#-- the galaxy is so colorful and intricate. but the best ads can come up with is just the cast standing on a black space bg.

[robo-bud]

need to find more stuff that replicates the look/"aes" of 60s movie posters. (esp. space related ones)

#it's why I like 0uter w0rlds so much & considering watching strange w0rlds. #most movie posters have become very boring in my opinion. :o[ #<- and again. especially ones about space and aliens. #-- the galaxy is so colorful and intricate. but the best ads can come up with is just the cast standing on a black space bg. #a robot posts

[ragingbookdragon]

A Moment Of Respite Between Struggles

Ted Kord x Reader One-Shot

Word Count: 1.3K Warnings: Explicit Language

Author's Note: BLUE BEETLE! BLUE BEETLE! BLUE BEETLE! Enjoy my fluff! -Thorne

**********************************************************************

She smiled politely at one of the security guards as she waltzed into Kord Industries, all the way to the front desk where she cocked her elbow on the counter and leaned over, greeting, “Hi—” her eyes drew along the young man’s ID badge. “Mark. Hi Mark!”

He glanced over the rim of his thick glasses smiling at her with a mixture of wonder and surprise. “Wow, you’re (Y/N) (L/N).”

“I am,” she responded, adding, “I’m also your boss’ girlfriend.” With a pout, she explained, “Thing is, we were supposed to meet for lunch, and he didn’t show. So that’s telling me he’s either stuck in a board meeting or he’s down in the labs tinkering around.” (Y/N) winked. “Think you can check where he is for me?”

Mark nodded. “Yes ma’am. Give me just a moment.” He went back to the monitor, clicking away. “It seems that there wasn’t a board meeting scheduled, so let me check the personal labs.” He thumbed an intercom button. “Mister Kord, sir? Are you in there?”

What? A cranky voice spouted from the piece, and she smiled sympathetically at poor Mark who looked so flustered.

“Uh, sir, your girl—uh, Miss (Y/N) is here.”

Oh…Oh no, what time is it?

“It’s a quarter to three, sir.”

Aw crap. I forgot about lunch. Scrambling sounded from the line. Tell her I’ll—

“I’ll meet you in your office, Ted.” (Y/N) interrupted and reached over, ending the call; she smiled at Mark. “And don’t worry about him—I’ll make sure he apologizes for being a jerk before we leave.”

Mark grinned. “Oh, it’s no trouble, ma’am. But, um—” he trailed off and she smiled, waiting for him to gather his thoughts, and he reached into his bag, pulling out a laminated photo. “I was going to attend your expo this Friday.” He placed the photo on the desk, one she recognized as her recent modeling set, and asked, “Would you sign this for me?”

“Absolutely!” (Y/N) flashed him a million-watt smile and pulled a sharpie from her bag, quickly writing a small note and her name in the corner. “Here you go,” she said, handing it back to him, and Mark stared at it like it was gold.

“Thank you, Miss (Y/N)!”

She waved as she walked to the elevators, disappearing inside, and riding all the way to Ted’s office. When she stepped out, he was there, bent on the sofa at an awkward angle, face down, with his left arm curled backwards over his head, the other holding a glass of amber liquid.

She tsked at him. “Day drinking, Ted Kord? What would the masses think?”

He snorted into the cushion. “I’m a billionaire. I’m allowed to day drink without being called an alcoholic.”

(Y/N) giggled and walked over, nudging him in the side as she tossed her bag on the coffee table. “Up. Come on, get up.”

“Don’t make me,” he groaned. “I already feel bad for missing lunch.”

“Then make it up to me by doing what I told you.” She shot back and with a grunt he set the glass down on the floor and pushed himself up, half-heartedly glaring at her; she pinched his nose. “Quit scowling. You’ll get wrinkles.”

(Y/N) wormed her way underneath him, letting her head rest against the arm of the sofa while Ted lowered himself back down, rather contently shimmying against her body.

She threaded her fingers in his light brown hair, scratching his scalp and asked, “What had you so wrapped up this afternoon, Teddy?”

He groaned low in his throat. “Some stupid piece of technology that Boos sent me.”

“Uh huh?” she encouraged.

“And he asked me to fix it, but the damn thing isn’t from this century and there’s so many wires and intricates, and you’d think that with the twenty-fifth century, they’d be able to compact everything, but nooooooo. And now I missed lunch and you’re upset, and I’m annoyed because I still can’t get the damned thing fixed and I’m sorry.”

She merely blinked and dragged her gaze from the ceiling to his head. “How’d you manage to do that much speaking in one breath?”

“I’m best friends with Booster Gold. You learn to talk fast when you’re with him.”

(Y/N) snorted. “That you do.” She sighed and Ted felt it in his chest.

“I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t even see the time.”

“I’m not upset, Teddy,” she murmured, squeezing his shoulder. “I’m more worried that you’re overworking yourself.”

“Not any more than usual.”

“See, that worries me.” (Y/N) inhaled deeply. “Alright, we’re going to try something new.”

“In here?” he flirted, and she slapped his arm.

“Mind out of the gutter, Ted.” She looked around. “Your office is secure, right?”

Ted reached down and fumbled with something in his pocket before making a triumphant noise and retorting, “We are now.”

(Y/N) smiled. “Good. We’ll need privacy for this.”

“Do I still need to get my mind out of the gutter?”

“Yes, you pervert.” She closed her eyes, feeling the power rushing through her veins and she quietly said, “Close your eyes, Teddy.” Her hand skimmed his face, feeling his lids close and she pressed a hand to his cheek. “Now open them.”

Ted cracked an eye open, then blinked repeatedly, wonder filling him as he gazed up at the ceiling of an old, abandoned cathedral, overtaken by nature. Vibrant green grass filled the room, vines curling around the pillars and arches, and the scent of flowers he’d never smelled or seen before, of colors so beautiful, blended along the ground in a wave of pigment.

Soft chirping soothed his ears and the sunlight peeked through the broken stained-glass windows, casting waves of red, orange, yellow, and pink along the ground and over his skin.

It was so calm. So peaceful. So quiet, and an emotion he’d not felt before welled in his chest, overwhelming him with such an intensity that tears filled his eyes.

“Do you like it?” He looked around, then down to his side, seeing (Y/N) sprawled out in a flowy white sundress, a carefree look on her serene face.

“Where are we?” he questioned. “What is this?”

“This is my place,” she replied, still closing her eyes. “I come here when I think I might be overwhelmed with my powers. It’s…my sanctuary.”

“Are we still in this universe or—?”

“We’re in my mind, Teddy.” (Y/N) murmured. “The one place my powers have no control over. The place of beauty still untouched by my telepathy.” She peeked beneath her lashes. “And now I’ve brought you here so you can be at peace with me for a while.”

Ted blinked away the tears and she tugged his shirt. “Lay down.”

He did as she commanded with little resistance, feeling the grass tickle his neck and ears as he laid beside her, his head brushing hers. “It’s beautiful here.”

“It is.” (Y/N) agreed. “I made this when I was being subjected to the experiments that gave me my abilities.” She sighed heavily. “A respite I could take in between horrors.”

“Is time passing by in the real world?”

“Slowly. Every moment here is much faster than those outside. All of this will happen within seconds out there.” (Y/N) turned her head, catching his gaze. “But since you’ve secured your office…why don’t we spend a few minutes here, hmm?” she smiled. “When it turns to night, you can see galaxies peek through the cracks.”

Ted let out the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding, relaxing into the grass, an arm curling around her and he nodded. “Yeah…I think that sounds like a great idea, (Y/N).” Her smile widened as she turned her body, resting on Ted’s shoulder and she felt his lips brush her head as he murmured, “Thank you.”

“Always my dear.”

#ted kord x reader imagine #ted kord x reader imagines #ted kord x reader #ted kord imagine #ted kord imagines #ted kord #blue beetle x reader imagine #blue beetle x reader imagines #blue beetle x reader #blue beetle imagines #blue beetle imagine #blue beetle #dc comics #dc imagines #dc imagine #dc

[starsinmylatte]

A Song Among the Stars

Chapter count: 2/?

Rating: Mature 🔞

Relationships: Grand Admiral Thrawn/Original Female Character

Tags:

Space Opera (literally)

Slow Burn

Slow Romance

Other Additional Tags to Be Added

Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con

Never by thrawn

Sexual Tension

Mix of Legends and Canon

Art Enthusiast Thrawn | Mitth'raw'nuruodo

Thrawn | Mitth'raw'nuruodo is protective of his muse

Ballroom Dancing

Imperial Star Destroyers (Star Wars)

Imperial Officers (Star Wars)

Angst and Romance

Canon-Typical Violence

Chiss (Star Wars)

Chiss Ascendancy (Star Wars)

Masquerade

The Empire shows off

Imperial style

Phantom of the Opera AU if you squint

Thrawn finds his muse

Total word count: 5,506

Chapter 1: Overture

Song suggestion: Reflections- Toshifumi Hinata

I lingered in the bath, fully understanding that I was only delaying the inevitable. The warm, aromatic water swirled around me as I began to dread the next few hours. Soon, the handmaidens assigned to prepare me for tonight would arrive to ensure my compliance.

At an earlier point in my life, I would have resisted all of their attempts to shove me into the various gowns, gems, and the absolutely appalling shoes that had been chosen for me. I had actually bitten the first girl that tried to change my outfit forcibly.

The handmaidens were all extremely wary of me after that incident, but, somehow, three of them had managed to become my only true friends on Coruscant. Despite my best intentions to hate everyone, Talle, Kaia, and Ahni were the only ones who bothered to understand my story.

Though each of us was from a different planet, we had all been taken from our homes by the Empire. We all served high-ranking Imperials, but my main role was different. I was a piece of Imperial propaganda. I was painted as the poor girl from the Outer Rim whose singing talent was discovered by the Empire and given a place to shine for the whole galaxy to see.

My train of thought was immediately interrupted by the sound of three very familiar sets of footsteps entering my room and a sing-song voice that rang out, “Oh Lyra! It seems that you’re stuck with us yet again.”

I let out a genuine snort before retaliating. “Kaia, you know nobody else wants to be anywhere near biting distance of me. You’d have to be personally requested by Lady Tarkin before anyone would consider switching jobs with you, and that’s saying something.”

I suddenly shuddered as I remembered my last encounter with her. Thankfully it had been brief, but it had still felt like an eternity. “That woman is so unpleasant.”

The second voice jokingly mused, “I don’t know, sometimes you can be almost as miserable as her. Now come on out of the bath. We have to start getting you ready.”

“Just five more minutes Talle.” I groaned, “I can just feel that tonight will be particularly long.”

Kaia laughed as she poked her head into the refresher and handed me a mug. “Somehow, I knew you’d say that, and that’s why we’re here ten minutes early.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Before you even begin to ask about it, here’s your shig.”

I shot Kaia a friendly scowl before immediately perking up at the mention of my favorite tea. I had always been partial to caf, but there was nothing better than a steaming cup of herbal tea before a performance. The citrusy scent of the behot immediately filled the small room, and holding the warm mug in my hands was instantly comforting. I let out a sigh of pure bliss, “Stars, you are a wonderful friend.”

Kaia winked before exiting the refresher. “Oh, I know.”

As I enjoyed the last few minutes of my bath, the tea brought back memories of my home. Before the Empire had taken me, a cup of shig and a hot bath would have been considerably rare, and the chances of both happening on the same day, even rarer.

Back on Ero, life was more mundane. My father always had quality goods on hand, but as a trader, he couldn’t just let his daughter drink all of his products. There were also no fancy bathtubs because they were a waste of precious drinking water, so almost everyone used sonic showers instead. I could resent the Empire all I wanted to, but there was no denying that I was at least well provided for. Somehow that made me hate my captivity even more.

I gripped my mug as I fought the other memories that tried to resurface. It had gotten easier to push them down as the years passed, but the pain was still there. Flashes of my capture, my time spent held on a Star Destroyer, the captain that had trapped me in his quarters…... The last thing I needed was to slip back into these memories.

Then there was a gentle hand on my shoulder. The sudden presence made me jump, but I saw Ahni’s smiling face when I looked up. Her face was both a comfort and a constant reminder that the Empire had hurt many people besides me. She had a beautiful deep green complexion marred by the scars from her capture that ran across her face and entire body. Ahni rarely spoke, but she was still extraordinarily expressive and always had ways to make her emotions known. Realization flashed across her face before she bent down and hugged me.

We shared an understanding moment of silence before Kaia yelled in from the other room. “Come on, Ly! We have to get you into all this kriffing fabric sometime today. I heard that we managed to get one of the better options, but tonight everything is special, so there’s more to do than usual.”

Stars, I almost forgot, I mentally berated myself. Tonight’s not only the biggest party I’ve been expected to perform at so far, but it’s the kriffing Masquerade too.

I immediately began cursing under my breath in every trade language I knew as I leapt from the bathtub, wrapped a robe around myself, and ran out of the refresher, closely followed by a very amused Ahni.

My apartment was quite lovely for basically being a prison. I had a plush bed with privacy curtains, a small vanity, a bedside table, a closet filled with outfits, and a tiny enclosed balcony. Having a private refresher made it very close to luxury.

I walked over to the vanity and had a seat. I had been prepared for Imperial events far too many times and knew the procedure that was about to happen by heart. I used to protest that I could get ready myself, but preparing for an Imperial ball required way more thought and perfection than anything else and by now, I put my trust in Kaia, Talle, and Ahni.

Tonight demanded absolute perfection.

The Masquerade was a collection and celebration of the Empire’s most significant members, and my role was to be the sparkling gem in the center of everything. I knew my true purpose tonight involved way more than my renowned singing ability. My presence tonight was pure propaganda. I was a message to every person on every planet in the Empire. This could be you. The Empire is generous. If this insignificant girl from the Outer Rim could be here, you could be here too.

I had already been warned about the consequences if I fell short of what was required tonight.

Hours later, the process was finally complete. Talle had powdered, colored, and shaded my face to her precise standards. She had even filled my lips in with a deep red pigment and darkened my eyelashes to complement my icy blue eyes. Not to be outdone, Kaia had coaxed my long blonde hair into an elegant, intricate updo inlaid with black and white quartz.

The dress came last, and it was stunning. When Ahni opened my closet, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes. Whoever had selected it had undoubtedly wanted me to stand out. There would be no shortage of finery tonight, but I was to be resplendent.

Talle was completely astonished for a long moment before she spoke, “I do believe this is the least horrid thing they’ve picked out for you.”

Ahni nodded vigorously in agreement while Kaia and I remained utterly speechless. The dress was breathtaking, even just on the mannequin.

Getting into the dress was a three-person endeavor, but the struggle was utterly worth it. The long, form-fitting black dress perfectly hugged every curve from the floor up before tapering just slightly above my cleavage. There, the material shifted to the left, wrapped behind my neck, and then formed a sleeve that draped down my entire right arm. However, the most remarkable thing about the dress was the fabric. Any and every way that I moved caused the material to shimmer like the thousands of stars twinkling in the night sky.

I was provided a single thick, gold cuff for my left wrist, and even though the hem of the dress would cover them, heeled slippers made out of the same fabric as the dress.

Talle smiled and carefully handed me the final missing piece. “Now, now,” she jested, “you can’t go to a masquerade without this.”

The mask she handed me was so intricately ornate that it easily could have been mistaken for black lace, but it was actually made from a lightweight metal inlaid with dozens of sparkling diamonds. When I put it on, it rested just above my nose to conceal the upper half of my face beautifully.

As Kaia secured the whole thing in my hair with more pins and gemstones, Ahni produced a floor-length mirror from the closet. In my performances on Eros, I had worn dresses that were considered elegant in the Outer Rim, but there was no way they could ever compare to this. For the first time in my life, I was stunned at my appearance. I had never been overly confident, but now I felt absolutely beautiful.

Talle laughed, “Just try not to stop any hearts tonight. The Empire might lose important officers, and then we’d all be in trouble for making you look this good.”

Kaia placed a hand over her mouth to stifle her snickering, and Ahni looked highly amused by the thought.

I just rolled my eyes, “I think their partners would probably get to me first.”

That sent everyone over the edge, and we all laughed to the point of tearing up. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Ahni went over to open it, and two officers decked out in their Imperial best stepped into the room. The shorter officer locked eyes with me and blushed furiously before looking away.

The taller one finally spoke, “Good evening Miss. We will be your escorts for the night. If you wouldn’t mind following us, we have a speeder waiting to take us to the venue.”

I smiled at the officer, “Thank you, I appreciate it. If you wouldn’t mind waiting outside, I’ll finish up and be out in a second.”

He nodded and signaled to the other man. They stepped outside, and I immediately pulled Ahni, Talle, and Kaia into a big hug. “Thank you all for your help and for being my friends; you make this so much more bearable. I’ll see you when I get back tonight.”

After a few seconds, we broke apart and finished our goodbyes. I smiled at my friends one last time before walking out of the room to join the officers.

________________________________________________

Chapter 2: Aria

Orchestra tuning: The Imperial March (Glory of the Empire)

Lyra’s final song: Roméo et Juliette, CG 9 Act 1: “Ah, je veux vivre danse ce rève” sung by Aida Garifullina

*TW* brief Attempted assault/non-con towards the end of the chapter

The officers outside of my door stood so close that I almost ran headfirst into the taller one when I stepped out.

“Apologies, Miss, we thought you’d be a little longer,” the man managed as he smoothly sidestepped me before acknowledging his previous blunder, “It also seems like we’ve forgotten to introduce ourselves.”

He briefly paused to take his place beside his partner before continuing. “My name is Captain Dreycolt, and this is Lieutenant Arkmad. It’s an absolute pleasure to make your acquaintance and we both actually have you to thank for our presence at the Masquerade tonight.”

Arkmad, who was still noticeably red in the face, nodded sagely. “None of the higher-ranking officers wanted to be stuck with a job at the party; however, the rest of us were fighting to even be included. We happened to fall at the perfect place on the pecking order,” he smiled slyly.

I raised a single eyebrow at Arkmad and gave him my most saccharine smile, “Well, I’m glad that this will be an enjoyable job for you, even though you’re stuck with me.”

His face flushed several shades deeper, and he started to stammer. “M-My apologies M-Miss. I n-never meant to imply….”

Dreycolt promptly tapped him on the shoulder to cut him off before turning back to me and smoothly taking my hand. In one fluid motion, he leaned forward, slowly raised it to his lips, and gallantly kissed the top of my hand. He smiled up at me through lowered lashes, “However, any job that is this beautiful couldn’t possibly be so bad.”

