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cutthroatcarnival · 3 months

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Revered Deity, Unknown Hero (1/10)

This is a special one! Thank you @bokettochild for allowing me to write a fic using your God of War!Warriors idea! It was super fun to write. :)

Read chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Find it on AO3 here!

Divine and Draconic Differences

The skies were clear and the weather was pleasant as the heroes congregated outside of Wild and Flora’s Hateno home. It was peaceful, a nice and welcomed reprieve from the era before.

Wind, a still growing teenager, was overflowing with energy, tugging around an equally as eager Hyrule, to explore everything possible. He had his spyglass out, sweeping across the vast land of the Wild Era. Every so often, he’d hand his spyglass over to the traveler to allow him a go.

His telescope was focused on a chasm far out, watching the remaining wisps of gloom fade into the air. Mesmerized by the red-purple, he didn’t fully register the white-blue on the edge until it had blocked his view.

“Wild! What the fuck is that?!” Keeping his focus on the serpentine creature in the sky, he heard Wild approach his side with the familiar sound of him activating his slate’s scope mode.

“That’s Naydra, one of the dragons.”

That… didn’t look like a dragon. Dropping his spyglass from his eye, Wind fixed Wild with a stare. The scarred hero stared back.

“Don’t look at me like that. There’s three dragons, they’re all servants of the springs. Naydra happens to be the servant of the Spring of Wisdom, which is,” he grabbed Wind’s shoulder and spun him around, pointing to a mountain peak covered in snow, “right on that peak over there.” Wind moved his gaze to the mountain peak, following Wild’s finger. He could see the vague shape of pillars.

“Huh… so you have dragons too? They look different from mine.” Wind began walking back to the rest of the group, who had been listening in on the conversation, no matter how hard they tried hiding it. Wild took a few seconds to decipher the information, and ran to catch up with the sailor.

“What do you mean “you too”? I didn’t know anyone else had dragons!” Wind shrugged.

“Like I said, mine are different, like Valoo. He was a sky spirit I met during my first adventure. And the only one that didn’t try to kill me.” He plopped down next to Warriors, who offered the young hero one of the apples he had.

“Still! Does anyone else have dragons?” All hands went up except for the smithy, who looked utterly confused as he mouthed dragons over and over, eyes swirling different colors.

“In my defense, all of my dragons wanted to kill me.” Hyrule exclaimed, being seconded by Time, Twilight, Warriors, and Legend.

The five heroes delved into further conversation about their draconic enemies. Wind wiggled into the group, chattering about the gleeoks he fought. Wild chimed in about having to fight gleeoks as well, explaining about the King Gleeoks residing in hard-to-reach locations.

“The dragons I know serve Hylia.” A few grimaced at the mention of the goddess, but the dislike was outweighed by the curiosity of Sky’s dragons.

“The three of them were assigned to watch over different provinces of the Surface. They also protected the sacred flames, and held parts of the Song of the Hero.”

Wild was immediately upon Sky, spitting out questions with very little breaths between, all centered on what they looked like, if they had any powers, and anything of the sort.

“Of course they have powers, they guard and protect the Triforce. Even the gods wouldn’t be able to reach it with them guarding the key to it.

Gods and Goddesses were a touchy subject. Some were openly hostile towards them, others in the middle, and some revered them. Yet, the topic always raised an interesting thought; just how many are there?

“Do you think there’s more than just Hylia?” Came Four’s voice, eyes shining a curious violet.

“There’s the light spirits in my era,” Twilight rested his chin in his palm, “Ordona, Lanayru, Eldin, and Faron. They protect the regions they share names with.”

“Oh, and the Golden Goddesses! They’re the ones that submerged Hyrule!” Wind piped up, leaning against Warriors, who grimaced as the sailor’s sharp elbow dug into his thigh.

A soft hum emitted from Time, who had been running his fingers along his markings, a pensive look across his face. Wild bounded off of Sky, and settled next to Twilight.

“I know of one! Legends talk about a Fierce Deity… they say that if one dons his armor and mask they gain godlike power.”

Time gave a sharp inhale, and his fingers dropped from his face.

Others shook their heads, either not having any other gods, goddesses, or deities in their time, or having the same ones as someone else.

“Not anymore.”

Eight heads turned towards Sky, who had found a stick and was whittling absentmindedly, a stormy look across his face. They all shared a few glances- curiosity, and a little bit of fear.

‘Not anymore’?

“Oh! There is another- the Deity of War.” Hyrule broke the silence, fingers tying blades of grass into circles while his gaze rested on the other heroes.

“Isn’t that the same as the Fierce Deity?” Twilight cocked his head.

Legend scoffed.

“Many think that, but”, he stood up and turned so he was facing all eight heroes, “they are different. He’s the Deity of War, exactly as his name implies; a powerhouse on the battlefield, calculated and quick. The Fierce Deity doesn’t focus on war, he focuses on ferocity, on power, on courage. It’s in their names, it really is that simple.”

The veteran launched further into an explanation about the two, pointing out the similarities and differences, both surface level and deeper. Pointed ears all upright, revealing without words how invested they were in this newly learned-about deity.

Wild shot up out of his seat and ran to the house, slamming the door open, sounds of rustling and clanging could be heard, and the heroes remaining shared concerned glances. The current era’s hero came racing back out- not bothering to shut the door- with a book in his grasp.

“Legends Throughout the Ages” read the title of the book in intricate gold. The book itself seemed to be in good condition, missing the normal wear and tear they had seen on other things in the champion’s era.

“I know about him! Flora was talking about some books she had found in the castle,” he thumbed through the pages, “and she thought I would like this one… Aha!” Wild smoothed the book to lay flat on pages marked with blue fabric scraps.

On the pages were long paragraphs of stories and legends of the deity, exploring where he originated from and what eras his legends came from. Taking up a sizable portion of the right page was an image.

“Hey, he kind of looks like Warriors!”

Wind grabbed the book from Wild and pranced back over to the captain, who only raised an eyebrow at him, his now finished apple set off to the side. The sailor raised the book next to Warriors and basked in the ‘oohs’ when they realized that their youngest was right.

The picture and the captain looked nearly identical; only differentiated by the gold and blue markings on the deity’s face, blank eyes, and the color of the armor- a vibrant gold- and the tunic- a pale cream.

Snatching the book, Warriors scanned over the page, lingering on the photo a little longer.

“I don’t see it.”

That caused an uproar, as Wind and Wild both pounced on the captain, claiming that he was wrong and everyone could very well see it, while Hyrule just looked at the captain like he had grown a second head. The others groaned quietly.

There goes the relaxing day they were hoping for.

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farfaras · 11 months

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Steddie week. Day 1: Pining. 1.2k words. Ao3 link.

Have some fluff! Also, written from the point of view of the non-pining person.

Steve is not sure how he got here. Although he’s actually not complaining. But after the end of the world part 4 (and hopefully final), Eddie Munson seems to be… courting? Wooing? Him? Whatever, he’s trying something. He was already kind of flirtatious during the apocalypse, at first Steve thought that was just a defense mechanism or just how he is. To a degree, he does have a flirty personality. But he does not treat everyone else like he’s treating Steve.

Steve is almost 99% sure that he has not opened a single door while Eddie’s around. Every time he goes to leave a room, suddenly Eddie is in front of him opening the door for him. It’s a miracle he doesn’t bow or some shit equally as embarrassing. Steve can feel the party’s eyes on them, and he doesn’t know why Eddie seems so unaware of it. In similar fashion, Eddie picks up everything he drops (he’s a klutz, sue him) so quickly that it almost looks like he hurts himself a little.

Are all the seats taken? “Have my seat, Stevie.”

Steve forgot a jacket? “You look cold, here’s my jacket.”

Steve mentions being thirsty? “I’ll get you some water!”

His car was in the shop one time, so Eddie picked him up for movie night at the Wheeler’s. When he dropped him off, he didn’t just make sure he got inside from the comfort of his car. No, no, that wouldn’t suffice. Eddie walked him to the fucking door.

Also, the pet names. God, there’s so many! One would think Steve is a fair maiden in the 1800s with the amount of terms of endearment he’s subjected to on a weekly basis. Angel, sweetheart, darling, honey, love, and even goddamn beloved. Who the fuck uses beloved? In this day and age?

Steve has not had this much attention, since, well, ever. Eddie seems to notice every single thing he does or says. One time he mentioned in passing how much he likes cool ranch Doritos and the next week Eddie showed up at Family Video with a sandwich, a bag of cool ranch Doritos and his favorite flavored soda. “Here’s your lunch, sweetheart.” Steve could only say thanks before he walked out with a wink, leaving him confused as ever.

He’s very much not confused now. He knows what Eddie is doing.

Every chance he gets, Eddie makes sure he knows how good he thinks Steve looks. He even compliments his outfits, which at first Steve found hard to believe it was sincere because come on, why would Eddie say he likes his polos and jeans if not to just get him to like him? But the more he did it, the more Steve started to notice the look on his face. If he wasn’t being sincere he was a hell of an actor because Steve could swear his eyes almost shined with fondness and/or adoration.

There’s a corner on his desk that he has designed for little trinkets Eddie has been gifting him. This has to be the weirdest part of it all because why would Eddie give him a piggy keychain? A freaking I <3 NY magnet? Has he even been to New York? Where did he get that? Steve’s favorite is this bracelet that spells ‘lovely’ surrounded by green and blue beads. Because of course Eddie knows what his favorite colors are. Ah shit, did he make that himself? Eddie should stop being this adorable, because now every time he enters his room and glances at this pile of [perceived] junk an involuntary smile starts to bloom.

Whenever they go out to eat together (as friends, Robin!) Steve goes through the same argument when Eddie insists on paying. Steve rarely wins that battle.

It all feels, weird. Steve doesn’t know how to feel about all of this. On one hand, does he enjoy all this attention? Of course. I mean, who wouldn’t. Steve is sure that if he asked any girl if they enjoyed the attention from guys that they didn’t particularly wanna date, they’d say yes. Right? It seems logical. Everyone likes to feel special. On the other hand, how is he supposed to react to all of this?

Robin’s told him that he needs to say something. That it’s gone too long. Just to reject him already, or something along those words.

Steve hasn’t.

He can’t seem to bring himself to burst this bubble. To break this kind of spell that he apparently has on Eddie “the freak” Munson.

