#also these might be more light hearted and fun season 3/4 focused

[giftedeath]

sort of here, sort of not here ... but like this for a short starter !

#buffy muse is always there #also these might be more light hearted and fun season 3/4 focused #i have to write an analysis for my dad's undergrad class lmao immigrant daughter things ! #but after that i'll have some time!! #going through the horrors › ooc.

[gffa]

Hey! Love your blog for the sw content but ngl you have me window shipping dickbabs more and more everyday. I’m not reeeeally a comics person unless it has quality online format but I have been known to enjoy cartoons. Do you have any show recs to get me into the batfam? Sorry if this has already been asked (and answered somewhere else). Thanks again for all your great content! Love your blog!

Hi! Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad to be helping to at least tempt you into this pit, and I wish I had better recs for you, but I've been turning this over in my head for the last couple of days and keep coming back to that I don't know that I would recommend most of the animated series or movies/TV series for DC. Even the best bets would be: - Young Justice 2010 cartoon, which is overall decent, but DickBabs doesn't happen until like season 3, I think? (And I think Dick dates Kory for awhile before that?) And they're a very minor part of the show, even the Batfam as a whole is only one aspect of the show, it's really a multi-fam kind of series. As long as you know that it will have some major differences in relationship and character dynamics (like Superboy in the show and Kon from the comics share certain aspects, but they are also vastly different and I'm not sure you'd recognize Kon as the same character), it's a fun show to watch overall! - Batman: The Animated Series 1992 + The New Batman Adventures 1997 was absolutely, incredibly groundbreaking at the time it came out, but that means it's 30 years old now and a lot of it is going to be incredibly dated compared to current stuff. I do still love it and the Dick/Babs episodes are TOP NOTCH (so much delicious yearning oh my god) and the flashback to when Dick was a kid are also great, but there's a LOT of basic cartoon action stuff that's not that exciting anymore and it might feel like a long haul. Cautiously recommended if you don't mind viewing it through an old-fashioned lens, don't mind that Dick tends to be more in his "angry teenage years" than his more settled 20s, and you're okay with zipping through any parts that bore you. - The Batman 2004 is another series that's pretty dated, but in a way I find deeply charming, because it really leaned into the gothic aesthetic and wasn't afraid to try some new things with the character designs. I usually suggest skipping forward to season 4 when Dick shows up (and I greatly enjoy his and Babs' dynamic, they're kids at the time, it's not a romance here, but it's not hard to see that one day they could grow up into the characters they'll be in other versions) but the whole show is just a good Batman cartoon! Honorable mentions: - Justice League: The Animated Series 2001 which I don't think Dick or Babs ever appeared in, but is still probably THE best DC animated series. It's not super complex, but what it did, it did very well, and is still pretty influential to this day. - If you don't mind reading an online comic, the Wayne Family Adventures webtoon is a very easy intro point, has very pretty art, and will get you reasonably familiar with the characters! (I sort of liken it to LEGO adaptations, it's meant to be light-hearted and occasionally genuinely touching, it focuses on extremes of the characters and memeable moments, rather than the more sharp-edged comics, but that makes it all the better for an entry point imo.) Beyond that, I can't really think of anything I would necessarily recommend to help get new fans into the Batfam characters (I wouldn't recommend the Harley Quinn show as a starting place for them, nor the Teen Titans cartoon, and I don't really personally care for any of the animated movies personally, other than maybe Super Sons, which was absolutely adorable and a great intro to Jon and Damian), because DC has a really weird track record on adapting them into non-comics mediums and I just enjoy the comics so much more. Though, if others have recs or would offer a rebuttal against some of the suggestions, feel free, because I would love to have easier ways into the comics

#lumi.txt #dc #batfam #comics recs

[apparently-artless]

haii hii art how are you !!! i just wanted to let you know that after 17364748436 years of procrastination i finally watched the one piece live action!! I wanted to lyk earlier, but i procrastinated (again) ALSO. i read a few chapters of the goofy boss manga and they are so cute omg????

Andd, if it's not much of a bother can you recommend more stuff like webtoons that yoy like !! Somehow all your recs are super fun to read,, so if its not a problem can you rec some more stuff hehe :3

^ a cat for yuor troubles

hi, mimi! thank you for sending me a message! and that's a super cute cat by the way! what's the name?? send me a gentle pat on the head, will you? i don't have one so i can only look at cat pics and videos of other people. (︶︹︺) and make gifs of that tsundere cat, hakutou. lol

anyway, did you enjoy one piece? i had fun watching it. not the best live action out there for me but considering it's one piece, i'd say the cast did a wonderful job. it's also nice to know you already tried the goofy boss manga!! they are all super adorable and just heal your soul. ^^

as for webtoons, i do have some i can recommend:

Devil Number 4 - a devil and a young woman formed a "contract" in exchange for her soul. it's a cute story, has some plot twists here and there and the story of the other characters are interesting too. this is already completed so you don't have to wait for the new chapters. i might reread this again.

Interview with a Murderer by Queensa - this one's BL. as the title suggests, one of the MC is a serial killer and the other character is a journalist. but if you are not comfortable with serial killers and psychological thrillers, feel free to ignore this one. this one is just one of my favourite BL webtoons so i might as well include it in the list. this is only around 60+ chapters and the ending felt a bit rushed. and because the story is so good, i would've preferred if there were a few more chapters or at least some side stories.

Eleceed - imagine Study Group but give the students powers, enemies of today become friends of tomorrow. this series is pretty much addicting. when i finished reading up to the latest, i ended up rereading my favourite parts. and the relationship of the main character with his friends is so good.

Bring the Love by Zestkyo - this one's my ultimate favourite romance webtoon. i must admit, i am not a superfan of series that focuses heavily on romance, but this one is just the best romance story for me. season 1 is already completed and season 2 is still ongoing. i also lost count of the number of times i reread my favourite scenes. this one's historical (13th century setting) so just a heads-up in case this setting is not your cup of tea. and oh, there are lgbt couples here, too!

these are what i recommend for now! i am still reading eleceed and bring the love, but devil number 4 and interview with a murderer are both completed. i hope this helps! (￣▽￣*)ゞ

last but not the least! i would also like to recommend another manga series, kyuujitsu no warumono-san (mr. villain's day-off). it's also a light-hearted, soul-healing series. and this is getting anime and broadcast starts in january. you may also watch this through my gifs since i will definitely be making edits for this one. lol

#manhwa #webtoons #webtoon recommendation #manhwa recommendation #devil number 4 #interview with a murderer #eleceed #bring the love #art answers #reply #lovely lovely mutuals #llm: amia 🌸

[theworkingblog]

It’s quite common every now and then and even for a season to have to pick up an extra gig or part-time job. Whatever the reason, it can at times feel overwhelming adding more to your plate. Even when it is planned, the change can be an adjustment. I put together these tips (from experience) to help you stay focused, be engaged and keep an open mind while working towards your goals.

Tip 1- Look for a light gig. Take some time to think about what your availability is and what you would feel the most comfortable giving to a part-time or seasonal job. Also think about the simplest thing you could do (that is still connected to your strengths) so that you are not overexerting yourself. Keep in mind that it is only for a season and always keep your why close to heart. Only apply to places that have the availability and flexibility that you need. If you are only available a few days a week, don’t apply anywhere that asks for more than you are willing to accommodate. This arrangement is just as much about what you need as it is what the position needs. Think of you first!

Tip 2- Be open and honest at the interview. When you land an interview, be open and honest about your goals, when the interviewer asks these kinds of questions. If it’s a part-time job and potential for longer term, don’t be quick to rule out the job long term. It may take you longer to achieve your initial goal. Consider also letting the interviewer know that you have other interests and aspire to do more and that you are open to exploring more if and/or when that could work for both of you. This shows that you have given thought to what you need and thought to what they need as well. It also keeps dialog open down the road should you need to renegotiate.

Tip 3- Take your time learning the position. Even if you think you know and already have experience in the field or position you land, take your time learning how THEY do it and how THEY want it done. It’s common to want to move ahead and get to the core elements of a position, especially if you have done it before or are already highly skilled in an area. However, take your time! If there are hours, days or even weeks of training classes or modules, however boring they may feel, don’t rush this process. Use this time to learn more about the role, get into a routine and ask lots of questions. Also use this time to float and take it easy! There will be plenty of time to “go hard” when it’s time.

Tip 4- Take your designated breaks! Take your breaks and take them all! Get in the habit of taking them even when you feel like you are in a groove and don’t want to stop. You’ll be surprised how fast burnout can happen even with part-time or seasonal gigs when you don’t give yourself breaks! As a matter of fact, make this one of your interview questions to the employer about expectations of how long breaks are and when. If you are asked why that is important to you, you can let them know that breaks give you a chance to recharge and come back ready to reengage with your job!

Tip 5- Participate in a work/office activity. The tendency to want to shy away from all things “work related” with a part-time or seasonal gig is understandable. You don’t have to orchestrate an event but consider showing up for an after work comingle, team boosting activity or a holiday party. Your part-time/seasonal gig doesn’t have to be a no fun zone! This may be a way to network and you never know who might be a good reference for you in the future.

Tip 6- Be open to staying a while or moving on! Many times we have an idea of how long we would like to hold a part-time job. Sometimes things go the way we want and we are ready to move on, then sometimes we need to hang in there a little longer. As long as both you and the employer are doing fine with the arrangements, you are still feeling confident in the role you are in, why not stick around a little longer? Try not to get caught up in what you think you SHOULD be doing by a certain time, even if it doesn’t quite fit your initial plan or timeline. Remember, by this time you have committed your time there and most likely are doing the job well. If you have a chance to open dialog again with an employer about staying longer, moving on, or exploring a new role within the company, it’s O.K. either way!

​You are 100% in control of your time and availability! 

#side jobs

[shazzeaslightnovels]

March 2023

(Series: Tensai Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei | Artist: Yuri Kisaragi)

No. of Reviews: 4

List of Reviews:

Urasekai Picnic 8

Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei 6

Aohal Devil 2

Danmachi 18

The Winter Anime Season has ended I have Thoughts on the shows I watched.

BOFURI 2 - This one had a rocky first half for me where it was very battle-focused and was starting to feel repetitive but it picked up a lot in the second half. I think once the concept of tame monsters was expanded with the other characters getting their own monsters was when I started to enjoy the series again. The best episode so far has definitely been Maple and Sally’s date episode where Kon and Syrup get power-ups. It was really cute and fun. This was delayed due to COVID so it hasn’t finished airing yet so I might touch back on this next month if anything changes but for now I think this is a solid season that’s not quite as good as the first but is still really enjoyable.

Danmachi 4 part 2 - While I’m glad J.C. Staff decided to give this plot more room to breathe in the anime than they have previous story arcs, I definitely found that it dragged far more than than the novel did. These volume are LONG and I was fine with that in the light novel format because I was able to read them at my own pace but having to be stuck in this plot for week after week with the situation changing little each week really made this season hard to keep interest in. It doesn’t help that it follows a few different groups and it became harder to keep track of who was where. I think this season might work better if it’s binged rather than watched weekly. I do want to give massive props to Saori Hayami though. She was fantastic and really made those emotional scenes land. I do also kind of wish there was one more episode as well to try to end the season on a more lighthearted note. Either an anime original episode, or one adapting parts of volume 15 or, even though it’s meant to take place earlier in the story, it would have been great to have gotten a condensed version of the first story from Familia Chronicle Episode Lyu. I just feel like a light hearted episode would have given us more catharsis after being stuck in this darker storyline for 11 weeks. Still a good season though, especially if you like Lyu, and I look forward to the inevitable season 5.

Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady - A perfect adaptation that reminded me of what makes this series special. The adaptation made the already stellar character work shine. I really enjoyed watching it every week and I’m so glad that Diomedea gave this series the love that it deserves. Also, watching the anime made me appreciate Tilty more. She didn’t make much of an impression on me in the light novels but the anime really made her stand out more. I probably wouldn’t want a second season given how directionless the story feels after volume 3 but it would be cool to see an OVA focusing on Lainie and Ilia and how they get together.

Misfit of Demon Academy 2 - I caught up on this one the week the delay was announced RIP. This season has had a fairly interesting storyline but it’s also messy and confusing and I was already struggling to understand it so this break isn’t going to do it any favors. I’ll probably touch back on this one at the end of Spring season but tbh I don’t remember much from the last episode I watched and I don’t really want to rewatch it so I might give up on it.

Digimon Ghost Game - Caught up on this as soon as it’s end date was announced. And while I don’t regret finishing it, I’m also really glad that I put it on hold when I did because that was such a disappointing finale and I would have been much more pissed about it had I not taken that break. Ghost Game started out so good with a lot of intriguing set-up and fun mysteries but pay-offs for all of those mysteries were really disappointing. It took far too long to advance the plot and when it finally did, the plot was rushed. It suffers from all of the same problems that the Adventure remake did. At least with this one I enjoyed a lot of the stand-alone episdoes so I’ll give it that. And I also want to give big props for Sawashiro Miyuki’s performance as Gammamon as that’s a major reason why I stuck around for so long and why I probably will rewatch this in the future to see if it holds up better if it’s not consumed weekly.

Next season, I am obviously hyped for the second half of The Witch from Mercury and I’m also looking forward to Yuri is my Job which I’ve read some of the manga volumes for and enjoyed. I really want to try Pokemon Horizons. I finally got a switch over christmas because Scarlet/Violet looked so freaking good and I really enjoyed it and it got me back into the franchise. It was my first pokemon game since Black/White 2 because I never got a 3DS so you can imagine how blown away I was by how many advancements the franchise has made. So I want to watch the anime, especially because Sprigatito’s in it, but it’s gonna depend on if I can find a place to watch it weekly in Japanese because I want to hear Suzuki Minori. I’m pretty sure I should be able to watch it with a VPN but we’ll see. Otherwise, I really like the key visuals for The Galaxy Next Door. The plot doesn’t seem all that interesting but I’ll probably check out the first episode.

#Reading Log #march 2023

[walkingcorpse03]

top 10 favorite anime ☆

1. Angels of Death

A darker anime overall, but it has cute and humorous undertones. All of the characters have really cool designs and there are lots of lovable characters if you like stranger personalities. The two main characters have a heavy found family trope and the concept is really interesting and kept me focused the entire time. It’s my all time favorite anime. (Genre: Psychological Horror) 

2. Snow White with the Red Hair

My all time favorite romance anime. It’s very beautiful and the animation is fun to watch and just drop dead gorgeous. It’s one of the only romance anime’s I've seen where 0 characters are sexualized, which is very important to me. This anime has the CUTEST FOUND FAMILY TROPE I’VE EVER SEEN JESUS I LOVE THEM ALL- Also all of the characters are really well written and the story flows really well. It it definitely my comfort anime. (Genre: Fantasy, Romance) 

3. Toilet-bound Hanako-kun

This anime gets the 3rd spot because the story honestly never gets old and is juts so interesting. The art style is also very pleasing to the eye. There are so many lovable characters and it’s just a feel good anime. The design, art style, characters, animation, and voice acting on the sub and dub are just amazing and it’s another one of my comfort anime’s. (Genre: Comedy, Supernatural)

4. Bungou Stray Dogs

I am in love with this anime. It has some of my hands down favorite characters and all of the designs are so cool. All of the characters are so well written and interesting to watch. The story is complex, but has so many meaningful undertones and the animation is beautiful. There are almost too many lovable characters to choose from and they each have their own story which is just as complex as interesting as the main plot. 10/10 I love. (Genre: Action, Comedy, Supernatural)

5. Assassination Classroom

Another anime that can be perceived as either really light-hearted or kinda dark. There is a full cast of really lovable characters like most of the anime’s on list, but Nagisa has a special place in my heart which is why this one is so high up on the list. The anime is really good and has a pretty interesting story and I ended up really attached to some of the characters and the family vibes they all have together. (Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Comedy)

6. Devils Line

Devil’s Line is an acquired taste for some people, which is understandable because the story and concept is pretty dark overall, but the relationships between the characters are just so sweet and they're super interesting to find our more about. I mean a vampire romance??? I think yes. It does have a lot of blood in it so if that is something that makes you uncomfortable this might not be the one for you. This anime is one of my all time favorites and it will be forever. WE NEED A SEASON 2 ISTG- (Genre: Dark Fantasy, Romance) 

7. My Little Monster

This is probably my second favorite romance anime of all time. I love the characters and the art style. It’s just so pretty!! The characters all have their own problems and quirks and it’s one of the only anime’s that has a character that I guess I “kin”. Shizuku is one of my favorite anime characters in general so that also makes this anime have a special place in my heart. No but anyways this anime is honestly one I could watch again and again I love the characters and the story so much. (Genre: Romance, Slice of Life) 

8. Stars Align

The only sports anime on this list because it’s just amazing like that and SEVERELY UNDERRATED. There is not only LGBT+ support and representation, it’s GOOD- The story is amazing and the characters are just so lovable and unique from each other. All of them are amazing and I love them. The ending threw me through a loop like c’mon we need a season 2!! It’s just so emotional and impactful, I just love it Anyways, this one needed to be on list and is hands down my favorite sports anime and one of my favorite anime’s overall. (Genre: Drama, Sports)

9. Yona of the Dawn

FOUND FAMILY! FOUND FAMILY!!! ALL and I mean ALL of the main cast is so lovable and the chemistry between the characters is so cute and it makes this a comfort anime for sure. The story is so interesting and you can see just good character development throughout the entire plot. In addition to the amazing characters and story the animation is beautiful! I just recently watched it and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I actually liked it. (Genre: Adventure, High Fantasy, Romance) 

10. Erased

One of the most emotional and beautiful anime's I’ve ever seen. The story is SO interesting and I think it’s one of the most amazing anime’s ever created. I love all of the characters and the concept is just beyond me. I would recommend this anime to everyone in existence. 100/10 please watch this. (Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Science Fiction) 

__________________________________________________

Honorable Mentions ☆

- Given

GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING- I love this damned anime so much. The representation is not only amazing, but the story is really interesting and I because of that I became attached to all of the characters very quickly. (Genre: Drama, Romance) 

- Sk8 the Infinity

I love this anime so much!! All of the characters are so cute and I honestly was really involved in the fandom as well which is rare for me. The story is so cute and I am PRAYING for a second season. (Genre: Comedy, Sports) 

#jaysmediarecs #recs #angels of death #zack foster #snow white with the red hair #zen wisteria #toilet-bound hanako-kun #tbhk #bungou stray dogs #bsd #dazai osamu #atsushi nakajima #chuuya nakahara #assassination classroom #stars align #devils line #anzai yuki #my little monster #shizuku mizutani #yona of the dawn #hak yona of the dawn #Nagisa Shiota #given #given anime #sk8 #sk8 the infinity #erased #erased anime #anime #anime recommendation

[zeppelin-and-unicorns]

Post Season 8 fanfic recommendations

Hey! So, I’ve been working on this for a while. I’ve read so many good Hyde/Jackie stories, and I feel like it’s a waste not to share them.

I tried to separate everything in categories, but some fics fit in more than one category and honestly it was just a mess. So I've separated them the best way that I could. I’m going to post the categories separately, and after I’m done I’ll make a masterpost with links to each of the categorized posts, as suggested by @springsteenicious and @those70scomics (thank you both for the help!).

Even though this is only one category, it’s still a long post, as I’ve said before, I’ve read many fanfics. I don’t know if I should edit this and add more stories as they’re out (for instance, I have a post season 8 story that I’m planning on posting soon) or if I should just leave things this way. Please let me know if you think I left out a good story or if you have any suggestions.

I’ve read and enjoyed ALL of these stories, they’re all very good. All the stories mentioned here are post season 8 stories. I’ll post stories that take place during season 8 next. I hope everyone enjoys it!

20 Questions by ShanghaiLily

Just after New Year's day in 1980, Jackie Burkhart decides to disappear from the basement to save her sanity. When Christmas rolls around and the Formans beg Jackie to attend their party, she ends up involved in an elaborate game of 20 Questions with Hyde that could change both of their lives.

This story is almost entirely T rated, but there is smut in some chapters. The author placed a warning in the notes of the chapters that contain steamy scenes, so you can easily skip it if it makes you uncomfortable.

This story is complete.

71k words, 21 chapters.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna and Kelso/Brooke

After the End by araleebo

Who's to say what happens after the end? Jackie finally thought she could get her happily ever after with the guy of her dreams in the new decade. For a while, she was right. Then, the worst few days of her life happened.

This story is complete.

34k words, 6 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

All That I Got by AdriDee

After being an asshole to her during most part of 1979, Hyde decides it’s time for redemption. And to win Jackie back, he must work on himself first.

Their journey in this story is beautiful, and amazingly written. The story is complete.

122k words, 22 chapters.

Rated M for smut in some chapters.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna, Kelso/Brooke, Fez/Laurie, Red/Kitty

Back to the 70’s by Wicked Chocolate

The 80s had barely begun before they start to crash around Jackie, maybe an Angel can grant her a trip back to the 70s and give her a second chance with Hyde. How will the events we know unfold now that Jackie has the knowledge and opportunity to change them?

Trigger warning: Major Character Death, kind of.

73k words, 10 chapters.

Rated M.

This story is not complete, but it’s worth the read.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna.

Also available on AO3

Back to Their Roots by Hart-of-Tree-Hill

Who doesn’t love a friends with benefits story?

Jackie and Hyde decide to have a no strings attached relationship after everything, but we all know those don't work.

This story is not complete and it makes me sad :( I still have hope that the author will update this someday. It kind of ends on a cliffhanger so it’s totally up to you if you want to read this or not.

13k words, 4 chapters.

Rated T, surprisingly

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

Before The Summer Ends by 107derwent

Summer is stupid. It makes you act stupid. Makes you stupid ,

This story is complete.

4k words, 3 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Catch the Bouquet by heatherlea75

Fate has been unkind to Jackie Burkhart for too long. She has a plan to change that, and to obtain what is rightfully hers a glorious wedding. Though she doesn't know it, she needs a little help, and a surprising person is perfectly willing to offer it.

This story is complete, and it has an adorable sequel, called Pop The Question.

6k words, 2 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

Charm Bracelets and Lighters by Aaliamad

Set three years after the series finale. Jackie’s been living a new, fabulous life in Chicago, what she didn’t know was that Hyde was also living in the same city as hers.

They eventually run into each other in a nightclub and have a special reunion. Can things be different between them this time?

Rated T.

This story is complete.

72k words, 36 chapters.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna

Chasing Windmills by c00kiefic

Four chapter short story about their journey back to each other after season 8. To be honest I love all the stories by this author, but this one is definitely one of my favs.

This story is complete.

11k words, 4 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Daddy’s Home by Hyde’s Bride

Jackie moved to Chicago after she had nothing left for her back in Point Place, but after two years, something awful happened to her. A certain burnout wants redemption but she finds herself in the middle of a pretty complicated dilemma.

Trigger warning: rape.

39k words, 14 chapters.

Rated M.

This story is complete.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna, Kelso/Brooke, Red/Kitty, Fez/Laurie

Date Night by SwanseaGurl

Hyde has been trying to get Jackie back for a while now, but after everything that happened between them, she's not willing to give him another chance. But he's also not willing to give up on her.

One day, a drunk and lonely Donna tries to make a move on Hyde and Jackie witnesses everything, will it change things between them?

Donna's not a really cool person in this fic, so be warned.

Rated T.

This story is complete.

11k words, 5 chapters.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Everybody Must Get Stoned by ShanghaiLily

After new year's 1980, huge fights break out between Eric & Donna and Jackie & Hyde. Both feeling the need to escape their problems, Jackie & Eric drive the VC to Mexico. Who gets shot? Who flees the country? Who comes out of the closet?

This story is amazingly written. I always appreciate a good story with amazing Jackie/Eric friendship moments. It’s complete.

129k words, 29 chapters.

Rated T, with some M chapters. The author placed a warning before the sexy scenes in case you’re uncomfortable with it.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna. And if you have a soft spot for Jackie/Eric, you might like the beginning of the story.

