#this is the kind of unhinged ambition I can get behind

[spiderh0rse]

stark's mind notes part 5, e21-25

e21

reads a bunch of papers on psychology

feels like his constant stream of detours has a groundhog day vibe to it

may. may think he is actually in a time loop

thinks MAYBE the soldiers will have a map. They don't.

so excited at some backpacks. Might have food or maps! They do not.

makes a complicated quantum mechanics reference and acts like it's everyday knowledge. Where's that one xkcd comic

recognizes that the analogy was a little much

kind of forgot the soldiers were trained to kill because of how bad they are at it

doesn't know where he's going with his trains of thought or Anything but thinks it'll keep him sane to talk about random things

calls an elevator a lift....

"the thing for the thing that uses the thing"

familiar with the fantastic four

proclaims that he's very ditzy right now.

shoots someone without being entirely sure if they're a marine or not.

compares himself to greedo star wars. Complains that this makes him the villain, then walks over his part in the rescas, and decides it's fitting aside from his attempt at redeeming himself

GUNK on his SUIT (misc. fluid) (hates it)

thinks he'd throw up if he had to float in the air again

baffled at his first instinct with building is to use alien corpses and not barrels, with how he hates the gunk. Concludes he's unhinged at the moment.

"powerful... power!"

his HEV suit is not a faraday cage

jokes around about roleplaying as maintenance/pest control

makes a cowboy movie cliche reference

whispers to himself when sneaking around some marines. Diagetic? Is he actually talking? The eternal question.

e22

pretty sure the military has a nuclear bomb on hand and that Would be a worse outcome

decides he can attack from a blind spot and that'll make killing however many HECU there are will be easier

gets louder once he's below them

plotting so hard about peak murder efficiency

delighted at his murder efficiency

not sure why Black Mesa leaves barrels lying around

sending the marines explosives in the elevator

reasons that the aliens are confined to Black Mesa as otherwise the military would be in higher priority targets

elevator plot failed :(

"hey it's me gordon freeman" he says to the marines he's about to kill

still SO rude to the marines

OH I FORGOT HE SAID THIS. admits outright if it weren't for the regular distractions and looming threat the military provided, it's very likely he would've killed himself a while ago

now equates his reason for living with saving other lives

finds the "free man" title tacky

yells at the guard insisting Stark leave him behind. Wants to save his life so badly

not happy to give in to that request.

too stubborn to stop fighting

being close to the flamethrower output is painful

a bit dizzy after killing the gargantuan. Collapses for a moment

does outright say "yeah" when asked if he's Freeman

actually his Freeman impression here is decent other than referring some guard to the dying one

clutching onto the rocket desperately as a source of hope

e23

thinks string theory is impossible to rationalize

has only been to sectors A, C and D.

Mumbles discourteous things about Black Mesa under his breath

claims he can deal with his ambitions being crushed

thinks the military probably knows Black Mesa's layout better than he does right now

familiar with game theory

seems to believe in Zero Sum, which posits that all benefit creates an equal loss somewhere else. In essence, there is a finite amount of good fortune to go around that can never be added to, only redistributed

the railcart runs at 20kph

faux-flippant about a button doing jack shit to help his situation

does not want to know what it's like to be a battery

knows where circuit breakers are meant to go

would rather not swim through corpses. Given reason: it's unhygienic

"black mesa, where the automatic functions are fine, but the malfunctions are finer"

starting to enjoy shooting things. Compares it to taking a nice drive.

used to be GREAT at track and field. Adequate at shot put.

reclaims a sense of dignity by killing a vortigaunt

only now questioning why the aliens are here

wishes he had someone who knew their way around

hopes Dr. Vance is doing alright. Thinks Dr. Kleiner can handle himself. Says this in a kind of hesitant way.

puzzles out what killed some marine and then berates himself for doing that

NOT a chess player

e24

thinks chess as a metaphor for military strategy is a bit stupid

considers himself stupidly lucky

upside to having an alien infected area: none! but amends that. They aren't actively trying to stop him from firing the rocket and attack the military

could leave some marine behind but reasons that he needs to kill the guy before said guy can kill him, even when he's got a safe distance and multiple corners

decides he'll kill every marine he sees from now on.

would accept the marines if one of them tried to help him now, but he'd resent them anyways.

cannot push a crate suspended in midair by a chain. It doesn't Budge.

worried about an ambush in a seemingly safe location

compliments some headcrabs for killing a marine in an ambush. "Super sneaky" makes a return

says there's no use crying over spilled blood

familiar with Alien

"score one for mindless lever-pulling"

paranoid now! He says. He has blatantly been paranoid for ages

type zero? Not sure what he means with this classification system.

blows up some soldiers thinking they were something else. Doesn't mind.

rapidly growing fond of his railcart

plans briefly to let infighting thin the horde, then decides that nah he'll do it himself

immediately takes a sonic blast to the ears

alien kids these days...

sees some corpses, apologizes to them, tells them he's going to sit with them for a minute. Presumably keeps looking at them while he's down there

e25

Desc: he's having issues keeping up with things around him

doesn't know why he's talking to a dead body

considers himself in debt to the entire world. Anything less than fixing literally everything is treason in his mind

in so much pain. May be internally bleeding

appreciates the suit. It's still good as new, or lightly used.

lamarkian evolution,, ah i guess it's evolution to resist existing threats to survival? Stark talks like it's evolving immunity to bullets

jokes about a corpse and then immediately rolls it back, saying that history would not look kindly upon his doing that. babygirl no one is watching you

the military is playing music over the VOX.

Stark questions if it's real or not. "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" btw. He suspects they're trying something

his arms are shaky and a tad weak

surprised at the music over the VOX right now. It doesn't sound like something the military would like

wishes he could smoke right now

bothered by the idea of bugs on his suit. INCREDIBLY bothered

"and I'm a pacifist" uh bud "or at least a passive aggressive domestic terrorist who knows he has to protect himself with lethal force" these are DIFFERENT THINGS pal and you've never struck me as a pacifist

doesn't want to eat from the rail line food stop. Knows he SHOULD but just. Doesn't.

tonal whiplash of triumphant swell of music at the time he finds a body confuses him badly

familiar with the twilight zone

hesitates to enter the woman's washroom

can barely yell right now

doesn't want companions right now

willy wonka song,, imagination or w/e it was called

checks a locker for CDs of music he likes

he doesn't remember names of his coworkers anymore unless they were close to him or assholes

not able to deal with shotgun recoil right now

hates how roundabout navigating Black Mesa is

needs to rest, but refuses to. He has to launch the rocket. Hes running entirely on adrenaline

knows once he reaches the point where his body gives out on him, all the ceaseless violence won't stop

questions his sanity

he's clearly making some kind of reference here but i don't get it

#stark's mind #vincent stark #mindverse #rmanotes

[checkoutmybookshelf]

This Book is a Love Letter to English Majors, Book Girlies (gender neutral) and Pirates (gender neutral)

I have not read a book that has had me kicking my feet, screeching, laughing, and going "OOOH I KNOW THAT ONE" at literary references in such utter JOY in a long-ass time, but India Holton GOT ME. This book spoke to literally all the (oft-contradictory) facets of me, and the WRITING STYLE was a sheer delight from start to finish. I was hooked in chapter 1 by the dry wit, the delightful comedy of manners façade, and the actual weight of the characters and then it just KEPT GETTING BETTER. And also, I desperately need to know what India Holton's beef with the Bronte Brother Time Forgot is, because the SPECIFICITY of that throughout the book was honestly one of the most unhinged, wonderful things I have read in a long time. So many popular books seem to be trying to be generic to appeal to the widest possible audience, but weirdly specific has always been a better hook for me. And then this book has the nerve to go CHEEKILY META at the end...It is perfect. I wouldn't change a thing. Let's talk The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels.

I'm putting a SPOILER WARNING here, because I feel like I want to SPOIL THE CRAP OUT OF THIS BOOK because it was a delight and I enjoyed it so much.

Miss Cecilia Bassingthwaite is a proper Victorian lady, thank you very much. She has been appropriately trained by her Aunt Darlington in all the finer aspects of piracy and weapons as well as manners and deportment. She is also a great reader and has ambitions to join the senior table of the Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels--after, of course, she murders the crap out of her father, Captain Morvath, for murdering her mother in front of her when Cecelia was seven years old. And after all of that, Cecelia wants to just lock herself in a library for a week with endless tea and biscuits and NO COMPANY. Which...Girl. That is such a mood.

Crucially though, despite being just hella competent as a Lady Pirate, Cecilia is not a murder Barbie. She's actually genuinely demure and honestly quite inexperienced with the world at large, despite being well-trained in piracy. And honestly? I kind of love that for her. She is basically the grad student at the very top of her class who can leave her colleagues in the dust technically, but would get deeply lost and flummoxed over something as basic as going to the bank because how do people work outside this paradigm? She's also just...really soft and really sweet, and I love that we can HAVE a soft protagonist, especially given her Bronte-esque backstory. Heathcliff would have eaten this poor girl alive, is what I'm saying, so it's a really good thing she doesn't have the Heathcliff character in this book as a love interest.

No, instead she gets Ned "has so many goddamn credentials and names that I stopped bothering to keep track" Lightbourne, who somehow manages to pull off smouldering rake and sensitive at the same time. He also has the delightful (and weirdly uncommon) perspective that even if Morvath deserves to die, Cecelia should ABSOLUTLEY NOT be expected or put in a position to murder her own father. That she absolutely could makes this an even stronger position, in my opinion, because there are real genuine stakes behind the choice. There's no question in anyone's mind that Cecelia couldn't kill him if it came right down to it, but...there would be emotional consequences, and it would not be GOOD for Cecilia.

We see that SUPER clearly in the breakfast room scene where Cecelia faces her father for the first time since he murdered her mother, and this very competent young woman who has been making detailed, meticulous plans for how she would face and kill him--backed up with the knowledge and skill to carry out these plans--reverts emotionally to a child throwing breakfast dishes. Which honestly? Valid. Parental trauma is HARD, and that's when actual murder isn't involved. Cecelia is also Victorian and thus everyone is allergic to feelings so she probably hasn't like...had a chance to work through any of her feelings about this in the intervening years. So yeah, Cecelia shouldn't ever have to be in the same zip code as Morvath, and she absolutely should NOT be the person to kill him...especially because he'd probably be proud of her for doing it. Ned is like...the sole character who gets this (with the possible exception of Aunt Darlington, but that woman is opaque as all hell and has her own trauma about her son trying to murder her granddaughter, so I'm not actually counting that) and does his absolute damnedest to make sure that Cecelia never has to be in that position. He's not like...wildly successful, but he tries, and he's there when she needs him emotionally, so points.

Ned and Cecilia's interactions are lovely and a ton of fun, but this book also has a STUNNINGLY well-developed cast of secondary characters who I absolutely adore too, because Victorian lady pirates who have exactly three laws and don't give a flying fuck about what ANYONE thinks of them are possibly the best thing ever to read about. Aunt Darlington is about as fragile as Windsor Castle (at one point this woman, while recovering from a near-fatal stab wound, breaks a lance over her knee to use as a makeshift cane after refusing medical treatment from a doctor who wouldn't take no for an answer...so she stabbed him in his phallic bits with his syringe full of morphine. I adore this woman) and as proper as any Victorian governess could want, and her insistence that Cecelia will catch her death of increasingly ridiculous ailments as the novel goes on just gets funnier with each instance.

We also get the delightful Lady Armitage (Aunty Army to Cecelia) who has exactly three modes: Dramatic, Murder-happy, and horny. She also keeps the key to her flying pirate house in her chastity belt and has WAY too much fun waggling her eyebrows at a suitably horrified Ned when he is trying to insist that he has to hijack her house and Cecelia is like, "if you insist, but also she will just help us if you explain, so it's your funeral." This had SHAKESPEAREAN levels of comedy, this scene. Like it could have come directly out of Comedy of Errors. I was in absolute stitches.

I also want to shout out the delightfully named Constantinopla Brown, who full-on went "I cannot have a financially successful life just seducing women all over the place, so I'm going to seduce a himbo into marrying me before he knows what's happened and then I'm going to drag his ass into increasingly wild schemes while letting him think they're his idea." This girl is 16. She is going to be a menace to society in another decade, and I cannot WAIT to see it.

Finally, we get just the most delightfully unhinged version of Queen Victoria in this book. I'm honestly not even sure how to describe her, except that if Aunt Darlington and Lady Armitage take "Victorian Lady who is imperious and doesn't give a flying fuck" to level ten, Victoria cranks it up to 100. We are DEEPLY amused.

So I'm generally a character reader, and I'm pretty flexible with forgiving mediocre prose if the characters are good. The prose in this book? Five stars. It knows what it wants to do and it DOES IT with cheekiness, aplomb, and OPINIONS. India Holton's authorial voice in this book is crystal clear, well-developed, and a sheer delight. If the plot and story had fallen off a cliff (they don't), I would still recommend this book on voice alone. It's a beautifully done stylized Victorian with a narrator who sometimes low-key Lemony Snickets to offer opinions on things or clarifications or just to put a dramatic little spin on things, and THAT. THAT was absolutely everything. There were literally parts of this book where I had to go back and reread for the plot because I was so caught up in just enjoying the voice. That's not to say the writing isn't clear; it is, it's wonderful, but I'm an English major and a writer and I got lost in the joy of craft a few times and had to catch myself up on plot. It was amazing.

The setting and worldbuilding were also really fun, because it's recognizably Victorian England, but with pirate houses that fly and are armed to the teeth for battle. The houses have as much personality as their pirate ladies, and frankly they're a delight too.

This book was an across the board WIN for me, and I am absolutely going to get the next couple of books that relate to this one. I cannot wait!

#the wisteria society of lady scoundrels #india holton #adult fantasy #fantasy books #fantasy novel #pirates #victorian era #books and reading #books #books and novels #book recommendations

[agentrouka-blog]

1) I don't think R was prophecy obsessed. Grrm deliberately gives only sufficient info and I've always read these characters having parallels & traits of characters that are still alive. I would believe jon has both rhaegar & ned in him- jon is dutiful, takes responsibilities of NW & showjon takes threat of WW seriously. But he also has romantic relationships, friendships- a life outside of work. J is brooding. R being melancholic & working on a looming threat doesn't make him depressed or

2) or unhinged or obsessed or someone who's incapable of love(especially romantic). Bran got the subliminal message & that's all that happens behind the scenes. He might have known everything along with the 'father generation'. I am sure R explained his action to elia & oberyn after the tourney & told them what the starks were upto. Why would he tell her family( after one warning) when they themselves have initiated an act of war by going along with wedding- B was going to marry cat & L was

3) was highly likely getting married to Bobby immediately after B/C wedding. He's wouldn't take her KL- A would kill her(for being mystery knight) & also he was crazy in any case. Remember R is indeed attracted to her at this point of time(not love) & he doesn't want her to die. Also he's good man. He just want her as a hostage. D is the only place he could take her as his in-laws(who knows about STAB) will understand. But they fall in love- it solves L 's want to get rid of bob, R's want

4)R's want of 3rd child,L's protect from king,Stark help in overthrowing A. It will successfully break the STAB alliance. Bob won't be N's BFF once he knows that R&L were consensual. Stark-baratheon friendship goes to gutter when bob knows L betrayed him. STAB is not only there to rid westeros of targs but also to put Bob & L as king & queen. with the candidate for queen being now preggers with R's child, the starks & by affiliation tullys would be out of the alliance. Sure they will be

5) angry but will have to accept it coz L has final say. Bob might rebel but starks won't. R will give concessions to both. The only problem here being the martells who i believe had their own political ambitions. I always thought sansa/jon/dany triangle having similiarities with cat/ned/ashara & lya/rhae/elia. with jonsa being equal to R/L. Maybe arthur was the father of 2 kids & R was setting them aside. Maybe not. Maybe R/L were walking away from the throne & they planned on living in essos.

Hi Rhaegar anon!

As promised, I am responding to your ask. But as warned, I do very much disagree with a number of things.

First up, this is not how politics or betrothals work.

Rhaegar has no right to dictate to the Starks who they can marry. (Not within the universe of ASOIAF.)  Even if he did - which he does not - he cannot do it by, essentially, flipping them all off at a big house party.

The Targs may be the monarchs, but the monarch owes proper procedure to his vassals. And Rhaegar is not even the monarch. He is the crown prince. He has absolutely no basis for demanding anything of them in this way.

The betrothal between Catelyn and Brandon, which has been public knowledge half a decade or more, and the one between Robert and Lyanna, do not constitute any kind of misconduct on behalf of the Warden of the North.

Rhaegar, may not like it, he may correctly surmise that a political block opposed to the Targs is forming up. But that doesn’t mean he can just dictate that they drop their plans out of nowhere. A betrothal is a holy, official commitment, and not subject to casual whims.

Second, handing a flower crown to Lyanna Stark is not communication. It’s the equivalent of mysteriously winking at someone in a crowded room and then walking away, expecting them to read your mind and simply obey. This is not politics. It is insanely entitled, arbitrary, tyrannical and disrespectful nonsense. Just assuming that Brandon is somehow supposed to even understand what Rhaegar supposedly meant by that is the height of folly, let alone the expectation that House Stark should now base their personal politics on this vague gesture. It is nonsense.

Consequently, not suddenly calling off the planned betrothals most certainly does not constitute an “act of war”. He has absolutely zero justification for any kind of “retaliation” because they have done absolutely nothing wrong.

