#I have a feeling only Sabine understands how bad this is for them

[iwasbored777]

They're 14

#Go easy on them #I have a feeling only Sabine understands how bad this is for them #And she doesn't even know the full story #But she cares about them #They are just kids #This is so wrong #miraculous ladybug #marinette dupain cheng #adrien agreste #ladybug #chat noir #marinette deserves better #adrien deserves better #ml strikeback #ml chat blanc #Just watch Sabine kill Gabe #That's the last episode of ML #We get to watch Sabine commit murder #I hope we get a 3D version of it

[kopykunoichi]

Refresher for the people still confused about this...

In a galaxy far, far away, EVERYONE has midi-chlorians in their blood. The Force resides in all living things. It binds the whole galaxy together. Midi-chlorians are what allow beings to commune with the Force. The more midi-chlorians you have, the more potential you have to RESPOND TO and WIELD the Force. But notice that Asajj couches her statement with the line that those with a higher m-count were "believed" to be more capable of wielding the Force. There's a correlation, but it's not necessarily the only factor (see Sabine Wren).

This is the moment where the clones literally become stand-ins for the fans.

"What? If you can use the Force, you're a Jedi!"

No. If you can use the Force, you can use the Force. To use it as a Jedi uses it, you have to train as a Jedi. To use it as a Sith uses it, you have to train as a Sith. To use it like a Nightsister, you have to train as a Nightsister. Or you can get some rudimentary instruction and decide how you want to use it.

Jango Fett didn't have a high m-count, so his clones didn't either. But Omega and the rest of the Batch were special cases. As Cut said, the Kaminoans create with a purpose. Their deviations were intentional. Hunters abilities have always suggested he had a higher m-count than the others. But Omega's ability to perceive things before they happen (her bad feelings are nearly always spot on) and her affinity with animals have always been hints that her m-count is a little higher.

(Will update with screen grabs when I get them)

At the end of the episode, Omega asks Ventress if she has a high m-count.

Ventress: *looking at her nails* From what I've seen...no.

Omega: Then why is the Empire after me?

Ventress: Believe it or not, I don't know everything. But seeing as how a high m-count would make you a target, consider yourself lucky.

Omega: But I'm already a target.

Wrecker: Don't worry about it, kid. We'll figure it out. C'mon, let's get some chow.

Omega: *sigh* Thanks for trying.

Once they're out of earshot...

Crosshair: You're lying.

Ventress: About which part?

Hunter: You tell us.

Ventress: If Omega did have that potential, she'd have to be trained. Which would mean leaving you behind.

Hunter: That's not happening.

Ventress: What you want is irrelevant. The fact is, the Empire is after her, and they won't stop. If I were you, I'd leave this place. You're not as safe as you think you are. Our business is done.

Crosshair: I still can't figure out which side you're on.

Ventress: My own.

Okay, so Ventress is clearly not telling the truth about the m-count, which we know, because we've already seen Omega's charts. I really don't understand why people keep taking Ventress at her word here. We know better, and so do Crosshair and Hunter. My guess is that she's trying to protect Omega because she knows firsthand what it's like to be taken from your family and trained as a young girl.

We know that when Omega was at Tantiss, she was receiving transfusions of blood with midi-chlorians the same as all the other clones (harvested from the dead Jedi they're undoubtedly holding in the vault). They were taking her blood samples, but Nala Se kept throwing them away because she knew Omega would retain the higher midi-chlorian levels and she didn't want Hemlock to know that. The Emperor needs a clone that will maintain a high m-count so he can eventually get himself a new body. We know he does get that body, but not for decades - presumably because a) he never gets Omega, and b) the Batch is gonna take the fight to them at Tantiss and blow up their entire supply of midi-chlorian donors. Think about it - they're still working on Project Necromancer in The Mandalorian (24 years after The Bad Batch), but their resources are severely limited. The Empire has been all but wiped out, the Emperor is hiding out on Exegol, Dr. Pershing is clearly no Hemlock since he keeps killing his test subjects, and Grogu seems to be the only m-count donor they can get their hands on. The Emperor's cloned body is also deteriorating rapidly in TRoS, which suggests that even 25 years after The Mandalorian, he STILL hasn't figured out the right formula for cloning himself (which is good news for Grogu and Omega).

Which brings us back to the question, "Is Omega Force sensitive?"

The answer is, "yes", she is sensitive to the Force due to her elevated m-count. We've seen this all along. Hunter most likely is, too, and maybe some of the other Bad Batchers, to varying degrees. Tech could riot race, which takes incredible reflexes. Hemlock said that Crosshair didn't have a high m-count, and we don't know where Wrecker's abilities stem from. Omega can't wield the Force because she is untrained, but the potential is there. A person's aptitude to wield the Force seems to be strongly correlated to their m-count, but we've seen others with low aptitude eventually open the door to the Force with years of training and a decent dose of impending doom (we see this clearly with Sabine in Ahsoka, but it was also a topic in Legends).

Omega being Force sensitive doesn't mean that she has to leave her brothers. She can choose to pursue her training or not. She'd also have to find someone willing to train her. I'm not convinced Ventress is looking to take on any apprentices at the moment, but she could possibly connect Omega to Quinlan Voss (imagine the trouble those two would get up to).

But I don't think Omega will choose that path. One, it would just make her a bigger target. Two, I don't see her prioritizing power over family. She's a clone, and clones are ALL about family. They're Mando coded, not Jedi coded. Screw the space Buddhist lifestyle - clones parade their attachments around like trophies. Omega goes around collecting attachments like most kids collect rocks..."Hello, stranger trying to kill me, let's be besties."

#the bad batch #the bad batch spoilers #tbb spoilers #tbb omega #tbb hunter #tbb wrecker #tbb echo #tbb tech #asajj ventress #quinlan voss #nala se #tbb crosshair #the bad batch season 3 #the bad batch the harbinger #to be clear...i didn’t really want Omega to be force sensitive #but this is definitely the story they are telling #i just really don't want her to become trained in the force and i don't yet believe *that* is the story they are telling for her

[antianakin]

Am I the only one who just lost any and all love for newer Star Wars material due to Jedi hate ? Like- the only merch or show or even FANDOM topic I get involved in is clone wars stuff and MAYBE TBB. Like- why would I want the watch shows who attempt to rewritte canon and portray the very heroes of Star Wars as the bad guys ?

Why would I want to watch shows that assassinate characters left and right (looking at you, Ahsoka and Sabine) ? Why would I want to buy merch of characters who I not only NOT care about, but who also are used as meta mouthpieces for stupid Jedi hate ?

I think there's TONS of good newer Star Wars material, to be honest.

I loved the Kenobi show and it is arguably one of the most pro Jedi pieces of media to have existed since the Prequels films. Aside from one itty bitty somewhat awkward word choice in one line of one episode, there is absolutely NOTHING in that show that can be used to indict the Jedi or blame them for anything and it is arguably one of the only shows to really spend time MOURNING the Jedi and recognizing the horror of what was done to them. Rebels comes closest after this, but its structure makes it a little less visceral than the Kenobi show was to me.

I really adore Visions and I recognize that this is sort-of Star Wars adjacent more than anything else, but SO LITTLE truly understands what makes Star Wars compelling as a story and really hits on those primary themes the way that Visions does. There's SO MUCH Jedi content in Visions and I remember people complaining about how much Jedi content was in Visions and other people responding that if you were given free reign to just play in the Star Wars sandbox with near zero restrictions on what you could make with it, you would probably ALSO immediately go for the psychic space wizards with laser swords. Who WOULDN'T? Visions also just genuinely has some of the most engaging and heart-wrenching stories to come out of Star Wars in a LONG while and it does it in these beautifully animated 15 minute packages. It's such a gem and I am so glad to be alive at the same time as Visions.

Rogue One is older now, but both Rogue One and Andor, despite having zero actual Jedi in them, really hinge on the themes from the Prequel trilogy about the tragedy in the Star Wars universe, stepping up when no one else will, choosing to be selfless and compassionate for the greater good, etc. Faith and hope are MASSIVE themes within these two works and even though there aren't any space wizards, good or evil, in either story, they feel like some of the most pro Jedi things Star Wars has come out with in a while based on thematic messages ALONE.

The Mandalorian's first two seasons actually have this absolutely BEAUTIFUL story about the selfless sacrifice of one man as he gives up everything in order to help this child find his way back to the culture he'd been ripped from. Everything AFTER that regarding Grogu and Din's storyline is a piece of shit (it's not explicitly anti-Jedi or anything, but it undoes a lot of the things that made their story so compelling and beautiful), but the first two seasons are genuinely GOOD and very pro Jedi in a lot of ways despite the lack of many actual Jedi characters.

The Book of Boba Fett is a terrible show for a LOT of reasons, but shockingly none of them have anything to do with its treatment of the Jedi. If it ever ends up with a season two, I desperately hope they leave Mace Windu's name the fuck out of it, but at this point it is a pretty Jedi neutral show if you're willing to deal with the rest of its bullshit.

Rebels is also somewhat older now, and it has a few lines here and there that are a tad more Jedi critical, but it is by and large VERY Jedi positive and does also follow a lot of the themes of selflessness and sacrifice that go along with being a Jedi. It also has themes of mercy and patience and facing your fears in Sabine's storyline that got entirely thrown away in her later storyline. Just thought that was worth pointing out. For reasons.

TBB is also fairly Jedi neutral, but its treatment of the clones is basically the clone version of being anti Jedi, so I'm not sure it's actually any better. It just traded hating on the Jedi to hating on the clones, and I find that just as distasteful.

I can't really speak to things like comics and novels much since I don't tend to consume them really. I've read a few of the adult novels in the High Republic Phase I and the first one was genuinely very good, but there were some relatively heavy-handed Jedi critical themes within the third book of Phase I (The Fallen Star) that put me off of it a little. I haven't continued into Phase II or III at all, so I have no idea if those themes got continued in later books. I've heard generally good things about the Padawan book, I think.

The Cal Kestis video games, Fallen Order and Survivor, also have their small Jedi critical moments, but much like Rebels, it has these massive overarching themes and messages about compassion and selflessness and sacrifice and facing your fears and mercy. They are immensely Jedi positive in a lot of ways and I really enjoyed both of them.

So out of everything I have seen (and know about) the only stuff that's truly heinously and insultingly anti-Jedi is the Ahsoka show, the Acolyte, and Tales of the Jedi. Three shows and like 30% of one book. Out of a list of like ten different shows and one film and some books and video games. It's not even really HALF of the content we've been getting recently.

A lot of people talk about the Disney era like it's ruined Star Wars, or like nothing it releases has ever been good. But it just straight up isn't true. It's a little insulting to all of the genuinely wonderful work that is being done by all of these other creators to just brush aside everything that's been coming out recently as awful and bad because some of the MOST recent things have been pretty explicitly hateful towards the Jedi. It's not fun that we had the Ahsoka show immediately followed by the Bad Batch followed by the Acolyte. I hate that, too, it feels like we're on this neverending shitshow of stories explicitly aimed at hating a group of characters for no obvious good reason. But I don't think that the last 6 months or so of bullshit should overshadow some of the really beautiful stories we HAVE gotten within the last several years.

