sometimes i get randomly sad about dan and phil not getting to be openly gay earlier in their careers. it is what it is and it ended up being ok for them, but part of me wishes for them they could’ve felt safe enough for themselves

Kaleesh Week Day 2 - Empire

Two Kaleesh Imperial characters (one canon, the other technically canon, but emotionally an oc)

Bentilais san Sk'ar: Him, again! When the Empire invades his planet (it's not like they'd just leave it alone after all, even after the whole Grievs-Palpatine thing), he strikes a deal with the emperor to take the position of planetary governor. In exchange? He employs the bioengineering acumen of San Pharmaceuticals (no relation to the San Banking clan) to some of the Emperor's more...clandestine projects.

(Yes, he is partially responsible for all the 'Emperor's back' bullshit in Episode IX, I apologize on his behalf) You can't just work for the Emperor though, and eventually he gets mired deeper and deeper into other projects...black ops...military campaigns...all in the name of saving Kalee, though, right? So, that's where that nine-foot tall vampire-looking guy comes in-- It's Sk'ar, but he's messed around with his own biology for the sake of combat optimization (And since some of this is chemical, it does fuck with his brain as well).

It also doesn't strike him as a bad thing that he appears to outsiders as less Kaleesh in this form, since he's acting on the Emperor's behalf, and, well, the planet's name has already been dragged through the mud enough. Yet it is fairly isolating in an environment where he already has to hide much of himself and his culture to survive (not so fun fact, the caps on his toes are there because Kaleesh claws tend to leave marks on most types of flooring; in most inter-species spaces, it's an act of courtesy for an individual Kaleesh to wear them (like humans and deodorant)...in the Empire, not so much a choice). ...But all in the name of saving Kalee, right? This, of course, is an entirely different perspective than the other character in this picture, his younger brother.... (this little shit (affectionate) vv)

Vanev san Esha: Born the youngest of the five San siblings, Esha was more or less destined to be the odd one out. Whereas the others had each taken on roles in their family, by child number five, there wasn't really much space left. If that wasn't enough to set him apart, he was also born Force Sensitive-- hardly a bad thing, but it did mean that he was born with an entirely different set of talents and senses than most in his clan had seen in generations. Or knew what to do with. Couple that the status, free time, and burgeoning resentment that goes along with being the fifth heir to Aschal-Kalee's ruling family, and his connection to the Force started to bring out his worst instincts. 'Started' though, is not 'did so unashamedly' and for a long time, the sense of restraint and general secretiveness that had been trained into him as a San, as well as the influence of his eldest brother-- Veshitar, heir to the San family khanship, and all-around decent guy-- kept him from...shall we say, doing his worst. Then an off-world diplomatic meeting goes terribly wrong, both Vesh and his father are killed, and the entire San family is left scrambling for a new heir. Esha is mourning, enraged, and most of all, believes it his right as his brother's protégé to become the next khan. The rest of the family chooses his brother, Bentilais, anyways. He almost raises a coup in response to this (mostly imagined) slight (an action that, given his raw power would have undoubtedly dealt a great blow to the San clan), but something makes him hesitate and he fucks off to the cliffside where they buried his brother's body instead. There he gains a new, even more troubling path, along with a new teacher-- Xivkha Lar Rainik (shoutout to all my SWTOR fans!). Rainik is a thousand-year-old Sith lord, distantly related to the current San clan, and also very, very dead. He needs a young, reasonably healthy host to get out of the San family crypt, and Esha needs a teacher (yeah, once I start bringing up Kylo quotes, you know this is headed in a bad direction) in the Sith arts, so the arrangement works well for them both. It does not, however, work out well for Sk'ar and the rest of the San family. You see, Esha wants power, recognition-- all the things that he was denied in the San family-- and Rainik...well, Rainik has his own agenda. This brings them to the throne of the Sith-iest Sith of the age, Emperor Palpatine, where Esha decides to swear fealty to the Emperor. Vanev san Esha he is no longer, but Sixth Brother. And unlike his brother, what he is doing is most certainly not to save Kalee.

(Also, probably more relevantly than all that, he's that guy with the cool-looking crow mask who fights Ahsoka in Tales of the Jedi)

just a fun little character game. fill in the below categories with 3-5 things that your character can be identified by. repost & tag away !

tagged by: @drolliic​ tagging: You!

EMOTIONS / FEELINGS

001. pride. I owe the world nothing and the world owes me everything.

002. perseverance. throw me to the wolves and tomorrow i’ll come back as the leader of the whole pack.

003. rage. a fire in mind and heart that blinds.

004. vainglory. broken superiority complex.

005. amusement. great sense of humor, nice to get along with as long as entertained.

GREETINGS / LANGUAGE PATTERNS

001. «Yo, (insert nickname)». informal way of treating others. relaxed.

002. nicknames. seldom calls someone by their name, unless when in a specific, special situation. is awfully creative with those. will come up with one on the spot. it matters not if he knows the other or not.

003. voice intonation which expresses amusement. i.e. «Hm~» ; «Eh~» ; «Aah~» always awfully expressive.

004. slang. there is no such thing as time to be 100% gramatically correct or utter every single word in the dictionary correctly.

005. messy. may invent words, or give them meaning that it is not their original. might confuse others in the process.

COLORS

001. red. his persona incarnated.

002. black. his heart, closed off. don’t get near.

003. white. the ounce of purity that still remains.

004. silver. jewelry. rings, necklaces and earrings.

005. green. his eyes. his special trait. cat irises.

SCENTS

001. sweet and flowery. no further explanation needed.

002. floral chypre. his perfume’s family/type.

003. bergamot, hyacinth, rose. top.

004. violet, rose, iris, jasmine, lily of the valley, ylang-ylang. middle.

005. musk, chypre, heliotrope. base.

CLOTHING

001. leather jackets. his favorite one is blue.

002. scarves. if you know, you know. he likes having things around his neck.

003. hoodies. one can never go wrong with hoodies.

004. black and red sneakers. classic.

005. a single earring. sometimes changes the ear on which to wear it.  

OBJECTS

001. a crown. always prepared to show his authority.

002. a knotted tie. unaware of how to tie a tie, he has come with a creative solution and called it fashion.

003. a takoyaki stick. his favorite food is nowhere to be found because he already ate it.

004. a basketball. the feeling of running to achieve a common goal is unmatched.

005. a pencil that has the multiplication table in it. he uses it to cheat on tests.

VICES / BAD HABITS

001. cussing. not the most polite of beings.

002. self-sabotage. number one fan of choosing pain and isolation over happiness and salvation.

003. obsession. can and will become blind if he wants something or someone.

004. violence. is not afraid of exerting physical domination over others.  

005. raised brow, while frowning. what the fuck did you just say to me?

BODY LANGUAGE

001. hands on hips. impatience.

002. arms crossed. impatience.

003. staring at others from above, head raised. control. domination. authority.

004. touchy. likes proximity and invading personal spaces.

005. blink. often incredulous with the world.

AESTHETICS

001. blood. what else would you expect?

002. sadism. same reason as above.

003. swordmanship. nothing like wielding a blade.

004. ocean. the waves have secrets. let them sink.

005. successor. the weight of the world on his shoulders.

SONGS

001. Like I Do - Rain City Drive

002. Resentment - A Day To Remember

003. Mantra - Bring Me The Horizon

004. 1x1 - Bring Me The Horizon fr. Nova Twins

005. Throne - Bring Me The Horizon

earlier today during my city stroll i couldn’t STOP thinking about how Chikage behaved when he joined the company, like, the direct moment he joined especially. 

He acted so much like he was being lowkey and really just cared about theater :) really just Itaru’s weird coworker :)  he kept up the façade as he could, he impressed the kids with his magic tricks, he was already lying his ass off and everything

and then Hisoka and Homare entered the room and the dude basically just. Went straight to Hisoka with his fake smile and everything being all “:) now who would you be :)”

and it kills me because at this point Chikage didn’t know Hisoka had amnesia. Chikage just, legit, walked straight to him like it was a complete normal behavior and really put himself right in front of him waiting for a reaction.

Like there’s so many things going on in that scene. First, the fact he clearly focused on Hisoka. Did the rest of the company find it odd? Did they just think Chikage was a huge fan? after all he was especially coming to see Winter shows and sending bouquets to them. 

While Hisoka is just. Completely unaware why this man is invading his personal space especially this close to nap time. If something is titillating his memory, it’s nothing that have him act impulsively, he keeps to himself but this guy has always been a cat in term of, not letting people he doesn’t know approach too close or talk to them.

Meanwhile i keep thinking about Chikage’s point of view. He lunged to Hisoka with this fake smile of his, faking to just be here out of interest for theater, expecting Hisoka to see right through him. He probably expected to see Hisoka freak out since at this point he thought Hisoka was hiding away from him. How did he expect the whole thing to go? Did he even think this far?

He acted all threatening and all and he was letting his resentment consume him but deep down, maybe he knew he was relieved to see him alive and well in front of him. That under all the threat he was trying to showcase, his approach of Hisoka was almost like he was caught in the urge to take care of his brother in some way.

And then silence settles in because Hisoka is still not processing what’s happening and Homare has to bring up that Hisoka is rude and also amnesiac and Chikage is like. internally “yeah i know for the first part but what the fuck on the second”. And then he doesn’t believe it. 

And i keep thinking just, before Chikage actually confronted Hisoka about it, asked him why he was lying about his amnesia, why he ran away, why he betrayed them ect. opening the Pandora box for Hisoka to confront that the man in front of him was someone he was supposed to know ect... During this whole time, when they were under the same roof, surrounded by people who didn’t know anything about either of them. That most likely Chikage just couldn’t stop staring while Hisoka had no idea what was going on.

I need to reread Awakening Moon because man, what a chapter that was, and i last read it forever ago, but i legit have been thinking about this specific bit all day. those two. man. 

DickKory please

Aaaahhhh I don’t know which one though... Peony... Camellia... Chrysanthemum... Daisy... Violet....

Uuuuummmmm i kinda want some smut so maybe Peony.

Anon, you asked for a smut Peony and you shall have it!

---------------------

“I know I should care about the reason why you’re naked in my bed, but I will just enjoy it for a moment.”

He sighed, his shoulder blades rippling as his torso expanded, and Kory saw his smile rising from the exposed half of his face, although his eyes remained closed.

“Our bed” he breathed, Kory walked further into the room, sitting on the bed, her hand touching the small of his back, sliding upwards, accenting the stark contrast of her smooth dark skin against his dotted by the San Francisco’s sun as she caressed him languidly. “Too tired for clothes…,” he added after a while.

She let out a weak chuckle and leaned over to kiss his shoulder, marvelling over the visible goosebumps that her delicate move provoked on him.

Dick fixed his position slightly after that, opening one already darkened eye to her who smiled innocently, fanning her long eyelashes at him as if she had no intention at all as her caress changed direction and was now reaching the end of the curve of his back.

“Only for clothes?” she asked, her hand finally cupping one of his cheeks and giving it a nice squeeze.

He lowered his head again, now using his arms to hide his face.

“Why, Miss Kory Anders?” and now his voice was free from all the sleepiness. “Do you have anything interesting in mind?”

She bit the lobe of his ear, and smiled when he wasn’t able to conceal a low moan.

“What if I do?”

Dick moved at once, making Kory squeal at the sudden change. His strong arms let go of the pillow and went to her waist, hoisting her body over his as he turned around, lying on his back.

“Hello,” she said smiling down at him, her hands now on his shoulders, legs around his hips, her thumbs rubbing his skin.

“Hi,” he answered, also smiling, and hands leaving her waist to undo the knot of her dressing gown.

Kory rose one of her hands to his face, cupping his jaw, her eyes warm with affection.

“Are you sure if you want this? I was just teasing, if you are too tired we can just sleep.”

His hands stopped, her dressing gown now parted to reveal her body, also bare and still a little moist from the shower. Dick gave her a lopsided smile and took one of the spring of her curls, stretching it to kiss her hair.

“No…” he said, and when she frowned in confusion, he rose up from the bed, supporting her weight with his arms when his hips rolled to allow their new position. “I want you.”

She leaned into him for a slow, sensual kiss, her body arching against his, seeking more skin against skin contact, her fingers slid from his neck, threading trough his hair, massaging his scalp. Dick parted the kiss to look up at her, he always resented when people would regard him as a lucky person. As if being adopted by a billionaire was some golden Band-Aid stamped over the silly boo-boo of losing both of his parents in just one awful night. But when he looked at Kory, and was reminded of the chain of causalities that brought her to his life, the absurdity of the miracle that made her love him… What could it be other than luck?   

“Always nice to hear,” she breathed, her voice a whisper when he started kissing down her throat, her eyes shutting and her fingers closing tighter around his hair as his lips made a path of fire, crossing her collarbones and reaching her sternum.

Dick lost his concentration for a moment when she started moving her hips and he bit the top of her breast.

“Sorry,” he said alarmed and kissed the distressed skin to sooth it.

“Do it again,” she said.

“What?” He swallowed, confused, but there was no doubt in Kory’s eyes.

“I liked it,” she said simply, and pushed a piece of dark hair from his eyes.

“Really?” his eyebrows rose.

“Since I told you about of my past you have been so…” she sighed, choosing her words, “careful.”

“Oh…” the corners of his mouth lowered, “I didn’t mean-”

“And I appreciate it” she interrupted him, noticing that his face was flushed and he was turning softer underneath her thighs. Dick Grayson, her emotionally stunted Dick Grayson, she loved him, so much, but goodness he could be touchy. “I do,” she reassured him. “But… I haven’t changed… Neither what I like…” She punctuated that last argument by taking his hand and rising it to her bitten breast, and pressing. “You can’t hurt me like that, Dick Grayson,” she noticed her point coming across that thick brain of his when his eyebrows lowered and she kissed him, biting and pulling his lower lip in the end. “And I know you wouldn’t, even if you could. So… I know you like it a little bit rougher too. No need to hold back.”

 He didn’t need to hear twice.

Before Kory could get her bearings, he had lifted her from his lap and slammed her on the bed, standing on his knees over her body with hungry eyes and a promising smile. She let out a nervous laugh, feeling an exciting kaleidoscope of butterflies fill her belly waiting for his next move. But instead of kissing her, or caressing her in some way, Dick grabbed one side of her hips and turned her, so she would be with her back to him. Every time he manhandled her like that, as if she weighted nothing for him, she felt a new wave of heat radiate from her core. Then, he peeled her dressing gown over her body, and Kory shivered. Anticipation was killing her when she felt him pulling her hips up, until she was in her knees too.

