#crystal story ii

[jacquirebriggs]

ALRIGHT! HERE IS THE STORY of why I made this. It's not a ship. Just an idea.When I first saw Virginia Maxwell, I looked up who she is and she looks like she could be Mari's missing mother.

There's another Wild Arms character named Rebecca Stressland that has all the appearances I've was thinking when creating Mari's actual mother. But she's only 16 so I can't use her.If anyone ever bothers to check out my stuff I created with Powerpoint, along with MKAAS, I love making silly skits out of the Crystal Story characters since like a few gave them love today.

I was going to create a skit for Mother's Day featuring Virginia Maxwell acting as Mari's missing mother and they and their father do the usual hangouts.  Needless to say, it has been scrapped because I could not think of any ideas. Maybe the skit could be repurposed for Father's Day? So I drew this to make it up. Not my best efforts because so much Sharpie mistakes happened that I have to edit out, but it's the best I can do.

[thedantagonist]

Afterlife

We waltzed merrily along the shore,

Behold, the afterlife, and what is has in store.

The tide extends far beyond the horizon, infinity right before our eyes.

Stars of ivory, pearls and quartz litter the sapphire night skies.

Kaleidoscopic floral arrangements to gaze at for eternity,

Colors of opal and amethyst, free of all calamity.

Once cerulean waves, now ink in the darkness, cast a reflection of the moonlight above.

Aurora borealis towers overhead, happy to see me with my one true love.

Your blooming irises shone in the starlight,

To match my swaying dress it's a glimmering sight.

The luminous constellations loom over us and expand,

The reason for my days of yore I finally understand.

We'll waltz merrily along the shore,

Together forever in this idyllic utopia.

[sorenjacklyoniii]

The Hero's Tale Poster is now revealed!

[motherofdogs1010]

Of Messiahs and Seeds I (Dark!Paul Atreides x Reader)

Summary: Emperor Paul of House Atreides has set forth with expansion of his empire on the planets that have resisted and has now come across the last stronghold that resists him: Terra Millennium...

Warnings: eventual 18+, dark!fic, eventual forced marriage, eventual NONCON, eventual pregnancy, dark!Paul Atreides, more to come as story progresses

A/N: Reader is inspired by Daenarys Targaryen with dragons and Sailor Moon's Silver Crystal lol, so I hope you all enjoy!! Terra is similar to Earth, I imagined Lord York to be Tyrion Lannister so please picture that

😈 Dividers by @firefly-graphics 😈 Banner by @vase-of-lilies

Part II

"Terra Millennium stands as a enomely in the universe for their rejection against the Empire", the hologram records said. "A two-century long battle was waged for the planet through the Great Houses yet the people won through the help of someone they have since called 'The Conqueror'."

Paul had heard of the Terra Millennium, their planet one of lush greenery, vast oceans and an abundance of resources that the previous Emperor had tried countless times to harvest just as House Harkonnen had done with the Spice on Arrakis, but alas, no one had ever been successful in mining Terra Millennium. He had heard that they experience something called 'seasons', he wondered what that was.

Just as he had done with Arrakis, Paul sat in his private room, watching hologram clips of Terra Millennium as his fleet flew to the planet to finally land conquest through the help of the Fremen.

"Anthropologists have never been able to stay long on the planet or among the people, but what has been gathered is the people have rejected the teachings of the Bene Gesserit, labeling it as hertic literature."

Terra Millennium was an odd planet with an odd people who had unusually long live spans, being able to live into their thousands without a single wrinkle or grey, they repented against the Bene Gesserit, the use of the Spice; he had heard of the people of that land believing solely in the ruling Queens because of a crystal, one of immense power that was sought after.

"Characterized by their white hair, the ruling House of L/N have upheld the traditional values of the planet, which has a population of over 1 billion. Only female heirs have been able to inherit the throne and it is rumored that a single crystal that is worn by every ruling Queen is said to hold immense power that has granted its people longevity, peace and prosperity."

A knock interrupted his research, Paul seeing Stilgar walk in followed by Gurney.

"Muad'Dib, we have touched land on Terra Millennium", Stilgar said, "they have responded to our communication message."

"What did they say?" he asked, Gurney chuckled.

"They said if we proceed with our mission, they will see it as an act of war", Gurney said, "they're real hard asses here."

"You've been, Gurney?" Paul asked, curious.

"Once", Gurney replied, "I came with your father on a diplomatic assignment, but that was with their previous Queen Helene. This one is new, just coronated a few months ago."

He thought back to the new dreams he had been having of a woman whose hair was the color of white that hung down near the ground in large curls, whose eyes were hard and the color of lilac with the roar of a great beast that rung in his ears when he would awaken from his dreams.

Unlike his dreams with Chani, these felt different now that he had drunken the Water of Life. His visions of the woman consisted of a gentle breeze sweeping through her hair, it curling around her as she was dressed in a long, white silk dress that clung to her body and trailed in a long train behind her with woven golden in the upper bodice. She stood on a tall pillar of crystal, a tall scepter in her hands that she was raising above her head as the breeze picked up.

Soon, the dreams melted in a great war as crystals encapsulating him, a bright light that blinded him yet filled him with warmth and security.

"Show them the full might of the Empire", Paul said, "after all, they are in the presence of the Muad'Dib."

And it was those eyes that greeted him when he finally set foot on the pavement of Terra Millennium with its tall structures that were made of variously colored crystals.

Neo-Queen Amaris was the regal name Y/N had chosen to go by when she took the throne a mere few months ago. Of course, she went by her name, Y/N in private with those closets to her and only by her regal name with others.

Y/N had heard the rumors of the new Emperor wanting to claim her home, her people; he wanted to bring her planet into the vastly growing empire that he ruled under as a supposed Messiah to the Fremen and Bene Gesserit: Muad'Dib. Everyone had heard of how he supposedly liberated Arrakis and the Fremen people, marrying Princess Irulan as a political move to secure his position as the new Emperor.

Only a few days ago did a message come into their Communication's Hub from the Emperor about finally claiming Terra Millennium for not only himself but for the Fremen as it would be their 'Green Paradise'.

War will come to Terra Millennium if you refuse to submit, the message read.

"My Queen", her advisor, Lord York, said as she sat on her throne. "Reports have come in that the Atreides fleet has made contact on the landing pad near the Capital. Scouts have seen the Atreides Army beginning to get ready."

Lord York was a man of small stature with a head full of bronze curls and dark brown eyes that always looked calculated as if he was already ten steps ahead.

Y/N looked over at Lord York before bringing a hand to the crystal that hung around her neck on a chain that could never be removed from her neck before slowly standing up from her throne that was encrusted in gemstones.

"I believe it is time we greet them", she said, looking over her court. "After all, hospitality is what our people are known for."

And it is not like they have any chance of having their weapons working; outside weaponry not from Terra M had no chance of working and she wondered what their reactions would be once they realized this.

"But before we go", Lord York said, "may I make a suggestion?"

Y/N made a motion to the man, who gave a nod and said, "I believe it is our Queen's best interest to wear your ancestor, The Conqueror's crown and scepter to greet our guests. It would show the great strength you possess, a message to not only the Great Houses but the Emperor as well."

"That sounds like a great idea."

"You are the presence of our Neo-Queen", a man said with a thick facial beard, "first of her name, descendant of our goddess Selene and The Conqueror, wielder of the great Silver Crystal, Mother of all, Neo-Queen Amaris."

Paul watched as the man motioned to the woman he had been dreaming about, he could see that as the breeze came that she wore no shoes; all the Terrians didn't despite their silken clothes as they stood amongst the tall crystal structures. They had landed as close to the Capital, finding that there was a landing pad despite the relatively isolated nature of the planet.

"I welcome you, Paul of House Atreides", she said with a stoic expression. "But now you must leave."

The woman, their Queen Amaris, looked upon them with a hint of annoyance as she held a large scepter in one hand that was as tall as Duncan Idaho had been with gold and gem embellishments, but what was curious was that at the top of the scepter where it looked as if a missing piece was needed. The crown she wore on her head was large, glittering in diamonds and curved up into a point as she stood there, her hair having a few small braids that pulled the framing hair away with kiss curls on her forehead.

"Leave?" Paul said with some amusement.

Irulan stood next to him dressed in a silver mesh outfit, a metal hair net that connected over into her dress that held down her short blonde hair. Paul was glad that he Voiced the woman to stop talking, she would not stop and frankly, he had no desire to try and pursue a romantic relationship with the woman after Chani chose to leave further into Arrakis.

His mother stood amongst them, holding the bundled form of his sister, Alia.

"I did not realize a Emperor could have poor hearing", Amaris said, "you are not welcome on Terra Millennium nor do we plan on allowing for you to colonize us. Terra M remains alone."

Paul took in the way she spoke, her accent one he had never heard before and the formal way of speaking. He noticed the large gem that hung around her neck, it sparkled in the sunlight as she stood there and looked to be the size of a her palm.

"Also, we did not apperciate your Bene Gesserit coming", she continued, "spreading their heretic language, you will find them in the Prisoner's Bay."

"You don't believe in the Muad'Dib, the Kwisatz Haderach?" Paul asked.

"We believe in our Queen, may her reign be as prosperous as Selene", the bearded man said.

The Queen just looked at him with contempt, he saw her lip curl a little in annoyance.

And it was that look that made something stir deep in Paul and made him feel something that he never felt before. She looked at him as if he was a bug ready to be squashed underneath her foot

He wanted to possess the woman in front of him, at all costs and he didn't care who he had to kill... he was going to.

