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#i love how her powers are shown here!! very neat
scarletwitchpanels · 2 years
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The Scarlet Witch in Civil War: House of M #4
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doomalade · 2 months
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Hazbin Episode 2 Review
As usual, here is the swear count:
Fuck - 25
Shit - 9
Bitch/ Hoe/ Whore/ Slut/ Bimbo - 12
Damn - 1
Ass - 1
Cock/Dick - 1
Porn/Sex - 1
Tits/Boobs - 0
Pussy/Vagina/ Cunt - 0
Piss - 2
Now onto spoilers under the break!
The Good:
We got a lot more Alastor this episode and I love him so much. Getting to see how he uses his dark magic, completely wiping the floor with Pentius and not even paying him the time of day to acknowledge him. Alastor’s cruel side coming out on display as he toys with Pentius before ultimately tossing him away like nothing. Really helped show that Alastor has that power like none other, like we saw in the pilot.
One thing I especially love about the scenes of Alastor and Pentius is how petty Alastor can get. How even the smallest rip of his suit coat got him so mad he let out a deer noise (which I think was a neat touch.)
This episode ultimately is just an introduction to the V’s but Alastor steals the spotlight. How you really can tell that he hates the V’s, and especially Vox.
Speaking of who had hypnotic powers (and so does Pentius seemingly) and it would be interesting to explore that more.
Ultimately you really get the sense that the V’s are the outcasts of the Overlords because they’re just total jerks all together, and not so much that they’re powerful like Alastor is. Also Status Quo had a good song transition both start and finish and is a pretty alright song.
Seeing how creepy Alastor got at the end was also a blessing.
Other than that?
I still love Nifty and how she got upset at Pentius trying to be a better person and also we got to see Fat Nuggets. So hurray!
Okay now onto
The Bad:
The overall pacing of this episode was kinda weird? Like it starts off with Pentius, then moves onto the V’s, and then back to Pentius and for the V introduction episode, it felt like that they didn’t get much screen time.
A few minutes on their own, Velvette barely getting any, Val being there only like 3 times, and Vox basically gets his butt kicked around by Alastor without much tension.
I really do wish that there was more of a power balance thing going on and I know that’s kinda weird to say given how Helluva arguably was pretty forward on the pecking order. Imagine three Overlords all having powers near equal to Alastor, that would raise the stakes as it leaves Charlie and Alastor basically being the two between the V’s and the destruction of the hotel.
Ultimately the V’s feel like Overlords only by title and not by actuality. The bark is there but no bite.
As for Pentius? Meh. His little story was alright I guess, but ultimately it more served as a way to start up Angel character development. I know I’ve thrown around the term “- is the Jaune Arc of this show” before and I want to explain that.
You know how James Gunn made Rocket the secret protagonist of the Guardian films? Take that idea and make it bad and add in a dash of misogyny if called for.
I am deeply afraid that Angel will be taking up more screen time than Charlie and will ultimately take over her spot as the protagonist. Which begs the question, why wasn’t Angel just made the protagonist up right?
Charlie is being woobified as is the case with most Viv characters, and now Angel’s focus is increasing. I got the same vibe from Fizz taking the protagonist role from Bitzø in Helluva.
Other than that? It becomes very apparent that this episode was written by Viv given the 25 fucks said during this episode, the most this far in the series. (Spoilers: E4 takes the cake for the most with 35.) Most of those fucks are spoken by Val’s brief first appearance before Status Quo. To call it excessive would be accurate.
Also let me not forget that I only count the spoken swears, and not the ones only shown. If I did, 25 would have become 30 in one frame during Vox’s news segment during the song.
Also during said segment, there is another Blitzø style drawing, which might only be irking me and no one else.
As for the song itself? I think the only downsides would be that Alastor singing about how older technology and ways of doing things are better than the new, uses terms such as “clout”, “podcast”, and “that’s the tea.”
Is this a nitpick? Sure. Does it only slightly exist out of the reasonability of Alastor’s character and how he acts and thinks? Sure. Does it still bother me like mad and make me point to it as a casual example of Viv not really knowing what she is doing with characters? Yes.
So ultimately this episode was like a 5/10. Idk, it exists I guess.
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lady-elora · 2 months
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I've finally finished it! It turned out to be a terrible longread, but I hope it was worth it. Sorry for possible mistakes: English is not my native language. And don't forget that everything below is just my personal opinion and nothing more.
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The status: "it's complicated", or a word in defense of Sylvie
So, the season 2 of the Marvel Studios sensational and popular series "Loki" has died down. It’s powerful finale probably didn’t leave anyone indifferent, even those people who aren’t an ardent Marvel fan. That's just, alas, not all viewers were satisfied with it, and it frankly disappointed representatives of a separate category of fans.
Yes, now I'm talking about sylki shipers who expected a beautiful happy ending in old Disney classic style with a kiss / wedding / going to the sunset, holding hands (underline needed) in the season finale but in the end got something completely different. Even, I might say, the something exact opposite.
And now we have as a result a disappointed "howl in the swamps" from the aforementioned shipers in almost all major social networks. Not from all of them surely (I personally know quite a few of them who were quite satisfied after the season finale although they remained some emotionally traumatized as well). However, the "howl" is nevertheless massive enough to draw my attention to it and to make me interested in it as a social phenomenon.
So I naturally wonder: what’s the reason for such diametrically opposite reactions of the same category of viewers? After all, in theory, both satisfied and dissatisfied viewers watched the same series with the same events, characters, actions and dialogues.
The answer, if you just think about it, is pretty obvious: it's about perception. Actually it’s about the emotional, mental and cultural "baggage" with which each of us, the audience, approaches the viewing. And also it’s certainly about the life experience that is absolutely unique for every person, completely different from one another and therefore often going against what the creators are trying to show us on the screen.
A simple familiar example: a person whose relationship with his/her "other half" has always been quite neat and smooth, without any significant difficulties and shocks will never understand a couple that literally has difficulties all the time, that comes together and breaks up for hundred times, that has two people who being ardently and sincerely in love stil can’t agree or even just understand each other. That classical proverbial "Full will never understand the hungry".
Returning to our sheep (very secretive, stubborn and impossibly similar sheep, I must say), the relationship between Loki and Sylvie in the series is a psychologically complicated as hell and unimaginably confusing thing which is directly influenced by both their early life psychotrauma and the impending Multiverse catastrophe.
Unfortunately not all the viewers are able or want to dig a little deeper than what lies on the surface and perceive the events of the series (in general) and season 2 (in particular) the way its creators intended.
Most of all claims are made by both "ordinary" fans and sylki-shipers against Sylvie and how she is shown in season 2. The most common of them are:
* she dared to live a calm and quiet life in the devil-knows-where-place instead of realizing her guilt and rushing headlong to search for Loki;
* she met Loki coldly and behaved the whole season like absolutely nothing had happened between them in the previous one;
* she doesn't seem to regret or suffer at all;
* she doesn’t look broken, lost or unhappy (and then they often put Mobius as an antipode example).
Maybe it's not the whole list of claims, but, again, I've shown here only the most common ones.
And do you know what's the saddest and yet the funniest thing? If we look at the purely series "picture", without any trying to look deeper, read the context, understand the psychological background of the words and actions of the characters, then all the above-mentioned claims even seem quite justified.
But let's not pick the easy way. Let's try to understand Sylvie's nature and motives to figure out what's really happening between Loki and Sylvie in season 2 and why the creators and actors of the series are so strongly bending the line of Loki and Sylvie’s "deep emotions for each other".
Let's go!
"Difficult childhood, paper toys"
I'm certainly sneering now a little, but let's take a moment away from Loki's heroic sacrifice in the season finale and the universal crying for him and go back to the past, to the distant past of Sylvie and Loki, to their very childhood.
What do we know about Loki? Firstly, his childhood was quite happy and relatively calm (the constant "background" envy of his brother and from-time-to-time-confrontation with him don't count though we all remember his turning into a snake and back and stabbing Thor with a dagger, isn't it?) He had a father, a mother, a brother... a family. In general, he had a normal childhood.
And what had Sylvie at the same time? N-o-t-h-i-n-g! Her world was cut. Her loved ones died when she was just a child about 11-23 years old by Midgard standards.
And now imagine that strange people in military uniforms come to a kind and sweet girl who dreams of becoming a hero (which is perfectly shown in the series from her games), roughly drag her out of her usual life to no one knows where and finaly destroy her entire world. Can you imagine how stressful it is even for an adult, not to mention a child?
And what about her future life? It's a natural hell! A nightmare lasting ror centuries, where you have no rest at any point in time / space, where you are constantly being chased, where you are forced to jump through the apocalypses just to hide and survive. And by the way you can easily die not even from hunters hands but banally from the consequences of on those apocalypses...
Has all of this left a giant imprint on Sylvie's personality? Absolutely yes! Something like that would have put that imprint on any of us.
In general, Sylvie should have a monument erected for the very fact that living in this nightmare she managed not to go insane and even (more or less) saved her humanity.
But during those dreadful centuries she had completely forgotten how to trust somebody… or she had even consciously cultivated her distrust to everyone in the world. And given her constant running and life in the apocalypses where people often show their worst qualities in the face of death, this distrust is more than justified.
So let's keep in mind her first psychological feature – Sylvie has had great trust problems for many centuries.
About emotional maturity and some parallels
And then Loki bursts into her "gray days", almost literally turning everything upside down.
Sylvie experiences a real affection, maybe for the first time in her bitter life. For the first time and more than ever she is acutely aware of her loneliness and she wonders: is it really necessary to be alone? Perhaps one person, a special one, can be trusted?
She lived in the apocalypses. She has never had and couldn’t have had a long-term relationships. Therefore she simply doesn’t know how to build them or, moreover, adequately maintain them.
In this regard, Loki is much more emotionally mature than her. Not even at times, but dozens of times. She is insanely afraid of relationships, trust, because trust is also about opening up to a person. And "opening up" for her is equivalent to "becoming vulnerable" that she had never been able to afford herself since her childhood.
And here I personally see a clear parallel with Sherlock and Molly from my favorite BBC show (which, by the way, also made a big noise 5 years ago). Sylvie is Sherlock: emotionally traumatized in childhood, denying feelings, considering them to be "weakness" and in many ways emotionally immature person. And Loki is Molly, who entirely understands and accepts her feelings, who doesn't run away from them and can live with them.
So let's also keep in mind her second psychological feature – due to her troubled past Sylvie isn’t yet emotionally mature enough. She still has to go this way and hopefully we’ll even see it in the future.
"Just turn around now. You're not welcome anymore"
After all at some moment Sylvie decided to trust Loki. But then (almost right after that) there comes their great confrontation in the Citadel. Loki's opinion is so diametrically opposed to her own that it amounts to the very certain betrayal in her emotionally immature perception.
Really! While half of the fandom is damning her for "betraying Loki," it seems like only a few people think about the fact that he betrayed her as well.
The whole tragedy of the situation is that both of them are right, and they are equally right, but each of them is right in their own way. Both Loki's words "But what's good in free will if everyone's dead?" and Sylvie's words "You'll just replace one nightmare with another" are the pure truth.
And since both of them are right, then there're two ways to assess the consequences of their duel from the outside: none of them betrayed each other or they both betrayed each other.
However, judging by their further behavior they both prefer considering the situation as a betrayal, and each of them judges who really betrayed the other speaking from their own tower. Anyway being more emotionally mature, Loki has understood and forgiven Sylvie almost immediately. But Sylvie hasn’t. And analyzing the things shown in 2x2, all these months she weren't even trying to understand his motives and forget her offense, but she also were rubbing salt in her wounds in every possible way.
By the way Kevin Wright (EP of the series) also confirms this:
"Everything that happens in the season, I think, is still a ripple effect from Sylvie feeling deeply wounded and saing like "why aren’t we seeing this the same way?"
So there's a clear Sylvie's resentment at Loki's behavior in the Citadel and disappointment at the total discrepancy between their viewpoints.
As for the feelings for him... that feelings haven't got away. They became just even more acute and painful 'cause of her resentment (and btw that's also perfectly shown in the series). And that’s why he’s really not welcome to her in 2x2.
"I've been chasing you for three days just to tell you how much I don't care!"*
There's quite a funny thing that begins right from the moment of our complicated couple reunion.
Almost right after meeting Loki Sylvie, who lived a quiet life, worked at the MD and didn't even think about hunting numerous Kang's variants, begins to literally follow him on the heels, appearing from time to time right where he appears.
What's the reason? Imao, it's quite obvious. More precisely, there are two of.
The reason 1: she has to make sure that her beloved idiot is OK.
Despite the fact that during the months of her "quiet life" Sylvie had been trying to convince herself in every possible way that this relationship was over, that after the Citadel a "rollback" to their former connection was no longer possible, she still didn't forget Loki. And the fact that his new reappearance in her life only opened up old wounds and destroyed all the walls she had so carefully erected, is very clearly read in her behavior at this meeting.
As a smart girl (for a stupid one just wouldn't survive in her conditions), she immediately realizes that, holly shit, she's still loving him so hard! – this, again, is perfectly shown on her face at the moment of their first meeting, when she hadn't yet had time to gather herself, to fence off resentment and to put on a "sharp mask". But, as a girl who's not only smart, but also too proud and mortally offended, she wants his apology for what happened in the Citadel. That resentment is read in all her behaviour, almost in every phrase when communicating with Loki in 2x2.
Well, what happens next only outlines that desire more clearly.
First, she goes after Loki and Mobius to fight those hunters going to cut timelines. Then she follows them through the time-door to TVA (although she could just return to her time-branch and get it all out of her mind).
Yes, according to Sophia Di Martino, at first she does all of that only to "make sure that her new friends and new home weren’t damaged and didn’t disappear". But the motives for her further constant being next to Loki can be tied to this explanation with a very big stretch.
Even at the first time, she leaves only after she's finally convinced of Loki's desire to protect the "totally rotten TVA", after her new surge of anger and splashing it out on Loki (who at that moment isn't up to her resentments at all).
Is she being somewhat selfish? Surely. But, as a deeply offended and emotionally immature person, she simply can't do otherwise. She doesn' know how. This is by no means an excuse! This is a statement of fact.
So Sylvie leaves practically "slamming" the time-door. And really why would she come back if her timeline with her new home and friends are safe and sound? She could just live her quiet life and be happy. But paradoxically she does exactly the opposite! She comes back anyway, over and over again (!), first using the hunt for the Kang variant as a kind of reason, and then – just like that, without any clear reasons at all. The reason offered by Loki firstly doesn't hold any water (well, OK, she couldn't kill Timely – so what?) and secondly isn't confirmed by Sylvie herself loud and clear (she just admits that yes, she couldn't kill Timely, and explains why she couldn't do that but not why she came back).
No, the reason is clearly not in Victor Timely but in the underlying caring for Loki, which is confirmed by Sophia's words btw:
"She doesn’t care about the TVA. I think she does care about Mobius and about Loki".
Now reason 2: a direct consequence of her continued resentment.
Sylvie literally craves Loki's apology for the Citadel events. In 3x3, she flung her demands almost right at his face.
And that’s where the main problem of this couple lies (a very typical problem for a relationship in general btw): she's waiting for an apology, while he's completely misunderstanding: a) the importance of it to her and b) for what, in fact, he has to apologize if they are both right?
But it's really vital for Sylvie to get his apology in order to close this protracted gestalt, to forgive Loki and to forget her offense. And he completely ignores this moment over and over again… which is also very typical for a man involved in an important case btw.
Maybe if Loki had instantly understood what she needed they could be able to avoid a lot of mistakes and we, the fans, would get a completely different, much warmer and more romantic story. But... Now we have what we have. Moreover, this storyline is more than psychologically true.
And there can be the one clear conclusion from all said above: Sylvie feels anything but indifference towards Loki.
PTSD as it is
And here’s another point directly related to Sylvie's childhood. I’ve already spoke about it a little above, but now let’s look at it in more detail.
Have you noticed how painfully Sylvie still reacts to the death of timelines – especially when it’s caused by TVA?
It would seem that she and Loki are in the same conditions in the season 2: both have their homeworld cut, both, in fact, have nowhere to return. But unlike Sylvie, Loki accepted it, got over it and now is ready to move on without destructive anger.
Does he care about the demise of timelines? Surelly! Do gloomy thoughts and emotions prevent him from thinking clear? NO!
Why? Because, unlike Sylvie, he got over his trauma, he worked it out, but she was completely stuck in her PTSD, which her massive crisis of trust made only stronger.
Sylvie from the beginning of season 2 is Loki from the first "Thor": a deeply emotionally traumatized person who needs a lot more rethinking before he can work through this trauma.
She still fears and hates TVA and doesn’t trust any of its people. And when Loki suggests her to protect TVA, she naturally takes it almost as a personal insult.
And this is absolutely real, authentic and normal!
Just walk for a minute in her shoes. Imagine how you would react if you were asked to defend what you fear and hate? So, well?.. That’s better!