Third, Aerys doesn’t know that Lyanna was the Knight of the Laughing Tree. No one officially knows, outside of Lyanna, those who helped her, Howland Reed, and presumably Rhaegar who found her. If Aerys finds out, it is because Rhaegar tells him, which would be his own choice. So, yes, he could absolutely have brought a kidnapped hostage as a “guest” to KL, and she would have been as safe as anyone else in the presence of Mad Aerys.Heck, he could have taken her to Dragonstone into his own household with his father’s consent if he wanted her extra safe. Less chance of escape (because island) and obviously he doesn’t care about insulting his own wife, so why not?

Fourth, the point of a hostage is leverage. Otherwise, it’s simply an abduction for unknown purposes. If Rhaegar wanted to keep Lyanna a hostage to keep the Starks in line, the absolute key is to communicate this. She becomes Theon Greyjoy, essentially. Except the Starks haven’t actually rebelled (yet), so it really is an act of tyranny on behalf of the monarchy. This makes Rhaegar the very opposite of a good man. Good men don’t kidnap teenagers to subjugate their vassals, who have done nothing wrong as of yet. But at least it would be logical. However, hiding her and not telling them what he took her for is illogical to the extreme. They are naturally angry, demand answers and escalate rather than diffuse any hostility toward the monarchy. Even if Aerys hadn’t murdered dozens of highborn nobles when confronted with Rhaegar’s actions (because Rhaegar wasn’t dealing with the fall-out), it would have created a big political stand-off with no easy solution. Because he failed to telegraph “Heads-up, I took your wolf maid hostage, so don’t rebel, kthxbye”.

Fifth, this erases who Lyanna is. The assumption that Lyanna would be fine with all this assumes she has absolutely zero loyalty to her family at all, and ignores why she did not want to marry Robert in the first place. (He is a philanderer who fathers bastards.). It also erases her dislike of abuse of power, and her sense of responsibility as a Stark, both of which made her the Knight of the Laughing Tree in the first place. That girl values honor and justice. Your theory reduces her to an empty-headed bag of hormones.

Sixth, it does nothing to dismantle the STAB alliance because it confirms all their fears of tyranny. I would say it is highly unlikely that the STAB alliance would falter in the face of Lyanna revealing that she is In Love with her kidnapper who took her in order to force obedience from four different Houses. He still demonstrated the very quality that makes the STAB alliance form in the first place! The Targaryen’s invaded Westeros and forced its kingdoms into submission with the threat of dragonfire. Now that the dragons are gone, unrest stirs. The best way to encourage that unrest is to act like a tyrant. Lyanna being an idiot doesn’t change that. It only makes her a hostage either way. And a girl despised by her countrymen.

Seventh, I sincerely doubt their main aim was to place Robert and Lyanna on the throne. That’s only what the rush-job of the Rebellion accomplished. But we know what the North truly wants, because that’s what happens the moment the Iron Throne is not occupied by Ned’s bestie: Independence. If Rickard, Hoster, and Jon had any sense of vision at all, they were going to work a long game for a much bigger reward than seating a hot-tempered stormlord and a Northern maiden on the spiky chair.

Eigth, ignoring all that, Dorne will absolutely hate all of this. They handed Elia to the Targaryens to be queen and mother of the royal heirs, and Rhaegar either placing his mistress and her (legitimized) bastard next to her, or - worse - making Lyanna his second wife, is a huge affront. It’s not like the Targs haven’t had a devastating civil war happening over the succession before. Rhaegar’s actions are an insult to the Throne’s biggest ally. This insult is not erased by headcanons about Elia/Arthur. If there was any doubt to the legitimacy of Aegon or Rhaenys, Elia’s head could be on a spike for treason. A much simpler way of getting a new wife and a passel of new “heads of the dragon” than kidnapping a girl and starting a war. It’s simply not happening. This problem is not a tiny problem. It’s another mark against thetrustworthiness of the entire Targaryen monarchy. Dorne can now join STAB and House Lannister in hating the Targs, and I am not sure the Reach is suddenly going to come down with a case of undying loyalty.

Ninth, if Rhaegar and Lyanna were just going to hop off to Essos together... why all the fuss over the STAB alliance in the first place? If Rhaegar doesn’t care, then he doesn’t care, right? No, this is out of the question.

Tenth, all of this still ignores that canonically, Rhaegar and the Targaryen monarchy very very very much cared about the prophecy. Just saying “he wasn’t prophecy-obsessed” doesn’t change that he cared about it. And likely a great deal. GRRM deliberately communicates this information in the books, and separately from the “love story” version of events as related by characters who don’t know about the prophecy. Aemon lets us know that Rhaegar clearly connected his children to the prophecy and it seamlessly fits with Dany’s “There must be one more” vision in the HOTU. Aemon is a much more credibly source than anyone else.

Faith in the prophecy provides an explanation for why he was hesitant to remove Aerys from power before lining up his three heads, because de-throning your insane king-father might get messy and distract Rhaegar from scattering his Very Important Dragon Sperm, and it also explains why he thought the Rebellion would somehow work out once Lyanna was pregnant, because obviously they were all chosen by prophecy and would prevail. Maybe he even thought he could get the STABs on his side somehow, if he explained himself and dethroned Aerys, or maybe he really thought simply defeating them in battle would restore enough order for him to assume power peacefully and make his War for the Dawn preparations in the aftermath of the Rebellion.

Either way, he acted in an irresponsible and entitled, uncommunicative and reckless way that betrays a disregard for the concerns of anyone else, or beyond anything but his own convictions. Even his own children. No matter his motivations, his actions very very predictably led to chaos and war. And that is not even counting the ways he publicly humiliated his wife, and likely kidnapped and even raped a teenager.

No matter what way you turn it, Rhaegar was not “a good man”.

#anti rhaegar targaryen #anti rhaegar x lyanna #prophecy #Robert's Rebellion #tyranny

[bird-of-fyre]

Empires SMP x Wynncraft AU

Been playing a bunch of Wynncraft (an MMO in MC co-owned and I think also created by Grian) and the two BIG plot devices in it are Corruption (Wyyn Province) and Decay (Gavel Province). Both are similar and have ties to the same catalyst.

What’s going on in Empires right now? Corruption. So my brain went brrr and we have this. Feel free to write for, make fanart, etc. with this AU just tag me so that I can see it!

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

There are 2 realms in Wynncraft that are constantly at odds with each other. The Realm of Darkness (Dern) and the Realm of Light. When the two forces meet, corruption is formed and the battlefield of their war took place within the Nether. In Wynn, Human miners unearthed a Nether portal and entered, the magic within corrupting and changing them; they returned leading armies of undead that still terrorize the province today. In Gavel, a parasitic entity emerged from a Dern portal and began to infect the magic-enriched land with the Decay.

Corruption spreads like a weed through roots spanning under the entirety of Wynn; the only known force to stall it is Ice Magic. Decay spreads like an infection and slowly consumes the land, it is weak to Light Magic.

The land Empires SMP takes place on is going to be known as Empiria because I feel it deserves a name for this AU. A strange magic protects this land that is believed to be a result of the banishment of Corruption by the Gods before they fell into slumber. Empirians call it "Respawn Magic” as upon dying one is revived at perfect health (though scars may remain depending on the cause of death). Death to age is still a thing, however lifespans of most inhabitants are extended two decades with the exception of elves who live even longer.

Several Empires already existed  before the present day crew, these being the following: Rivendell, Mythland, The Overgrown, The Ocean Empire, The Lost Empire, and Smallhold. The rest only came to rise in the past decade

--------

Characters:

Fwhip: A human that hails from the Wynn province. Him and his sister Gem lived in Detlas together as their parents died in a battle against the endless armies of undead. Fwhip was fascinated by the corruption in their land and sought to study it, perhaps maybe even find out a cure. Gem stopped him from this obsession, reminding him that those that went down that path all ended up becoming harbingers of the corruption. They moved to the land of Empiria shortly around the present day where Fwhip found the Grimlands and the crystalized redstone that tainted it drew his attention. Gem wasn’t fond of the idea but it was a different kind of corruption than that back home so she let him study it. Somehow manages to come off as unhinged yet still in complete control.

Gem: Hailing from Wynn, Gem and Fwhip left for new lands to escape the corruption and undead armies. She settled in a mountainous biome full of amethyst crystals so that she could keep an eye on her brother as his fascination with volatile crystalized redstone worries her. She knew basic fire magic pre-Emperia but now is a bit more adept in her powers and has also learned many more spells. She joined the Wither Rose Alliance with Fwhip and Sausage simply to keep the two chaotic gremlins in line.

Jimmy: A Cod-Hybrid from the Ocean Empire and the adopted brother of Lizzie. He left home to found his own empire in the nearby swamp with his sister’s well wishes. His kingdom is small, but he is a kind and generous ruler that doesn’t see himself above his subjects. While working on paths he found a human washed up on the shore in poor condition; this individual was Joel, a nobody from a far away land who really had just given up on any form of future. Jimmy tends to be the person that generally gets picked on by other rulers for having the smallest empire and because he’s very gullible. Close friends with Pix, who he eagerly loves hearing stories of Corkus from.

Joel: Originally from the port town of Nemract in Wynn, Joel tried to start a religion called Jeremyism in memorium of a donkey he lost to the corruption that never took off due to the Bovemists and their own religion. He cheated some pirates in gambling so they took him hostage and forced him to be part of their crew, not that he was complaining, it was way better than the life he had before. Unfortunately, this didn’t last very long as a battle against some rival pirates during a horrible storm ended with him getting tossed overboard. He awoke on the shore of a swamp where he encountered a cod-hybrid who, with their sister, helped him get back on his feet. After experiencing the Cod and Ocean Empires he decided to start his own in the mesa across the ocean so that he can remain close allies with the duo that saved his life. Him and Lizzie marry a few years later.

Joey: A parrot-hybrid that rules over the Lost Empire as its emperor. He is extremely flirtatious and has questionable morals, but despite this he does care for his people. Fascinated by supernatural forces such as immortality and corruption and also always is looking to grow more powerful in any way he can. He has wind magic but doesn’t tend to use it very much.

Kathrine: A fae whose ancestors were originally from the Realm of Light in a time before the Decay took root in Gavel and Dernic forces made their way into the said realm. When she learns of the origins of several new rulers she is surprised as she had only ever been told of Gavel and Dern. Her and Scott are close, given both their ancestral homes were in Gavel.

Lizzie: An axolotl hybrid who rules over the Ocean Empire. She is a generous and humble ruler who takes pride in he empire and her people. She found a young cod-hybrid caught in a fishermans net when she was still a princess and saved him, declaring him her new brother (which he was happy about). When she was asked to help with a human that had washed onto the shores of Jimmy’s empire she had not been expecting to fall in love with the stranger and is now married to Joel. Wields powerful water magic and takes nonsense from nobody (including her husband).

Pearl: The carefree ruler of Smallhold, an Empire that originally started out as a poor farming village that was struggling on hard times. Pearl is a nymph who took pity on the town and used her magic to help the village through hard times, eventually having them elect her as their queen. Despite her title, she prefers to see herself on equal terms as her people.

Pix: A human from the province of Corkus with great enthusiasm, ambition, and taste for the occasional mischief. He left the island province for new beginnings after accidentally breaking several Corkian laws that would have ended him in prison. His dedication to The Vigil is something he learned from interaction and time spent with the Avos; a race of bird humanoids that were the only inhabitants of Corkus before humans settled there. Pix is fantastic when it comes to metallurgy and uses this knowledge to his advantage when it comes to the copper and other metals he uses in his Empire.

Sausage: Born in the province of Fruma to a poor family Sausage always desired more and often had dreams about becoming a royal and learning magic as only they were allowed the luxury of such. He acted as the robin hood of Fruma for a time before he was eventually caught by the Fruman army and shipped off to Wynn as a soldier to aid the said province in their eternal war against the undead. Unlike most Fruman humans entering Wynn, Sausage did not loose his memories and took the first chance he got to stow away on a ship to new lands. Unfortunately, the ship in question was destroyed in a storm and he washed up onto the shores of Mythland (a smaller town without leadership at the time) and was made its king a year or so thereafter. Given he has no magical abilities of his own due to his origins, he turned to Blood Magic as it’s the closest he’ll ever get.

Scott: The elves of Rivendell originally hailed from Aldorei in Gavel, leaving to escape the Decay. Scott was young when they left for the new lands and, unfortunately, several of the fleeting group were lost to creatures of Dern and Decay; including his older brother, Xornoth. There had been no time to retrieve the bodies of the fallen so those that were left behind were assumed dead or infected. While cold and normally detached from the affairs of others, he does care about his fellow empires. He has light magic but struggles to wield it properly.

Shelby: Gone from her village Shelby returned to find it overun by the Decay and the monsters that come with it. Unable to do anything for her people, she left for new lands. Gavel’s best and brightest couldn’t find a cure for the Decay in their homeland so she hopes that maybe, in this new one, that she might find something to save her people.

Xornoth: Once an elf, now a twisted demonic entity with a lust for destruction. Wounded and separated from his family in an attack while attempting to leave Gavel, he was captured by an acolyte of Dern named Bak’al who brought him back to the realm of darkness. It is here that Xornoth was slowly and painfully corrupted in both mind and body, becoming yet another agent of the beast that governs the dark realm.

#empires smp #empiresblr #empires smp au #empiressmp #empires x wynncraft AU #fwhip #geminitay #jimmy solidarity #solidaritygaming #smallishbeans #Joey graceffa #kathrine elizabeth #ldshadowlady #pearlescentmoon #pixlriffs #mythicalsausage #scott smajor #smajor1995 #dangthatsalongname #shubble #xornoth

[rawliverandcigarettes]

Hi ! How do you envision Aria in Halfway Home ? I do believe you have mentioned she would be involved.

Hello, and thank you for the kind ask, it is absolutely helpful ;_;

So Aria. Aria's a complicated beast. I have a lot of thoughts about her. I kind of always enjoyed her potential more than her execution, as I've been known to have a soft spot for, what I call, Girlbosses Fucking Up. As in: women driven by scary, unhinged ambition that ends up destroying everything including themselves, and Aria could have fitted that description pretty well, or at least its first part (if there had been a proper attempt at character examination and development past her getting suddenly horny for Shepard and fawning over how much cooler and Dangerous than her they actually are or something idk).

So first, about my thoughts on Aria T'loak in canon:

I think Aria embodies a lot of Mass Effect's guilty-pleasure relationship to edge, and I completely believe she's been written first and foremost to be 1) cool, and 2) a sexual fantasy. The problem with that posture is that... basically any serious attempt at unpacking her politics risk ruining her pseudo-dominatrix vibes. So as a result, we get the most unquestioned, unashamed libertarian figure of the games, blaring that she's justified in her power position because she's the strongest, that because she's the strongest she's justified in commiting any kind of violence to hoard what she considers to be hers, and the fact she's basically an absolute despot is seen as something to be admired and even envied (no red tapes, no Council, nobody to answer to but herself and her whims).

To be noted: she's criticized in the vaguest way possible in the Omega DLC, but it has way more to do with the interpersonal, Nyreen and then a dominance struggle with Shepard, than with any of her concrete politics (and the dominance struggle is very... it's very much about "conquering" her and shoving yet another power fantasy down Shepard's throat --either by taming her fire or sharing it, and being called The Most Special Of All And I Never Met Anyone Like You Wooow You're Making Me So Hot And Bothered, and I'd argue it's still more about stroking the player's, hm, ego than about Aria herself). The "nooo don't kill civilians because surely there are any trace of civilians that aren't slavers, gang members or mercenaries left after like, two coups and a half" has nothing to say about the value of the life of said "civilians" despite their darkness, nothing to say about Aria's right to wage life and death over them. Even Nyreen's criticisms of Aria are... very un-Omegan. They still wager on Omega civilians being poor, unprepared babies, and to me it just doesn't ring true or meaningful in the slightest. But I made no effort ever hiding how much I don't vibe with this DLC, and its refusal to engage with Omega's themes to preserve Aria's sex appeal is one of the biggest culprits to me.

I also whinge about Aria in my critic of Mass Effect: Retribution, where I discover that she is actually quite dumb, and solves her problems with temper tantrums and half-assed decisions the narrative desesperatly tries to justify instead of being the savvy figure Mass Effect 2 tries to sell us (also her daughter is treated like a sexpot who immediately dies an awful, voyeuristic death and I doooon't love that choice, even if it's, once again, very telling on the kind of character Aria's supposed to be).

So now, I will stop whingeing about canon and talk about how I tried to reinterpret Aria T'loak in Halfway Home.

So Aria in HH is... kind of an awful, complicated person. I completely leaned in that Girlboss Fucking Up direction because nobody can stop me to explore some of the absurd tragedy behind her struggle for power. She is libertarian to a fault, at once believing in the importance of daring to bite what you can off a seemingly unchangeable and incredibly cruel social system, while failing to acknowledge that she's a central actor of said system, maintaining its alchemy with an iron fist with little concern for those who have to pay the price. While not nearly as conservative as them (socially, economically she's almost worse), I took inspiration from figures like Ayn Rand and Margaret Thatcher to flesh her out, especially in the way she turns against her own kind to keep her head out of the water (I mean at once asaris and sex workers, as I kept her backstory infiltrating Omega's ecosystem as an Afterlife dancer first). But by having this background, to garner respect, she has to be ruthless and consistently brilliant so she doesn't slip, because if she does... Well the fall will be rather brutal. She's acutely aware of the necessity of maintaining her prestige and her innaccessibility, while keeping herself desirable (as a potential ally and as an asari), because everyone wants to either kill her, be her or have her, and this is at once the basis of her power and an incredibly lonely and vulnerable position to have to voluntarily maintain yourself in.

