#does this mean resurrection terribleness could happen to any of the bats?

[flowerflamestars]

Robin fic snippet

Palm scrubbed over her shining cheeks, Elle sat on the ground and said, shudderingly, “Well. I know why you’re alive.”   “For you.”   It probably should have stung, but it didn’t. Not really. A magic girl born in a place magic couldn’t quite thrive, protected in the one way harsh, horrible way Gotham knew how: hope. A woman who’d come back someday, and love it still, blood and crime and chaos all, the whole festering soul of a city.   Jason had belonged to so much worse.   “What?” She blinked. Scowled, wiping under her eyes like Jason couldn’t have told her her face was still perfect, if she’d only asked. “No. Jesus, Jason. It doesn’t have anything to do with me.”   He didn’t believe her, and Eleanor clearly knew it, rising up on her knees and drawing closer on the uneven ground.   “You were born in the city,” Elle said, softly. Fiercely. “Magic can’t love like people can, but Gotham loves you. That’s why, god, it didn’t know how to fix you, but it tried. You came back in pieces and it put you back together because it didn’t want to let you go.”

[blackkatmagic]

Am also excited for labyrinth!! Mayhaps some Helena processing or reacting to what Marc did when they had finished hunting mobsters for the night?

“Spare room is still empty,” Barbara says, distracted by whatever one of the League members is asking. Helena thinks she catches a glimpse of green light, and—the thought of what Bruce would say about Oracle playing tech support for Green Lantern makes her grin despite the weariness that’s heavy in every limb.

“That mattress is awful,” she complains, and instead of making for the spare room she collapses on the long couch against the wall, practically sinking into the cushions. It’s a terrible, awful couch in a truly painful shade of maroon, but Helena has a long-standing adoration of it that manifests as threats to revolt if Barbara ever gets rid of it.

“Then sleep on the floor,” Barbara tells her, merciless. She frowns, entering a few last keystrokes and then sitting back, watching whatever program she’s got running for a long moment before she pushes her chair back from her computer and turns it. The sweep of her eyes takes in Helena’s slightly battered costume, the empty holster on her thigh, the crossbow on the floor, and she smiles. Helena loves that smile. It’s pure guile, and whenever Bruce or Dick insists that Barbara is the nicest of the Bats, Helena has to laugh. Barbara's tempered steel and opaque glass, never quite what you think she should be, and Helena finds that she likes the unpredictability more than she’d ever thought she would.

“I see you and Moon Knight got along,” she says, lancing her fingers and leaning forward to rest her chin on them.

“When you sit like that it makes you look like a supervillain,” Helena tells her, and leaves out the fact that it makes her look hot, too. The on-again, off-again thing with Dick isn't really something Helena keeps track of, because it’s none of her business. It makes the flirting harder to handle, though. From both of them.

“I would make an amazing supervillain,” Barbara says, unbothered, which is equal parts true and absolutely terrifying.

Helena laughs, pulling one leg up to unlace her boot, then the other, and kicking them off. “If you ever go supervillain, I get first dibs on being your henchwoman,” she says, and Barbara smirks, coppery hair sliding over her shoulders and almost hiding the sharpness in her eyes.

“Only if you go back to the costume with the cleavage,” she counters, and then, before Helena can process the flash of heat at the thought of Barbara looking, she asks, “Moon Knight?”

“I'm keeping him,” Helena says without hesitation, because it’s true. Moon Knight waded into a bar fight right next to her, never even blinked at her methods, and didn’t so much as waver when she all but told him her father was mafia. He’s perfect. She hasn’t had someone willing to brawl with her like that in years. Not since Barbara was forced to leave behind the Batgirl mantle, honestly.

Barbara's smile is slow and a little wicked. “Even though Bruce wants him out of Gotham?” she asks.

Helena rolls her eyes, stripping off her gloves and tossing them on top of her boots, her mask following. “Bruce can choke on his cape,” she says without sympathy. “Plenty of people in the League kill when they're forced to, and Bats likes to think he has a monopoly on Gotham, but he doesn’t. If he did try to keep a hero from helping people in the city, when they're only going after bad guys, that would be shitty, and he knows it.”

“I don’t think he realizes that he knows it,” Barbara says, wry. “You know how Bruce is. He’s going to dig his heels in until he’s forced to admit to an emotion.”

Helena pauses, something about that phrasing catching her attention. She tips her head, eyeing Barbara narrowly, and asks suspiciously, “An emotion?”

Barbara laughs, raising her hands. “He does have them, you know,” she points out. When Helena keeps staring, though, she snorts, and says, “When Moon Knight got shot. I saw them together. Bruce was…softer.”

Well. That’s an interesting thing. Helena cocks a brow, and says, “Does Bruce realize that Moon Knight just summoned his god to cover Gotham?”

Barbara's smile is wicked. “Bruce doesn’t even know who Moon Knight is yet.”

That’s even more interesting. Helena laughs, swinging her feet over the side of the couch and sitting up, leaning forward. “There was a god in the sky,” she tells Barbara, and it’s still a little hard to believe. She’d seen the shadow, and the wings, and the wall of darkness around the city like a fortification. “Moon Knight said he’s the doorway. And Bruce Wayne got gooey about him?”

“Before the god part,” Barbara says dryly. “In all fairness. But it will be interesting to see what happens when he realizes.”

Because Barbara isn't going to tell him. Barbara ended up paralyzed by one of the Joker’s mad plots, and Moon Knight killed the Joker, put that particular ghost to rest. Barbara's got her loyalties, but—Helena can understand why they're knotting themselves around Moon Knight, in light of that.

“He’s got a mean left hook, god or no god,” she says, and then pauses, narrowing her eyes. “Wait, this Khonshu, is he, like, a realgod? From an established mythology? Would I find him if I cracked open a world religion book? Or is this another extradimensional entity pretending it’s a god thing?”

Barbara shrugs. “Does it matter?” she asks, a little wry. “Moon Knight believes in him. Khonshu was Egyptian, once, but according to legend he’s a dead god. Maybe it’s something wearing him like a suit, or maybe it’s something pretending, or maybe Moon Knight resurrected a god. I don’t think it makes a difference.”

Barbara's always been the smart one, Helena thinks, amused. Helena’s got good aim, and a good punch, but there’s a reason Barbara leads the Birds of Prey.

“Thoughts on making Moon Knight a Bird?” she asks, leaning forward to give Barbara a smirk. “Honorary, or whatever. His god looked like a falcon there for a minute. I think it should count.”

Barbara laughs. “I was thinking he could be our mascot,” she counters. “Nominal patron god of the Birds of Prey. Khonshu seems to have a thing for warrior priests. I don’t think he’d object.”

“No one should object to having us around,” Helena says breezily. “Zinda’s the life of any party. And Dinah’s probably down with a god who eats hearts and heals human trafficking victims.”

“I’ll start the paperwork, then,” Barbara says, grinning. “Print up a plaque. Should we get Moon Knight a trophy or a condolences card?”

“Both?” Helena offers, and she grins back. Thinks of Moon Knight, perfectly happy to give as good as he got, whether it was in the fight or just when they were bickering, and laughs. “I promised him roses,” she says. “Roses and condolences card in the trophy?”

“Sold,” Barbara agrees, and reaches out. She obviously means to shake on it, but Helena claims her hand, slides off the couch to flop down at her feet, and drops her cheek on Barbara's knee.

“Bruce is going to have an aneurysm,” she says, entirely delighted by the idea. “He’s having feelings about Moon Knight.”

Barbara chuckles, stroking her hair, and she’s really beautiful when she smiles like that. “I’ll show you the tape,” she promises, and Helena is definitely holding her to that.

[On AO3]

[houseisekai]

House Isekai: Shadowbringers - Act 1 Finale: The Warrior of Darkness

House Isekai Shadowbringers AU Masterlist Here

—

Most of House Isekai have finally reunited, with the help of the Ashen Wolves, The former Blue Lions, and Black Eagles class. Leaving Claude and the Investigation Team unaccounted for.

However, as they are discussing the nature behind Sitri’s resurrection and the plans of Lahabrea, they notice something terribly wrong...

—

Outside the Monastery, Present Day...

Byleth walked towards the Monastery alone, the winds blowing back his white hair.

One hand held Sara’s pistol while the other held the Sword of the Creator.

It had been five long years since he saw any members of House Isekai.

He hadn’t even seen the Investigation Team with Claude, even though he knew they were alive.

So much has happened since that first battle at Garreg Mach. He wasn’t even sure what to say when he saw them again.

As he kept walking, he noted something was off.

The wind had just stopped blowing completely.

He looked up into the air and his eyes went wide.

The skies had just went almost completely white.

(Byleth) “Shit.”

He held his weapons tightly and began running towards the Monastery.

...

(Yuki) “U-Um, excuse me.”

Everyone turned to her.

(Megumi) “Yuki-chan? What is it?”

(Yuki) “What time is it?”

Ryuji pulled out his phone and checked.

(Ryuji) “Hm…According to the phone, time in Fodlan’s about 9 in the morning. You forget something to do, Takeya?”

(Yuki) “Should…it be THAT bright outside?”

Everyone paused for a moment before slowly turning to the door behind them.

The outside shone an eerily bright white on the grass, and the wind appeared to stop blowing against the trees.

And the sound of footsteps seemed to be approaching from the main hall.

Megumi got the School-Living Club and Sitri behind her as everyone slowly stood up and reached for their weapons…

The clothes of the Phantom Thieves suddenly switched from their school uniform into their metaverse forms.

(Bernadetta) “Um...D-Don’t your clothes only do that when-?”

(Akechi) “Oh SHIT.”

KABOOOOOM!

[Holminster Switch - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers OST]

The wall exploded into chunks of concrete, monstrous four legged creatures cloaked in white erupting from the main hall and reducing the entrance of the mess hall to rubble.

Albedo, Sebas, and Sara and Darkness jumped to the front, hitting back the debris that was about to hit them.

The monsters’ mouths separated into four jaws, looking something akin to a horribly mutilated dog.

Soldiers began to flood in behind the monsters, drawing their weapons.

(Edelgard) “Damn it, the Church found us!”

(Yuri) “Tch, brought the war right to us, didn’t ya?!”

(Dimitri) “It was going to reach you regardless, now quit complaining and help us kill the angels!”

Edelgard, Yuri, and Dimitri ran forward to meet the soldiers head on.

(Minato) “What’s the plan here?!”

(Kazuma) “WE GET THE HELL OUT, THAT’S WHAT!”

Kazuma motioned the others to himself before trying to head out the exit, before more soldiers started to flood in.

(Felix) “That’s just great!”

(Sitri) “What about the entrance near the lake?!-”

Right as they spun around, more angels blocked the doorway.

(Balthus) “Well, IF IT’S FIGHT THEY WANT!”

(Junpei) “Not sure fighting them head on is our best idea, man!”

(Millium) “Then we’ll make an exit out of here! LAMMY!”

Her golem materialized behind her and charged the soldiers, and with one swipe sent them into the air.

(Megumin) “Think our best bet is to move our butts to Abyss!”

(Sharon) “Very well! We will take point!”

Sharon jumped above everyone and towards the entrance along with Doomguy.

More soldiers were on their way from the direction of the classrooms, forcing Doomguy to pull out an assault rifle.

As he began to unload the gun’s ammo into the Church soldiers, everyone began to retreat.

Edelgard, Dimitri, and Yuri sheathed their weapons and quickly got behind the group running away.

(Church Captain) “DON’T LET THEM ESCAPE!”

The Captain turned to the angels and nodded.

(Church Captain) “Cut them off at all entrances!"

The angels nodded and charged away, leaving the soldiers to pursue the others.

The Phantom Thieves, Machias, Crow, Towa, Aigis, and Doomguy covered everyone as they ran from area to area with their guns, dropping soldier after soldier.

(Machias) “This is absolutely insane! Just how much people did they send after us?!”

(Aigis) “According to my scans, there are currently over a hundred-”

(Towa) “I-I DON’T THINK I WANT TO KNOW THAT NUMBER, AIGIS!”

(Ann) “JUST GO AWAAAAAAAAY!”

(Megumin) “W-Wait a second!”

It was then everyone realized that the group was shooting to kill.

(Kazuma) “The hell?! I thought you guys didn’t ki-”

The fallen soldier’s bodies began to twitch violently as they exploded into pure white winged bats.

(Kazuma) “OKAY, WHAT IN THE FUCK?!”

(Constance) “Keep moving, Kazuma!”

Sharon and Doomguy turned the corner to the entrance of Abyss before Hapi realized something.

(Hapi) “Wait a second, we never saw their bodies do that when we were leaving. Crap, does that mean?-”

Hapi’s question was answered when several more of the white bats flew out of Abyss’s entrance.

An angel was there waiting for them, charging full speed.

(Albedo) “OUT OF THE WAY!”

(Darkness) “EXCUSE ME!”

Albedo in an instant transformed into her black armor and shoved the others out her way, Darkness standing beside her.

They both blocked the monster and shoved them both back into the ground.

Its jaws unhinged and was about to devour them before the two of them drew their weapons and cleaved the side jaws, making it recoil back in pain.

Mercedes, Annette, Linhardt, and Dorothea raised their hands and all cast a fire spell, flying straight into the creature’s mouth and setting it ablaze.

It made an almost ear piercing screech as it inelegantly flopped over, immediately lying dead.

(Linhardt) “Hm, these angels appear to die from our attacks than the one we encountered at Enbarr.-”

(Annette) “D-Don’t think now’s a good time to conduct research, Linhardt!”

(Linhardt) “I’d beg to differ but eh, you’re probably right. Gotta waste our energy escaping.”

Felix, Sylvain, and Ingrid slashed apart the bats following behind them.

(Sylvain) “LESS TALKING, MORE RUNNING!”

(Ingrid) “I don’t think we can get to the stables in time!”

(Felix) “Not gonna help anyway, there’s too many of us to escape on horseback!”

Petra and Ashe shot two out of the air with a bow as Dedue grabbed one and slammed it into the floot.

(Petra) “Then we are hard of pressed for decisions!”

(Ashe) “All the exits are covered by these things right? Then that means they got us surrounded!”

(Dedue) “And going into Abyss seems like a good way for us to get separated and picked off!”

(Bernadetta) “S-SO WE’RE JUST GOING TO BE TRAPPED HERE THEN?!”

(Caspar) “Calm down, Bernadetta! I’m sure we can punch our way outta here!”

(Ferdinand) “Then they will simply follow us! I am not sure we have the stamina to nor the manpower to stave off an entire army!”

(Miki) “Wait a second, what about Valimar?! He can teleport us out of here with that spirit portal thing!”

(Rean) “We’re going to need a huge area for all of us to get teleported!”

(Sitri) “I-If the Cathedral is still here, we could try that!”

(Aqua) “WHAT?! That’s like, the number one spot they would be in!”

(Hubert) “Then we will need to secure the area inside first.”

(Yuuri) “Besides, the Entrance Hall is too dangerous to push towards there, and if we’re out in the courtyard then we’ll be right in the open!”

(Futaba) “Enemies closing in behind us!”

(Fuuka) “More coming from Abyss’s entrance!”

(Pandora’s Actor) “MMMM, IF WE MAKE OUR CHOICE, WE BEST DO IT NOW!”

(Kazuma) “BRIDGE IT IS, MOVE YOUR ASSES PEOPLE!”

...

Byleth cut down the angel blocking the entrance to the Monastery, and shot down any soldier trying to approach him.

The angel began to fade into nothingness before its energy was absorbed into Byleth.

(Soldier) “I-IT’S THE WARRIOR OF DARKNESS!”

(Soldier 2) “GET THE CAPTAIN, WE’LL TRY TO-”

The soldier was interrupted when his head exploded and fell to the floor.

When the other soldier looked back at Byleth, the sword slashed across his chest, sending him flying back.

Their bodies started twitching as Byleth raised a hand towards them.

His hand shot out a wave of a black and purple aura, completely enveloping them.

The bodies had disintegrated completely, leaving no trace of them on the ground.

Byleth saw the path of destruction from the main hall, to the Mess Hall.

After running to the room, he looked at the debris and bodies left in the group’s wake and followed the trail towards the church.

...

(Narberal) “Lord Ainz, the main hall is secure for now!”

The Pleiades and Sharon killed the soldiers inside and collapsed the other entrances leading inside.

(Ainz) “Understood, DEMIURGE, COCYTUS!”

Demiurge opened his hands and flicked his wrists, summoning a massive flame wall in front of the bridge.

Everyone else made it inside, and Cocytus created a freezing mist cloud in front of their entrance, letting ice shoot up into the air forming another wall.

(Cocytus) “IT IS DONE, LORD AINZ.”

(Shalltear) “Get on with it, Schwarzer!”

(Rean) “Right. Heed my call...

VALIMAR, THE ASHEN KNIGHT!”

Valimar stood up from the forests nearby and flew into the air, towards the Monastery.

Byleth finally cut his way to the bridge when he saw several winged bats pick up a specially dressed Church soldier.

(Byleth) “Damn it!”

He aimed the pistol at it and squeezed the trigger.

More bats flew in to intervene and took the bullet, the bat dropping below the bridge. Byleth fired several more shots only to have the same result.

A massive shadow enveloped Byleth, and he spun around with his sword expecting another angel.

Instead, it was Valimar stopping its flying to float next to Byleth.

(Valimar) Instructor Byleth. Please get on.

Valimar held a hand out for Byleth to hop on, to which Byleth responded with a nod.

(Rean) “Valimar, where are you?!”

(Valimar) Awakener, the Instructor is here.

(Rean) “Instructor- Wait, Instructor Byleth?!”

(Minako) “HEY, INCOMING!”

Minato and Minako put their Evokers to their heads and summoned Thanatos, and it casted a massive sphere around them as the ice wall exploded.

From the mist, a massive angel stepped in, roaring and shaking the entire Cathedral.

It had four legs and jaws like the others, but the tail appeared to be some sort of snake-like creature.

(Yuri) “Tsk, must be that captain!”

(Aqua) “Come on, we’ll kick your ass!”

(Edelgard) “This is bad!”

(Albedo) “What do you mean, with all of us here it stands no chance!”

(Akira) “That’s what we thought at Enbarr too!”

(Rean) “We have no idea what the hell’s empowering them, but an ‘Inquisitor’ or whatever turned into one of these, not even Slayer laid a permanent scratch on it!”

(Megumi) “C-Come again?!”

(Bernadetta) “WHAT CHANCE DO WE HAVE THEN?!”

(Ingrid) “If I die today, I die for Faerghus!”

(Hubert) “And I for the Empire!”

(Kazuma) “REAN, WHERE THE FUCK IS YOUR GIANT ROBOT!?”

A massive figure dropped in from the ceiling and landed in front of the angel who was approaching the group.

(Angel) “WHO DARES-...!!! YOU.”

Valimar’s hand went loose as it flew back behind everyone.

(Valimar) Preparing Spirit Portal. Please secure time for me to allow us a safe transportation.

(Byleth’s Voice) “Sara, catch.”

A pistol flew out from the dust and Sara caught it, and a smile grew on her face.

(Sara) “You took your time, didn’t you?”

[Boss Theme #2 - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers OST]

(Sitri) “Byleth...!”

(Futaba) “Cheesy reunion dialogue later, enemies are starting to come from behind!”

(Angel) “I WILL NOT PERMIT THE WARRIOR OF DARKNESS TO INTERFERE ANY LONGER! YOU DIE NOW!”

(Byleth) “I’ll worry about the finishing blow, who’s helping me?”

(Cocytus) “I WILL ASSIST YOU, BYLETH.”

(Sharon) “I as well!”

Doomguy nodded as he threw a few of his smaller guns at the School-Living Club and unsheathed his sword.

(Sara) “Well, looks like this is a good way for the staff to reunite!”

(Angelica) “We’ll join in the fight another time, we’ll take care of our kids!”

(Towa) “Good luck, Instructors!”

Byleth couldn’t remember the last time he smiled. Hearing their voices again brought him a calmness he hadn’t experienced in five years.

He also noted Sitri’s presence with them, but those questions will come later. For now-

The angel roared again, readying its tail.

(Byleth) “With me!”

(Sharon) “Understood!”

(Sara) “Got your back!”

(Cocytus) “FOR THE GLORY OF NAZARICK!”

(Doomguy) “...”

The angel spun around and had its snake-like tail lunge at the five.

Cocytus was the only one not to jump out the way, grabbing it with three of his arms.

It spat poison on the floor, which quickly began to spread into a wide area.

Cocytus stabbed it through its head with the arm holding the halberd and moved aside before the poison could reach him.

(Cocytus) “THE TAIL IS DOWN.”

Doomguy didn’t bother to look at the area he was jumping to as his shoulder cannon fired a grenade behind him, setting the poison ablaze.

He jumped onto the angel, which begun to flail wildly, trying to get him off.

Doomguy jammed his wristblade into it, but couldn’t do anything else other than hold on.

Sara kept its attention by repeatedly shooting it in the face with her pistol, which didn’t seem to do much other than annoy the angel.

Byleth appeared to be doing something with his sword and made it glow a black and purple aura.

(Sharon) “Arcus, activate!”

Sharon smiled and used her wires to wrap around the angel’s legs, making it slower and almost trip.

She dashed from leg to leg at high speeds, using her knife to slice open the parts behind its legs, then pulled the wires closer to her, making them shift into the open wounds.

The angel screamed loudly, flailing even more violently and finally flinging Doomguy off.

The wires broke off which made Sharon frown. It was still moving far too much for her liking.

And just as she expected, the wounds began to heal.

(Sharon) “Master Byleth, I trust you have a solution to our problem?”

Byleth didn’t respond and instead held his hand out, shooting out a wave of dark energy at the creature, making it howl in pain as the wounds suddenly stopped regenerating and caused miniature explosions.

He activated the whip function of the sword as he jumped onto the angel, and swung at the head, dicing many parts into pieces.

(Sara) “Arcus, activate!”

Purple lightning shot back and forth around the angel, slicing off entire limbs with Sara finally appearing where the lightning ended, right in front of the beast.

Byleth jumped off as Doomguy took his place, putting his sword between its neck and slicing downwards, severing the head.

The head was still alive and was about to lunge at Sara with its jaws before Cocytus used the top part of his halberd and impaled it to the floor.

Byleth’s eyes glowed red for a moment before deactivating the whip and looking at the angel.

He raised his hand into the air and began to absorb the light from the angel.

It then was enveloped by a dark aura which covered the floor they were standing in, making everyone take a step back.

When the dark aura disappeared, the angel was completely gone. Even the head Cocytus had impaled left no trace of any gore.

(Cocytus) “HMPH. I CANNOT HELP BUT FEEL A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED AFTER WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT THE LAST ENCOUNTER WITH ONE OF THESE.”

Doomguy shrugged in response as Sharon dusted off her dress.

(Sara) “Well, this one didn’t seem to be an inquisitor. If it weren’t for Byleth, I’m not sure we could’ve killed it.”

She smiled and turned to face him.

(Sara) “Speaking of which-”

That smile went away when she realized Byleth was heavily panting and on one knee.

(Sara) “Crap, Byleth!”

The four ran over to him and helped him up.

(Sara) “Rean, status?”

Rean sliced apart the last bat with his tachi and took a quick look around.

(Rean) “Now’s a great time to go!”

(Valimar) Opening Spirit Portal. Destination required.

(Dimitri) “Take us to Derdriu!”

(Rean) “Right, what Dimitri said!”

(Valimar) Acknowledged. Beginning transport now.

Everyone in the room was quickly teleported away from Garreg Mach.

Soldiers flooded into the room alongside the lesser angels but saw no trace of anyone left.

(Soldier) “W-What happened? I thought the captain was here?”

(Soldier) “Goddess save us...!”

They saw several burn marks on the ground that wasn’t caused by fire. Some of the energy was still emanating off and that's when they came to the conclusion:

(Soldier) “The Warrior of Darkness is with House Isekai!”

Several Agarthans were watching from a distance as the soldiers began to move out of Garreg Mach. The men and women in black robes looked at each other.

(Agarthan) “This is going to be a problem...”

...

Zanado, the Red Canyon, Present Day...

[Sands of Amber - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers]

Hilda yawned as she exited the tent she was sleeping in.

(Hilda) “Ugh, we gotta wake up so early...”

The skies hadn’t even turned blue yet and was still a crimson red over the horizon. Hilda groaned as Marianne exited the same tent and stretched.

(Marianne) “Well, at least we’ll just be exploring today right?”

Hilda rolled her eyes as she picked up her axe.

(Hilda) “Psh, my butt. Claude always says that and it ALWAYS escalates into a skirmish.”

The two walked beside each other as they moved down the resting area and towards the rest of the group.

Naoto and Rise were already up, staring at the same thing.

(Rise) “My Persona still isn’t picking anything up.”

(Naoto) “That can’t be right. Perhaps we need to-...Oh, good morning.”

(Marianne) “Hello. Still nothing?”