Time DOES matter
Also, let’s not forget about one more important detail. Since Loki and Sylvie were separated after the Citadel events, there has been a great time de-synchronization between them. I think only a few days (if not hours) passed for Loki between the events of 1x6 and 2x2. And Sylvie lived in her chosen timeline for 8 (!!!) months.
During that time she managed to organize a simple as 5 cents, but still a quiet life. A life without the eternal chasing. A life without destruction and death around. A life where she could have a very limited maybe though still a constant circle of communication.
Did she miss Loki after the Citadel events? Of course! Why? Just watch carefully the final 2x2 scene and most importantly – listen to the song playing in the background (Janis Joplin – Kozmic Blues). And all the doubts will disappear immediately.
And one another thing. Judging by the fact that she’s a frequent customer of the record store who chooses (by herself or with the help of a seller) music records of a certain genre and style, her longing for Loki didn’t appear right after a new meeting with him but long before that. Probably right after the Citadel.
Yes, she was offended, angry, convinced herself that she didn't want to see him anymore, but... she missed him anyway. And the time passed, gradually creating a habit.
In those 8 months Sylvie managed to get attached to her calm and simple life and began to appreciate it. And when Loki reappears on the horizon again, one of the many reasons for her unwarm welcome is just the desire to protect her cozy little world, not to let her quiet, peaceful life be taken away.
If Loki had coming a little earlier, before her habit forming, perhaps their meeting would be very different.
"I wanna be your number one"
And now we’re coming to almost the most important thing about their relationships in season 2 – to the thing that I personally suspected from the very beginning of their meeting after the Citadel events, but that was actually confirmed only in 2x5.
It turns out that all these long 8 months of her quiet life Sylvie had been sincerely believing that she was only on the second place on Loki's personal priorities list(!) and on the first place he had the TVA. And this is another reason why she gets angry, snaps, draws an invisible line between them by her whole appearance and behavior right from the very beginning of their reunion in 2x2.
She wants only two things from Loki – an apology for the Citadel fight and a confession that he came here for her. Just for her alone. But in the end, she gets something completely different – we might even say the diametrically opposite. And this only stings her pride more, only inflames her resentment more, generates even greater distrust... that causes many subsequent events in the future.
What's interesting is that Loki tells her the truth every time. (Quite a paradox for the God of Mischief, isn't it?) But at this very moment of her life, Sylvie doesn't need this kind of truth. She needs something completely different, which she doesn't get over and over again. And finally being tired of waiting she even hints about it quite openly in 2x3 and 2x4.
That's why their evening meeting at McDonald's in 2x5 is so significant. And btw that meeting is – a drum roll! – an alternative version of their reunion after the Citadel events, according to Sophia.
First and important: unlike the 2x2 reunion, this one is much more peaceful. Sylvie perceives Loki's appearance much more friendly. She practically doesn’t get angry, doesn’t "show her claws", but listens patiently and even takes him for a drink.
What’s the reason of such a dramatic change in behavior? I think that’s because of Loki’s coming on time and alone. Therefore there was a chance for them to explain the things for each other properly.
This time, Sylvie’s not at work and she has some free hours. This time there’re no others next to Loki (some annoying others like that guy in the TVA prison uniform, and we remember: everything about the TVA still angers and scares Sylvie). This time they can talk in private without attracting unnecessary curious glances.
And they really talk, at first quite calmly and peacefully, but then again (!) the conversation turns completely away from where Sylvie expects.
The whole bar dialogue from her side is built in such a way as to find out clearly and ultimately: what Loki is fighting for. Rather, in her interpretation, the question sounds like this: Who is at the top of his personal chart?
And if Loki had said at that moment that first of all he wanted to save the world for her – that would be enough! The ice between them would have cracked completely and absolutely. If he had admitted directly and openly that Sylvie was, is and always will be the first for him, then lots of things would have turned out very differently.
However, though Loki is speaking honestly at that moment, but he's telling not what she wants to hear at all. She asks him what does he want and in his response he puts not her, but his friends – i.e. TVA – on the first place again. In such a case there’s no even matter that Sylvie is still hates the TVA. She wants to be his number one. This is of huge importance to her.
Well, we remember: Sylvie is only at the very beginning of her emotional maturity journey. And since she’s also a Loki, she has typical movie-Loki flaws which are some kind of selfishness and morbid vanity.
Sylvie doesn't want to be the second fiddle. She wants to be the first or the nobody for him.
Here, by the way, Sophia’s quote about the bar scene:
"Well, I think because she had to meet up with Loki and tell him to go and find himself and figure out his purpose, that whole bar scene is about her trying to help him figure out what he wants. And I think it’s just big seeing someone again – that brings up so many emotions, doesn’t it? – after such a long time. So she’s probably had a s**t day because of that".
Indeed, when you’re forced to meet your ex, it often causes a lot of emotions. But in most cases they’re anger, sadness and regret. Does Sylvie express anger during the bar talking to Loki? Absolutely not. Does she express sadness and regret? Oh, yes!
Why? Because despite everything she's convinced herself of, Sylvie still loves Loki and has hope for them. But again she was forced to say and hear something completely different from what she wanted. If she had really enchanted him and looked into his heart in 2x2, she would have seen the truth at once. But she just doesn't want it in 2x2, and he no longer offers it to her in 2x5.
As a result, she remains in the dark. And that’s why, at the end of their difficult bar conversation, Sylvie, being deeply offended and disappointed (once again!), with the eyes full of tears, tells Loki that they need "to write their own (i.e. separate from each other) stories" and then she leaves... to that record store where she completely drowns in melancholy.
Here I should put another Sophia’s quote about Sylvie's feelings at that moment:
"...it’s that feeling when you listen to a beautiful song and you just cry, but it sort of feels nice".
Now think about how often do you cry when listening to even a very beautiful, lyrical and soul-touching son? And in general, will you cry when you’re in a glad, joyful and/or peaceful state?
I think a lot of people will agree that a song or music makes us cry only when it’s in tune with our current mood, when it touches certain painful strings of our soul, when it reminds us of something from our bitter experience.
Yeah, there are, of course, deeply sentimental people who can be touched by any little thing. But Sylvie is definitely not one of them. Otherwise, she would have behaved and talked to Loki in a completely different way.
And here we come back to the issue of Sylvie's indifference. Think about it: if she really didn't care about Loki, would she "heal her mental wounds" this way? And would they even be – these wounds?
But nothing ever real
Actually Loki and Sylvie have two main problems in the season 2: 1st) an acute lack of time and 2nd) a total misunderstanding of each other. And the main reason for their misunderstanding is the lack of experience of real relationships for both.
Yes, as we know from their train conversation in 1x3, they both had some love affairs before. But the true feeling of love and care came over them only for each other. With all the consequences.
At the time of season 2, they’re both still learning how to build relationships and work on them. And if they had more time, they would certainly have learnt this.
But unfortunately a cruel fate in the face of the show creators decided otherwise.
Breaking the ice
So Sylvie comes to season 2 with all these inner mess. And it’s manifested by sharpness, coldness, anger.
However being next to Loki, she seems to slowly thaw and becomes softer. And at the moment of their final "farewell", where Loki reviels her the price they have to pay to save the Multiverse, she’s no longer angry, she’s not trying to stop him. Instead she demonstrates full acceptance of the situation and the pain that Loki got such a hard lot.
We can see the tears in her eyes. Her pride, resentment, stubbornness – that all disappears before the coming catastrophe. She finally realizes it’s inevitability and (please, mind it now!) she doesn’t even try to stop or dissuade Loki in any way. She only says that she’ll not bless him to kill her.
Once again: she’s not resisting at that moment! Sylvie – is – not – resisting! Not at all! Surely, deep inside she knows, she feels that Loki won't do it, he’ll be able to find another way. Btw, Sophia also talks about it in the interview I shared a link above, about their hidden unspoken rule – not to kill each other.
However, the very fact that Loki was faced with such a choice causes Sylvie great pain.
"I need to get out there!"
And then comes the epic finale. The moment of truth. Loki makes his difficult choice and goes down the stairs to the door leading to the Temporary Loom.
At the same moment – mind it too, please! – the others are just staying and it seems like they aren’t even noticing what’s going on. It’s only Sylvie who Immediately realizes what Loki is up to, and who first rushes for him with an expression of not just concern, but almost panic on her face. And only then Mobius goes as well.
Sylvie tries to break through the door (with a very expressive exclaim btw: "No! No, Loki!"), but she just can’t open it. And then she rushes upstairs, turning to O.B.: "I need to get out there!" Unfortunately even such a technical genius as O.B. can’t open that damned door. I guess Loki, who had become a great tech-savy during those centuries, blocked it really good.
"I need to get out there!" That one phrase shatters down all the claims of some viewers to Sylvie's feelings and behavior at that moment.
She didn’t just "stay and stare" as Loki actually sacrificed himself. She was ready and she wanted to follow him. It was him who didn’t allow that.
"Soft gets you killed"
And so the die is cast. The sacrifice has been made. The Multiverse has been saved, and all the show characters have to find their place in it again.
And then we got a lot of viewers (especially among the sylki-shipers) who ‘came really outraged by Sylvie's "too happy" smile in the end of her final conversation with Mobius. Like while he stands being completely broken and lost, she squints in the sun and smiles "carelessly".
And for unknown reason, no one... well, almost no one comes to mind that this scene is mirroring the dialogue between Loki and Mobius from 1x4, when Loki is informed that Sylvie has been cut.
Remember: what does he do after hearing that? A few seconds of a complete embarrassment and then he leans back in his chair and smiles, trying his best to hide the pain. But his eyes and the crack in his voice are instantly catching him red-handed.
It's exactly the same story with Sylvie in the finale. She smiles and "flippantly" shrugs her shoulders after Mobius' question of where she's going to go now. But just a minute earlier, she says: "It's weird without Loki here, isn't it?" with exactly the same voice crack, and tears are shining in her eyes exactly the same way.
Sylvie has been used to hiding pain since her childhood. Softness is a weakness for her. And she can only show her weakness and vulnerability to one being in the Multiverse. And it's definitely not Mobius.
P.S. A few words about Sophia
In conclusion, I want to add a few thoughts not just about Sylvie, but about the series as a whole, and a little about the fandom.
If you've read the full Sophia's interview I put the links above you must have noticed how carefully and as if with constant caution she speaks about her character's relationship with Loki. Unlike the screenwriter and EP, who openly talk about deep feelings Loki and Sylvie are having to each other, she prefers to call what's happening between them not "love", but "quite strong trust" (which btw significantly contradicts the behavior of Sylvie herself in the series). And although sometimes the idea that Sylvie "definitely won't let things just go" breaks through in her interviews it's like she always tries to soften her answers to the overwhelming number of questions about Sylvie and Loki relationship.
Many fans of the couple may be upset by this, but if you think about the root cause of such caution, there'll be no reason for such an offence.
And the root cause is just the fans themselves, the fandom, the violently negative reaction of a certain fandom part to the character and to her romantic line with Loki.
Remember the storm made by the fans of that fandom part (we all know what is that part, isn't it?) at the end of season 1. Remember those tons of negativity poured out not only on the character itself, but also on the actress who played this character! Because of this negativity, Sophia was eventually forced to close comments on her Instagram profile. And since then, she has become much more careful about speaking out something about the series in the interviews.
However, despite all of that, she still allows herself to be a little frank on Instagram sometimes. As a huge fan of Sophia, Sylvie and the series in general, I strongly advise not to ignore that fact.
If you doubt that Sylvie's feelings for Loki are true, just go to Sophia's Instagram profile and look at some of her stories and posts. Her playlist "Sylvie Mix Tape" on Spotify alone says ten times more than all her interviews.
P.P.S. UST and fans' interest
In the end of this huge meta, I want to add a few words about the good old UST (Unsolved Sexual Tension).
There's a wonderful phrase in one of my favorite sci-fi writers novels: "Always happy character isn't interesting." Indeed, the hero, whose life is a continuous Carnival and who literally reaches everything easily, ceases to seem real very soon, causes readers' boredom and even begins to annoy at some point.
It's really interesting and exciting to follow the hero who's overcoming difficulties – physical, psychological, romantic – no matter. And the more difficult the task, the higher the stakes and the more desperate the struggle, the stronger the reader's or viewer's interest is.
The same goes for romantic relationships between characters in a book or movie. I.e., paraphrasing my favorite sci-fi writer's quote: "Always happy relationships aren't interesting."
Yes, our fan hearts are certainly warmed by "happily ever after" for the beloved characters. But let's be honest with ourselves: how long will our interest and empathy for our beloved couple last, if everything settles down and everything goes well, if there're no more difficulties and struggles in their lives and relationships, if that notorious UST (the sexual tension that hasn't found a way out) disappears (you know, that thing when between the characters everything literally sparks and blazes, but at the same time they stubbornly don't admit their feelings either to themselves or to each other)?
Something tells me it won't be for long.
And as a quite vivid (even, I might say, a classic) example of UST, I can cite the relationship between Mulder and Scully from another sensational series – "The X-Files". The twists and turns of their relationships, shown by hints and semitones, were incredibly interesting and even hot to watch ... exactly until season 7, where their UST was finally resolved – clearly and unambiguously.
Another classic example of UST is the relationships between Sherlock and Molly from the BBC series "Sherlock". But in the case of this couple, the show creators acted more competently. The sexual tension between them remained unresolved in the finale. The audience was given only a hint, thereby leaving both interest and space for imagination.
Exactly the same (and maybe fortunately) happens to Loki and Sylvie. Their story is not over yet, as both the show EP, the screenwriter and the actors say in one voice. Here and there, insides pop up that Marvel still has plans for these characters.
Would it be interesting to follow the new adventures of Loki and Sylvie if they were an established couple? Maybe. But something tells me that it's not nearly as interesting as it is now, when they are apart again, and their "sexual tension" hasn't been solved.
This is what the Marvel leadership has been playing, is playing and will continue playing on. And UST has always been, is and will be, perhaps not the main, but a very significant thing to drive the plot.
Well, that's all for now. Thanks for your attention! And if all written above hasn't shed at least a drop of balm on your soul wounds made by season 2, remember: there's no such a finale that couldn't be fixed by a good fanfiction. ;)
* My favorite quote from "An Ordinary Miracle" by Eugeny Shwartz.
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all-the-things-2020 · 10 months
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Year of Fandom Crossovers: April/May
Title: “Kindred Spirits”
Pedro Character: Joel Miller
Fandom Crossover: Anne of Green Gables
Warnings: mentions of death of loved ones, mild peril
Notes: Ellie is an orphan; Anne Shirley is an orphan. Joel is a reluctant guardian; Marilla Cuthbert is a reluctant guardian. I incorporated a few plots/character notes from TLOU.
Word count: 11,000+
@yearofcreation2023
Ellie Williams was an orphan. She had been told this every day of her fourteen years. It was justification for every bit of mistreatment she’d been subjected to, for every day of work that had been demanded of her. She was an orphan and should be grateful for any scrap of kindness shown to her. And now she was walking behind Marlena, the impatient house mistress of the orphanage, as they made their way from the train station into the farmland outside the village of Meadowlea.
“Is it much farther?”
Marlena kept walking, not slowing her brisk pace by one iota. “How should I know? I’ve never been here before in my life. And could have kept it that way if not for you, young miss.”
Marlena had been orphaned at age twelve, and gone to live at the orphanage herself. At the age of sixteen, she had transitioned from inmate to maid servant and now, as she approached a grim middle age, was the undisputed power over every girl in the building. Normally, she left such small tasks as delivering orphans to her underlings, but this was a special case. 
Ellie kept her lips firmly pressed together, to prevent another question from slipping out of them. She knew she talked too much, too often, and too hastily, but she was just so curious about the world, and how was she to learn everything there was to know if she didn’t ask questions? One of the largest looming in her mind was one that she knew Marlena would not answer: Why was she in Meadowlea and not on a train to the prairie provinces like the other children?
Soon the road climbed a low hill and before them was a view that took Ellie’s breath away. A neat white farmhouse with a gray roof stood in the middle distance. In the foreground, a field of wildflowers gone to seed and in the background, the ocean. She had always longed to live within sight and sound and smell of the sea.
“Oh, Marlena, is this the Miller farm? It’s simply beautiful.”
Marlena sniffed. “I suppose it is. The farm, I mean. It’s no more beautiful than any other humble building in this village.” She had lived in a fine house in the city when she was a child, everyone said, and the orphanage had been a great comedown for her. But it was all Ellie had ever known, and the farm before her was a paradise compared to the dingy walls and paving stones that surrounded her at the orphanage.
They walked down the hill and through a charming white picket gate, then up a carefully tended path of flagstones to the porch. Marlena rapped firmly on the doorframe with her gloved hand.
“I told you, I am not inclined to join you for supper at your blasted church —“ The door was opened by a man, who immediately realized they were not whomever he had been expecting. “I beg your pardon, ma’am,” he said quickly. “I thought you were … well, it don’t matter who I thought you were. How can I help you?”
“Mr. Joel Miller?” 
