#he's pretty and emotionally constipated with an ego bigger than the sun

[scarlet-streak-fanfics]

Mephistopheles 🥰 Dramatic and for what? I do love him and his antics can be hilarious. I haven’t gotten far into the game so my first interaction with him was from an event and he’s chaotic to me. He seems sweet when he wants to be from what I saw from screenshots so yeah! I love him very much! I hope that was a little insightful haha I just saw your post of what we think of him so my brain went brr

Aww heck yeah, Anon! I'm gonna use this as an excuse to write Mephistopheles x Reader, shhhh.

For the past two years, the only real news buzzing around R.A.D. had been about that damned exchange student. MC, the descendant of Lilith, who had all seven lords of Hell and, if rumors were to be believed, the Prince of Hell himself, his butler, Solomon the Wise, and one of the Celestial Realm’s best angels wrapped around their little finger. Every demon they encountered seemed to be enamored by their optimism, bravery, and intelligence, and Mephistopheles hates it. He hasn’t met MC yet, but he’s determined to expose them as nothing more than an ordinary, selfish human. After he finds his missing documents, of course.

He retraces his steps from the R.A.D. Newspaper office, growing more and more worried with every step until he comes to the top of the staircase. At the foot of the stairs, one of the seven brothers and someone unfamiliar and picking up papers, trying to reorganize them into a neat bundle. The stranger curses, and he catches a glance of a completed Sorcerers’ Guild tattoo on their arm as they put their finger into their mouth, nursing an obvious paper cut. The demon at their side immediately turns to comfort them, much to his surprise. “Here, let me heal that for you, MC.”

Rage boils within Mephistopheles’s chest as he descends towards the pair–how dare this human go through his personal documents. As he reaches the bottom and clears his throat, ready to start a grandiose, intimidating speech, MC looks up at him, and every mean word dies on his lips. They just look so… Innocent. Not in the way a child is, but in the way only a human that can survive living with the Seven Sins unscathed can be. Their soul, heavy with magic, burns brilliantly with an aura of strength, confidence, and kindness. He can feel the pact essence of all seven brothers swirling around it protectively. Even more surprising, however, is the curl of an angel’s blessing, blazingly warm and ethereally beautiful, woven into the pacts. There’s no doubt that the being in front of him is beloved by both the celestial and demonic aspects of these three realms. He’s not surprised that, with those pledges of love and the overwhelming roil of magical strength surrounding them, they aren’t afraid of him. “Sorry, are these yours? We were trying to get them back in order before searching for the owner.”

By the Ninth circle, even their voice is beautiful. Now he understands why everyone seems to be so taken with them–at least, that’s what he wants to say. What comes out of Mephistopheles’s mouth as he roughly snatches the papers away is, “Didn’t anyone ever tell you how rude it is to go through someone else’s papers, or are all humans just this stupid?”

The immediate hurt in their eyes makes him want to take it all back, but the momentary weakness is immediately replaced by steely confidence. The demon at their side growls, but the human puts up one hand to stop them. “Don’t, I can handle this.”

They really are fearless, he decides, as they step towards him. “Human, I don’t have all day. Apologize so I can go back to more important things.”

“What’s your name?” The question catches him off guard. “Mephistopheles.”

He hates the way their lip curls up at his name. “Well, I’d like to say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but you’ve really lived up to every single story I’ve heard about you. I’m not going to apologize for something I didn’t do, and I’m certainly not going to apologize to you for doing your ungrateful demon ass a kindness. Get out of my way so I can go to my next class.”

Mephistopheles is in love, he decides. He’s in love with this human who seems to already hate his guts. That’s his fault, of course, but he can make a better second impression.

Unfortunately, this hope is completely shattered by the fifth week of his attempts, where he wanted to compliment them on their new perfume and instead made an incredibly loud comment about “human stench.” The demon is desperate at this point–every time he tries to say something nice to MC, his arrogance stops him and makes him insult them instead. Mephistopheles wants to tell them how enthralled he is, how all he wants to do is make them smile and get to know them better, but he just keeps digging himself deeper into this pit of hate.

