#so many times but things don't add up and there are way too many loopholes with the theory

[lunaetis]

i keep going back and forth with the idea of eden being created in the image of someone who no longer exists. this is due to the fact that blade had mentioned how he remembered her and the fact that he had never seen anyone being with kafka for as long as she did. kafka told her that she's being created solely for the purpose of housing the stellaron and she was responsible of teaching eden things until the day of the operation. just how long did that training / teaching period last ? if eden had just been created not too long ago to receive the stellaron then blade wouldn't have said what he did, right ? i'm still toying with the idea because there are still many loopholes but the theory that eden's appearance resembles someone in the past who is no longer here keeps coming back to me and i need a more solid foundation to spin it on.

[dandylovesturtles]

This is 2AL Propaganda

I bring you propaganda for the @rottmntpeepawpolls advocating for 2 Arms Left Leo by @intotheelliwoods in the form of another fanfic drabble! Please go check out their comic series, it is extremely good. And vote for 2AL Leo in the poll tomorrow!!

(Also Ell I'm sorry if I get f!Leo and p!Donnie's relationship wrong I TRIED

ALSO I PROMISE THIS ISN'T ANGST

also also this is set still somewhat early in his recovery time OK NOTES OVER)

...

"I can feel you lurking."

Leonardo looks up from his phone and locks eyes with Donnie, currently peeking through the crack in the curtain to his train car. He disappears from view and a moment later waltzes his way inside like he hadn't just been hiding.

"I have a question for you," he announces.

Leo sits up and drops his legs over the edge of the bed. "Shoot."

Donnie hesitates. He looks anxious, and Leo tenses in anticipation.

"It's about your timeline."

Leo's heart drops.

He'd known this would come eventually, but he'd been hoping it would be later rather than sooner. Of course they would want to know eventually, though. What happened to them. How things in his time had... ended.

He just isn't prepared for it. He isn't sure if Donnie is prepared for it, either. He's still so young. Should he really be hearing this now? What kind of damage does that cause on a young mind?

His mouth is draw when he says, "What's your question?" He scrambles to prepare answer, some way to put it off, or maybe to soften the blow, or-

"Did you still have the Lair Games in the future?"

-gape at Donnie like a fish because what?

"What?"

"Did you still have the Lair Games in the future?" Donnie repeats, a little louder as though that were the issue here.

"...We were a little busy with the whole alien apocalypse situation."

"Scoff." Donnie waves a hand. "As if a little apocalypse could stop this family from being competitive."

He has him there. Leo can't help but snort in amusement. "You're right. But it was less formal and more like... bragging about how many Krang hounds we could kill."

"Ah, I see... Well, we're lacking in those, so... goodbye."

He turns on his heel to leave.

"Hey, wait wait wait! Why the sudden interest?"

Donnie turns back around. He still looks anxious, but now Leo realizes it's more embarrassed than upset like he initially thought.

"Well, as you know, I am the current champion of the Lair Games."

"Heh, as if you'd let me forget."

"And I'm very eager to defend my title! And especially after his-slash-your nefarious tricks last time, I'm ready to grind Nardo to dust." He rubs his palms together with an unhinged glee, and Leo winces internally. Yikes. "But..." and there he stops, "Leo seems... reluctant to participate. We did not design the events with... one of us missing a limb in mind."

Ah, right. Hard to do a Handstand Hillbomb with only one arm. Even if they put things off until Leo's port and prosthetic were ready, he probably still wouldn't be experienced enough with it to do anything too taxing.

Leo could already imagine his younger counterpart had waved it off with a smile and a, "You guys have fun," and, "I'll be cheering for you." He would swing by his room later to check on him; for now he had another kid to deal with.

"So that's why you came to me?"

"I was hoping you might have some ideas for alternative events."

"Hmmm... I might be able to think of some." He grins. "On one condition."

Donnie looks wary. "What?"

"I get to play, too."

"What, so you can twist both my ankles this time!?" Donnie shakes his head. "Oh no. One of you is enough."

"Come on! It'll be fun."

"Doubt! And besides, the bylaws state that we can't add anyone to the competition."

"Ah-ah." He waves a finger. "The bylaws state that the competition is between Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, and..." He trails off, putting a hand on his plastron with a smirk.

Donnie's eyebrows are furrowed so hard they're at risk of smudging. "...You have out loopholed me, sir."

"Don't worry, I'll give you guys-"

"Do not."

"-a handicap."

"Groan! Why didn't I send Mikey to do this instead?"

"'Cause you love me." Leo gets up from the bed, walks over and catches Donnie in an affectionate headlock before he can flee. "Alright. Let's get brainstorming!"

[soop-musical-fool]

Ok I said I would make a pin full of music so here it is

First off, I mentioned KNOWER. It's a long project that started a really long time ago, but their best stuff is probably coming out like right now. As in, they are just about to release a new album, KNOWER FOREVER. The singles on it are incredible, like I'm The President just comes right out the gate with the fattest walkdown I've ever heard from a horn section. The B section makes it feel like I'm enjoying a song like I would a multiple-course meal. Then Crash The Car just transfixes you. Yes, yes, you should listen to those, but don't neglect the fire they put out in 2017 because you owe it to yourself to watch the live sesh of Overtime:

Oh god this post is gonna make viewing my blog super annoying isn't it

Anyway the next thing I gotta mention is Vulfpeck. These guys are famous for scamming Spotify, basically. They released an album full of 30-second tracks of pure silence, just absolutely nothing, titled Sleepify. They got online and said "Yo guys, help us raise money for a free concert by listening to this on loop while you sleep." What they were actually doing was exposing a loophole in the way Spotify calculated royalties, and before they could pull the album (citing "content policy violations," of course), Vulfpeck had already bagged around $20,000, so they put on the completely admission-free Sleepify Tour, which was incredibly fucking based of them.

Vulf went on to become several spin-off projects, all entirely independently released and full of some of the stankiest funk fusion that I cannot stop listening to.

My favorite of these projects, The Fearless Flyers, is headed by Cory Wong, with a guitar idol of mine for 5+ years Mark Lettieri and of course the government subsidized active bass of Joe Dart, but the keystone of the group is no doubt Nate Smith on drums. Dude makes a three-piece set onstage sound like a full kit.

Like just look at what they can do with the added power of sax:

And yeah, I could just talk about those guys, but let's get weirder.

I'm talking modal. The kind of stuff that makes my choir-trained mother cringe inward at the dissonance. Let's talk about the crunchiest, most feral fucking harmonies and keyboard solos that make you question what you thought you knew about chord progressions and key centers.

Obviously anyone super into this stuff will have already heard of Jacob Collier, so I won't show him. But THIS:

I listened to this the first time and it was just.. too much. I put it in its own specific playlist titled "very complex shit" immediately. When I went back to it, enough time had passed and I had learned enough that after way too many listens I can actually follow along with this insanity. This track blew my fucking mind, dude. I have never heard a chorus use so many of the 12 chromatic notes and still sound heavenly. The groove changes add so much texture. The flute solo goes off way too hard. The slower final section is just disgusting syncopation when the drums come back in. Everything about it is incredible, and this album came out in 2007. I am staring back at years of my life I spent not listening to this and ruminating my lack of music theory knowledge. And when I wanted to see if some kind transcribing jazz grad student like June Lee had uploaded anything of System, I found a 2020 reboot with 24 musicians playing System for over twice its original runtime, and guess who did the showstopping final solo??

JACOB FUCKING COLLIER.

Look him up if you don't know. The other musicians I obsess over inspire me. This guy makes me want to quit.

[hils79]

Hils Watches The King's Avatar - Ep 40

It doesn't feel like 5 minutes ago that I started this drama. It's so very bingeable.

It's been a real journey. None of this has been what I expected beyond the very basic concept of 'it's a drama about esports'. There have been so many wonderful surprises. There are characters that I hated that I now love, characters that I loved that I now love even more, and more ships than I ever expected to ship.

While I'm at it I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has popped up in the replies to my posts or in my asks to either answer my questions or just yell about their favourite characters. I can tell this drama (and the novel and donghua) are so well loved and liveblogging this has really felt like a community experience. Thank you for not laughing at all the stuff I got wrong and for not making fun of me for shipping everyone. It's really been so wonderful and I almost don't want to press play on the final episode because I don't want it to be over.

But I need to see what happens so let's go!

Ah, okay. I misunderstood what happened at the end of the last episode. I thought they'd lost the game but no they could still win they just didn't have enough points to win the championship.

Is there going to be some loophole like the whole 'oh the ref's watch broke so actually you won'

HAHA! I fucking knew it! They got an extra two points for beating a league record. Because apparently that is a rule that has never been mentioned until now.

Eh, whatever. There was a nice moment with the fans before the found out they'd won

Ye Xiu finally gets the hug that he's needed since episode 1

Good lord how is there 30 minutes left? What's going to happen now that they've won?

God I hope Sun Xiang punches him

Except of course he won't because he's all grown up now. Also, typically it's the coaches/managers that get fired when a team does badly. I hope he gets booted

Love Shaotian dragging Wenzhou to his feet so he can cheer

Remember when their entire fanbase was just this guy. I'm definitely not crying at all

Look at that little half smile. He's grown so much considering they only lost on a technicality. I do think he's at least a little bit happy for Ye Xiu as the better player (for now)

GDI I can't believe I'm crying over Sun Xiang AGAIN

LOL remember when I thought he was going to be the antagonist of the drama when I watched the first episode. How wrong I was

Haha yes let's have a little joke about the time when I nearly banned you for life in the middle of an important game and caused your team to lose as a result

I have in no way been thinking about writing some King's Avatar fic with one based on the fact that Ye Xiu passes out after one drink

HAHA! Mo Fan pretended to pass out too so he doesn't have to talk to anyone. He is such a mood

Oh shit! I did not see that coming!

Oh no he looks so sad to see his former team like this, and it's understandable. He built that team from the ground up and put so much time and work into making them the legends they were

Yes, good. Baozi is cuddling one of his boyfriends as he should

Ah, yay, I'd forgotten about the team graphic. Time to add one more person right before the end

And finished! That was wonderful! Definitely in my top 5 dramas that I've watched this year. Might even be the number one, actually. I definitely should have watched that years ago when people first told me to give it a try. But, you know, I firmly believe you find things when you were meant to find them. Now was good.

I'll be starting a new drama tomorrow. If you were just here for my King's Avatar posts it's been lovely to have you. If you're sticking around for other liveblogs I'll see you tomorrow for more yelling :D

[priscilla9993]

Hi! If ur still doing these then 10, 16, 18 and 20 for Alice Jones :D?

Oooh, yeah! Thanks for the ask. To anyone wondering, I'll be doing these for as long as I'm asked. 😉

10. Fears/phobias

Alice definitely fears being alone. And I don't mean being in her own company because she can definitely be independent and quite at peace with herself. But she fears never being able to be a part of the world, to be forgotten, to never have any human connection, to always be on the inside looking out. She's scared of being confined or trapped in any way, so I think she'd have a form of claustrophobia.

I think she also fears being unwanted or abandoned. Too many people in life have shunned her for her idiosyncrasies and bouncy energy, including her own mother at birth after Alice no longer served a purpose, if you can even call Gothel that. Her papa endlessly loved her and stayed by her side until he was poisoned, but Alice harshly found that reality was not like that. I believe she found family and friendship in Wonderland, but she lost them all just as quick. Very few people tried to understand her; most either ignoring her or took a liking to call her names, a thing I can assume as we could see in Tilly's self deprecating tone when she was about to leave Hyperion Heights and Margot caught her talking to the Troll statue. I think currently, she mainly fears the loss of her loved ones in general, always worrying about their health, especially since the multiple scares she had with Papa Killian while the Poisoned Heart Curse was still intact.

