#he does not believe in anything above his goals. until he believes in his crew that is. and people are fragile things and they mean

[fiapple]

...the "nothing happened" scene has caused my brain to latch on to zoro with a vice grip. send help.

[lovehugsandcandy]

the stories we tell (and the stories we live) (Coltx MC, RoD)

Pairing: Colt x MC, ROD

Length: ~2400 words

Rating/Warnings: N*FW (Not explicit but it’s there. And swearing.)

Summary: Colt’s story isn’t his own until it is.

.

When Colt thinks of stories, he thinks of the stories of his youth, hazy memories of sitting on his father’s lap and listening to tales of Kanekos past. He thinks of scenes from movies, car chases and explosions before the guaranteed victory, ending scenes and credits rolling with the hero beating the odds and riding off victorious into the sunset.

And then he gets older. 

And learns that stories are myths, hiding lies and false promises, wrapped in the guise of happy endings that will never happen.

Not to him.

And when he thinks of stories, he tries not to think of his own.

And when he does, when he thinks of the story of Colt and crew and the Kaneko name, he can’t of the beginning. 

It hurts too much to remember a time when he was a welcome fixture at the shop, when Pop greeted him with a smile, sometimes even a pat to his head. This was before, before those hands became angry and harsh, before the smiles turned to glares, before the words turned hateful and vicious, echoing the nightmares that creep into his sleep, shocking him awake in a cold sweat.

There are other stories, 

He steals his first car when he’s 11. It’s the first time he’s ever driven as well, the tips of his toes only able to graze the pedals when he leans against the steering wheel. It’s a massive effort to peer over the dash, to not press his scrawny chest on the horn, but he manages, denting only the bumper against an unlucky mailbox. But when he pulls into the garage, his father is more shocked than awed and his mother furious.

So he first leaves California when he’s 12, hustled onto his first airplane, deposited in an unfamiliar city with scabs lining his knuckles and a bruise blooming on his jawline, the first transition of many marking the flow between scenery and characters.

He’s first suspended when he’s 13. Everyone at this new school is despicable, but he’ll be damned if some upperclassman is going to throw slurs at him amidst a crowded hallway. He’s sent home, his opponent sent for stitches, and his mother spends five of her limited vacation days making his confinement as miserable as possible.

He first has sex in the dingy bathroom of a dive bar that obviously doesn’t care about liquor laws.

It’s a story he never tells. 

Stories are prideful things, lies portraying overcome odds and vanquished enemies until a triumphant, crescendoed victory. Curtains close on dreams attained.

His story has never gone like that and this memory is no different.

He’s 14, sipping something amber and toxic from a rocks glass because it makes him look cool, sitting alone as his knees knock against the stool because he hates everyone. His feet don’t even touch the ground yet, but it doesn’t seem to matter to the bartender, who keeps sliding booze across the slick bar top as long as the cash keeps coming from Colt’s pocket.

And apparently it doesn’t matter to the girl across the bar, all blond hair and glossy lips, pendant necklace dangling heavy above a low-cut shirt. She bats a heavy mascara gaze over her wineglass and it takes an embarrassingly long time before he recognizes the fire behind gaze.

His heart is racing when she perches on the stool next to him, and it’s with fumbling hands and drunken kisses that they weave a messy path to the bathroom.

Once they’re done, she buttons her jeans and smirks at him, waltzing out of the bathroom without a second glance.

It feels like a fitting end to his childhood, thrown from LA to end up staggering into the Bronx streets; his jeans are still unzipped but no one’s around to care as he turns the key in the empty apartment and sinks into freshly washed sheets.

If the saga of his childhood has ended (beginning as a worthy heir before being cast aside, thousands of miles away, lost boy and discarded son), then the story of his adulthood is beginning. Stories have beginnings and middles and ends, protagonists and supporting characters,  events when second matter, where every step taken leads towards a goal, an achievement of some sort.

He hasn’t achieved anything.

Not yet.

His mom gets off work at 3am, footsteps light as she makes her way to the adjoining bedroom. Once the light snores start, he creeps out of bed to spew stomach acid into the toilet, lights off, stifling the shameful hacking and choking.

He slips back into bed, mouthwash still tingling on his tongue, but sleep doesn’t come that night.

It doesn’t feel like a fortuitous beginning.

~~~~~

And then it doesn’t get better.

The fights continue.

He comes home weekly with bruised knuckles and wounded pride, counting the days until he can free himself from the cast of characters around him.

Every teacher treats him like an adversary, every stupid social clique shuns him, and it’s fucking bullshit but he doesn’t need anyone, none of these assholes at this fucking school. It’s him against the world, at least until he can get back to LA, back to the home and the legacy that belongs to him.

His mother wants everything from him. They’re alone, the two of them, and he falls into the role of trusted confidant and then wayward son and finally complete stranger; none of the roles he tries satisfy anyone in this fracturing family of two.

The girls want one thing from him and it’s so simple, so easy, and the best part is that he doesn’t have to think, just for a moment.

His dad wants nothing from him, and his teeth dig into his bottom lip so his sobs don’t echo through the thin apartment walls.

~~~~~

Stories come in chapters and his next one takes him to LA. It’s inevitable that he ends up here, speeding aimlessly through the crowded streets, ending up on the outskirts of a crowd that should part for him like the seas.

The first time he sees her, she looks like a baby hawk. Not that he’s ever seen a baby hawk, mind you, but her eyes peer sharply around the lot even though her steps are stuttering and small.

He would never have guessed that she would be more than a supporting character in his fateful return, but soon, she becomes everything. His mind is consumed with their future, ruling LA as a team, owning the next stage of the Kaneko legacy. Her insightful mind and sharp wit are both challenging and refreshing; it feels like he’s met his match.

His story is finally beginning.

But the pyre in front of him is actually the conclusion. Flames lick at his eyebrows as he drives by, staring into the wreckage for something, anything; her arms around his waist are the only thing keeping him upright.

And if his father’s explosion is the end, then the blaze at the garage is the epilogue, the wreckage a fitting end to the Kaneko legacy.

~~~~~

It takes years, four to be exact, before he’s comfortable taking a brief vacation. Building up the fledgling crew has been challenging and painstaking, but, brick by brittle brick, he has finally created a crew worthy of the Kaneko name. 

So he heads to New York. 

Colt cares about two people in the world and the irony of them being in the same city at the same time feels a little like choreographed coincidence and a little like fate.

He starts with his mother. She’s moved to Manhattan, and he needs to Google the route, feet almost taking him into the gritty streets he knows intimately well. He recalibrates off the train, unfamiliar buildings flying by as he crosses the East River and straight into her new setting and her new life. They walk through the tree-lined streets; she lives in Soho now and every step is strange. She leads him through farmers’ markets and points out breakfast joints, each one a reminder of how far away he is. As they amble, she speaks of her job before turning the conversation to Pop; his every reply is halting, pain and truth veiled through clipped words and terse responses, his hands buried in his pockets and shoulders hunched to his ears.

For two people who share a bloodline and a language, they’re incomprehensible to each other. Colt realizes, with sickening clarity, how much better his mom’s life is now, now that he’s gone and vanished across the country.

She holds him close outside her new apartment building (this one doesn’t have bars on the first-floor windows) and her eyes well with a sadness she can’t name (or won’t, Colt thinks bitterly, shifting on his heels in her embrace). Her hands linger on his shoulders, and she presses a lipstick kiss into his cheek; he furiously wipes it off as he strides to the subway.

His palms flash pomegranate pink as he swipes his pass.

Langston is eighteen stops uptown. It takes thirty minutes on the A train, and he’s wasting away every second, an eternity spent watching subway tiles and grim faces blur past.

He blends in with the crowd, rowdy college kids streaming into her dorm, and he sneaks up the stairs and raps lightly on the door. They barely talk but he’s immediately understood, her hands gentle under his jaw, up his shoulder blades, then insistent up his sides, gripping his forearms, tugging his hair.

She curls against him, the slide of her skin both foreign and reminiscent, and shakes her head. “I can’t believe you just showed up here. You’re lucky seniors get singles.”

“I can’t believe you let me in.”

“You thought I wouldn’t?”

“I guess I was cautiously optimistic.” He craned his neck to drop a kiss on the top of her head. “Guess I was right.”

She grabs his hand, tracing up and down each finger as if she were relearning every knuckle, every tiny scar. When her inspection is complete, she stills. “I waited for you.”

“What do you mean?” 

“For years I thought…” She trails off, and he wonders if they thought the same, that the other would reach out, bridge the miles and the trauma; he’s lost in the past until she curls over him and then there’s no time for thinking anymore.

They emerge the next morning, blinking away the sun, and she pulls him through her haunts, dragging him to the coffee shop where they know her order, her favorite path through the park.

She drags him with glee through the tourist traps and side haunts; they have beers at tiny dive bars, eat pretzels from rickety carts, and walk city blocks until his feet and cheeks hurt, hand in hand.

She glows here, radiantly beautiful, and he realizes that maybe she as well has been bolstered by his absence.

Even though it’s not Colt’s borough of choice, it’s hard not to feel comfortable as she pulls him down the packed streets, weaving through crowds with the same agility with which she wove through highway car chases. 

She’s at home here as she is behind the wheel, and something in his chest tightens. 

She belongs here, vibrant as the surrounding city, crafting her own story.

~~~~~

He needs to get back. 

Empires don’t build themselves.

He doesn’t tell her but, apparently, he doesn’t have to. It’s achingly slow as he slides into her, savoring every moment to remember when he’s back home, alone. She rolls her hips against his and it’s almost painful, blinding light flashing patterns behind his eyelids as she takes her pleasure from him, quivering above him until he can’t stand it, flipping her over in one fierce motion to bury himself, again and again, world dissolving with her squeal of pleasure in his ears and his teeth in her shoulder.

“I can’t ask you to come with me.”

She starts, head jerking off his shoulder, and he can’t bring himself to look into her eyes. Instead, he focuses on the assignments scrawled on her whiteboard, each one a reminder of a goal to attain, and the graduation cap askew on her desk, a reminder of the path she had chosen, her story told in the golden tassels dangling to the floor.

“You don’t need to ask.”

This time, it’s him jerking up, head spinning to face her. “What do you…?”

“I was coming anyway.” She settles back against him, and he counts the puffs of breath against his skin as reassurance that this is real. “I told you… I waited for you. I had a go bag packed for two years,” he feels her lips tug into a rueful smile against him as she continues, “a backpack stuffed in my closet with clothes and stuff, just in case you asked, just in case you called.”

“I called. Once.”

“Wha… when?”

“February of your sophomore year.” His hand slides up her back to tangle in her hair. “From a payphone in Torrance. It rang once, and I hung up. I couldn’t… I thought better of it. I couldn’t mess it up for you.”

“You don’t mess anything up for me. You help me be great. We’re gonna be great together.”

He springs two thousand bucks for an additional plane ticket and upgrades to first class. She points out the NY landmarks as they climb into the air and then curls against him as she dozes. They land at LAX, falling into bed in the loft at the shop, and, the next day, she climbs aboard the back of his bike, arms warm around him as they pull over to the cliff.

This isn’t a story.

Stories have heroes and villains and everything is tied up nearly at the end, when the evil is vanquished and the hero gets the girl and the sun rises on a brand new day when everyone lives happily ever after.

This isn’t a story.

It’s real life and real life has real people, all their virtues and flaws, hopes and dreams, and there are no storybook saviors riding in to save the day --- at least not in Colt’s life.

There’s only him and this girl and the sun setting brilliantly beneath the ocean below, lighting the cresting waves in purples and blues, and this isn’t the end, not at all.

.

Tags:

Perma

@leelee10898, @client-327, @brightpinkpeppercorn, @choicesarehard, @burnsoslow, @zaffrenotes, @kat-tia801, @desiree-pow-35-1986, @ritachacha

ROD

@omgjasminesimone, @mskaneko, @alyssalauren

Colt x MC

@flowerpowell, @shondideaira-blog @isometimesplaychoices @romewritingshop

[alethiometry]

Edward Kenway for character asks!

ooooooo okay i should open this with a disclaimer: i have not finished black flag yet (about 2/3 of the way through i think? i need to level up my ship so i can beat the next story mission lol) so everything i'm saying here is based on the game up to thatch's death, and everything we know about edward in ac 3: forsaken and the comics that came out a couple years ago.

First impression

oh boy... to be honest, one of the reasons it took me such a long time to get around to playing black flag (it was one of the first ps4 games i bought when i got my console in 2016, and i didn't start until about a month ago) was because i didn't really feel particularly strongly about edward's character design. i was vaguely interested in That One Pirate Assassin Game after having watched (and loved) black sails, but was afraid i would be let down; to me edward just looked like Some Dude, and i was still hung up on the black sails gang. to me, black sails and its characters were so genre/time period-defining that any other piece of pirate media just seemed lackluster in comparison.

i'd also heard a lot of praise for edward and for ac4 in general so i was aware that it was a very popular and well-received game. but since i mostly heard that from reddit (didn't join tumblr ac fandom until odyssey in 2018) i kind of discounted it, bc gamer reddit tastes are... questionable at best.

Impression now

I LOVE HIM!!! i always think i want stories about virtuous characters who believe in goodness and kindness and aren't motivated by gold or glory but aren't afraid to do what needs to be done to help others who can't help themselves. and sometimes that's true (coughratonhnhake:toncough). other times i end up clowning on myself because i realize that it's so much fun when said good/kind character has a rough and rugged exterior, and is motivated by personal gain (i think edward and kassandra are kinda kindred spirits across time and space in that regard, but maybe that's another rant for another time). sometimes you just want someone to be a little bit of an opportunistic bastard, and boy does edward fit that to a T. he's an incredibly complex man, and i think what really got me was that even as he was impersonating assassins and then templars and then assassins again, all for personal gain (pickpocketing the templars in havana while he gains their trust and agrees to do their dirty work lmfao my beloved <3), his primary motivation for doing so was to prove to caroline and her family that he is someone worth a damn, that he is capable of great things and that he is worthy of their love and acceptance. and i know from ac forsaken that the marriage with caroline doesn't last (though i haven't played ac4 far enough to see if that happens on screen, or if it occurs between the game and the novel) which makes his backstory in the game all the more heartbreaking. but his optimism and perseverance and determination to prove himself are all what make me love him.

so that's edward the romantic. now let's talk about the way edward is with adewale, his crew, and his friends. and let's also put the rest of this behind a readmore bc girl i am RANTINGGGGGG

he has several lines that he says to adewale that make me physically cringe (namely: "many of [these men] wouldn't accept you as captain" or "what was it like being enslaved?" like i get that someone like edward would be asking that question in good faith and genuine curiosity but also JESUS CHRIST UBISOFT). but on the flip side - cringey as those questions are, he also takes the time to actually listen and learn, and i think he genuinely values the perspective that he gets from adewale allowing him to open these lines of trust and communication. there's a patience and mutual respect there that i adore.

i also love how much edward loves his crew and his other pirate friends. those scenes of him + kidd + thatch + adewale + hornigold (lol) drinking on the beach and having a grand old time and talking about establishing - to borrow one of my favorite chills-down-my-spine phrases from black sails - a nation of thieves, for people like them to live and prosper, free from the chokehold of civilization. and i know he's not as outwardly invested in counterculture/independence/anticolonialism as thatch and vane and kidd are, but the fact that he so wholeheartedly supports his friends' goals, lofty and impossible as they are, speaks volumes about his love for his friends.

Favorite moment

every scene he has with kidd when kidd casually and softly reminds him that they see that he is a good person beneath his opportunistic and rambunctious exterior. i especially love when they discover julien du casse's mansion containing orders for templars to go out and hunt down assassins: the way kidd immediately knows that edward wants to help the assassins as a way to make up for the damage he did while masquerading as a templar, even if he hasn't voiced it aloud himself. the way that they don't force edward to admit anything about himself before he is ready, but still constantly remind him that he has a good heart. they give him space to come to terms with his compassionate side in a world/environment that more often than sees compassion as something to be stamped out or cast aside. i don’t love when characters are forced to be the Moral Compass for a main dude character, but i think it works for edward and kidd.

Idea for a story

not an edward story per se, but there are 2 povs into edward's life that i would cut off (someone else's) limbs for:

jenny's pov growing up in the kenway household. from haytham's pov it seems that she knows way more about his past than haytham ever did (it was hinted at that there are rumors about edward’s past as haytham was growing up that he wasn’t privy to, but i don’t think at any point in the novel does haytham ever find out definitively that his father was a pirate) and i want to know how she knew so much, and more into what her life was like - through her eyes rather than haytham, who is like 10 years younger and by his own admission barely understands her and barely has a functional relationship with her. i'll expand further on edward and jenny in the next question/prompt/bullet point, actually, bc i have a LOT more to say.

connor's pov learning about his grandfather from... idk? who's around to tell him? what's so goddamn sad is that by the time connor rebuilds the colonial brotherhood he's kinda the only one left. sure there's aveline down in louisiana, but as far as we know everyone who was around in edward's generation is dead now, and i'm not sure how much of the kenway saga is preserved for connor to discover, or if all this information about their family line was discovered in the modern-day, by your abstergo employee character, and later by osto berg in the comics. which is why i so badly want a revelations-style game where connor traces his assassin heritage back to the caribbean, relives some of edward's memories, and then makes the trip to london to see his aunt jenny. it would have been such a cool way to round out the kenway saga.

