#star wars spaceships my beloved <3

[sailforvalinor]

I saw you post on seasons 1 through 4 of Dr. Who and I wanted to know more about your accidentally Christian pile. What are some other works do think unintentionally emphasized Christian doctrines or morals?

Ooooooh, really good question!!

So the first thing that comes to mind here is Marvel’s Agents of Shield--each season has it's own story arc and themes, so it's hard to pin down just one thing here, so I'll just talk about a few. I'll talk about the obvious one first: Season 3 in particular has a lot of Christian imagery (though in this case, it's definitely on purpose). You see a flash-forward of a cross necklace at the beginning of the season floating in a spaceship in space right before it blows up, and then you watch as that necklace get passed around from person to person, knowing that whoever ends up with it at the end of the season is going to die. I won't spoil anything more, other than to say that it results in quite a bit of Christ/crucifixion imagery and themes.

Other than this, there's a lot about the redemptive power of love (Fitzsimmons my beloved), individual guilt and how to handle it, how to let go of shame, the inevitable defeat of evil--I know there's more, but that's all I can think of off the top of my head. (AOS girlies/gents, feel free to chime in!) Additionally, one of the main characters explicitly a Christian, and while he's not portrayed perfectly, he's never ridiculed for it by the other characters or the narrative, which is a breath of fresh air. There are of course some things I don't approve of (prepare to have your skip button ready once or twice in the earlier seasons), but it's still a fantastic show, and by far the best show Marvel has ever come out with.

Harry Potter’s a pretty obvious one—Harry has to sacrifice himself and be fully willing to die to kill Voldemort, the fight with the basilisk in Chamber of Secrets has some Biblical parallels—but I’m fairly certain that these themes were deliberate, so I suppose they don’t really count. But they do to me, so 😂

Star Wars is another big one for me—of course, a la George Lucas’s original vision, SW is much more directly influenced by Buddhism, but I find that it often can’t help dipping into Christian themes. I find this is especially true with anything that has Dave Filoni’s name attached, likely because he in turn is pretty influenced by Tolkien and Lewis (Ahsoka is meant to parallel Gandalf, the World Between Worlds in Rebels was inspired by The Magician’s Nephew’s Wood Between Worlds, etc). Mandalorian season 3 in particular blew me away—baptism! Redemption! Rebirth! Mandalorian denominations/sects! Seriously, I was expecting them to come down hard on the strange rules that sect holds themselves to and for Mando to completely reject them—but they didn’t?? It was SO fascinating.

Kingdom Hearts is probably one of my favorite demonstrations of John 15:13: “greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Otherwise, I can’t really think of any super prevalent Christian themes I noticed, but that one is just so strong and so important to the themes of the series, I couldn’t not mention it.

Final Fantasy XV has something similar going for it—although what I’m going to say has MAJOR spoilers, so if don’t want to be spoiled, go ahead and skip this (and play the game because it’s great—but Noctis having to willingly sacrifice himself by sitting on a throne in order to purify his kingdom is as blatant as you get. For crying out loud, he’s called the One True King. However this only holds true for the base game—the dlc’s (except for Episode Prompto, but that’s just because it doesn’t really apply to that plotline, also it’s incredible) and the novel in my opinion kind of ruin it.

Legend of Zelda is an interesting one, because it is of course heavily inspired by Shinto, but a few Christian themes sort of snuck their way in there. In Skyward Sword (oh and spoilers for Skyward Sword). Hylia, though certainly not meant to be a direct Christ figure, chooses to be reborn as a Hylian (basically a human) in order to save her people. The difference here is that Zelda does not know that she’s Hylia, and she never regains her goddess status (at least presumably until she dies of old age), but it’s an interesting parallel nonetheless. Also, there’s a famously creepy cutscene in Twilight Princess where we get the story of how the Twili were banished from Hyrule for dabbling in dark magic, and the sequence has always reminded me of the Fall.

Those were just a few that I thought of off the top of my head—I’m sure there are more, but that’s all that’s coming to me at the moment 😂

#ajhshdhdh I’m so sorry this took so long #it’s graduation season and my little brother just graduated high school it’s been a bit crazy around here #anyway thanks so much for the ask!!! #asks

[owenthetokencishet]

I'm bored. Time to do my extremely Marvel fatigued takes on every MCU... Thing.

-Iron Man: Holy shit it's a movie! It's actually a movie!

-Captain America: The First Avenger: ROCK SOLID. Shoutout to Agent Carter for being cool enough for her own spinoff series

-Thor: there is nothing remotely Norse looking about any of this

-Iron Man 2: -10 points for Elon Musk, whole thing is freakishly libertarian, but I like Justin Hammer as a villain

-The Avengers: Look, you can hate on Joss Whedon all you like and probably be correct, but this was the gold standard of superhero movies for a good while and with good reason.

-Iron Man 3: Character development??? In MY bloated superhero movie franchise????

Captain America: The Winter Soldier: trying to be deeper than it is when really it's just Steve fighting hydra again

Thor: The Dark World: well, that sure was a movie.

Guardians of the Galaxy: James Gunn's skill with the needle drop rivals Quentin Tarantino. Not just in this film but in all of his actually

Avengers: Age of Ultron: oh god why is the ROBOT quipping please make the robot stop quipping. Oh look Quicksilver's dead.

Ant-Man: this would be really good if it was directed by a director instead of two million overworked VFX artists

Captain America: Civil War: Hey, y'know that actually fairly interesting character conflict we brought up about government regulation of superheroes? What if we pretended it never happened by act 3 and then completely ignored it for the rest of forever?

Was there another movie here or did I make that up?

Doctor Strange: I love it when rich assholes meet poetic justice and the costume design on this film was unmatched. Although I still think it should have been directed by Lana Wachowski with Michelle Yeoh playing the ancient one but that's just me

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: teaching your dipshit male protagonist that toxic masculinity isn't something to strive for and showing him how to be better? FUCK YEAH. Also found family in a shitty spaceship my beloved 💖

Spider-Man: Homecoming: this is the closest the MCU has come to an accurate portrayal of Peter Parker, it's only downhill from here. Wait, why is Ganke here?

Thor Ragnarok: It's all the humour of a Taika Waititi movie with none of the compassion. Man's gone on record to say he only makes Thor movies for the money so if this is the price we pay for Jojo Rabbit, Reservation Dogs, and Our Flag Means Death, I'm okay with that.

Black Panther: hey maybe having your villain and only your villain saying racism is bad isn't such a good idea

Avengers: Infinity War: HE CAST TOO BIG FOR HE GOTDAMN MOVIE. Time to strip all these characters down to their barest bones because we don't have the time to do anything more nuanced!

Ant-Man and the Wasp: My Favorite versions of these characters will always be from the 2010 animated series and these ones just don't compare

Captain Marvel: we made a feminist girl power movie! What's particularly feminist about it? Carol gets catcalled exactly once and that's about it!

Avengers Endgame: is it over? No? Oh no.

Spider-Man: Far From Home: Peter Parker is not the "next" Iron Man, he's Spider-Man. Just let him be Spider-Man. Also seriously this is the wrong spidered man for Ganke why is he here

WandaVision: I am completely ambivalent about WandaVision

FATWS: are we supposed to believe that Sam and Bucky are friends? Also didn't fans give Wyatt Russell the 'non white male actor in a star wars movie' treatment for some reason?

Black Widow: 😐

Loki: Started strong and wandered off into the wild blue yonder of selfcest

What if: HEY WHAT IF...? YOU PAID FOR SOME DECENT ANIMATORS INSTEAD OF WHATEVER NERDS WITH BLENDER YOU CAN UNDERPAY AND WORK TO DEATH YOU MULTIBILLION DOLLAR CHEAPSKATES

Shang-Chi And The Legend of the Ten Rings: A post-endgame Marvel Movie that ISN'T hot garbage!

Eternals: couldn't be arsed

Hawkeye: Just different enough from My Life As A Weapon to avoid giving credit to Matt Fraction and David Aja

Spider-Man: No Way Home: Lots of things have been adapted into movies over the years: classic novels, comics, TV shows, plays, even video games! This however, is the first time a comic-con panel has been adapted into a movie. Also, no Spider-Man anywhere ever would EVER say "I just want to kill you myself" get a grip. I think I've now made my point about stealing Miles' best friend and giving him to Peter

Moon Knight: that's not an exciting Easter egg, that's an essential part of the character that you completely cut out and grafted on to the end

Multiverse of Madness: Nothing nowhere all at once. Themes? Character development??? PLOT??? Are you INSANE???? A good movie is one that's nothing but cameos and references to OTHER, BETTER MOVIES!

Ms. Marvel: Y'know, Kamala being a shape-shifter was kind of important because, comedic irony, top text learns she doesn't need to change for others, bottom text is a shape-shifter, you know how it is

Thor: Love and Thunder: haven't seen it, don't really want to

She-Hulk: Attorney at law: please just... Stop.

Comics are very good though! Read some comics!

[gender-snatched]

Hey so I want you to tell me every single thing I could possibly want to know about Star Trek

OK YEAH. under cut because. well. you know me.

So, in the 60s, Gene Roddenberry started a sci-fi series. This was Star Trek. It's about a starship named the USS Enterprise, which is part of Starfleet. Starfleet is the exploration branch of the Federation of Planets, which is basically the UN of the galaxy. The USS Enterprise is, at the time of the show, captained by James T Kirk, although it was previously captained by Christopher Pike. Kirk is an extremely traumatized nerd who is doing what he really wants to do. His First Officer (and Science Officer) is Mr. Spock, the only alien on the ship. Spock is (half) Vulcan, a species that values "logic" above all, yadda yadda. His Chief Medical Officer is his bestie, Leonard "Bones" McCoy.

He also has: Lieutenant Nyota Uhura (Communications Officer), Lt. Commander Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (Chief Engineer), Lt Hikaru Sulu (Navigator), Nurse Christine Chapel (Nurse), Ensign Pavel Chekov (pilot [?]), and Yeoman Janice Rand (Yeoman)

All these characters are MASSIVELY important for the time. Uhura was a black woman in a major position on the ship; Chapel, Uhura, and Rand were all strong women; Chekov was Russian during the Cold War; Spock was a metaphor for xenophobia and was also Jewish; Sulu was Asian in a time where anti-Asian racism was super high (and his actor, George Takei was Japanese and was raised in internment camps).

Importantly, Star Trek was so so amazing for a show from the sixties. It had one of the first interracial kisses on TV, and had multiple episodes with all sorts of metaphors. Yes, it had problems (misogyny and a fair bit of racism), but for the sixties? It was so incredible.

And the second season started with the episode "Amok Time", which was written by a queer man and focuses on the idea of Spock going into heat and going to die if he doesn't fuck. Somehow, writhing in the sand with Kirk cures this.

And that's the start of slash culture! Almost all slash culture is the fault of either Star Trek or X Files.

So Star Trek: The Original Series got 3 seasons and became a cult classic. And then in the 80s (?) it got the movies. The Motion Picture (bad, but tolerable), Wrath of Khan (pretty damn good), Search for Spock (bad and questionable), Voyage Home (aka The One With the Whales and fucking AWESOME), and then two others I didn't care about whatsoever.

And then, after the movies, The Next Generation came out. It takes place a bit later, with better cameras and effects. The spaceship is smoother, and it's also incredible. Its cast includes: Captain Jean Luc Picard, First Officer William Riker, Chief Medical Officer Beverly Crusher, Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge, Lt Cmr Data (what is his role I can't remember), Security Officer Tash Yar, Worf (also can't remember his role), Dr. Pulaski (I don't like her), Guinan (bartender), and Wesley Crusher.

Terrible confession, but I only finished TOS. I still know TNG pretty well tho.

After TNG we got: Deep Space Nine (my BELOVED), Voyager (wish I had watched more), Enterprise (good if you ignore the misogyny), and then all the nuTrek I haven't been paying attention to because I can't watch it.

Deep Space Nine is the other one I never finished but know, and it focuses on a space station near the planet Bajor. Bajor just threw off the rule of Cardassia, an empire. The Federation, with questionable motives, is helping them rebuild. They send a captain there, and then a wormhole opens, making the space station super super important. Then a war happens but I didn't reach that.

It focuses on Captain Sisko, his son Jake, his first officer Major Kira Nerys, his CMO Julian Bashir, his science officer Jadzia Dax (trangender worm), his engineer Miles O'Brien, a cop Odo, a bartender Quark, a "simple tailor" (actually an exiled Cardassian spy) Garak, and later, Worf.

It's really good, because while TNG pulls a full utopia, DS9 contradicts it and also has just amazing characters. Shame I didn't finish it before Netflix lost it. It also has the first CANONICALLY bisexual character in Star Trek.

There's a LOT of Trek, and I can probably give vague overviews about all of them and also answer any and all questions about it. Please. Please have questions.

[destiny-islanders]

Hey Destiny! Planning my first trip to WDW any advice :)

(I do hope you’re planning to go after the pandemic has been dealt with first off-- there are shops, restaurants, and certain experiences/shows that will be unavailable if you go around now-ish, and as far as I know they’re still charging full-price admission. So not only is it dangerous, it’s not worth it.)

But if you try and go next year sometime when life has presumably returned to normal...

If you can, stay on property! 

Not a requirement obviously, but WDW has transportation that can get you to and from the parks so you don’t have to deal with the parking lots at the parks themselves. It’s also really nice as an adult to go to EPCOT and drink around the world without having to worry about who’s driving back

It also makes staying for the fireworks much less painful... Like it is excruciating to trudge back to your car after spending all day at the park and having to deal with the insane crowds leaving the park, and traffic in the parking lots...

Staying on property allows you to get Fast Passes and make dining reservations a whole month before other guests can. Which ties into my next point...

GET FASTPASSES AND DINING RESERVATIONS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE

If you want to go to Magic Kingdom and go on the Mine Train, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain with FastPass, you need to have them booked sooner rather than later. Find out when you can book FastPasses and get them the second you can.

If you couldn’t get FastPasses for it, get to the park when it opens and make a beeline to your #1 attraction

I live in Florida and I have an annual pass, so it’s not a big deal if I can’t go on my favorite rides because the lines are too long. But if you’re from out of state and this is going to be your only chance to go to Disney for the year or even YEARS, arriving early is a must

Trying to get on Rise of the Resistance (the fancy new Star Wars ride) in Hollywood Studios?

You need to be inside the park before it opens. Period. That is the only way to ensure you can get on this ride since it is insanely popular. Once inside the park, you need to use the MyDisney app to secure your place in a virtual queue. Everyone in your group needs to be registered on the MyDisney app or you will not be able to make a reservation for them. Once you’ve made the reservation, you’re free to roam the park as you will until it’s your turn to ride

Grossed out by crowded public restrooms? Use one in a sit-down restaurant.

Obviously please don’t bring your whole family into a restaurant to use its restroom. I’m talking like if one or two people in your group have to go. Just walk into the restaurant like you already have a table and go to the restroom in there. Though all of the restrooms at WDW are usually well-maintained, imo they’re even nicer in the sit-down restaurants haha. This tip is a little prissy but eh. Thought I’d include it

Disney snacks you are required by law to try

Magic Kingdom

Cheshire Cat Tail (Really yummy for breakfast while you wait in line for one of your first rides of the day)

Dole Whip Ice Cream (IT’S DAIRY FREE-- my fellow lactose-intolerant people can eat it worry-free!!!)

Sweet and Spicy Chicken and Waffle sandwich (Split with friends if you have lunch or dinner plans-- delicious snack to eat between rides or at a show)

GET A BIRTHDAY CAKE SCONE FROM THE CANDY SHOP/BAKERY!!! THEY ARE MY FAVORITE DISNEY TREATS AND I ALWAYS BRING LIKE 2 OR 3 HOME WITH ME

Animal Kingdom

Cinnamon roll (A classic-- and again, a perfect breakfast treat to share while you queue)

Night Blossom (Or its alcoholic equivalent-- really yummy slushies perfect to sip on in the outdoor queues in Avatar world)

Blueberry Cream Cheese Mousse (Need I say more? Yes it’s kind of dangerous if you can’t handle dairy though. Maybe steal a bite from someone’s just to experience life’s fleeting joys)

EPCOT

Adults who booze are obligated imo to get a Grey Goose Lemonade slushie in France. Tangy and sweet. COLD. Delicious.

Tarte aux Fraises (Honestly you can’t go wrong with anything in France... everything I’ve tried there is amazing...)

Giant pretzel (Not exactly a Disney-exclusive thing but... they’re humongous and a great snack to share with a group)

Side note while we’re in Germany-- there’s a little bar tucked into the corner near the back of this area. If you’re drinking around the world, go in there and get Apfel shots. Trust me I have good taste.

If they have them when you’re there... You need to get a meat bun in Japan. They are one of my favorite things to get at Disney Springs or in the parks when they’re available.

Hollywood Studios

(I’m not gonna lie this is not the park to get your snack on. There’s only one snack here I’m super passionate about...)

