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centaurianthropology · 3 years

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Far-Too-Specific Predictions for Critical Role C3 that will Absolutely be Wrong (but I like)

Setting and Flavor

I would love to see a group of veterans after a massive war that left both sides devastated. Matt likes to play with difficult moral conundrums, and a setting where two warring parties both came off poorly, and now they’re both limping through a reconstruction could be really interesting for a long-play game. I would also really like to see both sides of the conflict represented in the group. The one thing I wanted to see more of in campaign 2 was a native Xorhasian perspective in the group (aside from Essek, who wasn’t a PC). I’m placing this as post-major Dynasty/Empire conflict at some point in the future, so it would be the same geographical setting as campaign 2, but time skipped enough that we don’t really have a ton of recurring characters. Cameos from the longer-lived Campaign 2 characters are still possible, though.

Player characters

These predictions are based on my perception of player preferences, interesting roleplay opportunities, and focusing on things that the players seem interested in but haven’t been able to explore yet. I have also built prior relationships, because I loved having PCs come in with relationships to build the group on and give early opportunities for trust and character building:

Travis: Human Cleric (Order), with possible multi-class Fighter (Battle master). I would love to lean into a tactical, Imperial battle-commander type character for Travis, who can hit, but leans more support. I also would love to see him play a cleric with wavering faith in how he used to believe and practice. He has seen too much of war, too much of dying, to be overly-devoted to a single law or side, and is on an active quest of faith to find a higher sense of order and morality. He maybe left the army in disgrace, or went AWOL, but either way he is persona non grata on his former side of the war, with only one ally having followed him into exile. Prior relationship: Ashley’s fighter. When he went AWOL or was driven into exile, she was the only soldier who followed him. He struggles with his choices and his faith, and she acts as his rock and has become far more of an equal because of that.

Ashley: Warforged Fighter (echo knight). Ashley loves a straightforward fighter, so I wanted to give her something without complex rules to stress her out, but one that still has some really interesting flavor and possibilities once she gets into the groove. Echo knight is ideal, because it’s not a hard subclass to play, but it can be seriously fun. I like the idea that her character was built as an answer to Xorhasian dunamancy, to double herself and fight as two. As she evolved and became less a machine and more a person, she became more and more attached to her commander rather than blind patriotism, to the point that when he left, she went with him. Prior relationship: Travis’ cleric. He was her commander, and she still tends to act as his soldier, despite his wavering faith. She followed him when he lost faith, and she continues to be the one who follows and believes in him.

Laura: Full Orc Barbarian (wild magic). Laura loves to hit things, and has clearly wanted to play a hardcore tank for a while. I want her to be able to wade into any fight and tank a ton of damage, and full orc and barbarian both play into that. I figure her character would be Xorhasian, was a soldier for a while, but could never fit in because of her taste for wild magic and her chaotic nature. Having her be a full orc would also allow her to explore playing a character who can’t be traditionally sexy, which would be a fun change from Vex and Jester. I see her as someone who rapidly went AWOL from the army, and is generally unaligned and doesn’t want to think about the war or what it did to her country or her people, and wallows in wild magic to avoid it. Maybe she went to the Menagerie Coast during the war to get away from the fighting and dive deeper into her path, at which point she met Sam’s character. Prior relationship: Sam’s sorcerer, as they walk the same path. They share a faith, and that drew them together before the campaign, and they’re chaotic, happy best friends.

Sam: Satyr Sorcerer (wild magic). Doubling up wild magic would be nuts, but would allow Sam and Laura to play with some crazy combos in roleplay and in combat. Sam loves unpredictability, and so I could really see him leaning into the dice roll and relishing when things go wrong as a wild magic sorcerer. Satyr would also lean into this chaotic bent, and would stack well with the charisma-based sorcerer build. I see him as being from the Menagerie Coast, unaligned in the war, but touched by it somehow (possibly lost someone / his home / etc to the fighting?). He and Laura’s character met due to their mutual inclination and tie to wild magic, and are very close friends who have tried to spend the entire war pretending there isn’t a war. Prior relationship: Laura’s barbarian. They are on the same wild path, but perhaps have different connections to it or opinions about it to give them different flavors and different approaches to the same chaos.

Marisha: Yuan-ti Pureblood Rogue (swashbuckler). Let Marisha play high charisma! Let her play a pirate! I would love to see a snake-y pirate lady, unaffiliated with everything, acting as a sarcastic outside observer. I would love to see her lean into snark and the scoundrel-with-a-heart-of-gold archetype, especially in a race than is stereotyped as evil. Maybe she’s getting out of the pirate’s life, or did something horrific that riddles her with guilt that she covers with snark. I would just love to have her get a dark, but non-political backstory. Prior relationship: None. She is a wildcard character, deliberately. She comes in and adds a very different flavor and perspective, and as such, probably shouldn’t have a relationship with any of the other characters.

Liam: High Elf Artificer (artillerist). Liam’s love of describing his spells’ mechanics in C2 was what inspired this. I think he would enjoy being an inventor steeped in tragedy, possibly as someone who invented a weapon of mass destruction for the Empire, and still wants to believe in his homeland, despite what he did and what they did. Give me Liam as the man who has become death, destroyer of worlds. It plays into his love of tragedy and redemption, and I am here for that. Prior relationship: Taliesin’s wizard. His shame has kept him a hermit, but chance brought Taliesin’s character to him, and he saw Taliesin’s character as a means of redemption or better understanding. Having his closest tie be to someone from the other side would also play into the tragedy of his character.

Taliesin: Drow Wizard (homebrew dunamancer). Taliesin has always been Matt’s go-to for exploring homebrew content, and introducing dunamancy into C2 was a ton of fun. I would love to see this get expanded and explored with a Xorhasian dunamancer character PC, and Taliesin has a talent for taking something Matt has played with (Firbolgs, blood hunters, etc.), and making it unique. He’s definitely the player I could see taking the dunamancer and making him very distinct from Essek and the pre-established notion of what a dunamancer is. This would also fit with my notion that his character was tightly tied to Dynasty politics, possibly a courtier background, prior to the war, and found himself tied up in it. I would love to see Taliesin play a character more politically tied to the central story than Caduceus was, as he has a talent for driving plot and being a lynchpin for Matt’s larger plans. So centering the deep-lore plot on Tal and Liam could be really great. Prior relationship: Liam’s artificer, though theirs is not a long acquaintance. They met shortly before the campaign, and though they have a bond, it’s new and somewhat untested. Not to mention that the combination of an artillerist who built a weapon of mass destruction and a dunamancer make for the potential for some explosive blowouts as secrets get revealed.

#Critical Role #C3 Predictions #travis willingham #taliesin jaffe #marisha ray #liam o'brien #sam riegel #laura bailey #ashley johnson #These predictions are far too specific #and absolutely pulled out of my ass #so I don't expect any of them to actually happen #I just had a fun time trying to fill all the necessary party slots and cater to apparent player interests #feel free to add your own thoughts #can you tell I just dove into CR finally #and am really enjoying getting back to my TTRPG roots?#matt mercer

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grayintogreen · 3 years

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The Triality of Lucien

I cannot ABSOLUTELY CANNOT stay silent and not talk about this Id/Ego/Superego thing going on with Nonagon/Lucien/Molly. You cannot give me this well-wrapped gift and not expect me to go ham on it, Matthew Mercer.

First of all- standard disclaimer. Freud is a hack. We all know this. BUT as a literary device, Id/Ego/Superego is fucking brilliant. Normally, when I go, as the kids say, ham on this particular subject, I’m discussing three separate characters making up a balanced party (seriously though- pick any three-man band and you can probably figure out real quick who is Id, Ego, and Superego real fast), but for once, it’s an actual In Yo Head example, so Freud is Still Wrong, but this is a weird situation.

And it’s also weird because no concept of Id/Ego/Superego operates under the assumption that ALL THREE are actually hella chaotic, but we’re still gonna talk about it, because it works. Oh god, does it work.

Let’s start with our base:

Lucien

Shady Creek Run hyper-charismatic kid who got kicked around enough to have an immediate dissatisfaction with the world. Joined the Claret Orders probably to get some sense of control and be among fellow weird people, but decided he hated authority and it was just a new way to be ostracized (hazarding a guess here). Started his own emo band of mercenaries and treasure hunters with a cool name. Helped out a Cerberus Assembly mage. Found a book and fucked around and found out and decided he really liked screaming void wizards. Lucien, the ego, is now introduced to his Id-

The Nonagon

The Somnovem’s avatar. The alleged prince of Cognoza. The cryptic bullshit spouting Charles Manson-acting motherfucker who is driven by nothing more than a base desire to make everything real weird. Chaotic Evil to a T, who definitely got worse after spending two years in a hurt/comfort fic with the screaming void wizards who patched his soul back up, but while they were doing that, the fraction of Lucien’s soul left behind was his superego, namely-

Mollymauk Tealeaf

Yeah, I know. Wait??? Molly “all Id” Tealeaf??? The superego?? Yeah, I know, it’s crazy, but when your id and ego fuck off to the astral plane, you have to be your own Id. I told you when the characters are ALL chaotic, it gets weird. But! Molly represents whatever sense of ethics Lucien has or could have if he wasn’t such a little bitch. He’s all the good parts of Lucien and he represents what Lucien could do with what he’s got. Instead of leaving the world WORSE, you could leave it BETTER.

(If this sounds like shoulder angel/devil nonsense- congratulations, you’ve unlocked the final layer of all Id/Ego/Superego really is.)

As it stands, Lucien was clearly incapable of listening to his heart because he was a miserable bitch who was just out for himself and when presented with something that fed into his Id, he leaned right into it. So that’s why Lucien/Nonagon are probably the closest to what Lucien actually WAS before all of this, because Lucien has clearly shut off his superego for some time and the Somnovem validated that.

But Molly, a fragment of soul that was “raised” in a situation that Lucien never had was able to flourish into his own person- a person who represented the ideal of what Lucien COULD be. Still driven by his Id, since that’s clearly what Lucien wants, but driven to it with benevolent hedonism and friendly nihilism, instead of... all the other stuff.

What this amounts to is Lucien hasn’t been in the pilot’s seat of this body for AWHILE. First it was Molly, now it’s the Nonagon. Lucien is an unbalanced hot mess who needs to reconcile both sides of these parts of him- the cult of personality and the showman. The ambition to change the world tempered by a need to not make everything worse.

Molly and the Nonagon ARE wholly functional separate characters, but they are also PIECES of Lucien. Molly was flawed. Nonagon is VERY flawed. Lucien is gonna be flawed even if he can three-way fusion dance himself back into control.

And yes I KNOW that had Molly lived I sincerely doubt that Matt would have like slapped him with dealing with the entirety of Lucien’s backstory dump or a fusion of the two, which does make Molly wholly separate, but that isn’t the narrative we have here. The narrative we have is about what is stronger- Molly who represents all the good within Lucien or the Nonagon who represents all the evil within him and how that will balance out in the end.

Or Lucien could eat the Star Razor and/or get absorbed into the screaming city never to be found again, but I’m on the Mollucien Train until that time. Because I can’t help but think Matt set it up as an OPTION. There’s no way he would give them this with no way to get Molly back or at least a Lucien who is strongly influenced by the Molly side, depending on if he intended to give Molly back to Tal as per an agreement between them (probably unlikely) or if he intends to play Mollucien as an NPC (marginally more likely). It’s not Matt’s way. He knows what Molly means to those characters, but he’s presented the road to get there as this fascinating look at three sides to one character at constant war within each other and who will win out in the end.

That’s why this arc is my favorite. It’s not just about stopping the end of the world. It’s about seeing if there’s a way to stop a seed of corruption and change it for the better, which has been the fucking theme of the campaign now for a LONG time.

#critical role #mollymauk tealeaf #lucien #lucien the nonagon

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utilitycaster · 3 years

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Speaking of Halas, it was briefly brought up in the most recent episode that he might've been digging around in the ruins of Aeor some time before he got stuck in the gem, and to me it seems pretty likely: the first thing they found of his other than the Happy Fun Ball itself was some winter weather gear stashed separately (I think) from the rest of the pocket-dimension-thing, which may not have been an intentional hint to Aeor but is interesting nonetheless; what do you think?

In episode 125 he said he hadn’t gone; granted he’s not exactly a trustworthy guy but I don’t see a good reason to lie about this and he did provide what information he knew. I do think there’s a chance he had considered it and may have been preparing, but I don’t think he necessarily went himself. It’s not totally clear how long after Aeor’s fall Halas lived, since he was living in the midst of the calamity, the timeline of which is vague.

I have two separate alternate possible answers:

1. The boring and practical one: he lived on a flying city that at least spent some time floating over what is modern-day Zemni Fields, ie, high altitude and in a cooler region of the world.

2. I think there’s sometimes a hesitancy to incorporate fourth-wall/meta information in theories, but in actual play I think the best theories often at least take it under consideration (and the worst often deliberately do not). We know that Matt did not initially intend the Folding Halls of Halas to stay with the party, but Twiggy gave it to them. We know Matt incorporated the permaheart into the build when the party was frustrated during the Angel of Irons arc and had indicated they were going to see Yussa, and additionally included the notes that became Widogast’s Transmogrification, but had Twiggy kept the ball, those would not be closed-off avenues - they would just be in different places. The fundamental secret of DM-ing is that the DM is frantically shifting the set pieces around from time to time based on what the players want or need while making it seem like consistent, real scenery, and Matt is very good at doing this in game but he’s pretty honest out-of-game that he does it.

So the cold-weather gear in episode 45 very well might have been meant, at the time, as a hint for when the Aeor shoe dropped that Halas could be a resource,. But in episode 45, I’m sure that while Matt had outlined the character of Essek Thelyss he couldn’t have predicted the Mighty Nein could reliably count on him, or the Dynasty at all, when they finally got to Aeor. He didn’t know how exactly the Aeor arc would happen nor precisely when. So any theories I have need to incorporate the simple fact that sometimes, Chekhov’s Gun shows up in episode 45 and actually doesn’t really mean anything, because the first act was assuming a very different second act and the use of the Chekhov’s Gun metaphor when discussing actual play is a very tricky thing. Which is to all say: the cold weather clothes were just a *Tim Curry voice* Red. Herring.

I already got pretty off topic above (something something Clue The Movie jokes something something “too late”) but I wanted to add one more thing which is that Halas interests me less as any sort of plot hook or resource, even though he could indeed become one if someone gets possessed, or if Yussa is rescued and decides to go 0 for 3 on resisting wizardly temptation, and more so as worldbuilding. I can only explain this by bringing up the Neal Stephenson book The Diamond Age, a post-cyberpunk classic I love very very much. It famously opens with a chapter describing an almost ridiculously stereotypical tough guy loner fringes of society archetypal character of the cyberpunk genre, follows him as one of a few early viewpoint characters, and then (minor spoilers, but not really) he gets killed within the first 50 pages. The point of that exercise is to indicate that this is post-cyberpunk instead and the story isn’t about him.

To me, Halas is in a way, playing a similar role. He’s a powerful mage involved in politics, some form of immoral or amoral, doing all kinds of necromancy and pursuing immortality...and he’s literally crystalized and stagnant. I mean, it’s not terribly subtle - the previous campaign ended with the defeat of Vecna, god of being a wizard who does immortality shenanigans.

I don’t, to be fair, know if this is deliberate, but we’re currently in a story where elements of the Age of Arcanum may come back depending on what goes down in Aeor (Devexian being merely one of many potential hooks/causes) and the impact it might have on the arcane is fascinating, and Halas helps set that stage.

#the only thing that will make me want C3 to not be in Issylra is if it's EVEN MORE FOCUSED ON WIZARD STUFF #critical role #long post #meta #known gem wizard hotsauce lutefisk #Anonymous

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paintedwarpony · 3 years

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CRITICAL ROLE REWATCH C2E110

(And further ranting and raving and campaign predictions...)

Hey guess what I'm back to talk about today you guys?

Verin Thelyss? Always. But not for this episode.

HOW ABOUT SOME MORE GODDAMN HINTED MULTICLASSED EODWULF.

Yep. You bet.

For those of you just joining this Ted Talk I posed a theory months ago that Eodwulf is NOT infact multiclassed as a paladin for the Raven Queen/Matron of Ravens as most of the fandom has considered. But is something far more dangerous and terrifying.

That Eodwulf is in fact multiassed as a War Domain Cleric.

WHICH IS BAD.

VERY VERY BAD.

At least from a D&D combat campaign point of view. Because essentially it creates an absolute malestrom of a NPC. And it turns the gut to think of the kind of fight it would put the Nein through.

*coughTPKcough*

Because the facts are this. Eodwulf is already a very highly trained, extremely powerful wizard, which is dangerous in and of itself. Add to that fact that he's ALSO a homebrewed Volstrucker and considered one of Ikithon's elites. That means there's going to be all kinds of shit mixed up in that bag of tricks that we haven't seen or yet to speculate.

My basis as to why I think Eodwulf is a cleric of some kind leans heavily on the fact that Matt Mercer himself very often grumbles and complains during campaign about how "unfair" it is that the Nein have two clerics. Yet to date the Nein have not actually gone to combat with a full party that includes a cleric (that may change with the Tomb Takers, who knows) but its certainly not an oversight by any means. I'm positive Matt is saving the use of a cleric enemy for a particularly nasty encounter or series of encounters.

Because lets be real

Clerics will fuck some shit up no matter what their domain is. Between the ridiculously long list of spells they have access to and the ability to pop other members of their team back up clerics are brawlers in the disguise of supports.

NOW HERE'S WHERE IS GETS DANGEROUS CONCERING EODWULF.

Considering Eodwulf is a wizard, and a homebrewed Volstrucker at that theres going to be alot of fire power there but Wizards are notorious glass canons unless handled or multiclassed correctly. Caleb is EXTREMELY powerful mage wise BUT he still follows wizard format to balance him from becoming to powerful. At lvl 13 his AC 15 (jumps to 16 with Mage Armor) and he has 96HP. They're at a point of the campaign where they are coming up against creatures that deal out damage in the 50s, 60s, 70s, or more in one shot. And in turn the Nein themselves are starting to be able to do that kind of damage back.

