#niya's stuff

[mama-qwerty]

Oh, if anything we gotta tackle that entire scene with Sonic and Shads on the moon. It was just beautiful

Oh that scene was handled so well.

The way Sonic released Shadow, then moved away and sat with his back to him. Hugging his knees as he spoke of Longclaw, and the feelings that he'd carried after her death.

Sonic wasn't trying to appeal to Shadow's morals in that moment. He was vulnerable, and open, and telling Shadow things he likely had never told anyone else. He made himself small, like he'd been when he lost Longclaw. Giving voice to those feelings, that grief, he'd carried for a long time.

He was talking about his own experience with grief. And that's what drew Shadow out. Sonic wasn't telling him that "it'll get better, you've gotta live for her" and all those other niceties. He knows how much it hurts. He knows that pain doesn't go away completely. And he's not going to tell Shadow it will.

That is what got through to Shadow. Here was someone else who understood what Shadow was going through. Who had wrestled with his own sorrow and pain. And who still did, to an extent, based on how Sonic was acting during that scene. But he wouldn't let that pain and anger control him. Wouldn't let himself hurt anyone else to help rid himself of it.

Because it wouldn't make him feel better. Sonic knew that. He may have been tempted, so very tempted to hurt Shadow because Shadow had hurt Tom, and by extension the rest of the family. But ultimately, Sonic realized that's not who he was.

And that's what Knuckles was banking on, and why he ultimately let Sonic have the Master Emerald. Sonic had to make that choice himself, and Knux trusted that Sonic would come to that realization. Because he knew Sonic's heart.

Sonic was the best person to connect with Shadow like that, because he felt Shadow's pain. They'd lost their loved ones in much the same way, too--Longclaw and Maria had both been killed by invading forces. Sonic was sent to a different planet, all by himself, at just 4 or so years old. Shadow was put in status almost immediately after losing Maria, and woke up to a world he didn't understand, and now had to navigate by himself, all with this crushing weight of grief on his heart.

And in that moment, they understood each other.

It was really wonderfully done.

~~~

Check out my other Sonic 3 analysis posts

[arachnidcakery]

Poptart kitty! 🌈✨💖

(This is a gift I made for someone on Pinterest of their Sparklecare self-insert! <3♡ :3)

[powerful-niya]

Fic Author Self Rec! When you get this reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, or some snippets from upcoming WIPS. Let’s spread the self-love! Love ya and thank you for all you do!! 💖

Hello, Days! It's always so nice to hear from you! And self-love, self-care, love, and everything in between are very important! I know I definitely need it, haha. My mind has been everywhere lately, so this ask was much appreciated. Thank you so much.

I want to share an upcoming WIP that I've been pouring my heart into. It's really special to me, and it's one of the last one-shots I will be uploading for the past NHMonth23 event.

The prompts I put together are: Beauty and the Beast + Reincarnated Lovers + Destiny. 

Ever since I watched the Kdrama, "The Tale of the Nine-Tailed" (I highly recommend it!!), I've been inspired to write a reincarnated lovers Naruto oneshot/fanfic. Also, my sister helped me with this plot as well!

And so here it is—a snippet of it anyway, hehe.

The Beginning 

17th century.

1600s.

---

Naruto Uzumaki 

Naruto wasn't supposed to love.

He wasn't meant to love at all. He had taken a solemn oath—never to love, never to wed, never to father children.

He wasn't meant to fall for anyone.

Certainly not Hinata Hyūga.

The Princess of Konoha, the delicacy of the land, the diamond of the ton. Not to mention, she was the daughter of Hiashi Hyūga himself. 

He was a king, a formidable ruler known throughout the land for his unwavering authority and strict governance—a man of principles, tradition, and nobility.

A man of steel. 

Having such a man as a father meant that Hinata's upbringing was meticulously planned down to the finest detail. 

From childhood to adulthood, she was taught to walk with poise, to speak with eloquence, and to conduct herself with the dignity befitting a princess. 

Her every move was scrutinized, and her every action was held to the highest standards. 

Her attire was always immaculate, her manners impeccable, and her education comprehensive. She was trained in the fine arts, fluent in several languages, and educated in the intricate politics of the court. She was even skilled in musical instruments, having mastered the piano, harp, and violin. 

Hinata was groomed to be flawless, and untouchable. Absolutely perfect. 

And that is what she became. 

A beacon of perfection in the eyes of society, more than suitable to one day marry, bear children, and assist the Hyūga lineage flourish and prosper. 

Hinata was the epitome of beauty and grace, off-limits to all except suitors with suitable titles—a precious gem that no commoner or knight could ever hope to touch.

Certainly not a knight like him. Not Naruto.

He was her royal guard, a position of great honor. He was meant to safeguard her, to be by her side for all of her days, to protect her and remain loyal—not to love her.

She was supposed to be off-limits to him. Yet, he crossed those limits. 

He fell in love with her.

Naruto recalled the subtle moments when it all began—the fleeting smiles, the accidental touches, the stolen glances, not just from him, but from her too. 

Her gaze began to linger on him just a second longer than usual, and in those moments, he saw a spark of something more in Hinata's shy eyes—an unspoken connection, a shared understanding that he couldn't ignore.

At first, Naruto thought it was just him.

He figured he was just imagining things. But then he started to see that spark in Hinata's eyes more and more—a twinkle of longing, a yearning for the freedom she saw in him. 

Each interaction, each shared glance, built a bridge between them, one that was both exhilarating but terrifying. 

It felt so new. So wrong.

Naruto wasn't sure how it all happened. 

The progression from duty to love was a blur. It was as if one day he was merely her protector, and the next, his heart was entirely hers. The line between his oath and his feelings had blurred, and he suddenly found himself drawn to Hinata in ways he could neither control nor comprehend.

