forthedancingandthethriving

[forthedancingandthethriving]

pokèmonize yourself!!!!

spin this wheel to see your pokemon type

spin this one to see how you'll look like

[forthedancingandthethriving]

the best trope in media is: “characters turn on the lights, see the monster, and immediately turn the lights back off”

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Had the idea that Archie just. absolutely despises Zeke.

Mainly because he's seen how Tulip reacts to his presence.

Because while Tulip has never exactly been fearless, usually if she's afraid of someone *cough their parents cough* she'll either fight back or run away. (or both, given how her game starts)

Zeke's the only person he's ever seen make her freeze.

Archie doesn't know what he did to her back when they were still betrothed, but he's heard enough stories about Zeke's "love" life to have a few Guesses, and it's enough to get his blood boiling and blow some of the rust off his long-neglected Protective Older Sibling instincts whenever both of them are in his line-of-sight.

I never had the time to write it, but.. Archie does, in fact, despise Zeke. Because if there's one thing he and his uncle Dale can agree upon; it's that they'd kill Zeke.

Why do they? Well.. because they both know why Tulip freezes up around Zeke, even if she herself doesn't remember it.

Again, never had the time to write it, but.. well, guess I've got the chance now. Under a cut for some very obvious reasons.

TW: Depictions/descriptions of assault, and ignoring consent (Zeke doesn't get that far with Tulip, but he gets damn close)

It was Tulip's sixteenth birthday, and Tulip's parents had invited Dale as 'extending the olive branch'. In reality, the press was looking into why Dale was never around and the Orpheuses wanted to shut that up.

The only person Dale could really stand to next was Zeke, and even then, it's a very I'm only standing here because you're the only one who I can barely tolerate for the both of them.

Until, of course, near one of the halls, they see Tulip walking with Zeke. Now, this isn't exactly uncommon. But both of them can see that something is very, very wrong. Namely, Tulip's red face. She'd already told the both of them, privately, that she specifically doesn't drink around Zeke because he always gets weird about it.

And neither of them like the look on his face.

Its just a shared look between them before they're both on the move, quickly following after the two with a horrible feeling in their stomachs. They duck into the hallway, Dale's hand is already on the pocket knife he always keeps on him-

And then they hear it.

"Z-Zeke- hic Zeke, no-"

And Archie just sees red for the first time ever as the Older Brother instincts he always swore that he didn't have come full force. When he sees Zeke pinning Tulip to the wall, ugly bruises on her neck, hickies and bite marks he knows full well Tulip didn't want, her dress shoulder already halfway down and the skirt hiked up..

He just lunges.

He grabs Zeke by the collar of his outfit and throws him over to Dale before he's gathering his little sister into his arms. She's crying into his chest, whispering "Archie- I-Its hurts, I hurt-" sounding like a little child and Archie can only hold her and whisper "I've got you, I promise I've got you-"

He doesn't even care that Dale is threatening Zeke with a knife, promising the younger man that he's going to make him a enuch. He can't even really hear anything over the rushing blood in his ears and Tulip's crying.

Even if Tulip doesn't remember it, Archie does.

It's why he always keeps a close eye on Zeke whenever he's around, and Tulip is in the vicinity.

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So I got the idea that with Irene's world now being In The Know about the whole Digital Multiverse thing they also had to be made aware of Irene being the Avatar and what that means, if only as part of the explanation for why All That happened to them. Since the world is now aware of Irene's important position she and her SMGs now have some government protections in place, particularly from those two groups that I can't currently remember the names of 'cause it's late. She still has her freedom (mostly because how are they supposed to keep her and the SMGs in one place when they're in the care of a pair of literal gods?) but she's now got significantly more safety and stability than before.

One downside is that her parents now know where to look for her, though thankfully they don't have anywhere near the sort of Influence or talent at manipulation that the Estrellas and Orpheuses had when they tried to get their daughters back so it doesn't turn into a Whole Thing like those did.

Oh!! I like this a lot. The idea of Irene and her SMGs having government protection is especially neat. They probably give her stuff like housing and cards with money on it, stuff like that.

And it's a good thing her parents don't have as much influence. Because I don't think anyone could handle another incident like that-

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Karen Lore

KAREN LORE!!! KAREN LORE!!!!!

[forthedancingandthethriving]

me when a character who was completely powerless gains power and proceeds to lose themselves in the intoxication of it before coming to and being horrified by their own capacity for bloodlust

[forthedancingandthethriving]

me when a character who was completely powerless gains power and proceeds to lose themselves in the intoxication of it before coming to and being horrified by their own capacity for bloodlust

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"you're the writer, you control how the story goes" no not really. i wrote the first sentence and then my characters said "WE WILL TAKE IT FROM HERE" and promptly swerved into an electrical fence.

