#also I can’t decide if Luke is just a normal citizen or if he is just nobility below Julie and her family but alas
Text
I’m bad with titles and just wanted to post this finally! Happy Juke Jeudi! 🥳
I really had this just sitting in my Notes app 🤧 There was more to it, but if I kept going I don’t think I’d ever finish…
part two to this.
~
It starts with secret meetings in the castle gardens after dark, with Rose keeping Ray busy while Julie slips out for an “evening walk” on her own as long as she stays within the palace’s boundaries.
Then it’s meetings in town where Julie dresses like the next plain-clothed young woman with a red baseball cap and dark sunglasses obscuring her features as Luke whisks her into the little coffee shop that he works at with Reggie who also keeps an eye out for the royal security or anyone who might get Julie in trouble.
It can only happen while Rose runs her daily errands and the guards are occupied. Ray thinks Julie is with her mother, and neither Molina woman lets him know any different. Rose knows Luke will keep Julie safe and she trusts Julie not to do anything that would put herself in harm’s way.
And it’s perfect until it’s not.
Julie and Rose are out one night to attend a music charity gala—naturally they both are excited to go and Luke gets a selfie of the two of them from Julie just before they head out. It’s the last time he talks to her for the night, until he’s awoken out of his sleep by his phone buzzing incessantly.
The stormy weather made for a turbulent trip and there is a terrible car accident from which the queen doesn’t survive. The Molina family, along with most of the country but specifically the capital city, is absolutely devastated. Queen Rose brought so much life and love into the lives of everyone around her. She ruled the Costa de Estrella with a firm yet caring hand, and her absence is felt throughout the country.
Julie takes it the worst, walking away from the crash with only a few scratches and a broken wrist, but her heart is shattered into a billion painful pieces. She disappears from the public eye, and though Luke had every intention of coming to see her, he hasn’t been able to sneak inside the palace since it happened.
Her physical injuries heal with time, but Julie has felt like she’s been underwater ever since that night. Most nights she calls Luke because she can’t sleep, and she falls asleep listening to him talk or sing or play guitar, even though they both wish they could be together. Her father and Parliament are strangely understanding, allowing her time off her usual duties to grieve.
Until a month later, and the Council has already planned a ball for her to host–her father’s idea–as part of her search for a suitable partner. Julie is immediately against the idea and when she confronts Ray, they have their worst argument yet and she hasn’t spoken to him since.
Julie hasn’t spoken much to anyone besides Carlos and Luke if the few texts they manage to exchange count. (Ever since they announced the ball, the Council has been keeping Julie extra busy with preparations so she hasn’t had much of a chance to breathe, much less check her phone.)
The night of the ball, the door to her bedroom slams open, startling her in her seat in front of her vanity. “Geeze, Flynn!”
Oh, and she talks to Flynn. But Flynn won’t hear of anything differently.
Flynn Taylor is one of Julie’s ladies in waiting but they both have always made faces at that title because Flynn has always been much more than that to Julie. Though Flynn works as her assistant, Julie knows that Flynn has her back more than anyone.
“Sorry, you know I’ve got to make a grand entrance,” Flynn apologized as she rushes over to where Julie is sitting. “But I’ve got very important updates.” She brings her arm out from around her back, placing an elegant white lace mask over Julie’s eyes.
“A mask?”
“Yes, my dear princess Julienna, because I have convinced Victoria to make tonight’s ball a masquerade.” Flynn’s smile as she meets Julie’s gaze in the mirror tells her Flynn is not only excited but also incredibly pleased with herself, but Julie is still confused.
“But… why?” Julie removes the mask from her face to turn and look at her best friend.
“Just trust me on this one, J. I promise it’s worth it. And it matches your absolutely stunning gown.”
“Except I don’t want to look stunning,” Julie says, turning away from the mirror to face her friend. “This whole ball is to look for a partner, Flynn. But I have Luke.” She knows she sounds whiny and maybe ungrateful, but the idea of looking for a partner that her father and the Council deems suitable feels ridiculous, not to mention wrong. There’s no reason to look for someone else when her heart already belongs to Luke who would do just about anything to protect it and her.
Flynn’s smile turns into a sympathetic look before she gives her a small grin. “I promise, it’s all going to work out.” She squeezes her shoulders before offering to help Julie finish getting ready.
By the time Flynn leads her to the ballroom doors to make her grand entrance, anger and sadness are warring within Julie, making her incredibly grumpy and on edge.
This shouldn’t be happening.
Her mother should be here and this shouldn’t be happening. Though if Rose was still here, this would’ve never made it past a mere mention among the Council.
And the thought makes her stomach drop just as the doors open.
Julie plasters on a fake smile as she makes her way over to where her father and Carlos are waiting. Her father says a few words, thanking everyone for coming and plenty of other things Julie doesn’t really hear. She accepts dances from a few different men, and it isn’t so bad, but all she can think about is how she’d rather be dancing with Luke.
She has to hand it to Flynn though, the masks do add an air of mystery and elegance to the night, though she’s not entirely sure how she’s supposed to tell who exactly she dances with.
Julie finally catches a break between dances when a man walks up to her in a deep, navy blue suit and a matching black mask.
He bows, as is customary when someone below nobility approaches Julie. When he straightens up he takes her hand and brings it to his mouth to press a kiss to her knuckles.
Her immediate response is to give this man a piece of her mind, until he leans toward her, his whisper clear as day over the noise of the rest of the party, “May I have this dance, Princess?”
Julie’s eyes widen as she meets the eyes of the masked stranger in front of her. “Luke?”
Despite the mask covering the top half of his face, Julie would recognize the bright, perfect smile on his face anywhere. “It’s me, boss,” he confirms as she reaches up to cradle both sides of his face.
“How are you here?” she whispers with tears gathering in her eyes.
“Flynn convinced Victoria to make the ball a masquerade. Your dad can’t kick me out if he doesn’t know its me.”
Julie takes a moment to take Luke in. Between the tux, the mask, and…his hair was done??? “Your hair,” she giggles, reaching up to brush her fingers over it.
“Flynn said it would help with the nobody recognizing me thing,” Luke says with a sheepish grin. She definitely owes Flynn for this.
A watery smile spreads across her face. “I missed you so much.” She hadn’t realized until he’s standing right in front of her just how much.
“I missed you too, Jules. You have no idea how much.” He reaches up to wipe away a few tears she hadn’t realized were falling, and ends up cradling her face like it’s the most precious thing he’s ever seen.
Like she’s the most precious thing he’s ever seen.
And suddenly none of it matters: the ball, her deteriorating relationship with her father, or looking for a partner. As long as she has Luke by her side, they’ll figure it out somehow.
#will I ever write another part???? who knows#also I can’t decide if Luke is just a normal citizen or if he is just nobility below Julie and her family but alas#this is what we’ve come up with#juke fic#my writing#happy juke jeudi!#jatp#julie and the phantoms
26 notes
·
View notes
Text
Thinkin bout Cryptid Luke…
A few ideas I have…
Luke in Legends’ continuity rebuilt the Jedi Order, but in Disney’s continuity, he did not. And while I strongly dislike Disney’s version of Old Luke, I do like the idea in my head of a lone Jedi operating without any Order (which is not what Disney’s Luke is, so I guess there’s nothing really there…)
Like, in the days of the Old Republic, you had to ask the Jedi for help. The Jedi sometimes stumbled on problems, yes, but they mostly responded to cries for help.
Luke doesn’t have that option. Yes, he can respond when a Force Sensitive calls for help with magic rocks, but for the most part, he is just wandering. He is going where the Force guides him. He is just… not there, blink, there.
I like the idea that things go to shit, Luke shows up in his ominous black hood, Luke solves the problem, then Luke vanishes as quickly as he came, with no trace he was ever there.
However, side idea: Luke travels with his motley crew of children. But, THEY are ALSO crypids!
Like, you are a citizen of some planet. You are just standing on a corner, waiting for a space bus, looking at a space newspaper, and you glance up and see an ominously cloaked figure standing on the opposite side of the street. You cannot make out any features. It is dark out, and he is standing beneath a space streetlight, but all the light does is cast his face further into shadow.
Quickly, you look back down, hoping that the ominous shape across the street hasn’t noticed you. You feel a chill run down your spine. You sneak a glance back up, only to find that there is another black-cloaked figure, standing right beside the first. It is half the first’s height, but it’s also cloaked in darkness.
You look down again. You hear a noise, like moving fabric, and look back up, worried the pair is approaching, only to find another small, ominous shape has joined the first two beneath the space streetlight. You can’t bring yourself to look away, and so watch as another black-cloaked figure emerges from behind the tallest one, the first one.
Finally, the shape moves as though inclining its head. You feel your heart begin to race as it slowly turns to face you, and the streetlights finally illuminate a mouth. A mouth that is baring a smile full of sharp teeth, right towards you.
A space bus suddenly drives past, blocking your view for only a second. But, as the bus passes, the four shapes are gone. Vanished without a trace. The streetlight goes out. You decide that you should never smoke death sticks again, despite the fact that you have never smoked a single death stick in your entire life.