A freak, though? Eddie’s not a freak at all. If the people that gave him that god forsaken nickname got to know him, they’d sure regret it. Steve’s sure. Because he’s a lot of things, but not a freak. Incredible considerate, for one. Thoughtful and passionate. He’s amazingly kind, and so full of love it sometimes looks like he can’t even contain it all. Most of all though, he’s ridiculous. Greatly so. How does someone go this long, treating a person this special, wooing, basically spoiling them, without asking anything in return? Steve has been sure for a while that Eddie Munson has been trying to get him to like him back. He’s going about it in a ridiculous way.

Eddie Munson is ridiculous.

He’s so so ridiculous.

What’s even more ridiculous is…

It’s kinda working.

“What’s your approach here?” Steve questions. Eddie’s over at his house tonight. They were watching a movie and Eddie just randomly got up, brought over some popcorn and a blanket. Which he put on Steve’s feet because somehow he knows they get cold easily.

Eddie sits beside him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you’ve been doing this for a long time. Are you ever gonna…?” Steve trails off. He may have started this conversation, but he really doesn’t know how to ask what he wants to ask.

A flash of recognition crosses Eddie’s face but he quickly schools his expression. “Am I ever gonna… what?” He smirks. The fucker.

“You know what.”

“I really don’t.”

Steve rolls his eyes. “I know you know I know what you’ve been doing. Don’t play dumb.”

“That’s a lot of knows.”

“Be serious.” Steve gives him a look that he hopes conveys how much he wants answers.

“Just say what you mean, then.” Eddie looks down, he looks kinda nervous and Steve feels just a tiny bit guilty about how abruptly he brought this up.

“Are you… gonna ask me out? Anytime soon?” Eddie looks up and although he seems taken aback for a second he just smiles after it.

“Do you want me to?” He tilts his head and puts on his most innocent act.

Steve hums. “What if,” he clears his throat and looks away, “What if I say no?”

Eddie nods like he’s considered this and every other scenario. “Don’t worry about it. I’m not asking you out yet.”

Steve frowns. “Then why…?” His brain catches up and takes notice of the last word of that sentence. “Not yet?”

Eddie shakes his head no. “If I do it,” he searches Steve’s face. Steve doesn’t know what he’s looking for, it takes a few seconds but he seems to find what he needs to say, “When I do it. It’s gonna be because I’m sure you’ll say yes.” Steve doesn’t know what to say. Or if he should say anything. He feels breathless. “And it’ll blow your pretty little mind, honey. Can’t believe you thought I’d do it with karate kid on the background.”

They settle back down, and that seems to be the end of that. Eddie seems content with that for now.

Steve though? It seems like his insides have started bubbling with anticipation. Without asking him for permission, no less!

@steddie-week

#it’s still the 22nd where I live #literally 10pm I barely made it #steddie #eddie munson #steve harrington #eddie x steve #steve x eddie #stranger things 4 #stranger things #steve harrington x eddie munson #steddieweek2023 #mer writes sometimes #ficlet #will I do the whole week? idk #steddieweekprompts

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glamoureddreamer · 23 days

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Birthday

Undertale Nightmare and Dream

Warnings: None (please let me know if this is wrong)

Considering a part 2 but I’m unsure I hope you enjoy :) have a great day

"Happy birthday Nightmare, I love you." Nightmare smiles pulling his brother closer.

"I love you too Dream, Happy birthday."

Dream watches the stars above them, twinkling far away. Providing a small amount of light. The apple tree covers his view of some of the stars but he didn’t complain.

"You won't leave me right?" Dream asked without warning. He didn't want to tell his brother but he felt as if something bad was going to happen soon. This was their calm before the storm, but he couldn’t explain it.

"Stars Dream, why would you ever think of such a thing.. of course I won't."

