#& at that point i was like. well these are nice lines it'd be a shame not to color them now

[tumblingxelian]

OK I am just gonna say it.

In regards to the whole "The writers said Ironwood sacraficing his arm means he is giving up his humanity" thing?

I think that they are 100% talking from Ironwood's perspective there.

Now hear me out.

Ironwood is one of the people who most dehumanizes Penny. Yeah sure he's superficially 'nice' when everything is going his way. Be he explicitly had her made as a weapon and the moment its more convenient to treat her as a tool than a person he does so.

Ironwood is fucking weird about his prosthetics. He is always trying to hide them until they are too bulky to cover up with clothing. He's clearly deeply uncomfortable with them and defaults to blaming them for his own behavior.

Compare & contrast to other characters. All of the heroic characters constantly emphasize Penny's personhood and even when disagreeing with her never start couching their language in commands but convincing arguments as they would anyone else.

What's more, Yang, Maria, Fox, Pietro & hell even Tyrian all wear their prosthetics or disabilities very openly and without shame. The shows framing, theme & narrative do not present these things as some kind of loss of humanity or otherwise as a negative. If "Prosthetics eat your soul" was a thing the writers actually felt, it would be more obvious.

Note: I am unsure whether the writers regard Penny as disabled, so I didn't put her with the others.

Penny's new body. Much for much-ness is made about Penny "Becoming a real girl" as though the show hadn't consistently treated her as one from her first moment on screen. & while ignoring the fact that her new body was clearly a magical/Aura construct given it was made up of wobbly green energies under a scan not flesh and bone like other characters.

Even if we ignore all that, when it comes to her new body and that whole angle, while she did show an appreciation for her new tactile senses, she was also shown to be far more vulnerable & generally to be struggling with the new body & it ultimately led to her fall.

This is very much not on brand if we were meant to regard her mechanical form as some kind of problem outside of how others used it to mistreat her.

One of Atlas's core themes' is dehumanization. The people pf Mantle are dehumanized into a faceless mob, a few city blocks that can easily be crushed beneath Ironwood's heel.

Cinder Fall was "adopted" into child slavery where the rights of her abusers to own and harm her always took precedence over her humanity.

The Ace-Ops are trained to regard themselves, their fellows & everyone else as inherently expendable. Cogs in a machine that can be replaced and should not be cared for or mourned.

& most integrally, when Ironwood sacrificed his arm so he could beat Watts. When he had Watts dangling over a lava pit & said he would sacrifice anything to beat Salem. Watts smirked. Because Watt's knew Ironwood's penchant to view harming himself or others as "Ruthlessness" and thus pragmatism was alive & well & would destroy him. Which it did.

The 'other' statement. There is one other line people point to, namely Yang's V8 line, regarding "The mechanical bits are just extra" as somehow ableist. Even ignoring as I said before that I am unsure CRWBY even regard Penny as disabled, or as equivalent to a person using prosthetics. The fact is, I can only view taking that statement as dehumanizing Penny by virtue of her mechanical nature as at best, misinterpreting Yang's statement.

Seriously, they are talking about the fact Penny will still have a soul. IE the very metric of personhood that's used to define every person in universe! It'd be no different if she was made of clay or cloned flesh.

Conclusion. As I said above, if the writers really felt that way about prosthetics, it would be much more overt than one off hand statement that very much seems to reflect Ironwood's thinking not the writers. Ironwood thinks giving up his arm and replacing them with prosthetics is something that makes him less human, a trait he explicitly admired in/projected onto Salem. It makes so much more sense for the writers to be commenting on Ironwood';'s thought process here given it thematically does not align with the rest of the show at all otherwise.

[trans-lykanthropie]

Support Networks

In which Ada tries her hand at writing to work out some emotions

***

It's a lovely opportunity for some social time with friends, even with the slight feeling of self-consciousness that comes with knowing it's for your benefit. Years of going through it alone wears you down, and in order to start healing you've got to rely on others to see you through it, and try to free yourself of the guilt of asking to be looked after for a night.

It's nice to see the little flat so busy, quite a few have turned up and are already chatting in little groups or hanging up coats and kicking off shoes. So much positive energy in a small space is contagious, and I can't help but feel my anxiety fading. The first time was a little quieter, and the nerves beforehand were almost worse than that before the actual full moon, but over time I've learned to look forward to it.

The early evening slips by, with dinner as a group and then some quick board games or finding space on the sofa for a chat. It'd be easy to lose track of time, were it not for that nebulous 'feeling' encroaching on me from the back of my mind, despite trying to keep busy and cheerful. It's impossible to describe: a mixture of unease, a muffled fear, and a frantic kind of desperation, and a bit like trying to hold yourself together emotionally whilst at work.

It doesn't happen like in films or books. There's no feral rage or snarling pain or thrashing around on the floor. It's much more like being disorientated and overwhelmed in a busy public place, when you just need to find an exit or a sheltered, quiet corner. Something in my gut always tells me to hide away when I get the feeling like I've got a golf ball in my throat, a kind of instinctive humiliation and shame about what's coming, despite being told repeatedly that that kind of thinking is ridiculous. I usually slip off to my room, trying to catch hold of short shallow breaths, steadying myself against the wall as the blood thunders in my ears. It's a kind of vertigo, you can't help but feel the tears welling up and running down your cheeks, a panicked numbness in your extremities like pins and needles, and a terrified nausea.

But that's why my friends are here, to help even when I feel like I don't deserve it or I'm too ashamed to ask for it. Someone finds me and tries to hold me steady, it's hard to see who exactly through blurred vision. There's that vertigo again, but the floor sliding away from under you isn't part of the panic, that's from the change in height. You can't cry per se, it's more of a gasping whining howl as sensations plug into your head so fast you can't cope with all of them sharpening and heightening at once. Sounds, smells, and instincts flash through your head like a match held to a line of gunpowder. There are jolts of anger, but the kind that comes when you really don't understand what's happening, more of a frenzied frustration than rage. That's the mental shift, the point where you're most erratic. After all you're like a cornered animal, just one caught in your own biological trap.

At some point I ended up gripping tightly onto whoever came to calm me down. They're now noticeably smaller, and caught in the vice-like grip of a seven and a half foot werewolf. I just hold on for dear life, dizzy and nauseous, breathing deeply, their reassuring talk reaching me as if coming simultaneously from across a wide ocean and from a loudspeaker pressed up against my ear. It's not followed by a loss of control to bestial impulses like you read about in gothic novels. It's a sudden surge of energy coupled with an increased impulsiveness, the urge to act on every half-formed idea that flitters through your head. You hold onto enough to know that the people there are your friends and are there to help you, but you won't remember why until the following dawn. Until then, you can rely on them to keep an eye on you.

After all.....you've been told you're great fun to be around like this.

[here-comes-the-bard]

man my post from. yesterday or day before. is making me think like. i don't know what it would look like if yaevinn DID decide he was tired of being nice and just wanted to go apeshit. mostly because he's getting to the point of being like. yeah both is good tbh. i will be nice but if you fuck around you will find the fuck out.

he's very much a "my trauma did not make me kind, i made me kind. do not credit my abuser and oppressors for my kindness" person. his philosophy is something along the lines "the world was unkind to me and unkind to others, but why should i be unkind? if I didn't deserve it, neither do others. might as well be a light in a world of darkness". and honestly that's a big part of what makes him who he is. i cannot imagine yaevinn without it honestly.

but i think that's what makes it an interesting exercise. what would yaevinn be like if at some point (after asylum, it's important to note, as really that's The Big One and just kind of amplified the previous issue) he just said "being kind is exhausting and i'm exhausted so fuck this". because aside from the horrors i think it's genuinely exhausting for him to be kind in the face of unkindness. it is simultaneously an effort and an instinct for him. and it's fascinating to wonder what would happen if he not only gave it up, but just went in the opposite direction (because ngl if he just gave up on it as a whole he'd just. kinda vanish off the face of the earth and not interact with anyone).

the thing is, he wouldn't become gleefully cruel. in fact i think he'd actually really dislike it and dislike himself for it, but what else is he supposed to do? it wouldn't feel right, but it'd be all he knew because being "good" clearly wasn't working. i think he'd just feel so. empty. where his world now is filled with colors that can sometimes be overwhelming but that he wouldn't give up for anything, his world in an au where he actually gave it up would be so grey and bland that i kind of think it'd impact his mental health, to put it in a less rough way.

not sure whether he would've missed his calling as an assassin or not but considering he learned his archery and dagger techniques as self-defense i think there's a good chance he wouldn't have.

i think he would've kept a lower profile due to his shame honestly. would've gone from a little timid and anxious to nearly reclusive. wouldn't want let anyone see him like this because the feeling of being inherently bad would become a self-fulfilling prophecy. this is all he is. a monster is all he could've ever been. and yet, he does let people see it. because look what the world has done to him. how can you hold good in your heart when the world has done nothing to return it. he'd see himself in it, and he'd see it as pathetic because of that.

i just like. fr the thing is i think he'd have this constant feeling that it wasn't supposed to happen this way. he wasn't supposed to be like this, and yet there's no other path.

and he doesn't even know that there was. and he could've seen so many beautiful things if he'd kept the kindness in his heart. but how could he? why would he?

i honestly think it's something like this post tbh. just crushed under the weight of his ideals because upholding them broke and splintered every single fucking bone in his body. i might have fundamentally misunderstood the post but isn't art less about what you put into it and more about what people get out of it or something like that.

anyway sorry if you read this whole thesis, be sure to like comment and subscribe for more content that makes me kinda glad i didn't make him worse. i'm gonna make either a pinterest board or a section in his pinterest but considering he is schrodinger's Fundamentally The Same Character (both is and really isn't) i'm not sure. uhhh this is a fun character exercise if you wanna do it. it doesn't have to be an essay tho this is just how i get out my thoughts. ok bye

[vyvesvi]

saw all the ep 3 performances but not the actual ep lol.

voting list (week 3)

all of these girls are criminally low compared to how they performed imo.

first round commentary (copied from my twitter 🫶🏿)

1. team: hard

my winner(s): like 6/7 but emma jaoying & P.AMP stood out, it's a shame geumhee was hidden for her high note

this team is great but who decided the concept/outfits 😭

2. team: 7 rings

my winner(s): WANG KE (and vita)

the other girlies didn't stand a chance against wang ke this was legit brutal 😭 i do wonder if they were all comfortable with the concept though, this doesn't seem like something liliana wouldve chosen?

also rei is my girl but this performance doesn't play to her strengths at all im devastated 😭

3. team: one more last time

my winner(s): DUNA, rose

duna's experience really shone through, plus she fits this concept super well. very glad she got center. rose also did super well, i only wish she had the second main part 😭 praying this saves her

devi also did great, but i don't think this'll be enough unfortunately:/

4. team: i like you

my winner(s): zoi, TEGAN, tk

i had to think about this team bc once again, so insanely hard to pretend this is live. zoi was just good onstage, tegan has that voice, and tk surprised me. they clearly want preemy gone tho i hate it hereee

5. team: kick back

my winner(s): QIAO YIYU

honestly i love love love this team composition but i don't think the stage really showed their strongest points...i think a different wayv song would've made all the difference tbh

6. team: booty bomb

my winner(s): yeham, coco, MAO XIUTING

tbh there are some people here with lots of screentime who i don't understand the hype for, although both of them did better than their auditions. anyways yeham!!! she barely got screentime apart from her lines but i loved her voice with this concept tbh, it added a much needed freshness? brightness? to the performance. i need to see a full stage ver with no cuts though

7. team: love destiny 2

my winner(s): PANGJANG (everyone did well though)

pangjang just has the voice, what is there to say really. i feel soooooo bad for ninnint, she did well but this was really not the song for her. fly high girlie 😔✊️

8. team: play with me

my winner(s): YEAN, elyn, caith

seoyeon has greater ability than a lot of the contestants but her energy really isn't there to the point where i can't help but wonder if it's on purpose...?

