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suddenlysackler · 4 years

Text

Nice to Meet You

How you met each of the boys

Adam Sackler

Adam hit you with his bike

He promises he didn’t see you stepping off of the curb but you think he did it on purpose

He can’t help but laugh at how dazed you look at his feet, once the initial “oh fuck I hurt someone” wore off

And you were pissed about it

Scrambling to your feet and screaming and yelling at him, poking his chest and calling him every insult you knew

He’s still laughing because, fuck, you’re fucking adorable

No, you’re stunning

About two minutes into your raving and ranting and his laughing at the absurdity of it all because it was and accident and he did apologize, he notices the scrapes on your arms and knees

Insists that you let him take you to his place to clean you up because it’s not more than a two minute walk and you could yell at him more on the way and he promises he isn’t a weirdo (HA)

And despite your better judgement, you follow him with your tail between your legs, feeling so bad because you’d just chewed out this guy who doesn’t seem like a total asshole

The ten minutes it should have taken him to clean you up turns into almost five hours perched on his kitchen counter while he sits just below your feet where he had ended up after swiping antibiotic ointment over the last of your scrapes

You just talk, you don’t know how it happens but he’s candid and so fucking easy to talk to, it’s like talking to an old friend

When you see the time you curse and say you’ve gotta get going

He rolls his eyes and tells you to stay

When you ask if his girlfriend will be pissed if you’re here when she gets home he shuts you up with a kiss

After he pulls back he wonders out loud if he misread the room

You answer with a kiss of your own

Clyde Logan

You and Clyde meet through mutual friends

You and your own friends had trekked over to Duck Tape after a long day at work, needing something, anything to take the edge off

And, apparently, one of your friends knew one of Jimmy’s friends, the two hovering around the bar while Clyde worked

You saddled up next to one of your friends, sort of off to the side of the action, and rested your elbows on the bar

Introductions are hastily made between your two smaller groups and Jimmy’s friend mentions Clyde’s name and you almost convulse right there when you catch a glimpse of gentle eyes and just the hint of a smile tugging at pouty lips

Clyde got to you last and could have kicked himself for making you wait, my oh my you were beautiful and someone that beautiful shouldn’t be kept waiting

As he asks what you’ll have to drink, his drawl hits your ears sweeter than honey

After he brings you back your drink, you bat your eyelashes, talk all soft and such, try just about everything to anchor his attention on you

You’re successful and Clyde swears he hasn’t talked with a customer that wasn’t family so much ever

Duck Tape easily becomes a staple in your week

So does Clyde

But despite your initial boldness in getting him to pay attention to you, you’re just as shy as Clyde is

Who makes the first move at Jimmy’s insistence

Poor boy is so nervous he asks you to get drinks after he’s done for the evening

As if you weren’t sitting in a bar

So you ask him if he wouldn’t mind coming to your place so you could show him the different drinks you know how to make

When he asks what you know and you answer “I can crack you open a bottle of beer” he gives a hearty laugh

It’s the first time you hear it, the first time you see his breathtaking smile

And after that night, it most certainly wasn’t the last.

Daniel Jones

Dan and you get tasked with running internship programming in the Senate

It’s not exactly what you wanted this summer and you’re begrudgingly participating until your partner walks in all tall, dark and handsome in a nicely pressed suit

He’s quiet until your supervisor suggests paying by stipend so the interns can be paid less than the minimum wage

Then he goes the fuck off

And shit if you weren’t sold on Dan now, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back

While you can’t necessarily straight out flirt, you slowly start taking lunch breaks with Dan

He’s really grateful for the company

You’re a welcomed interruption in his stream of consciousness while he works

A gentle reminder to eat and take care of himself

And you are more than capable of going toe to toe with him when your discussions get more heated

Dan really falls for you when the interns get there

He likes watching you work with them

You’re patient and willing to teach and explain everything

And when did you get that fucking beautiful

So he starts intentionally walking past your office

Strikes up conversations when he can and even starts figuring out where you’ll be at certain parts of the day (he swears it’s not creepy don’t judge)

At the end of the summer, you finally break and ask him out

He kisses you right on the steps of the Capitol building when you do

The best yes you’ve ever received

Flip Zimmerman

Flip gives you a jump start after you get stranded in Colorado Springs

You’re driving cross country to meet your new niece between jobs and your car breaks down on one of those quiet country roads and you know the police department isn’t a tow company but you literally don’t know who to call

So you call the police

And Flip happens to be one of the only people available to come jump you, given the fact that he’s between cases

So he grumbles and heads out to the closest landmark you had provided and just about loses it when he sees you

You’re so perfect, he hasn’t ever seen anyone as stunning as you

When he gets out to jump your car he flirts, asks you questions and makes you laugh without trying

And scrambles back to his car for a piece of paper to scribble his number down, leaving you with the promise of a phone call when you reach your destination

After three days and no word he feels dejected

And then the phone rings

It’s you, asking for an Officer Zimmerman

Honestly? Flip is over the moon and hangs on your every word through the receiver

He asks you to stop by and let him take you on a date on your way back home and you gladly accept and, ultimately, take a permanent detour in Colorado Springs

Ronnie Peterson

Ronnie and you meet after you both argue over the last copy of a new book on it’s first day on shelves

Honestly it’s a bit comical how the two of you go at it

It’s like watching two middle schoolers

Finally, you two compromise

Split the cost, take turns reading it because neither of you are interested in waiting to read it

So you buy it and develop a stupid little schedule for you two to read it within the first couple of weeks of buying it

Your little trade offs turn into little book club meetings

Until Ronnie finally asks you to actually get coffee and sit down and discuss it

When you agree and you’re sitting under the warm lighting of the coffee shop, Ronnie is taken aback at how gorgeous you are

And is pissed that he missed it because he was so obsessed with the stupid fucking book

But absolutely doesn’t regret that your argument had gotten him your number and what seemed to be at least a blossoming acquaintanceship

On the other side of the table, you’re just as taken with Ronnie

And your heart almost bursts when his glasses fog up from his hot drink

So you take a chance and ask if he’d want to see the movie adaptation of the book with you when it came out in a few weeks

He immediately says yes

Even asks if it’s a date

Kicks himself again when you turn bright red because, yeah, you want it to be a fucking date

Needless to say you keep getting coffee in the weeks to come and get to know each other even more

And he kisses you for the first time outside the movie theater

He takes you back to the car early, maybe like half way through the movie

He wants to make out

You want to make out

The movie sucked anyway

Paterson

You accidentally get on Paterson’s bus on your first day commuting to your job by public transportation after your car breaks down

Pat smiles when you pay your fare, fingers twitching as his mind swirled with the tomes of paper he could fill with prose about your eyes

He won’t lie, he was more than a little concerned when the bus approached the last stop on the route and you were still in your seat

His concern only heightened when he noticed the tears streaking down your cheeks

And yeah, he’s more of an observer, but he can’t help himself as his feet carry him back to sit next to you after letting the last of the passengers out and pulling over

You explain that you had taken the wrong bus and were now over an hour late to your job as a professor at Columbia

He m e l t s

Tells you oh so softly what bus you actually need to get on and even tells you where his route connects with that route

Fuck he even offers you cab money he feels so awful that you’re late to work

You decline but smile at how sweet he is and even move to stand and hold on to the pole closest to him and chat over the thirty minutes it takes you to get to the right stop

You thank him profusely as you step off and Pat drives away, knowing that he’ll be writing about you at lunch, that much is inevitable

Two days later you get on his bus again and he raises his eyebrows skeptically

You give him a scrap of paper and a smile before moving to the back and sitting down, getting off at the same stop he had shown you before

He looks at the paper at lunch and could have passed out at your number and a request for a thank you cup of coffee, which he gladly accepts

Charlie Barber

You meet Charlie at a Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids volunteer meeting

You run in late with a latte in your hand and plop down right next to him, hair windswept, cheeks pink, and smelling like coffee beans

Literally, Charlie thinks a piece of heaven just sat down next to him

You apologize to him for the interruption, double taking when you see how handsome the man next to you is

And for the next hour, you two nudge each other and make jokes under your breath

You get assigned to the same site for the next fundraising effort just by chance

And while you get to know the other four people in your group, you and Charlie stay stuck to each other like glue

Even though there are plenty of people you both know through work

You had just kind of clicked

And at the end, you find yourself lingering in the small auditorium the meeting was held in

Neither of you really wanting to split although you’d see each other again soon

So Charlie takes a chance and asks if you’d want another latte

His palms are sweating because he literally hasn’t asked someone out in years

That’s what this was right?

But you say yes and let him pay for your second latte

And hold his hand

“It’s cold and you don’t have pockets on your sweater or gloves”

He walks you home even, laughing when you tell him where your building is and remarking that his building is two blocks away

You give him your number anyway, mumbling something about not wanting rocks thrown at your window at 3:00am

And he hugs you so tight before you head upstairs

It’s the tightest hug you’ve ever gotten

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slasherscream · 5 years

Note

PLEASE, JD and Billy whose SO gained quite a bit of weight from school stress + a few nasty people bullying her. She loves JD/Billy but thinks that he finds her repulsive so she wears baggy clothes and stops being as affectionate with him. Then one night he climbs into her room and she flinches when he puts his hands on her waist. He asks what's going on and she cries telling him everything. By the end, he goes: "You think I don't find you hot? Let me prove you wrong." Smuttiness and fluff ensu

A/N: finally .... finally a reason to live (a mister. jd request). big smooch thrown your way anon.

jason dean / jd

——————–

There's something about senior year that's getting to you. Maybe it's the fact that you know after this it could all get worse and you're already having a hard enough time as is.

You were never a bad student before, actually you were pretty good, so it might seem small to someone else but it's hard to cope with the fact that you're suddenly having to put 100% effort into everything you do only to receive minimal success.

Every paper or test you get back marked with red. Every tutoring session you attend. Every late night cram session. Every group project where you always seem to be the one holding the group back. It's all starting to build up. You're about to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

You're eating more as a result and when you notice the extra weight around your hips and stomach it only freaks you out even worse. One more problem to deal with! Great! Now you're not only stupid but you're also getting fat. You can hardly look at yourself in the mirror without getting angry and sad. What's wrong with you? Why can't you get it together?

Your boyfriend, JD, is completely unaware of any of this. You could tell him. Probably should tell him but every time you open your mouth to start the words won't come out.

You feel stupid in more ways than one. Is this really something to complain about? To be losing sleep over? Not doing well in highschool? Much as you'd like to think he loves you (and you're getting less sure every day) he can be ....harsh. At times. Not with you, really. But you've seen it firsthand. Heard him rant and rave about other things and people without reservation or empathy.

You feel like a baby but you know you can't handle any tough love, or sarcasm, or disapproving looks from him at the moment. It'll send you hurtling right over the edge of oblivion. You don't know a damn thing about anything else but at least you still know your own limits.

You wish you were more invisible at school because the popular girls notice quickly your weight gain. Snickers in the hallway. Insults whispered just loudly enough for you to hear. You start covering yourself up more. Barely showing any skin at all. You wish you could disappear under these baggy clothes all in dull colors. You want to blend into the halls. Sink into the floor. Stop existing for just a moment so you can rest.

This .... this JD begins to notice. He's observant, scarily so. But he doesn't have time to take note of your overall personality and style changes. He's overwhelmed by his own paranoid thoughts.

You don't touch him anymore. Don't like even being near him it feels. He goes to put an arm around you and you cringe away. Tries to hug you and suddenly you run off to class. He’s only just been able to sneak you a handful of kisses on the cheek. You haven't been on a date in weeks and it's all beginning to freak him out.

All the patience and trust you two have built up together isn't enough to keep his mind from going to dark places. You're going to leave him. You're going to leave him and he can't just let you but he doesn't know what the fuck he's supposed to do to keep you. Doesn't know what he did wrong. Tries to think back to fights, or comments. Analyzes every conversation and interaction. Just last month you'd been fine. Golden. Perfect. You're perfect together in every way.

That night he has to see you. Has to see you, and hold you, and convince you that you can't leave. That you two are the best thing the world ever managed to make through reckless chance and coincidence.

You're studying diligently the way you pass every evening now. You don't hear the rocks being tossed softly at your window. You do hear the window open and see him crawl through scowling. He's across the room and joined you on the bed before you can so much as say hello.

Hands on the side of your head that pull you into a fierce kiss. You squirm against him, nervous and thinking about all your problems even as you want him to just kiss them away. His hands slide down to your waist and you psychically leap off the bed with a yelp.

Silence falls on the room and there's a combination of hurt and anger starting to settle on JD's face. Neither of you speak for a long moment. When he does it's after he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath (you remember teaching him to do that whenever he thought about doing something rash).