"Can you promise me?" Dream asks tears filling his sockets that go unnoticed by Nightmare.

~~~

"I promise Dream." Nightmare says looking at the tree stump in his abandoned au.

Today was their birthday and they were spending it away from each other again. Nightmare was sure Dream could feel it, the ache of being away from each other. They were always supposed to stay to guard the tree never being that far apart from each other.

Nightmare felt guilt, which is why he returned for today at least.

Coming to his old AU always brought up other feelings as well, like anger towards their mother, towards the villagers, and towards himself.

He never admitted it to anyone not even his team but he didn’t want to fight his brother anymore, he wanted to wrap his arms around him and apologize for everything he’s done. But admittedly he was afraid of what would happen if he did, would Dream even want to stop fighting? Does Dream hate him like he hates himself?

He brushes his hand against the stump but something startles him, he quickly takes his hand off the tree and turns around quickly. He was shocked to see who stood before him, his defense went down.

“Hello, Brother.” Dream stood a few feet away from him, his positivity wasn’t as strong and he seemed almost sad.

“Hi, Nightmare.” It was quiet between the two and somewhat awkward, it made Nightmare feel even worse. It was all his fault.

“I’ll leave.” Nightmare said after a moment, he turned around and made a portal.

He was about to go through when there was a hand on his shoulder, knowing whose it was he almost cried.

“Wait Nightmare..” Hesitantly he closes the portal and turns towards Dream.

“Yes?” He was always good at hiding his emotions, even as a child.

“Why…” He starts, seemingly testing out the water.

“Why are you here?”

“I always come here.” He quietly admits.

“You do?” Dream asks in a hopeful manner.

“Yes, only on special occasions.”

“Well… you don’t have to leave. If you want I can go.” Dream suggests. Nightmare thinks for a moment, debating his options.

“You can stay. I am going to stay too.” He says before sitting down against the stump much like how they used to.

Dream stood standing for a second before sitting down right next to him. After a few moments of silence, Nightmare heard a sniffle. Dream wasn’t like him, he didn’t know how to hide his emotions.

“Are you alright?” He asks without turning towards him.

“Sorry.” He whimpered.

“Don’t apologize.”

“I just..thought you..hated me, hated mom, our childhood.” Nightmare felt his words pierce his soul and the tears he’d been holding onto spilled.

“..I could never hate you.” He says quietly his voice too was broken.

Dream shifts and Nightmare turns to see only to find Dream sitting on his knees facing him. Dream had golden tears running down his face, despite the corruption Nightmare’s tears were purple.

“why? Why try to hurt me? Kill positivity?” Dream asks his voice breaking more each second. Nightmare swallows the lump in his throat and looks away from Dream.

“The world must be balanced. An equal amount of positivity and negativity, I have to bring about negativity. However, it is never us that attacks first.”

“Ink..” Dream quietly mumbles, and Nightmare nods with a hum.

“So you’ve..been doing your job and we’ve been.. oh, stars.. I’m so sorry..” Dream covers his mouth and his chest shakes as he starts to cry.

Nightmare hesitated but before his body told him he shouldn’t he went for it. Nightmare pulls Dream into a hug.

“Do not be sorry. It is my fault. All of this..is my fault.” Dream wraps his arms around his brother not caring about covering up his sobs anymore.

They both hold each other and cry, finally freeing 500 years worth of pain.

They had a lot of work to do.

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walker-extended-universe · 3 days

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4x04 Review

I thought last week's episode had a lot but I expect things are only going to be ramping up from here because Holy Shit there was a lot going on this episode. "Insane B.S. and Bloodshed" was definitely the right title even if working it into the dialogue was a bit clunky.

As usual, I'm covering each plotline in order of how much I'm rotating them in my mind so here goes:

First up, let's talk about our cliffhanger plot.

The episode picks up right where we left off last week with Stella driving Sadie and Witt somewhere at gunpoint. As they drive, Sadie acts almost nonchalant and tells us that Witt won't hurt either of them and demands more information. Witt does put the gun down and explains his current situation: he doesn't want to kill them, he wants their help. A very scary woman hired him to find a necklace in Geri's house and when he not only failed to find the necklace but tried to hide his failure by faking his death, he got an intimidating message. He doesn't know who this woman is, only that she really, really wants this necklace and Witt's life is in danger until he delivers it.

Sadie is ready to take this to the cops- or at least, to Cordell. She thinks that with Witt alive, there's much less risk of their lives being screwed up by telling the truth. And the cops can protect them from whoever wants that necklace so badly. However, Stella is hesitant. She spent the last few months feeling immense guilt over killing Witt, a guilt Witt is feeling now after killing Jordan in the car accident. She doesn't want to just send him to jail, possibly for life, when it's clear he just needs help. Sadie is willing to humor her for a while but when Stella insists on trying to help Witt rather than helping themselves, she bounces, leaving Stella on her own.

Well, not entirely alone, as August is waiting right outside Stella's dorm looking for the money that Stella got from selling some of August's music stuff. Or at least, that's the excuse he gives at first. In truth, he was worried about her when she wasn't answering her phone earlier and the way she's acting now isn't exactly soothing his concerns. After he reminds Stella of everything they faced together, she decides to let him in on everything that's happening.

Shortly after, Stelle tells Witt she wants to help and he shows up to her dorm room to talk.

Side note: I love the way August put himself in front of Stella.

Next, let's talk about everything with the Jackal.

Once again, we pick up right where last week left off, with Cassie having a freak-out over needing to keep James in the dark. I imagine this is equal parts her not wanting to get in trouble and her knowing how much it hurts to be the one left in the dark on a case like this. Cordell and Trey justify it with how James was before with the Jackal and Kelly asking them to keep it a secret, but she's still not happy about it.

James wants to meet one-on-one with Cordell, so the team has to divide and conquer with Walker keeping James busy, Trey running backup on nightshift, and Cassie meeting with Luna.

Side note: I can't believe James was the voice we heard on the recording.

Luna meets with Cassie and gives her a quick rundown on the Jackal and the motel they're casing out. They have some enjoyable banter while they set up, but Cassie gets defensive when Luna asks her if she's ever worked a serial killer case before. She brings up all her previous experience working non-serial killer cases, which makes me wonder if she'll end up overestimating herself with this case.

Side note: Let's never refer to Vladimir Putin as "Vlady P" ever again. Ever.

Things are going well until they hear something going down outside the room they're in. The gang that's been hanging around the place is getting suspicious of all the "new activity" that night and Cassie and Luna do their best to keep things calm while they help a girl with a missing mother. Unfortunately, drug dealers are unpredictable and we get an quick action scene before the dealers give them info on where the girl's mother went.

When they find the location, Luna talks more about the Jackal's killing methods and how they affect the people around the victims. While he talks, Cassie finds a burial site and they both start digging frantically- and find the girl's mother, buried alive with a Jackal tooth in her mouth.

The Jackal's return confirmed, Cassie calls the case in. First to Walker, who doesn't answer, and then to James.

On a sweeter note, let's talk about James and Cordell catching up. It's a small part of the episode but I felt like it deserved it's own section.

Though Cordell only brought James to the Side Step as a distraction, it was a nice way to catch up with his old partner after the Captain's Conference.

Keeping the conversation light, James brings the conversation to how things are going with Kelly. Now that they're fixing their relationship and entering their second honeymoon phase, James is feeling great. But something is going on with Kelly; she's sleeping in another room and she got rid of all the alcohol in the house. The only thing James can think of is that she's pregnant, a theory Cordell is happy to run with.

We also find out that James and Kelly had previous tried for another child at around the time the Jackal was last seen. Naturally, that attempt at a child didn't work out and he's not sure how to feel now, or how to confront Kelly about it.

After that, the conversation shifts to Cordell and Geri's relationship. Things are also going great there, with them finally saying I love you for the first time and while James is happy to hear that, he owes Kelly $20.

Side note: I love Kelly and James and Cordell's relationship. So much.

Things are going well for both of them and Cordell gets some drinks to celebrate. While he's gone, Cassie calls James with the news that the Jackal is back. Naturally, this kills the mood and Cordell is right there to be on the receiving end of his anger. James feels hurt and betrayed by one of his closest friends and none of Cordell's justifications- never mind that they're James' own- can fix that. For now.

With that, they head the location of the body. The investigation is in full swing and our ranger team has work to do.

This was a crazier episode than I was expecting and I can only imagine the season is going to get crazier from here. There was a big theme of secrets being revealed in this episode, from Witt filling in Stella to Stella filling in August to the ranger team filling in James. Next episode is probably going to be focusing on the fallout from all the secrets. I'm happy to see everyone on the same page again but I wish it had happened differently, especially with Stella and August.

Wishes aside, I have so many questions for next week. Is Kelly actually pregnant? How is James going to handle the Jackal case? How are Stella and August going to keep their own secret under wraps? Is Cassie going to get in over her head with the Jackal? How many more reveals can our Walker Family take?

See y'all next week!

#walker #walker spoilers #walker review #s04e04 #insane b.s. and bloodshed

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tequiilasunriise · 1 year

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Okay but why did the Wenclair break up scene- aka Enid finally standing up fer herself and calling Wednesday out on her constant prioritization of the investigation over everyone else and constant shitty behavior towards them, as she SHOULD mind you- have SO MUCH more weight and impact than every Love Interest Moment between Ajax, Xavier, and Tyler COMBINED? In this essay I will-

Wednesday literally showed no regret for constantly leading Tyler on and using his feelings for her own gain; Enid seems to just like Ajax ‘because he’s cute’ and then moving on ultra quick with Lucas because he was semi-nice to her for like two seconds and she thought that meant they should be together (yes, this is my Comphet Enid Delusions). When Xavier was literally in chains Wednesday still felt little remorse and had the gall to pretty much demand help from him DESPITE LITERALLY BEING THE REASON WHY HES WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED. Also, I love the difference of Wednesday trying to defend herself with, “I apologized. It’s over” as soon as she sees Enid’s distress and THEN getting defensive at Enid’s call out with a, “I never asked you to do that.” Compared to her silence and stone cold expression during Xavier’s, Enid’s call out actually gets a reaction out of her with immediate effects.

When Enid left Wednesday alone in her room she immediately felt SO fucken regretful as she curled up on the floor- ON THE SPLIT OF THE WINDOW MIND U OUGHHH THE SYMBOLISM- and started to lament. Her despondent stare at Enid’s bed as the realization that she’ll likely never see the werewolf on that bed again truly sinks in, her slow walk towards the window, the way she slinks down to the floor and tucks her head into her pulled-up legs with her arms hugging close to herself in a self-soothing manner. Jenna, you are so masterful in conveying characters through sheer body language. Wednesday literally narrates to us that being alone, “For the first time in my life, it doesn’t feel good.” Enid leaving mattered so fucken much to Wednesday, her absence truly made her sit down- literally- and feel actual regret towards her actions. Not nearly getting killed multiple times, not constantly on the verge of being on expulsion, but Enid essentially giving up on her is what does her in.