9. team: i'll do it how you like it

my winner(s): ?

the chaba krista rjing vocal meal in the beginning was so sick omg

the rest of the performance didn't really click even though no one was bad at all. need maliya to be saved though like that's a Face

picking a winner is tough for this team because you have some singers who can't dance/perform & some dancers who don't sing as well. in truth pream, rjing, xueyao, and maybe maliya are the most balanced, but xueyao in particular didn't really stand out. pream stood out because of her center time, but this is far from her best (her presence is usually a lot stronger). maybe id go with rjing? but id need to see a full stage with no cuts

10. team: pieces of love

my winner(s): KITTIE

you have to suspend your disbelief a bit with these shows but i couldn't even pretend this was live & it's so distracting 😭 yuan ke & jessica are my next picks but i need them to focus more on facial expressions

my top 9?

honestly i've had a really hard time coming up with a group, if only because i genuinely like 47ish of the contestants (others i dont like or simply don't know). also, i do think it'd be nice for most of the group to be thai. i scrolled through the contestants and just picked the first 9 that i saw who made me go "yeah, you" lmfao and this is what i ended up with:

yean feels virtually indispensable at this point. she can dance, she's a great pop vocalist, and she can fit any concept. the show is also very on her side.

wang ke's performance in 7 rings convinced me of her star power (honestly she's been hit or miss to me until this point). wang ke didn't need to be the best singer or dancer to stand out on stage, it's her energy that really sets her apart and that's a hard skill to learn.

tegan...she's just a surprisingly strong contestant. i wasn't really a fan of how she acted during the theme song arc (all 7.5 minutes of it, lol) but i do understand that she was trying to lighten the mood. from the theme song to round one she showed that she really could hold her own on stage if she put her mind to it. other factors: star quality, demographic appeal, growth idolism, unique tone/strong vocals

rose is my underrated pick. she has a great voice and i think she can be styled to fit a number of concepts. she hasn't gotten much screentime, but i really hope she makes round 2, just to force the show to show more of her strengths. in some ways she's a little bit filler here, but i think she's necessary for the group to gel

ruan, our summer dream center...idk i just like her a lot. she suits different concepts and is super super hardworking & serious about this, while also being really kind. i want to see her learning/speaking more thai and english hopefully!

qiao yiyu is a talent & demographic pick (and one of my overall main picks at this point) she's another member who i see as indispensable. she's a main dancer who can fit multiple styles (but she's also for the girlies). in this pic she kinda looks like yuqi? lmfao

p.amp, my other totally biased pick 🥲 she's so gorgeous onstage and has so much presence i don't understand why the masses aren't seeing her 😭. she's a filler visual here but hot take, we don't need a wannabe gangsta rapper who can't dance self proclaimed quote unquote "real rapper" in the lineup when so many gg raps are pre-written and last for max 4 lines. p.amp can do it while dancing, being charming, and looking hot. i rest my case

geumhee is my pick of the csr members, although duna's rank is the best & seoyeon is the one getting a storyline. geumhee would be slightly filler here, but her singing ability would make her a lead vocal, and he experience and preexisting intl audience would make her indispensable. tbh she's the first member i personally noticed in csr, but i think that csr could live for a couple years without her and then benefit from her return.

mingming is good, although im generally on the fence about her. she has great lead vocal potential and is very likable. i kind of think the mindy members will be fine if none of them make it, but i do feel her voice is a little wasted there.

nationalities: 4 thailand, 2 china, 1 usa, 1 japan, 1 south korea

other contestants to consider:

pailiu! i really like her (and she's currently rank 2) but im not seeing a group that she fits into in the top ranks. maybe if maliya, jessica, xueyao, yuanke, p.amp, jaoying, etc were a bit higher. it's too soon to tell though i suppose

elyn's (#1) fanbase is really showing out for her considering the relatively minimal screentime she's had. her vocals aren't as strong as rose's, but she could potentially replace her in the lineup and add more (in terms of fan loyalty & demographic appeal).

emma not making my off the top of my head top 9 was really unexpected! i make the top 9 and then went wait where's emma? i think i would replace mingming with her, although honestly? emma's a star and should probably try to go to a company with some power, like perhaps yuehua china. for a survival show group, it's good that she stands out as an individual but in terms of cohesion...eh. she couldn't be filler, but she also probably couldn't be the star with the rest of this lineup. it's tough

absolutely LOVE krista's voice, but the reason i stopped voting for her is that she is kind of an absolutely miserable dancer. the great part is that she's super young, and can train to work on her dancing & her stage presence + facial expressions. krista (and others) make me wish that chuang was like produce japan, where the funding company (there lapone, here ryce) takes on trainees from the show for future permanent or temporary groups. krista would be a great candidate for that.

kitty, natty, & jaoying i noticed for the first time this round. i don't have much to say but they would be very solid filler members (not a drag, btw). im looking forward to seeing more of them!

yuan ke & wan yan jiayi are growing kind of indispensable if they want to have a foothold in china it seems. my personal pick would be yuan ke, but i think jiayi is moreso on the rise.

TBH i have 21 more contestant photos saved but let me just move onto another potential top 9

all i did was replace rose & mingming with elyn & emma, which brings the nationality count to: 2 thailand, 3 china, 1 japan, 1 usa, 1 malaysia, 1 south korea. see but now i'd say they need at least one more thai member! now sort of i want to put jaoying in over elyn lol. oh well 🤷🏿‍♀️

[fromaliminalspace]

1-5, 14, 21 for the year end asks :3

hi, thank you so much for asking, really!! and apologizes in advance for such long answers, as you can see, i'm just being “a bit” indecisive, hopefully I won't bore you too much with it!

1. Song of the year?

(for real, why such a seemingly simple question turned out to be the most difficult one. it's impossible to choose just one!)

czxcohjkhv okay, the first to come to mind is "Stargazer" by Rainbow, so gonna go with it. the drum intro, the sheer onomatopoeia that Ronnie's vocal approach always is, the astonishing guitar solo that practically spoilers the plot by being so evocative as well, the fucking intensity that this song is overflowing with??? I can never be normal about it, just can't. about their “Catch the Rainbow” (live 1977 Munich version specifically) neither. most ethereal ballad ever (and nope, Blackmore's solos don't even ruin the “balladiness” of it, just add to the vibe).

out of Black Sabbath's songs, i'm very much torn between Children of the Sea, Die Young, The Sign of the Southern Cross, After All (The Dead), Time Machine, Sins of the Father. and out of Dio's own stuff — Like the Beat of a Heart, My Eyes, Evil on Queen Street, Evilution, As Long As It's Not About Love, Shame on the Night. hhhng they're all too good, how am I supposed to choose anything, even one per band.

when it comes to music that doesn't have anything to do with RJD (yeah, I have been listening to it this year. sometimes), I still can't get enough of Queensrÿche's “Take Hold of the Flame” (especially live in Tokyo 1984). *in loud whisper* but also “The Story of One Sky” by Dimash, “Until It Sleeps” by Metallica (whoops accidentally became obsessed with it years after first hearing it), “Incense and Myrrh” by Arch/Matheos, and “Between Two Worlds” by Uriah Heep. (can you tell how tricky it is to choose just one..?) and out of this actual year's releases (but tbh I haven't really been keeping up) most memorable was Liliac's “Carousel” or Metallica's “Screaming Suicide”.

and the most satisfying one to play on guitar is definitely “the Last in Line”, it's a literal dopamine feast for my brain for some reason.

2. Album of the year?

have admittedly been listening more to live performances than to studio recordings this year so it'd be easier to just list specific concerts but gonna try pick a latter one after all. actually I think the album i've most often listened to from start to finish is “Lock up the Wolves”, it just flows very nicely in its entirety. the second place would likely be the masterpiece that is “Heaven and Hell”. as for the album that's made me spin it in my head most intensely it's “Magica” bc it's a concept one but in the least straightforward manner possible.

3. Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year?

my most prominent discovery of the year was probably Fates Warning (and their more modern incarnation Arch/Matheos), I believe. or Jethro Tull (and nope, I legit haven't even heard about them until recently, what of it).

but there's also a musician who's basically defined this year for me and whose voice i've been listening to almost daily (and who probably needs no introduction at this point). I have by no means only started listening to him this year though (c'mon, Blind Guardian cover of “Don't Talk to Strangers” was literally one of the very first songs to get me into metal in the first place; and my most favorite Sabbath song, back when I didn't give a damn about different lineups and was just vibing to the songs I liked most regardless of their albums, was from the Dio era). the difference is that only last December I first heard a live recording of his voice and was overwhelmed by the unparalleled level of intensity in it. bc ultimately his magic is so much more than just his voice, it's the laser-pointed intention behind every single word and the multi-layered thought-provoking lyrics and the everything hiding between the lines and the neverending love and generosity. it's not even sth easily convertible into words so i'd probably better stop being insufferable about him right here and now but the point is that Ronnie has had such a huge impact on my life that goes beyond anything that I ever thought any musician or even just anyone who i've never technically gotten to meet would be capable of having. but this impact has in fact helped heal sth very deep down so just... yeah.

4. Movie of the year?

i'll probably go with “predestination” (2014). there's just sth very intricate in all the levels of meaning in that movie, and especially in the way the main character is queer and their queerness is used of all things as a metaphor for quite a lot of interesting stuff. ngl I do have some issues with this movie but honestly considering that the short story it's based on was written in the fucking 50s and was still focusing on it is impressive already despite its flaws (also I love how the movie extrapolated and expanded on the original premise).

the most rewatched movie this year though would definitely be the “dreamers never die” documentary, no contest here (not crying at the very end of it is a challenge I always fail tbh).

oh and a honorable mention to “Nimona”, really loved that one.

5. TV show of the year?

realized only now that I haven't really watched lots of tv shows this year, huh. I think the only thing I did watch was the second season of “shadow and bone” and that's it, even though there's lots of other stuff i've been meaning to catch up with.

14. Favorite book you read this year?

answered there!

21. What’s something new about your place of residence (room, home, or general location) now vs the start of the year?

hmm i've got a new pin board, does it count?? it's bigger than my old one (and made from a different material, which turned out to be better) but i'm somehow already running out of space on it XD it was nice though to rearrange everything on it in a more systematic way rather than just slapping new bits of paper onto whenever I found a free spot (and to add Silvy's gifts there💜).

another new (like. literally last week new) thing is actually on my computer but it's sth i've been wishing for for literal years so it gets a mention anyway and it's an amp simulator. bc to be able to just plug my guitar in and build up the sound I want from scratch (well, not necessarily, there are tons of presets, it's just a very rare one that sounds well enough with solos imho) and have so much control over it, even over how much distortion I get depending on how hard I hit the strings? it's divine, i'm telling you. took me a while to figure out what exactly I need but damn, it's just so freaking awesome

[thornfield13713]

Marigold verse: Grandpastiltskin pre-curse break?

For all Mom's talk about keeping a closer watch on him, it wasn't that hard to sneak out of the house. Sure, there was a lock on his window now, but Mom still had work, even if her 'Saturday town council meetings' had dried up after Sheriff Graham died, and Henry knew where she kept the spare keys. The hardest part was remembering to put the key back just where Mom had left it every time he came back in, because she'd notice if it was even an inch out of place, but now, Henry had the trick of that as well. Anyway, Mom was in a good mood right now. She'd been happy ever since the whole town had found out about Mary and David's relationship, and now she was so busy enjoying seeing everyone hate Snow White instead of her that Henry wasn't sure she'd notice if he ran away to join the circus. Not that the circus ever came through Storybrooke.

He arrived at the diner just before twelve, just in time to snag a good table for him and Emma before the lunch rush meant everywhere was busy...except there was no lunch rush. The diner was all but deserted. Except for him, and Granny, and...Mr Gold, who was leaning heavily on the counter, wearing a dangerous sort of smile and talking quietly to Granny.

"-misunderstandings about what you owe me," he was saying as Henry came in.

Granny's lips were pressed into a tight, thin line. "We're paid up for this month," she said curly.

"Are you, now?" Mr Gold's smile widened. "I'll have to check my books, of course - I've got a terrible memory for these things - but I hope you're right. Mary's always been partial to your hot chocolate, even if your lasagne's a bit overrated in my view. It'd be a shame if she couldn't come here anymore. If, say, you were suddenly forced to shut down due to non-payment of debts..."

Henry was ten, and even he could see that for the threat it was.

Granny bristled. "I haven't done anything wrong. We reserve the right to refuse service to-"

"To anyone you like, yes. Or, as it might be, anyone you don't like. I remember." Mr Gold shrugged. "As I said. I hope I find all my books in order." Point made, he turned away sharply, and seemed like he was about to leave the diner when he caught sight of Henry and brightened, inexplicably.

"Ah, Henry. How're you?"

Henry's mind went blank. "Uh...I'm okay. Um..."

It wasn't as though Mr Gold had ever been mean to him, after all. He'd always been...kind enough, in a faintly-creepy sort of way, but he was still...well, Mom was afraid of him, even if she tried to pretend she wasn't, and that was- That had to mean danger, even if Henry still wasn't precisely sure who or what Mr Gold really was. He wasn't the King, Snow's real father, Henry was pretty sure - Regina had murdered him, at least in the book, and Mr Gold was alive and kicking. But he couldn't think of anyone else, and anyway, Mr Gold was Mary's father, even if he hadn't been Snow's. Which made him...sort of Henry's great-grandfather? Maybe? Was that how it worked?

"You're here to meet Sheriff Swan, I suppose," Mr Gold went on jovially, leaning on his cane - the one he'd beaten a man half to death with not very long ago. "I'll wait with you, if you like. Mrs Lucas, a pot of tea and one hot chocolate with cinnamon, please."

Henry startled nearly out of his skin. "How- How did you know I like-"

"Mary's mentioned it," Gold cut him off smoothly. "You, she and Sheriff Swan form quite a little club for it. I don't exactly understand it myself, but who am I to argue with taste? Shall we sit down?"

Well, now Gold had ordered for him, Henry sort of had to. And- It wasn't particularly sensible, but he'd always sort of liked Mr Gold. Mom didn't like him, or approve of Henry talking to him, but Mom didn't like anyone much, and didn't approve of Henry talking to anyone at all. And he'd always been nice to Henry, even when he wasn't nice - not really nice, anyway, instead of just shamming it - to anyone else, except for Mary.

Anyway, this was- This was an opportunity. Whoever Mr Gold was, he was someone to be reckoned with, and someone Mom didn't like, which...probably meant he was a good guy? If the Evil Queen didn't like him, that just made sense. Henry just had to figure out which one. He couldn't see Mr Gold as a knight, but maybe one of the kings? His name was Gold, so...Midas, maybe? Except that he was Kathryn's dad, not Snow's, and Snow's was dead. Maybe...maybe it was a swap sort of thing? Kathryn got Snow's husband, but Snow got Kathryn's dad? Except that no-one in the book seemed to be all that scared of Midas and, anyway, Mom would never have designed the curse to give Snow White anything.

"Is this all right?" Mr Gold's voice was gentle. "I can leave, if you'd rather wait on your own..."

"No," Henry said quickly, and then reached for the first topic that came to mind. "So...what were you talking to Granny about?"

Mr Gold's faint smile slipped.

"Well...you've seen the way people have been acting lately? Towards Mary?"

Henry nodded, shamefaced. He didn't- He didn't think anyone had missed the way people were treating Mary. He didn't think anyone could.

"Y-yeah. It's not- It's not fair!" he burst out. "She's not- He and- It's all the curse anyway, but everyone's- Even people who are meant to be good are being mean to her and it's not fair!"

