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thegreenlizard · 7 months

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Not Obi-Wan’s first slave uprising (II)

This is a drabble for“Not Obi-Wan’s first slave uprising” AU. It’s three disjointed pieces of tell don’t show in a trench coat, but I was trying to organise my (and Obi-Wan’s) thoughts, so it served a purpose. It’s not quite the path that that would take Obi-Wan to the conclusion at the end yet, but it might be pieces of it.

“All a jedi must do, padawan, is follow the Light. The rest is window dressing.”

—patron saint by spqr

What would have happened if the republic hadn’t miraculously been given an army just when they needed one, Obi-Wan thought. Would the republic have been overrun? No, the separatists wanted to secede, not conquer. More likely, the senate would have been forced to issue a draft, which would have been immensely unpopular—as the Military Creation Act had been, before the discovery of the clone army—both among the wealthy and influential core worlds who feared their populations would not accept it, and the Rim worlds who feared the draft would draw from their populations disproportionately. It would have made war less popular, less supported, and protracted war doubly so. It would have lead to seceding worlds facing less opposition, and the republic having less brute strength to force them to stay. It… would have meant the republic would have had to make concessions, reforms even. It would have meant diplomacy and negotiations would have to be attempted if all our war wasn’t an option. It, in fact, was exactly what the Jedi were meant to do.

Not this: commanding an army of slave soldiers to fight a war to force worlds to stay in a republic they no longer felt served their needs. To keep power in the hands of those who already had it, but weren’t willing to compromise to keep it.

In the days following the Military Creation Act and the draft of the Jedi Order, Obi-Wan had kept thinking back to something he had been told years ago, while he was still a padawan. Obi-Wan had been some months out from Melidaan, still on a probation, still trying to reconcile his experiences with the expectations of the Jedi. He had been trying to repair his frayed relationship with his newly reinstated master and had been hesitant to bring up any of his doubts. They had taken an easy diplomatic mission to Alderaan where Obi-Wan had met Bail, then still Prestor.

Bail had been a few years older than Obi-Wan, still growing into himself, but already he had had that core of duty and integrity that Obi-Wan had never ceased to admire. And he had told Obi-Wan something then, that had stayed with him all these years. That it was the duty of any leader, to serve the people whom they lead.

It was not the teaching of the Jedi. The Jedi taught that their duty was to serve the entire galaxy, and all sentient life therein. The Jedi were not leaders, but diplomats and arbitrators, facilitators of a different kind. But service and duty were baked into them in the crèche all the same. And there was something about Bail’s wisdom, that had resonated with Obi-Wan as he kept getting missions that turned into firefights and sometimes all out wars.

Obi-Wan already lost his argument with the Jedi Council then. He had only been a lowly knight and had been in the position to argue in the first place due to his mission debrief after Kamino and his lineage relationship with his great-grandmaster Yoda. But in the end, he had been told in no uncertain terms that the Order was not in a position to refuse the draft or to fight the Military Creation Act.

It had been a bitter pill to swallow. To go from Kamino, where the lights of the clones had shone so brightly in the force, as unique and riotously colourful as any city despite the outward appearances, to Geonosis where the lights of both Jedi and clones had been snuffed out in troves. He had been feeling sore in the force, from all those deaths. As far as he knew, the campaign was still ongoing, but he had been recalled to Coruscant to give his mission report in person—and to accept his assignment as a general of the army.

Only to then realise that the newly passed Military Creation Act afforded the clones no civil rights, not even sentient status. To realise that the Jedi were just… going to accept it, because of politics and of the greater duty they could apparently serve.

Frankly, if the Jedi’s duty to all sentient life did not extend equally to the men under their command, then Obi-Wan no longer cared about following the Order’s rules. He would never stop being a Jedi, but as Qui-Gon had once put it, being a Jedi was about following the light—the rest was window dressing.

But now, his duties as a Jedi were to include direct command of soldiers. Men, whose wellbeing relied on his decisions. Men, who would live or die on his word. That was not the case with other sentients of the galaxy, who were free to make their own decisions. Didn’t that make his duty to his men greater, not lesser? Didn’t that make it primary?

Obi-Wan had always struggled with attachments. But he did not know how to fight with divided loyalties, how to split his heart and portion pieces of it carefully, calculatingly. There was no room in war for it. He had always given all of himself to the fights he chose. To Melidaan. To Mandalore. To their people. He did not know how to do any less now.

He felt like he was at the precipice of something, at a fork in the road before him where he could only choose to walk one path but not another. He had a choice: his men, the order, or the senate.

He had, he realised, had to make the same choice before: to be a Jedi, or a general. To serve the people, or his mission brief. He had already made his decision and had kept making it over the years. And he found that it was not so hard to make again, after all.

“It is the duty of any leader, to serve the people whom they lead,” Obi-Wan starts haltingly.

“My primary responsibility—my primary loyalty—is no longer to the Jedi Order, the senate, or even the republic and its people. It is to the men under my command.”

“If these duties conflict, I will put our men first.” Obi-Wan willed his commander to understand. “We will fight, and we will die. But only as long as it is in the pursuit of the common goal our men choose to make those sacrifices for.”

“Any man who wants out of the fight, I swear I will find them a way.” He would. It would be difficult to smuggle deserters out, but he would personally falsify death certificates for everyone who’d rather take their chances outside GAR.

“I will not force you to fight. I will not be your slave master. If you would rather strike out at the unknown regions, just give the word. If you’d rather dump my ass before you go, just give the word. If you’d rather I step down from the command and start fighting for your rights in the courts, I swear I will pull every favour and piece of blackmail I have accrued during my diplomatic career. And if you’d rather break your chains—Cody, it wouldn’t be my first slave rebellion.”

Obi-Wan rises from his chair and drops on a knee in front of his silent commander. He pulls his lightsaber from his belt and offers it to Cody.

“So you see, it is not you who are at my service. It is I who am at yours.”

Cody doesn’t know what to say to his general offering to commit treason for him and his men. The man has literally gone down on his knee to, what? Swear loyalty to Cody, a clone? This is so far outside the parameters of his training that Cody might just as well have been transported to another dimension entirely. And he does not know what to say.

The general, still kneeling at Cody’s feet, tries for a smile though it comes out more as a grimace.

“You don’t have to say anything, commander. We can pretend this conversation never happened. I know I haven’t earned your trust yet. You don’t have to decide anything now.”

Kenobi gets up, sits back in his chair and scrubs his face, looking a little lost. Then, to Cody’s horror, he starts undoing the plates of his armour and pulling open the body glove underneath.

“Did you know that there’s a word for a freed slave who enslaves others?” Kenobi asks conversationally and tilts his head until Cody can see his bared neck. It’s pale, like the rest of him, and there’s a band of twisting scar tissue around it. Cody must react somehow, because Kenobi nods and starts putting his armour back to rights.

“Depukrekta,” he says with disgust. “I wasn’t a slave for very long, in the grand scheme of things, but I…”

“I—to be frank, I considered resigning from the Order and refusing the draft entirely in protest. But I thought you and the men at least deserved a choice in how you wanted your battles fought.” Kenobi shrugs and adds ruefully “And the option of resigning publicly is still open, should you wish to be rid of me.”

Kenobi, having said his piece, slips quietly out. Cody states after him for a long time, thoughts whirling. Then he comms Fox.

#drabble #plot bunny #tcw au #blanket permission #codywan #or gen #space bunnies

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nevis-the-skeleton · 2 years

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My analysis of RID15 (good points and bad points of the series)

Hey ^^! New analysis, I haven't done any since last month, that's a long time. Well, as you saw in the title, today I'm going to talk about Transformers Robot in Disguise, 2015. I'm going to talk about what I didn't like and what I liked about the series, trying to develop my reasoning.

Well, I prefer to be honest, I didn't like RID15 very much. Well, I didn't hate it like the Bayverse movies, but let's say that the series mostly bored me a lot.

First of all, I will tell you about the points that I didn't like:

1 - The predictable and bad scenario

First, the scenario is predictable and bad. Generally, when I watch a movie or a series, I expect to be surprised, I like not being able to predict what will happen next. I already predict everything in real life, I wish I didn't have to when I'm watching something.

The problem is that, in RID15, the scenario is predictable, and above all always the same. Here is the list of the typical scenario of RID15 (especially in season 1 and 2):

- The heroes are at the Scrap yard, and often argue over a subject

- They come across a villain (often while going on patrol)

- They attack a first time but fail

- The heroes argue, then reconcile.

- Humans offer to help

- The group moves on to the second attack, and manages to stop the villain

You put this list on any episode of the series, you will see that it works almost every time. Except on season 2.5, but I'll talk about that later.

Also, I presented another point about the scenario, which is that it's bad. There are no triggers, no real adventures or missions, no challenges, no big bads guys, and no relationships between the characters. Except that well, without these five elements, it's impossible to make a good story.

Well, OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, there's a kind of trigger in RID15: Optimus asks Bumblebee to protect the Earth (why only Bumblebee? We don't know. But hey, that's okay, scenario).

But to give you an idea, I will give the example with Transformers Animated, of what is a good story (I could try with others Transformers series). Remember, the five main elements are: a trigger, an adventure or mission, a challenge, one big bad guy or more, and relationships between the characters. It works normally even on the classics, it's the base in fact.

TFA :

Trigger: They are repairers of space bridges, and find themselves propelled on Earth, an unknown place. They cross paths with Starscream, break the All-Spark, and at the same time Megatron comes back to life.

Adventure or mission: Find pieces of the All-Spark, and fight the Decepticons, and also some humans, while having to handle their superiors (in particular the insufferable Sentinel Prime)

Challenge: Well, a lot actually, since they're considered to be at fault for destroying the All-Spark, they really need to fix it. The Decepticons also want to have it, so it becomes even more dangerous, because the All-Spark is really a powerful artefact. Surely Megatron could create an indestructible army with it. There's also a whole conspiracy beginning to form on Cybertron, with the dangerous Shockwave.

Big Bads Guys: Megatron, who leads the Decepticons; Shockwave, who plots on Cybertron; and Starscream, who does his stuff alone (and a Starscream alone is dangerous, remember my analysis: Why does Megatron keeps Starscream?)

Relationships between characters: In the beginning, the small team of Optimus; which consists of: Optimus, Ratchet, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Prowl; only see each other as work colleagues, and they really don't get along well. Optimus doesn't want to fit in, because he's still sad about being demoted; Prowl finds Bumblebee insufferable; Bumblebee dislikes Prowl because he's too serious, etc. But, over time, relationships come undone to become stronger. They then form a real team. And even between the secondary characters like: Jazz or Sentinel. Well, Jazz is getting to know Prowl, and Optimus and Sentinel already have a bond. Or with humans, Sari gets along well with the Autobots, but her BFFs are Bulk and Bee.

Now back to RID15, and see what this story has to offer us!

Trigger: Optimus contacts Bumblebee to go protect Earth. He takes Strongarm and Sideswipe (not by choice). They cross paths with Fixit, a small robot who took care of the Alchemor ship, as well as the Dinobot Grimlock (a Decepticon who decides to join them, because OK why not).

Adventure or Mission: Stop the Alchemor Escapees (what more can I say, that's all that happens in seasons 1 and 2. Oh, and actually, there's a conspiracyon Cybertron (but we learn about it only during the end of season 3)

Challenge: Well… These Decepticons are kind of thugs and brigands, so… The risks are: property damage, and the Transformers kind being discovered. We are far from the potential destruction of the world that TFP offers us (no, really, in each episode of TFP, you tell yourself that the planet will end up really dying, given how much the Decepticons are making a mess).

Big Bads Guys: Sleejaw??? Megatronus??? Cyclonus??? Steeljaw doesn't appear often enough, and Megatronus and Cyclonus appear too late, and for only one or two episodes.