(Luke was going to the grocery store with his children. He was just trying to wait for them to catch up, since he got lost in thought trying to figure out how many vegetables to get. He noticed that the person across the street seemed scared, and so tried to smile reassuringly, but there was a noise in a back alley that he and his three students darted over to check out. It’s a cat. The four of them are very pleased.)
Or, I like to think that there’s a rumour that if you say “Skywalker” in an Imperial base, Luke Skywalker will show up and destroy the place. Most of the Stormtroopers and older people are like “psh, yeah right. Jedi can’t hear their name across the galaxy.”
But, slowly but surely, the whispers of Skywalker’s name are dying out. Because he. Keeps. On. Appearing. Right after anyone says his name, even if it’s in a whisper.
(Luke just so happened to be in the area. It was the will of the Force ¯\ _(ツ)_/¯ )
There are so many options for Cryptid Luke! So! Many! Options! This man does not know how to enter a conversation like a normal person, he just appears from the shadows and scares people. Most of the galaxy think he’s just a myth created by the New Republic and the Empire. The leftover Jedi themselves think that he’s just a myth made up by the New Republic and the Empire. Nobody believes he exists aside from the people who have seen him, but even they are half convinced that they made him up.
I just would like Luke to randomly show up, kill some Imperials, scare some other Imperials, adopt another child, then go home. It’s my ideal.
#star wars#luke skywalker#cryptid luke#star wars original trilogy#you know how he is in the mandalorian#not in book of boba fett#i have not seen bobf#but i like ominous hood luke#who shows up and looks cool#then is like#aw sweet a baby i will care for it as though i myself delivered it#and vanishes again#the children show back up sometimes#and explain that jedi ing wasn’t for them#so master skywalker sent them back with his babysitter robot#the inane ramblings of a madman#i want him to be unhinged like his father and obi wan and qui gon and yoda and ahsoka before him
78 notes
·
View notes
Text
Soul Seer, Pt. 12
Loki Master List
Pairing: Loki x Reader
Warnings: Angst, 18+ Smut
Author’s Note: Takes place right after Avengers 1, with time travel elements and hints of Infinity Wars. Does NOT follow cannon after Avengers.
Sorry for taking so long to update... there’s only a couple parts left to go!
“We have a problem.” Tony Stark strode into the conference room Steve Rogers had taken over as his head quarters for the rescue and clean up operations. Cap looked up from the tablet he’d been studying. Tony didn’t usually sound that angry even in the middle of a fight.
“What is it?” Cap stood up.
Tony looked around the room. You felt the wave rage, betrayal, flowing off him and looked over at Loki with confusion. The other three men in the room, Army General Ramirez, Colonel Whitehall and the FDNY Fire Chief all stopped, waiting.
Tony flicked his mobile unit, sending a holographic display over the table. A huge group of citizens was gathered outside the damage zone. They were chanting and carrying signs with things like “Justice Must Be Served”.
“Someone leaked who our out of town help really is.” Tony flipped the display to a news anchor. An image of Loki taken from the battle sat next to an image someone caught on their cell phone of him in his “Luke” disguise. Tony crossed his arms and scowled. “They’re calling for him to be turned over to authorities.”
“He’s helping us.” Steve scowled. “He’s been held accountable by his own people.”
“Anyone know who leaked?” The General slapped his notebook down.
For all of the confusion and anger flying around the room, Loki was a center of calm. You stood, walking slowly to Loki’s side. You placed both your hands on his chest. His eyes remained on the holo image, but his focus was elsewhere. At your touch, his hands came up to cover yours.
“Loki?”
“The secret is out and cannot be put back. There are now but two choices. You deny your people a justice they deserve and watch as dissent and violence erupt amongst the masses, or you turn me over.” His eyes lowered to meet you wide stare.
“No.” You shook your head.
“That- “ Tony waved his finger around. “That is not going to happen. God, I can’t believe I’m going to say this! But we actually need your help.”
“He’s right” Steve rubbed his forehead. “We would not have accomplished what we have in the last three weeks without your help.”
“Loki is also right,” General tapped his pen on the desk. “If people know he’s here, even if we prove he’s helping, they’ll call for blood. People are terrified. This was an alien attack on American soil. It’s going to be ugly either way.”
“Excuse me.” Jarvis cut in to the conversation. “Sir, Secretary of State Wallace is calling for you.”
“Fuck.” Tony shut down the holo image.
“Buy time, Tony.” Steve folded his arm. “We need to talk about this before we agree to anything.”
“Yeah.” Tony brought his mobile to his ear. “Hey Jack! How’s it hangin’?” He marched out the room for his office.
“Loki, why are you so calm?” You studied his face. “Oh, no. No. You knew this was going to happen. You’ve been waiting for it to happen.”
His cool hand cupped your face, thumb ghosting over your lower lip. “Yes, my pet. I knew.”
Within an hour, you found yourself sitting beside Loki in a room filled to the brink with Avengers and US officials. You listened to the arguments fly around the room, felt level of animosity rise. Fury insisted if Loki was going to be incarcerated it should be with SHIELD. Others insisted there be a trial. Some wondered if sentenced to death, could he even be executed. What it mean in the public opinion if he couldn’t be killed. Bruce was adamant that Loki had already been tried by Odin.
“Are you alright, my pet?” Loki’s baritone voice cut through the noise.
“No.” You shook your head, realizing how close you were to tears. Anxiety, anger, and frustration raged inside. “You can’t let them take you.”
Loki stood and held his hand out for you. Before you made two steps from the table, Rogers called out. “Loki. Where are you going?”
“Captain, I believe you know my intentions in regard to the work you are doing here. I am bound to whatever order is given me. Being here, while my fate is decided, is not necessary.” Loki’s gaze moved to you then back to the Cap. “Don’t you agree?”
He understood. This was about you. “You’re right. The conversation may even be a little more honest with you out of the room. We all know the weight of Dr. Banner’s opinion. We’ll let you know when we’re done.”
Loki tipped his head and led you from the room with a hand at your back. The calm radiating off of him was infuriating. He was normally full of fire and fight. It scared you and you hated being scared. You managed to keep quiet until the elevator doors closed.
“Don’t you dare tell me you’re just giving up.” You growled, staring at the readout taking you to your floor.
“I must do as Dr. Banner orders. What is there to give up?” Loki sounded distant.
“What is there – “ You spun, instantly furious. “My entire life, my entire existence, has changed! Do you have any idea what would happen to me if they took you! Do you know what that would do to me! What is there to give up?! You selfish- “
Loki’s mouth crashed over yours. His hands roughly pulling you flush against his body, lifting you off your toes. Waves of possessive need, protective outrage, wrapped around you as tightly as his arms. Your fingers slipped through his silky hair as you clung to him.
The elevator doors opened, Loki waltzed you onto your floor. A tickle dance across your skin just before he dropped you down on the soft sheets of your bed. The cool air tickled across your bare flesh. Loki pinned you to the bed, hands holding down your wrists.
His face hovered over your, eyes blazing. “You are mine. I will not allow you to be . . . taken . . . from me. I will do whatever I must to keep you safe.”
“But you were so calm.” The tightness in your chest began to unravel. “What if they decide to. . .”
“It doesn’t matter what they decide.” Loki’s nose ghosted over yours, his breath mingling with yours. “The only word that matters is Banner’s.” His tongue slipped along your lower lip. “He is a man of reason.”
“You’re not concerned?”
“No, my pet, worry not.”
“But…”
His mouth covered yours, tongue dancing around your, drawing a moan from your throat. He nipped your lower lip between his teeth. “Whatever may come, I will protect you, my feisty little pet.”
“Don’t laugh at me. I was furious.” You rocked your hips up against him, causing Loki to growl. You twisted your wrists until your fingers entwined with his. “You are mine.”
Loki fell upon you like a man starving. He bit marks across your neck. His body slid along yours. The coolness of his skin against your flushed skin sent shivers over your body. His teeth grazed your nipple. You pulled at his hair, calling his name. Loki marked your delicate flesh.
“So fine.” Loki growled. He pushed apart your legs, teeth nipping, hot tongue painting wet trails along your inner thighs. It sent fire racing through your veins. His fingers slid through your wetness, delving into your depths. With a wicked smile, Loki licked his fingers. “My sweet.”
“Loki, don’t tease.” You clawed at the sheets.
He pressed your knees toward your shoulders, his tongue taking a long sweep across your sex. His voice rumbled deep. “Don’t tell me what to do, my pet.” He flicked your clit with his tongue. “I do what I want.”
You wrapped your legs around him and twisted. He allowed you to flip him over onto his back. Straddling his waist, hands on his chest, you nipped at his jaw. “I wanted to stand in front of you, and dare anyone to take you from me. I would rip them apart. You are mine.”
His fingers dug into your ass as you rubbed against his hard cock. Loki’s eyes fell closed. Your declaration feeling more intoxicating than any Asgardian mead he’d ever tasted. “You are a marvel, my dear.”
“Loki,” you breathed, lowering yourself on him. “Loki,” you sighed, relishing in the stretch and the feel of him. “Oh, fuck, Loki,” you panted sitting up and rocking on him. His cock hitting you perfectly.