16. Dark secrets/’skeletons in the closet’

Dark secrets? Well, Alice isn't as happy go lucky as she makes herself out to be. Sure, she's naturally bubbly, but sometimes, it's a front for the overwhelming sadness she can't get rid of some days, when she feels like nothing can go right and she's not worthy of all the kindness people give her. What comes out in bursts on her bad days and doesn't last long is her anger whenever she's grumpy or lashes out, mostly to her stuff animals or to herself of things she couldn't change from the past, time lost, things she had to experience later in life or never had. I think she'll rarely talk about all the trauma from the experiences she went through either in the Jabberwock attack or in other realms. I headcanon that Alice has been to Neverland, met Pan, and managed to get out with luck and loopholes in his logic, but she won't tell her papa that.

18. Things they’ll never admit

Alice usually says what's on her mind but I doubt she'll ever admit how much she wants to happy cry over all the small things in life like being cared for, valued for her thoughts, or sharing a warm meal with her papa, Robin, or Zelena, no matter how much she knows she shouldn't have to worry that it's not the new normal. She spent most of her life as Alice and Tilly having to watch her own back and never knowing who to trust, despite her nature wanting to rely on others.. Alice will never admit when she's lying because her mischievous side likes watching other people's reactions, making her feel like she has the upper hand in conversations.

20. What-ifs/Alternate Timelines

I assume in another life, she would have been the main Guardian. If Rumple had given had let her do the dagger transfer process, she'd be the same Alice Jones, protected by her guardianship, able to vanquish the darkness once and for all, but end up being blessed/cursed with immortality and even stronger magical powers. It would be an invisible tower as she'd watch everyone she loves disappear with time and be unable to run from her predicament. In a what if scenario, related to the dark books Wish Rumple was ready to trap them in, Alice could have become the Dark One, unprotected by Guardianship, choosing the darkness to get back to her papa. Haha, gonna add my AU fanfic into this answer, but I seriously see so many characteristics in her being strong in the face of adversity, so I think she'd make a great Cinderella *wink wonk*.

Ahhh, honestly, I think the cruelest twist of fate in my headcanons is if Alice wasn't ever given reunited with her papa or met Robin in any form, I imagine her surrendering to anger, becoming unforgiving and losing hope. Gothel eventually finds her to check on her Guardianship, breaking her free at the right time, and taking advantage of her vulnerabilities as her "mother", coming back to her when "she could". All the lies Gothel would tell and Alice would cling to, fearing being abandoned again and hoping to make the wise woman proud, no matter what the consequences were.

[letterstodreams]

Altering My Crazy Quilt Religion

It's time to add the next alteration to this crazy quilt religion, a new patch to cover the flaws of the old design, to embellish and change up the patterns that don't seem quite right now that I can see what else to add to it and what to change. It's time to set it down in writing so I hope and intend to remember it and apply it into my life in action. I already have realized it and it has taken a load off my shoulders and made my step lighter, my hopes for the future feel brighter and more open, more choices, more hope to see ahead, for myself, my daughter, all those who might depend and rely on me.

Because that is often one of the biggest reasons I keep fighting and keep searching- because others might need me and if I can't give them all they need, it hurts and feels more like a catastrophe and miserable failure than if I myself fail myself. I guess I feel like there's only so much I can do about my own self, because I've done so much and still, look at me.

But with others, there is so much I could hypothetically do and yet so much that could remain undone, that could mess up their whole lives if it's not done correctly enough. So, ironically, somehow, having others who need me can be the biggest thing keeping me going in finding things that can help myself. I can't help them if I'm too lost, and what helps them sometimes helps me too, even when it comes in unexpected forms and I never thought that such things would help me.

Anyway, it's time to alter this crazy quilt of my beliefs, to add the next revision. It's an ongoing, organic thing, and can change dramatically over time. I often settle for understandings and practices that I myself may sense as being very deeply flawed. But it works for me better than anything else, to achiever results, to describe the reality that I am experiencing, and if I was to try to remove the flaws, it would remove the good things too, until I see which things to remove and which to keep, or which to alter and tweak, and how, and how much.

Sometimes I get the feeling that awful seeming things might be true, and work, and be the sad, painful facts of life, because it's what seems to work, when nothing else will. It works to make my life functional, as good as I can find how to be, despite how wrong some of these ideas seem to me, at face value. I still don't push those ideas on anyone else, though, and tend to more so hide them from most people, because I fear the wrongness and harm they seem like they could also inflict.

I think that in the wrong hands such ideas do cause great harm, such as religious dogma, which can be used as a fire to scorch the earth and do tremendous harm , to battle others or harm one's own self and one's own life. Or it can be used as a fire to cook and keep warm and tell stories around, bring life and order and harmony. Not that I adhere to dogma much, or doctrine, rituals and rules. Or is dogma the right word, or something else that I adhere to, in small ways, altered ways? Whatever it is, I still fear it in the wrong hands.

It depends on how you interpret the same ideas, and how you use them, how rigidly you follow them, how adaptable you are, how many fair and correct loopholes you find in the "law of God", so to speak (Which is a little idea borrowed from the book 'Violeta' by Isabel Allende. A few of her books say a few things, just in passing, that free and enlighten me from religious fixation and rigidity. A few fiction authors are like that for me).

So, ok, on to the embellishments of the crazy quilt. I was reading some books which helped me to think of all these ideas, in combination with my own, and so I will borrow some of the ideas that sparked my own, and give them credit for where they came from. First, from the book '7 Lessons from Heaven: How Dying Taught Me to Live a Joy-Filled Life' by Mary Neal, I found something that helped me. She mentions her "Daily Creed":

"I believe God's promises are true. I believe heaven is real. I believe nothing can separate me from God's love. I believe God has work for me to do. I believe God will see me through and carry me when I cannot walk."

She read this many times each day, when she had lost her son, and it helped her to find the truths that were constant and unchanging, and to find her way to healing and reclaiming her life again. When I read her Daily Creed, it made me think of something in my own experience that I have gone through time and time again.

It reminded me of my daily prayers. And how, every time that I get through yet another day, where I feel lost and alone in many ways, often, and when I often feel I have failed in so many ways, and I don't know if I will ever succeed in all the ways that I feel I should or need to, I still turn to God and ask for his guidance. I ask for his forgiveness. And I ask for him to forgive me for sins known and unknown. But before all else, I start my prayers by asking him to help me to worship him in a good way. I ask for him to give me the strength for that.

And I ask for him to give me the strength for everything that I've been praying about over the past few weeks and to help me with those things. I wrap them all up together because there are so many prayers I spontaneously pray over the course of a few weeks, and this covers them all. As vague and simple as that might sound, I feel like this works. Of course, since each week I also pray for all the prayers I've prayed for previously, then I guess it's kind of like a never-ending list that goes back into my history. But I feel like God is capable of that, and I also pray for something else, or something better, if God wills, and everything in his time and way. I also pray for all my loved ones and family and myself to be helped with any health or issues they need help with, and for them to be given strength for that, and the whole world, nature, animals, plants, too.

Anyway, I always feel, every time I ask for all this and for forgiveness, I feel that I am given forgiveness, for sins known and unknown, for my continual failures and inadequacies, and the future still looms unknown, and I don't know where my life will lead. And if I look at my past, I can see so much that could be seen to be failures, why don't i just do what I need to do, and why do I keep failing over and over again, at what seems so simple on paper? Where is the hold up?

Why would God forgive me for all this, if I follow the line of thinking that we can fool ourselves that we deserve forgiveness when we do not, that our asking for forgiveness can be unworthy and our apology or repentance unaccepted by God? I do consider that some repentance might be unworthy and unaccepted, if one isn't trying hard enough, or trying in the right ways. But I feel that my repentance is accepted and worthy, each day I come to God with my prayers. I didn't always feel that way, and sometimes I think it was incorrect dogma or doctrine, or maybe just incorrect understanding, that made me feel this way.

But now I feel forgiven, embraced, accepted by God, each and every day. I feel that way, each time I come to God and am accountable to him for my life and yet another day on the endless string of beads of my life that will go on for who knows for how long. A life that will have who knows how much or little to show for it, in the end, but I still feel forgiven, accepted by God.

So if I can feel that way each day when I pray, then what is to stop me from feeling this same thing, this same forgiveness and acceptance, all throughout the day, during the actual day and not just at the end or the beginning or whenever I have these kinds of prayers? I tend to get wrapped up the feeling of failure, fear, the feeling of maybe not being good enough, maybe failing the test, during the day. I tend to stress and fret and feel like I'm being put to the test with all my daily actions and choices and trying to make sense of it all and see a path forward and figure out what is the good thing to do with my life, with each step, with all my entrenched problems and feeling of weakness.

I think many religious people would try to tell me that my failures are unacceptable, that I must be better, and I have to keep repenting for my lack, and if I don't change my behavior and do better, that means I am not trying hard enough, so my repentance won't be accepted. But every day, at the end of each day, when I pray, that is not how I feel. I feel my repentance is good enough.

In fact, I am not sure what I'm even repenting for because I know I make mistakes, but some of the things that religious people would try to blame me for, I feel like it's out of my control and I can't function the ways they tell me I must. And I think God might see it the same way, which is why I ask for forgiveness for my sins that are known and ones unknown.

I don't know if maybe it is in my control and reach somehow and I just don't realize, but nor do I want to fret and beat myself up for things that are really out of my reach, which seems like self-abuse to the level of despair and depression. It's like punishing yourself and wearing yourself out trying to run a marathon that you aren't fit for, while the rest of your life goes down the drain because you're trying to be perfect for a challenge you can't even attain. Like a marathon, maybe you can train and do more over time, but if your own strength and ability is too low, maybe you'll never in your whole life run a marathon.

Anyway, I guess I've just come to accept finally that many of my apparent failures and weaknesses could be this way and I can feel free and at peace instead of harried and guilt-ridden and fearful all day as I try to grapple with the raw material of the challenges, goals, confusion and failures and crises that fill my day-to-day life and heart and soul.

Somehow, I can trust it all to God, that he will forgive and repair all the frayed ends of my life and actions. Or so I can hope, and the rest of it, I will just rest in his peace in the storm and failure, and in his forgiveness, and the knowledge of my ongoing humility and repentance, spoken or just deep in my bones, all day long, as much as I can. I'm so humble I know I might be unable to do better, and I see that as true, valid, good enough. My crazy quilt religion, my crazy quilt God is the one who accepts and embraces and redeems this.

So that is one excerpt I found in a book that triggered those insights for me, somehow. And there's another book passage that also helped me. I will try to find it too and write about it later on, if the ideas come up for me once more when I reread it. I guess I'll save it for another post, next post maybe, if I have time and focus.

[your-brilliant-lady-m]

Part 2 - Basic Concepts of Miraculous Ladybug: Kwami

Kwamis are a fun concept and one of the main draws of the series. They make sense story-wise because, firstly, our characters need some support system. And since a lot of conflicts are centred around secret identities, characters should be able to discuss their double life with someone. As magical beings they could also be used to expand the lore, introduce new concepts and drive forward both the plot and character development. It doesn't always happen but Kwamis are a good idea. Some people who write AU's think that Kwamis are redundant, but I have to disagree.

Origins and nature

Where do Kwamis come from? What are they? It's never explained. Oh wait, it was explained in a comic people can accidentally find. You decide to explain the origins and nature of magical beings who are one of the key elements in your magic system and worldbuilding IN A SIDE COMIC, which has zero effect on your main story. Sounds legit.

Here it is.

So, Kwamis are abstract creatures. They can become tangible and interact with the world because of the miraculous jewels. Essentially, each Miraculous acts as an anchor to the material world for Kwami. They existed since the beginning of time and were invisible observers of the universe. Until they settled on Earth and observed how humanity came to be. This is where things get interesting.

Kwamis are the embodiment of abstract concepts. But, some abstract concepts were created by people (like everything mentioned in the comic: beauty, math, love, etc).

Kwamis wanted to help humans. And then, a human, who couldn't see, hear or touch a Kwami creates miraculous jewels. And now these beings can interact with the world, use their powers and grant them to humans. Yet, they are completely under control of their holder. I'll discuss it later, but why did Kwamis accept this deal? They are practically enslaved. At the same time they care about people and generally love humanity.