Everyone Thinks I Dodged a Bullet by MonDieu666

When Hyde and Jackie are the only ones to see a murder, they're placed into witness protection. Living under the same roof is one thing but lines begin to blur when they're forced to pretend to be married and memories from the past begin to resurface.

This story is amazing and it makes me smile. And it’s complete.

69k words, 16 chapters.

Rated M.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

Fatherhood by varietyofwords

The birth of Betsy and Kelso taking on the role of father has gotten Hyde thinking about fatherhood.

This story is absolutely beautiful. And it’s complete.

10k words, 6 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Fire in the Light by Noducksinpond

The eighties are almost ending and a certain couple is reunited.

This story is complete.

31k words, 14 chapters.

Rated M

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Kelso/Brooke, Eric/Donna

Heart Like Yours by PoetDameron

This is the first That 70s Show fanfiction I’ve ever read, and it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s based on the book “If I stay” and it’s amazing.

I’ve also read all of the other t70s stories by this author, and I highly recommend them.

Trigger warnings for drug use.

Rated T.

This story is complete.

139k words, 22 chapters total

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna, Kelso/Brooke

Also available on AO3.

Keep Me by 107derwent

Jackie and Hyde managed to be friends after all the crap that happened in season 8. She’s there for him when he needs her the most. Will that rekindle old feelings between them?

This story is complete.

20k words, 10 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

Like a Rolling Stone by elphabacan

Ashleigh 'Ash' Burkhart is a typical teenage girl. She never knew her father, and never cared to. Until she stumbled upon a new record store in a Minneapolis Neighborhood....

Beautiful writing. This story is complete.

50k words, 16 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Mamma Mia! That 70s Show style by love.devil.movies

Inspired by the classic Mamma Mia movie. Jackie is in Hawaii for Eric and Donna’s wedding and she finds herself between three of her exes.

This story is complete (and it’s a super fun read).

26k words, 13 chapters.

Rated T

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna and Red/Kitty

Mired by Tandy

Five years after she moved to California, Jackie goes back to Point Place to attend an important event. She ran into someone special and it turns out that a trip down memory lane is not as simple as it sounds.

This story is complete.

22k words, 7 chapters.

Rated M.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Never Tear us Apart by MinaSeraphina

Unlike 90% of the stories I’ve recommended so far, this one focuses on the entire gang. Each chapter is focused on one of the characters and they all have their own storylines.

This story is complete.

14k words, 6 chapters.

Rated T

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna, Kelso/Brooke, Fez/Laurie

New Resolution by c00kiefic

Jackie is getting married and Hyde is not the groom. What happens when Hyde and the gang decide that they need to stop this wedding?

This story is complete.

16k words, 4 chapters.

Rated M.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

Not a Thing to do but Talk to You by Willofthewisp

This story is not focused on Jackie and Hyde. It’s focused on the entire gang, and it’s beautiful.

It alternates between present time and flashbacks, but season 8 did happen in this story, that’s why I placed it in this category. It’s complete.

53k words, 30 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna, Kelso/Brooke

November Rain by luvcali

After a torrid encounter on Halloween night, 1984, ex-lovers Jackie and Hyde spend the next month reevaluating their past.

This story is complete.

373k words, 33 chapters.

Rated M for sexy scenes.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna, Brooke/Kelso and Fez/OC

Nowhere But Lost by Zenkindoflove

Hyde is cynical, depressed, alone, and would really like to keep it that way. But what happens when something inside of him resurfaces and is more than unhappy about his current living arrangements?

This story is complete.

52k words, 13 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna

One More Time by CarouselUnique

Jessie Forman thought she knew a lot of things; who she could trust, who her parents were, even what was possible in the world around her. One snowy night, all three of these things change. Now, stuck back around 1978 - she's left in the worst situation possible to figure out where to go from there.

This story is a WIP, it’s been a while since it was updated, but I’m pretty sure the author is coming back to this story one day!

14k words, 4 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna, past Jackie/Eric

Reelin’ In The Years by JoyfulHeartEO

I placed this story on the post-season 8 category, but there are some small differences that made me kind of lost in what category to place this. Season 8 happened, but Sam never left and Jackie and Fez never happened. It takes place on New Years.

Rated M.

This story is complete and it has a sequel, it’s called Crazy Love.

89k words, 20 chapters.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna, Kelso/Brooke, Red/Kitty

See Me, Feel Me by elphabacan

Hyde wants Jackie back, Jackie wants nothing to do with him after everything that happened. The boys find out about Jackie’s secret love for The Who, and while Fez and Eric fantasize about it, Hyde sees it as an opportunity.

This story is complete.

10k words, 4 chapters.

Rated M. Very much M. You’ve been warned.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

Second Chances by Flowers_For_Flamingos

Hyde's life has snowballed since Jackie's death. He moved back in with the Formans, Donna and Eric live far away, Fez was who the hell knows where, and Kelso....Hyde didn't think about Kelso. But one cold rainy night, while Hyde is drunk he causes an accident that sends him spiraling back in time to almost ten years ago, when everyone still liked each other. When Jackie was still alive.

This story made me cry so hard. It’s beautifully written, please read it.

It’s a WIP (work in progress, which means it’s being updated).

32k words, 15 chapters for now.

Trigger warning: Major Character death

Rated T

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

She’s The Devil by starfalls

It’s Halloween 1980, and the gang takes an ill-fated trip to a party that leads to some major revelations between Jackie and Hyde.

I could literally picture everything happening in my head while I read this story and I laughed so hard during some parts. All the characters are on point.

This story is complete.

30k words, 2 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna.

Stages by c00kiefic

I love everything this person ever wrote. Seriously. EVERYTHING.

Hyde’s there for her when Jackie goes through hell.

This story is not complete and it pains me. It has SO MUCH potential. Every now and then I reread it because it’s so good. I think it’s worth the read.

7k words, 2 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna and Red/Kitty.

That’s My Baby by kezztip

Jackie focuses on her career after the disaster that was 1979, and moves to Chicago after getting an amazing new job. Before she left, Hyde convinced the whole gang to throw her a surprise party for her, so he could try and make amends. Jackie ends up leaving the party angry as hell, what she didn’t know was that she left the party with a special souvenir inside of her.

This story makes me laugh SO HARD. The author managed to write all the characters perfectly. Please read this.

This story is complete.

68k words, 23 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna, Red/Kitty, Brooke/OC.

The First and Only Mrs. Hyde by The Queen Of Wallflowers

As it turns out, Sam is Hyde's second wife. He married his first when he was six. Mrs. Forman has the pictures to prove it. Now he just has to make it legal.

Donna’s kind of a bitch in this story, so if you don’t like stories like that, this might not be for you. But I do think this is an excellent story.

This story is fluffy and just perfect in general. Please read it.

It’s almost complete, and I still have hope that someday the author will actually finish this.

32k words, 12 chapters so far.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Also available on AO3

The Morning After by ShanghaiLily

Sequel to the one-shot Resolutions. Jackie wakes up in Vegas laying in bed with her very sexy ex-boyfriend and a tacky wedding band on her finger.

This story is complete.

59k words, 10 chapters.

Rated M for smut.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Fez/Caroline, Eric/Donna

The One with the Tee Shirt by c00kiefic

In which Jackie tries to get closure, Hyde's in denial and Donna plays middlewoman.

This story is complete.

18k words, 5 chapters.

Rated M.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

The Secret of Katherine by heatherlea75

Jackie and Hyde are keeping a secret from their daughter, one they fear will hurt her. When someone decides to tell her that secret, will it destroy her relationship with her parents?

Rated T.

This story is not complete, but it’s worth the read.

23k words, 8 chapters.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

The Sweetest Gifts by zeppelinandunicorns (myself)

It’s a known fact that post season 8 stories tend to be angsty, but this one is not.

This is a fluffly story that narrates Jackie and Hyde’s journey through parenthood. It will be part of a series, I got too attached to this universe, lol.

Rated T.

This story is complete.

26k words, 3 chapters.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

The Wall by Tayi

The new decade begins and Hyde finds himself alone in the basement listening to the latest Pink Floyd album, and the song "Hey you" suddenly has a new meaning. Now as the days turn into weeks, it feels like the whole album is haunting him until it helps him fix the mistakes of the past few months .

This story is complete and it has a sequel, that it’s updated constantly. Its called Over The Hills and Far Away.

14k words, 16 chapters.

Rated M.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

Things Change by shy1214

Jackie's life wasn't going well, she was alone and her friends were no longer actual friends. She had lost the love of her life and everything else, especially her once incredible confidence. A new strange friend might help her find it, and give her hope again.

This story has plenty of OC’s that crawled their way into my heart.

Donna is not a nice person in this story.

112k words, 28 chapters.

Rated T

This story is complete AND it has a sequel, it’s called Lock, Step and Gone.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde. And that’s pretty much it other than the pairings between the original characters.

Voulez-vouz by zeppelinandunicorns (me)

To celebrate her birthday, Jackie convinces Hyde to take her on a romantic trip, but Las Vegas wasn't exactly where she wanted to go, and she definitely didn't want to take the rest of the basement gang with her. Frustrated, Jackie thought that the trip was ruined, but Hyde's willing to make it unforgettable. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?

This story is complete.

13k words, 5 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna, Kelso/Brooke

Also available on AO3

War Stories by Jenny7

It's 1980, and Hyde is more lost now than ever. When Hyde gives into the man and joins the Army, against all he's ever believed in, it will take friendship, family, and a love stronger than distance and time to get him through.

I was reluctant to read this at first, because c’mon, it’s Hyde, he would never willingly work for “the man”, but as I started to read it, everything made sense, and I fell in love with it.

This story is complete.

31k words, 24 chapters.

Rated T.

Pairings: Mainly just Jackie/Hyde

Welcome to Jackie’s by TeaTimeAllOverTown

Jackie moves to Chicago shortly after season 8 to live out her dream. But when a happy, confident Jackie returns to Point Place will her past upset her future?

This story is complete.

38k words, 8 chapters.

Rated M.

Pairings: Mostly Jackie/Hyde

What Lies Beneath by SophiesRoses

THIS STORY IS PERFECT AND YOU SHOULD READ IT RIGHT NOW.

Seriously.

This story deserves way more recognition, it’s one of my favorites of all time.

Trigger warnings for alcoholism, heavy drug use

Rated M because there are a few sex scenes, but don't let this discourage from reading the story.

This story is not complete, but I still recommend it. A lot.

119k words, 28 chapters.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/OC, Kelso/Brooke, Donna/OC, Fez/Laurie

Yet Another Season 9 by elphabacan

Picking up on New Years Day, the group has eight months before Donna and Eric leave for Madison. New faces, new stories, and many MANY changes are in store.

Rated T.

This story is complete.

94k words, 25 chapters.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna, Kelso/Brooke, Fez/OC, Red/Kitty

Post Season 8 one-shots:

Be Hers by c00kiefic

Hyde and Jackie talk while they’re on the road.

Rated M.

4k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

Burn War Snapped by SkittleLvr79

Can an ultimatum from their friends lead to the end of a long, bitter feud?

Rated M. Very M.

3k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Canada by angelwithawand

They agreed not to talk about marriage in The United States. Luckily Canada is close.

Rated T.

418 words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Could’ve Been, Should’ve Been by propelled

Sometimes coming back home means facing the reason why you left in the first place.

Rated T.

5k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Deja Vu by 80sUnLoveChild

Takes place right after the season finale. The countdown is on, but who is kissing who at midnight and why does it feel like this has happened before?

Rated T.

3k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Fragile, Handle with Care by JadedAngel

A simple confrontation between Jackie and Hyde lead to, maybe not the perfect solution, but at least get them a step in the right direction.

Rated T.

6k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

How I Spent my Decade: Steven Hyde by 177istaken

Are memories enough? How Hyde spent the 80's dealing with his favorite chick.

Rated T.

1k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Just a Small Glimpse by AdriDee

A small one-shot about Edna’s thoughts when she sees Hyde and his family. I wouldn’t call this a sequel, but it’s the same universe of All That I Got, a multichapter story written by the same author.

Rated T.

1k words.

Pairings: Background Jackie/Hyde

Karaoke by 80sUnLoveChild

It's New Years Eve 1979, and as usual the Forman's are having their New Years party. Why oh why did Bob bring his Karaoke and why is Eric so insistent that Hyde sing?

This story is funny as hell, I love Eric.

Rated T.

5k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna

New Years Day by legally_blonde

Takes place right after the series finale. Jackie and Hyde are cleaning bottles on New Year’s day.

Rated T.

2k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Reversed by SkittlezLvr79

Set in 1986. Hyde finds himself in a somewhat familiar situation but this time, he's on the opposite side of things from where he usually stands.

Rated T.

1k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

So far, this is all.

Stay by FreyReh

Everyone gets together again for Kitty’s 50th birthday and old feelings stir between Jackie and Hyde.

Rated T.

7k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Red/Kitty and Eric/Donna

Stoner’s Nightmare by Bunny1

What if season 8 was just a nightmare?

Rated T.

581 words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

The Force by 107derwent

Eric’s back and the whole gang is back together, but some things are still missing.

Rated T.

1k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

The One I Love by c00kiefic

“He’s been on Jackie’s bad side for so long that he’s forgotten what it’s like to be on her good one.”

Hyde sees the love of his life getting engaged to someone else and decides he’s not going to let that happen.

Rated M.

4k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

The Princess and the Rebel by ForTheLoveOfFanFiction

Much of the damage of 1979 has been repaired; all except Jackie and Hyde. A trip in 1980 to see 'The Empire Strikes Back' makes Eric and Donna wonder if there is still hope for everyone's favourite princess and rebel.

Rated T.

1k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Donna/Eric

Zozo: A Journey to Understanding by zpplnchick

"You don't deserve a real tattoo. But if I were to get one, I'd show it to Fez before I'd ever show it to you!" Ironically, that's pretty much how it happened.

Rated T.

3k words.

Pairings: Jackie/Hyde

Oh, just one thing, speaking as someone who writes, it would be really cool if you guys decide to leave a review (or a comment, if the story is on AO3) in the stories you read, especially the unfinished ones. It really motivates the authors, and receiving a compliment is always a mood lifter. I’ve seen some authors updating stories after years because of nice reviews, so... yeah, this is just an idea.

Next category: Stories that take place during season 8. I’ll post it soon.

#jackie x hyde #jackie and hyde #zenmasters #fanfic #that '70s show #that 70s show #fanfic recommendations

[forevfangirlwrites]

I love your how to handle fame series and I totally get if you’re six of writing for this AU but if you aren’t I’d love one with them making the relationship official like Annabeth telling Percy he can post a picture of them for the first time or her telling him she wants to make it official and post on social media and Percy just being happy to tell the world that she’s his and vice versa

CONTINUATION OF: PART 9

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 , Part 7,  Part 8

If Percy ever decides to pick up the memoir business again, the entire thing could be about the past two days, which have downright been the weirdest, most surreal days of his whole life.

On second thought, maybe he wouldn’t be able to write it because he’s spent all weekend trying to compartmentalize it and it still feels like a blur.

Like one really long day.

And you’d think, given the magnitude of the events that had occurred, he’d remember it better.

CHB had been the first to report the news, courtesy of that lady shoving a mic in his face, but the interview had really sealed the deal. Zoe Nightshade is acclaimed for reporting facts not fiction in the celeb news world, so going on her show to talk about it had been the best way to get the right version of the story out there.

All he remembers about the set are the hot lights, the white couch (that he was immediately worried about ruining) and Annabeth by his side, holding his hand.

Overall, it had been good. The entire thing had been premeditated by Annabeth, who had started off the interview explaining how they wanted to go public on their own terms instead of someone else leaking it, but that they still wished to keep their personal lives private.

Percy had also kept to his premeditated script, saying he’s a barista from New York, and shifting the dialogue (as Annabeth called it) to their meeting.

After the interview Annabeth had given him a big hug and told him it was a success.

But then…..oh then, came The Notifications™.

As if he didn’t already spend too much time on his phone, he’s been glued to it all weekend.

“It’s going to be rough,” Annabeth had said with the same worried face that she had when the talk about going public had come up a month ago.

And Percy knows, right, he’s been in the service industry and knows how people can be jerks. He knows there’s going to be backlash.

Maybe that’s why Annabeth had rented a beach house far down the coast and been by his side constantly the past two days.

He glances over at her, leaning back on her comfy wicker chair with her feet propped, reading a book. As if she can tell he’s looking at her, she puts down her book and turns to face him.

“What’s up?’

Her long legs look golden in the sunlight filtering through the light curtains and she’s practically glowing with the beach air wafting through the open window.

Long story short, she looks beautiful.

Focusing his brain from the detour it took to admire her, he shakes his head.

“Nothing…just wondering how I got here.”

She picks up her cup of tea from the table beside her. “What do you mean?”

Leaning back against the headboard of the bed, he stares at the high planked ceiling.

“I don’t know…just everything. I mean for one, I’ve never seen so many pictures of myself…even my mom’s albums would have a tough time competing…actually, they might still win now that I think about it.”

Annabeth chuckles at that. And while it’s true his mom has an absurd amount of pictures, him and Annabeth have been plastered a fair amount on various articles and social media. He’d kept his Instagram private, but his Twitter hadn’t stopped blowing up.

“And I’ve never had this many people talk or…speculate about me.” He drops his gaze from the ceiling to once again land on her. “Like, it’s the most hate I’ve ever gotten…”

The inevitable comments on him being a gold digger, though expected, had been hard to see. It stung a little to think people thought he was anything other than hopelessly in love with his girlfriend.

But no one had been more pissed than Annabeth and it had taken kisses from him to distract her.

He sees the same anger and worry start to flare up now, her eyebrows already creasing together, and rushes to complete his thought.

“But it’s also the most support I’d gotten.”

Luckily, an overwhelming majority of Annabeth’s fans had been super supportive of them. One picture in particular, one of them standing at the red carpet staring into each other’s eyes, had gone viral and “Percabeth” (as people were dubbing them) had been number one on trending for a whole day.

So many people not only calling them cute, but also describing him as hot. Percy had almost laughed out loud when he’d first read comments gushing about how attractive he was. (Take that, Nancy Bobofit, who called him ugly in middle school.)

“It’s just really crazy I guess, I never expected this from my life.”

He really should write a memoir. Other people need to know how almost comically absurd his life is now. (It would start with riding the subway to school every day.)

Annabeth sits up in her chair, still wearing the frown from earlier.

“Do you regret it?”

She asks calmly enough, but he can see the worry behind her eyes and the fear creep into her tone. He slides off the bed and walks to her, sitting on the footstool she’d been propping her feet on a second ago.

“Not at all.”

Reaching for her hand, he raises it to her lips, keeping eye contact. She needs to know that he’d take it all if it means he gets to be with her.

The day after the interview, Annabeth had told him to pick out a picture of them to post on her Instagram. And though it had immediately become her most liked picture, it wasn’t just fan service. The smile on her face when she posted it had made Percy’s heart melt even more.

Because the truth is, despite everything, it feels so good to call her his in front of the whole world.

Annabeth smiles, pulling their intertwined hands close to her and resting her cheek against them.

“Good.”

His phone vibrates and he can’t help but look over. Annabeth smiles, amusedly. “Who is it?”

He reaches for the device, unlocking it with a swipe. “My mom.”

“What’s she saying?”

He smiles as he reads the text. “That her friends are blowing up about this.”

Annabeth chuckles. “Don’t worry, it’ll blow over soon.”

Almost automatically, he opens up Twitter. It’s become a bad habit over the past two days.  “Well, we have been trending for a while…”

His sentence veers off as he checks the trending tab. Number one this morning had been a kpop star whose birthday was today and “Percabeth” had been second.

But now number one was…Jogan Paul, who had apparently been caught in some money laundering scheme and become the center of all public outrage. Number two was still the kpop star and number three was #ultranatural.

“Percabeth” was nowhere to be found.

“You’re right…we’re not trending anymore, some other guy, Jogan did a—”

“Money laundering scheme?” Annabeth finishes and he looks up from his phone to see her smile over her tea.

“Yeah…everyone’s talking about him….and then it’s a k—”

“Kpop idol? Yeah, it’s P-Dawn’s birthday,” Annabeth finishes again.

Percy stares at her.

Annabeth, after posting the Instagram photo, hadn’t checked her phone almost all weekend, letting him look at everything going on.

So how could she know all this? He’s pretty sure she hasn’t checked her phone in hours, instead working her way though her book.

“Yeah…” he continues, still confused. “So we’re not trending anymore. This Jogan guy really messed stuff up…”

Annabeth shrugs, still smiling. “That’s how it goes, people move on from things quickly.”

He nods. He knows this. And personally he’s glad that they’re not the main topic of conversation now. It feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. He puts down his phone with a smile.

“Yeah, it’s fortunate that this guy messed up, really took the eyes off of us.”

Of course, not all the eyes. Annabeth’s fans will still talk about it, but now the media has something juicer to report on.

“Yeah, fortunate,” Annabeth repeats, lifting her cup again to take a sip, but she can’t hide her smile.

Something about this feels…

“Did you know about this?”

Annabeth just takes a sip of her tea.

Peering over the cup, she replies sweetly, “Did you know the season finale of Ultranatural is on tonight?”

And that’s all the answer he needs.

(So he naturally responds by picking her up and tossing her in bed, letting her laughs bounce off the high ceilings as he wraps her in a hug, thinking that there needs to be a whole chapter in his memoir about just how smart his girlfriend is.)

A/N: As I said in the beginning, this is the continuation to the last chapter in the how to handle fame series. Thank you for sending in the prompt! It’s been a popular one and I had a whole storyline for it (though I did include the insta pic :)

When I came up with this plotline I just couldn’t get the idea out of my head that Annabeth would totally mastermind the entire thing and make sure that their relationship didn’t get too much heat.

Plus, let’s be real, news moves fast, and their relationship, while a big thing, isn’t the only thing going on the world for people to talk about. And stories that spark outrage blow up more than two people dating, so I tried to keep this as realistic as I could.

Part of the reason it’s taken so long for this is because I truly wasn’t sure the best way to tackle this whole thing while still staying true to reality as best I could. So when I thought of the Annabeth planning out this whole thing I thought it was fun and cute and went for it. I mean this entire series has taken off in a way I had truly never imagined.

A lot of people had requested the whole going public thing and how it would play out, so I really hope you guys liked this! (And thank you anon for sending in the prompt I used to post this :)

(Also a lot of references to things that have happened semi-recently so lmk if you’ve figured them out, not that they’re that hard lol)

#percy and annabeth #percabeth #percabeth fic #percabeth au #actress annabeth #barista percy

[hurricanery]

If You Went Away - pt. 7

A/N: This is the last full chapter of If You Went Away. I might do a little epilogue that showcases a bit of a timelapse of the next few years- but this is it! This is the end! Thank you so much for all of the support while posting this story, it really means the world to me and it was so much fun to write, even though it was a lil dark here and there.

Other parts here: part 1 // part 2 // part 3 // part 4 // part 5 // part 6

Please continue to send prompts for things you want to read in the future. I am already planning to post part 1 of something really fun in the next day or so! <3

_______

(present day)

“Can we run the potentials again, please?” Amelia’s voice permeates through the operating room, and her eyes shift to the side briefly, in time with her request.

“Motor and sensory signals look good, Dr. Shepherd.”

Amelia breathes a sigh, grateful that her surgical mask muffles it. She was usually so confident in her OR. She never faltered. Never led anyone onto her stress, if she could help it.

“There’s so much bone fragment here,” she mutters to herself, but also to the resident across from her. “This part of the vertebrae was totally crushed, we have to, we should make sure….wait!”

The resident completely stops what he’s doing, his retractors coming to a halt over the open spine they are currently operating on.

“Hold off,” Amelia stares below, eyes shifting as she racks her brain for ways to move forward.

After another moment, the impatient resident clears his throat. And Amelia glares up at him before she speaks.

“Can we page ortho?” She decides, but then determines she wants to be more specific. “Er, actually, just page Dr. Lincoln directly, I mean.”

“On it, Dr. Shepherd.”