Character Relationships: Bumblebee and Strongarm have a leader and cadet relationship; Strongarm and Sideswipe don't like each other; Grimlock appreciates the team but doesn't really try to get to know them; Drift doesn't bond either, but he does have an actual Master/Father relationship with Slipstream and Jetstorm; Windblade passes by from time to time, a small friendship with Strongarm and Sideswipe, maybe. Russel doesn't specifically have a Transformer BFF, Sideswipe may be a friend, but not a BFF. There is still a father-son relationship with Russel and his father.

You see, compared to TFA, the story is empty, the relationships are poor, and the challenges are non-existent.

It's not necessary to have a main character. You can have several characters, and follow them all equally, without one being more important than the others. It's rare, but it does exist, especially in series or films with teams. So, I have no complaints about that about RID15.

On the other hand, the other five points that I mentioned are essential for a good story. You need at least a 4/5, you don't always need to have a big bad guy for a story to be good. Unless if a villain is needed, like in RID15.

2 - Character development is practically non-existent

Secondly, most characters don't evolve, they keep repeating the same mistakes forever: Bumblebee doesn't improve that much as a leader (except a little in Season 3); Sideswipe and Strongarm never seem to get along, despite spending a lot of time together.

I haven't seen any real evolution or improvement, either in the heroes or the villains. Apart from some, which I will discuss later. But, first, what is the evolution of a character?

A character evolves when he learns from his mistakes, or changes his behavior. Usually it's always about getting better, sometimes it can be physically (like in sports manga, where the hero keeps training to get better), or mentally (like getting nicer or more brave).

An evolution of a character often consists in transforming his faults into qualities (therefore transforming them into strength) or in combating his faults, which often prevent him from advancing.

But here, there is none of that. Sideswipe remains eternally disobedient, which often leads his team into trouble; Strongarm fails to bend the rules, or calms down his competitive spirit, which makes him a burden for the team; and Bumblebee doesn't try to improve his command techniques, he just repeats them until it works. And let's not even talk about Optimus (I'll talk about that right after)...

Let's give the example of another Transformers series: Rescue Bots. Already, what we know of the original characters is: Heatwave is stubborn and does not always listen to his team; Chase only cares about the rules but ends up ignoring the rest; Blades is not brave at all and is whiny; and Boulder forbids himself doing things, and does not show what he really likes.

OK! This is the team we have at the moment. However, over the course of the series: Heatwave becomes more empathetic and attentive; Chase tries new things, he steps out of his comfort zone for others; Blades overcomes his fears, and complains less often; and Boulder evolves his curious mind and reveals himself as he really is (an artist and nature lover).

That's perfect character development. And, generally this evolution is only possible if the character makes a mistake, knows the cause, and tries to correct it. Or, a mistake or an accident happens to the character, but he comes out stronger. Blades, for example, is often injured in the series, but he always overcomes the pain, because his primary mission is to save lives. At the very beginning of the series he would surely have whined and given up.

The evolution of the character have to be visible. This is something very important because it allows the viewer to love the character, and to appreciate his new personality little by little.

3 – Optimus is not Optimus

Well, I'll be honest with you, I don't like the RID15 Optimus at all. For me it's not Optimus! Or at least, not the on of TFP, or many continuties (@emperor-kumquat did a great analysis on that: here).

The Optimus we have in this series is a controlling Optimus who does not listen to others. But, what kind of Optimus is that?! Especially since he almost always needs help, which makes him a huge burden for the team.

But it's a fragging Prime!! Respect him a minimum! That's something that really confused me on the show is how useless Optimus is, and how no one respects or fears him!

Sideswipe is even particularly insolent with him, calling him "Pops", and Optimus is forced to call him to order. Except that, normally, he shouldn't even have to!

In Transformers culture, in most series, a Prime is closest to Primus. Like a half-god. It's like if in ancient Greece, an simple human gave a nickname to Hercules like "Cucules". I'm not saying that Optimus should be put in a superior position, but on an equal and respectful one.

Also, the Decepticons do not seem to particularly fear Optimus, but as a reminder: It's a PRIME!! You have a Prime in front of you, and you're just a poor thug who clearly can't do anything against him, you're freaking out! Even Megatron feared Optimus! Megatron!! Fearing a powerful person is a form of intelligence and self-preservation, so I'm okay with some of the villains on the show being a little dumb, but please not all of them...

4 - The bad guys are mostly... lame

Now let's talk about the villains in the series. Honestly, I don't see them at all like a threat, and sometimes even ridiculous. I don't even see them as dangerous individuals, except maybe Steeljaw, and the Stunticons (Motormaster especially).

But otherwise, for me, none of them got the criteria of a good villain (@le-sluagh did an excellent analysis of what is a good villain, I give you the link: here).

I'll sum it up, but basically a good villain should: be a threat, preferably charismatic, we understand their purpose, know who they are, and see them plotting.

But, there, in the series, but there is none of that… The big bad guys like Megatronus and Cyclonus are swept away so quickly that we don't even have time to see them as threats. We know nothing about them, we at least know what they want, that's already not bad.

Most of the villains on the show are empty, they usually have only one personality trait, but that's all. They always have it, and it's always constant. Normally, the villain and the hero evolve, for good or for bad. They change to become better, or change to become worse. But there… well… nothing… Again, in a movie it's ok, but in a series… No...

I won't complain about the show introducing new villains, it's common and it's good to innovate. But, they still have to be presented a little more than: "His name is 'like that', he committed 'select a gangster crime', so he's mean". It's a little introduction of the character, but we really learn nothing...

Also, there's another thing that surprised me, it's that it's that there's only Decepticons with animal forms in season 1 and 2. But, why? Why did the Alchemor only carry this type of Decepticon? Why not other appearances?

5 – Informations or characters that appear suddenly

When I say that, I'm actually talking about something that you don't know, and suddenly find out, when no clues were left for you to know anything.

Again, for Megatronus Prime, it was not that bad (I insist on not that bad). Because, he appears as a kind of hologram around the middle of season 1, but after that he hardly ever appears again. I don't mind that we don't automatically know who it is, but I would have preferred more appearances. Kind of scenes where Steeljaw talks to him, so his appearance isn't too abrupt.

There was also the other half of the Alchemor, which is only mentioned once in the very first episode of season 1, and which we only see around season 2, that's a long time… and above all, well… if it's never recalled or mentioned, well, we forget about it!

And, the conspiracy on Cybertron is way too subtle, it's only really halfway through season 3 that you realize there's a plot. Generally, the spectator understands before the hero, or it's true sometimes at the same time as him (but it's more often in films or detective series).

In each thing I have mentioned, there is one important point: The information is too abrupt or too subtle. It's something that we can also see in season 1 of TFP, but still it's ok, because Unicron and his energon are mentioned very often. So it's not too shocking when Unicron is the final boss of Season 1.

But there, well, you can't know who the real villain is, what the danger is. You don't have any clues, or they're far too subtle to notice.

6 - Morality

I find that the moral in the series is not necessarily well conducted, I can see that it's: by joining forces we become stronger. Except that, since the heroes don't learn from their mistakes and don't evolve, well, morality goes wrong...

Also, there is this discreet but still present lack of respect, which is never sanctioned. Like when Sideswipe disrespects Optimus, or when Bumblebee belittles Starscream. That's not good morality… You don't disrespect someone and don't depreciate them…! This is not worthy of a hero!

Afterwards, of course, the characters shouldn't be totally Manichaean, but they still need to have these values, it's important. The heroes must give a good example (it's also a mistake that TFP does, especially towards the character of Starscream who is clearly a victim of abuse, but who strangely deserves it. No! No one deserves that!).

A film or a series must present strong and above all fair values. Justice is important, and it's not only a hero fighting a villain that you see while watching a movie, but two opposing values! One upright and just, and the other corrupt and perverted!

And, unfortunately, I haven't seen anything like that in the RID15 series…

For example, in the Sideswipe disrespect scene, which I think is inevitable, Optimus might not have gotten upset. Putting himself then in a superior position but full of respect.

Script :

Sideswipe, to Strongarm: Urgh! Stop Strongarm for a bit! You bugging Pops for war stories is getting older than… well Pops!

*Strongarm's shock, and Optimus's silence*

Optimus: I can understand your doubts about me, young Sideswipe. It's true that I'm probably not as powerful as I was before, but in exchange for the power, I gained wisdom, which is also essential during a fight. And together, I'm sure it's possible to form a good harmony. Also, I hope that you will be accept to tell me the stories that can be heard in the present, and that you will accept that I tell you the stories of the past. Because it is thanks to the knowledge of the past and the present that we can create a better future.

I would have preferred an answer like that. More Optimus Prime actually… Not grumpy old grandpa.

And I also would have liked a better conversation between Starscream and Bumblebee. When Starscream realizes the Dark Star Saber won't give him his full power, Bumblebee finds nothing better than to taunt him, telling him that he must really be worthless for even a sword of evil don't want him.

But, in truth, what that means is that Starscream isn't purely bad. That, maybe, even after all that's happened to him, there's still some good side in him. I really wish Bumblebee had said something like that to him, trying to convince him to give up his revenge.

Of course it wouldn't have worked, but Bee would have at least had the credit of having tried, and that would have given him a more noble value. It would have really enhanced Bumblebee, and reminded viewers that no one is totally bad, that there is always a little bit of good. And that's an important moral.

7 - Inconsistencies with TFP

In the RID15 series, I noticed that there were inconsistencies with the TFP series. Except, apparently, it's supposed to be a sequel to TFP. And, when you decide on that, you have to be careful that there are no inconsistencies or glaring differences with the other series.

Of course, I'm not talking about the character designs, it's normal that it changes over the series. Especially in the Transformers universe, the designs are always different.

Here, on the other hand, I am talking about things that we have seen or heard about about Transformers Prime, but whose logic RID15 does not follow.

- First point I noticed: How does a robot change color compared to RID15 and TFP?

Well, maybe it's me who sees an inconsistency where there is none. But, in RID15, Optimus tells his team that the Primes have taught him a lot of things, and at that moment he analyzes a vehicle to change his color. Then he tells the others that he can teach them how to do it.

… However in my memories, in TFP, Bumblebee and Smokescreen were able to change colors without problem in the end of season 3.

So why does the team in RID15 have to learn it from Optimus? While apparently it's possible for a scout and a recruit in TFP.

Is it a technique that has been forgotten over time? No, because if we had started from this theory, only Sideswipe and Strongarm should not know how to do it. Because they are part of the new generation.

The other theory is that it's two different techniques, and that's the one I prefer. I prefer that rather than it being a huge inconsistency with TFP.

- Second point: Megatronus Prime is the first Decepticon, WTF?!

So there is something that totally disturbed me… Megatronus Prime is the first Decepticon?! Lol, no, it's Megatron! It's known in TFP and in the aligned novels, Megatronus the gladiator is the one who created the Decepticon cause. Except, well, this Megatronus is Megatron.

I have nothing more to say about this huge continuity inconsistency. I don't mind that they presented Megatronus Prime, but he didn't have to be a Decepticon symbol, or be featured as the very first. It completely breaks all the continuity.

- Third point: Grimlock is not Grimlock of the aligned novels.

I really like Grimlock in RID15, I find him adorable, he's one of my favorite characters in this continuity along with Drift (and Starscream too of course).

But, I can understand that it can be disturbing to see Grimlock like that, especially if you're basing it on TFP. In the aligned novels, Grimlock is the epitome of brute force. He is a free spirit who obeys no one, and a powerful robot who leads an equally powerful team.

This Grimlock can't be TFP's, it's basically not possible. It's an inconsistency in the continuity, but Grimlock RID15 is so adorable, and above all saves the series so well that I am ready to forgive this error.