According to the wiki Kwamis grant powers because of "the privilege of having the ability to be perceived by mortals". What? Did I read that right? Kwamis agreed to be enslaved and used as a power source, because they wanted to interact with material world. That's it, guys, end of the story.

We also know these things about nature and abilities of Kwamis from the show:

1) need food, but only to provide the power for the holder;

2) can't phase through precious metals (Chloe's bracelet in "Rogercop"), their own miraculous and humans;

3) they can control if they phase through things or not – meaning that if they want to, they can (this way Tikki can stay in Marinette’s purse without much trouble and Plagg sleeps on Adrien’s pillow);

4) they can perform magic without a holder but they don’t control it very well, there are certain types of things that they can’t do without a holder;

5) they are immortal but can get sick for some reason, a non-magical reason mind you;

6) technology can't detect them in any way, you can't film, photograph or record their voices (writers establish this many times, but promptly forget all about their own rules in "Optigami", where Marinette talks with Kwamis over the phone without any problems).

If I missed something important, then let me know.

Look, the questions related to origins and motivations of Kwamis might not be very prominent in your story right now, but you must answer them in case you might need to involve these facts in the plot down the line. It's important to avoid contradictions in the serialised story with liquid plot, that can't be set in stone. It's a made up world for the sake of everything sacred! You can make up explanations and rules, of course as long as they don't contradict common sense.

Plausible ideas for origins and nature of Kwamis:

1) Kwamis are immortal spirits, whom humans accidentally summoned and bound with spells to Miraculous stones. They remember their existence before this. This version doesn't really explain their desire to serve people and love for humanity, however. It would be more logical for Kwamis to resent people for enslaving them. It doesn't explain how humans could create those spells and Miraculous stones either.

2) Kwamis are physical manifestations of abstract concepts who existed simply as fragments of matter for a very long time without sentience, until they were accidentally summoned through the Miraculous stones and bound by humans to serve them. Kwamis do not remember their existence before Miraculous. In this version Kwamis serve humans and love them because they have never known a different kind of existence. Unfortunately, it doesn't provide any explanation on the creation of Miraculous and spells.

3) Kwamis are gods, who created the universe with all its elements and concepts including humanity (similar to Valar and Maiar in Tolkien's Legendarium). They wanted to help their creations but discovered that their power was too wild and unpredictable for that. So, Kwamis decided to give up their free will and magical independence to help humanity. Together they created Miraculous stones for humans to use and sealed themselves inside. Kwamis as gods were abstract concepts, who didn't have a body. The act of sealing their power in the Miraculous gave them an opportunity to interact with outside world (an anchor) and each Kwami chose an small animal form (because humans easily formed bonds with animals, had animal companions (pets), small animals look non-threatening and familiar). Kwamis intentionally choose certain animal forms to suit the human symbolism. Humans later used magic that Kwamis discovered for them to place spells upon small gods (spells related to identity protection and so on). This version answers most questions, but if Kwamis are gods then powers they grant to people seem to be rather small.

Feel free to add more. I would be interested to hear your ideas.

Identity Protection

In "Origins" we learn that Wayzz can sense the aura of Butterfly Miraculous, a negative aura of activated Butterfly Miraculous, to be more precise. And yet, Tikki and Plagg are genuinely surprised to discover the identities of their holders in "Dark Owl". There are several things wrong with that.

Can Kwamis sense each other's presence? They shouldn't be able to do this to protect the identities of their holders. On the other hand, they are ancient spirits. So, their inability to sense each other seems weird. Unless it's the same situation as with the spell that does not allow them to speak the name of their holder aloud.

But if they can sense each other like Wayzz did, then it means that Plagg and Nooroo were living in the same house for over a year and nothing happened. I mean, Plagg could have just come upstairs, take off the brooch from Gabriel, while he is asleep and return it back to Fu.

This question lies right here, on the surface. And that's only one massive and very obvious plothole. How to fix it? Establish that Kwami can't sense each other for identity protection. In "Origins" Fu meditates on his balcony and Wayzz sees a charged Akuma flying by. That's how they discover that Butterfly is in Paris and the Miraculous is in the wrong hands. Perhaps, Gabriel akumatizes someone for the first time to survey the surroundings and general public is not aware of this. This works better in the narrative, giving Fu time to select holders for Ladybug and Black Cat. It also establishes whether Hawkmoth can remove the Akuma from someone without Ladybug and discharge it. Maybe it depends on the circumstances (sometimes he can, but if this person was akumatized many times or their emotions are too strong and their mind doesn't want to let Akuma go then Hawkmoth can't pull the butterfly out with his magic). This scenario allows for Volpina to happen on "Heroes' Day". Silly recurring Akumas like Gigantitan and Mr. Pigeon could still happen. In this case Gabriel didn't want to akumatize the guy more than 70 times on purpose. It just keeps happening against his better judgement because evil butterflies are automatically attracted to Mr. Ramier. This way repeated attacks of Mr. Pigeon annoy Hawkmoth just as much as they do the heroic duo of Paris (I did not sign up for this Nathalie!).

Let's come back to the spell mentioned earlier for a moment. Kwamis can't say the name of their current holder out loud, but apparently, they can exploit a loophole in the spell by confirming the identity of their holder in another way. The spell doesn't work with other holders. Kwami can say the names of other holders if they know their identity. That being said, can the holder order the Kwami to tell them the identities of other heroes if they know them?

Kwamis know how each Miraculous looks with or without camouflage. Can the holder order the Kwami to tell them how each Miraculous looks in disguise (I liked that Grimoire doesn't have pictures of camouflage for identity protection)? Guardians can recognise Miraculous in any mode (Su Han). Did Fu teach Marinette this? Does she know how each Miraculous looks like unactivated?

Oh! Since we are discussing camouflage, let's take a moment to appreciate the Mother Of All Plotholes. Plagg didn't recognise Peacock because of the plot.

Relationship with Holder

I absolutely loved the idea that Kwamis must obey their holder introduced in "Sandboy". This concept opens tons of plot opportunities. It's such a great idea that makes sense, has potential, can create conflict. Why, oh, why didn't writers develop it more?

Like, it was so good. It can be a great push for character development. This concept resolves so many existing inconsistencies within the plot. It's mind-blowing.

Why can't Nooroo simply leave Gabriel, so that he wouldn't be able to transform? Because Gabriel bound him with Miraculous to always stay near.

In "Sandboy" Tikki asks Marinette's permission before going to the meeting. Plagg lies to Adrien instead. This implies that usually Plagg's holders weren't kind to him or feared his power (Su Han's remark in "Furious Fu"). Perhaps, his holders were taught to keep the Kwami of destruction under constant control. So, Plagg in turn has learned not to ask, because if he doesn't ask permission then his holder can't deny him freedom with magic.

Can Kwami lie to their holder? Maybe they can't lie to their holder about their nature, origins and powers and other Miraculous (but Kwamis can't reveal the location of Miracle Box, Guardian's identity and can't confirm identities of other holders known to them in any way). Kwami would be forced to speak even if they don't want to. That's why Nooroo told Gabriel everything about the abilities of the Butterfly Miraculous and the wish secret of Ladybug and Black Cat.

But Kwamis can lie to their holder according to Plagg in "Sandboy". If Kwamis can lie about everything (including powers) then Nooroo didn't have any reason to be honest with Gabriel way back in "Origins".

Speaking of Gabriel and Nooroo. Can Kwamis harm their holder? Maybe doing so would harm the Kwami as well. Can they do it only when the holder is not wearing the Miraculous? Can Kwami take their Miraculous from their holder? Will they disappear if they try to do so? It seems like Kwami disappears only when the holder takes off the Miraculous with the intention of renouncing power, the words "I renounce you" are not necessary.

Other Kwamis can take the Miraculous from people if it's not their own (Wayzz in "Feast"). But what if it wasn't possible. Imagine what could happen if it's not possible to take the Miraculous by force from the transformed or untransformed hero. Just like Lady WiFi couldn't remove Ladybug's mask. A person has to willingly give up the Miraculous. Only in this case, it's possible to take it. For example, somewhere around the middle of season 3 Hawkmoth could have trapped Ladybug and Chat Noir and cut off any escape routes. His Akuma tries to take both Miraculous, but they don't budge. Then afterwards, every Akuma tries to manipulate the heroes using hostages, illusions or mind control. It's hard to say whether this version will be better than canon, but it's a fascinating theory.

You can use the idea of obedience to create more situations contrasting the relationship of Plagg and Adrien, Gabriel and Nooroo. I liked how canon created a storyline about Plagg learning to control his powers without a holder and Adrien helping him. However, why would you stop here? Give us some flashbacks about Plagg's previous holders, tell us what kind of people they were. Expand the lore and add some character development for Plagg and Adrien. The same thing goes for Marinette. What kind of battles did they have in the past? What kind of people past holders were? Did Ladybug and Black Cat heroes always get along well? Were they allies or enemies? Were they always lovers?

Give us more information about Butterfly and Peacock holders. Perhaps Nooroo has dreams about his past holders who were good people. Show us what kind of things a Butterfly holder with good intentions can do. Tell us more about Duusu and her past holders, sprinkle in a few bits of info about Emilie and Duusu's relationship, just a few vague hints to preserve the mystery. You have a lot of screentime each season and instead of doing filler episodes dedicated to love drama, you can use them for developing minor characters, relationships between them and lore.

[hisredhysteria]

Hi, I was thinking abt sth Hoodlum said offhand in episode 4 (like he was planning to ditch Brawler and get closer to Cutthroat instead), so could I please get some HCs for that, like Hoodlum attempting to suck up to cutthroat to be friends? I think it would be funny cause I imagine cutthroat would not care if someone tried to flatter him (Also thank you for the "cutthroat is a ruthless spoon shamer" it put such a funny image in my head of him just roasting the fuck out of a wooden spoon)

Note: IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY THAT I COULD MAKE YOU LAUGH...or at the very least smile— I'd like to think Cutthroat has a grudge against things that don't quite shine as he'd expect them to—

Also, .....I so badly want to share a screenshot of Cutthroat's reaction when Brawler told him to get out of the way because I still laugh at it — and you know what, I'll add the other one I have because I still laugh at it too....sort of related, right..? Maybe not...

♡༄┊Hoodlum ditching Brawler for Cutthroat—!

Well, we can't talk about Hoodlum trying to join alliances with Cutthroat before talking about how Brawler might react...

And that is.... He's quite literally clueless...! ..Ain't no way his bro's ditching him. So why's he hangin' around the white haired stick so much ...?

I'd say 2/3 people in this situation are likely clueless—

You know what, 3/3. Hoodlum doesn't know what's going on either. He knows what he's trying to do, but that only goes so far. He's just throwing words to the wind and hoping what he says sticks to someone...At least, that's his tactic most of the time...

Brawler is still trying to strike up conversations or pull Hoodlum away from Cutthroat in many situations...of course, unaware that Hoodlum is actually attempting to befriend Cutthroat now...and Cutthroat is also unaware as he becomes enamoured with Swindler instead—

Eventually Hoodlum awkwardly tries to explain a lie that'll get Brawler to leave him be...this lie doesn't work all that well either because Brawler finds a loophole around it-! Nice...in which case he'll get both Brawler and Cutthroat under his belt! He's a genius.

At first he resorts to...you know, offering a few words to gas himself up so Cutthroat thinks he's a big shot.

This isn't something Cutthroat cares about...at all....in fact, who cares to listen when Swindler is standing right next to him ..? ..Wait, wait where's she going..!?

It'd actually be more impressive if Hoodlum just let his collar blow off his head..! You know, give Cutthroat pretty red fireworks to look at-!

Even if Hoodlum did live up to his lies though, Cutthroat wouldn't care or acknowledge any of the words spilling from Hoodlums mouth... unless perhaps it's a direct question—

Which means Cutthroat calls for the big guns, huh.. alright! Surely nothing Hoodlum can't play along with... Cutthroat likes red, right..? And he's always saying creepy things ...time to nervously match his energy—!

