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agentnico · 3 years

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The Suicide Squad (2021) Review

This may be the better of the two, but the first Suicide Squad film will always hold the crown for managing to win an Oscar... somehow.

Plot: The government sends the most dangerous supervillains in the world -- Bloodsport, Peacemaker, King Shark, Harley Quinn and others -- to the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Armed with high-tech weapons, they trek through the dangerous jungle on a search-and-destroy mission, with only Col. Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave.

“So that’s it, huh? We’re some kind of suicide squad?” says Will Smith in the original first film, with the line in itself being a poor attempt at a fourth wall break, yet, that movie never reached that promise of being a true Suicide Squad film. Because hardly anyone died, and as a whole David Ayer’s film was a generic mess, regardless of studio interference or not. In comes James Gunn from Marvel, who seems to have cracked the code for how to bring this comic book series to live action in proper gratuitous form, with even the ‘The’ in the title symbolizing that this is the one!

I remember going to see the first Guardians of the Galaxy film at the cinema, and back then I was still only just getting acquainted with watching western media, and that included superhero films. Heck my first ever Marvel movie was Thor: The Dark World! I know, what a banger to start with.......NAAAWT!! Anyway, I went to see Guardians and it was one of the first superhero films I came out of feeling like I truly witnessed something special. It had action, comedy and a good heart to it, and wouldn’t you know, my good old pal James Gunn was behind that flick. I don’t know why I called him my good old pal, I don’t even know the fella. Except in my dreams, but we don’t talk about that. So, flashforward to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which I absolutely hated, and for that movie I’m pretty sure Marvel gave Mr Gunn mostly full reigns of creative freedom, as long as he kept it family friendly, and the result was a mess. Hence naturally now I was really sceptical when James Gunn ended up at Warner Bros. following the controversial moment when cancel culture decided to aim it’s slimy fingers at him, as he was given directing and writing duties for this new The Suicide Squad film, and also it was heavily insinuated that Warner Bros. basically told him he could do with the movie whatever the f*** he wanted, excuse my French. And we remember how it panned out last time when James Gunn was given a lot of creative freedom.

Flashforward to present day; here I am wondering and scratching my head thinking what in the heavens has happened, as by golly I am happy to report that The Suicide Squad is a total winner and a blast with a capital B - Blast! Gosh goodness golly goblin, this movie is so much fun from beginning to end. Right from the opening sequence you know that this film isn’t holding back any punches. It’s going at a 447.19 km/h speed of a Koenigsegg Agera RS crashing through any barriers like it’s nothing. Speaking of the opening sequence, it establishes why the movie is called what it’s called from the get-go. You straight away are proven how not a single character is safe, minus the obvious one that we know who it is, as there ain’t no way Warner Bros. would have allowed James Gunn to kill off that one character. But besides that person, everyone else feels like they could die at any given moment. That’s really a big charm of it, as it is frustrating how in many superhero films, let alone any blockbuster action flicks, so many characters always feel so safe and unstoppable, no matter how many times they get shot or how many buildings crash down upon them. And yes, this movie features a certain CGI character that constantly gets that treatment and survives, although it’s very self aware in that regard and is purposefully humoristic. But overall the entire set of characters feel easily disposable, and so so many of them die in such gruesome fashion, so indeed don’t get attached, as they don’t.

Speaking of which, this movie is hardcore gory! You see limbs and intestines flying round left and right, a guy gets ripped in half by a humanoid shark, another’s face gets teared off by a shotgun bullet and so on forth in all kinds of gruesome fashion. Visually this is one for the big screen, as here’s the thing: you’re either a mummy’s boy or you grow some cojones and go see a man’s heart get stabbed with a piece of debris glass in 4K high rate definition! Your choice! Oh, and it’s not just the violence, also the cinematography and the practical set pieces all look incredible. This is easily James Gunn’s best looking movie. The entire think LOOKS incredible!

We also have to talk about the cast, as they are all great! There literally isn’t a single weakling among them. Each one, no matter how big or small their role is, brings something to the table. I can’t talk about all of them, as we’d be here all day, so I’m simply going to mention a few of the stand-outs. Idris Elba comes in to replace Will Smith as a character called Bloodsport, who is in some ways a different character but evidently is a replacement of Smith’s. But that’s no bad thing, as with any ensemble movie you still need a main character to latch onto and have an emotional hook towards, and he is that character. In fact, I’d say he’s arguably better than Will Smith in the last movie, or at least he seems to be having more fun here. He works as a solid leading man, however what works even more is his banterous competitive genital-size-measuring back and forth with John Cena’s Peacemaker, who by the way is awesome as that character. He is not a good character, in fact he is as bad as a bad guy can get, especially cause he’s someone who believes that what he is doing is right, making him much more of a dangerous wild card. This is easily John Cena’s best role, with him adding to the comedy one-liners, but also delivering such an interesting character who I’m looking forward to seeing more of in his standalone spin-off show confirmed for next year. Oh, and he wears a toilet helmet on his head which he defines as “a beacon of freedom” which says it all. We also have returning characters from the last film Joel Kinnaman and Viola Davis as Rick Flag and Amanda Waller respectively, and both are given much more room to stretch their talents and spread their beautiful acting wings like the Hollywood angels that they are. Kinnaman’s Rick Flag is the moral compass of the group, as even though Elba is our main guy, he’s nonetheless a villain still, whilst Flag is a genuinely good guy and what is defined as a true American hero, to which Kinnaman fits the part well. And Viola Davis as Amanda Waller is on an absolutely different level. You can tell she’s an Academy Award winner through and through, as she plays such a serious character in an otherwise goofy movie, and so her presence is felt and it is felt BAD! She’s such a despicable yet intimidating personality and she gravitates all of the screen presence to herself. Margot Robbie returns as Harley Quinn, and she gets even more chance to develop this character that she’s played in multiple DCEU films now, and as per usual the Harley Quinn shtick works well for her, though I do kind of wish she didn’t always get all the attention. Look, I think she’s a fun character and Robbie plays her well, however she’s constantly used to overshadow others in these films which I don’t think is too fair, and its evident as ever in this film too. Anyway, the remainder of the cast including Jay Courtney as Captain Boomerang, David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man, Michael Rooker as Savant, Nathan Fillion as TDK, Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher 2 (who gave me strong A Plague Tale: Innocence vibes) and many more all play villains, but villains that don’t have particularly great superpowers. This is where the tragedy of Task Force X as a team plays a part, as many of these villains aren’t even good at being villains. They are useless, and the movie is really self aware of this and so treats all characters as they should be. Dare I also not forget to mention the CGI characters in this film, with both Weasel and King Shark being absolute scene stealers!

The Suicide Squad is the type of wham-bam-thank-you-mam batshit crazy entertainment which exists for the pure reasons of fun. It doesn’t set out to be the best superhero film ever, nor does it need to be. It’s an exhilarating, shocking, funny and amusing ride from beginning to end, with the energy never stopping, and is easily the best time I’ve had with a comic-book film in a long while, and I’m even talking about before COVID! Do yourself a favour and watch this one as soon as you can, as I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - The Suicide Squad is a BLAST!!

Overall score: 9/10

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thiswasinevitableid · 3 years

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95. you just witnessed me kill a guy and I have a really, really good reason for it, please don’t call the cops

Sternclay as a super/vigilante au? sfw or nsfw, please!

Here you go! This is NSFW

Content note: this fic contains mentions of murder, serial killers, knives. Brief description of a porn scene with implied dub-con (you can skip from the part where Barclay sees the TV to the next section break). But I included lots of fluff to balance it out.

This is the best hook-up Barclays had in years. Mr. Tall, dark, and handsome has done nothing but compliment him all night, from the fit of his shirt down to his kissing skills. So now that he’s facedown on the bed in this guys brownstone wearing only his boxers, he’s so excited he can barely think.

“Almost ready” a shcck of blinds dropping, “I just need to grab one more thing. Then the fun can start.”

“Can’t wait.” He sighs, shuts his eyes as his date moves across the room. Then the movement stops.

“Who the fu-”

Horrible, sticky warmth spatters the side of his face. Startled, he opens his eyes in time to watch his date fall to the floor, dead. Behind him is a figure in dark clothes with a tactical mask covering his face and a gun with a silencer in his right hand. A figure who has just noticed Barclay is awake.

In five swift, purposeful steps he’s at the bed, and Barclay doesn’t know what to do, whether to bolt for the window or knock the gun away or beg or, or or-

“Are you alright, sir?” The voice coming from the mask is calm and businesslike.

“.........what do you think?” Is the reply his useless brain comes up with.

“You look like you’re in shock. Which is understandable.” A gloved hand touches his face, “shit, I’m sorry, I was hoping none of it would get on you. Here, hold still.” He rifles through a pocket while Barclay’s mind drifts further from his body. Why isn’t he just killing him now? Is this part of some sick game?

“Turn your face this way just a bit” the back of his hand nudges Barclay’s chin, “good, thank you. I’m going to get you cleaned up, once that’s done I need to ask you to stay here until I’m finished cleaning up the scene. And also to not call the authorities for help when I’m out of the room.”

“Why?” Nope, okay, that’s it, that’s the reply that gets him shot.

“For one, you’re not in any danger from me. You were in danger from the now-deceased Mr. Martin, which is why I killed him.”

“I, uh, h-how can you be sure?”

“Let me show you” he helps Barclay up, guides him to the body, “you don’t need to look at him, just at that.”

He’s pointing to the boning knife clutched in the man’s hand. Barclay’s guts turn to sour milk.

“M-maybe he picked that up when he saw you?”

The killer shakes his head, gently guides Barclay back to the bed and, after a moment of studying the nightstand, pulls out the bottom drawer. It contains two more knives, duck tape, pliers, and seven, severed human thumbs.

“Oh fuck. What the fuck, what the fuck?” He whispers as the man closes the drawer.

“Mr. Martin is the Bear Butcher. I doubt you’ve heard of him, because that’s the name the authorities use among themselves while insisting that there’s no need to warn the public about him. He’s killed seven men, all gay and all on the bigger side; you would have been number eight.”

“I’m gonna be sick” He tips forward, feels gloved hands catch him and easily half-drag him into what turns out to be the bathroom.

“Wait here and do what you need to. I’ll be done in fifteen minutes, less if I can manage it. And, um, you might want to keep your eyes closed.”

Barclay has no problem with that order, though when the killer (his hero?) moves the body into the tub he discovers both the reason for the warning and that he does indeed have more in his stomach to throw up.

After an eternity of iron and bleach in the air and bile on his tongue, he’s helped back into the bedroom. The man hands him his clothes, turning his back as he dresses. He’s changed too, though the mask remains.

“I, I didn’t bring my car.” Barclay says weakly, knowing he won’t have the energy to walk home and the thought of getting in a cab or rideshare sets his nerves screaming.

“I assumed, since he wouldn’t want it being abandoned to lead to someone calling you in missing. If you’re okay with it, I can give you a ride home.”

Barclay nods. The man ushers him out the front door, pausing at the threshold for a final sweep. Then he pulls off his mask. Black hair sticks up until he smooths it back in a practiced motion, and blue eyes regard Barclay gently from a handsome face.

“It’s the Altima, right on the corner.” He says, folding the mask and tucking it into his pocket. Barclay gives his address, sits stiffly in the passenger seat as a pop station plays from the speakers.

“Do you want to change the station?”

“No” Barclay inhales fine, but the exhale comes out shaky, “jesus, how are you so calm?”

“Because if I’m trying to help you stay calm, I need to model the behavior. And, um, this isn’t my first time doing this, in case that wasn’t obvious. I’ve never had a witness before, for all the usual reasons and I’d prefer not to traumatize someone. But he went off his pattern and picked you up tonight, and I was not about to let him claim another victim.”

“Thank you.” Barclay doesn’t know what else to say. His adrenaline brain suggests propositioning the man in gratitude because it’s not everyday a hot mystery man saves your life. But the rest of him is well aware that if anyone touched him right now he might scream.

“It’s my job. Or it’s supposed to be.”

His curiosity peeks out from where it’s been hiding behind his sense of self-preservation, “What’s your name? Or can you not tell me?”

“It’s Joseph.”

“Barclay.”

“I wish we’d met under better circumstances, Barclay. Oh, here we are.” He parks the car, engine still running, “do you want me to wait until you’re inside to go?”

It should feel safe; it’s his apartment, his home above Amnesty’s new location, Mama’s own little house just out in the backyard. But his hand can’t make the fucking door handle go.

“Would, uh, would you mind coming up with me? Just, just for a few minutes?”

The man raises his eyebrows, but nods. Soon he’s standing in Barclays little kitchen, hands folded politely behind his back while Barclay tries and fails to start tea.

“If you want to just point to where things are, I can do that for you. You should eat something too, if your stomach’s settled.”

Barclay declines at first, but when his stomach growls Joseph moves through the kitchen--making distracting small talk all the while--not stopping until he’s assembled a plate of crackers, cheese and apples.

“Ooh, you got the good stuff.” He steals a piece for himself while Barclay nibbles a Triscuit

“Kinda a cheese snob; comes with the job.”

They talk about food and food writing until his plate is clear, at which point Joseph suggests he get ready for bed. Without being asked, he stays by the door as Barclay finishes getting changed and brushing his teeth.

“I, uh, I’m not really sure how to, uh, end this night.”

Joseph cups his cheek, “Lock the doors behind me. You don’t need to worry about anything else; you don’t owe me a thing. You’re safe. That’s what matters.” He smiles at him for the last time and heads out into the early morning light.

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

“Hey big fella, you’ll never guess who put in an order.” Mama clips up the slip from the table she’s working; Amnesty has been busy in the week since they opened here, so much so that she’s had to help with the crowds.

“Who?” Barclay flips the pancakes he’s watching, checks the bacons for tables 15 and 9.

“Your late night visitor.” Mama winks.

He turns, spots Joseph at the far end of the counter. He’s in a black suit, blue tie setting off his eyes, and his hair is fully slicked back. On his chest is a badge identifying him as working at the nearby FBI offices. He’s clearly as surprised to see Barclay as Barclay is to see him. He’s less surprised that Mama saw him leaving; she gets up early and her window faces his back stairs

“Hold on” Mama nudges him, “did he give you trouble? Because you look pretty off.”

“No, no, just, uh, didn’t expect to see him again.”

Joseph orders hash and poached eggs, and when Barclay sends the order out, he hands Dani a slice of cherry pie to go along with it. He peeks over his shoulder; Joseph is looking at the free dessert, smiling. Then he takes a bite and makes a face that’s borderline orgasmic. Barclay looks away before he drops a hot waffle on his foot.

Amnesty's restaurant closes at 3, and as Barclay is locking the front door, he notices Joseph waiting for him in an easily visible, well-lit spot.

“You know, I meant it when I said you didn’t owe me anything. Not even the most delicious pie I’ve ever eaten.”

“I give freebies now and then” Barclay smiles, “no rule that says I can’t give them to someone who did me a huge fucking favor. And, uh” he blushes, “glad you like the pie.”

“The whole meal was incredible. You’re a very talented cook. Would it be okay if I came back?” His expression is hopeful, almost nervous.

Barclay touches his shoulder, “Anytime.”

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

“So, uh, I’ve haven’t had a chance to ask but, uh, when you’re not working or chatting with me here, what do you do? For, like, fun?” Barclay leans across the counter as Joseph licks his form clean of meringue. Barclay’s gone through twelve different pie recipes in the last month just to see which ones the other man likes best.

“I read a lot, cultivate an extensive knowledge of old horror movies, try to make decent risotto in my apartment...oh, I play frisbee golf sometimes, I picked it up in college.”

“Any interest in seeing that new Godzilla movie? It looks terrible but in a fun way.”

“Oh yeah, I like what I’ve seen of the design they’re using for the kaiju.” He notices Barclays hand resting millimeters for his own. He runs his thumb along Barclays knuckles, “are you asking if I’ll go see it with you, big guy?”

“Uh huh.”

“I’d love to.”

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

“Holy fuck babe, when you said you were running out to get breakfast I figured you meant, like, McMuffins.”

“Only the best for you, big guy. Consider it a thank you for making dinner last night.” Joseph finishes laying out the donuts from “Holes in One” next to the plate of bagels and lox from the only place that Joseph insists does them right.

Barclay wraps his arms around him, tickling his cheek with his beard, “you’re fucking amazing babe.”

Joseph kisses him, coffee flavored and light, “So are you. Still want to play chess later?”

“Uh huh. Winner gets to blow the loser?”

“I like those terms, Mr. Cobb.”

It’s been like this for the last three months; evenings at the movies or tangled up in bed, mornings in sleepy hazes on the couch or out the eat, days upon days of Joseph spoiling, servicing, and just generally loving the hell out of him.

There are also the nights or, more often, early mornings, when Joseph returns steeped in grim satisfaction. At first he avoided having Barclay over those nights or going to see him the next day. Lately, they’re together so much that it’s unavoidable that Barclay will see the lethal edge lingering in his gaze or rub knots from his shoulders that he knows were earned in some darkened room where horrors had been playing out for weeks, months, even years. He doesn’t shy away from it; he loves Joseph, and that means seeing him clearly, though sometimes what he sees sends chills across his skin. Chills that feel less and less like fear.

They’re out for a walk around the lake, trading bites of gelato, when a question tunnels it’s way to the front of Barclays mind. He waits until they’re sitting on a bench far from any prying ears to ask it.

“What made you decide to, uh, do what you do?”

His boyfriend studies him, then sighs, “A number of things. Fear was the first one; you said you don’t follow true crime, so I’m guessing you don’t know of the Janesville Strangler?”

“Nope.”

“He killed ten young women over the course of three years. He’s also my biological father. Michael Stern is my stepfather and, at my request, my adoptive one as well; my mom remarried as soon as she was sure my father couldn’t get out. He, he never turned any violence on me, but I suspect he used me as leverage with mom; she was a smart woman, I suspect she noticed something amiss but was frightened into keeping quiet. I was six when they locked him up, eight when she remarried. Mike is a gentle man, he did his best to raise me the same. But I, I never shook the fear that whatever drove my father to kill innocent people lurks somewhere in my genes.”

Barclay’s arm rests protectively across Joseph’s shoulders.

“I joined the FBI because I felt if I was able to turn whatever killer genes I have towards understanding serial murderers, I could use them to help others. Keep people safe. Ambition and skill moved me through the ranks quickly but” he sighs, “the more I rose, the more I saw how little was being done. How cases were mishandled, how if there was the slightest hint it was a cop or veteran doing the killing suddenly the case went cold, how a killer could pick off person after person and no one cared because the victims were the “wrong” kind of people. It came to a head two years ago; I’d poured all this energy into a case where the killer went after sex workers. He was prolific and obviously cruel, I fought tooth and nail for every resource I needed to track him. Officer Alex Brown was my main suspect, I was so close to getting a warrant to search his property and then they closed the case. Insisted the deaths were unrelated. I...I went up and searched on my own and” he looks at the sky, rests his head on Barclays arm, “lord almighty the things I found. I was right, I was right and I couldn’t do anything about it, he’d get to just go on preying on people and I couldn’t handle failing his future victims that way. I waited until he went on a hunting trip. Alone. Lots of things can happen to a man in the woods. And it’s hard to find evidence when his body just happens to fall near a coyote den.”

A little smile, one he tries to suppress, creeps up his cheeks, “I’ve never felt so powerful in my entire life. I decided I’d still try to play by the rules but that if I knew, for certain, someone was guilty and being shielded by either ignorance or malice, I’d solve the problem myself.” He looks at Barclay for the first time since he started his answer, face turning to shame, “I’m sorry, I, I should have given the short answer. I didn’t, I don’t want to upset you, or scare you but it’s hard not to given-”

“Joseph” Barclay carefully runs his fingers over black hair, “it’s not like I forgot how we met. I...I’m not under any misimpressions about what you’re capable of. I just wanted to know how you arrived at the solution you did. It’s, uh, it’s not what I’d choose for myself, not something I could do but, uh, I guess what I’m trying to say is that this isn’t going to push me away from you. And that it means a lot to me that you trust me enough to explain it.”

His boyfriend curls closer, “It means a lot to me, too.”

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

Black gloves on his throat, weight on his chest and when he opens his eyes it’s Joseph above him, steel in his gaze and between his fingers. He’s in a muddled dream version of Bear Butcher’s apartment

“Hi, big guy.” The thin knife slices up Barclay’s pants, “let’s get you out of these.”

“Please, please I-”

“Shhhh” Joseph kisses him, “I removed the man who threatened you. But you’re so handsome laid out like this, a victim just waiting for someone to make you scream.”

“Babe, I-”

“That’s not my name right now. Call me..” the hand no longer has a knife, is running roughly up his cock instead, “call me…”

Barclay wakes up still humping the mattress as he cums. Blindly, he reaches for his phone to check the time. It’s the fifth dream like that in two weeks, and they always leave him so horny he tries to get it up and get off again if there’s time. No such luck today; he has to be up in ten minutes.

He tries not to think about it during work, just like he tries not to think about it the rest of the time. Especially in bed with Joseph, his attentive, indulgent Joseph who puts all his organizational skills and professional practice at giving orders into domming Barclay so sweetly he stays in subspace for hours.

He’s still very much not thinking about Joseph gagging him so his screams don’t wake the neighbors as he climbs the stairs to his boyfriends place. Dani was a sweetheart and took care of his orders for him, so he was able to leave work early.

The T.V is on, volume up loud enough that he can tell what his boyfriend is up to before he even walks into the room. He fully intends to tease him for not being able to wait until Barclay was there to jerk off before hauling him into the bedroom. But when he sees the screen, he freezes.

A man in what looks like a cheesy camp counselor uniform is tied to the bed, his shirt stuffed into his mouth as a make-shift gag. Straddling him is a man in a black jumpsuit, knife near his hand and cock buried in the counselors ass.

“That’s it sweetheart, wiggle and try’n get away; you ain’t gonna and it feels so fuckin good when you try. This is what you get for leaving the window open.”

The counselor shakes his head, fear so palpable Barclay barely notices the fact the boom mic is in the shot. The killer pulls the gag free.

“Please, please, don’t kill meAH, ohgod”

A dark laugh, “I’m not gonna kill you, sugar. Thought about it, but when am I gonna find an ass this good again? Nah, I’m gonna take you back with me, keep you strapped down because you’re the, fuck, cutest goddamn specimen I ever caught.”

On the couch, Joseph tenses, cumming in the sleeve he’s using with a cry at the same moment the killer on screen cums and bends to kiss his co-stars tear-streaked face.

Joseph hits the remote, causing the T.V to go dark and reveal Barclay’s reflection.

“Shit!” Joseph leaps up, making Barclay yelp in surprise, “oh, oh thank the lord it’s just you….oh god how much of that did you see?”

“Some?”

Joseph drops to the couch, head in hands, “shit. I’m, I’m so sorry Barclay, I, I never wanted you to know about this habit, I’m sorry it’s awful.” The voice between his fingers sounds like it might cry.

“I mean, that wasn’t like a snuff film, right?”

“Those aren’t real.”

He can’t help but smile remembering Joseph’s rant on the subject, “what I meant was: those guys are just actors getting paid to do a scene like that, not some actually getting attacked.”

“Of course not.” Joseph looks up, horrified, “I’d never watch something like that. The, the whole reason I like this company is that they do horror porn under very ethical working conditions.”

“Then why are you acting like I caught you pissing in my coffee?”

“Does the fact I get off to this honestly not bother you?”

“I mean, people get off to all sorts of shit. Like, um, like” he twists the bracelet on his wrist, “like their boyfriend tying them up and threatening to make them scream.”

Josephs eyes widen. Then he shakes his head, “No. No we can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I...I never, ever want to hurt you that way. Even in a scene. I can’t stand the thought of you being scared of me, of turning these impulses loose on you. It sounds fun until I picture it and then it makes me ill. No, this stays firmly in my head.”

“Okay.” He keeps his reply soft to hide his disappointment. Joseph is still on the couch, refusing to look his way, and so he circles it and kneels at his feet to better rub his arms. He thinks about the images on screen. About Joseph, blissed out then suddenly shame-faced. Joseph, two nights ago, calculated and loving as he worked Barclay over.

No, maybe the kind of scene he’s been picturing isn’t for them. But he can think of one that is.

“What if, uh, instead of giving into the desires that freak you out we kind of rechannel them. Like, instead of strapping me down to torment me, you’re doing it to show off?”

Blue eyes meet his for the first time all night, “Say more.”

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

“Ready?” Barclay bats his eyelashes at Joseph as his boyfriend finishes double checking the tightness of the rope he’s using to tie Barclays arms above his head.

“Ready.” Joseph stands, rolling his shoulders and closing his eyes as he takes deep breaths. Then he frowns, “can you start us off?”

“Sure thing, babe.” He nestles his head on the pillow, “okay, you found me tied up like this. What’s your first thought?”

Joseph opens his eyes, gaze sharp, “That I’m so lucky someone left a handsome specimen like you where I could find him.”

Barclays cock twitches at being referred to that way, “You’re not gonna let me go?”

“Not just yet. You’re so perfect, will you let me make a case for staying here with me?”

“Please” Barclay whimpers as Joseph straddles him, knife in hand.

“I’m very precise, for starters.” He cuts slowly up Barclays boxers until he can pull the strip of fabric off. Repeats the process, lips a firm line of concentration, with his undershirt, “see? There’s not even a scratch. I have to be careful not to damage my perfect specimen.”

Barclay groans, rolling his hips. Joseph smiles, shifting so his cock rubs against Joseph’s clothed crotch.

“Fuck, Joseph-”

“Shhhh” a gloved thumb brushes his lips, “When you’re like this, my name is Sir.”

“Ohfuck.” Barclay rubs his cheek pleadingly in his palm, “Sir, please, please, untie me so I can touch you.”

“Not yet.” Joseph pats his cheek, scoots backwards on the bed, “besides, you’ll have lots of time to touch me once I take you home and make you my sweet live-in plaything.”

“Holyfuckingshit.” Barclay fights off a dozen tantalizing images of what that could entail to focus on their plan, “Sir? What, uh, what was the guy who tied me up going to do to me?”

His boyfriend settles between his legs, “He was going to take you apart.” He lifts Barclay’s right leg, “starting with these, so if you got free you couldn’t run. This tendon first” he kisses the back of his knee, making Barclay giggle. He pauses, then decides on holding both legs up at once so he can repeat the kiss on the other side. His lips move slowly down to his ankles, right side and then the left, before a final one lands on his arch, “he was going to cut here too. But not me” the kisses continue, “I’m going to rub them every evening so you’re never sore.”

“Fuuuuck” He sighs as Joseph straddles him once more, leaning forward so he can kiss and fondle his arms.

“He was going to slice alllll along here” Joseph’s breathing is picking up the longer he lavishes Barclay with kisses, “then he was going to take your fingers one by one” Joseph kisses each knuckle in turn, his free hand petting Barclay’s face and hair, “then he was going to commit a cardinal sin by mangling these” Joseph toys with his pecks, sucks happily on his left nipple for a moment, “what a crime that would have been.”

“Sir” it’s a whine as Joseph nips and kisses his way down to his navel.

He raises slightly, mouth just above Barclays cock, “and because he had no imagination, he was going to cut this wonderful appendage off. Which is not the treatment it deserves.”

“What treatment does it deserve SirrrrrOHfuck, fuckyes” Barclay pants as Joseph licks stripe after stripe up his cock. As Joseph licks and sucks him to a hard-on, he feels the plug slip from his ass.