It was the greatest victory of his life.

And the greatest mistake of his life.

Nights in the moonlit garden of Konoha palace were where they began to meet in secret. 

One night led to another, and another, and before long, they were meeting almost every night.

They would spend their evenings together under the starry night sky. They would sit on the soft grass, surrounded by the fragrant blooms, and talk for hours. They shared their days, struggles, dreams—anything and everything. It didn't matter to them, as long as they were together.

They would even have playful moments where they chased each other through the garden, past the flowers, and under the stars. 

Naruto remembers how Hinata's laughter would flutter through the night, how her delicate hands gripped her dress as she ran, her face radiant with happiness.

And he would chase after her. Always.

"Catch me, catch me, Naruto-kun!" She would cheer.

And indeed, he would catch her, their laughter mingling as they collapsed onto the soft grass, breathless and happy.

These moments became the only light in Naruto's world.

Hinata became the only light in his world.

The sweetness of her smile, the warmth of her embrace, her lavender eyes full of love, her silky midnight blue hair, her sweet scent, her heartfelt laugh, and her gentle spirit—all of it stayed with him.

Deep in his heart. 

Day after day, despite the risk, despite the danger, despite duty or even mere common sense, the two were drawn into an ever-going routine.

Princess and knight by day.

And lovers by night.

Both were always eager for nightfall, when Hinata could slip out of her bed chamber, and Naruto could desert his post to meet in the garden of Konoha palace.

Some nights, when they met together, they would just lie on their backs, gaze at the stars and imagine a future where they could be together. 

During these times, Hinata often grew vulnerable with him. She shared her deepest fears and her greatest desires, opening up in a way she couldn't with anyone else.

Hinata confided in him about her longing for freedom and the strict control her father exerted over her life. 

"He is determined to marry me off—my f-father," She told Naruto that night, nearly driven to tears, "Love was never supposed to be a consideration for me. That's what my father has always told me, that I need to marry. I need to choose my family. I need to choose duty. But I f-feel—" Hinata admitted, but then she stopped herself.

Naruto listened intently, as he always did, trying his best to lighten her heart and unburden her.

"You feel differently, don't you, Hinata-sama?" Naruto asked gently. 

"You've chosen love, haven't you, hime?" He added softly.

And the look that appeared in her eyes touched his heart deeply.

Yes. I choose love. I choose you, her eyes had told him.

But there was more. 

Her eyes showed a plea for freedom, for something real and true, beyond the cold, heartless world she had always known.

Naruto's heart ached for her, it truly did. 

He found himself leaning close, taking her hands in his, and he made the mistake of promising to always protect her. He gave her hope that he could save her from such a horrid life, to be the source of freedom and love she so desperately sought.

"I'll figure something out. I'll save you, I promise," He had assured her.

Naruto remembered the joy that instantly appeared in Hinata's eyes, how she believed him wholeheartedly, placing all her trust in him.

That night, she actually kissed him for the very first time.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun," She whispered against his lips.

But he should have known better than to make such a promise.

What they had was fragile yet unbreakable when they were together, a beautiful dream they lived each and every night.

But dreams were fleeting. Reality was cruel. 

And, forbidden love never lasts.

They were caught. 

Hinata and Naruto thought it would be another quiet, hidden night together in the garden, a sanctuary where they could steal moments away from prying eyes, just like all those times before. 

But they were wrong.

Naruto could still remember the rustling of leaves and the snap of a twig that alerted them too late.

Suddenly, they were ambushed. 

King Hiashi's guards emerged from the darkness, torches in hand, intent on seizing them both.

Naruto fought back fiercely, for Hinata, for both of them, but there were too many. Their sheer numbers overwhelmed him, and despite his best efforts, they managed to subdue him. Subdue them both.

The guards then dragged them away, tearing them from their sanctuary.

And just like that, their secret was out. 

Naruto had no idea how they had been discovered that night, but it didn't matter. The truth was out, the damage done, and they were now at the mercy of the King—a furious Hiashi Hyūga.

And oh, was he furious.

Their punishment was as cruel as it was merciless.

Hinata's punishment was given first. For defying her father's orders, daring to love someone beneath her stature, and tarnishing her family's honor, she faced severe consequences.

She was forbidden to see Naruto ever again.

Her tear-streaked face and dull eyes were the last sight Naruto saw of her as the guards forcibly took her away to her chambers. Naruto had never seen her so broken. Her desperate cries and pleas echoed through the cold, stone halls, her voice screaming his name the entire time. 

He could still hear her cries.

His punishment, however, was far worse. 

He was beaten, humiliated, and dragged before the King, where he was forced to his knees and made to face Hiashi's wrath.

"You have betrayed your duty, dishonored my family, and defiled my daughter," The King declared, his voice cold and unforgiving, "For that, you will pay the ultimate price."

Naruto had accepted his fate. 

He believed he deserved it for turning his back on his knight's oath and causing Hinata so much pain. He expected his punishment to be death, a swift end to his suffering. He braced himself for it, thinking it would be a merciful release compared to the agony of being separated from Hinata.

But fate had a crueler design.

Instead, Naruto was brought before a dark, malevolent witch, and he instantly knew what was in store for him. 

He would be cursed.

Indeed, the witch cast a spell upon him, a powerful one. She transformed him into a beast—a creature so hideous that Hinata would never again be able to love him. 

"You will live out your days as a beast," The witch declared, her voice dripping with malice, "Banished from this palace, condemned to wander the forest for all eternity. You will outlive her, always knowing she is beyond your reach."

