#one of my many attempts at this chapter that I trashed XD | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

bigskydreaming · 3 years

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Hey, any comic recs to ensure that I get Dick Grayson character right? Other batfam included, if you're willing. I'm trying to make sure I don't write a character completely ooc, because that drives me up the WALL when I read that. However, since I dubbed you the #1 Dick Grayson person, I thought I'd ask you to make sure I do him justice rather than a smear campaign or something lol! Thanks! ALSO TELL ME YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE TITANS SHOW! That's all xD

LOL thanks I appreciate it, but while I’m good for the rants, for actual comics recs I would go to the likes of @northoftheroad, @hood-ex, and @nightwingmyboi because they’re a lot better than I am at knowing where to find specific stuff and comprehensive reading lists! I tend to jump all over the place in terms of my go-to comics for Dick.....I’m always on about Robin: Year One but I’m like eh Nightwing: Year One is pretty trash tbh. I prefer pre-Flashpoint continuity overall but I did enjoy some of the early Nightwing Rebirth stuff and before that the pre-Forever Evil New 52 stuff had some good beats. But for the most part, my favorite Dick Grayson tends to be him as a member of teams like the Titans....he shines most in ensembles, I think, because his strengths ultimately are that like...he gets people, he knows how people work, and he knows how to get the most out of the people he’s with, how to make people gel and get in sync and become more than just the sum of their parts.

(Speaking of nightwingmyboi, haven’t seen them posting in awhile, anyone know what they’re up to? Hope everything’s okay!)

Which brings me to the problems with the Titans show. There’s a lot I like about it - Anna Diop and Ryan Potter in particular - and a lot I was never gonna like about it - I’m heavy on the Ugh why must Dick Grayson be a cop ever why is that a thing make it stop. And so while I don’t think Brenton Thwaites does like, a bad job with the role or anything, there was always kinda a ceiling on how attached to or invested in his take on the character I was ever gonna reach.

But Season 2. Oof. Let’s talk about Season 2, and how so many of the problems with it are identical to the problems that surround Dick in the comics, but also aren’t limited to just his character or DC and just as equally show up in all kinds of media. Like, I could have (and probably did) offer an identical rant about the role of Scott McCall in TW’s S5.

The problem is one I’ve kinda taken to calling in my head “The Ensemble Lone Wolf Effect.”

This is when writers have a character they nominally want to be part of an ensemble....but that they repeatedly go back to the well of “this character should however spend most of their time on their own, or are more natural on their own, or just wants to be on their own, or also sometimes they just deserve to be on their own cuz they suck for Reasons we decline to specify.”

But its that thing of wanting it both ways....believing a character honestly NEEDS to be a loner or off on their own for the sake of their story, but also still wanting to utilize them as part of an ensemble, not willing to actually MAKE them a solo character, and so it kinda creates this never-ending feedback loop wherein they pay lip service to the character being part of an ensemble, but that’s never really on display, which creates a lot of unnecessary conflict among characters that’s to NONE of their benefits.

(And honestly in the comics, you could apply this to pretty much all the Batfam at times...not just Dick. They do it with Bruce ALL the time, they’re doing it with Damian right now, did it with Tim with Red Robin, Jason most of the time he’s not with the Outlaws and Cass most of the time she’s not with Babs or Steph or the Outsiders. As well as Babs herself at times).

Basically what I’m talking about here is like....so much of the drama in S2....and specifically the parts that most every fan I saw had issues with....came about not organically, because it made sense for the characters to behave that way, but solely in order to launch a specific plot, that the writers clearly wanted for S2:

And that was Dick Grayson off on his own, at his lowest, facing his demons on a solo journey of self-discovery the writers clearly deemed necessary before he could find himself as Nightwing and rise to his most heroic self.

Now the thing is....this isn’t inherently a bad plot or a problem. The problem lies in how they went about it.

Because rather than looking at the overall story and saying okay, that’s what we want to do with Dick Grayson, that’s what we want for HIS story, now how do we get that and where do we take it from there, rather than looking at that as just a STARTING point, and engineering a plot that grows OUT of that.....

The writers just started out by viewing that as an ENDPOINT, and reverse engineered a way to get Dick TO that point first and foremost....at the expense of so many characters who then basically turned on him and held him solely responsible for the things many of them also had a hand in....purely to get him off on his own and isolated.

But that was never necessary!

Because Dick’s character contains multitudes when it comes to guilt and self-blame, everyone knows that. He never needed anyone else to blame him for what happened to Joey because he blamed himself. So the second they conceived of the plot “Slade wants revenge for something Dick at least blames himself for”.....they had all the ingredients needed for Dick to decide proactively that the best way to protect everyone was to put distance between him and them, that he should try and hunt down Slade on his own, solve this between just the two of them.

And that should have been the STARTING point, for that narrative journey of self-exploration, not that journey resulting as an ENDPOINT in and of itself from Dick being FORCED into a kind of isolation by the others all blaming him.

Because now see what ripple effects result:

Now, the other characters are just as able to focus on their own individual storylines as they were in the show, with the additional concern of wanting to ACTUALLY find Dick and figure out what’s going on with him or tell him they still want to help....without this in any way needing to distract them from their own storylines, practically speaking, or cut into Dick’s narrative alone-time, because as part of the equation you ALSO have Slade, who has his own wants and agendas, not to mention tactics. And Slade’s perfectly capable of and willing to work with others, or utilize the long game, or engage in a game of cat and mouse as a distraction...there are numerous ways that you could engineer a plot FROM these motivations that allows him to keep the rest of the Titans distracted and even targeted individually, without allowing them to group back up with Dick or Dick to even know that they’re in danger and that his attempts to avoid that backfired.

You want the characters isolated and divided? The PLOT can do that for you. You don’t need the characters to do that to themselves.

IMO, most if not all stories are meant to advance characters, first and foremost. Take Characters A-Z and leave them different from how you found them. Move them to a different position in their lives as much as anything else, from where they began. The goal is character DEVELOPMENT.

What this means, in my book, is that the plot should serve the characters, NOT the other way around. The plot should grow FROM the characters and what they would or would not do....the characters should never have to be forced to FIT INTO a plot.

That’s backwards.

There shouldn’t be any need to reverse engineer a certain starting point, characterwise.

Just like....start the plot, plotwise....and from the moment you first introduce a single plot element, prioritize how would the characters react and BUILD from there.

The only engineering you should need to do is how to get to an eventual END point....which is still all about the forward momentum, not backing your way into anything.

Its one thing to have an endgoal for your plot, a point in character or narrative development that you want characters to reach. But its all about perspective. About keeping that what you’re working towards rather than something that you like, have to reach before you can even really BEGIN.

Which is what Titans S2 did. The real GOAL of the season in terms of Dick’s storyline, was his solo journey of self-discovery. But there’s a million different ways they could have LAUNCHED that journey, without it having to be the forced and contrived outcome of events and character decisions that literally only existed to initiate a journey that never required a forced initiation.

And so all this narrative energy gets utterly wasted and expended on stuff that it just flat out doesn’t need to be spent on in the first place....instead of just putting that same energy to use building forward-facing storylines for ALL the characters, that don’t require contrived spats of disharmony when the goal of such moments isn’t even the disharmony but rather just that they’re kept apart, the end RESULT of the disharmony.

Imagine what S2 could have built if instead of wasting time, characterization and energy on getting to a point they could have simply started from if they’d simply looked at it that way and chosen to just....start. If they’d applied all that to building across the board, everyone’s story in service to their own character first and foremost, no tangled feedback loops making characters regress or cycle through the same behavior or narrative positionings over and over again in order to not get in each other’s way or cross paths at a time when the show didn’t want them to cross paths....because rather than make all these characters work at cross purposes, they’re all on the same page, they still want the same things....you’re simply engineering from their own natural characterizations and organic decisions and reactions, ways the PLOT can be utilized as a TOOL, to keep them moving forward in their own respective chapters, WITHOUT their characters having to be bent out of their natural shapes or forced into niches that don’t really suit them, just to keep them, PREVENT them, from more naturally or organically making a choice or action that would ‘get in the way’ of the plot.

Bottom line......the plot is supposed to be there to advance the characters, because the characters are what we come to stories for. The characters are who we invest in, relate to, ROOT for.

The characters aren’t there to advance the plot. We’re not here to yell yeah, I really hope the writers do whatever it takes with characters, no matter how backwards or unnatural it seems, just to get that sweet sweet and oh so specific ending we want that is in no way dependent on how invested or not we ACTUALLY are in the characters by the time it arrives, in order for it to actually be effective or not!

Lol. Y’know?

So yeah, that’s my biggest gripe with Titans so far. I’m still eager to see what happens between Kory and her sister, and although I’m not thrilled it seems to be becoming Batfam Straight Outta Gotham rather than like, Titans: The Show, I admit I am curious about what take they’ll go with for Babs. As I still pretty vividly recall that weird as hell Birds of Prey show the CW or UPN or WB or whatever it was at the time did for one season, where Babs was honestly not terribly adapted despite the show otherwise bearing like, zero in common with any existing DC property or character (do not even get me STARTED on their takes on Dinah and Helena, no, blehrrible, those were bad, those were like super bad)....anyway, I’m kinda curious even if it wouldn’t have been my choice for what direction the show should take. Not that I have a specific one in mind, just, yeah. And I also kinda would not hate if we got a new Roy Harper now, to replace the not!Roy of Arrow, because I don’t know him, no seriously, who is that, its not Roy Harper.

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theonceoverthinker · 4 years

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When Will My Life Begin? (Fair Game, 12/?)

Summary: Tangled AU. Clover Callows has been confined to a tower for all of his life, and given the threat that his Uncle Tyrian says his semblance poses to his safety, he accepts that fate. It’s the only life he’s ever known, after all. But when he’s offered the opportunity to fulfill his greatest dream after a chance encounter with a thief -- or bandit, as Qrow Branwen insists there’s a difference between the two -- both Clover and Qrow will discover joys that they never knew life could offer them before.

AO3

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A/N: ...You guys are either going to love me for this chapter or hate me! Just so you know, I’m preparing an umbrella for the things you’re going to fling at me for this one! XD Anyway, enjoy!

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Sometimes, raising Clover Ebi -- or rather, Clover Callows, as he now called him -- as his own ‘nephew’ was more trouble than it was worth.

Sometimes, it was a lot more trouble than it was worth, so much so that Tyrian had to remind himself that it was an endeavor that still merited seeing through.

Right now, as Tyrian trudged through the forests of Remnant, it felt like one of those times.

‘Uncle Tyrian! I put some dough in an oven and managed not to burn the tower to the ground! Aren’t I so smart?’

‘Uncle Tyrian, I want to see some stupid green lights and give away my identity to everyone you’ve carefully hidden it from for over twenty years!’

‘Uncle Tyrian, I want new paint from the furthest Gods damned corner of this dog’s dropping of a continent! Go get me some as well as a bag full of some other trash from the ground!’

What. A. Pest.

For twenty years, he’d had to live with that constant pest yammering in his ear all day long, asking -- nay, begging -- for trash or praise for his mediocre accomplishments or answers to his positively inexhaustible supply of banal questions.

This domestic life caring for Clover that Tyrian had subjected himself to was without question relentlessly dull, annoying, boring, and miserable.

Gods, if it weren’t for his semblance, he’d-

Well, if it weren’t for his semblance, Tyrian wouldn’t be so close -- so very, very close -- to being Salem’s right hand man, and with his ‘nephew’s’ continued help, he’d likely get that spot soon enough.

After all, that’s how he’d gotten so far. Others near the top of her hierarchy had fallen prey to many tragic ‘accidents’ over the years.

Who could have predicted how Arthur Watts’ latest invention would not only malfunction, but that the explosion would release chemicals that came together to act as a pheromone for Grimm?

How cruel could fate be to have the support beam that Hazel Rainart was hiding behind collapse just as he was about to complete his most recent mission for Salem?

What could have been done to prevent Leo Lionheart from attempting to desert Salem’s forces just as she’d had one hundred Grimm return from battle eager for something -- or rather, someone -- to eat?

And what sort of disaster would just the tiniest bit of luck have in store for Cinder Falls, Salem’s current right hand?

So yes, Clover was a pest, but he was a pest that nonetheless had been very successful at improving Tyrian’s placement in Salem’s hierarchy.

Tyrian supposed it stood to reason that he had to do things to keep Clover happy to ensure that that would only continue. He’d been careful to never push his luck too hard in that regard, knowing that even fear and guilt had its limits on what they could make a person willingly endure, and after their fight -- especially when it involved discussing actually going outside -- Tyrian knew Clover was getting agitated enough to possibly act on his desires.

Tyrian wasn’t about to let that happen, and so now here he was, about to make a trip all the way to the Argus Coves.

It was an ordeal, if for no other reason than that he’d be away from Salem, but it was one he would suffer all the same in her name.

He was lucky -- Salem had decided to spend the next fortnight in her Grimm pools, devising new forms for her malicious, yet stunning pets to take. She wouldn’t need his -- or, more importantly, anyone else’s -- services, nor ask about his whereabouts -- not that she ever did, always so respectful of her loyal subject’s privacy.

Salem trusted him…

In return, just as he gave her his unconditional admiration, he also gave her lies.

Tyrian hated lying to her about Clover, but he reasoned that helping her by channeling all of Clover’s luck into her most adoring servant’s being would be a better way of ensuring her victories. After all, who else would care about nothing more than Salem’s continued successes? Her other minions all had their own concerns and even if they didn’t, Train found that they were about as competent as a cat being trained to not drink milk.

In any event, his strategy had worked over the past two decades, and if he had anything to say about it, it would continue to work for the rest of his days. Perhaps, should he not only tell Clover about her, but also inspire him to love her as well -- and he absolutely could -- his scheme would persist even after his death.

He could only hope, for it was what Salem deserved.

Salem...Salem was a Goddess -- radiant, bold, cunning, enchanting, beautiful in both her body and soul, wise, gentle, ruthless, and far more qualities than Tyrian couldn’t state with all the world’s air in his lungs on top of even that. How the pitiful wastes of life in Remnant managed to not only not spend every waking moment of their purposeless days either bowing before her glory or gathering gifts to bestow upon her, but actually oppose her, he’d never know.

Cretins, the lot of them -- hopelessly lost cretins.

And of all the cretins Remnant had to offer, he got stuck with the worst of them to play the role of a lifelong babysitter -- and at present, delivery boy -- for.

Tyrian mentally mapped out his trip. If he stayed at a steady speed, took regular breaks, and ate and slept as he planned, he’d be at the Argus Coves by tomorrow afternoon. He’d spend two or three hours collecting shells and then head back to the tower. While he hated collecting the shells, and knew it would be a complete bore of a chore, it was best not to give Clover any reason to ask for more of them next year, or the next few of them, for that matter.

Then again, Clover had shown himself to be at least a little unpredictable, so he could only guess as to how quickly he would go through those paints, or what else he would desire for future birthdays.

After all, somehow, Clover had managed to conceal that mural of his from him for Gods knew how long. If it wasn’t for the subject matter of its depiction, Tyrian would almost be impressed by that bit of stealth. Clearly, he’d taught Clover well.

However, he may have been teaching Clover too well. If he could conceal an entire wall of the tower from him, what else could he be hiding? That tower might not have been large and Clover never left it, but it was fitted with many a nook and cranny for which to tuck away any number of trinkets.

Well, he’d just have to have a little search when he got back to the tower. He could disguise it as a game of hide and seek or just a checkup to make sure Clover was cleaning his living space well enough.

Clover might have believed himself to be clever -- he may have even crossed the threshold of cleverness a few times in his life -- but Tyrian knew he could put him in his place easily enough. Given how much lip disguised as wit Clover had started to show as of recent, perhaps it wasn’t a bad idea to do so sooner rather than later.

Tyrian had just started to drum up more ideas for how to best reign in his ‘nephew’ when suddenly, he heard a voice cry out.

“Let me go!” It was a man’s voice, one Tyrian thought he might have recognized, but was unable to recall its source on just it alone.

“Not a chance, you thief!” a woman’s voice responded, a low chuckle underneath her words.

Now that voice, Tyrian was reasonably sure he did recognize.

Before he could confirm it, another set of noises grabbed his attention -- the woman’s, and by the sounds of it, others’ footsteps were approaching

Quickly, Tyrian hid himself behind a tree, and just in time. Keeping careful as to remain unspotted, Tyrian peeked to look at the opposite side of the tree.

There, a group of five people, one of whom seemed to be something of a prisoner held tightly in one of their arms, emerged into his line of sight.

However, the four non imprisoned people weren’t just any people.

They were the Ace Ops.

Comprised of General Ironwood’s four children -- Harriet Bree, Elm Ederne, Marrow Amin, and Vine Zeki -- The Ace Ops served as the leaders of Remnant’s royal guard.

But what were they doing here?

Tyrian had only a small handful of run-ins with the Ace Ops all that much over the years since their formation, but despite that, he knew all about them, from their names to their weapons to their semblances -- when one was regularly gathering intel, threatening informants, and killing bystanders and witnesses who saw him doing either of those things in order to best assist Salem’s strikes against the kingdom’s capital, it was practically a requirement.