Cutthroat making any sort of comment about how lovely blood is will be followed up by Hoodlum's very out of place laughter as he also tries to compliment Cutthroat on his... murdering skills... and you know....his ability to kill people Hoodlum sees as a threat...

Of course the rest of the gang knows what Hoodlum's attempting to do and to be quite frank, they're surprised he's even trying...

In just about every circumstance, Cutthroat is leaving Hoodlum while he worries about protecting Swindler.

Hoodlum hiding behind Cutthroat's back..? Well, maybe Cutthroat gives him a curious look if he even acknowledges his presence, but that doesn't last long before Cutthroat's already running the opposite way to save Swindler from a bullet instead—

If Hoodlum gets too close, he may just find himself as another one of Cutthroat's human body shields....and or perhaps a bullet just barely missed him as Cutthroat used his knife to ricochet one out of Swindler's direction—

This eventually causes Hoodlum to become needlessly frustrated trying to keep up with Cutthroat...or to even so much as catch his attention—

Why did Hoodlum think this was the better plan again..?

Hoodlum even tries to ask Swindler her tricks at some point. Why's a murderer so interested in her..?

It was an unwarranted question he let slip though so when Swindler gives him a look he laughs it off...

Brawler recognizes the change of direction in Hoodlum's attention eventually, so naturally he tries to one-up Cutthroat and impress Hoodlum more than he thinks Cutthroat impresses him.

Hoodlum is actually not impressed by Cutthroat though, he's a little scared and just wants Cutthroat to do his dirty work....well....maybe he finds Cutthroat a little impressive because of his knife skills...and his ability to kill without any sort of guilt is a little interesting...

Cutthroat gives Brawler a look of "huh?" everytime he attempts at showing off by challenging him...all for the sake of Hoodlum's praise.

[suganovakawa]

𝐒𝐀𝐔𝐃𝐀𝐃𝐄 .

PAIRINGS : tooru oikawa x fem! reader , slight hajime iwaizumi x fem! reader

GENRE : angst , romance

WARNINGS : cursing , car accident , recovery from amnesia

SYNOPSIS : tooru doesn’t understand how special you are to him until he comes close to losing you forever . as he struggles to comes to grips with his feelings and balance it with his future , you still have to recover from your own injuries , but without your memories to assist you .

𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐗𝐈𝐕 < [ 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐗𝐕 ] > 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐗𝐕𝐈

now, this is tooru’s business.

word count : 1.3k

saudade masterlist .

SAUDADE

( 𝐧 . ) a nostalgic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant , or that has been loved and then lost ; “ the love that remains ”

⠀the last people tooru expected to ever hear from again, besides you, were any of his third year teammates. maybe his underclassmen had it in them to forgive him eventually, but not issei and takahiro. they had all the right reason to not forgive him for his actions. they, just like hajime, had doted on you quite often during the season. while they weren't obsessive over it, they both visibly appreciated your presence.

⠀way more than he did at the time, anyway.

⠀he was almost scared as the two of them approached him during lunch. oikawa stopped showing up to the cafeteria and began enjoying his lunches in silence at the library, as many social outcasts choose to do. he didn't think that their motive for going to the library was to see him of all people, but his mind began to race as they began walking towards him at a surprisingly quick pace - their faces were anything but pleasant.

⠀"makki? mattsun?" tooru's body initiated his fight or flight instincts as both of them stood at his sides, making it impossible for him to just stand up and leave. "what are you doing here? i didn't do anything, did i?" he really hoped he didn't make another mistake. the last thing he wanted was to be remembered for nothing more than his shortcomings as a boyfriend.

⠀"no, not this time." mattsun replied in a hushed whisper, shaking his head. "but there's something going on that no one on the team likes. we don't know if you already know or not, but given your past with y/n, we figured you'd be interested."

⠀he hesitated at the mention of your name. of course he was interested in anything that had to do with you. what could possibly be going on with you that would be so important for him of all people to know about? the other two third years were uncharacteristically serious for their usual joking demeanors, but he was too nervous to say anything more.

⠀oikawa was additionally surprised to watch both them take a seat on both sides of him, leaning in closer to ensure only he was able to hear what they were saying. tooru leaned back slightly, his stomach running in circles with the suspicious activity going on. were they going to prank him? go through all this just to call him a loser? if so, he didn't want to be part of it. he had already messed up with you again, that was all the confirmation he needed that he was just a downright idiot. damn him and his stupid bad habits. if only he knew how to control his temper, this wouldn't have happened in the first place.

⠀"do you want the news just thrown in your face, or do you want us to discreetly tell you?" makki crossed his arms and leaned over the table, throwing the seijoh captain out of his deep thought. "doesn't really matter, bad news is bad news. we're probably going to ruin your day with this."

⠀really, what could be worse than this? "just tell me," was all he could muster.

⠀"iwaizumi and y/n are dating."

⠀what?

⠀tooru almost fell out of his seat as the blood rushed throughout his body like a tidal wave, both anger and astonishment crashing together furiously. he almost screamed but bit down on his tongue due to their current location. both makki and mattsun noticed the sudden shift in oikawa's behavior, and nodded their heads as if to agree with his reaction.

⠀"yahaba told me today. kindaichi apparently made small talk with iwaizumi, where the big news was revealed." mattsun continued without letting either brunet peer reply, "and frankly, it's very strange. all of it. but i'm pretty sure the only ones who have been suspicious of the relationship are us."

⠀oikawa was livid. whatever control he had over his temper, had been thrown long gone by now. his face glowed with an underlying red hue, his hands clenched into white-knuckled fists as he rest them on the table. he wasn't mad at you - he was mad at iwaizumi. hajime. he did something to manipulate you into a relationship. he did something to you to result in this outcome.

⠀and this was all oikawa’s fault.

⠀"this is bullshit," he seethed, shaking his head in an incredulous matter. "there's no way this was mutual. it can't be." curiously, he turned to the other two with furrowed eyebrows, his eyes narrowed in their direction. "why aren't you happy about their relationship? isn't this what all of you wanted ever since i..." hurt her? his voice got caught in his throat before he could finish.

⠀"don't get us wrong. you're still a complete asshole for how you treated y/n in the past. nothing will change that." it was like a hammer hit straight into oikawa's chest. "however... it's more complicated with iwaizumi. more complicated than what we would like it to be."

⠀realistically, it shouldn't be complicated at all. oikawa knew that. he was never the nicest to you, but he truly had no ill intentions when it came to your well being. now that he was stripped of whatever pride and dignity he had during the volleyball season, he realized that even though he had no ill intention, it still hurt you. that's what hurt tooru the most.

⠀"...complicated?"

⠀"i'm sure you've heard that iwaizumi has refused to tell y/n of her... past. and she doesn't remember anything either, which works to his advantage." makki began listing down points with his finger. "she asked us, she asked the team, she's asked iwaizumi way more times that i can count with both hands and toes. hell, i'm pretty sure she's asked you, too."

⠀you have, but tooru had his own reasons for hesitating.

⠀"she's been pretty stubborn about what she wants, and actually pretty pissed that no one refuses to tell her anything. then all of a sudden she comes back to seijoh with iwaizumi after a normal weekend, hand-in-hand and happy as can be." makki shook his head at the thought of it. "something doesn't add up. maybe it's not our business to butt in, but that's what's been going on."

⠀"what do you want me to do about it?" the lonely third year leaned back against his seat once more, more frustrated than anything. "i thought all of you didn't want me near y/n anymore. now you're telling me this, and for what?"

⠀"truth be told oikawa, this was just an impulse decision on both our parts." mattsun sighed and stood up, stretching his legs a bit. makki followed suit. "even though it's suspicious, it's really not our business. everyone else seems to be content with it, especially with what y/n's been going through. it's almost meant to be at this point."

⠀ouch, another strike to the heart. "but," the rose-haired peer interjected, "even though it's not our business, it most certainly is yours, isn't it? after all, you still haven't been able to officially break up with her yet, huh? and don't you have bad blood with iwaizumi now?" he shoved his hands in his pockets, tilting his head to the side.

⠀just how much did these two know? "no," oikawa mumbled quietly, "i haven't been able to."

⠀"anyways, the bell's gonna ring soon. you're in the loophole now, so you decide what to do with the information." mattsun walked up to tooru and grabbed him by the blazer, pulling the captain up to his feet before whispering quietly, "and if you have any sense of redemption left in you, it would probably be in your best interest to see what the hell is going on with hajime iwaizumi. maybe you'll get a sense of closure in the process."

⠀tooru could only nod in retaliation to this sudden confrontation, and mattsun gently let go of his blazer before giving him a quick nod. as quickly as the two of them arrived, they had already disappeared into the hallways by the time the bell rang.

⠀the frustration followed him like a raincloud for the rest of the day.

⠀y/n, what has hajime iwaizumi done to you?

a/n : i got nothin’ to say for ya today, so enjoy!

taglist ( closed ) — @ot127 @rena0921 @karlitabi-rrito @psychicpercyjacksonfan @crescentbitch @amelimiles @damnirina @pasta-warlord @blossomingbangtan @clinomanians @i-am-kinda-in-alot-of-fandoms @manq-fandoms @cirtruss @sugar-wara @haikoo @anime-simp @kairostatue @awkwardspontaneity @iwantapoptartqwq @aquariarose @softestdreamer @plantisnotplant @avylee @froppysgirl @that-animebitch @wisepandaslimeland @samanthaa-leanne @dumplingzumispam @0hakaashi @captain-janeway @afterglowkuroo @bellabelieveme @attixca @chickenrest @tycrackculture @ynjimenez @karaseijoh @lavieenblancetnoir @dabilove27 @cuddlesslut @crypto-s @keigosbitch @readeretal @shittykawaa @donghyuckster @adriloen @ella-solei @emiyummy @kukiisan @catyuyuyuu @sillykittt @dolan-mendes @kiritokunuwu @the-third-wall @yammers @todohawki

+ continued in the comments!

[aa-lionheart]

Hey! Can you share your thoughts on why season 5 is good other than Eddie’s story? I loved this show more than anything I’ve ever loved for 4 years but this season literally made me think about dropping it. Eddie is great, sure, but we also had so much copaganda in the beginning, completely abandoned hackers plot, the absolute nightmare of Clodett’s story, so much unnecessary screen time for TK, repeating storylines for characters instead of something new, etc, etc… I’m having hard time understanding how people can call season 5 “the greatest” when Eddie is the only great thing about it. He’s my favourite but just that can’t make me overlook everything shit about this season. Am I judging it too harsh? Am I missing something great that everybody else see? Please, help me out, I’m desperate for something good to cling to.