[ay0nha]

This world needs sanji ANGST...i haven't seen anything like that that isn't immediatley fluff so plz plz plz do angst OR maybe enemies to lovers but reeealll enemies ther'es gotta be beeeffff

tension. jealousy. protectivness. what the hell. where is it.

thank u :3

Pairing: opla!Sanji x f!reader

Word Count: 1.3K

Warnings: canon-typical things, smoking, cursing, the Baratie, mentions of annoying/handsy costumers, RUSHED ending (sorry), etc.

A/N: Hello anon! Thank you so much for the request. I started a little sm sm based of this request and a couple similar ones. It's just a start, so let me know if I should turn this into something more/longer...I have ideas...COMMENTS ENCOURAGED. Enjoy.

PART II

You always preferred sailing on quiet nights.

Fewer lights from the ship scared the stars into submission. It was the only time your shoulders settled and your breaths became leveled. The air’s humidity wrapped you in warmth and the patterned waves lulled your racing thoughts. 

Yet, the lights of the Baratie reminded you that those idyllic nights remained only in memory, few and far between. The chatter radiated an aura, which functioned as a reminder of the never ending responsibilities of hospitality. 

Your dwindling cigarette marked the time left of your break, but you savored every second. You slouched into your shoulder, head resting softly to the side to acknowledge the footsteps approaching you. 

“Sanji.” Even with your back to your newly found company, you knew who had found you. He always had. “If Zeff sent you…” You drew in a deep and finalizing breath, the crackle satisfying in contrast. “Turn around and fuck off.” 

The breath of his laughter exposed his delight at your demise. “Your funeral—

“—Our.” You corrected him. Finally offering a glance, you saw he’d replaced his apron for a tie. Always trouble, you thought.

“Nah, you’ll be alright…” He tutted with humor. “Regardless, who can I count on to spit on my grave?”

You hummed to hide a semblance of a smile. Sanji’s charm was worthless to you, never working in his favor. It had taken years of coaxing past vindication to even occupy the same space. So as always, you’d removed yourself to create a more familiar distance. 

“Funny.” You only ever entertained him with sarcasm.  Flicking your butt into the darkness, you began to walk away. “Just don’t get in the way.” 

The night was busy—every night was busy. You hadn’t minded the adrenaline or the late hours. It was what kept you going, kept you from realizing that slowing down would never be an option. 

But then the constantly spinning world stopped. Your wrist was caught in the hand of a guest, the very one whose crude remarks failed to cause a reaction. However, your plastered smile only encouraged him. You became a challenge he hadn’t realized would eventually retaliate. 

It caused a scene, glass to be broken, and scolding from Zeff that echoed throughout the kitchen. Your pent up venom led you to an ultimatum; cool off or leave. Now, your headache dulled in comparison to the nausea you felt walking back in. 

Hearing your name you turned to see Sanji’s face illuminated with his lighter. His eyes were fixed on his task, but you knew he was speaking directly to you. “You’re alright, though? Right?”

It was happening more frequently than you’d like to admit; your sarcastic insult caught in your throat and your breath pinned to the roof of your mouth. Your words were lost. Sanji was responsible for the confusion of feelings and it only furthered your resentment. 

Yet, your voice was never found and so you nodded with promise. 

Instead, your wrist throbbed and you were sure by the end of the service the bruising would surface. But you rolled it as if the action could wash away the pain. You straightened your posture, pulled a practiced smile, and held a soft air as you began again greeting guests table by table. 

The people dining waited their turn just as those rubbing elbows with them. From the decor, the crystal, story of the menu, even you were a part of the experience.  Performance was key and you were nothing but stellar at pretending to be someone else. 

“Good evening—” You greeted.  Your voice could have been mistaken for sultry. Some nights you struggled to recognize yourself. “—I’ve noticed you’re back and your wine is getting low.”

“Always attentive, you.” The Baratie regular reveled in the banter. It was formulaic at this point, but the atmosphere captivated you both. 

“I can’t help but play favorites.” You countered, granting a heavy pour of wine into his glass. Your dress cut low, ever dip intentional to distract from the mountain of Berries owed for the aged wine provided. 

His eyes took in your figure, falling into the trap. “Apparently, I’ve got competition.”

You wanted to feel good, as you normally did. The fabric complimented your physique and kissed your skin with such sensuality. The feeling of hungry eyes on you never grew old. The assurance was always refreshing. However, there was a weight tonight that wasn’t the fault of the fabric.  

“Pirates can never resist treasure.” You pushed past the crack in your demeanor. You smiled wider, but your eyes cast down at your wrist hoping it didn’t reveal too much too soon.  

The bark of laughter almost made you flinch. “Not the filthy pirate! Your friend there—” The man continued, complaining about nonsense while raising his already dwindling glass to Sanji. “100 Berries he’s spit in my food.”

That swirl in your chest had just settled, but it returned as your eyes met Sanji’s.  His glare wasn’t shy, burning through you. Judgment about your pairing of wine, most likely. Regardless, you noted the fluidity in his movements pulled him closer to you. 

The man laughed at the slight staring contest. You internally cursed at breaking first. 

“He’s harmless.” You muttered, pouring another serving of wine. Moving your body kept you distracted from the unspoken. 

“Harmless?” The man scoffed, inebriation heavy in his inflection.“The scum of a pirate walked—well, crawled really—out of here with nothing but a bloody promise of a slow death.” 

You remained light and playful as you finished the conversation, distracting your regular enough to slip away. You made your rounds just as Sanji had, but you were clever to dance around him, avoid him. 

It worked at first, but it only aggravated Sanji. He spoke loudly and boldly about the well-known service, slipping in insults and intentionally sabotaging everything you’d just smoothed out. It may not have been intentional. It rarely was if you thought about it, his disappointment reserved for Zeff. 

It was as though Sanji had tunnel vision. His upset became yours conscious or not, as every complaint and move he made contradicted yours. It made you trip and stumble. It began to make the night agonizingly slow as he became the barrier between you and the end of the service.  

You’d boiled over, pulling harshly on his arm until you both crammed into a blindspot of the rest of the restaurant. 

Sanji’s eyes blew wide, but his smirk only widened. Even in his state of mild shock, his mind wandered. “What are you—  

You straightened his tie harshly, a threat. “Fix your attitude.” 

“Mine?” He countered with disbelief. “If Zeff understood—

“I don’t care about Zeff. I don’t care about you.” You hissed, pushing a finger deep into his chest. Slowly your composure was unraveling, but you regained it quickly, speaking pointedly, “What I care about is this night being over.”

Sanji took the beat of silence to look between your eyes. You were frazzled, your collectedness hanging on by a thread. He could guess why, but you’d never admit he was correct. 

“Are you even listening?” You prompted again, ready to move back with utter impatience. 

However, Sanji touched the wrist that was within distance causing your body to freeze.  “You need ice.”

His hold was gentle, but he felt the heat come from the swelling. The pain was catching up to you. 

“Enough.” You spat, wobbling with your steps backward. “Enough of—” Tonight, you wanted to say. The kindness threw you off, made you feel seen in a way you wouldn’t accept. “Just—

“We’ll finish the night smoothly.” Sanji spoke evenly, decidedly for the both of you. “Then, I’ll find ice for you.” 

Your chin raised for your childness to surface. “I can take care of myself.” 

“I have no doubt.” Sanji felt his emotions settle on his face, the smirk was hard to call on, but the air had become too tense not to with such unfamiliar territory. “But yet, If I don’t help you, you’ll milk it for weeks and I’ll never hear the end of it.”

[n64retro]

Main titles released for Nintendo 64, by year*: 1996: Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, Mortal Kombat Trilogy, Killer Instinct Gold, Pilotwings 64, Cruis 'n USA. 1997: GoldenEye 007, Star Fox 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon, Mischief Makers, Doom 64, Duke Nukem 64, Bomberman 64, Blast Corps. 1998: Banjo-Kazooie, F-Zero X, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, 1080 Snowboarding, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mortal Kombat 4, Yoshi's Story. 1999: Pokémon Snap, Resident Evil 2, Super Smash Bros., Quake II, Donkey Kong 64, Jet For Gemini, Harvest Moon 64, Rayman 2: The Great Escape, Castlevania Legacy of Darkness, Shadowman, Beetle Adventure Racing, Star Wars: Episode I Racer, Mario Golf, International Superstar Soccer 2000, NBA Courtside 2. 2000: Banjo-Tooie, Excitebike 64, Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards, Mario Tennis, Ridge Racer 64, Sin and Punishment, Indiana Jones and The Infernal Machine, Perfect Dark, Ogre Battle 64, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, 007 The World is not Enough, Mega Man 64, WWF No Mercy, Mario Party 2. 2001: Paper Mario, Pokémon Stadium 2, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Animal Forest, Mario Party 3, Madden NFL 2002, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. 2002: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3. *the date for the titles in this poll matches the North American release.

[heartcereql]

𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀

☆ neteyam sully x reader

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒- the four times neteyam knew he was head over heels and the one time he confessed it. 

𝐂𝐖- tooth rotting fluff, sappiest shit ever, kinda corny if u squint but they’re so parents, none overall. 