Aria in Halfway Home does fucked up shit, or willingly allows or facilitates fucked up shit to maintain herself afloat (especially in her power plays with the Council, batarians and Cerberus). But she's been doing this dangerous dance for centuries, and she's starting to feel alienated from herself, from anticipating and catering to all sides at once. She also tends to keep opportunities open and let people live if they can be useful (à la Patriarch) rather than kill them, even if she cultivates her vicious reputation to prevent coups against her --basically keeping escape routes open as much as she can. As far as attitude goes, she follows more of her sarcastic/jaded side that is sometimes apparent in canon, and it's becoming clear how tired she is, how every single one of her desires have melted into what she needs to do to stay in power. She's the Pirate Queen, and in more ways than one the world is at her feet, yet everything she does is calculated to keep herself alive, at all time. And she can't stop now, because she's addicted to Omega and what it did to her, and if she stops she will be torn apart by everyone pretending to be on her side. In a way she's a prisonner of her own power, while also maintaining everyone else in the cell with her by force and pretending that... there is no alternative, if you can forgive my wording.

So yeah. Sarcastic, tired, brilliant, cynical. That's my Aria. She's the absolute worst, and yet she's a little tragic too. But by the end of the story, Shlee doesn't care about that part at all and will not shut the fuck up about how she should be deposed and is, in fact, the absolute worst, which, yeah, great thing to scream around Shlee, very smart.

#aria t'loak #omega dlc #halfway home #shlee #asks #fanfiction #mass effect critical

[jokerfan99]

My Top 10 Favorite Anime Villains (Updated) by DarkChild316

In a different time and a different world, I did a list of “My 10 Favorite Anime Villains”. I am older now, and hopefully much wiser and now thanks to the global pandemic and my new subscriptions to Hulu and Funimation I’ve had the opportunity to go back and revisit so many classic anime that I feel like I should re-do it. Plus I’ve gone back and looked at my previous list and shook my head thinking to myself: “My God man, what in the f**k were you thinking with some of these choices!” So, I’ve gone back and redone the list, now this list is strictly for the men only. If you want to see a list dedicated to my favorite female villains, check out my list of “My Top 10 Favorite Anime Villainesses.” But for this list, here is my updated list of My Top 10 Favorite Anime Villains:

#10. Shishiho Makoto (Rurouni Kenshin): Growing up as a kid, Ruroni Kenshin was one of the first anime I had ever watched, and this guy was someone who I hated with a passion. Looking back at it years later, I realize now what an amazing villain and foil to Kenshin that Makoto was. Unlike a lot of villains on this list, Makoto wasn’t just evil for the sake of being evil, Makoto’s evil came from the worst type of trauma: betrayal! In this case the betrayal came from Makoto’s own government, where Makoto survived not only multiple gunshots, but being doused in oil and burned alive, leaving him in complete and utter agony. What puts Shishio on my list is what he manages to do after surviving death. He compiles an army of the best fighters Japan has to offer and plots to overthrow the entire Meiji Government. While in complete agony. Who else can claim that? Did I also mention he’s topping the list of the best fighters in the show? His swordsmanship is second only to Kenshin himself as he proves in their absolutely epic fight.

#9. Hisoka Morrow (Hunter x Hunter): Hunter x Hunter is a show with several great villains that truly stand out, and while Meruem was memorable, pardon me for believing that Hisoka was the standout villain from that show. A devious killer and master Nen user, Hisoka is driven by little more than his desire to find and kill strong opponents. Be they young children or master criminals, he’ll pursue them to the ends of the Earth with a bloodlust on par with that of a wild predator. Likewise, he doesn’t care what happens to himself or others in this pursuit. Mass civilian casualties, the loss of his own villainous allies or even the loss of his own limbs barely phases him, so long as he gets to fight with someone that tests his limits. As a result, he more often than not embodies chaos incarnate, wreaking havoc in his pursuit of battle and leaving a mountain of corpses behind him. Needless to say, this puts him at odds with the series’ protagonists at regular intervals. Not only do Gon and his friends fit the bill for what he seeks, but they often take on enemies that prove to be exactly what Hisoka is looking for. And yet, this also serves to make him all the more interesting. Where other villains might strike out at the protagonists and heroes immediately, Hisoka schemes, allies himself with and double-crosses people regularly, always finding the best angle to work in order to reach his goals. He may not be a world-ending anime villain on the level of a Meruem with seismic ambitions, but he’s undeniably the most interesting and brilliant villain in Hunter x Hunter to see at work.

#8. Izaya Orihara (Durarara!!): If you think of a list of top anime villains and this guy isn’t one of the first people who comes to mind, please raise your hands so I can have a few words with you in private with no cameras or eyewitnesses. The crazy thing about Izaya is that he doesn’t even realize he’s evil, and that’s what makes him great. He loves humanity; from the depths of his bones he loves us all. This is why he makes it onto my list; he does progressively more cruel acts against humans, putting people in situations that generally lead to their deaths. He is also a master of parkour and highly skilled with a switchblade in his hand (as evident in the above picture), which he generally only uses in dire situations or fights against Shizuo. In short, I absoulutely love this guy. I thoroughly enjoyed the way he manages to manipulate an entire populous, and that’s why he’s more than earned a spot on my list.

#7. Dio Brando (Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure): You might have thought it was someone else, but it was me, Dio! All meme-worthy jokes aside, Dio Brando is unquestionably one of the most iconic anime villains of all time and, thanks to his series’ late-blooming popularity outside of Japan thanks largely to the 2012 anime adaptation, one that still feels modern in our minds. Dio is a tenacious bastard that takes advantage of the generosity of the Joestar family to further his own power, being intolerably dickish to Jonathan by constantly tearing him down, trying to make him look bad in front of his dad, spreading rumors to sully his reputation, and sabotaging his relationships. This escalates into killing his dog (his f***ikg dog of all things!), poisoning and later stabbing his adoptive father (I mean WTF!), and becoming a freakin vampire. Even after decapitation, Dio gets his revenge and sets in motion many of the events of the series, making a formal return in Stardust Crusaders as the main villain once again. With raw ambition taken to the extreme, iconic lines, poses, and outfits, incredible abilities from Aztec mask-induced vampirism and the time-stopping power of The World, Dio’s menacing presence towers over his series and over anime as a whole, which makes him MORE than deserving of a spot on my list.

#6. Light Yagami (Death Note): Yes, he’s a VILLAIN, get over yourselves Light Yagami fanboys! Anyway, there are a number of different adjectives and superlatives that could be used to described the lead character of Death Note: Diabolical, calculating, and determined to make the world in his own image all describe Light who was easily the most clever man in  Death Note, as evidenced by the layers upon layers that composed his elaborate plans.  Light started out as a good kid, doing well in school and heading to a bright career in police work like his father. But when he gets possession of the death note, he begins a remarkable descent into a disturbing mastermind who becomes judge, jury, and executioner for the entire world. But what truly makes Light's character stand out remains complicated throughout the story. His ultimate goal is to make the world a happier, safer place; a noble but perhaps misguided goal. His idealism and nobility still shine through when he doesn’t have the Death Note. When he temporarily relinquishes ownership of the death note to throw L off his trail, Light loses all memory of the death note and he reverts to his normal personality. His sense of morality returns and he shows more compassion for those around him. He even refuses to use Misa Amane to get information out of her when L asks him to. These qualities help to create a complex character who ends up being a detestable villain, yet you still kind of root for him to come out of this story as a winner. Light’s progression through the series is marked by his sheer brilliance. He's got a calculated and strategic mind that would make the great philosopher Machiavelli jealous, and the power of the death note adds a callousness that makes him free to use people in whatever way necessary to accomplish his goals. It’s highly entertaining to see his intricate plans play out. But Light’s messiah-like ego is just as big as his brain, and that arrogance ultimately leads to his tragic downfall.

#5. The Major (Hellsing): An evil Nazi Scientist, I know everyone is just rolling their eyes right now thinking I’m reaching for the low-hanging fruit for this one, but just hear me out here. While he may seem like an obvious pick for a list like this, The Major’s goals, however, are somehow far more unhinged than what may first appear. Despite being an impassioned orator and uncompromising strategist willing to sacrifice countless soldiers, the Major himself had no especial loyalty or passion for the cause of Millennium. His sole obsession is to plunge the world into an unending conflict to the point of endangering not only the lives of others but also his own. The Major’s leadership of Millennium, his decades espousing the genocidal ideology of fascists, and subsequent war against the Hellsing organization, the Vatican, and the entire world serve only as a pretext to satiate his insatiable bloodlust. The Major is one of anime’s most insidious villains, a charismatic, nihilistic sociopath driven purely by his sadomasochistic death wish.

#4. Shou Tucker (Fullmetal Alchemist): Now, you may be recalling that in my previous version of this list, I had Envy listed as my choice as my favorite villain from this show. Well after careful reconsideration, I’ve had to reevaluate my decision and give that spot to this creep, because while Envy’s actions were despicable to a point, they PALE in comparison to this guy! He only really appears in one episode if I remember correctly, yet in that one single episode, he made more of an impact then most villains make in a lifetime, which really says a lot about this guy’s character. What was it that made him so memorable you ask? Well, it could have something to do with the fact that this man transmutaed his own dog and daughter to create a talking chimera, which hadn’t been done before, and for what other reason…all in the name of recognition in the world of alchemy! That mere fact alone made this guy the most hated man in all of anime, the fact that he sacrificed his own family for the sake of fame, with absolutely no hint of remorse, made this guy the definition of an absolute living piece of shit and the only thing worse is how the episode ended, but I won’t spoil that one for you if you haven’t seen it.

#3. Gendo Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion) Up next is a man competing with the likes of Medusa Gorgon for the title of “Anime’s Worst Parent”, Gendo Ikari, please step up to the front of the congregation. Now Gendo is a man who’s list of atrocities throughout Evangelion is far too many to name, but I’m going to try my best to list them here: You have being actively complicit in the premature instigation of a biblical apocalypse, resulting in a near extinction-level event that caused the death of nearly two-thirds of the human population. Emotionally neglecting his own son Shinji estranging himself from him for over twelve years, only to offer him up as a sacrificial pawn in his bid to artificially bootstrap humanity’s ascent into evolutionary godhood so that he could be reunited with his dead wife. Cloning said wife’s DNA into a harem of emotionally dependent albino ingenues who share a dogged infatuation for their creator. And that’s not even mentioning the horrific emotional abuse and mental manipulation he inflicts on Dr. Ritsuko Akagi and her mother Naoko. All-in-all Gendo is proof positive that love not only has the capacity to overcome any obstacle, but sometimes it can truly make monsters out of us all.

#2. Griffith (Berserk): Griffith did nothing wrong; at least, not by his own drives and ambitions. A peasant who grew to become the leader of his own mercenary band, Griffith was a self-driven man who pursued his desires with unparalleled efficiency. No matter the situation or obstacle, he found a way to overcome them, whether that meant facing down an army of thousands or assassinating a country’s leaders. All the while, he amassed a legion of friends and followers who would follow him to hell and back, caring for him as much or more than he cared for them. As a result, they were dragged down with him when his ambitions saw him imprisoned, tortured and maimed. They cared little though, risking life and limb to save him and help him salvage a life with what he had left. That wasn’t enough for Griffith though. When given the option to become a demon and continue the pursuit of his dreams, he whole-heartedly accepted it; even though it came at the cost of sacrificing the lives of each and every one of his friends and allies. But that wasn’t the worst of it, to further spite the early desertion of Guts, Griffith proceeds to rape Casca, Guts’ love interest, in front of him as Guts is held down by demons. So yes, Griffith did nothing wrong by himself. By everyone else though, he did them the worst of injustices, and continues to do so with each breath he takes, all of which makes him a compelling and infuriating villain.

#1. Johan Liebert (Monster): I’ve covered a wide variety of monsters (pun fully intended) on this list, but THIS monster (again, pun FULLY intended) truly takes the cake when it comes to anime villains. A serial killer who would fit in well in any blockbuster film, Monster told the story of a man who had truly become monstrous; a charismatic, intelligent sociopath with no other goal than to kill everyone else in the world. Johan didn't just kill people, he made other people into monsters just like him. This skill of his corruption is first displayed in his youth, when he used stories to convince the other boys in his orphanage to kill all the staff, and each other. Johan is often compared to Light Yagami of Death Note, but the two couldn’t be any more different. Light's fatal (and genius) flaw is his own ego, which leads him to put his own life above all else, even his goal of changing the world. But Johan has never been afraid of death. Quite the opposite, he welcomes and embraces it, being more than willing to put his own life at risk, and one of his signature traits is how he challenges people to shoot him. Another of Jonah’s signature traits is his skills as a masterful manipulator. Where Light and other on this list had to resort to supernatural means to get what they wanted, Johan just used his own wits and knowledge of human nature. He's easily the most frightening villain on this list because he’s the truest to life villain on this list and he exposes the base human nature of his victims and of human society. Monster's remarkable story was almost entirely due to Johan alone, and it’s why he’s #1 on my list.

So that's my updated list, what did you guys think about it? Love it, hated it? Go on and tell me what you think and let me know who your favorite anime villains are. See you soon!!!

Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/darkchild316

#shishiho makoto #Rurouni Kenshin #hisoka morrow #hunter x hunter #izaya orihara #durarara #Dio Brando #JoJo's Bizarre Adventure #Light Yagami #Death Note #the major #hellsing #shou tucker #Fullmetal Alchemist #gendo ikari #neon genesis evangelion #griffith #berserk #johan liebert #monster

[mayabishopapologist]

station 19 - season 4, etc

this is long but i want to put down my thoughts before thursday comes and i guess i have A Lot To Say.

honestly didn’t pay much attention to this show until halfway through season two—  always liked maya and was glad that they gave her more to do. going into season 3, i was excited for more character development &stronger storylines. however, by the end of  301 the dip in quality was glaringly obvious. a quick google search revealed that there was a new showrunner and, well, it showed. 

while the show had been going in a really good direction with balancing the screen time between andy and the other regulars, this season, the plot was all over the place. it was uber dramatic and just. so much happened just to happen? seemed like every other episode had a major event(deaths alone; ryan,rigo,pruitt?!!?). they were so frequent, it was hard to process. it was also hard to get invested as the characters themselves moved on(or were shown to have moved on, extremely quickly!) 

i enjoy the show for what it is and i have no delusions about broadcast tv shows (or shondaland productions, for that matter)but the suspension of disbelief.... i mean: a stabbing, a robbery, a shooting and a car crash? all in one episode? please! lmaooooo. drama for dramas sake is always boring and weakens the story.  

& as for the characters... .

everyone felt like a hollow version of themselves this season and it was hard to watch sometimes, actually. characters switched motivations /personalities for the sake of the current episode and i know this show is very ‘monster/emergency of the week’ but. some consistency! please! like—

maya: she’s always been determined and focused but they went so far with it this season, it was almost cartoonish. her competitiveness was hinted at in season 2 but she was always portrayed as self aware. ‘the beast,’ as she dubbed it to andy, was something she knew of and tried to contain, because she knew it could get out of hand. 

yet, in season 3 she suddenly forgets this and just. becomes the most power hungry/singularly focused person, ever. she goes after the captain position behind andy’s back, (citing andy’s emotional state, because of the death of her best friend as a reason she shouldn’t get the job?? huh. since when is maya this purely callous??!) she just doesn’t give af, suddenly, about andy at all, and goes for a job that she is hardly qualified for(she was lieutenant for like, a few months?)

and then after she gets the position, she just. loses all sense of reality? literally she was so unhinged(fun to watch but so much) and it was like. um?? maya has never been the uptight one (they've mentioned and depicted andy as being the one like this, multiple times!) and we know she knows how to have fun, so, for her to all of a sudden just. not know how to read the room? yeah okay. to make her so intense and severe, especially w the drills and training was, a choice. a bad one, on the writers part. like, i get that they needed her start as captain to be dramatic or whatever,  but there were ways to do that. and even the animosity with the team and her went so far, i just think that whole storyline was amazingly lazy, honestly.  

and the friendships!! andy and maya’s friendship is just, a mess. at this point they've spent more time at odds, and the idea that they're supposed to be best friends with this super close bond? yeah, i just... i dont buy it tbh. if they'd spent more time building up their connections and making us understand why they would be friends and showing them being there for each other past a few scattered scenes her and there? maybe. but so far, that hasn't been the case.  making that bond real, solidifying that friendship, would have made this conflict have more of an emotional impact. but doing it now? making maya ‘turn’ on andy, this soon and this drastically just. it made her seem like she was extremely jealous and had been waiting to pull the rug out from under andy all along. and also, why would they stay friends when, so far, maya has showed, time and time again, that she’s willing to let her wants/ambitions leech on her loyalty to andy? (jack thing, job thing, etc). although, it’s not like andy’s a good friend to maya either, she’s selfish and seems to like it when maya is in her corner but isnt always there for her. they went so far with the idea that maya was this coldly calculating asshole that she was almost a villain?? it was so silly to me.

and the traumatic home life plot they gave to maya was clearly their attempt at some adding nuance to her character and trying to explain why she would act the way she did, but to me? it fell flat. it was rushed, and they went from zero to 100(why did her mother come to talk about her divorce/abuse at maya’s job? like she was literally working? idgi. no boundaries lmaoo) 

and i actually relate and sympathize w maya a lot. and while i liked that they were exploring the many ways abuse can present itself, it was very... hm, ham-fisted. just super rushed and then wrapped up so quickly. they have, i think, written themselves into this dark place i fear they have no intention of exploring. 

and while i understand it, i hated how far they let maya go, especially because i don't feel they’ll adequately address it. they move on so quickly( maya was deaf for like half a season and then. she just. wasn't) and i hate the idea of her just being ‘fixed’. a relationship and an apology doesn't undo years of abuse, idc. also will they ever address maya’s um, thoughts about death??? because that was super heavy and not just something someone gets over? going to need for her to get actual professional help. that isn’t her girlfriend, like. asap. 