The imagery standing/sitting on the split of the window is so powerful. One part of her still reaching for the familiar shadowy darkness, and yes this part is still pretty strong as she ends the scene still super determined to find the killer. But the color in her is growing, a half of her that’s shifted and become attached to a much softer side. Enid leaving was 10000% necessary because both needed the space. Enid needed time to recollect and reinforce her boundaries- which she does later and does so spectacularly my babygirl- meanwhile Wednesday has to fully face the consequences of her actions and accept that she needs to do better. This sort of breakup scene- because cmon, the sheer tension and emotional haywire and immediate regret hits you like a TRUCK don’t tell me this wasn’t a breakup- was such a pivotal point of Wenclair’s relationship because without it neither would’ve had the foundation to finally move forward on equal footing. Enid probably would have run herself into the ground trying to people-please Wednesday because she’s so desperate to not be alone while Wednesday would have kept acting like a deflecting, detached goth girlie who keeps moving forward no matter the cost. Now that grievances have been aired, they have this chance to grow and be better, and my god, that’s exactly what they end up doing AND THATS WHY WENCLAIR IS SO FUCKEN GOOD TO AND FOR EACH OTHER‼️‼️‼️‼️

This analysis is getting quite long so here's a final note to reflect on. Not only did Wednesday give zero shits about Xavier in chains, look at how Xavier basically told Wednesday the same thing as Enid. He tells her she's toxic as shit and that she should just leave because her actions keep getting people hurt. In the aftermath, does Wednesday curl up and lament over him too? Do his words impart a change in Wednesday, a need to do and be better? Not even close, homies, not even close. The difference in how Enid's rejection of Wednesday affects her versus Xavier's is so fucken undeniably H U G E it's obvious who Wednesday truly cares about more in the long run and therefore pathetically hilarious how they keep shoving straight romances down our throats when Wenclair clearly holds SO much more chemistry and weight. If anything, the only good thing Xavier’s and Wednesday’s ‘romance’ gave us is a parallel, a foils of sorts, to Wenclair and what a Wednesday who gives no shits looks like to what a Wednesday who gives all the shits looks like.

#imma keep making long posts about Wenclair ALL DAAYYY BABBBYYY #wenclair warriors rise up #they drive me so insane #i love them SO MUCH #the parallels ur honor the PARALLELS #wenclair #wednesday addams #enid sinclair

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starleska · 2 years

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the early bird is the worm - some thoughts on Warren the Eagle

i’ve been fixating on Warren from DHMIS a lot (oh lord why did it have to be him 😭💖) and enjoying a lot of the conversation around his character, both positive and negative! so i wanted to get some thoughts down about him and see what other people think. the writers did an amazing job of portraying an instantly unlikable guy, and i want to examine that unlikability, to see what we can learn about him and his mindset:

a little bit of a recap: when Warren accuses Red Guy and Duck of being bad friends, and the two respond that it’s Yellow Guy’s fault for forgetting the password, Warren doesn’t try to defend Yellow Guy. instead, he goes on a defensive, egotistical tirade about how because he’s not ‘technically affiliated’ with the OK Stop organisation, they don’t think he knows a bad friendship when he sees one. with no prompting, Warren has inserted himself into the interpersonal troubles of another group (that he doesn’t know!!) and made himself out to be the person being attacked. Warren is not a good Samaritan. it’s got nothing to do with Yellow Guy being bullied at all - this is all a vicious ego trip for Warren, who feels persecuted by people he doesn’t even know and projects himself onto other people he perceives to be victims. it’s fascinating, and why i feel it’s a disingenuous interpretation to assume the ‘Warren the Eagle’ name is some mean-spirited joke towards trans people - as a trans person myself, i was worried too! but i realised that it’s not literally about him not being an eagle because he doesn’t have wings - it’s because Warren is oblivious to who he is and the way he treats other people. he’s a social parasite who dresses up his problems in victim-supporting language, validating his toxic behaviours that leave the people around him exhausted and upset. Warren refuses to take accountability for his behaviour and latches onto Yellow Guy despite not having a genuine interest in him or his wellbeing. Warren just wants to be liked, and he realises that in Yellow Guy’s safe space (his brain), he can be...even if he ends up hurting Yellow Guy in the process. Warren being a worm is visual shorthand. pretty much everyone immediately had a visceral response to him and his uncomfortable, invasive behaviour, and the fact that he views himself as a creature that is so radically different from what he actually is - an eagle instead of a worm - is supposed to communicate to us that his perspective is warped to the point that he cannot (or just refuses to acknowledge) how nasty he is to others. you’ll notice that Yellow Guy’s Brain Friends - who are portrayed as a positive, healthy force - are immediately accepting of Warren’s identity and validate his thoughts without question, because they want to be supportive. they’re doing a nice thing, and it’s not played for laughs! but Warren takes advantage of that kindness, and it doesn’t take long for those friends to grow tired of his behaviour. they do the healthy thing by removing themselves from the equation. so, yes...i like Warren as a character a lot, because i think he is a great representation of how you can’t just appropriate the language of positive mental health without doing the actual therapeutic work of unlearning your problematic behaviours. he’s equal parts stubborn and ignorant, and it seems he identifies with being an eagle less in a ‘this is a trans allegory’ sense, and more in a ‘i refuse to acknowledge that i’m being an asshole to the people around me because i am the best and everyone should cater to me.’ sense. that being said, i’m very excited to see more lore and meta and character development for Warren from the fandom! i think headcanoning him as trans is awesome - on that note, did you know that earthworms are intersex? i’m also delighted by the rise of the LoveBird ship (Shrignold/Warren) and the potential for both of them to learn to love in a way which works for them both...the dynamic is so neat 😖💖 that being said, what do you think? do you love Warren? are you indifferent? do you want him to die in a fire? i’d love to know! 🥰

#is it in bad taste to say i have brainworms for Warren because i can't stop thinking about him #he's such a pathetic little creature and i cannot resist the urge to examine him under a microscope. tell me your Warren thoughts!#don't hug me i'm scared #dhmis #warren the eagle #dhmis warren #don't hug me i'm scared spoilers #dhmis spoilers #starleskatalks

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roguelemon · 9 months

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Iiiiits metaphor time!!!

So, it's been shown a few times that Crowley and Aziraphale are opposite but similar, different sides of the same coin, ect, etc.

One very important metaphor for this is the yin/yang. Its been mentioned in interviews multiple times and I think its very true "little bit of a nice person"/"just enough of a bastard" fit this SO well.

But those lines are s1, they fit together because they both represent one side and everything is balanced. They fit together, they dine at the Ritz.

In season 2 however, they don't. At all. Aziraphale makes a point to do more "good deeds" even if they arnet in line with heaven. The whole "very good at forgiveness" and him being visibly upset in the Edinburgh minisode where there are no solid lines to be drawn for morality indicate a bit of negative development on his part. Perhaps the fact that he no longer reports to heaven makes him feel like he has to do more good to make up for it. Hence why Az gets defensive about telling Crowley the good things he's done in the coffee shop scene.

I mean, he was almost about to get Crowley to kill a child in s1, his ability to bastard has decreased.

On the opposing side, Crowley is better this season. Infact I'd say he isn't good or bad. Bad for heaven sure but he is just entirely indifferent to the humans for the most part.

At least that's what I thought until I rewatched it. It's in the way he let's Maggie and nine out of the shop without hesitation, even when he could be mischievous. Its in the way he guides the shopowners out the bookshop trying desperately to stop people getting hurt. Hell, even in the minisodes (ESPECIALLY THE EDINBURGH ONE) he's just floating somewhere between chaotic neutral and chaotic good. (Possibly even neutral good).

While he does also do good in s1, he denies it much more strongly, so perhaps being distanced from hell has allowed crowley to just, do whatever he wants (which just so happens to be good).

There is a point here, let's get back to it.

So, using the colours black and white as in the yin/yang symbol. They both get more white. Obviously, this causes an imbalance. I reckon, crowley pretty much becomes his own symbol, having equal good and bad in him (lets be honest, the "bad" is just him beign a silly little guy). Now I'm deffinetly not saying he doesn't need Az at all, only that he functions as moraly independent. His biggest flaw is that he wants to get away from things instead of fixing them, probably becaue3 he's to scared to try.

Az on the other hand, still refuses he can be bad at all. He's an antihero at worst, doing bad things for perfectly good reason, (hiding Gabriel to PROTECT him). Its this inability to compromise that eventually leads to him blurring the lines between actual good and heaven good, causing him to be delusional and fall back into his old way of thinking at the end.

Pair this with the whole "they want the same thing but are going about it in diff ways", "they don't talk", ect.

They are no longer the yin and yang, they no longer fit together as a pair because Crowley is trying to make himself whole and Az is either ignoring the problem altogether, or trying to be only good. He is trying to have a calm life on earth without letting go of the divine good of heaven and its just not going to work.

I have a feeling that next season Crowley is going to be shifting between emotional and nilhistic (just because he's more moraly stable doesn't mean he is emotionally, bless). Az is going to have to struggle with trying to fix a system that is broken in the name of the one leading the system (god). HOPEFULLY these cause them both to reevaluate their flaws (crowleys running away, Az with his inability to do so) and just erase the moral obligations altogether.

#good omens 2 spoilers #go2 spoilers #good omens 2 #good omens #go2 #i heard michael sheen mention this once in an interview and proceeded to DIG #their vibes are off your honour #this makes so little sense on its own but when you pair it with other analysis its somewhat cohesive #im not crazy (i promise)#ineffable divorce #ineffable divorcees

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civilight-eterna · 27 days

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Request: Velvet spends a lot of time (and, more importantly, energy) playing the straight man to Magilou’s antics. She is, of course, not a man: and as it happens, she may not be entirely straight either.

Bonus: Eleanor finds it equal parts amusing and thrilling to see the fearsome Lord of Calamity lose her cool at Magilou's prodding. But when she sees Velvet pull their teammate into an alley in Hellawes and press her up against the wall by her throat, laughter is the last thing on her mind.

"Father, I can understand why you would look at them and consider them unscrupulous miscreants, but I would recommend against being so reactive next time. It was clear enough to see that they only put on such a display because you provoked them, and I'd encourage you to consider the setting when engaging with troublemakers."

Once again, it was up to Eleanor to smooth things out in the aftermath of their little merry band trying to do something as simple as waiting in the church for the shops to open.

Privately, she thought the way that Velvet and Magilou had handled it had been...vindicating. The pastor had clearly singled them out for Velvet's attire, and Magilou had only tried to come to her rescue, in her own roundabout way.

Could it really be called a roundabout way, if Magilou was never straightforward in the first place?

Maybe Eleanor had admired the way they'd stood up for themselves because it felt like she was inadvertently sharing that umbrella of protection. She'd never really worked out how she felt about romance, but she knew enough that she was not interested in men.

Well. Most men. But she definitely had a leaning of sorts.

She parted ways with the group: Laphicet was blessedly so exhausted that he was asleep at the inn with Rokurou and Eizen to watch him and make sure he ate, so the three of them were none the wiser to the scene that had just unfolded.

I should give those two a talking-to, at least. Our cover will be blown if they keep doing things like that.

Velvet had grimaced and beckoned for Magilou to follow her for a 'chat', so Eleanor suspected they'd be just outside.

She hears Velvet's hushed voice and Magilou's not-so-hushed voice from the alley around back, and her ears perk up to listen as she sidles up against the corner to watch. Not to eavesdrop, but-just to wait and see! Maybe Velvet will do the important parts for her.

"Look. He was being a creep, but that doesn't mean you can just act as you please-! The second you started rubbing up on me I thought his eyes were going to roll right out of their sockets, the way he was ogling you." She's clearly agitated, her arms crossed, her finger tapping the inside of her forearm.

"Ohoho! So sweet of you to worry, but I'm used to being ogled! It's a shame if I'm not! A performer performs, and I performed perfectly. And you played along too, lest you forget! Throwing me across the altar and crawling over me like that until he went blue in the face-my heart nearly popped! Unless..." Magilou tips her head and Eleanor can hear her lilt suddenly drop into another tone entirely, "...did it really rile you up, right then in there? Thinking about doing it in front of a holy man, to spite the clergy?"