𝐀/𝐍 - oh no what’s happening to me i’m actually active?????!!!  also i had a bit of trouble posting this one so lmk if there are any mistakes x

I.

the skies were in peaceful and unbothered calm. warm breeze caressed neteyam’s skin as he made his way through the forest, to the pond. to you. birds chirming in the background; it all confered the setting an idyllic ambience.

it didn’t take him long to finally reach the hypnotising, crystal-like waters of the pond. and there you stood, surrounded by sun rays and beautifully decorated branches. every thought he carried seemed to dissolve, as it always did.

watching you get undressed of your ornaments, only to dive into the water moments later, he realised that, with you, he was able to live in the moment. other worries ceased importance when you leaned in for a big kiss, wrapping his favourite perfume, your own, around him. you were enhacing in all ways possible. 

he walked away from the hiding of branches, his figure becoming visible to you.

your face light up with his sight, a truthful and ebullient smile, calling out his name.

II.

he knew you were around his pod; however, he did not expect the scene he’d encounter as he approached his home. 

you were sat on the ground, knees bent. tuktirey, his youngest sister, was sitting in the same position before you. besides the two of you laid a collection of wildflowers, jewels and beads. some of those he had previously seen on you. your hands were occupied combing tuk’s hair, tangling flowers into her braids and adorning some other braids with beads. while you ornamented her hair, you were entertaining tuk with stories, which went from tales to some of your experiences. 

your face was relaxed, the softest of smiles settling on your lips, eyes looking at the younger na’vi with kindness. tuk’s smile was way wider, due to the constant laughter. truth be told, she admired you and loved spending time in your presence. 

“and there you go!” you finally exclaimed, accomodating the last details. 

tuk turned her body to you, excitement washing all over her. 

“you look so pretty” you smiled at her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. 

she returned the smile, giving you a big hug. “ ‘m gonna go show mama!” she grinned before sprinting to find neytiri. 

once she was gone, neteyam approached you. 

“hey” you stood up to greet him with a kiss to his cheek. “your sister is the absolute cutest”

“she is. you know, you didn’t have to do this. you could’ve just, i don’t know, done something else. something fun” he said.

“this is my idea of fun” you shrugged, smile never abandoning your lips. 

“and i adore you for that”

III.

his chin rested on your shoulder, embracing you with his arms from behind. one of his hands was laced with yours, caressing the back of your hand. 

your eyes were locked with his in the reflection that the abandoned ship shot back. a lovesick smile adorning your and his features. 

“i love us” 

the words slipped off your mouth so casually they surprised neteyam. but he wasn’t complaining. he was eager to hear more, to listen to the mellifluous sound of your voice. 

“what?” he asked in pure and bening confusion.

“i love us. i love you and me together” you elaborated, turning to face him. “i love how we fit each other.”

he tuck a loose strand of hair behing your ear. but his touch still lingered against your cheek. 

“heaven is truly a place on pandora with you, y/n” he softly said. “better than i ever even knew”

you planted a kiss to his cheek before dozing off into the forest again, motioning for him to follow. 

IV.

you couldn’t really recall how it had started. it didn’t really matter, though. the point was you both were laughing. laughing so wholeheartedly much. your laughs laced together melodically, although you were almost out of breath.

your cheeks hurt from all the grinning. your tummy hurt, too, that’s how hard and pure the laugh was. you couldn’t even open your eyes. 

“i-” you broke into laughter again. “i can’t stop!”

you threw you head back, resting it against his shoulder. but it didn’t last long, for he was laughing so much. the whole scene only made you laugh even harder. 

that same day, later on, you’d realise you could have stayed in that moment forever. worries dissolved, no tasks to fulfill, just him and you, enjoying such a mundane yet satisfying activity as laughing, living in your very own bubble. 

as for neteyam, well, he was a goner as soon as he heard you giggle. it sounded so- addicting? yes, perhaps that was the word. the only thing he was sure about was that he never wanted to stop hearing you laugh. 

V.

“y/n!”

you turned to greet him with a warming smile, one that never seemed to leave your face whenever he was around. 

“listen, i’ve ... i’ve been meaning to tell you something” he started, face suddenly flushed. 

you immeadiatly frowned. confused and, yes, slightly afraid. those words didn’t usually announce good news. 

“is everything okay?” you asked carefully. 

“yeah, totally” he flashed you a smile, before avoiding your gaze once again. “it’s just i’ve been feeling different lately. i, well i don’t know how to word it, but, the world suddenly was more beautiful. life’s been refreshing. i felt like doing really pointless things, but doing them made me happy. and i found someone to do them with. i found someone who sees me. i found someone worth living this world with and for.”

your heart swelled with happiness. you didn’t consider yourself to be able to elaborate a worthy response. there was a glint in your eyes that made you even more ethereal now. 

“well that might have been the most beautiful thing i’ve heard in my entire existance” you cracked a smile. “you truly are one of a kind”

he stepped closer to you, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear.

“i can’t promise you forever, y/n. but i can promise you now, and everything i am”

you allowed yourself to avert your eyes to his lips for a fraction of second, before darting your orbs back at his. you couldn’t ask for more.

“you make my life better for just being in it.” you finally said, voice quiet. “and i can’t promise you forever either, because forever wouldn’t be enough”

he gifted you a smile, one you had grown to adore, to need even. 

“kiss me” you whispered, not able to hold in your yearning anymore. 

“all for you”

and then his lips were on yours, not for the first time, certainly not for the last time, but fervently, exploring in a way they had never before, saying unspoken words that translated that feeling you wanted the other so desperately to know but were afraid speaking wouldn’t be enough. feelings that would accompany you forever.

© heartcereql, 2023 || thank you for reading ! 𓆩 ♱ 𓆪

[acourtofmenandthirst]

To The Mother

A shorter Eris x Archeron!Sister fic to add to the collection! I still would like to work on this series of fics (not chronological, but little blurbs from their story) and I have a few more ideas I want to write. Don't worry - I am still working on the Cassian Part II but it's really long so far and I had this idea and wanted to write it out tonight for you!

Warnings: None, angst if you squint

Word Count: 3.4K

“What’s that scar from?”

Eris stared at you, his glowing red eyes wide with shock. His lips parted ever so slightly, mouth ran dry at the question. He pressed his tongue to the back of his teeth, frozen in thought, without a quick retort - if just for the first time in his life. 

You smiled, lips curled upwards at the question. Eris saw how your eyes sparkled, despite the pink blush that crawled up your cheeks. His eyes flitted between you and the young boy in front of you, the one who stared up at the once human female like he was in love with her. Rory’s hands were clasped in front of him, rocking back and forth on his tiptoes as he tucked his chin to his chest. But he smiled at you and you smiled back as you tucked a strand of hair behind your ear.

Eris could have laughed, the utter opposite of the female he’d originally brought to Autumn. You had certainly blossomed, adapting to your role as his wife. After months spent getting to know each other - tea time spent talking about everything yet nothing at all, building up to even touch each other, he was able to trust you - and he definitely worked to earn yours. 

But even after all that time, years after the two of you had married, even after he’d helped you bathe, after he told you about his father, after you’d confessed everything about your family to him, he’d never asked about that little scar along the underside of your jaw. 

Not that you ever asked about his - not really. You could spend hours pointing to each one of his scars and asking him what happened - but you never did. Instead, your kisses lingered along the torn skin of his throat, the marred flesh along his chest, the raised line over his cheekbone. No, your nails simply raked over the puckered skin on his back, tongue traced the ridges over his stomach, legs rubbed against the marks across his thighs. You never asked. 

He watched the understanding flash over your face the night he told you about Beron, the centuries of torment he underwent, how he spent most of his life in pain and bleeding. You caught on quickly, blinking away the crystal tears that welled up in your eyes. You’d asked how a father could do such a thing, inflict such damage on his son. But it was the court politics; he told you that you’d understand it soon enough as his wife, living in a court still ruled by Beron.

You’d barely looked the High Lord in the eye since. 

But you’d still loved Eris Vanserra, the male who fought and bled for the Autumn Court. 

He watched you lean closer to young Rory, who giggled as you whispered the answer to his question. Even with his ears perked up, Eris couldn’t make out the short tale you’d spun, but it had the babe in awe of you - of whatever battle you’d managed to win and earn that small scar. 

He watched the little male’s mouth open, a whole storm of questions ready to erupt. 

So Eris finally moved, taking long strides to approach your side. “We have to get going,” he simply said, taking your hand in his. “Thank Lady (Y/N) for talking.”

“Sorry, sir,” he mumbled, big brown eyes pointed at the ground. His bottom lip jutted out as he kicked the ground. “Thank you, Lady (Y/N).” 

You tutted, squeezing Eris’s hand as he tried to pull you away. You narrowed your eyes at your husband, the utter urgency displayed in the tightness of his jaw, desperate to end the personal questions. “Thank you, Rory.” You reached up your free hand to brush his moppy brown hair away from his face. “Now go find your mommy, okay? She’s probably worried about you.”

Rory beamed up at you. He smiled broadly, puffing out his chest in reply. “I’m eight now, Lady (Y/N). My mom doesn’t worry about me.”

Eris cocked a brow, straightening to his full height and lifting his head to scan the bustling village streets. There were clumps of Fae around each of the shops, bystanders watching, waiting, if only just to catch a glimpse of the royal Fae. There was no doubt in his mind they were only out to see you, they all stared in awe at your beauty, the human girl. 

You’d had a reputation prior to your marriage, the daring, drunk, fighter Fae from the Night Court. While you may have had a dark spur during your time in the Court of Nightmares, Eris was quick to uncover the real you. You no longer relied on your harmful vices, itching to escape the reality with your family. 

After your wedding, the public got a glimpse at said Nightmare outcast - ostracized for a reason, in fact. You weren’t harmful, not scary like Rhysand, or bloodthirsty like the Illyrians. You didn’t show yourself off like they did in the Nightmare, trading in your black silk for Autumnal red.  