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Got an idea for how the kids handle the forced three-way kaiju battle

Apparently Elanore's been studying the transformative properties of the Equestria server and managed to create a device that can induce said transformations, as well as slightly alter them. In this case, the result is that instead of a Seapony filly, Lily becomes a genuine full-sized Equestrian Siren and starts absorbing all the fury from Fury Bowser, which gets him back to normal and makes her powerful (and big) enough to keep the other two busy while the rest of the kids find and deal with whoever's controlling Diana and help Eggman un-hack his giant mech.

(I figure they'd deal with him first since he's both the easiest to deal with, since he's not under anyone's direct control (even his own), and the most dangerous if left to his own devices, since the Death Egg Robot has Eggman already trying to fix things from the inside and Diana, despite everything about her, is actually smaller and a bit weaker than the other two even in her most powerful form. Not saying she's weak by any stretch mind you, it's just that those particular versions of Bowser and the DER are absolutely ridiculous.)

I love this, but also because I had the thought of, when Diana is freed from that mind control, she gets to see Equestrian Siren Lily and is just wondering if she hit her head hard or something. Because she's pretty sure Lily isn't meant to be a fish yet.. unless she's getting time mixed up again-

[forthedancingandthethriving]

That's two episodes in a row this year that Mario made himself disturbingly skinny for stupid reasons. I hope it doesn't develop into a pattern or something.

Same, it's a little funny but at the same time.. I dunno, just doesn't sit well at the end of the day

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Whirlpool calling Abyssal its cousin instead of its sister is partly a Lilo and Stitch reference (since meeting them was a major formative experience for it after all) and partly because it understands her apprehensions towards it and is trying to respect that by keeping its distance while still making it clear that it considers them family.

Awwwww, that's so sweet.. I have a feeling she'll warm up to Whirlpool in time tbh

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Alt. Universe Xander Payne: We've created the ultimate robot destroying superweapon.

Wily: You've ruined a perfectly good Robot Master is what you've done! *points at Staccato* Look at her, she's got suicidal ideation and anxiety!

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Finally succumbing to its injuries, a Black Oak falls, crushing many of its fellows and a few inmates under its corpse. On its chest, bladed limbs dripping with green blood, is a mass of dark code, glowing orange eyes already seeking its next target.

Whirlpool's been having a bit of a mixed experience with the invasion. On one hand, it was clearly being targeted, its control-freak of a creator no doubt ordering the invaders to capture it and Abyssal so it could restore their connection. On the other hand, most of them had no idea what it looked like or could do, so it's been getting mistaken for one of the "enhanced" inmates about half the time.

A spike of distress not its own pierces through its thoughts, and it rapidly shifts its gaze upwards to where the Abyss and its new groupies are no doubt being confronted, "Cuuuuzzziiiinnn!"

Though it and Abyssal had been freed from the eternal Nothingness by the light of Sora's Keyblade, and thus also severed from any connection they might have had with each other if they'd thought to look for it, they were still Offshoots cut from the same code, so sometimes things would slip through, strong emotions in particular. In this specific instance, it had been a mix of rage, sorrow, grief and disgust wrapped tightly around a core of sheer terror, most likely on someone else's behalf.

Even before it's fully assessed all this already it's on the move, shifting to its cute and fluffy form for greater speed and agility and continuing to carve down anyone in its path. Even if their relationship is a bit strained and Abyssal isn't sure what to make of Whirlpool even at the best of times, she's still family. And if it's learned anything from Sora and Stitch and the rest, it's that you do anything for family if they need you.

(another thing it'd learned is that you choose your family. The Abyss very firmly Does Not Count, and won't until it gets its act together and makes things right with the rest of them. Which, given the situation, likely won't be today)

Still, even with the extra speed being a weird fuzzy mammalian alien instead of a massive shadow slug gave it, it still feels it isn't going fast enough to get there in time to help. Plus most of the action seems to be up in the air, and neither of its forms can fly. It can't even just ignore gravity like it's seen other programs do, which is annoying.

It can't help but feel that there's something it's missing, some opportunity just out of reach. An extension of the strange sense of familiarity it got when the Black Arms started falling out of a blood-red sky...

Something...Calls to me...

That... that didn't feel like its thoughts. And yet, it also did. It feels a stirring, deep in its code, like something's trying to push its way out, and it reaches down to meet it.