His feet anchored on the bed, thrusting up. So powerful. Your cunt clenched around him. Loki growled, holding you in place and fucking you harder. You reached back, balancing with a hand on his knee. Heat coiled in your center.
Loki watched the sweat break out on your skin, delighted in your tits bouncing for him. He extended a tendril of magic. A cool vibrating thrum pressed against your clit.
“Oh fuck!” You began to quiver.
“Do not come until I say.” Loki ordered. You whined, but nodded. The onslaught of his cock and the vibration overwhelming.
An icy pinch nipped along the edge of your breast. You yipped. A series of them circles your breasts, making them feel tight and hyper-sensitive. Ghost finger pinch your nipples hard, sending a shock to your cunt that near pushed you over. “Oh, god, Loki!”
He growled, a smirk upon his face. The thrum upon your clit became stronger and pushed against you harder. “Not yet.” Loki slammed into at a brutal pace. Wet, skin slapping skin. You panted. Shook. You couldn’t help it. The pinches upon your nipples pulled hard, coming free, the flash of pain making you snap.
Heat burst forth. You flooded, squirting over his cock. Soaking everything. Shaking uncontrollably. Falling forward. Loki wrapped his arms around you, pulling you against him. Burying in you deep, coming hard with groan.
You lay boneless on his chest, breath slowly returning to normal. Loki stroked your skin, holding you gently. He allowed himself to get lost in your breath and heartbeat. You sighed and drifted into near sleep. He would not say it aloud, but if Banner makes any decision that takes you from him, he would tear everything to the ground.
You’d become his salvation. Loki once again wondered if the Norns laughed at him. A fragile little mortal.
He let you sleep, just holding you.
In short order though, Jarvis quietly alerted him of visitors. “Loki, excuse me, but Captain Rogers wishes me to inform you that he and the others are on their way to your suite.”
You lifted your head, sleepily.
“Thank you. Have they come to a decision?”
“I believe so, sir.”
“Time to get up?” You sat up, the worry returning.
“Yes.” Loki stood and held a hand out for you.
With a shimmer of magic, you were both clean and dressed. You smiled, leaning into him. “Magic is so cool.”
His lips covered yours in a gentle kiss just as the door to your suite chimed. You both walked out of the bedroom just as the living room filled. Rogers was joined by Stark, Banner, Romanoff, and surprisingly Fury.
“You’ve come to a conclusion.”
“Yeah.” Banner was smiling. Good sign.
“We explained about Odin’s orders and the oath.” Cap began. “But the court of public opinion is a pretty powerful force.”
“Indeed it is.” Loki agreed. He took you hand in his to keep you from fidgeting. Everyone’s emotions were bounding all over the spectrum.
“We couldn’t exactly ask some of the others to defy direct orders,” Fury continued the story. “So we figured we’re going to have to handle this one on our own for a while.”
Natasha smiled. “We are the spies after all.”
“So what did you finally decide to do about Loki?” You finally blurted out.
“If we’re going to get the happy ending we all want,” Tony smiled. “Loki has to die.”
TAGS
@1800-fight-me \ @abschaffer2 \ @alexakeyloveloki \ @archy3001 \ @asgardianthot \ @asiaaisa77 \ @badassbaker \ @bangtan-serendipity \ @beautifullungs \ @buchanansebba \ @buckybarneshairpullingkink \ @buckybarnesplumwhore \ @buckybarnesplumwhore \ @daughterofthenight117 \ @dawnlaufeyson \ @dsakita \ @everything-is-awesomesauce \ @fangasm202 \ @geeksareunique \ @girlmadeofivory \ @girlmadeofivory \ @imma-new-soul \ @jesseswartzwelder \ @jillilama-blog \ @kalesrebellion \ @kermittheshipper \ @kiki5283 \ @kneel-before-queen-loki \ @lbouvet \ @lovely-lollipops-blog \ @messenough \ @michelehansel \ @mindtravelsx \ @morganhoran1671 \ @myownviperroom \ @night-cereus \ @notyourtypicalrose \ @osric-the-l3m0n-l0v3-demon \ @person-born-winchester \ @rainbowkisses31 \ @readermia \ @rinthehufflepuff \ @rogerrhqpsody \ @rynabarnesrogers-reading \ @sammghgecko \ @scarlettsoldier \ @sebbysstangirl \ @sex-cee-seabasss \ @sexyvixen7 \ @smokeandnailz \ @tahiri-veyla \ @theladybiers \ @theneuropsychwriter \ @the-omni-princess \ @the-reading-octopus \ @thorfanficwriter \ @ultracolorfulnerdcollection \ @ultrarebelheart \ @unadulteratedwizardlove \ @vanillabunn21 \ @vintageroses1014516 \ @vodka-and-some-sass \ @wwe-fanfiction-queen \ @itsag \ @neverending-space \ @saiyanprincessswanie \ @a--1--1--3
102 notes
·
View notes
Text
Title: every planet, every star, every single grain of sand
Fandom: Star Wars
Summary: In which Darth Vader finds 9-year-old Luke on Tatooine, proceeds to have a breakdown, kills Palpatine and makes his preteen son Emperor, as you do. Otherwise known as the Adventures of Teeny Tiny Emperor Luke and his Royal Dad Guard Darth Vader.
AN: Cleaned up the drabble I wrote on my phone and posted last night since I decided this is an AU I’m invested in now.
READ ON AO3
Darth Vader had often been called the Emperor’s attack dog. Whether to his face, by enemies choking on their own blood, or in the whispers of his soldiers behind his back. He used to resent it, hate it even. For all the strength he possessed, the insult was yet another reminder that he’d once more been reduced to less than human. Something to be owned and subdued and broken over and over again.
Nowadays, he didn’t mind anymore, took pleasure in everyone knowing that he was never more than an arm’s length behind the Emperor. He was the dark shadow following the most precious treasure the galaxy had ever given him.
“Your Highness, I have to insist. With the Rebels still refusing to negotiate with us, we cannot afford a war with the Hutts!”
The meeting had been dragging on for hours. Vader didn’t have the patience for such long-winded sessions and also didn’t necessarily see the point. They had an honorable goal and Vader would ensure that it was successful. What did it matter that they’d be fighting on two fronts? He’d make it work. Besides, the Rebels would soon give up once they see how much good Luke was doing.
Patience, Father, Luke’s thoughts reached him. We’re almost done.
Vader snorted and enjoyed how everybody else twitched. They could hardly tell his normal breathing apart from anything else and startling them was one of the few pleasures Vader had at these meetings. Besides his son’s presence, of course.
Like we’ve been almost done for an hour?
“So, General, what you’re really saying is that because our military isn’t strong enough, I should avoid conflict with the Hutts and let millions of sentient citizens of my Empire suffer?”
My Empire, Vader could never grow sick of hearing Luke say it. Every planet, every star, every single grain of sand, Vader had promised Luke when he’d found his nine-year-old son on Tatooine. His son, scared and hurt, had been in a cage, still wearing the clothes stained with his aunt’s blood. Padmé’s child, meant for greatness, stolen away and sold as a slave.
He’d never be hurt again, never denied anything at all again. Here, on the throne that was his and his alone, Luke would be safe.
“I- of course not, your Highness, but-“
Luke smiled. A gentle push of the Force followed and the Admiral stopped talking, giving up. Luke‘s speeches weren’t as refined as Padmé’s yet, but he also didn’t have as much practice as she had at his age. Until he caught up, the Force would guide him and silence everyone else and force them to listen.
“Then I believe we’re done here for today. Thank you for your attendance. Please inform the senate for the next session and start preparing the army.”
Luke pushed his chair away from the table and stood up. He smoothed over his heavy red overcoat before confidently walking towards the exit, Vader right behind him.
Luke barely reached Vader’s waist, and probably would never reach Vader’s height if the doctors were to be trusted. It annoyed Luke to no end, but Vader could only see the benefits. It was easier for him to shield Luke and, should any attacker ever manage to bypass him, they’d likely underestimate his son.
“Can we go work on our droid now, Father?” Luke asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
His son yawned and his shoulders dropped. The straight posture they had practiced in front of mirrors fell away easily.
“Dinner first, my son. The cooks have prepared your favorite.”
Seeing Luke’s heartbroken look, Vader amended. His son had done excellent work today, much better than Vader would have. He’d have just told the generals to shut up and do as he said. Luke was much more skilled with endearing people to him.
“But an argument can be made for eating down in the workshop instead of the dining hall.”
Luke smiled, bright, happy, and alive.
“Yes!” He cheered. “Thank you! Let me just get changed first. Can’t have oil on the robes again, or Miss Tallin will complain again.”
Vader would do everything to ensure that warmth would never leave his side again. Luke would be great and grow up knowing he was loved.