If you feel like things are getting difficult, maybe do a "good Star Wars" marathon of sorts. Watch the Prequels, followed by the Kenobi show, then Andor, then Rebels, then Rogue One, then the Original trilogy. This one long beautiful story of people stepping up to fight against selfishness and greed and darkness no matter what.

Or go rewatch Visions or read some of your favorite fanfics and remember all the things about Star Wars that are just universally cool and compelling across the world. Hell, you can try writing something of your own! Anything! A lot of my AU concepts stemmed from spite and really helped me feel a little bit better about Star Wars when it sometimes felt like I was just surrounded by the parts of it I liked the least. Go buy yourself a cool t-shirt or some fun jewelry. Find some pretty stickers and put it on a water bottle or an enamel pin to put on a canvas tote bag or a corkboard.

Curating your fandom experience goes beyond just the internet. There's a reason I am boycotting the Acolyte and it isn't because I think Disney or its creators are going to care at all. I'm doing it for ME, because I had such a shitty time watching the Ahsoka show and it made me so miserable each week that I seriously think I will be better off just leaving it the hell alone and just absorbing whatever ends up crossing my dash from a distance. I only participate in Star Wars fandom servers that I feel safe in and only really get into discussions with personal friends who I know well. If participating in Star Wars fandom is making you sad, maybe take a step back or find a way to create your own corner of fandom that feels better. Ignore the damn Ahsoka show, pretend it never existed. Ignore the Acolyte. Ignore Tales of the Jedi. Ignore Filoni-related bullshit. Focus on the parts you DO like, or give yourself the space to remember why you liked it in the first place.

#star wars #jedi #pro jedi #obi-wan kenobi #sw owk #kenobi show #kenobi series #andor #star wars andor #rogue one #star wars rebels #rebels #anti tbb #tbb wank #anti ahsoka show #anti acolyte #visions #star wars visions

[hubblebubblehub]

I understand why people are upset that Ventress didn't really 'add anything' but to be honest I really liked how vague they kept it.

It's realistic. Ventress wouldn't know anything about m count experiments, and if she did her Intel would have been based on the clone war - I don't think she would've known anything about Project Necromancer considering there's a lot of security and it also seems to be a newer project.

I think Ventress answered the Jedi question for us very clearly - Omega isn't a Jedi. She could have the potential (I guess like Sabine - someone with low aptitude but can be pushed into Jedi status with the right training?) but that's not why the Empire is after her midichlorian wise.

I am really looking forward to seeing how they explain her blood, I think they're really tapping into Kaminoan/Clone centered experiments and lore which is so REFRESHING

I honestly feel like in the Clone Wars series and the Bad Batch too we are always getting CRUMBS on what life was like on Kamino, the extent of the experimentations and lack of commentary on just how BIZARRE the clone army really is. There were millions of them commissioned on some Jedi 'Vision' and they barely lasted a generation (10 years to make, 3 they served in the war(?))

We are only really seeing the aftermath experimentations with the new dark trooper clones (idk the name sorry) but I am so looking forward to more clone lore (especially about female clones like emerie and Omega!!)

#the bad batch #star wars #sw meta #tbb meta #tbb

[lactosa2]

Hello! is been a long short time since the last time i did something, and whit the voice lines and the last cinematic is so much more information about Omen past and current situation. At this point this mf blog is only about Omen (im not complainin)

If you haven´t see the cinematic or the last voice lines of Omen and Sabine you dont gonna understand to much this drabble. This one gonna be fluffy and long btw. (4.262 words!!)

TALK TO ME (1/2)

Omen was pacing from side to side, angry and confused, his posture hunched as he looked at the ground, feeling dizzy and overwhelmed by the feelings he had tried for so long to appease.

he had just sent a voicemail to Brimstone, demanding that he understand her position and why the recent demands to see Viper and talk to her, he had to understand. Everthing all been a lie.

He felt used and manipulated, as if his current point of view didn't belong to him, but rather was what Viper wanted him to be, that his pain and confusion regarding his past and himself always had answers, he just never got them. The stress was bringing him to the brink of collapse, he felt the shadows beneath those bandages contract, erupting into a bright blue color while his hands trembled thanks to his anxious thoughts.

All the people he killed, everything he experienced, all his memories of a life and a name with which he felt no connection… Was it even him? Or at least there was something from the past to rescue? He can't understand why.

4:28 PM

You hadn't spoken to Omen since before his last mission, Sova told you about 5 days ago that he was under pressure, you didn't know what he was referring to but you assumed it was thanks to the same old thing, His lost memories.

You tried to leave him alone for a while, you didn't want to put pressure on him and you know him well enough to know that he needs to be alone for a few days, then he'll look for you and talk about what's bothering him, it's been a week and a half and he still hasn't spoken to you

You are worried but you keep insisting to yourself that he will talk to you soon, but the days went by quickly and your anxiety grew. Is he ignoring you? Is it too bad? Something you did made him angry and now he doesn't even want to see you?

You know that he would never go away for more than a day without sending you a message explaining that he needs to manage his emotions and see what to do in the future, he knows your insecurities and he is not going to hurt them more than they are. Usually he would explain to you in a brief summary what is happening and approximately how much time he thinks he needs for himself, the text or voice message would end by telling you that it is okay if you talk to him while and that he loves you, which would calm your heart formerly hurt and would have to wait for him, only a few days, but a week and a half has passed and he hasn't said anything after receiving that message

This time he didn't explain the situation, he just said that he needed time, he was stressed, and although the stress could be relieved with a cuddle session, he needed to organize his emotions and thoughts on his own, and then he would look for you.

You knew how he worked and his emotions, even so, as the days passed, the messages in the morning with him alone made you more anxious and needy to have him close, in person, you wanted to hug him and play with his hand while he let off steam, You wanted that little warmth, the temperature didn't matter, the closeness made the encounter feel unique and even if the panorama is not new

You couldn't resist the desire to be with him, not only because you missed him, but more than that it was the concern for his well-being, you knew that for the most part he was strong and could think coldly with ease, but his past had always been that weak point capable of carrying him to the mental and emotional explosion. So without thinking more than you already did, you went to his room, you knocked on the door even though the hand recognizer had already allowed access for you (Omen configured the detector so that it would also validate yours). The last thing you wanted was to surprise him in a moment of vulnerability, one where he would feel uncomfortable or embarrassed.

The door opened showing you a stooped Omen, his tall figure made the first thing you saw was his armor, you raised your head and saw that he had his head down, before you could speak he gently grabbed your hand and pulled you inside.

He pressed the button to close the door and instantly hid his head on your shoulder, both hands gently ran down your back before each one landing on a different side of your waist, hugging you firmly.

(This drabble gonna have part two and maybe part three, i dont feel whit all the motivation and i dont want the post to be more extence, plus my head hurt)

#valorant x reader #omen x reader #omen valorant #valorant #valorant omen #valorant omen x reader

[jennagrinsoverml]

ML Christmas Fic Recs

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! 🎄🎁❄ I love a good seasonal fic and we have a lot of them in this fandom, so this is a long list. I'm not going to comment on the fics like I usually do to keep this post from being too long. Just trust me that they're all amazing!

I'll Be Home for Christmas by @thelibraryloser

Adrinette: Fake Dating for Christmas "Reasons"

Mistletoe by @11jj11​

The four times the Love Square found themselves under a mistletoe.

A Cat of Their Own by @sariahsue

Tom and Sabine have learned Ladybug's secret identity, it's obvious their relationship It's also obvious to them that Cat Noir adores their daughter. How deep do those feelings go? And how far are they willing to go to mother the boy underneath the mask?

Santa Baby, Slip a Superhero into a Box for Me by therealjanebingley

There's an akuma with the ability to give everyone their heart's desire for Christmas.

But when your heart's desire is your crush, and your crush has a secret identity…who's going to show up under your tree?

Better Fate than Never by @2manyfandoms2count​

This Christmas, about ten years after their first meeting, and five after Hawkmoth's disappearance, Ladybug and Chat Noir are taking the leap and finally revealing their identities to one another.

Two people, one hotel, one plan to drop the masks.

Seemed straightforward enough. Or so they thought...

The Purr-fect Gift by @gryffindorcls​

Years after the reveal and the start of their relationship, Marinette and Adrien move in together. To her dismay, Adrien has become distant and quiet after the move. Marinette just wants things to return to normal, but Adrien has a surprise for her that will change their lives forever.

Unraveled by @overworkedunderwhelmed​

When her holiday family obligations leave Chat Noir more than willing to pick up the slack, Ladybug comes to a rather startling observation -- one she was shocked to realize she hadn’t picked up on before.

Resolved, Marinette gives her all to make Christmas extra special for her partner.

But even the best laid plans can unravel.

Somebody Waits for You (Kiss Her Once for Me) by @thelibraryloser

Ladynoir: Caught Under the Mistletoe

The Christmas Miraculous by @mommadon​

Adrien's trying to build a new life for himself in New York, but after an unexpected break-up with his girlfriend, he returns home to Paris for some soul-searching. What he finds may surprise him.

A pure, 100% fluff, cheesy Christmas movie style fanfic for your guilty pleasure enjoyment.

baby please (come home) by @lnc2​

It’s the first Christmas after Hawkmoth’s defeat and Adrien is struggling without his lady.

Christmas by Starlight by @deinde-prandium

Worried that Ladybug is working too hard, Chat Noir plans the ultimate Christmas surprise. He's gonna give her the stars. Literally.

(Thing is, he doesn't realize that he's in for a surprise of his own.)

Then how the Reindeer Loved Him by @baneismydragon​

A chance meeting on Christmas eve leads to a moment of magic between Ladybug and Adrien.

Kistletoe by @codenamejd​

Adrien has inadvertently caught Marinette under the mistletoe...

...but Adrien's never heard of mistletoe.

12 Dates of Christmas by @lyramae-archer

When Ladybug notices that her partner, Chat Noir, seems down at Christmas season - the happiest time of year - she takes it into her own hands to make the days memorable and special, all with a Christmas spin. They aren't *dates* - they are just two friends doing Christmas things together because her kitty needs to smile. At least until she discovers who it is under the mask.

Kissing for charity by plikki

Marinette doesn't understand why the idea of Chat kissing someone else is killing her. It's for a good cause! But it's so bad that she's forced to spend her savings to make sure she would be the only one kissing him. For the sick children, of course.

Chat Noir's Christmas Spirit by @jennagrinsoverml​

Chat Noir isn't feeling the Christmas spirit this year.

How could he? Nothing's improved since last year.

But his Lady notices and puts her brilliant mind and kind heart to turning her partner's holiday around.

Since We've No Place to Go (Let it Snow) by @thelibraryloser

Marichat: Snowed In

and what's this? a BONUS trope? there was only ONE BED?

Be not afraid of greatness by @zipadeea​

"Love is blind, and lovers cannot see, The pretty follies that themselves commit." Maybe so, but sometimes, sometimes, all it takes to see is an early morning make-up exam, an irrational lack of sleep, and a pen that's out of ink. Reveal fic!

Chocolate Coins by @inkjackets​

A cold December day, a load of chocolate coins, two teenage superheroes... the perfect recipe for fun!