He narrowed his brown eyes. “Yes. And who are you?” His face was gruff and stern, with a neatly trimmed but patchy beard. Ellie liked him immediately, even though he didn’t seem very friendly.
“I am Miss Marlena Johnston, of the Charlottetown Orphanage.”
“I am not in the habit of donating to charities,” Mr. Miller said sharply. 
“I am not here to solicit a donation,” Marlena said, just as sharply. “I am here to deliver Eleanor.”
Ellie smiled and gave a small wave of her hand, just in case he wasn’t clear that she was the Eleanor in question.
“Deliver? Her? There must be some mistake.” Mr. Miller started to close the door, but Marlena inserted her neatly booted foot and kept it open.
“Your brother is Mr. Thomas Miller? He and his wife sent for a girl, but the letter was delayed in the mail.”
“Thomas and Maria are in Saskatchewan,” Mr. Miller said. “Put her on the train.”
“We would have,” Marlena said, “but the agents in Regina have reported that the Millers have been obliged to move from their established farm and requested that the child be sent to you until they have settled in a new place.”
Ellie was somewhat satisfied by this explanation. She had been a bit disappointed not to be going to the wide open prairies like the rest of the children, but this was simply a delay. She would stay here in Meadowlea for a few months and then be sent on to her new home in the spring, most likely. There were miles and miles of wildflowers on the prairie in the springtime, she had heard. 
“I know nothing about this,” Mr. Miller said. “Take her back to the orphanage.”
“That I cannot do,” Marlena said with a sniff. “Here is a letter from the director of the orphanage, Mr. Trumbull, stating that the girl is no longer the responsibility of the provincial government. Your brother signed the paperwork in Regina and we are simply following his directions. As his next of kin, she is your responsibility now. You can take the matter up with your brother.” She turned to Ellie. “Eleanor, remember to behave yourself properly while you are here. Obey Mr. Miller and show him and the inhabitants of Meadowlea that we raise decent, hardworking children at our orphanage.”
Ellie nodded. “Yes, Ma’am,” she said. Marlena always liked being called Ma’am, or Miss Johnston, even though most of the children followed the lead of Mr. Trumbull and the other officials in calling her by her given name. 
“Now, I must be going if I am to catch the train back to Charlottetown,” Marlena said. “Good day.” She turned neatly on her heel and strode off, leaving Ellie on the porch with her carpetbag at her feet and Mr. Miller standing gobstruck in the doorway with Mr. Trumbull’s letter in his hand.
“You wait here,” he said, shutting the door in her face. Ellie shuffled her feet, wondering if it would be acceptable to sit on the bench or if she was expected to remain standing. After a minute of deliberation, she decided that no one could possibly be harmed or offended by her taking a seat, and she settled onto the bench, where she had a nice view of the rose and lilac bushes that nestled close to the porch. It would smell so lovely in the summer, but she wouldn’t be here that long. By summer, she would be surrounded by the wild roses of the prairie.
The door opened. “Come inside.”
Ellie jumped up, picked up her bag and stepped into the house. It was a typical farmhouse, plain and clean, with sturdy furniture and no nonsense. Mr. Miller stood over her, the letter in his hand.
“It seems as though I haven’t much choice in the matter,” he said simply. “At least until I contact my brother and set things straight. You’ll stay here until I get things figured out.”
“Thank you, Mr. Miller,” Ellie said. “I promise I won’t be a bother. I can help out in the house or even on the farm. I’m strong and I’m not afraid of getting dirty, like some girls are.” She thought of some of her fellow orphans, who wrinkled their noses at the amount of dust that collected on her shoes and skirt hems. Ellie was always down on the ground, playing marbles with the boys, or examining a flower or curious rock in the school yard. 
“You can cook and clean, I suppose?” Mr. Miller asked. 
“Well … yes,” Ellie replied. “All of us girls were taught the domestic arts, as Marlena calls them, but I can do other things as well.”
“Cooking and cleaning the house will be enough,” he said. “I lease my fields to a neighbor. I’m not a farmer; I’m a woodworker. I have a horse and a few chickens and a kitchen garden, but that’s all. I can take care of all of that myself. Have for years.”
Ellie squashed down her disappointment. “I’ll do my best, Mr. Miller. But maybe I can help in the garden a little, or collect the eggs?” 
“Maybe,” he said. “Go on upstairs and put your things away. The guest bedroom is on the right when you reach the top. Don’t go in my room, or up the stairs to the garret. Then come down and we’ll get you started in the kitchen.”
The guest room was nowhere near as grand as its name implied. It was simply a bedroom, the furniture covered in sheets and everything else with a coating of dust. Ellie sneezed almost immediately. She would have to clean the room top to bottom before she could sleep comfortably, but at least she would have it to herself. 
She hung her spare dress in the wardrobe and laid her underthings and stockings in the dresser drawer. Before she went back down, she peeped out the window. There was a maple tree outside, its leaves vibrant against the blue sky, and through its branches she could glimpse the waves rolling against the shore. It wasn’t the endless vista of the prairie she’d been dreaming of, but it was a very satisfying view nonetheless.
She found Mr. Miller in the kitchen, sitting at the table fiddling with a piece of wood. There were shavings and sawdust everywhere. “Don’t mind me,” he said without looking up from his work. “There’s an apron on the back of the pantry door.”
Ellie paused to look at his tools. Chisels, knives and other things she didn’t recognize were laid tantalizingly out on the table. Her fingers itched to pick them up and figure out their use.
“Dishes need washing,” Mr. Miller said as he laid down one knife and picked up another.
“Oh, yes, of course, sir,” Ellie said. It was always this way. Every time she found something new and exciting to pique her interest, she was sent off to wash dishes or mend clothes or scrub floors. Women’s work was just as hard as men’s work and nowhere near as satisfying.
After the dishes were washed and dried, Ellie started on supper. Mr. Miller continued his work, the kitchen filling up with the competing odors of freshly carved wood and boiling potatoes. When the food was ready, he covered the dusty table with a stained table cloth.
Ellie was not the neatest person in the world, but even she frowned at the state of the cloth. “When was the last time you washed this?,” she asked as she laid out their plates.
“Couple of weeks ago,” he said. “It’s just to keep the sawdust out of the food and the food off the table. It doesn’t have to be pretty.”
Ellie shook her head. “It doesn’t have to be pretty, but it should be clean.” She looked down at her apron, which was also in a bit of a state. “I’ll do some washing tomorrow.”
“You‘ll go to school tomorrow,” Mr. Miller said. “You aren’t a servant. You can do the laundry on Saturday. I always do it on Saturday.”
They ate in silence for a few minutes. “If I’m not a servant, what am I?” Ellie asked when she could keep her curiosity in check no longer. 
“You’re my brother’s … I’m not sure what the legal term is. Ward, maybe?”
“Is that like a daughter? We always talked about getting adopted and being someone’s son or daughter again.”
“It’s not like that,” Mr. Miller said gruffly. “Not sure exactly what Tommy signed. Maybe they did adopt you, maybe you’re just their responsibility now instead of the orphanage’s. Anyway, you’re not just a maid or a housekeeper or whatever you want to call it. You’re a child and children go to school. Now eat up.”
**************************************************************
Joel stared at the ceiling in his bedroom. As a young man, he had slept like a stone, but after too much loss, he now found the nighttime hours no longer friendly. He silently cursed Tommy for making a mess of things again, and forcing him to take a child — a girl! — into his home. And not just a girl, one nearly the same age as his dear Sarah had been when she was taken from him. Not that Eleanor had much in common with Sarah. She was rough around the edges where Sarah had always been neat as a pin, quiet and biddable but still full of laughter and joy. She had been his pearl, the delight of his life, a sweet reminder of her mother, who had departed this life bringing her into it.
He rolled onto his side. This Eleanor was like a burr under his saddle; a minor inconvenience at the moment, but one that could fester into something much worse if he didn’t take steps right now. He would send her to school, and set her to work in the house, while he spent his time in his workshop. They would take their morning and evening meals together but otherwise live in separate spheres until he heard from Tommy and could send the girl west. She’d do well out there. Hard work and fresh air would be good for her. And he could go back to his solitary lot.
*********************************************************************
Ellie was not fond of school. She would much rather be outside, especially on a crisp autumn day. She enjoyed books, if they were of her own choosing, but preferred to read them perched in a tree or tucked away in a corner by herself, not at a desk in a stuffy classroom. Still, she found the Meadowlea school a fountain of information, in the form of her seatmate, Lydia Davenport.
Lydia was thrilled to have a new friend, and delighted to share all the Meadowlea gossip with Ellie, who found the girl a bit much, but was grateful for a warm welcome. It was from Lydia that she learned the “tragical” history of Joel Miller.
“Mr. Miller was married young to his sweetheart,” Lydia told her during morning recess. “And they had only been married a little over a year when she perished in childbirth.” Lydia sighed deeply. “It was simply tragical, my mother says. But the baby survived and Mr. Joel Miller doted on her. Her name was Sarah and he and his brother Thomas raised her up as best they could. Everyone says she was a beautiful little girl, happy and bright.”
Lydia leaned closer. “Then, when she was about our age, Sarah was killed in a horrific accident. Knocked down and trampled by panicked horses when a soldier accidentally fired his weapon during a parade. Mr. Miller was inconsolable.”
Now Lydia whispered. “He stopped going to church and started buying … whiskey.” She paused, only continuing the story after Ellie had feigned shock, although she didn’t see what was so horribly wrong with a man having a drink now and then. The director of the orphanage had kept a decanter of brandy in his office, and quite a few of the older children had snuck a sip on a dare. “Well, Thomas put up with it for a few years, but then he got fed up and went west. And ever since, Mr. Joel Miller has been alone on his farm.”
The school bell rang and the pupils filed back inside, but Ellie could not keep her mind on arithmetic. She kept thinking about Lydia’s story. It was no sadder than her own life story but it certainly explained why Mr. Miller was so gruff, and that rather interesting comment about not wanting to attend the “blasted” church. On the whole, it made Ellie like him even more. She had never liked sitting quietly through the sermons on Sunday mornings, and she understood the welter of emotions that losing one’s family could awaken. She had felt her fair share of sorrow and anger and despair and hard hearted denial. 
After school, she fixed supper and rang the bell by the back door to summon Mr. Miller from his workshop in the barn. He came inside, stomping the sawdust off his boots on the doorstep and washing his hands and face at the kitchen sink. He nodded at her as he took his seat and began to eat.
“School was nice,” she ventured after a few minutes of silence.
“Good,” he said. “Behave yourself and listen to your teacher.”
“I even made a friend already,” she continued. “Her name is Lydia Davenport and she sits next to me.”
Mr. Miller sighed. “The Davenports are gossips,” he said. “Don’t listen to her foolery.” He finished his food quickly, scraped his plate into the waste bin and dropped it into the sink. “You’re a decent cook,” he said grudgingly, “but a little too much salt.” 
He went upstairs, leaving Ellie to clean up and begin her homework. The kitchens was cozy, but she felt very alone. At the orphanage, she’d often longed for privacy but now that she had it, she found it was one of those things that is best in moderation. 
***********************************************************************
The rest of the week was uneventful and when Saturday arrived, Ellie was briefly glad of the day off school until she remembered it was laundry day. Still, it was better than sitting in the schoolhouse doing mathematics and reading about the major imports and exports of Brazil. Best of all, Mr. Miller helped with filling the washtub.
“Water’s heavy,” he said when she tried to thank him. “I’m stronger than you.” Then he shrugged and went back to his workshop. 
Ellie was intrigued by the sounds that came from the barn while she scrubbed and wrung out the clothes and pinned them on the line. Sawing and hammering and scraping, punctuated by assorted clatters and curses when he dropped something, kept her mind alert while she attended to her work. By evening, the barn was silent, and she had a basket full of clean, fresh smelling clothes. More importantly, there was a snowy white cloth to lay on the table at supper time.
She laid out the plates and silverware carefully, and even found a cracked pitcher to hold a bunch of pretty branches she’d snipped from the garden. It wasn’t flowers but it looked nice. When Mr. Miller came inside, he barely nodded at her effort. “Food’s good,” he said after a few bites. 
Ellie tried to hold her tongue, but in the end it was impossible. “I scrubbed this tablecloth three times to get out all the stains and managed to get all the rest of the washing done and folded and cooked supper, and all I get is two words? I’m sorry, Mr. Miller, if my efforts aren’t worth anything to you.”
He looked up from his plate, seeming to see the table for the first time. “Sorry,” he said. “I’m not used to having company. Forgot my manners. The table looks very nice, Eleanor.”
“Ellie,” she said firmly. “I prefer Ellie.”
He nodded. “And you can call me Joel. Mr. Miller was my father.”
“I’m not sure that would be proper, Mr. Miller,” Ellie said. The orphans had been taught to always be polite with adults, who held such power over them.
“If Tommy and his wife adopted you, that makes me your uncle, of a sort, and no child I ever knew called their uncle by their surname,” he said. 
“Uncle Joel, then.”
He shook his head. “Just Joel is fine. It’s my name. Now eat up, before your supper gets cold.” He lifted his fork, but paused before it reached his mouth. “I’ll do the dishes tonight, since you worked so hard all day.”
“Thank you … Joel.”
“You’re welcome, Ellie.”
***************************************************************************
Ellie was awakened the next morning by an argument in the yard. She peered out her window and was just able to make out a buggy at the gate and Joel standing with hands on his hips.
“I just wanted to offer the girl a ride to church, Mr. Miller.” The voice was loud but calm.
“If I wanted her going to church, I’d take her myself,” Joel shouted. 
“I’m sure your brother and his wife would be disappointed at your actions.”
“If they are, they can take it up with me. On your way, Mr. Davenport.” There was a steeliness to Joel’s voice that both frightened and comforted Ellie. She would not like to be on the receiving end of that voice, but having it defend her felt good. 
When she came downstairs, she found Joel in the kitchen, making coffee. He drank quite a bit of it, and made it very strong. Ellie had snuck a taste one morning, and promptly sworn to only drink tea for the rest of her life. 
“It’s Sunday,” he said. “I don’t go to church, and I don’t expect you to, either. If you’re so inclined, there’s a Bible in the parlor somewhere. You can read it if you like. Or do whatever you want. You’ve been in school all week, and worked hard yesterday. You’ve earned a day of rest.”
“What about you?” She set about slicing bread for toast. “Do you take a day of rest?”
“No,” Joel said. “No reason. Got to keep myself busy.”
“Would it be all right if I helped you in the workshop?”
“It’s no place for a girl. Too dangerous. But you can watch, if you keep your distance.”
***************************************************************
Sarah had always given his workshop a wide berth. She had loved the things he made for her, and was proud of his workmanship, but had no interest in the process by which he took raw lumber and transformed it into things of use and beauty. Ellie, on the other hand, had a million questions, asking about every tool, every technique. He had expected her to watch politely from a few feet away for a bit, get bored, and go off to read or whatever it was girls did, not creep slowly closer and closer, watching intently and smiling with delight when he fit two joints snugly together or sanded a corner to a satin finish.
“Back up,” he finally had to tell her when she threatened to get in his way. 
“But I can’t see what you’re doing,” she replied, although she did take a step back.
“Better safe than sorry,” he said. “Stay back or you’ll have to leave completely.”
That did the trick. She retreated to a safe distance, but still craned her neck to watch everything he did. 
“Maybe I could borrow a pen knife and you could teach me how to whittle?”
“Girls don’t whittle,” Joel said. “If you want to make something, how about a quilt or — what do they call it —  a sampler.” Sarah had enjoyed sewing, especially embroidery. He had a set of handkerchiefs with his monogram on them tucked away in a drawer. 
Ellie made a face. “I hate sewing,” she said. “They made us do mending all the time at the orphanage. It’s my least favorite chore. Even worse than scrubbing floors.”
Joel wracked his brain trying to think of some other suitable pastime for a young lady. “Read a book?”
“Boring,” said Ellie. “I’d rather do things than read about them.”
“You could … feed the chickens.”
“You already fed them this morning,” she pointed out. “Besides, the big hen hates me.”
Joel suppressed a chuckle. It was true that the big speckled hen had taken a dislike to Ellie, pecking at her whenever the girl tried to gather eggs, and chasing her out of the henhouse on one memorable occasion. “You could give Samson a good brushing.” The gelding was gentle and even though it was more of a boy’s chore to groom horses, maybe she would enjoy brushing and plaiting his mane and tail. 
Ellie’s eyes lit up. She had admired the horse from afar but had not yet approached him. “Really? I always liked horses but I was afraid you might not let me because you’d be worried I’d get hurt …” 
She trailed off, and Joel wondered just how much the Davenport girl had told her. It made his chest ache just to think about Sarah, but he steeled himself. “Just don’t get stepped on,” he said, gruffly. “Go on. Make yourself useful instead of standing around gawking.”
He returned to his work, forcing himself to focus on the wood and tools in front of him and not the quiet conversation Ellie was having with Samson across the barn. His vision blurred a little, but it wasn’t tears. Must have been some sawdust floating into his eyes. 
