lysandre put the phone to his ear. “Hello, Giovanni. I wanted to let you know that everything is just fine here. Don’t be in any rush coming here tomorrow. The admins have it all under control. Mhmm. Yes, sorry to bother you. Goodbye.”

Lysandre turned to N. “Giovanni has a plan for us. A plan that would let me preserve the beauty of many universes. And I... I don’t want to leave this place for a destroyed world with no luxuries and no way out. But you’re right. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I could save my team and didn’t. How can I help?”

“You’re doing the right thing. And the first thing you can do is to tell us where Giovanni keeps the device he uses to travel the dimensions.”

“It’s been a long time... But I’ll do my best. Follow me.”

Lysandre led the group through a path in the woods. About a mile in was an area that stuck out like a sore thumb: an almost perfectly rectangle-shaped area the size of a house that was covered in young trees, when the surrounding areas were covered in much larger and older ones.

“This must be it,” Maxie said, “or at least, it must be something.” He took out his camerupt. “Go see what’s under here,” he ordered it.

The camerupt stomped the ground around the area. “Those ifteen years of geology digs don’t seem so useless now, does it Archie?” Maxie said as his Pokémon worked. After a minute or two, it returned to him.

“Speak to N, darling,” Maxie told it, petting its head. “he’ll understand you best.”

N listened to the creature’s grunts. “He says that there’s an cube-shaped room full of metal devices about ten feet under the surface. And the entrance is...” N pointed to a patch of grass with no trees on it, “right there.”

Upon closer inspection, there was an obvious place where the grass could be rolled back, revealing a hatch door beneath that opened to reveal a ladder. The group piled down into the room, which was filled with strange contraptions with blinking lights. N took to what looked like control central and turned it on. A massive screen lit up, demanding a password.

“Lysandre, do you have the password?” N asked.

“No. I’m sorry, I don’t.”

Maxie started laughing nervously. “All this, and we’re going to be stuck here because of a bloody password?”

“Wait,” Cyrus cut in. “N, how did you actually get into the most restricted room in Stage 2?”

“Iris gave me a keycard that would let me in to any room in the building. Why?”

“Give it to me. I’ll head back to the Rainbow Rocket building and reprogram this thing to let us in.”

N handed the card to Cyrus. It sounded like a long shot, but they didn’t have any other options.

Sure enough, after a bit, the demand for the password disappeared.

“Good news, guys. Looks like the machine can put you at any place and any time period as well as any universe. You guys could stop yourselves from ever destroying things in the first place.”

Maxie took out the red orb and handed it to Archie. “Well, Archie, I guess this is goodbye. Use this well.”

Archie hesitated. “I don’t think I should take this.”

“Wha-”

“You studied how to use Groudon, I studied Kyogre. We need to play to our own elements. I’ll go to your universe, you go to mine.”

“That. Does make sense, Archie.”

“Plus, then you’ll both have two versions of me yellin’ at you to stop! If that doesn’t do it, nothing will!”

Maxie blushed. “He’ll be the luckiest man on earth. And yes, hopefully you won’t have to bring out Kyogre at all.”

“And you’ll do the same for me, right?”

“Right.”

As the two former terrorists devolved into romantic mush, N found the coordinates to Archie’s universe and set the place as the Seafloor Cavern and the time for an hour before Archie arrived. A portal opened up on the wall. Maxie gave Archie a kiss and entered the portal, the red orb in hand and a look of resolve on his face. Minutes later, Archie did the same, entering Maxie’s universe.

“Lysandre? When do you want to be left off?” N asked him.

“An hour before my plan came to fruition. I don’t know that I’ll be able to stop myself. He’s so vain that seeing himself young again might just motivate him further... but I’ll try.”

“Even if you can’t, you’ll still be able to make things better,” N reminded him, writing down the code and handing it to him.

N punched in the coordinates for Lysandre’s universe and watched as he walked through the portal.

Maybe a minute later, Cyrus returned to the underground base. “Everyone’s gone. So... it does work.”

“Yep,” N said, tracking down the coordinates to Cyrus’ universe. “When and where do you want to be dropped off?

“Any time after I wiped the slate clean. The exact location doesn’t matter. Nothing’s been created yet.”

N punched in coordinates, and a portal opened to a barren desert wracked with harsh winds. N closed his eyes. He’d gotten rid of four villains... but only three were actually going to fix anything. Cyrus was, as Giovanni said, resolute to the bitter end. 

A few seconds later, N opened his eyes to see that Cyrus was still standing in front of the portal, a hand over his chest.

“Worried your powers won’t work?” N asked.

“Of course not. They’ll work, and if they don’t, I’ll get exactly what I deserve for this.”

N sighed, closed the portal, and took out the espeon.

“Cyrus. You wanted to know why I couldn’t understand your goals in spite of everything I’ve gone through. Well, come find out. Ask the orb pool why I still think life is worth experiencing. Then I’ll let you go whether it changes your mind or not.”

The espeon jumped into N’s arms, and Cyrus came over and pet its back. The three were paralyzed for what felt like several minutes. N wasn’t sure this would work, but he had nothing to lose by it, so it seemed right to give it a try.

“Well?” N asked once they could move again.

“I owe my universe perfection, whatever that looks like, and I will have all the time in the world to figure out what that is. Thank you for your perspective. I’ll take it into consideration. You’re undeniably a strong person, even if that power comes from such a faulty place as compassion.” Cyrus eyes shifted back to the wall where portals opened. “Put me back before I destroyed the world.”

N smiled. “I’m sure your commanders and your crobat will enjoy having full, proper lives.”

“Don’t be presumptuous. I have more control over my powers now that the red chain is a part of me. I’ll be able to restart things without the bloodbath. That’s the only reason for this.”

“Yeah, okay,” N said, re-adjusting the coordinates. No need to make the guy feel defensive. The portal opened up to a forested area in Sinnoh, and Cyrus stepped through it.

N closed the portal. It was done. Team Rainbow Rocket would, if nothing else, be severely weakened now. To make sure that Giovanni wouldn’t be able to do interdimensional recruitment again, N let out his rapidash and had it melt the machine with flamethrower. Just as the machine melted, though, an alarm went off and a robotic voice sounded through the ceiling.

Tampering detected. Contacting Giovanni. Tampering detected. Contacting Giovanni.

[worksinprogress1]

Four villains, each capable of great destruction but each desiring something higher than it. In a sense, this was what N had been raised for: to inspire others to act out of compassion and be their best selves.

N figured that Cyrus would be easiest, since he already wanted to leave this universe. It was evening, and many of the workers had left their posts for the day. Thankfully, Cyrus wasn’t one of them. N found him preparing chemicals for some experiment in one of the laboratory areas in Stage 2. N stopped at the door, unsure of how to open the conversation.

“Can I help you?” he asked N, not even bothering to look at him as he poured a sickly green substance into a vial and capped it.

N took a deep breath. “Cyrus, Nihilego won’t help you get back to your universe. I spoke to Lusamine. It’s not the Pokémon she used to open a portal. And Giovanni didn’t use a Pokémon at all for it- he used a machine. I saw it in the memories of another admin. But I want to help you. Neither of us want Giovanni to take over the world, and neither do the other admins. I think that if we put our heads together, I could get you all back to your universes to fix things. Will you join me?”

“Why would I trust the intentions of a spy?” Cyrus asked, turning to N and delivering him a death glare. “You want to weaken Giovanni by taking me out of the picture. And there are plenty of ugly ways to take a person out of the picture.”

N took out the espeon and took it in his arms. “I’m telling the truth. Look into me if you don’t believe it.”

Hesitantly and with a skeptical look in his eye, Cyrus put down the vial, stripped off his gloves, and touched the espeon. N felt the paralysis take over his body, but this time it only lasted a few seconds.

“You were telling the truth. Very well. How can I help you?”

“Well, the first thing we have to do is find the other admins- except Ghetsis, he isn’t joining us. Where do they tend to go after hours?”

“Maxie and Archie often go off together in the evenings. I’ve heard them talk about going to the beach together.”

“Then that’s where we’ll go.”

Soon, N and Cyrus were flying over the beach on Reshiram. They eventually saw the two admins walking along the treeline. N landed his Pokémon, and the duo approached them.

Archie was the first to notice them. “Oh, well if it isn’t the new boy from this morning. What can we do for you, N? You look like you came here with a purpose. And can you please tell Maxie that you’re my assistant and not some go-fer he saw earlier today?” Archie passed a smug, competitive grin at Maxie.

Maxie looked miffed. “I’m telling you I saw him, and I heard what he said. He’s a go-fer. Tell him, N.”

“Actually, I’m a spy, and I told you conflicting stories. But I have something to offer you. I think we could figure out how Giovanni travelled through dimensions if we put our heads together, and then you could use Groudon and Kyogre to balance out each others’ universes. What do you say?”

Archie and Maxie glanced at each other indecisively.

“He isn’t lying, and I suggest you join him,” Cyrus added. “Life has thrown us a chance of escape. Who knows when the next might come?”

“Cyrus has a point,” Maxie admitted, “If Giovanni catches us trying to escape... I don’t want to know what would happen. But if we do nothing, there’s no chance of our lives or our universes getting better any time soon.”

“I’m in,” Archie announced.

“Me, too,” Maxie added.

“Great. Now, do you two remember anything about the machine that Giovanni used to get you here?”

“Just that it was underground,” Archie replied. “Giovanni put us in blindfolds before he walked us back to the Rainbow Rocket hideout. It was maybe a mile’s walk through the woods.”

“I was much the same,” Maxie said. “Sorry we aren’t more useful.”

“It’s fine,” N assured him. “Giovanni seems to trust you two the least, and Cyrus was unconscious when Giovanni took him through dimensions. Do you guys think that Lysandre will have more information?”

“Oh, if anyone knows, it would be him. He’s Giovanni’s enormous little lap dog,” Maxie said bitterly.

“Perfect. Then let’s find him.”

Lysandre proved hard to find. After a fairly thorough look through some of the nearby town areas, the group settled on waiting in Lysandre’s room. The group became increasingly antsy as a couple hours ticked by. Giovanni would be back the next day and they were burning precious time. If nothing else, it gave Maxie and Archie a moment to grab the red and blue orbs.