280 notes
·
View notes
Text
Headlines
Protesters Debate What Comes Next
(NYT) The unrest in America’s cities showed no signs of fading on Tuesday as embattled police forces from Atlanta to Los Angeles struggled to reclaim the streets and as protesters debated the future of the week-old uprising. As the demographics of the movement have expanded to include a far more diverse population, the goals have also broadened. Some demonstrators are demanding that all four officers involved in Mr. Floyd’s death be thrown in jail, not just the single officer charged last week. “All four,” they shouted at protests. Many others are calling for the entire system of inequality that they view as the ultimate cause of Mr. Floyd’s death to be torn down and rebuilt. What began as a protest over one man’s death in police custody in Minneapolis has grown into a nationwide movement with diverse activists, tactics and demands.
Embattled at Home, Trump Finds Himself Isolated Abroad, Too
(NYT) With American cities burning and the coronavirus still raging, killing more people than in any other country, President Trump also has growing problems overseas. In Europe, after years of snubs and American unilateralism, America’s traditional allies have stopped looking to him for leadership and are turning their backs on him. That was evidenced most obviously this week by the decision of the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, not to attend the Group of 7 meeting Mr. Trump wanted so badly in Washington this month to show that the virus was behind him and the world was returning to normal. Ms. Merkel cited the lingering threat of the virus, but a senior German official who spoke on the condition of anonymity made clear that she had other reasons to decline: She believed that proper diplomatic preparations had not been made; she did not want to be part of an anti-China display; she opposed Mr. Trump’s idea of inviting the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin; she did not want to be seen as interfering in American domestic politics. As Mr. Trump threatens to call in the military against his own citizens, he has become a president that some of America’s closest allies prefer to keep at arms’ length, unsure of what he will do next and unwilling to be dragged into his campaign for re-election. “Leaders in allied nations now think that criticizing Trump is to their advantage,” said Marietje Schaake, a former Dutch European legislator, especially now with the unrest in American cities and demonstrations supporting those protests in many European cities, including Amsterdam.
As Protests Engulf the United States, China Revels in the Unrest
(NYT) The cartoon shows the Statue of Liberty cracking into pieces, a police officer breaking through its copper robe. A man’s head lies on the ground in front of the White House, its facade splattered with blood. “Beneath human rights,” says the title of the cartoon, which was published by People’s Daily, the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship newspaper, and circulated widely on social media sites this week. As protests over police violence engulf hundreds of cities in the United States, China is reveling in the moment, seizing on the unrest to tout the strength of its authoritarian system and to portray the turmoil as yet another sign of American hypocrisy and decline. It is a narrative that conveniently ignores many of the country’s own problems, including its history of ethnic discrimination, its record on human rights and its efforts to suppress protests in Hong Kong. Chinese officials are trolling their American counterparts with protest slogans like “Black lives matter” and “I can’t breathe.” The state-run media is featuring stories about the “double standards” of the United States for supporting the Hong Kong demonstrators. Prominent Chinese commentators are arguing that American-style democracy is a sham, pointing to the country’s bungled response to the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing racial tensions. The propaganda push is the latest skirmish in a longstanding power struggle between China and the United States, with relations between the two countries at their lowest point in decades.
Mexico Coronavirus Cases Spike
(Foreign Policy) On Tuesday Carissa Etienne, the World Health Organization’s regional director for the Americas warned that the coronavirus pandemic in the Western Hemisphere was only likely to get worse. The number of coronavirus cases in the United States and Brazil—which together account for over one-third of cases worldwide—has grabbed headlines, but it’s in Mexico where the pandemic could find its next epicenter. On Tuesday, Mexico’s health ministry reported 3,891 new coronavirus cases, its highest daily number since the outbreak began. At over 10,000, the number of recorded deaths from coronavirus in Mexico is the third-highest in the Americas, behind United States and Brazil.
My rabbit for your detergent? Cubans turn to barter as shortages worsen
(Reuters) Nelson Aguilar used to sell the rabbits that he raises on his Havana rooftop to restaurants. Now, with an ongoing pandemic, the 70-year-old uses them as currency, exchanging them for food or detergent to avoid multi-hour queues at poorly stocked shops. He’s not alone. More Cubans are turning to bartering to meet their shopping needs, be it in person or on social media groups, as the novel coronavirus crisis worsens existing shortages of basic goods in the Communist-run island. Shoppers had already faced long lines for some staple goods over the last year-and-a-half as Cuba’s economic situation worsened with the implosion of ally Venezuela and amid tougher U.S. sanctions under President Donald Trump. Now, the pandemic has halted tourism, slowed remittances and raised shipping costs, plunging Cuba into its worst economic crisis since the fall of its former benefactor, the Soviet Union, in the 1990s.
Sea, sand and social distancing
(Reuters) A cluster of Caribbean islands are reopening this month for international tourism, hoping to burnish their reputations as oases of tranquility after containing their coronavirus outbreaks and implementing strict new public health protocols. The Caribbean is the most tourism dependent region in the world. The move is a pilot test for other regions planning to restart tourism after pandemic-induced lockdowns. Antigua and Barbuda, the U.S. Virgin Islands and St. Lucia are the first to reopen this week. Jamaica and Aruba are set to follow later in the month, with July target dates for the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.
EU lawmaker reveals more than intended in video call
(Reuters) A European Union lawmaker on Tuesday was reminded of the perils of videoconferencing when he appeared to be wearing no trousers as he discussed policy matters with his peers. The European Parliament’s official live broadcast showed Ireland’s Luke Ming Flanagan wearing a shirt and sitting on the edge of an unmade bed with his legs crossed, rubbing his thighs as he addressed an agriculture committee for two minutes. “I was just back from a run so was in my shorts. Decided to put on a shirt to look kinda respectable! That didn’t work out very well!,” Flanagan told Reuters. His light-hearted response won him sympathy on social media where many people shared their own struggles with video calls and working from home amid the pandemic.
Germany and the Netherlands lift some coronavirus travel warnings
(AP) The German government announced Wednesday it will ease a global travel warning starting June 15, with cautions set to be lifted for most European countries. Other countries, including the Netherlands, have prepared similar steps this week. In both Germany and the Netherlands, authorities continue to advise against nonessential travel to Britain, which has announced a 14-day quarantine for travelers arriving in the country. The lifting of travel warnings does not automatically result in a return to borderless travel in the 26 European states that make up the Schengen area, which was restricted in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Some countries, including Spain, are expected to keep travel restrictions on tourists in place until July. In Norway, most restrictions could even remain in place until August.
Italy reopens borders
(Euronews/AFP) Italy reopened its borders to European travellers on Wednesday as the country attempts to rescue its tourism industry. It now faces the challenge of enticing visitors back, as it looks to the summer holiday season as a possible route to some sort of economic recovery. Italy is currently facing the worst recession since the Second World War. On top of reopening its borders to European travellers, Italy has lifted restrictions on movement between regions. International flights are expected to resume in just three major cities: Milan, Rome and Naples.
Cyclone lashes India’s business capital
(AP) The first cyclone in more than a century to hit India’s financial capital of Mumbai appeared to have largely spared the metropolis on Wednesday. No deaths or major damages were reported as workers began clearing fallen trees and other debris from affected areas along India’s western coastline. In the state capital, Mumbai, home to Bollywood, India’s largest stock exchange and more than 18 million residents, high winds whipped skyscrapers and ripped apart shanties near the beach. The storm lost much of its power after slamming ashore near the city of Alibag, about 98 kilometers (60 miles) south of Mumbai, the Meteorological Department said.
UK to welcome Hong Kong citizens
(SCMP) Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he’s ready to change immigration rules for the nearly 3 million Hong Kong citizens eligible for a British National Overseas passport, allowing them to live and work in the UK, if China imposes its national security law.
With buses inadequate, Filipinos go back to work on bikes—and make their own lanes
(AP) The end of a 2½ month lockdown in Manila has been accompanied by crippling traffic jams with restrictions on public transportation, so many people can’t get to work. As hundreds of thousands are stranded from the lack of seats on public transport, cycling has become an increasingly popular alternative. Bike sales have surged under the lockdown. One initiative, Life Cycles, distributed hundreds of bikes to front line health-care workers to get them to their jobs. Biking on traffic choked streets of Manila is not easy, so when Philippine traffic officials did not put up a protected bike lane, one group took matters into their own hands. Bikers United Marshals set up makeshift markers along a major avenue, then deployed volunteers to ensure road safety.
U.N. misses Yemen aid target
(Foreign Policy) The United Nations has fallen roughly $1 billion short of its target to help fund humanitarian operations in Yemen. Speaking before the donor conference, Lise Grande, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen said the UN’s operations would face “catastrophic cutback” if less than $1.6 billion was raised. “We won’t be able to provide the food people need to survive, or the health care they need or the water or sanitation or the nutrition support which helps to keep 2 million malnourished children from dying,” she said. Saudi Arabia’s spending on waging war in Yemen to date is believed to be at least $265 billion.
1 note
·
View note
Text
Told You So
I promised this six months ago, why am I like This
Read on Ao3
1.
Peter admits, he hasn't always been there for his team. Especially in the beginning, when he was new and selfish, and still struggling to fit in with the team's dynamic.
But he's learned a lot since then. He's thrown himself into the role of team leader and made it his personal mission to always be there for his friends, no matter what. And he pays attention. He depends on his spidey sense to watch out for him, while Peter himself focuses solely on his teammates.
