#this is only one component of what i read in his breakdown personally but its an interesting one. its not blaming miles for gabriella. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

primrose-path-of-dalliance · 3 years

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on bren and feeblemind.

(cw: lots of caleb backstory. self-explanatory, i think?)

this isn’t something i’ve talked about on my blog yet, but since the campaign has begun drawing to a close, i want to make sure i say my piece on the popular theory that bren/caleb was institutionalized because trent ikithon feebleminded him to disable him.

my piece being that it’s exceptionally unlikely he did—at least as a premeditated plan. this kind of theory also falls prey to the exact beliefs ikithon has tried to exploit in caleb.

for our mutual reference, i’ll quote the spell description of feeblemind.

FEEBLEMIND (PHB) 8th level enchantment

Casting time: 1 action Range: 150 feet Components: VSM (a handful of clay, crystal, glass, or mineral spheres) Duration: Instantaneous

You blast the mind of a creature that you can see within range, attempting to shatter its intellect and personality. The target takes 4d6 psychic damage and must make an Intelligence saving throw.

On a failed save, the creature’s Intelligence and Charisma scores become 1. The creature can’t cast spells, activate magic items, understand language, or communicate in any intelligible way. The creature can, however, identify its friends, follow them, and even protect them.

At the end of every 30 days, the creature can repeat its saving throw against this spell. If it succeeds on its saving throw, the spell ends. The spell can also be ended by Greater Restoration, Heal, or Wish.

considering the characteristics described and implied by actors other than ikithon—caleb and astrid prominently—who are not motivated to deceive on ikithon’s behalf, feeblemind is not consistent with caleb’s mental break.

fact the first: when bren broke, he became violent and spellcasted.

when astrid describes the circumstances in which he was taken to the vergessen sanatorium (e89, 1:49:30), she refers to his lashing out as “creat[ing] a lot of sparks everywhere else” and rubs at burn scars across her neck. she says that they had to subdue him because he was too dangerous. all of these statements add up to a bren who was viciously spellcasting at his friends and mentor when he broke down.

this wouldn’t have been possible if he’d been feebleminded. feeblemind explicitly prevents the affected creature from casting spells or activating magic items. in that scenario, the only thing bren would’ve been capable of is throwing hands. from him? not very dangerous at all.

how do we know astrid wasn’t lying or intentionally deceptive? because she (and eadwulf) still cares so much for caleb that she risked her life multiple times to aid him. no one who would give caleb a map to a secret volstrucker vault with her own handwriting on it (e127, 29:29; and 30:57)—or intentionally fail to counterspell him when ikithon could’ve seen her do so—would lie to caleb about ikithon attempting to permanently feeblemind him if she knew.

to preempt the idea that astrid had set the m9 up: it’s very obvious she didn’t, since trent ikithon had clearly had no forewarning of a break-in. he would’ve at least been waiting in the vault, already prepared to subdue them quickly, if he’d known.

so it’s fair to determine that astrid would either be honest to the extent of her knowledge to caleb or make it clear that she couldn’t answer him. since she didn’t imply the latter, we can assume she was being honest. and because of astrid’s competence, it’s highly probable she would’ve noticed if his behavior was symptomatic of feeblemind over the years.

fact the second: bren’s mental condition repeatedly improved and regressed while he was institutionalized.

astrid states this in the same conversation about their subduing him after his breakdown (e89, 1:50:50). considering this with the context of their romantic relationship prior to his breakdown, her genuine care for him, and her rise to power that included accompanying ikithon frequently to the sanatorium (e127, 31:07)—astrid would’ve had the motivation and the opportunities to visit bren in person. she could’ve also kept well-abreast of his condition.

actual times of improvement and decline in the mental state that astrid first observed during his breakdown wouldn’t be consistent with feeblemind. although it reduces the victim’s intelligence score to 1, they still retain thought and their sense of identity without problems.

this is a maintenance of consistency and (relative) reason. feeblemind does not actually damage a person’s basic perception of reality. but the health of bren’s behavior throughout the years was instead very unstable.

fact the third: caleb doesn’t remember anything from the burning of his home up to his healing by the unknown cleric.

in the conversation with astrid in e89, he asks her what happened when he broke and explicitly says, “the last thing i remember is my home” (1:46:58). when he first tells beau and nott about his past, he explains that he doesn’t remember much of what happened to him there (e18, 2:51:54).

beyond the reduction to their intelligence, feeblemind doesn’t affect the victim’s ability to form memories. caleb’s keen mind feat and established narrative element of his eidetic memory would’ve still been present as well. therefore, feeblemind alone can’t explain such a significant, near-empty gap in his memory. he would still remember something.

even the possibility of trent ikithon altering them directly is precluded by the fact that the cleric’s healing removed the alterations to caleb’s memory. if all those years had been magically blocked away, they’d have returned when he was healed of everything else.

fact the fourth: sometimes, people really do just break.

nothing about caleb’s backstory is inconsistent with just... being a person living their life, even a terrible one. he was a young man that believed so zealously in his country and his purpose, abused by a powerful older man, that he did many horrible things and believed they were right. until finally he did something that he couldn’t process and broke down.

there’s two reoccurring, underlying assumptions i’ve noticed behind why this theory seems to be so compelling and popular:

caleb just seems so remorseful and traumatized by his double patricide. there’s no way he would’ve willingly murdered his parents. ikithon must have known and decided to preempt his inevitable betrayal.

everything we know about bren, especially from the horse’s own mouth, suggests that he had been willing (at least up until his mental break) to murder his parents. he was literally an extreme nationalist—a fascist, if you will. he was lawful evil (twitter source). he gratefully executed many “criminals” put in front of him, more than likely by burning them to death based on his ptsd. victims whom we now understand may not have been guilty of anything at all.

he was glad to do what he thought was best for the dwendalian empire, and he truly thought being volstrucker was the correct path. trent ikithon, his abuser, treated him as his favorite (e110, 3:30:58). because he believed.

that fervent faith, in fact, is the key to something like his breakdown in the first place. hearing the dying screams of his parents, bren was forced to confront a violent dissonance between his radical beliefs that condemned traitors (as he believed until the cleric’s healing) and the intuitive horror of murdering his parents that he couldn’t reconcile. this fathomless sense of betrayal is why caleb so deeply despised ikithon and himself.

a young evocation wizard who didn’t want his parents dead would’ve run into that burning house, feebleminded or not. someone magically compelled to set that fire would’ve understood what happened as soon as the charm left him and would definitely remember every detail once the cleric healed him.

caleb is remorseful and traumatized because he willingly murdered his parents. as well as many others.

it can’t be that simple. caleb was institutionalized for eleven years just because his abuser pushed him too far? there must be a more nefarious reason. ikithon even said he basically stored him for later.

putting aside the fact that bren having a breakdown in the way he did makes complete sense for his situation, ikithon’s “claim” that he orchestrated all of caleb’s subsequent years is not only something he never actually says (e110, 3:16:34)—it is a claim that’s patently absurd.

i’ve written meta that discusses this in the past (link here). essentially though, the number of moving pieces and assumptions that would be needed for such a series of events is ridiculously improbable. even assuming that ikithon feebleminded him—so that caleb’s mind would be intact when he ‘woke up’—even assuming that ikithon somehow procured the service of a cleric of the archeart—a banned deity in the empire that would oppose ikithon...

why in the world would he ever reasonably believe that caleb widogast, the man he viciously betrayed and lied to and abused, would do anything to benefit ikithon?

trent ikithon is a mortal man. he has power, yes; enchantment magic, authority, and a history of abuse and manipulation over caleb’s head, yes. but ikithon is a mortal man. not a puppeteer in the sky piloting people’s bodies.

he certainly wouldn’t have led caleb to a whole new family that would change everything about his life for the better. a family that would love him, truly—a family that would help him heal, bear the weight of his guilt, and find a real future waiting for him again instead of a self-destructive end. a family that would fight tooth and nail for caleb’s sake against ikithon.

abusers lie. their biggest lie, the one they always circle back to in the end, is that their victim is unique: that there is something which makes them deserving of abuse, and that their abuser is both right and inescapable.

ikithon is read as honest because he chooses his words carefully and has the self-confidence to believe it. everything he’s claimed about caleb and his past have either been implications that he encouraged others to reach for him or platitudes empty of everything except gaslighting intent.

caleb has escaped. and everything ikithon wants is to convince caleb and his friends that he continues to control caleb’s life, that caleb is special, so he can regain some influence over a man who’s come to command so much power.

the idea that caleb must’ve been feebleminded—that he couldn’t have just had a mental breakdown like so many other prospective volstrucker before miraculously, then strenuously, recovering to create a hopeful future for himself—falls into the trap of validating ikithon’s lies.

trent ikithon didn’t see and believe in caleb’s ‘full potential’ before anyone else did. he didn’t foresee a single ounce of the man’s struggle to put himself back together after what he suffered. caleb was not institutionalized to serve as a toy to one day pull back out of the closet. there was no feeblemind or other secretive plan that could only serve to obfuscate the brutal truth:

ikithon abused a boy until he shattered, and tried to hide the evidence. a crime that he’s committed against countless other children. plain and simple.

so that’s my piece.

caleb widogast—bren ermendrud—was not the victim of a premeditated feeblemind from ikithon, based on the mechanics of the spell. even more importantly, the narrative of his and ikithon’s stories would suffer if he was.

now,

A LOGICAL POSSIBILITY I WON’T DENY.

what if ikithon feebleminded him as a method to subdue him after the breakdown?

this is more or less an alternate theory that’s irrelevant to the points i actually wanted to make. but i want to talk about it anyway because it’s kind of fun.

fact the bonus: bren spent eleven years in the sanatorium.

eleven years is a long time. he would’ve been able to save every 30 days after the initial failed save. the exandrian calendar has about eleven 30-day periods every year. assuming a feeblemind spell cast on him just prior to his institutionalization, that’s somewhere around 121 possible save attempts, give or take a few.

what’s the likelihood of him actually saving? to go through the mechanics:

normally, feeblemind reduces a person’s intelligence score to 1, modifier -5. caleb, as a variant human, possessed the feat keen mind from the beginning both mechanically and story-wise. this would make his intelligence score 2, modifier -4, even after feeblemind.

as a level 1-2 wizard, he would’ve had proficiency in intelligence saves. this would be +2 to his save.

in total, the modifier to bren’s intelligence saves would be -2.

in order to cast feeblemind, trent ikithon would have to have been a minimum level 15 wizard. this leaves two possible proficiency bonuses to determine his spell save dc: +5 or +6.

it’s probably safe to assume that his intelligence score is at least 18–20, likely 20. this would be a modifier of +4 or +5. (his intelligence could be 22+ if matt wanted to be a real dick, but let’s assume otherwise.)

spell save dc = 8 + spellcasting score mod (for wizards, this is intelligence) + proficiency bonus.

this means trent ikithon’s possible spell save dc is somewhere from 17–19.

therefore:

at minimum—17 being ikithon as a level 15–16 wizard with an intelligence score of 18–19 at the time of casting—bren would have to roll a 19 or nat 20 to make the save with his -2 save modifier.

at a dc of 18—ikithon either being level 17–20 or having an intelligence score of 20, but not both—bren would have to roll a nat 20.

at a dc of 19(+), it would be impossible for bren to save without additional bonuses such as bless.

i don’t have the brainpower to calculate some real statistical probabilities, but depending on your opinion of trent ikithon’s probable capabilities at the time of bren’s mental break, he may have been able to save against feeblemind sometime during the eleven years he spent at the sanatorium.

naturally, this has the earlier-mentioned conundrum of remembering that return of clarity once he was healed by the cleric, should ikithon have been retrieved to recast the feeblemind and altered his memories. nevertheless, it may or may not be a fun thought to play around with.

#caleb widogast #trent ikithon #blumendrei #cr #cr meta #critical role #critical role meta #critrole #bren aldric ermendrud #bren ermendrud #abuse cw #mental institution cw #prim post #prim says some things #long post

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pi-cat000 · 3 years

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BNHA: Kakashi dimension hops crossover (5)

Summary: Kakashi gets dumbed into the My Hero Academia universe through random plot devise.

Characters: Kakashi Hatake

Fandoms: My Hero Academia and Naruto

WARNINGS: Mentions of violence/injury

START / RREV / NEXT

Ms Iroi always tries to engage him in conversation whenever she comes in, asking questions and chatting to herself in a fruitless attempt at helping him recover his 'lost' memories. Most of the time, Kakashi is indifferent to her presence and always has a magazine handy as an excuse not to talk.

Today, Iroi is in a particularly good mood, humming to herself, greeting him with an energetic, “How are you doing today!”

Kakashi grunts a noncommittal response which doesn’t do much to discourage the woman’s good mood as she runs through a check-up routine.

“You should try watching U.A’s sports festival tomorrow. I hear it’s going to be particularly spectacular this year,” she says as she pulls the blinds on Kakashi's window, blocking out the distant city lights.

U.A? he recognises the name. Kakashi glances up over the pages of HERO!! MONTHLY BREAKDOWN. It is the third time he has read this issue.

“You know, since you like reading those hero magazines, I figured you would be interested in watching the ‘next generation of heroes’ debut,” she continues, noting his attention, “U.A always puts on a good show.”

Kakashi frowns. The problem with his amnesia cover story is that he is still trying to figure out what he can get away with not remembering. So far the doctor’s seem content to chalk up the disappearance of his long term memories to a ‘quirk’ accident but were always more concerned when he failed to recall basic factual information. Something to do with different parts of the brain being responsible for different types of information.

“Watch how?” He settles on asking. U.A. was supposed to be a hero-training academy so whatever this ‘sports festival’ was was worth checking out.

“Oh,” Iori pauses to think, “I, ah, think channel 2 with be covering it?” she hesitates, “You know what. I’ll look it up and let you know later. Sorry, I can’t carry my phone around with me while on shift.”

“Thank you.” He smiles and makes a show of returning to his magazine to dissuade further conversation.

Later the same evening, just before the end of the evening shift, Iori pokes her head into his room again. She is out of uniform, long hair untired, waving to catch his attention.

“The coverage is on channel 2 and starts at 11am,” She holds up her portable communication devise like it means something. It probably did mean something. The frequency by which people checked them suggested it had a function beyond basic communication. He has held off attempting to steal one because, unlike pens, people would notice and care if one went missing.

“Have fun watching! Oh… also, I forgot to ask…”

Kakashi raises a brow.

“I have a bunch of old gossip magazines. Mum used to read them all the time and there are a few hero-themed ones in the mix. I can bring them in if you want more stuff to read.”

“If you want.” Iori must have noticed him re-reading the magazines.

"I'll bring them on Friday!"

Iori had been unsubtly hinting that Kakashi might have had a history in heroics. It definitely wasn’t because reading information on a page just made sense when compared to the barrage of conflicting reports the television gave him. A few weeks with only the television as his information source has him writing off most of its information as useless or propaganda.

…

...

“HEELLLOOOOO, LISTENERS!”

Kakashi stares dully as the video footage, which had been giving him a bird’s eye view of a positively massive stadium, changes to a sweeping shot of what must be thousands of people crammed into seats. It almost makes him claustrophobic just watching it.

“WELLCOME TO OUR ANNUAL U.A. SPORTS FESTIVAL! THE HIGH SCHOOL ADOLESCENT RODEO YOU ALL LOVE TO WATCH. CAN A GET A ‘OH YEAH!’”

As if of one mind, thousands of people leap to their feet screaming. The camera angle changes again to show a grinning blond-haired man, seated at a desk and pointing enthusiastically at the camera. All these shot changes are going to give him a headache. Kakashi is already having reservations watching this and its only10 minutes.

“Thank you! You’re an AMAZING audience!”

It almost reminds him of the final Chunin Exam stages -if the Chunin exams had had three times the audience - which always involved some sort of combat display. There hadn’t been any public Chunin Exams recently for reasons such as a large portion of Konoha being flattened by Pein.

“FIRST UP ARE OUR FIRST-YEAR EVENTS! And what an exciting round of events they are, perfect for debuting our newest students! Give us a shout so they can feel your support!”

Another loud shot as thousands of people yelled in unison.

“Come on! Louder than that! These are your future Heroes I’m talking about! SHOW THEM SOME LOVE!”

More yelling. Kakashi turns down the volume.

“But! Wait just a minute!! We're not only here for our Hero students! As I'm sure you all know, behind every great hero is a hardworking support team! GIVE IT UP FOR our Support, Management and General departments who are also competing for a chance to face off in the finals!”

Kakashi sighs. He is getting the sense that this might be more for entertainment than utility purposes, conforming to the general trend of Hero-related stuff being flashy. Different from the Chunin exam which had deadly consequences if not taken seriously.

“Hey. Hey! HERE THEY COME NOW! OUR STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE FIRST YEAR STAGE!”

What follows is an overly dramatized race where the only thing of interest to him are the obstacle types, including robots, - mobile mechanical weapons of some sort that produced a lot of environmental damage but were taken down fairly easily- and explosive devices that acted a lot like explosive tags. Then there was a team elimination round and one-on-one tournament fights after which the coverage shifts to the second year and third year stages.

He uncovers the sharingun only to discover that, while its memorisation function worked fine, the part that translated the movements into muscle memory felt off. Perhaps, the replication and copying component of the eye didn’t work when viewing a technique through a screen rather than in person. Interesting. As there wasn't anything particularly impressive technique-wise during the events he counts the new information as a net gain.

The student-heroes – he is not sure if there is an official term for a hero in training – barely match Konoha’s academy standard in their taijutsu and physical conditioning though there was marked improvement between first, second and third-year groups. These students were what...between 14-18 years old...and yet most had the skill level of an academy students and fresh genuin with only a few notable exceptions?

Sure, there were - honestly ridiculous- versatile and powerful bloodline abilities being thrown around like nothing, but ninjutsu techniques only took a shinobi so far without a strong base to work from. He shakes his head, reminding himself that these kids - because what else did you call combatants who hadn’t graduated yet- weren’t shinobi in training and would be policing civilians and engaging ‘Villains’ of similar skill levels. It was obvious that the students favoured non-lethal takedown methods and put little to no thought into stealth and misdirection during fights.

Different words…different priorities.

As Kakashi has yet to see any evidence that the country, Japan, was at war with another he thinks the skill level displayed might be serviceable. There were also no major conflicts between the country’s large cities over farmland, water sources and the like. Obviously, this place had sorted out the resource and distribution issues usually encountered when supporting such large populations. Or, who knows, maybe everything on the television was a carefully constructed lie to lull people into complacency.

Now he has seen an example of hero-students, he better understands the low combat ability demonstrated by the police. It also gives incite into the blurry recordings of Hero/Villain confrontations which played on repeat across the various ‘news’ reports. They all tended to hover around Chunin or maybe Special Jounin in terms of skill. He knows generalisations are dangerous so, until he saw the combat in person, he would exercise his usual level of caution. There were bound to be outliers after all-the impressive brute strength of the number one hero comes to mind- and there was no telling what advantages a bloodline ability might provide. Absently, he makes testing the susceptibly of people without chakra to genjustu as something to figure out sooner rather than later.

He sighs. This is why he hated the television. Whenever he watched it, he came away increasingly confused, with more questions than he had answers. Not to mention anything useful being constantly interrupted with information detailing one of the many products that he could apparently buy here. It irritated him to no end.

...

The chakra collecting seal is ready before the week is out. Mostly ready...it was ready enough.

Kakashi returns to the roof. Sitting cross-legged, back against the stairway entrance, he works his way through the 100 or so pens, cracking them open and tapping out ink into a large bowl, stolen -like the pens -from hospital staff.

The mix of black, blue and red ink is gluggy, forcing him to add water to thin the solution out. Once satisfied he pulls out an appropriated scalpel – one of a growing collection hidden alongside his pens because having a stash of weapons is never a bad thing- pricking his middle finger, watching the blood drip and curdle with the mixture. The blood would be absorbed into the ink, allowing it to conduct chakra. He mixes everything with pair of disposable chopsticks, taking care not to spill it on the ground or stain his hands.

The whole process reminds him of other insistences where he had improvised fuinjutsu ink in the field. The last time being during his final Anbu missions where he had created a body storage scroll from scratch after unexpectedly losing a squad mate on what should have been a simple intel retrieval mission. Not a particularly fond memory but a memory he was stuck with.

Since his demotion to Jonin-sensei there had been fewer of those sorts of missions. Not that being a Jonin-sensei had been easy – considering all his students had gone off to find other teachers he didn't even think he had been particularly good at it - bringing with it its own special brand of stress, culminating in a stint as Hokage, a fourth war and him stuck here. He is pretty sure his experiences aren't universal. Team 7 was just cursed to fail in increasingly spectacular ways.

He lets out a heavy sigh, leaving his airways open to a sudden gust of cold wind which carries the scent of cleaning chemicals from the hospital and oil from the road straight up his nose. He exhales forcefully and mentally bumps finding a face mask up his list of priorities. It would be good for hiding his features and dulling the artificial smells of a city housing over a million people.

The sound of wind whistling around the building almost blocks out the echo of feet in the stairway, approaching his location. In one smooth motion, Kakashi stands pushing the remaining broken pen back into the vent, nudging the cover back in place with his foot. Carefully he holds the bowl of ink in his injured arm and a scalpel in the other. Kakashi steps back against the entrance so the outward opening door would hide him from whoever came out.

A crying kid comes barrelling through the door.

Well, not completely crying, more like sniffing loudly, eyes all shiny. He even recognises the kid from the U.A combat demonstration, as improbable as that was. It is the first year hero student with the speed-enhancing ability which, seeing him up close, probably had something to do with the strange growths coming out of his caff muscles. High speed movement put enormous strain on the body so he could reasonably conclude that the kid was physically resilient to acceleration stress and similar forces. Not resilient to stabbing though....

Kakashi forces himself to relax, his scalpel lowering ever so slightly. Lucky he had heard the kid coming or he might have accidentally hurt him. A few weeks of reduced sleep coupled with a lot of time to ruminate on past missions and failures has put him on edge. This was exactly why he disliked taking extended breaks.