Because of that, it was odd to see Harriet on a horse, given that her semblance revolved around her own speed, but Tyrian didn’t let himself think about it too much, preferring to get an answer to his inquiry about just what led them so far out in the woods.

He looked at the prisoner in Elm’s arms and immediately, his eyes bulged with recognition.

Mercury Black.

Tyrian knew this man well. He was a thief, and unfortunately, a rather good one, or at least he seemed to be prior to this moment.

Salem had given Mercury not a small amount of her attention as of late. She entertained the idea of him as a prospective recruit for her forces, sending him out on missions to see just how much he could achieve. While he lacked Tyrian’s dedication to serving her, Mercury’s talent and need for direction as well as means for his survival in the cruel world they lived in piqued Salem’s interests. Like a lump of clay, Salem felt that she could perhaps mold him into a model member of her inner circle, one strong enough to enact her schemes and ready as well as willing to die for her at a moment’s notice.

Alas, it looked like Mercury’s talents had failed him. Tyrian knew Salem well and a failure that ended up with him in the custody of the Ace Ops of all people was likely a big one, all but guaranteeing the destruction of any interest she had in Mercury as a member of her forces.

Well, that just meant more attention and admiration for Tyrian to enjoy.

And not only that, but he would have the esteemed pleasure of reporting the news of his -- judging by Elm’s grip -- literally crushing defeat to Salem once she returned to her throne.

How lucky was that?

Hmm. So this is why he had to get Clover those paints.

It was a worthwhile enough sacrifice.

“Let me go!” Mercury repeated.

“I don’t think so, buddy!” Elm said, gripping Mercury tight in her unwavering hold, her feet firmly on the ground as to restrain any attempts of his to fight out of her grasp.

It didn’t appear to stop him from trying though.

What a waste of his goddess’ sights he turned out to be.

From her horse, Harriet turned to him. “If I can’t bring my father Branwen’s head, then I’m at least bringing him yours!”

“I don’t even have the stupid brooch!” Mercury yelled, still fighting for some nonexistent leeway in Elm’s vice like grip, not that he’d get that far if he even found it with the three other Ace Ops directly next to her.

“Don’t you worry -- it will be found.” Harriet then looked out to the team. “Elm, stay here with the prisoner and keep an eye out for Branwen. Vine, Marrow, and I will continue to comb the forest, and we’ll reconvene here in an hour with our findings. We’re not going home without that brooch.” The determination in Harriet’s voice had Tyrian bite his lip.

Crap. Knowing Harriet, that last sentiment may very well have been a true one.

In the twenty years since Tyrain took Clover, guards have searched the forest, but they’d never come across the tower’s hidden entryway. While the brooch was likely nowhere near the tower, and the Ace Ops were still roughly a quarter of a mile out from its exact location, Tyrian couldn’t help but acknowledge the feeling of unease in his stomach.

If Remnant’s most specialized guards -- Clover’s siblings, no less -- were searching this bit of the forest, whether looking for their long-lost brother or not...they might actually find something more than just some brooch.

Harriet directed the horse she was riding on towards the tower’s general direction.

Clover!

Knowing what he had to do, Tyrian slunk away from his hiding place and snuck through the forest, careful to keep both a strong distance between himself and Harriet as well cautious, yet quick movements to pass her and get back to the tower before she could ever learn about its existence.

It wasn’t hard. Tyrian had traversed these woods so much over the course of his life, especially over the past two decades, that he grew to know them better than he did his own hand. Every twist and turn and fork in the road on its dirt-floored surface was committed to his memory like the appearance of the very sun that shone above him.

When Tyrian at last made it to the tower’s entryway, he was well ahead of Harriet, ensuring that he would be absolutely safe crossing the canopy of vines in a way that would keep him as well as their odd disposition unspotted by her.

Tyrian rushed through the caves and clearing, all the way to the base of the tower.

“Clover!” Tyrian called out when he finally arrived. “I forgot my rain boots! Bring me back up!”

It was an odd excuse -- especially as there was no sign of rain coming for the foreseeable future -- but Clover would ask why he came back if he didn’t have one at the ready all the same.

Tyrian waited a second for Clover to respond, but for the first time in as long as he could remember, when he called to the tower, he heard nothing back. It was a foreign feeling, one that at present grated on Tyrian’s nerves like a room of mumblers.

“Clover!” he half shouted and half growled. “Wake up!”

Still, not a sound left the tower.

As soon as he realized that no sound would be coming out, Tyrian whipped the sharp, metallic end of his tail out and slammed it into the dirt between the tower’s bricks, pulling himself up and then clinging to the bricks with the help of his blades as his tail ascended his form further up the tower’s length.

It was a method for climbing the tower that he hadn’t used in years, manually climbing it himself -- practically antiquated thanks to Clover’s weapon, but it was handy in a pinch.

Right now, Tyrian absolutely felt like he was in the pinchiest of pinches.

With exhaustion that only climbed in magnitude as the seconds passed, Tyrian made his way the tower.

Tyrian called out Clover’s name twice as he rose from the ground, but to no avail. Clover’s room was as quiet as a tomb.

Oh, that room would be a tomb alright when he was finished with Clover…

No, he couldn’t think that way...as much as he wanted to...

Upon reaching the tower’s window, Tyrian paused for no more than but a second to catch his breath, looking around the room frantically all the while.

The tower was dark.

The tower was quiet.

Neither of those things had ever been true when a waking Clover Callows roamed its singular upper room.

Hell, thanks to his brat’s snores, the tower was never quiet, even when he was sleeping!

As soon as Tyrian had recovered enough of his breath to continue, he ran to Clover’s bed, pulling off the blankets with a harsh tug.

Clover was going to pay when he woke up.

However, underneath the covers, there was no Clover.

“Clover!” Tyrian called out.

Maybe...maybe he was just using the bathroom...in the dark...without noticing his uncle’s cries…

Tyrian rushed to the bathroom, but just as with Clover’s bed, Clover wasn’t there.

Oh Gods, where was he?

Confused, Tyrian ran around the tower, tearing apart anything Clover might be hiding or sleeping either in or under. He even opened the door to the tower’s stairwell which led to his own room and checked there. However, not one place held Clover’s form.

As Tyrian approached the tower’s window, he couldn’t help but run his fingers through his hair in much the same fashion as he searched for Clover -- frantically.

Was he actually kidnapped?

There seemed to be no sign of a struggle, and he’d taught Clover to distrust outsiders enough to at least cause something of a scuffle should one ever show their face in the tower.

Suddenly though, something removed Tyrian from his thoughts.

By the bottom of the tower’s small balcony’s staircase, a small glimmer of something was reflecting off the sun, creating a glare of light that went right into Tyrian’s left eye. Tyrian sidestepped the glare’s direct trajectory, but kept its location in his mind as he steadily approached it.

He had given Clover many things over his nearly twenty years in this tower, but never had he been given something so shiny as to create such a harsh glare.

What the hell could this be?

Upon reaching the staircase, Tyrian lifted the semi-broken plank where the glimmering object sat.

Inside the makeshift cupboard was a satchel...and inside the satchel was an emerald encrusted, clover-shaped brooch.

No…

It couldn’t be...

Had Clover learned of his identity?

While it made all too much sense for his mind to go there, Tyrian fought the instinct with facts. If Clover had learned who he really was, why would he leave behind the key piece of evidence of his discovery? He clearly wasn’t trying to make a point to Tyrian given how he hid the brooch in such an odd location and didn’t provide his beloved ‘Uncle Tyrian’ with so much as a note for context concerning the brooch’s existence and his reaction to it.

No, for some reason, Clover wanted the brooch and the satchel that held it to remain here, and Tyrian immediately swore to himself that he was going to discover that reason before any havoc on his life could be further wreaked.

He already had an inkling of a clue.

The Ace Ops were searching for a man called ‘Branwen’ -- whoever that was. Tyrian believed he’d heard the name once or twice in passing, but based on what they were saying, Branwen was a thief, a thief that had stolen the brooch.

It now made sense as to what mission Salem had put Mercury up to, as well as why the Ace Ops were called to take on a thief.

Wherever Clover was, it was likely with Branwen, and judging by the still revealed painting of Clover’s wish, Tyrian had a pretty good idea of where it was they were going.

Now, all he had to do was find them and end this trip of lunacy before they got there.

Tyrain warped the satchel in a bundle and hid it in the basket Clover had prepared for him. He then felt for the handles of his blades, The Queen’s Servants. Even without touching them, he could sense they were as hungry to restore his brand of order as he was.

It was a good feeling.

Approaching the tower’s window, Tyrian shot the long way down an exasperated look.

What a pain this was going to be to climb down manually once more for the first time in so long.

He swore to the Gods, without that semblance of Clover’s...

Sometimes, raising Clover was more trouble than it was worth, but for the benefits his semblance provided, Tyrian knew he had no choice but to clean up his ‘nephew’s’ mess.

#fair game #tyrian callows #clover ebi #rwby #tangled au #ace ops #elm ederne #harriet bree #qrow branwen

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givemeahug · 4 years

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hello! i've seen you around the archive and you seem pretty active on ao3 so i thought i would ask u for some bsd fic recs?? I was looking at ur bookmarks but you have like SO MANY. rec list :) please? :) any genre/rating is good with me. thank u have a great day!

hello anon!! thank you v much, i hope you have a great day as well!

yeah, uhhh i guess my list is kinda ridiculous lmao. XD but it’s just that there’s so much talent in the world, come on man 😭😭

also an fyi, but i’ve only been in bsd fandom for like, a month now? and i have a heavy bias for soukoku and angst lmao so there’s probably some gems out there i haven’t discovered yet but. here are some of my favs! buckle up, it’s gonna be a long ride XD i swear i tried my best to trim it.

*fyi, i left out most of the ones easily found through sorting filters and those that you can find under my bookmark rec filter- with some exceptions that i truly, wholeheartedly could not go without reccing directly.

wishing for an eternity by walking_through_autumn

T, buraiha-centric, truly fantastic portrayal of their dynamic, with a lingering bittersweetness while also being kinda soft? i just. i love this so much. they have many other buraiha fics, so I’d recommend browsing through this author’s works in general.

Beholder by Sethen

unrated. lakdsjfasd this one, as of now, is only at 1 chap posted out of 3 but i will rec anyway bc this was GUT-WRENCHING. one of dazai’s suicide attempts, i have no idea yet whether he succeeded :’)

The Boss And His Master by bluemisfortune

M, mafia boss chuuya, soukoku. oooooh their relationship is so good here. i really love the sense of suspense(?), and that it kinda showcases how chuuya honestly isn’t stupid- just not exactly clever like dazai is. he is cunning though, and that’s what makes this so sinister.

time after time by Maristella

T, soukoku. chuuya is dead and dazai is somehow able to call chuuya’s past self. this one is just. god its so lovely. there’s something so masterful in the scenes they chose to depict and the order of it. it’s *chefs kiss*

too far from you by spirallings

E, odazai, BSD Beast-verse. it’s. oh my godddd. it’s beautiful. it’s not only well-written, but the dramatic irony really heightens the emotions and i love it so so much ahhhhh!!

The Autumn Will End by TheGreatCatsby

M, Yosano-centric. Yosano stays with Mori and meets Dazai and Chuuya as a Mafia doctor. it’s stunning as a character study imo.

Static by Aryagraceling

T, ADA!Dazai meets PM!Dazai. a bit of softness and hope, bc this list needs that :’)

Armed Detective Family by Scarlet_Nin

unrated, but mostly G and T, imo. read the tin. i am very soft for supportive found families and angst. (mostly dazai’s lol)

For the Crime of Existing by Darke_Eco_Freak

T, fyozai. i just. this aches man.

…Perhaps everything by Cassie1989

T, fukuzawa/mori. im not sure why but i am very fond of their dynamic here, haha.

carve your love into my skin by Dont_Wake_The_Writer

E, soukoku, Book!Dazai. exquisite prose, incredible relationship development. also i am trash for that historical accuracy. it punched me in the gut and buried me man.

wolf among sheep by Shinkirou

M, soukoku, Dazai joins the Sheep. I enjoyed this premise a lot more than I thought I would. I especially like where they’re taking the relationship as of most recent chapters.

reciprocity by setosdarkness

T, soukoku, soulmate au. this. this killed me. that’s all i can tell you.

but i fake, it’s my fate by emilove

M, dazai/odasaku/kunikida. somehow odasaku comes back from the dead 4 years later?? it’s not very far along yet, hasn’t been updated in a while either, but I trust this particular writer. if you’re into bnha, i’d check out those ones too.

more than kin, less than kind by Anonymous

M, soukoku, but not focus. Oh, THIS ONE. THIS IS THE ONE I WOULD REC A THOUSAND TIMES OVER, I FUCKING A D O R E THIS ONE. It has such incredible, complex characterizations, intruiging development, it’s well-paced, it’s ksfdasjflaksjdal SO FUCKING AMAZING. IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE FROM THIS LIST, READ. THIS. ONE.

Nothing Noble by izanyas

M, soukoku. (i can’t believe none of their other fics have made it onto this list yet lmao. this writer is incredibly talented, definitely check out their other works later, even if this one in particular doesn’t interest you much.) ANYWAY. Mimic tries to use Chuuya instead of Oda to die. Chuuya leaves the mafia, heart-broken and enraged.

OKAY! i think im done now lol. sorry it’s still a bit of a long list, but i hope you’ll enjoy ;)

#replies #fic rec #bsd fic #bsd #anon better have ao3's mark-for-later function turned on #lol #i do not have as nearly as diverse taste as anon probably hoped #sorry about that #Anonymous #long post

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bytheangell · 5 years

Note

Good evening! If you had to pick your top 5 fics that you've written, what would they be? 💜

Good evening! ahhhhh how am I supposed to pick favorites I’m so bad at this fjdskl;fjsla;, but thank you for asking!! I’m going to not count Support System because we all know it’s my baby and I will love it the most forever so it’s almost unfair to try and throw it in with other things I’ve written, nothing else will ever stand a chance xD 1. Weight of Living - I love this fic so much. It’s very heavy and I wanted to be extra careful with how I portrayed some of the themes and emotions in this one, giving a deeper look into Raphael’s feelings after that breakdown/lash out he has after Rosa dies, his almost father-son relationship with Magnus, his still-new connection with Simon. It hurts all the way through but it ends with a bit of optimism, which since then has been a definite theme in my heavier angst.

2. Life in the Shadow of Death - This isn’t like anything else I’ve written. It’s more of an introspective character study than anything else, following Jace from birth to present and reflecting on the way death seems to be such an instrumental part of shaping who he is throughout every stage of his life so far. I love the way the concept came together in the end and I’m really proud of it, and of myself for taking a chance on something outside my normal comfort zone. 3. I Could Really Use The Win - A fic that has both Magnus and Alec POVs of the training scene in 3x12. After the initial hype of first watching the scene faded, a few things didn’t sit right with me, and this was my attempt at working through them. I love pieces where I can take an existing scene and elaborate or expand on it, try to get into the character’s heads, and this is my favorite one of those I did during season 3. I mostly did it to bridge a gap for myself with some deeper context/analysis, and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of comments I got on this one saying how right it felt for the characters

4. Something Worth Protecting - I started this after the 3A finale, a coda that picks up from the moment Lilith explodes the top of that building, following the next few hours of Magnus coming to terms with the loss of his magic and immortality, as well as losing Clary, Alec’s injuries, and the aftermath they’re all dealing with now. I really enjoy the way I had things play out in those turning-point moments while emotions ran high and it’s everything I wish we got to see between 3A and 3B.5. I’m going to cheat for the last one and say my Flufftober Ficlets (I technically posted them as one ‘fic’, with 31 chapters). I tried to do a different pairing for each day, and while there is some repeats it’s a lot of varied friendships and romantic couples who were all a lot of fun to try my hand at! Really, there’s a little something for everyone in there, though I’m particularly fond of my Ragnor-is-still-alive pairings/fix-its and my two This World Inverted set Clace stories! (Bonus: they’re labeled by characters in the chapter titles for easy navigation if there are some you’d prefer to read, or prefer to avoid!)

(and because I’m Trash™ and went through and re-read so many of my fics that I’m sure my top 5 would be entirely different if I answered tomorrow, some honorable mentions (because how can I just pick 5 out of 134?! Impossible.) : Shed My Skin, My Scars, it runs in the family , Showing Hearts, Better Together, cadence of my heart, A Way With Words, Traces of Love, and I’m going to stop now I just have a lot of feelings about a lot of things I’ve written and I’m already the worst at picking favorites of anything, let alone things I’m emotionally attached to. asking me to talk about my own writing is always a mistake fjdskljf;lasdfjsa)

#malec #jace herondale #raphael santiago #simon lewis #shadowhunters #thanks for pretty much writing me a blank check to self-promote #and an excuse to spend half the night re-reading some old favorites #sorry I'm the worst and couldn't keep it to five #I have a pretty solid top 20 things I've written #but narrowing it down from there is a struggle because I love those top 20 a lot for different reasons #carmenlire #ask rune

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nctsukashii-archive-blog · 5 years

Note

Most disliked arc (chapter)? Why?