speaking of carina, i do like her and maya together a lot. big part of why i watch, ngl. but i need their relationship to be a lot more reciprocal. like, lets dial it back on the codependency, maybe. carina cant (and shouldn't have to) hold her up so much ! that’s not love. also maya needs to start being a good girlfriend. they started off that way, i know they can get back there. but like, we hardly got to see them settle into it, we got those cute 30sec clips of sweetness then maya was lashing out and cheating and it was like. wait a minute! what??? 

for s4, i want to see them working at reconciling—im talking, groveling, awkward in-between moments where carina isnt sure she can trust her. okay, tough conversations, hell, even jealousy because let's be real. maya working with jack is a lot for carina to just. take? i know i absolutely would not be happy about that, but i also wouldnt take maya back so... anyway! brushing over that would not just be a missed storytelling opportunity, but it would also be super unfair to carina and do a huge disservice to their relationship as a whole. as cute as they are, having cute moments with no real depth would get very old, very quickly.

carina: what can i say but-perfect, amazing, fantastic, WOW

seriously, carina is almost unrealistically perfect. she takes a lot and has been through the most (can they be nice 2 her this season? like just for fun) going forward, im going to need her to be more than a plot device to calm and soothe maya. i get that she was introduced as a love interest, but in season 4(as a season!!regular!!) that cant be all she is.

speaking of, it was really weird to me that she was promoted to station 19 and not greys because... what is a gynecologist going to do at a fire station? the general consensus seems to be that she’ll join warren’s PRT but like. she’s not a general surgeon so that’s a reach but, i want her around so ill buy it. i just want better and more for her tbh. not just screen-time, but also character development and depth! also friends! tired of carina being isolated, they did it on greys which. a waste! i meaaan, amelia was RIGHT. THERE. just look at the material! for s19, i want her, vic and travis to be friends or even just her and vic, like yesplease! i also want to know more about her and im tired of her being treated badly. like, i think society had progressed past carina being shitted on, thanks!

vic: my fave!!! they did so lazy by her this season ugh. she’s so charismatic and charming and just so good!! yet, her storyline was all over the place. we hardly got to see her sit with her grief  (spontaneous crying aside; barrett doss is so good!) she was just kind of... around. and that relationship w jackson. lol. it was so obviously for crossover potential and well. i didnt hate it or like it. actually, i was mostly indifferent. bored, even when they were onscreen together. i just didn't care and wanted more of vic, not vic and whoever. i know they're up in the air rn but i wouldn’t be torn up if he doesn’t come back. 

i want more for vic past just romantic entanglements. i know we’ve gotten a bit of her past, but i would like to see more! also, what about employment accomplishments? her artsy theatre friends? her family? just. more vic, please!!

she’s so fun and cool and when they let her, she shines. they need to let her! 

jack: my boy! so dumb, but i love him sm. he def needs like. major help, though lmao. and maybe it’s just me but im tired of his sex addict plot. like, we get it, but can we move on now? kthanks. they need to let him work on himself especially, the constant self sabotage. it's getting old. for ALL of them, actually, seriously, how many times can they all get in their own way.

andy: don’t really think about her. the mom storyline seems like it would be wonderfully dramatic, im intrigued. she and sullivan are cute, i guess. hope they make it.

ben: no major issues w his storyline, hardly remember it honestly. i liked the rapport he was building w vic and want them to explore that relationship more, its cute. 

travis: so funny and adorable, let him do more.

dean: loved him in all his entitled first born African son glory. i didnt so much love the baby plot but that always bores me. his sudden love for vic though. lol. since when? it def, came out of no where and while i really enjoy their friendship, to me, there is zero romantic chemistry there so i would prefer it if they just. stopped. lmao. also. the way he treated her because he could get a handle on his emotions? ridiculous. has humanity not like, gotten past the ‘he’s mean bc he likes you’ thing?? like grow up maybe?

and this isnt just about dean but like. are there not more single young people in seattle? why do they all have to sleep with the same 5 people. ik for the sake of plot, workplace relationships are easier but still. i think they should branch out. really. 

overall, i want better for all of them, and i think if the writers would just. take a moment and stop trying to tell so many stories in such little time, they could do better! also, whoever’s out there. please, enough w the crossovers! dont want to be forced to watch greys just to know what’s happening on 19. i get that they're in the same universe. it’s only mentioned every other episode. we. get, it. i liked what they did with private practice, it was like once every few seasons. and i know they won’t do that, but maybe, two a season. 

this is so much. but this how does have a ton of potential and i just really want it . like, get there.

#either way #im still watching lmao #h8 it here lol #station 19 #maya bishop #vic hughes #andy herrera #dean miller #jack gibson #ben warren #travis montgomery #s19 #mtxt #if u see spelling mistakes #no u didnt xx #me writing dissertations to justify why im stuck here lmaoo

[ladywindrunner]

Due to… whatever in god’s name Blizzard is doing, I’ve decided I’m officially making Sylvanas Windrunner canon-divergent. Do not get me wrong, Sylvanas will continue to be an absolute bitch and snake, but I’m no longer going to struggle to fit her into whatever unhinged supervillain Blizzard wants her to be.

From here on out, the verse The Dark Lady will follow the below historical timeline. I will of course update my page to reflect the divergence but – you’ve all been warned.

a very special thank you to @fatesblades @windrunnerrs & @lady-proudmoore for helping me sort through this clusterfuck of an expansion, and ensuring I kept the divergence accurate and straightforward. 

please look under the cut for the complete rewrite ❤︎ thank you all for your patience c:

QUICK FACTS:

Sylvanas would never agree or entertain any arrangement with the Jailer. She will never serve another, and that includes some random being in the Shadowlands. Her allegiance with the Horde irks her enough, but she suffers through it out convenience and need.

The Forsaken need allies, they do not need another death-dealing master who wishes to use them as a weapon.

(the only way Blizzard could salvage that plot is if she planned on betraying the Jailer, but it’s still… tired and urgh.)

She is absolutely a treacherous bitch and you should definitely not trust her (especially if you’re alive).

Sylvanas does not, and probably will never respect Anduin as a king. He’s nothing but a child leading nations. She would absolutely use his naivety and good nature against him.

She is a manipulator, and will never brazenly attack an enemy or insinuate herself in a plot unless said person is either someone she can trust (Nathanos) or she’s about to murder them (see: everyone else).

The Forsaken are her people, and she cares about their well-being. If she didn’t it would almost be as if the last years of content and character development meant fuck all for the sake of needing a villain (i’m not bitter, you’re bitter).

THE DARK LADY // A DEADLY BARGAIN (THE DEATH OF VOL’JIN)

Following the Battle for the Broken Shore, as Vol’jin struggles against his mortal wound and the insidious taint of Fel within him… “You do not honestly believe Baine will be beneficial for the Sin’dorei.” Sylvanas’ remark strikes a painful chord within the Regent-Lord, despite his mistrust of her intentions. He watches her with obvious suspicion.

If the Windrunner he knew still lingered in the woman before him, she’d long become impossible to glimpse.

“It does not surprise me you speak of treachery,” Lor’themar counters, eyes narrowed. “Do you remember nothing of loyalty, Banshee Queen?”

        Her smirk vile, as is the crimson glare of her dead eyes.

        “Do not play as if you care for the Tauren, Lor’themar,” she chuckles, “And I am not suggesting we kill Baine, I am simply bringing a far more agreeable solution to the forefront.”

        “Vol’jin will never name you,” Lor’themar scowls. He does not care for the troll, nor his obvious pick, but Sylvanas would be the very last name on the list. She was Queen of the Forsaken, a viper lurking in the tall grass.

        The Sin’dorei was having trouble recalling a soul she hadn’t betrayed.

        “Imagine if he were to pass with only a chosen few present,” she mused aloud, “Only those few would know which name he spoke…”

        “And what benefit do you bring to the Sin’dorei?” Lor’themar nearly snarled. He had not forgotten her aid in seeing his people into the Horde, but she’d been quick to use that against him.

        The comment annoys her; she gives him a piercing glare.

        “We’re at war, Lor’themar,” she snaps. Her tone lacks its ordinary taunting tone – it is flat with cruel fact. “Do tell me, who do you believe would lead the Horde to victory? Baine? He treasures peace more than sense. He would give ground when he should hold. Gallywix would sell us all for a single gold coin if it’d see his own life spared, and I imagine the Legion can offer him far more.”

        If Lor’themar agreed to the plan, she could sway Gallywix easily with payment. The very reason she didn’t wish for the goblin to be in charge, was also the best method of convincing the merchant lord to lie.

“And the last orc who led the Horde, led us into war, and is arguably responsible for the catastrophe we have now…” Sylvanas quirked a brow at the man, her smile returning, “So who does that leave? You?” She stifled half a chuckle, “a man who doesn’t even wish to lead his own people. You have the military sense, Lor’themar. You simply do not possess the ambition.”

        He glowered at her, “I would sooner lead the Horde than trust you to remember who came to your aid.”

        Windrunner said nothing for a moment, her smile growing slightly as she considered him. He’d grown wiser.

        “Pray-tell then Regent-Lord, what do you want in return?”

Vol’jin’s death came swiftly, the grievous wound causing the troll untold agony before he slips away (the speed would have been surprising to the three, if they hadn’t possessed the knowledge that foreign poison masked by the demonic influence, was raging through the Warchief’s veins). Sylvanas Windrunner, Gallywix, and Lor’themar Theron witness the man’s demise together.

His last decree as Warchief was to name Baine Bloodhoof to take his place.

        His final command would never reach the others, however. Their lies spun well, Sylvanas saw herself rise to become Warchief.

THE RECLUSIVE WARCHIEF // RECLAIMING THE GHOSTLANDS (POST-LEGION)

Peace is not something Sylvanas handles well. The idleness of it bothers her, but she is not foolish enough to think the Horde wishes to be dragged into another war (not one where the Horde is the aggressor). She tolerates the truce about as well as one can imagine. She is a more reclusive Warchief, she does not care for Orgrimmar, she’d rather spend her time with the Forsaken – who have extended a helping hand to the Sin’dorei in reclaiming the Ghostlands.

        A kind gesture, that some see as Sylvanas attempt to placate the more concerned members of the Horde leadership. Some see it as a welcomed change to her character, while others watch her with increased suspicion.

        It does help repair a fractured relationship between the Forsaken the Sin’dorei.

        An unintended, but welcomed happening while Windrunner keeps her word to Lor’themar.

A GLIMPSE OF PEACE // RECONCILIATION (BEFORE THE STORM)

Sylvanas does not support the meeting between the Forsaken and their living family. Following the catastrophic meeting between she and her two sisters, the Banshee Queen is firmly under the belief that it will lead to nothing but heartbreak and undue pain. The living cannot see past undeath, no matter what they claim.

        Receiving the missive from Anduin does nothing but irritate her. His good intentions are viewed by her as a form of manipulation, though she does entertain that he is simply naïve enough to believe that somehow the idea may work to heal old wounds.

        She permits the meeting to take place, and is not surprised to see Forsaken turned away by the living.

        She is taken aback when she witnesses other families accepting their undead companions. She watches in silence as her people find the peace that has eluded her for years.

        “My Queen,” Nathanos’ voice is hushed and careful. She has said nothing for some time, her expression is something unreadable. The crimson light behind her cool eyes has fizzled out, leaving nothing but grey.

        Sylvanas glances to her champion.

        The gaze is different.He does not recognize at first.

        Then he recalls what it is.

        Hurt.

        In that fleeting moment, she conveys how pained she was. The agony that reconciliation is possible, just not for her.       

        Sylvanas leaves the exchange, feigning disinterest.    

THE SUNDERING OF GILNEAS // THE WAR OF WOLVES (POST-BTS, APPROXIMATELY WHEN TELDRASSIL BURNED)

Yet the Warchief is not without her machinations. She schemes against her closest enemy, the one who ruined her attempts at subduing Eyir, while also discovering a way to bring back into the fold her wayward Forsaken who’ve gone to their living families.

        With peace looming, Sylvanas sets to work placing insurgents within Gilneas. Through them, the Banshee Queen ensures that it is Gilneas who broke the armistice. Witnesses on both sides saw Worgen soldiers attacking Forsaken troops.

        She calls for the Forsaken in Stormwind to return to Lordaeron, citing concerns over their safety as the Alliance has proven they are incapable of peace with the undead.

        Most return to the Horde, peace once again hanging by thread. They have no reason to believe they too have fallen prey to her cunning ruse.

        The peace broken, Sylvanas needs no other reason to march on Gilneas. Undead forces wait before Greymane gate, and in response the Gilneans prepare for war.

        But it is not the Forsaken who raze Gilneas. Sylvanas engages the enemy in frivolous skirmishes, biding her time until the orcish fleet reaches the shores of the enemy kingdom.

        The orcs sweep across Gilneas from the sea, while the Forsaken push inwards from the borders of Lordaeron.

        With nowhere to run, the stationed Alliance forces succumb to the combined might of the pincer strike. They simply cannot fight a war on two fronts, and it is not long before they collapse.

        Horde soldiers are careful not to cut down any man who surrenders, a specific instruction from their Warchief. A gesture seen as a mercy (while in reality, a convenient manipulation by the Banshee Queen, further implicating Gilneas as the aggressor, and that she is trying to be a worthy leader).

Gilneas is inducted into Lordaeron and becomes Forsaken territory. Prisoners are treated with some dignity. Only a handful are executed when they attempt a desperate escape that inevitably fails.

        Sylvanas wastes no time raising those who fought against her as Forsaken, swelling her numbers while the Horde celebrates a well fought victory.

A COLD WAR // TWO QUEENS OF A NATION (AROUND THE TIME OF THE SIEGE OF LORDAERON)

Peace returns, though in the form of a cold war. Relations between the Horde and Alliance are strained, but there is little evidence that anyone is going to break the peace. Sylvanas knows that Genn is biting at the bit for vengeance, and delights in the knowledge that eventually the old dog is going to shatter the truce on his own accord.

        She is careful to ensure the Forsaken think little of Calia Menethil (who has since revealed herself). Who is she to return now and call herself queen of anyone or anything? She uses propaganda so her people see it as Alliance mind-games.

        The Dark Lady watches over them, not a Menethil.

While she doesn’t care for the unforeseen irritation, at the moment she can do nothing about Calia without the assumption she is responsible for it.

        Sylvanas eventually trades the Alliance prisoners for Zul and Talanji. Always seeking allies, they are inducted into the Horde, but find themselves suffering through the delicate peace.

WHISPERS FROM BEYOND // THE SEIGE OF NAZJATAR (RISE OF AZSHARA)

        The Speaker of the Horde brings Sylvanas the infamous dagger Blade of the Black Empire, though they claim to have little recollection as to why. While a valuable object, it was not one that the Warchief was seeking out (and the lack of knowledge the Speaker possess, makes the Banshee Queen nervous). She was suspicious of the motivation of the individual who gave it to her, but took the offering despite the uncertainty.

        The struggling peace between the Alliance and the Horde is somehow sustaining itself (much to the annoyance of Sylvanas, who cannot break the peace openly). She permits the Forsaken to visit their families, though they must return for their own safety (having ample success in convincing her people the majority of the living are notto be trusted), and she does allow limited numbers of humans into Lordaeron to see their families.

        When the mysterious Empress Azshara contacts her, Sylvanas appears to cement an agreement that would see the Alliance decimated, clearing the way for the Horde to rise. Through some means Sylvanas cannot ascertain, the Queen of the Naga has become aware of her possession of Blade of the Black Empire.

        She agrees to meet Azshara, and keeps the meeting secret from all but her Champion Nathanos.

        Queen Azshara’s request is simple, Sylvanas gives her the dagger in exchange for something. Windrunner scoffs at the idea at first, refusing to part with such an item.

        “Surely you wish to do away with the Alliance pests,” Azshara cooed, smirking as she spotted the ever so subtle shift in the Banshee Queen’s form. Of course she was already aware of the answer. She’d spent a long time observing the surface world, ensuring she’d have every advantage. “And I wish to be rid of N’Zoth...”

        “I will not part with the dagger,” Sylvanas states, though she chuckles at the apparent impasse. “But perhaps there is an agreement to be made…”

        The arrangement was simple.

        Azshara would lure the Alliance fleet out into the ocean, and swallow it into her domain.

She would, of course, manipulate this to all appear as N’zoth’s bidding – the Old God was locked away in his failing prison. While his escape was inevitable (though potentially millennia away), he’d be none the wiser in believing Azshara discovered a method to release him.

        The Hero of the Alliance would wield the Heart of Azeroth to defeat Azshara and destroy the Old God for good. N’zoth posed such a threat that the High King would not lose an opportunity to strike at the nefarious enemy.

        With the Alliance none the wiser, Azshara would decimate their forces, using her imposing naga and sea-monsters to whittle away at their army.

        That is when the Horde, lead by Sylvanas, sweeps in to rescue whatever’s left of the Alliance.

        This would all be carefully planned of course, to ensure the Horde arrives too late to stop the Hero of the Alliance from unleashing the Heart of Azeroth’s power upon the prison.

        N’zoth’s jail will be flung open, and in that moment – Sylvanas will be the one to strike at the Old God and slay it.

        Azshara will feign being free of his influence, and slink away into the darkness of the sea. The Horde will appear as heroes.

        Unfortunately for Sylvanas, the plan goes awry.

        Azshara lures the Alliance out into the ocean and attacks. While she holds off their forces, she does not unleash her full might until the Horde arrives.