If you’re there around breakfast time (which you will be if you got there early for Star Wars), the S’mores French Toast in Toy Story Land is DELICIOUS. Just grab napkins. A lot of napkins.

Giant pretzel 

This is not a recommendation, this is a warning: THE MILK IN STAR WARS LAND IS GROSS AND I HATED EVERY SECOND A DROP OF IT WAS IN MY MOUTH

Rides you should try to do while you’re in the park

Magic Kingdom

Space Mountain

Splash Mountain (I wear a poncho because I hate having wet clothes,,,,,)

I think Thunder Mountain is kinda lame but I guess it’s worth doing if the line isn’t terribly long

Dwarf Mine Train

Pirates of the Caribbean

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin (smacktalk in the queue and try to maintain your dignity when you get 9000 points and all of your friends have nearly broken 1 million)

Haunted Mansion

Mickey’s Phillarmagic

Animal Kingdom

Expedition Everest

It’s Tough To Be a Bug (this show will probably terrify your young children if you have any, just a warning)

Flight of Passage (I GUESS... none of the rides in the Avatar section of the park are worth a 2 hour wait if you ask me...)

Dinosaur (again, this ride will probably terrify your young children... I think it’s scarier than Jurassic Park at Universal if you can believe it)

Kilimanjaro Safari (get a Fast Pass for this one-- it’s probably one of the most popular attractions in AK)

Kali River Rapids (in which I once again don a poncho like a 50-year-old man)

Festival of the Lion King (corny as hell but it’s fun)

EPCOT

(If you’re not here to check out the exhibits in each country idk what you’re doing here haha)

Test Track (honestly the only ride I like there)

Spaceship Earth (yes it’s a slow dark ride but it’s really charming and there’s a bit at the end that will probably make you and your group cry laughing)

Gran Fiesta Tour (It’s hidden in the temple in Mexico. Cute little boat ride with Donald and the Three Caballeros)

Soarin’ (My friends and I have an endurance competition to see who can keep their legs held out straight the longest throughout the ride. We got some of the people sitting around us to join in the last time we rode which was pretty hilarious haha)

I’ve heard the Frozen ride is fun, but I’ve never ridden on it myself, so I can’t really comment on it

Note about Mission Space: I got really sick on this ride, and I rode the TAME version. Most of my friends also get sick on this ride. It’s worth trying once if you’re really curious, but I was knocked on my ass for half of my day at EPCOT after riding this one.)

Hollywood Studios

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (A really fun ride but try to keep your head back or you will have a headache all day... Bring ibuprofen.)

Tower of Terror (Probably one of my favorite Disney rides in any park. Will most likely further terrify your small children who may still be traumatized from the bugs and dinosaurs of Animal Kingdom)

Rise of the Resistance (I don’t care about Star Wars but uh. Yeah. This ride was pretty dope.)

Smuggler’s Run (One of the more immersive rides I’ve been on... The ride vehicle is cool as all get-out and there are lots of buttons you can push and levers to pull... Blame one of your friends for being a bad pilot when you only manage to snag two pieces of cargo)

Toy Story Mania (exhaust yourself and make your arms really sore as you desperately try to exert your dominance over your friends as you pop balloons with darts and throw rings around volcanos before they erupt)

MuppetVision (I’m a Muppets ride or die fan and I still think this ride is charming and funny. There’s usually never a line so it’s a perfect break in the air conditioning with beloved characters)

Minnie and Mickey’s Runaway Railway (I haven’t gotten to ride this yet, but I’ve heard good things-- and the Mickey shorts this ride is based on are HILARIOUS, so I expect good things)

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular (DISCLAIMER: Only really fun if someone in your group is selected to be one of the townsfolk. My sister got picked last time and it was hilarious)

Fantasmic! (I like all of the fireworks shows minus the Star Wars one in HS because I really don’t care but. Fantasmic stands out. You have to watch it at least once. Try to catch the first show if you can so you can avoid some of the rush of guests leaving the park at the very end of the night)

#destiny answers #long post #Anonymous

[fanficsforheartandsoul]

A Real Jedi | [Fem!Reader] | Star Wars

I know this is crazy but I got inspired by a dream and now here we are.

Notes: I do not live in the US and I've never been to Disneyland!

Fandom: Star Wars

Warnings: Non-Canon Story, Minor Swearing, Unrealistic Depiction of California

Summary: Y/N, a Jedi Padawan encountered some troubles and got thrown out of hyperspace. With her ship damaged, she decides to land on the closest planet. The weird thing; neither is the planet and its system in her droids database nor do the intelligent inhabitants seem to believe in the Jedis.

Word Count: 3051

Part II

--------

"It's not entirely my fault!"

Beep, Bo-Beep.

"Okay, it is my fault."

Slumping back in her pilot seat, Y/N groaned and stared at the ceiling of her beautiful ol' scrap metal ship. R7-S9 rolled over to her and turned his round metal head to slap her with his sturdy antenna.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

The young Jedi rubbed her arm and glared at the little astromech droid.

Bee-Boop Beep Bo-Weep!

"I know, I already tried contacting Master Ath'nuel. There's no signal."

I hope this is only temporary...

Her thoughts got interrupted when a red light appeared on her ship's control system. The tank was damaged and they were continuously losing fuel. She scrutinized the planet and its small grey moon and made a decision.

"R7, you one hundred percent sure that planet is inhabited?"

The little droid whistled and she sighed.

"Okay. Then let's hope they're loyal to the republic."

-

"Holy Sith, what kind of ships were these?!", whisper-screamed a panicking Y/N while she had to abandon her beloved Icarus after crash-landing on the unknown planet's surface. It hurt her to turn her back on the first spaceship she had received from her master but she had to leave it behind. For the moment it would've been more dangerous to stay.

Upon entering the atmosphere of the rather lovely looking planet, they had been immediately greeted by some super fast and apparently well equipped scout-type ships. It wasn't a welcome escort. They were sent to destroy. That's at least what Y/N's impression had been after they sent some missiles after the Icarus. Thanks to the half-working shield of her battered spaceship they had escaped the fate of exploding. But the Icarus was still sent to the ground. Were it had crash-landed.

R7-S9 followed hot on her tails as she ran away from their landing site. The Icarus went down over a small forest which thankfully gave them some cover but stopped the small astromech droid from going full speed.

"Hurry up, R7!"

An almost angry beep was his only response and Y/N cursed under her breath. Who knew how long it would take the enemy - who even was the enemy?! - to find them. The only comforting thought was that her lightsaber was safely clipped to her belt and that the force was with her.

-

Running turned into jogging. Jogging turned into a walking and when her feet started to feel like they would fall off any moment and the straps of her backpack chaffed her arms, the sun set, and the sky turned dark.

But that didn't stop the young Jedi from continuing. If she had stayed close to her ship she might have found out why these spaceships had attacked her but she could feel that it would have complicated her situation a lot. That's why she ran away. And because it wasn't the first time, it didn't bother her much.

R7-S9 started scanning the environment as soon as she slowed down a little. The astromech droid informed her about the plants on the ground, taking some examples with his small gripper arm here and there and beeping excitedly with every find.

The padawan couldn't share his excitement. They were clearly lost on an unknown planet in an unknown system. How they would leave... She couldn't find an answer. But first, they would seek out people that wouldn't try to kill them at first sight.

Even when her feet grew heavy and she could feel the exhaustion in every bone, Y/N didn't stop walking. The strange, animalistic sounds coming from the forest stopped her from resting. Who knew what kind of creatures were out there.

The Jedi knew there was a risk but she had troubles seeing in the dark of the night that's why she activated one of her lightsaber blades and illuminated the ground before her feet. The yellow glow immediately calmed her a little and her tense shoulders relaxed slightly. Like this, she continued on.

The cybertech in her temple started to feel cold and Y/N realized that she couldn’t go on forever. It would be better to take a break and continue in the morning. She was sure that the foreign spaceships wouldn’t search for her in the middle of the night.

She let her guard down and stopped walking. R7-S9 almost bumped into her. A protesting chirp made the young Jedi chuckle and she turned around and gave her little droid a pat on his round head.

"I don't know R7... Should we rest?"

He seemed to have heard her nervous and unsure undertone because he responded with an affirmative whistle and she nodded.

"Okay, let's stop and take some rest."

With the help of her droid, she found a small open area in the forest and the padawan laid her brown robes on the ground. It wasn’t much but enough for her. She had slept with less before. 

“Can you keep an eye out, R7?” 

Beep, Woop Be-Weep.

She smiled and then laid down on her robes. Even though she should have been more wary, as soon as her body hit the ground, she drove off into a deep sleep. The force wrapped around her and the nightmares were kept at bay.

-

A loud roar caused Y/N to wake up with a start. Her hand was immediately on her lightsaber and she was prepared to slash out when she saw R7-S9 excitedly waving his little gripper arm and beeping loudly in the cold of the dawn. 

“What’s going on?”, she grumbled and rubbed her tired eyes. 

Instead of responding, the droid waved his arm to a location behind her. When she turned around she saw that they rested really close at the end of the forest. After the last line of trees came only dried grass and small bushes. But some weird lines parted the plain. 

“What is... is that a path?” 

Her astromech droid chirped and the young Jedi got up on her feet. She grabbed her crumpled robes and stuffed them into her backpack after taking out some food rations. There was no time for her to eat at her small resting site that’s why she decided to eat while they were walking. 

“Let’s check out these paths, maybe they’ll take us to the next settlement.”

The padawan trudged down the plain and dry hill with R7-S9 at her side and when they arrived at the two paths the sun started to rise. 

Y/N then noticed that calling the black ways paths was an understatement. They seemed to be some kind of roads separated in 3 lanes. Maybe they were like the air traffic on Coruscant but instead of flying ships they navigated some kind of vehicles on the ground. 

Her theory seemed corrected when she saw a strange metal block following the white lines of the road and roaring loudly. The sound slightly scared her but thanks to her cybertech she was able to regulate the sound. 

The young Jedi considered her next step and while she was thinking she didn’t see a green foreign vehicle coming from her left. And she also didn’t notice it slowing down until it stopped right at her side.

"̸̨̡̛̖̼̲͕͚̗̟͚̯̰̪͉͍̘̣̜̰͙͋̋̂̂͘͝H̴̢̡͔̙͇͎̱̦̜̱̮͚̖͍͈̥̱͚̖̙̏̒̊͘ȩ̸͓̥͉͗̾͊̃͊̍͊̊̐̐̏̿̕ý̵̞̘͓̫̘͚͂̿͊͐͋̇̐̏̐̃ͅ,̷̛̤̟͕̟̫͆̂͑̌̍̀̌̒̾͆͐͗͜ ̵̢̧͔͔͙̟̺̤͎͎̰̦̩̘̹̳̟̾͌H̴̢̥̞̲̥̜̰͜͠ȍ̵̡̧̡̩̯̺̗̥͈̥͙̟̙̻̞͖̬̺͍̺̀ņ̵̨͍͇̯̙̦̹̽͆̃̉̒̕͝ȩ̴̡̛͍̗͍͈̳̙̜̜͍͖̲͗̌͋̓̉̏̉͛̈̋̓̓̊̀̕̕͝y̵̡̬̥͕̥̖̳̏̈́͑̅̾̚.̸̢̨̧̛͇̫̰̮̞͕̄̽̋̀̓̀̿̃̄͑͆͊̽̉͌̈́ͅ ̶̧̪̼͙͇̣͂̔̐̔̒͑̌͛͝Ä̷͔̳̫͎̗͈̲́̈́̀͌͒̾͌̅̆ŗ̸̠̈ē̵̡͉͕̗̥̫̝͇̘̩͕͖͙̻͐̀̓͊̐̐͊͜ͅ ̷̳̳͈͗̌̅̀͆̆̅͌̏͗̂̉̊͊͒͂̚͠͠y̴̧̹̞̾͑͝ó̵̢̧̢͚̥̞̝̝̤̥̤̂͊ű̴̩̈́̊͆̀͗̾̋̆̽̈̓̽͋͌͠͠ ̵̹̮͒͐́̕a̶̞͍͍̭̺͂l̶̟͉̆͊̒̎͛́̇̉͐̎̄̈͘͝͝ŗ̴͕̮̪̙̝̪̍̾̈́i̶̮̝̭͖̟͋̀̏̂͌̽̒̆͌͒g̸̡̛͔͔̟͖̺̤̠̬̳̥̩͔̭̤̼͙̟͍̋͋̓͗̃̑̓͗͋̓̓͠ͅh̵͕̼̦̟̰̼̰͋́́̌̍̾̾͋͜t̸̢̢̮͇̘̫͙̹̞̫̣͈̣̩̦̝͒̽͌̓̈́̊̈́̉̍͆̐̚?̵̨͇̝̲̲͉̻̦̠͎̗̟̣̳̫̲͎̬̜̀́̂͐̕"̸̡̧̞̻͍̟͔̖̐͆̋̒̃̚

Y/N almost jumped out of her skin when she registered the vehicle in front of her. She blinked. When did this appear? Her eyes wandered over the green metal and her cybertech registered two heat signatures inside of the strange transport thing.

Only now did she notice the female human inside. The blonde woman opened her mouth and said something again.

"̵̡̘̫̮̠͔͇͙͉͐̾̋͒̑̇̌͘D̸͚͔͉͓̳̣̠̯͓͉͓̙͖̙̼̞͐̉̉͂͗͂͆͊́́͊͜͝͠͠a̷̮̪̝̟̩͉͙̦͌̈́́́́́̀̄̓̅́̎͊͝͝͝ͅr̶̛̦̞̲͙͔̜̠͉̠̰̖̰̬̙̀͛̃̈́̐̔̑̕͝͝ͅͅl̷̢͍͓͔͙̖͉͓̖̦͚͍̤͇̫̐i̶͎̙͔̤͇͙̩̖͙̱̖̱̦̲̅n̵̢̡̮̣̞̩̥̫̦͉̫̗͖̝̘͒̅̈́͌͌͘̕͜͝͝ͅḡ̴͇͔̳̺̑̋͂̿̈́̉͛͂̈́͛͘,̵̧̡̗̘̪̫̲̪͕̟͇̑ ̴̞͖̣̦̦̅͒͌́̊̍̏̍͗͘͠a̴̗͓̰͇̎͐̇̎̑̌̓̃r̸̨̡̧̫̟͚̻̭̮̻̗̠͊̏̃͋̓̓̑̐̾̽͝e̶̢̩̻̮͎̯̫͒̑̎̄̂̕͜ ̸̛̦̗̗̗̺̠̫͖̹̖̦͊͂́̐͒̈́͒̐̌̑̍̚y̴͇̥̖̼̭̟̲̅̊̾̈́̀͘ò̵̲̠̟̲̈́̍̾ͅư̷͉̽̍̒̃̈̈́͌͗̌͝͝ ̸̨̧̡̨̪̪̞̼͍̰̘̫̖͕̹͙̈́͂̏͗̔͜͝a̸͗̅̌��̯̖̯̬̤̤̰̑̈̋͗̅͘͝ ̴̘̯̹͐̈́̿̑̂́͋f̸̡̌̽̓̂͠o̸̢͙͇̥͖̟͕͕̟̳̱̦͈̥̭̳͘r̷͍̻̭̖̣̩̒͑͆̇̅͐̆̃̔̋͛́̚͘̚͝͠ê̴̢̢̝̼͓͓͇̯͖̟͈͎̟͍͛͐͘ͅï̴̧̨̨͔̗̠̭̙̜̭̣͙͖͋̉̊̊̎̇͋̿̎͝ͅg̴̹͎̣̤̣̹͔̝̺̥̿̈́̿̍̉̀̍̿̔͘̚ṅ̷̢̛̺̤̩͇̯͕̲̩̥͜͝ẽ̴̢̢̨͙̠̺͕̲̤͍̗̣̻̼̪̗͙̺́̈͐̄̑͗͊̐̋͑̾̕̕͝͝ȑ̸̨͎͔̭̭̣̦̳̜̈́?̷̡̥̘͍͔̲̦͇̣̘̤̟̮̣̣̰̆͜

The padawan heard her droid beeping and she tried to find the lady’s language in her cybertech’s database. She did not have as many languages stored as Anakin’s protocol droid C-3PO but she knew enough and apparently the language of this planet too. English, what a weird name. She activated the translator device in her head and her voice transmitters adjusted. It took a while and the elderly woman continued talking but Y/N could now understand most of the words.