Pain tore through Naruto as his body twisted and changed, the curse taking hold. His once strong hands became claws, his noble and formidable body transformed into something large and terrifying, his face a grotesque mask of the beast he had become. The guards then threw him out of the castle, casting him away from his home, away from people, and away from Hinata.

Discarded like trash. 

Now, Naruto roamed the vast, lonely forest that surrounded the palace he once sworn to protect, his heart aching for the love he had lost. 

The forest was his prison now, and loneliness was his constant companion. 

Each step he took reminded him of Hinata, of the tender moments they had shared and the future that had been stolen from them. 

His curse was relentless, ensuring he would never forget. He was cursed to remember, to feel the pain of their love that could never be, every single day.

The only way his curse could be broken was if he was loved again. True love. 

But how could that ever happen? 

He was now a beast, feared and shunned by all who saw him. The idea of someone seeing past his beast form to the man within, understanding his pain, and loving him, seemed utterly impossible.

It was all wishful thinking. An unattainable dream. 

A painful hope he no longer allowed himself to wish for.

[devolusion]

niya is so weird. niya's relationships are so weird

[grvntld]

yung notes app ko here sa phone ko puro kalungkutan tots and feels laman kasi tbfh sobrang lungkot ko lately. i know it's important that i go through tough times and not run from them, but damn it, im just so tired of going through it. im so tired. im exhausted. i feel depleted. i just feel so weak and defeated all over.

[synonymroll2121]

I want more Xio fics :(

I didn’t notice until now, but the only Xio fics have Atzi in them. And honestly, I love them. They’re fucking adorable. They’d be anxious and awkward and panicky but they’d love each other. But like I also know Xio and Teo have the most ‘Jason-Nico’ type sibling relationship, and no will write that :(

[damgoz]

closed starter for dustin ( @lovsaffair )

"kuya, pwede pakireview ng aking text?" sky's hand covers the rest of the convo on the phone, too embarrassed. but he'd been talking to a girl his age lately. filipino too, but she doesn't speak bisaya, so... they're hard at work to get better at tagalog. his text says: oo, kumain na ako. ikaw? sana maganda ang iyong ulam. "is that correct, kuya?"

[kidovna]

I’m so tired of AI, and I’ve been yelling to the void about why people should be commissioning artists. In the spirit of anti AI/pro comms, what are your favourite commissions that you have worked on in the past and what was it that made them special or fun (commercial/non commercial) I’m absolutely obsessed with your stuff btw!

Oh thank you! And fun question! My top three will probably be the book covers I illustrated:

I’m working on two more right now and I’m pretty sure they’ll be up there as well!

These are some of my other favourites:

In order: Bharatanatyam dancer inspired spider-woman India, Alex and Henry for @orchidscript, Luke and Duncan for Isabella Renee’s book I Vote You Mr. Mayor, nanirimo’s OCs Niya and Marin, and heaventide_’s OCs Jonathan and Seph!

Also I’ve never posted any of these, but I think I have to give special mention to how many finn wolfhard cinematic universe commissions I’ve done 😂

Left to right: Richie and Eddie from IT, Boris and Theo from The Goldfinch, and Chris and Shannon from Finn’s directorial debut Hell Of A Summer!

I feel like this is the perfect time for me to plug that my commissions are now open again! 👀

[safination]

If You Know, You Know.

Big Four Edition (❤️💙💚💛/ ❤️🦅🏹🐯) + One Extra

|Masterlist| Characters: Adam, Vox, Alastor, Lucifer, Charlie, Vaggie. x Reader (Separate) TLDR: Dates around the area with them A/N: Welcome to my dumpster of a mind, where I try to place our beloved Hazbin characters into four to five categories. Will I be explaining any of them? Probably not. Listen, if you know, then you already know. Also, I can't believe I'm falling into this stage as a creator in a fandom. You can take me out of my roots, but you cannot take my roots out of me. Fuck me, honestly. This is the most self-indulgent shit, ever. If anyone irl found out who I am, I would die. Like literally die. Please don't come for me. Yes, this is 100% playing into stereotypes, but it's all in good fun. Nothing I write here says anything about you as a person or a large body of people. Plss lang. Sige an po This is all in good fun, I promise T_T

Adam — 🏹

Come on, this is an easy one. This thing is practically writing himself. Adam would 100% be here. Hatid-Sundo si baby boy by kuya Drivers niya. I can imagine Adam doing such an obnoxious laugh and then going, "Ay, gagi!" ( plus points for the elitism and the momol in hidden spots. I've seen yourFreedomWall)

Adam would walk you around the buildings, especially if you can't go inside. Why is it so hard to sneak inside? He would constantly take you to that one really good burrito and taco place (If you know it, then you know.), and would go to the Power Mac to buy stuff for you because why not.

Vox — ❤️

Hear me out a little. This is Vox we're talking about. So, despite being the type who belongs in the 🦅, at the end of the day, this is still Vox. This holds true considering that . . . uh . . . debate (?) surrounding those who should be accepted into ❤️. While Vox could go with the 🦅, he would snatch up a spot in ❤️. (But like, this is isn't his fault. It really is the fault of the system in place, and we're all proud of Vox because it is a big honor to be here.) Like Adam, Vox would be Hatid-Sundo, and would hang out in UP Town most of the time.

Dates would Vox would include going to Gino's or Nono's or cracking open the books at Tyler's. It would take forever to get anywhere with him because he refuses to walk anywhere, and would either always be driven there or would book a Grab. Plus point for traffic, but you get to bond and talk with him during the traffic.

Alastor — 🏹

He doesn't like being an 🏹 despite majority of the people being really chill and cool. But it's most likely because he bumps into Adam. He's practically crawling up the wall. He sees the life of those in 🏹 and gets really confused at how they act. He rants to Rosie (who would be in the all girl's club) about it all the time. Unlike Adam, Alastor will hop off at Vito Cruz.