Now it was my turn to blush and I prayed the mask hid most of it because Dreycolt was definitely an attractive man. His caramel-colored hair was neatly trimmed with darker eyebrows and eyelashes framing his warm amber eyes. The uniform he wore fit him exceptionally well, and the slight stubble on his chin tickled my hand as he pressed his lips to it. After what felt like an eternity, he released his grip, and my hand returned to my side.

There was no doubt Dreycolt’s distraction from his lieutenant’s blunder had worked as intended. I could tell he knew as much from the slight smile that tugged at the corner of his lips.

“You flatter me, Captain. If all Imperial officers are as pleasant as you, perhaps tonight will be more enjoyable than I expected.”

Of course, all officers aren’t as kind or practiced in flattery, I thought darkly. These two seem bearable enough to talk to, so I’m at least grateful for that. After all, they’ll be keeping me company for most of the night when I’m not on the stage.

His annoyance at the situation briefly flashed in Arkmad’s eyes before he cleared his throat. He did not seem to enjoy being sidelined for his misstep.

“We should be on our way by now,” he chided. “The airspeeder has priority clearance to travel outside of normal traffic lanes, but I don’t want to explain why the Empire’s star performer is late for her practice time with the orchestra.”

He was, of course, right. Dreycolt jokingly bowed and gestured out into the hallway. “Lead the way, Miss.”

With the Captain and Lieutenant flanking me, I walked through the twisting hallways of the building towards the balcony where our airspeeder was docked.

I was still somewhat dreading the Masquerade, but at least the ride would be pleasant and I would even get to see the sky again. It sounded like such a small thing to enjoy, but coming from Ero to Coruscant was a massive shock in so many ways. I could always see the sky and the stars glittering at night in the Outer Rim but Coruscant was a completely different story.

Though my apartment was beautiful, it was nowhere near the skyline. I played an important role, but it was definitely not important enough for me to live among the rich and powerful. The towering buildings above me kept all traces of natural light from finding my little room, and while artificial light was better than living in the dark, it held no comparison to the real thing.

When we reached the airspeeder, Dreycolt jumped into the driver’s seat, and Arkmad helped me into the back before taking his place in the seat beside him. At the press of a button, a smooth, clear dome slid overhead and enclosed the craft.

I couldn’t resist making a joke. “For both your sakes, I’m glad there’s a roof. You would have to deal with my very unhappy hairstylist if her work was ruined.”

Dreycolt let out a deep-chested laugh, and even Arkmad’s stormy facade cracked into a smile before the airspeeder pulled away from the building, and we were finally on our way.

Since I was expected to be at the venue early to rehearse, night had not yet taken over the cityscape. The sky was cloudy as usual, but light still fell to glisten and reflect across the tops of the tallest buildings. The view was absolutely breathtaking.

I all but shoved my face against the clear dome to take in all of the incredible scenes spread out below. Thousands of speeders, taxis, and transports wove around the many buildings, each with a different purpose and destination. I was beyond captivated by all the people and their freedom to go wherever they pleased, whenever they wanted to.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at one of the most palatial homes on the highest level I had ever seen. Dreycolt stopped the speeder at the balcony, although calling it a balcony was a massive understatement, and Arkmad helped me out onto the landing. I had become accustomed to the splendor displayed by the most influential Imperials, but this was on another level entirely.

An enormous garden lay spread out beyond the balcony’s opulent landing pad. The path we walked down extended its way throughout the entirety of the grounds and wrapped around a massive central fountain before it continued up into a set of stairs that I could only guess led to the main ballroom.

Statues depicting the most famous Imperial victories lined both sides of the walkway, which eventually branched off to different garden sections on each side. Upon closer inspection, the central fountain proudly displayed the Imperial Crest carved into stone so dark it could’ve been mistaken for a solid shadow.

Every single hedge, bush, or flower we could see was maintained to standards of perfection that would impress even the Admiralty of the Imperial Navy. The sweet scent of the many exotic flowers lingered in the air, and the sounds of water trickling from the fountain made the garden almost seem peaceful.

Dreycolt let out a low whistle that made both the lieutenant and I jump. Evidently, he had passed the speeder off to another officer while we were distracted. “Stars. I had heard the constant squabbling over who would get to host led to an amazing result, but this is insane.”

Arkmad nodded, “Someone told me the Emperor personally picked the host and venue. I have no idea who was picked, but they certainly did an outstanding job with the preparations.”

“I wish I were able to walk around,” I sighed wistfully. “It’s been years since I’ve been in a real garden.”

Dreycolt smiled, “Well, Miss, perhaps after your performance, we can arrange that.”

The grin that crept across my face was hard to hide as that simple thought became all of the encouragement I needed to get through the night. As the three of us began the walk to the ballroom, I realized that whoever had designed the path had done so with women’s shoes in mind, as it was completely smooth and comfortable to walk on. Kriffing hell, they really thought of it all.

Before long, we reached the top of the stairs and entered the ballroom. I didn’t think anything would outshine the garden, but I was so very very wrong. The garden was the pinnacle of control and order, but the ballroom exuded absolute elegance.

As we reached the top of the stairs, another officer was waiting to announce our arrival, but I was so captivated by my surroundings that I barely heard what he said. Beyond him was the main dance floor. It looked to be made out of the same dark stone as the fountain, but it was polished so thoroughly you could easily see your reflection looking back at you if you looked down. At the far end of the room, a small but wide set of stairs led up to the stage where the orchestra was busily setting up. More stairs just inside the entrance led to the upper floor, which was filled with tables draped in brilliant white cloths for people to sit and enjoy the spectacle of the dancing below them. A massive, crystalline chandelier hung over the ballroom and blood-red sashes decorated the balconies.

There was so much more to see, but, unfortunately, I wasn’t there to spectate.

As I walked up to the stage, I stopped to greet the conductor of the orchestra; Skath Farri was an old friend from the conservatory where I had trained. He was invited to Coruscant for his considerable talents and was never permitted to leave. Now, he conducted the Imperial Orchestra. No one could know our relationship was anything more than professional, or we’d never see each other again.

“Ly! You look gorgeous, my dear.” He greeted me with the usual platonic kiss on the cheek and inconspicuous wink. “Are you ready to shine tonight?”

That was his unique way of checking in on me. He was very aware that I had never entirely given my voice, or heart, to the Empire. I followed orders and sang the songs they wanted, but the emotion that drove my greatest performances was still in the Outer Rim. There was a marked difference between my performances here and Ero, but only someone like Skath would ever notice. I still played my part of the obedient songbird, but I refused to give them all of me.

I smiled back at him. “Just about as ready as I’ll ever be. They sent me a rather impressive list of everything I’m to perform tonight. At the very least, I came prepared.”

Skath just smiled knowingly before he shooed me onto the stage to begin warming up with the orchestra. Time seemed to stop as I rehearsed, but before long, the guests started to arrive and I was sent over to wait in my spot in the backstage wings until it was time to perform.

I could only see the stage, but I heard names, both familiar and not, being announced upon their entrance. The ballroom began to fill with voices as the guests trickled in. All of a sudden, a musical cue played, and the room went deathly silent. A ghostly hologram flickered to life in the center of the stage, and the shadowy form of the Emperor appeared.

“Welcome, my friends. I trust you will all enjoy tonight as a celebration worthy of our great Empire.” He paused for applause before continuing. “Now, it is my wish that you use this time to reflect on the victories that brought us to this moment. I assure you there will be many more in the future.”

The Emperor stood for even more cheering before holding up his hand to silence the crowd. “Now, let my Masquerade begin!”

His hologram flickered slightly before disappearing altogether as the lights dimmed, cuing me to get on stage. I walked out to stand in the center of the stage, and as soon as I reached my place, the lights slowly returned to their former brilliance.

I was no stranger to performing, but having every single Imperial in the room staring at me was enough to give me butterflies in my stomach. Thankfully, before they could settle in, Skath cued the orchestra to begin with a flick of his baton. The opening notes of the first piece, a current favorite on Coruscant, swelled to life, and I began to sing.

Almost immediately, the officers and politicians turned to their spouses or began to venture off in search of a dance partner. The crowded dance floor began to clear slightly, as others had no interest in dancing and were only there to make connections. The first song ended with tremendous applause, and I began the second. You can do this. Just take it one piece at a time.

By now, I was calm enough to enjoy myself and to watch the dancing and it quickly became apparent that everyone in attendance had tried their best to impress. The ladies wore beautiful, elaborate dresses made out of the best materials and representing the latest fashions from every corner of the Empire. Politicians displayed the most richly colored and finely tailored clothing they owned and Imperial officers were in their usual dress uniforms, but no one was seen without a mask.

There were all kinds of masks on display. Some were crafted entirely from gems or precious materials to show off resources from their home planet. Others pulled designs from legendary animals or myths. There were even some covered in exotic feathers or flowers, but every mask was distinctive in its own way.

Hours passed as I continued to sing. Slowly but surely, I made my way through the extensive list of songs on the program until only one remained. The last song required using a specialized instrument, so I retreated to the wings for some water while it was being set up.

Suddenly, Skath appeared and sprinted towards me. He spun me around to face him fully, and I was in shock at how frazzled he looked. Even his voice was strained. “Lyra, you have to trust me. I have no idea who asked for this, but they were important enough to change the final song we planned. Every member of the orchestra was given the new sheet music, and a stand was set out for you.”

“They want me to sight-read a piece on a night as important as this?!” I gasped indignantly at the thought.

Skath’s face was grim. “No. You’ll know it, but you won’t be happy about it. We don’t have any time left, so we’ve got to get back on stage. For what it’s worth….. I’m so sorry.”

My stomach sank. If he was this upset… I had no idea what to expect. However, there was no choice but to walk back to my place on stage and pretend nothing had even happened. With every step, the sinking feeling in my stomach grew.

It was so much worse than I ever could’ve expected. There was no way anyone here besides Skath should know about this song, but here it was in front of me. It was my favorite piece of music and the only one I’d sworn to keep from the Empire forever. The piece that had been the star of my first major performance on Ero after I left the conservatory.

Before I could even finish my thought, the orchestra cued up. The first few notes began, and every single one of them felt like a knife to the heart. My muscle memory kicked in, and before I even knew it, I was singing.

Thoughts flew through my head while I choked my way through the opening verse. What would I do? Do I keep my promise and hold back, or do I seize the chance I was forced into and truly sing from my heart? Memories of Ero, my family, and my friends all returned as the song continued. My voice began to flow over the music as I made it my own. I remembered my father’s smile and how proud he’d been of me for my music.

Courage suddenly coursed through me like liquid fire. I’d show every kriffing Imperial here what a daughter of the Outer Rim was truly capable of! I was wrong to hold back my emotions before. They could take me, bring me to this place, and shove me on a stage, but they could never control my voice. The Empire wanted me to be their emotionless puppet. My voice wasn’t exactly quiet before, but now it rose to fill the entire ballroom. I was going to burn myself into the mind of every Imperial present. Whoever requested this song would not see me subdued; they would see me triumphant. I poured every ounce of bottled-up emotion into my music, and my voice soared. Then, I had sung the final note, and it was all over.

You could’ve heard a code cylinder drop in the ballroom after the orchestra finished. The dancing had all but stopped, and people were leaning over the balcony to watch me. I curtsied, preparing to exit the stage and receive whatever punishment was in store for kriffing up the Masquerade, but then the thunderous applause began.

I kept my curtsy for as long as possible before my knees started to buckle. Everything left in me had gone into the song, and I barely made it into the wings before I collapsed. Fortunately, Captain Dreycolt was there to catch me before I hit the floor.

I smiled weakly at him. “Since the orchestra is taking it from here, now might be a good time for me to get some fresh air.”

He grabbed Arkmad, and together they helped me out one of the side doors into the garden. I didn’t want to be seen in my weakened state, but thankfully the garden was empty. Most people seemed to be still dancing or otherwise occupied. Those that were in the garden didn’t appear to have ventured this far.

Dreycolt stopped and pointed at the hedge maze, “There’s a small sitting area in the middle. The only way in or out is through the maze. Why don’t we take you to it so you can rest? Arkmad and I will stand at the entrance and exit to make sure you aren’t bothered.”

I had no complaints; the idea sounded fantastic. We made our way through the maze until we reached the center. It was small and only had enough room for a bench, but it was paradise to me. Arkmad helped me onto the bench before making his way to the exit. Dreycolt gave me one last worried glance, turned around, and headed back towards the entrance. The crisp night air felt wonderful on my face, and I began to relax. I closed my eyes, took deep breaths, and started to feel normal again.

The sudden sound of footsteps startled me. Assuming it was Dreycolt or Arkmad, I rose to meet them. For the second time that night, I was profoundly incorrect. A cold, sly voice broke the silence as the face that haunted my dreams stepped into the area. “Hello, Lyra. I bet you thought you’d never see me again.”

Icy fear washed over me as I was thrown into complete shock. Standing in front of me was Girerd Bost, the captain that took me from my home and attempted to violate me in every way possible. The starlight shone on his face, illuminating his narrow, glacial eyes and the nasty scar to the right of them. I hissed at him, “Captain Bost, what an unpleasant surprise.” I gestured to his scar, “It’s a real shame that didn’t heal better.”

He had the decency to look hurt by my cutting words as he moved his pale hair to the side and softly traced the scar. “Unfortunately for you, it’s Commodore Bost now.”

Before I could even blink, he lunged at me, grabbed me by the throat, and shoved me down onto the bench. Bost leaned forward and whispered into my ear. “Those two boys waiting for you were certainly brave. They tried to argue with me, but they couldn’t disobey a direct order from a Commodore no matter how much they wanted to.”

He paused briefly to trace his other gloved hand over my face. His touch revolted me and made my skin crawl; he seemed to take pleasure in my discomfort before continuing, “Now, there’s no one nearby to interrupt us…”

At that moment, he made the mistake of stroking my lips. It was my turn to lunge forward, and I bit down on his hand hard. Bost screamed and released my throat to grab his bleeding fingers. I leapt up from the bench and bolted past him, sprinting as fast as possible towards the maze’s entrance and praying that I wouldn’t hit a dead end. He was chasing me by this point, screaming obscenities and threats of what he would do to me. Finally, an opening in the hedges appeared. I glanced behind me to see if Bost was close behind, but as soon as I turned my head, I suddenly collided with a very large, solid thing.

The hedges made it way too dark for me to see, but from the soft grunt I heard during the collision, it was another man. I recoiled backward defensively as Bost rounded the corner. The mysterious man glanced at him, looked back at me, and seemed to judge the situation quickly. He swiftly stepped in front of me to block Bost’s path. At this point, all my dignity flew out the window, and I hid behind his tall figure. I just had to trust fate that I was better off with him than with the Commodore. In contrast to Bost’s loud cursing, the other man’s voice was impossibly soft and collected when he spoke. “Commodore, I believe this woman would like to be left alone.”

Still distracted by his hand, Bost howled, “Just who do you think you…..”. He looked up at the man and abruptly shut his mouth. Before he could re-open it, my unknown hero spoke again. This time his voice had a definite edge, and an unrecognizable accent slightly marred his words.

“I am Grand Admiral Thrawn of the Seventh Fleet. I trust you will have no further issues with me asking you to leave.”

#grand admiral thrawn #thrawn #thrawn fanfic #fanfic #ao3 #also on ao3 #star wars rebels #star wars the clone wars #star wars legends #Thrawn x oc #mitt'raw'nuruodo

[m0mmat0rtle]

Star Light Chapter Five

Pairing: Tech x Pantoran!OC

Words: 1693

Warnings: there’s one small innuendo and a small use of blood but nothing major

Summary: after noting the severity of Star’s disease Tech makes an offer the young Pantoran cannot refuse.

<Chapter Four

After a considerable amount of research Tech proved Lama Su correct about the lack of a cure for Star's disease, to his dismay.  An idea had been nagging at the back of his mind, one he wasn't certain of, but nevertheless, it was an idea that he could maybe save and use for later. "Are we going on any missions any time soon?" He asked Hunter who shrugged as he put his armor on, preparing for the day. "Not that I know of." He replied before narrowing his eyes at his brother. "Why?" He asked and Tech did his best to be as vague as possible. "No reason." He lied terribly. "I-I was just wondering." He added as he stumbled over his words and Hunter chuckled. "Does this have something to do with that girl?" He asked with a raised brow and instantly Tech flushed. "No." He insisted. "I was j-just wondering because-because I need to make some important repairs, yes! Repairs! I need to make some important- very important- repairs to the ship before our next mission and I uh I need it to be available so I can do so." Hunter shrugged again but a smirk lingered on his lips as he listened to Tech stumble over his words in a desperate attempt to lie. He knew Tech was up to something that involved Star but didn't know exactly what. He was just glad his brother finally met someone. "If you say so, Tech." Hunter replied. "But don't forget to use protection." "WhAT?!" Tech nearly shrieked, his face becoming much more red then it already was. "Protection for the ship. Make sure the stabilizers and shields are functioning." Hunter replied with a small grin. Tech nodded ferociously. "Y-yes of course I would never forget." He stuttered before finally getting out of the barracks and heading to Star's quarters.

Star's forearms were absolutely covered in purple paint. She had been hard at work all morning, creating another mural on the floor of her quarters. Tech's eyes widened at the sight. "Miss-miss star?" He questioned and Star turned to see him as a smile bloomed across her face. "Tech!" She cheered as she jumped up to her feet and trotted over to him. "I didn't even hear you come in!" She added before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek and taking his hand in hers to drag him over to her work. Even with the experience of her last kiss Tech still couldn't stop the blush that blossomed on his face. "C'mere I want your opinion on something." She said as she led him to her current work in progress. Tech looked down at the mural and his eyes widened as he took in the display. "Is that- are those the flowers I gave you?" He asked and Star smiled sheepishly as she brushed some of her violet colored hair behind her ear. "Yes." She replied. "Do you like it?" She asked with bright eyes. Tech was speechless. The painting was beautiful, perfect even. "I love it, Star." He said as he turned to look down at her. "It's beautiful." He replied. Star smiled up at him, the star shaped pale yellow tattoos on her cheeks crinkled from her grin. "Tech I-" She began but was cut off as her hand instantly came to her chest and she began to cough. At first it seemed as if she had just a small tickle in her throat but the coughing didn't end. She wadded up one of her spare rags in her hand, holding it in a firm first, as she brought it to cover her mouth. "Miss Star!" Tech shouted. "Are you alright?" But he knew what was wrong. Her health was deteriorating just as it should. Her medical condition was worsening and this episode was only a harbinger of what was to come. Finally the coughing seemed to slow down and Star drew in several shaky breaths as she tried to stabilize herself. "Sorry Tech-" She said as she let out another cough into her rag. "I don't know what came over me." She said but Tech knew. He knew all too well. "It's alright." He smiled. "It happens. There's no need to apologize." Star smiled back up at him before taking a glance down at her rag wadded up in her hand. She kept her expression steady but what she saw terrified her. In her fisted cloth was soaked with blood from her lungs.

