#that is a THREAT. a threat full of MALICE and EVIL and ADORATION

[impuubus]

more doodles :)

[shimmerbeasts]

"Tomato, tomato", Mizora said in a dismissive tone. You did not hear a Cambion feel the need to add that they were half-human. It was far more likely for them to correct you for calling them a devil, and even then, it was solely done because of the derivative and condescending tone so many people used when saying the word. After all, nobody liked being insulted to their face. Even when they were objectively evil.

Jaheira was keeping her cool surprisingly well. Even with the painful squeeze of the Cambion's tail, she stayed where she was, beads of sweat gathering on her forehead, breath labouring as the cry, her body wanted to so desperately let out, was withheld by will alone. She even managed to speak, despite it all. Mizora smiled briefly, eyes shining with malice as she drank in the pain like she was sampling some exotic wine. However, the Cambion made no further move to cause more damage. She had made her point clear.

The scratching, itching sensation on her calf made her once more look down. Mizora noticed the green vein wandering up and down her calf. Some adorable attempt of the high harper to get somewhat even. Mizora's nostrils curled and she blew a quiet raspberry. Her hand reached for the side of her dress's front part and she shifted the fabric just a touch so that Jaheira could see a labyrinth of old scars, claw-, bite marks and stab wounds on her calf.

"You will have to try harder than that, Jaheira", Mizora said matter-of-factly. She let go of her dress and allowed it to fall back into its place. As the question came on whether she was infected, the Cambion shook her head. For the first time, her either playful or detached voice now was filled with something else. A sense of relief and the quiver of fear, ever so briefly. After all, there was no point in pretending the Illithid Empire was no threat towards Avernus. If anything, given how desperate mortals were for allies in those trying times, it might just be advantageous and thug at their heartstrings.

"No, I was not tadpoled", Mizora reassured Jaheira, "I got lucky. My pet and his playmates arrived before any of those squids did. Maybe because they had not yet figured out what to do with something like me. It certainly did help that you all launched a full-blown assault on Moonrise Tower. Ketheric Thorm had a bit more to worry about than a Cambion rotting away in his fleshy basement. I would say Thank you, but I have already given Wyll quite a big reward for all the hoops, he jumped through."

"Half-elf," Jaheira corrected with a tight smile, but a sharp pain shot through her leg, making her flinch. For a split second, she thought Mizora might snap the bone, and her mind raced, already calculating how she’d heal herself and buy the others enough time to escape and regroup...

But then it stopped. Still tight, still painful. It would definitely leave bruises. But thankfully, no broken bones.

"Never knew devils had prehensile tails. Life's a school, indeed," Jaheira muttered under her breath, trying hard not to cry out. But anyone who caught a glimpse of her strained, contorted features could tell she was, at the very least, in extreme discomfort.

Jaheira pressed her lips into a thin line, moving her hand subtly to guide the vine up and down Mizora’s leg in response. She knew she could hardly cause the devil any real harm, especially not with a simple grass vine, but at the very least, she could make Mizora's experience a bit itchier than she'd like.

"So you're infected?" Jaheira's voice wavered slightly, her eyes locking onto the devil's with a mixture of genuine concern and something darker—dread.

If she was, it set a very, very dangerous precedent. It would mean the illithid threat had spread far beyond what Jaheira had anticipated, and not even devils were safe from the Elder Brain's hive mind.

[teeterarting]

here's a list of things i love about PSMD for no reason other than i think it deserves appreciation (spoilers)

the hero gets adopted by a nuzleaf. Hero, a young child that doesn't know why they were brought into this world, attacked by beheeyem, scared and alone, finds someone that takes them under his wing and gives them a home. it's really sweet that once Nuzleaf brings them to the Village, Hero's not alone anymore.

yes it was all a trick, he deceived you. but being betrayed by your father figure hits so much harder. it's much more personal, especially when both Hero and Partner are kids. and when Nuzleaf goes through all that ordeal in the post game, then gets accepted back into the village?? And his little speech to Hero????? it's heartbreaking and incredibly touching at the same time

everything is just so cute!!!! you go to school with your new friendo and you're friends with the schoolkids, and you make the trip to school every morning taking in the scenery, the smell of dew and fresh grass, and the sun on your face... and you take classes about Mystery Dungeon mechanics, and principal Simipour is a big BRO, the school nurse Audino is super kind and helpful... and you get to play with your pokemon friendos in summer vacation, and explore a dungeon with 'em... AND your bond with your Partner begins to form, getting stronger and stronger from then on. PSMD's beginning arc is so warm and pleasant, it's like reliving childhood memories all over again, when things were happier and you didn't have to worry about how cruel the world is. this story section's one purpose is to get the player used to the game's mechanics, as well as foreshadowing. unfortunately most of the school kids get forgotten later on, but I still love this part for everything it is, even if unintentional.

it's not just the beginning that's cute. PSMD'S ENTIRE WORLD IS ADORABLE. It's just filled with life every town you go. there are a bunch of pokemon locals and they all have interesting things to say, in the main story and the post-game. there's a point where their comments get repetitive, but that's bound to happen in any PMD game. Even then, the days are never the same. one morning you wake up and the Lively Town locals are exercising, then the next they're having singing lessons, and then they're practicing martial arts. and you get to connect with (or recruit) some of them just by.... chatting!!! Sitting next to that big ol' venusaur and sharing stories, laughing and having fun. it's good stuff.

Sometimes you find travelling pokemon in dungeons and it's jsut the coolest thing. Imagine you're exploring a dungeon, then your Connection Orb notifies you there's a fellow explorer in the floor. First thing you do is try to find them, and when you do - oh dang a travelling Archeops!!!! And then they just,,,, exchange their experiences and thoughts on exploration and how hard it is to fend off those enemies and the cool treasure they found the other day (the game calls it "[Team Name] and [Traveller pokemon] compared notes"). then the traveller heals you, fills your belly and restores your PP. and they go on their way. idk man it's such a cute interaction. explorers chatting, empathizing and helping each other, bc their job is not an easy one...

PSMD Partner is the most developed Partner in any PMD game yet. They start off as this naive, hyperactive kiddo, then stuff happens, and worse stuff happens, and you get to see how they grow and change and by the end they're a different person than they were before (in more than one way ...). It's just so nice to be by their side, from the beginning to the bitter end, and watch their growth. in contrast, Hero is a little unbalanced in that their backstory is not explored as much, and their personality is kind of a blank - probs meant to be vague so the player can be in their shoes. to me this just gives you the opportunity to shape their character however you want, so you can have tons of different hero/pardner dynamics.

The music is rlly flippin' good. Some of the tracks are recycled from previous entries, but when they go original??? it's a blast!!! "Echoes of the Mystical Forest" is one of my favorites in all four entries, it has no right being so amazing for a random dungeon. "Time to Set Out" makes me cry immediately (also i think it would be a better fit for the parting ways scene at the end...). Don't even get me started on "Second Dark Matter Battle", it has everything an epic climax needs and MORE. the Partner remix????? absolute genius

speaking of which, Dark Matter ITSELF,, is freaking amazing. Its actions were foreshadowed in the very beginning, though they were not blatant through the game. i do think they could have done a better job at showing the pokemon's negativity raising in the world, as well as negative feelings in the characters... but it's not like Gates did a good job at it, either (outside of cutscenes, all the locals in Post Town are incredibly nice to you and fights didn't "break out often". it's like the game tells you the world is a dark place, but what it shows in gameplay doesn't add up). so i'll cut them some slack. Still, I find Dark Matter a more compelling villain than the Bittercold for several reasons. it is sentient. its speech is a jumbled amount of voices all talking at the same time - the anguished voices of the world. It actually concocted a plan to hurl the planet into the Sun, using pawns like Nuzleaf and Yveltal to do its dirty job. in the Voidlands, Hero and Partner discover its past, and how it'll come back after defeat, like a cycle. when Partner accepts Dark Matter, they accept negative feelings as something everyone has within themselves. Most of all, the fact that Dark Matter is a manifestation of negative feelings doesn't make it just a generic threat, a final obstacle to be defeated so the world can be saved. It makes Dark Matter - negativity itself - a natural part of the world, the yin to its yang. and that's why I LOVE IT SO MUCH DANG IT EVEN THANKS PARTNER FOR THEIR ACCEPTANCE

The fact that Dark Matter can possess pokemon that have "even the smallest amount of darkness in their hearts". it makes me think of Mr. Nuzleaf and what he might have gone through in the past to make him so easy to be controlled. Did he hold a grudge against someone?? Did he commit a crime?? Had Nuzleaf always been malicious???? And if so, is this why he shows so much remorse in the post-game??????? because he had always been this vile fiend and then he met this small kid and got attached, but still carried on with his evil actions because his malice was still stronger than the positive feelings and Dark Matter's hold on him intensified?????? I don't know!!!! and as much as i wish the game could have given us that sweet mr. Nuzleaf backstory, it's pretty fun to have freedom to come up with your own version.