"What's going on?" you open your mouth to answer but the words are still stuck in your throat, "Y/N ..... I'm really trying here but you've been ignoring me for weeks. You don't talk to me. You don't touch me. You don't Fuck! You don't wanna breathe the same air as me it seems, cause' we never stay in the same room for long before you're running off. Running from me."

He gets off the bed now and walks towards you until your back is to the wall and he's caging you in. You can't run from him now.

"I- ..... JD I just-" He doesn't mean to interrupt you when he puts a hand on your cheek but the softness in the touch is enough to break you. You sob a little even as you lean into the warmth of his palm. It's the first time he's been given the chance to really touch you since you started hating yourself. You missed him.

One sob out of you and you're enveloped in his arms. He tucks you against his chest protectively, chin already resting on the top of your head. He doesn't know what's going on but that's always his first instinct. Protecting you. Keeping you.

Even now you're thinking about how you fit differently against him then you did last month. The month before that. You try to pull away and he tugs you back sharply. "No darling .... whatever this is we're dealing with it right now. You hear me?"

You hear him. Eventually. You try a few more times to get away or get out of talking but he doesn't take your unhappiness lightly. He doesn't stop holding you either. It's easier than you think to tell him ... tell him everything, when you're tucked away in his arms, cheek pressed against his chest, hearing his heartbeat pounding steadily in your ears. You focus on that. The rhythm and familiarity of that sound instead of on what you're saying. You just open your mouth and let words fall out.

When you're finally done talking and shift back just enough to see his face you don't find any of the things you'd thought you'd see there. Just softness. He presses your foreheads together, "You ... are the most beautiful thing alive on this shitty planet."

You squirm against him, clearly wanting to deny it but he shakes his head and puts a finger to your lips, "No, darling. You already did your talking. Now it's my turn. It's rude to interrupt you know." He's smirking now and you have to laugh. The sound of your laughter makes his eyes light up.

"I love everything about you. I'll love everything about you until we're both dead in the ground. You're perfect." He sounds damn near worshipful saying it. He completes the imagery by sliding out from underneath you (it had been a real struggle wrestling you onto his lap in the first place) and onto the floor in front of you.

On his knees he tucks his fingers into the band of your sweatpants and pauses, waiting for permission. But you still look self-conscious and unsure. He hates seeing that look on your face and moves closer, kisses the skin just above the waistband gently and then nips at you. His dark eyes are burning and serious when they lock onto yours, "Let me show you. Let me prove you wrong."

There's a bit of begging to the tone and the realization that he needs this just as much is what makes you nod. With that all bets are off.

You're stripped bare in moments and he still has all his clothes on, even his fucking trench-coat that always smells a little of smoke. That fact would make you squirm at the best of times. He seems to read your thoughts and puts a hand on your stomach that is settling. Comforting. He doesn't stray away from the extra softness to your skin now either. Fingers squeezing into you like he's enjoying it. He enjoys you. He's enjoying having you so close.

His other hand finds your thigh and he uses it to yank you towards the edge of the bed. His warm breath ghosts over you, "This isn't about me."

He seems so barely controlled and eager you expect him to get straight to it. Instead he starts to kiss upwards, passing by the place you want to feel him most completely. Open-mouthed kisses going all the way up your stomach. He nuzzles the space between your breasts before he settles his mouth onto one suddenly and sucks.

You jerking against him makes him groan and it turns out he wasn't planning to tease you after-all. His fingers are between your legs stroking you in just the way he knows you like.

Fingers slip against your wet and heat in a way that makes you both groan. He rubs tight circles into your clit and is watching your every reaction to his touch. He'd missed watching you like this.He like the way you feel against him, softer than before. He smiles into your breast.

That's how you cum. Him on top of you, caging you, holding you and you whining at the feeling of his fingers curling inside you.

You're breathless when he kisses you, still coming down from your first high of the night. You look carefree and dazed, exact opposite of the tears you'd shed earlier. He smiles and kisses his way back down your body, not yet done showing you how beautiful he finds you.

——————–

#jd heathers x reader #jd x reader #jd imagine #heathers imagine #heathers #i can die in peace now that i have a JD request on this blog #also we love our boys and im the 1 person who tends to keep things on th lighter side considering the fuckers i write for adjkl #but DAMN REAL TALK YOU PICKED the two worst assholes in the world #to stop being affectionate to .... both of these boys would just how do you say ... snap??#they're fucking just like that when it comes to being denied affection adjkl #billy and jd: my gf is being kinda distant...i will begin committing crimes and acts of violence #why do we stan ?? bad taste #but them realizing the problem isn't that you don't not love them anymore? not ...any better #billy and jd: oh you were just sad because someone was mean to you? guess i have to .....kill everyone now #changed the words a bit because JD is a dramatic teenage boy who thinks he's fucking ...a poet or some shit #jd's wound up long so i just ...focused in on him. got excited

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thedeevirus · 4 years

Text

Dark Crystal AOR Ficlet: ‘Reflections’

“SkekOk and his counterpart UrAc have an arrangement after bumping into each other during SkekOk’s newly assigned duty of keeping tabs on the Mystics following SkekGra’s disgrace and the Hunter’s refusal of such a tedious task. Information for information. But can such an agreement work when they're each other's own worst enemy?”

Enjoy! If you would like a ficlet, drop me an ask! :)

***

‘It's about time’, SkekOk snapped. 'We agreed to meet when the Second Brother reached its peak!'

UrAc did not answer. Instead he offered the Skeksis the pile of papers he had carried carefully from the Valley of Stones to the usual meeting place. SkekOk seized them and waved a hand at the chest he had brought for UrAc in exchange as per their arrangement.

UrAc opened the grotesquely bejewelled casket and lifted the fine vellum parchment out (stained with wine and various food stuffs). He read the first page, brow furrowing at the numerous scribbles and hasty corrections. The Skeksis penchant for political alliances and backstabbing could be mildly amusing but mostly frustrating. Especially when each strategic move was so short lived. On the first page alone while documenting a minor verbal squabble in the throne room, SkekOk had evidently changed his mind three times about who was to blame for starting it. No doubt influenced by whichever Skeksis had been reading over his shoulder at the time. UrAc flipped through the pages documenting meaningless court politics and found what he was looking for.

SkekOk shook his head in bafflement at the Mystic’s disinterest in his stimulating viewpoint of life at court in favour of random observations SkekOk had noted while looking through the telescope at the top of the castle. True, that was all the Mystic had requested as part of their information exchange arrangement but SkekOk felt bird flight patterns and phases of the moons paled in comparison to the daily mental victories SkekOk won over his fellows. Wondering why he had even bothered trying to elevate a Mystic’s documented non-existent sense of adventure, SkekOk instead turned his attention to the records he had requested. A complete list of any injuries, illnesses or frailties afflicting the other Mystics. A blueprint for any rival’s undoing.

The first page was promising. The Healer had suffered a broken leg with no given cause so SkekUng had likely been injured on his travels away from the castle. SkekOk smirked. The mighty, indomitable SkekUng could do with being taken down a peg or two. But as he turned the page, excitement turned to annoyance.

‘You must file these better! I cannot have an incomplete record! It is more than my life is worth to have gaps!’

‘Or to record the truth it seems’, UrAc said but he knew SkekOk was not listening.

He was more concerned with furiously flipping through UrAc’s records, clicking his tongue critically.

‘Obtuse! Random!’

SkekOk scoffed at one particular page and held it up so UrAc could see it. UrAc obligingly examined the detailed drawing he had made of a large tree during a period of introspection. He was proud of it though he felt he had no talent for aesthetics. The drawing was actually formed entirely of miniscule words that documented how such a tree’s bark could ease pain in the joints. The reader was supposed to begin reading from the tree’s roots and into the higher branches, towards the Three Brothers. The artistic conceit was evidently lost on SkekOk.

‘Useless idling!’ SkekOK snapped, casting it to the ground.

The Mystic carefully retrieved it, rolled it up and tucked it into his satchel.

‘Perhaps instead of wasting time on such frivolities, you should spend some time keeping an eye on SkekGra’s counterpart, whatever their name is’.

‘UrGoh, the Wanderer’, UrAc said, bracing himself for the inevitable, lengthy gossip that his counterpart always delighted in sharing. UrAc did not understand why the Skeksis felt the need for such tedium when it would undoubtedly be in his records. So limiting to see words only as weapons.

‘It seems the Conqueror’s long absence was actually due to some kind of brain fever’, SkekOk said in a strange tone of affected regret, ‘He burst into the castle ranting and raving about all kinds of nonsense. Personally, I thought SkekTek’s treatment of trepanning him was showing some improvement before the Emperor lost patience, branded him ‘heretic’ and banished him’.

SkekOk paused, as if awaiting a comment. UrAc complied with a thoughtful ‘hmm’ as he continued reading.

‘Entirely necessary of course’, SkekOk continued, nodding sagely, ‘He was prattling on about how Skeksis should rejoin with Mystic. Can you imagine?!’

UrAc’s head ached at the shrill scandalised delight in the Skeksis’ voice.

‘Don’t have to’, he said, ‘UrGoh is also no longer with us’.

SkekOk’s eyes widened as he burst into a cackle. UrAc endured it stonily.

There had been no other choice. UrGoh’s increasingly erratic energy and consuming regret of what had been lost had interfered with the Mystics’ spiritual energies, confusing their dreams and muddying their meditations. The whole point of UrAc’s meetings with his counterpart was (unknown to the Skeksis) to confirm the signs of prophecy that the Master, UrSu, saw in dreams. What the Skeksis dismissed as simple migration patterns or unusual seasonal weather unworthy of time or notice was Thra reaching out to any who knew how to listen. The Mystics now knew another Great Conjunction would come. Their chance to set things right. What they did not know was when. And UrGoh’s disharmony while amongst them had created obstacles to the answer that they could not afford to allow.

‘Oh ho! How delightful to see how cold hearted you are! How ruthless to banish one of your own!’

‘UrGoh and SkekGra’s wishful, arrogant thinking is the exact flaw that caused this situation’.

‘At least we can both agree that unity is a fool’s hope’.

‘We do not disagree with the goal’, UrAc said, careful not to take any selfish delight in the smile slipping from SkekOk’s face, ‘Only their plans to hasten it’.

‘Implying you have some sordid plan of your own?’ SkekOk challenged.

‘Scheming is the Skeksis way’, UrAc said simply.

SkekOk tossed his head, feeling foolish. Of course the Mystics didn’t have plans. Such complexities were above their slow witted brains. It seemed sometimes that they would find any excuse not to act. To sit for hours on end stacking stones or considering their own reflections in water.

To cover up his foolishness, SkekOk snidely remarked, ‘And yet you go behind your fellows’ back to converse with me? Perhaps they would banish you if they realised…’

He trailed off, suddenly realising the same could be said of him. Judging from UrAc’s slightly raised, amused brow, he did too. SkekOk returned to the original topic.

‘Where did you last see the Wanderer?’

‘The two spend their days idling in the crystal desert, gorging themselves on urdrupe berries’.

‘Together?’

The subtle, bemused twist to UrAc’s lip perfectly reflected SkekOk’s own feelings at this latest revelation.

‘SkekGra always was partial to those berries. I’m sure they’ll be perfectly miserable together’.

UrAc made a low rumbling noise in his throat. SkekOk was not familiar enough with Mystic vocalisations to recognise it as the low chuckle it was.

‘Miserable?’ UrAc repeated.

‘Do you like looking at me ?’ SkekOk asked, ‘Well?!’

UrAc did not answer, placing SkekOk’s records back in the chest.

‘Hmph. I assure you the feeling is mutual’.

‘Your record is incomplete’, UrAc said.

‘Impossible’.

‘There is no record of this’.

The Mystic revealed his right wrist. SkekOk’s eye twitched at the talon marks and his hand threatened to stray to his own injured wrist hidden by the ruff of his robe. He licked his lips, sensing the Mystic’s unspoken request for an explanation.

‘The Emperor took offence to the sound of my quill scratching while he was talking. Recording such a minor incident was pointless’.

‘You want a complete record’.

‘Not of mistakes!’

‘We are a mistake’.

‘The one mistake I can live with’, SkekOk said spitefully, ‘Despite myself it seems’.

‘Not forever’.

‘Words last forever’, SkekOk said simply, ‘Skeksis will live forever’.

‘Not as a Skeksis. Not as a Mystic’.

SkekOk threw back his head and laughed, loud and long. Then he lowered it and advanced on the Mystic until his beak was barely an inch away from the long, doleful head of his counterpart. It was pathetic how physically close the Mystic allowed him to be. No Skeksis would have tolerated such a blatant disregard for etiquette.

‘I thought you said mindgames are the Skeksis way?’ SkekOk jeered, ‘You certainly aren’t very good at them. You can’t intimidate me with such an empty threat! I know for a fact there is no power on this planet that could reunite us!’

The Mystic shook his head ruefully.

‘No. There is not’.