Eleanor is suddenly very, very still. She knows deep down that she's hiding herself for a different reason than she was when this started, but she can't will herself to move away.

I shouldn't be watching this.

"No, it did not."

"Aww, then were you worried about little ol' me? Thinking I've no defenses against the male gaze? I was never a naive country girl like you, Vel, I'm used to it."

"And you shouldn't be. Why is it so outlandish of me to want men to not act like animals? Especially around you, you look way too young for them anyway. If anything it's worse that you get them so excited."

"My my, that doesn't bode well for you, then does it, Vel?" Magilou's voice drops, suddenly serious, and if Eleanor didn't know better-bordering on authoritative. "Because I've seen you much more excited to see me than that."

It happens so quickly that Eleanor is frightened her flinch will give away her position-Velvet's claw erupts from its bandages and pins Magilou to the wall by her throat, her feet dangling.

"Keep talking if you want to pretend you don't know what I mean."

Magilou...laughs. It's strained and sputtering through the pressure at her throat, but she's clearly more delighted than afraid.

I should do something. This is getting out of hand-

SPLASH.

A burst of water soaks Velvet's face and she drops a giggling Magilou to the ground.

"Brat." Velvet bites out.

"Oh come on. I've seen you wetter. And you've seen me."

I need to leave-I really shouldn't be hearing-

But Eleanor stays rooted to the spot, ears burning, her body burning even in Hellawes' frigid climate.

"But tell you what. Let's kiss and make up? And then I'll behave until we get back to the inn." Magilou spreads her fingers into a 'v' just under her chin, poking her tongue out between them and bending her body forward with a great flourish. "What do you say, sourheart?"

Eleanor's heart thumps heavy in her chest as Velvet bridges the distance, take Magilou's chin in her own, leans in until there's barely any space between them. Velvet's lips part and Magilou's eyes go half-mast with a certain...earnestness that Eleanor wouldn't have believed unless she'd seen it with her own eyes.

But Velvet stops just shy.

"...Nice try. You're never behaved. And I'd be the fool for believing you could keep a promise like that."

Magilou's eyes flicker with a moment's surprise, but she's back on the other foot in the next breath.

"Oho, but perhaps you're the fool after all, for taking me seriously to begin with!"

...

Eleanor walks back to the inn, realizes that she's a little more alike to Magilou than she ever expected she could be, both for what thought lingers behind and for the fact that she'd never, ever be able to admit aloud-

...I was disappointed, too.

#tales of berseria #magivel #otp: act like a dove #nsft ish #my writing #requests #magiveleanor #finally getting back around to my requests....so sorry i'm late lmao

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fallenclan · 7 months

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FC I'M GOING TO BLOW UP EXPLODE ABOUT THIS . GOD. GOD!!! CYCLES!!!!!

Otterslip was Insecure as an apprentice, then Ambitious as a warrior, mentored by Maplethorn, the current deputy. Adopted son of the former leader Scorchstar and respected deputy Nettlestem. By all accounts, a good mentor.

Stormsight was Lonesome as an apprentice, then Righteous once they got their name, mentored by Silverbelly. Son of Toro, second of the two litters that redeemed the medicine cat Sunwish in her own eyes.

Interestingly, Silverbelly had that same trait progression - lonesome, then righteous. Which on one paw is really cute to consider that they both dropped the lonesome trait at the end of their apprenticeship, as if to signify they have more support than they first did, or at least first thought, but it *also* means this.

Every single medicine cat since Sunwish, sans Eaglestripe(? from all I could find), has had the Righteous trait at some point. (Eaglestripe was Compassionate, now Loyal.) It shifts as it goes on, growing and changing as it's handed from each mentor to apprentice, but the knowledge is the same. The heart of it is the same. It's an unbroken line from Sunwish, all the way down.

The righteousness is a part of that, I think. At least for Silverbelly and Stormsight. Silver might've suspected, and Storm might've found out for sure - after all, he saw Nick in his apprenticeship. It's not unimaginable that he could see another Starclan cat more recently. That he could ask.

I wonder if he told Otter, too. If he thought he deserved to know, or if let it slip in an argument, or Otter saw or heard him and Silverbelly talking and suspected the worst - confirmed it, teeth bared in rage, near the edge of the cliff.

That's not the point of this ask, though - that cycles are. BECAUSE! I'M GOING INSANE ABOUT BOTH THE SIMILARITIES HERE AND WHERE THEY DIFFER.

Both Sunwish and Stormsight wanted to reach out to someone before their murders. Only Stormsight succeeded in this. Both were Righteous, and struck down by someone who grew to loathe them, possibly blaming them for the death of someone dear who couldn't be saved. Otterslip was trying to defend his mother's secret, too. Both were medicine cats struck down by their own clanmates. Sunwish didn't want to be. (Do they even remember that part of her story, anymore?) (God. Lays on the ground. I wonder if it was the opposite that sealed Stormsight's fate. His connection to Starclan gave him the chance to learn the truth, and it was for the truth Otterslip killed him.)

As much as Otterslip's hurt and fury at Grassroot's death (WHICH I AM. SO MOROSE ABOUT I'LL MISS HER… . God. Imagine Grassroot having to look down and see her dad doing this. Being exposed to this seasons-old anguish and having to reconcile her place in all of it. She didn't *ask* for this.) makes sense, it's not a solid defense. Grassroot was killed by a dog - there probably wouldn't be a chance she *could* be saved, even if she was alive when they found her, and still alive when a medicine cat could attend her with the herbs necessary. And besides that, Stormsight isn't the only current medicine cat! Silverbelly, Eaglestripe, both were equally bound to try and save Grassroot's life, and they couldn't. But Silver was here before him, he grew up beside her, and Eagle is still just a kid. And of course - even if Silver's not his favourite cat, he doesn't **hate** either of them like he does Stormsight.

So it has to be his fault.

god… I had to stop typing to handle something so I've kind of lost my train of thought but this is . SO. God.

Thinks about Silverbelly. JUST READ THE NEWEST JAGUARFIC. GOD. THINKS ABOUT SILVERBELLY X100. Ohhh unrelated to current tangent but Jaguar I really enjoy how you take care to use more cats than just the focuses, it makes the whole clan feel a little more alive, it's nice :3… BUT SERIOUSLY. Silver just lost one of her own kits a few moons ago, grandkits left behind, and Stormy - god. Stormsight was her little brother. Stormsight was her little brother, her apprentice, he was stubborn and passionate and he liked to make her laugh, she got to see him come into his own from the lonely kit he used to be, and he just. He never comes back. What did they even talk about last? After everything about Sunwish - did she wish him good luck, when he left? Did she remember to say I love you? What was the last thing he said to Eaglestripe, his apprentice, bound by blood and teaching, that kind-hearted cat who's grown so well herself? Did Eagle even know something was going on?

Does Stormsight weep angry tears for them, from his perch in the stars? Does he wish, desperately, to warn them? For someone to *know?* Does Sunwish sit beside him, bad with cats at the best of times but feeling the need to support him, this apprentice of her apprentice, this kit she saw as a newborn, struck down for trying to reveal her own fate? More than her - does he get his tearful embrace with Toro and Goosewing, do they sit vigil with him from the clouds? Is Scorchstar warned away with raised hackles, the wound still all too fresh?

Sorry. Sorry. I'm thinking all too much.

(- 🐈‍⬛)

i am so fucking unwell about this whole thing. but yeah Stormsight and Silverbelly were Best Fucking Friends. making me even sadder

#falls onto the ground and fucking dies forever.#fallenasks #black cat anon

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bravewolfvesperia · 11 days

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@mistralxsoul | continued

"Huh? Oh... I guess I can just tell you. We don't keep secrets from each other, right?" Even though Flynn was obviously defensive, Yuri only slightly tilted his head and smiled. He was never going to hurt Flynn - in fact, he probably physically couldn't. The dark magic fueling him only amplified his worst thoughts and traits and followed specific orders. There were no harmful thoughts toward Flynn - not one - and it prevented even this level of magic from doing a thing about that.

Figuring out what was going on in Yuri's head was simple, because ultimately, he was still Yuri... just with a head full of dark magic that he would only remember for this week. The magic wouldn't last longer than that, which made getting information about the council, getting in and killing them all need to be done within the week. He knew Flynn wouldn't just help him do it, having access to all of Yuri's memories, and sneaking around had been the best way.

Should have known Flynn would notice. This Yuri knew everything Yuri knew. "Don't worry about being defensive, by the way. I'd never harm you. This body might not get out without a few scratches or cuts though." There was nothing sinister about it in his voice - just playfulness. "You have a week to stop me from getting the information I need. That's how long the dark magic in my head will last for."

It didn't matter what he told him at this point. If he knew he wasn't truly Yuri, Flynn would be on guard no matter what he did. Being as close to being Yuri as possible didn't matter when it was someone who could fish out all the oddities the magic affected. "Sorry I didn't tell you. I thought you'd worry." He shrugged loosely. "I got captured on a guild job. Guess they heard about me some time before and knew I used to have issues with the council. Whole thing was a setup to find me. So, I'm still your Yuri, just... there are dark magic effects in my head that I can't stop until the week is up."

It was almost a silent challenge to Flynn. Stop him and prevent him for the rest of the week from getting the job done. That was just how long the magic lasted, whether he got answers or not. Flynn was closest to him and the council, and Ioder was equally as shrewd enough to realize something might have been off about Yuri. Close as he was to the targets, getting tossed in jail to prevent him from doing anything would meant no bodies on the council.

For the most part, it wasn't any means necessary. The dark magic couldn't take over that much of a person, at least at the level this stuff was at. All it could really do were affect things a person was already capable of doing, which made Yuri a perfect scapegoat for the people who were trying to use him to be rid the council. Yuri was capable of killing and he was capable of getting into harm or harming himself.

Yuri wouldn't hurt someone else if he didn't find a reason to. Flynn was the best person to get answers from. If Yuri were to put his own body on the line and make Flynn give him answers, that was the closest he might be able to get. There was only so much pushing and yanking the dark magic could do. It couldn't make him hurt an innocent person, but if he was already prone to, say, slashing his arm to get a reaction for something, he could still pull that off. With how little Yuri valued himself sometimes, the dark magic was just enough push.

Since the effect on Flynn was indirect, it was possible. Effectively, the only actual harm this magic could do was harm Yuri might already do, and that was to himself over anyone else, council aside. Normally he would trust Ioder and Flynn with them, but that didn't mean he didn't still hate them with every fiber in his soul. As long as there was enough hate there, he could kill them in this state.

"Sorry to scare you. I just need some answers pretty quick to get this job done by the end of the week. Plus, once the magic is out of my head, I'm not gonna remember anything that happened. Like I said though, I won't harm you! I can't, actually. This stuff is just a bit of a push to get me to do things I'm already capable of. I'm me, just... uh... more unhinged? So any crazy thoughts are likely to not stay thoughts. If it sounds like I know exactly what I'm doing and what's going on, it's 'cause I do, I just... won't realize any of this happened by next week."

#mistralxsoul #{ verse: post canon }#{ verse: we have possessed yuri in this house }#{ thread: 30 }

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mk-wizard · 1 year

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Winnie-The-Pooh Blood and Honey: The Liberating Hidden Message

Just to make it clear, I am not going to watch the movie, but I still appreciate its hidden message, which is not only intelligent, but it is a wake-up call.