Smudged to Perfection by @overworkedunderwhelmed​

As pleased as Adrien was to have found an early Christmas gift from one of his friends on his desk at school, he was ecstatic when he realized it possessed a power far stronger than he’d ever imagined.

Zibeline by @chatonne-rousse​

Marinette finally pulls Adrien's name for the class gift exchange. She has a great idea for the perfect Christmas gift, but when Ladybug allows Chat Noir to help, things end up going differently - though not worse - than she had envisioned.

at every table, i'll save you a seat by @ladynoirist

unbeknownst to them, adrien and plagg have the same plan for christmas morning: giving their kitten the best christmas he's ever had

A game of pretend by @emsylcatac

Marinette was certain that Adrien was Chat Noir. She was also certain that he knew her identity. Yet, the both of them were acting like they hadn’t connected the dots and were still oblivious to what was now painfully obvious. She didn’t know if it was a game they were playing at or not, but if so, she had no intention of losing.

Which proved itself to be extremely difficult when Chat Noir suggested on patrol one evening that they go gift-shopping for their lovers together.

Butter by @ao3bronte​

It’s warm in their garden igloo, an Eden of good company and beating hearts cocooned against the December chill and the gently falling snow cascading from the heavens. Chat wishes he could spend the rest of his life like this, laughing and joking with Ladybug over a homemade Christmas dinner made just for the two of them.

Mice to Meet You by @sing-in-me-oh-muse​

Santa and his elves ended up sick from a shortage of sugar cookies because Mrs. Claus had gone on vacation to visit her cousin in Antarctica (and he's too busy to bake for himself and 300 elves).

So the day before Christmas, Santa calls Chat Noir for help.

But Chat can't do it on his own.

He needs help from Multimouse! Well. Several Multimouses.

Resolution by @thelibraryloser

Ladrien: New Year's Eve Resolutions

and also... another Ladrien specific bonus trope which is a surprise and I will give you a hint: it isn't gratuitous blushing

The following fic is amazing and absolutely worth reading, but does feature sexual content, so minors beware.  

Advent Calendar by @ghostlyhamburger

Chat and Ladybug do a different Christmas activity every day

#ml #miraculous ladybug #ml fanfic #ml fic #ml fic rec #ml christmas fic #christmas #christmas recs #ml love square #ml lovesquare #adrienette #adrinette #ladynoir #marichat #ladrien #identity reveal #fluff #jennarecsml

[gale-gentlepenguin]

Gale's Thoughts: Derision

So the new Episode dropped a bombshell. It revealed just how much Marinette's past impacted her.

And before I write out everything

I will be talking the Good and the Bad

Spoilers obviously

So to make this as simple as possible.

Chloé bullied Marinette for years. While most of the school students were terrified of Chloé. Even the teachers and Principal were afraid to do ANYTHING regarding Chloé. Considering how much influence her father as Mayor had.

Socqueline was like an older protective sister to Marinette. During this time, Marinette developed a crush on Kim, his Himbo butt. Chloé found out about that and used it as an opportunity. Using Kim's inability to tell when something is too far, goes along with Chloé's idea for a prank.

This results in Marinette thinking Kim was serious about a relationship only to be offered a box full of bugs and causing her to fall into a pool as Chloé mocked her. Thus explaining Marinette's MASSIVE trauma on trust and why she plans out everything, why she distrusts any friend of Chloé and why she must know everything about someone before she can let herself confess.

Now this is sort of crucial as it explains why Marinette is how she is. As well as why even though things are going great with Adrien she cant fully embrace it.

Lets start with

THE GOOD:

This allows us to explain a lot of Marinette's insecurity and mistrust. Marinette wanting to NEVER let herself be caught off guard also explains why she is so gunho about planning everything. It also give support on why she was so HARSH to Adrien in Origins. He embodies nearly everything she swore to be against falling for. Mysterious boy, Friend of Chloé, and hiding things. Adrien was Marinette's antithesis as a person to fall for... YET SHE DOES ANYWAY. Showing how good of a person Adrien is, and how Marinette's heart can feel that truth within her. It also explains why Marinette was so obsessive in learning EVERY single thing she could about adrien. It wasnt because she was obsessive or hyperfocusing, she was so traumatized from the pool incident she never wants to be caught in such a position again.

This also goes to show how Socqueline was more of an impactful person to Marinette. But does make me question why she would not even be MENTIONED in season 1 (aside from the obvious that this was tacked on this season). But also explains why Marinette keeps her hair like that, as a sign of respect to Socqueline.

This also shows how great Adrien and Marinette are together. Adrien is ready to defend Marinette, and he is willing to go to great lengths to protect her. (Even kill). It was great to see Adrien be so understanding and wanting to make sure she is comfortable every step of the way. And it just adds so much to Origins.

The Bad:

It really just makes almost everyone else involved seem really awful.

Chloé and Sabrina being such awful people to her that you would think Marinette would NEVER let them touch a miraculous, even if she was desperate. Kim too but... she never initially chose Kim and/or likely repressed that trauma filled moment as a mental defense mechanism. But definitely doesnt explain Chloé and Sabrina.

Damocles, Mendeleiev and even Sabine dont come off that good. Sabine only getting a few points by having Socqueline step in to watch over Marinette. Now I heard its hard to change schools in paris, but I think after 3 F***ING years Sabine and Tom would havve done something. So it really doesnt seem good here.

It also really lampoons all of season 2 and 3 for chloé's development. All those appeals of genuine emotion. Nope, always evil and vile. The fact Marinette and the rest of the class even TOLERATED Chloé is straight CAP.

Kim also just loses a ton of likability here. I dont care how oblivious you are, WHY would you think Marinette would enjoy a prank at HER expense, especially when suggested by someone like Chloé? Did Kim really not get Chloé was evil?

This episode also makes episodes such as Animaestro so much worse. Marinette KNEW Chloé's type of pranks and still went along with it. Like even if you repress that traumatic event, the 3+ years of bullying. Marinette's reason for NOT choosing her in Loveater suddenly feels WAY more justified and NOT a mistake. Girl has trauma.

Marinette's empathetic nature towards Chloé now seems completely foolish. Anyone that knew Chloé should be convinced she is a hell spawn.

The fact Lila is friends with Chloé should put everyone on red alert.

This really makes me wonder how Marinette can even be remotely understanding of Chloé. It also makes Maledikator SO MUCH WORSE. Everyone was completely valid in Partying. Like damn.

Though ignoring Chloé, I guess the main thing is that this flashback brings up things that clash so hard with previous seasons and episodes. In origins, it made it seem like marinette had no friends. But in truth, Marinette did have a friend, even if she wasnt in the same year. I know not everyone knows of the prank going too far thanks to Socqueline, but Kim seemed more than happy to talk about the prank. You dont think word spread through his dumbass mouth?

______________________________________________________________

Overall the episode brings up a lot of interesting tidbits about Marinette's character and is a net gain for the Adrinette relationship. But at the cost of previous canon and brings forth more problems than it solves.

I wish this was actually a two part episode where we could have gotten more to flesh things out. Maybe explain that Marinette feels guilty over Socqueline being suspended and stopped talking to her for a while. Or maybe that after the big prank. Socqueline showed up to Chloé's place and told her to back off since now there was NOTHING holding her back from an ass beating. There is more I feel like could have been done.

#ml #gale thoughts #miraculous ladybug #derision #ml derision spoilers #ml critical

[tarisilmarwen]

Rebels Rewatch: “Brothers of the Broken Horn”

Hooooooondoooooooooooooo! :D

When we open we see that Phoenix Cell has temporarily taken to port at Garel.

Which is looking as lovely as ever.

We pan down with a pleasant musical cue to see that Rex has set Ezra up with some blaster training, enlisting Chopper as a moving target.

Ezra’s already clearly frustrated and grows moreso when Kanan shows up and tells him he’s missing a Jedi training session.  His discouraged, “What if I don’t want to be either [a soldier or a Jedi]?” surprises Rex but alarms Kanan, who knows how desperately Ezra wants to be a Jedi in normal circumstances.

Neither man can figure out the reason why Ezra’s upset though (really guys? y’all be dense), and they’re interrupted by Sabine calling them in for a briefing.

The mission is honestly a little bit incidental to the plot, only really there to establish the MacGuffin that people will be wrestling over trying to possess this episode.  Ezra doesn’t get to participate as now Hera is on him also, to scrub the Phantom.

So many “teenager whines about chores to parents” vibes in this scene, especially when Hera chides Chopper for laughing about it and makes him help too lol.

Ezra is understandably feeling overwhelmed by the myriad pressures that are colliding over him right now, complaining to Chopper about it.  Kanan and Rex are pulling him in opposite directions and fighting with each other over it every step of the way, and this has made him discouraged, unsure of his path forward, and missing the simplicity of his life before the Ghost, as rough as it was.

So of course he jumps at the opportunity to distract himself from everything when Chopper picks up a distress signal from Vizago’s ship.

Borrowing Mom’s van to make a wellness check on your old criminal fencing friends lol.

Yes, this is super irresponsible and dangerous but also Ezra really needed this little day trip to clear his head and remind himself how much he’s changed from the kind of person who would’ve jumped at Hondo’s offer.

So this episode is mostly character building/character renewal for Ezra and also a Friendship Fetch Quest that nets us Hondo Ohnaka.  After Rex, he’s one of the most important allies we gain this season.

But I’m getting a little ahead of myself.  Back to Ezra doing things that absolutely got him grounded after this episode. XD

(Lol at Ezra’s defensive little, “I know how to fly.” towards Chopper, immediately belied by him scraping the Phantom on its hooks.)

Garel be pretty, what can I say?

Hilarious that the ship got stuck in Garel airspace, I have to assume Hondo and Vizago met with their, ah, “disagreement” literally almost as soon as they took off lolol.

Fyrnock cue coming back here, I guess we’re using it as shorthand for uncertain perilous situations now.

The similarities to the previous episode in the creepy seemingly abandoned nature of the ship I’m going to assume were deliberate in order to catch us off guard when it was all subverted and Hondo was introduced, instead of some horrible danger.

And yeah, Hondo is a bit “defanged” from his Clone Wars incarnation but I think it kinda fits, you know, the all-consuming overwhelming evil of the Empire is such that mundane run-of-the-mill pirates and criminal overlords are simply just not as frightening or dangerous anymore.  The Empire ruins everything, even the lives of outliers who used to just fly under the radar.

Ezra keeps darting glances at Hondo’s arm around his shoulder like he’s not entirely comfortable with it being there, lol.

I mentioned that Ezra’s mechanical skills sort of fall by the wayside as he grows into his role as Jedi so it’s nice that he gets to use them here.

“This was such a bad idea, Hera’s going to kill me when if I get back.”

Ah man, Ezra continues to have just such a look of regretting all of the decisions that led him to this point, poor bby.

He slips pretty naturally back into his street orphan trickster/swindler/pickpocket persona though, smoothly bargaining with Hondo to distract from his swiping the sentry droid control.

Frynock cue transmuted to strings instead of brass as we descend.