Which if Eodwulf was just a wizard played by wizard stats, even just slightly homebrewed, wouldn't make him much of a threat.

BUT THROW CLERIC IN THERE AND MAKE IT A WAR DOMAIN CLERIC?

You just turned that glass canon into a GODS DAMNED SHERMAN TANK.

That gives Eodwulf access to martial weapons, heavy armor and a PLEATHORA of other equipment that most wizards could only look longingly through a shop window at before. Not to mention the spell list expansion. His AC jumps. His HP jumps. His attack ability skyrockets as he could both cast spells and make (multiple with certain effects) physical attacks in the same round. His magical longevity bolsters as he can save spell slots until more opportune times to but continue to cause damage with physical strikes.

Not to mention the aspect of keeping the rest of his side of the fight up. Healing up other Volstrucker, Astrid, fucking Ikithon himself to keep them in combat. Hell even using FUCKING REVIVIFY to bring one back if he needs to.

Counterspell? Got it. Cure Wounds? Got it. Guiding Strike? Yep got that, too. Divine Intervention? Sure thing! Fireball? Pssht, for sure.

Considering the hint in C2E110 that Eodwulf favors electricity the same way Caleb favors fire I wouldn't be surprised if he has friggin' Chained Lighting as a go to favorite spell.

BUT I DIGRESS

Some more hints came into focuse during C2E110 to support this theory but the biggest one was said by Eodwulf himself. When questioned about what he did on the front lines Eodwulf admitted:

"I am not much of a front line fighter..."

Its kind of a throwaway line BUT is very much known and considered within D&D that paladins (like Fjord) are considers front line fighter types. But wizards AND CLERICS OF ALL DOMAINS are considered SUPPORT LINE. That they hang back and try to stay out of the thick of danger. Despite the abilities of a cleric to be absolutely savage in combat, as displayed by Jester and Caduceus over the campaign, they're still considered 'support/support line' classes.

It might not be a huge hint but the only time at the table Eodwulf showed any small bit of his own personality was when he bragged just a little about himself and admitted to liking being called a 'living magical weapon', he was also incredibly honest and forthright when he answered questions or spoke about their duty, parents, the torture that he'd been put through at the hands of Ikithon and his faith in the Matron of Ravens was no secret and peppered casually into his conversation. I think that if he was in fact a paladin Edowulf would not hesitate to talk about his pride at serving the Matron of Ravens AND the Empire in direct combat. A wiz-pally combo like that would be formidable but...

A Wiz-War Cleric combo thats a homebrewed Volstrucker and backed by the goddess of death...

Its gonna get real ugly really fast for the Nein if they have to fight him.

I fully believe Eodwulf can be flipped to the Nein's favor but I think to manage that he needs to be separated from Ikithon AND Astrid. During C2E110 he took ALL of his cues from Astrid, looking at her EVERY TIME before starting to speak or reacting to anything. He only acted a little more independent when they were outside the tower. Everything about Eodwulf's demeanor and behavior suggests someone so very lost and used to being bullied or directed one way or another that he doesn't think twice to follow instructions or vomit back up beliefs he was 'taught' but might not be his own. People like that bury their personalities and only find their way to the surface when they're separated from the supervision of their influence. Caleb as expressed multiple times he wants to win both his friends back with a much heavier emphasis on Astrid than Eodwulf. Astrid seems a much more difficult person to turn to their side imo and habors to many secrets and ulterior motives and its worrisome the way she does execute her will over Edowulf. Its clear by some of the interactions at the table that Astrid was very much the 'leader' of the Blumentrio, as she several times tried to cue Caleb with looks to stop or change his behavior and actions. Caleb has been free of Ikithon (and Astrid's) influence for so long now and grown so much in the care of his found family it didn't even cause him to balk but it worries me that if Astrid were introduced into the Nein her influence and manipulations that she does still hold over Eodwulf may start to sink in and control Caleb again as well. The encounter certainly rattled him and left him repeatedly insisting "freeing" her specifically over the course of the campaign since.

But thats a whole different can of worms...

If the Nein turn Astrid to their cause I'm almost positive Eodwulf will follow her. He cued to her FAR more than he did to Ikithon and that speaks volumes.

But I would so much like to see Eodwulf on his own, see his personality and see his own decision to join the Nein's side or not.

But truly... if the answer is 'not'...

Its not going to be good...

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violet-t-9 · 3 years

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Check in on my (not very realistic) wish list for episode 137

1. Sheepleb interactions, I don’t care with whom - I need sheepleb my beloved to interact with people for reasons. I know the sheep-shifting may only last for 1 minutes but that’s 10 rounds, surely enough to get some sweet RP in.

YES Cad grab the sheep yes YASHA SCRATCH THAT BELLY sheepleb interactions my beloved. Jester yes make sheepleb move his cute little ears I love y’all. YES SHEEPLEB chew on Yasha’s coat. I never knew I would love a sheep but I do now apparently. Yasha continuing to pet sheepleb and continuing to hold Caleb after he shifts back I love her so much-

2. Caleb or Beau accidentally and telepathically speak to people by thinking too loudly. I can’t wait for their reactions, it will be hilarious.

Well, Caleb did so but more deliberately, and it was more enlightening than hilarious lol.

3. Beau and Caleb discover the third function of their eyes (if dark vision is included in true sight, then they are missing one feature).

Nope, the eyes were used against them again to expose their locations, but haven’t ever been used for mind control yet, so I’m okay with that.

4. Beau and Caleb do not gain any new eyes (pretty please, come on).

I mean they have bigger problems but yeah I got what I wanted!

5. Wait no it’s the astral sea there is no wild magic effect anymore :( but can they at least encounter some unique astral sea creatures, features or something as fun as Aeorian wild magic.

Well... That was a lot of astral sea creatures. More precisely creepy meaty enemies. I think it was fun! In a horrifying way, but fun.

6. Someone mentions Yussa and discuss the probability of saving him (honestly though I don’t know how that’s going to work).

Jester mentioned Yussa pretty soon but I think they are a bit... preoccupied to save anyone at the moment, oops.

7. Getting closer to the city and discovering more of its nature/power/how to stop it.

Wow that city description is cool oh boy I got chills from the empty city suddenly bustling with people. Also that Caleb telepathy experiment is so creepy and terrifying. Is the city alive?! With flesh and teeth?! EuughhHHh. Timorei the terrified rebel/Fear they first met (who seemed to be on Lucien’s side), with Elatis and Luctus opposing him? The Aether crux??! Ira/Wrath who acted in a sort of beast-like way and seemed antagonistic towards Mirumus and Gaudius?? It’s good to know the Somnovem are in fact far from one mind - their opinions seem pretty divided. Aether crux might be the way to go, couldn’t they just destroy all the Somnovem, since they want M9 to kill some of them anyways? Does the entire city function like a living body?

8. Beau and Yasha continue to flirt even in the astral sea and travel side-by-side or physically interact.

Twin initiative 21 yeah let’s go- wait when I said physical interaction I didn’t mean it like that come on!! Stop hitting each other. Also Yasha’s small “I love you but” aww. It was still a little bit flirty somehow lol loved it. ALSO the air kiss was so cute I can’t with these two and their awesome PDA. They also searched the building together!

9. Jester really doting on Artagan/Sprinkle like she never did before.

I mean, she paid him way more attention that’s for sure :D

10. Jester and Fjord have a longer one-on-one conversation or fight like a badass battle couple that they are.

Hey they were both great in combat and explored together!

11. Obligatory wish for Essek’s fancy dunamancy or magical items (Bonus: we get to see one of those high-damage AOE offensive spells that he couldn’t cast).

AYY LIGHTNING BOLT HYPE! It was sort of an AOE too! Loved his flair as always. It’s not dunamancy technically but I’m counting it because cool purple-black spell.

12. Obligatory wish for Caleb’s polymorph spell (sheepleb was perfect, GIVE ME MORE).

Nope, but the sheepleb we got was awesome.

13. Tiny Veth interactions with party members (Bonus: with Fjord, or sheepleb).

Nope, the effect probably didn’t last long? Or they just forgot about tiny Veth lol.

14. The party members try to reach Molly through Lucien and Lucien reacting more to things that they say.

They didn’t catch up to Lucien at all, but I have a feeling that they will next episode.

15. They catch up to Lucien and Cree somehow and manage to stop them from returning the city to the world (or at least start the combat).

Combat was started at the end of the episode with Cree! They did catch up to Cree! This is going in the right direction at least.

16. Successful divine intervention from Cad or Jester.

At least Cad and Jester both tried! They weren’t successful, but still.

17. Yasha decides to brute force through a problem and succeeds like the true Barbarian that she is.

I mean, all the combat is brute-force and Yasha did eliminate one of the flesh horror monsters with her cool holy avenger swing!

18. Someone pushes the big red button and derails them.

Nope! They’ve been focused and on task and that’s good!

19. The wizards and their complicated whatever it is being addressed or developed more.

Not Caleb smirking at Essek using fire bolt then proceeding to use one himself and get a natural 20 I- that was so cool?? What?? Have I mentioned that I love those wizards because I love them. They also float the fastest of course.

20. Heroes’ feast/short rest or a long rest that they well deserve (Bonus: they have great rolls on the HP).

Nope, but I mean they probably need one soon.

21. Obligatory wish for Essek’s room in the tower.

Yeah nah this one is just a permanent feature on the wish list don’t mind it.

22. Oblitagory wish for Cad being a MVP in and out of combat.

Cad turned Caleb back (baaaaaaye sheepleb I love you), healed the group and discovered a lot about how the city worked, including using decompose.

23. Veth being thirsty for Davexian still, or for whatever other Astral sea creature they are going to meet.

“Want to do some apple picking?” LMAO I’m not gonna count that of course but it was funny.

24. Obligatory wish for everyone to remain relatively happy and alive by the end of the episode except Lucien and Cree (they can perish, but now I kinda want Lucien to not die since he had some strange reactions), and the episode ends on a terrifying cliffhanger as always.

Score: 12/24

Welp, that took a turn. I did not expect so much Eldritch horror and expected way more humour (which in hindsight was unwise considering how the story is going lol), but honestly I’m not complaining one bit. Matt’s voice acting and everybody’s performance are top notch and the world-building is just *chef’s kiss*, terrifying or not.

Bonus:

The subtitles said “bleating” when everybody yelled before the opening theme I’m dead lmao also “some a bit sheepish”, courtesy pun of the DM.

“I mean... *bleats*” hahahah I love sheepleb so much

Poor Essek had to start the combat on low HP, sadness. To be fair, our wonderful DM was busy playing many characters and giving beautiful expositions and the players were busy being captivated by all that!

“When in Aeor” Fjord lmao making his face into a big red eyeball, as one does.

Torrent of Teeth ughhhhhAHH what an attack name

Caleb casting Widogast’s Web of Fire was the hottest thing I’ve seen, no pun intended - it was hotttt.

#critical role spoilers #critical role #cr liveblog #cr spoilers #c2e137 #the mighty nein #manifest list

23 notes · View notes

twoidiotwriters1 · 3 years

Text

Young Blood -(PB/WITS Crossover)

A/N: Here’s our surprise uwu we’re tagging people from both series and we hope you guys enjoy our fluffy, ‘Voldemort never existed/Lupin isn’t a werewolf’ au -Val & Danny

Words: 6,158

Twoidiots Masterlist // Next Chapter

September 1st, 1971

The train is about to leave. Sirius and Percy finish their goodbyes and hop on the train, both searching for an empty compartment.

“Percy, here,” says the boy, opening one. The girl walks closer but soon realizes it’s not exactly empty.

“Hi,” Sirius says, “can we sit here? All the others are taken...”

“Sure.”

Both kids sit in front of the other boys.

“I’m James, James Potter,” says the kid in glasses.

“I’m Remus Lupin,” The boy in the middle waves awkwardly, he has a small scar on the bridge of his nose.

“I’m Matthew,” A boy with chestnut hair and clear blue eyes smiles at them, he’s seated at the opposite corner. Persephone can’t help but think that he’s really sweet-looking. Very cute.

“I’m Sirius Black, and this is Percy,” Sirius responds, the girl smiles politely. She looks around and feels a bit awkward being surrounded by a bunch of boys.

“Is your name really Percy?” asks James. She laughs and shakes her head.

“It’s short for Persephone.”

“Cool,” He gives her a lopsided grin.

For the next five minutes the group divides into tiny conversations, James and Sirius animatedly talk about what they’d do at school, Sirius can’t help but get excited about not being under the gaze of his mum and James has tons of fun ideas.

Meanwhile, Persephone, Remus and Matthew share the joy of being able to learn everything that the books are promising. They couldn’t wait to start the school year.

Suddenly the compartment door opens at once and a little girl with thick, auburn hair steps in.

“I know you!” She exclaims, looking directly at Matthew. “You’re Albus Dumbledore’s son!”

The group looks at her in surprise, staying deadly silent.

“Er...” Matthew blushes lightly, “he’s not my father, he’s my uncle… uh, nice to meet you?”

Persephone nudges Sirius side and whispers excitedly. “You think he could keep us away from detention?”

“You’re already assuming we’ll get in trouble?” He grins.

“Oh, please, I know you’re thinking the same,” She responds.

“Sorry, I knew you’d be here and I was excited to meet you, your family is a legend!” The new girl looks around. “Oh, right. I’m Emily Sultens, and you are..?”

“James Potter, nice to meet you,” The boy shakes her hand and then moves the trunk from the seat in front of him so she can join them.

“I’m Remus.”

“Sirius,” The boy waves lazily.

“Hi,” The girl stares at Emily curiously. “I’m Percy.”

“I’m Matt— but I guess you knew that already…”

“Yes,” Emily giggles, “the Prophet mentions you all the time.”

“Of course they do!” James exclaims, “He’s the son of the greatest wizard that’s ever existed! Aberforth Dumbledore: the guy that turns people into goats…”

“Actually,” Remus spoke up, “that title belongs to Merlin. Uhm, the one about the greatest wizard, not the goats.”

“Yes!” Sirius threw a fist in the air, “you’ll be the witty one of our group.”

The boy hugs Remus so fast he accidentally drops his books. Matt picks them and places them on top of a trunk.

“Don’t be clingy, Sirius!” Percy scolds.

“Don’t be jealous, Percy, I’m just being friendly,” He teases.

“You’re being annoying,” She rolls her eyes. “Stop it.”

“Thanks, Percy,” Remus grunted, pushing Sirius away. “Thanks, Matt.”

“No problem,” Matthew smiles.

Emily sits comfortably next to Percy and quickly starts talking to her.

“You guys knew each other?” She asks.

“No, I only knew this idiot,” Percy kicks Sirius’ leg softly. “Are you a first-year too?”

“Yes! I’m excited, my dad told me thousands of cool stories about Hogwarts…”

“What house do you want to be sorted in?”

“Oh, I don’t know much about the houses,” Emily tilts her head.

“It’s really simple, you know there are four houses?” Emily nods, Percy continues. “Well, it’s really common to be sorted into the same house as your family, I’m the youngest, and all my siblings had been in Slytherin, so it’s very likely that I’ll be one as well—”

“Slytherin?”James makes a face of disgust. “What’s your Lastname?”

Percy frowns a bit. “Singh.”

James’ face changes into a more tense expression. “Oh… okay.”

“What’s wrong with my name?” She questions.

“Nothing! Nothing…” Then he adds in a not-so-discrete whisper, “apart from the fact that they’re all ugly snakes.”

Percy gasps loudly, the boys stare at them not knowing what to answer while Emily appears to be slightly confused. Sirius is ready to defend his friend, but Matthew intervenes faster.

“I don’t think Slytherins are bad,” He says. “I assume your whole family was in Gryffindor, right James?”

The boy puffs out his chest defiantly. “Yeah, so?”

“So that explains why you’re so judgy,” Emily says brightly, happy to be able to participate.

“I was just saying!”

The conversation is interrupted by a girl with bright, red hair and a quiet boy, both occupying the last seats available in the compartment. James insists on continuing the argument and the new boy (who introduced himself as Severus) argues back in support of Slytherin.

They’re both really annoying, the three girls share a look of exasperation and the redhead (who said her name was Lily) decides to put a stop to it.

“This is really stupid, neither of you even know if you’ll be sorted into those houses! You could be Ravenclaws for all you know!”

“No way, I’m obviously Gryffindor!” James argues. “Only brainys are sorted into Ravenclaw...”

“Okay then, you’re obviously not a Ravenclaw,” Lily remarks.

“Exactly!” James blushes when he realizes his mistake. “No, wait—”

“You have an ill opinion of every house except for Gryffindor,” Emily points out.

“Because Gryffindor is the best house!”

“Why are you arguing about it with her anyway? She’s a muggle-born,” Sirius states matter-of-factly. “She doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

Lily loses all colour as she glares at the dark-haired boy.

“You know what? I won’t waste my time arguing with spoiled prats. Let’s go, Severus,” Lily stands up, Emily and Percy share a look of shock and amusement, both girls immediately knowing they have to befriend this girl.

“See you, Snivellus!” Sirius says out loud as the pair leave the room. Persephone punches his arm. “Ouch! What was that for?”

“You idiot,” She scowls.

September 1973

“I’m telling you guys, this is the year, I can feel it.”

“Sure thing, Matty,” James snorts. “I don’t understand why is it so hard for you, Emily spends half of her time with us and you still get all anxious around her…”

“I could ask you the same about Lily,” Remus mentions casually.

“It’s just that she’s always talking with the girls and I can’t ever speak to her without the others watching me!” Matthew huffs. “But I’ve had enough, this year is the year Emily and I become best friends.”

“But you don’t want to be just her friend,” Sirius smirks. “You want to date her.”

“I have to start somewhere…” He mumbles.