“I don’t know what his plans were for that” Joseph sits up, undoing his pants and pulling out his cock, “but I know what mine are.” He pushes Barclays legs wide, works his cock in with slow, steady thrusts while Barclay tries to remember how words work.

“Shit, yes, god your ass is amazing, what kind of person sees it and thinks its for anything but fucking?”

“Nngh” Barclay clings to the ropes as Joseph’s thrusts quicken.

“Lord, I thought you were a perfect specimen before but I was wrong, you look even better taking my cock.”

“Fuck, fuck that’s hot.”

Joseph grip his thighs tight enough to hurt, “well, big guy, will you stay with me?” His eyes glitter, his hair is coming loose and falling across his forehead.

“YesAH, yes, ohfucksirright there” He didn’t notice Joseph changing the angle of thrusts until his cock found his prostate, “I’ll be so good Sir, wanna be a good boy for you.”

“Oh good.” Joseph’s smile goes wolfish for an instant, “because I would have had to do some very mean things to persuade you if you refused.”

Barclay cums at that, staining Joseph’s shirt with white. His hands knock against the headboard as Joseph fucks him hard enough to make him sob with oversensitive pleasure.

“You’re going to be such a nice plaything for Sir, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Good boyOH, ohshit, shit.” Joseph pulls out halfway through cumming, spattering it on Barclays thighs and balls. Carefully, he lowers his legs. Then his boyfriend collapses into his arms, panting and giddy.

“That, that was so fun. I’d say who knew but every time we fuck you show me just how fucking fun all this can be.”

“Aw, babe.” He goes to hug him and rediscovers the ropes.

“Ohshit, here” Joseph sets to work undoing his knots, “are your wrists okay? Not too sore? How about your shoulders?”

“They all feel fucking great, baby. I feel great. How could I not? I got you looking after me.”

Joseph smiles, “and out for you.”

“That too. Now c’mere, special agent, your next assignment is cuddling your boyfriend.”

#sternclay #agent stern/ barclay #meet ugy #taz amnesty

18 notes · View notes

partywithponies · 4 years

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hi! i've only ever seen the bbc version of father brown and i've never read the books (i know, i'm so sorry), but i'm super curious about the different versions of father brown and you seem like an expert on each adaptation, so i was wondering if you'd be willing to give me a rundown of sorts on each version/series? i know it's a lot to ask and i may be opening the floodgates here, but there's not a ton of info online elsewhere and i'd love to learn more! thanks either way. ciao!

OH BOY YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE ANON

OKAY SO

As briefly as possible:

The books:

Proof people who complain about the BBC show being “too political” don’t actually know the books at all

Father Brown straight up calls capitalism “evil” and “heresy”

Chesterton says that millionaires dying isn’t a tragedy

Inspector Valentin betrayed us and broke my heart, ACAB I guess

Since every police officer he befriends lets him down in some way, Father Brown’s only real friend is Flambeau, who he goes absolutely everywhere with. They only go on holiday with each other. They’ve been all over the world with each other. I love they

Book Father Brown pretty much never does his goddamn job. We literally never in all the books see him giving mass or taking confession. The closest we get is when he gives an impromptu sermon after seemingly coming back from the dead, where he literally only says "You silly, silly people. God bless you all and give you more sense." then runs away to send a telegram. Useless priest. I love him.

Book Flambeau is. Incredible. Amazing. Iconic. None of the adaptations have been able to fully capture book Flambeau’s true energy, for he is a walking contradiction who contains multitudes. If all the onscreen Flambeaus fused into one being, THEN you’d have something vaguely resembling book Flambeau.

Book Flambeau is MASSIVE. He’s at least 6′4, he’s broad shouldered, has huge hands, and his super buff. He can just. Pick people up and throw them. He can knock people unconscious with one punch. He fills doorways when he stands in them. He terrifies most people just by drawing himself up to his full height. He also has a very short temper and a very short patience.

He’s very agile and athletic and can move silently, despite his size. He’s also a master of disguise, somehow. (Explain, Chesterton. Explain. Is everyone in this universe apart from Father Brown, Flambeau, and arguably Valentin massively stupid? Actually don’t answer that I’ve read these books)

Book Flambeau has a habit of flinging people full-bodily down flights of stairs when they anger him or threaten him or Father Brown. Book Flambeau also carries a walking cane with him literally everywhere that has a sword concealed in the handle, plus book Flambeau insists on taking pistols on holiday with him, even when he was just going for a peaceful fishing holiday in the Norfolk Broads. King.

(Which all makes it so iconic that Father Brown, described as tiny and meek and sensitive, saw this man when he was still a hardened criminal on top of all this and said “THIS ONE I LIKE THIS ONE. I JUST THINK HE’S NEAT” and went off on a jolly through London with him.)

Flambeau’s past is extremely mysterious. We no nothing about his family or his childhood or where he’s from or why he turned to crime. We know he used to be a soldier, and a part of him misses it. We know he used to fight duels semi-regularly, and liked them to be fought the very next morning after they were organised. We know he always used to make sure to visit the dentist on time, even when he was a hardened criminal. (King of good teeth.) We know he was in a gang at some point. We know he was a student at some point. We don’t know what he studied, but we know he knew Leonard Quinton in “wild student days in Paris” ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°). This is literally all we know about his past before he met Father Brown. The man is a riddle wrapped in an enigma. (That’s why Flambeau is so big. He’s full of secrets)

(Fun fact: in the book universe Flambeau is famous and popular in America, so you could say that in universe Flambeau is America’s Favourite Fighting Frenchman.)

Flambeau also loves cats and children, believes in fairies, likes pointing out rocks that look like dragons, and likes giggling and mucking about on the beach with Father Brown. A baby.

One time Father Brown called Flambeau “full of good and pure thoughts”, but I don’t think that’s quite true, Father. I think Father Brown just has endless faith in Flambeau.

Another thing I think is really neat is that it would’ve been so easy to have Father Brown be the genius and Flambeau his dumb muscle sidekick but that’s not the case at all! They’re both geniuses and they’re both each other’s sidekick, and in fact it’s Flambeau who’s the famous professional private detective, Father Brown is just an amateur. Father Brown is often defined by his connection to Flambeau rather than vice versa, both in the text (the text will frequently refer to them as something along the lines of “Flambeau and his friend the priest”, and on two separate occasions a long list of Flambeau’s possessions is ended with “and a priest”), and in universe (Father Brown himself is massively famous in America in universe largely because of “his long connection to Flambeau). I don’t know I just think it’s neat.

One time a man threatened Father Brown with a gun and Flambeau just beat him unconscious and then Father Brown and Flambeau just drove away and left him unconscious on the path. It was awesome.

(I’m sorry I rambled about Flambeau for so many words I just. Really really like Flambeau you guys. Father Brown and Flambeau are like two separate crime drama character tropes, the hard boiled cynical P.I. and the cosy eccentric amateur detective, but together as a double act, and I just think that’s really cool.)

Father Brown himself is if anything even more mysterious. He’s just “Father J. Brown, formerly of Cobhole in Essex, currently London”, and he’s “Flambeau’s friend”, and that’s all. That’s all he needs to be.

I also really really love Father Brown himself. I love that he’s allowed to be cheerful and optimistic and childish without any of this making him less clever, and in fact he’s shown time and time again to be cleverer than grumpy cynics who are scornful of childish things. Like, the whole giggling childlike thing isn’t even some kind of act, he’s a genius who understands true human nature, and he also really really likes puppet shows and building sandcastles who telling fairy stories, he really does get a “childish pleasure” from seeing Flambeau swing his sword-stick, and he really does have “strong personal interest in tomfoolery”. I love him.

I must share my favourite book quote about Father Brown himself: “But neither of them is very like the real Father Brown, who is not broken at all; but goes stumping with his stout umbrella through life, liking most of the people in it; accepting the world as his companion, but never as his judge.” uwu uwu uwu I’m cry.

Chesterton just subverts all the expectations character wise, the cheerful bumbling priest is a genius, the violent criminal is a true hero, the noble police officer is a corrupt self-serving murderer. It’s great. We stan. 10000000/10

(I’m not very good at being brief, am I?)

Father Brown, Detective (1934):

The first movie! It’s completely ridiculous. I love it a lot.

It was released just at the start of Hays Code, which, among other things, stated that crime and immorality should not be glorified or glamourised, and all crime and immorality must be seen to be punished by the end of the film. In practice in the case of this film, this means two things:

Paul Lukas!Flambeau is the only Flambeau to actually go to prison (and stay there).

He’s by far the Flambeau who deserves it the least. Lukas!Flambeau never hurt a soul. He just wanted to be loved. #FreeMyBoyHercule

Okay but in all seriousness. There’s a reason I call Paul Lukas!Flambeau “Himbo Flambeau”. Where other Flambeaus are violent or dangerous or geniuses, Lukas!Flambeau is just a big dumb idiot who respects women and has a great sense of humour and writes all his letters in the third person like Elmo for some reason. I would die for him.

At one point Flambeau in disguise is talking to the police, and when the police criticise Flambeau, disguised Flambeau says “Oh but I assure! I have read many things about this Flambeau! He is a fearless, handsome fellow!” The absolute idiot. I adore him with my whole heart.

The film is set in London, like the books, but an idealised Hollywood version of London, i.e., almost entirely unlike London.

Walter Connolly!Father Brown is also entirely lacking in braincells. Look at these two idiot men:

I love them.

Oh oh! And the most important thing, the thing that carries over into most other adaptations? NEW ORIGINAL CHARACTERS!!

This movie invents a few characters that weren’t in the books, but the most important ones are Mrs Boggs:

She doesn’t really add much to the plot but she’s funny and I love her so I’ll forgive it.

She’s Father Brown’s housekeeper, she’s basically just the fussing maternal female character archetype who fusses around in the background, but she does it well and plays it with charm so I’ll allow it.

(Honestly this whole film is just. Not *technically* good or original, but just so charming and with so much heart that I unironically adore it.)

She tries to make Father Brown drink his milk because it’s good for him even though he doesn’t like it, and keeps checking back in on him to make sure he’s drunk it, it’s literally like a mother and her small child.

She objects to policemen in the presbytery because of their “big muddy boots on the carpet” but is fine with just letting Flambeau in whenever despite the prevailing rumour in London being that Flambeau killed a man. We stan a queen of having priorities.

When Inspector Valentine summons Father Brown to the station, Mrs Boggs pops up in the background, assumes Father Brown’s being arrested, and says “Oh dear, I knew it!” and it makes me giggle like an idiot every time.

The other, more important original character invented for this movie is my girl Evelyn Fischer:

I love her, I would die for her, she’s flawless.

She’s basically your typical bored and rebellious young aristocrat, but she has a chaotic streak that I adore.

She sneaks out of her family’s mansion to go to a seedy underground club/illegal gambling ring in Soho (I mean I assume it’s Soho, a seedy part of London in that general vicinity, at least. I’m not about to get bogged down trying to understand the geography of London according to Hollywood), flirts with a bunch of strangers for fun, then when the police raid the place and everyone else is panicking she stands stock still, cheerfully says “Oh goody, I shall probably get my name in the papers!” and has to be physically dragged out of the building by Flambeau.

Later on Flambeau breaks into her bedroom in the middle of the night and she’s just very calmly like “What are you doing?”, and even when she finds out it’s Flambeau, a man widely believed to be dangerous and violent, instead of being scared, she calls him an idiot right to his face.

She forms the third part of the main trio of the movie with Father Brown and Flambeau (RIP to Valentine, demoted to tertiary character in a loose adaptation of the one (1) story where he was the main character lol) and together the three of them share a single braincell and have to take turns with it, while Mrs Boggs fusses in the background at the trio’s increasingly bonkers decisions.

The movie ends with Father Brown and Evelyn sharing an emotional farewell with Flambeau through the window of a police car and promising to look after each other until Flambeau’s released, wow poly rights.

The Adventures of Father Brown (1945):

The adaptation there’s the least amount of information about, but I’ve done my best to find everything I can find on it.

An American radio show made towards the end of wartime, it’s a bit of an odd one, and believe me Father Brown adaptations have gone some odd places.

Only two episodes survive, or at least if more do survive then whoever has them is being very selfish and hoarding them to themselves because only two episodes are publicly available anywhere, and the audio quality of those is a bit dodge. (Though that is to be expected, they do appear to be home recordings, from 1945. Honestly we should be grateful to even have two full episodes.)

If the actors I’ve found are the right people, this show featured by far the youngest Father Brown and Flambeau, at the start of the show the actor playing Father Brown was only 36 and the actor playing Flambeau was only 27. They’re BABIES. (Honestly I’d like to see more age variation in Father Brown adaptations, as I have extensively rambled about before, the characters have literally no canon ages in the books, I think people ought to be a little more imaginative instead of always building on the adaptations that came before, even if it is really cool to see traces of all the previous adaptations in each new one that comes along. It’s something I haven’t noticed as much in adaptations of other golden age detective novels, but the Father Brown adaptations do seem to be stuck in some kind of game of “yes, AND” with each other. I would REALLY like to see an adaptation where Flambeau is older than Father Brown though, it's just something we've never had before despite there being literally nothing in the books to suggest this can't be the case, and I just think it'd be neat.)

This show is really really painfully American, in a real old fashioned "golly gee whizz mister" kind of way, to the point it almost feels like a parody, and I honestly find it kind of endearing.

Even Flambeau frequently slips into a very American accent to the point that my affectionate nickname for him is "The All-American Flambeau", and it's great. He's great.

Honestly I could accept the accents and the slang, for some reason the only thing that really threw me was Father Brown referring to money in cents and nickels.

Needless to say, this adaptation is not set in London. It is instead set in Generic Unspecified Smalltown USA. It's fine. This is fine. I already have so many films and shows set in London, I can swallow my London pride and let America have this.

It's hard to get a real grasp on characters from just two episodes, but I like this Father Brown and Flambeau, even if they are a little overly serious, and even if Flambeau doesn't really do much. He may be a bit serious and a bit useless but All-American Flambeau stays up late anxiously waiting for Father Brown to get home safely and it's very sweet. What a good boy.

All-American Flambeau also carries handcuffs around with him for some reason? But no weapons? Why is All-American Flambeau one of the few Flambeaus not to have a gun? Oh well, he's still sweet.

The 1945 radio show also gives us some original characters, but they're very much side characters and not part of the main plot and it's very hard to get a good grasp on a character from just a few minutes of audio from just two episodes but here's what I could gather:

Nora is another fussing housekeeper! She seems younger and less maternal than Mrs Boggs, but I don't know if that's just because the whole cast was on the younger side. (Could the radio station not find anyone over the age of 40? Were they in short supply in 1945 or something? Ah well.) She seems dedicated to helping Father Brown get some peace and quiet that he never goddamn gets because someone always goes and gets themselves murdered. In both surviving episodes a knock at the door disturbs Father Brown’s rest, Nora opens it professionally, sees it's Flambeau, and immediately drops the professionalism and is immediately like "oh it's only you", so I can only assume every episode started this way. I do hope so.

Father Peter is a junior priest who answers to Father Brown and takes over his duties on his days off. He's implied by the dialogue to be considerably younger than Father Brown, Nora, and Flambeau, but if their actors are anything to go by then they're not that old themselves, and though Father Brown seems to talk to Father Peter like he's a literal child, he is still a priest so I very much doubt that's the case. He seems sweet and harmless, but he's only in one of the surviving episodes and only in that towards the end and mentioned briefly at the start, so it's hard to judge completely. It's highly unlikely that the reason he's not even mentioned in the later surviving episode is because he turned out to secretly be an evil murderer, but, this being a Father Brown adaptation, not entirely unfounded. (But no, he's probably just a sweet boy who exists to have exposition delivered to him.)

Father Brown/The Detective (1954):

The Alec Guinness movie! The one haters of any of the other adaptations complain that adaptation isn't more like, but in my humble opinion, actually the worst adaptation.

Like, I don't hate it! The cast is mostly stellar actors and if I just saw it as a movie on its own, it'd probably be fine. But as a Father Brown adaptation watched in context of the books and the other adaptations, it has a few issues imo.

Most glaringly it has Tone Issues. This film cannot decide if it's a comedy or not. The original posters certainly marketed it as one (see above) and half the cast are noted comic actors who were famous at the time for comedy, goddamn SID JAMES is in it, but the entire third act is played painfully straight, half the cast is mugging for the camera and trying way too hard to be funny while the other cast is giving extremely serious and subtle performances, like. I have no problem with a Father Brown adaptation being played for laughs, and I have no problem with a Father Brown adaptation being played for drama, both can work beautifully, but just PICK ONE, PLEASE

All of my other gripes with the film are very petty and nitpicky, this film calls Father Brown and Flambeau "Ignatius Brown" and "Gustav Flambeau" even though Father Brown has the canon first initial "J" and Flambeau has the canon first name "Hercule", and I hate it a lot. "Ignatius and Gustav" is the second worst thing any Father Brown adaptation has ever done to me.

My other petty nitpick with the movie is that it makes Flambeau literal nobility. The man is a duke. In my opinion Flambeau should always either have a completely mysterious past or be a nobody who came from nothing, someone who grew up with land and title and many servants and a family coat of arms, living in a whole entire castle with his family name and coat of arms engraved into the side of it, growing up and stealing from people, is a whole lot less sympathetic in my opinion. Like to be fair his parents are dead which is sad I guess and his castle has seen better days, but dude. You still own a castle. People who live in castles do not get to lecture other people about materialism.

THAT SAID, Peter Finch is still the best thing about the movie. I love all Flambeaus dearly, even the ones that are little bitches. He’s a bit of an emo “oh woe is me” sadboy, but he’s very charming, and actually good at disguises and being undercover, get dunked on Lukas!Flambeau.

Guinness!Brown likes to feed ducks and Flambeau calls him “the angel with the flaming umbrella”, which makes my inner Good Omens fan who loves finding parallels between Aziraphale & Crowley and Father Brown & Flambeau go 👀

There is one really good scene, in the Paris Catacombs. And by “good” I mean “really really bafflingly gay”:

I truly, truly do not understand how this scene was written, directed, acted, filmed, and edited without ANYONE saying “hey lads does this seem a bit gay to you?”

Father Brown, literally lying on top of Flambeau and pinning him to the ground, whispering: “I would like to set you free.” Flambeau, softly, gently smiling while his face is literal inches away from Father Brown, who is still pinning him to the ground: “Ah, now I begin to understand what you are.”

What the fuck, you guys. What the entire fuck. This scene keeps me up at night.

ANYWAY

This film is also not set in London. It is instead mostly set in a rural English village, and partially in Paris and partially in rural France. Paris is fun but I miss London.

This film also has some original characters. I should probably talk about them.

This is Lady Warren:

She’s Father Brown’s friend, and she’s a Lady, and that’s all I can really tell you.

She’s very well-mannered and dignified and sophisticated.

She gives me the vibe that she exists solely because the writers decided they needed a female character but then remembered at the last minute they had no idea how to write women, so as a result she is almost entirely irrelevant to the plot. I don’t want to say I don’t like her, because she’s done nothing wrong and it’s not her fault, but like. Why is she here? Poor thing, she deserved to be plot-relevant, really.

She lives in a big mansion and owns some very nice things, and she gets annoyed when she invites Father Brown to lunch but he just stares blankly into space thinking about Flambeau the whole time. (Mood honestly FB. Me too.)

She flirts a bit with Flambeau in one very pointless scene that came the hell out of nowhere, went nowhere, and was never mentioned again. It was like the writers realised how gay the previous Flambeau scene was and suddenly tried to convince me this man is a hetero. Nice try, writers. You can’t fool me that easily.

The other main original character is Bert:

Alright, own up, whose bright idea was it to put Sid James in a Father Brown movie?

Bert is a smalltime criminal who’s a friend of Father Brown, who Father Brown protects from the police, but tries to convince to get on the straight and narrow by getting him as a job as Lady Warren’s chauffer.

This is would be fine, were it not for the fact he’s played by Sid James, who only knows how to play Sid James, and is just Sid Jamesing it up in every scene. I don’t have anything against Sid James. I like my fair share of Carry On films. But Sid James does not belong in Father Brown and I want to fight whoever decided he did.

Father Brown (1974):

LADS LADS LADS! It’s time for the first TV show, and it’s time for my favourite boys:

Oh! OH! How I love Kenneth More!Brown and Dennis Burgess!Flambeau. They’re just. So cute. My two special boys.

Not only that, but LADS! We’re finally back in London!

A gritty, dirty, London in the 1930s no less, with cool London buses and political unrest and grimy pubs and the constant threat of world war. Alexa this is so cool play London Calling.

In one episode Flambeau gets verbally abused by an anti-immigration right-wing zealot. :( My poor boy. :(

(But it’s okay, shortly after Father Brown witnesses this, the racist shows up dead in exactly the place Father Brown earlier said would be a good place to commit a murder. Now I’m not accusing Father Brown of murder, BUT)

This show made the bold but valid decision to skip Flambeau’s redemption arc and start the show when Flambeau is already a seasoned and respected private detective who’s lived in London and been Father Brown’s closest friend for many years. As a result this Father Brown and Flambeau are ridiculously domestic with each other. Look at this peak Old Married Couple energy:

Oh! I just love them.

I would love to know how Burgess!Flambeau’s redemption went down though, because Burgess!Flambeau is BY FAR the least repentant of all the reformed Flambeaus. He proudly boasts about his crimes, he still believes he “deserved to succeed”, he still proudly talks about how “daring and outrageous” he was, which begs the question of why did he stop at all? Literally the only explanation I can think of is that he’s literally only doing this for Father Brown’s sake, which. uwu

Oh GOD I love Burgess!Flambeau. Obviously I love all Flambeaus a lot, and choosing a favourite feels like choosing a favourite child, but let’s just say: if the Flambeaus WERE my children, Burgess!Flambeau would be quite spoilt. My ~ Daring And Outrageous ~ boy.

More!Brown and Burgess!Flambeau are both really really socially awkward, uncomfortable in crowds, and nervously say “oh dear” a lot. They really are ridiculously cute.

They also only giggle and joke and act silly when they’re together, when they’re apart they’re both sort of sad and quiet and withdrawn. (This makes episodes Flambeau isn’t in a bit harder to watch because Father Brown is just kind of lost and lonely without his emotional support Frenchman, with three notable exceptions: that time Father Brown infodumped about the mating habits of whales at the Father Superior for a solid minute, that time Father Brown met a dog and reacted with unrestrained delight, and that time someone mentioned former criminals in passing and Father Brown’s whole face lit up and he started gushing about how Flambeau was living in London now and doing very well as a private detective, completely unprompted.)

This show also brought back book!Brown and Flambeau’s habit of always going on holiday together! Wonderful! We love to see it!

This show is also the first time in the entire Father Brown franchise where gay people are overtly acknowledged to exist! And Father Brown is non-judgemental! A roman catholic priest written in the 1970s and living in the 1930s who canonically isn’t homophobic! I have no choice but to stan forever!

You remember what I said about liking to point out Good Omens parallels? WELL

Kenneth More!Father Brown and Dennis Burgess!Flambeau both live in London

Burgess!Flambeau lives in a brightly lit, pale walled, airy and spacious, modern (for the time) London apartment, while More!Brown prefers gothic architecture and lives in an old, grey, cramped, stone building absolutely full floor to ceiling with books

They go out for intimate candlelit dinners for two at very fancy London restaurants

Desperate people come to Flambeau because he “knows the game on both sides of the fence”

Father Brown responds with a quiet and miserable “oh dear” when asked to actually do his job instead of just watching plays and drinking wine

Father Brown calls Flambeau “my dear” at times and it personally kills me

I mean. I’m just saying. 👀

Now, isn’t there a third important character in the books?

Oh yes of course:

HIM! THE BASTARD MAN! INSPECTOR VALENTIN HIMSELF!

(Nobody understands him! IT’S NOT! EVIL!)

This show is the literally only adaptation to include the Valentin betrayal and I’m not gonna lie. It’s a very difficult episode to sit through, it’s far darker and grimmer and more depressing than you would ever expect from Father Brown, but my god it’s done so well. Especially considering the teeny tiny budget they clearly had, only four sets are used the entire episode and the whole thing takes place inside Valentin’s house, but even that adds a certain claustrophobic atmosphere and just. It’s done so well.

I think the entire budget went on gore effects because the decapitated heads in this episode are disturbingly realistic for the time the show was made and genuinely grim to look at. Not to mention the intense downer ending. Not to mention this was THE FINAL EPISODE OF THE SHOW

THE INTENSE DOWNER ENDING OF THIS EPISODE IS HOW THE WHOLE SHOW ENDED

God it hurts so much but I lowkey love it.

Father Brown Stories (1984):

The second radio series, and the first BBC adaptation!

Thrilling times for fans of actors being the right nationality for their characters, because after previously being played by a Hungarian, an American, an Englishman, and a Welshman, Flambeau is finally being played by a Frenchman, Olivier Pierre!

Father Brown himself is played by Andrew Sachs, Manuel himself.

Not gonna lie. It’s kind of hard to figure out how to explain the radio show.

We’re? Maybe back in London? Honestly it’s really unclear.

Pierre!Flambeau is kind of adorable. He’s described as looking like book!Flambeau physically, huge and buff and terrifying, but he has literally none of the temper or predisposition to violence.

Pierre!Flambeau doesn’t speak very good English at all, and oftentimes will react with “...What?” when he hears a strange English idiom or turn of phrase.

One time he says “Perhaps we should.. push on? SEE HOW I AM MASTERING YOUR ENGLISH IDIOMS” and it’s the cutest thing that’s ever happened.

To try and get better at understanding both the English language and the English people, Flambeau starts obsessively reading Alice in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, massive giant adorable boy.

One time Father Brown gets complimented of being academically minded and well read, and then asked if Flambeau is also a keen reader, and when Flambeau tries to say no, Father Brown interrupts and proudly and earnestly says “Oh yes! Monsieur Flambeau is one of our top Lewis Carroll scholars!”, it’s honestly adorable.

This adaptation finally uses “John” as Father Brown’s first name, as it should always have been! I love it!

This series said FUCK Father Brown having a mysterious past and no former friends or relatives! Now he has siblings, and friends who knew him before he was a priest who still call him “John”!

Father Brown himself speaks in a very sweet and soft and wavering way that makes my heart melt.

Sadly and unfortunately, I have to acknowledge the final episode of the show, which is the top worst thing any Father Brown adaptation has ever done to me.

It’s. It’s a crossover. With Sherlock Holmes. Actual goddamn Sherlock Holmes is in it. I hate it. I hate it so much. “Elementary, my dear Flambeau” shut the hell up, if this Flambeau won’t fling you down a flight of stairs then I will.

I deliberately avoided all Holmes-related media for THREE YEARS only for the awful man to spring up on me in Father Brown?? How could you do this to me???

I’m going to yeet myself into the sun, bye everyone.

(On the plus side, the Sherlock Holmes episode does have one of Father Brown’s parishioners recognise Flambeau as “a close friend of Father Brown and a frequent visitor to his room” ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°), so that’s nice I suppose. I’ll still never forgive the writers of this show for putting me through this.)

Father Brown (2013):

YOU ARE HERE.

I kind of see the current TV series as a culmination of all the adaptations that’ve come before? I can definitely see echoes of all of them in it.

And it’s great! I really really love it. I love it a lot.