Nice to see a moon that looks like an actual moon.  This is a pretty unique location and I’m glad we get to visit it again later in the season.

Ezra planning ahead for trouble because he remembers how this kind of thing can easily go down, kind of a subtle hint at how familiar he is with the workings of the criminal underground.

And it’s a good thing he did because it’s Azmorigan that we’re meeting.  Love Ezra’s immediate look of, “Ah hell.” and hiding his face.

“I don’t deal with washed-up old relics!” “Come now, let’s leave your wife out of this.” PFFFKJHGKH HONDO PLZ.

This brief comedic exchange actually kind of gives some insight into Hondo’s changed circumstances.  The current criminal overlords consider him outdated, washed up, from a bygone era, an old fool desperately clinging to relevance.  It fits because Hondo is a bit of a classic romantic at heart, fond of what we would call “swashbuckling adventure”.  It’s the reason he loves the Jedi and thinks back on them wistfully and nostalgically, they represent the kind of dramatic tales and bold feats of a golden era full of opportunity for reward and glory.  But there’s no more room for that kind of frivolous excitement under the iron oppressive hand of the Empire, you adapt or you die out, and Hondo refuses to do either.

...Right, now that I’ve given myself feels over a comedic side character let’s move on.

The light woodwind ditties in the soundtrack belie the actual tension of this scene, especially when Ezra has his helmet pulled off.  (The cadet helmet he had Sabine paint for him, which he keeps retreating into when he feels unsafe in this episode, the biased shipper in me would like to point out.)

You can practically hear the string of curses inside his head as he tries to hide his face here.

No dice, Azmorigan recognizes him, cue Big Damn Heroes moment from the orange tin can murderhobo himself and a decent little action setpiece.  What I’m most impressed with/interested in in this sequence is Ezra himself, how he moves with such skill and finesse.

Also catch me crying remembering when he was tiny enough to hop over his own bound hands like a jumprope.  I don’t think that trick would work as well post growth spurt.

An impulsive and genuinely selfless move from Hondo as he pushes Ezra out of the way of the cargo ladder Azmorigan sent rolling at him.  And this is before he knows Ezra’s a Jedi so Hondo really basically just took one look at this kid and decided he’d die for him.  Which, you know, valid.

This droid is a menace lol.

Ezra takes a risk by using his Force abilities.  Fortunately Azmorigan is too busy fleeing for his life from Chopper to see, and Hondo loves Jedi.  (See again: classic romanticist at heart.)

“You must have many responsibilities.”  “Yeah.  Too many at the moment.”

This kid. :((((  He’s under such pressure.

Ezra’s little “Wait a minute.” side look here lol.

And he continues not to enjoy Hondo’s affection ha ha.

It’s cute but also my brain is wandering to the fridge on this one because:

A) Ezra is now comfortable with all the casual touches and gestures of physical affection from the Ghost crew, which mirrors how he’s found a new home with them and no longer belongs in Hondo’s world.

And B) given the events of last episode it’s not surprising Ezra is a bit touchy about weird strangers violating his personal boundaries.

“Maybe I would make a pretty good pirate.  Inquisitors don’t hunt them do they?”  Honey you are Force Sensitive and already on their radar, hanging out with Hondo would only hide you for so long.

(Yet another thing that’s apparently been on his mind and adding to his anxieties.  In light of that his initial refusal to help Vizago makes more sense, the kid has so much on his plate already and just does not want to deal with anything else.)

Lol Ezra talking to Vizago like Vizago’s a problem child he’s babysitting.

Right, this whole scene right here is why I don’t do stories with casts of morally gray protagonists, the constant backstabbing and side-switching are exhausting.

Look, even Ezra’s exhausted.  Poor kid needs a nap he looks so tired.

Fortunately for Ezra, Chopper has his back, having put the Phantom on autopilot beforehand.  So he winds up not losing the Phantom (this time) and actually accomplishing the mission without really trying.

I do wanna see that missing scene where the Phantom returns to the Ghost and Hera’s all ready to let Ezra have it and then this weird Weequay pops out lolol.

They look so proud, like, “Awww that’s our little gremlin child.”

Aaaaand this little heartwarming look from Hondo is getting to me a bit this time around.

He’s so fond of Ezra ajkhaksfjfh.

Hera’s taking the whole “running off with the Phantom instead of doing his chores” thing remarkably well all things considered.  I guess it helps that he lucked into finding some generators.

There is no reason for this shot to be this pretty this is just a hanger.

*sobbing forever about how Hondo functions as narrative foil for how Ezra could have turned out if not for his Found Family and how that’s acknowledged in-text*

SEE PREVIOUS OBSERVATION ABOUT HOW EZRA IS USED TO AND COMFORTABLE WITH CASUAL AFFECTIONATE TOUCHING FROM HIS FAMILY.

I caught a lot of unexpected feels rewatching this episode, I’ve always liked it for being a fun Ezra-focused episode but I’m seeing just how it fits neatly into his character journey.  Things got hairy last episode, the stressors and pressure points (Rex and Kanan’s bickering) continue to increase and he got understandably overwhelmed.

The growing pains in his self-identity, questioning whether or not he even wants to be a Jedi at this point, just to get granted a glimpse of what his life might have looked like if he had continued on that self-serving path and realizing how much he’s changed... aaaaaaah I love it!

Another successful Friendship Fetch Quest accomplished.

#star wars #star wars rebels #ezra bridger #rebels rewatch #liveblog #meta rambling #rebels rambles

[helsingvania]

Looks around, no one is talking about ahsoka so I think it's a relevant time to be unhinged.

I'm not mad or upset with how ahsoka turned out, I'm disappointed.

I had low expectations going into it, we all did. But the first two episodes genuinely did drew me into the storyline. I don't care about ahsoka herself but the lore expansion, seeing the spectres again, and much of the overarching mystery just drew me in. Baylan and his more reserved, logical, and lawful nature. Even though it hate it, the myths around a new galaxy and the stories told by the Jedi and how it was just merely a fairytale tantalized me.

And this is where the show went down hill for me personally. It's a very you can't have your cake and eat it too, you can't have the grounded orders are orders storyline with the new Republic and the mystical fairytale story of traveling to a lost land to recover a hero banished with his enemy.

Both of them feel disjointed to me and if I had to choose one I would go for bringing whimsy back into star wars because I LOVE that stuff. There is a world where both elements can totally work, but based on the writing of the show alone it can only be one. And even without getting into characters, the Identity of this show is so confused. It doesn't want to know what it wants to be and will change scene to scene.

Is it a voyage into the unknown? Is it a traveling loner samurai story with a society that aged passed them? Is it a critique of bureaucracy and the failure of removing fascism? It's all of them, and yet none of them because none of them build on each other or even interact with each other. It's quite literally one scene its this theme, and the next is this theme. Neither them are expanded upon or even more forwards passed the 'this is bad' stage.

Hell Anakin's episode was only good because it only expanded a bit on Anakin, his relationship with ahsoka, and gaining a new prospective. It didn't do shit as far as meaning or anything. I think it was going for a: I didn't teach you to lay down and die. Type beat but it was so convoluted and filled with remember this from the show that it missed the fact it should've had a point. Like wow thanks filoni! You gave us solid evidence that Anakin will always be Vader and Vader will always be Anakin, and that both he and ahsoka were literally kids in war and he was trying to ensure her safety and life, and now the mortis arc has come back and reared it's head again and now he's chilling in the various realms of the force.

BUT IT LITERALLY DID NOTHING TO DIRECT FORWARDS THE SHOW OUTSIDE OF AHSOKA IS NOW BACK TO BEING A LITTLE SHIT AGAIN

How would I have done it? EASY!

A melancholic tale about realizing the world around you has shifted and coming to terms with everything that has happened to you. Between learning of what Anakin has become, the events of the rebellion and the clone wars, the fall of the Jedi and everything you thought you knew. Even realizing you have been doing nothing but walking forwards until you are finally dead.

Ahsoka acting more like Anakin as a coping mechanism since she couldn't do anything to help or save him. Running hither and yonder foolhardy and recklessly hoping that finally this fight will finally kill her. But they don't so she just continues on with her idea of what her duty is and what she's fighting for. Eventually, she does die and is met with Anakin, Anakin reinforces that he's always been like this and maybe don't take after him as much. And the lessons she taught her weren't just for survival, but doing what you did believe what was right despite the outcomes. This realization breathes new life into her (literally) and comes back and understands the fight all over again. And continuing her mission.

I don't think any of the spectres need much development compared to...the literal title character. Much of what they needed occurred back in rebels, Sabine owning up to her time in mandalore and making it right, Hera's own bravery and mourning Kanan. I still love the idea that Sabine is disaster lineage just so she can wield a lightsaber, but you didn't need to make her FORCE SENSITIVE HOLY SHIT. In fact I think Sabine being the more mature on here would've worked, yeah she acts young but she puts ahsoka in her place.

Baylan and Ezra were perfect. Ezra hasn't changed and still has his charisma and cheek while baylan is a very interesting villain based upon his past and motivations. I would've loved to have thrawn a little more subtle in place of his big introduction give the normies a FUCKING REASON TO FEAR HIM.

Final thing, you guys are cowards for not referencing heir to the empire.

#star wars #ahsoka spoilers #star wars ahsoka #ahsoka #ahsoka series

[sofiasjornal]

House of Flame and Shadow 🌙 Review

Let me just say that I absolutely loved 90% of the book, it was perfect in many, ways. But that ending… it kinda spoiled the book for me…

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a half

Let’s start with that! I felt the built-up to the battle with the Asteri was bigger and more interesting than the battle itself. It ended way too quickly and too easily. The Asteri really didn’t put up that much of a fight. Two books leading up to this moment and then it just that? I was disappointed, not gonna lie. The battle needed more momentum and more magnitude, it felt really small. 

I also saw some comments about the crossover, of people disappointed that it was just Nesta and Azriel, and didn’t get a chance to see Feyre or Nyx, or even Mor. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to see them too, but the crossover was not a big reunion of all the characters. The purpose of the crossover was to find the connection with the trove and the starlight bloodline, the connection between the blades, and for that, only Nesta and Azriel are necessary. Maybe a novella would be different, but I think the crossover was done right, even in the bonus chapters (also, Sarah can you please stop with the different versions of the books and different chapters spread god knows where?! Thank you!)

As you may know, Bryce lost some of my affection during this book, her insensitive remarks to Hunt pissed me off so much. And even to Lidia, saying her kids are baggage, honestly, I don’t know how Lidia didn’t freak out on her. I get that she’s young and has the world on her shoulders, but it doesn’t feel like enough of an excuse. And Hunt was never a personal favorite of mine (I still liked him enough, though) so if this is really the last book where they are the main couple I don’t really mind it! Lidia and Ruhn carried the book anyway 😍 and I feel like SJM explored Bryce and Hunt’s relationship enough. The next one would definitely benefit from a different and fresh perspective. 