"̶̰̿W̶̡̍ẽ̶͔̰ ̶͙̏͝c̶͚̖̃a̶̗̼͊̀ņ̷̥̈́͐ ̵͕̾t̶̩͎̓ä̵͈ḵ̴͗͘e̶͈͒̍ ̸̠͓̃̑ý̶̥͘o̷͉̚͝ǘ̵̧ ̴͓̩͛͘t̴̥̩͊o̵̩͒̈́ ̵͔̘͂D̶̯͌î̷̲̱̏s̸̺͑͝ň̶ͅe̵͖̥͝y̷̲͗̅l̶̫͙͠ă̵͖̽ṅ̶͕̜́d̶͕̈́,̴͉͂ ̶̤̎͜n̵̖̆̄o̴̹͛͌ ̷͍̉n̷̹̖̾͌e̶̮̱͛e̸̩̜̾d̶̟̘̎͐ ̶͔͕̋͘t̸̨̞̆o̷̒ͅ ̸̬̞̎ẃ̴̱̍a̸͔̰̔l̶̫͚̀k̷̡̜̈́͠ ̵͙̈́̍ẗ̸͕́h̷̤͗e̷͕͈̾͌ŗ̵̼̓͛ḙ̵̡͒,̸͇̊̓ ̸͉̔̈ȳ̴̛͇o̴̺͇͑u̶̝̇ ̶̭̄p̵̦͙͛͝ö̷̪̳́͂o̷͎͑͘ȑ̵̛̹ ̶̤̹̎̈́g̶̨͖̉͝ĭ̵̛͉r̴̙̠̃̀ĺ̸̤!̷̢̂͑"̴̜̾

“I... That would be nice...”

The Jedi had no clue what she just agreed but the woman seemed to open a door and the strange vehicle opened for her. 

“Can I take my droid too?”

The woman tilted her head in confusion. Y/N pointed to R7-S9 standing next to her. 

“Mom! This is like R2-D2!”, hollered a small boy in the back.

“Oh, is this part of your costume? Of course! Let me open the tr̶̖̔u̷̜͒ń̶̼k̸̡̉”

She watched as the human exited her vehicle, which seemed to be known as a car, and as the woman opened a flap at the end of it. 

“Come, hun! You can put that little man inside.”

R7-S9 protested with a beep and wanted to turn away but Y/N gave him a look and he chirped dejectedly. Without anymore sounds he followed her to the lady and with a little help of his rocket booster he was safely stored inside of the car’s trunk.

Y/N hoped that she wouldn’t regret her decision.

-

“So, Y/N, you seem to be a big f̷̞́a̶͉͘n̷̥̾  of Star Wars.”

Jenna looked at her with a smile and checked out her beige robes. 

“What do you mean f̷̞́a̶͉͘n̷̥̾?”

Her cybertech tried to find a plausible translation for Star Wars and in what context these words could be used together but she had a hard time finding an answer.

“I mean you’re c̶͍͗o̷̘̊ṣ̶̈p̵̦̊l̵̥̈ā̴̟y̸̾͜i̸͙͒n̴͕̋g̴̼̓ as a Jedi, right? Little Jakey loves Ben Solo.”

“His name is Kylo Ren, Mom, Ben Solo is dead!”, corrected the brown-haired boy in the back of the car and he rolled his eyes.

As soon as she heard Jedi relief washed over Y/N. They heard about the Jedi, they must be allied with the republic! Or at least friendly. What Jenna meant with c̶͍͗o̷̘̊ṣ̶̈p̵̦̊l̵̥̈ā̴̟y̸̾͜i̸͙͒n̴͕̋g̴̼̓ didn’t stay on her mind. Her cybertech didn’t know all the words but it probably wasn’t really important.

“Yes, I am with the Jedi. But I lost contact with my Master...”

Little Jakey opened his mouth in astonishment and grabbed his mother’s seat.

“Mom, did you hear that? Does this mean we’re helping her to return to the Order?!”

Jenna laughed and nodded. 

“Of course, baby. Y/N will find her friends at D̷̥̆i̸̢̾s̵̠̄n̸̼̽ē̸͓ỳ̶̟l̵̤̂a̷̼̚n̷̰͘d̵̦͛, I’m sure!”

Whatever this D̷̥̆i̸̢̾s̵̠̄n̸̼̽ē̸͓ỳ̶̟l̵̤̂a̷̼̚n̷̰͘d̵̦͛ was, the padawan hoped it would help her to send a signal to her Master...

-

“Let’s hope you find your friends, Y/N! Have a great visit.”

The Jedi waved after Jenna and Little Jakey and R7-S9 did the same with his little gripper arm. What a lovely and friendly pair! 

They stood at the entrance of Disneyland, which turned out to be a location. Some kind of park. Thousands of people romped about the entrance and Y/N concluded that Disneyland must be an exclusive location. That’s why they had these security checks and everything. 

There was so much for the padawan to register and her head was slightly hurting from all the new information. Somewhat lost they stood at the entrance. 

“So what are we gonna do now?”

Bee-Wee Bo-Beep Boop. 

“I know. But how should we do it? There are guards!”

The astromech droid whistled and turned his head as if he wanted to show his annoyance. 

“Well, only I can do that if you remember!”

As they continued on bickering some people turned towards them and watched the apparent actress perform with the little robot.

“Mommy, is that Rey?”

“Darling you watched the movie. Rey doesn’t have this kind of droid.”

A cluster of people began to form around them and Y/N was so scandalized by R7-S9′s insult that she didn’t register them at all.

“How dare you call me that, you kriffing metal bucket?!”

The droid responded with a flick of his gripper arm and the Jedi sucked in air. 

“Oh yeah, you do you, R7. Let’s see how you manage to survive without me!”

With these final words, Y/N turned around and angrily stormed off in the opposite direction of the entrance.

“Is that a promotion of Galaxy’s Edge?”

-

Y/N managed to get in. With the help of the force, she jumped over the wall that seemed to go around the whole park. She felt shame when she left her little astromech droid but deep down she knew that is was only temporary. Besides, R7-S9 was a survival champion. The metal bucket had more luck than she ever had and he wasn’t even a living being with flesh. So she let go of her worried thoughts and continued to infiltrate the park. 

To say Disneyland was weird, was an understatement. 

Y/N had never seen such strange houses and colorful streets. There were figures and statues of animals and aliens. She didn’t recognize any of them. And the noises. God, the noises! Her cybernetic enhanced ears hurt and without the regulator of her cybertech, she would have pressed her hands to her ears. The hustling and bustling of the crowd full of humans made it hard for her to concentrate on the force. That’s why she decided to look for the Jedis with the help of civilians. 

“Excuse me. Could you tell me where the Jedis have their outpost?”

The man had a child on his arm and looked at her stunned.

“Matt, look a Jedi from Star Wars!”

The small boy giggled and made some Pew Pew noises.

“Yes, exactly! Pew Pew!”

Y/N stared at them with a raised eyebrow. The fuck was going on with these people and Star and Wars?

She repeated her question and the man only laughed. 

“We don’t know but - oh! Maybe they do!”

The man pointed at somewhere behind her and when she turned around she spotted some strange men in white armor with guns drawn. They kind of resembled the clone troopers but not really. They seemed to guard a black figure with a helmet and they marched towards her and the man. 

Y/N’s hand was on her lightsaber when she stepped before the father and his child. Protecting the civilians and keeping the peace is a Jedi’s job, Y/N. The words of her Master echoed in her head. 

“Excuse me, Miss. You are not allowed to wear your own cosplays on the Disneyland ground. We do not want you to get confused as a staff member.”, said one of the soldiers.

But Y/N didn’t hear him. Her eyes were focused on the belt of the man with the black helmet, where a lightsaber hilt laid. 

“Are you a Jedi?”, she asked. Her voice had a hopeful undertone.

“Miss-”, began the man who spoke before, but he was interrupted by the man in black.

“No, I’m not. And you don’t seem to be one either.”

She didn’t focus on the slightly insulting part nor the deep voice of the man. If he wasn’t a Jedi, there was only one explanation why he had a lightsaber.

“Sith!”, she spat and used the force to get her lightsaber in her hands.

Some surprised voices were heard and once again was a cluster of people forming around her. Y/N didn’t understand why these people didn’t flee. Did they not know how dangerous a Sith was? How merciless? She did.

“Calm down, Miss. Or we have to call security.”

Aren’t they security? Oh, they want to bring out the big guns! I don’t mind!

“Come at me if you can!”, she taunted. 

That wasn’t a Jedi’s way and she clearly already lost her cool but the words of her Master echoed in her mind after they had just survived a Sith’s attack. If you ever encounter a Sith again, my padawan. Fight with all you have. The Sith do not have rules so you have to get rid of your own. She took a deep breath, not to calm down but to feel the force around her. The familiar feeling gave her strength. 

The padawan hadn’t activated her lightsaber yet because the possibility of the Sith not wanting to fight was still there. And if she slashed out the people around her might get hurt.

“Security arrives in 3 Minutes”, whispered a soldier behind the Sith and Y/N’s thoughts were all messed up. Should she try to fight or flee? If she fought she would preferably use her lightsaber but with all the civilians around... Fleeing seemed to be the better option. And from what she observed the Sith didn’t look like he wanted to fight. Maybe he would let her go. She decided and right when the man in the black robes started to talk, she used the force.

“Listen I’m no-”

The four soldiers and the Sith got pushed back by the force and the tumbled to the ground. Y/N didn’t waste any second and rushed past them, parkouring over a small set of stairs and a little wall. The surprised Ah’s and Oh’s of the people echoed in her ears.

.

.

.

Adam groaned and rubbed his elbow. That force push trick really hadn’t been necessary! He had no idea how the team managed to pull that one off but they got a good laugh out of it. He could already see the youtube comments. 

He wanted to take off the helmet of his cosplay but revealing his identity to everyone around was probably not such a good idea. With the help of Marcus who had the same fate as him, he stood up and straightened Kylo Ren’s robes and looked around. Everybody was staring at him. Some had their phones out and had recorded the weird scene. The wheels in his head turned as he tried to come up with an explanation. Fuck it, let’s play along.

“The Jedi got away. After him!”

What he didn’t know yet, a real Jedi escaped their grasp.

--------------------

“Oh, I feel like it has been years since I last wore that outfit.” 

Adam looked into the camera. 

“I’m getting suited up in my Kylo Ren gear about ready to hit up the Disneyland Park for surprising some Star Wars Fans.”

He turned and let the Assistant put on the last piece of clothing. Then he grabbed his helmet and once again looked into the camera. 

“Follow me.”

#star wars #adam driver #Jedi #sith #Kylo Ren #Padawan #Rey #The force awakens #anakin skywalker #droid #fanfiction #fanficsforheartandsoul #reader insert #fem reader #x fem reader #luke skywalker #fanfic #reader

[lostinthewinterwood]

Past Imperfect

Right, so, uh.  About that letter…

Well, it’s a bit late, but here you go.  I haven’t done much in the way of prompts—the tags themselves are pretty good prompts, I feel, and I… sure did think I had more prompts in my head than are currently present—but I’ve at least consolidated it all in one place!  Sorry it took me so long.

I’ve also requested all these fandoms before, so if you want to see more I’ve written about them check out the fandom-specific request tags for previous letters.

General DNW

non-con/dub-con;

explicit sexual content;

incest (incl. adoptive/chosen family);

a/b/o;

mpreg;

non-canonical permanent major character death;

complete downer endings;

hurt no comfort;

heavy angst;

on-page deliberate self-harm*;

on-page suicide;

gore;

graphic physical trauma;

character bashing;

cringe comedy;

fic-as-writer-soapbox;

fic that’s all about real-world bigotries or real-world politics;

canon-typical 2020;

unrequested full-setting AUs;

unrequested identity headcanons;

unrequested romance as the main plot.

*I don’t include things like, say, punching a wall in a fit of emotion under this. However, something like cutting would not be appreciated.

�� General Likes

– I really like plotty fics

– Secret identity and disguise shenanigans, the more layers to them and more absurdity the better.

– Crossdressing for whatever reason and gender disguises, also for whatever reason, though not as a fetish thing—that I enjoy less.

– Time travel and time loops are always fun (as i say for every exchange, but it’s a little obvious here innit)

– A focus on family and/or friendship, especially characters realizing they’re not nearly as alone as they think they are, and just generally characters who like each other and enjoy spending time together

– Found family; families of choice

– Character studies

– Worldbuilding

– Canon-divergence AUs and missing scenes; things set pre- or post-canon; wriggling into canon and poking at it to see what it spits back at you, if that description makes any sense at all.

   Mother of Learning - nobody103 

Fanfiction – Relationship

·       Group: Zorian Kazinski & Zach Noveda (Mother of Learning)

·       Group: Raynie & Kiana (Mother of Learning)

·       Group: Kirielle Kazinski & Zorian Kazinski (Mother of Learning)

·       Kirielle Kazinski (Mother of Learning)

 fandom-specific dnw: romantic and/or sexual Zach/Zorian; physical parental abuse within the Kazinski family; significant exaggeration of canonical emotional neglect/abuse/general family dysfunction

 ·       Canon Characters Meet Too Many Meddlers from the Future

·       Character Gets Stranded With A Past or Future Version of Themselves

·       Character Travels Back to When They Were Still a Massive Jackass

·       different type of time travel than in canon

·       different time traveler(s) than in canon

·       Fixing the Timeline Requires Saving An Enemy

·       Future Character Can't Tell Past Character Their Fate

·       Peggy Sue

·       Physical Time Travel to Past

·       Secret Identity of Loved One Discovered While Stuck in Time Loop

·       Spell goes wrong and results in time travel

·       Stuck In A Time Loop With The Worst Person

·       Time Loop/Groundhog Day - Groundhog Peggy Sue

·       Time Travel Doesn't Work How Characters Think It Does; This Becomes A Problem

·       Time Travel due to a Magical Artefact

·       Time Travel due to a Magical Curse

·       Time travel due to magical artifact breaking

·       Time Travel Fix-it - Time Travelers Disagree On How To Fix The Problem

·       Time Travel For Fun And Profit

·       Time Travel into Body of Past Self Results in Cohabitation

·       Time Travel to Close Causation Circle and Preserve the Present

·       Time travel via magical locale

·       Time Traveller Cannot Reveal Their True Identity

·       Time Travelling Character is Wildly Overpowered

   Star Wars: Rebels 

Fanfiction – Relationship

·       Group: Ahsoka Tano & Darth Vader (SW:R)

·       Group: Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios/Alexsandr Kallus (SW:R)

 Fandom-specific dnw: apologetics for space fascists

 ·       Accidental Time Travel

·       Character from future needs help from past version of beloved

·       Character From Future Tries To Convince Current Enemy To Work Together

·       Character Travels Back to When They Were Still a Massive Jackass

·       Enemies Travel Back In Time Together

·       Enemies-to-Lovers - Time Traveller Must Convince Enemy That They're Lovers in the Future

·       Future Character Can't Tell Past Character Their Fate

·       Peggy Sue

·       Redeemed Villain Travels to Before Their Redemption

·       Time Loop

·       Time Loop - Fixing Character Death

·       Time Loop - Mother of Learning rules and mechanics

·       Time Loop/Groundhog Day - Both Characters Stuck in Loop

·       Time Loop/Groundhog Day - Groundhog Peggy Sue

·       Time Travel Fix-It - Derailing The Bad Guy's Descent Into Evil

·       Time Travel into Body of Past Self Results in Cohabitation

·       Time Travel into Body of Past Self Replacing Past Self

·       Time Travel Through the Force

·       Time Travel to Save Someone

·       Time Travel Via A Spaceship Flying Through A Wormhole

·       Time Traveler Trying to Change the Past is Hampered by Lack of Full Knowledge of the Past

·       Time Traveller Cannot Reveal Their True Identity

    Secret Society of Second-Born Royals (2020) 

Fanfiction – Relationship

·       Any Character

o   Group: Catherine & Eleanor & Sam (SSoSBR)

o   Group: January & Matteo & Roxana & Sam & Tuma (SSoSBR)

o   Group: Sam & Eleanor (SSoSBR)

o   Group: Sam & January (SSoSBR)

o   Group: Sam & Mike Kleinberg (SSoSBR)

o   Group: Sam/January (SSoSBR)

o   Eleanor (Secret Society of Second-Born Royals)

o   January (Secret Society of Second-Born Royals)

o   Sam (Secret Society of Second-Born Royals)

 Fandom-specific dnw: January as purely, irredeemably evil; absolute monarchy as unambiguously purely good.

Fandom-specific note: since I’d be super down for politics if they’re the politics of Illyria or the other countries the kids are from, it would be a bit silly to fully dnw real-world politics in this real-world-adjacent setting. Don’t worry about referencing real politics if that’s where you go with your fic; however, I would rather any focused-on politics be filtered through the context of the fictional countries the film uses, and please don’t reference real-world American politics post-2015.  “unrequested full setting aus” dnw has been modified to “unrequested mundane aus” so if you want to, idk, put them in a fairytale au or a sports-but-still-have-powers au or something—go right ahead.