Like Sam. Sam, who has stupidly stolen a brownie from MJ, who's too busy having a debate over some history question with Ava to notice.
Normally, Peter would let it go. He's just as guilty from taking food when MJ or Harry isn't watching, so, really, he wouldn't have said anything other than a raised eyebrow in Sam's direction.
But he knows that MJ's grandma uses her "secret ingredient" in all of her baking, and everyone knows her secret is several extra scoops of peanuts.
Peter doesn't realize what he's doing until he's already out of his seat and tackling Sam over the lunch table. The brownie goes flying one way as Peter and Sam fall to the floor, and the whole lunch table falls silent as the boy’s stumble over each other, trying to untangle themselves.
"Parker, what the hell?" Sam asks, finally getting fed up and pushing the taller boy off of him.
Peter's face goes red. "You... the brownie... Dude, you have a peanut allergy," he finally stutters out.
A look of realization dawns across Sam's face. "How did you-?"
"Are you two dorks going to get off the floor?" Ava asks, raising her eyebrow.
Peter's face darkens even more, and MJ openly laughs at them. As Sam sits back down, she leans over with a smirk. "Serves you right. Don't steal my brownies next time."
"Don't put peanuts in them next time," he counters. "Anyway, how did you know about my allergy, Parker?"
"Uh, you told me about it?" Peter reminds him. "Like, it was one of the first things you told me when we first met."
Sam looks at him skeptically, but ultimately decides to let it go. Lunch carries on like normal, except MJ slides her brownies to her other side, away from Sam.
2.
"What time are the boys coming over?" Aunt May asks as she pulls on oven mitts. "I want Sam to try out this new recipe I found."
Peter checks his phone, but there are no new messages from Sam, Luke, or Danny, so he shrugs. "Danny said they'd be over around six. But Sam likes to take his time, so I'm guessing around six thirty."
His aunt gives a playful shake of her head as she pulls a batch of cookies out of the oven. "That boy. You told them I was ordering pizza for you guys, right?"
"Yes, Aunt May," Peter sighs as he sneaks a cookie. It's still warm from the oven, the chocolate chips are melting on his tongue, and the peanut butter sticks to the roof of his mouth. It's heaven.
His aunt whacks him with a wooden spoon, and huffs. "Peter, at least pretend like you're trying to restrain yourself from eating all the food."
"It's one cookie," he defends. His phone dings in his hand, and he unlocks it to see a message from Sam, saying they've left the tricarrier.
Peter blinks. Sam. The cookies. Crap.
"Aunt May, you can't let Sam have these cookies."
"And why can't I?" she asks, propping a hand on her hip and looking at Peter expectantly.
"He's allergic," he says, "to peanuts. Wait, didn't he tell you?"
"He never said anything to me, even when he was living here. I guess that explains why he always offered to do the grocery shopping." May looks at the batch of cookies sadly before turning to get the flour, eggs, sugar, and chocolate chips. "Come on, Peter. I want this new batch in the oven before the boys get here."
Peter knows they don't have that much time, and that Luke, Danny, and Sam will be knocking on their door any minute, but he grabs a measuring cup and sets to work anyway.
3.
The team tries their best to have at least one study session a week. Usually, they hang out at Peter's house, lounging around on the sofa and spreading their books across the coffee table, but occasionally, on especially really tough weeks, they go out. They prefer the pizza parlor, but the group is also known to push tables together at the closest Starbucks and get hyped up on caffeine while trying to memorize every detail of whatever they learned in chemistry.
While Ava glares over the top of her science book, Sam and Peter take turns throwing wadded up napkins at each other.
"Shouldn't you be studying?" she asks.
"Uh, I don't know if you know this, Ava, but this is science." Peter makes a show of slamming his textbook closed. "I'm kind of a genius when it comes to this stuff."
"I just don't care," Sam shrugs. “Chemistry is boring.” Peter gasps, over dramatic, and he flips him off, before standing from his seat and grabbing his empty cup. “I’m going for refills. Anyone else want anything?”
Ava perks up and raises her hand. “I could go for a refill,” she says, and shakes her cup so the group can hear the tiniest bit of coffee sloshing around.
“What did you get?” Sam asks, swiping the cup from her hands. “My seasonal favorite is leaving soon, so I need to find a new drink.”
She looks annoyed at having her drink stolen but doesn’t move to take it back. “It’s hazelnut.”
Sam nods and lifts to cup to his lips, and Peter chokes on air for a second before ripping to cup away.
“Are you nuts?” he asks. (He absolutely does not laugh to himself for the unintended pun. He doesn’t.) “You have a peanut allergy, Sam.”
Sam only blinks at him. “Uh, yeah, Web Head, peanuts. Hazelnuts are fine,” he explains. “So are almonds and stuff.”
Ava and Luke smirk at him and Danny gives a soft laugh. “It is very kind of you to have your friend’s wellbeing in mind.”
“Yeah, Webs, it’s awful sweet of you,” Sam smirks.
Peter rolls his eyes and gives the cup back. “Yeah, yeah. It’s the last time, though.”
4.
“Have you noticed that Sam forgets he has a peanut allergy, like, all the time?” Peter asks Director Fury one day after training.
“Nova tends to forget a lot of things when it comes to his wellbeing,” he agrees. “The only reason SHIELD knows about his allergy is because we have access to his medical files.”
“He didn’t even tell SHIELD?” Peter gapes.
“He forgot.” The way he says it sounds like Fury is repeating something he doesn’t believe. “But we’ve made sure to take the proper precautions. He has an EpiPen on him at all times, and we have everything we need here in the med bay.”
Peter nodded in relief. “How serious is it?” he asks. “Every time I ask, he brushes it aside.”
“Not as serious as you’re imagining,” Fury assures him. “But serious enough that we should still be prepared.”
Awesome, Peter thinks, and glances over at the teammate in question. “Is Sam trying to steal Luke’s Snickers bar?”
Beside him, the director of SHIELD gives a long, tired sigh.
5.
Like the time with the brownies, Peter doesn’t think before he acts. At least this time, he doesn’t have to tackle Sam over the table.
A grateful shopkeeper keeps insisting that she has to repay them somehow, and despite Spider-Man insisting that no, she doesn’t, she slips a bag of candy into everyone's hands, and shoos them out the door before they can say a “thank you.”
“It’s nice to not get yelled at for destroying a place for a change,” Sam jokes, swinging his bag of candy as he floats up to the nearest rooftop.
Peter has to agree as he follows him. Of course, they don’t expect or even want the New York citizens to start going crazy over them, but the occasional thank you was always nice. Peter pops one of the candies into his mouth, and bites down on a chocolate covered peanut.
He doesn’t think. Sam hasn’t eaten the candy yet, but he’s reaching into the bag, so Peter quickly smacks it out of his hand.
“Hey!” Sam protests, glaring at the fallen bag, and then at Peter. “What was that for?”
“Uh… peanuts?” he manages and rubs his neck nervously. “I mean, they’re chocolate covered peanuts. And you never pay attention, so… yeah.”
Sam rolls his eyes. “Okay, listen, Webs. It’s nice that you care and pay attention or whatever, but this is ridiculous, okay?” he says. “I’ve gotten along just fine without you for years, I think I can manage my own allergy. I certainly don’t need you jumping over tables and knocking candy out of my hand.”
Peter is tempted to point out the several times he’s had to keeps peanuts away from Sam (he didn’t even tell Aunt May, she had no idea, how was that even possible?), but figures it’s probably best that he doesn’t. Besides, even he can admit when he’s crossed a line, and he has been a little overbearing recently.
He sighs. “You’re right, I’m sorry. I’ll back off.”
Sam gives a small smile. “That’s all I’m asking.”
+1
The Guardians of the Galaxy have taken to visiting Earth a lot more frequently in recent months, whether it just be a social call, or a legitimate, Earth threatening event. During their visits, Sam would disappear for hours at a time, and when he returned, he’d be bouncing on the balls of his feet and laughing his way through whatever antics Rocket had gotten him into.
This time, when he comes back, the Guardians are a panicking mess with Sam being carried in Gamora’s arms.
“What happened?” Peter asks, following the Guardians to the med bay.
“How should I know?” Rocket rants. “You stupid humans are too fragile, all he did was eat some ice cream!”
It’s then that Peter can finally catch a glance of Sam. His face is red and splotchy, and it looks like he’s having a little trouble breathing. He knows immediately what’s wrong, and motions for the Guardians to follow him to the med bay.
“What’s happening to him?” Gamora asks, laying Sam down on the nearest cot.
“’m fine,” Sam says, trying to push himself up.
“Peanut allergy,” Peter answers as a doctor steps over to assist. “What were you saying about being able to manage your own allergy?”
Sam glares and gives him the finger.
“You have a peanut allergy?” Star Lord nearly shrieks. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“You didn’t know?” Peter asks, surprised.
“There aren’t exactly peanuts in space, Spider-Boy.” Star Lord quirks an eyebrow, and Peter kind of wants to correct him, but lets it go.
Peter and the Guardians are quickly ushered out of the room when it’s clear they aren’t planning on helping, so they’re left to wait outside.