Eris scanned the crowds for Rory’s mother, eyes sifting through the small crowds. He was quick to find her, chatting with some of the other Fae. As soon as the young boy glanced up at Eris and saw him searching for his mother, the babe bolted, sprinting over to her before the High Lord’s son would have the chance to tell his mother on him. 

Eris remained stoic as Rory ran over to her, launching himself at her and went nearly tumbling into her side. He clutched at her skirts and the female was startled, but as soon as she looked up and saw the pair of you watching the scene, she smiled and bowed, then wrapped a son around her hand’s shoulder. He’d certainly get a scolding later. But Eris nodded in response, and he felt you latch yourself to his side, waving at the small group. 

You were met with many smiles, small curtsies and bows presented to you. Eris shifted on his feet, uncomfortable at the formality. With a smile exchanged with the Autumn Fae, you began walking, opting to save your husband from his own awkwardness. 

“You need to work on talking to the babes, Eris,” you teased, wrapping your hands around his bicep. Eris led you down the street, watching the shops and restaurants pass by as you walked. “He’s just curious.” 

He hummed. “He ought to learn it isn’t polite to ask those kinds of questions about your appearance.” You opened your mouth to retort, but he cut you off. “About anyone’s appearance.”

You rolled your eyes when he flashed that victorious grin, to which you smacked his arm. “I didn’t know I married a male so intolerant of children’s questions.” You were only half teasing.

He shrugged and bit his lip to hide his smile. “You didn’t think to ask about that before accepting my proposal.” 

You couldn’t help but laugh - the very sound made Eris’s heart flutter. “We’ll have to work on that if we’re to have children of our own.” 

The male nearly choked. “Is that happening soon?”

You shrugged, shoulder rubbing against him as you tucked yourself closer into his side. “Maybe - should you learn how to tolerate their questions.”

Eris bit the inside of his cheek.

He didn’t tell you about how his chest tightened and eyes nearly welled up at the thought. 

“What did you tell him, anyway?” He couldn’t mask the amusement in his voice.

“Wouldn’t you like to know, Lord Vanserra.” 

______________________

Eris’s fingers fiddled with the golden buttons on his jacket. He debated asking you the same question all afternoon, since you’d shut him down originally. He’d spent the remainder of the day watching the Autumn Fae fawn over you, giving you flowers and harvest baskets, asking you questions and complimenting you. “So what did you tell Rory earlier?” 

He never frequented the villages before you came around - the citizens of Autumn were never too pleased with his father, and Eris was afraid they felt the same about him. They surely did, he figured. Only until you came around. You brought out his softer side, they saw the adoration in his eyes and how you wrapped yourself around him - they watched as he doted on you, never pushed you away or lost his temper. Not like how Beron treated his mother. 

You’d thrown a look over your shoulder at the male, who stood facing the dresser, stripping from the regal clothes he donned for the village visit. You smirked, despite the fact he couldn’t see you, and replied: “You really want to know, huh?”

He shrugged, laying his jacket across the back of the chair beside him. He worked his way out of his pants and sweater, not bothering to cast a cheeky look at you while you changed into your nightgown. “He was excited about it.” Eris dug around the armoire for some linen pants. “I figured you might like to share that tale with me.” 

You watched him step into the trousers, unable to tear your eyes away from those long lean legs. He tied the string around his taught waist and you snapped out of your gaze. You made your way to the bed, sitting on the edge and applying your salve to your arms and chest, working up your neck. Your fingers traced the small scar Rory had asked about, so faint you were surprised he’d even seen it. “I told him it was from when I fell off a Pegasus.” 

Eris smiled, recalling his time as a young babe, the stories of the creatures from the other Courts were ethereal - the young children all dreamed of seeing the Day Court flying horses, the water wraiths in the Summer Court, or the reindeer in the Winter Court. It was rare for the ordinary Fae to leave their courts - even just for a visit elsewhere. It was a luxury given to the High Lords and their most trusted emissaries. To see a Pegasus - let alone ride one - was something poor Rory could only dream of. 

Your husband hummed, making his way over to your shared bed. “And I have to learn to talk to children?” He shifted the covers and pulled them back, standing across the bed, waiting for you to climb under the sheets first. “You’re the one lying to the boy.”

You turned to face him, cocking a brow. “You don’t know that’s not how I got it.” 

He scoffed, pushing the covers even farther back, impatiently waiting for you. “Yeah I forgot about your little stint with Helion.”

You smiled broadly, climbing onto the tall mattress. “You almost sound jealous.” 

Eris groaned, following you under the sheets. “Let’s not joke about it anymore.”

You laughed, scooching closer to him. “You started it!” He muttered something under his breath, dropping back onto the pillow in defeat. “Besides - ” you pulled the covers over his waist. “He and Rhysand are pretty close now - it wouldn’t be too far fetched an idea - ”

Eris grabbed for you, desperate to shut you up, and grasped your waist, earning a high pitched squeal from you. His fingers dug into your hip bones, heat seeping from his hands, a tickle grazing over your skin. He maneuvered on top of you, legs tangling with yours. He ducked his head into the crook of your neck, pressing his lips to the soft skin over the expanse of your throat. He nipped and licked his way up to the corner of your jaw, where his tongue traced the thin scar there. 

“So,” he murmured, lips sucking at the soft spot under your ear. “What happened here?” Your hands threaded through his red hair, pulling softly as he rubbed his nose against your ear. “And leave Helion out of it, please.” 

You huffed a breath in mock laughter, winding your arms around his shoulders and resting over his broad back. With a hum, you let him settle between your legs, and Eris inched his way down your body until he laid on top of you, head pressed against your chest. You welcomed him with open arms, loving the feeling of his heavy weight against you - like the heaviest, comfiest blanket you had. He listened to your heartbeat jump as you chewed on your bottom lip. 

“A bar fight,” you replied quietly, simply. 

Eris’s hand crawled up your arm, his thumb ran against your soft skin. “A bar fight?” 

You nodded against the pillow, twirling a finger in his hair. “In the Court of Nightmares.”

Eris cursed under his breath. He thought you might have been joking at first. But you told him the story - without any prompting. You trusted Eris with all of the stories of your past - all of them: the good, the bad, the ugly. It was shitty, in reality. Most of the tales of your past were plain ugly. 

So you told him about your time in Velaris. How you drank and drank and drank alongside your older sister. All the time you spent pent up in the shitty apartments, when you had to move to the townhouse because Rhys condemned your flat - there was nobody to confide in except the bottle of wine. There weren’t many fights in Velaris, though, just drinking. Not that you hadn’t tried, though, instigating with the big drunk males. But the Fae backed down. 

Smart enough not to try a Cauldron Made female, you supposed. 

They’d separated you and Nesta, though, sent her to the House of Wind and you to the Court of Nightmares. To break you both separately - build you each into the sisters Fayre wanted. 

But the Nightmares fought back. 

Fae and slimy creatures alike - if you didn’t start shit, they surely would. You didn’t know what kind of creatures lay in the dark, what was looking to take some anger out on the High Lady’s sister.

“I don’t even know what it was,” you breathed, fingers numbly sifting through your husband’s hair. “It was blue, and scaled.” You shivered at the memory. “I think it had fangs.”

Eris stiffened and pushed himself from the mattress, propping himself on an elbow. His other hand gripped your hip, heat seeping into you. “What was it?”

You watched his jaw set, faelight flickering against his soft skin. You chewed on your bottom lip and closed your eyes, unable to look at him. “I don’t know…” your heart stuttered in your chest, tightness pulling at your throat. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It clawed at me - nicked me right here under my jaw.” 

You swallowed harshly, the pit in the bottom of your stomach growing. Eris was pushing himself up off the bed but you grabbed him quickly. You held him by the freckled shoulders and kept him still on the mattress. But his chest was near heaving, brows furrowed. His skin was burning, his anger bubbling up inside of you. “They sent you to the Court of Nightmares as punishment and let that happen to you?” He was seething, tone clipped. 

You sucked in a breath, eyes wide as you watched the male above you. “It was just a fight - ”

“(Y/N),” he stopped you. “You may not know what vermin slither around that fucking hellhole, but that bastard Rhysand does.” Eris heaved, chest rising as he worked through a breath. Your eyes fell from those blazing irises down to his chest. His skin was littered with scars, red splotched over his chest - the fire building up nearly visible. “Don’t - ” he grunted. “Don’t make excuses for him.”

“Eris - ” Your hands flew up to his chest, hoping your cool hands would calm him down. His breathing grew ragged as he sank back onto the bed, knees shaking underneath him. 

His eyes were wide - anger quickly fading to pain. “I’m fine, I’m fine.” He brushed you off, big hands encircling your wrists. But he continued staring at you, eyes trained straight ahead into yours. 

Eris sucked in a breath, holding it deep in his lungs as he looked at you - truly looked at you. Your pupils were blown wide, between the fading faelights and the concern that laced your features, furrowed eyebrows and parted lips. But you were glowing. 

His chest felt like it was contracting, he was barely able to breath through the throe of his stomach twisting. He thought his heart stopped.

When finally he felt it - the hard pop! that sent his mind whirling. 

He was sure his heart stopped.

The beating he felt in his chest - the rapid pumping of his heart - wasn't his. 

It was yours. 

He felt the confusion, the pain, the fear, the utter fucking love that poured from your heart.