"No, it isn't," Mr Gold agreed. "That's what I was doing here. You see...sometimes, to get people to be kinder, you have to give them a reminder of what happens if they're not. Otherwise, they'll just keep on treating people badly. But if you want them to stop, you have to stop them."

"...like...like the Evil Queen," Henry said quietly. "They- the heroes have to stop her, otherwise she'll just keep...keep doing things..."

"Exactly so." Mr Gold smiled at him. "You're a bright lad, Henry. Of course, sometimes it's less dragon-slaying and more...reminders, but it's all for a good cause in the end."

Henry...wasn't sure that made sense. You were supposed to be nice to people, weren't you? And then they'd be nice to you. Except Mary was always nice to everyone, and hardly anyone had ever been nice to her even before everyone had found out about her and David.

Fortunately, that was when their drinks arrived, brought by a nervous-looking Ruby.

"And- another hot chocolate, please," Mr Gold said, just as she was making to go. "Sheriff Swan should be joining us soon."

"Um...okay." Ruby caught Henry's eye. "Uh...everything okay here."

"Yeah," Henry said quickly. "Just...waiting for Emma. And Mary," he added. "She...uh...she's not teaching right now, so..."

"I know." Mr Gold's smile sharpened at the edges. "I'll be popping in at the elementary school next, to...sort out...some things relating to that."

"Does that mean she'll be coming back?" Henry asked, hope leaping up in his chest. "We've got a substitute teacher, but she's..." he made a face. Mrs Boot was...okay, he guessed. Mostly. If she hadn't kept making snippy remarks about their previous teacher, he might even have liked her.

"I hope so." Mr Gold paused thoughtfully, stirring his tea, even though he hadn't added anything to it. "She's always liked teaching. It...wasn't the career I'd have expected for her, but...what about you? Any grand ambitions of your own?"

Henry stared down at his hot chocolate. He hadn't really- When he'd been very small, he'd wanted to be a knight. Mom hadn't approved - knights weren't real, she'd said. Not here. Wouldn't he rather be a pilot, or a doctor, or a lawyer, or follow her on the town council? He hadn't much liked the sound of any of those. Then...well, then he'd figured out Operation Cobra, after he got big enough to realise that it wasn't normal that he got older while everyone else he knew stayed the same age. And then he'd more-or-less figured that he'd break the curse, they'd all go back to the Enchanted Forest and he'd...well, he'd be a...a prince, right? If Snow and Charming were King and Queen, that was how it worked. Emma would be a princess, and then a queen, and he'd be a prince and then - one day, a long, long way in the future - he'd be a king too. A good one, or- he'd try to be. He didn't know how, but- They had government classes at the high school, he could...figure it out there? And Mom wouldn't disapprove, because she wanted him to be on the town council, so he'd have to take government for that...but...it wasn't-

He'd do it, he guessed, but it wasn't...exciting, or interesting, it was just...what was going to happen.

"...I don't know. I could...write stories? I guess?"

"An excellent career." Mr Gold nodded. "What kind of stories?"

"Like...fairy tales, I guess?" Henry frowned. "Not...not the old ones, the ones that have already happened, but...new ones. With dragons and...spells, and magic and...everything..."

"Fantasy," Mr Gold gave a crooked little grin. "Another good choice there. The oldest sort of story there is. Have you read much of it?"

"...a bit."

Half of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, anyway, before Mom had found out and the school's entire fantasy section had been pulled for 'promoting the occult in schools'.

"Well, you're welcome to come by the shop sometime. We get a lot of old books in - some of them might be the sort of thing you're looking for. And even if they aren't," Mr Gold added. "You never know what you might find. It's one of the better things about the pawnbroking business - every item has its story."

"Like the compass," Henry said eagerly. The one that had- the one that had helped Hansel and Gretel find their father. Maybe- Maybe that was the key! Finding something of significance from someone's old life to help wake them up...or- or at least something that might prove to Emma that all of this was real, that she should believe him-

"Exactly so." Mr Gold picked up his cup. "You'd be surprised how much these...material things can mean to people. The memories they bring back. And even if they don't..." he shrugged. "I imagine they can be a very rich source of ideas. Not that you seem to be short of them. Are there any stories you would particularly want to tell?"

Henry stopped dead.

He hadn't-

He'd been so focused on the book, he hadn't done much writing, lately. Even his class creative writing exercises were based on it, a bit, in an attempt to jog Mary's memory, but...if he could write whatever he liked...

"...I like knights?" he offered. "A-and quests. Maybe...something about one of those? I guess?"

Mr Gold's nose wrinkled a little. "...not my sort of hero, but...I suppose I can see the appeal. I rather liked the idea of being a knight myself, when I was a boy."

"You did?" Henry blinked. "What- What sort of knight?"

Was this a clue? It was hard to picture, but...maybe...

Mr Gold shrugged. "Oh- It depended on the day. A lot of slaying of imaginary dragons and rescuing princesses, but other than that..."

"Oh."

Loads of knights slew dragons and saved princesses. It was pretty much what knights were for. Henry guessed some of the kings might've done it when they were younger, but...

"Henry?"

They both looked around. Emma was standing there, looking wary.

"...Mr Gold. What are you-"

"Sheriff Swan," Mr Gold said easily. "We've been waiting for you."

Emma's brows knit together. "We?" she demanded, her eyes flicking from Henry to Gold. "You- What are you doing with my kid, Gold?"

"Just talking." Gold smiled. "He's- Well, teachers aren't supposed to have favourites, but Mary's taken quite a shine to your boy. And I'd say," he added, "That he's got a fine future in front of him as a fantasy author, if that's what he wants to do. Reminds me of- Well."

For a moment, his smile turned slightly sad. Mary had had a brother once, Henry remembered suddenly. She'd mentioned it, once, and then clammed up. Which was weird, because Snow White hadn't had any brothers. Or any siblings at all. Well, unless you counted him, but that was just- that was weird, he was her grandson, he couldn't be her brother as well! And anyway, he hadn't been born yet when the curse was cast.

"Huh- You told him about your book?" Emma asked, glancing at Henry.

"N-no..."

"Just some ideas for stories," Gold promised. "Actually - I've a rather good second-hand edition of The Once and Future King at the shop," he added, glancing over at Henry. "I know your mother doesn't approve, but if Miss Swan's willing to keep it for you, it might give you some idea for that story about knights."

Emma's eyes narrowed. "Uh-huh. And how much is that going to cost us?"

"Free of charge," Gold said easily. "That reminds me, I've been wanting to speak to you about the situation in town right now..."

"You mean about..." Emma trailed off. "Look, I can't- I know you're protective, but there's nothing I can do about-"

"I know." Mr Gold drummed his fingers on the table. "And...I shouldn't worry. That situation will be...dealt with...soon enough. What did I say, Henry?" he added, smirking a little. "Sometimes people need...reminders...of why it is better to be kind."

Emma was starting to look outright alarmed now. "'Reminders' like what you did to Moe French?"

"Nothing so crude, Sheriff, I assure you. And I daresay you'll hear of any harassment charges Mary wants to bring before I do, so..."

"I...don't think that's likely to happen." Emma grimaced. "She's- You know Mary. People aren't really...I mean, there was a bit of graffiti earlier, but...mostly it's just...catty remarks, cold shoulders..."

"I see."

"Gold, don't-"

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Miss Swan." Mr Gold gave a thin smile. "Enjoy your hot chocolate. You as well, Henry. I have an appointment with the principal of our local elementary school."

Emma rolled her eyes. "The sort of 'appointment' you'd rather Mary didn't hear about?"

"I'm sure she'll figure it out." Gold snorted. "I'd be disappointed if she didn't. Good afternoon, Miss Swan. Henry. And do stop in sometime for that book."

[standfortheangels]

Hobbies: you and Mike :D

Send one for the Mun and Muse to have a conversation comparing...

(I'm gunna be real... I misread this meme X) I missed that it was ic writing- but I put that meme up and I shall deliver! I'm going to do a Stan Lee for these and pretend I'm a character in their universes rather than being their Creator, so, I'm still me and what I say in these is true (minus the basically housebound element, like I will have to pretend I go places and talk to people >w>"), but we're A- removing the chance that they'll either get mad at me over their story or have an existential crisis, and B- making it so that I Don't already know everything about them. Otherwise it'd be more like an interview than a conversation.)

(For this one, I'm going to say... We're sat on opposite benches at the park. I tell my family to go on without me so I don't overdo it on walking. They can circle back and I'll leave with them, but in the meantime, I'll just sit and draw. I decide to draw the guy on the bench across from me. At one point, I stop looking up and down and instead focus on making the wobbly sketched lines of the bench look like actual wood planks. When I look back up, he's suddenly gone. Then I hear a voice close by...)

"Woah- hey that's great!" His sudden comment makes me jump. When I realise it's my missing model, I start to go a little flushed. He chuckles. "sorry to sneak up on you. I had a hunch you were drawing me, so I wanted to look."

I attempt a chuckle of my own, but it comes out more like a heavy, nervous breath. "Yeah, sorry. Did I make you uncomfortable?"

"What? No! Don't be! I'm honoured." he replies, resting on the back of the bench. "I'm Mike, by the way."

"Nice to meet you." I reply, and immediately falter. "Should I uh, label you?" I ask with a nervous smile, sort of pointing my pencil at the sketch. With his own, much more confident and unwavering smile, the man shrugs slightly and says, "Sure~" I scribble 'Mike' off in the top right with a little arrow.

"So uh, how much art does it take to get good like this?" He asks happily. I let out another chuckle-breath and reply, "a lot.", And start going back into the lines of one of his hands to tweak the shapes just slightly.

"I believe it." I don't look back over my shoulder, but I can tell he's watching every movement. "You know I draw a little too. But, not as good as this." He laughs, and I smile.

"Well, the point isn't to be good," I say, hoping my tone is cheery enough to match his (though that'd be a challenge), "it's about doing what you enjoy. And when you enjoy it enough to do it like, 6 days a week for 13 years or so... That practice tends to add up." He lets out a short breath and shakes his head slightly, but I can't quite read exactly what that means. Does he not believe me, or is it that I just made myself sound obsessive or something? Crap. But then..

"I can't imagine having that much dedication to that kind of skill. Though I guess when it comes out this good it's probably easier, right?" he asks with a little chuckle.

"Well, it doesn't always." He makes a sound as though he's about to object, but I cut in, "trust me, there are pages in every sketchbook that I hope never see the light of day."

"Perfectionist huh?"

I look up at him for a second, but get right back to this sketch. "No, not quite. I just.."

"Just need to rework that one finger for the eighth time?" When I look up this time, he's giving me a different kind of smile; mouth closed, brows raised, head slightly tilted. It's a little coy; Like he thinks he's got me in a corner. Which.. may be the case, as I'm not coming up with an answer to his call-out.

"Alright. Fine. Maybe I'm a little fussy with my lines." I say, no shame as i put my pencil back to work again. He gives a short laugh. The kind that sounds like a little overflow of happiness. A pure sound.

"Hey, at least you have passion, right?" He says casually. "I mean, you must have to put so much into it." I give a little hum of agreement as I move on to fixing his hair. "Everybody should have something they love like that." What a nice sentiment. "Something to help them unwind from the day, no matter how bad it gets." And that was a slightly Concerning sentiment. But, he still seemed happy. His eyes don't betray a hard day's experiences, if any existed in there. Instead, they looked at this artwork almost with boyish wonder.

"You know, if you come around this side and sit down, I could draw you properly. Do a little portrait for you."

"Really?" He straightens up a little. I give a little nod, and he steps around the bench, but pauses. "You're not going to charge me are you?"

I smile and roll my eyes. "No, don't worry. Im not like a boardwalk artist. Just, someone who draws."

"A lot." he tacks on with a cheeky smirk as he takes a seat. I roll my eyes again.

"Yep, a lot."

"So. I'm guessing you don't have time for much else, huh?" Ah. Maybe I did make myself sound obsessive. I make a little noise of disagreement, but before I can speak, he says "And don't tell me you paint. That's just art again." He has such a playful smile on his face that I can't help but smile back.

"No, no. I have painted before but, not really my thing."

A couple of quiet seconds pass as I start roughly sketching out the shapes in his hair.

"You do any tabletop games?" he asks me.

"You mean like dnd?"

"Yeah~ That, or, Clue, or Risk or Catan.."

"I- don't even know what that last one is to be honest with you."

In a sort of old kung-fu movie sensei voice (at least I think that's what he's going for), Mike straightens and says "Ah, I have much to teach you." and grins. "But for real. I play a lot. If you're looking for people to play with, I'm your guy."

How should I even respond to that? We don't know each other, I don't even think I told him my name, and now he wants to go play board games? I guess those thoughts were written on my face, because he follows up with "Or not. I mean, I get it if you don't want to go up against the master~ it seems like you probably don't spend a lot of time on other stuff. No offense."

"And switching up a game is a ton of variety?" I offer with a teasing glance.

"Actually, yes, yes it is." He pulls another short laugh out of me at the.. almost mock look of pride he has on now. At least until he breaks and laughs back. "But seriously. Variety is good! You gotta do all the things~" I don't have the energy for even half 'the things', but, I don't want to pull him down talking about all that. Not when he seems so enthusiastic. Ultimately I settle for just repeating "All the things." In sort of a half question, half judgy tone, which doesn't seem to bother him in the slightest. "Go on then, o stranger of enlightenment," I keep the smile on my face, hoping that comes across as lightly as I meant it, "what is it that you do for fun out of 'all the things'?"

"Oh all kinds of things!" He leans forward as he speaks, and though he isn't exactly in my face, I lean away slightly, his enthusiasm just taking me by surprise for a moment. "There's the tabletop, video games, all kinds of movies to watch, bars to hit, parties to go to, I like to jog..."