Also, I was never a fan of the whole Danika thing. I understand her importance to Bryce and to the story but how it was built made me really dislike her for some reason. I know she was brave and cared for Bryce deeply, and was willing to sacrifice (and did in the end) a lot for the cause. But she never sat right with me. And that whole bonus chapter where she just gets Bryce drunk (I know, I know, Bryce didn’t need any help, I know) it just made things worse. It was obvious she had a plan since the beginning and Bryce just went along because she cared deeply for her friend. And while I don’t doubt Danika’s affection and friendship with Bryce, at some point you have to wonder how much was real when Danika was hiding so much vital information, and not only about her cause, but about herself.

The rest of the book I liked just fine. Celestina should have died, and this is the hill I’m dying on. She deserved it. And she had no redemption at all to earn the mercy Bryce got her. The autumn king's death was spectacular! And Morven’s too! How I laughed, I was never that happy with characters dying. AND SABINE! This book had many, many happy moments for me 😂 I only felt bad about the Prime, he deserved a more dignified death than what he got and the way Sabine killed him… she deserved all that she got. And Sigrid? That little bitch! I know she’s not in control, she’s a freshly made reaper, probably still adjusting, running on instinct, but I mean… siding with Sabine? SABINE?! Ithan will be one hell of a prime, I just know it!

There were a few surprises that got me screaming. I think Lidia’s kids connect her with the spring court because of the fertility rite (but we’ll get to that!) and Hypaxja as the head of Flame and Shadow! I think the true wonders of Hypaxia’s power are still to be shown and I’m all for it! 

Now, I’m assuming the next book will be House of Many Waters, if SJM is following the house names. Here I think Tharion could definitely play a bigger role! HOFAS spent a lot of time setting him up, but also Hypaxia (who became the head of flame and shadow! and is also Lidia’s sister!) and Ithan! If Tharion and Hypaxia's friendship were to grow into something deeper, and Tharion somehow became the head of Many Waters, imagine the power couple!

But I have so many questions about this book and its connection to the others and other series! So many that I think maybe it’s better to put them in another post and organize them there 😅 otherwise this will never end!

#books #sarah j maas #crescent city #acotar #book review #house of flame and shadow

[trashquisitor-shirozora]

Full-on disclaimer for anyone who's never seen the disclaimers on my Star Wars fics - I never saw ROTS (I've tried, I've fucking tried, but retaining knowledge of TPM and AOTC to understand ROTS is impossible when my mind just wanders the fuck away during every attempt at a marathon PT watch), I only saw a handful of TCW episodes to study Satine and Mandalore, I never saw Rebels, I haven't seen TOTJ, and my non-OT/ST/Mandoverse/Andorverse/Kenobi/TBOBF/Solo knowledge comes from getting lost in the Wookeepedia, fandom osmosis, and several years playing SW Galaxy of Heroes.

The point is, I have half-baked knowledge and I am trying really hard and I can see the little kernels of interest and intrigue and "A ha! that's a Star Wars!" and my concluding thought for the 3rd episode of Ahsoka is, "FUCK YEAH, SPACE WHALES!!!"

Can someone just.... please explain the fuck to me what Dave is doing here with Ahsoka and Sabine? I don't know if it's the "Sabine thinks the best way to honor and also find Ezra is to become like him" or the whole "everyone has the Force Actually but you need talent, training, and some other fucking thing that sounds exactly like all the times I've been scolded for not trying hard enough thanks to my ADHD brain so that's fucking cool" bit. I don't know if it's that interview press tour thingy where Daisy told Domhnall that even Hux has the Force! Everyone has the Force! The Force is in all of us! We can all become the Jedi! I don't know if it's George's original idea that everyone can use the Force but not everyone does that eventually got changed to "a certain number of midichlorians in your blood gets you into the Jedi Temple". Or is it the whole "the Force is female" campaign? Is it Disney saying, "You can be a Jedi, too!" Are we Spider-man-ing the Jedi? Is that's what's going on? What the fuck is going on? Someone please tell me how we got from "the Force is in all living things and some people are able to sense and use the Force" to "the Force is in all living things and also everyone is capable of sensing and using the Force with the right amount of discipline and training and desire/'can do' attitude" because it feels like I'm being lied to. I'm being fucking bamboozled about what I know about Star Wars.

I don't even know what to say about the spacesuit. Just a lot of hysterical laughter maybe. Cool idea and I bet the concept designs were real fun but still. Hysterical laughter.

Slap some green hair on a kiddo and call him half-Twi'lek. OKAY THEN. Brilliant character design y'all got going. I guess you'd rather invest in the Volume than practical FX and makeup and shit?????

You know that feeling where you have all these thoughts and feelings and WORDS at the tip of your tongue but you lack the vocabulary or the fucking memory to hold that vocabulary and use it well? That's what I'm experiencing after watching Hera argue poorly with Mon and the Senators (they just formed the band and it's not going well, or so they say). This characterizing of bureaucracy, politicians, government is useless, clunky, stubborn, foolish, naive, soft, obstinate for no reason other than to hinder the rogueish hero, is such a tired, cheap trope. Haven't we learned enough from American copaganda shows? Haven't we learned from watching our hero cops and detectives bending and breaking rules to catch the bad guys while the Internal Affairs people are antagonists, rule-abiding busybodies who don't see that they're only getting in the way of our intrepid heroes catching the real bad guys?! Politics is messy and it is complicated and it is hard and it does have people who did sit on the sidelines during the war but to villainize them just because they didn't fight in the war, they didn't lose friends and family and Kanan, they won't give our general what she wants? Or do these senators already have history in the GFFA that I would've already known if I already watched some other TV shows or read the 'pedia religiously?

I thought the first 2 seasons of the Mando Show explored the post-OT galaxy pretty well. I liked how Din and Greef called the New Republic "a joke" and insinuated that they were unreliable and can't be counted upon to protect little Outer Rim worlds like Nevarro from Imperial remnants. It gave the impression of a baby Republic that is trying hard but struggling and their patrols are stretched so thin because of Mon's decision to demilitarize the Republic, and that's why they're such a non-presence out here in the Outer Rim. That's why Carson went out of his way to recruit Cara. She's been out here, she's done shit, she knows shit, she knows the lay of the land, she can be the eyes and ears that Carson and the New Republic can't be. You can build so fucking much out of these little interactions and conversations... but Dave & Jon chose to make things easy for themselves by characterizing the New Republic as incompetent, feckless, nonsensible, cruel, decadent, apathetic, uncaring, utterly useless to our very active rogueish heroes. They fast-tracked the New Republic's downfall to make it so much easier to prop up our heroes, and for what? To remind us that in the end it all doesn't fucking matter because Starkiller Base blows it all up anyway?

At least, at least, make it look like our heroes fucking tried to rebuild the galaxy after the Empire fell. At least make the New Republic fumbling and earnest but ultimately weighed down by so many voices demanding that they be prioritized in the rebuilding. Mon's government inherited a really fucking bad situation but at least have them reach halfway to something that she and Leia can be proud of before the infighting started and political factions started ripping down all that hard-fought and hard-won progress. Talk about the fucking whiplash from the despair and hope of Andor to whatever the fuck Mandalorian Season 3 showed us and whatever the fuck Ahsoka is continuing to show us.

Anyway.

I get that having a droid sidekick is the Cool Star Wars Thing To Do, but should Huyang really be treated as a sidekick and an expodumper? He really fucking should have gone to Ossus with Luke but nah, leave that fucking loser to his own business ignoring Ahsoka and Hera trying to stop a new war that nobody believes is actually going to happen. I mean, if you really think about it, did Hera really sell anything to these senators? It seems to me that all they see is a general who has only known war and will only ever see war around every corner, in every nook and cranny, under every bed. Of course they're going to be fucking skeptical and of course they're going to question her request for even more resources to find Ezra and maybe stop Thrawn, and the fucking answer, Hera Syndulla, is to not question if these people ever fought in the Rebellion and shame them for the sacrifices they did not make. This is such fucking cheapsass writing and it really sucks all the fun out of the episode.

Speaking of fun, how about them space whales! Bring them back, Felony. I want space whales and I want space cats. Give me purrgils and lothcats all day, every day.

I can't stop thinking about Disney's decision to give Ahsoka a primetime slot. I can't stop thinking about why that show got a primetime slot and not any of the other ones. Is it the numbers? Are they trying to catch a particular kind of crowd? What are the numbers, Disney? Why won't you show us the numbers? Where the fuck are the numbers, Disney? What are you afraid of? What are you hiding? What won't you tell your writers and your actors, Disney? What aren't you saying?

Anyway, space whales rule and I got other goddamn shit to do like keep writing my own ideas on a post-OT galaxy through fic.

P.S. The way Ray just fucking oozes charisma even if he was only there for like 2 minutes. And Diana remains fantastic. I love her brand of villainy even if I'm still baffled by her being a human Witch. What the fuck.

#ahsoka critical #ahsoka show spoilers #i'm sorry for the thoughts i had but not really because this is my blog and i do what i want

[wackus-bonkus-maximus]

the miraculous enneagram post nobody asked for

if by now you don't know i'm obsessed with the enneagram & personality stuff, i present to you know the depth of the hole i'm in. hello, i'm wackus, type 9, and if you skip this rambling post i totally understand.

the enneagram is a personality tool i use for writing (both fanfic & non-fanfic stuff) and irl to navigate relationships. this post will focus on how i type the mlb characters in my fics. however, the enneagram is more than putting people in boxes and stamping them with stereotypes. i use it in my writing is to know what motivates each personality and how their values shape not only their worldview, but the actions they will take in the narrative.

1 - the reformer marinette (wing 2), su han, kagami driving goal: integrity, perfection, improvement basic fear: being bad or corrupt

2 - the helper nino, rose, sabrina (wing 1) driving goal: love, appreciation, validation basic fear: being unwanted, unloved

3 - the achiever chloe (wing 2), lila (wing 4): driving goal: worth, success, image basic fear: being worthless

4 - the individualist gabriel (wing 5), zoe, juleka driving goal: identity, authenticity, significance basic fear: the void

5 - the investigator felix (6), max, nathalie (wing 4) driving goal: knowledge, understanding, competency basic fear: being helpless or incompetent

6 - the loyalist mylene, roland, sabine (wing 5) driving goal: security, community, certitude basic fear: having no support system

7 - the enthusiast adrien (wing 6), kim, gina (wing 8) driving goal: satisfaction, excitement, contentedness basic fear: missing out, feeling pain

8 - the challenger alya (wing 9), alix (wing 7), ivan driving goal: autonomy, importance, control basic fear: being harmed, being controlled

9 - the peacemaker luka, fu (wing 8), tom driving goal: harmony, connection, peace of mind basic fear: conflict, separation, loss

there is no enneagram type that's better or worse than the others. an unhealthy person will present the worst symptoms of their type, while a healthy person will present the best. remember, the goal of the enneagram is to get out of the box you're in so you can be a more healthy personality!

notes:

*i'm like 95% sure i got their types right but if you think differently pls feel free to correct me

*wings are when an enneagram type leans into the traits of the type next to them on the circle (either side). i, a 9 wing 1, am mostly laid-back and chill, but if you don't do the dishes like i asked then i'll passive aggressively get up and do them myself while saying "it's fine."

*each type might act like another when they are healthy/unhealthy. E.g nino (type 2) has gone to the "bad side" of 8 in stress (bubbler & rocketeer tried to dominate & regain control). but when he is healthy he looks like "the good side" of 4, making videos and dj-ing & just being super creative.