I absolutely adore Winnie the Pooh and even as a little girl, one of my favourite cartoons was The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh which was made during the time Disney actually still held its work to a high standard. Even the other absolutely adorable live action show Pooh Corner holds up as being sweet, cute and great for kids. To say Disney really did wonders for Winnie the Pooh is an understatement, but the operative word here is “did”. Now, the more modern Winnie the Pooh works do not feel like something out of a child’s imagination anymore which is depressing as that was the whole premise of Winnie the Pooh: he, his friends and the entire world was made up by a boy named Christopher Robin. Speaking of which, I find it disrespectful that the character Christopher Robin was dropped for a long time from the series and was only brought back later in a way that I feel did not honour him at all. At times, I felt like they were making fun of the guy and childhood in general which is sad. It is not just Winnie the Pooh who has fallen from grace either. A lot of modern Disney works lack any love behind them, and it shows because Disney is making new movies and shows way too often. Plus, they are made to please modern audiences instead of the intended audiences. Just look at how Disney+ has a new show or film almost every week. The only pocket that takes its time and it shows because it actually produces amazing work 90% of the time is the Star Wars franchise. Yes, it has flops, but you can count them on your fingers on one hand and even then, their flops tend to try harder than all of Disney’s other pieces as of late which includes the Marvel Universe.

But in the midst of all this, someone decided to come up with this;

No one would think of making a Winnie the Pooh horror movie, but in its defense, has anyone thought of doing anything with Winnie the Pooh at all instead of waiting for Disney to do something new with it? There is a deep, dark yet liberating message behind this daring film and it is not about the bear;

Disney does not own Winnie the Pooh. Nor does it own Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, Pinocchio, The Fox and the Hound, Hercules, Aladdin, Mulan, Robin Hood or any of the princesses from classic literature. All of these pieces are public property meaning anyone is free to adapt them as they wish. The problem is that everyone has been too afraid to try because in the back of our minds, it will never compare to what Disney did.

This fear of touching something that always was free for us to use is crippling us and it is depriving future generations of a chance at seeing a classic tale be reimagined in a way that truly is amazing rather than as another empty cash grab. In other words, the true message behind Winnie-the-Pooh Blood and Honey is: take back our public property.

And believe it or not, when artists did, they made amazing things. The thing is not all of them are in the form of films (though some are). I could even recommend a list. And while they may not be giants like the Disney adaptations, they are worth your time and dare I say, better in some cases. Here are some of the non-Disney adaptations of classic tales I recommend.

Ever After: which is a reimagining of Cinderella that replaces all magic with feminist elements and get this; Leonardo Da Vinci is part of the main cast.

Gepetto: a webcomic adaptation of Pinocchio with a science fiction twist along with all kinds of other twists.

Megan Kearny’s Beauty & the Beast: a webcomic adaptation of the classic tale which takes on a more gothic tone and also explores the trauma behind the Beast’s life story.

Snow White and the Huntsman: a film where Snow White is on equal heroic footing with her “prince” and is a great watch if you love Lord or the Rings or Game of Thrones.

Beauty and the Beast (TV Series): a reimagined version of the classic where “Beauty” is a badass detective and “Beast” is a super-cyborg soldier making the setting more superhero like in all the fun ways.

Red Shoes & the Seven Dwarfs: a deconstructed version of Snow White where the dwarfs are the ones who actually need saving and it is the first ever version of Snow White to be plus sized.

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp (1982 anime film): this film follows the original tale almost to the letter with a few differences.

Splash: a reimagining of The Little Mermaid that takes place in the 1980s which also happens to be one Tom Hanks’ best classic movies.

Ponyo: another reimagining of The Little Mermaid except the two main characters are children and it was made by Chibli Studios, so you know it will be high quality.

Penelope: the most unique reimaging of Beauty and the Beast there is because in this case, the titular character is both the Beauty and Beast.

Let us make the list even longer, friends. Let us take back our public property. Let us stop comparing our work to Disney before we have even written it.

EDIT: Demon’s Mirror: I forgot about this one. This is a reimagining of The Snow Queen which is no Frozen. I would classify it as a horror-adventure that does not shy away from body horror, trauma and fates worse than death.

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wlwfav · 10 months

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I'd love to hear about your AU!! It sounds really interesting:)

omg ok ok i hope you are ready for unhinged and messy rambling..... anyways more about angels of death role reversal au below

first off i want to say this au is 100% inspired by this amazing art, like when i tell you seeing that work FLIPPED something in my brain. go show that artist some love!!!

so basically in this au all of the floor masters have essentially "swapped" roles, but they are still their canon ages because that is just. infinitely funnier to me

anyways the swapped roles are as follows:

ray and zack

danny and cathy

gray and eddie

and now here's the rough background and whatnot for each character:

zack

following the role of ray in this au, zack wishes to die and wants ray to kill him. his personality is much more apathetic and a bit of a 'blank slate', similar to canon!ray. unlike canon!ray, however, zack is still not smart sdfgsdfgsgfs. he never learned how to read in this au. he very much still relies on his strength and survival instincts to get by, he is just much more... chill about it.

he was set on fire by his father when he was young, but he never developed a fear of fire like his canon counterpart. instead, he has a more apathetic view on it. he does not wear bandages in this au. he does, however, wear the same hoodie, but the arrow resembles a cross (like shown in the art i linked above). he also has a cross necklace that was given to him by his therapist, cathy (we will get to that later...)

zack was never sent to the orphanage after being burned, but instead he remained at home with his biological parents, and of course it was not a good home life :/ his parents saw he was strong enough to survive being burnt alive and basically said "hey, this kid's resilience might be useful to us" and so they kept him around so he could do the chores/housework and other odd jobs to get money, usually so his parents could buy drugs and/or booze. he never went to school or got any education. zack had to do what he could to feed himself and get by. due to doing just about any sort of physical labor to get payment, he developed strength and street smarts.

his parents viewed him as "a monster" due to his appearance, and constantly reminded him they only kept him around because he was useful. in zack's mind, he thought maybe his parents would love them if they were monsters too.

when zack got the chance, he would try watching movies, and that became one of his favorite past times. he particularly liked thriller/slasher films.

zack continued to live with his parents until he was around 19. he never thought to leave because he didn't know anything else, and there was a part of him that did care for his parents (similar to canon!ray's feelings towards her own parents). one day, zack's mom was caught with another man, causing his dad to flip out and stab both of them to death. zack, being home, heard and saw everything. his dad tries to kill him too, but zack remembered one film he saw with this similar scenario, and ends up successfully - and fatally - stabbing his father. as a means to "fix" things, zack sets their bodies on fire, thinking this made his family "more equal" now that they've all been severely burned (or, in other words, he is making everyone look like the monsters they truly are)

when the police came to take zack away, they weren't arresting him on murder charges, but instead they (correctly) saw he was a victim acting out of self defense, so they send him off to therapy where he meets....... cathy.

and that's where the main story unfolds in a similar way to canon. cathy ends up becoming obsessed with zack, and begs eddie to let him have his own floor - B1. cathy gifts him a cross necklace, hoping it would help zack "fit in" as a floor master, but eddie places a bible on zack's floor and well.... we all know how it goes from there :')

small side note: zack never actually went by 'zack' before meeting ray, he was only ever referred to as isaac, and even called himself by that name. ray gives him the nickname 'zack'!!!

ray

ray is an infamous serial killer in this au, and is dubbed by the media as "the patchwork killer", due to her sewing up her victims after she murders them, as well as the patchwork all across her own body (again, like in the art i linked earlier)

like canon!zack, she is more deranged and outspoken, but she is still just as smart as her canon counterpart. despite (obviously) not attending school, she still loves to read and tries to self-educate herself in between killings. she really is just some weird 13 y/o girl doing her own thing in this au lmfao

despite her intelligence, she is still small and physically weak, making it difficult for her to kill people unless she has her handgun. she still keeps a knife in her bag as a back-up. even though she is small and rather weak, she is nothing to scoff at. she has killed many, many people, and sewn up their corpses afterwards to make them "perfect" in her eyes.

ray ends up teaming up with zack to take advantage of his strength and height, knowing it will help her escape the building.

ray grew up with her parents who owned an illegal orphanage, and her parents treated the kids pretty badly. they would often force ray to stitch up the wounds of the orphans.

ray got her appearance due to the abuse she endured from her parents, and her mother would forcibly sew her up after. ray ends up keeping the patchwork look on both herself and her victims as a means to "reclaim" what happened to her.

similar to canon!zack's fear of fire, ray has a fear of water. her father tried to drown her when she was younger, but her mother managed to save her. not out of love, but because she saw ray as someone she could use. ray has been terrified of the water ever since.

one day, ray is trying to stitch an orphan's wounds, but the kid ends up dying. ray, out of curiosity, decides to continue sewing the kid back together, in order to make them "perfect". when she's done and she looks at her work, a switch sort of just. flips in her brain. and she realizes she wants to kill more people and "fix" them in her own way. and so, she snaps and kills her parents, along with the other orphans, and "fixes" them to her liking.

after that, the story picks up and she lives her life on the run. i'm not sure if i would want to include ray's own "blind old man" in this au yet, nor how that would work, but yeah.

cathy

cathy's story is pretty similar to her canon counterpart's, but instead of becoming a jailer, she became a therapist.

she's a counselor of sorts for "troubled adults", and she uses her job to find the most "sinful criminals" (in her eyes), and study/punish them in her own way. her goal is to find the most "ideal criminal", and punish them for all of eternity. she wants to "fix them" by making them worse.

and, of course, when she meets zack... she believes he's exactly what she's been looking for. she wants to keep him by her side forever so she can understand him, and encourage his "sinful" behavior

danny

like cathy, au!danny is similar to his canon counterpart, but he's just a jailer now. he keeps people locked up so he can admire their dead, hopeless eyes until the end of time.

ray is someone he becomes obsessed with, because despite everything that happened to her, her eyes still sparkle with manic life. and he wants to be the one to snuff that light out.

gray

like canon!gray, au!gray also grew up in a cult, but instead of being the like. next chosen pastor or whatever, he instead was in charge of the graveyard. he views himself as a grim reaper of sorts; being in charge of guiding people to the next life by making their graves. he believes he is the only one capable of putting people to rest in the way god intended.

in the building, he becomes the grave keeper for all the sacrifices that pass through.

he takes an interest in zack, as he is the only floor master who really feels pity for him. he sees zack has suffered, and wants to give him the most "peaceful rest" as possible as a means to alleviate zack's pain.

eddie

yeah this 12 year old runs this whole murder building. and what about it!

anyways instead of being born into a grave-keeping family, eddie was born into a family of. pastors i guess gfdsgdfgsdfg he basically grew up only knowing church and. that's it

eddie's personality is an odd mixture of both canon!gray and canon!eddie's personalities. au!eddie is still childish and often lets his feelings get the better of him, yet he still gives off a more mature and regal aura.

like canon!gray, eddie became interested in testing if people were angels or sacrifices. if they were truly devoted to god.

eddie believes only he truly understands god, and therefore, only eddie can truly judge one's sins in place of god. he decides to start his little "experiment" when it's revealed albert will take over the family church instead of eddie, and eddie believed albert was the furthest from god one could get.

basically, he is trying to weed out "false gods" and those who follow said false gods

like his canon counterpart, eddie has a bit of a crush on ray. he views her as the perfect angel. he also views zack as the perfect sacrifice.