_______

Having Link across from her during surgery immediately eases some of the stress. He moves with a hopeful confidence that influences her own, and moves with her almost flawlessly.

Along with the sense of ease Amelia feels, the ease that she associates with Link’s surgical process, other feelings start to rise. And she tries to suppress them. The personal feelings. The sudden pulse-quickening feelings. The realization that she’d woken up next to him this morning and didn’t feel totally suffocated by what that meant. His eyes meet hers over the operating table briefly and Amelia is instantly transported back to this morning.

She’d woken up before her alarm. Which seemed strange. She’d anticipated a harsh and unwanted interruption to her sleep, especially after a stressful weekend at Link’s parents’ wedding. She laid awake in bed and let the weekend sink in. The way that night had ended. And Link’s sleepy statements.

She rolled over to face him, and then unashamedly watched the morning light hit his face as he snored softly. She even smiled to herself. Until her quiet moment was suddenly interrupted by the iPhone alarm blaring next to her.

She gathered herself quickly. Dropped the smile. Let her face fall. As Link’s eyes adjusted to hers.

The same eyes that now hold her gaze in the OR.

“This is the part that’s tough,” she composes herself quickly, eyes focused. “See how it’s crushed right here-”

“Yeah, alright. Let me get in there. See what I can do,” he offers, and he watches how Amelia’s eyes widen in warning. “I won’t let anything shift,” he adds, complete assurance evident in his voice.

Amelia nods. And Link goes to work. His hands just as careful as his tone.

_______

“Thanks for operating with me,” Amelia turns her head to the side, glancing at Link as they stand side by side, scrubbing out of surgery.

“Of course,” Link smiles, “Any chance to work on a spine? I’m all for it. Plus, I love seeing you operate.”

Amelia blushes, rolling her eyes in disbelief.

“No really,” he adds. “Neuro is so beyond me, Amelia. I don’t know how you do it.”

“Okay,” she steps away from the sink, her voice cracking a bit as she avoids the compliment. She clears her throat. “I’ll go pick up Scout? And head home? God, I’m so tired….I can’t wait to get home.”

She moves towards the door, but Link quickly follows after her, catching the door and slipping out into the hallway right behind her.

“Wait, Amelia.”

She turns around, glancing at him almost impatiently.

“I….might have asked Meredith to pick up Scout.”

“....And why would you do that?” Her eyebrows pull together, and a surprised laugh escapes her mouth.

“I wanted to take you to dinner….remember?”

Amelia swallows, her face falling as the realization hits. She thought he’d be the one not to remember this half-asleep proposition.

“Like….right now?” Her surprised expression turns more stunned.

“I, uh. Yeah, so….Meredith is picking up Scout. She has Bailey too. She’s going back to our place to watch them while we get dinner.”

Amelia blinks, taking in this information. “You….planned all this?”

“Yes.”

Amelia glances around the relatively empty hallway that they’re still standing right in the center of.

“I had back-to-back surgeries just now, I’m…” She shakes her head. “I kind of just wanted to go home.”

“Dinner and then home?” He lets himself sound hopeful.

“I don’t know….” she starts stepping back, away from him. Ready to turn around and resume her route to the attendings lounge. But then her stomach growls, loudly, just as Link steps into pace with her. Giving her away completely. And Link smiles. Hugely.

“You can’t tell me you’re not hungry now.”

_______

They haven’t been to Angelini’s in over a year. It feels foreign to be sitting across from each other in the dimly-lit Italian restaurant.

But it is their favorite spot. And Amelia is hungry. So she swallows her fears and decides to let the evening play out however it will.

“I have to say…” Link starts the conversation in a playful manner. “I was pretty nervous before this, so, thanks so much for meeting me.”

“Meeting you?” Amelia stifles a laugh. “You drove me here.”

“This is a first date, remember?” Link hangs his head low, and leans forward, his muttering tone reflects the act he’s putting on. “Just play along.”

Amelia frowns, and then the waiter approaches to get their order. They order their usual. Which is always two different pastas to share, salad, and endless bread. When the waiter steps away, the conversation picks back up.

“I said I wanted to start over, right? So think of this like a first date.”

“Wow,” Amelia sighs, stifling another surprised laugh. “You really meant it.”

“I did.”

His tone is more serious now and Amelia gazes at him, deciding whether or not she’s up for this. Her next words surprise her.

“I haven’t been on a first date in ages, so. You’ll have to remind me how this goes.”

Link’s eyes light up, and he breaks out into a soft grin. The waiter approaches with their basket of bread and a couple of small salads get placed in front of them. They express their ‘thank yous’ and then turn back to each other.

“Okay, so. First date questions, right?” Link offers.

“I think we already know the basics,” Amelia grins, biting her lip, trying to think of anything she doesn’t already know about the father of her child.

“There’s always more to learn….” He trails off, thinking. “Okay new game!” He exclaims rather loudly. And Amelia almost chokes on her sparkling water before she sets it back down. “Let’s play 20 questions! I think I can come up with 20 things I don’t already know about you….or, more like, things I want more detail on.”

Amelia raises her eyebrows at this, reaching for a piece of bread as means of deflecting.

“I didn’t hear a ‘no,’ so,” Link watches her as she bites into the bread. “I’ll ask first.”

She’s feeling that pulse-racing again. Along with the thump in her heart. And she doesn’t know where it comes from.

“What’s your favorite color?”

And then her heart rate slows a bit. Relieved at the question. Because this was going to be easy, if this was the route the questions were going to take.

“You don’t know my favorite color?” She questions back.

“I could guess, but no, I don’t think I know for sure.”

She stares back at him for a moment, his bright-eyed gaze holding hers. The candle on the table flickers between them, highlighting the gentleness of his blue orbs.

“Blue,” she mutters, immediately looking down at her salad.

And Link watches her drop her similarly captivating stare. “Mine too,” he admits, then goes in for a bite of salad.

Amelia clears her throat. It was her turn for a question.

“Do you wish you had siblings?”

Link swallows his food, nodding. “I did….when I was a kid. I wished every day that I had siblings. Now? Not so much.”

Amelia nods solemnly, as her own disdain about adult siblings comes to mind.

“Dream vacation?” The questions are coming faster now.

“Paris,” she shrugs, but then glances around the restaurant. “Or anywhere in Italy. Favorite movie?”

“Batman.”

“I knew that, actually,” she laughs, genuinely enjoying herself.

Link nods, thinking of his next question as Amelia finishes up her salad.

“Biggest fear?”

Amelia’s eyes widen, and once again she finds it hard to swallow her food without struggling a bit.

“We’re getting that deep already?” She mutters. “On the first date?”

Link just nods, raising his eyebrows at her.

“Are we allowed to….skip questions?”

Link’s eyes narrow at this. But he decides to lighten up a bit. “Fine, you get one skip,” he agrees.

“Thank you,” she mumbles, moving onto her own question. “Dream job? Besides your current one?”

“Dream job besides head of ortho at Grey Sloan….?” He verifies the question.

She nods.

“I don’t know….I already have both of my dream jobs. I love the ortho department here….and I love the work I’ve done with the Mariners. I don’t have another dream job. These jobs….are the dream,” he shrugs.

Amelia sucks in a breath, setting down her fork and biting the inside of her cheek.

“Okay, my turn again….” Link continues, not catching on to Amelia’s reaction to his answer. “What’s your-”

“What are we going to do? When the Mariners want to renew your contract this season?” Amelia interrupts Link’s question with one of her own.

Link frowns, putting down his own fork and clasping his hands together. “Is that….your question for the game? We’re switching turns now?”

Amelia just stares at him.

“Do I get to skip a question, too? Or?”

She shakes her head slowly.

“Alright…” He mutters. “I think….we’ll worry about that when it happens. That’s really all I can answer for now.”

And now she nods.

“Do I get a turn now?” Link questions, uncertain of the rules now.

Amelia offers another hesitant nod.

“How will you feel….if I get offered another contract?”

Amelia reaches for her drink and takes a sip, actively prolonging her answer.

“You don’t get another skip,” he adds.

She sets her glass back down. “I know. And my answer is….we’ll worry about that when it happens….” she smirks, repeating his words from a moment ago.

“That’s not-”

“Hey,” she interrupts. “That’s my answer! And I’ll let you have another turn, since I stole yours.”

Link shakes his head, grinning.

“Deal,” his smile grows wider, and he wiggles his eyebrows up and down a bit. “What’s your favorite thing about me?”

Amelia rolls her eyes, trying to suppress her urge to smile back at him. “My favorite thing about you….” She trails off, her eyes zoning in on another area of the restaurant. “My favorite thing about you, is the fact that you brought me here….because I think that’s our waiter heading this way with the pasta, and I simply could not be more excited for that….”

Link huffs out a laugh, watching as Amelia’s eyes follow the path their dinner makes to the table.

_______

They get home about an hour and a half later. Their arrival coincidentally causes Scout and Bailey, who currently occupy the length of the couch, to stir from sleep. The muted TV provides a dim light to the living room, and they try to be as quiet as possible as they let the light guide them to the coat closet.

“Hello?” Scout’s tired voice pipes up from the couch, just as Amelia and Link make their presence known.

“Hey guys,” Link whispers as the boys begin to sit all the way up.

Meredith enters the living room then, too. “How was dinner?”

“You guys went to dinner?!” Scout looks between his parents curiously, a drowsy edge to his voice still.

Amelia laughs under her breath. And Link offers to take Scout to bed.

“And I'm going to head out,” Meredith states, as she watches Bailey practically succumb to sleep again on the couch.

“Thanks so much, Mer,” Amelia voices her gratitude, as Link helps Scout toward the stairs and Meredith leads Bailey to the door.

Amelia stands in the hallway, smiling to herself as the two pairs make their exits.

A moment later, Scout’s small voice can be heard from the top of the stairs.

“Mom looks happy,” he says simply. Sleepily, but simply. Like the observation should be obvious.

Amelia’s face quickly falls. Her smile is replaced with a look of shock, following her son’s perceptiveness. Meredith turns to her, from where she’s almost out the door, and raises her eyebrows at Amelia knowingly.

And before Meredith can say anything, Amelia is moving towards the door, ready to shut it behind her sister. “Goodnight, Meredith,” she says pointedly.

The next thing she hears is Meredith’s giggle from the porch outside. It mixes in with the sound of Link’s dumbfounded chuckle from the top of the stairs.

Amelia groans, deflecting the grin that wants to overcome her face.

She drops heavily onto the couch as she listens to the sound of Mer’s car pull away. Link descends the staircase a few minutes later. He takes in Amelia’s relaxed position against the cushions and collapses down next to her.

“He fell asleep the second his head hit the pillow,” Link laughs.

And Amelia hums appreciatively, turning to him. “Thank you for dinner tonight,” she mumbles. “I’m glad you planned it.”

“Of course,” he responds wholeheartedly.

A brief silence falls between them, and Link thinks they could almost fall asleep right there, with the post Italian food coma threatening to overcome them both.

He shifts a little bit, leaning closer to Amelia on the couch. And she opens one eye, peering at him curiously.

“I know this is a long shot,” there’s a slight seriousness to his words. “First date and all…” he trails off, and Amelia now opens both eyes, becoming fully focused on whatever he’s about to say.

“What’s your stance on sharing a bed on the first date?”

And then the mocking tone finally registers for her, and she fails to suppress her giggle. She reaches over and smacks him on the shoulder playfully.

“You’re too much,” she rolls her eyes.

“I know,” Link chuckles, standing up from the couch. He reaches a hand out to Amelia, offering to pull her up from her position on the couch. “But let’s go to bed.”

Amelia stares up at him, biting down on her smirk. She clasps her hand around his.

_______

(6 months later)

It feels like déjà vu. Like she’s lived through this situation before. An entire year after the previous summer, it’s like clockwork. The same situation once again.

Link huffs out a sigh as he grabs the last of the luggage, adding it to the pile in the front hallway.

“Where’s Scout?” Amelia mutters, entering the small space by the door.

“He’s upstairs, he’s almost ready.”

“Did he pack his new baseball mitt?”

“Yup, he’s got it,” Link offers a small smile.

And then their overly-excited, now 6-year-old, is running down the stairs, already dressed in his baseball uniform.

“Scout,” Amelia laughs, “You have to sit through a pretty long drive. You sure that’s what you want to be wearing? How about something more comfortable?”

Scout shakes his head profusely, barely able to stand still. “No, no! I don’t wanna change!”

Amelia sighs, reaching forward to ruffle his hair. Scout steps away from her touch, the additional year to his age consequently resulting in some impatience at her affections.

“Want to help me finish loading up the car, bud?” Link asks.

Scout nods enthusiastically, following his Dad outside.

The house is quiet now, and Amelia listens to the distant sounds of her son babbling excitedly outside. It feels so nostalgic. Like it’s happened before. Like déjà vu, a feeling rises in her chest as she listens to the car start up. She listens for their voices to get closer, and for their footsteps to clamber onto the porch. And then, moments later, Link re-enters the house with Scout trailing behind him.

“You all packed up?” Amelia asks Scout, a familiar edge to her voice.

“Yep!” Scout replies, his energy radiating in an almost contagious way.

“Okay, then. Guess it’s time to go,” Amelia states.

It’s familiar. But different.

“Where’s your suitcase, Mom?”

The same. But so, so different.

“I put it in the car, bud,” Link chimes in, eyes shifting to Amelia. “We ready?”

Amelia nods, glancing around the house to make sure everything is set. Set for Link and Scout to be gone for the summer. And set for Amelia to be gone, too. Because she was going, this time. Travelling to the away games every other weekend. This weekend being the first of many.

They lock up the house and climb into the car. Link drives as Amelia sits passenger side. Scout can be heard from the back seat, chatting eagerly about the games he’s looking forward to the most.

Amelia smiles to herself, glancing out the window as she listens to Scout. She feels a hand come to rest on her knee and she turns to Link, her smile growing wider as she takes in his expression.

“Thank you,” he whispers, squeezing her knee, eyes shifting back to the road. He eventually removes his hand, so that both of his palms can occupy the steering wheel again as they continue to the airport.

“Link,” Amelia matches his whisper. She keeps her eyes on him. Watching him as he watches the road. “We always fight for our dreams, right?”

Some sort of emotion waves across his features. And Amelia notices the way he tries to blink away the sudden glassiness in his eyes. She can’t quite place the reaction he’s having. But then he looks at her again, briefly. And all Amelia can see is loving.

//

Another A/N: thank u thank u thank u for getting all the way here! means THE WORLD TO ME u don’t even know. Hopefully this story came full circle enough <3 I loved writing it sm!

#amelink #amelink fanfic #amelinkfic #amelia shepherd #atticus lincoln #amelia x link #greys anatomy fanfic #greys anatomy fic #grey's anatomy fanfic #grey's anatomy fic #my writing #meredith grey

[cutieodonoghue]

the edge of hope (5/9)

summary: canon divergent au; when Din left Sorgan to protect the Child, he left the woman he’d fallen in love with, not knowing he’d also left behind something else. Or, Omera and Winta join Mando and Grogu on their season 2 adventures. Mandomera!

Catch up here: 1, 2, 3, 4

Fifth chapter below the cut or on AO3!

The Siege

The Razor Crest felt full. 

Omera and Winta provided a constant soundtrack to the otherwise relatively quiet ship, talking back and forth about any and all things. Inside Winta’s mind, there seemed to be an endless pool of questions that she could ask about literally anything at all. Her favorite one, regardless of topic, seemed to be, “Why?”

In the past, Din might have gotten annoyed. He might have sequestered himself away from all of the questions and conversation, but instead, he noticed himself becoming more invested in what Winta wondered about.

They sat in the cockpit together while they traveled. Winta liked the chairs because they were “bouncy and fun”, but Din preferred it because it kept the endlessly curious children out of trouble in the cargo hold.

The Child sat in Omera’s lap, as he had for much of the journey already toward Nevarro. While Winta asked another question, Din focused on Omera.

Something had changed. On Trask, they’d become closer, with lingering touches and heart-to-heart discussions murmured in the quiet room at the inn. Now, when he caught her looking at him, there was a feeling in the very pit of his belly that felt like fire.

Part of him wished that they could be alone, so that they could have a few minutes to talk about what would happen after they found the Jedi, but there was a special comfort in sharing time together with the children.

“Din, do you think I could go down into the cargo hold?” Winta wondered. “I think it’s time to stretch my legs.”

Din looked at the girl and nodded. “Just don’t get into anything.”

Winta grinned. She hopped up out of her chair and swiftly made her way out of the cockpit, down the ladder, and into the hold below.

Omera met his gaze. She smiled a little at him. “I’m sorry for the endless questions. Winta’s at an age of wanting to learn about everything she can.”

“It’s okay. We have time to kill.”

She hummed and looked down at the Child in her lap. She took his fingers when he extended them outward to her. Then, looking back up at Din, she asked, “Are you hungry? I can make us something to eat.”

“You don’t have to do that. I can-”

Both of them stood at the same time, practically standing on top of each other. Omera laughed, peering up at him with softness in her gaze.

Din’s heart skipped a beat. He swallowed.

“Uh… I can go make sure Winta doesn’t get into my weapons… if you...”

She nodded minutely. “Okay.”

They continued to stand there, toe-to-toe, unwilling to move. He heard the Child make a noise, but didn’t look at him when Omera did.

“Do you want to help me?” she asked the boy. “When Winta was a baby, I had a piece of fabric I used to swaddle her against me so that I could work.”

Suddenly, he couldn’t get the vision out of his head. Omera and a baby Winta. 

“I have something you can use.” 

Omera smiled and her eyes brightened. “That’s right. You do. I saw it on Tatooine.”

Din nodded. “I’ll go get it. Wait here.”

Swiftly, he made his way out of the cockpit and dropped down to the hold below. Instantly, he saw Winta sitting on the floor with an opened crate, plucking things out and examining them with twisted lips and a curious lifted brow.

“What’s this?” she asked him.

It seemed she’d found his crate of useless odds and ends. Some of it was junk given to him along his travels. Some of it once had a purpose.

Winta held in her hands a glowrod. She flipped it on, the light nearly blinding her. In surprise, she shut it off again.

“It’s a flashlight. You use it when it’s dark.”

She tilted her head as she studied it. “Cool.”

He smiled a little as he went to snag the fabric he used as a sling for the Child. As he stepped back toward the ladder, he said, “Careful. There’s some sharp stuff in there.”

“I’m being careful.”

He sighed softly. “Just making sure.”

With practice, he quickly scaled the ladder and returned to the cockpit. Omera still stood with the Child in her arms, scrunching up her nose as she made faces at him. At Din’s arrival, she turned and grinned at him.

“Did you find it?”

He held out the fabric for her to take. 

“It’s been a while since I’ve done this.” Omera thoughtfully pulled the fabric away from him. 

She carefully wrapped the Child within it before she slipped it on over her head and allowed it to hang over one shoulder, then tied off the excess fabric at her side.

“There we go.” She lifted a hand to the Child’s back and faced Din. “What do you think?”

There were a few things that came to mind right away. A few things that he might be embarrassed to admit thinking about, like the vision he had of Omera with a baby in her wrap that wasn’t the Child or Winta.

“Looks… good.”

Omera laughed at the awkwardness of his answer. She stepped closer to him. “We’ll go make something to eat.”

“The galley is…”

“I’m well acquainted.” Omera teased. Before he could feel stupid for trying to give her directions, she pushed up onto her toes and kissed the cheek of his helmet. “Thank you.”

“What for?”

She shook her head. “You’ve made the journey so far very easy. As hard as it’s been. I just wish… maybe we could spend more time together alone.”

He nodded in agreement. “Not a lot of room to be alone on the Crest.”

“Not with the kids.” Omera smiled. She reached up and soothed one of the Child’s ears between two fingers. “Maybe we’ll have the chance soon.”

His heart skipped a beat even at the thought of spending time alone with her. Maybe then he could ask her about the secret he knew she was keeping from him. Maybe then he could tell her that he wanted them to stay together when this journey was finished.

“I would like that.”

Omera laughed gently and bit down on her lip, lifting her eyebrows. “The last time we were alone…”

Din laughed with her. “Yeah.” 

They stared at one another for a beat. The Child cooed, reminding each of them of the task at hand.

“I should go. I doubt it will take very long.”

Din tilted his head toward the door. “Go ahead. I’ll keep an eye on Winta.”

Omera smiled at that, lingering for a second like she had something else she wanted to say, but she turned away instead. With Omera in the galley, Din dropped down below once more to see what Winta was up to.

She still sat on the floor, but now more pieces of junk were on the ground at her side as she analyzed each one thoughtfully. He folded his arms to his chest as he slowly approached her.

Winta didn’t look up right away, but when she did, she smiled. “I haven’t hurt myself. I’m being careful.”

“What are you doing with all of that?”

She looked at the junk on the ground. “I’m trying to make a game.”

“A game?”

Winta bobbed her head and went back to searching the crate at her side. “I’m looking for more flat things first.”

Din watched her cautiously, but refused to sit. He didn’t want her to hurt herself by accident.

Over the course of their journey together, he and Winta had become almost friends, if it were possible. He was constantly unsure of how to treat her, but she didn’t seem to care. She knew exactly how to treat him: with kindness, just like her mother did.

After a few minutes of analysis, accompanied by a song hummed beneath her breath, Winta looked up at him again.

“Din, what are these?” She held out in her palm a pair of dice.

He tilted his head. “You’ve never seen dice before?”

Winta shook her head innocently. She looked at the dice in her palm. “What do you do with them?”

Din shrugged. “They’re used in games. Sometimes people bet credits on them.”

The girl considered his words. “Why?”

He opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted when Omera landed on the lower level with the meal she’d prepared in her arm. 

“Anyone hungry?”

The Child, from his perch in the fabric wrapped around her, cooed, and Winta bounced up onto her feet. Quickly, she went to help Omera, abandoning the open crate and the trinkets on the floor.

“What did you make?” Winta asked.

“It’s just broth. Not very many ingredients to get creative.” Omera smiled at her daughter. “But it will fill us up.”

Once the broth was ladled out between all four bowls, Din took the Child to sit opposite Winta and Omera. The bowl was warm in his hands and smelled appetizing, but he wouldn’t drink it yet. He’d wait for them to return to the cockpit before indulging his hunger.

Sitting like they were, gathered together for a meal, he couldn’t help thinking about the future again. It was a comforting thought to have that they might get to share many more meals together.

“What have you been doing down here?” Omera asked. She looked down at the floor, where Winta had discarded the game she’d made.

“I was playing a game.” Winta smiled. “Din told me about dice.” She held the pair of dice up for Omera to see. “He said people bet credits on them sometimes.”

Omera hummed in confirmation. “We don’t gamble in our village. It might be fun if you had nothing better to do, but I’ve never been brave enough.” She gestured for Winta’s bowl. “Drink up. Din can’t eat if we keep talking so much.”

Winta sipped her broth just briefly. Her eyes twinkled. “I can’t wait until we get home. I’ll have so many stories to tell my friends. Like about the dragon on Tatooine, or the Frog Lady…”

“I’m sure your friends will love to hear all about our adventures.” Omera smiled fondly. “But-”

“But I need to drink my broth first.” Winta sighed. “I know…”

Omera laughed while the girl smiled into her bowl of broth. Beside Din, the Child giggled. He wasn’t sure if it was because Omera and Winta were laughing, or if it was because he found what Winta said to be funny.

“Din, do you have any stories about your adventures?” Winta asked, cocking her head to the side.

He couldn’t help but smile at the girl’s ferocious appetite for conversation. “Erm… I don’t know…”

“Aww...” Winta pouted. “But you have to have good stories to tell. That’s the number one rule for being a dad.”

Omera just about choked on her broth, her eyes growing wide. “Winta.”

Winta shrugged her shoulders playfully. “What will he tell the Child when he’s older?”

Sighing softly, Omera shook her head. “I’m sure when the Child is older, Din will have plenty of stories.”

For a moment, mother and daughter stared at one another. Winta quirked an eyebrow and bit down on her lower lip. Omera glared back at her, skilled at keeping the girl’s mouth shut with just one look.