“What is a peanut allergy?” Drax eventually asks.
“It just means he can’t eat peanuts,” Peter explains. “His body just reacts to it differently than other people.”
Rocket grumbles about weak humans, and Peter and Star Lord both shoot him offended glares.
By the time the SHEILD doctors allow them back inside, the Guardians are scrambling through the door. Peter allows them to go first and patiently waits in the hallway until he can talk to Sam alone.
As soon he steps into the room, Sam looks like he’s stuck between avoiding his gaze and glaring at him.
“Don’t say it,” he says. “Don’t you dare say it, Parker.”
“Say what?” he asks, feigning innocence.
“I can see it in your eyes,” Sam continues. “If you say ‘I told you so,’ I swear I’ll tell the doctor you hit me, and then you won’t be allowed back in here.”
Peter laughs and sits down on the end of the bed. “I would never,” he says, but has to bite his tongue. “But does this mean I can start tackling you over tables again to stop from being stupid?”
“No,” Sam huffs, and kicks at him. “But I guess it wouldn’t hurt if you, I dunno, helped keep an eye out or whatever.”
“Deal,” he nods and gets up off the bed, heading towards the door. “You should get some rest, Sam.”
“It’s not that big of a deal,” he gripes.
Peter rolls his eyes and stops before leaving the room. “Oh, and Sam? I told you so.”
He ducks out the door before the pillow can hit him.
101 notes
·
View notes
Text
Defenders Countdown: 8 Days
Shadowland, or “Friends Don’t Let Friends Get Possessed By Demons”
Shadowland is (so far) Marvel’s only Daredevil-centric cross-series event, which ties together most of the street-level heroes in a frenzy of angst and ninja fighting. While The Defenders will be telling a new story, we could imagine it drawing inspiration from Shadowland, so here, for your convenience, is a brief overview.
Our story starts in Ed Brubaker’s run, toward the end of Daredevil volume 2. As usual, Matt is going through a difficult time-- but he’s not the only one. The Hand, having just discovered that their previous leader, Elektra, was actually a Skrull in disguise (and more to the point-- is now dead), are in search of new management. For reasons that will become clear later, they set their sights on Matt and go about recruiting him in the usual way-- by attacking his loved ones and destroying his life.
Matt: “What the hell are you saying?!”
Lady Bullseye: “We have not been attacking you and yours... we have been preparing you to accept this gift. Clearing away your problems... not targeting them. Your friends will be your lieutenants... and you will know a power you can only dream of. Free of the tragedies of this life you’ve led, Matt Murdock...”
Daredevil vol. 2 #115 by Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark, and Matt Hollingsworth
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Matt says no. (Honestly, what were the Hand expecting?). However, Wilson Fisk soon gets wind of the vacancy and decides that what he really needs in his life is his own personal ninja army. When Matt hears about this, he starts to rethink his decision. He has no interest in leading the Hand, but he’d much rather have them under his control than Fisk’s. He and his new ally Izo (Stick’s mentor and Matt’s... grand-mentor?) make a last-minute plan, and Matt contacts the Hand about his change of heart.
Matt: “Do you still want me to join you? To lead the Hand?”
Fisk: “No!! What is he doing?!”
Izo: “I think it’s called stealing your thunder...”
Daredevil vol. 2 #500 by Ed Brubaker, Michael Lark, and Matt Hollingsworth
Thus, Matt becomes the Hand’s new head honcho, with all of the power and responsibilities that come with the position. He acts as Hand-y as possible, goes about trying to make peace between the various Hand factions, builds himself a giant fortress in the middle of Hell’s Kitchen, and starts wearing a black costume. But he also sticks to the plan that he and Izo made, through which he is able to justify involving himself with such a nasty organization: He attempts to use the Hand as a force for good, turning them from a group of assassins into something more like... a ninja police force.
Matt: “Hell’s Kitchen is now under the protection of the Hand!”
Daredevil vol. 2 #504 by Andy Diggle, Roberto de la Torre, and Matt Hollingsworth
It’s worth noting that Elektra, back when she was young and naive, tried a similar sneaky tactic with the Hand, and it turned out terribly. Matt’s luck is not much better, and what neither he nor Izo realize is that he was chosen not for his leadership skills or badassery, but because he’s a sucker. Snakeroot, the secret group that pulls the Hand’s strings from behind the scenes, have been searching for a host for their patron demon, the Beast-- and Matt is the perfect candidate. The citizens of Manhattan and other street-level heroes are already nervous about all the ninjas suddenly running around, but it becomes clear that something is horribly wrong with Matt when Bullseye gets involved. In an attempt to kill Matt, he blows up an apartment building in Hell’s Kitchen. Matt responds by gutting Bullseye.
Bullseye: “W-wait... th-this ain’t... ain’t like you... Y-you wouldn’t...”
Luke: “We gotta shut this down, like now--”
Danny: “Oh, my god, he’s gonna-- No no no no--”
Shadowland #1 by Andy Diggle, Billy Tan, Christina Strain, et al.
It’s all downhill from here. This moral lapse is enough for the Beast to start to gain some serious control. Chaos erupts in the streets as the demonic influence infects the area, and Matt gets himself an actual throne to sit on, sets up a dungeon in the basement of his creepy fortress for the criminals his ninjas bring in, and just generally goes full-on bad guy.
Matt: “At this very moment, the so-called heroes of New York are plotting to destroy me, along with everything I’ve built here in Shadowland. I will do whatever it takes to ensure they do not succeed.”
Carlos: “Matt, the people you’re supposed to be protecting are tearing up the streets! Fighting-- looting-- killing each other for pennies! Everyone out there is terrified!”
Matt: “They should be.”
Daredevil vol. 2 #510 by Andy Diggle, Antony Johnston, Marco Checchetto, et al.
Matt’s friends in the superhero community are... concerned to say the least, and so Matt/Beast attempts to get them on his side. Carlos La Muerto, AKA Black Tarantula, was part of the plan from the beginning, and is forced to hang out in the fortress and watch firsthand as his friend goes nuts. Elektra offers herself up as an ally so that she can keep an eye on the situation. Matt tries to recruit Colleen Wing via her mother’s history with the Hand. He offers all of his superhero friends an opportunity to join his army, but when they approach him en masse and (gasp) refuse, he doesn’t take it well.
Matt: “Consider my ban on killing hereby lifted! Slay them all!”
Shadowland #3 by Andy Diggle, Billy Tan, Christina Strain, et al.
By this point, it’s abundantly clear to everyone that something is very wrong with Matt. Izo and Elektra, having snuck into the Hand’s headquarters and seen what Snakeroot is up to, provide the demonic possession explanation, and the street heroes start pondering some serious solutions.
Meanwhile, Foggy decides to take action. All on his own, he breaks into the Shadowland fortress to confront his best friend.
Foggy: “No. I’m not going to walk away. I’m not. You may have turned your back on me, Matt... but I haven’t turned my back on you. Hell, you’ve saved me more times than I can remember... it’s about time I returned the favor!”
Daredevil vol. 2 #511 by Andy Diggle, Roberto de la Torre, and Matt Hollingsworth
Foggy’s sudden appearance does the impossible-- it momentarily weakens the Beast’s control over Matt. That’s just how powerful their friendship is.
Foggy: “P-please, M-Matt-- i-it’s me-- F-Foggy--! I know this-- this isn’t you-- You’re b-better than this! You’re my friend!”
Matt: “F-Foggy...?”
Shadowland #5 by Andy Diggle, Billy Tan, and Victor Olazaba
This gives the street heroes the opportunity they need to pull out their secret weapon-- exorcism via chi punch.
Matt/Beast: “Is that all you have left, Iron Fist? Did you really think the last of your pathetic chi energy would be enough to defeat me?”
Danny: “Honestly? Nope. But y’see, that’s the thing about chi-- it’s a life force. That which destroys can also create. The blow wasn’t meant to harm you... it was meant to heal. Wakey wakey, Matt.”
Shadowland #5 by Andy Diggle, Billy Tan, and Victor Olazaba
With the Beast’s hold broken, Elektra psychically enters Matt’s mind and gives him the moral support he needs to kick the Beast out for good-- by committing the mental equivalent of seppuku (don’t worry, he’s fine).
Matt: “H-help me! I can’t-- can’t hold it back-- for long-- Elektra! Please-- p-please kill me--!”
Elektra: “Shhh, my love... I am here to end your suffering.”
Matt: “[...] Please, tell them, I... I’m sorry.”
Shadowland #5 by Andy Diggle, Billy Tan, and Victor Olazaba
Thus ends the demon’s grip on Manhattan. The city calms down to its normal level of barely controlled chaos. Black Panther takes over hero duties in Hell’s Kitchen. Matt goes out west for some alone time. Fisk gets control of the Hand. But all of those are stories for another post.
47 notes
·
View notes
Photo
Wow, So Supportive!
So, you might be able to tell, but I’ve been kind of figuring out this series as it’s gone along. The first had more behind the scenes info, the second more comparative analysis, and now this topic comes along which requires something entirely new.