Now let's talk about the things I liked. There don't have a lot, but there have some:

1 – Season 2.5

I loved Season 2.5 of RID15, and not just because there's Starscream. The fact that there is my favorite character does not totally influence whether or not I like the film or the series.

For example, I don't like Bayverse movies, even though I can see my favorite character in them.

In fact, if I particularly like this season, it's because:

First, it has a much better scenario than the rest of the series. Remember the five rules?

Trigger: Seven minicons appear and seem to be running from someone we don't know, before it's discovered to be Starscream.

Adventure or Mission: Prevent Starscream from possessing the seven minicons

Challenge: If Starscream manages to have the minicons, he will then gain a power equivalent to a Prime, and by wish of revenge will destroy everything in his path.

Big Bad Guy: Starscream (I'll talk about his villain role right after)

Relationships between characters: Well, relationships don't necessarily improve, but we have at least relationships with Starscream, so already a past bond with Megatron. But also with Bumblebee and Optimus, who know that Starscream is a real threat.

During the episode, Starscream even manages to have the seven minicons. Which is rare in this series. We know that the heroes are going to win, but at that moment you sincerely wonder how they are going to do it. So, first positive point: a well-executed scenario.

Second point, Starscream is a real villain, a real enemy. Starscream has his own musical theme, which in the first place shows his importance. The minicons call him "Him", and they fear him and run away from him. Also, when the other Decepticons see him, they tremble in fear. And when Bumblebee learns of his return, he fears for the future.

Starscream is presented as a powerful and determined robot, which is not afraid of pain to achieve his goal. That's a real villain!

Third positive point, respect for continuity with TFP. Starscream is known, Bumblebee and Optimus know him thanks to the passive they have with him. There, you see that the series is the continuation of TFP. Because, in the other seasons, if you don't tell me that RID15 is the sequel to TFP, I just can't know, especially with the inconsistencies.

Fourth positive point, Starscream does not appear out of nowhere like Megatronus or Cyclonus. Even before appearing, Starscream is already introduced several times implicitly. Sure, you don't know it's Starscream, but you sense a threat is coming soon, thanks to the minicons. A dangerous threat.

That's why it's my favorite season, I was even sad that it wasn't longer. I haven't been bored once watching this season. I wish I had seen this more often in RID15…

2 - Drift and Grimlock

Drift and Grimlock are by far my favorite characters in the series, and for one simple reason: they evolve. They change over the series and improve.

Let's see how Drift and Grimlock were at the start.

Grimlock: A robot who thinks with his fists, who thinks only of fighting, and who does not pay attention to others.

Drift: A stern robot, who doesn't trust his students to let them take their own initiative.

Yet as the series progresses, Grimlock becomes wiser and more thoughtful, and Drift leaves Slipstream and Jetstorm to learn from their mistakes for themselves. Drift also softens.

We also have the background of Drift, with the return of Shadow Raker, which deepens the character, and therefore makes him more endearing to the spectators.

It's a shame that this evolution was not made on the characters, since apparently it was possible.

That was my analysis on RID15, of course, I didn't talk about everything. I haven't talked about Soundwave, nor have I gone into the conspiracy on Cybertron.

For Soundwave, I confess that I did not find the act interesting. And as with Megatronus, Soundwave took too long to appear, only to be defeated in one episode...

The Cybertron conspiracy moment was a good idea, but it's not introduced well enough to really shock or surprise you.

And, it's true that there are inconsistencies with TFP, but there is also some respect for continuity such as: the mention of Miko, Raf and Jack; Starscream versus the Predacons; the fact that Megatron abandoned the Decepticon cause; and Soundwave who is locked in the Shadow Zone.

I understand why some people love RID15, because even with all the negatives points I've cited, this series has great potential. However, this potential has unfortunately not been exploited well enough.

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your-average-bibliophile · 2 months

Text

Just a note...

I think about all sorts of things, all the time. And recently, it has come to my attention that media tends to romanticise rape and grooming and other predatory behaviours. And I want to change that.

While it may be fun to fantasise about these sorts of things, if that is what you are interested in, it is still not okay. And people displaying these predatory behaviours are not just adults. I am a minor, and a former friend who was my age started displaying predatory behaviour.

Please remember that this story is told from my point of view, and it most certainly has bias. I am trying to keep it as unbiased as possible, but we are only human, and it is inevitable.

He started out by befriending me, then he started to manipulate me. He would say that he just wanted to kill himself, and if only he had someone there for him. I made it clear that I would be there for him, but as a friend. I was already in a relationship.

I don't know if he was actually suicidal or not, but I had to call the National Suicide Hotline on him. Naturally, that angered him. Luckily, the school year had ended. So, we took a break.

The new school year arrived, and he was in one of my classes. We ate lunch together, we started getting close again. Then, he started to isolate me. Whenever someone was talking to me, he would often deflect the attention from me or steal the attention from me. He wouldn't do that with other friends.

He got moved into another class of mine after a fight he got into, one that was supposedly my fault because I had done something to upset him. I happened to giggle while I was looking at him. He had been feeling insecure about his new haircut. I don't even remember what I was laughing about; we had been talking about something silly.

After the manipulation came the gaslighting. When I confronted him, he said he didn't mean to and he was sorry and he would never do it again. I let it go on for some time, before finally putting my foot down. That was when he became aggressive.

He never physically harmed me, no. But he would constantly try to reconcile with me through friends, and he was taking advantage of one of my friends, who, despite being a total sweetheart who had the best intentions, was incredibly naive.

When I continued to tell him no, he started making threats. I remember one morning, I walked into school, up to an administrator, and reported gun threats he had made. Those were not the only threats he made, and he has brought weapons to school before.

He was moved out of my classes, but, and I am not saying this is true, but I started to feel as if he were stalking me. It was likely paranoia, but we have no proof otherwise. I had to miss some of my classes due to this paranoia, and my grades in the two classes we shared directly reflected my stress.

At my school, I was known as the "bucket hat kid" because I would always wear a bucket hat. And no, not just the same one. I own ten bucket hats. But, I had to stop wearing them because they were so recognisable. I also had to start using the buddy system, walking with a friend to every class.

Unfortunately, it took a little over three months for everything to be fully resolved, and while I know that is such a brief time span, it felt like centuries. Looking back, I feel as if it lasted for six months instead of three. And his presence took a toll on my relationships as well, both romantic and platonic. Some couldn't be repaired.

I am a blabber. I need to talk. So, I admit I may have said some things to the wrong people that weren't completely true, but the fact of the matter is, that kind of behaviour is never okay.

The end message here is to speak up and stop treating predatory behaviour as something to be ashamed of. I am neurodivergent and have anxiety. In kindergarten, my mom bribed me with dying my hair to convince me to participate in gym class, let alone talk to the male gym teacher.

Now, I am much more confident, but I still get very anxious about speaking up. I have chronic niceness (true fact! psychologically proven that I'm too nice), and I am a people pleaser. But I still managed to stand up and say, "hey. What you're doing is wrong. Stop it." All it takes is that single spark of courage to end this vicious cycle and societal suppression of our stories.

I encourage you to share your stories and end this stigma of talking about predatory behaviour.

And, here are some resources.

Information on Grooming

GET HELP!

FREE live chat, 24/7 call services

Online, personal counseling services

GET EDUCATED!

LEARN MORE about abusive relationships

“RELATIONSHIPS 101” - LGBTQ+ inclusive

“IS THIS ABUSE?” - helpful guide

GET OUT THERE AND HELP!

http://stoprelationshipabuse.org/

https://www.joinonelove.org/take-action/

https://www.childhelp.org/donate/#ste...

#I have a voice #My voice is powerful #Those are just lyrics from a song I love #It was written by a friend #We stand together #stop romanticizing rape #men can be victims too #speak up #share your story #take a stand #end the cycle

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ziskandra · 2 years

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papyrus ⇢ if you put your ‘on repeat’ playlist on shuffle, what’s the first song that comes up? what do you like about it / associate it with?

twisted palm tree ⇢ do you have a fictional villain you shouldn’t people say you'd like but you feel kinda meh about love regardless? (adjusted because most of your favs are fictional villains that Fandom says you shouldn't like)

papyrus: hilariously every song in my spotify on repeat playlist atm is from my meresino playlist. anyway the first that came up when I shuffled was rabbit hole by aviva

i swear I have whole AViVA albums on this playlist oops, listen this flavour of dark pop just works so well for them.

and as for why this song in particular:

I could say I'll take you

I could say I'll make you

But underneath all I plan to do, to do is break you

You could be my breakthrough

Watching demons wait 'til

I leave you, and they can initi-niti-nitiate you

[…]

I will always wait for you

I'll always be waiting

I will always follow you

'Cause you cannot escape me

Need I say more?

twisted palm tree: firstly can I just how much I love how that you had to twist this because loving villains I shouldn’t is basically my entire brand 🥲

It actually took me a while to think of a character that people assume I love that I don’t really have strong feelings about, and in the end the only answer I could come up with is Bellatrix Lestrange from HP (with the caveat that I don’t know how the fandom portrays her bc I don’t seek out content about her).

The reason I usually love villains is that I find them relatable — either because they remind me of the worst parts of myself, or because they remind me of people I’ve encountered irl, and I like deconstructing what makes people capable of such cruelty through the safer space of fiction because it makes me a) less vulnerable to manipulation irl and b) more sympathetic to people who I wouldn’t see eye-to-eye with. I think growing up as a Young Undiagnosed Autistic, I’ve always been mystified by the concept of being cruel on purpose, and I’ve always wanted to understand it more, and the reasons behind it (even if the reason is as simple as ‘maintaining the status quo because the person in power wishes to remain so’)

Anyway, yeah, I don’t find Bellatrix interesting for the same reasons I don’t find Voldemort interesting, but my favourite HP characters nonetheless are pretty revelatory about me: Dolores Umbridge, Rita Skeeter, Petunia Dursley … I am much more interested in analysing the type of cruelty I am more likely to encounter irl!

get to know me ask game

#asha answers #as a kid i was obsessed with umbridge to the point i dressed as her for book week #so nothing about me has really changed #except no-one called me an abuse apologist back then #honestly not to get too deep on main #but a part of the reason i’m fascinated by female villains in particular is because i did grow up with an abusive mother #and the coping mechanism that worked the best was humanising her #and it took me a long time for me to even acknowledge she was abusive #like it makes me feel uncomfortable to say now even tho she was even physically abusive towards me!#like the emotional abuse was worse but usually people recognise physical abuse more easily #so yeah it fucks me right off when people call randos on the internet abuse apologists because god forbid #anyone want to explore their own abuse in a safe space #a huge part of my healing was reconciling my own trauma was acknowledging my childhood abuse #and reconciling it with the fact i still wanted to repair my relationship with my mum #and that I HAD A CHOICE about whether to reconcile or not #and that I can love who she is now (after years of her own healing)#and still acknowledge that she Fucked Me Up #anyway agency is very important to me for obvious reasons #and if someone tells me i shouldn’t do something I wanna do it more oops #asha’s villain manifesto #mxkelsifer

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bumble-bee25 · 2 years

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Could you make some Platonic Xara Headcanons? For some reason I see her as a mom figure. 😅 (Honestly I don't know why I just see her like that. Also I love her.)

I literally love Xara so much omgggg.

PLATONIC XARA HEADCANONS. (MOTHER FIGURE VER.)

After the events of The Admin, Xara decided to visit Beacontown. She felt like she should help reconstruct the town as a thank you to Jesse for freeing her, and that's how she met you.

You are much younger than she is, a young adult. You were one of the volunteers to help with repairing and reconstruction. Radar decided to put you with Xara since he was in charge with the whole thing.

Honestly, she didn't want to work with anyone else. She's usually awkward when she's talking to someone. I mean, she spent years in a isolated prison, can you blame her?