Hi 🌼

My opinions about this season (5A and B) are very divided. Season 5A was for me a bizarre dream that I'm still trying to process. Except for a couple of episodes and a few scenes, nothing else I can take from it. I can pick up a couple of emergencies, but nothing more. The hacker thing I had completely forgotten about because they didn't know how to develop the story and focused on other things leaving that loophole. Aisha said that it seemed like they were filming another show, because even the actors knew that the show was no longer what it used to be. The dynamics that I have always loved were gone, they were episodes with too much drama, too many unfinished stories, etc. They left out many times the main characters' stories to develop secondary characters' stories (AKA TK) that didn't add anything to the plot. So when Eddie dropped the bombshell that he was leaving 118 I thought 5B was going the same way, if they had already shortened his screen time, in 5B not working on 118 made me think he would be much less in the show. Now, 5B is another thing, and that's because in the first episode they gave us right away what Eddie's plot would be for the remaining episodes (in case you didn't know, Eddie Diaz is by far my favorite character). But the season has been going well, finally Eddie has a plot beyond his love life and 118, we've seen him interact with more people (by the way, I love the dynamic he has with Linda and May) so I was and am excited about what's left of the season. I really enjoyed seeing more of Hen and Karen, they were practically abandoned and if it wasn't for the 5A emergencies, Hen wouldn't have had any screen time at all. I love watching them talk and laugh and go out dancing and enjoy their love, because they have always been so beautiful that I love them forever. May's story I also really liked, watching her from S1 until now has been great how she has grown, that she has doubts about her future, that she is able to stand up to what is bothering her and say it, I feel that Claudette's presence in the office at the end will help her to go in a different direction. I loved episode 5.12 because I had very little faith in how they would deal with Maddie's PPD, but the episode was so well written and acted that it was worth her and Chim's absence in 5A. Buck's plot this season is far from my liking, in some moments he is the Buck that has been present in the last seasons, the one that was in therapy because he wanted to be good with himself, but other times the Buck from S1 comes back and makes me want to kick him in the face. The thing with BT shouldn't have happened this season, it was barely standing, so I still don't understand what TK is still doing, being that her scenes are more and more scarce and her participation in the last episodes has been quite uncomfortable and strange to watch. I love, absolutely love that they continue this dynamic of Buck dropping everything whenever he sees Eddie or Chris need him, that's the Buck I like, the concerned one, the one who is always there for the people he loves (Eddie, Maddie, Bobby in 5.16) that's the Buck we've been watching grow and mature and I hope they don't take that away from us in the next season. About the new characters, I said it before 5B started and I'll say it again, I don't care for them. I liked the idea of this new risky and confident firefighter, but they introduced her to the show in the worst way and haven't developed anything they said she would be like (which to be honest doesn't bother me) and with Jonah, it's a plot that hasn't been seen before on 911 and it will be interesting to see how they treat her. And that would be what I think, a lot of text I know. But apart from Eddie's plot (which is THE plot of the season) there is nothing else that stands out. And I completely understand you, I'm still here for certain characters, but nothing else and I really hope that S6 will have again that fun dynamic that the other seasons had. Thanks for asking and sorry for the long answer 🥰

[handonhaven]

1. You there's so much I love about Handon. But I think the main thing I love about them is the fact they've been going strong for 3 seasons without ever breaking up. Despite what most people think(and I'm not coming at anyone or anything but if people really think a disagreement is a breakup then I don't think they've ever been in a real relationship). I don't count the beginning of season 2 because of the whole memory loss thing, 3x03 doesn't count because even Landon himself said he didn't walk away from the relationship. And 3x13 sure as hell doesn't count because that was all malivore. I just want to add that it's only a breakup if one person talks to/breaks up with the other person. Or both people talk and agree that it's over between them(therefore Handons never broken up). But anyways I love that Handon has been together for three seasons straight and they've only gotten stronger with time because they actually work through their problems. And to me that just really adds to their love story and just makes it even more epic. Because that just shows how a real relationship works/can work while dealing with and living in the supernatural world(also why did they have to separate them twice. That just seems so unnecessary to me). I know a lot of people might not agree with me and that's fine.

2. So I already know that I completely over thought this. But it just popped into my head and I know it won't leave my mind unless I share it. So you know how the show is called Legacies because it's about the next generation of supernaturals. But we also know that so much of the show centers around Hope and Landon. So what if the main reason for them calling the show legacies is because it's about Hope and Landons legacies. Because if you really think about it, it really makes sense if that's why. So here's why I think that.

-both Hope and Landons fathers are what the world thinks of great evils, even though one of them isn't actually evil. Both dream of having a lineage to continue their legacy. Two great women end up being the mothers of these children. Two children born as the only one of their kind. One child was unwanted and left alone to survive, while the other was loved, but was left alone because of death. Their fates have always been entwined in a way. They are their fathers legacies, but fate seems to disagree. They were both born to be a loophole. Yet when they met they fall in love instead of destroying each other. They both fight for each other/to be together and change their fates. So that way they can have/leave a better legacy. A future where they can be safe and happy and together without worry.

3. Okay is wrong that I keep thinking(and hoping) that by the end of the series we'll get a Handon dock wedding, on their dock. Lol or even just them showing us picture of that happening. But that's just assuming if they do a couple years time jump at some point.

Yesss I love that. And so true, I think it’s funny how so many people will say they’ve broken up and gotten back together so many times because... when?? Exactly, disagreements aren’t breakups, but some people seem to be unable to tell the difference between the two. Hope and Landon have been separated over and over when they haven’t wanted to be, they haven’t broken up, but people can’t seem to understand that either. Yep, I don’t count season 2 because neither of them wanted that and Landon didn’t know, he never would’ve been with Josie if he hadn’t forgotten Hope. And I don’t consider 3x02/3x03 to be a breakup either, because exactly, Landon said he didn’t walk from the relationship. Plus it was so brief anyway, and just thrown in for drama, it didn’t make much sense tbh. And yeah, no one can say anything about 3x13 now since it was Malivore. That’s very true, neither of them have ever agreed to or wanted a breakup, so there’s never been any official Handon breakup. And I totally agree, I absolutely love that they’ve been together and have loved each other for so long, and their love has only grown and gotten stronger. Yes, I love how they also work through their problems which has helped them grow even closer, rather than just giving up like couples so often do in shows. And the separations have truly been so unnecessary and there better not be any more.

And you make a good point about the show being called Legacies. I think it can have multiple meanings, and I feel like the main one is probably supposed to mean the legacies of TVD/TO, and also Landon being the legacy of Malivore, as well as the legacy all of the characters will leave behind. But I think that Hope and Landon’s legacies could also be another big reason as well. Because they are so tied together and share all of those similarities that you mentioned, which is crazy! They seriously have so much in common, that’s not a coincidence at all. Everything you said, that is endgame material, and they’re very much connected. I think it’s so interesting how both their fathers were/are villains (even though Klaus wasn’t in the end, he was for most of his life) and now Hope and Landon are good, and are the heroes, as well as both being the only ones of their kind. And like you also said, they’re fates are connected, they’re supposedly meant to destroy each other but they love each other instead. So even already, they’ve changed their fates, and are continuing to fight fate so that they can have a better future and leave a better legacy. Which totally fits with the title and one of the main themes of the show.

But no, not at all! I’ve seen other people talking about that too and I think that would be amazing! 😭 I want a Handon wedding by the end of the show so bad! I’d also love if they got married in New Orleans with Hope’s family there. 🥺 And yeah, a picture would be better than nothing, but not being able to see their wedding would hurt me too much, I need to see that, haha. And true, they could do a time jump, I guess it depends how long the show goes. If we get a few more seasons, by then it could work either way (since Hope and Landon are supposed to be nearly 20 at this point, or at least 18 according to the writers). So I really hope that it happens, it would be perfect!

[lilmissbacon]

Adding Characters to the Big Four (RotBTD)

I've already made a post about just "How the Big Four Work so well (discussion)" which talks about their personalities are and what their stories have in common, as well as what criteria they follow.

So if you want to understand exactly what I'm talking about I'd recommend you read this first:

Now I'm gonna go into what characters would fit and why. So if you want to add other movies to this world, I would recommend Moana, Epic, The Croods or maybe even Hotel Transylvania and here's why:

Moana – Begins with narration but ends with a song. Although it's a song that sums up what Moana had learned and what her people have now become. So it is, its own form of narration. She also goes through the journey of finding herself by becoming a wayfinder like her ancestors.

Moana definitely adds to the groups resources with being friends with the ocean, knowing about the realm of monsters and being friends with Maui & Te Fiti. She would definitely get along great with the big four friend dynamic in many ways.

Hiccup: through their ability to lead and quick thinking. They also both understand what it's like to grow up on an island with their fathers being the leader who expects certain things from them.

Rapunzel: because they understand going against a parent's wishes and working to make their dreams/wishes come true. They also have the same type of bubbly personality and would converse well.

Jack: they both understand what if feels like to be chosen for something they feel they're not ready for and what it feels like to be an outsider from the people around them.

Merida: their tough and somewhat playful nature as well as their diplomacy skills match each other so well. They'd definitely be the closest of the group because of their strong personalities.

Out of a friend group consisting of: the girly-girl, a troublemaker a nerd and a tomboy, she fits into the literary dynamic through being the 'athlete.' In battle, consisting of: a leader/strategist, a healer, a sniper(bow and arrow) and a speed fighter, Moana fits in as the 'close combatant' in battle.

The magic also can still follow the guidelines of rotg. They speak about Gods but what if there really aren't any? The only 'God' we see is Te Fiti, who is the bringer of life. Or in other words; Mother Nature. The God that had raised Maui could've actually been the man in the moon and that would be how Maui was given magic and doesn't age. He goes around, calling himself a demigod but in reality, he's a spirit. And of course he's able to be seen since everyone on Motunui believes in the demi/gods.

Seasonally, Moana would most obviously be put in summer. But there are a lot of people who feel that adding more characters to the big four kind of breaks the seasonal aspect and that's fine.

But here me out.

The seasons effect the land on earth but if Moana is a spirit of the ocean, then she's effecting the rest of the earth's surface. The ocean doesn't necessarily have seasons so you don't need to apply one to her in order for her to add to the group. BOOM! Loophole!

I believe she's the BEST additional choice out of them all. Plus she'd definitely be chosen to become a guardian because *cough cough* SHE SAVED THE WORLD FROM DECAY.

Eep – A lot of applications for Moana fit for Eep too. She has narration at the beginning and end of her film. She'd fit in literarily as the 'athlete' and battle-wise as 'close constant/brawler.'

She also kind of has an arc of finding herself by leaving her cave days behind and following the light with her family. And being that she's from the caveman days –a time even before Moana– she could definitely add to the group with her survival skills.

Eep's dynamic with the others would be:

Hiccup: he understands overly strong women and would be able to keep up with her. She also has an innocent side to her and would be enthralled with his inventions. She'd just sit there and watch him work 😆

Rapunzel: being that Eep is getting a new friend in Dawn (who reminds me of Rapunzel) in "The Croods 2," I would imagine Rapunzel would also be intrigued with Eep's scars/adventures and Eep would be more than happy to boast.

Merida: their roughness and competitive nature would make them the best frienemies. They'd be closer than ever but do nothing but wrestle and compete.

Jack: like how Eep would boast with Rapunzel, Jack would boast with Eep. She would be in love with Jack's magic and he'd be more than happy to show off.

There really isn't a magical aspect to compare with rotg so the world can still fit into the dynamic here.

Eep is witty, optimistic, energetic, speaks without thinking and fails to plan ahead a lot. Therefore, as a seasonal spirit, Eep would bring spring.

MK – Begins with narration but doesn't really have any at the end. She can add to the groups resources by knowing about the leafmen and the whole mini society, of course.

The magic also stays in line with rotg and it probably helps that the creator of Epic was also the author of the Guardians of Childhood books that inspired rotg. The moon is what blooms the pod, so it's possibly the man in the moon passing his magic into the pod so it gives the next queen her powers.

In the literary dynamic, MK would be the 'city girl' friend-wise and the 'reanforcement' fight-wise. Getting along with the rest would be:

Hiccup: she would be a sense of familiarity with MK's dad being a scientist and Nod's sarcastic nature. Hiccup would also be very intrigued to learn more about the Moonhaven kingdom.

Merida: their stubbornness and being able to understand having a parent that doesn't listen.

Rapunzel: their (new) love for nature and exploring. As well as being able to understand the pain of losing a loved one.

Jack: understanding the feeling of being invisible to the people around you. MK definitely felt this way after her mom died and when her dad wasn't listening. She mentioned how she felt alone to Ronan when he brought up the "many leaves, one tree," line.

I believe she could've been chosen to become a guardian because she did save an entire society and forest. Seasonally, I believe MK would be made into a fall spirit. There are certain places that relate to or even represent the seasons. When you think of Fall, you think of trees. Spring relates to a field/garden, summer relates to a beach and winter relates to just about everything being in snow, but usually frozen bodies of water. She's also very dependable, willing to work, disagreeable and easily irritated. All traits that relate to Autumn.

Mavis – Probably the least workable candidate. There really isn't any narration in this movie and she also doesn't really "find herself" either so her movie criteria don't really work here.