“Here’s a different idea,” Sirius puts an arm around his shoulders and pulls him in for a hug, he continues in a whisper, “why don’t you try and flirt with other girls to see if she gets jealous?”

“That’s a stupid idea,” Remus responds.

“You’re stupid,” Sirius frowns. “And I was talking to Matthew. What do you say, Matt?”

The young Dumbledore looks at the boy and shrugs.

“Dunno, I don’t want to give her the wrong impression…”

“She already has the wrong impression,” James rolls his eyes. “She thinks you don’t like her!”

“How d’you know?”

“I heard her talking with Percy the other day while we were on our way to potions, she thinks you can’t stand her and that’s why you always hide from her.”

“No!” Matthew’s eyes widened. “I’m an idiot!”

“Listen to me, Matt,” Sirius insists, squeezing his shoulders. “If you flirt with others then you’ll be more interesting to her, if not, well, you’ll have a bunch of girls chasing you around, it’s a win-win!”

“And how’s that working for you?” Remus questions.

“What do you mean?” Sirius frowns.

“Uh— oh, nevermind,” The boy retorts, hiding behind the book he’s currently reading.

“Well,” Matthew shifts on his seat. “It’s not a terrible idea, is it?”

James shrugs silently, shoving half a sandwich in his mouth. “Can’ be ‘at ‘ard.”

Matthew rolls his eyes, but he’s finally made a decision.

“I’ll do it.”

“Cool,” Sirius smirks.

“How should I start?”

“I have no idea, mate,” Sirius replies, patting his back harshly. “Good luck!”

“Girls,” Emily sat down between them, looking over her shoulder at the group of boys a few feet behind. “Is it me, or is Matthew Dumbledore acting really weird lately?”

“Weird how?” Percy asked.

“I saw him flirt with a fifth-year prefect the other day,” Emily said, her brows furrowed. “He actually convinced her not to send him to detention!”

“I haven’t seen much of him lately,” Lily shrugged. “I’ve been trying to stay away from that lot this year, Potter is driving me crazy—”

“Here we go again...” Percy fell back on the grass with a heavy sigh, Lily ignored her.

“He stole my bag the other day! I had to chase him around! He’s such a child, I don’t understand how Matthew and Remus are his friends...”

“Matthew’s no saint either,” Emily said. “He helped them escape from McGonagall, apparently now he loves pranks as much as Sirius and James…”

“Well, we always knew there had to be a reason why they were such good friends,” Percy replied sitting up a bit.

“...And I saw him sneak a rat’s tail in Dorcas’ drink last Monday, the poor thing screamed so loud!” Lily continued without really listening to the girls.

“I used to think he didn’t like me because I’m usually the one who pranks others with Sirius and James,” Emily was also talking to herself at this point. “I thought he considered me childish and that was why he didn’t want anything to do with me…”

“Mmhmm,” Percy grabbed her hat and covered her face with it, deciding to take a short nap while her two friends continued their rambling.

“—Don’t even get me started on how he treats Severus! He’s always trying to humiliate him and he thinks he’s being funny while doing so—”

“Severus is an idiot most of the time, though,” Emily retorted, briefly coming back to the present. “Even Remus can’t stand him.”

“They never offer him the chance to be better!” Lily argued. “He’s a really sweet boy once you get to meet him, you know?”

“Matthew’s a sweet boy, right? Did I had the wrong impression all this time? Is that why he hates me? I dunno, I don’t find him as fun to be around as I used to...”

“Dear Merlin!” Percy sat up in exasperation. “Emily, if you’re so eager to get to know him better just go and talk, you never shut up anyway— Lily, I’m seriously considering to arrange a date so you and James can shut up about each other.”

Both girls stared at her in shock, Emily blushed in embarrassment while Lily got red with anger.

“I hate James Potter!” She rummaged through her bag and pulled out her charms book. “Look at what he did to my book! He’s an animal!”

“I don’t need to know Matthew better, he’s clearly becoming Sirius and James’ triplet, that’s all I need to know,” Emily huffed.

“Very well,” Percy rolls her eyes. “Whatever you say — Can we talk about something else now?”

“Okay,” Emily mumbles. “About what?”

“I have no idea,” Percy mutters.

“Afternoon, girls,” Matthew approaches blithely, Percy lets out the faintest groan. “Is this books yours? I found it outside Slughorn’s classroom and I’ve been trying to find its owner…”

“No,” Percy replies without even looking at it.

“I don’t think so,” Matthew seems to have his full attention on her and Emily honestly can’t look away. “Are you sure it doesn’t have any initials on it? No names?”

“No... It looks rather new, that’s why I’m trying to return it, I don’t think the student would like to buy twice the same thing?”

This is the longest he’s ever talked to her without stammering, Emily takes it as a good sign. Maybe he doesn’t hate her after all, perhaps he’s just too much like he’s father, a bit shy, maybe even a bit grumpy…

“I could help you if you want?”

“W-What?” Matthew’s eyes widened, he wasn’t expecting that. He looks down to the book in his hand and swears internally. If she sees the book is James’ then she’ll think he’s an idiot. He can’t let her do that!

“Matt!” One of his classmates from Ancient Runes walks up to him, a black girl with beautiful eyes. “Hi! I was on my way to get something to eat, want to join me?”

Matthew immediately adopts his charming smile. He fixes his tie and nods.

“Sure thing!” He looks back at Emily and nods. “Maybe we can look around later?”

Emily doesn’t know why she’s so frustrated, she wanted to spend time with him. She’s been trying to be his friend for two years and every time she gets close something always happens! It’s exasperating.

Matthew leaves her there and both, Percy and Lily stare at her with knowing grins. She refuses to meet their gazes.

“You’re such an idiot, Sirius, why did you tell Matthew to flirt around?” Percy slaps the back of his head. “Emily’s getting so many mixed signals!”

“I thought it would catch her eye!” He grunts, rubbing his neck. “Merlin, you have a heavy hand…”

“You deserve that for being such a fool, why does your solution always involve flirting with other people?” She rolls her eyes.

“It was the first thing that came to mind!”

“It’s the only thing you do lately,” She grumbled.

“I think you’re overreacting. It’s not a big deal, not like you fancy her, do you?” He raises a brow, Percy hits him again.

“I don’t like her, but I don’t think it’s fair to play with other people’s feelings,” She sighs and closes her eyes in distress. “Anyway, now we have to fix it! This is the plan— I’ll sit with you during charms. That way Lily and Emily will have an empty seat and Matthew won’t have another choice but to sit with them!”

“He’s a coward, he won’t do it.”

“A galleon says he will,” Remus adds.

“Deal,” reply Sirius.

When Emily walks into the classroom she finds the strangest scene in front of her.

Percy is seated next to James, Remus and Sirius, who looks strangely grumpy. Across the room, Lily, Jenna and Matthew are sharing a table, and the only free spot is right next to the boy.

Unsure of what’s happening, Emily sits down next to the young Dumbledore trying to look as casual as possible. She smiles at him and Matthew smiles back. She really likes his smile.

“Did you find the owner?”

“What — Oh, yeah!” He chuckles. “It was one of James’ pranks— I guess he ran out of smart ideas. You look pretty today.”

“Oh,” Emily’s voice comes out slightly high-pitched. “You look pretty too. I mean— Handsome. Yes. Well pretty is also acceptable, isn’t it? I’ve never understood why boys don’t like to be called pretty—”

“You can call me pretty,” He says immediately, behind him Lily bursts into a fit of silent giggles. “I mean, whatever you prefer, I don’t mind. I don’t hate you —”

“You don’t?” She asks in relief. “That’s great! Does that mean we can be friends?”

“Let’s be best friends!”

“I would love that!”

“Our first visit to Hogsmeade is next week,” He continues, encouraged by her excitement. “Would you like to have a butterbeer with me then?”

“Yes!”

Sirius, Remus, James and Percy stare at them in incredulity.

“Dear Merlin, I think we’ve created a monster,” Sirius gulps. “Look at how fast their mouths move!”

“Lily’s going to pee her pants if she doesn’t calm herself,” Percy grins.

“I can’t believe I just lost a galleon!” James scoffs.

“I can’t believe it took them almost three whole years to start talking,” Remus snorted. “You two cough up, you owe me a galleon each.”

November 1976

“I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m dying alone.”

A general groan surrounds James when his friends react to his comment.

“Don’t start this again,” Sirius sighs tiredly. “Being single is the best! Why’re you crying about it?”

“What would you know about being single? You’re practically married to Persephone!” James scoffs.

Sirius guffaws. “What? That’s not true! Who’s Persephone? I don’t know her.”

The dark-haired boy changes his position on the couch awkwardly, next to him Matthew laughs.

“Don’t listen to him, being in love isn’t so bad, you know?”

“Please, Matt, tell me your secrets,” James implores dramatically.

“What secrets?” Matthew snorts. “Mate, I haven’t the faintest.”

“What do you mean you haven’t? You’ve been with Mily for two years!”

“Doesn’t mean I know what I’m doing…”

“Sorry, Prongs,” Remus says in amusement. “Looks like you’re on your own.”

“That’s it then, I’m destined to die as a spinster with twenty cats,” He turns to Sirius. “I’ll have to live in your basement.”

“What?” Sirius exclaims. “You’re rich! I thought you were the one who was going to let me live in his basement!”

“I’m not rich, my parents are!” James scoffs. “They’ll kick me out by the time I turn thirty. Mark my words, Sirius, I’ll die alone.”

“C’mon, have faith, James!” Matthew insists. “Listen, why don’t you ask her to join you for a butterbeer next weekend? The last visit to Hogsmeade before our Christmas break, maybe the holiday’s spirit might convince her to be nicer with you?”

“Right, because six years of deep loathing are that easy to forget,” Remus teases.

“I was just saying,” Matthew shrugs. “Emily reckons Lily is open to try new things…”

“That’s only when it’s her or Percy asking her to try them,” Sirius retorts.

“That’s it!” James claps once in excitement. “Let’s convince Percy to help us! Let’s organize a double date! You ask Percy —”

“Not so fast,” Sirius frowns. “Why would I ask Percy on a date? That’s weird, Lily would know right away what we’re doing.”

James snorted. “No, she wouldn’t.”

“How are you so sure?”

“You’re so up Percy’s arse she won’t think it’s weird if you ask her out. I bet the girls have been expecting this for ages.”

“No, I’m not,” He scoffs, then hesitates. “Am… am I?”

He looks around at the rest of the boys. A general mumble of agreement spreads around them.

“I wouldn’t say it like that,” Matthew starts politely. “It’s just that you appreciate her a lot.”

“Well, she’s my best friend!”

“Cheesy,” James fakes a cough.

Sirius punches his arm and raises his voice slightly.

“Stop it, you prat!”

“Be honest, Sirius,” Remus leans over. “You’ve never considered dating her? Not even once?”

“No?” He pushes his hair back and shrugs tensely. “Obviously.”

Matthew and James share a look.

“You definitely dream about dating her,” James declares.

“James...” Matthew warns him.

“We’ve heard you mumbling her name when you sleep!”

“James,” Matt insists.

“Can I go with you on the honeymoon? I promise to be quiet —”

Sirius stands up abruptly while talking.

“No! You hear me? I won’t do it!”

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

Sirius stands in the middle of the snowy path with James anxiously waiting next to him. He’s standing on his tiptoes waiting to catch a glimpse of Lily’s figure, but he hasn’t succeeded yet.

“Oh, please,” James smirks. “You’ll thank me later. Have you thought of any destination for the romantic trip in which you’ll take your fiance?”

“We’re not taking you on our honeymoon!”

“We?” James grins.

“I— Oh, sod off,” Sirius looks ahead and whimpers. “They’re here.”

Percy waves at them happily, she’s got her arm locked around Lily’s, who looks at James as if he were her personal hell.

“Afternoon, girls,” James greets them cheerily. “You look beautiful, Lily.”

Lily stares at him and scowls, making a brief throaty sound to let him know she heard his compliment.

“Percy,” Sirius squints. “Are you wearing makeup?”

She stammers her reply. “Y-Yes? Is it too much? I’m not used to wearing this stuff, I —”

“You look good,” Sirius replies innocently. “You look pretty — Er, I mean, it looks nice.”

“Oh,” Percy blinks. “Thank you.”

Lily and James stare at them with matching grins, when the pair look at each other James beams, but Lily’s smile vanishes completely.

“What are we waiting for, then?” She asks grumpily. “Let’s go, I’m freezing.”

The redhead walks past the boys firmly and James follows her right away like a lost puppy. Sirius and Percy look at each other without knowing what to do now.

“We should go too, before Lily kills him,” Sirius offers.

“Yeah! You’re right, yes…”

Both teenagers quickly catch up with their friends, ready to forget whatever happened five seconds ago.

“I can’t believe you got me into this, why me?” Lily whines as she watches Persephone wash her hands.

“Give poor James a chance, Lily,” Percy smiles. “He’s trying so hard to behave!”

“He’s an idiot,” Lily rolls her eyes. “Listen, I’m here because you were clearly dying to go on a date with Sirius, but don’t ask me to flirt with James, I can’t do it.”

Percy grimaces. “I wasn’t dying to date Sirius! I — I just couldn’t bring myself to reject him, it was unexpected, you know? I didn’t know he wanted this...”

It’s a lie, of course. Percy knows this date was James’ idea, but she can’t tell Lily that!

Although she does wonder why James asked Sirius and her instead of Matthew and Emily, maybe they had to use the excuse of ‘first dates are always awkward so we had to bring our friends along’ and Gryffindor’s golden couple wouldn’t have been helpful considering they would’ve spent the whole day snogging in front of their mates.

In that case, it made sense it was her and Sirius, they had to pretend this was their first date and not James and Lily’s. Mostly because Lily didn’t even want to be there in the first place.

When the girls went back to their seats Percy found a piece of chocolate cake waiting for her on the table.

“Hey, I didn’t order this,” She says, eyeing the food with interest.

“I did,” replies Sirius casually. “I know it’s your favourite, and I know you get all whiny when you get hungry so I took the liberty to buy you lunch.”

Percy’s chest tightens with affection, she beams at him but briefly catches Lily’s taunting smile and quickly composes herself.

“That’s nice,” Percy looks around the table, “you guys want anything?”

“I’m not hungry,” James replies happily, he only has eyes for Lily. “What about you, Evans, you want anything? My treat!”

Lily’s face shows a hint of a smile, but she quickly covers it by looking away.

“No thank you, I can pay for my own stuff.”

James laughs lightheartedly. “What are you saying? Everyone knows girls don’t pay on the first date!”

Lily pales at the statement.

“That’s ridiculous! Don’t try to mess with me today, James, I’m not in the mood.”

“I’m just trying to be a gentleman!” James frowns. “Why do you always assume I’m trying to upset you?”

“Because everything is always a big joke to you,” Lily huffs. “I’m sorry, but until you grow up I won’t be able to treat you as anything more than a child.”

James stares at her in surprise, then his brows furrow and his eyes turn cold. It’s not a normal look on him, but Sirius has seen him like this before, whenever Snape insults him.

“Fine,” James replies shortly. “I get it — You don’t like me. Brilliant. Why didn’t you say so instead of coming all this way only to insult me?”

“I didn’t want to come! I’m here because Percy asked me to!”

James’ cheeks flush red.

“Well I’m sorry you got forced to spend your last weekend before Christmas with me! You’re free to go, I’m leaving,” James puts a galleon on the table and stands up, hastily pushing the chair away.

“Mate,” Sirius starts, but James raises a hand to silence him.

“It’s okay, Sirius,” He smiles at him, but it’s small, and it looks tired. “You can stay if you want, I think… I think I need to be alone.”

Lily watches him leave in shock. Percy speaks to her softly.

“Lily?”

Her friend lowers her head, and to her surprise, Percy watches as Lily blinks back a few tears.

“I’ll see you at dinner...”

She stands up as well, leaving the establishment. Percy and Sirius stare at each other.

“Well,” Percy starts. “That was awful.”

“Tell me about it,” Sirius leans back on his chair and runs a hand over his face. “I won’t hear the end of it tonight… James is going to be devastated! And of course, it’ll be my fault, the boys will find a way to blame this on me...”

“I know what you mean,” Percy rolls her eyes. “I don’t know why they always choose me to do this stuff, I’m the one who’s single and not in love! Emily’s the one who’s always talking about Matthew, Lily just needs to vent about her feelings for James and sometimes even Jenna starts acting all lovey when Marlene is near…”

“Matthew’s the same, always with that stupid smile and ogling at Emily, annoying as hell,” Sirius scoffs. “I wish we could go back to being kids when neither of them was drooling over each other…”

The pair delved into different topics as the hours went by, it was just the two of them, but it was the first time in a long while that they truly felt comfortable and at ease. Neither of them was spotted until Sirius entered the boys’ dormitory.

“Hey, you’re back,” Matthew says from his bed. “Where were you? James came back hours ago and he looked like he wanted to set himself on fire…”

“Oh — hi!” Sirius gives a start and quickly hides his face, turning his back to the boy. “I’m okay, I’m not the one who had a bad date — Nor a good date! I didn’t have a date.”

“Okay?” Matthew closes his book. “That’s not what I asked, though.”

“I was around,” Sirius shrugs. “How’s James, then? Where is he?”

“Think he’s gone to the secret passageway behind the old witch to cry his eyes out, people will probably think it’s a very loud ghost or something,” Remus replies from his own bed. “At least that’s what he said, dunno, he wasn’t making sense…”

“The date went bad, that’s what I understood,” Matthew says grimly. “What happened, Sirius?”

“I’m not sure,” He stands there trying to remember, “We were talking, and James wasn’t even acting that childish in my opinion, but Lily was determined to argue with him — in the end, I think James lost his patience and left.”

“He willingly walked away from Lily Evans?” Remus raises a brow. “Does this mean he’s moving on?”

“I wouldn’t call ‘hiding in the hidden passageway to cry’ moving on, would you?” Sirius snorts. “But maybe he will afterwards, who knows…”

“So Lily just stayed with you the whole time?”