“Mama has something to tell you,” Winta blurted out. She giggled and turned to Din. Her eyes were bright with a secret untold. 

Din cocked his head to the side as his stomach flipped in surprise. He knew she did. But hearing Winta say so surprised him. 

“She does?”

Winta bobbed her head. She hopped up onto her feet and rushed away, fleeing the scene and Omera’s mildly frustrated glare in lieu of going back up to the cockpit.

Din looked down at his bowl of broth, then at the Child, who hadn’t touched his broth either. 

With a wry smirk, Din finally looked at Omera. “Do you really have something to tell me, or was Winta just saying so to get out of having to drink her broth?”

Omera laughed through her nose. She hesitated for a moment with her thoughts, her smile softening substantially, then nodded.

“I do have something to tell you, but I don’t think right now is the best time.”

His eyes narrowed. Was she talking about the secret he’d seen hiding in her eyes? Or something different? Did it have something to do with what Winta had been crying about the other night?

“When would be the best time?”

She took a deep breath and sighed heavily. “I don’t know.”

Din nodded. “We should be arriving to Nevarro soon. Once we get everything squared away with the ship, maybe we can ask someone to watch the kids. We could spend some time alone. Maybe… you could tell me then?”

Omera didn’t respond right away, clearly made nervous by the idea, but smiled at him anyway. 

“Okay.”

With a frown, Din lamented how unsure she seemed. Was it about him? Maybe she was sick, or dying. Maybe she had moved on with someone else, and being here with him on the Crest was her way of trying to close out their chapter in her life. Maybe it was simpler than that: maybe she did love him.

The thoughts were enough to drive him up a wall, so he stuffed them away. 

Omera stood and left without another word, leaving him with the Child and a full bowl of broth.

Turning to the boy, he lifted his bowl upwards. The Child echoed the movement. 

Curious, he tilted his helmet up slightly, just enough to eat, and swallowed a sip of the broth. The Child did the same, peering up at him with those big eyes of his.

Din laughed through his nose. Seemed like the kid just wanted to play with him. He didn’t mind. As long as he wasn’t fully exposing his face, he still kept his creed. 

A deep fondness for the Child washed over him as he lowered the bowl away, having just enjoyed another taste of the broth. The kid’s ears quirked and he stared back at him: curious, happy.

A forbidden thought entered his mind not for the first time since starting on this journey. Maybe it would be best for the Child to stay with him. Maybe they would be a clan of two and he could raise him in the Way. Maybe he didn’t have to become a Jedi.

Sorrow followed the thought, dampening the way his heart soared with warmth at the companionship he shared with the small boy.

He was his father, and he always would be. That would have to be enough.

-

When the Razor Crest landed on the planet of Nevarro, it was with some difficulty. The ship had been patched together, but only just, and it struggled to make the landing as smooth as it had in the past. 

The ramp they used to step off of the ship and down onto the planet’s surface deployed only halfway. Winta giggled when the ramp wouldn’t lower any further. Omera held her hand, following after Din and the Child.

“It’s really broken, Mama.”

Omera smiled. “I don’t think the Mandalorian would appreciate you laughing about his ship being broken.”

Din glanced over his shoulder at them. “I can hear every word you’re saying.”

Winta winced and recoiled, curling into Omera just slightly. “Sorry!”

Omera couldn’t help but laugh when Din gave a responding chuckle. She squeezed on her daughter's hand.

“He’s teasing us, my love.” 

Winta relaxed instantly with a relieved sigh.

Just ahead of them on the ground stood one familiar face and an unfamiliar one. It was a surprise to see Cara Dune, the former shock trooper, with her tattoos and tough exterior, who had helped liberate their village from the raiders.

They’d spent a fair amount of time together on Sorgan, over cups of spotchka in the evenings and stories exchanged about their lives long ago. 

The man standing beside Cara spoke to Din, “Looks like someone could use some repairs.”

Din got to the edge of the fully outward extended ramp and dropped down on it to slide off. Once on the ground, he stood waiting for them to reach him.

Winta went first, jumping into Din’s open arms with Omera’s help. He grunted at the brunt of her weight, a little dramatically so that Winta would laugh again, and Omera waited to take his hand on her way down.

His hands were warm and strong, two things she’d come to define Din as, and she thanked him with a smile once she stood on flat earth.

Finally on the ground, the party of four approached the duo that Din appeared to be friendly with. He approached the man and offered him a handshake.

“How’s my credit around here?”

The man, whose beard was a white-gray, shrugged, glancing over at Cara. “I think something could be arranged. Isn’t that right, Marshal?”

“I’m sure we can work somethin’ out.” Cara looked from Din to Omera and Winta. A smile spread on her face quickly. 

“I’ll get my best people on it.” The man turned to a couple of repairmen working nearby. “Hey, fellas! Let’s fix this man’s ship! I want it as good as new.”

Looking at them again, the man finally seemed to take notice of Omera and Winta.

“Where are my manners? Greef Karga. Magistrate of Nevarro. And this is-”

“We’ve met,” Cara cut him off. “On Sorgan. Couple of months back. It’s good to see you again, Omera. Winta, too.”

“Sorgan,” Greef repeated, lifting an eyebrow in surprise. “How’d you end up on the Razor Crest with the Mandalorian?”

Omera glanced up at Din, trying to decide how much to share. She wasn’t sure what he’d told his friends about her, or about what he was on a mission to do.

“She’s helping me on my path to find a Jedi,” Din explained. 

“Ah.” Greef nodded. “And how is the little one?” He stepped toward Din and pulled the Child from his arms as if they were old friends. He chuckled when the Child grinned at the man. “Has Mando been taking good care of you, huh?”

The Child babbled and Greef beamed from ear-to-ear. “Yeah? Yeah! He said ‘yeah!’ Oh, yeah.”

Omera held back laughter at the sight of the man, who had once seemed somewhat intimidating, having turned himself into a grandfather-figure for the boy. 

Din walked on ahead with Winta bouncing and bubbly at his side, following the Magistrate to an undiscussed location. The Mandalorian and Winta had very quickly become close. Omera was glad that her daughter had taken a liking to Din, but part of her worried that if things between she and Din didn’t end favorably, Winta might be just as hurt as Omera would be.

Things wouldn’t end poorly, though. She had faith they would make this work. If she could just be bold enough to tell him about the baby, they could decide what their next steps would be from there.

Staying behind the rest of the group, Omera lingered back with Cara. 

“It’s been a while. How are you?”

Cara smiled at her, lifting a teasing brow. “I could ask you the same thing. You and Mando… what’s going on there? Somehow I doubt you’re actually just traveling buddies.”

Omera felt her cheeks get hot. She laughed under her breath, embarrassed, and shook her head as she gazed after Din. He held onto Winta’s hand as he chatted with her, gesturing outward to the town’s landscape.

She felt content with the fact that they were traveling together just because they wanted to. It hadn’t been a mistake to join Din on this journey. In fact, they’d grown closer because of it.

If nothing else would come of this journey, she and Winta would have plenty of stories of adventure to tell for years to come.

“He came to Sorgan and asked if we would come with him. I agreed.” She met Cara’s gaze. “I thought Winta would like the adventure, and she has. So far.”

Cara eyed her briefly, a smirk resting on her lips. For a second, Omera wondered if Cara had figured the whole thing out without needing a second glance. 

“And does he know about your pregnancy?”

Her eyes widened in surprise and she felt herself reach to cover her middle, as if it would do her any good at all. “How did you-?”

“Relax,” Cara kept her voice low, “it’s not exactly obvious, but… you’re glowing. You have a little bump. You’re traveling with that hunk of a man. I took a chance.” She paused. “He doesn’t know?”

Omera shook her head. “If he did, I don’t think we would be here.”

Cara hummed thoughtfully. She looked on ahead, at the Mandalorian’s figure. “Look at him. He’s got the whole dad thing down already.”

“You assume it’s his,” Omera retorted, quirking an eyebrow in defense.

Her companion shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah, well, the timeline adds up. I saw the way you were together on Sorgan. I get it. Tough to picture him taking any of that off, but… hey, I won’t judge.”

Omera rolled her eyes, her cheeks now fully inflamed. She watched the Mandalorian with her daughter. Winta giggled at something Din must have said and swung his hand back and forth.

“I need to tell him. I just haven’t found the right moment.”

“Trust me, Omera. Just tell him. Doesn’t matter when, or how. He’ll find his way through. Might shock him, but he won’t have a complete meltdown. Not who he is.”

Nodding, Omera smiled in thanks. “I haven’t had anyone to talk to about this other than Winta, so… thank you. It’s nice to hear another perspective.”

“No problem.” Cara offered her a grin. “Congratulations. I’m sure you’re excited.”

Omera’s heart lifted. It felt so good to share her news with someone- a friend- who genuinely cared. It was different with Winta. Winta was eager to be a big sister, and could have cared less about nuances.

“I am.” She felt herself grinning wider. “I keep thinking it’s a dream… I never thought I’d have a second.” 

“And with Mando, no less. How’s that part of this going?”

Omera laughed and gave her head a shake. “We’ve hardly had any time together on our own. I almost wish we’d have the chance to leave the children somewhere safe for a little while so we could have a few minutes without worrying about them.”

Din turned, looking over his shoulder. He seemed to be begging for her help with Winta without needing to say or do a thing. Omera nodded at him in understanding.

“We should probably catch up with them before they think we’re up to something.”

When Omera and Cara caught up with the rest of the group, it was just in time for them to slow to a stop in front of a sealed door. Greef punched a code into the keypad. He still held the Child, whose ears were floppy as he tilted his head.

“I’m surprised to see this place is still standing,” Din said. “Are we sure we should be bringing the children into a bar?”

Greef shook his head. “Just wait till you see inside.”

Stepping in from the heat of the dry Nevarro desert, Omera’s eyes briefly needed to adjust to the lighting indoors. Soon, she realized that it was a school.

A protocol droid stood at the head of the class while rows of young children occupied desks, listening as best they could to the lesson. 

Omera couldn’t help but smile at the sight. Growing up, she’d been taught in schools just like this. Her heart yearned for Winta to be allowed to sit in a classroom and learn, even if she did love her school back home in the village. 

“A school?” Din kept his voice low.

“Things have changed a lot around here,” Cara replied coolly.

“We’ll leave the young ones here so we can talk business,” Greef said, nodding toward Winta at Din’s side. 

The Magistrate still held the Child in his hands, so he needed only to walk away, into the classroom with him in order to have his way. 

It made Omera a little wary that they’d leave the children in a school to talk business. Would there be any chance for she and Din to share time together at all?

Winta looked at Omera, silently asking what she should do. 

Omera nodded back at her. “Stay. Try to learn something new.”

Her daughter smiled and followed after Greef.

“Wait.” Din tried to stop the Magistrate. There was worry in his voice unmistakable, “Wherever I go, he goes.”

“Mando, please. Where we’re going, you don’t wanna take a child. Trust me.” 

Greef placed the Child into Winta’s arms at the only empty desk in the classroom. Winta settled in easily, smiling over at the children around her while she swung her feet just above the floor.

“They’ll both be fine here,” Cara said, addressing both Din and Omera. “You have my word.”

Din sighed, relenting to whatever it was that his friends wanted from him. As they walked out of the school and back into the sun, he said, “Winta, keep an eye on him.”

Winta bobbed her head and waved at them, content with the chance to sit and learn for a little while. Omera waved back, smiling at her daughter with excitement.

She walked alongside Din as Cara and Greef guided them along to a nearby building, away from the school. 

The Mandalorian gave out a sigh, one only audible to Omera. Very gently, she reached for his hand at his side, giving it a squeeze before she released him.

He snapped his focus onto her like she’d surprised him.

“He’ll be okay.”

Din sighed again. He tilted his head toward Greef, who remained within earshot. “I’m not worried about the kid.”

They were led into a building off of the main road of the Nevarro town, an unspoken plan for the Mandalorian guiding the pair’s deliberate actions. Whatever it was that Greef Karga wanted, she had the feeling that Din would now have no reason to decline. 

The office was small, with a pair of desks that were covered in equipment. Against the back wall, there were lockers and crates.

“I believe you two have met.” The Magistrate gestured to a Mythrol sitting at a desk in front of the door with eyes set on Din.

Almost instantly at the sight of the Mandalorian, the Mythrol expelled a blue mist from his head that settled like grains of sand on everything around him. 

“I’m surprised to see you here.” Din settled his hands over his belt in a way Omera thought was meant to be intimidating.

“Right back at ya.”

“Mythrol here’s taken care of my books since he was a pollywog,” Greef Karga explained. “But then he disappeared one day after a bit of ‘creative accounting.’”

“Magistrate Karga was generous enough to let me work off my debt.”

“Well, if he runs off on you again, let me know.” The Mandalorian sounded more than willing to round this particular individual up over and over again.

“Can we talk business?” Cara interrupted, walking over to a desk on the opposing wall.

Din shook his head in confusion. He glimpsed over at Omera. “We’re only here for repairs.”

“Which’ll take a while,” Greef said. “Means you’ll have free time on your hands, right? And we could really use your help.” 

Cara glanced between Omera and Din. “Both of you.”

“Help how?” the Mandalorian asked on their behalf.

Cara flipped a switch, powering on a holo map of the planet. “This is Nevarro. We’re here. This entire area’s a green zone. Completely safe." The map revealed a red area, far enough from the green zone to not interfere with day-to-day life. "But over on this side is the problem.”

“It’s an old Imperial base,” Greef supplied.

“It’s where all those troops came from when we defeated Moff Gideon,” Cara added. 

It occurred to Omera then that Moff Gideon must have been part of the fight that Din had encountered on Nevarro. He’d said he’d almost died at the hands of stormtroopers on this very planet. She wondered how it felt for him to be back again.

“This base has been here since the Imperial expansion,” Cara continued. “It’s got a skeleton crew, but for some reason, it hasn’t been abandoned.”

“There’s a lot o’ heavy weaponry in that place the black market would love to dismantle and get their hands on.”

“And you wanna mop up the last of the Imperial force before they do,” Din finished for his companions.

“Mando, I just want them off my planet,” Greef said, sounding a little irritated. “If we could take out that one last base, Nevarro would be completely safe. We could be a trade anchor for the entire sector.”

“And the planet would finally be free,” Cara added with a hint of optimism.

Cara seemed to have straightened out her priorities since the last time they saw one another. Last Omera knew, she was fighting for pay in a bar on Sorgan.

For just a few seconds as he contemplated the problem his friends faced, Din looked at Omera. 

“What do you think?”

Omera met Cara’s eyes from across the desk. They exchanged knowing smiles. “What’s our plan?”

-

The journey to the Imperial base was made in the Mythrol’s landspeeder. Din sat at her side behind Cara and Greef, and for the most part, they all kept to themselves.

She knew it was a bit reckless to go into a potentially dangerous situation like this one, but from what they’d said, the base had been mostly abandoned. With four of them armed and capable, it should be a breeze to get the job done.

There was something exciting about the idea that she was on an adventure with the Mandalorian, not having to worry about the children. She knew they worked well together. This would be another opportunity to see just how well they complemented each other.

As the Imperial base loomed closer, Omera felt Din’s fingers over her knee. Her attention turned to him and she smiled softly as she enclosed her hand over his.

She knew that he would only need a word from her to know that the situation was uncomfortable. He would take her into his arms and bring her to safety if she asked.

“Alright. Door coming up,” Cara announced. “Let’s just get in and get this done.”

Once the landspeeder slowed to a stop at the door, they all climbed out. Cara took the lead to the controls that would open the door. She groaned almost instantly.

“They’re melted. Imperial trash.”

“Probably not rated for lava,” Greef remarked, shaking his head. “I think there’s a flange cutter in the landspeeder. We could try using that.”

“Hold tight.” Din’s focus was on a landing platform just above. He took off with his jetpack and they heard the sounds of gunfire before a stormtrooper fell to the ground in front of them.

Omera looked up as the door beeped and slid open. On the landing, Din stood, waving at her. She laughed softly to herself and waved back at him.

“Well, that solved it,” Cara muttered under her breath. She gestured for Omera to follow. 

Soon, they were all in a turbolift going up, coming to a stop on the same level Din had flown up to. Omera gripped her gun a little tighter when she realized he hadn’t just had to take out one stormtrooper, but three.

“Empty base, huh?” Din asked, his voice a little tight.

They now stood on what appeared to be a landing pad for Imperial craft that led into their base. A few vehicles and crates sat covered and waiting, but there were no enemies remaining.

“The reactor should be set in the heat shaft,” Greef explained. “If we drain the cooling lines, this whole base will go up in a matter of minutes.”

Cara paused to look at one of the vehicles, half covered in a tarp, parked at the edge of the landing pad. 

“A Trexler Marauder. Might come in handy if we need to make a quick getaway.”

“It’s gonna get vaporized like the rest of this base,” Din said. He tipped his head toward the nearby entrance to the base. “Let’s go.”

They were careful, standing in pairs on each side of the blast door that led into the base. When it opened, there were no enemies standing by. They hadn’t been alerted of their arrival. It was a good sign. Maybe this would be a simple task after all.

The command room was one of the first they encountered, where one Imperial officer sat manning a security station. Cara took the lead, moving quietly toward the Imperial from behind as he tried to communicate with the shuttle bay.

Swiftly, Cara took out the officer with just one arm around his neck, dragging his unconscious body to the floor with a thud. After her, the Mandalorian went to search the security station while Greef leaned in over the body. He pulled something off of him and held it up.

“A code cylinder. This will be useful getting us into that heat shaft.”

Omera noticed Din shutting off the security camera feeds to buy their intrepid team some time as they made their way through the base to blow it up. 

Turning to them, Din said, “I found the heat shaft. Let’s go.”

All of them kept their guns drawn and their eyes and ears open as they followed Din’s lead through the corridors of the Imperial base. 

They encountered a pair of stormtroopers crossing a parallel hallway on their way to answer a call, but remained undetected when they ducked back behind the wall beyond the opening that otherwise would have revealed their crew.

“So much for getting some time alone,” Din told Omera quietly.

She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. I kind of like this.”

As a unit, they snuck through the opening that led to the parallel corridor and toward a locked door that laid just beyond.

They were able to enter via the code cylinder plucked off of the security officer, and once they stepped past one final door, there was the heat shaft. Beneath grated flooring, hot, smoldering lava sat fiery and untamed at the bottom. 

Omera turned to Greef once she spotted the reactor controls. They were built into a tower with a thin walkway that wrapped around it. 

“I’ll drain the cooling lines. Give me the cylinder.”

Greef didn’t argue, rather seeming impressed instead as he settled the tool into her hand. 

She used caution to maneuver around the walkway. The space was tight. Her belly flipped with anxiety when she glanced down at the lava below, but she grit her teeth and made it work on behalf of the team.

“Mando, where did you find this one?” Greef asked. The trio standing by the door kept watch, and Din was the most careful, standing in the doorway with his gun at the ready. “Not only is she beautiful, but she’s absolutely fearless.”

“She’s spoken for, too, so why don’t you keep the compliments to yourself?” Cara asked, clearly teasing everyone in the lava chamber. “Isn’t that right, Mando?”

Din made a noise, something between an annoyed sigh and a scoff, completely non-committal in the face of everything his friends teased him about. 

Omera inserted the code cylinder then and focused her attention on getting the cooling lines drained.

“Well, if you’re not interested...” Greef jabbed. 

“You should’ve seen him on Sorgan. I’m pretty sure he is.”

Greef clicked his tongue against his cheek and laughed. “Oh, does Mando have a crush?”

“I’d say so,” Cara replied. “Look at him. He’s so defensive.”

“I’m not defensive…”

Even though they were still on guard, both of his friends chuckled at the awkward nature of his voice. 

Omera glanced at them briefly, unable to help from smiling just a little. The Mandalorian’s attention was on the hallway ahead of him, clearly trying to avoid the conversation. 

As quickly as she could, she finished her task at the console and removed the cylinder. She made her way back to the group on the landing and nodded at them.

“I’ll let you know if the Mandalorian decides to seal the deal, but for now… the base is set to explode, so we need to get out of here.”

Greef Karga laughed once. “Cool under pressure, too. Kriff, Mando. You better lock it in.”

Din shot Greef a deeply annoyed glare noticeable even without seeing his eyes. 

Omera rejoined them in the entrance to the shaft and they took off, rushing toward the main corridor once more to try and find their way out in under ten minutes.

An alarm blared as the base alerted the Imperials of its impending destruction, and when they found an opening to take, Din peered around it, slowing with his fist in the air to get the rest of them to stop.

She could hear stormtroopers. It seemed they were on the lookout for trespassers. Her belly flipped anxiously. Time was limited and she very much wanted to get off of the base in one piece.

Din turned around, gesturing instead to the hall behind them. Omera nodded and followed his lead. When they rounded a corner, they discovered two Imperials standing behind a console.

The men drew guns when they noticed their arrival, seeming flustered, shooting both at them and at the console itself.

Omera acted quickly, firing her weapon with the rest of the group. She shot at the Imperial to the left and he keeled over instantly. Din shot at the Imperial to the right and he suffered a similar fate.

“Okay, now you’re both just rubbing it in,” Karga joked lightly.

Omera smirked in Din’s direction, proud to have been of some help, but his focus had already turned to the wall ahead of the officers, to a series of figures in cylindrical tubes full of liquid.

“I thought you said this was a forward operating base,” Cara said to Greef.

“I thought it was.” Greef’s tone had shifted significantly. 

Worry settled over the group and Omera took a step toward the console, gentle to remove the body of a fallen Imperial so she could see what they had been working on. Much of the console had been destroyed in the gunfire, but she was able to bypass some of the damage.

“No, this isn’t a military operation,” Cara said thoughtfully. “This is a lab.”

Omera uncovered a transmission, the last to be sent from the terminal, and switched it on. The holo of an unfamiliar man in white appeared on the top of the console. 

“Unfortunately, we have exhausted our initial supply of blood. The Child is small, and I was only able to harvest a limited amount without killing him.” 

Omera met Din’s gaze. These were the ones who had been searching for the Child, and it seemed they had done something to him. 

“If these experiments are to continue as requested, we would again require access to the donor. I will not disappoint you again, Moff Gideon.”

There was that name again. Gideon. Omera knew nothing of him, but nothing but dread filled her hearing his name.

“This must be an old transmission.” Din shook his head in denial. “Moff Gideon is dead.” 

“No.” Omera frowned worriedly. “This recording is three days old.” 

“If Gideon’s alive then…”

Suddenly, the sound of enemy stormtrooper footsteps came to the open door they’d entered from. A few stormtroopers with guns pointed in on them gathered and Omera sprung to action with the rest of her companions.

Swiftly, they brought them down, but Omera knew there were more in the waiting. They really needed to get out before the base blew up.

“I need to get the kid.” Din’s voice was laden with worry. 

If Moff Gideon was after the Child, any lingering stay would put a greater target on him. That much she could understand.

Omera’s heart ached. They’d barely been able to find the location of a Jedi. Now, the Mandalorian would have to stave off the Empire while he tried to deliver the Child to one of his kind.

“Jet back,” Cara told Din. “You’re faster that way. We’ll head to the speeder and meet you in town.”

Din hesitated, turning his attention to Omera. 

She smiled and nodded at him. She didn’t want him to worry about her. “I’ll be fine. Just go get the kids.”

Even still, the Mandalorian stared at her silently. It was like he was frozen, wanting to keep her safe while also knowing he needed to be there for his son.

Omera put one hand against his helmet and gave him a firm nod. “It’s okay. Go. We’ll make it.”

“Come on!” Karga called out from behind. “Let’s go!”

With one final nod to each other, she and Din took off in opposite directions.

Soon, Omera found herself in a gunfight with several stormtroopers on the landing dock. Hiding behind a couple of crates, she, Cara, and Greef fired back at the troopers, but the main concern was getting the hell off of the base in time to escape the explosion.

Omera caught Cara looking over at the Trexler Marauder she’d noticed before. Omera nodded at her. “Go get it. We’ll cover you.”

Focused solely on the task at hand, Omera heard Karga beside her chuckle. “I'm glad Mando wanted to bring you along.”

