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kaypeace21 · 3 years

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The theme with “time” this season makes me think of the phrase, “wanting to turn back the clock.” And I then think of Will never wanting to grow up and wanting to go back to the old days of playing dnd in Mike’s basement.

And then I think of Will’s (speculated) reality altering bending powers. So could there be a possibility that Will may use those powers to “turn back the clock”?? Maybe rewrite how things happened? Maybe it would be after Mike’s “death” like you speculated earlier. Since he thinks Mike is “dead” he wants to go back, and that’s what he does accidentally.

ALSO, Hopper tells joyce that he was trying to runaway from his "past" trauma with sara- before he says that line in the letter about wanting to turn back the clock and then saying it's not possible to do so . (And that life life hurts you but eventually you get out of that cave and life goes on ). Similar to Will he wants to turn back the clock to better times, but a part of him isn't ready to accept his entire past/ the tra*uma that comes with that- in order to move on and heal for the future .

Like robin said about back to the future "he's stuck in the past .But he needs to get back to his time which is the future!"

HOWEVER- I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANY REAL TIME TRAVEL!!!!

I’ve mentioned my time-theory many many many times- in relation to my DID theory. even if my did theory is completely wrong (aka Will has powers so his alters/split personalities/innerworlds come to life)-

We also see how memories are explored in a supernatural way in st - it’s not literal timetravel just El using her powers to explore tra*matic memories of others (Terry/Billy so far). Like NO TIME TRAVEL PLEASE-THAT’S JUMPING THE SHARK. I really don’t want it lol. XD I think hopper and Robin's lines allude to the theme that will be addressed: confronting the past/times that harmed you but overcoming it for the future because time goes on 'whether you like it or not '.

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In reference to my time-did theory. Look at the st s4 movie inspirations. In ‘what dreams may come” a guy explores a heaven like world influenced by a painter’s emotions/created via immagination.We also have the movie ‘inside out’ -which involves “memory islands” (distinct worlds based on a child’s memories) which are influenced negatively by the kid being depressed she moved to California. The characters traveling to these memory islands are constructs of kid’s mind -and 1 of them also has a guide helping them explore the ‘memory islands’. Welcome to marwen- has an artist (attacked for being perceived as gay) imagining an abstract world based off his art- where the characters he made experience their own adventures (loosely based off the artist’s trauma). ‘The cell ‘ has characters explore the mind of a guy whose father ab*sed him- and the different alternative fantasy-worlds they explore are based off his memories. The cop exploring these memory-worlds, was also implied to be se*ually ab*sed by his dad . Also,in Inception a guy says he’s a construct of a guy’s mind ( the guy who created the dream worlds that are like alternate dimensions/levels- also hates his dad). And leo’s character says he needs to help him escape the many different levels of the dream world of the mind. Movies like inception, total recall, the cell, enter the void, wizard of oz, Peter Pan, hellraiser 2, dream warriors, bill & ted’s bogus journey, the labyrinth,and welcome to marwen, all allude to this: because they involve entering simulated abstract worlds usually created/based on happy& traumatic memories/fears. While truman show/matrix are more about realizing your reality isn’t real. While in bladerunner 2044/total recall it has the theme of false implanted memories… probably relating to hopper/el realizing they’re alters of Will’s-and their memories were technically created by him.

Something some DiD suffers have are “innerworlds” .When someone has DID there can be multiple “innerworlds” that are separate from one another (and look very different from one another) .And are usually very abstract worlds that are based on the child’s memories (good &bad) . These worlds are usually created at different times and almost act like alternate dimensions (and the inhabitants -npcs/alters of those worlds usually don’t interact with one another) . So they can almost resemble alternate dimensions like how Scott Clarke mentions “Hugh Everett’s many worlds interpretation.” Russia where Hopper is- is probably one of those innerworlds.

HOPPER THEORY:

tw:ab*se/r*pe. In s2 Nancy asks Steve how his “grandpa’s time in the war is a metaphor for your life?” And steve compares the mf to the germans in the war. Dr owens mentions Will has ptsd like “ (vietnam) soldiers’, Hopper saying he had buddies like Will . “In the 70s there was a study that compared the post-traumatic stress symptoms in Vietnam veterans and adult survivors of childhood s**ual ab*se. The study revealed that childhood s**ual ab*se is traumatizing and can result in symptoms comparable to symptoms from war-related trauma.” Hopper isn’t actually in Russia -but in one of the innerworlds (after he jumped through the rift of the machine- into Will’s mind). We’ll see flashbacks but also present circumstances of his imprisonment echo Will’s past with Lonnie (if the movies indicate anything)- being starved, guards getting payed in order to let other prisoners r*pe a gay prisoner (than claim incorrectly because of his sexuality he wanted it) , as well as a gang of sadist men who r**e others and a warden using that as a threat to be compliant , being thrown in a dark room of solitary confinement and starved when they didn’t obey the warden, the warden being religious, etc. And the American soldiers (in Vietnam) in the movies aren’t much better and do similarly horrific acts to civilians like r**e and bragging/ happily k*lling women, children, and the elderly. The drill sergant in vietnam calling them homophobic slurs & women, and chocking one of the soldiers with one hand (like the mf/russian), slapping one for not believing in christianity. Tying up a soldier in a bed , gagging him, beating him and saying “remember it’s just a dream.” Only praising them when good in fire arms.(movies : fullmetal jacket, papillon, shawshank redemption, platoon, welcome to marwen, etc ) . My assumption is flashbacks of his life- hints about him being an alter -the boxes in the basement are “vietnam” ,“dad”, and “ny” (and these are the memories of his we’ll see).or after escaping the prison he’s stuck in diff innerworlds of memories. And some of the bad characters in said stories will also parallel Lonnie . Like how in the s4 film ‘peterpan’- the young girl Wendy imagines netherland and the villain -captain hook- is based off her father ( in the movie they have the same voice actors/while in all stage productions the 2 characters are always played by the same actor). Similar to the other s4 film- ‘wizard of oz’ where the wicked witch of the west from the mythical land of Oz (is played by Dorothy’s real life mean neighbor in the real world/kansas).Or in ‘the cell’- all the alternate dimensions of the dream world that were created by a guy with a ab*sive h*mophobic dad -had the same actor play the villain in each very different dream dimension. ”Not sure if they’d use Ross Patridge (actor of Lonnie) in this way . But it would be very interesting if (In makeup) Ross played many negative people in Hopper’s life.

Also, in s2, Jonathan mentions Indiana writer Vonnegut- In his book ‘slaughterhouse 5′- Vonnegut begins the story of Billy (William) Pilgrim, a man who has “come unstuck in time”. (time ref of Hopper saying he wants to ‘turn back the clock.’ or’ runaway from his memories.‘It accounts of Billy Pilgrim’s capture and incarceration by the Germans during the last years of World War II (Hopper captured by the russians), and scattered throughout the narrative are episodes from Billy’s life with his dad, and his own wife and kids.Billy is forced to be part of the war and similar things against his free will. The moments start from his childhood when his father throws him in the water to teach him how to swim. He was unwillingly drafted into the war. Later, he is kidnapped by Tralfamadorians (aliens that are implied to be caused by his mental health issues/trauma) against his will. Therefore, he realizes that this concept is just an illusion.in bladerunner 2044/total recall it has the theme of false implanted memories… probably relating to hopper realizing he’s an alter and his memories are technically ‘created’ . Like in total recall- the bad ass spy is told all his memories: his wife/ years of marriage, his name, are just implanted memories. And she says “you’re life is a dream.” We also have ‘Arrival’ -the parent’s daughter died young cause of terminal cancer- and the mother later realizes time is also just a abstract construct (a thing she can experience differently than others), but she still finds meaning/happiness in those memories/times.

I also talked about how sarah as an alter could come back and the 2 would explore the “innerworlds” of Will’s mind together (you can read the details there).

El and Will theory

I’m thinking of the s4 movies and 1 matrix scene comes to mind that could be an obvious hint to Did (and Will’s importance). Mr smith (the suited calm villain/ who is a literal computer program of the matrix world -cough alter/npc of Will’s) kidnaps/ ties up Morpheus to a chair (like Will in s2), injects him with drugs in the neck ( like s3 steve/ will’s arm in s2). Then Mr smith says as everyone leaves the room “I’m going to be honest with you. I hate this place, this prison, this reality or what you call it.” (grabs Morpheus’ head and glares) “ I need to get out of here! I need to be free! And this mind is the key.”(referring to morpheus).morpheus also translates to ‘god of dreams’. Also Morpheus was wearing head gear similar to El in s1/Will in s2 . or in 12 monkeys the guy sent to psych ward -starts believing he’s just “crazy” and says “i created a world with those people in it.” “It’s not real .I’m just mentally ill, like you said ” when you know- it is all real,cause of the supernatural angle involved. in 12 monkeys a patient even tells him the fictional world he created would dissappear once his mental health was in order.

Then there’s the El stuff. Hellraiser 2- has a normal psych hospital, but the basement floor has an evil psychiatrist experimenting on teens to open a portal to another reality. assasains creed/dream warriors - has the psychiatric facility be similar to the s1 lab with sensory deprivation tanks, cameras, solitary confinement in dark rooms.The doctor experiments on them- and forces a character to go into the memories of another individual (we know El has memory powers).The dr reveals how the character’s reality/whole life isn’t what they think it is (and that the memories they saw with their powers-was their past life and they are that person’s reincarnation) . Aka Will is the host- and El is an alter (alters can see memories of other alters/the host irl-aka billy/terry were also alters ).

In assasain’s creed there’s 2 psychiatrists- one bad / one who is good (but influenced by the bad dr). One dr annoyed at the lack of progress, says about the patient “he doesn’t want to remember his father.” While one dr doesn’t want to rush the therapy/ the other dr wants the patient to go back into his memories regardless of how it affects him. (which could be Brenner & maybe Owens referring to Will’s dissociative-amnesia and not remembering all the ab*se Lonnie did. And Owens not wanting to rush it/hurt el by making her go into said memories …but Brenner not caring.

also other hints : Cough s4 using the movie wizard of oz refs “we’re not in Hawkins (kansas) anymore”-hint at russia. David on instagram posting st stuff and captioning it with and quotes, pretending to be dorothy from the film. Hopper in s1 saying hawkins lab was “emerald city” (referencing El- it’s also why they reference El entering our world in ep 1 and the alice in wonderland song plays) . Murray says about the supernatural “no one wants to see behind the curtain” (what was behind the curtain in wizard of oz-was a wizard aka Will). Or you know right before Will sees the mf for the first time -a clock turns rapidly/ he has goosbumps at the back of his neck. Which he later grabs/states are from “memories” he can’t remember that are like a “dream”.

If i’m right-not sure how much of this may happen in s4 vs s5, though. But I think something like this is possible. For all we know-Will/El being trapped with Brenner while Hopper escapes ‘russia’ could be how the season ends? The timeline i’m a bit iffy about-tbh.

#stranger things theory #will byers #el hopper #jim hopper #time theory #did theory

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yamagucji · 3 years

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love letters from cupid.

dear lovely anons,

i cherish every bit of interaction we have. im extremely grateful to know that there are people out there who read and enjoy my works. hm, hope you know that i care about each of you. honestly sometimes i just wanna make a post dedicated to each of you but idk!! if you’ll see it or not. hopefully this bit is enough to let you know how much i appreciate every single one of you. thank you.

dear readers,

thank you for reading my works. it’s comforting to know that there are people out there who will check out something that i’ve slapped on together with every bit of my effort. to those of you who have consistently supported my works in silence- you know who you are. im just... keeping my distance because ya’ll are really just minding your own business while i get giddy about seeing you pop up in my notifications again. im hoping to get around and send a ty note to as many special readers n special ppl on this blog. but im a little shy, so i hope you’ll give me some time. seeing you in my notifications from time to time makes me happy; sometimes i do wonder if you’re still here and in good health. i hope you all are right now. thank you.

dear dani,

what a wonderful being you are. never regretting the first time i *shyly* asked if there was anyone that wanted to be friends here. i probably already talk about my love for you and vera so much but who’s gonna stop me? you’re such a cool person. i look up to you (literally). i think it’s amazing to get to know a person who has a lot of passion for history like me. but also- screams about 2d men with me. truthfully, this site is much more bearable having you as a moot. i feel very comfortable talking to you, about anything at all. lomve you, you’re the best.

dear mayya,

kindness personified. im sure you’ve made a plethora of people smile with every rb and comment you’ve given; including me. i think it’s very refreshing to see such genuine comments. you radiate this calm aura that im always seeking for. thank you, for providing me (and many other people) with that. a little embarrassing that you see my uhm, messy sideblog, but... it’s comforting i think. to know that someone is listening. i hope that you understand it goes the other way around too— that i’m here for you.

dear hrituja,

my partner of chaos. when did it start? i can’t remember. all i know is that every little thing you send me on instagram really makes my day. i’ll have bad days and all i need to do is look at the silly stuff you sent me and get a laugh out of it. i think it’s cool that we’ve been able to build this space where we can talk about anything (literally), poke fun of each other, and also ourselves. you’re cool. i genuinely like hearing you go off about ace. if i could meet a moot it’d probably be you unless you’re secretly a fraud and you’re actually just a 80 yr old man looking for a sugar babie. in that case im in.

dear oz,

you overly sweet bean. i genuinely watch you in awe from afar, just by how talented and hardworking you are. your art is amazing, and i always look forward to the design you make for your oc’s outfits. thank you for understanding me, and for being patient with me. i care about you a lot, so if there’s ever anything that’s occupying your mind and you need to let them out, i’m here to listen. ps. i really don’t know any other mutual who listens to *that* comfort stuff like i do so im really thankful to have someone to talk about them with. you can always share your interests with me too, especially with your dearest tendou.

dear tate,

im such in awe of you. just the fact that you devote a lot of your time into writing and setting up the theme for your blog astounds me. not to mention, your art skills as well. i am still very much in love with that bokuto piece you made with the hanging leaves. i hope you know that bokuto loves you just as much as you do to him. i know you’re writing up something special atm, so i’m really looking forward to it. thank you for all the time you’ve spared just to send me an ask. it truly does mean a lot to me. it feels like someone is listening, and i’m very appreciative of having you as my dear mutual. please know that i’m here to support you too, with the best of my abilities.

dear winx club,

[ @wissbby @kageruna @pinkbunnyplushie @astrooliver @lovingtobio @kenmaki @lfjr @lcsbianist ]

im such a clutz, but thank you for dealing with me. i was little nervous to start up such a discord server because im bad at staying in one. though, the warm environment that you all provide makes me feel much more at ease. i think it’s funny popping in to the server and seeing a few people spamming the chat with hugs, headpats and kisses. it’s sweet, too. being in a group discord can get overwhelming for some people, so i appreciate you all for having that patience. another thing- thank you for understanding each other’s boundaries. its hard to be aware all the time especially when you’re interacting with people you don’t know to at a very personal level. im glad that you all helped each other make the space comfy. i look forward to more chaotic and genuine talks with all of you in the future. maybe we’ll still be in touch with each other after a long while? who knows. but im going to cherish every single moment i get with you all.

dear @nishinoya-is-baby @keitsukki11 @sullen-angel24 @smolbludandelions @whootwhoot @cheatingthroughthislife @tadashi-simp @oikaw-ugh @lostsealscreams @sleepykarabou @atsunflower @lfjr @globe-fish @bewwybun @tetsoleil @sleepykarabou @justcafewriter @rin-suna @atsumusc0ck @waitforitillwritemywayout @dorkyhaikyu @yemilnisu @sunseteyes @kenmaki @kenanami,

goodness, i would write you all individual messages if time let me. but, i hope this is alright. i just wanted to thank you all for interacting with some dummy like me because that shit takes real patience </3 y’all are some really cool people and im really glad to have you as a moot. im ngl im pretty sure i’ve stopped by all your inboxes just to forget to actually send an ask :’( or maybe im too shy. one or the other. hopefully i can come around to all your ask boxes soon and fill it with my love because it’s what you all deserve. ya’ll are such amazing and talented people. for the love of god- you have all my love and care in the world. i hope that these past few weeks have been gentle with you, but if not, please let yourself rest from whatever it is that may be putting you down. here’s a gentle reminder that im always here to listen, and i wouldn’t judge you for whatever it is it may be. thank you for being so kind to me, and i hope to return that as well. take care.

@insanitywrites @derpeedoo @killuababie @lespaghetti @ordinary-ace

i haven’t told you this until now but, thank you for giving me company and comfort during a time that i was deeply struggling.

ps. if there’s any grammar or spelling mistakes no u did not see that <3

#cupid speaks #some...#very important ppl in this blog #i love them.

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littlemisssquiggles · 3 years

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What do you think of the idea of Emerald/Oscar? They have some soft moments together.

Hello Sweet o/ Well this squiggle meister is definitely on-board with the Green Team/Emerald City pair as a FRIEND-ship with Emerald being yet another proxy big sister figure to “adopt” Oscar as their close companion whereas the little prince in turn could finally provide Emerald with the strong and devoted family type of bond that Emerald truly wants and failed to garner from the villain side especially with Cinder Fall who she saw as a “mother” or close guardian figure who saved her from her former life of poverty.

Another reason why I like the Emerald City duo is because I’d like to think that part of Oscar’s willingness to believe in Emerald and desire to look out for her stems from him and Oz essentially fulfilling Hazel’s role of continuing to watch over her in his absence.

After all, it wasn’t just Oscar to be saved from Monstra. Emerald was too. Hazel Rainart gave his life to ensure that both Oscar and Emerald were finally free of Salem and since Hazel is gone, Oscar probably sees it as his right to stand by Em in his place; especially since he also owes her for his salivation.

Plus, a second reason why I think the showrunners may be pushing the Emerald City bond is because, ultimately, Emerald will become the next Fall Maiden; replacing Cinder Fall.

Think about it. Professor Ozpin was the Headmaster of Beacon Academy. Beacon Academy is the fortress secretly housing the Vault of the Fall Maiden which contains the Crown of Choice---the only relic that Salem couldn’t acquire on her own since the true path to claiming it still rests in Ozma’s memories. Memories that will soon be passed onto Oscar Pine who is Ozma’s current incarnate officially succeeding Professor Ozpin.

Even if Oscar gains the knowledge to locate the Relic of Choice; he and the heroes would still need the hand of the Fall Maiden to open the vault. And as it stands, the Fall Maiden powers still rest with Cinder Fall who Emerald Sustrai was a former affiliate of and whom she shares a bond with; whether Cinder dares to admit it or not.

You see where I’m going with this?

Emerald becoming the Fall Maiden after Cinder has been a headcanon for her that I’ve been rooting for since the conclusion of V5. Based on how things are shaping up and what is required to move forward, I think Cinder’s final curtain call may be drawing near and what would actually be most fitting is if Emerald is the one to deal the killing blow to Cinder.

As a matter of fact, it would almost be symbolic if Emerald is the one of all characters to be the one to put a stop to Cinder---not only saving the others from her but also ironically saving Cinder from herself. Emerald killing Cinder would be an act of mercy from someone who genuinely loved Cinder and wanted nothing but the best for her. And why I love this idea is because it would be a fantastic parallel to the end of Cinder’s backstory in the Midnight episode.

In RWBY V8CH6, Cinder’s path and descent in her megalomaniac madness was forged the instant she killed Rhodes. Say what you will about him as a character; Rhodes cared deeply for Cinder…even up until the moment she cut him down with the very same weapon he gifted her.

So with that in mind, imagine how fitting of an ending it would be if Cinder died the very same way she was ‘born’, essentially.

You can pretty much say that the person we know Cinder Fall to be was born when she killed her former mentor and the one person in her life that actually genuinely cared about her at the time.

So…imagine the poetic irony that would be for Cinder Fall to now die---killed by the hands of her own former apprentice and the one person in her life who genuinely cared about her at the time---Emerald Sustrai.

Imagine if��Emerald kills Cinder and Cinder gets a strange sense of déjà vu because not only did her surprised expression at being killed by Emerald reflect the one Rhodes made to her the night he died but through Emerald, Cinder sees her former young self---the side of her she discarded when she chose her path that night.

Cinder began her path with the bloody end of a blade through the chest of someone close to her. So for Emerald to kill Cinder the same way---even better if it’s done with her very own weapon---then that would be…downright perfect as ending to Cinder’s arc.

Apologies to all the Cinder Fall fans reading this post. The CRWBY showrunners have had Cinder dance with death one too many times. I myself have honestly been curious about how Cinder’s story was going to end in the canon. While I still like my Red Queen headcanon for her, I would be okay with Cinder dying if Emerald was the one to kill her.