"Oh, God, really?" Now I'm definitely judging. "You actually run voluntarily?"

He laughs again. "What, what's wrong with running?"

"It's running, that's what." I'm smiling again now, but shaking my head while he chuckles away.

"Yeah, so?"

"So... Ew!" My pencil is now floating uselessly above the paper so I can give this.. jogger my full attention. "If you engage in that kind of thing for fun, I mean, there's something wrong with you. Not even kidding." (A lie, but a playful lie.) "You'd never catch me out there, with those little shorts on that people wear, hopping from foot to foot through the rain just to get back where I started."

"It's not always raining, plus- you can wear whatever you want to wear!"

"Well I choose my pyjamas, so I can relax at home, not exercising thank you very much~" Again, I he laughs, and my eyes flick back to the sketchbook finally to continue. This.. might actually be miles better than the distance drawing. Because this man has the brightest, most persistent smile I've ever seen.

[river-starling]

hi!! i noticed you've been reblogging a bunch of genshin stuff lately, so what do you think about the game? who's your favorite character? i'm just curious hehe

Well! I'm glad you asked! I think I'm nearing a whole year of playing the game, technically. Man, it really went fast. My anniversary is next month. I'm only AR 50 though, out of fear for the harder world levels.

This is actually the game that made me realize a pattern in who I crushed on. Apparently, it's platinum blondes/ white-haired characters who are calm, intelligent, and holds a lot of power that's hidden behind their more passive demeanor. Albedo, Kazuha, and a little bit of Lumine. Klee is on that list too, platonically of course.

Then there's a large list of characters I adore one way or another. I try to find a way to appreciate every character, or at least understand why people would like them.

Now, about the game itself? Beautiful soundtrack and scenery. I'm one of the blessed few who can afford a computer and have the graphics up max, and let me tell you, I've stared up at a singular angle of scenery for the whole day and night cycle just falling in love.

Can you imagine how fresh the fruit is there? How nice watching the trees sway would be? Especially if you're able to hear the soundtrack while experiencing it all? Perfection.

Now, plotwise? I only finished Inazuma's Archon quest and a little bit of the Chasm one with Dainsleif, so I don't know the full story. I've been focusing on other things instead, like finishing up Mondstadt and Liyue until completion. Including the daily commissions achievements that you get from blowing dandelions or playing pirates.

There is an immaculate amount of story, and I keep hearing about more parts I've missed. I've never really been too interested in war stories, though, so most of my interests get attached to smaller things of the lore. Or the functions of how the world would work.

I am so curious about the element reactions and how most of the dendro ones would work in a scientific type of standpoint. Though I am really curious about the whole Abyss plot line and how that all happened, which is a shame because that's the last question that'll likely be answered.

I started playing Star Rail the day it came out for my servers, and I haven't made it very far in that, so I don't know if this will stick. But it's so sad seeing the characters just around and chilling, compared to Genshin, where you hardly find any life or hints of them.

I want the character in Genshin to leave a bigger impact. I want to see flyers around Mondstadt inviting you to Barbara's new performance, where it shows a picture of her doing a typical idol pose.

I want an NPC dialog in Inazuma where some random guy is like "ugh I just met the most obnoxious guy yesterday. He kept asking to do beetle battles with me. I don't even own a beetle!". I want proof that the characters are still alive in the world, and we just keep missing them by a hair.

On that note! I want to get previous event weapons. I HAVE Albedo, I love him! I want to be able to doll him up! Let me give him the weapon that's the best for him, and literally MADE for him!

And let me replay old events, too! Even the ones we already did! Mona's door is Right There and you're doing nothing with it. Do you know how easy it would be to just have her in there? She can Look Into The Past! Just give her some money and pay her bills and she'll let you play an old event! It'd even add more proof that the characters don't just dissappear if there's not an event going on or some Archon quest.

Anyway, case in point. I love the game, but I have some complaints.

[honorhearted]

"A shame. I take it you won't be drinking at the party next weekend then? Not that there's much to drink at these things except champagne."

Ben blinked at that, his brow furrowing in surprise. "I'm invited?" he asked. "I know I'm expected to attend, of course -- I wouldn't be of much use to you cooped up in a hotel room -- but last time I checked, I wasn't on any sort of guest list. Still..." He chuckled, idly swirling his root beer. "I think my Yale days could put you all to shame. I mean, champagne? You might as well be drinking sparkling water...my late grandpa used to call it 'fairy pee.'"

"I have my family," Francesca deflected, "and I don't hate isolation. I just don't like feeling trapped, that's all."

Ben's smile faded a fraction. "Family is important," he agreed. "Ironically, some people feel trapped because of them. I'm glad to hear your mother isn't one of those dreaded 'mom-agers'...as in, mom managers. Though I guess I'm not much better, because my mom picked out all my clothes until I was eleven."

"Babysitting? You mean doing your job?"

She nudged his foot and he laughed, drawing a hand over his chest in mock offense. "I'm sorry, but I'm pretty sure drinking root beer and ordering a pizza isn't part of my job description either."

"Don't let me stop you from going out and seeing the world," she said. "It was Anthony that hired you, not me."

"Now, as much as I complained about this gig, I don't actually want to get fired," Ben replied. "It'd ruin my oh-so-pristine record...if you discount a few minor slip-ups here and there."

An odd glint overcame Francesca's eyes, and then she said, "Fine, if you manage to keep me safe while you're employed here, I'll book you a trip to France."

"If?" he echoed, scoffing. "Well! I'm glad to see your faith in me is unmatched. Still..." He shrugged, tilting his drink in a mock salute. "I accept your terms. And if you're really nice, I might even mail you a baguette -- mostly because I'd love to see how I could get that through the postal service."

Francesca hummed. "I'll give you 'spoiled', but I'm hardly a kid," she warned. "You're on thin ice, Benjamin -- Any other thoughts that you want to get out there?"

"Okay, so lizard person you can laugh off, but kid is where you draw the line? You Bridgertons have some strange limits," he teased. "Even so, I also have limits, and that includes getting fired on my first day...so no, to err on the side of caution, I don't think I'll air out any more thoughts."

A knock came at the door then, and he arched a brow. "Guess your 'hopefully anchovy-less' pizza just arrived...seeing how this is my first test in protecting you, stay right here. I'll make sure it's just the concierge."

Despite his teasing, Ben truly was serious as he rose and headed for the door. With his hand poised near his firearm, should he need it, he squinted through the peephole, then determined that it was, indeed, the hotel clerk from downstairs. Maintaining caution, he opened the door a crack, then accepted the pizza box before practically slamming the door closed again.

"You can never be too careful," Ben explained, shrugging. Returning to Francesca's side, he quipped, "Case and point: the pizza might be poisoned, so I think I'd better be the one to sample each individual slice."

"I've been told I'm very charming with some vitamin B...and by that, I mean booze. Though pretend you didn't hear that, 'cause I'm not supposed to be drinking on the job."

"A shame," she replied, taking a sip of her own drink before placing it down on the coffee table. "I take it you won't be drinking at the party next weekend then? Not that there's much to drink at these things except champagne."

Francesca assumed that Anthony had told him about it, the invitation having arrived months ago for the Bridgertons to attend the birthday celebration of music royalty Charlotte Strelitz -- It was bound to be the most extravagant event of the year, the hostess known for her esteemed parties.

"No offense, but I don't think you've chosen the right profession if you hate isolation."

As much as she wished to rebuke his claim, it hit far too close to home for her comfort, a shrug disguising the anchor that pulled down on her chest as she considered his words. Fame was isolating, yes, but Francesca had never known any different. Her father had been a star since before she was born, the news of her own birth catalogued in magazines around the world -- She had been thrust into the spotlight since the moment of her conception.

"I have my family," she said, and the tightness eased itself instantly. Yes, her family -- Her brothers and sisters, and her long-suffering mother to put up with them all. Francesca was about to mention that she had friends too, but her lips would not part to say it. It felt too much like a lie. "And I don't hate isolation. I just don't like feeling trapped, that's all."

"To Normandy? Do I look cultured enough to have been to France? I'd love to go, sure, but I haven't actually had the chance...any time I want to travel, something always comes up. Case and point: I'm babysitting you instead of going to a Greek festival this weekend. I'm a sucker for baclava."

His grin was met with one of her own, the nudge of his shoe against hers prompting a light laugh as she feigned a huffed offense. "Babysitting? You mean doing your job?" Her own socked foot retaliated a kick then, butting against his shoe. "Don't let me stop you from going out and seeing the world. It was Anthony that hired you, not me."

Still, she wondered if he did truly resent her for it, for keeping him locked away in a hotel room when he could be out doing... well, anything else. She felt guilty, which in turn left her with a sense of unease.

"Fine, if you manage to keep me safe while you're employed here, I'll book you a trip to France." It seemed simple enough, a thank-you to an employee no different than a bonus at the end of the year. "You'll have to send me pictures so I can live vicariously through you."

A spoiled kid.

Francesca's lips parted at that, her grin turning incredulous as she laughed at his faux-pas. "I'll give you 'spoiled', but I'm hardly a kid," came her amused response after a moment of pause, their hands still clasping mid-shake. "You're on thin ice, Benjamin -- Any other thoughts that you want to get out there?"

[spidine]

The State of Questlines

As a big quest liker one update I always like to see is a continuation of a classic unresolved questline. There are a few continuations that would be easy backports but i also think just as many backports would be big missed opportunities. TIME TO EXAMINE THESE QUESTLINES FOR THEIR VALUE AND WHERE TO TAKE THEM.

Cave Goblins/Chosen Commander

This one is pretty easy to accept backport, the cave goblin line is a fan favorite and Chosen Commander is pretty well liked. However I personally like cave goblins SO MUCH that I hope to see Chosen Commander expanded to see additions to Dorgesh-Kaan, nothing too crazy, maybe a slayer monster with a decent drop added to the caves. Chosen Commander also needs some rewrites, the plot point that Bandos makes Zanik murder a racist REALLY HARD and that's bad actually is dumb. Kill Sigmund's ass queen. God forbid a woman do anything.

It's just very 2000's Marvel movie ass writing, I'd put up with it but I think we could do better. Have Grubfoot get possessed instead, seeing him kill someone WOULD be out of character and alarming.

Glouphrie/Arposandra

Path of Glouphrie was literally 2 weeks from being in the 07 backup. But perhaps its a good thing it's not in osrs because it's honestly not very good which is a shame because the story surrounding it and Arposandra has intrigued me since I was a kid. A hostile gnome faction outside of just the rogue Glouph could be used as a launch platform for more quests, bosses, challenging content, and areas. As an added bonus it would be unique to osrs, since rs3 has also only eluded to the area with the last relevant quest being Prisoner of Glouphrie in 2011. I honestly think this would be a great thread to pick up with a continued questline.

Fremennik

Fremennik Exiles was a 10/10 quest and it's time we got a sequel and I know just where to go. I think we're close to finishing off the Fremennik storyline but it's not time for the Grandmaster quite yet, so what I'm suggesting is a two part finale; Ragnarok 1 and 2.

In part 1 we head to a new area; Acheron, the long teased frozen wasteland. This area would be ruled by an empire of Ice Trolls, patrolled by dangerous Penguins, populated with imposing mammoths, and covered with unique skilling opportunities. Plenty of people have already suggested adding this area and my ideas aren't unique from theirs but I think a new "hostile" region similar to morytania or the desert could be a cool.

Then in part 2 we get the Grandmaster conclusion to the story, I don't have anything specifically in mind for this.

Fairy Tale

Zanaris is a pretty iconic part of osrs to me but I aside from the great tools they unlock the fairy tale quests themselves have always been sort of minor. I think one last Master quest to tie up this storyline would be nice, but that's all I want. I do think it'd be cool if we got to see more Fairy Dragons though, maybe they can drop Dragon Battlestaves.

Dwarf Questline

We need the Hand Cannon in osrs now more than ever, a weapon that performs off of Firemaking would be such a good fun addition.

Forgiveness of a Chaos Dwarf would honestly probably work as a backport if any files of it exist in osrs but I just don't really think the dwarf questline needs 3 more quests like in rs3. I like seeing old questlines but I prefer to see them get wrapped up rather than stretched out, so few quests get added these days that I don't really wanna wait on more than 2. One thing I do wanna see get tied up though is Between a Rock, that quest is a favorite and the weird matter demon we meet is never really brought up again, I wanna know more about that so badly.

Cold War

Cold War is a very good, funny, 2000's internet ass quest and I wanna see a follow up so bad. I think Hunt for Red Raktober could receive a backport but after that I think it should receive a close out quest after you complete after Ragnarok part 1.

Desert/Menaphos

This one has just started up again recently and I'm pretty pleased with all the lore and character progression surrounding it. I don't think we'll see more of this questline for a bit though, the next quest in the questline is shaping up to be a "Sins of the Father" sized introduction to Menaphos and I really hope that Menaphos is a big rich city with lots of detail and stuff to do similar to Priffdinas.

Kourend

Obviously there's not much to reference here since it's completely osrs original and it's a questline I hope they carry on for a while. Kingdom Divided teased the introduction of Valimore so I think the next few quests in the questline will begin to introduce that kingdom. I hope we get to see Zeah populated with some more Twisted Tales before we go to the next big step in the story.

White Knights/Sea Slug

This is a questline we could probably leave running forever since It doesn't exactly have a defined end of any kind. One thing that I would like to see concluded in a sequel quest however would be the Sea Slug questline, even just an intermediate follow up would sate my curiosity. Something I would like to see brought back to the storyline would be more Black Knights, maybe after Slug Strikes Back Camelot and Temple Knights can team up for a big Black Knight Master Quest.

Myreque

This questline is basically just waiting around for its Grandmaster finale anyday. I don't think Morytania really needs any new content so I think the next quest should just be one last big face off with drakan.