 ·       Character From Future Tries To Convince Current Enemy To Work Together

·       Enemies Travel Back In Time Together

·       Enemies-to-Lovers - Time Traveller Must Convince Enemy That They're Lovers in the Future

·       Redeemed Villain Travels to Before Their Redemption

·       Secret Identity of Loved One Discovered While Stuck in Time Loop

·       Stuck In A Time Loop With The Worst Person

·       Time Loop

·       Time Loop - Character and Enemy Are the Only People Aware of Looping

·       Time Loop - Enemies Have To Work Together To Solve The Loop

·       Time Loop - Intentionally Created for Problem Solving

·       Time Loop - Looping character trying to save another character's life

·       Time Loop - Mother of Learning rules and mechanics

·       Time Travel Fix-It - Altering Canon or Backstory

·       Time Travel Fix-It - Derailing The Bad Guy's Descent Into Evil

·       Time Travel Fix-It - Seducing the Villain to Save the World/Timeline

·       Time Travel Fix-it - Team Trying To Fix The Problem Together

·       Time Travel Fix-it - Time Travelers Disagree On How To Fix The Problem

·       Time travel to secretly visit deceased loved one

·       Time Traveller Cannot Reveal Their True Identity

·       Time Travelling Character is Wildly Overpowered

    Original Work 

Fanfiction – Relationship

·       Group: Child Superhero & Their Concerned Supervillain Nemesis (OW)

·       Group: Male Student Mage Disguised as a Girl/Female Fellow Student Mage (OW)

·       Group: Male Student Mage Disguised as a Girl & Female Fellow Student Mage (OW)

·       Group: Male Student Mage Disguised as a Girl/Female Student Warrior Disguised as a Boy (OW)

·       Group: Male Student Mage Disguised as a Girl & Female Student Warrior Disguised as a Boy (OW)

·       Group: Male Student Mage Disguised as a Girl & Male Student Warrior (OW)

·       Group: Male Student Mage Disguised as a Girl & His Older Female Mentor (OW)

·       Group: Spellsword Mercenary & Mathemagician (OW)

·       Junior Priestess with Unusually Strong Magic (OW)

 fandom-specific dnw: age gaps in ships of more than 3 or so years when one character is underage; predatory manipulation between characters in the relationship in service of the relationship–if characters are manipulating each other for non-relationship things and such that’s okay, but i’d rather both parties in any of the ships be interested in the romance of their own accord. Additionally, please don’t have characters react to any gender-disguised characters (or characters in general, but it’s most relevant to them) in transphobic or transphobic-adjacent ways (i.e. none of the characters are requested as trans, but I still wouldn’t want to see the kinds of comments people make about trans people aimed at them). I’d also rather not see any kind of serious relationship with at least one character disguising their gender pre-reveal of that disguise–flirting, starting to date a little is okay but if it’s going further please have them reveal it. Please don’t play into the idea of gender-disguised character as “trap”.  If actual trans characters are present, then some transphobia isn’t a hard dnw—my gift in Heart Attack didn’t bother me at all.

also dnw characters requested as gender-disguised to be written as trans or to be written as absolutely loathing their disguise. other characters are fair game. if writing trans characters, dnw them to be explicitly nondysphoric (but not addressing it is fine).

…in my signup I alleged that there was some expansion to be had here, but I honestly have absolutely no idea what I was planning to write.  Sorry about that.

fandom-specific note: the “setting au” dnw obviously does not apply here; my typical “identity headcanon” au dnw has been replaced by a dnw for “marginalized identities as the main focus of a fic” since there isn’t exactly a canon here lol.

 ·       Accidentally Becoming a Famous Historical Figure Through Time Travel

·       Adjusting to a Different Era

·       Backwards Time Traveler Realizes They've Become a True Seer

·       Character Gets Stranded With A Past or Future Version of Themselves

·       Character Has Control of Mental Time Travel and Uses It to Save Scum

·       Character Meets Their Child Self

·       Character Travels Back to When They Were Still a Massive Jackass

·       Making friends with a past version of an enemy

·       One character likes other character's past self way more than they expected

·       Peggy Sue

·       Redeemed Villain Travels to Before Their Redemption

·       Secret Identity of Loved One Discovered While Stuck in Time Loop

·       Spell goes wrong and results in time travel

·       Stuck In A Time Loop With The Worst Person

·       Time Loop - Character and Enemy Are the Only People Aware of Looping

·       Time Loop - Enemies Have To Work Together To Solve The Loop

·       Time Loop - Mother of Learning rules and mechanics

·       Time Loop/Groundhog Day - Both Characters Stuck in Loop

·       Time Loop/Groundhog Day - Groundhog Peggy Sue

·       Time Travel - Cannot get back to own time period

·       Time Travel due to a Magical Artefact

·       Time Travel due to a Magical Curse

·       Time travel due to magical artifact breaking

·       Time Travel Fix-It - Derailing The Bad Guy's Descent Into Evil

·       Time Travel for Historical Research

·       Time Travel to Close Causation Circle and Preserve the Present

·       Time travel via magical locale

·       Time Traveler Must Pretend To Be Identical Looking Family Member

·       Time traveler stranded in past has to take the long way back to their correct time

·       Time Traveler Trying to Change the Past is Hampered by Lack of Full Knowledge of the Past

·       Time Traveller Cannot Reveal Their True Identity

·       Time Travelling Character is Wildly Overpowered

·       Year Inside Hour Outside

#exchange letters #requested: fic #requested: mother of learning #requested: star wars #requested: star wars rebels #requested: original work #requested: secret society of second born royals

[terramythos]

TerraMythos’ 2020 Reading Challenge In Review - 9/10s!

See Master Post

Here's the 9/10 books of this year -- books I really liked but not to the point of perfection. 

1. This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (Full Review Here)

This is a beautifully-written novella about two women from enemy time travel societies. They start as rivals who pass taunting letters to one another and gradually fall in love with each other through their writing. There’s some really beautiful and interesting locations, and I love the longing and emotion in the letter sequences. I think using a science fiction setting for a love story is super cool; especially with time travel, there’s a sense of predestination not found in other genres. I also like the idea of each author writing one of the two leads, so the style is slightly different between them. 

2. The City We Became (Great Cities #1) by N. K. Jemisin (Full Review Here)

Jemisin is a fantastic author and created my favorite series ever (The Broken Earth), so I was stoked to read book one of a new series by her. The concept here is that cities become sentient beings over time given enough people and cultural influence. New York City is about to be born into a human avatar, but something goes wrong. An eldritch foe known simply as The Enemy seeks to sabotage the nascent city and almost succeeds. Proto-avatars of the city’s boroughs have to find their inner power and band together to rescue him and save the city. 

I really dig the ensemble cast, especially Manny (Manhattan), Bronca (The Bronx), and New York City himself. The book is also a great middle finger to Lovecraft, as the cosmic horror element is steeped in structural racism and oppression, with the Eldritch Aesthetic being a creepy pale white. Super excited for the next book. 

3. Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries #2) by Martha Wells (Full Review Here) 

I’ve already said plenty about the Murderbot books on my 10/10 list. I really like this one in particular because it introduces ART, one of the best supporting characters in the series. It’s super interesting to see how Murderbot interacts with a non-human person (or... spaceship. But ART is also a person for sure) similar to itself and I really like the banter and friendship between the two. Like the rest of the novellas, it’s short, but it packs in a lot of story and heart. 

4. Rogue Protocol (The Murderbot Diaries #3) by Martha Wells (Full Review Here) 

My other 9/10 selection for this series! There is a heavy focus on Murderbot’s past and how far it’s come ever since it freed itself from the company’s mental slavery. This probably has the strongest character development in the series outside of Network Effect, with a genuinely sad and sobering ending. 

5. Finch (Ambergris #3) by Jeff VanderMeer (Full Review Here) 

I think this book is where I really “got” the Ambergris series; it’s a pseudo-trilogy with a lot of postmodern elements, but this one is the most straightforward. Finch is a fascinating mix of noir, dystopia, and cosmic horror. I even called this “nontraditional cyberpunk”; there’s elements of a surveillance state, underground resistance/revolution, artificial implants/bodily enhancements-- but all related to fungi and eldritch horror. 

Anyway, this book stars Finch, a detective working in the city of Ambergris, who is tasked with solving an impossible double-murder case. In his investigations, he soon stumbles upon a web of conspiracy related to the downfall and takeover of the city by the gray caps, the humanoid mushrooms who enslave and oppress the human population. It’s just as weird as it sounds, but if you made it to book three, you'll be plenty familiar with how bizarre the series is. Technically, this book is a standalone, but I recommend reading the other two first as they are integral to understanding the plot. 

6. The Last Sun (The Tarot Sequence #1) by K. D. Edwards (Full Review Here)

This is a really impressive debut novel with an interesting world concept and great characters. The idea is that Atlantis was a real thing and got destroyed. The surviving inhabitants decided to build a new city by magically stealing a bunch of buildings throughout the world and transporting them to Nantucket. The result is a cool patchwork urban fantasy setting. There’s a huge tarot motif, hence the series name. It’s also gay! 

I fell in love with the excellent character banter, especially between Rune and his soul-bonded bodyguard Brand. While I had some criticisms on the plot structure and a reliance on same-y action scenes, everything else was so good I gave Edwards the benefit of the doubt. And it really paid off in the sequel, which improves on basically everything. 

7. The Princess Bride by William Goldman (Full Review Here) 

I mean, the movie’s a beloved classic. If you haven’t seen it... go do so? It’s a great adventure story with lots of memorable characters, lines, and moments. Honestly I’m more surprised I hadn’t read the book before, and I’m glad I did. It often felt like an extended cut of the movie, with a few key differences in the frame story and some locations. While I think I like the film just a little more, I appreciate the novel for giving me a broader perspective on the story and characters. 

8. A Choir of Lies (A Conspiracy of Truths #2) by Alexandra Rowland (Full Review Here) 

A Choir of Lies is a standalone sequel to the book A Conspiracy of Truths and can be read on its own if desired. It stars Ylfing, a fan-favorite character in the previous book. He’s processing grief and depression in the wake of his mentor (the last book’s protag) suddenly abandoning him. A (sort of--it’s complicated) professional storyteller called a Chant, Ylfing tries to make it in the Netherlands-inspired fantasy city Heyrland, and writes a diary about his experiences. However, another Chant has found his manuscript and writes scathing commentary on his decisions in the footnotes. 

I had a difficult time getting into this one, as Ylfing is both relatable and infuriating, and a depressed protagonist can be hard to get behind. However, it's well worth sticking through, as the sheer catharsis of Ylfing realizing his horrible mistakes and doing everything he can to fix them is... well, pretty inspiring. Multiple characters own up to their failures, often at great personal cost, for the wellbeing of others. I think it’s a great message, especially reading it in 2020 when the future feels hopeless. A Choir of Lies also has two of the things I liked most about A Conspiracy of Truths-- lots of meta commentary on storytelling, and surprisingly interesting economics. 

9. The Harbors of the Sun (The Books of the Raksura #5) by Martha Wells (Full Review Here)

I thought this was a nice finale to the series. It has some satisfying thematic bookends regarding the Fell and Moon’s character development. It’s also probably the most “epic” fantasy of the series, with super high stakes and a broad cast of perspective characters. I have to wonder if there are plans for further books or a different series in this universe, since the setting has a lot of depth and potential. Either way, I really enjoyed it! 

10. A Killing Frost (October Daye #14) by Seanan McGuire (Full Review Here)

Another year, another October Daye book! Obviously I like this series if I’m fourteen books in and still reading it. A Killing Frost has some slow-ish pacing, but ramps up a lot in the second half of the story. It’s the conclusion to my favorite storyline in the series -- the redemption arc of Simon Torquill. He’s a really interesting morally gray character, and I think serves as the poster child on how the series plays with the idea of heroes and villains. Also, this book casually drops probably one of the craziest twists in the series at the end, and I am super interested to see the fallout of that. 

11. The Edge of Worlds (The Books of the Raksura #4) by Martha Wells (Full Review Here)

This is basically part one of Harbors of the Sun and involves the main cast going on a long journey to an ancient ruin. The first half of the book is pretty slow and probably could have been pared down -- lots of travel sequences. However the second half is super tense and action packed. I found the ancient ruin itself really interesting and creepy, and the book sets up a lot of things that pay off in The Harbors of the Sun. 

#2020 reading challenge #taylor reads

[romana73]

REYLO FANFIC: YIN AND YAN. CHAPTER 5, PART II

WRITER: Romana73 TIME: One year after Star Wars. Episode VIII. The Last Jedi THEME AND FANDOM: Star Wars RATING: Explicit TITLE: Yin and Yan CATEGORIES: M/F COUPLES: Kylo Ren / Ben Solo and Rey CHARACTERS: Rey, Kylo Ren / Ben Solo, Anakin Skywalker (nominated), BB - 8, Knights of Ren, Chewbacca, Darth Vader (nominated), Finn, General Hux, Han Solo (nominated), Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, Poe Dameron, Rose Tico, boys from Canto Bright, Snoke (nominated), various Resistance and First Order fighters WARNINGS: Star Wars characters, world and stories AREN’T MINE AND DON’T BELONG TO ME, but they are created and owned by George Lucas, Lucasfilm, Disney, J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson and the actors who play the Star Wars characters and their stories. I’M NOT IN ANY WAY LINKED TO THESE PEOPLE AND CINEMATOGRAPHIC HOUSES. I DON’T KNOW NO ONE OF THEM and I’M IN NO WAY IN CONTACT WITH THEM

WARNINGS 2: violence, also in terms of language. The starting idea of ​​this story derives from a leaks I read last year and which struck my imagination CHAPTER I can be found HERE: https://romana73.tumblr.com/post/189784450126/reylo-fanfiction-yin-e-yan CHAPTER II can be found HERE: https://romana73.tumblr.com/post/189959876431/reylo-fanfic-yin-and-yan-part-2 CHAPTER III can be found HERE: https://romana73.tumblr.com/post/190301208881/reylo-fanfic-yin-and-yan-3-part CHAPTER IV can be found HERE: https://romana73.tumblr.com/post/190662591396/reylo-fanfic-yin-and-yan-chapter-iv

CHAPTER V, PART I can be found HERE : https://romana73.tumblr.com/post/614181147435532288/reylo-fanfic-yin-and-yan-part-5

CHAPTER V (PART II )

Kylo had burst into bitter laughter when he saw cell where Resistance had locked him up. He imagined few were aware of his being only son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, nephew of Luke Skywalker, but that was no justification. Resistance would have had to learn more about enemies if it intended to fight effectively. Remaining on his feet, boy leaned back against a wall, looking around. Cell hadn't seemed to change since Luke had built it, except for two long, large chains attached to ceiling. Kylo had returned to focusing on what really interested him. Sitting on ground, legs bent and spread apart, looking ahead, he was fumbling with his right arm until he was able to press point of limb interested him. By keeping his concentration, he had managed to use his mind to operate watch on his wrist, although it was stuck under cuffs. Two minutes later, clock had vibrated. Kylo had smiled. - Wait for my signal - Supreme Leader had ordered in a calm tone, speaking to nothing. Clock chirped like a cricket and Kylo mentally turned it off.