“We’re not out of this yet.” Omera glanced over her shoulder when the Marauder pulled in beside them, the door open. “Get in. I’ll keep cover.”

She shot at a stormtrooper, knocking him onto his back, and carefully maneuvered herself into the vehicle. As soon as she was inside, she closed the door and climbed into the seat beside Cara while Greef lingered back.

“Go, now.”

Cara had her sight set on a door directly ahead, wide open and just big enough to fit them through, but just as soon as they reached the entrance, it sealed shut. 

On a growl, Cara reversed the craft, swinging them around again. Omera couldn’t help but get dizzy, her stomach lurching as a wave of nausea found her. 

Before she could ask Cara what she was doing, they were sent careening off the side of the landing pad. They all screamed for their lives until they crashed directly on top of the Mythrol’s landspeeder, crushing it entirely.

The Marauder bounced violently, jolting each passenger as it settled on the ground. 

“Sorry about that, Omera,” Cara apologized, shifting the Marauder into gear.

Omera shook her head. “I’m just glad we’re off of the base.”

They were off, quickly putting distance between them and the base, as the Imperials sent waves of speeder bikes after them.

“Man the guns, Karga,” Cara called over her shoulder.

“Already on it.”

Omera’s eyes were wide as she watched out the windows, trying her hardest to see what danger might lie ahead.

The blast of the cannon attached to the vessel deployed as Greef set his sights on the enemy at their back.

“One down.”

She heard two bikes on them, both coming alongside them on each side of the vessel. The Imperial at Cara’s immediate right fired in on them. Without ceremony, Cara slammed the Marauder into the canyon wall, crushing the enemy in a fiery explosion.

“There’s one more,” Omera warned. She listened out, realizing that he must’ve climbed on top of them. “Spin around. He’s on top of us.”

Doing as he was told, Greef pivoted and instantly blasted the enemy. He laughed. “Whoo! Now that’s some good tactical work.”

Moments later, from far beyond, the entire base exploded, a blast so loud that it was unmistakable. They all laughed in celebration. They’d accomplished their goal and escaped with their lives.

Omera smiled wide at Cara. “We did it.”

Cara nodded her head. Looking briefly over her shoulder at Greef, she said, “Headed home, boss.”

The Marauder picked up speed as a few tie fighters began flying overhead, firing on them in an attempt to pick them off from the sky where they would be less equipped to fight back.

Omera’s heart dropped. They were officially outgunned.

-

When Din landed in town, his mind felt clouded. 

Moff Gideon hadn’t died. Moff Gideon was alive and would be after the kid. It was only a matter of time before they found him again.

On top of his fears for the Child, he found himself even more fearful for Omera. He’d left her with two capable fighters, and she was quite capable herself, but they hadn’t exactly gone into a friendly fight. He’d seen what the Imperials could do.

There was really only one choice: he needed to get the kids, get back to the Crest, and do what he could to help. He just really hoped she would make it out of that base in time.

He entered the school through the side door. The instant the seal opened, he saw Winta and the Child right where he’d left them. 

“Winta.”

She turned, her eyes bright. “Is it time to go?”

Din nodded his head. He came up to the children and took the Child into his arms. Winta had accumulated a few things while he’d been away. A packet of cookies and a flat piece of metal scrap sat on her desk.

“Come on. Gotta hurry, kid.”

Winta understood. She gathered everything as quickly as she could. As he led the girl out of the school, he heard her say, “Bye!”

“Bye Winta!”

Apparently, Winta had made fast friends of the kids in the school. Once they were outside, he took her by the hand and guided her toward the Razor Crest.

“Where’s Mama?”

Din wasn’t sure how to answer Winta’s question. He kept his focus on getting them to the ship.

“She’s fine. We just… got into a little trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?” Winta sounded nervous.

“Don’t worry about it. We’re gonna help. Okay? When we get on the Crest, both of you need to buckle in while I start flight prep.”

“Okay.”

Luckily, Winta had no further questions for him as they approached the ship. He wasn’t sure how much had been repaired while they’d been away, but at the very least, the ramp was extended fully.

Once he had the kids in the cockpit, Din let his next biggest concern overwhelm him: Omera.

“You guys strapped in?” he asked without looking over his shoulder.

“Yep!”

“Might get a little scary. Don’t know what to expect. Just trust me. It’s gonna be okay.”

They took off and he brought the Razor Crest around, going toward the base. In the distance, he could see smoke, which meant they’d succeeded in blowing the base. But, he also saw three TIE fighters on the tail of a speeding Trexler Marauder.

Cara, Greef, and Omera must’ve used it to get off of the base. 

The fighters fired on the Marauder. It was three to one, and it seemed the Marauder had lost its guns.

Din clenched his teeth. Omera was on board that vehicle. He knew she was.

They hadn’t had the time they needed to be alone. He knew she wanted to tell him something, but he now desperately realized that he needed to tell her something as well: that he wanted them to stay together.

He wouldn’t get the opportunity to do anything if the fighters were able to fire upon the Marauder much more.

As soon as the Crest was close enough, he fired upon one of the fighters. It exploded with a satisfying cloud of flame and smoke. There were just two left now.

“Hang on back there.”

He brought the Crest higher and with the increase in altitude, he heard both the Child and Winta giggling excitedly.

He fired on the fighter ahead of him. Another down. One left.

Turning around to face off against the final TIE, Winta and the Child both laughed, full-bellied. Din smiled to himself with a small shake of his head.

The fighter was far enough away that he engaged the engines, then rolled the ship as they dove toward it. 

Behind him, Winta screamed with surprise and delight. “Whoa!”

“You okay?”

“Yeah!”

He set his sights on the final fighter as it fired at them. Took the shot. It exploded. It was almost child's play.

Finally, he felt as if he could breathe again. Omera would be alright. Greef and Cara had got what they wanted. Turning to check on the kids, he looked first at the Child.

“Not too bad, huh, kid?”

The Child, who gripped one of the blue cookies he must've procured in class, spit up over the front of his clothes.

“Eww!” Winta giggled.

“Oh, boy.” Din reached back to dab at the throw up with his cape, careful as he brought the Crest back toward town. 

“Where’s Mama, Din?”

He glanced over his shoulder at Winta. “We’ll go get her now.”

-

Safe on the ground outside of town, Omera waited alongside Cara and Greef while the Razor Crest made its descent back to the ground again. 

Watching him fight off the fighters with his ship had been nothing short of impressive, and she had the feeling that the children must’ve had the time of their lives just being along for the ride.

The ship seemed to have been repaired well enough to perform above average, so instinct said that Din would want to be off and on their way as quickly as they could, especially knowing that Moff Gideon was still alive, hunting for the Child.

“Omera,” Greef said her name with a smile, “you are welcome back to Nevarro anytime. Mando is lucky to have you.”

She couldn’t help but blush, laughing as she shook his extended hand. “Thank you.” 

Pausing, she turned at the sound of the ramp of the Crest lowering. The Mandalorian climbed down alone. 

“That was some pretty impressive flying, Mando. What do I owe ya?”

Din joined them where they stood gathered together at the base of the Crest. Almost naturally drawn in close, he found her side. 

“With the repairs, let’s call it even.”

Greef looked between them. “Can I at least buy you a drink? Perhaps you could stay the night at my finest inn, in one of my finest suites.”

“Sorry. I have some onboard maintenance I gotta take care of.” Din gestured up toward the interior of the ship with his head. “Then we gotta hit the road before Gideon catches wise.”

“Well, it was good to see you again, old friend.” Greef presented Din a hand to shake. He took it, gripping his forearm.

Omera took a moment to give Cara a smile. The Marshal of Nevarro smirked back at her. “You kicked some serious ass today, Omera. Could use some help rounding up mercs around here.”

She nodded, her gaze going to Din again. “Maybe once his mission is seen through, we’ll come back.”

Cara bowed her head, pleased with her reaction. “Good luck. Stay safe out there.”

“You too.”

The Mandalorian turned away from Greef, looking at her instead. “You ready to go?”

Omera smiled at him. “Yes.”

They climbed up into the Razor Crest together, and once they stood in the privacy of the cargo hold with the ramp sealed shut, Omera was surprised by the feeling of his hand on her wrist, turning her towards him.

Instantly, he lowered the crown of his head to hers. A feeling of warmth spread within her and she smiled. Settling her fingers over his helmet, she listened to the sound of his breathing. 

The intensity of the embrace reminded her of the night on Sorgan, a desperation in the way they touched like it could be the last chance they’d have.

“You okay?” Omera asked quietly.

“Just… glad you are,” Din replied. “Could’ve lost you out there.”

She shook her head, still pressed to Din’s. “We had it handled. You did the right thing, going back for him.”

When he finally pulled away, his hand slid down her wrist to meet her fingers. It was so natural that it almost felt like they’d always held hands like this. 

It was so natural that it almost felt like they’d always been together like this.

“After we find the Jedi, we should talk about settling down somewhere safe.”

Omera’s heart jumped and she narrowed her eyes slightly as a smile spread across her face. She was cautious to feel joy at the words he’d spoken, too nervous that it would be taken from her.

“You want to stay together?”

Din nodded. “We never had the chance to be alone today, and I wanted to talk to you about it then.” He paused for a moment. “I don’t really have any idea how this is supposed to work, but I know I don’t want to go back to the way things were before. Do you…?”

She laughed, breathless, and wrapped her arms around his neck, causing him to stumble slightly as he settled his arms around her middle. 

“Yes. Of course I want us to stay together.”

Omera pulled away slightly, enough to press her forehead into his, and shut her eyes as tightly as she could. Breathing in deeply, she had only one thing on her mind: telling him the secret that had plagued her for months now.

“Din, I was going to tell you something.”

Her fingers found his chest and she took a step away from him, his hands lingering on her lower back. He studied her, silent, and she wished for the strength she needed.

“What is it?” He sounded a little nervous. 

Omera stared at him, her chest heaving for breath as tears found her eyes. It was overwhelming to think that this secret, this private thing she’d held onto for so long, would finally be shared with the one who her heart trusted the most.

She shook her head, smiling to keep him from worrying. “I…”

“Mama!” Winta’s voice interrupted, breaking them apart. “We did flips and the Child threw up and it was so fun!”

She smiled at her daughter, kneeling so that she could wrap her arms around her tightly in a warm embrace. “How was school?”

“Good.” Winta bobbed her head. She pulled away from the hug. “I learned about some new planets and I made friends. The teacher said I did a good job.”

Omera smiled, pleased that she’d had at least a little fun while she could. “I’m glad you had a good time in school.”

Suddenly, Winta hurried off, going to the little cubby where Din told them he usually slept while on long space journeys. The girl plucked up a piece of flat metal and brought it to Omera. She held it up, pointing to a series of figures she’d etched into the scrap.

“I made all of us.” Winta beamed. “Din, the Child, you, and me!”

Omera couldn’t help but smile back at the effort she’d put in crafting the picture of the four of them, all standing in a line holding hands. 

“It’s beautiful, my love.” 

Winta smiled kindly and peered up at Din. “I made it for you, Din.”

Din knelt beside Omera to look at the obscure artwork. He chuckled. “I love it. Thank you, Winta.”

“Maybe one day… I can add more to it.” Winta teased with a little shrug.

Omera shot her a dry look, silently insisting that she keep her mouth shut about their new addition. It had been a close call before as they shared broth. A second attempt was just asking for trouble.

“What kinds of things would you add?” Din asked, genuinely curious.

“Maybe… a baby?”

Din scoffed. He stood, taking the picture with him. “Do you even know where babies come from?”

Omera slowly rose to her own feet and watched Din carefully.

“Yes,” Winta said, trying to sound like she did. “They come from mothers.”

The Mandalorian huffed. “Babies need fathers, too. Human ones, at least.”

Winta hummed thoughtfully. She made direct, purposeful eye contact with Omera, as if trying to figure out right then and there how Omera had been given the child that grew within her. 

“Mama, is that true?” 

Winta knew this already. Of course she did. Children in the village had fathers. She herself had a father, one she’d been told about time and again in stories spoken in whispers at bedtime. She even knew that her unborn sibling had a father. 

This was just her daughter trying to get an answer out of her that she wasn’t going to give her just yet. Once Din knew about the baby, Omera would feel right enough to tell Winta. Until then, the father of her child would remain private.

“Yes, Winta. It’s true.”

It was getting harder to keep this a secret, wasn’t it? She’d almost been able to tell him, but now with Winta in the room it seemed she would never have the opportunity to tell him in the way he needed to hear it.

Din put Winta’s picture in the little sleeping nook again. Turning around, he cocked his head to the side. 

“If this is about wondering where the Child comes from… I don’t have any idea.”

Winta met Omera’s eyes. She smirked at her as if she were ready to say something incriminating. 

“Go get strapped in, please. We’re getting ready to leave.” Omera said before her daughter could manage to spoil this for everyone.

Winta bobbed her head and spun on her heel, moving swiftly up to the cockpit. Omera waited for the door to seal before she turned her attention to Din.

Swallowing at the lump that had formed in the back of her throat, Omera closed the space between her and Din slowly.

“We should go. To Corvus.”

Din nodded in agreement. “Did you have something you wanted to tell me?”

Omera took a deep breath. Yes. But it wasn’t the time. Not anymore. “I’ll tell you when we find the Jedi. We need to keep moving. You said it yourself… Gideon’s still out there. I don’t know what he did, but I have to believe he means harm to your boy after what we saw on the transmission.”

He hesitated for a second. “Omera… if Gideon is still after the kid, I can’t guarantee you’ll be safe with me. He’s the reason I almost died on Nevarro.”

Omera’s heart plunged into her belly. She knew there was a reason she didn’t feel right about Gideon. If he had been nearly strong enough to take out the Mandalorian, he was capable of a lot worse.

She frowned. “Do you think he knows where you are?”

“There’s no way of knowing. He could have eyes anywhere.” He sighed. “What do you want to do?”

Omera tilted her head, considering him. It would be so easy to walk away now, but after everything they’d seen and been through together, she wanted to see it through to the end. She could handle herself and protect their children, should the fight come to them.

“We’ve come this far,” she replied. “I think it would be a shame to walk away before the end of your mission.”

The Mandalorian nodded. “Corvus is under the radar enough. We should be fine if we keep moving.”

Omera put her hand on his arm when he tried to step past her toward the ladder up to the cockpit. 

Their gazes locked. She felt her stomach flip.

“What I have to tell you isn’t bad.”

Din gently touched her hand on his arm. “Tell me when you’re ready.”

How had she gotten so lucky to find him? He was so patient with her that it almost felt unfair. What she needed to tell him was something so impatient. There was very little time left for her to tell him without difficult consequences.

“Din…”

He nodded his head at her. “We have time. Right?”

Her heart leapt. They’d decided to stay together. 

It was already a bad idea in retrospect. She shouldn’t have allowed him to suggest it, not without all of the information he needed to make that decision. It was nice to think they could stay together, but if he didn’t want to raise the baby with her, that would change things.

Omera nodded back at him. “Right.”

The Mandalorian stepped past her to go up to the cockpit, leaving her down below with the weight of a dozen boulders on her shoulders. She sighed heavily and lowered a hand to cover her middle.

“Omera?” Din called from up above.

She turned around. “Yes?”

“The kid, uh... got a little messy. Think you can grab a wet cloth for me?”

Omera smiled to herself. She stepped toward the privy just behind the ladder and found a cloth she could wet in the sink. “Of course.”

When she climbed up to join the rest of the crew in the cockpit, she found Din crouched on the ground in front of the chair where the Child sat, his clothes covered in blue spit up.

“Uh oh…” Omera teased. She knelt on the floor beside Din. “Did you have too much fun today?”

“He had a snack.” Din held a package of blue cookies in his hand.

Omera hummed. She reached up with the cloth to wipe at the fabric of the Child’s shirt. She’d dealt with this many times with Winta as a baby. Soon, she’d have to do it all over again with a new baby.

"He got them with his special powers,” Winta shared. “They went ziiiip right into his hand.”

Omera glanced over at her daughter, then looked at the boy. He seemed so innocent, canting his head to the side while she rubbed his shirt clean. “Well, I think he enjoyed them.”

“A little too much,” Din agreed.

Both she and Winta laughed. Finally finished cleaning up the mess, Omera lowered the cloth into her lap.

“There we go.” She smiled. “All clean.”

Looking over at Din, she found his attention on her already. “Thanks.”

“No problem at all.”

It was then, sitting on the floor of the cockpit with the Mandalorian and his boy, that she made up her mind. For better or worse, whether she had the words or not, she would tell Din her secret as soon as they found the Jedi.

#mandomera #din x omera #the mandalorian #my writing #the edge of hope #happy sw day y'all!!! #<3333 #cuties being cute in this chapter i cri

[luna--reading]

[PICK A CARD] WHAT ARE SOME BLESSINGS COMING IN FOR ME WITHIN THE WEEK?

Hello lovelies~ ♡

This is a pick a card reading for “What are some blessings coming in for me in the coming week?” This is a timeless reading and you are meant to see it right now! 

I hope this reading will bring in the clarity and peace that you need, and please do stay safe during this time period~ ♡

So take a few minutes to mediate on these 5 piles:

Left to right: 1 – 5

Once you’re ready, just scroll below to find the reading that you have chosen!

You can always leave a comment or simply like the post if it resonates with you, thank you so much~ ♡♡♡

Pile 1

Tarot: 7 of Cups, 7 of Wands, 8 of Swords

Oracle: THE PATH OF THE GODS (2) – Decisions, meetings, future plans // LEAP – You go first. The Universe will catch you. // PAST-LIFE RELATIONSHIP – You have known each other before. // DEMONSTRATE LOVE (48) – Find out what is important to those you love and act on it. // CHOOSE LOVE (21) – You always have a choice – make yours with love.

Darling, I feel like there is someone from the past, or just something from the past that you have been constantly going back to. It’s that kind of feeling whereby you know it’s not serving you, but you just can’t help but go back to it. And I know, it is annoying, but I feel like it’s some kind of karmic relationship or connection that you have to deal with.

You are asked to make a decision and the Universe wants you to know that regardless of the path that you choose, the Universe will catch you. This is the time for you to take action, darling and I see so much more opportunities coming in for you.

Whatever it is that you have been hesitating about to take action towards, the Universe wants you to know that you are being guided and you will be protected along the way. Take this chance to move forward, to leave the past behind, to start anew. Darling, there is a lot of beautiful opportunities coming in for you, if you just take that leap of faith!

 Pile 2:

Tarot: 10 of Cups, Queen of Pentacles, 3 of Swords, 6 of Cups

Oracle: SACRED JOURNEY (30) – Introversion, seeker, self-knowledge // AWAKENING – Energetic upgrades. A new way of being. Integration. // YOU DESERVE LOVE – You are lovable! // TURN ON YOUR HEART LIGHT (36) – Reflect on a time when you experienced love. // LOVE IS ALL AROUND YOU (16) – There is love everywhere all the time. Simply acknowledge this as love.

Darling, it has been a difficult time for you, hasn’t it? It might have been a failed relationship, a broken friendship, a loss of career, but darling, let’s be honest, life hasn’t been good to you, has it? But you know, I feel like this has only made you stronger. I see that you have start to realise your true worth. I see that you have start to see how much better it is to love yourself first, to put that focus onto yourself.

And darling, I see that there is going to be so much emotional fulfilment coming in for you in the week to come. This might only be the beginning of seeking answers within yourself, or it might just be the beginning of some spiritual awakening. But darling, connecting with your higher self more would allow you to know your actual worth.

And in fact, you are currently healing, or it might just be the beginning to heal and understand that healing involves you going back to the wounds that you have tried so hard to cover up. But these past hurts are not here to hurt you anymore darling, they are here to help you move forward, to charge ahead and to have that new beginning in life.

There is going to be so much love coming in for you darling, from the people around you but most importantly, from yourself. And darling, you need to know that as you love yourself more, you would bring in so much more abundance and growth in your life!

 Pile 3:

Tarot: King of Cups, 5 of Swords, 2 of Cups

Oracle: SKYFIRE (11) – Messages, channels, information // STARSEED – What lights you up? // EXPRESS YOUR LOVE – Go ahead and make the romantic gesture. // BE AUTHENTIC (39) – Be real and true to who you are and how you feel. // LISTEN WITH YOUR HEART (1) – You are listening but need to hear with a loving heart.

Darling, if there is a message that you are waiting for, regardless of if it’s for a career, a romantic interest, a friend, a family, a colleague or whatever it is, it’s coming. And trust that someone is going to bring in this message for you or there is just going to be messages coming in for you. Especially for those who are waiting for a romantic interest message, someone might just be expressing his/her love to you.

But most importantly, I’m seeing that you are also receiving messages, signs, synchronicities from your angels in regards to a current situation that you might feel defeated about. It is time for you to open your heart and take in these messages. These messages might not be something that you want to hear, but these messages are here to guide you and to help you grow and learn.

It’s time for you to understand you true self and darling, your angels are here to guide and protect you but you need to keep an open mind and heart as to the messages that you are receiving. Through these messages, I see so much balance and harmony in your life to come, darling, so be open to these messages even if it’s the message that you never want to hear. Because these messages are only here to help you, and they would never hurt you!

 Pile 4:

Tarot: The Star, The Emperor, Temperance

Oracle: TREE OF SOULS (42) – Collective wisdom, kinship group, library // TAKE A BREAK – A life’s work, not a season. Get off the treadmill. // SEPARATION – Time apart from your partner is on the horizon. // CONSIDER YOUR FOUNDATION (50) – Look at how committed you are to love. // TRUE LOVE (30) – This love is once in a lifetime.

Darling, I see that there are major energies accompanying you for the week, really major and there can be a major change or shift in energies for you as well. But most importantly, I’m seeing that you are asked to wait, to take a break, to pause and to not continue to push things forward. Maybe it’s something that you have been working on and you want the results to come in as you wanted, or as quickly as you want. But now, it’s the time for you to pause.

Things are working behind the scenes for you, darling. You’ve been putting in so much hard work and effort on it, but now, it’s time to allow the Universe to come in to allow things to fall in place. I see that as you let things unfold itself, there would be so much balance being brought into your life, because maybe things were out of balance previously because you have been wanting results and neglecting the other aspects of your life.

Now, is the time to focus on these other aspects of life, darling. If it’s work, achieve that work-life balance. If it’s relationship, start focusing on yourself. Start to move your attention and focus away from the thing that you have been working so hard on and attend to the things that you have been neglecting. It’s going to bring in so much more balance and probably a fresh perspective on your outlook of life. Have faith in the Universe as well as in yourself for the hard work and effort that you have put in previously!

 Pile 5:

Tarot: Page of Wands, Knight of Wands, Page of Swords

Oracle: THE HEALING TEMPLE OF THE LUNAR LIGHT (19) – Life cycles, energy healing, communication // WARRIOR WOMAN – Have you answered your deepest calling? // CHILDREN – Your love life is being affected by children. // APPRECIATE THIS MOMENT (33) – Every situation is an opportunity to grow and find love. // LIKE ATTRACTS LIKE (2) – If you long for more love, be more loving.

Darling, for those who have children, one message that I am hearing is to spend more time with your children and I see that by spending more time with them, you might gain some insights or valuable lessons that you previously have missed or neglected. But for the rest of you, I’m seeing that there will be quite a bit of fun coming in for you.

It has been a period of healing for you and I feel like now, the Universe wants you to set yourself free and to just simple enjoy and have fun. It is important to look at things from a different perspective, and to take this current moment with great appreciation. Times are difficult now, so the more I’m seeing is that you are asked to appreciate the moment with the people around you, with the people you love.

I’m getting quite a bit of communication as well so for those who are waiting for a message or to just communicate someone, I feel like it will happen. Someone would be coming in with some sort of message and I’m just getting general overall good vibes in regards to this message. But darling, remember that if you aren’t comfortable with this person that is coming through, it’s okay to reject and to set those healthy boundaries.

Understand that every situation is an opportunity to grow and find love and I feel like within this week, you will start to learn to be appreciative of the things you have and the people around you or it can also mean that someone (who is probably coming in with that message) is learning to be appreciative of you and that’s why he/she wants this communication.

