There Are Spoilers For HTTYD 2 Below: (sorry I Didn’t Warn Before).

Cal Kestis’s Lightsaber

Cal’s lightsaber is cool. I know the reason for the stances is because video game, but character and story-wise it makes sense too.

The different stances give Cal increased adaptability for different situations. It plays into the whole “Survivors. We adapt.”message.

It also shows Cal’s natural combat prowess. No one taught him to wield these other stances, he figured it out on his own, building on a strong foundation from Jaro Tapal.

It’s also a great reminder of his scrapper days. Light sabers are notoriously difficult to build and modify, and for Cal to build such a complex weapon, it is clear how much Prauf taught him on Bracca.

Finally, I love what the double bladed saber represents for Cal. He builds it on Ilum after overcoming a moment of hopelessness. He takes the broken crystal and uses it to make a double bladed saber that can split apart. He adapts.

A lot of people comment that his double bladed stance feels really powerful compared to others, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s on purpose. Story-wise it makes the most sense for it to be the one he favors. Yes, he usually defaults to a standard saber in cut scenes but that’s the one he was trained on. He’s also had the double sided saber since the first game, meaning he’s had five years of training with it. He’s had the split sabers too, but he used them as a special attack within the double sided saber stance.

As much as I love Jedi Survivor, I don’t think the studio understands how crossguard sabers work. I understand having it be a heavy two-handed weapon because video game, but crossguard sabers aren’t from a custom emitter. When you bleed a crystal wrong you need vents to emit the excess energy. It’s nothing game breaking but I think it’s funny.

I’m sure that I am not the first one to come up with this headcanon, but I like to think that Cal changes his lightsaber color from its canonical blue to green after starting something with Merrin so he can match her magick. Because Cal is dorky like that.

Also, the lightsaber he uses technically isn’t his. It belonged to Jaro Tapal.

Anyway, thanks for my too-long meta analysis of me reading too deeply into things that probably only exist because of video game mechanics!

Appreciation post for all the beginner artists who work hard despite the AI ​​looming over us. You are fabulous. You are precious. Keep up the hard work, you are needed.

I am fuming. My blood is boiling, omg.

I'm from the Netherlands, and a woman has just come forward that her likeness was used in making fake commercials. Y'all. This woman used to have a gambling problem, and since then has been giving interviews and warning people about the dangers of gambling.

A gambling website took one of these interviews about the dangers of gambling and used AI to instead have this woman say that she got this app recommended by a friend and that she won 12 million euros.

They took this woman's interview and twisted it until it's against everything she stands for. She has of course sought legal action and the case is being investigated.

I fucking hate AI so much!!! Fuck you, how DARE you?!

Marvelous Geeks Media

School Spirits' 'Anatomy of a Fallout Shelter' Gives Viewers Moments of Tender of Longing

School Spirits Season 2, Episode 7, "Anatomy of the Fallout Shelter" delivers some of the sweetest moments of intimacy.

As people continue to argue that intimacy isn’t necessary on TV, we’ll keep championing more of it. Intimacy matters. Romance matters. Consensual sex scenes that, yes, elevate the plot (and even if they didn’t) matter. We wrote about it for Severance’s “Attila,” and now it’s important to address it in School Spirits‘ “Anatomy of a Fallout Shelter.”

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That's not an ad, that's a threat, and a scary one by the way

Good Omens Incorrect Quotes 4

Not mine but still fun

Aziraphale : There is no future. There is no past. Don't you see? Time is simultaneous, an intricately structured jewel that humans insist on viewing one edge at a time, when the whole design is visible in every fact.

Crowley : ...All I asked was if you wanted to cut your birthday cake first.

*

Aziraphale : Why are you on fire?

Crowley : This is just how my day is going.

*

Crowley : What do you call a dictionary on drugs?

Aziraphale : If you say "addict-ionary" I swear I will smite you.

Crowley : I was actually going to say "high definition", but your answer's much better.

Aziraphale : ...

*

Crowley , answering the phone: Hello?

Aziraphale : It’s Aziraphale .

Crowley : What did they do this time?

Aziraphale : No, it’s me, Aziraphale . It’s actually me.

Crowley : What did you do this time?

*

Aziraphale : You have your weirdly sincere humility.

Crowley : I prefer the term "self-loathing", actually.

*

Aziraphale , opening a Capri Sun: Guess I'll drink my sorrows away.

*

Aziraphale : I hate you.

Crowley : Well, according to this picture I drew of us holding hands, that is untrue.

*

Aziraphale , skipping rocks on a lake with Crowley : It’s such a beautiful evening.

Crowley : Yeah, it is.

Crowley : *whispering* Take that you fucking lake.

*

Crowley : I'm gonna get my pilot's license. I've already got a driver's license and a cosmetology license, that's two of the big five licenses.

Aziraphale : The big five licenses?

Crowley : Driver's license, cosmetology license, pilot's license, fishing license, and… license to kill! I can't wait to get that one.