Pirate

I really like the Pirate quests and hope to see a sequel to Great Brain Robbery. Rocking Out could be a pretty easy backport but I don't have much in mind here after that. The pirate story doesn't need a big Grandmaster quest but the south east sea could probably use a few more cool islands with puffins.

[126dvtn]

hi reida!

it's been a while - how are you? i hope you're being able to rest between your duties. this ask might be long because i'll try to answer everything in one go lol sorry in advance (?)

well, that childhood friend is one that didn't stick around, but we follow each other on social media so it's interesting to see what they've been up to~

i spent all my funds trying to get tighnari because he's so hngnhn but instead i got diluc. i think i summoned him with the skin i bought. i'm still upset, and he'll sit on shame corner for a really long time, but at least i have guaranteed scara now. in a way it's all going according to keikaku lmao i hope fox boy comes home at some point tho.

is it bad that i laughed about the atrocities comment? because honestly SAME but like. it's still funny to me. and no, it isn't weird JDKASJLDA but i don't think it'd work?? from the vibes i got from him during the archon quest,,,, he'd probably just walk away rip

about the leaks: bro i really, really hope we get to see that mf get the anemo vision. i'm betting we will, but who knows. he is a puppet without a heart, and anemo visions (based on the pattern i noticed) are usually given to those who lost something important or broke/will break free from something, so. fits him, i guess? i think it's a wip for his boss battle; there have been some new leaks about the color scheme of (what i assume will be) his playable outfit that i'll link later because i'm writing this on my computer rn lol as for the voiceline......... no problem, i'll just go cry in a corner now because reading that broke my heart in a million pieces dhskjahdsjka

i- listen. it worked. congratulations bc i feel bullied. the line that hurt the most was "you might have to prove yourself worthy" lmaoooo i was over here like bro i am doing my best have some mercy. but being honest if kaeya was mean to me i'd cry, no hesitation. maybe not in front of him but i absolutely would.

about your letter: ...great, first you give me tears by bullying me and then you give me tears for being kind and loving to me /jjjjjjj but honestly, thank you, i do feel loved <3 i enjoy our conversations too, and even though you don't know who i am, i consider you a dear friend. i'm glad i'm able to give you some reprieve from school workload. and thank you for the cookies, i have a sweet tooth so they were perfect lmao also, here.

i'm glad i was able to help you and also someone else with the little 'read more' message :3c i'm uh. not doing so good, mental health wise, but really, it's nothing you should worry about.

—👁‍🗨(you really like hugs, don't you? it's nice, i like hugs too.)

ok, new design leaks i mentioned in my previous ask (that i hope went through since it was long): link 1, link 2.

HI!! i'll put my answer under the cut <3

OH GOODNESS IT'S REALLY BEEN SO LONG!! how are you :3

;0; may diluc be worth your money SOBS but i'm wishing you lots of luck with your pulls!! did you manage to get anyone special in the time i've been gone? BUT HELL YEA guaranteed scara!!! my guy is finally free after all the leaks you've been sharing :D

AND YESS you were right he did get anemo!! the new colour scheme is so pretty AND DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE BOSS FIGHT SOBS.. i watched a playthrough and i sobbed so hard <//3 i may not play genshin anymore but if there's anything you wanna update me (esp about scaramouche) i'm willing to listen :3

NOOO i give you bandaids to put on your heart kaeya would never be mean to you (real) </33 but the thought of him play teasing you though 0-o

AND AWH my friend i may not know your identity but i know you through the things we talk about and i love that <33 I GIVE YOU a ghost hug back :3 hope you're doing alright, if there's anything you need to open up about i'm here!!

[sewersewersewercouch]

you got any funky intern headcanons?

Hoooo boy, DO I???? I'm going to be honest though, this one needed a little time to stew in the brain juices!

Alright, I'm starting with Adam, as he is my favorite. The first I have for him is I think, a pretty popular one, which is that he has a little sibling around Razputin's age. That one's just precious to me. but also I think he was quite similar to Raz at that age himself, which is why he's nicer to him than the other interns right off the bat.

also, I think his family is a pretty important psychic family, hence the fact that he's really knowledgeable about all this stuff and also a little bit...stuck up. (said with love!) so I imagine he's been coming to the states for Psychonauts stuff pretty frequently since he was little. I also like to think that the Natividads are similarly well-known in the psychic world, and he and Lizzie clicked as little kids after hanging out at those and have been best friends ever since. (Norma did NOT hang out with them because she's Too Mature and Definitely Not Lonely, Lizzie, I Know Dad Sent You To Check On Me But I'm Fine.)

I kinda have one overrunning headcanon for Norma and Lizzie here, which is stemming off a line where I believe Norma references her "parents," plural (or so it says on the wiki? I can't actually remember this one) but also one of Lizzie's lines in the endless cycle of drinks is "how about a Hazy Regret? that was my mom's favorite" so my thoughts on this is that Lizzie and Norma's mom passed away years ago, but that their dad got remarried. Norma gets along with her stepmother--Lizzie does NOT.

(also I think Norma is, yeah, kinda lonely. She doesn't have many friends, and in turn because of that she's meaner to other people, and it's a whole awful cycle. not that that excuses how much of an asshole she was to an actual ten year old child!!! I just think she's got to work through some stuff.)

(ALSO also, on the subject of the Lady Luctopus bar lines and circling back to Adam here, the "Dad's Shame" line is because Lizzie, for absolutely no identifiable reason, doesn't like Adam's dad--and he's not actually a bad dad or anything, he just gets on Lizzie's nerves for reasons even Adam doesn't know. He finds it funny.)

Gisu! I have to say, Gisu isn't inspiring me right now for some reason. But I imagine she'd be a handful to deal with in school. Like, she's really smart, but also she doesn't have a whole lot of respect for authority and has probably got in trouble a couple times for getting in random arguments with teachers. I think maybe she wasn't part of the Psychonauts programs until pretty soon before the games, but she finds she really is much more in her element there and ends up putting most of her focus into psychic science.

wait wait wait I DO have something about Gisu. she is very much a hopeless, sappy romantic. you wouldn't expect it, but she's a movie crier as well. and you know how I said in my Aquato headcanon post that Dion cries when Nona reads sad books aloud to the family (and then denies it to anyone who asks)? yeah, a very early date between the two is watching a sad movie and it goes about as well as anyone would expect.

Morris, on the other hand, has known the Psychonauts for a really long time--specifically, Milla! I don't know how common in the Psychonauts universe psychic powers as a disability aid are, but as Morris seems to be pretty close to Milla by the time pn2 begins, I think it'd be sweet if when Morris started showing his powers when he was little, his parents got in contact with the Psychonauts so he could perfect his levitation and Milla, of course, was the one who came. Milla being Milla, she was nice and friendly and all and he thought she was The Coolest Ever and she ended up becoming a long term family friend.

And also, Morris at some point gets his hands on a record of Boney M's "Rasputin." KLOB has a field day with that one.

Last but certainly not least, Sam! I firmly believe that Sam is the youngest of the interns before Raz got there. Like, I imagine the interns are all high school aged (again with the exception of Raz), but Sam is, like, the only freshman. Hence the "I'm not a baby" "yeah you are," lines when Raz first meets the interns. I think that's why she's a little more isolated from the rest of the interns--you rarely see her, like, actually talk to any of her peers in the game. She's by herself at pretty much any given point in the physical world (except when she's talking to Oleander, but he's not her peer), comes into the final battle by herself, the only time you really see her with another person is when she's with Gisu in Hollis' Hot Streak. Even then, I don't think Gisu really talks to her--she's more doing her own thing (losing!!! by following her foolish heart!!!) and Sam is just...there. But also Sam doesn't seem lonely, I think she might be just more of the type of person who does her own thing.

also!!!! on Dogen's campster page, it says, "I didn't want to wear the hat but they [his family] said I had to and that when I got to camp there would be plenty of kids wearing special hats." so yeah my mental image with that is Dogen being like "are you sure the other kids won't make fun of my hat?" and Sam is like "no way!!! foil hats are, like, the biggest trend with psychic kids nowadays!!!" look she's a good big sister and anyone can feel free to fight on this one

(count the amount of times I said "also" in this post because my ADHD brain wouldn't know 'succinct' if it hit her in the face! also I had to ask Siri to spell succinct for me! It has more c's and less s's than I wanted it to.)

[toiletwipes]

heyyyyy,,,

ive been going through my old bo burnham phase again and the song high school party by him happened to hit me straight in the face with high school au simpbur x popular girl y/n

(and yes, this is an 18-year-old simpbur and reader we're talking about here. the song even specifies that it's senior year)

so, in my infinite wisdom,,, i figured i would show you some lyrics that i think could be some sort of foundation or even just assistance to a little blurb about the nervous simpbur and his popular crush who he hooks up with at a high school party

(also, id recommend listening to the song, there are so many well-crafted lines in there like all of his stuff. however, please keep in mind that a lot of his older stuff did have shock humour elements tied in, as he addressed in the song problematic last year)

with that being over, let's get into it!

Boys and girls are all sippin' on beer

just,,, simpbur being a bit overwhelmed by all of the cool people at this party. after all, he'd usually just be hanging around at home, writing songs/poems/diary entries about you.

I like soda, where's the soda? Am I the only fucking person here that likes soda?

yet again, a fish out of water. he just came because he thought it'd be a nice little hangout with a large group of friends. how wrong was he to think that.

I see her from across the crowd

(I said the party is bumpin' and the music is loud)

You're really drunk and you're lookin' sad... (there's another line here, but it could be uncomfortable for some and doesn't really add to my idea)

he sees his dear y/n at the party! truly a miracle! everything's upbeat, and he's all glad,,, until he sees just how down she looks.

Girl, then we start to dance and

Girl, baby this is romance

he awkwardly introduces himself to her (maybe after some guy accidentally shoves him in her direction), and she finds him adorable. ("oh, you're that one kid from my english class! didn't expect to see you here, will!") she pulls him into a light-hearted dance, which he sees as quite literally heaven. being the hopeless romantic he is, he can't help but admire the way that her eyes sparkle as they meet his, or the way that her face is adorned in such a childishly excited smile that it just makes him feel right at home. either way, he's glad to have made her happy.

Girl, I'm startin' to grow down below

Shit, why did I wear sweat pants?

he should have seen this coming. after all, he's in such proximity to his love. he can smell her shampoo if he tilts his head up!

I'm gonna love you, baby the right way

nothing much to add here other than 'of course hes saying that only he will love her the right way. that only he deserves her attention. that only he deserves to make her laugh like this.

We go into the bedroom exchanging nervous laughter

pretty self explanatory, i feel. he got her to sleep with him

Why's it called dry humping, if I always need a towel after?

maybe they try dry humping, but he comes just from the sheer knowledge that this is HER he's dry humping? but otherwise, i feel this just represents how sensitive he is to touch, especially since it is the touch of the girl he admires more than anything.

Even though you're yellin' for me, I can tell your lips are sealed (I've been around the block)

she may be eager to do it now, but he's certain she will be shameful of it tomorrow. and while yes, that is partially true, the only reason she will be ashamed is because of her own actions, not his. so he has it all somewhat wrong

We're both aware of my erection, you ask if I have protection

god, just painfully obvious to the point where she point it out?? especially after what I assume to be an orgasm?? mmmmm

I say:

"Well no, I tried to buy them once, I was in the convenience store

My old babysitter walked in and I had to hide them near the Tic-Tac's

I was so embarrassed, I peed myself a little bit"

now THIS. this is what i truly mean when i say that this song radiates the nervous energy that you'd find in this certain simp. and, though many would be ashamed to admit this, he's willing to drop his dignity at a word from her. obviously

I know your body and I know how to please you

Don't thank me, thank Wikipedia

first of all, he has most definitely watched her change at some point. he's spent countless hours admiring her body (clothed or not), and even more imagining his way around each nook and cranny of it. he's written countless stories of his own, in which he gives her exactly what she's asking for here. and obviously, he does a lot of research. whether it be by genuinely searching some technique up or by discovering it via some new adult video he's watching

Guys don't go down, well I am-

What the fuck is that? I should have brought my diagram

ooh boy,,,

now, of course he's eager to pleasure her, and if that means eating her out then that means eating her out. the problem is that he kinda,,, doesn't know how

None of that happened 'cause I wasn't invited..

i can interpret this two ways,,,

none of this happened (as the lyric says) and this is all some fantasy simpbur made up in his head. maybe to assist his masturbation, or maybe to write about in his journal.

this actually DID happen, except he was never actually invited to the party. he just snuck in because he knew she'd be there. besides, he's a complete wallflower, so he knew not many people would even notice him

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

quite literally every line that I missed. they're all full of well-done puns and just generally clever lines. but do keep in mine my point about his shock humour

ohohoho

>:]]

---

bodies pressed up against bodies, in the worst way possible, will's thoughts soured. when he thought of a high school party, he didn't think it'd be exactly as he pictured it. wasted people scattered across the property, and if he had to be honest, he couldn't remember who he even thought was the owner. maybe it was the jock who always bragged about being your first boyfriend, which you always had shoved him for, oh you.

you.

the main reason he showed up at all. you. he'd heard that you'd be at this specific party, for what reason, the grapevine hadn't said, but you'd be there.

sipping from the typical solo cup, he grimaces at the taste of cheap beer and wanted nothing more than to spit it out. but knowing the people here, and what they've consumed, kinda not the safest thing he could do for himself. not that he liked any of the people that show up to this kind of thing, but he liked having all of his limbs attached to his body.

though, he swallowed it down, in the end. taking another swig and holding his breath till it was down his throat. kept going until he was half-way done with the drink, that's when he saw you. oh, there you are.

standing like he was, alone and sipping from a red cup, something sullen in your expression, and it's draining to just stand here and not do something about it-

his back is shoved in a bout of shouts, and he finds himself standing in front of you, face burning in just about every shameful emotion there is and the way his stomach churns at being so close to you.

you gasp, "will!" and you pull him into a hug, finding it so easy to touch him that he just accepts the invitation graciously. the music, though, the bass pounding against the walls and echoing in the space outside, made it hard to focus and hear what you said.