"Rey ..." closing his eyes, the young leader had leaned his head against wall, looking for contact with girl, but nothing had come. She still had to be unconscious. His concentration had been disturbed by a strong, familiar presence. Supreme Leader had stiffened, snapping his eyes open, pulling himself to his feet. - General Organa ...- he murmured in a dark voice, taking a few steps, hiding in the shadows. Wrapped in a long gray silk dress, cut in empire style, with a long silver vest, sleeveless, high-necked, the princess and leader of the Resistance, Leia Organa was standing in front of the prison bars, which she stared at him with wet eyes. "Ben ..." murmured the woman in a broken voice. - No. Kylo Ren. I advise you to go back upstairs, General, to safety. I killed her husband Han Solo ... you don't want me to do same with you, do you?- He had cut him short, staying in the shadows. His tone of voice was cold and hard. Leia had pursed her lips and, with a trembling chin, straightening her back, had left the room. Kylo had sat on the ground, gritting his teeth. By time he chased her away, he had felt woman's heart break, her physical weakness resulting from being thrown out of her spaceship after his attack, her belief he was lost. In perceiving mother's thought, Kylo had darkened. General Organa's belief had irritated him, though she was nothing to him anymore. Only an annoying shadow of the past, which had considered him lost since childhood. Where was the news? The sound of furious footsteps had torn Kylo from his reflections. - What did you do to our General? - Standing in front of cell entrance, Poe Dameron, best Resitance’s pilot, had accused him.  Man's dark brown eyes sent flashes, his short, curly and black hair seemed unkempt from too much going through his hands.  Fleshy mouth, surrounded by a veil of beard, was tight in a thin line, sign of Poe's attempt to maintain control. Behind him, Finn stared at him frowning, looking at him from bottom to top. Resolute and tense, the ex-stormtrooper seemed ready to shoot. Poe had opened cell, entering with a firm step, standing in front of Kylo. Finn had joined him silently. BB-8, Poe's round droid, had rolled beside master, emitting a shy beep. Kylo had looked at both men with a hard but calm expression, then shrugged. - I only remembered who I am, what I did and I could still do ...- he had explained placidly. Two remained staring at him with a dark questioning expression painted on their faces. Kylo had sighed patiently. - I killed Han Solo, your dear General’s husband and I could do same with her... with all of you - he had clarified. - Damn you! - Finn was no longer able to restrain himself and jumped towards him, taking him by neck and slamming him against wall. In Finn’s mind were still vivid images of Leia crying alone in her room for death of her beloved husband. Finn remembered well evening when, passing in front of General's room, he had heard loud sobs. Concerned, he entered in room without asking for permission, finding Leia, sitting at table crying bent and desperate, with one hand over her mouth, in front of an Han Solo’s old hologram. Without saying a word, dark young man had placed one knee on the ground, bending other and embraced Leia, making her head rest on shoulder and rocking her, while she was letting off steam. Now Kylo Ren had dared to turn knife over in that not yet closed wound. - Finn! - Poe had intervened, bringing him back to reality. -Mr Finn! - C3 - PO had entered the cell agitatedly, followed by RD - D2 -Don't do it, please! Upstairs there is an air so sad! General heard you go down to prisons and sent us to check... princess closed herself in her room and Miss Rey is still unconscious! Please, Mr. Finn, don't complicate things! - The intervention of C3 - PO had been strengthened by the metallic noises of RD - D2. -Listen to your new friends, FN-2187. You won't want to disappoint Rey ...- Kylo had commented, before hitting Finn with a headshot in the face. The young man had fallen to the ground, rolling and moaning, holding his bleeding nose with both hands. -Finn!- Poe had screamed, running to his friend and bending over him. BB-8 had emitted a series of loud beeps. Pilot had frantically searched his pockets for something to dab the other 's nose until he found a cloth originally intended for cleaning his X - Wing and passed it to young man, helping him to pull himself up. - I don't need to use the Force to beat you. I can do it even in normal conditions...- Kylo had continued. Poe had grabbed him by collar. -I don't like using these methods, but you wanted it ... - man had hissed between his teeth, forcefully bringing Kylo towards  chains hanging from cell’s ceiling. Finn had watched the scene with a grim expression, before rising to his feet, quickly wiping off residual blood and putting cloth in a pocket of his blue trousers, helping to chain his former commander. - If you wanted to hang me without difficulty, You could use blinding light you used to capture me in forest... - Kylo had provoked. RD - D2 had issued some beep trades. He had taken a quick look at droid he had known since childhood, before returning to focus on the two men in front of him. - Of course, I didn't think you would involve Rey ...- he continued. - I don't know what you're talking about and I don't care! That light has knocked you out and that's enough. As for Rey ... don't you dare pronounce her name! - Finn had replied angrily, tightening chains on his wrists and going away. -Really? It seems normal to me to be interested in my ex-ally ...- Kylo had commented casually. Finn had snapped like a snake, grabbing him again by collar. -He has nothing to do with you! - Boy had screamed, narrowing his eyes. Kylo had hidden his surprise. Rey hadn’t revealed anything to his friends about he had killed Snoke and wanted to kill Leia and Resistance... for possessing Anakin's lightsaber, leaving him on the ground, passed out, and stealing a ship to join them on Crait. Furious, Kylo had followed her, ordering her pilots to shoot down the Falcon led by her, Chewbacca and Finn. -I'm not lying. Rey left Ach - To and Luke to come to me. We killed Snoke and Praetorian Guards together - Kylo had revealed in a calm tone, staring in Finn’s eyes. Moving fast, his former subordinate had hit him in chest with a dagger hidden in belt of his pants. Kylo had tensed, pursing his lips and holding on to chains with both hands. Blade’s cold had clashed with warm blood dripped from his chest, giving a strange feeling of unreality, if it hadn't been for burning pain coming from diagonal cut pierced his shirt and flesh. - Finn! - Poe had called his friend back, taking him by arms, fighting with him to keep him still.

RD - D2 had reinforced the pilot's words with loud metallic noises. C3PO had started pacing up and down like an agitated hen. BB-8 had made a disjointed tour of cell, immediately returning to Poe. Kylo had quickly looked down at wound. -Good, FN-2187. You gave me back blow I dealt you at Star Killer Base, but mine was on your back, though and... I didn't lie about Rey - he observed mildly. Finn had managed to free his arm from Poe's grip and, clenching his hand into a fist, had hit Kylo in face. Supreme Leader had found himself with his face turned to one side. Poe had blocked his friend again, murmuring something in his ear, then he had turned to BB-8, instructing him to go back upstairs to perform check rounds inside base. Without moving, Kylo had glanced sideways at round and whirling white droid, with orange and silver outlines. Months earlier he himself had searched for that little robot, in whose memory was kept map missing piece to find Luke Skywalker, man wanted by both Snoke and Resistance. Looking for BB-8, Kylo had met Rey, to whom the little droid had attached himself like a puppy. Something vague and undefined had warned him to keep an eye on droid. At that moment, a strong sensation had shaken Kylo, ​​who had remained silent and motionless. She had recovered, sensed pain from wound Finn had inflicted on him and she was coming. Rey had overwhelmed everyone like a cyclone, surprising even him. It wasn't she stopped torture and freed him from chains, surprised Kylo. He knew this was in Rey nature, but he never expected her to heal him, offering him side a second time. Such naivety wasn’t acceptable. Rey had seen him kill Han, hurt Finn, wildly attack his precious Resistance on Crait. She knew very well his intention to kill Jedi, Sith, Resistance and everything represented past, why help him? Irritated by those thoughts, Kylo had attacked Rey, hurting her, undecided whether to take her and drag her with him, as he had planned from the beginning, or leave her there and forget her... Cardo's arrival had shaken him. Resistance guards had done little. Taking advantage of knowledge of place, Kylo had instructed Cardo about where to hide and multitude of conflicting feelings aroused by his presence at base, had facilitated things. Following instinct, Kylo had jumped on Rey. He knew he was physically stronger than she was and she couldn’t use Force in that cell. Nonetheless, Kylo had been surprised at intensity with which Rey had struggled. At times, he had to struggle to hold her back, especially when others and children had arrived. Kylo frowned suspiciously when he noticed Chewbacca was missing. In all that time prisoner, only one who he hadn't seen was huge Wookie, inseparable companions of Han Solo's adventures. Hairy giant seemed to have disappeared into thin air and he didn't like it. Finn's thoughts had torn Kylo out of those considerations, leaving him stunned. Did ex-stormtrooper really detest him to such an extent he thought he would hurt Rey? Kylo knew Finn wasn't really going to hurt Rey and, judging by his reactions, he really ignored what that light was had knocked him and Rey down. His thoughts, however, surprised him. Shortly before, Rey had blamed war and its protracted for some harsh behavior of his friends and, perhaps, he was right, but he still could not end conflict. -Let them go and I'll go with you - he was dumbfounded, hearing these words coming out of Rey's mouth. On reflection, such an offer was part of she's disposition. Kylo had folded his mouth in a grimace. He didn’t like position in which Rey had put him with such a proposal. -Unlike what you think, I don't like blackmailing people or even being teased ...- Kylo had replied, staring into her eyes. His mind was racing when they beat Snoke and Praetorian Guards. He offered his hand to her, while she turned against him as soon as she learned of his intention to exterminate her friends. Kylo had thought, fault of that result was his, he should have been more subtle and put her in front of the fait accompli, not open up like that. -I'm not setting you a trap - Rey had interrupted his thoughts flow, as if she had read in his mind. He stared at her intently, feeling Leia's scrutinizing and attentive gaze on him, noisy protests of others filling his ears, Cardo's lively and silent curiosity pricking him. Kylo had imperceptibly shook his head, to get rid of that useless tangle of emotions. -Okay ...- he had conceded, freeing Rey from his grip and using Force, to free her from handcuffs. -Please, come on - he invited her, indicating to walk in front of him. Kylo had looked sideways at his mother who, on the contrary, was openly staring at him and Rey. This attitude had made him uncomfortable, causing him to quicken his steps, forcing Rey and Cardo to run to follow him. Traveling Finalizer hadn't been easy. Rey was a volcano of emotions overwhelmed him too. She proceeded in silence, between him and Cardo, trying to hold back tears. Kylo admired her. Rey had gone from being an orphan, full of dreams and hopes, on a desert planet, forgotten by everyone, to discovering she had skills few knew and understood deeply, finding herself catapulted into a conflict foreign to her. Cardo had torn him from these reflections, announcing he would precede him to Finalizer. As soon as they were alone, Rey had turned to him, informing him she would never bend to his will. Kylo had sighed patiently when a disturbance in Force drew his attention. Moving fast, he had imprisoned Rey's wrists in anti-Force handcuffs again, obscuring her perceptions. She was already quite agitated, she didn't want it to explode completely. Pretending not to have noticed pursuers, Kylo had taken Rey in his arms to hurry section separated them from Finalizer. She fought like a fury, but he was determined to resist. Sooner or later she would calm down. Rey's bursting into tears, her despair, letting go against his chest, had disoriented him. First time he had carried her to his ship, he had put her to sleep using Force and then secured her to interrogation table. Apparently he had done well, looking problems she was giving him now. Kylo had thought about using Force to make her pass out again, but when he lowered his eyes on her, he realized Rey had gone from tears to sleep, her face streaked with tears. Kylo had sighed again and he had better placed her in his arms, following last stretch of road. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kylo had just finished shower, wearing black leather boots and pants and was about to call a medical robot when he heard a new disturbance in Force. He quickly put on a black shirt, thick ribbed, knee-length, with a zipper in middle. He fastened a high black leather belt to his waist and placed his lightsaber into a passerby, glanced at Rey still asleep and, with his black and wavy wet hair falling on his forehead, he left the room. Along corridor, Kylo heard General Hux's sour voice, threatening someone in an amused tone. He snapped his tongue, thinking how much mere hearing of man's voice irritated him. -What happens, General Hux? - He thundered, arriving decisively behind the man. The shadow of a smile passed lightly on Kylo's face, as he saw soldier jerked slightly, at his voice sound. Three stormtroopers with Hux snapped to attention. - So?- Kylo went on, noting four men were surrounding something or someone. Hux moved from his view. - Supreme Leader, we have captured these intruders ...- General indicated prisoners with one hand and Kylo narrowed his mouth, surprised to see who it was. Desperate beeps reached his ears. Kylo raised his eyes, frowning in anger, to see what was going away from the ship. He raised a hand to use Force to block and bring fugitive back, when a blue lightsaber appeared in front of his eyes. Supreme Leader changed goal, using Force to disarm attacker with ease. Lightsaber landed on the ground, extinguishing itself and rolling away a few steps. Without moving or even touching it, Kylo drew it to him, commandeering it. - Thank you, General. He can go back to his duties, here I think - Kylo ordered, dismissing Hux with a hand’s gesture. Man pounded his heels together. Bowing quickly, with his arms stiff at his sides, red hair moved away with a firm and fast pace. Kylo went back to staring at intruders. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-Thanks ... nothing ... yes, I know. No ... don't bother me - followed by a medical robot, Kylo returned to room after fixing the intruders. At thought of fugitive he frowned. Kylo expected an attack at any moment, but he had already alerted Hux and practiced troops, giving precise instructions. He had thought of something about Rey as well, although he already anticipated her reaction. Kylo took off his shirt, placing it on a shelf. Shirtless, he sat at table, clenching his teeth and his fist, when robot cut the flesh of his forearm, working with his sharp tentacles to extract microchip he had placed under his skin. A feeling shook him, causing him to look up at Rey's slender lying figure. -Rey ... I know you're awake- Kylo announced, sighing patiently. - I would have a ... surprise for you if and when you deign to get up- he continued, raising his eyebrows with a grimace. Problem wasn’t surprise, but her reaction. Rey tensed, staying alert, then resigned herself to turn slowly, on her side, finding herself staring at Kylo Ren's brown and stormy eyes.

#adam driver #ben solo #daisy ridley #fanfiction #fanfictions #fanfic #kylo ren #my fanfiction #rey #reylo #reylo fanfic #star wars #star wars episode viii #Star Wars fanfic #star wars fanfiction #star wars the last jedi #star wars tlj #the last jedi #tlj

[movienotesbyzawmer]

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

May 4: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

(previous notes: Star Wars: The Last Jedi)

Source: UK 3D Blu-ray

I saw this at pretty much the very first available showing, and haven't watched it since. But since I had the other Disney-era ones in 3D, and I still have the capability to watch 3D movies at home, I decided to complete my Blu-ray collection by ordering the British 3D Blu-ray, like I'd done with The Last Jedi. So now I'm going to see it at home for the first time, in 3D for the first time, and take notes like I've been doing.

My reaction when I saw this on opening night was that it was a lot of fun. I didn't think it was as good as The Last Jedi. Overall it feels like a trilogy where the first priority was to avoid the mistakes of the prequels, and the second priority was to have them be fun movies. Mission accomplished, but the actual story of this trilogy is only marginally satisfying. But I left that opening night screening excited about all the neat things I'd witnessed. And now I shall press play and do some re-witnessing…

Emperor Palpatine, the opening crawl tells us. He wasn't someone we were expecting to be part of the plot of this movie, was it?

First scene after the opening shot is a slow-mo land battle, visually different from Star Wars movies in general. Dude kills 100% of everyone then plucks a mysterious relic from a mysterious relic. He's on a Tomb-raider-y treasure hunt.

It takes him to a Tomb Raider-y lair… and there are creatures in green liquid ahhh!

"…some consider to be… UNNATURAL", that line from Episode III. Very love it. Good reference.

The image of all those Star Destroyers is super super super cool.

And now after a calculated bit of lightness in the Millennium Falcon, the good guys arrive at a super neat looking planet thing. Not even ten minutes in and we've seen three inventive new planet environments.

And now a chase, "lightspeed skipping", and each skip is a cool space place, all different, one of them has a big monster! They are tuned into what's good about Star Wars movies, these Rise of Skywalker makers.

Also, Finn and Poe seem to have settled into their roles as funny supporting-character buddies. The first movie really seemed to be beginning a more dramatic arc for Finn, but it doesn't feel like that's happening any more.

0:15:36 - Rose Tico sighting! Her arc blunted as well. Be nice if she joined them on this mission they're about to leave on.

Really kind of surprising how much footage there is of Carrie Fisher, who died years before this came out.

Okay now we're back with Kylo Ren on this planet that's the equivalent of that orc-factory in Lord of the Rings. What's he doing? Collaborating with some ukky beings. Fixing his helmet. Hm.

Bit of humor in the conference room scene, again calculated.

Back to our heroes and they're on another neat new planet with color clouds & celebratory visuals, pleasant.

0:23:40 - Very cinematic Rey-Kylo cross-galaxy conversation, cool.

Lando saves them from stormtroopers, and is therefore given the honor of the "I've got a bad feeling about this" line.

0:28:00 Speeder chase in the desert, and the stormtrooper speeders launch them up and they fly! Cool!

Hah, there's a gag where Rey fires up her light saber and Poe tries to do that too but his is just a flashlight, cute.

Okay, here's this scene I like where there's a serpent monster in their Tomb Raider cave, and Ray figures out that the monster just needs to be force healed so she does it and it helps them. Sounds corny but I like it.

0:36:00 - we see the Ren gang on a plateau and here a new music theme. I'm not much noticing the new music themes in the Star Wars movies of the 2010s, but there's one.

This scene. The Kylo/Rey meeting in the desert. It was heavily teased in the trailer and it would have been more effective if we hadn't seen so much of it in the trailer. Also there's a who-can-magic-harder duel that ends up killing Chewy, except that we don't have to believe that very very long.

"Let's do that!" about wiping C-3POs memory, John Boyega's exceptional comic timing on display again.

0:45:40 - We're on this new planet now, which is so Poe can find the person that can do a memory wipe of 3-3PO, right? It's fast-paced, this movie.

"We sent out a call for help at the battle of Krait, nobody came" says Poe. Am I forgetting that drama from The Last Jedi? I know he's talking about that final battle from that movie, but I didn't remember a despairing "no one is coming", at least not like it was a huge, shocking letdown.

I like the little Babu creature but we don't get much of it, do we

Poe is all "did she do that to us" when he sees her Force-hypnotize the stormtroopers, haha

0:58:10 - Pretty unique shot, dollying backwards facing Poe & Finn shooting stormtroopers we can't see until they fall in front of the camera

"Your parents were no one… they CHOSE to be" here's where it starts to seem like this movie doesn't like where the last movie was going & made it be different. If this were an improv class the teacher would be like, "remember the principle of 'yes AND…'"

Okay, this bit coming up where General Hux saves them & says he's the spy. It's… funny? And dumb? Maybe? Sort of a tawdry end to this character in the trilogy maybe?

"You.. Are a Palpatine." Dun dun dunnnnnnn. Okay sure I guess. This isn't what I'm into Star Wars movies for; I wouldn't have had it be about this.

They get to the new planet and Rey figures out how to use the knife tool to find where to go, it's so like a Tomb Raider game that I feel like I'm reading a cheat guide on GameSpot

Now Finn is bonding with the girl on the planet who is also a stormtrooper deserter, makes that whole Finn subplot make more sense.