*

Aziraphale : Are you trying to seduce me?

Crowley : Why, are you seducible?

*

Aziraphale : I’d like to live through a week that’s not a whole new verse of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”

*

Crowley : I’m having salad for dinner!

Aziraphale :

Crowley : Well, fruit salad.

Crowley : Actually, it’s mostly grapes.

Aziraphale :

Crowley : Okay, it’s all grapes.

Crowley : Fermented grapes.

Aziraphale :

Crowley :

Aziraphale :

Crowley : It’s wine.

Crowley : I’m having wine for dinner.

*

Crowley : I think I should be allowed on ghost hunter tv shows.

Aziraphale : I think that would be dangerous for the ghosts.

*

Crowley : If we don’t get out of this alive… If we’re both about to die… I love you, Aziraphale !

*Neither of them die*

Aziraphale : …

Crowley : …

Aziraphale : So do you wanna talk about somethi-

Crowley : No thank you.

*

Crowley on Monday: *glues 5p to the sidewalk* Heh heh heh.

Crowley on Wednesday: *walking down the street* Ooh hey! 5p!

*

Aziraphale : You use humor to deflect your trauma.

Crowley : Awww, thanks-

Aziraphale : That’s not a good thing.

Crowley : All I’m hearing is that you think I’m funny.

*

Aziraphale : When do you usually go to sleep?

Crowley : Whenever I collapse is entirely up to the gods.

*

*Crowley is fighting a monster*

Aziraphale : Just stay calm! You already have everything you need to beat it!

Crowley : The power to believe in myself!?

Aziraphale : No, a knife! Stab it!

*

Crowley , grinning: I have a knife!

Aziraphale : Put it down, Crowley .

Crowley : Make me! *sprints away*

*

Aziraphale : Pick a card, any card.

Crowley : Fine.

Aziraphale : Wait, that's my credit card!

Crowley : You said any card.

The Bastile Summarized:

Aziraphale: I cannot speak French and I refuse to dress like someone that isn’t being actively guillotened right now. Also, I can’t perform miracles.

Aziraphale: Time for crepes, brioche, and a stint as damsel in distress.

Crowley, aka the one who turned Aziraphale into a hedonists: I have regrets.

Crowley: Are we going on a date or wot?

Everyday it’s been getting closer and now it’s here!!!

I don’t know what to do with myself!!!!

Princess and the Scoundrel Thoughts

Spoilers ahead:

First of all, the title and cover of this book are ridiculous. The art is pretty, but the pose looks like a cheesy romance. I think they’re paying homage to Courtship of Princess Leia, which while that story is hilarious, is one of the worst Star Wars books ever. But we get the Dathomir witches so it’s fine I guess.

On the other hand, Princess and the Scoundrel, is one of the best Star Wars books. Despite everything, despite all of the obstacles this book had from the beginning, it succeeds as having some of the best and most subtle character work in the entire franchise. Which is hilarious, because this book literally only exists to market a hotel. But Beth Revis said, “yeah, but what if it was good and I actually tried?”

Now, Beth Revis has clearly read COPL. You can tell and it’s kind of hilarious. For example, in COPL, there is a really long scene where Han plays sabacc (space poker) during a bout of insecurity and wins a planet to give to Leia and he uses THE MILLENNIUM FALCON for collateral. Han Solo would never do this. Now in PatS, Han plays sabacc while Leia is working to help her out by gathering intelligence. One of the players mentions that he wants to kidnap Leia (not knowing who Han is), and Han almost murders the guy. It’s awesome.

Here’s the thing, you can tell when Leia is being written by a woman instead of a man. In COPL, there is one moment where it’s brought up that if Leia marries Isolder there will be a planet for the survivors of the Alderaani genocide, but it’s only mentioned a few times and not by Leia. So any opportunity for a duty vs love internal conflict is not used. Her conflict is “Han and I are distant and space Fabio is hot so…”. Then HAN KIDNAPS LEIA USING A MIND CONTROL GUN. And she doesn’t murder him. So…I don’t care about this relationship anymore because both of them suck and it isn’t even clear why Leia falls in love with Han all over again.

Beth Revis gives Leia a very multi faceted internal conflict. Part of it is her dealing with her feelings about Vader, about being part of a team, and her guilt over Alderaan. It doesn’t take up too much time, but they inform a lot of her character.

Now, in a different canon book, that came out previously, it was mentioned in passing that Han and Leia got married on Endor. Now, at that point in both the EU and Canon, Han and Leia have been forcibly separated for a year and only actually got together a little bit before that. So, that’s really weird. But Revis is stuck with this. So she says to herself, “Why would they do this? Why would they move this quickly?”