The saltiest cracker you know is me, Bepsi!10. Most disliked arc (in this case, chapter)? Why?

I bet you saw this shit comin a mile away huh?

Chapter 2.

Now, it might surprise you, but Hoshi dying isn’t even the worst part of the chapter for me. That’s more emotionally gut punching me and my hopes and dreams that joke characters can live past chapter 3. Actually, Hoshi is without a doubt the BEST part of Chapter 2 even with his death, just because of how amazingly he’s written.

Sadly, even Hoshi cannot save this chapter from showing just how RUSHED and UNPOLISHED it is. Because holy jeEZ THERE’S A LOT WRONG (albeit it’s personal opinion for the most part). So while you may know them, or may learn something new from my opinion, that’s all cool! Under the cut as Chapter 2 is dissected and torn into to learn why it is sadly, my least fav of V3.

- RUSHED.

Now, this is really easy to see, and I’m sure many others have noticed it as well, but it bears a lot of repeating because it’s a problem. Chapter 2 was rushed to high heavens, in the sense that it mainly serves to push the plot along and nothing more. Things happen too quickly in the story at that point, and while the rest of the game is better off for it, this is the ONLY chapter that REALLY does it so blatantly, and it feels very choking as a result of it.- Tenko’s attachment to Himiko needed to happen, absolutely, but I feel like more should have been done in Chapter 1 to show Tenko trying to talk to her more? Maybe, “OOO maybe himiko wants to be my friend??” and more interactions that show that Tenko isn’t just attaching herself to Himiko b/c she’s “the creepy gay” character. - Toujou becoming the fucking supermaid. This one is the most obvious, but mmm. Everyone relying on her suddenly feels super forced, as characters like Shinguuji and Hoshi and even Maki herself, all ask Toujou to do something for them. It feels out of character for them, and the fact that THAT interaction is the MOST she gets in Chapter 2 before the trial is fucking trash and I’ll explain why in a later point, but you can just TELL that they needed SOMETHING to give her ANY story relevance, and it hurts her character a LOT. - Kaito suddenly wanting to help Maki’s super fucking weird. Maybe if it showed Kaito like “sorry Shuichi maybe later, I wanna try talking to Maki” more in this Chapter to really see that he wants to help her, or even just him going more like “hey Shuichi wanna include Maki in our training? I feel like she could use it.” or ANYTHING that mentions Kaito reaching out to Maki more. Because as it is now, it feels like he’s suddenly placing an all or nothing bet and it makes him, p unlikable at that point b/c Shuichi just goes with it for seemingly no reason because “yeah I guess i gotta progress the plot”. - Those are the main points. Maki is done surprisingly well, actually, she’s really good here. Being sus like that and actually not letting you do FTE’s was cool, and i liked it a lot. Angie’s slow buildup was also pretty good as well, but I think they coulda put Tsumugi in w/ Himiko at some point so it’s not ‘suddenly everyone’s brainwashed!’ in chapter 3, as a slower buildup would do it good! Or at least, more buildup, I should say.

- CLUNKY.

This one is a bit harder to explain, and it goes in hand with the pacing issue, but lemme try. Some of the events and dialogue in Chapter 2 just feel, really clunky? Like, Shuichi’s an emotional guy and I totally understand that, but I don’t think he’d just spill his feelings to the guy that punched him for showing weakness not even 2 days ago? I dunno, maybe it’s just me. It feels like a lot of Chapter 2 was glued into the story as requirements rather than actually to tell a story. It comes in a lot of ways, as previously mentioned a lot of relationships are just ‘suddenly there’ rather than actually built up, IE Kaito and Maki, Tenko and Himiko, etc... and it makes the entire Chapter feel like it’s meshed together with ideas that Kodaka REALLY wanted to be in the game or knew would happen later on, but just couldn’t fit them in, so he shoved them in an early chapter and hoped for the best.

- TOUJOU’S ABILITY TO DO JACK DIDDLY SHIT IN TERMS OF STORY.

Somehow, they managed to make one of the stars of this chapter barely active in it. Can you fucking believe that? Like, no really, if you work off of fan translations I want you to open the translation you have, hit CONTROL+F and search for Toujou and see like, the 30 lines she has before the trial. It’s so MINIMAL, it’s so BASIC, and in those 30 sentences she’s treated like a PLOT DEVICE rather than a CHARACTER. I’m sure a bit of the reason as to why Toujou isn’t as popular as most of the other girls is just how hard the Chapter hits her in terms of not giving her any character development (even in the bonus interaction she’s just “i do this for my job” for fucc sake). Like, even if it was played for a laugh that she’s just so constantly work-focused, or the writing took it as a bit of a punchline for some dry humor (”hey toujou what’re ya doin?” “working.” and just have awkward eye contact and the ‘WOW this is awkward’ thought in Shuichi’s head after a few “...” between the both of them as it happens. easy comedy. see???) it at least would make her seem somewhat important compared to the cast. Honestly, it’s like the Tsumugi Effect but in 2 chapters instead of 6. By doing nothing in terms of plot, she basically puts on this huge fucking sign that says “HEY GUYS IM NOT STORY RELEVANT BECAUSE NOTHING IS HAPPENING TO ME SO I WILL PROBABLY DIE AS A KILLER OR VICTIM” Her trial behavior is really hit or miss as well, because some might find her ruthlessness to be really cool and makes her actually fucking interesting at any point in the story, while others might find it unlikable, excessively cruel, or just out of character for Toujou no matter how desperate she may be. Let alone that her US demographic prolly tanked quite a lot w/ her story focusing on POLITICS of all things (one of the three no-no’s in any conversation), making her very very hard to like, besides on an aesthetic level. Let alone her FTE’s are the worst in the game, as you still barely learn anything about her outside of “im a maid and im good at my job” or other points that the main story already tells you (besides that she once coddled a man so hard he became dependent and that her only weakness is not cutting konjac right ever). It just makes her feel like a barren and incomplete character.

- TOUJOU’S ABILITY TO DO EVERYTHING SO WELL SHE CAN EVEN FUCK HERSELF OVER AMAZINGLY.

Everyone has heard me go on and on about this, but if it doesn’t get said no one will know it so I keep repeating it until the end of time.By making her plan so complex, she basically fucks herself. By making a crime that only someone as competent as her could accomplish, it fucks her because only she can do it. XD. Literally, who do you think would have been able to do all that shit in one night? Saihara’s too weak to drown Hoshi. Don’t fight me on this, because if you seriously believe the detective in training with little self defense training (he worked on infidelity and missing pet/kid cases for fuck sake, his life isn’t really on the line all that often so he prolly wouldn’t know or have to train all that much to protect himself) can take the tennis player that killed over 200 people and has been playing tennis basically all his life (enough to go INTERNATIONAL in MIDDLE SCHOOL) in a fight, we’re gunna need to have a talk.Gonta’s too heavy to use the ropeway.Kiibo’s too heavy to use the ropeway and too weak to carry Hoshi’s body.Himiko’s too weak to drown someone and attempt to shove them in the staircase (which I will touch on real soon here on why even attempting to frame her the way Toujou tried to was dumb as shit).Angie’s... lbr here, prolly missing a few too many tools in her toolbox to really think of a ropeway to kill Hoshi with.Shinguuji’s too weak (and before I get arguments on this, if u think this underweight twig of a man can take out Hoshi when Hoshi’s prolly faster than him and could just run ur wrong)Maki who was the Child Caregiver at the time would be seen as too weak to do anything to Hoshi too (even if she lifts kids, again, Hoshi is fucking rIPPED and has killer legs)Ouma’s too weak (i mean he’s underweight and looks like a twig)Kaito’s a fucking moron when it comes to master plans and wouldn’t have been able to plain something like a ropeway murder (let alone his idol complex wouldn’t have let him kill Hoshi most likely... unless it was a Mondo situation but that’s a later talk)Tenko’s also a fucking moron when it comes to long term planning let alone she wouldn’t touch a man unless to flip him to death, which makes the ropeway seem almost pointlessTsumugi’s too weak to (i mean... rlly. u rlly think she could take him down? under the assumption she isn’t the mastermind ofc at this point in the story, but even then sneak murdering all the kills seems kinda.... eh? too hard for her to do.) Miu’s also a fucking moron that wouldn’t think of using a ropeway (actually, she prolly woulda done the smarter option and just pushed Hoshi’s body out his fucking window since a ropeway would be too much effort)By process of COMMON SENSE, only Toujou would make something so NEEDLESSLY COMPLICATED in an attempt to murder a guy.

- THE DUMBEST PLAN ON EARTH AND HOW YOU COULD PLAN A SIMILAR MURDER AND GET AWAY WITH IT EASY.

Toujou’s plan is fucking dumb when you can think of SO many other ways to get Hoshi killed with more leeway as to who coulda done it. So I bring up the window in his lab, because literally you could just push him out of it and the fall would prolly splatter that midget cunt on the ground no problem. Hell, even handcuff him. Nearly anyone could have pushed Hoshi out of the window, meaning there’s a possibility that Maki or Kaito could have done it w/o that stupid fucking ropeway let alone anyone at night (or hell even during the DAY since time of death was obscured), and it wouldn’t LEAVE THE FUCKING GLOVE.MMMM OKAY RANT HERE REAL QUICK I MEAN IT THAT FUCKING TRASH BAG GLOVE IRRITATES ME. Like, hhh I know Kodaka wanted to make a case where something like the glove gets the killer caught, but HOLY SHIT was it poor to use in a case like this. It not only feels like it’s out of place for her not to just get it in the morning, but why the fuck would she use her gloves anyways?? Why not use Hoshi’s hat? Anyone could use Hoshi’s hat as hand protection down the moronic ropeway and since it’s a beanie it’s prolly made of more strong material than I guess whatever her shit gloves are made of, since they tore like fuckin trash when she went down the ropeway. As someone that wears cut and heat protection gloves because of my job, the gloves she uses are HORRIBLY inefficient (let alone if she’s cleaning before touching food w/ them on... like please don’t that can cause so many health problems) to try and stop ropeburn. She could have also just poisoned everyone, or killed them all in their sleep, to make her job easier on herself. Can’t have a trial if no one’s there after all right? No one would suspect Toujou working on her fuckin job to come and snap their necks during the night or w/e, or poison their food before the show. But also framing Himiko is really fucking dumb. Like, she expects me to believe that Himiko, who is only 2 more pounds than Hoshi mind you, managed to drown him and stuff him in that staircase, and pull him out during the show in under a minute. LOL no. Hoshi looks like he can break her arms like fucking toothpicks without even trying?? Let alone her laziness makes it look REALLY hard for her to have planned a fucking murder. The fact that like, the first hour of the trial wants me to believe Himiko could be the killer is asinine, just because of how basically fucking illogical it is.What Toujou could have done instead, was leave his body drowned in the sink. Yeah, it’d be harder because not everyone can drown Hoshi (ie. Himiko and Ouma and prolly a few others that are considered sticks or weak), but there are a lot of people who could, and drowning someone is a lot easier than the stupid ropeway piranha bullshit. OR PUSH HIM OUT HIS WINDOW. JUST KILL EVERYONE THAT WAY COME ON.Actually, she coulda killed two people easy. Just have someone gullible like Saihara come to meet her at night in the lab after she’s already pushed Hoshi out the window (or even just come running to his room with a bullshit excuse that she saw a shadow ‘running away’ and saw that something happened in the tennis lab) and push him out the window too. Boom, makes it look like a murder gone wrong, and the only alibi that’d be able to testify about the events is hers. Easy win, everyone else gets executed.I get it, in the end, it needs to be a solvable mystery in a mystery game, but it ends up making Toujou look like a complete moron as a result of it, which is unfortunate.

- MOTIVE VIDEOS ARE RIGGED AS SHIT.

Upon learning what hers and Hoshi’s are, it seems almost rigged that they would have to be the killer and victim respectively. Hoshi’s telling him to ‘kys’ and Toujou’s saying ‘lol go kill someone’ makes it like... even if everyone else saw theirs that they’d be like.. the only two to really act on theirs besides MAYBE Miu or POSSIBLY Angie. And then we also see Ouma’s?? And his is just actively “lol u don’t kill bitch but u should do it anyways” making it seem almost counter productive. Like, bitch it just said Ouma made a rule that no killing was a thing and u genuinely expect his ass to break that? ha. The odds were stacked against the two of them, which makes it only seem more forced in the long run. Which is great from a meta standpoint, but a story can be meta while still being fun, enjoyable, and flowing functionally and logically. Which this chapter isn’t really.

- THE SADLY NOT REDEEMING BUT STILL SUPER GOOD HOSHI FACTOR.

Now, the one thing that I can praise this chapter for really well despite all its shortcomings is Hoshi’s characterization and his story. For one chapter he really makes a hard hit at the time, and it’s easy to become engrossed in his little background story about him wanting to find a reason to live. The real cherry on top is his writing and his interactions with the few people he interacts with. with Kaito, it really shows the disposition that Kaito has against him and just how Hoshi is so understanding of others and like... nice. Even when he wants a goal that goes against everyone, he still respects them. “I won’t do something reckless to endanger everyone.”, and acknowledging that it’s an entirely selfish reason why he wants to find the videos and will still not hurt anyone to do it. He may have threatened to show Maki’s video to everyone in exchange for his own from her, but he never hits her or directly harms / threatens her w/ violence or anything extremely dirty. It’s respectable. Ohhh, and Saihara’s dynamic with him is just so sPOT ON HERE. Between the great advice and compliments in general he has for Saihara such as “the world can be bright for someone that’s looked down for so long, be careful” and “you’re confident compared to before, like a weight is lifted off your back. it’s a good look for you” and other such flattery, to Hoshi being a bit more open to Saihara about his feelings (feeling jealous about everyone else having a reason to live, wanting to find one himself, openly admitting he feels he has no purpose in his life and wants to find a reason to be happy like everyone else, etc.). But this dynamic goes both ways, as Saihara also can read Hoshi super fucking well. Like, seeing the Tennis Lab is a great example of it. When Hoshi states the past is behind him, Saihara thinks to himself ‘but then why are you looking at the court with such sad eyes Hoshi-kun?’ and it’s like, just really nice that Saihara’s not dense? Like, Hoshi expresses himself pretty poetically, with the way he talks and whatnot, acting like a wise sage type w/ endless wisdom all the time, so Saihara being able to read past all the flowery language to just hear “god i miss tennis” or “im depressed” is really REALLY refreshing, and a nice balance to see. If you do Hoshi’s FTE’s it personally makes it even better, but that’s not a requirement so moving on. Even just Saihara asking him things like “are you doing well?” or “Is this what you want?” or “or just the small but surprisingly deep talks they just seem to have with one another are tiny details that really complete the dynamic that they can both read each other and can react to one another super well. It feels balanced between the both of them, even in Chapter 1, and it’s a shame Hoshi had to die because I would have LOVED to see how far it could go and how much it could have been expanded on in the later chapters.

Sadly however, no matter how great Hoshi is, it can’t save Chappie 2 from it’s endless faults and gripes that I have with it, that ultimately make the story less entertaining as a result.

#reciprocation :: response #negative tw #//oh yes #my essays never stop when I have such thrilling subjects to rant about #//muaahahahaha!!!!#//thank u for sending in this one too!#//i had a blast with it.#blindedhope #parchments :: inbox

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yiulee999 · 6 years

Text

opm time traveler au (spoilers)

genos goes back in time and tries to disguise himself and befriending sai as a bookworm lol and they become good friends until sai is fooling around and playfully steals genos’ glasses one day and the you know 💘 💘 💘 💘

what started out as a random doodle turned into a multi-chapter length fic draft out on discord!! *o*

the full convo/story is posted below bUT its heavy angst!! be warned!! sorry about the casual lingo, i was posting in chat format XD

so time traveler au picks up from when sai was getting picked on back in middle school chapter in the manga

and when genos goes back in time he thinks the only way he can get close to saitama if he was an ‘outcast’ too

so he purposefully nerdifies himself more? lOL how is possible,,,

Originally genos got sent back by dr. Genus as way to figure out the key to sai’s strength

Bc in the ‘future’ genos, they had just met and genos just wanted to know what made sai powerful

And initially when they meet genos is very forward about wanting to know all about saitama who finds it kinda creepy and stalkerish when he finds genos tailing him in the hallways and after school haha

And other classmates notice how the new kid (genos) follows/takes an interest in the class loser (sai) so predictably they start making fun of and bullying genos too

Genos, true to form, doesnt give a fuck xD

But sai has mixed feelings about it bc it was the first time someone took an actual interest in him and even though he’s so forward, genos never overstepped boundaries with him and was an okay guy overallBut alot of the story has to do with sai trying to figure out what its like to have a friend

And what to do because hes never had one

But he does know that he doesnt like seeing genos getting pushed around or made fun of so there are moments where he’ll try to stick up for him by telling them to knock it off or pulling genos aside to a differnt hallway when he sees the bullies coming

At the same time hes so confused on like what to do right, so he’ll also try to push genos away, ‘maybe if he didn’t hang around me so much, he’ll won’t get picked on…’

There was one scene i knew i wanted to do

Where after sai stands up for genos, the bullies treat sai worse

So it was an after school thing, behind one of the school buildings where sai is beat up pretty bad (like barely standing) and the bully has him by the front of his shirt and had his fist pulled back

When genos arrives

Before, sai had managed to ditch genos so he wouldnt see sai when he’s ‘weak’And always made up some excuse when he bruises or other injuries

So genos interrupts the scene by straight up grabbing the bullies wrist

And seething in all toasty righteous fury ‘dont touch him!’

and sai cant see it cus he had two black eyes at this point

but this was some dialogue i had written:

S:’What’s he doing? Why is he helping me?‘ "Hey–“

Bully pulls back fist "Look, kid. You’re new so I’ll give you a free pass this time if you walk away right now. You wouldn’t want us to mess up that pretty face of yours, would you?"