Maybe, Kakashi should start relocking the stairway if he was planning to make regular trips up here because the young male probably hadn’t had the roof in mind as a destination. Kakashi knows from experience that, unless you were injured or a member of staff, there were few good reasons to wander around a hospital at odd hours.

With the hero-student distracted sniffling into his arm, Kakashi slips around the door and back down the stairs. He hadn’t planned on applying the seal on the roof anyway. Too exposed to the elements and the concrete was too rough for the delicate line work.

He continues mixing while he walks, having mentally mapped the hospital well enough to know which hallways to use and which to avoid. There is a surgeon with some sort of heat-sensing vision who works late most nights that he must be careful around and a nurse with a weak proximity based empathic ability working in paediatrics. Both obstacles force him to take a meandering detour on his way to the ground floor and the larger shower blocks which housed cubicles the size of small rooms. Enough smooth floorspace for the expanded seal design and easy to clean afterwards. He supposes he is lucky, some complicated fuinjutsu required several meters worth of floor space. The containment on Saskue’s cursed seal comes to mind and he is glad that this seal is infinity smaller.

Not one to waste time knowing that nurses and patients regularly used the space even this late in the evening, he immediately slips into a cubicle upon arrival. Flopping onto the floor he pulls out the paintbrush he had had scour the hospital for and eventually to steal from the children’s ward. Carefully, he begins the slow process of application.

…

The final seal design is circular, about the size of his splayed hand, positioned on his uninjured shoulder just above where his Anbu seal had previously sat. The sleepwear provided by the hospital had sleeves that extend just past his bicep. It hid the design, for the most part. The final visible seal is a bit bigger than he had predicted or planned for. If this were a proper infiltration mission, where blowing his cover came at the price of death, he would be in big trouble. If this were a proper mission, he would have waited before applying this. An unnecessary risk. He itches the back of his head, turning from where he is craning his neck to see the seal, gathering up his supplies to be thrown in one of the hospital’s many rubbish bins. Kakashi lets out a breath. Maybe, this whole ‘trapped in a different world’ thing is affecting him more than he was willing to admit and making him sloppy.

He pulls down the sleeve so it mostly hides the design. Not like the doctors here would recognise the significance of fuinjutsu, he reminds himself, even if their questions would be annoying to deflect.

He pumps chakra into the seal and a jolt akin to lightning runs down his limb. It activates without issue and Kakashi grimaces as his chakra is slowly drained and collected. The rate of the drain is pathetically slow. Three years too slow. But, between this and his sharingan - which was always active and draining chakra- he can’t risk making it quicker. Despite the relatively low-level threats around him, Kakashi is, first and foremost, a Jonin in an unknown territory who is already taking risks simply making and applying the seal. He can’t afford to impair himself with poor chakra management on top of everything else.

Kakashi pops his head out of the cubical, scanning the shower block. Nothing of note has changed and he darts out, intent on returning to his room. He is tired and it would be a long, tiresome week as his body adjusted to the strain as well.

#bnha #bnha fanfic #naruto #CrossOver #dimension travel AU #hatake kakashi #kakashi headcanons #cultural shock #Iida makes a breif cameo #fanfiction #my hero academia #plot continues to move at a glacial pace

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imtryingthisout · 5 years

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Sunglasses and Serenity

[a fic inspired by @nachosforfree @sanderssides-magicalgirlau check them out]

[Warnings: Descriptions of a Panic Attack]

[Pairing: Sleepxiety]

[Word Count: 2283]

——————————————————————

It was not a quiet night. The sky above was dark, the pearly stars hidden behind the neon verbosity of downtown. 24 hour shops and businesses had windows that never dimmed, pinpricks of artificial lightings blurred together creating an abstract mess of blended color.

The moon itself was distorted by the light pollution. It’s natural autumn glow paled in comparison to the vibrancy of the busy streets.

Remy both loved and hated it.

Growing up with summers spent in his family’s old Villa in Italy, secluded in a valley side miles away from the nearest approximation of a town, he had always known how the sky was darker blue than black. He and his cousins loved to climb upon the rooftop and find the stories hidden in the stars. The earth around them was quiet and peaceful, but never silent. The symphony of crickets and other night creature laid in the background of every night spent there. A distant murmuring, Tellus’s lullaby.

Moving to the city had been akin to dunking his head in a bucket of ice water and screamo pop.

Shocking, painful and utterly disorientating. But after the ringingness faded- strangely exhilarating.

Remy has thrown himself headfirst into the city’s night culture. Staying up late partying, trying all the best coffee houses, hanging around the hidden-and-not-so-hidden drag shows,gaining a reputation and a caffeine addiction along the way.

But this was not a night where he would be going out, not when everything he needed was with him.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Virgil really was a sight to be seen, his skin was pale, like the white-petaled sunflowers that grew by the valley, that seemed to glow in the moonlight. But his starkness fit in perfectly with the gleam of the industrial lights. Heterochromatic eyes, green and purple, stunning as murano glass and pulsing as strobe lights.

Achingly familiar, yet enticingly foreign. Home and longing rolled up in one boy, a boy who has stolen one of his sleep shirts for his own nefarious (adorable) use.

And who probably wanted an answer. Quick Remy, think of some witty remark to be entertaining!

“You ever notice how bright it is sometimes?”

Damn it! Guess we’re being genuine.

Virgil quirked his head to the side, giving Remy a piercing look, before nodding his head slightly . “Yeah,” he said, “Used to overstimulate the crap outta me when I was younger.” Then he paused, debating with himself over continuing- but decided to press forward. “Is that why you always wear those stupid shades?” The last words said in jest.

A surprised laugh escaped his through before he could stop it- Virgil almost reaches out to comfort him, but tensed up, too many bad memories stilled his arm.

“Girl, I’ll have you know these are designer glasses right here” he made a gesture around his face, “Iconic one of a kind Remy Hypnos Original Shades. Don’t go dissing my brand babes”

Virgil just snorted and rolled his eyes, “Uh, I’m pretty sure the designer thing on your face are those-eye bags you have hidden under there.”

“Damn right, even the bags under my eyes are Gucci”

“Oh Gods did you steal that off tumblr you sleep-deprived asshat? Oh don’t give me that look you totally did.” Virgil’s words had started off biting, but slowly devolved into a giggling mess.

(He really was just too cute for this world, Remy thought)

“Oh Ha ha, laugh it up” he snapped, ignoring his blushing cheeks and hot ears.

(Virgil could always tell how flustered Remy was by how red the tips of his ears were. A dusty pink for flirty, A warm rouge signaled embarrassment or arousal. Virgil loved watching the colors bloom on his skin. Memorizing what each shade meant- he could take any cochineal-colored paint swatch and map out Remy’s mood in the margins. It made him so easy to read, and so much fun to mess with.)

Soon the laughing and jeering subsided, and Virgil turned to look at Remy, “But seriously man, Is that why you always have those things on? Photophobia?”

“Can’t it be enough that I look rad as all Hell’s in them?”

“Not with that deflection it can’t” Virgil wasn't giving up it seemed, so Remy let out a deep sigh and gathard his words. “Remember highschool?”

“Kind of hard to forget.” High school was an absolute trainwreck for Virgil, he’d been on and off meds that screwed with his moods- making the already hormone fueled circus that was over a thousand teens trapped in one building, like a pack of sardines- even more emotionally taxing.

But if High School was a disaster for Virgil, it was absolute Hell for Remy.

Remy and his cousins had been homeschooled by their many relatives since they were children. Growing up learning in his family’s study. Rich mahogany floors, dim golden lighting bouncing off the variety of nick-nacks and treasures that line the shelves. Learning to read in his grandfather’s library, his worn and wrinkled hands guiding his young fingers along the words.

His cousin Alessia longed to go to a public school, and pleaded with her mother for ages before she relented. With the condition that she would allow her to go- but only if one of their own went with her.

So Remy, proving himself as her favorite, offered to accompany her.

The blinding smile on Alessia’s face as she squealed thank you , thank you amata cugino, favorito benedetto, was totally worth it. ‘It’s only one year’ he thought, ‘how bad could it be?’

Until he actually got there.

Virgil could think back and recall in semi-perfect clarity the day Remy Hypnos graced the halls of Sandershore High. Roman had become a central hub for gossip , and he’d heard whispers that of new transfer students, which in of itself wouldn't be news. But Hypnos was a household name, owning some of the most ridiculously pretentious Itialian Restaurants in the country. The kind people got engaged at, those levels of nice.

Needless to say when Remy and Alessia strolled into Sandershore’s gate. With perfect olive skin, rich brown hair and clothes nicer than Virgil’s single mom income could ever afford. Virgil fell in hate easily.

(The kind of hate that has him staring at him out of the corner of his eye during Calculus. Thinking about what his eyes looked under those darkened glasses. The kind of hate that wasn’t really hate)

Remy had all the perfect components to rule to school. Pretty, rich, with a startling amount of charisma and people skills for someone so unsocialized.

(Know one knew how he picked up slang so fast in an attempt to hide to slight foreign tilt that laced his words. Never knew how when he first heard someone mock Alessia’s body he punched the guy’s lights out without ever thinking. No one knew how he hadn’t had a night's sleep since school started. How fake he felt, his mannerisms esageraged and twisted to suit the liking of the student body- till he felt like a caricature rather than a person.)

By second quarter Virgil and Remy’s seeming distaste for one another had spread far and wide. They couldn’t be in the same room together without having some sort of verbal showdown. If you asked Virgil he would say that Remy was a self absorbed prick with an ego the size of Mt. Rushmore. If you asked Remy he’d say that that Virgil was a clingy mood-killer who couldn’t see past his own issues.

(Remy didn’t know how empty Virgil felt. How much the crushing weight of his own thoughts threatened to pull him down under. How his dependency on Patton was more sinister than a clingy best-friend. How sometimes his nightmares left him gasping and clawing- begging for them to come back. How his mother never really could fill the emptiness in his house. How Virgil sometimes felt like a puppet going through the motions.)

As the eye bags under their eyes grew darker and heavier, and autumn grew colder and colder. Both boys felt the pressure crushing them under its weight.

(Turns out they both used their arguments as cathartic release from the world around them.)

(Some things never change.)

It was winter when they found each other. Both on the verge of a breakdown-

(It was always too bright. There were no warm wooden floors just chilled title and harsh- fake- lights. The entire building smelled like body odor and cleaning supplies. The teachers were strangers, uncaring distant- he heard what the girls were saying about his cousin. He just felt so-)

(Empty. Hopeless. Patton was gone where did Patton go? He was lonely. And so so pathetic. He needed to get himself under control needed. Don’t be a burden- they all hate him- don’t slip up. They’re going to leave him. Everything felt so distant- drowned out by the static- he was drowning-)

Where the fate’s looking down on the two powder keg boy. A spark away from igniting. Weaving their strings together for a happenstance in counter. Or was it merely coincidence that they went to the same storage closet, to have a moment's respite.

Was it just chance that the door was automatic-locked.

“This is just great” Remy hissed under his breath, he just wanted one moment- just one! Of some cooled peace and solitude. Away from the buzzing gossip and fake friends. Away from the sensory hell outside. A little kernel of bitter anger swelled within the pit of his stomach. One moment, just one.

Then he turned to look at the other person in the room.

Remy had seen lots of sides of Virgil Anxiti, the sarcastic commenter, the horrible-yet oddly insightful- student, the debater .

(He hadn’t seen the devoted son, the caring brother, the friend who would do anything for his loved ones)

But he’d never seen him… blank.

Curled up in the corner of the closet, arms hugging his knees as they were pressed into his chest, was Virgil. Eyes dead and dulled as stone. The muscles in his face were relaxed completely- which unsettled Remy more than crying would have.

Remy wasn’t a Knight in shining armor, or even a comforting person in general- but unqualified as he may be, he couldn’t just let his favorite rival just sit there and do nothing to help.

Alessia needed physical touch when she was upset , their whole family was practically comprised of touchy people. So when one of them was sad, it was a one way ticket to hug time. Somehow Remy didn’t think that would be well received.

“Hey, babes I’m going to touch your arm- that good with you?” He didn’t reply, not that Remy thought he would- but still. So slowly, cautiously, he layed a single hand on Virgil’s arm.

The change was gradual, but noticeable. Hear bloomed under Virgil’s complexion, bringing back warmth into his skin. The glassy oversheen of his eyes subsided, and his entire posture just… relaxed. And so did Remy.

When he had gathered enough of himself, Remy guided Virgil though his breathing exercises. In and out, In and out. Hand never leaving his arm- grounding him to the world.

The door was still locked when Virgil regained his senses. “Guess we have to wait until someone notices we’re missing” Which nearly set Virgil off into another spiral. Until they rembered that technology exists. And so they used Virgil’s phone to text Logan to come and unlock it.

“He’s the only one who won’t make a big deal about us being locked in a closet together”

But there was time between then and there. Time to talk, if only to fill the awkward silence.

To talk about school.

“Girl I have no idea what they put in those ‘school provided lunches’ but they are not food.”

“What rock have you been living under? I once got food poisoning from drinking some of the milk in 6th grade- and that still wasn’t the worst thing I’ve eaten from there.”

About Friends.

“I met Patton when I was six and we’ve been best friends ever since. Dee joined in when we were all about nine and we first saw Lo’ and the twins when they started freshman year”

“I cannot honestly tell you the names of half the people who hang around me”

About Family.

“Hon you could bust down every wall in this building and still wouldn’t have enough room to put all my fam”

“It’s just been my mom, little brother and Patton since I was eight and my dad walked out. Still don’t know who I hate more for it- him or me”

If Logan took just a tad longer route to the closet- he didn’t mention it. He also didn’t mention when Remy started joining their table for lunch. Matching Roman and Remus in all their theatrics- offering to set up a ‘play date’ between some of his younger cousins and Dee’s many siblings.

(If he noticed how much happier the two were after that, how much more healthy Virgil seemed, how more secure in himself Remy acted...well that was just one more thing he didn’t mention.)

Present Day Remy took off his glasses, letting them rest gently in his hand. “My Nonna gave them to me the day before I started school. Said they would come in handy. They did of course.. they just kinda.. became more” he rubbed along the temple’s rubbery tip. Eyes focused in on the way his fingers move up and down the slender frame.

Virgil gently takes the glasses into his hand, and sets them down on the bedside table. He has to stand on his toes to reach Remy’s face, but when he does he tenderly places a hand onto his cheek, gazing into his deep brown eyes- the same shade as his espresso cups and just as rich.

And Remy melts into him. Allows himself to be led away from the window. From the bright lights and traffic noise, and into Virgil’s embrace.

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duscarasheddinnswriting · 3 years

Text

Claw Game Team bio

Names: Xeno, Plopper, Taterman, Rexy, Pingyuwin

Role: Complete set of prizes from the Toy Claw; toys in the Williams house neutral to the battle royale

Age: Manufactured during or after 2005 (I haven’t decided when Action Figure Battle Royale takes place)

Height: Less than a foot each

Species: Living toy (all of them; Xeno and Pingyuwin are squeaky toys of a little green man and a penguin, respectively, Plopper is a piggy bank, Taterman is, well, a Taterman toy, and Rexy is a plastic T. Rex)

Personality: Due to all being won from the same Toy Claw, which was at a Rolly’s that the Williams family frequents, all five of them feel a special kinship towards each other. They did not form this while all in the crane, as they were each won during different visits, and none of them were in the claw machine at the same time. They have quite different personalities from the ones on the big screen.

Abilities: All five of them can become inanimate or animate at will, and they choose the former out of instinct when a human knows they’re there.

Xeno is a squeaky toy, so he can be squeezed without feeling pain. In fact, he likes it.

Plopper is a piggy bank, so he is hollow on the inside and can store coins, though getting them out is hard on purpose. Due to the nature of his toy functions, his head can unscrew, though both his head and body are still alive and can reattach easily.

Taterman can move his plastic potato body by rolling it, and he can choose to either move an individual part of him or coordinate them for normal movement. Each Toy Claw Taterman was manufactured as a potato body and matching accessories, so the single soul that is each Taterman can control each one, the potato body, and even the accessories that aren’t attached to him independently and always knows the location of every part. In the Toy Claw, each Taterman has all of his parts stored inside his Potatush storage compartment. This is so that winning them has less risk of losing parts in the process. The eyes, ears, nose, and mouth can see, hear, smell, and taste, respectively, and they function even if taken off. Taterman’s arms aren’t molded in a pose.

Rexy has a strong bite, though due to natural laws, he physically cannot harm a human with it. His arms, though small, are very powerful to compensate, and unlike a real T. Rex, they have three fingers.

Pingyuwin is another squeaky toy and can be squeezed without feeling pain, and it too feels good to him. Unlike what he is based on, his squeaker works.

Toy Claw Info: A Toy Claw is a claw machine in the shape of a rocket. They are popular enough that every arcade chain in the US has at least one in at least one location. They are not as rigged as most claw machines, but the trouble lies in the weight of several of the prizes. They debuted in arcades in 2005, though they were made as a tie-in to a 1995 movie, the world’s first feature-length film rendered in 100% CGI and the debut of Mixar Animation Studios, which later became a division of Dipney, who helped with Mixar’s films before then. They were made for the tenth anniversary of that movie. Here is the breakdown of what a fully stocked Space Crane has for its prizes:

Little green men (what Xeno is): 50%

Piggy bank (what Plopper is): 12.5%

Taterman (movie design): 12.5%

Green T. Rex toy (What Rexy is): 12.5%

Penguin squeaky toy (What Pingyuwin is): 12.5%

The Williams family has two Tatermen. The one they won from the Toy Claw is single, while the other one, bought in a Bullseye, is married to a Taterwoman also bought in that same Bullseye. That Taterwoman is not designed like the one from the movie.

Out of universe, they are a reference to “The Claw!” game included on Disc 2 of the Toy Story 10th Anniversary Edition 2005 DVD. I have that specific DVD, and I admit that I spent way more time on that game as a kid than I probably should have. Disc 2 is the bonus disc, and in that claw game, you can get an Alien, Hamm, Mr. Potato Head, Rex, and Wheezy. Buzz and Woody are not there because the former is a high-end toy (at least in universe) and the latter is an extremely rare collectible from the 1950s (as revealed in Toy Story 2), neither of which are likely to be found in a claw machine because of those reasons.

Xeno is supposed to be one of the Aliens from Pizza Planet. The ones in the Toy Claw, including him, are based on the Toy Story Signature Collection Aliens. However, the ones in the Toy Claw all have squeakers.

Plopper is supposed to be Hamm, and I based him off of a Disney Store toy that was quite accurate, but was discontinued because it was fragile, being made of porcelain. The toy model in my story has the same mold, but is made out of hard plastic that is far more durable. I got the name Plopper from The Simpsons Movie, where Homer calls the pig he takes home with him “Harry Plopper” at one point after having referred to him as “Spider Pig” earlier on because he helped the pig walk on the ceiling.

The specific Taterman that these Toy Claws keep in stock, including the one the Williams family owns, all use the Toy Story design of Mr. Potato Head. I based him off of a custom one that is quite authentic to the movie, having eyes and shoes that go in separate holes, detailed ear molds, and eyebrows molded into each eye. They look quite good, but as the separate parts could be dangerous to kids under 4 years old, there is a warning molded on the Potatush saying not to give it to anyone that young.

Rexy is supposed to be Rex, mostly resembling the Toy Story Collection real-world toy of him. However, mine has no electronic components nor a voice box, so he does not take batteries. This also makes him less impressive, but cheaper to mass produce. The head, arms, and tail can be moved freely but stay in place when not touched.

Pingyuwin is supposed to be Wheezy. I based mine off of a custom one made by kop378454505. I know there is an official one, but the custom one has a louder squeaker, so I went with that. Their squeakers also all work by default, which I know is less authentic to the one in the movie, but I don’t think kids would understand that, so they would be disappointed when their squeaky penguins didn’t work. I named him after the way Dr. Blowhole from the Dreamworks TV series The Penguins of Madagascar says the word “penguin.”

I decided that the kids of the Williams family named their toys differently from the ones in the movie because they were too young at the time to understand their real names. After years of being referred to by the wrong names, they all accepted it.

Read the only story to have these toys in it, Action Figure Battle Royale, with these links:

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/30466935/chapters/75127953

DeviantArt: https://www.deviantart.com/duscara/gallery/74952731/action-figure-battle-royale

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/264799683-action-figure-battle-royale

FictionPress: https://www.fictionpress.com/s/3355621/1/Action-Figure-Battle-Royale

#i forgot to post this #it was for yesterday

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reconhq · 4 years

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Do you have any advice for someone who wants to make a (very LGBTA positive) webseries of her own?.

oh boy! I sure do. I’ve actually been on a couple other projects other than Recon, all after the first season was written & mostly after the first season was shot, and ya girl has learned a lot because of and since season 1!

i am so sorry but this is going to be SO long. i am kinda obsessed with web series & digital content and it’s my actual professional career now so just… get ready. sorry 😅 i’ll add a TLDR at the end.