His hand clutched at his chest as he sucked in another breath. The male’s red eyes burned into you incredulously, and in that moment you weren’t sure if heart attacks were only limited to humans.

“(Y/N),” he breathed. “(Y/N) - ” he cut himself off, lurching forward, and grabbing you by the cheeks. He smashed his lips against yours, to which you couldn’t help but yelp as he pulled you into him. “You - you’re my - we’re mates - ”

You froze against his lips, eyes wide as your hands flew to his chest. “I’m what?”

Eris was incomprehensible. His mind wasn’t working, his throat choking on each syllable after. All he could focus on was the string that tied itself in a pretty bow around his heart, the one that tethered itself to you. Warmth flushed through him - not like fire, no.

He felt you.

Eris laughed.

He just sat there and laughed. 

The smile was one you weren’t sure you’d seen before. Different than after your wedding, when he’d spent the whole evening with that shit eating grin, that I’ll devour you grin. It wasn’t like the first real smile he’d given you, tight lipped but made his eyes crinkle. Nothing like the laughter he’d produce after you both recalled childhood stories. Definitely not like the chuckle he’d emit after you’d cleverly insult the Night Court. 

No he was laughing - in utter disbelief. 

After centuries of torture and abuse, the male had finally been handed something he’d been dreaming of. And all he could do was laugh. 

So much so, that tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. 

He was overcome with emotion. 

“Eris Vanserra, you better speak up right fucking now.” Your mind was moving a thousand miles a minute. 

Mate? 

Mate? 

You almost didn’t believe him. 

Not until he grabbed your shoulders and kissed you again, and again, and again. A thousand chaste kisses as he fought for his own breath in between. 

“(Y/N) Vanserra you are my mate.” 

His smile was contagious, and apparently so was the warmth burning in his chest. 

You took a shaky breath, your own throat closing with emotion. You tried to swallow past the knot that was forming there instead of words. All of the words you’d imagined you’d say in this exact moment - the confessions, the profession of your undying love.

Eris kissed you again before pulling you fully into his arms, sat up in the bed, legs tangled together. His arms wrapped around your waist as he hugged you so tight there was barely room to breathe.

Not that either of you sought oxygen at that moment - only each other. 

His face fell into the crook of your neck, where his nose brushed against your pulse. “I prayed to the Mother every night for this, (Y/N),” he whispered, afraid his voice would crack if he’d spoken any louder. You choked on a sob, winding your arms over his shoulders. “For Her to mate us.” You felt his warm tears against your neck, a shaky laugh emitted from the male. “From the first night you spent here - you wanted nothing to do with me.”

You sniffled, sighing as you dropped your head against the top of his, the bridge of your nose pressed against his ear. “That’s not true.”

He smiled, arms wrapping around you even tighter. “We hadn’t exchanged more than three words and I knew I was yours.” He smiled against your skin. “I asked the Mother for this every day. I nearly begged her for it.” He laughed, still shaking with disbelief. 

You kissed the tip of his ear, nuzzling your cheek against the crown of his head, holding him closer. “My mate.”

[genshin-impact-updates]

Version 4.4 Event Notices Compilation (1)

Shenhe's outfit "Frostflower Dew" is available at a limited-time discount in the Shop!

〓Discount Period〓

After the Version 4.4 update – 2024/03/11 03:59:59

〓Outfit Details〓

● Shenhe's outfit "Frostflower Dew" will be permanently available in the Shop after the Version 4.4 update.

● The price of the outfit after discount is 1,350 Genesis Crystals. The price will revert to 1,680 Genesis Crystals after the limited-time discount ends. The outfit can only be purchased once.

● The outfit can be viewed in Character > Dressing Room > Outfit after purchase.

● Travelers who do not have Shenhe can still purchase the outfit, which can be viewed in the Character Archive after purchase.

Ganyu's outfit "Twilight Blossom" is available at a limited-time discount in the Shop!

〓Discount Period〓

After the Version 4.4 update – 2024/03/11 03:59:59

〓Outfit Details〓

● Ganyu's outfit "Twilight Blossom" will be permanently available in the Shop after the Version 4.4 update.

● The price of the outfit after discount is 1,350 Genesis Crystals. The price will revert to 1,680 Genesis Crystals after the limited-time discount ends. The outfit can only be purchased once.

● The outfit can be viewed in Character > Dressing Room > Outfit after purchase.

● Travelers who do not have Ganyu can still purchase the outfit, which can be viewed in the Character Archive after purchase.

"Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze" Event: Take part to obtain Xingqiu's outfit and a 4-star character from Liyue of your choice

〓Event Duration〓

※ "Hustle and Bustle" Quest Start Time: 2024/02/11 04:00:00

※ During the event, complete Act II to obtain "Special Furnishing Gift (I)," and complete the quest "Hustle and Bustle" to obtain "Special Furnishing Gift (II)."

〓Event Rewards〓

〓Eligibility〓

Adventure Rank 20 or above

And complete Archon Quest Prologue: Act III "Song of the Dragon and Freedom"

※ Complete Archon Quest Chapter I: Act III "A New Star Approaches" and Xianyun's Story Quest "Grus Serena Chapter: Act I" first to get the best experience from this event.

※ Complete Furina's Story Quest "Animula Choragi Chapter: Act I" before accepting the quest "Hustle and Bustle" to best enjoy the event.

〓Event Details〓

● During the event, the following gameplay modes will unlock in sequence: "Paper Shadows A-Foraging," "Joyful Beasts and Their Auspices," and "Iridescent Cloud-Striding."

● In the "Paper Shadows A-Foraging" gameplay, Travelers can watch unique "Paper Theater" and guide Guoba and Yuegui to find ingredients and cook mouth-wateringly delicious dishes.

● In the "Joyful Beasts and Their Auspices" gameplay, Travelers can play "Just Wushou Dance!" with three others, competing to grab various Teabricks, and experience the boisterous Wushou atmosphere.

● In the "Iridescent Cloud-Striding" gameplay, Travelers can challenge racing trials, and make skillful use of the "Golden Carp's Leap" to agilely traverse the mountains of Chenyu Vale.

● Complete the event's various gameplay modes to gain Festive Fever. Reach a certain amount of Festive Fever to obtain Xingqiu's outfit "Bamboo Rain" and a 4-star character from Liyue of your choice.

● Xingqiu's outfit "Bamboo Rain" will be available for purchase in the Character Outfit Shop after the end of Version 4.4, which will be priced at 1,680 Genesis Crystals.

[david-talks-sw]

An allergy to the Prequels

While I'm putting together a post about the evolution Lucasfilm's transmedia strategies, this part kinda turned into its own thing!

So I'm not sure if anyone else noticed, but, uh... there hasn't been that much Prequel content since the Disney sale, right?

'Couple novels and comics, some episodes... but nothing meaningful.

The more I look into it, the more it feels like a deliberate avoidance to touch on anything Prequel-related - beyond the required quota, that is - to a point where they'd rather tell stories set during periods that are Prequel-adjacent (Dark Times, High Republic) than something set around Episodes I, II and III.

On-screen policy: "pretend they never happened"

I mean, this one's no secret. When The Force Awakens had been announced, with J.J. Abrams at the helm, everyone sighed in relief. "Finally, George Lucas won't keep ruining the franchise."

When Abrams had been announced as the director of Episode VII, I remember this cringey animated video started circulating online, titled "4 Rules To Make Star Wars Great Again" or "Dear JJ Abrams":

“Star Wars isn’t shiny and clean... Star Wars is a western.”

If you ask me, those two things are not mutually exclusive.

'Cause Star Wars has always been both, for many Prequel kids. Both clean and dusty, Coruscant and Tatooine. There was never a disconnect between the Original Trilogy (OT) and the Prequel Trilogy.

Even the documentary The People vs George Lucas shows Prequel-hating fans begrudgingly admit their kids felt all six episodes tied seamlessly.

Abrams, on the other hand, said: "I think [the "Dear JJ" video] was right on." Later on, he also said:

he considered "putting Jar Jar Binks's bones in the desert" on Jakku, somewhere, and

he intentionally made the lightsaber fights "rougher", "primitive" and "more powerful" unlike the fast-paced ones in the Prequels.

Later, we found out he wanted to blow up Coruscant.

It's clear he wasn't a big fan of the Prequels.

But y'know what? Not many fans over 20 were, at the time. And when The Force Awakens came out, most them celebrated it as a wonderful love letter to the OT.

Star Wars is cool again. Mission accomplished 🙌 !

However movies keep coming out, and references to the Prequels - if there are any - are literally just that... references.

Sometimes in the shape of a cameo ("hey look, Genevieve O'Reilly from the Ep. III deleted scenes is playing Mon Mothma again!")

Sometimes in a name (Luke name-dropped "Darth Sidious"!)

But nothing set during the Prequel era, and nothing treating the events that happened in that period as relevant or impactful, beyond subtextual nods.

In fact, the trend of avoiding anything Prequel-related continues as the final film in the Skywalker Saga comes out:

The Rise of Skywalker has a secret Sith society that chants the name "Palpatine" instead of his Sith name "Darth Sidious",

the film pretends the Kaminoans never existed,

and neither TROS nor Trevorrow's Duel of the Fates script even try to bring Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker back on screen. Let that sink in, we're talking about the Chosen One, Skywalker Senior, whose sins caused this whole mess... and his name isn't even uttered once in the final chapter of what Disney dubbed the *Skywalker* Saga (or the entire Sequel trilogy, for that matter).