{ShadHedg.SOUL_STAT: RESTORED. Execute_ProjEcho.MOD Y/N?}

Huh, that's new. It selects yes as it uses a Black Wing as a springboard onto one of the floating stretches of road that horned guy (why does it hate him so much anyway?) keeps throwing around everywhere-

-and he surges forward the moment he lands, air shoes igniting before they even scrape the pavement.

Shadow confusedly looks himself over in the few moments of straightaway, "what is this power?"

He quickly shakes it off, resolving to assess his code later. What was a daunting, convoluted climb for his base form would no doubt prove a mere obstacle course for the Ultimate Lifeform.

"Watch yourself, Abyss. I'm coming for you."

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Fuck it, we ball.

So, after the disaster, that is this, the Abyss decides that it really can't afford to waste anymore time. It's let them have many happy weeks. It HAS to act.

It sends CPU and Lag to Computer Hell to not only let the inmates out but distract Antivirus enough so he can't stop them. Obviously, he (Antivirus) knows them enough (and has common sense) to know that this isn't them. Unfortunately, the Abyss also sent Phobos as back up, so Antivirus really doesn't have any way of stopping them.

Once those two have completed their purpose? Well, for CPU, it just violently disconnects him from its mind control, causing all of his programs and systems to do an emergency shutdown and throws him into a random server. Fun!

As for Lag, it lets Black Doom decide whatever he wants to do with Lag. And considering there is no way to get the information out of Lag, he just decides to let the Admin go. Antivirus, thankfully, nabs him just in time to get the hell out of dodge and to NWO. The Admin also had the foresight to send a message as soon as those two showed up, so everyone back in NWO is already on edge and getting ready.

Unfortunately, it does do very little against the fact that there was the scouting squad, and its the LITERAL ABYSS AND BLACK DOOM WITH ALL HIS GUYS, PLUS ALL THE INMATES.

So, that's fun for them. Thankfully, with the somewhat early warning from Antivirus, they were able to get all the people who couldn't fight out of there. Just in time, too.

As when the villains arrive?

Turns out the Abyss has figured out the ability to lock down an entire server, so no one, not even Database, can get IN or OUT.

And between all the shit that goes down? They're going to be fighting for their lives.

Plus, on top of all that...

----

Juliano can only wonder if this is what Princess Peach felt like every time she got captured by Bowser.

Except the difference being it is an Eldritch Abomination that is holding him hostage, trying to break him mentally, and also is that fucking COOKIE??

It clearly is her, but she's freshened up. Her spider legs are back, clearly repaired by the Abyss, judging by how they're pitch black. She's wearing.. different clothes, too. And Juliano has to admit, they are really nice. It's a bit like a priestess outfit, but it's also extremely practical.

He gives credit where credit is due. She looks nice. As does the other Program standing next to her, but he doesn't know that one.

Juliano, also, really wishes he hadn't been snatched in front of Forum, Domain, and Emulator, because he's quite sure they've noticed what the hell is going on with him, and now he really can't deny it.

"Ah- Creator!"

Oh, thank god, it's Abyssal.

In the cramped cage, Juliano turns his head to looked at the pink goddess. Her wings flapped as she landed on the platform, and he feels relief as their eyes meet.

Out of the corner of his eye, as she begins to discuss something, a private message box appears.

> ABYSSL: 👍/👎

> JLINO: 👍

She smiles a bit at that.

> ABYSSL: 🤕?

> JLINO: 👎

It's a little annoying that they have to speak in emojis, but at the same time, Juliano is thankful.

The box suddenly disappears, and Abyssal looks horrified as they look at the Abyss. Who had turned to look at him with a grin that spells nothing good.

It melts away, and tendrils drop down.

He even hears Cookie suck in a breath, Cluster mutter an "Oh that's too far.." and Abyssal just looks horrified as her wings flare out.

But Juliano can't hear them as he stares at what the tendrils hold, eyes pinpricks.

Are these familiar? the Abyss mocks in his head.

Juliano can't even answer. Because there's tears falling down his face, and there's a desperate aching need for him to GET THOSE AWAY FROM IT, GET THEM AWAY NOW.

But he can't.

And so he's forced to watch as the Abyss carelessly dangles the two things he wants the most, the plushed Cody and Mandy made for him, right in front of his face.

All while it cackles.

(As she watches, Abyssal sucks in a deep breath. Suddenly, beating back the Abyss just became a lot more personal.)

[forthedancingandthethriving]

writing is so fun

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Genuinely really sorry I haven't put out anything lately, guys. Seasonal depression and family shit has been hitting me hard and I don't really have a lot of motivation to write. I promise that I'll put something out soon, though.