"what?" he yells but you just laugh and pull at his arms, both of the cups falling out of your hands as you tug him to the dance floor. or where it was just the closest to the dj, he supposes, everyone was dancing anywhere they could.

but you. you were different. you commanded the dance floor, commanded him and the way he moved, as if you knew just how to motivate him, you press yourself into his arms and threw your head back to laugh after several minutes of hyper movement all around the two of you.

and whatever started it, be it the person who spilled a cup full of something onto his back or you noticing it happening first hand, but you're taking him upstairs, telling him you knew this place like the back of your hand.

and yet, when you pull him into a room and help him peel off the gross shirt, all the laughter seems to pause as he stares you down.

whoever out there watching this trainwreck, they better be happy.

he reaches out for you but you're the one who kisses him first, pressing yourself against him and pushing him forward to stumble his way to sit on the bed. heavy breathing shared between the two of you as you climb into his lap, and his hands lower themselves from your neck to your hips, circling around to pull you even closer and his hips jut up to meet yours. he groans into the air as you pulled away, panting as you hold onto his shoulders before rolling your hips and grinding your front onto his. he leans forward, intoxicated and excited by the way you're so close and so good to him, exactly the way he pictured it-

his mouth finds it's way to your neck, biting and nipping at the skin there, pulling your moans out as you continued to grind on him, and he feels so good, so hot here with you he can't help it the way he holds you down and imagines himself inside of you, cumming inside and making sure you knew just who you fucked. even if you might regret it in the morning. even if you never talked again.

he's breathing heavily into your sweaty skin, when you finally come down long enough to ask, "do you have any protection?" and it seems so simple, like it was so obvious that he would have one, should have one. and it's- too much for him to think about, too much to sift through and it's only a question-

"i- uh, when i was trying to buy them, my uh," his brain keeps failing him during one of the most important moments of his life and he curses it, "my old babysitter walked into the convenience store i was buying them at and i panicked before sticking them behind some tic-tacs." why he couldn't stop there is beyond him because like an idiot, his mouth kept running even after it seems like you might've bought it, "it was so embarrassing, i peed myself a little bit." you blink but you just raise an eyebrow, snorting just a little bit before leaning in to hug him a little.

"you're so weird," he hears but you're not leaving so he'll take it as a win.

"well- lay down, i got to finish, you should be able to as well," he mumbles into your ear as he shifts the two of you to the bed, laying you down, and of course you're surprised, a guy hasn't really done this for you like will is. though you should hold your breath, because once he throws your shorts and underwear to the side of the room, and he's in between your legs, he is just short of clueless.

he's done all he needed to, study your body, watch a few videos, and skim a couple of wikipedia pages but they didn't prepare him for this. and you're just staring at him from where you're laying, head rolling as you begin to wonder just how much he knows.

but you don't need to wait for long, he figures it out and begins eating you out, long, wet stripes from his tongue and finding a nub nearing the top, he is blessed with a symphony of moans, you're no longer looking at him as he licks it around in fast circles, you're gone, your head tilting back as you dig you fingers into his hair and buck your hips up.

when you come down from your high, you ask him to just lay with you, and you tell him how grateful you are for him, the way he made you feel good. even if you knew he knew not much, but he still tried and conquered.

and the praise and the thanks go right to his head. almost forgetting that he wasn't even meant to be here, or get this far. after all, he was just some guy and this was an exclusive party. and still, no one needed to know that he'd been watching you for weeks, waiting for the perfect moment, waiting for the perfect party. waiting for the drunks to get shitfaced and waited. waited so patiently for you.

and it was worth it.

because unlike most of the guys you'd hook up with, they never made you cum like that and he knew that's something he'd keep up his sleeve.

even after you realized he snuck into this party, you'd realize how perfect you were made for him. to be with him.

you'd realize you're all his.

[the-era-of-shadow]

Carrying Onward

Written by Ash Rose & Rai Rose (@theshootingraistar)

Cover by Ash Rose

THIS STORY CONTAINS: Swearing, Domestic Abuse (via flashbacks), Depictions of Manipulation, Content that may trigger delusions in certain people

Starlight City was still as busy as it always was, everyone going every which way, minding their own as a familiar face walked through them. A few people with keen eyes and the memories to boot noticed this figure, and asked about what will become of the old clinic.

"I'll find a way. I'll return soon enough." The doctor told each and every one of them, before continuing onward with their journey.

One of the people who stopped to talk had a song from years past playing from their car radio, a song from the already faded out pop-punk band Mobian Knot entitled What The Future Holds. It was a song that they knew well, and held dear to their heart. 

"Ah… Yes, I see you have good taste." 

"Yeah! It was a shame what happened to Mobian Knot… this was the last song they performed before that horrible tragedy… I hope that Mina is found one day… I mean, at this point, she's probably dead like the rest of the band, but it'd be nice closure for her folks…" 

"I suppose so." 

Though the song faded as they parted ways, the forested areas outside the town reminded Eclipse of that fateful night again, with the crowd cheering and all the stage lights.

Only the gods know what song Mina last sang, but Eclipse knew it wasn't that one.

All of the walking and reminiscing took away many minutes from the day, just enough for Yuki to come to in their arms. Eclipse tried to act quickly and transform Yuki back to his true form before he fully became conscious, but they were a bit late on that. Yuki took notice of the small form that he was in, and looked up at Eclipse in slight bewilderment.

"Your form was shifted into a wisp so no one would notice you… Please don't be alarmed." They explained.

"Yes… understood… Why did you not just… teleport to the base, though?" Yuki asked softly as he transformed himself into his true form.

"... This city has been where the clinic stood for two whole years now… it deserves a farewell." 

"Who knows where we'll be next…" Rhygenta muttered out quietly. Yuki rubbed her head and smiled.

"Wherever it is, we will thrive there." He said.

The air was crisp as Eclipse, Yuki and Rhygenta placed their feet onto the floating temple, the sounds of their landing onto the marble flooring creating a noticeable tapping sound. 

"Where's the girl..?" Queen Widow questioned as the three entered her line of sight.

"The mission was a bust… we were unable to get Amy." Eclipse explained.

"Wait… Wouldn't you have known that already from over the hivemind?" Yuki asked, confused.

"Hey… yeah! Good question! Didn't a notice go out??" Reacuel said.

"Perhaps you forgot to do it..?" Leanni suggested.

"Me? Forget? Please, Le; Reacuel is NOT a forgetter!" 

"Would you two stop bickering? There must be another explanation for all of this." Yuki said to his two vessel-mates.

"I… yes… It's very strange indeed…" Widow said, her worry creeping through into her words. 

"What's strange?" 

"Oh! Shadow! You're just the person we needed…!!" Widow perked up.

"Oh..?" 

"The hivemind seems to be… down? Could you ask Doomie about it? He'll know how to fix it…" She requested. Shadow nodded and walked off to discuss the matter, but not before waving at Yuki. Yuki waved back.

"Father… We need your assistance in this time of need…" Shadow called out as they kneeled before one of the energy sources of the temple. 

"What is it you need, Shadow?" Doom responded.

"The hivemind is not working very well… Yuki, Eclipse and Rhygenta went on a mission and returned unsuccessful, but we only found out that they had failed after they said so in person..." 

"Yes… I do believe it's about time to re-establish the link…" 

"Re-establish the link..?" 

"The mental link of the Black Arms is fading without an epicenter. You must become our new hivemind, Shadow…" 

"Me…? But…" 

"I will guide you, Shadow. Do not hesitate, it only works if you are able to fully embrace your intention…" 

"Right…" Shadow grasped tightly onto the amulet around their neck "Well… where shall we start, then...?" 

"That, my child, is your call... My only suggestion is that you start with someone who's already been in the hivemind before..." 

Shadow looked out to the group of their fellow Black Arms nearby on the ship. For a split second, their eyes crossed paths with Yuki's, who took notice and gave a friendly wave. Doom could already tell that Shadow had their first choice cemented in that moment.

"You know who those two remind me of?" Sendrir asked Doom.

"Who?"

"You and Widow, back when we were on PetalBloom."

"Hm… I can definitely see what you mean." 

Yuki noticed Shadow approaching him, and started to approach it in turn.

"So, what'd Lord Doom say?" He asked them.

"He said that the hivemind needs to be re-established, with me as the source…" Shadow explained.

"Is that so? That's a very big task… May you have the best of luck!" Yuki said, oblivious to Shadow's intentions with where to start.

"Yuki, I um…" Yuki looked at Shadow, curious. "Would you like to be my… f-first link..?" 

"Oh… what a wonderful honor it would be! Here, let me take my mask off…" He responded happily, reaching his arms back to untie the strings holding its face mask up.

Shadow's hand started to glow with Chaos Energy, and everyone else surrounding them and Yuki faded into the background. Shadow's intentions were clear as day to it, Yuki and them were going to become closer than they ever had before. Yuki, who Shadow had only met so recently, was yet so wonderfully important to them. The two will be one, intertwined with one another in the roots of the greater mind.

"Hey… Does this apply to Leanni and Reacuel too, or do you need to establish them separately from me?" Yuki asked softly. It was something that Shadow wondered too, the three shared one vessel, but were all separate pieces of the hivemind.

"Yuki was made just by himself into the hive, only being separated after his creation. If the usual procedure worked well for Death, then it should work fine for you…" Doom said to Shadow.

"Black Death…" Yuki snickered slightly, "It's funny that you brought him up… considering he's the one who made us like this…" 

"Then I am glad to have killed him…" Shadow declared softly, gently placing its hand on Yuki's cheek, which slipped the both of them into a trance.

"Repeat the words I say to you, Shadow… follow my lead and bring us a new era…!"

"A new era…." Shadow softly mumbled, parroting Doom's words to them.

"Let yourself into my gaze,"

       "Let yourself into my gaze..."

"Stare right into my eyes," 

       "Stare right into my eyes..." 

"And let me be your guide," 

       "And let me be your guide..."

"As I make you new." 

       "As I make you new..."

"Sacrifice your morals," 

       "Sacrifice your morals..."

"Sacrifice your mind,"

       "Sacrifice your mind..."

"Let yourself be consumed," 

       "Let yourself be consumed..."

"By the chaos inside." 

       "By the chaos inside."

Shadow and Yuki's gazes into one another were unbreakable as the world around them was consumed by their black hearts, crumbling into nothing but an empty void of pure evil…

The light of the sun pierced Yuki's eyes as he and Shadow came to.

"Perfectly done. Now keep going until everyone is one under your reign…" 

Shadow smiled and nodded. They were about to walk off, but it felt Yuki take hold of their hand.

"Thank you, Shadow… We're honored that you decided to have us be your first link." He said to them.

As Shadow and Yuki departed, Shadow noticed the crowd of their brethren around them, all looking upon it in curiosity and excitement. At that moment, Rouge flew onto the temple floor, holding numerous shopping bags in her hands. She looked around at the crowd that she had placed herself into, a look of bewilderment dawned on her face.

"Am I interrupting anything?" She asked, turning to Relic. Of course she'd be the one Rouge trusted enough to ask.

"Oh no no no no! I do believe that Shadow is just about done with this one here!" Relic answered vaguely.

"This one of… what?" Rouge queried, trying to find a clearer answer.

"Not sure…" Relic replied hesitantly.

"Not sure?" Rouge parroted her, confused and frankly, a bit disappointed "Well, why don't we ask them?" She added.

Suddenly, Shadow spun around to Rouge, as if the numerous mentions of them from her and Relic finally added up to be enough to summon them, not unlike that of Beetlejuice and Candyman. 

"Oh! Hello Rouge…!" It greeted her "When did you get here..?"

"I was just flying in, came back to check up on you!" Rouge explained. This response caused Shadow to smile, appreciative of their friend's care for them.

"That's very kind of you to do… but… where were you, anyhow? Where did you go?" Shadow asked, its voice becoming steadily louder and more concerned with each question "Why, I haven't seen much of you since I first adorned this necklace!" They added, wrapping their hand around the Doom's Eye amulet, as if it'll protect them from whatever kept Rouge away for the past week.

"I… I was just getting back to my usual thievery shenanigans, ya know! A-and I decided to splurge a little, get myself a new wardrobe! It's been awhile since I've been able to do something like that…" Rouge answered, trying to ease her friend's mind.

"Ah, yes… of course…! You deserve such things… especially after breaking free of GUN's chains like you did…!" Shadow said calmly, accepting Rouge's response. 

Rouge couldn't help but notice that the way Shadow spoke had changed, in a way. It wasn't uncommon for them to "shift" every once in a while. That's what Rouge referred to it as, anyway. It "shifted" from person to person to latch onto every few years, reworking themself around how their new favorite person acted like. Rouge could clearly tell from the way Shadow spoke to her now who it's new favorite person was, and something about that thought carried a sense of dread with it. Could you really blame her, though? If she was right in her assumptions, then that means that Shadow's new favorite person is none other than the Black Doom himself, the god of malicious chaos, of corruption, and all the other labels given to him in their thousands of years of life. What could that mean for Shadow going forward? What could that mean….

For Rouge?

"That's a… uh… very poetic way of wording it." Rouge finally responded, after who knows how long of her being lost in those awful thoughts.

"Actually, you're here at a very interesting time, Rouge… For you see… I've been thinking of you...!" Shadow exclaimed suddenly.

"H-Have you now?" Rouge sputtered out, trying desperately to retain her usual suave tone, if only as to not worry Shadow.