(Rise) “Not a thing. I still can’t believe none of us ever noticed this beforehand during the academy!”

(Hilda) “Well, I don’t think it was there to begin with...”

Hilda put her hands on her hips as she examined it.

The Golden Deer and Investigation Team had set up camp to examine a massive tower that went up into the sky, something that definitely wasn’t there before.

Or, maybe it was. Every time they stared at the tower, their memory got a bit fuzzy.

The tower stood out from the rest of the area, looking half natural formation, and half man-made. It had glowing blue lines throughout the entire structure.

Records seemed to indicate it had been there prior, yet earlier in the year when the Houses were sent to this canyon, it wasn’t present. Nor was it present during the previous five years. 

Or, at the very least no one was aware of its existence until just recently.

(Marianne) “Perhaps we should wait for everyone else to wake up?”

(Claude) “Wow, Hilda up early. Didn’t think that was possible.”

Claude tossed everyone a canteen of water as he looked up at the tower.

(Hilda) “Speak for yourself! You used to sleep in all the time back in Garreg Mach!”

(Claude) “Well, I like to think I’m a changed man. Though sometimes I wish I hadn’t. Growing up sucks.”

His smile faded as he continued to examine the tower.

(Claude) “...Ugh, looking at this is just giving me a headache.”

(Naoto) “Perhaps this tower is messing with our memories and causing us to perceive things differently?”

(Claude) “Too early to tell, Naoto. And uh, little too early to start conspiring when we haven’t even gone inside the thing yet.”

When he looked at Naoto and Rise, another thing was starting to give him a headache.

They had been here for at least 3 years, yet not a single one of the Investigation Team showed any signs of having aged.

A velvet door appeared next to them with Yu and that strange girl Marie stepping out.

(Yu) “Mornin’.”

(Marie) “...Hey.”

(Rise) “Any luck, senpai?”

(Yu) “No. Margaret, Theodore, Elizabeth, and Lavenza had no idea what it was either.”

Yu held out the sample from the tower and Naoto put it near the crates.

(Marie) “Most we’re really able to tell is it’s definitely from this world. Other than that, Iunno.”

(Claude) “Then we’re really left with the worst plan we got...”

He sighed as he turned to the others.

(Claude) “Let’s get everyone up and grab some grub. After that, we’re going inside.”

Everyone nodded and turned around back to camp. Claude was about to follow them when-

“I see. Right until the very end, I've read this whole thing terribly wrong... All my hopes have fallen to ash...” 

Claude first checked his throat. He was positive that he hadn’t spoken, yet...

He then looked behind him, and there was nothing other than a few crates facing the tower.

That was definitely his voice he heard clear as day, but there was no one around him.

(Claude) “The hell...?”

Shaking his head, sure he hadn’t gotten enough sleep and went back with the others.

Town outside Derdriu territory...

[Return of the Night - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers OST]

The townspeople watched from their windows as the massive ball of light began pulsating and eventually flickered out, revealing a group of people they had never seen before materialize into existence.

(Valimar) Apologies Awakener. This is as close as I am able to get.

(Yuri) “Huh? Why can’t you get us into the city directly?”

(Valimar) I cannot teleport anywhere without the magical currents in the area being high enough.

(Kazuma) “So, you just happened to teleport us in the middle of some backwoods town and had us scare the shit out of everyone here?”

(Megumi) “W-What about Byleth? I think he’s injured!”

(Byleth) “N-No, I’m not...just...so...tired.”

Byleth gently shoved off Sara and Doomguy’s arm and stood on his own.

It was then everyone realized what was different about Byleth.

He looked more jaded than anything, but what stuck out most was his white hair.

It was some form of green the last time they saw him, but...

(Byleth) “It’s good to see all of you again.”

Byleth made a weak smile, and Megumi was the first to hug him.

(Megumi) “Thank goodness you’re safe!”

She began to cry as Byleth hugged her back.

(Byleth) “Words cannot describe how relieved I am to see everyone okay.”

(Sara) “Oh come on, don’t start crying too. You might make me tear up too.”

(Rean) “Welcome back, Instructor!”

(Yuuri) “It must have been a long wait, Byleth-sensei!”

(Minato) “It’s only been half a year and that’s already been too long.”

(Minako) “We almost got the whole gang together!”

(Akira) “Nice to see you again.”

Dimitri and Edelgard wanted to say something, but thought it best to keep quiet for now. The Black Eagles and Blue Lions watched the class all speak to each other again. 

House Isekai was as close as one could be, and seeing almost everyone reunited was a sight for sore eyes.

It reminded them of a certain missing House that could really make this feel like a proper reunion...

Sitri wiped away some tears, finally getting to see her son all grown up.

Megumi let go and motioned towards Sitri, and the two finally met face to face.

(Sitri) “Hello, Byleth.”

(Byleth) “Si...Sitri?”

She slowly reached out her hands, and Byleth grabbed hers.

Both of them made the same response, their eyes going wide.

(Sitri) “Look at you, hah...You’re all grown up...!”

Some of the group began sniffing and wiping their eyes but the rest smiled as they watched.

(Hapi) “Kiiinda feels like we’re intruding here.”

(Yuri) “Shut up, you’ll ruin the moment.”

(Balthus) “Nah, she doesn’t mean on Byleth and Sitri, dumbass. I meant the fact we’re doing this in the middle of a town.”

(Ainz) “Wait a second, Valimar said that he can only teleport us to areas with high magical energies. What’s so special about this town?”

(???) “Oh nothing. I just made enough energy to where you’ll teleport here.”

[Bedlam’s Brink - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers]

Everyone turned around to see Lahabrea leaning against a nearby building.

Sitri put Byleth behind her as everyone had a hand over their weapons.

(Lahabrea) “Oh, spare me the dramatics, would you?”

He got off the wall and looked at the group standing.

(Lahabrea) “And take a look at this! At...!....A-At...”

Lahabrea was cut off as he reached for his head.

(Kazuma) “...The hell is he-AGH, FUCK!”

Kazuma and his group were the first to reach for their heads, wincing in pain.

The next was the Phantom Thieves, Class VII, the School-Living Club, S.E.E.S, then the denizens of Nazarick.

Byleth and the Blue Lions and Black Eagles quickly followed, leaving Sitri the only one unaffected.

After a few moments, Byleth collapsed to the ground while Lahabrea fell to one knee.

(Sitri) “BYLETH!”

Lahabrea shook it off and looked back up to see everyone slowly recovering.

(Rean) “What...What was that?!”

(Fie) “Ugh, nearly split my head open...”

(Elliot) “Um...W-Was I the only one who heard voices during that?”

(Mare) “You too?!”

(Albedo) “That voice was my own, it was-Ugh...!”

(Yukari) “I don’t remember saying those things at all, yet...”

(Ken) “C-Clear as day? Yeah, same here.”

(Ryuji) “Hey, asshole! What the ‘eff’s going on with...us?”

Lahabrea slowly got up look back at everyone.

(Morgana) “You better have a good explanation of what you did to us!”

(Lahabrea) “...”

(Kurumi) “Tch, what?! Nothing funny to say now? No sass in ya all of a sudden?!”

(Emma) “Guys, he’s not alone!”

Everyone looked at Emma then back at Lahabrea who was still standing there, staring at them.

(Kazuma) “Sold us out to the Agarthan’s didn’t you?! Made them put shit in our heads!”

(Darkness) “You will pay for that, fiend!”

She was the first to draw her weapon, and the rest followed suit.

(Ainz) “Hang on a moment.”

Ainz finally took the time to scan Lahabrea with a magic detection spell.

As he was doing so, Megumi stepped forth.

(Megumi) “You’re putting a lot of time into people you’re supposed to hate. No more dodging the question, who are you, and why are you so invested in us fighting the Church and the Those who Slither?!”

(Minato) “Give us another stupid answer, and you won’t like what happens!”

...

(Lahabrea) “...They deserve to know.”

(Everyone) ?

(Lahabrea) “...Yes, I know what might happen if we do.”

(Towa) “Why is he just talking to himse-”

It was then Towa noticed the faces on Emma and Aqua. Megumin was quick to notice what she was looking at and caught on.

(Megumin) “Eh? Aqua?”

Kazuma had the same face as well. Akira, Morgana, Minato, Minako, all of Nazarick, Doomguy, and Sitri included.

(Edelgard) “What’s happening to them?”

(Dimitri) “Can someone give an explanation or-”

(Kazuma) “What. The. Fuck.”

[More than Truth - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers]

(Sothis?) “...Hello, everyone.”

She awkwardly rubbed the back of her head.

(Sothis?) “I forgot that not everyone can see me.”

Sothis had appeared next to Lahabrea, though she was wearing slightly more ragged and darker clothes.

Compared to the normal Sothis, she had a dark red dress and looked slightly older and more tired, but it was still undoubtedly Sothis.

(Albedo) “What sort of trickery is this?!”

(Emma) “S-Sothis was infused into Byleth such a long time ago! How are you here?”

(Aqua) “No...No! You’re not Sothis! This is some sort of magic that-”

(Lahabrea) “Would the Agarthans really go through the lengths to make an exact copy of Sothis that only certain offworlders can see, Aqua?”

By the tone of his voice, he had dropped any pretense of disguising his voice.

He took a deep sigh and shook his head.

(Lahabrea) “No...You and all of House Isekai have every right to doubt our motives.”

(Yuki) “T-That voice...”

Everyone started listening closely and realized what Yuki was hearing.

(Lahabrea) “Good, I can end this charade. Felt annoying as hell to keep up.”

Lahabrea reached for his mask and slowly took it off, putting the hood down and revealing his full face.

Everyone lowered their weapons, some gasped while some held their breath.

Sharon’s smile had went away a while ago but this was the first time anyone had seen her shocked.

Doomguy took off his helmet for a brief moment to make sure his visor wasn’t acting up, and saw the look of utter confusion on his face as well.

(Lahabrea?) “Sothis, go ahead and make yourself visible to everyone.”

Sothis nodded and did as he asked, making most of everyone jump.

(Sitri) “You’re...also Byleth? How is that possible?!”

(Kazuma) “Hey, don’t fall for it! The Agarthans did some crazy shit with Monica and Thomas way back! This has got to be the same thing now!”

(Sothis?) “Kazuma, it’s-”

Sothis floated towards Kazuma, but everyone quickly went back on guard.

(Kazuma) “Back off, asshole! You aren’t Sothis! This is some really clever trick so you can stab us in the back!”

Lahabrea looked at the Sword of the Creator and grabbed it.

(Alisa) “S-SITRI! GET AWAY FROM HIM!”

Megumi got in front of Sitri and stretched her arms wide.

Lahabrea motioned a hand upwards, motioning them to wait.

(Crow) “Nice try, that thing only responds to people with a crest of!-”

The sword glowed in response, activating in the exact same way as if Byleth held it.

(Crow) “...Flames...”

(Ainz) “Everyone...That is Byleth and Sothis.”

(Lahabrea?) “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at this reaction...”

He looked among the group, but all he felt were the eyes of complete strangers.

(Sothis?) “I told you this would’ve happened...”

(Lahabrea?) “I promise, I will answer any question you have. For now, let’s get to Derdriu and get your Byleth some rest.”

(Rean) “...Fine.”

Rean was the first to sheathe his Tachi, and Valimar stood up and began to walk with him.

Class VII eventually followed, then the rest of the group.

(Lahabrea?) “...”

(Sothis?) “I told you they wouldn’t remember us. They never do.”

(Lahabrea?) sigh “...I know, Sothis. I know.”

He put on his mask and hood again and followed behind everyone, Sothis floating behind.

(Lahabrea) “Hopefully in due time, they’ll remember us.”

PART 4: END

---

[Escape - Darling in the FranXX OST]

The forecasted rain wets us

What should I say to you, as you tremble? My soaked blazer is cold and heavy

I feel as helpless as a chick who’s left its cage. I felt that my dreams were on the other side of the heavy clouds

I digested only the sweet pain that spread in my chest

I wonder if it’d be better if I’d never met you

Hey, I can’t even see the stars

Hey, my tears won’t fall either

---

EPILOGUE:

The first thing anyone would notice stepping into the Hearing Chamber was that it was a blinding white.

The floors, the wall, and even the guards were dressed head to toe in white, with gold accents highlighting the armor and edges of the room.

Catherine never liked this room much, but whatever made Rhea happy. She guessed.

Catherine knelt down before Rhea, joined in by Alois, Shamir, Seteth, Flayn, and Cyril.

(Cyril) “Lady Seiros, the Warrior of Darkness has made a reappearance at Garreg Mach Monastery.”

(Rhea) “And?”

(Cyril) “...He has rejoined House Isekai. It would seem that this third party is making its move.”

Rhea frowned and looked back at her loyal subjects.

(Rhea) “Then we will make ours as well. Do not fail me, Inquisitors...”

...

Claude took a deep breath, opening the door to the tower.

The Golden Deer and the Investigation Team stood behind him, weapons at the ready.

(Yosuke) “Dude, you REALLY didn’t have any other plan than just walk through the front door?”

(Teddie) “This is a very terrible idea!”

(Leonie) “...No bear pun?”

(Teddie) “NO, CAUSE THIS IS A TERRIBLE PLAN!”

(Chie) “Daaamn, didn’t think I’d ever hear that!”

(Lorenz) “I, for once, agree with Teddie.”

(Lysithea) “And I didn’t think I’d hear THAT.”

(Yu) “Everyone keep quiet and...listen...?”

“You’re not me!” “The dreams of men don't amount to much. Sorry, but... it's up to you now.”

The voices flooding in gradually grew louder and louder, everyone being able to recognize their voice as they stood there.

(Claude) “What in the hell did we just find...?!”

...

Everyone continued walking towards Derdriu silently, unable to make words of any kind after what they just saw.

Lahabrea and Sothis continued to stay behind, unable to approach any of them.

(Sothis?) “So, what do you plan to tell them when they ask?”

(Lahabrea?) “The truth. They deserve to know everything...Even everything that I’ve done.”

He looked at his hand and clenched it into a fist.

(Lahabrea?) “...How many years have come and gone, since that day, Sothis?”

Looking back up, he saw House Isekai, the Black Eagles, and Blue Lions standing side by side.

(Lahabrea?) “How many years have we waited for this moment?”

Sitri was next to Byleth with the Pleiades carrying him.

(Lahabrea?) “For the House that stood alone against the storm?”

(Sothis?) “I suppose you’re not wrong. What about the Sothis of this time?”

(Lahabrea?) “I’m sure she’s watching us as we speak.”

Lahabrea’s attention turned to Sitri.

(Lahabrea?) “Even if they don’t know it.”

ACT 1: ENDED

[Shadowbringers - Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers OST]

One brings shadow, one brings light Two-toned echoes tumbling through time

Threescore wasted, ten cast aside Four-fold knowing, no end in sight

One brings shadow, one brings light One dark future no one survives

On their shadows, away we fly

The road that we walk

Is lost in the flood

Here proud angels bathe in

Their wages of blood

At this, the world's end, do we cast off tomorrow

One brings shadow, one brings light To this riddle all souls are tied

Brief our moments, brazen and bright Forged in fury, tempered in ice

Hindmost devils, early to rise Sing come twilight, sleep when they die

Heaven's banquet leavened with lies Sating honor, envy, and pride

One brings shadow, one brings light

Run from the light

Authors of our fates

Orchestrate our fall from grace

Poorest players on the stage

Our defiance drives us straight to the edge

A reflection in the glass

Recollections of our past

Swift as darkness, cold as ash

Far beyond this dream of paradise lost

HOME

RIDING HOME

DYING HOPE HOLD ONTO HOPE

HOME

RIDING HOME

HOME, RIDING HOME HOPE, FINDING HOPE

One brings shadow, one brings light One more chapter we've yet to write

Want for nothing, nothing denied Wand'ring ended, futures aligned

One brings shadow, one brings light One brings shadow, one brings light

You are the light 

We fall

We fall

We fall

We fall unto the end

ONE WORLD’S END (The end)

OUR WORLD’S END (The end)

WE (Our world)

END (We won’t end)

I am shadow, I am the light 

[lunmelia]

A List of All of Sam Winchester’s Injuries

Now, this list might not be the most accurate. I did not sit down and watch every single episode in full, eyes glued to the screen for every time Sam got injured. I only skimmed. Here’s a gif I made to show how I did it: 

(sorry it’s bad quality, it’s the first gif I’ve ever made) I skimmed through the episode and used the little preview screen to look for any time there was fast movement, blood or a spell that might require someone cutting their palm. I also kept an eye out for angel-banishing sigils. Since I only skimmed, there’s a chance I missed some injuries or even times that Sam was magically healed. So again, might not be an accurate list but I did my best. Feel free to tell me anything I missed. 

Here’s a key to help you through the list: - most of this lists the actual injury, e.g. “cut on left temple” but other times it’ll list an action that may cause injury, e.g. “thrown into wall” - “thrown into / against” means that he impacted the object, but the object did not break / he did not go through it - “thrown through” means that the object broke on impact and he ended up on the other side - “internal pain” means that someone used magic to do something to him, but I have no idea what, all I know is that he looked in pain and was mostly gripping his stomach - “handcuffed” means actual handcuffs were used, “tied around wrists” means either rope or zip-ties were used - “punched” means just punched in the face, any other area on the body will be specified - any episodes that aren’t on the list means he wasn’t injured in them

Some misc notes: - I do not include injuries that don’t actually happen, e.g. future visions, nightmares, hallucinations or a fake reality - I might be inconsistent with the amount of times I specify what was used to knock Sam out, and not specifying. Sorry about that. It’s because I either just couldn’t see the object, or I was lazy that day - I don’t usually specify the size of the injury either, I usually just say “cut”, sorry. I only realised 6 seasons in that I probably should be specifying the size, and also taking screenshots, but I couldn’t be bothered going back back and fixing it, nor could I be bothered specifying the size from then on. I’m sorry, it was just going to feel weird if 6 seasons in I only then start specifying - I don’t include possessions as injuries, but I do specify when injuries happen while possessed - I include some commentary of what kind of injuries I thought should’ve happened based on the action - There’s also a list of Dean’s injuries, but there won’t be a list for Cas. Going into this, I only wanted to know Dean and Sam’s injuries for some redesigns I want to do, I didn’t feel it was necessary for me to know Cas’ because he won’t have scars in my redesign (at least his vessel won’t). Please don’t expect me to go back and make a list for Cas, this already took up so much of my time and I don’t want to do it again.

Let’s begin, shall we?

Season 1

1x1: Pilot - five holes in centre of chest from fingers 1x2: W*ndigo - falls down a hole 1x4: Phantom Traveler - head banged against wall 1x5: Bloody Mary - infected by Bloody Mary 1x6: Skin - tied to a chair around his neck, chest, hips, wrists and ankles - bottle smashed over head - tied around wrists - cut under right eye - punched - kneed  - kicked into bookshelf - hit across face with pool stick - elbowed in face - tackled into table - strangled - cut on left side of forehead 1x7: Hook Man - stabbed in right forearm with hook  - thrown into bookshelf that then falls on top of him 1x9: Home - strangled with lamp cord - thrown into walls and cabinets 1x10: Asylum - mind influenced by Ellicot - punched and knocked out 1x15: The Benders - cuts on both hands  - cut on chin 1x16: Shadow - 4 claw marks across left cheek - wrists tied - cut across nose 1x17: Hell House - choked with an axe handle 1x18: Something Wicked - life force sucked out of him, process interupted before completed 1x19: Provenance - hit by a dresser 1x22: Devil’s Trap - punched - split lip

Hey! The post under the cut is really long! Please be sure you want to continue reading before clicking, because you’ll be scrolling for a while!

Season 2

2x1: In My Time of Dying - in a carcrash - 2 cuts on right cheek - cut near right eye - cut across nose - split bottom lip 2x3: Bloodlust - knocked unconscious with an iron - wrists tied - cut on left forearm 2x5: Simon Said - sprained wrist? his right wrist / arm is in a cast but I searched and it’s not there in the previous episode and nothing happens between then and this episode that would’ve caused it, so I have no clue what happened. If someone does please let me know 2x9: Croatoan - diagonal slice on upper left pec 2x10: Hunted - kneed - elbowed in face - kicked in face and through wall - cut on left cheek 2x14: Born Under a Bad Sign - burned with holy water (while possessed by Meg) - jumped out a window (possessed) - punched unconscious (possessed) - tied to a chair by wrists and ankles (possessed) - binding lock on right inner forearm, that’s a circle with a line going through - burn over binding lock (possessed) - punched 2x17: Heart - 3 slashes on left cheek 2x19: Folsom Prison Blues - handcuffed around wrists and ankles 2x20: What Is and What Should Never Be - strangled - hit in the head 2x21: All Hell Breaks Loose, Part 1 - abducted by Azazel (I’m assuming he was knocked unconscious) - super punched across yard - possible dislocated shoulder - stabbed in the back - DEAD 2x22: All Hell Breaks Loose, Part 2 - resurrected by demon deal

Season 3

3x1: The Magnificent Seven - thrown - strangled 3x2: The Kids are Alright - punched - kneed - thrown around 3x3: Bad Guy at Black Rock - strangled - fell over and scraped knees - fell again and knocked himself unconscious - punched - shot in left shoulder 3x4: Sin City - thrown into a windshield 3x7: Fresh Blood - thrown through a wall - thrown into a shelf - kicked in the face - face banged against table - cut on right eyebrow 3x8: A Very Supernatural Christmas - strangled - head banged against wall and knocked unconscious - tied to a chair by wrists and ankles - nail taken off right index finger - punched - thrown into a table 3x9: Malleus Maleficarum - thrown into a wall 3x12: Jus in Bello - handcuffed - punched - thrown against walls 3x13: Ghostfacers! - tied to a chair by wrists and ankles - cut on left cheek - thrown around 3x14: Long-Distance Call - knocked unconscious with a bat - tied (very tightly) around wrists - cuts around wrists where tied 3x15: Time is On My Side - head banged against steering wheel - chloroformed - strapped down to a table 3x16: No Rest for the Wicked - punched - thrown into a wall

Season 4

4x1: Laxarus Rising - tackled into table and chairs - punched 4x2: Are You There, God? It’s Me, Dean Winchester - shoved into metal lockers, a wall and a mirror (probably has cuts on his left hand from it) - head banged on sink - cut above left eye - thrown into windshield - squashed between a desk and a shelf 4x4: Metamorphosis - thrown against a wall  - punched and knocked unconscious - 5 little holes / cuts on left side of forehead 4x5: Monster Movie - thrown through fake wall 4x6: Yellow Fever - thrown around - head banged against floor 4x7: It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester - internal pain - punched - strangled - thrown into wall 4x8: Wishful Thinking - struck by lightning and knocked unconscious 4x9: I Know What You Did Last Summer - thrown down stairs - jumped out a window - horizontal slash on left outer bicep - punched - kneed - strangled 4x10: Heaven and Hell - choked 4x12: Criss Angel is a Douche Bag - tied down by his wrists and ankles 4x13: After School Special - punched (when he was a kid) - stabbed with a pencil on upper left pec - kicked in the groin and face - punched (as an adult) 4x14: Sex and Violence - cut on left side of neck - infected by a siren - punched - broken / twisted arm - tackled through a door 4x15: Death Takes a Holiday - hit in the stomach 4x17: It’s a Terrible Life - thrown into a shelf - thrown against a wall 4x19: Jump the Shark - knocked unconscious with a shotgun - tied down to a table by his wrists and ankles - horizontal cut on inner right forearm - gash on his left side - vertical slashes on both inner forearms 4x21: When the Levee Breaks - thrown around into walls - tied down to bed by wrists and ankles - punched - kneed - kicked

Season 5

5x1: Sympathy for the Devil - kneed - punched - broken left leg - lungs taken away (put back) 5x2: Good God, Ya’ll! - shoved into a shelf - strangled - hit with a bat - hit with a shotgun and knocked unconscious - tied to a chair by middle, wrists and ankles - cut above left eye 5x5: Fallen Idols - strangled - thrown into tables - thrown into a column - knocked unconscious - tied by wrists 5x6: I Believe The Children Are Our Future - thrown into a wall - strangled 5x7: The Curious Case of Dean Winchester - strangled 5x8: Changing Channels - hit in the groin 5x9: The Real Ghostbusters - super slapped - thrown around 5x11: Sam, Interrupted - tied down to a bed by wrists and ankles 5x12: Swap Meat - hit in both sides of neck with darts and passes out, body swapped with teenager - tied to a chair around middle, wrists and ankles 5x13: The Song Remains The Same - thrown through a wall - kicked - stabbed in the stomach with a pipe - DEAD (revived by Michael) 5x14: My Bloody Valentine - punched - handcuffed 5x15: Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid - handcuffed 5x16: Dark Side of the Moon - shot in the chest - DEAD (revived by Joshua) 5x17: 99 Problems - gash on left shoulder 5x18: Point of No Return  - thrown into metal room divider - hemorrage (healed by Zachariah) 5x19: Hammer of the Gods - strangled 5x21: Two Minutes to Midnight - affected by pestilence (stopped later on) - faints - strangled 5x22: Swan Song - shot in the back and chest (while possessed by Lucifer) - jumped into the hell / the cage (Lucifer still possessing, but Sam in control) - DEAD - rescued from the cage by Castiel, however without his soul. Not sure if this required Cas to rebuild his body like he did with Dean, so I guess this part can be entirely up to your interpretation 

