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perseephoneee · 5 months

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christmas tree farm (elijah mikaelson x f!reader)

꒰ ࿁ ˙ ˖ ໑ happy day 2 of ficmas!

prompt: you like drawing one of the workers at the local Christmas tree farm

a/n: this took so long and i'm so sorry but also this is my dream. like, yes, let me find elijah at a Christmas tree farm. i love him your honor.

↳ masterlist ↳ ship exchange ↳ join my taglist ↳ ficmas 2023

There’s never a great reason to go to a Christmas tree farm every day, yet you did it without reason.

Well, one reason.

The Mikaelson Tree Farm was only four blocks from your apartment, and initially you went to help your friend, Bonnie, pick out a tree. It was the day after Thanksgiving, but she was excited since it was her first time getting a tree alone. She convinced you with a promised cup of hot cocoa, and you found yourself at the expansive farm. What made it better than others was that an arborist owned it, so they understood the novelty of trees better than anyone.

You had brought your sketchbook along as well. As the quarter was close to ending, you were working hard on your animation final. Not that you were an art major by any means, but you liked to draw as a hobby, and when an opportunity arose to take an art class, you did so happily. Now, though, you had to do a short animation for your final, which meant lots and lots of panels.

“Do you think this one is too dense?” Bonnie asked, taking careful steps around a Douglas Fir. You peered at it, continuing to shade out its leaves in your journal.

“Depends on how many ornaments you want to shove in there,” you mumbled, adding a few people to the background of your illustration.

“I’ve got a good amount that I inherited from Grams,” Bonnie sighed.

“Then you might want some more space.”

“You’re probably right,” Bonnie looked around, hands on her hips and breath fogging before her. “Plus, this would shed a lot.”

“You’d probably want a Nordmann then,” a smooth voice said from behind you. Both you and Bonnie turned to the source of the voice, and you felt yourself freeze up as you took in the handsome man behind you. He wore a red flannel with a cargo jacket, and you wondered how he wasn’t cold. “Sorry for bothering you. My family owns the farm; I couldn’t help but overhear.”

“So, you know things about trees,” you said, holding your notebook close to your chest.

“Yes…I know about trees,” he smiled.

“Like the Lorax,” you blurted out, feeling your eyes widen. You could almost hear the look of disappointment on Bonnie’s face. The man chuckled, though, albeit with little confusion.

“I’m Elijah,” he said, shaking Bonnie’s hand and yours.

“Nordmann, why would I want that?” Bonnie inquired, pivoting to your previous conversation.

“Nordmanns don’t shed,” Elijah explained. “They have a blue tone underneath their leaves and are also pretty.”

“Very nice,” Bonnie nudged you, and you sent her a look of approval. “Show me a Nordmann.”

Bonnie ended up choosing a six-foot-tall Nordmann that she affectionately named “Norman the Nordmann.” Elijah and one of his brothers cut the tree down for her and carried it back to her car. Frankly, the level of attraction you felt watching a man carrying a tree over his shoulder was embarrassing, but you didn’t care. You just said thank you in a meek voice and left with Bonnie to decorate her tree. Still, you couldn’t get Elijah out of your mind.

Plus, as you spent time working on your animation final, you realized that one of your characters started to look more and more like Elijah.

Which is how you kept ending up at the Christmas tree farm.

You couldn’t just show up and sit around waiting to see Elijah walk by. That would be incredibly humiliating for you. So, instead, after your third time going to the farm and lurking in the trees like a creeper, you decided to buy a wreath. The farm had a tiny little hut selling wreaths, ornaments, hot cocoa, and more. They even had a photo album full of pictures of their customers from over the years. One of the sisters always sat in the hut, reading a new book each day, and finally pointed out that you always came in but never bought anything, which is how you ended up with a beautiful wreath you hung up in your apartment. Feeling guilty, you came back the next day and bought another wreath. You always bought a wreath and free hot cocoa after you finished sketching the farm (and Elijah). You realized at some point you should probably buy a tree and move on from your infatuation, but that would involve confronting your wiles, which would simply be unacceptable.

Today was week three, thirteen wreaths later. You curled up in the corner of the farm with your journal, burrowing into your scarf to fight off the chill. You already had several panels drawn of the day in and day out of the farm, but now you were debating tearing yourself away and drawing Freya (your hot cocoa provider and sister who reads inside the wreath hut) through the acts of reading. Something blocked your light though, as you were drawing, and you looked up to see Elijah hovering over you. Your eyes widened.

“You have come in every day, you realize that?” he asked, hands in his pockets and a slight smirk on his lips. You likely looked like a deer in the headlights.

“I like trees,” you answered, immediately looking down at your hands as your brain screamed WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

“Like the Lorax?” Elijah smirked, and you felt your jaw drop as he recalled your first day.

“I can go,” you said, starting to get up, but Elijah put a hand on your shoulder, stopping you. The heat from his hand spread throughout your arm like fire to a forest.

“You don’t have to leave,” he dropped his hand, fiddling with the cuffs of his flannel. “I just noticed that you have never gotten a tree.”

“I haven’t.”

“Do you want one?” He gestured towards the plethora of Christmas trees around you, and you started feeling like a mouse cornered by a cat. A very attractive cat.

“I could…get a tree,” you crossed your arms, hugging yourself. Putting your journal back in your bag, you gave Elijah your name and followed him deeper into the tree line. He showed you several different variants, explaining their pros and cons, but you stopped at a four-foot Noble that was more sparse on one side and slightly crooked. “I like him.”

Elijah looked at the tree you were pointing at and raised an eyebrow as if to ask seriously? You had a small smile as you circled your crooked, kind of terrible, tree. It was imperfect, and it’s why you liked it. Elijah sighed but agreed to give you the tree. He cut it down himself (it was small enough), and you checked out with Freya, who laughed at you finally buying a tree.

“Where’s your car?” Elijah asked, tree propped up against him.

“Oh, uh, I don’t have one,” you stammered. You realize you can’t get a tree home without a car. “I walked.”

“You walked,” Elijah said plainly. You were thinking that he probably thought you were an idiot.

“I live four blocks away.”

“Alright… let's go,” Elijah sighed, hoisting the tree over his shoulder.

“Uh, excuse me?” You held out your hands to stop him.

“To take your tree home.”

“I can take my own tree home, thank you very much.” Elijah stared at you with a blank expression. He would’ve made an excellent diplomat if he wasn’t busy cutting down trees. You stared right back, trying your best to assert dominance. His eyes stared into yours deeply, and finally you relented. “Fine, you can take my tree home,” you mumbled, feeling frustrated as a smile broke across his face.

“Lead the way,” he gestured. You stalk a guy for weeks, and now he’s coming to your apartment with a tree you didn’t intend to buy. You thought that Bonnie would’ve gotten a kick out of this. He follows you out of the lot and onto the street, keeping quiet as he carries the tree with no complaints. You wonder how much he could bench press if he lifted the tree like it was nothing. You got to your building, a little four-story brick apartment, and let him in. Immediately, his eyes were drawn to the plethora of wreaths lining the doors in the hall. “Are these all…?”

“Yes,” you answered quickly. “I’m the building manager, so I gave everyone a wreath.” Elijah still looked surprised but didn’t say anything else as he followed you to your apartment door tucked into the corner of the first floor. You wiggled your lock before slamming your shoulder into the door to open it. “It gets stuck sometimes,” you explained, opening the door further for Elijah to enter.

With Elijah peering around your place, you suddenly felt very self-conscious. It was a small place. The layout was straightforward. Your front door opened into your small kitchen, with the bathroom to the right. Your living room was just a couch, a TV you got from your aunt, and a coffee table. You didn’t have a dining room, just a tiny breakfast nook you haggled off Facebook Marketplace. Your bedroom was off the living room, just a bed and a desk. The thing that sold you on the apartment, though was the beautiful circular window behind the couch and the fact you got cheap rent in a city as long as you acted as building manager.

“Where would you like to put your tree?” Elijah inquired.

“I guess over here is fine,” you walked over to the space between the wall and your couch, currently inhabited by your basket of yarn that you use for knit projects.

“Do you have a tree stand?” He put the tree down against the wall. You kept your mouth shut as you watched realization flash across his face. “You bought a tree without a tree stand?”

“I didn’t intend to buy a tree,” you defend yourself. Elijah lets out a small sigh of exasperation, fidgeting with the tree so it can lean on its own.

“I’ll be right back,” Elijah exits before you can say anything. You glare at the tree, internally blaming it for your current predicament. Keeping busy, you started a pot of coffee in your kitchen while you hunted around for something to decorate the tree with. You came back with a basket of crochet stars and some twine. Maybe you could make a garland and then harass Bonnie for some twinkle lights. You know she had them; she covered her entire place in them like it was Tinkerbell’s house. As you were stringing stars onto your twine, you heard a knock on your door before Elijah entered, box in hand. “Alright, I got you a tree stand, and Freya sent me with ornaments.”

“She’s a good egg,” you smiled, helping him with the box as he started fitting the tree into the stand.

“That she is,” he laughed, sending you a grin that made your stomach perform cartwheels. You laid out the ornaments Freya sent on your counter, smiling at the cute little animals. She even sent along a glitter-covered mushroom. Your coffee machine dinged, and you moved to pour yourself a cup.

“Do you want coffee? I got vanilla syrup,” you offered, holding up a reindeer mug.

“That would be lovely, thank you,” Elijah smiled. You made him a small latte, as you enjoyed any chance to perfect your latte art. You went to a Korean cafe once and watched them craft a bear, and since then have forced yourself to learn how to do the same. You added a little heart, and handed the latte to Elijah who looked at it fondly. “You’re very creative.” He looked at the star garland you had discarded from earlier. “Did you make this?”

“Yeah…it’s the only decor I have,” you shrugged, taking a sip of your coffee and enjoying the warmth seeping into your bones. Elijah picked up the garland and started wrapping it around the tree, making sure each branch was evenly spaced and that the stars were visible.

“Do all customers get you decorating their tree?” you asked, the corner of your mouth lifting up in a smile.

“Just the ones I like,” Elijah responded, his back still towards you. You felt your cheeks flush at his comment. He was likely just flattering you. He stepped away from the tree when he was done, and your eyes lit up as you took in his careful work.

“Well, thank you,” you coughed, putting your coffee down on the counter and shuffling on your feet. You expected Elijah to make a move to leave, but he stayed there, staring at you with thoughtful eyes. He really had very kind eyes, the type you felt at ease under.

“Can I ask you a question?” Elijah’s brows furrowed, his fingers dancing over the buttons of his cuffs as he looked at you inquisitively. You nodded to let him continue. “Why did you come to the farm everyday?”

“Honestly?” you laughed, glancing away. “I liked to draw you.”

“Draw me?”

“Yeah…it’s silly, isn’t it?” you rubbed the back of your neck, your arms wrapping around to curl more into yourself.

“May I see?”

“See what?”

“The drawings,” Elijah dared a step closer to you. He smelled like the trees he cultivated, rich and earthy. You felt that if someone were to be personified as a rainy forest, he would be that person. You walked over to your bag, nervously pulling out your sketchbook and handing it to him. His fingers brushed yours, but you quickly pulled away. You hated people looking at your work, so you kept yourself busy by cleaning up the kitchen. You could hear the flipping of the pages, and with each turn the coil in your stomach grew tighter. You were so nervous, you felt like you could break at any moment. What if he hated the drawings? You could never recover. When you heard the thud of the book closing, you dared turning towards Elijah and felt your heart clench as you met his gaze.

“My brother would hate you,” Elijah said, putting your sketchbook carefully on the kitchen counter. “You’re a much better artist than him.”

“Oh,” you responded, some pressure alleviating in your chest.

“You captured me very kindly,” Elijah smiled, stepping around the kitchen island to get closer to you. You instinctively took a step back.

“I see you very kindly,” you whispered, your voice soft on his ears. “It was for a class animation, I…hope I didn’t offend you.”

“You couldn’t offend me,” Elijah reassured. “You make me feel appreciated.”

“Are you not?”

“A family as large as mine,” Elijah sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s easy to lose sight of things.”

“Well, I see you…if that matters,” you said. Your heart was running a race with how fast it was beating. Elijah grabbed your hand, his thumb running over your knuckles like you were a precious artifact.

“Y/N,” Elijah started, biting his lip in thought. “I’m glad that you kept coming back.” You noticed that his fingers were calloused and rough, likely from all the work of the farm. “I would like to take you out, if that’s alright.”

“Yes,” you answered quickly, earning a smile from the man in front of you. “I would like that a lot.” Elijah tucked a strand of hair behind your ear before glancing back at your sketchbook.

“May I see the animation, when its done?”

“Of course.”

“Can I give you something?” Elijah questioned, turning back to look at you. You nodded slowly, unsure of what he was thinking. Elijah leaned down, pressing a soft kiss against your lips. His hands came up to cup your head, his fingers brushing through the strands of your hair. He was gentle, but firm, and you found yourself tugging him closer by the front of his shirt. Kissing him felt like first snowfall, or when you learned you had a day off from school. He pulled away, pressing a kiss to the corner of your mouth and the top of your head.

“That was a good gift,” you whispered, enjoying the deep chuckle that emanated from Elijah. “Does this mean I can stop buying Christmas wreaths?” That earned an even bigger laugh.

“You really are an enigma,” Elijah smiled, kissing you again on your lips.

Oh yes, you guess there is a very good reason to go to a Christmas Tree Farm every day

#ficmas 2023 #12 days of ficmas #elijah mikaelson #elijah mikaelson x reader #elijah mikaelson imagines #the vampire diaries #tvd #tvdu #the originals #my writing

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robininthelabyrinth · 1 year

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Prompt: Fuck-or-die, post Canon married Wangxian. WWX gets hit with sex pollen/curse when LWJ isn't present. He decide that 'yes he would rather die' than having sex with anyone else. His companions are trying to get LWJ there or convince WWX to fuck and meanwheile WWX are handing out instructions for how to resurect him/planning out possession/creating a new body/in general how to return from the dead again. You decide if LWJ gets there in time or they have to use one of WWX:s plans.

WANT: Wangxian

DNW: Wangxian with anyone else, unhappy ending

ao3

“So I guess I die then?” Wei Wuxian asked.

He looked disturbingly cheerful about the idea, but possibly that was just the aftereffects of his fit of laughter when he found out exactly what the curse he’d been hit with did.

Or possibly he was just laughing because he’d managed, through a considerable exertion of effort and purposeful obstinance, to get Lan Qiren to actually say the words “fuck or die” out loud. The latter was now looking thoroughly peeved and much less concerned about the imminent demise of the newest member of the Cloud Recesses than he had a little while earlier, which was also a benefit.

“What are you talking about?” Jin Ling demanded, having not calmed down in the slightest. He looked irritated and worried at the same time – he reallyrather resembled his uncle at the moment, since both of them scowling at Wei Wuxian as if he had personally insulted their mothers. “Of course you’re not going to die!”