Everything about Super's climax is just phenomenal. Every single flippin' legendary is there to help you. Arceus is in the game. MEWTWO IS THERE. and when things are looking hopeless, they really seem hopeless. First the Tree of Life is dying, then your allies get turned into stone and sent to hell The Voidlands, Arceus gets turned into stone, the entire world is stone (except for several mon' that are still safe and holding onto hope, but they're so few). Your Harmony Scarves stop working and you and your Partner are back to your feeble, basic stage forms. You are bordering exhaustion, you have no Emeras, it's just you and your Partner against an eldritch abomination that's killing the life on the entire planet like a parasite, devouring all hope. but you still fight back. Given how adults in the game always discourage the village children from going adventuring, that they cannot do this or that because they're so little and fragile, it's awesome how Hero and Partner beat Dark Matter as tiny kids.

PSMD is not a flawless game. in fact there's plenty of things that hold it back and i even mentioned some... but it's still full of love put into it and it resonates w me more than PMD Explorers of T/D/S and Gates to Infinity (Rescue Team is a close second). its my all-time favorite PMD game.

[pickled-flowers]

Ok so infodump about Blanche and Lila under the cut read at ur own risk lol

ok ok so

Blanche is this all powerful being, with literally no limit whatsoever. She has everything, and everything is within reach. But more than anything, she’s lonely. The kind of loneliness that eats and eats and breaks, and it takes all the place, there’s nothing else but loneliness. The Others, they see her and they fear, she’s too powerful, too dangerous, she’s a threat, they can’t allow her to be. But they can’t fight her, can’t overpower her, so they isolate her, and she’s innocent, she’s a child and she has no bloodlust in her yet, and all she can do then is accept it and so she grows up already broken, a child that no one approaches, touches or even look at. And when she gets older, when she gets tired, when she can’t take the loneliness anymore, she takes the matter into her own hands. She makes herself a family, she creates siblings out of thin air, loving and funny and unique and they love her and she’d die for them and for a while it’s perfect. For a while, life is finally, at last, good and warm and cozy, she has a family, and it’s wonderful. They make meals together, have sleepovers in the forest, they tell each other stories and it’s calm and peaceful. Blanche finally knows what it feels like to be touched, to be held, she no longer has to keep her love and care for the void, there are arms reaching for her and she takes them eagerly. But then the loneliness comes back and it breaks her in two. Just one more, she thinks, one more siblings and I’ll be fine, forever, she’s sure of it. And so she looks up to the stars and asks for another one, and the next morning lilac is growing in the garden and there’s a child between the roots and it’s Lila. She’s adorable and she clings to Blanche, she needs her, she can feel it, and the loneliness is gone. Lila is the youngest sister, she’s loved and cherished and she grows up knowing nothing but love and homemade honey cakes. Life is sweet for the family, and nothing goes wrong, ever. But then, Lila grows up, and she gets curious, she craves adventures and foreign things, but Blanche can feel herself die at the thought of Lila leaving, and she tries to stop her, but the house is full and busy and she manages to sneak out. She smells the flowers she’s never seen, walks barefoot on the grass, and she gets seen. The Others see her, and they immediately know she’s like Blanche, and this one is just a kid, but they can’t allow her to live, they must stop her to protect themselves. And so they lure her further away in the forest and Lila doesn’t know pain or malice or evil and she follows them and suddenly she’s on the ground and she can’t move. She begs and cries but they take no pity in creatures like her, and they cut her wings off. Blanche finds her beloved sister bloody and broken on the ground, and suddenly there’s nothing but rage. She kills them all, breaks their bones and tears their hearts from their chest, it’s not enough payment, not enough pain for what they did, and so she keeps killing. She comes back days later, covered in blood and changed, and Lila is still alive, still Lila, but she’s different too. And for a moment, she accepts to never leave the house ever again, she nods as Blanche promises her that she will never let anyone harm her ever again, and she’s heard ever again way too much, Blanche doesn’t even know she’ll be the one breaking the promise, but Lila still nods and put all her trust in her big sister. Time passes and Lila is an adult now, and the curiosity comes back, and she thinks things will be different this time, she’s older, she knows more things. And so she leaves again, and this time Blanche cannot catch her when she falls, and she falls so far away, her family can’t find her. And just like that she’s gone, the lilac in the garden is rotting and the house is cold. Blanche kills again, anything that’s alive, until there’s nothing left. She goes back to the house, and life continues, her siblings keep getting older, and soon Oné leaves the house, she’s pregnant and has a life to live. One by one, they go make their own family, or they just leave, because the house is cold now and they don’t know what to do, they’re broken and lost. They come back, always, to see Blanche, and she’s never truly alone, there’s always someone else in the house, she knows it, her siblings love her still and they make sure she’s not alone, but it’s not enough. Blanche’s hair turns white and she is being eaten alive, the pain is all consuming, but then Lila comes back. She’s the same as when she left, unchanged by time, but she remembers, remembers she was somewhere, she has people that she loves, and she wants to go back, she wants her sister to meet them, but Blanche can’t. She puts Lila away, she closes the doors, She can’t let her leave ever again. The family comes back and Lila stays, for them, for Blanche, even if her heart aches, she stays home, she lets Blanche hug her until her bones break, she lets her brush her hair for days, lets her cook meals after meals that rot on the table. The lilac in the garden never grew back. The lilac is in another garden now, but Blanche can’t accept it. Never.

[dark-imagine-robots]

Reveritale AU Dump!!!

((Hehehe, another thanks to my good pal @ask-ufpapyrus​, one of my good pals, who helped out a sort some stuff with this au in decision making AND Offical art pieces retaining to both this au and TOTC Epilogue/Undertale Story!! *clears throat, cracks knuckles.* now let's begin!))

  His memories...

                                      Now, where do we start?... Ah...

  The full names of the Queens of the Underground are names Undyne and Alphys Fantasti. The Sans of this Undertale au, the Queens' prince, is names Uphys Fantasti. He may not be a biological son to the two queens, however he was a gift to them from their lead royal scientist, Gaster. In which the Gaster of this au is named Illuseem.

  Despite the queens being the ones having full custody over Uphys, the queens allowed Illuseem still be present in Uphys' life and have some privileges over his own son. That is why Illuseem was also Uphys' caretaker when the queens are not attending to him.

  Having these privileges would also be the reason for Uphys to fall ill in the Reveritale story, along leading to his demise by the hands of Imago.

  Thanks to Imago's sacrifice to keep Uphys' soul alive, it was retrieved by the new Lead royal scientists that use to be Illuseem's assistants, Napstablook and Napsatton. The queens would be unaware of this retrieval, leading it to be believed that Uphys dusted as Imago died with him in his arms.

  The two ghostly scientists would continue the project if which Illuseem left behind, finding a way to bring back/save dusted/dusting monsters. Uphys' soul would be a part of this project as they were also trying to find a way to bring back the prince's body. Which this inevitably lead to chaos, as they looked tirelessly to find out how to do this ((Tirelessly due to the fact that Uphys' soul was slowly dying once again with Imago's magic fading from the soul's use of it to stay alive)), they found the notes on Skeleton Demons that Illuseem left behind as well. This leading to the two scientists to try and inject the essences from both Underworld and Overworld Skeleton Demons, and some of the essences of determination from the human souls, into monster souls. All tests failed, creating the amalgamates of this au. All tests failed except Uphys' test. Due to Imago's magic, the essences managed to become well absorbed into Uphys' soul. Yet... Uphys didn't come out as the same person he once was.. as the essences made Uphys' new body be an echo flower.

  Due to the essences of Overworld and Underworld Skeleton Demons implemented into Uphys' soul, the traits of both Skeleton Demons would also show during the pacifist run battle against him. These traits being the multiple symbols and bones from Underworld Skeleton Demons, and the show of colors and extreme magic levels from Overworld Skeleton Demons.