SkekOk blinked in confusion at the contradiction as well as the sad look on the Mystic’s face. He tossed his head, sneering. Mystics were never quite all in the present moment. The illogical argument was probably just to distract SkekOk from the fact he had just seen through his counterpart’s pitiful attempt at a mindgame.

‘When the time comes, you do not need to be afraid’, UrAc said quietly.

The comforting undertone to the words was the biggest insult SkekOk had been dealt in a long time.

‘Y-you think we fear you?!’ SkekOk spluttered, ‘Disdain you? Yes. Despise you? Yes. But we do not fear you. You are simply ugly reminders of what we have overcome!’

He snapped his beak shut causing the last set of glasses perched on his beak to fall off.

Snarling impatiently, he began the difficult process of negotiating his body into a kneeling position to retrieve them. Only to have the Mystic offer them to him. By simple advantage of being closer to the ground, he had caught the glasses as they had fallen. SkekOk hastily replaced them on his beak, his carefully cultivated paranoia screaming at him to regain the advantage despite the Mystics’ known pacifism.

‘They don’t help as much as they should’, Ur Ac said, offering a vial, ‘Use this’.

‘I do not need your pity!’ SkekOK snapped.

‘Pragmatism’, UrAc corrected.

SkekOk greedily eyed the bottle, his knowledge of the Mystic’s legendarily effective healing powers warring with his pride. It was true that his vision was getting worse and he didn’t dare seek help from SkekTek. If he did, then word would reach the Emperor about his failure and what good was a scroll keeper who couldn’t see?! Glancing at UrAc, he noticed the Mystic had turned his head away, as if in consideration of SkekOk’s feelings. SkekOk’s blood boiled at the indignity and the vanity of the Mystic in thinking SkekOk needed anything from him! But when he failed himself, he failed the Emperor and when he failed the Emperor- Swallowing his pride, SkekOk desperately snatched the vial and hid it within the depths of his robes. Out of sight, out of mind. Skekok winced as a sudden, unpleasant popping sensation in his hands broke through the rising dread and shame.

UrAc was cracking his wizened knuckles.

‘I wish you wouldn’t do that!’ SkekOk snapped, wringing his gnarled, clawed fingers.

Reaching into his robes, he withdrew a quill pen of his own design. Longer than those typically used by Gelflings, he had cushioned it with silk to allow for easier grip. He thrust it at the Mystic. Even as he mused on how Mystics could be so infuriatingly primitive, SkekOk felt a smug smile creep across his face at the fascination on UrAc’s face as he regarded the pen.

‘Take it for Thra’s sake! You write too slowly and too late at night. Just once I’d like to wake up without my talons creaking’.

As the Mystic accepted the pen in both hands, ponderously turning it so the crystals set into the nib caught the sunset, SkekOk spun on his heel.

‘Now I must return to the castle before I’m missed’.

He began to walk back to his carriage, ignoring the nagging sensation growing in his chest. It would pass. It always did. According to SkekOk’s research, lower creatures often made reference to such a pain when in emotional distress. But SkekOk was not in emotional distress! He couldn’t wait to get as far away from UrAc as possible!

Fighting the compulsion to look back, to see if the Mystic was following, he entered his carriage. The same nonsensical reflex always followed the initial aches. He slammed the door and reached for the lever to trigger the return trip to the Castle. And saw UrAc watching him from the corner of his eye.

He couldn’t help but return the Mystic’s steady gaze. There was an odd feeling of displacement, as if he were falling, staring into a vast chasm. Being swallowed whole absorbed by something vast, peaceful and empty, vanishing into oblivion.

For a split second, SkekOk thought UrAc’s foot moved towards him and his heart thundered in his sunken chest. SkekOk gasped, awed and terrified at the sudden, choking onslaught of emotion.

But the Mystic was simply turning away, vanishing back into the long grass. To begin the long journey back to his own kind.

SkekOk wiped at his watering eyes and cursed the glare of the sunset as he yanked the lever. The armaligs, startled by the sudden rough treatment by the usually patient scroll keeper, sped away. SkekOk leant back in his seat and inhaled deeply, thinking of his waiting sanctuary of his books and papers to calm himself. He felt a weight against his chest and withdrew the object from his robes. The milky looking eye balm shone in the ruddy light of the sunset. In a sudden fit of sheer fury, spite and something that felt like that long forgotten emotion SkekOk had once known as grief, he threw it on the carriage floor. Every one of the resulting hundred twinkling pieces cast his own face back at him.

#Dark Crystal #dark crystal age of resistance #dark crystal fic #skeksis #mystics #skekok #urac

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kcwcommentary · 5 years

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VLD2x10 – “Escape from Beta Traz”

2x10 – “Escape from Beta Traz”

Shiro, Lance, and Pidge are on their mission. Lance and Pidge rant at each other about Lance being “a good shot.” Clearly, he’s going to shoot something, but then he just has the Blue Lion open its mouth and Shiro and Pidge fly out of it toward a Galra base. So, what shooting was Lance doing then? Shiro and Pidge go rocketing toward the base and shoot cables out that attach to the surface of the base and pull themselves in. Why didn’t they just maneuver using their suits’ rockets? They’re using their rockets the entire time, but they act here like they can’t maneuver with them. We’ve seen them do so enough times before that the cables are unnecessary. The suit’s propulsion is sensitive and accurate enough that Shiro in this scene uses his to position himself to grab Pidge’s cable to keep her from floating off into space. But what danger is there in her floating off into space when she’s got the same propulsion system that all the Paladins’ suits have? This entire sequence ignores what even it itself tells us of their capabilities, let alone what the show has firmly established regarding the maneuverability of the suits. This sequence is just hollow, fake drama.

Pidge says that this base is supposedly holding only one prisoner. Shiro identifies the prisoner, the person they’re here to find as Slav. This character’s name was dropped back in 2x03 by Ulaz, who said Slav designed the base/system that enabled the base to be hidden in a pocket of space. To enter the base, Shiro and Pidge maneuver to a door with precision using their suits’ systems, further proving the previous sequence to have been badly written. Pidge messes with the base’s sensors so that Lance can use Blue to do a “sonic scan.” Okay, he’s in space, so how does a sonic scan work? While space might not be an absolute, 100% vacuum, it’s really close to it. There’s no medium for sound to move through, so… “sonic?” Lance then pilots Blue into the base so he can join Shiro and Pidge.

“More! Give me more!” Zarkon shouts like a boring, cartoonish villain. He attacks a Druid because the Druid stops zapping him with his undefined purple lightning. I like interesting antagonists in a story, and occasionally Zarkon can be one, but this isn’t it.

Pidge’s evaluation of the “sonic scan,” says that there are two people, not just the expected one, who are being held in this facility. Lance very quickly and humorously jumps at the idea that the other prisoner might be a “space ninja or maybe someone with magical powers.” Given this show, those could be genuine possibilities. Pidge says that they don’t know what Slav looks like. The Blade of Marmora, who have used Slav’s work before to create the space pocket base, didn’t bother to inform this team what Slav looked like? Of course their not knowing sets up some humor later in the episode, but their not knowing is a total contrivance for that. There’s no reason the Blade would have only told them Slav’s name and his location and left them to figure out the rest.

A Galra is seemingly torturing Slav, though we only see one hand. Somehow the purple lightning that’s zapping the helmet that Slav’s wearing allows the Galra to extract information about weapons and genetic modifications. The entire time he’s screaming as it happens. Can we please learn that torture does not yield quality intelligence? If a person is in severe physical distress, then they’re not going to be capable of clear thought. The scene has some built in handwaving ability because it involves sci-fi technology extracting information from him, but he’s still clearly in severe pain, and that changes how a person’s brain and mind function. I’m just really tired of stories that think torture yields actionable intelligence when it doesn’t.

Pidge uses her suit’s thrusters to maneuver to a command center, where for some reason, despite being a command center, has no one on staff. She accesses the base’s systems and reports to Shiro and Lance about the base’s security measures. While Shiro and Lance move on to the next part of the mission, she also uses the system to search for information about her brother Matt. She’s also hacked into a floating drone like Rover from back in the first half of season one, which she’s using to help the guys get through the base. I like that call back of having these drones make an appearance.

Shiro makes it to Slav, who’s makes his first display of calculation/odds-based OCD. Lance meets with the other potential Slav held here and asks them if they’re Slav; they respond by saying, “Yup.” There is something cute about the “yup.” This being is clearly visually coded as a puppy. Lance only asks questions that can be answered with a yup, so we never hear them say anything else.

Pidge hides due to the base’s commander coming to the command center.

Shiro argues with Slav, who’s resisting coming with him. That the Blue Lion is blue makes him willing, but first he’s got to OCD-make his bed. I think it’s a dangerous line to write someone with OCD humorously, since the humor of any form of mental illness can fall into offensive depictions. I think with Slav they might come a little close to that line of not being funny, but I don’t usually think they go over the line. At least in this first episode he’s in, I’m good with how he’s depicted.

Another Galra reports to the base commander that Laika has escaped. This is who Lance is with, though we don’t explicitly know it yet. Lance and Laika continue making their way through the base, and when they run into a drone, Laika pounces and bites into it. Shiro continues his difficulty with Slav, who raves about percent and chance and other realities. “What about this reality? Did you learn to swim in this one?” Shiro says. The voice acting is nice here. “It’s a tiny puddle!” he screams. Shiro doesn’t ever scream out of exasperation the way he does here. This is a new tonal quality to his voice and I like getting this new side of Shiro.

The base commander, observing Laika’s room, even refers to Laika as “my pet.” Whatever initial doubt there might have been for the viewer over which was really Slav should be fully over now.

Lance gives Laika a breakdown of the team. “Pidge is the hacker of our group. Shiro’s our awesome leader. Hunk’s our mechanic. He’s also a chef and just a pretty cool dude to hang out with. And Keith is always doing things like flying into asteroid fields and black holes and cool junk like that. And I thought I was the team’s sharpshooter, but I guess no one else thinks that. Maybe I don’t have a thing. […] I mean they wouldn’t keep me on the team if I didn’t contribute in some way, would they? […] Maybe I’m just a fifth wheel. Seventh if you count Coran and Allura. That’s a horrible wheel to be.” Wow, there’s a lot to unpack in this scene. We have yet another instance of another character confirming Shiro as leader of the group, so it’s a shame that the show eventually takes that away from him. It’s nice seeing Lance express his appreciation for having Hunk as a friend. He even speaks highly about Keith, which calls to question the supposed rivalry they have. The way he sounds talking about Keith here isn’t Lance just being impressed with Keith’s skill, but it sounds the way someone talks who’s impressed by things their friends can do. And then we get a major expression of Lance’s insecurities. Despite his bravado, he doesn’t trust himself to be skilled and capable because he needs confirming feedback from other people and doesn’t feel he’s gotten much. This is a side of Lance’s character that to this point has not been explored, but it gives him significant new complexity. I just wish the show had resolved this aspect of him well. We all deal with insecurities, though some of us have a tougher time than others with ours. Using Lance as a character to explore a person wrestling with those insecurities and then showing how one can positively handle them and come through all that self-doubt would have been an excellent bit of storytelling. I don’t really feel the show does right by Lance regarding this part of his character. This episode does well with it though, even if the rest of the series doesn’t.

Shiro’s carrying Slav, who’s going on and on about Shiro’s arm until he freaks out over cracks and the possibilities of a broken mother’s back. Shiro is trying desperately to work with Slav. I love that Shiro, though frustrated and somewhat baffled by Slav, doesn’t condemn Slav for his having OCD. Shiro is kind and tries to adjust to accommodate Slav’s worries.

The base commander finds Laika and Lance and orders the prison be put on lockdown. The base’s security systems activate as Lance and Laika run from the commander. While Pidge is trying to handle those systems, her search for her brother turns up results of a video that includes him. Several Galra sentries enter the command center where Pidge is.

Slav suggests turning the base’s gravity off so he and Shiro can float over the cracks. Pidge likes the idea too because it’ll hinder the sentries, but the Paladins will still have their jetpacks to let them maneuver. Shiro and Slav meet up with Lance and Laika. Slav informs Lance that Laika is the warden’s pet yupper. They make it back to the hangar, take out more sentries, and encounter the warden. He uses some system he’s got to inject himself with purple liquid (is this supposed to be quintessence?) and it causes his body to distort and increase in size. Despite their weapons being able to tear through sentries, the warden’s additional robotic arms aren’t damaged by Lance’s or Pidge’s bayards nor by Shiro’s hand.

While they’re all fighting, Slav opens the hangar doors, and everything within starts to blow out into space. This includes the Blue Lion, but we’ve seen the Lions sit unaffected by air pressure differentials equalizing from decompressions like this before, so that’s an inconsistency. It could be that Blue is letting herself be blown out on purpose, but that’s not something the show suggests, let alone confirms. Slav gets grabbed by the warden on the way out, and Lance gets a hero moment, demonstrating he actually is really good with a blaster. Shiro even confirms that Lance is the team sharpshooter. Shiro also tries to reassure Pidge they’ll find Matt. He really is a good team leader.