Dates around the bay area and MOA, honestly. He would make you listen to his radio broadcast that I do know they have. All four have their own organization. Alastor would take you to Star City, and would insist on walking there because it's walking distance daw, and tricycles are low key a scam there.

(Again, please, don't come for me. 🏹's are mostly chill but come on. You can't deny it. I've seen what the streets look like. I've seen the Power Mac. The aircons.True 🏹 would find it funny.)

Lucifer — ❤️

I don't need to explain why Lucifer would be here. Let's be fr. I will fight anyone who says otherwise.

But unlike Vox, Lucifer would take long walks with you around the oval and the Sunken Garden. Fuck it, I'm even bold enough to say that he would join the run club there if you were into that type of thing. You would eat fishballs and kikiam. There would be no kwek-kwek or balut tho. When you get tired, you and Lucifer would sit by the fountain with the Statue™. Lucifer would take jeepnys with you to get around. If you don't go there, majority of date time would be spent trying to find you a restroom to use.

Charlie — 🐯

I debated placing Charlier either with the maroons or the tigers, but ultimately decided that it would be nice for Charlie to be with the tigers. I don't know how to explain it. It just makes sense to me. Charlie would always have an umbrella with her because rain or shine or terrible rain, she would go.

Charlie will take you to paskuhan at the soccer field to see all the lights and the concert. The food dates around that area would go hard. Like seriously, damn. Charlie would constantly take you to Lover's Lane, and explain all the history of the buildings.

Vaggie — 💙💛/ All Girls

This post is supposed to feature, "the big four" but I don't care. I can do what I want. It's fitting that Vaggie would be somewhere where it's all girl. (That recently started accepting boys too. So that's nice.)

Dates with Vaggie would involve CBTL, but in Regis Center instead of UP Town. Sometimes, you would cross over to ❤️to find something to eat. Tricycle rides to get around, and Siomai would be such a constant in your dates.

[scramboileditlog]

Everytime you feel good about yourself bibigyan ka talaga agad ng challenge ng universe.

Earlier, someone I know sent a screenshot of my ex's ig story. It was a photo of the viral couple with the cheating incident recently. It was captioned intended to attack me.

That's how you spot a narcissist trying her best to justify her cheating on social media. Saying you have no regrets for something you clearly knew was wrong, that's the problem in itself.

When you are in a relationship for more than 7 years, lahat ng kakilala niyo whether on her side or your side would mutually know both of you. Until now siguro bothered pa din siya na ni-reveal niya agad yung lalaki niya sa social media just days after I was still being seen and recognized as her man. Of course, pretty much everyone would realize someone cheated.

I don't just judge, I analyze. Matagal ko siyang nakasama and I know pretty much all her tendencies, she's still trying to win the validation of people at least from social media dahil lahat ng kakilala namin personally knows that she cheated while I was genuinely faithful. Meron kasi talaga siyang obsession maging famous sa social media na sinusuportahan ko naman nung una until it seemed toxic na. I even color grade her photos and edit her videos for reels and tiktok na parang bonding lang naman para sakin at hindi naman mahirap gawin.

This time nakahanap siya ng reason to bring something against me dahil maaalala na naman ng ibang tao na nag-cheat siya dahil sa trending couple lately, I was a graduating student and she's already working when we broke up. Nakikita din naman kasi sa facebook stories na madalas siyang mag-seat in sa classes ko after ng work niya dahil alumni din siya sa university ko. So mas kapani-paniwalang sabihin sa socmed na lahat ng gastos ay sa kanya at palamunin niya ako even if it's not true. We even lived together at my house during the span of Taal eruption until the end of pandemic dahil naglayas siya sa kanila. Thus, I am actually providing, supporting, and generously letting her live at my house while being a student at the same time. Of course, she also spends from time to time as normal couples do. Imposible naman 7 years lahat sa kanya lang di naman ako santo para gastusan at walang matinong tao yung tatagal sa relasyon ng pitong taon kung yung mga gastos ay puro lang galing sa kanya. Tanda ko lang na may pinabili ako sa kanya na pricey was supposed to be a birthday gift for me, pagsilip namin sa concorde nakakita ako ng original na simota air intake worth 1,850 and a pair of headlight bulb mga 650 lang dahil siya naman gumagamit ng kotse ko pag pumapasok dahil online naman yung classes ko noong pandemic.

I'm sharing this because my feelings were genuinely hurt by the words of someone who not only wasted more than seven years of my love and life, but still finds a reason to attack me to this day. It really makes you wonder how can someone be so ungrateful, especially when you've saved her multiple times in the past? If they truly intended to leave, can't they just leave me alone?

May multo story pala ako.😂

This woman has completely ruined the value of being in a relationship for me, not because I still want her, but because she proved that everything I did over the years to be a good man was completely forgotten. No appreciation, no respect whatsoever, and definitely no conscience.

I'm not wasting the goodness in my heart again just to prove myself to a woman. Good people will always receive the good in me. I don't usually share super private stuff, but I want to remember this as the last drop of respect I have for this woman.

[staticwaffles]

My thoughts on the second season. Not looking to start a conversation here. I just want to get my thoughts and feelings down.

Overall:

The show looked amazing. Somehow better than the first season.

The production and design teams deserve all the awards.

I loved the cinematography.

I definitely felt Britell's absence but I thought Roberts did a decent job with the soundtrack.

The cast give some of their best performances ever this season.

The highs of the season were very high (Ghorman arc, Mon's speech), but the lows were very low for me (writing choices for some of the characters and the time jumps).

The three episodes a week thing was brutal and I really wish we had one episode a week instead. I wanted to sit with an episode for a week to dig into it and discuss it with my friends. It also sucked having this season end so fast after waiting over two years for it.