*any type can be in a happy relationship with any other type as long as they're both healthy (which is one of the things i like about the enneagram's perspective). that being said, my favorite couples that i always end up shipping the hardest are the 1/7 and the 2/5. just so much fun to watch ❤️

*if you're looking at this like "mm i don't buy it, sounds like bull" you might be a type 6

*if you are reading this and thinking "i need to research this more and get the right info" you might be a type 5

*if you're looking at this and are unsure which one you might be because some or all of them kinda sound like you, you're probably a 9

**i am not a certified enneagram coach, just v obsessed

tldr: wackus sorts the miraculous characters into enneagram types bc it helps her write good.

#miraculous ladybug #mlb #enneagram #writing #ao3 writer #this has been sitting in my notes for months tbh #if you made it to the end congratulations #this probably won't be the last miraculous enneagram post i make #now you know my writing secrets

[lily-drake]

Here's an idea you can do if you want. Marinette is Tim's younger sister that goes missing before he became robin. She somehow ends up in Paris with almost no memories. Only a few of her brother. Years later she is in Gotham (maybe a class trip or something. I will let you decide why she is there. When I think of this I imagine she is still in school.) and she ends up in an attack and gets seriously injured. You can then decided how Tim finds out.

Stay With Me Now

It never made the news.  He was stupid to believe that his parents really had when he told them.  It was as if she never existed.  His parents said that she was traveling with grandparents. Tim didn’t even know if they actually existed.  Said she was at boarding school.  Said she was on a humanitarian trip.  She was always somewhere else far away from Gotham.  And Tim knew that everything his parents said was a lie.  The rest of the world may have forgotten Marianne Drake, but Tim wouldn’t.  That was his little sister, and he would do everything he could to bring her back.

_________ When she opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was that the whole room was white.  There was a beeping noise next to her.  And her head hurt.  

“Tom, she's awake!”

A gentle voice said from the edge of wherever she was.  

“Hello Marinette, we’re so happy you’re awake.”

The voice said.  Was that her name, she couldn’t remember.  It must be if the voice is calling her that though.

“Don’t worry, everything is going to be alright.  We were so worried about you after that car hit you, but the doctors said you were going to be okay.”

Marinette—that didn’t feel right, but her head hurt when she tried to think why that was, so she’d let it be for now— turned her head to side slightly and cracked her eyes open ever so slightly to look at the two people next to her.  There was a lady with short black hair and gray eyes, her skin was pale and looked very smooth.  Next to her was a man with chestnut brown hair and mustache, his face had more curves than the woman’s and was not as smooth looking.

“Sorry, who are you?”

The woman looked almost heartbroken, but she didn’t understand why.

“The doctors said this might happen.  Mon amor, do you remember what happened before you woke up here?”

The woman asked so softly.  Marinette shook her head slightly, but that was a mistake as everything began to spin slightly from the small movement making her feel a little queasy.  The woman nodded sadly.

“I see, it’s worse than I thought.  Marinette darling, on your way to school, you were hit by a car causing you to hit your head on the road.  The head injury was pretty bad, the doctors said that there was a possibility you might have amnesia, but we didn’t want to believe that it would happen to you.  Marinette darling, I’m your mother, Sabine, and this is your father, Tom.”

Marinette didn’t turn to look at them again, her head was still spinning a little and she didn’t want to risk throwing up.  A shudder went down her spine of even the thought of doing so in front of others, but she didn’t know why.

A few days later she was released from the hospital and went back to the bakery/apartment where apparently her and her family lived.  The place felt completely unfamiliar to her, just like her…parents.  But everytime she tried to understand why that was, her head began to hurt so badly that she would need to lay down for the rest of the day to make the pounding stop.  So, in order to stop the constant pain, she stopped trying to understand why her head was saying that everything around her was wrong.  She went along with everything, did what others said, kept busy in order to halt even the temptation to understand on a deeper level why nothing was right and why she was missing something very important.  When she did this, Tom and Sabine were much happier, her classmates would stay around her longer, and they would even invite her to events as long as she helped them with something!  That was familiar, that felt right!  Being left alone except when someone asked her to help them felt familiar and her head was singing at the normality of the actions.  Was that bad?  She didn’t dwell on it, in fact she just stayed on that path and let everything continue its course.

Often though her mind would wander anyways and she would remember bright blue eyes that looked like hers, but were more steely.  She would draw a young man with untidy black hair and a bright smile.  She would draw an outline of an unfamiliar city with a boy and mini her next to him taking pictures of dark shadows hidden in the background.  She even drew a big garden with the boy dangling upside down from a tree.  She giggled when she was done with that one, a feeling of childish glee running through her for reasons she didn’t fully understand.  She didn’t know who this boy was, but she felt so drawn to him.  So she kept drawing him in a bunch of different positions that made her laugh and smile.  Sometimes though, he would be sad or scared.  A few times when she drew him in a nice suit he would be stoic, and that made her feel weird and sad, so she stopped drawing him suits.  He looked nicer in comfortable clothing and nerdy t-shirts anyways.

Things rarely ever felt right in this city no matter how much she tries to convince herself otherwise.  Tom and Sabine were nice and were always very warm, but everytime she said they were her parents her brain felt all weird.  But at least she had the boy in her drawings, the one thing that could make everything feel right in her mind.

_________ Five years later

Marinette knew this wasn’t a good idea!  She shouldn’t have believed them!  Ever since Lila had come all she has done is make her life miserable, and she hadn’t even done anything to her!  She tried to make peace with the girl, she had even made her own dress for goodness sake!  But no, that wasn’t good enough because even after that she wouldn’t stop spreading lies about her.  And worst of all she threatened to lie about Tom’s and Sabine’s bakery!

Currently they were visiting Gotham for US and France friendship day because even though there were so many cons to coming here, Lila “knew the Wayne’s”, so they “had to”become here to the “Crime Capital of the World”.  

They had been eating at a small dinner quite a bit away from their hotel, and when Marinette left to use the bathroom a bit before they were supposed to leave, they got up and left her.  She didn’t know exactly where she was, but from her surroundings she knew to keep her phone away and to make sure the taser she had bought at the airport here was clutched tightly in her hand.

Constantly she looked around her to make sure nobody was following her and looked into alleyways before she got too close to them.  This felt familiar, it felt right, and everything about this strange city didn’t feel so strange after all.  Unfortunately, despite her attempts at being cautious, she still wasn’t able to escape from the multiple pairs of hands that pulled her into one of the alleyways.  So tried to scream for help, but they covered her mouth and took the taser away from her before she could do anything.  The next thing she knew she was being slammed harshly against a wall with three filthy faces leering at her from above.  The scent of alcohol and cigarettes filled her senses and it took everything in her to keep the cough that was itching at her throat from escaping.

“Lookin Wha’ we go’ ‘ere.”

The man right in front of her drawled out.  There was a dark twinkle in his eye that made her shudder.  Not to mention that she couldn’t escape his breath which made her want to gag.  Her eyes darted side to side looking for an opening of some kind that she could use to escape.

“She’s pretty small.  Whatcha’ doin’ all by yourself girlie?”

The man on her right asked while taking a lock of her hair into his hands only to begin to fiddle with it.  Marinette glared up at the men and kicked the man in front of her in the shin.  He let go of her and while the others were in shock she tried to run for it.  She got only a few feet before she was hit in the head by something hard.  Her body hit the dirty pavement hard and her head began to throb in time with her racing heart.

“Tha’ wasn’ very nice little lady.”

The man she had kicked growled.  She tried to push herself up, but then there was a sharp stinging in her abdomen where one of the other men had just kicked her.  She tried to gasp for breath but all she could hear was her own heart and the clicking of metal against metal.  Tears poured down her cheeks and her head hurt.  She didn’t even notice when everything went silent, too silent.  All she could think about was bright blue eyes, a large mansion, a bright city on the rooftops, shadows, empty halls, cold parents, a flight, walking across the street, a car, it didn’t stop!  It was the people she saw earlier who were driving, they lived in the big manner with the boy, she lived with the boy!  Her head felt like it was going to explode!

“Miss!  Miss it’s okay.  They can’t hurt you ever again.”

There was a small reprieve from the pain where she could hear a gentle voice speak.  They were about a foot away and keeping their distance.  She appreciated that.  She opened her eyes—when had she closed them—and saw a man in red and black armor.  He had black hair with a streak of white and a red domino mask.  

“Robin?”

Because she remembered looking at that face with her brother, SHE HAD A BROTHER!  Then the pain was back with full force.  She clutched her head hoping it would make the pain go away or at least lessen it, but no!  It got worse and worse and though she couldn’t hear herself doing it, she knew she was sobbing.  Something warm and solid was holding her and she quickly leaned against it because maybe that would take the pain away?!  But it never faded, never lessened.  She wanted her brother back!  Tim, where’s?  She hadn’t seen him in what…five years?  She wanted to go home, why wasn’t she home?  At some point she lost consciousness, the pain in her head too unbearable for her to process while awake.  But all she could think about was a boy with steely blue eyes and a goofy smile.

_________ Jason didn’t know what to do.  He had stopped three scumbags from hurting a girl who couldn’t be older than maybe 14, and then she’s screaming and clutching her head in pain.  He had noticed that there was a cut on her head she was bleeding from, but it didn’t look bad enough for this type of reaction.  He tried to comfort her from a distance but that didn’t seem to be doing much.  Then when he heard her whisper,

“Robin.”

He was silent himself and slightly in shock.  But then she started crying almost hysterically again and he had to do something.  He slowly approached her and carefully picked her up.  He was glad when she leaned into his chest and not away from it, but she wouldn’t stop crying.  Then she began to mumble,

“Tim-Tam….where’s Tim?  M-mother……F-Father, why?!  WHY?!  Home!  Tim, where’s b-big brother Tim!”

She was clutching at her head so tightly he had to remove and restrain her hands to keep her from hurting herself.  He felt a burn of rage at the mention of his replacement's name.  He doubted it was him though, she had an accent that wasn’t Bristol or Gothamite, more…French.  He was relieved when he finally reached his location.  He looked down and was both relieved and filled with anxiety when he saw the girl seemed to be unconscious.

“Leslie!  She needs some help.”

He called out as he entered through the back of the small clinic near Crime Alley.  Dr. Leslie quickly came in and examined the young girl in his arms with a nod.  

“Follow me.”

Was all she said before she turned and headed towards one of the private rooms.  He quickly laid the girl on the gurney and gave his report of how he found her.  Leslie just nodded along as she began to clean and wrap the wound on her head and the scrapes on her hands.

“Thank you Red Hood.  She’ll be fine now,  she won’t be able to answer any questions till she’s awake.  I’ll let you know when that is.”

Jason gave a small nod and with one last glance at the sleeping girl he left back into the night.  

As Jason ran across the rooftops his mind wandered back to the girl and the constant murder of “Tim”.  There was no way it could be true, afterall Timothy Drake was an only child…but then his mind wandered back to the galas.  He had seen at least once before, and now that he thought about it there was a small girl that followed the boy.  Then there was the whispering of how one of the children was always gone, doing something else, they never visited Gotham once even though they were very young.  