Star Light's days were numbered. The thought nagged at Tech's mind as he watched the girl continue to paint. His eyes lingered on the intricate braid that secured her long pale purple hair. One thick braid reached down to her knees with smaller and tighter braids woven in between the main braid, crossing in an X formation. The braid as a whole was littered and adorned with a few of the flowers Tech had brought her which brought a smile to his face. He remembered when he met the pantoran. She had been reading about Naboo and expressed how much she wanted to see it one day. And why shouldn't she see it? He could manage that, couldn't he? Tech was a smart young man. He could manage getting her to Naboo to see the world before one day it was too late and he could bring her home without any harm done no problem. The Havoc had oxygen masks which supplied sterilized oxygen to the user. Yes he could swing that for sure and Star deserved to see some of the galaxy before it was too late. "How would you like to see Naboo?" Tech asked all of a sudden and Star Scoffed with a slight chuckle as she stood from her work to look up at him. "I'd love to. More than anything." She replied as she grabbed a spare rag to clean up her hands, her masterpiece finished. "But I can't. Lama Su forbids for me to leave. You know this." She said and Tech nodded. "But what if we could come back before anyone ever knew you were gone?" He offered and Star couldn't believe what she was hearing. Tech always seemed to be a "By the book" type of man. He never improvised unless he needed to. But every risk he took was carefully calculated. "Tech, you can't be serious." "I am." He reached out and took her small hands in his. "We could go to Naboo, just you and I, mesh'la." The mandoan sentiment caused her to blush, shades of indigo covering her cheeks. "You deserve to see the world you study so curiously." He said. "So why not?" Star's golden irises looked up at him, the height difference between them was vast. She searched him, trying to see if he was playing a joke on her. But all she saw was the kind and soft demeanor of Tech, the man who had fallen for her. "Alright." She said, squeezing his hands softly. "Let's do it."

#clone wars #clone troopers #fanfiction #star wars #clone wars fanfiction #tech is a simp #tech x pantoran oc #tech needs a hug #tech x oc #tech bad batch #tbb tech #tech #tbb the bad batch star wars #the bad batch fanfic #tbb #star wars tbb #tbb hunter #the bad batch #star wars writing #star wars fandom #star wars fanfiction #the bad batch fanfiction #tech fanfic #tech fan fiction #pantoran #wattpad writer #wattpad fiction #m0mmat0rtle #ao3 writer #ao3fic

[marvelousmarvelimagines]

Everywhere I Go 

Pairing - Thor x Reader

Summary - Based on the request, Thor takes Reader to Asgard for the first time. You’re nervous to meet his parents, but Thor’s there to assure you that their opinions don’t matter. 

Word Count - 1,538

Warnings - None!

“Are you sure this is okay?” You asked again, your fingers twitching at your side as you attempted to not adjust your clothing for the hundredth time since you’ve been standing there. 

“My dear, everything will be fine,” Thor attempted to reassure you. 

Except you didn’t believe him. You had never been this nervous to meet the family of someone that you were dating before. Thor insisted that they would all love you, but you weren’t so sure. After the destruction that his brother had caused, and seeing how much he detested the human race, you couldn’t help but wonder if the rest of his family was going to be the same. In your mind, you already knew that you couldn’t compare to Thor, so smart, strong and kind, and you were sure that his family would sense the same thing. You were just a regular person living on Earth. What made you worthy of their son? 

You jumped a little when you felt his large hand slipping into your own, and looked up at him with a weak smile that he picked up on. “What are you so nervous about?” He asked, frowning. 

“I think a better question would be what am I not nervous about.” You replied, biting  your bottom lip. 

Thor brought your hand up to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss there. “I’m sure that they’re going to adore you just as much as I do.” 

His words and actions made your whole body warm and a genuine smile formed on your face for the first time. Yes, you were still nervous. Of course you were, but at the same time you did know that no matter what his family said, your relationship with Thor wasn’t going to change. 

Nevertheless, you wanted them to like you. 

“Okay, let’s go ahead and go before I lose my nerve.” You said, squeezing his hand tightly and looking up at the sky. “How does this work anyway?” 

“I will call out to Heimdall, and he will open the bifrost. I do suggest that you hold on tight.” He told you. 

He didn’t have to tell you twice. You slipped your arms tight around his neck while one of his wove around your waist and the other lifted his hammer up in the air. You were stuck between two conflicting emotions. Part of you wanted to bury your face in his neck and close your eyes in fear of getting motion sickness from whatever was about to happen, and the other half of you would never forgive yourself for missing any second of the trip that you were about to take. 

You kept your eyes open, and you were so glad that you did. 

It was hard to describe, the vision as the two of you traveled up and into the air. Colors flashed all around you, every one that you could think of, going by so fast that you could never focus on one. Your stomach plummeted to the floor, but you didn’t feel sick. You were too distracted by everything else. Almost as soon as it started, it was over, and you were surrounded by gold walls with windows and the galaxy. You took your arms from Thor and looked around, speechless at the beauty in front of you. 

“Welcome to Asgard.” 

You almost jumped, startled at the voice, but managed to compose yourself. Almost immediately you knew that the tall, broad man with the strangest colored eyes you had ever seen had to be Heimdall, Thor’s best friend. “Thank you,” you said, still awestruck. “Heimdall I’m guessing?” 

“You would be correct,” he stepped forward and took a bow. “It’s nice to meet you Milady.” 

Well, you hoped everyone else would be as welcoming. Though you doubted it. “You too.” 

“Would you like to see Asgard now?” Thor asked you, slipping an arm around your waist. 

You nodded, excited for more of the beauty to behold, and with a little wave to Heimdall, you let Thor lead you away and to the rainbow bridge. 

If you had thought that the journey to Asgard was something to see, that was nothing compared to the city. The architecture was incredible, ornate and intricately designed. Everywhere that you turned there was something to look at. You thought you could spend a dozen lifetimes here and still not see everything. 

Then there were the people. 

It might have been the fact that you were on the arm of their future King, but everyone was so polite. Even when they weren’t smiling at the two of you, they were talking and laughing with each other. Having grown up in New York City, the sight was foreign to you. “Is everyone here always this happy?” You asked Thor, leaning into his side. 

“They are being blessed with the sight of one of the most beautiful women in the galaxy.” Thor said, his lips pressing a quick kiss to your cheek that made you blush. “I expect that might have something to do with their good moods.” 

“I’m being serious!” You said. 

“As am I!” He replied, smiling at you. “Your beauty rivals the whole kingdom. I also believe they’re happy to see their future King happy as well.” He added. 

At that you couldn’t help but smile. Thor could compliment your beauty all day, and while it was flattering, you would rather hear that he was happy with you. There was a lingering voice in the back of your mind, always saying you weren’t enough for someone as important and incredible as Thor, but when he said things like that, it was easy to shut it up. “Then let me rephrase . . . Is the rest of Asgard going to be as happy to see you with a human, specifically Asgardians who call you son?” 

It was clear that question wasn’t as easy for him to answer. He took a couple of moments before he responded. “My mother is looking forward to meeting you. I have told her a lot about you. My father . . . well, he knows how fleeting human life can be.” 

Ah yes, the big obstacle in your relationship that the two of you had yet to talk about. Thor was going to live hundreds of thousands of years. You would be lucky if you made it to one hundred. To that extent, you understood where Thor’s father was coming from. At the same time though, you knew that Thor was his own man and could make his own decisions, and if his decision was to be with you, you thought his father should respect that. Of course you’d never say this to his face. To be honest, Odin, the Ruler of the Nine Realms, seemed more than terrifying. 

“And while I value his opinion on many things, this is not one of them.” Thor continued, stopping for a moment so that he could look in your eyes, those crystal blues capturing you in their gaze. “You are the one I love. He is not going to change that.” 

You reached up to cup his cheek in your hand, his beard tickling your palm. “That’s good to know.” You said, honesty ringing in your tone as you leaned up to meet him in a soft and sweet kiss. 

Thor’s arms wrapped around you, and you sighed against his lips at the warmth that spread through your body. No matter what you had done in your life, you had never found a feeling better than being in his arms. You could stay there forever, and would have if there hadn’t been a little tug on your dress. 

You looked down and discovered a little girl who couldn’t be older than five smiling at you and holding out a beautiful gold necklace. “Excuse me. I think this would look really pretty on you.” 

Bending down to the girl’s level, you smiled. “Well, you are quite the salesman aren’t you? Should I try it on?” You looked at her for confirmation, and when she nodded, you looked back up at Thor who nodded as well, an affectionate smile on his face. 

The little girl slipped the necklace over your head, and you pulled your hair out from it before standing up and pretending to model it for her. “So what do you think?” You asked. 

She clapped her hands, her smile widening so much she was showing dimples. “It looks perfect, right?” She asked, looking up at Thor. 

He took your hand and made you do a little twirl as the necklace glowed in the soft light. “You have done a magnificent job milady.” Thor told her, reaching into his pocket and putting some gold coins into her hand. So many that her eyes widened in disbelief. “Please take these for your trouble.” 

“That was sweet of you.” You told him, smiling after the little girl. 

Thor just shrugged his shoulders. “She made you smile. That is worth more than any coins I could give her.” 

Okay, so maybe meeting his parents might turn out to be a nightmare, but even if they did, you would always have this moment. The beauty of Asgard was nothing compared to the way he was looking at you.

#thor #thor x reader #thor odinson x reader #thor x you #marvel imagine #thor fanfiction

[illusion-reality-steve]

I drew my boooooiiiiii - oh wait, why does he look different? Why does it say RQ!Mite?

Let me explain. Rn, it’s way too early to design RQ!Mite; the Galaxy Fam hasn’t shown up in Rainbow Quest yet.

RQ!Rainbow Steve isn’t a fusion, but every time the crystals create the hero, it’s always a new Rainbow Steve with a different main color. Every time the hero is unmade, that hero dies, which is why the crystals create a new hero each time.

So I wanted to play around with a concept/art challenge: What would SS!Mite Steve look like if RQ fusion/crystal logic was applied to him? I drew 4 Mite Steves, each with a different “main Steve” that determines their theme, power, and personality.

Story, bio, and design notes of each RQ!Mite below!

Memory!RQ!Mite:

Bio: The first Mite created by Steves in the RQ world (probably Galaxy and friends). This Mite prefers to do his work quietly without drawing attention. He does thing like being sneaky, shapeshifting into random Steves, erasing memories, and freezing time so people won’t notice him saving the day. As a result, he doesn’t have that many friends or fans, but he doesn’t mind since he doesn’t want the distraction or expectations. When he’s not working, he’s probably doing hobbies like gardening or cooking, and he loves cattos. The first Mite was killed because one day, he was outnumbered by enemies and had no one to help him defeat them. He died alone.

Design notes: I decreased the details and color variety, since this Mite doesn’t want to attract attention. I mean, he still looks extra(tm), but he can easily stay hidden or blend in with a crowd of similarly dressed Steves.

Illusion!RQ!Mite:

Bio: The second Mite, who is a hot mess who tries his best. There are some days when his perfectionism skyrockets, where he creates these intricate plans to defeat villains and he’ll cry if these intricate plans fail because they didn’t account for outside factors. But there are also days where he spots an enemy, throws a boulder at them and screams “AND STAY DEAD. I JUST WANT TO GO BACK HOME SO I CAN BINGE-WATCH SHOWS OR DISSOCIATE.” He pretends to not care about people, but he actually really really cares. He’s probably afraid of anything new, like new technology, new leaders, and the latest updates. He’s the only RQ!Mite who swears; no one knows when he learned swear words, and everyone is afraid of what else he knows. And yes, he’s self-aware and makes references to the Steve Saga. He’s dead now; I’m 120% sure it’s because he tried to leave the server and died trying...or maybe he’s still alive but exploring a different world :0

Design notes: tbh, I struggled coming up with a design. I gave him a generic detective, action movie protagonist vibe, since my Illusion design also has a detective/scientist theme. This boi is dressed because he has a job he takes seriously. He’s salty that the villain characters always have the better costumes, so he tries to one-up them. I love how the exaggerated popped collar reminds me of the “density of a black hole” graph. And he has bags under his eyes because he probably hasn’t slept in days.

Time!RQ!Mite:

Bio: The third Mite and the token functional boi of the 4. Unlike the previous Mites, this Mite is never seen doing his job. You’ll ask him “don’t you have to defend this realm?” and he’ll say “don’t worry, I am uwu.” And the world IS much more peaceful and every now and then, you’ll heard about a mysterious entity who saved a village from disaster. Whenever Mite is nearby when you read/hear this good news, he’ll whisper “~You’re welcome~” and say nothing else. You’re confused but eventually stop questioning him. Most of the time, this Mite is just vibing. He’s probably super into art. He just wants to have a good time and will be more than willing to be your friend if you come up to him and start a conversation. He is dead, and how he died is a mystery.

Design: At this point, I got sick of drawing purple and red so much (which still surprises me because how can you get sick of the colors purple and red?), so I didn’t want to use too much of it for Time!Mite. Does the green and blue make sense for his character? Probably not. Does it look good? Hopefully. I think it helped with the precious good boi energy. But I think I want to add some angst in the future, so I added abstract tears on his mask and more stormy, sad colors on the inside of his coat to counter the good boi energy.

Elemental!RQ!Mite:

Bio: The fourth and current Mite. This guy just did the job he was assigned. But one day he got curious about the previous three Mites. Using his time/space powers, he learned about their fate and went “oh no, that sounds awful! I don’t want this life anymore!” Then he got afraid that his creators would unmake him, so he decided to run away and find a place where he can defend himself. Using his elemental powers and time powers, he grew a forest to live in/rule. This forest is filled with illusion and memory powers. People who enter the forest will hallucinate from cryptid images and freak out until Mite shows up to scare them off. People try to tell their tales of the forest after escaping...if the memory powers don’t sink in and make them forget what they witnessed. Also.....the forest moves, very very slowly. It’ll grow to reach new biomes, while the older areas of the forest eventually disappear. It’s basically crawling. Mite’s just vibing in a cryptid, magical forest to avoid problems, and I love it.

(When he dies, the new Mite will have Memory as the main Steve, repeating the cycle)

Design notes: Mite, but he hates formal attire and has this vine thing that functions like a clawed hand...that’s it. I was debating about giving him the coat or not, and ended up drawing one he can wear as a cape; I toned down the inside colors because I worried they would be distracting. I gave him a nice flower crown and more vibrate blue hair tips.

Fun fact: my dad saw me draw this boi and he said Elemental!Mite looked like the Beast from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. And....I mean, they got the same energy, I guess? But I think they look too different, so I’m just confused and wondering why my dad said that.

***

TL;DR

Memory!RQ!Mite: Sneaky boi who doesn't give himself enough credit and deserves a nice nap

Illusion!RQ!Mite: Disaster Boi Plus(tm): Trying Edition

Time!RQ!Mite: If you're having a bad day and happen to be in a coffee shop owned by a local family, this boi will come in and study/sketch in this coffee shop until the bad vibes go away

Elemental!RQ!Mite: Feral king of a haunted, enchanted forest

I originally designed these guys to be a one time thing. But I’ve grown attached to these 4 new bois and I want to post more about them. Send help. Aaaahhhh

#my art #mite steve #mite steve au #rainbow quest au #rainbow quest oc #rainbow quest

[ritaofwar]

ABOUT RITA 

full name: margaret qiuyue zhang nicknames: rita (primary name) age: thirty-six pronouns: she/her zodiac: pisces sun, capicorn moon, pisces rising mbti: intj-a, the architect  alignment: true neutral

+ Imaginative: Think outside the box is a saying that Rita struggles to understand. Why impress upon people that there is a box in the first place? Thought, in and of itself, is boundless, reaching further than the outer limits of the universe. For Rita there has never been a box. Independence in thought allows the imagination to roam through the peaks and valleys of possibility and rationale, to toy with ideas and theories. It’s this quality that enables Rita to swiftly and cleverly untangle problems, and rearrange modes of operation. If patterns can be detected, information can be found, and with a mind that works like hers it’s a thrilling challenge to imagine solutions. And when she isn’t solving problems this imagination of hers runs wild, lending the woman an entire galaxy of her own. 

+ Tenacious: Rita has heard the stories of her family’s lives in China. Of the Japanese invasion, the Moaist regime, the famine, and her familys’ journey from the world they knew and loved to one that offered opportunity and security with a sacrificial price. Her ancestors’ strength moves through her, catapults her into action, and Rita knows that she has to fight for what she wants. Society has constantly tried to convince her that she’s less than, that her potential is not enough, and it’s only added fuel to her fire. People can count on her to get things done, to see it through and done right because for her there is no other choice. 

+ Decisive: Bossy. Utilitarian. Arrogant. Rita has heard it all, but in reality the woman, since girlhood, has simply been unafraid to take initiative and make decisions. Lacking hesitation, she finds herself ahead because of  her resolution and unwavering assuredness. For her it’s not a question of whether or not she makes the “right” decision, because once it is made, it no longer matters. Instead, Rita focuses on turning every decision into the right one. This aspect doesn’t always make friends, or present as the most attractive trait, but Rita appreciates, and takes pride, in this part of herself. 

- Manipulative: In pursuit of her own desires there are very few lines that Rita is wary to cross, and those she uses are often thought of as little more than pawns. What she lacks in innate charisma, she has learned to make up for through observation and perception. Perhaps she can’t simply charm you into doing what she wants, but the woman can certainly convince you that what you want is synonymous to what she wants by deftly pulling on the strings of logic and desire, reality and fantasy, until the lines blur and she can reap the benefits. But as handy a tool it is, Rita herself can often be left questioning what is real and what is not.  

- Detached: As a girl Rita’s mother lamented that she didn’t understand her own child, an enigma, a puzzle, she would mutter in Mandarin. And others shared the sentiment. She was hard to keep up with, hard to pin down, and ultimately hard to connect to. When one feels as though people are constantly struggling to understand them, tolerating rather than grasping them, distance grows. What is often misinterpreted as haughtiness, is really a fear of being misunderstood, and showing her authentic self. Rita’s emotional well runs deep, and she’s terrified to drown. It’s a lonely way to live.