Season 6

6x1: Exile on Main St. - horizontal cut on inner left forearm 6x2: Two and a Half Men - thrown around 6x6: You Can’t Handle The Truth - knocked unconscious - tied by his wrists - punched - strangled - three claw marks on right cheek 6x7: Family Matters - cut on left side of forehead - cut beside left eye - cut on left side of jaw - cut under right eye - bleeding out of right ear - broken nose - tied by wrists - Cas reaches into his... soul? idk what he reached into since he has no soul - (previouis injuries healed by Cas) - strangled 6x9: Clap Your Hands If You Believe - beat with a cane - cut on left side of hairline 6x10: Caged Heart - knocked unconscious - bites into his own right inner wrist 6x11: Appointment in Samarra  - knocked unconscious with a baton - cut on left side of hairline - vertical gash on right side of right let - punched unconscious - handcuffed 6x13: Unforgiven - possible gash on right shoulder (not sure if that was his blood or someone else’s) - handcuffed - thrown face first into wall - tied up with webs 6x15: The French Mistake - thrown through a window - punched - internal pain 6x16: ... And Then There Were None - tied around wrists - electrocuted on his wright forearm, leaves a horizontal burn mark 6x19: Mommy Dearest - handcuffed 6x20: The Man Who Would Be King - thrown into a table 6x21: Let It Bleed - knocked unconscious 6x22: The Man Who Knew Too Much - comatose (he wakes up)

Season 7

7x1: Meet the New Boss - cut on left palm 7x2: Hello, Cruel World - knocked unconscious with a pipe 7x3: The Girl Next Door - punched and knocked unconscious 7x5: Shut Up, Dr. Phil - internal pain - strangled 7x6: Slash Fiction - handcuffed 7x8: Season 7, Time for a Wedding! - poisoned with love potion - knocked unconscious with sandwich cooker - tied to chair by wrists and ankles - thrown into a table and knocked unconscious - strangled 7x11: Adventures In Babysitting - strangled - bit on left side of his neck x2 7x12: Time After Time - cut on left palm 7x14: Plucky Pennywhistle’s Magic Menagerie - punched - thrown into a windshield - kicked - hit with a wench - cut on left side of hairline 7x15: Repo Man  - hit the back of the head with a piece of wood - thrown around 7x16: Out With the Old - thrown into a desk 7x17: The Born-Again Identity - hit by a car - broken rib - cut on his right outer forearm - cut on his left hand - cuts around his left eye - bruised and cut knuckles - skid marks on right elbow - tied down by his wrists and ankles - electrocuted 7x18: Party On, Garth - knocked unconscious 7x19: Of Grave Importance - ghost hand digs into back 7x20: The Girl With the Dungeons and Dragons Tattoo - somersaulted through glass 7x23: Survival of the Fittest - strangled

Season 8

8x1: We Need to Talk About Kevin - horizontal cut on inner right forearm 8x2: What’s Up, Tiger Mommy? - thrown into a table 8x3: Heartache - thrown into tables and chairs - strangled 8x4: Bitten - strangled 8x6: Southern Comfort - elbowed - headbutted - kicked into a table 8x10: Torn and Frayed - strangled - threw himself against a door multiple times 8x11: LARP and the Real Girl - strangled 8x12: As Time Goes By - handcuffed - knocked unconscious - tied around wrists 8x13: Everybody Hates Hitler - strangled for a second - dart in left side of neck and poisoned with spell - effects disappear once spellcaster dies 8x14: Trial and Error - arm glows and cramps with pain from completing the first trial 8x15: Man’s Best Friend With Benefits - thrown into a wall - knocked unconscious - thrown into a painting and tables 8x16: Remember the Titans - fell down stairs - flung back against ground - thrown against column 8x17: Goodbye Stranger - punched - tackled through glass door 8x18: Freaks and Geeks - knocked unconscious - tied to chair by wrists and ankles 8x19: Taxi Driver - punched - horizontal cut on left forearm x2 - thrown into a tree - hand glows and cramps with pain from completing another trial 8x20: Pac-Man Fever - punched - pushed into a fence - thrown around 8x21: The Great Escapist - really sick, passes out 8x23: Sacrifice - bit on left inner forearm - 2 cuts below right eye - cut on left palm

Season 9

9x2: Devil May Care - punched - thrown into a metal counter - head banged against wood 9x3: I’m No Angel - thrown through a glass door - punched - knocked unconscious 9x4: Slumber Party - hit in face with a piece of wood (while possessed by witch) 9x5: Dog Dean Afternoon - four claw marks on left side of neck (healed by Gadreel) - knocked unconscious 9x7: Bad Boys - thrown into a door - choked 9x8: Rock and a Hard Place - thrown through wood planks and knocked unconscious - burn on left lower side of torso, above liver 9x10: Road Trip - punched unconscious (while possessed by Gadreel) - tied to chair around wrists and ankles (possessed) - 2 needles in left temple (possessed) - needle in right temple (possessed) - needle in centre of foreheard (possessed) - (needle wounds healed by Cas) 9x11: First Born - needle in right side of neck 9x12: Sharp Teeth - knocked unconscious - tied around wrists 9x13: The Purge - cupboard dropped on top of him - punched - kicked through a wall - strangled - split lip 9x15: #THINMAN - tasered unconscious - handcuffed 9x16: Blade Runners - cut on right cheek - cut on right side of neck 9x17: Mother’s Little Helper - punched into a pile of boxes - kicked - choked 9x19: Alex Annie Alexis Ann - hit in the gut - blood drained from both forearms 9x23: Do You Believe in Miracles - punched unconscious

Season 10

10x1: Black - broken arm (I have no clue how it got there) - punched unconscious - tied to a chair by wrists and ankles 10x2: Reichenbach - chokes on smoke / gas - punched unconscious 10x4: Paper Moon - strangled x2 - punched in the gut 10x5: Fan Fiction - knocked unconscious 10x7: Girls, Girls, Girls - punched 10x8: Hibbing 911 - knocked unconscious - tied around wrists 10x11: There’s No Place Like Home - wrists and ankles tied - choked 10x12: About a Boy - elbowed in the face - thrown into a cabinet 10x15: The Things They Carried - thrown against a wall - strangled 10x18: Book of the Damned - strangled 10x19: The Werther Project - 2 horizontal cuts on right forearm 10x20: Angel Heart - knocked unconscious with pipe - handcuffed - headbutted - punched - thrown into a wall 10x22: The Prisoner - thrown through window and into tiled wall 10x23: Brother’s Keeper - punched - cut on left cheek - cut near left eyebrow, close to nose

Season 11

11x1: Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire - thrown into a shelf - infected by a rabid 11x2: Form and Void - burns the infection off (it’d be pretty sick if he actually had burn marks from this) 11x3: The Bad Seed - thrown into a pile of boxes 11x4: Baby - jagged cut on right cheek - 2 jagged cuts above right eye - (injuries hinted to be healed by Cas off screen) 11x5: Thin Lizzie - tied around wrists 11x6: Our Little World - headbutted - punched - strangled - throws shoulder against door multiple times - thrown against door and knocked unconscious 11x7: Plush - shoved against walls - strangled - thrown into cabinet - thrown against impala - knocked unconscious 11x10: The Devil in the Details - punched - cut beside left eye - headbutted - elbowed - cut on nose 11x12: Don’t You Forget About Me - hit in gut and face with sledgehammer - hit in back with piece of wood - falls off railing and hits titled floor - hit multiple times with piece of wood 11x13: Love Hurts - I assume he hit either a wall or a table, he was thrown but the impact wasn’t shown - choked 11x14: The Vessel - shoved against stone column - soul touched by Lucifer - cut on left palm 11x15: Beyond the Mat - thrown against a metal beam 11x16: Safe House - possibly cut one of his palms, I’m not sure if they purchased that blood or if it’s Sam’s - punched - thrown into counter - punched in the gut 11x17: Red Meat - thrown through table - shot in left lower torso - choked - body went into shock, heartbeat slowed down to almost nothing - cut on nose - falls down stairs 11x18: Hell’s Angel - either internal pain or choked 11x20: Don’t Call Me Shurley - infected by Amara’s fog, passes out - infection healed by God, probably 11x22: We Happy Few - Mark of Cain burned into his right forearm, process interrupted before completed 11x23: Alpha and Omega - strangled - shot in left thigh / knee

Season 12

12x1: Keep Calm and Carry On - tied to a chair by ankles and wrists (tightly handcuffed, looks like it could cut, maybe) - electrocuted - tortured with a cold shower - 2 burn streaks on right side of right foot - needle on right side of neck - drugged - punches a mirror - cut on left palm - kicked in the face 12x2: Mamma Mia - either stabbed in the mouth or a tooth taken out, they never show what actually happened - cut on left shoulder - cut on left cheek - cut on left side of forehead - elbowed in the face - (possibly healed by Cas, seeing as he’s completely fine in the next shot) 12x3: The Foundry - throws himself against a door multiple times - thrown into a shelf 12x4: American Nightmare - knocked unconscious - tied around wrists 12x5: The One You’ve Been Waiting For - elbowed in the face - punched 12x6: Celebrating the Life of Asa Fox - thrown into a table 12x8: LOTUS - handcuffed around wrists and ankles 12x9: First Blood - DEAD (revived by Billie) - cut on left palm 12x10: Lily Sunder Has Some Regrets - punched 12x11: Regarding Dean - thrown into a bookshelf - ears profusely bleeding - tied to a chair by wrists 12x12: Stuck in the Middle (With You) - shoved into a wall - glass smashed over his head - fell through wood railing, over porch and impact on ground - punched - elbowed in the face - hit with pieces of flying wood - flung backwards - hit in gut, face and neck with base of spear 12x16: Ladies Drink Free - headbutted - falls back through wood room divider 12x17: The British Invasion - thrown into metal door 12x18: The Memory Remains - either hands or face hit with a hammer - face then clearly hit with hammer and he stumbles back into a pile of boxes 12x19: The Future - thrown through park bench 12x20: Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes - shoved into a wall - punched - thrown through table - strangled

Season 13

13x1: Lost and Found - thrown into a wall and knocked unconscious - strangled - thrown into a wall again - kneed in the face - punched - kicked 13x2: The Rising Sun - choked 13x5: Advanced Thanatology - thrown across floor and hits chair and table 13x6: Tombstone - thrown back into floor 13x7: War of the Worlds - kicked into wall 13x8: The Scorpion and the Frog - punched - thrown across floor - hit with rock and knocked unconscious 13x9: The Bad Place - hit in the face with base of angel blade 13x10: Wayward Sisters - hit in side and face with base of spear and knocked unconscious - tied around wrists 13x11: Breakdown - knocked unconscious - tied down to a table by wrists and ankles 13x12: Various & Sundry Villains - tackled onto hood of impala - strangled x2 - hexed to stay in one spot - thrown into bookshelf - thrown through table 13x13: Devil’s Bargain - thrown into beside table - internal pain 13x14: Good Intentions - knocked unconscious 13x15: A Most Holy Man - handcuffed - knocked unconscious 13x17: The Thing - possibly poisoned, I’m not sure but he faints after eating food - tied around wrists 13x18: Bring em Back Alive - tackled into control panel - punched in side - thrown against wall - internal pain 13x19: Funeralia - passes out from spell - tortured by Rowena’s magic 13x20: Unfinished Business - thrown into wall - strangled 13x21: Beat the Devil - neck torn out on right side - DEAD (resurrected by Lucifer) 13x23: Let the Good Times Roll - windows exploded behind him and he was flung back into the impala from the force of the explosion - punched - hard impact on ground - kicked in the face - strangled

Season 14

14x1: Stranger in a Strange Land - thrown through table and chair - punched - kneed in groin 14x3: The Scar - hit in back of knee with spear - tackled through table - punched - strangled 14x4: Mint Condition - hit in face - flung back against counter - knocked unconscious 14x9: The Spear - hit in back of head with bat - thrown into truck x2 - knocked unconscious - internal pain 14x11: Damaged Goods - hard impact against floor 14x13: Lebanon - either jumped to the side and hit the bookshelf or he was thrown from the force of the fire - hit in the side and face with gun - choked - punched - thrown through table - head banged multiple times against table - cut on nose 14x14: Ouroboros - thrown into counter - thrown onto table (during this, his back impacts a glass dead on and when I was 10 I jumped off a couch and my foot hit a glass dead on and my foot was cut open so I expect cuts on his back) - not able to breathe - temporarily blind - internal pain 14x15: Peace of Mind - brainwashed by the town / the witch, forgets who he is and thinks he’s someone else - hard impact on ground - almost gets his head blown off, process interrupted before completed 14x16: Don’t Go in the Woods - strangled 14x17: Game Night - punched - hit in the face with rock - shoved against impala - cut on left temple - cut and bruised knuckles - (all healed by Jack) 14x20: Moriah - thrown into bookshelf - shot in left shoulder with the Equalizer 

Season 15

15x1: Back To The Future - cut on left side of torso, near waist (healed by Cas) - punched - kicked 15x5: Proverbs 17:3 - shoved against floor - thrown into wall - thrown back and knocked unconscious 15x6: Golden Time - internal pain x2 - hexed to spit up blood - wrists tied - voodo stabbed in chest - voodo arm twisted 15x7: Last Call - flung back into brick wall and knocked unconscious - partially healed by Sergei, bullet would still weirdly infected though 15x8: Our Father, Who Aren’t in Heaven - kicked - punched - strangled 15x9: The Trap - tied to chair by wrists - bullet wound dug around in with a scalpel 15x10: The Heroes’ Journey - punched - hard impact on ground 15x12: Galaxy Brain - hit in face and gut with sticks 15x13: Destiny’s Child - thrown 15x14: Last Holiday - fingernail taken off from 3 left fingers - thrown into wall 15x17: Unity - choked - punched - headbutted 15x19: Inherit the Earth - thrown into a bookshelf - thrown across beach - internal pain - punched - hit in the neck - kneed - kicked - kicked in the face - broken right arm - cut on left eyebrow - 2 cuts on left cheek - cut on right temple - (all healed by Jack) 15x20: Carry On - hard impact on ground - punched - knocked unsconscious - DEAD (old age, permanently) 

[ice-cream-nekogirl]

And you say, "As long as I'm here No one can hurt you Don't wanna lie here But you can learn to If I could change The way that you see yourself You wouldn't wonder why you hear They don't deserve you" 

Amy and Madison:

Two of the original coven members… hehe, it’s no surprise that Amy and Madison are very close, or rather, have gotten closer over time. 

They’re lesbians and in love XD JK JK lolol but not gonna lie I kinda ship them because I love their friendship since Amy is a wild child and Madison is a stone-cold bitch but they love each other so much... haha... hell Todoroki outright thought that Amy and Madison were in love with each other, but because neither of them are straight, they really didn’t mind the confusion.

In all seriousness though, they’re partners in crime, literally they commit several crimes together, whether it��s shoplifting, smoking weed or just causing mayhem and hilarious pranks in UA, they’re partners, witch sisters and also good partners in battle and combat. Not to mention they are called ‘The Sin Sisters’ because they’re so good together when it comes to doing... bad things... XD Amy’s best friends Ashlen and Shinsou don’t always approve of their antics but are aware of how close they are, and Madison isn’t above hanging out with Ashlen and Shinsou since they’re Amy’s best friends. 

Although Madison also isn’t above actually giving Amy real help, or, her idea of real help, but her intentions ARE good she DOES want to help Amy with her progress of becoming a hero and personal demons and cares for her like an actual sister. And Amy does love Madison very much despite how cruel and bitchy she can be, and always tries to see the best in her. It’s been a rocky road for these two since they’ve been through quite some ups and downs but Madison is another one of Amy’s best friends and vice-versa. 

Amy is probably the only human that Madison, a total narcissist, has any real affection for and claims that she 'loves Amy the most' and is surprisingly loyal towards her as she takes her side no matter what and won’t bat an eyelash to anything she does, moral or not. Likewise, Amy loves Madison with all her heart and will always try and defend and protect her because she knows her and understands her the most since they grew up together in the coven even if it was brief. 

But let’s start from the beginning...

After her parents were killed by witch hunters, Amy was relocated out of Japan and shipped off to America, where she met Zoe. And the two witches first entered the coven to have Madison, Nan and Queenie terrify them both by staging a human sacrifice with Madison practically traumatizing an already traumatized Amy by making it look like she was going to stab and kill her new friend Zoe. Although she does try to laugh it off when she discovers that the whole thing was staged. 

The first thing Madison noticed about Amy was how young she was compared to the other teenage witches and asked Cordelia why a ‘5 year old’ is here since the coven isn’t a daycare, only for an indignant Amy to reply that she’s 11. Madison wasn’t very fond of Amy because she thought she was way too young and Madison herself isn’t good with handling kids, although she did slightly warm up to her when Amy seemed to recognize Madison as the actress she was and offered her an autograph, much to Amy’s delight as she felt touched by a celebrity.

Madison would later choose Zoe as her designated best friend, and Amy, attached to Zoe, tagged along with them, especially whenever Fiona coldly rebuffed her requests to spend time with her. Amy would gladly go with Madison and Zoe to the frat party despite Amy being seriously underage and the frat party having mainly 19-24 year olds. Zoe was naturally hesitant about letting Amy come with them, but Madison just told Amy to tell people that she’s older than she looked and to not drink anything. Amy stood close to Zoe the entire time but was worried about Madison, and was later proven to be right to worry about her as she found Madison being gang-raped by the frat boys. 

Horrified, Amy tried to stop the older guys but the ringleader pushed and kicked her to the ground even and forced the others to shut her up, but thankfully Kyle showed up before the frat boys could further harm her. Amy would then try to comfort Madison along with Zoe, and followed the latter outside to try and find the rapists outside but they arrived too late and drove off in their bus. Although just in time, Madison walked back out to flip the bus and kill all of the frat boys inside, which just added to Amy’s horror but it didn’t stop her from asking Madison and Zoe to go back home.

Amy remained by Zoe and Madison, but when she tried to ask Madison if she felt better the next day she was coldly ignored until Fiona showed up to give them a field trip. Later on, Amy mentions that she could sense Madison’s pain, but decided to not ask her about it because she didn’t want to add anymore pain to her. She remained at her side, even if she got in trouble with Zoe and Madison when Fiona threw all three of them to the wall for nearly exposing their witch heritage to the police. Afterwards, Amy accompanied Madison and Zoe to find Kyle’s body and bring him back to life, when it looked like it failed, Madison fled when a stranger showed up. Worried for Zoe, Amy tried to convince Madison to stay and help her, but Madison, starting to care for her, dragged her away so she wouldn’t get in trouble.

By that time, Madison developed a soft spot for Amy even though she more or less treated her like an annoying older sibling, and in return, Amy started looking up to Madison as an older ‘bad influence’ sister but she was admittedly disturbed by Madison’s lack of empathy when Kyle died. Although she did take Madison’s words into consideration when she recalled that Kyle was still one of the frat boys. Nonetheless, Amy was distraught when she thought Madison might be dead as she worked with Zoe to try and find out what happened to her when Nan and Queenie weren’t up for it, and risked her life to find her. Amy also panicked when she found out that Fiona was the one who killed Madison, and suffered a breakdown when they found Madison’s rotting corpse, but she was elevated when Misty and Zoe brought her back.  

Madison, changed by her first death and unable to feel anything physical, is much crueler to Amy than she used to be, and Amy is heartbroken when Madison rebuffed her each time. However, even with this attitude change, Madison still retained some care for Amy, she just wasn’t interested in bothering with her. Amy, alone, decided to find out some things about herself especially when Zoe was preoccupied with a newly-resurrected Kyle. As she befriended and became close to Misty, Madison started to become jealous, and showed it by being mean to Amy. After Madison kills Misty (out of fear that she was the next Supreme) wondered if Amy could be the next Supreme, but ultimately came to the conclusion that she couldn’t do anything to physically harm Amy so she doesn’t do anything to hurt her.

It didn’t stop her from being cruel to her though, as she insulted and belittled Amy for a majority of the time, even when the coven was in danger as Madison thought that Amy should learn to take care of herself and find her own way back home whenever she gets lost. As a result, Amy’s respect for Madison dissipates as she starts to insult her, and also laughed at her when Misty came back from the dead to beat the other witch up. During the test of the Seven Wonders, Madison instantly thought Amy wouldn’t be able to pass any of them but was surprised that Amy made it all the way to Vitalum Vitalis, but unfortunately she failed that part of the test along with Queenie. Madison later mocked and taunted Amy, and the distraught girl shouted and begged for her to bring Zoe back to life but she cruelly refused and told her to ‘get over it’, much to Amy’s horror as she lost her respect and admiration for the older witch.

Despite that broken pedestal, Amy still wept and grieved for Madison when Cordelia, Queenie and a newly revived Zoe found out that she had died. With Amy even making a memorial for her because while Madison was a bitch to them, Amy still saw her as a sister who had gone through a lot. Madison would later appear in Amy’s dreams as she did miss her quite terribly even though she treated her badly.

5 years later is when Madison would eventually meet up with Amy again, as her soul was freed from hell by Michael Langdon, the Anti-Christ, and Cordelia assigned Madison to watch over Amy in Japan while she was training and studying at UA Academy. Amy was shocked, amazed and also heartfelt to see Madison again, but then the anger also came back as Amy did not forget that Madison was horrible to her and the last thing they did before meeting her again and wasn’t very happy to see her. Nonetheless, Amy was relieved to have at least another witch in Japan and did admit that she missed Madison, who was oddly touched but annoyed when Amy hugged her as the two of them started to share the same mansion that once belonged to Fiona. Amy cheerfully told Madison that it’s pretty much their home and Fiona can’t tell them what to do anymore, much to Madison’s delight.

Madison however, seemed like she was back to her old ways as she encouraged Amy to poison Endeavor with something that would humiliate him but Amy refused much to her disappointment. But Amy is taken by surprise when Madison comes to her rescue when she and Bakugo are kidnapped by the League of Villains, while Bakugo was rescued by her classmates, Madison snuck into the fray to rescue Amy when she was knocked out by debris. Madison would comfort a shell-shocked Amy and proved to be capable of being emotionally supportive to her as the younger witch was visibly traumatized by this event and especially when she felt that her classmates were mainly trying to rescue Bakugo and not her. 

The older witch comforted her by telling her ‘witches look after witches’ and Amy would agree with that sentiment, but especially after Midoriya beats Overhaul and discovers how the pro-heroes took in and cared for Eri, something that they never did for Amy.

Pissed off by this revelation, Madison angrily called out the pro-heroes and Aizawa for not bothering to care for another traumatized girl when she needed it, but could clearly take care of the one they just rescued and accused them of prejudice. Aizawa claimed that it wasn’t the case at all, but Madison didn’t believe him and told him to go to hell. Madison continued to support Amy and take her side as she reassured Amy the entire-time, and did nothing to stop her when the young witch went berserk under the stress of this new information and attacked UA. 

Madison outright told Amy that she was right for doing so because it wasn’t fair that she couldn’t be taken in by the much more affectionate pro-heroes and instead was forced to suffer under Fiona’s neglectful care and be put into a situation that made Amy constantly feel like she was going to die due to the Voodoo witches and witch hunters attacking the coven daily. As Madison can understand Amy’s pain of feeling abandoned and the fact that she was with Amy every moment where the coven was in danger. Amy, seeking any validation and comfort, tearfully vented to Madison about how unfair everything felt and how much pain she felt from Midoriya’s rejection and the older witch expressed how much she had changed by comforting and hugging the young witch.

Madison: Witches look after witches Amy. Okay?

Amy: ... kay... 

However, Madison later took Amy on a wild bender of partying and shoplifting after Amy quit UA, which forced Shinsou, Midoriya, Bakugo, Todoroki and Iida to find them and bring them back. While they were successful, Amy coldly pushed them away and told them that she isn’t going back to school and is going back to the coven, much to Madison’s delight who kept pushing her to go through with it. But a distraught Shinsou and an irritated Bakugo both managed to get through to her and convince her to stay in Japan. Amy did choose to stay, but she also remained in her mansion for several months in isolation with Madison to keep her company with Shinsou acting as a loyal visitor while she recovered.

In this original timeline, Amy would later come out of her isolation though when she found out that the coven was in danger because of Michael’s rise to his status as the Anti-Christ and ran back to America to protect and fight for the coven. Madison helped Behold Chablis find answers about Michael while Amy regained her senses and helped Cordelia, Zoe, Queenie, Mallory, Coco and a revived Myrtle Snow to protect the other witches. As Madison returned, the witches believed that they had a fighting chance with the new information about Michael, but unfortunately the enraged Anti-Christ later attacked Robichaux and killed almost all of the witches, including Zoe and Queenie, with only Cordelia, Myrtle, Mallory, Coco, Amy and Madison as the only survivors.