“You heard Teacher Lan,” Wei Wuxian said with a shrug. “It’s fuck-or-die, right? And Lan Zhan, who is the only person I’d consider for the first part, isn’t here. So I guess I’m just going to have to die.”

“Don’t be absurd,” Jiang Cheng hissed, even as the junior disciples started urgently murmuring amongst themselves, sounding similar to a flock of pheasants that had just been disturbed. “You lived – and died, and lived again – through too much to die to a half-rate curse like this. You’re not going to die. Can’t you just break it?”

“It’s tied to his cultivation,” Lan Qiren said, voice deep and grave. He had been amongst the most worried at first, rushing over to check Wei Wuxian’s pulse and run diagnostics over the array circle that had inflicted the curse, exerting himself to the utmost to try to figure out what had happened; it had rather thoroughly undercut his reputation for hating Wei Wuxian bitterly as the unworthy pig that had dug up his family’s prized cabbage. Perhaps as consequence, he was now almost pointedly ignoring the current goings-on, seated some distance away with a cup of tea and every appearance that he planned not to care about the results. Just as clearly, however, he wasn’t actually not listening. “If he was as strong as he was in his first life, it might be possible. But with his current level of cultivation…it is impossible to break it from within, and it cannot be broken from without absent a fulfilling of the curse’s conditions.”

The disturbed murmurs among the juniors grew notably louder, and more severe.

“Then he can take care of it, surely?” Jiang Cheng asked. His eye had started twitching. “If the solution involves – ah – if it’s a matter of – of pleasure –”

“Jiang Cheng, really! Are you suggesting I go jerk off to feel better?” Wei Wuxian asked, as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as he’d ever been. He offered an accompanying illustrative gesture, as if concerned that all around him might not know what he meant.

Lan Qiren closed his eyes and turned his head away, visibly grinding his teeth.

“Shut up,” Jiang Cheng growled at Wei Wuxian, his cheeks having gone red with embarrassment. “Just – shut up! What’s wrong with the idea?!”

“Teacher Lan? Would you like to explain?”

Lan Qiren was still refusing to look at any of them, and even shifted slightly so that he was turned even further away from Wei Wuxian in particular.

“Well, for one thing, it wouldn’t work as a practical matter,” Wei Wuxian said, deciding to explain himself. “See, the amount of jerking off it would take for me to equal a single session with Lan Zhan would be just, you know, unbelievably enormous – even more enormous than Lan Zhan’s – mmmm!”

Lan Qiren had used the silencing spell on Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian waived his hands at the older man, wiggling his eyebrows in a way that was simultaneously obnoxious, obscene, and trying to convey as clearly as he could if you keep me quiet you’re going to have to be the one to answer the question, you know.

Lan Qiren, very bitterly and begrudgingly, removed the silencing spell.

“I was going to say his stamina, you know,” Wei Wuxian sniffed, although the shit-eating grin on his faces suggested he had been intending no such thing. “It’s well known throughout the cultivation world that Lan Zhan has remarkably stamina.”

“Wei Wuxian,” Jiang Cheng said through gritted teeth. “Would you like to get to the point?”

“Fine, fine. Always in such a rush, Jiang Cheng – no wonder you never married! Some things are best taken slow…okay, okay, put Zidian away already! It’s like you think it’s your life on the line here, not mine!” Wei Wuxian laughed. No one else did. “Anyway, it’s quite simple. Using sexual pleasure in order to fulfil the fuck part of the curse has to involved at least two people in order to qualify as a curse breaking mechanism. It’s the same reason as before: the curse is attached to my cultivation, and it can only be broken from the inside, not the outside, only I’m not strong enough to do it myself. Dual cultivation is one of the few ways in which two cultivators can bring their spiritual energy close enough together that they would both be ‘inside’ the range of the curse’s prohibition, causing a disruption in the victim’s spiritual energy sufficient to disperse the prohibition and defeat the curse – thus, the ‘fuck-or-die’ nature of the fuck-or-die curse.” He beamed at everyone. “Educational, isn’t it?”

No one seemed especially impressed.

“Senior Wei,” Lan Sizhui said politely, after a short interval. “Please educate us. How would you break a – break this type of curse?”

“Silly question! It’s in the name: fuck or you die.”

Disturbed murmurs.

“And, again, I’m not fucking anyone who’s not Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian added cheerfully. “So don’t even ask. There is literally no one here that I would be willing to fuck.”

“So…you’re just planning on dying?” Jin Ling asked. He looked upset. He wasn’t the only one, either – any number of the juniors looked upset, and that was besides Jiang Cheng, whose eyes were starting to look glassy with tears of rage or possibly just unexpressed emotion. “That’s it? You’re just going to give up and die?”

“Hey, it’s not like I haven’t died before –”

“Wei Wuxian!” Jiang Cheng roared.

Wei Wuxian promptly held up his hands in surrender. “Sorry, sorry. Sore spot, I know, I know…listen, it’s not that bad, okay?”

“What, because you’ve read up on all the cool new resurrection techniques?!”

“He’d better not have,” Lan Qiren muttered. “Not in the Cloud Recesses.”

“I swear I’ve only been in the Forbidden Section of the library for purely extracurricular purposes, and only when I’ve been very closely supervised by Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian told Lan Qiren virtuously, and just as virtuously ignored the scowl that immediately appeared on Lan Qiren’s face at what ‘supervision’ of ‘extracurricular’ activities his nephew might have been doing with Wei Wuxian in the library. “Jiang Cheng, you worry too much. Do I look worried?”

“That’s no guarantee that you know what you’re doing, Senior Wei,” Ouyang Zizhen pointed out. “Sometimes you’re just like that.”

“Ouch. You’re right, but, you know, ouch. Anyway, in this case, you should trust me. You’re all just thinking too hard.”

A lot of silence, and staring.

“Teacher Lan, work with me here. They’re thinking too much, right?”

Lan Qiren huffed, which was just about confirmation.

“…wait,” Lan Jingyi said. He looked suspicious. “Is that what this is? Have you been trying to get around the curse by fucking with us?”

“Jingyi!” Lan Qiren snapped, and Lan Jingyi jumped.

“Would a mind-fuck work?” Jin Ling asked his uncle, who scowled and shrugged, clearly unsure himself.

“It would not,” Lan Qiren said icily.

“Actually, the way I like to think of it,” Wei Wuxian said, grinning harder than ever, “is that it’s really just a matter of fuck around and find out –”

At this point, Lan Qiren huffed once more, got up, and walked over to Wei Wuxian in three long, purposeful strides. Lifting one finger, he jabbed it right at Wei Wuxian’s chest, over his heart.

“Fuck off.”

Wei Wuxian collapsed onto the ground.

A moment later, he blinked and sat up, grinning once more, and there was no longer the aura of curse hanging around him – even the remaining resentful energy was already dissipating.

“Such curses are exceedingly pedestrian,” Lan Qiren informed their audience, voice toneless as ever but a scowl firmly on his face. “‘Death’ is interpreted as the cessation of heartbeat, which temporarily disrupts the flow of spiritual energy in a manner similar to dual cultivation. A momentary freezing spell, aimed precisely, can simulate the effects, causing the victim of the curse to ‘die’ for the purposes of the curse – the disruption of spiritual energy is similar in nature to what happens during dual cultivation, just as Wei Wuxian described earlier, and there is therefore the same effect.”

“Thus, the ‘fuck or die’ aspects of the fuck-or-die curse,” Wei Wuxian said. He was beaming so hard it looked almost painful. “Teacher Lan, did you really tell me to fuck off?”

“It was richly deserved,” Lan Qiren informed him, and, with a flick of his sleeves, headed back towards the Cloud Recesses, his head held high. Presumably he was going to go punish himself for breaching the rule on vulgar language, and maybe the one about rage...again.

Wei Wuxian was so good.

“Thank you, Teacher Lan!” Wei Wuxian called after him. “You’re my favorite uncle-in-law..!”

He sniggered, then turned back to the juniors.

“See,” he said. “I told you that you were overthinking…”

He trailed off, presumably seeing something in Jiang Cheng’s expression.

“Uh,” Wei Wuxian said. “I would like to emphasize that at no point was I ever actually in danger of dying. That wasn’t going to happen. I was just playing around –”

“Pity,” Jiang Cheng said, and purple lightening started sparking around his hand. “Because I’m going to kill you –”

#mdzs #wei wuxian #lan qiren #jin ling #lan sizhui #lan jingyi #jiang cheng #my fic #my fics #also very silly

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quinloki · 9 months

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Impromptu One-Shot go go

Thank @thus-spoke-lo and the go ahead I got from this ask

also, idk how to let them know, but shout out to Lo's anon who kicked this whole sweet series of thoughts off.

Trafalgar Law x afab!Reader - no pronouns used for reader

Summary: Your captain has a secret love of shibari and you discover this while tidying his room. He also seems to have a secret love of you, too.

CW: Fantasizing about being tied up and teased, offers being made, references of afab genitalia. 18+, I didn't edit this, good luck to all of us.

1,323 words

You loved your captain, much as the rest of the crew did, but at some point you realized your specific feelings toward him weren’t the same as the others. There was devotion there, sure. Loyalty in excess. You trusted him to make the best choices he could, and lead you and the others on a successful campaign.

To you, it didn’t even matter what that end goal was. You knew he’d get you all there.

But your devotion was romantic, your feelings passionate, your heart was full of desires that had nothing to do with him being your captain. You wanted to tell him, but you felt so far beneath him you weren’t even sure if you should.

Perhaps you should leave. Put in a resignation of sorts and stay at the next island, where ever it was.

Trying to shake the morose thoughts you entered into the Captain’s Quarters. He was out – gone on errands and you wanted to make use of the time to clean and tidy his room for him. He didn’t forbid anyone from doing so, but he never let anyone do it while he was in the room, so now was your only chance to do him this small favor.

You put maps and charts back where they belonged, tucked books away, organized notes, dusted and got some good deep cleaning in. It was productive, and you were happy with the end result. Once you were done you decided to strip the bedding and get it switched out. You don’t know the last time he did it himself, but regardless, now he wouldn’t have to worry about it for a while.

Pulling the fitted sheet up lifted the mattress enough to expose some books tucked away underneath. You paused, knowing full well what most of the boys tucked away under their mattresses. These didn’t look to be rags or trashy magazines though, they were full on books. Smiling, because it was so like your captain to get caught up in reading that he’d just tuck the book under the mattress, you lift it up enough to find a few books laid out neatly.

It was nearly a whole other bookshelf.

Picking up the nearest one you turned to the spine to read the title. Advanced Shibari: What Knot To Do.

You could feel the blood rushing into your face, and the moment of embarrassment that you had stumbled upon something so personal. Curiosity compelled you forward, a tightness in your chest, caught between wanting to know more about the captain, and wondering if he had anyone in mind for his fantasies already.

The diagrams and illustrations were certainly more functional than recreational. The book covered safety again and again, and went over how to make certain knots from different angles. As functional as the images and words were, you couldn’t help the heat that was building up inside you.

How would that rope feel against your skin? Do the knots shift and press against the tender part of your body as effectively as the books says? You could imagine it so clearly; ropes and skin wet with steam and sweat, hair matted against your body, struggling beneath your captain’s gaze. Trying uselessly to maintain some sort of composure while his rope work causes you to come undone.

Needy and greedy, begging and whimpering and wanting nothing more than for him to rail you into oblivion. No worries about your position, or his, or anything else.

Turning another page the one beyond it pops up more than you expected, so you turn to it. Placed between the pages is a picture of you. All other details of the image are cut away, it’s just you with a smile on your face. You’re not wearing the boiler uniform, you’re in beachwear. It must’ve been taken on a summer island while the crew was relaxing.

The image itself doesn’t impact you as much as the additional lines drawn on it. A rope pattern is drawn over your figure, not too dissimilar from some of the patterns found in the book. Your earlier imaginings about how the rope would feel against your skin wash over you a second time. The sensation is stronger this time, and your hand wanders over your own body for a moment, as you begin to really feel the rough rope and knots against your skin.

Your thighs shift, rubbing against the parts of you that want more than rope to touch them. You bend a little, trying not to just undo your uniform and masturbate right there in the middle of someone else’s room. You can feel your pussy throb, and the idea of his fingers slipping into your wet, hot, trembling cunt, forcing orgasm after orgasm out of you while you writhe uselessly against the ropes and knots-.

A frustrated, and horny, moan escapes you and you stamp your foot in frustration before flipping through the book more. You should just tuck it away. You’re already a hot mess, and you need to get the bedding to the laundry room before heading to your own to take care of your frustrations.

There’s not just one picture of you, there are several. All with different rope patterns drawn on, some with notations and concerns. There was no denying that the captain fantasized about tying you up. No one else’s picture was in the first book, or the second one you picked up and flipped through.

When you flipped to the end of the third book you paused. You could feel someone right next to you. You hadn’t heard or noticed anyone, but now he was right there. You didn’t have to look, you knew it was your captain. No one else on the crew could sneak up on you so completely.

“… Sorry.” You say it very quietly, putting the book back under the mattress. You try to turn toward him, but you can’t bring yourself to face him. You don’t want to see disappointment on his face, and you don’t want him to see the shameful need on yours.

You should be angry, you think, for the pictures and what he did, but they’d been tucked away. Private. Personal. Not for you or anyone else. Tidying wasn’t an excuse for your actions.

“Sorry for snooping,” he begins, and you flinch at the implication. “Or are you apologizing for getting turned on?”

“Huh-I – I’m not…” You try to deny it, but the knowing look on his face is enough to stop your protests. “I-I’ll leave.” You stammer, looking away, wanting to be anywhere but where you are – caught between wanting him, and being deeply embarrassed. Not just about snooping, but about the realization that at the minimum, your captain found you as attractive as you did him.

He puts his arm out to stop you. It’s not the action that stops you, it’s the coil of rope in his hand. You let out an involuntary gasp, covering your mouth and taking a step back. You’re effectively trapped with a bookcase behind you and the bed beside you, Law in front of you.

“You were certainly into that book before you found the pictures.” He says in a voice that’s low and dangerous. It sends a shiver down your back that isn’t unpleasant, but you don’t know what to do with it. “The way you moved and moaned when you saw the pictures though, you really wanted to see them become reality, didn’t you?”

He leans down to speak softly into your ear, and you can see the door to his room closing at the same time. “Will you beg me to touch you, the way you were touching yourself earlier, if I tie you up properly, I wonder?”

His breath rolls over your neck, and you can feel the rope groan as his grip on it tightens. “Or will you beg me to touch you even better?”

#x reader #reader insert #trafalgar d water law #trafalgar law #shibari #drabble #one shot

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archivalofsins · 3 months

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So, this is what I've gathered from the information that came out from Deep Cover and this is what I definitively believe happened.