NOT Ruby. NOT Jaune. But Emerald. If there is one character who would be most fitting to be the one to put an end to Cinder Fall, it would be Emerald.

Killing Cinder, especially if it was done in protection and/or aid of the heroes, would be the final nail in Emerald’s own arc of “switching sides”.

As stated back between V6 and V8, Cinder was technically the one thing still tying Em to the side of evil as she once remarked that she was only on Salem’s side out of her loyalty to Cinder. Emerald already left Salem but Cinder still lives as an anchor to possibly tempt Em back to the side of evil. But if Em were to be the one to stop Cinder, then that cord would finally be cut thus cementing Emerald as being on the side of good---officially in respect to her story.

Emerald helping to save Oscar and return him to his allies on Monstra doesn’t make her a “good guy”. Emerald helping our heroes take down Ironwood, help Penny and save the refugees of Atlas and Mantle doesn’t even make her a “good guy” either.

But stopping Cinder Fall for good---to be the one to put her down and essentially save everyone from the monster she knew Cinder would ultimately become if not stopped--- that, to me, would be the move to officiate Emerald Sustrai as a “good guy”.

Even better if Cinder were to plant the tough choice right in Em’s face. Imagine if…Cinder puts Oscar’s life in danger and orders Em to be the one to kill Oscar for her; like the devoted pawn she always treats her as. Imagine if…Em is placed in a position where she is made to choose between her old loyalty to Cinder as a villain or her newfound loyalty to Oscar as a hero.

Just as how Cinder was Emerald’s anchor to the villains on Salem’s side, Oscar is technically now Emerald’s anchor to the heroes on Ozpin’s side. So if Cinder forces Em to kill Oscar but Em ends up killing Cinder instead to save Oscar for a second time----this would be it. This would be the deed that cements Emerald as formally giving up on Cinder and fighting for the side of good; at least in my humble opinion.

And the cherry on top would be that killing Cinder causes the Fall Maiden powers to go directly to Emerald and if Emerald becomes the Fall Maiden---the maiden tied to the vault and relic housed in the school that is tied to Professor Ozpin whose very successor is her closest ally on the hero team---I’d like to think this would be a perfect conclusion to Emerald’s “arc”. I think that could work epically.

This is why I’m rooting for Em to become the next Fall Maiden. This happening would definitely further cement the Emerald City dynamic since Oscar’s new “big sister” or rather “cousin” would be the maiden tied to “his” relic needed to open “his” vault hidden in “his” school.

(I think I’d rather refer to Emerald as Oscar’s adopted cousin since I low-key like the concept of Oscar taking Emerald back home with him to Mistral only for her to be adopted immediately by his family since Emerald was an orphan who grew up on the streets and never truly had a family of her own but ultimately finds one with the Pines who willingly take her in. It FITS; dagnabbit.)

My one gripe with Emerald City duo though is that I wished it had better build-up throughout the series run. I’d be lying if the fact that Emerald and Oscar barely had any interactions prior to V8 definitely hurts the believability of them suddenly being close now with Oscar willing to vouch for the good in Emerald…even though he literally just met her like yesterday according to the timeline.

I know it helps the meme of Emerald “only knowing Oscar for 24 hours and would be willing to kill anyone who dares to hurt him” but from a storytelling perspective, I really wish the development of this dynamic had been delivered better. I mean I’m happy that we finally got the payoff of Emerald and Oscar becoming friends and seeing Em joining the heroes thanks to her friendship with Oscar…but it’s like eating a delicious cheese burger without the cheese.

You get to see the beginning of it and the joyful payoff of the end but the middle part that was needed to make it fully work is non-existent and ends up hurting it in respect to consistency.

While I understand that Emerald helped to save Oscar’s life---that’s not really enough to sell his sudden faith in her. At least for me. Can’t speak for everyone else. Since, like I said, we barely got any scenes of Oscar and Em interacting before she showed up to help get him out of Monstra.

The ONLY thing that’s canonically helping sell Emerald City to me is the fact that Hazel was shown to care for and look out for Emerald’s wellbeing in the past and since Oscar spent more time with Hazel; by extension; custody of Em was transferred to Oscar/Oz the minute Hazel died…especially since, he was technically the one forced to kill him when he sacrificed himself to stop Salem.

I guess I just personally would’ve liked to have seen these two interact more over the seasons, particularly for V8 while Oscar was imprisoned.

Perhaps that chance will come now that Em is on the team working with ALPN. And it would probably work even better if Em becomes the Fall Maiden. But for now that’s mostly just speculation.

All in all, bottom line---as I’ll say again, this squiggle meister really likes Emerald City as another close friendship dynamic for Oscar and Em respectively and I’m looking forward to seeing how this dynamic develops over the next season.

I’m curious to see how much more Em and Oscar can help each other as friends especially since Oscar still has own inner demons with the Merge to deal with emotionally and I’m especially curious to see how Em would react to reuniting with Mercury in Vacuo now that she’s joined the heroes---even better if she’s now the Fall Maiden after killing Cinder.

That should be a fun development but we’ll see how that goes. In the meantime, hope this lengthy response answers your question, Sweet XD

~ LittleMissSquiggles (2021)

#squiggles answers: rwby #oscar pine #emerald sustrai #cinder fall #rwby volume 8 spoilers #rwby emerald city #rwby volume 8 theories #sweetgm2

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popculturebuffet · 3 years

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Goof Week: Goof Troop: Forever Goof Review (Everything’s Coming Up Goofy, Good Neighbor Goof, Gotta Be Gettin Goofy) (Commission for WeirdKev27)

Yahhahhooooeeeey all you happy people! WELCOME TO GOOF WEEK! Now normally when a character who got their start in theatrical shorts has a birthday, I do a marathon of them. I have since last year with Donald and it’s one of my favorite things: it allows me to explore Disney’s rich history of them I was largely unaware of till Disney+, and allows me to revisit the shorts I grew up with in the case of The Looney Tunes or Tom and Jerry while discovering new favorites. SO naturally with Goofy’s birthday in two days I intended to do the same for him, especially since I’d covered Donald and Mickey the same way.

But fate had other ideas. Not thinking about this tradition, Kev, my patreon, friend and the guy who commissions a LOT of reviews from me ($5 an episode if your curious and I WILL make room on the schedule so your commission gets done as soon as possible), suggested reviewing the Goof Troop pilot movie Forever Goofy, later split into the episode Everything’s Coming Up Goofy and Good Neighbor. I loved the idea since I genuinely loved Goof Troop, and decided to do both that week.

It’s then I got a great idea.. why limit myself to JUST doing two things? I hit my 15 dollar patreon stretch goal, so a review of the Goofy Movie was on the Horizon anyway, and for it’s anniversary year Kev has been commissioning House of Mouse Episodes, so it wouldn’t be THAT much of an ask (and it wasn’t) to simply randomly select from a pool of Goofy-Centric episodes instead of all the episodes.

Thus GOOF WEEK was born, and Kev once again proved vital to all this by suggesting the special Sports Goof from the 80′s. I’d like to give him special thanks as outside of the Shorts Special, which as a patreon he still got to pick one and if you’d like to pick one for Donald’s special, sign on up even one dollar patreons get the honor. , this week is either entirely paid for by him or in the case of A Goofy Movie, is partly thanks to him. I wouldn’t be able to do NEARLY as many reviews nor make money off this without you bud, so thank you.

So naturally given the idea to do this two parter gave me the idea for this week and that Goofy Movie makes a logical finale for said week, it only made sense to start the week with Goof Troop. Bop-dop-da-da-do-bop, YEAH.

Goof Troop is the first Disney Afternoon show I ever watched and the only one I watched when I was younger, as Disney Channel used to play it ocasinally when I was younger and Toon Disney would do the same and I even got to Marthoon it when Disney XD did a weekend marathon. Given it starred my faviorite Disney Character, Donald hadn’t worked his way up to tying with him quite yet, I loved what I could grab of it. And as an adult.. it still holds up. It has problems i’ll get into, but it is a real good time so I was exastic to get an excuse to watch some of it and much like with Darkwing wish I had sooner.

Before I can h-h-h-hit it though, I have to talk about the series history. I ALMOST didn’t find anything: much like the other Disney Afternoon shows there really wasn’t much on the Disney wiki nor wikipedia, google turned up nothing... it wasn’t till I went to the Tv Tropes Trivia Page for the series, where i’d remembered reading about some early versions of the show, that I hit gold: A two part behind the scenes blog post by series co-creator Michael Peraza. You can find part one HERE and part two HERE. It’s a short but fascinating read.

Speaking of fascenating Peraza himself is someone i’d never heard of till reading this article but damn if he isn’t a legend. Seriously the guy’s career is as an unsung hero, starting work under the Legendary Nine Old Men, and working on some of disney’s greatest films: The Great Mouse Detective, Aladdin, The LIttle Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast, along with live action cult classics Tron and Return to Oz via concept art. And concept art is where he’d hit his stride: he did conceptual work for all the big Disney Afternoon shows apart from Gargoyles, being one of the key guys in the early days of Disney Television animation. He didn’t stop at just designing things either as he worked as Art Director for Ducktales, The Proud Family and of course given how vital he was to it’s creation, Goof Troop, and to this days gives lectures with his wife to aspiring animators. He even did some guest work for the 2017 Ducktales Episode “Treasure of the Found Lamp!”. So yeah dude’s awesome

So how did he come to be a key part of this show’s creation? Well he’d just finished up some concept work on some other Disney Afternoon shows, and being a company man was glad to report to the Goof Troop..ers to help as the show was having trouble getting off the ground. The reason for this was the creative exec, who Peraza didn’t name out of kindness as the guy wasn’t a BAD person.. just a clueless one, this being his first job in film and tv. As such rather than work hard to develop around goofy or focus on his strengths the kid threw out one concept after another: The series got it’s name from a pitch that had Goofy as a scoutmaster, something I was glad to finally know. To quote Peraza

“ Although while I was doodling versions of the show that were destined to never see the light of the TV screen, the pitch date remained etched in stone and kept creeping closer. Various versions would find their way to the surface only to sink again into the wasteland known as the roundfile (trashcan). One moment Goofy was the Captain of the Fire Department, the next day a detective out of the Maltese Falcon mold, or a swash buckling hero fighting The Flying Dutchman.

The supporting cast he came up with really wasn't very supportive when you consider they sometimes included alien dragon babies with wings along with a large gorilla. Somebody at Walt Disney Television Animation must have really had a thing for giant gorillas around this time as they were plugged into almost every concept we assembled.”

It was clear that while Goofy COULD fit into just about anything, this exec was just throwing everything at the wall, nothing was sticking, and rather than try to refine his supporting cast, they kept having to throw them out and start over. And dont’ get me wrong, cartoons go through a lot of development and changes as they go.. but it’s usually born from a concept and usually by this point, they at least have what the show will be ABOUT in stone. While i’ve had the same creative changes and what not when coming up with projects that ultimately never saw the light of day, and currentlly some I hope to but might not, I’m not being paid by a studio to do this nor had a hard deadline. I was just spitballing trying to get something anything off the ground before reviewing gave me a steady outlet for my creativity and thus ballanced me to take my time with stuff. Peraza WAS turning out amazing art, like this concept art for the fireman pitch that honeslty makes me want to see it as a series. Who DOSEN’T want to see 9-11 with Goofy as the main character? Throw in Donald and grown up versions of Max, PJ and PIstol (And even not THAT much for the former two, as they did go off to college and all), don’t forget Roxanne this time out and you have a worthy goofy movie sequel.

So yeah this wasn’t working and the latest pitch was not great: Putting Goofy in ToonTown as a cabbie driving the Cab from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. As Peraza TRIED to point out to the exec, putting Goofy in a naturally goofy setting didn’t really play to the characters strength, his whole shtick being a goofus in a normal world. Enough of an every man to root for but also a slapstick joly weirdo.

The executive’s INCREDIBLY douchey response, especially since Peraza was a Disney Vetran at this point and had spent quite a lot of time on Ducktales, so he knew what he was talking about was “Do it anyway and leave the “Visionary” part to me”

As you can tell by MR. OOC there, this might be one of the most punchable sentences i’ve ever read.

So Peraza wasn’t in a great place and was naturally terrified when he got a call from Gary Krisel, president of Disney TVA, asking about the show and to see him about it.

Turns out though Krisel was a nice guy who already had a great working relatinship with Peraza, and genuinely wanted to know what was going on there and wanted his honest opinion. It’s why i’m not AGAINST executives in animation as sometimes they can come in when somethings clearly not working or allow a smooth transition of power if a propelmatic creator has to be booted off their own show so the show and i’ts crew don’t suffer as a result. It’s just more often than not they cause headaches or cancel shows for entirley stupid or self motivated reasons. But I will give credit where it’s do and point out times where there NOT stupid or homophobic or what have you and this is indeed one of those times.

Peraza was indeed straight with him: pointing out all the concepts they’d gone through, and like with the other guy honestly gave his opinon the ToonTown Pitch wasn’t working.. and he not only agreed but asked Peraza himself, actually respecting his experince instead of yelling at him that he has a vision that wouldn’t last the end of the day probably.

Peraza was HOPING this was where this was going and gladly gave him a far less high concept pitch and one truer to the character, quoted in full bellow:

“ My spiel went as follows, "Goofy is a recognized star of Disney animation, so why re-invent the wheel? His son is an average kid dealing with many of the usual issues they face: peer pressure, young love, grades, school bullies, and so on. On top of all that, he has the zaniest, wackiest GOOFIEST dad to live down. No matter how insane the situations get though, they will always love each other. They're a family." Gary asked how I would pitch it and I replied, "It's ONE day in the life of Goofy and son. From getting up in the morning to fixing breakfast, we see their difference side by side as his son tries to distance himself. No matter what though he knows deep inside that his father will always be there for him, whether he likes it or not."

If your wondering if Peraza noticed that that original pitch line is basically the peremise and emotioinal core of The Goofy Movie down pat.. your extremley correct and he notes that the film was based on said pitch even if he had no involvment with it that I could tell. The series would still use this but the whole embarasment aspect was toned down, and honestly fit a teenager better than an 11 year old..

So the exec loved it and Peraza shaped the core of the series: the idea of having Pete as his nemisis, pete having a nuclear family including a gorgeous wife, and the show being more slice of life and what not. He made some great sketches, got roaring approval and then pitched it to rousing success and the rest is history. Goof Troop was a moderate success and The Goofy Movie after it is a classic beloved by all. We have this wonderful man to thank for all that and I also thank him , on the offchance he ever sees this, for bringing Goofy into modern times in a way that did the man-dog justice. It’s thank to you we got this fun series, two great movies, and a goofy the way he is today: the best of everything about him rolled into one. Thanks man, free review.. not htat you NEED It since you’ve worked on things i’ve covered and what not, but I feel like I should offer. Outside of Peraza, I found one last bit of making of stuff before I get to the premiere proper. These two early concept shots:

The first has Max who both looks older and has red hair like he did in the shorts. Honestly I see a lot of his Goofy Movie self in thiis design, the only diffrence obviously being the red hair which was wisely changed to make the boy look more like goofy, something kept for the movie.

The more intresting one is this shot of the Pete’s. Starting with Pete he’s more athletic and has a perfectly tacky outfit. While changing him to be a bit more slovenly honestly fit this version of the character better, I do wish they’d kept hte outfit as the tacky gold and green jacket, the gold chain, the open ollar.. it all fits this version of pete so well, as well as his illusion of being a big shot when he is in fact a medium one. Peg is both slightly younger looking and far more doting and is so different I swear this picture looks like Pete remarried after the divorce and got some lipo. Pistol has about the same design but with a vastly different, more Isabella-ish outfit. Finally we have PJ who looks the same, but has a diffrent outfit and a far more sour demeanor, probably meant to be a bully. My best guess is sthis stuff comes from the pitch, and was likely made to simply get the basic premise across before fine tuning the characters for series

So with all of that out of the way i’m calling eveyrone to join in the fun under the cut and report to the Goof Troop.

Everything’s Coming Up Goofy:

Our first episode opens in a small but cozy trailer, where Goofy’s cooking up lunch as only goofy could: by making osme meatballs then serving them to his son over a game of table tennis, with Max doing the same. It’s really freaking adorable, and a dynamic i’m not used to since i’m more familiar with Teen Max. Seeing Max genuinely get into his dad’s hyjinks and enjoy them.. it just warms the heart and adds weight to The Goofy Movie by knowing there was a time the two really were thick is thieves before the stygian hole that is high school drained all that out of him.

So the two are like buddies and pals until the Mailman arrives, not even phased at this point. Turns out it’s a Diploma, and with this Goofy can get a job he’s been up for in Spoonerville and plans to move immediately. Max is devisated he’ll loose his friends and runs away to use a magical mystery box to keep them together only to end up in a land full of frogs with an old man who sounds like his dad minus the drawl and two other tinier frogs and ... I may have the wrong show. In fairness you try dislodging a finale where Keith David runs a 13 year old through with laser sword and then talk to me.

Goofy is sympathetic though: While he seems a tad oblivous to Max’s worries, it’s very clear he’s jumping on this job and this move so far to give his son a better life. Sure he runs through all the cartoon moving away talking points that don’t work in real life or most other cartoons such as there being a nice lake and that max can make new friends, and Max accepts it weirdly fast because this episode is only 22 minutes and they don’t have time for that subplot... but it’s clear the idea of a better paying job, a secure home not in an alleyway, and some stablility for his son is the real reason Goofy’s doing this, and he probably wants to simply give the boy the childhood he had growing up.

Meanwhile in Spoonerville, we meet Pete. To my shock this is where Jim Cummings took over the roll he was born for and has played since and with good reasons as Cummings is just amazing with Pete no matter the incarnation and excels here his penchant for playing jerks, hams and gravely voiced guys all coalesicing. Pete is planning on building what modern toxicly masculine weirdos such as himself would call a Man Cave on his lawn, because Pete is a very SPECIAL kind of douchebag. He also plans to stretch it into the neighboring property, tear down the house there and set it up.

This is news to his wife Peg, played by fellow voice acting Legend whose stillg ot it, April Winchell in her star making role. Peg is Pete’s strong willed wife who dosen’t put up with her husbands crap.. you know that trope that infected sitcoms for kids and adults of the doofy husband whose either a manchild , a skeevy self serving quipy asshole or some horrible combination of the two. The kind that has still been so prevealant the wife from one of said sitcoms helped produce a show about the wife finally doing the logical thing and plotting to kill the bastard. No really.. that’s an actual thing that’s happening. It’s even got a Little Bit of Alexis as Anne Murphy plays the poor, poor wife.

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And why yes the series is called Kevin Can Fuck Himself. And why yes said former sitcom wife was the same one on a sitcom called Kevin Can Wait who was fired because they wanted to retool the show with the wife from Kevin James other sitcom. That also is very really a thing that happened. Payback is a bitch aint it? Fun too.

But yeah from minute one Pete is a terrible husband: Peg is a realtor and thus is trying to sell the house because it’s her fucking job instead of letting her husband throw their family deep in debt to very likely illegally demolish a house so he has a giant yard to play in. I mean even if this is all played for jokes i’ts just not funny enough to not make him an utter bastard. The fact his response to her VERY valid criticism and subtextual worry he doesn’t’t take her career seriously is to fake a panic attack, from a very REAL tendency he turns out to have giant breakdowns under stress, to try and guilt her into letting him have his giant public man cave just backs this up.. as does the fact she simply glares at the camera as he’s clearly DONE this before.

Since I have to put up with this version of him for the rest of this episode, the next, AND a portion of the movie, i’m proudly introducing the Pete Sucks Counter. This will carry over to any other appearances of the guy from here on out. So that’s one for his insane plan, one for disrespecting his wife’s career and one for faking a panic attack to try and win an argument Pete Sucks Counter: 3

So because this episode ran short Peg caves and compromises: He can have the property if it isn’t sold by 9. So Pete does what ANY husband would do: uses his spy camera and booby traps he’s set up in the other house to try and scare away prospective buyers.

Yeah.. while the show TRIES to have Pete not as his old-timey villian self.. they traded in for him being fucking MODOK. I mean he is a grotesque monstrosity who has a nuclear family and spends all his time in a chair thing and can barely function as a Husband or Father. Though at least I can belivie MODOK LOVES his family which not so much with Pete.

To prove this Pete tries using a fake spider to scare some buyers then CALLS THEM TELLING THEM PEG IS A CON ARITST. I.e. something that if they mention to her bosses could get her FIRED. He respects his wife’s autonomy, what she wants and what she’s asked him for, which is a fair shot to sell the place before he tries to wreck the place, as well as likely what his neighbors want. I mean I can accept breaks from reality for comedy, snakebird is my boy.