And she remembers that this is Star Wars. They are living through war, they all almost died, and just spent a year forcibly separated. And they’ve decided that they’re done wasting time. Han just kind of…proposes and Leia (in typical fashion) debates for a second before deciding to take a leap of faith for love. It’s genuinely very, very sweet. Despite the title and cover this is not a romance book. There is no “will they won’t they” bullshit. Thank. God. They just get married and it’s really happy and Lando pranks Han into dressing nice, and it’s great. Then it’s a Star Wars adventure featuring Han and Leia.

That’s not to say Han and Leia don’t have any tension between them. The difference is it’s interesting. Han and Leia, especially her, do not know how to fully let each other into their lives. It isn’t that Han forgets for a bit that he married a very driven woman. He absolutely knows. His frustration stems from the fact that they are literally on their honeymoon, and Leia keeps leaving to work, because that is all she knows how to do. It is how she has coped with her trauma for three years. On the other hand, Leia feels like she is solely responsible for saving the galaxy, and that Han doesn’t understand that. Both sides of this argument are understandable. The book switches between Han and Leia’s perspectives. There are no stupid cutaways to Luke or space Fabio, there are no space witches. It is a focused relationship/ character study of Han and Leia while they’re on a decently interesting mission.

And the build up to the fight they end up having, is great. It’s a slow build up, you can feel their mutual frustration, and once they have the fight it is very cathartic. They don’t fight for the entire book either. They flirt and tease and have real conversations too.

So, after this huge fight, Leia is trying to divert the cruiser they’re on to this other planet, and Han finds out and helps her. Together, they succeed, but Leia is confused. They haven’t made up from their fight yet, and she asks why he helped her fight to go on a mission that’s going to take up more of their time. And Han says, “You’re my wife. If you’re running a con, I’m going to help you.”

Now, this might just be one of my favorite lines. Beth Revis understands that Han Solo is very loyal to the few people he cares about. He loves Leia, it’s why he goes back for her on Hoth at his own risk, why he saves Luke at Yavin and on Hoth. (She also understands the little bit of dorkiness Han Solo has beneath the posturing, up to the point that she gives him a sweet tooth.) Neither of them are overly mushy, they just love and respect each other.

There’s this great symbolism with their wedding rings. They’re made of hardened amber by the ewoks, and their fragility is a constant reminder of Han and Leia’s issues. They crack under pressure, and have to be maintained carefully. They eventually end up breaking under immense water pressure, but Han gives Leia a new ring (the one she wears in the sequels) reminiscent of the amber ones, symbolizing that they’re coming out stronger. It’s so sweet, and while it’s a little bit on the nose, it’s a great literary technique.

He’s acknowledging that he recognizes this part of Leia’s character, Leia realizes she needs to also put him first. In the aftermath, they both feel bad, apologize, and resolve to work on their issues together. And when they make-up, it feels real. This runs through the entire book, and the way it ends is really satisfying. Now, we know what happens to them in the sequels, so we can see how this conflict may come back into play later and lead to their eventual separation in canon. But, it’s also easy to see a different path where they work through these issues and live happily ever after. It’s just ambiguous enough to be read as either a prelude to eventual tragedy or the beginning of a long, happy life between two complex people. (I prefer the first one, but whatever).

Other things I liked:

- Han proposing. It’s literally that “I want you” “For what?” “A really long time.” quote on the internet.

Han: I want you.

Leia: Me? For what?

Han: Forever. Marry me.

- Leia tells Han about her true parentage and he just does not care. Like, he’s sympathetic towards her feelings, but is like, “why would this impact my love for you?”

- Leia finally lets herself do something spontaneous.

- Luke and Mon Mothma ship it.

- This quote:

Leia: About time.

Han: For what?

Leia: You once promised me a good kiss. I’ve been waiting.

- The conflict on Madurs is also pretty interesting. Leia is unwilling to let another planet die, giving an insight into Leia’s feelings about Alderaan, especially since Madurs values art like Alderaan.

Honestly, I want Beth Revis to write the canon “trip to Bespin” book.

Also…

This book kind of implies that Leia is bi? There’s a scene where Leia is remembering a conversation with her mother. So, when Alderaanian royals get married, their parent straps the ceremonial Rhindon sword (also used during their coronation) around their waist before the wedding.

In the flashback, Breha specifically says “whoever you marry” and “your husband or wife”…

Some people may say that it’s just ‘forced inclusion’ but that’s boring. Now, in the EU, fanon, and canon, Leia always puts emphasis on how close she and her parents were. This is something that I don’t think is ever particularly well illustrated, especially in canon. In parts the Kenobi series (she gets better later) and Leia, Princess of Alderaan, Breha in particular comes off as really unlikable.

But, if Leia isn’t over romanticizing (and there’s no indication that she is), she was really close to her parents. So, it stands to reason that her mother would know her sexuality. They at least seem really accepting in this passage, so it doesn’t seem like something Leia would keep from them.

I have no other evidence, and as far as I know, Leia is always seen in romances with men in both canon and legends, but in this context, it is a very interesting hint of something new about her character.