There’s an article that Kotoko was reading in the middle of Deep Cover that has been translated. The contents of the article explain that Kotoko was taken to court after the incident in the warehouse. Kotoko testified that what she had done was self-defense. That her and the perpetrator of the kidnapping got into a scuffle as she was trying to rescue the girl and he died as a result of that.

This conflicts with what we are shown in Harrow.

In Harrow we see that Kotoko does not intervene while witnessing the girl being abducted. Instead deciding to come back to the location later after changing her attire.

This already conflicts with Kotoko's testimony that she ended up fighting the victim as she caught him red-handed as he tried to abduct another victim.

According to the female university student, she claimed that she had no other choice but to kill the victim in order to stop the jostling between the two when she caught the victim, who was a child kidnapper, red-handed.

Red-handed means in the middle of the act by definition.

She just did not fucking do that. It's illustrated to us that she did not do that in Harrow. So we already know her testimony is a lie off of this alone.

Yet, we are further shown that her plea of self-defense is baseless from Harrow as well. Since we are shown Kotoko surprise attacking the perpetrator.

Furthermore her first music video blatantly shows us her attempting to track down the victim. As we see her paying others for information on the matter. Along with her very obvious wall of baddies to hunt down. Where she has the victim circled before even encountering him.

Making her actions premeditated as well.

This makes it clear to the Milgram audience (who have access to this information unlike the court) that Kotoko had no intention of letting the perpetrator live to begin with regardless of what he was doing.

Just like the wall implies with her other victims in Deep Cover-

"Everytime death comes. The soul moves forward." "It’s a tie after saying sorry? What are you hoping for? Shall we replace the poor soul, and the miserable delusion. “I didn’t mean to offend”, “I won’t do it again” How many wins in a row?" - "Who don’t we want? Give me the verdicts of GUILTY." "I want a reason for judgment execution, I want it. Give me the next target."

22/08/05 (Kazui’s Birthday) Kotoko: ……Mukuhara Kazui. Thanks to you, I wasn’t able to properly serve justice to those who did something unforgivable. I’m currently acting as an agent for our prison guard Es. Don’t get in my way next time. Kazui: Oi oi, don’t be silly, Yuzuriha-chan. There’s no way I could just look away from your outrageous display of violence. Anyway, even disregarding the fact violence against those voted guilty isn’t a part of Milgram’s system, what you’re doing is just acting recklessly based on a broad interpretation. As long as I’m free myself, I’ll stop you. Kotoko: ……what a pointless argument. Hmph. Since Es forgives you, I have no choice but to forgive you myself too. If you to keep to your words, then you’d best do what you can to keep being forgiven. If you’re not, then next time you’ll be one of my targets. Kazui: Oh, how scary. That girl truly is frightening. ……well then, I wonder what the guard will decide to do with me. That’s the one thing I really can’t make out. Honestly……

Kotoko had no intention of letting anyone on that wall live. That wasn't an investigation it was a hit list. She just happened to conveniently find that guy in the middle of commiting a crime. Unlike the other guy she found living his everyday life and just chased into a side alley and jumped. This is more than likely why she didn't initially intervene when she saw the child being abducted in broad daylight.

Because if she did the chances of her being seen by someone else were more likely. If she waited until they were inside and changed her attire to better conceal her identity the likelihood of others intervening would be slimmer. If she only ever wanted to save that girl she could have did so right then and there when she did in fact catch him red-handed abducting her.

Yet, it was never about that. It was always about killing him and continuing on her personal crusade for justice.

The article then goes onto discuss how the elementary school age victim testified corroborating Kotoko’s story of self-defense. Stating that with her testimony and Kotoko's the defense stated that a case of genuine self-defense was established. Mr.Kaneshiro the newspaper president and father of the victim in this case later held a press conference discussing the barbaric nature of Kotoko’s actions. This seems to have taken place after Kotoko had been acquitted of any wrong doing.

The jury ruling this as a legitimate case of self-defense. During the press conference he stated that an independent investigation of events had been done. During which another autopsy had been conducted and established that there were injuries on the victim that could have only been caused by an excessive use of force. Additionally he announced that the school student who had testified corroborating Kotoko’s statement as saying that she had saved her recanted their testimony.

He speculated that Kotoko had threatened or coerced the girl into giving the testimony to begin with. Given Kotoko’s history with law.

Q.07 What did you study at university? Kotoko: Technically, I’m studying law. I’m on a break right now because there’s something else I want to do, though.

It is more than likely that Kotoko coached/groomed the elementary schooler to lie on the stand to better strengthen her case. If two witnesses are corroborating the same story and one of them is the elementary aged victim as jury is more likely to believe them than a dead child abductor.

The article even mentions that Kotoko goes to a famous university. Given that we know Kotoko was studying law and the school she was going to is famous/prestiguous or well renowned we can now track it down. The University she was more than likely going to could very well be-

Keio Law School in Tokyo, Japan

Or some play on it. It's so famous in fact that just googling famous law school Tokyo results in this.

So, that's another university down. (I say this tentatively because I didn't do that deep of a search into this or much of a search at all. Again this is the first school to come up searching the information provided to us. Honestly this post isn't about how finacially well off Kotoko is and whatever expensive illustrious college she goes too.)

Though I wonder how a prestigious or famous school would feel about one of it's students being involved in such a case. Was she really taking a break or did whatever school she was going to no longer wish to affiliate with her due to the accusations. Scandals like this aren't that good for schools of that caliber. Plus, even though the article doesn't mention the school by name just looking into Kotoko herself would show her ties to it.

This is an article on a press conference featuring concerning the death of wealthy business owners son. Someone who very well could have ties to the school Kotoko is attending. That's enough to well I don't ruin all her life plans honestly. People have been expelled for less and this guy now has pretty good standing to say that you're a brutish menace to society who shouldn't even be allowed on the street let alone studying and practicing law.

Who wants a murderer for a lawyer are these the sort of students this place takes in. Students who use excessive violence and coerce and threaten minors?! That'd certainly be a big scandal wouldn't it? The only thing that could make this worse is well if the father of the man she killed was the president of a news paper-

Kaneshiro Isamu’s (68) President of Senkou Newspaper loses only son in display of excessive force by student from xxxxx University.

Now that's a headline and he can run it as many times as he wants. I mean he's the president of the newspaper after all. He's a grieving father after all even if his son did have problems. Having someone like that have an issue with your school or you well that would be bad.

Back to what the audience in shown in Harrow. We know that Kotoko got the jump on her victim in an enclosed space with wooden flooring in contrast to the open space of the warehouse where the victim died later.

Giiven Kotoko's connection and knowledge of law among these other factors I believe this is the most likely timeline of the warehouse incident-

Kotoko takes the victim by surprise attacking him in the enclosed space.

The victim grabs the hammer near his feet and attempts to fight Kotoko off.

As we've been over previously, despite what the victim's shadow alludes to he is shown physically swinging the hammer ahead of him and facing forward not to the side.

The victim flees the enclosed space trying to put distance between himself and his assailant. Possibly even trying to flee the scene entirely.

Kotoko chases the victim down into the larger area of the warehouse. The part with concrete flooring. Catching him and finishing the man off.

Punching and stomping him out with an excessive use of force after already getting him to the ground.

After the incident Kotoko groomed/coached this child to lie in court for her. What Kotoko did is blatantly illustrated to be grooming.

Ove the course of the Deep Cover mv the young girl begins to mimic Kotoko’s behavior.

First through getting a hat of her own to be more like Kotoko,

Then on the street she is shown to be imitating how Kotoko walks and glares,

Before spotting Kotoko and trying to speak to her.

Taking advantage of this clearly traumatized child who she again left to suffer through this situation longer by choosing to not intervene when she saw her being taken to begin with.

Someone who more than likely looked up to her as her hero. The person who saved her from that. What is an elementary schooler going to do when someone who saved their life, the person who got them out of such a harrowing situation tells them that they may be punished for it. That they might go to jail for just trying to rescue them and the only way they can avoid that is by saying that the excessive use of force that this child more than likely witnessed was self-defense.

Their rolemodel, their hero, no their savior couldn't be wrong. This couldn't have been-

"Is this selfish? This isn’t too much is it?"

This wasn't excessive it needed to be done for you to be safe. Besides-

"I've never asked for your understanding!"

Kotoko even incentivises and goads this idolization from the girl in the lyrics of Deep Cover stating,

“Come on, rely on me, go on.”

Kotoko attempts to implement the same tactics we see her use here within Milgram on Es. Over the course of her first and second voice drama. However, it is made more apparent in her second voice drama than in her first.

Kotoko Voice Drama 1, Kotoko Voice Drama 2.

After the girl recanted her statement possibly because of what she saw Kotoko do later on the street in Deep Cover (or maybe even at the behest of her parents who have every right to be suspicious of this type of person hanging around their young daughter but that’s a bit too speculative) Kotoko meets up with her in the park. As she is reading the article discussing the recanting of the girl's statement during this scene she more than likely is meeting with the girl to discuss it.

This meeting may be an attempt to persuade the girl into retestifying on her behalf or coming out with a statement of her own in defense of Kotoko. This is more speculative but it would not be hard for Kotoko to frame it as though Mr.Kaneshiro had threatened the girl into recanting the testimony. Becuase he is a very wealthy and powerful individual it would not be difficult for people to believe that during this independent investigation he coerced the girl into withdrawing her statements to strengthen his own case.

Many can probably guess how that conversation turned out from her second trial glitched voice line.

“From the beginning I've never asked for your understanding! My actions, one by one, are bringing earth closer to peace. Useless weaklings should just shut up and let me protect them!”

It is likely that the girl refused to retestify. She may have even told Kotoko that she chose to recant her statement of her own volition. Not liking the behavior, she saw later. At this point it is highly likely that at the refusal to retestify on her behalf Kotoko came up with another plan. It would be incredibly easy to kill the girl herself then claim that she planned to retestify.

That she had come crying to her about how she'd been threatened into recanting her statement and she was too scared to say anything by herself, but someone must have seen. They were in public after all and then this happened. Better to that than to risk having the girl not only recant her testimony but possibly tell others about what she had seen her do recently as well.

Especially while the police were still seeking the assailant in the incident of the man in the back alley. Right now, they thought it was a man but if the girl told then it would be all over for her. The girl simply knows too much. Plus, with the news already framing her as a violent barbarian it'd be easy for people to believe she'd assaulted the other man as well.

While we don’t have solid confirmation of the girl’s death yet. The fact of the matter is most of the music videos of trial two have been focused on the victim’s side of things. The fact that Kotoko’s mv isn’t from the perspective of/highlights the child abductor or the man she jumped in the alley later is incredibly telling. Her glitched voice line in the second trial voice trailer being,

“From the beginning I've never asked for your understanding! My actions, one by one, are bringing earth closer to peace. Useless weaklings should just shut up and let me protect them!”

Is very telling as well. Since the statement implies that she is addressing a useless weakling, someone that cannot protect themselves, someone who needs her, someone that looks up to her. Someone that's outlived their usefulness to Kotoko because they refuse to defend/support her behavior anymore. All the things this child is shown to do throughout Deep Cover.

Making it increasingly more likely that Kotoko did not just kill the child abductor but the child as well. Because from the beginning Kotoko has said-

"If it damaged someone’s dream to the point of stopping it- I’ll gouge you out with my fangs."

It doesn't matter to her whether the person getting in the way of her dream is an adult or child.

20/06/18 Amane: Thank you very much for teaching me. ……but, though I realise it’s strange me saying this after I asked you, I must admit it’s kind of unexpected. You give off the impression of someone who wouldn’t want to get involved in things like this. Kotoko: ……well, you’re not wrong. I’m surrounded by people who could all be murderers, so I don’t plan on going out of my way to talk and make friends. I can’t let my guard down. But I like ambitious people like you. If you want to study more, then I’m happy to teach. Amane: I see…… You look scary at first impression, but I quite like the way you treat everyone equally regardless of whether they’re older or younger than you. You don’t just treat me like a child or anything like that. Kotoko: Treat you like a child? Hah, you’ve got to be kidding. Back when I was your age, I was already the person I am today. I don’t have any plans to let you get away with something just “because you’re a child.” ……remember that. There, I’ve finished marking. 83%. How do I put it… Even though you act like this, it’s not like you’re super brilliant at studying or anything, huh.

If her dream if all she ever wanted was a target. Someone to execute that whom she could feel justified in executing then anyone will do. It doesn't matter how small or large the offense. Evil is evil. Even if that evil is as simple as disagreeing with her actions or recanting a statement.

Even worse voting her Innocent just to vote her guilty later is a lot like recanting a statement isn't it. Man those Haruka and Kotoko parrallels keep growing. Didn't he say that if we got close we wouldn't like him, didn't he just argue about how unfair it is to say he's good and then change our mind later during his second voice drama.

"Tell me why you tell me, “Stop”. Don’t you dare stop now."/"Tell me why? Please don’t change."

Just a really interesting thing going on there.

Kotoko even apologizes to Es for not being able to properly deliver punishment to Amane Momose and Mikoto Kayano at the beginning of her second voice drama. Finding it laughable that Es expected that she would not deliver punishment to Amane just because she was a child. Reiterating that she in fact planned to jump the girl as she did Mahiru and Futa as well. However, she was deterred not only by how much time she spent fighting Mikoto but by Kazui as well who intervened once she reached Futa.

So, she has no qualms with killing or severely injuring minors or manipulating them in order to get away with her own actions. At the end of the day-

This is Milgram.

People can vote whichever way they want for any bias under the sun. They can turn away from whatever information they dislike and prop up whatever best fits the narrative they want to see. They can be just as self-centered, coniving, and dishonest as the prisoners themselves. Because when you like someone, when you admire them, you'd do anything to make sure they're doing okay even lie in court or withold information from the police.

Because you believe deep down they're good and if you just give them the opportunity to be that then they will. If you're just sympathetic and try to talk to them about it certainly they'll understand.

"Say that sympathy is useless."

Kotoko's shown us exactly where thinking like that gets you with her- Does anyone feel lucky enough to test that again?

#milgram #yuzuriha kotoko #kotoko yuzuriha #tw grooming

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teyamsatan · 7 months

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ᴋɪɴᴋᴛᴏʙᴇʀ ᴅᴀʏ ᴠɪ - ʙʟɪɴᴅꜰᴏʟᴅ

pairing: dilf!jake x omatikaya!reader

➽ words: 550 words

➽ warnings: it goes without saying, but all of these works (kinktober-related) are smut and therefore minors should NOT interact with them. other warnings include: pet names (doll, kid), fingering

➽ taglist (x) ➽ kinktober masterlist (x)

“Shh, kid. You don’t want anyone to hear this, now do you?”