(p.s. this is just advice from me, Emma, and not the rest of the Recon team who may have different/additional advice, maybe someone will add on after the holidays)

write your bible before anything! depending on if you’re co-creating or just co-producing/writing, this should be done before you bring on additional folks. if you’re co-creating, this is obviously a collaborative process. when i created recon, i did it on my own. i pitched the original idea to some dear friends (one of whom makes a cameo as a security guard in ep 20!) and got their opinions, adapted from their advice, and once i had a solid format, main character, and general plot, i started on the bible. it took probably a month of fucking around before i felt ready to write a bible.

the basic components of a bible are a log line, short season overview, character breakdowns for your characters (mine are ~paragraph or two for main characters, with shorter ones for less central characters), a summary of the show’s main themes, genre and tones, and the format of the show (if you’re mapping out multiple seasons, it may be relevant to do this for each season as well as the overall show), as well as the most important part of your bible– the episode breakdowns. i’ll touch on those in a minute.

i do all my original brainstorming on paper, because i am adhd as fuck and it’s easier for me. your bible isn’t the place to brainstorm. separate them out. not saying you have to write on paper, but have a separate doc for brainstorming so the formatting for your bible can be easy to follow.

if you’re co-producing or having someone else produce your work, it makes sense to have your co-producer or producer right there with you as you work on your bible to give feedback. does this mean they’re writing it? no. is it useful as hell? yes.

my partner-in-creative-crime justice and i tend to share bibles and brainstorm docs with each other when we’re working together on a project. depending on which roles we’re playing on each project (e.g., i’m producing his podcast COSMIC under our company name but not co-creating or writing, so i mostly gave notes on his bible. we’re also working on a series called Inked, and we’re more like co-creators there, so we both write in the doc.)

your bible is the holy doc of your show; it’s what you show to any writers, producers, designers, any creative working on your show so that everyone is on the same page. it is your main reference and guiding light through the whole season; make it clear, organized, and as easy to read as possible. i personally use google docs for my bibles, and use the hell out of the outline function. highly recommend, but everyone has their own system.

break your ENTIRE story before before you write a single script, before you write your pilot, before anything. it’s part of your bible.

if you’re not super familiar with tv/screenwriting, breaking a story means figuring out the beats. the breakdown of reason s1 started as messy af writing on whiteboards, and turned into this:

this is absolutely not what your first outlines or final drafts will look like. we changed…. a ton while writing our scripts. you can see even in this sequence– episode 8 and 9 got blurred, and we barely touched on ava’s past because there wasn’t room. regardless, this doc & breakdown served as the basis for all our writers and kept us all on roughly the same page. when we disagreed, we could go back to this and sort it out from there!

find your people. two roles were crucial to me when we made recon: a mentor, and collaborators. having good people behind me was so so important; i could have never done this on my own.

i got…….. so lucky with my mentor, bernie su. he not only gave me incredible advice, read scripts, and reviewed cuts, he purchased the damn show, accounting for 75% of our funding. i feel like it’s important for me to acknowledge the luck and privilege i have here: the show would not happened without him, and i only got that chance because i live in LA, went to USC, and applied for the right job at the right time. HOWEVER, aside from the funding that made recon possible, bernie’s expertise seriously helped. after principle photography, we were left feeling lackluster, and bernie gave me advice that led me to make changes that transformed the show. having someone with experience– whether in tv, film, web series, any sort of writing– is invaluable.

while i created recon on my own, i did not develop or make it on my own. the episode breakdowns? half me, half other people (mainly justice lol). the look of the show? EP/DP christa, production designer amanda, graphic designer hal, and justice as costuming lead. i did not write season 1 on my own. i recruited friends from USC and even one from high school to write episodes i didn’t think i could do justice (no pun intended).

once you’ve found your people, trust them. there will obviously be cases where you disagree enough with someone’s creative opinions that you shouldn’t, but except in extreme cases, trust your people. try to only chose people you trust in the first place. letting go was so so so hard, but many of the best parts of recon happened because i got over myself and trusted my cast and crew. episode 16, player vs player, was justice’s baby, and i almost didn’t let him roll with the animations because i was too nervous. holy fuck, i’m so glad i trusted him. same with reflections (ep 15), written by my now-fiancé, which no one else could have written. hal was a bit unsure going in, but the episode is phenomenal. my production designer’s choices were amazing, and i had little to do with them other than being like “yes that is so cool let’s do it”

seriously. trust your people. watching bernie on artificial & emma approved trust us, his crew of mostly 20-somethings, with creative decisions taught me a huge lesson. i was 19 when he hired me, 19 when he bought the show, and he actually fucking trusted me and the rest of his team to do things. my initial reaction was what the fuck, but it worked. it also let him focus on the big picture while giving us the space we needed to feel creatively and emotionally fulfilled. trust your people.

this also applies to your actors. we had a google drive specifically for our actors to throw up ideas/backstory for their characters, and we’d read through it and give feedback and contributions. it led to better performances and characters with more depth. we also met with actors where we could to discuss their ideas for directions for their characters– video game nerd taylor came from convos with joré.

katiemichal and kat were just like, the same people as their characters, so there was less of this, but there is definitely value in casting the irl versions of your characters as them.

edit your episodes individually, then read through the WHOLE SEASON at once to edit. repeat that until you read it and it’s cohesive.

keep track of your timeline and your canon, even canon that’s not explicit in the show. there’s so much recon lore that we kept to ourselves that informs several decisions in the first season.

unless your character’s race/ethnicity (even gender) is a key part of their character or the show, cast with an open net. ava was originally a white girl name jody. ana, the actress who played her, originally auditioned for riley, and we changed the character’s entire backstory for her, which added an amazing dimension to the show we get to see in reflections (and an upcoming podcast shh). lesson fucking learned on my part– almost too late. don’t be like me.

ren, on the other hand, we were 100% sure was non-binary, and although we opened auditions to all genders, we specified from the start it was a non-binary character and we’d give priority to queer/nb actors. it was the right choice.

PRODUCTION DESIGN IS FUCKING IMPORTANT. cinematography is great, and we obviously focused on it a lot w the style of our show, but PD tells so much of your story without saying a word or taking up a second of airtime.

sound is the single most important thing on set. you can make an ugly shot work, ugly sound will bring people immediately out of the show and possibly abandon it. we fucked up scheduling for Punching Bag, and had to delay its release (it was originally episode 13, not 14), hire a sound editor, and put a goddamn disclaimer on it because we didn’t have time to get good sound because of our own mistakes. arguably my biggest regret of the season, because the script and acting for that episode is so good, and we low-key ruined it. GET GOOD SOUND.

only exception to this is probably coverage and continuity; although those can be fudged a lil more. get a script supervisor or have your AD do it so you don’t miss anything crucial. always get your masters first.

schedule more than you think you should. like, down to the 15-minute block. it won’t work, but it will work worse if you don’t. do your best to stay on schedule (hint: AD/producer on set)

trust your gut. this is your baby, and your choices should service the story you want to tell. let that be your north star, and while you should let your story evolve with time and the contributions of your cast and crew,

TL;DR: write your bible & break your season first. find a team you trust, and trust them with their choices (both cast & crew). if you can, find a mentor/someone with experience to give advice. edit your show both as individual episodes and as a whole season, multiple times. continuity is crucial, backstory is crucial, coverage is crucial, scheduling is crucial. GET GOOD SOUND. and always keep sight of the story you want to tell.

i am so sorry. this is a fucking essay.

#Web series #queer webseries #lgbtq web series #webseries #web series writing #lgbtq writers

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blatherkatt · 4 years

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I know y'all have a lotta AUs, so I gotta ask: what would the Blumenthal Drei's relationship be like had Caleb never had his breakdown? I know the circumstances have dramatically changed in the fic (re: Astrid may uh, may wanna murder Caleb, which ain't, y'know, conducive to friendship), so I'm curious how the relationship would be at a "base state." We get glimpses of the relationship's natural state through flashbacks, so I'm curious how that would've evolved with time had Shit Not Hit The Fan

The sort of scenario I think you’re describing here is one that we haven’t really talked about much honestly, and on top of that if we did it’d still give some tangential spoilers unfortunately. However, I am instead going to use this as an opportunity to talk instead about what Ed and I have been calling the “Allura Drei AU”, aka The One Where Trent Was Visiting The Area Around Draconia Right When It Fell And Friggin Died And The Blumenkids Got To Grow Up Without His Nonsense

it’s what he deserves.

ANYWAY.

im gonna give a general overview without going into toooo much detail on the kinda things we imagine here because we’ve talked about a lot of stuff, this one’s a happy place favorite, but like, this is the golden timeline, lets put it that way. so. without trent in the picture, the three kids were noticed and mentored by probably someone else at Soltryce, or potentially might’ve just gone through it as normal students and just generally done great there, but they all stick together when they graduate and after hanging around doing stuff in Rexxentrum for a while eventually decide they wanna set up a proper tower somewhere quieter than the city, so they pack up and move out to Felderwin.

Is this confusing and kind of alarming for the people of Felderwin? Yes. yes, it is. ANYWAY the extremely short summary is that the three of them befriend the Brenattos because they need to get components somewhere and it makes sense to be good friends w/ the local apothecary, plus their little family group has a kid about the same age as Luc so it just sorta makes sense, and they’re all very saddened when Veth dies etc etc. but when the Krynn attack Felderwin the three of them chase off the attack and, upon noticing that Yeza’s been apparently caught up in some nasty stuff that has him wanted by both sides, promptly decide the best course of action is to lowkey kidnap him themselves (he’s ok with it actually) and keep him in their tower without telling anyone. and just. let both sides think the other has him while they figure out what’s going on.

and then through a series of shenanigans involving molly (who is still alive because this is the Good Timeline Okay caduceus is still here too its an au let us have this) getting to know the boys and astrid being stuck in some trouble she cant get out of on her own and needing rescue, the three wind up basically serving as an Allura-equivalent for the mighty nein. its very cute and very good.

but to answer more of your actual question now that the stage is set:

when thing were working well between the three of them, and there wasn’t a certain bastard man around to screw things up, the three sort of keep each other in balance ~~especially with sig around too but i still cant talk too much about him and i am dying, i want to so bad ok~~

Astrid and Bren have been fierce rivals since they were kids and that’d likely continue, but Eodwulf functions as an emotional center and a mediator, keeping tensions from boiling over and making sure that it stays just as a playful rivalry. They push each other to do better, and that’s part of why they’re both (Really, all three, honestly) are constantly improving at the rate they have ever since childhood. Bren and Astrid can both get too caught up in things, but Eodwulf is real good at keeping that from ever going too far.

Astrid and Eodwulf, meanwhile, like I’ve said previously, have very different languages, so to speak, but she and Bren have been on an extremely similar wavelength since pretty much the moment they met. But at the same time, Bren’s also good at reading Eodwulf. Astrid and Eodwulf are opposites in a lot of ways, and Bren’s a good happy medium who can help bridge the gap and serve as a translator where it’s needed. The two of them can do alright without him, as you can see in Ghosts, but there’s hiccups. They do best when they have a third party to help bridge the gaps in communication that sorta naturally happen between them. Plus, without Bren, they really never would’ve become friends in the first place, so that’s another reason he’s important to the triad. And then there’s Bren and Eodwulf–they do real well on their own, and would by this point definitely be married in this timeline, since, uh, canon stuff never happened. But. Even if it’s not as bad as it would be with trent’s trauma, Eodwulf is still somewhat conflict averse and struggles with RSD a lot, and Bren can, yknow, get caught in his head, plus he’s always been the natural at everything so wouldn’t really push himself as much on his own. Astrid drags them both out of their comfort zone, pushes Bren to keep improving because of the looming threat of her surpassing him always lingering, and Eodwulf straight up wouldn’t do a lot of the things he’s tried if Astrid weren’t around. She’s constantly pushing herself, seeing how far she can go, and she’s caused both of the boys to do so as well!

She’s also, weirdly enough, the moral center of the three in this scenario, if only because her morals are the least flexible. Like, she’s always up to pull pranks and mess around, but she’ll be the first one to really call someone out on something she thinks is Actually Wrong, even if the person doing it is someone she cares for deeply. Trent unfortunately poisoned her sense of morality and shaped it to suit his own purposes in canon, but since in this AU that didn’t happen, she’s really the one keeping the two of them from crossing certain lines. Her sense of morality doesn’t leave a lot of room for nuance, which is, yknow, not great, not to mention the whole reason she’s such a problem in Ghosts, but it’s good to have someone who can draw a line in the sand and say “no, actually” especially when dealing with extremely powerful wizards.

(It’s worth noting too though, that’s a thing I forgot to say about her in the ask about her relationship w/ eodwulf, and i also forgot to say likewise that Eodwulf helps remind her to slow down now and then; stop and smell the flowers, that sort of thing–he’s good at noticing bright spots and at spoiling himself and others, and that’s a thing Astrid wouldn’t be as good at on her own without people to keep her tethered. In this AU eodwulf’s extra good at that because he wouldn’t be such a MASSIVE misanthrope, and bren probably helps slow Astrid down now and then too, albeit to a lesser degree.)

anyway they’re an insanely good team and that highkey freaks out the rest of the wizards of the assembly, since wizards kinda have a well deserved reputation of not getting along w/ other wizards due to being a bunch of intellectuals with Opinions and Complexes and seeing three actually LIKE each other to the degree that they all live together and such is confusing and distressing and so the assembly largely just…..leaves them alone,,,

are parts of this probably very unrealistic? yeah. do i care? no its great feel free to ask more about it theres a lot to talk about

also all four of the adults (including sig who is not a wizard but, yknow, astrid’s here so he’s here) absolutely dote on brand who i cant talk about yet either im still dying whats up

#asks #zemnianghosts

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xensilverquill · 5 years

Text

Unfold Me, a MegOP fic

Warning: This is a courtesan!AU, with offscreen/implied dubious consent and all that implies. Everything concerning Orion and Megatronus is consentual, however.

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17558870

Summary:

"You are naught but a vessel. You are naught but a spectacle. You know no anger, no pain, no fear. You will bow, you will bend, and you will break for the pleasure of your patron. All that you were, all that you are, and all that you will be is for the honor of your house. You are a courtesan, and until the Creator calls you back, that is all you must be. You are are naught but a vessel..."

With his strange and irreverent patron, however, premiere courtesan Orion dares to hope for something different.

Another night, another spectacle.

As the sun set over the city skyline, the sister moons rose to take its place. The residents of the Magnesium Flare Pleasure House rose with them to greet a new work night. For as the nightlife buzzed to life in Praxus, so too did the vices of every mech from the most esteemed noble to the lowest energon miner.

Beep-beep-beep-beep-bee- Thnk!

Orion slammed a servo on the snooze button of his alarm. The last rays of the day through the window stabbed him in the optics as they flickered on. Groaning softly, he rolled over in the berth to shield his face in the crook of his arm. He prayed to whatever higher power might be listening for a little more recharge. Just a few kliks more before he had to get up and face the night's overcharged and entitled rabble. Surely he was allowed that much.

His alarm chimed to the contrary a minute later, however, and with a sigh he pushed aside the soft mesh sheets. Struts creaked and cable-kinks tugged as he stretched his arms behind him. He frowned as he felt more than a few abused components slip back into place with a pop , a memento from last night's client. Tarnish military elites certainly paid well, but at what cost to his internals?

Well, nothing a few sensornet-dulling pills with his evening cube could not alleviate. He consumed both in short order, discarding the cube in the waste receptacle in the wall. Then it was off to the washrack. Not that he was particularly dirty, far from it. The house matron would have stripped him down to his protoform and mounted him on the walls of the common if he had gone to recharge without cleaning up after a session with a client. Proper hygiene and maintenance was key -- rule number one for any courtesan that did not want to end up a poor house-less streetwalker.

Of course, it was not enough to be merely clean. Every noble and senator that swaggered into the Flare expected its residents to be as shiny and pristine as the day they were forged. Their establishment catered only to the best and brightest of Cybertronian society, after all, and its courtesans had to polish and paint themselves accordingly.

Closing the door behind him, he turned the solvent stream on its hottest setting. A soft moan, in relief this time, escaped him as it worked its way beneath his plating to soothe his aching protoform. He indulged himself and simply stood under the shower for several moments.

He tilted his helm back, the silver and glyph-inscribed collar around his neck ringing slightly with the motion. Only to hiss lightly between clenched dentae as the solvent poured over the bite marks on his neck cabling. Another souvenir from the Tarnish mech. It was a wonder the brute had not punctured an energon line.

"Nope," he grumbled to himself, stepping out of the washrack again. "Never again. Don't care how much they tip afterward..." As if he had any real choice in the matter, in this place.

Quickly toweling himself dry, he took the buffing brushes and bottle of carnauba wax out of the cabinet. He worked the wax into his frame until his plating had a mirror shine, starting at the tips of his pedes and working his way up. Small circles, shallow strokes, just the way that one mech -- Breakdown, was that his name? -- had taught him in his earliest days as a courtesan. A final flourish on his crest, and his polishing was finished.

If only that were all his nightly ritual entailed he mused as he took at seat at the vanity. Air brushes and paint canisters and stencils lay scattered across the tabletop, every one a tool of his peculiar trade. His optics glanced between the paint before settling on gold. Hooking the air brush up to the canister, he first began applying it to his faceplate. Geometric tear-tracks down his cheeks, a dusting beneath his optics, intricate glyph-work on his temple with the help of his stencils. He performed a similar treatment on the plating on his forearms, shoulders, and chest until he was as decorated and gaudy as any noble or senator could please.

Now for his silk-meshes. Orion pulled the gauzy fabric out of the trunk at the foot of the berth, a brass color to compliment the designs he had just painted on himself. Small magnets locked them into place on his frame. First a headpiece that flowed like so much high-grade over his shoulders. Then twin strips connecting from his wrist to upper arm. And finally long, flowing pieces that sat at his hips and draped over his aft and interface panel.

As little as it left to the imagination, it was the most pointless ensemble in the entire history of apparel. A few stretches and an experimental twirl or two, just to make sure none of the cloth had gotten caught. Countless nights of the same routine ensured that there was not so much as a single flaw in his paint or a wrinkle in his silks.

And as his frame was now prepared, so too did his manner and speech need to be attended. He shuttered his optics and clasped his servos together. Opening his vents, he counted one, two, three cycles. Twisting lightly and smoothly on his pedes, he gazed into the vanity mirror, expression serene and empty of unsightly cares and his field blank.

"You are naught but a vessel," he began, the old mantra all but branded into his processor. "You are naught but a spectacle. You know no anger, no pain, no fear. You will bow, you will bend, and you will break for the pleasure of your patron. All that you were, all that you are, and all that you will be is for the honor of your house. You are a courtesan, and until the Creator calls you back, that is all you must be."

It seemed to him that the collar grew colder and heavier with each word. It pressed down upon his neck and shoulders, as much a burden as a yoke on a charger bull. Helm tipping forward, he brushed his digits against the cool and engraved surface. "You are naught but a vessel..."

And there he was, no longer Orion Pax but Optimus: premier courtesan of the Magnesium Flare, Praxus' most esteemed pleasure-house.

Still, something was missing. He gave himself another once-over, but as before he found everything to be in place. After a pause he thought perhaps the issue was that everything was too in place. There was nothing on his person to catch the attention of his client and subsequently their credits. He would need to remedy that before the night began.

He paced over to the display table nearest the door. Beneath a protective casing of transparisteel lay a modest collection of jewelry, all gifts from clients and admirers and other mechs who made the mistake of giving their affections to a courtesan.

Immediately in front of him were ropes of organic pearls imported from the ocean planets of the Kepler system. Further over were bangles of nephrite and quartz and citrine. Here kyanite baubles that could be mag-locked to his finials, there a Vosnian circlet painstakingly forged from iridescent bismuth and set with diamonds. Each boasted of the wealth of its giver, and each was just as garish and ugly.

Well, save one. Nestled in the center was a sapphire pendant housed in sterling silver. The gem was rough-cut and full of off-color inclusions. The color itself was nothing to marvel either, only a cloudy cerulean compared to the deep cobalt of superior grades. The piece paled in comparison to the others within the case. Only an especially dim-witted or tasteless fool would choose it in favor of the rest of the collection.

What a fool he was then he thought wryly as he opened the casing and picked the pendant up. He turned it over idly in his servo. Thin glyphs were etched into the back, and they were slightly worn with how often he had rubbed his thumb lightly over them. A small smile curled on Orion's faceplate as he read the simple inscription: 'To the keeper of my spark.'

"Pax!" a booming voice on the other side of the door had him starting slightly. "The group you're entertaining tonight just arrived, and you're on in precisely ten kliks! Tell me you didn't manage to break your alarm again ..."

"Will he ever let that go? You come out of recharge a few minutes late and accidentally murder a chronometer once and suddenly you're a tardy reprobate for the rest of your life," he muttered to himself before raising his face. "Just a moment, I'm nearly ready!"

He quickly fastened the clasp of the necklace around his neck. The pendant itself fell the width of a few digits below his collar, and its silver casing winked in the light. There, now the look was complete. He pressed his servo to the touchpad, the door sliding smoothly aside and revealing the none-too-patient countenance of his bodyguard and enforcer.

"Nine-and-a-half klicks now," Ultra Magnus groused, arms crossed and pede tapping. "I don't think I need to remind you how senators, not to mention myself, hate to be kept waiting. What were you even doing in there?"

"What does any courtesan do to prepare for another night?" Orion chimed pleasantly, though he had the good grace to glance up apologetically at the tall mech. "The paint and silks certainly don't put themselves on. They're expecting to be dazzled this evening, and the matron will have both our helms if I don't look the part."

The other only harrumphed a reply, though he did not seem to disagree as he fell into step behind his charge. It was a quiet walk to the lift, and only their pedesteps and the rustling of Orion’s silks broke the silence.

"You told me your client hadn't injured you last night," his bodyguard noted as they descended from his apartments on the top floor, voice still stormy but lacking its earlier edge. "What do you call that mark on your neck then, if not an injury?"

"A necessary sacrifice for the sake of both our jobs," Orion sighed, tugging the silk-mesh more securely over his neck. "You're already on sheet metal with management for the incident with that noble from Altihex. Short of drawing energon or ripping out internals, they won't be looking kindly on you for coming to my defense anytime soon."

"That's quite literally my occupation. What else am I here for?"

"Moral support?" he offered, placing a servo on the fist curled at Magnus' side. "They'll only send you away if you make a scene again. Forgive me if it sounds a bit selfish, but I'm not keen on losing the one real friend I've got in this place."

"I'm hardly a friend to you if you won't even let me--"

Whatever rebuttal the other might have had was interrupted as the elevator dinged when they reached the ground floor. The courtesan ex-vented gratefully. The last thing he needed before a performance was a row with Magnus.

"Put on your best slightly less grumpy face now. We'll talk about this later, all right?"