No matter what, I see so much fun and joy in the week to come and this can just come in small pockets of celebration and enjoyment. Or at the very least, I see you simply enjoying yourself, even if it’s very small things in the week to come!

#pick a card #pick a card reading #tarot reading #free tarot reading #free reading #love reading #blessings reading #career reading #tarot

[nightwingshero]

A, F, G, M, P, R, and S for Evune, Athera, Blair, Suzume, and Kumeko :D

MEL! THIS IS MERCY?! You're killin' me, smalls! Lol under the cut, love!

A: Aptitude

1. What are your oc’s natural abilities, things they’ve been doing since young?

Evune: Sneaking around and throwing knives. Evune doesn't really like to play the Game, but she's had some bard training when she lived with her noble guardian, and then when she was living in the alienage. She's had to steal, fight, and learned some bow skills before being reunited with her clan.

Athera: Aside from when her magic manifested when she was a child, I would say she's always had a special touch with halla and is rather good at drawing. But she hung around the clan's halla, sticking with the halla keeper because she was always fascinated with them.

Blair: She's always been a pretty smart cookie, so I'm going to say chess was something she was pretty quick to pick up on when she was young. She plays often with her dad.

Suzume: Drawing, cooking, and skateboarding. She's always been pretty good with balance and being naturally good on her feet, so that was something that caught her attention rather quickly. Now, drawing and cooking almost seems to be a family thing, mostly because of her father's quirk got him into art as well. So she would often sit in her room and just draw alone, and then come help her mother cook when it was time--which explains the cooking ability.

Kumeko: Dancing and hacking! Shopping doesn't count, so I won't add it. But Kumeko loves to dance to her music, and will play Just Dance often. She's always light on her feet, and when she started walking as a kid, she would bounce. So her mom says it's pretty much in her blood at this point. Now, her fascination with electronics might have something to do with her quirk, but this girl was taking computers apart and rebuidling them when she was a kid.

2. What activities have they participated in?

Evune: A few games here and there with her clan. There's a game that her and Athera would play with the kids as they told the stories of their gods, and Evune would lead Fen'an with her and they would play tag and chase them around as they pretended to be Fen'Harel. She also does arm wrestling with Thyra, plays chess with Cullen, and does shooting contests with and plays Wicked Grace with Varric.

Athera: She would teach the children of their clan the history and the stories of their people, often leading to the tag game with Evune. She will read with Dorian, practice magic with Halesta, and play chess with Solas. She would often ask him things he saw of her people in the fade as well.

Blair: Lots and lots of science fairs and clubs. She did chess club at one point too, and then learned to play the violin. But she didn't really stick with that, since she preferred doing science stuff, especially astronomy. She does a lot of ice skating too, if that counts, and she'll go out with friends.

Suzume: Heh. Well, she'll get dragged go to karaoke with Kumeko and a few more friends here and there. She's done the Sports Festival a few times with Kumeko when they attended U.A. High. She even placed one year. But when it comes to activites to participate in, mroe often than not, it's Kumeko or someone else coming up with the idea and having her tag along. She'll go to the school events in support for the students, and she'll do team ups with heroes here and there when she has the time. Every now and then she'll anonymously participate in art festivals just to share her art.

Kumeko: Karaoke! Though the last time her and Suzume went they ended up getting thrown out and banned because someone decided that the music selection wasn't cool enough and she hacked the machine. She did the Sports Festival in high school, and does a lot of team ups, especially when her agency is contacted and Fatgum has his plate full (I know what I did there--yes, it was on purpose.) I'm gonna throw shopping on here because she loves it so damn much. DJing is something she does often too, more out of a hobby than anything.

3. What abilities do they have that they’ve worked for?

Evune: The bow. Evune had more experience with dagger growing up and she had to work extra hard to master the bow because that demanded a patience from her that she didn't have. But she gives people a run for their money now, often outshooting most people.

Athera: Making wolves and hallawith her magic. That took forever to master. She can use her elemental magic and manifest it in the forms of wolves, and her protective barriers come out as halla. It took her years to perfect, and it's still hard for her to do sometimes.

Blair: Definitely controlling her powers. Girl was a walking hazard because of it. She was too scared to really practice it because it seemed to always hurt people, and she hated herself for it.

Suzume: The patience to handle those crazy ass class 1-A kids, epsecially the one that blows shit up without warning and has rage issues or the perverted one she's kicked out of her class a few times. Tattoos. She can draw, it took her time to nail skating and cooking, but tattoos...that took her the longest. If she can do it herself, she will; it makes it easier for her to use with her quirk. But it took time because it's not the same as drawing in her sketchbook.

Kumeko: Fighting. Honestly, it was so hard for her because she's not really...a natural fighter. She had to really work at making her quirk for her in fight scenarios, but luckily she was able to really adapt her dancing and hacking into her own odd style that actually works well for her. U.A. was hard for her in the beginning, but she really pulled through and excelled.

4. What things are they bad at?

Evune: Holding her tongue. Evune can and will say whatever it is that's on her mind. It gets her into so much trouble, but she never really learns from it. She will always tell you what she's thinking whether you wanna hear it or not.

Athera: Making very hard decisions. She hates being put on the spot and making choices that really don't have a good ending either way. The pressure isn't something she wants and she fears the backlash and the consequences of the choices.

Blair: Lying. Girl can't lie to save her life. Not that she would ever really want to, but it's always bitter on her tongue whenever she has to, and it never goes well.

Suzume: Being emotionally vulnerable. Not that she doesn't have emotions or doesn't want to share her emotions, she just gets shy and awkward with it. Word vomit is what ends up happening if she's not careful, and so she finds it easier to stay quiet.

Kumeko: Dealing with loss, honestly. She's naturally a go lucky and cheerful person. It's not that she hasn't dealt with loss before, she just takes it really hard when it does happen. It weighs on her shoulders and mind for a long time.

5. What is their most impressive talent?

Evune: A combo move with Fen’an. She jumps back and fires arrows, while her wolf moves in from the side and attacks when their opponent isn’t looking. She’s so good with her bow and working alongside her wolf companion when she needs to--which happens more often than not. 

Athera: Her magic, honestly. She’s the First for a reason, and when Falessan was around, he tuaght her a trick or two. The wolf elemental magic is something she only uses when she needs to, and it’s very impressive. Though it takes quite a bit of mana to pull off. 

Blair: I know this is going to not really count, but I can’t help it; I’m going to say her intelligience. I could say her meta powers, but honestly, Blair is stupid smart and isn’t afraid to flex it. She has enough braincells to cover for those who are lacking. 

Suzume: Okay, so I would say Quirk wise, it’s going to be her ability to animate her tattoos and drawings, but the most impressive? Using her samurai tattoo to cover herself. Its one of her ultimate moves, though whatever damage the samurai suffers, is damage she absolutely feels once it returns to her. It’s cool to see though, she’s such a badass!

Kumeko: This girl can be deafening. I’m not even kidding. She can hack into surrounding sound systems or use her very own built in speakers to deafen an enemy temporarily. Like...some are left immobilzed because of it. She doesn’t do it often because its more of a last resort ultimate move, but it’s super impressive and handy...she can definitely be someone to fear. 

F: Fun

1. What do they do for fun?

Evune: She loves to drink and watch people when she has nothing else to really do, and that’s usually watching Thyra start bar fights and wrestling with a lot of the warriors and soldiers of the Inquistion so she can prove her Avaar strength. Other than that, she’s joking around with Dorian, making fun of people or playing Wicked Grace with Varric. She’ll also sing to herself when she thinks no one is listening.

Athera: She loves to read and draw for fun, mostly. She’s very at peace with quiet time to herself, and as things progress with the Inquisition, she doesn’t really get a lot of it. If she’s not doing that, she’s playing chess or spending time with some of her companions to get to know them better or because she enjoys their company.

Blair: Video games, movie marathons, and ice skating. She’s such a nerd at heart, and when she isn’t working on things for fun (yes...for fun), she’s either gaming out or watching movies and eating crepes. Winter is her favorite season, and she goes ice skating every year with her parents and friends. Its one of those things she’s been doing since she was a kid.

Suzume: Mostly skating, drawing, and cooking. She likes to read too, but she’s most likely doing one of the first three things. Music is often blared while doing any of them, and she gets super focused. There are a few places she likes to go for skating, and she’ll usually meet Kumeko there, or just skate around and look at different things with her cat in her backpack.

Kumeko: A little bit of everything. Shopping, dancing, and going to amusement parks. Kumeko likes the rush of things, and likes to be on the move. The girl can’t sit still, she’s gotta be doing something, and so she’s usually always out and about with something on her agenda. Much to Suzume’s dismay because she’s dragged with her.

2. What is their ideal party?

Evune: Small with only the closest of friends. Evune doesn’t like meeting new people, she’s very wary of them. She wants a small get together on the beach at night around a campfire and laughing together. She does go to the big parties Dorian throws at his dad’s in the College AU, mostly after they play a gig or something. 

Athera: Something casual with boardgames and cherades! Probably a cookout, if we’re being honest. More people than Evune would invite, mostly because she oddly has a lot of connections--she’s even shocked by it. Its very casual because she’s more comfortable that way

Blair: Honestly, there are a few. She loves surprsie parties, both for herself and for others. Slumber parties are a thing too, mostly because she would throw all the blankets and pillows she had in the living room, make crepes and hot chocolate (or get wine) and have a movie marathon in her pjs with her friend. 

Suzume: That’s a huge no. No way in hell. Parties aren’t her scene at all, she doens’t really like going to them because she’s secretly (not that secret tbh) shy and gets nervous. She will go to the hero galas, she will allow Kumeko to drag her to places, but she doesn’t really prefer a type of party. The word just puts dread in her stomach. Now...honestly, a dinner party with a few friends isn’t so bad, but it has to be super casual. Best Jeanist’s annual Halloween party isn’t too bad either. 

Kumeko: All of them. Honestly, there isn’t one that she doens’t like, Kumeko loves people, loves music, and parties have plenty of both. Dance parties (which is usually her and a few more friends playing Just Dance at Suzume’s because someone hates going to clubs) or ones that have karaoke so she can challenge Present Mic. Kumeko is perfect for throwing surprise birthday parties too, Suzume finds out every year (as if she could ever forget that). 

3. Who would they have the most fun with?

Evune: She’s honestly one of those people that if she can’t have fun with you, she probably won’t like you. Naturally quiet, it would seem that would be impossible to gauge, but it’s really not. Evune has a sense of humor, and she prides herself in being a good judge on character. I would say Arkyn, Thyra, Emerson, Varric, and Dorian are the people she has the most fun with. Cullen, too, but I think it’s different with him--not as chaotic.

Athera: She will try to have fun with pretty much anyone because she wants to get along with everyone. I think the main people she would have the most fun with would be Josephine, Iron Bull, Krem, Leliana, Dorian, and Varric.

Blair: You either love her or you hate her, because she’s not afraid to say what’s on her mind and correct you when you’re wrong. But she has tons of fun with Cisco, Caitlin, Felicity, Ray, Sara, and eventually Mick. You wouldn’t expect it, but it is what it is. 

Suzume: Not Hawks. It depends, honestly, but she has a lot of fun with Kumeko, Aizawa, and Tai. Midnight as well whenever she has the energy to actually hang out with her outside of work. She also has a lot of fun teaching and training some of her students (more than that one angry explosive one), but at the end of the day, Tai is really all she needs. That or staying home and locking the door, and ignoring Kumeko when she pounds on her door or when Chicken Nugget calls her 5 times in a row for a casual hero hangout. 

Kumeko: Who doesn’t she have fun with? Listen, it takes a lot for Kumeko to not like you, but if you rub her the wrong way, you will absolutely get the cold shoulder. Other than that, that girl is gonna have fun with whoever she’s with. Suzume she forcibly is fun with, she has tons of fun with her boyfriend Aizawa, Hawks, Present Mic, Tai, Rumi, and Midnight. 

4. Can they have fun while conforming to rules?

Evune: If she has to break the rules to have fun, they’re getting broken. They’re just a suggestion, right?

Athera: She will do her best when it’s within her control. She doesn’t want there to be any trouble, so she’ll try to avoid it if she can...though her cousin sometimes makes it hard.

Blair: Often, she’s a straight shooter, and it’s not until Leonard and Mick come into her life that she starts seeing the fun to bending just the slightest for fun. 

Suzume: For the most part, she can. It depends on who you are and what the situation is if she’s willing to be lienient. Like how she will sometimes let Kaminara, Sero, and Kirishima get away with things here and there.

Kumeko: What they don’t know won’t hurt them. Kumeko is okay with breaking minor rules to keep that fun going, as long as it’s not crazy or gets people hurt. She has her limits. But at the end of the day, she’s still a hero. She will draw the line somewhere, she won’t let things go too far. 

5. Do they go out a lot?

Evune: Shockingly, she does. She’s introverted, but she’s hanging around with people and watches on the sidelines. In the college AU, her and Emerson are often at the diner, their regular place, and at the bar where they perfomr. If its not that, and she’s going out, then it’s most likely a friend’s house.

Athera: She does! Athera loves visiting parks and other places where she can draw. The library is also a place she goes often when she wants out of the house, meeting other friends there for maybe a study session in the college au.

Blair: YES. Honestly, the cafe is like her second home, and the observatory is her third. She will often go to book stores and such to buy books and other things she might need. 

Suzume: If she’s not at home, drawing, reading, or watching movies, she’s out skating or with Kumeko. At a certain point, she finds herself visiting Fatgum’s agency rather...frequently. For no specific reason, she swears.

Kumeko: ALL. THE. TIME. She always has some place to be and Aizawa has to sometimes beg to get her to have a day in (she caves rather easily, actually). But she’s usually out and about, plus she is a hero, so patrols are also a thing. 

G: Gorgeous

1. What is their most attractive external feature?

Evune: I feel like there’s a lot attractive about her, but I would have to say her smirk. Its so teasing and it will absolutely draw you in--especially with her gorgeous eyes sparkling with mischief. Her vallasin are also very striking on her face, even if the silvery tint of them. 

Athera: Hmmm...defintitely her eyes. Which...I know I eluded to that or Evune too, but they really just have gorgeous eyes. Athera’s have a teal/light blue eye color with specks of silver. They’re gorgeous. The light hitting them just gives you different shades that just...wow. Its no surprise that she caught the attention of the Dread Wolf. 

Blair: Her smile. She is always smiling and it will just blow you away--you can’t help but smile right back at her. That smile will become the center of your galaxy if you’re not careful. It’s even more wow-ing when she actually decides to wear lipstick. 

Suzume: Honestly...I could say hair, or her beautiful green eyes, or the way her blush makes her face light up...but it’s honestly her tattoos. Suzume is decently curved with an hourglass figure, but it’s not something she shows off. At least...not upfront. Her tattoos. Suzume has an eye of an artist, and every tattoo is placed perfectly, allowing the lines to  flow naturally with her body. They’re gorgeous honestly. You could look at them for hours, though after a while I could guess you’d be staring for other reasons. 

Kumeko: She would tell you its her hair, half (natural) metallic silver, and half (dyed) electric blue. But...it’s gonna be her curves. She has pretty decent curves, and she absolutely shows them off. She’s not really overly revealing or anything, she just wears clothes that really complement her and she’s proud of how she looks. 

2. What is the most attractive part of their personality?

Evune: Her fierceness and her sense of humor. She’s very passionate and is just...a lot of fun, to be honest.

Athera: Her kindness and patience. She’s kind to everyone and is always patient with people, epsecially when they need it.

Blair: Her compassion. There’s an empathy that Blair has about her that just draws you in and you can’t really escape it, no matter how long you try. 

Suzume: Her belief in others, especially in herself. Even she struggles with self doubt, but honestly, the sheer belief in herself and confidence in her students and friends so heartwarming. 

Kumeko: Her bubbliness. Mostly because she uses it to make everyone’s day good, including hers, and she never fails to be optimistic. 

3. What benefits come with being their friend?

Evune: A fierce loyalty, honestly. She will have your back whether you’re right or wrong, because that doesn’t matter--you do. Plus, she’ll drink and sing with you. 

Athera: She is lowkey a mom friend, so she’ll make sure you’re doing okay. Plus, she’s defintely someone to mentor you if you needed. 

Blair: A friend that will always make sure you’re knowledgeable about what you’re talking about.  She’ll correct you for your benefit, and do it kindly, just to make sure you’re at your best.

Suzume: ...uh...she draws. And cooks...she’ll probably grumble about it, but she’ll absolutely bring you food to work and honestly, she’s just a good support. She speaks honestly about her opinion, but she has your back. 

Kumeko: Lots of shopping sprees and a true cheerleader, honestly. Constantly cheering you on and trying to play matchmaker for you (yes Suzume is bitching in the corner, its fine.)

4. What parts of them do they like and dislike?

Evune: There might be a scar or two with a bad memory, but other than that, nothing. Evune is very “take me as I am, or don’t take me at all” and she will be very direct about it. She’s not about that. 

Athera: She’s never really thought about that because she just...never really considered pulling herself apart like that. If she had to choose something, it would be the way she comes across as naive (because she is, just don’t tell her that). She hates how people treat her because of it. Also her nose. 

Blair: Her feet. She’s so weird about her feet, she is always wearing socks because of it. 

Suzume: She hates that she’s quiet and awkward, honestly. She can be shy at times, depending on who she’s around, and she doesn’t understand it because she’s mostly a confident person. She also lowkey hates that she looks so different from her adoptive family, only because of the questions seh gets because of it. Its why she put dark green streaks in her hair. 

Kumeko: This girl loves every damn inch of herself, who are we kidding? 

5. What parts of others do they envy?

Evune: I wouldn’t call it envy, but she feels very bitter regarding the people who have had a good life and still find a reason to bitch about it. She just wants her people to have better. 

Athera: The lack of responsibility. She wishes that she didn’t have the fate of the world on her shoulders, and she envies those who don’t have to worry about the things she does. 

Blair: Not having meta powers that might kill your friends when you lose control. Gee, must be nice.

Suzume: Mostly, nothing. She does wish she could be more charismatic though. It would help her speak to a certain someone without blushing like mad and glaring at the ground. 

Kumeko: Not a damn thing. This girl is happy with herself and what she can do, it took her some time to get there. But ultimately, she came to the conclusion that you have to love yourself for who you are and focus on what you can become, instead of seeing all the things you aren’t and comparing yourself to other people when it’s not relevant to you. 

M: Maternal

1. Would they want a daughter or a son?

Evune: Her and Cullen end up actually having a girl and then a boy, but she never really thought she would have kids to be honest. 

Athera: She ends up with twins: a boy and a girl. But she’s in Evune’s boat, she wasn’t exactly planning on having kids or even meeting someone.

Blair: She never thought about kids until Leonard, then once she’s pregnant, she can’t help but imagine a little girl, which she ends up having. 

Suzume: She didn’t really have a preference, she was just shocked that she was becoming a mom. Suzume wasn’t sure how it happened, but it did.

Kumeko: Girls. She wanted daughters because after pretty much adopting Eri, she wanted more little precious girls running around their house. They ended up with twins, a boy and girl, and she was so excited and happy. 

2. How many children do they want?

Evune: She’s never really thought about it, but she’s happy with the one, open to having just one more. 

Athera: Just the two. Athera has a lot on her plate, the twins are honestly enough for her. 

Blair: I would say probably 4, because she wants a big family. She loves kids. 

Suzume: She wants a couple more because she at least wants another girl, and maybe just another, depending. 

Kumeko: I think she’d wanna try for another to make it an even number, with Eri and the twins making three, but after that, she’s good. 

3. Would they be a good parent?

Evune: She didn’t think she would, to be honest, but she’s a fantastic mom. She really tries her best and loves her children deeply. 

Athera: Yes, though she doesn’t feel like it. Their father is gone and she has so much repsonibility, she feels that she’s failing at being a mother. 

Blair: Absolutely. She’s really good with kids and that definitely applied to her parenting. 

Suzume: Yes, though she was worried for a minute that she wouldn’t be. She’s a high school teacher, so she doesn’t have a whole lot of experience with tiny humans. But she’s fantastic, just like Tai said she would be. 

Kumeko: She is PHENOMENAL. She honestly is super mom, and she’s the go-to nanny when Suzume needs someone to babysit. 

4. What would they name a son? what would they name a daughter?

Evune: I haven’t decided on the son’s name, but the girl is Mirae, which means Little Thief in elvish. They did it on purpose becaus Cullen would call Evune his little thief because she would take or mess with things on his desk. 

Athera: The daughter is named Soufei (the strength of a thousand wolves) and Hallen (which has something to do with halla). Essentially, wolf and halla related for her and Solas. Symbolism.

Blair: I...have not named their daughter. But it would probably be something space related because Blair is definitely that person...girl really loves space. 

Suzume: I haven’t really figured out the details for their kids just yet, but she would want their names to be meaningful.

Kumeko: Same as Suzume, but honestly, whatever sounds good. Kumeko just wants it to sound cool and she’s good. 

5. Would they adopt?

Evune: She would if the occasion would arise where she came across a child in need. She doesn’t have the heart to just ignore that. 

Athera: I don’t think she would actively seek adopting a child. I think that Athera would do everything in her power to make sure the child found a loving and safe home, only adopting if she failed, because she’s not letting an orphan suffer a terrible fate with an orphanage or worse. 

Blair: She would, and I think it was something she considered at one point. Like, no, she really didn’t think she would have kids, but she had little thoughts of “what if” when it came to adopting. 

Suzume: In a heartbeat. She was adopted herself, so that’s definitely something she would do. Giving a child a loving home is something she would think about doing. Especially with how she takes some of the students under her wing. 

Kumeko: I mean, technically, she does. Her and Aizawa adopt Eri, so yeah, she absolutely would do that. 

P: Personality

1. What is their best personality trait?

Evune: Her sense of humor, I think. Evune is sarcastic and hilarious. Granted she will use it to tear you down, but when she’s doing it for genuine fun with her friends, she’ll have to in stitches. 

Athera: Patience. It makes her so kind and forgiving, honestly. Athera is so soft most of the time, and people are sometimes shocked with the lack of judgement that comes with her. 

Blair: Cheerfulness. She’s usually always in such a good mood, to be honest. There’s always an underlying happy disposition with her...until you piss her off. 

Suzume: If you asked her, she would just shrug and avoid you. But her fierceness...is just...she’s very passionate, truly. She’s very strong-willed, especially when it comes to her protecting people. 

Kumeko: Determination. This girl doesn’t know what the phrase “give up” means, it’s not a thing she has ever done or heard. She sticks to something to the very end. She won’t quit you. 

2. What is their worst personality trait?

Evune: Arrogance. And with her, its more patronizing. Mostly because of her tongue, she will cut you with words and make you feel small. It will drive her to challenge you, mock you, and make a show to demonstrate how wrong you are and to stroke her pride. 

Athera: Arrogance as well, but hers is different. While Evune’s is external, Athera’s is internal. She will raise her head high, and naively believe she’s right (whether she is or not), and brings about a stubborness that can be suffocating. You won’t be able to talk to her, she won’t hear you because she has already made up her mind. 

Blair: Logical. I know that doesn’t sound bad, but when someone is looking for emotional support, Blair isn’t the girl for you. She’ll immediately break down the situation and come at you with logic rather than the emotional support you need.

Suzume: Guarded and pessimistic. Suzume has a hard time being emotionally vulnerable at times, mostly because sh’s not sure how to be. She knows she’s hard to read and that people get frustrated and kinda give up on their first try with her. She can be a little pessimistic, though she’s normally a realist. It’s always something to do with her personally though.

Kumeko: Obnoxious. Its not a secret that Kumeko can be...a little much sometimes. She tries to tone it down for certain people or when the situation calls for it, but mostly, she’s a take it or leave it kinda girl. If she’s too loud for you, she’ll say “sorry, but that’s how I am” and then move away from you with a smile. 