Madison comforted Amy as she was distraught and traumatized by the deaths of her sister’s and the destruction of their souls, as Cordelia gave her, Mallory and Coco the task of hiding until the time was right. As the apocalypse occurred, Amy was prepared to fight back as she regained her memory and identity back, but was shocked to see that Cordelia also had her friends from UA to help them fight too. Madison further showed how much she loved Amy as she was one of the many witches that she willingly sacrificed her life for, but her sacrifice was not in vain as Amy and Mallory were able to go back in-time to prevent the apocalypse and redeem Michael.

In the new timeline, Madison is once more revived by Michael, but at Amy’s request as Madison returns to be Amy’s partner-in-crime as the events that happened to her at UA still played out, but without the end of the world looming over their heads. As Amy returned to her months of isolation, Madison remained at her side and continued to do everything she could to comfort her, along with an annoyed Shinsou. Madison often competed with Shinsou over caring for Amy, but Shinsou rightfully called her a bad influence because of all the shitty things Madison encouraged Amy to do, and because Madison secretly knew he was right, often forced him to slap himself.

Wanting Amy to feel good, Madison encouraged her to indulge in her worst impulses and brought her whatever she wanted and encouraged her to do whatever she wanted if it meant making herself feel better. Although this made Amy somewhat crueler as whenever Amy is with Madison she becomes more of a bitch because she wants to impress her. Yet, Amy was aware that their friendship wasn’t really healthy, but because Madison made Amy feel validated, loved and not once judged her for anything bad that she did Amy clung to her and regarded her as one of her closest friends.

Despite being a bad influence on Amy a majority of the time, Madison also had some positive influence on Amy as she enabled Amy to feel more comfortable in her body and gave her lewd and revealing outfits to wear, and allowing Amy to embrace her sexuality. Amy’s confidence in herself started to bloom and she decided to not let any remarks from the nastier girls get her down and Madison told Amy that she’s better than everyone else. she had completely forgiven Madison for all she had done as she saw that being in Hell truly did change Madison.

Overtime it became clear that Madison’s love for Amy was her only redeeming trait as she did everything she could to make sure that Amy was happy, and while she didn’t approve of Amy going to intern with Endeavor she did tell her to ‘kick ass’. Madison was horrible to Amy’s classmates whenever she met one, as she felt that they added to Amy’s pain and had no problem pranking them or being cruel to them. This showed that Madison became rather protective of Amy as she was tired of seeing Amy cry because of the pain she felt from people, whether it was from Fiona, Aizawa, Midoriya or the pro-heroes. 

As a result, Madison would later treat Aizawa with the utmost disrespect because she felt that he had abandoned her friend and bullied Midoriya because he broke her heart. In fact, Madison also admitted to herself that while she hated Fiona for killing her, she hated her even more for hurting Amy.

Madison was also jealous of Amy’s other friends, as she and Shinsou would constantly butt heads until Amy told them to get along, but her jealousy grew whenever she was being cared for by Mallory or Misty. Although Madison did express fondness for Todoroki and Kaminari because she thought they were good to her, and she and Bakugo immediately became enemies because they despised each other’s attitudes. Madison knew that Amy was falling for Bakugo and she often tried to stray her away from him and deliberately sabotaged some of their moments because not only was she worried that Amy would forget about her, but also because she didn’t think Bakugo would ever be good enough for Amy. Showing that while Madison is somewhat clingy to Amy, she’s mostly protective of her. And this shows when she reluctantly acts as an intern for Aizawa to shadow and assist him in the Hero Course for the sake of making sure Amy is safe, while also keeping the other students safe because Madison knows Amy cares about them.

Her jealousy would later reach it’s ultimate high when Amy met and befriended Ashlen online, as Madison frequently told her not to trust people on the internet, but Amy was too invested and having too much fun with her new friend, much to Madison’s dismay. Rather than giving the girl a chance, when Ashlen first arrives, Madison is hostile and rude to her from the get-go and likewise Ashlen doesn’t put up with her nonsense and tells her off every time Madison is rude to her. As Ashlen has had experience with girls like Madison, she knows how to fight back, including when Madison attempted to use her powers on her. Fuming by Amy and Ashlen’s budding friendship and closeness, Madison would bitterly keep these feelings to herself and only express them by acting like a bitch to both the girls or causing trouble for them, although she did admit that Ashlen is fun to mess with.

This doesn’t mean that Madison liked her though, as when Amy and Ashlen’s differences start becoming more apparent and when Amy starts feeling bad about how different they are, Madison quickly swoops in and takes Amy away to take her on another trip of hedonism. Only this time, Shinsou accompanies them and makes sure they do harmless activities such as going to the movie theater for 5 hours before Madison later took Amy home. Madison went so far as to convince Amy that she’s better for her and repeated that witches look out for witches, which made a distraught Amy agree for a moment. Showing that while Amy is aware that it’s not the best decision, she’d rather feel a quick sense of comfort from Madison over facing her fears again to avoid feeling pain again. 

At least until Ashlen later visited Amy after 3 days of ghosting and the two of them were eventually able to settle their differences and Ashlen would prove her love for Amy even when the latter was on the verge of another nervous breakdown and even when she tried to push her away she didn’t leave her. Madison tried to push Ashlen away and get her to leave Amy alone, but Ashlen didn’t budge until she got to talk to her friend even if she was being difficult and trying to push her away. As the girls eventually have a heart-to-heart and make up, Madison is angry and hurt and leaves the mansion.

The next day, in her anger Madison has something a temper tantrum that creates a seismic earthquake that rattles the school and the dorms and she viciously attacks Ashlen, Shinsou and Bakugo, but Amy and Aizawa got her to stop before she shook the school any longer or harmed anyone else. And when Aizawa gets her to stop she spits his face and threatens to tell Cordelia and it forced Amy to quickly intervene. She begs for her to stop but Madison angrily storms off and ignored her as Amy rushes to Ashlen and Bakugo’s aid. 

Although she does admit that she needs to stop Madison before she does anything worse to the school as Madison had been secretly considering maiming every single person in the school out of spite and envy. That night, Madison (whom had already knocked out all of the teachers) starts aggressively harming the other students as well as the students of 2-A but kept herself hidden to stir up the chaotic fear.

Amy immediately steps in, knowing she’s done something as the two witches butt heads once more, they get into a very brutal and magical fight. Incensed, Madison angrily confronts Amy for being so close to Shinsou and Ashlen but has somehow ‘ignored’ her and how she’d been there for her, but Amy defends her new friend which enrages Madison into attacking her sister and damages the Heights Alliance in the process as they take the fight outside. 

Madison: When those assholes abandoned you, when your so-called friends didn’t even bother to rescue you from the wannabe villains, when they ignored you while you were hurting, when the fucking ‘heroes’ took in that pathetic little street urchin while you got stuck with Fiona, when that green-haired loser dumped you because he couldn’t handle you, when EVERYONE in this fucking place left you all alone, when you needed someone to vent to about all the shit you went through to, who was there for you Amy?! Who was there to make you feel good?! Who got you to forget about all of that shit?! Who made you say ‘fuck it’ and show all of those motherfuckers that you matter?! ME! And you’re going to take their side?! I was there for you! I made you feel good! I’ve been with you since the coven! You owe me! 

Amy: I know you were there! But it wasn’t just you! They were there for me too! They’ve been there for me too! I know... the pro-heroes suck and hurt me in ways I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive them for... my mom trusted them to take care of me, she trusted him... but they didn’t... just gave me away to strangers... I know that, I’ve been living with it ever since my parents died. I’ve been hurt you’re not wrong Maddy. You’re right, everything you said is right, but making other people hurt isn’t right! They’re my friends! They’ve been there for me just like you! They love me too they know when I’m hurting! They still love me... even when I’m the one who ends up hurting them... And I don’t want them to hurt anymore! I don’t want to be like that anymore! I can’t always help it but I’m trying...! They’re helping me! They’re helping me stop the hurting! And I know you’re hurting too so please... stop this...

As the two witches fight and their battle gets several classmates injured, Amy would make sure to get innocents out of the way and keep them safe from Madison’s rage. And Ashlen and Shinsou rush forth to try and stop anymore possible damage from occurring and hopefully rescue Amy. But as Amy and Madison continued to clash, their powers trigger a thunderstorm of raging wind and rain that creates all sorts of damage that threaten the students. Forcing the remaining students to retreat and hide in the safezone, but Ashlen and Shinsou nonetheless stood outside in hopes to stop the two witches from fighting.

During the fight, Amy starts gets troubling flashbacks of the following year where Midoriya did the same to her and Madison uses this to her advantage to force her off and use her Concilium on Amy to hurt her. 

As she attacked the younger witch and listened to her pained shouts, Madison holds back her tears and reluctantly ceases her attack, and calmly tells her that the pro-heroes are better off gone and that they will never accept witches like them. Amy agrees but still begs for her to leave her classmates alone because she knows that they’re good people and that while she has known Madison longer, she loves Ashlen too because she can connect to her.

Madison, no longer having the energy to fight, claims that she’s going to trigger an earthquake to shake the entire school grounds and the dorms and then burn it all to the ground. Which forces Amy to use her ‘secret weapon’ and she starts crying in front of Madison, and the tearful, older witch breaks down in annoyance and guilt as she embraces Amy.

Amy: My God Mads... you really thought ahead of this didn’t you? The teachers are all knocked out, even innocent students. I know what you’re planning, I can feel it in your rage... if you do this you’re going to kill everyone and everything here... this will... no it’ll ruin the friendship our coven made with the heroes. You’ll have even more blood on your hands... of adults, kids like us, even younger than us...

Madison: As if there wasn’t blood already on them already, we’re used to it. Don’t act so noble Ames, we’ve killed plenty of people because we’re above this moral shit that the heroes try to pin on us. Besides it doesn’t matter, a few thousand so-called ‘heroes’ in the world isn’t bad, a few less cogs in society isn’t bad either. Let’s face it, witches were never going to fit in this place, they already got you under the impression that they give a shit about us. How many times do you have to get hurt to see that these people don’t care about you dumbass? Do I need to drill it in your head or something? 

Amy: (sighs) Madison... please... you can’t... Sisters don’t do this, sisters don’t hurt each other’s loved ones. Ashlen, Hitoshi, Katsuki, Denki, Izuku, Shoto, even Tenya and Mr. Aizawa... I love them... don’t you get that? I love them too, I love them like I love you too, but... you can’t... you can’t hurt them.You can’t hurt Ashlen or Hitoshi... they’re my friends... my best friends and I love them... I love them so much... I’m guilty you know? Of hurting innocent people, of hurting my own friends... and people who didn’t do anything to deserve it but... I’m trying to work on that, still trying to work on forgiveness, and... you can too... with me. 

Madison: (she holds her hands up in preparation to shake the school) Innocent my ass. These pro-heroes are just douches in suits and that’s that and the rest of these brats are guilty by association. They deserve it. 

Amy: (eyes quiver as she looks in horror before she takes a deep breath and looks a mix of resigned and depressed) Well then... you forced my hand... I guess you’re just going to be the world’s worst sister again... going to hurt someone I love again... I loved you Madison... even when you were the biggest bitch on the planet  I loved you, I never stopped loving you... even now... even when you’re going to hurt everyone else I love, I’ll still love you... no matter how much you hurt me... (tears start to well in her eyes, looking up at her pleadingly)

Madison: Amy... no... don’t... (she can’t help but look and see the tears streaming down Amy’s face) Stop that! You... stop! (she tears up upon seeing Amy, she can’t go through with it as she falls down to Amy’s height, and tightly hugs her as she cries) You bitch... 

Amy: (can’t help but smile triumphantly as she hugs her) There’s my Mads... (she sighs in relief when the fight is over and nobody got seriously hurt) 

For all of Madison’s rotten qualities, she ultimately stops because she’s seen Amy cry too many times and while she hated everyone who made her cry, Madison herself doesn’t want to be responsible for making her cry again. As Madison ceases the attack overall, Amy neglects to tell them what Madison had planned as the latter accepts her punishment given to the teachers for attacking the school and spends the month cleaning the entire dorms and fixing all of the damage she caused. From then on out Madison would start to slowly change her attitude towards Amy’s friends. 

While she never loses her vulgarity or penchant for mischief, she starts becoming friendlier to Ashlen, even making amends to her by helping Amy help her in her relationship with Shinsou and even inviting her to go shopping with her and Amy and being kinder to the students and being more helpful and somewhat more respectful to Aizawa and doing favors for him. Eventually Ashlen and Madison DO become friends, while it was for Amy’s sake, Madison eventually admitted that she saw why Amy liked Ashlen. Although Madison does tell Ashlen to take care of Amy because she ‘means the world to her’. 

It’s a complicated relationship really, Madison and Amy don’t have the healthiest friendship, but the love is undeniable and because of that love, they continue to work through it and try to make their friendship healthier as Madison warms up to Amy’s other friends because she wants her to be happy. And vice-versa, Amy is ecstatic to see Madison doing better in life and how she seems happier than she used to in the coven, and is just glad that she has one of her sisters there with her and her best friends Ashlen and Shinsou.

[stetervault]

hey buddy! my friend is just getting into teen wolf and is already on the steter train, what do you think are some core, best of the best steter fics to get her started? x

It’s always good to have another Steter fan onboard XD As for good fics, there’s a lot of them out there but I could give you some old favourites to get your friend started? For newere fics, you can check out the Steter Week 2019 ao3 collection, there’s plenty of gems there after the past week :)

(Mind the tags for some of these.)

Wake Me Up by ToAStranger

Stiles has been in a coma for six years. Now he’s awake.

To Save Them All by Goldenpetal13

AU, FutureFic/Re do of Season 1, Something happens, something bad, and Stiles finds a way to go back in time to change the past and save them all, to give them a future. He finds the way back and then swaps places with Scott and he gets bitten by Peter instead. Now he has to change the events that where set in motion after that event and maybe, just maybe they’ll all get to live.

Successfully Cheating Death (Twice) by veterization

Turns out, Peter’s resurrection wasn’t as permanent as expected. Unfortunately for Stiles, he wants to see Peter live.

Zodiac by Green

“You know, Taurus and Libra make a good match,” Peter says with a sly smile.

Stiles looks away. “Yeah. I looked that up, too.”

Feet on the Dash by veterization

It’s strange, because to the random unknowing passerby they’re just two friends, maybe even family members, taking a road trip in the middle of a sweaty, endless June, but Peter’s an ex-serial killer werewolf and Stiles is a little puny human who’s eating all the chips like Peter won’t rip his throat out if he eats the whole bag without sharing. The road trip part, however, is true.

Goddess Below by Unloyal_Olio

Peter sneaks into the vestal temple looking for a virgin. He finds Stiles.

steel bars and blood-slick hands by Corpium

When Deaton whisks Peter’s burnt, gasping body away to Eichen House, everyone else pays the price, Stiles most of all.

Whose Woods These Are by moonstalker24

Stiles chooses the house simply because it’s far enough out in the wilderness to be away. His… reticence for human contact on any given day coincides entirely with how much pain he’s in when he wakes up the morning. His patience is limited, and he has more bad days than good…

So Stiles moves into an old house out in the woods like a creepy serial killer. Reminds himself that other people suck on a regular basis and just sort of gets on with it…

It isn’t until after several sightings that Stiles realizes that the wolf is following him.

If the wolf decides it wants to eat him, Stiles would be a pretty easy meal….

This Could Be So Dirty That it Just Ain’t Right by taylorpotato

Ever since Stiles presented as an Omega, he hasn’t been feeling the same urges as his peers. When he’s around an Alpha that’s not Scott (who is pretty much his brother at this point), his first reaction is to shrink away, not try to press closer. Until he meets Peter Hale. Who acts like the most annoying, entitled kind of Alpha on the planet. Except he’s not one. He’s an Omega. Of course, Stiles would turn out to be every type of gay possible.

Beware of Sharp Memories by WhereDestiniesMeet17 (orphan_account)

She smooths his hair back, nodding. “Not everyone remembers the things we do,” she repeats.

-

Stiles is born able to remember all his past lives. After Claudia dies, he tries to forget all about his abilities. This makes things worse and better.

None of These Things (Are Happening) by Horribibble

After years away, Stiles returns to Beacon Hills just in time to put Isaac’s insides back where they belong.

It’s cute how people think he’s trustworthy.

-

Peter can smell the violence inside him, the urge to do something grand and possibly cataclysmic. It’s there—mixed with a balance and natural calm, but in the undercurrent, it’s there. He has seen things beyond the scope of Beacon Hills’ petty horror show. He has learned things.

Beyond The Shore by SmartKIN

When Peter Hale leaves Beacon Hills and moves into his family’s lake house, all he expects to find is solitude and freedom.

He definitely doesn’t expect the loud-mouthed, too-pretty-for-his-own-good merman who breaks into his house in the middle of the night, unable to curb his curiosity.

You’re Mine, Valentine by orphan_account

In which Peter decides to court Stiles, and does so by leaving him hearts.

Bloody ones.

These Hands that Shape and Hold the World by Elpie (Horribibble)

Before he inked his first tattoo, Stiles Stilinski had filled a dozen sketchbooks.Before he knew what he wanted to do with his life, Stiles Stilinski had a kid to take care of.

Before he threw in the towel completely, Stiles Stilinski met Peter Hale.

Life is made up almost exclusively of happy accidents. (And some really terrifying childhood memories.) But that’s okay.

(Really they’re all kind of morons, but the Buffy style asskicking doesn’t hurt.)

Waves that rolled you under by radishwine

AU in which Peter has the good sense to get the hell out of town after killing Laura. He drives up the Pacific coast to the old Hale cabin and stays for a while.

Night-blooming Flowers by imriebelow

Peter always gets what he wants. Stiles learns to live with it.

chasing tails by nezstorm

Peter was sixteen when he found Stiles.

it’s not the color i came in by nezstorm

Stiles is a bit of an anomaly among the Omegas he knows, or everyone on the spectrum really.

For him, heats are about comfort and safety, and not at all about sex.

A Challenger Appears by azerblazer

In his bed, Peter’s never wolfed out. Not even a hint of claws or teeth. The restraint of a born wolf whose had years of training.

Stiles is up to the challenge.

Fear (Doesn't Mean I Can't Fight) by azerblazer

Peter is the damsel in distress, the Sheriff is the hostage, random unnamed hunters are the bad guys.

Stiles has a bat, a hoodie and a willingness to do anything to protect those he's loyal to.

Bring it on.

The Terrible Things We Do (For Love) by rospeaks

Being a demon, he’s seen some of the pretty nasty things that humans are willing to do for love. Things that, were he still alive (and human), would make him hesitate to be in a relationship with anyone lest his partner start getting some funny ideas. That said—

"This seems a little desperate for a kid your age," he says to Stiles.

A welcome arrow by 1001cranes

The wedding is small and grim, because Stiles is being carted off to parts unknown, married to a thirty-something year old dude who wants to marry a seventeen year old dude - totally not creepy at all.

Be Still My Heart (I'm Only A Moment Away) by Ceris_Malfoy

She breaks all bounds that exist between strangers and leans her cheek against his burnt one, breathing steadily, heartbeat as rapid-fire as always. He wants to cry because it’s as close to the act of scenting as a human could get, and it both hurts and feels so damned good. He’s missed being scented, missed being able to scent back, and that makes him want to cry even more, because he can’t.

“If you were mine, I’d stay until the very bitter end,” she murmurs quietly, rapid-fire heartbeat never once giving off that betraying stutter that comes from lying, before pulling back and leaving.

[coe-lilium]

TroS reaction (1st view)

Necessary premise in bullet points:

- I liked TFA when it came out and still do but as I dug into the franchise/canon (Disney only by choice) my enjoyment of it became more lukewarm. Came out of it dreading a potential Reylo but liking the two charas on their own. 

- went into TLJ worried I’d hate it, came out with it being my favorite saga movie and sold on the Rey-Ren connection, whatever road it would’ve taken. Loved the “Rey’s powerful on her own/bc the Force wants to set Kylo’s wrongs right”. It felt good after two years of being bombarded with “this fucking Mary Sue can have any power only if she’s connected to powerful men of the saga, she has otherwise no right in being powerful” in forums spaces.    

- went into TroS non-spoiled, wary of Palpatine return but relatively hopeful if soured about the “JJ our lord and saviour pleease save us from evil evil Jonhson” (HA!). The rumors about lore from the tv series being featured into the movie had me excited.  

That said, here goes: [SPOILERS FOR THE ENTIRE MOVIE, ENDING INCLUDED, RIGHT OFF THE BAT]

I didn’t like it. I really hope to warm up to it more in future views, there’s absolutely stuff I liked or even loved, but as it stands now it was overall a massive disappointment on many sides and -worst of all- threatens to retroactively ruin my enjoyment in other previous stories. 

First, the positives: 

- Parentage notwithstanding, Rey was good. Her rage, her fears, her good heart, her commitment to the fight and the training, her longing for guidance… truly, if the bloodline revelation hadn’t retroactively ruined my investment in the character and themes I’d have fully, 100% loved her even if every single other part of the movie had been the same. 

Except for a brief war flashback to Starkiller game abilities (I lolled) I wasn’t even troubled by all the new abilities or their scope. Movies’ been inventing new powers since the beginning and the Force does what the Force wants. Again, fuck the genetics “twist”, garbage stuff. 

- Kylo, next to… 95% that involved him? TLJ did a great job selling him to me and surprisingly this movie added to that instead of retconning it away. More competent but still stupid and petty from time to time. I’m glad he came back, glad he choose right and glad he was allowed more time on the right side than Anakin. I love redemptions and he was portrayed as wavering the entire trilogy, I don’t even really care that it could’ve done better. I’m happy for him and his family, that’s all. The kiss got a laugh out me but not a malicious one, I was kind of running out of reasonable reactions by then. 

I’m just conflicted on how I feel about his death. Back when TFA was released I wanted him to survive to face what Anakin didn’t: justice (the kid-friendly setting prevented a death sentence anyway), atonement and growth from there, I still wish it happened and maintain that a different pacing would’ve allowed it. On the other hand, I’m also kinda okay with him dying. He righted at least a bit of his many wrongs, he saved a person he cared for, that his parents cared for and that could help the galaxy much more than he ever could and he was at peace. It was a good death.      

- Kylo’s vision/illusion of Han. A surprise but a very pleasant, well acted one. Would’ve I maybe liked Anakin more, as Ben idolized him so much and for all the wrong reasons and because I love that disaster? Yes. Does Han work much better in the economy of the movie and trilogy story and do he and Ben have a much rawer relationship and history? Absolutely. I am a teeny tiny bit baffled as  for why Luke didn’t also show up, but the actual scene was good enough I forgive it.  

- Rey and Kylo bond and connection was one of the saving graces of this mess and I utterly loved it. Both actors worked their asses for for all their scenes and it payed off, oh if it payed off. Their DSII duel was perhaps a tad long but great nonetheless (Republic era Jedi jumps!), the hurt and the sense of absolute loss and grief they both conveyed -and shared!- after Leia’s passing was incredible, Rey regretting the near kill and softly going “I would have stayed, had you renounced the dark side”. She cared, yes, but not to the point of ignoring the horrors (something Anakin never quite understood). The “dyad” stuff was a bit overkill, just call it a force bond, we can see it’s freaking powerful, but the Force Skype and sharing of objects that came with the package, that I loved. Surprise lightsaber, Ren fuckers! :D Bet Anakin and Obi Wan were really jealous, that would’ve come in handy during the war.       

- Finn was now fully invested in the cause, at ease, visibly happy to be with his friends, ready to bond and reach out, quick to plan, to act and to adapt to the situation, brave but cautious and calculating. I wish it was given a bit more focus, but I loved he found other young FO defectors. Also fuck yeah, he’s force sensitive and his ability is used, not just thrown in as a useless wink. Jedi Finn in future material, c’mon!

- Poe’s also grown. He was probably going to have more screen time with Leia had Carrie not died but there was nothing to be done for that. I’m not as happy as for previous 3 charas for the backstory retcon I’ll tackle in the negatives.

- Jannah was cool, the addiction of other FO defectors a welcomed one and the scene were she and Finn excitedly went over their “I broke free” moment was adorable. Good bean, I’d read more about her and her company. 

- A bit lot annoyed at Bloodline being kinda tossed outta the window but getting Leia with lightsaber was nice. Give me some ancillary material to deal with the clash and I’ll fully forgive it. 

- Jedi! MY GIRL AHSOKA MY MAN KANAN! I mean, I sure wish they were in a better movie, but hey, recognition for something more than the OT? No slandering of the Order but all of them collectively kicking Sidious ass once and for all? I’ll gladly take it. Anakin, my dude, I’m sorry your sacrifice was next to nullified but it was good to hear you again ;_;  I didn’t hear Ezra’s voice anywhere so I can still hope he’s alive, well and with the Ascendancy teaching all their Navigators. “I am all the Jedi” remains a terrible line. 