        The Horde’s fleet arrives earlier then intended due to Lor’themar Theron and Thalyssra’s efforts to speed up the ships and save more lives. Sylvanas finds herself unable to sabotage their efforts without risking her deal be exposed.

        Worse yet, it is only when they arrive that Azshara unleashes her full might. She absolutely decimates the Alliance and Horde, intent on slaughtering whoever stands in her way to obtain the blade.

The dagger comes to be possessed by the Naga Queen when she catches Sylvanas off-guard. The two women fight, but Sylvanas is forced to relinquish the knife when Azshara bests her with potent spells.

She’s spared, seeing herself mocked by the Empress and reminded to keep her mouth shut, otherwise everyone will know of their agreement.

        Thus it becomes a hasty rush to alert the Hero of the Alliance to the truth of the Heart of Azeroth’s purpose, but Sylvanas and her agents are too late.

        Her failure sees N’Zoth freed, though there is a satisfaction in seeing Azshara temporarily subdued.

THE TASTE OF FAILURE // THE PROMISE OF AN OLD GOD (VISIONS OF N’ZOTH)

With the Old God freed from his prison, it wasn’t long before N’Zoth began to corrupt the world. He sent visions into the minds of people, whispering of untold horrors that were near-to arriving.

        Not even Sylvanas Windrunner was immune to his insidious powers.

        The Horde’s pride, once bolstered by a number of strategic victories – is in tatters after Empress Azshara laid waste to them all.

Sylvanas withdraws to Lordaeron, locking herself away as she attempts to regain her footing after such a catastrophic failure. Her pride had seen her trust Azshara, a foolish move that cost her much of her power, despite leaders of the Horde thinking her notions of saving lives good and honourable.

With little option, the Horde and Alliance work together to fight against N’Zoth. The Banshee Queen does not enjoy being so reliant on the Alliance, but she endures the displeasure out of sheer necessity.

A Horrific Vision of Sylvanas Windrunner is present in Capital City in place of Thrall in Orgrimmar.

N’Zoth preyed on Sylvanas’ fear of death, twisting her mind until she believed only the Old God could grant her immortality. Lordaeron is a writhing, disgusting tomb of void-infused undead and ghosts, who feed off live prisoners in grisly rituals.

Occasionally the city is rocked by a deafening, bone-rattling wail.

ENDURING PEACE // AFTERMATH (POST VISIONS OF N’ZOTH)

Outwardly, the Horde enjoys its lasting peace with the Alliance. As both sides nurse their wounds, Sylvanas is distracted by a growing sensation that all is not right.

        While she has no proof of manipulation, the Warchief cannot shake the notion that a new, terrible threat has been watching Azeroth for some time. She finds herself on edge, and sending scouts to all corners of the known world to attempt to find some inkling of what she may be sensing (an endeavour made easier due to the armistice, perhaps the only benefit she’s believed its had).

        She also must suffer with the knowledge that Azshara is alive. Windrunner plots the empress’ downfall, though the process is slow and meticulous. She underestimated the queen’s abilities once, and it cost her both her pride, and the dagger.  

        Sylvanas does not know why Azshara kept their deal secret, but she imagines it is due to some sort of trick the naga will attempt later.  

#✧:: the dark lady ( warcraft ) #// history rewrite complete #// this took so long T-T #// rachel you're brave for reading this over #//snakevanas is alive and well #// okay im going to toddle off and maybe do replies so i never have to look at this again xD

[wayfaringpanda]

I Have Been Waiting My Entire Adult Life For a Good ‘His Dark Materials’ Adaptation

Will I get it? First episode screening is complete, and the overall feeling is cautious optimism.

It’s not perfect, but I adore the trilogy so much it’d be pretty hard for it to be that way. Some of the changes irritate me more than others, but there’s definitely good in with the bad (spoilers ahead for book and show):

Lyra the Liar. She’s basically... not? Where’s the pathological inability to avoid embellishing or straight up lying about everything? It’s a vital part of her character, and of the story later on - how are we supposed to believe some of the outrageous stuff she pulls off later if she’s not convincing now? But while I’m not entirely onboard with the personality change, I think Dafne Keen is perfect and should be protected at all costs, and anyone who doesn’t think she’s a good Lyra needs to meet me behind the 7-11.

Mrs Coulter and the Monkey Demon- er, Daemon. She’s supposed to be almost supernaturally charming, and I just wasn’t getting it in the first episode. She’s just barely not smarmy, and I credit Ruth Wilson’s acting capabilities for working with what she’s given. Also, I don’t like that they have the Fox guy. Part of what makes her so sinister is that she actively participates in the kidnappings, she lured them away so there’s no fuss, and she gets pleasure from doing so. She’s a sociopath, and there was none of that in the episode. Instead, the kidnapping is given to some random guy. I hope it’s not because there’s some shortsighted idea by the writers that she won’t be a compelling character if she’s actively harming kids - it’s a weird form of misogyny to suggest that. Women can be evil too! Right now she’s too... soft, or something. I’m holding out hope that it gets better, that we see her truly unhinged, but the trailers haven’t quite convinced me of that.

Daemons, daemons everywhere! Except, um, not. There’s a short limit to how far they can be away from their people, and yet nearly everyone is seen without one. The book talks about how startling it is to see someone without a daemon, it’s a noticeable thing, so all these people without one is just kind of jarring.

The College is all of Oxford. I think they did a damn good job with Lyra’s Oxford, although I do wish they’d shown more of her interacting out in town. Where’s her leading the other children in slinging clay at each other? It wouldn’t have taken much time to film, and would’ve highlighted her leadership tendencies - another important plot mechanic that they decided wasn’t necessary, apparently.

Uncle Asriel is a stone cold fox. As a lesbian, I don’t have much of an opinion on men, but a feral James McAvoy as an even more feral Lord Asriel was pretty much perfect and I would like to make him tea and watch him rant for several hours. He’s a little more human than he is in the book, but I appreciated it - it brings him down to earth with the rest of the filthy humans without diminishing his charisma, ambition, or singular focus at all.

I always pictured Ma Costa and the Gyptians as ethnically Romani - mostly because of the linguistic similarity to the Romani slur Gypsy, which I’m sure was intentional (the similarity, that is). I appreciate the diversity, but out of all the casting choices that one threw me for the biggest loop. I’m not necessarily against the casting choice, but I’m also not necessarily for it. Jury is out, and I’m prepared to be convinced either way.

I saw another post that commented on how they pictured Lyra’s world as less advanced than ours, and I agree. I was not expecting a helicopter in the same world that has dirigibles and hot air balloons. The technology we see in the first episode and the trailers is throwing me - Lyra is supposed to be thrown by the technology she encounters later, but I’m not sure how that’ll work.

There’s a lot of nitpicking in my points, and I feel like I failed to get across how absolutely excited I still am for this show. I can’t wait for the next couple of episodes - this one was full of world building and a bit slow because of it, but as we move through the plot of the first book I’m sure it’ll pick up and I can’t WAIT to see how it goes.

And I definitely can’t give up before we meet Iorek!

#his dark materials #hdm hbo #lord asriel #mrs coulter #lyra belacqua #episode one review #daemon #lyra’s oxford

[ckret2]

Okay time for some Actual Thoughts about Detective Pikachu, particularly the villain. Spoilers below.

In This Essay I Will compare and contrast the game’s villain to the movie’s villain, explain why I like one better than the other, and then talk about something that bugs me about both and tbh about a lot of action movie villains.

I liked the movie villain more than the game villain, for one specific reason: I thought the game villain’s motive was dumb for the game. Not dumb overall for a villain to have, but dumb for him.

Quick overview of the game villain: this hotshot rising star in a news station has been secretly using a chemical to make Pokémon go berserk; and every time they do, he just so happens to have a couple of his reporters on the scene, to cover the carnage. A couple years ago the station was sinking fast. Since he’s joined—and since they’ve started airing broadcasts about Pokémon going berserk—the once-struggling station has flourished. Now, they’ve got an exclusive deal to cover a huge Pokémon parade... where the station exec is planning to unleash a monstrous supply of this chemical, sending every Pokémon in the parade on a rampage.

Why, you ask, is he doing this? If you said, “Because he’s a corrupt, sleazy exec, who’s manufacturing emergencies and sending people to record them to boost the station’s reputation and make himself rich,” you’d be wrong!!

No, he wants to take over the world. Sssomehow.

It’s over-the-top, it’s out of nowhere, and it doesn’t line up with what he’s actually been doing the whole game. He hasn’t even taken over the station yet, and we’re supposed to believe he wants to take over the world?

And it’s unsatisfying. The fun from taking a villain down comes from stopping them just before (or even just after) the culmination of their master plan. We stop the exec just before he ruins the parade and films it all. If his goal were to make his station rich and famous by filming disasters, then we would have narrowly thwarted his master plan! Except, it turns out, it wasn’t his master plan after all. It was step 1 in his 20-step master plan. We thwarted his ambitions before they could even get started. He was nowhere near taking over the world when we stopped him. Where’s the satisfaction in that?

In contrast, take the movie’s villain: the father of the aforementioned news station exec. (The station exec who gets framed in the movie, to great effect. I’d suspected the dad was lying, but I’d thought he and his kid were in cahoots—I did not catch on to the sunglasses. brilliant.) He’s a rich idealist futurist, kinda Tesla-esque in a way—he struts about boasting about grand ideas for the future and throws a lot of money at making them happen. The city that practically the whole movie takes place in is in fact his own pet project. It’s so much his personal project that visitors to the city are treated to a video of him talking about how and why he made the city: it was a response to his concerns about his own ailing health, and it was a realization of his dreams to bring humans and Pokémon together in a way they never had before.

When we find out his master villainous plot, what is it? It’s both a response to his concerns about his own ailing health, and a realization of his dreams to bring humans and Pokémon together in a way they never had before.

The motivations line up perfectly. Everything we need to understand what he’s doing—from the method itself to the breathtaking scale of it—is presented in the little promo video where he talks about his utopian city. It doesn’t show you what’s going to happen, but once you know, you can see how it was coming. Ryme City is step 1 in his master plan. Fusing humans and Pokémon is step 20.

The method also perfectly fits his character. The game villain? Not so much. A TV exec should have a TV exec’s evil plan, not a burgeoning dictator’s. What kind of evil plan would an unhinged idealistic billionaire have? Something unhinged, and idealistic, and expensive.

In real life, you might see the absurdly rich postulate that the solution to starvation and disease is spreading to Mars rather than paying their own lowest-level employees enough to eat and go to the doctor, or that the solution to traffic is self-driving cars instead of having less cars on the road to slow each other down. The movie’s villain sees a problem—the frailty of humanity, the sickness and weakness that comes with disease and aging—and, instead of solving the problem in a mundane but realistic way, like pouring more funding into health care, he reaches for a lofty, flashy, futuristic ~Solution To Everything~: human/Pokémon gene therapy—no!—human/Pokémon FUSION!! And, just like similar flashy futurist plans from the absurdly rich in real life: it’s not a solution that anybody asked for; it either solves a problem too far outside normal people’s real lives for them to care about or else doesn’t do a thing to solve any real problem at all; and the rich dude with the funds to make it happen is going to pursue making it happen anyway, whether or not anybody wants it.

(To be fair to irl useless billionaires, at least self-driving cars and spaceships don’t actively directly ruin anybody’s lives like fusing humans with animals would, and in fact are actually cool if you don’t think about all the things not being done with that money; but then, irl useless billionaires aren’t over-the-top movie supervillains, so the point is moot.)

His motive makes perfect sense, character-wise. The scope and shape of his plan fit perfectly within the type of character he’s been presented as. Unlike the game villain, the movie villain is thematically cohesive. He’s MUCH better put together.

... Except, the thing is, his evil plan is “make a bunch of Pokémon at a parade go berserk with Mewtwo’s genes, put Mewtwo itself in a berserk state with its own genes, and use this berserk state to control Mewtwo and then use Mewtwo to dissolve humans and put them into Pokémon bodies to pilot, which is, apparently, a power that Mewtwo, just, has.”

And it’s all kind of... silly.

In contrast? The grand plan of the game villain—not taking over the world, but what he was actually doing—was “make a bunch of Pokémon at a parade go berserk with Mewtwo’s genes... and put the incident on the news. Eventually build up to conquering the world from there.”

It kind of makes a lot more sense. Like, it’s a very workable plan. It doesn’t rely on giving Mewtwo supernatural powers that go beyond the scope of the drugs-and-gene-splicing we’ve seen in the movie up until now—venturing out of sci-fi into what looks like straight up magic. Sure, the plan fits the villain, but it’s... a bit too much.

That’s the thing that bugs me the most about both villains—and, quite honestly, a lot of other villains in a lot of other movies. By all means, villains SHOULD be over the top, they SHOULD pose a big threat, and they SHOULD be at their most dangerous during the climax; but if the rest of the movie has been about elevating the threat from 1 to 20, and then at the end instead of more naturally jacking the threat up to 40 or even to 100 it blasts off to 1000, it’s... it’s a bit disproportionate, you know? “This villain has been all about drugging Pokémon and filming them, because that’s what he does, he’s a TV exec... but now he wants to take over the world, that’s a bit much, isn’t it?” “This villain is a big, powerful billionaire who’s channeled normal fear of aging/death and love of human/Pokémon companionship into an overzealous Pokémon gene therapy project with a dangerous drug byproduct... but now he’s magically sticking humans in Pokémon bodies, that’s a bit much, isn’t it?”

It’s not just a problem with Detective Pikachu. The first time I can recall going “isn’t that a bit much?” at a movie was with Iron Man: the main villain, for most of the movie, was a greedy sleazy corporate exec who was making immoral business deals behind the hero’s back and alternating between trying to get the hero killed and trying to get him kicked out of his own company so that greedy exec could take over it. Buuut at the end of the movie, after very carefully keeping his hands clean and keeping himself coldly distant from all the violence he’s helping perpetuate, suddenly he’s ready to climb into a double-sized Iron Man suit and brawl with the hero directly? Instead of, as he did the rest of the movie, paying some mercenary to fight his fight for him? Isn’t that a bit much?

I get that the urge is there to go for the biggest possible threat they can squeeze out of their villain. But there are a lot of movies where it feels like, in the final act, the threat is disproportionately large, or fantastical, or out of character for the villain they’ve written and the story they’ve told. The biggest possible threat feels unwieldy if it’s bigger than the story that they’re telling.

I wouldn’t mind a few less explosions and slow-motion punches and previously hands-off villains who are suddenly inexplicably fighting their own battles, if in return it meant less action movies and the like where it feels like in the last twenty minutes the villain and/or villainous plan have suddenly been replaced by something a couple orders of magnitude bigger and grander than what we’d been following up until then.

#detective pikachu #pokemon #spoilers #meta

[johnnymundano]

Class of 1984 (1982)

Directed by Mark L. Lester

Screenplay by Tom Holland, Mark Lester and John Saxton

Story by Tom Holland

Music by Lalo Schifrin

Country: United States

Running Time: 94 minutes

CAST

Perry King as Andrew Norris

Merrie Lynn Ross as Diane Norris

Timothy Van Patten as Peter Stegman

Stefan Arngrim as Drugstore

Michael J. Fox as Arthur

Roddy McDowall as Terry Corrigan

Keith Knight as Barnyard

Lisa Langlois as Patsy

Neil Clifford as Fallon

Al Waxman as Detective Stewiski

Erin Flannery as Deneen

David Gardner as Principal Morganthau

Linda Sorensen as Mrs. Stegman

Teenage Head as themselves

Note: If you enjoyed Class of 1984 you may also be interested in the thematic sequel Class of 1999 by the same prime movers, which is much more overtly comedic, and Unman, Wittering and Zigo (1971) a very British spin on the same themes starring David Hemmings.

Also: I took the images from the Internet like the anarchist hell child that I am. No rules! no future! Rip the system!

I remember reading about Class of 1984 when it came out and thinking the review in Starburst made it  sound like an incredibly exploitative and deeply unpleasant movie. Being 12 I immediately made a mental note to see it as soon as possible. Unfortunately the movie wasn’t passed uncut in the UK until 2005, by which time I was no longer 12 and thus somewhat preoccupied by the labyrinth of idiocy which is adult life. But that mental note still niggled, and so in 2019 that 12 year old’s simple ambition was belatedly fulfilled thanks to the UK blu-ray release of the movie. Turns out that not only is Class of 1984 incredibly exploitative and deeply unpleasant, but also (spoiler) my taste hasn’t evolved much since I was 12, because, me? I thought it was a hoot. A hoot and a half in fact.

Class of 1984 asks the old, old question Hollywood loves to ask - how far do you have to push a liberal milquetoast until he starts biting folk’s throats out? Because, as any decent hard working common sense fella with dirt under his fingernails will tell ya, it’s okay to have high-falutin’ ideas about equality and decency and edjumacation but, let’s face facts, when their wife’s blood soaks their corduroy jacket these liberal schmucks won’t hesitate to dip their fists in the basin of other people’s faces. It’s a small-minded, nasty genre that takes unseemly delight in demonstrating that the self-appointed avatars of civilisation have feet of clay. But it isn’t a stupid genre; it also recognises the fact that being a pigeon chested liberal weakling takes some doing against very stiff resistance. Basically, the genre exploits the fact that small-mindedness and mean-spiritedness are universal levellers. To err may very well be human, but to wish for violent revenge is, well, very human. Class of 1984 is one of the smartest of this, uh, cathartic genre; it is simultaneously a Push The Liberal Until He Snaps Movie and an Impotent White Male Liberal Revenge Fantasy movie. Everyone wins. Except women; it was made in 1982 so women get short shrift; being (mainly) either whores or wives to be sacrificed on the altar of manliness. If you are a regular reader of comics I should probably point out that this is not representative of women’s roles in the real world.