"I'll be counting on that. Don't think you've charmed your way out of this one, Pax."

"Oh, so you find me charming, do you?" Orion demurred as they stepped out into the bright lobby.

The Flare was not idly named; every square metron of the interior dazzled in a blinding array. Honey onyx tiles covered the floor of every room. Hardlight pillars glowed like white dwarf stars and turned the tiles a rich and warm amber. Great clusters of clear quartz were laid out a centerpieces on each table.

Here and there stood his fellow courtesans, each as glittering and be-silked as himself. Some simply hung off the arms of their richly-adorned clients as they spoke with their companions. A few chittered and cooed at whatever their client was talking about as they were escorted out for an evening on the town. Others still were spiriting their partners towards the lift and the suites in the floors above, no doubt to demonstrate to the highborn mech every intimate talent a courtesan possessed.

Orion caught his share of optics from their guests as he stepped across the open lobby. He kept his expression blank, gaze trained forward and slightly lowered. Servos clasped in front of him, his shoulders pulled back and his helm raised. Anything a potential client might have wanted to know about him was communicated in the way he carried himself: a well-trained pet, but not a broken or dull one. (Any so bold as to breach protocol likely thought twice with Magnus following a few steps behind him.)

Their destination lay through an archway into one of pleasure-house's larger exhibition halls. Built in the style of an amphitheatre, plush cushions were placed here and there for guests to lounge upon. The group of a dozen or so senators he was sleighted to entertain tonight had already settled, the buzz of their conversation audible from the entryway. To one side a small orchestra was warming up as the steelwinds hummed and the drummers tapped lightly on their instruments. All the lights were centered on a large, semicircular dais on the back wall. It was toward that platform that Orion descended, leaving Magnus behind to stand sentry at the door.

A hush fell over the room as, one by one, each mech noticed him in turn. He moved just slowly enough to make sure that all their optics were centered upon him before he ascended up the dais. A brief pause and he turned smoothly to face them, the light catching on every part of his frame. Sliding a pede out, he fell into a kneel in one fluid motion and bowed his helm to his audience.

"A good evening to you all, my lords," he greeted them as he stood once more. "I gladly welcome each of you into my humble house." He spread his arms as he spoke, palms upturned and his smile warm. "Heed me now: lose yourself in the pleasures of the night, and know what it means to taste paradise."

In the few nanokliks of silence that followed, he briefly glimpsed a familiar flared crest and set of wings: Senator Shockwave. He had clearly gotten a new paint job, now teal-and-bright-green where there had once been red-and-blue. There was no mistaking that smile, however, or those optics, their genuinity bright and rare in his profession. As welcome a face as he was, it was not often he frequented the Flare or establishments of his kind. How odd. The last time Orion had seen him, he had been with--

But then the music began, and he had no more time to think on the matter.

An Iaconian waltz floated into the upper reaches of the hall from the orchestra pit. Arms still outstretched, Orion's reached upward, as if he thought to catch the lilting tune as it flew away. His optics shuttered closed as the hall and everything fell away. He opened himself, a conduit to the melody. He let himself be moved as it willed, its avatar and puppet.

In slow and leisurely movements he circled round and round the dais. His silks flowed in his wake, and under the stage lights the dark fabric sparkled as brilliantly as the cosmos. Spinning to and fro, every smooth sweep and arc of his limbs served to further ensnare the gathered mechs. It was a dance meant to enchant, to beguile and to soothe. His was a lullaby in motion, and just as waltz wound to a close, he struck.

A loud bang of the drum broke the tranquility of the moment into a thousand pieces, and the sudden snap of his helm upward scattered them all to the wind. Flames burned in his cyan optics as the tempo picked up. His spark pulsed to the same wild tattoo as the music. Not hesitating a moment longer, he threw himself into fray.

The Torchbearers of Camien were renowned through the galaxy for their fire dance, and it was in their pedesteps that he moved now. His frame moved as a fighter's would, every motion swift and deliberate. Twisting here to dodge the blow of some invisible enemy, leaping there over an obstacle only he could perceive. Even his silks snapped like flames themselves and whipped through the air.

Every twist of his frame was a challenge to take and claim him if they dared, and it stirred the hunger and intrigue of more than a few. What a pity that they would not be sated tonight.

With a final resounding beat, the song ended and he was brought to his knees. A servo was clasped to his chest as if to keep his spark from spinning out of its chamber while the other splayed on the floor to balance himself. Static roared so loudly in his audials that he could not even hear the sound of his cycling vents. Only the memory of the drumbeat still rattled in his helm, slow and steady.

So sluggish were his senses that it was several moments before he realized it was not a drum at all. When he looked out on to the audience again, Orion found their optics not on him but on the two new arrivals at the doorway.

The first he spotted was as dark as the night over the Sea of Rust and forged like a prisma-panther. With that flat and expressionless mask obscuring his faceplate, the enigmatic mech could be none other than Soundwave. Where he stalked, his master was never far. It took every ounce of restraint Orion had to keep from smiling at his gaze traveled to the scarred, broad-shouldered warrior beside him, slowly clapping his servos and smirking as if he were privy to some great joke.

"A wonderful performance, Optimus," Megatronus greeted, his orator's voice easily reaching every audial in the room. His cloven pedes unceremoniously broke the silence as he moved down the steps, and it was with equally little ceremony that the gunmetal-grey gladiator joined the courtesan on the stage. "You dance as masterfully as ever."

"You honor me, my patron," Orion replied as he slipped into kneeling position, optics cast down at the other's pedes.

Megatronus said nothing to him at first. He only reached down, first to trace his digits over the pendant at Orion's throat and then to tip the smaller mech's helm so that their gaze might meet. Orion saw a fondness and softness in those optics that the other could not speak of, certainly not in a room of mechs who were his enemies in all but name alone. He took the servo that was offered him and rose, careful to keep the demure and humble mask of a courtesan on his own face. He took comfort as one great arm placed itself firmly against the small of his back though he knew it was as much for posturing before the senators as it was to comfort him.

"Sir," came Magnus' stern and warning tone, stepping just short of the dais, "I would kindly ask you to observe protocol and wait until the courtesan has finished his performance to approach him."

"Your forget yourself, enforcer. I would ask you remember protocol as well," Megatronus countered without skipping a beat, much to the chagrin of Orion's bodyguard. "As his patron, I hold his bond and my rights to him supercede those of everyone present." That smirk never left his faceplate as he met the gazes of each audience member in turn and pressed Orion into his side. "So with all due respect, my dear senators, I'll be claiming this beauty for myself this evening. Good night."

If he had not earned their ire by interrupting the performance, he certainly had it now. Oh but if looks could offline a mech. Every senator glared daggers at the lowly gladiator as he sauntered out of the hall with their stolen prize on his arm.

Bad enough that Megatronus had become a painful thorn in their side when it came to loyalties of the masses. Now he dared to walk among them as their equal, to taste in the pleasures meant exclusively for them? It was not even the first time he had committed such a blasphemy, either. Were he not so loved by the lower castes, the gladiator would have found himself in a pool of his own energon in a gutter, or at the very least rotting in a cell on Luna 2.

"It's as he says, my friends," Shockwave spoke up, rising from his seat with shrugging shoulders. "Our dear courtesan eludes us yet another night. But take spark!" He flashed one of those smiles that would make even the most incensed mech forget his anger, however briefly. "The night is still young, and I'll see each of you paired with a beauty of your own within the cycle. All expenses paid to my personal account, of course."

Orion felt his frame relax as they slipped out of the room, the wrath of senators diverted for now. He would have to send Shockwave a thank-you note in the morning for getting his patron out of harm's way once more. They owed so much to him already. It was only because of the sweet mech's anonymous sponsorship that Megatronus could afford to pay the fees that came with being a premier courtesan's patron. To hear the latest political gossip, Shockwave also fought a daily battle to keep the gladiator from being taken in by the authorities as a dangerous radical and upstart.

Soundwave and Magnus trailed close behind them. The former moved as quietly and inconspicuously as ever, and Orion felt a pain of sympathy for the processor-ache they were no doubt giving the latter. The list of inconveniences and grievances his poor bodyguard only grew as the evening progressed. He resolved to make it up to him later; Magnus was overdue for a proper vacation anyway.

"Soundwave, keep an optic on things for me," Megatronus ordered as he and Orion stepped into the lift. Not once did he loosen his hold on the small mech. "I'm sure Magnus will be fine company for you in the meantime."

His dark companion said nothing, of course, only briefly dipping his helm before parting ways with his fellow gladiator. With a nod and a small smile from Orion, Magnus followed suit with a slow and barely restrained exhale through his vents.

A small eternity passed in the time it took to reach the top floor and return to Orion's apartments. A part of him would have been happy to let Megatronus have his merry way with him right there in the lift. His test of patience was rewarded in shorter as he keyed in the passcode and they disappeared into the dark of his room.

Strong servos took hold of his hip plating and pinned him against the door not a moment after it slid shut behind them. Orion's helm turned up, lips parted as his patron took him in a hungry kiss. He moaned against the other and looped his arms around Megatronus' neck. That earned him a hard rev from those powerful engines, and he was breathless when they parted again.

"You couldn't have waited for a few more clicks for me to finish?" he scolded without any real heat in his voice. "You make enough enemies out there in the arena without making more in a pleasure-house of all places. I know your entire political stance is 'stick it to higher castes.' but you might save yourself some trouble now and then with a few good manners."

"Perhaps," the other remarked without so much as an ounce of remorse. "But the fact of the matter is I simply don't care. They can take their customs and niceties and frag themselves thoroughly with them." He bent to rumble cheekily in Orion's audial. "Just as I intend to with you presently."

Megatronus was certainly nothing if not a mech of his word. Another few kliks they stood there, panting and tangling glossas until they were both breathless. Orion found himself smiling and sighing like a lovestruck virgin in one of those tawdry half-credit romance novels sold at the newstand on the corner.

Servos falling to take hold of his patron's own, he tugged and guided them both towards the large berth. He let go only to throw off his silks (they were a pain to clean and repair and he had completely lost more than a few sets to Megatronus' enthusiasm). Deftly he moved to kneel on the berth, his back to the wall. His servos gestured the invitation mirrored in his optics, and it pleased the small part of him that still found the act of interface enjoyable to see Megatron accept it.

The cushy pad beneath him dipped with the considerable weight of the gladiator. Orion yelped as it had him sliding face-first into those broad chestplates. Megatronus laughed softly and simply stared down at him for a moment.

"Do you remember when we first met?"

The odd question gave him pause for a moment before he answered. "How could I forget? We both made consummate fools of ourselves that night, if I recall."

"Hmph, trust you to remember all my shortcomings." A firm tap on his helm had Orion falling on his back with a loud clanging of plating. Both his collar and necklace were set askew, and he had time to adjust neither as Megatronus descended on him again.

"Hey, I said 'both,' didn't I? What are you-- Ah! Ah, please..."

It was not often they entertained gladiators at the Flare. Few could afford even a few kliks of a courtesan's time, much less buy them out for the night. Only the most prestigious fighters ever had a high enough pay grade for their services. Even then, a mech like the pleasure-house's premier courtesan should have been well beyond their reach.

Imagine Orion's surprise, then, to see 'Entertain a party of gladiators from Kaon in the Spires' on his itinerary for the night. At first he thought it to be some joke, but the terse response from his matron confirmed that he would indeed be keeping company with the brawlers tonight.

Unease churned in his tanks. It was not their caste so much as their manners that gave him cause to worry; he had seen firsthand what warriors like them could do when they became careless with their evening frag. Magnus -- his newly assigned bodyguard -- would make sure no permanent damage was inflicted on him. Even so, anxiety kept his field tight to his frame as he sat among them in the Spire penthouse that had been set aside for the occasion.

"How's a pretty mech like you not landed himself as the consort of a senator yet?" one boisterous mech boomed, his vents stinking of flavored high-grade.

"I suppose I've just never been the bonding type," Orion flirted back, winking an optic at the paint-scraped gladiator. "Besides, mechs like them are too busy making matches with nobles for their careers to give someone like me a second glance.

"More like they know you've been handed around to every other one of their friends," another drunken mech chimed in before a mohawked mech slapped him the back of the helm. "Ow!"

"Stop insultin' the entertainment," he growled. He -- Impactor, if Orion recalled correctly -- turned to the courtesan apologetically and offered his arm. "Sorry about that, sweetspark. How's about I introduce you to some politer company?"

Orion took the out gratefully and placed his servo on the mech's forearm as he was guided in the direction of the balcony.

"Truth is I've got a favor to ask you," Impactor continued once they were out of audialshot. "A friend of mine's been in slump lately, fragging-wise, and it isn't doing him any favors in the games. Think you could give him some of your time tonight, and be discreet about it? Compensated, of course."

"If you wish, certainly," he replied easily enough. It was not the first time he had been given as a gift, though it would certainly be the first gladiator to whom he had ever been presented. He only hoped they had a modicum more manners than the company they kept. "Where is the friend in question, might I ask?"

"Out there." Impactor gestured to a lone mech leaning on the railing of the balcony, looking quietly out over the city. He spared the courtesan a rakish grin before heading back. "Thanks. Don't keep him out too late, y'hear?"

Orion paused at the doorway for a klik or two, simply staring at his would-be client. He was a large mech even for a gladiator, and he had a frame-type more similar to a miner's than anything else. As grey and silent as he was, he had more of a bearing to a corpse than any mech might find attractive. He suspected that might be why he was in his current 'slump,' at least until he walked up and had a glimpse of his faceplate. Well-built as any noble, optics a true energon blue.

Well, the courtesan had certainly attended to far less handsome clients.

"A bit of a cold night to be out here alone, don't you think?" he spoke up, coming to lean with his back against the balcony.

"I--" The gladiator started, surprise coloring his field before he composed himself. "No, I prefer it this way, actually."

"Oh? Not much of a party mech, are you?"

"Not really, no." A dark flush stole over the gladiator's face as he stared at the Orion a few nanokliks more than strictly necessary. He turned to glance out on the skyline with renewed interest.

"Fair enough," Orion chuckled. "Perhaps we could be alone together then? If just for a while." He laid a servo over the other's, sending the other's optics snapping up to meet his again. "I'm Optimus, by the way. What's yours?"

"... Megatronus. And yes, I-- I would like that. I would like that very much, Optimus."

"I'll never forget the look on your faceplate when you found out I was a paid-for courtesan," Orion laughed even as his patron's digits stroked over his plating. "I don't think even those senators tonight were as offended as you were then."

"Believe it or not, finding out the most beautiful mech you've ever seen is only flirting with you because his friend paid him to is not particularly flattering." He nipped at Orion's audial fins in petty vengeance, and his lover squirmed beneath him.The courtesan stayed him by bring his servos up to frame the larger mech's face. He tilting his own helm back to expose his neck and pulled Megatronus down to him.

"It's not as if I didn't spend the rest of the evening making it up to you," Orion reasoned, "or every night we've shared since."

His patron did not bother denying it, only pressed kisses to the throat offered to him. His glossa stroked now and then over the cabling. Each plied a soft sigh from Orion. He fancied he might drift away on that sensation -- at least until the gladiator unknowingly nudged at the wound on his neck, making Orion wince and Megatronus pause. There was no hiding the mark, either, one servo firmly holding the other's helm to the side as he inspected the damage dealt to his courtesan.

"Who left you with this, then?" the gladiator rumbled quietly. Orion's spark pulsed fearfully in his chest at the sudden steel in his voice. Even though he knew that fury was not directed at him, his patron's temper was a terrifying thing. "Don't bother with supplications, it won't save him. Give me the designation, love, or I can simply have Soundwave find out for me. Either way, I'll have his helm on a pike."

Tense silence spread between them and all the levity of the past few clicks disappeared. Knowing there was nothing for it, Orion before his optics fell and he slumped against the berth in defeat. His helm turned so that he did not have to meet that searching, burning gaze.

"... Shank of Tarn, Commander of the Third Imperial Legion. That's his designation."

He did not realize his digits were trembling before Megatronus gently took hold of them. Nuzzling Orion's servo, he pressed a kiss to his palm before doing the same to his other servo.

"Orion," he spoke. "Look at me." The courtesan did as he was bid, and he found the fire had gone out of the other's gaze. "My anger isn't with you. No, never with you..." Megatronus pressed their temples together and ex-vented softly. "You are mine. I'll protect what is mine, and I don't give anyone leave to put a mark upon what is mine." He began to press kisses against Orion's frame again, coaxing his ardor to return. "Tell me, Orion. Tell me that you're mine."

"Yours," Orion breathed. Every kiss and nips on his plating sent a shudder through his sensornet. "Yours, only yours. As I've always been..."

"And why not, Orion? Tell me exactly why I'm not allowed to have any affection for you!"

"It's 'Optimus,' to you and every other bot who's ever paid to put their spike in me. And it's because a courtesan and client is all we can ever be. It's hardly my fault you were naive enough to give your spark to a whore!"

He tred angrily over the silks and trinkets strung across the suite floor to the window, not caring what he might accidentally crush underpede. Orion hid his faceplate in his servo and was determined not to show the coolant leaking from his optics. Only moments ago they had been fragging in his berth, chasing overload after processor-shattering overload with one another. He could have remained in that bliss forever.

Then the slag-headed idiot had just had to tell him he loved him.

"Do you honestly think I give a damn about your occupation anymore?" Megatronus sneered from where he stood on the other side of the berth. "If I did, if that were all I saw in you, I certainly wouldn't have come back to you night after night. You're simply too stubborn and jaded to see yourself as someone worthy of being loved!"

Orion whirled around with a snarl, his tears marring the paint on his faceplate. "Shut up! You don't know anything about my life or what's been done to me! What they've warped me into!"

"Then tell me I'm wrong." The gladiator marched up to him, but Orion would not be cowed. He returned the glare and refused to look away. Not even when the mech took a hard hold of his shoulders and shook him. "Tell me that you're happy in this role they've forced you into all your life. Tell me you're content only to give pleasure and never to keep a shred for yourself." Something in his expression softened even as he kept an iron-grip on Orion.

"Look me in the optics and tell me my feelings are not reciprocated, and I'll leave and never darken your doorstep again."

"You-- You--" Now was his chance to break the gladiator's spark, to send him away for good and save them both from his doomed infatuation. Yet try as he might, the words remained choked in his voxcoder and refused to leave his mouth. All the righteous anger and every self-sacrificing notion left him then, and he could only bury his face against the gladiator's chassis. His servo curled into a fist and pounded half-sparkedly at the mech's chest.

"You slag-headed, overcharged, stubborn, wonderful idiot..."

Those arms, hesitating at first, came round to envelop him. Megatronus rested his chin lightly on top of his helm. Orion thought he felt the other's engines stuttering, too, but he did not have the energy or courage to see for himself. He could weep uselessly as servos stroked up and down his spinal strut. Silence spread between them for several long kliks.

"What did you used to dream of?" the taller mech asked quietly. "What did you aspire to be before they forced the collar of a courtesan on you?"

He considered simply leaving the question hanging in the air but could not. "... An archivist. I wanted to be an archivist in the Iacon Hall of Records."

"Then I swear on the Prime I took my designation from: I'll fight to help you realize that dream, Orion Pax. I'll fight to build a world that doesn't make you afraid to love me back."

His servos clenched in the sheets as his patron mercilessly worked his valve. When he looked between his thighs, lubricant drenched them and the mesh-sheet underneath. Large servos kneaded at his aft as they supported the lower half of his frame off the berth. Thumbs worked his anterior node with the mastery of a harpist, and Megatronus' mouth, oh blessed light of the Well, his mouth!

"Please, sweetspark, please!" he whimpered, begging for a release that would only come when the other deigned to give it to him and not a moment sooner.

Orion knew him to have a silver-glossa from the audio recordings of his speeches he heard on the extranet, and Megatronus knew how to work his frame just like he knew how to work a crowd in and out of the Pits. That glossa slid with such skillful ease between his calipers. It lapped at every bit of mesh within him it could reach and left him mourning every time it retreated. Now and then the gladiator would lock optics with him and rev his engines hard as he tasted deeply of him, and Orion swore he would overload from that alone.

Arching his frame forward was painful, yet he could do nothing else but hold desperately onto the other's shoulders to ground himself. In between his gasping and moaning he rained kisses on Megatronus' helm. He nuzzled against him so frantically that the gold paint on his face was left in streaks on his grey plating.

"I can't-- I can't wait any longer-- I need--"

"Then let go for me, love," was all the gladiator said in reply as he buried his faceplate completely into Orion's array.

Orion's frame snapped straight as an arrow and bucked his hips wildly. He screamed his release so loudly that his voxcoder cut out with a screech. His digits dug into those wide pauldrons as he rode out his overload on his patron's faceplate. And still Megatronus gave him no quarter, licking him thoroughly as he came down slowly, agonizingly, from his high.

Left to collapse on the berth, his optics and voxcoder struggled to reboot themselves. No one before Megatronus had ever seen to his own pleasure so thoroughly and so sweetly. Neither would there be another like him, not if he fragged every mech and femme on Cybertron and the colony worlds beyond. And deep down, he knew his spark would accept no other.

As if to chase the even possibility of it from his processor, the other flipped him over so fast that his calibration mods could not keep up and left his processor swimming. He was pulled none too delicately to his servos and knees. Orion shivered, both as his valve was exposed so completely to his patron and as he heard the distinct sound of a spike pressurizing. Burying his face in the sheets, he hiked his aft higher and spread the folds of his valve with a servo, begging without words for the gladiator to fill him.

And how the other obliged him, thrusting in and impaling his frame in one smooth stroke, leaving them both breathless and gasping.

"Congratulations then, my lord," the matron declared as she picked up the datapad with the newly signed paperwork. "You are officially the new patron of premiere courtesan Optimus of the Magnesium Flare. I will leave you to your business then." The stocky femme bowed at the waist to Megatronus before exiting the room.

Orion, who had been standing with clasped servos against the opposite wall of the receiving room, looked up with a bright smile the moment she had left. He was the first to move, and his spark practically sang as the mech swept him up into a kiss. Laughing as he pressed their helms together, Orion gazed upon him with stars in his optics.