Jake’s raspy, lustrous voice sent shivers down your spine. It always had the power to - it was deep and masculine, and his accent when he spoke Na’vi was enough to illustrate and highlight the fact that he was foreign, new… forbidden. It was even sexier when he spoke English, his own mother tongue that you understood well enough after all these years under his rule as Olo’eyktan. It was for your protection, he said. If humans were to return, it would constitute a tactical advantage. Never before have you been more grateful to know it than right now, as his melodic words and the way he was touching you were the only things you could focus on, your most prolific sense inhibited by a silky smooth wrapping tied around your eyes. It was torture and bliss, not being able to see what he was doing, not able to anticipate his next move, just having to wait and feel as his hands wrapped around your ankles and your thighs, as they roamed and explored your abdomen and breasts, and he wrapped one skilfully around your throat and squeezed until you couldn’t breathe, until you were gleefully euphoric.

“You like that, don’t you? My perfect little slut. Like it when daddy chokes you out like this, huh?”

You did your upmost best to nod, your chin brushing against his palm as you did, a heady numbness spreading over you like honey.

“I love it when you’re like this. Spread open for me, sweet little cunt needy and wet, desperate for one…” you gasp a breathless moan when his finger enters you, glide made easy by the slick running down your thighs. You hear the smirk in his voice as he speaks, so beautiful, so fucking hot. “… or two fingers, desperate to cum over and over until you pass out with my cock still buried in you.”

His fingers work their magic on you, two fingers pumping in and out of you, setting a relentless, needed pace while his thumb brushes and circles your clit, making even the darkness enveloping you seem bright, lights glowing and sparking beneath your lids as you focus on the pleasure only he knows how to provide. He’s too good, addicting even, he’s forbidden and it’s wrong, but you love it, and you need it, and right now, you knew you couldn’t live without it.

“Come on, baby. Come for daddy.”

It never took anything more than his command for you to come undone, shaking and whining while his fingers continued their relentless ministrations. It was intense and powerful, the way he knew your body, the way he dictated it it like he did everything around him, with skill and poise and a lot, a lot of passion. The smell of your release was sweet and distinct, getting more intense by the second, until you felt it envelop all your available senses.

“Open up, kid… there you go, that’s right.” You loved tasting yourself on him - on his fingers, on his cock, it was a reminder that he owned you, and that he chose you, that you were his girl, his kid, his princess, his whore.

“Such a good girl, swallowing every last drop. Now let’s see you do the same with daddy’s cock down your throat.”

taglist: taglist: @pandoraslxna @sulieykte @blue-slxt @eywaeveng @neteyamsikran @elenamoncada-ibarra @spicymayyo @itsjazzsworld @daddysmurfslefttoenail @eyrina-avatar @iameatingmyhair @neteyamyawne @eyweveng @tiredwitch1113 @hadesbabygurl @linydoll @the-mourning-moon

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firstagent · 6 months

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Spoilers! Digimon Adventure 02 The Beginning [Dub]

Here's my full System Restore write-up of Digimon 02 The Beginning. Spoilers below!

In this movie, an adorable, sympathizing Digimon gives a poor, desperate kid the chance to make his humble wishes come true. Clearly they’re the villains of the piece.

Depending on whether you approach The Beginning from the perspective of Lui or the Zero Two cast, you’re going to find it to be a story about one of two things. Looking solely at Lui and Ukkomon, there’s a lesson in how wishes are fulfilled. You’re only going to get what you want out of a relationship if you express your needs clearly and understand the motivations of those trying to provide them. That applies double if they can magically grant wishes, as any good Monkey’s Paw derivative would illustrate. The Zero Two kids face a tale about the nature of fate. Not the dread over an inevitable tragedy as the last parts of tri. and Kizuna explored. Instead, the dread of learning that something wonderful originated from something awkward and manufactured, and how an origin point can be more uncomfortable than a fixed destination.

It’s a bombshell to both us and the established cast: the digidestined were created not to help a digital entity maintain order, but to help a abused four year old feel less alone. There are some staggering questions that arise from all this. Did Ukkomon empower Homeostasis to choose digidestined? Would the Digital World have been defenseless against its evils if Lui hadn’t made the wish? Why couldn’t Ukkomon get anyone together for Lui’s eighth birthday? Even if everything that came before this remains in continuity (and it’s supposed to), it twists the initial contact between child and Digimon into something forced rather than a divine destiny. That’s what the kids have to grapple with, and grapple they do.

What they come to realize is that even if their fated partnership had such shallow origins, they themselves made it genuine. They’re the ones who put the work into creating and maintaining these bonds, the same as any other relationship. The preservation of past canon reinforces that, allowing them to look back to Willis and Ken and even Lui himself to understand that such partnerships, well-intentioned as they may be, have the capacity to go wrong. Theirs didn’t (or at least they got better), and that’s still something to cherish. In this way, it’s still a struggle to accept fate the same way Tai had to in tri. and Kizuna, but coping with the past rather than the future.

Meanwhile, contrast that to Lui and you can understand his cynicism towards the concept of digidestined. Grateful to have his life turned around and unwilling to question the implications of Ukkomon’s actions, he doesn’t put the effort into maintaining a partnership because he never had the impetus to. Without the stakes the other digidestined faced, he’s allowed to continue living his fantasy, only realizing the implications when he sees other kids and Digimon risking their lives because of the wish. Feel to mark that as a possible clue to some of the above questions. Either way he goes to the other extreme, rejecting the wish entirely, inflicting some gruesome body horror, and making Ukkomon very sad.

In this regard, and our astonishment that Kari calls this out so bluntly, Lui and Ukkomon are simultaneously the story’s protagonists and antagonists. Lui’s wish and his initial refusal to rein in his partner are as responsible for this mess as Ukkomon was, while both seek to work together to find a more organic solution to make young Lui’s life better and not realize the wish’s final apex. The Beginning is very naive about the power of communication. Sympathetic as it tries to be towards Lui’s mother, a random stranger grabbing her out of nowhere is unlikely to suddenly reform an abusive parent. And it’s hard to envision a way Lui could have successfully articulated his wish better after it was already set in motion. But this movie follows a series where Davis reforms a former villain just by talking to him enough, so don’t act so shocked.

The movie certainly communicates its feelings about this world’s continuity. Its way of honoring everything that came before it while simultaneously being cavalier about how it’s incorporated is either incredibly frustrating or the most zen thing we’ve ever seen. Kari and TK know of Homeostasis and mention it by name, so they must know of the original five digidestined. But using that to question Lui’s claim of being the first would be distracting and fruitless, so we don’t see it. The epilogue is more intact than ever, with Davis consumed by ramen, Kari helping with a daycare, and Yolei hitting on Ken. But it also treats the notion of giving everyone a Digimon partner as a nightmare scenario with little elaboration. Not that it needs any after Savers and Ghost Game, but Zero Two’s ending relies on the idea of making Digimon accessible to everyone. And despite its close links to Kizuna, when the kids wonder if killing Ukkomon will end everyone’s partnerships, it never weighs on their minds that they may already have a shelf life. In fact, the destruction of the D3s suggest that the bonds are again limitless, possibly reversing mechanics we just learned about.

So why is it all right? Both the elimination of the digivices and the final narration suggest that even if the Digimon Adventure timeline is unbreakable, it is malleable. Events can swerve in different directions, new revelations can upset what we used to believe, contradictions can co-exist, and the rules and logic of the world can be made and broken on a whim. We have to allow ourselves to put our assumptions and expectations aside for the sake of a good story. We still seem headed towards the epilogue, but the surprises Kizuna and The Beginning throw at us suggest we should stay on our toes as we await whatever comes next. Remembering how dull it once seemed to be stuck traveling a narrow path to 2027, isn’t that what we should be wishing for?

My Grade: A

Loose Data:

Suppose we should start out with thoughts on the dub, which is mostly faithful and generally solid. Davis, Ken, Veemon, and Hawkmon are back in peak form, and Yolei sounds more natural and expressive than she did in Kizuna. TK, Patamon, and Cody are fine, while our substitute Wormmon does his best. Kari and Gatomon have the same voices from tri. and Kizuna but sound a little shakier this go-round. Armadillomon’s the same actor, but an shockingly stark downgrade in his direction. As the leads, both of Lui’s actors and Ukkomon absolutely deliver standout performances. Good luck getting that birthday song out of your nightmares.

As far as the script goes, some things like Hikarigaoka and a couple attacks don’t get adapted to dub equivalents, but everything’s pretty understandable. The conversation about switching to D3s is the only one that seems unfocused.

That “Journey 1, Route 1” bit at the start makes it feel like there’s some bigger plan in motion for more Digimon Adventure stories. But it also feels like whatever that’s supposed to be about should have started with Kizuna.

Even if the story is not really about the Zero Two kids, Davis, Ken, and Yolei certainly make their presences felt. Davis Davises his way into getting everyone on board working with Lui and with Veemon offers the motivational speeches. Ken keeps him in check and tries to inject reason to his madness, even if Davis’s introspective side shouldn’t come as that much of a surprise to him. Yolei is back to offering pure personality in her dealings with Davis, even calling out him and Ken’s “flirting” (which Davis blushes at!). Kari and TK occasionally bring up interesting points. Cody… he got them into a computer room?

It doesn’t matter for purposes of this movie and nobody is in a position to deliver answers, but they bring up Ukkomon’s connection to a higher power a lot. A connection to Homeostasis makes the most sense, but there were an uncomfortable number of helixes flying around when Lui dove into Ukkomon at the end there. That’s not usually good.

The effects of Ukkomon melting and later dying track well enough if you realize Lui isn’t actually changing the past. But his mother dropping dead is alarming since she wasn’t physically unwell when Lui made the wish. Her death suggests that Ukkomon taking control of her means it actually killed her years ago. Hope those classmates are all right.

We get the sudden canonization of the ol’ “digidestined count doubles every year” thing that was only a rough guide that even Zero Two proper didn’t actually follow. It still can only be seen as a loose estimate given its inevitable march to the “everyone on Earth is a digidestined” scenario the kids fought so hard to avert, and there are so many surprise digidestined cropping up before the Zero Two kids (Menoa and Meiko are just the recent ones) that it’s a disservice to steer the audience to any hard numbers. So it’s a strange choice to mention out loud, especially when Miyako or Ken just dropping the raw estimate would have sufficed for that scene.

It’s worth pointing out that Lui convincing his mother to stop abusing her kid is happening inside Ukkomon, so the improbable effectiveness of that act could well be one last bit of wish fulfillment before they hash things out. Wonder what would have happened if Davis actually had intervened in the first leap.

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#digimon #digimon 02 the beginning #digimon 02 the beginning spoilers #02tb spoilers

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mochiimadness · 2 years

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Hi! Can i request a headcannon for rottmnt where the guys find out their s/o is a huge fan of horror & mystery. Like for example buzzfeed unsolved and movies like the conjuring and/or it? Thank you!

Neon Leon

Leo’s a huge horror skeptic

“Psh, ghosts aren’t real! It’s probably just the wind.”

Which means for the most part, he isn’t afraid to watch horror movies or read scary stories

Which is great for you!

He won’t object to watching them

But

He also, well, a huge-

H u g e

Critic

“That isn’t even possible!”

“How did he catch up to them, he was walking!”

It can get to be a bit much

If you’re fine with that, cool!

Critique with him, you two will end up laughing at most of the movies and stories

(Mikey walks by and sees you two laughing at the scariest thing he’s seen and is convinced you two are possessed-)

If you’re not okay with that, just let him know!

He won’t take offense

Realizes his critiquing can take away from the horror atmosphere

He’ll tone it down and instead opt to laugh quietly at some scenes

Is absolutely down to lay down with you and scroll through some buzzfeed unsolved articles

“Maybe I’ll end up on there one day! I’ll be famous, baby! Just make sure they put the best photo of me.”

Leo no

He does get a bit freaked out with horror movies based on real events

Tries to laugh it off

“C’mon, it can’t actually be real.”

He’ll manage to keep up his unphased image at first

But the second the scary scenes come on, he’s clinging to you

Will try to play it off

“I just thought maybe you were scared- ahaha…ha…”

You’re not fooling anyone Leo.

Please give him a hug.

Don Tron

One word

✨Theories✨

He loves to theorize about the paranormal and such

Will share his theories with you

“BUT WHAT IF THERE WAS NO GHOST ALL ALONG??? WHAT IF IT WAS- A DREAM?!”

D o n n i e

He’s so excited to share his theories with you, especially since you listen

You two regularly have a horror movie/reading binge at least once a week

It’s one of y’all’s favorite thing to do

You’ll both curl up with some pillows and blankets

Snacks and drinks within arms reach

The highest quality screens he has

And ofc he has note pads by him

If you also love theorizing, he sets up a space in his lab for you two to record your theories

Y’all probably have a podcast or YouTube channel

And you both wear hoodies with horror puns and references on them.

He still gets scared and will knock over a bowl of popcorn or too-

But don’t worry, Shelldon helps y’all clean it up

Speaking of Shelldon-

He joins y’all every now and then

His fans whirs loudly when he gets scared but he’ll deny it.

Donnie sometimes grabs your hand when he gets really scared

Just hold his hand and tell him it’s alright- you’ll throw hands with any monster

“You can’t hit a ghost-“

“Watch me.”

Mystic Mike

Mikey likes watching horror movies every now and then

But can he handle horror???

N o

It’s okay, he’ll still try to be brave with you

“With my s/o with me, there’s no monster we can’t beat!”

Two seconds later he’s popped into his shell

Just pick him up and put him in your lap

Scratch his shell gently and he’ll pop back out after a moment

Mikey definitely clings to you during movies, and keeps a blanket wrapped around you both.

He does much better with reading horror

Loves to read buzzfeed unsolved with you

“Hey wait a minute- I’ve seen that guy!”

“W h a t?!”

He’s definitely seen one or two ‘missing’ people

Usually they’ve just been mutated

If you want, he’ll introduce you to them!

You two usually curl up on his bed and read horror stories together

He even gets a few scary scrolls and books from the Hidden City library for you two to enjoy

More often than not, they’re mainly illustrated- like a comic book.

Mystic horror books are on a whole different level

Sometimes the books come alive and try to eat y’all

Other times, they sort of work like a mystic 3D hologram-

Using magic to show the events of the story happening around you

You two get so invested that you both shriek when the monster suddenly appears in front of you both

10/10 for practically being in the stories yourself

Big Red

Oh sweet, sweet Raph…

He can’t handle anything horror to save his life

He’ll try to tough out watching a movie or two for you

But he always ends up shrieking and nearly breaking your tv- or his dads projector

(Okay, he has broken his dads projector repeatedly)

He thinks you’re the bravest person ever for enjoying horror

If you want him to watch a movie with you, you’ll usually have to coax him into it

Make the couch super comfy and cozy- with his favorite blankets and pillows

You’ll have to keep a light on- or get fairy lights

He’ll sit with you in his lap, with his arms around you

This way he can hold onto you when he gets scared

(Also so he can hide behind you)

He’ll be so happy if you get him some noise cancelling headphones

The movie will still scare him, but he’ll be able to handle it a bit better.