Zarkon continues to be zapped, even causing a Druid to fall down in exhaustion. Haggar comes in to report to Zarkon that she thinks they have a spy onboard. I find it hard to believe that she hasn’t told him before now. Zarkon expresses that he doesn’t care about that. Zarkon asks about his armor, which Haggar has apparently has been working on. It kind of feels weird that whatever work this is that this is the first time it’s being mentioned. She says several people have been killed through her working on it. Zarkon indicates that this armor project is because of the failure of the Robeasts that have been sent after Voltron. It’s clearly setting up the season finale confrontation.

That first annoying sequence of Shiro and Pidge getting on the base aside, I like this episode. The scenes between Shiro and Slav are great, and I think a lot of the responsibility for that goes to the voice actors. That dialog could have easily fallen flat without them. I also really like the exploration of Lance’s insecurities. I often feel this show doesn’t go deep into the characters, but this gave us an intriguing new aspect of Lance. To me, this shows what makes a story good: the characters. The plot of this episode is nothing new. There are plenty of stories involving breaking out of prison. What makes this one different are the characters. The episode needed Shiro and Slav’s conversations and the expressions of personality that result from that. It needed Lance’s expressing his insecurities. Only then, through character, does the plot matter. We care about the plot because we care about the characters.

#voltron legendary defender #voltron #vld #voltron criticism #vld criticism #voltron critical #vld critical #vld season 2 #vld 2x10 #commentary

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you-are-worth-the-wait · 3 years

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Hey…have you given any thought about possibly wanting to give me resume just so I have it on me when an opportunity here at the VA arises where I feel you’d have a better chance than just a random online application? Again, it’s not a guarantee, but it gives you a better advantage with me handing your resume to the actual hiring manager.

Aww…would be nice to have been able to come home and just cuddle with you being so tired and all.

Nothing special. Just give people shots. People at the clinic hate it because of the commute. I don’t mind. Yes you have to wake up a little earlier, drive all that way, then possibly fight traffic in the afternoon. But I still get home about the same time since my tour of duty is 0730-1600 instead of 0800-1630. I’m not gonna say that my current job is tough but it is nice to get a little break from things every now and then. Even though I’m more exposed to the population, at least it’s the population that is willing to get vaccinated. A guy asked me my stance on the vaccine. I told him that I encourage it but I’m not going to judge or force people to take it if they don’t want to. Everyone is entitled to their own choice and opinion. But like I said, I advise and encourage others to consider it or get it. He told me that his son refused to take it. Died of COVID 2 weeks ago. Telling me how he needed to make funeral arrangements. I didn’t know what to say except that I was sorry. He proudly got the vaccine but you could see that he prolly wished he could have convinced his son to do so as well. The son was 41. I have a very brief interaction with the people but it’s nice and fun to hear what they have to say. Their stories, rants, raves, vents, and randomness. The most popular one was them telling me about a shot/vaccine gun where they told people to hold still, not move their arm, and they “shoot” multiple shots with the gun in one shot. Apparently if you moved it must have made for a hell of a pain or something cuz the overall consensus was “God help the poor bastards that moved or flinched”. I thought that was funny. Oddly enough, I had 2 guys in a row at one point tell me the exact same story. My only thing was I hoped the previous guy did not over hear the second guy telling the same story and see me reacting as if I had heard the story for the first time ever in life…lol. Gotta humor them every once and awhile. You know me, whatever I can do for a smile or laugh 🤷‍♂️🥴

Contacted? Avoided? So you pretty much are willing to do most any position at this point? Did you like inpatient settings during your clinicals? It’s easy to get burned out on certain units but I think it really is a matter of who you have working with you. I know it mattered to me when I worked IMC/cardiac observation unit for a minute and it totally made a difference working in mental health. I’m sure you remember my stories with the adolescents but my MH tech and staff on my unit on any given night gave me an idea of how good or bad my shift would be. I know you prolly would not like nights but it really is a different atmosphere. It depends on the person as well. I honestly feel that once people get to know you, your demeanor, and your work ethic, people will slowly come around to accepting and respecting you and your skill set. The only way to know if you will like nights or not is to do it. I can tell you my stories and opinions but I wouldn’t want to encourage/discourage you one way or another. I will say that if you have your reservations about nights but it’s a job that you may actually be interested in, I’d say try it. Me, personally, I liked nights. That’s me. Reasons why, you can ask me to expand but I’m sure you may know some already by word of mouth. It is totally different versus day shift with its pros and cons. But like I said, when you have a good team around you, especially someone like me (not to brag just cuz people sooo like me 🤪 and half the things I say is BS 😋), night shift can be pretty kewl and fun. 😬🤷‍♂️🥴🙃

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ladyemeraude · 5 years

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The Gift of Love: Chapter 7 (Sailor Moon Fanfiction)

Ruby made herself invisible before materializing in Beryl’s throne room, giving a Cheshire cat grin at how the lack of interference made her job to help the senshi easy. Her grin faltered a bit when the possibility hit her that maybe Beryl was aware of her methods to aid the superheroines of justice, but just chose to remain silent about it. ‘Wait a minute, what I’m thinking? She’s too busy ranting and raving about world domination to even notice things like that, not to mention she’s still an idiot. I just have to continue to be discreet and all will be well.’ With that bit of self reassurance, a smile formed on her lips, especially when she considered how effective she was with aiding the senshi in such a manner. ‘I want to keep it that way, too, so if Beryl doesn’t know, then it’s just as well.’

The cherry-haired youma tilted her head upon noticing the look of displeasure etched on Beryl’s features, which she had the feeling was caused by Zoisite’s recent failure. ‘The worthless little snake in the grass is in for it now…and he’s demented if he thought I was going to miss this for the world. I almost wish I had some popcorn. This is like a movie, after all.’ She had to bite her lip to keep a straight face.

Beryl waved her hands around her crystal ball, bouncing it. “Zoisite! Kunzite! Come here at once!!” she barked.

The two young men immediately appeared before the witch queen, bowing respectfully. “Yes, your majesty?” responded Zoisite. He barely managed to hold back a shudder at the heavy frown on Beryl’s face. His palms became moist and a sweatdrop formed on his forehead, which he quickly wiped off.

Queen Beryl fixated her gaze on the two shitennou as she cleared her throat. “We need all seven nijizuishou in order to obtain the ginzuishou. Tuxedo Kamen should not be in possession of the second one, or any for that matter. Your failure displeases me greatly.”

Zoisite wanted to disappear right then and there. It was all he could do not to start squirming as well, but Kunzite’s presence alleviated his uneasiness. He bit back a gulp. “Yes, I do humbly apologize for that, Queen Beryl-sama. I can assure you it will not happen again. In fact, there are plans set in motion to retrieve it from him.”

“Yes, we will do whatever it takes to seize back the nijizuishou stolen from us, even if it means disposing of Tuxedo Kamen forever,” chimed in Kunzite. He clenched a fist and laid it on his chest, giving a slight bow.

Beryl’s expression softened a smidge, but it still looked stern. It matched the tone of her voice as she conceded, “Very well. I will hold you both to that. However, I would implore you to remember there are also five more nijizuishou to capture besides the stolen one. I want them all, understand? I will accept no more failure from you!” Her voice raised a little with the final statement, causing everyone in the throne room to nearly jump a mile.

“Understood, your highness,” said Zoisite and Kunzite in unison. After giving one last respectful bow, the two young men disappeared to make more plans.

Despite cringing at the sound of the witch queen’s raised voice, Ruby got a smile on her face witnessing the scathing rebuke Zoisite received. ‘I knew he could only keep it up for so long. It’ll be interesting to see how he pulls himself out of this. I do wish he remained long enough for me to see the next target, but no matter. There are other ways I can find out. Hehehe.’ Still in her invisible form, she teleported away, making herself visible again once she was back in the planetarium where her comrades and Nephrite had been doing a bit of meditating. “Hi girls, Master Nephrite. I’m back.”

Nephrite and the twins turned to face Ruby, Nephrite quirking an eyebrow upon seeing her expression. “Well, you seem amused. What have you discovered this time?”

“Something pertaining to Zoisite, I presume?” asked Miki. ‘She never returns from one of Beryl’s meetings smiling unless there is favorable news that would help us.’

“Let’s hear it,” said Yukari, giving a curious smile.

Ruby’s face flushed a bit, and she let out an embarrassed little laugh at her glee being noticed. “Well, Zoisite’s failure to retrieve the second nijizuishou has angered Beryl quite a bit. In fact, she gave him and Kunzite a stern warning about it. This means our efforts to assist the senshi are bearing fruit thus far.”

Yukari resisted the urge to do a fist pump gesture, instead allowing a grin to escape. There was also a hint of relief on her face, given how worried she had been before. ‘Geez, I was worked up over nothing.’ She snickered. “I can imagine. I almost wish I had gone with you so I could have seen it.”

“I can’t say I didn’t see that coming,” remarked Miki. “I mean, I don’t know whether he relied on counsel from Kunzite in that particular scheme or not, but either way it makes no difference. He is in over his head, and Kunzite is a lousy mentor, not to mention it remains to be seen if either of them know not to underestimate the abilities of our former enemies.” She then looked serious. ‘What a turn of events. In the past, hell would have had to have frozen over for me to commend Tuxedo Kamen, but to him I must say kudos and keep it up.’

“Indeed.” Nephrite couldn’t help giving a slight smirk of delight at his nemesis feeling pressure from Beryl so early in his tenure, especially when he recalled numerous times the younger shitennou had relished in his failures despite most of his plans being partially successful. ‘I can say with confidence I had completed my task. He should have minded his own business, and now he is paying the price. I am interested to see how soon he falls from Beryl’s favor and how he fares against the senshi. I look forward to the day he and Kunzite are silenced forever.’

Ruby chuckled a little at Miki’s bluntness. ‘She sure knows how to keep it real, and I do agree.’ Her smile disappeared and was replaced by a serious look she wore when she had disappointing news to deliver. “Unfortunately, I don’t know the identity of the third target because Zoisite did not use the power of the kurozuishou to reveal it at this meeting.” The regret was evident in her voice. ‘I know I’m not a failure for that, but does it put the senshi at a potential disadvantage?’

Yukari rested a hand on Ruby’s shoulder, giving her an “it’s all right” look, at which she appeared a bit taken aback. “Hey, don’t sweat it. We still have this.” Removing her hand from the younger woman’s shoulder, she conjured her crystal ball.

“Yes, I remember.” All traces of apprehension drained from the cherry-haired youma’s demeanor. ‘What the hell is wrong with me lately?’

Yukari gave a smile of satisfaction before shaking her crystal ball. “I command you to show me Zoisite!” She, Miki, Ruby and Nephrite observed as the spherical item complied by revealing an image of Zoisite in his castle invoking the power of his kurozuishou. The cylinder-shaped gem revealed an image of a young man with a mop of low-cut brunette hair dressed in a white shirt and black pants. He appeared to be the same age as the senshi. The trio of henchwomen felt their stomachs becoming queasy whilst listening to the false pity in Zoisite’s tone as he spoke of how innocent and naïve his victim was.

Ruby exhaled through her nostrils and rubbed her temples. ‘I think I’m about to lose my breakfast. Never mind that, though. At least I now know who the next target is.’ She turned to the twins and Nephrite. “Master Nephrite, I suppose I should get going now to give this information about the new target to Usagi-san, for Sailor Moon.”

“All right. Do be careful, and try to return as soon as possible.” Nephrite didn’t want to risk the cherry-haired henchwoman bumping shoulders with Zoisite. Although his appearance in public with Naru most recently went smoothly, there were only so many chances he was willing to take in such a precarious situation. ‘However, I am confident it will only be for a season.’

“Yes sir.” Ruby gave a quick curtsy and exited the planetarium. ‘Hmm…perhaps I should speak with Usagi-san personally this time seeing as how she and I have finally made peace.’ She peered down at her minidress. ‘I should change into something more presentable, though.’

The entire eighth grade class at Juuban Junior High gathered in the hall to see the results of their national examination and class rankings. Usagi’s jaw dropped and her heart leapt in her stomach when she saw hers. Five hundred eighty-six points out of nine hundred, ranked two hundred and three.

“Oh no!” moaned the blonde. “I know my score is way over the halfway mark but it’s still not good enough for my parents. They’re going to be so mad at me again!” She let out several rapid breaths and proceeded to tremble as if she were on the verge of having a panic attack. ‘Not to mention Ms. Haruna will probably put me in detention forever.’

Makoto eyed her friend’s results, shaking her head slightly before giving her a look between amusement and sympathy. “Well, it is to be expected. That’s a pretty awful score you have there. I know you can do much better than that if you try something more assertive…like studying??”