So I can accept pete has this stuff.. I just can’t find it funny when these shenanignas very transparently show that while he surface level loves his wife he dosen’t respect her or actually listen to her except when she gets angry. He IS the villian so he’s still a slight step among monst sitcom dads but i’ts not great. I can find it funny that his den also functions as a super villian lair though. That shit will never not be great. Also Pete Sucks Counter: 6 For the record: one for the spider itself, one for having traps set up in a property hat both isn’t his and his wife is trying to sell and another for threatening her job and her self esteem as she is baffled at what she possibly did wrong.

So Goofy and Max get on the road, leaving moving the rest of their stuff to an old coot whose a friend of theres. So it’s goodbye Duckburg, Hello Spoonerville! And yes I headcanon this as Duckburg. Goof Troop is one of two shows that very clearly happened in SOME form, the other being Tailspin, the only difference being the time period (Goof Troop taking place in the 90′s and Tailspin in the 30′s or 40′s) and any adjustments for clashes with the 2017 verse. So going off that, we also know Donald and the boys KNOW goofy and didn’t remotely question his presence, as did the rest of the cast.

So figuring out the timeline, Goofy likely met Donald in college, even if he never finished college as per an Extremley Goofy Movie, which may not happen the same exact way given Goofy still has his old job and may not loose it in this timeline, though i’d like to think he still meets Sylvia. But point is he drops out, possibly to marry Max’s mom, they end up moving to Duckburg for her work, she sadly dies, and Goofy is left raising Max alone. Donald and Goofy likely bonded as single parents struggling in low paying 9-5 jobs. Goofy left here, likely said goodbye to Donald and the 5 or so year old boys offscreen , and left. As for how anyone else knows him that’s simple: he probably visits whenever he can. He’s a good friend, genuinely loves Donald like a brother in all continuities, and of course would show up with a progressively more then less grumpy Max every time. As for what I think the rest of the cast would think of him: Scrooge would hate him for his disaster area ways, but at least respect him as a hard worker, he just wouldn’t personally hire him which is.. it’s fair. Beakley would be aggravated by him. Webby would of course like him because she’s essentially him but competent and gay, and Launchpad and him .. god that’d be a joy to see. And drive up Scrooge’s insurance. Della would also like him obviously. I”m really disappointed we didn’t get a season 4 if for nothing else the fact we probably would’ve got another Goofy episode. It also feels weird he’s not in the finale in any way shape or form you know? Why have such a big guest spot for him and then just not bring him or Max back? GIVE ME MORE MAX DISNEY DAMN YOUUUUU So they move right along with Goofy excited to get back to where he once belonged, and to call Pete with the good news on his 90′s cell phone. Pete is utterly TERRIFIED finding out Goofy Comin and tries to send him off course to prevent it. Naturally despite nearly running into a truck, Goofy makes it to Spoonerville by evening anyway and we get a delightful bit that shows off BilL Farmer’s comedy skills as he rapidly lists off all the things in town while driving Max through town. It’s so damn smooth. This also is notable since before this farmer had just played the character in some DTV music videos, which stands for Disney not Denton but god I now want Shock Treatment with the Disney Crew. I mean who wouldn’t want Donald as Brad, Daisy as Janet, and Gladstone as Farley Flavors I ask you. Not sure who every one else would be i’m sorting that out. And if you don’t know what Shock Treatment is, here have this trailer with a nightmarish opening.

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Dammit now I want to watch Shock Treatment again... so I am. Found it in full on YouTube, and I feel no shame in sharing that as it’s not on VOD, nor any streaming service, the DVD, which I own, is out of print, and the Blu Ray is a UK exclusive. This film both needs to be seen more and needs another proper US release damn it!

So naturally Goofy somehow finds Pete’s house.. I dunno maybe Peg’s been sending him letters. Can’t blame her for having a wondering eye long as she dosen’t act on it. She’s married to a walking lump of ego, selfishness and cholesterol and likely only held on as long as she did for the kids. Which for the record Peg as a child of divorce whose parents got divorced rather than keep up a sham marriage or anything.. it’s not worth it. I was MUCH happier that way in the long term.

Anyways Peg and Goofy happily reunited while they awkardly try to get the kids to meet, with Goofy and PJ not warming up to each other at first, likely because Max just lost all his friends, and PJ clearly had none going into the series from context we’ll get later in the pilot. We also get a hilarious bit where Peg alternates between warmly greeting the goof’s and hilaroiusly shouting at Pistol to not play with worms.. in what honestly sounds like a protype for Miss Finster’s voice.

Meanwhile the kids try to hide a small crack in Pete’s boat.. which he notices as he’s just about to steamroll the house despite NOT having asked Peg if she sold it yet and just assuming, possibly opening himself and her to a lawsuit

Pete Sucks Counter: 7

Discovering his boat is trashed, he has a comical panic attack, which I can forgive since this was 1992 and they weren’t as well known as a serious problem. Seriously while pete is a bastard man.. the animation on him is GORGEOUS as it is HILARIOUS, while Jim Cummings brings the hell out of it. He’s kept the roll for three decades as of next year for a reason. Goofy ends up accidently destroying his boat in the process of trying to help him as you’d expect.

So Pete reluctantly lets the goofs sup with them.... and by reluctantly I mean he don’t wanna but Peg’s forcing him, which is pretty much the other half of their relationship in a nutshell: When pete isn’t lying and betraying her, Peg is forcing him to do stuff. As you can probably guess by how harsh i’ve been this aspect has aged INCREDIBLY poorly for me. This is your standard sitcom setup: asshole or dumbass or both dad, put upon wife who has to keep him in line.. but it’s just not how a GOOD marriage works and got so damn draining over time. Again and again we got things saying marriage is awful, comitting sucks unless your young, again and again. It’s why i’m REALLY happy we’ve been getting far better sitcom dad’s and marraiges lately. Bob’s Burgers is naturally the example, with the wife being the less sane one but both having their quriks and neither being so entirely dysfunctional you ever question the marriage. The Louds are another good example: Lynn Sr. And Rita NEVER right with each other that i’ve seen, have a perfectly happy relationship despite 11 kids, and wholly support each other, with Rita happily giving her husband the go ahead to quit his soul draining desk job so he could pursue his deream as a chef, and later letting him take a massive fincial gamble and open up a restraunt, purely because she belivied in him. Finally we have the Williams from Craig of the Creek who are easily one of the best married couples i’ve seen in western animation and one of them’s played by Terry Crews so that shoudln’t be a shock. I could prabobly find more but my points made: this trope REALLY ages the show poorly, more than any of hte 90′s specific tech or swinging theme song I just realized I forgot to talk about. Eh i’ll save it for the next episode.

I have NEVER liked this trope anyway: only simpsons has really made it work for me and Family Guy did until they just stretched it too far, and with Simpsons at least they freqeuently have episodes pointing out how unehalthy it is. It dosen’t help this trope somehow STILL isn’t dead, as evidenced by the fact Rick and Morty has it in spades and for SOME damn reason got them back together.. I mean they don’t fight anymore but it dose’nt fix the problem. So yeah while I’m not holding against the show TERRRIBLY as this trope wasn’t as widespread at the time, it still dosen’t make it GOOD even at it’s core.

Things get worse for Pete though as while Goofy praises him (And the Pete Kids rightfly wonder if Goofy is from space given the logic of ANYONE being that fond of pete. ) Pete finds out GOOFY bought the house he was going to demolish and will be staying with them till they move in. I have only one response to his misery....

Max also futzes with the tv which you THINK would lead to Peg finding out her husband is the antagonist of a Blumhouse movie but instead just does nothing.

So then we have Dinner where we find out SUPRISINGLY, Pete actually has a somewhat valid reason for resenting Goofy: Goofy cost him the big game in high school as Goofy and Peg were on the cheerleading squad together and Goofy accidently kicked pete in the face at a crucial moment, which Pete got the blame for. Granted I did say SOMEWHAT: Goofy is genuinely apologetic and says Pete shouldn’t of been blamed and Pete’s apparently been hiding the truth from his kids this whole time. I do call bullshit on that as while admittedly i don’t get into local football or any sportsball, Pete works at a dealership. At least one asshole would bring it up to either rile him up or out of genuine rage at something that happened at the very least a decade and a half ago. Pete hasn’t let go of this footbullshit DESPITE owning a successful dealership, having two wonderful children, an even more wonderful wife, and a friggin nice boat. But really.. it speaks to Pete’s character in any version: His ultimate undoing is his greed, his tendency to keep going and never settle. It’s something he oddly shares with Donald but Pete lacks Donald’s’s heart or redeeming moments. Pete just wants and wants and wants no matter who gets hurt because he’s inehently selfish and will simply TAKE It if he can’t get it. But it’s why he’s miserable, and ultimately ends up divorced: He can’t be satisfised so he often looses what he has.

So with Pete on the rampage Peg sends the boys upstairs. It’s here we get PJ’s first Woobie Moment: He has a room FULL of cool toys, comics and what not but his dad is such a greedy asshole he refuses to let the kid actually use them. He even knows this isn’t normal but is just resigned to it. Rob Paulsen is phenomenal as PJ, being funny and energetic, snarky and off to the side or depressed and fearful all with grace and ease and all making this all feel like the same sweet kid.

I mention this because Paulsen’s action is so good it highlights an issue with PJ: the writers lean way too hard into how much a hardass Pete is, to the point the series, likely intentionally, HEAVILY implies he physically abuses pete and the stuff on screen isn’t over the top enough, at least for tehse episodes, to get away with how he emotionally abuses him either. He talks down to him, doesn’t let him play toys and as seen by various episode synopsis and the next episode, uses mind games to keep him in line. THIS is why I can’t stand this version of Pete. He’s an abusive monster to this poor boy and I won’t stands for it, nor it being played off as a joke, especially since they try to ping pong between using it for comedy and using it seriously which just.. doesn’t work.

So Max earns his future best pals’ friendship by trying to help him.. and succeeding by pointing out that while he said not to use the Tank anywhere on the ground.. he didn’t mention the celling or walls and has the tank going up the walls. And clearly by the fact PJ is seen sleeping with it later, despite Petes’ss anger at this, Peg presumably ripped him a new one once she found out about the toys thing.

So that night Pete can’t sleep with Goofy tromping around the house and tries to whack him with a Golf Club. I’d give him another sucks count..

But given my brother lives in the basement and I sometimes accidently wake him by tromping overhead without meaning too, I DO get getting a bit fed up with someone clomping around and waking you up, and it is a slapstick cartoon so trying to physically assault someone is less of a crime here and more a setup for a punchline.

So get an UTTERLY hilarious scene as teh combination fo tripping on golf balls and Goofy singing his family lullabye, camptown races with lyrics

So Pete proceeds to have another freak out this time RUNNING ALL THE WAY TO DUCKBURG, THROWING THE OLD MAN OUT OF THE CAR AND THEN BRINGING IN THE GOOF’S BEDS AND BOXES BEFORE TOSSING THEM IN THE HOUSE. It is truly an amazing combination of Jim’s utter talent as he babbles hialriously and the animators as they just make it sing. It’s a great climax to part one. So with that the goofs are home and Pete semeingly gets to go to sleep.. until they start working on unpacking.

Final Thoughts On Good Neighbor Goof:

This is an excellent start to the series. The jokes are really well paced, the characters well introduced and the humor top notch> I had my complaints obviously.. but i’ts more systemic issues with the series, and stuff that honestly it dosen’t hamper my viewing experience for the most part. The PJ stuff does, but it’s not as big a deal this episode as he barely interacts with his Dad, but otherwise it’s stuff that just hasn’t aged well and they can’t be faulted for not seeing a deluge of terrible sitcoms a comin. The cast is top notch: I didn’t get to them in the proper review so Dana HIll deserves praise as Max, giving just the right amount of 90′s TV Kid mixed with real honest emotion and i’ts a tragedy she’s gone. She would’ve been right up there with the rest of this amazing cast in history. Though at least she got a worthy succesor.. but that’s not for now. For now we’re taking an interlude to look at the wonderfully 90′s music video that was aired along with this special:

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Gotta Be Gettin Goofy:

This was my raw reaction to this video. Now is it bad? No the song has great flow it somehow manages to scratch Bill Farmer’s goofy vocals with the beat, the rapper makes the cheesy lyrics work, and the chorus of “gotta be getting goofy” backs a great bit. It’s not a bad SONG.. but the video is a hilariously insane mess. We have two of the poor dancers forced to wear just.. HORRIFYING looking Goofy costumes that look like the Dog based sequel to cats that thankfully only exists in my nightmares

I pityt hose poor dancers. Meanwhile the rest of the dancers are wearing Goofy Baseball uniforms and letterman jackets for some reason. is it beause Goofy likes sportsball. I thoguth they just had them lying around but now I see the g’s on the uniform. They CHOOSE to do this. Max also does a shredding guitar solo, not the max up there the animated max. Combine that with LOTS OF random clips from the show and you get this thing.. and i’ts worth a watch> it’s just hilarously what the shit.. not the most hilariously what the shit thing i’ve seen.. not even this week... that would be this thing from the Eurovision Song contest...

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Your welcome. So moving on because this is already badly behind.

Good Neighbor Goof:

So our second episode opens with the Goof’s trying to move in and pete being upset their being loud. Now being upset your neighbors are being loud is one thing: Mine set off fireworks all week around fourth of July. Granted Pete would probably be the one doing such nonsense but still, I get it.. but it’s fair to have a lot of noise when your moving in and in Goofy’s case also trying to patch up a massive hole in the place.

So he does what any reasonable man would do and activates the earthquake machine he hid in the basement.

I wasn’t kidding about the MODOK comparisons. Granted the thing uses a belt to somehow do this.. but it’s designed to SIMULATE AN EARTHQUAKE AN DDOES SO WELL. The only reason Goofy’s not dead is that pete uses a low setting that instead ends up unpacking everything. IT’s a neat gag but again... PETE HAS AN EARTHQUAKE MACHINE.

Which Goofy accidently destroys his boat with. Meanwhile the boys try to talk over tin can phones only for Pete to notice and try to stop it because he’s a dick and doesn’t want his son to be happy because he hates Goofy. So Pete’s idea of a punishment is for PJ to wear the family shoes to go crush cans while wearing a helmet and given Pete mutters to himself about this keeping PJ away from Max i’ts likely something that he made up to torture his son soooo..

Pete Sucks Counter: 8 Max being a good pal agrees to help his friend crush the cans down to recycle for money and comes up with a zany scheme to do so

Meanwhile we get a few scenes of Pete trying to eff with Goofy’s day: Peg is making food for Goofy like a good neighbor/someone planning for their eventual divorce, so Pete makes him some too with tons of hot sauce. By the laws of classic cartoons, naturally Goofy loves it and wonders if Pete has hot sauce, while Pete trying it explodes his head Scanner’s style.

He then tries giving Goofy a chainsaw loaded with some kind of explosive or something... so yes he’s esclated to MURDER over.. Goofy annoying him a bunch as he’s apparently given up on the whole taking over that lot thing.

Pete Sucks Counter: 9 But it is hilariously petty and naturally backfires again by cartoon law as Pete ends up starting it for Goofy who can’t get it going.

Meanwhile PJ and Max inact the plan which is to drop a bolder with a rope on the cans, but end up having to ride the cans down when PJ lets it go too early and it ends up sweeping both boys on top of the box. They have fun though, with PJ actually getting to enjoy life for once and loving having a new friend.

So as his lot in life Pete has to ruin it by yelling at PJ for getting diryt, then for hanging out with max as he can SMELL the goof on him.. which means he’s either exaggerating or he knows what goofy smells like.

So he forbids PJ to see him insluting max.. while Max is hanging out the window and ends up crying. Oh and Peg never gets involved in any of this across both parts, likely because she dosen’t know.. which makes it even MORE horrifying as it gives off the implication Pete gets away with his abuse of his son because he hides it, like a real world abuser. But even then some things like trying to break up his and Max’s friendship or the toys thing you’d THINK she’d notice.

So we get more untetionally telling stuff as PJ says he’ll treasure this day and the only time he was happy.

Pete Sucks Count: 14 2 for the last scene, 3 for ALLL this one implies. But Max won’t give up the ghost no he won’t give it up. They haven’t the strength to hold on for long but if they both hold on together they can make each other strong. So he has a plan: have Goofy throw a Luau and invite the petes.

Peg naturally forces him to attend and Pete is a dick about it at first, but eventually enjoys himself when they do a conga line. The pets, Waffles and Chainsaw get into some antics. I do love Waffles because I love a kitty. Chainsaw is okay even though I love me a good doggo. Especially this one.

You are a Good Boy, Good Boy. But eventually while playing a party game about passing coconuts, Pete considers the coconut and considers the trees but dosen’t consider Goofy kicking him in the face AGAIN

So Pete is naturally a dick about this despite it being you know, an accident. But he takes it a step further by insulting Max Pete Sucks Count: 15 So Goofy gets mad. But here’s where a rather sizeable flaw shows up in the episode as Goofy.. acts exactly like Pete does about the insuing feud. He forbids Max to see PJ makes up rules and is generally petty and vindictive. And look Goofy could be in the shorts. He’s endlessly adaptable.. but here nothing about his character has shown he’d sink to this and it feels forced to bring abotu the climax.

Thankfully said finale salvages thing: That night Max pulls PJ into his room via the cans, and comes up with a plan.. weirdly asking PJ to hit him with a muffin to save their friendship... but it’s not random it turns out. His plan.. is brilliant. While I really don’t like these types of feud between neighbors make our kids suffer by making them not be able to be friends because we’re being petty children plots, this one has a REALLY clever solution to that: Max and PJ FAKE an oversclated fued similar to their parents, starting with insutls and throwing mulch and escalting to taking down each others fences and then throwing food at each other, before injuring their dads with planks and stuff, nothing serious just slapstick stuff, all to get both to settle down and try and get the boys to stop fighting.. it works like a charm, it’s full of great bits like Peg offering the boys pie only for Max to use it as amuination and i’ts just a great way to end one of these episodes. Not that I WANT more of these episodes but if your going to do this stock plot you might as well be creative with it.

So we end on the Petes and Goofs having a BBQ, all friends again, with Pete having his marina and Goofy nearly burning Pete’s house down and us getting a photo to end the episode.

Final Thoughts:

This one was a step down. Pete’s abuse is REALLY highlighted here and the plot is very paint by numbers and forces Goofy to be out of character for the last act for it to work at all. He just strikes me as too genuine and noble to hold onto a grudge this easily. Peg is also reduced from her usual feisty self to being oddly useless, not stepping in at ANY point to stop any of this depsite it being grossly otu of character. There’s a few great gags and a great climax, but the whole product is just okay

Later Today: Goof Week and Goofy’s birthday continue as I complete the trilogy of Shortstaculars with one about my boy! Featuring Goofy’s first apperance, his first short and the first apperance of what would eventually become Max!

If you liked this review, follow me for more and consider joining my Patreon which you can find RIGHT HERE. Even a buck a month helps me keep doing these and more gets me to my stretch goals, the next one up being the two remaining ducktales mini series, a darkwing duck episode a month and a reivew of the danny phantom film the ultimate enemy. And even a buck a month gets you access to exclusvie reviews, my patreon exclusive discord and to pick a short any time I do one of my shortstaculars. My next one is for Donald’s birthday next montha nd there’s only 6 days left to get on that pay cycle so if that sounds good to you get on in NOW while you still can and i’ll see you at the next rainbow.