Finally, Lysandre opened the door. His mouth hung open as he saw the party gathered in his room.

“Um. Hello, everyone. What are you doing here?”

N was not in the mood to waste any more time. “Lysandre, I’m a spy, and I’m from this universe. I know what you did to your world and how to fix it. During its time as a terrorist organization, Team Plasma hacked into the PC system and found a way to release everyone’s Pokemon. I could give you the code and you could use it in your universe to restore the ecosystem. But only if you help us. Are you in?”

Lysandre turned around and walked out. N followed him out and found that he was digging out his cell phone as he walked down the hall. He punched in numbers- most likely Giovanni’ number.

“Lysandre, think of your team!” N called after him. “I know you only left them because there was nothing you could do. Now, you can save them from miserable, infinite, deprived lives. Do what you know is right.”

Lysandre clenched his fist and stared at the phone in his hand. Giovanni picked up, and Lysandre put the phone to his ear. “Hello, Giovanni. I just wanted to let you know that everything is just fine here. Don’t be in any rush coming back tomorrow. The admins have it all under control. Mhmm. Goodbye.”

Lysandre turned to N.  “Giovanni has a plan for us. A plan that would let me preserve the beauty of many universes. And I... I don’t want to leave this place for a destroyed world with no luxuries and no way out. But you’re right. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I could save my team and didn’t. How can I help?”

“You’re doing the right thing. And the first thing you can do is to tell us where Giovanni keeps the device he uses to travel the dimensions.”

“It’s been a long time... But I’ll do my best. Follow me.”

Lysandre led the group through a path in the woods. About a mile in was an area that stuck out like a sore thumb: an almost perfectly rectangle-shaped area the size of a house that was covered in young trees, when the surrounding areas were covered in much older ones.

“This must be it,” Maxie said, “or at least, it must be something.” He took out his camerupt. “Go see what’s under here,” he ordered it.

The camerupt stomped the ground around the area. “Fifteen years of geology digs doesn’t seem so useless now, does it Archie?” Maxie said as his Pokémon worked. After a minute or two, it returned to him.

“Speak to N, darling,” Maxie told it, petting its head. “he’ll understand you best.”

N listened to the creature’s grunts. “He says that there’s an cube-shaped room full of metal devices about ten feet under the surface. And the entrance is...” N pointed to a patch of grass with no trees on it, “right there.”

Upon closer inspection, there was an obvious place where the grass could be rolled back, revealing a hatch door and beneath that opened to reveal a ladder. The group piled down into the room, which was filled with strange contraptions with blinking lights. N took to what looked like control central and turned it on. A massive screen lit up, demanding a password.

“Lysandre, do you have the password?” N asked.

“No. I’m sorry, I don’t.”

Maxie started laughing nervously. “All this, and we’re going to be stuck here because of a bloody password?”

“Wait,” Cyrus cut in. “N, how did you actually get into the most restricted room in Stage 2?”

“Iris gave me a keycard that would let me in to any room in the building. Why?”

“Give it to me. I’ll head back to the Rainbow Rocket building and reprogram this thing to let us in.”

N handed the card to Cyrus. It sounded like a long shot, but they didn’t have any other options.

Sure enough, after a bit, the demand for the password disappeared.

“Good news, guys. Looks like the machine can put you at any place and any time period as well as any universe. You guys could stop yourselves from ever destroying things in the first place.”

Maxie took out the red orb and handed it to Archie. “Well, Archie, I guess this is goodbye. Use this well.”

Archie hesitated. “I don’t think I should take this.”

“Wha-”

“You studied how to use Groudon, I studied Kyogre. We need to play to our own elements. I’ll go to your universe, you go to mine.”

“That. Does make sense, Archie.”

“Plus, then you’ll both have two versions of me yellin’ at you to stop! If that doesn’t do it, nothing will!”

Maxie blushed. “He’ll be the luckiest man on earth. But yes, hopefully I won’t have to bring out Groudon at all.”

“And you’ll do the same for me, right?”

“Right.”

As the two former terrorists devolved into romantic mush, N found the coordinates to Archie’s universe and set the place as the Seafloor Cavern and the time for an hour before Archie arrived. A portal opened up on the wall. Maxie gave Archie a kiss and entered the portal, the red orb in hand and a look of resolve on his face. Minutes later, Archie did the same, entering Maxie’s universe.

“Lysandre? When do you want to be left off?” N asked him.

“An hour before my plan came to fruition. I don’t know that I’ll be able to stop myself. He’s so vain that seeing himself young again might just motivate him further... but I’ll try.”

“Even if you can’t, you’ll still be able to make things better,” N reminded him, writing down the code and handing it to him.

N punched in the coordinates for Lysandre’s universe. And watched as he walked through the portal.

Maybe a minute later, Cyrus returned to the underground base. “Everyone’s gone. So... it works.”

“Yep,” N said, tracking down the coordinates to Cyrus’ universe. “When and where do you want to be dropped off?

“Any time after I wiped the slate clean. The place doesn’t matter. Nothing’s been created yet.”

N punched in coordinates, and a portal opened to a lifeless desert wracked with harsh winds. N closed his eyes. He’d gotten rid of four villains, but only three were actually going to fix anything. Cyrus was, as Giovanni said, resolute to the bitter end. A few seconds later, N opened his eyes to see that Cyrus was still standing in front of the portal, hand over his chest.

“Worried your powers won’t work?” N asked.

“Of course not. They’ll work, and if they don’t, I’ll get exactly what I deserve for this.”

N sighed, closed the portal, and took out the espeon.

“Cyrus. You wanted to know why I couldn’t understand your goals in spite of everything I’ve gone through. Well, come find out. Ask the orb pool why I still think life is worth experiencing. Then I’ll let you go whether it changes your mind or not.”

The espeon jumped into N’s arms, and Cyrus came over and touched it. The three were paralyzed for what felt like minutes. N wasn’t sure this would work, but he had nothing to lose by it, so it seemed right to give it a try.

“Well?” N asked once they could move again.

“You’re an honourable person, N. I owe my universe perfection, whatever that looks like, and I will have all the time in the world to figure out what that is. Thank you for your perspective. I’ll take it into consideration.” Cyrus broke eye contact. “...Can you put me back before the world was destroyed?”

N smiled. “Sure thing.”

“Don’t look at me like that. I have more control now that the red chain is in my chest, so I’ll be able to restart things cleaner this time, without the blood bath. That’s the only reason.”

“Yeah, okay,” N said, re-adjusting the coordinates. No need to make the guy feel defensive. The portal opened up to a forested area in Sinnoh, and Cyrus stepped through it.

N closed the portal. It was done. Team Rainbow Rocket would, if nothing else, be severely weakened now. To make sure that Giovanni wouldn’t be able to do interdimensional recruitment again, N let out his rapidash and had it melt the machine with flamethrower. Just as the machine melted, though, an alarm went off and a robotic voice sounded through the ceiling.

Contacting Giovanni. Tampering detected. Contacting Giovanni.

[alaffy]

Riverdale, 6x17 - American Psycho (Spoilers)

Well, whoever started the rumor that this wasn’t a musical was wrong.  That being said, I think they had less songs then they normally do.

Jughead stared at a dark hole.  Yup, that’s it for him.  Kevin sings and…

curses a baby with Cheryl.

We have a few obvious moments connecting to Rivervale.  They mention that Baily’s comet is coming; like the one in Rivervale 6x04.  The second is that Anthony suddenly comes down with colic (because of a spell that Cheryl casts, accidentally cursing him). However, Anthony came down with colic in episode 6x01.  Also, Cheryl (er with the help of Heather) finds a way to cure Anthony, at which point we actually have a flashback to Riverdale. 

I still think Heather will turn out to be bad, given what Cheryl said tonight. 

Percival uses his mind control (which I think got more powerful because the comet is coming?) to make the workers go back to work.  But his nose starts to bleed, indicating there may be some limit to his power.  Anyway, Archie and Tabitha sing a song and they’re able to free the workers.  They really are going to beat Percival with the power of friendship, aren’t they?

But the biggest story is Betty’s.  And to bring back this old favorite; I am not interested in arguing about ships.  You have your opinions, I have mine.  But I’m here to discuss the show.  So we really are doing the whole Betty darkness vs. light again. First off, we have something that’s very strange.  In season five of Riverdale, it is pretty much made clear that no one knows about Betty’s kidnapping other then the FBI.  But here, it seems like everyone knows.  But I don’t mean just her friends and family (otherwise I’d just figure that the writers skipped over her telling them); but the whole world seems to be familiar.  Like the way they talked about this, this is known news.  So, did the writers skip the scene or is this a clue that things aren’t normal in this world?

As for Betty herself; let’s be clear Betty has always struggled with the idea that this darkness could hurt others.  However, it seems to have gotten worse since her kidnapping.  Probably because of the whole body dismemberment, mind-fuckery this man is doing.  In this episode, it was interesting how things played out.  First off, you have the man who is obsessed with the Blackhood and Betty; who’s literally telling her that she’s like the killers and he tells her this more then once.  Obviously, this is a big negative.  You have Archie making comments several time that he finds the whole con unnerving and that he finds having an obsession with serial killers weird (though, granted, he was listening to a talk about people who are in love with serial killers at the time).  

Then you have the…not ok moment.  I’m going to be clear, what happens next could have been done without the queerbaiting.   Drake mentions that she has feelings for Betty and then tells Betty it seems like Archie and Betty have nothing in common (which she could have just commented on Betty and Archie not having anything in common, without the whole feelings thing).  Betty and Veronica have that talk.  Veronica gives Betty advice; to be honest with Archie.  Then, Veronica tells Drake to back off (which, again, Veronica could have done this without Drake saying anything about feelings; just tell the damn girl the Betty’s love life in none of her business).

It is interesting that those who are, let’s say in tune with the darkness, are either psychos or are being pushed away from Betty in this episode.  Of course, then Betty then saves Kevin’s life.  But it turns out the whole thing was fake and she’s ruined Kevin’s show and scared Dr. Curdle (why would no one mention this part of the show to Betty if she’s looking for a killer).  And, at first, I was afraid that maybe they were setting it up for Betty to believe that the only way to be good was to conform to the idea of the picket fence.  Truly, turning her into Stepford Betty.