The first season will always hold a special place in my heart, and I wish deep down we were given five seasons in that style, or at least three seasons. I felt the second season, particularly from a character standpoint, really suffered from the time jumps.

If the first season is a 10/10 for me, then the second season is an 8/10, and it is very much carried by the Ghorman arc. For me, personally, the show succeeded in the story it wanted to tell, but didn't quite hit the mark as a Rogue One prequel.

Below are thoughts I wrote down after watching each arc, and then again after the finale. Warning: I yap a lot and don't make much sense.

Arc 1:

I have a weird relationship with this arc. It was very enjoyable, but the first two episodes felt like a bit of a departure from the usual tone of the series? And in retrospect, this arc felt really weird in the grand scheme of the season (and even the show). Not sure how to word how I'm feeling here.

I loved the opening sequence. Cassian's speech to Niya. Learning on the job when flying the TIE. It looked incredible and was a great way to open the season.

The acting of the two "leaders" of the Dipshit Brigade was not on the level of this show. Apologies, but their performances do kind of take me out of it.

Ben is great as Krennic (as expected). I like how they are setting up Ghorman here.

Bix being an older sister to Wilmon is very special to me and I love that dynamic.

"I'VE BEEN UPSIDE FOR TWO DAYS!" I am so sorry Cassian, but I laughed so hard at this part. I loved it.

Oh my gosh the dinner scene. Syril laying on the bed. Incredible stuff.

Bix has been through a lot, so I'm not sure how I feel about that scene happening to her character. However, I give kudos to the show for calling it what it is.

I liked seeing the wedding but I felt that too much time was spent here? Also RIP Tay.

Pretty sure they just wrote off B2 here. At least he's alive?

Brasso :(

Footnote since I've watched the finale. Did they really not once mention B2 or Brasso at all after this arc??? I was a little shocked Cassian didn't toast to him with Vel. These were both beloved characters and then they were just...gone. I know B2 made a brief appearance at the end, but come on.

Arc 2:

This arc was much more Andor-like than the first. But all three episodes being released was brutal on my first watch. There was SO much information to process.

I can't stress this enough. Ghorman looks AMAZING. Practical sets my beloved.

This arc solidified my love for Kleya. She is up there on my list of favourite characters. And Elizabeth is knocking it out of the park with her acting. This was further cemented for me in the finale.

I'm really enjoying what they are doing with Syril. As well as Dedra.

Cassian going undercover as Varian Skye and code switching was everything to me. I need more of this.

Mon and Krennic going at each other in a verbal fist fight oh hell yeah.

Bix and Cassian. Where to begin. They're cute, and Diego and Adria have great chemistry, but I am not liking the direction they are taking with Bix and how they are writing her. The revenge scene was cool I guess? But it happened very suddenly. I needed more build up to it.

Not going to lie, I was expecting Cassian to be more committed to the cause at this point given what happened on Ferrix, his reaction to Nemik's manifesto, Narkina, and the whole "kill me or take me in" thing. I also felt he was rather largely absent from this arc?

Cinta's death. Oh boy. Just why? It was way too soon after they just reconciled. Vel and Cinta have hardly had much screen time at this point. I think it was at this moment I realized how much the time jumps were hurting this season as a lot of character development takes place off screen.

Arc 3:

Easily the best arc of the entire season. Episode 8 and 9 deserve the high praise and ratings.

They really like making Cassian shirtless in episode 7, huh? I'm not complaining.

More Bix and Wil sibling dynamic ahhh my heart.

Yavin looks great! I just wish we got to see more of them setting up the base and recruiting people. Again, the time jumps are taking these things away from us.

I actually quite liked the part with the Force Healer. Cassian being the "messenger" and "there's some place he needs to be" bit. They also played a stripped/slowed down version of the music that plays when he dies 1) during that part, 2) when Bix tells him later what the Force Healer said and they hug, 3) when Bix tells Vel "he'll be there when you need him", and 4) when Cassian is telling Bix he's done and that "there are still places to go to", and yeah that broke my heart :(

Episode 8. What can I say. An absolute masterpiece. I don't think I'll ever stop hearing the Ghor singing their national anthem and Dreena's broadcast.

Syril and Cassian's fight was incredibly well done and well worth the two season long build up. Also Cassian going "who are you?" had me screaming.

I also thought Syril was very well written over both seasons. I understood his motivations and his reactions. I thought his ending was well done. Huge props to Kyle for absolutely killing it as Syril.

And then Mon Mothma. Oh my gosh. What an amazing character. She has been one of my favourites since the first season. And I really like how this show has given so much more depth to her character. Genevieve O'Reilly deserves all the awards for her performance.

Speaking of Mon, her speech was incredible, and I loved the use of Eulogy here. There's a small part of me that wished she got her own epic monologue soundtrack, though.

Mon and Cassian on my screen together. I really needed this. I also like how Cassian extracting Mon showcases why he is the guy for the job.

I quite like where they're taking Cassian here. Like I said, he's the guy for the job, but he doesn't want to be the guy. I didn't quite fully understand this until his discussion with Kleya and then later with Luthen where he says, "I make my own decisions" and Luthen responds with, "Is that what you've been doing?" Cassian is someone who wants to make his own choices, but hardly gets to. Ever since Maarva took him from Kenari, it's mostly been others making these major life choices for him. I see the impact of this when he lets Wil go find Dreena. Even though it kills Cassian on the inside, he won't take that choice away from Wil. Then in Rogue One, Cassian finally makes his own choices. Idk this take on Cassian makes him more complex and human to me, and I really like it. It also strengthens the parallels between him and Jyn.

My two complaints with the above point is that 1) this should have happened sooner in the season, and 2) his relationship with Bix is just not done well enough for me to feel that it's the major thing holding him back from being fully committed.