#goofy goof #goofy #goof troop #max goof #P.J. Pete #PJ Pete #Pete Pete #Peg Pete #Pistol Pete #Sponerville #Gotta Be Getting Goofy #disney channel #the disney afternoon #disney afternoon #disney xd #disney plus

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that-was-anticlimactic · 2 years

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atla for the ask game?

favorite character

... sokka. this may be horrifically obvious, but sokka. i love sokka so much. he is my everything. the light of my life, the glimmer of light in the darkness. he is the sun, the moon, the stars, and the sky. i love sokka. so very much. he.

second favorite character

mmmmmmmm okay. imma go with my beloved princess yue. this was Very Hard. i love she tho. it's funny because i used to not like her (like a fool) but now. oh. now i love her so much and just. the second i made the ace yue post, i knew. i knew i would adore her.

least favorite character

so, not including the obvious zhao and oz*i, the owl. so mean to sokka for nO REASON !!! also he was mean to the rest of the kids and jinora. but i'm mainly pissed about the sokka thing (and jinora but this is atla) like w h a t. w h a t did sokka ever do to you. he just wants to end the war 😭 but also mai's mom and toph's parents <3 oH WAIT AND ALSO HAHN:/

the character I’m most like

sokka. i think. i mean, the major differences is that sokka acts confident and cocky a lot and i don't have the guts to do that and also sokka is super freaking smart especially in math and science and. i am an english education major. i'm also bad at sarcasm. like. pretty freaking bad it goes right over my head. but it's about being the oldest sibling (and i am the oldest of my cousins too if we wanna talk about sokka being the oldest in the gaang) and wanting to protect your sibling as much as you can. it's about being insecure about who you are playing different personalities and hoping that eventually people will like the one you've chosen. it's about talking and rambling too much and not being the special one. it's. yeah.

but if saying sokka is too much of a cheat because i love him too much... idk i've been told i have aang and ty lee vibes. just more introverted lol

favorite pairing

... sO obviously the answer is zukka, but that's not really a surprise, so my Second favorite right now is actually jetru which is kind of weird because i wasn't really into it at first, and then it grew on me and. now i think about it constantly. also yueki.

least favorite pairing

oh boy um well, obviously any incest or pedophilia, then ztara, tyzula, any ship that is aang with anyone in the gaang except katara tbh, and j3tko purely because i saw too many abusive jet fics and the ship got ruined due to that. so. not that. love their friendship tho <3

favorite moment

ummm ummm ummm. okay. in boiling rock part two when sokka starts to fall off the gondola and zuko catches him and pulls him up and they continue to hold hands for twenty-nine seconds. for no reason. ahem no anyways (but i'm not kidding that like is my favorite moment) when sokka tells piandao that he's not worthy. it gets me. every. single. time. but also the entirety of the runaway episode. it's one of my favorite atla episodes. when katara says that she knows something that'll cheer sokka up and he says (in a small voice) "you do?" and then "SHOPPING!!!" *claps his hands* and honestly just all of sokka's master because i love the gaang missing sokka being around and sokka training and i love piandao and just. that episode is a mood and makes me Very happy.

also, honorable mention that is mostly one of my favorite moments as a joke: zuko yelling at the sky (cause it reminds me of that one scene in king lear lol. like it is a good scene but i just think of naked lear screaming at the sky whenever i see it lol)

rating out of 10

okay so i want to say 10/10, but imma take a point off for anyone who was ever mean to sokka and... wait i actually had a more legit reason but i can't remember what it was so i'll just say 10 lol

send me a series and i'll tell you my...

#hi-my-name-is-dotdotdot #hehe thank you for indulging me <3 #i love sokka can you tell #i have feelings oops #100% using this as an excuse to procrastinate haha #corey rambles:)

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sequackquack · 3 years

Text

Takami Babies

So in a bored moment I came up with baby names and then some hawks inspired baby names. I don't ever see a lot of pregnant/parent hawks stuff so I wrote my own that is also inspired by @bbq-hawks-wings

Phoenix and Soarin Takami twins born on the cool September 22nd night. Actually night and morning your daughter born first a strong Virgo. And your son a gentle Libra. Their birthstones being Sapphire and Opal being born at the end of September. Your daughter was born quite late into the night while your son was the next morning. You started labor around 6-7 o'clock you remember seeing the beautiful sunset behind your husband. His wings making a beautiful silhouette against the painted sky. Your daughter arrived several hours later at 11:15 pm September 22nd. And much like the traits of her sign she was very determined to be born and did not want to wait for you it was difficult getting her out. Your son on the other hand could wait and was a much more mellow process. He was born at 7:55 am September 23rd. You saw the sunrise the same as it had set when you began labor. Beautiful oranges and yellows bouncing through the sky leaking into to the room. Your daughter 7 lbs 9 oz. Had dark blonde hair. Not light enough to be a blonde but not a full brunette. A light toffee if you will. And undoubtedly had Keigo's golden glowing orbs with flecks of brown in them. Your son 6 lbs 2 oz. Has tuffs of dark brown hair with golden blonde tips. And the most beautiful eyes one emerald green the other a honey gold. Not as bright as Keigo or Phoenix but more of a brown.

As mentioned before it was a difficult time getting your daughter out than your son. Well that is because she definitely had her dad's family quirk. She has red little nubs on her back. Most children develop quirks around 5 but since Keigo had a mutation quirk your kids are more likely to be born with theirs. Once she was out Keigo cut the cord the nurses cleaned her up and gave her to him.

"She has wings love" he says crying. "She really has wings" he stated again. The only thing other then healthy beautiful babies Keigo wanted was for one of them to get his wings. "Hey there Phoenix. Your so beautiful and I am so happy your here. I love you so much baby girl."

After feeding, holding, and bonding with Phoenix you feel your son ready to make his entrance.

Your sitting in a bath and with a few pushes he's out. Dad cuts the cord again and you both go through a wave of emotions one more time. Just like your daughter he gives his baby a welcoming speech.

"Hey there Soarin your here, you finally made it. I can't believe how beautiful you are. I love you so much baby boy. " And just like his sister he goes to get checked out and cleaned up. While the nurses are taking care of your son your husband holds you still crying.

"You did it babe! You made, carried, and delivered not one but two beautiful healthy babies. I am so proud of you my love. Your so strong and such a trooper. I love you so much." All you could manage was a small smile and nod embracing him.

You guys had decided no visitors while still in the hospital just so you could just have the freedom to bond and be raw and emotional with your new family. Just after a few days of being alive Phoenix is his "Princess" and she is a total daddy's girl and has him wrapped around her chubby little finger. You both love both kids equally but being both avians he has a special bond with his daughter. Soarin is your bugaboo but he isn't necessarily a mommas boy. Definitely prefers mommy over daddy. But to be expected from a baby.

Both babies have various nicknames from the family Keigo has special birdie inspired names for them individually. Phoenix is his chickadee and Soarin is ------. You know Keigo has a thing for nicknames but, you thought you would have to share some of the same names as your children. Keigo feels that names are very important and special to each person just as important as your given name. You do have dove, lovebird, and baby bird those are specially for you. You're happy you still have baby bird even if you do quite literally have baby birds. And of course there is kid but that is his own slang much like ol' sport and Gatsby. He thinks it gives a playful kick to a sentence. You found amusing is that Keigo won't be calling he won't call his own kids "kid" until they are teenagers and are harder to handle. His little name for everyone has a timestamp for his own kids. But the only reason he uses it is to lighten up the mood or make something a bit playful in the same way Gatsby uses ol' sport. Keigo won't even use "kid" in the same sense as he does at work. Instead of a bit serious tone like "Watch it there kid you'll get yourself killed like that". For the kids he'll be more so silly like "Ugh you're killing me kid."But that's for the future right now you were both focused on the newly founded life in your arms.

~Le timeskip~

Your all at home sleeping in bed the twins in their bassinets on either side of the bed. Keigo talked you into the more expensive one that had an opening on the side and rolly wheels. Thank God you opted for that one cause it was much more accessible than a regular bassinet. Especially with Phoenix and her extra limbs you needed to worry for. She would usually be on daddy's side because if this. Like any other baby she would wake up every few hours for feeding time or a change. But being a newborn she had to sleep on her back which could cause her wings to rub raw. You and Keigo spent a decent amount of time cutting holes into her clothes and jammies for her wings to breathe. But that could only go so far. And each cry was for different things and when her wings hurt it was more of a fussy hiccup. Kiego soon figured out what cried meant what and found a solution to when her wings hurt.

He would pick her up and hold her for a few minutes hushing her telling her it'll be alright and she is strong enough to get through it. Then he would take her to change her diaper and put on some different clothes. Off came the footed pajamas and swapped with a pair of thick sweatpants, fuzzy socks, and a hat. He would also change out of whatever he wore to bed into sweats, a baby wrap carrier, and a thick winter jacket lined with fuzz on the inside. He would gently put her on his chest tying the carrier around them careful to avoid her wings. Then zipping his jacket over both him and his little girl. He would keep their shirts off intentionally so he could get some skin on skin bonding time and let baby's wings breathe for a minute. By the time they were dressed she was usually back to sleep but it was the next part that lulled her back into a deep sleep. Keigo would open the slider to the patio connected to your room and take off.

They wouldn't go to far or fast but just a casual fly. They fly over the city filled with bright lights. The air whipping around them as they flew out in the night sky. Keigo would hover overlooking the city and hold his daughters head to whisper just to her .

"When you are big enough princess you'll be able to fly with me and you'll love it up here bebs. Maybe even your brother will get wings and fly with us. But right now with you and these special moments I would trade the world just to stay like this forever."

Then he would make his way home to you and your son. Undressing and re dressing himself and phoenix. He would put her jammies back on check her diaper but hold her for just a little longer while looking out the large glass window.

"I know it's hard right now princess dealing with learning how to breathe,eat, hiccups, and darn little tummy aches. Not to mention these big ol wings that are just in the damn way. But your growing constantly everyday you get so much stronger and bigger. In just a blink of an eye you'll be taking your first steps and first flight. Don't worry we'll get there just get through this and you can do it. Okay princess? I promise."he'll kiss her once more and put her in the bassinet then sink into the bed.

"Have a good flight?" You startled him back awake a bit.

"Mm yeah, breezy night. Did I wake you?"

"No Soarin woke up as soon as you left and wanted cuddles."

"Ah so I did technically wake you up. Sorry babe." He kisses your forehead.

"It's fine. I said you didn't. Let's get some sleep." Keigo sighs in agreement and snuggles you some more.

Thanks for reading:) I have some more baby tamaki stuff coming on the way and even might make a series out of it! But let me know if some ideas you would like to see! I'm also thinking of given Phoenix, Phoe(fee) for short and Soarin So. Soarin also needs a special birdie nickname and middle name so let me know!

#kiego-takami #mha #hawks x y/n #takami-babies #mha imagines #hawks with kids

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flightofaqrow · 4 years

Text

Favorite Musings Challenge!

As writers, we’re usually our own worst enemy. However, there are times where we just read over something we wrote and acknowledge “Oh…that’s good.” and you may or may not end up restructuring the whole reply to fit that one line just cause it was so good, and you spend hours trying to make it work haha…ha.

Anyways, go through a few of your threads/replies/drabbles/any piece of writing you got. Pick out 5 of your favorite lines that you’ve written for your character(s), and in turn tag 5 (or however many others you want) to do the same!

Repost, don’t reblog. And I’m linking my threads to where these lines came from but you don’t have to do that!

tagged by: @caeloservare ( ty sm ;w; )

tagging: @scatterose @veritasqui @brokenclockwork @esperhuntress @sundragcn @littleblackqrow

I’m doing more because I wanted different facets displayed and I couldn’t choose, and I actually really like a lot of what I put out or I wouldn’t be here, so let me have a moment to promo myself I guess.

he doesn’t deserve to live.

but he never has. not really. a curse to himself and everyone around him.

and yet live he does.

qrow branwen. the huntsman.

since before Ruby and before Yang and before Ozpin and STRQ and despite Raven and anybody else, qrow has always lived and always survived, and always tried to outweigh the good he does in the world with that life from the bad, even if he makes a mess of it at times. he will fight to the bitter end to protect people, because that’s his job, and that’s who he is.

he gets up when knocked down. he builds things knowing they may fall. he takes flight when things feel too heavy. he reaches out for hope when sky is full of flames and clouds. he makes himself more capable when the odds stack against him. he insists on remaining motivated by compassion when the world is cruel.

Yang has been accepted to beacon. Ruby will be joining her in early acceptance.

they’re going to huntresses. they’re going to join the war against Salem, under Oz, and they don’t even realize exactly what they’re signing up for besides some vague notion of, heh… making the world better.

in some ways he believes it’s not even possible. in some ways it must be, because those girls sure as hell make his world better at least.

this isn’t how it’s supposed to feel.

his head yells loudly that this shouldn’t be a surprise, he taught them for this very reason; he taught them well; he did all he could to prepare them, and it’s fine, it’s probably fine; he should be proud, encouraging. his heart knows the more they’re built up the more there is to lose; the better they are the more dangerous the whole world becomes, and that world has more to lose too, and it’s not fine, it’s not fine at all when beautiful children born on a beautiful, peaceful island have to take up arms as if they should have to earn their place in this life with violence. if he’s being honest, he wants better for them. always has.

truth hits him via the throb of vasodilation. pounding him from inside out like a headache, like a heartache.

there is no soothing burn in his throat like anger he can turn into a weapon to point at threats, other than what he’s already been fighting. there is only love for his nieces, his family, fear of history repeating itself as rose petals drift away in the wind, never to return. and there is every reason he fights clawing in the pit of his stomach trying to tear apart every shred of hope he has left like his own personal grimm. he can love all he wants, but he cannot protect them from choosing their own path, even it follows all of his generation in bloody footprints.

he can barely claim allowance to feel this way. he’s not their father. and he’s too chicken shit to even go to the man who is and talk this out and commiserate.

he can only watch.

at least that’s something he’s good at.

watching.

qrow stretches himself out in the corner of a great big wooden frame at the top of beacon tower. work done, report given, he sinks into the windowsill to stay awhile. he watches the students coming and going down in the courtyard (happy and giggling under a cloudless sky - helping each other and teaching each other); listens to the scratch of Ozpin’s pen on paperwork; smells and tastes the whiskey from his flask; basks in the burn of it and the sun’s rays streaming in.

everything is beautiful, so beautiful from up here, in a place doing so much good.

it’s terrifying.

peace. a fragile thing, holding steady for now, like the glass he leans on.

but, oh, how easy it would be for one wrong move to make it shatter.

he scoots just the tiniest bit away and frowns, long limbs carefully curling in around themselves.

4.1

somehow even when Clover can see it, he’s not nearly as harsh of a judge as qrow is on himself. he struts right up and into that darkness with him, unafraid, unashamed, eyes never breaking their lock with his own. his gaze is not piercing like a point into his soul; no, it is worse. it is open and wide and forgiving, like the full spread of a hot meal on a dinner table after a cold night; it does not intrude, but beckons, calls qrow out and asks for him to step into the offered space all on his own.

...

Clover reminds him how to be seen, and how to be close, and how to balance strength and weakness. even as he holds him, he still watches him. like the man casts some damn sort of spotlight, or a searchlight in the night qrow couldn’t ever outrun even if he wanted to.

qrow can’t stand those scrutinizing eyes.

…because it means Clover cares.

he is not used to that much light in his life.

he is very used to lights going out around him.

he somehow always chooses to hold on to that light as long as he can, as he does now - head resting in the curve of Clover’s shoulder, spine straight in his embrace, pressure on his feet lighter. he will follow it, and fight for it, and dare himself to hope the world can be better if people can just

work

together.

4.2

Clover could do it. he had every capability, desire, and permission. he could do it over, and over, and deeper and deeper, and qrow would become every bit as addicted to it as his tendencies would have him cling. qrow wouldn’t stop him. not keep him from running into a burning, collapsing building ill-equipped to build a home of, if that is what he chose to do.

but qrow is a vagabond, even if no longer a spy. he is chaotic weaponry, cheap tactics, feral feathers, meant to be unbound and unburdened. he cannot invite him in. he cannot, in good faith, make tender promises to the poster child of the atlas military.

his mind is already a pinwheel, calculating and recalculating based on the briefest of interactions. how to not ask too much of this person. how to keep Ruby safe while still trying to get help or at least information for her. he knows how to pluck gently at small pieces until they come together, drop pebbles into a glass carefully until the water rises to the top.

it’s not raven’s hands that give her away, but her eyes. eyes so familiar in appearance and expression he may as well be looking in a mirror. that’s how it had always been. had been.

...

all the barbed wire around his heart squeezes, and he can’t help but wonder if it’s another trap.

but no matter the anger, no matter how he wants to turn and run himself, to fly off into the distance and just forget her forever, that would also fly in the face of everything he stands for - everything Oz fought for, and Oscar promotes in his stead: sit down and talk.

…and if he’s honest, carrying around the hole in his heart where his sister belongs hurts worse than letting her fill it right back up with blades of betrayal ever could.

7.1

qrow finds comfort in some change right about now, meandering the streets, satiating wanderlust in his down time, with few other idle desires left to choose fulfillment from. distraction through exploration.

...

he notes more bars than bookstores around these blocks.

qrow hangs his head, holds onto the familiar weight of Harbinger on his back, and newly-shined black boots kick an empty bottle on the sidewalk out of his way.

just keep walking, qrow. obstacle by obstacle, step by step.

keep moving forward.

7.2

qrow cries because there’s nothing left to do, and nowhere left to hide, and this is what life is like. thinking. feeling. caring. crawling out from his hiding places and into an intensity he’s never known. like he’s been dim-witted his whole forty years on this planet and only now understands what it means to be bright. so bright it burns more than any whiskey or abrasion or scathing look or cruel name he’s ever had.

nothing slows and it doesn’t stop, and he can’t keep the tears from falling just like his heart sinks. he cries like he’s trying to fill that broken bottle right back up, but that’s not possible now, there’s no structure, no end point for that pain, and sometimes you just have to let the broken parts go.

#* fate won't be your friend when i'm around = musing *#* hey i got a tip for ya = meme response *#* every choice i've ever made has led me here = drabbles *

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inxthexshadowxofxdeath · 4 years

Text

Oh hello, it’s me. Speedy with the soft boi who won the vote! This is Oz, they’re a djinn who feels really bad about just, you know, feeding off of blood and all that other djinn stuff. A hermit, you won’t see him unless he’s out walking his 100s of dogs (ok, 100 is an exaggeration, but no he’s not a dog walker; the 5ish dogs he has are all his). Basically the homie just stays holed up in his house and makes music and tries to ignore his chronic existential dread!

Anyway! Enjoy my socially awkward jinn.

Ok, here’s the skinny...

Oz did the whole scary hallucinating djinn thing for a while and it just made him feel like shit honestly. This was not the life Oz chose, Oz was forced into it by the powers that be and the more Oz tried to just be a ‘norma’l djinn the worse he felt.

Oz spent a lot of time going through phases, jumping from place to place and changing his identity. Who he is now is the closest he’s been to being happy with himself but he’s still figuring shit out. Thusly, Oz uses both he/him and they/them pronouns. How to navigate their gender is something Oz has been thinking about a lot more lately.

He changes his last name as often as needed but “Oz” is a constant.

When he first started dabbling in electronic music Oz thought it was just another phase that wouldn’t last but he fell in love with it. Something just clicked and its been his means of working through shit since the 80’s.

Oz posts music anonymously under the name E₵TY and at this point theorists assume it’s a collective of people making this music and passing the baton down every couple of years and not just one guy. No one has ever seen Oz’s face in correlation to E₵TY and Oz would like to keep it that way.

Oz does not trust himself around people, he knows what he’s capable of and refuses to risk it. Oz always wears these fingerless gloves just in case he happens to touch someone.

Speaking of he is so touch starved. Jesus. But Oz just won’t even try to test the waters because “what if I lose control of myself?” He’s worried some primal instinct would kick in and he’d do something regrettable which might be somewhat valid but mainly goes back to this self acceptance issue Oz has. Very conceal don’t feel and not like, mmm let me learn how to control this properly.

Because he’s been hidden away for so long he’s not the best conversationalist. Tends to ramble and get overwhelmed. P uncomfy all the time.

Fun fact: he’s a vegetarian. Only lab made blood here. In all honesty, it was the creation of this alternative that helped him a lot with his self-loathing.

Fun fact #2: the genre he works in is chillwave/synthpop/house

I really do think the song I used in his app (HERE) is relevant to Oz as a character. Oz is still searching for his “November” and I think the idea that it’ll never come terrifies him.

Honestly my dudes, I was excited when the Oz was picked to be my next character because I’ve been wanting to play another young(ish) person and to me Oz really feels close to home as far as the self exploration (and doubt) of being a twenty something/early thirty something is concerned! Any and all plots are welcome!

#pathetic and aesthetic ( oz | musings )#veils:intro

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maddiicake · 4 years

Note

Hey there :) I noticed you have an FMA edwin fankid. I’ve read over novanoah’s take on edwin and the parental roles with work and stuff. I just wanted to get your take on it. Youre edwin kid is really nice and seems interesting!

Hey ^u^

I’m not exactly sure what you mean by “Nova’s take on EdWin”. But, I honestly don’t really care enough to go and see what you mean |D

Nevertheless, I’m more than happy to inform you about my take on the EdWin parental roles, Ed and Winry as parents, and anything else about that in relation to my characters’ story. ^u^

First off, I want to start with a Disclaimer: I’ve had these parental roles and Edward and Winry’s characters within the story since the creation of said story, which was back in late 2012/early 2013. Nothing has changed to their characters and their part in the story since then, as of answering this Anon Message at least. But, I still have the general idea of the two as parents and their roles.