If you’re reading some buzzfeed unsolved or horror stories,

He’ll gladly sit next to you with a book of his own, or his phone

While he won’t read it with you, he’s more than glad to spend time with you

You both get to enjoy time together while doing what y’all like

He usually falls asleep with his head in your lap while you scroll through buzzfeed unsolved, or watch movies on your phone with your headphones in.

He may feel a bit guilty over not being able to enjoy horror with you

So he gets you a poster of your favorite movie

Or asks Splinter if he knows one of your favorite horror actors so he could get a signature for you

“I uh- know ya really love scary stuff, so I got ya a signature from that one actor you like!”

Sweet boi

He’s trying.

Thanks for requesting, I hope you liked it!!

This was pretty fun to write ^^

Reblogs appreciated :3

Updated and edited as of July 2023

#x reader #my writing #imagines #tmnt #tmnt 2018 #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt mikey #rottmnt donnie #rottmnt raph #rottmnt leo #hamato #tmnt x reader #rottmnt x reader #neon leon #don tron #mystic mike #big red #the boys

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no-side-us · 2 months

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The Invisible Man, Ch. 2 - Mr. Teddy Henfrey's First Impressions

I thought this chapter illustrated well Griffin's basic tendencies and how he tries to force himself into niceties when he knows that's how he'll get what he needs. Whereas in the first chapter Griffin was dismissive of Mrs. Hall's attempts to draw out information, here Griffin willingly gives her what she wants:

“My reason for coming to Iping,” he proceeded, with a certain deliberation of manner, “was ... a desire for solitude. I do not wish to be disturbed in my work. In addition to my work, an accident—” “I thought as much,” said Mrs. Hall to herself.

But he only gives her what she wants, with just enough to explain the strangeness he knows she's been curious about. He's being careful, telling her about some nebulous "accident" he knows she already suspects, while also telling her he's a scientist to explain the lab equipment and desire for isolation. And all of this is because at the end of the day, he needs Mrs. Hall. She's the innkeeper and thus can help him he gets these things. He needs her, so he's playing nice. And when that's done?

“Certainly, sir,” said Mrs. Hall. “And if I might make so bold as to ask—” “That I think, is all,” said the stranger, with that quietly irresistible air of finality he could assume at will. Mrs. Hall reserved her question and sympathy for a better occasion.

He dismisses her just as quickly as he did before. And it's interesting in comparison with how he treats Mr. Teddy "Clock-Jobber" Henfrey. At first Mr. Henfrey was going to leave before Griffin says otherwise:

“But I’m really glad to have the clock seen to,” he said, seeing a certain hesitation in Mr. Henfrey’s manner. “Very glad.” Mr. Henfrey had intended to apologise and withdraw, but this anticipation reassured him.

Griffin is doing the same thing, being polite, playing along with the norm, so it'll all work out the best for him. I assume he needs the clock for his experiments in addition to just being a generally useful item to have working properly. But it's also much less important than privacy or his lab equipment, so when Griffin realizes Teddy is "humbugging" he becomes really upset.

He looked up as if to take aim with that introductory shot. “The weather—” he began. “Why don’t you finish and go?” said the rigid figure, evidently in a state of painfully suppressed rage. “All you’ve got to do is to fix the hour-hand on its axle. You’re simply humbugging—”

I love this scene. It's a conglomeration of things Griffin finds annoying: another person, wasting time, attempting to socialize. I'm sure on some level he also feels this rage with Mrs. Hall or really most people, but again, since in this case Teddy is much less important in the grand scheme of things, Griffin has a harder time suppressing the rage.

Moving on, one thing I want to note is that Griffin is telling the truth when he says he's a scientist, or "experimental investigator" as it's referred to here. And this truth impresses Mrs. Hall. I don't remember if this is explicitly stated later, but I think one reason Griffin probably felt more comfortable moving his experiments to Iping, aside from the isolation provided by a small country village, was because he doubts anyone here would be smart enough to figure out his work. Griffin will also exhibit his streak of self-superiority later, so I wouldn't be surprised if he does say something to this effect. Mr. Hall does take a look at a sheet of Griffin's math without deriving anything from it:

And after the stranger had gone to bed, which he did about half-past nine, Mr. Hall went very aggressively into the parlour and looked very hard at his wife’s furniture, just to show that the stranger wasn’t master there, and scrutinised closely and a little contemptuously a sheet of mathematical computations the stranger had left.

This is also coupled with the sort of disbelief in regards to Griffin's invisibility. In a very vivid scene at the beginning, Mrs. Hall sees Griffin's invisible face:

But for a second it seemed to her that the man she looked at had an enormous mouth wide open—a vast and incredible mouth that swallowed the whole of the lower portion of his face. It was the sensation of a moment: the white-bound head, the monstrous goggle eyes, and this huge yawn below it.

But she assumes it was a trick of the light and moves on. Griffin is trying to make sure people won't see his work, and the only way the people of Iping could ever figure it out would be if they saw him, but if they did see him, there's also a layer of rationality that would prevent them from realizing it. But obviously that will only last for so long cause they do eventually figure it out, though that's for another chapter.

Anyways, Griffin's reputation spreads! First to Mr. Henfrey who then tells Mr. Hall about it. Henfrey is already speculating about Griffin hiding from police or being some sort of scam lodger:

And yet again, “Seemingly not. If the police was wanting you you couldn’t be more wropped and bandaged.” He told Hall how his aunt at Hastings had been swindled by a stranger with empty portmanteaux.

More rumors will spiral from here, and these two suspicions are sort of a summary of what they comprise: Griffin being some criminal/swindler/liar/conman, hiding from police or tricking the people of Iping or both. Again, I think if the book wasn't so literally titled "The Invisible Man," we the reader would be attempting to figure out which one of these theories is true.

I don't have much else to say. I actually found this a pretty funny chapter: Griffin's behavior, Mr. Hall's meaningless gestures of power, all good stuff. I look forward to the next one.

#the invisible man #the invisible mail #invisible man #tumblr tags are weird #cause “the invisible man” and “invisible man” are two different tags #a post tagged only one won't show up in the other #but also if you search “invisible man” you get posts from both tags #cause search results are different from clicking on tags #evidently #strange #hg wells

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cyberaxolotl · 5 months

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Oh, The Blue, Blue Water: Chapter 1, Newtport and Reefburg

Bugsnax Merpeople AU Fanfic

Warnings: N/A

See AO3 Version for more specific tagging

Illustrations: 0

Words: 4.7k

Fic below the cut

Grumpus-kind never truly considered that there could be fully intelligent life aside from them. Rumors of grumpus-like beings but with lower halves of snakes or sea creatures were dismissed as fairy tales, becoming folklore to some, but deemed absurd by most scientists. Grumpuses with little interest in the ocean especially dismissed part-grumpus aquatic beings as fantasy, while those who did study the ocean considered it more, but still dismissed it until solid proof could be found.

A few states off from New Grump state was Falls Island, and on the coast of Falls Island was a town that specialized in oceanic endeavors; Newtport. Newtport was a hotspot for sailing, fishing, oceanography, diving, marine biology, and everything else you could want from a town on the edge of an open ocean. Almost everyone there owned a boat, kayak, canoe, or some form of water travel.

Several of the notable organizations in Newtport were the Newtport Marine Center, where science and studies took place in a private laboratory, as well as Wildlife Restoration of Newtport, the building for a non-profit organization dedicated to helping wildlife and cleaning the ocean.

Gramble had just walked into the building, carrying a bucket full of plastic, metal, and glass waste. “Jeez, Gramble!” He heard a coworker say to him, “Is ALL of that from the bay?”

He sighed, looking down into it. “It is, and there's more.” He walked through the room, walking up to a room labeled “storage.”

“I heard that all of that trash came from a college party. A bunch of young adults got drunk out of their minds and left all the trash there, would you believe it?” His coworker, Arinata, looked stressed. “I’d help, but we’ve got a diver coming to get a permit for the area, and I need to be here when she gets here.”

He turned away from the doorway. “Is Minette here? She usually helps out.”

“Minette’s busy taking a delivery to the recycling plant, it’s why the storage bins are all empty.” Gramble looked into the room he was next to, seeing that the five bins labeled metal, plastic, glass, electronic, and paper, were all empty. “And, uh, after you dump all of that, we got a request from the Marine Center.” She called out to him as he entered the storage room.

“What’s goin’ on?” He called back while sorting through the bucket of waste.

“They want us to bring in some of those parasites, the ones that are attacking the crustaceans. They’re looking for a way to prevent them and need samples from us.” Arinata explained, leaning over the front desk to look into the room. “You’re always removing parasites anyway, aren’t you?”

“I try to, when I find ‘em. How many do they need?”

“Uh, five, I think. Let me double-check.” He heard the wheels of an office chair followed by the clicking of a computer. “Yeah, it’s five. Can you get that by the end of the week?”

“I’ll see how many I can get today, I was too focused on the trash to look for any, but I should be able to do it.” He smiled to himself as he dumped the last of the trash into the bins, then walked back out.

“Thanks a lot, Gramble. I can't imagine the organization without someone as passionate about this as you are.” She smiled at him as he walked up to the desk.

“Oh, I just love animals ‘s all.” He waved his paw down at her, “It’s easy to do this job when I’ve read books about it since I was a kid.”

“We all appreciate your contributions so much, I hope you know that. You’re more paws-on about this than anyone else.” Before she could continue, a bell chimed, signaling the opening of the front door. She cleared her throat as she turned her chair, “Hello, welcome to Wildlife Restoration of Newtport!”

“G’day! I’m here for a diving permit?” She asked as she came up to the desk.

“Oh, you must be Elizabert! We were told by the divers union that you’d be coming, so here, let me look for your information.” Arinata turned to the computer, and Gramble took that as his cue to return to the bay, only hearing the start of the conversation. “You’re here for map-making and ecosystem surveying…”

The wildlife center was on a cliff above the shore, making it easy for the group to go up and down from the beach. Gramble spent most of his time down there, picking up scraps and looking over any creature that did not belong, or was otherwise hurt. It was, most often, just removing parasites from crustaceans or sending beached yet alive animals back into the water.

And even when he wasn’t playing his part at the organization, he was still looking after wildlife. On weekends he’d take his small boat out on the open ocean and watch the animals out on the sea, not disturbing them, not going in, only watching and sketching.

Elizabert was like that too.

“You’re here for map-making and ecosystem surveying, right?” Arinata asked, looking at her laptop.

“And recreation, but only once I’ve gotten my job done.” Lizbert nodded.

“Great, can I see your diving license?” The worker held her paw out. The explorer dug through her pocket, then handed over a small slip of plastic. “Thank you, let me jot all this down…” She hummed as she typed down some information. “How long have you been diving for?”

“Professionally? Thirteen years, but I’d go recreationally with my family as a kid. I’ve loved the thrill of adventure for as long as I can remember.” She smiled as she recounted her past years.

“Oh, that sounds lovely! I’m sure you’ve read up on the local fauna and know what to expect underwater?” Arinata could only give her a glance as she continued typing.

“Yup! I know pretty much what to expect for my first dive session here.” Lizbert nodded.

“Wonderful… You’re all set.” The worker put the license on the counter. “Have fun diving, and remember to clean up whatever you can!”

“Will do!” The diver pocketed her license and walked off, leaving the building to fall into silence.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Newtport Marine Center was hard at work. There were meetings happening on one floor, research happening on another, and scientists getting ready for boating trips on the dock outside the building. Floofty had several written notes in their paws as they got out of a boat, hurrying towards the building. The cold wind nipped at their fur, and they were eager to get their lab coat back on and digitalize those notes.

“Floofty!” Before they could get downstairs, someone called for them.

“Ditzie.” They greeted, turning to face him.

“I know you just got back from a boating trip, but we’re gonna need you upstairs.” He held a paw up to them, “We just got video footage back from as deep as the twilight zone, and the directors want you up there to review it.”

“...Tch.” They grunted. “Do I have time to give these to somebody?” They held up their notes.

“Go ahead, just be up in meeting room D in ten minutes!” With that, their fellow scientist stepped back and ran off.

They turned around to go downstairs, hurrying down the steps. They didn’t really have a desk space to themself, but they did have a laptop of their own, and one grumpus they trusted. Opening up their laptop, they opened up a document, then looked around. “Cora?” They called a girl nearby.

“Oh-? Yes, Floofty?” The coral-red grumpus turned to them.

“I’m needed in a meeting room, can you copy these notes into this document?” They asked, holding out the papers. “Shut it down when you’re done, I don’t need imbeciles stealing my work.”

“Now, you don't need to be calling anybody names, but sure!” She took the notes from them. “Are these from the boating trip you just went on?”

“Indeed they are. My thanks, Cora.” With that, Floofty walked past her. Or, started to.

“Ah, before you go, Floofty!” Once again, they were stopped in their tracks. “Did you hear about the rumors again? Ditzie thinks mermaids are real.”

“Of course Ditzie thinks that. He’s Ditzie.” They looked over their shoulder. “What does it have to do with me?”

“Well, what do YOU think about mermaids? I think it’s possible, grumpuses already come in many different types, but I also think it’s improbable. Especially given the advancements in technology and how we monitor the ocean, I doubt we’d have gone so long without seeing them.” She explained, holding their notes under her arm.

“Whether mermaids are real or not is not my concern until someone who’s concerned with finding them does. But if they are real, I doubt they’d be what we picture as “mermaids.”” They motioned with their paws, “All traditionally attractive women with the same emerald green lower bodies is unlikely, and I’d dare to say impossible if I didn’t know better.”

“That’s what I was thinking too, but yeah, when they probably aren’t real in the first place, I’m not gonna spend my time looking for them. Thank you for your time, I’ll go copy these down.” With that, Cora walked away, letting them walk away as well.

The workplace always kept Floofty busy, whether they liked it or not, they were one of the most focused and experienced scientists there. They had trained themself to be able to write without looking, and that, alongside their background in biology, made them an invaluable worker. As such, their hours were full and busy, leaving little time for leisure.

They could hear the distant bells of hunting ships docking as they headed upstairs.

One of those ships was home to a crew of sailors who fished and set crab traps, supplying the local seafood industry. “Good haul today, grumps!” The lady in charge yelled, an elderly woman, but very capable. Harpila had been sailing the seas for most of her life, and had only recently settled into a more industrial job. Walking down the ship, she gave her crew lively pats on the back. “I think we’re good for quite a while now. Wambus?” She stopped by someone.

Wambus turned around, holding a crate of fish in his arms. He had been looking for oceanic jobs like that for a while, and eventually found his way to Harpila’s crew. “Captain Harpila.” He greeted her.

“You’ve been doing very well recently, I’m pleased. Do you have a family that you’re doing all of this work for?” She asked.

“Captain, I know most of these grumps are fathers and husbands, you don’t gotta rub it in. I do this work to carry myself.” He sighed, looking past her.

“I’m not bringing you down, cariño, but men like you should be doing bigger things when they don’t have anything to go back to. Especially at your age.” Harpila looked away, her ears twitching. “Ah, I shouldn’t be pushing it when this crew needs you. I’m not asking you to leave.”