But, amazingly, the show didn’t go there.  But what happened was equally strange.  Well, not the first bit.  Well, sort of not.  Veronica calls out Betty’s darkness and doubles down by listing all the people Veronica’s killed.  In the middle of a Casino.  With a large crowed.  And police presence.  

Next, we have that talk between Betty and Archie.  And Betty tells him (thank God) the truth.  She likes doing what she does.  This is her.  And the whole picket fence and kids thing?  Maybe not for her; maybe never.  Betty asks if this will be a deal breaker; Archie says they’ll talk later.

We then have Betty singing a song where, at first, she’s seeing flashbacks of Archie.  But then we cut to the future (after the performance, while the performance is going on) and she deals with TBK.  And she kills him.  And it seems like Betty has come to this belief that Serial Killers aren’t made…like she can’t be groomed to be one.  Baby steps.

Anyway, she goes to have the rest of that talk with Archie.  And Archie tells her a story of a baby bird that she helped him rescue as a kid.  A memory that Betty had forgotten until that moment (interesting).  Now, here’s the thing.  Throughout the years, Archie has had moments where we’ve seen him have deep conversations with Veronica; convincing her she not the person she’s afraid she’s becoming.  So, not only do we know Archie’s capable of doing this; we know how he sounds when he has those conversations.  So, why does he sound like he’s saying something Jughead would say? No, not just sound like.  The last couple of lines, the way he cups her face? That is exactly like what Jughead did in season two when he tried to convince Betty she wasn’t evil.  And it’s also one of the scenes that Jughead flashback to a few episodes ago.  

Obviously, this is done one purpose; so the question is why?  There are two options.  1) It is done to show that Archie, like Jughead, is able to accept Betty for who she truly is (even though he made it clear that he was uncomfortable with the whole serial killer thing).  And, ok, partners don’t always have to be on the same page on everything.  I’m guessing Betty wouldn’t give a damn about Archie’s songwriting.  

2) We’re supposed to question why it sounds like Jughead, because it’s another sign that the world isn’t what it should be.  Be it the universes bleeding closer together, the curse, or both.  

Look, I have my opinion of what I think it will be.  But, really, both are possible.  Seriously, between alternate universes, curses, and a certain someone coming back; everything should be side eyed.  I said this about Rivervale and I will say it here, as far as I’m concerned nothing about this whole season is real until I know what’s really going on.      

[black-dragon1998]

unexpected visit

part 5 of Supersoldier meet Riverdale

part 1- part 2- part 3- part 4

Summary: somebody you didn’t anticipate on showing up in Riverdale meets you at POP’s while you are their with Cheryl and they come with not so good news.

Autor’s note: I finally have found the way i want to go with this story again and hope i can write the next chapters fast. I want to thank everybody who has stuck with this story. 

Luckily nobody could see Cheryl smile, sitting with her back to the rest made it hidden. For a strange reason you always sit with your back to a wall and facing the entrance. It was something she had to ask you about later. She also noticed that with everybody but her that you were always on your guard.

“food for my lady.” You say setting the food down and give Cheryl a mock bow, making her chuckle. You didn’t care anybody saw you like this if it mends making her smile. Over the time you had gotten to know Cheryl you had gotten attached. The girl liked to keep you on your toes and it was a nice change for once. The only people you knew who had as much sass as she has been your mom, maria and Carol. Wanda when she tried.

The other thing you loved was that the two of you could sit in comfortable silence. Cheryl didn’t force you into the conversation, she could talk for hours and the only thing you had to do was listen. How intimidating you might be socializing still alluded to you sometimes. With Hydra you didn’t have to be social you just had to do your job or suffer the consequences. when the avengers had rescued you the abuse stopped but most were as socially awkward as you were and were no help at all.

  As you and Cheryl were eating at the other side of the dinner four pair of eyes were still staring at you and Cheryl Blossom. Non of them had ever seen Cheryl so… well so human. Betty was convinced you were hiding something. Veronica was sure betty lost it this time.

“Come on, how strange is it that with all the things happening (Y/N) just shows up?” Betty argued, trying to make everybody see her point of view.

“We talked about this Betty. She probably is just another army kid whose mother thought it would be best to move to the countryside.” Veronica countered. The raven-haired girl had known her fair share of military kids. They were always moving and your toned body would also be explained by strict army parents. However, that didn’t explain the motorcycle or the lack of actual parents.

Now that Veronica was thinking about it, the thing that strikes her as odd was the lack of adults when it came to you. Nobody had ever seen your mom or dad, you also never talked about them. Veronica’s thoughts were interrupted when a stranger with red hair and green eyes entered the dinner and approached the four. The redhead was absolutely stunning and like no one Veronica had ever met.

“excuse me and sorry to interrupted but anybody seen (Y/N) Romanoff or can me point toward somebody who has.” The redhead asked in a warm caring voice. All four teenagers couldn’t really do anything but stare in disbelieve, confusion and shock. However, before anybody could answer your voice cut through the dinner like a knife.

“Wanda? What are you doing here? I thought you wouldn’t arrive until later.” You came down the aisle and engulfed the redhead in a tithed hug and kiss her on the cheek. Wanda did the same, leaving everybody at the table even more confused.

Who was this person and how come you were so cosy with them, the only other person you were so open with was Cheryl. As you walked away with Wanda by your side Cheryl looked on in slight confusion and curiosity.

“Who could that be?” Archie asked still looking at the redhead, fawning over her presence. His teenage boy brain shortcutting.

“maybe she is (Y/N) secret lover, you saw how cosy they were.” Betty started, her friends are not able to stop her ranting.

 As you lead Wanda to your table you could hear the ridiculous theories the core four were spouting and you almost had to laugh. Wanda could hear them too and wasn’t faring any better.

Cheryl heard you approach and looked up, raising an eyebrow. You couldn’t react any other way than scratch the back of your neck.

“I wanted to prepare you a little before you two met but Cheryl this is Wanda. Wanda this is Cheryl.” Before you could elaborate on your relationship with Wanda, she sat down and reached out to shake Cheryl’s hand.

“nice to meet you Cheryl, (Y/N) has told me so much about you.” Wanda lied through her teeth, you hadn’t told Wanda anything about Cheryl, she had been gone on a mission since before you were departed for this mission but you were sure she would use her mind-reading to keep up appearances.

You sight before turning around and get Wanda some food, letting her do her thing.

“don’t blow this for me.” You warn Wanda through your shared mental link. But she only chuckles and that doesn’t sit well with you.

  Cheryl took Wanda’s hand and wasn’t really sure what to do. With how you reacted with the redhead Cheryl was sure the two of you were really close. Where you lovers, friends, family. And more importantly, why does she feel jealous with the fleeting thought of the two of you being girlfriends.

Wanda could hear every thought and she had to refrain from laughing. Even if she couldn’t read minds she saw the way you looked at the girl in front of her and with the jealous thoughts the girl was having Wanda could say she was feeling the same.

“let me put some questions out of the world. I’m (Y/N)’s older sister I have come to keep her company until our parents are able to get home.” Wanda explains with a kind smile, hoping to put the girl at ease, just that moment you choose to return with the food looking at her with raised eyebrows.

“something the matter. I thought the mission was going well?” you ask while taking a seat next to Cheryl. Cheryl immediately picks up your worried tone and grabs your hand to comfort you. You give it a slight squeeze back. The smile Wanda was giving you didn’t reassure you at all.

“mom called, the mission is having some complications.”

part 6

[daydream-believin]

MERLIN’S APPRENTICE & MERLIN’S CHAMPION || trollhunters

warnings: swearing

a/n: if rott gave me anything it gave me this idea

I KNOW I SAID “JUICY” BUT REALLY THAT WAS JUST THE ANGST POTENTIAL,, THAT IM NOT INDULGING IN THIS POST IM SORRY LMAO

OKAY WHAT IM REALLY TALKING BOUT HERE IS A GOOD MERLIN/ARTHUR BUT IT ACTUALLY WORKS

no sorry i haven’t seen bbc merlin don’t come for me i’m ignorant

OKAY SO

we know douxie kept an eye on the human trollhunter and co

but douxie’s really having a hard time convincing himself he’s just doing his job

he’s actually enjoying this a little too much despite how boring staying in the shadows is

and he’s kinda worried?

so he’s got this bright idea: you know what would better help him keeps tabs? if he befriends this person

and so he does

fuck merlin’s shadows

sod the rules

ofc he’s very up front about knowing they’re the trollhunter and that he’s merlin’s apprentice

we wouldn’t want that to become a huge festering secret that eats douxie from the inside out until the inevitable reveal when merlin calls them both to help with the arcane order and they realize they’ve both been lying to each other’s faces for months/years and neither of them know if they could ever trust the other again, right? — phew *catches breath*

but before you know it, mr. casperan and mx. trollhunter are best friends

he’s basically the toby to your jim

and you’re very happy to have a best friend like douxie

he understands that monster hunting hustle

he’s the only person you can vent to and actually talk about what’s going on without sounding like a loon

and douxie likes being able to tell someone all his frustrations with merlin, since you’re also in that boat with him

you spar sometimes. it’s fun, but you’re very careful not to accidentally hurt your friend (he’s extremely careful not to hurt you or wound your ego by effortlessly wiping you out)

ofc, there’s the occasional, brushing of hands, faces a little too close together, accidentally winding up on top of one another, purposefully winding up on top of one another 👀 you know how sparring be

you and douxie are a duo. a duo who have become trollmarket’s resident troublemakers, to vendel’s exasperation

you guys tease each other a lot

you do a lot of stupid shit, cause hey, now you have magic armor and a magic sword and a magic best friend, did you think you wouldn’t get up to some shenanigans?