The story also takes place Post-2003. And, before you (or anyone else) says anything, I’m fully aware of the ending of the 2003 FMA anime and what happens with Ed. But, that’s the beauty of FMA03: there’s so many holes in the plot that you can work around and tie up the loose ends however you want; as opposed to FMAB where the plot is wrapped up well and locked in stone. So, my story-partner and I, after almost 2 years of piecing together how we can make the ending of FMA03 plausibly work into our Next Gen story without it being a complete cop-out.

But, I digress ^^; Your question is in regards to Edward and Winry’s parental roles, so I’ll get right back to that.

Anyway, as I previously stated, the story takes place Post-2003. And, unlike in the Manga or FMAB, Ed doesn’t travel west for an undisclosed/vague amount of time. In our story, Ed takes a bit of time to get together with Winry in a committed relationship. After all, it’s shown in FMA03… Edward and Winry’s relationship–well, it’s not “strained”, because a strained relationship means you don’t like them in the sense that you don’t trust them or are hostile towards them. Ed’s definitely nervous about being with Winry, but that could also be because of his evident depression, and it’s proven that romantic relationships are tough on those with depression. But, obviously, Ed does have feelings for Winry, it’s just his mental illness holding him back.

So, Winry helps take care of Ed in his coma (while he’s having the Wizard of Oz-like dream known as Conqueror of Shamballa–Again, this is all part of the tying loose ends my story-partner and I have been putting together to try and tie 03 with out Next Gen). Despite what many believe about Winry, she’s a tough cookie of determination. For example, in Ep. 45 of FMA03, despite it being the very last time she sees Ed before he enters The Gate and she and her grandmother knowing well the danger Ed and Al are getting into, she still helps braid his hair and believes he will make it through. She doesn’t freak out, and doesn’t take “no” for an answer to Ed’s protests. She shows that she cares just through this subtle action, and, in silent acknowledgement, Ed and Winry both understand their slight care for one another. (If you wanna check out a deep analysis of the scene from the episode @drea-ricweld sums it up really well in their post. I really do enjoy their review of that scene and can definitely agree to their points concerning Ed and Winry’s character). Despite what everyone believes, FMA03 had EdWin moments as well, they just delivered it in a nice subtle and mature way as opposed to in-your-face with FMAB.

But, I digress… with this mutual understanding of their feelings for one another as adults, they gradually take their relationship one step at a time. Being childhood friends and knowing each other better than anyone else, Winry is able to help support Ed when he has his down depression moments, instead of leaving him because she’s frustrated with his episodes. Eventually they get into a committed relationship and eventually end up married.

I know the biggest complaint people make about young couples getting married around 18-19. But, when you stop to think about it… getting married at that age was the norm. (Hell, in the 1400s, kids got married in their early teens.). Back in the early 1900s–around the time FMA takes place–, it was common for folks to marry that young. After all, the life expectancy was between 50-60, and people were more monetarily/financially stable compared to now. I mean, nowadays kids in their mid-20s are struggling through college because very few of them are as financially stable on their own. Times were different–and probably easier–back then, so people were more at ease marrying young.

Anyway… Edward and Winry end up living in a small neighborhood outside of Central City, where Ed works at the main headquarters. He’s promoted to a Colonel, and, along with Alphonse, assisted Roy with enacting the “Anti Human Transmutation Act” (which, that is a explanation for another time). To sum it up, it’s to prevent not only just the act of performing Human Transmutation, but also to prevent other from exploiting the powers that are released from The Gate upon opening it.

Meanwhile, after having Lillian, their first child, Winry become a stay-at-home mother; having to put her love for constructing automail on the shelf. After all, when you have responsibilities (or just a relationship) you have to put aside things you enjoy just to take care of your responsibilities. And, I know this is crazy to hear, but… there’s some women who actually don’t mind being a housewife. Shocker, right? xD There’s some women, who don’t mind cleaning and housework and just staying home with the kids while the husband is the one with the job. Now, I’m not saying I see Winry as that type of woman entirely. If anything, she’s probably the one, who will wait until her kids are grown and out of the house before getting a job again–which, some women actually do.

So, 9 years later, she and Ed have their second child. Why wait so long? Well, without spoiling the story’s plot, the main antagonist was targeting the children of Alchemic Prodigies (this included Ed, Al, and Roy)–and, side note, this goes on to a topic that I don’t think a lot of fankid creators actually think about: the effect of their parent’s legacy giving them pressure and high expectations put on them because people expect the kids to be like their parents. But, like with the HTA, that’s another explanation for another time xD

So, anyway, to play it safe, Winry and Ed waited a while before having another child. During this near-decade time span, Winry started working from home by not only building automail for clients, but also designing models for businesses down in Rush Valley. Lillian was always an independent kid and wasn’t very high maintenance, but if Winry or Ed ever had to leave for something together, they always called on their #1 babysitter, Elicia.

And, fast forward about 3-4 years later, and you have the start of our FMA03 Next Gen fic ^u^

Anyway, like I said in the Disclaimer, this has been the set idea for Ed and Winry’s roles since the first day the story was created (2012-2013). Since early 2016, however, the story has been on hiatus (mostly because my story partner and I started adulting and life getting in the way), but we definitely plan on getting back to it sometimes in the future. And, when we do, we’ll probably tweak and make adjustments to the characters, so that the story being a Next Gen continuation of FMA03 would be more plausible. But, this is what I’ve got so far for now, since the EdWin kid is mine (hers is the RoyAi one xD)

Sorry that went on a tangent… ^^; I’m glad you think that my EdWin kid is interesting ^u^ If you have any more questions concerning her, or even about the story in general… let me know ^u^ I’d be happy to talk about it and clear up any concern you might have!

#EdWin #fma oc #EdWin Fankid #edward elric #winry rockbell #anon message #The Mustang Conspiracy #Lillian Elric #a message for madii #madiis musings

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ink-whiskey-seats · 5 years

Note

Drabble Prompt (If you want): One of your ocs is crying after a bad day. Who comforts them?

Rowan blinked several times, trying to clear away the tears before they fell. To say it had been a rough day would be the understatement of the century.

Oz was hurt, recovering, but hurt, and Rowan could not physically look at his love without breaking down into a fresh batch of tears. It had been his fault. His fault, no one else’s, though Aria and Sil had been attempting to make him believe they would take responsibility.

“We shoulda warned ya better,” Aria murmured, wrapping him in a tight hug that he’d returned when they returned to the house. “Oh gods, Ro,”

“We’re just as much to blame as those spirits,” Sil mumbled around a tea mug, watching the back room, where Oz was sleeping soundly.

Jules had shooed him out of the room, but not before they pressed to head to his chest and slowly, deliberately, signed,

He will be just fine. He just needs to sleep right now, Ro.

He’d hummed in acknowledgement, more to fend off his tears than anything else, but it had been enough to convince them and they let him go. Sorrel was no where to be seen and for that, Rowan could not be more thankful. The Fae was too perceptive, and too nosy sometimes, for him to deal with. He knew the others were right, but it didn’t stop the terrible weight that crushed his heart, wrapping it in frigid layers, like hands of the spirits trying to wrest control once more.

Which, lead to where he was at present; sitting outside the small house they’d been given to stay in, shivering even under a thick jacket, head tucked down and tears threatening to fall.

“Rowan--? Oh, Rowan,” a warm, low voice said, just in front of him, and then a warm body was settling down next to him, pulling him up and into a broad chest.

Like a babe finding their mother, Rowan latched onto Tryus with all his strength, half numb fingers curling into his thick fur mantle as the broad man shifted them with ease. He maneuvered Rowan’s bulk and his own like they were nothing but children, and something about that, about feeling so safe, made the dam burst. Rowan couldn’t stop the tears anymore, and he’d been fairly certain he’d run out of them earlier. That was not the case, apparently, as he buried his face in Tryus’ chest, sobbing anew, the noise muffled.

Rowan felt something warm wrap around his shoulders but he barely registered what it was as he heard Tryus hum something deep in his chest. It was soothing, not meant to hush his cries but give him a bit of comfort. It may have had words, but Rowan couldn’t hear them over the sound of his babbling cries, words struggling to burst from his mouth, getting tied up in his sobs. Tryus just pulled him closer and held him tighter, resting his cheek on Rowan’s head, rocking them gently side to side. He wasn’t about to rush the other.

“It’s alright,” he rumbled, low and calm as he felt the shuddering sobs slow. “I have you, Ro,” “T-Tryus,” he managed as the tears slowed, the sound dragged from his chest, wet and upset.

“I-I-I...I hurt him, I couldn’t--”

“Couldn’t what?” Tryus prompted gently, though he didn’t let Rowan pull away, feeling the younger struggle for a moment before relaxing against his chest once more.

“Couldn’t stop them. I hurt him, Ty,” Rowan whimpered, a hollowness creeping into his chest. He sniffed, rubbing at an eye with a trembling hand, gasping a weak laugh, “Th-thought I was out of tears,”

“You never really run out, I’ve found out.” Tryus hummed, one large, warm hand rubbing soothing circles at Rowan’s nape while the other pressed into his ribs. “And, yes, you did hurt him. But, you did not want or mean to, did you?”

“Of course not-!” Rowan burst out, feeling something burn in his chest. “I would never want to hurt him, or any of you-!!”

“Then why do you believe you are to blame?” Tryus pointed out calmly, hand slowly burying itself in his hair, underneath his braids, careful not to tangle or pull too hard. “You said you’d never want to hurt Oz, or us,”

“Because it’s my magic. I should have control of it, gods damnit!” Rowan snapped, feeling a hysterical need burst in his chest. “Because I have this-this power, it shows in my eyes-! I should,” he stopped, the fire suffocating and growing dimmer. “I should have been able to pull enough magic to hold them all back,”

“Rowan, I won’t pretend to know what kind of magic you wield as a Death Warder,” Tryus murmured in his hair, nosing at his temple. “But I know the ley-lines, and even for people like you and I, there is only so much that we can do. You held hundreds of spirits in your body at once, not by choice, mind you, and they wrenched your iron will out from you. Because there were too many of them, and because you have only done a thing like that once before. You are not immortal, Rowan. You don’t have that kind of control yet, and if I’m honest, I hope you never have to worry about learning it.”

Rowan felt an argument rise but as he turned his head, Tryus pressed their foreheads together, the immortal staring into his eyes. Rowan saw the pain reflected in his own eyes, and a warm, steady passion, calm and unyielding even in the harshest of storms. The weak argument faded away until it snuffed itself out.

“It hurt, Ty,” he whispered, breath fogging between them and he shuddered, hand curling over his chest. “It hurt. I felt-I felt like I would break apart. Like nothing would be left of me, or him. And I fought,”

“And you won, Ro,” Tryus murmured, nose bumping his, a slight smile pulling at his lips. “You won. You’re both here, still living, still breathing. It may be hard to permanently kill us, but I understand your fears. Put your hand on my chest,” he waited for Rowan to do as he asked and bit back a shiver at the naturally colder man feeling even colder.

He could see the way Rowan’s eyes went a out of focus as he slipped into a slight trance, following Tryus’ own magic and life. Rowan blinked owlishly at him, pulling himself from his trance and breathing a little easier, feeling a little less hollow. He didn’t move his face away, just soaking up the easy contact and Tryus shifted, tucking them closer together, pulling his fur lined cloak a little tighter around Rowan’s shoulder’s. He smiled at the mortal, humming.

“You felt that right? The kick and power in my own soul?”

Rowan nodded. Tryus’ soul was a lively creature, singing and pounding like a waterfall, unending in its power and drawing its strength from the heart that beat sure as the sunrise. While he’d been in that short trance, he’d felt his own staccato beating heart slow to match Tryus’, no longer hammering to try and leave the cage of bone that held it.

“I know you have twenty-fold that.” Tryus said firmly, in such a way that Rowan almost believed him. “You are a strong man, Ro, unbelievably so. You are so much more than mortal, more than a Death Warder and I am so fucking happy you and Oz are safe. I wish you never had to deal with that, didn’t have to hear the Lost to begin with, but I know you must.” he shifted, pressing a sweet kiss to Rowan’s temple. “And you have us, Rowan. We do not blame you, and you should not blame yourself. I know you fear hurting us, hurting anything that doesn’t deserve it, but you have nothing to fear here. We’re all okay.”

“I-” he stopped himself and let his eyes slide shut, hiccuping. “I’m sorry,”

“No apologies when there’s no blame,” Tryus murmured, smiling softly against Rowan’s temple. “Don’t be stupid, Ro. We leave the stupid to Sorrel.”

That got a laugh, weak as it was, out of the mortal, and Rowan finally let go to rub the tears that had eeked out. Tryus hummed and pressed soft kisses to his cheeks and temple as he felt Rowan fully relax, the weight lifted from his heart.

“Come on, Ro,” he said, standing easily, still holding Rowan like he weighed nothing, “Let’s go see Oz. I’m sure he’s awake by now, though you both still need rest,”

Rowan nodded, resting his head on Tryus’ shoulder, holding on tight. He closed his eyes, only opening them when he felt a familiar, slender hand run along his cheeks, knuckles brushing under his eyes.

“Hello little bird,” Oz murmured, smiling at him.

There wasn’t a bruise or scratch on him from the whole ordeal mere hours ago and the apprehension finally left Rowan, leaving him light as a sunrise.

“Hello sunshine,” he murmured, reaching up and holding Oz’s hand against his face, turning his head and pressing a gentle kiss there.

“He finally stopped blaming himself,” Tryus piped up from the chair, leaning forward, looking at the pair with a sort of tired pleased smile. “You both need sleep still. Rest, we can watch the house,” he stood up and pressed a kiss first to Oz’s temple, then Rowan’s, humming.

“I’ve slept three hours, Tryus,” Oz started, though he was struggling to fend off a yawn. Neither of them had slept very well these past days, if any of them had.

“Rest,” Tryus said, firmer. “You need it.”

Oz just rolled his eyes. “Who among us is the healer?”

“Who among us has the sense?” Tryus shot back, an amused grin pulling at his lips now. “Sleep, Oz. Ro, make sure he does.”

Rowan chuckled, the sound interrupted as he yawned, pulling Oz down a little so he could rest his head on his love’s chest.

“He’s right there, sunshine. Come sleep,” he mumbled, exhausted.

Rowan felt Oz’s slender fingers bury themselves in his hair, warm lips brushing against his own then at his temple, and a large, hot hand squeeze his shoulder. He felt safe, warm and whole, two of the five people he cared about most in this world close and alive and well. He sighed, finally letting himself fall asleep, knowing Oz wasn’t far behind.

#oc: oz lilar #oc: tryus port #oc: rowan fell #oc: aria vicroy #oc: jules torsich #oc: sil lian #oc: sorrel #wizard and the crow #writersblockandapotodtea #drabble #thank you for the prompt cap!! I love getting prompts #whoops bit longer than I meant #mentions of poly witch fam #*eyebrow wriggle* this may be canon #just saying

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lucio-montague · 5 years

Text

Coming Home | Ty & Lu

WHO: Tybalt Capulet & Lucio Montague WHEN: July 15, 2019 WHERE: Lucio’s apartment WHAT: Upon learning of Oz’s arrest, Tybalt commands Lucio to come home and takes care of him. Lucio does not know how to act. Words are said.

@ty-capulet

Tybalt

Ty knew that Lucio would not be happy when her came home. The man was too used to dealing with everything on his own. It didn't matter what Ty thought of Oz or his guilt (to be honest, he wasn't sure), if they were serious about their relationship, then it was his job to take care of Lucio. But this wasn't about obligation. Ty needed this. He needed Lucio to know he could be relied on. That it was okay to share a burden. He knew he wasn't good at it but he wanted to be. So he waited for Lucio to return to his new home. He'd shed his suit for sweats and sat on the sofa with file filled with things he needed to reed over.

Lucio

Lucio was feeling a lot of things. Anger, sadness, disappointment, concern. Oz's arrest weighed heavily on him, and every moment that he was not drowning himself in work was time spent worrying about what was to come. And then there was Tybalt. Tybalt, who had commanded him to come home instead of working through the night. Who wanted to take care of him. When he entered the apartment, he toed off his shoes and walked in to find Tybalt on the couch. "Good evening, Lord Capulet," he said. "I'm going to take a bath." He'd, of course, take his phone with him so he could answer emails and read articles about Oz, looking for a way to spin everything to make Verona doubt Oz's guilt.

Tybalt

"Stop," Ty said, "You may have your bath but I want to speak with you first. Come here," he said, gesturing to the seat next to him. "Before you object, I'm asking this of you. It would be much easier to issue a command. This, however, is a personal request."

Lucio

Lucio clenched his jaw. "Very well," he said, sitting down on the sofa next to Tybalt, crossing his legs and keeping his posture straight. "What would you like to speak about? There is a lot I'd like to get done this evening."

Tybalt

"That's what I would like to talk about. You cannot do this to yourself. You will work yourself until you cannot function properly. You cannot help him if you do not take care of yourself. And if that means I have to be the bad guy and step in to stop you, so be it." Ty kept a concerned gaze turned toward Lucio. He didn't want to argue. "You aren't alone."

Lucio

Lucio felt a spike of irritation. "I can't imagine how I survived all these years without you forcing me to come home." He gazed at Tybalt. "I know my limits. This wouldn't be the first all-nighter and it certainly won't be my last. I own and run a fast-paced weekly magazine. I am an adult. And right now I have more than my work to handle." He didn't want to deal with anything lying underneath. He had tasks to do and they would keep him afloat.

Tybalt

"Did I ever say you weren't an adult or a successful one at that?" Ty said, trying not to match Lucio's irritation. "No, right now you are trying to do anything you can to not think about what you can't solve. You came to me when you thought I might need support. Why is that perfectly acceptable but it's not acceptable for me to do the same. If I'd used that same argument on you...would you have accepted it? I am also certainly an adult with many responsibilities."

Lucio

Lucio crossed his arms. "It's not that it is not acceptable, Tybalt. But I simply asked what you needed, and I put my work aside to give you that. I didn't demand you do anything. If I don't focus it can mean Oz being put away forever, and I can't deal with that." He gazed down at the floor. "I know you likely think me stupid for believing in his innocence. I know he is capable of unsavory things, but this was not him. If staying up so I can research and work on potential wardrobe choices for future trial dates helps him, I can't just stop because I'm tired. This is the person who gave me my life, Tybalt. I would have nothing without him."

Tybalt

"Lucio, you stopping for a moment does not mean that Oz will be put away forever. That's ludicrous. Yes, I am sure you will play an important role and that your help could be crucial...but his fate is not solely your responsibility." He sighed, wanting to reach out and knowing it wasn't the right time. "No, I don't think you are stupid. I think you are loyal and I can only hope my family views me the same way. Do I like the man? No. You know my feelings about him. I find him...well, unsavory is a good word. But even I am not sure that he isn't innocent." That was painfully difficult to admit. "It's not that you want to stay up all night. It's not even that you will push yourself. But you are hell bent on fixing this yourself and that's not recognizing you have limits. And whether you believe it or not, you aren't alone."(edited)

Lucio

"I know. I know I'm not alone. I know I have limits. I know I can't fix everything. Or anything maybe." Lucio was tired. He didn't want to deal with this right now. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a migraine come on. "Is that enough for you right now?" He didn't know what else he could say. It was all too much for him. He hated the idea of Oz locked away for something he didn't do. He wanted to cry and scream and punch things, but he couldn't.

Tybalt

Ty hated this. Hated watching Lucio suffer. "No, it's not. But it will have to be." Ty reached out finally, placing his hand on the back of Lucio's neck. "I know you don't believe this. I'm not sure I do. I spent a lot of time thinking I didn't need anyone. But I need you. There is nothing I wouldn't do if it meant sparing you pain." Ty had never been good with emotions. He wasn't sure where his ability to convey them was actually coming from. "Lucio, I love you. I didn't order you home to hurt you. Believe that."

Lucio

Despite his irritation, the hand to the back of his neck was comforting to Lucio as he tried to massage away the headache that was forming behind his eyes. He covered his eyes with his hand, feeling unforgivably emotional. Which grew more difficult to keep at bay when he heard Tybalt say those words. He turned his back to Tybalt. "Forgive me. I just need a moment." He couldn't let Tybalt see tears rolling down his face. He hadn't expected Tybalt to say that.

Tybalt

Tybalt mentally kicked himself for the moment he'd chosen. He wasn't even sure he'd consciously chosen. It had just come out of his mouth like he'd said it a million times before. He kept his hand where it was, letting the submissive know he was still there. "I think it's me that should ask forgiveness. I didn't mean to add more...to this already emotional day."