- Paranoid: Rita once thought that power and persuasion would bring security. People value her, money has made her more than comfortable, and intel keeps her prepared and in control. But now, in a world as cruel as the one she finds herself in, Rita fears it’s only a matter of time before the gaping maws come snapping at her. Her sense of reality melts away, and in its place delusions of betrayal and deception close in. Suspicion and anxiety follow suit and suddenly her coveted  power is the enemy. Then, as quickly as it came on, it recedes, lurking in the shadows until it seizes her once again.

BIOGRAPHY 

Margaret Zhang was born in a humble, upstairs flat in Camden, London. Her mother’s screams could be heard from the street, but Rita was as silent as a lamb when she entered the world. She would hear the retelling many times by her grandmother-- eyes like saucers, unblinking and astute, as though she had been waiting for this moment, knew it was coming, and couldn’t bear to delay her first glimpse at the world. Their flat sat above the family’s business, a portrait studio, and though they didn’t have much to their name the Zhang’s were overjoyed at the arrival of their small, plump daughter. 

Largely silent until the age of two, Rita’s father often had to ease her mother’s mind as the woman worried over their daughter’s development. The quiet, sharp-eyed baby grew into a reticent, and pensive girl.  Even at a young age it seemed that the child was lost in thought, floating somewhere just beyond reality, wondering about the whistling tea kettle, about the cars beyond the window, the flick of the cat’s tail, and the weather report on the television all at once. Her thoughts were scattered about, picking apart different details and examining them like their own separate mysteries. And when her mother would say her name, you could practically see the threads of thought gathering back together, tethering the girl once more. Rita lived inside her head. Her thoughts, curiosities, and dreams weaved an intricate web as if to ensnare anything that passed through her mind. She wanted everything-- yearned for extravagance, craved knowledge, thirsted for intrigue, ached for significance. But how to attain it?

Growing up, one of Rita’s favorite past times was helping her father in the studio, fetching batteries, a different lens, extra stools, ... whatever was necessary to gain those moments where she got to observe people. She’d watch them gently handle the new baby that was proving to be more work than either parent had signed on for, or watch as siblings bickered over the center, ruining multiple shots so that their mother delivered swift swats to the back of their ginger heads. Newly weds, ancient faces, best friends... People of all colors, speaking in foreign languages, happy, tired, frustrated... Their worlds were hers for those few moments, and in their worlds possibilities multiplied beyond her ability to comprehend, and it was in these worlds that she felt most at home. Their faces smoothed with practiced composure when her father dipped his head to look through the viewfinder, but oftentimes they were so focused on what was to come, that they were most open in the seconds before. It was there, in that small room with low ceilings and the subtle smell of wet wood that Rita learned to read people, to guess their desires, their hardships, their fears. She would come to spend everyday after school there beside her father, inserting herself  into the lives of others to escape for just a few moments. 

In reality growing up as a British Asian came with challenges and hardships. Her mother held her head high when store clerks belittled her with slow speech or offensive imitations. Her father did well to catch the eyes of those who dared to stare or sneer on the Tube. Her grandmother, who never quite caught onto the English language, was spared the exact slurs that were muttered as they passed a group of teenage boys on the street, but the sentiment transcended speech. Kids were cruel and even Rita felt the flames of shame lick at her cheeks when Sarah McCormick loudly remarked upon the foreign smell of Rita’s Shuizu, or when Jeffery Louse announced that his father thought people like her didn’t belong in England. Humiliation, rage, injustice, and hurt are wonderful catalysts, C-4 placed at the base of a dam; it honed her vision, sharpening what had once been a soft, dreamlike quality to her desires. Rita would have a life that put everything at her fingertips, allowed her to say what mattered and what didn’t, things would not happen to her, she would make them happen.  

Her parents needn’t push her to excel, she wanted it for herself, needed it for herself, so the girl plunged herself into tuning her mental acuity. And when she didn’t have the means to make do on her own, the young woman dove into her treasure trove of manipulative skills. She read their body language, mimicked their energy, and picked apart their words to gain what she could from them. She used her imagination, knowing that if she reached far enough, jumped high enough, and let go of  how things should be done, that there was a world of endless possibilities and delights. It was this willingness to stray beyond the beaten path that blazed her through secondary school and propelled her to London School of Economics and Political Science. But when she arrived at university, Rita was hopelessly lost. She had spent so much time dreaming of different lives that she floundered when it came time to decide which direction to take. Having already chosen and thrown away the ideas of business and politics, Rita had recently turned to law when, by happenstance, she found War.

A colleague heard that a position had recently opened up in the accounting department for the company Bellum Nova. Rita had heard of it, of course, a name that garnered attention from news outlets, caught hers as well, and though Rita was learned in mathematics, she knew next to nothing about weapons manufacturing. Still, she applied, naive to the fact that the “open position” was in fact the role of a scapegoat in case reports were dragged into the blinding light of an interrogation room. Still, they used her for the legal proceedings of the company, and although the work was mundane and rather monotonous, Rita felt that Bellum Nova was the sort of place where things happen. 

And they did. It was a routine file submission, a cross examination of current assets, and the invoices presented to accounts receivable, the busy work they often handed down to her. But this time she noticed a discrepancy. Thousands of pounds missing from a single client. She double checked, triple checked, then, heart pounding in her chest, filed the invoice away like any other. No one had asked her to ignore it, in fact she never even mentioned it to her boss, but she was suspicious of what it meant. In the weeks to come more and more evidence of revenues being underreported trickled down between the numbers. She did the same equations over and over to be sure, finding again and again that the figures didn’t lie. It was simple to cover up, and with decisive fingers, she changed the dates on back up reports to align with requirement contract overages. She worked quickly, and without instruction, acutely aware that this wasn’t a simple case of oversight. One evening her boss stopped her on the way out. Bellum Nova, or rather War, was  in need of a capable accountant, and the illegal transactions in her possession were, more than anything else, a test of confidence and initiative, and, unlike the poor chap before her, Rita had passed. 

An angel, they called it. Funny name for a role that was a far cry from any celestial being. She remained a scapegoat, a fall man if anything should go awry, but now she had purpose. Changing her major to economics, Rita suddenly saw a dazzling future amidst the figures before her. She had come to understand long ago that there wasn’t a straight, honest line to what she wanted, and if it meant fudging numbers and forging invoices, she would do it. In fact, there was little she wouldn’t do. The thrill of it all engulfed her, and like Persephone she found herself trapped in an underworld she desperately adored. University taught her how to legally orchestrate finances for a global company, and War taught her the workings of a world of crime. She held her position at Bellum Nova throughout university, eventually gaining her initiation and a place among the Powers just months after she had graduated. 

In the years to follow Rita continued to learn about the weaponries industry, and what it required while continuing on for a certification in jurisprudence. Rita learned the law in order to avoid it, and where she had once prodded the line of right and wrong the woman now strode across the barriers, watching as her influence grew, her knowledge bounded, and her pockets grew heavier. She was as willing to carry out a delivery, as extort a politician, as to place her signature on a forged invoice. It was this dedication, along with her tenacity to retain what she learned, and her aptitude for problem solving  that put Rita in place for the role of Dominion. It was nearly a decade after joining that she ascended to the position. Some claim she only received the title because of Remus, that nepotism was as alive and well in War as any institution (legal or otherwise), but Rita knows how many hours she poured over textbooks new and old, how much blood she tasted in her mouth, how often she had berated herself over the details of her decisions. It might have been Rita alone that knew how much she really deserved it, but that was enough for her, and no one dared say otherwise to her face. 

#about #over a decade of roleplaying and i cannot do graphics for the life of me #this will eventually move to a page of its own

[highsviolets]

of caf & conversations

pairing: non-toxic masculinity, wedge/luke if you squint

summary: “So, Luke Skywalker, hero of the Rebellion: what on earth is keeping you up at night?”

word count: 3k 

rating: G

A/N: lolol I said I would post the update for “steady” this week and then @blonde-avenger and I were talking and, well, this happened. I can never refuse Luke Skywalker shenanagins. Canon + Legends compliant.

OF CAF & CONVERSATIONS, a fic by corellians-only [read on AO3 | external references are linked]

Wedge felt a sharp dig in his ribs as he lifted his cup of caf to his lips. The slim pilot scowled as the precious liquid danced over the top of the metal cup and collided with his flight suit. A stain started blooming on the weighty fabric of his khaki-colored trousers, creating an intricate patchwork of splotches.

“Seriously, Tycho?” he asked, staring in askance at the blonde-haired human male sitting to his right. “What is so important that you couldn’t wait until I finished my caf?”

While the Rebellion was a self-defined group of informal group of fighters, politicians, and the galaxy’s strays that gave little thought to rank, Rogue Squadron was infamous for its blatant disregard for rules and regulations.

Be that as it may, a few unofficial ordinances that governed the squad of ace pilots to preserve what remains of my sanity, Luke had commented dryly a few months earlier, after a particularly colorful incident that featured commandeered Corellian whiskey, a broken ‘fresher unit, and Wes Janson’s bedsheets.

Rule number one: Never, ever, come between Wedge Antilles and his cup of caf.

Everyone knew that. General Jan Dodonna. High Command Leader Mon Mothma. Even roguish Han Solo respected the man’s right to enjoy his caf in peace. Captain Wedge Antilles’ devotion to the caffeinated drink was nearly as legendary as Rogue Squadron itself.

Tycho ignored Wedge’s griping, merely arching an eyebrow. He pointed to the opposite side of the rudimentary mess hall. In the dim light of the glow rods, Wedge could make out Luke Skywalker making his way towards them with a cup of caf in each hand.

“That’s Luke,” Wedge stated baldly, still peeved at the interruption.

Tycho sighed, a gentle sound that belied the fact that his patience was wearing thin. “I know, Wedge. I live with the man. So do you. Or are you confused on that front as well?”

Wedge rolled his eyes in response to his wingmate’s sarcasm. “What’s your point, O Noble and Wise One?”

“The point, my stubborn Corellian friend, is—”

“Wait, was Luke scheduled for a patrol?” Wedge cut him off.

“There we go. Knew the converters would fire up eventually.” Tycho sat back and nodded approvingly, crossing his arms as he did so. The heavy-duty winter uniform did nothing to hide the grace of his movements, a remnant of his Alderaanian uprising that not even harsh training at the Imperial Academy — or the irrevocable loss of his culture — could push aside.

From his relaxed position, Tycho extended a gloved hand and snatched Wedge’s cup, taking a sip of caf. He shuddered.

“Wedge, this is disgusting.” He thrust the offending beverage back into Wedge’s open hands, his tone hurt and betrayed, as though Wedge not properly sweetening his caf was a personal affront to Tycho’s sensibilities.

“That is not caf.” Tycho pointed at swirling black liquid. “That’s what Zraii uses to clean our X-wings.” He regarded Wedge with concern. “Are you sure Wes didn’t swap your cups again?”

“I don’t hear you complaining about how I take my caf when it makes me awake enough to cover your six.” Wedge shot back. “Besides, I’m not the one who worries about his hair in the middle of firefight.”

“If you’re done squabbling like an old married couple, you’re right, Wedge.” Derek “Hobbie” Klivian, another human male pilot from Ralltir, joined them, plopping down on the other side of Wedge.  

“I served a double patrol with Luke yesterday. Neither of us were scheduled for patrol today,” Hobbie added, discarding his outer layer.

Tycho winced in sympathy. Fourteen consecutive standard hours patrolling the Force-forsaken, freezing pile of bantha dung that was Hoth was dangerous, and not for the usual reasons. Hypothermia and avalanches were the most fearsome enemies on this planet — a far cry from the proton torpedoes and firefights that usually incited fear even in the most hardened of pilots.

Hobbie glanced up at Luke, who was rapidly closing in on the trio. “As far as I know, he was in meetings with High Command all day.”

“I don’t know,” mused Wedge. “I might prefer patrol to listening to politicians all day.” He frowned, considering the situation. “Then why is Luke wearing full gear? Is he crazy?”

Tycho shook his head, amused. “Stang if I know. But I’m glad you’ve finally caught on, boss.” He clapped Wedge on the shoulder in mock approval, a grin playing about his lips.

“Wait, am I the last one to notice this?” Wedge’s eyes darted from side to side, a look of incredulity spreading across his features. He was the squadron’s executive officer. Taking care of his pilots was not only his job, it was a source of pride — and if Luke was technically his commanding officer, well, that was a matter of semantics. And Rebels didn’t care much for those.

“Well, I wouldn’t say the last,” Hobbie inserted pragmatically. “I don’t think Wes knows.”

Wedge fixed him with a hard stare, not appreciating the comparison with the accident-prone pilot. “That’s not saying much, Hobbie.”

He shrugged apathetically. “Doesn’t make it any less true.”

Tycho motioned with his hands in a be quiet motion as Luke approached. “Good evening, Commander,” he greeted Luke pleasantly, his tone abandoning its previous mischievousness.

“Hello, Tycho,” Luke responded in kind, his blue eyes clear despite the sheen of weariness that stretched over his features. “Wedge. Hobbie. Good to see you.”

“Is there something out there, sir?” Wedge gestured with his free hand, the one that wasn’t clutching the cup of caf, to Luke’s quilted white coat.

The collar was turned up to provide maximum protection against the elements, and Luke had piled beige utility vest on top. A scarf fluttered from its haphazard perch around his neck, obscuring the rank cylinders that Wedge knew lay on the left breast pocket.

Luke’s face and sandy head of hair were the only bodily surfaces not completely swaddled in fabric of some sort. The whole ensemble — combined with his boyish good looks and gentle demeanor — had the effect of reducing Commander Luke Skywalker, destroyer of the Death Star, to something akin to a young porg.

“Another suspected meteor?” Tycho probed.

Luke’s brows bunched together. “Uh, no?” He shook his head. “Situation’s normal — as though the nine hells of Corellia had frozen over.” He shot a playful glance at Wedge. “You would know something about that, wouldn’t you, Wedge?”

He bent over and placed the extra cup on the table as he spoke, but the movement lacked its usual swiftness owing to the bulk of his gear. Tycho leaned over and pulled out a chair, and Luke sat, nodding at him gratefully. The lightsaber attached to his hip bumped against his leg as he sat, catching the reflection of the glow rods stationed strategically around the room. The movement drew Wedge’s eye, and it occurred to him absently that the antique weapon seemed to gleam even in the dull illumination of the mess hall.

“Actually, I don’t think he would, sir. The nine hells kicked him out, so the powers that be made him our problem.” Hobbie eyed Wedge’s cup warily. “Have you tasted his caf? No sane human can drink caf that strong.”

“When will you three get it in your heads that not every Corellian is a scoundrel?” Wedge asked. He pointed to himself. “My parents ran fueling station. No spice. No smuggling. No bribes.”

“Weren’t you raised by a smuggler after your parents died?” Luke asked suspiciously.

“Well, that doesn’t mean that I was a smuggler,” Wedge deflected. “Besides, I was already a teenager when Gus Tetra Station went up in flames. Booster Terrik didn’t exactly have to tuck me into bed at night.”

Luke snorted in amusement. “With logic like that, I was never a moisture farmer, I was just raised by one.”

Wedge sobered slightly. Like him, Luke’s parents had died, leaving him to be brought up by his next of kin. But Wedge was lucky. He had known his parents still reflected on fond memories from his childhood. Luke had enjoyed no such luxuries.

Tycho butted in before Wedge could change the topic. “I agree with Luke.” He began counting off on his fingers, naming each instance in turn. “So, you never helped him with accounts? Installed illegal parts on his ship? Owned belongings that had been declared contraband by the Diktat? Never went with him to meet a client?”

Sensing defeat, Wedge inclined his head. “Well, that may have happened. And I may have used his contacts to secure my first deals before I went to the Academy. But those were legitimate. I, personally, am not a smuggler.” He raised his chin in an act of defiance.

“Well, well, whatever shall we do with such a disloyal son of Corellia?” Hobbie asked in mock seriousness, as though he were presiding over a trial.

“He’s still a Rebel,” Luke pointed out mildly, sipping his caf. “I think that counts for something.”

Wedge cleared his throat in a desperate attempt to bring the conversation back under control. This was getting out of hand, and Wes Janson wasn’t even here.

“If there’s no patrol, sir, why are you wearing full gear?”

Luke started at the change in topic and then blushed, a delicate tinge of red sweeping across his cheeks even in the coolness of the hollowed out ice cavern. “It’s always best to be prepared, Wedge.”

Wedge met Tycho’s eyes and had a feeling that the puzzlement he saw etched on Tycho’s face mirrored his own.

“Sir, we haven’t seen action in days.” This time it was Hobbie who spoke. “Unless you know something we don’t…” his voice trailed off, the question lingering even as it went unsaid. Is Rogue being deployed?

Luke shook his head. “No, you know as much as I do, boys.”

The mood shifted palpably at his announcement. His pilots, Luke had learned, did not actively seek out conflict, but being grounded for more than a few days at a time tended to make them restless. And impatient, reckless pilots get killed, Luke reflected. Maybe I can get them scheduled for some supply runs. He filed away the suggestion to take up with High Command later.

“Okay, so if you can’t answer that, then why do you have two cups of caf? Are you planning on taking on the entire Imp vanguard by yourself? You never drink more than cup a day.” Luke’s XO indicated the cup on the table and its partner, now clenched around Luke’s gloved hands.

“C’mon, Wedge. If I wanted to take on the vanguard, I’d at least let you vape a few of your own.” Luke turned his head and grinned lightly at Tycho. “Leave Tycho here to clean up the mess and deal with this group of loca kung.”

“Hey! Watch who you’re insulting in — well, whatever language that is,” Hobbie protested weakly and turned to Tycho, hoping he would back up the beleaguered pilot.

“Don’t look at me.” Tycho lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I wasn’t the one who insulted you.”

Wedge cocked his head. “Was that…Huttese, Luke?”

Blue eyes averted brown, fixating on some amorphous clump of snow directly above their table. “Maybe.”

Something about the gesture unnerved Wedge, and he began to examine Luke more closely.

Sure enough, Luke’s leg was bouncing, and his shoulders were hunched together, as though he could keep the warmth closer to his body by closing in on himself. He couldn’t see Luke’s hands, but Wedge would bet his last round of sabaac winnings that Luke’s knuckles were white underneath his gloves, latching onto the warmth provided by the caf in a vice grip.