“Oh no, she left as well, and she even cried a bit,” His smile fell. “It went downhill very quickly.”

“What did Persephone and you did afterwards, then? Because none of us saw you around?”

Sirius tenses and starts to undress without looking at any of them

“We just talked, I ordered food and we didn’t want to waste it…”

Remus and Matthew chuckle, Sirius looks over his shoulder at them.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Remus smirks. “How was the food?”

“Good, I guess?” He frowns.

“Did you have fun?”

“Well, it’s Percy. I always have fun.”

Matthew laughs louder and Sirius grabs a pillow and throws it at him.

“What are you laughing at?”

“You had a date!”

“No!” He protests. “It wasn’t a real date! James forced us to go —”

“And you stayed after he and Lily left,” Remus continued. “Just the two of you.”

“Did you share the food?” Matthew smirks.

“Well, I only ordered her food so what else were we supposed to do?”

“You could’ve ordered a second plate?” Matthew offers with contained laughter.

“Sod off, you two!” Sirius groans. “It wasn’t a date, okay? We just talked and then — then we came back! Nothing happened!”

“That’s a bit rude,” Remus pouts mockingly. “You gave her food, least she could’ve done was giving you a hug!”

“Not even a goodnight kiss?”

“We didn’t kiss!” Sirius blushed uncontrollably, if it weren’t for the dim illumination of the room, the other two would’ve noticed right away. “Just leave it, will you? I’m going to look for James, if we don’t bring him back he’ll spend the whole night outside...”

“Alright, no need to be so moody,” Matthew replies. “We’re just teasing, you know we don’t actually believe you and Percy want to date…”

Sirius freezes at that. “You don’t?”

“Nah,” Remus shrugs. “Percy’s smarter than that.”

The boy looks even more insulted at that statement.

The next morning a battered-looking James is having breakfast when Lily Evans approaches carefully. She clears her throat and James looks at her sideways.

“I’m really not in the mood today, Evans, just let me eat in peace…”

“I don’t want to fight,” She replies a bit aggressively. “I mean — I came here to say I’m sorry.”

Remus, Matthew, and James all stop and stare at her. Behind her, Emily, Marlene and Jenna all stand in a circle of unity, encouraging Lily to continue.

“What I said yesterday was uncalled for and rude,” She takes a deep breath. “You were trying to be friendly and I didn’t give you a chance — Although you have to admit that given your prior attempts to be ‘friendly’ I had the right to be hesitant about you—”

Emily nudges her side and Lily stops abruptly, blushing a little. James takes the opportunity to speak.

“I want to fix all that,” He says. “I know I was a twat before but I promise I grew out of it — even Matthew says I’m getting better!”

“That’s true I did say that,” Matthew admits.

“I’m willing to give you a second chance, to be friends,” Lily puts extra emphasis on the last word. “Friends, you hear me? Just that.”

“I’ll take it,” James smiles. “I’m sorry for… well, everything.”

Lily stares at him intently one last time before nodding and walking away from the group of boys, the girls follow her, Emily stays behind just a second to kiss Matthew’s cheek and quickly catches up with the rest.

“Well,” Remus tries to hide a smirk. “That was unexpected.”

“I love her,” James states. “I’m going to marry her one day.”

“Sure, because nothing says friendship more than marriage,” Matthew jokes.

Sirius and Percy walk up to them just then, laughing quietly as they reach the table, the three boys stare at them and they stop.

“What?” Percy frowns. “Did we miss something?”

“I think you should ask that to Lily,” Remus taunts.

“What’s happening?”

“Sirius, my life’s about to change,” He replies dramatically.

“Congrats,” Sirius smiles at Percy as she leaves, the memory of their first kiss from last night invading his thoughts. “I feel the same way, mate.”

December 1980

Remus reads the letter Persephone sent him as he waits for his train to reach the station. He can’t help but feel eager at the thought of seeing his friends again after a year and a half without talking in-person to each other.

He’s had a busy life, Remus signed a contract to travel the world and write a book about the different ways the wizarding community deals with dark magic, so far the trip has been wonderful and successful, he’s met thousands of different people and places, but if he’s honest, he’s been homesick for a couple of months, he missed a bunch of important events and he’ll try to make up for it now that he’s on vacation.

Sometimes he forgets that his friends are all adults now, they have jobs and families. He’s single but he’s never really cared for it, his life is always interesting even without a romantic partner, and it’s not like he’s alone, today is the living proof of that.

Today he’s going home to meet the new members of his family.

“Remus!” Lily is the first to welcome him in with a big hug. “Oh my god, look at you! So handsome!”

Remus laughs. “Don’t let James hear you say that.”

“Oh, James is too distracted at the moment,” Lily grins. “Ever since July he only has eyes for —”

“Remus!” Persephone enters the room holding a plate with sandwiches and quickly puts them aside as she sees her old friend. “You’re tanned! Where have you been?”

“Everywhere!” Remus smiles. “México was my favourite no doubt, but you have to be careful with the food —”

“Mate!” James walks into the room. “Look at this!”

James holds up a baby with striking green eyes like Lily’s and thick dark hair.

“Dear, Merlin,” Remus drops his trunk in the middle of the living room and stops in front of James. “Is this Harry?”

“Yes,” Lily smiles lovingly. “Harry, this is uncle Remus!”

“Wait!” A voice comes from the hall. “We agreed we would show the babies at the same time, you prat!”

“Sorry, Matty,” James smirks. “Got excited.”

Matthew and Sirius walk into the room, both holding their own children.

“You really kept yourselves busy while I was gone, didn’t you?” Remus teases.

“Oh, hush,” Emily is the last to appear, she’s holding a half-empty bottle. “Just shut up and come meet them.”

“This is Mel,” Matthew smiles.

“And this is Perseus,” Sirius’ face glows with pride. “Isn’t he the most handsome baby you’ve ever seen? He’s all his mum.”

“Dunno, Sirius,” James frowns a bit, holding onto his son. “Harry’s cuter.”

The two men start discussing it and Remus laughs, the truth is that the three babies all look the same to him, but he’s too happy about being with his friends again that he doesn’t want to stop their argument.

“You know, now that you’re here is as good as any other moment,” Emily puts a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. “Matthew and I were wondering if you’d like to be Mel’s godfather?”

Matthew discretely moves away from James and Sirius and gets closer to him. Remus stares at the couple in surprise.

“Godfather?” He asks. “Are you sure?”

“You’re my best mate, Remus,” Matthew smiles. “I would trust you with my life, and even if it’s unlikely, I’d feel better if I know it’s you who’s going to be looking after my daughter.”

“And you’re okay with this, Mily?” Remus raises a brow.

“Hey, as I see it, the kids will grow up having a famous writer as their uncle, if anything, are you sure you want this?” Emily snorts. “We’re choosing you because you’ll be richer than us in no time, and we’re selfish.”

Remus smiles, he looks down at the baby and his hand reaches out to her.

“Can I hold her?”

Matthew happily obliges, he carefully gives him the baby and Remus holds her like it’s made of the finest glass. This is the smallest human he’s ever carried, Mel is barely five months old, but she looks at him as if she knew exactly who he was. A tiny hand moves up and gently touches his cheek, almost following the tiny scars Remus has gained during his adventures around the globe.

Mel is too tiny to look like any of her parents, but for some reason, the thought of her adopting any of his quirks warms his heart. He wants to see all of these kids grow, they’re extensions of his best friends, of course he wants to be their family!

“What d’you say, Mely?” Remus asks quietly. “Do you think I could be a good mentor?”

The baby doesn’t make a sound, just stares at him intently, Remus looks up at her parents and nods.

“Alright, but just so you know, I’m taking her side in every future argument that she may have with you.”

Sirius and James stop fighting after a while, they’re now showing off their babies to Remus, who has to take turns to hold each one. He loves them dearly already, and he can’t wait to see what kind of people they’ll grow up to be.

Next Chapter —>

WITS Taglist:

@dee123ksha @vampiregirl1797 @siriuslysirius1107 @stardusthigh @mikariell95 @vernon-dursley @thesuitelifeofafangirl @tomshollandz @kylosleftbuttcheek @reverse-hxlland @bloodorangemoonlight @omiwashere @t-rexs-world @just-here-to-escape-from-reality @21bruhs @i-am-scared-and-useless-bisexual @dielgonacoffee

PB Taglist:

@avipshamitra @auroraawrites @findzelda @lizlil @siriusmuch @may-rapp @the-specific-oceans @eveft @secret-obsessions @theeicedamericano @xkonpinkx @inkandpen22 @littledeadgirlwalking @chloe-geoghegan1

#twoidiots writing #hp fanfic #harry potter fanfiction #Harry Potter #harry potter xoc #WITT fic #young blood crossover #Sirius Black #Sirius Black x reader #Pure Blood

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bluedemon1995 · 3 years

Text

Families Can Be Made

So I was thinking that I’ve read stories about Pidge and Keith adopting a baby Galran and I was thinking that I could also see them adopting a teen. Cuz they are so badass, so here we go! This will probably be a few one shots when I have time. I’m just starting to feel better so hopefully I can go back to my actual stories. But I will be doing one shots as inspiration strikes! Hope you enjoy and please let me know what you think!!!

Pidge is working in her lab, per her usual Wednesday routine when suddenly the door is slammed opened and Keith stalks in. “I can’t do this! The cadets are idiots! It’s like I’m teaching a bunch of”

Pidge started laughing, “What a bunch of you!?”

Keith arched a brow, “No, I was going to say a bunch of Lance’s but maybe it’s really a bunch of you!”

I smirked, “You’d be so lucky.”

Keith rolled his eyes, “Okay, maybe it’s not just one of anything but this group is trying my nerves. Maybe I’m not cut out for this, why did I think I could be a teacher? I have no patience! I”

Pidge finally stops typing to spin her chair around, curling her index finger, she motions for Keith to come closer. “Okay Mr, no, Commander Kogane, you do this every year. I can’t do this…this is so hard…my students are idiots…blah, blah, blah. And every year, you adjust, you wing it, you get annoyed, yell and you connect. YOU, my love, are an amazing teacher!!! Really teaching doesn’t even cover it because, you are MORE than that! You become their friend and mentor. But honestly, stop the fucking whining!” With that last statement she punches him in his solar plexus.

Keith huffs out a cough, then laughs, wrapping his arms tightly around his wife, “Shut up. You have no idea, you have interns who like to please you. Shit they live to make you smile! I have students who like to”

Giggling, Pidge interjects, “Challenge you. That’s what you were going to say right? And if, I know my husband, and I do! He is going to have his students whipped into shape in no time!” Leaning up she nipped his lip, then pulled his head down for a better kiss, a deeper kiss, a kiss that after all these years still makes her giddy.

Keith quickly settled in, pulling her closer and maneuvering her to the edge of the table, just as he was getting her maneuvered so she would lay down on the table, he heard an alarm. Sighing, he arched a brow.

She grinned, “The game is afoot!” Pushing him, she hops down off the table and runs to her data pad. “Someone made it past Drew’s initial security system. That means we have a hacker! Oh boy! This is gonna be awesome! I wonder who it is…first year? Had to be…the other ones have never shown any interest.”

As she starts mumbling and pulling up multiple screens, he queries,“Security system? What security system? Drew-our ten year old son-Drew? What the???”

“Now honey, Drew and I are essentially creating a system of security for our offices and a few other strategic places. No, no, don’t give me that look! He needs practice and he needs to challenge himself. And let’s be honest, while the school they attend is good…it’s not Holt good. So I came up with this little game…and well we just got triggered.” With a very gremlin and almost evil look on her face she rubbed her hands together.

Keith closes his eyes and sighs. Of course. The lab door again slams into the wall. “MOM!!!! We got someone!!! Did you see, did you see?!!”

Keith opens his eyes to see his son, looking WAY too happy, along with Matt, Hunk and …there we go, Finn and Abbey pulling up the rear. Sighing, he knew they were in for the long haul. He stood up trying to adjust his pants and went to pick up his youngest at 6. “Abbey, hey precious girl! What are you guys doing here?” She at least wouldn’t lie to him! He had to act quick before the others covered for her.

“Daddy!! Uncle Matt and us were going to surprise mommy!! And then our trap was pulled! Yay! It’s party time!”

Keith looked to Uncle Matt, “And I’m to believe, you just showed up here?”

Matt grinned, that damn Holt grin, seriously it should be illegal. And now he has three mini Holts, he’s doomed!

Matt states calmly, “Well, Drew might have mentioned that some things were in play so we might of just come to see. Then who do I run into? Hunk! What the odds?”

Keith looked to Hunk who was trying not to make eye contact. “Um, I have cookies.”

Keith shook his head, this group was incorrigible. Shaking his head, he grabbed a cookie and settled in. “So you just happened by with cookies? Sure, by all means, let the show begin!”

Drew smiled, “Dad! I’m so glad you are here! I didn’t want you to miss it but mom said that you would find out somehow…she said it’s like you have a sixth sense!!!”

Keith nodded, “Oh, yeah, I do. And experience, let’s not forget that!”

As Matt, Hunk and Drew gathered around Pidge and her computers, Abbey and Finn rushed to fill Keith in on their day with Uncle Matt. Nodding and eating, Keith got up to get drinks for the kids when he heard an “AHA!”

Looking over, he handed the chocolate milk to their youngest two and looked over Pidge’s shoulder. “Hey, that boy-he’s in my class. Quiet, sits in the back, missing homework.”

Pidge grins, “This kid is a genius. We gotta catch him in the next stage!”

When Keith looks confused, Drew replies, “DAD, we made it so if you make it through the first system, you don’t KNOW, that we caught YOU!!! But we DID! So when they go to the next step, we KNOW!! Then BAM! Trap set!”

“Okay kiddo, you know you don’t have to yell, right? I’m right here. Literally next to you. So, you all cannot come and catch this kid. You know that right?”

Pidge smiles, “No worries, said kid, he’s coming to us. It’s all part of my plan, my pretty!”

Abbey jumps, “That’s like Wizard of Oz!” She then proceeds to sing, at top volume, “Somewhere over the Rainbow”. Keith opens his mouth, only to have Finn yell, “STOP! Your voice is hurting my ears!”

Crying ensures, until Hunk scoops up Abbey and walks her over to the fish tank and Matt grabs Finn, explaining how big brothers have to be careful because little sisters are very sensitive. Pidge growls but ignores the conversation for the greater good.

A loud ear piercing whistle breaks out, Keith looks around the room. “Plan and places-now.”

Pidge smiles, “Okay, Finn and Abbey, got to my room and you can watch a movie-Finn it’s your turn to pick, Abbey-one more milk then that’s it-now.” Hurt feelings forgotten, both run to watch their favorite cartoon. Matt and Hunk set up near the datapads and video screens doing some modifying. To what Keith has no clue.

Which left Drew, Pidge and Keith. Keith looks to Pidge, “Well apparently this is your guys show. Or should I say party? What’s next?”

Pidge looks to Drew, “Little man, fill dad in.”

Drew grins, mischievously, “Well, Dad, let’s go catch our hacker.”

Two hours later…

Keith, Pidge and Drew have a very aloof teenaged boy trapped in a hall. He looks up, and for a moment, fear flashes in his eyes. Then a mask settles. “So, I guess I got caught. Whatever, kick me out already. It’s not like I want to be here. Fuck it!”

Drew’s eyes are big, “MOM! He said the F-word!! I wanna say the F-word, it’s no fair!”

Pidge grins, “I told you, once you hit the teen years, you can. Until then…quiznack it up!”

Keith closes his eyes, just for a second, before he lands a hard glare on the boy in front of him. “What do you think you were doing? Do you not have enough homework? Not enough drills? This is”

“Amazing!” Pidge interjects, “You did great, got farther than even I thought! So, what tripped you up? I saw you trying to backtrack at some point but then it looks like you gave up.”

The kid looked shocked.

Keith takes a step forward, trying to gain control of this mess, “Okay, let’s”

Pidge notices how the kid locked down his expression, essentially looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. Which she KNEW was an act. She’s a mom now, and let’s just say she’s gained a very good insight to kids. This boy, while technically a teenager, was still a kid. A smart kid. Who was different. While many different species lived on Earth now, not everyone was kind to Galra’s even after all this time. And in the second Pidge processed all this, she made a decision. He was going to be her protégé.

Interrupting Keith is never a good idea but being his wife did come with some benefits. So she pushed forward, “Pidge, what’s your name?”

The kid looked..surprised. Surprise is good. She offers her hand, giving him time to process and catch up.

“Um, well, my name, is, um, Mason. I mean, Private Micheal Mason. Ma’am.”

“Well hell, I thought we were being nice. I’m not a ma’am, nope you can call me Pidge or Mrs. Kogane, got it?”

“Yes, sorry.”

“And I’m Drew Kogane. You almost beat me but I still won!”

Pidge could see that the kid was shocked the program was from Drew, his pride was probably hurting now. Before he said something stupid, because she was sure he would, she decided to say something.

“Yes, Drew and I set a little experiment. Why don’t you come with me and let’s see where you went right and where you might have tripped up? You free now?”

Mason hesitantly replied, “Yes, it’s family weekend so everyone has free time.”

Drew interrupted, “Is your family coming?”

Pidge could see the answer in the set of his shoulders and wondered how he would respond. He had a wall around him but, well, so did Keith. Hell, she was good at getting around walls, through walls, over walls- virtual or physical.

Mason looked down at Drew. “No, no one is coming for me.”

Drew nodded, “Okay, then you can come with us. We can revise.”

Mason’s eyes bounced from Drew to Keith to Pidge’s. “Huh?”

Before Keith could get out a word, Pidge starts, “Yup, come with us. You did an amazing job hacking. But, it’s still sloppy. You gotta watch your time when you do stuff like this. Leave no trace has gotta be the goal.” As she is talking she is maneuvering Drew and Mason towards her lab.