  But, just like the original Undertale story, Uphys is simply a young soul still, tainted by the outside essences that made him a different person, yet still preserved the person he still was before his body dusted so long ago.

                      .... Are we... forgetting someone?

  Indeed we are...

  As many of you know already, Skeleton Demons are already dead... and they would reject passing on if they knew it wasn't their time to be gone. Their soul will mend and refuse whenever it is shattered/destroyed by outside sources and people that are not of Skeleton Demon descendents.

  Imago never passed on... but he never came back the same.

  When Imago's soul was shattered, it's factors of keeping bad things away from his soul were extremely weakened, not because it shattered, but because of how and why it shattered. The extreme emotional toll and cruelness of being harmed during his walk and the life of hatred, weakened his soul.. anything could enter and became a part of him.

  Hate became a part of his soul... Hate, rage, and fury... but Hate is the main factor of what corrupted him... his soul.

   Imago's soul mends and refuses, but the Hate changed and kept certain things to Imago's body, since he didn't exactly pass on, he long passed his child youth. As change and unfamiliarity to a Skeleton Demon's body will always be apparent one way or another when they are corrupted, yet... the real change... the real corruption occurred more to Imago's own personality, emotions, magic, psyche...

   Stronger.... yet... pure malice...

   A Genocide run has always stayed avoided, no one wanted to do a Genocide run in this particular au. Neutral routes and Pacifist were always the go to... the reason is unknown as to why no one ever wanted to do the Genocide run of this au... it could be that the Neutral routes are rich in outcomes... maybe the pacifist route is just that satisfying to go through with, even when done over and over... or it could be that no one wanted to see their loveable skeleton be the true evil behind this au, as no one would want nor accept such a thing such a concept... such a frightening thought...

   That is... until one player decided to finally choose the Genocide run after a neutral run. 

   It would play off as any other outcome the Genocide run would provide... but Imago... at the very end.. will be more of a threat and terror before the player/frisk's presence.

   Imago will start off as a friendly, welcoming skeleton, just like any other alternate Papyrus would be. Sure his appearance is a bit.. atrocious... but his lights eyes are wide and adorable! What's wrong with going with a Genocide route? This Papyrus is like any other!!

   .......

   It's a facade.... 

   Imago's behavior will degrade into something more passive aggressive, sociopathic... right after he mentions how proud he is that you managed to kill everyone for him... just to meet him... the player/frisk will be uneasy, unnerved, and regretful of their decisions the more they stayed under Imago's presence. 

   And then...

   He finally asks... "Would you like the best outcome for your last route? I'll be with you through and through! Now and always, here and... forever. What do you say? Let's reset this now hollow shell of a ending, human! You'll have a best friend to follow you, wherever you go! You'll never be... alone. Nyhehe!"

   Choosing yes would be easy on Frisk's soul, he would be so "caring" and "kind" to you. Saying how you made the right choice, he wouldn't fail to be your best friend to the very End.

   But... Frisk doesn't choose yes... they were finally broken into tears, regret, sorrow... but everything they done and the evil they have brought upon themselves. They chose no.

   He notices their tears, their suffering as they chose no.

   He laughs in glee, sadistic joy from their tears and suffering. It was pathetic to him, so entertaining... but the choice they made... it didn't matter.

   He was in control, he is already their Best Friend to the end... it was too late to reject something that will never let go. 

                                                            Reset...

   In hopes to forget that Genocide ever happened, frisk now goes with a pacifist route! Easy enough, and so calming.

   But little things can be noticed... things that weren't there in the past pacifist runs.

   Some additional dialogue can be read out after every boss battle... they don't start off as anything strange... but they get more text heavy the closer you are to the last fight of the run. 

And of course!

   Imago kept his word... he would be there with you... always... 

   Like the original Undertale story, he can be seen in mirrored areas! But... instead of him being you... he is simply behind you the entire time.

   "Despite everything, you're still you. But... you did make a friend along the way."

   This pacifist run will have the same ending like the rest, nothing bad or any MAJOR changes will take place for the end...right?

...

   I would be lying if I said everything would be well in the end, but it would be far more different, oh so far more horrible. 

   Once you have to face Uphys, something changes in this pacifist fight... Uphys is more tense, and he doesn't give you the option to save the others. He can be saved, but only him... once you do, it goes out as any normal Undertale Story goes. He turns back into his original body and speaks to you...

   But he knows something is wrong, but his gaurd is down, he can't right in this form. He offers you/frisk a hug. If anything, frisk would have accepted right away, but that didn't happen...

   Instead... the option to attack appears. Frisk refused to attack, but it wasn't their choice, someone else made that choice. They made frisk attack Uphys.

   The first strike doesn't kill Uphys, but made him fall to his knees, crying, in pain, bleeding, and scared. 

   Frisk is no longer in control, but they cry as well as they don't want to hurt Uphys, not again. Oh... but that wasn't a choice... Him... Imago was in control. Making you kill his own brother. He is enjoying this, enjoyingthe pain and suffering of it all. His own brother was nothing to him, his little show of power, meant nothing to him, their time together.... was nothing but a long faded memory with Hate attached to it.

   He makes frisk make that final blow.

   Uphys' body dusts before frisk, leaving only his soul, which Imago snatches it on the spot. 

   "Such a swell job you did human, nyheheh." He explored as he held the soul up near his own face. "It was quite the show too! This outcome was definitely the best one! Hmm... but it's a shame." He ponders. "I actually won't be needing you anymore!!!" He says enthusiastically before he actually consumes hos own brother's soul. "Ahh, finally complete. You know, all that time of other pacifist routes going over and over, gave me time to grow more and more powerful. Until the perfect time came when you came along to make the first, and last, Genocide route." He makes the Erase button appear before himself and frisk. "After so long of watching everyone make True Resets, I was curious... what if there was a Permanent Reset? Nyhehe, a button that would make sure nothing every comes back and could never be played with again! This.." He points at the Erase button. "This is what I always been wanting to conjure... now that I'm complete, I finally got to summon it!! Nyheheh! .......but of course... it's not yours to use or make go away. It's mine." Black ooze seeps from his jaws, nose, eye sockets, and scars. His eyes become a swirl of his magic colors, crazed and terrifying. "Goodbye, Frisk."

   Thus, Imago pressed the button. And his au has been Erased.

((This lovely piece was made by @ask-ufpapyrus​!!! Again, thank you so much, bud! And thank you guys for reading his dump!))

[thepancakeboi]

112. “Quit looking at me with that stupid expression. You’re pissing me off.”

“I’m going to kill you for this, Ren.”

“Will you really?” Ren, my overly smug boyfriend, asks as cheekily as possible.

I scowl up at him, knowing that I won’t. Even if the situation I find myself in is not one of my choosing.

I had woken up this morning to the sound of my phone’s notification sound at around nine. To my surprise, it was Ren texting me. He’s not the type to wake up early when it’s not a school day. It read: “Come to Leblanc quick it’s urgent”.

A little concerned, I replied: “I am on my way”. I wondered why it was so imperative that I go to Leblanc. Hopefully, nothing serious happened. I quickly prepared for the day and changed into my typical uniform before leaving my apartment in Kichijoji.

When I arrived about forty minutes later, I was shocked to see the sign was still flipped to “closed”. That was odd. Leblanc was usually open by now. Tentatively, I opened the door and peeked in. Sojiro Sakura was nowhere to be seen, and Ren wasn’t there either. “Ren?” I called out, looking around the empty cafe.

“Up here,” Ren’s voice replied from up in the attic. I climbed the stairs, wondering what he wanted that required me to come here.

Nothing had me prepared for this.

Ren was sitting on his bed dressed in what could best be described as a policewoman’s outfit. He went so far as to wear a black wig and pantyhose...and he even had handcuffs hanging from his waist. Where he got any of this, I had no idea, nor was I going to ask. I raised an eyebrow at Ren’s getup. “What the hell is this?”

“What’s what?” he asked, dark red lips twisted in a teasing smirk at my startled expression. Yes, he was wearing lipstick. Of course. “Your...outfit.”

“Oh, this?” He stood up and walked over to me, slinking an arm around my waist. I instantly noticed he was taller than me. Of course, that was only because of the heels on his knee-high boots. He just had to be taller. “I’m arresting you because you’re criminally gorgeous.”

My face flushed, only made worse as his free hand fiddled absentmindedly with the handcuffs. “Aren’t you worried Sakura-san will be back soon? Does he even know about...this?”