And with the precision of an ion cannon, it all clicked into place. Heavy jacket. Moisture farmer. Two cups of caf. Huttese.

“Hey, Luke?”

“Yeah, Wedge?”

“When was the last time you slept?”

“Uh, last night, Wedge. You were there.” He sounded bemused.

“No,” Wedge corrected. “I saw you get into your bunk. I don’t know if you actually slept.”

“Well, I slept.”

“You sure?” Wedge pushed.

“Pretty sure, Captain.” Luke’s tone was firm, and Wedge winced at the use of his rank.

“Just making sure, Commander.” Wedge tossed back the rest of his caf. “Can’t have Rogue Leader operating on backwash fuel,” he added, as though the comment had been a casual afterthought.

Luke’s eyes widened, but he kept his tone even. “Is there something to suggest otherwise, Antilles?”

“Honestly, sir?” At Luke’s encouraging nod, Wedge shrugged. “A few things. The jacket. The caf.”

Luke’s blue eyes narrowed. “You knew I was’t sleeping because I wore a jacket and drank caf? And because you didn’t physically see me sleeping?”  

“Wedge knew you weren’t sleeping because he was stalking you, sir” Tycho put in, easing the tension that had settled over the group. “I, however, had a feeling that you weren’t sleeping because I haven’t seen you hug anyone in days.”

“Tycho?” asked Hobbie. “Shut up. That’s even creepier than Wedge’s assessment somehow. Luke doesn’t want to hear that.”

Hobbie turned to Luke. “I thought you weren’t sleeping because you didn’t make one joke about womp rats yesterday — not once, over the span of fourteen hours, with nothing to stare at but ice, did you mention those infernal creatures.”

Luke shook his head ruefully. “Am I really so obvious?” he questioned aloud.

His pilots looked at each other. “Yes,” they answered in unison.

Wedge met Luke’s gaze. “Look, Commander, we’re just concerned for you. As your friends, not as your pilots. We have every confidence in your ability to lead us, sir.”

Luke smiled wanly, and he looked older than his 22 years. “No cylinders, Captain,” he instructed softly, the fight having drained out of his voice.

Hobbie sighed dramatically and reached up to unpin his rank. “Oh, thank the Force. I hate having to dance around rank like we all haven’t seen each other —“

“Thanks for listening, Luke.” Tycho spoke over Hobbie’s sarcasm and placed a hand on Luke’s arm.

“I can’t very well ignore my best pilots, now, can I?” His blue eyes met Tycho’s own. “Especially when they’re my best friends.”

Tycho smiled.”That’s what we’re here for. He squeezed Luke’s arm before releasing his grip and leaning back into his chair once more. “So, Luke Skywalker, hero of the Rebellion: what on earth is keeping you up at night?”

“Well, we know it’s not women troubles,” Hobbie quipped, frowning when two pairs of eyes fixed him with a steely glare.

“Not. Helping,” seethed Wedge between gritted teeth.

Hobbie ignored him. “Well? Is it?” he queried Luke.

The younger pilot shook his head. “No.”

“Okay. Gambling debts? R2 unit can’t be repaired? Missing family member? A strangling feeling of impending doom?”

Luke shook his head at each suggestion. “None of the above. Although, I think the feeling of impending doom is just you, Hobbie.”

“A pity,” Hobbie returned wryly. “It does wonders for one’s health.”

Luke took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Honestly, guys? It’s not that deep. I’’m just really cold.”

“You can’t sleep because you’re cold?” Wedge blurted, unable to contain his incredulity.

“I’m from a desert planet with two suns, Wedge.” Luke’s voice held a hint of his regular self with the teasing. “What did you think would happen when you put me on a snow planet?”

Wedge exhaled slowly. “Well, when you put it like that —“

“—which I do —“

“that kinda makes sense,” he admitted.

Luke smirked. “Good to know I’m not barvy as well as sleep-deprived and freezing.”

Tycho placed his hands above his head. “Well, I gotta say, that’s kind of a relief, Luke. I thought you had combat fatigue or something. This is problem is a piece of ryshcate compared to that.”

He looked at Wedge. “Did I say it right?” he asked, referring to the invocation of the famous Corellian dessert.

Wedge shook his head. “Well, technically yes, but your pronunciation is atrocious. I think Gamorreans could say it better than you.”

“Gentlemen.” Hobbie extended his hands palm-first. “If we could return to the task at hand, I propose a simple solution.”

“I’m all ears,” Luke said seriously.

“Luke can’t sleep because he’s cold. What’s the simplest way to conserve heat? Stick close together. So, the three of us take turns bunking with Luke to conserve body heat and make sure our dear old Commander finally catches some shut-eye.” Hobbie stated his conclusion apathetically, as though he hadn’t just suggested what sounded suspiciously like a squadron-wide sleepover.

“Hobbie.” Tycho stated slowly. “You hate being close to people.”

Hobbie shrugged. “So get Dak to take my place. Does it matter who it is as long as it’s one of us and it means Luke can sleep?”

Wedge searched Luke’s face for signs of misgiving, but found none. “Are you okay with this?”

Luke considered. “Would you care even if I wasn’t?”

“You know I would.” Wedge’s voice was low and serious.

“Yeah, I’m okay with it.” Luke smiled brightly and met Wedge’s brown eyes. Even without reaching out in the Force, Luke could feel that Wedge was radiating warmth and concern.

“Well, it’s a plan then,” Tycho confirmed, looking between Wedge and Luke. “Wedge, you’re up first.” His eyes twinkled. “Time to take our dear old Commander to bed.”

Luke reached across the table and lightly punched Tycho in shoulder. “Hey, watch who you’re calling old.” He yawned, screwing up his face and rubbing his eyes as he did so. With a concentrated effort, he heaved onto his feat.

“Mind if we turned in?” he asked Wedge. “I know it’s relatively early but—“ Luke blushed for the second time that evening — “I really haven’t sleep in weeks.”

Wedge nodded. “Of course, Luke. Whatever you want.” He stood, matching Luke’s stance, and the two walked away, speaking softly.

Hobbie looked at Tycho, who was watching them with a grin on his face. “Did you do that on purpose?”

“If I didn’t, you’d never know.”

#character: luke skywalker #luke skywalker fic #film: empire strikes back #star wars fic #cristina writes #cg's og's #rogue squadron #wedge antilles #hobbie klivian #tycho celchu #hoth #protect luke 2020 #star wars legends #corellian flyboys #wedge antilles x luke skywalker

[greyias]

86. “I got you a present.”

Part four of the Adorkable “Date Night”. Part 1 can be found here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here. Yes, this story is still going. One day, it will be finished, I swear.

The Promenade was the glittering, bustling tourist center of Nar Shaddaa. Bright lights, neon holoboards every few feet, and chock-full of the usual amenities of any urban center, including public storage lockers. Hell, compared to the rest of the planet, the streets here on the Promenade were practically sterile.

But Theron still wouldn’t recommend walking around them barefoot. Not that his companion was paying that particular bit of advice much mind.

“I am not wearing those heels again,” she said primly.

“What if you step on a hypospray needle?” Theron asked earnestly. “Who knows what sort of disease you could pick up.”

“I do not see any used hyposprays scattered about, do you?”

“Well I’m looking for them now.”

“You are worrying too much. I am used to walking around rough ground in my bare feet.”

“I really doubt there’s broken beer bottles in your secret meditation spot on Odessen,” he pointed out.

Grey shot him a look. “You are being melodramatic.”

“I am not,” he sputtered helplessly. “I just don’t want you to pick up Bothan Nether Rot from stepping on some piece of trash!”

“I’m fairly certain that is not contracted via laceration.”

“Could you just—” he waved an arm in frustration, “—here. I’ll carry you.”

“You’ll what?”

“It’s not that far to the lockers,” he insisted. “You can hang on my back, and as a bonus, I won’t have to hear Lana lecture me for letting ‘the galaxy’s best hope’ pick up Smashbone fever from some wino’s trash pile.”

“That’s not how you get—wait… are you offering me a piggyback ride?”

He glared at her. “Are you refusing one?”

“I am just a little confused by your insistence I’ll step on my death on a short walk down the street.”

“Just humor me, okay?”

She let out a long suffering sigh that he thought bordered a little on the dramatic side but gave in. After a bit of awkward shuffling that included him getting cuffed on the ear, a lot of tugging and rearranging of the skirt on her dress (because they didn’t really need a repeat of the restaurant incident), and a little swaying before he found his balance, they were making their way back down the boardwalk.

“I feel ridiculous,” she muttered. “Everyone’s staring.”

“No one’s staring,” Theron insisted as they walked by a Rodian couple who were clearly gawking at the pair of humans. “We’re just two normal people, doing normal people things.”

“Speaking words aloud does not automatically make them true,” she muttered, giving the startled Rodians a severe look.

“We’re almost there,” he tried to assure her.

“Define ‘almost’.”

“A few more blocks.”

She groaned, trying to bury her face into his neck and hide from the curious onlookers. “Is it too late to risk stepping on all of your fictitious medical detritus lining the streets?”

From the gradual appearance of the big dictionary words and overtly proper grammar, it was clear that she was reaching the end of her patience. Theron let out a sigh, stopping in front of one of the kitschy souvenir shops that ringed the Promenade. As he caught sight of a cheesy and borderline offensive shirt the display mannequin was sporting, an idea came to him.

“What about option three?”

She pulled her face out hiding, forehead scrunching up in confusion. “There was a third option?”

He flashed her a smirk as best he could over his shoulder, and tilted his head towards the entrance. “Let’s make a quick detour.”

With a wobbling lurch, they made it to the entryway of the shop, and his reluctant passenger gratefully clambered down back to her feet. The floor of the store probably wouldn’t pass any military spot checks (or a general health inspector on a Republic world for that matter), but it was worlds away cleaner than the streets.

Just as Theron suspected, the shop was packed to the brim with a large variety of kitschy knick-knacks, souvenir tunics, cheap gaudy shot glasses, and everything in between. It was near the back of the shop that he’d found what he was looking for, a gaudy pair of bright purple sandals that was sure to clash with her ensemble, but at least would keep her feet marginally protected from the hypospray needles and shards of glass that most certainly were lining the streets.

Grabbing his prize, he began to wind through the overpacked shelves to try and find where the stubborn blonde Jedi had wandered off to. It wasn’t like the shop was that big, but almost every usable centimeter had been crammed in with merchandise. He gave the Tickle-Me Wampas lining the shelves a long, suspicious look, fairly certain that they were not officially licensed products. Typical Nar Shaddaa. Even the places with a veneer of legitimacy still had at least their finger in some sort of seedy pot.

Dodging around some Chatty Kath Hound dolls and a display of mildly offensive Huttball caps, he finally managed to break free from his retail prison and caught sight of his barefoot girlfriend in front of the floor-to-ceiling hat display. At his approach, she turned to face him, arms behind her back. She was unsuccessfully fighting down a smile, trying to bite her lip to keep it at bay. It was a look that was, quite frankly, more adorable than it had any right to be.

“Guess what I found!”

“I’m a little afraid to.”

“Oh, come on.”

“A backdoor frequency to hijack the Eternal Fleet?”

“Like that exists,” she snorted derisively. “Besides, this is a gift shop. I doubt they’re selling Zakuul’s state secrets.”

“Well, they seem to have everything else here,” he pointed out.

“Including this,” she announced proudly, pulling the object out from behind her back.

Theron tilted his head, trying to parse out why she was so happily and proudly holding what appeared to be a large, purple bell, neatly decorated with golden scrollwork and a rather sharp spike jutting out of the top. Was that supposed to be its handle? Or was the bell meant to be wielded like a weapon? He had so many questions.

“That’s certainly a… thing,” he finally said.

Her bright smile faded a fraction. “You don’t recognize it?”

“No?”

She narrowed a brow at him, and then plopped the bell on top of her head. It was way too big for her, and immediately the large golden brim flopped in front of her eyes. Undeterred, she tipped it back, a wide grin across her freckled face. “It’s the hat!”

“The hat?” he echoed.

“The hat,” she said again, and then seeing his confusion, let out a long sigh. “You know, the best hat. From the statue of Karagga!”

“Oh stars, no!” Recognition suddenly dawned on him that he was staring at a genuine replica knockoff of the most godawful ugly piece of headwear he’d ever seen. “Why would someone make more of that thing?”

“Look at the scrollwork,” she insisted, “it’s so delicate and beautiful.”

“I’m sorry, did you go blind in the five minutes it took me to find you a pair of sandals?”

She gave a quiet harrumph as she tried to balance the world’s ugliest bell on her head. “I like it.”

He managed to contain the exasperated sigh that threatened to escape, and instead held out the footwear he’d managed to find buried in the back of the shop. “Well, good. I got you a present — a matching pair of sandals.”

A blonde brow narrowed at him, clearly not receptive to the flat, sarcastic tone. “I’m not sure I trust your choice in footwear.”

“And I don’t trust your choice in millinery,” he said, “so I guess we’re even.”

That earned him a dark look and he sighed, shaking the pair of sandals as if they were a peace offering. The severity of the look only eased slightly as she took them and tried them on, the wide brim of the hat flopping back down into her face the moment her head tipped downward. It was funny, but the sandals did almost match the eyesore on top of her head. Even if both colors of purple clashed with the aqua shade of her dress.

“These are much more comfortable than the heels,” she allowed after a moment.

“Probably less deadly too,” he said with only a hint of regret. He probably wouldn’t be able to turn the sandals into a projectile weapon nearly as efficiently.

“I guess we should pay for these,” she said. “I feel like we have probably broken enough rules for the evening.”

“Well, that’s no fun.”

“I am not adding ‘shoplifting’ to this evening’s list of activities.” Her tone was both prim and firm.

“Spoilsport.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she carefully took the giant hat from her head and placed it back on the shelf. Her fingers lingered on the intricate scrollwork for a second more, an almost wistful smile playing at her lips. Then she turned and made her way towards the checkout register.

Theron began to follow her, but the bright garish colors of the hat caught his eye, and his steps slowed to a stop.

He stared at the ugly thing. It stared back. The hideous clashing colors assaulting his vision, making him question his hesitation. All he had to do was walk away, and he’d never have to see it again. It would just be so easy. Theron shot a glance to the retreating form of his girlfriend, the image of that sad smile almost as seared into his brain as the colors of the hideous hat. With the heaviest of sighs, he snatched the cursed object from its resting place and marched up to the checkout counter.

The look he got when he plopped it unceremoniously on her head was almost worth the price of the stupid thing. Theron tried to pretend that he didn’t see it, instead making a show of pulling out several credit chips to pay for the purchase of both the hat and sandals. Although the slight quirk at the corner of his mouth may have given him away.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said quietly when they finally exited the store.

Theron shrugged. “We’re on a date, right?”

“I do not see how that equals a purchase of an unnecessary hat.”

“Do you want me to go return it?”

“No! I love it!” Her protest was accentuated by her grabbing the brim of the item in question, effectively pulling it back down in her eyes again. The damn thing was way too big for her.

He flicked the brim back up out of her eyes, watching as the freckles on her nose crinkled with her smile. Okay, maybe it was worth the eye strain caused by the ugliest thing to man. And maybe the stupid thing was made just the slightest bit less atrocious when she tipped it back so it sat on her head at a jaunty angle, brim laying on her bangs so they flattened to her forehead.

“What do you say we go get your armor then?” he asked, tilting his head in the direction they’d been heading before their little detour. “The date’s not over yet.”

His answer was a smile as bright as the sun and her fingers lacing through his. “Lead the way.”

Part Five: A “Normal” Date

#thewipproject2020 #swtor fanfiction #theron shan x jedi knight #Theron Shan #Female Jedi Knight/Hero of Tython #oc: greyias highwind #otp: adorkable #date night #in which the best hat ever finally makes its appearance #thanks for the prompt! #grumpyhedgehog #and hey look #just in time for valentine's day #(or should i say therontine's day?) #theron thursday #swtor #fanfic #greyfic

[galaxyofstories]

Just ‘cause we can, does that mean we should? - An Altered Carbon (S1&S2) Review

Stories of immortality, the fountain of youth, and shapeshifting are throughout our stories. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde explores the idea of staying young and the corruption of the soul. From Bram Stoker's Dracula to every other vampire story told we see those ideas played out repeatedly. These ideas even come up in folklore from around the world. So needless to say, humanity has always wondered about immortality, youth, and shapeshifting.

Before we start, I have some questions for you. You don't need to answer them, instead, think about them. I mean really consider what it would mean.

What if we could live forever? If death is a part of life, and death is removed, is that really life? But what if there was still a possibility of death, but could technically (under the right circumstances) live forever, would birth and eventual death even matter? What if we could change our faces? Our bodies? If we can change our bodies, should we still worry about illness and disease? If we can change what we look like and we can live forever, does money and power still dictate us? What would humanity be like? How would we change with time as a species? As individuals? Would it be worth it? Does anything matter if our physical does not matter? Just because we can, does that mean we should?

This is Altered Carbon's universe. Humanity has moved beyond Earth (in fact, I think Earth is mentioned only once... and it's pretty far into the series) and we have found a way to become basically immortal. Cool, right?

There are spoilers approaching. Get Ready.

You're immortal, as long as you don't get your stack busted. The stack holds everything that makes up a person (experiences, memories, feelings, thoughts... everything). Stacks can be moved from sleeve (body) to sleeve with very little consequence. Well... That is if you're a Met, a rich person. And the poor... Well... If your stack is intact, you're still a live, but not physically there. Sometimes the poor can afford to rent a sleeve, but the series hints that even renting is a luxury. So what now? We don't die unless our stacks are destroyed, and we can look like anybody we want to look like. What do we do as a species?

Do we socially evolve? Yes and no. Yes: No longer is skin color a factor in a person's worth. Which, honestly, is really fucking awesome. You can go from being born Japanese/Russian to being a Caucasian guy to being a black guy. Since anybody can look like anybody, racism isn't a problem. Yay! Since racism isn't a problem, we see diverse families and relationships. So, point for AC! However, I did wonder what that means in reality. I'm sure there were people complaining about changing the main character's race from Asian descent to Caucasian. I understand why it is a problem when this does occur in other stories, but the changing of race is part of the series. It again, shows that in AC's universe you can look like anybody! I wouldn't have been upset if they stayed with an Asian actor for the whole series, but the dramatic change just drives home that race isn't important in AC.