3. What of their personality do others love?

Evune: With her, it’s not just one thing. It’s everything that makes her her. She’s just a mix of things honestly, you can’t detangle that mess.

Athera: Her kindness. It makes her forgiving and warm to those who interact with her. 

Blair: I would say her dependability. Blair is always there, no matter what, and she absolutely has your back--whether that’s physically or mentally. 

Suzume: When you really get to know her, her softness. Because not everyone gets to see it or even recognizes it when it happens. 

Kumeko: Charisma! She has a natural charisma that she oozes and so many people get blown away by it. 

4. What of their personality do others envy?

Evune: The way she gives zero fucks about anyone other than those close to her. She will dead ass ignore you. 

Athera: I want to say resilience because the girl has gone through some stuff, and she’s still standing. She lost her arm, girl has guts. 

Blair: Tenacity. She won’t back down, her spine is made of steel. Especially when she knows she’s right about something. Good luck with that. 

Suzume: Her ability to stay calm. Suzume is very level-headed, even in the most dangerous of situations. Girl will jump in front of her students or that yellow hero to protect him (he doesn’t need it), and won’t even flinch. 

Kumeko: The way she can make every situation seem bright, no matter how dark it really is. She always makes things better.  

5. Do they hate anything about their personality/about other’s personalities?

Evune: For herself? No. Others? Absolutely. If you rub her the wrong way, she’s not going to like you. It’s not really about a specific thing, it’s just a vibe. Like Cassandra and Blackwall...she doesn’t like them. If you lie to her though, you’re done for. 

Athera: She hates dishonesty because she’s the kind of person that you can come to about these things with no judgement on her part. Now about herself, she does hate how she can be a little too nice. It makes her think that people try walking over her or steer her in the direction they personally want her to go. 

Blair: Her being more logical in emotional situations bothers her, so she tries to work on it. She hates people that are deceptive, the kind that like to play their cards close to their chests. Not necessarily lying (though she hates that too), but just not being upfront about it. 

Suzume: Arrogance, she can’t stand it. You will absolutey paint a target on your back with it, because she’ll be super sarcastic and dismissive of you if you are. If you’re overly arrogant, she will watch and hope for you to trip and fall on your face so she can just raise her brow at you and walk away after being like “see? Not so great, huh?”. She is not Bakugo’s favorite teacher. She wishes she wasn’t so awkward at times, to be honest. It would make things easier for her. 

Kumeko: Just...bitterness. Like, being mean for no reason. She doesn’t understand it and she won’t put up with it. If you’re being a bully, she will absolutely call you out on it, Kumeko isn’t afraid to step in when she needs to. Now, she loves everything about herself and her personality--shocking nobody. 

R: Rules

1. Do they follow rules?

Evune: No, they’re just kind suggestions or she just doesn’t care. She makes her own rules. Meme of “I’m the Captain now” goes: here. 

Athera: She does her best! They’re there for a reason and she doesn’t want trouble. 

Blair: Yes, but she will bend them for the greater good. But mostly, she’s following the rules. 

Suzume: Oh yeah, she follows rules. Now, there may be moments where she instills her own set of rules, but not very often. It depends on the situation. 

Kumeko: Is a very good law-abiding hero! She will encourage you to not jay walk and all sorts of things.

2. Would they be a strict or laid-back parent?

Evune: A mixture of both. She’s firm, but she’s also the parent that’s probably doing something really stupid to make the kids laugh. 

Athera: More on the strict side, but it’s a soft version of it. Very guiding, in a way. 

Blair: More on the stricter side. She’s a fun parent, but there’s a routine and schedule thats down pat and she has a calendar that has post it notes to keep track of everything. 

Suzume: Another mixture, but she’s soft. She it more guiding than strict, and she will have fun with her kids, she’s just more quiet than Tai is. 

Kumeko: Abosultely laid back. Aizawa has to be the strict parent because Kumeko can’t be strict to save her life, she likes having too much fun with her kids. 

3. Have they ever been consequenced for breaking a rule?

Evune: Yes, but that doesn’t stop her. That just tells her she needs to up her game and not get caught. The noble was a strict guardian, so she had to really watch her step. 

Athera: Yes, and she immediately felt bad about it. She’s the one to learn her lesson unlike her cousin. 

Blair: No, not really. Blair hasn’t really broken any rules. 

Suzume: No, because if she did, it was small or she wasn’t caught. 

Kumeko: Yep, as a kid, and she would put on the innocent “I won’t do it again, promise” only to do it again, but better. 

4. Have they broken any rules they now regret breaking?

Evune: Nope! No regrets! 

Athera: Yes, messing with the Dread Wolf statues outside of the clan--she worried that she might have put a curse on her clan for it. 

Blair: Nope!

Suzume: No, she was never caught. Maybe pirating that movie once, but that’s it. It just put a virus on her laptop when she was a kid. 

Kumeko: Getting kicked out of the karaoke bar after hacking the machine. It was her favorite place. 

5. Do they find any rules they/others follow absolutely ridiculous?

Evune: The rule that her and Varric can’t participate in the archery contest because they would both win every damn match. 

Athera: Some of them, but she follows them anyway. Like the whole mage and elf restrictions are ridiculous to her. 

Blair: She personally thinks that any rule Rip has is stupid, but she follows them because he’s captain. 

Suzume: There are some rules that will make her look at you like “really?”, but she follows them because they’re there for a reason and she needs to set a good example.

Kumeko: Mosly the rules at the karaoke bar, but other than that, she has no issue with following rules. 

S: Streets

1. Are they street-smart?

Evune: Absolutely. She knows her way around and isn’t stupid. She lived on the streets when she was in the alienage, she’s no stranger to it. 

Athera: Not in the slightest. This girl has lived in her clan for all of her life, she’s way too sheltered for it. Evune would have to go with her so nothing bad would happen. 

Blair: A little bit, yeah. She doesn’t use that knowledge to her advantage, she’s just aware of some of it. 

Suzume: Yes. Suzume is very street-smart, she can hold her own. 

Kumeko: Absolutely not. Kumeko struggles with it a bit, and even Fatgum has to explain some things here and there to her, because she’s never really had to think much of it. Just fight the villain, then save and smile at the civilians. 

2. Would they give money to someone on the streets?

Evune: Yes, she’s been there and she knows what it’s like, so she’s going to give what she can. But will also keep an extra eye out because she’s a rogue and she knows what cons can be played. 

Athera: Of course. Athera is a giving person, she would want to help in anyway she can. 

Blair: Without question. She will even try and help them find a job or to better their situation. 

Suzume: In a heartbeat. But she’s also escorting them to a shelter, a soup kitchen, or somewhere they will be safe. The streets aren’t safe to live on and they deserve more. 

Kumeko: She’s not only giving them money, she’s using her standing as a hero to help out with charity if she can. Hiring them for something, even, to help get them on their feet. 

3. Have they ever gotten in a fight on the streets?

Evune: Ha! That’s not even a question? What kind are we talking? Fists? Knives? She’s done both!

Athera: Nope, never. Very sheltered, this one. 

Blair: Only hero fights when she’s patrolling. Other than that, no. 

Suzume: Yep! As a hero, she’s had her fair share of fights, even on her time off. 

Kumeko: Pretty much the same as Suzume: she’s a hero, she’s fighting often. 

4. Has anything happened to them on the streets?

Evune: A lot, honestly. Mostly fighting, robbing, and just trying to survive, honestly. Not much different than any other elf in the alienages. 

Athera: No, she’s never had an instance like that. 

Blair: You mean like when Leonard Snart kidnapped her ass with Mick? Or when she almost lost control of her powers when patrolling with Ollie? Pffft, what? 

Suzume: She’s been jumped before...or at least, there was an attempt of it. Girl can kick ass and take names. So that’s what she did. 

Kumeko: A guy tried taking her purse once, but she blasted his ass with her speakers and turned him in to the authorities. 

5. Are they cautious when out?

Evune: Very much so. Her guard never falls when she’s out and about. She learned you have to always be careful. 

Athera: Yes, she knows that her kind isn’t treated well, and she won’t let her guard slip to allow her to be vulnerable. 

Blair: Not really, no. She’s going to just go about about her day like normal until something happens that calls for her to be cautious. 

Suzume: Yes and no. She’s aware, but not like...overly cautious. Its a mixture of ease and caution. 

Kumeko: Not at all. If something happens, she’s goit it. Anyone would be stupid to mess with her. 

#my ocs #asks #dragon age #arrowverse #mha

[thevalleyisjolly]

What the Taste Buds Had Left: A Crown of Candy PVP Scenario

[THIS POST IS ALL SPOILERS FOR A CROWN OF CANDY’S SEASON FINALE]

Like many fans, I was relieved that the last episode of A Crown of Candy did not end in PVP.  Like many fans, I was also a little excited to see how a PVP would have played out.  Now, obviously we can’t reliably predict any outcomes.  There’s always roleplay and player agency, to say nothing of dice rolls, so even the most likely outcome is never guaranteed.  However, we can look at the circumstances of each character going into a theoretical PVP, and potentially how that might affect their performance.  

First, a huge thanks to Kyber Bonsai, Tillie the Paladin, and gluegunshots, who put together the transcripts for Episodes 16 and 17 on the D20 wiki!  The transcripts were my main resource in gathering data, and saved me a lot more time and effort than if I had to go through the episodes, pausing every five seconds.  Thank you for your invaluable work in making D20 more accessible!  Thank you also to the D20 wiki editors!  Most of the stats and information about magical items came from the character pages on the wiki, so thank you for your hard work!  Thank you to Samir Barrett (@sketchmasterskillz), whose amazing official art for ACOC is included below.  And a quick shoutout to the folks at CritRoleStats, whose pre-combat “What Do The Mighty Nein Have Left” posts inspired my own efforts here.

Data Collection

The data reflects the current HP and remaining abilities of each character at the point when Saccharina and Ruby make their decisions.  Data collection began with the first spell slot used in Episode 16 (a 2nd level Pass Without a Trace from Liam before the battle started), and ended with Calroy’s death.  I focused on HP and limited-use abilities such as spell slots and magical items.  

For the sake of brevity, I have chosen not to include in this post every single class feature that each character has, and have instead highlighted limited-use abilities.  Unless otherwise stated, assume the character has access to their regular class and sub-class features.  Most of the class features that I’ve omitted can be found in the standard 5th edition Player’s Handbook, and the D&D 5e wiki contains the information for additional subclasses.  I’ve also assumed that apart from magical items and Lou’s Great Weapon Master feat, no homebrew edits have been made.

For magical items, I’ve elected not to describe every single magical ability, except those with particular homebrew features (e.g. Payment Day, Swirlwarden).  All magical weapons are +1 weapons (except Payment Day, which is +2).

While I was able to determine max HP for most of the characters going into the final battle, I was not able to determine Saccharina’s, as she did not take any damage in the fight, nor in the episode after she levelled up.  At Level 9, her HP max was 58.  She has an unknown Constitution modifier.  If Emily followed the Player’s Handbook when building Saccharina, Constitution would be her second highest score as a sorcerer.  Whether or not Constitution is her second highest ability score, I think it’s safe to assume that Saccharina would not have a negative modifier, giving us a range from +0 to +4 (I’m assuming she does not have a Constitution of 20).

Given those factors, we can estimate her Level 10 HP to be between 59 and 68.  She already had her two levels of cleric when we met her, so every level up since then has been sorcerer levels.  Sorcerers have a d6 hit die, so the lowest increase she could potentially have is +1 (1 + 0 CON mod) and the highest increase is +10 (6 + 4 CON mod).  Since she has healing spells, her exact HP doesn’t matter too much unless it comes to very high damage from a single attack (à la Lapin and Keradin), which it could, but that’s impossible to predict.  Suffice to say that for the purposes of this scenario, Saccharina has full health.

And now, on to the fun stuff!

Saccharina - Storm Sorcerer 8, Tempest Cleric 2

[ID: The official art for Saccharina Frostwhip by Samir Barrett @sketchmasterskillz. Saccharina has green skin and a neapolitan mohawk.   She wears a silver tiara, a blue-green outfit dotted with dark spots and a light brown front panel, a white cloak, chocolate pauldrons with cherries on the shoulders, and waffle shinguards.  She holds a spoon-shaped staff in one hand which crackles with lightning energy, and her other hand outstretched to the side also crackles with lightning energy. She stands with a confident posture, and is looking to the side with hooded eyes and a smile.]

HP: Full (between 59-68 HP) AC: 20 Remaining Spell Slots: 1st level (4), 2nd level (2), 3rd level (1), 4th level (3) Sorcery Points: 5/8 Luck Points: 2/3

Feats: War Caster, Lucky

Magical Items Winterscoop Staff: 0 remaining charges; resistance to cold damage Freezerburn: Magical sword

Cinnamon HP: 65/178 Breath Weapon: Unknown

Cinnamon was one of Saccharina’s greatest assets in the battle.  Thanks to the enemy soldiers targeting Cinnamon with their attacks, Saccharina ends the battle with full health and most of her resources.  While both her 5th level spells are gone and the Winterscoop Staff is out of charges, she still has a good number of higher level spells, as well as access to healing spells.  There is the caveat that depending on how long it took between the end of the battle and the start of the PVP, the Haste spell she cast on Cinnamon in Round 4 of the battle may wear off (the battle ended during Round 11).  If it wears off before PVP starts, Cinnamon can still attack on her turn.  If it wears off during a round of PVP, he is stunned for a round, which could prove decisive.

In a PVP, Cinnamon could once again be her greatest asset, provided he is not stunned.  While it isn’t clear whether or not his breath weapon recharged after its last use in the battle, he’s still a large enough threat with his HP and melee attacks that an attacker would most likely focus on downing him first.  Lou revealed in the Adventuring Party’s for Episodes 16 and 17 that he’d been tracking Cinnamon’s HP and that in the case of PVP, he’d eliminate Cinnamon first to try and deescalate the situation.  Given that Amethar is one of the characters who could drop Saccharina to 0 in one turn (depending on her HP), this may give Saccharina the round advantage she needs to bring down Amethar first.

Lou was absolutely correct in identifying Saccharina as his biggest immediate threat (other than Cinnamon, of course).  With a 4th level Lightning Bolt and a Channel Divinity to deal maximum damage, Saccharina could easily drop Amethar at his current HP to 0 with one attack if he fails his save.  In fact, despite having the lowest max HP of the party, Saccharina is easily one of the most dangerous PCs, thanks to Emily’s excellent build.  With a 20 AC, a spell save DC of 17, and her levels in cleric, it would take a massive single attack to pose an immediate serious threat to her.  However…

Ruby - Arcane Trickster Rogue 9, Shadow Magic Sorcerer 1

[ID: The official art for Ruby Rocks by Samir Barrett @sketchmasterskillz.  Ruby has pink skin and red locks of hair tied back into a high tail.  She wears a jewelled red tiara, an all-red outfit with puffed sleeves, and curved toe black shoes.  She is standing partially crouched, with her hands before her in fists, and looking to the side with a focused expression.]

HP: 55/78 AC: 17 Remaining Spell Slots: 1st level (4), 2nd level (3)

Feats: Squat Nimbleness, Magic Initiate

Magical Items Sour Scratch: Grasping Arrow (once/long rest), Acid Arrow (once/long rest) Flickerish: Shield (once/day), 1d6 Superiority Die (Disarming Attack) Locket of the Sweetest Heart: Advantage on death saving throws if other locket is within 5’ Water-steel Dagger: Imposes three conditions requiring saving throws - extra damage, poisoned condition, prevents target from speaking

Ruby has been very strategic throughout the battle, saving her spells and limited abilities for a potential PVP at the end.  The battle has taken out a chunk of her health, only about a third, but enough to put her in danger if she takes an attack from Cinnamon or Saccharina.  As a rogue, she does have Evasion and Uncanny Dodge, which could allow her to mitigate some of the damage from such an attack, although she would still be brought down low and could potentially go down at the next attack.

Of the six PCs, Ruby is one of the best placed when it comes to her resources and abilities.  She has all her spell slots, and full access to all her class abilities.  In particular, as a first level Shadow Magic sorcerer, Ruby has the feature Strength of the Grave.  If damage from a non-critical and non-radiant hit reduces her to 0, she can make a Charisma saving throw (DC = 5 + damage taken) to instead drop to 1 HP.  Paired with the Locket of the Sweetest Heart (if Liam is nearby and on her side), this provides her with a little more wiggle room if she drops to 0.

Rogues in general are very versatile.  Most of their class features are not limited use, and can be used in a variety of situations.  For a partial caster, she doesn’t have very many damage-dealing spells, but her hefty weapon arsenal compensates for that, with Sour Scratch, Flickerish, and the Water-steel Dagger all having considerable abilities and also meeting the requirements for a Sneak Attack weapon.  As we saw with Ciabatta, 5d6 Sneak Attack paired with the Water Steel Dagger is a deadly combination.  Ruby also has Yak, who can grant her advantage on an attack or check.  She may not be as openly formidable as Amethar, but she is just as dangerous in many ways.

Amethar - Storm Herald Barbarian 5, Battle Master 5

[ID: The official art for Amethar Rocks by Samir Barrett @sketchmasterskillz.  Amethar has pink skin and a green beard.  He wears a jewelled crown of purple and gold, an elaborate outfit of striped red and purple, a purple suit of armour and boots, a furred purple cloak, gold vambraces, and various jewels decorate the ensemble.  He holds Payment Day, a gold-coloured sword with an enormous blade, in his hand, and has a strong stance with a serious expression on his face.]

HP: 48/116 AC: 17 Rages: 2 Superiority Dice: 2

Feats: Great Weapon Master (modified - roll +2d6 damage instead of flat +10)

Magical Items Payment Day: Extra damage die against creature who hit you in the previous round; if you roll a Natural 20 against a creature who has killed a member of your family, they must make a constitution saving throw (DC 16) or be killed

Amethar has been in the thick of battle, getting the kills on Grissini and Calroy, which is reflected in his HP (under half of his total).  However, he has not used his Second Wind yet, which could give him the boost he needs to withstand a round of attacks from Saccharina and Cinnamon.  While he’s already used up his Action Surge, he still has two attacks per round, and if anyone kills Ruby, Payment Day’s special ability could come through once again.

By design, high level barbarians are really difficult to kill, and Amethar’s levels in fighter make him even more scarily efficient in dealing damage.  Rage halves any bludgeoning, slashing, or piercing damage, which effectively makes Saccharina and Cinnamon the only ones who can consistently deal full damage to him, since Liam has used up almost all his magical attacks.  Unless Saccharina or Cinnamon deal significant damage in the early rounds of combat, Amethar is unlikely to go down until the end.

Having said that, Amethar is such an obvious threat that from a purely mechanical perspective, it makes sense for all the other characters to focus on him (à la Critical Role’s Battle Royales where nearly all the players focused on Grog).  Ruby can be very deadly in her own right, but she’s not going to present the same immediate danger as someone who doesn’t take full damage from an attack.  If Amethar tanks and absorbs attacks from other PCs, this could give Ruby leeway to either get her own attacks in or to make an escape.

Theo - Eldritch Knight Fighter 10

[ID: The official art for Sir Theobald Gumbar by Samir Barrett @sketchmasterskillz.  Theo is a red gummy bear with big white moustache.  He wears an entire suit of golden plate armour and a golden helmet, with a purple sash and a red cloak.  He holds a purple lollipop shield in one hand, and a sword shaped like an orange popsicle in the other.  He stands at attention, with a focused expression on his face.]

HP: 116/140 AC: 21 Remaining Spell Slots: 1st level (2), 2nd level (2)

Feats: Heavy Armor Master, Tough, Alert

Magical Items Battlepop: Compelled Duel (once/day) Swirlwarden: Use reaction to move up to 30’ and take attack meant for ally

Yeah, you read right.  Theo’s HP max is 140, with an AC of 21 (I had to calculate this three times because I couldn’t believe it).  His current HP is equal to Amethar’s total max HP.  Theo may not be a barbarian, but he’s not going down any time soon.  He’s also been fairly conservative with his abilities, leaving him with the majority of his spell slots, as well as his Action Surge.  He also has a good list of cantrips, notably Blade Ward (resistance against bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage until the end of his next turn) and Green Flame Blade (1d8 + spellcasting ability modifier fire damage to target w/in 5 feet).  And of course, he has Princess to give him Help on attacks and checks (Find Familiar is so, so useful).

As Murph remarked in the finale, Theo doesn’t do what the other characters do, which is deal lots of damage.  As Brennan subsequently remarked, Theo doesn’t do that because what Theo does do is not get hit by attacks.  One of Theo’s potential roles in this hypothetical PVP scenario is to tank in the action economy.  Like Amethar, he’s a big threat because he’s difficult to down.  Thanks to the feature War Magic, he can cast cantrips as an action and make a weapon attack as a bonus action, so if he casts Blade Ward on himself each turn, he essentially becomes a foil to Amethar.  If Amethar and Ruby focused their attacks on trying to down Theo, this could allow his allies the breathing space they need to heal or make their own attacks.

In Lou’s strategy that he discussed in the final Adventuring Party, he placed Theo as the last on Amethar’s kill order.  While his order of kills is heartbreaking from a roleplaying perspective, it’s a very astute calculation.  Given his build, Theo is likely to be one of the last characters left standing, if not the last.  Even if he consistently uses Swirlwarden to tank damage for his allies, his considerable HP makes him unlikely to drop anytime soon, short of some really impressive damage rolls.  Amethar could try and team up on Theo with Ruby to bring him down to more manageable health, but that would leave them open to other attacks.  Murph really went a 110% in making Theo a bodyguard, and honestly, good for him, it’s what he deserves.

Liam - Gloomstalker Ranger 6, Assassin Rogue 4

[ID: The official art for Liam Wilhelmina by Samir Barrett @sketchmasterskillz.  Liam has pink skin, a red nose, rosy cheeks, and short dark red hair.  He wears pink overalls, a red and white striped shirt, red boots and gloves, and a red and white hat.  He carries a large pack containing a bed roll and a lantern, and has a quiver of arrows and a book attached to his belt.  He is mid stride, looking down at his feet with a neutral expression.  A small pig with peppermint stripe markings trots beside him, wearing a purple collar with the letter “P” and looking up at Liam with a happy expression.]

HP: 77/90 AC: 16 Remaining Spell Slots: None

Feats: Crossbow Expert, Sharpshooter

Magical Items Crossbow: Bursting Arrow (once/day - used), Ice Knife (once/day) Locket of the Sweetest Heart: Advantage on death saving throws if other locket is within 5’ Seed of Change: ???

First, props to Ally for their roleplaying!  Most of the characters going into the battle anticipated a possible PVP at the end and saved their resources, but in-game, no one told Liam the full —or even half— story.  This means Liam did not have any reason to hold back during the final battle, which is exactly how Ally played him.  Liam used up all of his spell slots during the battle, as well as the Bursting Arrow feature on his crossbow, leaving him with his crossbow’s Ice Knife feature as his sole magical attack.

However, Liam is still a force to be reckoned with.  He still has two attacks each turn, and he’s absolutely deadly in the first turn of combat, where Dread Ambusher gives him a bonus to initiative roles, and Assassinate gives him advantage against any creatures who haven’t taken a turn in combat yet, with any hit on a surprised creature being a critical hit.  Dread Ambusher also gives him a bonus 10 feet of movement in his first round, and an extra attack with a bonus 1d8 damage if it lands.  He also has 2d6 Sneak Attack, which paired with his other features, means that Peppermint Batman’s still got a few tricks up his sleeve.

From a roleplay perspective, Liam is the biggest unknown here.  While he told Theo that he would protect Saccharina, that was without knowing the full story, and without being in the circumstances of an actual PVP battle.  Ally’s WiFi cut out during the Adventuring Party when the cast discussed what they would have done in a PVP, which means we don’t know for certain who Liam would have sided with.  If he defends Saccharina, that increases her numbers advantage.  If he sticks with Ruby and Amethar, this potentially tilts the combat in their favour with another big damage dealer.  He’s in a good place with his HP, which means he’s unlikely to go down soon, but he’s also got the lowest AC in the party.  Who knows what might happen?