And now, oh boi. Here comes the long list of annoying - bad - stinking shit stuff: 

- If I wanted to watch a 2 and half long videogame cutscenes I’d have done that in the comfort of my home without spending money for tickets. Go to level x to retrieve related macguffin, move to next level to get next macguffin and so on and so on. I liked close to everything in the DS II sequences, but what would’ve that dagger pointed at if the wreckage had fallen even a little bit differently?   

In general, many plot points gave me the feeling they were stolen from the tv series and badly executed, like a mockery (or incompetence?). Case in point: Hux betraying the 1st Order out of personal, spiteful hate? Potentially good! The execution? A poor man’s Rebels Agent Kallus, already over in little more than 5minutes. 

- Palpatine himself is a poorly, ridiculously poorly executed Maul resurrection storyline from tcw and rebels. 

Because Maul was 1. explained and 2. got a good, long arc that made you forgive the undoubtably contrived ass-pull it took to bring him back while Sidious is just… there. You gotta accept it because the writer said so. 

How did he survive? We don’t know and fuck you if you expect an explanation (they really had the absolute galls to have him say the iconic/meme line from Rots and apparently it was supposed to be enough?!) How could he “have all Sith reside inside me” when canon’s clear that Sith do-not-get-to-retain-their-individuality-in-the-Force, do not work well together (lmao) and he as an individual never gave a shit about the Sith except when they could serve his own personal desires? His entire approach to the rule of two and other Sith stuff is “fuck that noise, everything in the galaxy exist to serve me”. He’s fine dying as long as “the Sith rule”? Who IS this character, because he’s not Darth Sidious (as presented in Disney’s own canon, mind). Oh, you wanted explanations? FUCK YOU, screams the movie. 

The mess gets somehow salvaged in the end as he comes to his senses and siphon the life out of Rey and Ben to de-rotten/revive himself to rule in person, now *that* was in character. Was he actually lying his ass off the entire time waiting for the moment he could siphon them? Hopefully but who the hell even knows.

In the end it just wasn’t worth bring him back. A holocron, a different Sith, even a hive-mind of old records/tainted wraiths of Sith (perhaps wearing Palps face to buy the old empire aficionados loyalty, idk) would’ve been better than “actually, Anakin suffered nearly his entire life and sacrificed himself for barely more than 25 years of peace and it still wasn’t enough to rid the galaxy of the monster who destroyed his and countless other lives”. But Johnson was the one shitting on beloved characters legacy and accomplishments, uh? Surely at least he’s got company. 

Ian was clearly having a blast, so there was… that? And the initial sequence being legit creepy and the Sith storm or whatever the fuck was that. That can stay, it was cool.     

- Poe, the latino character, got retconned from former Republic pilot (a backstory established before TFA came out and faithfully respected ever since) into a smuggler and gang member. Classy. What does Lucaslfilm have a story group for if not for stopping stuff like this from happening? Bonus Zorii being used for a “no homo! homo? no homo?” wink wink and for generally being a poor man Solo’s Qi’ra.   

- The movie makes you worry for a character death three (3) times in a row only to immediately backpedal on it. The survivors are grieving, the scene is sober… and then suddenly! they’re alive! isn’t it wonderful? let’s insert a comical scene now that we’re at it! Sigh.   

- The whole Threepio stuff was a contrived waste of time in a movie already full of more relevant plot treads that could’ve put that screen time to better use. 

- Rey’s parents apparently aren’t assholes anymore bc they sold her into slavery to protect her from Sidious, which is… supposed to make it alright, a sacrifice in the name of love? If they had been shown trying to give her to a trusted person and then she was kidnapped that wouldn’t had been their fault, just unfortunate, but the movie shows them leaving their 5yo daughter with her in-all-but-name slaver so?? 

- Rey Palpatine… Rey. Palpatine. Gesù Cristo benedetto che minchia mi è toccato di vedere. That hurt. That was so hilariously over the top bad I just…I started laughing. On top of the entire thing, thank you so, soo much for validating all those fucking assholes who demanded Rey be connected to a powerful man in the saga to accept her powers and value, you hack. Jedi were never about power of blood and then you went and reinforced the very opposite. She ain’t powerful bc the Force recognized her as worthy to stop evil and chose to aid her anymore, she’s powerful bc grandfather was. Lovely stuff. Hilariously, now she has a lot more legit “Mary Sue” traits than before. 

- Rose’s sidelining was a blatant bow to her and her actress haters whims. If in VIII she jumped at the chance of action, now she was fearful and “had to stay behind” studying maps. Fuck that noise. 

- Even if she rejected it, underline is that the Skywalker line is wiped out and the Palpatine one thrives. I… just… wtf wtf wtf. A final “Just Rey” would’ve been more powerful -because now it would’ve been reclaimed- and less corny and in poor taste than a Palpatine taking on the Skywalker name. I’m not sure if Sidious is more offended or if he’s laughing his ass off in space!hell. Probably the 2nd. Bad.      

- The final scene on Tatooine. It rang so empty because the planet brings warm memories only to the audience, not the characters. In-universe, that place brought nothing but misery to the Skywalkers: Anakin and Shmi were brought there as slaves and lived as such for years, Shmi was tortured to death and Anakin began his descent into the dark for crying out loud. Luke had to hide and saw his relatives murdered. Leia had no connection whatsoever to the place. The mera idea of burying Anakin Skywalker lightsaber into the sands of Tatooine and considering it a way of paying respect is… I don’t know, hilariously in bad taste? Rey, dear, what did you have personally against the guy? Put those sabers to rest on Naboo! Ah, but we can’t truly acknowledge the PT now, can we? Wack.   

- It’s not TroS complete fault, that “honor” mostly sit at TFA’s feet but for all its omages, copies and almost slavish references, from a in-universe point of view it’s like the OT barely occurred. 

The same evil man has been defeated (until next time?), the Republic must be rebuilt from scratch, a evil military is all over the place and must be dealt with, the Jedi Order has to be rebuilt… it’s depressing. A new evil taking advantage of the empire leftovers would’ve been one thing, but Sidious? He’s been effectively winning nonstop ever since he was elected Chancellor. He had all the power, all the influence, all the control and he maintained it all even as a rotten corpse in exile, the entire galaxy marching on his tune, controlled by his strings. And as the cherry on top of the cake he even managed to wipe out the family that could’ve, should have been his undoing! He effectively destroyed the Skywalkers. He outlived every Jedi, every survivor, every clone. I hate this. It’s sickening. I can’t even be happy Rex was on Endor anymore.      

In general, the best word I can find for this movie is: coward. 

So blatantly desperate to please, to be “forgiven”, to reference every single irrelevant thing -except the PT and the TV series in a intelligent way-, to throw fanservice after fanservice after fanservice no matter how nonsensical from all over that crossed the “corny” to wander into embarrassing territory many times over (Maz giving Chewie a medal outta nowhere? Come the fuck on now). 

The cartoon series had twenty time the guts of this movie and I vehemently wish for Filoni to take the helm of the entire creative team in a very near future.                  

[bloodline-rpg]

Congratulations, Bigby! We have accepted your application for your OC, Tyler Orville (FC  Dane Dehaan) Please create a new blog (not a sideblog) for your character and send us the link via ask box as soon as you can. Along with your link, please let us know what lyric you’d like for us to use for Tyler in his bio if you do not wish to use the one on the skeleton. Welcome to Bloodline!

OUT OF CHARACTER

Name/Alias: Bigby

Age: Twenty-Six (twenty-seven as of jan 26, 2020!).

Preferred pronouns: they/them

Timezone: est

Level of activity (don’t give your activity a number value, please describe how active you will be as best as possible): I work full-time midnight shifts from 11:30pm - 7:30 am. I am gone from the house from 10:30 pm until 8:30 am. I do not get online in my “mornings” but after work I’m usually on for a couple hours before bed. This is/would be my only rp group so I can devote my free time and attention to it outside of regular adult responsibilities. That being said, I do have regular access to tumblr IM and discord while away for plotting and keeping in touch/up to date.

CHARACTER DETAILS

(The Resurrected skeleton).

Character’s Name: Tyler Orville

Desired FC: Dane Dehaan

Character’s Age: Twenty-Seven

Character’s Species: Immortal Witch

Character’s Sexuality: Bisexual

CHARACTER BIOGRAPHY

Tyler lived a fractured childhood. Fragmented moments glimpsed of a possibility, at something forever out of reach. He was born sick. Sick in an ever changing way, as if the unnamed disease that ravaged his body was more than such, as if the very illness were alive. He was their first child born following two miscarriages, two elder siblings he’d never know and he couldn’t help but think bitterly that whatever awful thing nested within his being had been the root cause of their deaths.

Francine Calhoun, his mother came from a long, long line of original witches; the kind of old blood that prided themselves on their lineage so much so that inbreeding had been commonplace in generation’s past. Her courtship and subsequent marriage the kind of witch that barely qualified as a witch. The kind of witch, that if it were a mere man and nothing more; would only go to church on Easter and Christmas and call themselves a devout Christian.  In fact, Teddy Orville hadn’t been much of a witch for the last several years; a decade even, outside of the odd potion infused tea to help during the university crunch before exams anyway.

Much of Tyler’s life was spent in hospitals. Moved from one doctor’s appointment to the next; a seemingly endless stream of doctors approaching his case with first fresh faced enthusiasm and big dreams of curing the incurable before frustration, disappointment, shame…no tests they ran produced conclusive results. Were they absolutely certain it was not environmental? Were they certain it wasn’t all just in his head? What a wicked thing to ask a boy of barely nine years, far too small and too many sharp edges, sunken eyes and blood stained lips.

His parents refused to give up.

Isolated from their magical foundations (your child’s illness, your child’s pain and suffering, your damned spawn’s death is what you deserve for allowing your body, your womb, to be tainted with such a lesser man’s seed) Francine struggled to cope, struggled to combat the evil plaguing her son’s body with her magical abilities coupled with modern medicine. For the time being, Tyler was alive even if that was touch and go; would it not be kinder to let him pass? To let him go?

He drifted from palliative care back to intensive, back to long term; his education was sporadic at best. Not once did he set foot in an actual school and he longed for a life outside these walls; to be like the children he watched on television or read about in his books. He longed for some greater being to come and purge him of this wicked illness in his breast and though his parents struggled to provide him with a life; he wasn’t living, was barely surviving the day: rinse and repeat.

His life changed when he received a clunky laptop at thirteen, it allowed him an unheard of outlet to the world in forums, in chat rooms, through games. He could be anybody. Anyone but himself. And maybe in the beginning he fell in love with that anonymity. He was no longer the sad little sick boy, he could be a regular boy doing regular boy things like going to school, playing sports, and hanging out with his friends. Friends. He began to make those too.  That was new. He’d never had friends that weren’t the nursing staff in the unit he stayed at or the PSWs that came to his home when he was enjoying one of his rare “good” streaks (they never lasted).

There were other children in the pediatric wards of course, but they were never the long term kind of patients. Not like him. There were the odd handful that stayed for a couple months, and some even a couple years but…their endings were not happy ones.

Technology improved with time, not just with his laptop but with medicine. With such improvements came new hope. And new disappointment. Funny that, he thought he’d long been accustomed to the bitter taste. As he got older, his good streaks became less and time spent within the gently titled comfort of his own home became sparse until it became nonexistent. By this point in time, the knowledge of witches had become common; and some younger, braver, perhaps even brasher doctors went against the norm to seek help out in these communities but came up empty handed.

His parents were drowning in debt, in sorrow and their exhaustion showed. Tyler almost wished they hated him. Wished they’d move on. Try again with another baby, a healthy baby. Do it right this time, since he was nothing but wrong.

He’s so young. The staff whispered, pity, sorrow heavy; had been whispering since he was in the single digits. Tyler would be forever young despite being closer to thirty than twenty. His activity in his group chat dropped to an all time low, his oldest friends feared the worst.

And he discovered something unheard of.

It was the kind of discovery one could only stumble upon in the places on the internet that no one should go. Where only those with wicked intent did linger. Immortality. It seemed too good to be true, some old wives tale; some fantasy story straight out of the games he played with his friends (less and less so these days).

Only it was real.

And it was obtainable.

A cure.

I’m a real boy.

Talking about being forever young had never rung so true, the doctor’s were baffled. His family was torn between horror and gratitude. He stood in the hospital garden, barefoot with dirt between his toes (and the odd cigarette butt or two but that’s less romantic) and simply basked in the sun. It was as close to a religious experience as he’d ever experienced, and he’d spent a lot of time praying to an uncaring God over the years. Begging. Pleading. Cursing.

He sent a letter written in a terribly untidy scrawl to Carden Manor requesting the chance to relocate. To discover the culture he’d never had the chance to experience, of witches and wolves and perhaps others like him. After all, it was the only community of their people he could name and maybe he was still on the tail-end of euphoria that had him wanting to throw himself into the deep end so to speak.

Maybe there was something darker there, something darker that festered close to pain towards his parents. Resentment. Anger. They claimed to have exhausted all means but what of this? “It’s something born of the darkest of magic Tyler please…” had it been a line they were unwilling to cross? Had they known about it all along but their morals had them unable to act?  This was an old magic, this wonderful beautiful thing that had been a boon to his ravaged body. This thing that had given him a new lease on life, was to him far more a blessing than any kind of curse. Already accustomed to the taste of (his own) blood on his tongue, the need to consume such a thing to survive was such that he didn’t even bat an eye.

Anger. It simmered, boiled toward all consuming and dark. Terribly, terribly dark. A want for violence, to let his hands hook into claws and act out such emotions; revenge? He wasn’t sure. Though, Tyler was absolutely sure of one thing: he wanted away from them.

Moving to the manor was the second best thing to ever happen to him and he’s all too eager to dive into a life he never thought he’d get the chance to have.

To live.

CHARACTER PERSONALITY

It’s almost painfully obvious that Tyler’s social skills are lacking. Limited socialization during his formative years has left its mark. The bulk of his ability to interact with his peers is stilted and awkward, he can come off as blunt, flat, and even cruel. Withdrawn as though secretive (and he is hiding something, hiding who and what he used to be before his immortality) he comes off as standoffish and every bit some kind of “edgy loner kid” persona. Though he is most comfortable when alone or in front of a keyboard, residing at the manor demands that he evolve past this. As does his new lease on life. He’s trying.

Incredibly self-motivated, Tyler is almost too eager to learn more of the supernatural world to which he’s been removed from for so long. His own magical talent, lacking largely in part due to a lack of proper training. His parents, understandably, had been much too focused on his ailing health. He has a truly impressive repertoire for potions and enchantments; the kinds of witch’s work one can learn from a tome but has very little hands on experience. His frustration for his…otherness that still remains is palpable. As though he hasn’t really changed. And due to such a state, he tends to lash out at his peers which does little to earn him any friends.

He’s used to not having friends, even if he finds himself frustrated with his inability to adapt in this regard. It’s a lot more difficult than he anticipated to reshape himself into somebody, a new and improved version of Tyler Orville.

Some parts of his original self remains, a quiet thoughtfulness, an impossible patience at odds with his frustration, and an optimism he tries to keep buried deep down for fear of coming off over eager and annoying.

PLOTS AND POLITICS

Presently, Tyler stands fairly neutral on the in game political spectrum due largely in part to his inexperience. His outsider status borders on some sort of isolation; which in a way, speaks the truth. He was woefully isolated from his people and hardly had it in him to follow the news much outside of the big events. Like the world discovery their kind in 2016, he saw that; read about it. His friends in the group chat talked about it. A lot. He and his best friend, Alex, fretted in a private chat about the repercussions of such a thing.

He’s not too overly keen on the servitude aspect of other species, finds it rather barbaric if he’s being honest but is well aware of the delicate line he walks here. Outsider. He’s the son of a marrying of a strong bloodline into a weak one, he never once met his Mother’s family and knows nothing of their history. Of their possible feuds. His Father’s family could never hope to hold a torch to such greatness. Tyler straddles the line between a somebody and a nobody.

In this, he could potentially be shaped into a supported of any party with the right guidance. He has power given his immortal status and his bloodline is strong, if watered down some with his Father’s genetics. He could prove to be a promising ally to any party should they wish to court him so.

As far as plots go, I want to explore him well, exploring life in person instead of looking on from the outside in. I want him to interact with his peers from wildly different walks of life and learn more about the world. The world, his world that had been so very small has suddenly exploded into something so grand.

I also have a potential wanted connection for him to offer, in the form of his best friend Alex (who can be played male, female, or non-binary) who is also a supernatural (species up to the potential other mun) and they met playing an unnamed fantasy mmorpg. Alex brought Tyler into their group of friends and they’ve been Tyler’s main friend group ever since. Tyler has gone radio silent before, but this is something new altogether. It’s like he’s dropped off the face of the Earth and Alex fears the worst. What exactly brings Alex to the manor would be 100% up to the other mun but a reunion would absolutely be required and their future interactions and relationship is anyone’s guess!

[taiblogcomics]

A Shot Rings Out

Hey there, instructions written in crayon. Okay, we finally got to that point in Red Hood that I wanted to show off. I'm comfortable leaving that off for a while. Instead, let's do this Suicide Squad thing that I've also been wanting to talk about. In this case, though, it's actually because I thought this story was good, which is a change~

Here's the cover:

Who could be the guest star in this issue, I wonder? Batman, do you have any ideas? You're the world's greatest detective, maybe you can figure it out. Anyway, embrace dear Deadshot in your cape and keep him safe~

So we open with Deadshot doing maintenance on his mechanical arm. Like, should they be letting him do that in prison? He could escape with those tools. Frankly, I'm surprised they let him keep the arms attached when off-mission. Deadshot's thinking to himself about how he likes the simplicity of his job. People pay him, and he shoots who they tell him. Simple, clean, American. It only got complicated coz he has someone he cares about. And thus the big plot of this storyline: Kobra has kidnapped Deadshot's daughter.

Amanda Waller won't let Deadshot out to go rescue her, either. See, he's a criminal. He's in prison to be punished, and what's more punishing than not being able to save his daughter? I mean, on some level, I agree. But on the other hand, you pull him out of his prison for missions all the time. I guess the problem is whether his daughter deserves to suffer for that. Maybe I'm just being too sentimental. Or Waller is just a dick, that works too. Like, I'm sure she could bullshit some excuse to go after Kobra if she wanted to. GI Joe does it all the time~

So, over in a desert "somewhere in America", because there's just so many of those and they're not all clustered in one region somewhere in the southwest, a man in green armour who has kind of a snakey face runs up to a cave. Guess what, this is Kobra's lair. It's full of more snakey guys in green. They've uncovered a Lazarus pit, which explains Batman's involvement for later, and they plan to resurrect the original Kobra leader. The Kobra Commander, if you will. And then they plan to transplant their leader's soul into Deadshot's daughter, which I'm sure won't be awkward for him at all. Apparently Deadshot is their most hated foe, which must be some bit of continuity that I'm not aware of. Also apparently Kobra hates liberals, so thanks for dragging that unnecessary bit of political commentary into it, comic~

Meanwhile, back at Belle Reve, a mysterious silhouette slowly descends on the prison. Now I wonder who this could be. It couldn't possibly be the same person as on the cover. Anyway, Batman lands and lets his Bat-Glider return to home base. Alfred hopes he knows what he's doing, or else Waller will just induct him into the Squad if he's caught. Batman says he won't be caught, and I for one believe him. Batman breaks in, and to cover his entry, he's also released Killer Croc. He also punches out Captain Boomerang on his way to Deadshot's cell, which is just a bonus for the reader.

Batman and Deadshot make it outside, while Waller finds out she can't blow his brain bomb because Batman changed the frequencies. Katana meets them on the roof, but chooses to let them escape on the grounds that she had children of her own once, and she alread took Deadshot's hand. This makes them even. The glider returns, and Batman and Deadshot get away clean.

Batman tells Deadshot that between world's greatest detective and world's deadliest assassin, Kobra doesn't stand a chance. Then they get into a rusty pickup truck. Aw hell yes, this is the best road trip movie ever. And to close out the comic, Waller assembles her forces. She can't trust Katana or Croc, so she's got her last few goons: Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, and new recruit Captain Cold. Waller would prefer to apprehend the pair, but authorises lethal force if they can’t do so, which Captain Cold is all too eager to do.

Okay, you can see why I like this story already, right? It’s pretty obvious. It’s not just because Batman’s in it, which is cool, but it’s why Batman’s in it. Batman’s got that sense of justice just like what I was describing earlier: Deadshot may be a murderer, but that doesn’t mean his daughter should have terrible things happen to her. Batman being willing to break a criminal out of prison so he can save his daughter is exactly the kind of Batman characterisation I like to see. Plus you also get the sense he’s doing it just to annoy Waller in addition, and I’m down for that too. If the whole arc holds up to this strong beginning, it might be my favourite Suicide Squad story ever~

[fishfingersandjellybabies]

Fate Diverted - fic

Characters: Jon Kent, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Damian Wayne, bits of Dick and Bruce Summary: Robin died, but Jon didn’t know him anyway. A/N: A kind of what-if-ish au, on if Jon was in the continuity when Damian died, or something like. Whether Damian still has his powers upon resurrection is up to the reader. Jon is probably 8ish in this fic? (Also, small self-promo: I wrote an original short story and published it on Amazon, and if you like my fics, it’d mean the world if you checked it out too!)

~~

He came home, and found his mom crying.

“Mom?!” He asked, dropping his bag by the door. Lois jumped and looked up at him, and her tears seemed to fall faster. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay? Is…is Dad okay?”

As Jon neared her, she sniffed and held his face between both of her hands.

“Your father’s fine.” She whispered, trying to smile. “Just…ah, something’s happened. Something…something incredibly terrible, and he’s trying to help deal with it.”

“What happened?” Jon asked, holding her wrists. “Can I help him…?”

“Nothing…nothing you need to worry yourself with. Just. Something with an old family friend.” Lois still tried. She dropped her hands, and Jon reluctantly let her go. “Now, don’t worry about me. It was just some hard news to hear. Go on upstairs and get your homework started, okay?”

Jon watched his mother for a moment. Watched as Lois dabbed at her eyes and tried to regain some composure. Eventually he sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to get anything else out of her. He turned back to his bag, picked it up, and slowly made his way upstairs.

And he stayed there, even when he heard his father return. Silently crept to the top of the steps, and listened to his mother’s still-watery voice.

“How’s he doing?” She whispered.

“He’s…a wreck.” Clark returned. “I haven’t seen him this…bad since Jason. And even then, his grief made him shut down. This time, he’s…he’s angry and guilty and…’a mess’ doesn’t even seem to be the right word for it.”

“What about the others?”

“God, Lois…” Jon heard a sigh, and now his father sounded upset too. “Dick won’t leave the body. He won’t eat, he won’t sleep. He’s just standing there holding his hand. Any time Bruce or Alfred try to get him to do anything, he screams and fights them. If they can’t get him to do anything on his own soon, they’ll have to forcibly sedate him.”

“Oh, Jesus…”

“Tim…honestly, I had to keep checking to see if he was breathing. He just sat there, staring into space. Wouldn’t talk, wouldn’t look at me. I had Conner send him a text, and he wouldn’t even look at it. I don’t think he still has.” A pause. “And Bruce is going to burst. He won’t let himself grieve right now. He’s barely taking care of his other children, the ones who are there or the ones who aren’t. Cassandra and Jason didn’t return afterwards. Alfred and I couldn’t get a location on them, or anyone else in Bruce’s circle. And Bruce is just…running on rage. Going after the one who killed his son as opposed to mourning him.”

“Does he know who did it?” Lois asked. “I mean, this wasn’t Joker or anything like that, so…”

“It was Talia.” Clark breathed. Lois audibly gasped. “Damian’s mother.”

“I…no way.” Lois tried. “I know she’s a bad person, I’ve heard the stories, but. To kill her own son?!”

“I think that’s what makes this whole thing even worse.” Jon heard movement, and the plop of someone sitting down on their old sofa. “…The kid was almost cut in half, Lois. That’s how big the stab wound was.”

Jon heard his mother sit down next to his father.

“And…for a few seconds, I even questioned if the sword was the cause of death.” Clark’s voice was muffled, like his face was in his hands. “He had so many injuries. Arrows sticking out of his back. Bruises, cuts. The sword made it an instant death, but even without that, he could have died from the attacks he’d already suffered alone, if they didn’t get him to a hospital in time.”

Silence.

“Eleven. Bruce told me he was eleven years old, Lois.” Suddenly Clark sounded wrecked, and Jon wanted to run down the stairs and hold him. When his father let out a sob, Jon physically jumped at the sound. “Damian was only eleven years old.”