But her character criteria still does. The magic still fits because we know that spirits are created by the man in the moon. If we go by the GoC books, the mim is alien magic. But who's to say that earth didn't have its own magic in the form of monsters (which can also fit for the realm of monsters from Moana.) So the magical dynamic still works.

She could also add to the group by knowing about monsters as well as being a vampire herself. She could turn into a bat or travel as smoke to sneak around places to find information if need be.

She'd fit in literarily as the 'gothic (not so much as personality but by style)' friend-wise and the 'sneak attacker' fight-wise. Getting along with the rest would be:

Jack: there are many takes on the Jack Frost myth and in a few of those takes, he's a monster. The reason for this could be because Jack has come across Hotel Transylvania and the monsters could see him (not being human and all) and he befriended Mavis, knowing she was lonely. They have the same type of fun personality and are both great with balancing tricks. I can imagine Jack getting Mavis into trouble through pranking the hotel guests.

Rapunzel: they'd both be able to understand being locked up in some way by a parent and wanting to travel the world. They both also have naiveties about the real world and would be learning things for the first time together.

Merida: through their daily activities and love for food. I could imagine them trying each other's scream-cheese and haggis😂 I'd also imagine Merida being the one to help Mavis socially catch up.

Hiccup: much like Eep, she'd be incredibly intrigued by Hiccups inventions. I think she'd even try anything to assist him while he's testing certain things. I can imagine him also being the one to help Mavis socially catch up as well.

She's very curious, friendly, energetic and tender-hearted as well as undecided and talkative. So seasonally, she too, would go to spring. She unfortunately can't go into sunlight but there are plants that actually do better in darkness. That would be where she specializes.

I hope you all like this. I hope you find this whole thing very interesting and informational. If you have any other characters you think could add to the big four, I'd love to hear it.

[seoafin]

jjk 143, this is longer than i expected sksieiejn// i fixated on the fact that akutami said in an interview before that he had plans for yuuji's dad and thus focused on his dad when i should have been looking at his mum, but i was right on my suspicion anyway lmao

considering that inumaki is a shaman and he's currently incapacitated, that means he's probably going to be/has been moved from the college bc otherwise he would be considered a participant in the game ,,, soooooo is yuuta going with him or is he going to participate in the game

yuuta basically said this chapter that he doesn't give a shit abt yuuji but he's important to the people important to yuuta and isn't that what i've been saying since the beginning 😭 yuuta doesn't give a shit abt all this, he just cares about the people he loves ,,, yuuta's world is so narrow and small, and he is too big for it. and bc he's too big for it, no matter what he does, he always ends up being sucked into the greater flow of things ,,, yuuta wanting to live a happy peaceful life with his friends vs yuuta who is one of the strongest shamans alive having to take responsibility for the actions of others

anyway, i love how megumi emphasises that they are shamans. their job isn't to serve justice, their job is to do what they can

the thing abt shamans is that their primary enemies (curses, curse users, humanity as a whole) are entities with no preventive measures. they can't stop humans from feeling bad and inadvertently feeding curses and releasing them into the world. so it's never been an option for them to save everyone. it's never been an option for them to take preventive action, bc there's just no way for them to do so.

all they can do is wait for signs of things to go wrong, erase the threat, do what they can to save the lives they can save, and do it all again

ALSO not to be a nerd but 死滅回游 is such an interesting and apt name for the game/arc tbh

死滅 = die

回游 = migration of fish

死滅回遊魚 = kind of fish who die after they migrate

apt bc shamans will be forced to participate in the game if they don't have to be removed of their technique, but participation could mean imminent death.

also apt bc 死滅回遊魚 is a term for fish that need to migrate from their homes to survive, but are likely to die if they don't manage to return to their homes in time.

these fish usually migrate bc of the conditions of their home waters (strong currents, typhoons), so they go to milder waters where they aren't in danger. but these milder waters aren't warm enough for them throughout the year, so when the temperature drops, the fish can't survive and end up dying.

junpei was also represented by what's probably an angelfish, which is a 死滅回遊魚...

junpei was forced by external circumstances and was manipulated into working with mahito, bc he thought that it was better with him, but didn't manage to break away from mahito in time before what happened to him happened ,, is this parallelism ? lol

but like ,, there are so many ways the 死滅回游 could go 🧍

in the first place, there aren't very many active shamans in the present day ,, thinking of some people luring non-shamans for a chance to change the rules

u need 100 points to force the game maker to add a rule. i'm just saying that a particularly nasty person (a zenin?) could choose to bring 100 non-jujutsushi into their barrier and then slaughter them to add the rule that zenin are exempted from the game

also? how would the rules apply to gojou, who is a shaman, but trapped inside the prison box. if he's left within a barrier for the next 19 days, will that count as him having participated? will that lead him to losing his technique?

and if it does, will he lose one? or both?

and yuuta! yuuta could just keep killing and reviving yuuji within the barrier and he'd only need to do it 20 times or less for him to have the power to add a rule?

does this rule mean that yuuji could be worth more than 5 points? or if the game master sees that yuuta is trying to use a loophole, can the game master determine that swimmer itadori yuuji is only worth 5 points each death or 5 points his first death? additionally, does this mean that yuuta would be assigned a greater value? desperate enough people will probably come after him

yuuta doesn't even need to kill just yuuji. if this loophole works, he can just find 20 shamans within his barrier to kill and then revive until he gets enough points.

if this happens, megumi is likely to be the brains to their operation and figure out a rule that would be beneficial to them ,, and since megumi actually respects yuuta, perhaps yuuta would be partial enough to listen to him too ??

a rule they could add, supposing the game maker allows rules that can overwrite present rules, "upon the first addition of a new rule, the 死滅回游 will end." or ? "upon reaching 10 rules, the 死滅回游 will end."

but isn't yuuji not officially considered a shaman ?? how does that work, then, are people who have CTs considered shaman by the game master? so maki would not be included? or must they be officially recognised, in that case yuuji would not be included?

either way, yuuji doesn't have his own CT, so would it be too much to say that he'd be a "non-shaman" under the rules of the game, and would only be worth one point?

but 非泳者 ,, i'm still confused lol so will random "muggles" who wander in be counted or,, ?

though,, over all i feel the big questions are 1) does this invoke all shamans or just those whammied by brain, 2) does sth happen to u if u don't have contact with a barrier, 3) does CT removal result in death, 4) how much control does brain rly have

if inumaki wasn't taken out, i'd bet he'd be one of the jujutsushi who'd try to participate in the 死滅回游 to protect the non-shaman ,, his technique has always been a burden on him more than anything, i think he'd consider it a fair exchange if he was to lose it to save a life 😭

AND TSUMIKI’S LAST PANEL /&@/@/ i completely forgot abt it but i just notice that the poison that akutami drew during HI arc when gojou is trying to enhance his limitless,, it’s tetrodotoxin— which is what ppl say would have been the poison juliet took to fake her death,, inchresting

upon a reread megumi's hero speech is an assumption of what yuuji was thinking while he was by himself in shibuya. tbh megumi feels really annoyed throughout the ch, maybe even impatient lol he just wants to grab yuuji and GO already like "i get it but WE'VE GOT STUFF TO DO"

from a speaking standpoint there's some interesting decisions there. why cut off yuuji right as he's going to talk to yuuta abt why it's not about who's to blame? to keep the tension pt of yuuji and megumi keeping things from one another? why does megumi use language that reflects HIS ethos instead of YUUJI's - to emphasize that yuuji's proper death stuff actually never worked or was feasible, or a reframing of the situation?

to keep the tension pt of yuuji and megumi keeping things from one another? why does megumi use language that reflects HIS ethos instead of YUUJI's - to emphasize that Yuuji's proper death stuff actually never worked or was feasible, or a reframing of the situation?

yuuji...the whole point is that there’s no morality figure,, u have to figure it out for urself....but hopefully yuuta offering a similar but different viewpoint might help him work things out idk, but the game will force him to kill more ppl? then again we dont know the plan

lowkey.... akutami’s being a secretive abt megumi’s reaction on gojou being sealed, tsumiki’s awakening, order for yuuta to execute yuuji, even the announcement that he's gonna be the clan head... its happening out of reader’s sight 🤨

idk if i wanna assume megumi knows the extent of what to expect but at the same time ,, i think, if he put his mind to it and it is necessary, megumis actually a good actor. like. when tsumikis friend asked abt her and despite worrying megumi played it off?

besides i dont think gojou will leave megumi helpless. hes likely the type, esp after his encounter with toji, to have contingency plans and imo megumi is definitely not someone gojo is gonna be so careless as to leave defenseless. gojou may hide stuff from megumi but even that is his way of protecting megumi (albeit a horrible one imo),, so i think megumis at least equipped for if sth disastrous happens to gojou. see. its why i think he's with yuuta ,, not only for yuuji but prolly bc yuuta is someone who can help megumi

i mean,,, naoya didnt even appear to have met megumi? if megumi isnt aware. if yuuta isnt aware. theres no reason for them not to meet. even naoya knows megumi was supposed to be with yuuta. and yet ,, naoya basically became yuuta’s messenger?

kinda realized this is precisely megumi’s difference with nobara and yuuji. he's been with gojou for almost a decade. the things he saw and learned all those years.. ofc there are things megumi is privy to that the other two will not immediately understand nor know how to react - 🐱

i feel like you brought up an important comparison between yuuta and megumi. and now that I think about it although the both of them are seemingly different in personality, their motives are pretty much the same. the only reason why megumi became a shaman was for tsumiki’s sake. yuuta cares about his friends.

also i’ve been seeing what would happen to gojo inside the prison realm, but when I was reading the rules. i thought they only applied to people who were given CT’s?? like I don’t think the brain would be able to take away CT’s from actual jujutsu sorcerers? Unless there’s power in the barrier itself to do that, rather than the brain’s control of the people who he unlocked CT’s in.

also with yuji not having a CT....I think he’ll unlock one. but who knows.

YOU HAVE SO MANY GOOD THOUGHTS!!! i was also thinking that yuuta could “kill” and heal people, but at the same time....that’s traumatizing!! but I can also yuji volunteering for it bc that’s just what he would do sdjfndskj

hopefully, gojo has more contingency plans in action but at the same time I can see gojo just doing that one thing and figuring out he could handle the rest lollll i guess whether or not he did have more plans in place will tell us whether or not he’s truly passed the obstacle of doing everything himself.

i think it was really kind of yuuta to tell yuji he was in a similar position. im so excited to see yuuta in action during the game.

I NEED MORE CONTEXT AKUTAMI!!! WE’VE BEEN THROWN HEADFIRST INTO A NEW ARC WITHOUT INFO ON ANYTHING 😭

[jdmainman123]

Hey have you ever got this who do you people think you are with your tiny CD in your tiny downtown trying to make an example out of me WHEN WHEN WE'RE NOT IN NEWARK WHEN WE'RE NOT IN CHICAGO WHEN WE'RE NOT IN LAX 3/4

Just send me here with with people who cannot leave or they will be killed based off CNA two-story Walmart or a two-story McDonald's

WHAT IS IT SATELLITE MAKERS DIDN'T WANT TO BE CHARGED WITH SATELLITE PROTECTION AND THEN THEY SURPRISINGLY WOULD ALLOW THIS TO BE TO BE HERE FOR THESE POOREST PEOPLE WHERE THEY COULD CHARGE EVERYTHING ONE OF YOU and oh no to add in this field satellite maker through in an entire city for a black skin boys to blame

Are we guessing it's too trick the satellite to call Black Mass Justice are we still thinking it's a gold Son Snows family

YOU KNOW SO I'M I'M LOOKING AT WALKING ALONG THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY CAMPING OUT ON THE SIDE OF A WAWA AND THEN POOPING ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T MATTER TO LET'S SAY DALLAS-FORT WORTH just a small tiny ass crack downtown for them to send me here and end for him for you men to allow him to punish us when you guys are not allowed to train City

HAVE YOU GUYS EVER HEARD OF STATEMENT I WOULDN'T GIVE ONE WHITE HAIR WHITE SKIN GIRL FOR ANY OR ALL OF THOSE BLACK SKIN MEN?