“Grayson what ah-!” her question was swallowed by an exclamation of pleasure when his tongue invaded her vulva making shut her eyes strongly, stars sparkling in the darkness. He pumped a few times before slowing down, making his tongue flat so he could lick around her opening too. And then, he started lapping, flicking her clit with the point of his talented tongue, once, twice, and another time, finding a rhythm.

Kory grabbed the sheets where her lover had been lying just minutes ago, letting out a loud moan as he kept his onslaught, using his firm hands to expose her to his kisses and keep her in place when her knees started to give. He pulled away with a sound of suction, but before Kory found enough coherence to complain, he inserted a finger inside.

“X-x-x’Hal!” she screamed.

“My name, Kory,” he demanded.

She chuckled and turned her face around, trying to look at him.

“You have to ah… deserve it.”

“Oh yeah?” he inserted another finger and bended over to suck her clit at the same time as he fucked her with his hand. He kept a consistent rhythm and in no time she was trashing under him. Dick smiled when he noticed that she had tried to say his name, but when the climax hit her, all she managed were a few nonsense that barely counted as words.

Even so, it wouldn’t do it, not for him, so, before Kory was fully back from her high, Dick pulled her back in position, rubbed his hard member on her soaking, still pulsating pussy and entered her with a grunt. He didn’t wait before start giving all he had, but Kory, ever his perfect partner, wouldn’t let him do all the work himself. She pushed her upper body up, and reached behind for him inviting for a kiss that couldn’t last on her lips a lot, to allow their frenetic rhythm, and turned into a wet path through her neck, shoulders and back. Kory turned one arm behind, placing it like a handler for him to get better leverage, which Dick accepted while his other hand went to her clit rubbing it the way he knew she liked until Kory was screaming again.

When she was finished, he pulled out, she fell on the bed, spent, one hand pumping himself, Dick, used the other to roll Kory’s body so she’d be facing him.

“So noisy,” he said positioning his hips between her thighs. “I’m glad for the acoustic proofing,” and he bended over to kiss her belly, “but I haven’t heard my name yet.”

Kory smirked.

“Better luck next time.”

Dick rose his eyebrows to that, and rested his free hand on the bed beside Kory’s head, bringing their faces close.

“You are lucky one, aren’t you? Getting yourself someone who make you come over” he kissed her throat “and over” he kissed her jaw “again.” He let out a long-suffering sigh. “But fine, third time is the charm.” And he entered her again. Kory’s legs hugged his hips, pulling him closer until there was no space between them.

“On second thought,” she said cheekily, “I think you are already full of yourself and I shouldn’t enable it.”

Dick snorted.

“I’m the one full of myself? Really?” He made his point by accelerating his thrusts.

Kory laughed and the contractions of her already impossibly tight muscles were too much for him.

Terror mixed with the pleasure of release spread through his face and her laughing fit worsened, milking him who afterwards fell beside her pouting.

“I’m so sorry,” she said kissing his shoulder, amusement still thick in her voice.

“You are so not.”

“I am!”

He turned his face away from her childishly.

“I don’t believe in you.”

Kory giggled and threw a leg over his and sucked his earlobe.

“Ohh, poor baby, but I am sorry, or don’t you think I didn’t want a third one?”

He looked at her through the corner of his eyes.

“You are a greedy one, Princess Koriand’r.”

“Why can I say? I’m used to premium Dick service.”

He tried to press his lips together to hold his pout, but when an alien princess fell from the sky and stole his heart to her was given the power of stealing his laughter too.

Two Faced | Chapter Four

↳ levi ackerman, the very person who was about to kindly behead you by a surprising turn of events manages to become your loving husband? you would be elated if this was true love, but it's all thanks to a mysterious magic spell that your life is spared. for now at least.

pairing :: duke!levi x duchess!reader genre :: royal au, angst, fluff, slice of life etc word count :: 3k author note ::  you should also check out my ao3 and wattpad my username is LEVIATTACKS on both platforms. ao3 usually gets to see my updates first, feel free to leave any comments you have i appreciate all feedback ^___^ → next part is here!!

"Refer to me with that name once more and I'll see to it that your neck is snapped in two. Fucking Brat." His voice curls into a low hiss.

He rises from the bed making you jolt, if he's moving towards his dagger everything will be over in a matter of seconds. The tension between the two of you is foggy and uncertain.

Your line of vision is cloudy, bleary tears seize it. You should have tried harder whilst researching, found a way to make Lev stay, it hits you like a sack of bricks - you didn't try hard enough, was that the issue, was that the mistake you made this time? Mind full of harsh expletives you continue to curse yourself. Of course he left, of course he fucking did. Your life was one large cyclical narrative of earning the love of others and ultimately losing it along the way some how.

The world conditioned you to become independent, to not rely on others for affection, earn what you must on your own. Making your own way through life is all you know yet here you are. On the verge of tears because this damn fool won't remember you. Happiness is a privilege.

Staring into the distance you don't see the way your husband's glare thins out, neither do you notice how he leans forward invading your personal space.

"Care to explain how we got into this situation?" Breath fanning across your face exactly the same way it had months ago you gulp and realise he's staring at your lacy nightgown in sheer distaste. Oh no, He's got the wrong idea completely.

You jerk your head up to explain and only then is the close proximity between the two of you evident, you nearly knock your head against his as if you're inebriated. "No, no. We've never done that. I promise we haven't. I wouldn't take advantage of you." You're sputtering and are all over the place trying to hold some sort of ground in this conversation.

"I see that you saw no issue with taking advantage of me in other ways. You scheming money hungry roach."

You want to clear your name and tell him you really haven't touched any of his money. None of it at all to the point it's shameful to admit, especially considering the fact that everyone else sees you as Duchess Ackerman.

"I have not spent any of your money I swe-".

A deafening bang resounds through the room - in his fit of rage he kicks one of the solid oak drawers at the side of your bed to the floor.

A squeaky gasp falls out of your mouth and you flinch away as you cover your chest defensively. Your arms aren't the best armour but they work for now. If he's to stab you your worst fear is him piercing through your heart. What you fear most is him ripping the vital organ out of the confines of your chest. If he laughs hysterically and watches it bleed out you'll never forgive him. Your worries and doubts are internally eating away at you as you witness the darkness seeping into the corners of his vision.

It's quiet and dark and with him as well as a heavy silence looming over you, the pressure on your shoulders is quite literally immense.

He takes a hold of your chin and obnoxiously squishes your rosy cheeks together, dark tundra eyes never falter from yours, that is until they abruptly sink south and he catches drift of the way your night gown has ridden up. Thighs on full display you want to pull the edges of the material down but are too afraid to move under his deathly stare.

"Do you know how long I was stuck inside of my own body? Having to act like a fool on the daily."

"What?" You shakily reply through parted lips.

He was able to see everything he did under the spell? This changes the dynamic significantly. Cheeks flaring up in embarrassment you recall how you ate up all the sweet nothings he whispered into your ears, the scarlet blush creeps to the back of your ears when you think back to how you fervently kissed him goodbye whenever he was sent to venture outside the walls. The sanguine tint only intensifies when you think about the night where you accidentally let his bare hands venture a little too far.

"Naive little thing," he grunts. "You will never be my wife." He scowls sniffing at you in pure repulsion.

Whiskey, cigarette fumes and strong sweat infused cologne revoltingly is what you're reminded of when you hear those words leave his mouth. The stench isn't present but nevertheless you feel your throat constrict, never expecting to see any sort of parallel form between Levi and that man. The one time you stood your ground against Father it led to you being dragged away from the palace grounds, beat until you were unresponsive and left for dead. He left you there with the intention of extermination, his final words as he bid you goodbye that night had been - "You will never be my daughter."

You have no words left to offer, you're tongue tied. Expressionless whilst he gauges your reaction, the both of you don't register how Levi's grip on your cheeks loosens, that is until the look in his hooded eyes changes. They're inky now smoldering with resentment, he lets go of the hold he has on your face completely.

The separation between your face and his palm is stony.

All you want at that moment is for Lev to come back and wake you up from all of this. You've had enough of this sick and twisted nightmare where he doesn't look at you the way he normally does. The way he manhandles you irks you and lights a dangerous fire in your stomach.

Blinking your tears away you finally speak after your long silence "I know that My Lord." taking what may be one of your final breaths you announce the unthinkable "Feel free to finish what you were unable to last time."

"No begging?" he chastises you pulling you by the back of your ear.

"Would you spare me if I did?" The close ended question you respond with leaves him stiff.

Snatching your forearm you note that even when he's not under the constraint of the spell physical touch is consistently one of his ways of getting a point across. He jerks your tired form forward. "Who do you work for?"

Blood running cold you know he won't kill you now. He thinks you've come here with a purpose, a motive, a reason. Hell, all you did was ask to be loved, to experience something before the candle which was your life burnt out.

"No one. You said you were conscious in your mind whilst it all happened, correct?"

He nods albeit begrudgingly.

"Then you must have seen how I tried."

His right eyebrow cocks upwards ever so slightly. "Tried?"

Now it's your turn to be frustrated. "Tried to keep my distance, tried to ignore your advances, tried to refuse your gifts, tried to maintain a level of respect so the both of us would have some dignity remaining if you were to return some day. When I realised you would not stop with your persistence I accepted." You fumed - the fretful irritation you feel only increases by the second.

"Cut the crap." He snarls at you.

You want to snarl back with just as much impatience but you bite your tongue.

Maybe it's because it's late at night, maybe it's because you're fatigued or maybe it's because you already felt feverish and emotional - Honestly, any other reason apart from your husband turning his back on you and announcing you're a mongrel. Feeling light headed you clutch at your scalp harshly trying to control yourself, even Levi's firm hand which until recently held your left arm recoils away.

Falling to your knees you feel the way the floor grates against your bare legs. Your urge to pass out is nearly met but then you hear him.

"Honey???" The concern in his voice which had made you fall in love with him now repulses you.

Fists balling at your knees you silently sob, pitifully shaking your head.

This can't be your reality.

It can't be.

You won't let it be.

That night you find out nightmares can happen in real life.

Levi Ackerman being a prime example.

After the bitter encounter you leave the room and order Lev to not come after you, you need your own space and as much as you want him to return to his sweet, loving self it's pathetic to seek any comfort in him. That tyrant is bound to make another appearance soon enough and mock you for falling into his trap again, but really can you blame the man? Is this his fault or your own?

Whoever is at fault there will still come a time where the Levi you love won't come back and call you his Love. You'll have to get used to that bleak desolate reality. Assuming he doesn't kill you before you have to.

Day has now broken and the brisk morning air bites at you, scantily clad in your nightgown, It's abnormal, you think to yourself. The position you're in is one you imagined countless times but you never really thought you'd end up this way. You're about to drift off to sleep right there in the middle of the Estate's field of hydrangeas, too tired to actually care anymore when you hear a rustle from one of the surrounding bushes.

"Duchess?" Your head turns when you hear Mikasa's soft voice emerge from the hedges, she steps through them and you both stare at each other. Mouth open, gaping in shock she takes in your appearance. You can only imagine how you look right now. Dark eye bags, you aren't wearing your usual noble attire not to mention Levi has accidentally left a bruise on one of your arms. It's faint because it is accidental (you hope) it does not go unnoticed by Mikasa.

Her gaze hardens and she approaches your disheveled form kneeling in front of you.

"What happened?" She whispers, the panic is evident in her voice and you awkwardly chuckle in response.

"I had a horrible nightmare. That's all, honest."

"And it's Y/N need I remind you again?" Mikasa is big on respect and sure, it is cute but you want to remind her it really is okay to call you by your first name. After all you would consider her a friend, you hope she sees you the same way.

Giving you a look of disbelief she takes the hint that you don't want to talk about it but much to your delight she does take the advice regarding your name. She sounds hesitant but that's how she usually is, she'll get used to it in no time at all.

"Well...Y/N, Breakfast has been prepared." You can see the way she eyes your unkempt hair and shivering form. "Would you like to eat with me and Sasha?" this is her way of comforting you.

Your lips quirk up into a smile for the first time in a while.

"I would love that."

Twenty minutes and a change of clothes later you've all relocated to your tea room, Sasha doesn't ask questions about your hair or odd choice of clothing earlier this morning. The shadows Levi's fingers left on your arm are now carefully hidden by the sleeves of your baby blue dress. "Oh! Viscount Kirstein me and Y/N saw him yesterday. He's just like the rumours." Sasha exclaims as she stuffs her face with a croissant.

Mikasa takes a short sip from her tea cup. "And the rumours would be?"

You pick a cinnamon roll from the center of the table."Undeniably handsome. I mean he's not my type though."

Sasha looks momentarily confused. "He was drop dead gorgeous what do you mean?"

You laugh a bit at the disbelief on her face, Mikasa chooses to not intervene - she's obviously yet to come to her own conclusions about him.

"Yeah but you said it yourself he fucks anything in a skirt." Sasha, is wide eyed at first and chokes on part of her buttered croissant, you have never been so vulgar before. You guess the argument has left you more likely to voice your reckless thoughts. Snorting you try to keep your laugh in, the ghost of a smile makes its way to Mikasa's face and eventually she too dissolves into a puddle of laughter. The three of you laughing together genuinely eases the recent burden on your soul.

Just as you're about to crack another joke the door to your tea room rumbles.

BANG!  You seem to always be cut off when you're here because Eren Jaeger has burst inside perhaps for the seventh time this month. It's the same routine as usual, he's panting and catching his breathe before he speaks. You're in no mood to hear what he has to say.

"If the Duke has sent you please leave."

Mikasa gives him a "You better not ask any questions and take the damn hint" kind of look but bless Eren for he is completely and utterly clueless.

"It's urgent."

"Still rejecting." You hotly reply.

Mikasa icily interjects "Eren, would you stop being so bothersome?"

He looks between you and Mikasa helplessly. "The Duke says he expects your refusal but I can't return empty handed, I'll be given a punishment and it'll be worse than being made to clean the stables." He gives you a pleading look and he's so much younger than you, it makes you feel like he's your responsibility. Eren has a charming way of making himself feel like everyone else's annoying younger brother. You accept that he can't suffer because of your selfish denial.

Sighing deeply you take a final bite of your roll, if you're going to die you may as well do so on a full stomach. Before you depart you awkwardly get to your feet dusting your dress to buy some time as you bid Mikasa and Sasha goodbye.