“No. He took Futaba out to Akihabara for the day. They won’t be back until tonight.” He grinned. “It’s just the two of us...anything could happen.”

“What did you want?” I asked while backing away, wanting to change the discussion before I became too flustered by Ren’s incessant flirting. “You said it was, and I quote, ‘urgent’. I hope it wasn’t just to show me this.”

“I need you to do something for me.”

“What is it?”

“It’s important.”

I crossed my arms. “I’m not doing anything unless you tell me what it is.”

“Okay. I need you to crossdress for me.” “Wh-What!?” I sputtered, flabbergasted. Surely I misheard him, right?

“Akeppi, darling, love of my life, I need you to crossdress for me,” he repeated as he pulled me close to him once again.

“Why would I agree to such an inane suggestion?”

“Cuz you love me.”

“No. I’m not crossdressing. Anything but that.”

He gasped as if seeing a perfect opportunity. “Does that mean you’ll finally admit to being a bottom?”

“Absolutely not,” I growled. “Especially when it’s completely untrue.”

“Mmm...keep telling yourself that. I totally believe you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Exactly what you think.”

That was it. I had enough of this nonsense, especially when it wasn’t as urgent as Ren made me believe. “I’ll be leaving now.”

“Wait, at least let me explain-”

“No,” I interrupted, trying to push away from him. However, he refused to let go. “Get off!” Of course, he didn’t listen. I squirmed, trying to get free. The struggle itself was a blur, but it ended with us on the floor, Ren straddling me and my arms pinned down by his hands holding my wrists.

Given the current situation, I think my false threat to kill Ren is justified.

I’m not going to kill him, though. I know it. He knows it. Hell, I’m sure just about everyone knows by now. “Ren, please get off of me. If you do, then we can discuss this.”

“You’re lying.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ll run as soon as I do.”

“You bastard,” I snap. He’s correct, of course. I would have bolted as soon as my arms were free. He sees right through me and my lies so easily. I hate it. My scowl deepens as he gives that self-satisfied little menace smile of his. “Quit looking at me with that stupid expression. You’re pissing me off.”

“But I’m enjoying seeing you like this. And I think you’re enjoying it, too,” he adds in a low whisper.

“Bullshit. I’m not.”

“You’re wrong,” Ren says in the smuggest tone imaginable. “If you weren’t, wouldn’t you have kept fighting?”

I simply glare up at him, refusing to answer that question. Instead, I say, “Go ahead. Explain. That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

“Ryuji lost a bet to Ann, and he asked Yusuke and me to join in. I thought it would be fun.”

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: you have a twisted concept of fun.”

I pay for that comment when he playfully ruffles my hair. He remembers that day as vividly as I do. For a split second, I have the opportunity to try and escape again. It’s at that moment when Ryuji walks in, looking absolutely ridiculous in what is clearly an attempt to imitate Ann. “Speak of the devil,” I hiss, shoving Ren off of me while he’s distracted by Ryuji. “I refuse to have any part in your shenanigans.”

“Wait, you told him!?” Ryuji asks.

Ren nods happily. “Yup!”

“What the hell, man!? Why’d you do that?”

“I wanted Akeppi to join us. I was trying to convince him.”

“For real!?” The grin that crosses Ryuji’s face is nothing short of terrifying. “Sounds good to me.”

“Absolutely not,” I interject, finally pushing myself to my feet. “I will not be joining you three in this escapade.”

“No way, man. If I have to do this, then so do you!”

“I’m not the one who lost a bet. You can forget me being a part of this.”

“Renren, help me out here,” Ryuji says, turning to Ren.

A look passes between them, one full of silent schemes and unspoken commands. I need to move...now. I make a mad dash for the stairs just as the duo lunge at me. Ryuji manages to grab me just as I pass by him, pulling my arms behind my back. I thrash and squirm as erratically as possible, trying to throw Ryuji off. He’s stronger than I give him credit for. All I’m managing to do is tire myself out.

I fight fiercely against Ryuji’s hold for a solid minute, cursing all the while. Ren, meanwhile, just watches in mild amusement. Fucking traitor. “Want me to use these?” Ren asks as my struggles start to grow weaker, gesturing to the handcuffs. I don’t miss the mischievous smirk hiding behind that mask of neutrality.

“Dude, no. I got this!” Ryuji replies. His grip tightens as he pulls me back. My endeavors cease. This is getting me nowhere. “Just do your thing.”

Ren immediately grins, knowing it’s his time to shine. All I can do is give him a glare full of malice. He remains unfazed. “Come on, Akeppi. Please?” Ren whispers softly and seductively in my ear.

I avert my gaze as I respond, “No.”

“Please?” He’s still using that damn sexy tone of voice, only now he’s running a hand through my hair. It’s distracting. A deadly combination that is...completely...utterly...distracting-

“Fine, fine,” I say before it becomes any worse. Ren nods, signaling Ryuji to release me. I stalk off to a different corner of the room, looking pointedly at Ren as I add, “But no pictures. Got it?”

“Aww.” Ren pouts, but he’s not going to persuade me that easily.

“I’m gonna wait for Kitakita,” Ryuji says, heading downstairs. “He’s prolly still doin’ his makeup.”

Satisfied that it’s just the two of us, I unbutton and shrug off my jacket, placing it gently on Ren’s bed. I freeze as Ren comes up behind me and loosens my tie. He tosses it unceremoniously next to the jacket, coming around to be in front of me. He starts to undo the top few buttons of my dress shirt only to stop partway through. What is he even planning? With a smirk, he starts to run a hand along the now-exposed skin, sending my nerves haywire. “Wh-What are you doing?”

“Just admiring my prisoner,” he hums, continuing to feel up my body. With a roll of my eyes, I undo the rest of the buttons since clearly he’s no longer helping.

After nearly an hour of Ren getting me dressed, doing my hair, and doing my makeup, the deed is done. I glare at the proffered mirror, snatching it with a lace-gloved hand. There are so many layers in this pastel blue dress that fits surprisingly well, and that’s not even including the gray petticoat peeking out from underneath. Ren had added in hair extensions to make my hair look like twin drills. The hair color matches perfectly. It’s almost unnerving. I give Ren a cold look as I hand the mirror back. “Was the black lipstick truly necessary?”

“Yes. You look absolutely adorable!”

“Shut up,” I snap, looking away from him.

“Aww, look at my little tsundere pancake~”

“Your what!?”

“You heard me. You’re my little tsundere pancake.”

I’m about to argue against that, but I hear footsteps coming up the stairs. This time, Ryuji is accompanied by Yusuke. Besides the taller boy’s ninja-inspired outfit, I notice the two of them are holding hands. I’ll have to ask Ren about this later. “I’m sorry I’m late,” Yusuke apologizes. “I got off a stop early to try and save money.”

“Yusuke, just let me give you money,” Ren whines. “You know I have plenty from our time in the Metaverse.”

“You know I could not accept such a generous offer.”

“You complete, utter fool,” I mutter.

Ryuji gives me the evil eye as he yells, “Shuddup, Akechi! You’ve no right to say anything!”

“Excuse me!?”

“Hey. Be nice,” Ren says before we can escalate this argument further.

“Sorry, man,” Ryuji says. I just stew in silence. I’m not wrong. Yusuke should just accept Ren’s offer rather than continue to reject the aid. “Hey, shouldn’t we call Ann?”

“I’ll do it,” Ren replies. He pulls out his phone and walks downstairs, leaving me with his two crossdressing accomplices.

“So, what did Renren get you into?” Ryuji asks with a sick smirk.

“I have no idea, nor do I care,” I snap.

He shrugs before turning to Yusuke. “Kitakita, you know what it is?”

“Ah, yes, the Hime Lolita style! Its elegance suits him quite remarkably.”

“The what style?”

“Hime...it means ‘princess’,” I hiss through gritted teeth.

“Ooh!” Ryuji laughs as he adds, “Detective Prince? More like Detective Princess!”

“Shut it, Sakamoto,” I reply, still irritable from earlier.

“Nah, this is fun!”

“Your concept of fun is almost as bad as Ren’s.”

“Hey, at least my boyfriend’s okay with it.”

“Indeed, I am,” Yusuke responds. I guess I don’t have to ask Ren later about the two of them holding hands.

Ren comes back upstairs a few seconds later. “Ann will be here in a few minutes. She doesn’t know about Goro, though.”

“You didn’t tell her?” Yusuke questions.