I think about it daily.

My one and only complaint I would have is that Flambeau isn’t in it enough. Not just because he’s my favourite, though I’d obviously not be fooling anyone who’s read all this if I said he isn’t.

And it’s not that I don’t love the show as it is, and find the one Flambeau episode a series always something really special, so I don’t know what I’d have the writers do, exactly.

But it’s just. In literally every other version of Father Brown, Flambeau is the second most important character and the second main protagonist, and to have him in this show so little that some fans or reviewers call him a “minor character” and others call him a “recurring villain”, though I myself don’t see him either of those ways of course because he’s still Flambeau, it’s just kinda sad and painful, y’know?

I don’t know. Maybe I’m just being silly.

Hopefully he’s a regular in at least the final season of the show. If I don’t get my favourite partners in crime solving I’m rioting.

Anyway that’s my “””brief””” rundown on all the main versions of Father Brown!! I hope you liked it!!

#Anonymous #father brown #hercule flambeau #flambrown

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inkstaineddove · 3 years

Text

Asystole

Ships: AusHun

Characters: Hungary, Austria; mentioned Prussia

Summary: His empire failing, Austria is desperate enough to make anything work. His empire failing, Hungary is desperate enough to finally break free. One of them must give.

Vienna, 1867.

Erzsébet padded across the hallway, spine stiff and shoulders rolled back. A minute before, some poor servant had been tasked to play the messenger, urging her to head to the office straightaway. Ordinarily, this sort of urgency would’ve shocked her; today, it was expected. All people talked, from the lowliest maid to the richest of emperors, and word of their machinations never seemed to escape her. Plus – if she allowed herself a moment of honesty, instead of falsely praising her cunning – her politicians had told her everything. There truly were no surprises.

Her first sight upon entering was that of Austria, scowling down at whatever papers were before him. She wondered when she had last seen him smile – and not the fake one he flashed at diplomats and hangers’ on, but the real one. It couldn’t have been years, could it? It seemed true enough, but for his sake she hoped she was wrong.

“Are you intending to get your face frozen like that or do you just enjoy tempting fate?” Hungary slid into her seat as she spoke. Her voice lilted up in a way that would sound like gentle teasing to the untrained ear.

Fortunately, his was trained perfectly to her pitch. He rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair, looking as if he was in no mood to be messed with. He’d been looking like that a lot recently. It disappointed her, only because it put a damper on her fun. There was little joy in kicking a dog while it was down, even one prone to biting.

“Would you prefer I pretend to sit here, giddy about all my misfortunes? If you wanted that, you should’ve convinced your boyfriend his time and resources would’ve been better off warring with a different enemy of the hour.” Austria attempted to keep his tone dispassionate, though it didn’t work. Try as he might, it never did.

She sniffed, scrunching up her nose. “Do you have to call him my ‘boyfriend?’ That sounds so…juvenile.” It was a minor thing to pick a fight over, but she certainly wasn’t going to over whether Prussia’s war had been legitimate. There was no need when they both agreed.

“I feel I have to because, if I didn’t and forgot my restraint, I’d be tempted to call him something awful like your little bitch, but I would never. I’m above that.” Austria smiled, all teeth and hostility, and Hungary wondered how nice they would look knocked out on the floor.

She flicked her wrist dismissively. No reason to get herself worked up over something so petty. There was business to discuss and deals to be made. She leaned her weight onto the arm of her chair. “Can you just tell me what you want? You know how it is, so many rebellions to plan and so little time.”

A quirk of an eyebrow was enough to show his displeasure. “Not like you to play the fool. There’s no reason for you to pretend to be so unaware.”

“If I didn’t pretend, you might get curious on my methods. If I reveal my hand, there goes whatever illusory personal freedoms I have. You want me even more miserable than I am?” His silence was the answer she wanted. She smiled, resting her cheek on her hand. “So, tell me. What does Hofburg have in store for me?”

“You’ll be thrilled to know that for a change, it’s an offer instead of an edict. I don’t see any point in attempting to sweeten reality to you – you live here and you’re not an idiot, after all. The empire, my empire, is in an increasingly bleak situation. You would think this would endear me into the hearts of all my subjects, but I suppose I underestimated how deep nationalism’s poison infected their bloodstreams,” Austria rolled his eyes at his own foolishness. “Yours being the most infected – and, as you love to remind me – being the most likely to one day succeed, a deal needs to be made to quell their bloodlust.”

That certainly was one way to put it. Hungary couldn’t stop herself from laughing, unable to look at Austria’s overly serious expression or risk breaking into hysterics. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself, though still with a noticeable smirk. “Bloodlust? Really, Roderich? They want independence, not the death of every Austrian. Who has the time for that kind of petty revenge?”

He scoffed, clearly insulted. “As if they’d be capable of that. If I had to sacrifice a few peasants here and there to keep them peaceful, I wouldn’t bat an eye. My kingdom for a commoner is a trifle. No, the blood they want is mine. They want to see what I’ve built up over the centuries diminished in months, in days. I’ve jumped into wars for less, you know as much. Unfortunately, I don’t think we’d fare well if an army were sent in and the backlash for such a heavy-handed move doesn’t make it worth the trouble.” He shook his head, clearing his mind of useless plans.

Hungary pitied him. Look how desperate he was to hold onto something so ephemeral, so meaningless. Empires came and went like the seasons. Here was a man who thought himself wise, yet he couldn’t grasp such a basic tenet of their existence. She had learnt it; so had Poland and Lithuania and every other plaything these so-called ‘powers’ sought. It was a lunacy, one that infected all of them the same. Now his was crumbling all around him and instead of attempting to move on, he would drag out the process. It was predictable and entirely disappointing. Despite having no reason to, she expected better of him.

She sighed and turned her gaze away from him. If she stared at him any longer, she’d feel nauseous. “What do you want from me?”

Relieved to be back on track, Austria’s body became less rigid. “Nothing, really. My offer is quite favorable to you. Our marriage, partnership, whatever descriptor you prefer becomes one of equals. Complete control of your lands returns to you. You’ll have the privilege or the torture to pore over the minutiae of whatever half-formed, barely coherent policy is cooked up by your own hacks in Budapest. Christ, am I normally this cynical?” He shook off the self-awareness. That could be dealt with later or, preferably, never. “Really, everything you’ve ever harassed me and all my various rulers about is now yours. You lose nothing in this arrangement.”

“Everything, bar the most important thing. Just because it’s been roughly twenty years hasn’t changed what the people want. You’re not giving me anything you view as important. Ruling my people has become an inconvenience, so you’ll hand it off to me. Ten years ago, you would’ve been insulted at the prospect. And now the insulted party will be us.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Why is conceding so difficult for your lot to do? Clinging onto everything will only make the inevitable that much harder.”

His eyes narrowed as he stared her down. “Nothing is inevitable. We’re in a difficult spot, but we’ve been through those before. As long as I bide my time and there’s no more incidents, everything will be back on track and no one will make anymore of their bitchy little comments.” The way he sneered as he said that last part, she was willing to bet that bothered him more than anything else. He tried smiling at her, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve conceded a lot to you with this. Fine, you’re not quite independent, but it’s just as good. In some ways, I’m doing you a favor. Foreign policy is such a nuisance. All of them are sharks, all of them would be circling you, sniffing out fresh blood. Europe isn’t how you remember it.”

Hungary grinded her teeth together. Patronizing, always patronizing. Even desperate for her assistance, he couldn’t view her as a peer. And then he wondered why she behaved the way she did? Why, sometimes, she can’t even stand to be near him? He was dumber than he had any right to be.

“Do you think I’ve been completely isolated from the world? I know how they all act, how they all think. The only ones I’d have to worry about fighting off would be you and Russia, and without me, what army do you have?” She smiled, enjoying how that blow landed. How could he argue against it? He’d said as much to her – sometimes with pride, sometimes with fear – many times throughout the years. “And believe me, I would love to strike out on my own and form my own alliances. I can think of a few who’d be more than happy to spurn you with a treaty or two.”

He folded his arms over his chest, staring at her with derision. “Insulting me won’t get you what you want, Liebchen.” He practically snarled out the nickname. Pet names had always been their favorite weapons. “This is the only deal you have. I don’t get all your bitching either. We negotiated with two of your most darling heroes. There’s no need for you to be putting up this much of a fight. Will you ever be satisfied with anything I do for you, or should I learn to accept your eternal disdain?”

She took shaky breaths through her nose. That was hardly enough to constrain her. “Perhaps I’d be more accepting of the terms if you’d bother to invite me to negotiations! I appreciate,” she roared the word out, her fury overtaking her, “that you were oh-so-fucking considerate enough to know who I would’ve chosen to be my representative. And here I thought you only paid attention to my lands to slaughter innocents! But you have never, will never, respect me enough to listen to me on what my own goddamn people want! Deák and Andrássy are good men, but they know nothing compared to me! How many times must I scream this at you until you get it? If I’m not allowed to have any free will in this life, then so be it! That’s my curse, but at least let me speak on their behalf! Give me the chance, the fucking chance, to win them the freedoms it appears I’ll never have!”

She only realized she was leaning over his desk when she was done. Her rage, built up over the centuries, was causing her to tremble. Staring into Roderich’s eyes, she swore she could kill him. She swore she could and it would be the last time, the most permanent of his deaths. It was so vivid in her mind that, for a moment, she believed it to be reality.

What brought her back to the present was how utterly bored he appeared at her antics. Here was the same song and dance they performed for each other. Here it was, meant to play out for eternity. Why would he fear her? What could she do to him that was permanent? Nothing. The one thing she could, he locked it away in some deal she wasn’t allowed to be apart of.

“Don’t you ever get tired of carrying on like that? So sanctimonious. As if your cause is the most just. Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to be bound to you?” He shook his head. “I’m convinced that if you ever tried to shut up, it would kill you. Though, honestly, I’d be grateful for the silence.” As she sat down, he smiled with an unrivaled arrogance. “There. Now, please, Erzsébet, try to be reasonable for a change. There’s no use in becoming so hysterical over this. Everything doesn’t have to be such a battle. Fighting like this, you haven’t taken a break in centuries. Aren’t you tired?”

She would not be baited. She refused to tell him what he wanted to hear, refused even if it were partially true. “The only thing I’m tired of is being brushed aside, but I know not to expect change from you.” She looked outside the window and sighed. “The ink is already dried, isn’t it? I can’t stop what’s been put in motion.”

“For the most part. All it needs is ratification. Though, we’ve been assured that that won’t be an issue.” Once more, he relaxed against the back of his chair. His relief was clear across his face. “I’m glad you’ve calmed yourself of those delusions. While I can commend your…dedication, you’ll have much more important things to busy yourself with.”

Hungary smiled, pleased with his false sense of security. “You’re right, there will be. I understand that, at this point, I can’t prevent anything. But, when news travels around, most will not be happy. This flies in the face of everything they’ve worked so hard to achieve over these last few years. They’ve been sold out, and I’m inclined to believe them.” She licked her lips, savoring the moment. “So, when the people take to the streets, when they demand what they know is owed to them, I won’t try to smooth things over. Never again. I will be right beside them, doing whatever I can to rile them up. Whatever they choose to do, however they decide to handle this, I will support them with every fiber of my being. And if that creates problems for you?” She stood up, smirking and curtseying. “Solve them yourself. I’m no propaganda piece.”

Head held high, she began striving out of the room. It was the only card she had left, the only thing she could think of. With every step she took, she prayed he’d be as weak as she knew he was. He had said it himself, there was nothing he could do to fight anything. Today did not come about out of a position of strength for him.

“Wait, Erzsébet! Please, don’t do this.” She heard him rise, heard the soft steps of his feet. “If you do that, neither of us will walk away from this looking good.” A soft intake of breath from him. “For once, I’m not too proud to admit that I need you. But, please, don’t throw it all away over nothing.” His voice was gentle, as if he were pleading with a lioness and not a woman.

When he reached out, she allowed him to touch her and spin her around. When had his hands last been that soft? Cornered, he was like a new man. “All you have to offer me is insults. What should I stay around for? I have more to gain away from you than besides you. I always have.”

“I know, dammit I know!” She watched his Adam’s apple shift as he swallowed. Roderich’s eyes were wide, all too aware that he was on the precipice. “Not now, though. You’re right, you’re my equal. I’ll give you whatever I can, within reason, to prevent that. Anything to prevent you from ruining me.”

The urge to scowl at his self-preservation was there. What else should she have expected? He was still Roderich; nothing could change the core of a man. Still, this was further than she’d ever gotten before. “You know me well enough to know what I want.”

“I assumed I did when making the last deal and look where it got me. Forgive me for wanting you to spell it out.” The beginning of a smile appeared on his face.

Erzsébet didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh. Feeling off-kilter, she settled for sitting on the sofa. “Not even you could mess this one up. I’m tired of sneaking around your back to leave the home. I’m not a young girl and you’re certainly not my father and you will stop treating me as such. If it’s that important to you, there’s only three places I’d be anyway, and you know them all. More importantly, start treating me like a person! You want your life to be less miserable? Then do yourself a favor and at least treat me with indifference, I’d rather that than constant disgust.” Her eyes met his and held them, challenging him to deny her. “And, whenever some big decision comes up, you better discuss it with me and actually give some consideration to my thoughts. You’re not any smarter than me and I’m as aware on everything as you are. If this is going to be both our futures, for whatever time you just bought yourself, then I’m not going to do anything to sabotage it.”

“That’s the very least of what I can do.” If she hadn’t known better, she would’ve thought she a flash of shame in his eyes. It couldn’t have been. She doubted that he could feel such things, so high were the walls he’d built.

She studied him skeptically. That had been far too easy. There must’ve been something he’d want in return. He couldn’t just have thought what he’d taken was enough. “Don’t you have anything you want from me? There’s no terms?”

Roderich paused, deciding his best course of action. He shrugged, apparently not finding any trap in her words. “Two. The first: cut off the affair. It can be anyone else, but not him. On a personal level, this will make me look like an even bigger cuckold than we all know I am.”

Erzsébet’s eyes hardened and she leaned away from him. “No, that’s out of the question.”

He frowned when she offered no further explanation. “Really? You could do so much better. Don’t tell me you actually love him.”

“You have no right to my personal life.”

“Right. I thought that was the case.” She couldn’t quite distinguish the exact emotions in his voice beyond disappointment and resignation. There was a layer to it that wasn’t simple to place.

He snapped her out of her thoughts when he spoke again. “Now, the emperor wants this sealed with some sort of formal wedding between us. I begged him to do anything but this. Unfortunately for the both of us, he thought it would make such a lovely story for the masses.” He gave an embarrassed smile. “I’m also not exactly asking for you to do this, since there became a gentleman’s agreement on it, but something that means much more to me.” He grew serious again at whiplashing speed. “Let me break the news to Gilbert. Give me the satisfaction.”

Erzsébet could imagine how it’d go. How the scene played out in her mind, it was horrid. Her stomach wrenched. “You’d wreck him.”

“That’s the point,” Roderich wore a cruel smile. He’d been imagining it as well.

“Why do you think I’d ever let you do that?”

He shrugged in an effort to appear nonchalant and failed. “Simple, really. If you tell him yourself, do you think he’ll believe you can’t just stop it? God, he’ll have every moronic scheme to prevent it and act all wounded when you tell him it can’t. I wouldn’t be surprised if he thought he were just your little plaything all along. Even though I have ‘no right to your personal life,’ as you so kindly put it, I’m no fool. What’s the point in risking it and being stuck with me?” He smiled at her, warm in a way she was unfamiliar with. His tone attempted to strike a friendliness that didn’t fit him. “If I do it, he hates me, comes sobbing to you about it, and you can both continue to curse my very existence. The status quo is maintained. It’s an obvious choice to me.”

She wandered if he’d prepared that speech just for now. It was tempting to ask him, but the knowing would be worse. Ignorance could, indeed, be a bliss. Erzsébet knew there was an ulterior motive for his words, there always was with him. He wasn’t Feliks, who she wouldn’t feel such guilt over listening to. Still, there was a human part of her that needed outside validation regardless of the source. “Do you think I’m a coward?” Her voice was so soft, she wondered if he’d even heard her.

“No, because I can understand it. Sometimes it’s braver to manipulate.” There was an understanding in his voice. She wouldn’t be surprised if this were coming from experience.

“Fine, but don’t be crueler than you have to. Try to have some compassion if you can.” There was a feeling of hollowness Erzsébet forced herself to ignore. Her life would be livable, that was what was most important. No one would have done it differently.

“He’ll get what he deserves,” Roderich bit back his irritation. They both knew who it was really for. Instead, he nodded his head and offered her his arm. “I’m sure you don’t want to spend the rest of the day watching me work. Allow me to walk you to the door.”

She politely took his arm. They walked in silence to the door, too busy was her mind for idle chatter. Anyways, hadn’t they said enough? Only on her way out did she smile at him and offer him her thanks.

He smiled at her. “Thank you. I promise I’ll make this worthwhile.”

#aushun #aph aushun #hws hungary #aph hungary #hws austria #aph austria #hetalia fanfic #hetalia fanfiction #historical hetalia #im back on my bullshit - at least for a moment

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sergeant-donny-donowitz · 4 years

Text

Blood Stained Name (AldoxFem!Reader)

Requested by @svonschroeder

@owba-chan @inglourious-imagines @war-obsessed @tealaquinn @struggling-bee @frozenhuntress67

Let me know if you wanna be added to the basterds or OUATIH taglist :)

You were, what some may call, a legend during the war. And like many other legends, you served as a warning to the cruel, and an idol to the just. And, like any other legend, you were hunted. In fact, there was quite a large bounty placed on your head, complimentary of the nazi party.

Dead or alive. The only problem was...your name was unknown. Your age was unknown. Your nationality was unknown. Any general description of you was flawed, full of anomalies thanks to fearful stutters and shudders. You made it known that you were helping resistances and rebellions throughout Europe. With that many allies, and so few clues, you were even harder to track down. The truth was, it was hard to hunt a hunter...because in spite of all you'd done for others, every rescue, every code, every message... your real gift was hunting. Nazi hunting, to be precise. So, with nothing better to go on than "nazi-hunter," you were dubbed 'Orion,' and filed as an enemy of the state. The Orion Initiative started in 1941: An extensive mission and intensive investigation aimed at tracking you down, led by your polar opposite, the Jew Hunter: Hans Landa. Rumors of the nazi hunting started just months after the nazi party took over... An official (though top secret) report was started in 1940, when the hunt was clearly more than just a rumor. An official investigation was launched in 1941. By late 1942, a group of nazi hunters was identified, and originally considered a set of 'copy cats.' The theory was struck down...and the group became known as the ‘basterds.' It was now 1944... The Orion mystery remained unsolved, making it the longest investigation Landa had ever been on. It was a record... Something he was not proud of. He had to solve it.... The only problem was he'd never seen such a clean trail...such meticulous murder... Nearly a perfect crime, every time. Just enough evidence left behind to drive him insane, and just less than enough to piece anything together. It was done on purpose. It was a mockery, and he knew it.

What he didn't know was your name... In fact, nearly no one knew it. The French Resistance knew you as Anaïs Bellamy, a saving grace. To the Soviets, Tatiana Zima. To the Belgian Resistance, you were Cassandra Willems. But that was as many names as Landa could collect (through the most heinous means). Neither of them were legitimate, and all of them led to dead ends. You were a myth with a thousand names. Faceless, but full of lore. Each resistance that knew you, knew you as a hero. Nothing more, nothing less. Each nazi that knew you, never saw anything again. To the allies, you were an asset. To the nazis, you were a faceless, nameless menace. To Hans Landa, you were an abomination, and an embarassment. He would uncover your name and face, and close that case and file, if it was the last thing he did.

He swore that he'd find you. You were just like him at the end of the day. You used the same strategies, same intimidation, you played the same game... Of course, you knew that. And it drove you crazy. Because you wanted to be nothing like him... Nothing like your father. Unaware of your million names, you were simply Y/n to him. His daughter. To you, he was simply a nazi. Dead to you, the moment he first put on his SS uniform... But he didn't know that. He was too busy with work, and you didn't quite mind your game of cat and mouse. You liked driving him crazy without him even knowing. As he worked overtime trying to find a single connection, you smirked, as he rattled on and on about names and clues. He’d never been so frantic over any case before... Every once in a while, you’d throw him a bone. A useless, broken bone, at that. A puzzle piece to a puzzle without a picture. Still, he’d smile at you, the only thing in the world he had, and sighed, “Danke, Y/n...” Y/N. Very few people knew that to be your name. And one yank hillbilly by the name of Lieutenant Aldo Raine knew it....

By accident, of course. He never quite had the pleasure of making your acquaintance, but he did know enough of your friends in the resistance, and as a basterd, he was privy to some information most people weren't. It was rare, but he somehow connected the dots. He saw one of your identifications. One of the many.... He may have been a bootlegging redneck from the humble Maynardville Tennessee, but he was no idiot. And he practically had a photographic memory.

There were faces he never forgot. And yours, on those fake French papers, was one of them. Your name stuck with him... Your name....the thing you hated most about yourself. "You're so much like him!" "Same eyes!" "Same brains, too!" You forced a smile through it all. You couldn't take much more of this. You were trapped in a crowded lobby, in a cinema, surrounded by your enemy. Your name... This was the exact reason very few of your allies knew your real name. They equated you to your father. They were suspicious of you, a possible double crosser... It took so much to convince people of your true colors. But...you couldn't blame them. You still carried all the blame of your father's sins. You didn't think twice. You just fought. And you fought the urge to cry and scream, and burn the place down in that moment. Landa was a blood stained name, and there was nothing you could do about it... You sighed, as your father interceded, accepted compliments on your behalf...and proceeded to encourage you to mingle. "I want grandchildren some day." It took every ounce of you to brace yourself, and remind yourself that there was already a plan for the night. You forced a smile as you lost yourself in the crowd, away from him, and leaned over the railing of the second floor, watching the final night of your life come and go, there at the Nations Pride premier. ******** The war went on, and the basterds built up a way into Emmanuelle Mimeau's cinema: Operation Kino. Along the way, Bridget revealed she had eyes on the sinde of the regime....and the theater. She showed the basterds the picture of her spy. A 'darling little thing,' as she held up a newspaper clipping. A daughter of a renowned nazi officer. A face Aldo recognized.... but no... It couldn’t be... He’d believe it when he saw it. And there you were, in the lobby with the rest of the nazis, for the premier of Nation's Pride. Aldo spotted you from across the room as he walked in with Bridget, Omar, and Donny. He was caught off guard, seeing a legend like you in person was almost like seeing a ghost story come to life. He whispered with astonishment, "Y/N Landa." You had spotted them from a mile away, on the second floor, as you leaned over the rails. You smiled, having learned to read lips long ago, as you looked Aldo in the eye. You knew time was running out. You knew Operation Kino in and out. It was a sign of the times...so you may as well have fun with what you had left of it. You winked at Aldo, and blew him a kiss. He was flustered for a split second.

Donny snickered, Omar smirked, and Bridget looked away, blushing as she giggled. Only moments before the boys could make their way to you for last minute updates, they ran into a little problem. Your father. ....Still, Aldo smiled and nodded snarkily as he made conversation in an embarassingly tragic excuse for Italian. Aldo couldn't believe it.... Hans Landa had no idea who his own daughter was. **********1943*********** "Monsieur Raine, you've just missed her!" The Basterds' contact in the French Resistance, Etienne, chuckled. "Who?" He smiled, "Your counterpart. Orion." Donny raised his eyebrow, "You said 'her'?" Etienne nodded, "Her." He held out a copy of your resistance identification. Aldo held the paper, and looked up, "Orion's a woman?" He narrowed his eyes as he looked at the fake name: Anaïs Bellamy. Hirschberg leaned over his shoulder, inspecting the documents... a bit disappointed, having hoped that Orion was an American. Etienne rolled his eyes, "German. Y/n Landa. One of the best we got." Another resistance fighter smiled as he cleaned nazi blood off his guns, "Good kid. Good aim. Fast runner." ---Meanwhile--- "Verdammt. Verdaaaamnt. Verdamnt." You muttered under your breath, as you climbed through your bedroom window, threw off your bloody, war-torn clothes, and threw on something presentable. You quickly glanced into your mirror. You popped your thumb in your mouth, and then wiped away some blood from your cheekbone. Your hair was a mess, and you looked tired. Perfect. You practically flew down the stairs, and rushed down the halls. You had a job to do in Paris. You couldn’t exactly waste time conversing with that fiend that dared call himself a father.

But you were stopped by an old familiar voice. "Another bad night, liebling?" You sighed, and shuffled toward the doorway in the dining room. "Ja..." Your father sighed as he put down his newspaper, and looked at you, as he smoked his pipe. He shook his head, and went on about being worried, and telling you for the millionth time that you should see a doctor. "No, but I-" "Your grades are slipping! Don't think I haven't noticed." He grumbled a little.

"I'm still graduating next semester." "You're still seeing a doctor." "But-" "Tomorrow morning." "But." He raised his voice, "Case closed." That was it...

Once Hans Landa said 'case closed,' he meant it. ************************ The night went on, as expected... Mostly.

As he interrogated Aldo and Smitty, he expected he had it all figured out. "What shall the history books read?" Aldo raised his eyebrow, "Yeah? An' what about Y/n? Ain’t that kid still in the theater? Be a shame. Ain’t that right, Utivich?" Utivich smirked a little, “Yes, sir.” Landa stopped smirking... His face grew spiteful, his eyes narrowed with the intent to kill, "Tell me how you know my daughter's name or I swear I'll send word to the theater, I'll have the rest of your men shot, and-"

"Relax Landa. I know all my associate's names." Landa shook his head, "Associates?" He smiled, thinking he had it figured out again, "She was infiltrating your basterds, and didn't tell me!" He grinned, "I tell you, that girl is just like me. That's it, isn't it?" Aldo smirked this time, and shook his head once, "Nope." Landa's face fell. If looks could kill... "So you either make that there deal, or not. Y/n is my man on the inside. And ain't no way you takin em boys out without settin' em bombs off." Landa left the desk, and immediately sent orders out for you to be found, and escorted directly to him. Then he took the deal with the general. He would deal with you later. He couldn't tell if what Aldo said was true, but he desparately hoped it wasn't... and even more so, he wanted you out of that cinema. As Smitty and Aldo were escorted onto the truck to be taken behind allied lines, a nazi ran up to Landa with some news. You were not found... He was silent for a moment, and looked down as he nodded slowly, bracing himself for the possibility that you never would be found. Perhaps, you'd gone out for some air. Maube you'd gone home, and finally got some sleep. Or you went out looking for your dear old dad... Maybe....maybe you'd met someone worth loving there, a high ranking officer. (You had...but Aldo wasn't exactly the man Landa had in mind for you.) "Sir." Hans snapped out of it, and nodded as he made his way to his seat. Everything went well...too welll... The next thing he knew, Aldo had carved a swastika onto his face, and as he screamed in agony, Landa saw a nazi truck pulling up. A hijacked one. One with three familiar faces. Two basterds, and a hunter.