When he finally drags himself to see Asmodeus and Solomon, the most likely of MC’s partners to take pity on him and help fix this mess, it’s with stinging pride and downcast eyes. Solomon laughs until he’s doubled over, holding his stomach as tears of mirth spill down the sorcerer’s cheeks at the demon’s dilemma. Asmodeus, however, is beyond delighted. “Oh, I knew you’d come around to them, Mephisto! My darling is just too wonderful for anyone to stay away for long–after all, I deserve nothing less than perfection to match my own~”

Mephistopinches the bridge of his nose, “Yes, yes, MC’s very enchanting. How do I fix this?”

“Well, how far are you willing to go for this?” The quickness of his own answer surprises him. “I’ll do anything. I just need a way to tell them how I actually feel without my ego getting in the way.”

The wicked grin on the Avatar of Lust’s face, coupled with the gleam in Solomon’s eyes, makes him reconsider his wording, but it’s too late for that now. He’s asked for their help, and they’re going to give it to him.

Asmodeus sends Solomon to Purgatory Hall to brew a potion, something that has Mephisto very concerned, but he has no time to think as Asmo drags him off shopping. He allows himself to be led into clothing stores, listening as the demon lord prattles on about MC’s preference for formalwear and trying whatever outfits Asmo throws at him. Each new look comes with varying levels of complaint until finding one they both agree on. Asmodeus insists that the colors bring out his eyes and compliment his skin tone, and Mephisto is just glad it isn’t sparkly. He draws the line at a haircut, much to Asmo’s dismay, but the extravagant gifts he lets Asmo pick out for him to give to MC as apologies over time seem to make up for it.

The next day, Mephisto finds himself following Solomon up to the door of the House of Lamentation, dressed impeccably and bearing flowers. The sorcerer hands him a small potion–he should probably have insisted on knowing what it will do, but he downs it without hesitation before knocking. MC answers the door, tailed by an eager Asmodeus, and immediately scowls. “Oh, it’s you. Come to tell me how much I smell again, or have you come up with a new insult?”

Mephisto doesn’t answer for a minute, too focused on staring at the human. Asmodeus had said he would dress MC for this so Mephisto would have things to compliment, which he’d thought would be helpful at the time. Now he realizes that, since he finds them attractive even on the days where they show up to class in a slightly wrinkled uniform and bedhead, seeing them all cleaned up with an Asmodeus Approved™ outfit is enough to render him speechless. He internally prepares himself for whatever inane bullshit his pride is going to spit out. “You look incredible.”

They both seem surprised by the words that left his mouth, but Asmodeus has a grin plastered on his face that would put the Chesire Cat to shame as he wraps his arms around MC’s waist and kisses their cheek. “They do, don’t they?”

MC immediately looks suspicious. “What’s your angle? If this is your way of trying to get me to put my guard down so you can properly hurt me, it isn’t going to work.”

“I’m sorry for all of that. I swear I didn’t mean any of it.” Mephisto holds the bouquet of flowers out to them, angling it just right so it blocks their view of his quickly heating face. The human takes the bouquet and hands it to Asmo before crossing their arms. “Solomon, what did you do to him?”

“Well, our friend here was having trouble telling you how he really feels, so I brewed him something to give him a little push.” MC’s eyebrows shoot up. “Mephistopheles–”

“Who doesn’t hate you,” Asmodeus adds helpfully, ignoring the glare the aforementioned demon gives him. “Let you dose him with a truth potion.”

“For the record, I did not know that that’s what they were planning.” Solomon snorts at the admission. “Like you would have gone along with this if you knew that was the plan.”

Mephisto growls in response, but MC holds up a hand, just like they did the first time he saw them. “Solomon, Asmo, how about you two boys give us a moment?” Asmo pouts, but allows Solomon to drag him off into the House of Lamentation, leaving Mephisto alone with MC. “Ok, go on.”