G: "How generous of you. Unfortunately, I won’t be extending the same courtesy to anyone who treats this person disrespectfully. Especially not ugly trash like you. "

Bully: "Why you–!! ”

And when the bully tries to redirect the hit to genos, genos instinctively throws out his palm and says ‘incin—‘ before he realizes he doesnt have his cannons

And genos is about to get b e a t

When sai wrenches himself from the bullies grip and takes the hit for him

They like tumble down and genos is confused to what happened before he sees sai lying motionless beside him, bleeding from his head and unresponsive

And i was gonna end a chapter there with genos screaming saitama’s name…

Next chapter was gonna be sai waking up slowly and in a world of hurt

He realizes he’s in the nurses office

It was night time

And when could finally see, he hallucinates seeing like 8 mini genos (remember the genosbots :3)‘Why…whys there eight of you/??’

So basically genos is worry over him so much whereas sai says its fine but genos is like feeling really bad so sai shakily reaches over and gently taps him on the forehead

And grins weakly, ‘there, now we’re even.’

Genos is crying openly bc he’s remembering when future saitama playfully hit his head after a spar and he thinks that saitama-sensei is strong no matter how old he is

And he’s just…overwhelmed by how kind and strong saitama is, even when he has no strength at all (Cus hes like 14 rn haha)

I think a couple days pass, and genos and saitama are eating lunch on the roof (cue bento box scene lol)

Sai is healing nicely, genos is still feeling bad whenever he looks over an sees the bandage on sais head

Some dialogue:

Eating lunch on the roof. G: How’s your wound? S: Hm? Oh, it’s fine. Don’t worry, my teachers say I have a hard head. G: I’m sorry. S: ? Why are you sorry? Not like you’re the one who punched me. G: I made things worse. If I hadn’t antagonized him, then–!! S: Then he woulda beat me up anyway. Seriously, man, it’s not your fault, okay? So you can stop doing all those things for me. G: Like what? S: You know! Like being nice to me and buying lunch and stuff. You don’t need to feel guilty about it anymore.

Sai is still kinda insecure abt having a genuine friend, so he still thinks genos is being nice to him out of pity or smtg, (and genos had been particularly nice to him after he got injured so he figured it was out of guilt)

And i mean….it was,, genos feels terribly guilty…but i think watching sai, who was powerless, attempt to protect him just made him more intrigued (and unbeknownst to him fall a lot deeper in love XD)

But genos says thats not why he does those things

That saitama reminded him of ‘someone’ he knew whom he admired greatly

At his ‘old’ school

He tells sai about his ‘sensei’ and how amazing this person was and all of his great qualities

And sai was feeling a little more depressed at each praise genos was singing about this person (coughjealouscough)

And i have another piece of dialogue here…

S: if you like him so much, why did you leave? G: …I wanted to see the kind of person sensei was before he became strong. this is where he grew up. S: …seems like a lot of effort just for one person. G:.that person (sai thoughts: he’s still talking?)…no matter what i did..I couldn’t reach him. I’d do anything to close the distance between us..I thought that if I came here, I would be able to understand him. I thought I could help him. G: touches saitama’s wound But instead, I’m still the one being saved. I never learn.

And genos gives sai this painfully heartfelt smile and its full of regret, frustration, self-loathing, admiration, and some other unidentified emotion that just floors saitama

Saitama sees genos’ smile and his eyes and is just...stunned by the level of vulnerability he sees (he’s never gotten close enough to anyone before to see it)

So he reaches out, hestitantly at first, before wiping away genos’ tears carefully because if he touches any harder he’s afraid genos would crumble

S: “i dont really get it...but if you feel that strongly, then i’m sure some part of your feelings reached him.”

And they share their first hug then :3

////

((When i wrote this, genos didnt have glasses haha so i guess that scene where sai realizes how pretty genos is would go before this one))

I guess if the glasses were involved, sai would be torn between wanting genos to take them off (so he can see his eyes which oddly finds that he likes them...alot.) and keep them on so other ppl wont see how pretty he is

Bc sure if they saw, genos would no longer be his friend

He would have so many ppl vying for his attn, he would be surrounded by girls and guys and would be approachableAnd saitama would get left behind

But i think even tho sai wants to be selfish and keep genos to himself, he also realizes that genos wouldnt be bullied if he were more accepted

So he would encourage genos to ditch the glasses and genos would end up getting accepted by everyone but he would still stay with saitama and nothing would change between them other than saitama getting really red at random times and avoiding eye contact more

It would just be one of the many things that strengthen their relationship as friends. And i think i had planned some stuff where they do a bunch of typical friend / kid stuff

Like genos tutoring saitama on math, genos running circles around sai in track/field (‘wtf...huff are...huff you?! huff some...kinda...rOBOT!?). Them going to the arcade, saitama taking genos around to explore his hometown, they go on hiking trips and stuff.

genos finding out saitama lived alone and that’s why he always buys lunch (or doesnt eat if he got bullied out of it that day) and talking out their issues and genos reaching out and saying yeah, he knew what it felt like to be alone

but that saitama should never feel that way because he wasn’t alone anymore, and saitama joking affectionately ‘yeah i have you to stick annoyingly close.’

and also heavy scenes like when you have to fill out future goals sheets in school where sai shyly admits that he’s always thought it’d be nice to be a hero and was shocked when genos was oVERWHELMINGLY supportive bc he’s never had anyone cheer for him like this, believe in him like genos does. And he calls genos crazy for agreeing with him, but he thinks he must also be crazy because when genos looks at him like that, he feels like he could do it

and its one of the first moments we see sai really open up to genos

bc being a hero was something he truly cared about

but his teachers, his classmates, heck the world, didn’t think he could do, they thought it was a hopeless dream for someone, and he’s so used to facing this kind of rejection that he’s started to believe it really would be impossible for someone like him....

but all it took was this one person, this one friend to tell him he could...and it made him feel invincible

and its probably the scene where saitama realizes how important genos is to him.

So of fucking course its when saitama realizes genos is important to him that drama bomb hits Basically, Dr. genus comes and pays genos a surprise visit. And hes like “did you forget the reason I sent you back here? Any updates?”

And genos is like “i have nothing of interest to report”

genus: "This isn’t some children’s game, you know. "

genos: "I must be careful not to expose myself. Saitama-sensei is more observant than I had initially planned--"

genus: "You’re stalling. I have an idea: Fight him. "

genos: !!! dr : "You’ll have a disguise. I will re-install your blasters. Perhaps a stressful situation will trigger a transformatio--. "

((so it was gonna be hinted at that even though genos appeared like a normal human, he was just redesigned by genus and was actually still a cyborg) genos: "I refuse to put Saitama-sensei in danger!!"

dr: "What danger? He is more than capable of--"

genos: "Right now, he is powerless. An attack could kill him--!"

dr: " And doing nothing will kill us!! Your mission is to find out the secret to his strength! Something we both wanted to discover and the entire reason why I chose you as my test subject! I will not sit here idly while you indulge in your childish fantasies that will get us both erased from the timestream. Look. " //he shows genos a pic of the hero registery from their time//

genos: " !!! Sensei’s name is missing!”

dr: " Your name is gone too. I dont know what you did but your actions are interfering with the future. Here. Collect your belongings and leave no evidence behind. We depart in 1 hour. "

genos: " !! Wait! Give me more time!! I understand now..!"

//genos has a bunch of flashbacks of when he does fun stuff with saitama. When sai tries to make him something in cooking class (and fails badly lol). When saitama shares his manga with genos. When they watch anime together.//

Genos: “I understand now..what type of person sensei was...his strength (when sai was protecting him from bullies)...his kindness (sai wiping his tears away)...his warmth (sai hugging him*)...!!”

“I finally understand...!!”

sai holding his hand, sai smiling and eating with him..

“...what its like to feel human again!!!”

He’s suddenly lifted off the ground and pushed roughly against the wall. Dr. Genus has him by the collar.

“Reality check, little shit!! You. Do. Not. Belong. Here! You’ve been playing pretend for far too long! And guess what demon cyborg?”

He tosses genos to the ground

“Time’s run out”

So chapter was gonna end with genos’ hand slowly fading in and out

next chapter would begin with genos being given 2 hours by dr. Genus to basically pack his shit and go. bc they cant leave any trace of the future stuff when they leave So genos ends up back in the classroom Packing his cute stationary and shit xD

(That sai bought him o b v i o u s l y )

And he’s startled by the door sliding open

And saitama walks in

He’s suprised to see genos there (and looking guilty?) “did ya forget smtg?”

And genos just kinda..looks away

And sai sees him packing up and taking everything and hes quiet for a bit ...

“You’re leaving?” He asks softly

“Saitama-kun, I—!”

“Why?” He keeps talking in that soft tone, but it silences genos more effectively than a shout

“I..I can’t...”

S: “...Is it because of that person?”

(Sai remembers the shine in genos eyes when he talks about his ‘sensei’, his special person, and his heart kinda just falls to his feet)

(i never had a chance, did i...)

Genos cant answer because yeah it was because of saitama in the future. So what if genos disappeared? Genos didn’t care. But the world needed saitama. It needed Saitama The Hero. He had to leave now so saitama can exist in the future

But since he cant say anything, for fear or changing the future even more, genos just doesnt say anything

So sai assumes that yeah, it was because of someone else, someone better than him, someone who deserved genos’ admiration and loyalty

He doesnt say anything, just approaches genos slowly, trying not to startle genos who has like deer in head lights ready-to-b o l t

And saitama rests his forehead on genos’ shoulder, barely touching him but close enough that genos cant ignore him, genos can feel his presence and his warmth

And theres a moment where genos is t o r n

Bc this saitama acknowledges him in a way that future sai wouldnt. This saitama looks at him and sees him whereas his sensei’s gaze passes over him to focus on the sale sign

And genos has been in school again, and he realizes he missed it. He missed having his worries be about being late for class, missing a school assignment, whether he could sit next saitama next class, what to pack for his and sai’s lunch tomorrow

And he knew in the back of his mind, that his real self, was in surgery at this time, trading warmth for fire and destruction, shedding his humanity while his future self was regaining it in the past,Thanks to saitama

He inhales sharply, ‘sai—‘ S: “don’t go.”

G: !

(Sai thought genos was going to say he was going to leave and he didn’t think he could hear him say it) S: “I know..he’s precious to you...” He reaches for genos, and after hesitating over touching genos’ hand, he settles for gripping genos’ sleeve of his school uniform tightly S: “but you’re precious to me “

And genos has tears streaming down his face. Because he wanted to stay, he had never wanted anything so much before than to just stay with saitama before he became sensei, to cheer for him when no one else would, to stop him from reaching the point he had trade his emotions for his strength, to stop the emptiness before it could touch him

But he also knew...that in order for his sensei to become strong...saitama needed to have these struggles that pushed him to change

That success without sacrifice was impossible, and he knew, genos KNEW it in his soul that if he stayed...if HE was the factor that caused saitama to limit himself, to fall back on a regular life when genos had seen it with his own eyes that this was a man destined for greater things...he would never be able to forgive himself

Genos throws his arms around saitama and hugs him tightly. He feels like he’s floating with nothing to ground him than the feeling of saitama returning his embrace equally tightly with his still lanky arms

G: “Saitama-kun....Thank you.”

G: “...goodbye.”

So next chapter begins ...With genos ending up back in genus’ lab

G: “Are we back?”

dr: “It appears so. We should—hey!! Where are you going?”

And genos is running off to look for saitama/his SENSEI because he had to exist, he had to still be a hero, right?!

He bumps into a monster

But not just any monster...Its the mosquito girl XD

Genos fights MG because its what he’s supposed to do, but he’s not scared for the fight...he’s scared for what’s to come AFTER...

And saitama shows up and finishes off MG with wan punch!!!

Genos is thankfully, not in disrepair bc he managed to dodge her attacks and was basically stalling for time

Saitama kinda sees him and looks at him blandly but to genos, that garrish, eye-burning yellow hero suit was the best thing he had ever seen

S: “Oh. A civilian? Are you oka—“

And he freezes all of a sudden.

And genos also freezes bc he doesn’t know what to do Its saitama-sensei...he should know the script, he’s done it all before

But now saitama-sensei was the stranger and he longed for the comfort that came with saitama-kun’s toothy smile

But he too had changed....he was a cyborg now, weaponized arms and black sclera on full display. His core spun dangerously. Would saitama even recognize him? Would he remember that day in the classroom when they parted ways, that was only a few hours ago for genos but more than a decade for saitama?

Genos froze. Would saitama even want to remember? After all the heartbreak genos had caused him?

Lost in his thoughts, genos almost didn’t notice saitama approach until the soft crunch of asphalt right in front of him jarred him to reality

Genos held his breath

Saitama didnt say anything. Only let that sharp gaze pierce genos in ways no monster could.

Genos couldnt read what he was thinking, he never could on his sensei’s bland face but this time, there was something tightly guarded in those brown eyes.

Saitama muttered something so low that genos had to use his advanced hearing to pickup

S: “It cant be...”

Louder and taking an aggressive step forward, saitama clenched his hand into a fist. He narrowed his eyes. “...If you’re some kinda shape-shifting monster...this won’t end well for you.”

G: “It’s genos!! I’m...I’m genos.”

Saitama freezes and his eyes grow wide. Genos almost instinctively lurches foward when saitama falls back on his heels, appearing shaken.

S: ...genos?

Genos nods tentatively.

For a moment, saitama doesnt say anything. But genos finds he doesnt need to. Those brown eyes had opened and genos could see, could feel some far-flung emotions creep back into that achingly familiar face as saitama let his gaze trail from his new eyes down his circuited arms and linger on the glowing blue that peeked through his shirt

After what felt like years, genos saw a corner of saitama’s lips twitch.

S: “It really is you....Heh. You haven’t changed a bit.”

G: “Sai—“

S: "I tried to forget you. I tried to go back to life before you. I finished school .... somehow got a job as a shitty salesman..."

S: "...I really tried."

Genos looked down, ashamed. He had been the one to injure saitama so unforgivably. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like if saitama had done the same to him, if he had turned genos away from being his disciple. Kicked him out. How could you forgive someone who changed your world for the better, only to leave it behind?

More than anything, he needed to beg for forgiveness, not that he deserved it—but saitama did.

G: “Saitama, I—“

Sai shook his head, like he didn’t want to hear it.

Genos thought his core would crack.

S: “I thought...If I were strong, things would get better. If I were stronger than that person..maybe you would have picked me instead.”

S: “Maybe you would have stayed “

S: “I trained and trained until I became strong...but it wasn’t enough. To capture your attention, I had to be the strongest.” Saitama pauses and shoots him a small, cheeky grin that had echoes of the same toothy smile Genos cherished.

S: “I would have to be, to take care of someone as high maintenance as you.”

Then the smile faded. S: “But even after I became strong..what did it matter? You had left and I didn’t know if I would ever see you again. And if for some crazy reason i Did meet you again...I didn’t know if i had it in me to ask you to choose again..”

G: (full on oil tears, the whole shebang)

G: S-Saitama..!!

Saitama grinned helplessly at him.

S: “So hurry up and choose me, genos!”

G: “Sensei!!!” [ because I had already chosen you a long time ago ]

They hug.

THE END!!!!!!!!!!! :’D

There’s a small epilogue where sai’s like..you called me teacher again. Im still not a teacher you know (in reference to this original post: http://yiulee.tumblr.com/post/139194391025/time-travel-au ) .

And genos is like: dont worry sensei, ill explain it to you

And sai is like ah, okay? But first. surprise smooch! S: been waiting 12 years to do that :D

/////

endless thanks to @konorai @batneko @egg-in-the-basket for bearing with me while i unloaded this beast into the discord chat..yall the real mvps!!! ;3;

#saigenos #opm #saitama #genos #time travel au #my writing #opm time travel au #i was right #im never finishing this LOL OTL #but!!#i hope you guys still enjoy the story outline! :D #the key scenes i wanted to write/draw are still included so im sated :>#yiulee art #opm art

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bookmawkish · 6 years

Text

Seeing double, part 3

WARNING: FLUFF. That’s literally it. Feel free to skip if you’re only here for the drama and crossover. The story proper will continue in the next chapter XD

Part 1 | Part 2

All the Loki/Heckyl stuff (aka Heckyl in the MCU)

@worldoftherandom

Honestly, Loki doesn’t know why he puts up with it.