Jon didn’t want to hear anymore. He’d gotten the facts. Some kid his parents knew named Damian had died. Horribly, apparently, and at the hands of his own mother. And there was nothing he could do about it. Nothing Superman could do about it. Nothing he could do for Superman either.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and stood, quickly going back to his room and closing the door.

~~

They were on their way out of town, on a father-son trip, when, as they passed the Gotham limits, Clark suddenly turned the car, mumbling about making a quick stop.

Jon didn’t mind. He hadn’t been to Gotham many times, let alone such a huge, sprawling house. So he just hung on to his dad’s hand as they walked up the front stoop, and were led through the house, and past a secret clock door, by an elderly butler.

Batman was there, at a computer. His cowl was back, and it revealed a tired-looking older man. There were bags under his eyes and scars across his face. He barely turned when Clark, after telling Jon to stay back, approached him.

But Jon didn’t much care about his dad’s ‘work friends.’ Really, he was more interested in the cave around him. All the technology, and even the rocks themselves.

He was just looking around – but something in the corner of his eye caught his attention. He turned towards a series of cases, some holding costumes, some empty.

There was a man sitting on the ground in front of one, leaning against it, his cheek smushed against the glass as he stared blankly inside. He was in a black and blue uniform – Nightwing, he recalled his father telling him.

Nightwing’s uniform was a wreck, exposing bruises and gashes all across his body. He didn’t seem to mind them, though. Seemed more focused on the bloody costume inside the case.

The uniform was small, and it took Jon longer than he’d have liked to admit to realize it was Robin’s. The kid who died a few weeks ago.

“He wouldn’t want you to be like this.” He heard his father gently telling Batman. “He wouldn’t want any of you to be like this.”

There were tears on Nightwing’s face. And by how puffy his eyes were, it looked like there’d been tears on his face for a while.

Jon took a step forward, but stopped immediately. Should he go comfort him? Would he be accepted? Nightwing didn’t know him, and he didn’t know this man. Didn’t know what he’d been through. A child had died, Jon knew that objectively, sure, but he wasn’t necessarily sad about it. He didn’t know the child either. So could he truly comfort a man who was still in mourning after losing his eleven-year-old brother?

It turned out – he didn’t have to. Clark was there instantly himself, crouching in front of the younger man, Batman basically abandoned, though probably by the Dark Knight’s order, not his father’s choice.

Silently he put a hand on Nightwing’s shoulder. Nightwing didn’t react at first, kept staring at that bloody uniform. After a few seconds, he only moved his eyes, to look up at Superman.

Clark smiled, and said something short. It’s okay, probably. Nightwing’s tears seemed to just fall faster, and he began to shake his head, keeping his cheek painfully tight against that glass.

But his father just kept that smile, even when it turned sad. Gently reached out and gathered Nightwing into his arms. Nightwing fell into his chest, clinging to his shirt, as sobs wracked his shoulders. Clark just held him, rubbing carefully at his injured back.

Jon glanced at Batman. He hadn’t turned away from his computer, but he did stop typing. Listening to his partner’s cries.

Jon just tilted his head and curiosity, and waited.

~~

“Dad?”

“Yeah, Jonno?”

Jon stared out the window at the receding manor. “I’m…confused.”

“About what?”

“Nightwing seemed more upset about losing Robin than Batman did.”

Clark paused for a moment. Remained silent until they got on the highway a few miles away.

“…Things aren’t always as they appear, son.” Clark said quietly. “Batman and Nightwing loved Robin equally. They just show their grief…differently.”

“…Oh.” Jon hummed, staring at the trees passing outside. “Robin was Batman’s son, right?”

“Yes.” Clark said. “However, there was a time when Robin lived with, and was raised by, Nightwing. And the two of them became incredibly close.”

“So…they were almost like father and son too?”

“You could look at it that way, I suppose.” Clark sighed. He went quiet again for a moment, like he was debating himself in his own mind. “…Robin died for Nightwing.”

“What?”

“Robin died protecting Nightwing.” Clark explained quietly. “Nightwing blames himself for their loss. So, even if they weren’t as close as they were, Nightwing would still have that extra guilt on his shoulders.”

“…Oh.” Jon repeated, but sadder this time. “Does Batman blame him?”

“Oh no, never. Batman blames himself too.” A bitter chuckle. “The Bats are all good at that particular skill. Blaming themselves.”

“…Would Robin blame either of them?”

“I didn’t know the boy well, but I don’t think so. He loved them too much to blame or accuse them much of anything.” Clark explained. Another long sigh. “You were supposed to meet him, you know.”

“Really?”

“Mhm. When your mother and I thought you were ready to meet folks in the hero community.” Clark mumbled. “I’d…hoped you two would have become friends.”

Jon didn’t know what to say to that. Me too? That’s cool? Sucks he died first?

So in the end, he said nothing. Just kept staring out the window.

~~

Jon had always been bullied. He was used to that. Goody two-shoes, dweeb, loser, brown-noser. He’d heard it all, it never much bothered him.

It did make him lonely, though.

Because, yeah he had friends. But his friends didn’t – and couldn’t, he didn’t blame them – always come to his aide. Normally, he had to deal with these on his own, and afterwards, his friends would hide in shame.

Not to mention, no one else knew what it was like, having Superman as their dad.

This wouldn’t happen if I was friends with Robin the Boy Wonder, he found himself thinking after a while, bitterly. Robin wouldn’t take any of this sitting down. Robin would know what it’s like, having a superhero as a dad.

That bitterness turned to downright anger after a while. Because it wasn’t fair. Jon didn’t have many friends. And one of his potential future ones got killed before they could meet. What’d Jon do to the universe to make it do that to him?

One day, after a particularly bad bout with the bullies, he returned home and glanced at the fridge. There were family pictures there, of various life events. One in particular, though, showed his parents with Bruce Wayne. All in fancy suits and smiling for a pose. Around them were Bruce’s children. His older sons on the edges, his daughter and youngest son in the front, cocooned by the three adults. He was smirking, hands in his pockets.

Damian, his name was.

“I hate you.” Jon decided, poking harshly at Damian’s face. He thought of Nightwing, sobbing at the uniform case, and poked Damian’s face again. “This is all your fault.”

Damian just kept smirking, even as Jon stomped out of the room.

~~

His powers started to develop. Lois went back to working full time at the Planet. Superman was needed more and more every day.

Jon felt more alone than ever.

~~

It was a call in the middle of the night. And with his super-hearing coming in at random times, the phone’s ringer was a surprise fire alarm inside his head, even though – he realized after near jumping out of his skin – it was in his parents’ room.

His hearing dropped out, but he could still hear his father’s voice. The creaking of his bed. His mother’s questioning voice, his father answering.

Suddenly, the whoosh of Superman flying from the house, just as Jon got to the hallway.

“Mom?” He could see her still lying in her bed, looking after where he husband had just disappeared from. She glanced at him. “What’s going on?”

“Call from Batman.” She said gently, then smiled a little bit. “There’s been an…update.”

“Update?” Jon asked. “On what?”

“Robin.” Her smile grew, like it did when she was proud of Jon. A ‘mom thing,’ Clark called it. “…He’s…he’s back.”

Jon didn’t say anything. Just slowly turned back into his room, ignoring the excitement swirling in his gut.

~~

When they got to the Batcave, Jon almost went in search himself, like he was Krypto on the hunt. Clark must have known that, because as soon as they settled on the platform, he put a strong hand on Jon’s shoulder and squeezed.

“Bruce?”

Batman was where he always seemed to be, at that computer. He perked at Clark’s voice, but didn’t turn.

And that was all the attention Jon gave him. Instantly let his gaze wander around the Batcave, bypassing the tools and technology. Looking for another sign of life.

There.

He was on what appeared to be practice mats, in training gear. Lanky, but bright-eyed, and clearly breathing. Clearly alive. He wasn’t practicing or training, though. Rather, he was playing with a cat. Dancing around with a ribbon toy, laughing as the cat jumped and twisted between his legs.

A dog and a cow were relaxing in a corner nearby.

He let the cat catch the toy, and plopped down on the mat beside it. The cat curled into his side, kicking at the string. Damian kept smiling, but closed his eyes and let out a contented sigh.

And Jon couldn’t contain himself.

He slipped out from underneath Clark’s hand, and went slowly walking towards the practice area. Damian didn’t stir, but Jon had a feeling he heard him anyway. After all, the cat and dog sure did. Their ears perked and they looked straight at him.

Still, he stopped when he reached the edge of the mat. Watched for a moment, then softly called: “Hello.”

Damian slowly opened his eyes and glanced over, face blank. The cat rolled onto its back, rubbing its nose at Damian’s chin.

“Hello.” Damian said coolly. “And you are?”

“Jon.” He offered. “Jon Ke-”

“Superman’s son.” Damian cut off, eyes glittering in interest. “Superboy.”

“Ha, not quite.” Jon laughed. “But you’re Robin.”

“When my father will allow me to be again.” Damian huffed, rolling to his side and sitting up. The cat meowed in loss. “Or perhaps a little sooner, if I so choose to.”

“Well.” Jon hummed, watching Damian stand, stretch, and then start towards him. Hesitantly, though, like he didn’t trust his visitor. But still trying to keep that cool façade. “I could ask my dad if you could patrol with him. I’ve been begging for him to take me out for ages.”

“Me, with the Supers?” Damian raised an eyebrow at him, eyes glancing down his body before frowning. Jon was taller than him, and he could see it bothered the older Bat. “My mother would be appalled.”

The mother who killed him, was the only thing Jon could think. And that made him angry, and selfishly so. Not so much because a mother killed her son, or that someone killed a child. But the woman killed his friend, before he could even be so.

Damian’s eyes suddenly shot past him. “…You’re not supposed to be over here talking to me.”

Jon glanced back. Both their fathers were watching them. Clark looking disappointed, and Bruce straight up glaring at him. Protective, Jon figured. He didn’t want anyone near his newly resurrected and returned son. No threats, no unknowns. Jon got that. He could respect that.

…To a point.

“I know.” Jon sighed, looking back. “I just…needed to.”

Damian looked back at him, eyebrow still quirked. “Needed to?”

“…Yeah.” Jon murmured embarrassingly. “…My dad said we were supposed to be meet. You know, before you died. He hoped we’d have been friends. I guess I kind of did too.”

“Did he?” Damian asked quietly. Thoughtful, more than surprised. “Interesting. I was…unaware of that.”

“Me too, until it was too late.” Jon pursed his lips. “I hate when they do that. Keep secrets and stuff?”

“I do as well.” Damian nodded with a smirk. The same smirk as that photo on Jon’s fridge. “Never pegged Superman to be that kind of man, though. I thought that was more of a thing my father did.”

“Well, they do hang out all the time. Maybe they rubbed off on each other.” Jon shrugged. “…Think we could hang out, like they do?”

“I don’t hang out.” Damian sniffed haughtily. “…But I wouldn’t be against patrolling with you and your father some time, if your offer was genuine.”

“Sure.” Jon grinned. “I’ll ask my mom.”

“Your mom.” Damian snorted, glancing back to where his cat was still on the mat. “…You own a farm, correct?”

“Yup.” Jon nodded. “My dad does most of the work, though.”

Damian hummed. “…Would you like to meet my cow, then? I rescued her from a slaughterhouse. Her name is Batcow, and she’s a better crime fighter than two of my brothers combined.” He glanced away awkwardly, looking almost sheepish for the first time since Jon’s ever known of his existence. “I mean, if you are supposed to meet me, then it’d only be correct for you to meet all of my associates as well.”

He turned away before Jon could answer, walking royally across the cave, but Jon didn’t care. Failed in hiding his sudden smile as he trailed after Damian.

“Unless you’d like to remain here by yourself and be bored to tears by our fathers, of course.”

After his friend.

“Nah, I’ll.” Jon jumped up even to him, and he caught another one of Damian’s smirks out of the corner of his eye. “I’ll stick with you, if that’s okay.”

(Even if Damian refused to admit that title for a few more years.)

[foxofthedesert]

RQ OUaT FF | OGA: Ch. 11

Chapter 11 – A Whale of a Conversation (Ao3 Link)

The guest chambers Red has been placed in pales in comparison to the cavernous suite reserved for the Royal Couple. There is little furniture to speak of, just a modest armoire sizable enough to accommodate the wardrobe of a visiting dignitary and a similarly scaled mirror-topped chiffonier. The attached bathroom is only just big enough to fit in the small tub, lavatory, and an antiquated garderobe retrofit at great difficult to utilize the recently developed sewage disposal system – yet another gift from Victor's more technically and scientifically advanced realm – being slowly but surely installed throughout the castle. Plain black velvet drapes hang over the two narrow windows cut equidistant into the outside wall the chamber is built out from, and there are candelabras enough to read by in any corner of the room at any time of night. It is also dreadfully quiet, having somehow received extra insulation during construction, which incidentally also makes these rooms Red's favorite escape to shield her sensitive ears from the cacophonous bustle of the castle. In the absence of the blood rushing in Regina's head, the silence here is especially deafening.

Having regained some semblance of control over her faculties after that fit of despair, she can feel Victor's gaze on her before she hears him speak.

"There's nothing I can do for her. I'm sorry," he says, his tone dull and devoid of his typical arrogance.

She has no idea how long she's been locked in the unforgiving grip of her grief when his apology arrests her attention. The only indication of the passage of time is the candle perched upon the end table, which has burnt through a tenth of its weight. However long she has been trapped upon this tumultuous ride over waves of a seemingly endless sorrow, she is glad for the interruption. Not wanting to appear any more pathetic in front of the physician, she willfully forces herself to face him.

Once calm, she wipes her face of the tears smearing her cheeks before turning her attention to the only other conscious occupant of the room. Now fully alert, Victor is hunched over in the chair so that his elbows are resting upon his knees, eyes underscored by dark patches, skin tone washed out, hair frazzled, a picture of defeat. Never has she observed the man to be so downtrodden and laden with guilt. As if only passively aware of her studious appraisal, he stares at Red forlornly, unmistakably portraying just how much he cares about his current patient. It is startling to witness Victor show so much emotion, and for perhaps the first time since they met all those years ago, Regina cannot help but sympathize with the clinically detached scientist.

Red is the only true friend Victor has in the castle by virtue of her indomitable courage to butt into his life regardless of whether he asks her to or not. With time, her persistence in occasionally dragging him out of his laboratory to commiserate over ale and bread resulted in him adopting a slightly more personable attitude. Few if any aside from Red could have accomplished such a feat when most give up on the aloof doctor within the first conversation. But Red is relentless with her friendship, and it's obvious that Victor loves her for unwillingness to give up on him. That, and he owes her for his very important and incredibly lucrative position within the kingdom.

It was only because of Red that Regina sought him out with an offer of employment in the first place. On route to Midas' realm for a diplomatic event, this was before Midas' daughter Abigail ascended to the throne, she and Red had stopped halfway between to lodge for the night. While there, they dined at the local establishment which, although quaint, cultivated a warm, jovial atmosphere that was inviting enough that Regina could overlook the stained floors, worn surfaces, and unpleasant smells associated with a tightly packed throng of human bodies boasting various states of cleanliness.

"It's good to mingle below your station every now and then," Red had reasoned, dragging Regina by the hand. "I know this isn't your scene, but people like to be reminded once in a blue moon that their rulers aren't so different as they are when it comes down to the nuts and bolts. Everybody likes to drink and eat and laugh and tell terrible jokes, even highly dignified individuals such as yourself. So at least this once let these folks see that you're one of them. Please? For me."

Well, Regina wasn't one of them, but she was a pushover who humored Red far more than she should. Despite her initial reservations, they had a lovely meal and the service was more than adequate, though that was to be expected when the entire staff was sure to be on their best behavior with two Queens in their midst. Regina had concede that she actually enjoyed herself, though she did have to give the evil eye to a few bold individuals whose unwelcome stares lingered a little too long in their direction for her tastes. It was only after finishing an excellent dessert cake featuring strawberries and cream that she caught sight of a familiar crop of blonde hair. Tucked away at a corner table, it was as if he was trying to make himself disappear, which probably would have been preferable to what came next.

The very second Regina recognized Victor Frankenstein, the mellow atmosphere vanished in a flash of searing anger. The ensuing confrontation was not pretty. Nearly everyone in the little eatery went rigid and bug-eyed when she thundered across the small space, as if field mice having heard the slithering and sibilant hiss of a viper's approach. Thankfully Red was long used to her mercurial temper by then and quickly sprung into action to curtail any undue acts of destruction against person or property. Even so, she could not prevent Regina from dragging Victor outside by his lapels, where she proceeded to threaten his life should she ever lay eyes on him again.

Later on after much coaxing from Red, Regina recounted the disastrous debacle with Daniel's heart. She spared no details in describing how Victor had built up a false hope of resurrecting her slain stable boy and then proceeded to mercilessly crush it by lying to her. Left with only a devastation that refused to abate and a murderous rage at being so cruelly betrayed, she was a ripe and low hanging fruit for the Dark One to pluck. She learned some years later what really happened, that Victor had made a deal with Rumple for an Enchanted Heart and she was the unwitting sap they used to get it. Rumple's reward was a disciple ready and willing to cross lines of decency she previously she could not.

During the harrowing tale, Regina idly mentioned that Victor was a scientist and a physician of peerless skill in his world, which was why Rumplestiltskin often consulted with him. Because the royal physician back at the Dark Palace was an old man set to either soon retire or drop dead at any moment, Red had seen an opportunity that could not be passed up. Regina, as might be expected, did not take the suggestion well. Trusting the man who had so swiftly and brutally stabbed her in the back with their health seemed too ludicrous an idea to even consider. Red disagreed.

They bickered well into the night about what was best for the kingdom before Red eventually won out with a series of increasingly effective arguments. The first was that Regina should consider Victor as a tool to be used and nothing more. Employing him, Red insisted, did not mean trusting him implicitly. Furthermore, prudence would be exercised for everyone's sake by putting him under surveillance until such time her very reasonable suspicions abated. To increase the pressure she was already feeling to make an objective decision, Red then swore to take on personal responsibility for Victor should Regina find herself amenable to hiring him on a trial basis. The coup de grâce was delivered when Red shamelessly resorted to the tried and true tactic of pouting and batting her eyelashes – a combination to which Regina had a well-documented susceptibility. It worked, too. Damn the woman and her irresistible charms.

The next morning with Regina's provisional approval, Red had rode ahead of the caravan and met up with Victor on the road. Regina never found out what was said to convince him to come work for them, only that when Red returned, a triumphant smile was plastered across her lips. Like with everyone else she encountered, it wasn't long before Red wormed her way into the cold scientific heart that beat within the chest of one Dr. Frankenstein.

For her own part, Regina still does not care much for Victor personally, but Red trusts him, and that is enough for her to do so as well in professional matters. Three years on and he has yet to disappoint that remarkable show of faith. As long as that continues to be true, there will be never be any cause for her to make good on the promise she made at that modest inn among the rolling hills near the border with what is now Abigail's realm.

"I've failed her just like I failed Gerhardt," Victor then says, pulling Regina from her thoughts. The mention of his dearly departed sibling is another stirring piece of evidence as to how guilt-ridden he is over being hamstrung in Red's treatment.

There is much for Victor Frankenstein to regret in life and many unpardonable sins weighing upon his shoulders, but his inability to cure a supernatural malady such as Zelena's curse is not one of them. From the brief exchange with her sister, Regina is painfully aware that this plague is beyond even his prodigious medicinal acumen.

"You haven't failed, Victor. This is all my fault," she replies as she traces the outline of her wife's face. With slow, deliberate movements, she runs the pads of her digits down a strong jawline and then across full lips that she fervently wishes were moving with unfettered excitement as the latest amusing story or breathtaking adventure is described. "I'm afraid there is nothing either of us can do at present," she adds, her voice choked with emotion. "This affliction is one that cannot be remedied by science or any magic available to us here in the Enchanted Forest."

Out of the corner of her eye, she notices Victor's eyes narrow intently. "You know what this is. Don't you?"

Regina responds with a tight, stunted nod. "It is a sleeping curse. An altered version that even True Love's kiss cannot break."

Victor studies her face carefully, looking for something. She isn't sure what, although she suspects he is dubious about her analysis. His next words confirm that.

"Not that I doubt you," he says, though he clearly does, "but I'm curious as to why you are so confident in your assessment. I've seen a lot of magic during my tenure serving as your chief physician, and a fair few sleeping curses as well, but nothing like this. This is something entirely alien to me."

"You wouldn't have ever encountered it before," Regina answers, surprisingly steady now as her mind temporarily diverts from grief over Red to a technical discussion about the magic currently afflicting her. "The ingredient preventing magic from working to dispel this curse originates from another realm: Oz to be specific." Victor's brows raise at that. "As to how I came by this information, the person who cursed Red told me from her own lips. She is my elder half-sister, Zelena, who incidentally also hails from Oz."

Victor's expression turns almost comical by the time she is finished. It is an understandable reaction. In addition to her healthy skepticism, Regina was equally shocked at the claim.

"A sister? I was unaware you had a sibling. I thought you were an only child."

"As did I," she tells him. "My mother was a precocious liar, so I am not the least bit surprised she kept such an enormous secret. And while Zelena did not give much away, I was able to infer by her reactions to some things I said that she was abandoned like so much trash immediately after my mother squeezed her out from between her legs. She hates me because of that...among other preposterous reasons I won't bore you with."

Giving a prolonged sigh, she turns her eyes to Red, whose pallor is grossly unhealthy and flushed with fever. Yet she is still so beautiful that Regina's entire body aches with want – want to see those pretty green eyes, to hear that angelic voice call her name, and to be given one more blinding smile. She loves this woman more than all of the wealth and power the world can afford, more than her own life, and it is that fundamental nature of her love for Red that Zelena ruthlessly preyed upon.

"In essence, she wants to see me suffer, which is why she targeted Red rather than me. She knows that this is hurting me far more than any physical damage she could inflict upon my person. I believe my sister is categorically insane, but she is far from an agent of pure chaos. There is an undeniable method to her madness, a devious intelligence dead-set upon wreaking as much havoc as possible upon my life. I suppose that is a genetic trait I have Mother to thank for."

For a long moment, Victor stares at her as if not quite sure how to react to all he's heard. Eventually he says, "Wow. That, uh...that's heavy. For what it's worth, I'm sorry about all of it."

Regina gives him a curt smile that is nowhere near genuine. "Thank you. But my suddenly and tragically expanding family tree is not my present concern, as should be obvious."

Victor nods sharply, then stands and clasps his hands behind his back. He paces back and forth at the side of the bed for several seconds, flitting his eyes down at Red as he digests what he's learned. It is his method of processing information so that he can come to a conclusion about a complicated question or a solution to a vexing problem. A moment later, he stops to address Regina.

"Did your sister give any indication of what this mysterious ingredient was?" he says. "In my limited experience, when poisons are crafted from herbs or fungi or fruits, the antidotes are found in close proximity. Nature generally provides a locally accessible method of escape to preserve balance."

"That makes sense," Regina replies, then shuffles off the bed to take up position next to Victor. The wheels in her head begin turning as she analyzes her memory for clues. It takes some concentrated wracking of her brain to recall the finer details of Zelena's conceited diatribe, but she does manage to summon up a mention of how the reagent was concocted. "Now that I think about it, she did reveal something – more than she intended, I believe. A critical mistake. Her hubris may just play in our favor. I remember very clearly that she said the unique reagent she used was made of ground up leaves from a tree that grows high in the mountains near the Emerald City."

The information evidently intrigues Victor, who lets out a hum then deliberately taps his finger a few times against his lips before speaking. "Interesting. Occasionally in nature there is a dichotomous symmetry where one part of a plant is poisonous while another heals. It's no concrete rule of thumb, but it happens more than you would think. If the remedy can't be derived from a plant that grows nearby, perhaps it can be taken from the same tree."

His deduction is the first ray of hope in Regina's increasingly bleak world. She already knows where the tree grows, so finding it will not be a problem. No, the problem is transportation. And it is a big one. The supply of magic beans has dried up and there hasn't been a sighting of one of those enigmatic tornadoes on the continent for years. Pixie dust lacks the oomph to punch a hole through the fabric of space into another world, not that the Fairies would help considering Blue's contempt for her. They are just the sort of sanctimonious hypocrites who would refuse to help Red – who is the primary reason their precious Snow White still lives – in order to spite the woman to whom she is married. Furthermore, the purportedly all-powerful Sorcerer has not been seen or heard from since his arrival in Camelot and his apprentice is reportedly also in the wind along with his famous wand. There is only other reliable method to traverse worlds she can think of, and that is not an option either, all because of her.

"While that information is no doubt promising, there is the small matter of finding passage to Oz," she says, frustration lacing her words. "The giants have stopped trading with the rest of the world thanks to George's buffoon of a son and his expired wench, so beans are no longer a feasible method of traveling across worlds. All other means I am aware of are lost to us as well."