Unpopular opinion

idk how popular or unpopular this is bc i rarely see other in-depth posts about it on my dash, but edward was a terrible father to jenny. he was every bit the wonderful and loving father to haytham for the 10 years that haytham had a father, but i wish we'd seen more of jenny's perspective than just a few lines of dialogue in haytham's diary: i hate the way edward sidelined her and raised her in the same manner that any other wealthy person of the time would have raised their daughter - that is, for the sole purpose of sitting pretty and marrying her off in an arrangement that would benefit the family. it's especially hard to reconcile because in ac4 there are female assassins in the americas, and there are female pirates in the caribbean, so it's not like edward isn't aware that women have as much right as any man to live life on their own terms. it just seems like by the time he returns to england and settles down with his family, he's reverted back to the societal norms and gender roles that the pirates fought (and lost) against, and it's hard not to be deeply disappointed by that.

to be clear, i don't begrudge edward settling down and becoming a Rich Society Man. dude deserves to live comfortably with his loving family. he has every right to dote on his wife and children, and leave behind the hardships of being a pirate. but i think "fightning against deeply-ingrained cultural norms/expectations is a long and bloody struggle, and after losing so many people he cared so deeply about, i think it's understandable that edward wouldn't want to continue that fight alone (and also adewale is still fighting the good fight) (do NOT @ me about ac rogue I Pretend I Do Not See It)" and "i don't love the way edward sidelined his daughter into societally-expected gender roles she did not want; it makes me think that he did not continue drinking his Respect Women Juice as much as i thought he did/wanted him to" are two opinions that can coexist.

Favorite relationship

i don't know that i ship edward romantically with anyone, actually. i thought he and caroline were cute in the beginning, but it's hard to want to ship them knowing that she leaves him eventually. and ofc there'd edward/tessa in ac forsaken, and we know they were very happy together and that he loved her so so much. but we don't see that relationship except through haytham's eyes.

as for non-romantic relationships, i already talked at length above about his relationships with adewale and the other pirates and kidd, and i'll just leave it at that. i'm also vaguely aware that edward's got some upcoming scenes with anne bonny, but i'm not at that point in the game yet so i don't have much to say about the two of them. so far i've only seen them say a few lines to each other at the nassau tavern.

Favorite headcanon

kassandra absolutely rubbed shoulders with edward at some point during his time in the caribbean; i like to think that she needed to lie low for some reason (maybe she was with the assassins idk) and joined his crew. i just need my best stabby gal and my second-favorite stabby dude to be pals!

finally, this isn't a headcanon per se but it is obligatory that any time i talk about kenways i yell for a bit about the fact that EDWARD WOULD HAVE LOVED CONNOR SO SO SO MUCH AND I'M FOREVER DEVASTATED THAT HE NEVER GOT TO MEET HIM. at the same time, if edward hadn't been murdered and haytham not been indoctrinated into the templars the way he had, i'm not sure connor would even have existed. and in a way i'm glad that edward wasn't around to see how broken and cynical and depressed haytham became, because i think that would have absolutely broken his heart.

send me a character!

[xenargon]

(TFP) Optimus vs. Orion Pax vs. TFA Optimus: Compelling Optimuses

I kind of despise TFP Optimus. I think TFP Orion Pax is way more interesting. I love TFA Optimus. Find out why I think that is.

In short, I think the primary reason TFP Optimus is a blank slate of a character is because his purpose in the story is not to be a character, but to be a narrative tool.

I’ve gone at length multiple times in multiple places about why exactly I hate Optimus, although none of those places include tumblr so I guess I should recap.

Basically, I dislike Optimus as a character because he’s displayed as the pinnacle of moral justice despite his decisions in the show actively working against him on multiple occasions (for instance, sparing Megatron the number of times he does) and because he’s never shown to really have any flaws or struggles. He’s something of a Mary Sue, being shown as basically perfect from the outset and having no difficulties with any of the problems he faces.

But I think what makes him such a bland, uncompelling character more than this alone is that he’s only used in the narrative to be a vehicle for moral exposition (pun not intended.) His purpose in Transformers Prime is not to be a character, but to merely educate the other autobots in moral values and to be an opposing force to Megatron. What are his motivations? He led five other autobots to take refuge on Earth, but has never demonstrated much of a motivation beyond this. He has never advocated for retaking Cybertron (until that option is practically thrown at him,) nor for creating a new autobot society on Earth. He displays no initiative toward any end goal. He only ever reacts to events that occur in such a way as to display the most ethical option given the context.

Orion Pax, on the other hand, is a true character. I still don’t think he’s super compelling, but he clearly has a personality where Optimus doesn’t. What are Orion’s motivations? He’s well-educated and has read extensively about how unfair Cybertronian society is. He wants to change this and overhaul the caste system, but he’s also somewhat sheltered in that he doesn’t quite know how to go about this. He’s unsure of himself, but he truly believes in his vision for a just Cybertron and wants to achieve this peacefully.

But even more important than his motivations are his flaws, which Optimus entirely lacks (unless you count his backwards moral reasoning, but the show doesn’t imply that these are flawed so they don’t really count.) Optimus is never demonstrated as having any flaws, but as soon as he reverts back to being Orion, the main flaw that immediately becomes apparent is his naiveté. He trusts Megatron more than he should, and this is actively demonstrated as being a flaw by the mere fact that, because of this trust, he ultimately hinders the autobots.

Orion isn’t the most profound character in fiction, but he at least has motivations and character flaws; two things which are basic requirements for having a character at all.

Optimus, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to have motivations toward anything but punching decepticons, and doesn’t seem to have any flaws, given that he doesn’t fail or really struggle with anything. (Okay so there’s that one scene where Starscream escapes with the omega keys and Optimus angrily yells into the sky and I will give that scene a point just because it’s actually a case where he shows emotion like a real character.)

I hadn’t thought about it until writing that parenthetical, but the utter lack of emotion doesn’t help Optimus’ case either. Granted, there are characters like Soundwave who also don’t display emotion, but he still displays motivations and... not really any flaws but he does at least have some struggles and failures to make him imperfect.

Optimus’ role in TFP is simply to be an expositor of moral and ethical thought. He does not serve as a leader, or a downtrodden rebel fighter, or a strategic tactician, or even as a person.

Contrast this with TFA Optimus, which is actually the only one I even like. He, as a character above all else, serves as all of these. He coordinates strategies using the different autobots’ unique skills. He does what he thinks is right even when Sentinel or the Elite Guard push him aside. He makes mistakes, he has flaws, he even has emotional outbursts at times as any real person does. TFA Optimus starts out at the beginning of the show as a well-meaning Elite Guard trainee who was condemned to a mundane life of space bridge repair. He and his vastly underprepared crew are very suddenly thrown directly into the front lines of the war with the decepticons, and Optimus is forced to step up as a leader. By the end of the show, he (and the other autobots) cements himself as a hero, not because he was chosen by Primus to be perfect, but because he worked his skidplate off fighting the decepticons when no one was around to help him, and he did what he knew was right even when no one else would.

His character is what makes him good, not his endowment of a magical artifact by a higher power. He struggles and fails but ultimately rises to greatness because it’s what his motivations drove him to do.

This is something TFP Optimus utterly lacks. I think I’ll end on that note. I kind of want to watch TFA again, damn.

[cienie-isengardu]

The development of Law’s relationship with Zoro - Part 3: Punk Hazard, The Alliance (B)

<<Part I: Before Meeting>> <<Part II: Sabaody Archipelago, The First Meeting>> <<Part III: Punk Hazard, The Alliance (A)>> <<Part III: Punk Hazard, The Alliance (B)>>   <<Part IV: Dressrosa, The Breaking Point (The Plan Failed)__  (Saving Law)__(Protecting Law)__ (Birdcage, Pica and Doflamingo)__  (Aftermath)>>

Law and Zoro, sadly again did not interact much through the course of the story. Roronoa literally talked three times directly to other Supernova, yet comparing his behaviour to other crew members still gives a lot to work with for Law, while Zoro’s opinion about Heart captain relies mainly on mere observation and on stories told by people who at some point interacted with Law, in good or bad way.

That said, here comes obvious differences between Zoro and his companions that Law could easily notice and appreciate:

Straw Hats reaction to pirate alliance and its goal.

In general, the reaction of Straw Hats fell in three categories: terror, cool acceptance and happy satisfaction.

And so, we have panicked and totally scared Nami, Usopp and Chopper

whose main concern was that taking down Yonko is too dangerous and how, as Usopp nicely said, they are supposed to trust that suspicious guy… who just stands like, a few meters away. And even though Luffy gave the lifting morale talk that placate the weakling trio for a time being, once Doflamingo is mentioned, they turn back into nope Nope NOPE mood, trying to vote against the alliance.

Ironically, even with Brook wondering if their protest would change anything (with I’m not sure if that means he too, don’t like the plan of pissing off Kaido by taking down one of Seven Warlords), it still makes only 4 of 9 people against. Which means a majority of Straw Hats vote for yes.

The cool acceptance comes from Sanji (seen above) noting that Luffy already decided, so there is no point in arguing now about that. He does not display overjoy at the prospect of dangerous battle(s) ahead but does not sound worry either. He simply accepts Luffy’s decision and will do what he always does - kick enemy ass & protect the crew.

Another example is Robin, who, despite warning captain about common betrayals between pirates, agreed to follow Luffy’s decision:

Franky (seen above, in Chopper’s body)… well, his main reaction was just “Super” but how conscious he was at that moment is a matter of dispute. Anyway, once the plan was talked in more details, Franky didn’t show any worry and even took part in a discussion about the secret factory on Dressrosa. So, he was all for the alliance.

Then we have Zoro:

The Emperors, huh! That’s great. Said with a wide smile. Because of course Zoro loves  the idea of fighting against the biggest and most dangerous powers controlling the sea of the New World. Which literally makes him closest to Luffy’s reaction:

What, on one hand, is helpful for Law. On another, just speaks how Zoro’s insanity is dangerously similar to that of Monkey D. Luffy.

Another thing setting Zoro aside from the rest of the crew is something I think Law appreciated very much.

Zoro is the only one of Straw Hats that did not piss off, bother or confuse Law through the Punk Hazard arc.

I mean, Luffy probably gave him headache of the year with his stubborn, selfish and idiotic behaviour that constantly was threatening the plan

And along with Nami, Chopper, Ussop, Franky and Robin traumatized and laughed at him

and in general, confused the hell of him with their emotional switching (from screaming at Luffy and not wanting an alliance with Heart Pirates to blushing and being supportive).

Let’s not forget the pushing Law into doing things he didn’t have time or interest in but was forced to agree

or Nami screaming at him twice to give back her body

while also calling him “Torao” instead of his true name - looking at Law’s face, he wasn’t happy about that

or how he was accused of murdering or harming sick kids by Straw Hat doctor

or was told by Luffy that he understood why there is no time for party only to ignore the danger and partying with marines of all people

or making Law angry with all the lack of care for his plan due to emotional response to samurai’s story

or the perverted trio making unnecessary ruckus when A) Law already had a lot to worry and having some quiet moment was much better than seeing grown up men ganging up against kid and B) Amazon Lily proved that Law in general is not taken by female beauty which leads back to point A. and Sanji, Brook and Kinemon noisy stupidity. The manga frames did not show Law’s reaction but it was hard to miss the commotion on the deck  where he spent the whole night (at least until the trio went to confront kid and Robin after their bath, what I believe happened inside the ship).

Like, literally, half of the Punk Hazard arc is Law fighting to stay alive and secure his scheme against Doflamingo and the other half being confused, irritated and traumatized and screamed at by his new allies and occasionally, losing composure with no grace.

Zoro? Not so much, what I imagine makes Roronoa the safest Straw Hats in terms of Law’s mental health. Not that Zoro is not a hazard to someone’s mentality with all the crazy stuff he pulls during fights and general rude behaviour but Law did not have a chance to see the more goofy or softer or more idiotic side of the other Supernova yet. Anyway, the three times Zoro directly interacted with Law were always focused on the job which truly must have been refreshing after hours of Luffy’s selfish and overwhelming nature or shenanigans of the rest of the crew. In contrast to noise Straw Hats, Zoro is cool headed and calm - one could even say, Roronoa is a quiet person. Through the chaotic events, he did not pick at Law for fun, did not scream at him nor accused of cruelty or medical “crimes”, did not judge him in any noticeable way. And it was not only the matter with Trafalgar. When Kinemon attacked Rorona for “stealing Wano’s national treasure”, despite previously display of love for fighting, Zoro retained composure and limited himself to dodging while trying to convince the enraged samurai to reason.

What is even more important, he demanded from Monkey D. Luffy - the epitome of uncontrollable chaos - to act seriously. Not in the comical (panicked) way Nami, Usopp or Chopper did over the course of the story. The effect was lost on Luffy soon, true, but Zoro did not turn a blind eye to his captain’s mishaps. In a sense, Zoro is a very grounding character to the energetic and chaotic Luffy and brings some self-control and sober thinking into the relationship between two Straw Hats Supernovas. Something that is much closer to Law’s own nature, something familiar enough to know how to work around the other swordsman without migraine. In contrast to Luffy.

Of course, the impression of Zoro as the stoic, mature and not-confusing person made on Punk Hazard will be soon verified by Dressrosa arc. But so will be the impression of collected, cold-blooded and scheming Law.

Next part: Dressrosa, The Breaking Point.

[allywrites360]

Treasure Planet Analysis

I recently watched this video talking about some of the visual storytelling evident in this movie, and thought I’d rewatch it a little more closely, and add some of my own thoughts!!

So firstly, there are two really prominent examples of this type of storytelling with Jim (who’s going to be the main subject of this post; he is the protagonist after all, huh?). The first is his wardrobe itself, starting out made of entirely dark colours, and the second being the shadow between his eyes which is animated at key points during the movie.

At the outset of Treasure Planet, the shadow is shown constantly, for the first fifteen minutes at least before the slightest change. This symbolizes the shadow of pain that was left when Jim’s father abandoned him (oh, and spoilers for the movie in this, obviously).

The first minor change in this shadow is the moment when Jim’s passion is ignited in something for the first time in a long time; the prospect of travelling to Treasure Planet, which Jim hopes will allow him to prove he’s worth something to his mother (a doubt that’s created by him entirely), and have a real shot at something other than resigning himself to a rebel. This spark of hope lightens the shadow for the end of that scene. This might also be a good time to mention that the shadow could be symbolic for self doubt as well. This one may be not as clear to see because of the difference in lighting, but you’ll notice if you rewatch the movie carefully.

Jim then opens up a bit, starting to let go of his past hurt as he warms up to Silver, him acting as the new father figure in Jim’s life. This is shown not through the shadow, as Jim still hasn’t fully let go of his past, or fully bonded with Silver at this time, but through the change of his clothes into a much lighter, more natural tone.

Directly following the above scene id the first time the shadow makes its’ disappearance from Jim’s face; the moment when Silver takes Jim with him on a boat ride, a parallel to the way Jim’s father left him behind. Silver, however, waits for Jim to jump in, and proceeds to bond with him by teaching him sailing (is it called sailing?).

The black coat and shadow return, however, as Jim’s guilt casts it upon him at being blamed for a crew member’s death after being accused of failing to properly fasten his line. The coat here serves to act as an emotional barrier that Jim has used since the outset of the movie as he’s moved to sit alone on the edge of the ship.

The shadow disappears later in this scene, however, as Silver encourages him, and eases his guilt. He tells Jim that he believes there is greatness in him, and hopes that one day he can “catch some of the light that’s comin’ off [Jim] that day.” the day in question being when Jim finally achieves the greatness Silver knows him to be capable of. This introduces the light and greatness motif, which continues throughout the rest of this film, showing they go hand in hand, and once Jim is able to finally step fully into the light, he’ll be able to be free of his past, and reach his full potential.

The coat remains, however, until the next morning, when, with some encouragement, he leaves it behind. This may seem just a little gag to show Jim with morph, and it could be, but it could also demonstrate that change isn't instant, depending on how deeply you want to read in to individual scenes.

The shadow comes back once again when Jim’s trust in Silver is broken, and when he’s hurt by the older man, in this scene, it’s in the form of his lamenting to his pirates that he never cared for Jim, and was merely trying to keep him off their backs. This brings back the feeling of betrayal Jim felt when his father left, as the man he cared for and trusted portrayed the fact Jim meant nothing to him. Again, brief scene, and this was the best shot I could get.

The coat notably does not make a reappearance after this scene, nor for the rest of the movie, showing that despite the hurt Jim experiences here, he has grown as a character, and is more confident in himself than he was at the start. This change remains, and is not undone, even by Silver’s selfish actions.

The shadow finally leaves a few moments later, when Jim is entrusted the map by the captain. This gives him purpose, and a goal, which allows him to move past his hurt and do what’s right, which he knows will ultimately help others. This also shows his character has grown, as he moves past his pain to take on the responsibility without hesitation.

The shadow’s returns for the remainder of the film are nearly exclusively when he is reunited with Silver, or at the very least related to him in some way. All of this ties back to the light motif I mentioned earlier, as when Jim is given encouragement by his friends (captain, doctor, Ben, etc.), he is able to step up confidently, and take on responsibilities, reaching more to his full potential. This is contrasted by Silver’s presence, the man destroying that self esteem and bringing feelings from Jim’s past up despite personal growth.

Later in the film when Jim leaves his hideout on Treasure Planet with Ben, he quite literally steps into the light to help the others (in this scene, namely to retrieve the map from the Legacy to stop Silver from reaching the treasure and harming his friends). This shows that Jim’s selfless nature will eventually be his greatest strength (and already prominently is), and will be the thing to lead him to ‘greatness’.

When the shadow is missing, in scenes such as this, Jim’s face also seems to be overall more relaxed; brow less furrowed as he lets go of the past, and stops the aspects of the shadow (such as self-doubt) that he had been casting himself.

Jim’s gun flying away during the fight scene on the ship is also symbolic of his growth; his freedom moving just beyond his grasp (as he’s dragged down by memories through Silver), but him finding a way to keep fighting and continue triumphing anyway (as shown through the inconsistent shadow).

Silver’s influence on Jim (at the moment negative, as it is directly tied to the visual element of the inclusion of the shadow), is shown vividly through the scene where Silver’s pirates restrain Jim and take the map to Treasure Planet. The shadow only appears when Jim glares at Silver, but lightens when he’s focusing on doing what’s right (fighting the pirates) rather than his hurt.

Jim assertively telling Silver that if he wants the map, he has to take him along also serves his character growth really well. He's standing firm in his own decisions, despite losing the approval of his father figure, finally becoming his own person outside of others’ expectations or notions of him, and making these decisions based on what’s right, rather than simply rebellion.