“No. I wanted it to be a surprise. We should probably go downstairs,” Ren adds, holding out a hand to help me out. I smack his hand away. There is no way I am accepting his help. I push myself to my feet, a little unsteady due to the heels on these stupid shoes. They still don’t make me taller than Ren in his boots, though. Of fucking course.

“Are you both really wearin’ heels?” Ryuji asks skeptically.

I shake my head, looking at Ryuji as I reply, “Remember that this wasn’t my choice.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know.”

We all head downstairs. This time, I do reluctantly accept his help with wobbling over to the stairs. I’m not Ren. I didn’t run around fighting Shadows in the Metaverse in heels. As soon as we reach them, Ren grins and picks me up bridal style, walking downstairs in heels with unnatural ease. For once, I’m not complaining. The less I have to walk in these heels, the better. I do give him an unamused look when he refuses to put me down, but I don’t say a word.

Ann arrives a couple of minutes later. “Hi!” she says in greeting. “Oh my god, that’s great, Ryuji!”

“What about those guys? Kitakita and Renren were more eager about it than me,” Ryuji grumbles.

“I couldn’t believe it when you told me they were doing it, too! You two are looking good as ever, and-” At that point, two and two seem to click in Ann’s brain. The genuine shock on her face is priceless. She stammers, “W-Wait, Akechi? Is that you?”

“Hey,” I sigh.

“Wow, you look amazing! Did Ren help?”

“Help?” I scoff. “He’s the only reason I did this.”

“I can be quite persuasive,” Ren adds, nuzzling me. “Doesn’t he look cute?”

“He does!” Ann agrees.

“I do not,” I shoot back. I scowl, but I’m sure I probably look like a pouting child.

“Adorable,” Ren repeats, beaming.

I sigh in annoyance, crossing my arms as I look pointedly away from them. Despite my outward irritation, I can’t help but feel...happy. Yes, I’m happy that he finds me cute and adorable. His loving remarks hold some power over me, a power that I know Ren won’t abuse. He’s not Shido. Ren actually means each and every compliment he gives. “Ren, give Ann your phone. I’ll let you have one picture.”

The grin on Ren’s face could make even the most despondent of individuals smile. Maybe I could live with this.

Prompt list

[mwolf0epsilon]

Could i bother you for a studio supply run story now that you've been playing boris and the dark survival? Can be from either Boris or Sammy's perspective since he's there now too. Been dying to see more of before Henry arrived but post-ink machine.

Couldn’t pick which I wanted to do, so you get two very different supply runs based on two experiences I had in-game!

Summary: The Studio had a way of twisting who you considered a friend or even a lover into something cold and cruel...

---

     There's a sense of finality approaching with every bit of scrap that he can get his cartoony gloved hands on. Like something grand is approaching the more he adds to the disturbing collage he’s steadily worked up into a mockery of what he’d been, what he’d become, and what he was still to be.  Daniel Lewek was fading. Not terribly fast, but enough so that he could notice his control slowly slipping away from his grasp.  In turn, Boris was becoming more conscious. More self aware and active, and less willing to move forward into these lonesome and terrifying jogs in and out of Wally’s abandoned safehouse that he’d taken up residency in. He couldn’t blame him for his hesitance, as Buddy was just as terrified of what the studio and its employees had morphed into.

     Joey Drew had essentially upended reality with that ghastly machine of his. Played god and reshaped the world around him to fulfil a sick fantasy of a dream that had been unrealistic and unreacheable. People Buddy had once called friends or friendly coworkers were now either horrific inky abominations, weeping skeletal husks, or one of several carcasses he’d come across. For Boris it was much worse, the wolf’s terror blinding Buddy countless times as they traversed the horrors that hid not only danger but also a bountiful stockpile of useful trinkets and (bleh) stale bacon soup. Worse yet, there were threats much worse than Searchers, desperate Lost Ones, or those really messed up Butcher Gang clones. Some more contained than others. The Ink Demon was the worst of these threats, as it had free roam of the studio, but the inky horror’s terrifying aura was beyond any explanation Buddy could articulate. It activated his flight response on sight alone, if not before an actual sighting even. It was instinctive terror one couldn’t hope to understand, much less a young boy trapped within the mind and body of a cartoon wolf. Other terrors included the deranged Prophet, aka Sammy Lawrence. The once-music director had been consumed by the corruption of the ink from the inside out, making someone already inherently hostile all the much worse. Where he’d once been merely rude and loud, now he was an ax wielding murderer with no qualms in cutting you down for his “lord”. Then there was the manipulative angel who’s voice he recognized as Susie Campbell’s. Whatever had been done to her had left her as nothing if not a hollow mask of Joey’s imperfect dream. A girl playing a part that would never fit her again, not after it had twisted her into such a figure of malice. And finally...There was the one that really hurt Buddy the most to think about…

     Buddy hated the Projectionist’s roosts. The rooms that had thick congealed ink all around, serving almost like the silky strands of a spider’s web. A means to communicate vibrations to the deafened horror that stalked the halls. Oh, how Buddy hated the acrid smell of the ink, and the beating sound of the hearts that attracted Boris so easily like flies to honey.  Attracted him like they did everything else that so much as caught a whiff of their scent. The ink hearts.  So alluring.  So full of life.  So full of soul… 

All beings of the ink craved them, and the Projectionist guarded them. The Projectionist…

     Boris’s terror was suffocating as they hid behind a wall, waiting for the Projectionist to lose interest in the room they’d last been in. The circular patterns of its path were dizzying, especially with the blinking light of the projector. The clicking noises of the clunky machine instilled a terror that most would consider ridiculous out of context. Who could ever be scared of a silly old projector? Well, someone who had one run at them while screeching like a banshee. It didn’t help that Norman Polk had been built as if he was raised pulling locomotives with his bare hands. 6’11 and muscular enough to put a bull to shame. Buddy had wondered why such a man took up such a delicate job than join the army, or work as security, or heck even do construction?  He was beefy enough. But then he’d gotten to know the man and, looking past the obvious eccentricities he was actually quite soft spoken and a gentle giant most of the time. So seeing the absolute monster he’d become was a personal stab to the heart. The Projectionist lacked Norman Polk’s caring personality and instead sought to kill anything that so much as got in its sights. It was a cold and mindless beast that destroyed rather than repair. It was an insult to Norman’s memory, and so very hard to face. Luckily, he never had to. Buddy just had to bide his time, sneak around, grab what he’d come for and run for the elevator. Each time he ascended, he couldn’t help cry into his hands as the brute roared up at the elevator shaft, not a hint of recognition to find. He missed his friend’s kindness.

-

     Leaving his domain was never an option the Prophet enjoyed. But supplies tended to run out quickly when you had a village full of Searchers and Lost Ones to feed. So the Prophet tightened his suspenders, grabbed his torch, and valiantly strolled around the halls in search of soup, candles and what not. He always did his best to avoid his Lord’s sight. Until he was proven worthy enough for the Ink Demon’s gaze to fall upon him, he would instead hide in shadows and traverse the portals. The brilliant brute was also to be avoided, as it had a taste for destroying rather than allying itself to a worthy cause. A mindless animal that would burn for its sins in the end.  Those horrific little gremlins were also to be avoided, although he took great joy in mocking them for their stupidity. It was quite fun! Yes, the Prophet traversed the halls well and outside the gaze of most...But...Even a shepherd of the masses couldn’t be without his own sin. His was wandering, especially when something familiar caught his eye or, in this case, his ear.

That sound… That melody… That voice…

The Prophet is gone for a moment, replaced by Sammy Lawrence, as he comes to a conclusion on what he’s hearing. His beautiful muse, his Susiebell, was out there...Humming the song he’d so lovingly composed for a role only fit for such a queen. All instinct and survival skills he’d learned as the Prophet were lost to nostalgia and blind adoration for the girl who’d captured his heart. Susie sang, Sammy followed. What he found was not Susie. Not anymore.

     The twisted angel catches the side of his face behind the mask just before he jumps through another portal into salvation. Sammy is lost again, the Prophet reawakened through fear and rebuttal for following false idols. The angel is a farce. A symbol of evil. He shall not be fooled again. Bendy is the one true saviour and never again shall the Prophet wander, path astray. So tragic it was, that this was the millionth time their paths had crossed… The Prophet might lie to himself all he wanted, but Sammy would never deny where his heart truly belonged. In the palm of a fallen angel that would rather consume it than give him forgiveness for the crimes of another much more sinister man… Such was life in the studio. They’d carry on repeating a cyclical life until the puppeteer found his oh so coveted grand finale. Nothing more than rotting twisted puppets filling out a role, just like in life. The Prophet may not understand this notion, memories so jumbled he barely made sense of his own  words most days, but perhaps wandering might be the least of his concerns. But the melody...Oh yes that sweet melody. He had to follow it… Again and again... The cycle would just never end.