"Yes- I-I very much have…!" Shadow assured her, trying to contain their excitement "Of course, I must take care of the ones that were in the last hivemind first, but… please do not fret that I have forgotten about you and Relic…!" They continued, as if it was explaining itself, but Rouge could not pick up any information from their words "I'll get around to you two soon enough…"

"Get around to us for… what, exactly?" Rouge asked as she tilted her head to the side in puzzlement.

"Right, I'm being terribly vague aren't I…? I've had my mind on so many things already that I can't keep a focus…!" Shadow confessed. "Anyway.. I'm re-establishing the Black Arms hivemind..!" 

"Are you now...?" Rouge inquired, as despite her fears, she couldn't help but be curious.

"Indeed I am…! The connection was failing due to a lack of a true leader for some time now… So my father asked me to establish a new link with me as the leader…!" Shadow explained excitedly, maniacally cackling as they finished their statement.

Shadow? The leader of the Black Arms? The thought made Rouge feel many complex and contradictory emotions. She was happy for them, as they seemed happy for themself, but she was also worried that the pressure may be too much for it to handle. She was both optimistic and pessimistic, optimistic that perhaps Shadow, in their kind heart, can drive the Black Arms into a less cruel direction, but pessimistic, that perhaps the Black Arms will twist Shadow into a cruel shell of who they once were, or that Black Doom's spirit may do such to them, or already has done such to them, or even… that Rouge was completely wrong about Shadow, and that… that cruelty the Black Arms are known for was how Shadow always truly was, and the kindness she seemed to know them for was nothing more than a facade.

"Of course, that new hivemind will include those that were in the last one…" Shadow continued on, seemingly oblivious to Rouge's growing worries. "But it will also include our new allies, like Relic…" 

"Like you..!" 

Shadow said it with such a chipper tone, they seemed happy about the thought, excited, even! But when Rouge heard that herself would be included as a part of Shadow's hivemind, a huge pit manifested into her gut, contorting her organs around with it's sheer weight. There was no hiding the dread that Rouge felt now. It was clear as day, on display for everyone to see. Everyone else was so willing, so happy to be here, even Relic, who would be a newbie to this whole "hivemind" thing, just like her. But Rouge was terrified, she could barely stand to look her friend in the eyes, those vibrant crimson eyes, it was like they were trying to entrance her even in this very moment. They pierced through to her soul, beckoning it to come to them, to reject the freedom Rouge had been trying to reach for so long, and to accept her new existence as a mere extension of her dear Shadow's will. 

"Is something the matter..?" Shadow asked her, its voice echoing around Rouge like a stage performance. Rouge could tell that they were genuinely concerned for her, but there was still a lure of temptation to their behavior, which regardless of being a clear mimicry of their beloved father, only caused Rouge to panic more "Are you… scared of me..?" 

That was the first thing Shadow worried about when they and Rouge were first becoming friends. It was so bad that the thought that Rouge would be afraid of them made them afraid of itself. Rouge promised that she'd never be scared of them.

But she couldn't stop herself from breaking that promise.

Both of them were completely silent, too wrapped up in their respective fears to be able to speak. It was completely silent for several long seconds, until there was finally a sentence spoken.

"Shadow, when can I be expecting you?" It was not from either Rouge nor Shadow, but rather, from Eclipse.

"O-oh! I-I-" Shadow sputtered nervously, trying to recover their composure. "I can set your link up right now if you so desire…!" 

"Actually, I was hoping to be able to check on the new Dark Arms first… Perhaps even that we might be able to do mine and all of the Dark Arms' back-to-back?" Eclipse clarified.

"Right, of course… I know how much you love them…" 

Every word that Shadow spoke made it sound more and more like a spitting image of Black Doom to Rouge, which frankly, made her feel sick to her stomach.

"I'll give you as much time as you need, Eclipse…" Shadow concluded.

"Thank you Shadow, that means a lot to me." Eclipse responded with a smile. "Now you go do your thing, Your Highness." They added, giving Shadow a pat on the head. 

Shadow looked around, trying to decide on who to then do next, but then the thought came to them.

"Queen Widow..!" Shadow meant to say to themself but ended up saying out loud.

" "Queen Widow"...? No need to be so formal, Shadow…!" Widow said to it, giggling as she transformed into it's Mobian form. "But I'd love to…!" 

"Right, right! My apologies…" 

As Shadow and Widow began to enact the ritual, Eclipse started their way to their laboratory, stopping by Rouge, saying a single sentence to her.

"Come, I have something to show you." 

Rouge was cautious at first, but agreed as she saw Relic follow Eclipse's lead. Relic was the only person Rouge really trusted around here at this point, for better or for worse.

"Rouge, what's in those shopping bags you've got there?" Relic asked curiously.

"Oh, just those new clothes I was telling Shadow about…! And some really cute stilettos…" Rouge answered, her cheeks becoming warm as she did.

"Is that so?" Relic inquired.

"Yeah! I've actually got this wonderful idea for customizing the shoes-!" Rouge continued, her mood starting to drastically improve as she spoke.

"Oh?" Relic said, wanting to be as engaged as possible as to help make Rouge feel better.

"I was looking through the trunk of the jeep I'm "borrowing" from GUN…" Rouge began to explain, as Relic started to chuckle slightly "And I found this really neat pair of handguns! So I thought of making little straps on the boots to hold'em! Convenient, AND what I assume would be right for the vibe that I'm trying to give off!" 

"Oh! Like the main character in Bayonetta?" Relic questioned, which seemingly made Rouge shocked "The video game franch-?" 

"The idea's been done before???" Rouge yelled.

"Not in real life-!" Relic tried to add.

"Dammit! I wanted to have an original idea!" Rouge loudly pouted.

"Kæ' Blak Doom ducsie…" Eclipse uttered in annoyance.

*Translation Note: “Dear Black Doom, my Lord” (Eclipse will explain this very soon, but just in case you can’t wait that long)

"EH???" Rouge blurted out, confused.

A bit of silence lingered for a few seconds, before all three of them bursted out laughing.

"What does that even mean???" Rouge questioned in between laughs.

"Did you not notice that you weren't speaking English back there, Eclipse??" Relic asked.

"... English is a confusing mess." Eclipse admitted, rolling their eyes as Relic and Rouge erupted into laughter for a second time. "To answer your question though, Rouge, what I said translates directly as "Dear Black Doom, my Lord"." 

"Oh, so it's like when someone says "Oh my Chaos" after something stupid happens?" Rouge supposed.

"Yes, essentially." Eclipse answered. "You'll understand that and the rest of our language instinctively once your link has been made. In fact, all of your thoughts will be in that tongue after that occurs." 

Eclipse's words brought the anxiety that Rouge felt right back from where she had hidden them. If this process was going to change the very language that she thought in, then what else could be changed about her by this strange ritual? 

"Though it's funny that you bring up Chaos. Are you aware of the relationship between her and our great Lord Doom?" Eclipse spoke again, marching on with the conversation regardless of how Rouge was feeling.

"Uhm… they're… related, I think, right? I'm not very religious…" Rouge attempted to answer.

"The two are both gods of Chaos Energy, with Chaos being the goddess of benevolent chaos, full of healing and whimsical…ness? And Doom is the god of malevolent chaos, often called "corruptive" in nature." Relic explained. Rouge could definitely see why one would refer to Black Doom as a corruption force. "Also, the two are siblings, in a sense." 

"They are?" Rouge asked.

"Yep! Black Doom was created first, by Solaris, Moonshine and Light Gaia, and Chaos was created some time after Doom turned tail and became all… evil, by Solaris and Light Gaia." Relic continued on. Rouge knew that Relic was a skilled archeologist, so it didn't come as much a surprise that she was also quite the mythology buff. Seeing Relic thoroughly explain something that she enjoyed so much made Rouge calm down and put a big dorky smile on her face.

"Moonshine? What, like the alcohol?" Rouge queried jokingly.

"No, silly!" Relic replied in that same joking tone. "Though, we should maybe grab some hard lemonades or something to celebrate the new hivemind later…" 

"I'm more of a wine gal myself, but I'm always up for a party!"

"I'd rather not, personally…" Eclipse admitted, their voice a bit shaky. 

"You don't have to drink any if you don't want to." Relic explained.

"Nah… I'll just… not come then.." Eclipse quietly responded. "We're getting distracted. Let's carry on.." 

"You're nothing more than a lie! *hic* A lie that that piece of shi-*hic* keeps living to stroke his own fucki-*hic* ego!" 

"Hey-! What are you doing with that-?!" 

"Don't fucki-*hic* talk to me, you *hic* vermin!!" 

The air was thick with dreadful feelings once again, but for once it wasn't because of Rouge. She thought of trying to ask Eclipse what bothered them so, but didn't feel close enough to them for such a conversation to do anything productive, and Relic simply didn't know how to ask such a thing to them. Both of them wanted to lend a hand to Eclipse, but as Relic knew all too well, Eclipse is the type that usually just bottles everything up and only lets everything out when they're alone. But something felt different, this felt like something that should be talked through.

"Eclipse, is it just you drinking alcohol that's the issue, or is it the presence of alcohol in the first place?" Rouge finally asked,

".... I don't like to be around it…" Eclipse uttered after a stint of pure silence.

"Why's that?" Rouge queried further. 

"It's not something I want to discuss." Eclipse responded bluntly, putting a complete stop to that conversation.

The last bit of the journey to Eclipse's laboratory was completely silent, aside from the sound of footsteps on the ship's floor. It caused Rouge's mind to run. She looked out at the sky that surrounded the ship, and contemplated flying away. But where would she go? GUN wouldn't take her back, the Freedom Fighters surely didn't want her, not that she wanted them. She didn't want to join the Robotnik Empire due to the pure resentment she grew for Ivo over the years from being friends with Omega. Maybe she could make it on her own, like she used to before joining GUN? But that was so long ago! Rouge had joined GUN all the way back in 2002, and almost a whole decade had passed since then. 

As Eclipse took a step into their laboratory, a sense of calm and comfort washed over them. Despite how things have changed, they also feel the same.

"Dearie… not to be a bother, but could you lower the lights in here a bit more...?"

"Oh, sorry Le, it's just that it's a bit hard to see my blueprints already, so lowering the lights more would-" 

"Why are you so concerned about your blueprints, hun..? It's quite late as it is…" 

"Oh great Lord Doom almighty are you pulling another all-nighter?" 

"Huh-? N-no-! I-" 

"Why don't you come rest with us tonight, hun..?" 

"The Dark Arms aren't gonna go anywhere, dummy! So come here and sleep already, okay?!" 

"Okay…" Eclipse accidentally murmured out loud, getting the attention of their beloved Dark Arms, which came to them and embraced them, feeling the sorrowful energy that radiated from them. They asked them repeatedly if they were okay, worried sick for their beloved caretaker. "I'm fine, I'm fine…" They insisted.

"Should we show Rouge the uh… ya know… at some other time?" Relic asked.

"R-right! I forgot all about Mina! My sincerest apologies-!" 

"Mina? The… rockstar?" Rouge inquired, immediately regretting that she did right after.

"Curses-! I'm spilling everything all over before I even make the proper reveal-!" Eclipse nervously sputtered as they made a mad dash to the back end of their laboratory. 

Part of Rouge wanted to just ask Eclipse to do this some other day, as it was clear to her that they weren't in the best spot mentally at the moment, but the rest of her had to know. She heard many things about the tragic end of Mobian Knot, and the trial that was held afterwards. She wanted justice, she wanted proof that that poor armadillo girl they accused didn't do it. Everyone in GUN was sure of who the real culprit was, but they didn't want to reveal the Black Arms' return to the public. Rouge wanted to, no, NEEDED to know…

What happened to Mina?

Eclipse forcefully gripped the cloth covering a large egg-shaped contraption. The contraption was a bit taller than they were, and the cloth was just a bit smaller, revealing some intricate metal work at the contraption's very lowest point. 

"With no other slip-ups or delays!" Eclipse suddenly yelled, playing up the caricature of a classical mad scientist. It was something to cling onto for now, for the last few minutes this had to go on, then Eclipse could have some alone time with their Dark Arms, some time to sit and work through everything in their head on their own, as they always had. "I present to you...!!" 

Eclipse pulled on the cloth off of their contraption, only to find that it was stuck on some part of it. They pulled with all the might they had, but it just refused to come off.

"Let me deal with this..." Relic lifted the cloth from where it was stuck, and got it to finally fall off from the contraption's grasp.

Once the cover was finally off, the contraption was revealed to be a container of sorts. Within this container was a body that resembled that of the rockstar known as Mina Mongoose, but the details were very different. It was like one of the many Black Arms soldiers Rouge had encountered during their invasion of Aerth, or during GUN'S raid of the Second Black Comet, had been taken and molded into a Mina-shaped figure. She tried one last time to act civil, but she couldn't, she just couldn't.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO HER???" Rouge screamed loudly, tears welling up in her eyes. Relic tried to calm her down, but it only seemed to work a little bit. Eclipse was taken aback a bit, they could already tell that this wasn't going to go so well, but that didn't stop them from trying to remedy the situation.

"I-i-if y-you must know… She was assimilated…!" They began, "It's usually quite a lengthy experience, and a painful one at that, but I found a way to make it go by much quicker, and Mina here was simply my first test subject… Oh how she yearns for the day that she can go back on stage… She wants to make new songs about how wonderful we are, oh how sweet of her..!" 

Relic chuckled a bit, but Rouge did not do anything of such a matter. She instead broke free of Relic's soft embrace and went right to the edge of the ship, vomiting into the thick forests far below. She tried to stand up after she was done, but her body shook too much to be able to. So instead, she simply cried.