The light from the doorway to the treasure gently lightens the shadow, symbolizing Jim's belief that his pain will be dissipated by gaining the treasure, and that he will gain his mother’s pride (which was already present) as well. This is a falsehood that Silver must face as well, both accepting that the treasure was meaningless overall, and would not give them what they wanted.

This recognition is clear to the audience well before it is to the characters, which is achieved subconsciously through the scene where, while all of the pirates are gazing towards the treasure, Jim looks back at Ben and morph, his friends meaning more than the treasure he’d searched for.

The next piece of symbolism is my personal favourite from the film; Jim falling while they are with the treasure. He works to pull himself back up, but needs that final pull from someone who cares about him (Silver). This symbolizes Jim trying to move past his father’s abandonment, and step into the person he’s grown to become. But he can't do it on his own, to fully make the leap, he needs the support of a father like figure, who in this case, is Silver, choosing Jim’s life over the treasure.

The shadow, which was likely present throughout and after this scene (there were few clear frames of his face, but let’s assume it was) darkens again at Jim’s realization that Silver may leave him, which comes when the captain comments about him being put to trial. This brings up strongly his final moments with his father; this may not seem like much now, as it is a very brief scene, but it strengthens the conclusion of his time with Silver, which we’ll get to in a minute.

The shadow then disappears once and for all as Jim relies on his strengths, both internal (selflessness), and external (knowledge of mechanics), to build a solar surfer to allow him to save his friends and their ship from being destroyed. This shows him finally reaching that confidence in himself and his abilities that Jim has sought after his entire journey, and, as a result of this, he is not negatively influenced when he interacts with Silver in the form of the pirate helping him with the construction of the solar surfer. He has, at this point, nearly completed his arc, and moved past his insecurities.

Jim then falls again, in a similar way to the previous time near the treasure, however this time, he is able to keep a level head, and manages to save himself. This symbolizes more than anything his character growth, able to rely on himself to help others. He’s finally achieved that light and greatness Silver told him was inside all along. This ability to stop his fall, and confidence as a whole, is due in no small part to Silver helping him earlier in the film. He needed someone who believed in him to push him to become the fullest version of himself, and recognize the greatness he was capable of.

The solar surfer was introduced at the onset of the film, when we were reintroduced to Jim as a teenager. The source of rebellion at the start is now a means he uses to help others, and once he’s safely back on the ship, he lets it go. He’s no longer using it as a means of escapism; his friends now mean more than that did, and he literally lets his past go for them without regret, as his developed character no long has to rely on those methods of rebelling.

This time, when Jim sees Silver preparing to leave, he’s confident enough in himself, and the connection they shared to let him go without memories of the past tearing him down, and visually, without the shadow returning. He lets Silver go, because his self worth no longer lies on the approval of a mentor, but rather on who he is.

Silver also notably turns to wave to Jim as he sails off, for the first time making himself, and this event, entirely separate from his father in Jim’s mind, showing the contrast between the means of support in these figures.

The light and greatness motif comes back in their goodbye, when Silver tells Jim he’s “glowing like a solar fire.”, showing the growth he’s seen in Jim, and, unlike the first time he said something similar to this, Jim genuinely believes him. Not just in a temporary comfort naive way; Jim believe that Silver is speaking the truth, and that confidence pushes him to take a shot at a future he never believed he could have.

This motif makes one final appearance at the conclusion of the film, when he is shown wearing all white, yet another lighter change in his wardrobe in this film. This demonstrates his freedom from any burdens of the past as he finally accepts and learns to love who he truly is, and take daring shots to reach his potential, the one his mother had seen in him since ten beginning. His character  arc is now complete, and he can live happily ever after.

[thedistantstorm]

Project Compass 31

Read along on AO3 here

<< Previous Chapter <<    >> Next Chapter >>

This time: Eli is pissed.

Next time: Ar'alani and Vah'nya conduct an interrogation.

-/

Note: this chapter through the end of the story will contain violent scenes. I don't feel that they're out of line with what's been seen in SW content on screen (or in this fic previously), but it doesn't hurt to mention it since tumblr doesn’t do fic warnings/ratings like AO3.

-/

For a long while, the hum of the small ship's engines had been the only accompaniment to either Chiss's thoughts. Un'hee, head bowed, allowed herself to sink into the trance-like state required of her to safely navigate them toward the Compass. She could feel Thrawn beside her all the while, like a greyish presence at the edges of her vision despite her eyes remaining closed as she deftly made the micro-adjustments necessary to keep them from sinking too far into any gravity wells created by planets they streaked by at lightspeed.

She could sense his disquiet. He wasn’t nervous - if he was anyone else, she’d say it was nerves, but she felt like he was more irritated than anything. A nudge of the controls had them avoiding an asteroid cluster in the dark depths of their current system. Thrawn hadn’t noticed. It was impossible for anyone who wasn’t actively in the Navigator’s trance to notice the tiny adjustments necessary to pilot a ship through the Unknown Regions.

Except, that wasn’t quite right. Lately Un’hee had noticed herself more aware of the subtle adjustments when she wasn’t at the helm, like her mind had unfurled like a flower, extending out toward her surroundings. Ever since she’d healed Thrawn, she’d been different somehow. The same - it wasn’t like she was a different person, but using her Sight felt second nature. She felt like she was capable of steering the ship without needing the deep pool she’d been trained to wade in when steering the ships of the Ascendancy.

Her skin prickled a little, charged and alert. She remained calm both inside and out, despite her fear. She knew what was coming. Thrawn’s frustration, afterall, was because she’d forced herself on his plans. She was a variable he hadn’t planned for. Thus, she could feel the swirling pressure of his thoughts, their cool, silky texture as he tried to determine the best course of action to secure her safety while still achieving his goals.

It was why she volunteered. They would both be taken captive. Volunteering, foisting herself upon him absolved him of blame within the Ascendancy. Or, at least, it would, once she explained herself. Ultimately, she knew that didn’t change his perspective. He would bear any harm that befell her as a badge of his own failure. And unfortunately, there was little chance of either of them escaping unscathed. She did not doubt they would be rescued. She was too valuable to the Ascendancy - she and her rare abilities. She would exploit herself in this way, if only to make sure she was able to keep both Thrawn and their remaining allies safe.

When he inevitably toggled the comms sometime later - time seemed to lose meaning in the depths of hyperspace travel, though a quick reach with her Sight told her they were a little more than two hours away - Un’hee allowed herself to devote some of her energy to listening even as she continued to guide the ship.

It was a Chiss that answered Thrawn’s hail. A Chiss that Un’hee didn’t recognize by voice. If they were a member of the Compass’s crew, they were new. She nudged the controls to the right, careful to avoid a planet’s field of gravity, then back to the left, feeling an obstruction in her path that needed to be shaken loose. Thrawn spoke slowly, confidently but without pride or arrogance.

He offered himself as a prize. His surrender in exchange for the Navigators, alive and unharmed. It was not much of a trade, but it was all he was willing to offer.

“Your surrender will be unconditional,” The Chiss said. Un’hee dared to open her eyes even as she continued to divert her mind’s eye to her task of piloting the ship. Looking up through her lashes, she saw the pale blue holo of the Chiss speaking with Mitth’raw’nuruodo. The holo was not colorized, so she wasn’t able to tell for sure, but the uniform he wore looked strange. Pale. Not the deep space gray-black color of the CDF. “Or we will execute those aboard the ship, beginning with the Navigators.”

“You are easily manipulated by your overseers that you would commit the highest crime against your people?” Thrawn’s voice almost seemed small, but no, she realized, it was rage. Violent and turbulent and sealed away so firmly as not to be allowed to escape, Thrawn’s rage made the hair on the back of her neck prickle.

This wasn’t the way to negotiate with them, she thought, and refused to think about it too hard, trusting her intuition as she made arrangements to intervene.

“Prepare for real-space reversion,” She murmured, lifting her head entirely and allowing him just enough time to look at her from the pilot’s chair in a cross between concern and fury before the stars stuttered to a stop. The ship’s drop out of hyperspace was rather calm, all things considered.

She regarded the Chiss projected above the center console with an unimpressed look. “I wish to speak to your superior,” She said, ignoring Thrawn’s twitch of disapproval. She knew he did not like

“You will speak to me,” The Chiss replied stoically.

Un’hee pursed her lips, closed her eyes and clenched her fists tight enough to draw blood. When she opened them again, Thrawn was watching her with a guarded expression, no doubt aware of her discomfort. She looked at their enemy and spoke once more. The sounds that came out were not Cheunh or Meese Calf.

Thrawn didn’t know what it meant. She could see that on his face.

Then, suddenly, an armored arm threw the Chiss on the other end of the comms device out of range of the projector with a violent swing. “To whom do I speak?” The Grysk asked in Meese Calf, voice low and dangerous. He did not respond in kind.

Un’hee bowed her head in servitude. “I am called Un’hee,” She responded in Meese Calf this time. “I served your Hegemony before being retrieved by the Chiss Ascendancy.” The Navigator chose her words carefully.

“I will not negotiate with your Defense Fleet,” The Grysk said. “You will surrender.”

“Admiral Ar’alani of the Defense Fleet has not authorized our actions,” She said. “She does not know of our plans. The Ascendancy was unwilling to part with Mitth’raw’nuruodo,” She added, “Thus we were forced to act.”

To Thrawn, the Grysk tittered scathingly, “Is this true?”

Thrawn nodded once, sharply enough to indicate that it was in fact the truth.

“I do not trust you,” They responded.

“You have the means to communicate with them,” Un’hee pressed. “Ask them.”

Thrawn reached out, pushing down on her shoulder to stop her from speaking. “You wish to send me to the Galactic Empire in exchange for the Emperor’s favor in the future,” He said. “I am proof that Emperor Palpatine does not value his allies.”

The Grysk growled, “You know nothing of Palpatine.” It stroked its armored face with long, skeletal fingers. “And you underestimate your value,” He said. “You are a gift,” He sneered, “Nothing more.” They studied Thrawn through the projection. “Though I appreciate your selection of Navigator. The young one will reprise her role as a hireling with less effort than it would require to train a new one.”

“Our people will not stand for this,” Un’hee declared, shaking Thrawn’s hand from her shoulder. “They will not be enslaved by your will.”

“They already have been. You will remember your place soon enough.” The Grysk gestured to someone outside of the scope of the projection, when suddenly the projection itself changed to show the expanse of the room. “Since you seem so unconvinced,” The Grysks’s voice held something like amusement. Glee.

Thrawn hissed and swore. “Do not look,” He murmured to her, feeling Un’hee’s entire being freeze with the knowledge of what would happen thanks to her Sight.

Shaking her head even as tears leaked from her eyes, she kept her gaze level with the display of the scene before her. Even as a Chiss - a different one, still wearing that strange, too-pale uniform - dragged a Navigator to stand before the Grysk. “I have to,” She said, even as her lower lip wobbled and the young Navigator on the display was murdered brutally, screaming and crying until life fled her entirely. Her execution was committed by a Chiss.

“It is a high crime for a Chiss to kill a Navigator.” The Grysk cast the murdered Navigator’s body to the side without concern. “And yet you are tools to your Ascendancy, the same as you once were to our Hegemony.”

“We are not tools,” She snarled. “We are warriors.” There was a bright spark in Un’hee’s eyes. To Thrawn’s surprise, her anger far outweighed her fear. “If you continue to kill my sisters, the CDF forces will annihilate the warship Compass,” She said vehemently. “Whether we are aboard or not.”

“We shall see,” The Grysk said. “Consider this your incentive to arrive promptly,” They barked. “Perhaps it persuade me to be merciful towards the rest of your… ‘sisters.’” The last word was said with such contempt that it made the shuttle craft’s speakers crackle.

“They were not the commander,” Thrawn said slowly, once the communications device ceased transmitting and the connection was severed on their enemy’s end.

Un’hee swallowed hard and nodded. “There is more than one aboard,” She said shakily. “They must not have the number of allies required aboard the Compass to hold the ship.”

Thrawn considered that for a moment. “Do you believe they will execute those who refuse to surrender?”

“Not all of them,” She supposed. “But many of them will die. They will use those deaths to inspire hopelessness. And those who are already their clients-”

“Which?” Turning to her, Thrawn eyed her warily. “Explain.”

“Their uniforms were different. More like coveralls. It is hard to tell the difference over the holo but I remember the type. They aren’t the same between client species, but they are duller than the color of cour uniforms. I think those were what the Chiss we spoke to was wearing.”

“It will not be universal,” He speculated cautiously. “But it is worth our consideration.” Then, he returned his hand to her shoulder, patting it gently. “You must continue our course,” He urged her. “I do not wish to ask it of you,” He said, his words infused with honesty, “But there are lives at stake.”

Un’hee nodded. “I understand the gravity of our situation now, Captain Mitth’raw’nuruodo,” She whispered, steeling herself. “I will not serve another Grysk, nor any of their clients,” She uttered vehemently, clenching her fists. “They will have to kill me, and I will not give in without a fight.”

-/

Karyn Faro was mostly trained in Imperial protocol and procedure, but some skills were more or less universal - like this one, she thought, locked in with the bridge crew, openly interviewing the officers presently in command of the Steadfast. Ar’alani was an impressive - and arguably frightening - commanding officer when furious, assuming she allowed it to show. She was far more terrifying when she did not.

The sensor officer was not impressed with her pointed personal questions or the level of disbelief she let drip into her tone. No matter. She was hardly an interrogator, the Empire had had ISB for that, but she could hold her own, and she’d gone toe-to-toe with Thrawn. He was far more frightening than any of the officers aboard Aralani’s bridge.

There was, of course, a method to the madness. She’d retained the information after only a cursory glance on her datapad, deleting the message she’d received moments before the Admiral had been called to the Hangar.

She wasn’t particularly keen on asking officers whom they spent their spare time with, or what familial obligations - off the records, of course - each officer upheld, be it due to some social obligation or simply political beliefs. And, worse of all, that it was a lowly human questioning them, well - Faro spoke more than enough Cheunh to know just what they thought of her. Frankly, she just didn’t care.

It was the younger officers that gave her the hardest time. The sensor officer she’d just finished up with, the petty officer overseeing two weapons terminals that were running diagnostics just in case they’d be needed later. The older officers - the first officers and mid-commanders were far calmer, understanding of the questioning.

Faro went lighter on them, per Ar’alani’s instructions. Of course, they had far more to say, speculations and fingers to point. Such was their way. Pride, arrogance, a flair for the dramatic… she laughed at herself, remembering the days when she assumed Thrawn was a representative of his people. He was just as much of an outsider as she was.

She’d made it a point to give away little, though she worded her commentary to the senior staff with specific phrasing, allowing keen ears to monitor who spoke to whom, and which stories would get back to her. None of the staff made it a point to speak to her, or actively sought her out.

Except one.

“Commander Faro,” Mid-Commander Tanik, who oversaw the bridge with Eli and Thrawn both away from the command walk, greeted her as she paused to key a few notes on her datapad.

“Mid-Commander Tanik,” She returned, stiffening ever-so-slightly to indicate that she respected him as the senior officer. She doubted he had more experience than she did, but she’d been instructed to get along with the crew in all things, whenever possible. Ar’alani might find her perspective… amusing, but right now she was gathering intel.

From her experience, Faro had a feeling she was onto something. She also had a feeling that Ar’alani had positioned her to spring the trap. Tanik did not have an excellent facade, but he did have a wide, disarming smile. She nodded curtly in response to it.

“Have your interviews borne any suspicions?” He asked her.

“Some,” She admitted thoughtfully. “Unfortunately, I cannot speak to them. The admiral was very specific about not speaking to anyone regarding the results of the questioning, despite the need for them to occur in such an open space.”

Tanik hummed thoughtfully. “Well, the Admiral would not lead us astray,” He said, and looked around the bridge, gaze sweeping over his subordinates with a sternness she was almost surprised to see. He shrugged, reverting to his usual passive demeanor, lips tilted upwards ever-so-slightly in what was nearly a smile. “If there is anything I can do, or any other questions you need to ask, just let me know, yes?”

“I appreciate it, Mid-Commander,” While blunt and businesslike, Faro spared a glance around, checking to make sure no one was obviously listening to her, then added, “I don’t believe I’ll have any more questions for you.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “The Admiral believes it is one of the sensor or weapons officers. She knows her senior staff would never betray her.”

Tanik tutted, sounding almost like a disappointed parent. His voice held an edge of placation, as if trying to soothe some invisible hurt he believed the human to have. “I shall keep my eyes and ears open to what is happening around me. Just let me know when you go to give your report.

“Yes, Sir,” Faro said, then waved with one hand in the direction of the helm. “I appreciate your assistance.”

She felt bad for the weapons officer she was about to pressure - and likely embarrass. However, it was better that she do this than allow the Mid-Commander to gain any sort of insight about just how much Ar’alani and Faro were onto him.

After all, he was a good actor when he knew he was being watched. What he did not know was that Ar’alani had caught a flash of unmistakable glee during their enemy’s missive earlier, reflected opaquely in the mirrored transparisteel of the ship’s windows. Faro was content to look like an idiot for now.

Both Ar’alani and Faro would enjoy watching his downfall.

-/

Upon awakening, Eli was granted exactly ninety-six seconds of carrying on in his native tongue, a language Admiral Ar’alani understood very little of. Not that translation was necessary, some things transcended language. The set of his jaw, the way his lips twisted over his teeth in a snarl, how his chest heaved for breath because his rage seemed to punch it all from his lungs, these were all universal indicators of his mood, of the heat behind his words.

Beside the cot Eli'van'to was now sitting up on and standing to Ar’alani’s right was Vah'nya. She kept her mouth in a straight line, but her eyes danced, finding some of this amusing. To Ar'alani's left was the young Jedi, and his face and ears glowed like a beacon. Perhaps her Senior Navigator was correct, no doubt Ivant had some colorful words to describe his feelings about things. Ar'alani certainly didn't regret her lack of fluency, but she couldn't help but wonder about the specifics.