But once you started talking and working along side her then she started to feel more comfortable and with ease.

Everytime she sees you, she smiles and ask how your day has been. If you tell her that your day has been good and you tell her something exciting that happened, she would pat your head and say:

"That's good, kid. I'm glad you're happy."

If you're having a bad day, and you tell her the heavy details, she will start comforting you. With your permission she will slowly embrace you while patting your back, her voice is naturally low and comforting so her words would help you calm down.

"Hey, it's okay. It's gonna get better, I promise."

After a long day of working in Beacontown, she would ask if you eaten anything. If you say no then she will take you out to eat, she won't take no for an answer. And if you say yes, she'll be glad but still get you some food.

She really cares for you, she always ask you if you drank a lot of water and eaten lots of food, make sure you are sleeping well. If you end up injuring yourself then she will take care of you, giving you medicine and doing your chores for the day so you won't have to get up.

You remind her of herself during her admin days, how young and energetic she was, back then before all of her trauma happened. She vowed to protect you, she doesn't like seeing you hurt. She's your guardian.

As months go by, you soon come to realize that she's like a mother figure to you. She protects you, takes care of you, comfort you, just like a mother would.

When you tell her this, she will be shocked but in the inside her heart would melt. She doesn't know how it's like to be a mother but the fact that you told her that you see her as a mother figure makes her happy.

She would start calling you cute nicknames, like a mother. "Honey, dear, sweetie, my child."

She has a stronger connection with you than anyone, even more than Romeo, who you have met once the two of them reconcile. It was kinda awkward because you knew of the things he did and you truly felt bad for Xara.

Speaking of which, Xara did tell you about her Admin days and about Fred. It was a hard thing to do but she thought you deserve to know. She thinks that if Fred was alive, you would've seen him as a parental figure as well.

You care for Xara as well, you comfort her whenever she's feeling down or having breakdowns about the past. It's a way to repay her for all the things she has done for you.

Xara will internally scream if you call her "Mother" or "Mom".

If you're struggling with something, she will give you advice on how to overcome it.

She will teach you how to fight and how to create inventions like how she used to do.

She's literally an overprotective mom.

Like if you ever got into a relationship or just a new friendship, she will make sure that the person knows not hurt you or they will regret it.

Honestly, she loves you so much and happily sees you as her own child. Hell, with your permission she will adopt you.

She grateful that Radar set you to work with her, now she has a reason to keep going. For her child.

#mcsm admin #mcsm xara #minecraft story mode #mcsm season 2 #platonic #platonic headcanons #mother figure

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latuuart · 3 years

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Hawks is often said to be someone who would push Endeavor’s victims to just forgive Endeavor already because of his unrelenting support towards him despite knowing about his abusive past (although actually there are significant reasons behind that unrelenting support). However, I feel like Hawks’s dialogue in the hospital chapter has, in fact, told us that Hawks is not like that at all (at least till today).

In that chapter, it was shown that Hawks regarded Shouto highly because he discovered Shouto still wanted to repair his relationship with his parents despite everything that he had been going through. Hawks didn’t think that it was an obligation on Shouto’s part to forgive Endeavor already because he had been trying to change then. Hawks didn’t push the Todorokis to support Endeavor, despite him willing to support Endeavor very much. If Hawks were to push his desire to help Endeavor to others/Endeavor’s victims, I think he would comment on Natsuo’s reluctance to help Endeavor if it wasn’t because it was Touya (although Natsuo had every right to) and Natsuo’s overall resentful demeanour towards Endeavor (again, Natsuo had every right to), as he was eavesdropping their conversation previously after all. In addition, Hawks’s reaction towards Shouto still wanting to reconcile with his parents would also be different if Hawks were to think the Todorokis must support Endeavor trying to be better. Thankfully, Hawks didn’t think that way at all.

Even though Hawks really supports Endeavor trying to be a better person, he doesn't feel like every Endeavor’s victim has to be accepting of Endeavor’s change one way or another.

The thought that the victims should just move on and forget the past was not even crossing his mind. Yes, he insisted that everything had been different then even before hearing the full story, but, as I’ve mentioned in my previous meta covering the reasons why Hawks reacted the way he was upon hearing about Endeavor’s abusive past, it was more for his own sake. It was for a completely different reason rather than he wanted/needed Endeavor’s victims to feel the same way as he did.

Because Hawks himself knew how it was like to have an abusive parent, he understood those who wouldn’t want anything to do with their abusive parents anymore. Because Hawks himself is one of them; he gave up on his parents and left them behind. Rightfully so, as it was on him to decide after all.

No one should tell you to accept your abusive parents back no matter how sorry they are now. Forgiveness and acceptance must come from our own self, not because someone pushes you to forgive and forget. Hawks is aware of that.

#yes hawks wanted to see endeavor grow but he didn’t force endeavor’s victims to feel the same way #i think it’s important to note #keigo takami #hawks #bnha #mha #bnha spoilers #my hero academia #boku no hero academia #natsuo todoroki #todoroki shouto #bnha meta #pro hero hawks #latu post

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bullagit · 2 years

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my friend you are so refined. nice to see posts appreciating stede every once in awhile lol love to clown on the dude but i also feel like the fandom has pushed me into full apologist mode too. like yes he’s wack he has problems but i am also so bored of reading the same takes over and over about why he needs to castigate himself for absolution or be responsible for the actions of other adult human beings lol. ik this is kinda spicy lol but just wanted to let u know ur appreciated

its always rad to know you're not alone in these takes!! i dont consider it spicy at all i think it's completely valid tbh. this got way longer than i planned hold on if u want the tldr its that you are right

anyway at this point im gonna stop even doing the like, "i know stede [xyz about flaw or mistake he made]" preface when i type up meta, unless i'm posting specifically about his flaws or mistakes. 🤷

especially if what i'm writing is about ways stede has been legit wronged, or how parts of fandom only seem to invoke historical accuracy/paying attention to very specific minutiae when it's done in a way that makes stede come across as way more self-aware and self-important than he is in any canon capacity lol. i get tired of meta and interpretations where everything bad that happens in stede's relationships is solely on him, and reconciling is solely on him, and maintaining is solely on him!

these characters are all flawed human beings who bring their baggage to relationships. all of them. and those relationships are two-way streets, from the issues to the repairs. and it's unfair to see it whittled down to like... thoughtful fleshed-out considerations of ed and mary and their circumstances/points of view and how that contributes to their actions, occasionally to the point where even THEIR missteps are suddenly recontextualized to be technically stede's fault. while stede gets surface-level bad faith takes that ignore the context of his actions and the history he has that contributes to his issues. they've all done things that were hurtful, they've all done things they need to work through.

like. just because mary says stede left his family on a whim doesn't mean that's literally what he did! we know full well it wasn't some idle whim he had. the thing is, demonstrably, she and stede do not really know or understand each other. to HER understanding, it was a whim. to stede it was fumbling for hold of a lifeline after a lifetime of slowly drowning. and it doesn't make it less of a terrible thing that he left his family without a word in the night. and it doesn't make it less of a terrible thing that she literally tried to murder him without a word in the night. in the same way that just because they were able to come to an understanding at the very end of the season, it doesn't mean that they could have magically had a satisfying life together If Stede Had Only Been More Open Sooner.

and just because stede did something that broke ed's heart doesn't mean it's stede's fault that ed, a 40+ year old man, attempted the murder of people he knows stede cares about. in the same way that while izzy pushed ed’s buttons and was generally fucking awful to ed in the aftermath, it was ultimately still a choice that ed made to maroon the crew and literally throw lucius overboard!

(and like, i think there's a lot to be said about the fact that if stede had straight-up been intercepted more permanently in some way, if he'd not shown up bc he was hurt/killed/captured/etc, ed's assumptions-- the fact that he at no point seemed to consider that something could have gone wrong with their little plan-- and ultimate awful reactions would have played out the same way. i think there's a lot to be said about the fact that he historically seems to have trouble picking up on stede's issues; being so in love with the whole forest that he tends not to pick up on the state of the individual trees that form it, etc.

but god that's a whole thing i don't even have energy for that rn)

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darkcircles4lyfe · 3 years

Text

retrospective & predictions

Since we're on a hiatus week (between 320 and 321) I feel like waxing poetic about the depth and growth of bkdk for a bit. Especially because it seems like we’re right on the edge of their biggest development yet, I’m getting the urge to lay all my perspectives and insights I’ve picked up from others out on the table. This is ultimately only my subjective interpretation of subtextual material in canon, though. If you’ve never quite understood what people see in their dynamic and you’re actually open to hearing me out, maybe from this you can at least see where we’re coming from. And if you don’t like my takes after all, well, we’ll see who’s right in the coming chapters, won’t we? What I have to say can be taken platonically or romantically; I appreciate both.

putting it under the cut, since it’ll be long:

At the risk of projecting, I want to start by examining a couple things based partly on personal experience.

From many different directions, I often hear people expressing that Deku’s persistent attachment and admiration for Bakugou is baffling at best. Despite the bullying, despite Bakugou’s loud, rude, and uncompromising personality, he still puts effort into their relationship and frequently describes him as amazing. It seems like Deku himself is aware of this as he’s said things along the lines of how he’s difficult, BUT... etc. Although I don’t think it’s exactly that Deku finds Bakugou’s personality hard to be around, but that he’s deliberately expressing patience for Bakugou’s emotional turmoil.

I have to say I know what this sort of patience is like, as I went through it with someone I love. I only chose to put up with their behavior because I decided the possibility of what our relationship could be was worth it. I wasn’t blind or submissive to how they treated me, and I wasn’t coerced. I simply expressed myself and established my boundaries while still allowing them the opportunity to join me in my world once they got over their own hangups. And guess what? It worked out in the end. That doesn’t mean there aren’t circumstances where it’s better to cut ties, but I want to stress that true reconciliation is possible sometimes. I used to worry that other people around me thought I was delusional for seeking it, but what really helped was my therapist reminding me that I’m smart and strong. So I think Deku deserves to feel the same. In a way this is his whole mission in life, his approach to being a hero as well as his personal relationships.

Let me also be clear though that I don’t mean Deku is only tolerating Bakugou’s personality, his mannerisms, the parts of him that will likely never change. I’m drawing a line between those things and his emotional state (they so rarely align anyway, but I’ll get to that later). In fact, I think Bakugou’s general attitude is part of what Deku admires. This is gonna be hard to explain without inserting personal experience too, sorry. As a writer myself I’ve noticed I’m drawn to writing characters that are brazen and bold and don't mind telling people off. Really it’s because I operate in the world in the polar opposite way. I try not to draw attention to myself, I’m quiet, and I’m a people-pleaser. People who project confidence, especially in an impolite sort of way, fascinate me. It’s good to take cultural context into account, too: I've heard people who’d know better than me that part of the reason Bakugou is the most popular character in the Japanese fandom is likely because he contradicts a lot of their social norms. His disregard is refreshing and cathartic. I can speculate that Deku has a similar point of view based on what he thinks but does not admit about Bakugou being his image of victory and how this sometimes makes him mimic Bakugou’s speech and mannerisms:

There’s also the bit in this fight where Deku realizes he's the only one able to receive Bakugou’s emotions. This is because he’s the most intimately familiar with him and his situation, but I think there’s another layer. Deku, as we know, has a self-sacrificing tendency, and in the current chapters we’re seeing the worst side of that. But let’s also not forget that to an extent, it can be a positive trait: resilience. When it comes to Bakugou, he has an almost comical ability to dodge the potential fallout of his outbursts. The example we all jump to (and fight about..) is how in ch1, apart from the initial shock of Bakugou suggesting he jump off the roof, the most he reacts is to criticize him for saying such a ridiculous thing. However, I think their interaction post- sludge villain is a lot more interesting:

Note two things: 1, in his head, Deku is practically making fun of how Bakugou’s acting as he stomps away without waiting for a reply. It doesn’t faze him. 2, Deku thinks, optimistically, that he can now focus on a different career choice. This is astonishing really. Up to this point, none of Bakugou’s attempts to put him down have worked; he just kept pursuing his dream. The only reason Deku concedes in this moment it because for the first time, he has been shown that he really couldn't do anything in a fight against a villain. All Might told him he couldn't be a hero (although he’s literally about to take that back in the next few pages lol) and the other heroes at the scene gave him a lecture about it too. It was those experiences, and not Bakugou’s words, that truly affected him. And when All Might tells Deku he can be a hero after all, it’s not thinking of Bakugou’s bullying that makes him sob and fall to his knees, it’s the memory of his own mom never telling him those words he so desperately needed to hear. Having spent most of their lives together, Deku must have been aware all this time that Baukgou was influenced by larger societal forces rather than a core judgement, so he didn’t take it personally. He separated the person from the action, and because he’s resilient and patient, he is thus equipped to handle Bakugou’s emotions. It’s a testament to his maturity and emotional intelligence, really.

