cynmooning my way through

I got this gorgeous commission from @trashasaurusrex, of my TADC Rumpelstiltskin AU!

YOU GET IT, YOU GET IIIIIIIIIIT.

Like, I'm an angst slop gremlin, I will admit that. BUT THERE IS A REASON.

Red cares about Purple. I'm certain they signed the first NDA bcos, in some twisted way, they thought it was the best way to protect both of them. They were up against MIRA. They were just two interns. Fighting the corporation just... didn't seem practical or worth it, compared to making sure both of them were safe.

Then 90% of the show is Red failing at every opportunity, bcos they were prioritizing their fragile ego and the version of events that protected their vision of themself, which couldn't work bcos the one person who knows them at their WORST is right there like a goddamn ghost. And at every turn, Purple refuses to play along with the version of reality that flatters Red most.

Which is why I really loved that ending?

It just. Really captured the complicated feeling of still caring about someone who hurt you deeply + the complicated nature of grief, forgiveness, and atonement. Nothing that happened fixes the past but it's a good foundation for whatever we're trying to build for the future.

And I really like that, Purple can only extend this much. And Red is grateful for it. Red is grateful for whatever Purple is willing and ready to offer. Red is willing to meet Purple more than halfway, bcos the onus shouldn't be on Purple to repair the damage, but since Purple is willing to, it at least lets a bridge form instead of a wall??

AWWW, I'M SWOONING.

I really love the concept of second chance romances where you finally do everything right. Yes, this is how I should have done it the first time, this is how it always should have been, with the insight of time and experience and all the mistakes between you two.

I gotta take this chance to gush about Episode 10?? Bcos Purple was so RESIGNED. They really thought Red would have wanted to complete the shipment and they were just, well, I know you wanted to finish this—

BUT THEN THEY DIDN'T. RED WANTED TO DUMP IT ALL. It'll cost them their job, their career, but who tf CARES as long as they can give a biiiiiiig middle finger to MIRA for doing this to all of them.

It was so cool. I really love that. You think you know this person. You know exactly what they're capable of. You know what they're willing to do and what they're willing to sacrifice.

And somehow, some way, they still manage to surprise you.

I really loved this entire sequence. And I think, in the case of a second NDA, Purple is more willing to consider it. They're tired. They've lost so much. And they know when they're beat.

But then RED tells Pink to SHOVE it?

Red pinks THEIR side?

No other options. Just piloting to Industria because there's nowhere else to go. They get fired; does the public know about the alien eggs? Maybe, maybe not yet. It's not like Purple's going to give up fighting for the truth, and for once, Red's with them in this.

And it's just that question - what does life look for them after everything's over? It's not like Purple can walk away, Red's right there who's given up their career for them to be together again.

Do they just... go back to life? In one shoddy apartment? It's not like life would ever pause for them to process it at all. The world isn't so kind.

(tldr; post episode 10 camcap makes me insane and i inflict it upon thee)

Hi, Moon!

My most HOPEFUL dreams for them, is for them to join other disgruntled, anti-MIRA Crewmates and form a rebellious alliance to take MIRA down. Bcos it CAN'T be just Red and Purple. There has to be others.

But if not that? I truly don't know. Maybe there's another NDA. Maybe they're separated. Maybe they're framed and wanted or MIRA attempts to have them killed. A big part of it is what is MIRA doing with the eggs? And are there Impostors in leadership? Is MIRA essentially the company from Lethal Company, where the aliens in leadership are using Crewmate labor to spread their eggs to every colony in the universe? Or are the alien parasites also partially victims bcos of the ecological implications of MIRA's colonization?

It really, really depends on how far the Impostors have spread and how deep this all goes.

I don't think they could go back to regular lives after this, tho. Either the Skeld was the first trial of whatever the Impostors are, or there are dozen of ships like the Skeld where something like this has happened. But it can't end that easily.

Pls don't make me talk about post-Episode 10, Anon, I might start drooling.

If I'm being honest? I do think Purple is happy-ish? I mean, they'd rather have Red than no one. They'd rather have Red than be alone. If they're being really, really honest with themself, there's the annoying, 21-year old intern part of them that would have been happy with just Red from the very start anyway. It sucks when you still care about someone who hurt you.

And to be fair to Red, they're actually quite respectful on that last week to Industria? It's like they've mellowed out. Whatever Purple says, they follow. Conversations are light and dumb and easy, mostly reminiscing about their internship days, the stuff only they'd remember.

They don't talk about the after.

It's like... they're playing house? I think that's the best way to describe it. Playing house. They use up the rest of Yellow and Brown's leftover dough, avoid the Storage wing, and sleep in Navigation together on a shit-ton of blankets and pillows bcos who else is gonna use them? And they talk about anything else but the important stuff until Industria pings on the GPS.