Lucio

Lucio tried to steel himself, to make himself stop crying, but without his permission, more tears fell. “It’s fine. I’m fine. I was simply, caught by surprise. I’m afraid...I have started to cry and as I do not cry often...it will take some time...” He tried wiping at his eyes with his hand, but it did nothing. “Your feelings...are reciprocated...though I am not showing it well...”

Tybalt

Ty let out a sigh of relief. "Tears have never scared me before. I understand that they may be unwanted but maybe they are necessary. " His voice has softened, understanding all too well how difficult it was to feel helpless in the face of emotions. "I know you will work tirelessly. I really do admire that. But for tonight, allow me to stay. Let me take care of you so that you can do what you need to do."

Lucio

Lucio hiccuped, his breath catching in his throat as he wept. Why was Tybalt so unexpectedly gentle with him? Why couldn’t he be the arrogant bastard Lucio had thought him to be? He was so unaccustomed to it, to being taken care of, to being treated gently. “Very well,” he replied. “I will...acquiesce for now...”

Tybalt

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Tybalt replied, unable to stop himself. It was hard to see Lucio like this. His submissive was so strong. This didn't diminish him. In fact, it humbled him a bit to know that this strong man allowed him to take some of his burden. Slowly, the hand at Lucio's neck moved so that he had his arm wrapped around his shoulders instead.

Lucio

When Tybalt moved to wrap an arm around him, Lucio gave up on quelling his tears and turned to look at his Dominant. “I’m sorry. I know I am...difficult.” He still wished he could work, but he was slowly giving in to his body’s exhaustion.

Tybal

Ty shook his head. "As if I'm not?" he mused. "Do not apologize for being you." He'd not mentioned the princesses message to anyone yet. But he had to tell Lucio. He owed him that. "I heard from the Princess already. She has...removed the second decree requirements. I know that is probably far from your mind at the moment...but maybe it will relieve some small amount of stress."

Lucio

Lucio sighed out an incredulous chuckle. They were both difficult, but Tybalt seemed better able to adapt to their life together. Lucio was still finding his legs in many ways. Letting himself be taken care of. Being his true authentic self, not the one he showed to the public. Crying. He used his sleeve to wipe at his eyes and cheeks again as Tybalt told him news of the Princess. "Oz has already lost his title, but I'm glad you get to keep yours. And we have confirmation that it was Oz she was truly going after."

Tybalt

"I suppose we do. Though it was clear from the beginning." He had to hold his tongue. If Oz had managed to keep his claim with Megan, that decree would never have happened. Though the Princess would have probably found another way to go after the man. "Now stop using your sleeve. Your dry cleaner will have a fit. Shall I run a bath? I'm occasionally useful."

Lucio

Lucio nodded his head, feeling solemn. "I'll replace the shirt. It doesn't matter." He sighed. "Yes, a bath would be nice." He wanted to wash his face, wash away his vulnerability in this moment. "Thank you," he said to Tybalt. "I...love you." He hadn't exactly said it before, and he refused to lack intention in his words.

Tybalt

Ty wouldn't have said a word if Lucio hadn't said it back. It was enough that he'd acknowledged it. Tybalt took his hand and raised it to his lips in acknowledgement, pressing a soft kiss there. More could be said later. Right now, he had a bath to prepare.

#;; tybalt #;; para

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littlemisssquiggles · 3 years

Text

Pinehead Headcanons: Oscar and the New World

“…I thought the idea of falling through Remnant and into a new world was exciting…”

Guys, I’m curious about something. I’ve been thinking about the Remnant fairytale that Oscar mentioned back in the tenth episode. The one about the girl who fell through the world.

As us fans are aware, some Remnant Fairytales are actually relevant to the World of Remnant and may actually be variants of completely different stories that were true to its history as we saw with the Lost Fable tying back into the Girl in the Lonely Tower and the Tale of the Brother Gods fairytales, for example.

Keeping that in mind, now I’m wondering something---How true is the Girl Who Fell Through the World fairy tale? True in the sense of…could there possibly be another world below Remnant that no one has ever traversed before? Not even Ozma? Or what if…this will be an adventure for our gaggle of heroes to venture ultimately?

Here me out on this one. As we’re well aware from the canon of RWBY, it was only the God of Darkness’ Grimm Pools of Darkness that seemed to have survived the test of time, right? However the question still remains of what ultimately became of the God of Light’s Fountain of Life of Creation that was last seen in the Lost Fable episode.

Here’s this squiggle meister’s hunch:

What if…what we know to be the continent of Solitas in Remnant is actually the remnants of the Land of Light that formerly belonged to the God of Light in the Lost Fable?

Have you guys ever wondered that there might be a narrative coincidence as to why Atlas was the kingdom of technological innovation that secretly housed the Relic of Creation?

What if…the remnants of the Land of Light and the Fountain of Life and Creation may be below the Kingdom of Atlas; deep below what we know to be Mantle’s crater?

Imagine if…the fragments of the God of Light’s Fountain of Life and Creation fell deep into Remnant’s core following the meteor shower from the Lost Fable and thus created a whole new world within Remnant but below its surface? A whole new world right below Atlas and Mantle that has never been discovered or explored by anyone.

I know this concept sounds like a stretch but…I can’t help but shake this feeling about there might be a connection to the Atlas/Mantle and the Land of Light outside of the Relic of Creation. My reason for bringing this curious thought to light stems from some imagery from the V8 opening:

During the opening visuals, nearing the end, we’re shown a shot of our heroes all standing together before the ground gives way underneath Team RWBY with all four girls plummeting into what appears to be a pool.

I’ve seen some theories where other RWBY theorists speculated that this may be Ruby falling into the Grimm Pool of Darkness---a sign of her ultimate transformation into a Grimm-Human hybrid as we saw with the Hound. However, upon further review of the screenshot, I don’t think that may be the case at all.

Here I have this shot of when Salem first dropped into the Grimm Pool during the Lost Fable.

As you can see, there is a reddish-purple glow to her. Compare that to this screenshot of Ruby from the V8 opening.

For Ruby, her sheen isn’t red. It’s actually kind of golden-white. The same type of golden-white sheen that was around Salem when she first fell into the Fountain of Light and Creation.

Again, keeping that all in mind, this brings me back to Oscar. What if…Oscar bringing up the Girl Who Fell Through the World fairytale wasn’t a coincidence?

What if…it was an intentional foreshadow to a possible event to happen later in the story? An event that would either greatly impact him or him and Ruby [as our two, smaller more honest souls] or perhaps the whole core hero team meaning RWBY_ALPN?

Like I said, the V8 opening had the ground collapsing underneath our heroes with them falling through the ground. In V8CH10, Oscar mentioned a tale about someone falling through Remnant and into a completely new world.

So maybe…this is a sign for events to happen and how this volume might end?

Now pegs the important questions.

What would happen if our young heroes weren’t around anymore upon Salem’s resurrection?

What would become of Remnant if we didn’t have main young hero team working towards helping the people and stopping Salem from gathering the relics and bringing about Remnant’s destruction?

What would happen to Remnant if our heroes disappeared off the face of the earth and fell into a whole new world far from the one they knew?

What would become of Remnant if our heroes fell to a new world, leaving the old one behind at the mercy of Salem during a time when they are needed the most?

This is the theory that I’m trying to make:

As stated in the recent episode, Oscar mentioned that the Long Memory possesses a tremendous amount of kinetic energy which Ozma and his lineage have stored and been farming for many lifetimes. We witnessed just how destructive that raw power can be. We also know that, according to Oscar, there is still good bit of that energy left in the cane; only to be used when necessary.

So here’s my thought. What if…at some point, Oscar is forced to use the last bit of kinetic energy. As a result of this, what if… the Long Memory is destroyed in the process and the crater of Mantle completely collapses, creating a massive deep hole in the earth that pulls any and everything surrounding it into its crevice like a massive black hole.

Let’s say…for whatever reason, Oscar becomes trapped in the destruction of the hole created by his weapon.

Let’s say…it was some kind of heroic sacrifice moment for the little prince where he knew the risks of unleashing the last bit of the cane’s power and made it anyway since it correlated with the promise he made to his friends and team back in Argus.

Back in V6, Oscar told the team that he would do everything in his power to help with the “limited time” he had left as himself. With all that’s happened to him for this season, it wouldn’t surprise me if that promise is brought back somehow.

Resuming my theory, Oscar sacrifices himself and much like the heroine of one of his childhood fairytales, he ends up falling through the world. He falls deep into Remnant to a world unknown; possibly to be presumed dead or something.

Since this volume has highlighted the importance of Oscar being a part of the team---what if…the other heroes end up trying to save Oscar but this results in them falling into the hole with him; thus trapping all of them deep within whatever “new world” lies in the depths of Remnant’s core.

I know this all sounds like some big weird crackerjack of a theory in concept but with all the talk about “Happy? Never Again”, it makes me wonder if something terrible will happen to all of our heroes in the end.

Like they all end up being presumed dead by the end of the season, leaving the rest of the world forced to deal with Salem’s return without their advice or intervention any longer.

I mean I could be very much wrong in my hunches here. But nevertheless, I still wished to put it out there just in case anyone else might be having similar ideas.

All I can say is that I definitely think something big will happen for the team nearing this volume’s climax. I do think Oscar will end up using the last of the cane’s power. I also think the cane will be destroyed somehow since it was mentioned that Oscar using magic accelerates the merging process between him and Oz. Therefore, I’m definitely expecting something to happen to force Oscar to have to use magic from now on since the Merge is definitely something he will have to come to terms with in the end for the next stage of his arc.

So the Long Memory being destroyed, forcing Oscar to use his magic without it---which we’ve seen he can do already back when he zapped Salem in V8CH9---and thus finally come to peace to being ready to merge with Oz is something I can see happening next for him. I also think something major will happen for Ruby.

At least I’d love it if something major would happen for Ruby. What I’m not sure what that may be, either way I definitely feel something major happening for the team and I definitely think the Girl Who Fell Through the World might’ve been a foreshadow of some kind. Then again, this is just me speculating. We’ll know for sure as the story progresses and the PLOT for RWBY V8 thickens.

~ LittleMissSquiggles (2021)

#rwby #oscar pine #ruby rose #rwby volume 8 theories #rwby theories #rwby volume 8 spoilers #squiggles pinehead headcanons #pinehead headcanons

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omeliashepherdhunt · 5 years

Text

Good for Us

Ch. 5 (finale)

7 months later

———————

Bed rest was getting to the best of Amelia and she was hating it more and more with each passing day. She was able to be at home for the past two months but now it was too close to their delivery date so she was being kept at Grey-Sloan which meant Leo turned 3, Luca turned 2, and Lyla turned one all celebrating at the hospital. Owen tried his best to split his time between work, Amelia, and the kids at home but he was only one man.

Amelia rolled over onto her right side desperately trying to find any position that made her feel even the slightest bit more comfortable than she felt. At 39 weeks pregnant with twins, she felt like a beluga whale and was ready for the c-section in the morning. They decided to keep the genders a surprise until delivery since they already had at least one of each gender. Owen walked in with their overnight bags since the next time they’d leave would be with their new babies in tow.

“Sorry. Luca was really giving me a hard time about leaving. Maggie basically had to pry him off of my leg. I can’t believe our baby girl turned one year old today. Seems like just yesterday we were doing this exact thing getting ready for her arrival.”

“Yep except now there will be two hungry, screeching babies. Double the sleep deprivation too.”

“Did you eat dinner yet?”

“No. You’d think one of the chiefs of this hospital would receive decent care but nope. Hospitality hasn’t even brought the menu to take my order and you weren’t here to bring me anything.”

“You’re hangry. What can I get you? After midnight you’re not allowed to eat.”

“Jesus, Owen, I know. This isn’t my first, second, or third time doing this.”

Owen shook his head as he was refusing to let Amelia change his mood. They had a great time singing happy birthday to the kids earlier and they were about to have two more babies.

“Babe, what are you hungry for? I’ll get it.”

Without even blinking, she knew her answer.

“Lemon pepper chicken wings with extra bleu cheese, fries, and a large sprite.”

“From that place around the corner? I’ll call for delivery. That sounds really good.”

Once dinner was complete and Amelia was no longer rabid, Owen settled in the recliner next to her bed so that he could hold her hand.

“You’re so beautiful. I tell you that all the time but it’s so true. It’s surreal this is our last time doing all of this.”

Amelia brought his hand to her lips and planted a soft kiss to the top of it.

“Don’t get sappy on me, Hunt. I’m just concerned how long it will take for Avery to fix my scar tissue and everything especially when they are tying my tubes. I don’t want the babies to go to the nursery. Be ready to do skin to skin with them until I’m able to.”

“He promised it wouldn’t take long especially since you’ll already be open. They’re cutting through the same incision they’ve done for the other deliveries. Our babies will be just fine and so will you.”

Right at 7 a.m the next day, Amelia was prepped and in the O.R. They made it to the finish line. This would be her last c-section and it was for the best. Amelia’s preeclampsia didn’t make its appearance this time which was a blessing. The pregnancy was already hard enough with there being two babies.

“Ready to have some babies? Once Dr. Porter delivers them and ties your tubes, I’ll do the scar tissue removal and tuck. You’ll look as good as new in no time.”

“As ready as I’ll ever be. Don’t take too long though because I want to hold my babies.”

Everyone in the hospital was buzzing with anticipation of the twins’ arrivals. Owen and Amelia pulled it off with consecutive birthdays. Leo was June 4, Luca June 5, Lyla June 6, and now the twins on June 7th. Had Amelia not had the blood pressure issues she did requiring c-sections, it would’ve never happened.

They got started and the first baby to be born at 7:23 was a loud and chunky baby boy. He had little ginger tufts so he’d look more like Owen and weighed 7 lbs 1 oz... By 7:26 their last ever baby was born— a sweet little girl who looked just like Amelia but with light brown hair like her big brother Leo. She weighed in at 5 lbs 12 oz so there was nearly one and a half pound difference between the two newborns.

After Amelia’s surgery was finished, she was finally able to hold her babies in her room. She was exhausted from the surgery but the adrenaline was coursing through her veins and she didn’t want to sleep. She just wanted to spend this time bonding with Owen and their last 2 babies. Their babies were so beautiful and healthy. She couldn’t feel any luckier than she already did.

“O, we have to pick their names.”

“I thought we’d just go with our top picks since there is one of each. Lilly and Liam.”

“Liam Christopher and Lilly Christine Hunt?”

“Perfect. Just like they are. Just like you are too.”

“And you. My genetics are stronger though. I win 3 to 2 on kids that look like me. Luca and Liam are mini Owens through and through.”

“I’m okay with our girls being just like you. Leo is closer to a blend of us though.”

“No way. The only thing that is you is the curly hair. He has brown hair.”

“Not as dark as yours and Lyla’s. Lilly hardly has enough to really tell.”

“It was dark when he was a baby. It’s still dark enough to know it’s not gonna be red.”

Owen moved from the recliner to lounge beside Amelia and the babies who were asleep on her chest from doing skin to skin.

“Fair enough. Did you want to try to get them to latch again?”

“They’re asleep and comfortable. It’s okay. My supply hasn’t changed. I’ve been nursing daily since Leo was born.”

Amelia tilted her head to rest on his shoulder. She know Maggie would be bringing Leo, Luca, and Lyla to meet the babies after they had a nap and lunch. However she just wanted to sleep before Lilly and Liam needed to be changed or eat again.

“You should nap. I can hold them.”

“You take one and nap with us right here.”

Owen kissed the top of her head and smiled.

“I won’t say no to that. You did a great job this morning babe. I’m very proud of you.”

“Thank you. Couldn’t have done it without you. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Owen quickly moved Lilly to his chest and draped a swaddle blanket across her to keep her warm against his bare chest. Their family was complete now with Liam and Lilly. It hadn’t been easy but it was good for them.

#ameliashepherd #owenandamelia #owenhunt #omelia #omeliashepherdhunt #goodforusomeliashepherdhunt #goodforusomeliafic

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hannahgrunberg-blog · 5 years

Text

Chapter 2: What Happened At The Manor

May 28, 1940

Hannah squirmed under the covers of her scratchy bed sheets. Fire danced wildly in her mind, growing to the point where she could almost feel it with her hands. The pain was sharp and hot. The eyes of her mother and father were paralyzed with fear. A man stood in front of them, his eyes blue with cruelty. When Hannah looked into them, her body tensed. His face was full of malice and murderous intent. The legs of the crooked cross adorned on the wrists looked animated, ready to snatch her as prey.

“Jews,” the soldier spoke in a commanding voice. “From this moment on, this is no longer your property. I ask you to cooperate-”

“I will not let you take our home,” her father said, firmly standing his ground. Both, the mother and child, huddled together behind him as he prepared himself for whatever may come. “You have taken away my job and the right for us to live peacefully. I am not going to give everything that I’ve worked for without a fight.”

“I’m afraid you shall not, Mr. Grunberg,” the soldier sneered. The girl gasped as her father was taken forcefully by the hand, a gun pointed to his back. The pain in his eyes was frightening. She watched the soldier pin him to the ground, tying his hands. “There is no place for you in Germany,” was the cold, ghostly response. “There would never be a place for Jews.”

That was when the family looked down in defeat. There was no way to deny it. They were just going to be pushed away. Would it be best to just put a stop to this sooner?

“That is what I thought,” the soldier saw the scared looks of the family, smirking to himself. “Let this be a reminder of what I am capable of.”

In a blink of an eye, her father and the soldier were both gone. The girl’s mother lost control of herself, falling onto her knees. In her dark pupils, she saw the reflection of the world. Bodies littered the streets. Shadows moved in and out of the bright lights. Piercing cries were heard. Glass showered the streets with ashes. Behind them, Germany burned.

Hannah gasped, lifting her head up in exasperation. She quickly looked around her dark room. The bed sheets have become uncomfortably scratchy, but they always seemed to be that way. Her eyes landed on a photograph of her mother and father. They looked like the picture perfect family. She took the picture and examined it closely. It was very clear that she looked more like her mother. She had her mother’s dark curly hair, while her father’s was bushier and untamed.

The memory of her parents made her feel sick. It had been nearly a year since Hannah last saw them. While her mother was trapped in Germany, she had no idea what the Nazis were doing to her father. All she knew was that he was sent to work and hasn’t heard from him since. Guilt overwhelmed her constantly. The journey to England was difficult for her, and it was all to keep her safe.

The light in the room flicked on. Hannah lifted her head, only to see a man with a small, pointed white beard, circular glasses perched on the tip of his nose, and dressed in a crimson and gold robe. It was no other than Professor Kirke. As soon as she saw him, the gentle sparkle of his grey eyes calmed her. He was the one who cared for her all these months, as she adjusted to living in England. If it wasn’t for him sponsoring her, Hannah knew she wouldn’t be there.

“Hannah dear, what is it with all this whimpering?” he said, raising his eyebrows. “I’m starting to get worried about those nightmares-“

The Professor was interrupted by a sound of footsteps rushing towards them.

“Sir, you don’t have to get up and deal with the child. I could-"

A stern looking woman with brown hair streaked with grey walked into her room. Her cold brown eyes softened at the site of the Professor with the girl. Hannah tightened, hoping not to get into trouble with Ms.Macready. She knew how cross the woman could be. From the first glance the two shared at Liverpool Station over a year ago, Hannah knew that the woman did not like children.

“How many times have I told you not to disturb the Professor?” Ms. Macready asked, harshly.

“It wasn’t really my fault,” Hannah replied, avoiding her accusing stare. “It was the nightmare. I didn’t mean to wake the Professor up.”

“I’m sure you didn’t, Hannah,” the Professor reassured her, turning to Ms. Macready. “I’m sure that I’m not in need of any assistance.”

Reluctantly, Ms. Macready headed out the room, leaving the two be.

“I was really trying not to have any nightmares,” Hannah said sincerely. “I even avoided dairy as I read from the library.”

“You can’t just stop the nightmares from coming,” the Professor explained in a calm tone. “They’re creatures of the night, very unpredictable.”

“My nightmares are nothing more than predictable,” she replied, simply.

“They will disappear through time, like your accent.”

Hannah chuckled to herself, knowing that this was true. She noticed that her German accent wasn’t as sharp as it used to be, but there were those who still noticed that slight reminder of her past.

“There’s that smile,” the Professor said, “Hopefully you could think happy thoughts and sleep soundly. Think of how well you’re improving with your English.”

“That's not much of a happy memory,” Hannah laughed. “I can’t go to sleep because of that.”

The Professor rubbed his chin, exaggerating a thinking pose by cocking his eyebrow. “What about the summer holiday? Isn’t that something to look forward too?”