But then Class of 1984 is not set in the real world. For a start it was made in 1982 so it is set in the (then) near-future. “We are the future!” is the regular mocking  refrain of the violent urchins, and also of the typically ridiculous Alice Cooper title song, which exists only to remind you just how seriously you should take any of this. (Not very.) This is the near future of every frothing right wingers most secretive wet dreams. The inner city schools are crumbling concrete nests of perversion and lawlessness. Kids carry knives and deal drugs while the feeble faculty fall apart, turn to drink, or turn a blind eye. Feral monsters in torn clothes roam the halls; rulers of the fallen kingdom of academia. This is where weak-kneed liberalism, left-wing learning and the kind word in place of the hard fist get you: a violent hellish maelstrom only the force of a quiet white man pushed too damn far can tame. Yes, Class of 1984 is the kind of movie that makes rightwingers spaff so hard and so often that by the time the credits roll only dust is puffing out. But by the time the put upon teacher is putting the buzzsaw to bloody good use in the woodwork room, effete liberal cheesecakes will also be readjusting their tortoiseshell glasses and getting sweaty under their white collars. Something for everyone, like I said.

There’s little point unfolding the plot of Class of 1984 since it’s familiar stuff, but it is very well done stuff. It certainly delivers the expected multiple frissons as Andrew Norris (Perry King) finds every humane alternative barred to him as he is remorselessly forced down the rat run built from liberal society’s failure to face his inner beast. And there is a lovely build to the finale; in which the hopes and dreams of the normal students, in the form of a concert, is contrasted with the ultra-violent theatre of vengeance unfolding in the corridors beyond. For a movie aimed squarely at the amygdala Class of 1984 is surprisingly wittily and smartly written. it is also surprisingly wittily and smartly acted. Perry King is ridiculously chiselled of chin, but elicits much sympathy as his flailing increases, and you feel a sense of both triumph and loss as he finally grasps the nettle of his inner ferocity. Merrie Lynn Ross has little do as the sacrificial wife, Diane, but she effectively provides the foil of the sheltered person who doesn’t understand how bad things are in the real world. Unfortunately, in a very, very, (very) tough to watch scene, the bad things finally become impossible for her to ignore. The actual class are pretty great too. Really horrible, each and every one of the scrofulous, disrespectful little shits. Special mention, though, for Timothy Van Patten as the sociopathic ringleader, Peter Stegman. A truly nasty piece of work who plays the system and his single mother with even more finesse than the piano he unexpectedly excels at.

(The kids’ convincingly unhinged viciousness is vital since you are supposed to cheer as they fall before the force they have unleashed, a force more dangerous than nuclear fire; the angry white man pushed too far. And you will holler as they drop, because the young cast have done their awful work well. Mind you, you are only able to applaud their painful demises since they all look to be in their mid-20s. Had they actually looked like the teenagers they represent the whole thing would have been too unpleasant for anybody, well, anybody not in the NRA. Movies like this can’t get too near the knuckle; it’s part of the unspoken arrangement with the audience.)

But, unpopular news as it may be, not all the kids are shits. Future star Michael J. Fox plays the thankless role of Arthur, The Good Student, complete with puppy fat. Together with Erin Flannery’s Deneen he represents the kids who get left behind but just might make it. Bit of optimism there, snuck in amongst the eruptions of violence. But… Roddy McDowall! Dear, sweet, Roddy McDowall is a revelation. His slightly theatrical aspect is just spot on for Terry Corrigan, the teacher ground down to a desperate, alcoholic wreck, who cracks in a different way to Norris. His heart-breaking descent, together with Fox and Flannery’s kids are the secret heart of the movie. Class of 1984 flirts hot and heavy with nihilism, but is brave enough to finally put out for humanity. All the sturm und drang pandering to the basest emotions is camouflage for a small sliver of optimism. Which isn’t half bad for what’s basically Straw Dogs (1971) set in a 1980s American inner city high school. But, Christ, that Roddy McDowall. Respect is due, sir. As if kids today even know what respect is. The little shits.

#Class of 1984 #Movies #Exploitation #Science Fiction #Revenge #Mark L Lester #Tom Holland #Perry King #Merrie Lynn Ross #Timothy Van Patten #Michael J Fox #Erin Flannery #Roddy McDowall #1982 #The 1980s

[thepineapplejuicer]

Know It All: Xmen evolution fanfic  Chapter Three

Title: Know It All

Chapter Three

Nightcrawler fanfic (I do not own the X-men or the gif).

Violet Ashbourne is a gifted human hacker in possession of a radio, a secret device that gains her access to a large underground information network and electronics all over the world. Human and mutant coexistence has always been her goal, but will the betrayal of her mutant mother and father- once partners to her rise to power- distort her beliefs? Will the X-men be able to save her from her own pride and ambition? Or will she sacrifice everything, including the only boy she’s ever trusted, for vengeance?

The bus's small window fits the picturesque landscape of overlapping trees and emerald groves. The tranquil squirrels and deer drift carefully along the thick branches and bubbly bushes. Evan's pointing finger drags everyone to shoot to the windows, a breath of relaxation washing over us once our eyes meet the mirroring water of the river running through jagged, copper rocks. "It's beautiful." Kitty sighs. "Yeah," I answer so quietly as if part of me was too proud to admit it. The bus swerves gently around the path until we reach an opened dirt entrance with four cabins surrounding it. A low chime comes from my phone informing me of my lack of service. Luckily, I packed a hotspot box, but part of me still felt anxious about not having access to my files. I feel... vulnerable, more than usual. A sudden stop jolts me forward, signaling the others to get up. I am the last to step out and fall into the line formed at the side of the bus.

A grizzly man walks in front of the long line of students, "You will be taking 20-mile hikes, rappelling 200-foot cliffs and crossing treacherous water with no more than a rope and all the courage you can muster! Do you read me?!"

"Yes, Sergeant Hawk!" the students yell out.

"I said do you read me?!"

"YES SIR, SERGEANT HAWK SIR!"

"Scott sumner!"

"Summers, Sir."

"Well, Summers-"

I tap along my phone, trying to tune out all the yelling until I feel an elbow jab me. Evan looks down at my phone and quickly to the side, warning signs in his eyes. I follow his eyes to the grizzly man who is staring at me with rage.

"It was clear that there are to be NO electronics allowed." he towers over me, the shade from his hat cooling me down.

"Oh no, no. I'm not with them." I smile pointing at the others.

"Oh, so you're with the other team?" Sergeant Hawk asks.

"Other team?" I glance over and see the brotherhood composed of Lance, Pietro, Todd and bob all looking as pathetic as the files I have on them.

I snort, "No, absolutely not with them."

Sergeant Hawk snatches my phone. "In that case, Xavier didn't mention anything about the Queen of England coming, so you are to fall in line like everyone else!" his spit lands on my face as he turns, my phone locked in his grip. "Oh okay, you just hold on to that one then!" I groan with a fake smile. I kneel and unhook the second phone from the side of my boot.

"As I was saying . Because of Scott Summer's scholastic achievements at Baville high, he will be your team leader. " Sergeant Hawk stares at me again, wide-eyed as I tap along my backup phone. "Did you not hear a thing I just said?!" He gets in my face again.

"Sir, I'm sure Charles Xavier sent you an email about my the extent of my 'involvement'. You can even use my phone to check! I promise you that I'm not involved in all," I flay my hand around, "This."

Sergeant Hawk raises his brow, the lines around his mouth weighing down.

"I mean this place is quaint, with all your dirt," I shift my foot, accidentally sprinkling some onto his boots, "and uh... you."

He yanks the second phone from me, "If I see another phone come out of god knows where your entire team is doing 500 sit-ups. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!"

My brows narrow and I wipe the spit from my bare shoulder, "Transparently."

"You have 10 minutes to stow your gear in your cabins! Go, go, go!"

"Ugh, I'm not going to last one day here!" Kitty complains, sitting on her luggage.

"You?! I'm a city boy, I wasn't built for this." Even joins.

"What did ve ever do to deserve this?" Kurt groans.

"Enough complaining." I stomp ahead, my duffle bag swung uncomfortably over my shoulder, " let's just get this over with."

"Here, let me get that for you." Kurt rushes over and gently removes the duffle bag from my arm. I glare at him, " Next time you convince me to go somewhere, make sure it has wifi that I can actually use."

"Sorry." he mutters.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You will be racing to the top of Mt. Humiliation to retrieve a flag I had placed at the top. "Cakewalk!" The silver-haired boy steps up, "You watching pretty girl?" he turns and winks at me.

"Ugh." I groan. If all of these exercises weren't enough, Pietro's constant flirting was driving me near insanity.

"Not if I get there first." Kurt smiles proudly.

Mutants are all the same. They think just because their abilities allow them to cheat through life that everyone else is stuck with the short straw.

"Everyone in your team needs to make it to that mountain!" Sergeant Hawk growls, "And I want a picture as proof!"

"Like, that's if they don't cheat first." Kitty hisses at the brotherhood.

"Hey, we could beat you guys without our powers," Lance shouts, mostly directed at Scott.

"Alright, a fair game, no powers. Come on, guys!" Scott shouts.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

We all run for miles along the mountain, until gradually we slow to a jog, "Sooo, like what's my favorite food." Kitty asks me.

"Are we still playing this game?" I huff, weaving the sweaty tangles out of my hair. "Come on! It's like so boring."

I sigh, giving in, " Hummas and pickle quesadilla, as bizarre as that sounds."

"Ooh, do me next." Rogue chimes in.

Before I can answer Jean interrupts, "I don't get what so cool about knowing all our favorite foods are."

She walks past me, bumping into my shoulder nervously.

"Is it that hard to impress you... Miss. Phoenix?"

She stops, "how did you-"

"Trust me, I know more about you than you ever will." I return the hostile bump and walk ahead of the girls, trailing behind Scott, Kurt, and Evan.

"Kurt pop up and see if the flag is still there."

Kurt turns, smiles briefly at me and then at Jean who is distracted, "Are you sure Jean will be okay vit that?"

"Don't you want to win?" Scott persuades.

"Figures." I butt in, scraping the dirt from my painted nails.

Scott and Kurt look at me with drooping eyes, "Oh am I in your way?" I ask and raise my wrists.

"If you could just step back like two feet," Scott asks nicely or at least tried to.

My eyes narrow and I realize... this is why Xavier wanted me to come here so badly. To neutralize them. Like I care if they cheat.

I take a giant step back and signal for Kurt to teleport.

"The flag is still there," he shouts as he reappears within seconds.

"Good," Scott hands Evan a rope, "forget climbing, spike this up."

"Uh, you sure?"

Scott glares at Evan.

"You look sure to me." Evan steps away from me and hurtles a spike into the cliff above.

Jean makes her entrance and glares at Scott as he hands her the rope. She climbs freehand and the others follow, taking their sides with Jean or the rope. I stare at the top that distorts as my vision blurs.

"Are you okay?" Scott grabs my hand.

"I'm not exactly a fan of heights."

"Oh." he looks at the steep cliff and then back at me. "Come here."

I watch him bend down and unexpectedly hook his arms around the back of my knees, pulling me against his back. "Hold on tight."

He didn't have to tell me twice, I nearly choke him as he begins to climb, nails digging deeper into his chest. He never complained though, but by how Jean snarled at me I can tell she wasn't too happy about this predicament.

"You are too kind, Scott." I thank.

"Anytime, Violet. That's what a team is for."

I am taken back, absolutely speechless.

We reach the top and Scott lowers me down softly, holding me steady until he's comfortable my queasiness is gone.

"HELP!" screams come from ahead, jolting us to investigate. I watch from a distance as the X-men rush into action, pulling the brotherhood out from a crumbling mine, being told to keep my distance several times. Their powers working in perfect sync, all unique... all useful.

A hand shocks me out of my depressive episode as Rogue pulls me to follow the others to the top of the mountain.

They all thank each other, leaving me in the distance to regain my breath. "Violet!" Someone shouts. They are all posing for a picture, signaling me to join. I cautiously squeeze in, arms folded, leaning away as the flash blares.

"Hey! Its the X-jet!" Evan yells pointing at the blackbird hovering above us. Storm walks out, "The Professor needs your help!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Snarling and crashing comes from the danger room as we all rush to stop The Juggernaut, both Brotherhood and Xmen. We jump through a hole in the wall watching as Wolverine dodges the Juggernauts attacks. I watch as Kitty and Rogue lift each other up to unhinge the Juggernauts helmet, failing the first time. Kurt teleports onto him, successfully unhinging one latch before being flung to the wall beside me.

"He's too strong!" someone yells.

I place my hand on Kurt's head as he regains consciousness, "I'm okay." he groans, leaning into my touch.

"Sorry kid." Logan's raspy voice comes from behind me as he forcibly flings me across the floor, right underneath the Juggernaut. I scream and block my face as he readies to strike me.

The giant Iron rod in his hands causes him to tumble back as all his strength is drained by my bands. "Impossible." he roars, staring at his hands and then at me. Suddenly, Pietro, Scott, and Logan tackle him and remove the helmet. Logan grabs me and slides me rapidly across the smooth granite floor away from Professor Xavier.

I turn back seeing the Juggernaut passed out and everyone begin to cheer. It takes me a moment to get up and without warning I stomp over to Logan who looks at me confused, opening his hand to apologize. "HOW DARE YOU?!"

SMACK

The blood in my hand pumps from the sudden sting, Logan's face in shock as he touches the perfect red handprint across his cheek. "You have the AUDACITY to throw me into danger like a ragdoll?!" I scream, the Xmen and Brotherhood taking a step back. He grips the side of his cheek, "That hurt a lot more than I thought it would." he groans, chuckling.

"And YOU!" I point at Xavier, "Don't you ever use me as a tool to neutralize your students again! Forge better have a lead on how to get these damn things off because I want out of this Horror House!"

I stomp off hearing only silence from behind me.

(Chapter Four will be posted Wednesday, June 19, 2019)

#nightcrawler #nightcrawlerxreader #nightcrawler fanfiction #nightcrawler xmen evolution #xmen #xmenevolution #xmenfanfic #xmen evolution nightcrawler #xmen nightcrawler #kurt-wagner #kurt wagnerxreader #kurt wagner #imagine #nightcrawler imagine #xmen evolution #marvel imagine #marvel #marvel fanfiction #pineapple juice original #reader x nightcrawler #nightcrawler x reader #kurt x reader

[neverwatchedonepiece]

617: "Caesar's Defeat! The Powerful Grizzly Magnum!"

Basically Caesar: “REEEEEEEEEEEEE, SCIENCE!!!”

Only had time for one episode today but caught a snippet of the preview and it seems like posting for one episode here will fit in terms of the story arc. 

Caesar is down and out, Law has done what he came to do, and Luffy has executed step one of his plan to kick ass and kidnap! Now all he needs is the fantastically badass Usopp to come through with the cuffs and step two will be on the cards!

It’s all a matter of escaping Punk Hazard with Caesar in tow, plus Law, the Strawhats, a bunch of kids and maybe some surviving Minions and the G5 and Smoker and Tashigi and Foxfire and Momonosuke and Brownbeard.

Yeah, I hope Franky has some extra bed rolls hidden away in storage because that is a lot of extra bodies on Sunny.

Sanji will be fine. He worked at Baratie. He’s used to mass catering.

Law Tries Out His Stand Up Material On Vergo

In other news, Vergo is still alive. I kind of hoped Law might have taken him out but this is One Piece and you guys have always said that Oda sees a future for most of his characters. (Even Wapol. Yes, I am still salty about Wapol.) Smoker was on the ground, breathing hard. Getting fresh air for once, instead of dat tasty tobacco.

Vergo is also still shit-talking. “You broke the gear? There’s no turning back? That’s hysterical.” 

Brave for a guy who was (at that point) in two pieces with a building crumbling rapidly around him. Not to mention the noxious clouds of gas.

Then he used his hands to spring from the ground and attack Law. He was Roomed and doomed in two seconds, chopped into fractions and hung on the railings. (Approaching Nightmare Fuel territory if you think too much about it.)

Vergo totally reminds me of the Black Knight from Monty Python’s Life of Brian. If you’ve never heard of it, he’s basically this dude who keeps getting up and shit-talking his opponents even after the removal of all his limbs. It’s funny. Vergo even made a joke about it. “How will I eat breakfast tomorrow?” Yeah, he almost went full Black Knight there.

Except for the little serious turn when he threatened Law with Doflamingo’s past.

“How dare you, Law? This is an upset. But I know you’re going to regret it. Keep that in mind. You don’t know Joker’s past and that will cost you your life. Upstarts like you can’t hope to take over the world. It’s filled with those who are much stronger. Tell him, Smoker!”

First of all, why was he appealing to Smoker to back him up like a kid in a playground? The brazen cheek of it. As if. I’m glad Smoker blanked him and sparked up a fat Cuban cigar.

Secondly, what is all this about Doflamingo’s past? Why would that matter to Law? I’m trying to think what could possibly affect Law as much as Vergo says and I’m drawing a blank.The only thing that might be a bit meh is if Doflamingo was once a Marine. We already had that twist with Vergo.

At any rate, Law had had enough with Vergo running his mouth, and chopped his head into two pieces.

“Don’t worry about me. Just worry about yourself. This room will explode soon. Goodbye, Vergo the pirate.”

I ain’t bothered about Vergo. That guy is too arrogant for his own good and Law gave him a well-deserved taste of defeat. I just hope Law took Smoker with him.(It’d be hilarious if Law carried Smoker over his shoulder and they ran into Zoro carrying Tashigi over his shoulder. xD)

Speaking of Well-Deserved Tastes of Defeat...