Usagi had the urge to wrinkle her nose in distaste, but instead giggled a bit. ‘At least she isn’t making me feel like less of a person.’ She quickly scanned the list for the brunette’s results and felt a bit of reassurance seeing they were not much better. “What an awesome idea, Mako-chan! You and me both! It would be fun!” She and Makoto burst into laughter and then averted their eyes to the top of the list to see who got the top grade. There was no doubt in their minds it would be Ami, so when they saw her in second place instead of first, their mouths dropped open.

“It turns out the new transfer student, Ryo Urawa got the perfect score this time,” stated Makoto.

“Who would have thought there was actually someone who could beat Ami-chan?” Usagi pondered in awe. “If people had actually told me that, I would have thought they were lying.”

“I know right?” agreed Makoto. She was about to say more when all of a sudden, a voice blared over the PA system, “Miss Usagi Tsukino, please report to the office immediately!”

Usagi’s shoulders slumped and a massive knot lodged in her stomach. “I knew it. I’m in big trouble.” She let out slight whimpers as she thought of all the possible punishments that would be inflicted on her for the subpar performance on the exam. ‘What if I have to repeat 8th grade? That’s even worse than being grounded!’

Makoto placed a hand on the blonde’s shoulder, relaxing her a little. “You may not be. Just go. Whatever happens, I’m here for you.”

Usagi managed a small smile at her friend, knowing she was fortunate to have crossed paths with her. “Thank you, Mako-chan. I’ll be right back…at least, as soon as possible.” Inhaling a deep breath, she made her way to the office, her heart pounding wildly the entire time. Her right hand shaking a little, she turned the doorknob and opened, bracing herself for whatever lecture or punishment she would have to face as she entered.

***********

Sitting in one of the chairs was not Mrs. Tsukino, but a young woman with long wavy cherry coloured hair held in place by a beret, dressed in black slacks with a matching top bearing her midriff and a bolero jacket draped over it. The wardrobe was complete with a pair of brown boots.

The principal smiled slightly. “I see you have arrived, Ms. Tsukino. Excellent. I do not know all the details of this young woman, but I imagine whatever it is you two intend to discuss must be very important. I’ll give you some space. I trust I can leave you both alone.” He left the office without waiting for a response.

Usagi let out the breath she had been holding, heaving a sigh of relief. Her eyes became wide as saucers and she gasped as she recognized the woman. “Ruby?!” She kept her voice muffled so the principal wouldn’t return and scold her for being overly loud. ‘Although she isn’t wearing that short poufy dress, I can tell by the hair and eyes that it’s her.’

Ruby chuckled a bit. “So you recognized me, huh? I should have known you would. I’m glad, though.”

Usagi blushed and giggled nervously. “Of course I did. Really, though, what are you doing here? Do you have more information for Sailor Moon you want me to give her?” She felt her legs beginning to ache, so she sat next to the youma.

“Aye, there is something urgent I need you to inform her of. The next nijizuishou carrier is a young man by the name of Ryo Urawa.”

A look of horror crossed the blonde’s features, and the gasp she released was identical to her expression. “Oh no..” she murmured, her voice just above a whisper. ‘These guys really aren’t going to quit.’

Ruby gave her former enemy a sympathetic look. “I’m afraid so. That means you will have to advise Sailor Moon to keep a close eye on him.”

“Most definitely.” Usagi’s fear turned into anger, which she had to clench her fists to control. “I’ll keep watch over him, too. It just so happens he’s a new student in my class.” The idea of her potential new friend being attacked made her blood boil. ‘Of course, I’ve wanted to talk to him anyway, and get to know him better.’

Ruby gave a light nod. “I thought that might be the case, so it makes the task so much easier.” She then got up from her seat. “Well, I should get going. The master doesn’t want me gone longer than necessary and I don’t want you to miss too much of your lesson.”

Usagi nodded. “I understand. Thank you for stopping by, though, and telling me.”

“Anytime, Usagi-san. I’m off now. Do take care of yourself and tell Sailor Moon to remain vigilant.”

“I will, thank you. See you later.”

“Later.” Ruby left the office, the sound of the heels on her boots echoing with her footsteps.

Usagi stretched out her legs a bit and got up, too, rubbing her sore buttocks. ‘I guess I had better get a move on, too.’ The last thing she wanted was to get a detention for skipping class. She exited the office and made her way back to class, thinking about her brief conversation with the reformed youma and how at ease she felt around her. ‘I have to admit it felt nice talking to her face to face…it solidifies the feeling I have that I can trust her. After all, I didn’t sense any evil aura. And she’s right. Ami, Rei, Mako-chan and I will have to protect Ryo at all costs. Hopefully it won’t distract me in any way.’

Ryo accompanied Usagi at Café Amigo after school, something he had agreed to do after receiving a bit of coaxing from the blonde. Despite there being a minor incident where water had spilled overhead, semi-drenching her in the process, she and the young man managed to make it to the eatery with very few problems. Once they were situated in their booth and had placed their orders, the two teens faced each other.

“So,” Usagi began, twiddling her thumbs. “How are you enjoying it here so far? Especially in comparison with your old home.”

“I love it, actually,” the young man answered. “I’m especially glad to be in the same class as Mizuno-san. I’ve always admired her and wanted to meet her. I used to carry this picture around with me all the time.” He pulled out an old newspaper clipping of a photo of Ami to show to the blonde.

Usagi took the paper and examined it, skimming over the featured article next to her friend’s picture. ‘Oh, I remember seeing this…then again, Ami-chan is always in the paper for her high marks, so it isn’t surprising.’ She glanced back up at Ryo with a big grin on her face. “Oh, so you like her like that, huh?” she asked teasingly.

Ryo’s face turned red with embarrassment. “I wouldn’t say that. She has just been my inspiration and she motivates me to do my best in school.” He lowered his head a bit to avoid the blonde’s eyes. ‘The truth is that I do…in fact, I like her a lot…but I would never have the nerve to tell her.’ He barely suppressed a sigh of despair, annoyed with himself for his cowardice.

Usagi gave a wave of her hand as if to say she wasn’t buying it. “Oh come on, there’s nothing wrong with having feelings for her. What you say makes sense, though. I secretly wish I could be like her, too, but I don’t see that ever happening. She’s so smart, I never expected anyone to beat her. It threw me in for a loop when you did.”

“I can see how you would be. I’m really not the genius you think I am.”

Usagi was about to ask the young man what he meant when a waiter wandered over to their table holding a tray with two chalices of fruit smoothies on it. He presented the teens with their respective treats and straws. “I hope you enjoy. And shall I bring back two separate checks or just one?”

Ryo was about to say two, but Usagi piped up, “One. I’m paying for both of us.” The brunette glanced at her with a hint of surprise on his features, but she said, “It’s my treat.”

Ryo knew there was no point in arguing or asking the blonde if she was sure. Not with the air of firmness and determination in her tone as well as a look of kindness in her eyes. The latter especially melted his heart. “Wow. Thank you, Tsukino-san.”

“It’s nothing.” ‘I may be blowing half of my allowance, but at least I’m doing it for a good cause this time.’

The waiter knitted his brows together. “Consider it done.” He left the two teens alone.

Ryo picked up his glass and took a sip. ‘Mmmm, this is so delicious.’ He gulped a bit when Usagi guzzled hers down. Shrugging his shoulders, he continued drinking his. ‘I know about her appetite, so I’m not surprised.’

Usagi finished off her drink and pushed the chalice off to the side. “Aaaah, that was so good,” she raved. She picked up a napkin, using it to muffle a loud burp that had escaped. ‘Ooops…he must think I’m so nasty…but I would be more mortified if it had happened in front of Tuxedo Kamen or Motoki-san.’

Ryo chuckled a little. “I could tell you were enjoying it. However, I do agree with you. It really is good...in fact better than the ones I had at my old home.” He finished off his drink and then picked up a napkin to wipe his hands.

Usagi wiped her hands before digging in her purse, pulling out a small package. “This is for you, Ryo. Think of it as a present,” she said, holding out the package for the young man to take.

The brunette young man looked surprised, but accepted Usagi’s gift. “Thank you. I appreciate it.” He tore open the package and pulled out a photo, holding it up to see. It was a picture of Ami preparing to take a huge bite of a hamburger. He tilted his head slightly, as he didn’t expect Ami to wear that type of expression in any of her pictures. ‘I have to say it makes her even more adorable.’ He allowed his eyes to meet the blonde’s. “Thanks again.”

Usagi placed a hand in the back of her head, giggling awkwardly. “Don’t mention it. I thought you would want to have a better picture than that newspaper clipping. Plus, it shows even serious and studious Ami has a fun, silly side.” She got a mischievous look in her eyes. ‘One good thing about Ami is she’s not Rei, who would flip out and kill me for sure.’

“So I see.” Ryo slipped the photo in his shirt pocket. ‘I don’t know if I should keep it or not, but if I end up moving again, it would be nice to have something to remember her by.’

The waiter returned with the bill, and also to collect the empty chalices. “I take it you youngsters enjoyed?” he asked, placing the cheque book on the table and picking up the glasses.

“Yes, we certainly did,” responded Ryo.

“It was delicious,” chimed Usagi with an emphasis on the first syllable. She saw the young man stifling a small laugh. ‘One thing I can say about him is he’s really easygoing.’

The waiter smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.” Once again, he left the teens to themselves.

Usagi picked up the cheque book to examine the total on the receipt, then searched in her purse for her wallet. She pulled it out and zipped it open, desperately hoping she hadn’t put her foot in her mouth when she offered to pay. ‘That would be totally bad…but it’s what I get for spending too much at one place.’ She took out several bills and counted them, smiling in delight when she realized it was even more than enough. ‘Yay! I did good this time!’ Biting her lip to keep from yelling out, she rested the necessary amount on top of the receipt before putting the remainder back in her wallet and closing it, dropping it back inside her purse.

“Once again, thank you,” said Ryo. “I owe you one.”

Usagi gave him a funny look. “Don’t be silly. That’s what friends are for.” She closed her purse and got up from her spot. “You ready to go?”

“Yes, let’s get going.” Ryo stood up as well. He and Usagi made their way toward the exit, leaving the café together. They stood by the window, facing each other. “Usagi? Can I tell you something?” the young man asked.

Usagi quirked an eyebrow slightly as it was somewhat unexpected. ‘What could he want to tell me? Is it something I’ve done?’ She could have driven herself crazy worrying or making incorrect guesses, but instead she responded, “Sure. What’s up?”

“Um…about what you said earlier, that I have feelings for Mizuno-san, you’re right. I do like her and would love to get to know her better,” admitted the young man.

The blonde breathed a light sigh of relief. She allowed a tiny proud-of-herself smile to escape. It was all she could do not to scream, “It’s about time you fessed up!” as she knew it wouldn’t help matters any. “Oh…like I said before, you’re not wrong to like her. That’s really great, actually. I do sense a “but” in your voice, though…what’s the matter?”

Ryo let out a heavy sigh before reaching up a hand to run through his hair. “It’s just…I’m worried she doesn’t feel the same...and with all she has going for her at the moment, she might say she doesn’t have time for a relationship. Besides, I’m not good enough for her.” He looked somewhat dejected as he made the last statement.

‘Man, he looks so bummed out.’ Usagi felt her mood taking a nosedive upon seeing the young man’s glum countenance. She peered down at her feet, then back up at him. “I can relate to being afraid of rejection. But saying you’re not good enough is crazy talk. You and Ami-chan are perfect for each other. Besides, you won’t know what her response will be unless you actually tell her how you feel.”

Ryo’s eyes widened in surprise. “Are you sure?”

“You bet! Just leave the setting up to me. She’s at cram school right now, but it’s about to end. You can just go to the arcade to wait, and I’ll bring her to you when she’s done.”

Ryo was hesitant. “Ah, well I…” He generally didn’t like dragging people into his dilemmas, but he didn’t mind the nudge when he was on the verge of giving up. ‘Tsukino-san sure is easy to talk to, I can say that much. I guess trying wouldn’t hurt.’ He cleared his throat. “I suppose that could work. Thank you.”

Usagi gave the young man a gentle tap on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit! I’ll see you again in a bit!” The blonde traipsed to the cram school whilst Ryo began to make his way to the Crown Arcade. ‘I did want to try my luck at the Sailor V game,anyway…I think I’ve earned it.’

As Ryo was approaching the arcade, he spotted a young man with long flaxen hair pulled into a ponytail perched on top of the roof. His heart skipped a beat, a sweatdrop appeared on his forehead and his stomach felt queasy. “Oh no…that guy is bad news. Good thing I can no longer say the same about Nephrite,” he muttered to himself. ‘What should I do? I suppose I could try to pretend I didn’t see him, but it won’t do me any good.’ Unfortunately for him, the young man glanced up, destroying whatever slim chance he had of going by unnoticed. ‘Crap! Now I’m in for it.’