He decides it’s better not to look them for this–if he’s going to have to spill his soul out to them, he doesn’t want to watch them reject that as he does it. The demon fixes his gaze on the ground and takes a deep breath before letting the words spill out of him. He tells them about what he thought when he first met them, how every time he tried to say something nice to them it would come out wrong, and how much he hated seeing them hurt by his words. He lets himself give them every compliment he’d ever wanted to give them, with a few extra for good measure. By the time he’s done, his face feels like it’s on fire, and he prepares himself for the onslaught of well-deserved anger they’re obviously about to unleash on him.

Sorry for the cliffhanger! I have a good ending in progress, but let me know if you want MC to punish him a little first.

[scripted-dalliances]

Rest In Peace: Chapter Five

Title: Rest In Peace

Chapter: 5

Summary: A part of Faithless Fairy Tale, a more in depth look at how they brought Laura back to life. Appearance of old faces, creation of new ones and if you’re looking for canon, it left a long, long time ago. If you squint you might be able to see some pieces from the book.

A/N: There is a very bastardized version of  Buile Shuibhne, or what Mad Sweeney is based off, in this chapter. I admit to just reading the wikipedia article on it. Judge me, for I judge myself.

“A tale may have exactly three beginnings: one for the audience, one for the artist, and one for the poor bastard who has to live in it.” -Catherynne M. Valente

+

If she says believe one more time, he was going to pop a boner.

He doesn't even remember the last time someone believed in him, that knew his story. Not just faith in the little people, but who he was. Before all that, his own history has been muddled by time and twisted into tales by those who wanted to demonize his kind. The truth was, he didn't even know where to begin. Usually he only thought about it when he was drunk as hell, and alone.

Never has he shared it with a mortal, with no faith in her heart.

But she's lookin' for it, she's searching for a reason to try ain't she?

It was better than nothing.

It was better than a lot of things.

“It's not a pretty lil fairy tale.” He says, giving her a small out. If she insults him, he can use that to change the subject. To push her away.

“Yeah, well I hated Disney as a kid and liked the original Grimm fairy tales more so I think I can handle it.” She replies, not earnestly but frankly. She is not going to play to his ego, attempt to smooth out her personality for him. For one, he would instantly be suspicious of it and for another there isn't much she can hide from Sweeney for whatever the reason.

He knows the truth of her sad life. How miserable she had been just to exist, the stupid things she tried to do to fix that. How she failed.

Mad Sweeney was there at her gory end, the very reason of it and knows her. From her sharp poisonous tongue to her rotted guts, and all the nasty edges in between. Unwillingly, he would say, but he knows it better than anyone else never the less.

He knows the real Laura Moon, and now she's asking to know him.

It's pathetic how he feels a little undone because of it, like she's pulled on some hidden sting that undoes his knotted complex wall of bitterness and exposes his heart. If she was kind, if she was soft with batting lashes he could call her a liar but no. She's Laura McCabe, alright. Tight little frown and dead eyes, looking and demanding for truths from a world that didn't want to share.

She’s takes them anyways.

“You would, wouldn't you?”He sighs, giving in.

“My mother hated it. Actually everyone hated it, I constantly reminded them how those stories really ended. Ariel kills herself, Cinderella's sisters hack their own feet off. Sleeping Beauty wasn't exactly awake to consent. I was the asshole kid who read too much, it's a surprise I'm sure.”

“I've had bigger.”

Laura gives him a smug grin, radiating a mean sort of mirth that makes his insides clench. He hates how much power she has over him already, and they haven’t even started down this dangerous journey.

“That's what she said.”

Sweeney chuckles, because god damn it, he walked into that one. “Aye, alright then. Come on Dead Girl. Let's go find a place in this hell hole to sit down. It's a long tale.”

+

“Your real name is what?” Laura's laughter cracks through her words, she has to bite her lip -which isn't a good idea because they aren't bleeding as so much leaking but seriously. Who wouldn't chuckle at that name?

“Buile Suibhne was a perfectly fine name in my day!” He defends, but there's a flush along his cheeks and the bridge of his nose.