Rey swiped a cool watercraft to go to the wreck of the Death Star and I just want to point out once again that I like the vehicle design in Star Wars movies.

1:13:10 - overhead shot of said vehicle is the first notable example of something that looks good in 3D in this movie. I'm inclined to say you really shouldn't feel like you're missing out if you're seeing this in 2D.

She's in a vision cave on the wrecked Death Star. She fights HER OWN SELF for a second, and bad-Rey rawrs at her in a way that reminds me of when Bilbo does that in the first Lord of the Rings movie. I liked it there and I like it here.

1:18:05 - First bit of my beloved "Han Solo and the Princess" theme, so lovely

Now Rey and Kylo are saber dueling all over this wreck with waves everywhere and it reminds me of the big climactic duel in Episode III where it seems like the duelers are going out of their way to duel in a cool looking place.

Everything gets all dramatic in a way that doesn't really get explained - Leia very deliberately says "Ben", then dies, but it affects Kylo allowing Rey to kill him, but then she un-kills him with Force magic because "I did want to take your hand" and then bounces. And it's not over with this kind of thing, because Kylo has a not-really-real conversation with his played-by-OMG-Harrison-Ford father, and he symbolically hurls his awesome saber away. So where are we now? We're in some drama, that's where. I miss cool vehicles and inventive creature design!

1:27:45 - Modded-up Star Destroyer emerges from lightspeed and it's another cool 3D effect.

And then it blows up the planet where Poe's ex-girlfriend was and it looks cool, but we could have used her to be around more. Wait, does she not-be-dead later or something? Probably.

Okay, very corny sequence happening now, it's the pep talk between Rey and ghost-Luke, it ends with a smirking Luke raising up an X-wing like he couldn't do in Empire Strikes Back, so I guess that plot point is tidied up.

Okay, we got past that drama and now there's a very simple Saint-Crispin's-Day speech riling up the troops so they can go to that mystery planet for the final battle, and interest level has picked up.

1:41:28 - Hey a shot of Rey going through a wall gap is a reference to the earlier cool-in-3D shot of the watercraft & the Death Star wreck.

And here's something that internet assholes picked on - they ride horse-things on the Star Destroyers. Lighten up comrades, maybe this just isn't your kind of space adventure movie.

Rey gets in the mystery-edifice and holy hell it's creepy! There's an audience of thousands of cultists in black stone bleacher seats, chanting in perfect unison! It's downright Kubrick-y!

They really had fun with the lighting in the Palpatine room. Also, there are red stormtroopers on the Star Destroyers and aren't they pretty.

Palpatine is trying to convince Rey that she should embrace hatred and hill him and rule the galaxy in ritual hatred with a chanting congregation of hooded dipshits. Will it work? He does have a very compelling speaking voice. But here comes Kylo! He has had a change of heart or something!

"The life force in your bond," he narrates, and then bad-magics them super hard!  We never could have anticipated that evil force spells could thwart their plans.

1:54:20 - very satisfying shot of a giant fleet of good guys coming to save the day. They hit us with the idea of no one coming to save them, and just like when Han Solo swooped in in the first movie, it feels good that this time someone else did show up. And yes it includes Poe's girlfriend and that charismatic little varmint!

Super cool to see Star Destroyers get blown up.

Also cool when Palpatine super-zaps lots of good guy spaceships. Sound is neat on that also. This intense visual/aural experience is what I was thinking about for a while after first seeing this movie.

Rey beats Palpatine by having that surprise second light saber. Whatever, this is a super cool looking scene with all the bad guys in that chamber getting wasted.

Other cool battle climax imagery happens up in the sky, even though it's kind of hard to see what exactly physically happened to save Finn and those guys on the crashing Star Destroyer.

Kylo… what??? Didn't die when he just disappeared into a crevasse??? Quel surprise! He's super-reformed now and heals Rey up with his tender love for her. They kiss, their carnal desires overtaking them, they are high on the most ethical lust the galaxy has ever known! And he dies and disappears, but is visibly satisfied. I feel okay mocking this because I suspect no one likes it. And then it moves on to really cool aftermath visuals that are crazy fun to watch. They are experiencing the great victory in other planets from the other movies, and to the tune of John Williams themes from movies past.

Maz presents Chewy with a special medal, am I supposed to know what that's about? They're giving it major gravity.

So the movie, the trilogy, and the Skywalker Saga ends with a scene of Rey returning to Tatooine to bury the two important light sabers, but also whip out another one she had, and then tell a townie that she's named Rey SKYWALKER, and the final moment is of her gazing at the two suns with the Binary Sunset theme playing us out. What I like about that is that it sends the message that that moment from the original Star Wars, elevated to greatness largely by John Williams stirring theme, is the pinnacle of cinematic experiences that were brought to us by this series.

I like this movie less than any of the Disney-era movies for sure, and I think after watching it a second time, it lacks some specialness that could have allowed it to hold up better against the best Star Wars movies. But I wouldn't say it's bad, and I certainly wouldn't advise against seeing it.

#star wars rise of skywalker

[disneyelite]

14 Romantic Photo Ops at Disney World

With engagement season coming to a close, many couples are heading to the Happiest Place on Earth to experience the magic of their favorite movies. It’s the perfect place to capture romantic photo ops in front of the castle, revisit classic stories from your childhood, and let the world know you are ready to spend the rest of your life with that special someone. With stunning backdrops and the ever-present feeling of nostalgia, it’s no wonder Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is one of the most popular locations for proposals in the United States. Even more, a trip to Disney with your significant other is about being yourself and building your unique fairytale romance. Part of that experience is deciding on the most memorable photo spots to showcase your relationship. Whether it’s about revealing common interests, immortalizing where you first met, or creating your very own love story, the perfect venue comes from finding something that represents you as a couple. Below are 14 dreamy picture opportunities for couples to enjoy throughout Disney World Parks and Resorts all year long. Table of Contents 1. Port Orleans Magical Photo Spots One of my favorite resorts to stay at is Disney’s Port Orleans. Staying here, no matter which side you choose, is like getting two fantastic locations for the price of one. The food alone at Port Orleans French Quarter is enough to make the mouth water, especially with menu items like Mickey-shaped beignets, Jambalaya, and Crawfish Étouffée. Toss in the wrought-iron balconies and gates lined with gas lamps, along with all the excitement of Mardi Gras, and it's your very own dream come true.

Photo by Victoria Smith Add to the magic by dressing up as your favorite Princess and the Frog characters, like Victoria Smith and her very own Prince Naveen. While they are on their way to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party in this photo, dressing up at Disney is always a great way to start a photoshoot.  See more of Victoria's photos here!

Lindsay and Cody at Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside

Engagement Photos taken by Nathan Root Photography What really sells the magic is the quaint splendor of Riverside. With a stunning backdrop of the Sassagoula River, lush greenery, and architecture set in the style of stately Southern mansions, this side of the resort has plenty to offer in terms of picturesque beauty. To see more of Lindsay and Cody’s lovely engagement photos taken by Nathan Root at Riverside, visit her Instagram. 2. Epcot: Spaceship Earth Photo Op for Couples The most recognizable part of Disney’s Epcot, the Spaceship Earth globe, is not something many think of as romantic right away. However, the origins of the park, and what the icon stands for, are undeniably similar to aspirations as a couple. The park itself initially aimed at being a fully functioning community where innovation and progress thrived.

Samanta and Barry Eldridge at Entrance to Disney's Epcot

Stephen and Emily Mildner: Photo Taken by Randy Chapman Today, Epcot still stands as a beacon of creativity, forward-thinking, and inspires a love for the earth and all those who inhabit it. An engineering marvel, the Spaceship Earth ride and the globe many affectionally call a “golf ball” are a striking example of all that Epcot embodies. Imagination meeting compassion and striving toward a better tomorrow, who doesn’t want that?

Ellen and Joshua Smock at Disney's Epcot 3. Animal Kingdom: Tree of Life Legend has it that the Tree of Life grew from a seed planted by an ant. This tiny insect wanted nothing more than to bring shelter to all the animals in a barren land. His wish for the tree to grow came true, and the images of every animal the baobab tree harbored soon materialized on its trunk. The legend is just a glimpse of the magic and natural wonder we feel when faced with a marvel like the Tree of Life. While we know this tale to be the work of some of the best storytellers in the industry, its theme of wishes, growth, and life are all very real images. And what better scenery is there for couples than a symbol of unity and family?

Devan Spinner and Richard Gonzalez at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Danielle Kendrick and Randy Scudder at Disney's Animal Kingdom The great thing about the Tree of Life is that there are plenty of different places to pose for the ideal snapshot. Below are some of the best places to start. In Front of the Tree: This is the obvious choice. Though whether you take the photo right at the base of the tree or far enough to catch the bustling mercantile shops in the shot is up to you. Walking Trails: There are numerous walking trails winding around the tree, all of which offer an up-close view of the intricate details on the tree’s trunk. You won’t get the full view, but it’s a unique perspective on a beautiful architectural piece.

Stefanie and Daniel Gutierrez III in front of the Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom  Pathway Between Africa and Asia: When passing between the two continents, a fantastic view of the tree emerges across the river. Not only does this viewpoint come with a PhotoPass photographer willing to take your photo, but you get to see a whole new set of animals carved into the trunk, as well. Nighttime “Awakenings” Show: If you stay at Animal Kingdom long enough, then the opportunity to see the “Awakenings” light show on the tree is one you can’t pass up. Gorgeous streams of color illuminate the park icon, bringing to life the spirits of playful animals who inhabit the tree and enact fun, little stories for guests to enjoy.

Photo Submitted by Crystal Lukacz 4. Magic Kingdom: Fantasyland Princess Locations The expansion of Fantasyland back in 2012 brought a whole new assortment of magical photo spots with the addition of beloved Disney princess scenes. Among these enchanting locales is Prince Eric’s Castle from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, as well as Gaston’s Tavern and Beast’s Castle from Beauty and the Beast. All are a great way to dive into the story of some of Disney’s most celebrated classics with your very own princess or Prince Charming. You can also spice things up with adorable “His & Her” t-shirts or costumes.

Cody Simmons and Sarah Newman in front of Prince Eric's Castle in Fantasyland

Jessica and Michael Ghilardi outside Gaston's Tavern in Fantasyland If the scenery alone isn’t enough to entice you, then try a character meet-and-greet with the Disney princesses. Especially if you are celebrating an engagement, these characters are more than happy to make your experience a magical one. Depending on the crowds, the princesses are a fun way to interact with storybook characters, take fun engagement poses, and receive personalized signatures to commemorate the occasion.

Photo Submitted by Sheri McManigle Bova

Photo Submitted by Sheri McManigle Bova 5. Hollywood Studios: Star Wars Galaxy's Edge Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in Florida last year and has been a frequent location for tourists and locals alike. There are numerous photo locations for couples that allow them to step into one of their favorite movie franchises, including the famous shot with the Millennium Falcon outside of Smuggler’s Run.

Source: Jordan Pickett

Source: Jordan Pickett

Cody Simmons and Sarah Newman outside Smuggler's Run at Hollywood Studios One of the best things about finding that special someone to share your life with is having someone who also shares your interests. If you’ve found someone who loves Baby Yoda as much as you do, they’re a keeper. When you tell them, “I love you,” do they respond with “I know?” You’ve found the one! So feel free to geek out as much as you want in a location that represents something you both love. And even if your significant other doesn’t quite understand why everyone keeps saying “Bright Suns,” then this is still the perfect opportunity to share something you love with them. Until then, may the spires keep you.

Danielle Kendrick and Randy Scudder outside Smuggler's Run at Hollywood Studios 6. Yacht & Beach Club Romantic Photo Ops An often overlooked venue is Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts. While many newlyweds immediately think of places like the Grand Floridian or Disney’s Polynesian, the Yacht & Beach Club provides just as many lovely picture opportunities for couples who love the appeal of the seaside. Modeled after New England retreats like Martha’s Vineyard and Cape May, the resort is a romantic getaway complete with elegant lighthouses, a stunning pier, and a view of the beach. While barricades and ropes now line the rim of the lagoon, it’s still an excellent backdrop for those wanting a taste of coastal charm.

Joshua and Ellen Smock at Yacht & Beach Club 7. Disney Duo Character Photos for Couples While we already talked about posing with the Disney princesses for a fun photo excursion, another great way to bring character to your social media posts is by posing with popular duos. Characters like Anastasia and Drizella, Cinderella’s stepsisters, capitalize on magical moments with their hilarious take on…well, everything! Other character meet-and-greets like Mickey and Minnie are a great way to illustrate the sweet side of your relationship.

Cody Simmons and Sarah Newman at Adventurer's Outpost While Toy Story characters Woody and Buzz no longer do meet-and-greets together, Woody now greets guests with his love interest, Bo Peep. Some other fun character duos to meet throughout the parks are listed below. Character Duo Meet-and-Greet Locations: Aladdin and Jasmine: Agrabah Marketplace, Adventureland at Magic Kingdom Anastasia and Drizella: Castle Wall, Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Anna and Elsa: Royal Sommerhus, Norway at Epcot Bo Peep and Woody: Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios Chip and Dale: DinoLand U.S.A. at Disney’s Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Mickey and Minnie: Adventurer’s Outpost at Animal Kingdom Mike and Sulley: Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios

Kristin and Eric Trusso at Disney's Hollywood Studios 8. Polynesian Resort Memorable Photo Spots Say “Aloha” to paradise with a trip to Disney’s Polynesian Resort. This island-themed getaway is brimming with romantic photo ops. Think volcano pools with cascading waterfalls, colorful and exotic landscaping, and lazy beaches with hammocks and swings galore. There’s even a spectacular view of the castle and a great location to watch fireworks at night. Plus, cast members distribute free leis to guests at check-in, as well as to those dining at Disney’s Spirit of Aloha dinner show. So slipping seamlessly into the feel of a Hawaiian vacation is a breeze.

Stuart and Pamela Kennedy at Disney's Polynesian Resort

Kevin Raymond and Yazmin Lugo at Disney's Polynesian Resort

Photo of Couple on the Beach at Polynesian Resort Even if you don’t stay on-site at the Polynesian Resort, it’s still one of the best places to get a bite to eat. Here is a glimpse of what you’ll find on your culinary journey into this tropical retreat. Capt. Cooks: Counter-service breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Kona Island: Serves pastries and coffee for breakfast, and made-to-order sushi in the afternoon. Oasis Bar & Grill: A lunch and bar service that serves fare from burgers to salads. ‘Ohana: Offers character breakfasts with Lilo and Stitch, and Hawaiian style dinners with fun, themed activities for dinner. Pineapple Lanai: A great place to get the famous Dole Whip! Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show: A dining experience complete with hula dancers and fire dancing. Trader Sam’s Tiki Terrace: A great place to enjoy live music while you sit back and enjoy your tasty beverages.

Stuart and Pamela Kennedy at Disney's Polynesian Resort 9. Magic Kingdom: Rapunzel Lanterns Fairytale Photos One of the most mesmerizing moments in a Disney movie is the floating lantern ceremony in Tangled. Not only is it visually dazzling to watch all those glowing lights soar off into the night sky, but it’s a touching scene where Flynn Rider and Rapunzel realize they’ve fallen in love with one another. Right outside Rapunzel’s Tower in Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, guests recreate this same magical experience with a lantern of their own. These fairytale photos allow couples to step into the beauty of their own love story and “see the light” in a whole new way.

Cody Simmons and Sarah Newman at Magic Kingdom

Stuart and Pamela Kennedy at Magic Kingdom

Billy Archiello and Courtney May at Disney's Magic Kingdom 10. Animal Kingdom: Africa Adventure Photos As you enter the streets of Harambe, the sights and sounds of Africa greet you with an intoxicating allure. Whether they inspire you to dance, shop, or enjoy a quick bite to eat, the surroundings instantly enchant all those who arrive. With exciting walking trails, safari rides, and the Festival of the Lion King all in one area, a visit to Harambe is one of the best ways to show off your adventurous side as a couple.

Eric and Kristin Trusso on Wild Africa Trek

Jessica and Michael Ghilardi on Wild Africa Trek Whether engaged in a challenging expedition through Wild Africa Trek or enjoying a relaxing view of the park on the Africa Bridge vantage point, there are plenty of scenes that capture the wonder and beauty of Animal Kingdom’s park.

Kevin Raymond and Yazmin Lugo at the Africa Bridge in Disney's Animal Kingdom 11. Epcot: World Showcase Imagine sharing a baguette with your favorite person in front of the fountain in France, a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower poised behind you. Or perhaps, you're getting lost in the geometric splendor and mosaic tiles of Morocco's architecture. These captivating glimpses of culture allow couples to capture extraordinary moments without the equally incredible price tag.