[wongxiexie]

Together

Pairing: Byun Baekhyun x Reader Genre: Angst, Celestial!AU, Angel!AU, Demon!AU Word Count: 1.717 words Note: Thank you so much @exo-stentialism for letting me use your gif! 🌸🌸

Tears. 

Screams.

Blood. 

Destruction.

Death.

All around you, the lives of the people you’ve loved for so long are being lost. Creatures sent from below crawl all over, slashing and smashing everything and everyone they come across.

Fields that once boasted greens, blooms and life are being drenched with the cruel stench of despair from the loss of life. The demons he had sent are bounding point to point, spreading malice and adulterated happiness in the wake of their execution.

Your whole being cannot take it anymore.

The purity and love that occupy your heart weep with the departure of each mortal soul from the human realm, but you can do nothing but pray for the eternal rest of their aggrieved existence.

Walking away from the child you’ve just saved, you straighten up, close your eyes and tilt your head to the almighty skies.

‘Save them,’ you whisper to your brothers and sisters, hands clasped and rested against your chest. ‘Save their souls… and I will take care of the rest.’

With your plea, the skies open up and sends clear blessed drops falling down and onto the ground. They are able to hinder the dark-willed and banish the lesser ones, but you know they aren’t enough to stop his whole army.

Angels, demons and mortals alike clash against each other in order to protect you, and you bear witness as the untarnished essence of your divine kind are tainted from each contact they sustain from the other side.

So much loss, all because of you.

You stand on the field, unaffected by the demons that go your way. Those who dare lay a hand on you disintegrate into ashes in less than a second, but they aren’t dead. You can’t kill no matter the nature of the creature, as it is absolutely forbidden of your kind to end any form of existence. They are simply sent back to Hell, but you find that it isn’t of any help to you as the Prince of Darkness himself opened the gates of the other dimension just so he can finally get you.

Baekhyun.

Time slows down the moment your eyes meet. You stand miles apart, at both ends of the fire and death that is the war, but you can see each other clearly. So clearly that you can make out the drops of rain reflected in his once bright eyes. But now? Now, they hold nothing but hate and hurt from the torment you have put him in.

The smile he wears is twisted and demented, one so painful to look at, and it does not fit the usual gentleness that his face used to hold.

“Baekhyun…” even speaking his name hurts you and makes you breathless, with only your still-present adoration for him preventing fires from engulfing your body.

“Just come with me and this will all come to an end,” he says as he sweeps his hands wide as a gesture to show you the ruin you are ultimately causing.

If only the decision befell upon you then you would have gladly given yourself up to him before anything even started, but alas, the will with which you control your destiny is not like that of the humans.

You are a seraph - an angel of the highest order and one of the most beloved creations and if you are to be possessed by the darkness, it will spell terrible fate for all those caught in the middle.

But he called you. 

Baekhyun called upon you from the depths of Hell and your spirit answered to him. He used to be one of the most favored, even more than seraphs. He was so powerful that when he was cast down, his power over all those all below him had all but merely dimmed.

Wildfires surround him where he is standing and the burning tongues incinerate all those foolish enough to think they can go near him. Friend and foe alike are set ablaze with the waves of passionate loathing and contempt that radiate off of him.

He cocks his head in your direction, a mere gesture for some, but you know it is a threat, rather, it is a challenge. He is daring you to deny his wishes and to prolong the suffering of the people you so love.

He is daring you to prioritize the lowly humans you so adore, to set him aside again just like how you did centuries and millennia back then. He is daring you to betray him and cast him back to hell once more just to protect those fragile little weaklings you and your Creator call special.

Traversing the chaos and disarray, he advances towards you and you find that the way with which he moved still mesmerizes you, just like how it once did. He still moved with the grace that is bestowed upon your kind and he hovers over everyone uninterrupted.

Baekhyun’s patience snaps and he locks you with his fiery gaze. “You better get here right now!” Each word is punctuated when he bellows at you, eyes wide in anger and teeth bared in menace. He doesn’t even have to complete his statement for you perfectly knew what he can do.

You close your eyes and let out a smile of resignation, as single tear rolls down your cheek, you inhale deeply. 

“Good bye.”

The hearts of each of your brothers and sisters all seize at once the instant they feel your tear touch the mortal realm.

Junmyeon is the first to snap his head towards your direction, eyes wide in panic for what you are about to do. He breaks free from the hold of the time restraints of the Earth’s dimension and he flies towards you at full speed. Fast behind him are your two brothers bestowed with the gift of unparalleled flight. You can see their faces clearly, Jongdae and Chanyeol pleading you to not push through with your intent. 

Minseok is on the ground, holding off countless number of demons, but upon sensing the distress the seraphs are feeling, the distress that you are feeling, he freezes them all, forever suspended in time even though it means he will be punished immensely. The moment he frees himself from them, he spreads his wings and takes off towards you at full speed.

Kyungsoo and Yixing are an entirely different story, for no matter how unexpected it is of them, the exude anger towards what you are about to do, even though anger causes great pain to your kind. You feel their evident and overflowing pain from your decision.

You are just glad that Jongin and Sehun, the youngest of the seraphs, aren’t there to witness the abomination you are about to commit.

You savor each and every one of those that surround you, knowing full well that you will not ever be able to return at all.

Ignoring the force from above that compels you to retreat to your home, you evade the calls of your brothers. Inhaling deeply to keep the anguish inside you, you direct your gaze back to Baekhyun’s smoldering ones and find that he hasn’t once removed his eyes from you.

You see a diabolic smile place itself on his lips as if he knows what you are about to do, but oh, he doesn’t even come close to what you are planning on. You fly towards Baekhyun and when you reach him, you place a hand on his cheek, ignoring the searing pain caused by coming near a creature of the dark.

Breathing your last breath from the land of the living, you let your eyes close as you whisper three quiet words.

“I am… [y/n].”

All at once, a bright light suddenly envelops the entirety of the fields, blinding all those present both the mortals and even the angels, banishing all the creatures from below back to their domain and effectively sealing the gates of hell.

Overwhelmed cries from the humans fill the entire expanse of the ground. Wailing and sobbing can be heard from all over, with every mortal dropping to their knees from the sheer force of your sanctity.

All your brothers and sisters stand unmoving, tears streaming down their faces knowing full well the consequences that come with your sacrifice.

When the light fully subsides, you find yourself still holding his face, only this time without experiencing any pain. A sob fights its way out of you when you take in his appearance.

Baekhyun’s hair is back to light, his skin devoid of the touches of fire, his aura exuding traces of his angelic grace, and his wings...

His wings are back.

Baekhyun’s eyes are closed but the tears are already apparent, and when he opens them, he falls to his hands and knees as he lets out loud, anguished sobs. You kneel in front of him and hold his hands, prompting him to look at you.

Looking down, you both see that he and you are starting to disappear altogether. You know what is going to happen, and he does, too.

The divinity of a seraph is so immense that it cannot be contained by any realm other than the one above, the one it belongs to, and when you chose to utter your name to the world, the name with which your essence was encompassed in, you also chose to release your true identity.

Your divinity was freed and it caused the world to be cleansed of evil, in turn affecting Baekhyun as well and drawing out within him the grace that still resided deep within his heart.

But the liberation of a divine creature’s sanctity is a contravention of holiness. The world wasn’t meant to witness those which belong to different dimensions as the world wouldn’t be able to take it and it is made to be that way.

With your actions, you will be sent to a different time and space continuum where you will exist together in the midst of nothing, floating freely in a neverending expanse of blankness.

You engulf him in your embrace, feeling your energies fading away, and he holds you back just as tightly.

“Thank you, [y/n]...”

You smile.

“Everything is going to be all right, Baekhyun… as long as we are together.”

[novelconcepts]

The Last Jedi was far from a perfect movie; the pacing was questionable, and a lot of it just didn't line up with TFA. That said, I actually really enjoyed it for what it is. My highlights under the cut:

REY!:

Literally everything about Rey. I love her Jedi training costume, I love her being dressed in gray shades, I love her boots. I love her training on her own when Luke refuses. I love the fact that she's still using her staff, and I love that she isn't afraid of the lightsaber--but that she doesn't hold it like most Jedi. She holds it like a girl who's learned to fight with a staff first. I love it. 