When she held up a hand, Ivant cut himself off. He went entirely silent, closed his eyes and forced himself to take a deep breath. Centered when he opened them again, he spoke in Cheunh. "Apologies, Admiral," He began, and she heard the anger coiled just beneath the surface barely contained,"It's just," He exhaled, and exclaimed, more than a little surprised and definitely furious, "That - he - he shot me."

"It was a stun bolt," Vah'nya said dubiously, as if he were being overly dramatic. Perhaps his rambling had been, but Ar'alani was content to give him the benefit of the doubt this time. "It's not like you have been harmed. I don't think he has it in him to actually hurt you, at least, not physically."

Eli opened his mouth, no doubt to press something else just as emotional, but Ar'alani interrupted. "Mitth'raw'nuruodo was not the one to stun you. I reviewed the security holos of the incident. It was Navigator Un'hee."

“Un’hee?” The startled yelp from Eli would have been comical in other circumstances, but the lack of denial was the only confirmation Eli was given. The human smoothed a hand down his face and sighed. "They've gone off on their own, haven't they?"

"Yes." Ar'alani was frowning. "I have questioned Navigator Mi'yaric about the events leading up to this. She believes that Un'hee pressured Mitth'raw'nuruodo. He did not coerce her." Something sharpened in the elder Chiss's expression. "He is very lucky I am inclined to believe that, given her actions towards you, lest he inspire my ire in addition to yours.” She retained eye-contact for another two seconds, just enough to let him know that she’d seen what had happened in the hangar. She knew all that happened aboard her ship. He didn’t flinch away, even though his anger had receded beneath his impassive command facade. Good, the admiral thought. There would be time for his arguably well-deserved fury later. For now, they had work to do.

At that, the Jedi turned his head, looking up to her as Eli swung his legs over the cot, satisfied that he did not feel any of the residual tingling or vertigo associated with being stunned. "Admiral?" The young man asked, wincing at her reproach for her first officer gone rogue.

"I am accustomed to Mitth'raw'nuruodo making a mess of our plans," She said, her heavy gaze sliding to the left to regard him. "Make no mistake," She added, "He is a fool and he will be dealt with." She nodded to Eli. "But we have other matters to attend to. Things have changed."

Before the admiral could ask if he was fit to leave, Ivant was on his feet, steady. He turned to Vah'nya. "Do you have their trajectory?"

"Trackers were disabled on the shuttle."

"And on Thrawn?"

Vah'nya smirked. "I cannot believe you got away with that, but yes. The micro-tracker will work so long as he's in the shuttle. If they meet up with another ship, it will not communicate wirelessly with its interface unless it's the Compass.

Ezra looked horrified. “You think she’d actually take him there? She’s terrified of the Grysks and she wouldn’t want Thrawn to just give himself up to them,” He pressed.

Eli frowned, then looked to Vah’nya. “What do you think?”

The Senior Navigator shrugged, almost imperceptibly as she replied. “I was surprised she volunteered herself.”

Eli shook his head. “I’m not. She’s far braver than she lets on. She just doesn’t realize it.”

“Even so, Navigator Mi’yaric’s recount of their conversation was concerning. When we spoke to Ezra,” Vah’nya added, nodding in the Jedi’s direction. “He indicated that Un’hee was not acting strangely, but in hindsight he was able to recognize her words as suggesting she was preparing to do something incredibly dangerous that she felt ‘only she could do.’ I would hope she does not deviate from the plan, but,” She exhaled softly. “I think it may be a possibility.”

A grim smile coveted Ivant’s features. “If there is one Grysk aboard the Compass, they’ll have a warship nearby. Deviation probably won’t be possible, but...”

Ar’alani regarded Eli with sharp skepticism. “You have a plan?”

He exhaled slowly, the motion of his diaphragm controlled. Ar’alani could see him organizing his thoughts, fitting them together into something more cohesive. “I might.”

A smirk crossed her features, like a predator scenting prey. “That makes two of us,” She mused. “Come. Let us see what opportunity we can make from our comrades’ poor decisions.”

-/

Ezra stood one step behind Admiral Ar’alani and to her right. Commander Faro waited for them at the blast doors that opened up to the bridge. They both seemed strangely calm. He had been instructed to go with the admiral following their impromptu strategy meeting and that he’d know what he’d be needed for. It didn’t take an idiot to know that meant that Ezra would be expected to use the Force in some capacity.

Which was fine, he didn’t mind, but nobody was telling him what was going on. If there was someone who was a danger to the crew, a little warning - or even a direction in which to focus his attention - would be nice. The Force usually gave him a nudge in the right direction, but he was far from all-knowing.

The Chiss were like that. They spoke in these riddles that only made Ezra have more questions, until the very last second when he realized what had been so infuriatingly obvious to them the whole time. Usually Thrawn took a teaching approach, guiding Ezra to make the connections necessary. He noticed that Captain Ivant had done the same for him at least once, as well.

But Ezra didn't dare question Admiral Ar'alani at this point. Her shoulders were tight. He considered Faro. She stood in parade rest, a gentle, moderately disinterested look upon her face that reminded him that she had most definitely been an imperial.

"Which officer," Ar'alani began, not needing to complete her question before Faro was indicating an officer over by one of the weapons consoles. Said officer was tense, well aware of the eyes on him, but Ezra sensed only a flicker of nervousness. He didn't think the officer was guilty of anything besides the lack of enjoyment of all the negative attention he was receiving.

Ar'alani didn't even pause in her sedate walk onto the bridge, continuing down into the crew pit and approaching the officer's station. By the looks of it, Ezra realized he was a lieutenant, and probably a newly promoted one if the way he trembled under the admiral’s gaze was any indication.

The weapons officer straightened to attention, rising hastily from his seat in front of his console. Ar’alani’s eyebrow went up, an action Ezra could only see via her reflection in the gleaming viewport to their left, looking out amongst the stars. She did not say anything, only looked at the officer for a long, inscrutable moment.

“Treason is unbecoming of you,” Ar’alani said, almost gently. There was an undercurrent to her voice, indicative of looming danger. Whatever happened now would ultimately change the tone of this entire encounter. Ezra tensed, waiting in anticipation for when he would be needed. He had no doubt it would be soon.

The entire bridge seemed to be holding its breath, just waiting, waiting for the lieutenant paralyzed under the weight of his admiral's gaze to buckle under the strain, for the admiral to put him in his place, to finish her accusation and have Faro usher him away.

None of that happened, though. Instead, Ar'alani's eyes shifted up toward the command walk, disregarding the terrified officer entirely.

"Mid Commander Tanik," Ar'alani said, sounding almost disinterested.

Tanik was not a large man, of average build for a Chiss. Tall and lean, but not wiry. He swallowed hard, no doubt feeling the strange tension, before his eyes focused and he stood at attention, ready to serve. "Yes, Admiral?"

"I said," She annunciated, turning now to face him directly, "'Treason is unbecoming of you.'"

Ezra saw what was happening in his mind's eye with stark clarity, the Force whispering in his ear, alerting him to the imminent danger about to present itself with seconds to spare. Seconds that allowed him the intervention necessary to reclaim the vial in Tanik's hands, the one he had been about to throw at his admiral hard enough to break and that Ezra caught with an invisible hand. He did not need to see the vial to know what it was.

Still with that unimpressed air to her, Ar’alani retrieved the vial where it hovered in front of her by Ezra’s intervention. No one moved, but Ezra felt the shock of fear, the electricity of it as it coursed through the rest of the bridge crew. They all knew what it was, too.

“Do you know why our enemies carry poison like this, why they kill themselves before they can be detained and questioned?” The crooning tone to her voice gave Ezra gooseflesh, made his hair stand on end a sort of sympathetic terror. Tanik made an abrupt about-face and headed toward the door.

Faro stood in front of him, her face slack and stoic, but her eyes alight with fury akin to her admiral’s. Tanik made to shove past her but she dropped quickly, tripping the Chiss with her lower center of gravity and sending him sprawling onto the durasteel walkway. Her show of strength as she hoisted him back up to his feet, his arms twisted painfully behind his back was impressive.

And yet, Faro whirled him around to face Admiral Ar’alani, forcing him to look up into her ruthless eyes. “Our enemies do not wish for their secrets to escape them,” She said, her voice as cold as the vacuum of space. “Your selfishness will be their undoing.”

“I will not tell you anything,” Tanik said.

“No?” She supposed, and a grim smile curved her lips. “I disagree.”

[queen-of-deans-booty]

99 Problems: Part Two

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Word Count: 2,284

Warnings: typical supernatural violence, language, angst, blood, you know the usual

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Supernatural. All credit goes to their respective owners. Any and all comments on these are appreciated. I really want to hear what you guys think about this one!

Feedback is the glue that holds my writing together.

Tags at the bottom

If now isn’t the right time, then you don’t know when it will be. Things keep piling up, and you’re scared Dean is going to find out about you through someone else which will only make this worse. The guilt is eating at you from the inside, and you need to come clean about what you did.

“Dean, I need to tell you something,” you say while Sam is off making a call to the nicest angel you know.

“Yeah.”

“Dean, this is important. Like, really important.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, well, no. You see, a couple of weeks ago, I… okay, I'm just going to come out and say it. I—”

“I left Cas a message. I think,” Sam interrupts. He takes a seat and hands you and Dean a beer, and his attention is focused back on the case. “So, uh, what’s your theory? Why all of the demon hits?”

“I don’t know. Gank the girl? The prophet, maybe?” Dean theorizes.

“She’s not a prophet,” you interject.

“What?”

“She’s not a prophet because she’s not human. Prophets are human. She’s not, so therefore, she can’t be a prophet,” you say with some tension.

“How do you know she’s not human?” Sam asks.

“I just do, okay? I can sense these things.”

“Yeah, well, whatever is going on, sucks. These angels are sending these people to do their dirty work.”

“Yeah, and?” Dean asks after he takes a sip of beer.

“And they could get ripped to shreds.”

“We’re all gonna die, Sam. In like a month—maybe two. I mean it. This is the end of the world, but these people aren’t freaking out. In fact they’re running to the exit in an orderly fashion. I don’t know that that’s such a bad thing.”

“Who says they’re all gonna die? What ever happened to us saving them?” he asks angrily.

Before anyone else had a chance to answer, the church bells toll, and everyone starts to get out of their seats.

“Something I said?” Dean shrugs.

“Paul. What’s going on?” Sam asks.

“Leah’s had another vision.”

“Wanna go to church?” Sam questions and gets up.

“You know me—downright pious,” Dean smiles.

“Dean, seriously, I do need to talk to you. It’s very important.”

“What is it? Tell me now.”

“It’s not the time. Just please remind me when we have a chance.”

“Okay,” he nods, and the three of you head over to the church where everyone is gathered.

“Three miles off Talmadge Road,” Pastor Gideon says once it’s time to begin. Leah stands behind him, and she interrupts by whispering in her dad’s ear. “Five miles. There are demons gathered. I don’t know how many, but a lot. Thank you, Leah. So, who’s going to join me?”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Rob volunteers.

“Someone’s gotta cover Rob’s ass,” Paul grins.

“We’re in, Padre,” Dean speaks for you three.

“Thank you. I’d like to offer a prayer. “Our Father in Heaven—”

“Yeah, not so much,” you scoff.

“—help us to fight in your name. We ask that you protect us from all servants of evil. Guide our hands in defeating them and deliver us home safely. Thank you, Amen.”

Pastor Gideon directs his crew to the house Leah told everyone about. There is something off about that girl, but you can’t place your finger on it. She’s not human, then what is she? She’s not an angel or a demon, then what is she? She’s not a witch, then what is she? There isn’t time to think about it since you arrive at the demon house. Gideon and his crew crouch down to see if there are any demons outside, and you look around for them.

“Do you see anything?” Dean whispers to you.

You lift up your right hand and swipe it from the left side of your house to the right. By doing so, you allow your magic to let you see an x-ray version of the house. There are at least half a dozen demons inside, but you don’t know why they’re here.

“Two upstairs, three downstairs, and one in the basement. I’ll get the one in the basement. Be safe,” you say and get up.

“How did she do that?” Rob asks.

“Not the time, Rob. Just listen to her,” Dean coughs and takes two men with him to tackle the two upstairs.

Sam and the rest take the ones on the first floor. You, however, find a door that leads to the basement, and you use your magic to unlock it. It’s dark and dusty, but you ignore the smell and walk down the stairs. You create a ball of magic to float beside you as a source of light since you didn’t have a flashlight.

“I know you’re down here. I can sense you,” you say loudly.

There is a bit of a scuttle from behind you, and you smirk. The demon gave away his position the minute he decided to move. Turning around, you threw your ball of light at the creature. He isn’t expecting it, and the ball slams into his stomach. His body absorbs the magic which causes him to cry out in pain. He lifts his right hand and uses his demonic power to throw you against the wall. It hurt, but not as bad as this might.

You get into a running stance before charging, and you put everything you have when you slam into his body. He grunts in pain when the wind gets knocked out of him, but he recovers quickly. He grabs at your throat in an attempt to subdue you, but he should know better than to mess with a witch. Your eyes flash bright blue, and you do the first thing that comes to mind. Much like you’ve seen Castiel do, you place your hand to the top of his bald head.

His eyes and mouth are wide with fear, and black smoke starts pouring out of every crease and pore. You don’t know how this is possible, but you are exorcising the demon without saying a word. Is this what Sam felt like when he was able to do this with his powers? Sure, he was hopped up on demon blood, but still. Is it weird to say you kind of like it? Maybe it’s the adrenaline talking, but you keep doing it until the demon is no longer inside the man. He drops to the ground, clearly dead, and you get up on shaky legs.

Did that really just happen? Did you exorcise a demon with your magic? You’ve never been able to do that before. It’s like you are unlocking certain things you can do. It all began after you found out you were pregnant. Shit, you were pregnant. You have to tell Dean. Dean! You hadn’t heard anything from above, and you don’t know if that is a good sign or not. Taking the stairs from the basement to the first floor two at a time, you open the door to see all the demons dead, Sam laying on some burlap sacks, and Dean with Ruby’s knife in his hands.

“Are you guys okay?”

“Yeah, are you?”

“Yeah.”

“Where were you?” Rob asks.

“Basement. There was a demon down there. Is everything okay up here?”

“Yeah, we got them all.”

“Great, we can leave now!” you smile.

It doesn’t take long to gather everyone and head outside.

“I guess that’s what it’s like, huh?” Sam sighs.

“What?”

“Having backup.”

“Guys I exorcised a demon!” you gasp happily when it was just the three of you.

Rob and his crew packed in their car while you and the brothers did the same with the Impala.

“Yeah, we all can.”

“No, with my magic! Like what Castiel does with he puts his hand on someone’s head? I did that!”

“Congratulations,” Sam chuckles.

“Be more excited for me, huh?” you scoff.

“Dean. Sam. Y/N,” Ryan says as he approaches you.

“Yo,” Dean greets.

“Hey. So, um, is—is that—is that cool that I get a ride back with you guys?” he stutters.

Dean makes eye contact with Rob in the driver’s seat, and he nods to let him know it’s okay if Ryan stays with you three. Rob doesn’t see anything wrong with it and leaves with the rest.

“Hey, you’ve saved my ass twice already. One more time, you can drive,” he laughs before turning to his brother. “Get a beer?”

Sam fetches for four beers from the car, and Dean tosses one over to the kid. Normally, you wouldn’t condone underaged drinking, but the kid earned it. Well, you don’t know how old he is, but he doesn’t look 21.

“Hey, you earned it. Don’t tell your mom,” Dean chuckles.

“Oh, believe me—I will not,” the kid scoffs.

The brothers open their beer and take a sip, but you finger the closed can. You don’t feel for alcohol right now, not when you have so much on your mind. You place the can on the trunk of the car, and before Dean has a chance to say anything about it, Dylan is grabbed by the feet and dragged underneath the car. He screams in pain, and you jump into action. Sam runs to the other side of the car while you and Dean help Ryan. There was a demon hiding underneath the car this entire time, and his only goal was to attack the kid.

“Dylan!” you scream and reach for the kid while Sam takes care of the demon with his knife.

When you see the blank look in Ryan’s eye, you know he is already gone.

“No!” Dean yells.

“Dylan, wake up,” you gasp and place your glowing hands on his face.

Dean pulls down his collar to reveal his throat had been cut by the demon. Maybe your magic can heal him, but you know that won’t work.

“Y/N, he’s gone,” Dean says painfully.

You pull your hand away as it fades to its normal color, and you lean against the car in defeat. This is not how you imagine this going.

“It’s all my fault,” you whisper.

“No, it’s not.”

“I should have known a demon was there! He died because of me! What am I going to say to his mother?”

It pained everyone when they found out about one of their own. The church obviously put together a funeral to remember Ryan, but you are more afraid of facing Jane, his mother. Rob is his dad from what you gathered before, but it’s the mother you are more scared of. At least Rob knows what the job entails. Janes doesn’t have a clue, not really. Everyone is gathered inside with you and the brothers posted outside of it. People are walking in, and when you spot Jane and Rob huddled together, your heart beats faster.

“Ma’am, we’re just, um, very sorry,” you apologize.

“You know… this is your fault,” she glares.

“Jane. Come on,” Rob whispers.

“It’s all my fault,” you sigh sadly.

“Y/N, why are you taking this so hard? People die on our watch all the time. It’s sad, but it’s true.”

“I know, but I do need to tell you something, and it’s been bugging me all day--all week—and I need to get it off my chest because it’s killing me.”

“Okay, after this we’ll talk, okay?”

“Okay,” you whisper.

Dean heads inside, but Sam stops you before you two can enter.

“You’re going to tell him? What happened to swearing me and Cas?”

“I can’t do it, Sam. When we died, all I saw was the daughter I killed. Daughter. It was going to be a girl. I thought I could do it, but I can’t. The guilt is eating me alive. I shouldn’t have done it. Oh, he’s going to hate me.”

“He’s not going to hate you.”