This guy...

I love a charismatic, melodramatic, total piece of crap villain, but Oda did a great job of making me loathe Caesar here. I think Luffy lamping him square on the chops unhinged him a little. Law destroying the SAD factory and the labs as a result probably finished Caesar off. His arrogance and cruelty was off the charts! I thought Spandam was bad. Caesar makes Spanda look like a playground bully.

I loved how when he realised Law had unleashed merry hell, Caesar’s reaction was, “Damn! Who caused that? I bet it was Law. What is Vergo doing? You Strawhats RUINED MY PARADISE!”

His paradise. Wow, that sure does give you a little peek into this dude’s mind. 

And it gets better. 

Caesar had a last-ditch plan to defeat Luffy. He called his Minions in the Secret Room. “R-Building, can you hear me? Secret Room, come in! Open the air vents now! Let Shinokuni flow into this room.”

The Minions, understandably, were reticent to do this because they are the kind of people who, like the Strawhats, look after their own. They asked, “but wouldn’t it kill our guys?”

Caesar was like, “Well, I’m a gas man. I’m not gonna die. You’re just guinea pigs. No one would care if hundreds of you died. You are just the dregs of society! What are you doing? Hurry up. I can find replacements for you fools so easily.”

Uh oh. 

The mask came off. Caesar must have been so riled that he didn’t care if everyone saw his true nature. The poor, deluded Minions still clung to their vision of Caesar as their benevolent Master, their saviour.

“Oh, the Master is trying to fool the enemies. He must have a plan to do with the gas. It would hurt him to know we suspected him.”

Hurt him? Mate, Caesar has no feelings to be hurt. He has an ego the size of Laboon. That’s not the same thing.

So, of course the Minions pulled the lever. Shinokuni flowed into the room. And I had a facepalm moment at those poor, brainwashed Minions.

Caesar Does A Moria

“Yes! About time,” Caesar shouted. “Dregs shouldn’t think. Now, become my power, Shinokuni. Look, Strawhat! Look at his amazing appearance. This is my scientific power. Through this experiment, two countries have already expressed interest in the weapon. They are both quite peaceful but when humans get serious about defending themselves, they’ll look for any way possible to kill their enemies. Everybody needs me! I’ll spread weapons all over the world and become King of the Land of Death.”

There are a couple of things to unpack here.

First of all, Caesar is completely demented. I mean, that was always obvious. But that ambition of his is twisted and terrifying. Worse, that Doflamingo gave him the traction to actually make it happen.

Secondly, he’s insane but he’s not stupid. Caesar has an eye for business and is, weirdly, able to charm people into believing his bullshit. He also knows the darker side of human nature and how to exploit it, like he has done with those peaceful islands. He is also smug in the knowledge that big shots in governments everywhere will always want him in their corner, so there will always be a place for someone like him. That was a definite Art Mirroring Life moment right there. Harsh but true, I guess. The guy who first split the atom and invented the atomic bomb was a hot commodity, right?

Third, Caesar basically did a Gekko Moria. Caesar took it a step further because he actually gleefully killed all his Minions. Moria just took the shadows back from already dead bodies. This was the logical conclusion of Caesar seeing other people as objects or commodities to be manipulated, used or destroyed as he sees fit. The way he happily killed them all was just nasty.  “It’s amazing, if I do say so myself. Look at how fast it acts on their nerves. It’s almost an art!” And when they begged him to stop, “I am your saviour and I can make efficient use of you good-for-nothings. You are just crumbs. You should not stand against your Master. Die like dogs!”

Crumbs. Dogs. Guinea pigs. Caesar always uses dehumanising language on his poor Minions. And everyone else for that matter. He really is a psychotic, nasty piece of work. If this guy is working for Doflamingo, I cannot wait to see what a horrible bastard Doflamingo turns out to be. xD

Caesar’s Off The Deep End Behaviour and his treatment of his own people caused Luffy to have the veiniest, super frown I have seen on his face so far. Luffy does not like people who betray and used their own crew/soldiers/comrades. 

Luffy said to Momo, “Look after Brownbeard.” Then ran in the opposite direction. Of course, I knew Luffy was just looking to gain some distance. Caesar, of course, mistook it for Luffy chickening out all of a sudden.

There was one person who knew with absolute certainty that this was not the case.

Usopp Was Awesome Here

Can I just talk for a moment about how awesome Usopp was here?

All through this arc, he’s been ridiculously brave. He volunteered to split up with Brook and Foxfire so he could work on his own to find the Sea Prism Stone cuffs for Luffy. He was creeping round the labs on his own and when he found the Secret Room, he did not run upon being confronted with a full squad of Minions. He simply used his smarts to evade capture. Because he knew there was something in there of value and Luffy needed his help. 

When the Minions saw Caesar’s true nature over the DDM feed and were finally like, “OMG this guy is awful.” Usopp just walked up to them and said, “I know you’re all broken hearted here but could I sit in that control seat for a second? I wanna save my friends from the gas.”

See that? Usopp’s loyalty to his friends trumps all sense of fear. 

When the Minions tried to shake Usopp by saying, “Yeah, you’ll never escape because your Captain just cut and run. He left you guys behind.“ Usopp was Not Having One Bit Of It. 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa... Are you dissing our captain right in front of me? If he were the kind of person who’d betray us, this whole thing would’ve been much easier for me. I would’ve just run away with my tail between my legs. But he never, ever stops believing in us. So we have no choice but to support him. We pledged to live up to his expectations as long as we can breathe!”

There you have it. Right from the horse’s mouth. Luffy’s faith in his crew inspires them to greater heights. And in Usopp, this is bravery. Absolutely beautiful. 

And when the Minions said, “But what can we do? We can’t beat such a powerful man?” (Referring to Caesar) Usopp replied, “Yes, you can. You guys should just believe in our Captain. Caesar is the type of person that Luffy hates the most. Luffy won’t forgive Caesar.”

Usopp knows Luffy pretty well.

That Grizzly Magnum was really something else. I was expecting it to take out Caesar straight awayt but I liked that it didn’t. Caesar is the kind of villain who needs to have his pride thoroughly broken and to taste bitter, bitter defeat. If not, he’ll just tank the hit, pick himself up again and it’s back to his same old tricks.

The best portrayal of that was when Caesar was wrestling with Luffy, the Shinokuni slowly turning his hands to white powder, and he screamed, “Kneel before my power!”

Luffy will never kneel to anyone. Now, I’m not sure what those pulses of power were that drove Caesar back (Conqueror’s Haki?) but Luffy’s hit finally landed and, in a perfect moment of symbolism, Caesar’s self-made crown shattered.

He is no longer the tyrannical ruler of Punk Hazard. Caesar’s reign has come to an end.

And I can’t wait to see what happens next, because Doflamingo sent one of his lackeys to help him out. 

The plot chickens.

Well, you’re gonna kidnap him, so that might be a tough one to get round.

#one piece #neverwatchedonepiece #nwop #never watched one piece #monkey d. luffy #trafalgar law #caesar clown #donquixote doflamingo #vergo #vice admiral smoker #captain tashigi #roronoa zoro #sanji #usopp #nami #tony tony chopper #nico robin #mocha #momonosuke #brownbeard

[sheweapon]

                                THE WHOLE FUCKING FIRE.

                                            bellatrix hecate lestrange.                                                          thirty four. head of the                                                         department of magical                                                    accidents and catastrophes.                                            + daring, passionate, ambitious, clever.                                             - sadistic, two faced, cruel, unstable.                                                                death eater.

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name: bellatrix hecate lestrange occupation: head of the department of magical accidents and catastrophes. former house: slytherin. date of birth: december 23. age: 34.

BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS:

So. It’s a cold December night, right before Christmas, and the Black mansion is shaken by blood curdling screams. It’s the kind that leaves you breathless, shivers running down your spine, leaving you with the sense that something is very, very wrong. Which, Druella Black fears that it very well might be —- because her (expected) son is four weeks early.

The birth is excruciatingly long and difficult for poor, poor Druella, but when the clock strikes eleven on the night before Christmas, a girl comes crashing into the world. She’s not what they expect, nor what they want, and she never cries — instead, she just watches them with those big black eyes that always seem to be appraising something.

-

Though Bellatrix’s birth was mostly an unwelcome surprise ( she came too early, and it was no secret that her parents had hoped for a boy ), she was also the first child to carry on the Black legacy, which was an honor. A necessity.

As a baby, she was small and meager. Nurses whispered about the Black baby that could barely muster a scream, that seemed so frail. Like she might break at any second. But that memory would soon fade and be replaced by a much more unpleasant one - because Bellatrix’s bones hardened, her skin thickened, her eyes grew meaner. Within a few years, any trace of that soft baby was gone, and instead, a cruel toddler took her place.

As a child, Bella was vicious. Biting, clawing, screaming and cursing were things she picked up fast, and she’d terrorize the other kids at the playground ( with an almost scary aim for her muggle born / half blood peers ).

Once she reached the age of seven, she calmed down a bit, and instead started following her father around ( and was lovingly referred to as his ‘little shadow’ ). Eager to prove herself, she learned everything that a son of Cygnus would have learnt. She was determined to show her father that being a girl would not stop her from becoming worthy of the Black throne, to carry his name with pride. Over the years of her childhood and adolescence, Bellatrix forged herself into the golden girl, a respectable heir in the making. Desperate to wear the crown.

Under her father’s influence, uncontrollable rage was switched in for an eerie quietness, anger instead boiling right below the surface, just waiting to be unleashed. She was so eager to please, to sculpt herself into whatever he wanted, so she suppressed her emotions the best she could, even though it never felt natural. And so, the nurses whispered again, but this time, it was about her sweet, sweet smile, matched with those mean, mean eyes. ‘Doesn’t it look distorted? Like that damn Cheshire cat. Something’s not right about that girl, I’m telling you. She came out wrong’.

Behind closed doors, Cygnus also encouraged Bella’s darker side. Introduced her to the dark arts and the chaos that she would later come to love so desperately.

Most of her childhood was characterized by harsh words, strict rules and high expectations. Her family’s reputation weighed heavy on her shoulders, constantly pressuring her to excel. Luckily, she shared her parents’ ambition and values, and had no problems conforming to their rule. Which also meant that she could get away with much else. As long as she remained the golden girl, Bellatrix could run wild and free.

HOGWARTS YEARS:

Bellatrix had been duly prepped before arriving at Hogwarts. She was the first of their children to walk the halls, so it was important to both Druella and Cygnus that Bellatrix knew how to behave. Who to fraternize with. Who to avoid. Who was worthy of her time. Her parents had also made sure that she already had the appropriate friends — and play dates with other pureblood kids were a common occurrence when Bellatrix was younger.

At school, Bellatrix was popular —- the resident cool girl. The type of girl that hardly ever objects to anything, because she is always down to have a good time. The type of girl that loves Quidditch, dirty jokes and cheap beer. The type of girl that hides her true colors, at least for a while. Until she explodes.

So Bella kept out of trouble, for the most part. There were a couple…. incidents, with muggleborns. One or two may have been turned into rats and toads ( under the guise of it being a joke — can’t you take a joke, come on now? ). More serious things have been strictly forgotten by everyone involved. Powerful parents will do the trick. Mostly though, Bellatrix kept to her fellow Slytherins… biding her time. Waiting to strike.

She played for the Slytherin Quidditch team, as a beater, and was eventually made captain ( nothing less for a child of Cygnus, she must excel ). During her time on the team, she was notorious for her cruel playing style, her foul tricks, the constant smirk on her lips as other players fell to the ground.

And during her sixth year, she was eventually recruited into the Death Eaters. And with them, she found a second home, quickly rising through the ranks.

AFTER HOGWARTS:

After graduating from Hogwarts, Bellatrix took a year off from her studies. The official reason was that she needed to “find herself”. Whatever the fuck that meant. Obviously, it was a lie to hide what she was really up to. In reality, Bellatrix was at Voldemort’s side, learning leglilimency and occlumency, all the while developing her dark magic and her shitty personality.

Quickly became Voldemort’s personal attack dog, always willing to do his bidding, no questions asked.

At the age of nineteen, Bellatrix found work as an obliviator. Though the choice had ultimately been hers to make, the dark lord was always whispering in her ear, encouraging her to infiltrate the ministry. The goal was to have sleeper agents of death eaters in every department once it was time to go to war. It also helped that becoming an oblivator just made sense — fucking with the minds of muggles could already be counted as a hobby (albeit a twisted one), and she had always been good at taking things that didn’t belong to her… Memories would be no different.

Became a senior obliviator at twenty five, which was early, but still not early enough for her, you feel.

And so, at the age of thirty two, Bellatrix came to find herself as the head of the department of magical accidents and catastrophes. There, she got another taste of the power that drives her, that maddens her.

She is genuinely good at her job - even though she’s totally corrupt and obviously does most things in the interest of the death eaters.

Will occasionally throw pureblood galas, but isn’t too invested in them. They’re just for show.

Among the Death Eaters, Bellatrix is in the inner circle. She considers herself the dark lord’s right hand, and prides herself on being his most loyal servant.

Bellatrix also has a pet snake, lovingly named Medusa. We love her.

PERSONALITY:

First of all - Bellatrix is a fucking shit show and we all know this.

She is like night and day —– and her temper switches incredibly quickly, which makes her unpredictable, a little scary. She can go from the girl her family forced her to be - the Socialite, the Sophisticated Woman, the Cool Girl, to something far more sinister in the matter of minutes. Sometimes less.

When she’s at her worst, Bellatrix is cruel, sadistic, self righteous, impulsive, angry as hell, deranged, unstable, manipulative, a little bit unhinged, ruthless, playful, childish and absolutely lethal. It’s always brewing right below, so close to the surface, just waiting to come out.

But she’s also calculating, clever, quick on her feet, intensely passionate, fiercely loyal (until she’s… not), adaptable, intuitive and assertive.

Bella often contradicts herself — she has grown up believing that it’s best to be cold and devoid of emotions (#thanks dad), but she’s a highly emotional person by nature. She tries to suppress that as best as she can, but she usually boils over pretty fast. Other emotions are usually translated into anger as well, so that’s fun. I think the best way to describe her is that she’s just fire, always burning hot or cold.

Voldemort’s influence on her is also really important!! His influence poisons her mind, her soul, her heart. The darkness that was already there is amplified, becomes a thousand times worse. Though already a skilled witch, he introduced her to magic she could only have dreamed of — and that power became corruptive, addictive. For power, Bella would gladly pay the steep price of sacrificing her soul, her humanity.

Bellatrix really does think that she is in the right.

Also probably thinks that she’s better than everyone else at all times. There’s definitively an air of arrogance surrounding her.

Mrs Lestrange thinks that she’s invincible, and likes walking a little too close to the cliff’s edge ( playing with fire ). Will occasionally drop hints that she COULD be a death eater, but never goes too far with it. And if someone suggests that she is one, she acts like that’s absolutely outrageous. How dare you imply that I am affiliated with anything… !

Okay so, I am convinced that Bellatrix doesn’t reach peak evil + instability until after Voldemort’s fall and Azkaban, so I’m really trying to tone her down a bit and give the influence of her upbringing ( + her nature ) a bigger role in the person that she becomes. Hence why she is a little better at hiding her true colors, a little more refined. : ~ ) Though, she’s still the hammer ( doesn’t have the most finesse, mostly just likes getting things done, her technique isn’t exactly intricate, but ALWAYS effective ).

Even if most people probably don’t know that she’s a death eater ( though some probably suspect lbr ), she has a very intimidating presence. That’s her brand. And she still has that Weird Aura about her, like there is something that isn’t quite right, so that could also weird people out.

STYLE / FASHION / APPEARANCE:

Bellatrix has jet black eyes and the hair to match. It falls in soft curls over her shoulders, down her back.

Usually wears dark red lipstick.

She hides her dark mark with a concealment spell while out in public.

Dresses mostly in black. Has to wear clothes that can fit into the muggle world while at work, occasionally, while out and about. While there, she wears a well worn leather jacket ( with shoulder pads, in true 70s style, we love a style icon ), and wide, black pants.

Files her nails into long claws, and paints them black.

Is tall. Likes towering over people.

Her cheekbones could cut a bitch.

AESTHETICS / VIBES:

black dresses, whispered hexes, broken champagne glasses, the calm before the storm, bullets caught between teeth, a constant paradox, skin stained black and blue, a devilish grin, ‘is that wine or blood on your carpet?’, snakes wrapped around wrists, mean eyes, always running hot and cold, a cheshire cat’s smile, soft laughter as the light leaves your eyes, divine violence, a taste of the approaching revolution / the new world order, quiet desperation, family heirlooms, unwavering loyalty, sudden fits of rage, emerald lockets, double lives, ‘would you still like me with my hands around your neck?’, no conscience, silent promises, taunting you with her very last breath, the hardest of hearts, dried blood on expensive clothes and a quiet conviction that this will all make sense in the end.

CHARACTER INFLUENCES:

amy dunne ( gone girl )

jamie moriarty ( elementary )

glory / glorificus ( btvs )

villanelle ( killing eve )

jennifer blake ( teen wolf )

klaus mikaelson ( tvd )

kilgrave ( jessica jones )

lilith ( supernatural )

drusilla ( btvs )

helena ( orphan black )

faith lehane ( btvs )

mazikeen ( lucifer )

FAVORITE CHARACTER TROPES:

SLASHER SMILE - a smile in anticipation of pain or death // a cheshire cat grin.

THE DRAGON - a monster the hero has to get past to get at the big bad. the top enforcer.

TORTURE TECHNICIAN -  takes the heroes and turn them into screaming, shinned shambles.

LADY MACBETH - frequently more crazy than her husband, quite the sociopath, in the business of turning men towards evil.