Michael and Jessica Ghilardi at the Fountain in France Pavilion

Stephen and Emily Mildner at the France Pavilion; Photos by Randy Chapman Something many people don't take advantage of enough when visiting the Disney World Parks and Resorts is hiring a photographer to take professional shots of you and your significant other. Most local companies are willing to travel to the parks and encapsulate the magic that makes you two the perfect couple. In fact, some of the couples who generously submitted photos for our article appointed the best artists in the business to celebrate their union. And it shows!

Stephen and Emily Mildner at the Morocco Pavilion; Photo by Randy Chapman

Stephen and Emily Mildner at the Morocco Pavilion; Photo by Randy Chapman Disney also recently unveiled it's new "Capture Your Moment" service, which provides guests with a personalized photo session in their location of choice for a designated amount of time. Whether looking for someone for family sessions, engagement photos, or a wedding photographer, here are some options our lovely couples used in the past. Nate and Jensey Root from Root Photography Nicole Ami from Nicole Ami Photography Randy Chapman and associates from Chapman Photography

Stephen and Emily Mildner at the Germany Pavilion; Photo by Randy Chapman 12. Hollywood Studios: Grauman's Theater Hollywood Studios is a whimsical blend of animation, movies, and theater. Not only does it transport guests to the glitter and glitz of Hollywood, but it also transports them to another era. Nothing captures this timeless feeling more than the replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Many of you may recognize this architectural treasure as the home of the late Great Movie Ride. While we all anxiously await the new Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway ride opening in March, the Great Movie Ride will forever hold a special place in the hearts of so many.

Joshua and Ellen Smock Ouside Theater

Renee and Jon Van Cleve; Photo by Nicole Ami

Close Up of Renee and Jon Van Cleve in Theater Courtyard; Photo by Nicole Ami There’s just something about this tribute to classic Hollywood that inspires romance and magic. In fact, many couples have even found their soulmates here. Replicating the walkway of 1920’s leading ladies and men, the courtyard of the theater is complete with authentic handprints and signatures from contemporary actors, all of which lead up to an entrance protected by two guardian lions. It’s the perfect place to capture all the age and timelessness of the golden age of movies. “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

Renee and Jon Van Cleve; Photo by Nicole Ami

Billy Archiello and Courtney May in Dapper Day Attire 13. Grand Floridian Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort is undoubtedly one of the most romantic locations on site. Beyond its luxurious Victorian lobby, white sandy beaches, and a view of Cinderella’s Castle, it even has its own Wedding Pavilion. The most frequently booked wedding location at the park, the site is designed to celebrate your special day in style.

Pamela and Stuart Kennedy along Walking Trail at Grand Floridian

Pamela and Stuart Kennedy Upstairs at Grand Floridian Lobby

Couple Enjoying a Stroll Down Walkway Outside Grand Floridian Wedding Pavilion According to Disney’s website, the cost is $5,000 for the venue alone, with a $10,000 minimum for the event. All of this is nothing compared to the $30,000 wedding ceremony in front of the castle after hours. Though the total cost runs more along the lines of $75,000, minimum. The good news is you don’t have to shell out a ton of cash to enjoy the beauty and elegance that goes with the fairytale weddings at Disney’s Grand Floridian. The grounds typically remain open to the public, unless there is a wedding in progress, which means snapping that romantic photo op is well within reach. If not, there are still plenty of gorgeous locations around the rest of the resort.

Stuart and Pamela Kennedy at Disney's Wedding Pavilion 14. Magic Kingdom: Cinderella's Castle The most memorable photo spot in all of Disney World is Cinderella’s Castle. It’s the first thing people imagine when they think of romantic picture locations, and one of the primary reasons guests come from all over to celebrate their engagement there. I mean, it’s a castle! Primarily inspired by the Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, the overall design incorporates styles and features from numerous time periods and architecture to construct a genuinely timeless look fit for a princess.

Photo Submitted by Melanie Shirley

Hayley Alexa Hillman and Anthony Ugas

Brandon Hackett and Kyle Raser in Front of Cinderella's Castle What's more romantic than

Proposal Between Krystal Cyr and Heather Birkland by Cinderella's Castle Proposing at Disney is such a big deal that the company even created a website dedicated to ensuring your proposal goes off without a hitch. The Disney Weddings site offers everything from intimate dining experiences to a full-scale, customizable itinerary. So whether you need a little extra help surprising your significant other with a proposal, or want to celebrate after the fact, the site consists of a wealth of resources to guide your journey. Even if you just want some inspiration, there's a helpful wedding blog and dream board offered through the site. As the centerpiece of the entire park, there are plenty of outstanding locations to make this icon the backdrop of your picturesque proposal. Here are just a few of our favorites. Castle Courtyard (Right Up Front) Main Street USA The balcony of the Main Street, USA Train Station Liberty Square Bridge East Plaza Garden Tomorrowland Bridge

Cody Simmons and Sarah Newman Proposal in Castle Courtyard Hopefully, these fantastic couples inspired a whole new burst of creativity for your next (or first) photoshoot at Disney World Parks and Resorts. Now it's time to make your own fairytale magic with that extra special someone who makes your story complete. Did you have a favorite photo location from the article? Is there another one you love that we didn't cover? Let us know about it in the comments!

A Special Thank You...

...to everyone kind enough to send in these beautiful moments in time. You truly made this article extraordinary. Read the full article

#AnimalKingdom #Disney #Disneycouples #DisneyFairytaleWeddings #Epcot #MagicKingdom #Photoops #romantic #theparks #TheResorts #WaltDisneyWorld #WDW

[pangeasplits]

I have read your works! And I love 'The Stars Incline us, they don't bind us' so muuuuuch. If this is not too much to ask, can you make cherik fic rec? Thank you! Keep writing, awesome!

thank you very much, i’m glad you enjoyed my stuff! :3 

since this blog is exactly 5 years old today, what better occasion is there to do cherik fic rec post, as lurking around cherik fic rec tumblr posts waaay back in the day is actually what originally brought me to tumblr in the first place. the following list is in no particular order, and odds are i like multiple fics by the authors included but i was determined to limit myself to one from each (though in some cases, this was a veeeery close call, haha).

anyway, the actual title of this list is coincidentally the main criteria i used in the interest of not having it stretch on for miles, which is to say:

Cherik Fics Pan Has Reread An Embarrassing Amount Of Times Throughout Her XMFC Fandom Tenure:

Hier steh ich an den Marken meiner Tage by MonstrousRegiment

Erik Lehnsherr is a spy in the SS, and his British liaison is strategist Charles Xavier. Their relationship from the moment they meet to a year after the end of the war.

“You’re the only person in the world who knows what I am.”

Boden’s Mate by kaydeefalls

“Shaw has information that we need, and we need him alive to extract it,” Moira says, and there it is: the job is on the table. Extraction.

XMFC/Inception fusion AU. Erik is an extractor, Alex is his point man. They’re assembling a team to go after the most dangerous mind in dreamsharing: Sebastian Shaw. But unless Alex and the team can keep him in check, Erik’s desire for vengeance might just rip the whole job apart around them – and then there’s the shade that haunts his dreams…

Malastare Racer by ikeracity

Ignoring strict instructions from Master Emma to stay hidden, Charles and Erik decide to enter themselves into the Gorian Podracing Classic. Because they’re idiots like that.

Star Wars AU!

The Secret of the Knights Templar by madneto

Erik is a CIA agent who has been tracking down black market dealer and occultist Sebastian Shaw for the past ten years with no real end in sight. When he stumbles upon an unexpected lead that will put him one step ahead of Shaw at last, archaeology professor and Templar enthusiast Charles Xavier becomes unwittingly entangled in the fray, and Erik suddenly finds himself with a brand new partner who is the only one who can truly help him on what’s become a quest to find the Holy Grail. But Charles is even more than Erik bargained for, especially after they’re forced to pretend to be a married couple as a cover while racing to find the Grail before Shaw does, and both Erik and Charles find they’ve possibly bitten off more than they can chew.

Powered AU vaguely inspired by Indiana Jones and James Bond movies.

Their Mouths Always Lie by keire_ke

Charles adheres to most police protocols like they are a personal code of conduct. Erik gets things done and over with, for better or worse. Raven knows what she’s doing, most of the time. The serial killer kills, regardless. Police AU.

Try, Try Again by and_backagain

Except that this has happened before, he thinks with a start, and something in his throat closes up as he revolves on the spot, already knowing what he’s going to see. Charles’ back is arching as he falls, his eyes wide, and the crumpled bullet falls to the sand beside him like a calling card. X-Men: First Class Groundhog Day!AU.

The Courtship by dvs

A story about a courtship that began five hundred years ago.

Beloved of ravens by khaleesian

978 A.D. Charles never uses his power, Erik never hesitates. Can a man be both the void and what fills it?

Limited Release by rageprufrock

When Alex Summers broke out of supermax to rescue his stupid kid brother, he had no idea it was going to be so fucking complicated.

A Curious Carriage of Crystal and Cold by Etharei

Charles, a miner from a poor village in the countryside, saves the life of Erik Lehnsherr, scion of a successful business family and the richest man on the planet Eisen. Charles is a telepath and somewhat anxious about it, while Erik abstains from relationships because the lights flicker and doors open and electronics vibrate when he gets too excited.

Also featuring a long-suffering sister, a foul-mouthed bodyguard, and a best friend with a heart that is definitely not gold.

In which there are princes, spaceships, long journeys, and old secrets uncovered. (An AU sci-fi fairytale)

The Tower and the Hurricane by dreamlittleyo

(Post-XMFC AU.) Five years after Shaw’s death, Erik’s predictions prove painfully accurate. Violence rages on both sides of the human/mutant conflict. In a world ravaged by war, it doesn’t really matter who’s more at fault. Charles struggles to teach his students a better way, but what choices will he make when peace really isn’t an option?

The Masked Man (Who Has Everything) by Traincat

The one where Erik is Batman, and Charles is kidnapped roughly once a week.

At the End of Day and Night All We Want is More by cm (mumblemutter)

It’s already too late. (Alien/Prometheus AU)

If You Liked The Book, You’ll Hate The Movie by paperclipbitch

Modern-Day High School AU. It’s not until Hank realises half the class are glancing towards the back of the classroom with something like nerves and something like schadenfreude that he finds out Alex Summers is back.

Pantheon by Yahtzee

In the year 96 AD, all Rome is aware that their gods have begun to Mark certain people with their gifts – the healing power of Apollo, the metal control of Vulcan, the deathly touch of Pluto, or the mental powers of Minerva. When those gifts fall to slaves or barbarians instead of the Romans themselves, strict control is necessary.

Then a gladiator from Judea meets an enslaved scribe from Britannia, and the repercussions will shake the Empire itself.

Swimming with Sharks by Not_You

Erik used to be a shark. Now he’s not, and has to figure out how to be a good human father to his twins. Charles is willing to help.

To Do List by Black_Betty

Somehow, Charles and Erik have become one of those couples who rarely see each other because of their busy schedules. They’re SO busy, they haven’t had sex in weeks. Erik has had enough, and forms a coordinated plan of attack. Charles is less than helpful.

On Hearts and the Finding of Lost Treasures (The Tombs and the Raiding Thereof Remix) by luninosity

The first time he met Charles Xavier, Erik Lehnsherr was—reluctantly, angrily, and decidedly against his will—impressed. This may’ve had something to do with the fact that Charles had just given him a sunny smile and somersaulted a foot over his head.

Watching the Stars Slide Down by groovyphilia

Seventeen-year-old Charles Xavier is ridiculously wealthy, and is used to being paraded around for show at his mother’s high-society Christmas parties. He’s always been rather sporting about it, and dutifully rubs shoulders with the elite every year in the glitz of the mansion ballroom.

This year, he meets a man by the name of Erik Lehnsherr.

Utopia by Takmarierah [Note: WIP but I had to include this fic]

It’s been five years since the beach, and four years since Charles was captured by the Brotherhood. Since then, he’s been kept in a safe house while Erik finally achieved what Shaw failed to do.

Now that most of humanity has been eradicated, Erik’s summoned Charles back to his side, promising a cure and political influence in exchange for Charles’ help - but Charles knows it’s only a matter of time before he asks for more.

Neither Rhyme Nor Reason by unveiled

Charles liked to tell people that the first time they met, Serik punched a kitten. (Or, the one where Erik is an angry Vulcan, Charles is still a telepath, and grief still shapes their lives.)

Incy Wincy Spider by Tawabids

Erik Lehnsherr is a renowned homicide detective, with his husband Charles at home and his partner on the job, Moira MacTaggert. When a twisted serial killer starts targeting mutants, Erik and Moira are the perfect team for the job, especially since Erik himself is the mutant poster-boy of an NYPD trying to improve their image.

But what they don’t yet know is that the serial killer is an old soul out of Erik’s past, and his next move is to pull Charles into his web.

The Amazing Adventures of Cat-Man by so_shhy

Charles is the non-powered, butt-kicking, high-tech teen sidekick of a cheesy superhero. Erik is the sidekick of the corresponding cheesy supervillain, and makes Charles’s life even more complicated than it already is.

Spy Games by manic_intent

Burn Notice AU, with Erik Lehnsherr as the spy and Charles as the trigger-happy ex boyfriend. Erik is burned for unknown reasons in Mexico and wakes up in New York City. Somehow, he needs to raise $500,000, in order to find out -why-.

Aaaand a shameless plug, since you brought it up, and since to this day ike and i still look at this fic and ask each other “wtf how” (and also we reread each other’s bits and yell at each other):

The stars incline us, they do not bind us by ikeracity, Pangea

Intergalactic Federation pilot Lieutenant Charles Xavier is assigned last-minute to a high profile mission: transporting over two thousand prison inmates from an old and overfilled prison complex to a newer, higher-capacity prison stronghold located on the outer reaches of the galaxy. Just as he’s settling down for a long and uneventful ride, things take a turn for the worse after the inmates riot and stage a hostile takeover of the ship, leaving Charles to find himself at the complete mercy of cold-blooded killers and facing the chilling prospect that he might not ever make it back home alive.

#cherik #fic rec #cherik fic rec #anonymous #pangea creaks

[dying-suffering-french-stalkers]

multiples of five!

☆ Star Wars ask meme☆

5. Favorite Lightsaber Duel(s)

Obi-Wan & Qui-Gon vs. Darth Maul, Darth Maul & Savage Opress vs. Darth Sidious, Obi-Wan vs. Anakin, Ahsoka vs. Inquisitors, Ahsoka vs. Vader, Luke vs. Vader (ROTJ), Finn & Rey vs. Kylo Ren

10. Favorite Side Character(s)

Bail Organa, the clones, Biggs Darklighter, and Wedge Antilles.

15. Favorite Line(s)

“So this is how liberty dies: with thunderous applause.” - Padmé Amidala“I am no Jedi.” - Ahsoka Tano“May the Force of Others be with you!” - Chirrut Îmwe“The Force is with me and I am one with the Force.” - Baze Malbus“We seem to be made to suffer. It’s our lot in life.” - C-3PO“Someone has to save our skins!” - Leia Organa“Then I’ll see you in hell!” - Han Solo“He is as clumsy as he is stupid.” - Darth Vader“Why, you slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler!” - Lando Calrissian“I love you.”  “I know.”“I will not fight you, Father.” - Luke Skywalker (That delivery, though.)“As long as there’s light, we’ve got a chance!” - Poe Dameron

20. Favorite Spaceship(s)

The Millennium Falcon, those mirrored Naboo skiffs, the Ghost, X-Wings, T-16 Skyhoppers, and Jabba’s sail barges.

25. The Clone Wars or Rebels?

Hmm. As much as I love Rebels, I’m gonna have to say TCW. It has quite a few weak arcs, but its strong arcs are ridiculously good, almost cinematic (see: Umbara, Maul Conquers Mandalore, Ahsoka Framed, Fives Finds Out). It is almost singlehandedly responsible for getting me to finally care about and understand Anakin Skywalker/the prequel era as a whole, and some of the characters it introduced are among my absolute faves (Rex, Ahsoka). Their later inclusion in Rebels only sweetened the pot.

30. Unpopular Opinion(s)

Idk how unpopular these really are, but: 1) I hated the bounty hunter arcs in TCW. 2) I don’t dislike Qui-Gon, but I’m not exactly a huge fan either. 3) Jango Fett is infinitely more interesting to me than Boba Fett. 4) Jyn Erso is pretty cool and does not deserve the hate she gets here on Tumblr. 5) I really, truly didn’t mind the similarities between TFA and ANH. It struck me as the perfect amount of nostalgia to rejuvenate a beloved franchise.

#star wars #asks #sw meme #long post #girlfriendsofthegalaxy

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The true, cocaine-fueled story behind Back to the Future’s DeLorean

What’s the link between Hollywood, an American businessman, time-travel, and a mountain of cocaine big enough to make even Keith Richards’ knees tremble? Answer: the DMC DeLorean, AKA the DMC-12, AKA the car from Back to the Future.

This weekend marks the 35th anniversary of Back to the Future, so let’s travel back in time and pay homage to the real version of that Mr Fusion-powered 88 mph gull-winged chariot. Strap in, because it’s a wild ride.

