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greaterawarness · 3 years ago

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Arc Training Program Ch. 4 "Getting To Know The Cadets (Part Two)"

(Sorry for the long wait! Here is part two! Hope you enjoy it!)

The next stop on hunting down his cadets is the library. He scans the room seeing some odd number of clones and Kaminoans scattered about but none were one of his. He starts walking slowly around the room until he finds someone curled on the floor with stacks of books surrounding him. His face is hidden by a large book that he is completely entranced by. He reads the cover The Species of Gree. Alpha clears his throat, but the boy doesn’t hear him. Alpha walks forward and pulls the book down so CC-1004’s eye would finally register Alpha. The boy jumps surprised and scrambles to his feet.

“Sir! Sorry sir! I didn’t see you!” He says much to loudly for a library. He hears a few shh hissed at him and winces. “Sorry… sir.”

“What are you doing?” Alpha asks realizing all the books scattered around the boy are books on different types of species. The boy’s face turns a deep shade of red.

“Uh…” Is all he manages to get out. Alpha kneels down to look at the book he was reading.

“The species of Gree?” He says before giving a deep hm while flipping through the pages.

“The Gree species is one of the oldest civilizations in the galaxy. They even predate the Republic.” 1004 explains. Alpha gives another small hm. 1004 looks down while squeezing and unqueening has hands in and out of fists nervously. “I know this probably isn’t the best use of my time but… I think studying different species and their civilizations could benefit the Republic.”

Alpha stares at the boy. He looks like he’s about to be scolded but shows no regret.

“Just don’t let your other training fall through the cracks.” Alpha hands the book back to 1004. He takes the book with wide eyes.

“I wont sir!” He says with a big, excited smile on his face. Reading has never been a big priority when training the clones. Most bounty hunters wont even take their cadets into the library. Alpha might have been the first to not scold the boy for wanting to pursue reading for leisure. Unfortunately, he had nothing to offer like he did for 2224 and 7567. Alpha never felt he had the time or patience for reading unless it was a report.

“Seen any of the others around?” Alpha asks before the kid can get to lost in his books again.

“3636 was in here not too long ago… I think… I kind of lost track of time when I picked up this book.” 1004 admits.

“Understood.” Alpha starts to turn away before looking back at 1004. “Don’t slouch when you read. You’ll mess up your back.”

After walking around the entire library and seeing no sign of 3636, he leaves. He walks with his hands behind his back and head held high. Other’s salute or acknowledge him politely as they pass through the corridors. When he makes a turn towards the mess hall, he spots Shaak Ti. She speaks with two bounty hunters. When she notices him staring, she smiles softly with a slight nod of her head down a different corridor. Alpha nods his thanks and heads in that direction.

He finds himself walking above different training rooms where other batches perform practice battles. He spots 3636 staring down at one of the ongoing battles. Alpha quietly walks to his side to watch the batch below. The batch is slightly younger then his cadets and have sloppy movements. Alpha can predict the ending but looks to 3636 who barely flinched when he approached. 3636 lets out a tsk before pushing away from the railing. Alpha raises a brow at him as the batch below fails.

“Something wrong?” Alpha asks calmly. 3636 half turns with his lips pressed into a thin line. His eyes stare at the floor in tense frustration.

“Why is it so easy from here?” He asks finally. Alpha tilts his head slightly so he continues. “From here I can see their moves before they make them. But when I’m down there it’s like I have tunnel vision. And when I slow down to see the big picture its usually to late to do anything before I realize what’s happening.”

He shakes his head and turns away. Alpha feels the corner of his mouth turn into a grin.

“What did you do before?” Alpha crosses his arms before brining one hand up to his chin pondering with great curiosity.

“Before, my batch would move ahead and I could see it all. Not at first but with trail and error I eventually learned the different battle sequences my trainer had us practice. But the ones you have us run through seem to be random. Or its like the droids have a mind of their own. I can’t predict their moves and what the others will do.”

Alpha stiffens.

“CC-3636, there are thousands of battle scenarios. Are you saying you memorized all of them?”

“Yes?” He says it as if it were obvious. “There are 1,325 to be exact. Well, 1,326 but I think one was a glitch that combined 453 and 34.”

He’s living breathing protocol droid.

Alpha stares at the boy not sure if he should be amazed or terrified. Instead, he motions for him to follow. He takes 3636 to the part of Tipoca City that only the ARC Troopers were allowed. They passed many familiar faces who acknowledged Alpha in a head nod, smile, or even gesture. When they spot 3636 following behind him, they turn cold and watch suspiciously. He eventually turns into a break room currently occupied by two ARC Troopers, Hull and Raff.

“Leave us.” Alpha’s words were cold and blunt. They pause and exchange glances pondering if they should protest or not. They make the right choice and vacate the room. 3636 doesn’t look troubled or even scared to be surrounded by true ARC Troopers. The only thing Alpha can find in the cadet’s cold analyzing eyes is curiosity. Alpha sits on one side of the holochess board and gestures for 3636 to sit on the other side. He hesitates for the first time but eventually lowers himself down studying the board intently. When Alpha turns it on, he frowns.

“What is this?”

“Dejarik. You have to use wit to win.” Alpha smiles with the holographic creatures buzzing in front of him. 3636 says nothing so Alpha does a quick run through of the rules. When he’s done, he begins. The first round Alpha goes easy on the kid letting him get a feel for the game and truly understand how it works. He still manages to win but the kid doesn’t look fazed. He merely leans back slightly with eyes narrowed on the board in deep thought. When they play their second playthrough Alpha thinks he might lose but comes through in the end. Still, 3636 doesn’t look deterred. On the third playthrough Alpha can tell there is a clear difference. The kid leans forward with eyes glued to the bored. Other ARC Troopers have begun to fill into the room to watch. Alpha has to choose each move carefully. Halfway through Alpha rubs the back of his neck wondering how he will pull the win when he lifts his eyes. He freezes when his eyes meet CC-3636’s. They stared at him like a wolf that just locked onto its prey. Alpha looks back down. He makes his move and leans back. The rest of the men in the room watch the kid, murmuring amongst themselves. Alpha wonders how many have placed bets. 3636 smiles while making his final move.