"I can't believe you pulled it off," he whispered conspiratorialy. "A mere gladiator of Kaon claiming a Praxian courtesan for his own. I can just hear the gossip on the extranet now."

"You are a mech of such little faith," Megatronus teased, nuzzling his cheek and tightening his hold on him. "Not even the blasted senator was so cruel to me when I came to him with the proposition."

"That 'blasted senator' has a name, you know, and it's only thanks to him you haven't been offline gruesomely a dozen different times by now." He poked the other lightly between the optics. "Of course, it doesn't hurt that you have Alpha Trion's talent for persuasion or a courtesan who has all the blackmail you could ever need on all the high-caste mechs on Cybertron."

"Oh yes, how wonderfully blessed I am." He let Orion back down, only to pull a small box from his subspace and press it into his servos. "For you. Open it."

Orion cocked his helm at him but did as he was bid. His optics apertured wide on the contents before he glanced up questioningly at the other. "What is--?"

"I've heard it's customary for a patron to present his courtesan with a gift when they form a contract with one another." The mech circled behind him and pulled the necklace -- a sapphire pendant set in silver -- from the box. He fastened it around Orion's neck, and the pendant settled at the base of his throat as easily as if it had always been a part of him.

"The gift is meant to be a symbol of the patron's admiration, of his ability to provide for the keeper of his pleasure. Or, as is my case, the keeper of my spark." Placing his servos on Orion's shoulders, he nuzzled behind his audial. "I think it suits you quite well, don't you?"

The smaller mech could only smile, reaching behind him to caress the back of his patron's helm as he thumbed the rough facets of the gemstone. "Yes, I quite agree."

They overloaded together, servos linked and sparks spinning. Megatronus' huffed as he remained bent over Orion and barely kept from collapsing on top of the smaller frame. The courtesan had no such strength left in him. He collapsed on his belly, the gladiator's spike slipping out of his valve as he did. He was exhausted, sore, and so, so satisfied.

Orion let himself be handled as Megatronus rolled off him and pulled the courtesan into his arms. He curled into his patron, his lover, curled around him and focused only on the sound of their engines and cooling fans. Heat waves made the air around them ripple, and he wondered distantly how the mesh-sheets did not catch on fire during their interfacing. Digits tracing idle circles into Megatronus' chest, everything felt hazy and distant yet close and right.

Maybe that was love, in the end.

"... Everything is in place," Megatronus remarked quietly but matter-of-factly after a while. "The seeds of dissent been sown among the people. My mechs are ready to move. All that's needed now is a catalyst to begin our revolution."

He wished he could say he was surprised, but that would have meant being willfully blind to the misery and unrest that filled the tabloids and news feeds. It would mean that he had forgotten the whispered promise the gladiator had made to him all those vorns ago. Orion knew this day would eventually come even as a selfish part of him wanted to continue as they were, if only to keep his patron alive and out of harm's way. None of that rational thought could stop the feeling of his spark breaking in two, and he cannot keep the sadness from his field.

"You came to say goodbye, then," he murmured, not ceasing in his caresses.

"No, not goodbye," Megatronus said, shaking his helm. "At least, not forever. Much as I hate to admit it, you'll be far safer here than by my side in the cycles to come. But..." His servo reached for Orion's again. "If you asked me, if you wanted to come away with me tonight, I won't be able to find it in myself to deny you."

Orion laughed quietly, brokenly.

"Then it's just as well I won't tempt you," he replied. "You have my spark, Megatronus, but there's no place for us in the world, no place where a courtesan and gladiator can be together. I know that truth for the harsh reality that it is. Even so..." Shaking as he forced his tears back, he plastered on a smile that did not reach his optics and glanced up. "I also know that I believe in you. I believe that if any mech can change it all, it's you. You'll be the one to take the broken dreams of every mech and femme and put them back together again."

Reaching into his subspace, a small glowing plate of metal materialized in his palm. Intricate lines of energon pulsed through the intricate and arcane twists of the metalwork. If one were to squint, one might have mistaken it for a strange key.

"You gave me a gift once, so now I'll give one to you," he continued, holding it up for Megatronus to better see. "I've had this relic with me since the day I was forged. I could never figure out what it was for or where it came from. My dream to be an archivist? Well, I guess you could say it came from me wanting to find out more about this little thing." Placing it in the other's servo, he closed his digits around it.

"Orion," he rumbled, shaking his helm again. "I can't-- I can't take this."

"I want you to have it," the smaller mech insisted. "If things are really about to go to the Pits like you're implying, than I can't think of any safer place it could be except with you. Someday, if you still want to give it back so badly, then you'll just have to search me out yourself. It'll make sure you come back alive -- and to me."

"Then I'll guard it with my life." Megatronus drew him in close, embracing him tightly. "But gift or no, I will return for you when this war is over. Nothing will separate us then. Not even death will stop me."

"I'll be holding you to that." He closed his optics and drew himself closer to his patron. "But for now... Just hold me for a while. Just hold me before you go." And there they lay, long into the night, until the dawn came to take his patron away for the very last time.

"Keep looking."

"Sir, we've pulled every frame living or dead out of the wreckage. There are no others here-- Hrgh!"

"Did I stutter, soldier?" the scarred warlord growled as he held the unfortunate mech up by the throat. With a grunt he threw him back down, raising his voice so that all might hear him. "You will turn over every speck of rubble in this scrap heap until you find him! Am I understood?!"

No one moved to argue with him again after that. The commander who had disobeyed Megatron's directive and ordered the bombing of the city already lay graying outside the city, his spark carved from his very chest. Praxus lay in smoldering ruins around them. Smoke still rose from a few of the crumbling spires. A deeper crater was all that remained of the Flare.

When the others had ventured out of sight, he knelt at the edge. His faceplate contorted, grief taking root in his spark.

"You said you would be here when I returned. You promised to wait for me! You promised..."

Megatron's servos tightened around the objects in his hands. In one lay the relic Orion has given to him on their last night together. In the other, the necklace he had given him at the beginning of their contract, pulled from the remains of the building, the rough sapphire plucked from its housing...

#megop #megatron #optimus prime #orion pax #transformers #fanfic

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kitesupportgroup · 5 years

Text

Be More Chill OBCR 💛💊

So the bmc obcr has been out for a bit now, (and I love it so very much) so I decided to write down all of my favourite things it- if not for other bmc fans but for myself. Enjoy reading through everything I love!!!

****This is not finished, but I ran over the character limit so I’ll be constantly updating this on reblogs! Look out for the most recent ones!!!****

(Btw It’s not all new additions to the album but just everything)

Jeremy’s Theme:

I mean. I love the be more chill band so much.

With the universal Be More Chill sound?

How could I not love this!!!!

And the amazing theremin?

(That’s what that instrument is called)

(I looked up ‘electric stick instrument’ to figure out what it was)

It’s just terrific

100000000/10

More Than Survive:

Will Roland’s voice (and Will Roland in general)

How unenthusiastic ‘good morning, time to start the day’ is

The addition of the parts part between Jeremy and mr. heere on the recording

‘Dude!’ (Weight the options)

‘Oh god!’

Will Roland’s voice (and Will Roland in general)

When the whole cast comes in on the third ‘c-c-c-come on!’

The new hallway lines (I’ve literally never noticed him before)

The dramatic music when Rich writes on Jeremy’s backpack

‘Oh! It’s a sign up for the after school play!’ *pause* ‘It’s a sign up sheet for getting called gay’

‘End scene’

‘Christiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine’ (new harmonies+notes ahhhhh!!!!!!)

‘No need to wallow, no’

Will Roland’s voice (and Will Roland in general)

MICHAEL!!!!

Just George Salazar

Just Michael Mell

‘You look like ass, what’s wrong?’

‘My mothers would be thrilled!’

‘That’s... good?’

[I was gonna say] ‘Getting atoned in my basement’

THE CHRISTINE HARMONIES YALL HAVE MY HEART

The band is so incredible I can’t

The ooooooooooooooo harmonies when Jeremy is signing up for the play

‘Gayyyyyy!’

‘I like gay people’

THE WHOLE LEAD UP TO MORE THAN SURVIVE ITS SO SOFT AND GENUINE WILL YOU WONDERFUL HUMAN

‘Whyyyy’

‘And teach me how to thrive’

THE INSTRUMENTS COMING IN AT THAT PART THEN THE NANANANANA’S

I LITERALLY LOVE THIS SO MUCH THIS PART GIVES ME CHILLS

Will’s bits AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

‘SUR VIIIIIIIIII-IIIIIIIIIII-IIIIIIIIII-IIIIIIIIII VEEE!’

‘GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GOOOOO GO!’

I Love Play Rehearsal

Stephanie Hsu. Just. She’s a queen. No- a goddess

The way she says ‘because it is fun.’

And the pause between ‘because it is fun’ and ‘...I love play rehearsal’

‘not depressed as in like’ bit

MAD GIGANTIC FEELINGS

‘I also have a touch of ADD

where was I?

Oh, right!’

‘The way it works out in the Pla-aa-y’

‘Centre of attention’

‘That was, really one of my best roles’ THAT VOICE💛

‘Do you find that? *pause that Jeremy clearly cant respond in time* Cause I totally find that!’

‘Why-y-y-y-y’

‘I *punch* LOVE *punch* PLAY REHEARSAL!’

‘Hives’

‘Why’m’

‘There’s also a part of me that wants to do this *adorable weird noises* yasss’

‘So I did it *giggles*’

‘My brain is like bzzz, my heart is like wow’

‘And it’s starrrrrting,

starrrrrting

it’s starrrrrrting,

sooooooooooooooon’

More Than Survive (Reprise)

I’m sorry. A NEW SONG?!

I LOVE IT AND THE TONE AND TUNE AND BAND AND WILL

the fact that ‘at least I didn’t have a breakdown, and have to go to the nurse’ suggest that this has happened to Jeremy before I NEED TO PROTECT HIM

Just the whole set up- it’s what touching my hand aimed to do but shorter and wonderful

The Squip Song:

I realise I’ve added this to everything but Gerard Canonico and his voice I love him

The start instrumental

The way he sings ‘girlfriend’ (idk why i just love)

‘Gross’

‘Futile quest’

‘I would trip!’

‘Then then, Then then, Then then, Then then, Then then, Then then, I got a SQUIP!’

‘You got quick?!!’ Jeremy is so excited aw

‘Not quick. SQUIP’

That entire conversation

Just the entire: It's from Japan

It's a gray, oblong pill

Quantum nano-technology CPU

The quantum computer in the pill will travel through your blood until

It implants in your brain and it tells you what to do’ part

And of course ‘so... it’s like drugs?’

*deep breath*

‘IT’S FROM JAPAAAAAAAAAAN!’

The techno ness on Rich’s voice

The band

THE HARMONIES

‘Almost hopeless’

‘Yeah, your whole life will flip’

‘Squi-I-I-p’

ALL OF THE SQUIIIIIP BITS WOAH rich GO OFF

Two-Player Game:

Can I just say- one of the cutest songs ever

The part where the intro is all slow after Jeremy and Michael are yelling so excitedly I laugh at it every time

The whole intro sequence basically

The band is amazing

Will and George’s voice’s sound so good together 💛

Michael YOU ARE SO DAMN CUTE

‘pac-man tattoo!’

‘Guys like us!’

‘Listen, bro’

Zombie! Watch out! Ah! Aoh! Awww’

Will’s voice ahhhhHH

‘Dude, I know, I get it!’

‘But we’re not in college’

‘All the same’

‘Ahh! Ohh... ZOMBIE! BLOOD! CLAWS! Pause’

YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE NY FAVOURITE PERSON IS SO CUTE

‘I’m your favworite pwerson’

JEREMY’S CUTE LIL ‘yes! *giggle*’

‘Conquer it!’

‘Two... PLAYER GAME!!!’

THE BAND IS SO AMAZING

‘Two player gammmmmme!’

THE LAST FEW HARMONIES I LOVE

The Squip Enters:

Woah it’s so short but I have so much to say

STARTING OFF BY JUST SAYING HOW GREAT THE BAND AND SOUND DESIGN FOR THIS IS I MEAN WOW

Jason Tam’s Squip voice 💛

‘What the hell?!’

Will’s screaming and yelling and noises I love

Christine is so concerned!!!!!!!

‘Mild?!?!’

Jake. That’s all. 💛

‘Oh- wait. I’m fine. I jus-‘

‘Discomfort level may increase’ *yelling intensifies*

‘Welcome to your Super Quantum Unit Intel Processer. Your SQUIP.’

Jeremy is so awestruck and cute

‘You look like Keanu Reeves!’

‘But I can see you may prefer to take instructions from Batman, Beyoncé, a sexy anime cat girl with a tail’ ‘KEANU’S FINE’

‘Can everyone see you?’ ‘I exist only in your mind. All they see is you having an animated conversation with yourself- so don’t do that.’

‘Like in X-Men?’ ‘I can see this is going to be difficult’ OH BURN OH DAMN I LOVE IT WOAHH (really tho this makes me laugh so much every time)

‘You want to be more chill?’

‘Oh, you mean cool!’

‘I do not’

Be More Chill, Pt. 1:

Okay but the Squip enters moves so smoothly into be more chill pt.1 woah

NEW INTRODUCTION ITS AMAZING

The ‘c-c-c-Come on’

THE ENTIRE KEY THAT THE BEW INTRO IS IN THO

THE WAY JASON SINGS ‘outdated’ assffhfkglsherb

‘I’ve arrived now, this is not a drill’

‘Be. More. Chill’

‘wow’ (Jeremy you’re so cute)

‘Oh but I am a masturbator’ ‘we’ll fix that’

‘I thought I was more of a... geek?’

‘Wha- stammer? N- I I I. I don’t stamme-‘

‘Non existent’

‘Buh’ ‘Uh-’ ‘Buh?’ ‘Uh!-‘ ‘No.’ ‘UH!’ ‘Stop.’ ‘DOGH!’

‘Everything about you is so terrible’ ‘Terrible?’ ‘Teribble’ ‘oh’

Jeremy sounds so dejected and sad on that ‘oh’ I need to protect him

‘....makes me wanna die’ *hyperventilating*

‘So DONT freak out’

‘It says Eminem’

‘If you’re so astute, what’d’ya need me for?’

‘I envision a future in which you wear a Eminem shirt and things turn out well’ *foreshadowing*

When the whole cast starts singing ‘everything about you sucks’ you can hear individual voices in it and at one point I swear you can hear George doing some weird voice and I love it

‘Now you try picking a shirt’ ‘That’s a girls shirt’

‘Jerry?’

‘Jerry-me’ or ‘Jerry-my’ (I always think of Jeremy being shocked about Chloe talking to him so he’s just like ‘Jerry? Me!’

‘Oh- Hi, Brooke’

‘You look sexy.’ ‘I cant say that to a hot girl- AOWWW’

‘LOOKING-PRETTY-SEXY-BROOKAHH’

‘No! Yess (????!)’

The entire round part I LOVE IT

‘Just like this HAHA’ SO ADORABLE

‘So who was this mystery girl?’

‘Oh you’ve probably never heard of (SQUIP HELP ME OUT HERE)’

‘Madeline’

‘What.’

‘She’s Fre-e-e-e-e-ench!’

‘She is not French! She just pretends to be for attention’ *radiating disdain*

Brooke is SO CUTE

‘Yeah- I mean- (????!!!!!)’

‘Because she was cheating on me-E-eeee-E-eeee-Eeeeeeh’ (YES I LOVE)

‘Hey. Hamlet. Be. More. Chill’

Leading into do you wanna ride!!!!

Do You Wanna Ride?

Okay but Lauren Marcus is literally amazing

And Brooke is amazing

The way the Squip and Jeremy day ‘Yes!’ At the sane time

‘Mich-ael’

Brooke is trying so hard to be seductive and it’s so damn cute

‘Do you wanna get inside my mothers car?’

‘Ah, hah’

‘We gotta stop for frozen yogurt first!’

When the incredible Katlyn Carson comes in GO CHLOE

Harmonies 💛💛

The band 💛💛

And, of course:

‘PII-IIINNNIN-IN-IN-IN-INK berrrrryyyyy

*giggles* ‘Au revoir’

SHE’S BEING FRENCH TO IMPRESS JEREMY

SHE’S SO CUTE

Be More Chill, Pt. 2

‘Repeat after me’

‘Everything about me is just... terrible’

‘Good.’

THE SQUIP IS SO MANIPULATIVE

‘Everything about you makes me wanna die’

‘Everything about me makes me... wanna die?’

‘Now you’ve got it.’

THE WAY THE BAND COMES IN

‘ABout you’

THE CAST

JASON TAM

‘Cool’ ‘Cool!’ ‘And powerful’ ‘wow!’ ‘And popular’ ‘*giggles* ‘incredible’ ‘woah!’

The accordion thing in the aforementioned section? Amazing

‘You wi-i-i-i-i-i-ill’

‘Be More Chilll! *giggles*’ JEREMY YOU ARE SUCH A PRECIOUS BEAN

*squip, probably face-palming* ‘be more chill’

THE CAST

Sync Up

*ahem* SCREAMING

THIS NEW SONG

IS AMAZING

LITERALLY

CANNOT

I have so much to say

Let’s go

First of all, the original more than survive reprise starts us off. I love it

‘C-c-c-Cmon, c-c-c-cmon go g-AHHH!’

‘I’m inside your brain’

I can’t write all of the lyrics as highlights but just know that all of the lyrics are highlights

‘Let’s sync up!’

‘Those facts are not mutually exclusive’

I LOVE HOW THIS SONG SHOWS EVERYONES FLAWS AND FEARS

‘I’m shook, I’m blah, I’m just-’ ‘there-there’ ‘Brooke!’ ‘I’m sorry’ ‘it’s not fair’ ‘Yeah?’ ‘I know’ ‘oh we so sync up’

That entire bit I just

‘But as soon as she shares it, they ignore her’ ‘that’s sad. What should I do?’ *pause* ‘you should ignore her*

‘Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-A’

‘The only controller you need is your mind!’

‘Looks like Jeremy’s killin’’

The electronic ‘lets sync up’ bits

THE BAND IS SO AMAZING THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND THE EVERYTHING

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the-nysh · 6 years

Text

The Will to Power

A comprehensive theory of the core concepts within opm, and its relevance towards future character development. Here it is: a breakdown of the explanations provided within canon, connected through consistent character examples, and applying that towards how Genos can grow stronger too. Aka: formally presenting the long-awaited GENOS POWER THEORY.

Disclaimer: subject to revisions as more gets revealed within canon. Contains lore combining both manga and webcomic spoilers.

Words: ~5500

The often overlooked, yet most vital component

As of the manga’s chapter 92, we now have two explanations for the pathways of power within the world of opm. From Dr. Genus’ explanation of his genetic research and the mechanism of limiters, to Psykos’ experimental method of monsterfication…both sides have spent ages and countless sacrifices attempting to find the secret to greater power, to ‘break through the limit of growth,’ but one of the most vital components they’ve always failed to account for was the individual’s inherent willpower.

Which is the inner, mental drive that compels one to keep going, the tenacity to stand up again and fight for one’s convictions, despite all other hellish external factors endured. The ability to consistently survive the absolute worst and then miraculously overcome what would otherwise become fatal. Both scientists can experiment to induce change indefinitely by forcing outward pressures upon their specimens all they want. But if the individual never had the drive or mental fortitude to endure the stresses to being with, the will to change for themselves (to truly desire it at their cores), or if they end up losing the will to live by giving up partway during the torturous process, then of course they will always fail, either by succumbing to compromised mediocrity or merciless death on the path towards greater power.

The exemplary outlier

Saitama will always remain the original successful exception. So far, he’s the only example of one who’s achieved limitless power (successfully broken through his limiter) through the merits of his own willpower. He persevered through an uncompromising training regimen, personally tailored to his own skill level (a personal hell scaled to his ‘ordinary’ limits; aka it would not be enough for those with higher potential), all for the sake of a simple, yet dedicated goal that aligned with the core values of who he truly wanted to become. An undefeatable, strongest hero with the ability to win in one punch. Yes, he had the focused (will)power to change and improve himself, to keep pushing himself with the intent and effort to achieve what he wanted without ever giving up, no matter how hard it got, and it was strong enough to break past his average body’s given limitations. That achievement is miraculous, remarkable and praiseworthy.

The important key distinction is that Saitama is NOT a monster. Dr. Genus explained why: monsters are those who have fully forsaken their humanity and succumbed to their base complexes, so they are transformed/mutated/reborn into another being with a whole new limiter. Saitama has retained his original self and his humanity, but at the cost of his baldness and the growing feelings of alienation and boredom apart from all others who don’t sit at the same pinnacle as him. (With the extra meta layer on whether or not it was even worth it to burn that much effort into achieving the pinnacle of his craft when the results became personally unsatisfactory.) Unless others can figure out how to successfully break their given limiters too, Saitama will remain peerless in power and will never find the fulfilling, challenging fight he’s always longed for. (His ongoing dilemma and search for life’s fulfillment will then need to be found elsewhere, such AS…genuine relationships with others.) All of this will remain canon until ONE presents information otherwise to either further or challenge the lore of these established explanations.

‘Limit,’ ‘willpower,’ ‘half-assed,’ ‘compromised,’ ‘goal,’ ‘mindset,’ ‘seriousness,’ ‘spirit,’ ‘determination,’ …they’re all important and consistent, reoccurring keywords to keep in mind through the entirety of the story. Whenever they pop up in panels, declared in chapter titles, or are offhandedly mentioned by Murata or ONE in streams/interviews (look where Murata mentions ‘will’), then aha! Those moments become clues worth paying attention to that link back to the overall core concepts of the series itself.