douxie is your impulse control and he’s not a very good one, as he’s just as bad

truthfully archie has the brain cell

and pranks? gods the pranks. you two are always either pranking each other or you’re teaming up to prank some other troll who said smth mean to you in the pub. vendel had to personally put a stop to it (read: chew you out)

doux thinks the world of you tho, you’re such a noble knight, and likes to tell people about how you’re a cinnamon roll, so innocent, so pure

and then they meet you and you directly contradict those statements

trollhunter: i’ve never done anything wrong in my life, ever

douxie: i know this and i love you

(spoiler: you’ve done lots and lots of wrong)

doux spends an awful lot of time slinking around trollmarket now, and he’s in the know for everything that’s happening

(no more being kept in the dark for this wizard apprentice)

and doux knows merlin won’t completely approve of this, but hey, it’s not like he’s helping and thus directly disobeying

really, he’s not helping you at all, it’s really fucking annoying

okay so mayyybe the occasional healing spell. you’ve got those puppy dog eyes he can’t say no to

but you understand his sense of duty, or whatever it is that drives a follower, technically being a follower of merlin yourself

you respect the old geezer (as you have not been turned into a half-troll yet) as a wise mythical figure, and as your best friend’s father

and what a perfect match you are for each other, champion and apprentice, mutually being screwed over by a guy you both think has all the answers

you and douxie help each other grow in your self-worths, that you two are more than the chances merlin has given to you

unfortunately, mortifyingly, you have caught feelings.

douxie has also caught feelings, and is saying nothing yep you have enough on your plate without him putting this on you so he’ll just quietly pine and suffer don’t mind him choking to death in the corner when you take off your helmet and throw back your hair

y’all’s problem really starts manifesting itself as protectiveness. you are really protective of your wizard and he is really protective of his knight

lots of things said that are Not What Friends Say but neither of you really want to be the one to point that out

lots and lots of i love yous that slowly get more and more serious until it’s not exactly platonic anymore

and it’s just really nice to have someone to get coffee (or your favored hot drink) with at four in the morning after a tussle with a troll

and that’s basically how you and douxie spend the bulk of trollhunters, just vibing

as much as you can vibe, with all the changelings and shit trying to murder you all the time

then merlin wakes up and shakes up your world

you are aware of your impending doom

you’re aware of it

merlin keeps looking you up and down like he’s mentally making up the measurements of your coffin

and tbh the idea of fighting gunmar freaks you tf out

and you’re supposed to win that fight?

gods

you’re preparing for your nightmares coming true soon

truthfully you knew your fucking job had a 100% mortality rate

you don’t want to die with regrets

so

you spill

you spill all the things you’d wanted to tell him and how much he means to you and that you couldn’t bear it if you were a goner before he knew

miraculously, douxie feels the same and tells you all the things he’d been holding back and and what you mean to him and how much he wants to protect you, that you’re gonna make it, if he had anything to say about it

and everything is perfect for one night

now you have a real reason to win

not that saving humanity isn’t a big responsibility on your shoulders and definitely A Reason

but knowing douxie’s waiting for you, for the life you’ll build together after this, the peace you’ll both have, it’s absolutely a big motivation to give your all and come out victorious and survive

hahaha loser you don’t know about the arcane order

and then merlin uses your microwave to cook a weird potion

you and merlin are alone in the house, but there’s no real mind games necessary. you may have grown past thinking he was a god, but in the end, you’re still a follower of merlin, and if merlin thinks this could give you an edge, well, who are you to question his methods

doesn’t mean you aren’t nervous as your master hands you the bottle

yet you don’t even hesitate to drown yourself in the black abyss of the tub

whatever it takes amirite?

and now you’re a half-troll

a sexy half-troll, if you do say so yourself

yeah, no ‘i’m a monster’ angst here, you’re loving the power-up

you’ve got to treat it like a cool new power-up or you will cry actually tbh i lied about the no-angst thing a new body is disorienting

your only real concern is douxie

not concerned for long tho, he sees you and the first thing out of his mouth is “nuclear!”

and he senses your concern, so he does go out of his way to assure you that boy, girl, enby, or half-troll, he loves you for your soul, darling

also again half-troll! you is hot as hell so he’s not really losing anything here 👀

he makes sure you know that too, not to let any insecurities fester

him raking his eyes up and down you gives the opposite effect of the dread merlin sent down your spine doing it

anyways,,,

doux helps out a lot more in the eternal night

like helps merlin re-defeat and re-seal morgana

he’ll do it again in few weeks but with a bigger role you know, this is practice

thank merlin for that edge YOU ARE THE LAST TROLLHUNTER YOU ARE VICTORIOUS YOUVE GOT GUNMARS HEAD IN YOUR HANDS HAHAHA

but now you’ve got to go to new jersey

douxie’s been instructed to stay in arcadia tho 🥺

it’s okay, you’ll see each other again soon

sooner than you realize

and until then you talk each other to sleep every night over the phone <3

merlins glad, actually. he’s glad hisirdoux found some solace. even if it is with the lamb he was raising for the slaughter. maybe things will go okay for them. the time map suggests it might be so

hisirdoux may have done things in a way he didn’t quite approve of, but that’s because he’s becoming his own wizard, and merlin is proud

[statticscribbles]

Fight Response Pt 2

Summary: Riverdale, Reggie/Male reader, Pt 2 to Flight response, Reggie’s POV, Reggie decides to pretend he doesn’t know reader is his soulmate

I’m not going to speak to him; stupid Southsider thinking he can fake being my soulmate. That must be it, he was just faking. I shiver a little at denying my soulmate. I’m nervous and trying to convince myself that he’s not actually mine; that the universe wouldn’t play such a cruel joke on me.

Of course the day after fucking Archie has to go spouting about he and Veronica freaking Lodge are soulmates and they discovered it when she playfully slapped Archie after he told a joke. As if Archie Andrews couldn’t get anymore perfect and well liked by the school and town; meanwhile I’m slipping further and further from Riverdale’s good graces.

It takes only two days of watching them for me to get sick of it and angry every time I look at them smiling. I can’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy, how dare Archie get to parade around his soulmate while I’m stuck hiding mine and trying not to let it out that he’s a Southside Serpent. It’s an absolute joke that the soulmate I managed to get with was a Southsider; but Betty has the same issue and most people don’t seem to be bothered by Jones; so maybe most people won’t be bothered by Y/N.

I decide that I’m going to fight fire with fire and to hell with Y/N’s apparent avoidance of me. I know it’s probably because I shoved him but whatever. He’ll be lucky to have me back in his life as his soulmate. I try to push away how Archie always gets everything; he may get things handed to him but I’ll work for what I want. Even if it means looking bad for a little bit, having a soulmate being a Southside Serpent can’t be good to too many people but they’ll come around.

”Y/N hey..” I start thinking catching him at lunch is a good idea, instead he turns and runs. Asshole.

“Y/N!!! WAIT!” I shout after him but he’s already jumped on his bike and is speeding away from the pop’s parking lot.

“So much for your southside soulmate.” It’s Betty who laughs and Archie joins in.

“Shut up, he is my soulmate.”

“Oh sure the guy that runs from you everytime you so much as breathe is your freaking soulmate. I’ll believe it when I see it.” Jughead laughs and I scowl at him.

“He is; I’ll prove it, one of you hit me!”

“Reggie, we're not going to do that.”

“Well then you’ll have to take my word that we’re the perfect soulmate couple, unlike a certain pair that are fighting.” I smirk and Archie sinks a little knowing I’m talking about him and Veronica; they’d gotten into a huge fight at school and both had left early clearly distressed. I hated how pleased it made me. And least Y/N wasn’t fully ignoring me now; he seemed to be aware that we were soulmates and that meant I wasn’t going to harm him; mty now vocal assurance we were soulmates was also probably protecting him a good bit, at least from the other Bulldogs, I hadn’t felt anything even close to the sting from a slap or a punch so I assumed the Serpents either didn’t care or weren’t bothered causing Y/N pain over us having a bond.

It takes a week for me to spread it around the school, that we’re perfect, that we’re made for each other, that despite being a southsider and a northsider; truly on opposite sides unlike Jones and Cooper we were overcoming the odds to be together and be happy.

Y/N while he doesn’t avoid me seems to vocally deny we’re together; i wonder if maybe he’s against dating a guy but we wouldn’t be soulmates if he was, at least I don’t think so.

“Y/N hey, how’re..”

“Good, gonna be late to class.”

I’m okay with him ignoring me but then Andrews has to put his head into it and tries to convince me that I’m making you uncomfortable and if we were really soulmates that I wouldn’t be doing that. I tell him to stay out of my business and for a moment I think he does but then I hear your shout and realize he’s shoved me into the locker. Of course I have to relatialte, to make sure everyone knows that you and I are actually soulmates, sharing pain. So of course I punched him. He shouts; but Veronica doesn’t, she just tries to pull me off him. He slaps me again, or maybe Veronica does; either way you scream again and everyone pauses, finally realising what I was trying to say all along, that we’re soulmates. Your scream also brings a revelation; that Veronica hasn’t gotten hurt at all, that despite Archie having a black eye Veronica doesn’t seem phased at all.

They were faking. I try my best to avoid being too smug, but with them exposed as faking and you finally talking to me, seeing what I was trying to do I think that everything is okay now.

Support My Writing?

[fanfics4all]

Announcement

Request: Yes / No Can you do any kJ Apa x reader with any storyline you want to write most Anon

Requests are closed <3 Have a nice day/night

KJ Apa x Fem!Reader 

Word count:  745

Warnings: Covid?

PLEASE DO NOT STEAL MY WORK, I WORK HARD ON MY FICS AND IT’S NOT COOL TO STEAL SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK! 

If you want to be on the tag list for anything (My series fics, specific character fics, or just all of them) All you have to do is send me an ask and I will add you! 

Masterlist 

(Not my photo, credit to whoever made it!)

KJ and I had been friends for years, like since we were in primary school. So when he got the role for Archie Andrews and had to go over to the states, he asked me to go with him. I wanted to so badly because he was my best friend and who knows when I would see him again, but at the same time, I had a job here. But, KJ knew exactly what to say to convince me. So here I was in California living in an expensive tiny apartment, working on the set of Riverdale, thanks to KJ. It was a good job and gave me enough to live on my own. 