Landa was a smart man, but, his hope and sentimenatality won out for once. He believed for a few moments you were there to save him, that you'd apprehended Donny and Omar, and you'd given him a fighting chance. You were just like him, after all, all the people said so. Maybe you'd be a double crosser, and help him. But you didn't. As blood from Aldo's mark dripped into Landa's eyes, he looked up at you, betrayed for a moment. Then....it all came together. He pursed his lips, as he pieced every single bit of evidence together. You knew things there was no way for you to know. You had been right under his nose all along. It had been the perfect place to hide.... He gave one psychotic smile, as he watched you raise your pistol, and aim it at him. "I knew you'd outsmart me some day." You heard Aldo step up from behind you, "Y/n...he's still your father. We can take care of this." Landa, at the moment, was truly intrigued at what would happen next. But you didn't put your gun down. You shook your head, not even looking at Aldo. In fact, you looked at your ‘father’ the whole time. You muttered, "I don't have a father." He seemed betrayed again, for an instant, but then again, you were just like him. A double crosser with a mission. He nodded. He smiled as he nodded.

He accepted it... You were just like him, after all... And he finally had an answer to the Orion Initiative. It would remain unofficial, and lost... But the case was finally closed. To him, at least. The Orion Initiative had an answer. It had been right under his nose, all along. He really was impressed, and psychotic as it was...he was proud of you. But the feeling was not mutual. You knew even after all that, he wasn't sorry. And the guilt of the nazis had done would forever weigh on you...So one less nazi in the world, one last hunt was all you could ask for. The war was over, but at that moment, there were things you and every other resitance, soldier, and victim would never forget. This was it... He smiled, and shrugged, "Case closed, Orion." You pulled the trigger. At that moment, there were thousands filing into streets, drinking, celebrating, dancing in the streets.... But when the confetti was swept up, and the soldiers went home, and the toppled regimes’ dust settled...everyone would have somewhere to go.

The gunsmoke cleared, and you took a breath, for the first time in a long time. You lowered your shoulders, and unclenched your jaw... For the first time in a long time, you could rest... But you had no place to call home. No one to call your own, in spite of the thousands that knew you, your face, and your story, few knew your name... Even fewer knew you. But you felt a hand on your shoulder, and a soft voice with a strange accent. "Y/n..." And you turned to see a warm smile, and kinder eyes: Lieutenant Aldo Raine... But he'd tell you you could call him Aldo, later that day. And your world turned upside down. "Well...” He put his hands at his hips and sighed as he smiled at you, “You ain't part of the deal, Orion, and I sure as hell am gon' get chewed out for this...but I think we'll find somethin' for ya." You smiled genuinely for the first time in a long time... That was the first, honest thing you'd heard in longer than you could remember... He took your hand, as you walked with the basterds to the west, to the general, and to freedom. As you smiled at Aldo, and he smiled at you, you knew you were going somewhere safe, somewhere far. Perhaps on a mountain, somewhere in the middle of Tennessee. It wouldn't be like the mountains in Austria that you knew, but, a kinder place, one far from war, and farther from your memories of it. There in Aldo's eyes, you found something new as the sun began to rise in the horizon. A beginning... A place to call your own, a name without a blood stain.

#Inglourious Basterds #inglourious basterds imagine #aldo raine #aldo the apache #aldo raine x reader #hans landa

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soulofgenocide · 3 years

Text

Drink The Kool-Aid

Stealing was the typical reward he got for killing, it was much less effective than just blackmailing people, or making them fear him to their core, but tonight he had a different reward in mind as he hummed happily. He had no idea what that reward might be, but he knew he wanted it, she had offered it up if he was a good boy after all and that had to mean it was at least something somewhat good.

With a bit of a huff he leapt up to grab hold of an apartment window, his threads quickly squirming underneath and unlocking it as he slipped it open and popped inside. He hunted police quite often, the dirty ones being his typical go to considering they usually had money to steal, or have them give to him, but it had been awhile since he went after a ‘good’ cop, though refusing to play ball didn’t just default make you a good person. It was certainly more likely, that an already shitty person would become a crooked cop, but for the most part he hadn’t even bothered to do much digging into his target, there wasn’t a need for unimportant people.

Learning their schedule never took a long time, so the click as the apartments front door was unlocked didn’t surprise him, rather than just make a charge though Richard slipped into a separate room and listened as they entered their home. He silently looked over family photos, most of the officer with his parents he could only assume, and then a couple with what looked like friends, people that were cared about were a bit more difficult to just erase, so flushing him down the toilet might be a less than good idea.

They went to their kitchen almost immediately, tossing their keys into what sounded like a ceramic bowl and opening up the fridge, the sound of a carbonated drink hissing then filling the air as Richard wandered silently over to the front door. A thread slipped inside of it to lock it without making a noise, he then very quickly took a few steps to the side as the officer walked through the hall toward the room that Richard had already noticed had a television in it.

The sound it made as it clicked to life made it a bit easier to slip around, but he was already practically silent so it didn’t matter much, it did make it easy to slip into the kitchen and grab a drink for himself though. He began to hum, cracking open his drink as the television suddenly fell silent, but he walked into the room and leaned against the doorframe before the officer could even go searching.

“Welcome home honey, I see you’ve already got yourself something to drink.”

“Who the hell are you, what are you doing in my home!”

They went to make a move, but Richards threads were already coiling up their legs and very quickly kept them down in the position they had been enjoying their nightly television watching in. A couple quick shouts escaped their mouth, but his threads made sure to quickly cover that too, basically forming a tight scarf to gag them and keep them quiet so the neighbors didn’t get any ideas.

“Should’ve just drank the Kool-Aid, my friend, rather than cause problems for my employer, wait is that too American of a reference, oh well.”

Richard moved to next to the officer, looking them over closely and giving the chance for them to do the same in return, their eyes full of fear were certainly giving him a good scan too.

“I believe your quirk is what, you can harden your hair, quite useless in this situation then isn’t it, hmm? That usually seems to be the case though doesn’t it, people who are quirkless or who have useless quirks become police, people with amazing ones becoming heroes or villains, so I mean you’re just on a different level from me by default. No offense, I am a serial killer after all, though I guess if I steal I’m more of a serial.. theft that also.. ya know what no, I’m a serial killer, fuck the appropriate definition.”

Slowly a thread began to coil around the police officers throat, digging into their flesh as it grew tighter by every passing second, the thread gag slithering away as Richard placed his hands on their cheeks.

“Y-You’re the Hangman.”

“What? Is that what I’m called now? That’s shit, so generic, do I have to carve my name into a skull to get a decent name?”

“P-Please, whoever hired you, tell them I’ll do whatever they want just don’t kill me.”

“I mean I could call her, but no, I’m not even gonna risk my reward, I was told to kill you and that’s what good boys do.”

“You’re going to take a human life just for some reward?”

“I’ve killed for nothing before, so yes, I’m going to kill when an enticing reward is offered to me. Maybe it’ll be something lewd, like handholding, oh I’ll definitely go to hell for something like that.”

“You’re a psychopath!”

“Yes I did tell you I’m a, S-E-R-I-A-L K-I-L-L-E-R, did I not?”

“Go fuck yourself, you’re just some dog, I bet you’re working for the Yakuza, on their leash until they decide you aren’t worth it and kill you too!”

“Silly.”

Richards thread around his neck shot up to the ceiling, pulling the loop tight and lifting the police officer up off the ground, his legs immediately beginning to kick as he tried to move his hands up to his throat. No threads stopped him, there was no point, even as the officers hands found the thread nothing he would be able to do could get him free.

“I’m a good boy, but I’m just doing what interests me, they could send all they’ve got at me and sure I may die, but I’ll certainly drag them to hell with me. It’ll be fun at least, I’ve never been in a little war before, maybe I’ll drag the police in too if it ever comes to that and really up the slaughtering, but well, you won’t be there of course.”

His squirming began to slow, and with a small smile Richard stared into the eyes of the officer which were gazing deeply into his, he remained like that until the last bit of light left him. With a quiet yawn he stretched his arms before severing the thread from his body that was currently acting as a noose for his latest victim, it quickly tied itself off and dangled the body peacefully in the middle of the room. He turned to leave, but then quickly turned back around and grabbed a nearby piece of paper, writing very quickly onto it and tucking it into the police officers front pocket. Making him just disappear would be easy, but it would raise a lot of questions and possibly make things harder for his employer, so simply taking all the blame himself and completely diverting the eyes of the public to him was the easiest route.

His hum returned as he went to leave, thousands of his threads pouring from his body to slither along the ground of the apartment, gathering up every bit of even the tiniest evidence that he had been in the residence tonight. They returned to him only when he was back through the same window he entered with, closing it behind him and slipping back inside his body before he could even take the first step toward home.

The note was a very simple statement, meant for the police that would eventually discover the body, and for the news teams that would eventually cover it as well, it read: “Your name for me is shit, but I’ll take it. -The Hangman”

#ic #bnha rp #villain verse #Genocide: The Hangman #gore #murder

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khtrinityftw · 4 years

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Part [Versus] 13: The Grand Fatality

At first glance, Kingdom Hearts III went about how most people expected it to. Beautiful graphics, fun gameplay, lots of Disney goodness, and a story that was absolute horseshit and nigh impossible to understand but at least was more bearable than Dream Drop Distance. But when you look deeper, you'll find that there are fundamental story problems in this game that go far and beyond anything else in the series.

The game took so long to come out that when it did, it became a natural jumping on point for many new players instead of just an ending to a long-spanning saga. And because the story relies so much upon all the previous games, it constantly takes breaks to go into exposition about things that happened in those installments, and it just feels so awkward and out of place. Riku and Mickey spend a good portion of the game going over things that they already know just to catch new players up to speed.

The story's pacing is among the worst I have ever seen in a video game. I already mentioned earlier that nothing of importance goes down in the Disney worlds, but would you believe that nothing of importance even happens in the periods of time between the Disney world visits as well? Riku and Mickey are dicking around on a search that goes nowhere, while Sora, Donald and Goofy are working on trying to do something that they ultimately play no part in actually accomplishing, and the members of the new Organization XIII just keep talking about what's going to happen during the finale of the game rather than engaging in any active plans in the here and now...or in Ansem's case, he just teases a new story element out of nowhere that is never fully explained and is just set up for future games. There's actually a lot of teasing for the future in this game, which is supposed to be the Dark Seeker Saga's finale. KH2 had way more finality to it than this!

There isn't even a midpoint to the story like there's been in practically every other game. A midpoint and reasons for the main characters to be visiting the Disney worlds was something that even 3D managed to have, and yet this one doesn't! There is a beginning to the story with the trips to Olympus and Twilight Town, and then there's an end from the confrontation with Anti-Aqua and onward. Everything in between is mostly pointless, it's just a bunch of wheel spinning until every resolution to every major hanging plot thread just happens all in succession, usually in the most underwhelming way possible.

And even the game's finale has a needless detour in it! While it's beautifully designed, the Final World has no business being in the story because its presence only happens because of a horribly-written scene where all the heroes behave like idiots and die. It really feels like it was just made for trailer shots that make the situation look hopeless, because it's reversed almost as quickly as it happens. They credit Kairi for this, but she didn't actually do anything other than believe in Sora really hard which is what kept him from dying in a forced retread of the original KH, except that back then Kairi had to make actual choices and take actual action to bring Sora back.

Kairi is honestly the worst treated character in this game. Not only did they learn nothing from KH2 in regards how to pace her appearances since they're paced the same way here, but all personality is sucked out of her, turning her into even more of just a basic love interest. She's three-dimensional in KH1, two-dimensional in KH2, and one-dimensional in KH3! Her design isn't as good as previous ones, facial animation for her is almost non-existent, Alyson Stoner's voice-acting is tepid, and she contributes nothing to the story. She trains as a Keyblade wielder alongside her former kidnapper Axel, is made to service him and his development rather than having any of her own, then shares a paopu fruit with Sora out of fucking nowhere (Sora’s never spoken to or about her since “Blank Points”!), freezes up like an idiot when faced with Terra-Xehanort, dies but is brought back due to that "belief" thing, fights Xion and Saix as a party member for literally one minute before she gets knocked down and then kidnapped by Xemnas, and then Master Xehanort gives her a second death in order to provide Sora with "motivation". In other words, she gets stuffed into the fridge (look it up). Sora brings her back to life offscreen, but he fades away as a result of this due to the nebulous rules of the Power of Waking, and that's where the game just ends: with everyone getting a conclusive happy ending except for the main character and his love interest.

And I know that I already mentioned how Kairi was done dirty by the series in order to pander to the worst kinds of fans, but this time it just feels downright mean-spirited. Since the secret ending of 3D in 2012, Kairi was being hyped as someone who would finally become an active combatant, a Keyblade wielder who could be a party member or maybe even playable. And then when the time to pay that off finally comes, it's the exact opposite outcome, with Kairi being portrayed as every bit as useless as her haters always said she was, and then dying. Oh, and her murderer gets to go to Heaven. No joke, that's how Master Xehanort is sent off: his heart is cleansed by Eraqus and they go off to Heaven together, arm in arm. It's the natural culmination of Nomura's creepy favoritism toward this character, and his blatant disdain for Kairi.

But perhaps the worst part of KH3 in regards to the series going forward is something that seemed to be a joke in the Toy Story world: Verum Rex. You see, for almost the entirety of the time between KH2's release and KH3's, Nomura was at work on Final Fantasy Versus XIII, a spin-off of Final Fantasy XIII that was to branch out into its own series and featured action RPG gameplay like the KH series. But Nomura and his team was so incompetent that they ended up putting the game into Development Hell, so Square revamped it as Final Fantasy XV in 2012 and then kicked Nomura off two years later, replacing him completely with Hajime Tabata. And I can't blame them, Nomura was stalling even the revamped game with proposals like turning into a musical after he watched Les Miserables. Yes, that seriously happened.

Nomura put in so much into Versus XIII that he could not let it go, and so what initially appeared to be a tongue-in-cheek parody of it called Verum Rex in the Toy Story world turned out to be quite serious, as the game's secret ending FMV revealed Sora and Riku in a Shinjuku-inspired city like Versus XIII's Insomnia, with Verum Rex's Noctis-expy of a main character, Yozora, watching from atop a building, and the Master of Masters atop another. The next stage for the KH series is thus, basically, Final Fantasy Versus XIII reborn. Not content with using the series as an outlet for his shonen manga-ka fantasies, Nomura is now using it as a do-over for a game he screwed up and has only himself to blame for its cancellation.

At the risk of my repeating myself: this series started out as a whimsical crossover between Disney and Square, a series of Final Fantasy-style JRPGs set within the world of Disney. Now it's being turned into quite literally a Final Fantasy clone.

#Plinkett-Style #Anti-Series Beyond #Anti-Nomura

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duhragonball · 5 years

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Dragon Ball Z 222

The recap for this episode includes a cutaway diagram of Babidi’s spaceship. I think I messed up the screencaps here to make it look like there’s five stages instead of just four, but you get the general idea. The big chamber at the bottom is where I think Babidi monitors the fights, and then below that is the room where Buu’s ball is stored.

The thing I never understood was why so much of Babidi’s ship is devoted to this gauntlet he’s having our heroes run. Each “Stage” is equipped to absorb energy lost by intruders as they do battle with the stages’ defenders, which is handy for Babidi’s current project of reviving Majin Buu. But this is probably the first and only time this has ever come up. Would Babidi even have need for stolen energy other than reviving Buu?

Come to think of it, has Babidi ever had any other agenda before this? My understanding of his life is this: He was created as a duplicate of his “father” Bibidi, probably to do some side work for him, and when the Supreme Kai killed Bibidi he eventually started plotting to take over where Bibidi left off. So I would assume he’s spent his whole existence trying to recover Majin Buu, though much of that was preparation, I’m sure. He had to learn more magic, assemble a crew, acquire this spaceship, and figure out Buu’s location.

Anyway, up on Stage 1, Vegeta has to fight Puipui before they can proceed further into the ship. If Puipui hurts Vegeta (or Goku or Gohan, if he ever gets to them), the damage will feed Buu’s ball. But that doesn’t seem to matter, since Vegeta utterly dominates the guy in his base form.

To improve Puipui’s chances, Babidi uses his magic.

Now, the Supreme Kai claims that Babidi only used his magic to change the room, but later episodes will strongly suggest that they’ve all been teleported to a new location outside of the ship. I’m not clear on this, but one way or another, they’re now standing on what looks like Puipui’s homeworld, the planet Zoon. The subs spell it “Zun”, but I feel like “Zoon” is right. “Zuun?” I kind of like all three. Skip it.

Whether they’re actually on Zoon or a reasonable facsimile, Vegeta is surprised by the change, and Puipui brags that he now has the advantage, because the gravity here is ten times that of earth. Oh, you sweet summer child...

Punch.

Kick.

Titty grab.

>:^D

Closed casket funeral.

The Saiyans head for the next deck, while the Supreme Kai is gobsmacked by Vegeta’s performance. Puipui never even touched Vegeta, and Geets wasn’t even using Super Saiyan.

Watching this fight again, I notice that Vegeta’s style has changed dramatically since his battles against the androids and Cell. He taunted Puipui a few times, but he wasted no time in putting the guy away. I’d suggest that the only reason the fight lasted as long as it did was because Vegeta wanted to scout him out a bit before he committed to a finishing blow. This is a far cry from when he fought 19, and he basically gave 19 a bunch of free hits just to show him how outclassed he was. He horsed around with 18 and Cell in a similar fashion, thinking he had an advantage that he really didn’t. But against Puipui, he was all business.

I point all this out, because it’s tough to square Vegeta’s stoic gruffness in the 2010′s with his manic bluster from early and mid-DBZ. When he first showed up in the Saiyans Saga, he was very cocky, but also quiet, letting Nappa do most of the gloating. Then Goku got under his skin and he became downright nutty. On Namek, he acted like a total lunatic sometimes, which I always chalked up to his desperation to beat Frieza to immortality, and the rich rewards he would achieve if he could pull it off.

Most of the Androids and Cell period was him trying to prove his superiority, to be the man he had always claimed to be. His big problem was that he thought turning Super Saiyan was a destination instead of a journey, and that it would solve all his problems. This is why he kept losing in that arc, because he went into every fight thinking he’d already won by showing up.

The Puipui fight is the last time we see him win a fight in DBZ. If we want to count the later series and movies... let’s see. He killed Nappa in Dragon Ball GT, but how big a deal is that? He beat Golden Frieza in Movie 15, but he was practically beaten anyway after fighting with Goku. In Dragon Ball Super he took out Captain Ginyu, then several fighters from the other universes. Toppo was the big win for that series. Dramatically speaking, though, all of these resemble the Puipui fight more than the battles he had before that. Much more focused, no nonsense, and shutting out distractions.

Maybe that’s what Whis meant when he told him he was wound up too tightly in Movie 15. If Whis could have seen Vegeta’s fight with Semiperfect Cell, he would realize that Vegeta used to be way too sloppy and self-assured, and the “overthinking” approach he used afterward was his attempt to compensate for that.

Anyway, Babidi and Dabura are shocked to find anyone this strong on Earth, because they scouted the planet 300 years ago and didn’t find anyone nearly that powerful. Okay, but what I don’t get is that they must have realized the Saiyans were unusually powerful, because that’s why they lured them on board in the first place. They wrote Krillin and Piccolo off as useless, and I’m betting either of them could have killed Puipui.

Back at the stadium, Chi-Chu suddenly realizes that she has no idea where Goten is. For some reason, Bulma doesn’t seem terribly concerned about Trunks, though.

Turns out, they’re both in the... lounge? I have no idea what this room is for, but it’s some place for the tournament fighters to hang out, because when the World Tournament Announcer comes into find Mighty Mask, he finds the boys instead, and tells them they aren’t allowed back here. See, Goten was tired of carrying Trunks on his shoulders, so they came in here to take a break.

WTA wanted to tell Mighty Mask that they’re still figuring out how to proceed with only five fighters, and then he notices MM’s costume on the floor, so Trunks uses super speed to turn on the shower. WTA almost walks in on the guy, but Goten insists that he’d be mad about that. WTA’s like “Oh, yeah, those masked fighters hate for anyone to see their faces.” Okay, yeah, but more importantly, maybe you don’t just walk in on somebody while they’re taking a shower? Geez.

So he calls out to MM from there, and Trunks has to pull the crappiest ventriloquism act ever to respond. The Announcer buys this completely, just like he buys that Trunks and Goten only came in here to find Mr. Satan and get his autograph. Then again, WTA’s seen a lot of weird shit in his time. I get the sense that he’s a dude who gets along by not asking too many questions. If you served him Steamed Hams, he’d be all excited to sample authentic Utica cuisine.

Piccolo and Krillin update: They’re still statues.

In the ship, Babidi decides to send Yakon down to Stage 2. Dabura thinks that’s a bit extreme, but Babidi doesn’t want to take these intruders too lightly, not after Puipui got killed without landing a single blow.

Dabura’s all worried that Yakon will kill them all before he gets to have any fun with them, and Babidi has to remind him that he’s his mind-controlled henchman, so he’s not here to have fun, dammit.

That’s kind of the interesting thing about the dynamic between these two. Babidi seems to give his slaves a lot of leeway, either because he can’t control them absolutely, or because he prefers to let them think independently. In Dabura’s case, he seems to enjoy having him as a dependable second-in-command, offering counsel and relaying his orders to the crew. It gets to the point where even Dabura gets a little too comfortable with the role now and then.

And it becomes easy for us in the audience to forget that Dabura is one of Babidi’s victims. He only wants to awaken Buu because Babidi told him to want it. Would Dabura even care about this goal otherwise? I mean, it’s an evil agenda, but maybe not his brand of evil, you know?

I think this is why Toriyama designed him to look so much like a classic interpreation of the Chrisitan Devil. He’s not like Frieza or King Piccolo, where he’ll have time to establish his credentials as a major villain. Dabura has to look like a major villain up front, because we’ll never really get to see how he earned the role. His job is to look like a big deal, to emphasize that Babidi has turned him into plaything. He could make this guy swab the decks with his tongue if he wanted to. He only lets Dabura play first-officer because it suits his purposes.

So some of the henchmen got to summon Yakon for Stage 2 duty, and he kills them as soon as they open the door to his room. Awesome! This guy ain’t fucking around.

Then Babidi calls to him, probably though telepathy or something, and it’s clear that this guy is Babidi’s plaything too. It kind of makes you wonder why Babidi even bothered having minions go fetch Yakon in the first place, if this was the only way to get him to cooperate. But it makes a lot of sense once you realize Babidi is a sick fuck and all of his servants are expendable.

In Stage Two, Vegeta suggests forcing the door again, and when the Supreme Kai argues that this might release Buu, he asks how big a deal Buu really is. After all, Puipui was helpless against him, and Dabura’s not that big a deal either.

Shin’s like “Whaaaaa?” and Vegeta’s like, “Yeah, Dabura’s not that tough. Your friend Kibito only got killed because he’s a bitch.”

Shin asks Goku if this is true, and Goku’s like “Yep, Kibito’s shit tier, Supreme Kai.”

Goku estimates that Dabura’s about as strong as Cell was, and Cell was a big deal... seven years ago. Now, being as strong as Cell doesn’t mean jack to these guys. That’s awesome. I love this.

And this makes the Supreme Kai look like a real geek, because he only seemed to know that Goku and the others were very strong, but he had no idea how strong. My impression is that he had no idea the Cell conflict ever happened, which kind of makes sense, seeing as Cell came from the future. Perfect Cell was never really meant to be, when you think about it. In his own timeline, the androids he had to absorb to become perfect were already dead, so without time travel, no one would ever have to deal with him at full power. As it was, he fought the Z-Fighters umpteen years before he was born, so it sort of forced the heroes to get stronger than they would have been normally.

My guess is that the Supreme Kai knew about how strong Frieza was, and that Goku beat him, so he estimated his power based on this. Still, you’d think he could have asked around before today. He knew Goku would be at the tournament, so he must have had some advance notice on this. All he had to do was talk to King Kai and go “Hey, how do you think Son Goku would stack up against, say, Dabura?” And King Kai would go “You know, I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I think Goku could take him, sir. He’s improved dramatically since he beat Frieza.” And at least then he’d know what he was dealing with.

Something else I wonder about is why none of the Kai’s seem to know anything about Saiyans. I mean, they’ve all been around for millions of years, and Goku wasn’t the first Super Saiyan. Maybe he and Vegeta are stronger than all the ones who came before, but you’d think some of the Kais would have noticed when the last Super Saiyan was running wild a thousand years ago, or the Super Saiyan before that, and so on.

My point is that both the Supreme Kai and Babidi seem to think these guys are key to their respective plans, and yet they seem surprised to find out how strong they are. Let me throw out a suggestion here: If Shin knew exactly how strong Goku is right now, do you think he’d just blow up this spaceship and have done with it? I mean, if Buu wakes up prematurely, in his weakened state, Goku could probably beat him, right? It’d be a gamble, but no worse than what ends up happening in this story.

Anyway, Yakon finally shows up on Stage 2, so we can finally get on with this thing.

And it’s Goku’s turn to fight, so we get to see what he can do after all these years. Doncha dare miss it!

#dragon ball #2019dbliveblog #babidi saga #goku #vegeta #puipui #gohan #supreme kai #babidi #dabura #yakon #goten #trunks #chi chi #world tournament announcer #ox king #yamcha #marron #master roshi

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nadziejastar · 5 years

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I love the idea. It completes the elemental theme since Terra is earth, Aqua is water, Ventus is wind, Lea is fire, and Isa means “ice”. Sora is sky, Riku is land, Kairi is sea, TAV are stars, Lea is sun, and Isa is moon.

Organization XIII’s Number VII.

If Saïx sees something he can use, he will—and without a second thought.

But also, it fits Isa’s character. I think he’s such a fascinating character. I think he wanted to be useful more than anybody. In the organization, you have to be strong or useful in some way. Otherwise you are annihilated. Treating a person to ice cream is how Axel commends someone for trying hard and doing their best. This seems to be a special tradition for him because of its connection to his youth.

“You hate troublesome things, right, Axel?”

“Well, Roxas—why do the three of us eat ice cream together every day in that place? I have no use in doing that either, do I? If you think about it, it’s troublesome, right? Do you want me to tell you?” Roxas looked at Axel, and waited for his answer.

“It’s because we are best friends.”

Axel specified that he had no practical use for eating ice cream every day with Roxas and Xion. But best friends don’t think of each other in terms of usefulness. From an objective standpoint, it might be seen as troublesome. But subjectively, it’s not. He goes out of his way to hang out with them because it’s fun and that’s what friends do.

Isa—A serene and self-possessed boy who always has time for a quick quip at his best friend Lea’s expense.

It doesn’t seem like Isa was a very “motivated” person, at least in the way the organization would desire. He was laid back and always had time for a quip at Lea’s expense. It seems like Isa was the one who was more motivated by hanging out and eating ice cream than anything.

“I’m a can-do man, so I got ready ages ago.”

“How exactly are you ‘can-do’, kupo?” mumbled the Moogle.

“Yeah, how exactly are you ‘can-do’?” Roxas repeated.

“In ways darling children like you don’t understand,” said Axel, scratching his head. Roxas and the Moogle looked at each other and laughed.

Roxas and the shop moogle made quips at Axel’s expense on the day they go looking for Xion.

If she went back only to report another failure, Saïx would know that she couldn’t wield the Keyblade anymore. And then…she might be terminated.

What do I do? What can I possibly do…?

That was the day Xion ran away because she was afraid of being annihilated for being useless.

“We can’t afford to spend any more chances on you,” Saïx was telling her. “You were a mistake we never should have made. A failure.”

Failure…? What was that about?