I know you guys heard this one who do you who do you tiny dick men think you are no one cares about you to have me here in this tiny City full of people who I'm probably like a handjob favor I COULD I COULD SEE WHY THE STATEMENT WAS YOU GUYS ARE ALL FORCED TO DIE FOR A WHITE HAIR WHITE SKIN BOY JASON OR MIAMI FLORIDA 3/4

It's just the problem with you people your entire city exists on waiting for me to show up and then doing favors by how many times I can poop on us Mississippi displayed one thing they brought back to pooping on the sidewalk and it seems to have been their number one recruitment and also follow him around and the boys ask how much money does he have on his EBT?

And now we are 100% sure of the statement to boys just follow me around for their first time in charge of telling another man. Don't give it to him shut down the bathroom pull all his favorite groceries off of the shelves. If I've heard every time I'm walking to the store and they said you know what tasted Doritos off of the shelves and to be your only power Play you wouldn't even be able to talk to your kids that way

AND FOR YOU MAN TO BE MAD AT ME FOR ALLOWING YOUR OWN SATELLITE MAKER FATHER TO SEE YOU CAN'T GET INTO A TRAIN CITY YOU GUYS CAN'T GET INTO A SNOW CITY BECAUSE OF THOSE TREES THE SUNLIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO BLAST US IN OUR FACES AND YOU GUYS WILL BE THE MOST RACIST CITY THAT HATES WHITE HAIR BABIES YOU GUYS WILL GO DOWN AS THE MOST PEOPLE WHO HATED LITTLE BOYS BECAUSE YOU GUYS KILLED ALL THOSE WHITE HAIR BABIES AND ALLOWED THIS BLACK SKIN MEN TO HOLD ALL THE WHITE HAIR WHITE SKIN GIRLS FROM THESE LITTLE BLACK BOYS

And you want to blame me listen I'll get pregnant but I'm going to say I'm going to State my case I came here and this city and they kidnap me fish forbid airplane loophole the homosexual Jason was it was kidnapped her maybe like three tours probably hung out in Las Vegas for like 3 years that's the standing what they're going to do is make a stockpile of airplane Jason's and let him hang out in Las Vegas until they're ready to bring him here I guess when the dead daughter is old enough

YEAH BUT FOR YOU MAN I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY LDX 3/4 DOES MAD AT ME AND WHY DALLAS WAS MAD AT ME BUT YOU MEANT OVER HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTESVILLE FOR YOU GUYS TO ALLOW THIS THIS LUNATIC INTO TO GIVE UP THE ENTIRE CITY and I accepted me to come here and blame me forcing me to spend days and nights tortured on the sidewalk walking down that long long road of trees that it cannot snow and sunlight insist you guys hate white hair babies and and boys

I CALLED IT

[aboundlesswombofcultivations]

t h u r s d a y    n i g h t    (w h e n    d r e a m s    c o m e    t r u e)

--- L E V   R U B I N S H T E I N

--translation of Lev Rubinshtein by Philip Metres and Tanya Tulchinsky

1

All night I was dreaming of the frontier regions of existence. Waking up, I could remember only something between water and dry land, silence and speech, sleep and waking and managed to think: "Here it is, the aesthetic of uncertainty. Here it is again..."

2

I dreamt as if someone long gone and, it seemed, completely forgotten, suddenly appeared and looked at me so attentively that I woke, my heart pounding...

3

I dreamt that I had to get up and look if she were sleeping. I woke up, and could not remember for a long time who I was thinking of. Then I remembered...

4

I dreamt that I had to hide in my shell for awhile, and then, as they say, we'll see. I woke up and thought "Well, I don't know, I don't know..."

5

I dreamt that happiness truly knew no bounds. Waking up, I thought "Well, I'll be damned..."

6

I dreamt that you only have a chance four times in life. Waking, I thought that there was surely something to this...

7

I was dreaming that the most important thing was to find the most adequate form of sympathy for each other. Then I woke up...

8

I was dreaming that the idea of a clear page is a short circuit to any consistent aesthetic experience. Then I woke up...

9

I was dreaming that one could proceed from the fact that our sense of self is a sense of self of self-created personages, existing in their own time and space. And that the starting point of such sense of self, as a matter of fact, draws us together. Then I woke up...

10

I dreamt two whole arguments in my support, but of course I could not remember them...

11

I dreamt a third argument as well. But it also remained there in the dream...

12

I dreamt of the long-awaited coming of a hero. His appearance was often gloomy, but his constant readiness to be happy was indubitable. He was impressive in his open and keen relation to reality. Waking up, I thought that there was nothing to add to this.

13

I dreamt the rare flitters of fading hopes. Neither bright, nor warm, they silently smoldered down in the windless deeps of the consciousness.

I was so used to them, my tired brain almost failed to acknowledge them, my head would no longer lift at their sight, my nostrils would no longer inflate, my pulse would no longer quicken. It seemed that nothing could break my despondent calm. It seemed that nothing forbode any change...

14

I dreamt of an ancient park with trees immersed in thought. Along its shaded alley, a lonely figure moved towards me. I noticed it from far off and almost immediately guessed who it was. But you've probably guessed as well...

15

I dreamt that they were obviously not alone there. Someone prowled in the night without a sound, like a thief. "Quiet-whispered Heinrich with his lips pursed-you didn't hear anything?" Both listened. Silence ensued again. It was as if lightning sudde nly sliced through the dark...

16

I dreamt of creaking floorboards and balding rugs of a small boarding house on the shore of Lake Bodenskoe. The weather during these days was rainy and unpleasant. The mistress of the boarding house was a good-natured and flabby woman about fifty years old. The table usually sat about ten or twelve guests. They were of different nationalities, habits, and interests. There was nothing to talk about, and lunch was stale. Boredom and despair reigned at the table.

Still, one of the guests did grab my attention. He was a young, sickly-looking Italian, always silent, who would only rarely cast around an obscure glance, as if something known only to him had momentarily awakened him from his usual stupor...

17

I dreamt of a massive gray Ministry of Navigation building. It was located just a couple steps from my old apartment. And my windows looked right out onto the same despondent square. And along my windows each morning and each night strode the faceless chain of clerks. If I could have thought then...

18

I dreamt of little Kolya's face, happy for no reason, and the concentrated faces of his family, and the impatient face of the driver, and all the other faces-relatives, acquaintances, those barely known, and those not known at all. All of them diffused in the dim consciousness of Konstantin, merged into one quickly revolving spot, and he fell, as if cut down, to the wet asphalt of an empty train platform that morning.

19

I dreamt the situation was such that if a clear and quivering voice suddenly appeared amid the inarticulate din of the crowd, it, too, would be lost in the gnashing. Those who would manage to hear it would only exchange looks, nod knowingly to each other, and that would perhaps be the end, if not for the

20

I dreamt that we all had to live by touch: here a loophole, here a fence, there a solid wall. And our life passes, from decision to doubt, from a nod to an interjection, from dream to toil...

21

I dreamt a light went out somewhere in the middle. And the voice crying out in the wilderness could no longer be heard. The warmth had dispersed, never to return. Only glass glancing at glass, fleeting, inarticulate...

22

I dreamt of a caustic smoke and my own death mask. What will we give as a momento? What will we grab at the last moment? Paradise is not for us, so we don't walk in pairs. It's so basic it's not worth explaining...

23

I dreamt my heart's pulled out from its sheath each night. What do we know? What can we do? Whoever knows, be silent...

24

I dreamt of the emptiness of the sky. We both felt lost in it. You said: "The swallow over there will remember us until we die..."

25

I dreamt we were saying goodbye on the bridge. We are tired, we'll take a rest... All nature's actions happen for a reason. No one will be delighted to receive us. Neither of us knows what will happen tomorrow, or the day after. Our final meeting. We are saying goodbye to each other on the bridge...

26

I dreamt he was buried in a grave, out of his mind. With a long flame the candle burned recklessly...

27

I dreamt he lay down on the sand forever. Who could understand the earthly bustle, if not him? That nothing is what it seems... That what's said is beyond us. And here above the earth our dear comrade soars... We'll also go the way water wouldn't flow. Where brains fall off, and shrieks, and pitch dark. We'll go as well--it's time, it's time for us to leave this home. We wanted to live, and this is what it's come to...

28

I dreamt at dawn of my balcony all twined with snow, overflowing with something crimson, and my stallion's nape marked with murderous fangs, the vengeful glare of wolves-- luminous fish sparkling, then disappearing--as they head for the woods.

Over my shoulder I heard my rifle's parting cry, a crazed laugh of a fallen animal's shriek.

My dying horse, a white steam through a wide-open door, an unending blizzard, a ski trail overgrown with snow...

29

I dreamt my scarcely breathing ship was sinking, while in the storming space I was engaged in a miraculous prayer...

30

I was dreaming of nothing much-- just numbness and endurance. Let's hide our beaks in our plumage at this crossroads of winds. We know how much this is worth, and that too. But who'll be in charge of our stage, when we take up the pilgrim's staff and bag? And how do we proceed in such mist, not for an hour, not for a day, but for a thousand years-- our contempt stuck in our pocket, tet a tet with the cold wind?

31

I dreamt as if they were running--my remaining days, looming ahead, while I was left behind. The quiver of six transparent wings revealed myself to me, and I woke up...

32

I was dreaming he was right here, sitting on my bed. He was here, clear as day, and yet he wasn't here. Who knows better than him that all has changed, and there's no place for hope or an unbiased mind.

The quiver of six transparent wings revealed myself to me, and I woke up...

33

I was dreaming at dawn of a half-demon, half-corpse staring with its many eyes out of a gilded frame. He said: "Don't wait in vain--a miracle won't happen. If you have a place to run to, then get out of here." He said: "Follow me, I'll show you the way." With a heavy head I woke up...

34

I was dreaming of a balance of paper, a memory gone to sleep. Lulled by the song of dripping moisture I let slip another spring. My tongue was nursing the stingy definition of life's meaning. But then long ray fell on my blanket, and I woke up...

35

I was dreaming that dreams bring relief, yet take something from you forever. And then I woke up...

36

I dreamt of a phrase: "my Deep Throat muse."

After I woke up, I lay with my eyes open for a long time...

37

I dreamt that retelling dreams you don't remember is a kind of occupation.

Waking up, I thought, "why not?"

38

I dreamt that I didn't care who cried because of which onion. Waking up, I thought, "I don't care."

39

I dreamt that if "today's Thursday" is said on Thursday, then it means that today is Thursday. If "today's Thursday" is said on Friday, then it's either or lie or a mistake, or something else.

Waking up, I thought that, really, what is said is as important as when it is said...

40

I dreamt as if we were sitting here and doing the same thing that we're doing now. Waking up, I thought that there really was nothing unusual about this...

41

I dreamt an uncountable number of various possibilities.

Waking up, I tried for a long time to remember something, anything...

42

On the very brink between dream and waking, I dreamt what whatever exists, does indeed exist.

Waking up, I thought: "That's how it should be..."

[a-winterprince-blog]

Family Ties (6/15)

Summary: Not long after receiving a strange warning in a dream, Killian finds himself forced to go to Camelot and deal with a long forgotten enemy. The heroes follow to aid him, but soon they are pulled into a net of family secrets and intrigues, with a foe who seems to bring back the dead. Killian is reunited with his family, but can he trust them? Rating: Mature Content Warning: Mention of rape and minor character death. Corresponding chapters will be marked accordingly. As always, a huge thank you goes out to my wonderful beta @onceuponadisneypotter (AO3) and my two amazing artists:@thisisartyannaand @captainodonoghue! You can find the story on ff.net, as well. 

“Seriously?” Emma asked. “Golden eggs?”

They had returned from the dinner, which had gone on for hours. Now she was restlessly pacing around the room, trying to distract herself from her hunger. She hadn’t eaten much, in fear of not looking like a royal.