*************************************************************************
Ellie and Samson became great friends. The chestnut gelding loved to be groomed and Ellie soon spent a pleasant hour every day brushing and polishing his coat until it gleamed, even with his thick winter coat coming in. She brought him carrots and shared apples with him. 
“You know,” she said one evening over supper. “Samson could use more exercise.”
Joel grunted. “I turn him out in the paddock every day. And he gets driven a few times a week. He’s an old horse.”
“But he could do more,” Ellie persisted. “Maybe … maybe I could ride him.”
“No,” Joel said firmly. “Absolutely not.”
“He’s gentle,” Ellie pleaded.
“No,” Joel said. “You don’t know how to ride, and I don’t even own a saddle.”
“Then teach me how to drive,” Ellie suggested.
“I don’t have time,” Joel replied. “And you don’t have anywhere to go, other than school.”
Ellie sighed. “I’m sure there are plenty of lovely drives on the island. Lydia said her family drove through the woods and past the pond out by the Ross farm and it was beautiful.”
“The Davenports have time to waste,” Joel said. “I’m not wearing my horse out on pleasure jaunts. He’s a working horse, just like I’m a working man. And you have schoolwork and housework to attend to.”
Ellie knew when an adult was unyielding. She let the matter rest, but it still lingered in her mind.
*******************************************************
A few weeks later, a letter arrived from Thomas Miller in Saskatchewan. Ellie was expected to stop at the post office on her way home from school each day, to save Joel from having to go into town unless he absolutely had to. All the way home, she kept pulling the letter out of her pocket, tracing her finger over the postmark from Regina, and then putting it back. 
When she gave it to Joel, he merely grunted and placed it on the mantelpiece. “I’ll read it this evening,” he said. “After supper.” He nodded pointedly toward the kitchen. Ellie sighed. She hated waiting.
The moment Joel was finished eating, she cleared the table and washed the dishes in record time. Joel lingered over a second cup of coffee and she was already half way through her spelling words when he finally rinsed his cup and took the letter down from the mantel. He opened it, read it twice and folded it back up, sliding it carefully back into the envelope.
“Well?” Ellie said when she could hold back no longer. 
“Well, what?” 
“When am I going out West?”
“Spring,” he said simply. “Tommy says they’re settled into the new place, but they’ve had an early start to winter and all the Indians are predicting it will be a hard one. There’s no guarantee he can get to Regina and back at all until after the melt. He sent the letter with a fellow who was on government business and had no choice but to go.” 
Joel slid the letter across the table toward her. She skimmed through it, puzzling slightly at Thomas’ curious penmanship. “What does this mean? ‘Recompense,’” she asked.
“Repay,” Joel said. “He’s offering to pay me back for the expense of keeping you over the winter.” He shook his head. “As if I’d take a penny from him after all the help he gave me and ….” His mouth snapped shut decisively. “Don’t you worry about anything. You’ll stay here until he sends word.”
She folded the letter back up. “I didn’t exactly think you were going to toss me out into the cold,” she said. “Everyone says you’re grumpy and mean but you’re not that mean.”
“Finish your schoolwork and then get to bed,” Joel said. “I’ll be out in the workshop.” He left her alone in the kitchen, where her attention kept darting between her spelling list and the envelope on the table. Saskatchewan winters could be long and very cold. She wondered just how long she would be in Meadowlea, and if Thomas and Maria’s home was as snug and cozy as Joel’s. After all, it would be her home in just a few months time.
*************************************************************
Winter arrived at Meadowlea and at first Ellie enjoyed the pristine white drifts of snow that covered the fields and made the trees look like a fairy wonderland. Then she spent a few days trudging back and forth to school in the cold and decided that maybe a country winter wasn’t as lovely as it looked.
“Be thankful we’re not on the prairie,” Joel said one evening when she lamented the depths of the snow banks she’d had to negotiate that day. “Blizzards so fierce a man can’t see his hand in front of him. People and stock freeze to death just feet from shelter.” He shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t see why Tommy was so set on going out there.”
“But they say the prairie sky is endless,” Ellie said. “And the flowers bloom in the spring and the soil is so rich that grain grows without you even trying.”
Joel grunted. “Endless sky isn’t worth anything, and we have plenty of flowers here. And farming is overrated. A lot of work for little reward.” He looked at her. “Never marry a farmer. You’ll regret it. Most women do.”
Ellie made a face. “I’m never going to get married,” she declared. “I’m going to make my own way in the world. Lots of girls do.”
“Good luck to you, then,” Joel said, rising from the table to place his plate in the sink. “Not much opportunity for a bachelor girl out on the prairie.”
Ellie turned back to her supper, her appetite suddenly gone. She’d never thought about the prospects for self-sufficiency out in the West. After a few years with the Millers, she would be an adult, and what then? There would be no chance at high school or any other advanced education, which was the only way for a girl to make a decent living on her own. Teachers, secretaries, nurses: those were the young women who could chart their own path. Never mind that none of those professions appealed to her. They were better than the alternative.
**************************************************************
Christmas came and went with hardly a word at the Miller farm. Joel hadn’t celebrated the holiday since he’d lost Sarah, and Ellie was not accustomed to anything more than a slice of stale cake with supper. The only acknowledgment of the day was the arrival of a brightly colored card from an elderly cousin in Boston, which Joel propped on the mantel solely for Ellie’s benefit. 
He was growing fond of the girl, in an awkward sort of way. She was so unlike Sarah that she was not a constant reminder of loss, but she was still a girl and so quite unfathomable to him. She could turn from asking questions about horses and woodworking to chiding him for tracking mud onto her clean floors and lamenting the state of his frayed cuffs with no notice, and it kept him off balance. With his wife, and with Sarah, he had known where he stood. They had their domain and he had his. Ellie pervaded every aspect of his life and he wasn’t sure if he liked it or not.
The weather turned bitterly cold a few weeks after the New Year, making walking treacherous as the ground was coated with slick patches of ice where the wind had blown away the snow. Joel loaned Ellie his hobnailed boots to wear when walking to and from school. They were so big on her that she could wear her own boots inside them and stuffed rags in the toes to keep them on, but they did the trick, and she never fell. When she tried to thank him, Joel brushed her words aside.
“Tommy’d never forgive me if I let you get hurt,” he said. “Now get to school.”
Joel worked in the barn every day, even into the dark evenings. It was cozy, with Samson and the chickens huddled to one side and his workbench, illuminated by a safety lantern, on the other. He had finished the more intricate commissions for Christmas gifts early in the fall, and spent the winter working on more mundane items like furniture, chopping boards, and buckets. 
On the third night of the cold snap, he was working on a side table for a gentleman in Charlottetown. It was almost too cold to work, his fingers stiff and fumbling, but he was nearly finished and was reluctant to quit early. As he laid hammer to chisel, his grip loosened and the chisel slipped off the wood and into his leg. He cursed quietly; mishaps like this were rare but happened. His trousers had absorbed most of the blow, and there was very little blood. As he pulled on the chisel, however, he slipped in the water that had melted off his boots and fell directly on it. He felt the metal pierce deep into his flesh and his stomach turned as blood blossomed from the wound.
“Ellie!,” he called out.
She should be home from school, preparing supper in the kitchen. He called again and again, but it was clear she couldn’t hear him. He pulled the chisel out and winced as the pain buckled his leg. He tied a rag around the wound and hobbled slowly toward the house.
There was a great deal of blood and he was feeling faint by the time he reached the kitchen door. “Ellie,” he called weakly. “Help.”
The door opened and he could see her silhouette against the light. “Joel! What happened?” She helped him inside and onto a chair. 
“Slipped,” he said. “Fell on the chisel. Needs stitches, I think. Get the doctor.”
Ellie nodded. “Here,” she said, grabbing several dish towels. “Hold these on the wound. I’ll take Samson and be back as soon as I can.”
He tried to protest, but she was already gone.
******************************************
Ellie ran into the barn, startling Samson and the chickens. “Sorry,” she said as she grabbed the bridle off the wooden peg near the door. “But Joel’s hurt bad. We’ve got to get help.” Fortunately, Samson was a well trained horse and accepted the bit readily. She fumbled a bit with the buckles but got the bridle fastened, even if it was a bit loose. She led the gelding out to the yard, where she climbed onto the fence rail to reach his broad back.
It was slippery without a saddle, and Samson was clearly confused at being ridden instead of harnessed to the buggy. He snorted and flicked his ears. Ellie leaned forward and stroked his neck. “Come on, big fellow,” she said. “We have to fetch the doctor.” She clapped her heels against his sides and he started off at a nervous jog. She shook the reins and kicked him again. “Sorry, sorry,” she said. “But we need to go faster.”
Samson broke into a canter, and Ellie held tight to his mane as he lurched out of the yard and onto the road. It was dark, and cold, and she was trying her best not to slide off his back, but she managed to steer him more or less in the direction of Doctor Fletcher’s house. Once Samson understood the task, he was willing and it was not long before she was pulling him up in the doctor’s yard.
It was still early, and the doctor and his wife had heard the pounding hooves, so she did not even need to dismount. “Joel’s hurt himself,” Ellie gasped out. “He’s bleeding a lot. Said he needs stitches probably.”
Dr. Fletcher nodded. “Go on, get back to him,” he said. “Try to stanch the bleeding as best you can.  I’ll get my bag and be on my horse in five minutes.”  
Ellie turned Samson’s head toward home. He needed no urging now, more than ready to return to his warm stall. He picked up speed but Ellie didn’t mind. She was getting used to riding and she wanted to get back to Joel as soon as possible. 
As they rounded a curve in the road, the moon peeped out from behind a cloud, casting dark shadows across the ground. Samson, brave horse that he was, did not balk at the seeming chasm that opened up at his feet, but jumped it. His hooves slid on the icy road as he landed and he stumbled. His head went forward, the bridle came loose and Ellie flew off his back. She hit the ground with a thud, and tumbled into the brush. Samson charged away, leaving her alone with the wind knocked out of her and a throbbing head. The clouds covered the moon again and the world plunged into darkness.
*******************************************************
Joel’s world had narrowed down to the pain in his leg, the blood that covered his hands, and the wood grain of the table in front of him. Still, he worried about Ellie, riding alone through the night. It seemed an eternity before he heard hooves clattering on the frozen ground outside. One horse. That would be Ellie returned. Then another. He heard the horses nicker to each other. That would be the doctor.
“Dear God, man, what happened?” Dr. Fletcher said as he burst through the kitchen door, his black bag already half open.
“Slipped,” Joel grunted. “Fell on the chisel.”
Fletcher was smaller than Joel but strong as an ox. He hoisted him onto the table and cut open his trousers to expose the wound. “Nasty, but not life threatening once I get you patched up.” He pulled a vial from his bag. “Laudanum. For the pain.” Before Joel could protest, the bottle was at his lips. He felt the world recede as the drug took effect. It did not dull all the pain, but made it tolerable, as Fletcher stitched his flesh back together. 
“There,” Fletcher said when he was done. “I left it open just a bit, for drainage in case of infection. It’s quite a deep wound.”  He gathered up all the bloodied cloths and dumped them into the sink. “Where’s that girl of yours got to?”
“Must be … in the barn … putting up Samson,” Joel managed.
Fletcher’s brows knitted in confusion. “Your horse? He’s out in the yard loose. I thought I’d find her inside with you and was prepared to scold her for not securing the stock.”
Joel sat up quickly. His head swam from the laudanum and the loss of blood, but he felt a surge of fear through his bones that kept him upright. “Samson came back alone? Damn it … I told her it wasn’t safe to ride him.” He tried to stand but his leg buckled.
“Easy, there,” Fletcher said. “I’m sure she’s just overwhelmed. Probably hiding in the barn or in her bedroom, frightened by all the blood. Let me look for her. You need to rest.”
Joel felt his chest constrict as he waited for Fletcher to search the house. He knew this feeling; he had felt it when he saw Sarah fall under the wheels of the wagon. 
“She’s not in the house,” Fletcher said. “I’ll check the barn. Might as well put your horse inside while I’m at it.”
The minutes passed slowly as Joel concentrated on breathing. It was all he could do to stay seated. He wanted to be out there looking for Ellie. He could not bear to be idle while time slipped away. After what seemed like hours, Fletcher returned, his face grim.
“She must have come off the horse on her way back,” he said. “I should have made her wait and ride with me, but I sent her ahead to be with you.”
Joel rose to his feet, ignoring the searing pain in his leg. “We have to find her.” He was surprised at how hoarse his voice sounded.
“You are not going anywhere,” Fletcher said. “I’ll look for her. She has to be on the road between my house and here.”
Joel shook his head. “No, I’m going, too. You can’t stop me.”
“It’s my fault, Miller.”
“No, it’s mine!” Joel burst out. “If I’d been more careful, hadn’t hurt myself … She would be safe and warm if she hadn’t needed to go fetch you. Because of my stupidity.” He lurched toward the door. The leg hurt but it still worked. He was just a little unsteady because of the laudanum.
“We’ll both go,” Fletcher said. “You can ride my horse and I’ll walk ahead with a lantern. Two sets of eyes will be better.”  Before Joel could open his mouth to protest, Fletcher continued. “No doctor worth his name would let a patient in your condition wander about unsupervised. By rights I should insist you go straight to bed, but I know you’ll be up and out the door the moment I leave the yard, so this is the best I can do.”
Joel nodded. “Let’s go then.”
The night was cold, and dark when clouds drifted in front of the moon. Joel had managed to mount the doctor’s horse but the effort had brought him a great deal of pain. He slumped in the saddle, glad that Fletcher was leading the animal with one hand while holding the lantern aloft with the other. He probably should have followed the doctor’s orders and gone to bed, but he could not rest until he knew that Ellie was safe. He dared not think about the other possibility.
At a bend in the road, something caught his eye in the brush. It was not a reflection, nor anything recognizable, just a feeling that this particular shadow was significant.
“Wait,” he cried. “There!” He slid out of the saddle without thinking and stumbled into the ditch. As Fletcher followed with the lantern, Joel saw a familiar red color: Ellie’s apron, which she’d been wearing to prepare supper. He crawled into the brush and there she was, lying deathly still. As he touched her, she moaned and then all at once, her eyes flew open and she cried out in fear. 
Joel did not think. He gathered her into his arms but she fought against him. “It’s me, Ellie,” he said. “It’s me. I’ve got you. You’re safe. I’ve got you.”
She gasped. “Joel? Oh, Joel, you’re all right! Ow, my head.” 
He hugged her close. “You’re safe now,” he said. “The doctor is here. I’ve got you.”
Fletcher gave her a cursory examination and declared her fit enough to ride back to the house behind Joel. “A bump on the head, but nothing too frightening,” was his verdict. He helped them both into the saddle and led the long-suffering horse back to the house. 
Joel struggled to keep his wits about him, but between the pain and the laudanum and the panic of Ellie being lost, his mind was a muddle. But Ellie was seated behind him, her arms around his waist and her head leaning against his back. She was alive, and so was he, and that was all that mattered.
*************************************************************
Dr. Fletcher paused to rouse the Rileys on the way back to Joel’s house, and Ellie was bundled off to bed by Mrs. Riley, a kindly widow who had nursed a dozen children and grandchildren through a variety of illnesses and injuries over the years, while the doctor attended to Joel.
“You are not to get out of that bed except to use the chamber pot,” Mrs. Riley admonished. “Doctor will be up to look you over but it’s my considered opinion you need a day or two of complete rest.” She clucked her tongue. “Falling off horses in the middle of the night!”
Ellie fully planned to stay awake until she knew the extent of Joel’s injury, but her bed was warm and cozy and she was soon sound asleep. The next thing she knew, it was morning, and Mrs. Riley was entering the room with a tray laden with tea and buttered toast.
“How is Joel?” Ellie asked. 
“Mr. Miller is fine,” Mrs. Riley said primly. “You can see him later once I know you’re sufficiently rested from your ordeal. The doctor has him set up on the sofa in the parlor for now, so he doesn’t have to climb the stairs.”
“I feel perfectly rested,” Ellie said, pushing back the covers.
Mrs. Riley clucked her tongue. “Not so fast, young lady. Breakfast first. You didn’t have any supper last night, either of you. Mr. Miller is tucking into some bacon and eggs as we speak.”
Ellie frowned at the toast in front of her. “Why do I only get toast?”
“He lost quite a bit of blood,” Mrs. Riley said. “He needs to build himself back up. You just bumped your head and got a chill. You need something light on your stomach in case you feel dizzy.”
Ellie spent the day in bed, without even a book to entertain her. Mrs. Riley claimed she needed to rest her brain, but without distractions, Ellie’s brain was whirling a mile a minute. She remembered Samson stumbling, and hitting the ground, then someone touching her. She groaned as she recalled how she had flinched away from Joel before she realized it was him. Did he think she was afraid of him? Or disliked him? Nothing could be further from the truth. When he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, she felt safe, safer than she’d ever felt in her life. That must be what it is like to have a father, she thought. She had often thought about having a mother, someone gentle and kind to care for her, but the idea of a father, someone strong and protective, had eluded her. Every orphan longed for a mother. Fathers were a more abstract thing.