But I can almost hear some of you saying, “that doesn’t mean Deku should have to be the bigger person here!” Correct! Just because Deku is perfectly alright bearing all of that, doesn’t mean atonement-era Bakugou sees it this way. We can track his awareness of Deku’s care and selflessness as follows-

The bridge scene, when they’re little kids: Bakugou conflates Deku’s heroism with pity, and subsequently thinks Deku is looking down on him because Bakugou’s own insecurity makes him defensive.

The Sludge Villain, and also Deku vs. Kacchan Part 1: Bakugou witnesses first-hand how easily Deku jumps to risk his own life, but still thinks he’s being looked down on.

The Sports Festival: Bakugou fights Uraraka and recognizes her endurance strategy and refusal to give up as very Deku-like. He’s half right. He thinks Deku advised her in the fight, when in reality she just mimicked Deku because she admired him. I want to draw attention to his very sober comment about her not being frail. It’s a great endearment of Uraraka’s character and Bakugou’s respect for her when others didn’t take “fighting a girl” seriously, but it also reflects on his opinion of Deku. Deku isn’t weak either. He never was.

Deku vs. Kacchan Part 2: Deku finally corrects him about the whole looking-down-on-him thing, and Bakugou is informed that Deku’s selflessness is in fact the reason All Might chose him. Since Bakugou had been in search of what he himself was “doing wrong” for All Might to favor Deku over him, he now has to reconcile the fact that selflessness is a heroic trait, and moreover something he lacks. This is also possibly the first time Bakugou is able to see his past actions toward Deku as bullying since he previously thought it was more mutual. Additionally, Bakugou can now link Deku’s selfless behavior to what he perceived as pity/contempt, and realize that Deku has been giving him A LOT of grace. Maybe too much. Maybe more than Bakugou deserves, and definitely more than Deku should have to. Holy heck- now Bakugou has to figure out how to live up to all the faith that’s been placed in him.

Subtextually, we can see Bakugou’s feelings about atonement reflected in the Todoroki family:

1, Shouto is another example of Deku growing a friendship using his selflessness (since their fight in the sports festival) and their relationship is being acknowledged here where it hasn’t been in Bakugou’s situation. Perhaps Bakugou is wishing it could be so simple for him, to be able to thank him for being his friend like that. Deku saying the pleasure is all his also probably calls to mind how a mere apology from Bakugou would probably be dismissed because that’s just the kind of accommodating person Deku is. Bakugou has to operate more quietly in order to actually make up for their past. I personally don’t interpret this scene as Bakugou being jealous of Deku and Shouto’s friendship, exactly, just the lack of emotional baggage. Side note, Deku and Fuyumi are kinda similar in their desire to repair relationships. I like that she’s the one to give him some credit.

2, With the common terminology, this can be interpreted as Bakugou receiving a model for atonement, one that is about action, and nothing to do with receiving favor or forgiveness. It’s a sense of duty.

Many of the above sentiments are repeated in the flashback conversation between All Might and Bakugou right before Bakugou’s sacrifice.

Bakugou acknowledges his bullying and that it happened because of his own insecurities, but aside from that, it’s interesting he neither confirms nor denies All Might’s suggestion that he’s trying to atone, or that Deku doesn’t see it that way. All Might is a bit of an unreliable mentor sometimes, but I don’t think he’s misreading here. Rather, Bakugou is displaying his tendency to hold back when talking about things that would make him really emotional. Besides, admitting to what he’s doing kind of defeats the purpose. He isn’t seeking acknowledgement. All Might has gotten to the crux of the issue here when pointing out that Deku doesn’t recognize the atonement, likely because Deku doesn't think Bakugou even needs to atone. Am I reading into it too much to say Bakugou looks wistful at this? It’s kinda frustrating sometimes trying to interpret Bakugou’s actions because he’s so paradoxical. Loud and in your face, but also extremely reserved. Sometimes I feel like I’m grasping at thin air, but hey, being hard to figure out is part of his intrigue as a character. The simplest way to look at him is to assume that unless he’s really showing vulnerability, he’s probably deflecting and hiding something.

Speaking of Bakugou’s tendency to to hold back emotional stuff, there’s his apparent lack of issue with Deku calling him Kacchan. Maybe to begin with, in his warped perception of things where he thought they hated each other, Bakugou saw it as Deku’s way of getting back at him for calling him “useless,” and didn't dare give any indication that it actually bothered him. However... consider how betrayed Bakugou has appeared when he was noticeably thinking Deku was looking down on him- the bridge scene, and the beginning of their first year at UA when he thought Deku was hiding a quirk all along. He looks shocked and hurt. That kind of emotion couldn’t be invoked by someone Bakugou didn’t actually care about his relationship with. “Kacchan” comes from a long time ago, before their relationship was strained, so it’s connotations are pure. Maybe somewhere deep down, Bakugou has always been hoping that Deku’s continued use of the nickname was not simply a matter of habit or teasing, but a vestige of friendship they’re both clinging to, and Bakugou himself was too afraid to admit to himself that he felt this way about it, so he mostly ignored it. (These are not original thoughts I am having here lol, this is a common interpretation. I’m just laying everything out like I said.)

And now we turn to the current situation. Personally, I’ve been looking frantically back and forth between them wondering who’s going to break down first (Deku vs. Kacchan Part 3, this time it’s just a fight to get the other person to cry? ha.) Both have looked like they’re approaching a breaking point for some time. Also, I’ve addressed this before, but I think it’s significant that Bakugou is no longer wearing his mask with his hero costume, in contrast to Deku recently donning his own. It feels symbolic of Bakugou about to be upfront about how he feels.

The question is, what is it going to take to get Deku to accept help? If you ask me, Deku has dug himself so deeply into the I’m-doing-this-for-everyone-else’s-safety-and-smiles hole, no common sense argument can possibly reach him. By the end of 320, Deku’s mask is off, and we can see how desperate he truly is. But he has not cried, yet. I predict we’re going to see a bit more of his defiance, this time on full display on his face as the remaining class members and his other friends take their turns. But then I think Bakugou has to be the one to break down so Deku can witness his actions having the opposite effect he intended. People have been pointing out that Deku is currently ignoring Bakugou, and oof, that’s gotta be intentional. Regardless of what Bakugou says, it’s going to be wrapped up not only in his understanding of Deku’s self-sacrifice, but also the betrayal Bakugou feels at being ignored/left behind that ironically echoes his previous perception of being looked down on, as well as a need to express how much he cares about Deku before it’s too late. He must show that the two of them are inseparable because they both act to save each other without thinking, and both feel like losing the other would be like dying themselves. All Might may have been right when he told them they could learn from each other after Deku vs. Kacchan Part 2, but he didn’t fully realize that idea by making sure they stuck by each other for support and balance.

I can’t wait to see what it’ll be like when they do finally get to that point, totally in synch and in tune with each other. They’ll be a powerful force no one is quite prepared for. Who knows when that will be, or even which chapter will be their big showdown, but I know the day is coming.

To speculate even further, I think the 2nd user is going to be really important really soon. And no I don’t mean to suggest that the 2nd user is Bakugou. But I do think their resemblance is key. Okay this is gonna be convoluted...

See how 2nd is the only one still standing? I think that’s symbolic of him withholding his quirk. Deku may not even know what it is at this point, let alone have unlocked it. Given that 2nd approves of Deku’s strategy at this point, it seems odd for him to withhold his quirk based on lack of faith. I think if his quirk was something that would help Deku in combat, he would have shown it to him already like the others did. So what if those gauntlets of his are support items that are meant to make up for his lack of a combat-oriented quirk, rather than to augment it? Mind you, I still have no idea what his mysterious power might be, but I’m dead set on it not being explosion-y. Regardless, I think 2nd looking like Bakugou is more about aiding some grand visual parallel, so! You know how 2nd and 3rd were probably intending to do away with Yoichi but 2nd changed his mind as soon as they made eye contact? This is really a long shot, but I wonder if 2nd’s quirk has something to do with that exchange. Maybe it’s something psychological, or some 6th sense about people he meets. So... in that way 2nd’s quirk could play a role in bkdk reaching a deeper understanding? Idk! But it could be significant at least that 2nd left Yoichi’s question about why he reached out to him unanswered.

One more thing- while I was gathering screenshots I found this. I think “you’re the last one I’m telling” might be foreshadowing for Bakugou revealing his hero name to Deku and it being a Big Deal:

As for other lingering threads in the overall plot right now, such as the UA traitor, Stain, whatever Tsuyu is apparently about to do, All Might’s car maybe in the background of the last page of 320... man I have no idea. All I know is there’s literally 320 chapters’ worth of build-up to this confrontation that can’t be interrupted.

See you next week <3

#phew that was a lot #I just wanted to show how things are aligning #I know a lot of this has been said #bnha manga spoilers #bnha 320 #bnha 321 #mha #bakudeku #bkdk #bakugou katsuki #midoriya izuku #bnha meta #lin speaks

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gra-sonas · 3 years

Text

The Young Folks: Rosa’s very heavily influenced by songs from the ’90s and early 2000s. If Rosa had to update her playlist to today’s top hits, what would be on it?

Amber Midthunder: Oh, man. Honestly, I feel like with her coming back, that has already happened and I feel like she’s so committed to what she is. I feel like she’s the girl who still listens to Courtney Love, you know what I mean? That’s just who she is.

TYF: One of my favorite scenes from the season was between Michael and Rosa, when he acknowledges his part in covering up her murder, which led to years of racism and hatred toward her family. How important was it to include this moment, and what were some of the conversations you had with the writers, Alanna Bennett and Danny Toli, the director, Rachel Raimist, and Michael Vlamis to prepare for the scene? Especially since it happens between two characters who haven’t had a lot of interaction up until this point.

Amber Midthunder: That’s a great question. Honestly, I feel like our writers do a great job of incorporating real life conversations, and making sure that the story is relevant to what’s happening in the world. So in general, we just have a great team, we’re very prepared and that’s nice.

I think between me and Vlamis, it was just like … first of all, we got to have scenes together this year, kind of for the first time ever, which was really fun. He’s a very fun scene partner to have. And that scene in particular was actually quite fun, in a heavy way, you know? It was really on him, which is I think true to life, as far as repairing or building a bridge between people that have a hard history together, it is true that it’s on the person in his position to do the reconciling.

We didn’t have a whole lot of conversation. I think that was intentional. And I think it was not necessary for us to talk about it because everything was there on the page. When it was time to go, I felt like I had a scene partner who was there with me and he’s a very present actor—what he gives you is different every time. So it was just easy to allow myself to be affected. And in turn, I feel like I was able to give the same. So, it was honestly just fun for us to go out and just experience what was written.