You're now following Eren through the halls of the estate. Deep down inside, you know you aren't fearful. He won't kill you, not yet at least, he thinks you're a useful source of information relating to his external enemies, he would be stupid to overlook that detail. You'll exploit it for now, your key is survival, it always has and always will be that way.

Bumping into Eren's back you apologize for being absent minded, you swear the walk to Levi's office has always been much longer. He spares you a worried glance and looks as if he's about to offer you words of support but he stops himself before he opens the heavy door to Duke Ackerman's office. Perhaps he doesn't find it appropriate. Good, you think to yourself. You don't wish to hear motivation from anyone right now, it's nothing personal, it's that nothing can possibly be of motivation right now.

The door opens ever so slowly, your brain races making everything move at a sedated pace. Then you find yourself jolting upright in surprise. You soon realise expecting Levi to be the only person there was naive on your part. Eyes tensely land on the blonde in one of the cushioned caramel chairs. It's the Commander of the Empire's entire battalion — Erwin Smith.

Levi has ratted you out for sure, you spare a glance towards him and see the way he's trying to hide his feelings of amusement. You want to lunge over his desk and wipe that smug smirk off his face. The playful lilt in his usual unreadable expression is driving you mad. Next to Erwin is respected and high ranking Squad Leader Hange Zoe, you're quite well accustomed with them you've exchanged your fair share of words together and Hange has never failed to bring a smile to your face. The amusing air around them lights up any room they're in... Apart from this one that is.

Eren closes the door behind you and you're silent not really knowing what to do.

"Take a seat my beloved." Levi drawls. This isn't Lev you know that much, he's always enthusiastically jumping to his feet when he greets you.

Awkwardly sitting in the chair next to your husband you shake Hange's hand first then move to shake Erwin's. His warm palms envelope yours and he places a hand on your left shoulder. It's not at all similar to the way Levi held you earlier in the morning, the feeling is genuine. He has no ill intentions, all he seems to want to do is open a conversation.

"Y/N, we may not have much time but." He stops, unsure if it's for dramatics but you still intently listen.

The sea that is his blue eyes draws you in, you've only ever seen him from afar. If honesty and gentleness were a person it would be him no doubt about it.

He pats your shoulder and you snap out of your day dream. "Y/N. Thank you for your sacrifice and commitment to this Empire." His warm yet serious smile which follows simply confuses you, in fact this entire situation is doing that.

Jaw slacking you're dazed and bewildered, your thoughts are diverting in all sorts of direction now.

Whatever does he mean by sacrifice?

My Read on Domestica: The Couple Probably 4 people care about, 5 if they’re lucky

Good evening! Tonight, I wanted to analyze Domestica (Yoshiyuki Hatori x Yoshino Chiaki) as requested by the amazing @boyimtrash​ . I will be analyzing them both separately and then together. They are infamous in ways that to this day still has them on the receiving end of hate and unpopularity. They are probably the least acknowledged couple in all of Nakamura’s works and for some pretty good reasons. 

This couple gained infamy just in the beginning of their story in their light novel because of Hatori raped Chiaki. While sexual assault and dubious consent is a running theme in Nakamura’s works, this one was so blatantly rape that the author ended up getting some backlash for it thus why it was left out of the manga and anime with anything concerning Domestica. Other than that, the common criticism for them is their story being quite bland, even though it was equipped with a love triangle. I think it’s because of this that most of their story has been cut from the manga as well as the anime leading the reader to have to delve into whatever light novels are available for answers beyond rushed references and such. 

Yoshino Chiaki: 

Hate to break to you guys but, uh....this guy? Yeah, far from a cinnamon roll. I mean, if ditsy, selfish, overly immature, not self-aware, and wildly inconsiderate equals a cinnamon roll then you might as well kick Misaki and Nowaki out of that gang. The way he gets stuck in his own head (and how stuck he is in his way) which not only puts out Hatori but his manga team as well. 

The kicker is that, unlike Hiroki, this person is completely aware of being selfish and inconsiderate evident by the way he apologizes to Hatori about it but does nothing to change. I’m positive this stems from the fact that he relies heavily on Hatori for a lot of things that he should be taking care of himself. Even this he realizes since he tends to feel “disgusting” when Hatori does all these things for him but still does nothing to change and we’re in our early thirties here, folks!

This kind of brings me to another major problem he has: he’s resistant to change. When he’s really comfortable in a spot, for example where his friendship is with Hatori and Yuu, Chiaki will not go out of his way to make any changes even if they are the right thing to do. This is evident by the way he decides to keep what’s going on between him and Hatori from Yuu in order not to complicate their friendship trio. 

Chiaki, although more of a homebody than a lazy housecat, is a very hard worker, of course I’m not going to take that from him. My guy will ignore his basic needs like food, water, and grooming. He put his all into every manga page he works on, even working on it here and there on his time off, so his life revolves around his art. He’s extremely dedicated to his craft and often gets so absorbed into it that he blocks out the world around him. He fully deserves his success.

On this note, Chiaki tends to take a lot of Hatori’s criticisms/advice to heart, especially in regard to his work. Everything from thoughts and opinions, even drunken complaints, they are always in Chiaki’s thoughts. While this could mean a lot of things in regard to why he has no boundaries with Hatori, Chiaki will at least try his best meet whatever standards Hatori is implying. Even with Hatori’s harsh language, Chiaki on some level knows not to take it to heart. 

While this is good, Chiaki tends to be afraid to share any criticisms he may have or arguments because of Hatori’s cold/usual harsh responses. Not to mention he’s also intimidated by his superior way of acting even though they’re the same age. This only gets worse after Hatori assaults him, and when afterwards, Hatori kisses him as “punishment” making it hard for him to communicate with Hatori the way he needs to. I think Hatori has always and will always intimidate him on some level. 

Chiaki also cares so much about what his readers think. Not just from automatically taking any advice on Hatori about shaping his art to be better digested but also the reason why his author identity is a secret. Chiaki has always had trouble with other assuming that he was a girl since his first name is generally very feminine. So, when he made his pen name, he assumed that it would be better understood that he was a man. However, because he is writing shoujo manga (which, generally more girls read) and also because his pen name Yoshikawa Chiharu still sounded feminine, fans assumed he was a girl. So, in order not to confront that and possible disappoint his readers, Chiaki keeps his identity as an author hidden from the public. 

Chiaki is also the kind of person who is very passionate about their likes and an all-around fun loving person. From the way he got excited with Yuu about The Kan to going to all the events he can. I assume this is the part of him that gave him success in dating, since he’s had a few girlfriends in the past and as far as we know, is till on good terms with them. 

Chiaki is also a pretty nice guy all around. When it comes to his friends, he genuinely wants to help them and be there for them in the best ways he knows how. This is evident from the way he wanted to help Hatori with his unrequited love situation before he found out and having his ex show him houses that Hatori expressed he liked in a commercial (which he was also indirectly asking if they could live together). 

Yoshiyuki Hatori:

First, I’m going to say I understand why he comes off pretty cold for a good portion of the story. In fact, I don’t really blame him (at least until he just up and assaults Chiaki which I do fully blame him because we do not victim blame in my mothafuckin’ house, no we don’t). Imagine the person you’re in love with, who knows full well that you have feelings for them and has procrastinated on giving you an answer, and they are constantly: invading your space, sleeping in your bed, expecting to be taken care of, and saying things that could be easily taken in a romantic context. You’d cop an attitude too, it’d feel like you were being led on or just plain used at that point because it’s so obvious that the person you’re in love with doesn’t care about your feelings and more about what you can do for them. 

However, I don’t excuse the blatant selfishness this person displays all before Chiaki finds out about his feelings in the light novel. Sure, Hatori was under stress of working for a pretty inconsiderate person as well as Yuu’s assholery but some of the harshness he displays towards Chiaki is because of his feelings for him. He was pretty bitter about them and his mood would dampen a lot of Yuu was in the mix or his unrequited love was mentioned. He hints that he likes someone (Chiaki assumes it’s a girl) and Hatori admits that he doesn’t think it’ll go anywhere. Of course, this is frustrating and heartbreaking but it seemed as though he was taking the unrequited love he felt out on Chiaki which I thought was kinda gross. It’s not Chiaki’s fault nor his responsibility that his person caught feelings and on some level, I think Hatori is aware. 

In relation to this, even though Hatori is meant to be more mature, there are several instances in the light novel really showing that he isn’t too far from Chiaki. His friendship with Yuu, if you could even call it that, always seemed strained as if he never liked Yuu to begin with. Yuu also didn’t like Hatori. This is evident when Chiaki describes his observation of them that they always seem to talk badly about each other in implications. This was because of jealousy since, for a while, it seemed as though Chiaki and Yuu got a long a lot better. Also, when he finds out about Yuu’s feelings only push him to resent Yuu more. 

Although Hatori is like this, I can say that he has other ways of showing that he loves Chiaki. For example, Hatori will cook for him, do his laundry, and not enforce boundaries as often as he really should. He also promised Chiaki when he expressed wanting to drop out of uni that if he ever ended up on the streets, Hatori would take care of him. However, I think some of this comes from a bit of desperation as Hatori’s feelings for him are so strong that he’ll take what he can get. This is also evident from the scene where he and Chiaki share his bed and he suddenly cuddles Chiaki when setting the alarm clock. 

Like Chiaki, Hatori is actually a really hard worker on top of being incredibly talented at his job. According to the light novel, Hatori has gotten a lot of offers from different companies but chose Emerald and Chiaki’s division in order to be as close to Chiaki as possible. 

This kinda brings me to the fact that there is some of Hatori’s identity lost in trying to be with Chiaki. I feel like I don’t really know him without Chiaki which I find to be a bit concerning. Even though they are childhood friends, Hatori kind of framed his life around having Chiaki as close to him as possible. He chose his college, major, and career all based around Chiaki. Although that could be seen as something selfless, I think it’s rooted in a selfish monopolizing desire and the assault only proves this. 

A major issue with Hatori is his trouble with expressing his feelings, especially ones that run quite deep. I find this to be a worrying trend in pretty much all the SIH couples (ESPECIALLY TAKANOPE HOLY SHIT-). Hatori seems to hold them in, keep them from the one person who should know, and then act strangely when they’re really affecting him. While Hatori just keep his true feelings to himself, he doesn’t necessarily hide them since he tends ot act on them in some form or another. The only answer to why is because of a crippling fear of rejection. 

Later on though, he does get better at expressing himself and even letting his face show emotions but that’s only for Chiaki’s eyes to see as evident by the way he’ll smile or is comfortable enough to get hammered around him. 

The Couple: One of the biggest and reoccurring issue between them has been finding the line between their personal and professional relationship. This is become less and less of an issue as their story goes on, but it was hard for them both to find a balance. While it felt like their professional relationship was too personal, their personal relationship felt too distant. It really wasn’t until they became a couple that they basically erased that line all together. Even still, they have issues with intimacy and being more comfortable around each other which becomes a little better with time. 

I also found that they don’t have great communication. They pretty much take ideas and what they think would be best for each other and run with it without really talking to each other about it as evident by the house fiasco early in their relationship and so on. While I do believe their hearts are in the right place in terms of trying to do things that will make the other happy, they need to work on being more open with each other. 

So, let’s talk about the assault real quick: Hatori does show major instant remorse over the assault, acknowledges that it was inexcusable and should have never happened, and I will admit that it was definitely a lot faster than Akihiko did in Romantica. He was willing to completely start over his life in order to get out/stay out of Chiaki’s after what he did. When Chiaki gave him the chance to start over, he was hesistant to take his forgiveness but eventually accepted. I think a part of this stems from the fact that they both want to be a part of each other’s lives at all costs.

Which brings me to what makes these two a little unique from the rest: they are ridiculously attached to each other. I know there are a lot of different interpretations for why Chiaki was so desperate to stop Hatori from leaving, why Hatori never really enforces his boundaries, and why they both get super upset at just the thought of them being with other people (and doing things with friends without each other!). I think their relationship has always been just a bit farther than friendship due to their attachment. I also think this is why showing affection is generally easier because not only have they known each other for almost their entire lives but also because of the strong attachment they feel towards one another. I think this always explains why they’re a bit prone to jealousy. 

And that’s the end here! If anyone would like to add on, please do so! Sorry that this analysis took so long! My classes have been back in full swing since the start of this month. Also, having to read the light novel was difficult because learning disabilities and such. 

Also a very special thanks so much to @youmeandteddybears​ for the link to the light novel! I didn’t want to do this analysis unless I had all the information I could gather! Couldn’t do it without you so thanks again!

DISCLAIMER: I was unbiased and this analysis is based off of evidence in the manga/light novel as well as my interpretations of the work. Remember folks: these are fictional characters, this is art (so there is a level of subjectivity), and this is all in good fun! Be civil, BE CHILL. 

this'll be the day that i die

a fix it fic for the end credit scene for black widow | ao3 link spoilers for black widow, so the fic will be under the cut!

@a-mere-chaotic-queer i did it!! hope you like it!!

Yelena really wished apocalyptic world events would stop involving her sister.

After Nat gave herself up to Ross, Yelena barely heard anything from her. So she, and her not-quite parents split up, each taking a small team of ex- Widows, working around the world to free the rest of them.

Yelena barely heard from Natasha in a year. She knew it would be hard, both of them were technically criminals and Natasha had the American government watching her every move. But, even still, Yelena deserved to have Natasha check in. For most of Yelena’s life, she barely heard from her sister, and she really hoped that would change.

(Melina told Yelena that Natasha was just busy, trying to keep her ‘lesser family’ together. Melina isn’t a fan of the Avengers.)

It was frustrating, however, to find out that a giant alien was invading Earth from her not-quite parents who saw it on the news.

Nat wasn’t returning any of Yelena’s calls and she was trying to get worried. Logically, Yelena knew that her sister could handle it. She’s fought with the Avengers, she trained in the Red Room, she managed to both stop the Taskmaster and save Yelena.

It wasn’t until later that Yelena realized that she’d lost, when all of her friends turned to dust in front of her.

Yelena thought she was going to die that day. It wasn’t until Alexei called her that she realized it was much worse.

*** Yelena calls Natasha for the eleventh time. She sits across from Alexei, who’s calling everyone in his contacts.

On the twelve ring, Natasha picks up. Yelena stands up and starts pacing. “Natasha! Are you okay, you weren’t answering?” Yelena demands.