Late in the evening, Mrs. Riley pronounced her sufficiently recovered to make her way downstairs for supper, swathed in a borrowed dressing gown. A table was set up next to the sofa, and an armchair pulled up beside it for Ellie. Joel was reclined on the sofa, looking about as comfortable as a cat in a bathtub. Forced inactivity was as foreign to him as it was to Ellie.
“I’m glad you’re alright,” Ellie said as she settled herself into the chair.
“Same,” Joel said. As soon as Mrs. Riley was safely out of the room, gone to fetch their supper, he leaned forward. “I’ll be better once the nursemaid is gone,”
Ellie laughed quietly. “She is a bit of a martinet, isn’t she?”
Joel blinked. “Where’d you learn that word?”
“From a book,” Ellie said. “I go to school. We read things there.”
Joel sighed. “That knock on the head certainly didn’t change your personality.”
“Which is a good thing, right?” Ellie found the banter easy. Something had shifted between them after the tragic events of the previous night. Joel was still gruff —  it was simply his nature — but he was less guarded. It felt good and, more importantly, it felt right.
*********************************************************
Joel was immensely relieved to see Ellie come into the parlor. Although Mrs. Riley and Dr. Fletcher had both assured him she was perfectly fine, just a bit knocked about, he had to see for himself before he could truly believe she was not harmed. The emotions that had surged through him when he found her, and held her his his arms, safe and sound, were old ones that he hadn’t felt in years. Not since he had held Sarah on the street, desperately willing her to be unharmed. He had lost his darling Sarah, but last night, he had not lost Ellie. He had saved her. 
Ellie was not like Sarah in the least. She was brash where Sarah had been demure, curious where Sarah had been accepting, clumsy where Sarah had been graceful. And yet, they were both girls with a keen sense of what was right in the world, an appreciation for the beauty of nature, and a fondness for a grumpy old man who felt the world had turned its back on him. Sarah had been his flesh and blood, but Ellie was more truly a kindred spirit. She wanted to know things and do things and was not willing to accept the terms by which society wanted to judge her. 
After supper, Mrs. Riley wanted to shoo Ellie back upstairs, but Joel overrode her. “She has been cooped up in that room all day,” he said. “Fetch my checkerboard out of the dresser. We’ll see how well her mind has recovered.”
He hadn’t played checkers since Tommy had left. The board and pieces were old and worn, made by their grandfather as a childhood gift to their father. Sarah had played with them when she was small, still fascinated by anything her father and uncle were interested in, but as she grew up, she had taken the perceived wisdom of checkers as a boys’ game to heart.
Ellie’s face lit up. “I love checkers!,” she said. “The boys used to hold tournaments on Saturdays at the orphanage. They’d let some of us girls play now and then, but not very often. Mostly because I could beat them quite often.”
Joel chuckled. “Well, I’m a bit rusty, but I’ve had years more experience than you, so I think we might be fairly evenly matched.”
They played game after game, tentative at first, but by the final game (so decreed by Mrs. Riley, who insisted they both go to sleep at a reasonable time) they were laughing and back-talking each other the way he and Tommy had so many times.
“Not fair!” Ellie cried as Joel captured another of her pieces. 
“And how is it not fair if I play by the rules?” She had only one piece left on the board, threatened on two sides.
Ellie folded her arms. “It’s not fair because grown people are supposed to let little girls win now and then.”
“And how would little girls learn the realities of life if victories are handed to them on a platter?,” he replied. “Besides, you are not a little girl. You are a devilishly smart young lady who needs to be put in her place.”
“And you are a deviously smart old man who delights in robbing a poor orphan of one of the few joys in her woeful life.”
Joel sat back. “You will have many joys in your life, Ellie,” he said, the levity gone as he suddenly thought of all the joys Sarah had been denied. “I hope you have a long life, full of all the things a bright girl like you deserves.” He cleared his throat. “I’m getting tired. I think Mrs. Riley was right; we shouldn’t overexert ourselves.”
Ellie frowned as she cleared the unfinished game off the board. Joel leaned back against the sofa cushions and closed his eyes. She belongs to Tommy and Maria, he reminded himself. Spring will be here soon and she’ll be gone. The prospect of being alone again, which had been so welcome a few months ago, was now a terrible thing. 
***************************
As winter went on, slowly melting into spring, Joel and Ellie became closer. He no longer shooed her away when he was working in the barn, but let her observe and hand him his tools. Once or twice, he even allowed her to practice simple techniques on scraps of wood. 
“I like this better than sewing,” she said one afternoon as she planed and sanded a block of wood to silky smoothness. “They’re both making something but somehow working with wood is different.”
Joel paused in his work. He was always very focused when at his workbench, so Ellie was surprised. “Huh, I never thought of it that way,” he said. “Women work with needle and thread and cloth; I work with wood and hammer and nails, but we are just making and mending things that are useful.”
“And beautiful,” Ellie added. “That table you repaired for Mr. Jennings is very useful, but you made it lovely as well. You carved all those little details into it that aren’t really necessary but make it better. Same with a nice dress. Tucks and frills and lace don’t keep you warm, but they make a dress prettier.”
Joel chuckled. He did that more and more these days. “Never pegged you for the sort to care about ruffles and lace,” he said.
Ellie made a face. “I don’t. I like plain, comfortable clothes for myself, but you have to admit a lady looks better when she’s all gussied up. Just like a man looks better when he’s in his Sunday suit rather than overalls.” She shrugged. “But that’s for special times. Your woodwork is useful and beautiful, so it’s even better than fancy clothes. You get to appreciate the beauty every day.”
They had many such talks, springing organically from whatever chore they were working on at the time. As he sat at the kitchen table polishing  the chess pieces he had carved for Mr. Lattimer, and Ellie chopped vegetables for supper, he told her about Sarah’s favorite dishes, and the time she tried to bake a cake and used salt instead of sugar. Ellie shared the adventure of raiding the larder at the orphanage and eating pickled cucumbers until they were all sick. 
Over the checkerboard in the parlor, he told her about childhood escapades with Tommy. She regaled him with the epic tale of Samuel Lindstrom, the boy who was constantly falling off of things and yet only once broke a bone. 
One evening, Joel was pensive and declined a game, preferring instead to stare into the fire. Ellie was at a loss, but sat quietly beside him. Eventually, she ventured a question. “Did I do something?”
Joel stirred from his reverie. “No, no, of course not,” he said. “It’s just … it’s not a good day for me.” He sighed deeply. “It’s Sarah’s birthday,” he said very softly.
Ellie nodded and leaned her head against his shoulder. “I understand,” she said. “You wish it was her with you and not me.”
Joel turned his head sharply toward her. “Never say that,” he said firmly. “I miss her. I miss her so very much. But this year … this year I got out of bed and went about my work. And do you know why? Because of you.”
Ellie did not know what to say. She simply slid her hand into his and squeezed it tightly. She was glad she had helped him deal with his grief, but it would soon be springtime and the snow would be melted all across Canada and she would be on a train to her new home. She knew that Thomas would be a good man; after all, he was Joel’s brother. But still, that part of her that longed for endless prairie skies was shrinking, as her soul became ever more rooted in the soil of Meadowlea.
*************************************************************
It was a bright early April afternoon when Ellie stopped at the post office on her way home from school and picked up a letter with a Regina postmark. Her heart sank as she walked past the flowers peeking through the fresh green grass and not even the songs of the birds in the trees could lift her spirits. Joel was in the barn when she reached the house, and she simply placed the letter on the kitchen table in front of his chair instead of taking it to him. 
She was tearing up lettuce for a fresh spring salad when he came in and washed his hands in the sink. “Letter for you,” she said quietly, nodding toward the table. He picked it up, glanced at the postmark and tossed it down.
“I’ll read it after supper,” he said.
“It’ll be a bit,” she said hesitantly. “Maybe … maybe you should read it now. So we know what it says.”
He took a deep breath, nodded, and took the letter into the parlor. Ellie wiped her eyes with her sleeve and went on with her work. No matter what was in the envelope, they needed to eat.
*******************************************************
Joel wanted to toss the letter into the grate unread, but there was no fire today and it would only mock him. He sat near the window, where the light was better, and opened the envelope.
“Dear Joel,” he read
“The winter has been long and hard but things are finally thawing out here. By the time this letter reaches you, and your reply returns here,  it should be dry enough for me to get the wagon into Regina to meet the train. Maria and I are greatly looking forward to meeting young Eleanor, and we will have a lovely surprise for her when she arrives. I will tell you now, dear brother, because I cannot hold the news back any longer: Maria is expecting and our family will increase by one at the end of the summer. We are certain Eleanor will be a great help with the baby.
“Please do not misunderstand me, Joel. We do not expect her to be a nursemaid to the child, or a mere helpmeet for Maria. We sent for her out of our express desire for a child to care for, and we mean to stand by that decision despite our prayers being answered in the traditional way.
“Write back straight away with the details of her travel arrangements. Your supremely happy and prospering younger brother,
Thomas.”
Joel dropped the letter onto the floor. It was selfish of him to want Ellie to stay in Meadowlea, and yet now that he had word from Tommy, he did not want to let her go. It would be simple enough to tell her that Thomas and Maria, blessed with a child of their own on the way, no longer wanted her, but that would be a lie. At the same time, he could not simply pack her up and send her out west without offering her a choice in the matter. With a deep sigh, he picked up the letter and went into the kitchen.
***********************************************
“I want you to read the letter Tommy sent me,” he told her. 
She took it from him and quickly read the words. “A baby? And they still want me?” She had heard of many an orphan who was sent back, or turned into little more than a hired hand when a childless couple was suddenly blessed. A home, a little brother or sister, the wide expanse of the prairie … six months ago, it would have been her life’s dream. Now it was the last thing she wanted, but how could she tell Joel?
Joel nodded. “They do. But I think you deserve more than being sent off like a parcel. I — I would like you to stay here with me, but the choice is entirely yours. Think about it carefully and in the morning …”
“I want to stay!” Ellie leaped out of her chair and into Joel’s arms. “I want to stay with you, Joel. I know I promised to be Thomas and Maria’s child, but … you need me more than they do. And … and I love you, Joel. I never had anyone care for me before and I’ve never cared for anyone either, but …”
Joel hugged her tight. “I understand,” he said. “You don’t need to say any more. I’ll write to Tommy in the morning, and the orphanage, too. I’ll have the adoption papers drawn up and you’ll be my …” His voice cracked with emotion. “You’ll be my daughter as soon as legally possible.”
“Oh, Joel, I’m happier than I ever thought possible! And just a few minutes ago I was in the depths of despair,” she said. 
“So was I,” Joel admitted. “I — I thought I was going to lose you, too.” Ellie was shocked to see tears in his eyes. “When I lost my wife, I had Sarah. And when I lost Sarah, I had Tommy. But if I lost you …”
“I will never leave you, not even if the law says I belong to Tommy and Maria. I won’t go and nobody can make me.”
Joel smiled. “I wouldn’t let them take you,” he said firmly. “Now, let’s have supper. And afterwards, I’ll write a letter to Tommy.”
That night, Joel gave the letter to Ellie to read before she went to bed. Her hands trembled as she held the paper, and her vision blurred with tears as she read his words. He spoke about the brightness Ellie has brought back into his life, the hope that had returned to his heart after so many years of darkness. Joel was a man of few words, but he was positively eloquent on paper. She loved him so much, and he loved her as well. He said so, right at the end of the letter.
“I love her, Tommy. So much it frightens me. She is so unlike Sarah and yet she is as much my daughter as Sarah was. I truly believe she was meant to find me, and I her. I know this may cause a strain between us, dear brother, but I will not let her go.”
Ellie carefully folded the paper and tucked it back into the envelope, which was already addressed to Mr. Thomas Miller. Then she removed it and added a postscript, writing carefully with her pencil, which needed sharpening.
“I was delighted to be chosen as your daughter, Mr and Mrs Miller, but I am even more delighted to become Joel’s. I hope you understand that I prefer you to be my Uncle Thomas and Aunt Maria rather than father and mother. And to love your child as my cousin rather than a sibling. Most sincerely yours, Eleanor Williams Miller.”
She left the letter on the table and went upstairs to bed. 
*******************************************************
Spring rushed past and summer blossomed, the island seeming to put all its energy into vibrant life. Ellie finished the school year and was commended as the most improved student in her year. She still had some catching up to do, if she wanted to take the high school entrance exams, but that was a worry for another time. 
She stopped by the post office on her way home. Home! The word still thrilled her, now that it was absolutely, entirely, legally true. Joel had filed the necessary papers the day after he sent off the letter to Thomas. He had not let her read the reply he received from his brother, but he had assured her there were no hard feelings and, on the contrary, Thomas and Maria were quite happy for them.
Now she found another letter with a Regina postmark, but this one was addressed to her: Miss Eleanor Williams Miller. She hurried out of town, and found a comfortable seat in the woods alongside the road. It was a fallen log she often stopped at, affording a lovely view of a dell of wildflowers framed by the graceful branches of a pair of alder trees. 
“Dearest Ellie,
“We have not met, but I feel we know each other in our hearts. We both have a great deal of love for the Miller brothers, I as Thomas’ wife and you as Joel’s daughter. As I prepare to welcome my own child into the world, my thoughts have turned to you. I was crushed by your decision to remain with Joel when Thomas first informed me, but now, as I become more and more a mother each day, I know you made the right choice. Thomas has told me much about his brother, the pain of losing his young wife, and the even greater trauma of losing his darling daughter. Thomas and I wanted you, but Joel needs you more than we ever could. And knowing that my brother-in-law is happy warms my heart more than having you as a daughter. Love is a tricky thing; we often find it where we least expect it, and it can lead us to places we never imagined. Like the wild prairies of Saskatchewan! 
“I hope you and Joel are able to come west for a visit some day, to meet your cousin and see the farm that Thomas is working so hard to bring to life. Come in the spring, when the flowers are in bloom and the calves are frisking about and the birds sing constantly. 
“Your loving aunt,
Maria Miller
“P.S. Don’t tell Joel, but the reason Thomas and I chose you was for your name. Sarah was named for her mother, who was named for her mother in turn. Sarah (the elder) promised Joel that their next daughter, if they were so blessed, would be named for his mother (and Thomas’): Eleanor. That promise was never fulfilled, but when Thomas saw your name on the list of orphans, he saw the opportunity to honor his mother. Joel is unlikely to speak of this, being too reticent to bring up the past, but I wanted you to know that it pleases Thomas no end to know that there is once again an Eleanor Miller at the farm.”
Ellie lifted her eyes from the paper, finding them surprisingly dry. She felt she ought to be tearful at such a beautiful confession but instead her heart felt light and filled with an immense sense of purpose. She was meant to live at the Miller farm, meant to bring the name Eleanor back home. Sarah had promised Joel his second daughter would be named for his mother, and she was fulfilling that promise. 
The sea rolled against the shore, as it always did, and the birds flitted overhead, busy feeding their chicks who would go on to raise their own, over and over again as the years rolled by. And Eleanor Miller walked to her home, as her namesake once did, long ago.
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grizzlyofthesea · 10 months
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Imagine having your soul shipped to you in the mail.
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I got distracted and accidentally bumped it off a table yesterday, so the top portion broke, but I was able to superglue it back together. (For anyone interested, this was made by WTFcharms on Etsy. It's a nice, high-quality, and affordable alternative to the out-of-production official soul gems floating around out there.)
With all that said, I'd like to take this time to gush about the magical girl designs in Madoka Magica. I will be focusing primarily on the original five magical girls; as much as I love what Magia Record introduced to the franchise, there are so many characters. I will share my favorite Magia Record design at the end, though.
Let's get stared with...
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Mami Tomoe!
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I've always really liked Mami's design. I don't know if I've ever articulated the specific reasons why, but that's what I'm here to do now.
The influences from historical Western fashion, like her corset and boots. They make Mami look classy and fashionable, yet noticeably older than the others.
The plume on her hat. It's a cool detail in general, but it also makes me think of pre-20th century soldiers' uniforms.
The feminine yet down-to-earth feel. She's girly and optimistic at heart like Madoka, but the relative lack of frills makes her feel more mature and veteran-like in comparison.
The purplish coloring to her hat and stockings. It's just a bit of complementary color goodness.
The very slight change in her hair color. For Mami specifically, she gets a slightly brighter, more saturated shade of yellow. All the original girls have this characteristic, which I think is pretty cool.
Now, on to my favorite character...
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Sayaka Miki!
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The cape. Whether you want to compare her to a superhero or a knight, it's fitting for her heroic ideals.
The multilayered gloves. They're unique, and the deep navy blue of the longer gloves varies the color scheme a bit.