[Read: Remembering the Nucleon, Ford’s 1958 nuclear-powered concept car that never was]

But why a time-travelling DeLorean?

Most of the world, certainly outside the US, probably had no idea about the eponymous DeLorean until it featured in Back to the Future, which first hit screens in 1985.

First off, the time machine in Back to the Future was never actually even meant to be a car, let alone a DeLorean. According to director Robert Zemeckis, speaking on the DVD commentary of the films, the time machine was first a laser device, which was scrapped because, uh, dull!

In the second draft it was a refrigerator. But apparently the filmmakers were concerned it would encourage children to climb into fridges and get stuck, so that idea was scrapped too.

Credit: Ewan Roberts

The DeLorean dressed up as it was in Back to the Future Part 3. Arguably the best of the trilogy?

Eventually, the film’s producers decided that you’d want the time machine to be mobile, so they looked to cars. The DeLorean was chosen because of its radical look, and iconic gull-wing doors. Incidentally, its “spaceship” like appearance has been credited as one of the main reasons for it being chosen as well. The DMC-12 was made of brushed stainless steel and was left unpainted, because DeLorean apparently didn’t want to spend money on painting equipment.

In an interview with Esquire, the film’s co-creator Bob Gale said that the film was offered $75,000 to use a Ford Mustang. Gale basically told Ford to get stuffed, and responded with: “Doc Brown doesn’t drive a fucking Mustang!” and so, history was made.

Credit: Wikimedia CC

Original artist designs for the DeLorean time machine were “too good.” Film makers wanted it to look like the Doc had indeed made it in his garage. Many hardcore film fanatics restore and build up Back to the Future DeLorean replicas, just for fun. (This one seems to have something to do with Uber, eurgh.)

The importance of Gale’s remark shouldn’t be understated. The films were littered with other product placements — everyone remembers Nike’s self-lacing shoes and Mattel’s Hoverboard. But by 1985, the DeLorean Motor Company (DMC) had already folded, meaning Gale’s steadfastness on the DeLorean was even more valuable and stopped the car from being lost in the annals of time. Instead, we got one of the most iconic film cars ever.

By the time the films were released, the car had already developed a name for itself, for reasons that had little to do with the vehicle and everything to do with the jet-setting playboy that invented it.

The man, the legend

John DeLorean, the man who would later go on to found the DeLorean Motor Company (DMC), was a stalwart of the automotive world. He was the lead engineer behind iconic muscle cars, like The Pontiac GTO, and the Pontiac Firebird. He worked for many years at General Motors before parting ways with the American automotive giant in 1973.

In 1975 he set up the DeLorean Motor Company with the goal of producing an “ethical” sportscar. One that’s safe, reliable, and built to last. Think of DMC as the Tesla of its day. It wanted to challenge the status quo.

Credit: Wikimedia

John DeLorean was born in 1925. He rose through the ranks of the automotive trade thanks to his risk taking, take no crap attitude. He’d end up being one of the youngest high-ranking executives at GMC by 40 years old.

For design of the DMC-12, DeLorean called on one of the most influential yet unknown car designers, Giorgetto Guigiaro. The Italian designer had a way with the pencil that would see his designs go from paper to the silver screen on more than one occasion. His Lotus Esprit went on to become James Bond’s famous underwater car.

With such pedigree behind the project, you’d think the DMC-12 would find its way into the history books on its own merit. But that wasn’t to be, as the car wasn’t exactly any good and John DeLorean had a habit for going a bit over the top.

The first and only, DeLoreans

The first DMC-12 made its way onto the road in 1981, and around 9,000 units were ever made.

To build the car, DeLorean approached the British government, which threw £100 million of tax payer money at him to build a factory in Northern Ireland. The British government thought they were generating thousands of jobs in an area struck by war, DeLorean thought he was getting a great deal to realize his dream.

DMC-12s had a 2.85 liter V6 motor, putting out 130 hp, mounted behind the drivers powering the rear wheels. Drivers had a choice of 5-speed manual or 3-speed automatic transmissions which were pretty typical for the early 80s.

Credit: Wikimedia CC

The DMC-12 was ran on a 2.85 liter V6 made my Peugeot, Renault, Volvo. Nothing screams pedigree like those three names, right?

There was just one body style, featuring those iconic gull-wing doors, and no choice of paint. Every car was finished with brushed stainless steel, which some owners maintain using WD-40, not soap and water like every other car.

All of this came together to produce a car that wasn’t practical, particularly fast, and didn’t handle like a sportscar should. And because of mechanical flaws that needed to be worked out, production was delayed, and the car ended up costing far more than was initially forecast.

It was called the DMC-12 as it was originally going to be sold for $12,000, but various overruns and production challenges pushed its price tag closer to $25,000.

Credit: Wikimedia CC

Perhaps the most iconic part of the DMC-12 are its gull-wing doors. Any guesses where Elon Musk got the idea for his “Falcon” doors from?

Even though no accurate records exist of how many DeLoreans were ever sold, reports suggest the car had no problem initially capturing the hearts and minds of the American motoring public. But it couldn’t turn the initial interest into consistent sales.

A year later in early 1982, nearly a decade after DeLorean left GMC to set up his eponymous company, some 7,000 vehicles remained unsold.

Add this to economic recession and DeLorean‘s company was on the ropes.

A slippery slope

The British PM at the time, Margaret Thatcher, ordered DeLorean to raise more money to keep the company in business and support his employees. DeLorean, enraged, claimed that the British Government was closing his Northern Ireland plants on the grounds that its Catholic employees were “tithing the Irish Republican Army.”

But the reality was that DeLorean needed some $17 million to save his company from bankruptcy — that’s $46.5 million accounting for inflation.

Over the course of 1982, DMC’s financial situation worsened, and DeLorean was left with few options.

In October 1982 he found himself in a Los Angeles hotel room with a man he half-trusted in the hope he could save his company. The man, James Hoffman, a previously convicted drug smuggler, alleged that DeLorean had come to him looking to carry out a cocaine deal to generate funds to support his failing business.

During the meeting a briefcase supposedly filled with 27 kg (about $6.5 million worth) of cocaine was laid out on a table. Discussions had also alluded to a bigger deal, in which DeLorean would part finance the sale of $24 million worth of the drug. He agreed and was even recorded on video as saying the white stuff is “better than gold.”

Credit: Jason Leung

Despite not being the best car, even at its time, the DMC-12 has a dedicated following. Many enthusiasts restore and care for their beloved vehicles. According to classic car forum Honest John and the DeLorean owners club, in July 2019 there were about 150 in the UK. Not all were registered, though.

DeLorean was promptly arrested at the hotel on grounds of narcotics law violations.

However, James Hoffman was working with the FBI as an informant. According to reports, DeLorean never actually wanted to go along with the cocaine trafficking. In fact, it was Hoffman who approached and coerced DeLorean into the bogus deal, in an attempt to provide information to the FBI and have his own sentence reduced.

DeLorean was able to prove that he had been “play-acting” all along. He went along with Hoffman after threats were made against his family.

By August 16, 1984, DeLorean was acquitted on grounds of government entrapment.

DMC will never be forgotten

Sadly, a week after DeLorean’s arrest, his company filed for bankruptcy and by December 1982, just two years after the first cars were sold, DMC was no more and the British government shutdown his NI factory.

It wasn’t just DeLorean’s drug smuggling antics that landed him in hot water, he also had a track record of misappropriating company funds. DeLorean went on to spend many years unpicking legal cases related to the downfall of his beloved car business. In 1999, he declared bankruptcy. The story of his life has been made into a film of its own, called Framing John DeLorean.

Back to the Future press poster, look for the subtle presence of the DeLorean, the film’s true leading star.

DeLorean never gave up on his dreams and in his final years he attempted to resurrect DMC by designing and selling watches, eyeglasses, and sunglasses. He hoped he would eventually be able to drum up enough support and funding to relaunch his car company. In March 2005, John DeLorean died of complications from a stroke.

The DMC-12 might not have been DeLorean’s greatest car, and it may have met its premature end because of his Machiavellian antics. But it was those antics and self-belief that gave birth to the idea in the first place, and eventually led Back to the Future’s filmmakers to pick it as their time machine.

Back to the Future may have helped make the DMC-12 one of the most iconic cars ever, but it — and its creator — should be remembered for so much more than that.

Sources: Reuters, Washington Post, New York Times 1, New York Times 2, Volo Auto Museum, Drive Tribe, Esquire, Back to the Future DVD commentary

Read next: Elon Musk bought $45M in Tesla stock since ‘that weed joke’ — now it’s worth double

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How Fans Helped Hasbro Build Its Biggest Star Wars Ship Ever

Toys and Star Wars are inextricably linked forever and ever. Star Wars creator George Lucas famously waived part of his directing fee and retained the insanely lucrative rights to Star Wars merchandise in a deal that has gone down in history as a catastrophic blunder on the part of 20th Century Fox. The studio was skeptical this oddball space movie would resonate with audiences, even if its critters, spaceships, and memorable villains seem like obvious toys in hindsight.

After the first film hit, everything changed. Famously, licensees had to scramble to meet demand for Star Wars goods after the movie became a surprise sensation. Christmas 1977 saw Kenner hawking empty boxes full of promises instead of action figures. Since then, Kenner's 3-3/4-inch scale toys, and yes, the vehicles, have become highly collectible icons of pop culture for nostalgic, well-heeled adults.

Hasbro, which acquired Kenner in the early 1990s, is now turning to the same nostalgic fanbase to fund its future Star Wars ambitions. Using a crowdfunding campaign back in March, Hasbro raised $4.5 million to build what might be the most impressive Star Wars toy ever—a molded plastic recreation of Jabba the Hutt's sail barge from Return of the Jedi.

3-D Printed Childhood Dreams

Tackling Jabba's barge (known as "The Khetanna" in the Star Wars universe) is a move few would have expected. In February, Hasbro debuted a rough, early version of the craft at the New York Toy Fair. All unpainted white plastic with 3D-printed components, the barge was nowhere near what the finished product would look like. That didn't matter—fans were flabbergasted.

"When we announced it at Toy Fair there was this audible gasp in the room … they just couldn't believe it," says Hasbro senior marketing director Kristin Hamilton. Sized to fit the traditional 3-3/4-inch tall action figures, the barge is not quite correctly scaled, but at 80 percent of the correct scale, it's still a whopper.

This 49-inch-long toy is by far the biggest Star Wars ship Hasbro has ever made. And it has a pedigree too—it's designed by veteran Kenner and Hasbro employee Mark Boudreaux.

If you ever zoomed a Star Wars ship around your house as a kid, you probably have Mark Boudreaux to thank. "Mark is one of a kind. He is the 40-year history of Star Wars toys at Kenner and Hasbro," says Steve Sansweet, chief executive at Rancho Obi-Wan, the Guinness Book-ranked museum with the largest Star Wars collection in the world.

The campaign rules were laid out: 45 days, $500 each, 5,000 backers or bust.

The attention to detail on the ship is superb. Under the removable side panels, it hides details not even seen on screen, like a cockpit with two captains' chairs, a kitchen, and a jail cell (complete with the corpse of an Ithorian). Jabba sits tall on his dais, surrounded by alien trophies. Up top, cloth sails fly in a brilliant orange-red just like in the movie.

The Kickstarter-style campaign rules were laid out: 45 days, $500 each, 5,000 backers or bust, with the countdown starting on February 17th. If the Khetanna wasn't funded within the six-week window? "We would have had a very rare single prototype," says Steve Evans, Hasbro's Star Wars development director. Hasbro branded the initiative HasLab, making it clear the company hopes to fund other, non-Star Wars toys in the future.

Unlike the crowd-designed, democratized Lego Ideas project, HasLab has one mission: to create the wildest, craziest toys fans would die for.

"[Crowdfunding] was a natural way for us to bring those dream products to life that our fans have been clamoring for," says Hasbro's Hamilton.

Sansweet, who has penned books about Hasbro's past action figure efforts, was impressed by the the ambitious first HasLab project. "I'd never conceived of anything like that. It was a way for them to do something that they ordinarily would not have dared to do because of the risks involved," he says.

The expectation for any crowdfunded product is that backers aren't just buyers—they're encouraged to participate in the process and give feedback. Despite its long reputation for secrecy, Hasbro gave backers a peek behind the curtain, and the opportunity to watch a prototype sail barge inch closer to production. "This was a partnership between us and our community. We needed them, they needed us. It was a symbiotic initiative," Hasbro's Evans told me.

Stay on Target

Even the most compelling Indiegogo or Kickstarter campaign has a lull at some point. In the case of The Khetanna, the 45-day run had one hell of a fallow period, petering out after a solid initial burst. Many, myself included, felt like this campaign might share the fate of the barge's movie counterpart—blowing up in spectacular fashion.

"If it didn't succeed, I don't know that we would have heard anything more about HasLab."

Steve Sansweet of Rancho Obi-Wan

"I kept looking every couple of days and frankly, I was sure this was not going to work," Sansweet says. "I was very pessimistic about it. It's a fairly high price, limited to North America. It looked to me like it wasn't going to make it."

That's when Hasbro upped the ante, showing off more images of The Khetanna, this time fully decked out in screen-accurate paint. The company also announced that each toy would get a limited-edition action figure, and one with significance to collectors.

"Yak Face was a background character in Jabba's Palace and on the sail barge," Sansweet says. "The figure was released in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and even in Canada on a card with a coin. Yak Face was never released in the United States."

Hasbro's Evans waxed nostalgic about the pick. The team could have picked from dozens of other creatures, he says, "but there was something so pure and magical about Yak Face that we couldn't not do it. Yak Face was impossible to get as a kid and we carried that with us through our lives as collectors. Because we were delivering the impossible vehicle, it was a no-brainer."

With the campaign's window closing, Hasbro was still falling far short of the 5,000 backers required—and much more than just a gigantic, expensive Star Wars toy was hanging in the balance.

"About a week before, they were still, gee, 1,500 short," Sansweet says. "Frankly, this was a very important one. If it didn't succeed, I don't know that we would have heard anything more about HasLab." Fans and toy blogs helped spread the word via social media using the hashtag #BacktheBarge, but the needle barely budged.

Hasbro's Hamilton confessed the sail barge was "a nail-biter" of a project. "I think we would have all cried if it didn't make it," she says. "There was a lot of passion for this product internally."

LEARN MORE

The WIRED Guide to Star Wars

A New Hope

Like in any Star Wars story, the middle chapter is when the heroes are at their lowest point and a triumphant ending is almost inevitable. In late March, barge watchers noticed a sharp uptick in backers. "All of a sudden, the numbers started climbing dramatically. Adding hundreds in half a day." Steve Sansweet was ecstatic—it meant the two Barges he bought for the Rancho Obi-Wan collection might actually materialize. By March 30, Hasbro welcomed its 5,000th backer.

Once HasLab crossed the threshold required to make the product, thousands of additional backers quickly jumped in. "It shot past 5,000 and past 8,000. It warmed my heart and really shocked me," says Sansweet. He and 8,809 other fans were guaranteed to get toys once HasLab reached its end date of April 3.

Steve Evans expressed his relief that, like Luke Skywalker's one-in-a-million torpedo shot, backers won the day. "There was a sense of elation certainly within Hasbro and on the fan sites. It was like a perfect 45-day roller coaster ride. It was emotional!"

Hasbro plans to ship the finished product to backers in 2019, and has taken fan feedback into consideration when finalizing the design. "We introduced it to the fans earlier than we ever would normally," Evans says. "The discussion at conventions, online, and in forums informed how we're finishing off the product, purely because we were able to show it early. That's something new for us."

With one success under its belt, Hasbro is free to tap into its other beloved franchises to give fans products they otherwise couldn't. Whether it's Transformers, My Little Pony, or GI Joe, there are plenty of opportunities to come up with even crazier products. It has yet to be seen whether or not we'll get a banquet table-sized recreation of the USS Flagg or an epic die-cast Optimus Prime.

Sansweet has one dream Star Wars product he'd like to see in a future HasLab: a giant Death Star toy he once saw in prototype form.

"Hasbro asked me to bring a bunch of fellow collectors to chat about the future of Star Wars and how to move forward," he says. "This was 1995 or so. They had this modular Death Star. And of course, [when I picture it] in my mind's eye it was just an incredible piece. I can't even give you the diameter—maybe three or four feet in radius. It had different levels, and each level had scenes from a movie … we were all going, 'Oh my God! That's amazing! When are you gonna make that!?' Those of us who were there talked about that for years afterwards. If they can do the sail barge, they can do something like that too."

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Star Wars: Rancho Obi-Wan Tour

Take a tour of the largest private collection of Star Wars memorabilia in the known universe. Rancho Obi-Wan has about 300,000 peices in its collection.

Read more: https://www.wired.com/story/how-fans-helped-hasbro-build-its-biggest-star-wars-ship-ever/

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