“I was out of this building for less than an hour,” he says, loudly. He’s still got the paper carton in his hands from the coffeehouse down the street. And he’s supposed to be the lord of chaos. Really, it seems that these Avengers are far better at causing chaos than he is, and in a much shorter period of time. Maybe they should trade. He can become Earth’s Mightiest Hero, and they can bumble around creating disaster and destruction by the bucket load -

But enough philosophy. From what Loki has managed to gather from Bruce Banner’s somewhat garbled explanation, they’ve had another portal open up - really, he has to reiterate, he’s been out for about forty minutes, are they keeping track of his schedule in order to have emergencies at the least convenient time possible? - and there’s another version of Heckyl here. One that’s, in Bruce’s words “intact, still with the monster inside, okay?!?”

Oh, superb. A whole slew of possibilities, all equally horrible, flash through Loki’s mind in less than a second. But he is not one to take the word of a somewhat dishevelled mortal wearing a bathrobe as gospel. There are more important things at stake.

“Where is Heckyl?” he demands. Bruce throws up his hands helplessly.

“Which one?”

But by this stage Loki has dumped the carton of lemon poppy seed muffins on the floor and is striding off, an aimed weapon, to find his partner. Burdened with glorious purpose has nothing on his attitude right now. He can only imagine what being confronted by an original version of himself has done to his Heckyl. His. The possessive is extremely important. Because Loki doesn’t like people touching (and damaging) his things.

Heckyl is not in his room. The TV in there is on, and there’s the usual mess that Loki expects: there are many things about the man that he likes, but Heckyl is by no means tidy. Quite the opposite, in fact. He’s a habitual hoarder and there are things everywhere: clothes, books, pizza boxes, games. Loki flicks the TV off, and out of habit, checks the closet, the bathroom, and finally, under the bed. Nothing. He closes his eyes and listens, extending his senses, checking for heartbeat and breath. Heckyl is good at hiding. It’s something that came in very handy when they were on the run together across the Nine Realms.

Then he remembers where they live now: rolls his eyes, berates himself briefly, and -

“JARVIS,” he says, quietly.

“Yes, Mr Odinson?”

“Where is Heckyl?”

“I believe the one you are looking for is in your rooms. The other is still on the roof with Mr Stark. Sir, I would advise - ”

But Loki is already moving, heading to his own quarters. He hears Heckyl long before he gets there, and mentally takes a deep breath before he goes in.

Heckyl is in a fury. This would probably have been more impressive had he been wearing his traditional outfit, or even his futuristic Stark-designed battle gear: but as it is, barefoot in a tourist t-shirt and slacks, he gives the general impression of a teenager who’s had his wifi disconnected. He’s trashing the place. His eyes burn blue, his teeth are bared, his hands sparking with power that’s licking scorch marks up the walls, and as Loki enters he has to sidestep a flung chair.

Now Loki has both seen and thrown some impressive tantrums in his time, but this is quite a scene, none the less. He watches for a moment, then puts his back against the wall, foot braced up casually, folds his arms, and says:

“You couldn’t destroy your own things?”

Heckyl immediately swings around and attacks him. Loki, who was expecting this, hits back. They trade blows back and forth, Heckyl panting and snarling, Loki silent, focused on defence.

“Stop this.”

Grappled, electrocuted, kicked. Loki wrestles, grabs, restrains.

When he takes an elbow to the jaw that makes him bite his own lip, the pain coupled with the taste of blood overrides his care and caution. He punches Heckyl direct in the chest, full force, and Heckyl staggers back, falls, ends up on the floor. Loki snaps a boot down onto his chest and leans his weight on it.

“I said stop it,” he commands, putting all of his you-were-made-to-be-ruled-now-kneel into his voice. Then, as Heckyl remains pinned and doesn‘t immediately attempt to get up, he adds, just as vehemently: “He is not you. Do you hear me? He is not you.” Those bare feet are battered and bleeding. Loki’s concern ratchets up a notch.

“I hate him,” Heckyl hisses. “I hate you. Get off me. Let me go.”

“Not until you start using your brain instead of your nerves.” Loki leans more weight down and pretends not to notice the stab of blue power that snaps up his leg in response. “And I’m going to ignore that. You’re upset.”

“Oh, genius insight, really?” Heckyl mocks him, lividly. “Get off me.”

“Make me.”

“You think I won’t fight you?” Heckyl’s expression is sickly determined. “I will kill you. I don’t even care. It’s what I do. I have sixty million years experience, you…you thick-headed child.” His energy rises with his tone, haloing Loki in stinging turquoise light.

Loki’s expression flattens into unreadable blankness.

“Are you hearing yourself?” he says. “And you are calling me child?”

“I won’t do it,” Heckyl growls. “I won’t let him near you. I’ll kill you first. I can’t kill him, but I can kill you. I won’t let him have you.”

And that brings Loki up short, because for once it isn’t what he was expecting.

“Do you think so little of me?” he murmurs, crouching down, still keeping his boot firmly in the centre of Heckyl‘s chest. “Do you really?” He reaches out a hand, runs his fingers along Heckyl’s jawline. Heckyl flinches, snaps his head to the side as if making to bite, but Loki just continues to stroke, gently, and does not feel teeth meet in his flesh. The hum and crackle of Heckyl’s power across his skin subsides, very gradually.

There is quiet in the room: only Heckyl’s breathing, ragged and stressed, then Heckyl finally says:

“He destroyed everything. He always ruins everything. I won’t let him destroy this too. I can’t.”

Loki runs the full flat of his palm down Heckyl’s cheek, holds it there, and Heckyl turns his face into the hand, closes his eyes. “I can’t.”

“Are you still intent on killing me?”

“No.”

Loki removes his foot, and Heckyl sits up, looking hesitant.

“I have attempted to murder my brother on many occasions, and yet still, he insists on hugging me,” says Loki, thoughtfully. “And you have only threatened to kill me a few times, and yet - “

He doesn’t get to finish because Heckyl has lunged at him, clinging to him, burying his head into the crook of his neck. Loki smiles against his hair, shifts his grip to hold Heckyl closer. The alien is trembling.

“As I said,” Loki murmurs, “you are no longer that man. Now.”

He gently moves Heckyl out to arm’s length, eyes him seriously.

“Come with me. Those idiots will undoubtedly need our help. They have no idea what they‘ve got their hands on and I am quite certain they are already doing something irreparably stupid.”

#fluff #fluffy #gay love #Heckyl #loki #Loki/Heckyl #FANDOM FUSION #crossover #mcu #Avengers #avengers family #avenger loki #Power Rangers #power rangers dino charge #dino supercharge #my otp #MY OTP IS PERFECT

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seven-oomen · 3 years

Photo

Hi, Ben! I hope your day is going a bit better than yesterday, despite the financial woes. I spent a large chunk of yesterday trying to pay a bill a day late (because with everything else going on it just kinda snuck up on me and it was past midnight before I realized I’d forgotten it), only to find out I have to now wait until NEXT month’s bill posts and it will combine them, but at that point I can split it into two payments instead of paying two months at once? Which is really stupid to me, and I don’t know why it won’t just let me pay now, but oh well. Can’t do anything about it now.

We seem to maybe be past the worst of the storm? At least, it hasn’t rained or anything all day so far. The biggest concern by far has been ice build up, because most of what we got was freezing rain and wintry mix. I’ve included a lovely collage of some of the sights from my adventures taking out trash and trying to remove the ice from my windshield this morning (I figured since I was already dressed and outside anyway, why not have less to do before work tomorrow?) It wouldn’t have been so bad if it hadn’t involved draping myself across my still ice-coated car to get the middle of the windshield. I ended up soaking wet from my ribs to almost my knees (yay for being short.) Also, I didn’t bother looking for my gloves, but then my nails were actually fairly useful for prying up some of the ice, so. And I’m really kind of digging masks as a scarf alternative. All the face and breath protection, none of the accidental choking or not staying in place. (Scarves are pretty and all, but they’re far better on someone like Isaac, who is tall and slender and elegant. I am none of those things. XD ) I’m half tempted to reread The Way I Tend To Be or the last couple chapters of If You Want This Dance to not feel like the only one suffering. XD Although sadly I do not have access to the more successful warming methods present in either of those fics. XD

And from the looks of it I got about half the descriptions from the links. Everything else showed fine, I think it was just because those were longer. And now I definitely feel like Dichali would not be helpful in the least to this overly serious hunter who shows up trying to muscle in on his territory (whether you’re considering it in the literal, figurative, personal, OR professional sense. ;D ) Especially once he realizes that he’s a hunter (no, it doesnt matter how hot he is. XD ) Will Faron know that he’s a wolf when they meet? (Or will he be suffering from the far more mundane issue of “how are you both so cute, yet so goddamn annoying?! Fml.” XD ) Will seeing Faron’s interactions with Nate be what helps him realize his own feelings, or will it be something else? (How will the presence of a new contender affect the betting pool? XD ) Also, now curious about the other parent of his twins, too. (I know, I know, I ask that everytime, but I can’t help it. There’s always so many possibilities, some of which could come back to haunt them [possibly even literally…]) Is he the wolf that was videoed, or was it someone else? Does he know who it was if it wasn’t him? Are either of his kids werewolves (or are they too young to know yet?) Are wolves only born or only made or both in this universe? Also now wondering if Old Faithful is just like an ancient sleeping dragon or something, instead of a regular geyser.

Also, a question occurred to me, and I really, REALLY hope it doesn’t come across wrong, I REALLY don’t mean it to, but if, theoretically, a person’s scent, to a werewolf, if comprised of both things like pheromones and chemosignals, as well as more, uh, physically based, bodily fluid-type scents, if you will, could a werewolf potentially tell if someone is trans by their scent? (This mostly came from randomly remembering the scene in Pitch Black where Riddick outs the girl who’s been disguising herself as a boy, and then my brain wouldn’t let it go. Again, I’m really sorry if it comes across weird or offensive in any way.) And I also wanted to say that if you’d really rather not post any of this stuff (re: your novel) online, you are more than welcome to just email a reply if you want. I just tend to send stuff this way out of habit. :D

Glad you liked the DinLuke idea. It was mostly inspired by a GIFset of scenes of Din not understanding Jedi stuff in the least. I just figured he’d never be able to fully believe that Luke could just KNOW nothing was there, and, well, no one is supposed to see his face, right? And he strikes me as just enough of a himbo to completely forget about covering anything else. One day I will finally see the show, if only to see how correct some of the impressions I’ve formed actually are. XD

Also, OMG, the “hunters using an adult shop instead of an outdoors/sporting goods shop” thing is brilliant. And I was thinking of it in regards to TW, because I feel like there’d likely be some classist issues at play there, too. Like I feel like the Argents would never think to do something like that (well…maybe Kate…), just because they already HAVE all those stockpiles and connections to military-esque supplies, and there’s a certain level of dignity they tend to reinforce (the Winchesters ain’t really all that proud, for all their infamy.) But then, say, when Noah starts helping Chris with investigating stuff, he’s thinking of all the stuff he’s heard over the years from the vice cops about what they’ve found and seen, and some of the stuff he’s seen on DV calls that turned out to just be neighbors misunderstanding what they were hearing, (and maybe one or two sneaky trips to an out-of-county shop so that he could attempt to be more prepared once Stiles was old enough to start asking questions because he knew it’d probably get weird), so when he decides to stock up on some equipment of his own that’s where he goes, because it’s high quality, specifically designed for what they need, and likely far more affordable. And the first time Chris sees some of it he thinks it’s both brilliant and kinda hot (and he can’t decide if he wants to know what some of this stuff is actually intended for or not. Noah is totally willing to help him learn if he’d like. ;D )

Anyway, I’m rambling again. I hope your day is going as well as it can, and that you’re generally feeling as good as possible. (And hey, it doesn’t always matter so much if what your eating right now isn’t as healthy as it could be, as long as you’re trying to eat reasonable amounts on a regular schedule to help keep the habit going. And either way you can always try again.) Take care, stay warm and stay hydrated! (I’m not much of a mom friend, but I do my best at being the aunt friend. XD ) *Hugs to you both!*

Okay, I will email you some stuff since I don’t want to share too much info on Tumblr, but I def want to share a few things.

As for how I’m doing, it’s going okay today. I feel like I accomplished some things with my characters even though I wrote little, but the story and world is a lot clearer and lively in my head. And I know how I want to start this story now.

Physically, I could be better. I got little done physically, and I def had a few moments where I just laid on my couch and couldn’t move. My chessboard has a lot of dark pieces moving to the middle today. It’s a metaphor I have in my house, an actual mini chessboard on my coffee table, where I am the chessboard. The dark pieces are my dark thoughts, and the light pieces are my happy thoughts.

Some days, white moves forward the most. Some days black has the upper hand. But whatever day I have, I am never just the pieces; I am the board and I am the one constant dealing with those pieces. But they are just there, there are never me. Good or bad, they are just pieces. Having the physical element in my home reminds me of that.

Sorry, I went off on a tangent there.

And I definitely get the short problem when having to clean cars, or wearing scarfs. Although I think I pull my green one off relatively well. (I am 5′4 though, so anything long becomes a choking hazard)

The ice is pretty and dangerous though; I guess that’s its duality. But it sucks that everything is so slippery, hope that clears up soon. I think it’s slowly thawing here, so hopefully, my groceries can be delivered properly today. Fingers crossed.

Hope work tomorrow also goes well. Please be careful on the road?

Also, that’s a nice car, looks really reliable. ^^

And I hope that you too will be in better financial waters soon <3 We got this my friend.

And the Mandalorian is soooo good though, I highly recommend it!

Yeah honestly, I thought that idea was quite brilliant and I kinda feel like putting it in the first draft as well. Though it could definitely work for a lot of TW fics too!

Noah would be more than happy to teach Chris all about his new toys I’d feel like. And Chris would not mind one bit XD.

#ben says stuff #B #my convos with anon #submission

0 notes

flames-bring-a-ton-of-ash · 6 years

Text

Eleven Questions

I was tagged by the amazing @jeffreydeanneganstrash @neganismyobsession and @sherrybaby14 to play this game.

Rules.

1. Post the Rules. 2. Answer the questions given to you. 3. Make 11 questions of your own. 4. Tag 11 people.

Since I was tagged 3 times, I’m gonna slightly cheat by answering the 33 questions I was asked, then write 11 of my own questions to tag 11 people in (rather than create 33 questions which I would spend all night coming up with lol).

I’m putting a keep reading bar because this got hella long.

@neganismyobsession‘s Questions:

1. Favorite movie genre?

Lately, it seems to be horror, although I’m always a sucker for a good romance.

2. If you could bring one thing to show your favorite celebrity, what would it be?

Tbh, if I ever met JDM, I’d love to magically have the resources to print out a copy of ID to give him, or at the very least take the first chapter and ask him to sign it. No shame lol

3. Who is your favorite fanfic writer?

Just one?!?! Oh god...I read fanfiction in so many fandoms that I literally can’t say I have one favorite. However, I’m gonna give a shoutout to my girl @hannibalssweaters whose writing has introduced me to some kinks I didn’t even know I was into, and has had me reading fics about characters/fandoms I’m not even involved with. If you haven’t read her stuff, I strongly encourage it (altho heed the warnings).

4. If you could live anywhere where money was not an issue, where would you live?

Ireland, most likely

5. What brought you to Tumblr originally?

Oh wow...that was back in like 2011, and I only made a tumblr because my undergrad roommates were talking about it and told me that I should, so I did lol

6. What is your favorite past time?

Reading...does that count?

7. If the zombie apocalypse did happen, what is the first thing you would do?

Pack up my cats and attempt to make it back to my hometown, although that’s a 4 hour drive away so idk if I’d make it. But I’d have a much better chance of survival in my small hometown out in the woods than I’d ever have here in a major city. I honestly think I’d be pretty fucked and die really quickly just trying to get out of here.

8. What is one movie you could watch over and over and not get tired of it?

Pride & Prejudice

9. If you could have been born in another time era, what time era would you pick?

Tbh, the reality of any past era is not one I’d be interested in, especially as a woman. But I love reading romance novels set in various historical eras.

10. If you could be a famous person, who would you be?

Hmm...maybe Taylor Swift? Just to know what that level of fame would be like, but also because she’s relatable enough with her cats and old lady habits that I wouldn’t feel totally unlike myself lol

11. Apple or Android?

Apple

@jeffreydeanneganstrash‘s Questions:

1. Was there a book or movie that you read/watched that truly disappointed you? If so, which book/movie and why?

Book: The Game of Thrones series. I love the show (although I’m a few seasons behind) and bought the first 4 books, planning on trying to catch up and surpass where the show was, so I could know what happens next. I barely made it halfway through the first book before giving up. I was so disappointed that I just had no interest in it at all, and was forcing myself to read it. It wasn’t worth the dedication needed to read those beast-sized novels, if I wasn’t enjoying them.