The armor-like breastplate on her otherwise soft cloth corset. It's another point for the knightly aesthetic, but it also plays into her personality. Her heart (emotions, not actual blood-pumping heart) is vulnerable. She's expressive, but she keeps her true feelings well-guarded no matter how much it ends up hurting her.
The gold trim on various clothing pieces. It's cool, it's flashy, and it reflects Sayaka's pride in being a magical girl who fights for justice.
The angled skirt. Even if it doesn't prove to be especially practical, it looks athletic and good for combat.
The belts holding up her stockings. I just think they're neat.
The fortissimo hairpin (shown in the gif). It ties into her wish and reflects her bombastic emotions.
Sayaka's hair shifts from a muted cerulean to a bright sky blue. This is pretty in-line with her cheeriness and idealism.
Here, we have (arguably) one of the sanest members of the cast...
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Kyoko Sakura!
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Though somewhat simple at a first glance, Kyoko's outfit has quite a bit going on.
The fleur-de-lis like pattern under her soul gem. The fleur-de-lis is often used to represent Christian saints; Kyoko grew up in a Christian family.
The long dress/coat over a shorter skirt. One may compare the coat to a priest's robes.
The boots. Kyoko is the only one of the main cast to not fight in heels, complementing her pragmatic nature.
The detached sleeves exposing her shoulders. They make her look powerful and tough.
The white accents on her otherwise dark outfit. It adds variety, but it also alludes to the selfless reasoning behind her wish.
Kyoko's hair changes from a crimson shade to a lighter, brighter burgundy. Where civilian Kyoko lives in the shadows, magical girl Kyoko fights openly and aggressively.
Now, let's look at the ever-popular...
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Homura Akemi!
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Homura's design may not be super flashy, but it's still super cool in lots of ways.
The stockings. Solid black stockings would have worked well enough, but the purple diamond print going down the sides adds some flair.
The practicality. Ignoring the fact that she's sprinting around in stilettos, Homura's magical girl outfit looks pretty comfortable and easy to move in.
The subtlety. Whether we're discussing the past or the present, Homura was never one to desire the spotlight. Her subdued design and color scheme reflect this aspect of her personality.
The resemblance to a school uniform. She's got the classic bow and sailor collar, but she also borrows a unique element from the Mitakihara uniform specifically: the cut of the shirt. It has two downward points in the front and one in the back, though it is more exaggerated on her magical girl outfit.
Homura's hair changes to a darker shade of gray/black. It's incredibly minute, but it plays up her "dark, mysterious transfer student" persona.
Of course, we can't forget the one and only...
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Madoka Kaname!
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She has a lot in common with your stereotypical magical girls (think Sailor Moon and Mew Ichigo), but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot to admire about her design.
The yellow on her dress' bodice. It breaks up all the pink and white while still looking good in the overall color scheme.
The points on her overskirt. They look like flower petals, specifically those of a cherry blossom.
The frills and bows everywhere. Super genre-typical, super cutesy, super Madoka.
The darker pink ribbons on her gloves. They add a bit of pizzazz to what would otherwise be one of her plainer accessories.
The crossed laces on her shoes. It isn't that important of a detail, but it's a unique approach to making her already-detailed outfit even fancier.
Madoka's hair changes from a watermelon pink to more of a bubblegum pink. This just adds to her sugary cuteness and makes you feel even worse when she suffers.
And finally, as promised, my favorite Magia Record design...
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Kanoko Yayoi!
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I couldn't find a good, clean design sheet for Kanoko, so I chose to use some of her card artwork--one that offers a look at the front detailing (3-star), and one that gives us a good look at her shoes (5-star). So, what exactly do I love so much about her design?
The Victorian influences, like her top hat and corset. I'm a sucker for mid-to-late Victorian Era aesthetics.
The overall "cute but classy" vibe. The gold and emerald green accents on her accessories, the black-and-white color scheme, and the long gloves make her look quite a bit fancier than some other magical girls; but her frilly shorts, Mary Jane-like shoes, and cropped jacket balance everything out so she still looks like a magical girl rather than, say, a lost Black Butler OC.
The stitched detailing on most of her accessories. It really fits her fashion designer theme.
She wears shorts instead of a skirt. This isn't a horribly rare thing in the genre, especially when accounting for other Magia Record characters, but it's still pretty unique.
The holes in her cuffs. They look like the eyes of sewing needles, looping back to her wish/theme.
Aaaaaaand she may or may not look quite a bit like me. Not identical, but enough to make me do a double-take when I first saw her. That gave me the happy brain tingles. :)
Also, can we just talk about how sick her Doppel is?
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Her name is Broderie, and she's the witch of torn seams. She can destroy anything, even concepts...but she's only really interested in destroying Kanoko's work. And of course, despite being labeled as a thread trimmer, she looks like a mushroom. ^^' But yeah. My girl finally got a Doppel. I'm so proud of her. :')
Anyway, thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
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gremoria411 · 1 year
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Alright then. So we have another Witch from Mercury episode that hits like a goddamn truck.
Heavy spoilers follow for Witch from Mercury Episode 14 (and 13). Sorta a mix of feelings and predictions.
Not gonna lie, really loving the new season so far, basically because both episodes have been pretty jam-packed. Like, there’s a lot going on with expansion and character development to a lotta people. Standouts include Chuchu, Nika and Lady Prospera.
I did absolutely love how Lauda has this big dramatic speech and genuinely guns it for Suletta, but then gets absolutely stomped. I feel like things are probably gonna end badly for him, if only because Guel’s more interesting. Still, watching Pettra and Chuchu defend him was nice, everyone has someone that cares about them.
There was also a small bit of development for Elan…… five? (I really should’ve rewatched this prior, oh well). Like, he doesn’t step in to ruin Shaddiq’s plans, and he expresses fear when faced with dire odds. Like, I guess Elan Four was about necessity, whereas Elan Five is about cowardice? Its a neat contrast, or perhaps how Elan Four influences Elan Five?
I love how we’re finally getting some insight into Lady Prospera’s actions though. I mean, episode 14 confirms a lotta theories some people have been having, which is rad, but I’m honestly just here to see what the heck she’s up to. So, Quiet Zero, I’m guessing it’s some sort of shutdown weapon? GUND-ARM System suits are shown to be able to totally overpower any non-Gundam suit (“only a Gundam can defeat a Gundam” thanks, Elan Four), so presumably their only threat would be another GUND-ARM system suit, which quiet zero focuses on taking over/shutting down? Though having written that down, it sounds like something too small-scale for what Prospera’s talking about.
EDIT: I have remembered that the Gundam Schwarzette is a thing. Given that that mobile suit literally has a zero on its face design, it’s possible that it mounts the “Quiet Zero” system in question. It’s also possible that the quiet zero is somehow connected to the ms-style GUND-bits that the Lfrith’s were using.
It’s also entirely plausible that every word she says to Miorine is a lie. I don’t think she’s lying when she talks with Belmeria, that sounds like what she actually believes. But there she’s with an old friend who she holds a lot of power over. Miorine is different, so I’m less inclined to trust anything she says to her. It is interesting that while talking with Miorine, she steps out of the darkness and into the light, so it’s possible that these are her original, noble goals, that have slowly been twisted into things she’d go to terrible lengths over? Things to ponder.
Shaddiq’s been…. Interesting, to say the least. Since I just spent a whole two paragraphs talking about Prospera’s possible goals (and honestly, I might write more later), it’s good to see the show’s other resident Char Clone stepping up to the plate (The Elan’s have too much other baggage for me to weigh in on them, and we don’t really know what’s going on with Guel yet). Shaddiq’s essentially plotting a coup from under his own father, and is straight up financing terrorist operations. It’s unclear how this is going to end for him, since it’s being repeatedly proven that he isn’t quite as smart as he thinks he is, so I feel like he’s going to go down a couple pegs at some point. I honestly don’t have a clue on where he’s going from here, so I’m very much looking forward to it. Grassley defence systems seems to have a monopoly on non-aerial Gundam tech, so I’m betting that they’ve been supplying Dawn of Fold with the Lfrith’s and GUND-bits.
Alright, guess I can’t really avoid talking about it any more can I?
Sophie Pulone gets a really nice focus episode, then dies attempting to take down Suletta in the Aerial. I genuinely wasn’t expecting her to bite it so soon, and it’s only made me more interested in seeing what the whole deal is with her and Norea du Noc. It’s quite interesting because Sophie is essentially a Gender-swapped (and perhaps slightly more childish) Mikazuki Augus, from Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans. She fights because that is her choice, for the things she wants in life, because that is what she is good at. I just find it really neat how she’s basically a takedown of the protagonist from the last show, showing what would happen were they actually overpowered. It also loops back to earlier, her death being the thing that breaks Norea’s emotionless composure and shows how these Gundam pilots view Suletta - as a terrifying monster.
It has greater implications too, since for all Sophie’s combat ability and credentials as a mobile suit pilot, she dies fairly quickly, as a pawn in someone else’s (in this case Shaddiq’s) plan. It sends the message that it isn’t the characters with raw power and deadly mobile suits that are dangerous, but the movers and shakers behind the scenes. Like Shaddiq. Like Prospera.
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wolfgabe · 7 months
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Super Mario Bros Wonder Direct Impressions
After having a day to digest the Super Mario Bros Wonder presentation I think I can properly give my two cents. I don't think I have been this excited for a 2D Mario game in a long time. It's quite insane really how many new ideas they have managed to cram in here. It practically makes New Super Mario Bros look like a prototype by comparison.
In terms of visuals, I seriously don't get where some people are coming from claiming Wonder still looks generic and bland. In what we have seen so far this game absolutely obliterates NSMB in terms of art direction and visual variety. There are also some neat twists on familiar Mario level themes. Fluff Puff Peaks looks like they went and combined the ice and sky worlds into one which is a much more interesting take on the usual Mario world tropes. You can really tell how they are embracing some of the inventive wackiness found in the recent 3D Mario titles.
The playable character roster on display here is just insane. We got the whole NSMB gang plus Peach, Daisy, Toadette 4 Yoshis, and even Nabbit. I know people will dump on Yoshi and Nabbit for basically being the "You Suck." mode but I think it's great to have them for less experienced players. There is just something very surreal about seeing Daisy fully playable in a Mario game that isn't a sports game, or a spin off. I hope this marks the start of Nintendo actually making her a genuine part of the core Mario cast going down the road.
The powerups my god the new powerups. Elephant Mario is such a neat twist on the usual animal costume power up Deviantart jokes aside. Bubble Mario I am surprised they didn't come up with sooner especially considering it was in a ROM hack beforehand and I love how they basically brought back the Spin Drill from Super Mario Galaxy 2 and translated it into 2D.
The Wonder Effects are a perfect way of keeping things fresh in the event people thought 2D Mario was getting too boring and predictable. I have a feeling we are only scratching the surface with what Nintendo has shown us.
The badge system feels like a natural extension of the 2D Mario formula. Nintendo has essentially taking the modern game design philosophy of allowing people to customize the game to suit their play style and applied it into 2D Mario. The speedrunning potential of some of these badges is likely gonna be nuts.
Okay I really didn't have Nintendo giving Super Mario Bros Wonder its own Dark Souls style multiplayer mode on my bingo card. Honestly, I think making online play more focused on assisting and helping other players rather than competitive co-op was a smart move given how much of a mess online co-op has been in previous Mario games that had it. I really get the sense the Mario dev team applied a lot of the lessons they learned with online multiplayer in previous Mario titles to create an experience that was better suited for 2D Mario.
After seeing everything new about Super Mario Bros Wonder I think I can see why Nintendo felt the need to give this game it's own dedicated Nintendo Direct presentation. This truly feels like the proper next generation of 2D Mario in ways the later New Super Mario Bros games never did.
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alena-reblobs · 7 months
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Trigun Bookclub Trimax Vol13 Part2
Vol01: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3  | Vol02: Part 1 | Part 2
Trimax: Vol01 Part 1Vol01 Part 2 | Vol02 Part 1Vol02 Part 2 | Vol 03 Part 1 | Vol03 Part2 | Vol04 Part1 | Vol04 Part2 | Vol05 | Vol06 | Vol07 | Vol08 Part1 | Vol08 Part2 | Vol09 Part1 | Vol09 Part2 | Vol10 Part1 | Vol10 Part2 | Vol10 Part3 | Vol10 Part4 | Vol11 Part 1 | Vol11 Part2 | Vol12 Part1 | Vol12 Part2 | Vol12 Part3 | Vol13 Part1 | Vol13 Part2
Review for chapters 4-6 under the cut!
Chapter 4:
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Oooh Elendira is removing her under gear! (is that the term? the restraints, as she said)
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djsfas their height and body differences. If they weren't trying to kill each other they could be so cute together (they still are, just in a very deadly way)
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It was long overdue that we really got to see how good Elendira really fights when she's giving it her all! Very cool pose.
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I might just have not read so thoroughly, but I wonder where they got their information about the planet's state? Like, knowing about Luida...
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...but also about Vash? Is this information they got from the hivemind look into Knives' plant amalgamation, or have did they have other resources I forgot, like listening to radio frequencies, or stuff? I'll be waiting to see if any of you guys have any better idea about this.
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Oooh and he can feel Vash's aura. Really cool that you are first only shown Legato's reaction and the fog...
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...and THEN the destroyed Legato-gadget (Legadget) which even makes him flinch.
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AND BAM banger of a page. It's Vash with his black coat. I love love the idea to also turn the coat black, to change that design for this moment, to really show he's that much closer to death. And the pose oh my. Still...well not really standing. But head bowed low. Holding onto himself like in pain. Gun cast downwards like his power has lost him. And the myriad of bullets lying around him to depict how much he just used... I really just love black coat Vash. It's giving me emotions because it's the embodyment of his lowest point in life. It's so tragic... (and it also looks so cool)
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RAZLOOOOO YESSSS ♥♥♥♥
Chapter 5:
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Trimax is making me sometimes think my reading comprehension is bad but is...Razlo owing the debt to Livio? Is it not Livio who is alive thanks to Razlo?
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Don't mind me, just putting these into my Crimsonfang collection.
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My boy is having fun!!! <3
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I really hope that they'll have Elendira grown up in season 2 of stampede (looks like that going by drawings we have seen!) and be her just as intimidating an opponent as here in Trimax.
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Only high quality pages here, damn.
Chapter 6:
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With how good of a fighter Razlo is, this must be one of the very few, if not the first occassion he's feeling something like fear for his life...
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The vial!! The vial from Wolfwood! The vial given by Vash to save Livio! Wolfwood's vial!
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Anytime Wolfwood appears after vol10 it deals -20 instant damage.
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On the next pages Elendira states that they switched personalities again, so I tried to pinpoint the moment, as this looks like it! Razlo's eye is fading out, but in the next panel we have the eye on the reader's left, Livio's metaphorical half, being shown! Nicely done artistically!
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Little emote Raz <:3
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Aaah it's so cool that with vol10 the Razlo thing isn't just over, but we get more and it's being addressed again!
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Aw I'd like to think that Razlo is crying because he's moved...like this is a big and important conversation for him too, and it probably means a lot to him that Livio apologizes again. And Razlo saying he's not good at this feeling stuff! Daww.
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Not necessarily an intended parallel, but a nice one still: Both times judgement being cast from above. Wolfwood was struck by Chapel's gun fire afterwards but Livio can evade Elendira's nails! Not that I'm drawing a connection between Elendira and Chapel, I just think it's neat how we have these similiar pages for Wolfwood and Livio.
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What I also really enjoy is that Livio manages to get back into the fight and keep up against Elendira not by miraculously getting stronger, but by teaming up with Razlo! It feels important to his character arc that this is what helps him in this most important battle. Before they'd done everything seperately, but now..!
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Whoopsie. Elendira seems to have something up her sleeve that even Razlo isn't sure he'll be able to help. Now all he can do is trust Livio that he'll be the one to finish this for once!
Next and last chapters for this volume in the next post!
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I l o v e y o u!
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(Yandere 4 town! Head cannons *smut warning ⚠️! )
•Ruby was the first girl in her home town to say she knows one of the 4town members
Her and Robaire knew each other since 1st grade.
•Robaire is very protective and can not let Ruby go anywhere by herself such as the store and elsewhere. He is very strict and a little controlling but he's reasonably.
•Is a perfectionist everything must be right for in his mind will make her happy but in reality she doesn't care like if a plate or something being out of place.
•Jesse is a romantic man and when it comes to his Ruby he can get violent and deadly
•She's his muse and he had 104 paintings of her and he has 200 to 304 pictures pf her in his phone and he uses them to paint.
•Loves looking at her and touching her, he and Robaire fight over her constantly like who's going to take her out on a date, who's cooking her favorite, and who gets to spoil her for the month.
•Their all deeply obsessed with her especially Aaron T and Z, they follow her everywhere and fantasize about her 24/7 and unlike Jesse and Robaire they don't argue about that much.
• Aaron Z is a cuddle bug and loves to hold her close to him when their watching a movie, tv show, or laying in bed. He kisses her neck, lips, cheeks, and on her body everywhere.