Speaking of Bix, she is pushed to the side this arc. She's an amazing mechanic, so why couldn't there have been scenes of her teaching new recruits? Or doing a weapons assessment? Or just doing something that contributes to the base? Her speech at the end, whilst sad and well acted, didn't really stick the landing with me. I like her character and just feel she deserved better :( also Adria does a great job playing Bix and I wanted to see more.

Same with Vel. I needed to see more of her here. Maybe a discussion with Bix about Cinta, Brasso, and all the others they've lost (edit: this took place in the last arc, but with Cassian instead of Bix. I'm glad it happened but I'm still salty at no Brasso mention).

At least K2 is here. I don't mind the way they've introduced him into the series, I'm just sad we only get one arc with him and Cassian together. He really needed to be introduced sooner for me.

Despite my grievances, this arc was phenomenal.

Arc 4:

Episode 10 was amazing. Luthen, and especially Kleya, were some of the biggest highlights of this show for me. It was a risk putting an episode like this in the final arc, but I think it ultimately paid off.

The rest of this arc was enjoyable, but it felt like a "oh shit we need to tie into Rogue One" arc. It was a bit jarring getting into this after Ghorman and Mon's speech in the previous week.

Having Melshi, K2, and Cass together on my screen is something I'm so grateful for (be still my secret little Melshian heart). I loved all their scenes together. Also, more Melshi is always a good thing!

Speaking of K2, I do wish we had more of him. I understand the decision to not bring him in earlier, but I still feel disappointed.

Cassian throwing himself over Kleya to protect her? Obsessed.

Goodbye Bryar pistol :( it doesn't look like he had it with him after extracting Kleya.

Loved Vel and Cass toasting to some of those who have fallen (still upset at no Brasso mention, though). And I loved seeing more Vel on my screen, especially with Mon and Kleya.

Holy shit that ending for Dedra. That interrogation scene with Krennic was terrifying as well.

Nemik's manifesto again!!!!!! And WOW that ending for Partagaz.

I was a little shocked at there being no Jyn mention? Or at least something alluding to her existence? I'm glad they mentioned Galen at least.

Not sure how I feel yet on Cassian's characterization in the show. I enjoyed a lot of what they brought to the character, but I felt like he didn't get as much development as he did in the first season? I guess I'm a little disappointed, but overall satisfied. Ultimately, I was hoping for better in the final season.

Loved the little montage at the end though of Cassian walking through Yavin to depart for Kafrene. I sobbed. He also watered his plants beforehand. And yes I cried at that.

Not particularly happy with the baby scene. I feel like Bix, in general, deserved more screen time (independent of Cassian) and better writing if this is where they were taking her. However, I'm just not a big fan of this trope in general...

I'm happy Wilmon is alive and with Dreena.

B2 my beloved!!!!

I am definitely due for a Rogue One rewatch soon.

[mama-qwerty]

Do you think that Tom would be secretly jealous over the fact that Wade was able to form a friendship with Knuckles in a short amount of time, while he himself has trouble having a full conversation with the kid?

Even though Sonic and Tails already are fond of him, the idea that Knuckles isn't as close to him but with his best friend instead would probably bother him a bit

Tom stood at the window near the front door, watching as Knuckles slid into the passenger seat of Wade's truck. Wade gave a little wave, before pulling away, taking the boy . . .

Well, Tom didn't really know. Knuckles never said, and asking Wade seemed almost like an invasion of privacy. Even though Tom and Maddie were supposed to be looking out for the echidna, just like they did the fox and hedgehog who were currently sitting in the living room playing video games.

"You're gonna get frown lines glaring out the window like that."

Maddie's voice broke through his thoughts, and Tom turned to find her hauling a basket of laundry toward the utility room.

"Do you see the way he smiles when he heads off with Wade? He never smiles like that around here."

She rolled her eyes. "You make it sound like he's a teenage daughter going out on dates with a guy you don't trust."

Tom flinched slightly. "I just . . ." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Sonic buddied up to me right away. Tails, too. Why won't Knuckles?"

Maddie shrugged, shifting the basket on her hip. "He's not like the others, Tom. In a lot of ways, he had a much harder life. He wasn't looking for . . ." She gestured around them. "This. A home. A family. New parents. He was looking for that emerald. And now that he has it, he's trying to figure out where to go from here. Where he fits."

"Yeah, well, right now he seems to 'fit' better with Wade than us."

His voice was a little harsher than he meant it to be. This whole situation was actually kinda pissing him off, and he wasn't quite sure why. Sonic thought the world of Tom, and Tails was right there, too. Was it an ego thing? He had to have everyone love him?

He didn't think so.

He was pretty sure, anyway.

Maddie watched him for a moment, before moving closer. She ran a knuckle over his cheek, drawing his attention back to her.

"You're jealous."

His brow furrowed. "Am not."

A smile curled her lip. "You are. Sonic practically appointed himself a Wachowski from all those years he snuck around outside, and Tails has absorbed some of Sonic's admiration of you. But Knuckles doesn't see you that way, and it just eats at you."

Tom pulled his lips tight. She may have a point. A little one. A nano-point.

"I don't want him to idolize me or anything, but I mean, come on. Wade??"

Maddie shrugged. "Wade's got his issues, but he's a good guy. And maybe Knuckles needs someone who's not gonna be as . . . fatherly."

"But I'm not--"

"You may see it as being Sonic's 'buddy', but we all know what you really are to him." Her voice was softer, but not unkind. "Tails, too. I'm just saying that Knuckles wasn't looking for that. He doesn't want parents. Not right now. I made the mistake of just lumping him in with the others as a kid who needed a mom right before he went AWOL with Wade to Reno. I tried to parent him when he wasn't ready for it."