“Yes! I killed his child! I killed your niece! Why don’t you hate me for it?”

“Why don’t you hate me for what I did with Ruby?”

“You’re family. You’re--”

“Exactly. Dean will forgive you. Just give him time.”

“Thanks, Sam,” you sigh and head inside the church.

“I wish I knew what to say. But I don’t,” Pastor Gideon starts the service. It’s an open casket, and Ryan lays behind him. “I’m so sorry, Jane, Rob. There are no words. Dylan… I don’t know why this happened. I don’t know why any of this is happening. I got no easy answers. But what I do know is—” Leah’s eyes roll to the back of her head, and she falls out of her pew. She starts to have a seizure, and you watch from the back as this happens. “Leah, honey? Leah, honey? Honey? It’s okay sweetie. It’s okay.”

“Dad, it’s Dylan,” she mutters.

“Just rest a minute, okay?”

“No, listen. Dylan’s coming back,” she says with more urgency.

“What the fuck?” you whisper so low that no one else heard you.

Her dad helps her to her feet and lets her take the floor so she can explain what the fuck just happened. This never happened with Chuck. She’s not who she says she is.

“Jane, Rob… It’s going to be okay. You’ll see Dylan again. When the final day comes--Judgement Day—he’ll be resurrected and you’ll be together again. We’ll all be together. With all our loved ones. We’ve been chosen. The angels have chosen us. And we will be given paradise on earth. All we have to do is follow the angels’ commandments.”

“What are they?” someone asks from the crowd.

Oh, this is going to be a long ceremony.

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[tangledcassandra]

Cassandra is Saporian: An Analysis

I’ve seen this theory tossed around a bit, but I think we need to take a good and serious look at it from all angles.

First off, what would this add to the plot?

Well, we know Saporia was formerly an enemy of Corona, until the two united when their leaders fell in love. Shortly after, the Separatists of Saporia were formed, a splinter group dedicated to taking back Corona for Saporia.

So, making Cassandra Saporian would give her a good reason to take the Moonstone, using it as the means to take back Corona for her ancestors.

Has that always been her true goal? No, absolutely not, and that’s not the focus of this post. But I will come back around to her motives for taking the stone. Hang on.

The ONLY time Saporia is mentioned in the show is in “Under Wraps”, which, as you may recall, is a Cassandra heavy episode. While that could be a very loose hint at her being Saporian, I think we’re missing the larger piece of foreshadowing that is presented. Something that Andrew tosses out right before his defeat.

"Oh, Cassandra. Saporia will rise again, and we'll have you to thank for it."

And sure, that seems like an empty threat on Andrew’s part. But the writers of the show have known for a long time what was being planned for the end of season 2 and the upcoming season 3. When you consider that, it’d be easy to drop in a forgettable line for a (much) later reveal.

But, there’s more.

The Saporian crest on Andrew’s necklace is used as the catalyst for Xavier to reveal information about the Separatists of Saporia. Two reasons why this is significant.

Why go through all the trouble of elaborating on Saporia and its history for one episode? Why focus so heavily on the backstory of a character that only appears once? Sure, the lore at the beginning of the episode was relevant for explaining the Day of Hearts holiday. But the show took it even further, not only detailing who the Separatists of Saporia are, but ALSO revealing their crest. Why was ALL of that so important for a single episode?

Except...

We see the crest a second time, 27 episodes later.

The potion book Cassandra reads from in “Rapunzel: Day One”. Now, the RTA Crew could have chosen to put anything, or nothing, on the cover of that book. But they specifically chose the Separatists of Saporia emblem. Why?

Well, I guess we can assume this stuff belonged to the Separatists, or some traveling salesman/magician (whoever the cart formerly belonged to) came by it through unknown means.

And yet, it found its way into Cassandra’s hands.

Now, this detail is completely trivial, and easy to miss, just as Andrew’s line could easily be forgotten. But it does ever so subtly add another point connecting Cassandra to Saporia.

But what else do we know about Cassandra?

We know she’s adopted.

Cassandra and Eugene had a brief bonding moment about being orphans in “Cassandra v. Eugene”. Now, that could have just been a throwaway moment, a nice ‘something in common’ between the two of them. But Cassandra could have EASILY been Captain’s biological daughter. I mean, why not? Why did that happen to be the thing they had in common? And why did Cassandra shut down when Eugene asked if she ever wondered what her parents were like?

Maybe she already knows.

But, that’s completely irrelevant.

Cassandra was raised in Corona, she considers herself a citizen of Corona, and she’s been striving her entire life to succeed her father as Captain of the Guard of Corona. She’s loyal to the kingdom and especially to Rapunzel, regardless of whether or not she knows she’s Saporian. And it wouldn’t even matter to Rapunzel, Eugene, or anyone else. On the off chance she knows, she’s been shown to literally not care at all based on the fact that it’s never come up in conversation.

So again, whether or not she knows, it’s irrelevant to this theory.

More importantly, for us, the audience, we don’t know where Cassandra came from. We don’t know her parents or heritage. It’s a small loose end the show has not yet touched on. And maybe it wouldn’t even be important, if we hadn’t just learned about Eugene’s origin and parentage in “Destinies Collide”.

Now, Cassandra is the only one of the main three whose background is still shrouded in so much mystery. She’s guarded, she doesn’t talk about her feelings, and she knows Rapunzel and Eugene BOTH can’t keep secrets. Rapunzel is a “sharer”, and Eugene just has a big mouth in general.

So, getting back on track. We actually have 3 pretty solid pieces of foreshadowing evidence for Cassandra being born into the Separatists of Saporia. She’s an orphan, Andrew’s quote, the crest popping up again in her hands. All very subtle, and yet, all connected. Very interesting.

Okay, the Moonstone. I said we’d come back to that.

Cassandra is Saporian: An Analysis: Part 2

The door.

We all know this is going to be relevant to Season 3 in some way, but just like Cassandra’s past, what she saw in there has been withdrawn from the audience. For now. We can almost certainly say whatever she saw or experienced convinced her to take the Moonstone, or at least, planted a seed to get her thinking about it.

“I believe everybody's got a destiny.“

Now, this is funny, because we really haven’t heard Cassandra talk about destiny a whole lot during the series. She’s been pretty adamant that she is on this journey to help Rapunzel fulfill her destiny. But here, she says, “All in the name of fulfilling destiny,” and then goes on to elaborate with the quote above. This whole journey she’s put a lot of emphasis on this being Rapunzel’s destiny, but here, she kind of leaves that out. Kind of leaves it more open and vague and a little bit ominous.

Let’s roll back to right after the door closes on Cassandra and this imagery of Zhan Tiri is shown. Maybe it’s nothing, or maybe, more likely, it’s something!

Now, we’re really going to stretch into theory territory, but it’s all going to tie together. Let’s talk about what could have been behind that door!

What if Zhan Tiri convinced Cassandra that her destiny was to bring about the rise of Saporia once again? Think about it. Cassandra has consistently been overlooked in Corona. She wants nothing more than to be on the guard, and she’s willing to earn her place the same as anyone else. If you recall, Eugene managed to pass the guard test in a few days. Cassandra, on the other hand, has been training since she was 6 years old, and her father still won’t allow her to join. Captain is not overprotective by any stretch of the imagination; there is literally no good reason Cassandra shouldn’t be on the guard. (Other than the fact that she’s a woman.)

Not only that, but her friends have shown very little appreciation for all the times she’s saved their lives. She is so underappreciated, it wouldn’t be difficult to convince her to turn on them. (Except for Cassandra’s undying loyalty to Rapunzel.) Plus, with Cassandra feeling less like Rapunzel’s best friend and more like a servant to the princess, she’s not doing so great. Rapunzel said in the past (multiple times) that she trusted Cassandra, and yet, as of late, she hasn’t shown that to still be true. Cassandra is in a vulnerable state, ripe for Zhan Tiri to take hold.

The connection to Saporia? A very convenient way to tip the unsteady emotional iceberg of Cassandra’s heart.

Wait, wait, wait. Didn’t I already say any connection Cassandra had to Saporia wasn’t important to her?

Right, that’s absolutely correct. It’s not important to her, at all. But it IS important to the story. It IS important as a plot device.

Zhan Tiri is an extremely powerful force that has been constantly looming over the heads of our heroes throughout most of the series, popping up every now and again to remind us, oh yeah, there’s a big bad coming. The final boss will be in town shortly, even though our heroes have barely been able to hold their own against his minions. Are they ready to face the ultimate evil? Haha, no.

Okay, we’re in the home stretch of this theory.

Cassandra being Saporian gives Zhan Tiri an in. A wedge, to drive between Cassandra and her friends and convince her that taking the Moonstone is her destiny. To get revenge on everyone who has treated her badly. I mean, that’d be great, wouldn’t it?

Not for Cassandra.

Cassandra, who loves Rapunzel. Cassandra, who, MULTIPLE TIMES in not just the series, but in the final episode of season 2, saved Rapunzel’s life. She grabbed Rapunzel when the gondola was falling. She pushed Rapunzel out of the way of a flying ax. She helped defend Rapunzel from the ghosts. Even after everything that happened on their journey, making sure Rapunzel is safe has CONSISTENTLY been Cassandra’s TOP priority.

But you see, Cassandra wants Zhan Tiri to believe she’s on his side. She has all the right motives for taking the Moonstone, so she could easily convince him that her actions are genuine. She wants to destroy him once and for all. But, until he revealed that she could take the Moonstone and use its power, she didn’t have the means. Of course, Cassandra needs Zhan Tiri (and the audience!) to believe that she has betrayed her friends. She needs him to trust her. She needs him to let her get close to him.

So why not tell her friends her plan? Why not let Rapunzel know? First off, nothing would convince Rapunzel to let anyone else take that risk for her. No one else would be allowed to bear her burden. Remember the foreshadowing that touching the Moonstone might obliterate Rapunzel?

“Freebird“, Rapunzel: “These rocks are my destiny, and that's terrifying. What if they lead to somewhere I'm never supposed to come back from?“

“Destinies Collide“, Adira: “While I'm certain bringing the Sundrop to the Moonstone will neutralize its threat, I'm not sure what will happen to you.“

Comforting!

Secondly, I must repeat, Rapunzel and Eugene BOTH can’t keep secrets. Rapunzel is a “sharer”, and Eugene just has a big mouth in general. There’s NO WAY Cassandra could let them in on any kind of plan to take the Moonstone. No way she could let them know she planned to risk her own safety to defeat Zhan Tiri. No way she could convince them to trust her to do this.

Too long, didn’t read: Cassandra being Saporian gives Zhan Tiri an opportunity to divide our heroes by convincing Cassandra to grab the Moonstone so that she has the power to take back Corona in the name of Saporia.

Lastly, keep in mind that Cassandra never actually says what her destiny is.

“I'm fulfilling my destiny!“

Okay, great. And that is?... Is it betraying her friends? Preventing the Sundrop and Moonstone from uniting? Opening the portal for Zhan Tiri? Taking back Corona for Saporia? Grabbing the Moonstone so it doesn't destroy Rapunzel? We literally don't know.

And I think that’s great.

Cassandra’s actions at the end of season 2 left us with a beautiful cliffhanger, hungry for more. It left us with questions, concerns, and a slew of ideas about what could be coming next. It left us with a few final parting words that ultimately have us stunned and bewildered.

But let’s get one thing straight. Cassandra isn’t. Cassandra has not betrayed her friends. Not permanently, anyway. It may seem like that now, but if you’ve been keeping up with the series, you know how much she cares about Rapunzel. You’ve seen that look in her eyes. How soft she gets when Rapunzel smiles at her. You know that she’d give her life in place of Rapunzel’s. Whatever Cassandra is doing, whatever she’s planning, is for the greater good. She’s not evil. Never has been. Never will be.

So have a little faith. Not just in Cassandra. But in the hardworking creatives who put their hearts and souls into telling this story. Who have set up clues throughout the series to keep us guessing and make the show interesting. Cassandra is a main character, a main protagonist, even, who has had more screen time than Rapunzel’s own love interest. Our girl’s not evil. She just has yet-to-be-revealed plans.

[alienbrainwave]

Ali you have one1 oc, answer all those you want to answer

LOL free pass because i only have taiga im DYING leena. thank you!! i might answer some that you already know the answer to just so its in writing on here! im so sorry i wrote so much omfg 

🍄 How would your OC react to the death of a friend/family member/loved one? Is there anyone they can confide in?

Im sure this happened during her time on the Moby Dick, a crewmate/ brother dying during some sort of fight. Luckily it was never anyone she was TOO familiar with, as she was closest to the division commanders. When she was little and crewmates died she probably cried about it. Marco was probably her listening ear for the majority of her life. 

While on the Polar tang she hasn’t experienced anyone dying, but learned years after the fact about the destruction of the Whitebeard Pirates, the the deaths of her Father, an older brother she was close to, her lover, and hundreds of men she considered family. She was completely devastated and went on a rampage. Her only reason to live now is to protect her new family and loved ones with everything shes got, as well as kill Blackbeard for his betrayal that lead to the aforementioned tragedy. If someone on the Polar Tang died she would react similarly, by being completely distraught and go on a rampage. When she learned about her Whitebeard Pirate family’s demise, Marco and later Law were her confidants. If a member of the Heart Pirates died, She would probably not confide in anyone. Everyone would be feeling the same as her. She would probably try putting on a fake smile to try and lift spirits, and she would try and be the listening ear everyone needs. She would put aside her feelings to be the comforting shoulder to cry on for everyone else. She wouldnt confide in Law either because he probably feels worse than she does, she knows him too well. He would feel completely responsible. In her eyes it would be selfish of her to talk to Law about her feelings. 

If Law were to die, she would definitely go berserk. I think Law is a big part of her being able to hold herself together after immense tragedies. If she lost him, she would also be lost. She would have no idea how to move forward for awhile. She definitely would bottle her feelings and not confide in anyone. 

🌷 What does your OC hate about themself? What lies about themself do they believe? On the flip side, What does your OC love about themself?

On the Moby Dick, pre devil fruit, she hated how weak she was. The lie she couldnt help but think was that she was just in the way. She didnt think it often, her time on the Moby Dick was overwhelmingly happy but at some points she would think she is just a burden. Whenever she felt like this, her close brothers and Whitebeard would catch on pretty quickly. She was pretty happy usually so it was obvious whenever she was down. She probably confided her actual thoughts to Marco. He would reassure her she wasnt a burden. He would probably encourage her to talk to pops.  Whitebeard would tell her she was a stupid kid for thinking she was nothing more than a burden. That he knew nobody better at tactics than her, that she helped him work through tactical challenges even when she was so young! Hearing him say those things lead to her genius for tactics being her most prized trait. 

On the Polar Tang, pre regaining memories, she would hate her lack of control over her devil fruit, she would hate how everyone else had things that made them “them” and that she remembered nothing that made her “her”. She would believe the same lie that she did when she was younger, she was just a burden and in the way. Except it was mostly true. She was kept aboard because 1) when she learned to control her devil fruit again, she would probably be a strong addition to the crew, the only other member with a devil fruit is Law. 2) the crew insisted Law save her and afterwards got close with her, they begged Law to let her stay on. If Law hadnt been so weak for his crew, if Bepo hadnt been so cute when begging, if she hadnt had a devil fruit, she would have been left to die on the shore they found her on. 2) in the meantime she was incredibly useful for chores. It wasnt until her tactical genius started to rear its head (through board and card games at first) that Law started to really see any use to her. When he realized she was better than even him at tactics, he was floored. His respect for her as a person and as a crewmate worthy of being on his crew grew immensely. When she confides in him about feeling useless, he reacts similarly to Whitebeard and very bluntly tells her shes stupider than he thought if she thinks shes useless. It once again becomes her prized trait.

🌹 Does your OC have any scars? How and when did they get them?

She has her scar on her forehead above her right eyebrow, extending from just below her eyebrow to her hairline. She got it when she fell overboard from the Moby Dick during a rough storm. Normally she would have just sunk to the bottom, being a devil fruit user, but the rough waves tossed her around. she hit her head on a  large rock under the surface of the water, causing the scar. It was near a winter island so the water was exceptionally freezing. The cold water is the reason she didn’t die before she got pushed to shore!

🥀 What is something your OC blames themself for and is it really their fault? Does it keep them up at night and is there any lingering trauma?

She blames herself for Marineford. She blames herself for every bit of it. If she hadnt fallen overboard she would have been there when Blackbeard killed thatch. Maybe she could have stopped him. Maybe she could have stopped ace from pursing him. If none of that had worked, maybe she could have gone with ace. Maybe they could have defeated Blackbeard together. If he didnt let her go with him, maybe she could have fought along side everyone at Marineford. Maybe just her being there, fighting along side them could have saved ace. Could have saved Whitebeard. If not she thinks she should have died there with them. Almost daily for awhile she blames herself. she was THERE. she SAW her family dying. She just didnt remember them. She was there on the sub and she didnt do anything to help them. Of course none of this is her fault and most likely her being there wouldnt have changed anything. She probably would have died aswell. It keeps her up at night consistently and there is lingering trauma. how could there not be? 

🌺 In what situation would your OC be pushed to commit an act of violence? Would they go as far to kill someone if they had to? How would this affect them and their relationships with others?

Taiga is not for killing but she is also not against it. She is definitely not a pacifist. A part of it is her more intense nature due to her zoan type devil fruit and the other part of it is that she would kill at the drop of a hat if it meant protecting her way of life and loved ones. She would kill if Law told her to aswell, no questions asked and no regret. Once she regains her memories on how to control her devil fruit, she works tirelessly to get stronger. What are her sharp teeth, and claws for if not ripping peoples throats open for the sake of her captains goals or to protect her friends. She can be quite fierce, especially for any normal marine grunt that encounters her.

🌼 Describe one of your OC’s worst nightmares.

Before regaining her memories her worst nightmare is of drowning. She doesn’t remembering falling from the Moby Dick so the latent memories often manifest in her dreams. She finds comfort with her insomniac captain on the nights the waves wont let her sleep. 