Given explanations within canon

One of those core concepts (aside from the limiter concept) is that of 気合 (Kiai), chi, aura, willpower, fighting spirit…they’re ALL synonymous names for the same general, encompassing idea: one representing the inner strength/energy that everyone in the opm world naturally possesses, the only difference is in the potential/ability to hone, channel and manifest it over the course of people’s lifetimes. Existing varying levels depending on individual effort, training, or natural gifts. This energy is also closely tied to psychic power, where psychics can learn to directly manipulate this energy against one’s will. HOWEVER those with a strong enough willpower/spirit become ‘unbendable’, or ‘too heavy’ and can resist such psychic effects. ONE explains it all here (webcomic ch102):

Tatsumaki: “Even non-psychics have energy flowing throughout their body. Scholars call it things like ‘chi’ (気) or ‘aura’…I couldn’t bend them (Garou and Golden Sperm) either.”

Fubuki: “Strength of will is directly connected to psychic resistance. The reason (her power) doesn’t work (on him) is thanks to Saitama’s unusually thick spirit.”

This spiritual ‘power’ is therefore something internal, originating in the mind, that’s neither inherently good nor bad, and that everyone has the capability to possess (even non-psychics). But when channeled and/or honed correctly, its resulting force can manage to surpass beyond the body’s own physical limitations. The House of Evolution arc proved that one’s biology or physical status doesn’t matter. One’s level of intelligence or talent doesn’t affect its strength either. What does matter is having the persistence to endure, with the determination/mindset to never give up or falter, towards a serious goal that’s true to oneself. (Moral alignment doesn’t matter either, but only in the case if it conflicts with one’s true self/desires, as we’ll see.) One also cannot be held back by regrets, wavering second thoughts, or lapses in self-confidence. (Examples of this would be both Mumen and Fubuki’s complexes thinking they’re aren’t ‘good enough’ to compete and progress past a certain hero rank, so they are mentally limiting themselves on top of their current capabilities.) In essence, it’s like the liberation to freely set out and achieve what you truly want to do, without letting anything else limit hold you back (which is precisely what Saitama did).

Applied character examples within canon

This webcomic content (ch102-104) explaining the mechanics behind ‘strength of will’ came out from Sept-Nov 2015, the same relative timeframe the manga introduced the similar concept of ‘fighting spirit’ in the Metal Bat vs Garou fight:

(THESE definitive manga pages came out in Dec 2015, just slightly later than the webcomic’s). This publication overlap was not just coincidental; ONE was likely covering his bases through both mediums, by adding foreshadowing to the manga based on what he’d developed at the same time in the webcomic. (Which is also why reading BOTH at the same time is fun to catch writing parallels like this. :D) Establishing concepts that would only become relevant in the manga again much later. And this fight, which does not even exist within the original webcomic, is important for introducing this physical application of mental strength: every time Metal Bat tanks damage, even severe enough to take him out, he gets stronger. Why? It’s him channeling his willpower to keep going, aka ‘fighting spirit.’ Visualized though the literal aura effect steaming off his body...and bat, as an extension of himself. (This will become important. Also keep a lookout for whenever Murata repeatedly uses this same visual effect on other characters too.)

Some may say this ‘fighting spirit’ is an ability only unique to Metal Bat, but that’s not true. Because ch102 of the webcomic had already immediately established that everyone possesses this energy within them. So it is a universal trait that has the capability to be honed, channeled, and potentially even manifested as psychic power. (The latter would be fascinating if true!) And we SEE a combined application of this mental power come back in full swing in the manga’s ch92: where Garou now demonstrates his growing psychic resistance and ‘fighting spirit’ (気合):

To make this recollection even more blatant, Murata even went back to edit in a panel of Metal Bat where Garou remembers this:

To clarify, this is not Garou somehow simply ‘copying’ or ‘absorbing’ Metal Bat’s ‘ability.’ Even Psykos is surprised at what’s happening here and doesn’t understand it either (despite all her research, she’s failed to account for this key component). Just how is Garou able to move and resist her psychic bindings? Yup, it’s precisely that same mental ‘power’ as introduced in the webcomic’s ch102: his own strength of will, aka ‘fighting spirit.’ Even Garou did not fully understand it when he faced Metal Bat, but now, after enduring so much sustained lethal damage himself, adapting and coming back stronger each time, he recognizes it as the same thing happening to himself.

But it was no easy feat for Garou to even survive everything’s he’s been through up to this point! He’s fought and endured it all: fevered, outnumbered, poisoned, gunned down, beaten, sliced up, impaled, incinerated...all in rapid succession with little to no pause for rest. (Fun fact: note the keywords used in the ch titles during all those events.) He could have died any number of times (very dangerous, even called out as recklessly ‘suicidal’ at points), but according to Psykos’ observations, overcoming all of that is the contributing factor towards his rapid growth in physical strength. But forcing external stressors on him isn’t everything; the reason why he’s survived it all isn’t just plot armor, but rather because of his tenacious willpower to never give up. He’s never succumbed because his adaptive level of ‘fighting spirit’ has honed enough to resist both psychic powers and endure sustained physical torment. Truly, his stubborn resilience towards everything thrown at him has become so extraordinary that even Garou wonders (on several occasions) how his body has been able to keep up and endure it all too. This is the concept of ‘strength of will’ at work here, enabling him to persist past his body’s expected capabilities. When continuously put to the test under harsh conditions, it steadily adapts and grows stronger. If he keeps it up, he has the potential to eventually break through his limits, just like Saitama did.

However, Garou won’t be able to achieve it the same way as Saitama, because while that method was plenty to push past Saitama’s ‘average’ capabilities, the same muscle training (especially for someone already thoroughly trained in martial arts) won’t be anywhere near enough to breach the ceiling of Garou’s prodigious potential. While the story has set many similar parallels between them and their growth, they have different set limits. For Garou to even succeed the same, his tailored ‘personal hell’ to overcome must be scaled comparatively harsh and ravaging, as we have seen...

Its internal, driving source

Then, the only missing factor is just...where is the source of Garou’s tenacity, his willpower, his drive that compels him to keep standing up, coming from? Both the manga AND webcomic (double bonus: same ch92!) ask the same thing:

Psykos: “This determination of yours, where does it come from?”

Genos: “Where does he get this blood-curdling tenacity from...?”

WHERE indeed. And it does matter. Because while the origin for a strong willpower exists in everyone, for its strength to persist and adapt further, it must be sustained or based on something in the first place... Fueled by some unwavering conviction, ideal, belief, mission, feeling, desire, or goal that’s important enough to commit one’s life towards, up to the extent one would rather risk certain death than fail to achieve. Ranging from what drives us to get out of bed every day, all the way towards a potential willpower (essentially, a life force) so tenacious enough, it can best the pull of death. Otherwise without that motivation behind one’s actions, there’s nothing to channel into the eventual superpower that can miraculously move mountains. No prospect to succeed at breaking past one’s limits to achieve the otherwise thought impossible. However, it’s something that can’t be simply granted/received from the outside or others (exception: the powers granted to Homeless Emperor from ‘God’); the influence or spark of inspiration can, but the answer for the willpower itself, the driving force to act upon, must birth from somewhere genuine deep within.

SURELY, for Garou to have endured all that he has, by overcoming so many tortuous near-death experiences so far, there exists some origin for his ‘fighting spirit.’ And yes, we’ve seen the basis for his convictions formed since his childhood, with him assuming a role he believes is most appropriate, and then adhering to a misguided method he thinks will influence the change he wants to see in the world...but he (manga Garou especially) is still in the process of defining precisely who he is and what he fights for. The more he experiences, ‘it’ gradually gains in strength while steadily rising in clarity.

He’s always had genuine, strong feelings that motivate him (absolutely no doubt!), but there’s always been a lingering contradiction between what he says he wants to do and how he applies that into actual action. Like a mental set-back (hmm, another so-called limiter?) from all his stubborn denial that’s preventing him from realizing who he actually is, and therefore not fully understanding where his deeper feelings lie... Fortunately and interestingly enough, the incidents that forcibly put those feelings and his character to the test the most – the times that push him further beyond what he ever thought possible, resulting in his greatest bursts of strength – are actually those where his true self is brought to light in sharper clarity. Namely...all those impressive feats he’s chosen to overcome for the sake of protecting Tareo. Shielding him from a bullet rain, shrugging off getting stabbed and sliced to death, resisting absolute incineration...each time, Garou never had to risk himself that far to face any of that, yet he conjured the resolve (the willpower!) to stand up and fight for what he truly cares about. Compelled to risk his life for the sake of something that runs deeper than he can fully comprehend...truly, that kind of unconditional sentiment channeled into an unstoppable force is strong indeed.

But, protecting what he cares about (Tareo) isn’t the only thing that drives him. His personal ideals and worldview get further challenged the more he fights alone in the MA base. Repeatedly pitting his life against any injures or opponents he faces, as he comes to a greater understanding of what brought him here in the first place. Defining his determination and raison d'être as he goes, such as in his important fight vs Darkshine (webcomic ch68):

Now, it’s possible ONE may rework what happens in the manga’s version of this fight entirely (and beyond; EDIT: except for the narration, the manga’s adaptation has kept most of Garou’s words here intact!), but at least here, Garou solidifies a conviction worthy enough to bet his life against, overcoming his lethal injuries and absolutely refusing to lose no matter what...but will the reason he concludes bring him accurate enough clarity for the path he swears to take? Enough to forge a will strong enough to succeed at breaking past his limiter? (Manga edit: presented as, “Garou’s limiter seems to be breaking!”)

To simplify an analogy of the mechanics behind this mental process would be like finding the proper fuel to push the horsepower of a car/vessel past the output of its own frame. Where the key components are 1) fuel: goal, 2) horsepower: willpower, 3) frame: limiter. Compromise the fuel as an unfit source for the (will)power, and the overall performance either becomes substandard or falls apart entirely. And what do we see happen?

The consequences of a ‘wrong’ path

Fast-forward to his arc’s conclusion in the webcomic, and we see the consequences of settling for a compromised goal that conflicts in accordance with one’s true self/desires. Garou gets so close to breaking his limiter, but ultimately fails. Why? He showed so much promise and unshakable resolve to get here, so where on his path did he go wrong? As we learn, he fought so hard (continually risking his life!) not for the benefit of monsters, but rather to unite and reform society enough (through fear) to incite the arrival of a true hero. Choosing the contradictory role of the ‘evil’ aggressor to bait one out, when Garou himself was never truly evil at his core. As Saitama perceptively puts it: he was always a rather ‘soft guy’ with an ideal image of a hero in mind all along, but thanks to all his deep-set stubborn denial, he never allowed himself to fully realize this. (In this case, all his stubborn tenacity became a blinding fault that ended up holding him back from realizing the truth.) So Saitama calls him out for taking an indirect (half-assed) approach for his goal, rather than directly work towards becoming the ideal of a true hero himself:

Saitama: “It was a mistake to lower the hurdle right before the goal. A half-assed objective can’t succeed.”

Saitama’s words give Garou the wake up call, reality check, and clarity he’s always needed to hear...but the harsh truth becomes will shattering. Thankfully, all hope isn’t lost, because the one who actually picks him back up again, and ‘saves’ him by resparking his will to continue, is Tareo. By finally getting through to him and vouching for the heroism Garou’s always shown...Garou gains the basis to try again ‘next time’ in a more appropriate, constructive manner that’s truer to himself. He still has the potential and power to succeed, but now without being bound limited by the misguided mindset from his childhood anymore.

Garou’s arc shows us this huge, sweeping, in-depth example of what it takes and then ultimately what NOT to do (can’t end up choosing the ‘easy way out’) to truly succeed at something. And he’s not the only character to which this applies. Everything presented thus far will now culminate with Genos, and the speculative steps he can take to achieve greater power too.

The next who can succeed: GENOS POWER THEORY

(The following has been in the works since 2016, but nothing since then has disproven it – on the contrary, waiting for more content has only built on it – so now is as good as ever to finally present what I’ve had in mind for him this whole time. Everything ONE has shown only leads me to believe that the possibility is there for Genos to have his ‘next time’ to succeed too.)

From the panel above, ONE framed it in a way so that Saitama’s words apply to Genos’ situation as well: in his desperate haste to gain power and seek revenge against the Mad Cyborg, he chose to forsake his fleshy body and become a cyborg himself. Essentially, like choosing the more enticing, easily available approach with the quickest results (not unlike monster cells by the way, which are confirmed unsuccessful methods too), by looking outside for the solution (looking to both Kuseno and Saitama for the answers to power), instead of working hard to achieve that goal within himself directly. Without the logistics of his cyborg transition/rehab into account, it’s like in his young mind’s insatiable impatience for power, he sought the equivalent of instant gratification. Logically, now his choice appears like a short-sighted, fatal mistake that’s permanently screwed himself over, since now his body’s performance will always be limited (on top of his given limiter) by the output of his technological parts and Kuseno’s knowledge on how to improve them. (Kuseno won’t live forever to keep up with him either.) Time again, he’s faced with the bitter reality that he cannot rely on parts those alone.

So then, where is his hope? What about his own power? This is precisely why I believe ONE designed him as a cyborg in the first place. (His struggles facing personal weakness and powerlessness were never just for the sake of reoccurring gags, and ONE would never keep him stagnant as the deuteragonist either.) Because now, Genos is forced to figure out the correct solution the hard way, by overcoming THIS extra physical limitation imposed on him, to realize the answer he’s always sought MUST come from within. It shouldn’t matter that he doesn’t have his original body anymore, because in the opm world, greater power doesn’t come from having the chosen biology/genetics, specialized parts, or even natural born talent/gifts (remember the House of Evolution arc)...it comes from the process of strengthening one’s inner willpower itself. The remaining key to all of this lies in the fact he still has his organic brain, the place where everyone’s capability for this mental power originates, so that means Genos still has the potential to utilize it too.

Then, why hasn’t he? (Or has he but never realized?) What is his problem? What can he even do to reliably harness that kind of power? That same power as demonstrated by others (if Garou can develop it and figure it out, then why can’t Genos)? Intelligence, battle experience, reacting and analyzing are strengths he’s currently working on that will help, but shouldn’t Genos already have enough determination for a set goal in mind? If that’s not enough, then what is it exactly that he lacks?

As it turns out, Genos is not just limited by his cybernetic body, but also by the mindset he carries himself. His main problem has always been a mental one. (Doubled down by the frustrations caused by his self-defeatist attitude and disappointment when things go wrong too.) No matter the shinier upgrades or battle experience he receives, he cannot progress past this vital barrier if he always treats himself as a replaceable, disposable weapon. It’s then no wonder his body always turns so inexplicably frail, prone to breaking and losing limbs all the time, when he jumps headfirst into battle with such a lifeless disregard for his own being. Such a hollow shell for armor can’t possibly stand up to greater opponents with the will to pierce right through that.

But then, it’s curious to me that his head remains his literal strongest defense.

(Genos no, that’s recklessly dangerous!) Now, why would this be? Did Kuseno only reinforce the encasing of his brain (his most vital part), while purposely leaving the material of the rest of his body more vulnerable? Sending him out in the field with only substandard weapons and armor as his defense? While Kuseno giving his brain extra protection is smart, him lapsing in thorough efficiency for the rest of him seems unlikely to me. It becomes a much different picture when realizing this is likely not Kuseno’s doing or fault at all (or even just ONE playing with Genos’ plot armor). Because if Genos only sees the body granted to him as a replaceable tool, then where does he keep his sense of self, if he doesn’t even regard himself as human anymore? Hmm, it’s like all his desperation, resolve, and internal feelings are suck inside his mind without getting anywhere. Like his will itself is trapped within the cold metal encasing of his chassis without getting properly channeled.

Channeled? Yes. Remember back to what the Metal Bat fight showed us. Not just the introduction of ‘fighting spirit,’ but THIS as well:

Where Garou even makes it a deliberate point to emphasize just how much power such a simple, metal weapon holds. Of course, later in a bonus chapter, this is said:

Hmm, the explanation for an ‘unbreakable’ metal bat, huh. Conveniently provided for by the HA whenever requested/needed too. Now that feels like a red herring to me. Instead, even if he’s not consciously aware of it (his intelligence is rated a 3 in the databook after all), the likely reason why he’s able to turn his bat into an unbreakable weapon is because during his increased moments of desperation, he can channel his ‘fighting spirit’ through it as a natural extension of himself. While Genos, who’s entirely built from metal that Kuseno could manage to acquire from various ‘unbreakable’ sources too, but who is still fighting with such flimsy defenses, is most definitely not. Any willpower/fighting spirit that Genos has is still pent up within the confines of his hard head without correctly reaching the extremities of his own limbs. He’s not effectively using his body as an natural extension of himself when he can’t even see himself as human anymore. Again, he’s mentally bound. Oh, Genos...

Metal Bat is just one example allowing for the possibility of strengthening the inorganic, Garou is another for showing the grueling process of developing ‘fighting spirit’ too, while Saitama is the ultimate example of everything coming together in a complete package. For Genos to successfully develop the same, to the point he can push past the output of his own frame and achieve greater power too, we need to reexamine his key components: his fuel (goal), willpower, and limiter(s).

Just how exactly can Genos improve?

First, what fuels him to keep going? For whenever he flings himself into battle, with deadly precision and almost an entire lack of self-preservation, what does he have that’s so important to him, it compels him to resist and keep going no matter the hopelessness of the situation? He’s already established upfront that his mission in life is to become strong enough to find and defeat the Mad Cyborg that destroyed his hometown and family. For 4+ years, he’s been running on those intense, pent up feelings of hatred, rage, frustration and grief…manifested into the desire for revenge, and by dedicating his remaining life and humanity for the sake of the dead. Without having a proper emotional outlet or time to grieve and heal from his trauma, he’s essentially been running around this whole time chasing intangible phantoms from the past. Is that even a goal viable enough for the long-term? (It’s definitely not a very healthy or constructive one, that’s for sure.) What about his plans after?

Ch108 of the webcomic even asks the hypothetical questions, what if the Mad Cyborg’s already dead, what would Genos do then? Or if he’s still alive, how can Genos even gauge if he’s strong enough to defeat him as he is now? He can’t know. Based on memories he can barely remember and leads that are virtually nonexistent, it’s still too fuzzy and inconclusive of an objective to adhere all his efforts towards or use as a guidepost for his progress. He needs something with much more reliability, clarity, and viability, because in the desperate throes of the moment, something vague won’t help him when his actual life depends on it. So Genos, what else is there? Attaining the S Class top 10? Still not strong enough, or even with enough personal value to risk his life for, when it’s incomparable to the heights of Saitama. Ah. There it is. Saitama. As Genos progresses over the course of the story, his priorities have started to shift as he reflects on what is most important to him. Rather than focusing all his intent and efforts on those who are already dead, it’s much better to live and fight for those who are still alive. For those who matter to him: Kuseno and Saitama, who are now part of his new makeshift family, they allow him the chance to finally heal emotionally and find new inspiration to live for. By living with Saitama, Genos has even started to form another goal that’s worth striving for that will sustain him through the long-term even after the Mad Cyborg: to become strong enough to remain by Saitama’s side.

Next, his willpower. Some of his most defining traits are his dead-set seriousness and determination. (To the point it’s comically and affectionately referred to as ‘no chill.’) He should have loads of useable willpower/fighting spirit at his disposal, yet his performance still turns up short. Having a viable goal to work towards and sustain it, and then being able to correctly channel it (as mentioned with Metal Bat’s example) are important, but so is overcoming the subconscious mental barriers holding him back. For one, is Genos even aware of the current power he holds, without attributing the credit to others or his special parts? Because there is at least one instance where he demonstrates the willpower to achieve the otherwise thought impossible:

Not just a moment to simply dismiss as a freak incident, because here (during the fight he was directly inspired by Saitama by the way), his refusal to be dismissed compelled him to fuse his severed body back together again. A feat previously thought impossible for him (just how on earth could he ‘heal’ severed metal?!), yet right then, he momentarily gained the power to surpass his body’s limitations. And yet, the incident practically goes by unacknowledged by him, as he’s shortly taken down by acid and distracted by Saitama’s answer for ‘more power.’ But the potential is still there for him! He can do it if he only perseveres and realizes! (And not by asking or relying on others to just give him all the answers either!)

So what is ‘more power’ to him? How can the willpower he already has be developed and trained even further? We’ve seen what Garou’s had to endure to get stronger, but to Genos, suffering the same physical pain won’t have the same effect on him. Instead, his tailored ‘hell’ to endure and overcome must come significantly much more from the psychological side. Through stressors that repeatedly tax and test his mental state to the brink rather than just his body. (The mental factors for Genos just keep piling…) And so, much of the growth we’ve actually witnessed from him over the course of his development comes from overcoming the torment of repeated failure.

A harsh punishment that could discourage and/or break the will of anyone, so it’s quite miraculous that even after all his losses, he’s still never stopped coming back to try again later or permanently gone off the deep end by now. It’s a strength that he’s never mentally succumbed under the relentless frustration and pressure. Instead, he always analyses what he did wrong, learns from his mistakes, and applies that into how he can improve next time. Little by little, by comparing him from the start of the story to now, he’s definitely improved. By becoming more aware of himself and his surroundings (to not always let his guard down!) and utilizing more efficient battle tactics, he’s turning into a much wiser fighter. Even coming to acknowledge the value of his own life much more than before.

^Yes Genos, be aware of your limits, because in this story, you are forcibly bound by many that you’ve yet to overcome.

Then what are his limits? Can Genos eventually break his limiter too? Does he still even have one? It’s a question often debated. His brain certainly still has one (along with many compounded mental barriers), but if his curious placement on the monster side of the spread during Dr. Genus’ limiter explanation means anything (EDIT: Murata’s since edited that spread for the published volume), would his similar ‘transformation’ into a new body make him gain a new limiter EACH TIME it’s replaced? Then uhoh, Genos needs to slow down and stay with one to acclimate as his perceived, natural ‘body,’ or he’ll be stuck in an endless loop trying to surpass his rebooted limits every time. (And he won’t get anywhere like that!) If that’s not the case, and his cyborg body doesn’t even have a limiter anymore (unlikely, because the output of his physical frame is always limited), then his brain’s still applies anyway. In either case, he will need to learn to fully accept, cherish, and value himself (as human!) first.