With one parting glance at Xion’s miserable, downcast face, Saïx turned and left.

More than any other insult, Saïx called Xion “failure” the most.

He’d failed the mission where he’d been told if he disregarded his orders he’d be destroyed. Disregarding orders and failing a mission were considered the same thing.

In the organization, failure to carry out an order is considered the same as disobeying the order. Axel knew this after he failed to bring Roxas back.

“You are to discover the identity of the outsider,” he told her. “Those are direct orders from Lord Xemnas. Failure is the same as insubordination. You understand that, don’t you?”

“Wha…?” Xion had no idea that Xemnas had chosen her for this mission. To the best of her knowledge, Saïx was the one in charge of assigning tasks.

And Saïx emphasized this when he gave Xion the order to capture Riku.

Day 172: Meaning Behind the Words

Author: Axel

There has to be something to what Saïx said. Why isn’t Xion qualified to be one of us? He said to just look at her, but at what? The fact that she looks like Naminé? Xion and Naminé must be connected. Whose Nobody is Xion, anyway? What is Saïx hiding?

After Xion collapsed, Saïx said she was not worthy to be an organization member. And Axel’s report entry refers to the “meaning behind the words”. Xion’s name refers to imaginary numbers. So, she’s not fit to be among the organization’s number because she’s not even real.

Day 7: Meaning

Author: Xemnas

A name defines an object. Describes the span of it. Gives it purpose. We embarked upon the Replica Program to ensure our new power stays ours. Now, our shadow puppet, “No. i,” lives. It needs a name. Something to define it. To give the hollow vessel purpose.

Names are given by Xemnas to impart meaning and purpose.

“As your flesh bears the sigil, so your name shall be known as that of a Recusant.”

Let’s assume this quote is about Saïx, which I think is the most likely scenario. He’s the only character with the Recusant’s Sigil on his flesh, after all. His name was given to impart the meaning of a recusant. And a recusant is a heretic or a traitor. The “X” is based on the crook and flail which is a symbol of divine authority in ancient Egypt.

“Saïx called Xion a failure…”

Hearing that, Axel also sucked in a breath. I think maybe Saïx hasn’t been paying attention to Roxas and Xion’s ‘specialness’. Yeah, those two un-Nobody-like Nobodies show emotional reactions that other Nobodies don’t. Abuse them with cold words, and Roxas and Xion react to them—just like they have hearts.

Saïx didn’t understand that. Despite the lack of a heart, he could imagine what it was like to have emotional responses based on what he remembered from his human life. And he must be able to remember how much trouble it was.

If failure is the same as insubordination to Xehanort, Isa’s scar might very well have been intended as the mark of a “failure”. A big scarlet letter right on his face as a permanent reminder of his purpose. In KH3, he said he awakened to a new purpose, which was to become stronger. Why did he want to be strong so badly, though? In KH2, he said he lost his true purpose. I think Isa was considered a weak failure unfit to be among the organization’s number unless he became stronger. And so Xemans assigned him that purpose so he could finally be useful for once.

“Is it true about Castle Oblivion…?” he asked, not looking his superior in the face.

Saïx’s response was icy. “That’s no concern of yours.”

“What about Axel?” he pressed. Hearing that name, Saïx narrowed his eyes faintly, not even enough for Roxas to notice. He wasn’t attuned to such subtle changes.

“Who knows,” Saïx finally said. “Perhaps he is among the lost.”

He’s BY FAR the most self-loathing organization member, in my opinion. The way he treats everyone is a reflection of how he sees himself. As a human he was made to think he was totally and utterly useless. He thinks it’s pointless for Xion to worry about Roxas since there’s nothing she can actually do for him.

“There’s nothing you can do even if you do go. Xion will not wake up.”

“That’s not the point!” Roxas snapped. “I should still be with her!”

Saïx didn’t have to talk that way. Maybe Roxas wouldn’t be able to do anything besides look in on her. That didn’t matter—he wanted to see how she was. Why was Saïx being so obtuse?

He says the same thing to Roxas when he was worried about Xion.

Roxas: Why were you working him so much harder than you do me? Is he that strong?

Phil: Well, sure. He’s a hero, kid. If I put a squirt like you through that, you’d croak on me.

Roxas: So people work you harder when they have expectations? The Organization expects me to do hard missions all the time. Aren’t expectations the same thing as orders?

Saïx has the most problems with people who remind him of his past in some way. He has BIG issues with Axel, Xion, and Xigbar. And in the manga they really show how much he hates Demyx. He comes with Roxas to Olympus Coliseum several times, and on Day 153, a few days after Saïx berates Xion for failing her mission. And it’s to show that Demyx is not good at fighting nor is he very motivated. He is barely useful to the organization. He is always asking for a vacation and constantly slacks off.

Roxas: What kind of missions do you usually work?

Demyx: Me? Recon stuff, mostly.

Roxas: No taking out Heartless?

Demyx: Nah, it’s rare that I do anything that strenuous.

Roxas: But aren’t you expected to?

Demyx: Ha, they know better than that. They wanna keep the machine running, they pick the right tool for the job.

The organization has low expectations of Demyx and therefore doesn’t assign him any task that is too difficult.

Day 153: This Is Gonna Be a Hit!

I’ve got me a new hit single! X-face is always barking at me to work, but what’s he expect me to do against a monster like that? I mean, stop and think about skill sets when you divide up the labor already!

But Demyx wrote this in his report on that day. Saïx is always barking at him to work, even though everyone knows he’s not the right tool for the job. This suggests a personal issue, because Xemnas never complained about Demyx being a problem. If he wasn’t contributing in some way, he’d have been erased already.

Saïx’s estimation of Xion seemed to have plummeted lower than ever. True, she’d lost badly against the Organization impostor—but that was Riku. Defeat was all but inevitable against him.

Failing to carry out a mission was unacceptable, of course, but not impossible. She could always challenge Riku again. If the mission was so unsuited to her in the first place, though, Saïx ought to know better as the one in charge of handing out assignments. And Axel was beginning to suspect at least some of the blame lay with him. Saïx held some particular grudge against Xion…

Saïx is a workaholic ladder climber, motivated to reach the top of the organization hierarchy. But more than that, I think he’s just desperate to escape the memories of his past.

Axel: Ouch! Roxas, that’s not cool.

Roxas: But look at him! All he ever does is lie around playing that sitar.

Axel: Aw, he’s not that bad. He’s got his own missions to—Does he? Huh. I actually have no idea what he does.

Xion: You know, I’ve seen Demyx out in the field, rocking out on that sitar of his.

Roxas: What does that accomplish?

Axel: Hey, for all you know, he’s out there fighting Heartless and doing recon–just the same as you.

He doesn’t want to be looked down. He thinks he has to justify his very existence by being useful.

Roxas: But I’ve heard him say he wasn’t cut out for combat. I guess everybody in the Organization is good at different things.

Axel: That’s right. Everybody’s unique.

Xion: Even Nobodies? Don’t you need a heart to be unique?

Axel: Oh, I think we have other things that set us apart. Like our pasts. That’s one of the things that makes the Organization members special. Unlike lesser Nobodies, we remember who we were.

I think Demyx reminds Saïx of his past self, so he is especially harsh on him. On the other hand, Axel was very quick to defend Demyx’s usefulness to the organization, even though he couldn’t think of any ways that Demyx was actually useful. Axel just hates thinking of people as tools who are only valued in terms of their usefulness, and I think this had to do with Isa.

If you cannot wield the Keyblade to its purpose, you have no place in the Organization. Keep that in mind and make sure to eliminate Heartless with the Keyblade.”

“…I see. I’ll be more careful,” she replied.

It was Saïx who told Xion she was useless without the Keyblade, and why she was hiding in Twilight Town. Axel gave them the idea to tell Saïx that working together would raise their motivation. And you can just tell that Saïx was annoyed as soon as they said it.

“If you’ve got troubles, you tell them to your friends… right? Roxas.”

Roxas nodded, and said, “We’re… friends, right?”

“At those words, Xion finally spoke. “I can’t… use the Keyblade anymore.” “I have to collect hearts. And so, if I can’t use the Keyblade… I… am useless.” Xion hung her head. Her melting ice cream dampened her hand.

This part of the story is all about best friends.

Axel cut off Saïx’s scolding. “It’s okay, isn’t it? Working together, these two newbies could finally work at least as much as one person, right?” Saïx turned to Axel with a sour look on his face.

“If we can go together, I think we’d even be able to handle harder missions,” Roxas added, immediately. Saïx shook his head slightly.

Axel was obviously drawing on their past to convince Saïx to let them go together. He even mentioned newbies coming of age.

“What did you intend to do?”

“What did I intend to do? Offer some friendly help?” Axel replied, and grinned at Saïx.

Saïx knew from the very beginning that Axel was covering for Xion. I definitely think Roxas and Xion’s dynamic reminded Saïx of Lea and Isa’s dynamic way too much for his liking.

“But, you’d have to try twice as hard from now on, Roxas.”

“I’ll do my best,” said Roxas giving a strong nod.

But, Xion looked worried. “…Is that okay?”

“Of course it’s okay!”

“But…” Xion cast her eyes down again. The ice cream in her hand was mostly melted.

The look on his face tells you he doesn’t like hearing any of this. He lets them go simply so Axel won’t talk about it anymore.

“When you’re in trouble, you can count on your friends, right, Roxas?” Axel said, and Roxas smiled, looking at Xion.

But the idea is that best friends will pick up the slack for you if they have to.

“Al, Al, A~l! If you can’t rely on your friends in this kind of situation, when can you rely on them? The Carpet says so too!”

This theme from Agrabah was continued into KH2.

“But Genie is good, right? Helping his best friend. I can’t do a~nything, so I can’t show my friendship,” said Iago, still looking down. “Naah. Friendship, it’s not about helping your friends, or not, or anything, I think it’s fine as long as you can have fun together.”

Flowing up in Sora’s heart, as he said that, was his own important friends. The important best friends he still hasn’t been able to meet.

Friendship isn’t about being useful. This whole concept feels tailor-made for a character like Saïx.

At that moment, Axel poked his head in. “Oh, is Roxas going to Beast’s Castle?” Xion gazed up at Axel, as if clinging to his presence. Axel glanced her way, and nodded to her slightly. “I checked that place out yesterday, and that Heartless looked pretty darn tough. I reckon it might be impossible for him to get that thing on his own, hmm ~”

“Are you trying to tell me to let them go together?” asked Saïx in a disagreeable tone.

Axel was also referencing their youth on Day 96. Roxas and Xion needed to work together again. Saïx knew he had no real argument for Axel because he used to rely on Lea.

Belle: I wonder if he’s off chasing those horrid creatures again. He’s had to do that every day for weeks… I wish there were some way I could help. Perhaps I’ll ask Cogsworth and the others. I’m sure that together we can figure something out.

Beast’s Castle was all about motivation. The Beast wasn’t just fighting for himself. He was fighting to protect his servants and Belle. And Belle wanted to spend more time with the Beast. In the manga she tried very hard to be useful and it’s actually funny since she’s so inept at fighting. Cogsworth and Lumiere’s reactions were probably similar to Lea’s worrying over Isa.

“Well, I think you can be inseparable, even if you’re apart,” said Axel. Roxas and Xion shared a look.

“Really?”

“It’s like, if you feel really close to each other. Like best friends.”

At first, Roxas didn’t know why they needed to fight the Heartless. He questioned whether they really needed hearts, but just went along with it. He didn’t feel that motivated, and wanted to know why the Beast was fighting so hard. Xion became motivated when she felt like she wasn’t alone. That’s how she got her ability to use the Keyblade back.

“But, you know, hanging out every day isn’t the only thing that matters. We’ll still have one another, even if that changes.”

“Really?” Roxas perked up.

“Yeah. As long as we remember one another, we’ll never be apart. Got it memorized?”

Roxas and Xion found their motivation by wanting to hang out together forever. In the manga, they tell Axel that they want to complete Kingdom Hearts so they can eat ice cream together every day. In the game, Roxas never states any particular motivation. He was happy as long as Axel and Xion were around. He didn’t really understand what having a heart would do for him. He just wanted the days hanging out eating ice cream and watching the sunset to last forever.

Xion turned to look at Xigbar. “Just Kingdom Hearts. I was thinking how pretty it is,” she replied.

Xigbar began to chuckle, then outright laugh. So Xigbar found something funny in what Xion said? I still don’t really understand how that guy thinks.

“Did I say something weird?” asked Xion, looking at him strangely.

“No—you’re growing up into a fine young thing, as they say,” he said, and laughed his head off.

It’s probably that… since the Keyblade returned to Xion, even though she hasn’t gone on missions with Roxas, she’s keeping calm and composed. If that’s what he means by growing up, then it’s true, but I don’t know why that would make him laugh this much.

The next chapter in the manga is titled “Sweetheart” and it takes place around Day 117 ~Secrets~. And it still involved motivation and work ethic. After Xion got her Keyblade back, she was very motivated. Everyone was commenting that she was fired up. Xigbar said she was growing into a fine young thing and Axel assumed it meant she was becoming more independent.

Demyx poked his head in between them. “Heya, what am I missing? Somebody tell a funny story?”

“We were just saying how Poppet is a lot more useful that you,” said Xigbar.

“Huh?” Demyx shrugged. “I don’t get it.”

Finally, Saïx intervened. “Xion.” She looked up and scurried to him, while Axel took the opportunity to get up from the sofa.

“You’re working with Axel today,” Saïx told her. “Don’t dally.”

And Saïx was acting like a drill instructor. In the novel, after Xigbar said Xion was growing up, Saïx interrupted when Xigbar said Xion was more useful than Demyx.

“You’re working with Axel today,” Saïx told her. “Don’t dally.”

“With Axel?” Xion turned to the Nobody in question.

Axel nodded jauntily. “Yup. We’re partners now.”

“Well, as long as you stay out of the way.”

“Excuse me? That’s my line.”

Saïx watched their banter with a withering glare, which actually cut Axel’s laughter short. Xion noticed, too, and quickly assumed a more professional bearing. In an attempt to break the suddenly oppressive mood, Axel asked Saïx, “Anyway, where’s Roxas off to today?”

“He and Xigbar will be taking a look at another new world.”

He also got very irritated at Axel and Xion’s banter before their mission. In the manga he does this too, but it happens later. I think he got so annoyed because it reminded him too much of his past self. The “unusually incensed” line also seems to be a reference to Saïx’s past.

In any case, I don’t really get why I had to go on a mission with her right at this time. There are certainly a fair few Heartless, but with the force Xion has now, I think she could fight just fine without my help.

“That should be all of them over here, I think.”

“Hey, you’ve gotten pretty good at this.”

“Huh? What’s that for?”

“What? I’m just commending your hard work.”

“Can you not be so weird about it, then?” She laughed.

Suddenly, Xion’s face went hazy in Axel’s vision. He rubbed his eyes. What was that…?

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Uh, nothing…” For an instant, he thought he’d seen Naminé.

Xion was so fired up because she finally felt useful. Axel compliments her hard work and this happens in both the novel and the manga. Axel was asked to observe Xion and he thought she was incredible. She fought just like Roxas and he felt like his help wasn’t needed.

The sea… A seashell. To Axel, there was only one person that brought to mind. Sora. He thought he knew a thing or two about Sora’s memories, scattered as they were by Naminé’s handiwork in Castle Oblivion. You could hardly get away from the sea back where he was from—the Destiny Islands.

And that good luck charm, the symbol of Sora’s promise to Kairi… Wasn’t it made of seashells? So it wasn’t just Sora. It also made him think of Kairi, a Princess of Heart.

If Xion had some connection to Naminé, then naturally, that memory of hers pertained to Kairi somehow. Naminé was Kairi’s Nobody, after all. Or maybe it meant that Xion was related to Kairi herself. So whose Nobody was Xion? Now that he was thinking about this, he had to wonder if seeing Naminé in Xion during the mission was more than just random hallucination.

“But, Axel, you have memories, don’t you?” Xion asked.

“More or less. Not that they’ve ever done me any good,” he replied, looking over at her.

At the end of the mission, Xion and Axel discussed their memories. Axel knew that Kairi’s good luck charm represented their promise to each other.

“Hey. Sorry I took so long.”

“You sure did,” Xion told him with a grin, slipping the seashell back in her pocket. “We finished our ice cream ages ago.”

Roxas sat down beside her. “Xigbar cut and run. I had to finish the mission on my own.”

“Sounds like you earned yourself the treat,” said Axel.

Not wasting any more time, Roxas dug in. Axel pocketed the stick from his own ice cream.

Axel treated Roxas to ice cream after Xigbar left him with all the work on their mission together. And he also put the popsicle stick in his pocket after Xion put the seashell back in hers. Axel was sentimental about the WINNER stick long before Roxas ever gave one to him.

Xigbar, listening in with his arms folded, finally had to make a remark. “You’ve been working so well, Poppet.”

“Uh, thanks,” she mumbled.

“What’re you thanking me for?”

“Well, you gave me a compliment… Or did you?”

“Ha! I guess it was a compliment, wasn’t it?” Xigbar held a fist to his mouth, not quite covering a laugh.

“What did I say that was funny?” Xion looked uneasily up at him.

“Oh no, nothing. You’re completely right.”

If Saïx was interested in their conversation, he gave no indication.

Axel gave Saïx a knowing glance when he said Xion found her motivation. In the novel, Xigbar was teasing Saïx by saying almost the exact same thing Axel said to Xion when he was praising her. Apparently the organization was monitoring the memories that Xion absorbed from those around her. I definitely think that’s why Xigbar bullies Saïx so much. He must have seen a memory of Lea treating Isa to the icing on the cake as “motivation”.

“Yes. It seems that unless he completes some task before the rose withers, he’ll remain a beast forever.” Xaldin smirked at his own cleverness. “A beastly curse and a rose… Heh-heh. This will prove useful.”

“How?”

“Trying to explain it to you would be a waste of time. Let’s go, Roxas. No more dallying.” With that nonanswer, Xaldin left the chambers.

Roxas dallied anyway, peering through the doors again. The rose, the thing he treasures, is his weakness? Nope, I don’t get it. I wonder if Axel will know what it all means…?

After Axel leaves, Xion bungles a mission. And Axel returns just in time for her to get in trouble and start avoiding Roxas. The morning Roxas hears her being scolded is the day called “Fear” where he asks Axel if he has anything he can’t bear to lose. I think Isa was considered “useful” to the organization in the same way Xaldin considered the rose and Belle useful. He was useful for his ability to harm Lea.

Day 171 ~Love~

Before returning to the castle, Roxas saw Beast, wounded from protecting what he cares for, with Belle there to care for him. Love had grown between the two. Xaldin declared the power of love to be worthless. Roxas asked what that power was, but Xaldin said that explaining the concept to a Nobody with no heart would be pointless, and departed.

Left alone, Roxas contemplated what love might be. At their usual spot, Roxas asked Axel what love is, but got no answers. Perhaps completing Kingdom Hearts and gaining a heart would offer some answers. Roxas watched the sunset with these thoughts on his mind.

Xion collapsed on Day 171, the day about love.

Day 172 ~Sound of the Surf~

Before leaving for a mission with Luxord, Roxas heard that Xion failed another mission and fell into a deep slumber. Roxas disregarded Saïx's order to not worry about a failure like Xion and went to her room.

Roxas found out the next morning, and Saïx told him not to worry about a failure. It’s similar to Xaldin saying that love is worthless, and the stuff of poetry, not practicality. Roxas’ worrying won’t actually DO anything for Xion in any practical way. And I think Isa’s feelings were probably belittled in the same way. There was nothing he could actually do to help Lea. His worrying was “useless”. He felt like he had nothing to offer.

“So, Saïx, what am I doing to—? Oh, boy. Awfully early for such a bad mood, don’t you think?” Saïx had whirled to face him with a rather pronounced scowl.

“…Nobodies do not have ‘moods’ to be ruined,” he said at length.

“Well, sure, technically…” Of course, with no hearts, they couldn’t have moods or fits of temper. If something went frustratingly awry, their faces might reveal shadows of remembered emotion, no more. Still, for a remembered shadow, that was a mean glower on Saïx’s face. “Did I miss something?” Axel wondered.

“Xion has collapsed again.”

Now Axel frowned. He sure had missed something. “Did she get hurt or what?”

“No,” Saïx replied, any hint of expression vanishing from his face. “It’s just that the failure was functioning better than expected until recently.”

“‘The failure’? Is that what we’re calling her now?”

The weapon representing Isa’s personality is Bunnymoon. It’s a symbol of the power of love which is “worthless”. Lunatic is the weapon which brings out Saïx’s “true worth”. And a lunatic is someone who is dangerously mentally ill.

“I want to go with you,” she told him in no uncertain terms. A slight frown of concern came to his face.

“Don’t you need some more rest?” Maybe he was still worried. But she wanted to get going.

“I’ll be fine. C’mon, let me tag along.” Roxas took a few reluctant moments before giving in.

“All right.” Xion immediately jumped out of bed. Now they just had to persuade Saïx. They discussed it briefly and stopped their superior just outside the lobby.

“Saïx!” He glanced sidelong at Xion.

“Well, well. It lives. There’s just no keeping you down.”

Xion was also "particularly incensed” on Day 193, and in the manga there is very similar dialogue to the novel on Day 117. Saïx was also annoyed at their banter on this day. Day 117 was the first time Xion and Axel worked together. Day 193 was the first time Roxas, Xion, and Axel all had a mission together.

“Let me go, too,” Xion entreated. “I could use the exercise.” A pause turned into a silence just slightly too long.

“What’s the problem? She’ll have me looking after her, too,” Axel finally said.

Still, Saïx made no reply. He and Axel appeared to be in a staring contest—and not an entirely friendly one. It made Xion nervous.

“Fine. Go, if you’re so determined.” Saïx capitulated.

Saïx also seemed to know that Xion was going to collapse on this day, just like how he expected it might happen on Day 117. Axel definitely was remembering a specific incident related to his past on both days. And Day 193 is called “Memories”. I think Saïx was so dry and sarcastic to Xion because she was being treated so similar to how Isa was.

“You’re not wrong…but don’t let your guard down,” Axel told them, bringing up the rear.

“Quit being such a worrywart, Axel.”

“Maybe I could if you two would quit giving me so much to worry about,” he retorted. Xion and Roxas exchanged a look and laughed.

“So…where are we headed first?” Axel asked.

“Station plaza,” Roxas replied.

“Any particular reason?”

Roxas and Xion were having too much fun and not taking the mission seriously. They were more concerned with having fun and eating ice cream afterwards.

“We want to be able to get back to the tram common to get ice cream, right?”

“Huh?” Axel wasn’t following.

“So we’ll start at the farthest point away from the tram common and work our way toward it. That’ll make it easier once we’re done.”

“That’s smart, Roxas!” Xion exclaimed.

“It is…?” Axel mumbled.

Axel isn’t getting it, she thought. But that doesn’t really matter. Working together as a trio, here in Twilight Town—it just makes things more fun.

Axel thought they were letting their guard down. And in the KH2 manga, Axel temporarily knocked Saïx out and said he still had “the same holes in his defenses”.

“Xion!” He called her name, gently setting her down, but she was unresponsive. He’d been so careless.

He had no idea exactly why Xion seemed to collapse so often. But he knew that she did, so why would he let her go on a mission immediately after she started to recover? As he berated himself, something occurred to him.

Axel knew that Kairi’s good luck charm represented their promise to each other, which was also discussed on Day 117. After Xion collapsed, he remembered that she said she had no human memories. And he also knew that Kairi was Sora’s light in the darkness. Sora was the only person besides Xehanort who became a Heartless and retained his self-awareness. Axel was interested in him because of this.

Day 193: Dreams, or Memories?

Author: Xion

I finally wake up, just to pass out again? Why? Because I'm a failure? I dreamt the whole while I was out. It was something nostalgic, but what? Why can't I remember? It could be a key memory from my human life. All I can remember is the sound of waves, gentle, in the distance.

Xion had a feeling that her dream was really a memory and a key one, at that.

Naminé: But what...what if he needs those memories in order to wake up? What if they're the key?

Sora needed his most precious memories to literally awaken from his slumber. Naminé said this on Day 224 ~Anomaly~.

Day 224: Xion

Author: Axel

Even if Xion is a replica—a puppet—she's still Xion. I understand that in my head, but how do I interact with her now? Riku Replica was just a tool, but I can't just use Xion. No, I was wrong to have just used Riku Replica in the first place. How is a man-made puppet any less worthy than a Nobody that was never meant to exist at all? They're both ambiguous. Tenuous at best. And she's my friend. Even if neither of us should exist, that doesn't invalidate the bonds we form. Next break we get, I told her we'd all go to the beach. I hope we get the chance. Our little summer vacation. I know if we can get together and laugh about stupid stuff, this nagging doubt will go away.

Axel had a report entry on this day. He talked about how he was wrong to use the Riku Replica as a tool, and wants to take Xion to the beach.

Saïx: I'm sending you with Demyx today. Try to inspire in him a little of your work ethic.

Day 224 took place at Olympus Coliseum with Demyx, and Roxas fought Xigbar. It’s never explained the reason Xigbar was there, though.

A memory. My first memory. Saïx took me by the hand and brought me out of Castle Oblivion. “This is the last you’ll see of these walls… Xion.” Yes, I remember what he said to me. And I remember where I was. Castle Oblivion.

Xion also almost falls off the clock tower on this day, like Roxas in KH2. In the novel, we learn that she remembered being taken out of Castle Oblivion by Saïx when that happened.

Secret Report 1: Recollections

Secret Report 1 is obtained after clearing Battlegate 1 at Olympus: Realm of the Gods / Courtyard.

Am I alive? I awoke in a cell, alone until the researchers came with their tests and their prodding to uncover my identity. I had no answer to offer them. I was simply called "X" there. One day, a man came to take me from the prison. I could not see him for the darkness, save that he wore an eyepatch.

I really don’t understand what was going on between Xion and Saïx, and it makes me sad that we’ll never learn the truth. But their memories definitely seemed to be connected somehow. And because she was causing him to relive certain memories, he began to hate her and call her a failure non-stop. I think there was probably a connection between this report from KH3, which is found at Olympus, and Xion’s first memory.

Saïx: Well, that didn't take long. Did it break again?

Roxas: She's not an "it"!

Axel: Keep your mouth shut.

Saïx: You have changed...Something at Castle Oblivion changed you. Does the past mean nothing to you now?

After Axel came back on Day 193, he was cold to Saïx and it scared Roxas.

As Axel fanned Sora’s curiosity, he fell into thought himself. Nobodies were guided by their memories. But that was precisely why they might lose sight of what those memories meant. Maybe it could really happen.

“You’ve lost sight of the light within the darkness. And it seems that you’ve forgotten that you forgot.”

“The light within the darkness…,” Sora murmured, as if it reminded him of something.

Axel seized on that. “You want me to give you a hint?”

Just like Sora needed his memories, Axel needed his memories to awaken from his figurative slumber.

“But be forewarned… When your sleeping memories awaken, you may no longer be who you are now.”

That’s why he changed. And it’s why he felt compelled to tell Roxas and Xion that he got ice cream with them because it was fun, not because he got any “use” out of it. Isa was considered useless and worthless. I think Isa deserves a Keyblade to redeem himself.