Well, not all that new, but enough that it’s an honest to goodness challenge to tackle a topic so terrifically tremendous in size: the entire population of the planet that we’ve been introduced to so far.
I could just spend this time geeking out about my favourites, and I will warn you now, it will probably come to that, but what I want to know is what this pretty pony populous does for the show.
And, I mean, with such an expansive cast that will no doubt only grow in the coming season, there’s quite a lot of characters to cover! But, as sure as I’ve overdone it on the alliteration already for no particular reason (I’m in a mood), there’s certainly something to be gained by examining what the background cast has to offer!
World-Building
Aside from giving our main characters other personalities to play off of, supporting characters give a greater depth to the world they live in. To the audience, the variety of viewpoints and personalities isn’t just fun, but indicative of a living, breathing environment.
It’s part of the illusion. If there’s characters out there besides the protagonists that are fully fleshed out or even just feel like they could be, it adds to the believability that this is a whole world. In fact, with a good supporting cast, not only can other characters with conflicting viewpoints to the main characters be in the right, but they can have their own lives that don’t feel like they’re in service of a plot of the main character(s)’ story at all!
It tells you more about the world the main characters grew up and currently reside in. Seeing what characters outside the main six value and how they conduct their lives gives us context for how they act, what makes them so special (or in some ways, not special).
And in a world this big, you can even get perspectives from outside the country. We might’ve assumed everyone was as friendly and kind as the ponies, but in fact they’re known for being soft and weak among the dragons and having a “typical pony hero complex” and a weird tendency towards singing and hugging among the griffons (who via contrast show us what the rest of the world is like, more on this soon).
So, yeah, finding characters who’ve had their own experiences apart from our favs helps the world feel more real, and certainly more interesting.
The season 6 finale is the perfect example of that fact in action. Watching these side characters approach something that’s usually only handled by personalities we’re all very familiar with was refreshing---plus, there were character dynamics we never dreamed we’d get to see (Trixie and Discord being the big example)!
To use a pretty specific example of how cool this is, check out how terrified Trixie is again:
Throughout the entirety of this two parter, Trixie’s constantly showing the audience how terrifying this situation actually is to a normal citizen of Equestria.
And that’s so cool! We get to see by contrast how brave and well-worn our favourite heroines have become---even Fluttershy can mostly handle herself these days (at least, with her friends by her side) without too much panic.
At one point Trixie even refers to a possible changeling invasion as “princess level stuff.” Even better, the second Starlight tells her about it, she immediately says they need to tell Twilight---which both shows the character development from No Second Prances (as the two of them grew to respect one and other), but also shows the audience this is serious to her: in a crisis Trixie’s first instinct was to get help from her rival.
This kind of perspective on things can only come from a source outside the main cast: contrast.
Parallel Characters
Here’s something you’ve no doubt noticed MLP loves to do: base entire characters around the antithesis of one of our main character’s traits.
This is pretty obvious when it comes to Sunset Shimmer and Starlight Glimmer, and how they operate as warped versions of Twilight (you can’t spell it out better than following the same naming scheme). In various ways, both of them demonstrate by contrast how well Twilight understands friendship and Harmony, among other things.
Discord is the same way.
It’s kinda like how Lex Luthor is the perfect counter to Superman: the mild-mannered boy-scout that will always try to do the right thing meets the embodiment of greed and capitalistic folly. Lex is the self-made man lead astray by his own desire for power, and yet Superman seems to prove that despite being alien, his down-to-earth morality is what ends up representing the best of humanity.
You can compare quite a number of iconic villains to their heroes that way, by seeing what each of them represent. Hans Gruber and John McClain from Die Hard. Ganondorf and Link from the Legend of Zelda. Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker from Star Wars. That’s one part of what makes them so memorable---a perfectly fitting contrast to the forces of good their meant to fight.
In the same way, Discord’s very obviously the counterpoint to our Element of Harmony wielding heroes. Not just the whole chaos and harmony thing, but because of how their values clash. Discord only ever cared about getting a laugh and shaping the world in his own nonsensical image, whereas the girls only care about each other and the ponies of Equestria. The conflict is natural from that point on because Discord’s character was constructed to make it so. More than that, though, his defeat isn’t just good triumphing evil, but instead the things the Mane six value triumphing over the view that directly opposes them.
Tells you they’re in the right by showing you how awesome it feels for them to win, essentially.
Lightning Dust is yet another easy example of a character that exists just for contrast. She’s been likened to season one Rainbow Dash many times, and it just goes to show you how far season 3 Rainbow Dash had come in comparison.
So, side characters won’t just give you different perspectives about the main characters verbally, but through their actions. Even when they only get a wee bit of screen time, relatively speaking.
Minimalism and Imagination: A Writer’s Greatest Tools
That’s sort of how an episode like Slice of Life happens.
Filler background characters with interesting enough superficial attributes (like designs, occupations, or implied character traits) give us just enough personality to work with that our imaginations can fill in the rest. To an extent, all side characters function in this way.
It’s the same way a non-main character can go through an arc off-screen. I know, off-screen development sounds terrible---for important characters, who get a lot of precious screen time.
What happens, essentially, is we’re presented with the bookends to an arc: the beginning and the end, and in between is mostly filled with our imaginations.
The example that pops to mind first is Trixie, between her first appearance her second.
Last we see her, she’s leaving Ponyville with her ego bruised.
Next we see her, she’s acquired an evil amulet and is ready to not only humiliate Twilight in kind, but take over the entire town and turn it into Trixieville.
So... a step up from embarrassed.
The reason we buy that elevation has to do with both the story Trixie tells about hitting rock bottom (at a rock farm, no less), and the amount of time in between.
We’re not given very many details other than her career being impacted and her perception that she was humiliated everywhere she went, but it’s been two seasons since we’ve seen her---there’s enough of those little details and time in between for us to imagine a gradual change that made her decide to seek out straight up revenge, no matter the cost.
In a similar vein, I also find it interesting to see how characters differentiate themselves, with such little screen time.
For some, it’s definitely a matter of great design and/or voice acting that really makes them pop out at you. In addition, there’s usually either some adherence to an easily digestible archetype, like the (...*grunts*) tsundre Dragon Lord Ember or the timid Coco Pommel (which sounds bad, like I’m saying they’re cliched, but archetypes can be pretty useful for side characters yet-to-be-developed because it tells us a lot about their personality instantly). Or, a twist on archetype.
For an example, let’s get fancy: Fancy Pants and Filthy Rich both should be greedy and/or power hungry, or just generally thoughtless based on the rich, money-focused business character stereotype. Instead, seeing how Fancy Pants will make conversation easily with anyone and warmly accept those of a lower class than he is, and how Filthy Rich will be a tough but loving father to his daughter (as opposed to spoiling her) and will go out of his way to be nice to the Apples makes them feel like more complex characters.
Playing to our expectations and then twisting them even just slightly makes them feel less like cardboard cut-outs there to fill the insert snooty rich character here role, and more like well developed characters---all just with a few small actions.
Don’t even get me started on characters who say one thing one time, and we fixate on it to the point that it’s central to their identity. Sometimes, it’s because we treat it like a meme; like, Sonata kinda liking Tacos is a thing the same way Derpy like muffins is a thing. And let’s be clear, Sonata also talks about punch at some point in the movie, concerned with the fact that she added too much of one flavour. But the juice thing isn’t a big thing tied to her character in the fandom like tacos are, and why? Tacos are funnier, I guess.
And let me clear: it’s not some failing of the writers that they haven’t developed these characters, or the fandom getting too obsessive over small details. It’s intentional. Of course, there’s quite a few side characters that do get on-screen development (Big Mac, Thorax, the Wonderbolts, etc.), and still others that remain a mystery intentionally.
Zecora remains a character I’d LOVE to see explored, for instance, because there’s still a number of questions surrounding her. Did she have a family once? How much magic does she really know? How did she learn all of it?
Sometimes the answers aren’t as fascinating as a lack of answers. The MLP staff knows this full well apparently, since they’ve always had a policy about leaving things open-ended just in case they want to develop them later, thereby letting us fill in the blanks.
Which reminds me of another great example: Applejack’s noticeable lack of parents. From literally nothing, we created entire personalities, stories, and character motivations---to the point that when it’s explored in canon now, they have HUGE expectations to live up to.
The role of imagination in developing this world is intentional. That’s what good writers do---give you just enough to let you fill in the blanks.
But that’s what’s so wildly inventive about all these characters. So many of them are so memorable---either through what they tell us about the world, the main characters, or even just as characters in and of themselves (whether that be developed through a bit of trickery with our imaginations or actually developed in the show). There’s so many I’d love to see again, and so many more I’d love to meet in the future!
And, because of them all, like the Mane 6 at the end of Slice of Life, I feel quite lucky to know who I do.
Editorials? What are those? I don’t know, but I’ve written a bunch over here for you. Maybe the three most recent ones will jog my memory (check out the other Elements of MLP posts with the Year of the Pony link):
Derpy Editorial, Top 10 Redeemed Villains, and Starlight Editorial
Year of the Pony
Header Image Wouldn’t Be Possible Without:
Trixie Vector by Comeha
Elements of Harmony by SpiritoftheWolf
Elements of Harmony by TechRainbow
Chiggity-check out those hard-working artists, yo!