That’s why it’s so important he remains in contact with Saitama. Saitama’s calming influence is extremely vital to the stability of Genos’ wellbeing. Before they’d ever met, Genos was heading down such a self-destructive path, he really could have gone off the monstrous deep end to no return… ONE could still take his character arc down many dark possibilities, since Genos will likely have to endure much more psychological torment to grow stronger… (And then his once hidden placement on the monster side of the limiter spread becomes that much more ominous. But ONE won’t simply make his story a rehash of Garou’s either; he’s got different, long-term plans for Genos.) His road will be long and arduous regardless, as a gradual slow burn over the course of the story rather than neatly contained within any single arc. But no matter what happens, Saitama will be there.

If Tareo is Garou’s important link to his humanity, preventing him from fully becoming a monster, then Saitama (and Kuseno) are that vital link for Genos to remain in touch with his humanity as well. Vital enough to bring him new inspiration and newfound purpose in life to the point he will no longer have the necessity to think of his ‘self-destruct’ option as his last resort anymore.

Therefore, the words Saitama gave at the beginning of the story:

Where he mentions the familiar terms of ‘mental strength’ and ‘spirit’ in his advice to Genos...have actually always rung true. What the reader was originally supposed to take away as a throwaway line within Saitama’s bs, has in fact been a relevant chekhov's gun all along. This whole time, ‘a change in mindset will yield to greater strength’ has always been a viable approach in the path towards achieving greater power. :’)

Thank you for reading, and always keep an open eye out for what ONE has in store next! :D

#opm #saitama #genos #garou #metal bat #meta #manga spoilers #webcomic spoilers #long post #IT'S FINALLY HERE ;A;#who’s ready for some meta meat and potatoes!? 8D #this took a while to cook up but hopefully it’s savory enough food for thought!#simple in theory but complex in execution...gave me so many headaches aha #basically everything is connected; opm is mental and meta af; and ONE is the sneakiest bastard of them all

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storgaardcrane6-blog · 5 years

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The golden state.

Paulo Coelho is actually very most recognize for his global bestselling manual, 'The Sorcerer', the story of a young man traveling the world, searching for love, objective as well as journey. www.estefrumos.info reached out to the kickass trainer, author, and Greatist Pro Joe Vennare from The Crossbreed Athlete to see if he could produce the best halftime workout session: An extremely extreme bodyweight workout that may be done right in your living room while you enjoy Bruno Mars and also the Red Hot Chili Peppers serenade the nation. Breakdown is actually an everywhere aspect of my life, my past times and also my existing; as well as each failing helped me to end up being the male I am nowadays. I listened to those books again and again on my mp3 player while out walking, while riding the bus and so forth. This had pair of large advantages: I was actually really focused on his advise and also that appeared in my scalp in the day which made this easier to stay familiar with though trends and also Tolle ended up being a variety good impact in my every week life. The ones that acquire our team delighted, the tips we possess just before our company start to over think things. The extra this kind from assuming will naturally put up in your everyday life too given that the extra you carry out traits like these. Essentially, I was working pair of other jobs to make ends fulfill and also operating on my own into the ground. If you worry just what various other might consider you if you fail, take a look at Why you must not review on your own to others for some ideas on the requirement for validation coming from others. Once you have recognised when you utilize the detrimental thinking patterns it is actually today opportunity to change this. When I asked the inquiry what do you assume you will need to double your excellence within the upcoming YEAR?" the primary response was focus. Stressing is simply acknowledging that you have this complication and also thinking of this with centered objective that you MUST fix it. There is nothing at all inappropriate with that said. If our experts are actually thinking about the world focuses on our company, this indicates that we presume that our company are vital. Bunches of teams exist in real life and also on social media to aid you keep accountable. If you dislike your project, absolutely detest your work, you are certainly not mosting likely to like that any type of much better following full week or even next year, be actually straightforward along with on your own as well as go locate something else, you as well as your colleagues will certainly be definitely pleased regarding that, do not think they can not inform you are actually unpleasant. The living-room - This associates with the social component of your life, because that is actually where people gather when they come, normally. When our experts feel fear - regardless of what that has to do with - our team typically assume that our experts are the only one feeling in this manner. Having task on your own additionally indicates that you need to think of your objectives forever.

This post actually hit home for me. For the final 5 years, I've been actually a stay at property mama of 3. But now I am actually juggling between being actually a remain at house mother & article writer. If your mind has implanted practices of thinking detrimentally, it is going to have some work and also time. All I might deal with was keeping as cramping to the system as feasible while I experienced the wind from the learn passing away through right close to me. You recognize every person can receive encouraged by this speak when he keeps pressuring on 'Hustle'. Yet I carry out presume folks commonly overemphasize the results failing will have merely due to the fact that they really feel terrified. Believing outside package starts well prior to our company're trapped" - that is, well before our team confront an unique circumstance and also start forcing it into a knowledgeable package" that our team actually understand the best ways to deal with. That's why our company needed to consist of yet another video clip encouraged through Queen Bey's great relocations. Lesson: If you are among those moms and dads that still presume your 25 years of age is actually still also young to buy his own clothing( as well as under-garments) not to mention decide on a companion for herself, opportunity to get out of bed ... wakey wakey! So, after having actually performed some thinking about ways to go about doing something do not fall into the trap of overthinking and also monster-building. It motivated thousands as well as its principal character Rocky Balboa became a symbolic representation from stamina, perseverance, as well as self-discipline for a whole entire generation. If you have not done this actually, look at my list of 30 Positive Presuming Quotes in order to help Overcome Negativity. His health and wellness also caused questions concerning whether he was medically matched to serve in workplace. Think positively, expect only advantageous outcomes and also conditions, as well as conditions are going to alter accordingly. Obviously, enjoying various other motion pictures, reading the newspaper as well as publications or even enjoying our preferred sit-com for a couple of decades problems our team to presume itÂ ´ s the other way around. I suggest, merely deal with that. You likewise don't desire to hang out along with a girl who despises males. Due to the fact that Admin allotment every solitary trait along with his area as he can, today my viewpoints regard ShoutmeLoud is actually Spectacular. In the beginning I was actually frustrated & was actually shed for initial handful of weeks, as I couldn't head out of my space. When I think about the cocky individuals I have encountered it seems to be to be mainly males that feature this attribute. If something is not exercising, attempt as well as modify your reasoning design as well as come with it off an additional angle. One more recommendation to keep favorable is actually to consist of AT LEAST one delightful as well as fun activity in to your day-to-day way of living. Therefore, if you assume that it is attractive that you don't know how to transform a lightbulb, think again. Becoming committed ways considering that typically and taking action on those ideas.

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clairen45 · 6 years

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The Millenium Falcon: That’s My Ship!

My thoughtful Anon sent me one last long ask before coming out of anonymity. So I’m calling you out @lightaroundthecorner, and bid you an official welcome into the community. Wishing you all the best! This is how it went... I thought it was funny you assumed the “CocoReylo” moniker for a while. This was actually a pun for my French-speaking Reylos, since Cocorico is the rooster’s cry in French (and roosters are the emblem of France). It is a good one though, especially since you brought up Coco, the movie, the first time you reached out to me.

Hey Clairen, it’s the Coco Reylo Anon lol. Thx for the reply insight and analysis ♡(´ ▽｀).。! I’m also debating if I am glad or not I am a 2nd waver, but in the end I am just glad I did jump on the ship 3 months ago! It might sound odd but all the meta’s I’ve been reading really make my day and help me grow and better understand a story I love so much. It is a wonderful fandom! After what you wrote about creating a Tumblr account I am seriously considering it! I’ll let you know when I create. I’m also not a grand fan of the new BatB film and have my fair share of issues with it, but having watched it after hearing a great amount of comments I decided to go to the movie and see if I could make sense of the plot emotionally speaking and I’m glad it worked! It is crazy how these plots end up having so much in common (they are so organic / happen to naturally parallel). I never thought about the book / mirror and rose parallels but I loved what you brought! I remember wayward Jedi mentioning that a wilted flower represents lack of love. Rey’s parents are not coming back and Beast could only be saved if he loved someone and that person loved him back. The Heroine journey is truly about intimacy and belonging (Ben and Rey need each other’s magic). Now what hit me hard was the MF parallel!!! Never thought of that, although I admit I have this canon in my head that after Ben comes back he will feel he can’t stay with everyone and act like nothing happened. So, in a way like his father, he would feel the need to travel with no destination in mind (a need to see the galaxy and try to see things from a different perspective, as well as time to center himself and heal), but he wouldn’t think about getting the MF, for obvious reasons. Rey would sense/know it (I just love how much they understand each other without really saying everything) and when he is decided to leave she would convince him they should get the MF and without saying a “proper goodbye” they would go. I also think that Finn, Rose and Leia would understand an indirect “see you soon”, because they will see everyone again. In my canon I am not sure if Chewie would go with them or not, but I still think he would be with them again. So that Reylo can be associated with Persephone and Hades and MF 3 brains with Cerberus is just really crazy! Especially when we consider the fact that MF is the home he makes amends to (it was Han, Chewie, Luke and Leia’s home, and to go back to it means comeback to his family like you said, being accepted and loved). MF has also been compared to the Chariots of Gods that protected the Skywalker siblings from the Emperor and Vader. The fact that Rey goes to Luke in the MF, later to Kylo and later to save the Resistance, all seems to hint this is where Ben/Kylo should be. The anger he has for the “piece of junk” equals the anger and longing for his family, and it’s always with him. Ok, this got long again o.o’’’. See you soon!

So, dear Anon who is no longer anon but now @lightaroundthecorner, sorry I took so long to answer. As I was telling other fellow bloggers, real life caught up a bit with me lately. Nothing but good things, but I haven’t been able to properly monitor my account for a while, besides the reblogs and short comments. Sorry, because I am late in my meta projects (sigh), and also I am late in my asks (I have not forgotten you, nice people who send me great questions, do not worry! I promise I will answer shortly!). (Gif found on @reylo-hill)

I am just adding on and expanding from your previous comments. Yep, the MF is probably the core of the ST. Everything revolves around it, and they have distilled so many clues about it, its role, and what it represents for every character, and how they come to interact with it. It is not just the nostalgia and the old jokes about Han’s piece of garbage. The MF, for some reason, though it comes from Han’s side, has come to stand for something important in the Skywalker’s family: their future, something that is, if you think about it, rather paradoxical. This piece is an antique, a thing of the past. But no, in the ST, the MF is really the future. Because something about the MF points to Ben Solo all the time, and Ben is, after all, the only future left for the Skywalker family. Of course the Skywalkers would look to the MF as a place of nostalgia: this is where Luke’s big adventure began, what saved him in ANH and ESB, where Leia and Han fell in love and first kissed. Han and his ship seem as inseparable as Han and Chewie. Funny thing, though, is that at the end of ROTJ, Han had -very reluctantly- moved on from the MF, lending it back to Lando (even if just temporarily), as if he was symbolically ready to grow up and start a new life with Leia. And it would have made sense to see him start something like that.

But in TFA they decided to bring back the MF, and despite the usual critiques on TFA about the fact that the movie was just a rehash for the nostalgic of the OT, I think the choice to pull out the MF out of retirement meant something important. It was there, as a matter of fact, on the Vanity Fair cover that was bringing us the new characters and the old, the common thread between them all, what creates the connection.

They did not JUST use the MF to make us feel fuzzy inside. Nope, the MF has a story to tell. The first obvious thing is the path to HOME.

And who needs to go back home? Not Han... Han does not really pine for home... He is a roamer, always been. But Ben... The MF is and will be the HEART of the ST, because the ST is about the fight for Ben’s HEART. if the MF has always been Han’s pride and joy, what about little Ben? Of course he was his father’s pride and joy. Check out that cutesy promotion for Empire’s End:

And just read the few lines at the end of Aftermath’s Empire’s End when Han talks to his baby boy... Heart wrenching....

Hey. It’s you and me, kid. Whole damn galaxy against us but we’ll make it through okay. I’m not always gonna be the best dad- c’mon, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing here. I can barely take care of myself. But I’ll always keep us pointed in the right direction...even if we zig and zag a little to get there. There’s your first lesson. Sometimes doing the right thing doesn’t mean following a straight line.

This zig and zag is a bit like the MF itself... And when Han promises his newborn son to point him in the right direction, the MF also plays that part, pointing him to Rey.

Just the way they bring back the MF says something... The MF, just like Ben, has been lost to Han for a while. It has suffered years of neglect and tampering with. It has been abandoned and considered lost for good. Ben chose to assume a distinctive archaic look (medieval by our own standards), with the cowl, crossguard, robe. And what about his saber, which, just like the MF is archaic, poorly constructed, rugged. And the MF, surrounded with the relics and the wreckage of the Empire, is also pretty much like Ben, surrounded with other relics of the Empire (the Vader mask, the First Order as the copy of the Empire, the decrepit Snoke).

Also consider the information given by The Visual Dictionary: Unkar Plutt has refused to let the scavengers plunder it because it “can still fly and he has big plans for her”. Just like Snoke has big plans for Ben.. And look at the Breakdown part and the words used:

An energy flux in the motivator bleeds back (...) causing a surge (...). Liquid metal fuel overflows (...) overheating components and rupturing a jucture. The liquid fuel sublimates into a poisonous gas that fills the freighter.

“Bleeding” is the word used by the Sith to turn the kyber crystal of their saber into a fiery red, knowing that, in Ben’s case, he probably bled his own Jedi saber, and not another Jedi’s, as is the Sith custom. “Surge”, “overheating”, “overflow” are all words that evoke, unequivocally, Kylo’s fiery bouts of rage in TFA.

And the term “poisonous” can equally apply to the way Kylo has been, for years, filled with Snoke/snake ‘s poisons, and his own dangerosity. Note that Rey is fully able to circumvent the potential danger posed by the MF.... But all this time, think about it, it was SO close to Rey. It was with her all the time, owned by Unkar Plutt, the very bane of Rey’s existence, which creates yet another invisible thread between them. What about Rey’s epidermic reaction to it: “This is garbage”. That goes, when faced with no other choice to “The garbage will do”. And then, the magic: she can handle it. She knows how to handle it. She understands it instinctively and knows how it clicks. She can figure it out, find what is wrong with it and repair it. She can fix it.

And she also admires it when she realizes what it is:

Remember Han? He never really could figure it out or repair it for good. She can. Obviously, major outcry about Rey being a Mary Sue! How could she? How dare she? Pilot and fix the MF? But people failed to understand (because it took the ST as a whole, as a perspective) that the MF was a metaphor all along. What Rey’s SPECIAL relationship to the MF was supposed to do is FORETELL us all along what her special relationship to Kylo/Ben Solo would be.

Just like the MF, she first reacts strongly against it. But then she gathers that she will have to deal with it anyways (that is what the Force bonds mean). And eventually, she realizes that she is, indeed,the only one who understands him. Who knows how he functions. Who can handle him. She also comes to respect him. Possibly help fixing him?

What about all these details about the MF that they brought us in the novelization. The hilarious idea that there are three brains in the MF constantly bickering... Just like in Ben Solo’s little head there were probably all these voices bickering and fighting all the time. I will exclude Snoke because he is an alien voice, coming from outside as a parasite to bug and hijack Ben Solo. But the three brains that have been fighting in Ben’s head, couldn’t they be Han, Leia, and Luke, who were respectively supposed to have one movie of the ST centered around them? As if, one by one, the fighting heads would get shut up, and forgiven, to finally find peace.... So yea, the anger he is directing towards the MF can be explained by the anger he is still directing towards his family...

Which is why Kylo has still to remain banned from the MF. In order to get back in, he needs to accept being Ben again. He needs to make peace with Ben Solo, with this part of himself. When I first heard of the deleted scene on TFA where Kylo gets to step inside the MF on Starkiller, I initially thought “Oh, what a shame!”.

How stupid of me! I know truly believe cutting it was a brilliant move, very coherent on a symbolic and narrative level. Of course, they would and should NOT let Kylo back aboard the MF at this point of the ST... His whole journey is about going back home. And obviously a “home” he can share with Rey (nesting porgs, I already made that point here). We are supposed to see them together aboard the MF on IX. That’s all. Twice, at the end, Rey goes alone aboard the MF and turns back to look behind, turning to look back at HIM, who never makes it to the MF. Rule of 3 applying, he has to make it to the MF eventually. She has to usher him there.

And from Ben, the MF has even come to stand for the relationship between him and Rey. It’s a nest, it’s a home, it’s a future together. I am pretty sure that RJ had his own little wink wink moment at the anti Reylo with the “Blow that piece of junk out of the sky” and “They really hate that ship” on the battle of Crait. If you hate Reylo, pretty much, you should hate the MF and all it stands for at this point.

And what about the new Han Solo movie? Of course they would do a Solo movie. I think they are trying to tie up all the loose strings here and there into a tight story. The MF is the core of the ST. So, in the Solo movie, we will get something about the MF. Remember the emphasis on the dice (and their part in TLJ) in the trailer, this eerily familiar new villain that is reminiscent of Kylo’s mask, and the mad theory I have been cooking with fellow blogger @antbee17 about the possibility of ...maybe... possibly... pretty please... finger crossing... getting a Harrison Ford voice over at the end narrating the story to an entranced little Ben...

Maybe I am projecting a lot into this (for sure into the Solo movie), but, about the MF and its connection to Ben and Rey, nah, I am pretty sure!

#reylo #reylo fam #reylo evidence #reylo meta #star wars meta #reylo fandom #kylo and the millenium falcon #save ben solo #ben solo and the millenium falcon #milleniumfalcon #han solo's pride and joy

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bruhn48cates-blog · 6 years

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International Or Bilingual Main Schools Institution And also Specialised Establishments Education and learning

The theorist Air Conditioning Grayling has generated a nonreligious holy book, but its assistance for a good lifestyle fails to entice Genevieve Fox. Volunteers are promoted to carry their personal sand mats, sunlight screen, hats and toys for kids. Actually, Home Page believed he had the ability to book a totally free air travel as a result of a pest on Ryanair's online reservation body. Guide presents readers to many strangers and gives us idea into their lifestyles. As a retired Chief Executive Officer and now college professor, I can certainly not differ more firmly along with the area of the book as well as the methods marketed within. When the book is actually shut and also you consider that, all you observe is oldness and also, depending upon your edition, a cheese photo of a creature ofthe night drinking a female's blood stream. A little woman died violently in this book as well as I was fully unfazed by it. That is actually an unpleasant breakdown. While this book may aid to support a young reciter's understanding and empathy for animals, the subject doesn't constantly seem suitable for its own intended target market. Microsoft asserts that the base Area Publication gets 12 hrs of battery life while participating in video, while the heavier-duty battery in the Functionality Base design acquires 16 hrs. The only true exclusive results are actually when the white food items pellets fade in and out, yet there's something about the look of the game that does not actually demand any sort of special results. 3 years ago I recommended that Apple's wellness push-- at that point rumored to be contacted Healthbook-- can be the first genuine item from Tim Cook's Apple That's because, by all accounts, health and wellness appear to be as a lot an interest for Chef as songs was for Jobs. Nuala Ellwood's tough debut thriller, My Sister's Bone tissues rivals The Girl on a Learn as an obsessive read (and also hammers it for type). I performed locate the cashew cream a little also garlicky (as well as I like garlic) thus next opportunity I will exclude the grain. And there you have it. Verification that Snacktaku takes pictures of well-balanced snack foods, along with evidence advising we eat them at the same time. I'm certainly not claiming Google should not open up a Play Songs API - there is definitely one thing because there are actually off the record apps that make use of an undocumented API - but why perform you believe that will be OK to closed up an online video streaming API also - besides - YouTube has one, why should not Participate in Movies - specifically considering this makes use of YouTube on the backend in any case. This manual is perhaps excellent if you are into this sort of stuff yet religious passion regarding compensative passion for anti-romantic, negative atheist like me was only abuse. Howevered, there are actually loads of distinctions between The Magicians guide series and The Magicians the TELEVISION collection, which officially premieres on Monday at 9 p.m. ET-- some slight, some primary, and also some entirely head-scratching. Psychologically manipulative books that feel as if the writer laid out with a plan to move my soul cords - that would be up there with the most awful. An excellent guideline is to use the Health app for a fast guide from your health and fitness activity, and make use of the Task application to view just how you are actually performing throughout the day. However along with Series 2, Apple is dedicating to exactly what I consider its greatest function: your health and wellness. Unlike theCommon Understanding" executed through skin specialists (which propose you avoid the sunlight), the Primitive Master plan will firmly insist that you get some straight sunshine each day. Zusak, perhaps appropriately, thinks that we 'd never have the capacity to really understand as well as enjoy reading through a publication concerning personalities definitely bad. Whether you have food allergic reactions, are actually enjoying your weight or simply intend to recognize exactly what you are actually enjoying, dining in a restaurant at restaurants regularly offers a fascinating obstacle. Rating food in the app is actually practically easy, however that might stump some people thus far as just what the score need to be actually. No assessment I can ever carry out, will give this publication the justice that is thus deserving from! Whether you 'd like to make a reservation for a scenic tour exploring New Delhi, Jaipur as well as Agra, roam the handsome worlds from Rajasthan or even explore the balmy south in Kerala and also Tamil Nadu, our experts make certain to possess a trip to match you. Elemeno Wellness creates that details simply accessible at the aspect of care as well as adds gamification to promote involvement as well as knowing. I check out just recently in a manual about imagination just how Dracula 'blasphemes' against Christianity. Systems underfunded and understaffed without training that were actually largely paid attention to imprisonment as opposed to the demands from anybody with a health and wellness disorder described by mental illness. I indicate, I read a publication about children with cancer, I wasn't intended to become laughing however I performed. Along with the recurring boom in podcasting, there have been actually no scarcity of terrific new programs about publications.. Each are straightforward- along with Readmill you should post the book via its web site- as well as does not need excessive fiddling in my component. Our comics are full of those neo-pagan mythic heroes who exaggerated individual virtues always total up to, whatever else could be true of them, 'beats individuals up good'. Inning accordance with Microsoft last month, Windows 10 was actually working on more than 400 thousand devices around the globe, up from 200 thousand in January. The 1st indicator that this possibly had not been visiting be actually an excellent manual is the fact that the blurb had not been even an ad, but somewhat the opening pages from the story. There is actually mocking, however certainly not without passion ... beyond nationality, guide is about the immigrant's mission: self-invention, which is the American target. We expected to create a counterweight to Notion Magazine's cool and trendy digital company with an even more reflective sequel company as a publication publisher.