She laughs wickedly, but attempts to keep silent. They've literally only just started, his first slice of truth being a name he hasn't been called in decades. Even she is aware that this is delicate thing, and will open the door to other secrets. Laura is greedy enough to want them regardless of price, big or small, she privately likes the idea of getting all of him.

Not in that way, perv. (Not while she's dead as a door nail)

Laura mimes zipping her mouth shut, and throwing away the key. Looking up at him with what she is hoping is a wide eyed expression of innocence. Mad Sweeney Suibhne responds with a look of disgust.

“Stop that, Dead Girl. You look like you're on drugs.”

“Okay...Buile Suibhne.”

“...I regret telling you anything.”

She ends up laughing anyways.

+

Turns out he really was a king. Long ago and once upon a time, in a different place completely; but this time Laura looks at him while he tells her and believes it. Wishes she could explain it, wishes further still she could tuck away the knowledge of what he looks like when he knows she's listening; it feels like she's stolen something, like she did it with him watching and its so intimate she nearly wants to touch him.

She knows he's real, but the urge is there never the less.

Laura keeps her hands to herself and instead questions him.

“So you really were a King. As like, a mortal guy and they just, what? Made a religion about you?”

Sweeney shakes his head. “Not as simple as that, Dead Girl. Belief doesn't always mean scripture and prayers. It doesn't even have to be truth, because the real truth is that I died. The mortal man that I was, and what I am now isn't half of what left that battle field but in that moment I was what they believed I could be. More than a man, stronger and unbroken. It was better than the truth.” His voice isn't soft by any credence, but it does sound different. Like his accent has got stronger or his tone lighter.

Like he's shed off some weight from his shoulders, and maybe he has.

+

Laura doesn't say anything at all when he tells her about Eorann. His wife, the only one he has ever taken. Mortal or otherwise.

She merely gets this expression on her face, that reads as constipation but just as easily could be her feeling sorry for him. Which he hates and she seemingly hates to express so he glides over that part.  

He doesn't tell her about Eorann's pretty red hair, or cruel smile. About her brazen attitude or the number of children they had.

He doesn't tell her that Essie looked just like her, and that in the right light, Laura does too.

Sweeney has already made vows to himself never to confess these things, because that isn't going to make her trust him. Those aren't anything but weights. Confusing bastard ones, designed to send him mad again. Ain't nothing to put on her shoulders and expect her to deal with.

So instead, he tells her how the cloak Eorann gave him unraveled. How he chased the massive idiot saint around stark naked in the freezing cold of daylight.

Her uneasy expression shifts into delight.

+

He tells her of the mistakes he made, of his personal war with the churches on his land. Of the curses they laid upon him because of it. Of the fire he saw his death in, combined with the taunting roar of war coming for him. How it all drove him beyond madness, pushed him to lose himself. How he was cursed to become a bird.

“What was it like?” She questions, curious despite herself.

Sweeney shrugs. “Better. Easier. Not a hard life, being a bird.”

+

He tells her of his flights, of being captured and escaping. How the sad truth was, everyone was expecting more from him than he could give. Even without his madness. A bird, was all he was, cursed besides. Coward down to his bones. Instead of capturing him, they should have shot him down and roasted his fluffy ass.

“And Eorann?”

“I told her to get a new husband.” He admits. “Hardly a marriage if only one person is in it.”

Laura's nails leave an imprint on the meat of her palms.

“Maybe to her there was still two.”

He doesn't have any defense to that, because deep down he knows she's right.

Eorann kept believing in him even when he wasn't able to believe in himself.

+

“Wait, wait. How the hell is it your fault that she died, not like you pushed her, right? Also, what the fuck. How the hell did you get taunted into a contest of leaping. Is your ego that big that you just have to be the best at leaping? I thought you said you got your sanity back.” Laura needles, only to lean back into her seat, “What the fuck is leaping, anyways?”

“First off, she was a madder bitch than I. And second I was still healing! Third...” He pauses, and she waits several long seconds.

“...you don't even an excuse, do you?”

Sweeney doesn't.

“How the fuck was I to know she was his mother-in-law?”

+

By the time he has unearthed all his secrets, the sun has set.