After regaining her memories, she definitely has nightmares about Marineford. She has nightmares about Thatch and Ace and Whitebeard... She has nightmares about Law dying, nightmares of being unable to save anyone she loves, which is her deepest fear. 

[qelizhus]

vv gift exchange for @fantasy-shadows | storm-speaker 

You hear nothing but the wind’s intermittent whistling. It is cool on your bare shoulders, and a shiver runs down your spine. The water underneath your ship’s hull is unmoving. Everything is still. 

It is strange. Normally, you can hear the quiet whispers of the magic around you—their gears locking and breaking apart, their arguments, their suggestions. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you can see their glow in the air around you. You haven't been able to hear anything today. 

You breathe in, once, and slide down to sit on the lacquered wood floor. You gather your legs and hug your knees to your chest. The last time you couldn’t hear them was the day your sister disappeared. 

You know more now, though. The silence means one of two options: the magic is elsewhere, fighting against a dire danger; or, they are collecting their wits so they may strike soon. 

Alone, the silence is eerily comforting. It feels as though you have all the time in the world; there is nothing to be concerned about.

You tilt your head back and watch the sky. The sun has since set. Now, the only source of light comes from the stars above in the sky, and the light glow from lanterns underneath deck where your crew is dining. Even then, the sky is muted, greyscale. Clouds dot the horizon and the air above you, filtering the celestial lights. They have been edging closer and closer. A storm is building. 

You will join your crew soon. For now, you just need this quietude. 

The ship is a day’s sail to the nearest port city. The rest of the crew—just as unqualified to be navigating on open waters as you are—have different goals. Six of them are circus performers, a couple are businesspeople fond of travelling, one is a scholar returning home. There are more. 

You all share one thing in common: the ability to speak the world’s mother tongue. The language of magic, your father called it. The scholar disagrees, and she tends to be right. Still, she has yet to offer you a better term, so magic it is. 

You just want to find your sister. Someone at the last city recognized the sole picture you have of her and gave you minimal but important information. She was to visit the port city, they said. All information is important when you know nothing. 

You know she is out there, somewhere. You don’t need to bring her home, or bring her anywhere—you just need to know that she is OK and preferably happy. 

Your father told you not to look for her; she is gone, he said. It had been long enough without word. It is easy enough to draw the right conclusions. But still, you held hope—as you do now—for years until you had the agency to leave home and search on your own. You know she is alive because magic is on her side; it always loved her more than it did you, and your title did not come cheap. Magic’s favour runs in your family, but your sister was beloved. 

The clouds draw together, flashing before turning sour. The tranquility is broken. There is a rumble in the distance, on the horizon. The storm is here, and you begin to see the faint outlines of gold in the air. You still hear nothing.

  “Get away from them!” someone shouts from your left, but you pay them no mind. Somehow, you stood up and headed towards the clouds. 

They are woven into tight spirals, crackling and a dark grey. You taste a vague promise of lightning. Everything feels hazy. You haven’t had enough sleep, nor have you eaten. The world’s small scripture solidifies in deep gold, but your eyes won’t focus, so you can’t read what they say. 

The same person as before—the scholar, you realize with a jolt—pulls you back, away from the storm clouds. They are strangely low; if you were only a bit taller, you could hold them in your hands. They would only do such a thing if they wanted you to. These experiences are the wonders of travelling unsupervised on open waters. 

“What are you doing?” she hisses, her fingers digging into your shoulder. Her nails are sharp. You hadn’t realized you moved. 

You shake your head, but it doesn’t help. It’s your job to push them away, dispel the magic’s anger, but you don’t know where to begin. 

Your sister would know what to do. 

She’s not here though, you realize with a pang. You haven’t seen her since you were fourteen, but time has only made it worse. She always knew what to do. 

The scholar opens her mouth to speak, then cuts herself off. Nothing she could have said would have helped, and she doesn’t know your name. Nobody on this boat does. The twenty of you made the pact for protection; without a licensed captain, this many magic-speakers is volatile danger waiting to burst. 

The scholar curses and turns away. “I’ll get the acrobat,” she snarls, and the words take a moment to register. “Do your job, storm-speaker.” 

If only you could. She disappears, which leaves you alone on the deck, facing a dozen angry clouds and their erratic golden texts. Your mouth opens, forming the words, but no sound comes out. 

Usually, no sound means no communication. You must keep trying, though, because you are the only one on the boat who has spoken to the weather. The clouds know you; they have been following you since you left shore. 

If you were any more superstitious, you would believe that their anger is an omen. A warning, perhaps—that your sister isn’t in the city, or that the city is dangerous, or that something else is hunting you. 

As it is, though, you do not believe. There is nothing to do but keep mouthing the words, articulating each silenced syllable to the best of your ability.

Your vision wavers for a moment, and in your delirium, you think that your pleas have been heard. 

Honeyed words crawl their way through your hearing, each word pronounced with a distinct twang. That voice belongs to the acrobat; you turn and see him and his eyes locked on you. The magic of the weather is impartial to him, but he has a way with people. 

The fact that you can hear him speak is telling. He must be restoring your health so that you may once more convince the clouds to calm down. You don’t understand what he is saying, but that is because he speaks a northern magic language. Your father never taught you it, though you’re sure he could. 

You turn your eyes away and return to the storm clouds. Keep repeating the same phrases over and over again; once your voice returns to its fullest, then, you will know. Then, you may converse. Then, you may negotiate. 

   As it is, the clouds are tight-lipped. They wouldn’t tell you anything of importance. No comment on the whereabouts of your sister, nor why they got mad. Maybe they were lonely. It’s hard to say. 

Like all magic, they have patience in spades. Even without their problems solved, the clouds unravel and separate. They begin to slink back, away from the ship. Their transparency returns, just enough for you to see the orange-pink beginnings of the sun peeking through its curtain. Sunrise is coming, and with it, the port-city. 

The clouds let you pass, of course, though they are still watching. You don’t know when they will stop watching, but that is what happens when you are a speaker. 

Your limbs begin to drag. The toll of speaking the language is heavy on your body, acting like weighted anchors pulling your limbs towards the sea. There is always a price, your father had said. For your sister, it is one you are willing to pay. 

Staggering backwards, your hands flounder in the air as you grasp for the rail. Another wave of exhaustion hits, and your knees collapse from under the newfound pressure. You drop to the floor. Hands grab at your arms a beat too late. The strain pulls at your armpits, so you shift, looking up. The scholar is at your left, the acrobat on your right. You hadn’t realized the scholar returned to deck. 

She is drenched—all three of you are, you realize—and sighs, sounding weary. “Come on. You haven’t eaten yet, have you? Best get inside before a storm tries to fight us again.” 

[6ix-dragons]

Edens Zero: The Chapter 83 Uproar (and What’s Next)

(Please be advised: important spoilers for the latest chapters of Edens Zero will be found below!)

When I mentioned in one of my previous posts, the other day, about having to take a break from this series...I was actually half-joking about it. More on that, at the end of this post.

But, ladies and gentlemen...even ‘though it has been probably mentioned multiple times, by now—can we still talk about how incredibly dark the latest chapters have gotten, for this series...so far? I mean...pump the brakes there, Mashima! We can’t handle all this angst, and feels, that quickly!

As long-time followers of Hiro Mashima’s works would know, these dark themes and situations are really nothing new. We’ve seen them before, in Rave Master. We’ve seen it also happen in Fairy Tail—despite it being considerably lighter in nature, compared to Rave. However, all of those darker moments in both series don’t come even close to what had just happened with the latest chapter of Hiro’s newest series!

Now, for those who have actually yet to be caught up with the story, I’ll just cut straight to the chase: Shiki and a few of his prominent allies of the Edens Zero have taken on the next biggest villain (and, arguably, who might yet be the most infamous amongst those who the EZ crew faced, when this is all said and done), in Drakken Joe, and his equally-challenging cronies that are the Elemental Four. 

Long story short—all of the more prominent members of the Edens Zero crew end up losing their fights to them, and are promptly captured by Drakken Joe, and his group. What then happens next will may as well have sent most of the fandom into quite the shock they’re having right now.

Not long after Weisz ends up losing his arm, as punishment following their defeat, Drakken Joe—who claims he doesn’t kill people (yeeeaah...keep saying that, why don’t you? /s), makes the serious decision to execute Shiki, by putting a friggin’ bullet right through his head!!

I haven’t seen an execution this brutal being carried out by a villain, ever since Arlong did it to Bellemere, from who knows when!

Okay, now, not long after this chapter was released, I made the social media rounds to see how readers of this series really felt about what had happened in that chapter. There were some who actually praised Mashima for taking a more realistic, grounded approach, as well as for bringing the tone and themes more in line with Rave. Personally, I don’t see much of a problem with these opinions. I also did think that Edens Zero should stand out more than Fairy Tail did, in terms of both. However, as I will mention this later on, I was also concerned at the same time, as having something like this happen much earlier in the story, does bring major implications to the entire story itself, including its direction. 

Aaand, then, there are the opposite reactions from the other portion of the fanbase. I’ve heard rumblings of a lot of readers who were upset (rightfully so, but greatly) by this latest development. In fact, they were so upset about it, they actually sent hate messages—and, probably death threats, too, while we’re at it—to Hiro’s social media accounts! At least, that’s what I’ve come across from others in the fandom, who were warning those not to do these kinds of things.

So, what are my actual thoughts, and opinions, about what had just transpired from all this? Having read the latest chapter myself, I had the same reaction just like most of the fanbase did. I was shocked, and upset, at what was being done to, who is (apparently), one of the major, prominent leads of this series. And, just like certain portions of the fanbase, I had previously expected a different outcome for the main characters involved. Just an outcome that would not  potentially divide the fanbase in half, much like now. That wasn’t quite the case, unfortunately, as I have mentioned everything above.

As it stands right now (as of the time, and date of this post), it seems that Shiki has been ‘killed-off’...maybe for real, but, maybe not. It’s hard to mention, for sure, if he really is—unless there’s solid confirmation from Mashima, himself. All I can say is, ‘though, Shiki’s ‘death’ does open up more new questions, than it does answer the ones that have already been established before. 

Questions, like, how does this really address the nightmare that Rebecca had, from a few chapters earlier? In that sequence alone, we do get to see Shiki in it, as he tries to lead her out of an intense battle happening somewhere, at some point in time. How do the events of this newest chapter factor into what was already happening before? 

Another question, I think, would be even bigger than that. We’ve seen, from the beginning of the series, and onward, about what each character’s motives are, and their goals. Shiki’s ultimate goal was to find the mystical space entity, “Mother”. With the events of chapter 83 seemingly putting that into major doubt, however...that just makes me wonder what Mashima’s true intentions are, for this series. Were we really to believe that this would just be about the protagonist going on a journey to search for this entity of sorts—only for Mashima to mislead us into thinking that, and what really ended up happening, was definitely all for naught? Because, I certainly want to know what Hiro was truly thinking, when he planned out this arc of the story. 

Then, there are the significant implications to the future direction of the story that I previously mentioned above.

So, it’s obvious enough that Shiki is, at the moment, ‘killed-off’ quite early in this series. Where does it all go from here? As I previously mentioned above, Shiki’s goal was, ultimately, to find Mother. Without him at the helm of the Edens Zero, however, it won’t be possible anymore. Maybe the rest of the crew there can take the mantle from him, but I have a hard time imagining that would be the case. After all, he is the one guiding them, in the first place.

With all that being mentioned, I’ve been hearing from some who have mentioned that Shiki should make a return into the story, at some point. I also think that he should come back into the fold, too. The only questions for that, is: how—and, how soon?

Let’s start, by answering the first one. Assuming, again, that Shiki isn’t 100% confirmed to be killed off, for sure (which, also again, is pending on what Mashima says, himself), there are already a few possibilities on how he can make a return to the story in some form, or capacity. 

One of the most common theories I’ve come across from readers, is this whole C.A.T. idea. It’s been mentioned more than once in the story, including one from Master Noah, of all people. The thing is, ‘though, we still don’t know anything of what C.A.T. really is about. That’s where the whole aforementioned...mention from Master Noah comes in, however. He claims that Shiki is the key to unlocking C.A.T.—as he is talking about Rebecca, in the same breath. What does this all mean? Not much, but I believe Mashima should address that question, in a later chapter at some point. 

Speaking of Rebecca...another theory some fans have, has something to do with her recently-discovered Leaper ether-gear ability. They theorize that Rebecca would use that ability to somehow reverse these particular events from happening in the first place. Some of them have also included the above-mentioned C.A.T. idea, and combined the two together. I would seem to think there is some plausibility to this notion—it all comes down to how well Rebecca can develop her ether-gear to that point, however.

The third-most plausible theory would have something to do with Shiki himself. I believe it was either Drakken Joe, or Master Noah (correct me if I’m wrong; I’m trying to remember what happened in that chapter, as I’m typing out this part xD), who mentioned that Shiki ‘wasn’t human’. However, let’s go way back to the beginning of the story, when Shiki and Rebecca visited her guild, for the first time. Shiki claimed that ‘he saw Mother before’, after when said entity was mentioned by someone else. Maybe there is something more to how Shiki and Mother are greatly linked to each other, than we already know, in the grand scheme of things.

And, then, there’s this theory thrown out there that might be one of the least-plausible. A certain section of fans claim that Shiki could possibly make a return to the story...not as a human, ‘though—but, as a robot/cyborg of some sort. Yeah. No. Seriously. While it does lend credence to an older, but still-relevant idea that the Demon King Ziggy could actually be Shiki himself, I also have a hard time believing it would happen so soon. I mean, it’s still a possibility, of course...but, given the timing of it all, I reserve a healthy amount of doubt about this one. 

So, the other question to answer about Shiki’s (assumed) potential return in the story, is, how soon?

From how the story is paced yet, so far, I have my doubts that he will make a return that quickly. There is a source I’ve come across on Twitter, recently, who regularly posts spoilers for upcoming chapters of this series (I won’t name the source here, ‘though; you’ll just have to look it up, yourself). Based on the purported synopsis and spoilers straight from this source, for the next chapter—chapter 84, it appears that the focus is on what happened after the previous chapter, roughly a week later...mainly on Rebecca, herself, as she tries to make her escape. 

Of course, there are also other questions to answer that remain from the last chapter, such as the whereabouts of Weisz, Homura, Happy, and Pino. But, regardless, I digress. The point I’m trying to make here, is that, assuming Shiki does come back into the story...it probably won’t happen, until at some point later on. How late, we don’t really know. It all depends on what Mashima does next, for the upcoming chapters, soon. But, we can only hold onto the hope that he does write Shiki back into it all. Otherwise, I...well, I don’t know what to think of, anymore, then.

This has been a long post, so far. I only typed this out to let it all out from my mind, because of how chapter 83 had actually bothered me. I’ve been into Edens Zero a little bit more, now that the story has gotten somewhere—and that Shiki happens to be one of my favourite characters from that series, just like Natsu, from Fairy Tail. These latest revelations from the last few chapters, so far, have put a damper on what I expected out of this cast of characters, going forward. I know that there are some who wanted this series to stand out from Hiro’s previous works, through the inclusion of darker themes, and moments. But, this is something I think was a bit too extreme, in my honest, personal opinion. It also lead me to think more about how this series is going to progress, as well...which is why I made this post, and posts like this one, prior. 

Anyway, I had already stated that I would be taking a break from Edens Zero, for now—half-jokingly, that is. I will still try to keep a close tab on what will happen, every now, and then. But, you can let me know when Shiki does make a return (or, not) in the story, by leaving a reply on this post, or you can DM me. Either way, thanks for reading this entire post. Click on the heart if you like this; reblog this to all your friends...and, I will now focus on the Fairy Tail side of things. At least that can’t be any more messed up than EZ is, right now...

...right??

[ss-wingman]

i know it's been a while since you reblogged it, but if you're still accepting it could you please do the A-Z fluff alphabet for risotto? if not that's fine too obviously

Risotto Nero – Fluff Alphabet

[ O and D | A, E, L and N ]

Rest under the cut for length

Beauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

Risotto admires Personal strength above all else. But he also likes some kind of softness in an s/o, both physically and/or emotionally. It’s a nice balance to his usual crowd.

Comfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.? 

He’s very good at picking up little signals when his s/o is feeling down or panicking. They rarely have to say anything before he’s on them, trying to comfort them with little touches and soft words.

Fight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

It depends on the nature of the offense as to how easily he forgives someone. He puts a lot of faith in those closest to him and takes it hard when that trust is broken. He tries to be the bigger man in any situation – and the time spent in his line of work and with his team has granted him the patience of a saint – but he has his temper and is by no means perfect. If really riled up, he can easily shout over anything his s/o says.

Gratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

Begin as busy as he is, some things can completely go over his head until his s/o stops doing it. He doesn’t want to seem ungrateful, he’s just tired. He appreciates his s/o being around and putting up with his work and his schedule and constantly having to run off in the middle of the night.

Honesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

He’s a private man. He keeps a lot under wraps; even if they are a part of, or at least aware of La Squadra, there are things he just doesn’t tell his s/o. His past, his feelings – it takes a lot to get past all those walls he’s built up over the years.

Inspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

He has his crew and his own life, but having someone to go home to is a little extra incentive to be careful on hits and a reminder to clean up before he gets back to them.

Jealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

He trusts his s/o and doesn’t really bother getting too worked up about what they’re doing and with whom. However, if he can tell someone is encroaching on his territory he has to step in. His presence alone is usually enough to scare off the smart ones. 

Kiss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

Very. He’s intense when he kisses his s/o, even quick pecks can leave you breathless. His first kiss was with an old crush from high school; it was quick and a little awkward being his first.

Marriage - Do they want to get married? How do they propose? What would the marriage be like?

He doesn’t think about marriage a lot and when he does, its quick thoughts about how nice a ring would look on his s/o’s finger. The longer the relationship goes, the more he starts to actually consider it. He’s a good husband, still doting and loving as ever.

PDA - Are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?