“Yeah, I’m okay. We lost a lot of people.” Natasha says, her voice heavy, like the weight of worlds is pulling her down.

“Nat, whatever happened, it happened to Melina. And a lot of my team.” Yelena says, trying to keep her voice level.

“It was Thanos. This alien from space. He got all of the Infinity Stones and managed to kill half of the universe.”

“You realize that sounds crazy, right?” Yelena demands.

“We need to meet. Figure out a way to stay in contact.” Yelena breathes a sigh of relief. She wouldn’t admit this to anyone, but in the hours she thought Natasha was dead- it was too painful.

“Where and when?” Yelena asks. Natasha gives her an encoded message, in case anyone’s listening and Yelena scribbles it on a piece of paper.

“до свидания младшая сестра.” Natasha says, before hanging up.

“до свидания.” Yelena says, staring at her phone.

***

Five years went by.

Since Natasha wasn’t as much of a criminal, she and Yelena worked out a system for checking in. They called every week to give updates and just to catch up.

Yelena heard about talking racoons, glowing women and a blue cyborg. She almost wished she could be with Natasha, helping her, generally just being there.

Yelena loved helping all the Widows, of course she did, but she missed her family.

She got herself a dog, the one she’d always wanted. She has a house now, and she’s sharing with a few of the former Widows.

They took turns keeping watch, cooking, cleaning, shopping, all the basics. It was nice, having people around.

Natasha called every Friday, and no matter what time it was, Yelena always picked up.

Until one day Natasha doesn’t call.

Yelena does her best to convince herself that it's fine, that she just forgot.

Two days go by. Yelena hears nothing. She sits on the living room couch, the news playing in the background. Fanny keeps trying to get Yelena to play with her, but Yelena can’t bring herself to move away.

Yelena’s phone starts ringing on day three. Yelena grasps for it, trying to turn it off, before reading the name.

She hits answer. “Mom- Melina?” Yelena asks, hope growing in her voice. If Melina was back, that means that Natasha is okay, she was just busy.

“Yelena? You’re okay.” Melina says. “Is Natasha okay? Have you heard from her?”

“Not yet. I think she was busy saving the world. You know, avenging.” Yelena manages a grin.

“Okay, well-” Melina starts, but Yelena doesn’t hear her.

Her sister’s face flashes across the tv screen.

The phone falls from Yelena’s hand and she moves closer to the screen.

“Natasha?” Yelena says weakly, bringing her hand up to her sister’s photo. “Na- Natasha?”

A sob rips from Yelena’s throat.

Her sister was dead. She’s gone. And Yelena never got to say good-bye.

***

Natasha’s buried in the cemetery next to her birth mother. Apparently ‘Captain America’ figured out where it is.

(Alexei still resents him, for getting the fame he deserved. Yelena agrees. She wasn’t invited to the funeral, and it was her sister. Her, Melina, and Alexei. They were Natasha’s family. They deserved to be there.)

Yelena visits her grave every Friday. She cleans it up, making sure everything looks nice.

And everytime before she leaves, she whistles. The short tune she and Natasha came up with echoes through the empty cemetery. Every time, Yelena hopes that Natasha will answer, and everytime there’s only silence.

***

Yelena follows Fanny out of her car, smiling at the dog’s antics.

She kneels in front of her sister’s grave, pulling up weeds and cleaning the dirt on the stone. Yelena rests her head on the stone, tears dripping down her face.

Yelena manages a shaky whistle.

She pauses, knowing that nothing will happen, when a sharp whistle fills the air. Yelena stands up, looking around.

“Natasha?” She asks softly. “Nat?”

“Hey, little sister.” Yelena spins around and lets out a sob. She races towards her sister and wraps her in a hug.

“I missed you so much.” Yelena whispers.

“I missed you too.”

farran rereads lost lagoon: chapter 13

- *sigh* dahlia.

- i’ve got to admit, at this point i really just... don’t care. about these characters. my vague memories of thinking this was an alright book but not really my cup of tea and with some very questionable moments wrt to the handling of the saporian issue have morphed pretty rapidly into. i flat out do not like it. there is no aspect of this story that i’m enjoying. the characterization is poor, the plot is falling down, there’s no tension, the prose is passable at best, and i’m getting very tired of reading conversations that feel like they were written by an AI. so i’m going to press pause here, because i don’t want this reread series to just turn into me bitching about the things i don’t like, and do a little autopsy. 

let’s talk about varian and the seven kingdoms for a minute.

for the uninitiated, v7k was a varian-centric tts spinoff comic proposed by a couple of tts storyboarders, which disney chose not to pursue. it was developed as a fan project for a while, fell by the wayside for other projects. semi-recently the plot outline, some worldbuilding notes, and character concepts were all made public and the crew members involved gave the fandom carte blanche to do whatever with it. 

now! the interesting thing about v7k, and the point of this little tangent, is that because much of the development process happened during s1, a lot of the worldbuilding is contradicted directly or indirectly by tts canon and some of the characterization choices feel... incongruous with the way tts s3 ended. i’m not going to get into that too much, but it seems to me that v7k and lost lagoon have a problem in common, and that problem is that they are stories that diverged from the main trunk of the story that inspired them but are still pretending to be canon compliant, to their own detriment.

some of you may remember og bitter snow, which began as a pre-s3 speculative fic about what cassandra might have encountered in the HOYT and spiraled into a kind of cass-centric s3 rewrite... which stalled out about a quarter of the way into the story i had planned because i ran into a similar problem: i was writing a s3 au that was ostensibly canon-compliant for all of s1 and most of s2, but the direction i wanted to take the story just didn’t fit naturally on top of canon s1 and s2... my options were to start retconning things from canon after ~20k words of implying canon compliance, or to force the story i wanted to tell to stay within the boundaries set up by s1 and s2, and i didn’t want to do either of those things, so i stopped and started over completely from scratch with benighted. 

v7k began with the intention of being licensed fanfiction, and lost lagoon is licensed fanfiction, so they both needed the disney stamp of approval, and that meant they couldn’t take the revamp bitter snow approach of going ‘my city now’ and just changing whatever pieces of tts they needed to to make their own stories make sense. they had to fit their stories into the canon framework as best they could while ignoring or glossing over the inconsistencies and pretending it all fit together in a logical way. 

and i think this is why lost lagoon is so very boring. 

lost lagoon is marketed as a prequel to tts s1, but that’s not really what it is. only the first third of the novel actually takes place before tangled: before ever after. the rest of it is supposed to take place in the empty spaces between episodes of s1, and—because this is licensed fanfiction that needs to meet a certain threshold of being plausibly canon compliant—that means it can’t do anything that would meaningfully disrupt the story of s1. the events of lost lagoon cannot be big enough to influence any of the episodes of s1 that take place concurrently. the plot of this book must be absolutely self-contained, or else the thin illusion of canon compliance falls apart. 

hence: rapunzel has no problem keeping the lagoon a secret from everyone, despite her refusal to keep the black rock excursion a secret mere pages later. hence, the ultimate reveal that the secret ‘power’ hidden in the lagoon is that it represents shampanier’s and der sonne’s love. it’s hard to have an interesting plot about intrigue and mysteries and such when you have to tip-toe through a series of light-hearted fluffy character establishing episodes instead of just writing your own story.

so i do have some sympathy for ms howland. i do. i think she probably did the best she could, story-wise, within the restraints that were imposed on her by the existence of tts itself. i would probably write a boring story given those same restraints to. 

*deep breath*

- anyway, cass and rapunzel do market stuff, the dahlia jealousy subplot gets seeded, and then we head to xavier’s, where he shows them some daggers whose key features are being extremely light and able to “cut through armor as though it were paper.”

no 💜

- blah blah they ask xavier about the henge(?), it’s a saporian “ceremony circle,” blah blah. they show him the lost lagoon book and he waxes on about how rare and special it is and how “even those cartographers who made it their life’s mission to chart every inch of this kingdom” couldn’t find the cenote that cass found in a matter of hours because she is just! that! special! gag.

- xavier gives the date of the saporia-corona war as “more than two hundred years ago,” which i am taking to also mean “less than three hundred years ago.” i had actually forgotten that the gave a semi-hard date for all this nonsense so. ha. ha ha. ha. this is fine

- in this telling of the tale, shampanier steals der sonne’s journal with the intention of using the tunnel maps to invade the capital city, but she finds his confession of love at the end (“he was head over heels for this strong, intelligent woman” GAG). frankly this makes a teeny, tiny bit more sense than the story as told in under raps, where shampanier and der sonne duel for hours before she... randomly reads the journal? but then again—if shampanier herself infiltrated the coronan palace to steal herz der sonne’s personal journal, why did she not simply assassinate him in his sleep?

- xavier describes shampanier as “the ruler” of saporia, implying saporia was an autocratic stratocracy. remember this. it will be important later. 

- der sonne and shampanier’s marriage heralded an “era of unity” during which they “joined the countries together to create corona as we know it” and there was an “explosion of romantic poetry” during this time, with the lost lagoon being “one that really captured the people’s imagination.” 

- the only thing i’m going to say about the saporia stuff for the time being that is that if this doesn’t scream conquerer propaganda, i don’t know what does. but we’ll get there, don’t you worry.

- they are interrupted by the entrance of xavier’s assistant, marco, who is so transparently a bad guy that i really can’t do anything but laugh. xavier is like the ancient power is definitely one hundred percent not real and cass immediately bustles rapunzel out of there because she’s annoyed, which is fair, i’m also annoyed. 

- there is a character named monsieur lafleur and i am choosing to believe that this man is tromus, because this book is sorely lacking in the demons department. 

- queen arianna randomly walks in at the end of the chapter to make cassandra nervous and remind us all that cass is worried about her role in the black rock excursion getting out. i resent this scenelet because it reminds me that i could be watching tts instead. i miss tts cass. a lot. but anyway that’s the end of the chapter. 

The racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism and cruel tropes in Voltron

So, it’s the anniversary of the ending of Voltron. And I’m getting really, really tired of people saying that only shippers hated the ending. There were many issues with Voltron, and they were neither limited to shipping nor to S8.

So, I’ve decided to compile a list.

It gets LONG. Turns out there was a hell of a lot of racist, sexist, ableist and cruel tropes in VLD.

In fact, I had originally planned on writing a list of both the terrible tropes and the plot holes. But there just wasn’t enough room for both. The post is huge as it is, and with the plot holes, it would have been twice as long, so I had to focus on only one thing.

Salt, obviously. So, so, so much salt. I could turn a lake into a sea here. You’ve been warned.

RACISM:

1) The Alteans are genocide survivors. Out of all the Alteans, only the black Altean was used for a Reverse Racism story where she resents a teammate for belonging to the race that exterminated hers. The white Alteans are totally cool with him, and with his race in general, and only hate the bad people. But the black one had to be taught that hating people because of their race is wrong.

2) VLD Allura is also the only version of Allura who is black. In every other Voltron media (several different cartoons and comics), Allura is blond with blue eyes. All the white versions of the character get a happy ending, while only the black version ends up dying to save the world.

While "hero sacrifices their life to save the world" is not a bad trope in and of itself, it becomes bad when it kills off one of the extremely few black female characters in leading roles. You kill off a white male hero, there are 463278462387 more. You kill off the black female hero, you are kinda screwed. Making it worse, Allura had been portrayed as suffering from depression throughout the latest seasons, so that her death comes across less as heroic sacrifice and more as suicide.

3) The brown Cuban kid who dreamed of being a pilot, and never once in 78 episodes ever expressed anything but sheer love for an exciting life, in the final two minutes of the final episode ends up realizing that the place for him is a farm.

4) As told in interviews, Lotor was meant to be a bad example of mixed-race person, to contrast him with Keith as good example of mixed race person. Do I even have to point out how messed up this is?

5) Even before they became Space Nazis, back when they were still on the side of the angels, the Galra invaded and conquered planets. This is portrayed as totally cool when they happily name the prince after a "hero" who invaded and conquered a lot of worlds, and the peaceful Alteans think the guy is just as heroic as one of their greatest scientists. Apparently there is such a thing as ethically killing people to steal their land.

6) They whitewashed Keith, a character who is poc in every other iteration of Voltron.

I’m sure a lot of people are going to get angry here, claiming that I hate Keith. Let me assure you, I don’t. I love Keith, and I hate what was done to him. I hate that they took a traditionally poc character and went to frankly ridiculous lengths to erase that part of his character. Keith should be Asian, and it would be incredibly easy to make him so in VLD (seriously, all they’d have to do is update the freaking bios, an intern could do it right now in 5 minutes). But they refuse to do it.

A lot of people don’t realise that the surname “Kogane” in VLD is fanon.

I’m serious. Check his official bios page. Keith is not actually called Keith Kogane in VLD. Fans started calling him that in fanfiction, and it stuck, but it’s not canon.

In every other Voltron media, Keith is an Asian guy. But in VLD, they:

- went out of their way to always avoid giving him an Asian surname

- gave him a Texan father

- refused to confirm his race, even when every other character had a specific race. Again, check his official bios. All the other characters got a race, Keith gets “human.” It got so ridiculous it would be funny if it weren’t sad. It pretty much went like this:

Fans: Keith is half alien, but about his human half, what is his ethnicity? EPs: oh, we couldn't possibly say, because the story takes place in the future, and in the future, everybody is mixed up! So, Keith is HUMAN, we can't give him a specific race because there are no specific races in the future! Fans: ok. And what are the races of the other characters? EPs: Pidge is Italian, Lance is Cuban, Hunk is half-black half- Samoan, Shiro is Japanese. Fans: but Keith...? EPs: HUMAN! There is no such thing as race in the future!

Some people at least hoped that Keith's Texan father had Asian ancestry because he kinda looked like Shiro, who is Japanese. But the EPs confirmed that the resemblance was just a coincidence, they never meant for the dad to look Japanese.

At this point pretty much the only evidence that Keith is Asian is that he is voiced by an Asian person. But then, Josh Keaton is not Japanese, is he?

7) After whitewashing Keith, they claimed he is the best leader of Voltron, better than his poc predecessor, because he has Galra blood.

So, instead of bringing up any sort of legit reason to justify why Keith should be in charge (like his empathy or pilot skills), they go with "the half-white guy is also half space-nazi and that's why he should give the orders instead of the poc guy."