TYF: In both Seasons 2 and 3, Rosa’s been trying to find her place in this world that’s similar yet totally different at the same time. As well as learning she has new powers. How do you think her discovery of her alien powers contribute to her journey toward sobriety and finding herself again?

Amber Midthunder: Honestly, I think that it’s been really fun to see Rosa as somebody who battles so much with her sense of self-worth at times. It’s really fun to see her learn that she not only has a place, but that she has responsibility to herself and the people around her who she loves and cares for.

Her thing for so long was and has been that she feels as though she failed Liz, and she failed her family, and that she’s not good enough. She tries and she fails. But I think for her to finally, especially in this season, in the last few episodes with Isobel and Maria, and then with Liz, realize that she has importance and that she contributes and that she can help because that’s all she wants to do, is help. I think for her to see that she has that significance inspires her to know that she, in fact, can be good. It’s simple and kind of heartbreaking. But for her to realize that she really can do well just being good, is, I think, huge for her to stay inspired to be sober.

TYF: Another one of my favorite parts of the season with Rosa is that she does have a lot of conversations with Liz and also Isobel and Maria, to support her in that journey. In 3×11, again, Rosa teams up with Isobel to find a way to stop Jones. What do you like about the friendship between Isobel and Rosa? And why do you think it’s so strong despite their history in season one?

Amber Midthunder: First of all, I just love that you pointed that out. The girl gang, I love all the girl gang moments that we get to have. It’s so cool and so fun. I love those scenes because I love these women, and I love getting to work with them. I love when our characters get to support each other.

I think that [Isobel and Rosa] have the bond of being victimized by the same person. They have a history, whether it was through mind control or however it came. They do have time shared together. I think initially it was a triggering experience to be in the presence of Isobel. But Rosa obviously has done a lot of work in herself in that way and how she responds to triggers and trauma. And I think she and Isobel have the common bond of being victimized by the same person and they have far more to relate to in their personalities and their experiences than I think people realize.

TYF: Rosa’s had a pretty interesting storyline with Wyatt this season. What’s important about showcasing the similarities between Wyatt’s and Rosa’s situations, where they wake up in an unrecognizable world? And what do you wish people to take away from this storyline?

Amber Midthunder: I think it’s just an interesting debate. I think people have a lot of feelings about it one way or another, and I think that all of them are correct because it is an insane situation. What’s fun about this show is that we get to explore this crazy “what if,” that otherwise would never be real.

You can’t really experience, “what if one girl died but only for 10 years and then this guy is left insane, but then gets his memory erased,” right? That’s what’s cool about what we do. But, I think their relationship is fun just as people, because I think that they relate on a level that is surprising. They both have the experience of feeling outside of their communities. I think it’s always exciting when you find somebody that relates to your deep thoughts or the things that you don’t tell people. That they had that history and then they get to explore it again. I think that’s always exciting.

TYF: What are your hopes for Rosa as we head towards the Season 3 finale and beyond?

Amber Midthunder: I’m excited for her to continue realizing all the things that we talked about. Her relationship with everybody and her place in the group, and beyond that. She’s doing something very important, which is she’s investing time in her greater good and then the big picture of her life to ultimately benefit those around her. And so I’m excited to see where everybody takes that.

#amber midthunder #rosa ortecho #rnm spoilers #rnm 3x11 #rnm cast interviews #roswell new mexico s3 #rnm 3x05 #michael guerin #michael vlamis

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galaxy98 · 3 years

Text

With the recent confirmation that we'll get to see more of Yunan and Olivia in season 3, I thought it would be nice to give a little rundown of a certain idea I had for a story prior to the trailer. Will I ever go through it, maybe not. For one thing, I have so many ideas that I want to do on AO3 so some things may have to be sacrificed. Not only that, but despite the episodes having a limited runtime, thus having less depth, it's likely going to turn out better than what I put out. That and it would be less convoluted. So here's a bullet list of the idea:

The working title for the fanfic is called Lady and the Newt. I wanted to go with Lady and the Merc or Lady and the General, though the former didn't made sense since Yunan is not a Mercenary. Also since it's a Disney show, I thought it would be funny to make the title a tongue-and-cheek reference to Lady and the Tramp.

The best way to describe this story is 2 lesbians on the run. There's also a butch and her daughter but we're not there yet.

Obviously, this would take place after True Colors, but based on the clips I've seen, it would've been drastically different.

For starters, it would begin with Olivia and Yunan trying to find a way to escape Newtopia. While Yunan is more concerned about finding a way out, Olivia didn't want to leave Marcy behind. At the same time, Yunan is also reluctant, albeit in denial, of wanting to go back there since she felt betrayed by both Andrias and Marcy, despite the latter being a child who was just being manipulated.

However, Olivia feels like she's complacent in letting this all happened, so she wanted to back there for the sake of ridding herself of that guilt. In other words, the both are still shooken up about the whole revelation.

They would eventually escape, but it will be a hollow victory.

This would be the first time we get to see Yunan without her armor. She took most of it off when trying to save an unconscious Olivia from drowning. By the time they set up camp, she will chuck her medals into the river in anger. She does keep the claws since they might come in handy, but other than that, she's completely vulnerable.

The fanfic would explore on the aspect about the expectations and pressure that Newtopia places on its society and how Yunan and Olivia were both affected by this mentality. Yunan ran away from home when she was in her teens because of her strained relationship with her family (Something that I will get into later on) and how due to being found by Andrias was she able to show off her skills that would work her way up to the ranks and then eventually the youngest general in the army, Scourge of the Sand Wars, Defeater of Ragnar the Wretched, yada yada yada. However, you would see why her family relationship was dysfunctional due to the infighting with her sister and mother who just happened to be a famous artisan (hint hint). Prior to becoming general, she felt like she had nothing to show for and that being a part of the court made her felt like she was special. But the problem is that she feels like she's nothing without the rank. So while Yunan constantly introduces herself because it's effective, it's also because that's all she has.

Olivia, on the other hand, didn't want to be a part of the court. The only reason she has that title in the first place was because her family already had connections to Andrias's so she was basically forced into the role. Royalty never particularly interest her but because she was so ingrained into the role, she ended up living a very isolated life. It's why she has a very stoic demeanor. Only when there's nothing else to do does she masks off the whole facade after keeping appearances for a whole day. During the night after they escape, she would lament about where it all went wrong.

There would be a retcon where Olivia originally planned on running away from Newtopia and she wanted Yunan to come with her. But with the combination of Yunan's commitment to the general rank, taking care of Marcy Wu, and then the events that soon follow, it never came to be. Olivia wondered if going through with that decision would've only make things worse.

There would be flashback chapters where we get to see the dynamics between the newts and the 13 year old girl. Any one of them involving Yunan would be an explanation as to why she initially felt betrayed by Marcy's actions. It's only later on in the story did she reconcile with those feelings.

Most of the story consist of them trying to get far away from Newtopia as possible, all while the fear of Marcy's fate lingers. In tale of dramatic irony, they assume that she may have escaped along with the others. But once they found refuge at Wartwood, they notice that Sasha was the only that's still here. That's when they figured the out news. Again, dramatic irony.

So that thing I mention about how there's also a butch and her daughter in this story, well here's what I mean. Priscilla and Pearl are the additional characters in this journey. The reason for their inclusion is because I had a particular subplot in mind. I loved the headcanon of Priscilla being Yunan's older sister because the potential dynamic makes so much sense. During their childhood, they were both competing for their mother's love, despite the fact that she didn't want them to fight. So due to jealously and the strained sibling relationship, it prompted Yunan to run away.

On an unrelated note, you can check out my poem fanfic on AO3 called O' Sister Of Mine. It explores the dynamic between Priscilla and Yunan as siblings.

The entire subplot would be about Yunan and Priscilla trying to repair their sibling relationship after years of fighting and not seeing each other. When her and Olivia cross paths with the two of them, Priscilla initially rejected their offer of going together. Because of Yunan and Olivia's status, she was worried that it was not only going to put a target on her back, but also her daughter's, which is the last thing she wants. But since they can't stay in one spot, they have no choice but to go together.

I think by looking at the pattern of where this story is going, the entire lesson is about not taking things for granted and being the change you want to be. The three girls may be the main focus of the show, but this fanfic explores on the side characters who were affected by the events.

Well there you have it. This is mostly just a rough draft of ideas but it does get the main gist across. Like I said before, this likely isn't going to see the light of day, especially when Matt Braly's crew is going to come up with something better than I can. This is one of those big AO3 projects that I'll have to keep on the shelf, at least temporarily when I don't have a lot on my plate right now.

But if you want to express any interest in me doing this in the future, feel free to reblog or leave a comment in the notes.

#amphibia #general yunnan #lady olivia #fandom discussion #writing

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roswellnmsource · 3 years

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‘Roswell, New Mexico’ interview: Amber Midthunder talks Rosa’s music playlist, and the surprising ways people can relate to each other

One of the best things Roswell, New Mexico has done is bring back Rosa Ortecho from the dead. Not only is Rosa one of the best characters on the show, but she’s also portrayed by Amber Midthunder, who imbues Rosa with a lot of strength, sarcasm, comedic timing, and a vulnerability that’s hard to look away from. When she’s not calling out the aliens on their bullshit, Rosa’s offering a steady kind of wisdom to those around her, whether to her own sister Liz, or to Wyatt Long. At other times, Rosa learns how to be gentle with herself. And this is all on top of waking up as a 19 year old who’s been dead for 10 years.

A lot has happened to Rosa Ortecho on Roswell, New Mexico. I got speak with Amber Midthunder over the phone about the majority of it, including her hopes for Rosa as Season 3 comes to a close next week.

Not transcribed in this interview are the first couple of minutes where we talk about how much I love fall (after our general hellos and how are yous, Amber starts asking me questions, which is very kind of her but not at all interesting for those of you reading this interview) and about how much I enjoyed her performance in The Wheel, which premiered at TIFF a few weeks ago. Keep your eyes peeled for when that eventually releases wide.

The Young Folks: Rosa’s very heavily influenced by songs from the ’90s and early 2000s. If Rosa had to update her playlist to today’s top hits, what would be on it?

AM: That’s a great question. Honestly, I feel like our writers do a great job of incorporating real life conversations, and making sure that the story is relevant to what’s happening in the world. So in general, we just have a great team, we’re very prepared and that’s nice.

AM: Honestly, I think that it’s been really fun to see Rosa as somebody who battles so much with her sense of self-worth at times. It’s really fun to see her learn that she not only has a place, but that she has responsibility to herself and the people around her who she loves and cares for.

AM: First of all, I just love that you pointed that out. The girl gang, I love all the girl gang moments that we get to have. It’s so cool and so fun. I love those scenes because I love these women, and I love getting to work with them. I love when our characters get to support each other.

AM: I think it’s just an interesting debate. I think people have a lot of feelings about it one way or another, and I think that all of them are correct because it is an insane situation. What’s fun about this show is that we get to explore this crazy “what if,” that otherwise would never be real.

TYF: What are your hopes for Rosa as we head towards the Season 3 finale and beyond?

AM: I’m excited for her to continue realizing all the things that we talked about. Her relationship with everybody and her place in the group, and beyond that. She’s doing something very important, which is she’s investing time in her greater good and then the big picture of her life to ultimately benefit those around her. And so I’m excited to see where everybody takes that.

#roswell new mexico #amber midthunder #rosa ortecho #rnm spoilers #3x11 #cast #press

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tigerseye46 · 3 years

Note

For the headcanon thing. Once it’s revealed that Tang is Tripitaka, he uses that to get Wujing to reconcile with Pigsy and Wukong. Kinda like how Wujing used Tang’s celebrity crush. - Pixel Anon

Yesss, Tang gets revenge. This takes during S3 of the au.