“It’s an act,” Snow explained. “We’re royals from a different kingdom. They were under a curse for a long time, it might make them look weak. Arthur wants to prove that Camelot is as strong and wealthy as ever.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Someone has a big ego.”

“It’s all strategy and part of ruling a kingdom.”

“Just as the guards we saw on our way there,” Regina added. “He might not really have many, but he let them patrol places that we would see, to make us think he has an army protecting this place.”

“Wow. He seems paranoid,” Emma muttered, coming to a halt and bracing herself on the table. Half-heartedly, she glanced at the maps they had studied early that day.

“You know what I’ve been thinking?” Regina said. “There’s one thing that doesn’t add up. Remember that kingdom he talked about? The one Morgause destroyed?”

“Yeah,” Emma replied, “Dom… Dom-something, I think.”

“Dumnonia,” Snow threw in. “I think it was called Dumnonia.”

“Maybe. Besides the point.” Regina started walking up and down the room, her arms crossed in front of her chest. “He said it was protected by a spell that was based on family.” She looked at Emma, clearly expecting her to say something.

“Right… so?”

“Blood magic!” Regina snapped. “Do you ever pay attention during my lessons? It must be blood magic.”

“And that means…?” Emma drew the last syllable out, not sure what the mayor was getting at.

“It means it can’t be broken. It’s impossible.”

“Well, there’s always a way,” Snow reasoned. “Every curse can be broken.”

“Blood magic isn’t a curse,” Regina corrected her. “But it doesn’t matter. Yes, every spell has a weak spot. And if you’re smart, you create one when coming up with it. That makes it strong, so that nothing else can tear it down. If you don’t do it, if you try to make it unbreakable, it’s always possible to counteract it with a strong opposite power, like true love’s kiss for dark magic.”

“So true love’s kiss broke the dark curse because you forgot to build in a loophole?” Emma asked.

Regina glared at her. “That was Rumple, not me. And as we all know, he wanted that spell broken.” She sighed. “What I’m saying is that blood magic doesn’t work on blood relatives, that’s why it’s called blood magic. That’s the weak spot. It can’t be broken. Unless Morgause is a part of the family or the person who put up the spell took it down for her, there is no way she could’ve gotten in there.”

“Regina…,” Emma started. “Okay, yes, that’s weird, but I don't’ really see how that’s relevant to us right now. I mean, she found a way to bring back the unborn child of a woman who died centuries ago. Let’s just accept that she has a few tricks up her sleeve.”

“This is very relevant! Because if she didn’t kill those people, who did? Why does Arthur think it was her? Was she involved, did she instruct someone to do it? Don’t you see? She might have an ally in this castle! Someone who is part of the royal family!”

Emma raised her eyebrows. She looked at her mother. Regina seemed to have a valid point, but she was too exhausted to think about it right now. They already had to worry about one powerful witch, there were already too many questions. What did she want with Calie? How did she know Killian? And what about Calie, how was she here if Milah was dead? She should’ve known it would come back to bite them in the ass if they ignored it.

“Fine,” Regina said, exasperated. “Forget what I said if you’re not interested. But I promise you, I will find out how it really happened!”

She left the room, letting the door close with a slam behind her.

Emma rubbed her face with her hands, holding back a yawn, and turned her attention back to the maps. They had marked spots that seemed like good hiding places for a witch with an ‘X’. Thankfully, all magic-blocking crystals were marked as ‘safe spots’ in the maps they had been given. But it was hard to judge the territory without ever having seen it. She couldn’t hide in a plain, there had to be something, a cave or a building. Something to provide cover.

“Do you think she’s right? About Morgause’s ally?” Snow asked.

Emma shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t  know. She seems to be ten steps ahead of us, technically everyone in this castle could be playing us. Maybe the whole court’s working for her.”

She walked to the bed and sat on the edge, eyes looking at the opposite wall without actually seeing it.

Snow stepped closer, putting a hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

“Emma”, she said. “We didn’t have much time to talk. How are you feeling?”

“Fine”, she replied absently, looking away. She really wanted to be alone right now. She was hungry and tired, not to mention she had an evil witch to think about. And a baby to save.

Unbidden, Calie’s face appeared before her inner eye. It was strange, she had always been irritated by her crying. But this morning, when she had woken up to silence, it had felt empty. Like there was something missing.

She wondered where Morgause was keeping her. If she made sure that she was warm and fed. If she rocked her to sleep.

She was so lost in thought that she almost forgot her mother was there.

“Look, Emma, I know you’re hurting. I can’t even imagine how hard this must be for you!”

Emma slightly turned her head away. She really wasn’t in the mood for a hope speech.

“But we will find her, I promise, good always wins! She will be fine, and you’ll get her back, and then we can all go home and-“

“Stop it!” Emma snapped, shocked at how irritated she sounded. But the stress of the past few days was taking its toll. “If you want to go and make someone feel better, go find Killian, but stop pretending like Calie is my daughter, because she’s not!”

She got up from the bed, walking away from her mother. Not that she could avoid her, she thought grimly, looking at the wall in front of her.

She tried to focus on the painting on her eye level. It showed three children playing in a field. Emma’s gaze fixed on the girl and a dark-haired boy. They could almost be Henry and Calie, when she was older. Henry loved her like a sister. He had always been so pure, so loving. Like her parents. Too bad that trait had skipped a generation. Emma briefly wondered if all the time she spent alone, in the foster system, was the reason for her jealousy, the reason she feared not to be enough, after all this time.

“But… she’s Killian’s daughter and you’re together”, Snow said confused. “I mean you’ve taken care of her for the last four months. You’re the only mother she has!”

“I’m NOT her mother!” Emma shouted, spinning around. “And Killian took care of her, not me. Her mother is dead!”

The pity in Snow’s face didn’t help. If anything, it made her angrier and more frustrated. Why didn’t anyone get it? It wasn’t like she wasn’t already irritated enough.

“I know what you’re doing”, Snow said. “You’re trying to protect yourself from emotions, like you always do. But I think you love her, and you know that. And now you’re fighting with Killian, which is absolutely natural because you’re both worried for her, but it will all be fine in the end! Good always wins!”

“You want to know why Killian and I are fighting?” Emma said. “Because I wish we’d never found Calie, and I told him that!”

Snow looked shocked for a moment, but she quickly covered it up.

“I’m sure you didn’t mean it, even if you think you did. You love each other, and you’ll figure it out. As for Calie, she’s just a baby. If you’re worried that she won’t accept you, don’t be! She never knew her mother, and she will love you!”

“Since when are you an expert on parenting?” Emma asked coldly.

Snow flinched, and Emma sucked in her breath, immediately regretting what she’d said.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It wasn’t fair. I’m just… tired.”

She rubbed her face with her hands, sitting down on the bed. “Sorry.”

“No, you’re right”, her mother said softly. “David and I are still learning.”

She started gently rubbing her daughter’s back. “With Neal and with you.”

“Can I ask you something?” Emma suddenly said. “If you had the chance, would you change anything? Would you still put me in that wardrobe?”

Snow’s hand stilled on her back.

“Yes”, she said with a sad smile. Emma tensed. “It was the right thing to do. We knew you would be the Savior, the only chance to break the curse. It does not mean that I don’t wish things had been different, that David and I could have raised you, and that we could have been a family. I wish it so much, Emma! And I’m sorry for everything you went through because of this.”

Emma nodded slightly. “Don’t be”, she whispered. “As you said, it was the only way to break the curse. You saved all the people in your kingdom because you are heroes, and you did the right thing by giving up your child, and giving me my best chance.”

She took a deep breath, holding back the tears stinging in her eyes. “It’s just sometimes I wish you weren’t heroes. Sometimes I wish you hadn’t saved everyone else but me, and just kept me. Because for all the years before I knew you, I never once felt like a Savior, or loved, or like I had my best chance. I never knew. I always thought my parents abandoned me because they didn’t want me.”

“I know, sweetheart, but you know the truth now.”

Emma felt a tear escaping her eye, and angrily wiped it away. “That doesn’t matter. I’ve known you for what, two years? And I’m thirty, mum. The lonely part in my life was kinda pretty long! And I can’t even blame you because you did the right thing. And now you expect me to do the right thing, too, and love my boyfriend’s motherless child, even if her mother was his true love, and even if she’s a constant reminder that I will always be his second love. He only has eyes for her, because she’s the only thing he’s left from Milah!”

She couldn’t help the tears from streaming down her face now. Her mother put her arms around her and pulled her close.

“Emma, he loves you! Maybe you’ve just been shutting yourself out? Calie is a part of his life now, she’s his daughter, and like it or not, but you have to accept that. You know how it’s like to love a child. If you distance yourself from her or see her as competition, it’s no wonder you’re distancing yourself from Hook, too! And she really needs you, as a mother. She’s just a baby, Emma. She’s not yours, but that doesn’t mean she can’t become yours.”

“I’m a horrible person for hating her”, Emma said between sobs.

“No, you’re not. And as I said, I don’t think you do. Otherwise you wouldn’t be trying so hard to find her.”

‘Iseult.’

Morgause quietly snorted in disgust. Was this another way to punish her? Not only did she have to marry a man three times her age, she had to do so under a fake name. Nimue didn’t want anyone to associate her with Avalon or with magic in general, so now, instead of Morgause le Fay, she was Iseult of the White Hands.

How could she do this to her? Names held power. Nimue knew that. Morgause le Fay was strong and had her own mind. Iseult of the White Hands was no one. She was weak. She only served as a way for Uther to gain more power.

“Lady Iseult, are you tired of riding yet? You can always sit in the carriage”, one of the knights escorting her asked. He was probably the youngest knight in Uther’s court, save for Prince Arthur. Morgause tried to remember his name. Something starting with T.

“No, I am fine”, she heard herself say. She smiled at him. “But thank you for your concern, Sir…?”

“Tristan. My name is Tristan.”

She gave him another smile and he fell behind as they passed a narrow bridge. Morgause focussed her gaze on Merlin, who was riding before her. His white cloak covered almost all of the horse’s back.

She had seen him talking to her mother right before they had left. Nimue had given him something and she wanted to know what it was. A weapon in case Morgause refused to marry Mark? Surely her parents wouldn’t hurt her?

Morgause wasn’t naïve. She knew that Merlin was her father, even though Nimue had tried to keep it a secret. It was the only explanation for her power. The legacy of the le Fays combined with the one of the most powerful magicians to ever live.  Even though she had never been allowed to use her magic she felt that if she learned to control it, no one would be able to stop her.

She was also perfectly aware that her mother feared her power. They both knew that if she trained her, the student would soon exceed the master.

Morgause could feel the magic within her every second she was awake. She could feel it tingling in her fingers, prickling sometimes, as if it was impatient to be used. She could feel it in the air in Avalon, as if the magic on the island was inviting her to come along, to join in the ancient dance. She could feel it in her heart that threatened to burst every moment she had to hold back. Every part of her body and soul yearned to finally let go, but she didn’t know how. It was like there was something missing, the key ingredient to channeling the power within and letting it out.

If there was one thing Morgause didn’t understand it was why Nimue decided to have a child with Merlin in the first place. That question had kept her up so many nights since she had figured out who her father was. She wasn’t under any illusions that her parents were in love and she was the product of their affair. It wasn’t how these things worked in her family.

The Lady of the Lake wasn’t supposed to fall in love and give into feelings. She was supposed to stand above it and make the best decision by finding a suitable father for her heir. Nimue had later broken this arrangement with Uther, but it didn’t matter as much since she already had a daughter. She wouldn’t have made that mistake with her heir.

So if Nimue chose Merlin as Morgause’s father, she must’ve anticipated that the child would be born with magical powers beyond her understanding. It must’ve been her intention.

Power, Love and Wisdom.

The three ideal traits that balanced each other, at least according to her mother. How many times had she heard them in her childhood?

Could it be that long ago, Nimue had favored power over the other two? If she really had created Morgause out of lust for power, it was only ironic that she would take it away from her now, she thought bitterly.

Her thoughts wandered back to the object Nimue had given Merlin.

Just what had her parents planned?