2. If you could travel back in time, where would you go?

I kinda stated above how I personally would not wanna go back in time, because I like having more rights now as a woman than we have had in the past haha. I’m also not super into history, so I’m good with leaving the past in the past.

3. What is your favourite quote or song lyric?

“Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” ~Marilyn Monroe

4. Who is you least favourite “popular” celebrity and why?

Donald. Fucking Donald. Do I even need to explain why?

5. When there’s something strange in your neighbourhood…who are you gonna call?

Hmm...I usually call my mother or grandmother in any panicky situations, so I guess one of them? Although they live 4 hours away, so idk how helpful they’d be if it was a physical danger lol.

6. Would you ever play with a ouija board?

Fuck no

7. If you could be a part of any T.V./Movie universe, which would it be?

Most TV shows I watch are ones where human women end up dead way too often lmao. Uhhh...Harry Potter, perhaps?

8. Do you prefer mornings or nights?

Nights, definitely. Even though I have to be at work at 8am, I don’t think I’ll ever totally get used to that early morning shit.

9. Can you name 11 things that are around you?

couch, fluffy blanket, glass of water, laptop, cell phone, coffee table, 2 books on said coffee table, cat scratch post, 2 cats, purse, boots

10. Black or white?

Black

11. What is the soundtrack to your life?

One song that I relate to a lot and jam out to is Alessia Cara’s “Wild Things” lol. Also, just about anything by Taylor Swift or Kelly Clarkson is usually pretty relatable.

@sherrybaby14‘s Questions:

1. Favorite Holiday?

Thanksgiving (which is coming up!) or my birthday, if that counts

2. Santa is going to bring you one toy this year. What do you ask for?

Heh...I’d probably pick out one of the super expensive sex toys that I’ve seen and lamented being unable to afford.

3. If money were not a concern, what would your dream job be?

Being a published writer

4. What are your favorite type of puzzles?

Ohhh I love puzzles of all kinds. I went through a phase a couple of years ago with large jigsaw puzzles that I then glued and framed. But I also love Sudoku, which I haven’t done in forever.

5. What was your first kiss like?

Drunk and nothing special

6. If you had to change your first name, what name would you pick?

I’d refuse. I love my first name. It’s unique, and I rarely ever meet anyone else with it.

7. What is the best dessert you can make?

I make some pretty bangin’ chocolate chip pumpkin cookies from scratch.

8. What are you thankful for this year?

I feel like I went through quite a few stressful and heartbreaking tests this year, such as being unexpectedly evicted from my apartment due to renovations earlier in the year, and watching one of my cats lose his health over a period of 6 months and having to finally make the decision to put him down in August. Both those situations were ones where I just wanted to let my mental health tank, let the depression take over, and give up. So, I’m really thankful for my support system. For my family who offered support, for my friends offline who were always there to talk, come over and let me vent, or help me in whatever ways they could. I was also incredibly thankful for my tumblr family. The Negan fandom (and some lovelies in the Supernatural fandom) provided so much support to me that I will be forever thankful for. I had so many people message me about both situations, and I even received over $200 in ko-fi donations for my writing, to help out with moving expenses. I don’t have enough words to even express how much all the messages and asks and just the aura of support I received, both on here and offline, meant to me. Because of that support from those around me, I was able to keep myself from falling prey to my depression, was able to find a new apartment that I absolutely love, and was able to make it through the loss of Sebastian (and I now own a new kitten who has helped patch up both my grief and my other cat’s grief, and refill both our hearts with love). So, to everyone who sent me a message, sent donations, and/or just had me in your thoughts...thank you. I couldn’t have kept it together and made it through without y’all.

(Sorry, that got uber cheesy XD)

9. Do you decorate for Christmas? If so, do you have any theme?

Ha, no. The cats would destroy any decorations, so I don’t even make the effort.

10. Do you enjoy getting ready (i.e. hair, makeup, clothes)?

Eh, not like I used to when I was younger. I take maybe 15 minutes to throw myself together for work in the morning. It’s only a few select times a year when I’m either going home or to a friend’s house for a holiday (or the one time a year when I go out drinking for my birthday) when I enjoy putting on music and taking my time getting all made up and going all out with makeup and such.

11. Favorite store to shop in?

Probably Target. Or Kohl’s.

Now, for My Questions:

1. Do you have any pets? If so, what species, and what are their names?

2. Your favorite place that you’ve traveled to?

3. What are you currently reading?

4. One thing that you’re currently looking forward to?

5. Where do you hopefully see yourself in 5 years?

6. Your favorite flavor of ice cream?

7. What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received?

8. Favorite brand/chain/type of coffee?

9. One thing you never leave home without?

10. Name 3 things (can be physical, emotional, etc.) that you love about yourself.

11. If you were to recommend one published book/series for me to read, what would it be?

I’m gonna just tag a bunch of people since I answered more than 11 questions: @i-am-negan-trash @hannibalssweaters @strangersangel9 @vizhi0n @mrs-squirrel-chester @kellyn1604 @seraphimkouenki @superprincesspea @megmeg-chan @noodlecupcakes @faith-in-dean @sweetsweetpeach @ryangoslingstanktop @negan--is--god @thegirl-fromthesky @hazel-nuss @backseat-negan @autumnescape @wickednerdery @bamby0304 @embracetheapocalypsewithme @wheresthekillswitch @rapsity @supernaturally-lucky @superwholoki

#personal #about me #questions

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broke-bitch-mountain · 6 years

Text

Total Eclipse of the Heart

@quichekolgate another chapter! Finally XD.

So I’m going to try and get the next update sooner (end of the week maybe?? It depends on if I sleep all day or not lol) and hopefully this will start to pick up soon! I want to take time to let Shiro, Lance and Keith get a proper relationship arc without it interrupting the action. So here’s an attempt at that with Shiro and Lance! I’ll try to work on Keith and Shiro in the next update! ALSO! I’m working on a twelve days of Christmas OTP thing that I’m going to post about soon so keep your eyes open for that!

Chapter Three: Fate

Around noon, the small group came together at the front of the castle. Katie had two packs, one with the tracer to find Lotor and Klaizap, and the other had supplies for the week. She wore brown shorts and a long sleeved green and white shirt.

Keith and Lance each had a pack with provisions and clothes, each choosing long pants made of thick fabric, and long sleeved shirts to protect them from the environment. Keith had two water bottles, one attached to hip and a pouch that held emergency snacks in case they were somehow separated. Or if Lotor hadn’t eaten in the time frame of kidnapping to rescue.

Just as they were heading out though, Shiro came out of the castle, packed and ready.

“There’s at least three different royal families that will declare war if even one of you doesn’t come back alive.” he explained. “Besides, I’ve never been one to wait around for death.”

Keith found the footsteps that Klaizap was most likely following after Alfor showed them the path the Aurusian went down.

“It looks like a few different pairs.” Keith noted, “There’s one that’s more tong shaped, but the others look like a similar shoe with different sizes.”

“The dirt is still fresh,” Shiro mused while rubbing a small sample between his thumb and finger.

“We should get moving.” Keith said, “They have anywhere from eight to twelve hours on us.”

“I’m ready to go,” Katie said.

“Then let’s go.” Shiro said, “day light won’t stay for long!”

Six hour later, the sun started to set and Shiro began looking for a good place to stop for the night. Much to the relief of his companions. While Keith had never considered himself a slacker in his workout routines, he was feeling the burn in his legs from the six hour hike they had just treked. He couldn’t imagine how Lance or Katie where holding up. He had offered to carry her equipment about halfway through before instantly regretting it and passing it over to Shiro who didn’t even break stride.

Lance had gone silent in the last hour, which, color Keith impressed, was a shocking development. He had been running his mouth asking questions about Shiro and Katie while constantly reminding them that they didn’t have to answer, he just didn’t like quite and it was really quite, like quite enough to her heartbeats, can you feel your heartbeat through your prosthetic?

Shiro was a good sport despite the rudeness, offering simple yes or no with a small amount of explanation when comfortable. Katie, on the other hand, stopped answering about an hour in. Clearly displeased about the physical aspect in general and was trying to suffer in peace thank you very much. Keith had picked up on the negative vibes which added to his offer to carry her equipment.

As soon as the light was fading, Shiro had them set down for a campsite for the night. While Katie tracked their progress and gage how much further Lotor and Klaizap where, Keith and Lance set up the tent that Shiro had thought to bring. Shiro wondered a few feet from their designated spot to double check that they weren’t in immediate danger and to collect firewood.

“You ok, babe?” Lance whispered

“I thought you were mute by now.” Keith teased.

“Not funny.” Lance shoved, “Dick.”

“Your dick.” Keith smiled.

“Seriously, Mr. Side track. Are you ok?”

“I’m fine...what about you? You holding up?”

“Psh,” Lance shrugged, “I’m golden. You know what they called me back in class? The Tailor, cause of how I can make a tight fit work.” he winked.

Keith snorted, “You dork.”

“Your dork.”

“Please don’t kiss.” Katie popped their bubble. “Like, I get that you’re in love, but I need to focus and you getting cutesy is distracting.”

Lance scoffed, popping his hip, “You’re just jealous!”

“Somebody is…” she mumbled.

Before Lance could ask her to repeat herself, Shiro came back with a slight flush. The first time he had shown any level of exhaustion since they left. “Looking good boys! Pidge, how’s those readings coming?”

“Not Pidge, and they’re almost done mapping.”

“What kind of name is Pidge?” Lance prodded, excited to have another line of conversation to burn.

“Her brother introduced her to me as Pidge.” Shiro smiled then smirked at the princess in questions, “and it stuck better than her name I guess.”

“No, it didn’t, Sir Shirogane.” she playfully sneered.

Shiro dramatically pouted and Lance stifled a laugh. He looked ridiculous, over muscled as he was with puppy dog eyes. Though it was kind of cute, and it was nice to have such a playful atmosphere after the rough day they had. So he turned back around and finished tightening the tent down while listening to Lance joke about how he thought Katie had earned her despised nickname.

“Is he always high energy?” Shiro asked, checking the rope’s tension.

“Only when he’s uncomfortable,” Keith explained. “He thinks if he puts on a show nobody will notice he’s on the wrong stage.” he smiled fondly at his fiance. Who was currently being pinned by Katie who was half his size. “He’s probably trying to get her to forgive him for bugging her earlier.”

“By bugging her more?”

“It’s surprisingly effective.”

“Speaking from experience?”

“Yeah, as the test dummy.”

To nobody’s surprise, Shiro was probably the best person ever to have with you when you’re out in the woods. It took maybe ten dobashes, at the largest estimate, for Shiro to build a small fire to keep them warm. Then turned to Katie to ask for the data she had been collecting.

“So, we have a rough map of the surrounding land here.” she explained, “we are the black dots, Lotor is supposedly the red dot and Klaizap is the yellow. It looks like Lotor has stopped for a while now cause his energy signature hasn’t moved any further for the last varga. Klaizap though, is still moving towards Lotor’s location, which means he’s lucky, confident or whoever took the prince left a trail.”

“How much farther from Lotor then?” Shiro pressed.

“A day, day and a half maybe. Granted that’s him staying in that same spot.”

“Then we should head out at first light.” Shiro decided, “I’ll take watch to make sure nothing sneaks up on us. You three go ahead and get some shut-eye.”

“Wake me up when you’re ready to switch.” Keith said, holding the tent opened for Katie.

“I’ll stay up a bit longer.” Lance smiled, “It’s been awhile since I had such a clear view of the stars.”

Keith nodded and ducked into the tent.

“Sooo...they really just let Klaizap walk off huh?” Lance started.

“Yeah, it was really weird.” Shiro nodded.

“I grew up hearing stories that fate hand picked those who were sacrificed.” Lance mumbled. “Literally, the first words out of my father’s mouth when Allura found out was ‘it’s such an honor, almost like fate’ he said.” Lance forced his voice lower in a mockery of his father, puffed out chest and everything.

“Have you changed your mind then?”

Lance deflated a bit, “...a part of me never really believed it…I remembered a handful of governors and other royals tell me that my mother’s death was for a reason. But I couldn’t find it. Like, if I could figure it out. I could apologize…” he trailed off.

“To Allura?”

“Allura...dad….the kingdom…” Lance gave a small laugh, “If it weren’t for me, then they would be ok...alive…”

“I’m sure Allura doesn’t blame you.” Shiro tried.

“She stopped talking to me when we found out what Hagger coming.” Lance said, “If I wasn’t here then mom would have been here to teach Allura, and Allura wouldn’t have been chosen for Haggar cause that would have ended the royal line, so it is actually kind of my fault she’s mad and honestly? I don’t blame her!”

“...how long has that been resting on your shoulders?”

“...while…”

“...that’s fair.”

For a while the two sat in silence, gazing into the fire. The smoke made Lance’s eyes water a bit, but the chipper popping of wood stopped them from turning into full blown tears. Though the fire didn’t seem to be as warm as before. Forest animals pranced around them, oblivious to the heavy air between their two guest for the night. Many too concerned with their own problems to stop and be curious.

“When I was about ten, a group of Galren soldiers, lead by a guy named Sendek, tried to claim our colony on Earth.” Shiro sighed, “A group of them was sent to separate the kids, cause panic and dumb moves I guess. As luck would have it, the royal family was out with the people, and the two heirs got separated, ended up close to me. Sendek noticed and tried to grab them. I was prodigy for the army through my father, so I didn’t have a ton of fighting experience but it was enough to get the three of us away.”

“We ended up hiding behind some trash in the alleyway. Eventually soldiers showed up, chaos ensued and they got the Galra away. When the three of us came out, King and Queen Holt were grateful and offered me a job training to be one of their best. I almost didn’t take it.”

“Why not?” Lance whispered.

“Because a few of the kids we ran from had died in the chaos. I believed that I should have been good enough to save them before accepting a position to be better.” Shiro explained.

“But you were just a kid!” Lance exclaimed. Shiro gave him a pointed look, “oh…”

#quichekolgate #Nomi narrates #shklance #altean lance kind of #galra keith kind of #for sure human shiro #total eclipse of the heart au #death mention #rated M for mature #I wanna be finished with this by January #I start my new job on thrusday #so it shouldn't be that hard #but we'll see!

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comicteaparty · 5 years

Text

May 16th, 2019 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party chat that occurred on May 16th, 2019, from 5PM - 7PM PDT. The chat focused on Champs by Mharz.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- THURSDAY BOOK CLUB START!

Good evening, everyone~! This week’s Thursday Book Club is officially beginning! Today we are discussing Champs by Mharz~! (http://champs.mharz.com/)

Remember that Thursday discussions are completely freeform! However, every 30 minutes I will drop in OPTIONAL discussion questions in case you’d like a bit of a prompt. If you miss out on one of these prompts, you can find them pinned for the chat’s duration. Additionally, remember that while constructive criticism is allowed, our focus is fun and respectfully appreciating the comic. All that said, let’s begin!

QUESTION 1. What is your favorite scene in the comic so far and why?

Mharz

halllo! (edited)

rikirinka

HIHII

Kabocha

Favorite scene? Prooooobably this one -- Jane is powered by LOOOOOVE and a desire to impress Tala :'D Also determination and a huge amount of skill. http://champs.mharz.com/comic/39

rikirinka

I haven’t gotten to read champs in a long time but the part that stuck out to me the most was when Jane first saw tala!! And she was like “she’s....beautiful”

That’s a big gay mood

Mharz

“What is your favorite scene in the comic so far and why?” Sooo my favorite scene so far was in Round 3 when Tala manages to catch Jane off-guard and landed a punch. That was veeeeeeeerrrry satisfying to draw. http://champs.mharz.com/comic/86

rikirinka

YESS

Kabocha

Tala was like, "HA YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME"

RebelVampire

i really love how tala is not pictured as anything special in that scene. like just average and regular person here. i think it humanizes the love to a large degree since like...theres no shoujo sparkles or anything. just one woman seeing another in a special way that is based purely on emotions.

Mharz

Also when Jane realized that they made contact and they she was FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF we touched!!!! fangirls http://champs.mharz.com/comic/90

rikirinka

Blessed

Kabocha

...See, I had to laugh at that page because she's like "HOLY CRAP WE TOUCHED I gotta go to the bathroom!" ... the timing was uh... hilarious. XD Jane's probably just going because that sort of anxiety can wreck your stomach, but...

timing....

Mharz

Surprisingly that did not happen within the match

Professionalism I suppose

RebelVampire

my favorite scene is actually probably the sparring scene where jane just like...easily takes tala down after a few seconds. for the entire comic i had been wondering how their skill levels would match up, and this was a visual demonstration of the difference between them. so i finally got to feel assured that jane deserves her championship belt.

Mharz

that is actually a challenge for me because I have to like hnggghn show that Jane isn't just trash talk... She got her belt based on her skills and smarts.

Kabocha

It would be interesting to see Tala face off against some of Jane's opponents... I can't imagine that would go well

Mharz

Oh I have something in mind, alright

I'm gonna build it within the next few chapters so that it raises the stakes a bit

not just prize money but a bit more personal

Kabocha

Oh nooo ahahaha

oooph.