(Let’s be honest, Ally rolls a narrative nat 20 that results in something unbelievable, unpredictable, and world-altering happening.  They are too powerful, and cannot and should not be stopped)

Cumulous - Long Death Monk 10

[ID: The official art for Cumulous Rocks by Samir Barrett @sketchmasterskillz.  Cumulous has blue skin and poofy light pink hair.  He wears a pink outfit similar to a sleeveless gi with pants, a purple belt, and purple arm and leg wraps.  He holds a white staff in his hand.  Swirls of pink cloud come off of him.  He is mid action pose, with his legs in a mid-dash position and one of his hands brought forwards in a fist.  He looks to the side with a focused, stern expression on his face.]

HP: 85/85 + 6 temp HP AC: 18 Remaining Ki Points: 4/10

Feats: Mage Slayer

Magical Items Fluffwind: Whirlwind Stance; triples long jump; Gaseous Form (once/day)

While not the absolute juggernaut that Theo is, Cumulous is best placed of all the characters in regards to HP, with full health and 6 temp HP remaining from killing a Meatlander.  Although monks in general are not going to see the same staggering amounts of damage as other classes, and are more of a support martial class, Long Death monks excel in the kind of combat we saw in the finale - lots of lower-level enemies that are fairly easy to kill and gain temp HP from.  With a good AC, Cumulous can take a few attacks before being in trouble.

Unlike other martial classes, monks don’t often get the dramatic killing blow.  While they have a lot of attacks, each attack doesn’t deal that much damage by itself.  Monks consistently erode away at an opponent’s health, or stun them so that their allies can get their hits in.  Cumulous burned through a fair number of ki points during the battle, leaving him with a little under half his total, so he’ll have to be strategic about how and when he uses his ki.  Most of the other characters have a good Constitution and decent ACs, so it may be in his best interest to save his ki for mobility.

Cumulous has two big assets in a PVP battle, which are his mobility and the many hogwild (and unlimited) features that monks have.  With Unarmored Movement and Step of the Wind, he can move up to 150 feet in a turn, which includes across liquids and on vertical surfaces.  He has Slow Fall, allowing him to negate up to 50 points of falling damage, and he’s immune to poison and disease (which may come in useful against the Water-steel Dagger).  Thanks to being on Team Saccharina, he doesn’t have to worry about area of effect spells targeted at him.  If all else fails, he can book the fuck out of there to a safe distance and use Gaseous Form to escape from there.  

Conclusions

As I said at the beginning, there is no real way to predict the outcome of a PVP.  Besides raw mechanics, there’s roleplay, player agency, and of course, the dice.  Even looking at how each character is placed doesn’t necessarily translate to performance.  Mechanically, Ruby has the most resources left available, but that doesn’t mean she’d be able to overcome a worse case scenario of four PC attackers and a dragon.  Cumulous and Theo are doing the best in terms of HP, but would have difficulty downing another PC by themselves.  Amethar and Saccharina both have the potential to deal massive damage, but sorcerers are called “glass cannons” for a reason, and even with Rage, Amethar is sitting at a low HP.  Liam is an unknown quantity who could tip the scales in favour of one side or the other, but he has used up most of his devastating “war guy” abilities.

With the multitude of different factors (e.g. initiative order, possible crits, sheer buckwild shenanigans), it could realistically be either side left standing.  Team Saccharina has the advantage of numbers and several very hard to kill PCs, Team Ruby has the advantage of big damage dealers (not to mention rogues and barbarians are A Challenge to deal with on their own, never mind together).  As part of a team, each character has a better chance of survival and “winning,” with other characters being able to balance out their teammates’ weaker areas.  #teamworkmakesthedreamwork  All this, of course, without including the possibility of NPCs being convinced to join the fight.

But if there’s one thing we’ve seen in A Crown of Candy, it’s that there doesn’t have to be just two choices, either or.  There’s a third possibility, not between the two but something more, of change.  The fact that this is just a thought exercise bears that out.  Many thanks to the Dimension 20 cast and crew for an amazing season!

#dimension 20 #a crown of candy #long post #acoc spoilers #disclaimer: i am not a professional dm and master combat analyst

[localhorrornerd]

31 Horror Movies for the Halloween Season

Well.. It’s a little bit over 31 bc of sequels and such but it’s a fun title for horror recs! For the record these are in no particular order in like what’s the best or anything! It’s just a list of horror movie recommendations that might get you in the Halloween mood. I tried not to have huge well-known movies on here, but I did throw in a few just because I love them and couldn’t resist. I did try to add small descriptions for each one, but given there’s like 31 movies on here, they are rather short. Either way, hopefully you’ll find one or a couple movies here that you’re interested in!

1. Trick ‘r Treat

A rather well-known one but is it really a list without Trick ‘r Treat? A fun horror anthology with four different stories that connect to each other in some way - including the fact they all take place on Halloween night! A fun one to actually watch on Halloween.

2. Hell House LLC

For the record there are two sequels (Hell House LLC 2: The Abaddon Hotel & Hell House LLC 3: Lake of Fire), however I have not seen either of them so can’t include them here, but if you want to watch them I’d say go check them out! Basically it’s a documentary style type film that follows what happened up to the days a horrible tragedy took place on the opening night of a haunted house attraction. No one knows exactly what actually went down, so the reason for the documentary is to attempt to figure out what truly happened that night.

3. Repo! The Genetic Opera

A horror musical! It’s set in a future where organ failure is extremely common so naturally a huge company comes along and is like “Okay you can have an organ transplant, but you have a huge payment plan and if you can’t pay then we’re just gonna kill you and take your organs back.” Also it has so many good songs would highly recommend if you haven’t seen it (and you can stomach a bit of gore).

4. The Devil’s Carnival & Alleluia! The Devil’s Carnival

Another horror musical! And done by the same people who did Repo! For the record The Devil’s Carnival is only about an hour long but the sequel is a full length movie! A short quick explanation is that it’s set in Hell (unsurprisingly) and follows the people who end up there - also during this the Devil is planning an attack - but I’ll let you find out the rest if you haven’t seen it yet.

5. Ju-On and/or The Grudge (Any Film)

It’s my favorite horror franchise, so of course Ju-On was gonna end up on here! Whether it be the original Japanese films or the American remakes, it follows vengeful spirits who were murdered in their home and are taking revenge on anyone who enters.

6. Sinister & Sinister 2

Okay I know Sinister 2 is one not very well liked, but since I have seen it I decided I might as well include it (though I don’t really remember my thoughts on it it’s been a while). Video tapes that contain children murdering their families and a mysterious being that may be at the center of it is the basic plot for these movies.

7. Tragedy Girls

Basically you got two best friends who capture a serial killer because they themselves want to become serial killers! Don’t wanna say too much outside of that, as that is the basic plot concept honestly, but it’s a really fun movie.

8. The Final Girls

A girl dealing with the anniversary of her mother’s death ends up, with a small group of others, stuck in a horror movie that her mother actually starred in. Okay as much fun as this one is it does pull on the heart strings a bit I gotta admit. But it’s truly great and naturally has a feel of an older slasher movie.

9. You Might be the Killer

Another one that’s got that older slasher movie vibe as it takes place at a camp. One where the counselors are getting picked off one by one by a masked killer. Comes in our protagonist, who is calling his friend, who isn’t at the camp and also is a huge horror enthusiast, for help to figure out what to do and maybe figure out what’s going on/who the killer is.

10. Danur (aka Danur: I Can See Ghosts)

A young girl who just wants friends finds them in the form of three potentially paranormal ones. Though it seemingly being just a childhood thing, it actually becomes of great importance as she gets older. This movie also has a sequel, Danur 2: Maddah.

11. Fright Night

For the record I am talking about the remake here, as I have not seen the original, but if you would prefer to watch that one - or maybe even both - go for it! Basically, teen starts to believe his new neighbor is a vampire after more and more people go missing. Also David Tennant is there if you go with the remake so that’s always fun!

12. Tales of Halloween

Admittedly I wasn’t too into this film, but I know a lot of people like it! Not too much to say, it’s a horror anthology with 10 different segments that take place on Halloween! So you’re bound to find something you enjoy within it, whether it be the paranormal, witches, or even just dumb fun horror comedy antics.

13. The Tag-Along

Based on an urban legend from Taiwan, “The Little Girl in Red”, it focuses on a man and his girlfriend. Of which the man’s grandmother suddenly goes missing one day - eventually leading to him discovering clues of a potential unknown little girl who had began following his grandmother around. There are two sequels to this movie as well that I have not seen yet, that being The Tag-Along 2 & The Tag-Along: The Devil Fish.

14. Three... Extremes

Another anthology film that contains three separate stories, each one coming from a different East Asian country. It also has a prequel, Three (or 3... Extremes II in the U.S.), and a full length film made from one of the stories within it, Dumplings.

15. The Hallow

Really feel like the point of this movie is like ‘Don’t fuck with the woods’. As it basically focuses on a couple and their baby, who seems to be the target for the odd things happening to them that seems rather connected to the woods nearby.

16. The Devil’s Candy

A man moves with his family into a new home, and slowly begins to feel as though something is possessing him in a sense. That and also the potential fact his family is being targeted by the previous resident of the home.

17. Wake Wood

Apparently FMA did not teach us not to fuck with the dead enough, so here’s a movie about a grieving couple that lost their daughter who move into a town that holds the power to bring someone back from the dead for only 3 days. Unfortunately like FMA, things go horribly wrong (just not... in the same way as FMA).

18. The Cabin in the Woods

College students go out to a cabin in the woods in which things quickly take a turn for the worst. Seems simple enough, but it’s so much more complicated than that - however I won’t be sharing any of those details for those who haven’t watched it yet.

19. Prevenge

A pregnant woman who’s husband has recently passed away, believes that her unborn child wants her to track down and kill everyone who was involved in the accident. An extremely wild but honestly rather fun time.

20. You’re Next

Home invasion, baby! In which everything goes to hell for a family and their partners when masked killers start trying to kill everyone there. Though things take a turn quick and you start to wonder who is really the ones being hunted down here. (A fairly well known one, but I had to recommend it given one of my favorite characters in horror is in this movie)

21. Kuronezumi (aka Black Rat)

Not too much to say here basic plot wise. Six students receive texts from their dead classmate, they follow as the texts ask and go to the school at night, and then start getting targeted by a killer wearing a rat mask.

22. Lights Out

A family potentially being haunted by a creature that only appears when the lights go out? Plus a whole lot of family drama? Always fun truly! It’s also somewhat based off a viral short film of the same name that the director had made before he got to make it a full length film.

23. Absentia

Absolutely had to put a Mike Flanagan movie on here. One that focuses on a pregnant woman who’s started towards attempting to move on with her life after her husband disappeared seven years ago. However, as she takes a huge step towards doing so, something rather odd happens - which I’ll let you find out for yourself if you choose to watch it.

24. Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Perhaps it’s because it’s the one Halloween movie without Michael Myers, or perhaps it’s because I was blanking out on movies I watched that aren’t extremely well-known, but I felt the need to add this one on here. It focuses on this man who is out to kill children on Halloween by using a line of Halloween masks. So basically another fun one to watch on Halloween!

25. The Barn

Teenagers go to a barn where there’s a supposed curse that can awaken Halloween-themed monsters on Halloween night. What could possibly go wrong? Honestly another one that would be a lot of fun to actually watch on Halloween.

26. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

A really fun documentary type film where it’s set in a world where iconic horror slashers are actually real! And a documentary crew are out to make a movie centered around Leslie Vernon, who wishes to go down in history as another one of the famous slashers. This one is really just *chef’s kiss* to me, very much recommend if you haven’t seen it.

27. Creep & Creep 2

Found footage type films in which we follow people who are hired by this rather concerning man to film him. That’s really all I can say unfortunately without trying to give away too much.

28. What We Do in the Shadows

Another documentary-style type movie! It tends to be more comedic than it is horror, but it follows  a group of vampires that live together! Sort of documenting their lives and how they survive day by day. Honestly it’s so ridiculous and hilarious, and I know many people have seen it by now but I have to recommend it none the less as it’s one of my favorites. Plus, it also has an equally hilarious tv series now that you can also give a watch!

29. The Banana Splits Movie

Who doesn’t want to see the Banana Splits as animatronics that start randomly slaughtering people after the news that their show is going to be cancelled? Honestly it’s really just a fun, ridiculous movie that isn’t meant to be taken seriously. Perhaps something to watch with friends to get in the mood for Halloween.

30. The Last Exorcism

Another one that has a sequel I have not seen: The Last Exorcism Part II. Another documentary style film (Sorry I added so many of these whoops), that follows a reverend who goes around performing fake exorcisms. Things start getting a bit more complicated though when lines start beginning to blur between what is real and what is fake while doing his current “exorcism” he was asked to perform.

31. V/H/S & V/H/S 2

There is also a third film, V/H/S: Viral, however I have not seen that one. Not too much to say here, they’re basically just an anthology of short horror films that are supposedly being shown from VHS tapes.

#horror #horror movies #horror movie recs #horror movie recommendations #repo! the genetic opera #the devils carnival #Ju-On #the grudge #halloween #trick r treat #youre next #the cabin in the woods #theres way too movies here to tag them all im gonna stop here #sorry for the wait #leslie vernon #okay now im done #wait #What We Do in the Shadows #okay N O W i am done #horror recommendations #horror recs

[sakkarose]

Ahhh the infamous Sailor Moon Crystal...

(Minor spoiler warning)

It was my first exposure to the wonderful world of Sailor Moon, so it holds a special nostalgic place in my heart. But nonetheless I have a few problems with the series, and many have only come into light since I finished the manga and PGSM. Here’s a little rant about my problems with the show.

1. THE ANIMATION

Okay okay hear me out. I know everyone says that the animation in Crystal is bad and it might get really repetitive sometimes, but hey, they’re not necessarily wrong.

I mean, YIKES. You’d think that for something as big as a Sailor Moon reboot would have a little more effort put into it’s animation.

But no.

At times it looks like a bootleg version of Naoko’s art. And it honestly is sad to see the gorgeous artwork of the manga devolve into such lazy animation. It would also make sense to conclude that the original art style might be hard to transfer into animation, but that’s no excuse to make Sailor Moon and her guardians look as ridiculous and misproportioned as they are.

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I’m also not a fan of Season 3’s art either. While it is absolutely gorgeous compared to earlier seasons, and the animation is wayyyyy better, it just seems like a copy and paste of Pretty Cure or something. And to see the Sailor Moon Franchise mimic something that it ITSELF inspired is just kinda sad.

2. THE ADDED COMEDY

Now while it’s not my style of comedy, it’s not necessarily horrible. Like I’m sure some people might find those little parts funny.

My problem is that Sailor Moon didn’t need that type of comedy in the first place. When Naoko wrote Sailor Moon the development and interaction between the characters led for some charming moments that could be considered funny. Now, SMC does keep these moments but there is some stuff they added, probably to make up for the laughably bad animation and serious tone, that was just...eh.

HAHA EPIC FUNNY THEY DON’T NORMALLY MAKE THOSE FACES

Going back to when I said it was probably added to make up for the serious tone, it doesn’t matter that it was more serious. It’s no different than the original source material.

And not only was it not needed, but it was executed reallly bad. It just kinda came out of nowhere and every time it was just a character making a weird face. It didn’t add anything. They could’ve added something with the whole Usagi and Rei dynamic that was in the manga, but Rei’s character was completely changed! She lost all her fiery sass! Which brings me to my next topic...

3. THE CHARACTERS

THEY. ARE. ALL. THE. SAME. (Besides Usagi)

The Sailor Guardians (ESPECIALLY THE INNERS) all just kinda merge into the same type of character. They become bland warriors who’s only personality trait is being Sailor Soldiers. And when they’re not finishing each others’ sentences about their destiny they are just all fangirl students. And it’s not only SMC that suffers from this problem, the 90s anime has this problem towards the end of the series. Though the 90s anime had more room to hide this problem through filler episodes that focused on one guardian. But in Crystal nearly ALLLL the attention goes to Sailor Moon.

One thing that I loved about PGSM is how distinct the characters were from Usagi.

Ami was a shy student who earned good grades and had trouble making friends. She was shown to be sweet and kind as well. And she developed throughout the show to become more outgoing and confident with herself. She also improved the bond with her mother.

Rei was a secluded Shrine Maiden who no one really wanted to hang around because of her psychic abilities. She was sassy but not too mean and she was extremely loyal to her friends. Rei also wanted to focus more on the present time more than their past lives’ and she also helped Minako be herself and focus more on the present.

Makoto was tough but also very feminine. She was seen as intimidating at first and became lonely and came to the conclusion that it was her destiny to remain alone. But her friends and Motoki convinced her otherwise throughout the show. She was also one of the most brave Senshi and was willing to sacrifice herself to save her friends.

Minako was an idol who was famous around Japan, but she isolated herself from the other guardians because she was so fixated on her mission. She learned throughout the series that it was okay to loosen up and focus on the now. But Minako also helped Rei become more motivated to fight the Dark Kingdom and save the princess.

In Crystal, the Senshi start out with established personalities, they eventually just lose all of it, which makes it less fun and charming to watch. It’s just Usagi plus some extras who are there to help her.

4. IT’S BORING

Okay I know you’re all probably thinking, ‘Then why do like the manga, it’s the exact same thing?’

With the manga, I can read through it at my own pace which means that I’m able to quickly read through all of those dramatic monologues and speeches the characters have.

In Sailor Moon Crystal, these little spiels seem as if they last FOREVER. They are so stretched out in fact that it almost makes the show a chore to watch. If I had a pie chart for each battle scene I can assure more than half of it would be some speech by one of the Sailor Guardians or Tuxedo Mask.

Something I noticed especially at the end of Season 3 was how the inner guardians kinda just sat there the entire time and then cried when Sailor Moon ‘sacrificed herself’.

This probably ties back to the point made at the very beginning of this rant because the transition from comic to animation was not a good one. It seems almost as if nothing is accomplished throughout each episode. Especially towards the end of each arc. While technically the manga tells the exact same story, it’s much better paced because the reader can go through it at any speed they want.

OH GOD

Also I could go on and on about how the Shitennou were portrayed but that’s a rant for another time, don’t you think? I can get pretty heated with that topic.

Anyway thanks for reading this long rant. This is just some random stuff that I’ve wanted to kinda get off my chest for a while and I finally have the time now that we’re in this quarantine thing. Have a great day!

#Sailor Moon #rant #sailor moon crystal #writing #characters #plot #essay #animation #manga #PGSM #anime #sailor guardians #comedy #quarantine

[iwanttobeyourwonderwoman]

Nobody Gives A Shit, Git (5)

Act 1, scene 1.

Brahmpur, India.

-Enter Lata-

-Spotlight shines on first box-

Kabir Durrani swinging his bat and looks out to the crowd

-Spotlight dims, and shines on second box-

Amit Chatterji, legs stretched out on a bench, jotting down lines of poetry.

-Spotlight dims and shines on third box-

Haresh Khanna placing the contents of his bag neatly on his desk.

-Spotlight dims on all 3 as Lata stares into the darkness-

-Exit Lata-

HELLO HELLOOOOOO and welcome back. Totally steering away from the tension of the elections for this post because I just finished watching A Suitable Boy on netflix the other day and as usual I have certain scenes stuck in my head that need to be discussed.

So an introduction, (And lots of spoilers ahead!)

Netflix’s latest indian release has been A Suitable Boy, an adaptation of a best selling book written by Vikram Seth (which i now kinda wanna read) and in collaboration with BBC studios,  follows the lives of primarily Lata and Maan. Set in post partition independent India, it highlights the journey of self discovery as well as what the title suggests, the search for a suitable boy. Intertwined with lots of secrets and scandals, the show is overall captivating and takes a little bit of a modern twist, mainly because of the fact that the characters mostly speak in English!

The main actress, Lata, was portrayed beautifully as such a well educated and independent woman trying to follow her mother’s wishes of finding her a husband but battles with her own secret love for the dashing Kabir Durrani, a muslim star cricketeer of their school; amongst her slight attraction to her sister-in-law’s younger brother Amit Chatterji, a witty poet who holds the power to charm Lata’s brain as much as her heart, although much to her mother’s disapproval. Lastly, we have Haresh Khanna, a humble and talented cobbler who Lata’s mother has introduced her to as her choice of a suitable boy who is  constantly fighting for Lata and her mother’s approval. Overall this aspect of the show somehow reminded me of GIlmore Girls, because of how close mother and daughter were, as were Lorelai and Rory and also how it was always a battle between Dean, Jess and Logan. But who did Rory, and Lata in this instance, really want to be with in the end amongst their romances with each of the 3 men.

So before starting on the show I had only heard of the title and that the lead role of Maan was played by Ishaan Khatter. The rest of the cast included Tabu, Ram Kapoor and so on. A stellar cast to bring out the dramatic tones of the show and highlight the political and religious unrest, scandals and romance all across the 6 episodes. I mean look at the stellar performance and chemistry between Ishaan and Tabu throughout the show!

Starting the first episode, I realise like I mentioned above, that most of the show is in English which is great for a potato like me so I don’t have to read subtitles. Did it match the setting of 1950s India? Initially I wasn’t sure because how do you portray the accuracy in culture if it’s all in English and then I realised a damn good cast is all you need, which they definately had. Also because its a collaboration with BBC, the show has some actors with stronger British or American accents than others, and yet they transition from speaking in English to Hindi or Urdu very seamlessly. I think this would really help to attract the non Indian crowd to also take an interest in the show, as well as the culture.

Now the whole series has been made to be very theatrical, hence the introduction to my post. Throwing in a little fun fact some might not know about me is that I used to study Theatre and Drama, which made my appreciation grow for this style of directing/acting because I feel like it’s hardly being used nowadays. That being said, i feel like having the show in English was key to bring out all the dramatic aspects of the series. I think many people did not like that or maybe could not understand little aspects of it. I loved it though I thought it was a clever way to show off the historical side as well as attract a bigger audience.

*More spoilers ahead!!*

 My favourite scene though, was the ending of Episode 5!

Maan, in a fit of drunk rage and jealousy, had just stabbed his best fried Firoz.

Firoz enters the scene dragging his feet, hands clutched to his side, as blood gushes out of his stab wound. He stumbles and finally gives up as he falls to the ground and continues to bleed out as the scene ends. The best part is, the whole scene was set to be red in colour with very dim lighting all around but a huge spotlight on Firoz. Wow I cant even explain how well thought-out that scene was and how impactful of an ending they were able to portray in that episode. It’s like creating a whole other air of suspense and drama as you watch him as an audience bleeding out. I mean they could have just shown him bleeding out on the naturally lit street (but then again were streets ever well lit at night in that era???) But what I’m trying to say is that the whole show could have taken a very different direction but i very much enjoyed the theatrical direction. 

Overall, I really liked the series, took me some time to get through all 6 episodes though, but it was worth it. It’s also quite a nice and simple reminder while watching that that was what people were doing at that time, without technology and so on. It also makes us think back to (the unfortunately stereotypical) topic of parents thinking that they have to find a suitable partner for their child after a certain age. I mean as bright as Lata was, she was still made to believe that she had to follow the path laid out for her by her mother when she was portrayed to be an excellent student of English Literature. I mean you could actually cross refer this series to A suitable Girl on netflix (a documentary focusing on 3 indian girls and how they’re parents and society pressurise them to get married as well how their married life ends up looking like) and the problem comes back to society, expectations, religion, pressure and just the indian culture. 

So yes to end it all off, I do definitely recommend this show for primarily Indians but also to non indians to have a better understanding of issues ad culture of that time.

Cast - 5/5!!

Plot - 4/5

Ending - 3.5/5 (Why does she end up with Haresh!!!?????) 

Acting - 5/5!!!

Set/costumes - 5/5

That’s about all I’ve got on this show to end off yet another topic really nobody cares about! Well I’m off to watch The bonus episode of Hookup Plan/ Plan Coeur on netflix which is a French series, which I also previously reviewd back in season . So as usual, my other writings can be found in the gituuuu tab so knock yourselves out folks!! 

#ngasg #gituuuu