Rey's Murder Face (™). I love that she is so consistently brutal, that she's all gritted teeth and furious stalk. The grace in her fight scenes is nothing like what we’ve come to expect from a lightsaber; it’s what you’d expect from a cornered tiger. I fucking adore that she has a totally different fighting style

Really, this whole breakdown could be (and is) a love letter to Rey. Rey is my Absolute Fave, and while I spent a lot of the first watch-through nervous for what they'd do with her, it all played out well in the end.

Rey coming at Kylo Ren with so much malice. Rey, even so, trying to see both sides of a miserable story. Rey pulling a whole-ass Luke Skywalker in her "there is still good in him, I sense it, I can help him back"--and Rey, faced with a power-hungry boy who does not want to be saved, who only wants to burn the world down, slamming the door in his face.  

Because, see, this is what I wanted. No romance, none of that "she can save him and erase his terrible decisions" narrative, but a compassionate Rey--a Rey who, like Finn, did not grow up with friendship or love or family in her life, and still craves these things, and still gives these things freely. A Rey who could have grown up into a shuttered, broken human being, and chooses forgiveness first. Chooses the benefit of the doubt. Chooses faith in the best possible option...

...but is not so naive as to think she ought to stick around for a man who slaps down her offer for help. Rey sees his classic abuse tactics--telling her she is nobody, that nobody cares except for him--and walks away, and when he tries to get at her again, she closes that door tight. Rey is a compassionate soul...but it is not her job to save a man who does not want to be better. This is exactly what I would have hoped for her character.

Also, how much do I love that she sees Finn with Rose and does not narrow her eyes in anger, does not seem to view Rose as a threat. Her body language is soft. She is, despite all the gray space in her, soft. 

Poe!:

His jacket. I want Poe's new jacket so bad. 

Poe being a hotheaded idiot. Switching off the comms to keep doing what he perceives to be the right thing? SUCH a Leia move! How could she even be pissed? 

(Because she's got so many of those moves under her belt, and she knows better these days, that's why. Leia don't take no shit. Not from Poe. Not from the Void of Space. Not from nobody.)

Poe learning how to be a hero. Learning that heroes are not all sassing the bad guys and blowing shit up. Learning that your X-Wing is super cool, dude, but maybe the true measure of a hero--and a leader--is knowing how to sit back and listen and make the hard choices with no glory whatsoever. 

Luke!:

Speaking of taking no shit: Luke "Theater Is My Middle Name" Skywalker, looking at that lightsaber and just pitching it over his shoulder. Luke "Drama School Has Nothing On Me” Skywalker just going about his old-ass business of fishing and farming and leaping around this island like Rey isn't there. 

Luke, who admittedly had two less-than-stellar teachers, and manages to hold-my-beer them both. Luke. How do you manage these things, you beautiful grumpy bastard.

Luke's sassy half-assed attempts at teaching. Rey's Fight-Club determination. They are so perfectly matched for each other. I'm sorry we never got him leaping onto her back and forcing her to climb vines, but I guess you can't have everything.

Rey's Murder-Sunshine butting up against Luke's Former Innocence-Turned-Grizzled Guilt is just so...satisfying to me somehow. I know Mark Hamill wasn't thrilled with the road these movies put Luke on, but frankly, it works for me.

Also soft: Luke interacting with his sister after so long, after so much guilt and shame and running away. Luke and Leia, a bond stronger than all the distance in the galaxy. I loved that little moment between them.

As much as I loved Luke's entire third-act charade. His outfit, his not even bothering with the illusion of his green lightsaber--and why would he? Ben Solo saw that saber as a murder weapon--his perfect hair. His little wink, his sassy one-liners, his whole demeanor. I don't love losing Luke, but I do think the way he went out was clean. It was Ben Kenobi. It was Yoda. It was Classic Jedi of the highest order.

(And Yoda was a great little touch. I wasn't...a hundred percent sure about the puppet they used, but it was worlds better than the prequels!Yoda. And I always enjoy him sassily smacking Luke upside the head. Never gets old.)

Leia!:

I don’t have a ton to say about Leia--not because I didn’t love her, but because seeing her onscreen, larger than life and so, so wonderful, hurt my heart. Knowing that the finale was going to belong to Leia, knowing that she was going to have the light shining on her in the end, carves out such a loss. Leia was the first powerful woman I got to see on-screen. Carrie was incredible. I was so glad to see her in this movie, and I am so terribly sad we will not be seeing her again.

But: Force-user Leia? So here for it. So fucking here for it. Anti-mutiny Leia? So here for it. Leia telling Poe to get his head out of his ass? Give me more. 

And we’re all in agreement that she had a thing with Holdo, right? Right? ‘Cuz. Yes. 

(I also really loved Holdo, and I wish we could have seen more of her. Laura Dern is always a delight.)

Finn!:

Finn still trying to run away--but for a totally selfless reason this time. Finn waking up and thinking of literally nothing but Rey for the longest time. Finn, who has only just figured out what friendship and family and love are, and is holding on for dear life. 

In related news: how much do I love that every major character who runs across Finn—Poe, Rey, Rose--immediately wants to protect him with everything they have. This kid who was stolen from his family and brainwashed into Stormtrooper life is so loved by everyone he meets. My heart.

Finn and Phasma! Lowkey showdown of the movie. Him being so goddamn proud of being Rebel Scum after all the running of TFA is just so perfect.

Rose!:

Rose fits in so beautifully with the new kids. She's so clever, and has such a big heart. Her not even hesitating to hand over the last piece of her sister if it meant saving everyone. I mean. Really. Rose, you are a glorious delight. 

Not to mention the tongue-tied good cheer followed immediately by tazing the hero you were just so excited to meet. Talk about mood.

Domhnall Gleeson:

Not Hux; I don't particularly care for Hux in all his one-dimensional glory, although I do love how not-having-it he was about Kylo Ren announcing himself the new leader of the First Order. That moment where he's 100% ready to shoot him? Glorious. But other than that, I just love the way Domhnall carries the character. He manages to be so different than I expect.  

Honorable mention to that classic banter with Poe over the speaker system. Simple comedy is perfection sometimes.

Misc thoughts:

An unpopular opinion, I'm sure: I like that Snoke was taken out. I like that Kylo Ren rose to hold the mantle of Worst Dude in the Galaxy. I like that we got a character who, like Vader, was a boy to whom Bad Things Happened--and who decided to respond in the worst possible way.  

To me, everything about this movie was rooted in choice, in the power of choosing your path. Rey chooses to look into the dark, but still lean light. Finn and Poe choose to risk everything for the chance to save the Resistance. Rose chooses to give up her last tie to her sister for a cause she believes in. And Kylo? Kylo chooses to forsake Ben Solo. Kylo chooses the path of murder. The path of absolute darkness. Kylo looks redemption full in the face and raises his middle finger at it. He chooses not to be Anakin Skywalker--who overthrew his master to save his son--but to be his own man. Which is not to say he is a good man. He actively chooses not to be a good man. It makes him a very human villain. There is no universe in which a unilaterally evil character is more interesting than one with layers.

I like that this movie recognizes that moral grayscale is where the world exists. The Jedi failed because they pretended they were above human darkness. Rey represents genuine balance. I appreciate this about her. I appreciate that they let her do exactly what Luke did in Empire: go into the cave. Face your darkness. But, unlike Luke, Rey hasn't learned to fear her darkness. She simply uses it like a tool, and sets it back on the shelf until it's needed  again. She does not shy from a fight, but she does not recklessly murder, either. She is the middle ground.

Another possibly unpopular opinion: I like the idea that Rey comes from no special legacy. Now, it's very true that Kylo may have been lying to her about this, trying to coax her to his side; his playbook is full of abusive tactics, and this is a classic one. Personally, I like the idea that the Force was so desperate for finally achieving balance after all those ridiculous Skywalkers failed in the journey, and just went, "Fuck it. I'm making my own." Rey: Daughter of the Fed-Up Force.