If you think I’m bashing Keith here, please ask yourself why you are getting angry at the person pointing out the whitewashing instead of getting angry at the whitewashing. Especially when, again, making VLD Keith canonically poc could be done anytime with zero cost and zero effort, and DW just doesn’t want to.

- Hunk, the half-black half-Samoan guy, was going to be killed and replaced as Paladin by a blue alien. The EPs were pissed when DW forbade them to, and complained in the interview about it.

SEXISM:

Every single woman who is ever put in charge ends up going insane, making terrible decisions that endanger her planet, or losing all of her authority.

Allura starts out as co-leader of Voltron and leader of the Coalition. Ends up as a foot soldier who takes orders from the new leader and his right-hand man, and is treated as a cadet by the Earth military.

HOMOPHOBIA:

1) Dreamworks, Netflix and the EPs very, very, very heavily promoted S7 as GLBT-friendly. The EPs gave whole interviews about the past relationship between Shiro and new character Adam, retweeted a ton of posts celebrating Shiro’s homosexuality, and enthusiastically sent tweets like "you are going to see more of Adam in S7! :D" from their personal accounts after they showed the episode that introduced him.

In S7:

- Shiro's homosexuality is so ambiguous that even the Brazilian voice actor didn't realize that he was supposed to be gay. Just by watching the show, without knowing the World Of God, you can’t tell he and the other guy were engaged.

- Adam gets about 30 seconds of screentime after that one episode they had already shown. Then he dies screaming in pain and terror in a fire.

A lot of people claimed that it was okay to kill Adam because Shiro was supposed to be our rep, not Adam, who was a brand new character we knew little about. And, out of context, that would be true. Adam was pretty much a NPC, why would his death matter?

But the problem here is the context:

- Shiro is closeted in S7, you need to read interviews to know he is gay. So, if only Shiro is meant to be the rep, they couldn’t even do that right.

- They very heavily marketed both Shiro and Adam as gay rep, and specifically talked at length about Adam in several interviews.

In THAT context, REGARDLESS of what you ship, killing off Adam revealed a complete willingness to manipulate the audience to the point of outright lying. Even if you hated Adam, even if Adashi is your NOTP, the clear evidence that the creators had absolutely no problem making empty promises was NOT a good sign.

2) The moment Shiro is revealed to be gay in interviews, he is practically quarantined from the Team.

3) Shiro is also given a Totally Not AIDS deadly disease.

Making it even worse, Shiro never actually gets cured in canon. We are told he is cured in interviews, but the show itself drops the topic entirely. Depending on where you lean in the Word Of God VS Death Of The Author debate, Shiro may be doomed to die.

4) A female villain is revealed to be a lesbian. 30 seconds later she gleefully tortures a little girl. Then she, too, dies in a fire.

(Fan outrage about pulling two Bury Your Gays in the Season that had been very heavily promoted as GLBT-friendly caused DW to retcon her death and bring her back in S8, but she was originally meant to die in the explosion)

5) Shiro ends up marrying a random character who doesn’t even get a name in the show.

ABLEISM:

1) Shiro's PTSD magically disappears offscreen. In interviews, the EPs claimed that he "got over it" between S6 and S7 because "he is a professional." Wow! Who knew being a professional magically cures mental illnesses!

2) Shiro is an amputee. The EPs admitted that they never put any thought into his status as disabled rep, they just wanted a character with a cool-looking arm. It literally didn't occur to them that making him lose his arm (TWICE! First up to the biceps, then up to the shoulder) meant anything. Also worth noting that Shiro’s new arm makes him look like the guy who tormented him.

3) Shiro is systematically robbed of his agency.

- He is the only Paladin who never gets to use his bayard.

- He loses his bond with Black for no given canon reason (and the reason they give in interviews makes no sense, they basically say that transferring his soul out of the Black Lion makes her stop loving him. But she still lets Zarkon fly her!).

I know that Keith is traditionally Black’s pilot in Voltron media (although that shouldn’t matter, because VLD made a lot of huge changes to the traditional status quo). But if they wanted Black Paladin Keith that badly, they could have given some non-insulting reason for it. For example, say “because Shiro has spent so much time within Black, their bond is now so strong that he will get absorbed again if he flies her again.” Or co-pilots in Black (if Pidge can co-pilot with Matt, why can’t Shiro co-pilot with Keith?).

- He is defeated not only by Sendak, but also by a bunch of random Alteans. He basically can’t win a fight anymore unless it’s played for laughs.

- His new robot Atlas is bigger than Voltron, but also much weaker, and can only buy a few minutes for Voltron to come save the day.

- Every single enemy he ever defeated comes back to be finished off by somebody else (even the friggin' Gladiator from S1 comes back in S8). In the epilogue, he retires in his twenties.

4) Narti, the disabled General, is fridged shortly after her introduction. For a while at least it seemed like her death had affected the remaining three Generals, but then it turns out that the "For Narti" line was a trick and they never actually planned on avenging her.

CRUEL TROPES:

1) They intentionally baited the fans by pushing the plot thread that Lotor would be redeemed. They named the episode where he defects "A New Defender," they kept saying in interviews that they come from Avatar and they are very familiar with Zuko *hint hint*, they showed his family as incredibly abusive and Lotor himself as desperate, they showed that Lotor was a victim of severe racism (he is mixed race, and as stated above, the Galra are Space Nazis and are pretty obsessed with blood purity).

Then, after revealing him to be a villain, they gave an interview where they practically dislocated their shoulders by patting themselves on the back as they gleefully bragged that "we made them think we would give them a Zuko, but we gave them an Azula!"

(Nevermind the fact that Azula herself was a 14-year-old child, not a monster, and that Aaron Ehasz himself confirmed that he always wanted her to be redeemed).

When fans who are survivors of child abuse told them that the bait-and-switch was really hurtful, they laughed it off, and claimed that Lotor was just beyond redemption. Then they proceeded to redeem Lotor's abusive parents, who were objectively much worse.

2) Shiro’s clone, who sincerely believed he was Shiro and always meant well, was dehumanised, demonised and discarded like his life meant nothing. His short existence was full of pain from literally the moment he first opened his eyes, as Haggar kept torturing him with migraines to manipulate him. In the end, she brutally violates him body and mind, and brainwashes him to force him to turn on the family he was so desperate to find in The Journey. He dies in incredibly questionable circumstances, without ever getting to learn that his family survived Haggar’s plans. He is victim-blamed for the things she forced him to do against his will with mind-control, and is never mourned because the only family he ever had writes him off as a “thing” and “evil.”

In fact, the horrific treatment of Kuron foreshadowed S8. The Medium article “It never stops at one - Why Voltron: Legendary Defender's tragic ending wasn't a surprise and why more DreamWorks' series will follow suit” explains how.

The tl;dr version is that, when a story posits that the circumstances of your birth determine the value of your life, so that good intentions and hard work mean nothing, and long-established bonds can be discarded with zero thought and care, and your very humanity can be revoked over something you have absolutely no control over, and the whole sociopathic disaster is celebrated as a happy ending... it really, really can’t end well. Not just for you, but for the entire cast.

MCU Rewatch: “Thor: The Dark World” (2013)

King Bor knew the Aether was an Infinity Stone. Even if the script writers didn’t.

Frigga can’t believe that Odin kicked her out of Loki’s tribunal

Remember how I refuse to believe that Loki was mind-controlled by Thanos when he invaded Earth? This trial scene seals the deal for that to me. Loki does not regret his actions. Unless Thanos had him under some kind of mind control so deep that he thinks he actually wanted the Earth for himself or that it was his own idea, to the point where he showed no remorse in front of his horrified family and Asgardian friends, then the mind control theory holds no water.

Loki definitely deserves some tough love

Eric Selvig has NOT been okay since New York.

It’s not just Jane that Thor is pining after. Thor may not have connected that much with the Avengers in his brief time on Midgard but I get the feeling that everyone else knows that Thor did not fight the chitauri alone.

I hate that they tried to set up a love triangle between Thor, Sif, and Jane, but even if Sif does not have romantic feelings for Thor how could she not be jealous of the fact that one of her closest friends is pining after a woman on another world? Things haven’t been the same since Thor got banished to Midgard and Lady Sif and the Warriors 3 are dealing with it, Thor has been through a lot and he’s a lot more distant. Everyone wants things to be the same but they’re not.

It’s like what Thor says to Hogun after the battle of Vanaheim: he knows how it feels to have your heart and mind somewhere else

Sif deserved so much better in this film. Especially more screentime.

Thor is a nerd. He’s going to see Heimdall not just to inquire after Jane but he’s also interested in the stars and space. I feel like Heimdall might be teaching him things about the cosmos whenever he hangs out that the observatory. By Ragnarok Thor and Heimdall have enough of a relationship that they can communicate between worlds on the other side of the universe. Thor and Jane initially bonded because she was studying the structure of the universe and now she’s interested in the Convergence. Thor has his mind on Jane but he also has his thoughts on space and time and the different worlds of the universe. There’s not really much textual evidence to support this but that’s the vibe I’m getting. Thor just doesn’t get enough credit for his nerdiness.

That being said, the Bifrost Observatory is actually pretty cool. It probably gets its best screentime here.

Also that rock guy on Vanaheim--is he some relation to Korg?

In Thor:The Dark World we get the best ground-level and street views of Asgard. It probably has the most “viking” aesthetic of all three films.

Jane is a nerd too. She’s very curious and intelligent.

Asgardian illuminations. Why does nobody talk about that?

Also the Tree Room.

Asgard’s defenses are A+

Don’t get me wrong, the battle scene is cool, but I feel like the time we watched the Asgardians trying to blow up the Dark Elves could have been better spent on the actual characters of the film.

Me watching Frigga’s funeral: what are these...emotions??? I’m feeling...things???

Frigga’s death is really sad, but if Thor TDW did anything right, it was actually killing off a character and giving the film some emotional stakes

Thor’s plan to bust Jane out of Asgard is great, I love it, I love how he explains each step and then we get footage of it being carried out

The consequences for all involved did include possible exile: Loki kicked out Odin, he could easily have sent Sif, Farandal, and Volstagg packing once he was on the throne

I just...could never get the hang of the fact that they traded Josh Dallas for Zachary Levi as Farandal. And Farandal has like zip screen time in Thor TDW and his lines are actually kind of lame. Everything about Farandal in this film bugs me.

Although after he helps Thor, Jane, and Loki escape, his 10-second fight with the guards is pretty well done.

Frigga’s death: Odin handles her face tenderly, but he’s looking up at Thor and Jane. He is distracted from his grief by blaming his wayward son and the Midgardian woman who was stupid enough to get the Aether stuck inside of her. As if that was completely her choice. As if she had asked Frigga to die for her.

Does Jane get PTSD from this?

Malekeith and the Dark Elves/Svarthaelfen are some kind of extreme anarchists or nihilists. Except they are trying to overturn the last 4.5 billion or so years of the progress and evolution of the current universe. Instead of adapting and moving on they just keep trying to tear down the new reality to make it go back to the old. Their hubris probably came from the fact that they had the Aether in the first place. Even their weapons are these mini black holes that utterly destroy whoever or whatever they land on, make space and matter collapse in on itself.

You have to hand it to Marvel for giving us villains that just want to destroy what they hate rather than conquer and rule

the Svarthaelfen live long lives. Longer than Asgardians. Granted Malekeith and his surviving followers have been in suspended animation for the last 5000. But Odin says the Asgardians have been fighting the Svarthaelfen for generations.

Everyone has their eyes on Odin at the funeral ceremony, waiting for him to give the signal to light the pyre. Waiting for him to let go.

I need more Odin spending time with his ravens please

Would the Dark Elves have been more creepy or less if they had spoken in English instead of a made-up language?

Malekeith has a relationship with the Aether. A long one. The Aether knows him and responds to him. He can use it as he pleases.

*Loki looking at Jane on their ride in Svarthaelfheim* “Oh, what I could do with all that power.” Loki knows what the Aether is too. Odin talks about the Infinity Stones offhandedly as “relics” in the Tree Room scene, so the Asgardians or at least the Royal family know about them kind of as legends of powerful things that exist. But Loki knows more than most...

Thor and Jane are really LUCKY that Loki didn’t need to get them killed to move forward with his plan

How DID Jane get on that date with Richard in the first place?

In all fairness to Jane Foster, she hasn’t really had that great of a love life. Thor is probably the first person she’s really connected with. At least in a long while. Really, if I was her, I would be pining for him--maybe not as badly as Darcy teases her about but just enough to be hurting

When Thor first shows up to pick her up he tries to explain to her what he’s been doing--but it’s like all gibberish to her. Yeah, you can tell that Thor still hasn’t spent that much time on Earth

Did anyone else notice that Jane and Darcy’s car was vandalized while it was locked and abandoned?

If Malekeith hadn’t showed up with the Aether, the Convergence might have just been a weird day in Greenwich

That’s got to be crazy, being able to see into eight other worlds at once

I didn’t realize it before this viewing but the sticks and the gravity fields that Jane and Selvig and Darcy and Ian were playing with were what actually saved the day, they just all got upstaged by Thor and his cool hammer tricks. Jane, Selvig, and Thor killed Malekeith together.

Thor was willing to give up his hammer why does no one talk about this?

Would the real Odin have been as “nice” to Thor as the fake one in that last scene?

Overall, Thor:The Dark World is still a great movie but it could have used stronger writing in some places. I appreciate Thor TDW the most when I’m watching it. And I guess if Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the MCU film that comes right after it, you’re going to have a harder time appreciating it, right?

I wish they had made Jane less helpless rather than just a helpless heroine who resents the position she’s in

That being said, though, I love the music score.

If Thor TDW is supposed to be a chick flick, then that explains why it’s my least favorite MCU film because I’ve never been a huge fan of chick flicks.

Asgard. Asgard’s mountains. Asgard’s back country. Asgard’s streets and buildings and architecture. Asgard’s waterfalls. Asgard. ASGARD!

Alternate Title: “Someone Should have Planned for this Emergency Better.”

If your still open to request could you do #62 with John and Female Deputy?

I can!

Warnings: Violence, Swearing

John swung the door to his Ranch open with a flourish, typical confident fashion that had his coat tails blowing behind him. His cockiness quickly faded when he spotted it. Perplexity and bewilderment dancing behind his eyes.

A hole.

In his ceiling.