But hey, The Clone Wars got renewed for one last Season! That's cool right? So many stories had gone unfinished and somehow the animation looks even better than befo--

-- oh. It's not 22 episodes? Only 12?

Four of which had already been shown to us, but hey! We need to set-up the Bad Batch series, so let's shoehorn those episodes in there, and forget Son of Dathomir, Dark Disciple or Crystal Crisis.

*sigh* Better than nothing, I guess.

In other mediums: "just not a priority"

Now this is something that I'll explore more in the transmedia post (and purely my interpretation), but the noticeable change between Lucasfilm's transmedia strategy *post-ROTS* and the one post-Disney sale is that:

Before, the games, comics and novels were the main content. After all, Revenge of the Sith had been released, so that was it, for the movies. Thus, a variety of other content was being cranked out to keep the Star Wars franchise relevant. There were comics set 100 years after Episode 6, comics set 25,000 years prior, games set in the Old Republic era, other stories in the New Republic era, novels galore, a couple of parody films and an animated show, The Clone Wars, which sometimes received its own tie-in comics, novels and games.

After the sale and ever since, most of the transmedia products have had only one goal: promoting the films & streaming shows.

So while in 2015 you won't see an abundance of Prequel content... you'll see an avalanche of OT books and comics come out.

Why? Because the heroes of that era will be in the Sequel Trilogy movies. It provided context to the kids who hadn't seen the OT yet, and reintroduced those films to a new generation of fans, while priming them for the Sequels.

A multimedia marketing strategy that ultimately proved successful.

However, it continued even after The Force Awakens came out.

Don't believe me? Compare how many comics there have been set during the Prequel era vs the OT era.

If they make comics about the Prequels, they're limited runs.

Case in point: before the current Yoda series, the best any Disney Prequel-set comic series ever got was 6 issues.

Note: it's worth pointing out that the frequency of mini-series aren't just a Star Wars-specific thing, it's a comic book industry thing. The readership for comics is dwindling, many people are reading scans online, and so no publisher wants to commit to a story that lasts more than 4-6 issues. My problem is: there absolutely would be readership for a Prequel comic series to warrant an extended run instead of a mini-series.

Let's talk books. There have been give or 64 canon novels published since the Disney sale.

Only 11 of them are set during the Prequel era. And even those stories only came out when the planets were aligned.

Almost half of them were released while being a part of some bigger multimedia push.

Example:

Before the Obi-Wan Kenobi series was being released on Disney Plus, we'd had one novel and like two comic stories about him during the Prequels... released between 2012 and end 2021. That's about three pieces of content in almost ten years.

Clearly a low frequency.

Then, when the series is around the corner, two books and a comic story comes out in the space of months, plus an anthology book with an alt cover with his face on it and a comic with a story of him and Anakin in the first issue, all in 2022.

My takeaway: short of there being a film or series that needs to be promoted, you'll rarely get any Prequel comics or books.

And this is OBI-WAN we're talking about. The character who even the Prequel haters love. Imagine how little attention the other ones get.

Gaming-wise, Battlefront had no Prequel content at all (again, 2015 was the year where OT content was shoved down the consumer's throats to prep them for Episode VII), and Battlefront 2 only released Prequel content a full year later.

All that being said, we did seen some Prequel elements here and there. After all, some actors got to reprise their roles, books and comics came out featuring Prequel characters... but there's a catch.

The stories they appear in are set in-between Episodes III and IV, a time-period known as "the Dark Times" or the "Imperial era".

"Dark Times" being used instead of the Prequel era

It's easy to see the appeal of this era. You keep the same threat from the Original Trilogy - the Empire - but redress it with Prequel elements... while also cherry-picking the best characters of both the OT and the Prequels and giving them a chance to shine again.

The situation is more clear cut, as opposed to the complex one in the Prequels. Bad guys are stormtroopers, good guys are anyone else. And the stories no longer take place in the shiny capital, you're back on the frontier.

But at this point... it feels like a cop-out.

When you consider how much content has been set during the Dark Times, it's nothing to sneeze at. Since the sale, we've had:

2 movies (Solo, Rogue One)

4 series set in that time-period (namely The Bad Batch, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, and Star Wars: Rebels).

2 video-games (Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor).

17 novels (such as Ahsoka, Lords of the Sith, the new Thrawn books, etc)

And just a whole bunch of comic book series & mini-series (like Kanan, Princess Leia, various Vader-centric comics including Darth Vader: Lord of the Sith, many tie-in mini-series promoting Rogue One, Jedi: Fallen Order, Obi-Wan Kenobi, etc).

There's been so much content made for this time-period that it feels like an unwillingness to do the work and create something set something during the Prequel era, let alone something that follows its Jedi.

After all, why make a story set in the Prequels (disliked by vocal fans) when you can just take the characters in that story and put them in an OT setting (which will appease the Prequel-haters)?

Maybe these stories get relegated to the Dark Times because:

there seems to be a perception that anything set in the Prequel era won't sell?

or maybe the current SW writers weren't fond of Episodes I, II and III, and don't find those Jedi characters likable, thinking they're too righteous and dogmatic which makes it hard to craft a story around them.

Or maybe it's because they're under the impression that the Prequel Jedi are bad. Like, canonically, in the narrative. Not just in a "I don't like them" sense, but also in a "the story is all about them becoming corrupted" sense.

Let's expand on that last point.

Retconning the Prequels as the "Fall of the Jedi" era

Somehow the rare stories set during the Prequels that we do get seem to automatically be about how "the Jedi lost their way/failed".

The series Tales of the Jedi is explicit about it...

... and I already explained why it contradicts what George Lucas established here and here.

You also see it in Rebels and the new season of The Clone Wars...

... in comics...

... in games...

It gets to a point where the Prequels era has now been redubbed the "Fall of the Jedi" era by Lucasfilm.

You wanna know what that period was referred to before the Disney sale? The "Rise of the Empire" Era.

Because - and I'll never get tired of saying this cuz it's factual - the Prequels aren't about the fall of the Jedi, they're about the fall of the Republic and Anakin, and rise of the Empire and Vader.

So in addition to being overdone, the "Jedi lost their way" is not even the intended narrative of the Prequels (if one puts any stock in Lucas' words). It's a minor subplot at best, hardly the focus of the films, let alone a whole time period.

But dubbing it "Fall of the Jedi" implies that there's another era in which the Jedi were in their heyday.

Because Star Wars authors are in luck! Yet another alternative has presented itself in the shape of a new transmedia initiative, and it's even better than the "let's set it during the Dark Times" solution:

A new transmedia initiative: The High Republic

You wanna deal with the Jedi before the Empire, but for some reason you wanna avoid dealing with the ones seen in the Prequels?

Look no further. Meet the Jedi of the High Republic.

Noble, adventurous, inspired by the Knights of the Round Table, they're everything the OT kids dreamed about when they heard ol' Ben Kenobi talk about the Knights of the Old Republic.

That's more like it!

Note: the High Republic was created for other reasons and has many more upsides than the ones mentioned above. Namely, a fresh new spot in the timeline that allows for creative freedom and a beautifully-coordinated transmedia storytelling effort where retcons are non-existent. However it does seem evident that not having to deal with the 'unlikable' Prequel Jedi and their "fall" is one of those upsides.

Another perk that the High Republic era offers is more freedom in terms of storytelling compared to the Prequels.

In 2016, Pablo Hidalgo tweeted he still quotes to authors the following excerpt of West End Games' guide for aspiring Star Wars writers, from 1994.

You can't write "this was the best day in Luke Skywalker's life", for example, because another author may want to write a better day than the one you just wrote.

My guess is that a similar approach applies to how all characters from the movies are treated. They're massively iconic. So you can't write a book that drastically changes how Mace or Yoda or Obi-Wan are perceived overall.

The stories need to be self-contained, disregardable if necessary, because you'll have dozens of writers coming up with new stories for those same characters, and you need to leave them some room.

Examples:

Notice how in the book Dooku: Jedi Lost we never see how Dooku turns to the Dark Side and joins the Sith.

Same goes for crossover comic book arcs of the Star Wars issues, like Vader Down or Crimson Reign... the characters don't really change by much in those comics. You could stick to just watching the movies and you wouldn't really miss anything.

But with The High Republic, you indeed can develop these characters as much as you want.

All stories featuring Avar Kriss leave an impact on her, you can nail down who she is perfectly in one book or one comic arc, both being just as meaningful to her character.

The fact that she's not as iconic/famous a character as Mace Windu means that authors can go to town on crafting an interesting and nuanced character arc for her that'll have a beginning, middle and end... something Mace will never really get.

CONCLUSION:

Back in 2015... let's not kid ourselves. The Prequels were unpopular and Disney is a multi-billion dollar corporation. Opting to make as much money as possible is what they do.

It's the same reason they decided not to go with George Lucas' original plans for the Sequels, in 2012.

I mean, imagine you're Disney. You just dropped 4 billion dollars, with a B, on this franchise. Your next Star Wars movie needs to be worth the price tag. Now, you can pick between two options:

Option #1 is uncharted territory and it explores the midi-chlorians (the cursed word…!) and the guy who presented you with this option also openly admits that a big chunk of customers won’t like it, but he wants this to be done because it’s his vision.

Option #2 is very simple: a soft reboot, that plays on nostalgia that the same chunk of customers (aka the 'boomer and Gen-X fans who grew up with the Original Trilogy and now have kids, grandkids and MONEY) will like.

It's a no-brainer. They gave the customers what they wanted.