"Ah," Victor drawls, finger that was formerly on his lips now held aloft, "but that isn't a problem at all. I recently received a letter from Jefferson stating that he had returned home, and was set to inform you the moment I verified it's veracity, which I subsequently have." When Regina reacts visibly to Jefferson's name being spoken, Victor's eyes soften just a touch. "I know he is a sore spot for you, but the hat would get you to Oz and back should you be able to convince him to help."

"Jefferson's escaped Wonderland?" Regina wonders aloud. "However did he manage that?"

Last she had heard, which was some time before she'd met Red, he was still a prisoner of the Queen of Hearts, whose true identity was that of Regina's mother, Cora. Her mother's successor was nearly as appalling an individual, so she hadn't held out much hope for the hatter to survive too long.

Victor shrugs. "With Rumplestiltskin's help if I had to wager a guess. To what end the Dark One lent a hand, I don't know. The letter did not say much, and I haven't spoken with Rumple since...you know."

Regina hums in contemplation, ignoring the reference to their sordid past. After considering her options, she realizes that whatever she decides, she will be required to make a sacrifice. If she chooses to seek out Rumple for more information, she will be forced to sacrifice her pride, something she has never been good at. At the same time, if she does nothing, she will be essentially sacrificing Red's life, and that is an even worse outcome than her being pathetically humbled before her old mentor.

"Well," she eventually says, "it's not an ideal scenario to involve either Jefferson or Rumple, and were Red's life not on the line, I would surely seek other avenues in order to avoid them altogether. But this is the one scenario in which I must rein in my pride. I would know what plans Rumple has for Jefferson, not only for Red's sake but for the realm as well. Also, I should like to pick his brain about Oz. I know for a fact that he has been there before. He mentioned his visit to me once during one of his babbling lectures. And since I learned the apothecary arts from him, he may well have useful knowledge of this specific tree."

"Dealing with Rumple is never a pleasant experience," Victor says, his unease unmistakable, "nor is it ever profitable. All the same, should you decide to consult him, I would like to be present, if only for the benefit of my patient."

For a split second, Regina considers refusing the request. Seeing Victor and Rumple together in one room again is bound to dredge up some old, unwholesome feelings. She only reconsiders because she's desperate and, more importantly, Red's needs must come first. It would be prudent to have her physician present to advocate on her behalf as well as for the purpose of his extensive medical knowledge.

"Very well," she says, giving her assent before sending a gentle smile in his direction. "I should thank you, by the way, for sitting with her while I was indisposed. It eases my mind to know she hasn't been alone."

Victor waves her thanks off as if unnecessary. "Don't mention it. It was the least I could do for the friendship she's extended to me. Beyond my obligations to her as a patient, she's important to me. I want to see her whole again. Perhaps not as much as you, but I do all the same."

Feeling benevolent, and somewhat hopeful now that there is a plan of attack to save Red's life, Regina reaches out to give Victor's shoulder a friendly squeeze. "I know you do. For what it's worth, she feels the same. And no matter how complicated or strained our relationship is, I appreciate the honor you show her by keeping her trust. As long as that remains true, our past will stay there so far as I am concerned."

Relief and gratitude wash over him like a cool summer shower. "Thank you. I won't let either of you down."

"See that you don't," Regina says, releasing him as she gives him a snarky smirk. "I don't fancy replacing someone of your prodigious skill. Snatching you up was a great coup for our kingdom that I would hate to see squandered."

Victor grins back, his blue eyes twinkling. "No chance of that, Your Majesty. Not only do I want to keep my heart in my chest and my head attached to my neck, I actually like it here." His expression turns soft, then, almost vulnerable as he glances down at Red. "I'd never admit this under ordinary circumstances, but this is my home now. In large part because of her."

"She would be thrilled to hear you say that," Regina says, her own focus turning back to the incredible woman who, despite all odds, has bound two former enemies together. If only she knew she and Victor were the test case, and that a few more reconciliations would follow, all prompted by a shared affection for one goofy, sweet, loyal, and loving werewolf.

"Then I'll make sure to tell her when she's awake." Victor then draws in a weary breath before releasing it slowly. "Well," he says after scrubbing his face with both hands, "much as I'd love to collapse face first into my bed, I have a lot of research to do. I'll leave you alone with her while I go rifle through my materials. Also, while I'm gone, and with your permission, I'd like to consult the herbalist that lives in the village below. She is well traveled and has an encyclopedic knowledge of herbs and plants that may be of some use."

"That's acceptable. Thank you, Victor. You may go," Regina says as she carefully sits on the bed at Red's hip, gaze never leaving her unnaturally still wife. Victor shuffles away, and when she hears him turn the doorknob, she calls to him one last time.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" he answers.

She casts a sharp glance at him over her shoulder. "Just so you know, I will summon Rumple in two hours. With or without you."

"I'll be here," he says earnestly, then resumes his exit.

Once he is gone, Regina leans back down over her sleeping wife to better study features with which she is so intimately familiar. Red is always gorgeous. Always. Even under a withering curse, her beauty leaves an ache in Regina's chest that is as familiar as it is unwelcome considering the circumstances. Now, it is a stark reminder there was a time she visited this very fate upon Snow White.

So many preparations were made for the day she finally caught up with the perpetual thorn in her side. Acquiring the imprisoned Charming from George had been the cake. Forcing Snow to eat a tainted apple of her own making at the site of Daniel's grave was the delectable icing. She'd been so euphoric over that victory that for a week Red's molten fury and bitter disappointment didn't make a dent in her celebrations.

Fate, it seems, is not without a depraved sense of humor.

She cannot help but conclude that Red's dilemma is the just desserts for her crimes against an innocent young girl whose only mistake was to trust someone who in her limited experience should have been trustworthy. Snow's own mother, from what Regina knew of Eva, had been a veritable saint, a paragon of virtue who epitomized motherhood. It was no wonder the girl had trusted Cora to do the right thing; Snow was not raised by a heartless witch who destroyed everything good in the name of power. It was only natural she assume Cora would have Regina's best interest at heart.

Instead of putting the blame for everything that went wrong in her life where it rightly belonged, Regina heaped it all upon the narrow shoulders of an ignorant child. She had wrung her hands together in glee as she had plotted and contrived and meticulously arranged the princess's demise, and now she is getting a taste of her own medicine. Only Red is paying the price rather than the real culprit. The guilt of that is almost more than she can bear.

"I'm so sorry, my love. This is all my fault," she whispers.

Bitter tears begin to fall once more now that she is alone – alone in a room occupied by two. The thought is utterly abhorrent. Red should never be so still, so lifeless, not when she is almost always in perpetual motion at any given time. Not when her presence alone is sufficient to inundate the most spacious of rooms with her buoyant and vivacious personality. Red brings vivacity with her wherever she goes, but now she has been reduced to an empty shell and it makes Regina sick to her stomach. Her wife's body is present, yet her spirit is absent, having departed the planes of this world to be imprisoned within a place of torment from which there is no escape. And it is all her fault.

"I'm so sorry," she raggedly gasps, and the phrase turns into an anguished mantra as reason flees the premises. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry! I'm so, so sorry!"

Without Red's steady warmth and encouragement to stabilize her faltering foundation, all Regina can do is cave in under a weight of sorrow that threatens to crush her very soul.

[mondofunnybooks]

'THANOS'S GRANDAUGHTER: GO SUCK EGGS GRANDPA!' DEPT.

'The title means exactly what the words say: NAKED Lunch - a frozen moment where everyone sees exactly what is on the end of every fork.'

-William Burroughs, from the foreword notes for the novel 'Naked Lunch'.

THE GATEKEEPERS!

As may not possibly surprise you lot, we've run afoul of some of the more humourless elements of fandom in our time. This is probably down to the fact that we don't take superhero comics very seriously but are utterly enamoured of some of the more sillier elements of history. True story. We were once told off by a man in Green Lantern fangroup (We were bored.) because we thought that the origin of Kyle Rayner is so nakedly Freudian and 'Will this do?' to be hilarious.

To recap:

On a planet called Oa exists a race of short, bald humanoids with large heads called The Guardians. The Guardians believe in enforcing Order in the universe and go about this by way of selecting the most suitable candidate (called a Green Lantern.) of each sector of the universe to be given a power ring that does whatever the wearer can imagine. This ring had no effect on anything yellow due to a necessary flaw in the design to stop the wearer from having absolute power. Also, it has to be recharged every 24 hours.

Our sector of the universe is 2814, and of the 7200 Lanterns patrolling the universe at any given time, ours was a chap called Hal Jordan. Very strong-willed, very daring. Hal got the ring off an alien called Abin Sur who was on his way to give either him or a ginger bloke with a Moe haircut called Guy. Hal happened to be closer than Guy, so got the ring.

Hal Jordan went onto be a successful Green Lantern for several years but things went terribly wrong when a big yellow space tyrant called Mongul, teaming with a cyborg pretending to be Superman destroyed Hal's home of Coast City, murdering tens of thousands of people and left Hal shattered, feeling he'd failed in his duty as Earth's protector.

The loss of everything Hal cared about sent him insane, and he attempted to resurrect his destroyed home using the power ring, but he could only achieve a replica of what he'd lost and the ring wasn't designed to create that much matter for a presumably infinite period of time. His perceived second failure cemented his full breakdown, and he went on a murderous rampage in order to gather as many Green Lantern rings as possible on the way to returning to Oa is seize the original Green Lantern ring. Things go quite wrong as Hal murders the entire Lantern Corp and all but one of the Guardians: Ganthet.

Ganthet, a wee blue fella cosplaying as Orko off the He-Man cartoons pegs it back to Earth. Once there, he floats to L.A., sees a drunk bloke taking a piss against a wall and gives him the final power ring before sodding off, exclaiming 'The Ring will sort you, mate. No worries.'

A BLUE SPACE MIDGET IN A RED DRESS GIVES A DRUNK LAD ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPONS IN THE UNIVERSE AND THEN FUCKS OFF IS THE ORIGIN OF KYLE RAYNER, GREEN LANTERN OF EARTH.*

This would be weird as a 1960's comic but at least the DC Editors of the '60s had no idea any of this stuff would be reprinted and pored (Hi, Donald.) over by future generations. Supergirl is having a relationship with a fella who turns into her horse but she doesn't know about it? Fine. There's a space creature from the fifth dimension who has a real thing for winding up Superman every ninety days and can only be stopped by tricking him into saying his name backwards? Gotcha. Batman owns a dog who fights crime but wears a mask on patrol so no one will link Ace The Bat-Hound with Bruce Wayne. Of COURSE. Beppo The Super-Monkey? PRINT IT! Who will care in five years? Who will even remember, right?

Green Lantern 50 (2nd series, 1994) was published post Watchmen, post Dark Knight Returns, post Brat Pack and all of the other silly 'Corporate Superheroes Can Be For Adults' malarkey. We were now aware of subtext, metaphor, aspirational text and either this is a daft attempt at being a mature comic (which given it features a nervous breakdown, genocide, the total psychological breakdown of one of the icons of the DCU and the first example of 'Fridging' quite soon after, it ought to be.) or it's a very bad attempt at pitching a superhero comic at the kids.

The real answer was of course that DC were trying to get attention back they'd lost to the Marvel Superstar period and subsequent formation of Image. Superman grew a mullet, Batman needed a wheelchair and was replaced with a religious nutter wearing Vatican levels of gold, Wonder Woman was replaced with a giant legged redhead, The Flash broke his leg. It was all kicking off.

But we always found the whole Kyle thing hilarious, and when making our usual jokes about it ('Good thing Ganthet didn't run into Richard Pryor!', etc.) we were scolded. It turns out the story had been rewritten a bit as part of something called Green Lantern: Rebirth so it made a bit more sense. Lord knows some of our best friends are comic fans, but when they start quoting the continuity of a DC comic with capitals like they WERE reciting THE Bible and Geoff Johns DID make it GOOD, we get a bit scared.

All that was a recap of 5 comics. (Green Lantern 47-50 and Superman 80) and was almost impossible to recap straight. When we tried to give a factual, chronological accounting of these comics, we weren't capable of throwing in a few puns. And circa 1989-1993, nor were the staff of Marvel Year In Review.

When people try to contemplate the early 90's and Marvel, they think of Spider-Man 1, X-Force 1, X-Men 1. If you narrow the field down to Marvel Magazines, probably the movie adaptations, poster specials and most likely the BEAUTIFUL Marvel Illustrated Swimsuit Editions. Few will remember the spectacular Marvel Year In Review annuals. That's a shame, because with one notable exception* it was the last time they displayed an ability to take the mick out of themselves beside the better issues of John Byrne's run on She-Hulk or the comedy title 'What The--?!' (also canceled, sadly in 1993.).

Marvel Year In Review, in theory, was probably originally designed to be exactly that: A chronological overview of every comic published by Marvel over the previous 12 months. That sounds simple enough but can you imagine being the poor saps who not only have to read all those comics but attempt to sum them up as a factual synopsis. The work and time we just put into four issues of Green Lantern was murder and at least interesting things happened in those books. 'Hey, Dwight here's all of Acts Of Vengeance to work out, and see if you can explain what a Captain Universe is and why Spidey might become possessed by his powers, there's a pie in it for you. Barry, you got Atlantis Attacks.' Interns were probably diving out of the window at the sight of editor Bobbie Chase approaching them with a stack of Alpha Flight.

So rather than put out another dry, just the facts ma'am comic to sit along Marvel Age, The Offical Handbook Of The Marvel Universe or Marvel Preview, they changed gears. Marvel opted for a magazine format with covers emulating the likes of Time and later National Lampoon and sadly unnoticed New York-centric mag Spy. The early issues provided something of a review of the year but in journalistic form for some of the bigger events juxtaposed with pieces on 'Best and Worst Dressed' and ads for products like Damage Control, who would sort out your house if it'd been trashed in a fight between The Hulk and The Wrecker, a tourist ad for Latveria, posters for the new Simon Williams film or a flyer for the next Dazzler disco compilation. Long before Alex Ross painted every last rock on Ben Grimm's back, Marvel TYIR gave you an insight into what it would be like to be a resident of the Marvel Universe reading a 616 style issue of National Lampoon.

MYIR also ran interviews with various superheroes, (Including Rick Jones recounting the time he met Elvis, by far the best thing to come out of Infinity Gauntlet/War/Crusade.) a review of Nightcat's debut album, an appetite suppressant for Galactus, the 'Who Died This Year, Who Came Back From The Dead and Who Managed To Stay Dead' update, an expose of Genosha's tourist, a create your own 90's superhero name and origin generator (which turned out to be surprisingly accurate.) an account of two disenfranchised rival employees's visit to the Marvel Offices and ooh, loads more.

This is speculation on our part, but the knife gets a lot sharper around the 1992-1993 editions. The full chronology is written with a weary black humour of someone's who just seen too much and is getting bitter. The full-on assault on the 1993 annuals, certain top-tier artists 'showing their influences too clearly' and inadvertently predicting the future of more brutal and uncaring superhero comics in the article 'Bring On The Bad Guys' from MYIR 1993.

There's a huge shift in attitude and editorial policy in the next 12 months. Several publishers have gone bust, Tom Defalco is gone as Editor In Chief and replaced with 5 people in charge of various parts of the publishing line, turning Marvel into a series of little fiefdoms with varying degrees of co-operation between each other. We've just met Peter Parker's robot parents. Aunt May is about to die. Reed Richards is dead. Jim Wilson is dead. Legion resolves to kill Magneto. Dr Strange has an idea for something called 'The Secret Defenders'. Everything is about to get very serious and therefore far more ripe for parody.

And with no word, no goodbye from the editors, nothing in the fan press nor explanation, Marvel Year In Review 1994 was solicited thusly:

'Marvel Year In Review 1994 - Just the facts, ma'am. Gone is the tongue-in-cheek humor of the past; the Marvel Year in Review offers a factual recap of the major Marvel Universe events of 1994. It's short on lengthy text and long on splashy art and fact-filled sidebars. Included are all the happenings from the pages of X-Men, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and Ghost Rider, plus art by Andy Kubert, Chris Bachalo, Tom Lyle and many others! $2:95. $4.00 CAN'

And it was. Normal comic size. No chatty opener from the editor with puns and gags. No angry letters from readers just wanting to know what happened in X-Force and wanting to be rid of the MODAM jokes. No ads. Not even, truth be told, much in the way of recaps so much as trade dress-less cover repros with dialogue quotes and a paragraph or two to cover the essential plot elements, finished with the most perfunctory 'Er, will this do?' appeal to the readers on the last page. Turns out that no, it wouldn't do at all, as there was no Marvel Year In Review 1995 or any other edition either.

Marvel has put out a few self-parody books since, such as Marvel RIOT!, House Of Hem, Marvel WHAT Now?, Who Won't Wear The Shield, Wha HUH? and obviously Deadpool crosses the lines frequently, but there's not been something that clever nor ambitious since. Perhaps the line between reader, writer and editor aren't as clear as they used to be or simply today's audience wouldn't be as immediately familiar with the formats being parodied and as the recent attempts to parody Marvel fanfiction have shown, sometimes an idea just belongs to its time. As a magazine that featured fun work by the likes of Todd McFarlane, Dan Slott, Sam Kieth, Peter David,  Kevin Maguire and a different angle on a world that takes itself a little bit seriously at times, Marvel Year In Review was a fun little ride while it lasted.

(Note to self. Never, ever look up Marvel fanfiction again. Ever.)

*This may be different now but was certainly the case in 1994. Origins, histories and such might have changed due to 52, Convergence and Rebirth. We were told that Flashpoint was the end of the DC Universe as we knew it, and we took that as a good place to stop reading. Except Section Eight and Batman/Elmer Fudd obviously.

Dedicated to the memory of Steve Ditko.(1927-2018)

[optimisticcritique]

Gotham 4x18 - Review

This might just be the last episode for a certain character...it is time to see. 

Interim mayor? Haha good luck with that, buddy. I have a feeling you will either die or resign by the time this season ends. 

Who is the commissioner these days?

At least half of the people at this meeting are going to die this episode.

This woman really needs to chill--never mind. Freeze has it covered.

His voice sounds so much like a voice changer. Mr. Freeze could really say some fun deep voiced quotes with that voice. I actually believe it’s required in order to be accepted into the voice changer club.  

I want to know why they chose Mr. Freeze and Mad Hatter for this job. It may not require any specific skills, really. Do they just flip a coin to decide who will go kidnap or murder someone?

Look at this guy. Trying to make deals with anyone who will listen. Kind of reminds me of season 1 Oswald a bit. You know, trying to do whatever it takes to survive. 

You are really asking the Mad Hatter to save you from lunatics? Do you not know him at all? 

“Lunatics is a bit harsh. I prefer visionary” Well, that is typical. Is Jervis Jerome’s number 1 fan now? He is going to be so crushed when the visionary is no more. If it is anything like how he reacted to his sister, there might be more trouble coming. 

“I am with Mr. Valeska one hundred percent” Oswald, I hate to break it to you but...you are a terrible liar. That was unconvincing and you should know this.

Oswald is pretending to smile but deep down he is so ready to be done with all this XD

Hey, I know purple is Oswald’s color but that shade of blue tie? It really does bring out his eyes. 

Geez this toxin is way crazier than I expected it would be in this show. I really want to know why Jerome came up with the idea just now. Also, how did he explain it to Mr. Freeze and Scarecrow as they were helping to create it? Did he just say, “Hey yeah, I want them to go bonkers. Laugh maniacally, go insane, possibly start bleeding and change color from laughing so much so they look like sadistic clowns.”  

I am just waiting for the moment that Oswald leaps out of the truck and just runs as fast as possible. 

You thought Alfred would forget your birthday? I know life has been crazy but he has practically raised you. 

Ooh did you buy him a giant red wagon? 

Awe his baby bat mobile! Awesome! The fact that he didn’t even notice it in the garage until he pressed the button... 

I just realized...he has so much money...how come he hasn’t bought like twenty cars at this point? Although, to be fair, this one is so much cooler and is bullet proof. 

Harvey and his liquor.

I want to know how Oswald knows Jim’s cell phone number. Has he always had it saved in all his phones? Surely it isn’t public knowledge, unless he researched it.

“Well, this is a first” Oh please, like you two have never met in secret before ;)

This reminds of the Pilot, where Oswald was snitching on Fish...yeah, nothing can possibly go wrong here. 

“Why did you come here if you aren’t going to help me?!” Jim, I think you need a vacation, you seem tense. Also, at least he is giving you a heads up on the toxin that may destroy Gotham and turn everyone insane. Think positively :)

Oswald being scared of Jerome? I am honestly not surprised. 

“Or maybe you just don’t like the competition” ...maybe so but does it matter? You got to take whatever help you can get, can’t be choosy on the motives there.

“And I am an honest criminal, Jim” Oswald seems so offended. Like, how dare you excuse him of serving his own interests! 

Why did Oswald sneak off? Didn’t Harvey hear Jim say “Oswald” when he answered his cell phone so he knows who Jim is meeting with? Jim is not discreet.

Jerome breaking out a killer dance entrance. 

It is scenes like these that make me wish Jerome met Ed. You know that they would totally fight over who has the best extra entrances.

People losing heads? That’s a bit graphic for all of Gotham to witness...well, I mean, as of now. I am sure it is going to be even more graphic as years go by.  

Side note: I feel like the pacing of this episode is far better than last week. Less rushed, less story lines that need to develop.

I know the League has major skills so this probably wouldn’t happen but I can just imagine what would happen if someone had terrible aim, accidentally harming or killing Babs. She’d probably still live or be resurrected somehow but I can just picture the shocked responses and the person going “Whoops...I might need more practice...” 

Awe come on, let Tabby have her murderous fun! 

Yeah, Tabs isn’t having any of this league crap. 

Ooh wicked ice device! I want to see more of these cool gadgets that Victor has been saving. 

Wait, I know that tune... 

Oh my god they are doing 60s Batman theme! This is brilliant!

Now say “Batman!” or something similar.

*stops music before getting to the “batman” parts :( I guess close enough...the batman part will come later ;)

Where was Bridgit even shooting the fire for people to duck?

Of course he wants Jeremiah and Bruce...

Wait, so Jim didn’t seem totally against the idea when it was Jeremiah but when you mention Bruce Wayne? Absolutely not! 

Jim, now is not the time to be negotiating with him. He is not going to bite.

A bundt cake. Not really my taste. A nothing bundt cake is better. 

Happy Birthday, Bruce! Wait until you see the presents waiting for you today...

Wow, Selina. Way to take away all his wishes by blowing out the candles. Unless, of course, Selina was his wish. 

lol where did she even come popping from anyway? Such a kitten, pouncing when you least expect her.

Aww as much as I liked them having separate story lines from each other (just because I was curious to see where their stories would go), I did miss them sharing scenes. Teen batcat is cute. 

Luuuccccius! (Yes, I will say this every time I see him in an episode)

Where were you Foxy? Vacationing? Taking weeks of spa days? Practicing better defense skills? Hanging with your secret lover? What? 

Yeah, Jerome doesn’t care if he has to blow up any heads. It does not faze him whatsoever. 

I love how much Alfred and Selina care about the well being of Bruce...yet Bruce is going to do it all anyway. 

“I’m positive.” Yeah, I believe in you Foxy! “99% positive” That 1% is going to get you, isn’t it? 

Why didn’t the league show Babs this room sooner?

Wait, the painting has... why do I feel like this is a set up or something? This seems so fishy. 

You know, if Babs was still working her art gallery, this would be the painting on full display. 

Oh gosh...Babs is about to fall deep into this, isn’t she? 

Ooh Jeremiah and Bruce in the same scene! ..And now shaking hands and having a conversation!

This is going to hurt when Jeremiah most likely becomes the Joker. Is Bruce going to blame himself for this too?

Wow, that is a very nice speech Bruce. You make a good motivational speaker.

I bet this guy is regretting being interim mayor. If you make it through this, you may want to take a very long vacation and just forget to ever come back.

So, what did Jerome do while he was waiting this whole time? Dance around? 

Wait, wha-Oh, of course Jerome would foresee this. Always be prepared for anything. Impressive.

Hey, where is Butch/Grundy while all of this is going on? He just joined the group last episode. Why isn’t he involved and by Oswald’s side?

Oswald looking at this like “Maybe I can build one shaped like a penguin later in life...” 

Hmm...why is Jervis using the watch now? He didn’t need the watch before, did he? 

Oz, maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to criticize Jerome’s plans in front of his most loyal followers... Just a thought.  

“A bird’s eye view” ha. ha. 

Jealousy? Okay, I know that Babs was pretty mean to Tabby in season 3 but this just seems like her mind is getting twisted or something... She isn’t thinking clearly. 

Babs isn’t letting this all go to her head or anything.

Tabby being so mistreated. She just wants to run a club with people she cares about. At least she can turn to Selina for help.

The two wild jokers in a deck sitting side by side. 

Jeremiah rolling his eyes at Jerome is such a mood. I get that way when I have to hear people ramble about stuff I have heard many times too.

“We are practically identical” Can’t imagine why...