KJ and I had started dating in 2018 and we were keeping our relationship a secret. That was until 2020 hit. At first it was little things that started and no one really thought anything of it, but once Covid-19 hit everyone was in a panic. KJ asked me to move in with him during the quarantine and I agreed since I didn’t want to be alone for who knows how long. Charles was going back home to be with his family so KJ had the space for me. 

It was a nice change at first, we didn’t think much of it. I think most people thought it would just blow over in a month or so. But one month turned into three, then six, and then a year. KJ and I were locked inside with nowhere to go for a whole year. I think the only reason we were doing well was because no one outside of us, family, and friends knew about our relationship. 

KJ and I didn’t have much to do, so we ended up having a lot of sex over the year. Sex a few times a month which ended up with a condom breaking. We found out I was pregnant a month later and both decided we were ready for a family. Maybe it was just the quarantine talking, or we really were ready. That’s why we also decided it was time for us to announce our relationship to the world. When I was five month pregnant KJ had me pose for a photoshoot for our instagrams. They were amazing photos, KJ always had a good eye. 

“These are amazing babe.” I said, as he showed me all the pictures he took. 

“Ya think so? I’m thinking we post these four, ay? They’re the best.” He said with a bright smile. 

“They’re all amazing. I wanna post these ones.” I said, picking the few I wanted out. 

“Alright, let’s post ‘em.” He said. The two of us made our own posts and got both positive and negative feedback from the fans. Most were positive, however. 

“I feel relieved that the world knows now.” I said as we tossed our phones to the side. We decided to watch a movie instead of looking through the comments longer. 

“Me too, it was gettin’ kind of hard to keep you off my insta when I have so many cute pictures of you.” He said and kissed me. One kiss turned into two and two turned into a makeout session. 

“Slow down love, this is what got us this.” I said pointing to my growing stomach. 

“Are you saying this was a mistake?” He asked and my eyes widened. 

“No! Never! I love our little baby!” I said, gently rubbing my stomach. 

“Good.” He smirked and continued to kiss me. 

“We should set an appointment to find out what the gender is.” I said, looking down at our hands on my stomach. 

“I kind of hope it's a boy.” He said and I rolled my eyes. 

“You and every other soon to be Father.” I said and he laughed. 

“And you want a little girl, don’t you?” He said and I shook my head. 

“No, I’m actually hoping for a little boy too, then some girl will get lucky just like me. He’ll be amazing, just like his Father.” I said and kissed his cheek. 

“I love you babe.” He said and pecked my lips. 

“I love you too, and I love our soon to be child.” I said. KJ leaned over and kissed my stomach. 

“You’re gonna have an amazing life.” He whispered to my stomach. 

“Yes he or she will.” I smiled. Covid-19 brought one good thing into this world and brought KJ and I closer than ever.

Tag list: @les-bio-lie​ @tashy-bear​ @ashwarren32​ @hollie-blogs-blog1​ @schisbro87​ @lover-of-books-and-teas​ @nerdygaloresposts​ @teenwolfbitches28​ @genius2050​ @drw0301bieber​ @lady-of-lies​ @ravenmoore14​ @ravenempress101​ @cillianchamp​ @rowanthomasknapp​ @rachelxwayne​ @emo-godess-loves-you​ @hiya-imthatgirl​ @mindsetjupiter​ @averysinclaire​ @mittelerde1999​ @sweetest-peas​ @rousewriter​ @camiconfessions​ @thecaptainsgingersnap​ @cenyddtheunicorn​ @jacksxsouthsideserpents @lover2448​ @hatter-madigan3​ @mamacobie13​ @beginningstofandom​

[young-dumb-and-vaccinated]

Cult Girl: Doctorate (Hannibal x Female!Reader) pt. 9

Fun fact: when I was like eight I got an ultrasound done on my chest because of some non-descript heart anomaly. Got to miss a day of school and everything. 

Anyway, on the day of cult girl’s twenty week anatomy scan, Hannibal has second thoughts about putting the baby up for adoption.

@wisesandwichshark

Trigger warnings: pregnancy and lactation, medical examination

It was a small victory, but a much-needed one.

You kept in close touch with Max and Archie over the next few, crucial weeks. Before you knew it, your first trimester ended. You tried your best to push all worries about your rapidly changing body aside, in favor of your studies. To a point, it worked. You cranked out a few research papers and kept up on your reading, but not as efficiently as you may have wanted. Your body was operating at 100% all the time and you felt like an overheated laptop with the fan running at top speed.

The morning of your twenty-week checkup arrived far quicker than you hoped. You were noticeably pregnant, having put on a good ten extra pounds to support your passenger.

Your phone alarm sounded, telling you to greet the day. You'd been in and out of an uncomfortable state of half-consciousness all night.

"Good morning, my goddess." Hannibal cooed in his admittedly very sexy morning voice. He turned on his side and faced you.

Seeing him with bedhead was definitely the best part of waking up. But the delight quickly faded when you tried to turn on your side and realized you couldn't. You plopped back onto your back, seriously considering if any amount of money was worth this.

"Don't patronize me." You pouted, folding your arms.

"Patronize you?" He chuckled, pulling you into him. "Now why on earth would I do that?"

He cupped your head in his hand and stroked your cheek. "The most divine woman in the world is carrying my baby."

Before you could say anything, he brought his lips to yours. His other hand ran down your body, tracing the outline of your firm, round belly.

"And what an honor-" He whispered, weaving his fingers through your hair. "To have Venus herself descend from Olympia to carry my child."

You didn't want to unpack what he was saying. All you knew was you liked it. Your aches seemed to melt away under his touch and your worries dissipated with every word.

"My breasts are so swollen and heavy." You complained. "And they ache so much."

"Is that so?" Hannibal smiled hungrily and propped himself up on his elbows above you. "Well, what is to be done about that, Mrs. Lecter?"

You unbuttoned your pajama shirt, revealing your significantly larger breasts. You blushed and instinctively covered yourself.

Hannibal chuckled and effortlessly pulled your hands off your chest. He lowered his face to where your neck meets your shoulder and took a deep breath in. A pair of warm, gentle hands cupped your breasts.

"You're starting to produce." He observed, a little smile creeping on his face.

Before you could really register what he meant by that, his thumb began to stimulate your swollen nipple. A small drop of milk leaked out, dampening his finger. All you could do was turn red and whimper in embarrassment.

He brought his finger to his lips and tasted it.

"It's a bit thin, but my goodness, it's sweet." He said, as nonchalantly as if he were sampling ice cream.

"Only the best for our baby." You said.

That caught him off guard in the best way. Whether you were playing along or feeling genuinely maternal, he didn't care. He wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to gratify his crippling desire to feel like a father.

"Fuck, [F/N]." He cursed, looking at your protruding belly with awe. Not awe, but worship.

He cleared his throat, chasing away any strong emotions he may have let reveal themselves. "Never mind. Let's get ready to go to the doctor."

You swung your legs over the bed. "What's wrong?"

"Absolutely nothing, my darling." Hannibal said, lying professionally. "Everything is wonderful."

You push yourself to your feet and follow him into the bathroom. "Hannibal, please."

He turned around and leaned against the sink. "It's nothing that concerns you, love. Don't worry about it."

You folded your arms. "You don’t need to be a doctoral candidate to recognize deflection."

"So you don't." Hannibal said. "Darling, please understand that I have your best interests at heart. Even if it is at the expense of my desires."

"I see what this is." You nodded. "You want to keep the baby, don't you?"

"I didn't know how much I wanted a child until now." He admitted.

"But you know the emotional and physical toll it'll take on me." You finished.

"I don't know, actually." He corrected, face contorting with frustration. "Thus the basis of my hesitation. There are so many facets of life that can be molded to one's liking, but parenting-"

"I get it." You sighed. "So many things could go wrong, or right, and either way it would throw me off track."

"If I could relieve you of all of the burden of parenting this child, allowing you to step away and finish your schooling unfettered with domestic duties, I would." He said. "But if we're being honest, it's not like you would let me."

"Ruth Bader Ginsburg studied law at Harvard while taking care of a baby." You offered. "And her sick husband."

"I have no doubts in my mind that it is possible, nor that you're capable, darling." He assured you. "But I would never forgive myself if I let you burn yourself out before you even get a chance to take off."

"Okay, look." You took a deep breath. "Let's see what the obstetrician says, assess the risks, weigh the pros and cons and talk to Max and Archie. We will figure this out."

You were counting on the assumption that going for your twenty-week checkup would scare you out of any desires to keep the baby. They often did. The more time you spent with an ultrasound wand in your vagina, the more you became convinced that you'd become implanted with an alien parasite determined to destroy you from the inside.

"Good morning, Dr. And Mrs. Lecter." The obstetrician greeted you as she always did. You hadn't bothered to correct her to save yourself an awkward conversation. "Here for our twenty-week ultrasound, are we?"

"No, I'm here for the taco truck in the parking lot." You said, half-jokingly. The other half was thinking about tacos. "I just thought I'd lay down on this surgical table for fun."

"Good to see you're still hanging on to your sense of humor, [F/N]." She smirked. "Should we take a look under the hood?"

You fought the overwhelming urge to smack your belly like a car salesmen and say "this bad boy can fit so many fetuses in it". But given that there was only one fetus, that would be inaccurate.

The doctor emptied a tube of extra-freezing gel onto your stomach and readied the ultrasound wand. "Have you been feeling any kicks, Mrs. Lecter?"

You shrugged. "Maybe? I wouldn't know what that would feel like so I don't know."

She smiled warmly. "Trust me, you'll know. But don't worry about it. First pregnancies tend to take their time. When you have your next children, it will happen much faster."

"I think you mean," Hannibal said, voice hardening. "If she decides to have more children. Let's not be presumptuous."

The doctor noticed her mistake. "My apologies, Mrs. Lecter. I didn't mean to assume."

You kept your eyes on Hannibal, too afraid to look at the screen as the doctor searched around for a clear image. 

“Oh my goodness, here it is!” She exclaimed with an ear-to-ear grin. 

It took you a minute to make out exactly what she was pointing to. It looked more like a fucked-up Rorschach test than anything resembling a person. You didn't want to say it out loud, but she sensed your confusion.