and yeah i guess that's about it! this is a really rough outline and there are definitely some parts to this au that could use some fine-tuning but overall, this is an au i'm really attached to sfdgsfdgsdfgsdfg

#long post /#shout out to that artist who made that role swap art #bc of you i created this whole thing #ur impact.... ur power.....#aod-enthusiast #✉️

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vyuntspakhkite-l-darling · 2 days

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Hmm. Gonna ramble a bit here because I have thoughts but don't know what to do with them. It's long so I'm putting it under the cut.

So I've been in a bit of a writing block and what usually gets me out of that is pinpointing a thing that I'm like 'whoa I want to do that too' and then working on it, and what's gotten me this time is character voice. Reading back though the (shamefully small) amount of writing I already have, I think I do fairly well with character voice in dialogue, but in the bulk of the writing it's kind of just me and how I would describe things. I think that's okay for the first draft and I'm going to keep kind of writing like that until I go back for a second draft, but I don't want to just not think about how I'm gonna do that yet.

Since Biting the Bullet is narrated from Arsioly's point of view, I need to make some decisions I've kind of been shying away from?

When I first made his character, one major thing about him was that he was a sociopath. Part of his story was that he kind of used an excuse of 'we're at war, we can't afford to hesitate,' etc etc to cover up his violent and uncaring tendencies. It's fine at first but there are a few situations where he accidentally reveals to other characters that he's not just doing this because he has to, but because he wants to, and he enjoys having an outlet for his anger. This is brought to his attention and he's defensive at first but his boyfriend talks some sense into him and blah blah he fixes him.

But now that I'm trying to decide if he's still going to be a sociopath, I'm kind of realizing a few things that I didn't consider before.

The first is that I feel like making him natually lack empathy will be too easy. I want this book to challenge some of the ways people, especially soldiers, are taught to think about killing and war, and if he already lacks empathy it might not be as impactful and definitely not as relatable. Because as much as I dislike war and the military and stuff it's not like everyone who fights for the military is a bad person, or at least I don't believe so. I think it's really hard to blame someone for doing bad things if they've been taught those things are good. I want to have Arsioly be an example of just a normal person, not some amazing guy that would never do anything wrong but just an average guy, who learns to stop viewing his enemies as people but instead as targets.

So there's that and also, I don't want Visralion to have to fix him. I mean, that's just a given, having people need to 'fix' their partners and be their moral compass and drag them kicking and screaming into the light just isn't my favorite thing and it won't have the emotional impact I'm looking for. Of course, Visralion will be there to support and talk to him still, but I'm going to make him less 'Arsioly's bitch' and really just be very independent. I feel like whenever I see a 'asshole guy x emotional guy' dynamic the more sensitive guy is really clingy and dependent and stuff and I really just don't want to have that. He's gonna be really in tune with his own emotions and I think the lack of power Arsioly has over him is going to be really good for both of them as characters. I'm honestly debating adding an extra plot thing where Arsioly makes the initial move on Visralion and gets rejected because Visra doesn't believe he sees him as an equal because of his more feminine nature and Arsi goes 'ouch my masculinity' and has to reevaluate his views on femininity. I'm even thinking that maybe they shouldn't officially get together until after they save Estera and that whole situation is what makes it really click for him how awful it is that imperialist men think they have absolute power over women.

Another thing I'm a little worried about is how, if I go that route, I might have to cut out the little plot thread that involves Arsioly being scared of intimacy because he's worried about his own nature and doesn't want to hurt Visralion by accident but if I make him more emotionally volatile and make overcorrecting things a thing he's constantly doing then it could work probably.

Or I could have the whole scard of intimacy thing happen after the Nyaschau situation-

No I'm gonna stop myself there oh no god no

#this ramble was way longer than I meant it to be #ugh #but it did help a little #I really don't want this to turn into a duology #but I'm vaguely worried that's what going to happen #hmmmm #writeblr #writing #biting the bullet vld #writers on tumblr #fantasy

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immaturityofthomasastruc · 2 years

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yknow what would be cool that Astruc would never do. Bring back Robustus and give Markov a REASON to want to help hawkmoth. Perhaps the episode sets up him realizing being a robot (no matter how advanced) means he WILL be treated differently, as if he's just a few lines of code without any thoughts of his own. Bonus if that's just half of it and the other half of it is Markov being forced to adhere to human gender while he's just like "but I'm not???"

Perhaps hawkmoth so generously offers him a miraculous and the builds a vaguely humanoid body (he's not as advanced as Aeon, but he's got like 6 fingers and can climb buildings or smth, really strong metal legs that let him leap across streets) and he goes along with it because deep down he wants to be treated like anyone else, to treated as if he was just some remote-control drone with a microwave camera. Perhaps he's so scary like this is because his voice sounds more like that male Siri rather than how it used to. Nobody knows who he is until he and max meet and his defenses are lowered, he loses and has to flee the first battle and they realize.

And the episode is about realizing he just wants people to respect him as an equal. He doesn't want to be treated any better or worse. Max notices it first, and it forces ladybug and chat noir to realize that unintentionally they've been playing favorites with not only one another but with everyone. It also forces them to realize Chloe may be mean sometimes, but part of that is the fault of her absent mother and her father who had no idea how to raise her properly but did his best.

The episode ends with Markov being de-akumatized and crying because it was the most like him, he'd ever felt in his life. (I mean the wiki says he has no gender so like, nb he/him robot) and the group consoling him because he's not a bad person for being akumatized, and it forces them to take the stakes more seriously and to try to combat the problem at the source. They now realize they need to find out why people are being akumatized and helping them deal with the underlying problem. (I.E Markov and the curse of being forced into human gender roles, Chloe and having to come to terms with her family and having to understand that while she's been rude, she can turn around and be a better person, but part of these issues stem from her family life/abandonment issues.)

Thank you for reading this I have a lot of thoughts about Markov since I love robots and am also NB (and autistic which I like to think Markov is also autistic <3)

Honestly, that all sounds a lot better than what we got in “Hack-San”. Maybe Gabriel could have tricked Max by offering him an internship at his company so he’d get a chance to talk to Markov.

#immaturity of thomas astruc #iota #miraculous ladybug #gabriel agreste #hawkmoth #hawk moth #monarch #monarch miraculous #max kante #pegasus #markov #robostus

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apparitionism · 1 year

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Run 11a

Well. Where were we? I keep having to reintroduce this story because it takes me so long to get to and through each part... in the large, it’s about the ethics of the use of advanced technology in athletic competition. But in the more-important small, it’s also about a Myka and a Helena trying to work out their own ethical differences, with regard to both that technology and a whole host of other issues, including their romantic past and possible—but not assured—romantic future. In the previous part, these two would-be ethicists seemed to have found themselves at the put-up-or-shut-up point, in that Helena had just asked Myka “What now?” There are a lot of answers to that question, and this part commences some forward-and-back time-shifting in order to explore them... I did a lot of that in part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 7a, part 7b, part 8, part 9a, part 9b, and part 10.

Run 11a

Myka stood next to Steve, as tall and strong as she knew how to stand. For once, he needed her support: a tiny but significant wrinkle of solemnity creased his brow, marring his usual placid air yet fitting the momentous nature of this, his wedding day.

Fitting, too—in both senses—was his bespoke tuxedo, which rendered him even more handsome than usual... Myka allowed herself to feel a little pulse of handsome of her own, for her dark suit, a softer echo of his, was equally bespoke, its smooth silk an expensive privilege against her skin.

The suit’s so-careful design, its so-intentional function, made her think of Deceits... a slightly incongruous thought, and yet: as they had turned Myka into A Runner, this suit turned her into A Best Person. She allowed as how she was always going to have needed some help with that latter. In this case, she welcomed the augmentation.

The wedding was a bigger event that she had thought it would be, and she’d remarked on that to Steve when suit-fittings and other prefatory activities seemed to escalate. “Bigger than I’d thought,” he agreed, “but Liam’s parents said ‘go all out,’ with the checkbook to back it up, so we did. Who turns down a party?”

Who turns down a party. Funny that he would put it that way...

****

When Helena had asked “What now”, Myka had enjoyed a flash of certainty... because the moment their hands had touched, everything had seemed so very obvious. And based on that, “what now” had to in fact be a question about where, not what, for how could they not be on the same page of escalation?

An instant later, the where answer struck her just as certainly: “We’re actually in a hotel,” Myka said. “Right this minute, that’s where we are. In a hotel.”

Helena didn’t say anything.

The lack of reaction gave Myka pause. “And it has rooms?” she offered, but with less conviction.

“My plane boards in less than two hours,” Helena said. A stolid utterance. Unmoved.

So much so, in fact, that Myka’s initial response was to snap to match it, adopting a correspondingly aloof “If you’re unmoved, then so am I” stance—but no. That was counterproductive. Helena just wasn’t convinced yet, and who could blame her? All right, then: Myka would have to do more to establish her truth. “Are you saying we need more time than that?” she asked, trying for light, yet feeling her grip on certainty slacken. Trying harder, she said, “But also, people sometimes miss planes.”

Wrong response: Helena’s jaw took on a clench; her lips, a press. (Her jaw. Her lips.)

“I’ve told my father I’ll be home soon,” she said. “He told me I should come round.”

Myka couldn’t quite locate the genre of wrong into which her “people sometimes miss planes” play had fallen, but she did know that she had always been on the same continent—in the same country, even—as her father. And “he told me I should come round” sounded less like an obligation than that “should” suggested, more like... something sought? As if Helena were pleased by, yet defensive about being pleased by, having been told to “come round.”

How could Myka even begin to think of putting herself in the way of that?

But she had to think of it, so she did think of it, because what she sought was right here, right now—her breathing matching Myka’s as it always did, always had done, even when they could not bridge such expanses as a broken-glass-hazard hallway, or a dangerously not-quite-deserted elevator lobby—with no guarantee she ever would be again. And even now, Myka was sure that if she pressed, Helena would be moved. That inadvertent hand-touch, with the generating jump it had delivered to Myka: Helena had to have felt it too.

Had to think, had to have felt; so much had to, and so Myka fell, fast, into a consequent, seemingly inevitable, had to: she had to try the touch again—try it this time deliberately, moving her hand to Helena’s, moving her hand against Helena’s—and there again was the jump, the rush, and Myka’s heart jumped and rushed too, because surely now—

—but Helena flinched. She withdrew her hand. “Don’t,” she said.

This simple slip of my skin on your skin unfolds an entire world and you say “Don’t”? A world-destroying prohibition. “Don’t now? Or don’t ever?”

“Don’t now,” Helena said. “I can’t speak to ever.”

Was that a reprieve? If so, it was far, far less of one than Myka wanted. “Can I speak to ever?”

“I’m sure you can.”

Those words, overlain with a slight satirical cant, were reminiscent of Helena’s historical didactic streak. Intentionally? With hope, Myka re-inquired, parodically dark: “May I?”

That got a half-smile. It seemed a break... into which Myka placed, with some sadness, “You don’t believe me.”

“I want to believe you,” Helena said, the half-smile reducing by half. A quarter-smile... too fractional. Not really a smile at all. Not anymore.

The diminishing hurt Myka’s heart. “But it’s risky,” she said, adding, “that want?” As if it were a guess and not a statement of absolute truth.

“Yes. I see what you’re doing.”

Well, this should be illuminating. Or something. “What am I doing?”