“Do YOU have a family that you’re doin’ this for?” Wambus questioned, raising an eyebrow at her.

“I’m old, boy, I’m not doing this for anybody but myself anymore.” She turned away, walking a bit past him. “My family has passed, and my days to find love are over, unless Mother Naturae sends me an angel… Aha, maybe even an angel from the sea.” She looked out at the ocean. “If you want someone, I’m sure you’ll find them, but I’m saying that there should be something that you’re passionate about.”

“I’m just fine livin’ like this.” Walking with her, the two reached the exit off of the boat.

“Then live your best life like this.” With that, she descended the stairs alongside her crew.

Wambus huffed as he followed her, looking distantly away. He had inherited a farm in the western parts of New Jamsey, but after it turned into a bust and he lost the property, he turned to the only place he could; Newtport. He was lucky to have met Harpila at the time he had.

“Oh look, the big boats are docking.” A melodic voice said, out on the ocean.

“I saw them use that big net to get a whole school of salmon. Would you believe it?” A sassier voice said, “I should be eating those fish, not them!”

“Beff!” A wimpier voice replied, “You can’t- or, no, nevermind, I’ve seen you eat almost a whole school of fish before.”

“Those were sardines, Filbo, they don’t count. They’re hardly a meal even for you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re a stingray, darling, I doubt you have much room for fish in you at all.”

“I’m a MANTA ray, Wiggle, I’m the manta mayor!” He turned around, descending from the rocks they held onto and slipping into the ocean, then motioning for the other two to follow him.

They dropped down next to him with a splash. “What’s the difference, are all manta rays big wimps?” Beffica snarked, giggling.

“No, I- I don’t have a stinger!” Filbo cried as the three descended into the ocean.

“Isn’t it better than being an orca?” Wiggle noted.

“Heeey, being like me is sweet! Other than the resurfacing to breathe.” The pink seagrump said, rolling her eyes.

“And being hungry all the time?” The blue seagrump prompted.

“I’m not hungry all the time, I just naturally need to hunt. They call us killer whales for a reason.” She turned to the orange seagrump, “At least I’m something unique and not just some random fish.”

Wiggle gasped in defense. “I am a STAR fish, thank you!”

“What? You’re not a starfish, you’re a betta.” Filbo chuckled.

“A star fish, darling, not a starfish.” She repeated.

“You said the same thing twice.” Beffica scoffed.

“Oh, for grumps sake, I’m a POPstar!” She whined as the three entered deeper waters. Taking a glance back at the surface, she mumbled, “I wonder if I could perform for the landgrumps one day.”

“You know why we don’t do that, Wiggle,” The mayor replied, “I have nightmares thinking about what might happen if they find us.” He squeaked anxiously.

“Yes, but I’m sure they’d love a good performance.” Wiggle smiled, clicking her claws together.

“They’d watch you and then scoop you up in their big net.” Beffica rolled her eyes, “I’m not scared about it like Filbo and that hermit are, but you’re not gonna find me singing to the air.”

“That hermit has a name, Beff.” Filbo corrected, “…I haven’t HEARD his name in a long time, but he has one.”

She stuck out her tongue at him and swam away, turning towards a rocky, mossy wall. “I need to get some bubbles before I drown.” She said all too casually, and then disappeared underneath a crack in the rocks.

Filbo and Wiggle followed her, going underneath a hood of rocks, and then being greeted by a drop-off. Going through the drop-off, they were in a cave, lit by bioluminescent plants and decorated by coral and kelp. A driftwood sign held up by kelp read “Reefburg.”

“We’re back from land-watching!” The mayor called out, descending upon the town. Beffica had already made her way to the center of town, to a patch of anemones blowing bubbles, and was scooping up handfuls of air.

A green seagrump turned around the corner. “Heeeey, I was wondering where you three were!” He greeted them, coming out fully and revealing a mantis-shrimp lower body.

“Nice to see you in town, Chandlo!” Filbo said as they swam up to each other. “How are you and…” He tapped his paws together, “…The axolotl..?”

“Snorpy and I are good, he’s the same as usual. We’re figuring out what we wanna do for winter and getting ready.” The muscular seagrump explained, motioning at a bag full of seaweed that he carried.

“Does it really change that much when you’re that deep underwater?” The mayor questioned.

“Changes enough that we’d be asleep all winter if we didn’t.” Chandlo shrugged, “I think we can try to catch you guys while you’re all moving!”

“That sounds good! We haven’t figured out our plans as a town yet, but I think it’ll be the same as last year,” Filbo turned away, “I need to get home, but come see me next time you come here, I bet you could come land-watch with us!”

“I’ll try to catch ya, dawg!” He gave his farewells, then turned away as well. There was one more thing he wanted to do during that time in Reefburg, and a tunnel through the sand was going to bring him to it. Leaving his bag of seaweed at the entrance, he descended into an ominous rocky pit.

It was a short swim through the tunnel, and he exited out into a big, dark space. There were jellyfish scattered around, glowing with cold blue light, but more importantly, a warmer light illuminated the figure of another seagrump.

“Shellsy!” He called out to her.

The elderly seagrump looked over her shoulder, the sea-glass on the ground reflecting the bioluminescent glow in her tail. “Ah, Chandlo, my child.” She greeted when she recognized him, turning around. Her lower half was that of a translucent sea angel’s, a duo of lights in the middle of and at the tip of her tail. “It’s been a while since you have stopped by.”

He swam up to her side, stopping next to her. “Sorry, Sheldawg, there’s been a lot going on.”

“I understand. Not many have as much time to meditate beneath the lights of the Mother.” She motioned broadly at the jellyfish in the room. She reached between the kelp that was wrapped around her chest, pulling out a golden pendant from one of the outer layers. “Do you have the time to sit and resonate?” She asked as she held it out to him, both of her paws clasped on it.

The pendant had a flower carved into it, one that neither of them recognized, and Shellsy believed it was something meaningful from the surface. He held it as well, “Only for a few minutes, I think.”

“That works, child, the Mother appreciates the effort of time spent.” They both held the pendant, the gold reflecting light onto the sea-glass, and the sea-glass reflecting colors into the dark space. Chandlo relaxed with a small smile, he felt very comfortable in the dark; he didn’t prefer it, but he’d gotten used to it, given him and Snorpy’s living conditions.

“Empty your mind…” Shellsy started, her voice low, “Picture yourself in the water, descending deeper, past the zone of sunlight, through the zone of twilight, and into the midnight. Do not feel cold, there is somebody right there with you.”

He took a deep breath, shoulders slacking. He heard the small clicks of his tail against sea-glass, unable to feel it through his exoskeleton, but fully hearing the sound.

“The Mother holds your paw in the darkest parts of our home. Do not feel the colossal squid of sorrows, you are protected so long as she is with you. You are safe, no matter how far you go.” Shellsy also took a deep breath, the glow of her tail dimming. “Meditate on this. Find a feeling of safety.”

They fell into silence in the darkness, holding the pendant, surrounded only by stones and jellyfish. The only sounds around them were the clicking of rocks, the movement of water… And the voices right above them.

“…Hmph.” Shellsy huffed as the minutes passed and it became impossible to ignore. “It’s times like this where I wish we weren’t beneath the Wigglebottom residence.” They both looked up at the rocky ceiling.

“I think it’s good that Wigdawg gets along with her sister.” Chandlo shrugged, hearing squeaky voices through the ceiling.

“Oh, yes, it is pleasant. It’s unusual for siblings with such an age difference to get along like that.” She took the pendant back as the other seagrump let it go. “I just wish getting along wasn’t roughhousing. Thank you for coming to meditate, my child.”

“Thanks for the guidance, I’ll come back earlier next time!” He turned away, swimming for the exit.

In the undersea home above, the Wigglebottom residence was bustling. “Come on, who’s the best big sister in the ocean~?” Wiggle had her little sister clutched against her, who was squirming and punching.

“Hmm, I don’t know!” Imimi giggled, “I think it’s Jess- daah-!” She squealed as she was flipped around, tussled through the water.

“Oh come on, you know it couldn’t be Jessany, try again!” The extravagant seagrump sang, keeping her eyes on her little sister.

“Why not? I’ve never heard Beffica complain about her big sis.” The little girl crossed her arms, “I’m sure she’d have a good shot for best big sister!”

“Imimi, swe-etie, does Jessany let her little sister have whatever snacks she wants without telling their parents?” The popstar lurched for her younger sister, picking her up and holding her close again.

“Beffica’s an adult, I think she does what she wants.” Imimi blew raspberries at her sister after she spoke.

Wiggle scoffed, “You are SO much like mom, it’s not even funny.” She groaned, getting a confused look back. “I just want some appreciation from my baby sister before she goes back home and I’m left all alone.”

“I’m not a baby!” The little girl pulled away, snapping around. “And you won’t be alone here, you have, uh…” She started, then stopped. After a pause, she put her paws on her hips. “Wow, you’re twenty-nine and you don’t have a boyfriend yet.”

The popstar gasped. “That is none of your- ough!” She crossed her arms and looked away, “You’re eleven and you haven’t dropped that attitude yet.”

“That doesn’t make any sense!”

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. “Hello?” Wiggle called over.

The door opened to reveal a white, pink-tailed seagrump. “Is everything okay in here? I heard yelling.”

“Ah, yes Eggabell, we’re fine.” The popstar waved her paw at the doctor. “Imimi and I were just having a sisterly bonding moment.”

“Uh… Really? I thought I heard arguing.” Eggabell questioned, looking between them.

“Oh darling, we never argue.”

“Yes we do?” Imimi huffed in reply.

“We don’t argue, Imimi, we play-fight.” Wiggle glared at her sister.

“No, I think we argue.” The younger seagrump put her paws on her hips.

“When? When have we ever argued, sweetie?”

Suddenly, she smiled. “Right now.” She said, before swimming away to the upper floor.

Wiggle looked upwards, dumbfounded, and Eggabell looked on with wide eyes. “You- I… Snrk-!” The popstar started to giggle, turning to the doctor, “Siblings sure are something, aren’t they?”

“I’m an only child, unless you wanna count the nurse sharks I look after.” The white mergrump looked away.

“Ah, that explains it.” The betta squeaked, swishing her tail. “Trust me, darling, Imimi and I have a normal sisterly relationship.”

“We are ANYTHING but normal!” Imimi shouted from upstairs.

“I wasn’t TALKING TO YOU!” Wiggle shouted up, then turned back to Eggabell. “Very normal.”

“…Yeah.” The doctor muttered, closing the door and swimming away. “Oh- Chandlo!” She almost bumped into her fellow seagrump, “Are you leaving town already?”

“Eggabro, hey!” He greeted, and they gave each other a small hug. “I musta missed you, I’m on my way out.”

“Well, safe travels! I heard that it’s viperfish season right now.” She warned, holding her paws together.

He chuckled, “Viperfish are nothing on me, bro.” He signed hand-horns, biting his tongue.

“They’re still a little freaky, especially down in the dark.” She looked down, as though staring into the sea, but actually at the ground’s cloak of sand.

“…You’re a shark, Egg.”

“I-“ She paused, freezing up. “…Point taken! Swim safely, and tell Snorpy I hope he’s well.”

“I’ll try to catch you earlier next time I’m in town!” He waved her a goodbye, swimming off and out of Reefburg. He was going from cave to cave, but the difference was the descent from the sunlight zone to much deeper down.

It was a smooth descent out of Reefburg and down into the ocean, Chandlo seeing the fish and flora around him go from frequent, to sparser, to too dark to see clearly. The silhouettes of rock faces were his only indication that he was on the right path besides his distinct memory of the area. The transition from distant sunlight to deep blue waters was his signal: he had entered the twilight zone.

The soft glow of a lanternfish appeared nearby him, swimming away when his tail reflected the light back at it. The temporary light revealed a hitch in the rock face to him, and as he closely followed a crack, he knew he was almost home.

A pit of darkness gaped at him, a large, frightening sight. For a moment, he was filled with a primal fear, but it was overcome by a more welcoming sound: metal clanking. A sound that meant home.

Swimming inside, he saw the artificial glow of a lantern, something that his companion had made a long time ago. “Snoooooorpy~!” He called out, a smile coming onto his face.

He heard a soft gasp as he passed over one more wall of stone and entered their living space. Snorpy was curled into a corner, using a crude hammer with a driftwood handle on a piece of metal. “Ah- Chandlo!” He perked up, turning around and uncurling. “That was a rather quick trip of yours, I do hope you said hello to somebody.”

“I took some extra time to hang with Shellsy, and had a talk with Eggabro, but I didn’t wanna leave you for long.” He let go of the bag of seaweed, leaving it stagnant in the water. “Egg said she hopes you’re well.” He quoted.

“Nice of her to be concerned, ah… Is Wiggle still around?” Snorpy glanced away at a table covered in cloth and photographs, with pebbles holding them down.

“Wiggle’s doing great, I heard her and her sister play-fighting. It’s nice to see sisters being sisterly, isn’t it?” Chandlo turned away, moving over to his side of the room.

“I suppose so.” The axolotl had swam over to his table and was now readjusting the pebbles. “Hm… I am a bit concerned about what to do in the coming months…”

“Why wouldn’t we do what we did last year?” The shrimp raised an eyebrow, “That, or we can go with the Reefburg group! Filbo invited us to join them.”

“Eh…” Snorpy turned to a pile of soggy maps near the edge of his bed. Picking one up, he grabbed a pebble, and traced a path across it. “…No, if we go with them, we’re bound to be captured by Grumpbeard. Too many seagrumps all in one place.”

Chandlo looked away, unsure. “We'll do whatever you want, Snorpdawg.” He let out, resting on his bed.

“Hmph, if we did whatever I wanted, then I’d be sleeping through the winter. Unfortunately I would starve by December.” The yellow seagrump put the maps down, then swam over to the suspended bag of seaweed. “Thank you for getting the materials, but where is my sewing kit?”

“You have a sewing kit?” The green seagrump’s eyes widened, confused.

“I hardly believed it either, but I found it a few weeks ago!” The axolotl looked under his bed, perked up, and then pulled out a metal container. “Some landgrump lost an entire sewing kit, thread and all!” Opening it up, he revealed a smaller container of needles, a bunch of buttons, and several unrestrained spools of thread. “The box says that it belonged to some “C. Quizsparkle.” It’s on them for dropping it into the ocean.” Picking out a needle and thread, he grabbed a bushel of seaweed.

“…Hm.” Chandlo fell silent with a smile, watching his counterpart set up and begin to sew. It was a long, cold swim from Reefburg to their home, and he was always a little tired afterwards, so being able to watch a simple activity made the fatigue wash right out of his body.

On land, and undersea, grumps had jobs to do and roles to play. But soon, they’d be more connected than they ever thought they could be.