#kh saix #kh isa #kh meta #kingdom hearts #kh theories #kh axel #kh xion #kh xigbar

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nobeliumoxygenoxygen · 5 years

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Dabi || Hurt me one last time

Part 2 of Hurt me if you’re there

SUMMARY: You get one chance to meet your soulmate. One chance and then the connection disappears, leaving you and your soulmate on your own. Luckily, one chance is all you’ll need. Right?

Little did you know how much it’d hurt.

GENRE: soulmate au

WARNINGS: swearing

WORDS: around 3800

You’d begun to wonder if this was how other people felt when they couldn’t reach their soulmate.

Stuck, helpless, and utterly alone.

You’d read all the cute textbook soulmate meetings; your parents’ meeting was a simple yet effective one--they’d bumped into each other and your mother had spilt burning hot coffee on your father. When they’d both yelped in pain, they knew. Right then and there. You’d gushed and dreamed of meeting your soulmate in an easy way like that.

You found it strangely fitting that burning was how your parents found each other considering your own situation.

And yet as much as you loved your parents, you couldn’t exactly tell them that your soulmate was one of the most wanted villains in Japan. It wasn’t a conversation that would end well. This went for your friends too; you weren’t sure how much you could trust them--would they tell your parents? You loved them and they loved you but what if they had mixed ideas about the whole thing? It was too much of a risk you weren’t willing to take.

Soulmate help centres and online sites weren’t much help either. Paranoia kicked in whenever you hovered outside the centre, debating whether to go inside and explain your situation. Would they report you to the police? Would they even help? Online ask threads were worse; you had expected backlash, but reading all the comments directed at your soulmate made you furious and frustrated. They all spoke like a villain wasn’t capable of love.

Were they?

Of course they were. All people were--it was only that others had different senses of love.

But it was thoughts like these that led your mind into darker thoughts. What if Dabi really couldn’t love you? What if he hurt you? You weren’t blind to the possibilities--you knew that the worst kinds of people existed, and sometimes people changed into terrible monsters. But even though he was a villain, you couldn’t help but yearn for him--to give him a chance to see just what the universe had planned for you two, as much as it scared you to think too far into the future.

But then you pondered other thoughts; what did you have to offer your soulmate? Dabi was one of the strongest villains you’d seen--on tv--and he was a part of the most powerful villain organisation in Japan. You, a simple, background civilian, had a laughably useless quirk and no fighting skills whatsoever. Would he want you? Would he need you? How was life going to work out?

What if he died? What if you were too weak for him? What if his enemies used you?

Each and every time though, you’d forced those thoughts out of your head. Those were questions for the future. You chose to put your faith in the universe, as stupidly optimistic that was, you had no other choice. There was a reason--good or bad--he was your soulmate and you’d learn it once you got to him.

If you ever did, that was.

Truthfully, you hadn’t wanted to go out tonight. You were still mulling over your soulmate dilemma when your two best friends had barged into your apartment, sloppily dressing you up and dragging you outside for a ‘well-deserved night out’. For what, you weren’t quite sure, but apparently their favourite hangout was reopening and they had organised a get-together with a bunch of others.

So now you were swirling a cup of what you hoped was only water as you distantly listened to your friend recount her experience with paint and preschoolers.

“So the paint’s on all me right, and then since I’m with kids and all I can’t swear, obviously, so I just go to the toilet and let it out--like they were my favourite pants, okay? It had pockets, come on! But then the other teacher--”

The club music lowered as someone spoke into the mic. “Hey hey! Hope you’re all having fun but an Akira Makeo just dared all his friends--you know who you are--to a warehouse run! Whatever that is!”

The music returned and the party goers went back to their dancing, talking, drinking. Except for you and your friends.

“He did not!” Kari yelled, standing up so quickly that she nearly knocked over her own drink. You grimaced, knowing exactly where this was going and not necessarily liking it. Kari grabbed your arm, dragging you up. “Let’s go let’s go! I’m no pusillanimous fuck! Norio, you donkey, get up!”

You and Norio, who was currently giving you a look that wordlessly conveyed ‘we’re getting roped into this illegal activity god help us’, were forced to follow your more energetic friend as you swerved through the crowd of dancing--more like grinding--adults on the dance floor, narrowly missing the roaming hands and thrown back heads. “I’m staying in the car--like usual!” Norio called out in vain, Kari too engrossed in striding out the club to hear him.

You repeated his words instead.

“I know. You and Norio can stay in the car. Just be my getaway drivers, kay?”

“Yeah, no. I’m only being a driver. No need for getawaying,” Norio retorted, frowning. You smiled at your friends’ exchange, if only to offset the growing pool of anxiety building up. Another reason why you hadn’t wanted to go out; nights like these ended nine out of ten times with Kari getting herself almost in trouble and you and Norio having to drive like hell but also like sane, normal civilians to bypass police and patrolling heroes. It wasn’t good for your health, but Kari was a close friend--close enough that you practically risked your life for.

The three of you piled into Norio’s car, you calling shotgun, Kari taking out her phone to text the others that you three--mainly her, only her--were joining.

When done, she kicked the back of Norio’s seat. “Fuck yes let’s do this!”

“No! Let’s not do that again, please,” Norio protested hotly, having jumped when his seat had been kicked. You laughed at him sympathetically; Kari was sometimes too much for the both of you to handle.

Twenty minutes later, the three of you had arrived at your destination; an abandoned warehouse in a plot of land situated in the ‘dodgy’ end of the city. Dodgy enough that there was only one working streetlight and the gate that kept out supposed ‘trespassers’ was distinctly battered. At least, it would have been abandoned if it weren’t for the other vehicles parked outside and the other twenty or so people in party-standard attire.

Akira was there to greet you all, swooping Kari into a headlock and Norio and you into one of his famous bear hugs--for someone as wild as Kari, perhaps wilder, he gave the warmest hugs--something that you loved. But then he got serious, leaning down to speak to you all in hushed tones.

“Be warned, I don’t think we’re all alone here--” Norio let out a strangled gasp. “But it’s all good! I think it’s just a bit of low-time thugs, or something. Besides, they all disappeared, so I don’t think it’ll be too much of a bother.”

You couldn’t help the overwhelming desire to get back in the car and drive away, but you squashed it down--for one thing, that would mean Kari and Norio had no ride. Plus, there were at least twenty other people here, so if worse came to worse, it’d be enough of a pandemonium if anything happened. Hopefully.

“Are you sure? ‘Low time thugs’ might not be so ‘low time’,” Norio mumbled, emphasising his words. Though it went unheard by the other two, who were already making their way to the rest of the group.

You followed, trying to ignore the way your gut was pulling.

“Alright everyone!” Someone yelled, getting the attention of everyone gathered as they climbed atop a van. “You know what’s going on! If you’re new here, just remember; all you have to do is get inside this place and find something worth bringing out! The best thing gets-uh, what was the prize again?” The last question was directed at someone by their side. “Right! You get fifty bucks!”

Norio leant towards you. “This is just a scavenger hunt for adults, I swear.” You nodded your agreement. A scavenger hunt in an illegal warehouse, you silently added, not wanting to seem more pushy than you already were. “What happened to staying in the car? We suck at this.” Norio laughed self-deprecatingly. Indeed, you had forgotten all about that--Kari and Akira had that effect on people, unfortunately.

The person on top of the van clapped their hands and yelled, “Let’s go people! You got forty-five minutes!”

And that was that.

The crowd dispersed, Kari remembering you and Norio at the last moment as she took hold of a hand each and you three began to rush inside, adrenaline coursing your veins. Most likely a significant more adrenaline that was coursing Kari’s--or maybe not. Whilst your heart was begging you to leave, Kari’s was probably singing in joy.

Something caught your eye just as you passed the lone streetlight and you thought you saw a figure disappear through the side of the warehouse.

But then your eyes were forced to readjust to the sudden darkness and you blinked only to find nothing there.

Your gut was still pulling you--but this time, you weren’t sure which way.

“You two. Go get the shipment from Hayumi.” That was all Shigaraki needed to say before Dabi was heading straight for his room, dismissing his leader’s order. “Hey,” The boss growled as Dabi made it to the other door, though his eyes never left the video game he was playing.

“We just got back from a mission, and you want us to go back?” Dabi muttered, loudly enough to be heard.

“I’ll be transporting you two, if that helps,” Kurogiri put in, no doubt hoping to calm the fighting before it began. It was a predictable outcome--Dabi and Shigaraki were usually arguing.

Toga jumped on the couch, draping herself over the arm. “He’s right though Tomura-kun! I’m tired, can’t someone else go?” She asked, frowning as she held her bloodied knife above her head, admiring the red liquid.

Shigaraki hissed, violently pressing on his controller. It told them enough about his answer.

“Why are you always asking us though!” Toga whined, more a complaint than a question.

“I would ask the others if they were here but they’re not, so why don’t you make life easier and just go,” Shigaraki seethed, a notable amount more aggression put into his actions; at this point, Dabi wondered why Shigaraki didn’t just disintegrate his controller if he was mashing the buttons so hard.

“Please just go, you two. It’ll be quick. It’s all been paid for already,” Kurogiri advised, hoping that the two would do it before Shigaraki got any more tense. “I’ll get you that twisted knife you saw online, Toga. And that new coat you wanted.” He aimed the last sentence at Dabi.

Toga visibly brightened, grinning all of a sudden, and sat back up. “Yay! But only because Kurogiri is super nice! Let’s go Dabi!”

“Hang on, I didn’t agree to--”

“Let’s go!”

“Seriously, I get no input around here.”

A black portal opened up in the middle of the bar and the two villains stepped inside, but not before Dabi sent a quick glare the same time Toga poked her tongue out at their leader.

The duo were transported to the warehouse.

Where they were promptly met with screams.

You jumped when you heard the shriek.

Glancing worriedly at Kari and Norio, the former who shrugged it off, the latter who stared back just as worriedly, you scanned your surroundings. The three of you had made it into a more deserted area in the area between the warehouse and the side gate. It was tight enough that most of the others had given up looking into but Kari wasn’t one to be put off and had dragged you both in with her. You’d promised yourself a million showers to get rid of the crawling on your skin--you weren’t sure if you were happy or not that it was too dark to see what caused it.

The shrieks hadn’t continued--it was short and quick enough that you could have chalked it up to someone having found something exciting and yet, with your mind already on overdrive, you couldn’t help but think…

“I think we should go,” Norio declared. You silently thanked him for saying the words you were too scared to say, lest you were called a party-pooper one more time.

Kari waved her hand dismissively, grazing her other hand over the ground. “It’s nothing. Come on guys, we only have ten more minutes, and we haven’t found anything. Aren’t you, like, low on funds, Y/N?”

Yes, but you weren’t going to risk your life for only twenty dollars considering you had to split with the other two.

Before you could reply, another shriek, quieter but distinct, was heard. This time it was accompanied by a bang.

Kari was thankfully more alert now.

“Still nothing?” Norio whispered, tense and crouching.

“Okay...maybe not,” Kari whispered back, eyes darting to both sides. With a sinking heart, you realised how much of a trap you three were in--the side was narrow, and the gate on this part was still intact. If someone charged from both entrances, you had nowhere to go. “Okay okay, fine, let’s go.”

She slowly stood back up--

And then bolted back towards where you three had come from.

“KARI!” Norio shouted in shock--wincing when he realised how loud he had been. You two ran to catch up, hearts racing. You heard breathless snorts and wondered if that was Kari laughing.

Yes, it was.

Once you three had made it back in front of the warehouse, Kari doubled over, wheezing.

“You should have seen your faces, guys!”

Norio stomped his foot childishly, crossing his arms. “Well-well it’s scary alright?!” He shot back, embarrassed. You would have been, too, if your gut weren’t twisting your insides. At this point, you were so anxious you might have sworn that your soulmate could feel your insides twisting--

Akira came running out of the warehouse, his eyes wide enough to pop out.

“Fuck fuck-Kari! You--” He stopped talking and merely kept running towards the open gate, no thought of explaining until Norio lurched aside and grabbed him.

“What’s going on?!” He hissed, frantic.

Akira swallowed and shook his head. “I-I-they’re there-the League of-the League--”

Your heart stopped.

Kari swore under her breath, all traces of laughter gone. “You’re serious? You’re serious?” Akira nodded, wrenching himself out of Norio’s grip to continue his escape. “Fuck-oh fuck I’m so sorry guys let’s go-Y/N!”

You ran.

Ducking underneath Norio’s outstretched arms, blindly ignoring the lack of air in your lungs as you sprinted towards the warehouse, where you could feel the heat rising--

Was that--could it be--

“Y/N COME BACK!” Kari screamed--and god, it was so loud and high-pitched--she was terrified for you and it hurt you to leave but--

But if it really was the League inside, you could not miss this opportunity.

The only chance you had.

The reason why your gut had been pulling you, not away, but towards the warehouse--you were sure of it now.

Dabi was inside--it was the only possible explanation.

Your soulmate was inside.

And so, even though you still heard Kari’s screaming, felt Norio’s hand brush against your back--you ran, pushing your limits because--

“How come the pain stops when we meet our soulmate, mom? Does that mean we aren’t soulmates anymore?”

“Oh, of course not, honey, where’d you hear that?”

“At school.”

“It stops because you only get one shot at meeting you soulmate. So you gotta realise you’ve met them--or else you’ll never know!”

“Do we really? What if I do miss them?”

Your parents shared a look, smiling wistfully at each other. It was in that moment, whether you knew it or not, that you realised the love shared between your parents was enough to make you ready to love your soulmate even at the tender age of five. Your father leant down to kiss your head.

“You won’t, Y/N. You’ll find them, I promise.”

“Are you suuure?”

They laughed at your wrinkled nose as you scrunched your face up in confusion.

“Yes, we’re sure. You only get one chance to meet your soulmate.”

“But that’s all you’ll need, Y/N.”

One chance was all you’d get.

And one chance was all you’d need.

Right?

And as you burst into the warehouse, the doors slamming open, you saw him.

You saw Dabi--his back towards you yet you knew it was him--by the figure, the fire coating his arms--the feeling in your gut--

You smiled, despite your breathlessness.

And then something punched your stomach--at least, you thought it was a punch.

You fell, dull pain flashing. It was only when you saw Dabi double over did you look down at your own stomach--red pooling in your shirt. The pain hadn’t been fleeting--it had been sharper than anything you’d felt before; realer.

It wasn’t Dabi who’d gotten hurt this time.

It was you.

“No…” You breathed, pain blinding you as bile rose up your throat.

“Another one!” An excited, young voice called out. You couldn’t see properly--it hurt god it hurt-- “What’s wrong Dabi?”

His name--his name. He was right there but you couldn’t even open your eyes to see--

“I-I--” A grunt of pain. “I got stabbed or something.”

A squeal--not the same as the earlier ones. This one was ecstatic, and mockingly happy.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS? NO WAY!” You heard footsteps coming towards you, and though you wished desperately to see him, it wasn’t him--somehow you knew they were too light to be his. You felt yourself get moved onto your back, your body protesting but helpless--so, so helpless. Briefly, you were reminded of the Burning; the way you’d curled up on your bedroom floor, helpless to the pain.

But now the ground was cold and the pain was sharper than ever and the blood was pooling around you--

“ARE YOU HIS SOULMATE?”

You cracked open an eye to see a girl hovering above you, her grin wide and manic--Toga, a distantly working part of your mind told you.

You wanted to say yes. God, you needed to. To say the news you’d been holding in for such a agonisingly long time.

But now that you knew you’d been stabbed, your mind was whirring--you’d never been hurt like this before, it was almost too much to handle.

No, it wasn’t almost too much.

It was too much.

Your head dropped back and blackness fell.

It struck him sharply--he’d been stabbed before, so he knew what it felt like.

And yet it was different this time. Distant, almost, and airy.

Dabi glanced down at his stomach. He hadn’t been hit--so what had that been? A quirk? But whose? No, he must have been overusing his quirk, pushing his limits once again.

“Another one!” Toga cheerfully cried out before she looked at him, puzzled, as he straightened back up, still clutching his stomach. “What’s wrong Dabi?”

He half shrugged, smoke dissipating at his fingertips. “I-I--” He grunted, clearing his throat of any remnant of pain. “I got stabbed, or something.”

This time he winced as Toga shrieked--goddamn she had a loud shriek sometimes. He wasn’t surprised that she was so happy about that, though.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS? NO WAY!” She skipped forward, Dabi watching her movements and only then realising there was another civilian lying on the ground just a few feet from the entrance--the pain stopped but he was too confused to register it. Honestly, why were there so many people here? Where were Hayumi and the others? All he knew for sure was that there was going to be consequences for this mess up of a pick up. “ARE YOU HIS SOULMATE?” Toga yelled, shifting them on their back.

Dabi’s heart stopped, his gut twisting.

No, no it wasn’t true though. It couldn’t be. Couldn’t it?

He had no soulmate.

Then why was someone there? Bleeding from a stab he’d felt?

Coincidence. Imagination. Nothing more, nothing less.

It wasn’t true, damnit. Why not?

Their head fell back and Dabi’s head pounded all for a moment before it disappeared.

“Dabi! Dabi, oh no, I’m sorry, I think I stabbed your soulmate. Oops! But look, we found them! They’re so pretty! Look at their blood! Oh, right they’re bleeding! Uh-we need to fix them! Dabi? Dabi!” Toga stomped her foot, glaring.

He snapped out of his thoughts, walking numbly towards her.

“Okay, so, I don’t know what to do,” Toga stated simply, peering up at Dabi innocently, like she hadn’t just stabbed his soulmate--

No, he couldn’t think that. Yet.

He breathed, noting how ragged his breathing was--why? “Let’s just-bring them back to the hideout. Get Kurogiri. Now.”

Toga beamed, whipping out her phone to call their misty transporter. She was answered immediately, to which she explained their situation--in a tone too happy for someone with a bleeding person on their lap--and quickly hung up, waiting for the responding portal.

“I knew you weren’t that much of a sad sack!” She grinned, wriggling in her spot. She was just so excited! She’d always wanted to be there when someone found their soulmate! She’d never gotten the chance but it was such an exci--

“Stop moving, you’re hurting them,” Dabi growled. Toga stilled, staring at him. Before an even bigger shit-eating grin appeared on her face.

“You’re already so worried about them! Aw, that’s so cute Dabi!” She cooed, giggling.

Dabi gritted his teeth, practically glaring at the person in her lap.

And as the portal opened up, he still wasn’t sure what he was feeling--disbelief, shock--what was he meant to feel? He’d never learnt. Never known because--

“Is father your soulmate, mama?”

She had stiffened, her eyes fluttering in the way she always did when she was remembering--remembering things too dark for her now.

“Mama?”

She jumped, turning to her son. “I-...Of course, Touya. Of course he’s my soulmate.”

He’d frowned, eyes lowering. “But father says...he said that it doesn’t matter.”

She shook her head, placing a hand on his hair gingerly. “It does matter. I just...your father is...different, Touya. Different.”

“Is he really your soulmate, mama?” He knew she was lying. He knew--like all the other times he’d heard her lies. Lies that he longed to hear because it was better than the words--truth or not--coming from his father’s mouth. “Because-because if he is, why does he, he do that to you? I thought soulmates were meant to...stop hurting each other once you...met them…” His voice trailed off as he watched his mother’s eyes cloud over--seeing not him, but through him.

She smiled weakly, her soothing hand becoming robotic as she smoothed down his hair repeatedly. “When you meet your soulmate, Touya, you must love them, okay?” He had opened his mouth to interrupt but had shut it, noticing the moment his mother started talking--not necessarily to him, just talking to fill the void, her void.

The moment when she stopped being there.

He shifted to hide his face in her arms, hating the way her eyes stayed cloudy. Hating whenever she did this. “Because you will find your soulmate. Whether it’s five days from now, five years, fifty. You will find them, and...and you will love them. Because all the pain they’ve felt, you’ve felt with them, right there with them. But when you are together, it won’t matter. Because there will be no more pain.” A tear had dropped onto his hair, fat and heavy. “Only love, only love.”

His mother’s voice had cracked on the words.

Soon after, he’d been discarded by his father, and forgotten by his mother.

His questions had never been answered. He didn’t know what love was--it certainly wasn’t what his mother and father had and he’d had no other examples to look up to.

He had never felt love from the people who had meant to love him the most.

A/N: here’s part 2!! im terribly sorry for the fact that i took forever (and also i made up that warehouse run thing lol so idek if people actually do those sort of things) but i hope u all still enjoy!! Thanks for reading!! (yes there will be a part 3 someday)

DISCLAIMER: all publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No copyright infringement is intended.

#bnha imagines #dabi imagines #bnha scenarios #dabi scenarios #dabi x reader #bnha x reader #bnha dabi #dabi #bnha #my work

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takaraphoenix · 5 years

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Movie Review: Asterix - The Secret of the Magic Potion

I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT SOOO MUCH??

I really love this movie. A lot. More than anticipated.

I mean, I had hoped I’d love it - the last one was already really great, which was pleasant because I thought the translation to 3D animation instead of classic 2D would not work. So I was optimistic.

But I was also genuinely nervous because this was only the second movie ever to not be a comic adaptation. And while the last time was brilliant, it’s always been my favorite Asterix movie, there was no telling whether this would be brilliant or a disaster.

It’s brilliant. It was so good. You could feel that it was meant to be a movie, which might play a big part. So far, they were always page-by-page adaptations of the comics and while they translated well enough, there is a difference in story-telling when it’s an issue of a comic-series or a 90 minutes movie.

See, the thing is, Asterix is my childhood hero. He’s the hero I grew up with. Not Superman or Batman or Spider-Man. Asterix was the thing my dad read to me before going to sleep every night, I knew each issue by heart, I watched all the movies every summer when they aired on Sat1. I consumed a lot of media as a kid, Disney and American cartoon series, but nothing was as much a fundamental part of my childhood as Asterix.

One thing I always loved about it, even as a small girl, was that the women were absolute badass. Sure, the main focus - and even the secondary focus - are all on male characters, but the women weren’t just swooning damsels who stayed at home and tended to the house and children. They fought, as hard and fierce as any man - maybe even fiercer than most of the men. They stayed back and protected the village. It was by no means defenseless just because only the women stayed behind. They were always strong and fierce, but they were never in the spotlight.

So that, in this, a female character stood prominent and was kind of the main part of it, that... it meant so much to me, you don’t understand. Vitrine/Pectine is wonderful and amazing and I love her so so so much. Not only because she’s stubborn and strong-willed and kind and clever, but also because she’s an inventor! We have never had an inventor before in this series? This is completely new and it is so cool and I love that no one scoffs at her, for the things she invents, no one belittles them, they respect her inventions.

The idea of Miraculix/Panoramix (German/English name... because I would not know who I’m talking about if I use English names and you wouldn’t know who I’m talking about if I use German names) having an apprentice makes so much sense. He is already so old?

I mean, it was obvious from the get-go that Vitrine/Pectine would become the apprentice. Though... I would have liked them to commit more to it in the end. That she would have actually been taken on as an apprentice instead of the “I’m sure you’ll forget... or not”. I just... I need her to become a recurring character, okay? I am so afraid that due to this movie being “non canonical”, she will not... be in it. I suppose we will see in October when the new comic is released, but goodness I need more of Vitrine/Pectine! I need to see her in more adventures, being useful, helpful and sweet and also learning.

I love when they go visit other druids because those are always fun. That they went with a dark druid as the main villain in this movie was hella exciting for me! Dämonix/Sulfurix was an interesting character and I enjoyed his motivation.

That he won, back in the day, instead of Miraculix/Panoramix, because his was practical. And how he then became... greedy, hungry for power and vengeful because despite all that, Miraculix/Panoramix became such a hot-shot.

I genuinely don’t know why druids don’t build upon their potions and learn more, considering the fire thing is useful for more than the Olympics?? The growth-potion, heck the damn trick with the multiplying bread! How can they discard such revolutionary potions just like that...?

I really enjoyed how Miraculix/Panoramix in the end turned his silly “useless” magic into something incredibly useful. Because it’s always in the perspective and regardless of your powers, it’s what you make of it.

And to be honest, Dämonix/Sulfurix made a hell of a good case. There is this potion, this strength-granting potion, and instead of using that to defeat the Romans, giving it to all Gauls... he keeps it selfishly to one tiny village? How is that good? I really liked that point. It was a really good point. And I’m slightly disappointed that they didn’t even attempt to explain it somehow. So that was a bit of a problem, for me.

The fight-scene was awesome! Seeing Gauls and Romans fighting side by side was so absolutely cool to watch and how the Romans then just left afterward. It was so great.

So, overall, I absolutely loved this movie. I loved the story, the villain was great and his dynamic with our heroes was too - the new characters were wonderful, I adore, love and want to adopt Vitrine/Pectine and I hope we get to see more of her! I laughed so much during this movie, it was filled with so much humor and joy and I felt... I felt like a little girl again, enjoying those movies back in the day, back when it was still something new - I haven’t had that experience in so long, since the movies all adapt the comics and I know them well. It was so refreshing and great and fun. I know I’m repeating myself, but it was so good.

#Asterix #The Secret of the Magic Potion #Asterix The Secret of the Magic Potion #Phoe's Movie Reviews #Phoe's Random Movie Rants

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silvana-fangirls · 6 years

Text

Target [Dabi x ua!Reader] Chapter 5

Hey guys! Sorry this took a lot longer than I hoped... I was sick and I didn't take care of myself properly and I ended up in the hospital for being reckless but I'm okay now and I've learned my lesson too :) I guess that with work and college everything just gets in the way.

I hope the wait was worth it.

Anyways, there're notes at the end so please take a look at them :)

Enjoy!

Links to chapters:

[1] [2] [3] [4]

Read it in [AO3]

or below the cut

You remember a time when your parents were the best there ever was. You supposed most kids feel the exact same way about their parents, some even holding to that feeling till they grow old.

You were little, naïve and ignorant to the outside world; but even as a kid, you were pretty much independent.

Your days were a well-known routine. You’ll wake up, have breakfast, get home-schooled by mom till noon, have lunch with them before they left for the day, play till they came back late at night, get surprised with expensive presents as soon as they got back.

They were good parents back then, because you didn’t know. You didn’t know what they were doing when they got out, or from where did the presents came, or that pretty jewelry your mom definitely didn’t have when she left before, or those stains in their clothes… You never really asked any questions, but how could you? You were an innocent child.

Things started to get odd in ‘middle school’, after you got your quirk (which was definitely a surprise, because your dad was quirkless and your mom only managed to move some objects a bit, so you thought you wouldn’t be getting one).

You asked to go to school like normal kids instead of being home schooled. The answer came quick: ‘absolutely not’.

It didn’t matter how much you cried, kicked and screamed at the time, their cold eyes as they gave you the same answer never changed.

It made no sense, and you simply couldn’t understand it. What was so wrong about school? Getting to know kids your age? Make friends?

It was only then that you started to notice some odd behaviors. Before that you didn’t seem to notice that you were barely allowed to go outside to begin with, or that you weren’t allowed to talk to your own neighbors unless it was strictly necessary, or that you were strictly prohibited to let anyone inside the house, or that you could only order food from certain places.

While your parents were masterly dodging your incessant questions the presents and expensive stuff kept coming, as the messy state your parents returned home in.

It was only when you were all seating in the living room, watching the news on T.V. that something clicked.