He paused atop one of the taller apartments in Crime Alley and glared out into the night.  There are millions of Tim’s around the world, so why was he so set on believing she was talking about the stinking Replacement?!  Whatever, Leslie will let him know more about whatever happened later.  For now, he had a city to protect.

_________ When Marinette woke up, her head still throbbed slightly, but not as much as last night which was a reprieve.  She looked around the small white room that smelled like chemicals.  There was a soft beeping on her right and her throat felt scratchy.  Everything felt a little dizzy, and goodness this felt like déja vu.  The next thing she knew when she didn’t see Tom and Sabine sitting next to her was that someone had opened the door.  She was a rather tall lady with greying hair and wrinkled with age and stress, but she still held a soft bright smile.

“Hello, how are you feeling right now?”

She asked as she slowly approached Marinette and began to check her bandages and vitals.

“I’m feeling okay.  My head still hurts, but other than that.”

She nodded then asked,

“Do you remember what happened last night?”

Marinette was about to shake her head no, but stopped as everything began to flood her brain once more and all of the memories she lost filled her mind.  She sat up quickly only to fall back against the gurney as the world started to spin around her.  Thankfully Leslie had already prepared and placed a trash can in her lap and Marinette Marianne began to throw up.

“You need to be careful, you have a concussion.”

Leslie stated once she was done emptying her stomach that was practically empty already.  She handed Marianne a cup of water and once she finished asked,

“Now you don’t have to, but can you tell me your name and what happened last night?”

“My name is Marianne Janet Drake.  Last night I was walking back to the hotel my class was staying at after they had left me at the diner we were staying at and was attacked by three men.  I tried to get away, but they took my taser and pinned me to a wall.  When I found an opening I kicked the man in the center in the shin and made a run for it, but they caught up to me and hit me in the back of the head with…I think it was the back of my taser.  I fell and hit my head against the pavement and before I could move one of the others kicked me in the stomach.  I blacked out a bit after that because my head was hurting so badly at the time with memories, and the next thing I knew was Robin was there in a different outfit and he saved me.  Then the pain came back and the next thing I know is I woke up here.”

The woman just stared at her with a neutral face.  She looked back down at her clipboard and finished writing something before looking back at her.

“What do you mean memories came rushing back?”

“I travelled to Paris, France with my parents, and got hit by a car.  I’ve been an amnesiac for five years now.”

She nodded.

“How old are you?”

“14.”

“Do you have any other relatives?”

“Janet and Jack Drake, Timothy Drake, and I honestly don’t know if I have any other relatives.”

“Alright.  Thank you Marianne, I’ll be back soon.”

And with that Leslie left the room.  She needed to make a phone call.  Marianne laid back against the bed and stared at the ceiling trying to reorganize her thoughts and memories as she tried to sort out why Tom and Sabine had lied to her all of this time and why her real parents would hit her in the first place.

_________ About two hours later the door to Marianne’s room burst open and Marianne quickly sat up to come face-to-face with steel blue eyes that held a deep familiar worry in them.  They stared at each other for a long time, neither knowing how much time actually passed when he whispered,

“Bean?”

“Tim-Tam?”

She said just as quietly, tears forming in the siblings' eyes.  He raced towards her and scooped her into his arms as he kissed the top of her head.

“I’ve missed you so much.  Don’t worry, you don’t have to leave again.  I’ve got you, I’ve got you, I’ve got you.”

Marianne sobbed against his chest as she clutched into her older brother.  He should be 16 now, he’s grown a little too.  He carefully maneuvered them so that he was laying against the bed and she was curled up atop him, the two siblings holding onto each other as they cried.

“Robin saved me.”

She whispered, 

“He brought me here which led me to you.”

Tim placed another kiss to the back of her head and whispered,

“Really?  That’s so amazing.  I’ll have to thank him the next time I see him.  I owe him a favor for this wonderful miracle he’s brought me.”

Marianne giggled softly through her tears and rested her head under his chin, just like when they were younger.

“I missed you!  I mi-missed you so much Tim-Tam.  I couldn’t forget you, I couldn’t stop drawing you.”

Tim smiled gently as more tears fell like a waterfall down his cheeks,

“Good.  Because I never stopped looking for you.  Now you’re back, and you don’t ever have to leave again.  You can stay with me now.”

“I’d like that.”

She whispered as her eyes began to slowly close and exhaustion took hold and she fell asleep in the safety of her brother's hold.

Taglist:

@aespades @adrestar @astrynyx @doll246@queenz-z @toodaloo-kangaroo@crazylittlemunchkin @seraphichana @miraculous-ninja @dorkus-minimus @mysticsoulgirl @ritacrow-blog @snow-leopard-777 @fidget-eep@sometandomstuff333 @lady-phoenix-of-tardis @shreeing @achaoticmess1 @liquid-luck-00@buginetye @stainedglassm @prettylittlebutterflie@laurcad123 @iloontjeboontje @heartsong18@raeuberprinzessin @when-no-wings-do-broomsticks @jennifer-rose123 @moon5608 @corporeal-terrestrial @skitarii-alpha-c6-555@saltysugarysembei @phantom120 @kking13@depressed-bitchy-demon

#maribat #ask #dc x mlb #mlb x batman #mlb x dc #fluff #marinette dupain cheng #cute #angst #marianne drake #sibling timinette #jason todd #tim is robin #Jack’ and Janet’s C+ parenting #Class trip #amnesia #car “accident” #tim drake

[calebdumes]

hii, i love your fics sm!! can i pls request a prompt of different nicknames kanan and hera have throughout their relationship <3

thank you for the prompt anon! I hope you enjoy!

fandom: star wars rebels

relationship: kanan jarrus/hera syndulla

word count: 1k

rating: 18+

~

“Listen here, pal.” Hera said, jamming her finger into Kanan’s chest. “This is my ship, my rules. You don’t get to disobey my orders like that. Understand?”

“Oh I understand, sweetheart.” Kanan sneered back, wiping at the blood that was slowly trickling down his face. “But I’m not gonna follow bad orders.”

“I didn’t give bad orders and don’t call me sweetheart.”

Kanan pointed to the cut slicing across his forehead. “Right, because this is what happens when you follow good orders.”

“That wouldn’t have happened if you just did what I said!” Hera cried, her frustrations getting the better of her. 

“No, it would have been worse!”

Hera stomped away from him, her blood pounding in her ears. She reached for the ladder leading to the cockpit, her hand shaking. “I expect you to follow my orders. If you can’t do that, then maybe we shouldn’t work together.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t.” he echoed.

Hera closed her eyes and tried to ignore how her heart ached.

-

“So does this mean I can start calling you husband?” Hera asked with a giggle as Kanan kissed a trail up her neck, his hands a warm weight on her bare hips. 

“Only if I can call you wife.” he responded, kissing her jaw, the corner of her mouth, then her cheek. 

Hera ran her hands down his back, feeling the muscles shift beneath her fingers, a pool of heat building in her stomach. She could still hear the music from the festival ringing in her ears, the taste of sweet wine still lingering on her tongue. Kanan smiled down at her, mirth shining in his strange teal eyes. 

She loved him.

She loved him more than anything, with every fiber of her being. 

She loved him. 

Hera pushed herself up to capture his mouth with hers, kissing him deeply. Kanan responded eagerly, pulling her close until it was impossible to tell where she ended and he began. They moved together, a tangled mess of breathy moans and a shared heartbeat. 

When they were satiated, wrapped around each other with the press of sleep heavy around them, Hera asked, “Do you think that ceremony was binding? Legally?”

Kanan’s thumb stroked absently up and down her arm. “Do you want it to be?”

Hera’s fingers danced along his jar. “More than anything.”

“Then I guess it is.” he smiled. “You are legally, officially, my wife.”

Hera kissed him gently on his lips. “And you are legally, officially, my husband.”

-

“Hand me that hydrospanner will you love?” Hera asked, arms deep into the Ghost’s hyperdrive. Tinny music echoed off the walls of the engine room, her head bouncing slightly along with the beat. 

“Yes dear.” Kanan responded, handing her the requested tool. His right arm was still strapped to his chest, the sling now covered in engine grease. At least his black eye was healing nicely. 

“Is Sabine still avoiding you?”

Kanan nodded, leaning back against the bulkhead. “She’s still upset about it.”

“You told her it wasn’t her fault right?”

Kanan sighed, “Yes dear.”

“Maybe I’ll talk to her.” Hera said, mostly to herself as she turned back to the engine. 

“She just needs time.” Kanan told her. “I don’t think talking about it will help.”

“If you say so.” she hummed. “Do you need more bacta?”

She heard Kanan stand, his footsteps soft on the metal floor. “You worry too much.” he said, kissing the top of her head. 

Hera stopped working and looked up at him to find a gentle smile on his face. She smiled back, feeling her heart flip in her chest. “That’s my job love.”

He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet. “I think you need a break.” he said, leading her out of the engine room.

“I’ve still got repairs to do.” she protested weakly.

“It can wait,” he told her as they walked down the loading ramp and out into the bright Lothal afternoon.“Eat some lunch.”

Hera closed her eyes against the warm breeze that rolled off the plains. “Yes dear.”

-

Hera ran a hand over her swollen belly, the humid air of Yavin heavy all around her as she stood on the small balcony overlooking the landing field. In the distance, the dense jungle swayed against the darkening horizon. 

“I can’t wait to meet you.” she whispered. “I can’t wait for you to meet your daddy.”

Her baby gave a gentle kick against her hand, bringing a smile to her face. She sighed contently as a calloused hand came to rest over hers, a warm wall of heat pressing against her back. 

“I can’t wait for you to meet your momma.” Kanan said softly against her ear. “She’s pretty amazing but she works too much.”

“I thought you were going to be out late.” Hera said, turning around to face him, her pregnant belly keeping space between them. 

Kanan shrugged, “Ezra can handle it. He doesn’t need me there anymore.”

She reached up and touched his face, rubbing her thumb over the forming wrinkles. “He’s always going to need you.”

“Not for this.” he placed both hands on her stomach, leaning down so he was eye level with her bump. “Besides, I’ve got two people right here that need me more.”

Hera dragged a hand through Kanan’s still growing hair, a constant reminder of just how close they had come to losing him, how close her family came to being torn apart. She swallowed thickly, pushing back the well of emotion that was clogging her throat. 

“Stop that.” Kanan said, pushing himself back up, his knees popping in the process. “Don’t dwell on the past.”

“You make it sound so easy.” she said with a watery breath. “You almost died, Kanan. I almost lost you.”

“But I didn’t.” he told her. “I’m right here.”

“I know, I know.” Hera blinked away her tears, walking slowly over to her bed and sitting down. She held her belly, resting her head on Kanan’s shoulder when he sat down next to her. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.” he agreed, holding her close. “Me too.”

Hera took a breath, breathing in the comforting smell of Kanan. He was here, he was alive. 

“Your daddy is pretty great, baby.” she said with a smile. “I think you’re gonna love him.”