“Illustrating why you were correct to reject the risk of believing me. Offering an object lesson.”

Oh. Oh. Because Myka had herself said “don’t.” And she had pressed on to “don’t ever,” and she had meant it, and this... was this revenge? Or was Helena willfully, self-protectively, misinterpreting? “And if I am? Offering that... lesson,” Myka said, hoping for some sign.

“Effective,” Helena said. She raised her glass to her mouth and drank. An emphatic swallow.

Myka watched Helena’s throat. Wine in her mouth, descending; what followed. What used to follow. Not a sign, but a reminder: why she was here right now. “And if I’m not?” she asked.

No answer.

“Because I’m not,” Myka said. Helena’s face gave her nothing to go on, neither encouragement nor warning, so she went forward with what she could: “Don’t go. I can’t say it any more plainly.”

“But I am going. I can’t say that any more plainly.” And yet her hard mouth softened—or was Myka only wishing it had?—as she continued, “Dan Badger will call me, you said, so it’s likely I’ll come back.”

“To AAI,” Myka said. She left the now-obvious, cutting corollary—“not to me”—unvoiced.

“Yes,” Helena said. It seemed painfully final.

****

“What is taking him so long?” Steve murmured to Myka, as they stood together. And kept standing. She had walked out first, followed by Steve; Liam and his best person (who was in fact not a person at all, but Rita Hayworth, the couple’s red Afghan hound) were to have emerged next, leading into the true start of the ceremony. But there was as yet no sign of either of the pretty pair.

“His hair,” Myka assured him. “Or his tie. Or Rita’s ears. You love how particular he is.”

“Making me wait,” Steve fretted, that brow wrinkle becoming more pronounced. “At the literal altar.”

“First, we’re in a hotel ballroom, not a church, so not literal. But second, anticipation isn’t so bad.”

She had meant it to mollify, but he gave her a brief, sly smile, its sunshine sneaking through his solemnity. “Isn’t it?” he asked, also sly.

In the moment, she was glad to have distracted him this little bit. Still, if they hadn’t been the focus of several hundred people, she might have given his shoulder a shove. Gently, of course; he wasn’t Pete. As it was, she murmured, “This isn’t about me.”

****

Helena had risen from the bar stool, then leaned down, choreographically perfect, to heft her carry-on bag (elegant, so elegant). As she bent her right arm up to position the bag’s strap over her shoulder, her jacket strained close around that curling biceps. The tight convexity of muscle, another reminder that was not a sign, called out to Myka, and Myka called back: “Wait!”

That did gain Helena’s surprised attention: a prize now, one that Myka wanted to hoard. “What?” Helena asked, and Myka similarly wanted to salt away that slightly breathless question, regardless of whether its slight breathlessness signified annoyance or something more meaningful.

Wavering internally, for the briefest of worries—was she really going to try to call this into being?—she blurted, too fast, too unmeasured, “I have to go to a wedding.”

Helena squinted. Myka found the confusion betrayed by that squint perfect. If she could perpetuate that perfection... “This minute?” Helena asked.

She wasn’t quick enough to come up with any way to perpetuate it. “Of course not,” she said.

“Well, not your own, I hope,” Helena offered.

Whatever Helena was trying with that, it seemed altogether too lightheartedly possessive, given how she had been ready to leave things. But fine: “Why would you hope I wouldn’t have to go to my own wedding?” Myka asked.

“Are we speaking in the realm of the hypothetical or the real?”

That seemed not lighthearted but absurd. “This airport seems pretty real to me. You’re making it that way.” As opposed to the dream it could be if you would just let me get a room.

“I’ll accept that,” Helena answered, as if she’d heard the thought and wanted to affirm Yes that is what I am rejecting. “So this wedding is real as well?”

Nice dodge of why it matters what realm we’re speaking in... or maybe in the end it doesn’t matter at all. Myka sighed. “Of course it’s real. My good friend—best friend—Steve is marrying the man he loves.”

“I’m sure you have a reason for conveying this information,” Helena said. But not as dismissively as she might have done, standing there in her bag-on-shoulder impatience.

Could Helena truly be curious? Was Myka’s flash of an idea actually going to work? She said, “I also have to be in the wedding.”

“That information as well.” Still impatient... but Helena was nevertheless still not moving.

“I need a plus-one.” Myka said. She didn’t, not really. “I’d feel foolish if I were the only person in the wedding without a plus-one.” She wouldn’t, not really. But she paused, waited... because maybe Helena would stop willfully misunderstanding and take the opportunity. Because that would mean that she wanted an opportunity.

But no. Helena said nothing: no taking. Thus no wanting? But Myka, hopeful because Helena was still not moving, began a new push, a true push, with, “Would you consider being my—”

“I can’t.” Helena forced her words over Myka’s, as if letting her finish would be a disaster.

For the length of an inhale—just that—Myka felt herself on the edge of bursting into world-changing tears, unleashing a new violence that would lead her to beg answers from Helena to the most important questions. Tears, violence—but then she exhaled. Fortunately? The small, not-quite-steady question she settled for was, “Why not?”

Helena didn’t answer immediately. Was she trying to hide a truth? Or working out how best to express one? “Because I like this look in your eyes,” she finally said.

How was that a reason to say no? “I’ll have this look”—whatever it is, Myka added internally—“at the wedding. I promise.”

“But for how long after?” Helena asked.

Myka could tell her words weren’t intended a real question; rather, they seemed a fatalistic statement, resigned to the idea of some inevitably horrible result. Some let-down of a look in Myka’s eyes.

In their first iteration a horrible result had been—in retrospect—inevitable, or very close to it, but Helena certainly hadn’t wanted to head it off then. “Since when are you this person?” Myka asked, and her utterance was a question.

“Since,” Helena said, and then she stopped—punctuation. She smiled a beatific smile and continued, “Sainting.”

Sainting, Myka fumed internally. I am going to kill everyone at AAI, starting with Dan Badger and working my way down, and I will die jailed, yet content.

But she couldn’t sustain anger; her fume dissolved, forlorn: And also lonely, but apparently lonely is just going to be the baseline.

“It’s for the best,” Helena said, seemingly taking Myka’s hesitation for... hesitation.

“That isn’t what you thought before,” Myka reminded her. If only she could impress upon Helena the renewed importance of every single instance of that “before,” if only, if only, if only... but there was no opportunity, for:

“No, it isn’t,” Helena agreed.

And then she left.

****

When at last Liam began his walk down the aisle, with Rita gliding next to him, he did chime absolute perfection: the tie, the hair, the elegant dog... whatever had made him make Steve wait, it had been worth it. Myka knew that for truth, because Steve, regarding that perfection, wore exactly the dazzled disbelief Myka would have wished for him, if she had known how to wish it, so many law-school years ago.

Standing both as witness to the marriage coming into being before her and as necessarily excluded bystander, Myka found herself prompted to consider what “marriage” really was: Steve and Liam’s in particular, but also marriage as such. For the two impossibly beautiful men here at the non-altar, it was a sign of faith in the future, a belief that the future would be like the past... or, no, a wish that the future could be like the past; that a lovely past, their lovely past, could presage and motivate a lovely future.

She herself suffered from the belief, but she rejected the wish. She clung to a contrary hope: that a disastrous past could motivate—or at least not impede—a diametrically opposed future. That might not be marriage. But it might not not be marriage either. Steve and Liam’s beautiful achievement gave her the space to believe in possibility.

****

As she watched Helena disappear into the airport, Myka had, for that strange, estranging stretch of time thought on how she might leave the bar, go to the hotel’s front desk, hand over her credit card, and let herself disappear, for a day or two or three or a week, taking time out of time, sitting and settling in to mourn her inability to ever, ever, ever do the right thing at the right time where Helena was concerned.

When she had initially approached Helena in the bar, she’d felt the lift of renewed and renewing power, as if her side hustle—no, her main hustle!—really was running the world, as if she could bend any circumstance to her will, as if her presence and her perseverance would certainly, obviously, be enough to convince Helena to stay. Really stay.

So much for power. So much for bending anything at all. Pathetic, she berated herself, and her “disappear” thought was pathetic too: What, seriously, her rational, punitive side asked, would you do in a hotel room, for a day or two or three or a week or any time at all? Sit there?

If she was going to sit somewhere, it should be her desk at work. She could sit, blessedly calmly, at her desk at work. Sit calmly at her desk and work, with no overlay of worry that someone uniquely disconcerting would invade her space.

Be thankful for that.

****

“You seem like you’re alone,” Pete greeted her as she entered her—their—space.

She’d hoped it would be late enough that he’d be gone, but all right, he wasn’t. She tried to not resent his presence... she didn’t quite succeed. But she was able to say, with reasonably good humor, “I’d be lost without your powers of observation.”

“Seriously. You totally would. But also, what’s the story? I’d say what’s the story morning glory, but you look way too droopy to be one of those.”

“They get droopy at night,” Myka informed him. “Morning glories. And it pretty much is night. So why are you still here?”

“Aha, so I got it right the first time: what’s the story, morning glory?”

“When Dan Badger calls Helena, she’ll take whatever job he offers.”

“And?” he prompted, clearly ready for excitement, titillation, outrageousness—something to whisper and shout about every time he got near the elevators.

She hated feeling sorry that she couldn’t give him that reward. “And that’s the story, morning glory.” She had a vague thought that she should try to qualify that with a joke about how he wasn’t droopy and so wasn’t really a morning glory at this time of day. It was beyond her.

“FYI, that isn’t a story at all,” he said, as if that was really going to be news to her. “Stories have beginnings, plus middles—”

“Plus ends. Yes, I know.”

The minute she said “ends,” his demeanor downshifted. “Aw, man. What happened?”

“I don’t know,” Myka told him, honestly.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She knew he meant it sincerely, but all she could manage was, “I don’t know that either. I’ll work it out later.” She felt he needed a boon, so she asked, “How’s Kelly? Are you two engaged yet? When’s the wedding? I like weddings.”

He perked up a little. “You do?”

Obviously she was not yet recalibrated for reality. Anybody’s. But why bother? “Yes,” she said. “In fact I have one in a couple of weeks.”

“You’re getting married?!?” he exclaimed, downshift entirely reversed. “I’m pretty sure that’s the story, morning glory!”

Okay, there was reality, right there meeting the road. “Not the story, because not my wedding. Why do people keep thinking it’s mine?”

“People? Who’s ‘people’?” But he knew. She could see it in his rising eyebrows.

He was altogether too quick sometimes. “Never mind,” she said. “Never mind about weddings at all. Just tell me some work to do, and I’ll do it.”

Now he snickered. “Oh, I’ll tell you some work to do. That’s really why I’m still here. And trust me, you’ll laugh when you hear what it is.”

“I could use a laugh. Hit me.”

“We’re supposed to rejigger the Mechanical Aids guidelines.”

Okay, maybe she wasn’t only not recalibrated to reality, Pete’s anyway, but also untethered from it entirely, because: “That isn’t funny.”

“It is when you hear the reason: they’re worried somebody’s going to try to claim they need Deceits—or something like ’em—as an aid. I gotta say, it’s times like this I can’t believe how lucky I got, you being a lawyer. You know how many back-and-forths I used to have to do with Legal before anything got finalized, back in the pre-Myka beforetimes?”

“I’m not a lawyer,” Myka said, and uttering those words for the second time this day did hurt... but she had to be honest: she was at the same time delighted. For did she take pride in consistently saving Certification and Compliance from having to go back and forth? Of course she did. She’d always thought, and now she had some real confirmation, that this was why she’d got her AAI job in the first place: to make this department work more efficiently.

It wasn’t the reward she’d wanted, wished for, dreamed of, to end her day, but it was what she had. In her first Helena aftermath, she’d had her anger but no job; in this one, she had a hollow where her anger had once been, but she did have a job. She had work to do—useful, valuable work.

So she put her head down and did it.

TBC

#bering and wells #Warehouse 13 #fanfic #Run #part 11a #AU week #apologies for having returned yet again to an old structural trick #but I needed to goose myself into thinking a little harder #and as I mentioned with regard to those appreciation week pieces #sometimes it takes an intellectual puzzle #to start (and keep) the gears turning #however slowly and laboriously they end up going

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