Well, I give you points for effort, Jeremiah. You at least tried. 

Lucius is so done with this crap.

Lol Jerome repeatedly trying to hit the trigger. Him and Ed should rant about how frustrating that is. 

Harvey with his whole “I’ll shoot it down. Oh right” lol at least he didn’t impulsively do it first. 

Whose idea was it to leave only two people on there? Did they not think Oswald would get loose and stop it?

Oswald freaking out. Come on, you can think of a plan! Oswald’s thoughts: This is why penguins don’t fly!

Oswald calling Jim for help first because he knows Jim will help. I wonder if he tried calling others but they just didn’t answer. 

“I don’t even drive my own car!” LOL I’m dying. He is so not for this plan. 

Well, he can actually drive, he just probably doesn’t do it very often or likes to.

“If you don’t, thousands will die...maybe worse.” “What’s worse than that?” Pfft. Yeah, death doesn’t matter but not being able to rule? Far worse. Man, he REALLY doesn’t want to steer.

It seems to me that Jerome kind of knew he was going to end up dead all along, didn’t he? 

Oswald’s relief when he starts steering...he’s like “I’m doing it! I’m actually doing it! Oh my god...” 

You just know that Oswald is going to want to have a blimp of his own later in life. Well, I can now check that off the wish list. Now, can we have Oswald in a scene with some live penguins? Thanks. 

Where is Bruce and Jeremiah when all this is going on? Kind of a shame that they aren’t there to probably see Jerome in his final moments. 

Of course Jim would still try to save him but Jerome is like “Nah”. Would he really rather risk his life for all this? 

Laughing to his death. Pretty appropriate. 

This is sad. I’m going to miss Jerome.  

I believe I can flyyy. Okay, sorry. Now is not the time. The slow motion is getting to me.

Now, I am 99.9% sure that he looks dead. At least he died with a smile on his face? ...again...

I know it is all about plot armor but they should really define deaths better on the show. Selina falls out a window and lives. Sofia and Butch get shot in the head, live. Was Jerome’s body just too feeble? Was it because he was shot a few times AND fell off a building onto a car? 

Bruce trying to make things right. Starting somewhat of a friendship...that is doomed to be heartbreak. 

Oh my god he is still up there. How long has Oswald been up there?

Who knew Oswald would be Gotham’s hero? Go figure. 

“Jiiiiiiiiiiiiim” That shot, that scream. I swear it is like the end of a cartoon. 

Poor Oswald. I feel bad but it is also hilarious. 

If this is the end of the episode or if he is still up there at the start of the next episode, I will laugh so hard. 

I just think of the standby pilot like customer service. Standby: Yes, can I help you? Oswald: I am stuck on a blimp, I want off now! Standby: Is it the blimp or is it the zeppelin? People often mistake the two. Oswald: Wha-does it MATTER?! Standby: Please hold *music starts playing* Oswald: *screams in rage and frustration*  

Yeah, as good as Tabby is...it is difficult for her to fight against a few members of the League. 

Aha! Ra’s is about to come back. 

Wait, where are they taking Tabitha?

Jeremiah...uh oh...what’s about to happen? Surely, we aren’t just going to watch him drink tea. 

A gift. Don’t open it. Don’t open it. Don’t open it. 

You are supposed to be smarter than this. You JUST got back from dealing with Jerome. Do. not. open. 

A jack in the box? You know that isn’t from Wayne enterprises. Throw it now! It’ll probably spray you with toxin! 

A special made toxin for him? Oh, so it isn’t exactly the same as the other...that’s good to know. So, that is how it will affect him differently!

Oh god... this is about to be even more insane! 

What a birthday present for Bruce...the birth of the Joker.

I’m interested in seeing how different Jeremiah’s Joker will be to Jerome.

Kind of wish the season had one extra episode, so that we could have seen Jeremiah and Bruce be friends or partners for an episode before being sprayed. Maybe the package comes in the mail the next day, instead of waiting for him, and it doesn’t seem as dumb for him to open it.  

Over all: Solid episode. Jeremiah becoming the Joker is happening a bit fast but not enough for me to be too upset. I have to wait to see how it all plays out before deciding if his joker and evolution is a good one. RIP Jerome, you will be missed. The rest of the episode was nice. It always does well when there are only a couple of major story lines going with all the characters, rather than there being 4 or 5 separate ones. Babs sees a painting of herself and Ra’s from supposedly centuries ago, she believes she has a major purpose but Tabby doubts it, resulting in Tabby being kicked out/beat up by the League. Tabby encounters men who say Ra’s is the true Demon’s Head and isn’t really gone, they take Tabby. Bruce meets Jeremiah, offers him work with Wayne Enterprises. He briefly celebrates his birthday with Selina and Alfred. Lucius gets around 7 lines (not that I counted), where he helps in not getting heads blown to bits. Oswald tries to stop Jerome’s plan, ends up steering the toxin away from the city. Jerome falls to his death, but not before giving Jeremiah his own special toxin to drive him mad. The rest of the Legion of Horribles are in unknown places, I guess.

Previous review: 4x17   Next: 4x19

[film-clown]

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker

So this is about... 3 months late? I usually post reviews a couple weeks following the film’s release, but the last few months have been nothing short of awful. Maybe this quarantine has a good side - I can finally finish writing this! As I write this at the end of March 2020, I have literally 90% of this review finished. I don’t know what held me back.

But here we go. My thoughts, discussions, and a generally unbiased review of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. Major spoilers ahead, obviously.

Many people continue to emphasise the fact that the Star Wars films that have been released under Disney are all horrible. Although I do agree to an extent, The Last Jedi did end up being one of my favourite Star Wars films, and the trilogy wasn’t all that bad. But, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker surpassed my predictions in so many ways. It was hilarious, emotional, shocking, disappointing, and aggravating to the point where everything left me crying anyway. So what am I gonna do to cope? Write about it.

Straight off the bat, the most important point I will continue to emphasise for all my time - Finnpoe should’ve been canon. I will ALWAYS stand by this statement and there were numerous scenes that prove my point. They have such an incredibly tight bond and it continued to grow tighter throughout this film. Always having each other’s back no matter what, with such a deep-rooted connection. I wish they had kissed after the hug in the reunion at the end - it was perfect. I would also like to send out a special thank you to Mr. Oscar Isaac for genuinely speaking out about the injustice done towards finnpoe and overall LGBTQ+ representation. He was so incredibly vocal about how scared Disney is to have this happen, and how amazing and impactful it would have been if they were canon. John Boyega said a lot about finnpoe too during press, which made me incredibly happy to see such support from the actors. Not a lot of actors speak out against poor decisions made in their movies, which is why there’s almost no change for the good.

On the topic of ships that were done injustice, let’s talk about Reylo, shall we?

The topic of Rey and Ben as a couple is extremely controversial. Another reason it took a while for me to finish this review is because I’ve done a LOT of research for evidence from both sides of the argument. Due to the incest factor, I’ve looked into if Palpatine is 100% Anakin’s father, but everything I’ve found has been contradicted with another point, or just speculation. But it’s a very important topic, so I’m going to discuss it in a non-biased manner, and as if the incest of it all has not been confirmed or denied. Please do feel free to send over any sources, I’m always open to look at it and discuss! Because whether or not their bond is considered romantic, it’s intimate and has a deep meaning to it.

Okay, that being said: they deserved better. Ben did not deserve to die the moment he finally felt loved and finally made a decision that was his own. All his life he’s been nothing but tormented by Palpatine, been told what to do and always had such awful inner conflict. Rey saw that conflict, she chose to try her best to help through everything. You cannot excuse the fact that what Ben has done in his life has been awful, but what we can do is understand that the voice that’s been telling him to do all this hasn’t been himself. He took control, he fought (WITH A BLUE LIGHTSABER, HOLY SH*T) side by side with Rey. The moment they finally got to hold each other out of war, he smiled for the first time; and then he died. The whole point of this was to see him redeem himself, and although he did, death should not always equal redemption! His story was supposed to be different, he was supposed to live. They were supposed to have a happy ending. And after reading several conspiracies, I’m fully convinced that he was supposed to live. Ben Solo DESERVED to live and it is beyond me that they chose to end one of, if not the most important film saga in cinematic history by letting him die in the hands of his LITERAL soulmate. It’s painful, and traumatising for people to watch.

Not only was his death painful, it just didn’t make any sense! The whole point of this trilogy was that Rey and Ben were a dyad in the force, and it was shown through certain scenes from The Last Jedi, and verbally mentioned by both Ben and Palpatine.

“A dyad in the force. A power like life itself.” (Palpatine)

“We’re a dyad in the force; two that are one.” (Kylo Ren)

So why the hell did Ben die? They built up this bond and portrayed it for 3 fucking movies just to have Rey defeat Palpatine herself? This bond was supposed to bring balance to the force. Rey and Ben are literally two force-sensitive beings, who share the power of one, which is BY FAR the most complex and influential relationship between 2 individuals that could possibly exist in the galaxy and you’re telling me that they touched on this topic for 5 minutes at the end of the entire trilogy and then threw it all away by killing off Ben? Seriously?

They had the capability to defeat Palpatine TOGETHER, and that would have been one of the most acclaimed scenes in Star Wars history. The symbolism of a Jedi and the Supreme Leader of the First Order fighting side-by-side would’ve been the most ideal representation of balance in the force.

I’ve also heard several contradictions towards Reylo and how it’s an abusive pairing? As an abuse victim, I believe that these two were at war as the Resistance and the First Order. Did you expect them to hold hands in TFA and TLJ? Hopefully not. All the hurtful things they did were just out of spite towards each other, if anything. And I think this is where I’ll go on and disagree with the Reylo kiss. It just didn’t make sense! There was tension throughout the film and just because he became Ben Solo again, they’re suddenly in love? I don’t know, if they wanted the kiss to make sense, Kylo Ren should have become Ben Solo in TLJ, so TROS could have worked on their positive relationship. The kiss was purely fan service, and it clearly did not please people anyway.

Moving on, the idea of Palpatine returning is absolutely beyond me. What was the point of the celebration at the end of Return of the Jedi? What was the point of the entire last two trilogies if they were just going to bring him back for shock effect? What I can say though is that the shock effect did work, and that the climax of the film was BRILLIANT. I’m sorry, but the scene where his force lightning makes contact with all the resistance ships, the scene when Rey fights his lightning with two lightsabers (Ben should’ve been there, but anyway...), it was visually stunning and deserves only a bit of praise.

But Rey being a Palpatine is the most RIDICULOUS plot twist in Star Wars history. Not only was it a terrible attempt at shocking the crowd in a “No [Luke], I am your father” way, the whole point of Rey’s arc was that she is from nowhere. SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE REY FROM NOWHERE. And now she’s Rey Palpatine. Force powers don’t have to be hereditary. Like she did the same mind-controlling thing that Obi-Wan did at one point so why couldn’t she have been a Kenobi? They showed her letting out force lightening so they could justify her bloodline, and I think this is one of the most severe flaws of the film.

The sidelining of Rose was so disappointing to me. Not only of Rose, Finn too. JJ Abrams literally confirmed that we were going to get Finn’s backstory and we never ended up getting it. All we got was him yelling Rey’s name another 40 times. And, the one person’s story which we got, aka Poe, turned out to be a drug dealer. They made a Hispanic man a drug dealer. I will never, ever forgive them for doing all of this.

Another problem was of how rushed this entire film was. An incredible amount of information to put in a 2 and 1/2 hour film, and it wasn’t done all that well. Just when the audience had genuinely believed that Chewie had died, we see that he’s alive. If you’re gonna do a death-scare, make it believable? 3PO getting his memory wiped but then getting it back from R2 was rushed as well; what was the point of the whole emotional “Taking one last look sir, at my friends” if he was just going to get his memory back anyway? Overdramatic AND unnecessary. Once again circling back to Reylo; they started off the film indicating no signs of romantic tensions but they ended up kissing at the end? You could pull the enemies-to-lovers card on this, which would make sense to an extent but also could not justify how rushed their romance was. I wouldn’t say that such twists in the film weren’t interesting, but if they carried out the concept to a point where it made sense, it would have been better. This was just unnecessary and ruined the film even more.

Back to Finnpoe once again; the idea that they were each given a heterosexual partner in this film AFTER all the hype and the shipping was done, is queerbaiting at its finest. Maybe that’s not the right word, but it’s something shitty. Jannah and Zorii had a lot of potential as their individual characters but were reduced to love interests because Disney is homophobic and it really, really is disgusting to me.

Since when does the Force do all these things. Resurrecting people? Being dead and still being able to force lift things? Not to say that such powers couldn’t have been discovered by each individual, but to have brought them into the film as a plot device rather than a power each respective character has developed during their arc, is once again, unnecessary.

After the release, the fans got all but concept art and excerpts of the film, and what COULD have been. Explanations of what was trying to be conveyed in the film. If you are forced to explain the film you have just released through interviews, it sucked. There’s a saying that as a filmmaker, you must “trust your audience”. Abrams trusted his audience, and all we could see were the flaws and missing details.

Generally, several flaws of this film spawned out of the petty film-feud between JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson. What Johnson tried to do in The Last Jedi was outstanding, and was a very unique concept compared to other Star Wars films. Sure, it had flaws, but a Star Wars film is not a Star Wars film without plot-holes and shitshows. But what Abrams attempted in The Rise Of Skywalker was to contradict almost everything in the previous film. The Force Awakens was outstanding, don’t get me wrong, so I couldn’t really say that Abrams isn’t good for Star Wars. But the two directors’ creative differences should NOT have gotten in the way of telling a good story. This trilogy had potential, and this film was beyond important for millions of fans of all ages.

Adam Driver’s performance was brilliant. It’s upsetting that he didn’t even get much to say in the 3rd act other than “Ow” but he managed to do so well even without dialogue. He didn’t even have to speak to show the true transition between Kylo Ren and Ben Solo, you could see it through the tenderness of the emotions portrayed by Driver overtime.

It’s upsetting that Domhnall Gleeson didn’t get half as much screentime as he did in The Last Jedi, and the way they finished General Hux’s character arc was honestly pathetic. For a character with such antagonism to be reduced to a plot device that dies like THAT? Regardless, still an amazing performance by Gleeson as per usual.

John Boyega and Oscar Isaac continue to be my favourite people ever. Their characters deserve so much better and I am GLAD that John is speaking his mind on social media, regardless of the... aftermath of it.

If I talk about the way that Han and Leia deserved better, I will not stop talking. Just know that is a point I want to get across. And, Rest in Peace Carrie Fisher. We love and miss you tremendously and it hurts me to know that had you been around, you would not have let this film be so awful.

To conclude this extremely lengthy and overdramatic review of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, I would like to push aside the numerous flaws of this film and try my best to look at the bright side of the disaster. The rainbow after the storm. Whatever.

I believe that this film was really good if you disconnect it from the rest of the franchise. For round 3 of this film in theatres, I went with a friend who had only seen The Force Awakens and about half of The Last Jedi; and she loved it. It’s definitely not a clear judgement, but I tried to look at her perspective and I got it. Disconnect the story, the expectations, and the background of each character which inevitably leads to expectations of the end of their character arc. It’s difficult, and honestly stupid to look at it like this, but as someone who just wants to smile during a film; I think there’s no fun in hate. Most of the effects in this film were gorgeous (let’s forget force ghost Luke). Take that, the larger-than-life scale of events, the emotions, the impeccable score, I believe it to be nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece. I’ll take the tomatoes you throw at me because I have to admit, watching this film in theatre was an experience I’d love to have again. I cheered my ass off when Ben pulled out the blue lightsaber in the climax.

I don’t think I could ever be a real film critic solely because I will always find some way to enjoy the film no matter how awful it is.

As usual, honorary mention to the phenomenal score that is present in every Star Wars films. Hats off to John Williams, thank you for making the audience cry for 40+ years. We love you!

It’s 5:45am as I’m finishing this off and as a side note, since I’m overly-emotional, I’d like to say something. The hatred and conflict created by The Rise Of Skywalker has blinded us of our true love for what Star Wars once was. Star Wars is a film saga about hope, love, faith, and the way (almost) every film has managed to convey it, always brings tears to my eyes. It upsets me to see it, and I hope that everyone slowly grasps back onto their once-love for Star Wars.

May the force be with you.

[twdmusicboxmystery]

Why the 7b Promo Pics are Giving Me TD Tingles ;D

Good morning Everyone! How was everyone’s weekend? Good, I hope. Mine was fabulous! So for those who don’t know, AMC has released promo pics for 7b. As always, they’re terribly interesting. I’ve had lots of questions about them over the past few days, so I promised I would do a post analyzing them. Right off the bat I need to thank and acknowledge my FB group. We talked about these a lot and all hashed out ideas for what they reminded us of and what we thought they meant. Special thanks to @boltthrutheheart, @birdiehaven (IG), @lilly.loup (IG), @katkhaos, and @thegloriouscollectorlady for their genius input.

Remember that images used for promo pics generally will show up somewhere in the plot, but also have deeper, symbolic significance as well.

Let’s start with the pics that don’t do much for me. 

First, the cantaloupes. Of course they’re something that grows, so they could be synonymous with “green,” but even for me, that’s a stretch. They have some symbolism in Eastern cultures, but nothing that jumped out at me. The only thing we came up with in our group is that maybe they’re for practice killing (chopping heads like melons). But, who knows?

Then this picture. It’s just very generic and nothing especially jumps out at me. Looks like a reference to the junk yard community, but I’m not seeing much else. Moving on.

Overturned bucket with seeds. The gardening experts in the group tell me these are either tomato or paprika seeds. Either one would have potent symbolism, but personally I think they’re probably tomato. Not just from the way they look but because we’ve seen this symbol so often entangled with Beth symbolism. We saw tomatoes at Grady, and again around Morgan in 6x04, which had tons of callbacks. I think they’ve mentioned growing tomatoes in more than one place. And the most common thing tomatoes symbolize is solidarity. Remember Tara’s line from 5x07: “Solidarity. Band of brothers.” It’s something TF is constantly striving for and we see it a lot in the show.

Peanuts. Peanuts are a very potent symbol and I think it’s interesting that they’re included here. The biggest thing peanuts represent in western culture is mystery. Like, what’s under the shell? So the whole point is mystery. The fact that something is hidden. The shell needs to be broken to find it. I think we can all relate that to TD without help, yeah? And another interesting thing? Peanuts are specifically equated with the Christmas season. I know Christmas is past for us, but that’s super-interesting to me for two reasons: first there’s Daryl’s “I never got nothing from Santa Clause,” which we haven’t seen fulfilled yet. (I’m always wondering if maybe we HAVE seen a few of these and just missed them, but at this point, I kind of don’t think so. The symbolism is still being employed.) Plus there’s that December calander behind the obvious Beth-walker in 5x10. We hoped it meant she would return in December (the s7 MSF) Obviously we interpreted that wrong, but the “Christmas” symbolism is still around. And I suppose it might be a western Christ thing. In reality, Christ was born in the spring but all of western culture celebrates his birthday in December. But I digress. My point is, very interesting peanut symbolism.

The bike. I don’t have much to say about this. Don’t know what it means. But it does bring one very specific thing to mind. In Daryl’s/Norman’s opening credit, we see Daryl’s vest through the spokes of a bike. And we’ve always figured that was about his motorcycle, even though there aren’t spokes on the wheel of a motorcycle. Doing the spokes just made it possible to put two symbols of him in the opening credits. But we’ve seen bikes elsewhere. The instance that always comes to mind first for me is when the camera focuses on one outside the house Rick breaks out of when the Claimers show up in 4x11.  That was a super-obvious Beth/Grady parallel, and part of the reason I formulated my bike theories. (X, X, and X). Now we have a pic of a bike that includes spokes. Again, not sure what it means, but I’m sure it’s important. ;D

Then we have more nuts, this time walnuts, I believe. The biggest callback I’m seeing here is to The Grove. In that case, the nut was different. It was pecans. But Lizzie, Mica, and Carol cracked and cooked tons of them. It was a big part of the episode. Also notice that he nut cracker in this case is a hammer, not unlike the one Tyreese always carried. He was also a big part of that episode. So what does this mean? Well, on the one hand, it may have nothing to do with Beth. I’ve said before and my group has talked a lot about that we think part of Carol and Daryl’s arc in ep 9 and 10 may be Carol finally talking to him about what happened with the girls. This could be a sign of that, if it turns out to be the case. But I’ve talked plenty of times before about how Lizzie especially is tied to Beth as an anti-parallel. I’ve kind of come to associate Lizzie and Mica becoming relevant again with Beth becoming relevant again. And also remember that Lizzie, Mica and Beth all showed up in Ty’s death hallucination. It’s all connected, folks. ;D

But there is another picture that makes me think tptb are specifically invoking Ty’s death. This one:

Skeletal corpse. Not only does it look just like the one in Ty’s death episode (5x09) 

but as I said in my analysis of the S7 opening credits, there’s one there as well. 

And this one in the opening credits, just like the flash of Beth running in the yellow shirt, happens so fast that you can’t see it unless you slow it down. It’s like something the show is hiding in plain sight. That’s very significant to me, guys. And obviously whatever we’re seeing in the credits will probably become relevant in 7b. And I think it’s tied to…um, Ty. ;D

Dynamite. We’re hoping Daryl gets to blow up more shit. That’s always great. But remember the matches Daryl used to escape. He didn’t light them, which means they were completely useless plot-wise, and therefore unnecessary. Which means they’re symbolic. Jesus gave him one and then a box of matches held the door open. Sounds like fire is the gateway to escape, which is in line with what we saw in Still. They burnt down the moonshine shack to free themselves from the shackles of their past. Now we’re seeing dynamite. I’m kind of excited. :D

Lantern. I won’t say much about this one because it’s fairly obvious. It’s an agent of light and fire, which we see around Beth a lot. (Lamp post here.) We also saw a lot of these particular types of lanterns in the manor house at Hilltop. And there were a lot of them in cabin in The Grove too. So another symbol we’ve seen a lot of in past seasons, often associated with TD-type symbolism. There’s also a hanging drill with a sinister looking drill bit. Yeah, that’s creepy.

Bloody handprint. We saw something very similar to this in Ty’s death episode. So another tie back to what happened directly after Coda. And I’m sure we’ve seen bloody hand prints more than once in the series. Ty was just the first one that jumped to mind for most of us.

Okay, let’s get to the really good stuff. 

The rubber duckies. I love saying that word. Rubber duckies. It’s fun. ;D So apparently Richonne will come across some kind of defunct carnival at some point (which btw is like Stephen-King-level creepy). We’re thinking these ducks may be associated with that. But @boltthrutheheart, genius that she is, made some great associations here. We’ve seen/heard of ducks twice before. The first time was actually specifically around Beth. In S2, after Beth goes catatonic, Maggie tells Andrea. *cough, cough* ANDREA about a time when she returned from college and Beth had a meltdown about her birth control and the two of them and their brother ended up screaming at each other in the duck pond before Hershel broke it up and Beth played innocent. So ducks specifically associated with Beth early on and specifically having to do with seeing Maggie for the first time in a long time, after them being apart for a specific period of time.

The other time also has to do with Maggie. In 3x06, Hounded, she and Glenn go on a run and Maggie specifically tells him to pick up a rubber duck for Judith. That scene didn’t have much to do with Beth, but that was when Merle took the two of them captive. So basically that led to Merle, who had been gone for 2 seasons, reuniting with TF and his family (Daryl).

And one more thing? We saw a clock somewhere (in the Sanctuary, I think? But can’t remember where. I’ll find it and add it later) pointing to 3x06. I remember doing a post about it. So we now have two different references to Merle reuniting with his family after two seasons of being gone. Hmmm. ;D

I also feel like there’s slightly more color in this pic than in the others. Like the yellow of the ducks is being emphasized. Just saying. 

And finally my two faves.

First, the open grave. Do I really have to explain why this one is awesome? The empty grave/tomb is the most widespread and potent symbol of resurrection that exists in the Christian world, my friends. I’ve been hearing versions of this symbol at church ever since I was just a kid. We’ve over-analyzed promo pics since Coda aired, but we’ve never seen an open grave in any of them until now. That makes me super excited.

Another thing this puts me in mind of are those three fake graves in Alexandria. We never learned what, if anything, is in them, or what exactly FG had to do with them. So in terms of symbolism, the open grave means resurrection. Plot wise, I’m thinking those three empty graves are coming back into play.

Finally, I think this is my favorite one. 

Shadows of people pointing guns at someone. Now, in terms of plot, this will probably have to do with the junk yard community. But does this remind you of anything. I instantly recognized this stance:

Eh, eh?

Overall, they seem to be place mostly in the junk yard, with a few exceptions, which means that’s gonna be a huge story line in 7b. (Given all the TD symbols around Boots, that makes me happy.) And even though the pictures are quite washed out and colorless, there is actually a lot of green in them, or would be if the color hadn’t been messed with so much.

Bottom line, these images will all be relevant in the back 8, guys. Can’t wait. ;D