#bugsnax #tori’s writing tag #gramble gigglefunny #lizbert megafig #floofty fizzlebean #wambus troubleham #harpila teachsafe #beffica winklesnoot #filbo fiddlepie #wiggle wigglebottom #chandlo funkbun #shelda woolbag #eggabell batternugget #imimi wigglebottom #snorpy fizzlebean #seagrumps

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topazsink · 2 years

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The worst read on The Legend of Vox Machina I’ve ever read

https://screenrant.com/dnd-campaign-legend-vox-machina-bad-example-roleplaying/

I’m not saying everyone has to like the show, but it feels like a self-proclaimed DND “pro” watched the show but didn’t watch the show.

Like I feel like the main complaint is “they’re too SIMPLE and then become too COMPLICATED.” Complaining about initial character archetypes and then saying they go through character development too quickly? That could be a valid criticism, given that they had to rush some things, but they paint it in a METAGAMING light.

“The group flips from self-serving mercenaries unwilling to put themselves at risk to vowing to slay a dragon or die trying. “

Maybe it’s just ME, but seeing a town full of people, including kids, razed by a giant dragon might make me want to take the sucker down too, especially if my backstory includes tragedy. But apparently that’s unbelievable?

“Characters like Vex Vessar, who were willing to die to save others from a dragon in prior episodes revert to a completely mercenary attitude of indifference toward anyone not in the adventuring party.”

I’m sorry, when did that happen? She was the one who rallied the group to go with Percy afterwards, and ultimately denied the idea to run away from the problem with her brother.

“Though specific exchanges among the characters regarding the Briarwoods offer superficial drama, the rationale for Percy’s delayed vengeance comes across as metagaming rather than authentic. Percy has been aware of the cruelty of the Briarwoods for years and knew fully well were are abusing their power over the citizenry of Whitestone.”

...Yeah? The fact that Percy ran away is a major point of guilt for him? Tell ya what, how about you get your whole family slaughtered in front of you, and you tell ME if you wanna go running back there before you’re ready.

“It is only after the Briarstones are placed in front of them that Percy conveniently remembers his vendetta--”

He literally?? Had a dream about them at the beginning of the episode?? Did you WATCH THE SHOW??

(Also it’s BRIARWOODS. Literally copy and pasted that, keep it CONSISTENT.)

“A streetwise half-elf rogue like Vax Vessar should not need the death of a child he exchanged a few words with to teach him the value of life.”

The death of a kid in your arms shouldn’t drive you to avenge them, got it.

“In more ways than not, it illustrates many of the worst ways to run or play a Dungeons & Dragons game, making Vox Machina less an example of what to aim for, and more a guide of what to avoid.”

Given the amount of links to other ScreenRant articles in this, I feel like this was just a sour play at upping their article clicks. Uch.

#The Legend of Vox Machina #critical role #tlovm spoilers #lovm spoilers #tlovm #lovm #legend of vox machina spoilers #legend of vox machina

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natlacentral · 9 days

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Bending the Costumes: Avatar: The Last Airbender with Costume Designer Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh

After many years of anticipation, Avatar: The Last Airbender has finally hit Netflix. Being such a beloved franchise, there was much pressure for the team behind this adaption to get things right. It’s a move that has already been rewarded with two more seasons on the way! One of those artisans who felt that pressure was Emmy-Award-winning costume designer Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh. In an interview just before the series’ release, Farnaz talked with me about the Avatar: The Last Airbender costumes, sharing insights into how she brought the iconic characters to life, the real-world inspirations behind the designs, and her hopes for what audiences will take from the series.

Special Note: Our friends at CAFTCAD are hosting a conversation with Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh on Saturday, April 20th, 2024. From sketch to screen, Farnaz and her team will dive into the creative process, inspiration, and craft that went into developing the costumes for this beloved series. Follow this link to purchase your tickets for this online and in-person conversation.

Spencer Williams: I am so excited to welcome costume designer, Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh. I’m so excited to talk to you!

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: I am so excited to be here.

Spencer Williams: Well, I just have to warn you. I’m a big nerd, and I especially love Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: I’m glad to hear. I’m a big fan of the show myself, so I love talking about it.

Spencer Williams: Well, let’s start from the beginning. Avatar: The Last Airbender is such a beloved story, obviously, and I don’t think I know anyone who has seen the original series and doesn’t like it. What was your initial reaction to taking on this project? Was there excitement, a bit of nervousness, maybe all of the above?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: I’m a huge fan of the show. I watched it when it first came out and have probably seen it dozens of times since then. When the live-action adaptation was announced, I knew I wanted to work on it more than anything else. I kept saying that’s the show I want to be a part of, and when I finally got the interview and the job, it felt surreal. Even now, it feels incredible to wake up and realize I get to work on a show I’m so passionate about. It’s like a dream come true.

Spencer Williams: I can’t even imagine that feeling. It’s such a big show. A key part of this is staying true to the authenticity of the original animation. How did you balance maintaining the established designs while adapting them to a real-world setting? Since what works in animation doesn’t always translate directly to live-action filming, were there any specific challenges you faced in this process?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: There were numerous challenges in adapting the show. While everything can be easily achieved in illustrations or animation, it’s much harder to translate those designs to real life and put them on an actual person.

There were many adjustments to be made, such as dealing with different fabrics that don’t move in the same way as illustrated or animated versions. Given that the show involves a lot of movement and technicality with the bending art form, we needed to choose fabrics and materials that moved and flowed with the bending while ensuring the actors were comfortable performing in them.

We also had to align the designs with the real-world inspirations, cultures, and periods the show is based on, such as mid-to-late 19th-century Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Indigenous cultures of that era. This required extensive research, testing, mock-ups, and blending of different materials to create a unique and cohesive look.

At the same time, we aimed to honor the original animation and stay true to the characters that fans loved. It was about finding the right balance to keep the characters and their designs as close to the original.

Spencer Williams: With that, you’re looking at characters, and you’re looking at the animation. Do you feel like there were moments where you could take creative liberties as well?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: There were a lot of those moments! There were many elements we wanted to retain from the original show because they are iconic to the characters and important to include in the live-action adaptation. For example, Katara’s necklace, Sokka’s necklace, Aang’s cape, and color palette are crucial to their characters. Gyatso’s necklace also plays a significant role in a pivotal moment when Aang realizes Gyatso is gone.

We wanted to stay true to these iconic elements, but we also had to consider the cultural and historical aspects of the nations that inspired the story and world. It was important to base the looks on real-world cultures and maintain authenticity while staying faithful to the original animation.

Spencer Williams: That brings me to my next question. I never really thought about this until preparing for this interview, but the original animation was inspired by real-world cultures. Can you share insights into your research process for translating the animated world into a live-action setting? What were the key cultural and historical inspirations that influenced your costume design for each nation?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: I started by examining the original inspirations for the animation. I looked at the different cultures the creators considered when designing the characters, and from there, I delved further into research. I expanded on the nations they chose and conducted a more in-depth study of their historical aspects, including the materials they used, their trading routes, and the historical events occurring during that period in that part of the world.

I also considered how various factors, such as color palettes, represented different statuses and socioeconomic backgrounds. From there, I built the worlds based on these real-world inspirations.

For example, Omashu is heavily influenced by Indian and Afghan cultures, as well as other parts of Central Asia. We also incorporated elements from Mesopotamian influences. We examined the region’s trading routes and connections with other countries at the time to understand what goods and influences were brought into that part of Asia. This research helped us create a look for Omashu that draws from these cultural and historical contexts.

Spencer Williams: It’s so exciting. The original series came out when I was a kid, and I watched it on and off back then. At the time, I didn’t really think about the influences and history that inspired the show. Now, as adults, we get to rewatch it and see it through a new lens, which is really exciting.

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: It was very much a historical lesson for me too! For all of us.

Spencer Williams: Can you tell me about your collaboration with the show creator, Albert Kim?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: Albert Kim and I collaborated closely throughout the process. When I first got hired, I prepared a presentation for him as part of my research to secure the job. Once I got the position, he sent me a detailed inspiration booklet with write-ups, images, and ideas about the direction he wanted to take the show.

We had many discussions about his vision, such as how closely to adhere to the color palettes of the original animation and whether to take a more realistic approach or find a balance in the middle. We spent several months going back and forth on these points.

As I began creating illustrations and sketches and conceptualizing the worlds, we reviewed fabric swatches and conducted tests to find the ideal materials for the characters. It was a collaborative effort to achieve the perfect balance for the series.

Spencer Williams: It sounds like such a thorough process! Each nation has its own unique aesthetic, color palette, and background. What are some of the key elements that make each nation distinct from the others? For instance, Sokka and Katara’s looks feature lots of blues and fur. What elements make each of the nations feel unique?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: Each nation has its own distinct world. The Southern Water Tribe, for example, they are isolated due to the war and have limited connections with other nations. We wanted to reflect that by using materials they have access to, such as animal furs, skins, and bones. We also drew inspiration from the ocean and icebergs, incorporating teals, whites, and blues into their world.

For the Air Nomads, they are peaceful and focused on natural elements. We used only natural fibers and materials like wood, cotton, linen, and natural dyes. Their color palette is based on fall colors, inspired by the changing leaves and the natural earth tones.

When it comes to the Fire Nation, my primary inspiration was the volcano and its eruption. The colors of lava, ash, and smoke were incorporated into their aesthetic, with a mix of dark hues, reds, oranges, and brightness. The Fire Nation is powerful and well-connected, allowing them to access a variety of materials from other parts of the world, which gives them more diversity in their appearance compared to the more insular Water Tribe and Air Nomads.

Spencer Williams: I love it. It sounds like color was a big part of your process.

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: Absolutely.

Spencer Williams: I imagine that working with the actors who portray these beloved characters must have involved a great deal of collaboration. Let’s talk about a few of them, starting with Aang. As the main character and the last airbender, the story revolves around him. What was it like working with Gordon Cormier to create his costume?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: We actually designed Aang’s costume before the actor was cast. Once Gordon was chosen, we tested various materials on him to ensure he had the freedom of movement needed for his airbending actions. We wanted the materials to move fluidly with his bending and accurately portray the character’s abilities.

Gordon was still growing at the time, so we went through many variations of his costume. Although the look remained consistent, we often had to adjust his wardrobe—sometimes making new pants or shirts—because he was growing throughout filming. Even within weeks, we would have to build him new pants or a new shirt just because he was growing as we were going.

Spencer Williams: What a task! But all of the work very much paid off. Another character I find endlessly fascinating is Prince Zuko, played by Dallas James Liu. He comes from the Fire Nation, which, as you mentioned, is volcanic, dark, and kind of industrial. But this character that also has a lot of emotions and quite the story arc. So, how did you create a costume for Prince Zuko, and how did it add to the storytelling?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: So we begin with Zuko, who is very much shielded. His armor is both literal and metaphorical, representing the facade he maintains as the perfect son and prince. This is reflected in his stiff and protective appearance.

As the story progresses, he gradually starts to shed these layers. He goes through a journey of self-discovery, trying to figure out who he is, where he belongs, and what he truly wants. He must decide whether to live his life according to his beliefs or follow the expectations set by his nation and his father. He’s a complicated character. But one of the best.

Spencer Williams: Yes, very complicated, for sure. My favorites though, are Katara and Sokka. I mean, they’re just classic characters that I believe everyone loves. What was it like working with these two characters? There is no way you weren’t excited as a fan!

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: I mean… yes! And they’re literally Katara and Sokka in real life. It was amazing. The cast was phenomenal to work with. The moment Ian Ousley walked in, he was Sokka. Even during his initial mock fitting with canvas pieces, he instantly became Sokka. It made dressing him so easy because he naturally fit the character’s essence.

Spencer Williams: Did you feel like there was an energy on set where everyone was as excited to be a part of this?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: Everyone who worked on the show either became a fan during the process or was already a fan going in, so there was a sense of awe every day.

Spencer Williams: It’s so exciting. There were so many costumes in this series, as well as impressive armor. I was blown away. You must have had an incredible collaborative team to manage all of that. How did you all pull it together?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: It was a lot of long days, weekends, and nights, but I had an amazing team working with me to bring these beautiful looks and my visions to life. It was the biggest team I’ve worked with in my career so far—over 92 people just in my department.

That doesn’t include our outsourced vendors; this was just within our studio team. We had a huge group of talented individuals who poured their hearts and souls into the project. Everyone was dedicated to creating a great product, and I believe that really shows in the final result. I’m incredibly proud of everything they’ve accomplished and very proud of my team.

Spencer Williams: You should be proud because it turned out brilliantly. By the way, where did the filming take place?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: It was all filmed in Vancouver. The cast and crew were mostly from Vancouver, with a few from Alberta. We have many talented people here, even if they don’t always get the recognition they deserve. It’s wonderful to showcase their amazing work.

Spencer Williams: Right, Vancouver is a great location with lots of incredible artisans. Farnaz, this is such a great series, and I’m thrilled with how much I love it. There’s a lot of pressure with a show like this. What did this project mean to you personally and professionally?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: Personally, as a huge fan of the show, bringing the animated world to life meant so much to me. It was a major achievement and a professional milestone. Being a designer is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl. I’ve worked hard to push boundaries, and this was a big step forward in my career. It gave me a chance to show what I can do and what I want to continue doing.

Spencer Williams: That’s amazing. What do you hope the fans will take away from the series?

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: I hope the series inspires them and that they enjoy it. I also hope it encourages them to learn more about other cultures and parts of the world to understand and appreciate our diverse, beautiful world. I hope it prompts people to travel, learn about history, and expand their horizons beyond their immediate surroundings.

Spencer Williams: That’s a beautiful sentiment. Thank you so much, costume designer Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you. I’m so happy for you and your team, and I’m excited for the world to see your work.

Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh: Thank you!

#natla #atla #netflix avatar #avatar the last airbender #netflix atla #avatar netflix #atla netflix #farnaz khaki sadigh #interview #the art of costume

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greypetrel · 11 months

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WIP Wednesday

Tagged by @oxygenforthewicked, thank you!

So, I finished the Dark Lady Illustration and work called me, I haven't much new to show that I'm not posting. So, let's go with some written snipped, this week back to some DadWolf AU. (I wrote a short comic over this piece, but jolted it down in prose to to help me figure scenes and dialogues out)

Tagging: @demandthedoodles @zenstrike @ndostairlyrium @whimsyswastry @whirrlinginrags @coloricioso (art works too if there's something you haven't posted) and @dungeons-and-dragon-age . As per usual ignore me if you mind!

Any Time You Feel the Pain (🎶)

It was way past her bedtime. Way, way past it: the room was all dark, she could hear Dorian breathing heavily from the other bed, and yet from the corner of the door, open because the dark was scary and monsters came out from under the wardrobe when it was dark, there was still light.

Light, and the voices of both Varric and Solas, trying to keep quiet but still loud enough to allow Aisling to hear what they were saying on the down floor.

And what she heard scared her even more than the monsters that crept out from under the beds, the wardrobe and every corner of the room if the door was closed and the dark absolute.

“And what are you going to do, Chuckles? Leave?”