Keith sighs, “Pidge! We cannot reward”

Pidge turns, bumping into Keith, “Babe. It’s not like he hacked into the Garrison. He hacked into mine and Drew’s program.” Lowering her voice, “You know it can’t be easy for him.” Pressing her hand into his chest, right over his heart, while pulling him close, “You know, I know. Let me help him, please.”

Keith sighs, “Damn it. How am I not immune to your shit by now?”

Pidge grins and leans up to kiss him. Leaning into him, slowly snaking her hand into his hair.

Meanwhile, Mason turns and sees his INSTRUCTOR kissing. That really nice woman. He turns around quickly, face red, only to see the little kid groan.

“Yeah, you kinda just have to ignore that. They kiss a lot!!! It’s not normal but what are you going to do. They just act like that, so we gotta cept it. So, now , tell me how you were able to disrupt my algorithm.”

#katie holt #keith kogane #kidge

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dammitadolfnomorecake · 3 years

Text

Once Bitten, Twice Stupid prt 129

129

Gearing up, Keith’s body shook as he strapped his gun into place. They had a lead. They finally had a lead worth chasing. Coran had been working hard behind the scenes, trying to match the trace elements found on the clothing Matt, Sam, and Shiro had, but it was a pissed off vampire that’d given them their lead. The fucking opera was a set up. An auction held for the rights to hand over Lance and Lotor to Sendak. Attending the opera had provided the evidence that Lotor was cooperating with VOLTRON, a move seen as going against Zarkon. The winning bid had the rights to present Lance and Curtis to Sendak, with the promise of some kind of riches from Zarkon over the return of his son to his side and the breeder for experimentation. Lotor had no clue there was a joint bounty on his head. His stupid ego probably thought no one would dare turn against him or sell him out. Lance’s existence had become the source of rumours in the vampire community. Keith felt sick at the way they spoke of his boyfriend like he was some kind of trophy.

Betrayed by the continual fail of payment, then removal and death of half their group, they couldn’t confirm the location where Lance would be being held, they’d given the address of the vampires they’d been betrayed by. They had no evidence Lance was alive, or what had happened to him since they’d been double crossed before they could personally make the apprehension. All they had were their damaged egos... and their heads seeing Keith hadn’t set eyes upon them personally. With confirmation of the intention of removing Lance and Lotor on private jet.

Pidge was a gremlin channeling her scary talents into tracking down the lead with such determination Keith felt compelled to find something. He couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t start hunting on his own if this didn’t pan out. He’d tried so hard to be the man Lance would want him to be. But it was harder by the day. 10 fucking days was too long.

Placing her hand on his shoulder, Krolia gripped it hard

“Keep your head in the game. If you mess up, I will drop you”

Like he’d mess this up. Their first real lead. Lance’s health and safety, alone with Curtis’s, took priority

“I know”

“If he’s there, we’re getting him out”

“I know”

“And if he’s not, you need to be prepared for it”

“I know!”

He knew all too well. The information was out of date and provided by angry vampires that could simply be looking to take advantage of the situation

“Good. You’ll be with me. Shiro will be leading the wolf squad”

Why were they being separated? Shiro was an exemplary agent, not... oh. Ohhh... They thought both of them too emotionally compromised to complete the mission without going off script. The wolves would stop Shiro, with Krolia stopping him if she felt he was acting out. Yeah. Keith might not be able to stop himself if the moment presented itself... but he and Shiro had earned the right to be there when their boyfriends were found

“Am I understood?”

“Yes, ma’am”

““Mum” is fine. I want him back too. I won’t fail you, Keith. If you think about it, he’s my son too. My family, too. That’s why you’re coming with me”

So his mother was saying if he interferes with her getting Lance out, he’d be expected to provide cover for the both of them. It wasn’t that she thought him inept. It was that she lost the love of her life and didn’t want him going through it too...

“I... mum... what do if he isn’t there?”

“Then we follow the evidence, even if we have to go it alone. I’m sick of this game. I’m sick of knowing you’re going through hell. I’m going to do whatever I can to bring him back to all of us. Him and Curtis... thank god these rooms are sound proof”

Keith found himself chuckling, almost immediately feeling guilty for the sound, sobering sadly

“I didn’t think I’d see the day you’d sideline the mission”

“I didn’t think I’d see the day when I did either. I think I spent too many years as a hunter and not nearly enough as a mum”

“To be fair, I wasn’t ready to let you in”

“And to be fair, I tried too hard. I love you, Keith. I won’t let you down”

Krolia was surprised as Keith threw his arms around his mother. Keith also kind of surprised. He could feel his mother’s warmth. Feel the way her body tensed, then instantly relaxed. She’d worked so hard. The bags beneath her eyes were next level. Not only was she working, she’d been there for everyone in their group. She’d even been out running errands for Miriam, then providing a buffer when Luis came to scream at Coran over his mother being apprehended. A lot of things had happened over the last ten days, but it was finally coming to an end. All those times he’d sworn to get Lance back were finally going to become reality.

As he was getting ready to leave, Pidge came rushing into the room, throwing her arms around his waist. Hunk hovering, but when Keith extended his arm, the big teddy bear came in for a group hug

“Be safe out there. I can’t lose another brother”

“I will be”

“Don’t be reckless. And don’t get hurt... and ...”

“Pidge, I can’t rescue Lance if I’m too reckless”

“I know... I wish I was coming with you. I want to see these bastards pay for what they did to us”

Hunk nodded

“Be careful, bud. We don’t want to lose you”

Hugs were such a strange thing. Keith felt almost invincible, or at least a hundred times more ready to face what was coming with a simple hug from his two friends. He’d been such an arsehole worrying about Lance. He’d barely been able to contribute. Pidge was a tech wizard, bullying her way into getting access to everything. Hunk was just as bad as her. Put the two of them together with Sam and all things tech related were at their mercy. Breaking the hug, Pidge pulled something out her pocket

“I have this. I know we can’t come, but if you need support you can reach us on this one. It’s the same as what the blades us, but I’ve keyed in a seperate channel for just us. It’ll also tell me your location...”

Just in case something happened. He got it. This time he was the one wrapping arms around Pidge. She was brilliant. Completely and utterly brilliant

“We’re going to get answers and we’re going to get him back...”

“And then I’m going to punch him in the dick for being kidnapped”

Keith snorted

“Not before I do. Okay. You guys should head back. It might be a while before you hear anything and Mami is going to need your support”

“We’ve got this handled. Take care of yourself”

“I will...”

Lance had seen enough movies to know when something was up. Lotor had been moved into the same room as him. Chained on the other side of the bed. Acxa, Zethrid and Ezor were chained together, with Curtis in seperate chains. Curtis had the most mobility of them, he could “waddle” around, waddling from where he’d been thrown into the room across to sit beside Lance. There were bruises across Curtis’s face. His horn seemed longer too, but his friend still smiled at him. Out of everyone, Lance was most relieved to see Curtis was okay. Tangling their chains together they clung to each other. After being silent for so long, Lance couldn’t find the words to tell Curtis how relieved he was. That and both he and Lotor had been gagged. The ball gag in his mouth was made from some kind of spiked metal. His lips taped over, with extra tape over the side straps of the muzzle device they’d forced him to put on. Curtis couldn’t get the tape off properly, the pain leaving Lance in tears... then again, he’d already been crying with happiness over seeing Curtis again.

Lotor’s gag was worse than his, as were his chains. Metal spikes dug into the vampires face leaving weeping wounds. His chains must have had a higher concentration of lead or mercury as the wounds around his wrists were no joke. Lance had had a lot of time to really break things down, he now believed beyond a doubt that Lotor had tried to trade himself to Sendak in order to secure their release, only to be betrayed by Narti and her own ambition. Him getting Shiro, Matt, and Sam out was the best he could do... and maybe he thought like Lance did that together they’d be stronger than what they turned out to be. He still didn’t like Lotor as a person. His ego made him want to smack the fellow vampires head into the closest wall until he learned humility.

When they finally came for them, Zethrid nearly had Lance laughing. He maybe, definitely, kind of liked her. She seemed kind of freer to be herself when Lotor was gagged. She had a joke for every occasion, including being led off into the unknown. Thanking the room for being “drab”, “filled with terrible company”, and “an experience she wouldn’t recommend”, she actually waved as she was led away. Lotor had seemed bored of her commentary, but Lance hadn’t been. She’d laughed a lot. Compared him to Keith with both of them being helpless and cute, and needing them to show up and rescue them. She’d made Ezor jealous as she complained about Lance not turning into a cute little bat. Ezor promised Zethrid could have a hundred pet bats if she just stopped wanting Lance for a pet. Zethrid pointing out that those bars didn’t have a cute human form that looked cuddly. Lance really was glad she hadn’t been gagged, though Keith would have pissed enough to gag her himself.

Between the three witches being taken and returning for them, hours must have passed in the matter of minutes. When they undid his chains from the bed, Lance held onto Curtis so fiercely that the vampire on chain duty couldn’t pry him off his friend, even with the threat of the cattle-prod. Spitting in his face, the two of them were let together, snarky remarks made about him being a “slut of a breeder and a mistake”, thrown around like leaves in a breeze. This was their final chance to escape, but now he’d gone and bonded with the others, he wasn’t okay with leaving anyone behind. Captive bonds and all that aside, it was true that Zethrid and Ezor had helped Keith at the shipping yard on his birthday. He at least owed them for that. Acxa didn’t say much, though Zethrid did tease her a hell of a lot about her possibly liking Keith. Alas for Acxa, Keith was his and he’d never willingly give him up, though Acxa did say that it more like kinship that love... Yeah. No. She’d not be left alone with his boyfriend when he finally got back to Keith.

Not moving fast enough, Lance was smacked over the head with the handle of the cattle prod, stumbling and nearly taking Curtis down with him. Both of them were already leaning against each other in an attempt to remain upright. How Curtis could stand being so close to him when he was a mess Lance wasn’t sure. He’d been too docile. He should have been louder. He should have screamed the house down and made things harder for his captors. Meeting Curtis’s eyes, Curtis smiled softly at him. It seemed as if he’d already accepted they wouldn’t be getting out of this. Well fuck that. If he had the chance he’d be taking it.

Seeing they were being moved, Lance got a good look at the place they were being held. Another set of stairs confirmed there were two stories underground, practically purpose built for housing vampires. The hallways dimly lit, wallpaper peeling in places. He tried to absolutely memorise everything down to the smallest detail. Depending on the outcome he wanted to have enough information to provide an airtight statement that couldn’t be rebuked by even the best lawyer. So everything was memorised. The size. The layout. The mould in the air. The creek of the floorboards. This place didn’t have much love poured into it. Not like his house. He always had sunlight streaming into every room. Warmth and love filled his home. He wanted to avoid the sensation of being trapped underground and everything stereotypical vampire trope.

Led through to a darkened living area. Lance’s knees went weak. Standing before them, in all his unholiness was Sendak. Disgusted by his surrounds, blood was splattered across the floor. Death hanging in the air. Narti’s body hadn’t been moved. The witch’s features still held the same almost surprised look, despite the decay of her body. The stench was as shocking as the senseless waste of life. As Lance’s body broke out in goosebumps, Sendak strode across the room, cloak billowing as if there was some kind of supernatural wind behind him. Taking Curtis by the horn, his friend was cast aside, Lance’s nails scraping his arms as he tried his hardest to ignore the urge to submit to the vampire in front of him. Taking him by the chin, Sendak’s eyes met Lance’s. Lance paralysed by the feeling of terror coursing through every fibre of him. Sendak’s ego was every bad thing that lurked in the night. Every bad thing in every depiction of hell. His touch felt scolding, as if a red hot poker had been driven through up his chin and into the core of his brain. This was a true vampire. An old vampire. A vampire that’d been reborn by the monster inside. No humanity remained in those eyes as black as charred flesh.

Tilting his chin, Sendak examined him. Lance knew very well he didn’t look presentable. Even in the days he’d let himself go with depression over his cursed state, he’d never let himself fall this far. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had some kind of facial hair messing up his handsome face

“So this is it? This is the thing all the fuss is over. Remove these chains. He’s hardly fit for much more than lying on his back, and that’s already been seen to. A full belly of human filth”

Keith was not filth. Their children were not filth. His body was screaming to submit, but he knew he could push past an ego now. He’d done it to Lotor. Lotor had tried to make his mind go all dreamy, but he’d fought it. He needed to fight past Sendak’s ego. He couldn’t even spit in the man’s face. The best he could do was sloppily take a swing when his chains were being removed. Sendak catching his fist and twisting his arm as he turned him, pushing up so hard something snapped and Lance screamed around his gag. How fucking dare Sendak touch him?!

“Do not think you can fight me. You’re valuable, even without those things inside of you. Accidents do happen. Load them up. I want them out within the half hour”

When Sendak released him, Lance dropped, cradling his very broken arm to his chest as he dragged himself over to Curtis. Curtis was awake, semi-dazed, and his horn ripped clean in half. The half showing a sick dark red, almost crystalline mess. He tried to say Curtis’s name, but all that came out was whimper in pain. Curtis was tough but this was cruel. Cruel like burning ants with a magnifying glass. He was only human. Letting go of his arm, he took Curtis by the hand, squeezing to let him know he wasn’t alone. Grunting in pain, the hunter returned the gesture. Curtis knew full well that Lance couldn’t go against Sendak. He knew all the shameful feelings being in the vampire’s presence brought up. If Curtis could have, Lance knew he would have tried to protect him from him. He couldn’t even lie and fake a smile. He couldn’t pretend he wasn’t exhausted to the bone or that he didn’t have a glaringly obvious compound fracture. He wanted to. He wanted so badly to crack a joke and show Curtis he was trying. If he could just get his mouth free... He could get his mouth free. His hands were free. He was the freest he’d been in days. If he could... if Curtis could give him some blood... he might... he might be able to finally be useful.

#once bitten twice stupid #oncebittentwicestupid #ashratherose

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interestray · 3 years

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it’s always a good moment when I see a critical role episode with so many things happening that my adhd can’t help but develop a mind of its own, so now that my hyper-fixations have stopped beating the shit out of me theres a couple things I wanna bring up most of it theory stuff and the rest personal things. btw its a long post be warned.

SPOILER ALERT- I’m talking about ep 117 of critical role and its a doozy.

I’ve doing my recent posts in a different format and I’m liking it so I’m gonna use it here. btw I gonna mention some ship stuff I want to make clear I have no hate for any ships mentioned but unless I say I like the ship just assume I’m indifferent.

1. I gonna say I called it because even if I’m wrong about about future stuff I was right that it’s not just Lucien in that body, even if Lucien is completely right about molly as the group knew him is gone forever Molly (which I don’t believe at all) is still a fragment of lucien’s soul. now past that I do think molly as a conscious being is still in there and trying to connect with his friends. why? because theres this weird disconnect with how lucien acts communicating with the m9 from a far vs in person, in person it seems like he had his guard way up but when they scry or message him the barrier is lowered a bit I think when his guard isn’t up Molly bleeds into his actions and mind more. I personally see Lucien at being 130% whole because Molly grew into his own thing.

2. regarding my predictions for this episode I’m gonna give myself 2 points (with 1 of the points being made up of half points) I was hoping for flirting and I think we definitely got some version of flirting between Lucien and Caleb so I get a half point for that, not gonna lie I was a little freaked out (in a good way) how fast Lucien zeroed in on Caleb, I hope if things don’t go pear shaped we get to see those two interact more.

3. Personal thing I really wanted to smack Fjord and Veth for most of the episode like they both had moments of being rational (fjord more so) but for the most part i just want to slap them.

4. it was kind of hilarious to see how freaked out Lucien was of the m9, like there was a little of the bad kind of freaked out feeling I think it was mostly like how Ludinus felt meeting Jester. like poor Lucien he’s just doing his thing and suddenly this group of puppies imprints on him and follows him around poor guy. Seems like Lucien has so distrust towards the tomb takers with the whole ‘we are one’ thing, it seemed to be a recent development. I’ve seen people talk about whether the tomb takers/Cree will backstab Lucien I think it’s possible.

5. I think some members of the m9 have realized Caleb’s not doing ok, most likely from the corpse scene and him talking over Beau (bad caleb bad). what they do with this info is gonna be interesting I personally think Cad should talk with him in private maybe have yasha there as well (also hugs please someone hug the sad wizard man him and Yasha both need it).

6. personal thing I don’t understand jester x Fjord as a possible canon ship at this point in the story like i got it in early campaign but I think they’ve both grown and changed to the point where a relationship between the two would end quickly after starting (whether in tears or not). the only times I like seeing their romantic interactions is when Laura and Travis bleed through and at that point its nots really jester and fjord. again no hate you do you I just don’t understand the appeal.

7. I’ve not watched campaign 1 for a few reasons yet but I’ve done research on some of the bigger events one of which was Percy’s resurrection where Taliesin watched how everyone was acting to decide whether to come back or not. I think Cad’s whole talk about what the rest of the m9′s goals towards Molly/Lucien is first Taliesin’s way of deciding whether Molly will be a npc after this arc or if he picks up playing him again (this all of course depending on whether the m9′s stupid actions don’t get Lucien killed), second I think this is Cad’s way of deciding whether his “debt” is payed and if it’s time for him to leave. To be clear I don’t think this was the final decision I think it was the first step to see whether anyone could say they want their friend back and we had two (almost 3) say yeah they do so I think it was a good start.

8. I can totally see Lucien kidnapping some of the m9. this sounds weird but stick with me, it looks like the tomb takers as a whole have a few important spots missing in their mission like they (probably) have a blood cleric in Cree the goliath and halfing seems more strength based I’m not sure about the human and Lucien is filling spot of a little bit of everything. Lucien has already pointed out Caleb as being curious and smart so I think out of the party is Lucien steals any of them it will be Caleb, if not Caleb tho I think Yasha could also be one that gets his attention (especially if Lucien ever sees them fight) I don’t he would kidnap anyone unprompted but if they go through with their stupid plan I’m sure he’ll want payback.