Shadow and Ostara are gone while they had chatted, off on their own adventure they both presume. Without so much as a goodbye or note on the fridge.

Sweeney isn't too bothered. He's smart enough to know while the Goddess has so graciously allowed their stay, and offered her own libraries, that doesn't mean they are not being watched by probably a hundred beady eyes.

Laura and Sweeney part ways after story time, he to look for food. Her to think, he assumes. The dead don't need to sleep or eat, and it will take more than his tale for them to trust each other.

It's a start, this sharing, small as it might be. Where he's not just some random asshole to her, and while he wouldn't call them friends he can't say they don't mean anything to each other.

Outside nothing has changed, but he can feel a hint of power returning. Less like strength and more, like he's shed an invisible weighted coat or just took an hour long shower. Refreshed.

Telling Laura about this feeling however, feels like a mistake. Either she'll tease him till kingdom come or she'll think he's being emotionally weird. Which, he can't say he's not.

He's trying his best not to be, because that's not what this is about.

It's about getting her life back. He owes her that.

>

[benperorsolo]

Don't do the first one I messed up lmao okay so heisaki and zutara for 001, ben solo for 002 and for 003 zuko, aang, sokka, katara, toph

001. (heisaki)

when I started shipping it if I did:

I honestly don’t even remember. I usually don’t start shipping couples as I watch a show, but after when I’m looking for fanfic to distract me from my schoolwork. So sometime after finishing S1.

my thoughts:

Heisaki pretty much caters to every grossly trash thing I like in ships: enemies to lovers, preferably with some kickass woman and some super-evil looking masked dude with Secret Depths and Softness™ (I know I’m garbage okay I’ve made my peace), where Sad Angry Scary Dude is shown affection from someone who believes in their goodness more than they’re disgusted by their evil, and Strong But Soft Woman discovers tenderness and support in the unlikeliest of  places.

What makes me happy about them:

All of the above, and also the way they cycle through various identities with each other in canon, the way canon teases them as people who would make an amazing team if they weren’t pawns for organizations bigger than themselves. The way both of them are uncompromising in their work but have secret private vulnerabilities. The way both of them love the stars. 

What makes me sad about them:

The way canon bastardized Misaki in the second season into being obsessed with catching Hei because of her weird unresolved feelings for him. But not in a cool or respectful way; just in a way that made Misaki into a lovesick waif whose personality completely went out the window. 

things done in fanfic that annoys me:

Mostly when Hei becomes to emotional or emotionally honest with Misaki without a lot of buildup, considering he’s been emotionally constipated for going on a decade now and for reasons that involved not dying. Likewise when Misaki turns into a damsel to be saved.

things I look for in fanfic:

Some sort of clear ideological friction between the two of them; Misaki’s discovery of the Black Reaper’s identity and/or interacting with the Black Reaper in person. 

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:

No one? Hei’s other options are Amber, a ship which I find interesting as something in Hei’s past but not one I would endgame bc abusive, and Yin, who is mentally basically a child and it feels like pedophilia.

My happily ever after for them:

Haaaa the grossly indulgent Office AU. Hei becomes a contractor working with Section 4, develops a little friend/family unit with Section 4 and astronomics; he and Misaki get married; Hei reconnects with his family in China; Hei and Misaki have a little girl named Seiko and it’s gr9. Everything is beautiful and occasionally hurts but never, y’know, forever.

who is the big spoon/little spoon:

Hei, probably. But it could vary. They’re just about equal in height so there’s no reason one should be the big spoon over the other.

what is their favorite non-sexual activity:

Stargazing.

001. zutara

when I started shipping it if I did:

Don’t even remember. Sometime after finishing Book 3, I think. 

my thoughts:

Gold standard ship. The ship I keep shipping in other fandoms, just in different iterations. The ying-yang, ‘you rise with the moon, I rise with the sun’ way they complement each other, and yet at their cores are so similar: highly driven, compassionate, passionate people who are proven in battle to make a great team.