No: Humans have not socially evolved as far as the economic classes are concerned. There is still a "1%" which holds all power and all the money and they still only care about themselves. The poor are nothing to them. There is no problem, unless it threatens them or their way of life. I'm glad this was in the series because it makes AC's idea of a future more realistic as a possibility for us. Granted, it's more than likely not going to happen, especially with the fact that we haven’t even been to Mars... Mars is 106 million miles away, but C'MON! In the 60s they thought we would have colonies all across the galaxy! Or at least on the Moon. In all honesty, I'm disappointed that we aren't even living on the moon in this day 'n' age. That's beside the point. The point is, the idea some people have that they are better than other people persist even in a universe where none of that should matter. Maybe the creator was hinting at the idea that greed and lust of/for power is a part of the human condition.

Has the human condition changed? No, besides the fact that in the previous paragraph I basically said it does not, there's another example. In AC, as humanity spread out in the galaxy seeking new home planets, we did what humanity historically does... We assumed we were more important beings. Killed indigenous life. And stole their secrets and their lands. Humanity might not be a lot of things, but we are damn predictable. Woo!

Oh. And by the way, just in case you were wondering, sex still sells. In fact, I'm pretty sure it’s one of the main industries on many planets in AC. And it's actually a large part of the first season's story line. Without it, there would have been no motivations for certain characters to do the things they did and the whole season would be like three episodes. With that being said, in season 2 there is less sex. So, at multiple times while watching season 2 I had to wonder, just for a hot minute, if the show's writers and creator added all the sex and nudity just to get their show sold on Netflix. Upon reflection, I decided that yes, some of the sex and nudity (seriously halfway through the first season you see multiple breasts, butts, vaginas, and 1 penis) but I also really think it was an important aspect to the story.

Are you guys ready for my opinion about the show?

If you haven't guessed it, I really enjoyed it!

I didn't think I would like it at first. Sex and nude bodies within minutes of the first episode of shows usually don't grab my attention. Like, I came here for a story! Not soft porn! (Which is why I never got into True Blood despite the fact I love vampiric stories!) However, I love stories that are intricate webs. Almost like spiderwebs. If you touch one thread, the whole web vibrates. And that is what Altered Carbon is. It is a complicated web of mystery, interesting characters, and emotions.

For some, it could be hard to get into because it is so complicated and honestly a bit weird, but if something isn't complicated and weird is it really worth the time?

I also really liked this show because the cast is very diverse!

So all those hypothetical questions I asked at the beginning are questions that I feel like Altered Carbon is trying to answer through the story of Takeshi Kovacs. He's been away from the world for more than two centuries. Hired by a Met to solve the Met's death, which is the main mystery and even though it seems like an obvious whodunit, it is more complicated than it seems. And so is Takeshi.

He's not just a fantastic martial artist and weapon's expert. He is a brother, a friend, and a lover. (And let’s be honest, crazy attractive no matter the sleeve!)

Thinking back, none of the characters are one dimensional. Each one has their own motivations, past, and does the one thing that is important in storytelling, each one grows (whether good or bad). I’ll do a bit about some of the characters, but not all.

Takeshi Kovacs When we first meet him, he’s a dick that hallucinates. I mean, he’s always a dick, but we don’t know why he’s such a dick or why he hallucinates (my money had been on the drugs…). He just wants to find a place to lay his head, maybe get his rocks off, and drink. That’s all he is in most of the first episode. By the end of the first episode you’re left wondering who the hell this guy is! And why the hell is he such a good fighter even though he hadn’t been in the physical plain for more than two centuries! As the series progresses you learn bits and pieces here and there. By the end of season 1, you know who he is. He is Takeshi Kovacs, The Last Envoy.

Kristin Ortega My first thought was either she needed to hop on that dick or go fly a kite. Honestly, I don’t like that that was my first impression of her. She grew on me a lot. In fact, her storyline brought the religious aspect into the story. If we can live forever, would God be okay with that? It was really interesting to me to think about that. Anywho, back to Kristin… There are times that I think her character gets away with more than she should, but again, it fits in well with the whole plotline of the show.

Quellcrist Falconer THIS BITCH RIGHT HERE. HBIC! UGH!!!! She is so cool!!!! I love this character so much! A little less in season 2 because she doesn’t come off as strong as she does in season 1, but it is explained why she’s not as boss bitch. Aaaannd, it’s understandable. But seriously! She is really really awesome! Leader of a rebel cause, extraordinary fighter, master of her world… SO GREAT. And honestly she has some of the best philosophical one liners.

Poe Probably the most human out of all of them. I really enjoy the character. He’s sweet, kind, and smart.

Reileen Kawahara I’m going to let you decide. I haven’t decided for myself yet. Jaeger A fucking asshat. I’m just going to leave it at that. So, this is where I will stop (partially because I've been working on this for days and I just want it posted!) The main takeaway is that IF YOU LIKE STORIES THAT ARE DEEP, COMPLICATED, AND WEIRD WATCH THIS SHOW!! YOU WILL BE SO GLAD YOU DID! And please let me know what you thought of it! I would really love to talk about this show more! If I think of anything else to add I shall post again! Thank you!

#altered carbon #ac #gos review #netflix original #shows

[laboratorium2d]

Children's Animated Series, As Graded by a Parent Who Has Watched Far Too Many of Them

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: The brony thing is legitimately weird, but this is legitimately a great show. The combination of epic-fantasy plots with a deep dive on friendship is a winner (and has also been deeply influential on kids' television). It also makes the obligatory pro-social messages feel earned, rather than an afterthought. The characters are charming, the writing sparkles, and the animation is still distinctive. Endlessly watchable, which is a good thing when your kid wants to watch endlessly. Fake holidays: Nightmare Night, Hearth's Warming Eve, Hearts and Hooves Day. Grade: A+

Avatar: I was fifteen years too old for this when it was on TV, so I didn't understand what the fuss was about. Now I do. It's epic but not grandiose, funny but not dumb, and morally deep without giving into plot gravity. The world-building, the writing, the animation, the voice-acting, the fight scenes, the side characters: everything works, and everything is pulling in the same direction. (The sequel series, The Legend of Korra, is more of the same, with an interestingly updated setting and better music.) If your kids are like mine, they'll want to talk about everything, and so will you. I guess binge-watching is a family thing now. Grade: A+

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: This show is so gay. However gay you expect it to be, it's ten times gayer. It's also pro-diversity along every axis you can imagine, including body-type. It's completely awesome. It captures the uncannily compelling techno-fantasy atmosphere of the original, and it has characters with the same names, but otherwise it's a total gut rehab. The character studies at its core are compelling, even as the overall plot and action hold a young child's interest. It takes lots of anime animation tropes and tones them down to the verge of naturalism, which I wouldn't have thought would work, but totally does. Grade: A-

Wild Kratts: The big kid was learning biology from this show almost from before she could talk. "Giraffe. Long neck. Eat leaves." The premise of the show is genius: animated versions of veteran kids' wildlife-show hosts Chris and Martin Kratt have suits that give them "creature powers," and they travel around the world having adventures with animals. The science is legit and it's presented entertainingly. And the characters are winners, especially the creature-suit inventor Aviva Corcovado and the colorful villains. The only thing consistently annoying about this show is that it can be shouty. Everyone is Just! So! Excited! About! Animals! Grade: A-.

Phineas and Ferb: The Arrested Development of kids' animation, Phineas and Ferb is impossibly dense with overlapping plots, brick jokes, and a large army of recurring minor characters. Every episode features an original song, some of which are genuinely brilliant ("Squirrels in My Pants" is a household favorite). It is also a wholly, completely sweet-hearted show. Even the antagonists -- Candace and Dr. Doofenshmirtz -- are sympathetic, charming, fully-realized, and allowed to grow and be happy in ways that a lesser version of this show would never even have realized was a possibility. The allegretto pacing and intricate writing keep the show consistently fresh. New Disney at its best. Grade: A-

Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom: From the same team who brought you Peppa Pig, but even drier underneath its treacly trappings. The comedic timing is straight out of classic British sketch comedy. The voice actors are clearly in on the joke, which if anything makes the show more fun to listen to than to watch. B+

Dinosaur Train: Sometimes high concepts work. The show 100% owns its message: dinosaur physiology is a diversity metaphor, presented with just the right degree of insistence. The characters are sketched with grace and sympathy, and the science is pitched just right for its target audience. Over the years, the show (like all railfans) has gotten increasingly obsessed with its train equipment: the aquacar, the submarine, the ... zeppelin. The songs are surprisingly catchy, too: our favorite is probably the Dinosaur Train Zeppelin song, which, yes, is a Led Zeppelin pastiche. Grade: B+

Odd Squad: This one really grew on me. If all you've seen is short clips, it just seems like everyone is shouting about math all the time. But the show overall is delightfully goofy, with a real sense of how to string along a running gag, and some genuinely talented child actors. Grade: B+

Creative Galaxy: Despite being a total Daniel Tiger rip-off, down to the animation style, the obligatory song in every episode, and the live-action codas, this one is actually kind of nice. The art projects are well-chosen both to interest kids and also to actually be doable. Fake holidays: Heart Day. Grade: B

Peppa Pig: It took me a long time to appreciate this show's arch sense of humor. Everyone's pretensions and ambitions are punctured; embarrassing mistakes and small indignities await adults at every turn. Once you realize that the show is making fun of most of its characters but loves them anyway, it's much more bearable. Grade: B

Curious George: Entirely forgettable, with two mildly redeeming qualities. George himself is as charming as always, and the jazzy musical score is pleasant. Grade: B-

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir: It took me a while to understand what this show was doing. It's very, very French. Grade: C+

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: Even my kids recognize that Daniel Tiger is needy and whiny. The show inadvertently teaches kids what to be afraid of and how to misbehave. There is also something deeply wrong with the economy of the Neighborhood: everyone seems to have multiple jobs and the public transit system runs on magic. On the plus side, the potty song has come in handy as a reminder: when you have to go potty, stop and go right away. Fake holidays: Love Day, Snowflake Day, Dress Up Day. Grade: C+

Ready Jet Go: I suppose there's some science in here somewhere, I guess. Grade: C+

Tumble Leaf: Reviewers might call this one "gentle," by which they mean "boring." The animation is lovely and the music is calming. But what's the point? Grade: C+

PAW Patrol: Unbelievably, incredibly formulaic. For example: have you noticed that they get in their trucks at exactly the same point halfway through each episode? Just Canadian enough to be noticeably off, but also rah-rah in a George W. Bush-administration kind of way. Sometimes I imagine grown-up versions of the pups. Chase regularly engages in police brutality, Rubble has a drinking problem, and Marshall has joined the alt-right. Grade: C

Nature Cat: Nature Cat is annoying and his friends are worse. I'm not clear on what they're supposed to be learning. And the theme song manages to be both unmemorable and an earworm. Make it stop! Grade: C

Super Why: More like Super Why Does This Exist, amirite? The whole show is oddly paced: I find the story-within-a-story structure confusing and can only wonder how much of it kids actually get. Having each character deal with a different aspect of literacy leaves the show's educational content unfocused. And the Super Letters are like the world's lamest game of Wheel of Fortune. Plus the song is an earworm, and not in a good way. Grade: C

Sofia the First: Empty Disney calories, this show is the reductio ad absurdum of Disney's democratization of the idea of "princess." The plotting, the writing, and the music are technically proficient. The cel-shading effects that give 3D animation the luminosity of 2D hand drawn are lovely. The messages are perfectly innocuous. But the heart of the show is a giant gaping void. Fake holidays: Wassailia. Grade: C

Lion Guard: More empty Disney calories, like Sofia the First but with more obnoxious characters. Inexplicably real holiday: Christmas. Grade: C-

Peg + Cat: All I can remember is that the show is inexplicably drawn on graph paper, and they have a BIG BIG PROBLEM every few seconds. When people complain about STEM, and I remember that this show exists, I have to admit that they have a point. Grade: C-

Martha Speaks: The AV Club's term for this kind of show is "least essential." Even by the standards of kids' shows, the premise makes no sense. Nobody here, human or canine, is remotely sympathetic. And the plot comes to a screeching halt every time it's time for a new vocabulary word. Grade: C-

WordWorld: I have so many questions about this show. If everything is made out of words, what about the ground? The sky? Windows? And what are the letters in the words made of? What is going on with the accents? And who greenlit three seasons of this garbage? Grade: D+

The Adventures of Puss in Boots: This is a weird, weird show. And not in a good way. Grade: D+

Trolls: The Beat Goes On: Quite possibly the most misanthropic kids show currently streaming anywhere. The combination of grimdark setting and hackneyed uplifting plot tropes is somewhere between unsettling and child abuse. Poppy is a walking illustration of emotional labor; Branch has severe PTSD. The show treats both of these as laughable quirks. And I am never going to get used to the Auto-Tune. Grade: D+

Kung-Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny: Pretty much your standard DreamWorks animation. This is not a good thing. Grade: D

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: The animation and voice-acting are innocuous. But building an entire show around the "if X, then Y" formula led to some disastrous choices. The show taught my big kid how to say things like, "If I see a rock, I just have to bring it home with me." It takes a special kind of kids show to affirmatively instill bad habits. Grade: D-

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (2018): An absolute travesty in every possible way. The remake is the direct opposite of everything the original represented: crude instead of clever, manic instead of playful, and mean instead of goofy. Grade: F-

#culture

[signor-signor]

Trending 27th - January 2020

What have been your efforts in the campaign for SaveWOY and what are your upcoming plans to save WOY? Now this is a question worth answering!

In the past, I made a little list of the things I did to support SaveWOY and bring awareness to Wander Over Yonder’s existence and its third season plans. Since then, I’ve done a whole lot more from hand-drawn art to more intricate art. Some of them are almost as special as that signed poster @peepsqueak got from the WOY crew as a token of their gratitude.

Here’s an updated list of everything I did for SaveWOY so far:

Attended the SaveWOY picnic at Griffith Park, where I got to sign a banner.

Pointed out various higher-ups involved in the business of Disney television.

Sent several letters to the higher-ups, some of which had envelopes with an image of the downed space pod taped to them.

Started a weekly Twitter post series, SaveWOY Thought of the Week.

Made Lite-Brite art of Wander and Lord Hater, which Craig McCracken and Francisco Angones liked.

Attended D23 2017 with an Operation: FORCE drawing of Hater, a colored page of Wander and Sylvia and a few facts about WOY, and an orange pen with a green hat (I got the hat from the aforementioned picnic) - there, I signed a bench with Wander and the phrase, “Never hurts to help.”

Signed my name, drew Wander (and my own character, Jacken DeBox), and wrote, “Happiest place in outer space!” on the highest beam for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Wrote a letter (and drew Wander) for the victims of the Las Vegas tragedy with the message, “The darkest times call for the sunniest smiles!”

Got Craig to reveal the name of the ship (said to play a BIG part in S3, made a cameo in Future-Worm) when I commented that we’d have to figure out the name - his response: “The ship is called The Star Nomad.”

Wrote a couple of cards to two Disney higher-ups with the message, “A little nice makes naughty think twice!”

Drew Dominator in a situation that might take place several seconds after she passes the downed space pod, just in time for Noël Wells’s B-day.

Made the Star Nomad with LEGO Digital Designer.

Made three images in the style of the original Star Wars trilogy VHS set.

Posted 50 WOYS3PredictionPolls on Twitter.

Made an image of “The First 5 Years” with over 140 individuals (including the question marks for 3 new mains and 2 new regulars - I still want to know what they look like!) and one cleverly made Hidden Mickey.

Shared WOY-related images from my 1st 5 Years fan art on Twitter acknowledging the B-days of most of the voice actors (Charlie Adler, Kevin Michael Richardson, Ken Marino, Josh Sussman, H. Michael Croner, James Adomian, Jason Ritter, and Piotr Michael clearly noticed).

Typed a summary of how I think the S3 premiere would go.

Typed lyrics to “Let’s Go Soarin’ and Explorin’,” a song from my aforementioned S3 premiere summary. Wouldn’t it be great if Andy Bean used it?

Made a microgame with WarioWare: D.I.Y. where the player has to spin the fan to make the Star Nomad fly. Part of a chorus from “Let’s Go Soarin’ and Explorin’” included.

Started FanCharacterFriday on Twitter - more Tumblr users seem to like Dr. Otmar Vunderbar.

Made a short comic page of Lord Hater trying to break out of the DTVA vault plus a sly reminder that Disney owns the rights to WOY.

Shared a list of potential episode titles for S3.

Made an actual LEGO Star Nomad based on the model made with LDD. Hopefully, those who worked on WOY have noticed. In case you missed it, here’s a picture...

Now, the ideas I have in mind for further boosting support for the campaign. I may not be able to do most of them myself, but they are certainly for everyone’s consideration.

Provide updated information of higher-ups (if any).

As soon as we find out what Kid Cosmic looks like, expect fan art of him saying, “Watch my show and tell your friends so we’ll make that Mousey Company pay for what they did to my half-brother!”

Another SaveWOY picnic - if there’s one in my general area, you can count me in.

LP album artwork of My Fair Hatey.

A mural identical to that of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate consisting of not just characters from WOY, but also characters who were said to debut in S3 and characters who’d fit in perfectly, namely some of my OCs.

Pumpkin stencils of the main characters for Halloween.

Drawings of various WOY characters stuck on the ex-secret planet explaining why they need to leave said planet. Maybe I could also show how the galaxy’s villains would react if they learn that Lord Dominator’s been bested by Lord Hater.

Drawings consisting of SaveWOY-related messages spoken by the main characters from Disney shows that got at least three seasons (e.g. DuckTales, Fish Hooks), tons of love from the viewers and the executives (e.g. Gravity Falls), or both (e.g. SvtFoE, Mickey Mouse ‘13).

Example with Phineas and Ferb:

Phineas: “We may be creative and famous, but we’re not the ones who came up with the Star Nomad. It’s the ship powered by orbbles! Orbbles! I’d LOVE to see it take flight, wouldn’t you? If you let Mr. McCracken end the show his way, and not the executive way, which, truth be told, is the absolute worst, Wander will surely be elated!”

Ferb: “The Orbble Transporter was invented by conjoined twin brothers, voiced by the performers of the theme song.”

Irving (peeking in from the side): “Speaking of voices, the titular main character sounds JUST LIKE ME! How could you possibly resist?! And look, just because I’m the biggest fan of these guys (gesturing to P&F) doesn’t mean I have no interest in what’s planned for the furry orange fella!”