#kanera #kanan jarrus #hera syndulla #swr fan fic #swr fanfic #star wars rebels #pretchatta #anoray #ailtara #eries45 #shleby prompts #shleby writes #star wars: rebels #star wars

[wetbloodworm]

#bg3 spoilers #bg3 dark urge spoilers

can't sleep, let's talk about sabine instead

discussing aasimar vs tieflings

so i know there's the whole 'aasimar are good, tieflings are bad' association that like even WOTC eventually started emphasizing is not true. MY recent understanding of the difference is 'aasimar 'descend' from celestials/deities/etc, tieflings 'descend' from fiends/devils/etc'. so alignment doesn't come into it at all, even in their ancestry, it depends more on the like... species of being that had an affect on their bloodline.

(the forgotten realms wiki is telling me that alignment of the ancestral being IS the thing that determines which they are, so like tieflings can come from deities if the deity is evil-aligned. i am choosing to ignore this completely.)

so with that understanding, sabine! sabine is half-elf in the game but as i develop her more, y'know what? i'm deciding she's an aasimar. i think like, it's difficult to determine whether she's technically full aasimar or if there's some kind of balance between that and half-elf, because she was created rather than born. she is a direct piece of bhaal, molded to be his idea of what a half-elf was (or for durges in general, whatever their species is). in sabine's canon, half-elf was picked because she could go (mostly) unnoticed and (mostly) accepted in most communities. so his blood is the only thing that runs through her veins, no second parent involved. and not only is his race not determined anywhere that i'm aware of, i feel like he's so far removed from mortality (or at least full mortals) that his original race before ascension doesn't matter anymore, so it wouldn't matter even if sabine WAS born more traditionally.

i think when it comes down to it, sabine is only half-elf in the way she's built, mostly. she's made to look like one, but her divine blood means she's really more of an aasimar or something adjacent to one than anything. i mean when it REALLY comes down to it her species is 'bhaalspawn' in a way others with the same father/lineage don't experience. others who were born traditionally could be a genuine half-elf or tiefling or orc or whatever with 'bhaalspawn' describing their lineage more than their species. being scooped out of a god does weird things to What You Actually Are, i feel like.

so! she's got aasimar-like traits. half-elf ones, too, but that's like. mimicry more than anything, y'know? anyway, i've copied ez and made a checklist out of the aasimar traits and tiefling traits pages because i like them a lot. i've gone through and edited the language and some details to appeal to me more, and i'll continue tweaking the list as i go along and adding more traits i think of. the two lists are combined here b/c the originals very strictly stick to 'aasimar have good blood/are good' and 'tieflings have evil blood/are evil'. so just mash 'em all together, why not. will use the checklist going forward with characters like these when i want to give them some extra traits.

here's a screenshot of sabine's list so far. i am absoLUTELY not done coming up with stuff for her but i'm impatient and want to share now lol pic should be able to be enlarged

the colors just represent sources, blue for the aasimar traits list and red for the tiefling traits list. green for stuff i've added, purple (maroon?) for what's specific to one character.

one thing i like doing with her is making seemingly positive effects/traits actually sinister. babies stop crying and you think they're soothed if you don't look too closely at how they're responding. people sleep so soundly around her but that's to make them more vulnerable. i want more of those.

might get rid of the shadow and humanoid-shape-to-blind-people one. not sold on them.

i also like the idea that sabine wouldn't know she has black bones until she's in the illithid colony reading the research notes about the various autopsies and other ~explorations~ that were performed on her. her just like MY BONES ARE BLACK? WHY ARE MY BONES BLACK?? WHY ARE MY BONES BLACK!!!!!! which is often her reaction to things she discovers about herself.

the black marks when touched one might get tweaked to more like the original trait where the marks left are black rather than bruise-like. something even more clearly unnatural. also, her discovering that when she's pulling gale out of the. the thing. and she catches sight of her palms.

the smelling of blood one is arguably at least partly canon. the ghoul started shouting about delicious blood when it went to test her.

okay i'm done for now. ty. for your time. i may be back with more later.

#sabine tag

[galactic-pirates]

Liveblog of Ahsoka episode 4. I didn’t have the spoons to watch yesterday which is why I am a day late.

Usual drill. Here there be spoilers. Also much autistic flapping because [redacted] but oh man!!!!! So so so happy to see it :) :) :)

“Can I count on you?” - I am offended on Sabine’s behalf. I mean I get what Ahsoka is asking. Can Sabine put aside her desire to save Ezra and do what is necessary for the ‘greater good’? And Ahsoka should know better than to ask because the answer is obvious - it depends. Sabine would never risk it if people would be hurt immediately, but future harm that they could still prevent later? Maybe. Ahsoka asking that question is just pointless and yes offensive. It’s not like Sabine doesn’t understand sacrifice - she knows how to fight a war. Ahsoka should have shown faith in Sabine. It’s what Kanan would have done. He always knew that Sabine would make the right choice because it was her choice.

Yay Sabine’s blasters have returned. I was afraid she hadn’t packed them.

“Sometimes we have to do what’s right regardless of our personal feelings” … really? Tell me Ahsoka doesn’t know Sabine at all without telling me. Ugh. What a thing to say to someone that was exiled and branded a traitor to her people, who lost her family, when she realised what the Empire would do with her research. Sabine willingly sacrificed everything in the hope of saving lives, and then joined the Rebellion and kept on fighting. She had no idea that she would ever be able to return home, or that her family would ever know the truth. Yes it worked out in terms of them knowing but she didn’t know that at the time. Sabine’s response of “you really believe that” was odd because to me it can’t be taken at face value. Sabine knows the pain of sacrifice far too deeply. Maybe it was a test like really saying “are you kidding is that what you think of me?” as same Sabine, roll those eyes.

I want to google behind the scenes because that neck means Hyung isn’t a dude in a suit unless there is some green screen erasing going on?

Yay blasters and armour and Mandalorian tricks like that rope pull. This is what I like to see :) :)

“Stay together you always did better that way” - foreshadowing you are not subtle. Clearly they are going to split up and everything will go wrong because of it. But my sniggering about the ‘bad breakup’ vibes is continuing. It’s the little things that bring me joy.

Gasps Jacen! Chopper, Hera and I CAN SEE THE GHOST!!!!! Cue much hand flapping, stimming overload. Beloved Ghost ship I am so excited. “You can’t leave without authorisation” “watch me” - peak Hera!!! Oh I love it I love it I love it. I am so happy and oh for fucks sake. The Lego model I knew it was wrong with the blue engines from Rebels but then Ahsoka’s ship was blue and I thought maybe in this show it had been upgraded. Nope still yellow /sigh. That makes two obvious inaccuracies (Jacen’s hairpiece colour is the other). Lego you are better than this I am disappointed.

Phoenix leader!!!!! Ahhhh I am screaming. I am screaming and flapping. That was so cool!!!! Ok that was the scene that makes this whole show worth it. I am indescribably happy to see the Ghost and Hera was awesome, and hey it was the Rebel pilot from the Mandalorian cool cool. My smile is so wide right now my face hurts.

I wonder why Ahsoka only ignited the one blade to fight the Inquisitor guy, Marrock I think his name is. Aaaand they split up. I mean Sabine ran off pursuing Shin and Ahsoka stayed put. I guess she didn’t want Marrock chasing her, better to fight him face to face than an enemy at the back. Yikes her helmet just flew off when she hit the tree. That doesn’t seem like a very good helmet design… and she is back to the lightsaber. Did she drop her blasters? Not that they were doing much good I guess as they can be reflected. At least for this battle she is wearing her armour so shouldn’t be stabbed like before. Oooh he does know it spins, so why didn’t he fly with it?

Ok dust is not the usual response to being sliced almost in half… night sister. I have seen that in the Jedi game. Was Marrock already undead?

Oh and they aren’t as far apart as I thought but now they really are splitting up. “I’ve got this” - Shin says Sabine will regret that and I suspect she will sadly as much as I would like her to have the win.

Haha oh it’s the classic cape drop before battle. I love the callback. And she is only igniting the one blade again. Is her other one damaged? I don’t recall seeing that but I don’t get why she wouldn’t use it otherwise.

The panning shot of Sabine’s abandoned helmet gives me shivers. I am really feeling a foreshadowing vibe of her death and I hate it. Do not want. Sabine must live.

“You have no power” - that is the line that gave me such hope in the trailer. It seems to be true I think so at least there’s no real retcon to Kanan not realising Sabine had the force. But all this padawan stuff anyway just ugh why (but I ranted enough about that last week).

Haha yes!! Oh I adore Sabine using a Mando trick and blasting her. That is Sabine’s power and I love that. She is enough as herself.

It’s interesting that Baylan knew Anakin became Vader as not many ever knew that. I read the Thrawn books and Vader himself denied it even almost to himself sometimes. I wonder how he found out.

Did Sabine forget to pick up her helmet? Beskar is rare you know. I love that Ahsoka thought Shin had killed Sabine and just threw her into a wall. The clear relief when she then realised she was alive, this is what we like to see.

“Ezra Bridger is the only family you have left” erm no. Important yes, part of the family yes, but not the only family. There is Hera, and Zeb, and Jacen at minimum. Auntie Sabine - it’s canon.

“Your family died on Mandalore because your master didn’t trust you”… ok we’re going to have to come back to that. There’s clearly more information needed.

I can almost see Sabine’s thoughts. They need the power of the bad guys ship to get there. She can always take out the bad guys later. It’s the kind of bargain they made a couple of times on Rebels. Shin choking Sabine is very dark side even if the ‘fallen Jedi’ do seem to waver as to how dark they are. Baylan seems to have some code.

Hera! The Ghost!!! Ooooh pretty ship in clouds. You know if it took that long to destroy the orb with a lightsaber a blaster bolt wouldn’t have done shit anyway. OMG that was scary when the hyperspace jump exploded but the Ghost was fine, same can’t be said about all the X-Wings sadly :( and Jacen has a bad feeling. Jedi vibes? Or just common sense because the situation would make anyone go uh-oh.

How did Absoka fall into the world between worlds? Oh yikes that is super creepy. It looks like they tried to deage him and his face looks weird.

So in conclusion I am worried about Sabine’s helmet. Also if it requires a ton of power to make the jump then no regular ship (aka the Ghost or Ahsoka’s ship) can follow. I had thought when Hera was racing to the evil ring that she would get caught in their hyperspace bubble and go along for the ride but nope.

So I guess in order for Ahsoka to catch up on the adventure she will use the world between worlds, and leap through into a moment. I am confused as to how she just fell into it though. I mean I have headcanoned that as it’s basically the force which connects all things across time and space made manifest, that means it is essentially everywhere all the time. There doesn’t have to be a specific doorway (like the Lothal Jedi temple) but maybe points were set up for some reason, otherwise entrance is as the force wills it? Like the force needs a champion and boom. Plus Ahsoka has a really close connection having been revived by the daughter, and saved through the world between worlds before.

Hmm ok! This was a good episode. Very exciting. Mostly I am screaming about the Ghost!!!! But Sabine had blasters again. I liked seeing her fight full Mando with helmet. I hope Hyung retrieves her helmet and she gets it back.

Next Wednesday is very far away.

#star wars: ahsoka #ahsoka spoilers