Zoisite fixated his gaze on the seemingly unsuspecting younger teen boy, giving him a sinister smile. “Well hello there, young lad. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you,” he said, blowing the brunette a kiss.

Ryo eyed the sakura king strangely at first, then gave him a hard look. “Listen, Zoisite, you’re not fooling anyone with your pretense, so whatever it is you want with me, I suggest you just get to the point already.“

Zoisite froze in surprise at first. Ryo was the first mortal besides the senshi to address him by his name. ‘He is actually the first to know it without me introducing myself.’ A part of him wanted to laugh at Ryo’s annoyance, but instead his eyes hardened to mirror the hard look he had received from the brunette. “How is it that you know my name when I haven’t revealed it to you?” he demanded to know. ‘If I hadn’t known any better, I would have thought Nephrite recruited a male youma to spy on me.’

Ryo barely held back a shiver at Zoisite’s menacing demeanor. Refusing to give the impression he was intimidated, he kept his expression firm, clenching his fists. “Ever since I was very young, I’ve had the ability to foretell the future based on visions I have. It’s both a blessing and a curse, but they are always true. I know all about the Dark Kingdom and why you’ve come here today.”

Zoisite made a “hmmm” sound before allowing a smirk to escape his lips. “Is that so? Well then, my job has just become so much easier.” He levitated off the roof onto the ground with an effortless landing, facing the young teen. “Now, my young friend, come along quietly and offer yourself to the Dark Kingdom.”

It was times like this Ryo considered his ability to be a curse—knowing that no matter what he did, he couldn’t escape his fate, even if he wanted to. Still, the thought of being a servant of the Dark Kingdom made his stomach churn. He exhaled through his nose to prevent the bile from rising up, then gave the tawny haired shitennou a defiant look. “Never!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. “I’ll never surrender myself to the likes of you, even if you kill me in cold blood right here and now. In fact, I would rather die that type of death before I sell my soul to a demon!” He clenched a fist and lunged forward, preparing to punch the sakura king in the face.

For a moment, Zoisite looked shocked at the younger teen’s outburst, but when he saw the boy going on the offensive, his expression turned into a sneer and he used his telekinesis powers to throw Ryo off his feet. “Zoi!” The young man landed on his bottom with a pain-filled groan, eliciting a smirk from the sakura shitennou.

Zoisite peered down at his target with an evil grin. “It is quite admirable that you are willing to sacrifice yourself, but it is not necessary in this case. It would be in your best interest to come along quietly and accept your fate, instead of trying to escape it. I promise you, your suffering will end if you just trust me.”

Ryo, who had slowly been recovering from the fall, rose to his feet and stared at the sakura shitennou as if he were insane. “I don’t think so! I don’t trust you further than I can throw you!”

Zoisite shook his head at the young man’s stubbornness, clicking his tongue. “Fine. I suppose I will just have to use force. A pity, too, considering I had given you a chance to go the easy route.” He retrieved the kurozuishou from his pocket and tossed it out, emitting a beam from it. “Zoi!” The beam struck Ryo in the chest, causing him to yell out in pain.

Meanwhile, Usagi waited outside Ami’s class, watching as all the students exited. All of a sudden, she heard the sound of the moon wand going off in her purse. ‘Oh no! I hope the Dark Kingdom didn’t get to poor Ryo already. What do I do? What do I do? I promised I would take Ami-chan to him. These evil creeps sure know how to choose the worst timing.’ As she attempted to wrack her brain for a solution to her dilemma, Luna ran up to her. “Oh it’s you, Luna!”

“Usagi-chan, it’s the nijizuishou alert. You must hurry and transform!” said the feline guardian in a rush.

Usagi took the wand out of her purse. “Yes. Ruby came by the school today and told me the Dark Kingdom is after Ryo. We will need Ami-chan, too, which works out fine since I had told Ryo I would get her for him.”

“It’s good that you are aware. However, you will have to go without her for now. There isn’t a second to lose,” pressed Luna.

Before Usagi could protest, Ami finally came out of the classroom, causing the blonde to let out a sigh of relief. Ami looked surprised to see her and Luna. “Oh, hi Usagi-san! Hi Luna. What brings you here?”

“There’s very little time to explain…just come with me to the Crown Arcade,” responded Usagi. She felt a sharp poke in her ankle. “Ow! Lunaaaa! What was that for?!”

The black cat just gave Usagi a reproachful look and told Ami, “You must transform! Ryo is in danger!”

A look of horror appeared on Ami’s features. “What?! Oh no!” She and Usagi ran to the back of the school to transform. Lucky for them, the students were long gone. “Mercury Power, Make Up!”

“Moon Prism Power, Make Up!” Moon and Mercury sprinted to the arcade together.

Zoisite increased the power level of the kurozuishou just a tad, whilst the young man clutched his chest, trying to prevent the nijizuishou from coming out. The sakura shitennou gave him a look of false pity. “Don’t worry, your suffering will end very soon and you’ll be one of the most powerful beings in the world!”

“Don’t be so sure you’ll get away with such a thing!” two female voices yelled.

Zoisite cursed under his breath and then turned away from Ryo to sharply look over his shoulder. His expression turned into a scowl when he saw it was Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury who had interrupted him. “It’s you pests again,” he growled.

“That’s right! Neither of us will stand by and watch you torment innocent people! I’m the pretty senshi of love and justice, Sailor Moon!”

“I am the pretty senshi of love and intelligence, Sailor Mercury!”

“In the name of the moon….”

“We will punish you!” Moon and Mercury declared in unison. They each took their combative stances.

Despite the deep anguish, Ryo managed a reserved smile of admiration, which was especially aimed at the senshi of ice. His smile then became sad as he considered his inevitable fate. ‘At least I will have a brief moment of happiness. I will cherish it.’

Zoisite sneered at the two senshi. “Didn’t your parents ever teach you not to judge a book by its cover? Furthermore, it is impossible for you girls to stop me, but if you wish to try, it’s your funeral.”

“You don’t scare us! Whatever it is you plan to dish out, bring it on!” The blonde senshi turned to Sailor Mercury. “Mercury, I want you to get Ryo to safety while I try to hold off Zoisite,” she instructed, giving the blue-haired teen a slight wink.

Sailor Mercury looked a bit flustered for a moment, her cheeks turning red before worry and doubt appeared on her features. “Are you sure you’ll be fine alone?” she asked, sounding just as worried as she looked.

“Yes! You have to hurry! I’ll be fine, I promise,” insisted Moon, attempting to reassure herself at the same time. ‘The truth is I do feel a little nervous…he doesn’t seem to be nearly as strong as Nephrite, but I still don’t know what I’m up against because I haven’t seen all his tricks yet. He is far crueler, I can say that much for him.’

“All right. But be careful.” Mercury wandered over to the shaken Ryo and placed one of his arms around her shoulders, taking him away as instructed.

The senshi of the moon directed her gaze back to Zoisite, a fierce look appearing on her features. “All right, pretty boy, it’s go time!” She took off her tiara and tossed it at the sakura shitennou. “Moon Tiara Action!”

Zoisite watched as the frisbee weapon travelled towards him for a bit, then a tiny sly grin formed on his lips. He disappeared in a flurry of cherry blossoms, causing the tiara to fall harmlessly to the ground and Moon to let out a gasp of horror.

“What the heck?! Not again!” the moon senshi whined. ‘Just like the time I first took on Jadeite.’ She retrieved her tiara, put it back on her forehead and then clenched her right fist, shaking it. “You rotten cheater!”

There was a sound of diabolical laughter in response. Zoisite rematerialized, smirking at Moon. “You’re a fool if you thought your little frisbee attack was a match for my power. I will show you how unworthy an opponent you truly are. Zoi!” He shot razor sharp cherry blossoms at the moon senshi. She crossed her arms in front of her face in a defensive position, crying out in pain as several of the petals hit her. The young man then disappeared to locate his target.

The senshi of ice had taken Ryo to a nearby park and laid him on the bench, resting a damp cloth on his forehead to mop up any beads of sweat that formed. She sat beside him and kept watch, monitoring his condition. So far, he appeared to be in a dream-like state. She had the strongest urge to grab ahold of his hand to let him know he wasn’t alone, but felt too shy to do so. Instead, she stroked his right temple, near his ear. ‘Don’t worry, Ryo-san. I won’t let Zoisite hurt you.’

Ryo stirred a bit, exhaling a light breath through his nose. He turned his head to the left and grimaced as if he were in pain, causing the towel to fall off his forehead onto the bench. All of a sudden he yelled out, “NOOOOOO! Mizuno-san, run!”

Mercury briefly looked taken aback at the young man calling her civilian name. ‘Does he know my identity? But that’s impossible. Not that it’s exactly worrisome…after all, he seems pretty trustworthy so I can pretty much guarantee he won’t reveal it to anyone.’ She gently shook his shoulder and loudly whispered, “Wake up! You’re having a bad dream!”

“Huh?” Ryo’s eyes shot wide open and he sat up, running a hand over his face. He gave the ice senshi a sideways glance, looking relieved. He then stared ahead. “I’m so glad you’re all right. What I just saw was so disturbing.”

Mercury gave a confused frown before turning to the brunette with her eyes full of concern. “What’s disturbing? What was your dream about?”

A grim expression appeared on the young man’s face as he answered, “It’s no dream. It was a vision of the future.”

The blue-haired senshi cocked an eyebrow, not expecting to hear that at all. “Oh? What do you mean?”

Ryo then knew it was time to come clean and that simply declining to speak on the matter wouldn’t work with the ice senshi. Plus, he didn’t want to give Usagi a less than favorable report. ‘After all, it was Tsukino-san who set this up so Ami-san and I could get to know each other.’ He took a deep breath before beginning his narrative. “Well, you see, ever since I was a little boy, I have had the ability to foresee the future, and as I got older, my premonitions became even stronger. That’s how I was able to achieve a perfect score on the recent examination, not because I am super intelligent.”

“Oh…” Mercury put on her best pokerface to mask her surprise. She didn’t blink when he mentioned the examination since his revelation covered everything. It also brought back a memory of how rigid he seemed during the exam and how she had to encourage him to relax. She let out a slight gasp as the realization hit her what Ryo’s “gift” meant. “So that means…you know my identity!”

Ryo nodded. “Not only that, but the vision I had when you first brought me here showed that you and I will become enemies.”

Mercury blanched at that and she felt her blood running cold. ‘Could he be overthinking this?’ she mused. “What are you saying?”

Ryo could see his prediction was a hard pill for the senshi of ice to swallow. His heart pained with guilt for making her feel uncomfortable. ‘However, the truth cannot be changed, and my visions have yet to be wrong.’ He gulped and peered down at his feet as he responded, “I mean, you and I will soon be in a fierce battle because my true nature is an agent of the Dark Kingdom. I cannot stand the thought of hurting you, so when I transform into a youma, please promise you’ll kill me immediately!” His voice was slightly raised when he made the plea.

Mercury was speechless as she slowly absorbed everything she had been told. She glanced at the young man and saw in his eyes that despite his very blunt tone, he was distressed by it all. ‘He can’t continue to go on like this or he will fall into a deep depression. While I’m all for realism, I don’t condone it at the expense of living a miserable life.’ She placed a finger under his chin, lifting it up so he was giving her eye contact, which made him blush and caused his skin to tingle. “Ryo…I can only imagine how difficult this must have been for you, but I want you to listen to me. Granted, there are some things in life you cannot escape because they are inevitable, but it’s up to you to shape your own future. You have the power to do it.”

Ryo’s ocean colored eyes widened in surprise. “I do?”

“Yes. Even if the tragic events you foresee do occur, you should make the most of every moment and make sure they’re filled with happiness. Take it from me. It’s a lesson I’ve had to learn as well, thinking about how I would eventually lose the ones who mean the most to me. Sacrifice is very noble, but think about your friends and loved ones who would be sad if you were to leave them behind prematurely. “

Ryo looked thoughtful. It was the first time in his life he had ever received such uplifting advice. ‘Then again, very few people know about my ability or my true feelings I’ve kept deep inside me for so long. I have to thank Tsukino-san for this later.’ His shoulders felt lighter, as if a burden had been lifted. For the first time, he was able to give the ice senshi a genuine smile. “Thank you. You have given me something new to think about.”

Mercury gave the young man a warm smile. “I’m glad I was able to free your mind somewhat. I don’t want to see you suffering. I want you to remember you can still have joy, even if you feel you can’t escape your fate.”

“I will. I promise.”

“Oh, how very touching. A pity no one is going to be escaping except me,” interrupted a male silky tenor voice, making the pair whirl around sharply. Standing several feet behind them was Zoisite with a wicked grin plastered on his face, spinning the kurozuishou around on his finger like a top.