He was enraged by the view, but a cold curiosity nipped at him. He shrugged his coat off effortlessly, hanging it upon the rack, his fixation unwavering from the new skylight. He stalked over so that he was underneath it, staring out into the pastel blue of late noon Montana. Pressing his tongue against his inner cheek and furrowing his brows, he spun around in all different directions, seeking the source of this new found architecture. Nothing. The reality of the situation set in, bringing a growl low from his chest. Someone had marred his home and thus, marring his emboldened ego. 

There was a thump on the roof. Setting his teeth together, has hand moved towards his holster, glaring up at the ceiling. John fell into an even bigger hole of confusion, when they popped their head over the hole.

“Oh! Hey John!”

He didn’t answer straight away, his lip trembling slightly as he attempted to gain an understanding of the situation. The Deputy, had ruined his ceiling. John bared his teeth at them, hand still firmly held on his pistol.

“What the hell have you done, Deputy? Why is there a hole in my ceiling?”

She giggled, shaking her head and staring at him with almost a reverence. His expression was better than she had imagined, it was all going to plan.

“Well. I got to thinkin’. You already have like what… four skylights? What’s the harm in one more? And I did it for free too! So no contracting costs!”

Rage radiated from his pours, an ironic broth of Wrath that had so willingly marked her chest with. His blue eyes had narrowed with fury, grinding his teeth together.

“How did you get past the guards? No matter. They shall be…reprimanded for their insubordination, as you shall be too.”

Rook’s mouth formed an ‘O’, trying to mask the upwards tug of her lips. How could he be so ungrateful? Typical spoilt John Seed.

“Now hang on. Insubordination? I did you a kindness! And that’s a lot more than you deserve!”

John hissed at her, causing her to raise her brows in surprise. Such a temper. He glanced around him before shooting her a heated glare.

“Get down, Deputy.”

Rook rolled onto her back, so that she was almost hanging upside down through the skylight. How was she even balancing like that? She smirked at him, her hair fanning out under the gravity.

“Why don’t you make me?”

John couldn’t help the grin he bared at her, his eyes lighting up at the prospect of Cat and Mouse. But he wasn’t stupid, he knew as soon as he climbed up there she would be gone and he would look a fool. He looked over her playful stance, cocking his head at what to do with her. She had damaged his property, she wouldn’t get away with it.

“Now Deputy, don’t take me for a fool. We both know as soon as I make it up there you’ll slink back off into the shadows. Hardly seems fair given this… Predicament, you have caused me.”

She twitched her lips in thought, hemming and hawing, deliberately playing on his nerves. John attempted a relaxed, smug smile, the anger still thick in his veins, flowing faster with every passing minute she wasted.

“You know, John? It’s not often I say this, in fact I’m not sure I have even said it before! But you’re right, it wouldn’t be fair. Least I could do is give you a fair chance.”

She disappeared from view, and panic gripped at him momentarily. What if she had just left? It could take him days if not weeks to find her. John knew her pattern, she would flee to the Henbane of the Whitetails before he could sink his hooks in. He would not miss the opportunity. There was another bang against the wood and his hearing followed her steps as she scrambled off of the roof and down onto his balcony, she shoved the door open with the same manner John adopted before, arrogance in her stride. Rook stood at the top of his stairs, cocking her and titling her smile into a mischievous simper. John looked her up and down, taking in the sight. He raised his index finger, mimicking her smug demeanour and gesturing  for her to come closer. The Deputy shook her head, mischief still gracing her expression.

“No fuckin’ way. I am not coming any closer.”

The look that crossed was akin to puppy eyes from a rabid wolf. Mock sorrow and acrimony. Rook glanced down towards his holster, and back up to him. He took the hint, sliding the Magnum from its home and placing it on the dining room table. She grinned with approval, making her way down the stairs.

“I don’t get why your so mad. You should be used to this by now.”

“Oh, Deputy. I can never get used to you, your always so full of surprises.”

“And somethin’ else!”

She reached the bottom of the steps, her gaze unwavering from John’s. She made no effort to move closer, wise enough to leave some space between them. Clever girl. Instead, John closed the gap, stalking towards her, she instinctively walked backwards, releasing a small grunt when her back hit the wall. He was close to her now, towering over her and his blue eyes boring in to hers with expectancy, like a parent demanding an explanation for their child’s behaviour, his scent of cologne invading her senses.

“You just can’t help yourself can you? Destroying everything you touch.” He tsked, biting his lip slightly and shaking his head in disapproval like an owner who sought to discipline their pet.  “You need to be taught a lesson.”

Rook held fast, trying to mask her uneasiness. She should have known better, knowing fully well how he would react and what she was getting herself into. It was all to tempting to rile up the youngest Seed.

“I have nothing left to learn.” Her expression of smugness still fixed on her face, blinking up at him with a confident smile.

“Au contraire, Deputy…” His palm reached up to push his thumb under her jaw, forcing her to fix on him. “I have much to teach you.”

She swallowed and he noticed, quickly wrapping his fingers around her throat tightly and shoving her into the wall, her head smacking against the wood with a thud, her hands clasping around his. Something dark covered his blue eyes like a veil, contrast the soft look he held. His eyes travelled the length of her neck, examining her breathing under his grasp. He smirked at her and heat flooded to her cheeks, whether that was from the squeeze on her neck or something else…She wasn’t sure. 

“Well, I can’t really stick around. Things to do, crimes to solve, all the blue badge business, you know how it is.”

John hummed at her, running a thumb over her jugular, her chest rose and fell with intensity, fear welling inside of her.

“Is that so? And that’s what you call it? Business?” He chuckled, bringing his free hand to pull hers away from his choke hold, pinning her arms up above her. “It doesn’t matter how much you try to sugar coat it, Deputy. It’s still Wrath. In it’s purest form.”

Rook attempted to brace her legs to push away from him, but he quickly moved his own between them, his hips now helping to bracket her against the wall. She turned her head away from him, his lips just millimetres from her cheek, her body flush against his. She said nothing as she was frozen there, trapped like a cornered animal. 

“But don’t worry. I’ll teach you. I’ll wash you of that anger and resentment that plagues your soul so completely. You will be begging for my guiding hand and at the end of it all… You will thank me.”

John tittered, leaning forward so he buried his lips in her hair. Closing his eyes and inhaling her scent. Rook’s gut turned to knots, and much to her chagrin, her heart fluttered. She could full the bolts of excitement the buzzed under his skin, her mind reeled as her brain searched for a way out, a light bulb when she remembered. She had left the hammer she used for the hole on the roof, but not the pocket knife she used to cut past the guards, she just needed to free her hands, if she could just…

As if God answered her prayer, John released his grasp on her wrists, allowing them to fall limply at her sides. Before he had chance to rearrange his hold of her, her hand was straight into the holster hidden by her jacket, yanking at the knife  and plunging it into his thigh. John stumbled back with a yowl, glancing down at his thigh before slowly raising his gaze towards her. His stare was enough to freeze her, red mist settled over his eyes as his hand snaked down towards the knife, curling his fingers the small handle and prying it from his flesh, the blade now soaked in his blood. He held it up to the light from the hole she made, looking over his sanguine and tsking at it, before snarling and lunging for her. She took her chance, sprinting towards the front door as he crashed into the wall, cursing and turning so he was on her heels. Rook made it to the front door, opening it and slamming it into his face,  he faltered with a shout, pulling down on the Ranch alarm. Shit.

The Deputy ran as fast as her legs could carry her, fleeing into the treeline as the sirens blared and Peggies scrambled shouting for her. She couldn’t resist the urge to smile as she ran, not only had she put a hole in his ceiling.

She put a hole in his ego too.

Thanks for requesting! Enjoy!

Turmoil (iii)

Words: 2,809 Warnings: Swearing, Fighting

Pairings: Steve Rogers X Reader

Series summary: When Steve and YN differ in their opinions on the Accords, will they be able to survive or will their beliefs get in the way?

Chapter Summary: YN is at the UN in Vienna when tragety strikes, making her question her place in the overall situation.

Part One \ Part Two

You had never been a fan of fancy dressing. The blouses and skirts your mom bought you when you were small were never comfortable, and you were never able to properly move while being active and playing the same way you wanted to. You thought the idea that girls had to wear dresses and pretty things to be considered feminine was a dumb notion, and you made a point to always dirty your nice clothes to the point of no return. Eventually, you found yourself in Vienna twenty years later in a light blue blouse and five-inch heels readying yourself for a United Nations meeting to sign yourself over to the government.

Amazing.

You believed in the Accords, you truly did. You couldn’t shake the feeling that the Accords created more issues than they solved and felt a thick resentment towards them flow through your bones. You were leaning against the windows, watching the news reporters gather and work. Your thoughts were soon interrupted by a husky cough beside you, and when you turned around you were met with a beautiful dark-skinned man. He held an air of pride and suave-ness that had you nervously tucking your hair behind your ear and smiling nervously.

“I’ve always admired their drive to discover the truth.” He said, his accent thick and voice deep. “They are willing to do anything to get a leg up in the world despite the consequences their actions bring.”

You frown and nod, looking out of the window once more and watching them closely. They were all styled for TV, and there was an animalistic way they shoved past each other to get the best shot.

“It would be easier if they were all able to work together and create a system that benefits everyone rather than stabbing each other in the backs to do what they believe is the right thing.” You replied, sighing and looking back up at him. He smirked at your response and nodded.

“You do not believe in the Accords?” His question was met with a pregnant pause while you chewed your lip in thought.

“I do,” You said, crossing your arms and turning your back to the reporters. “I’m resentful of the way it’s tearing my family apart. But I do believe that power must be controlled in order for it to be used for Good.”

There was a quiet chuckle from the man in front of you, and you found your chest puffing with pride at the thought of making him laugh. “You would fit into my county, well, Miss. YLN.” He smiled. You found yourself tilting your head at him and smirking.

“You know my name, but I don’t get to know yours?” You held your hand out for him to shake, and he looked at it almost nervously before grasping your hand in both of his.

“The most powerful Human Avenger? How could I not know who you are.” His words made you blush and look down at your joined hands. “I am T’Challa— Prince of Wakanda.” You drew your hand back quickly in shock before bowing your head.

“I’m sorry, your Highness I didn’t—“ His hands shot out to cut you off and you stopped yourself before you could say any more.

“Do not fret, Miss YLN. Please, call me T’Challa. Any person who I engage in diplomacy with is a friend, I assure you.”

You were saved by Natasha, who had chosen this moment to sweep in and save the day. You were sure she knew how tense you felt, and were grateful for her rescue. She shook his hand when he held his out, and they greeted each other as if they were old friends.

“I guess neither of us are used to the spotlight.” He smiled warmly down at her, and she sent a wink over to you. She let out a breath of amusement at his words.

“Well, it’s not always so flattering.” Her voice dropped a few octaves, and you wanted to laugh and roll your eyes as you recognized her infamous seduction tone. You almost elbowed her int he ribs when his eyes squinted at her slightly.

“You seem to be doing alright so far.” He looked over at the crowd and noticed a few of the people who Natasha had been talking to previously. Both you and the Prince felt admiration in Natasha’s ability to make people like her regardless of if they knew her past or not. She smirked and leaned in closer to him in a way that just barely invaded his personal space— another trick. He seemed to catch on to her tactics, however, and rose a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.

“Considering your previous stunts on Capitol Hill, that is. I wouldn’t think you’d be particularly comfortable in this company.” You almost lost your composure when he smirked and watched the flirtatious giant in her eyes leave— replaced with awe and respect similar to her own. Not many could see through her charm, and the fact that he saw through it clear as day made Natasha like the man even more than she had before.

She shot a quick look over to you, and you smirked at her playfully. “We’re not.” She said, looking back to him only after she spoke. He looked at the both of you and bowed his head kindly.

“That makes me very glad that you are here then, Ladies.” You could tell the way your and Natasha’s heart fluttered in response to his charm and compliments— he was certainly groomed for royalty.

“Why? You don’t approve of all this?”

He pursed his lips and shook his head, eyes wandering over the crowd once more. “The Accords? Yes. The politics— not really. Two people in a room can get more accomplished than one hundred.”

“Unless you need to move a piano.” A softer voice sounded from behind you and Natasha and your head whipped around to face the King of Wakanda. His hair was thick and white on top of his head and his kind eyes were framed by gold-framed glasses. You found yourself gravitating towards this man, and you knew everyone in the room felt the same way— the king of such an isolated country demanded respect and curiosity, and there was an air of excitement int he air due to his upcoming speech.

“Baba,” T’Challa smiled, greeting his father. You could see the way his body language communicated his love and respect for the elder, and that feeling made you like the Prince even more than you had. The King tore his eyes away from his son to look at you and Natasha. He reached for your hands first, kissing both of your hands and saying your name in greeting. He turned to Natasha, then and he kissed her hands quickly before dropping them and greeting her.

“Miss Romanoff.”

“King T’Chaka. Please allow me to personally apologize for what happened in Nigeria.” She said mournfully and respectfully bowing her head.

“Thank you,” The older man turned to you, then and his gaze turned from kind to cold in a second, sending a chill up your spine. “I’m sorry Mr. Rogers was unable to join us today.”

The mention of Steve felt similar to a slap in the face and you barely held back from a wince. The King seemed to notice the pain that Steve’s absence caused you, and his large hand rested on your bicep. The pressure of his hand on your arm comforted you in a way that you had never been comforted before and you found yourself sending him a small smile despite your heavy sadness.

“We are as well, King T’Chaka.” Your voice came out rapier than you would have liked, but T’Chaka seemed to understand your pain and glossed over it as if it wasn’t obvious. A robotic voice sounded from the speakers and you jumped when the woman began to announce that the assembly was in session. You and Natasha both bowed your heads and left the father and son duo to their own devices, and walked over to the assigned seats in the front row. You took a few gulps from the glass of water, and you tried to ignore the way Nat was looking at you.

“How are you holding up?” Her voice was slow when she spoke and you scoffed quietly to yourself, looking down at your hands that rested in your lap.

“I’m barely keeping it together as it is, Nat. What if I made the wrong decision in leaving Steve?” Your voice came out broken, and you felt your lower lip wobble slightly before you trapped it between your teeth and bit down.

“Are the Accords something you believe in?” Nat said, reaching over and taking your hand in her own. Her polished thumb brushed patterns onto your skin, and you found yourself drawing strength from the simple gesture. Natasha had only truly let down her walls with you and Steve, and you had her trust listed near the top of your list of Greatest Accomplishments.

“Of course— it’s the right thing to do. Steve’s stubbornness is one of the things that made me fall in love in the first place; I never thought in a million years that it would be the thing that tore us apart.”