That said, if he was telling the truth, and she did come from people who truly are not part  of the bigger story, people who really do not care about her...doesn't that make Rey being a strong, self-sufficient, incredibly big-hearted human so much more impressive? Rey did not come from parents who loved her, like Ben Solo did. She did not grow up with a Jedi Master uncle believing in her. She did not come from a long line of power and legacy. Rey was self-taught in every way. Rey was alone. Rey made dolls and scrounged helmets and learned to be a whole person all by herself. She's an excellent example of how you do not need a bloodline or a legacy to be an interesting, powerful person.

Chewie with the Porgs. Okay, listen. Listen. I know they're everywhere right now. I knoweveryone burned out on Porgs. But look: Chewbacca in the aftermath of his lifelong best friend dying, adopting these little bird creatures like a widower adopting a therapy animal to offset his grief? I am not made of stone, people.

[readbookywooks]

The being finished speaking and fixed his looks upon me in the expectation of a reply. But I was bewildered, perplexed, and unable to arrange my ideas sufficiently to understand the full extent of his proposition. He continued, "You must create a female for me with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being. This you alone can do, and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to concede." The latter part of his tale had kindled anew in me the anger that had died away while he narrated his peaceful life among the cottagers, and as he said this I could no longer suppress the rage that burned within me. "I do refuse it," I replied; "and no torture shall ever extort a consent from me. You may render me the most miserable of men, but you shall never make me base in my own eyes. Shall I create another like yourself, whose joint wickedness might desolate the world. Begone! I have answered you; you may torture me, but I will never consent." "You are in the wrong," replied the fiend; "and instead of threatening, I am content to reason with you. I am malicious because I am miserable. Am I not shunned and hated by all mankind? You, my creator, would tear me to pieces and triumph; remember that, and tell me why I should pity man more than he pities me? You would not call it murder if you could precipitate me into one of those ice-rifts and destroy my frame, the work of your own hands. Shall I respect man when he condemns me? Let him live with me in the interchange of kindness, and instead of injury I would bestow every benefit upon him with tears of gratitude at his acceptance. But that cannot be; the human senses are insurmountable barriers to our union. Yet mine shall not be the submission of abject slavery. I will revenge my injuries; if I cannot inspire love, I will cause fear, and chiefly towards you my archenemy, because my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care; I will work at your destruction, nor finish until I desolate your heart, so that you shall curse the hour of your birth." A fiendish rage animated him as he said this; his face was wrinkled into contortions too horrible for human eyes to behold; but presently he calmed himself and proceeded - "I intended to reason. This passion is detrimental to me, for you do not reflect that YOU are the cause of its excess. If any being felt emotions of benevolence towards me, I should return them a hundred and a hundredfold; for that one creature's sake I would make peace with the whole kind! But I now indulge in dreams of bliss that cannot be realized. What I ask of you is reasonable and moderate; I demand a creature of another sex, but as hideous as myself; the gratification is small, but it is all that I can receive, and it shall content me. It is true, we shall be monsters, cut off from all the world; but on that account we shall be more attached to one another. Our lives will not be happy, but they will be harmless and free from the misery I now feel. Oh! My creator, make me happy; let me feel gratitude towards you for one benefit! Let me see that I excite the sympathy of some existing thing; do not deny me my request!" I was moved. I shuddered when I thought of the possible consequences of my consent, but I felt that there was some justice in his argument. His tale and the feelings he now expressed proved him to be a creature of fine sensations, and did I not as his maker owe him all the portion of happiness that it was in my power to bestow? He saw my change of feeling and continued, "If you consent, neither you nor any other human being shall ever see us again; I will go to the vast wilds of South America. My food is not that of man; I do not destroy the lamb and the kid to glut my appetite; acorns and berries afford me sufficient nourishment. My companion will be of the same nature as myself and will be content with the same fare. We shall make our bed of dried leaves; the sun will shine on us as on man and will ripen our food. The picture I present to you is peaceful and human, and you must feel that you could deny it only in the wantonness of power and cruelty. Pitiless as you have been towards me, I now see compassion in your eyes; let me seize the favourable moment and persuade you to promise what I so ardently desire." "You propose," replied I, "to fly from the habitations of man, to dwell in those wilds where the beasts of the field will be your only companions. How can you, who long for the love and sympathy of man, persevere in this exile? You will return and again seek their kindness, and you will meet with their detestation; your evil passions will be renewed, and you will then have a companion to aid you in the task of destruction. This may not be; cease to argue the point, for I cannot consent." "How inconstant are your feelings! But a moment ago you were moved by my representations, and why do you again harden yourself to my complaints? I swear to you, by the earth which I inhabit, and by you that made me, that with the companion you bestow I will quit the neighbourhood of man and dwell, as it may chance, in the most savage of places. My evil passions will have fled, for I shall meet with sympathy! My life will flow quietly away, and in my dying moments I shall not curse my maker." His words had a strange effect upon me. I compassionated him and sometimes felt a wish to console him, but when I looked upon him, when I saw the filthy mass that moved and talked, my heart sickened and my feelings were altered to those of horror and hatred. I tried to stifle these sensations; I thought that as I could not sympathize with him, I had no right to withhold from him the small portion of happiness which was yet in my power to bestow. "You swear," I said, "to be harmless; but have you not already shown a degree of malice that should reasonably make me distrust you? May not even this be a feint that will increase your triumph by affording a wider scope for your revenge?" "How is this? I must not be trifled with, and I demand an answer. If I have no ties and no affections, hatred and vice must be my portion; the love of another will destroy the cause of my crimes, and I shall become a thing of whose existence everyone will be ignorant. My vices are the children of a forced solitude that I abhor, and my virtues will necessarily arise when I live in communion with an equal. I shall feel the affections of a sensitive being and became linked to the chain of existence and events from which I am now excluded." I paused some time to reflect on all he had related and the various arguments which he had employed. I thought of the promise of virtues which he had displayed on the opening of his existence and the subsequent blight of all kindly feeling by the loathing and scorn which his protectors had manifested towards him. His power and threats were not omitted in my calculations; a creature who could exist in the ice caves of the glaciers and hide himself from pursuit among the ridges of inaccessible precipices was a being possessing faculties it would be vain to cope with. After a long pause of reflection I concluded that the justice due both to him and my fellow creatures demanded of me that I should comply with his request. Turning to him, therefore, I said, "I consent to your demand, on your solemn oath to quit Europe forever, and every other place in the neighbourhood of man, as soon as I shall deliver into your hands a female who will accompany you in your exile." "I swear," he cried, "by the sun, and by the blue sky of heaven, and by the fire of love that burns my heart, that if you grant my prayer, while they exist you shall never behold me again. Depart to your home and commence your labours; I shall watch their progress with unutterable anxiety; and fear not but that when you are ready I shall appear." Saying this, he suddenly quitted me, fearful, perhaps, of any change in my sentiments. I saw him descend the mountain with greater speed than the flight of an eagle, and quickly lost among the undulations of the sea of ice. His tale had occupied the whole day, and the sun was upon the verge of the horizon when he departed. I knew that I ought to hasten my descent towards the valley, as I should soon be encompassed in darkness; but my heart was heavy, and my steps slow. The labour of winding among the little paths of the mountain and fixing my feet firmly as I advanced perplexed me, occupied as I was by the emotions which the occurrences of the day had produced. Night was far advanced when I came to the halfway resting-place and seated myself beside the fountain. The stars shone at intervals as the clouds passed from over them; the dark pines rose before me, and every here and there a broken tree lay on the ground; it was a scene of wonderful solemnity and stirred strange thoughts within me. I wept bitterly, and clasping my hands in agony, I exclaimed, "Oh! Stars and clouds and winds, ye are all about to mock me; if ye really pity me, crush sensation and memory; let me become as nought; but if not, depart, depart, and leave me in darkness." These were wild and miserable thoughts, but I cannot describe to you how the eternal twinkling of the stars weighed upon me and how I listened to every blast of wind as if it were a dull ugly siroc on its way to consume me. Morning dawned before I arrived at the village of Chamounix; I took no rest, but returned immediately to Geneva. Even in my own heart I could give no expression to my sensations - they weighed on me with a mountain's weight and their excess destroyed my agony beneath them. Thus I returned home, and entering the house, presented myself to the family. My haggard and wild appearance awoke intense alarm, but I answered no question, scarcely did I speak. I felt as if I were placed under a ban - as if I had no right to claim their sympathies - as if never more might I enjoy companionship with them. Yet even thus I loved them to adoration; and to save them, I resolved to dedicate myself to my most abhorred task. The prospect of such an occupation made every other circumstance of existence pass before me like a dream, and that thought only had to me the reality of life.