He didn't respond, instead looking out the window where Wade had been parked a few moments before. All that had gone down while he'd been out of town, and judging from how freaked Maddie had been when Knuckles had disappeared after the ill-fated grounding, she understood his feelings right now.

Knuckles was the hardest of their kids to understand. He didn't speak much of what happened while he was being the Most Dangerous Warrior in the Galaxy, and Tails tended to go a bit tight-lipped, too, when asked. The echidna was independent to a fault, proud to the point of almost-but-not-quite arrogance, and insisted he didn't need to be looked after.

He was older than the other two, but that didn't mean he still couldn't benefit from having people care for him. Watch over him.

Tom turned back to Maddie. "So it doesn't bother you that he spends more time interacting with Wade than us?"

She blew out a little huff. "Hell no, it pisses me off." A little smile pulled one corner of her mouth. "But I understand. It was one thing when Sonic came. He knew Earth life, he watched us for who knows how long. To him, he practically lived here already. Tails is a smart kid who seems to adapt easily to new situations. But Knuckles . . ."

She trailed off, glancing out the window with a little sigh.

"He's different. He likes to feel in charge of himself. So, like it or not, we're just gonna have to let him come to us when he's ready. And we have to stop treating him like a kid who needs to be taken care of. Even though he is. He has to decide he wants it before we can meet him there."

Silence settled over them as her words sank in. They made sense. If Knuckles were a dog, rescued from the fighting pits, you'd have to establish yourself as a safe place before getting too close. Let him realize he was safe before trying to establish any closer relationship. And while it hurt him to think of the echidna like that, based on what little he knew of Knuckles' history, it was heartbreakingly similar.

Wade had somehow broken through this defensive exterior Knuckles still wore around the Wachowski home. As much as it pissed Tom off, maybe he needed to swallow his pride and ask Wade just how he'd done it.

"He's such a proud little guy," Tom said, his voice softer. "Always watching out for danger, trying to protect us. I just wish he'd see that we want to do the same for him."

Maddie nodded, letting out a soft sigh. "I know. It kills me that he doesn't see himself as needing it. But I think he wants it. I've seen the way he looks at us when we hug Sonic or Tails. But if he catches me looking, he just turns and walks away."

Another awkward silence fell, broken only by the soft sounds of video game music from the living room.

"We just have to give him space," she said, and Tom could hear the frustration in her tone. The sadness. "Let him know we're here, but don't push it. As hard as it is, we're gonna have to leave it up to him to show us when he's ready to reach out."

Tom's heart clenched. He hated that idea. Waiting for this traumatized kid to decide he wanted love. Wanted to be part of the family. Knuckles apparently did want that closeness, otherwise he wouldn't be so buddy-buddy with Wade. He just wasn't ready to get it from the Wachowskis.

Yet.

"Yeah," Tom sighed, running a hand down his face before taking the laundry basket from her. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

They headed toward the laundry room, and Tom cast a quick glance in at Sonic and Tails, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of the TV, game controllers in their hands.

It'd been so easy with them. They both had joined the family like they'd always been there.

He wished it was that way with Knuckles, too. He hated to think of the horrors the echidna had seen as he grew up. The hardships he'd gone through.

And Tom wanted nothing more than to tell him he didn't have to be afraid anymore. Didn't have to be so tough anymore. Didn't have to take care of himself, or be worried about being betrayed. That there were people who cared about him, wanted to love him, if only he'd let them.

He uttered another sigh. Time. It would just take time.

And they would just have to be patient.

[bookwyrm-art-stuff]

Ok so I just got Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas (sequel to the Sunbearer Trials) And I NEED to comment on this stuff.

HEAVY spoiler warning below the cut (The book will not be the same if you read these beforehand)

-DEZI AND MARINO ARE DATING I KNEW IT I FUCKING KNEW IT

-Xio is the "Nightbearer" my gods the parallels

-I almost forgot Aurelio likes to cook he's so cute I love him

-Good on Xio for coming out! Horrible timing but I'm proud of them

-THEYKISSEDTHEYKISSEDTHEYKISSEDYESYESFUCKYES That scene was so cuteeeeeee!!!! I'm not sure it beats the wing scene but it's a near thing (mandatory why do all of their moments need to get interrupted note)

-NIYA AND AURISTELA KISSED???? DETAILS IMMEDIATELY

-*Intense heavy sobs*

-EEEEEE Aurelio in baking school I love him it's perfect now excuse me while I go imagine him as a househusband which he will be

(Btw is anyone else getting omgcp vibes? Between the baking and the relationship dynamic, like-)

@aidenschmaiden why do you make me suffer so. (Is this want you want? Do you want to see my pain? Well here you go you torturer of readers. You and uncle rick should make an I hate my fans club. /j obviously I love all your books sm)

[paganimagevault]

The mummies from Zaghunluq and Niya, 1000 - 500 BCE

Tried to find what info I could on these but there's only so much online. I probably need to buy Victor Mair's book and do some reading, but will post these for now and come back later. Some of the stuff I saw online says they were probably Celts, I can't confirm that, though it was my guess also. Zaghunluq contains the famous "Cherchen man", the woman with smaller braids, the infant, and the other female mummy in red clothing that is missing most of her hair. They appear to have been buried close together and were probably family. The woman with large braids appears to be from Niya.