Mharz

drama is fun OwO

Kabocha

Also, re-reading Round 3 -- I do kind of worry that Tala doesn't necessarily know how to restrain her strength effectively... DANG, that punch

RebelVampire

yeah i worried about that too

like light sparring tala

light

Mharz

her coach got worried too

thank goodness she didn't get a concussion

RebelVampire

plus if tala is always punching at full strength shes gonna run out of energy. and a tired opponent is probably easy pickings

Kabocha

That's a good point

Mharz

I like to think she has a lot of gas in her tank

Kabocha

I can't imagine injuries like that would be good over time in MMA

...Given how much she eats, I would believe that!

Mharz

I mean IRL combat sports athletes do tend to retire early because of injuries

head injuries can cut someone's career drastically

RebelVampire

does it hurt tala to punch that hard? like more so than a punch would normally hurt your hand

Kabocha

Tala's made of rock-hard muscle

Mharz

those gloves can cushion it to an extent

in my personal experience tho my knuckles still gets red after training even if I was wearing boxing gloves.

wheeze

Kabocha

Ooph

mathtans

I made it to the internets. O.o

Mharz

also I do agree with Kabocha, Tala's bones and muscles are probably rock hard

yo maths!

mathtans

I liked Tala's reaction after the fight, the whole we touched thing. When she'd already been hugging and trying to choke her.

Yoyo! I was worried I wouldn't have internet tonight.

Mharz

if she's punching barehanded she would get injured for sure

math, I think that was Jane

RebelVampire

hey math~!

Kabocha

The Q&A... Jane... why do you look so terrifying...

also Hi Math! Got any bad dad jokes about fighting?

RebelVampire

another scene i like is when jane shows up to meet tala and tala doesn't even recognize jane at first. its just so doofy and cute. and kind of shows tala's....innocence in a way. since she clearly still has a lot to learn about the nature of her career.

mathtans

I'm apparently not completely mentally here yet. I meant Jane. (goes to edit to make entire conversation confusing...)

I really don't know much about the sport. I kinda like how the creator picked it as a counterpoint to the Yuri On Ice anime (from the Q&A).

Mharz

<.<

mathtans

Yeah, Tala just seems to roll with the punches, so to speak. Innocent about many things.

Kabocha

Pffffft

Mharz

I'm actually learning about the MMA stuffs as I go

Kabocha

But that's a good thing -- your observation shows, Mharz!

Mharz

I was thinking of wrestling since I'm more familiar with it first but I know how wrestling can be very scripted and I don't want that.(edited)

Also I wouldn't really know how I would lump in Tala if it's wrestling

Since she's more suitable to just punch

mathtans

Also the jello would be messier.

RebelVampire

the idea of tala wearing a wrestling mask though kind of makes me laugh

Mharz

pft

RebelVampire

is this basically all tala's resume says. "I'm good at punching."

Mharz

yis

mathtans

Also good at eating things.

Mharz

and "I have strong arms"

wrestling isn't really that big here in PH so it wouldn't make sense to put her in wrestling

Kabocha

That makes sense though

Mharz

but we are very huge in boxing

Kabocha

Tala's backup plan is probably in a boxing ring eh?

Mharz

yis

she is adept in boxing(edited)

she will learn moves outside of boxing eventually

mathtans

Maybe Jane can teach her acting too. They can star in a romance movie.

Mharz

I did use Pacquiao as an inspiration for Tala

RebelVampire

QUESTION 2. Besides fighting, a huge focus of the comic is on Jane and Tala’s growing relationship. Do you think Jane’s feelings towards Tala are genuine enough to stand the test of time, or is it temporary infatuation? Further, how do you think Tala thinks about Jane at current? Will these feelings change? If so, what would it take for them to change do you think? In other words, what can Jane do to win Tala’s heart? Ultimately, do you think the two will become romantic? If so, what obstacles might await them in the future given their careers? If not, what do you think will keep them apart? Lastly, how do you think others will react to their relationship?

Kabocha

I think right now, Jane's got a temporary infatuation, and it's gonna hurt her professionally if she's not careful... But then again, she seems the type to have loved before, sooooooooooooooo.... Hm.

I guess we'll see as things progress and where the drama leads. (We did have that uh... very menacing shot of that other fighter... the blonde one with freckles iirc)

mathtans

Oh, I think Tala just sees Jane as a competitor/trainer. I feel like she doesn't see people in a relationship way, maybe due to how she was raised or her not being aware of it.

Mharz

I feel like I should answer this but this is pretty much the premise of the stories. (edited)

Kabocha

I do wonder if CHAMPS refers to the status that Tala will attain one day with Jane... OR

mathtans

Though I was reminded of another scene I liked, the recent one where Jane just shows up, and her coach has to push her out of the building, like, move on, you have non-Tala things to attend to as well.

Kabocha

the world that Tala's now gotten herself mixed up into~?

Mharz

It can mean a lot of things(edited)

Hi blast!

mathtans

CHAMPS is possibly an acronym?

Mharz

It will be fascinating to find out how Tala ended up in MMA

I will explore both of their stories eventually

mathtans

"I thought I was signing up for an MMO. Once I was in I decided to give it a try any way, the head protectors are like VR headsets."

Kabocha

OH NO

RebelVampire

I agree that i dont think tala is able to see ppl in a romantic way right now. not cause she cant but just because i dont think its ever crossed her mind as a thing she could have while doing the ppl punches. i think to change tala's heart its gonna take a big romantic gesture. like jane hires a blimp that says i like tala or something. that or we could be in for the slow burn where respect grows and then respect turns into love

rikirinka

Omg

RebelVampire

but i kind of want the blimp

Kabocha

"Yeah, I heard there was this beat saber game, but it turns out the guy I fought was nicknamed Saber!"

Mharz

Jane can probably afford that blimp(edited)

mathtans

I feel like with the blimp Tala would end up looking the wrong way or something and miss it.

Mharz

LOL YES

like any attempt of Jane expression of love gets foiled

pft Kabocha!

rikirinka

LMAO

Mharz

Tala might wreck all the furniture playing beat saber

RebelVampire

Tala will have ordered a mountain of food so high that she cant see the blimp over it

tala strikes me as the type who accidentally threw the wii mote into the tv cause she didnt put the strap on

Mharz

wrecks the screen

rip

mathtans

I mean, Jane has already invited Tala to stay at her place. Wafted right over Tala's head. Related, one wonders if Tala might like guys too, since I don't think she's ever thought much either way.

Mharz

"Oh there's a strap?"

Kabocha

And Jane's just like... "Great, now I have to get a new tv... It's no problem! I saw this 72" the other day that I wanted anyway! And Tala and I can shop like a couple...!"

Mharz

pft

Tala never honestly thought of anything romantic

she's just mindblown at everything

rikirinka

She’s baby

How old are they actually? I don’t think I ever saw it specified anywhere

mathtans

I feel like when it hits, Tala's going to be all "wait, THAT'S why the guy asked me to prom, and THAT'S why that girl cooked me meals, and THAT'S why..."

Mharz

Jane is 26

Tala is 22

Latisha

Jane is older...wow...

Mharz

yasss

mathtans

That makes sense. Tala's new to everything. I wonder why I saw them as only a couple years apart.

rikirinka

Holy shit I’m the same age as tala

RebelVampire

omg tala just having to rethink her entire life after she suddenly grasps what flirting it XD

Kabocha

4 years isn't... that... much...

mathtans

Rebel: I know, right?

Mharz

Tala is more like "wow I can't believe I got here (in US)"

rikirinka

Bless her

Mharz

so she's just wow the culture is so different than what I'm used to

She's easy to please

RebelVampire

so basically jane just needs to take tala to mcdonalds

Mharz

She'd be like "wait, there's no rice?"

mathtans

The vegan mcdonalds.

Kabocha

wait

Rice? At McDonald's?

Mharz

YES

all the fastfoods here have rice meals on their menu(edited)

rikirinka

Omg in Sri Lanka they have McRice with cute

Curry

Kabocha

WHAT That sounds AMAZING

rikirinka

I thought that was hilarious

mathtans

Oh, that's neat. Had no idea. I like cultural things like that.

RebelVampire

do they also have the cup size difference issue? cause in japan their large is basically the american small.

Mharz

there's rice on the side

RebelVampire

i hope tala has a cool display shelf for all those toys

mathtans

Instead of fries, I guess.

Mharz

Nah Tala only has a box sadly

She can't afford a shelf

rikirinka

Awwww

mathtans

Also, no Kinder Surprise now.

Mharz

fast food toys are flimsy anyways

RebelVampire

i am concerned she cant afford a shelf. does she just get paid in potatoes? XD

Mharz

Also the rice servings are really teeny here. IMO.

It's more like she sends the prize money to her family

rikirinka

Really? My McDonald’s toys have lasted me a while

mathtans

"Are those potatoes in your pocket or are you happy you just got paid."

rikirinka

LMAO

Bless tala

Mharz

:'3

RebelVampire

i really hope jane gets to see tala's place and then get utterly horrified

Mharz

her family isn't that rich so tala knows to help them first(edited)

Tala's place is pretty naturey

very rural

(edited)

this is like from the print exclusive 4 panels. xD

rikirinka

Omg

mathtans

Ok, so next plot is Tala gets the wrong idea and thinks Hudson (the one she's training with today) is in love with Jane. Tries to set them up on dates. Jane gets very confused.

Mharz

Hudson knows better

She's totally scared at Jane

mathtans

But also possibly of Tala's back slaps.

RebelVampire

Hudson is very adorable I want Hudson to find happiness.

Mharz

at this point, I feel like everyone has picked up that Jane likes Tala except Tala

mathtans

The glasses make her expression a bit harder to read, I think. (Not a bad thing, just an observation.)

Kabocha

Tala's an innocent child, I'd rather see her get surprised when she like, REALIZES it

mathtans

And also possibly Tala's coach.

Kabocha

I wonder if she'll worry that Jane was going easy on her...

RebelVampire

i would be surprised if they didnt. i mean...jane jumped a fence just to say hi to tala despite the whole thing being broadcasted and all that.

ya know that is something i hadnt considered

that tala might worry jane went easy on her

Mharz

Jane gave her front seats

mathtans

Her punches are softer.

Mharz

so she can do that

Kabocha

Someone could also feed Tala misinformation and be like... "Jane wants you to stay here longer, so she's not training you to your full potential"

mathtans

"Jane gave me the front row seats so I'd have longer to travel to get to the bathroom. It's all part of training."

Mharz

LOOOOL

mathtans

Kabocha: That other MMA character is a good contender to do that.

Mharz

who?

which one?

mathtans

The one at the end of Part 2. I'm horrible with names.

Mharz

oh no her name hasn't been mentioned yet

I reckon you were talking about the emo blonde lady

mathtans

Ahh, okay then.

Mharz

it will be soon

RebelVampire

what we all didnt realize was that champs was a comedy about how many ways tala could misconstrue jane's intentions. Tala: Jane sent me these chocolates and flowers. This must be how americans congratulate each other on a good fight!

Mharz

yes

RebelVampire

QUESTION 3. Within the story, Tala is starting out as a rookie and has quite a ways to go. What do you think motivated Tala to take on this career, especially given the potential for harm? How do you think Tala managed to get Ted Pearson as her couch? At the end, do you feel that Tala will reach the heights of what she wants for her career? If so, how long do you think it’ll take her to achieve that dream? What role do you think Jane will have to play in her career overall? Speaking of terms of immediacy, do you think Jane’s training in the recent chapters will help Tala in her upcoming match? What do you think will happen if Tala loses the match? Finally, how do you think fame and fortune might change Tala?

as for what motivated her....im just gonna go with the easy one and say money and the fact she punches good. cause it is a job suited to her skill set XD

Climaxstriker

runs in with pizza and ice cream What'd I miss?

mathtans

I think Tala mentioned how she's used to lifting heavy objects. Maybe she wanted to use that skill more than her smarts.

Mharz

I won't go to details but Ted actually is the one who tried to convince Tala to take on MMA.(edited)

Kabocha

Tala seems like the type who thought it would be fun once she got to a gym

mathtans

I wonder if it's a lose-lose, if Tala loses the match she figures Jane isn't training her well, but if Tala wins the match she figures she doesn't need more training.

Mharz

@Climaxstriker the previous questions were pinned if ye wanna answer them.

mathtans

Tala watched a TED talk?

Mharz

LOL math

mathtans

(It's super effective!)

Mharz

Ted is like this woman can lift so many things on her beefy arms! I want her to punch people.(edited)

OwO

RebelVampire

the secret to getting ted as your couch is to just move his furniture around for him

mathtans

Couch or coach?

Mharz

couch coach

mathtans

Paid in potatoes, so couch potato coach.

Mharz

he's not really that hands on with her tbh

I like to think of him as similar to Anzai from Slam Dunk(edited)

RebelVampire

*coach

i can spell

mathtans

It's all good. "Why are you sitting on me?" "You're my couch."

Ted: "Tala doesn't understand people hitting on her, so we'll have her hit on other people."

Mharz

literally

mathtans

yis

RebelVampire

i feel like tala will win her match based on jane's training, but i think its gonna be a hard fought battle and tala is gonna realize even after all that training shes still needs a lot of work in the non-punch areas

mathtans

She did figure out the feint.

Mharz

It was Jane tho

tho she realized it too late

RebelVampire

i think math meant that tala figured out she should feint

Mharz

okay

rip my english

I will have to introduce Tala's next opponent very soon

mathtans

Yeah, that's what I meant. Assuming Tala did it on purpose.

Mharz

yis she did that on purpose

mathtans

Jane might have figured it out but had become a bit complacent.

Mharz

Jane figured it out but she was too late to react that's all.

RebelVampire

yeah i do think jane deserved the punch cause i think she super underestimated tala in that moment. which probably a good lesson for jane cause i imagine jane has gotten a bit arrogant in her position.

mathtans

To be fair, it's justified. Comic does a good job of showing that.

Mharz

thank you! :'3

RebelVampire

idk if id say justified. i mean theres a huge diff between confidence and arrogance. the former is good and jane should feel assured in her skills. the latter is bad and how you get uppercut and nearly KOed forever

Mharz

IMO she's a mixture of both

mathtans

Okay, I suppose there's a bit of perspective wrapped up in that, good point. But she does seem to know what she's doing, she's not blustering in terms of arrogance.

Mharz

tho on the sparring session, she wanted Tala to push harder so she provoked her(edited)

and that kinda backfired

Kabocha

Jane knows where she stands, but not quite where Tala stands

RebelVampire

i think thats a good way to put it

Mharz

yis

Climaxstriker

1. One-Punch Tala best scene. 2. I believe someday Jane will confess her love to Tala and they'll become a couple. Not now, but someday. 3. (Serious answer) I think Jane's training did help in the sense that it shows that while strong she needs to cool her head in a fight. Being angry would make anyone careless which leads to mistakes. 3. (Joke answer) I'm sure the only person Jane would accept as Tala's couch is Jane.

Mharz

pft climax

Jane would wish for her to be Tala's couch any day of the week

RebelVampire

jane begins an elaborate scheme to disguise herself as tala's furniture.

Tala: When did I get this Jane shaped lamp? Oh well. I'll worry about it later.

Mharz

Tala: "my sofa is extra lumpy today"

Climaxstriker

jane transforms into Tala's couch complete with Transformers transformation sound

mathtans

I dunno if Jane getting Tala into the hold during their bout counts as Tala being HER couch.

Climaxstriker

if the ship goes well, they'll be each other's couches

Mharz

can be a bed

omg

mathtans

Sofabed.

Sofa, so good.

RebelVampire

in all seriousness i agree with the assessment that tala does kind of need to learn to cool her head. cause getting provoked is a double edged sword. and now that the feint happened once jane will know to watch for it. which really, that seems like itd be tala's downfall. cause her style seems to rely on that punch doing most of the work. so imagine an opponent who just shrugs it off and is like "pfft im fine lets go"

Mharz

Oh for sure! Jane will not fall for that again.

She has been doing a good job exploiting Tala's weaknesses.

RebelVampire

now im scared picturing them having an argument about it tho. where theyre seriously mad at each other cause jane wants tala to improve but tala just isn't grasping how her weaknesses are working against her

mathtans

Tala will be the star for Season 3 of "One Punch Man".

I don't think we've every really seen Tala upset though? Hard to picture her mad.

RebelVampire

yeah but i mean...its gotta happen. outside the gym that is.

and i bet its scary af

Mharz

those people are the most scary

<.<

mathtans

No kicking puppies in front of Tala.

Mharz

Tala is the type who is generally nice and friendly but if she gets angry hoooooooooo booooooooooooy

no don't kick puppies in front of Tala

don't kick puppies

Climaxstriker

Kicking puppies in general is just asking to have an angry penguin yeeted at you.

RebelVampire

would tala get angry if someone threw a drink in her face?

mathtans

It's a valid point. Also, don't kick Tala in front of puppies.

Mharz

I wouldn't really think Tala would punch people outside fights

that will land you to jail

Climaxstriker

I would personally think Tala would be like ".....Bruh. Why?" if that were to happen.