•Tae young is the most cutest yet manipulating his darling with his cute face and innocent facade he puts on.
He doesn't look like it but he can over power anyone who think they can beat him in a fight.
•Tae Young has a neat yet big knives and pocket knives collection in his room in a box which comes in handy if he needs to kill a rival and he always gets the same pocket knife but of different colors and designs so if the police ask him he'll denie it by cleaning it and then hide it in a unknown spot
•Aaron T is surprisingly strong 💪 he doesn't seem as ripped unless he take off his shirt and his muscles are shown shocking everyone. He can pick Ruby up easily and run off from the other members with ease
Ruby: "T put me down! Babe put me down!"
Aaron T: "Hmm..nope! 😃 😊 "
•Aaron T loves to kiss and hug Ruby that she laughs when he kisses her neck. He knows how to make her laugh and smile but if be sees someone else doing this it's war!
He's definitely the jealous type and won't hesitate to knock someone out for his baby girl.
•Robaire will lock her in his room if she tries to escape from him and he'll pin her down looking at her with those green eyes "You can't escape me or my love..mon amour I will always love you."
•Jesse is very protective and obsessive of Ruby and he tells her that he acts the way he does because he loves her and that he would do anything for her including murder.
"My love I'll do anything for you baby I love so much , my ex wife could never win me back no matter what she saids and does."
"Really?" "Yes I'm yours..and yours alone babe."
(Smut !🥵🥵🥵)
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♡ Their sizes
•Jesse 9 inches
•Robaire 10 1/2
• Tae Young 7 inches
•Aaron T 8 inches
• Aaron Z 11 1/2 inches
♡ Aaron Z surprisingly has high stamina due to be active because of sports and work outs he do. He's strong enough to pick her up during sex or just take her from room to room
The others: *watching TV*
Aaron Z: *walking in the room with Ruby over his shoulder *
Ruby: " I told him I wasn't eating and he can't make me move into the kitchen so he can feed me and now we're here."
Jesse: "Baby you have to eat and take care of yourself also z how long are you going to hold my baby girl?"
Aaron Z: "Til bedtime plus she's sleeping in My bed tonight. "
♡Jesse is very clingy and won't let her out of his sight for a moment and he loves painting and drawing her no other woman can become his muse for the canvas let alone the camera.
♡ He's also a photographer and takes photos among lots of photos of her after sex and will keep them in a scrap book or in his wallet, phone, or on his wall next to a painting of her.
♡After sex Tae Young will cuddle with her and talk sweetly to her saying romantic sweet things in Korean. Robaire does the same in French.
♡Aaron T loves to tie her up and go rough and crazy along with aggressive which she loves.
♡Aarron Z and Tae Young like to talk dirty and naughty 😏 to Ruby in Korean since his mom is Korean 🇰🇷 and his dad is afro-german 🇩🇪
So this means that they have threesomes more often
♡Sixsomes happens a lot and sometimes she is unable to walk, sometimes she walks with a limp and some love marks on her body.
"You'll never escape us darling no matter what you do."
"Because mi amor we"
"Love you baby girl. "
"You don't know what you've done to me baby."
"I'm crazy about you babe really baby I am...I'll happily make you my second wife my beautiful muse~."
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silversupremacy · 1 year
Note
Small tutorial on how you design your critters?? You're a inspiration to me I must learn- And, if you want, tutorial on how you draw limbs?
God ok so that's sooo broad that I'm gonna try to sum it up but if you have additional questions feel free to ask I love answering stuff!
So first tutorial on limbs I did in the past here!
This is specifically furry hind legs. And additionally here's my tutorial on paws
If you want a more detailed tutorial, or an arm/front leg tutorial, or specific materials/more species let me know!
OK AN D now how I design object-creatures
I'm assuming you meant object creatures and not just all my creatures, cause I design a lot of little guys.
So I usually have four-ish things I go for in a design depending on the chara-
First is just taking x thing from the object they are and just accenting it. For example, Pepper's tail and ears are Peppercorn plant.
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And OJ has that straw tail
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So these features aren't really there because they're based on an animal. They're just there cause "orange juice drink, oh maybe they would have a straw tail"
Two, using canon in my design, either through the character's personality, or something taken from the canon.
For example, Baseball in s2 has to tape his pickaxe to his leg to use it. So logically, he wouldn't have little hands to hold the pickaxe with, so that's why I went with hooves! Then from there, I had the idea that he could use his tail to deliver powerful kicks with his legs by leaning back on it (like a kangaroo)
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Another example is Fan, he's shown to be able to glide in canon so a lot of people go with bird vibes for him!
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Though alternatively, you could also be inspired by the Gliding Snake, the Draco Lizards, or Sugar Gliders! There's a whole bunch of gliding creatures.
And more of a personality thing would be how I give Nickel a little spade tail cause he's a little rat bastard (affectionate). He also has nimble little rat hands cause he's more crafty and sneaky.
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Third thing, Including Spec Bio stuff and just neat concepts
This is kinda crossed with the "what would fit this object" thing. But notice that I gave Apple an apple blossom tail. Well then, I developed this idea that maybe the flower would release scents to convey how she feels. Like she might subconsciously release a scent her partner (cough cough marshmallow) finds pleasant in order to relax them. I got this idea from the theory that cats communicate a lot through scent, and it's kinda theorized that cats might release a scent around their human that makes them wanna be friends (with mixed results).
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And here for example, Lifering is basically made for ocean life. The idea is that he has a heavy layer of blubber in the winter to keep him warm, and the only difference people would notice is that his 'nose' hole would be smaller. He also has ears that he can use to communicate using them as 'flags' and a tail that he can use to light up in morse code. So basically he's perfect for ocean rescue.
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Fourth thing, it just looks cool so why not do it. Clover didn't have a ton of traits go into her design beyond the Clover Flower tail, but she's just kinda nice to look at. Ultimately 99% of her body shape is just cause it's a good design.
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And additionally, a lot of my creatures are made from just my vague and rough knowledge of creatures. I have just read a lot of animal facts in my life and kinda just recall a lot of what I've read and seen.
So just having wide knowledge of animals on earth helps a lot! Another part of me making an object-creature is just going "what animal do they remind me of"
Oh and a misc note abt my creatures, I have very few rules but one of them I try to keep to is that they have three toes and four fingers (three fingers one thumb). Some leg only objects have four toes technically (three fingers one thumb) But the idea is connected to how animal life on earth is built roughly the same. Like how bats have five fingers, they just stretched out looong into wings. And cats have five fingers on their front paws but only four on their back, But there's evidence of ancestors having those five toes Im p sure.
It's a similar thing abt how we can find specific bones in birds similar to our own arm and leg bones. Just considering what the path of evolution of these objects is neat.
But since objects reproduce via. magic exclusively in my verse, I kinda just do whatever! It's the reason why traits kinda got jumbled up (ex. mammal with reptile traits) cause the use of magic kinda just scrambled things.
Uhm hope this helps??? let me know if you have more questions ig????
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tctartarus-a · 8 months
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Headcanon - Power Levels + Family (sorta)
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Okay, stay with me here.
What I've kinda drawn up currently isn't *the best* representation of what I'm trying to get across while also staying somewhat myth-accurate.
In my view, based on what admittedly is a miniscule amount of research I thought I'd put in a neat chart how Iview the power levels of Gods and within the game of Hades.
Based on what we know ofc. Things get a bit weird when it comes to Chaos and Chronos because Chronos (in myths) is supposed to have spawned Chaos, and chaos's...egg...no. No I don't know why.
Obviously you can go by your own rules, we can mismatch and switch it up however way we want but as a base line I thought I'd get a kinda view of succession and power. It's important to know that just because someone is "below" the other in the chart doesn't mean they are unable to still become stronger than those above them. I'm simply speaking on general birth-power as even Zeus needed his family's help and others to help take down the titans.
Each line might not be as *physically* stronger, but they do overthrow and gain power equal or above their previous ruler through plot, cunning, and other means.
Something I want to mainly point to is that I believe the Furies are very strong. I want to actually put them on the same level as the Incarnates and Chthonic Gods because they too are supposed to be as strong if not also as old as Aphrodite and the others. They were born alongside the other incarnates which were brought into existence as life flourished. I would not put them any lower than that when it comes to actual-canon and not game mechanics canon.
Realistically they'd be a lot stronger than what is shown in-game, plus Zagreus does get help (much like previous successors) to defeat them and when he has no help/buffs it is very difficult.
I do not believe Hecate and Cronus are "related" as if they come from the same parents, but simply they spawned from the same tier-power of entities that just don't have names and I don't really wanna name just in case something else proves me wrong.
The Fates, I put on the same level as Nyx despite how they are her daughters, because not even Nyx is really *fully* able to go against them. The Fates have dominion over nearly everything equal to or below their power.
Demeter could also be placed one above where she is as well, considering that she isn't directly related to any of those Gods and so we don't 100% know where she belongs, or at least I don't. I only put her on-par because of how Zeus calls her his "foster sister" implying they had some sort of kinship despite not being blood-related. Assumedly putting them around the same age-group and so power-levels if that makes sense. Also no I don't think her husband was as powerful as her, i just put that there so people know it's her and someone unrelated to the family she had persephone with.
I do go by the idea that Aphrodite is stronger than Zeus, as not even Zeus can resist his uh. Lust. To put it lightly, and so she holds more power over the Olympians than they will admit but she doesn't hold dominion over the primordial titans. I could see her being another direct spawn of Chaos as well, as Chaos does seem to Love Nyx as a parent does, but Aphrodite was born more from other kinds of love and lust and so that didn't come until later when the Primordial Titans actually started getting it on.
And all the ? marks are more for like, ambiguous "relations" because Chaos is an entity that doesn't really *claim* things as his creation. Since kinda *everything* is his? The only person we see he really does "Claim" as a direct relation is Nyx, but if we want to be technical he spawned everything.
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chidoroki · 9 months
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182 Days of TPN - Day 93
Chapter 93: “The End”
Happy! The word you’re looking for is HAPPY! His life may have been cursed but these two made his life worth living which is so very important to a boy who wanted to end it all! Aaahh, they’re literally so damn special to him and I’ll never get over how deeply he loves and cares for them both.
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I would never wanna experience the wide range of emotions Ray must be feeling during this moment. How hard his heart must’ve dropped the moment he saw his best friend get brutally stabbed, the way he became speechless as her seemingly lifeless body falls to the ground and all the panic he feels at the sight of all the blood.. the mere thought of being in a similar situation makes me feel sick and lightheaded.
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Of course he’s absolutely seething with rage as well. Emma was one of the friends he swore to protect from the very beginning and to witness her now bleeding out as she lays motionless on the ground with some despicable demon lingering over her as it taunts the rest of the kids.. oh yeah, Ray’s far beyond pissed off. The amount of anger Ray expresses reminds me very much of that one panel back during ch65 and I love when he becomes unhinged whenever one half of his living emotional crutches is taken from him and/or hurt.
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I think one of the reasons why this moment causes such anxiety between its characters and us readers is how the humans are plain and ordinary in this world (excluding those experimented on at Lambda). They have no special powers, magic, etc to fall back on which makes every injury permanent and real, so in the midst of battle where one fearsome enemy remains standing and no medical assistance is nearby, we’re lead to believe that Emma is truly in danger. Doesn’t matter that she’s the main protagonist either because she has indeed been seriously hurt in the past, with Isabella breaking her leg and our girl chopping off her own ear.
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Teeny-tiny GP trio is precious to me. I wanna hug them.
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The panels of Emma struggling to keep herself afloat as she slowly starts to sink causes “Diver” (Shippuden OP8) to play in my head every. single. time. I revisit this chapter. without fail. And I read this chapter back a lot.
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Of course it’s very sweet that she thinks of Norman again during all this and I also love how Emma’s shown to be reaching outside the panel. Really puts in perspective how desperate she is to hold on.
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No surprise here, but the moment when Isabella offers her assistance and encouragement is my favorite helping hand of the bunch. Since everything happening here is all inside Emma’s head, it proves that she still thinks of/cares for Isabella despite everything said woman has done in the past. What I really love about all this though is with Isabella being the final person that pulls Emma back into reality, it’s almost as if Emma’s first big enemy is helping her now defeat her current enemy and I think that’s neat. (thankfully this ain’t gonna be the last time momma helps out our girl either).
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Sweetie, where exactly on your person where you hiding the pistol this entire time? And poor Nigel is still in tears, but they’re happy ones this time. Ray probably forgot how to breathe again though.
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I love this duo so much.. he doesn’t even question how the hell she’s standing again and reads her mind perfectly to relay the plan she has to everyone else so they all can continue fighting and win.
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In the previous chapter, Leuvis said that he wouldn’t fall for the same flash bomb trick twice, but I guess third time is the charm. He could’ve very well closed his eyes, though it would’ve left him open to the barrage of other bullets regardless, and with the flash bomb already detonated, he really didn’t have enough time to decide on another solution. Seems like Palvus has taken cover because he knows they’re already screwed.
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Even though Leuvis starts to regenerate from the onslaught, we get Yuugo successfully avenging his family from many years ago with a critical hit to the poacher’s core. (well, one of them).
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Favorite panel/moment:
To see a normal 11-year old girl stand back up after getting stabbed by one of the most intelligent and strongest demons in the series is such a thrilling and badass moment that completely captivates me every time I see it. There’s no power system for her to tap into and get some last minute boost like your typical shonens usually have and hell, not even some convenient medical attention helped get her back on her feet. She got up with pure fury, hostility and determination! Yeah yeah, plot-armor is a huge help here and she passes out shortly after this.. but regardless! Not only is this absolutely my favorite panel of Emma, but my favorite panel out of the entire story as well. This is very moment I truly fell in love with this girl and when she actually replaced Ray as my #1 character for quite some time. There’s so much I love about this moment for her and everything and aaahhh.. would’ve loved if the “63194” theme played here too.
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mdhwrites · 1 year
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Ruby Gillman Trailer
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So... This trailer has theoretically been living in my brain for the past day and I want to talk about it. My first thought was just “This is cute. Looks neat. I’ll keep an eye out for it and maybe see it if I get the opportunity.” Theeeeeen someone made art of the mermaid and kraken kissing and I mean that’s just perfect. There’s even a lot of good potential for shipping there with the person who is defined by their powers and what they are and the person who doesn’t care about any of those things. The attraction from the mermaid to the kraken is immediate and obvious and filling in the gaps could be fun. Which actually brought me to stage two: This trailer is bad... but in a good way? It fails in just making an audience interested as it also defeats the purpose to watching it for people who mostly care about the big plot points rather than the journey. After all, we know her powers, see her first accidental transformation into full kraken mode, see the villain’s super mode reveal, get it confirmed that it ends with a kaiju fight, see how superfluous the love interest will be, etc. like that. When people talk about trailers showing the whole movie, this could actually be used as a textbook example of it... With one exception: How it does it also easily facilitates fandom interaction. The main designs are shown fairly clearly, with their variants being shown as well so artists don’t have to fill in the gaps left out by lack of references, the plot of the movie is clear so you can take educated guesses on what they’ll do so the movie won’t as easily contradict fanfiction made before it, etc. like that. Hell, you could just try to write a fanfic that’s effectively the movie with those guesses. It’d be like those cheap knock offs of hyped up movies like “Atlantic Rim” that you would find in old video rental places. I... I swear I’m 26 (one month away from my birthday to the day actually which is actually pure coincidence). So... Here’s the multiple levels of thought in full: This idea is neat. I like monster girls and monster girls trying to fit into human society is something I’ve enjoyed enough to write multiple times in multiple ways! The last book I released had a dryad in it even. Oh! Yeah, this antagonist and protagonist actually have great potential for a sapphic romance and we KNOW how much I love those. My first proper length novel, instead of novella, was based on a popular werewolf girl falling for a nerdy human girl after all. You do know so much though that you could try to take the same premise and flip it in time for the movie to come out. Books would have a way easier time with a deadline of ‘this Summer’ than making a movie yourself though. You’d have to be able to pump out a whole book’s worth of chapters in like a week, let alone if you don’t have practice with mermaids. Of course, I am well documented as having experience writing mermaids, and even more hostile ones at that. With all that said... There’s MORE than enough differences between Ruby Gillman and the story percolating in my head right now. There won’t be a race based rivalry, it’ll be focused on a romance rather than shoving it in there because apparently it needs one (that’s really how the trailer makes it feel for Gillman) and just the shift from the two being entirely against each other from go to actually working together and getting closer inherently requires a very different story. As well as the fact that a book can’t get away with the main character being blue and people just theoretically ignoring it (I’m curious what the explanation for that will be) and the fact that a kraken might be hated while a mermaid is loved in the world has already led to worldbuilding that will play into the romance, the climax, themes and character arcs. This also isn’t me trying to say “I’m gonna outdo Dreamworks!” It’s more my silly way of announcing a new project I’m going to try and focus on and try to get done in like two-three months. I know I can more than easily do it if I can get my mind to work with me so... we’ll see but my mind is excited and I think it’s a fun, silly experiment. I am a little sad that it means I likely won’t be writing fanfiction for the movie before it comes out though like I did with Wenclair and Wednesday. Again, I think Ruby and Chelsea already have a good possible dynamic together but my job as a professional writer takes precedence unfortunately.