9. I get a full point for crying at both the Yasha clover scene and Molly’s card about Caleb.

10. So my best friend is also a fan of critical role but he always works Thursday’s so he’s behind on actively watching the shows, but I can watch them so I take notes of all the funny, interesting, and weird shit that happens then I call when he gets off work to tell him everything that happened then we talk about what we think will happen next. why does this matter? because before the molly reveal when we first heard about them going to aore (I don’t know how to spell the ruin place) I said I had a feeling Essek would probably show up and run into the m9. well I was right so i’m supper happy, hearing floaty bois voice was awesome I hope Essek and Lucien meet at some point (hopefully not while trying to kill each other that would be sad).

11. Caleb’s eighth floor is so interesting like I hope we get to see all the rooms at some point, I think the room we saw this episode was his room at the asylum (mostly from it’s disarray and how drab it was) as for who he was talking to? I’ve seen a lot of people says its Essek or Astrid (I can smell the incoming discourse) I think it’s neither, it’s probably the simplest answer himself or more specificly Bren. I think he was talking to the Bren that spent years in that bed and chair wasting away.

12. wtf do you mean the big snow worm has a double reason for hunting the party Matt?! (I have no clue what that means).

13. the m9′s decision to try and get to A2 before Lucien and take whatever is there is such a shit idea, why did he kill Vess because she was a traitor she betrayed him what are they m9 about to do betray him even after the warning about straying from the path (which btw I think was molly warning them). If they actually go through with this plan I hope Cad is right on Lucien getting amused at them instead of fucking pissed. good news is that even if they get there before Lucien they could still salvage the thing with Lucien by saying they wanted unbiased answers. I get they’re grieving and in a bunch of pain but use the common sense I know you have and learn more about whats happening before fucking it all up. (also I get half a point from Lucien kicking Vess’s body)

14. I will say I mostly loved this episode (except for the ending) but them talking about possibly scattering Lucien to get Molly back no matter how brief did unsettle me a lot. no matter my feelings about Molly this is Lucien’s body when he was scattered molly did have the right to the body so I don't think any of his actions were wrong or bad but now that Lucien is whole again his bodily autonomy should not be violated just for a unsure chance Molly would come back. As it is Lucien seemed already uneasy and annoyed with stuff molly did (ex-tattoos).

15. I originally wasn’t gonna put this point but I think I should. when Taliesin said “he thought they would be on the other side of this” I think most people thought it was in reference to how it seems like Lucien is evil (I still don’t think he is) but what if he meant Molly’s arc. think of it wouldn’t it make sense for Molly’s arc to focus on his past coming back to meet him what if they always intended for Lucien to become whole again and it was suppose to be Lucien’s thoughts/feelings bleeding into molly’s. but Molly died so instead we’re getting the inverse Lucien has to come to terms with his past as Molly and the people Molly left behind coming into his life. I think it would be a good arc him learning that you can’t run from or ignore the past no matter how much you want to it can and will come bite you in the ass. would also make sense why Lucien and Molly both have that attitude towards their pasts (you know other than being pieces of the same person).

#critical role #Mollymauk #cr lucien #I already had an idea for Lucien kidnaps/saves Caleb story it's only grown now #I hope Yasha and Caleb get a hug soon #lets the introverts cuddle and cry together #Lucien and Caleb need a ship name #Don't look at me I'm terrible at naming things #so happy to see floaty hot boi again #he sounded happy to hear from them #Matt and Taliesin both had faces that I have deemed untrustworthy this episode #ray's interests #keep forgetting that one

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ronnytherandom · 3 years

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Media n Stuff

2/1/2021: American Psycho

Excellent, truly. Has a lot to say about those on the top of our social hierarchy, the wealthy and influential and how our modern system facilitates them at the expense of everyone else. A very stylish film, well edited and directed. Rests upon a truly magnificent performance in the case of Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman, who does a fantastic job of playing something pretending to be human. Soundtrack is a bop.

3/1/2021: Se7en

All right, not my kind of thing ultimately. There are some thoughts about legacy and what doing good means here but I feel its slightly obscure and could be more clearly stated; perhaps I wasn’t paying close enough attention. Directing is top notch. The acting also is good but nothing truly incredible. The suspense is very effective but on occasion can be defeated by pacing, excess time creating boredom. Further it was partially predictable, which harmed the effectiveness of the piece. Though the point of the state of the victims is to inspire disgust this especially did not fit the remit of entertainment for me.

4/1/2021: The Martian

Highly Enjoyable. As usual, weaker than the novel but not to a Golden Compass level. Any work that bends heaven and earth to save a single life is good in my books. Retains the wit and the scientific backbone to good effect to offset the bleakness. Likewise, the back-and-forth structure between Mars and other locations helps to make the survival scenario less overbearing. Star-studded cast, and I think rightfully so here as the performances are generally very good. Matt Damon as Mark Watney has many moments of excellence. Mars is beautiful and I’m glad Ridley Scott captured that well, on top of doing a job that lives up to his reputation.

5/1/2021: Dredd

Good. Though I worry about the implications of a “Not All Cops Bad” message, it could be interpreted elsewise and is decidedly sympathetic to civilians which works in its favour. There is the aspect of portraying Police and Criminals as two sides of the same coin, with Dredd and Anderson existing outside of said dichotomy to some degree, but ultimately implying that the existing system just needs the right people in it without severe reform, though again that’s up for debate. Otherwise, good spectacle and very nice presentation; the film can be beautiful at times and when it isn’t it has excellent action. Something I appreciate is a clear view of the action, rather than the choppy action of modern superhero films, and an unflinching approach to the depiction of gore even if I was flinching at times. Though I’m unfamiliar with the original work I find this an interesting dystopia, even if Dredd himself can be a little cliché. Performances haven’t left much of an impression though.

6/1/2021: The Wolf of Wall Street

Meh? It’s well made don’t get me wrong, everything looks and feels high quality. Of course, Scorsese is a good director. Of course, DiCaprio’s acting is fantastic, as is the rest of the acting to be frank, but it just doesn’t come together for me. I don’t feel like there was a compelling reason to sit through that for three whole hours. I can see meaning in the depiction of excess; of Belfort’s alienation, losing everything that should be dear to him; of the animal nature of people who just want to make money. I can appreciate the powerful performances and the craftwork on display. I just didn’t enjoy it.

7/1/2021: Enola Holmes

Enjoyable. Has a more juvenile tone than I like, that’s to be expected from a coming-of-age story, but it certainly does a far better job with the gifted sister idea than the BBC Sherlock series did. At times this film was truly joyous and inspiring and I would attribute that to a cast of endearing characters and a strong thematic core which is carried throughout the story. However, from a more radical perspective I cannot endorse a seeming admonishment of direct action, as much as I appreciate the idea that getting new blood in politics is a progressive step forward. Performances are good, Millie Bobby Brown does well in the lead, though I am not so keen on her 4th wall asides, and I always appreciate the sight of Henry Cavill. Also, proud to see Burn Gorman portray the most accurate Normal Englishman I’ve ever seen. I also wanted to make note of what id consider good editing, felt very snappy and effective.

8/1/2021: Shaun of the Dead

Very good, but maybe doesn’t quite live up to its reputation. Very put off by the use of F and N slurs even if the prior is in context with English slang at the time. Id say this is the lesser of the Cornetto trilogy films but with such competition it’d be hard to come out on top. Quite dry humour, I don’t think all the jokes land, but there are a few true laugh out loud moments. Similarly, it works emotionally only some of the time but at moments, especially in Philips last words, there’s some genuine power. I do feel like the pace lulls slightly too much at moments but is generally very good and saves itself for a fun final sprint. The Zombies themselves are true to Romero’s style of zombie and though the satire is light in comparison to character-zombie parallels it is still effective. Performances are good, and serve well in demonstrating the range of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in comparison with the later Cornetto films and Bill Nighy is always a treat. I only ever have praise for Edgar Wright as a fan of all his later works, so I’m glad to see even his first feature demonstrates his ability well, stylish young man is our Edgar.

8/1/2021: Avatar: Legend of Korra: Series 1

Not by any stretch a worthy successor but good by its own merit. Has powerful emotional moments and excellent action, I cannot get enough of any kind of bending in this universe. Some characters are likeable; Korra is a good lead, Tenzin is my personal favourite and I want to hug Naga. Bolin, however, can get shafted. his particular brand of comic relief inspires in me an absolute hatred I cannot fully fathom. I have many little gripes though. I find the love “square” (?) plot annoying and do not understand what purpose it serves. Just be honest with each other goddamn! In universe I wonder at the limits of metal bending, but the police are content simply to launch cables with it. Why are the Chi Fighters such an obstacle in the first half and yet become cannon fodder by the end? I also feel like a lot of the “powerful moments” I feel are dependent on nostalgia for The Last Airbender, such as any moment where the original theme is played, or when General Iroh appears etc. This is particularly egregious with the feature of cabbage corp. Really? It is frustrating to me that Korra spends the entire series past the second episode tell-not-showing us she can’t airbend before having it essentially gifted to her, similarly with the avatar state. As much as she does endure hardship, I feel like the series would be improved even slightly if Korra’s bending is taken away completely and she uses the avatar state to rescue Mako from Amon, when she is actually at her definitive low point. I find with most episodes there are moments which I’m absolutely invested in and really enjoying but then a gripe or two will pop up and marginally ruin the experience for me. But again, these are minor and as much as I fuss over these details the ultimate product is enjoyable and watchable. The setting is certainly interesting but (probably by design) New Republic City clashes too harshly with the magic system, and I think it harms the series. The animators and artists however should be lauded, as the spectacle here is magnificent.

9/1/2021: Ex Machina

Magnificent piece of work. This is what I imagine is actual good cinematography, rather than the usual “pretty stills equals good cinematography” take. Every frame a painting indeed, aided in that way by fantastically beautiful set work. Each actor deserves applause but I feel especially Alicia Vikander. As Ava she does brilliant work and at times uses an alien affectation which is an impressive highlight of attention to detail here. The director knows exactly what they’re doing, the whole thing has a kind of spotless professionalism. Special Effects are minimalist but used so very well, especially the work of making Ava and the other AI look so real. I love that this is a film which doesn’t stoop to explaining every little thing and treats the audience as an equal, and how the tension is reflected in all aspects of the piece and builds to such a mighty crescendo, though I was quite put off by the self-harm scene and would rather that were not a thing. Not only all of that but its deeply meaningful with a lot to say about our own minds (I don’t think Nathan passes Turing test) with a decidedly feminist angle too. It really is a treat.

10/1/2021: Sourcery (unfinished)

Even as a fan of early Pratchett, this ain’t it chief. I don’t like it. The jokes don’t land, the only character I like is The Librarian and the whole thing just kind of bores me, so I’ve stopped somewhere just past halfway as I can’t be fussed for the rest. I don’t care about Coin, or the wizards, or Rincewind, even the Luggage has lost that pariah charisma it usually has. Conina feels weird? I feel like there this constant unnecessary sexualisation of her and Rincewind’s affections seem more than mildly inappropriate. I’ve been reading it a week and I’ve barely been able to drag myself to it these past couple of days so I feel its time for something a little fresher.

10/1/2021: The Two Popes

Very good. There is excellence in all aspects of this films craft. Johnathan Pryce gives an endearing performance; Anthony Hopkins is likewise very good as you’d expect. I think this is a film to listen to through a good sound system, the sound work struck me as exceptional in its attention to detail while the soundtrack is good fun. Direction is dynamic and effective most evidently in the camera work which tends to feel Just Right. Dialogue is very well written and feels very organic. I enjoy the themes of change and reconciliation and feel contrasting the character of the two popes expresses this very effectively, however I would much rather see evidence of genuine change that surely must’ve occurred rather than a simple implication of change as we see. There is the argument to be made that fully reconciling the old and the new without altering material reality, beyond giving speeches encouraging others to do so, represents the will to change being co-opted and perverted by the conservative establishment. But its still a nice sentiment and a well made film regardless.

#film #books #series #opinion #american psycho #se7en #the martian #dredd #the wolf of wall street #enola holmes #shaun of the dead #avatar the legend of korra #ex machina #sourcery #the two popes

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suhmayzooka · 4 years

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cursed child broadway, December 28, 2019

my sister (S) and i were fortunate enough to get tickets for the third row, right by the aisle, making us right in the center. I was a bit worried about the seats being so close to the stage, but it was absolutely amazing to be so close to the action. it was immersive, and i felt like i was part of the action.

S is my polar opposite. she’s not a potterhead, for starters, and likes to call me (and everyone else in the theater, especially those in cosplay) a loser. she’s heavily involved with her school’s theater -- acting and stage crew -- and i call her a theater nerd. she’s an aspiring actress, and almost gave my mom a heart attack when she announced her plan to study acting in college (they compromised, and now S intends to major in psychology in addition to acting). i didn’t know she was interested in cursed child since she eschews all ‘nerdy’ things, but she said that she ‘wanted to see how bad it was.’

she’s been the only extrovert in our family since she was born. she’s a hatstall between gryffindor and slytherin (although she identifies with the lion). if you’re reading this, i’m assuming you like cursed child and perhaps are involved with the fandom. ever read the tea time series on ao3? S is lily luna. she’s the embodiment of how everyone writes lily luna. she cursed out our dad a few days ago. she made me spend the equivalent of two hours of work on fucking soda and popcorn because she didn’t listen to me when i told her to pack a clif bar. this is what i put up with.

she actually enjoyed the show! i was shocked. she loved the effects.

after part one, she turned to me and went, “please just tell me one thing: do albus or scorpius die?”

i was surprised by her question.

she explained: “because at this point all i care about is their romance, and if they don’t get together or if they die i’m leaving the theater.”

this is coming from someone who ranted to me about how she doesn’t understand why people ship non-canon pairings since ‘not every friendship has to be romance.’ and here she was genuinely invested in scorbus? my heart…

i’m a good big sister, so i told her really vague statements like “our heroes will find themselves in danger several times during this act...” “one person’s pain is used to inflict pain on the other” and similar things. eventually, she became convinced that scorpius would be revealed to be voldemort’s son and harry would accidentally kill him. not sure how she came up with that.

i guess everyone caught the plague? the coughing would Not stop. S started making fun of them. and it’s like...everyone was a-okay during wand dance. there were no coughs in the opening choreography for part two. no, everyone had to succumb to coughing fits during the quiet, emotional moments.

“i always wanted a best mate to get up to mayhem with--”

COUGHCOUGHPHLEGMCOUGHHACKHACKHACKPHLEGMPHELGMCOUGHCOUGH

“--you’re my best friend--”

COUGHCOUGHPHLEGMCOUGHHACKHACKHACKPHLEGMPHELGMCOUGHCOUGH

for every. emotional. scene. maybe they were choked up on their tears.

at the last minute we decided to do stage door. as in, we had already left the theater, saw the line outside, and were like, “sure.” unfortunately we had left our playbills in the theater since my hands were occupied holding her soda and popcorn since apparently she’s incapable of doing so…

i’m using google and my shitty facial recognition to remember who was who. we (she) spoke to zell steele morrow (young harry), karen janes woditsch (mcgonagall), nadia brown (rose), james snyder (harry), and nicholas podany (albus). unfortunately, we had to catch our train and left just as jonno roberts (draco) came out :( i think he was S’s favorite.

anyway here are my (our) thoughts:

1. Characters

~nicholas podany is a really good albus! he’s very mischievous, and you can see the wheels in his head turning as he comes up with his (increasingly more ridiculous) plans. whenever he comes up with an idea he looks at scorpius like :O and it gets funnier as the play goes on.

~bubba weiler is a lot of fun. he’s very physical actor, and he really hams it up. his scorpius is meant to be seen rather than read. most of the comic relief is written for scorpius, and there seemed to be roars of laughter after every other line. he shook his hips at “MALFOOYYYY THE UNAANXIOUSSS” and (exaggeratedly) pretended to march in place for “MY GEEKNESS IS A-QUIVERING!!” he purred at rose. he flailed his entire body around when he was crucio-d :( one thing i noticed was how he carried himself. scorpius spent a lot of time sitting hunched over, rocking slightly back and forth (most noticeable when he was introduced, but he hunched over and rocked on the staircase several times as well). when he stands he’s rubbing his thumbs or the hems of his robes. his leg was bouncing nonstop in the library scene. anyway what i’m trying to say is scorpius malfoy is neurodivergent. ableists don’t interact.

~for some reason S says that both scorpius and albus are unlikeable, but they’re cute together. she was very proud when scorpius yelled at albus for being “the most terrible friend.”

~the chemistry between scorbus is There. it’s clear podany and weiler are close friends irl; they’re extremely comfortable together and play off each other really well.

~matt mueller is great as ron. he works well with what he’s been given...not his fault thorne/tiffany decided to make ron a caricature with very little resemblance to canon ron...but that’s a rant for another day :] he’s delightful on stage. he’s funny and charming.

~i’ll admit i wasn’t really feeling jenny jules as hermione, at least in part one. she’s really playful, especially in the scene in her office where she offers harry a “to~fee~!” she was really great in the dark timeline, however.

~my romione heart

~the man himself, james snyder as harry potter! was um, very shouty? very angry all the time. he’s under a lot of stress. his son disappeared in time. i’ll let it slide.

~jonno roberts was literally draco malfoy. his sneer, his swagger, everything was absolutely as i imagined draco 20 years in the future would be. he’s so protective of scorpius...when the adults travel back to 1981 to find their sons, he picks scorpius up as they hug? and then instead of breaking apart, he sort of...put one arm around scorpius’s neck? like a backwards neck travel pillow thing. scorpius held his arm as draco looked around behind him for any danger. it was really cute.

~diane davis was a really protective ginny. all the fiery ginny from the books that was absent from the films made its way into her.