“I don’t think I’d be able to follow asleep while thinking of summer,” she replied, slightly cheerful. “It’ll make me hyper.”

“Then perhaps a story will do,” the Professor made his final decision. If any story was to put the girl to sleep, it would be The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It was one of the first books she read in English. The pages were already torn because of the amount of times she read it.

With a hushed voice, he told her the story of the little girl named Dorothy who was whisked away by a tornado into the Land of Oz. He smiled with satisfaction as he saw the girl’s eyelids were starting to close.

“Professor?” the girl asked, weakly. “Every time I finish reading this book, I wonder about how it's possible for a place like Oz to exist."

“The logic in books is different than ours, Hannah,” the man spoke.

“But is it really possible for a magical world to exist?”

The Professor pursed his lips, looking down before answering her. “Why shouldn’t it be?”

“But-“she said, startled at his response. “That’s impossible, isn’t it?”

“You never know unless you believe that the impossible is possible,” the Professor said. “Now that is something schools don’t teach.”

Before the lamp was turned off, the Professor brushed Hannah’s hair from her long eyelashes. Her breaths were deep, and before he knew it she fell asleep.

The Professor locked the door behind him, rubbing his eyes as he entered his room. Ms. Macready was there, fixing his bed sheets and fluffing his pillow. She looked at the Professor with a concerned expression.

“This has been going on for the past few months now,” she whispered. “I’m starting to get worried that you’ll be up every night.”

“You don’t have to worry about me,” the Professor said, reassuringly. “A traumatic experience isn’t something a child could easily forget.”

With that, Ms. Macready left him to sleep. The rest of the night was silent, unlike the following morning. Dozens of tourists from the city showed up. The once peaceful manor growing crowded by the minute. The sound of footsteps shuffling through the wooden floors could be heard. Professor Kirke’s manor was a landmark for tourists. The house was very old, and filled with antiques and paintings.

This was one thing Hannah liked about the manor. It looked like a house you could find in a fairy tale. It almost had a castle-like experience; grand with beautiful pavements. Decorating the manor was a garden surrounding the porch. Each item had a story to tell, and it was Hannah’s duty to give the tour today.

She wore a presentable beige color blouse and frilly green skirt. Her dark hair was tied into a braid with two curls left dangling. She quickly tied the shoelaces of her black shoes, her hands fiddling with nervousness. This tour was very important for her, as they paid money specifically to support the orphanages that held Kindertransport children- that was why she needed to be a good host.

“The guests are ready for you,” Ms. Macready told her.

Hannah lifted herself from her chair, leaving the room. As soon as the tourists saw her, she was greeted with looks of sympathy.

“It’s the little Jewish girl,” spoke a feminine voice.

“Welcome to Professor Kirke's Manor,” Hannah said, clearly. “My name is Hannah, and I am going to be the tour guide for today. As a warning, the artifacts are not to be touched.”

A few children that gathered around two paintings paused in their actions. The tourists’ eyes lit up in awe as they saw the fascinating objects that looked old and fragile. Hannah remembered each of their stories by heart, as she told them many times. She led them through the corridors and some of the Professor’s rooms. However, there was one room that Hannah loved showing off the most. There was a wardrobe that the Professor said he had made himself. Beautiful designs of dancing fairies and different creatures were carved on it.

“Be careful in this room,” she led them through the entrance. “The floors are usually wet and slippery.”

By the time Hannah made it there, her energy started to wear out. While the tourists were busy looking at thr pictures, Hannah leaned her back against the wall. She would have sat down on the floor if it wasn’t wet; she always wondered why the floors were usually slippery, and not only that, but cold. The windows were usually open to let it dry, but the shoes were always making squeaky noises.

"The wardrobe in this room was made by the Professor himself. As you can see, creatures of mythology are delicately carved. This gives the wardrobe a magical presence."

The guests stared at the wardrobe with fascination, examining all corners of it. The tours usually stretched out to the middle of the day, and Hannah always felt exhausted by the time. She leaned against the wall, trying to tune out the murmurs. Hannah noticed a boy and a girl look up at her with curious eyes. The little boy had neatly combed brown hair and wore a plaid shirt with dress pants, while the girl wore a frilly pink dress and her blonde hair were in pigtails. Both seemed innocent, looking no older than ten. The two glanced at each other warily, and then at Hannah. This was nothing new to her, as she was used to those types of stares.

"It's not polite to stare," said a woman, who must've been their mother. She sent her an apologetic look. The lovely blonde curls on her hair reminded Hannah of her own mother.

Before things could've got more awkward, the tour came to an end. After a bunch of "thank you's," the guests left with satisfied looks on their faces. Once again, the manor was silent. The Professor went on to read his newspaper in the study room.

Meanwhile, Hannah blissfully sat herself on the sofa, resting her head until she heard a harsh voice call to her. "Don't think you're free, young lady. You have chores to do."

Hannah sighed, knowing there was no way to get out of doing chores with The Macready. She always pictured her as "The Wicked Witch of the West" in some situations. It was obvious that she didn't like children, especially when they were brought along during the tours. There was this nasty look on her face, a roll of the eyes, and sharp sigh. Even when Hannah couldn't understand her years ago, The, was a good fit for a nickname.

Liverpool, February 4th, 1939

Just from the first glance of eye contact, little Hannah got a cold look from the woman standing in front of her. The woman had a strict disposition; her tall, poised stance made her feel intimidating.

"You may call me Ms. Macready," the woman said, sharply.

Hannah looked at her cluelessly. Her heart beat rate increased quickly. To this moment, she had limited interactions with the English people, only having arrived to this country just a few hours ago. What was she supposed to say? The woman looked at her with a smile that was clearly forced, causing even more tension in her body.

"The... Macready?" Hannah choked.

The woman furrowed her eyebrows at her, looking at the little girl crossly. "Excuse me?"

Hannah gulped, her eyes scattering around face. It didn't take her long to notice that what she said might have been incorrect. Foreigner or native, body language was a global language. The girl lowered her head in shame, avoiding her cold stare.

Hannah bent down on her knees, and started to whimper. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm sorry!"

Ms. Macready tried to avoid the questioning faces of others. Her face turned pale as men, women, and children looked at her with a raised eyebrow. The wailing echoed through the walls of the station, not to her surprise.

"Child? Child?" she asked, her voice filled with tension. Ms. Macready took the girl forcefully by the arm, helping her up. She smiled with satisfaction as the crying immediately stopped.

"It's alright, just stop crying please," she said. "Would you like it if I get you some sweets on our way?"

Even though this moment was quite nerve-wrecking to think about, Hannah couldn't help but giggle to herself at the memory. This was the origin of the nickname that she used as mockery. Ms. Macready shared a good resemblance to the green witch from Oz. If only she could use the bucket of water and melt her away.

The Macready believed that if Hannah was given a place at the Manor, then she should help take care of it. Even though that was fair, Hannah's strength was drained due to the tour. Talking to people and not being able to sit for hours was exhausting. The only thing she wanted to do now was lay down and sleep.

She hoped the squeaking noises the wet mop made didn't interrupt the Professor in his studies. He must've been tired as well, dealing with all the noise that disrupted his peace.

Just a few more inches, Hannah thought. She pushed her mop until it reached each corner of the kitchen. The fact that she was almost finished raised her adrenaline level. She reached a black surface, quickly scrubbing the dust until she realized that standing in front of her, was the Macready.

"There's some important mail from the orphanage that came for you," Ms. Macready informed her. "You're free to go."

With that news, Hannah picked up her speed until she was stopped by a scolding voice, "Don's run in these halls."

She continued on to her room, making sure not to step on the cracks. Ms. Macready had bat-like ears, and was able to hear even a soft giggle that would come from her room. Hannah passed the guest room until she made it to hers. A stack of letters were piled on her work desk. Those were mostly from the orphanage that were in the Kindertransport program. There was one in particular that she was looking forward to reading.

Her eyebrows raised at the sight of the scribbled name: Dinah Klein. She quickly teared the envelope open, looking closely at the words. Dinah wasn't the one for neat handwriting. The edges contained dried up ink stains. There were many spelling mistakes that were crossed out and corrected, but it was the message that was most important to her.

Dear Hannah,

When I heard you and your sponsor were holding a tour as a charity event for our orphanage, I immediately wanted to write to you. I'm happy to hear you're helping us. I'm miserable here. I have no idea what is going on with my mother, and she hasn't written back. I constantly feel lost. You're lucky you don't have to work in a factory, unlike Miriam and I. Aviva is living with Jewish a family in London. I knew no one would've wanted teenagers.

The pictures of the Manor are beautiful! I stole a newspaper, and the first thing I saw was that house. I was jealous, but you're incredibly lucky. Not to mention you're humble, which is something I admire.

Any news from your Mother? Have you been listening to the radio? Did you know that Germany attacked France? It doesn't seem like the war is turning in our favor. On a happier note, hopefully the small things in life are turning in yours.

Sincerely,

Dinah

The first thing Hannah would've done was to write back, but a thought made her stop in her tracks. Her mother really hasn't written anything back lately. The last letter she received was dated February 7th, 1940. The only thing Hannah knew was that she was in hiding, but very little details were given. It was very vague, as if her mother was trying to protect certain information from her.

Hannah brushed those thoughts away, focusing her attention to her response. She took a pen and dipped it in the ink that laid beside her. It seemed to take hours for Hannah to write back. Her eyes dropped and she wanted to rest her head against the hard, wooden desk. Hopefully, when she did, she wouldn't have any nightmares tonight.

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forkanna · 5 years

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[AO3 LINK] [EF LINK]

NOTE: There will be a very slight touch of transphobia/transgender issues in these coming chapters. I promise it won't get terribly unpleasant, but just a heads up to those who would have more trouble reading such things.

"Elphie!" Glinda cried as soon as she was back in the Royal Palace. All night, she had tossed and turned, trying not to worry too much about her love but unable to help the niggling in the back of her mind that told her she should be worried. But as it turned out, her worry was all for nothing.

Or was it?

Though her no-longer-green paramour had seemed fine when they checked on her progress in the painting, worn but fine, in person they were able to see that she was quite a bit more ragged than the last time they had been together. The split in her lip, the way the neckline of her now-grimy dress hung open slightly, all spoke of a rough time on the other side of the painting that Glinda almost wasn't sure she wanted to know about. But the smile told her that it wasn't so awful of a time that she had been unsuccessful.

"Elphie?"

Green hands gripped her forearms. Indeed, the longer she spent back in Oz, the more of her original hue began to rush back into her skin. "Oh, Glinda… I'm so glad to see you again."

"It's only been one day," she breathed with a slight chuckle that she didn't truly feel. "What happened?"

"Nevermind that right now. Let's…" Turning to the painting, she laid her hand upon the frame and said clearly, "Show me Dorothy, right now."

With no hesitation, the paints upon the canvas changed to display the room that had become too familiar to them now. There was the woeful patient, cowering before the matron who had been so cold to both of them in turn and was now shaking her fist at Dorothy. When squinting, Elphaba could see something in the palm of her other hand… several small, white somethings.

"She found the medicine this time," Elphaba breathed. "She didn't have a chance to dispose of it."

"Medicine?" Nessa was asking, worry creasing her flawless forehead. But as they looked on, Dorothy was being dragged outside.

"Painting?" Elphaba asked — though it seemed to be unnecessary. The image flowed and shifted into a display of the hallway outside her room, where there was a chair with wheels fastened to the legs waiting. Two large men were waiting, as well, and now they were wrestling Dorothy into it, tying her down with straps.

"Oh no," Ozma whispered. Glinda turned to her as if to ask her to hurriedly wish her away, since the sight of them fighting with such a small girl was clearly wrong and needed to be righted, but Ozma was ten steps ahead of her — already grasping the belt with a grim determination they hadn't seen from her since before the Truth Pond's water revealed her to be their rightful queen. "Bring Dorothy Gale to me!"

Mass confusion flared up between the woman and her strapping accomplices, who were all suddenly scrambling to fasten belts around nothing at all. Clearly, they were panicked, gasping in shock as they shot backward from the inexplicable disappearance. For some reason, that seemed to please Elphaba an inordinate amount.

That was the last they would ever see of Topeka Insane Asylum, for the scene changed immediately to that of Ozma's bedchamber, with all of them gathered around a disoriented Dorothy. Then Glinda turned her attention from the painting to her friend.

"Oh," Dorothy breathed, bow lips wide in shock. An instant later, they split into a true grin. "Oh… oh, it's true, I'm here. Miss Elphaba?"

"Behind you," Elphaba chuckled, and opened her arms for Dorothy as she sprinted the few steps to embrace her, laughter tinkling like high bells, bare feet windmilling in the air and forcing Elphaba to grunt and support both their weight. "Alright, alright! So you're not disappointed to see me, I would surmise!"

"I'm in Oz! I'm in Oz, I'm in Oz!"

Glinda and Nessa clasped hands, happy to see her but not wanting to crowd Elphaba, who tended to get flustered by too much physical affection all at once. Of course, their friend was even more gaunt in person than in the painting, but the joy at being reunited with her friends was enough to make that worry fade into the background. The simple dressing gown that was her attire was at least freshly laundered, even if they didn't see fit to put her in her slippers before trying to tie her to a chair. And her braids weren't clean, but they were somewhat neat, as if she had rebraided them recently.

When she finally calmed enough to step back from Elphaba, her green hands held onto her elbows as she said in a gentle voice, "You did a good job, keeping the pills from them for that long. What was she saying to you?"

"Oh, they were going to shock me again," she said in a put-upon tone, as if it were some nominal punishment like going to bed without supper. "But they didn't get to. Am I really here? Am I dreaming?" Elphaba pinched her, and she yelped, "OW! N-nope, not dreaming!"

Chuckling with true warmth, Glinda touched her on the shoulder and said, "We're as real as you are. So either everything's a dream, or nothing is. But that's one of those philosophul questions I'm no good at answering."

"Miss Glinda!" she cried, hugging her now and prompting laughter from all of them. "I've missed you! Oh, I'm so glad, I'm- where's the Scarecrow and the Lion? Are they here?"

"Lion is just outside," she tittered, sharing a grin with Elphaba over Dorothy's shoulder. "Scarecrow went back to help mind the Vinkus, but I suppose we could send for him. Or wish him here with the Belt!"

"Glinda, we shouldn't abuse the Belt like it will always be here," Nessa said reasonably. "What if it only has so many wishes in it?"

However, Dorothy couldn't bother worrying about a belt just then. She turned to Nessa and beamed at her, vibrating as if trying not to hug her with all of her might. So Nessa smiled and took care of it for her, enveloping the young woman in the tightest of embraces. Not quite so squeamish as Elphaba, and knowing Nessa wasn't, either, she pet up and down Dorothy's back to help console the overwrought girl.

"Welcome back," Nessa laughed easily. "And I see you got rid of the shoes at last! How did you manage it?" Glinda chuckled, thinking that of course it would be Nessa who asked.

"Didn't have to 'manage' a thing! Soon as I got back to Kansas and walked 'round a bit, they come off easy as anything! Shame they weren't gold anymore, either, though. Can't figure out for the life of me… w-well, anyway, it don't matter none now!"

"Certainly doesn't," Glinda whispered gently. Hoping to reassure her that she didn't need to worry.

"I'm so happy! I… I was sad about leaving Kansas again, but now that I'm with you all, I can't… I c-can't…" Now the tears truly began, fat and glistening as they slid down her cheeks. "I'm s-so glad I got to see you all again, I thought I never would!"

All three of them let her bawl her eyes out, leading her over to perch on the corner of Ozma's bed and petting along her shoulders. Ozma, however…

Ozma was gone. Glinda distinctly remembered her standing back and smiling at them before Dorothy had hugged her, but couldn't quite remember her leaving the room. However, the reason for this seemed to present itself a moment later.

"Dorothy!" boomed the Lion in his deeper, richer voice as he bounded toward the bed. Though Glinda knew him by now, trusted him deeply, she couldn't completely suppress a flinch to see a huge beast of the forest leaping directly for her.

That was not a sentiment Dorothy shared. She swept her arms wide and cried, "Lion!" as he tackled her, and she wrapped her arms around his shaggy neck. Even as he lapped at her cheeks to dry them of tears and she giggled at the scratchiness of his tongue, Elphaba and Nessa moved just enough so that they were sitting on either side of her, petting along her back to add further comfort. Such a welcome had not been seen in the Royal Palace in generations, up to and including Ozma.

Speaking of which…

"I'm glad to see you're safe and sound," Glinda told Dorothy earnestly, leaning down to kiss her forehead when she saw a break in Lion's playful nuzzling. Her hand caressed over her hair as she added, "I'll be right back, okay?"

"Okay!" she laughed, so thoroughly overjoyed that she couldn't even fully spare a thought for why Glinda was leaving. After all she'd been through, that was fine.

~ o ~

It only took Glinda about ten or twenty minutes to track down their princess. She was back in the attic they had so recently cleared out. However, it wasn't exactly Ozma who she ran into up there.

"Oh!" gasped the small voice as its owner backed up toward the sturdy beam supporting the roof. "Glinda!"

After a moment to collect herself, debating a few different responses to what she was seeing, Glinda stifled a chuckle and made a small curtsy. "Why, Tippetarius, it has been some time!"

Ozma looked down at her scruffy old outfit. Clean and well-pressed, sure, but as threadbare as the day she had first entered the Emerald City. Now, it hung quite differently on her, for the Truth Pond had revealed the womanly figure she had been entitled to before Mombi cursed her, but the effect was not altogether unappealing. Merely unusual.

"I… well, I was thinking…"

"Go on?" she prompted after a moment.

"Well, Dorothy has never met Ozma. S-so I thought she might prefer to see a familiar face rather than an un-familiar one. And it's probably a very stupid idea, I don't know what I'm doing up here!" Frustrated with herself as much as with the situation, she whipped off the old pointed cap and threw it on the ground, letting her hair spill out from where it had been hidden.

Sighing, Glinda bent down to pick it up for her. Only then did Ozma look as if she regretted her outburst. "There, there. Not a stupid idea. But… well, I don't really think you need to do it. Dorothy's a very sweet girl! She'll be as glad to meet who you are now as who you were then."

"B-but what if I'm not ready to meet her as Ozma?" she whispered, taking the hat back and wringing it in her hands. "What if she thinks I was better as Tip, and now I look too frilly, and dainty, and… I don't know why it makes any difference now, but I just-"

"Okay, okay," Glinda giggled as she embraced her with one arm. "You're the queen now, so if you want to meet her in those clothes, then that's your right. And even if you weren't the queen I'd say the same thing."

"Really? You don't think I'm acting foolish?"

"Maybe a little. But I've done far more foolish fings- I mean, things. Certainly you're entitled to feel a teensy bit self-conscious about how you look in front of a guest." With a little smile that she hoped would set her friend at ease, she whispered, "But we're going to have to do something about a couple of things."

"What things?" When Glinda poked the side of her breast, she sucked in a breath of surprise, then lowered her eyes. "O-oh, those. Yeah, I did notice… they st-stick out. Not that they're very big, but big enough to be, um, difficult to hide."

Nodding to herself as she considered the matter, Glinda looked around the attic for inspiration. She could attempt a spell, but most of her spells weren't suited to this kind of problem — and she didn't have Elphaba at hand, or the Grimmerie. When her eyes settled on the sash that had adorned the waist of Ozma's royal dress-of-the-day, she smiled wider.

"Alright; off with your shirt. I think I have an idea that may just do what you need it to do."

~ o ~

"...and it got dreadfully lonely, cooped up all those months, but I had books to keep me company. So you mustn't think it was as bad as Elphaba's making it sound!"

Nessa was laughing as the door creaked open again. "Leave it to Dorothy to make being imprisoned sound like an evening in a pleasure paradise."

"It was awful," Elphaba snapped resolutely with a little nod. "Nothing like our prisons, and they didn't even call theirs a prison! But I can tell you what the actual prison was like, and that was even w-"

"Ahem."

The others turned toward the door, seeing only Glinda. As she had planned. One by one, they fell silent. Already, she could see that one of Ozma's dressing robes had been thrown around Dorothy's shoulders and cinched at the waist; they were of a somewhat similar size, but in the morning there would probably be a call to make some dresses specifically for the farm girl.

"Yes, Glinny?" Elphaba asked.

"If I have all your attention," she began, staring at Elphaba and then Nessa, and even Lion. "I've got somebody here who wanted to meet Dorothy again."