“If I must! It’s all… Sometimes they’re not even people to me, and you know what’s at stake.”

“Yes. Two children who are asleep up there are at stake. Against an uncertain experiment that yes, maybe will prevent Circles to reopen, but will unleash monsters you couldn’t face at your full power. If you succeed.”

“I have-”

“-You have responsibilities here, Chuckles. You should have thought about it before taking the girl in, at least. What will become of them if you go? You know social services will never leave two mage children of that exuberance witg a person that’s not a mage. What, then? Will you let them rot in an orphanage because they’re not even people?”

Aisling slipped her head under the pillow, pressing hard with her little hands over her ears. Or well. Maybe it wasn’t really hers, if she was to get back to the orphanage. She felt tears run to her eyes, and tucked herself better in the blankets. But it was sloppy and lax, she never tucked herself well as when Solas did it. Which made her want to cry even more. She didn’t want to listen, but the house wasn’t big, and she couldn’t help it. She didn’t want to get to the orphanage again… It had been horrible the first time, the other children were mean and the Sister who cared for them kept her on a side because she zapped one boy once. Even if he was pulling on her hair and she just wanted him to stop.

“They’ll find a better family, they’re smart kids.”

“And you think anyone will adopt them together again? Come on, you’re more intelligent than this.”

Aisling curled on herself. She was scared: she didn’t want to leave Dorian too.

“Maybe Malcolm-”

“Malcolm has already a big family, and you know his position isn’t stable. You can’t ask that to Leandra, Solas.”

It was never good when Varric called people by proper name. He never did, not once. She was Pikachu and Dorian was Sparkler, Solas was Chuckles and uncle Malcolm was Hawke. He had to be very angry, she mused, and Varric was never, ever angry. Monsters crept in from the corners back again, they had red eyes and too many hands and their nails were red.

“What do you expect me to do, Varric? That’s my whole life’s work. You’re asking me to renounce it? Just like that?”

“I’m not asking you to do anything. I’m just saying that this discussion should have happened before taking the little beans in. Not after. Do what you want, now you know what I think of it.”

Varric stopped, sighing heavily. There was silence for a minute, so much silence that Aisling could hear her heartbeat in her ears. She sniffed loudly to tune a little out the silence, and fought against a whine.

“… Just, don’t expect me to help you ever again if you walk out of that door and the kids get taken away.”

#wip wednesday #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #solas #varric tethras #dadwolf au #aisling lavellan #writing petrel #it's an angsty week what can I say #It's gonna end well I swear he's not leaving #Oh also I had maybe to say that yes the Dreadwolf thing is actually known by Varric #and yes I switched Hawke

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wordsandrobots · 1 year

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IBO reference notes on . . . original(ish) characters

So I’m pretty good at inventing original characters in fanfic. By which I mean, I'm good at creating circumstances where I need to. It's one part mostly writing post-canon to two parts rampant gap-filling world building. I usually end up needing to fill a role for which no canon character works.

With Iron-Blooded Orphans, however, there are a plethora of relatively distinct extras and background character designs that serve as the basis for populating the roles I'd normally make someone up for whole-cloth. Not that I haven't done that too over the course of Wishing on Space Hardware, but I thought – as an end of the year post – I should go through and note down where I've bolted personalities on to existing character models (or retrofitted character models to OCs, because that has happened too). Plus a bonus full-on OC if you reach the end . . .

It's a fun exercise at least, and has bulked out my reference images folder nicely! I hope anyone who follows me for those stories will get a kick out of seeing who I've been talking about this whole time. And if you haven't already read the fics and you're an Iron-Blooded Orphans fan . . . ? Maybe the ideas I jot down here will let you know if you want to take a look.

Spoilers ahead (for the entire series and my fic). Screenshots snipped from Netflix and Youtube for illustrative purposes only. You should go watch this show – it's good! Content warnings (for the series and these notes) for child abuse, child soldiers, and mentions of substance abuse and sexual assault.

Tekkadan

So due to events of the series (SPOILERS, ye gods, I did warn you), my fic bumps everyone up at least one character tier (secondary and tertiary characters have become primary ones, various extras have taken secondary roles). Nowhere is this more apparent than in Ride Mass' roving brigade of junior revolutionaries. The core of this group consists of the surviving members of the background quartet, seen here with Merribit. Clockwise from the left, these are Hirume, Trow, Elgar and Embi. They have minor speaking parts throughout both seasons of the show and what I'd call variable levels of actual personality traits.

Trow is the guy usually seen in a blue cap and scarf. He seems to have quite a serious personality, with his most prominent speaking parts being telling Mr Alesi that 'this is a battle for revenge' while loading up the train in episode 23 and explaining to the new recruits at the start of Season Two that most of Tekkadan have nowhere else to go. Post-canon, I decided he'd developed into a fairly gregarious person, somewhat inverting his previous stoicism and generally taking a Shino-like role in the group. However, his original seriousness re-emerges when there's fighting to do and he probably takes the least pleasure in combat. He is extremely loyal to Ride, who he credits with turning their anger at what happened to Tekkadan into concrete action.

Hirume gets the fewest lines and those he has are largely exposition. As a result, I made him inclined to being quiet and thoughtful, as well as the one who comes closest to sharing Ride's growing consciousness of the systemic problems with the world. He's a smoker where Trow is a drinker – each of these kids has some kind of coping mechanism – and a bit of a player. Has definitely had the most girl/boyfriends out of any of them. Gets much more excitable when fighting breaks out, which is influenced by how he looks in the Tekkadan group shot taken after the Battle of Chryse (he's the happiest-looking person in that picture by a mile).

And then there's Embi. Oh boy, Embi. His twin brother Elgar is killed in the final battle of the series and this event looms largest in my characterisation of him. Aggressive, misanthropic, absolutely haunted by his brother's death – Embi only signs on with Ride for the chance to lash out at the people who hurt him and quickly ditches them when thing turn political.

Side-note: I am taking this guy who shows up during the epilogue to be Embi, sans hat and grown up. It's not a one-to-one match with his original model (he normally has double-pointed eyebrows ala Treize and Dorothy from Gundam Wing) but it's close enough to make sense.

In all this, I'm building off the one clear trait he has throughout his appearances which is that he is a jerk. Both the twins are nuisances but Embi is actively mean to other people, insulting Ride and calling Elgar a coward for not wanting the Alaya-Vijnana surgery again (which Embi does, clearly idealising Mikazuki). His vice of choice is smoking harder drugs than Hirume, specifically those that get him far enough out of his skull that he stops imagining his brother is still at his shoulder, which is honestly when he's the most pleasant to be around.

Also, he actually likes fish, having been in hearing distance of Atra saying how amazing it was during that one meal where everyone else refuses to eat it. This is entirely based on where he's sitting in the scene and the priceless look of indecision he's wearing throughout.

Anyway, he ends up falling under Almiria Bauduin's influence which makes everything better.

(Additional spoiler: that was a lie.)

Pel is the name I gave to the guy on the left here, pictured while severely unimpressed that Eugene went from scolding him for perving on Merribit to basically doing the same thing in the key of 'puppy-dog.' As far as I can tell, this character model doesn't show up ever again but I like it and I needed an extra member of Ride's group for a recurring role. He's their fourth pilot, using a restored Garm Rodi, and is a basically decent guy, doing his best. 'Pel' is short for 'Pellinore' and he will deck you if you call him by the full version.

There is a fifth member of Ride's crew, Saji Watts, for whom I do not have a character model assigned because he's not Tekkadan but rather an ex-member of another mercenary group who got pulled into their orbit. Again, there's not much to him beyond 'can fight, will do so for good cause.'

Moving over to the non-terrorist side of post-Tekkadan life, we have Alessio, who appears to the left of the group shot I mentioned earlier. I really wish I had a better image of the character model but, again, he only shows up here. Alessio is the larger guy on the right and grows into a chill enbee (they/he) who works as an engineer at Kassapa Factory. They favour baby blue overalls, royal blue mohawks, and are generally a nice, calming person to be around. They are also have decent musical taste, being the group's resident DJ.

The guy pictured next to them is John Plant, their old boyfriend, because I refuse to believe Yamagi was the only person to develop feelings for someone they lived with for so long, or that Shino's denseness over how found families work was in any way endemic. Sadly, their story had a similarly tragic conclusion to the main gay romance because John was a pilot and, well . . .

Yeah.

I took John's name from those scratched on to the memorial stone in the epilogue. He's the last in-action casualty Tekkadan suffered before they retreated to Mars.

Finally, we have the back of Ivan's head. I mean, Ivan is the name I gave to the chap seen giving a report to Eugene in the epilogue scenes with Kudelia's office. He's second-in-command of the Admoss Company security team and his primary traits are being intimidatingly large, fiercely loyal, and willing – if not necessarily able – to help Akatsuki with his homework. I've made Ivan a Tekkadan veteran but sadly haven't hunted down a younger character model that quite fits. Just imagine he was there, off-screen somewhere.

[UPDATE: Young Ivan!]

Turbines

Moving on to the other group with tons and tons of interesting-looking background characters, I picked out this lady to play the part of one of Azee's right-hand pilots in a future iteration of the Turbines. Ria is a competent, serious woman and a bit of a bruiser. She fills the role of security chief aboard Azee's ship as well as flying a Hekija in combat. She is also in a relationship with Bilt Turbine and has at least one kid, Barrett 'Barry' Turbine, who is the splitting image of Naze.

Bilt herself is one of the few non-central named Turbines, serving as part of the Hammerhead's bridge crew. I carried that job forward, making her the chief pilot of Azee's ship. I don't think I've really expanded her much beyond what she does in the series, but she's a fairly bright, glamorous presence and a good sounding board for Azee. She and Ria get very soppy over one another. (I'm sorry, was I not supposed to ship aboard the ship of polyamory?)

Chloe is another named Hammerhead crewmember from the show and I include her mainly because I've promoted her to captain of another Teiwaz ship. I don't really have much of an idea for what she's like as a person, but she seemed prominent enough among the Turbines that using her in the story made sense.

Finally, another one I created both name and personality for, Lola is a systems expert and general hacker who will talk your ear off about coding technicalities if you're not careful. I retrofitted her to this character model at the last minute because it's dead-on for how I pictured her (she shows up in episode 10, right before the Brewers arc).

There's one further prominent OC I introduced called Claire, a trainee mobile suit pilot, but she explicitly isn't based on an in-show Turbine as I intended her to have joined Azee's main group from another part of the organisation.

I would be remiss, however, not to include the Turbine kids I invented. Barry I've already mentioned – he's a good boy and a bit of a clutz, who is noted to have inherited Naze's looks but not his brains. Likes nail-painting (it's Lafter's fault) and should not be allowed to work on heavy machinery unsupervised. Gabriela, meanwhile, is merrily following in Amida's footsteps as a pilot and general badass. An absolute terror who will reprogram your simulator at a higher level when you aren't looking. I described her as having frizzy hair, which I will hand-wave as saying she grew into because she is absolutely meant to be the baby Naze was holding in the Turbines' backstory episode.

Civilians

Back to Teiwaz proper, I created a character called Nikolai Critchlow – a pedantic, fussy accountant – to serve as a thorn in Azee's side for several parts of the story. I didn't mean for him to match a character model from the show, but blow me down if this chap from the Teiwaz board scenes early in Season Two isn't bang on the money. I don't know if it quite makes sense with the character for him to have been at a meeting that's clearly for the underbosses the Italian/Japanese fusion space mafia, but I could certainly come up with a reason for this to be him. On Jasley's side of the table too, in case you needed a clue to where his inclinations lie.

I also created a character to be an actual underboss: Grayling Une, head of the 4S Phalanx security company. Sadly, I forgot this scene existed when I made him up, so I missed out on matching him exactly to one of the people here. He could almost fit the very bald gentleman to the right, except that I did emphasise his enormous bushy eyebrows and I'm too enamoured with this image to want to change it. Given his personality, it'd be quite fitting if he wasn't present here, so I'm OK with that.

(Content warnings for the next part: reference to sexual abuse of minors.)

(Also, don’t adjust your sets, this screenshot was taken through a car window.)

At the opposite end of . . . well, one spectrum or another, is the kid who shows up in the limo with Iznario Fareed right after the Dort arc. I named him Asher and there's no way to sugar coat that he's another kid like McGillis who was sexually abused by Lord Fareed. This is, in hindsight, an obvious meaning of this scene and I made Asher the 'spare' to McGillis' 'heir': a second kid who Iznario was in the process of adopting when the whole Edmonton debacle happened. He's definitely the character I am most worried about writing well, given the sensitive subject matter he's wrapped up with. Personality-wise, he comes across as incredibly forgettable and bland to most people, but much of that is obfuscation as he's a very good actor. He joined up with Almiria and plays the part of 'Montag', the face of the terrorist activities that she helps orchestrate. It's unclear, even to him, if he really wants to be involved or if he's just desperate for companionship after being left adrift after the events of the series. A chronic condition results in bouts of extreme muscle pain, which he copes with via both medical and recreational drugs; it was via the latter that he met Embi, to whom he has taken an unaccountable liking. Asher is just about the only person in the solar system who thinks of Embi with any fondness and as to where this or the trifecta they make with Almiria is going . . . you'll just have to read the fics!

Gjallarhorn

This guy isn't someone I needed to do much invention for, since his role in my story is to be killed for doing what he does in Season One. Johannes Gough, the officer in charge of the mission to crush the workers' unions in the Dort Colonies, gets promoted for his dedication to upholding the status quo and takes over as operations director for the Ariadne Network. He is a trusted ally of Rustal Elion and has part to play only insofar as Ride shoots him with a missile during a party at which Azee and the cast of the IBO spin-off manga are guests.

Less loyal to the new order by far are two of the officers who were part of McGillis' crew in the final retreat. The first guy appearing in this scene prior to Mackie's last blaze of glory goes on to become part of a radical group that forms the bulk of the alliance Almiria builds to take on Gjallarhorn. Callum Rai (yes, that's a Gundam mythology gag) appears briefly in The Ares Affair, running an operation on Mars – he's the thin, haggard man Chad and Yamagi encounter. He has somewhat lost his revolutionary fire in the years between the end of the show and the present timeline of my fic, which is going to be important later.

The other one, Reuben Bonnaire, absolutely has not lost his belief in a reformed Gjallarhorn and serves as the brains of the outfit. A clever tactician but less-than charismatic leader, he agrees to work with Almiria because she can provide a figurehead for their efforts (Asher/Montag). This will also be important later and may or may not be a colossal mistake.

And I suppose, while on the subject of Gjallarhorn-adjacent OCs, I may as well include this sketch I did for my main villainous OC. This is Resource Major Almandi Iversion, R&D division commander, obsessive Gundam fan-nb, all-round manipulative bastard, and one of most horrible people I've ever written. Only, you know, in a cathartic way. They're not exactly the main antagonist of the series but they are the vector through which major parts of the plot operates.