2. Scenes

~one criticism i have is the fact that everyone speaks really quickly. it’s a five hour play and i get that they’re trying to contain all the dialogue within that time but like...it’s a dialogue-heavy show. i knew what was going on since i’m familiar with the script and the story, but there were parts when S and other members of the audience were confused. this was especially noticeable during the trolley witch scene. literally nothing could be heard over the music and the sound effects, and several people around us were audibly confused and asking each other what was happening. i mean, it doesn’t make a lot more sense with the dialogue, but at least let us hear what the characters are saying!

~podany, snyder, and (at times) weiler were the worst offenders. weiler’s good at physical comedy, punctuating his iconic lines with clownlike movements for laughs since no one would know what he’s saying otherwise. e.g. “we stand over the baby and scream” was almost inaudible, so we just heard “HEEELLLPPP HEEEEELLLP!” it was effective since the whole theater laughed, i guess. take this with a grain of salt; we were only a few feet away from the stage, so maybe our audio wasn’t the best.

~roberts was crystal clear at all times

~S fell in love with scorbus during the staircase ballet. if you’ve seen that one clip from this cast you know why. the YEARNING.

~the LIBRARY scene! i reblogged audio of this a few months ago. oh my god, it’s perfect. it hits the emotional highs and lows. when albus said, “i wasn’t a loser before i met you,” there was a collective gasp and we all “OOOOOOOOOOH”-ed. everyone was invested in this. weiler’s performance is really emotional, he’s holding back tears, i’m holding back tears. podany’s gets so soft when he talks about how kind he is. i actually clenched my heart. “friends?” “always.” audience: “OOOOOOOOOH!”

~i can confirm that myrtle’s “girls...AND BOYS” is directed straight at albus. his eyes widen, and he sheepishly shrugs his shoulders and is very excited to change the topic.

~scorpius’s imaginary friend was named hector. idk if he improvises it every time, or if he decided to change it to hector from flurry, but his delivery was great. sweetly: “oh, i had one of those too!” scathing hiss: “HECTOR.”

~the biggest jumpscare of the play was when scorpius emerged from the lake at the end of part one. it was all dark, and then he shoots out of the water, gasping. i jumped.

~voldemort walked down the aisle right next to us. S was terrified that he’s jump or touch her, so she curled up next to me.

~i was interested in how the penultimate scene would play out, since i heard that weiler and podany really play up their relationship, but scorpius had spent every scene with rose purring at her. she came and imitated a scorpion when she said “scorpion king,” curving her hand and making a hissing noise, which elicited a few “oohs” from the audience. then the Hug...the “new version of us” line is said as they hug, and they just. stood there for a few moments, hugging. when albus goes “you better ask rose” scorpius looks up at him and blinks, goes, “.........uh oh yeah, rose….” and goes off stage. right before he exits he looks at albus, and albus keeps watching him after he leaves. uhh anyway scorbus is canon and so is pollyrose

~“dad...i don’t want to be a wizard anymore.” (dead silence) “i want to go into pigeon racing” *breaks into the biggest shit-eating grin and cracks up*. the last shot is harry holding albus as he silently weeps. Ookay.

~due to several instances of childhood trauma, my sister’s biggest fear is birds (especially chickens, ostriches, and...pigeons). she didn’t know why people laughed at harry’s confession that he was afraid of pigeons, because to her that’s a valid fear. we saw a pigeon in the train station and she almost cried.

3. Stage door

~S did most of the talking. she told everyone “so sorry we don’t have our playbill! you did such a great job!” and then struck up mini conversations. i stood nodding like “good job!” looking like this :]

~first up was (i believe) zell steele morrow! he’s so cute and was really upbeat. S finally found someone shorter than her…

~karen janes woditsch asked what houses we’re in. S was like “gryffindor!” and she smiled, i told her “ravenclaw” and she was like, “well...i love all my students equally….”

~i didn’t recognize james snyder since he was dressed like he was in the arctic. neither did S.

~nadia brown was so sweet! you could tell she really loved seeing fans. there was a group behind us in line who apparently were here for their third viewing, and they conversed like they were old friends.

~nicholas podany came out wearing a t shirt. in december. i was cold because i forgot to wear gloves and he came out in a t shirt. the group behind us asked if he was cold and he said that he was hot from running around the stage. S told him that he did great, she asked how long he was performing (ten months since february) and her response was “oh, that makes sense, you were good!” he went on about how he loves performing, how each night is different based on the crowd and how we were such a great crowd, and i could feel S like. sinking into the sidewalk. i just nodded at him and went “good job.”

~he’s my height, maybe slightly shorter (i’m 5’6/167 cm) and very pale. i think S has a crush on him since she wants to go back to “apologize for being so awkward.” growing up she had a crush on daniel radcliffe, too, so i guess she has a thing for potters.

~the group behind us went on about how much they loved harry potter, had been fans their whole lives, etc. podany’s apparently a huge potterhead, but not the biggest in the cast: they all came together to see who was the biggest potterhead, and the answer is the actor who plays cedric (forgot his name and the internet isn’t helping, sorry!) -- his tv (?) remote is in the shape of a wand! the rest of them are nerdy enough to fact-check the director lmao

~we didn’t get to actually speak with jonno roberts, but we saw him interacting with other fans. he seems like a cool guy.

#ccsquad #cursed child #i see cc

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indigoire · 5 years

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Insomnia is kicking my ass right now so I might as well dive into some meta.

We had a good Talks tonight, and I really enjoy how much insight we got into Caleb. A couple of people have already pointed out how much of a foil he is to Fjord lately. Believe you me, I could talk foils all day. Both Caleb and Fjord are magic users who have incredible potential and are messing with bigger darker powers than I think even they can comprehend (though they both have a decent idea). They are both smart, driven, charismatic, and liars. Time will tell if they’re a good influence on each other or not, but they certainly both walk that tightrope of “do I do good or do I seek power?”/”do I help or do I hurt?”

(Sidenote: it certainly is interesting to see Caleb acting as a mirror for multiple people, and one can argue he’s even a foil for Beau, Empire kids with murky pasts and all; not sure what that says about him.)

I won’t make any judgement calls on Caleb and Fjord’s relationship, as the “blood pact” was one moment out of many, and Fjord until this moment has been a good force in Caleb’s life, helping him play nice with the others, helping him guide the group as a whole. It’s definitely an interesting dynamic, one I’m interested to see develop even further.

But, and I’m probably part of a very small minority, I feel like we’re only talking Fjord and Caleb, when come on guys, Taliesin’s right there! Caleb may be a foil/warped mirror to Fjord, but he’s also a complete inverse of Caduceus.

If Fjord and Caleb are like water and fire (or, maybe more accurately, like the ocean and an inferno), Caleb and Clay are like fire and earth/grass. Opposite in every way, but complementary too. Since day one I’ve wanted Caleb to absorb a little of Caduceus’s chill. I’ve wanted some of Cad’s energy to rub off on Caleb and have him find a little bit of calm. But I feel like Caduceus could use a little of Caleb’s drive as well. As others have pointed out, Caddy just doesn’t want to speak up about his wants, and even his overarching goals are more for a higher purpose, less for himself. Which is great on paper, but not good for the person. Everyone needs to be selfish sometimes. I know I’ve lightly dragged Caleb about this in the past, but at his core he is a selfish person (who’s been conned into caring about his friends against his will), and I think last episode really highlighted that aspect just a bit.

What I’ve wanted for Caleb since learning about his ultimate goal, the goal to go back in time and stop himself from murdering his family, is for the Nein to change his mind. Because inevitably he will have to decide between the Mighty Nein and never having met them because he changed the past. Maybe he will find a loophole that allows him to change things but keep the present the same--but knowing Matthew’s DMing style, probably not; none of his game’s immense powers come without a price. Caleb will have to decide between his friends and his family at some point. And as amazing as it would be to see Liam O’Brien completely throw Matt’s campaign off the rails time-traveler style, I also want to see Caleb torn by this decision. We know that he’s already become closer to all the Nein, Nott being the first to worm her way under his defenses.

So, bringing this back to Caduceus, I want to see Caleb and Caduceus learning from each other. This is part of why I (and many others) found the locket scene so captivating: it was a selfless gesture on Caleb’s part. Out of game, Liam wanted Taliesin to have his locket back, in game, Caleb has no real reason to give Caduceus the periapt. Caduceus’s response was endearing as well--he already sees Caleb as important, and he wants to help him get to where he needs to be. It’s supportive and sweet. But I digress.

I want to see Caleb learning that others will support you without any goal in mind--Caduceus was on Caleb’s side from the start, the locket was just a nice bonus for him--that Caleb doesn’t need to manipulate to get help. Caleb’s MO seems to be making deals/pacts and in fact he made one with Caduceus already, though Cad has yet to call in any sort of favor or remind him of any debt owed. He doesn’t have to bargain for help, and I want to see him learning this from our cleric as time goes on.

On Cad’s side, I want to see some selfish desire on his part. I want to see him want something for himself. The shipper side of me wants Caduceus to, say, desire one (1) wizard, but just wanting his own well-being looked after would be enough. Honestly, and I hadn’t even considered this before bringing up the periapt, but Caleb encouraged this just by giving Caduceus the locket, to help keep him stable in battle. He’s indirectly saying “look out for yourself” and for Caduceus, who’s had to look after graveyards and mourners his whole life, who’s had to look after the Nein since Molly’s death, who’s had to deal with almost drowning to death two or three time now and yet STILL FOLLOWS THE M9 INTO THE WATER, this is a big step.

So. To sum up, I would like to see Caleb and Caduceus, opposites and inverses as they are, to learn and grow from being around each other. Caleb to accept help without owing favors and to be more chill. Caduceus to be more selfish about needs and wants and to have a bit more drive.

If they can just meet in the middle, I’ll be a happy camper.

#wow this got long #i started this at three am #in this essay i will #long post #critical role #caleb widogast #caduceus clay #fjord #cr spoilers #major cr spoilers #meta #caleb will learn how to grow and clay will be hardened in caleb's kiln #...that sounded less dirty in my head

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bazzledazzled · 6 years

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I’m not going to lie to you I am 100% pulling these headcanons from the spam of messages i sent @waywardpadaleski but I saw Voltron Hogwarts AUs floating around and I decided to make headcanons because I love this idea ive also doodled stuff and may post some or write something just not rn

OKAY SO

pretty much the houses just go with their lions— but lance is special snowflake im sorry i know i sound like one of those uber annoying lance stans that shove da boi down everyones throats i cant help it i love him but bare with me this makes sense

Okay so Keith is in Gryffindor because ofc he would

Pidge is Slytherin

Hunk is Hufflepuff

Allura is totally a Ravenclaw

What about Lance, you ask? Well u know how JK Rowling said that there’s things called “Hat Stalls” where people took longer than 5 min to get sorted???

Ye well Lance is one of THOSE

It would work with canon if you think about it because he kinda is stuck between the red lion and the blue lion and like-- I know keef is the same way with the black lion but shush

SO ANYWAYS

the sorting hats dilemma is that he’s smart and has the means to excel in Ravenclaw, but at the same time he’s outrageously brave like a Gryffindor

(MY BOI IS SMART FITE ME)

So the hat doesn’t know what to put him in

Then the sorting hat comes to the conclusion that while he could do great in Ravenclaw, he wouldn’t reach his full potential unless he was a Gryffindor (*COUGH* LIKE CANON)

Sooooo-- Pidge is like a year or two behind Hunk, Lance, and Keith because y’know, shes younger and stuff and she kinda gets into the group because of her older brother

THATS RIGHT MATTS HERE

So Matt is a Ravenclaw and him and Shiro are besties ofc

(Shiros Gryffindor sorry I forgot to mention it)

Matt was also a Hat Stall because when i was thinking about his house i couldn’t decide between Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Gryffindor

But he’s Ravenclaw cuz it fits in with an Adashi thing im gonna bring up later

ANYWAYS

Shiro is also Keith’s older brother, they’re not biological siblings, its just Keefs dad was friends with shiros parents and when he passed away the Shiroganes adopted him

Shiro is ANNOYED because Keith and Lance are always fighting with each other in the commons and he just wants to read his book in peace

Now here comes the Adashi

Okay okay so Adam is Ravenclaw

I know we barely know anything about Adam (*glares at s7*) BUT based on stuff and how the fanon Adam is, I’m saying he’s Ravenclaw

So anyways

Let’s get to Quidditch because that’s part of the Adashi part of this AU

Keef is a Gryffindor Seeker because like-- he go vroom

I lowkey am making Lance a Keeper not only cuz he would be good at it but also cuz of those cheesy shirts that say things like “He’s a Keeper” and “She’s a Catch”

Shiro is a Chaser

Pidge and Hunk I think would be Beaters???? Idk

OH! James Griffin is also a Slytherin Seeker byeeee

Adam is the Ravenclaw Keeper

Headcanon is if theres one thing Lance and Adam have in common, its that they can make people flustered very easily

So ya know what Adam does, much to Shiro’s annoyance???

He flirts with him

Whenever they have games that are Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor Adam will flirt with Shiro, winking at him, yelling stuff across the field, making Shiro so flustered he can’t throw straight (pun intended)

One time Adam gets Shiro so flustered he drops the ball

Matt, a Beater, high fives him

OH! Also Allura is a Chaser and she’s like the best Chaser in the school FITE ME

Okay thats enough of quidditch

Okay so as for family lineage and stuff

Shiro, Lance, and Hunk are muggleborns

They just are

Shiro’s parents knew about Magic because of keef and were surprised when they found out Shiro was a wizard

Lance is the only wizard in his family and he gets homesick a lot because he’s the only one who goes to Hogwarts and he misses his siblings and stuff

But he always brings niece and nephew home stuff from Hogsmade that he thinks they’ll like

Hunk, Lance, and Shiro meet because Hogwarts started a club during the summer for Muggleborns where they can meet and talk about concerns with Hogwarts and magic and stuff with other muggleborns that are older

So Lance and Hunk soon become really close friends and Shiro is kinda their advisor and stuff

Anyways

Keith is a Halfblood, which makes sense because i mean he’s half galra on the show so

His mom was a witch, and idk if im going to have her run away for something or die?? I mean I kinda want her to run away cuz of something so they can be reunited but i have no idea what it would be unless this was during the time of harry potter and it had something to do with Voldemort but i kinda want to stay away from all that so ye

Pidge and Matt are purebloods

But they’re not the stuck up purebloods

They’re literally the Weasleys

Sam has a fascination with muggle technology that Pidge and Matt share

So like, they have a lot of fancy tech

Pidge and Matt snuck a DS on campus and play Zelda at meals

Allura is probably a Pureblood but shes way less snooty, maybe even compared to her parents

As for teachers

Coran is Herbology teacher or something???

Alfor is Defense against the Dark Arts maybe??? I don’t know either him or Zarkon

Haggar is obviously the potions teacher

ANYWAYS

Everyone hates Lotor cuz his parents are teachers and he’s a teachers pet

But back to Haggar in potions

So she’s like the slytherin head thing or whatever they were

so yknow she’s biased

and it doesnt help that her son is also slytherin

(also Zarkon is a Gryffindor sorryyyyy)

(This also could play into keith or lance’s story by them being compared to Zarkon or something and it unsettling them)

(This just in-- I think Zarkon should be the voldemort)

(oh shoot im getting sidetracked with imagining zarkon as voldemort and lance as harry potter)

(help)

ANYWAYS

So ofc she sees that Lance and Keith are always at each others throat

and makes them potions partnets

because it makes it easier for them to get in trouble because they keep fighting and then she can take points from gryffindor

ANYWAYS

The one day they are tasked with making Amortentia, right??

Oh god this is so mcfreaking cliche im sorry

So Keef and Lonce are there, both tired from studying or something so already they’re cranky and half asleep

So they’re making the potion right?

And lance just coughs, a look of disgust on his face

“What?” Keef says. Lance plugs his nose.

“U stink, Keith.” And throughout potions class Lance keeps complaining that Keith smells really bad or something or he used too much cologne idk

Ofc like Pidge is in that class and shes snickering

Lance turns to her like “WHAT IS IT PIDGE”

She asks him if he knows what the potion is supposed to do

He’s just like “It makes people fall in love with u.”

“Yes but what else?” Both keith and Lance stare at her blankly. She explains that when u smell it you smell what u love most

Both keef and lances eyes widen

For the first time in forever they’re quite the entire period

Keith has a gay panic

Lance has a bi panic

they are disasters

Shiro confronts pidge after that day

“Pidge what did u do to keef and lonce they’re broken”

Pidge is all like, “Excuse me????”

“They’re being nice to each other.”

Hunk, who is also there, just snorts

“Pls explain this to me,” Shiro says, exasperated

Pidge explains the Amortentia scene

Shiro just laughs because of course they were in love with each other

(it lowkey reminds him of him and Adam)

(okay now i have theories that the reason why they made Adam shiro’s boyfriend is because its meant to mirror OTHER ships in voltron *cough* KLANCE and its foreshadowing or something i mean adam does look like lance and shiro and keith are sorta similar)

(shut up candy back to the AU)

Hunk admits that Lance has had a crush on keeth for like ever but he keeps saying its just a rivalry thing

Actual conversation between the two:

“And what’s up with his hair?? It’s like straight out of the 80′s and he has all the bangs over his eyes like an EMO like why is he trying to hide his eyes?” Lance blushes because he’s thinking about how beautiful Keefs eyes are. “Like why? Why is his hair like that i dont understand?? And what does he do to it why is it so soft???”

“You’ve touched his hair?”

“Yeah I was trying to see if I’m taller than him yet” Hunk was just confused but then Lance kept talking about keiths hair and he let it slip when it was like, almost 3am that keiths hair made him look pretty and lance would never be able to make that look good on himself, then immediately said something about the one time keef blew something up in first year because hes an idiot as a coverup

So hunk has known for some time

Even when lance didn’t know

So for the next couple weeks keith and lance act kinda weird around each other

because they don’t know how to handle feelings

they mostly avoid each other, standing on opposite ends of the room and glaring at each other

but of course that doesnt help them at all because for some reason they share a room

(oh my god they were roommates)

The rest of the boys in the room are angry because of all the sexual tension its giving them anxiety and they started sleeping in the commons

I actually have no idea who the other three boys would be because one of them couldnt be shiro because hes older and everyone else is in different houses so

At one point keith just blurts “Whats wrong with you?”