What makes me happy about them:

The way their relationship beautifully unfolded over three seasons of mortal enemies, to maybe-allies (and then would-be-ally and traitor), to allies and friends. The way each season of ATLA ends with a fight between them; the first two against each other, and the last one with each other. The way they are safe places for the other— Katara confiding to him in the crystal caves, and again about her mother in Southern Raiders; Zuko confiding to Katara about his fear of facing his uncle, and Katara’s reassurance, and then the way Zuko took Katara with her to fight Azula because he knew he needed a steadfast ally he could trust.

What makes me sad about them:

The way Bryke have insulted the ship over the years, calling it too ‘dark and mysterious’ for Nick, but then fucked up all of the canon relationships in ATLA by having their kids have extremely dysfunctional relationships with their parents, or just making the relationships straight-up dysfunctional coughMaikocough 

things done in fanfic that annoys me:

When Katara gets the Mary Sue Strong Independent Woman treatment, or when she becomes some helpless crying waif (usually Book 1 kidnapping fics, which can be good, okay, they can), and likewise when Zuko post-redemption is still a jerkass. I mean he can still be a jerk, but he’s not a jerkass.

things I look for in fanfic:

I’ll read almost anything. I like S1 fic (typically Zuko captures Katara, and Katara takes none of his shit, and then TEAMWORK HAPPENS), s2 fic where crotchety I-once-did-something-good-and-gave-myself-a-coma Zuko and Katara are forced to work together in lovehate, and post-s3 Western Air Temple fics where Zuko has to earn Katara’s forgiveness. 

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:

No one lmao. I’m not a multishipper.

My happily ever after for them:

Fire Lord Zuko and Fire Lady Katara rule the Fire Nation in peace and harmony and are happy, the end.

who is the big spoon/little spoon:

Zuko’s the big spoon.

what is their favorite non-sexual activity:

Sparring.

002. Ben Solo

How I feel about this character:

ALL THE THINGS. I LOVE MY BOYFRIENDSON BEN SKYWALKER-ORGANA-SOLO.

More seriously— I love how he’s desperate for villainy, and yet cannot achieve it no matter how hard he tries. I love that this is a character who has to pray away the Light within him. I love how even after killing his father, the Light still won’t go away. I love that he is the beloved son of one of the most loved couples in cinematic history, related in a significant way to almost everyone in the prequels, OT, and sequels. I love that he effectively flips the conflict of the original films, wherein the fallen father is saved by the goodness of his son, and now it is the fallen son who will be saved (mark my words) by his father. I love the angst inherent in watching this character, who was practically born to be a hero, do everything he can to shirk his destiny and ensure his Darkness, and yet fall short. And most of all, I love the possibility (inevitability) of his redemption. I love the idea of getting to explore what redemption looks like when you don’t die before its completion, like Anakin. I love the idea of Ben realizing that his father did save him after all; of getting to smile at his uncle again;  of getting to hug his mother again; of it hurting so much— the hurt of a healing wound, at last, and not the hurt of the Dark Side. Of Ben getting to reclaim the person he might have been, had Snoke and misfortune and his own hamartia not found him, so that he no longer has to hide behind a false name and a mask, but can finally as himself face the sun, unafraid. Ben Solo means a lot to me. Maybe the hypotheticals of his character more than what we have now. But I honestly think that my strange compassion for this fake person has made me a better person. Because, if I can sit here and rail for his redemption no matter his sins— then what excuse do I have not to try to become a better person myself?

All the people I ship romantically with this character:

Rey the bae all the way.

My non-romantic OTP for this character:

BenPoe/Knightpilot, especially involving them as childhood friends, and Poe having to come to terms with Ben, who he was, and who he is, after Ben defects back to the Resistance. Some of my favorite character pieces to this end are This Thing of Darkness I Acknowledge Mine and Orbital Period. Also the BenPoe fandom are pretty much the nicest people ever?

My unpopular opinion about this character:

The fact that I like him is probably an unpopular opinion. 