[abnormalityrobot]

Reason why I love the The Sunbearer Duology by Aiden Thomas:

SPOILERS FOR CELESTIAL MONSTERS (nothing too major as I'm not that far in)

1. Canonically LGBTQIA+ characters who's identity is not plot relevant also canonically deaf character:

Teo - trans male main character who has experienced dysphoria in the form of his wings, his wings were originally a brown colour which was the colour of the female birds (i forgot what specific kind of bird) which led to him getting a binder made to bind his wings so he wouldn't have to see them tho in the book they do change to the male colour (colour u see on the covers of the books)

Xio - trans/non binary (Ive seen images of an updated character card with the nonbinary and he/they pronouns so I think an identity change of sorts happens in Celestial Monsters)

Ocelo - they/them enby

Xochi - trans female

Tierra - LGBTQIA+ in someway bc his daughter Niya has two dads and is the biological child of both from what I remember (Tierra is the god of earth btw)

Marino - canonically loves Dezi (idk if I just missed any hints but I may have misinterpreted their relationship in Sunbearer Trials as I thought they were close friends and was surprised to find this out when Reading Celestial Monsters)

Dezi - canonically deaf and uses sign language (I p sure there's been mentions of someone interpreting from him)

2. It's mexican inspired which I think is cool like I've heard of foods I didn't know about before because of Sunbearer Trials (tempted to go through and search up the different foods mentioned) I've also learned the Spanish words for god (dios), goddess (diosa), and demigod (semidios and semidiosa) also I read this book after reading PJO & HoO (yes demigods and a trans mc are big reason why I got the book) so getting to hear about non greek & roman gods was nice

3. I like how each of the gods cities have differences that make them feel unique like Niya's home has mountains and stuff (srry don't remember much abt it or even it's name) while Teo's home Quetzlan is in a forest and has birds everywhere (not surprising considering his mom Quetzal is goddess of birds) Also the cities belonging to the Golds (group of some of the gods in this book) are more developed and closer to the middle where sol city is meanwhile the Jades have their cities closer to the edge and the places belonging to the Obsidians are all group together far from sol city and away from the other cities

4. VINE REFERENCE AND MENTION OF FANFIC!!!

Niya makes a two bros chilling in a hot tub reference in Sunbearer Trials and in Celestial Monsters Auristela says the word fanfic

Proof:

[loveyou3000mylove]

'Hear Me Out'

Miles42! Bold

​

​(You have a crush on the Prowler...Miles finds you interesting, you have an awkward run-in with Prowler)

​

​In the cafeteria

​

​"Okay but the Prowler" Niya said pointing at me, I flush, "The Prowler isn't a 'hear me out' if no one wants him" Jordan says as she fixes her shirt, giving Niya a pointed look that screams 'I dare you'.

​

​Niya dares "Not true....Y/n here-" I cut her off "Hell no, how did we get here?!", "We got here, when you told us Mei's lockscreen was Swiper(DtE), then we started talking about 'hear me outs'" Nicc, explains as he breaks his forth plastic spoon,"....oh" i mutter, "Y/n has a crush on the Prowler!" Niya says a little too loudly, quieting the cafeteria, murmurs and whispers of "Thats's weird", "Who's Y/n?", "Freak". I glare at Niya, "Sorry", she squeaks, I get up, grab my bag, and leave the cafeteria, Nicc sighs softly "Give her till 7th period".

​

​I did not come around.

​

​"Y/n! Wait" Niya begged, Nicc and Jordan trailing her, "I can drive you home" she offers, I finally turn around, "I got a ride" I tell her with a strained smile, "Look...I'll text you all when i get home, bye" i finish, walking down the many steps when i see my brothers', Heide, car.

​

​

​"Hola" he saluts me, "hey Heid" I climb in shotgun after moving the stuff on the seat, "Home?", "My Home, Heid", he nods pulling onto the road, "You should visit more, Papa misses his Bebe", he says with his eyes on the road, "Tell him his 'bebe' is almost 18 and wants a boyfriend" I say, sarcasticly.

​

​

​"BYE!" Heide screams from his car as i apporach the appartment door, "Bye, H" i shout back and enter as i hear his engine start, 'I will visit' I think as i get my keys and open my door, 'someday soon'.

​

​I throw my bag on the floor, "Honey, wheres my supersuit", I mumble, walking into the kitchen to make dinner, "Hmm, I have leftover lasgna that mom gave me? but that cheese is going to get bad soon...I'll just grate the cheese over the lasgna and bake it till it melts", I plan out my meal, placing the tray in the oven and setting a timer, walking out of the kitchen to get my bag from the doorway and head to my room.

​

​My apartments way bigger than it should be, figures, giving my family.

​

​My room is full of artic monkeys posters, and a singlular Prowler poster in a corner, hidden almost, tossing my bag on the bean bag, i plop onto the bed and open my phone, I stare at the group Icon for 'That one group', 'fuck it', I click it open and shoot a quick, 'Am home, Heide said hi' and close the app, opening Tiktok.

​

​About 10 minutes later, the timer goes off, making me hop off the bed and shoot to the kitchen. I gently take out the tray from the oven and the smell wafts the air, 'best part about living alone', I don't even take a plate, just a fork and dive in, it hardly took me 10 minutes to finish, I place the dish in the sink and make my way back to bed, to write my homework.

​

​

​I just had Spanish and English today so I finished at 9:46, and decided to sit by the window with a book.

​

​Crrk~!

​

​Claws or something, scratched the window harshly, 'huh?', I got the window open and let the cold air hit my exposed shoulders of my f/c wife-beater, 'this is such a bad idea' I think climbing out the window and following whatever it was that climbed to the roof.

​

​"Why are you following me?" as soon as i get to the roof, am pinned against the wall with a claw raised dangerously close to my neck, "Your the Prowler" I mutter breathlessly, from the wind getting knocked from me (or some fucked up excitment).

​

​"No shit, nina/nino"

ΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨΨ

(This might actually become a Fic)

Part two is almost finished

Writers block is annoying and i need requests

xoxo,

Bee