Lance gets all defensive because he takes it in a different way than Keith meant and thought Keith was saying he was flawed or something and he was broken and...

heres the langst

Lance just starts to get upset and is yelling saying nothing is wrong with him and he almost starts to cry because he’s just so confused and doesn’t know whats going on and he feels like hes not good enough for Gryffindor and

He has a lot of emotions

And he says all this, starting to ramble through tears, pouring all of his emotions out

Keef is shook

he doesn’t know what to do Lance never acted like this in front of him before and he’s never seen lance like this, so self conscious and doubting himself

Keith doesn’t know how lance could even think these things because in his eyes-- lance is perfect

Lance has always been so much better at magic than he was

and He’s so confident and such a good Keeper

He gingerly touches Lance’s shoulder.

“Lance I--” Keith doesn’t know what words to say, but apparently he doesn’t need to say any

Lance wraps his arms around him, burying his face in his shoulder, sniffling

Keith is surprised at first because u know keef

He doesn’t know how to react when someone hugs him

He gently hugs lance back, resting his head on Lances and running his fingers through his hair

Lance calms down, his breathing slowing and seeming more relaxed

when he does, keith tries his best to tell him how great he thinks lance is and how hes jealous and all that

Lance pulls away, rubbing his eyes.

“You mean it?” Keith nods solemnly, not looking at Lance. Lance touches his cheek, causing him to look back up, his brows knit together in confusion

Lance doesn’t know why, but he kisses him

(*klance fangirl in me starts screaming*)

and just??? the moment feels perfect to both of them? This was someone they always thought of as a rival, were always jealous of, and were always thinking about. They never truely understood their feelings for each other, until now

Shiro doesn’t comment when they walk into the dinning hall the next morning holding hands

But Pidge sure does

Okay im trying to think of more headcanons involving people other than Shiro, Keith, and Lance because i love all the characters and they deserve attention

Hunk makes friends with two other Hufflepuff girls

he he he yall know who it is

SHAY AND ROMELLE

MY GURLS

Shay and Romelle have been friends since they were first years and Shay yelled at Lotor for making fun of Romelle

they’ve been besties ever since

Hunk meets Shay and Romelle in Herbology because in like maybe 5th year or something Hufflepuff house was taught Herbology with the Slytherins. Every year before that it was either with Ravenclaw or Gryffindor so he would pair with Lance, Keith, Allura, or Shiro

Pidge was a year or two bellow him so they didn’t have classes together in case u were wondering

For the specific thing they needed a group of three and even though Hunk is a pretty nice guy and can make friends with everyone, everyone sorta had their trio

Because ofc he can find a PARTNER that was left out of their group of three, but suddenly they’re paired off in threes and there’s no sad loner who has no friends.

Shay and Romelle have an opening in their group

Hunk goes to work with them

They’re honestly the cinnamon roll squad and when Hunk introduces them to his friends Lance and Pidge immediately nickname them that

Hunk quickly falls in love with Shay

Like deeply in love

He’s always complimenting her and laughing at what she says

Romelle keeps trying to tell Shay that he likes her but Shay just goes “he’s just a nice person, Elle”

The Yule ball comes around ofc

and at this point Lance and Keith are dating

This is probably around.... Sixth year I want to say?

So here’s the line up

Keith and Lance go to the dance together

Shiro asks Adam in like this grand way and Adam is just like “wait we weren’t going together before??”

Matt doesn’t have a date but he invites Pidge because she threatened him (she wants to take pictures of Klance and Adashi acting cute and coupley to use as blackmail and Matt supports it)

Hunk starts freaking out because he really really really wants to ask Shay but he doesn’t know how

Lance gives him a pep talk, saying that she obviously likes him of course she’ll say yes

Hunk is still nervous

Lance is all like “C’mon asking your crush out isnt that bad if she says no she says no, but if she says yes then you get an awesome date.”

“Says the one who had a crush on his boyfriend since second year and covered it up as a rivalry.” Lance looks offended.

“You need to stop hanging out with Pidge.”

Lance decides to be Hunks wingman and starts asking Shay things like “You planning on going to the Yule Ball?” and “What do you think of Hunk?” He sees that she is very much interested and repots this to Hunk

He helps Hunk come up with a way to ask her

And its like the sweetest thing Romelle is in on it and she gives some stupid excuse as to why she cant study for herbology with them

then her and lance hide behind a bookshelf, giggling

Hunk gets super flustered

But he manages to ask her

Shay also gets really flustered

But says yes

oof okay thats three of my big ships canon now for the fourth.

When Hunk first introduces Allura to Romelle, her first thought is “Her. I want to date Her.”

Now Lance and Allura have already come out to each other as bi disasters

It actually happened when Lance got with Keith and they were talking about him, doing facials (they take care of their skin with each other fite me)

And Lance is just like “Yeah so I guess I like guys and girls” and allura is like “YOU CAN DO THAT” and lance is like “yeah????” and hes not sure if shes being biphobic or what and hes scared for like 0.1 second

and then allura just goes “Oh my god lonce i think i like guys and girls too”

And then they just start laughing

I guess I should also mention that they dated at one point too???

I don’t think it would’ve been super long, but probably around 3rd year they dated and thats actually probably how Allura got introduced to the Squad??

Lance first saw her when he finally joined the Gryffindor Quidditch team

He got picked to be a Keeper the second year

So their first game is against ravenclaw

And he’s pretty good for the most part

And then all of a sudden he sees allura flying towards him and she looks so beautiful and how can she be so beautiful and--

She just scored a goal

and he was staring dumbly at her

So Lance and Allura’s relationship kind of developed like it did in the show with Lance flirting with her and Allura being annoyed to them becoming friends and eventually mutual crush

Allura’s actually the one to ask Lance out

They date for a while and theyre actually a really cute couple

(I may be a hardcore Klancer but I do find Allurlance cute on the occasion)

But after a bit... it kinda fades away?? I don’t know they just start to feel like when they kiss its not... not how they thought it would be??

They slowly start to realize that they kinda just want to be friends, not boyfriend and girlfriend

It just adds stress that they don’t want and they want to be able to tell each other anything without having to worry about stuff

so they break up soon after they start dating

sadly

but they dont?? feel too broken up about it???

The feeling was mutual

Plus they like each other much more as friends than romantic partners

They’re like the ultumate brotp

Now they give each other facials every thursday

anyways

so allura finds out that she has a crush on Romelle

and who does she go to?

Ofc its lance hes a successful bi with a boyfriend

So he pretty much teaches her how to flirt

like seriously he teaches her how to flirt

And Allura makes it her duty to flirt with Romelle at every possibly oppertunity

Making Romelle freak out because how is she supposed to read this does she want to date Allura or????

They don’t really go any further for a while, its just allura slipping in little things every now and again or blowing kisses at romelle in the stands as she scores a goal

When the Yule ball rolls around, both Allura and Romelle dont have dates (Lotor asked Allura to the dance because they kissed one time in a game of spin the bottle and she responded with judoflipping him)

But they have fun

Everyone has fun actually

Its amazing and fluffy

(i feel like i should write a snapshot of this so i can finally write a fic that isnt centered around klance)

And a slow song comes on

Hunk and Shay awkwardly dance with each other, blushing brightly

Lance and Keith have their heads pressed together, Lance kissing Keith’s nose as they dance and making keith so flustered he stumbles and they both fall to the floor laughing

Adam and Shiro are that couple everyone is jealous of because theyre so perfect?? Like they have matching outfits and they dance gracefully and they kiss at just the right moments??

Pidge and Matt are god knows where probably videotaping the whole thing

And Allura kinda jokingly goes, “Well I guess then we should dance too.” And Romelle surprises her by taking her hand, pulling her onto the dancefloor

and freaking allura is actually really flustered and she’s blushing, having a hard time looking at Romelle

(romelle is having a hard time looking at her to fsajndvjhaio)

They’re both blushing.

At the end of the song theyre much closer to each other than they started

They look up at each other

And then Romelle squeezes her eyes tight and kisses allura

It barely lasts for a second

Allura is shook

Romelle is in Lesbian Painc

Allura is in Bi Panic

Nobody seems to have noticed

but both girls are dying

And then allura just timidly asks, “Can you-- can you do that again?”

Pidge walks up to them kissing and just goes, “Oh thank god I thought I was going to have to force you two to kiss”

Because pidge oversees everything and knows everyones crushes that theyre too stupid to see

I feel bad for pidge i don’t really know what big moments she should have???

I feel like shes a trouble maker though

Not like cruel pranks or something

But she likes to play jokes on people

A lot of the times that person is Lance

A lot of the time Keith is in on it

I also feel like eventually Allura and Romelle start to join her??

She recruits them for some big thing

Idk what

Its probably like a surprise for either Klance’s anniversary or Adashi’s

And they love this way of life

Romelle betrays the cinnamon roll squad and goes to the dark side

Also a little more about pidge

She was almost a Hat Stall

Her two houses were Slytherin and Ravenclaw

But at like 4 min and 43 seconds the hat announced slytherin

her family is actually a mix of slytherins and ravenclaws

her dad and brother are ravenclaws

her mom is slytherin

OH AND BEFORE I LEAVE

Lances rivalry with Keith started because Keith bought the last of the candy he wanted on the train

And during like 7th year when they’re cuddling or something and Keith is like “why did u start this rivalry” and lance says it’s because he took the candy and Keith is SHOOK and goes “I would have shared if u asked”

and yeah i may add but heres most of the headcanons i came up with

#voltron #klance #adashi #hunay #romellura #allumelle #what is their ship name???#pidge gunderson #hogwarts au #takashi shirogane #adam #lance mcclain #keith kogane #hunk garrett #shay #harry potter

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edenfalling · 5 years

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[Fic] Random fragments that I will never finish

#liz writes stuff #liz talks about random stuff #fragment #harry potter series #homestuck #daredevil (mcu)#riddlemaster trilogy #fairy tales #all my original fiction (which you can find on dreamwidth)#liz is thinky #decluttering

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ladedanixie · 5 years

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I know that everyone is really focused on the blood pact and Fjord’s nat 20/nat 1 versus the sea hag when Caleb was ko’d/in danger, but I want to point another moment, that was pretty small, but I liked it a lot and want other people to see. It’s real small, but I figure why not. Though I do talk about the blood pact too. And about that look Caleb gave Jester at the end, though that’s at the very end of this meta.

Ok when the nein were going down that tunnel with killer seaweed, Matt tells them that moving at a fast pace won’t put them in danger, except for Caleb who is at the back.

Here is Travis’ face when Matt mentions Caleb’s name. And the fact that he could be in potential danger.

And then when Matt says that the seaweed has gotten Caleb

After that Once Matt starts to say “and you currently watch as this seaweed begins to snake its way around [Caleb’s neck]” it is at that point Fjord goes nope and sends two Eldritch Blasts at the seaweed

He had to roll at disadvantage and got a 19 and a 16 (yeah it ain’t hard to hit seaweed and avoid hitting Caleb but still). He acted immediately.

Also though people have said it better than me, I kinda wanna talk about their interactions thus far, and the blood pact.

Ever since last episode with the Wall of Fire, Fjord has seemed quite concerned with Caleb’s safety i.e. slipping into his original accent when Caleb went down, and his urgency on getting to him in order to heal him. Or getting a nat 20 on the Sea Hag after she ko’d Caleb, or that nat 1 on an attack on Caleb.

Sure after the Lorenzo arc, Fjord began looking for book’s for Caleb, and having friendlier interactions with him. But after the Wall of Fire, Fjord, I think, he suddenly became aware of how far Caleb is willing to go for Fjord’s sake. Both times, saving Fjord from the Iron Shepard's, and righting the ship with the Wall of Fire, were times where Caleb did something that did not require a transaction before or after.

The blood pact, signaled a return to interactions done as a transaction. Caleb’s earlier arcana check meant he knew the altar was elemental in nature, and his nat 20 later on meant he probably knew full well what the altar would do (though Matt did not tell Liam what the altar would do, simply that it requires blood and lots of it to work).

Caleb did not actually seem curious, though he did say was was. Maybe ir would be more fitting to say he was more intrested in getting something out of Fjord. Though Caleb was definitely wary of the altar because hey it is covered in blood in a scary haunted sea hags lair that might have something to do with an evil snake god. Even after Fjord assured that it had nothing to do with U’k’toa, Caleb still seemed unconvinced. Yet, went through it anyway because he decided to take a calculated risk. It was at that moment I think Caleb decided, ok sure, I think I can get something out of this because clearly Fjord is getting something out of sating his curiosity. Caleb is calculating.

As for Fjord, he pushes, not hard, but he does. He pushes Caleb, maybe more tries to tug at Caleb’s intellectual curiosity. I don’t think he succeeds on that front because like I said I don’t believe Caleb’s curiosity was all that strong. Considering the ways Caleb’s reacted to ill-use of magic/power or the possibility of magic/power in the wrong hands, I doubt he actually even wanted to find out what it would do. Because that would 1) Have no benefit to him and 2) be super reckless. It doesn’t go in line with calculated risks in return for big rewards. But, for Fjord, this goes beyond sating his curiosity, it’s about the potential reward.

And sure Fjord has a wisdom of 7, but Fjord’s no dummy. He has a pretty good grasp of Caleb at this point, and figures he can convince him if he plays his cards right. Remember Fjord is the one who said that calculated risks are good, but sometimes you got to get a little stupid. Which is to say, it wouldn’t be too far out of the realm for Fjord to want to poke the bear if he thinks it may benefit him in some way.

I say this because when Jester freaks out, and asks them what they think they’re doing, Fjord says “I’m just trying to provoke some changing.” It’s in a teasing tone. But, its the same tone he uses when he’s trying to convince someone to do something he wants in a way that’s a little condescending. (I.e. the tone he used with Nott about button beard, though I doubt he was being a dick to Nott. I am not in that camp. Simply pointing it out as interesting. Like when someone’s fright or worry is inconvenient to his goals, he tends to use that tone. I don’t know, I will find more examples of it later. That might be a separate meta) He is still acting in the interests of his patron because thus far it has resulted in rewards, such as new powers, and abilities. Grow. Learn. Provoke. Consume. Reward.

When Caleb asks for a favor in kind for doing this with Fjord, Fjord’s smile is definitely saying this is a calculated risk because Caleb is powerful, intelligent, and discerning, and beneficial to his journey, but it also feels like he’s saying, oh, there it is, there’s the self-serving wizard I’ve come to know. Fjord doesn’t know what Caleb intends, but hey neither does Caleb know what Fjord intends. All that matters is that they know each other enough to know that the other is looking for some kind of power. That is what they trust in at that moment. Moreover, in Fjord’s case, Fjord knows that Caleb isn’t solely self-serving. If it weren’t for Fjord discovering that Caleb does care for the Nein, that he came be kind and protective and a part of his family, then I doubt this ever would have happened. So, of course Fjord goes all in, and say’s “Always” and “I think we understand each other.”

Though for Caleb, it was mostly endgame. His reward is a favor from Fjord. I say this because during that interaction, you can see the moment Caleb goes into calculating mode and all the intensity that comes with it. Yet, Caleb too has seen Fjord’s kindness. So, when Fjord says,”I think we’re good. We can go.” Caleb moves back, and seems wary, and says “ok” so quietly. He seems small in that moment. There was hesitance in Caleb, maybe a little fear, for Fjord, for the future and what their agreement may entail.

More so after they shook hands. Though I think it was worry, that then quickly morphed into sadness and regret. A little confusion. ( I know that’s a lot of emotions I just listed off, but I stand by what I said. Hmm a better word would have been “unsure” in order to describe Caleb then, but I digress.)

Caleb stares a little at his cut hand. maybe he didn’t expect it, what he did, what Fjord did. Maybe seeing how Fjord reacted and/or seeing his own cut hand made him realize the gravity of what he had just done, what he just enabled and participated in. The path he just went down with Fjord. And how that might affect Fjord. Because that shit was dark and dangerous and messed up and Fjord’s a good man. Sure Caleb thinks he’s a monster, and that of course all he does is hurt the people around him. But he doesn’t want to hurt the people he cares about.

Though Caleb would never admit it aloud, Caleb cares about Fjord. Enough that he told him he mustn’t blame himself. Enough so that he doesn’t want him to go down the same path he did. Enough so that even though it doesn’t directly concerned him, he told Beau and Nott that he thinks Fjord is going to have a tough time of it going forward.That he needs them. He cares enough that he points this out.

He cares enough that he’s worried how this will affect others as well.

Like Jester saw all this. Jester’s in love with Fjord and Caleb went and encouraged something in him that could end up corrupting Fjord. Something that might hurt him or cause him to become someone entirely different and wind up breaking poor Jester’s heart. I mean Jester has already said she’s not sure Fjord is the man she thought he was. I bring Jester into this because after he shook hands with Fjord, Caleb’s eyes then went searching for Jester. The moment he catches her eyes, she shakes her head at him, and his mouth thins, and he walks off. It felt almost like he was almost ashamed or sorry for what he just did.

How he looks in her eyes. How Fjord must see him. How this might hurt Fjord. Was his goals worth what he just did? What it might cost? Caleb’s reaction here shows how attached he’s become to them. It’s growth.

This was a dark moment, but a really interesting one. It’s really revealing of both their characters. I am so excited how this colors Caleb and Fjord’s relationship going forward. And also how this colors both their relationships with Jester.

#long post #widofjord #widofjorester #sorta kinda briefly at the end but imma tag it anyway #meta #critrole #cr meta #like this is mostly widofjord though but i figure i should say it because i totally intended widofjorester at the end with my mention of jes #caleb widogast #fjord #if you don't wanna read the widofjorester bit its after the fourth divider #widojest #a pinch of fjorester

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