"This big round part is the head." She said, pointing to the opposite end of the screen. "There's its spine, and there are its little hands and feet."

It hit you all at once. There was a person growing inside of you. And it had limbs, bones and a brain. You finally had the answer to the question "how did something come from nothing". It was right there in front of you.

"Wow." You said, dumbfounded. "My body made that?"

"Amazing, isn't it?" The doctor smiled, clearly still as enamored with her job as she was on day one.

"And it made that without my brain even thinking about it." You continued, trying not to go into a ramble. "That's actually pretty insane."

"I told you that you're a goddess." Hannibal whispered into your ear. "My divine feminine."

"Would you like to know the sex?" She asked. 

“Sure.” You said, without really thinking about it. You looked back at Hannibal, who seemed pretty indifferent too. 

“Congratulations, you’re having a girl.” 

[amazingphanisnotonfire-imagines]

Cheryl//maple syrup

Request: Can you do the secret and sins when Veronica comments on the Cheryl’s twincest and the reader defends Cheryl even though the reader kinda diss likes Cheryl.

hey! how is everyone? i hope you’re all well and good! i may have slightly cheated a bit and copy and pasted a previously written out bit from another request where they’re playing secrets and sins. but that’s only because i didn’t see the point in writing the same dialogue again. anywayyyy enjoy! 

It seems that whenever Cheryl Blossom arrives at a party, the party atmosphere disappears. Maybe it’s her grating personality or overbearing need to be liked, whatever it is, within ten minutes of her and Chuck gate crashing Jughead’s unwanted birthday party, there’s already tension. 

Which is not made any better by the suggestion of secrets & sins. Your friends are gathered in a circle in the living room, while you sit off to the side. You want to eavesdrop, but you don’t want to reveal your deepest, darkest secrets, not to your best friends and definitely not to Cheryl. 

It’s clear everyone that’s been roped into this stupid game doesn’t want to be there. Betty shifts in her seat uncomfortably and stares at you with pleading eyes. You shoot her an unsure smile back before taking a sip of your drink and she drops your gaze, glancing at Archie before staring down at the floor. 

Cheryl is the only one that looks like she’s enjoying herself, but you’re not surprised. Chaos and the chance to get dirt on everyone so she can control them even more than she already does is what Cheryl lives for.

You glare at the red-head, who’s smiling brightly as she looks around at her victims and when her eyes land on you, her eyes narrow and the smile is replaced by a smirk. 

“What’s wrong Y/n? Did nobody pick you to be on their team?” She asks, her bright red lips forming a perfect pout and you can’t help but stare at them for a few seconds longer than you should. You feel your face heat up and look away, blaming the alcohol for the affects you’re feeling and refusing to believe that you’ve just thought of Cheryl Blossom as attractive. 

A shiver runs up your spine at the thought and you lips pull into a pout as you stare down at the now empty cup in your hands. You scratch at the plastic and listen to the mumbles and whispers of the teenagers stood and sat around you. 

Whoever isn’t partaking in Secrets and Sins, have gathered around to watch and judge, and you can’t help but lean in a little closer, they may be some of your closest friends, but you can’t help wanting to know what they’ve been hiding from one another...you’re only human and at least you’re not as bad as Cheryl. 

Cheryl lives of rumours. Like Gretchen Wieners with smaller and redder hair. 

“What the hell is Secrets and Sins?” Jughead asks, all eyes on Cheryl as she moves around in a circle, eyeing everyone suspiciously as she starts to explain the rules. 

“Its a variation on Truth or Dare…in which we own our truths by telling it like it is. I’ll start the game with…Veronica Lodge.” She smirks and you roll your eyes at her. 

“Naturally.” Veronica sighs and you pat her shoulder. 

“Let’s begin with the day you and your mob wife of a mother came to town for a so-called fresh start.” She says, her eyes filled with accusations and anger before she’s even gotten to her question. 

You really don’t know why so many people like her, well you do, it’s because she’s rich and she bullies people into being her friend because she’s unable to make them any other way. 

She’s snobby, spoilt and just plain mean, but that doesn’t stop you from sometimes staring at her for longer than you want to and definitely should. 

“Tell us Veronica, what’s so fresh about defiling Archie Andrews in a closet?”

“That was your doing.” She replies confused, her arms crossed defensively against her chest.

“Moving on to dear Daddy Lodge…” She interrupts, getting more and more angry by the second. “Isn’t it true that your father, from prison, illegally purchased the drive-in land? Which makes me wonder, what else is he doing behind bars?” She continues and you glance to your side at Joaquin, who shares a very suspicious look with FP

“Well, I can’t speak for my father…but I can think of someone with a very dirty secret. Specifically, Cheryl killing her very own brother.” The tension in the room shifts and your eyes widen. 

As much as you dislike Cheryl, you know how close her and Jason were and you knew how much it hurt and how she’s still hurting now because of his death. You’ve seen her crying underneath the bleachers after school, you see how her eyes are a little more dull than they used to be. They don’t sparkle as much when she talks and when she’s not spreading hate, she’s just not saying anything at all. 

She smiles less when with her friends, and sometimes you think the only reason she’s horrible to people is so she can feel something. But that doesn’t excuse it and so you shake your head and earn a few confused looks as you try to stop yourself from defending Cheryl Majorie Blossom. 

“Everyone knows how much I loved my brother.” Cheryl defends herself.

“Exactly.” Veronica replies. “But did you love him, maybe in ways that a sister shouldn’t love a brother?” She continues and you watch as Cheryl becomes more and more upset. “And as you got older, Jason started to think it was strange, unnatural. So he chose Polly over you. So you shot him between the eyes with one of your father’s many hunting rifles.”

Her shoulders slump a little and her bottom lip quivers as she looks around the room helplessly. The confident look she usually has, has slipped off like a mask, revealing a very sad girl underneath and suddenly you find yourself standing up. 

“That’s enough Veronica.” You say, surprising everyone, including Cheryl. “Just leave her alone, it’s not worth it.” You add quietly and slowly sit back down again. 

Veronica hold her hands up in defence and you force a smile before going back to picking at the plastic of your cup. 

“I don’t need you to defend me.” Cheryl seethes, her eyes full of hatred as she looks at you, and for some reason it stings. You’re used to her not liking you, but her hating you, hurts you for some unknown reason and you have to take a few deep breaths in order to stop the ache in your chest. 

“This game is sick.” Dilton adds and Cheryl uses the distraction to wipe away the tears on her cheek. “I wanna go next.” He adds making everyone look at him.

“Thats the spirit, Doiley. What secrets do you have to reveal to us?” Chuck grins. 

“I saw Ms. Grundy’s car by Sweetwater River the day Jason went missing.” He says and everyone gasps. People mumble and whisper around you and Cheryl stares straight at Dilton, her eyes narrow. “I told Betty and Jughead, and then Ms. Grundy quit her job and left Riverdale, like, two days later. And let’s not forget that Archie was also at Sweetwater River that morning.”

“Oh, my God.” Cheryl whips her head round to look at Archie. “Colour me shocked. Archie Andrews, is that why you became a mediocre musician overnight? Because you and Ms. Four-Eyes were pulling a Mary Kay Letourneau?”

“Don’t say anything. Don’t get in the gutter with them.” Veronica mutters while glaring at Cheryl. 

“Wait, what? Andrews was banging a teacher?” Chuck asks, his tone a mix of surprise and impressed and you roll your eyes at him. “I wish I would’ve known. I would have added you and Ms. Grundy to the book of conquests.”

“Classy, Chuck, as always.”

“Wait a second.” Cheryl interrupts. “That also explains why Archie can’t seem to keep a girlfriend to save his life. He’s got serious mommy issues. Anything to say for yourself Arch? Were you a victim or a perpetrator?”

“Dilton Doiley plays with guns.” Betty tries to change the subject but she’s immediately shut down.

“Big whoop, Betty. So Doiley’s a psychopath. Everyone knows that.”  

“Well, I guess it’s my turn now. Boy, do I have a twisted secret to reveal, starring Betty Cooper.”

“Leave her the hell alone, Chuck.” Archie threatens.

“Shut up, Andrews.” He replies. “Look, you may get a free peep show every night, but you do not know her. Hell, Betty doesn’t even know herself. Everybody knows why I got suspended, but what you don’t know...she dressed up like a hooker, in a God-awful black wig, drugged me, handcuffed me in the Jacuzzi, and well, I almost drowned until she got me to say what she wanted to hear. And then she really lost it. She actually thought she was Polly. But, hey, you knew all about this right, Jughead?” He asks. For a second, the question hangs in the air, everyone trying to figure out what to say next and how to process what they’ve just been told. 

But then Jughead leaps forward at punches Chuck in face causing all hell to break loose. Everyone stands and FP shoves races forward to grab Chuck and throw him outside. 

While everyone else follows them outside, eagerly awaiting a fight, you stay back and watch as Cheryl disappears upstairs, quietly sniffling as she goes. You look at the front door and then at the stairs and sigh, knowing that this is not gonna end well. She’s gonna insult you and tell you to leave her alone, but at least you can say you tried to help and then you won’t feel bad. 

So you glance at the door one more time and pray that at least one person is filming whatever is happening out there, before wandering up the stairs in search for Cheryl. 

The slight scent of maple syrup and the sound of faint cries coming from the bathroom lets you know where she’s hiding and you quietly creep along the slightly creaky floorboards, trying to remember which ones to avoid after years of practice when sneaking into Archie’s room in order to break him out. 

You stop outside of the bathroom, light coming out of the cracks of the door and your hand hovers over the handle. 

“Whoever is out there, go away.” She sniffles and you roll your eyes. 

Turning on your heel, you start to walk away, but then you hear her sob and it makes you freeze. 

You let out a quiet groan and curse the side of you that can’t leave people that are crying alone, before making your way back to the bathroom and slowly opening the door. 

The first thing you see as you duck your hear around the door is Cheryl sat on the side of the bath. Her hands gripping the edges so hard that her knuckles have turned white. He hair has fallen in front of her face and you watch as she her shoulder shake and tears drip onto the bath mat. 