But time has passed, the fans who were children when the Prequels first came out have grown up, and grew up with characters like Yoda, Mace, Plo Koon, Kit Fisto and other Jedi as their heroes, aside from main characters like Anakin and Obi-Wan and Ahsoka.

Can we maybe expand on them, flesh them out more?

No, let's either ignoring the storytelling potential of these characters or reducing it to them being "righteous, arrogant and dogmatic".

God forbid we get a story showing the Prequel Jedi in a *gasp* more positive light? One where their POV is more understandable, instead of the same old "we brought this on ourselves" storyline.

There's a whole decade between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones... you're telling me there's no space to show us Anakin's training and how he formed bonds with the Jedi we later see in The Clone Wars? I tried my hand at it here:

Interesting or fun Prequel-set ideas from other pro-Jedi fans on Tumblr can be found here, here and here.

And y'know, part of the Star Wars intent is for fans to take the ideas in the movies and come up with their own stories. You're supposed to create headcanons.

What I'm saying is fans of the Prequels are being given less "imagination food" than the rest, and many of us who like the Jedi in particular are forced to rely on headcanons only. "Better than nothing" is no longer an acceptable standard.

There's a range of recognizable Jedi characters that have already been established in films and TCW, can we maybe expand on them, flesh them out more, instead of whole new ones?

[jacquirebriggs]

Hi everyone... I think I’ll abandon this site. It’s getting really boring here, just like Deviantart. I will come back if archive.ph gets their stuff together.

[xamiipholia]

Carolyn Petit killing it as always. If you're not familiar with her work, I strongly recommend it! She's a wonderful writer and from one highly opinionated trans woman to another I always find her work insightful and deeply resonant even if I don't always agree. I think her post-game essay on The Last of Us Part 2 is essential reading on the game.

Anyway.

I'm wary of the word 'representation' but this- this is why we *do* need it. We need havens. We need art that reaches out and lets us know we are seen and loved - that we have a place in the world that in many ways feels increasingly hostile towards us.

We need stories like Baulder's Gate 3 and Mass Effect that let us carve our own paths and find connections that feel true. We need stories like Hades and Life is Strange: True Colors with strongly and lovingly defined bi characters with resonant arcs. We need stories like The Last of Us Part II that are about queer and trans becoming, finding refuge in each other and holding on to that as long as we can - unshakable bonds of love in a world that is collapsing at the seams and ready to pull us apart without mercy. We need lesbian women like Judy Alvarez who are painted with such crystal clarity and compassion while also being an absolute dumpster fire like so many of us are. We need stories like Horizon Burning Shores that arrive as politicians are trying to excise us from public life and dare to show us finding each other in a beautiful, reborn future and parting with the hope of what we could be someday.

We need all of this. We need more of this - stories that let us find our own way and bespoke, curated narratives. Stories that let us know we have a place in the world.

We don't get enough. We need more. And - I don't have the experience to speak on this with authority as it is not my lived experience but please feel free to reblog and add on - our mlm bros ABSOLUTELY do not get enough representation. Judy's story in Cyberpunk is, in my opinion, one of the best wlw romances in gaming but male V's romance with Kerry can't even be unlocked until a hidden 4th act of the game that isn't even available until you have the point of no return available to you. THAT - that's not cool. We need to do better. Our boys deserve better. We need rep that isn't lopsided.

Anyway thanks for coming to my TED Talk.

[not-poignant]

Birthday Spotlight - The Raven Prince

[20th February - Pisces]

The Raven Prince has been a highly divisive character since introduced. Beloved Unseelie King who created the most peaceable reign in existence for the Unseelie fae, or evil, cunning and manipulative trickster, he's a character that often has people feeling everything for him from pure hatred, to hero worship, to general love, to constant suspicion. And you know what? He'd love that.

The Raven Prince is a raven shifter who gave himself the name 'the Raven Prince' long before he ever became royalty, famously eating his true name from the minds of his parents. His true Unseelie appetite is feeding on words, languages, writing and even culture. He is a world class Master Mage, more powerful than anyone will ever truly comprehend, and he prefers diplomacy over bloodshed, but that doesn't mean he won't make mischief, or ruin someone's life, especially if he feels slighted.

The Raven Prince has been trickster, villain, antihero, hero, and just a raven. He has a complex relationship with everyone, but those who get to know him, tend to adore him.

But a story then? All right. I make no pretence at being a storyteller, I’m only a raven, and we only croak and caw don’t we? Try and find something of use in my words, or don’t, it matters little to me.

The Ice Plague II

Game Theory - (canon) Mentioned in the very first chapter, but never seen in the story, the Raven Prince's presence was already established as the 'King that Augus deposed/defeated' and drew everyone's suspicions towards him long before he ever officially became a villain who needed to be defeated by Gwyn ap Nudd. For years, no one - including readers - knew how Augus defeated the Raven Prince. And Augus wasn't about to tell a soul.

The Ice Plague II - The Seething Seas - (canon) The Raven Prince returns in the flesh for the first time in the canon, and manages to save everyone's ass several times over. But he does it in ways that doesn't endear him to anyone, and he seems to prefer it that way, right up until Augus breaks his heart.

A Broken Feather, Straightened - (canon) Asexual, sex averse, and not prone to romanticism, the Raven Prince is curious, nonetheless, about Augus' vocation as a professional dominant. Augus is determined to make the Raven Prince his, in his quest to eventually make him vulnerable enough to defeat.

These Troubled Times - (canon) Augus is determined to try and defeat the Raven Prince, and the Raven Prince is determined to make sure Augus is aware of his place beneath him, as servant and not master.

Deeper into the Woods - (canon) Mentioned only

The Nightingale and Terho the Mouse-Lad - (canon) Mentioned only

The Court of Five Thrones - (canon) Shown in Augus' flashbacks, and the question of how the Raven Prince was defeated is finally answered.

The Ice Plague I - A Forest of Fire - (canon) Only mentioned here.

The Ice Plague III - The Ice Plague - (canon) Creating a holograph of himself within a crystal to teach Mosk magic, his lessons are invaluable in teaching Mosk the finer points of learning magecraft.

All that We Were, All that We Will Ever Be - (canon) In Gwyn's and Augus' happy ending, the Raven Prince is an unexpected part of it, in ways that enrich their lives

The Wildness Within - (AU) The Raven Prince is a significant figure in this, as the one who takes on Gwyn as his apprentice in magic, learns how to become a softer person, and forces a higher Court status on Augus.

Spoils of the Spoiled - (AU) Only ever known as 'Mr Prince', the Raven Prince here is the master of the House of Ravens at Murdock College where Gwyn and Augus attend as students. A stern guide, and retired Olympic fencer.

Constellations - (AU) Mentioned only.

The Lone Wolf - (AU) Significant figure and master of Gwyn ap Nudd, and Unseelie King. Puts him in a difficult position, but still has love for this fae he adopted.

The King's Dog - (AU) Continuation of The Lone Wolf. Holds the Masque where he insists Gwyn attend and Augus be there.

The Nascent Diplomat - (AU) Continuation of The King's Dog. Unseelie King who finally learns the truth of Gwyn's past and fully steps into his role as Gwyn's father.

Underline the Blue - Cameo, and Nate Prince's uncle.

Underline the Silver - (upcoming) In which the Raven Prince (as Corbyn Prince - his human counterpart) will be a point-of-view character and omega opposite Augus Each Uisge, a peak alpha, in the Underline the Rainbow omegaverse.

A raven shifter.

Incredibly intelligent, known as the 'Wordsmith.' His dialogue is always quite precise and it's rare for him to fumble his words.

Black hair, black eyes, raven feathers in his hair.

Distinctive raven feather cloak and prefers wearing black shoes, black clothing, and a lot of silver chains with crystals that are charmed.

Age undetermined, but in the canon, over 10k years.

Unseelie King and the most beloved of the Unseelie Kings

A fae superstar even among the superstars

A fickle trickster who can sometimes be profoundly childish or profoundly mature, the most like the Gentry of all the fae we meet. He can be petty and cruel, but he has a soft heart deep, deep, deep down. Unfortunately it doesn't stop him from doing some truly horrendous things.

One of the strongest magic users in existence. Master Mage, trained at the School of the Staff.

Eats language.

Selfish but drawn to roles of service.

Lively curiosity.

Incredibly self deprecating followed by grandiose statements which are often just him dropping facts because he really is that powerful.

Strongly prefers his raven form, and feels 'clumsy' in human form, which goes some way to explaining why all his actions seem so precise in human form.

Finding Augus incredibly and bewitchingly attractive (and sometimes even falling in love with him), and constantly insulting Gwyn and Ash (but secretly quite liking Gwyn).

That's NOT how you deal with Ash's debt to Olphix, the Raven Prince! (The Ice Plague II)

Being known as the defeated King, and then finally finding out he was behind it all.

Giving Augus to the Nightingale to protect himself and the Kingdom

All his moments with Mosk on the Mantissa, especially on the crow's nest.

Always has black eyes and black hair

Excellent at fencing in every universe

A precise, educated manner of speaking, highly self-educated, comes from humble origins.

Trauma in his background that's often undisclosed for a long time.

Big reader, into languages, finds culture fascinating. Often a writer.

Educator.

Puts himself in roles where he is in service to others (King & educator being the most common)

Has body dysmorphia (when in human form in the fae realm, and the rest of the time just in general).

The Raven Prince was partially inspired by the character of Jareth as played by David Bowie in The Labyrinth.