‘The pair of self-proclaimed ‘wizards’ did it again. Yesterday night they managed to steal several art pieces valued in ¥ 10.596.026, while killing 4 guards in the process. Pro Hero n°5 Edgeshot got to the scene, but all attempts to stop the couple of villains were useless due to Genkaku Warlock’s quirk: Mind Manipulation. Till the day it seems impossible to stop this two villains’

“I hope they catch them” You said, eyes glued at both masked photos of the villains. You’ve heard of them, how could you not? They were everywhere and they seemed to be pretty unstoppable. No hero has ever landed a strike on them yet, not even a finger.

You knew it was all thank to the guy’s quirk. Mind Manipulation. From what you’ve heard, he could make you see things that weren’t there, hear nonexistent noises, feel ghost touches.

You imagined it was definitely hard for heroes, and so easy for them.

Your parents didn’t say a word regarding your comment.

“Maybe All Might could defeat them” You said again.

“He can’t” Your father’s voice was ice cold and downright terrifying. You’ve never heard that tone of voice before coming from his mouth.

You shut your mouth, and didn’t dare to turn to him.

After that, it started as an experiment. Just so you could shake those chills out of your body, just so you could erase that suspicion.

You started to ‘fangirl’ over heroes (thing you never did before, probably because you lived practically trapped in the apartment). You started talking about them with your parents, commenting about their good deeds, admiring their achievements.

It was not until you told them that you wanted to be a hero that they exploded.

You could still hear their screams from that they in your head. All those offences towards the heroes, the utter hate in their eyes, the rage in their voices. How they explained to you that heroes were the worst type of scum in the universe.

That day they made you promise that you’ll never be a hero.

And that day they also gave you the answer you wanted, but the one you were desperately wishing it wasn’t true.

It took some digging, but you managed to match all the dots and figure it out.

The final and crucial clue was realizing that besides having your mother’s quirk, you did have your father’s as well. With the difference that you needed to touch someone to make it work unlike him.

So, you confronted them, and they accepted it without even flinching.

After that you realized that, while you knew your parents loved you, they were much more interested in keeping you under their control than anything else.

Your life was shit after that, and the routine changed. You’ll wake up, have breakfast alone, study on your own, have lunch alone, watch your parents leave, watch them in the news as they mercilessly destroyed everything in their path… killing innocents, stealing stuff, destroying homes… all that while the heroes’ desperate attempts went by practically unnoticed since they were completely useless.

Still, one thing didn’t make sense yet.

A night when they returned, you asked them.

“You can easily do all the things you do without hurting or killing anyone. So, why do you?”

That answer was the one that made you decide.

“Because it’s way more fun this way” Was what you father said, as he smiled wickedly along with your mom.

You turned on your heels and went straight to your room without even reacting to what they said, with your mind set on your goal.

Bakugou grunted again and muttered a low curse. You couldn’t help but admire his insistence. He spent the whole night trying to get out of those cuffs. He didn’t even blink an eye.

You wouldn’t have either, if it wasn’t for the stupid headache that was threatening to make you go insane. It was so strong that it did make you faint several times through the curse of the night.

“Dammit!” Bakugou cursed again, shaking his boxed hands as hard as he could.

You blinked a bit, adjusting your sight. There were bright yellow lights coming through the holes of the windows, meaning it was morning already.

The sounds of sudden steps coming from the hall made Bakugou stop. You both turned to the door and saw as it opened.

“Rise and shine, sleeping beauties!” Magne said getting inside the room as most of them followed.

“Anyone had a sudden change of heart while sleeping?” Spinner asked, taking a booth.

“Fuck you” Bakugou spat, glaring daggers at both of them.

“Someone’s grumpy in the mornings” Dabi lazily said as he got in the room, followed by Shigaraki. Bakugou growled at him.

“So” Shigaraki said. “Any of you thought of what I proposed yesterday?”

“Yeah” Bakugou said and you were actually surprised that some of the villains looked hopeful. “I thought that you need to shove your proposition up your ass” Some of the villains groaned at this.

“I’m tired of this freaking kid! I wanna be like him!” Twice exclaimed.

Shigaraki sighed.

“Whatever, you’re gonna have more time to think about it anyway. Today’s moving day”

“Moving day?” Magne asked. “Didn’t you say we can go outside carelessly because we could be seen? How are we supposed to move and go by unnoticed? Plus I bet this two wouldn’t exactly be quiet about it”

“There’s Kurogiri for that, you idiot” Shigaraki said. “We already have the location, so that won’t be a problem. Go pack your stuff. Once we’re done we’ll be moving this two first” He said pointing the two. “Twice go see if you can give them a drink or something, we’re still recruiting them even if they’re just brats”

“Why is it always me!? Sure thing!” And Twice left the room.

“Do I have to repeat everything I say? Move it! If you don’t have anything to pack then help move other stuff”

You eyes were glued to the floor as you listened everyone leave, careful not to make eye contact with any of them.

As soon as the door was closed, Bakugou spoke.

“We need to get the hell out of here before they move us” He said, once again trying to shake off his restrains.

“Will that make a difference?” You couldn’t help but ask. What was the difference between escaping this place or the next one?

“Yes, there is” Bakugou said, and you could almost feel how he bit back a ‘you idiot’ since apparently your question was stupid enough. “If they feel the need to move means that this location isn’t safe enough for them, or that it can be compromised. They probably look for a safest location last night. They already know that we’re not willing to accept their offer, so there’s also a chance that this new place can contain us better. That’s why we need to escape from here”

You blinked in surprise at his reasoning. He was completely right and it shocked you how quick he analyzed the situation. But then again, he technically was the best first year student from UA.

“I can’t use my quirk with this on my head” You said, even if he probably was already aware of that.

“We need to figure something out” He said, since he couldn’t use his quirk either. “Fuck!” He cursed out loud.

The door opened and you both snapped your heads towards it.

Twice walked in, holding two water bottles as he was being followed by Dabi.

Dabi gave a quick glance at you both before grabbing one of the bottles.

“Take care of him” Dabi ordered, pointing at Bakugou with his head.

“Okay! Me again? No way! You do it!” Twice whined.

“Yeah, no thanks. I don’t feel like getting spit all over me”

Twice whined again a but resigned and turned to Bakugou that was currently screaming ‘fucking coward’ at Dabi.

Your eyes were glued to the ground again. Of all the villains here, he was the one you’d rather not see. It pissed you off just to acknowledge his presence before.

How he used your drawback to defeat you, how he was practically playing with you while you battled, how he abducted you even though you already said you weren’t interested in whatever they got to offer.

He really was a coward.

‘I could spit on you if I wanted to, too’ You couldn’t help but think, not that you’ll do it though.

Even if you weren’t looking up, you saw his feet stopping right in front of you.

You felt him crouch down to your level and once he got comfortable enough you were able to see how he started to open the water bottle to then bring it close to your mouth.

You were quick to dodge him.

He let out a short, dry chuckle at your actions.

“I thought you were done playing difficult” he said, but you were pointedly ignoring him while looking away, your lips as far as they could from the bottle.

You focused your gaze on Bakugou for a moment (that was also giving that other villain one hell of a bad time by avoiding to drink) until you felt his fingers grab your chin and make you look at him.

“Hey! Get your hands off her you crusty bastard!” Bakugou shouted.

Dabi shot him a brief irritated look before turning to you, still holding your chin in place.

When his aquamarine orbs met yours, you fought back a shiver out of fear.

He could easily burn your face up just like he did with Bakugou’s nape anyways. Still, you refused to show him that.

Instead, you frowned and glared at him.

“You better drink this” He said, and made a motion attempting to make you drink again.

“I’m not thirsty” You snarled, trying to get free of his hold.

You felt him tighten up his grip and for a moment you could almost see yourself with a giant burnt scar in your face.

“This is all you’ll be getting till we get at our new location, so you better take it” He said again.

Your only response was to press your lips tightly against the other.

A smirk grew from the corner of his lips, as he slowly released his hold on your chin.

“It’s gonna be fun to have you till you agree to join us” Dabi said to you as he got up. “C’mon Twice, let’s go” He said.

“But he hasn't drink anything yet! About damn time!” A now soaked wet Twice said, holding a nearly empty bottle.

“Doesn’t matter” Dabi said, walking towards the door before stopping one last time to look at you “They aren’t thirsty anyways” He said and then left, followed by Twice.

“I wish I could kill those bastards” Bakugou growled.

“That makes two of us” You honestly said.

“We need to get outta here” He said as he tried once again to get free form his restrains. “You need to try to use your quirk”

You gazed at him nervously because you knew it’ll take a miracle to make your quirk useful under the conditions, but you nodded anyways. He was right, you needed to get the heck away from here before you were moved.

You focused your eyes on your hands, and fought against the agonizing headache as you tried to make your quirk work.

It’s been hours.

The lack of light coming from the wholes of the windows proved that it was nighttime already, and also the fact that a small part of you was regretting deeply not taking even a sip of water before.

You were thirsty, hungry, tired but overall physically fatigued and in pain. You were dizzy due to the headache, and even if after long hours you managed to create tiny and useless purple blasts from your hands you knew for sure that if you managed to get free now you wouldn’t even be able to walk.

“We don’t have much time less” Bakugou said, obviously impatient and irritated. “Damn it!” He said looking at the now dented box that was holding his hands. Even if he managed to dent it pretty bad, he still couldn't open it. “How you doing?” He asked rushedly.

“I-I still can’t…!” You stuttered, trying to focus your dizzy sight at another of the many blasts that just like the others was too tiny and too thin that it broke into a million pieces instantly to then vaporize into nothing.

Bakugou began muttering a curse that was cut short by the door suddenly opening.

You could see as Bakugou smashed the box one more time against his chair while the villains weren't focusing on you two just yet, and then you heard it.

It was so faint that you almost thought you were hallucinating it due to the headache.

“Got it”

It was the faint but reassuring look of victory in his eyes that gave it away.

“We already moved all our stuff to the new place, now’s your turn” Shigaraki said.

“You heard them kids, time to go!” Magne said with a smirk.

“Nah” Bakugou said, making everyone stop in their tracks.

“I’m sorry?” Shigaraki asked, clearly confused at the bold answer.

“I said no. I don’t fucking think so” Bakugou said again and only a quick glance to you was the warning to what came next.

You covered yourself as you could.

A brutal explosion made all of his restrains fly away in pieces. A large cloud of smoke covered the room, and when it finally dissipated, Bakugou was in front of you while looking at the villains with a wicked smile.

“I’m gonna explain this once” Bakugou said, gazing at each of them. “You either let us go or I’ll blast all of your faces off!” He threatened.

“Compress” Shigaraki said, but as soon as Mr. Compress made a move Bakugou blasted him off making him crash against the wall.

Everyone stood quiet for a moment.

“We don’t have time for this” Shigaraki said. “The Heroes could be anywhere now, we can’t be too careful” He added. “Master… lend me your power”

“A ‘master’?” Bakugou asked in a mocking voice. “I thought you were the boss around here” He added. “But you’re just a pathetic sidekick”

“Kurogiri” Shigaraki said. “Time to go. Someone take care of the girl”

“I can’t believe they’re such bad audience members, it’s almost impressive” Compress sighed as he got up from the previous attack.

You saw as Kurogiri began walking towards Bakugou that was in defense position waiting to strike if needed.

All eyes were trained on them as they waited for Bakugou’s rampage to unfold.

But the nerve-wrecking moment was cut short by a nock on the door.

“Hello. I’ve got a pizza delivery here” Someone said from outside.

Everyone stood completely still and in silence… until the wall where Spinner was laying on collapsed.

“SMASH!” All Might’s distinct voice said as he landed in the room.

You suddenly felt like crying tears of joy.

“What the-?” Spinner said in utter shock, still knocked down on the floor.

“Kurogiri! Gate!” Shigaraki urged.

“Pre-emptive biding Lacquered Chain Prison!” Kamui Woods exclaimed as he got into the scene. Trapping all villains with his famous attack.

“Ha… That’s it?” You heard Dabi said and a chill ruined down your spine. If he was to burn his way out then y’all were good as dead.

But your worries disappeared once a tiny, old here jumped into the scene. Quick as light, he knocked down Dabi by bouncing on his head.

“Don’t do anything foolish! It’d be in your best interest to cooperate with us” He said once he knocked him out.

“Just what I’d expect from a competent new hero” All Might said, referring to Kamui Woods. “And a veteran pro that moves faster than the eye can see, Gran Torino” He added. “You can’t run anymore, League of Villains, understand?” He exclaimed. “Because we are here now!”

You let out a relieved gasp.

“Just a day after the press conference?” Mr. Compress exclaimed in desbelief.

“Tree man you’re hugging me too tight! Tighter!” Twice said.

“One tends to neglect defense when they’re in the offense” Edgeshot said entering the room with his quirk. “But we didn't come alone. Take a look” He added and opened the door, letting in a dozen of police man. “You’re surrounded by the police. Not to mention powerful heroes like Endeavor” He added.

All Might took a look at the two of you.

“Oh, you must’ve been scared” He said. “But you stayed strong. I’m sorry, kids. You’re safe now” He said.

“WHAT!? I wasn't scared! Not even close!” Bakugou shouted at him.

You can kinda vouch for that.

All Might just gave him a thumbs up before turning to you.

“Don’t worry, young lady. We’ll get you out of those right now” All Might said to you, but before he could even give one step towards you, Shigaraki roared in full rage.

“Kurogiri! Bring over as many as you can!” He commanded.

“The nomus, right?” All Might asked.

“What are you waiting for, damn it!” Shigaraki turned to Kurogiri.

“I’m sorry, Shigaraki Tomura. The Nomus were supposed to be on a fixed location but… they’re gone…” Kurogiri explained in shame.

“Huh?” He exclaimed in disbelief.

“It seems you’ve got a lot to learn, Shigaraki” All Might said laying his arm on Bakugou’s shoulders. “You’re still green” he added. “Your little League, underestimated all of us: The souls of these two young people, the police’s diligent investigations and our righteous fury” He explained. “Enough is enough. Your days must come to an end, Shigaraki Tomura”

“All Might, please!” Spinner begged. “You’re the only hero to be respected. You’re worthy!”

“You think it’s over?” Shigaraki asked with clenched teeth. “Don’t be stupid. I’ve only just began to play… Justice, peace… You’ve created a garbage society by lifting up such ridiculous ideals. That’s why I targeted you, All Might” He explained as he started to get up. “It’s why I started gathering people to my cause! You think this is the end…? Then you’ve lost” He added. “Kurogiri-!” He began to exclaim but Kurogiri was instantly attacked by Edgeshot and resulted unconscious.

“What just happened!?” Mayne exclaimed horrified. “Did they kill him? I couldn’t see anything!”

“I’ve played around with his insides and left him unconscious” Edgeshot explained. “Nimpo: Thousand Sheet Pierce.” he gave the name of his attack. “This man was always a nuisance. I’ll have him sleep”

“Weren’t you listening earlier?” Gran Torino said.“Y’all be better of if you take us seriously” he added. “Hikiishi Kenji” He said looking at Magne. “Sako Atsuhiro” He turned to Mr. Compress. “Iguchi Shuichi” He turned to Spinner. “Toga Himiko” He turned to Toga. “Bubaigawara Jin” He turned to Twice. “Though they had little time and information, the Police worked through the night to discover your true identities. Do you understand? There’s nowhere else for any of you to run”

You couldn't help but notice that Dabi’s true name was not being mentioned.

“So, Shigaraki. One question: Where is your boss hiding?” Gran Torino asked.

Shigaraki stood still in shock for a moment.

“…No.” He whispered. “This is not over… Just you wait. The game is still mine!”

“You tell us where he is right now!” All Might demanded.

“Go away” He hissed. “Disappear!”

“Shigaraki!” All Might warned, angry.

“This is your fault!” He shouted and you started to feel terrified just by looking at his face. “I HATE YOU!”

As soon as he screamed, black dense liquid appeared at both of his sides, making you gasp in fear.

Nomus were coming out from them.

“Nomu!” Kamui Woods exclaimed. “How did they get here!? What is this!?”

More black liquid portals started to appear all over the room.

“Dammit, Edgeshot! Stop Kurogiri!” Gran Torino shout.

“He’s still out. This isn't his doing!” Edgeshot said after checking on Kurogiri.

“Don’t release them under any circumstances, got it!?” All Might ordered Kamui Woods.

After that all you could feel was the sudden feeling of having something coming out of your mouth.

You tried to stop yourself but before you knew it the same black liquid was coming out of your mouth, surrounding you.

You screamed.

“C-Crap!” Bakugou exclaimed, and you could only guess he was in the same situation.

The last you saw was Edgeshot trying to get you with desperation all over his face, before everything turned black.

As soon as you felt your feet hit something solid you collapsed in the ground, coughing continuously as you felt how that disgusting liquid left your body. The only thing you did other than gagging was taking off the belt off of your head.

You could hear more coughing around you.

“D-Dammit!” You heard Bakugou said between coughs, and judging by how close you heard them, you only supposed he was right next to you.

You only stopped trying to get as much of that liquid out of your body when you saw dressing shoes stop right in from of you.

“My apologies Bakugou, (Y/N).” A voice said, and your head snapped up to meet his owner.

Your breath hitched once you saw a man, with no face, ‘looking’ down at you.

You felt Bakugou instantly yanking you up by one of your arms to get some distance between you and the man.

You heard noise from behind, and both of you turned to watch as the League of Villains arrived to the place by the same liquid portals.

“That was so gross!” Toga said covering her mouth in order not to puke.

“This black stuff reeks! I love it!” Twice exclaimed.

Shigaraki was the last one to appear, kneeling on the ground.

“Master” He said and gave a small bow down.

“So, you failed once more, Tomura” He said at first, and walked to him. “But you must not be discouraged” He said. “You’ll try again. That’s why I brought your associates back with you. Even this children. Because you judged that they were important pieces on your game board” He offered him a hand. “Start over as many times as it takes. I am here to provide you with help. All of this… is for you”

Bakugou made you a motion to stay focus.

“Ah…” The strange man suddenly said. “…There you are”

In less than an instant, All Might crashed against him, the contact between the two created a wave of wind that made you both stumble backwards.

“I’ll have you return my students, All For One” All Might said.

“Have you come to kill me a second time, All Might?” All For One asked.

Once they finally separated, an ever stronger wind of power made the ground collapse, sending you flying away a few meters. Bakugou was quick to grab you while at it, so when you crashed to the ground you weren't far from him.

You could hear a faint exchange between All Might and All For One, but the wind was still loud enough to block most of the sounds around you.

You saw All Might charging at him again, but when he was about to hit him, All For One’s arm got bigger, and with wild, strong winds coming from his extended hand, he sent All Might crashing back.

“A-ALL MIGHT!” Bakugou exclaimed.

“Don’t you worry” All For One said. “It’ll take more than that to kill him” He explained. “Get off the battle field, Tomura, and take these children with you” Black things came from his fingers, and pierced through Kurogiri’s still unconscious body. “Kurogiri, walk them away”

“Be careful!” Magne exclaimed. “One of the heroes messed with him and he’s unconscious” He said obviously worried. “I’m not sure what’s going on but if you can teleport why don't you get us out of here?” He asked.

“My war power’s still new Magne, there is much I need to learn about it” He explained. “It’s distance is limited, and while he can teleport to specific coordinates I only transport people to and from my own location. It’s easier to have Kurogiri do it” And once he finished saying this, a big black portal showed up. “Forcible Quirk Activation!” He exclaimed. “Leave this place” He then said to Shigaraki.

“What about you?” He asked, but before All For One could answer, All Might rose up to the sky.

All Might started charging to him, so All For One separated himself from Shigaraki.

“You’re not thinking, Tomura. There remains much more space for you to grow” He said.

“Let’s go, Shigaraki” You heard Compress said. “While our masked lead is keeping All Might. Claim your price” He said, and you instantly knew he was talking about you two.

“You good to go?” Bakugou muttered only for you to listen.

“Yes” you said, even if it wasn't true. There wasn't much left to do now. Maybe your quirk will be useful at least to defend yourself.

“Keh” Bakugou let out, positioning himself. “This is gonna be fun” He said to the villains.

“You, kids, don’t!” You heard All Might exclaim at you, but you didn't turn to him.

You acknowledged the fact that both of your presences here were holding back All Might. He was distracted because of you, so you needed to get the hell away from here so he could finish this guy up.

The first move was made by Twice, shooting one of his measuring tapes at Bakugou.

Knifes came at you then, and you almost wanted to snort in irony since deep down you knew Toga was going to hit you first now that Dabi was still out.

You dodged several knifes while blocking two with small barriers that were strong enough to stop them from hurting you.

Bakugou blasted her off of you by making the ground explode.

“Behind you!” You exclaimed as you saw Compress get near Bakugou from behind. He blasted the ground again, using the explosion as propulsion to flip over him. With a energy ball strong enough, you pushed Compress out of the way.

“Don’t let him lay a finger on you!” Bakugou exclaimed at you, while he used explosions to dodge the villains jumping over their heads.

The knifes returned, and you were once again using barriers to keep Toga away from you.

‘This crazy bitch! From where are all this knifes coming from anyways!?’

You felt your quirk starting to fail already, which wasn't really a surprise considering the huge amount of rubble and dust the place had due to the fight.

You started to just dodge them then, deciding to use your limited quirk if only necessary.

You watched something from the corner of your eye.

The wall from behind exploded, and you could see as two gigantic ice ramps started to grow from the ground.

Three guys from class 1-A were running up one, with their eyes set on their goal.

Bakugou.

“(Y/N)!” A familiar voice shouted from behind you.

Kendou was there, using her quirk, while Todoroki and that girl from class 1-A with the creation quirk were holding her up. They both have jetpacks behind them.

It took you only one second to figure out their plan.

When Dabi woke up he didn't understand a thing.

He saw All Might fighting against some guy, the rest of the League trying to catch both of the UA kids while they were dodging them and Kurogiri out cold while a portal was open up right in front of him.

It took a few seconds to figure out what was going on, but as soon as he got up, the wall from behind collapsed and two ice ramps started to grow from the ground.

And he didn't need to see to know who was causing this.

“(Y/N)!” Someone exclaimed, making (Y/N) turn to the voice instantly. Dabi saw the girl take a quick glance at the other group of ‘rescuers’ an it seemed that once she was sure that Bakugou was getting rescued as well, she charged towards the right position for her friends to take her.

There was no way in hell he was letting her escape.

Not only he was knocked unconscious and remained useless like a weak loser while everyone else was fighting, but there was absolutely no way he was letting her be saved by him of all fucking people.

He run towards her while shooting fire to the ramp as well.

“Come on!” He heard one of the kids reaching Bakugou said, to then hear Bakugou blast himself off the ground to get to them.

Dabi knew he wouldn't get in time, but he was still running towards her while melting down the ice.

Dabi heard Magne ordering Spinner and Compress to go grab Bakugou, so Dabi knew that at least they’ll get him.

He saw the girl with big hands grabbing her. Still he didn't stop.

He heard Compress go off as a canon towards Bakugou, and by seeing him from the corner of his eye he knew that he’ll meet the mark.

But apparently, he wasn't the only one who realized that.

Even if she was up in the air as the ones with the jetpacks were taking her away, he saw her horrified eyes once she saw the destiny that was awaiting Bakugou.

It took her no more than a mere instant to decide what to do.

She was up in the air but somehow he felt as if he still heard her.

“I’m sorry” She said to her friend with the big hands.

“What!?” The other girl exclaimed terrified.

She broke free from her grasp, and while falling down he set her target. With both of her hands she created a large purple ball, that was then blasted to Compress, getting him out of the way and saving Bakugou in the process.

“(Y/N)!” The redhead exclaimed with tear in her eyes, as the others seemed to realize that no matter how much they wanted to, they couldn't get back to get her because now the villains would definitely stop them.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Bakugou turn for a moment, maybe due to the commotion happening behind him.

The girl was nearing the ground, and Dabi was there to catch her.

The impact made both crash into the ground, but he was quick to get up and trap her.

“NO!” He heard from behind, the distinct voice of the angry kid. “Turn back you idiots! Or I will! We need to go get her!”

He picked up the girl and placed her on his right shoulder like a sack of potatoes while he listened the UA kids trying to convince Bakugou that if they went back, none of them will be able to get out of the situation again.

“One false move and I’ll burn you alive” Dabi told her, feeling her crying as he walked towards the portal.

“I won’t be leaving without her!” Bakugou’s faint voice could be heard, as they got away in the air.

“We can’t go back! We’ll only make things worse now!” Someone else said.

“You don’t fucking get it!” Bakugou roared.

“We do get it! I came here for her, Bakugou, and even I know that we can’t go back now!” The red head said.

“All Might’s gonna get her” Thats the last thing he heard before crossing up the portal and stepping in their new ‘hideout’.

“You ended up being a bigger pain in the ass than I took you for” He said, taking the crying girl with him to some safest room where he could keep her while he found something to keep up her headache.

Notes

So, we got part 1 of the reader's backstory, next chapter it's part 2 (and final part of backstory I suppose). The villain name of the reader's dad means hallucination and yes it was just google translate. I'm terrible with names by the way... I don't even have one for her mom just yet.

Anyways, this chapter is SO FUCKING LONG! But I just wanted to include all this things here BECAUSE all these 5 chapters were kind of an 'introduction'?? It's very tied up with the canon plot, but next chapter we're getting into the REAL story hehe..

Anyways, thoughts?

tag list: @buckybear97 @this-lost-child @aebeessun @ye-rinn@ihatemyselftoinfinityandbeyond @cindxalex @luvley-shadow@taeniix @roadtripsonspaceships @iana-therese@darkagedoctor @liliafangirls

Should I keep this up?

#silvana writes : target #dabi fanfiction #dabi x reader #dabi #dabi x oc #dabi todoroki #bnha #mha #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #bakugou katsuki #todoroki shouto #all might #the league of villains #vanguard action squad #fanfiction

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pass-the-bechdel · 5 years

Text

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Does it pass the Bechdel Test?

No.

How many female characters (with names and lines) are there?

One (7.69% of cast).

How many male characters (with names and lines) are there?

Twelve.

Positive Content Rating:

Three.

General Film Quality:

Excellent! Full of as much heart as action, the film takes on the complicated task of delivering a Captain America for the modern world, avoiding jingoism while also acknowledging the origins which brought the comic-book hero into being. Against the odds (and my personal expectations), it is a sound success, and I consider it easily the best of the Marvel franchise’s early films.

MORE INFO (and potential spoilers) UNDER THE CUT:

Passing the Bechdel:

Obviously, that didn’t happen.

Female characters:

Peggy Carter.

Male characters:

Johann Schmidt.

Steve Rogers.

James ‘Bucky’ Barnes.

Howard Stark.

Abraham Erskine.

Arnim Zola.

Gilmore Hodge.

Chester Phillips.

Brandt.

Fred Clemson.

Timothy Dugan.

Nick Fury.

OTHER NOTES:

I’m mad about the Hydra symbol being the coolest insignia in this franchise. I would wear the heck outta some Hydra merchandise, if it weren’t for the, y’know, evil Nazi fascism stuff.

I love little Steve. They pulled that off so well.

I don’t love that Peggy’s introduction revolves around her being disrespected by a guy and then knocking him on his ass. It feels far too prescribed, too Strong Woman Cliche, so expected as to be rendered essentially meaningless. It implies that these are the most important things about the character - she’s a woman and she’s tough - and it panders to the sexist perspective by requiring Peggy to ‘prove herself’ upon arrival in a traditionally-masculinised way. They could have handled this introduction much better.