“It’s you again,” stated Ryo, his voice full of displeasure.

“That’s right. You’re a fool if you thought you could hide from me forever. And this pathetic senshi won’t be enough to save you from your destiny, either.”

Mercury stuck out her jaw defiantly. “I’m tougher than I look, so it wouldn’t be wise for you to underestimate me. I won’t let you lay a finger on Ryo.” She enveloped the young man in a protective embrace.

Zoisite gave a devilish grin before using telekinesis to knock the ice senshi away from Ryo. “Zoi!” He watched with a satisfied smirk as Mercury stumbled with a yelp and grabbed ahold of the bench to stop her fall. He sneered at her. “That was quite a heroic act on your part, but truth be told, he is helpless against my kurozuishou. Trust me, you wouldn’t be so intent on protecting him when you see his true self.”

The ice senshi got back to her feet and rose to her full height, glaring at the sakura shitennou. “Well, you can try to do your worst, but mark my words, you won’t get away with it.”

“We’ll see about that! Zoi!” Once again, Zoisite emitted a beam of energy from the ebony colored gem. The young man cried out as he was struck for the second time. The yellow colored nijizuishou flew out of his chest, into Zoisite’s open hands. “Success!”

Mercury watched with a stony expression as a billow of thick, cloud-like smoke surrounded her male companion. She waited with baited breath to see which shadow youma had been awakened. The smoke dissipated to reveal a particularly large humanoid shaped lizard-like beast with light green skin, orange eyes, sharp teeth and white armor covering most of his body. His arms were made up of razor-sharp blades resembling scissors. He let out a mighty roar. “Bunbo!”

Zoisite gave a wide evil grin at the creature’s ferocity. “Welcome back, Bunbo! Cut Sailor Mercury apart!”

The lizard-like creature approached the ice senshi with a menacing look in his eyes. She stepped back, glancing at him with pleading eyes. “Remember my previous words. You have the power to shape your own future.”

Bunbo looked confused for a bit, hesitating as if trying to process Mercury’s words. Then, with a fierce roar, he soared into the air towards Zoisite, pushing him into the puddle of water and causing him to land with a splash. The sakura shitennou yelped at both the impact and the fact that the nijizuishou flew out of his grasp into Mercury’s hands, which she caught with precision. She looked pleased upon realizing her persuading proved to be effective. She stuffed the nijizuishou in the shirt portion of her fuku for safekeeping.

A drenched Zoisite emerged from the water, coughing. He used his magic to dry his soaking wet hair, clothes and boots before clenching his fists and shaking with rage for a bit, obviously furious at the disrespect shown. ‘The nerve of that incompetent oaf! I should destroy him for this!’ He got an incredulous look on his face as he was hit by the realization that the creature still had human emotions. ‘How could this be? He’s the strongest of all the warriors.’

Feeling somewhat calm again, Zoisite averted his attention back to the youma, emitting some waves from the kurozuishou onto him. “Your enemy is the sailor senshi. Retrieve the nijizuishou from her.”

Bunbo’s fierce look returned, he felt power surging through him and he grew several more inches. “Bunbo!!!”

Mercury could tell by the emotionless and cold look in the youma’s eyes that Zoisite’s maneuver had worked. She managed to suppress a shudder. ‘It’s useless to plead with him now. I can most certainly use the help of the others this minute.’

Sailor Moon finally arrived at the scene with Luna at her side. “I’m not allowing you to get your evil, greedy hands on the nijizuishou, and I certainly won’t tolerate you tormenting innocent people!” she declared, pointing a finger at the sakura shitennou.

Zoisite breathed a heavy sigh. “I beg to differ. Bunbo, pummel these nuisances to the ground and get that nijizuishou!”

Bunbo let out another roar, which sent chills down the spines of the two senshi. He shot several knives from his mouth at a nearby tree, causing it to fall over. The girls dashed out of the way before it could land on top of them. Bunbo came after them, breaking the bench in the process.

Zoisite laughed as if he were watching a comedy. “Well done, my old friend. Now destroy those girls the same way you just annihilated that flimsy bench.”

“Bunbo!” The lizard youma followed Moon and Mercury, shooting a blade from his hand at another tree. They got out of the way, Moon almost tripping over her feet.

“We can’t keep going on like this,” said Mercury.

“Yeah, enough is enough!” Moon agreed. She faced the massive creature with a glare, clutching her wand. “The fact that you’re trying to wreck such a beautiful park is unforgivable! Time to bring back the sweet boy who is no doubt fighting to break free. Moon Healing Escalation!” Healing magic rained down from the wand onto the beast, but it had no effect and he unleashed a battle cry.

Moon’s mouth hung open as she glanced at her wand. “What happened?! It didn’t work!”

“It’s because he’s too powerful at the moment,” explained Luna. “You girls will have to weaken him.”

Sailor Mercury nodded. “That makes sense. I felt power radiating from him earlier.” She saw the beast preparing to attack again. “Careful, Sailor Moon!”

“Huh?” The moon senshi looked at the creature, then made a panicked nose as he threw several knives, this time with the intent of severing the two.

“Duck!” Fueled by adrenaline, Moon and Mercury crouched low. The knives flew over their heads, just narrowly missing them. “Whew! That was close.” The blonde senshi took a few moments to catch her breath before rising to her feet, Sailor Mercury doing the same. They turned to see Bunbo approaching them to correct what he failed to do, which made them break into a run once more.

The creature chased after the girls, but they kept on running, only to realize there was not much room left. “Oh no! We’re trapped!” cried out Moon in a horrified voice as she and Mercury stopped by a fallen tree. She shook her legs to rid them of the soreness.

“I’m afraid you’re right,” conceded the ice senshi. “However, running away was not the answer in the first place. We have to do something, and fast.”

“I agree.”

Zoisite laughed again. “There’s nothing you can do. You foolish mortal girls are finished. Bunbo, this is your chance.”

“Bunbo!” The reptilian youma launched two more blades in the girls’ direction. They stepped aside to avoid them.

“Fire Soul!”

“Supreme Thunder!”

The fire and thunder-based attacks stopped Bunbo’s weapons in their tracks. The youma snarled at this, whilst Moon and Mercury breathed huge sighs of relief, their eyes brightening to see they were joined by Jupiter and Mars.

“I hope you two are all right,” said Mars.

“Yeah, sorry we’re late,” added Jupiter.

“No worries,” reassured Mercury. “You’re here now and that’s what matters.”

Moon had to fight the urge to ask her friends what took them so long because she didn’t want to start an argument. Especially not when the creature was gearing up for yet another attack. “Exactly. You’re here just in time to help us take out the trash!”

The ice senshi chuckled. “That’s one way to put it. “ Her expression then turned into an all-business one as she directed her attention back to the youma. “Shabon Spray!” The barrage of bubbles floated towards the lizard-like youma, creating a fog around him. He looked around and shivered from the cold, his skin becoming numb.

“Awesome work, Mercury! Now it’s my turn!” Moon took off her tiara and tossed it at the disoriented creature. “Moon Tiara Action!”

The tiara weapon travelled towards Bunbo, hitting him in the head and making him shrink in size. He unleashed a pain-filled roar.

“He’s weakening. Now is your chance, Sailor Moon!” said Luna.

“You don’t need to tell me twice!” The moon senshi twirled her wand around before waving it in a circular fashion. “Moon Healing Escalation!” Again, magic rained down on the creature, except this time the action was successful in purging the dark energy from Ryo’s body and transforming him to his normal state. He raised both arms over his head and yelled out, “Refresh!” before collapsing face down.

Zoisite gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, shaking with rage at having lost another nijizuishou. “You will pay for this!” he vowed, disappearing in a flurry of cherry blossoms.

Tuxedo Kamen had been watching the battle from afar, just in case the girls ended up in grave danger and also because he intended to retrieve the nijizuishou. ‘It looks like the senshi are now in possession of the third nijizuishou. That’s fine. I’ll allow them to hold on to it for now. It’s better for them to have it than the Dark Kingdom.’ Seeing that his assistance was not needed, he left. ‘I actually think this is a sign they are becoming stronger.’

(planetarium)

Yukari, who had been using her crystal ball to view the battle with Miki and Ruby, allowed the image to dissolve and then turned to face the two youma. “Well, it certainly won’t be too long now for Zoisite, wouldn’t you say, girls?”

“Oh definitely,” concurred Ruby. “I mean, Beryl made it crystal clear that she wouldn’t be accepting any more failure and he failed again. Not that I’m surprised.”

“Neither am I. However, I will say that even if Beryl does decide to give Zoisite a reprieve, it remains to be seen if he can still redeem himself with or without help from Kunzite and somehow regain favor from the witch if he has already lost it,” pointed out Miki.

Ruby nodded. “You have a point. While I frankly have high doubts about both, time will tell. Either way, we must do everything in our power to see to it that he does fail.” She looked pensive as she considered her motives for doing so. On the one hand, it was her desire to make peace with her former enemies that drove her, but on the other hand, she knew she would be lying if she said her reasons were entirely unselfish. ‘Oh well…no one can change overnight.’

“Of course. Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury really seemed to have had trouble against Bunbo for awhile, but to be honest I expected it, considering what a brute he is,” said Miki.

“Yes, it’s very understandable,” agreed Yukari. “He made my skin crawl during the days of the Silver Millennium. I have to say, though, his attack on Zoisite was so satisfying to watch.” It was all she could do not to burst into another laughing fit at how the sakura shitennou ended up soaking wet.

“Oh yeah.” Ruby barely held back a chuckle, but a slight snort escaped through her nose. ‘Oh my…that was really elegant of me.’ She then looked serious. “More importantly, though, the senshi came through in the end. Master Nephrite will be pleased to know things went well, which I will inform him of when he returns from the tennis club.”

Miki glanced at her watch. “Now that you’ve mentioned it, he should be back any minute.”

“You both are right.” Yukari’s eyes brightened as she continued, “I, for one, am especially looking forward to the day Zoisite and Kunzite are out of our hairs for good.”

“We all are,” remarked Ruby.

The three henchwomen broke into malicious laughter.

#nephritenaru mollynephrite sailormoon whatif

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kitliveblogs · 7 years

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so this is basically a long-ass rant disguised as a review of Little Mermaid II that I originally posted on a different blog. maybe someday I'll actually get back to that blog, but for right now the theme is broken and I can't read anything on it anymore.

so for now, this will live right here instead c:

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Everyone's already taken their shots at the notoriously bad Disney sequels made in the late 90s and early 2000s. They're basically a walking punch line just by existing. But really, not all of them are completely worthless, and a couple of them are even pretty enjoyable, in a hilarious "I can't believe they actually made this" sort of way.

But I'm here to talk about only the most heinous of cinematic disasters. And let me make one thing perfectly clear: this isn't just Kit being a bitter and cranky old fogy with a chip on her shoulder because the shitty sequel ruined her childhood. I mean, I am bitter and cranky, but The Little Mermaid II couldn't possibly lower my opinion of the original -- there's not really anything lower than rock bottom. (yeah I hate The Little Mermaid fight me)

This movie is just flat out that bad.

word count: 3070

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I'm just gonna get one thing out of the way right now: nothing about this movie frustrates me more than the cast. This cast is made up of particularly well-known voice actors, and it's heartbreaking that they all got wrangled into doing this shit. Jodi Benson (Ariel), Samuel E. Wright (Sebastian), Kenneth Mars (King Triton), and Buddy Hackett (Scuttle) all return to reprise their roles from the first movie, and Pat Carroll who played Ursula is here to play Morgana, the main villain and Ursula's conveniently-never-before-mentioned sister. Yeah. They're doing that. And on top of getting so much of the original cast, they also roped in:

Rob Paulsen (Eric)

Tara Strong (Melody)

Clancy Brown (Undertow)

Cam Clarke (Flounder)

Rene freaking Auberjonois as Chef Louis

and one my favorite VAs Stephen Furst as Dash, one half of the Timon and Pumbaa knock-offs for the film.

When just looking at the cast list pisses me off this much... I don't think this is going to be much fun.

A quick recap for those who have been living under a rock since the late 70s: The Little Mermaid is the story of Ariel, daughter of the ruler of Atlantica, who at the completely world-wise age of 16 decides she's had enough of life under the sea and wants to live with the humans on land. She turns to the sea-witch Ursula for help, and in exchange for her voice is given a pair of legs and a deadline: kiss the man of her dreams within three days or join the shriveled legion of Ursula's previous victims. Naturally the witch doesn't play fair and Ariel fails, and King Triton offers himself in exchange for his daughter, thus sacrificing his washboard abs and obscenely powerful trident to Ursula. One climactic battle later, Ursula's dead, Triton turns Ariel into a human, and she and Prince Eric live happily ever after.