“Cheryl?” You whisper and she looks up, her eyes wide as she quickly scrambles to wipe away the tears that have ruined her makeup. “Are you okay?” You ask and walk into the room. You close the door behind you and lean against it and her expression hardens. 

“I’m having the best time.” She deadpans and you resist the urge to roll your eyes. God is she stubborn. 

“Look, I know we’re not exactly best friends. Most of the time, I don’t really like to be around you-” 

“Is this supposed to be making me feel better?” She asks and you shrug. 

“But you know that if you need someone to talk to that won’t judge you or really know anything about you, you can. I’ll just sit and listen and you can cry or rant or I dunno. Just, know you’re not alone. You may not get along with everyone in this town, but we will all be here for you if you need us, all you have to do is ask.” You say honestly but anxiously while playing with your fingers. 

She looks at you surprised, her lips part as if she’s going to say something and you’re sure she’s going to tell you to shut up and leave her alone, but instead she says thank you and you feel yourself relax a little. 

“It’s okay.” You nod. “And for the record, what Veronica said was out of line. Everyone knows how much Jason meant to you and for her to say that is just wrong. We all know you loved your brother...a normal amount.” You add the last bit quietly and she stares at you for a few seconds before a smile twitches at her lips. “Would you like me to leave you alone now?” You ask and she shakes her head. You look around the small bathroom, trying to figure out the best place to sit and she moves along a little so you can sit beside her. “Would you like me to sit with you until you feel better?” You ask and she nods slowly, her lip wobbling again. 

You sit beside her, place a gentle hand over hers and the two of you fall into a slightly awkward but not as bad as you thought it would be, silence. 

After ten minutes, Cheryl stands and makes her way over to the mirror. She swipes her fingers under her eyes to try and get rid of her ruined mascara before messing with her hair to try and get it back to looking like normal. 

“Do I look okay?” She turns to you and stands with her arms by her side. Your breath hitches when you look at her and you wonder how she looks so pretty even in the most unflattering light that is Archie Andrews’ bathroom. 

You stand in front of her and slowly tuck a piece of hair behind her ear and you watch as she takes a shaky breath. 

“Can I?” You ask, your fingers centimetres away from her cheek and she nods slowly, her eyes locked with yours and you feel yourself growing warm from the intensity. “There.” You smile once you’ve wiped a bit of mascara away from her cheek. 

She grabs her bag and pulls her lipstick from it, but when she goes to apply it, her hands shake and you take it from her gently. 

Your lips darts out between your tongue as you concentrate on keeping the lipstick in the lines, and you can feel her warm breath on your cheek. 

“There!” You smile proudly once your finished, but she grabs your arm before you can pull away properly as her lips connect with yours in an almost frantic kiss.

You gasp a little and then relax and kiss back just as frantically, but she pulls away after a few seconds and the two of you stare at each other wide-eyed and breathless. 

“Your lipstick’s ruined.” You whisper and her lips curl into a smile. 

“Worth it.” She replies before pulling you close to her and kissing you again. 

support my writing! if you want! 

[petalsmooth]

Ok.

Let’s talk Lili.

First off we only know what stars put out about themselves or other people say about them. We are not friends with these people. We are not in their homes. We don’t usually hear what they say in unguarded conversation. What we know is what is out on social media with some highly distorted soundbites from chats or DM’s with her mother that were exposed.

We were initially presented a portrait pushed by her and her family no less of a middle class family with the standard girl next door hit it big narrative. Down to earth, relatable, somewhat quirky. Strong two parent supportive household. All that was missing were the apron and pearls.

This girl came out of the gates talking about a modernized Riverdale with two girls who would be actually close and not vying for the same redhead. Feel free to add/or correct along the way of course...especially early on when not following as closely.

We got very little in the way of insight into Cole and Lili because they were trying to keep it quiet even if there were hints together. Mostly during this period what fans were fed was that she was slightly awkward socially, maybe not the most intellectual but nice and harmless. She spoke of empowering women, independence, she constantly shut down the idea of Barchie and praised Bughead. Along through the year’s she would speak to social bullying or bullying in general. She would openly talk about struggles with mental health. She’d talk and show her cystic acne and share photos not all airbrushed in ode to body positivity. She’d talk about not having an hourglass figure, and cellulite and often go out in ratty shorts and a bun sans makeup. You see she’d talk about it then follow through by showing lived the walk or calling out photoshops done of her.

Again this is “relatable girl next door quirky Lili” we told was the REAL Lili.

She would frequently talk and post about her family and dogs at home and how much she loved and missed them...though oddly not so much her older sister.

At a certain point it became undeniable Cole and Lili were together to even the hardest deniers. Of course also the Met gala eventually made official for media.

We get have her liking posts such as Miley’s about how lucky she was to have a man who checked off all the boxes. But at times there were glimpses all wasn’t kosher. People have mentioned various cons where she’d be caught flirting somewhere else, or she’d be in a bad mood giving Cole a cold shoulder. We recently saw an old video of them walking and her basically demanding he drop the fans and attend her. We have the con were Camilla is sexually harassing Cole everywhere and Lili doesn’t shut it down until Camilla tries to grind on him. It was so bad even Mads intervened. We have the interview where she is talking over him or rolling her eyes and basically being the unprofessional brat her fans claim she is not. Even though it’s ON CAMERA. Snapping at your co worker/boyfriend and rolling your eyes during a professional interview is not deniable.

Flashforward to the trip to Italy because for me there was always something off about that. That trip was obviously planned far in advance. Clearly Lili was supposed to be there. Her fans quickly blamed Cole because Lili was working. Lili didn’t have to work. It wasn’t a career changing move to do that film. It did not do well. I’m not entirely sure what was happening around that time but I have the sense Cole was disappointed/a  little angry she prioritized it over him accepting very likely the offer AFTER the trip was planned.

Lili spirals during this time. Cole comes back to clean up mess. They are quiet on social media for a long time then slowly emerge again and eventually get the photo booth shots, the wedding and her mingling with NY friends for once. Turns out close to the end for them.

I don’t want to make this a Sprousehart post though although some relevance to bring part of it up. The point is Lili put her career over her relationship. It was a calculated decision. It was also the wrong decision. Her fans talk about her being this warm giving person but that was a cynical call and a pretty lousy thing to do to your boyfriend of several year’s. I’m all for supportive partners but there are time’s where you make sacrifices if you really care for someone and this was a special trip planned long in advance. She blew it off. If I’m the partner she does this too, I question why I’m putting in the effort if it doesn’t mean to them what it means to me. 

TBH I think the bad choices she made there is why tried to make it up by meeting with his friends, the wedding etc...

Something than clearly happened because by January they were done. Not sure we’ll ever know but it looked like they were trying to fix things given the happiness hadn’t seen on Cole’s faces in a long time in those booth pics and then...it was done. We didn’t know at the time, but this is timeline Cole gave. There was a brief attempt at reconciliation where she babysits him at a photo shoot and posts a photo of them in bed and then shortly after...Cole calls it off. 

He heads to LA, she follows him there but not without making sure to shove Casey’s face into her chest to post and rent a place close to where he is staying. She posts weepy messages about the world ending etc....and weird new photos mimicking old shoots with him so naturally people think this means whatever happened they worked through. Around same time she and hers manipulated her fans to try to cancel him earlier because she misunderstood a picture of Kaia....although flat out if he had been with Kaia he was SINGLE and it was no longer her business.

She tries to walk back the firestorm she unleashed on him by “defending” him from a lesser twitter trend after realizing misconstrued the Kaia picture, All summer she weirdly seems to be trying to avoid the topic if they are together or not despite saying once if they weren’t she’d tell people. She finally puts her foot in her mouth one two many times' and Cole confirms they broke up which she doesn’t acknowledge. Because she doesn’t want to be broken up.

As we know know it wasn’t all rainbows on the set even before all this happened as in the musical she’d launched an object at him hard enough to have the crew concerned. Lili fans keep saying Cole is abusive but the only evidence we have of abuse is her towards him. We also had her suddenly doing a 180 from past 4 year’s and excusing cheating with Archie and promoting everyone in her live recaps except Cole/Jughead.

Back to the events following Cole’s post....then we get a sudden string of interviews taking shots at Cole, doxxing him, implying he could have strayed (just to resurrect hate against him) but can’t say he actually did because she has no proof. We know this because in those chats admit it was just suspicion and paranoia and never did have any names.

We learn that Lili has been funneling news and gossip and photos to keep her mother’s hold on the fandom in check and her mother in turn has been bullying people who would stand on Cole’s side. They sought to ruin him. This is not debatable.

For year’s people had made fun and called Bree out for being an obsessive stalker unable to let a relationship go, then Lili starts doing the same. We know she has tried to copy Ari’s style, her mother made a snide comment about breast size, Lili tried to taunt Ari from on set and Ari shut her down. A girl who almost never was in the line of sight of paps suddenly is snapped everyday following break up even before the public new. That doesn’t just happen. She wanted the attention.

I’m not going to go into all of it, you all know it. Suffice to say revealing she has a bitter vindictive attitude she has submersed herself in ever since Cole made it clear no reunion. She won’t even broach the topic of Bughead/Jughead unless forced. You can spin all you like but the split screens was not an artistic choice by RD. It was spurred by need to keep them apart.

Lili last summer was doing precious little other than a post or two of Black Lives matter and then when Cole gets arrested suddenly she jumps on the me too and sets up impulsive lives. Maybe she meant well but a part of me thinks she did it to attract his attention. Notice once she got praise for it and the initial protests faded she more or less doesn’t bring it up anymore. Cole never intended to get attention, it just happened because he’s a star and got taken in to a jail cell. He never put himself on camera for notice. 

Lili also co-opts the murder of a girl to flaunt she thinks she looks good naked. Completely tone deaf. 

Lili very rarely is seen in fan photos, only usually when she’s getting flack for it online. She, a girl who talks about bullying, went on a  midnight tirade against a guy who dares to critique or poetry setting her fans on him. Then deleted it probably because publicist in her ear.