Man. This movie has such a good cast. The goodness of this cast has no chill.

“So many people forget that the first country that the Nazis invaded was their own.” This the good shit.

“Go get him! I can swim.” Snort.

Sometimes, when I can’t sleep, ‘Star Spangled Man’ plays over and over again in my head. That’s probably why I can’t sleep.

“Do you...fondue?”

The thing where someone gets hit and they fly off-screen in an exaggerated fashion is never not funny to me.

Characters surviving explosions without a scratch, however, is never not rubbish to me.

A super-soldier is never late, Peggy Carter, nor is he early; he arrives precisely when he means to.

Steve really isn’t very precious about choosing his team: they’re all just Bucky’s friends. He basically just went “ok, show of hands, who loves Bucky Barnes? Good, you guys are with me”. I mean, it’s solid reasoning - he trusts Bucky, and these guys have Bucky’s endorsement, and that’s good enough for Steve. I note that only one of the other guys on the team besides Steve and Bucky is a white American - the other guys are a black American and an Asian-American (and I see you there, recognition of racism against Japanese-Americans which led to their incarceration during the war, etc.), and then there’s a French dude and a Brit. That’s Captain America’s elite team: not all-American, and racially inclusive. I DIG that subtext.

*hisses* why is this whole Natalie-Dormer-mackin’-on-Steve thing even here? It’s a useless contrivance, plus I am extremely displeased at having Peggy being so petty in her jealousy that she actually fires a loaded gun straight at Steve. I sure hope she heard Howard’s explanation about the properties of the vibranium shield, or that she already knew them, because otherwise this is completely outrageous, but even then: what if the shield hadn’t performed as advertised? What if a bullet ricocheted and hit someone else? This is such a dangerous thing to do, and did I mention it is in service of a useless contrivance anyway? Peggy deserves better writing.

Lemme tell ya straight up: I thought I was gonna hate this movie. I mean...it’s Captain America. I expected cloying patriotism, a blandly self-righteous hero, probably some good ol’ war glorification as well. What we got instead was a film that barely even mentioned the good ol’ USA outside of the (explicitly recognised as) propaganda rigmarole that Captain America slogs through - a tool used to excellent effect to acknowledge the character’s history (the comic was created as propaganda during WWII in real life) while also carrying through the idea that what Captain America stands for is something far grander than nationalist fervour - and Steve himself is imbued with unassuming charm, fueled by the strength of his personal convictions but never forcing those convictions upon others in a show of moral grand-standing: an essential facet of the character is that he’ll pursue what he believes to be right regardless of whether anyone else follows him, and he accepts that there are consequences to his actions; he never props himself up with holier-than-thou declarations, he never shames anyone for disagreeing with him, and he never claims any kind of superiority over others (an important distinction when you’re juxtaposed with a Nazi Ubermensch villain). Other characters are inspired by Steve, but the film wisely never positions them as if they were weak or wavering without the symbol of Captain America to unite them: the war is a grindhouse, and they know the only way out is through. No one is fighting because they perceive battle as a great and noble cause, nor because they are righteously empowered; they fight because their enemy is too terrible to let pass, and there is no room for glory in that.

I can (and will) still quibble about the representation of war in the film: while the fact that it is sparingly shown does help to avoid the glorification of violence and death in battle, it also undersells the horror of war, which runs the risk of looping back around to glorification by making it all into fun skirmishes with faceless goons and glow-weapons. Additionally, Captain America clashes exclusively with Hydra and its operatives; while Red Skull severs his ties with Hitler early on through the welcome disintegration of a few Nazi representatives, the film cannot entirely distance itself from Hitler’s legacy (which Red Skull actively takes on for himself), and I take long-standing issue with anything which uses Nazis as an evil catch-all but fails to acknowledge and respect the victims of their reign. After Steve’s heroic nose-dive in the Valkyrie ends Hydra’s campaign, the film cuts to celebrations of the end of the war; they don’t actually state that it was Captain America who just defeated the Nazis by taking down Red Skull (despite the fact that Hydra’s soldiers with their fancy tech and also, um, actual-Hitler and his armies, are all still out there), but the implication is there, and it feels a mite bit insensitive, to say the least. I do think it is better that Steve has his own corner of the war to fight, rather than taking on the whole thing and battling actual-Hitler in the end (now THAT would be insensitive), but I do wish that the destruction and evil of the war at large were the backdrop of the film, rather than the comparatively sanitised Hydra operation that we see.

In this context, the weight of the war and the toll that it takes on the psyche of those suffering through it is carried almost exclusively by Bucky Barnes, who emerges from the unseen tortures of a Hydra work camp changed, his buoyant enthusiasm from the beginning of the film subdued, locked up behind the shattered look in his eyes and the fragile way he carries himself, determined to see this thing through to the end so that he can fall apart later, if he makes it that far (he doesn’t). Fandom has made much of Sebastian Stan’s understated performance, and with good reason: despite a minimal number of scenes there is a richness of detail in Bucky’s character, and as the emotional sinking ground for tragedy - both as the personification of the war’s devastation, and as a personal loss for Steve Rogers - Bucky’s narrative importance belies the amount of time dedicated to him in-text. Fandom has also made a strong point - with which I agree entirely and for which I will not pretend to take unique credit for noticing - that despite expectation, Bucky’s archetypal function in the film is not as the Hero’s Sidekick; he is, in actuality, fulfilling the cliche of the Love Interest, not in competition with Peggy Carter but instead of; Peggy, likewise, is not an archetypal Love Interest at all, because she’s the Hero’s Sidekick.

I am entirely of the opinion that this is an essential part of what makes Peggy - the sole named female character in town - work out so well, against the odds. As Steve’s sidekick, Peggy’s primary functions are to support him and give him advice; the sidekick is traditionally a rational role, someone who keeps the hero grounded and helps them to make the right choices, especially when they are emotionally conflicted. The Love Interest compels the hero’s emotions, sometimes (often) framed as driving them to acts of recklessness, to joyous heights, and depressive lows. Bucky is Steve’s damsel in distress; Steve is compelled to act when he learns that Bucky has been captured by the enemy, action which is tempered and assisted by Peggy’s influence and which ultimately brings Captain America out of propaganda mode to practice what he has preached, and be the soldier Steve always hoped to be. When Bucky falls, Peggy is there to talk to Steve, as a friend, and help him stop wallowing and concentrate his grief into the resolve which carries him through the climactic confrontations of the film’s final act. I’m not going to argue that Steve wanted to join the army just to be with Bucky (presumably that was a factor to some extent, but to call it the primary motivator would be to ignore the value set which made Steve into Captain America in the first place), nor that he was willing to sacrifice himself in the end because Bucky was gone (Steve’s mourning for Bucky certainly played a role in his mental state at the time, but ultimately, bringing down the Valkyrie was a practical choice, not an emotional one), but undeniably, Bucky was either integrally or tangentially attached to all of Steve’s major decisions across the film, as is common for a Love Interest, whereas Peggy consistently filled a support-and-guidance role, as any good sidekick should.

This is not to imply, by any measure, that Peggy can’t or shouldn’t be seen as a viable (lower case) love interest (or that Bucky’s time as a hero’s sidekick somehow doesn’t count as what it is); actually, I think that both character’s relationships with Steve benefit from being framed in this switched fashion. Bucky’s lifelong friendship with Steve comes across stronger and more meaningful due to the emotional pitch, allowing it to resonate as something deeply significant to Steve despite the limited exposure we have to it in action - extra important considering that Bucky is also fulfilling that sacrificial-character role. For Peggy, the fact that she is presented as a love interest but coded as a Hero’s Sidekick is even more important in its effect: since she is the only woman around, we have been taught by approximately All Media Ever to perceive her as the Love Interest from the second she steps on screen, and with that perception we are also encouraged to devalue her character as essentially existing for no other purpose than to be an attractive female prize for the Manly Male Hero to win by story’s end. By reinforcing Peggy as a friend to Steve, we subvert the expectation that she has no real function and/or that her personality is irrelevant, because narrative coding has taught us that sidekicks (almost exclusively male) matter, they have things to say and their influence on the hero is meaningful. Whether they are stalwart sidekicks, or bumbling fools, comedic, or secretly-insidious, a sidekick should be noted, because they’re a lot more likely to have something plot-relevant going on than a boring old Love Interest. Being presented as a helpful, sympathetic presence in Steve’s life who also Has Her Own Shit Going On allows Peggy to meet Steve on more even ground, and her interactions with him are not built around being romantically or sexually available: by having a working relationship built on a foundation of understanding friendship rather than attractive chemistry, the development of feelings between the characters comes across more as extraneous and organic, rather than a prescribed cliche. It still is a prescribed cliche, but it’s not one that compels Steve to do dumb stuff or that undermines Peggy’s relevance as a person in her own right, and that makes it a much more palatable romance than what we usually get.

This is also why that idiotic ~jealousy~ contrivance I flagged earlier is so out of place - I mean, it’s out of place because it’s idiotic, it has no impact on the story in any way and its an insult to the characters and I don’t know why it exists or why they kept it in the final cut of the film because it’s asinine rubbish, but it’s also out of place because it approaches Peggy as a Love Interest, scorned and emotionally lashing out, an attempt to generate Love Interest drama where it has no place in the movie, for the characters as the people that they are, with the established dynamic that they have, or in the context of their situation. Throwing a misunderstanding and some hurt feelings on top of a relationship which has worked refreshingly well thus far because of the honest and open conversations the characters have shared is utterly tone-deaf, and it’s one black mark on what is otherwise a shockingly strong and tonally-consistent film. She may be all alone in the movie, but I will happily argue that Peggy is the best, most-rounded female character in the MCU at this early stage, and she’s playing across from an eminently worthy leading man in Chris Evans’ charmingly-sincere Steve Rogers. The supporting cast is there - Seb Stan, of course, but also Stanley Tucci! Tommy Lee Jones! HUGO WEAVING! - being wonderful and engaging across the board, and there are no weak links (except Natalie Dormer, but that’s not her fault, and at least the misstep is brief and POINTLESS so that it doesn’t taint the rest of the film). Captain America: The First Avenger may not be absolutely perfect - nothing is - but it is a great ride, sometimes surprisingly nuanced, sometimes intriguingly subversive even while it plays straight with the expectations of its genre. I went into my first viewing of the film just hoping it wouldn’t make me mad, and I gotta tell ya: I ain’t mad at all. As far as I’m concerned, this is the platonic ideal of superhero films.

#Captain America: The First Avenger #MCU #Marvel Cinematic Universe #Bechdel Test #female representation

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fantroll-purgatory · 6 years

Text

Diants Temess

@persephoneanmystery

(We’re going deeper into cult land, which means deeper into crazy, and perhaps- deeper into character.)

Universe: Alternia!

Name: Diants Temess

“Diants” is a heavy corruption of “Dianetics”, one of the main pillars of Scientology, whose “you can’t speak to outsiders” mentality was a big focus for this character. “Temess” is a corruption of “Tempest” as in “Stormy, tumultuous, volatile”, just like his Dancestor.

Age: Roughly 6-7 Sweeps

Theme/Story: Diants has found himself a little over his head. When a powerful Violetblood comes into your neighborhood preaching a doctrine about the moon and the heavens above, you go and listen. He didn’t expect to be named her Magician of Community. Now he specializes in applying their unique doctrine to the lowbloods that he’s brought into the throng, convincing them to give up their ties in favor of the endless allure of the space above. Through him, their numbers grow, and his preachings of a brave new world just waiting for them out there, where they can be free to experience the world as it was meant to be is oddly compelling.

God but I love this concept. You really echoed his inversion here very well. Acting as a spiritual leader, passively destroying through bonds…

Strife Specibus: Glasskind

As part of his attempts to better integrate himself into his new Society’s theology and understand, Diants has started carrying around a magnifying glass to better look at things, and to harness the power of the sun and stars to fry people. Well, sometimes. It’s only worked a handful of times in the Alternian night.

The magnifying glass/search for the truth thing is definitely interesting thematically, but yeah I imagine it doesn’t have much practical use as a fighting implement? If only because magnifying glasses are so small and easily broken. This is gonna sound odd, perhaps, but… what if you used like, a Backstaffkind?

It looks like something that could be wielded to do at least a moderate amount of damage. But more importantly, and thematically: It was used to determine celestial angles while navigating ships. He’s steering the course for his maritime cult leader, Looking To The Stars. Also, the Church of Scientology is like super fascinated with boats, and even has a cruiseship named Freewinds, so navigational equipment seems appropriate.

Fetch Modus: Focus

Have you ever tried focusing a blurry cell-phone camera? You know how that sucks? Diants modus is like that, but up to eleven. He can’t get the item out until it’s perfect, or else he risks not getting out what he wants out- a blurry mass of color in the vague approximation of the item he wants is useless.

Blood color: Gold

Diants looks at the world through a lens of intellect and logic. He just doesn’t give himself enough credit for it. The golden nervous energy permeates everything he does, and part of the reason he’s struggling through his new job is that he can’t find it in him to sit down and just do it. Everything else seems like a better alternative.

Very Fair. Maybe part of like the ethical waffling for him can be… A lot of cults are money scams. Like, flat out. So part of his job could be convincing lowbloods to hand over their meager savings to line Maleas’ already overflowing coin-purse and that just makes it soooo much harder to justify Sitting Down And Doing It (but also his goldblood tendency towards wanting to get that moneeyyyy makes it tempting).

Symbol and meaning: Here we go!

GEMUN, THE UNBRIDLED

Trolltag: [TC] theocrasyCaduceator

“Theocrasy” (not to be confused with Theocracy) is a muddling of the divine, mashing different divine figures together, picking and choosing parts of the different religions. Much like this little cult over here. A “Caduceator” is a messenger bearing a caduceus, a reference to his Ancestor.

Quirk: “It was on that day that the Aurorean descended from the moon to bless those who had Fallen Below… Awakenings, 18:1”.

Diants has been trying to incorporate the Society’s teachings into his daily life. He does so by prefacing his conversations with snippets from them, and trying to quote it as much as possible. Look at him! He’s learning! He hopes they’ll say.

I’m proud of him even if this is not the most brilliant of causes. Poor boy.

Special Abilities (if any): Diants was never one to rely on his psionics, but lately he’s found that they’re taking more juice than they used to. His eyesight’s been getting a little funky too- it seems like there’s gunk in his eyes that vanishes when he blinks…

Hmmmmm… Maybe something that could tie him to the job a little more is that he like, is more aware he has voidrot? In scientology, auditing and E-meters are a pretty big part of the faith. So maybe that’s a service he provides to new sign-ups? He acts as a physical “electrodermal activity meter” and siphons off energy from people under the pretense of doing this for Very Important Religious Reasons. It makes the idea of not sucking it up and doing the job scarier, and also makes the fact that he feels like he can’t get out of the position all the more frustrating.

Ancestor: The Heralder [Mavas Temess, The Sylph of Breath]

When a heavenly being supposedly came to Alternia to conquer this world, she was flanked by two angels they say. One of them, cloaked with wings black as night, was the Heralder. Taking the form of a golden-blooded troll, he went among the common people, beseeching them to give up their burdens, to free themselves from chains, to rise up and destroy the hemo-caste system and truly become part of the new order. The sea is not your ruler, he preached- the only authority is the heavens above.

Diants is trying so, so hard to be like his Ancestor, but he hates every second of it! He doesn’t like this feeling of cheating people out of their lives. He doesn’t know how anyone could do it so easily, without batting an eye. But, he wants to believe in the heavens above, he wants to believe in this idea, that the sky and the sea and the cosmos are one, that they are all linked into some kind of cosmic purpose. But, the way he’s doing it bothers him intrinsically. It’s something he can’t shake, like a bad chill.

Listen to your morals, my good boy!!

Lusus: Diants lost his lusus a long time ago, when he barely past a wriggler. The bird was his most favored companion, but he was old enough to scrape by without it. The apartment he used to share with it has never seemed quite full enough with it gone. He thinks about it sometimes when he ponders the sky. Maybe, in the world they’re gonna create, this kind of thing won’t happen. Maybe then, he’ll get to see it fly high among the stars and nebulae. It helps guide him in these trying times.

Interests: Bird Watching, The Aurorean Ascendency, Astrology and Astronomy, Civic Planning, The Hemocaste System, ????

I know I tend to recommend ethics a lot, but it does sound like something he’d be understandably concerned with. Even in a ‘just trying to find some way to justify what he’s participating in’ way. He could be interested in folk heroes in general? Fascinating into looking into ancestors past and their adventures, and quietly agonizing over how He wants to go on an adventure… Maybe he could even privately indulge in a little fun worldbuilding writing.

Appearance: Ever since joining The Society of Learned Individuals, Diants has taken to dressing a little ostentatiously. He wears a lot of black, and suitably dramatic black eye makeup, accented in gold, as he isn’t high enough standing to wear the colors that their Founder wears, in her emulation of the Impeccable Heavens. His main outfit is a kind of flowy, raven-themed cape getup, one that prominently features Gemun in the center. There’s no chaining this bird down, he thinks. Maybe he’ll fly high soon…

Personality: Diants is a brooder. He’s never been the kind of person to let other people see what’s really hiding down there, beneath that meek facade. The truth is that he is kind of that wallflower, even in his soul, but there’s so much that he’s hiding. He has an almost pathological fear of letting people down, that he tries to bend over backwards to try and please them, but he hates every damn second of it. He hates that as a lowblood, that he’s expected to just BE LIKE THIS, especially when highbloods are concerned. But he feels powerless. He doesn’t know what to do with himself, with his limited lifespan, with his no lusus, no friends backstory. He thinks he needs someone to give him direction, to give him a purpose in life. He doesn’t WANT to rely on other people, but he’s learned helplessness. He doesn’t know any other way.

I love the great potential for a snapping moment here, a conflict. I love the focus on how he’s playing the Bard of Blood (both for himself and others). And he’s so worried about those bonds, those connections. But underneath there needs to be that roiling desire to forge his own path, to make his Own thing. He wants his own quest, his own meaning, and he doesn’t know how to get it, but the More and more Maleas lies and manipulates, the more he wants to… y’know. Go. Go Do The Breath Thing. …Haha, if it weren’t for sburb, I would suggest him eventually breaking off to make his own more ethical sect.

Title: Maid of Breath

Active Classes That Remain: Maid,

Passive Classes That Remain: Rogue

Diants is something of an Inverted Breath player. He acts much like a Blood player, concerned with other’s thoughts of him and the expectations therein. Like any good Maid, he struggles with giving himself his Aspect, even as he tries to give it to others. He acts as a Bard of Blood in service to Maleas, slowly convincing people to give more and more, more and more to the Society and its teachings.

It’s this Breath-Blood interplay that defines his whole character. Through Blood he binds himself to Maleas, and through Maleas he receives the Breath of life, a purpose, a direction. What he doesn’t realize is that he could run this joint better than she could, if he wanted to. He possesses the optimism and revolutionary spark that she lacks, she puts him in charge of people because he’s GOOD with people, as much as he feels that he isn’t. People can and do listen to him because they can sense that genuine passion, even as much as he buries it.

He’s a bird yearning to break free of a cage of its own design. At his best, Diants could be a gamechanger, a trendsetter and born leader. Turning his sights from mindless conformity to true individualism and self-actualization would do him good. But that would require him to create some distance between himself and the Society’s teachings.

I believe in him!!!! It’s gonna take some bravery and some risk to break free, but I believe in him.

Land: The Land of Birdsong and Gravity

The trees bend over backwards, their leaves brushing the earth as Diants steps onto his Land. At his second step, the world seems to flip onto its head, and then everything is upside down. Gravity keeps moving, and his stomach is doing flips, making him sick. Oh, how he’d like to be anywhere but here!

But then the melodic sound of birds chirping reaches his ears. They fly in the air above him, and then below him, and to the side of him! Is this what they meant? Are the sky and the cosmos truly one? On this earth, gravity is an illusion. Typheus is going to have a rude awakening, because the raven is about to fly again.

L o v e.

Dream Planet: Derse

Diants is an unlikely Dersite. He reads like a Prospitan- but that’s another Derse manifestation. Shells upon masks upon facades. Diants, when pushed, can be anybody you want him to be, but that person isn’t truly him. It’s a pose, a disguise, while the real him fumes and struggles against his own insecurities.

A Truly Dissatisfied boy. Design:

Hair/Hairclip: I wanted his hair to be soft and fluffy like feathers, to give him a sort of approachable vibe to counteract his pretty dark get-up. I also added a double moon hairclip- I didn’t want him in anything as ornate as Maleas, but I still wanted to give an explicit connection to the cult.

Face: I mirrored Maleas’ makeup on his face, but put it in black and added some additional eyeliner to try to push a sadder/nervous eye shape. There’s the gold eye shadow, of course. His mouth is meant to have a subtle little smile. And his eyes are a little darker to imply that, without life support backing him up, his voidrot is slightly more progressed than his Beforan counterpart.

Cloak: It’s a nice, drapey feathered black robe!

Outfit: Just a black top and draping skirt combo (the skirt’s edited from one of Kanaya’s outfits). I wanted him to keep the mystical outfit vibe that Maleas had, and flowy clothes work best for that.

Shoes: While most lowbloods probably couldn’t get away with wearing the moon colors, he’s a gold so he can use them as his themeatic colors! Still, he keeps them muted and at the bottom of his look- both to be respectful to Maleas and to draw the connection between the Heavens and the Earth.

Love This Boy.

-CD

#persephoneanmystery #diants temess #diants #temess #goldblood #yellowblood #review #redesign #cd review #submission

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4hoursleeptime · 4 years

Text

Another Sip.

As I stare down at the box, all I want to feel is what I should be feeling. It’s not like he wanted this to happen, why does all this feel like another inconvenience to me? As if he was once again pulling me away from my whimsically pointless projects I flit between like an indecisive bee in a flower garden, to do something I don’t care about, but need to do because he wants me to. And even if I had a say in the matter, I would never have the heart to tell him so, even though he deserves it for the things he’s done.

I clear my throat. It feels like people have been waiting for me to speak for hours, but the previous speaker hadn’t even made it back to his chair. Stop it. Shut up and start talking. That doesn’t even make sense, why is he still doing this?

“I’m not sure why I came up here. I don’t have anything prepared, and he’s not the one to appreciate me stumbling through something or making jokes. Probably. It’s hard to say, really. Not because he’s unpredictable, but because I don’t know him very well. That’s crazy, right? If anyone should know him, it’s me, right?” I sigh, taking a sip from my bottle of water. I’d peeled off the little wrap with the brand and stuff on it. Brand-name water. Not flavoured, not mineral, tastes the same as any other brand. The most useless example of greed, and no one questions it. Who has brand loyalty to water? You don’t even pay for the water itself, you’re paying for a brand that doesn’t matter.

“I don’t know anyone really well. I think I do, sure, but I don’t. I can predict something someone will do or want if I spend a lot of time with them, but I’ll never meet someone that I understand like most people understand the people they know. Who even am I? I’m so out of touch I don’t even know myself. But if there’s one thing I do know, it’s what’s expected.” Another sip.

“He was a great man. He did so many things, he made my life better, et cetera. It’s all so boring and meaningless. You’ll hear it a thousand times and I look around and I wonder who means it. Who thinks that the man lying dead in this box was great, did great things, and improved the lives of those around him? How many just know that if they say otherwise, they’re the villain?”

Another sip. Should I have brought this? Is it rude? What is this mass of people I do and don’t think I’ve ever met thinking every time I stop and take a sip?

“I’m not out to make myself a villain or a hero. You can guess how I feel, or you can pretend I agree with you no matter what side you’re on. I’m here because I have to be. He taught me a lot. I mean sure there’s the usual, but there’s the times he went above and beyond, or something. So I guess I should tell you how he helped me be who I am.”

I sigh again, swirling the water in my bottle absently, fiddling with the cap in my other hand. It fell to the floor with a dull clatter, and without pause I bend down and pick it up, going right back to my fiddling. It was good to do something with my hands.

“I couldn’t have been older than six or seven. I was rambunctious and got carried away, that’s the ADHD for you. He was sitting on my bed and I was playing something, who knows. I got carried away and ended up hitting him in the stomach. And yeah, it was an accident, so I wasn’t punching him with all the strength a kid just over half a decade old had. He paused a second, and returned the favour.” Another sip of my water. “I was crazy and rambunctious, but I was a good kid. Great, even. Never got too dirty, never had temper tantrums, never even lied, really. I’ve never been spanked, or whatever we do to kids now. And not because my parents didn’t believe in it or whatever. Because I genuinely didn’t deserve it. His motto was that life wasn’t fair, and he’d say it every time my brothers or I said something was unfair. It was his way to get out of fixing us. So I guess it made sense when an accidental strike was met with a punch to my solar plexus. I couldn’t breathe for so long, I was actually scared he’d broken my lungs or something. I was a kid, so that wasn’t too long I guess, but it wasn’t fun. But instead of curling up in a ball and trying to breathe, I walked around my bed, the only sign that the punch wasn’t just nothing being the occasional choked gasp for air that wouldn’t come. He’d never taught me to ‘take it like a man’ or anything. I didn’t know how to react because I never had to react to something like that. When my breath finally came rushing back, I gasped and coughed for only a second before trying to hide it.”

I don’t know if they’re murmuring about me taking so long and clearly doing this whole eulogy thing wrong, or if they were surprised at what I said. Probably the former. But I wasn’t being kicked out yet, so I take another sip of my water and dive back in.

"He said that’s why I should never do that. Because it could really hurt someone. But my response to him punching me in the stomach so hard I not only couldn’t breathe, but genuinely thought I was dying, was to pretend like I was fine. I always do that. I’ve been depressed since I started high school. That’s when I learned about it, anyway. But I was more freaked out about my mom finding out than the fact that I actually wanted to kill myself. My brother lied about being depressed because he loved the attention and he loved playing that card to make us treat him like royalty. My other brother had been abused by him all his life and clearly had pent up issues about that. Mom was hanging on by a thread, I was her rock. If all three of her kids were depressed, she’d think she must have done something wrong, and I know my mental illness well enough to know that even if she never told me as much, I’d always be thinking it, and that would only make me feel worse.”

“But him? I can’t tell you how many practiced speeches I’d made to myself for him, where he pushes me to far and I just snap and tell him how I really feel. To see if he feels even a shred of guilt or if he just blows it off like he did when I told him he started what turned into a month long panic attack, where I took a double dose of sleep medication every night just to get four hours of sleep, and any food I tried to eat despite having absolutely no appetite coming right back up. And when I finally got out, I find out he’s turned his entire side of the family against me.”

I took another good, long sip of my water. People must be uncomfortable. I was ruining another thing for everyone.

“I can tell you probably want to kick me out. 'Look, the weird guy is doing eulogies wrong, who let him up on stage?’ You really shouldn’t have, to be honest. I wish my invite got lost in the mail. Then I could not show up and feel bad for that instead of feeling bad for ruining a funeral. I just want to get the facts out there.”

I go for another sip. A small swill of water comes in, but nothing follows. The bottle is empty. I step away from the podium, hop off the stage, and start down the aisle. I was seated in the front row, but I didn’t even glance at it. “If I somehow got anything in the will, give it to my mom. I don’t want or deserve anything from him.” I call, not looking back as I walk out the door.

#Sleepy Storyteller #Nightowl Novelist #Short Story #Funeral #This isn't based on a true story no one died recently #This character isn't even like me I wouldn't do something like this #Death #Depression

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