Okay okay my real unpopular opinion (ESSAY AHOY) is my insistence of Kylo Ren’s true name still being Ben Solo (ofc you know this is a thing with me bc you very diplomatically asked me to talk about ‘Ben Solo’ and not ‘Kylo Ren’ in your ask lmao, and you know I call him ‘Ben’ just like I call Vader ‘Anakin’— practically always, in both cases, because it’s for the same reason). Kylo Ren is a shadow archetype, an alter ego, a mask and a costume— the thing Ben is trying desperately to become and yet never will, not only because he failed so horribly at being a proper villain in TFA (going for Rey instead of the droid; not torturing the bejeezus out of Rey immediately; feeling immediate regret after killing his father, not pushing Rey off a cliff during their fight when he had the chance, and then losing to her), but because it’s just how Star Wars works. It’s the same with Anakin and Vader— as Luke says to Vader in ROTJ, ‘[Anakin] is the name of your true self; you’ve only just forgotten,’ and ultimately Luke is proven right. Throughout canon, the Dark Side is depicted as a corruption of your true self; a warping of who you really are. Your Dark Side is not your authentic self, it’s a gross imitation, and whatever you call yourself under the thrall of the Dark Side is not your true name either. This is how it functioned for Anakin/Vader in the OT; and how it was for Galen Marek/Starkiller in the EU. Your Dark Side name is your slave name. It’s just another mask; a type of verbal disassociation— another way to remove yourself from the reality of what you’re really doing and what you have become. There is also the gross, skeevy observation that Anakin was given the name Vader by Palpatine, the creep who groomed him, and it’s not a difficult leap to assume that Snoke, the creep who groomed Ben in utero, gave Ben the name Kylo Ren. It is canon that Snoke has forbidden the name ‘Ben Solo’ to be spoken by anyone in the First Order, including Ben. But who the hell knows that Kylo Ren is Ben? It’s treated as an extreme secret, and currently I’d say the number is limited to Snoke, Hux, and Ben himself. So who is Snoke really forbidding from saying the name Ben Solo? Ben. He’s forbidding Ben. He’s giving Ben a gag order on his own name— which should immediately ring your bells as being sketchy AF for OBVIOUS REASONS, including but not limited to the fact that you only forbid people from doing things you know they are in danger of doing. If Ben were really completely dead, if he were really Kylo Ren all the way down, then what is Snoke afraid of? All of this to say, it annoys the everlasting and eternal fuck out of me when I see fics or headcanons where a redeemed Ben does not go back to that name, because then to me it represents a person who is still hiding behind the verbal equivalent of a mask. It would be like a redeemed Anakin still going by the name Darth Vader. It’s watching a man stand by the name of his abuse. It stands in literal opposition of everything a true redemption symbolizes, especially in Star Wars, and it’s gross gross gross I hate it.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon:

A REDEMPTION ARC BITCHESSS

my OTP:

Reylo. Okay technically Reyben. But yeah. More recently I’ve become obsessed with the idea of them as parents, because it would be such a beautiful capstone for them both. Rey, lonely, orphan Rey, finally having a family of her own. Rey being terrified of motherhood, because she can’t even remember her mother. Rey feeling that fierce, wolfish upwelling of maternal protectiveness for the first time and knowing she wouldn’t trade it for the world. Ben, terrified of making the mistakes his parents made with him; Ben, terrified of his past poisoning his children’s future. Ben, now a father, realizing the sort of unbreakable love that let his own father walk out on that bridge knowing he might die, and still taking the chance on his child. Ben, looking at the bundle in his arms and knowing he’d do the same. asdfghjkl;

my cross over ship:

Ben Solo x happiness, probably. I know it’s a wild concept.

a headcanon fact:

Ben is naturally good at pazaak and other gambling/card games. It’s one of the few roguish/smugglerish things he has in common with Han. Poe, Finn, and Rey always accuse him of using the Force to cheat, but he never does. During sessions of strip Pazaak (Poe’s idea), Poe, Finn, and Rey will be almost completely naked while Ben sits across the table fully clothed.

003. zuko, aang, katara, sokka, toph

1. zuko

2. aang

3. katara (tied w/ aang but just for overall character arc aang’s affects me more powerfully)

4. sokka

5. toph