Send me a head canon for the Red Shark/sand au and I'll make a fic out of it ^^! Send as many as you want

-----------

Tang stomped away from Sha Wujing as the other tried to wave at him from the kitchen. He was still mad at the others for not divulging he was Tripitaka’s reincarnation especially Wujing who he thought was interested in him after they had gotten closer. But nope, he only liked him because he was Tripitaka.

He told the demon to figure out if he actually liked him for him and wasn’t using him as an outlet for his feelings. He wasn’t going to be friendly toward the other until then.

“Hey, Wujing,” Sun Wukong greeted. Tang turned around to see the former pilgrims all in the kitchen.

Sha Wujing hissed at the two. “What do you want?”

“Just to talk,” Zhu Bajie replied.

“There’s nothing to talk about.” “Well how are you faring since-?”

“Oh, I’m faring just wonderfully,” he snarked. “Nothing like the person I love the most ignoring me. Exactly like back then.” Tang sighed at the demon’s words. Wujing didn’t love him, he loved Tripitaka, that was it. The other thing the demon said struck him, from what he recalled, Tripitaka never ignored him and cared about him very much, he doesn’t know how the monk gave him that impression.

“Give him time,” Wukong said. “He’ll come around.”

“Yea, no thanks to you. Maybe if you told him in the beginning we would be happy with each other. But no, you had to keep your mouth shut for once.”

Bajie held up an arm to halt him. “It’s not his fault, Wujing.”

“Yes, it is! He hung out with Tang the longest! He should have told him.”

“I didn’t know, Wujing.”

“But you suspected,” he pointed out. “Also you could have used your special eyes and told him but you’re too much of a coward to do so.” “Coward?” He exclaimed. “What about you? You figured out and could have told him yourself. Don’t blame me for your faults.” “Whatever,” he replied and pushed passed them, heading towards the opposite direction of where Tang was. Jeez just when they were finally starting to at least talk without screaming.

The king ran a hand through his fur. “He’s right. I should have said something.”

The pig patted him on the back. “It’s not your fault. It’s not like it was an easy thing to bring up.”

“I know but-”

And at that point, Tang stopped listening. He went back to his room and laid on his bed. He was angry at Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie too but that argument left a bad feeling. Heck, all their arguments left a bad feeling.

He knew Wujing loved to pick fights with those two because of Tripitaka’s- because of his death. While Wujing was right that his best friend should have told him, the demon should have also told him.

They had really split apart after his passing which was not something he wanted at all. He didn’t like to see his disciples friends fight and while he could leave them be, it wasn’t right to do so. He knew their relationship wouldn’t be repaired unless he intervened since Sha Wujing was so stubborn.

He threaded his fingers through his dark locks and decided to use his position as their master’s reincarnation to get them to reconcile. They were going to be stuck on this flying ship for who knows how long so they had to get along or the journey would be more difficult than it needed to be.

He would go up to Wujing first to convince him they needed to talk and while he hated being used as an outlet, he didn’t have a choice otherwise. Well other than locking them in a closet but he’s sure they would break the door.

Tang got up once again and went to find Sha Wujing who was on the balcony of the shop. He was leaning against the railing with a contemplative look on his face. His red-orange hair shined in the sunlight.

Tang took a couple of breaths and walked up to him. Hearing the noise, the demon gazed at him, his eyes blown wide at the other approaching him.

“Tang,” he said.

“Hey,” the human responded and leaned against the railing just like the demon did.

“Why are you here?”

“Fresh air. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Of course not.” Wujing opened his mouth to speak before closing it then repeating the process. “Tang.”

Tang placed a hand up. “I know what you’re going to say and you don’t have to lie to me.”

“I’m not lying when I say I really do love you.”

“Uh huh. You only love Tripitaka, not me.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is true. We’ve been over this. I’m not looking to get into it right now. It’s not what I came here to discuss.”

“I thought you said you came here for fresh air.”

He pursed his lips and nodded. “That too but there is something we need to discuss. You need to talk to Wukong and Bajie.” The other lifted a brow. “And when I mean talk, I mean something that is not an argument, a fight or anything along those lines. Civilized conversation. You three need to make up.”

Wujing scoffed and crossed his arms. “Make up with those two? No thank you. They’re terrible.”

“And why are they so terrible?” He asked.

“Because they wanted you dead.”

“And how do you know that?”

“Think about it, Tang. They never wanted to listen to you. They always thought it was best to disobey you or get you captured. They never cared about you like I did yet they were your favorites.”

“Wujing, they cared about me like I did them and you.”

“They didn’t. They let you die after they finally managed to get away from you.” He muttered, “And you didn’t care about me.”

Tang rubbed his temples in annoyance, ignoring the last comment. “They got there too late.”

“How do you know? You died.”

“I know them. They got there late and there was nothing they could do either way.”

“Whatever. I’m not making up with them.” He began to step away.

“Sha Wujing, come back! You are making up with your brothers!”

“They’re not my brothers,” he called back.

Tang removed the glasses from his face and said in a soft tone, “Wujing, please come back.”

The other stopped to stare, the human’s face was marked by a frown and without the glasses, he looked even more like his incarnation. He blushed at the human’s appearance. The human getting closer and closer with folded glasses in hand.

He held his face and tilted the demon’s chin slightly upwards. “A little close there.”

“What? I can’t get close to my disciple?”

“Wh-what?”

“You heard me.” He traced a hand along the demon’s biceps. “Wow. Your strength really hasn’t waned since I last saw you centuries ago.”

He blinked. “Th-thanks?”

“Still so impressive after all these years. This is rather forward but I find it hot,” he said it just as Tripitaka would say it.

“Thanks…”

“It’s probably why you’re the best one out there.”

“Well that’s no secret,” he bragged and tried to act as if this didn’t affect him.

“You are.” He rubbed his cheek with his thumb and Wujing placed a hand over his. Tang ignored the flutter and enjoyed the fact that he could get revenge on the demon for using his crush against him. “You know what would make you better than them?”

“What would that be, Tang?” He questioned and pressed a kiss against his palm.

He leaned in and whisper, “If you showed the other two how great you are by patching things up to them first. Be the bigger man like I know you are.”

“And what do I get if I make up with them?”

“A kiss,” he replied, “but only if you promise.”

He grinned. “I promise.” Tang smooched his cheek and walked off, putting his glasses back on. “Wait! You said a kiss!”

“I did give you a kiss!”

“A kiss on the cheek doesn’t count!”

“Yes, it does! I didn’t specify! And I’m still mad at you! Remember your promise and I might give you another one,” he exclaimed before going back inside.

He touched his cheek, the warmth lingering. He grumbled at getting tricked before going with the human.

It wasn’t until hours passed that Sha Wujing saw Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie. “Hey. We need to talk.”

“About?” Bajie pondered.

“Sit down.” He gestured to the couch in the living room.

The two gave him a questioning glance but complied. “Okay. What is it, Wujing?” The king held Bajie close to him.

“Tang is forcing me to do this.”

“Tang talked to ya?”

“Yea. He hasn’t forgiven me just yet but he wanted me to talk to you.”

“And ya listened?”

“He is still our master…”

Wukong smirked. “Let me guess. He managed to seduce you into talking to us.”

His face shifted beet red. “No! Shut up!”

“Let’s listen to him, Wukong.”

“Fine. What is it?”

“Look I don’t care about you two.”

“Wow a great way to start,” Sun Wukong joked.

“Shut up. Look I don’t care about you two but I should at least try to get along with you. Heavens, this is difficult.”

Tang interrupted with, “You better go through with it.”

“Tang! I will. I promised I would.”

“Good. Even though I’m still mad at you, all of you. Make this easy on me and the kids by at least being civilized. Before I leave you to your own devices. My previous death,” he winced, “wasn’t any of your faults and I don’t want you to blame each other or yourselves for what happened. It’s all in the past and I’m here now. Got it?”

They bobbed their heads. “Good. Now I’m going to eat something. Have fun.” He left to the kitchen.

The youngest demon clasped in hands together. Wukong apologized with “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?”

“Sorry for not being there when you and master needed us. Everyday I think about how we should have gotten there faster. Maybe things would be different. We shouldn’t have given up on you so easily.”

“You didn’t. I was the one who made it difficult on you.”

“Still. We should have stayed with you,” Bajie said.

“I would have gotten even more pissed.”

“Even still. We should have done somethin’.”

“There was nothing you could have done. Just like… just like with master’s death,” he admitted. “After all this time, I didn’t want to admit how I acted was horrible to you two. I always thought… thought that Tripitaka loved you more than he loved me and that broke me inside. I still think that way. It’s not something that’s easy to get over.”

“We know.”

“And I don’t exactly forgive you either because a part of me still thinks you wanted him gone but I know I have to deal with you around and if I never say this, I’ll make it difficult for all of us. I have to protect that kid even if it means opening up to all of this. So that’s it. I don’t exactly forgive you but I’m not going to remain that pissed either. At least try to.”

“We appreciate that,” Wukong responded with a smile. “We’ll try our best to make it up to you again. And we’re really sorry we couldn’t help save master. That decision still haunts us.”

“I know.”

“But it wasn’t all for nothing,” he continued. “He came back and we got Tang. Tang is pretty cool.”

“Yea, he is. I just wish he believed I like him.”

The pig asked, “Do you or do you just like him because he’s master?”

“I… I don’t know. I would like to believe that I do and I do but his words make me doubt that.”

“You have to figure it out. It isn’t easy for him, ya know? The guy he has a crush on only likes him because he’s the reincarnation of the guy he loved. And this whole time, this guy has never said a word.”

“I know what he thinks and I’m trying to figure it out so I can tell him.”

“If ya ever need us, we’re right here.”

Wujing nodded and got up from the couch. “Thanks… big brothers.”

The two grinned at being acknowledged as his eldest disciple brothers even though their relationship wasn’t completely repaired. The blue demon went into the kitchen with Tang. The human looked at him as he stood over a pan, he pressed a hesitant kiss and whispered “Good job but I’m still mad.”

“I know. I’ll prove to you I like you.”

The human’s eyes drifted to the pan, a small nod of the head and replied, “I hope you mean that” then went back to ignoring him.

#lego monkie kid #monkie kid #red shark au #red sand au #sha wujing #sandy #lmk sandy #tang #mr tang #sun wukong #monkey king #monkie kid wukong #pigsy #zhu bajie #jasmineteashipping #jasminetea #my fic #philo/tiger writes #I’m making that a tag now

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star-consultant · 3 years

Text

Bright are the stars

You need a Beatle song that perfectly encapsulates your sign? Of course you do. (Spotify playlist)

Aries—“I Saw Her Standing There”

One two three FOUR! An eager and intense song for an eager and intense sign. Aries falls hard and fast, with a tendency to rash vows that everyone doubts they mean—but Aries doesn’t doubt. Paul (who later styled himself as a "ram” at a key point in his creative development) makes good on the Cardinal Fire vibe with his exuberant vocals, and John of the Aries rising contributed the street-smart innuendo that utterly makes the song: And you know what I mean. Fittingly, this song kicked off the group’s first album, which itself has plenty of Aries “HELLO I AM HERE TO MAKE A MARK ON YOUR WORLD! (like me plz ok? this is my heart and i am Doing My Best??)” energy.

Taurus—“All I’ve Got to Do"

A song that takes its sweet time but burrows deeper than the average ear-worm into your consciousness. It’s a patient song that is unassuming but knows exactly what the hell it’s doing. The intensity builds bit by bit, so that you’re unaware when the power of the bridge comes crashing down. Describes the Taurean romantic ideal: lazy, loyal, cozy, constant, tender, and ever-so-true. Also, “All I’ve Got to Do” is featured on the second album, With the Beatles, which has plenty of other Bullish touches, noticeable even with a casual glance at the tracklist: “Don’t Bother Me,” “Not a Second Time,” and “Money (That’s What I Want).”