“You’re not torn apart.” You shot her a look of contempt and she tried to backtrack and explain herself. “When Clint and I were an item a few years ago we were able to take on the world.” You looked up in surprise— you had assumed that Nat and Clint had a history, but you never thought it was a serious as a relationship.

“We were the partnership to beat. And then the subject of family came up. He wanted something I couldn’t give him and it was the end of us romantically. I wasn’t able to change the way I was brought up and that broke us. You shouldn’t have to change your beliefs because Steve is having a crisis. You made the right choice.”

“How did you and Clint fix everything.”

“He forced himself into my life. He refused to leave me alone and I eventually caved, obviously. The tension hadn’t really left until he met Laura and settled down a little bit. Now I had a child in my namesake, so who really won?” She joked and brushed a piece of hair behind your ear gently. “This will work out the way they work out. I’ll be by your side until the day one of us kicks the bucket.

“I don’t know what I would do without you, Natasha Romanoff.” You looked over at her and her expression quickly went from utter fondness to cocky in a second.

“Crash and burn, probably.”

“Probably.”

“When stolen Wakandan vibranium was used to make a terrible weapon, we in Wakanda were forced to question our legacy. Those men and women who died in Wakanda were part of a Goodwill mission in a country too long in the shadows. We will not, however, let misfortune drive us back. We will fight to prove to the world that we wish to join it. I am grateful to the Avengers,” T’Chaka motioned over to where you an Natasha sat, the kindness and truth of his words making his statement warm. “For supporting this initiative. Wakanda is proud yo accept this hand in peace—“

Then, many things happened at once. First, there was a loud shouting from outside followed quickly by dogs barking aggressively. The shouting grew more and more panicked until T’Challa turned from his place near the window. You could see from your place int he council that the whites of his eyes were showing, and you rose from your spot quickly.

“GET DOWN!” He cried, and dove for his father who was still unaware of the catastrophe about to bloom. You rushed forward as well, and just as the windows exploded, were able to raise your hands. The glass and debris that blew in from the car bomb were stopped by your abilities, and you placed the concrete and glass near the far east wall. You then used your other hand to shield the room from the hot fire that threatened to burn many alive.

You noticed, then, that the Prince was leaning over his father's lifeless corpse, and your world seemed to shift on its axis. You had failed, once again to protect the people you cared about. You ran over to T’Challa who looked up at you with tear tracks running through the ash and dust on his face. When you confirmed the King had died, you held T’Challa as he cried in a way that only a man who lost his mentor and father would cry.

“Steve, you gotta come and see this.” Sam’s voice broke Steve from his and Sharon’s moment, and when he looked at his best friend, he saw a multitude of emotions in his eyes. The first was fear— something terrible had happened. The second was protection— not towards him, or Sharon, but towards the idea of you.

Sam and you had managed to create an incredibly strong bond during the Ultron incident and had become almost inseparable during missions. You, Sam and Natasha, worked together like a well-oiled machine, and your shared chemistry had allowed for the Avengers to thrive on missions and other global expeditions. The look in Sam’s eyes made Steve take a step back in shame, and without looking towards, Sharon, Steve followed Sam out into the hotel lobby where there was a crowd around the television.

The scene on the screen is one of pure movie horror. A building is on fire, and multiple lines of water try to subdue the angry blazing flames. There's a figure moving through them, and the camera zooms in on a figure almost dancing through the destruction and making the flames smaller and easier to terminate completely.

You are in the middle of a burning building.

He knows it’s you because he had memorized the way you moved and manipulated your powers. It was almost a dance— the way you moved. You moved in a way that would compliment the element you were bending to your will, and the fire made your movements quick and sharp and unpredictable. Steve almost laughed when he saw what you were wearing— you were wearing the heels you had worn on your first date together (granted, they were the only pair you owned), and a tight skirt and blouse that restricted your movements.

He knew you were cursing as you made fires smaller— you hated feeling restriction, and the outfit you were wearing was the embodiment of that feeling. When the camera is able to zoom in enough to catch a glimpse of your face, the screen freeze frames and Steve can vaguely hear the reporter saying your name through the tunnel vision he has on you.

Your expression is one of pain and desperation. There are tear stains on your face, and your brow is furrowed tightly in pain and focus. What he wouldn’t know, however, is that the stress of the past two days had finally collapsed on your shoulders, and before you knew it you found yourself in the thick of the flames. One of the reasons Steve had fallen in love with you is that you were undeniably good. You took every casualty personally, and you always dove into the thick of the action in an attempt to control it and reduce that number. He knew that you would place the blame of the twelve casualties on yourself— you were supposed to be one of the most powerful Avengers, but how were you to be that Avenger when you couldn’t even save the people around you?

His heart clenched painfully at both your expression and at the way, the news report panned back to the live action— your figure now was gone and the flames extinguished.

“At least twelve are dead in today's incident, including Wakanda’s kind T’Chaka. Officials have received a video of the bombing suspect, who they have identified as one James Buchanan Barnes.” Steve’s world officially crashes around him at the news of his best friends actions, and Steve wants nothing more at that moment to go to sleep and never wake up— in 48 hours, he’s managed to lose both you and Bucky and he’d be damned if he can handle any more than that. “The Winter Soldier is an infamous HYDRA agent linked to multiple acts of terrorism and political assassinations.”

Almost immediately after the reporter says this, Shanon’s phone rings and makes Steve jump in fright. She looks down at her phone beside Steve and sighs when she sees who is calling her.

“I have to go to work.”

Sisters’ Night

They hadn’t had a sisters’ night in quite a long while.  At least that’s what it felt like. It was understandable, reasonable. A lot had happened over the past few months. Alex was abducted, tortured, almost killed. Kara largely blamed herself for those experiences. Kara had to fight her cousin, an incredibly painful fight she might add. They both put their lives on the line and in the others’ hands while resisting the historically tyrannical reign and potential enslavement and/or genocide of the Daxamites.  Knowing she was responsible for releasing lead into the atmosphere sending their invaders back to space including the person she thought was the love of her life (she didn’t know how wrong she was until she drunkenly made out with Lena Luther one night) was hard for Kara to handle. She became reclusive for a while. When she wasn’t working at CatCo she was flying through the skies protecting those who needed Supergirl. When she wasn’t partaking in either of those activities, she was at home in the dark crying. Trying with all her might to dig her way out of her slump. On the off chance she did go out, (she may have super strength but her sister had red sun lamps and puppy eyes that were almost as strong as Kara’s) she got drunk.  One of these nights resulted in the aforementioned drunken make out session between a Luther and a Super.

So no, a sister’s night, a night with no other people, no friends or girlfriends, has not happened in a long time. So when Alex showed up outside her door with drinks for both of them and enough food to feed an army of a small country on the way, Kara didn’t have the heart, nor desire, to send her sister away.

Kara bowed low, swinging her arm out in front of her signaling Alex to enter. She tilted her eyes up making eye contact quickly with her sister, the person who has been in her corner longer than any other person, now officially longer than she had lived on Krypton. She smiled a smiled that reached her eyes, a rare occurrence these days.  Alex simply smiled back, knowing all too well the darkness living in her sister.

Alex set the drinks on the coffee table, fell back onto the couch limbs flying in all directions and a grunt escaping her mouth.  “We’ve broken mom’s rule you know. We aren’t supposed to go more than two weeks without spending time together “bonding.” She’d be extremely disappointed if she knew. I figured I’d save us both from a premium mom lecture when she visits next week. Whatya say, Kar? Food and movies or food and something else?” Alex finishes watching Kara with calculating eyes trying to deduce what Kara was in the mood for.

Kara moved toward her bedroom without saying a word. She emerged with three boxes stacked on top of each other. “Food and talking-reminiscing really. I’ve been going through our old photo books from when I first arrived on earth.”

“That could be fun, deal” Alex reached for a book sticking out slightly from the first box. She opened the cover and was met with the last picture taken of her family, all four of them. “This was a good day. It was the last happy day we had for a while.”

“I remember. It was one of the first days it felt like we were actually family.” Kara smiled sadly, “it was the last picture we had taken with the four of us.” Alex just nodded her head patting the spot next to her telling Kara to sit. They made it through one and a half photo books before the food arrived. Pizza and potstickers covered the island in the kitchen and the coffee table in the living room. Together, the sisters ate through all four boxes of pizza and four containers of potstickers, all the while flipping through book after book, telling story after story, laughing so hard they ended up crying. At some point, they slipped off the couch onto the floor.  

They each had a book in their laps, each holding different parts of their combined past, each seeing the same memories from different points, remembering them in slightly different ways. Alex stopped flipping through the book in favor of watching her sister. She looked on in amazement, studying the amazing women sitting in front of her. Kara was truly one of the strongest women she knew. She lost her family-her planet-when she was 13. She had to fit in, belittle herself, ensure that she didn’t stand out for so long. She was lost her family and her planet again when she was attacked by the black mercy and yet again when Mon-el was forced to choose between leaving Earth’s atmosphere and dying. Although Alex was never a fan of the Daxamite. She hated him in fact, hated the way he treated Kara, disrespected her. She thought he was border line (and that was lenient) abusive but he was one of the closest things to home for Kara. Especially after Astra died. Alex knew she had Clark but he didn’t know Krypton as a memory he knew about it from stories. So even though Alex was glad that he was gone, glad that he could no longer hurt and abuse her sister, she realizes that Kara is once again missing that connection to her home.

Alex is brought out of her reverie but Kara’s laugh and insistence that she look at a certain picture. Alex leaned forward and instantly burst into laughter. The picture in question showed both Kara and Alex standing in the kitchen both covered in milkshake laughing hard. It was taken not long after Jeramiah’s “death” Kara is reaching forward her index finger scraping milk shake from Alex’s face moments after the photo was taken Kara’s finger was in her mouth.

“Oh my god!” Alex exclaimed.

“Remember this, it’s from our first official sisters’ night.”

“I do, Dad was presumed dead not too long before this.”

“We didn’t even know this picture was taken until Christmas.  Eliza was working late, remember, she told us that we had to spend the night hanging out doing sister things.”

“Oh yeah, I also remember resenting having to do it. I just wanted to stay in my room, stay away from people. I was so depressed because of dad.”

“I know, Eliza told me that we had to do everything we could to support you. She was really worried about you. She told me that because she was working late so often I needed to find a way to make you lean on me.”

“She told me that I needed to make sure you were ok because dad was the third parent you’d lost and that we were all you had left. With her working late so much, she said it was my responsibility to be there for you.”

They stared at each other mouths agape. “She totally played us!” they gasped at the same time.  They started laughing again.  They laughed so hard they ended up rolling on the floor.  When they both calmed down enough, it was 3 am, after all, they were lying head to head feet extended in opposite directions. For a few seconds the only sound in the room was heavy breathing as breath was caught and after shock laughs escaped tired bodies.

“Do you think she knew back then?” Kara whispers, tilting her head toward Alex.

“Knew what?”

“That we would continue “sisters’ nights even well into our twenties’?”

“I think she hoped that we would.  Hell, she probably knew. But I think she also knew that we needed to figure it out for ourselves. I mean some of our adolescent sisters’ nights involved us sitting silently in the same room until we were allowed to go to bed.”

It was quiet again as both Kara and Alex thought back through their combined and individual pasts.

“Hey Alex, I’m really glad Eliza made us have sisters’ nights growing up. I’m happy that we kept having them even after we moved out. I don’t know where I’d be if it weren’t for you.  You’re the best sister a person could have.”

“I’m glad too Kara.  And I’m pretty sure the title of best sister a person could have belongs to you. But just for the record, if it weren’t for you, I’m not sure where I’d be either. I love you, sis.”

“Love you too Alex.”

Kara stood up reaching a hand out to Alex to help her up.  “I’m sorry I’ve been distant lately.  It’s just…I felt like- I don’t know- I guess I feel like I’ve lost my planet all over again.  Looking back I see that my relationship with Mon-el wasn’t healthy in the least.  I think I knew that when we were together even, at least subconsciously. But I could talk to him about Krypton and he knew. I didn’t have to explain everything to him.  It was nice talking in my native language with someone who remembers what it was like to live there.”

Opening her arms, Alex held Kara close to her squeezing as tightly as she could. “I know Kar. And I wish I could make your pain go away. I wish I could bring Astra or someone back.  And even though it hurts, you’ve still got me and all of our friends which include but is not limited to Lena Luther.” Kara pulled back staring at Alex with raised eyebrows. “What you’re the one that made out with her in the middle of Dollywood, not me. What’s going on with that anyway or are interested in James still?  Or do you want to swear off relationships right now?  I don’t care either way I just want you to be happy of course!” Alex finishes with a smirk.

Kara doesn’t give Alex the satisfaction of an answer. Instead, she grabs Alex’s hand and gently drags her to the bed.  She’s tired and all she wants right now is to fall asleep in her big sister’s arms, safe and content.                        

Game of Thrones S7 Ep5

So Jaime was trying to kill himself. I was pretty certain he'd be captured by Dany, but thanks to Bron he made it back to King's Landing. And I hope Bron really does leave when Dany comes because I don't want him to die. I forgot he's another character I love.

Tyrion is really starting to annoy me.

He wants Dany to show mercy but only to the people he likes. He would use her to shield his favorite people and let everyone else die. It's becoming more and more apparent.

I'm really glad Dany is not listening to Tyrion. She's right: she gave them a choice and going back on it would be showing herself as wishy washy and weak. This is war, and this is the way of war. Either you choose a side or you die.

Tyrion is a Lannister and is supposed to be a pragmatist. Instead, he is showing himself to be an idealist. He thinks they can win the war AND spare everyone he likes personally. And . . . it's just not going to work that way.

It's really annoying how they keep calling her army savages. Meanwhile, the people in Westeros have got heads on pikes and are blowing shit up and torturing each other. But no, no, they aren't savages at all.

Jon Snow is behaving the same way as Tyrion. Dany makes the point that Jon has killed thousands, yet he wishes for her to wage war "peacefully."

The reality here is, these men are terrified of the idea of a woman in power. They don't believe she can wield it responsibly, even though every war waged on Game of Thrones so far as been waged by men who ravaged their own countries.

It's really annoying how they're all lecturing her and telling her to be careful. If she were a man, absolutely no one would be questioning her methods. No one.