He gave himself the name 'the Raven Prince' before he was ever royalty, and due to his ability to eat language, he at the memory of his true name out of his family's minds. As a result, he is the only one who knows his true name. (And no, it's not Corbyn, that's just the name I have for him when he's human which hilariously means 'Raven.')

A lot of people tend to assume the Raven Prince is a top in the bedroom, but he's naturally a bottom, and leans towards a degree of submission when the circumstances are safe. He's asexual, but curious about the sensations around sex.

The most divisive Fae Tales character I've ever written. The people who love him, love him. The people who hate him, hate him. I love him. He's probably in the top five characters I've ever written. Maybe even the top three.

Initially I built up his reputation and power by intentionally never having him in stories for years, and only ever having people refer to him with often a great sense of nostalgia (or in Augus' case, bitterness and regret). By the time he appeared in the canon, in the present, over half a decade had gone by, yet it felt like he'd been with us for a long time. But this was an intentional writing technique, and it's one of my favourites.

I no longer crave death. But I am only a bird, and I fear what comes next.

The Ice Plague II

[datcloudboi]

List of Video Games Turning 10 Years Old in 2024

Alien: Isolation

Assassin's Creed: Rogue (the one where you play as an Assassin turned Templar.)

Assassin's Creed: Unity (the one set during the French Revolution.)

Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky

Azure Striker Gunvolt

The Banner Saga

Bayonetta 2

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea (the DLC where you go back to Rapture)

A Bird Story (a sort of spin-off of "To the Moon")

BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! (is this a sequel to 1 or a prequel to 1? I forgor)

Bravely Default (in North America)

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (the one with K*vin Sp*cey)

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (to date, the last new Castlevania game to release)

Child of Light

The Crew (going offline at the end of March)

D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die (a wonderfully strange game from the guy that made Deadly Premonition)

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (in North America)

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair (in North America)

Dark Souls II

Deception IV: Blood Ties

Demon Gaze

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls

Disney Infinity 2.0

Divinity: Original Sin (from the team that would go on to make Baldur's Gate 3)

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Dragon Age: Inquisition (the winner of GOTY at the very first TGAs)

Drakengard 3

Earth Defense Force 2025 (EDF! EDF! EDF!)

The Evil Within (from the creative director of Resident Evil)

Fable Anniversary

Fairy Fencer F

Far Cry 4

Freedom Planet

Guilty Gear Xrd Sign

Hyrule Warriors

Inazuma Eleven (in North America. And digital only.)

Infamous: Second Son (as well as its expansion, First Light)

Kirby: Triple Deluxe

The Last of Us Remastered (just one year after the original version came out...)

The Legend of Korra (the game from PlatinumGames that you can't buy anymore)

Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham

Lego The Hobbit

The Lego Movie Videogame

Lethal League (from the team that would go on to make Bomb Rush Cyberfunk)

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (the third and final chapter of the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy)

Lisa: The Painful (yes, really)

LittleBigPlanet 3

Lords of the Fallen (not to be confused with Lords of the Fallen, which came out in 2023)

Mario Golf: World Tour

Mario Kart 8 (the original version)

Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes (the prologue to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, which came out 18 months later)

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

Might & Magic X: Legacy

Murdered: Soul Suspect (it's like Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, but not as good)

Natural Doctrine

Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! (a from the ground up remake of the first Oddworld game from 1997)

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 (yes, it got a sequel. I don't know how or why.)

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

Pokemon Omega Ruby & Pokemon Alpha Sapphire

Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy (the last time that Professor Layton himself was the protagonist. At least, until the New World of Steam comes out)

Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Pushmo World

Risen 3: Titan Lords

Sacred 3

Samurai Warriors 4

Shadowrun: Dragonfall

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (the 3rd one)

Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments

Shovel Knight (yes, really)

Skylanders: Trap Team (the 4th one)

Sniper Elite III

Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric

Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal

South Park: The Stick of Truth

Steins;Gate (in North America)

Strider (the one from Double Helix)

Sunset Overdrive

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS (or Smash 4 for short)

Tales of Xillia 2

Tales of Hearts R

The Talos Principle

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call

Thief (the reboot)

This War of Mine

Toukiden: The Age of Demons

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (this game merged the storyline of the War for/Fall of Cybertron games with the storyline of the Michael Bay movies. I’m not joking)

Transistor

Valiant Hearts: The Great War

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

The Walking Dead: Season Two

Wasteland 2

Watch Dogs

The Witch and the Hundred Knight

The Wolf Among Us (sequel this year!)

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z

Yoshi's New Island

[astoundingbeyondbelief]

Kaiju Week in Review (January 28-February 3, 2024)

Minecraft: Bedrock Edition's Godzilla DLC is now available. I joined Wikizilla's stream of it yesterday as a spectator and found it quite entertaining (especially when @squid-in-a-party-hat switched to Creative Mode and started summoning mini-kaiju). I'll post the highlight reel from that stream when it's finished. The main hub of this DLC is a combination movie theater/gallery; each of the four screens lets you access a different minigame. The first is based on the original film and has you rescuing civilians and just trying to survive as Godzilla trashes Tokyo. The second transforms you into Godzilla and pits you and your allies against various kaiju from the first three series. The third tasks you with defending Tokyo against Shin Godzilla, with each defensive phase featuring a different form. The fourth just has you taking photos of the battles in Godzilla vs. Kong (with the Tasmian Sea fight replaced by Godzilla barging into Kong's dome). I found the second and third to be the most interesting, but it's dismaying that only the third really takes advantage of these games being in Minecraft. You scrounge items, build barricades, lay down TNT, trade with NPCs, summon agents, fire blood coagulation potion into Godzilla's mouth from a crossbow... it's a lot more involved than the others.

In further Godzilla video game news, the Heisei MOGUERA and a crystal-hurling SpaceGodzilla variation have joined Godzilla Battle Line, the upcoming Godzilla x Kong: Titan Chasers mobile game is teasing its original monsters, and Dave the Diver of all things announced a free PlayStation-exclusive Godzilla DLC for May.

Here's a rare sequel to an IDW Godzilla miniseries. Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons II - Sons of Giants will boast the same writer (Frank Tieri) and artist (Inaki Miranda) as its predecessor. The logline:

The sequel to last summer’s smash miniseries! Frank Tieri and Inaki Miranda reunite to explore the conspiracy that led to Sir Francis Drake hiding his treasure on Monster Island! Who are the Sons of Giants, and what is their mission? More importantly, what is their connection to Godzilla and the other monsters? This series shows us how it all came to be, how Godzilla was discovered by the leaders of the world, and how it changed history forever!

Despite the Roman numerals, sounds like a prequel. I still think there's something off about any Godzilla story set before the Atomic Age, but the Sons of Giants were the most interesting part of the original Here There Be Dragons, and historical figures encountering the King of the Monsters is always amusing.

Naturally, Funko is making a line of Pops for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. The standout is the Amazon-exclusive figure of a sleeping Godzilla; I also love how Shimo looks like she's yakking. Monogram also revealed the lineup for its sixth wave of Toho Godzilla bag clips, as well as a GxK set. Highlights of the former are a curled-up Final Wars Anguirus, a Simeon, and Zilla; the latter is notable for including a previously-unrevealed monster called a Parrot Frog.

Tokyo's Hibiya neighborhood has long played host to Godzilla statues: first the Kawakita Godzilla, then Shin. Now they're getting a new three-meter statue of the original '54 Godzilla. It emits smoke at night, the mouth glows, and there seems to be some kind of AR app through which he fires atomic breath at you. Despite it being a 70th anniversary installation, however, it'll only be in Hibiya until March 10. I'm guessing that won't be the last we see of it.

[republicsglory]

soirée of the silent stars — a fanmade cookie run: kingdom update project.

GUESS WHO MADE THE TITLE SCREEN FUCK YEAH!!!!

a rough telltale of how the update's story plays out. oh, we're progressing! and yet this is still a heavy wip 💧...

ingame mechanics.. we're uh still a bit at a standstill, but Okay

soirée of the silent stars is a special episode, unlocked after the player finishes episode 16 OR unlockable by 3000 crystals. during the update's period (november 3rd — december 7th 2024 would be the date released.) it'd be 300

ACT I :

- sablé cookie (super epic, support)

epic costumes :

- stardust cookie

- kouign-amann cookie

- financier cookie

- sablé cookie

— costumes essentially will cost less rainbow cubes to pull and rainbow stars to buy, for a good reason @-@.....

— the star dreamers are chance up, though only for this half because adding that onto the second half would be dizzying! even i know what too many costumes is!!

— sabs wouldn't be my cookie of choice but i dug my grave for this back in early 2023 i can not go back now

mechanics :

don't actually fucking ask me that but there'd be Some form of new gamemode... one that would make cubes easier to obtain cause girl you're gonna need them

resonant toppings i haven't figured out yet eitger, told ya this was a wip still😭

the super epic system used with clotted cream, oyster and sherbet would apply to sablé.

ACT II :

- moonstone cookie (epic, magic) (tje name is a link to the wiki)

( moonstone is ... kinda work in progress? but she's got a basis, take that at least. )

epic costumes :

- clotted cream cookie

- oyster cookie

- captain caviar cookie

- pastry cookie

( costume set : nightfall upon the republic )

obtaining the full set within the update's duration rewards crystals and a title , a ray of pale moonlight

other mechanics :

- milky way cookie's magic candy

- CLOTTED CREAM GETS A FUCKING BUFF

i do NAWT know how updates work, so this might be a bit Crappy in the long run, but hey! i'm having fun w this project! and i hope at least some people will enjoy 💫