As the sea lining from collectivism sinks under the weight of its personal huge ineptitude (a smart idea, yet the leader was inebriated as well as the workers were actually sticky-fingered rascals), you leap over the top, clamber on the only on call boat (commercialism) just to discover that there is actually a large leopard on board which will definitely eat you unless you Oh eventually I get that. I review this a couple of years ago as well as this was actually supposed to become all about The lord. Though that is actually ski run really isn't however open, Doha Celebration City has actually presented a monthlong set from destinations for children 5-12 years of ages. Mentally manipulative manuals that feel as if the author set out with an agenda to tug at my heart strands - that would certainly be actually As long as I just like a really good romance, I wouldn't contact myself an enchanting. Many diet plan think about weight loss that are established through nutritionists and also health and wellness specialists are based on 1200 fats daily. Apple's Wellness application tracks your steps just fine, yet it is actually dreadful at really featuring any helpful relevant information. The Sun is actually Likewise a Celebrity through Nicola Yoon ended up being an excellent shock as I go through the book! I'll Offer You the Sunshine delivers a genuine contemporary check out love as well as relationships. Our experts read LOTR for my dream literature training class and also I had actually intended to read this just before I began FOTR, but I entirely forgot as well as for that reason aimed to cram this in prior to starting the book for class. And through creating English the subject from the book which rarely this is as the girl never possesses a trouble with his english and also its own a love story eventually, CB got an added reason to compose horribly. I'm visiting need to presume you have actually read this book, as if I don't I will not be able to state anything regarding this whatsoever.

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iotagger · 6 years

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Hardware solutions for Eclipse IOT Challenge: Exploring LoRa/LoRaWAN

The Eclipse IOT challenge lead me to research more in depth different technologies both from the hardware and the software aspect. As part of product development and delivery one has to come up with the solution for a problem. In this case the problem is parking in urban areas, or the lack of smarter parking solutions. Such implementation would not only allow end users to have a better parking experience while saving time in finding an adequate spots but also provides the city with valuable data to be used for city planning and city improvement projects.

Once the issue is identified, it was important to find a technical solution that would align with our needs. For city implementations, given the broad area that needs to be covered, we would need a type of communication that is long range and low cost, both in cost of sending data and power consumption. I first tackled the hardware needs once the design was evaluated. The prototype for a smart city solution needs to also be scalable while adding the least overhead in cost and infrastructure needed.

In this article I will go more in depth on the research done to identify one of the key components of the project. I will share a summary of my findings in hopes of helping others that are also exploring similar solutions.

Evaluating communication solutions:

I evaluated BLE, bluetooth, cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, SigFox, Zigbee and Lora. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, given its range limitation and cost were not considered for this prototype. Cellular communications have a higher cost as well, and at even steeper price comes satellite communication; both this options were also discarded. SigFox and LoRa/LoraWAN were the runner up candidates. I came across a comprehensive post on the comparison of SigFox and LoRa that is worth the read https://www.link-labs.com/blog/sigfox-vs-lora . The winner was LoRa.

Why Lora?

As explained by Libelium on http://www.libelium.com/development/waspmote/documentation/lora-vs-lorawan/ LoRa contains only the link layer protocol and is perfect to be used in P2P communications between nodes. LoRa modules are a little cheaper that the LoRaWAN ones.. LoRaWAN includes the network layer too so it is possible to send the information to any Base Station already connected to a Cloud platform. LoRaWAN modules may work in different frequencies by just connecting the right antenna to its socket..

LoRa which stands for long range wireless operates at a low bandwidth, meaning that its best application is for sending smaller pieces of data such as sensor data. LoRaWAN is known for its good penetration and long coverage which has been recorded to reach over 10 KM distance. LoRaWAN operates on unlicensed bands, so in most countries is legal to have you own LoRaWAN gateway cutting down the cost given that you will not have to pay a carrier or third party to supply you with the service.

Additionally a selling point for me personally was the wide accessibility to various developer platforms and hardware solutions such as DIY LoRa kits, libraries and Arduino compatible LoRa modules. The Things Network offers a strong platform with access to resources, documentation and a great community of IOT LoRa enthusiast.

Gateway

Lets take a look at one of the hardware pieces now. “Gateways form the bridge between devices and The Things Network. Devices use low power networks like LoRaWAN to connect to the Gateway, while the Gateway uses high bandwidth networks like WiFi, Ethernet or Cellular to connect to The Things Network. Gateways are routers equipped with a LoRa concentrator, allowing them to receive LoRa packets”(see more at https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/docs/gateways/). Below is a list of some gateways that were evaluated for this project. I spent time looking at their platform flexibility, the documentation and support provided and what would be the most cost effective solution for a minimum viable product (MVP).

Lorixone

https://lorixone.io/

LORIX One is the first low cost gateway designed and assembled in Switzerland. Its technical specifications include Runx Linux Yocto 4.X SX1301 gateway chip SPI based 8 channels, 49 demodulators @ 868MHz

Lorixone counts with great documentation accessible at https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/labs/story/install-awesome-lorix-one-gateway

Kerlink

Details at https://www.kerlink.com/iot-solutions-services/IoT%20LoRaWan%20Solutions/

Wirnet iBTS is a range of modular and upgradeable gateways designed for IoT public operators. It can be upgraded up to 64 LoRa™ channels to offer an answer to massive messages supporting. I was unable to identify the price point for this gateway.

The Things Gateway

Details at https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/docs/gateways/gateway/

Retails: € 300.00 € 280.00 (ex VAT)

Originally started as a Kikstarter campaign viewable at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/419277966/the-things-network it provides 10 km / 6 miles radius of network coverage, it can server thousands of nodes and its an straight forward to set up. It counts with ample documentation and a strong community.

Technical specifications:

Fastest way to get started with LoRaWAN (Long Range WAN)

Set up your own LoRaWAN network in as little as 5 minutes

Connects easily to your WiFi or Ethernet connection

Wireless range of up to 10 km (6 miles)

Engage with a global community of IoT developers

Easy cloud integration with popular IoT platforms

Based on open source hardware and software standards

Devices can freely communicate over all gateways connected to The Things Network

XBEE slot for future connectivity protocols or homebrew add-ons.

Security through the https connection and embedded in the LoRaWAN protocol

Can serve thousands of nodes (depending on traffic)

Laird — RG1xx

Details at: https://www.lairdtech.com/products/rg1xx-lora-gateway

Retail 400+ US dollars

This gateway counts with a dual-band Wi-Fi, BT v4.0 (BLE and Classic) and wired Ethernet; LoRa range up to 10 miles and pre-loaded LoRa Packet Forwarder software

Technical specifications:

Full Linux operating system — Kernel v4.x running on Atmel A5 Core @ 536 MHz

Multiple interfaces such as LoRaWAN, 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.0, and Ethernet

8-Channel LoRaWAN support with up to +27dBM max transmit power

Comprehensive Certifications for FCC / IC (RG191) and CE (RG186) (all pending)

Industrial temperature range (-30º to 70º C)

Advanced deployment tools including intuitive web-based configuration, integrated LoRa packet forwarder, and default settings for multiple LoRaWAN Network Server vendors

Enterprise-grade security built on Laird’s years of experience in wireless

Industry-leading support works directly with Laird engineers to help deploy your design

LoRa Network Server pre-sets — The Things Network, Loriot, Stream and Senet

Multitech

Developer resource http://www.multitech.net/developer/products/multiconnect-conduit-platform/

Retail 675–685 US dollars

Breakdown: base gateway MTCDT-H5–210L-US-EU-GB https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/multi-tech-systems-inc/MTCDT-H5-210L-US-EU-GB/881-1236-ND/5246365() $490, antenna (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/multi-tech-systems-inc/AN868-915A-10HRA/881-1242-ND/5246371) $13, LoRa module MTAC-LORA-915 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/multi-tech-systems-inc/MTAC-LORA-915/881-1239-ND/5246368) $180

The MultiConnect® Conduit™ is a configurable, scalable cellular communications gateway for industrial IoT applications. Conduit allows users to plug in two MultiConnect mCard™ accessory cards supporting wired or wireless interfaces. It counts with open source Linux development, wwo mcard slots, Lora 8 channel receiver, Spred spectrum frequency hopping that is ued to Up to 10 miles line of sight. MultiConnect has done a great job with its documentation and it counts with its own platform that can be used as well.

Lorrier LR2

Details at: https://lorrier.com/#introducing-lr2

Developer resource: https://github.com/lorriercom

Retail €615.00 €755.00

Based on LoRaWAN™ protocol. This is a fully outdoor device intended to establish a wide coverage network by telecommunications operators and local network by individuals or IoT connectivity service providers. The whole solution, including both HW and SW parts, follows the Lorrier culture, and it is shared as an Open Source.

The gateway is based on iC880a LoRaWAN™ concentrator by IMST which uses Semtech SX1301 base band processor designed for use with LoRa® networks. BeagleBone Green with 1GHz (2000 MIPS) processor and fully operational on fast SPI bus was chosen as a powerful control unit.

LoRa/LoRaWAN Gateway — 915MHz for Raspberry Pi 3

Details at https://www.seeedstudio.com/LoRa%2FLoRaWAN-Gateway-915MHz-for-Raspberry-Pi-3-p-2821.html

Retails 289.00 US dollars

If you want to build you own LoRa network, there are 3 things that you should prepare to get started: a Gateway, at least one Node and a local server where you can monitor all your devices. This kit provides a gateway & local server that allows you to collect and transfer data among all your LoRa nodes. By connecting the gateway with Seeeduino LoRaWAN and Grove modules, you can build your IOT prototype within minutes.

Regarding the gateway module RHF0M301, it is a 10 channel(8 x Multi-SF + 1 x Standard LoRa + 1 x FSK) LoRaWan gateway moduel with a 24pin DIP port on board, users can easily connect the RHF0M301 with PRI 2 bridge RHF4T002, adapter for Raspberry Pi 3 and RHF0M301.

RisingHF gateway

Details at http://www.risinghf.com/product/rhf0m301/?lang=en

I have seen this solution mentioned and used across the LoRaWAN community. Its technical specs are RHF0M301 is a 10 channels (8 x Multi-SF + 1 x Standard LoRa + 1 x FSK) LoRa/LoRaWAN gateway or concentrator module. The module is integrated one 24 pins DIP hearder, with this header user could connect RHF0M301 with his own embedded platform to build a customized gateway easily.

LG01 LoRa OpenWrt IoT Gateway by Dragino Tech

Details at https://www.tindie.com/products/edwin/lg01-lora-openwrt-iot-gateway/?pt=ac_prod_search

Retails 56.00 US dollars

This gateway is a long distance wireless 433/868/915Mhz, OpenWrt, LoRa IoT Gateway

The LG01 is an open source single channel LoRa Gateway. It lets you bridge LoRa wireless network to an IP network via WiFi, Ethernet, 3G or 4G cellular.

DYI options:

There are various posts on DYI options based both from Raspberry Pi and Arduino boards. Below are a few:

Build your own gateway

https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/docs/gateways/start/build.html

Building a Raspberry Pi Powered LoRaWAN Gateway

https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/building-a-raspberry-pi-powered-lorawan-gateway

Hardware IMST iC880A LoRaWAN “concentrator” board and Raspberry Pi

The iC880A — LoRaWAN https://wireless-solutions.de/products/long-range-radio/ic880a iC880A is able to receive packets of different end devices send with different spreading factors on up to 8 channels in parallel. In combination with an embedded Linux board like Raspberry Pi, Beagle Bone, Banana Pi and the HAL software from https://github.com/Lora-net a complete LoRaWAN® gateway can be setup easily.

From zero to LoRaWAN in a weekend

https://github.com/ttn-zh/ic880a-gateway/wiki

Based iC880a concentrator board and a Raspberry Pi 2.

A DIY low-cost LoRa gateway

http://cpham.perso.univ-pau.fr/LORA/RPIgateway.html

The gateway is based on a Raspberry PI. RPI 1B+/2B/3B can be used. The LoRa modules comes from (a) Libelium LoRa radio module, (b) HopeRF RFM92W/HopeRF RFM95W (or RFM96W for 433MHz), © Modtronix inAir9/inAir9B (or inAir4 for 433MHz), (d) NiceRF LoRa1276. Libelium LoRa and RFM92W use the Semtech SX1272 chip while RFM95W, inAir9/9B and NiceRF LoRa1276 use the SX1276 which is actually more versatile.

Note: The LoRa module and the LoRaWAN module are not compatible because the protocols are different. The LoRa module implements a simple link protocol, created by Libelium. However, the LoRaWAN module runs the LoRaWAN protocol, a much richer and more advanced protocol, created by the LoRa Alliance.

Check out their Github page with detailed documentation https://github.com/CongducPham/LowCostLoRaGw

Conclusion on gateways:

The gateway is a key portion of this solution given that the sensors will need to send the information “somewhere” where it can either be analyzed on the edge or sent to the cloud. After considering price ranges on both the parts needed for a DIY solution or a full blown gateway I considered those solutions that would be cost effective and which I was most familiar with. The “LG01 LoRa OpenWrt IoT Gateway by Dragino Tech” seemed the best approach. The developer kit counts with an Arduino developer node and a Developer gateway. Note that this solution only counts with ONE channel, in comparison with other solutions that allow 8+ channels. This was a compromise that was evaluated and given that this will be a prototype the one channel option seemed sufficient.

In the following articles I will showcase both the remaining hardware parts and the software portion along with updates on how the project is coming along.

#iot #internetofthings #technology #TechNews #tech #smartcities #lora #lorawan

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perfectirishgifts · 3 years

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The Future Of Work Now: Diesel Oil Analysis At The MBTA

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/the-future-of-work-now-diesel-oil-analysis-at-the-mbta/

The Future Of Work Now: Diesel Oil Analysis At The MBTA

One of the most frequently-used phrases at business events these days is “the future of work.” It’s increasingly clear that artificial intelligence and other new technologies will bring substantial changes in work tasks and business processes. But while these changes are predicted for the future, they’re already present in many organizations for many different jobs. The job and incumbents described below are an example of this phenomenon.

Dashboard of MBTA oil analysis

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority—known locally as the MBTA or the “T”—is a government agency that provides subway and commuter rail services to the Greater Boston metropolitan area. Its subway is the oldest in the United States, and its commuter rail system consolidated many private rail systems that began as early as 1830. Today the MBTA unites 78 communities in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and serves (at least in pre-COVID days) about 1.3 million riders a day.

The MBTA commuter rail system, which carries about 120,000 riders on an average day, has been challenged in the past by high levels of service breakdowns. In 2017, for example—a difficult winter weather year—the system had the highest number of mechanical failures of any commuter rail system in the US, several of which cover many more miles and run more trains than the MBTA. Both Keolis, the private contractor that runs the MBTA, and MBTA executives came under heavy criticism.

Most of the breakdowns involved the aging fleet of diesel electric locomotives, and after 2017 the MBTA embarked upon a program to overhaul and upgrade legacy locomotives. One aspect of that program was an effort to use artificial intelligence—machine learning in particular—to identify impending maintenance problems before they lead to breakdowns.

Ryan Coholan and Diesel Locomotive Oil

Ryan Coholan is the Chief Railroad Officer of the MBTA. He’s a 28-year veteran of the railroad business, and bemoans the reliance that the industry—and his own organization—still has on obsolete technologies like fax machines. But he’s a big believer in data and the analysis of it, and thought that there were opportunities to use them to improve the MBTA’s commuter rail performance.

The most important data for a diesel electric locomotive is arguably about the condition of its oil. The MBTA had always taken regular oil samples from diesel engines, and they were given a quick look by one person. But if they weren’t extreme, they were filed away. Analyses of the samples typically look at elements within the oil such as copper, iron, lead, aluminum, calcium, and sodium. When there were engine failures in the past, the last oil sample would be pulled to look for out-of-range values. But there was no systematic analysis of how sample values related to maintenance problems.

However, there was another way to look at oil data, as Coholan wrote in an article:

“What we had to do was understand that the humble oil sample was actually a molecular ‘blackbox’ recorder that had a powerful story to tell, measured in parts per million (ppm).”

Coholan had a friend of a friend, Mike Jensen, who runs an industrial data and analytics consulting firm called 4Atmos Technologies, LLC and had done some past work in oil analytics. When they talked Jensen suggested that a machine learning model might be helpful in predicting engine breakdowns. Coholan confirmed that the MBTA had the necessary data for training a model, including many years of oil sample data (400 samples from 90 locomotives proved to be enough) and outcomes data in terms of engine failures. The discussion led to an official pilot project. However, pulling the data together and building a training dataset wasn’t easy, and it took about a year and a half.

Once trained, however, the model seemed to work quite well. It could predict a high likelihood of an engine problem in the next 15 days. And the elements found in the oil sample could predict the specific problem that was likely to occur. For example, if there was water in the oil, that meant that the water jumper to cool the cylinder head was probably leaking. Fuel in oil meant an injector was likely to be leaking. Metal in the oil could usually be tied to problems in a particular engine component. Iron in the oil, for example, meant that a turbocharger was likely to fail. The model could predict three days ahead of time a probable failure of a turbocharger.

Mike Jensen’s analysis found that just looking for out-of-range values in oil samples wasn’t a useful approach to predicting engine problems. He wrote about the finding in an article:

“We discovered that more than 75% of our failure signatures had combinations of values that were all below their prescribed thresholds. Instead of looking at each element individually we combined elements in clusters to help identify high probability candidates.”

Institutionalizing Oil Analysis and Prediction

The positive early results confirmed the value of doing oil analysis on a regular basis and using it to predict mechanical failures. The project was formalized and became known as “Project Velocity.” When the model identified a particular oil/failure combination it was called an “agent.” Even individual types of failures were named after the mechanics or mechanical team that explained the finding in the data; one recurrent problem became known as the “Sullivan failure,” for example.

Now the oil analysis takes place every ten days—it was formerly every 30 days—and is embedded in the day to day work of the Mechanical Operations department, which oversees Keolis’ maintenance work. The MBTA has its own Oil Lab doing the oil analysis, and it’s become a desirable place to work—“I have people who fight to go into the lab,” Coholan said.

The person who won that fight is Jim Zoino, a Mechanical Maintenance Systems Specialist at the MBTA who is primarily responsible for testing oil samples and reporting what to do about them. Zoino has a background in IT technical support at large banks, but he’s worked at the transportation authority since 2011. When the Oil Lab opened, he volunteered to run the oil samples—usually 8 to 10 a day—and create reports on them, and now it’s the primary aspect of his job.

The primary tool for analyzing the oil is a mass spectrometer, which sends an electric charge through the oil, vaporizes it, and measures the wavelength of the resulting light. It can then determine the chemical composition of the oil sample. The Project Velocity software reads the chemical composition data and compares it to other oil samples across different types of locomotives in the MBTA fleet to determine whether particular elements are out of the normal range. A high iron PPM finding on one type of locomotive might be no problem, but on another type might indicate a pending turbocharger failure.

Initially, Zoino knew very little about locomotive oil. He would give the data to Mike Jensen, who would interpret the results and send a report on what—if anything—was likely to be wrong with the locomotive. Over time, however, Zoino learned how to interpret the data and the implications of high concentrations of calcium, zinc, copper, and so forth. Now, unless there is something highly unusual in the spectrometer results, he produces the report himself. It goes to several people in the MBTA, the operations and maintenance contractor Keolis, and the contractors who rebuilt locomotives.

Zoino said that there was initially not much interest or cooperation from other MBTA executives or Keolis when Mike Jensen began to report the oil analysis findings. The MBTA wasn’t familiar with mass spectrometry, machine learning, or predictive maintenance, so its managers were skeptical. And the analysis meant more work for Keolis, so its managers weren’t enthusiastic either. But after a couple of years of the program, Zoinos commented,

“We’re turning the ship around, making great strides. The project is maturing. Keolis now comes to us and asks us to analyze samples. They’re penalized for maintenance failures, so they have an incentive to pay attention to the data.”

The Value of Project Velocity

This predictive maintenance model, of course, had many benefits to the MBTA. If a failure was predicted, the MBTA would instruct Keolis maintenance personnel to fix it quickly. Preventing a failure before it occurred saved substantial time and money. If a failure happened while the vehicle was operating on the rails, it could strand and inconvenience 1300 passengers. Coholan said that the dollar value of a “good catch” prediction was in the millions of dollars; he said, “The ROI is massive, massive.”

The success of the program prompted a $40M investment in rehabbing legacy locomotives by the MBTA. The company that overhauled the legacy fleet was very interested in the oil analytics program—particularly when it became apparent that components on some of the locomotives they rebuilt were failing too early. The MBTA was able to extend the warranties on those locomotives at no extra cost because of the data from Project Velocity. The program also led to changes in maintenance practices and intervals. As a result of the oil model, the overhauls, and the new practices, the MBTA has dramatically increased the mean miles between locomotive failures, and the on-time performance of the commuter rail system is higher than ever.

Ryan Coholan only wonders why the MBTA, his locomotive suppliers, and maintenance companies waited so long to do this type of analysis:

“We all knew that lubricating oil is the blood of the locomotive diesel engine. And we were watching life around us become more data-driven all the time. We had lots of data around passengers, delays, and so forth, but there was nothing focused on helping the locomotives perform better. It was very satisfying to finally discover something.”

From CIO Network in Perfectirishgifts

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