Gemini—“She Loves You”

Paul is a Gemini Sun, and throughout his catalogue it shows. But perhaps he never topped the Twinniness of this energetic, optimistic, breathless, gossipy classic. It was composed “eye-to-eye” with John, a truly dual-authored song, and one the rare Beatles numbers where the two lead vocalists double up on every single line, in true (Nerk) Twin fashion. Also the first but definitely not the last of their many “third-person narratives,” Paul’s novelistic instead of confessional slant being distinctly a Gemini thing. The speaker in this one couldn’t be more enthusiastic about this relationship if it were already repaired, and he couldn’t be more enthusiastic about it if it were his. Love is great! People reconciling is great! You should be glad, dumbass! But the real corker? What makes this so Gemini that it hurts? Yoko has confirmed that in the early 70s, during her separation with John, she actually had Paul play agony aunt. Then, during that meetup in L.A. where they were last photographed together, Paul urged John to “apologize to her” and get back together... which he did. That’s right. "She Loves You” is not merely a Gemini’s song: it’s a Gemini’s life.

Cancer—“Octopus’s Garden”

Ringo the Crab’s musically-complex fantasy about an underwater sanctuary where children are “happy and safe,” he and his lover can be together, and there’s “no one there to tell us what to do.” George (a triple Water sign himself, probably not-so-incidentally) always insisted that his best mate’s song Had Depths, and he himself supplied a lot of them: check out his lead guitar lines. They function as emotional counterpoint. When Ringo’s vocal line is especially wistful, the guitar is bright; when Ringo ends on a confident note, the guitar is quirky, ironic, even stiff-upper-lip pessimistic. Result: a shifting kaleidoscope of FEELS. The Moon approves.

Leo—“Good Day Sunshine”

Paul perfectly expresses his own Leo moon with a sublime, vibrant ode to laughter, love, and pride on a cloudless summer day. The bit in the lyrics about she knows she’s looking fine and I’m so proud to know that she is mine? That’s not marring the high tone of the song: that is part of the tone. Hear us roar! And by “roar” I mean "laugh and canoodle, coz Leo is about living the good life, bitches.”

Virgo—“Please Please Me”

What’s fair is forkin’ fair, mate! A exemplary blend of Virgo’s Mutable passive-aggressive sensitivity with its Elemental directness... half-critical, half-begging... plus the very sign-typical humblebragging. About their sexual prowess. Damn, Virgo. People forget how Earthy you really are sometimes. But here we are. In very Virgo fashion, instead of ditching the girl he’s decided to harangue her. On a more meta note, the Beatles were still studio virgins when they first began crafting this song, and it took several passes and incorporation of George Martin’s feedback before it became the bursting pop hit as we know it now. There’s that Virgo work ethic paying off.

Libra—“Strawberry Fields Forever”

The imagery of the title suggests an eternal harvest. But the star sign resemblance goes deeper than that: Always, no, sometimes think it’s me, but, you know, I know when it’s a dream. I think, er, no, I mean, er, yes, but it’s all wrong... that is, I think I disagree. Did you just hear your Libra roommate rambling after a joint, or did you listen to verse three of “Strawberry Fields”? Same difference. The song is absolutely lovely, as anything associated with the child of Venus should be, and innovative, as befits a Cardinal sign. Most of all, even in all of Libra Sun John’s weighing and weed-wandering, he knows one thing: he’s got to take someone else along with him. A companion, stat!

Scorpio—“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”

George of the Scorpio moon and Scorpio ascendant had to really lean into this side of his nature to even get this damn track properly recorded. He resorted to the social power play of inviting Eric frickin’ Clapton into the tense post-India studio just to get Lennon, McCartney, and Martin to give his song proper Beatle recording magic. Which it deserved. The dark drama of the hard-won arrangement is the perfect Scorpio accompaniment to the moody, reflective lyrics about “all the love there that’s sleeping” in this weary world. There’s tender, horrified pity here for those who are stifled into inauthenticity: I don’t know how nobody told you how to unfold your love. I don’t know how someone controlled you; they bought and sold you... Bonus points for the Watery ‘just can’t even’-ness of not being able to so much as pick up a damn broom.

Sagittarius—“Something”

You’re asking me, will my love grow? I don’t know, I don’t know! A deeply instinctual lover knows that Cupid has done hit a bullseye. He remains emphatically ambivalent about the future, but he knows what he feels in this moment, and in that moment is romance and wonder that is as deep as the earth is from the heavens. Sags are intense, but of all the Fire signs they are most far-seeing and detached (due to their Mutable quality, which makes them see the world a bit more like an Air sign does). “Something” keeps trying to capture that je-ne-sais-quoi, and despite the speaker’s happiness he can’t help but circle back again and again to take another shot at that the mental target. A philosopher even when in love. Ultimately, however, he doesn’t want to leave her now... which for a restless Sag is already saying a ton.

Capricorn—“Revolution”

John let his unfashionable midheaven Capricorn off the leash with this blunt, pointed savaging of radical and violent revolutions. (Given the tanks on Tiananmen Square and the millions dead on the killing fields of Cambodia, I can’t say that his cautionary note about “destruction” and “minds that hate” was unnecessary.) Few things are more Capricorn than ‘Oh, you want my money? Yeah, first show me that you’ve done your fucking homework, mate.’ Bonus Earth points for the fact that he somehow worked sex—a lot of sex—into this political track.

Aquarius—“Come Together”

John of the Aquarius moon’s decidedly loony attempt to write a political campaign song in order to stop Reagan. (The result was too weird for Timothy Leary, whose reaction was pretty much ‘wtf? I don’t think even I have enough residual acid in my system for this one... ’) John invokes the ideal of collaboration, but his call to solidarity is built around fantastical lyrics that no one can comprehend: He wear no shoeshine, he got/Toejam football, he got/Monkey finger, he shoot/Coca-Cola, he say/I know you, you know me... Oh, right. The lyrics contain exactly one discernible message: One thing I can tell you is you got to be free. How Aqua. Also in true collaborative Water-Bearer fashion, the arrangement really makes the song (special mention to the tight, tight work of the rhythm section). Bizarre genius that attracts a true team effort—it doesn’t get much more Aquarius than that.

Pisces— “I Want to Tell You”

The wall of sound builds up thickly enough that soon the words seem to be traveling through the sea to reach you: I want to tell you my head is filled with things to say... But when you’re here, all those words, they seem to slip away. A gorgeously, emotionally tongue-tied song... about being tongue-tied. Written by George, a Pisces Sun, this absolute mystery of a lyric is all emotion and no logic. If he seems to act unkind, it’s only him, it’s not his mind. Okay, Fishboy. Good thing the track is compellingly lovely and utterly relatable. Which suits the Pisces life exactly: ‘I don’t know what I mean, but it’s exceedingly beautiful and I want you to share it with you very, very much.’

#zodiac #beatles

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dakt37 · 4 years

Text

So I was reminded of this Stony secret identity plotbunny I posted and never finished. I don’t have a complete Part 2 in the same style per se, but I do have ideas about what would happen next. Which I’m cleaning up and posting at midnight because??

Basically, it’s a comedy of errors. There’s a period of increasingly confusing encounters based on the fact that Steve thinks he knows one secret (that Tony and Iron Man are dating) while Tony thinks that Steve knows a different secret (that Tony and Iron Man are the exact same idiot).

Tony, assuming Steve no longer has feelings for Iron Man now that he knows he's Tony Stark: "I know I broke your trust. So I don't expect that you… but…. But I hope we can still be friends."

Steve, hurting because he definitely still has feelings for Iron Man but would never want to interfere with his relationship with Tony: "I… might need a little time."

Cap and Iron Man (in full armor) are at Avengers HQ, and Cap continues to refer to Mr. Stark as a separate person. Tony assumes that Steve is just putting on a show in case there are other Avengers around. But there aren’t any, so Tony irritably tells him, “You can drop the ‘Mr. Stark’ thing.”

Steve thinks he’s committed a faux pas by using the less familiar name for Iron Man’s lover (like calling someone’s boyfriend their “roommate”), and immediately apologizes and switches to “Tony.” He still refers to him in third person though. Tony gives up, figuring it’s just Steve’s intense commitment to the secret. It’s incredibly annoying and even more incredibly sweet.

Steve comes into the lab while Tony, as Tony, is making repairs to the armor. There are others in the workshop too, so they just make polite conversation, choosing their words with care and a frustrating amount of ambiguity. Tony explains a defensive upgrade he’s adding, and Steve is like, “Ah, so it’s for better protection.”

“Well, you know… precious cargo.”

Steve calls Tony “sweet,” and Tony doesn’t know what to make of it.

But eventually, Steve figures it out. In hindsight, it’s screamingly obvious. Iron Man… is Jim Rhodes.

In this plotbunny ‘verse, there’s no War Machine yet. But Jim is still Tony’s best friend and an Air Force pilot. Maybe even Tony’s personal pilot like in the really early comics. Either way, at some point Steve passes by Tony’s office, and his enhanced hearing picks up a hushed conversation between them wherein Tony is freaking out about how Steve "knows about Iron Man." Jim is like, "Maybe it's better this way. Isn't it a little nice to have another person who knows? To not have to feel alone with it when I can't be here?" Steve hurries on by because eavesdropping is Rude, but his brain starts chugging away.

Jim is a pilot, and Tony calls using the Iron Man suit “piloting” it. Jim has a lot of discipline and poise, which he would need in order to stand still enough to fool the world into believing he was a robot for a while. Jim also has a deadpan sense of humor at times, which Steve saw Iron Man demonstrate when he reacted to Tony’s silly damsel performance with a flat, “Fear not, citizen.”

It’s true that Iron Man doesn’t often act like Jim, but wouldn’t that be the point? It’s all part of the cover. He could be more like himself when it was just him and Tony in the room. But in public, he puts on more cheerful, devil-may-care affectations. Sometimes it almost reminds Steve of Tony, to be honest, but really who better to copy mannerisms from than the eccentric Mr. Stark for a bombastic persona like Iron Man? And it’s easy to mimic someone you know as well as your best friend and lover.

Jim fusses over Tony. He chastises him for doing dumb shit. He's the Adult when Tony starts spiraling. And he doesn't give one single solitary shit that Tony is a powerful billionaire celebrity.

Iron Man is Tony's bodyguard. He's eminently concerned with Tony's safety. And he's also not one bit worried that Tony will ever fire him.

A pilot. A fucking pilot. How has everybody NOT figured this out yet?? Steve feels like tearing his hair out.

Steve quite likes Jim, even though they haven't interacted all that much yet. Except… apparently they have. He starts looking at Iron Man through this new lens, trying to reconcile his crush. "Do I like him more now? Less? It doesn't matter because he's dating Tony anyway! But…"

When Steve first crosses paths with Jim after this revelation, he gets flustered. From Steve’s POV, he’s already thoroughly embarrassed himself once by making that dorky love confession to Iron Man. Twice actually, by also peeping on him and Tony having A Moment.

Jim nods at him politely. "Captain."

Steve snaps up a salute, tips of his ears darkening in a blush. "Lieutenant Colonel."

Jim pauses. "Oh, I didn't mean-- you don't have to do that." He waves at Steve's forehead and gives him a small, incredulous smile. Steve blushes harder, pink spilling across his face. Jim is thoroughly confused.

BUT WHAT NEXT? I actually have zero idea at this point. More comedy, probably. Angst is not my bag. But maybe some hurt/comfort if the Actual Reveal involves Avengers Battle Drama? Either way, Jim is thoroughly exasperated by both Tony and Steve by the end.

#Stony secret ID plotbunny #dakity yaks #stevetony #stony #super husbands #i don't even know what else to tag this as asdjfaksjdfhkasdjf #long post #in case the cut doesn't work

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