Then she stepped to one side to reveal Tip. She still looked a bit more feminine than she had before, but at least the sash was keeping her chest flat enough for the time being. A single curly lock of red was hanging down in front of her eyes, but most of the rest of it was stowed away inside the cap, and she had managed to use a bit of powder to make her cheeks less rosy, her lips less plush and pink. The best that could be done under short notice.

"What…?" That was as far as Elphaba got, for Glinda's sharpened glare silenced her in short order.

"Oh," Dorothy was breathing, dipping her head in a brief bow. "Begging your pardon, but… I don't recall your name, sir? But I'm ever so glad that whatever had been the matter seems to have gotten straightened out while I was in Kansas."

Surprising them all, Tip executed a very gentlemanly bow, even though it still looked a bit like a curtsy to Glinda. "Tippetarius. I… well, the moment I found out you were back, I wanted to say… to say that we… that it's an honour to have you in the Emerald City again."

Even while Dorothy was approaching, Tip's eyes remained pointed down toward her bare ankles. Her smile was a little flattered, and curious about the way "he" was regarding her. Glinda moved over to join Elphaba and Nessa, pressing a finger to her lips even as her eyes twinkled with merriment.

"What are you plotting?" Nessa muttered out the side of her mouth.

"Wasn't my plot at all."

"She-?!"

"Shhhh!" she warned, barely able to keep from giggling again.

By now, Dorothy was curtsying for someone she didn't realise was someone else, despite having bowed a moment before. "It is a pleasure to make your, um… re-acquaintance? I guess."

"The pleasure is all mine," Tip breathed, taking her hand up and pressing a light kiss to the back of it. Dorothy tittered and her face flushed, which caused the same to happen in kind on Tip's cheeks, even through the powder. "I'm… sorry to hear that you went through so much misfortune whileyou were gone."

"Well… it can't have been so bad. I'm alive, and here, and meeting my friends again. Do… you count as my friend now, too? Because if you wouldn't mind terribly, I think that sounds awful nice."

"Very nice, indeed."

A moment later, Nessa whispered, "Nevermind. I withdraw my questions."

~ o ~

Somehow, they made it all the way through luncheon without anyone letting slip to Dorothy that Tip was really Ozma. Glinda went down to the kitchens to warn the staff, who looked a little perplexed but did not wish to question an order from their queen — even if it wasn't a direct order as such. Naturally, the small dinner party couldn't entirely refrain from mentioning Ozma at all, so their guest began to get quite curious about this person who was supposedly a benevolent Ruler, adored by all and worthy of such adoration. Ozma declined to comment on these matters herself, except to once say "Yeah, I guess she's alright".

Otherwise, they mainly spent the time filling in each other on what they had missed. A good many gasps were uttered to hear Elphaba's tale, and Lion roared in approval when she mentioned fighting off her attackers in the Kansasian jail. Elphaba did admit that her skin still chafed a little where the pill had partially dissolved against her breast, but hoped that would clear up in due time. They also learned a bit more about Dorothy, for there hadn't been time to hear the entirety of her tale during their sparse conversations thus far. Seemed that she had only been in the asylum for about two of the past three months; it had taken that long for everyone involved to be "sure" she was best placed there. Glinda and Nessa assured Elphaba that she had not missed much in a single day, other than the appointment of a new head soldier, Jinjur, to the Pike Guild.

There was a brief discussion of using the belt to fetch Dorothy's black-furred companion from the farm where the Gales had taken refuge, but in the end, she decided against it. When asked why, she simply stated, "He's at home there, and he doesn't belong in Oz." This was not stated without a few tears, but privately, Glinda admired her for deciding based on what was best for Toto and not for herself. She really had grown into an admirable woman.

For Dorothy, they had a lot more news… which required some omissions. It was easy enough to paint Ozma as a completely separate person from Tip; they merely neglected to mention the initial revelation. When asked where this mystery princess came from, it was Elphaba who replied, "Sometimes, the person Oz needs comes in a package no one expects. And you should know that best of all, Dorothy."

Once their bellies were full, and Dorothy had eaten the most of them all to make up for having so little appetite the past months, they said they ought to take a little stroll through the gardens. After all, it was such a bright and pretty Summer afternoon. However, as they stood, Tip changed the itinerary slightly.

"You all can go on ahead; I think I'd like to show Dorothy around. That is, i-if she wouldn't mind?"

Obviously pleased at the interest, she favoured "him" with a slight blush and a sweet smile. "That sounds delightful. But not for too long! I want to spend some time with my other friends, of course — you do understand, don't you? Bein' a gentleman."

"Of course," he said with another bow. Nessa held a hand in front of her mouth so only Glinda could see her silently mouth the words "Can you believe this?" All she could do was grin and shrug her shoulders.

However, once out in the gardens, Glinda's curiosity got the better of her. She said, "I'll be back in a jiff."

"Glinda…" When she turned back, it was to see Elphaba with her hands on her hips. "Leave them alone."

"Who? I was just going to-"

"Meddle?"

"To monitor the situation. Just in case little Ozzie needs my help!"

Shaking her head, she went on, "It's not decent to spy on them, and you know that. Even if your intentions are good. But I won't try to convince you if you're really dead set on-"

That was as far as she got before she noticed Glinda was off like a shot.

It took her a minute or so to locate the two young ladies, due to all the hedgerows and flowering bushes, and her billowy dress making stealth almost impossible. Finally, she did catch up with them in a small clearing. It was obvious that the garb was relaxing Ozma into her old ways, and she had her hands stuffed into her pockets in a most unladylike fashion. Somehow, after so many royal balls and appearances, this had a quaint adorableness that brought the Gillikin woman a wistful smile.

"...some kind of- of spell over us," Dorothy was prattling on, always happy to have someone listen to her. Glinda couldn't help but think what a pity it had been that for the past three months, no one had wanted to do that except for a talking-doctor telling her everything she said was wrong. "But Scarecrow and Tin Man were able to help us get away from the poppies. And no one hurt us at all, of course, so it wasn't as if we were in true mortal danger! W-well, unless you count the wildcat, but Tin Man took care of him quick as a flash!"

"Did he?" Tip said with a queenly grin.

"He did! Oh… but I s'pose he ain't the same now, is he? What with the forgetting spell. Still, after how he tried to hurt poor Miss Nessarose, it's only right he get punished, and at least they didn't have to kill 'im. And he and the Scarecrow can still be good friends, can't they? Fill his tin head with new memories."

"Of course."

Dorothy glanced up shyly at the princess. "Oh, but I do go on, like an old housewife at a quiltin' bee! Sorry about that. Don't know why my mouth runs away with me so."

"No, no, it's alright!" she told her hastily. "Just… I like to hear you talk. Your voice is one of the sweetest I've ever heard."

Even as Dorothy was tittering into her hands, cheeks reddening, Glinda muttered to herself, "Not bad, Ozzie."

"Tippetarius, I've half a mind to think you're sweet on me! Might be more careful with a girl's heart."

"I like your heart, too. It's kind and good, and better than most."

"O-oh? And…" Swallowing, she fidgeted with her fingers as she asked, "What makes a heart good? If'n you know so much." The last bit was a little tease, but more aimed at her own uncertainty that her heart was truly "good" than at the expense of her present company.

Shrugging, Ozma looked off toward the cloudy sky. "Things that can't be learned. Like kindness, strength, humility… love. A-and I don't just meant that kind of love!" she laughed, cheeks glowing. "But love for your friends, and family, and… like how you told Elphaba you wanted to stay behind for your aunt and uncle, even though they had you sent to that horrifying place."

"They didn't know what to do with a girl who'd lost her mind," she said softly.

"But you hadn't." Taking up Dorothy's fidgeting hands, she squeezed them tightly, causing her to go completely still with her mouth very slightly open in surprise. Ozma's emerald eyes sparkled with intensity as she told her, "I think your mind is my favourite. And… m-maybe I've known it since before you even left Oz. I don't know how, or why, since we haven't spoken much, but I just know. There's something very special about you, Dorothy, and I'm not the only one who sees it. Everyone in Oz does! So… so please don't think that just because Kansas isn't the place for you, that it's because you're not good enough. Because you are!"

After a moment of listening to Ozma breathe heavily, shaking all over with the force of her own passion for reassuring Dorothy, the slightly shorter girl swallowed hard. Then she whispered, "Tip?"

"Yes?"

"With you… all afire like that… you remind me a bit of… well, I don't want to say."

"Who?" she asked, needing to know now.

"Wouldn't want your manhood to be, um… hurt, or however that works."

"Don't worry about my manhood," Ozma chuckled with a secret humour that only Glinda could share in that moment, hiding behind the hedgerows where she was. "Please, tell me."

"You remind me of Miss Elphaba. So much fire in your belly, and eyes blazing green… gives me gooseflesh."

That pleased both of the women listening. Ozma smiled at her and whispered, "Don't tell her, but… you couldn't pay me a higher compliment. If I'm half the woman Elphaba is, I'll be a worthwhile person all my life."

Dorothy giggled. "You just said you were a woman!" Before a mildly panicking Ozma could respond, she sighed and looked down at their hands. "Suppose you do have soft hands, though. And a sweet smile. Not that I'm teasin', mind."

"O-of course not," she breathed.

"Sorry." Then she added as she tilted her head, "But… I think I could like a boy as pretty and sweet as you. Never did have much interest in the rough-and-tumble boys in Kansas. They're fine and all, but…"

When the silence had grown heavy, Ozma asked, "But?"

"But I prefer your company," she said firmly, bold for Dorothy in an area of conversation in which neither of the young women were at all experienced. By now, she was blushing worse than Glinda could ever remember, including the time she had believed she was about to pin her to the wall and kiss her.

So Ozma did the next best thing to that. She again graced the back of Dorothy's hand with her lips, but this time, it was longer, contemplative, and with her eyes fully closed. The simple farm girl's breath caught, and when the lips did not move away as soon as she had been expecting, she let out a little soft coo of surprised joy. Her free hand drifted up to press into her heart through the dress Jellia had found for her.

"Tippetarius," she finally breathed in disbelief.

At that, "Tip" seemed to come back to herself, standing up straight and flushing as badly as Dorothy. "I… w-well, I didn't mean to get so… s-sorry if this is sudden, y-you just got here, and I'm already-"

"It's alright," she tittered, even more pleased than she had been before. "But I'll expect you to behave like the gentleman you have been so far if you're comin' a-courtin' me."

"Of course!" With that, she offered her elbow, and Dorothy daintily slid her hands around it, as if she were attending a high society function.

"Great start, kind sir," she giggled.

"Y-yeah. Although… well, I feel like I should tell you something before you, um… get too, um…"

Glinda couldn't help muttering an "oh no" under her breath. She had been afraid of this moment, and didn't have time to properly warn Ozma about a small facet of Dorothy's upbringing. Even though she had come a long way in being accepting, she was initially quite alarmed by the idea of two women having any romantic entanglements — mostly Boq's fault, for which she still wanted to toss him into the Shifting Sands. For it to come up this suddenly was admirable on Ozma's part for wanting to be honest, but perhaps not wise.

"What is it?" Dorothy asked.

"I'm… well, I've always thought you were quite charming." When "Tip" flattered her, Dorothy dipped her head in chagrin as they began to walk, and Glinda had to work to follow and eavesdrop, as she most certainly shouldn't have been doing at all. "Really, I was sad to meet you only for you to have to return to your Land of Kansas. But when I learned you might come back to Oz, after being a little excited, well… I couldn't help being… afraid."

"Afraid? Of li'l ol' me? Aw, I couldn't hurt a fly!"

"Not afraid in that way! But of what you might think of me now. Of… how things might have changed."

Dorothy was still looking at her in mild confusion as they rounded a corner, and bumped into someone that had not been warned about Ozma's wishes in regards to her identity. And Glinda had to bite down on her fist to keep from crying out to the heavens in sheer frustration.

"Ozma!" cried Jack Pumpkinhead in delight as he stood from where he was tending the rows of pumpkins. They were his prized project. As a man made entirely of hickory branches and a large jack-o-lantern for a head, there could be little else to occupy his time. Much like Dorothy's friend, Scarecrow, he did have a set of clothing, but it was quite mismatched; pink vest with white polka dots over a red shirt, purple trousers, and golden slippers. The latter had been a recent addition.

"O-oh!" Ozma cried in shock. "Jack! I… well, I didn't think we'd run into you here!"

"In the garden? Of course you would! Where else would you think I could be?"

"Y-you're right, of course! Oh — Jack, this is our friend, Dorothy."

"Dorothy Gale," she introduced herself with a little polite curtsy, finally letting go of Ozma's arm to do so. "A pleasure to meet you."

"Oh my! Miss Dorothy of Kansas, finally I meet you! Why, Ozma talks about you all the time!"

"She does?" Dorothy asked in puzzlement. Under her breath, Ozma hissed, "Jack!" but he paid it no mind.

"Sure! Every day, it's 'Dorothy' this, 'Dorothy' that. Wondering what Dorothy's up to now! Oh… but it really is good to put a face to the name at last! Seeds alive, but you do seem as sweet as they say!"

"My, but you're a funny pumpkinhead," Dorothy giggled. "And Ozma seems wonderful! Everything anyone's said about her has been good things!"

"She truly is. But I haven't seen you wear that in a long while," he observed, gesturing to the clothing on his old companion. "I thought you'd told me you were getting used to the new way of things."

"Jack, don't worry about that," Ozma tried to laugh, tense and desperate. "L-listen — we'll love to have supper with you later, but for now I'd like to finish my walk with Dorothy. So we'll be seeing you!"

"Oh, sure thing! Bye-bye — and nice meeting you, Dorothy!"

And the collection of sticks and clothing ambled off, giant pumpkin wobbling on his shoulders as always it did. Glinda cursed "that gourd-brain" under her breath, still irritated that he had needlessly confounded what was already proving a difficult situation for poor Ozma.

"He seems a wonderful sort, too," she gushed, turning back to the princess-in-disguise. "Queer, but wonderful. Not sure why he was so worried about your clothes… or did he mean your hat?"

Dipping her head, Ozma whispered, "Oh… it's a long story."

"But I bet you would look better without this old thing!"

Giggling, she took it off Ozma's head before the queen could muster a reaction. It only took a few seconds for the waves of red curls stuffed up inside to begin to fall, and eventually they all came tumbling down around Ozma's cheeks and shoulders. Now that she had stopped keeping it cut short enough to be easily hid, for she had never been comfortable with truly short hair, it was so long that it came halfway down her back.

Dorothy stood transfixed by the sight. At first, she didn't seem to know what to say. Then she whispered, "Golly…"

"I…" Ozma was beside herself. "I can explain. A-and I was going to… but we…"

They both fell silent for a moment. Dorothy ran her fingers through the thick red curls for a moment, mesmerised. Glinda wondered at that; it was almost as if she had a preference for red hair. Ozma's eyes closed in bliss, loving the sensation perhaps more than she ought to have. Then the hand came to rest on her neck.

"It's beautiful."

Shy and self-conscious, the queen looked down and away. "Th-thank you."

"You almost look like a girl. Well… really, you are as lovely as a girl, and you were before. Not that I mean any offense by it!"

"No, no, I'm not offended," she assured her with a slight smile.

"Good," she sighed in relief. "You know how some boys get about things like that. Or, well, I s'pose I don't know how Oz men are, but where I come from, calling a boy 'beautiful' might get him to throw mud at ya."

Every word seemed to be making Ozma feel worse about her slight deception. It might have been true that she wasn't encouraging Dorothy to believe she was a boy, but neither was she clearing things up for her. Glinda was pained to watch this go on, but she felt she had to be nearby to provide Ozma some support if Dorothy reacted poorly; the queen meant too much to her now to let her do this completely alone.

"Suppose… I'm not worried about that… because I'm not a boy."

"Hm? Oh," she laughed easily. "Would you rather be called a man? I'm sorry, you do seem about that age."

"Just suppose," she went on stubbornly, though Glinda could tell she wanted to abandon this discussion and let things alone. "I do look like a girl, don't I? What if I was one? Would it change much?"

"Then you'd be wearing awfully silly clothes for a girl as lovely as you." Leaning up, she pecked Ozma on the cheek, causing both of them to gasp in slight surprise. "O-oh, I didn't- that was a might bit impulsive of me, huh? I'm s-sorry."

Ozma shook her head, a smile beginning to replace her shocked expression. "It wasn't. This is."

Glinda turned away when she saw Ozma lean forward. It was already indecent of her to be eavesdropping, and she had to draw the line somewhere. Even so, she could still hear vague noises, a surprised sound that tapered into a pleased hum. Sighs through nostrils. Her own heart beat wildly for the two of them, and she couldn't help thinking fondly of Elphaba.

"Tip…"

"I have to go," Tip said. And she was quite right; Ozma would have duties quite soon, and could not delay them forever. "I… oh, Dorothy, I'm sorry. I only meant for this to be a little walk in the garden, and for us to talk. Not for… well… so much to…"

Shaking her head, she whispered, "It's alright. I'm…. no good at this kinda thing, either. Believe you me! Never had so much as a caller before, let alone courtin'." Another kiss, this one initiated by Dorothy, and Glinda simply covered her eyes until she heard them part, trying not to giggle. "But I can't say as I mind a bit."

"Listen. You need to know… well, if you come to the Royal Court this afternoon, I think you'll understand. I'm sorry we ran out of time for me to explain." Glinda turned just in time to see Ozma putting her cap atop her head again, this time amidst the auburn hair instead of concealing it. "Take care."

"G'bye, Tip. I'm…" Dorothy seemed to realise belatedly that she wasn't sure what she would say, and merely tittered into her hands. "Bye!"

Once Ozma had gone, Glinda waited for a minute or so. During this time, Dorothy did no more than sigh to herself, picking a flower and smiling as she breathed in its gentle aroma.

The very picture of a girl in love.

That was when the Witch of the North decided her attentions were needed elsewhere. She had intended to chase after her queen and console her, but there was something else she might do that would be of more use in the long run.

"OH!" Dorothy gasped when she saw Glinda arrive, clutching her heart and shivering all over. "M-Miss Glinda! You… you scared me!"

She couldn't help thinking that this was unlike Dorothy, to react as strongly as that. It was probably a leftover symptom of that awful treatment they had given her at the asylum, and for that, she wanted to use the Belt to pop over to Kansas and give every person there a good spanking! But knowing that her magic wouldn't work there, she decided it was best left alone.

"Sorry," Glinda chuckled. "I wanted to make sure you were alright. Plus, sometimes I worry about Tip."

"Well… I do appreciate that, Glinda. Oh, but you needn't worry about Tip! He's very… he's such a gentleman, and so sweet. Can't believe we ever thought he was going to hurt us way back when."

Glinda's eyes crinkled with amusement. "You're right; that is a funny thought." Then she sobered as she said, "But I think you may want to alter how you think about our Tip before this afternoon."

"What do you mean?"

"Only that… things aren't always what they seem. And sometimes, they are how they seem, but we can pretty well con ourselves into thinking they're a different way because it's easier for our brains to accept."

Now she had definitely puzzled the Kansas girl. Dorothy looked away a moment, then back to her as she asked, "Are you telling me he's not a nice boy? B-because, well… I-I don't think you're right! He is! You're only lookin' out for me, and I appreciate it more than I can say, but-"

"That wasn't how I meant it," Glinda assured her before she got even more defensive on her new beau's behalf. "You're absolutely right; Tip is quite charming, sweet, and earnest. A more loyal friend, you could never have! Only… I hope that's what matters most to you: what kind of person your special friend is. And not other things that don't matter so much."

Silence fell again for a few moments. Then Dorothy whispered, "You ain't talkin' sense. But… I think you're tryin' to tell me something, and maybe I just ain't smart enough to catch what it is."

"More like… it's not my 'something' to tell you, Dorothy. Really, I would explainify a little more if I could! But that isn't my place." She paced over and gripped her shoulder. "But later, when Tip tells you this something, I hope you'll remember what I said. Okie-dokie?"

"Um…" Dorothy laughed nervously, clearly unsettled by so much vagueness. Glinda was annoyed by it, as well, but she couldn't divulge Ozma's secret herself. It simply wasn't right. "Alright, I'll do my best. It ain't anything bad, is it? Like… he's ill and won't get better, or some such?"

"No, no. Nothing that worriful. And that's all I really ought to say on the matter." She put her arm around Dorothy's shoulders and began guiding her back toward the Palace. After a few paces, Dorothy leaned her head against the older woman's shoulder.

"You really are like my fairy godmother, y'know that? Watchin' out for me. You and Miss Elphaba."

Feeling distinctly guilty, Glinda said, "I'm trying to, at least."

To Be Continued…

#The Coven Of Oz #wicked fanfiction #forkanna writes #the wizard of oz #jess the writer

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