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King's Tide - and now we wait
MAN this was a LOT huh? can't wait til next week's e- oh.
this whole ep had me so tense my back hurts so that's nice
King scoffing at Philip saying "you can trust me" and that giving him away was funny to me ngl
Willow really is the best, she managed to keep a level head
I like how she and Gus kept looking after King through the whole episode. he is everyone's little brother <3
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babiesss
"there's always a way to help, you just gotta look for the right opportunity" and he did
MITTENS awww
"Paradise awaits" he tells them, all these people he will kill with no hesitation
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"with this spell declared, promise I'll be back" I'M FINE
we can see then that all other coven heads were on Belos/Philip's side, but I suspect no one will be after all this
the way they foreshadowed the arm thing tho
a lil smooch for Hooty :'(
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back when things were simpler. you realize they've all known each other for super long huh
yes I DO find it hilarious that Adrien Graye looks like he hasn't slept since Gus messed him up
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I think it's neat how for the Draining Spell Philip drew on the ground like back when he used glyphs to warp
something truly nightmarish about seeing people cheering at first, then be scared and collapse as the spell slowly advances
and he really just. leaves. throws the collector out and is planning to leave all these dying witches behind
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hilarious that he's wearing that Colonizer Fit™ but even funnier that Luz called him out on it, I could stare at this expression all day
he's like wait do people not wear these anymore???
Kiki is quite pitiful, always seeking the approval of this guy who just wants her gone
"have you as my right hand? I'd sooner cut off my whole arm"
so when Luz gave him the sigil I really thought he'd do that. turns out it was someone else's sigil arm that would be yanked off
damn he really said go die in a hole and Kiki was like sure why not
Philip feared the Collector so much he betrayed and discarded him, and now he's against him. if he had freed them maybe they'd still be somewhat on the same side
then again, idk if this man knows how to interact with anyone without lying and manipulating so there's that
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I love them very much
Darius stopped attacking when Healing Coven Witch threatened Eber !! they are besties !!!! how dare they
yes I noticed everyone is shown captured but Steve is NOWHERE in this entire episode
"you too have a strange intuition with these, it took me years to figure that out" his brother, who also loved magic and the Isles, could probably use glyphs a lot easier than Philip, who hated everything about it. the Titan can tell
"you're such a hypocrite" YES SWEETY CALL HIM OUT ON HIS MANIPULATIVE ASS
Witch Hunter General, people are gonna bully him super hard on twitter I can already see it
SHE WAS SO SMART WITH THE GLOVE SO SMART
can we imagine some sitcom of a teenage bi latina girl trying to introduce an egomaniac witch hunter from the 1600s to the Year of Our Lord 2022
Goop Belos design is horrifying I love it
that whole sequence from King's pov. the muffled sound, the chaos as the adults collapse and you can see Hunter's arm all glowy, everything destroyed. oof
"WE don't belong here" "I'M NOT LIKE YOU" yessss
"you guys are LITERALLY the coolest" YEA THEY ARE
the Collector is SO scary and chaotic. Neither witch nor demon, a child from the stars, seemingly has powers that affect reality like no one else's, and yet behaves like a child. How do we stop someone like this
Gus saw Philip's memories too right? seems like it
still trying to manipulate mansplain manslaughter your way to Hunter's loyalty huh, you horrible old man
HE SAID "CALEB" RIGHT? WE ALL HEARD THAT RIGHT ???
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"where the failures end up" this messed me up there were so many of them. so so many
the Collector couldn't see King while he was wearing the collar with the symbol
he found the symbol where he hatched. his father was keeping him invisible
"a game called the Owl House" I am so normal about this
King saved everyone but we have no idea at what cost
yeah the Raine and Eda scene? uncalled for. amazing. painful
the Round Boi broke. I repeat, the Round Boi broke!!
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god these are children
*SPLAT* goes the witch hunter
did you see Hunter's face tho? how many conflicting emotions from seeing THAT just happen
"King! :D" me too Collector
all of them joining in King's whole "game" with their nervous smiles and poor Hunter's in too much pain so he just *whimpers in agreement*
I love the little jester design
also he really just looked at Philip's centuries long evil plan and went "okay! :) boop!"
this whole part had me so stressed I was like who's gonna cross the door and who isn't AHH
both King and Luz made difficult choices, and once again they're separated from those they care about :( DANA
it's raining. for some reason that hurts me
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ANNE BOONCHUY? sorry I had to
Vee! will she join the Mentally Scarred Kids Squad
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god these are children (x2)
they are hurt and cold. Hunter holding Gus he is Older Brother now
Camila: *pulls out adoption papers*
and those credits MAN season 3 is gonna be wild
I imagine our group of kids will have to investigate Philip and his brother, so we'll go visit the museum dude to get info.
also what Gus saw in Belos' head might not only help there, but also lead to Hunter having to reveal the whole grimwalker thing
sad season 3 is short bc having shenanigans on Earth with these 5 could be delightful
idk if I want human disguises or Luz can just tell everyone they're really enthusiastic cosplayers or something
maybe seeing the human realm might lift Gus' spirit a lil bit
We didn't get to meet Luz's palisman, but hopefully they're ready to hatch soon
Camila will slap Goop Belos with her chancla with such force he'll never come back
also I do hope we get to see King, the Collector, and all the adults that were left behind who are all safe and sound of course ha ha ha, dealing with everything that happened and probably looking for a way to get the kids back
in conclusion, I will not stop thinking about this episode ever. my kids and I are traumatized
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lesbianmarrow · 2 years
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ok time to post about legends of tomorrow 5.10 “the great british fake off”. i enjoyed this episode so so much. ive been thinking lately about onscreen chemistry between actors and what it adds to the story (particularly as ive been rewatching arrow s1 episodes) and so this was a good episode to examine through that lens. the thing that makes this episode work is that zari and constantine want to fuck each other. that’s what makes it good! theres other great stuff happening in this episode, but without that, it would feel hollow and lifeless. so i loved that they did that. 
literally i dont know how legends of tomorrow keeps getting me to root for m/f ships when i am usually so opposed to them. and especially with zari whom i love! but it’s so good in this episode. the quietly simmering sexual tension between zari and constantine infuses all their scenes with energy. i thought the will-they-won’t-they dynamic worked perfectly. the whole time youre wondering, are they going to fuck each other (or kiss, which on tv is basically the same as fucking)? but in truth it doesn’t actually matter whether or not they have sex. what matters is that they both want to. that’s what makes it compelling to watch! though i didn’t find this pairing (using that word in a non-romantic sense) quite as natural or rich as ava & zari, it was far better than nate & zari. what i also like about it is that i didn’t see it coming. like at the end of the last episode i was maybe wondering if the conflict between zari & constantine might have a romantic edge to it but i figured that was too outlandish for this show to do. but i admire them for really going for it! the actual plot of the episode, of zari & constantine looking for this ring and having to deal with all these encores also looking for it, was kind of lackluster and mediocre in my opinion. but the zari constantine romance made it a good episode. 
this episode is very similar to the marie antoinette episode in that zari has to team up with a legend to save the day against ridiculous odds. both episodes feature zari proving herself, but while “a head of her time” was more about zari proving herself to ava and the other legends (and, in a meta sense, to the audience), this one is more about zari proving herself to herself and to constantine (but mostly to herself). last time she had to prove that she was worthy of being a legend, but this time she has to prove that she’s worthy of wielding the family totem. maybe she’s also proving that she’s worthy of behrad’s sacrifice, and of zari 1′s sacrifice. one detail i love is that zari is initially unable to use the totem to defend herself, but when she finally gets it to work, it’s so that she can save constantine’s life. i like that it’s a selfless act that unlocks her abilities. it’s also nice to see zari saving constantine in the end since constantine has to be the one to save her toward the beginning of the episode. and it’s also neat how zari’s social charisma and confidence saved constantine toward the middle of the episode before she figured out how to use the totem. she doesn’t need her powers in order to be powerful, but they do help in a pinch! 
i might be reaching a bit here but i find it interesting how this version of zari has shown interest in charlie and constantine, who are both openly bisexual, and seems far less interested in nate even though zari 1 liked nate. i get the vibe that this zari would be more open to the idea of questioning her sexuality than zari 1 was. but i guess we’ll have to see how it plays out. i did really like that scene at the end where zari is being comforted by nate and constantine is being fussed over by gary and the two of them just share a look acknowledging that they had felt something for each other on the mission. my suspicion is that zari and constantine aren’t going to pursue a romance with each other in upcoming episodes, and i think that’s fine. i could be wrong though. but i sort of like the idea that it’s something that almost happened between them but didn’t. and also of course i am still rooting for #zarlie. though now that i think about it zari & charlie & constantine have all shown interest in threesomes before.....hmm. 
i really loved the ava & astra hell storyline. i like how seeing sara hurt has made ava reckless and she’s like i HAVE to put a stop to this threat once and for all. but my favorite thing was seeing how ava was able to relate to astra and empathize with her, and eventually even convince her to team up with the legends. it makes perfect sense when you look at the characters and their histories. astra was just betrayed by the one person she thought was on her side, the one person she was loyal to. ava experienced something similar with rip. furthermore, astra’s goal has been to accumulate power and acclaim within the confines of hell. she wants to achieve success within this framework. ava was similar, though far less evil, when working for and eventually leading the time bureau. she sought the societal approval that came from holding this position and doing it well. but now that ava has been on the waverider for half a season, she understands that success and power within these institutions don’t actually mean anything - they’re temporary at best, and at worst they prevent you from attaining actual happiness. so ava persuades astra to join her on the waverider so astra can experience the same journey of introspection and self-discovery that ava has. ava is also urging astra to take control of her life. growing up in hell, astra always felt trapped, and as a clone ava can relate to that feeling. so she urges astra to take her fate into her own hands (almost literally), because she knows how important that is. i just love how this shows off ava’s character growth and hints at imminent character growth for astra as well. 
lastly: sara has time powers!!!! she can see the future!!!! ohhhh i love this so much. i want her to become a time god. i am so excited to learn more about these powers and how sara is changed by them. also when ava was sitting by sara’s sickbed and realized she is the captain now and needs to not let sara down </3 really sweet and heartbreaking. ava is literally sara’s second-in-command........her mr spock........her lionheart. oughh.
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jezabatlovesbats · 1 year
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If Candlequin Had a Wiki Page
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Species: Living Wax Figure 
Gender: Female
Role: Doom Raider, Ally 
World: Chandelier Circus 
Attacks: Lamp Sparks, Laughter Leap, Wick Explosion
Headcanon Voice Actor(s): Sarah Stiles
Candlequin is a clown made out of wax who is a Magic villain in Skylanders: Trap Team and a Doom Raider.
Personality
Being a clown, Candlequin is very comical and goofy, and she enjoys being in the spotlight. She enjoys herself whenever she is performing, always aiming to bring down the house. She likes to do things her own way. Candlequin is also a bit of a neat freak, arranging her candles in specific rows, but she doesn't like cleaning up messes. 
Abilities
Candlequin is able to light up the wicks on her fingers and magically shoot fire sparks from them. She can summon large explosive candles from the ground. She also can twirl the floating hoop around her waist, which allows her to throw sparks from all angles. She is shown to be fairly athletic, as she is capable of jumping very high and doing flips and cartwheels. 
History
When she first came alive as a performer made of wax, she was given the name Kendall Quinn. Upbeat and candle-obsessed, Kendall traveled in the circus with the other creations of her inventive ringmaster, performing for audiences across Skylands. But then, when the ringmaster started leading the circus in disturbing ways she wasn't happy with, Kendall grew rebellious. She ran away from his circus to start one of her own- the Chandelier Circus- and called herself the Candlequin. She loved being the one in charge to the point where she wanted to show everybody how powerful she was. She and her villainous circus troupe forced people to watch their evil performances, also casting bright spells on their belongings that would make them melt. Her show of force and magical prowess led her to enter the ranks of the Doom Raiders, pushing Pain-Yatta out of the spotlight in the process. She strongly preferred being part of the Raiders than being back in her old circus, as she felt like she had a stronger sense of individuality and brightness. Eventually, like the rest of her fellow Raiders, Candlequin was locked in Cloudcracker Prison. 
Skylanders: Trap Team
After the Doom Raiders were freed, Candlequin, like the others, really didn't feel like following Kaos's plan for world domination. She was curious to know how old he was. Later in the story, after noticing that the group was losing assets with more of them being captured, Candlequin decided she'd stop the Skylanders herself. She reopened her circus with improvements using the leftover Traptanium, swiping people up and keeping them within its walls. The Skylanders arrived at the circus, where they battled its attractions on the outside of the tent and then confronted her on the inside. The fight that followed resulted in Candlequin being defeated and captured. 
Story Quotes
- "How old is this fella, anyway?"
- "Aww, don'cha worry, GQ. I'm sure things are gonna start looking up soon..."
- "Haven't ya noticed?! We're losing more and more of our players! One by one, our candles are going out! You get what I'm trying to say, right?"
- "Lighting a taper will end this little caper."
- "Keep your flames flickering, folks- the show's about to begin!"
- Llllllladies and gentlemen, candles and lamps! On behalf of Her Gilded Majesty, I welcome you to the Chandelier Circus!" 
- "It's funny how you think you can stop us! And I thought I was the clown here!"
- "Wow.. I almost forget how smoky it smells after you put out all the fires. I'd better get out of here."
- "Why, hello there! Didn't really expect ya to make it THIS far, but that's all right. I've made some BIG old improvements to my wick top! Wanna see?"
- "Say goodbye, now, little candle in the wind. Tonight, I'm gonna BLOW YOU OUT! (evil clownish cackle)" (after this line is said, her poster pops up and her name is spoken, and then comes the battle)
- "Sky be nimble! Sky be quick! Sky jump over the candlestick!"
- "I'm NOT clowning around anymore!"
- "Jumpflipabrum candelabrum!"
Trap Quotes
- "Now, now, I'm sure we can all have a laugh about this..." (when in the forcefield thing after the battle, about to be trapped)
- "Huh? Hey, what's the big idea?... NO! Not my beautiful chandelier! How DARE YOU! You know that's gonna leave a smoky AFTERSCEEEEEENNNNNTTT! (honk) Ow!" (when being trapped)
- "Oooh... my back. Say, why do I get the feeling I'm not the only one in here? Is this perhaps your menagerie, Portal Master?" (when trapped)
- "Might as well get myself settled. I was meant to be funny and not scary, wasn't I?"
- "You know what you want, pal!"
- "That other one's not the brightest candle on the tray." (quotes said when you used the same magic trap more than once and now you have to pick one)
- "Let the wick BUUUUUUUUURN!" (when you put the magic trap in the portal and she's in it, this is her shout when she enters the game)
- "The moment you've all been waiting for!"
- "Light 'em up!"
- "Let them all melt!"
- "WHAT?! That's wax!"
- "Don't clown on me, now!"
- "Lamp sparks!"
- "Wicksplosion!" (in-battle quotes)
- "Oh me, oh my. Your candle's running out! Don't worry, I'll take care of this!" (when you're low on health)
- "That's what I'm talking about! I have to rekindle my flame now, if you don't mind." (once time is up)
- "Can't exactly get out there with a drowned wick, pal."
- "Oh, no, no! We wouldn't want me to melt." (quotes said when you try to summon her while her timer is still charging up)
- "I'm prepared to perform, Portal Master! Send me in! (honk honk)"
- "My candlelight's back, and I'm ready to go!" (full timer)
- "Oh ho! Look at you! You're a crystal chandelier of greatness! Respect." (when you complete a chapter with her in the trap)
- "Liking what ya got here, Skylander. Consider me if ya need someone to teach ya the ways of the performing arts."
- "How'd ya get the place smelling this fresh even without any scented candles?"
- "Ya know, I could get those Skaletones guys a gig at my circus. Would that be too out of wax?" (stuff said when at the Academy)
- "Well, don't they look bright!" (when you find a soul gem)
- "Not really my strong suit, but I'll give it a shot." (when you're doing a puzzle)
- "This guy isn't clowning when he says he needs me!" (quest)
- "So, how's it all looking?" (when checking her stats)
- "(honk honk) Candlequin!" (saying her name when you move to her icon in the vault)
Villain Theme ♫
This is what I imagine the music for her boss battle sounding like:
youtube
And I imagine her villain theme, the music that plays when you play as her, sounding something like this:
youtube
Trivia
- Her name is a portmanteau of "candle" and "harlequin." 
- She was going to be a marionette/clown/candle hybrid named Marion Candles, but the marionette side of her was removed because her creator thought she'd be too similar to Mesmeralda.
- Candlequin's creator imagines her being a Sensei for the sorcerer battle class, wielding a large candlestick staff. 
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