EVIL WEARS BLACK - duh.

DISSONANT SERENITY - someone smiling gently in the middle of death and carnage, seeming almost enlightened as they slit throats left and right.

THE BERSERKER - throws herself into battle with such reckless abandon, that it seems like she wants to die. never, ever retreats.

THE BARONESS - a female baddie with a chilly disposition and more than a touch of the dominatrix about her.

WICKED CULTURED - evil is intellectual // basically an evil aristocrat.

THE CHESSMASTER - thinking three moves ahead at all times. manipulating, planning, plotting.

DADDY’S LITTLE VILLAIN - shares dark father’s ambitions.

BERSERK BUTTON - always ready to fucking snap.

SOFT SPOKEN SADIST - occasionally. a monster who might describe just how horribly she’s going to mangle you, while speaking in a voice that’s anything but monstrous.

DARK ACTION GIRL - likes beating the hero to a bloody pulp. good at it too.

AMBITION IS EVIL - has grand plans. ends justify the means, always.

#maraudrs:intro #in this house we reuse old intros also #snake cw #death cw #torture cw #blood cw #violence cw #smoking cw #✦ ° • ☆ ◣ ▽ ┊ABOUT • heart made of stone / the beast in my bones. )

[soulkiba]

give us all twenty answers!!!

Alright here we go!!!(Small headsup though, I’m only like halfway through Ch.3 rn so I don’t know everytging yet but I’ll try!)1. High honor or low honor? Why?- Definetely High Honor cause really, Arthur is a good boah and thats a fact.But nah, I actually always do High Honor like playthroughs and can usually not bring myself to do a low honor one again, I just want everyone to be happy and nice ;;2. Do you think Dutch was always unhinged?- I definetely don’t think he always was, it’s almost like he just get’s more and more disillusioned the more parts of his “plan” fail or eventually go wrong. I’m sure he had good intentions but eventually got buried under his ambitions. Again, I’m not too far into the story but from what I’ve seen so far, it just kinda seems that way to me.3. Favorite song in the game? - Let’s be real, the entire Soundtrack is absolutely amazing and I didn’t manage to listen completely through yet because I’m constantly close to tears but Cruel, Cruel World and the House Building Theme have to be my favourites rn.4. Who is the most misunderstood character? - I’m really not sure about this one tbh, I guess I would have to say Kieran cause almost no one really seems to give him much of a chance.5. What are your thoughts on Strauss? - I really don’t know tbh, I haven’t really done enough quests with him to totally make myself a picture of him but he definetely seems kind of a cold and more or less like a harsh businessman.6. Favorite quote? - Also don’t wanna answer this one too soon since I haven’t heard to many yet but like, alot of the more serious stuff Arthur says definetely gets me.7. Funniest moment? - So far probably when Arthur blew up the pile of shit or Margarets questline. Also Arthur hearing about Dinosaurs for the first time and almost everything with Sean cause his accent just cracks me up so often.8. Favorite ship(s)?- Oh I pretty much love most ships with Arthur alot. I’m not super sold about Arthur/Dutch or Arthur/John cause I still view Dutch more as an Father Figure and John more as an Brother but I still love all the wonderful artwork. I adore Abigail and John alot too, Charles and Arthur is a great ship too. Oh and Dutch and Hosea too! 9. Most shocking death?- Since no one really has died yet and I more or less already know who’s gonna die, I’m not sure how much they will shock me yet but without spoiling, one that more or less involves uh...a head really caught me off guard.10. Most satisfying death? - I mean, if Micah dies probably that one. But nah, just kidding, so far none was really satisfying but not many people died yet anyways.11. Do you believe Jack is John’s son? If not then who do you think it is?- I would assume he probably is, atleast I wouldn’t really know who elss his Dad could be.12. Best moment in the game?- Honestly theres so many good moments even so far in, it’s kinda hard to pick but like, that one Quest where Arthur stood on the Oil Wagon to stop the train is still pretty epic.13. Favorite character that’s not a gang member- I definetely like Albert alot, his Quests are really fun to do and I adore the chemistry he and Arthur have. I actually like Beau alot too.14. Favorite campfire song?- Yeah I gotta give that one to the good old Ring Dang Doo. 15. Most underrated character?- Oh thats hard to say since I feel like alot of the Characters are talked about and appreciated from what I’ve seen in the fandom. Maybe some of the Side Quest characters or “less” important Gang members. I still like Kieran alot and I feel like Hosea is sometimes a bit underrated too.16. If R* were to make a third RDR game, what would you want it to be about and who would you want the protagonist to be?- I think what could be really cool would be another prequel where you would play as either Dutch or Hosea. I think it would be cool to see how they meet and gather the rest of the Gang. 17. Did you help John escape or go back for the money? Why? - I wasn’t at that part yet so I can’t say, sorry ;;18. Which gang member do you wish Arthur interacted with more? - As far as Chapter 3 goes, probably Kieran or Reverend. Josiah too tbh.19. Which gang member death affected you the most? - Spoiler Alert here!But I can already tell you that I’m totally going to cry once Arthur eventually has to go. I haven’t cried about a video game since playing MGS4 but god, this will definetely wreck me. :’D20. What was your first horses name? And is there a meaning behind it?- I think it actually was Molly? Not named after the Molly at camp, it was just kinda the first thing I thought about, with no real meaning either, I just liked the Name alot.Thanks alot for asking! And sorry about any typos ;;

#rdr2 #Anonymous

[shestranged]

Bellatrix Hecate Lestrange // the devil shudders as she rises ( she’s taking aim for his throne )

She grew up wanting to break things —- toys and hearts and bones and people. Her father indulged her, quietly forming her into the woman that she is today, a weapon, a beast. Someone who finds peace in the destruction, in the chaos, in the violence. People say that she came out a little wrong - something unhinged about her persona already as a child. Those jet black eyes, waiting to devour you. Sharp teeth pulling into a Cheshire cat grin before she could even speak. As she grew older, she became more adept at hiding her… faults, slowly learning how to suppress her anger, her hatred. Instead growing colder, burning less hot ( a ticking time bomb in the making ). But then she met him. And at his side, she became so much worse. As his right hand, she tapped into unimaginable powers, but it all came at an equally unimaginable price. With him, she became less human, more vile. At his side, all she wanted to see was the streets run red with blood.

what up i’m liz, i’m twenty one and i’m here to bring u my favorite villain and chaotic badass, bellatrix lestrange !! this will be a bit long probably bc i could talk about her 5ever. most important parts to read probably are #hogwarts years, #after hogwarts and #personality stuff !!

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name: bellatrix hecate lestrange occupation: senior obliviator former house: slytherin date of birth: december 23. age: 32

BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS:

Let’s set the scene --- it’s a cold December night, right before Christmas, and the Black mansion is shaken by blood curdling screams. It’s the kind that leaves you breathless, shivers running down your spine, leaving you with the sense that something is very, very wrong. Which, Druella Black fears that it very well might be ---- because her (expected) son is four weeks early. 

The birth process is excruciatingly long and difficult for poor, poor Druella, but when the clock strikes eleven on the night before Christmas, a girl comes crashing into the world. She’s not what they expect, nor what they want, and she never cries --- instead, she just watches them with those big black eyes that always seem to be appraising something.

-

Though Bellatrix’s birth was mostly an unwelcome surprise ( she came too early, and it was no secret that her parents had hoped for a boy ), she was also the first child to carry on the Black legacy, which was an honor. A necessity.

As a baby, she was small and meager. Nurses whispered about the Black baby that could barely muster a scream, that seemed so frail. Like she might break at any second. But that memory would soon fade and be replaced by a much more unpleasant one - because Bellatrix’s bones hardened, her skin thickened, her eyes grew meaner. Within a few years, any trace of that soft baby was gone, and instead, a cruel toddler took her place.

As a child, Bella was vicious. Biting, clawing, screaming and cursing were things she picked up fast, and she’d terrorize the other kids at the playground ( with an almost scary aim for her muggle born / half blood peers ). 

Once she reached the age of seven, she calmed down a bit, and instead started following her father around ( and was lovingly referred to as his ‘little shadow’ ). Eager to prove herself, she learned everything that a son of Cygnus would have learnt. She was determined to show her father that being a girl would not stop her from becoming worthy of the Black throne, to carry his name with pride. Over the years of her childhood and adolescence, Bellatrix forged herself into the golden girl, a respectable heir in the making. Desperate to wear the crown.

Under her father’s influence, uncontrollable rage was switched in for an eerie quietness, anger instead boiling right below the surface, just waiting to be unleashed. She was so eager to please, to sculpt herself into whatever he wanted, so she suppressed her emotions the best she could, even though it never felt natural. And so, the nurses whispered again, but this time, it was about her sweet, sweet smile, matched with those mean, mean eyes. ‘Doesn’t it look distorted? Like that damn Cheshire cat. Something’s not right about that girl, I’m telling you. She came out wrong’.

Behind closed doors, Cygnus also encouraged Bella’s darker side. Introduced her to the dark arts and the chaos that she would later come to love so desperately.

Most of her childhood was characterized by harsh words, strict rules and high expectations. Her family’s reputation weighed heavy on her shoulders, constantly pressuring her to excel. Luckily, she shared her parents’ ambition and values, and had no problems conforming to their rule. Which also meant that she could get away with much else. As long as she remained the golden girl, Bellatrix could run wild and free.

HOGWARTS YEARS:

Bellatrix had been duly prepped before arriving at Hogwarts. She was the first of their children to walk the halls, so it was important to both Druella and Cygnus that Bellatrix knew how to behave. Who to fraternize with. Who to avoid. Who was worthy of her time. Her parents had also made sure that she already had the appropriate friends — and play dates with other pureblood kids were a common occurrence when Bellatrix was younger.

At school, Bellatrix was popular ---- the resident cool girl. The type of girl that hardly ever objects to anything, because she is always down to have a good time. The type of girl that loves Quidditch, dirty jokes and cheap beer. The type of girl that hides her true colors, at least for a while. Until she explodes.

So Bella kept out of trouble, for the most part. There were a couple.... incidents, with muggleborns. One or two may have been turned into rats and toads ( under the guise of it being a joke --- can’t you take a joke, come on now? ). More serious things have been strictly forgotten by everyone involved. Powerful parents will do the trick. Mostly though, Bellatrix kept to her fellow Slytherins... biding her time. Waiting to strike.

She played for the Slytherin Quidditch team, as a beater, and was eventually made captain ( nothing less for a child of Cygnus, she must excel ). During her time on the team, she was notorious for her cruel playing style, her foul tricks, the constant smirk on her lips as other players fell to the ground. 

And during her sixth year, she was eventually recruited into the Death Eaters. And with them, she found a second home, quickly rising through the ranks. 

AFTER HOGWARTS:

After graduating from Hogwarts, Bellatrix took a year off from her studies. The official reason was that she needed to “find herself”. Whatever the fuck that meant. Obviously, it was a lie to hide what she was really up to. In reality, Bellatrix was at Voldemort’s side, learning leglilimency and occlumency, all the while developing her dark magic and her shitty personality.

Quickly became Voldemort’s personal attack dog, always willing to do his bidding, no questions asked.

At the age of nineteen, Bellatrix found work as an obliviator. Though the choice had ultimately been hers to make, the dark lord was always whispering in her ear, encouraging her to infiltrate the ministry. The goal was to have sleeper agents of death eaters in every department once it was time to go to war. It also helped that becoming an oblivator just made sense — fucking with the minds of muggles could already be counted as a hobby (albeit a twisted one), and she had always been good at taking things that didn’t belong to her… Memories would be no different.

Will occasionally throw pureblood galas, but isn’t too invested in them. They’re just for show, and she couldn’t care less.

Among the Death Eaters, Bellatrix is in the inner circle. She considers herself the dark lord’s right hand, and prides herself on being his most loyal servant.

Bellatrix also has a pet snake, lovingly named Medusa. 

Today, Bellatrix works as a senior obliviator at the ministry of magic. She handles a lot of paper work, but is also out in the field a lot.

PERSONALITY:

First of all - Bellatrix is a fucking shit show and we all know this.

She is like night and day ----- and her temper switches incredibly quickly, which makes her unpredictable, a little scary. She can go from the girl her family forced her to be - the Socialite, the Sophisticated Woman, the Cool Girl, to something far more sinister in the matter of minutes.

When she’s at her worst, Bellatrix is cruel, sadistic, self righteous, impulsive, angry as hell, deranged, unstable, manipulative, a little bit unhinged, ruthless, playful, childish and absolutely lethal. It’s always brewing right below, so close to the surface, just waiting to come out.

But she’s also calculating, clever, quick on her feet, intensely passionate, fiercely loyal (until she’s... not), adaptable, intuitive and assertive. 

Bella often contradicts herself — she has grown up believing that it’s best to be cold and devoid of emotions (#thanks dad), but she’s a highly emotional person by nature. She tries to suppress that as best as she can, but she usually boils over pretty fast. Other emotions are usually translated into anger as well, so that’s fun. I think the best way to describe her is that she’s just fire, always burning hot or cold.

Voldemort’s influence on her is also really important!! His influence poisons her mind, her soul, her heart. The darkness that was already there is amplified, becomes a thousand times worse. Though already a skilled witch, he introduced her to magic she could only have dreamed of --- and that power became corruptive, addictive. For power, Bella would gladly pay the steep price of sacrificing her soul, her humanity.

Bellatrix really does think that she is in the right. 

Also probably thinks that she’s better than everyone else at all times. There’s definitively an air of arrogance surrounding her.

Mrs Lestrange thinks that she’s invincible, and likes walking a little too close to the cliff’s edge ( playing with fire ). Will occasionally drop hints that she COULD be a death eater, but never goes too far with it. And if someone suggests that she is one, she acts like that’s absolutely outrageous. How dare you imply that I am affiliated with anything... !

Okay so, I am convinced that Bellatrix doesn’t reach peak evil + instability until after Voldemort’s fall and Azkaban, so I’m really trying to tone her down a bit and give the influence of her upbringing ( + her nature ) a bigger role in the person that she becomes. Hence why she is a little better at hiding her true colors, a little more refined. : ~ ) Though, she’s still the hammer ( doesn’t have the most finesse, mostly just likes getting things done, her technique isn’t exactly intricate, but ALWAYS effective ).

Even if most people probably don’t know that she’s a death eater ( though some probably suspect lbr ), she has a very intimidating presence. That’s her brand. And she still has that Weird Aura about her, like there is something that isn’t quite right, so that could also weird people out.

STYLE / FASHION / APPEARANCE:

Bellatrix has jet black eyes and the hair to match. It falls in soft curls over her shoulders, down her back. 

Usually wears dark red lipstick.

She hides her dark mark with a concealment spell while out in public.

Dresses mostly in black. Has to wear clothes that can fit into the muggle world while at work ( since she is often out in the field, interacting with muggles ). While there, she wears a well worn leather jacket ( with shoulder pads, in true 70s style ), and wide, black pants.

Files her nails into long claws, and paints them black.

Is tall. Likes towering over people.

AESTHETICS / VIBES:

black dresses, whispered hexes, broken champagne glasses, the calm before the storm, bullets caught between teeth, a constant paradox, skin stained black and blue, a devilish grin, ‘is that wine or blood on your carpet?’, snakes wrapped around wrists, mean eyes, always running hot and cold, a cheshire cat’s smile, soft laughter as the light leaves your eyes, divine violence, a taste of the approaching revolution / the new world order, quiet desperation, family heirlooms, unwavering loyalty, sudden fits of rage, emerald lockets, double lives, ‘would you still like me with my hands around your neck?’, no conscience, silent promises, taunting you with her very last breath, the hardest of hearts, dried blood on expensive clothes and a quiet conviction that this will all make sense in the end.

CHARACTER INFLUENCES:

amy dunne ( gone girl )

katherine pierce ( tvd )

jamie moriarty ( elementary )

glory / glorificus ( btvs )

villanelle ( killing eve )

jennifer blake ( teen wolf )

klaus mikaelson ( tvd )

kilgrave ( jessica jones )

lilith ( supernatural )

drusilla ( btvs ) 

cersei lannister ( got )

helena ( orphan black )

faith lehane ( btvs )

mazikeen ( lucifer )

FAVORITE CHARACTER TROPES:

SLASHER SMILE - a smile in anticipation of pain or death // a cheshire cat grin.

THE DRAGON - a monster the hero has to get past to get at the big bad. the top enforcer.

TORTURE TECHNICIAN -  takes the heroes and turn them into screaming, shinned shambles.

LADY MACBETH - frequently more crazy than her husband, quite the sociopath, in the business of turning men towards evil.

EVIL WEARS BLACK - duh.

DISSONANT SERENITY - someone smiling gently in the middle of death and carnage, seeming almost enlightened as they slit throats left and right.

THE BERSERKER - throws herself into battle with such reckless abandon, that it seems like she wants to die. never, ever retreats.

THE BARONESS - a female baddie with a chilly disposition and more than a touch of the dominatrix about her.

WICKED CULTURED - evil is intellectual // basically an evil aristocrat.

THE CHESSMASTER - thinking three moves ahead at all times. manipulating, planning, plotting.

DADDY’S LITTLE VILLAIN - shares dark father’s ambitions and cruelty.

BERSERK BUTTON - always ready to fucking snap.

SOFT SPOKEN SADIST - occasionally. a monster who might describe just how horribly she’s going to mangle you, while speaking in a voice that’s anything but monstrous.

DARK ACTION GIRL - likes beating the hero to a bloody pulp. good at it too.

AMBITION IS EVIL - has grand plans. ends justify the means, always.

#YB:intro #snake cw #violence cw #blood cw #death cw