Risotto’s not shy, he just doesn’t like drawing a lot of attention to himself. Too many eyes on him make him antsy. Touches are little and kisses are quick, but he does keep you close to him out in public and makes it very clear to anyone brave or stupid enough to try and approach you while he’s around that you’re spoken for.

Quirk - Some random ability they have that’s beneficial in a relationship.

Risotto is a surprisingly good handyman. He’s good at fixing holes in walls and plumbing leaks. He doesn’t like people coming in and asking questions they don’t need to be answered, so he learned how to fix some things himself. And of course, Metallica helps.

Romance - How romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?

He doesn’t seem very romantic, but he is when he wants to be. Risotto loves to shower his s/o in gifts; he never comes home empty-handed, especially when he’s been gone for a long time. Dates are always somewhere quiet where there won’t be a lot of eyes on him and he can give you his full attention. He can spout off some pretty cliché lines that sound both incredibly sincere and absolutely ridiculous coming from him.

Support - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

He’s very supportive. He throws what he can towards his s/o hobbies and dreams. He thinks it’s cute when they get so passionate. He attends every event he can – given the limited amount of free time his work will allow.

Thrill - Do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

He always wants to try new things with lovers, but knows his tastes can run to the extreme, so if he’s not sure they’ll be up to it, he can get comfortable with a simple routine and slowly introducing one thing at a time.

Understanding - How good do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

Very. His job requires him to be perceptive, so even before he really gets to know them intimately, he’s able to pick up on little bits and habits. As he gets closer, he only gets better at reading them. 

Value - How important is the relationship to them? What is it’s worth in comparison to other things in their life?

Risotto loves his crew and he loves his s/o. There is no comparison between them; he can make time for and take care of both. Anything else is moot. The little family he’s managed to cultivate means everything to him.

Wild Card - A random Fluff Headcanon.

Loves it when his s/o helps him work out. Clinging to him while he does pull-ups or offering kisses for every successful push up/crunch.

XOXO - Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?

When he has the time, he loves to hold his s/o close to him when he can and kiss their neck, cheek or shoulders when cuddling. It’s a nice way to unwind.

Yearning - How will they cope when they’re missing their partner?

He tries to keep focused on the mission at hand, but he can’t help but get a little pent up when away from his partner for too long. He keeps a picture of them on his person to look at.

Zeal - Are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? If so, what kind of?

He’s a people-pleaser at his core. He loves his s/o, dearly, and wants nothing more than their happiness. He’ll do whatever it takes for the people closest to him.

[7deadlycinderellas]

if the summer of our lives could just come again, ch6

Ao3 link

 Tyrion

Tyrion Lannister knew he was clever. It was one of his only traits which he felt he could always depend on. Even his father and sister could begrudgingly admit he was quick and quick-witted. And only in the throes of truly heavy drink did he ever feel like his faculties had left him.

The entire ride north had robbed him of this belief. A single letter, and a few whispered words had been the culprit.

The Stark bastard had seemed similarly struck dumb on the journey, but Tyrion had merely taken that by being faced with the realities of his decision to join the Night’s Watch. Tyrion had felt at one point to remind him that they weren’t even at the wall yet, he could still change his mind and turn around.

Yet every time he spoke to the boy, memories of the things contained in Sansa’s letter returned to his mind and he was once again robbed of his wits.

It’s not until they’re all camped a few days from the wall, that Tyrion finally manages to ask the boy,

“I was wondering if you’re sister…”

“Which one?” Jon replied. He was on his back staring up at the sky and didn’t seem to be paying much in the way of attention.

“Sansa, the older one. Has she...ever sustained some sort of violent blow to the head?”

“No, she was always the most careful of us.”

“Has she ever been prone to fits or spells or other sorts of madness? Does she ever eat strange wild mushrooms? Drink suspect liquor? ”

Jon rolls on one side to look at him .

“A few weeks ago I would have told you the only time Sansa ever lost her head was over songs or stories of romance. She was always conscientious and proper and never would have even thought of disobeying. But from the way you’re speaking of her, I’m guessing she sent us off telling you of some of the same madness my siblings laid on me.”

The same sort of madness?

“More than one your siblings spoke of this...madness?”

“And though it was, as you say, complete madness, they all seemed completely convinced. And as much as I wished that some of the things they told me were not the truth, I cannot dismiss them completely. ”

The smaller man is quiet for a time.

“Your sister told me something only two other people in the world besides me should know. She spoke a name to me I haven’t said aloud in more than a decade.”

He didn’t think Jamie or his father had either. Tywin had paid the matter no spare thought once it was done, and Jamie too did not mention it. Tyrion hoped it was due to shame.

“They told me things they should have had no ability to know. I guess that’s what convinced me to listen.”

“What are you going to do?”

Jon is silent.

“Go on ahead with things? Try and remember the important things they told me? Even the ones that are terrifying...It’s the only thing I think I can do. If you really want to know more, I guess you could try and ask them yourself. You’ll have to go past Winterfell on the way back down the Kingsroad anyway.”

Tyrion makes an excuse to step away from the young man after that. They had still been speaking so much in vagaries. He isn’t sure anything the other Stark children could have told the bastard could have shocked him to the core as much as what he’d been told.

Before drifting off to sleep, Tyrion pulls out Sansa’s letter and re-reads it.

She’s a good writer, and has managed to only hint at things which might make the note inflammatory if anyone else reads it. “The lioness tires of the stag, might make him a hart,” and the like. He would have likely dismissed it as the ravings of a bored maid with an overactive imagination, if it weren’t for the words she has whispered to him.

“Your first wife’s name was Tysha,” was all she had said to him.

He hadn’t said that name since nearly after it had happened. He had buried it. Jamie had done the same it seems. There was absolutely no reason Sansa Stark could have known that name.

And he was going to find out how she did.

 Gendry

The week’s journey had not been an easy on Gendry. He did not have sealegs. And they didn’t seem to think growing on him was a good choice.

He staggered and stumbled about the ship, trying to help out where he could. He could fetch and carry and he learned a few knots. It was enough that he didn’t feel like a freeloader.

Davos tried to assure him that he didn’t expect him to be an experienced seaman, that if this was his only trip by boat, than that would be fine.

They’re dropping anchor in White Harbor when Davos finds him heaving the last bit of his food over the railing.

“Give it all back to the sea, boy, you’ll be on solid land again tomorrow. We have enough for a good meal before starting out.”

Gendry heaves, though this one is empty. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Might not stay down too long. Might just turn to nerves.”

Davos sighs, and slaps him on the shoulder.

“Don’t go doubting yourself. I was there when you wed the girl. I don’t think she’d suddenly jilt you, especially after an experience like this.”

“It’s not that.” Gendry lets himself smile at the memory. Arya had dragged him to the Godswood, with only Davos and the Hound to speak, the latter man cursing all the way. Jon had been pulled away by the continually rising wights, and it hadn’t been a good time for a proper ceremony.

Sansa had been rather upset, that she hadn’t gotten to be there. Every one else agreed that it hadn’t really been the time. That hadn’t stopped the two of them from basking in the glow as long as they could.

The dead had been rising in the fields and hollows, but the two of them hadn’t felt so alive in a long time.

“It’s not her I’m worrying about. It was easy enough, when the world was coming apart around us. But now things are normal, as normal as they’re ever going to be. She had tried to convince me once, when we were younger, that her family would accept me, but now I’m just not sure if I should believe her.”

Davos takes a seat atop a barrel sitting by the railing. It’s full of ale they were carrying to sell, and he feels he could use a cup. Ale, wine, spirits, they were all easy to haul and ship, and fetched a solid price wherever they were sold. Only problem was stopping your crew from attempting to skim off the top.

“I can’t say I knew the she-wolf better than you do. But I met her sister, and her half-brother, and I know her father had a reputation for being honorable. If things were truly ordinary again, I would say you likely would encounter a number of setbacks, but it isn’t. Nothing for us will ever be normal again, not with what we know. And if the three of them told anyone else...than I would say your greatest worry is far from marrying a girl who was born above your station.”

Gendry has another niggling doubt.

“You don’t think she’s...told anyone else about the, uhh... circumstances of my birth?”

Davos sighs, more deeply than before.

“I don’t think Arya’s the type to put much stock in things like that, and truthfully, I’ve always thought the dead should stay dead.”

He glances at Gendry, his black hair longer than before just beginning to fall in his eyes.

“But I highly suspect others will figure things out anyhow. Family resemblances being what they are.”

Gendry looks at him, and asks.

“You got all your sons back when we returned. Don’t you ever get tired of having to deal with all the strays you picked up along the way?’

Davos laughs, deep and hearty.

“One of these days, you may be blessed with sons and daughters of your own. Whether they’re your blood or not, they can never be cast aside.”

 Sansa

Sansa yawns and stretches her arms as she stood. She had been in her father’s solar all morning. Ned and Catelyn had just left for the mid-day meal, leaving her briefly alone. She’s got papers strewn in front of her where she’s written down a mass of things they need to keep an eye on.

Telling about Robert’s potentially forthcoming death had been an easy one. Being gored by a wild boar had been a very easy death for them to believe.

“It even sounds like the sort of death that might appeal to Robert himself,” Ned had muttered.

Telling them about Joffrey and his siblings had been awkward, but similarly simple.

“They...they really don’t look anything like him at all,” Catelyn thinks aloud.

“And I saw the first bastard he sired before his marriage,” Ned trails off, clearly thinking that that had been before Robert had supposed to marry Lyanna, “she looked just like you would have thought.”

“It ended up having nothing to do with Jon Arryn’s death after all,” Sansa adds, “But it definitely had its role in yours. And I am pretty sure Cersei had a hand in Robert’s death, even if I’m not sure how. I should ask Bran later if he’d had any kind of insight into that.“

Catelyn makes a noise deep in her throat.

“I once told someone that a woman ought to be able to lead as well as a man, but I cannot imagine a situation that ended with that woman on the Iron Throne.”

“There are other women who made their own bids into leadership,” Sansa tells her, though she doesn’t include herself in her list, “Yara Greyjoy might be the first trustworthy head of the Iron Islands in generations. But Cersei’s rule was based entirely on the deaths of all three of her children. I’m sure we can disrupt that.”

But eventually she has to push onto the one that’s been haunting her mind. She saved it until last.

“Mother,” she starts, reaching out to touch her, “You cannot trust a single word that comes out of Petyr Baelish’s mouth.”

Catelyn’s face freezes, and she opens her mouth as though she wants to object, so Sansa doesn’t stop speaking.

“I’m still not sure what exactly his end goal was,” that’s a bit of a lie but easy to run with, “but he has his fingers in so many pies right now that even if we had decided to go with Arya’s initial plan to sneak out and find a way to slit his throat-” there’s a big intake of breath from both Ned and Catelyn at that, “-then I would have absolutely no idea the fallout it would cause.”

She keeps going. It’s easier than stopping to breath or to give them a chance to respond.

“The Lannisters didn’t have Jon Arryn killed for finding out about Cersei’s children. Baelish had Aunt Lysa poison him at his behest- I know she’s your sister, but she’s seriously lost her grip on reality. And I obviously can’t say for sure, but I’m almost completely sure he had a hand in your death too, Father.”

There had been angry words after that, and tears. Sansa was beyond overwhelmed and couldn’t even begin to think about how to handle it. She missed Tyrion, he had always been able to keep a grasp on situations like this. She missed Margaery Tyrell too, who always seemed to be to handle difficult situations with grace. Sansa pauses at that thought. She wonders if she should try and send one of the Tyrell’s a letter too, but she didn’t have a clear enough picture of their motivations in the overall map that was their lives to feel comfortable doing so.

She feels a wet nose brush at her side, and turns to find Lady sitting at her feet. With a smile, she pets her on the head.

“I’m sorry you’re too big to carry now, girl. But you can come with me to the meal.”

The wolf is now as large as a small sheep, but lean and quiet. She can slip down the hallways on dainty paws, and hardly make a sound. Sansa sticks close to her as she leaves Ned’s solar for the Great Hall.

The meal is sitting on the table, but there’s hardly anyone sitting to eat it. Everyone seems to be keeping their own schedules as of late, and people wandered in and out on their own time. Ned and Catelyn appear to have gotten waylaid on their paths, as they’re not here yet. Arya’s here right now, munching on her bread and potato-and-leek soup.

“Don’t run off, I’m going to need to borrow you after we eat.”

Arya raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t bolt. The old her would have in a second, especially if she knew what was coming.

After Sansa eats, and as their parents enter to have their meal as well, Sansa and Arya leave and Sansa leads her back up to her chambers. Both Ned and Catelyn look as though there has been yelling between and now and before, and Sansa doesn’t wish to linger.

“I almost feel like I should be frightened.” Arya admits when she shuts the door and Sansa pulls a wrapped up parcel from one of her trunks.

She holds up the dress, there’s a ghost of the old Arya on her face.

“You’ll need at least one good dress, and I’d like to make one that will work for you.”

“What are you thinking of?” Arya asks her with suspicion, though she does take the darted and pinned garment and pulls it over her head.

Sansa touches the fabric. It’s soft wool, good for the coming winter, in a simple middling blue.

“Long sleeves, but they stop at your wrists and don’t hang. The neckline is neutral, it shouldn’t choke you, but shouldn’t show any cleavage either.”

She tugs it where it fits over Arya’s chest.

“I know you didn’t get exactly busty, but I can’t quite work out most of your other measurements, especially since I’m working from memory. You ended up about to my chin right?” Arya nods. “Not very big...at least I shouldn’t have to do more than let out a seam or two as you grow.”

Sansa’s going to make the skirt fit just above her hips, slender enough not to need any special smallclothes to drape properly. No excess, and loose enough she should be able to run away from anything that might chase her.

Arya touches the fabric, which has enough loose over her chest to eventually accommodate her breasts.

“Is it weird that I miss them?”

Sansa snorts.

“I didn’t pay them any mind when they were growing on me, but now I miss them. I miss all sorts of strange things.”

Sansa removes the garment from over Arya’s head and folds it back neatly.

“I miss when I could spend all my time sewing and none of it trying to puzzle out House politics so that we don’t all kill each other before the monsters over the wall come over and try again.”

Arya shrugs everything back into place as Sansa puts her things away.

“You should come out to the yard with me. Meera’s helping me get good with my bow again.”

Sansa pauses,

“I don’t know.”

She’s mentioned wanting to learn something to protect herself, but it’s daunting. She’s not Arya, anything more athletic than dancing has never been even something to consider adding to her skillset.

“It’ll be fine Sansa. Besides, Meera’s been trying to teach Jojen too, and he’s really awful. Rickon joined us yesterday too, and we still haven’t managed to make it stick for him that you can’t just run up and stab the target with the arrow.”

Sansa’s nerves don’t disappear as they make their way down to the training yard. It’s empty in the afternoon, and Meera, Jojen and Rickon already have the equipment out.

They do simmer down when they get there, and Jojen has somehow managed to get his thumbnail wedged into the wood of his bow.

“Are you sure you’re related to me” Meera asks indignantly as she dislodges his hand his hand and files the nail down with the edge of her knife.

“This is why I always left this to you,” Jojen tells her, pouting.

Meera then takes off her own leather glove and trades Jojen for his finger guard.

After a moment, she offers it to Sansa,

“We’ve only got the one, and I’ve got calluses already.”

“Keep it,” Arya tells her, reaching into her waist pocket and pulling out her own leather gloves, “I’ll give her one of mine, I shoot lefty anyway.”

Sansa pulls on the glove, it’s only a little tight.

“Don’t grip the string too tightly,” Arya warns her, “You should bring your kid gloves next time, it will be easier on your fingers that way.”

The bow and arrows feel unnatural in her hands, but she manages to pull and release without dropping anything, and even though her arrow misses, it doesn’t fly off anywhere unexpected. Arya’s right, it does make her feel better.

Soon the air is thick with flying arrows. Some of them go off into the ground, and others bury themselves in the straw men they’re using as targets.

“Arya, don’t aim for the balls,” Meera criticizes, when Arya manages to land an arrow square between one’s legs, “That will only make them bleed.”

“Lot of blood coming through there,” Arya insists, “and it’s not usually armored.”

“If you’re aiming at someone in armor, the neck is more deadly, or the legs if you just want to do damage.”

Arya shrugs her off.

Soon they run out of arrows, and Meera sends Rickon to gather all the fallen ones, which he does happily enough.

Soon, though Sansa’s arm begins to tire, the bow does begin to feel more natural, and the arrows begin to get closer to where she’s aiming.

“It’s mostly practice,” Arya assures her as she nocks her last arrow. “It’s like with me and needle, you just to learn your eyes and the arrows. There are a lot fewer variables than if you’re going at someone with a knife or a sword.”

“Way too close contact for my taste,” Meera comments, “I want to put some distance between me and whatever I’m shooting at.”

“Not that I disagree-” Arya starts, “but I thought you favored a spear?”

“Spear gives your arm an extra long reach, they’re garbage in close quarters, and-”

Whatever she was going to say next is cut off when Sansa moves to loose her arrow. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Rickon, impatient as ever, move to start gathering the fallen arrows again.

Sansa yells, and feels the arrow slip.

Arya lunges forward and grabs Rickon, and the arrow falls to the ground barely three feet in front of her.

Sansa can hear Arya loudly berating the younger boy, but can’t make out her words over the sound of her own heart pounding. Her head is swimming.

Rickon is red-faced and abashed, but all Sansa sees is the tall, curly haired young man he became. Him running, and then falling, full of arrows.

Arya’s still yelling when Sansa hands Meera her bow and says, “I need to take a break.”

Meera reaches out to take her things, and gestures with a nod of her head over at one of the walkways.

“Bran’s been sitting up there a while if you wanted to talk to him.”

Sansa glances up at one of the walkways where she looked. She cocks her head.

“How’d you see him?”

Meera rolls her eyes, “I lived with him in a cave with hardly anyone else to talk to for over a year. I’m pretty sure I could find him in the middle of the woods blindfolded just from the sound of his snoring.”

“Do you...want me to tell him to go away?” Sansa asks carefully.