She first said poems not about Cole, than said you could read into what you wanted to sell them. Now she doesn’t want to talk poetry or sequels because it flopped and was critically panned.

There are constant rumors about Lili on sets of productions to point they even had someone on her newer movie try to downplay. Yet we see in a video the cast barely talking and looking tense on a boat. 

The girl who used to talk about body positivity now lets them airbrush abs onto her.

The girl who used to talk of therapy and mental illness now promotes OTC supplements for $ and cults.

If she mentions cellulite she uses other tik toks of people showing not her own. 

She said she would never be on tik tok, yet now has her own and post old videos that aren’t funny.

Lili once tired to attack Cole by talking about losing yourself in drugs or alcohol or sex yet we’ve seen her drug paraphernalia because she advertises. Her friends post and laugh over her being drunk. She was in an off and on relationship with Wallis that doesn’t seem to be about anything but sex.

We were told Coles friends are bad influences but Taylor is out there solicitating questionable clients and making videos slamming LILI’S COWORKER as a bad actor and his brother,

The majority of Lili’s posts no longer feature Sunny or her family/Addy. 

She insulted Vancouver, compared to a prison, and made it clear her creature comforts were of more importance than a pandemic. Not quite the attitude of an empath. Which she claims she is with intention to be a master which require sucking more gullible people into the cult.

She brags about being a “rich man” without understand the context. She went from artistic photos to modeling pinups to fuel her lack of self esteem.

She’s in her mid 20′s, claims she had grown and matured in the last year but there is no evidence of it. Still can’t work with her ex without buffers which still influences show direction though her fans deny.. Still lives off junk food and hangovers. Those glasses aren’t just for sun. Her timeline is mostly an ode to her vanity with pictures of herself and then her dog. She doesn’t seem to have any causes she’s deeply involved in on the side apart from her cult. She’s still stalking Cole as her impulsive makeup tutorial showed. She said she cut out of her life anyone who doesn’t service her. I highly doubt she is receiving quality therapy on the regular right now. She still does not seem to possess the ability to own her mistakes and apologize when warranted, rather deflects or erases when heat becomes too hot.

The content she puts out about herself post break up is very different than the bill of goods fans were sold before. She is a far cry from that quirky girl next door that stood FOR something more than vanity and shallow affirmation. So no, I don’t see what you see in her stans. Everything that once seemed to distinguish her from other spoilt princesses has long faded. 

[rikalovesrice]

My Thoughts on Trollhunters : Rise of the Titans

WARNING : ALL THE SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW

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Mmmmm. Okay. So I just finished the movie. I’m fatigued as always so this’ll be a bit of a mess lol. Gotta spew the thoughts while they’re still fresh, y’all know how it is.

Right out the gate, I definitely want to talk about the things I loved.

The animation was, of course, phenomenal and gorgeous!

Voice acting was incredible as always

MUSIC SLAPPED

Douxie. I just loved seeing Douxie again and honestly kept my eyes trained on him for most the of movie lol

OK DOUXIE AND NARI SWITCHING?? BODIES??? Definitely didn’t see that coming and I legit started screaming lol

Nari in Douxie’s body is the most precious, chaotic, and wholesome thing like holy cow that was so adorable LOOKIT DOUXIE CROUCHING AND CRAWLING AROUND ON ALL FOURS WITH THOSE NOODLE LIMBS OF HIS I CAN’T --

We called Nari’s mind control and Douxie trying to reason with her!

In the very few scenes they were together, Douxie’s love and affection for Nari really came through. You could really feel how much he cared about her. ALSO THAT TENDER HUG AND NARI’S LITTLE HAPPY SQUEAK MY HEART NO--

Loved Barbara. Always love Barbara.

Walter and Barbara getting engaged

Nomura back in action

Claire being the powerful sorceress she’s become

Loved seeing Aja, Krel, and Varvatos all together again.

NARI VS SKRAEL WAS ALL SORTS OF EPIC AND CRUSHING EMOTIONS.

The way Douxie yelled Nari’s name and ran to her after she died and the remnants of her magic falling all around him, like she was saying goodbye, just *UGLY CRYING*

It was so cool to see Charlie out of his den and flying about like the mighty dragon he is

Loved the Guardians of Arcadia pulling Excaliber out together.

All the gang all going after Bellroc together

YES JIM MY BOOOOOOY

BLINKY DIDN’T DIE

Aarrgh I love you so much

Stuart, what a bro!

We saw a hint of mercy in Bellroc towards the end.

Toby’s death... That was a huge curveball. Jim might as well have cut my heart out with Excaliber as he sobbed over his best friend.

Uh.....um....and.....Er...what else........ .___.

..........Alright so.......It’s about to get a bit brutal from here on out as I talk about the things I didn’t like at all. And the really sad thing is, at least to me, the cons far outweigh the pros in this movie. Because I’m actually having difficulty picking out things I enjoyed, they were so few and far between...which really sucks.

So here we go.

Gosh, where to begin... I guess I’ll go ahead and say this : I’m really disappointed. 

Like as I’m here typing this, I’m just thinking, “...That was it? That was the movie?? The big finale???”

So much of this movie just felt....unnecessary. I hate to say almost like filler. The entire intro re-caping the series really wasn’t needed. And then Toby went and restated it all again when he was being interrogated. The pacing, oh my gosh...Guys, the pacing in this movie was not good. The action started and it never seemed to stop. There wasn’t a single moment of rest, of levity, of our characters just being themselves, getting to know each other, being friends outside of the battle. No Reckless Club Segment. No fun, just... I mean Claire and Aja didn’t speak to each other at all. Douxie and Toby hardly interacted. Steve was turned into a gross male pregnancy joke. Jim and Krel barely spoke. Douxie and Aja had nothing to say to each other. Even Aja and Krel didn’t have any moments together. The list goes on. The whole movie was just go, go, go. And it’s so frustrating because there was time for it but it was poorly executed.

Like was the whole break-in to the Chinese Trollmarket really necessary?? Guys, I really found myself not caring. I didn’t care to see this random side quest involving an insignificant new troll character and a Trollmarket that had little to no bearing on the plot. Did I love seeing Charlie, Archie, Blinky, and Claire? Of course! But these scenes were so pointless. So needless. They could’ve written other ways for all our heroes to go after the chronosphere (Maybe we could’ve had Zoe for crying out loud). But instead this vital artifact was the hands of a character we don’t know and don’t care about in a place that turned out to have basically nothing to do with anything.

Deaths. The deaths in this movie. Because of the pacing in this movie, there wasn’t nearly enough time for the emotional impacts to sink in. Nomura? Gone and the only ones mourning her are Aaarrgh and Douxie, who barely knew her. Walter’s death was handled better since we got to see Jim and Barbara actually having a moment to mourn him. The weight of Nari’s death was singlehandedly carried by Douxie, but even that was over before it started. The immense gravity of Toby’s death, which really got to me, was also short-lived to make way for an ending that...I don’t know. 

ALSO DOUXIE JUST??? BEING OKAY WITH HIS FAMILIAR, THE ONE WHO RAISED HIM AND WENT THROUGH SO MUCH WITH HIM FOR CENTURIES, LEAVING HIM FOREVER TO BE TRAPPED IN THAT DUMB TROLLMARKET WITH CHARLIE LIKE???

“I hope he’s happy.”

WHAT. THE. EVERLASTING. FRICK. 

Douxie’s reaction objectively doesn’t make a shred of sense. Geez, it’s almost like Douxie was expecting Archie to up and leave him someday to be with Charlegmane. Just...what???

What also frustrates me so much is how this movie undid so much characterization and development that happened in Wizards. Or more like all that development didn’t even matter.

What was the point of Steve’s arc in Wizards if he was just going to be reduced to...this?

I was so excited to see Douxie really being a Master Wizard. To see him lead the Guardians of Arcadia alongside Jim. To see him in action as Successor to Merlin and Protector of this Realm.

But no.

Douxie, who had such an incredible arc in Wizards and a character who’s come to mean so much to me in my life, was nerfed and sidelined.

And then time restarts and I can’t help but wonder why any of this mattered at all. What the heck was the freaking point of the suffering, the loss, the pain, the growth, enduring and overcoming so much, the friendships and family spanning across three shows... All gone. Starting all over. Undoing everything, except what Jim went through. As much as I love Jim, I didn’t think he’d be the only character I’d be getting closure for at the grand finale of this entire franchise. But that’s what happened and I really hate it.

Just...all in all, this movie wasn’t satisfying. Not to me. It had its good moments. But not nearly enough. The comedy was misplaced and fell flat. The climax was sorely anticlimactic and didn’t hold a candle to Eternal Knight. The writing, the direction, characterization...For some reason it was all lost and confused and none of it felt right and so much didn’t make sense.

I’m not at all upset with the writers, though, because they still pulled through and did what they could. When the movie did something right, it was beautiful. The things I loved about it I truly adored. No, I’m not upset in the least bit with any of the creative team.

I’m upset with Netflix. I’m upset that Wizards was robbed of the seasons it should’ve had. I’m upset with big cooperations stifling creators. I’m upset that this’ll be it. This is the ending we got and nothing can be done about it.

Aaron did say there’s every possibility for the franchise to continue in some capacity, and I’m hoping for that someday. Because so much, too much, has been left unanswered. So much left to be explored that couldn’t. But until then....I guess this is it. This is what we get.

Now, I want to remind everyone that this is my own personal experience with the movie. These are all my opinions. If you enjoyed every second the movie, that’s wonderful! And who knows how my thoughts will change upon another viewing. But in the meantime, Rise of the Titans really missed the mark for me. I wanted found family badassery and fluff. But nope. Just fighting and heaviness and no payoff. It’s such a letdown...a real shame. 

But yeah...Thanks to any and everyone who read to the end of this haha

I still love Tales of Arcadia. It’s a series that has blessed and inspired me so much as an artist, writer, and as a person in general. I do want to keep making ToA content for a while. Cause this movie isn’t the end. Not my ending, at least.

I’ll continue to hope for more Tales of Arcadia in the future (a Douxie spin-off series please Lord pleaaase). We shall see. Until then, fics and fanart fixing this mess galore haha

Until next time everyone! God bless!