Since I’m a full-time Disneyland cast member, I should be able to make contacts with anyone who might have more clues about what S3 would entail. It might be a long shot, but if I’m able to convince Disney that WOY’s influence on my life boosted my chance at gaining employment at the company, they should understand.

A weekly Jeopardy-type pop quiz on Twitter - here’s the catch: you must refrain from finding information online when you read the answer (I bet you that the most hardcore fans of the most popular shows will get most of the questions wrong).

Example: This arachnomorph got his name from a dog tag he swallowed when he infiltrated a fish-shaped ship. He later became Lord Hater’s beloved pet.

-Who is Captain Tim?

Summaries of S3 episodes I made up myself a while back.

More fan-made characters - my most recent is an elected official of Cluckon, Mayor Spye C. Drumstick.

Conjuring a logo that best fits the status of S3/TV movie - Wander Over Yonder: The New Galaxy (the center would have the silhouette of the Star Nomad with Wander and Sylvia on it).

Brainstorming possible ideas for the three new main characters.

If all else fails, I suggest we make a web comic based on the hints we accumulated back in 2016 and what we learned from the cameo in Future-Worm’s finale. Team Sea3on has been taking that approach for SatAM Sonic the Hedgehog S3, though they are also making an animated version.

That’s about all I’ve got so far. In closing, I have several questions to ask as the new decade kicks off.

Disney executives: Are you even listening to us WOY fans? What more do you want? I’ve done so much for the campaign that I feel I’m entitled to know everything that was planned for WOY’s third and final season, especially now that I’m working full-time for your company. If you tell us what your demands are, we’d be happy to oblige.

@crackmccraigen: Are you aware of how hard the fans and I have been trying to talk Disney into giving you the chance for true closure? We’ll make sure we watch KC when it comes out on Netflix. If we’re lucky, we might see WOY get added to Disney+, where it should get that closure, assuming you’ll have finished KC your way before then.

@suspendersofdisbelief: I know you’re super busy with DuckTales and you love the plans for WOY S3 so much that you can’t bear to reveal it all in one post, but it’s been waaaay too long since we got any hints from you. Are there any other WOY S3-related facts you could describe in much greater detail? The campaign could do with more motivation.

Non-WOY fans: Are you convinced? Need I remind you what’s in the end tag of the “last” episode of WOY? You know there’s much more to life than tales from the land of Ooo, a blue middle school cat boy in a world of unusual individuals, adolescent twins in an Oregon town filled with oddities, a half-gem half-human protagonist, a coming-of-age princess of Mewni, a trio of ursine trend-followers in San Francisco, and all that jazz. If you’re not one bit interested in Hater’s origin story and all that was planned for S3, it’s your loss.

Pessimists: Will you please dispense with this unnerving “Wander is dead” talk? As a certain Popeye would say, “That’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more!” You’re not trying to let the Disney bosses win, are you? You probably used to think previously canceled shows like Hey Arnold!, Samurai Jack, and Young Justice could never be brought back. The point is, all is not lost.

@peepsqueak and WOY fans/SaveWOY supporters: Have I been of assistance? Almost every remark I’ve ever made shows wit and perception. I mean, just think. Wander is still stuck in that vault where his goal of reforming Lord Hater remains incomplete, and he has no idea of what threat awaits him. He says, “Glorn, help us.” It’ll take something big and extraordinary to convince every Disney fan (and perhaps every Netflix fan) to talk some sense into the higher-ups. Not to mention the replacement/back-up voice actors we’ll have to find if Disney takes even longer (we already lost one - René Auberjonois). We shan’t rest until we get the answers!

@disneyanimation

#Trending 27th #T27th #Wander Over Yonder #Save Wander Over Yonder #SaveWOY #Save WOY #Long Reads

[imaginesmylife]

Could I ask what it would be like to be best friends with the dragon slayers?

imagine-fairytail-dorks answered: Natsu: I mean what do i even say here… if you watch fairy tail and his interactions with Lucy…yeah. expect him to invade your house / dorm constantly and he totally peeks inside your furniture’s drawers- ‘ I must unveil the deep dark secrets of ___’s room! ‘ dragging you off to missions out of nowhere like you could be going shopping or taking a bath, it doesn’t matter to him if it’s day or night, you’re COMING. totally draws on your face while you sleep (again this is cannon) - do not play monopoly with HIM. I REPEAT DO NOT. THERE WILL BE PIECES MISSING AND DISAPPEARING EVERYTIME likes to steal food from your fridge a lot “ NATSU, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN FOOD! “ “ but yours is better. “ you feeling down? he will not promise to listen to a long hour rant, unless its really tragical, but he will probably open his arms like ‘ ya wanna hug ? ‘ makes silly hairdos to your hair on purpose and laughs it off.

Gajeel: sleepovers in which he will probably help you so much with the meals, like # secret master chef gajeel at your service steals food from your plate when you’re not watching and thinks he’s fooling you but really he isn’t. Okay but he’s that guy who if you need help on really weird occasions he won’t mind helping you out: “ Gajeel, i forgot my towel can you hand it over? “ “ Gajeel, you mind going downstairs to get me some pads / tampons? I just noticed i ran out of them…. “ “ Gajeel, we’re out of pasta, please make a quick run to the mini! “ the old ladies are chuckling at him and it pisses him off a bit but he feels …manly? to be able to help you? like so blessed so moved # this is what a man is! - quoting elfman. poking you randomly while you’re watching tv or reading books, specially if he’s bored like “ gajeel …” “ shh, weren’t you watching it?” he’s really clueless on how to comfort others in times of need, so all he’s going to do is listen to your problems without saying a word if he can’t find a way to better them, and /or open his arms weirdly for you to receive the hugging . him being salty about others with you like “ uhhh i can’t tolerate that fake arse. “ “ me too , mate. wish they’d just get a vase thrown at their heads. “ #saltmates fist bump

Wendy: Tea sessions with her and Charle reading club time!!!!! doing intricate hairdos to each other and SLEEPOVERS !!!!! 1! !!! 1 !! ranting about your life  … specially boys if you want wendy to turn red like a tomato “ Wendy, stop being so flustered over this! “ “ I can’t help it, Charle… “ light sparring sessions if you wanted to, specially since she needs to be on pair with her dragon slayer friends cooking sessions shopping downtown on fridays. telling each other bedtime stories to sleep one of the best at comforting people, will do anything to help you, and feel bad if they can’t. cuddling sessions and sad disney movies are a must.

Laxus: Beware the raijinshuu will probably be after you too. either jelly or anxious lots and lots of indirect jokes, innuendos or puns like “ ya know what’s up right in the morning? “ “ hOE DON’T DO IT.” He actually gives pretty good input on stuff - he could go with you to stores and be like: “ no that pattern doesn’t suit your figure that well, you have wide hips so it will only make you looked even larger than usual. “ “ look i don’t want to influence you but… this earphones brand is better, it’s durable, the sound is great, and it can allow you so many more functions blahblahblah… “ Not even the raijinshuu know about this side of him but he must always pet the wandering animals in the streets and feed them if he can like AWWWWWW ANIMALS !!!! 111 !!! 1 !!1! Shares food with you no problems. he’s just chill countering your sarcasm with his sarcasm and vice-versa “ Do i seem amused to you? “ “ hmmmm in a scale of  1 to 10? “ “ hahahaha. very funny. “ “ you’re welcome. “ B) surprisingly affectonate when others are out of it - his hugs might crush you a bit tho but he does not mean it - can’t measure his strength tbh “ Laxus…. you’re .crushing me.. can’t breathe, and my boobs – “ “ OH SORRY. “

Sting: Walking in unnanounced on accident sometimes inside your room and being like ‘ OH SHIT SORRY! but nice ass by the way. “  cue a finger gunning at you while he walks out and tries to play it cool but you’re throwing objects at him randomly “ STING, YOU IDIOT! “ “ i guess you can say he STINGS. “ - Rufus “…Frosch thinks so too! “ ba-dum-tss. Watching a movie in a mess of limbs and legs while you share blankets and fighting over the last popcorn / chips /cookies like “ STING, NO THAT ONE’S MINE! “ “ FIRST COME FIRST SERVE ~. “ an d he just casually grabs it and yep they’re gone. he’s faster than you anyways # gdit sting “ unless you wanna take it out of my mouth now? “ “ eww no, keep it. “ # not sure if win or hurt - Sting you must have at least a sleepover once a week or month. he will probably be really deep questioning things in life before you go to bed # phylosophical sting hour ‘ why is the color blue called like that? why is the sky full of stars (coldplay reference badumtss) ? why couldn’t it be full of cheetos? i mean, why are they even like that? starts don’t look like what we draw even it’s jsut a whole mass of galaxy inside another massive rock thing, but from here it seems so small,… i feel like an ant. “ “ how much deep do you think the ocean is? “ # help him. Sting would be that guy that if he were best friends, specially with a girl, would probably go like: ‘ please unveil the darkest secrets of your gender to me, because seriously i don’t get most of you, i’m confused af. ‘ with such a very serious face you end up laughing. “ I’m not joking, ___ . “ staring contests in which he always loses because he starts snorting at something anytime: “ what is it this time, Sting. “ “ your clock…pfft, it’s making  a very..pffft– weird figure in the wall ! “ if you feeling down he’s all up for cuddling session. of course,he will try to the best of his ability to help you with your problems but he prefers to firstly focus on you and spoil you.

Rogue: more mature than Sting but still a bit salty also good at giving remarks like Laxus be it at shopping or life decisions, but sometimes he comes out too strong.. “ Huh, okay Rogue.. Okay. “ “ JUST DO IT, ____. Really– “ he secretly collects candy every time he can, he has a hidden stash of candy in his bedroom- sting once found it and almost died. # do not unleash the kraken probably offers himself as poison taster to each of your recipes and vice versa “ HMm it’s good but what if we added—” “ Rogue, no the last time we improvised it ended as a disaster. “ searching for warmth, he will accidentally inch towards you like in a chase if you’re sleeping over at his room; kick him away or you’ll end up on the floor. (!!!) (THIS IS BASED on a true story) he is a roomcon lover don’t even tell it to the guildmates. he would never hear the end of it. “ NO, JACK! JAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!! “ good at consoling people but slightly awkward since he’s unused to it - he’ll pat you your back weirdly #save him.

Erik / Cobra he’s that guy who’s making snarky remarks at everything and anything around him # so salty will turn to you in a joke and be very inoportune and nosy like: “ so what pattern is it today? hello kitty? bows? hearts? stripes? or is it plain?” ERIK NO. he’s very protective of you though like no kid – if you ever trade him for someone lese, like let’s say you were supposed to have lunch with him at the tuesdays and you went off somewhere instead and cancelled it. he’s hurt and ONTO YOU . no escape. throws food at you while you’re distracted - be it a popcorn , a candy, a chip…. but he pretends he’s innocent likes to invade your room once in a while but is at least more respectful than the other dragon slayers…. sometimes he’s deep af though like he might just vent about life indirectly: “ if you could what would you’ve changed about your life , ____ ? “ protect him gives really nice hugs to be honest will beat the crap out of anyone who makes you sad tbh.

Source:  imagine-fairytail-dorks

#Natsu #Wendy #Gajeel #Sting #Rogue #Erik #Cobra #Fairy Tail #Laxus

[charmers-kpop]

↘ABOUT↘

CHARMERS (🔊/ˈCHärmərs/) (매혹하는) is a 7-member all-female Korean Pop idol group formed under the event arranging company-turned record label HeartEater Events & Artist Management, composed of Bogyoung, Fumiko, Inhye, Leola, Moira, Neri and Pearl. The group debuted on the 5th of April, 2018 with their hit single 'Jump In!' and re-issued mini album of the same name.

↘AESTHETIC↘

Being completely new to the game, HeartEater wanted to make themselves known with a concept that was unique and intriguing but not too unusual that would turn away the attention of the public, so they began by strategizing a way to do that and came up with an unusual concept [like magic, sorcery and voodoo] and adding in different aspects of common concepts [like cute, sexy, and girl crush] to create the balanced medium that is CHARMERS' aesthetic. The idea the CEO had in their head was to create an atmosphere around the group that would convey through their performances. They thought an elegant and mysterious vibe attached onto a group that that can switch between cute, sexy and girl crush concepts would suit the group best.

↘MUSIC↘

CHARMERS' style is mainly fusion pop, taking several genres of music and different sounds out of each other to create a song that would either make or break a comeback. They chose such a hard genre as they wanted to pose a challenge to their competition in the industry as well as tackle a new style for themselves step by step. The group's resident songwriter and producers Leola and HeartEater's go-to party DJ and producer [ʳᵉᵈᵃᶜᵗᵉᵈ], have known each other for a very long time and so teamwork on their songs are harmonious, though without a few style preference related arguments.

↘WHAT IS 'CHARMERS'?↘

'Charmer' by definition means 'a person with an attractive and engaging personality' so the name itself has a great [and dare I say, rather charming] meaning according to the dictionary, however there is an underlying meaning to the group name. Meaning they were the magic source that pulls their fans towards them. If they took a darker meaning, it would mean that CHARMERS are pulling their fans into their 'cult', but only used the latter meaning to make the first definition make sense. Some took this meaning to the extreme and tried to pull CHARMERS down but they were instantly dismissed.

↘THE FANDOM↘

CHARMERS' official fandom name is called 'Mojo' (noun. plural noun. Mojos. /🔊'mōjō). The word itself means 'a magic charm, talisman or spell' according to the dictionary so it ties into the 'magic' theme of CHARMERS, but it is also the ability or quality that causes one to excel in something or have good luck, and to the girls, their Mojos are like their good luck charm and the reason why they'll succeed in the music industry. The fandom itself is 50% soft, those whom love to gush over the girls' cute and funny antics, while the other 50% hard, with those loving the girls' sexy or seductive gestures, even if they were subtle or subconscious. They seem to be very peaceful and playful, but when their idols are under attack or in a scandal, they go absolutely [without a use of a proper term, batshit] crazy in the attack and defense, but keep their hands to themselves at fan meetings and interviews.

↘DISCOGRAPHY↘

• Jump In! [1st Mini Album - 2018]

• Enchanterium [1st EP - 2018]

• Elements [1st Full Album - 2019]

• 신과 예언 (Deities & Prophecies) [2nd Mini Album - 2019]

• 전투 천사 (Battle Angels) [3rd Mini Album - 2019]

• Elements [Repackaged Japanese Vers - 2020]

• 하늘에서 땅만큼 (To the Moon and Back) [Leola Solo EP - 2020]

• Blackbird [2nd Full Album - 2021]

• 마지막 라운드 (Final Round) [4th Mini Album - 2021]

• 人生に乾杯 (Cheers to Life) [Fumiko Solo Mini Album - 2022]

• CHARMERS: On Quest [5th Mini Album - 2022]

↘MEMBERS↘

Neri: Main Rapper, Sub-Vocalist

Bogyoung: Lead Vocalist, Lead Dancer

Moira: Main Dancer, Visual

Leola: Leader, Main Vocalist

Fumiko: Main Rapper, Lead Vocalist

Inhye: Main Dancer, Visual

Pearl: Maknae, Lead Dancer

↘EXTRA INFORMATION↘

↘SOCIAL MEDIA↘

Instagram // charmersh3

Twitter // CHARMERS_OFFIC

YouTube // CHARMERS

Vlive // CHARMERSH3

Website // HEARTEATERCo.kr

Fan Cafe // CHARMERS' Echanterium

↘LIGHTSTICK↘

• CHARMERS' lightstick is named the 'Radiantbong.'

• The shape of the stick is a smooth cylinder from start to finish, with a flat charging end on the bottom and a dome-like end on the top.

• The stick is half hardy plastic with the other half acrylic glass, protected by a special case and cleaner to keep the outside glass clean.

• The gripping part was rather low [so you hold it like a wand] with divets to hold your thumb against the button that turns on the bright white light inside the glass.

• Inside the acrylic glass, there was a liquid similar to that in a lava lamp and inside there were little floating charms and confetti made of resin in different colors as well as a big resin charm that has a logo of two hands holding a spiral that look to be a sort of sparkly galaxy [but actually symbolize CHARMERS' magic over Mojos] inside.

• The light inside is placed in another container that is connected to the plastic part of the lightstick where the batteries are kept and glows in multiple different colors of the rainbow that compliment the color of the resin confetti and charms.

• At the domed part of the lightstick had the same logo as the big resin charm inside the lava lamp like liquid but in shimmery paint

• The stick is in the color Grey Brown (RAL 8019) and has intricate leaf/flower, wind/lightning, water droplet and fire flame carvings into the gripping part of the stick that are painted in iridescent glitter paint that appears clear naturally but sparkles when in contact with sunlight or another light source.

↘OFFICIAL GREETING↘

[Leola/Fumiko/Neri] "Come jump in the deep end! [All] Hello, we are CHARMERS!"

• The girls decided to use the *iconic* chorus lyric of their debut song 'Jump In!' in their greeting as it would be rather catchy since it was a lyric that implies an invitation to 'jump in the deep end' of the vast pool of CHARMERS' following.

• Depending on the language of where CHARMERS are at, either Leola, Fumiko or Neri will start the greeting. [Leola in Korean and English, Fumiko in Chinese and Japanese, Neri in Thai]

• The hand gesture for the greeting is their hand, pointing their right-hand first finger pointing to the members' left, tracing a moon shape ["Come"] before switching hands as well as its position to a fist with first and middle fingers unwrapped from the fist and pointing downwards to symbolize a human, before then bouncing the hand as if the human was on a springboard ["jump in"] before bouncing the hand higher and when [the hand] hits the imaginary moon ["the"], it changes to a hand wave ["deep end!"] before bowing ["Hello, we are CHARMERS"].

#charmers #charmers have arrived in the building people #tokyokocnet #kumokocnet #pinkocnet #lofikocnet #woopkocnet #kpop #kpop oc #kpop girl groups #kpop icons

[soldierstark]

Undercover Crush | LOKI LAUFEYSON X READER

Description: When the reader is asked to go undercover for a mission by the Avengers, Nick Fury, and Nova Corps, she obviously accepts. What she has to do, however, doesn't sit well with Loki who's confused about his newfound feelings for this mortal girl.

Author's Note: This was hella fun to write ya'll and if you want a part 2 tell me cause I'll totally write one. Let me know what you think and if you want to, vote in the survey for my 1k follower celebration.

Word Count: 2007

Fanfiction Masterlist

“Did Tony tell you anything before he sent you to get me?” I asked Pepper as we sped walked through the intricate network of hallways in the Avengers Tower. “I mean am I in trouble or something?”