They’re All Main Characters in My Heart, Dammit
#year of the pony#yearofthepony#mlp editorials#mlp#starlight glimmer#trixie lulamoon#discord#thorax#sunset shimmer#octavia#vinyl scratch#derpy#ditsy doo#dr. whooves#doctor whooves#braeburn#cheerilee#big mac#big macintosh#lightning dust#my little pony#friendship is magic#mlp:fim#mlp: fim
29 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Thunder from Up Over
#Poop4U
Last week we had one hell of a thunderstorm in the middle of the night, and for only the second time in five months, Skip barked in his crate. (The first time he had diarrhea.) Skip is normally a dream dog in his crate. He goes in happily, lies down and goes to sleep. Skip has been a “downstairs dogs” since he came, at first because I followed generic house training rules to introduce him to one area of the house at a time, and then he injured himself and couldn’t go upstairs at all. So right now he sleeps downstairs in his crate, while all the rest of us sleep upstairs. (Upstairs privileges are on the agenda for this month.)
While I blearily decided what to do, it being 2 AM, Skip let out a heartbreaking howl after an especially loud boom, and I scurried downstairs and began a counter conditioning program. It’s easy, if you can call anything easy at 2 in the morning. Skip and I lay on the rug, and every time it thundered I said “Thunder Treats!” and gave him a treat. The idea is as simple as the execution–teach the dog that thunder means something really good is about to come. Classical counter conditioning is a powerful tool, and I didn’t hesitate it use it right away at the first sign of Skip being afraid of thunder.
I’ve had great luck with it with my own dogs, and also with hundreds of clients. It was heartening, but no surprise then to see that a survey of dog owners found it to be more effective than other methods of treating thunder phobia. You can read about it here in Zazie Todd’s Companion Animal Psychology blog, where she writes about a study that finds classical conditioning and “relaxation therapy” to be the most effective method of dealing with thunder. (As described by owners.)
Of course, it’s not simple if your dog is so frightened that he won’t take food. In that case, you have to start at a much earlier point. I wrote the steps to take in a post of mine from May 2009. I include them here because thunder season is starting here in the Midwest, and if there was ever a time to jump on it, now’s the time. (I highly recommend doing this to prevent thunder phobia if you live in an area with a lot of thunder storms.)
From May 2009:
Counter Classical Conditioning: This is the first treatment I recommend, and it is especially effective in mild or moderate cases. I’m doing it now to prevent thunder phobia in Will, who is one of the most sound sensitive dogs I know, but so far has not reacted with any anxiety to thunder. In this paradigm (described in a a general sense in The Cautious Canine), you pair something the dog adores (food or play best) with a damped down version of what scares him. Your goal is to condition your dog to associate thunder with something he loves, so that his emotional response to the loud noise is “Oh boy!” rather than “Oh No!”
To get this to work:
~ You need to start at whatever stimulus first elicits any sign of fear in the dog. Dogs backward chain storms so well that you can use them as meteorologists… beginning to pace and whine when the wind comes up, and in extreme cases, when the barometer drops long before the storm rolls in.
~ The thunder or other stimulus has to be mild enough to prevent eliciting extreme fear (you can also use CDs or tapes of thunder, but need to have speakers distributed around the room, overhead being best).
~ The “treat” (food or play) has to be highly desirable so that the emotional response it elicits is more powerful than any fear elicited by the thunder.
~ The thunder/noise has to come first… so that it becomes a predictor of something good.
~ You need to proceed in a step-by-step manner, gradually linking louder and louder thunder with the food or play.
In other words, you hear thunder in the far distance, you say “Oh boy! Thunder Treats!” and give your dog a piece of chicken, or throw the ball if they are more motivated by play. Your goal is for your dog to emotionally respond to thunder as a predictor of something good, just like a clicker in clicker training.
Yeah, I know. Believe me, I’ve been through it myself with several dogs. You see the problem here…. how, exactly, does one make arrangements for thunder storms to begin in May with tiny, little quiet thunderettes and then gradually work their way up into glass-rattling boomers once your dog is ready for it? Well, you can’t (if you can, please write soon), but you can give your dog the ‘treat’ (I used food for Pip and play for Luke & Willie) whenever the thunder is relatively quiet, and then just stop once it becomes loud. I’d run outside with Luke and play ball when the barometer dropped and the wind came up, continue playing until the thunder started far away, and then come inside when the thunder began to get so loud that it would overwhelm Luke’s love of ball play. Then we’d go inside, I’d let him hunker beside me, rub his belly, sing and laugh. He got through it in two seasons (I’d call his case a moderate one, not at all severe, while Pip was severe for a few years but came through it fine after two summers of thunder = chicken.).
Back to the present: More thunder is expected this week, so I’ll be cooking up some chicken and getting other treats ready for Skip’s counter conditioning. There’s lots more to read on this topic if you’d like, I’ve written several posts about this topic, it being such a critical issue here in thunder alley. You can read about it (and my changing perspectives) in blogs on May 8, 2009, and June 26, 2018, or go to the Learning Center in my website.
I should also mention, that since I wrote those earlier blogs, a new medication, Sileo, specifically designed for noise phobias has been released. Several people commented in earlier blogs that they had found it helpful. I’ve personally had no experience with it, so chime in if you have.
MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Picture perfect weather allowed us to have a picture perfect night in the tent on Saturday night. I wouldn’t say it was the best sleep we’ve ever had, due to the nearby, and seemingly unceasing, chorus of coyote yips, howls and tremolos. Tootsie, by the way, seems to love the tent because she gets to sleep in the bed all night. (Another reason why sleeping in the tent is not the place for a good night’s sleep. Toots is not allowed on the bed in the house because she has fallen off of it, landing in a terrified, and terrifying, thump at dark-thirty in the morning.) In the tent we surrounded her with pillows, and carefully arrange our legs on either side of her and try not to move much.) Speaking of picture perfect, the dogs lined up like this on their own while Jim was building a fire, and if it didn’t call for a photograph, I don’t know what does.
The colors this time of year are so rich and varied. I loved this simple view of our Lilac tree in front of the light green Sunburst Locust.
Speaking of color, we have one Tree Peony bush that blooms for just a few days in the heat, but oh my, when it does . . .
The butterflies and bees are out in abundance now. Last night, a pair of Swallowtails flitted over and around my head in what I am guessing was a mating dance. They were so busy getting busy that they were oblivious to me–I expected them to alight in my hair while a bluebird perched on my shoulder and Bambi nuzzled my hand. Here’s one busy gathering food.
One more thing before I go. I have made it a point to avoid anything even vaguely political in this blog since its inception thirteen years ago. That decision was as much for my sake as for others; I wanted, and still want, this site to be a place that provides knowledge about human-animal relationships, and the joys and challenges of this remarkable miracle that we call life. Disagreements and controversies regarding training methods and beliefs have always been welcomed, as long as they are done with compassion and respect.
However, the events of the last week and a half in our country are so huge, and so critically important, that it feels unethical to ignore them here. I have struggled how to handle this for days–say something or say nothing? I’m aware that having a public forum is an honor, and should not be taken lightly. There are reasons for me to continue staying out of current events even today. I’ve received many comments over the years from people thanking me for keeping the tone and focus off of anything that doesn’t relate to animals and animal behavior.
But I have to say something today about what’s going on in our country–our poor, challenged, partially broken country. I just have to. Here is all I’ll say here: Jim and I believe that enough is enough. That there is deeply ingrained racism in this country that has been highlighted by the brutal, and heartbreaking, murder of George Floyd. That police departments need more support for community policing, for cops who bravely call out colleagues who betray the public’s trust, and less emphasis on violent, aggressive behavior. Jim and I are doing our parts as best we can. We’ve marched with protest signs in a small group of socially distanced friends. (Afterward I thought I should have made a sign that said “Old people for Equality.”) We’ve made numerous contributions to organizations that we feel are working toward positive and realistic changes. I’ve been involved for the last year in encouraging every citizen to vote, and I will redouble those efforts. We read and talk and listen and question and keep asking ourselves “what else can we do?”
I say this not expecting any responses; I just needed to say it. I apologize for breaking the “rules,” but as the duck said in the movie Babe, “That’s a good rule. But sometimes rules need to be broken.” I’ll post short comments related to this that are compassionate and respectful, but promise to avoid letting the blog be overwhelmed by controversy.
Thanks for hearing me out. Stay safe friends; let’s be careful out there.
Poop4U Blog
via www.Poop4U.com
Trisha, Khareem Sudlow
#poop4u#cute dog#dogs of tumblr#puppy doggo#doglover#doggrooming#my doggo#dogmeme#dog blog#blog#watch dogs#dogstagram#cats dogs#doggosofinstagram#hot dog#doglife#doggolove#dungeons and doggos#dogoftheday#pups of tumblr#pupsofinstagram#puppygirl#tuff puppy#puppy smiles#doggo.tube#doggolife#doggram#sleepy doggo#doggos#doggomemes
0 notes