Until the sequel, of course, where Ariel and Eric have a baby girl, Melody, which makes me question the exact biology of this bizarre offspring. I mean just look at this thing:

She was just born but she's got a full head of hair and disturbingly large blue eyes. It's freakish. But anyway, this is where movie number 2 begins.

And we're off to a good start: smacked in the face with a terrible music number. I would say get used to those, but there aren't really enough in the movie to warrant it -- which is pretty bad when you consider this is supposed to be a musical. Also, "listen to Ariel's Melody"? That's... wow. I can't even say that's cute in a sarcastic way that's just terrible.

But oh no! The party is interrupted by Morgana, who is, as Sebastian so eloquently puts it:

Oh good. I can see we'll be dealing with truly ingenious writing here.

So after stealing the baby Melody, ranting and raving about being better than her sister Ursula, and attempting to feed the baby to a shark (all while Ariel, Eric, and Triton stand there doing absolutely nothing), Morgana flees to the arctic. Wait, the arctic? Well, alright, you need to escape pursuit to a barren wasteland, that's fair. I won't linger on this for now, as the geography problems will get a lot worse later.

One of the main MacGuffins of the movie is a gold locket with Melody's name inscribed on it, that projects an image of Atlantica and plays a lullaby when opened. King Triton was giving it to the baby before Morgana came onto the scene, and after failing to find her in a massive search of the sea, Triton drops it in the water and leaves. This strikes me as odd. Wouldn't you want to hang onto it? As a keepsake of your family? Or at the very least dispose of it more properly, just in case Melody might one day, oh I dunno, find it and realize her mother and father had been lying to her her entire life? Nah, I'm sure it'll be fine.

Fast forward 12 years. A giant wall has been built on the shore to keep Melody and the ocean apart, but being a tenacious kid she naturally figured out a way around it. Or rather, under it. Which raises the question: if this child could figure out a way out, why couldn't Morgana figure a way in? It would have been a simple matter to slip under the wall, scale the outside of the tower with her suction cup-riddled tentacles, and kidnap the baby to hold for ransom. Why was it so imperative to wait until Melody found the locket before enacting her plan to steal the trident?

Oh, yeah, that thing I mentioned before about her finding it? Lo and behold, she discovered the damn thing on one of her jaunts to collect seashells (which are comically huge by the way). If only Triton had done literally anything else with it, this whole mess might have been avoided.

But no time to worry about that now; there's a birthday party to attend!

Through a convoluted mess of trying to hide her seashells and pretend she'd been in her room the entire time, Melody accidentally ties Sebastian into the dorky bow on the back of her party dress. I'm sure this will have no consequences down the line at all--

Huh. Didn't see that one coming. This leads to a ridiculous scene of Chef Louis chasing Sebastian around the ballroom like some sort of crazed lunatic. I know this was a thing from the first movie, but this guy is out of his fucking gourd; why do they keep him around? Ultimately, Melody runs off to her room out of embarrassment.

I really don't want to linger on anything for too long since this movie doesn't deserve that much energy, but there's two things about this scene I need to address. One: so basically if Sebastian had just remained calm and waited it out... none of this would have happened? I think the blame for this one falls on him. And two: why the hell are all these other children making fun of Melody? I know she's ~weird~ and all, but she's the freaking princess. Don't you think they'd know better than exclude the princess of the entire kingdom? I would want to stay on her good side is all I'm saying.

Anyway. Melody finally takes a good look at the locket and realizes something's up, confronting her mother about Atlantica. Okay, Ariel, here's your chance. If you just explain the situation, she'll understand and maybe you could even take her to Atlantica under heavy guard or something so she can finally meet her damn grandfather.

Or you could just get mad. Getting mad is good too.

Naturally after that Melody decides to take off, rowing a rather conveniently placed boat out to sea to try and figure it all out for herself. While she meets Undertow and agrees to follow him to Morgana, Sebastian is back at the castle psyching himself up to tell Ariel that Melody ran away.

WAIT. YOU DIDN'T KNOW? IT'S BEEN TWELVE YEARS AND YOU HAD NO IDEA SEBASTIAN WAS KEEPING AN EYE ON MELODY??

So in the end, a) Ariel is the least observant person in the world, b) Sebastian never once told her about Melody's excursions beyond the wall (remember that for later), and c) Triton didn't bother to let Ariel know he'd assigned Sebastian the job, continuing the family cycle of not communicating with each other. In hindsight all this bullshit family drama isn't that surprising.

Back to Melody and Morgana (yes, somehow Undertow and the manta ray minions hauled the boat to the arctic in just a couple of hours), Morgana is doing what she does best: whining about Ursula. Honey, I don't think your mother favored her because she was the oldest; I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the fact that Ursula was actually competent and managed to accomplish her goals. Plus her magic is clearly more powerful than yours, since you have to use one of her potions to turn Melody into a mermaid.

OH MY GOD A SONG. I forgot this movie was supposed to have those. It's an upbeat little tune about learning to swim with her new tail, which quickly evolves into a duet with her mother and finding their "worlds:" Melody finding a place she belongs underwater, and Ariel keeping Melody safe. It's boring, but at least Tara Strong can sing well, and Jodi Benson can still belt it out like she could twenty years ago.

Morgana tells Melody that the spell will only last for two days, and that in order to make it permanent, she'll need the "powerful trident that was stolen from her." I'm sure you're as shocked as I was when it was revealed that she didn't just want a puppy and someone to make her pie. So off Melody goes with naught but determination and a map carved into a block of ice. Wait. That seems... poorly designed.

There aren't even words on it. Now I'm no cartographer, but that seems like a pretty major flaw for a map.

Meanwhile, Ariel has joined the search for Melody as a mermaid again, because apparently, according to Eric, "You should go. You know these waters -- and you know our daughter." Um. I'm not even sure where to begin with that one. Let's just say I agree with half that statement; I'll give you one guess which half.

Back in the arctic-- Stop. Okay look. I liked Timon and Pumbaa well enough. Timon had his moments of obnoxiousness, but Nathan Lane was likable enough to always bring it back, and Pumbaa is still my favorite character from The Lion King. But lemme tell ya, I HATE what Timon and Pumbaa did to Disney for a while. They wanted quirky, amiable sidekicks that would keep the kids entertained and distract from the lion sex happening in the background. I can understand that. But when every kid walked away singing Hakuna Matata and the Disney execs realized what they'd stumbled on, every movie afterward that was bound to fail miserably tried to shoehorn in a pair that would have the same appeal to sell more merch. Timon and Pumbaa themselves wound up with their own movie and a SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON SHOW. YEAH. THAT REALLY HAPPENED.

Why do I bring it up? Do you really have to ask?

Meet Tip and Dash, your knock-offs for the evening.

They are, as they put it, "adventurers slash explorers." That might have actually been a good way of setting them apart from the lackadaisical Timon and Pumbaa -- except that in their very first scene they attempt to save a baby penguin from a shark and completely botch the whole thing by being complete cowards. And then when the penguin family gets upset and berates them for their piss-poor job, the movie has the audacity to frame this like we should feel sorry for them. Movie, I refuse to sympathize with them when all the criticism against them is CORRECT. Also sharks don't live in the arctic. Neither do walruses. Just throwing that out there.

From there they bump into Melody, and she convinces them to take her to Atlantica, since Morgana was an idiot for carving the map into an easily-breakable piece of ice. By the way, for the record, Dash is the only likable character in this entire movie, but even then that's not saying much when you consider I'm biased because of his VA. He's the one that actually agrees to help Melody because she's "a damsel in distress," and doesn't care that she's actually a human-turned-mermaid. Come to think of it, this could have been a really good analogy for trans youth, but that probably would have been way too complicated a subject for a shitty Disney sequel.

Also I was gonna skip this part but it's stuck in my head so I'd like to introduce you to the CATCHIEST AND MOST OBNOXIOUS SONG IN ANY MOVIE EVER. Like damn! That would be an accomplishment if it wasn't so terrible. And I'm not exaggerating; I'm completely immune to It's A Small World, but THIS? This garbage sticks to me like glue. (and if you decided to skip the song you now have It's A Small World in your head so either way you have to SUFFER WITH ME)

Ahem. Moving on.

The Three Stooges here finally make it to Atlantica, just barely missing Ariel, Triton, and Flounder going the other way. Flounder, in the past twelve years, has had about five annoying kids and developed a dad belly. It's not really relevant to anything but it's just hilarious to me that even fish can have dad bellies. But there's only a half hour of this turd left, so let's keep chugging along.

On their way into the palace they bump into a piece of-- what? Fish jailbait? Jail fish bait? Eh, whatever. THEY BUMP INTO THIS KID:

Yes, as a matter of fact it was. Even though Atlantica is clearly in tropical waters. Starfish, sea urchins, and crabs all live in tropical waters, whereas penguins live in colder climates. This geography is seriously messed up. I don't think anyone on the creative team even bothered to so much as glance at a map while making this -- which would also explain the terrible ice map, I suppose.

Melody swipes the trident and heads back to Morgana's lair. Cloak and Dagger, the two manta ray minions (I know, subtle), follow behind, and Ariel catches sight of them. She and Flounder in turn follow them, discovering the witch's hiding place in the arctic. Personally my first thought was "So, we've looked everywhere actually means except there because it's cold as balls and nobody wanted to?" but Ariel's a bit more focused than I was by this point.

Ariel tries to send Flounder back, to let Triton know where they are, but Flounder, being an idiot, says he won't let her go in there alone. DUDE. GO GET HELP. Who does, in fact, go to get help? Why Scuttle, of course!

And it's all your fault, bro.

Ariel rushes in in the nick of time to stop Melody from handing over the trident, but naturally the two of them get into the argument that puts the final nail in coffin. Melody actually says "You knew how much I loved the sea!" but I'd like to refer you back to the facts. Melody and Ariel never had an honest and open conversation about, well, anything. The closest evidence we have to support this statement is that Melody thought Atlantica was just an old fish tale, which means at some point Ariel told her stories about it and the mermaids. Otherwise there's just genetics: your mother's a mermaid so you must love the sea too. That's an awfully big leap. And there's the fact that Sebastian never told Ariel about Melody's adventures outside the wall. She had zero idea about any of it. So how could she have possibly known how much Melody loved the ocean, outside of sheer guesswork?

Oh, but "you know our daughter." Well if you SAY it it MUST be true!

By the by, Melody's little realization here of "I have made a horrible mistake" when she gives Morgana the trident is just priceless.

De-licious.

Finally we've reached the big battle. Morgana builds herself a big fuck-off tower of ice, and we're ready for action.

Scuttle, in a rare moment of non-stupidity, comes soaring in, tailed by Prince Eric's ship. Before blasting it to pieces Morgana asks, "Come to join the party?" and I have to agree; where the hell have you been for the last 40 minutes, anyway, Eric? ALSO

And I present you the only funny line in the movie:

...If it feels like I'm rushing through this it's only because I am.

After getting the trident, Morgana had sealed Melody and Flounder into an ice cavern. Unfortunately for her, Melody's two days are now up, and she turns back into a human in a chamber full of water. Tip and Dash rush in to save her, and come face-to-face with a full-sized Undertow. Through a not-at-all suspenseful sequence of the shark chasing them around, they manage to trick him into ramming the ice wall trapping Melody and Flounder, and get her back up to the surface. Where she just. wakes up. No coughing water or dizziness or trouble breathing. NOPE. Her eyes open as soon as she hits air and she's good to go.

Disney: showing the lighter side of almost drowning.

As Morgana fulfills her power fantasy of getting everyone to bow down to her and shrieking "WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE NOW, MA" (yeah I'm pretty sure it's still Ursula), Melody scales the ice tower in an attempt to retrieve the trident. If nothing else, this movie shows a very inaccurate portrayal of trying to walk on ice. Unsurprisingly, Melody succeeds and tosses the trident back to Triton, who seals Morgana in a block of ice to rest forever at the bottom of the sea.

So Ursula was literally stabbed through the chest with an entire boat and died but Morgana gets punked out in a block of ice? Weak.

The family reconciles, Melody takes the whole "grandfather" thing a little too well, and the movie ends with them tearing down the wall so the humans and merpeople can interact freely from now on.

I only have two questions before I finally shut up about this stupid stupid movie:

1. So does the whole kingdom just sort of take it in stride that a) merpeople exist and b) the prince married one? 2. How can a movie that's only an hour and ten minutes long sans credits feel SO MUCH LONGER

This whole thing was ridiculous from the jump. Who was demanding a sequel to the Little Mermaid of all freaking things? Who really wanted to see sequels to any of the movies from the Disney Renaissance? And there are quite a few of them. Like I said, some of them can be pretty enjoyable if you like cheesiness. But most of them are just terrible like this one, and if you're wondering whether you'll be seeing more of the Dark Age of Disney, don't worry. Their days will come.

#feel totally free to ignore this honestly c:#watching: Little Mermaid II

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