"Rouge… are you-" 

"No, Relic! I'm not fucking okay!! How the hell could I be?! How could you possibly be?! That was a thriving Mobian life! A life that they took away to use the body for a puppet!! How are you not sickened by that, Relic?!" Rouge fumed.

"You've got the wrong idea, Rouge… It's not like that." Relic replied as she sat next to Rouge.

"Then what the hell is it like then, huh??" 

"Mina's personality is still there, her whole self is still there! She's just a bit different now. Sure, her thoughts may be in a different language now, but they're still her thoughts! She's still Mina, just with a new look, a new style! Ya know?" Relic explained.

"What about that whole… hivemind thing? Doesn't that impact how she thinks and feels about things?" Rouge asked, still skeptical.

"... Yeah." Relic admitted.

"And Eclipse said that the process is really painful, didn't they? That's still gotta be really traumatic, especially if she does remember that!" 

"Regular assimilation is very painful. This "accelerated assimilation" that Eclipse created isn't like that at all! It's like surgery! You go to sleep, and you wake up as a brand new you!" Rouge knew what it was like getting surgeries, and she had to admit that Relic wasn't far off.

Rouge looked up to the sky again. The sun was starting to set now, with a few stars already peeking through the sky.

"When I was on the Second Black Comet, all the other Black Arms followed along with everything the main guy was saying… that lack of free will… I can't do that." Rouge confessed.

"But you always want what's best for Shadow anyway, don't you?" Relic asked.

Rouge couldn't help but nod.

"Exactly! So it'll be like nothing's even changed!" Relic exclaimed.

There was one last thought that Rouge had, one more question to ask.

"What happens to allies that don't join the hivemind?"

"Simply… they are executed." Eclipse answered quietly, but bluntly.

"W-well… I'm sure that Shadow wouldn't be so… quick to…" Rouge tried to grasp onto something, some sort of steady footing. She knew this was wrong, she knew this was horrific. She wanted to keep some sort of escape plan, just like she did when she joined GUN. But that didn't seem to be possible here.

"You're probably right, but you have to talk to them." Relic said to Rouge. Rouge simply walked away and didn't say anything.

"Oh! Rouge left her bags here! I'll go put them somewhere safe." Relic said as she picked up the shopping bags. She looked over and saw Eclipse wrapped up in their Dark Arms, both old and new. "Should I tell Shadow you aren't feeling well or…?" 

"Nonsense… I'll be right with them in just a few… I have something I must do for my new younglings…" Eclipse responded calmly. Relic sighed, glad that her friend was feeling better.

As Relic looked around for a place to set the bags down, she noticed Rouge walking towards Shadow. They were seemingly in the middle of doing the ritual with Harazuki. She began to wonder how long the three of them had been walking, talking, and everything else that had just happened.

Rouge stood by quietly, unnerved by the sight before her, but also completely unable to look away. 

"They're a natural, aren't they?" Widow said to Rouge, breaking the trance-like attention Rouge had on the scene.

"Uhm, well… It's not like I'd really know. I'm just a Mobian, ya know…" Rouge skittishly responded.

"Don't be silly… you're one of us now, sweetheart…!" Widow told her cheerfully. Rouge didn't say anything back.

When Rouge looked back at the scene, Shadow had just finished up with Harazuki. It looked up and met eyes with Rouge, smiling kindly to her.

"Hello Rouge…!" Despite everything that had changed, Shadow's smile was the same as it has always been. Though it was a rare sight to see back when they worked at GUN, the exact feeling Shadow's smile gave was always the same, no matter how much the rest of them changed. It was silly, and dorky, and filled with love and happiness. Seeing it's smile in this moment brought Rouge to tears. Despite all her fears, she loved Shadow, and wanted to always be by their side. Before Shadow could even react to seeing Rouge cry, she hugged them tightly, full of emotion and passion.

"Shadow I… I don't know if I can do this…" She admitted boldly to it. "I love you so much, I don't want to leave you, but I just can't!!" 

"I know… I know that you're scared… but…" 

"But..?" 

"Just trust me, okay?" Shadow said. "Trust me that I'll do no harm to you…" Rouge looked away for a second, unsure of how to respond. "Because I don't want to hurt you… You're one of the bestest friends I've ever had…" Rouge knew that Shadow was speaking the truth. They really did love her, she could tell. It's very easy to tell who Shadow does and doesn't love, even now.

"Alright. I'll trust you on this one, bud." Rouge conceded, giving them a smile of her very own, though it'd never be anywhere near as instantly heartwarming as Shadow's. "As long as you let me fly in the freedom, at least a little bit." 

"Well, there are a lot of things to do…" Shadow admitted. "Giving you an adventure or two to look for the Chaos Emeralds or something wouldn't be hard to arrange." 

"I'd like that." Rouge agreed, her sassy tone back in full swing.

"I know it's been a long, rough road to finally get here, for both of us." Shadow said, with genuine empathy.

"Sure has… moving even an inch forward felt like an entire year had gone past." Rouge admitted.

"But no matter what, we're never turning back, okay?" Shadow insisted.

"No! Of course not." Rouge responded. "We're besties forever!" 

Rouge and Shadow's eyes met again, and Rouge started to feel light headed. Shadow grinned and sat her down.

"Just keep looking into my gaze, alright?"

[angeldcgs]

once birdie actually took the time to get to know the guy behind the outrageous rumors, it wasn’t hard to see that he’d been horribly misjudged by his peers, though for what reason, she still couldn't comprehend. what was genuinely so bad about him that it'd inspired folks from all social circles to spread the most vicious of rumors? his reputation as a pariah stretched back as far as elementary school, with birdie recalling some of the girls in her grade claiming he ate bugs on the playground, and it seemed as though things had only spiraled farther into obscenity from there. could you blame her, then, for being wary of him? she'd never known the guy personally— all she heard was that he liked to sneak into the girls locker room and steal dirty gym shorts, that he killed small animals for fun. what else was she supposed to think? the few times she'd been forced to actually interact with elton, for school projects where the teachers put them in pre-determined groups, he'd been quiet, but nice enough; that didn't mean he couldn't still be hiding something sinister beneath his unassuming exterior. rather than let her slight fear of him drive her to treat him as poorly as others did, birdie was inspired to do the opposite, at least trying to appear friendly so that, if he really was dangerous, maybe he would spare her for not being the direct cause of his suffering. it wasn't until she was out of high school and away from the toxic cesspool of hive-minded cruelty that she was able to see her whole upbringing in a different light, but by the time she realized everyone had been all wrong about elton, it was far too late to take anything back. "i know..." her lower lip was threatening to wobble, to which she steadied it by sinking her teeth down and holding it in place until she spoke again. "i know it's dumb, and high school doesn't matter, and stuff, but i still... i feel bad." she didn't realize that by dumping her guilt onto him, she was now giving him the task of absolving her, when he didn't owe her or any of her friends anything of the sort. it was no longer about his pain, but how that pain made her feel, and now she was expecting him to be the one to save her from it. or, maybe, she didn't want forgiveness. maybe a part of her craved the blame, for him to lash out at her so she could feel the full brunt of what their peers had put him through, and only then would she begin to feel the ache of guilt lessen. "o-oh..." his words, spoken so simply with not a hint of spite, knocked the wind right from her lungs in an instant, flattened her like a bug on the windshield of a speeding truck. it was valid, his feelings of disdain for her whole group, but birdie couldn't stand the thought of anyone disliking her for any reason. "but i didn't— i w-wasn't... mean... was i?" as if it were even possible, she shrunk down further with every word he hurled her way, a well justified rant that it seemed he'd just been itching to unleash, though it was likely only a small taste of everything he'd had rattling around his head all these years. moisture pricked at the corners of her eyes, tears welling up despite her efforts to hold herself together by clenching her fists so tightly her nails bit into her palms, and she hated herself for the few fat droplets that escaped her lash line and rolled down her cheeks as she shook her head. "no, no that's not— it's not tr-true, i... i'm not afraid of you." her act wasn't convincing, what with the way she practically trembled just standing there facing his judgment, but she wasn't backing down, either. she forced herself to stand there and wallow in her guilt, accept the shame that came along with coming to seek forgiveness from him, of all people, and she'd allow herself to take whatever vitriol he might like to dish out. she did think he might snap, yes, but she wasn't afraid of it— by that point, she wanted him to. "i just don't... s-sometimes, i don't know..."

elton hadn't exactly been subtle with his ongoing ogling of birdie's chest but he hadn't done so to make her uncomfortable, half the time he hadn't even noticed his gaze had dropped till she'd called his attention back to whatever conversation they were having with a tentative sweetness, one someone might offer a dog they were worried might snap at them if they moved too quick. if he were any other guy, then his wandering eyes would have been nothing to comment about, in fact, he knew he was a hell of a lot more respectful when compared to the other kinds of boys they'd gone to school with. it wasn't just their eyes they let linger in inappropriate places, yet they were conventionally attractive and confident enough to get away with whatever they wanted, they had a privilege elton could only dream of and which protected them from scrutiny- it had to go somewhere though, and why not towards the loner freak with no-one willing to defend him? seeing birdie heavy with guilt shouldn't have been so enjoyable, not when he claimed to care so much about her, but it was the first time he was witnessing someone show actual remorse for their treatment of him. even though she couldn't know how aware he was of her betrayal of his trust, simply retreating back into his isolation and letting her fester in her paranoia had brought him some satisfaction, not as much as spending time with her had but someone had to receive some kind of punishment for the constant belittling. she looked like a scared little puppy under the intensity of his narrowed gaze, if she had a tail it would likely have been tucked between her legs in pure submission, fear of his judgement. it was powerful, and completely at odds with the usual sensitivity he applied to his interactions with her. he'd worked so hard to try and replace the image of him she'd had in her head from high school with something positive, painting himself as the nice guy who listened to her stories about the pageants she used to do while they stood doing their laundry, or helped sort out her wifi after receiving a similarly pathetic knock on his door late one evening, yet falling back into old habits was strangely comforting. elton shrugged at her feeble attempt at apologising for the past and looked down to the book still in his hand, two fingers lay slotted between the pages to stop him from losing where he was before he'd been interrupted. "doesn't matter anymore." it did matter, it would always matter to him as it had come to form the very basis of how he perceived himself and the world around him and releasing anyone of their guilt for taking part would be purely for their benefit, it'd do nothing to help him cope. a nasty, malicious part of him still wished to have the chance to inflict even a moment of the pain he'd been forced to stomach on any of those ill-intended girls; and with birdie right in front of him, pathetically whimpering about her regrets, it was easy to place those desires onto her. "i didn't like any of you." he said casually, like he was explaining to her what an algorithm was. "but at least i had a reason for that, right?" he paused, contemplating going and further with his tirade but the words came before he had the chance to properly consider them. "i can see it, you know? when you look at me, sometimes it's like you think i'm going to snap. like everything you heard about me was true... but i guess i should have expected that. i don't know why i thought you'd be any different."

[egg-emperor]

It's a shame that X had its really weirdly OOC moments for Eggman (most prominently in season 3, which you might have seen my criticism post of in the past) because aside from that, I personally adore X Eggman for the things they did get right. I feel that they still captured multiple important aspects of his character quite well.

The things I feel they got right were his loud, confident, and rude demeanor, the skill of his manipulation tactics, the way he actually did have his share of pretty damn evil moments despite the humor, the way that, for quite a while across seasons, he evidently didn't give a damn about anyone else and not even what planet he was on as long as he could conquer it. I didn't mind how humorous things could get because I love every time he's evil and a jerk but makes a game of it just as much as I love to see him get serious, and he still did the latter when necessary. And if you've seen that other analysis post of mine, I also really liked the moments where they presented his lack of empathy well. ( Which they really fucked up later but still, it was great while it lasted :') )

That's what makes the OOC moments all the more disappointing and surprising because he had a lot going for him earlier on, when it was accurately capturing his important assets that really make him feel like himself. It's weird that the stuff he does in season 3 legitimately contradicts things he did in previous episodes of the show. Like it wasn't even a case of character development as some might try to argue (which I wouldn't have wanted either way because it doesn't work for him period lol) but it came out of nowhere and made no fuckin sense for his personality and actions we'd seen on earlier eps. It was so jarring

But besides that, I still treasure it for the positives. To this day, X Eggman brings me as much joy as he did back when the show was one of the first pieces of Sonic media I consumed. I still have to give it credit for the way it really helped fall in love with him even more, since the only two games I'd played at the time was Heroes and Shadow 2005, where he hardly got any focus. Despite not seeing much of him prior, I was still lucky to recognize that the OOC moments in X weren't right for a character like him, instead of it letting it lead me to the false belief that he's not so bad of a guy. It was all his best evil asshole moments and fantastic humor that was making me fall for him all the while instead.

Yeah maybe it is thanks to my huge nostalgic fondness that makes the OOC moments easier for me to rewatch it without getting too frustrated to the point I don't enjoy the rest of his portrayal. Especially considering that I watch the English dub the most lol. I get not liking it for how much they fucked up but man, Imo it's still worth watching for Mike Pollock's performance alone, as from the very beginning he already suited Eggman perfectly and brought so much charm and humor in the best way. In the present, I still can't stop smiling at and the jokes never miss with me, he's the only one I genuinely find funny when a lot of the jokes usually don't land with the other characters.

The OOC moments do of course still bother me all the same as I care a lot about how accurately Eggman is portrayed in any media. I'll never hesitate to call out the flaws in the writing and characterization (hell, I literally had that Eggman X supercut I made get interrupted a text rant about why that one bs line in ep 67 really bothered me lol) but I can't deny that as a whole, it will always have a very special place in my heart and it's currently still my favorite Sonic show ever. I hope Prime presents an Eggman with an attitude as great as earlier X Eggman had, without the OOC stuff this time. Not gonna get my hopes up, but it'd be nice.