Pepper merely shrugged her shoulders and gave me an apologetic smile. “No, sorry (Nickname). I’m just the messenger here.”

I let out a sigh and ran a hand through my (Y/H/C) hair, chewing my bottom lip nervously. I tried to keep my focus on the steady click of Peppers heels on the tile floor instead of wracking my brain for everything I’ve ever done wrong.

I knew that Tony along with the rest of the Avengers were having a meeting with Nick Fury and a delegate sent from Nova Corps. So imagine my surprise when Pepper barged into the lab and told me that Tony requested to see me.

My heart rate sped up as we turned down the familiar hallway that lead to the conference room. Windows lined the hall and despite all the sunlight illuminating the modern architecture, I felt as if I were walking to my death.

Pepper and I stopped in front of the conference room door, me taking a deep breathe in an attempt to gather my thoughts.

I put my hand on the doorknob hesitantly and looked over at Pepper. “If I die, tell Loki I put him in charge of my cat,” I said before turning the doorknob and pushing the door open.

All I heard from her before I shut the door behind me was a sharp laugh and the sound of fading footsteps. I cleared my throat and walked deeper into the room, closer to the conference table that all the high ranking officials sat at.

“You requested my presence,” I stated, directing my words at Tony.

He clapped his hands together and smiled brightly. “Yes I did,” Tony replied standing up out of his chair. He looked over at Nick Fury and another man I didn’t recognize, probably the Nova Corps delegate. “What did I say? Uncanny right?” he continued, looking me up and down calculatingly.

Fury nodded his head in agreement looking rather pleased. Why? I have no clue. “I’ll admit it Stark, you’re absolutely correct,” he responded looking me in the eye for a split second. “She’s perfect.”

I raised an eyebrow and most definitely had a very confused expression on my face as everyone else in the room chimed in with agreement. “Could someone please explain what’s going on?” I asked, tilting my head to the side slightly and scrunching my eyebrows together.

“Ah yes,” Bruce replied raising his hand slightly, signaling that he’d explain. “So there’s been words being thrown around the block about this guy… what’s his name…” he trailed off, looking down at the file in front of him, flipping through the pages.

“His name isn’t important,” the Nova Corps delegate piped up, continuing the story. “All you need to know is that he’s been negotiating contracts with various enemies of ours in an attempt to steal the orange infinity stone.”

“The Chitauri Scepter?” I asked in disbelief. “Why?” It was quiet for a moment, everyone looking around at each other for an answer.

“Well, the things is, we don’t know why yet,” Tony replied slowly. “Maybe it’s his favorite color or something. I mean he’s probably just another power hungry crazy person like your boy Loki.”

I scoffed indignantly as the rest of the Avengers began to snicker at my expense. “Loki isn’t my ‘boy’,” I retorted using air quotations for last word, a steady stream of pink color rising to my cheeks.

“Right,” Natasha drawled out, nodding her head in agreement sarcastically. “But we need to get back to the point.”

I snorted loudly and crossed my arms over my chest. “Which is?”

“We’re having a hard time keeping tabs on him because we can’t seem to get a permanent tracker on him.  We don’t want to arrest him because his allies might go into hiding, never to be found again. Once we’re able to have unlimited updates on his whereabouts, we can dig deeper into the investigation. But until then, all of our resources are going towards extra security and the constant investigation of his movement,” Fury said with his normal stoic expression.

I pursed my lips and pushed a stray stand of hair behind my ear, taking another look around the room. “This is uh… great… and all, but I’m still failing to see how all of this involves me,” I admitted, shifting around on the balls of my feet. “I mean, this all seems pretty high profile and I’m… well… not high profile. I’m just a chemist who happens to work for Stark Industries.”

Tony let out a slight chuckle and looked down at his hands for a moment before looking back up at me. “(Y/N) don’t take this the wrong way, but we chose you to do this purely because of your appearance.”

“Okay now I’m even more confused…” I trailed off shaking my head.

Banner cleared his throat and leaned forward. “Since all the trackers we’ve tried using before have either been removed or stopped feeding us information, we’ve decided to try again using a permanent tracker that needs to be implanted onto a mucous membrane.”

“And through our extensive research on this man, it’s become inherently clear that he has a very specific type when it comes to women,” Fury added, tapping his fingers against the conference table.

“The thing about his type is that… well to put it bluntly, they all look very similar to you (Y/N). They all have your (Y/H/C) hair, (Y/E/C) eyes, body type, and facial structure,” Natasha explained, wringing her hands together.

That’s when it hit me. That’s when I realized exactly what they were asking me to do. I began shaking my head in disbelief. “You have got to be kidding me,” I grumbled with wide eyes. “You want me to seduce a man who’s wanted by S.H.E.I.L.D and Nova Corps, the literal intergalactic police?”

“Well you don’t need to seduce him necessarily,” Natasha started.  “All you really need to do is kiss him long enough, and you know… deep enough, to make sure the tracker is implanted well into the inside of mouth.”

I chewed my bottom lip in thought as I contemplated my options. For one, I really didn’t want to make out with a stranger, or more specifically, anyone who wasn’t Loki. But that didn’t matter because things between us didn’t seem to be going anywhere anyways. No harm no foul.

Secondly, though the whole situation is kind of gross, when the Avengers, Nick Fury, and Nova Corps ask you personally to do something, you do it. Especially if it means securing the safety of the galaxy.  

With a long drawn out sigh, I nodded my head in agreement with a slight smile. “Fine… I’ll do it. When do I start?”

The conference room erupted into cheers as everyone expressed their gratitude for my service. Tony reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, digging through it before pulling out a VISA card. “Here, take this,” he said throwing it in my direction.

I caught it with ease and looked it over confused. “What do you want me to do with this?” I asked, feeling overwhelmed. The credit limit on the card I was holding was no doubt crazy high.

“Go buy yourself some clothes to go clubbing in tomorrow. That’s where your assignment will be. It’s on me,” he responded, pocketing his wallet.

I ignored the voice in the back of my head telling me that what I was doing was borderline prostitution and left the conference room with Tony Stark’s credit card. There was a certain god of mischief that I felt like speaking too.

    Loki’s mood immediately improved when he saw (Y/N) enter the room. She looked around for a moment and sighed in relief when her gaze fell upon the Asgardian Prince who was sitting on the couch reading a book. As per usual.

“Good, you’re alive,” he teased her, closing his book. “I was beginning to worry about how I’d be able to take care of your cat.”

(Y/N) rolled her eyes playfully and began walking in his direction. She sat down on the couch next to him and leaned backwards with a sigh. “I just agreed to do something that I’m not sure I’ll be able to do,” she mumbled, picking at her nails.

“I’m assuming this has something to do with why my brother and his posy wanted to speak with you. Or so I heard from Pepper,” Loki replied looking down fondly at the girl beside him.

He admired her sparkling (Y/E/C) eyes that complimented her (Y/H/C) hair in the best way. Her full lips were colored pink, probably because she was biting them again.

She nodded her head and tilted it upwards to look him in the eye. “They want me to make-out with a criminal who’s trying to steal the Chitauri Scepter.”

An odd feeling overtook Loki as he processed what (Y/N) was saying. From his time spent on Earth he’s come to learn that ‘make out’ means to kiss. Like, actually kiss, not just a quick peck on the lips.

Loki couldn’t explain why the idea of her kissing someone didn’t sit well with him. His stomach felt empty as if it had simply dropped out from under him. It was completely foreign to him.

The only possible explanation he could come up with was that he didn’t want (Y/N) kissing a criminal. Though that ideology would prove to be hypocritical because Loki himself was a criminal, and the only thing he wanted to do at that moment was kiss her.

But he wouldn’t dare admit that to anyone, even himself.

Loki cleared his throat and shook himself out of his reverie. “Why the Chitauri Scepter of all things?” he asked trying to change the topic slightly.

(Y/N) shrugged her shoulders and gazed out of the nearby window and into the New York Skyline. “Stark thinks orange might be his favorite color.”

He couldn’t help but let out a deep chuckle at that speculation. “Oh really? And all of this involves you how?”

She merely stared at his face for a moment before looking away. “They want me to put some fancy tracking device on him and to do so I either need to kiss him or shove a finger up his nose which might get me killed so…”

Loki nodded his head in response. “Good choice,” he responded simply, that weird sensation in his stomach flaring up again. “But why you? No offense….”

“Apparently I look very similar to every girl he’s ever had relationships with. They think it’ll be easier for me to seduce him because of that,” (Y/N) explained further, sitting straight up. “And speaking of seducing, I have some shopping to do,” she said standing up off of the couch.

(Y/N) turned around and put a hand on the back of Loki’s neck, giving him a quick kiss on the forehead. “Bye Loki,” she bid farewell with a smile before turning on her heels to leave.

“Bye (Y/N),” Loki responded, his eyes following her retreating figure until it was out of sight.

When she had finally left the room, Loki leaned back into the couch and rubbed his face with a groan. He couldn’t be developing feeling for (Y/N). Could he? She was a mortal after all while he was the somewhat Prince of a galactic empire.

They were literally from 2 different worlds which only meant things between them would end in flames and heartbreak. Much like that of his brother’s relationship with that girl Jane.

Despite all this however, Loki couldn’t help but hope that things would be different between them. Because if anything, Loki was persistent and now that he set his sights on (Y/N), he wouldn’t rest until he successfully managed to seduce her.

Whatever that meant….

#loki laufeyson #loki x reader #loki laufeyson x reader #loki odinson #loki fanfic #loki odinson x reader #loki (marvel) #loki #marvel imagines #marvel imagine #marvel #thor #thor ragnarok #off #fanfiction #the avengers

[kuwaiti-kid]

The 20 Coolest RPG & DND Dice Sets

If you haven't heard of the iconic game Dungeons and Dragons, you must be living under a rock with the moss and gnomes.

Just in case you have some questions, here is a short description of what Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is and why it is so amazing!

The core of D&D is storytelling. You and your friends tell a story together, guiding your heroes through quests for treasure, battles with deadly foes, daring rescues, courtly intrigue, and much more.

You can also explore the world of Dungeons & Dragons through any of the novels written by its fantasy authors, as well as engaging board games and immersive video games. All of these stories are part of D&D.

Pretty great, right? Who wouldn't want to play?

One of the best parts of playing D&D is creating your unique character. Once you have your character all set to go, there is one more thing you may need.

Your very own set of unique dice! Put on your robe and wizard hat, because we have a list of the coolest D&D RPG Dice Sets!

The 20 Coolest RPG and D&D Dice Sets

1. Ragnar's Bone Dice

The name alone should give you an indication of how epic this design is. After years of research and trials, they have perfected this design that will call right to your medieval senses.

Unique, Timeless, Stunning, and built to make you feel like a Warrior. The Ragnar's Bone Dice sets encompass everything you could ever want in a personalized set of dice. Can you imagine pulling a set of these out to roll during your campaign?

2. Clanggedin's Battle Gear Battle Worn Gold Metal Dice

If you are looking for a battle-worn design with a touch of steampunk, this is the set for you!

This set of dice set contains easy to read numbers encased by gears. This gives it that slight steampunk aspect we were referring to. The battle-worn detailing comes in the smaller grid-like etching on all surfaces of the dice.

The rustic gold adds to those antique touches. This would fit into both a medieval or a more modernized D&D campaign!

3. Pheasant's Flower Resin Dice Set

They are beautifully crafted for those flower lovers out there! This set would be absolutely perfect for Aerith of Final Fantasy VII.

This set is a clear resin that is encasing individual bulbs of flowers within. The flowers are of a reddish copper color with some green leaf still attached. The engraved numbers are bright white, so they are an easily legible contrast.

Bring the love of flowers and nature to your next DnD match with this beautiful set!

4. Cleric's Domain Aqua and Bronze Metal Dice

If Poseidon was playing some underwater D&D in Atlantis, then this is the set that he would use.

The Cleric's Domain Aqua and Bronze Metal dice set are an impressive D&D set to add to your collection. The turquoise color really pops against the bright copper and accentuates the numbers.

The shine of the copper metal combined with the vibrant color lands this set on our list for any of those looking for unique dice for their adventure.

5. Paladins Crusade Charlemagne’s Court Metal Dice

A set of dice that is genuinely worthy of King Arthur's Court. Paladin's crusade set is not your average set of dice! They are much larger and heavier than your average metal set so that you cannot doubt that you will be victorious in battle!

This set combines color, detail, and unique style. The numbers themselves have a unique scripting design that adds to the intricate detail of the dice. The unique gold scripting is surrounded by a royal blue and accented with a fiery red. Each piece is then encased in a beautiful bright gold.

Grab your sword and shield because this set is ready to do battle!

6. Black and Copper Enamel Coated Metal Dice

This set may inspire the inner villain in you. The Black and Copper Enamel Coated Metal Dice set is both dark and mysterious with a hint of flare.

The colors play off of each other nicely, which makes the set itself is quite eye-catching. With it being enamel coated, it has a glossy shine that makes the black against the copper pop.

If you want a sleek and mysterious looking set to roll, check this one out!

7. Dragonborn Breath Acrylic Dice Set

With this set, there will be no doubt that you are the Dragonborn. You can Fus-Ro-Dah while you roll these dice across the table.

This set was made with a mix of an ashen grey and a fiery orange that are carefully swirled together to give the appearance of Dragon's breath. The set is finished off with engraved gold numbers. A truly perfect combination.

If you love Skyrim, Dragons, and everything in between, then you need this set.

8. Ruby Ziosite Stone Dice

The inner elven warrior in you would love to get their hands on this next set.

The Ruby Zoisite Stone dice has a beautiful crystalized mix of greens and golds with different pigmentation mixed without. The numbers are engraved with bright gold.

This stone truly looks as if they were carved out of the elven lands of Lord of the Rings.

9. Acacia Wood Dice Set

Both traditional and functional, the Acacia wooden dice set is both classical and practical for all of your DnD needs.

The darkened numbers are engraved in the wood with a darker tone, which gives it a very natural look. The tone of the wood itself is lighter in color and looks as if it was just carved from the forest trees.

This set is perfect for the light of heart looking for a simple and natural dice set.

10. Clanggedin's Battle Gear Blue and Silver Metal Dice

We are back to our sets of intricate battle dice with another set from the Clanggedin collection.

The darker blue against the bright silver gives a more modern tone than that of the brass. The numbers in this set are bright silver and also surrounded by a silver gear design.

While still having that old-world feel, this set will still a bright and fresh look to the board.

11. Red Tiger Eye Stone Dice

Mysterious, dark, and sleek. The Red Tiger Eye Stone Dice set will grab the player's attention. Was it built in the fires of Mordor? We will never know.

The stone itself is darkened with red hues and adorned with engraved gold numbering. They are finished off with a very polished look.

This is one of those sets you will have to see for yourself to truly appreciate.

12. Nebula Galaxy Collection Acrylic Dice Set

You will be prepared to have an intergalactic battle with this set of dice.

The pieces contain multiple different pigments of browns, blues, and greys. They also have a slight adornment of sparkle mixed within as well. The numbers are engraved in bright gold.

These will be an awesome set to blast across the table at your next D&D game!

13. Cloudy Skies Enamel Coated Metal Dice Set

Both beautiful and bold, these are worthy of a roll by Rinoa's hand.

These dice contain a mix of bright blue and white resembling that of, you guessed it, a cloudy sky! They are encased with a copper-colored metal lining which matches the copper numbers. The entire set is resin-coated to add a nice shine.

Make sure to take a look at this set if you want that light and airy look to your dice.

14. Ebony Wood Dice

This set feels relaxing and natural with its darker wood tones.

The dice have darker staining to them, which complements and brings out the detailing in the wood. The numbers are engraved in a bright white coloring for ease of use.

This is another set that is perfect for lovers of the forest.

15. Peace Jade Stone Dice

Yet another set that would be both stunning for play and display. The Peace Jade Stone Set reminds me of Ancient Greece.

If you like to dabble in Greek Mythology, or just love the look of marble, this set will be right up your alley. Multiple tones of grey and white marble are adorned with golden numbering.

Both simplistic and eye-catching this set would be approved by Zeus himself.

16. Black and Wine Dual Enamel Coated Metal Dice

I could imagine that a Vampire would enjoy playing a game of DnD with this next set of dice!

The Black and Wine coloring of this set makes it both dark and beautiful. The wine color gives it a reddish-purple hue and is surrounded by black metal with black metal numbers.

This is quite the stunning set for any D&D game or Vampire enthusiast!

17. Blue Turquoise Stone Dice Set

The name of this next one speaks for itself. The coloring of this Stone Dice is absolutely pristine.

This set dons a deep but bright stone turquoise color that truly stands out. The black numbers ingrained in the dice pop against the vibrant blue tone.

This set is simply an amazing statement piece that would stand out regardless of the D&D character that you create in your campaign!

18. Bronze Chrome Metal Dice Set

If you love the shine of copper coins in the vault at Gringotts, then we have found your next set!

This set is gleaming and eye-catching. It is a single color of all copper with engraved black numbering. This set is incredible enough to be mistaken for Goblin currency!

Give these a roll across the table and see how they shine!

19. Multi-Color Rainbow Wood Dice

A wooden set that would amuse the fairies! The Multi-Color Rainbow Wood Dice set is both unique and natural.

The natural wood graining shows through each individual layer of color. The dice are also adorned with engraved white numbering.

This set is truly unique and would be worthy of any D&D game, or fairy shelf.

20. Blue Aluminum Dice

Our last set is a bright and bold, modern statement set. The blue Aluminum Dice!

While being available in many colors, the Blue Aluminum has an eye-catching hue that cannot be ignored. It is a deep blue with white number engraving.

This is a perfect dice set for anyone that enjoys adding a modern flair to their tabletop gaming session.

Roll the Dice!

There are an innumerable amount of options for how many different sets of dice are available. This list is just the tip of the amazing DnD dice options that are out there!

Maybe you are new to DnD and need your first set? Or are you an avid collector of dice and enjoy having a set for each character you create?

The options and possibilities are endless! My favorite thing to do is look through them all and see which sets call to me the most. That has been the best way to select my first sets of dice.

Whether it be Dragons and Knights, or Fairies and Elves, your perfect dice set is waiting out there for you just waiting for you to make your first roll.

Which dice set on the list is your favorite?

The post The 20 Coolest RPG & DND Dice Sets appeared first on Your Money Geek.

from Your Money Geek https://ift.tt/2XFS77Q via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Your Money Geek