Meera sighs, and rubs her eyes. The two of them are the only ones in the group who look at all close to their adult selves, and right now Meera looks even older than then.

“No,” she replies quietly, “I just need time.”

Lady’s been sitting at the edge of the training yard watching them, and when Sansa approaches, she jumps up and trails behind her neatly.

Bran nods at her when she climbs the walkway and sits, Lady squeezing between them. He reaches out idly to scratch her ears.

“Bad thoughts?” He asks Sansa.

She nods. Bran ducks his head in response.

“I had some the other day when I saw Theon talking to Ser Rodrik. All I could see was him cutting his head off.”

Damn.

“I guess our lives are going to generate a lot of those now.”

Bran turns his eyes down to Lady again. “Have you ever dreamt that you’re seeing through her eyes?”

Sansa’s alarmed.

“Like you do?”

“Arya’s told me it happens to her with Nymeria too, and I know Rickon’s had them...I thought you would too, and you just didn’t have a chance before.”

It’s not something Sansa ever thought about. Bran’s right, her and Lady were cut apart too early before for a bond of that sort to form.

She wonders what it would be like, to run through the woods with Lady’s eyes. To see the other animals as she does, to be able to slip past enemy lines nearly undetected. Lady’s already shown ability to be quieter and more stealthy than her littermates. It could be terribly useful.

She doesn’t get a chance to ask Bran anything else, when there’s a sudden commotion from below.

She has to help Bran get his crutches and stand, and by the time they get back down to the yard, the commotion has calmed a bit. Jojen’s rolled on his side, the shaking beginning to slow. Once he stills, Meera pulls the bite strap from his mouth and lifts his chin.

“Give him a minute, sometimes he comes out really confused.”

It doesn’t take long though for Jojen to start mumbling, and pulling himself up to sit.

“I thought you said you hadn’t had a vision since all of us came back,” Meera asks him when he comes all the way to.

“I wasn’t sure about this one, it’s been so long, I thought it might have been a regular dream.”

“You haven’t had a fit like that in ages, what was this one about?” Meera asks, trying not to sound too rough, but frightened.

Jojen takes a deep breath.

“I saw a group of crows, flying over the wall, when they fell from the sky. One of them managed to get away, injured. Another shed its feathers and flew over again, nothing but a skeleton.”

There’s a long quiet, as all of them think on Jojen’s words. And with the image of a bird rising as a wight, Bran suddenly has a familiar feeling creeping in his gut.

[crapitskizaru]

Partner with an incurable disease: The Supernovas Edition

Hi! It's me again! I really enjoy your blog ❤ thanks for making me squeal everytime I log in to Tumblr ❤ By the way, I have something to ask again! Can you do a h/c where Luffy, Law, Zoro, X-Drake, Bonney, Hawkins, Kidd, Killer, Apoo, Urogue and Capone (basically Supernovas) react to finding out their s/o with a terminal disease? Like, its an incurable one? (coz I'm an evil brat, sorry not sorry, mwahaha) that even Law's ability can't do shit? I hope this is not too much! Have a nice day dear!

Warning: angst af and a rather long post ahead

Monkey D. Fluffy 

“I don’t care, I’m not going to let you die!” 

we all know he’d never accept this, and try to prevent the inevitable, even if he’s not really sure what to do and which medications he should seek for

Luffy wouldn’t really try to dig into the reason for his partner’s condition, he just needs a simple task that he can follow in order for them to survive

and when they don’t, even despite the boy’s pure intentions, he feels just as if he lost Ace for the second time 

it would take a long time, and a lot of support from the Strawhats for the boy to get over it

Trafalgar Law 

“I’m a doctor. You’re not leaving me, (Name)-ya. Not on my watch.”

but after all the check-ups and tests, deep down he knows there’s nothing to prevent their death, and that no matter how much he tries, the end result with always be the same 

with this realization, he’d also lose his sense of purpose and all the goals that he wanted to achieve 

“If you die...What else would be left in this world for me?” 

so the man watches as life slowly leaves his partner’s body and soul with numb resignation, and would remain the same after their death 

his crew would be the one to lift him up somehow, but it wouldn’t be enough for sure 

he gets even more bitter, even more distant and empty, but I think he’d carry on until he either becomes the Pirate King or helps Luffy in becoming one 

and after that, he feels like he can finally let it all go and indulge into his sadness, since there’s nothing else left for him to do

Roronoa Zoro 

“How long do we have left?”

as much as he despises the sheer idea of it, he’d try to accept the facts and make peace with them, the sooner the better 

wants to spend the whole time with them, not even necessarily talking, just simply being together and enjoying the simplest things about life

he wouldn’t talk much, if not at all, trying to remember every detail of their face, the tone of their voice and the manner in which they talk, to have something to remember 

his coping mechanism involves spending his entire time training, exercising, getting stronger, to make sure he won’t fail his captain the same way he failed his partner

since, in his heart, he feels like it’s his fault they died, and that he could have done something to prevent it 

Drake the T-rex 

“No, please.”

he wants to cherish every moment he spends with his partner, whether on simple conversations, making promises, or staring off at the open ocean 

makes sure they see as many wonders of the world as possible, that they are in their happiest state with no regrets 

“That’s the least I can do for you.” 

at night, when he holds them in his arms and listens to their calm breathing, he can’t help but shed a few tears, knowing that there’ll come a day when they won’t be around anymore, that he won’t be able to get their advice or simply trust anyone with his fears 

as their body gets close to giving up, the man shifts into his most vulnerable state and sheer frustration 

since he sees the only person who gives him hope, and who he can confide in, literally dying in front of his eyes and there’s nothing he can do 

i don’t think he’d ever be able to form a relationship with anyone anymore, not after something like this 

Jewelry Bonney 

“No. No, you’re not.” 

whenever she sees her partner, feels their touch, holds them in her arms, or simply hears them talk, she can’t help but burst into tears 

“Tell me what to do. Tell me and I’ll do it.” 

she’d seek for a cure, all the way till the end, so that she will be able to say that she’s done everything in her power to help them 

would spend a lot of time either hugging them, or relishing in their closeness in their calming embrace 

wants to remember all the little things about them - the way they smelled, talked and their daily habits 

also keeps their personal items in a closed box on the  shelf, so that she’ll be able to remember all those details, even years later 

she’s secretly afraid that, after some time passes, she won’t be able to conjure up the contours of their face and how they looked, it’s just terrifying 

Basil Hawkins

“Wait for me up there.” 

I think he’d be most at peace with it, out of all those rebels

he might have even predicted it? so that, when his partner confessed, he already knew all about it 

the man may be caught on tenderly caressing their cheek or hair while they’re asleep, telling them all about his plans and goals for the future that he’d normally never reveal, to anyone

he wants them to know just how much trust he puts in them, and that he won’t hold any secrets from them 

also, would want to hear all about their own ambitions and unfulfilled dreams, so that, once they let it all out, they’ll be able to die cleansed, with dignity 

after their death, Hawkins won’t let his goals out of sight, but would secretly wait to join his lover, and try to predict the moment of his own death

Eustass Kid

"What are you talking about? Don’t fucking lie.” 

mostly denial, mixed with pure rage and frustration 

would probably take it all out on his ship’s doctor, and even his lover couldn’t reason with him on this 

all the time that they have left, Kid spends on circling around getting himself hammered and carrying out slaughters, since his blood lust is getting unbearable and he can’t restrict it anymore

it gets even worse when his lover dies, and he gets the news while coming back to the ship while drunk out of his mind 

the regret would be literally eating him alive, but it’s his rage that won’t let him lose himself in the sorrows 

his idea of making it up for his partner is becoming as strong as possible and getting the title of the Pirate King 

after their death, he won’t recall the times they’ve spent together much, since he doesn’t want to weaken himself, and he’s aware that it can bring him down to rock bottom 

but, during the nights, he does it nonetheless, he’s not able to stop and, what’s worse, forgive himself, even in a million years 

Killer 

“There must be something that I can do.” 

he wants to help, he wants to cure them, to prevent it somehow, or at least drag it out in time for as long as possible 

their alone moments would be filled with anxiety and pure sorrow, at least until Killer realizes that’s not how he wants to spend their last moments 

he starts to talk, a lot, and envelops them with his arms whenever they’re together, breathing in their scent and trying to imprint it in his memories

above all, the man wants them to pass away with dignity and in his embrace, doesn’t matter how hard it’ll be for him, their comfort is the number one priority 

i don’t think he’d seek for any other partners after their death, it feels like a wrong thing to do for him

Apoo

“I know what to do.”

acts like he indeed has it under complete control, to give his partner the feeling of safety

would want them to cherish and have fun in every moment - whatever they like, he’s there to supply them with his music, since it’s the most heartfelt thing he can give them 

the man hides his sorrow very well, and directs his focus towards his lover, and his lover only

also makes sure they’ve seen all, or most of what there in the world to see - he can’t imagine dying without having the sense of fulfillment 

Apoo would prefer them to pass away in his arms, listening to his farewell song and staring off at the ocean’s horizon, because that’s what he’d like to see in his last moments 

Capone Bege

“I’ll take care of our child, my dear.”

if his dearest wife ever died, the man would be devastated, going through all of the stages of sorrow, and then mourning 

meaning, he’d eventually move on and try to raise their kid as well as he can, while conjuring up the memory of his wife as often as possible 

when watching her slowly passing away, he makes sure they spend their moments together, as a family, and he tries to bury his anger and frustration deeply, so that she won’t have anything to be upset with 

he’s a tender man, he wouldn’t hide his tears in front of his child, he wants them to see how important his wife was, and how cruel life can turn out to be sometimes 

Urouge

“What am I supposed to do when you’re gone?” 

he strongly believes in fate, but this would be the kind of situation when he desperately tries to avoid/change it, seeking out for a cure 

upon failing, the man blames himself the most, not even bothering to hide his tears while spending the last moments holding his partner in his arms 

he wants to know all about their unfulfilled dreams, goals and aims in life, so that maybe, one day, he’d be able to turn them into reality, in their memory 

Urouge also keeps all their personal things in his room, getting sentimental whenever his eyes land on one of those 

would eventually move on, and only find a new love if fate brings it to him, he doesn’t look for one on his own 

[mst3kproject]

417: Crash of Moons

So this is a movie in which obvious destruction is looming, but those best-placed to do something about it turn blind eye out of sheer greed. Wow.  That’s unexpectedly relevant.

After an extremely depressing episode of General Hospital assures us that it’s okay to cheat on your wife as long as you really, really love the other woman, we get into MST3K’s second Rocky Jones, Space Ranger! episode.  This one concerns the Gypsy Moons Posita and Negato, an inhabited double planet with a shared atmosphere.  Their unpredictable orbit first takes them perilously close to Space Station 0W-9, which nearly comes to a fiery end.  Even worse, they’re next destined for an even closer encounter with planet Ophiuchus, one that will destroy both that world and Posita!  The inhabitants must be evacuated quickly, but Queen Cleolanta believes it’s all just a conspiracy to undermine her power. Can they convince her in time to save her people?

What I find myself thinking watching this is that if the Gypsy Moons are close enough to share an atmosphere, then shouldn’t the Posita-Ophiuchus collision end badly for the folks on Negato, too?  Two planets colliding sounds pretty bad, but millions of molten bits and pieces of them sprayed into space right next door to you wouldn’t be a picnic, either.

Then again, maybe they avoided that idea on purpose, because there’s already a hell of a lot going on in Crash of Moons.  We’ve got two contrasting styles of ruler in Cleolanta and Bavarro – both are absolute monarchs but they approach that role in very different ways.  We’ve got Cleolanta’s flunky Atlasan, and his conflict between loyalty to the regime and love for his wife Trinka.  We’ve got the destruction of entire worlds, with all their history lost in the process, and an examination of the relationship between a place and its people… and all this in three half-hour television episodes! It’s a lot to deal with and they don’t manage to encompass it all, but you have to admire their ambition.

It’s been way too long since I watched the rest of Rocky Jones, Space Ranger! so I don’t actually remember if they previously told us why Cleolanta was so opposed to outside influence.  In Crash of Moons, we learn that she is afraid of diaspora: if allowed to leave, she worries the Ophiuchians will become scattered across the galaxy, and forget their homeland and their history. This has certainly happened to plenty of peoples here on Earth, usually because somebody with a bigger army than them was being an asshole, and since Ophiuchus is one planet against the United Worlds you can understand her paranoia. In order to prevent this happening, she has decided she must keep her people under control at all times.

Cleolanta expects total obedience from her subjects – they must put her first, even ahead of their families, as we see when Atlasan is rewarded for turning Trinka in.  Nobody is allowed to leave the planet or even to contact anyone from another world by Astrophone (I do wonder, if Astrophones are illegal, where Trinka got one).  Even idle curiosity about the rest of the galaxy is strongly discouraged.  Obviously this regime is meant to stand in for the USSR: an iron-fisted dictator lording over people who aren’t allowed to know what’s beyond their borders, endlessly suspicious of outsiders who really only want to help them.  In a more socially conscious age, this reads a little differently.  Cleolanta is still paranoid and that paranoia is still unreasonable, but you can kind of see where she’s coming from.

(Incidentally, in that scene where Rocky and Winky are trying to land on Ophiuchus without being shot down?  Wouldn’t that have been way easier if they’d had, oh, I don’t know, some way to camouflage or disguise their ship?  Maybe even make it invisible?  Something they used for that exact purpose in a previous installment?  It wouldn’t even have to be realistic, it could be absolute pseudoscience bullshit… am I blue-sky-ing here?)

At the other end of Crash of Moons’ scale of monarchs is Bavarro.  We don’t see him interact with his people, possibly because the entire cast budget for the storyline was spent on approximately five Ophiuchians.  What we do see is how he talks to his family, his beloved wife and son.  This stands in for Bavarro’s role as a leader, because he sees himself as a father to Posita, and acts in that capacity. Cleolanta shuns outside influences on Ophiuchus, but Bavarro welcomes them, in part because they are rare: the Gypsy Moons are on an orbit around the galactic centre rather than around a particular star, and don’t often come within range of other inhabited worlds. Where Cleolanta assumes the worst, Bavarro always sees the best in people, as demonstrated when he welcomes his visitors by naming their best trait and expressing a hope that his son will be like them.

Yet when confronted with the news that his world will be destroyed, Bavarro’s first reaction is exactly the same as Cleolanta’s – denial.  She, who does not trust her visitors, insists it must be a lie.  He, who does, thinks it has to be a mistake.  Both of them then do what they feel is best to protect their people.  Bavarro arranges for everyone to move to the sister moon Negato until they can find another home.  Cleolanta tries to prevent the panic that would surely ensue if the Ophiuchians were told that the end of the world was coming, and seeks a solution that does not require abandoning the planet.  Their understandings and approaches to the situation are different, but their goals are the same.

Their attitudes towards each other are also in contrast.  Bavarro worries that the Ophiuchians will blame him for the oncoming disaster, but all the same he hopes they will get the help they need.  Cleolanta, on the other hand, doesn’t care what happens to Posita.  Earlier she bragged about her planet’s self-sufficiency, and she clearly expects other worlds to be the same, interested in their own survival above all else.  Hence her plan to destroy Posita before it can impact with Ophiuchus, whether or not this gives the Positans time to get out of the way.  In her mind, Positan deaths are unfortunate, but it is Ophiuchian deaths that are her concern.

All this means that Cleolanta and Bavarro both have potential to be really interesting characters – but sadly, it remains untapped.  Part of this is the fault of the writers: since Ophiuchus is supposed to be a stand-in for the USSR, the only characters who can really be sympathetic are the rebels.  Posita, on the other hand, are the ‘good guys’ and must be sympathetic at all times.  Therefore neither of the two rulers are allowed to have any depth.  Bavarro resigns himself to his fate far too quickly, while Cleolanta is merely arrogant and selfish, and doesn’t seem to deserve her redemption at the end, when she comes to understand that it is the people, not the land, that make a nation.

Of course, the two are in good company, as none of the other characters are much better.  The writing unfortunately calls attention to this with Bavarro’s greeting, which names each individual’s one trait: Rocky is brave and heroic, Professor Newton is an absent-minded genius, Winky is comic relief, and so on.  The only people here who really seem conflicted about anything are Atlasan and Trinka, who find their marital problems suddenly becoming a matter of state importance.  Nobody comes across as struggling with the kind of issues or decisions the end of two worlds would entail, and it deflates the whole story with a resounding thbbbbbppptt.

The idea that the people rather than the land are a culture, while in some ways true, also comes across as a very colonialist sentiment.  If the land is not important, then it doesn’t matter who owns it – your conquerors can take all your stuff and tell themselves they needn’t feel bad about it.  It also entirely ignores how important land can be to a cultural identity.  Many peoples all over the world tell stories in which their earliest ancestors literally sprung from the earth they now live on.  This is so common anthropologists needed a word for it and chose autochthony, I guess because they hate the rest of us. The existence of sacred places large and small, from Uluru to Mecca to Santiago de Compostela, argue that the land does matter very much.

It certainly seems to have mattered to the Ophiuchians, because after Crash of Moons we never hear from them again.  There was another season of Rocky Jones, Space Ranger! but Cleolanta and her crew were not a part of it – a different running villain was introduced instead, oddly enough in the form of another woman who is described as a suzerain.  Sounds like the writers missed her.  In fact, I strongly suspect that Crash of Moons is what it is because Patsy Parsons was leaving the show and they wanted her to go out with a bang, so to speak.

I do wonder what happened after the end of this story.  Did the Ophiuchians get a new plant, or were they, as Cleolanta feared, scattered among various settlements?  If they got a new planet, did they join the United Worlds, or did they return to isolation, if perhaps a more cordial one?  Did they have a choice about joining, or was it a condition of help with re-settlement? What about the people of Posita? Was Negato able to support this sudden doubling in its population, or did they also have to find a new world? Did the Negatans resent the Positans moving in?  Crash of Moons opens up many, many cans of worms for its world, and I understand that it’s way beyond the scope of a half-hour tv show to deal with them all… but man, I wonder what the fanfiction was like.