Mharz

this isn't some highschool manga were you can beat up anyone and get away with it.

RebelVampire

QUESTION 4. Even though Jane is the current champion, her career and life are not without their own issues. Who do you think is the mysterious woman that took in interest in Jane after Jane’s big match? What do you think the woman intends for Jane? Overall, do you feel that Jane will remain undefeated in her career? How do you think she would react to losing a match, especially in regards to being able to face Tala? Further, how do you think Jane would feel if Tala won the championship belt from her? Would it strengthen or hurt their relationship? Last, what do you make of the fact Jane isn’t fond of her other activities like modeling and acting? How might Tala help Jane deal with those aspects of her life? To end, will Jane ever beat Allen?

mathtans

Jane's ex-girlfriend?

Mharz

Ronda Rousey lost after being undefeated for so long. Who knows what the future might bring?

Climaxstriker

I would think Jane would be proud for Tala if she won the built.

mathtans

(As to the championship, maybe they can both wear the belt, it looks large enough for two.)

Kabocha

I think Jane's going to lose once, but quickly take that belt back... While she may not be undefeated, it's going to be VERY dramatic, and everyone loves when the reigning champion returns, right?

RebelVampire

jane losing once sounds so sad. i mean it seems inevitable but i just feel like jane would take that hard. cause itd be a real punch to her ego.

but then tala can bring her a milkshake

tell her she was still amazing

mathtans

Maybe she loses because someone cheated. Flashed her a picture of Tala or something.

Climaxstriker

I would find it likely Jane would lose sometime. Being undefeated is nice but everyone's got a weakness.

mathtans

And Jane's weakness is, of course... scheduling.

Mharz

lol

RebelVampire

realistically that could be the answer tho. where jane is like i havent slept in 2 days its fine i can fight

Mharz

Jane is being smart and aware that MMA will not be her career forever which is why she does acting and modelilng as back up

her coach won't allow that tbh

her not sleeping in 2days

it also helps that fights are sporadic

and not weekly like wrestling

RebelVampire

thats good that jane has a backup plan. which sounds like a good serious convo between her and tala.

mathtans

It's an interesting set of points.

RebelVampire

cause tala doesnt seem the type to have a plan b

Mharz

with her prize money going to the family it's hard to plan

mathtans

Tala goes into hairstyling. I like the consistent ponytail.

Mharz

that's pretty much an issue in most middle class here tbh

mathtans

Okay, so when Jane meets Tala's family she ends up falling for Tala's older sister instead. Hijinks ensue.

Mharz

I think it'll be fine. Tala doesn't have a sister

she's the Big Sis

She has an older brother and a younger brother

RebelVampire

so the older brother can fall in love with jane and hijinks ensues. but then he realizes she likes tala and is like, tala you dope how do you not see this

mathtans

Or Jane falls for the older brother when she sees him from behind in a dress.

Mharz

looool

Jane mistook him for Tala and hijinks ensues

RebelVampire

oh dear XD

as an aside from tala, http://champs.mharz.com/comic/102 i want to take a moment to appreciate how cute kain is here.

Kabocha

How old is Kain?

Mharz

Kain is the other person Jane will care about the most aside from Tala(edited)

late 40s

Kabocha

Awww

At least Jane's not calling him Pops or anything XD

he seems like a sentimential sorta guy

Mharz

he's like the cool dad but a strict mentor

RebelVampire

he is the best dad and better have a #1 dad mug on his desk

Mharz

He does care a lot about Jane even tho they shout curses at each other when training

but they do have a mutual understanding on what they feel about each other

RebelVampire

see even better. they can shout curses at each other and still have a nice, caring relationship when the training is done

mathtans

Kain's catching on that Jane feels different lately. I liked their little conversation on the steps in the current parts.

Mharz

I have to say, Kain is one of Jane's biggest motivations to fight.(edited)

Kabocha

"JANE, HURRY UP, BEAT HER, AND GET YOUR ASS TOGETHER SO I CAN GO HOME AND WATCH MY SOAPS" "FUCK YOU COACH, I'M WINNING THIS MY WAY, WE HAVE TIVO" "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO WORK IT"

Mharz

LOOOOOOOOOL

that's so hilarious

RebelVampire

omg i want this to be a canon conversation

Mharz

the opponent is like

mathtans

Kain gets the idea from Soaps to have someone play Tala's evil twin as motivation for Jane to not get distracted in fights.

Mharz

looooool

RebelVampire

i hope he has a tiny tv he takes with him sometimes. and while theyre waiting for a fight to start hes just sitting there telling ppl to shut up cause he cant hear his soaps and rodriguez is about to find out his wife is cheating on him with his half-brother

Mharz

I'm pretty sure you can watch tv on smartphones???

Kabocha

Oh, but don't forget about that subplot that he's been following since 1992 -- the one where Joanna was having an affair with Dominic's brother, but played it off like it was an assault so Dominic killed his brother and paralyzed Joanna

Superjustinbros

Hey everyone!

Sorry I completely forgot about the CTP today

Climaxstriker

Plus he could have earphones so nobody could drown out his stuff

Superjustinbros

Was busy with other things

RebelVampire

you can watch tv on smartphones but the tiny tv is an aesthetic i feel suits kain

Kabocha

Ahaaha. Is Kain the type of guy who loses his wireless earbuds.

Mharz

he should have a headset instead

it's bigger

Superjustinbros

I just wanna drop in and say I love Mharz' projects, they have such great appeal.

Mharz

ty justin. :'3

Superjustinbros

You're welcome

mathtans

Do we ship Kain and Ted?

Mharz

Ted is sorta a mentor to Kain back in the day

RebelVampire

i ship kain and his #1 dad mug

Climaxstriker

Jane: Kain, the fights about to start. Kain: ....... Jane: Kain.......Kaaaaaaaain......... Jane notices air-pods Jane: Oh shit, he's wearing air-pods he can't hear me.

I'm sorry I've seen that meme go around enough times to not pass that up when wireless earphones came in xD

Mharz

which is why he can't say no to training Tala

Kabocha

Jane decides to go ham in the match, beats her opponent in ways not yet seen before

Kain ends up having to watch the match on TV

Mharz

pft

RebelVampire

i would love to see kain and ted interact tho more. cause i feel like well learn a lot about both of them and their motivations

and see more kain being cute

Kabocha

So, we're getting down to the last minutes... MHARZ I WANNA SAY YOU ARE AWESOME

mathtans

So the other question is, did Jane accidentally walk in on Tala taking a shower when they were rooming together.

Mharz

thank Kabocha! :'3

OwO

Jane would be like

that face

RebelVampire

jane isnt in the hospital from a nose bleed so probably not

mathtans

Hee hee. In conclusion, good job, Mharz, enjoy the theme immensely. Also learning things about MMA. ^^

Mharz

actually Jane would be nonchalant about it and Tala will be the one freaking out

Jane: "Tala it's fine we're both girls"

Tala: EEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

RebelVampire

COMIC TEA PARTY- THURSDAY BOOK CLUB END!

Sadly, this wraps up this week’s Thursday Book Club chat for now. Thank you so much to everyone for reading and joining us! We want to give a special thank you to Mharz, as well, for making Champs. If you liked the comic, make sure to support Mharz’s efforts however you’re able to~!

Read and Comment: http://champs.mharz.com/

Mharz’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/avimharz

Mharz’s Store: http://mharz.storenvy.com/

Mharz’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/avimharz

#ctparchive #comics #webcomics #indie comics #comic chat #comic discussion #book club #bookclub #webcomic book club #webcomic bookclub #comic tea party #ctp #champs #mharz

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monkeydluffy19920 · 7 years

Text

Chapter 862 re-reviewed

Somehow it just felt that I overreacted to yesterday’s newest chapter and didn’t think clearly enough while scribbling so decided to read the chapter again with patience and re-write the review again after a break. So here we go, take 2:

There might be some old things but also something new in this re-review but anyways the chapter begins from inside the Capone (sounded so wrong) where Luffy is still fast asleep and the retrieval team is almost running out of time with their plan and the tension is real because Luffy is important part of the plan. Now after re-reading the chapter it’s almost mind blowing to see that when Jinbe tries to wake Luffy up he does not talk and question about leaving the plan but leaving Sanji. Not a minor detail but I have a feeling that this reflects to the fact that Jinbe knows after the Ace incident how much Luffy values his friends and uses this fact as a way to trying to wake him up instead of blaming him to ruin the plan or something (wow this sentence could’ve written simplier but I guess you know what I mean) Elsewhere Sanji is still wearing that ero kappa-face and having some difficulties to not to fall into the beauty trap and Pudding clearly is preparing for the assassination. The wedding cake is finally brought in front of everyone and the pair prepares to change their wedding wows. Besides digging into the wedding cake with passion Big Mom has also other plans in her mind, to kill Vinsmokes and as we remember, only Reiju is aware of Pudding’s plan and preparing herself to die, I guess she unfortunately still thinks that she and they deserve it. “Somehow” BM made their table located so that they are quite surrounded by Charlotte siblings of course so it’s harder for them to escape but still, doesn’t Judge really doubt anything? I mean he is a big name in underworld and even though I don’t know much about mafia stuff I bet the betrayals there are something that happens every once in a while so this is why I wonder that why Judge isn’t at least a bit doubtful but well he is so focused on his ambitions so maybe that’s why he is so trustful. Well, if you ask me, Sanji’s brothers are still douches which makes me want to see Luffy getting furiously mad at them because brotherhood for him is everything and seeing how badly Sanji has been treated would be a plausible excuse for that…

By the way what is that cake made of?! it can easily hold on 3 adult people and I’m not saying they are overweghted or anything but that’s still quite a lot to hold onto but well on the other hand since that cake is huge anyways it needs some supportive stuff :D And yup there they stand as cake toppings meanwhile the retrieval team is rushing to fulfill their plan. I am not now dropping this following comment just because I happen to be a huge sanami trash but still I bet that every single of them are in a great worry whether they will make it in time but somehow I could imagine Nami being the most worried one. Why I’m feeling like this is because she knows personally how it feels to see someone dear shot in front of their eyes and that’s why she would prefer ths plan to work before another close person is gone (traumas about Bellemere’s death must’ve haunted her ever since Sanji flashed that “don’t worry”-smile when they separated)

Then the unexpected happens and Katakuri foresees Pudding falling to the ground and the reason is exlpained immediately. Pudding finally reveals the third eye for the whole world and Sanji is flinched immediately BUT instead of getting disgusted he suddenly drops a compliment that eye and Katakuri’s prediction hit the nail on the top. Yup, all I can say is that even though Sanji has his ero kappa-side he also has this sensitive gentleman-side of his and it seems that Sanji really has some heart to give empathy even for those who have betrayed him and if this is the real Pudding we see now, he surely forgave woman’s lies again and like my mate @k-nico-robin said, if anyone was expecting a fight between Sanji and Pudding then it’s clear who won. Sanji beat a(nother) enemy of opposite sex with simple kindness which for me indicates that despite his ero-kappa-side he seriously has the heart of gold.

To be honest I was all hyped up to see a epic attempt of murder by Pudding with her badass gun but it seemed that Sanji (accidentally?) hit her weak point pretty hard. I think my mate @pernanegra summed up this very well here. Pudding might’ve had psycho tendencies when she was a kid which were triggered because of the bullying BUT whatever your past is just shedding tears doesn’t make you immediately a good and reliable person. ( Hope you don’t mind that I quoted your words)

Also this plot twist and Pudding’s story is still really conflicting and my mate @cintanna brought really good points here. It indeed feels a bit confusing that a character that has waited so eagerly to murder someone and has no trouble on smiling in middle of a shooting incident or chases other kids with a stab as a kid would suddenly break down because of kindness of a man whom she’d barely known for days. To be honest her memories makes me wonder what in the world is going on between Pudding and her mother. Pudding says her mother despised her because of her outlooks. This is rather odd because isn’t one of Big Mom’s dream is to have utopia without discrimination? Secondly it feels really conflicting to hear that Big Mom would despise her daughter because the yonko has her weird collection of animals and she did kind of “fell in love” with Brook and “adopted” him as her doll. People are now also discussing about how BM has gotten so many kids and she must’ve had lots of sex but there is also a possibility that she could have also just used some help of medication or other ways to reproduce (remember that Rouge carried Ace in her womb for 20 months). Anyways Pudding inherits from a three eye clan and another thing why Pudding’s speech keeps me on my toes is that we’ve seen how these two characters have interacted before, at least in my eyes Big Mom did not show any disgust towards the third eye or demanded her to cover it and 35th daughter of the Charlotte family was portrayed as Big Mom’s favorite (Big mom might be controllable for example when she chose the wedding dress for Puddin but still I don’t see tension between them but well I might be blind. Then we shall also not forget Pudding’s DF, the ability to control memories and I tried to think whether this all has something to do with that and could it be that she has manipulated her own memories for the wedding day but this might be just overthinking and really really far fetched? Also there is still a slight possibility that their mother-daughter- relationship is good but Pudding simply has become bored that Momma gives her the orders and she would like to do more desicions of her own. This is what’s been up in discussions as well the relationship between her and Lola that what if Pudding really wants to be free like her and breaking the plan without further warnings would be her escape route.

Along with pernanegra’s thought my mate @namibean also brought a important thing up. Even if Pudding now appeared to be a fragile girl it still doesn’t mean everything is fixed (or swiped under the rug) between her and Sanji. I haven’t checked any forums because this chapter has for sure caused some shitstorm but I bet that there are some people who assume things are suddenly now more than alright and sugarcoated and they could even now become a dream pair but that’s not how the healthy relationships work in my opinion. People should not forget that Pudding has shot someone Sanji holds dear, his sister and also she lead the retrieval team to a trap which lead to further troubles. To be honest I don’t think those kind of things are easily forgivable with few tears and also the fact that she broke Sanji’s heart as well. On top of that people tend to forget that Sanji never wanted marriage in first place so would he really just out of sudden turn his direction, just because he sees few tears?

Yeah I will admit that I overreacted yesterday badly and I still am upset that if this is now the real Pudding then she kind of is slowly turning into a victim. I am definitely not floccinaucinihilipilificating (yes that’s a official synonyme for underestimating, can you imagine xD?) Pudding’s past if she is speaking the truth because even common sense tells that bullying is never right and simply harms the person and in her case it could be her “weak spot”. Also if her mother didn’t depsise her it can still be possible that the others really did.

I can’t still say whether I am buying those tears or not because there are still too many gaps in that story that are mentioned above but anything can still happen. However, if this is now the truth then her story will remind too much of one other characters’ Sanji met in my opinion. In Dressrosa Sanji faced the similar pattern: meeting a damsel whom he falls in love with who later turns their back at him and then end up being good. Everything can still change but yeserday it really felt that Oda wasted great potential for her to become the greatest female villain written in the complete history of One Piece BUT like said, nothing is sure before she gets her introduction box.

I still ponder whether this change of plot will affect on the rest of the retrieval team who came here to save only Sanji. This is a what if-scenario but it would be really hard for them if Pudding would beg for forgiveness from the others and what would be their reactions and aftermath? We are talking about a person who first mislead them and boldly told how she is going to shoot the groom an now she would be begging for forgiveness?

This is why I personally doubt that Pudding would be even welcomed to join the Straw Hats. Things are simply so messed up and she is definitely partly to blame to because even if sh did betra her own family it still doesn’t erase everything she has done before. BUT there is also one good aspect on this plot twist which @lovemizumikan brought up. If Pudding is speaking the truth now then it means that this is a valuable lession about the fact that no one should be discriminated because of their outlooks. I will salute Oda-sensei for this message even though otherwise I don’t agree with this since this character is already too conflicting. Before we move on I just want to add here one important thing. That even though me and many others are really disappointed in this twist of fate I really hope that no one gets attacked in their inbox for this because of this. I am referencing on the shipping wars because there is a serious troll problem among the fandom and in situations like this it wouldn’t be surprising if someone woud use their chance to beat the beaten so I hope that we can keep it civil !

Meawhile Pudding is crying because of Sanji’s pure kindness the rest of the Charlotte family are dumbfounded but making their move and Sanji barely dodges the bullet shot by Katakuri (that shooting reminded me from Mr 5 who shot his boogers like that) and gives a aggressive glare at the enemy. I kind of sense Katakuri vs Sanji battle but there are many others whom to fight with so won’t place my bets anywhere. What I have to say I like a lot was that deadly glare Sanji gave. This is something I’ve been waiting for a lot, for him to slowly becoming his old self after all the unluck and misery.

The gunshot brings chaos to everywhere because now Vinsmokes are aware of that it’s dangerous out there but also there are others who don’t know what they should do next and then Luffy makes the epic entrance he has ben hyping for, jumping out of the wedding cake ! ::DD (should kinda have known it was something like that because it’s Luffy ::DDddd)

… and so the war begins !

#one piece #opspoilers #chapter 862 #manga #sanji #pudding #luffy #nami #chopper #brook #carrot #pedro #jinbe #vinsmoke family #reiju #ichiji #niji #yonji #judge #big mom

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