There's one scene where Tyrion and Varys are scared out of their minds that Dany is becoming her father. It perfectly illustrates everything I just said. When Dany's father did the same damn things with his dragons (before he went mad), no one questioned him. Even when he finally did go insane. Before he went insane, though, were his methods wrong? Was he wrong to burn people instead of beheading them like Joffrey? No one seemed to think so at the time.

Dany is not her father and -- so long as Bran doesn't make her go mad -- she never will be. But she's a woman. So all the men scrambling under her are terrified she can't wield power without going emotional, irrational, and insane.

It was also really fucking annoying to see Jorah come back. Ye gods, I hate him. I hated his gross, mouth-breather expression when Dany gave him a hug. As I said on an older post, Dany seems to show compassion to all the wrong people -- her brother, the witch, and now Jorah. With her brother and the witch, she learned too late that her compassion had been a weakness.

I'm not saying compassion is a weakness. I'm saying showing compassion to the wrong people is a weakness. Varys conspired to have Dany killed and she was very slow to forgive and trust him (which was wise). Jorah was a part of that, and yet he's forgiven so much quicker. And why? Just because Dany knew him longer? That’s insane.

On top of that, Jorah kept forcing his affections on her, kissing her, trying to isolate her from the other advisers and everyone around her so that he could control her. Dany has mistaken his obsession for loyalty, and in the end, if she has another downfall, it will be because of Jorah.

There was a reason Ser Barristan hated Jorah.

I am really, really hoping Dany's eyes are opened about him, but D&D love taking disgusting dudes from the books and making them Nice Guys (see: Tyrion). So I doubt we'll ever see Jorah get what he deserves.

And is it just me, or is Jorah afraid of Jon Snow? He was going to say something to Dany -- possibly that he "loved" her -- then saw Jon Snow coming and quickly took off. Seems like every skeevy guy (Little Finger) is -- rightfully -- afraid of Jon Snow.

As I said on an older post, there is no difference between Jorah Mormont and Little Finger. One is just more openly ratlike than the other. Jorah is an inversion of the knight in shining armor trope in that he is not honorable at ALL.

Arya seems to believe Sansa has a desire to be queen of the North. After watching the scene between them, I think it makes perfect sense. Sansa wanted to be queen of Westeros, but that was taken from her in the most brutal way. And she quickly went from dreams of riches and power to nightmare after nightmare. Now she could be queen of the North if Jon never came home and seems to be preparing herself for the possibility.

It's not bad that Sansa enjoys ruling and is prepared for the worst, but it seems to be something Arya despises about her sister. She just couldn't resist taking a jab at Sansa. Old habits and all that.

So that's where Gendry was? All that time? And why the fuck is he so bloodthirsty?

Gonna be interesting to see if Arya finally bangs Gendry (we all know she wanted to).

At first I was like "Why is Gendry important again? Just because he's the dead king's son?" But now I like the idea of him fighting alongside Jon the way Robert and Ned did -- even if they were wrong.

Gilly pretty much confirmed for everyone that Rhaegar and Lianna ran away and got eloped, but Sam was too hilariously pissed to notice.

So it's true then. Rhaegar and Lyanna were in love, and Robert led his great war to become king because he was jealous and/or because he sincerely thought she had been kidnapped.

Arya and Little Finger spying on each other? I guess Arya is a typical foolish Stark after all. Little Finger clearly set her up to get some information he wanted her to have.

Jorah says something toward the end of the episode that really makes me hate him more.

Tourmond says to Jorah, "Your father hunted us like animals."

And Jorah's response? "You returned the favor, as I recall."

Well, Jorah. You treat people like animals and they will behave like animals.

I hate that Jorah said that because it's always been the typical response of a white person during any discussion about the invasion of America by the Spaniards.

Everytime we try to have a discussion about the genocide and invasion the Natives faced, some racist white person pops up with, "Well, the Native Americans weren't innocent! They slaughtered people too!"

The Native Americans were killing people who were invading their land, raping their women, and enslaving them. And yet, somehow, that makes them just as bad? If invaders weren't trying to colonize land that wasn't theirs in the first place, then their innocent little villages wouldn't have been wiped out.

Ollie's village wouldn't have been destroyed or his family killed if the wildlings hadn't pushed off their own land.

I do sympathize with Ollie. In fact, I think I'm just about the only fan of the show who does. I even have a post about him on this blog stating a few things in his defense.

But at the same time, you can't point a finger at the people you invaded and condemn them for trying to push you back out of their land.

If you invade someone's land, take their much neaded resources, and then force them to get by on practically nothing, then you better be prepared for those oppressed groups to lash back in anger and frustration.

To use another example, this time (lord help me, I can’t resist) a video game one, the human colonies in Mass Effect were being attacked in the first place because humans had invaded batarian planets and kicked the batarians off their own land. The batarians fought back, and humans tried to act like they were "the bad guys" for trying to take back what was theirs in the first place.

As someone who played a Mindoir Shepard, I feel like my Shepard hated what the batarians did to her colony and her family, but at the same time, she didn't foster some shitty racism toward them. She knew that they were individuals. So when Ashley -- a racist -- made the assumption that Shepard was out in space trying to get vengeance on batarians, my Shepard always answered, "Hmm? No. I just wanted to see space."

I loved playing a Shepard who did not become racist due to a few batarians trying to take back their land. Maybe she went through that phase as a child like Ollie, but eventually she grew up and realized that hating an entire group of people for the actions of a few was wrong. And what was more, the batarians position was justifiable.

When I played the dlc where you stop batarians attacking a colony, my Shepard lost her head for a moment, got caught up in memories of Mindoir, and took out her hatred on the batarians. She even told them they were terrorists when one called her a terrorist. For a split second, my Shepard became the racist, angry child that Mindoir made her and she lashed out at the batarians without sympathy, when they explained to her why they were attacking.  

I'm not saying the batarians were right to try destroying that human colony, but their anger and their reasons for resentment were not unfounded, and it's something my Shepard always tried to keep in mind -- even though she failed during that dlc because of PTSD and old memories of Mindoir.

The solution to the batarian conflict was not to slaughter all the batarians, but to arrest the ones attacking colonies. The next step would be to give the batarians their own planets again as reparations for the past. Because humans need to own up to their shit. Rather than just killing the people whose land they stole and crying about “evil” batarian invasions, they should be making amends.And my ME3, Shepard was totally in a position to make that happen.

God, it was great roleplaying Shepard.

Anyway. 

The point I'm trying to make is that white people who respond to the bitterness and resentment of the people they oppress like Jorah often show zero empathy or understanding toward those people, as if the people they stepped on had no right to be angry or lash out.

To anyone who has lived a life of marginalization, riots in the street are a logical conclusion to systemically denying an entire group of people what they need to survive.

Jorah embodies white racist ideology to a T. He embodies misogyny to a T. This is why I hate him, and I hope Tourmond fucking kills him.

But as I said, D&D love their racists, misogynistic Nice Guys, so they'll probably keep Jorah around until the very end. Unfortunately.

So now all these people who hate each other are going on this stupid quest beyond the wall to catch a wight.

Did I mention that this was stupid? Why the fuck does Tyrion think he can win over Cersi's help with proof of the undead? This is tremendously stupid.

If they would just let Dany take King's Landing instead of wringing their hands over her (”Oh no! Girl power! Me so scared!”), the fucking season would be over.

Kevin Cage of @spotlightsaga reviews... Rick and Morty (S03E02) Rickmancing The Stone Airdate: July 30, 2017 @adultswim Ratings: 2.859 Million :: 1.48 18-49 Demo Share Score: 8.5/10 @cartoonnetwork @danharmon TVTime/FB/Twitter/Tumblr/Path/Pinterest: @SpotlightSaga *********MINIMAL TO NO SPOILERS********* Change is fucking hard. When something as monumental as divorce goes down during your childhood, whether it be at a very young age to all the way through to your later teen years and even beyond, it's never an easy adjustment. While it's true that i don't have a father, biologically speaking (I do but he literally has NEVER contacted me - lines open, pussy, redemption is just a call away), I was lucky enough to see my mother stand by her husband, a man whose rightfully earned the title of 'Dad' in my life. Don't trip, I'm not getting mushy here, I know my cartoon audience! Parents fuck us up, then they nag, then they don't speak to you, then they smother you (sometimes with a pillow). It's a vicious cycle, really. Seeing my mother stand by a man who literally almost completely destroyed himself and nearly took everyone down the dark and treacherous rabbit hole of addiction with him was extremely confusing. I harbored feelings of anger and resentment at first, but after awhile he made spectacular & unexpected life changes for the better. Suddenly I realized he wasn't some shit sucking asshole, he was just human, something we're all guilty of in one way or another. People make mistakes, and they sometimes self-destruct for no reason at all, and most everyone's first 'Fight or Flight' reaction is to pack up your shit and fucking RUN. I'm so glad that my mother didn't do that, we have our differences, but my Dad is one of the few male role models I have, that actually taught me something real in this world and given things I can really use and apply to real life situations. Sometimes you have to step away from people for awhile, but if you really love them, you never give up. I'm not sure if 'Rick & Morty' is the best place to pull out my existential bucket of ooey-gooey fun, maybe sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't... That's the incredible thing about this series in general! Where a great toon like 'Mike Tyson Mysteries' is frankly all fun & games, 'Rick & Morty' is layered (like a fucking onion, y'all) and far more than just a slapstick cartoon for stoners. People are finding that not only is this series funny beyond all reason, it's also incredibly endearing and real. The series main character, chemical friendly & artist of intellect, Rick Sanchez (Justin Rowland), would never admit it, but underneath all the multi-dimensional murders and lowbrow side effects from his chemical hobbies is a regular, mad scientist type Grandpa with a big ol' heart. Don't get me wrong, Rick has every right to tell Jerry (Chris Parnell) to fuck off... The whole 'tiny planet' fiasco and selling Rick out just wasn't a good look, it was a pathetic disaster, a true low point, and it landed Jerry in a job where he's paid in pill supplements and is basically a cuckold to the invading alien race... Oh, and then there's that god-awful windbreaker. Most straight men have problems dressing themselves after a separation or divorce, but damn... Can't nobody tell Jerry 1992 has long since came and gone, even though I wish it hadn't!?! Beth (Sarah Chalke) and Jerry had already been on the outs for two seasons, so this whole divorce thing was a long time coming. As much as I hate Gary's new post-relationship windbreaker, I am so in love with this new, improved, 'no fucks given' Summer Smith (Spencer Grammer). I feel like the place that Summer is at in her life in this very moment is the exact same place I would be and the exact same something I would do if I had an evil/heartwarming genius Grandfather, like Rick, who could travel back in time & space and alternate dimensions... And spend extended time in another realm ala Turbo Kid (2015), Doomsday (2008), or Escape From New York (1981 - Prepare for more Post-Apocalyptic film references). Not all R&M fans are happy tho, but that's because the show is expanding and going deeper... We're seeing an important evolution of the show and like it or not, it's a road that's necessary for the series to take so that it may spread its wings, giving us something new every time. R&M isn't a show that just pops us often... It's sacred, there's nothing on tv like it. It's literally a revolutionary metamorphosis for the #animatedseries genre. It cannot keep giving you the same ol', same ol' and hitting that one note that caught our attention in the first place and still survive with integrity... There's so many goddamn different and unexpected notes that this show can and will hit, both in the near and distant future, that it's completely unfair to ask it to remain stagnant so that we can have our normal R&M laughs. Shit just doesn't work like that, bruh'. Morty is terrified of this new Summer... But I don't think it's purely 'genuine concern'. Sure, that's a part of it, but already in S3 we are seeing Summer kind of inch him out of his co-anchor or sidekick spot with his Grandad. It's never easy to share the attention and affection of the ones we love, especially when the 'one that's loved' in question can literally make the impossible completely and totally possible. Morty has his own shit he's dealing with though, hell even Rick is feeling the toxic effects of the biggest divorce ever broadcast on animated tv. Weird, but true. In 'Rickmancing The Stone', Morty, Summer, and Rick all head to a 'Mad Max', post apocalyptic, style universe where men wear buckets on their heads, killing is for sport, and ultimately a place where you have to fight for all the things you want, to the death... Basically the literal opposite of what Jerry is doing with Beth. It's all a fantastic juxtaposition of the very life back at their original 'Earth 1' that they are trying to escape from and it's incredible to see this 'Nihilistic Wasteland' through three different sets of eyes, each character gaining something different from the experience. Spotlight Saga's Cartoon Fans are incredibly strict when it comes to spoilers, so I'm not here to spoil the episode (Spoiler Free! Yayy). I know that there are many of you, outside of TVTime, that read these articles for the content and don't necessarily watch the show. I'd love to take you deeper on this one, but I simply can't. We can give you the rundown on the basic plot, but trust me, anything beyond that and Cartoon Purists will legit crucify all of us over here on a broken telephone pole. Besides, when we tell you that 'Rick & Morty' could possibly be the greatest American Animated Television Series of All Time... We fucking mean it. This isn't a show that you want to miss out on, so those that are avid readers (and yeah, we fucking love you for it), know that this is one of the special ones that you need to set your DVR, buy the season on #Vudu or wherever you can access it and give it a thorough once, twice, three or even more times over. I, myself, have personally watched this particular episode 4 times already, and it won't be the last. The series, as a whole, is still holding strong at #7 on #IMDB's user rated list of Top Rated TV Shows (of all time), holding a 9.3/10 with nearly 138,000 votes and counting. That's some seriously heavy shit for an Adult Swim cartoon to find itself smack dab in the middle of a comprehensive list of all the greats w/series like GOT, Breaking Bad, The Wire, and The Sopranos. It's seriously everything that everyone says it is and more. Really. Those that ARE watching and are a little taken aback by the show suddenly taking a new direction and tackling serious issues through brand new avenues, give it a chance. This show has done right by you so far, it's definitely not going to let you down. I rarely put my stamp on a series outside of praising a season, or certain episodes because you never know what kind of hard turn a show is going to take... But let me tell you... I believe in 'Rick & Morty', and wherever this fresh faced S3 is taking us, I want in on the fucked up, Science Fiction laced, blood soaked, LSD inspired shot storm of a road trip fully stocked with McDonald's Mulan Szchuan Sauce... ESPECIALLY since the show is clearly embracing a bit of #existentialism and stirring it up in its big bowl of psychedelic, 'what the fucks', never-ending, unpredictable journeys... All while continuing to turn old tropes into something that feels incredibly new and progressive. Wabba Lubba Dub Dub!