“Holy shit.” Alpha chuckles to himself. The room is in an uproar. Fordo leans against the doorway full body laughing. 3636 sits pleased with his victory. Alpha holds a handout, and they shake hands. He gets to his feet to lead the kid out of the rowdy room of ARC Troopers. No need to subject him to that horror. Fordo pats his shoulder as they pass. When they’re finally in the quiet corridor 3636 looks up at him.

“So, what was the point of that game?”

“There are very few troopers who have the strategy capabilities that you have CC-3636. Tell me, while playing the game did you win the first try? Or even the second?” Alpha places his hands behind his back and glances at the cadet as they walk.

“No.”

“Exactly. But on the third try you got the hang of it. Just like with all things it takes practice to be able to strategizes in the heat of combat. We’ll work on that. Soon you’ll be dominating on the battlefield as much as you do in holochess.” Alpha smiles at him. 3636 stares forward intrigued. He might have even smiled if Alpha wasn’t looking.

Alpha leaves 3636 to continue studying other batches so he can continue his hunt for his other cadets. He doesn’t have to go far it seems when he spots CC-1010 leaning against the windows overlooking the mess hall. Alpha frowns when he approaches. 1010 stands up straight when he notices Alpha.

“Sir.” He says plainly. Alpha gives a displeasing hm.

“What are you doing? I told you to be doing something productive not lean against a window and people watching.” Alpha crosses his arms. 1010 raises his eyebrows as if shocked but his eyes remain plain.

“Sir I assure you I am using my time wisely.” 1010 places a hand on his chest offering a small grin. Alpha frowns. “You see I am not people watching but studying. You would be surprised of what secrets you can learn from simply observing others.”

“Explain.”

Alpha decides to bite. Perhaps he’ll catch him in his own lie. 1010 gestures down to the people eating below. It’s mostly other clones but some Kaminoans and bounty hunters are mixed in.

“You see that bounty hunter there? She’s been fucking one of the Kaminoan scientists.”

Alpha frowns at 1010. “This is gossip cadet.”

“Patience, Sir, patience. I’m getting to the good part.” He assures him. Alpha settles again and looks to the female bounty hunter. “Now she is also fucking the bounty hunter over the Bravo Squad. Well, that or she wants to fuck him and is just working with him. I know this by watching their mannerisms. She acts the same around the city unless she is with the Kaminoan scientist or with the bounty hunter over Bravo Squad but there is a clear difference between the two. With the Kaminoan it’s very forced and overly flirty. Very out of her character. Almost like she’s trying to fool the Kaminoan. Then I compared that to when she is with the other bounty hunter. It’s more natural but much more secretive. Little whispers and glances here and there. A small hand gesture no one would notice you weren’t looking for it.”

“I’m failing to see the point of all this.” Alpha sighs starting to lose patience.

“I’m almost to the good part,” He assures him. “All of this intrigued me, so I followed her one day. It intrigued me because why force a romance she clearly didn’t want and hide one she clearly did. Didn’t seem right. After following her I found out that the Kaminoan scientist she’s interested in works in the genetics lab and she often convinces him to have meetings in the lab. Then after having a meeting, she would have an interaction with the other bounty hunter. One no one would notice if they weren’t looking for it.”

“Besides a serious health violation what are you getting at?” Alpha crosses his arms intrigued. He leans against the window with a smug grin.

“I believe our female bounty hunter is stealing from the genetics’ lab with the bounty hunter of Bravo Squad.”

“That’s a serious allegation. What proof do you have?” Alpha drops his arms. 1010 frowns while looking down at the mess hall at the female bounty hunter.

“Nothing but what I’ve seen.”

“Why haven’t you come forward yet?” Alpha shakes his head at the boy. CC-1010 turns to meet his eyes.

“I’m a cadet. Who’s going to believe me?”

They stare at each other for a moment as Alpha calms down. 1010 looks back out the window.

“I believe you.” Alpha says finally. 1010 stands up straight meeting his eyes again, confused.

“You do?”

“Yes,” Alpha nods confusing the boy more. “I’ll have others look into this matter.”

He looks down shocked for a moment.

“Thank you.” He says showing a genuine smile for the first time. Alpha leans against the window again prompting 1010 to mimic his stance.

“So, what made you start watching her?” Alpha asks now analyzing all bounty hunters in his site. When 1010 doesn’t answer immediately he glances over at him. He wears a grimace.

“Words often spoken are lies.” He says finally. Alpha waits for him to go on. “The bounty hunter over my batch was a master at manipulation. I learned very quickly I couldn’t take her words at face value. Instead, I learned to read her body. From there I was able to find the truth. Body language gives most liars away. When I started getting good with her, I started looking at others for practice. Our lunch lined up with the female bounty hunter’s and that’s when I noticed what was happening.”

Alpha nods while turning so his back was against the glass. He glances up at the ceiling remembering his time under Jango’s instruction.

“Jango would play mind tricks on us at times. He did it to try and push us mentally. Made most of us stronger. I know of bounty hunters like the one that taught you. They don’t use those tactics to help you but more to control you. But as long as you pass the simulations then the Jedi and Kaminoans are happy to let you graduate.”

1010 looks up at him.

“You don’t think those cadets should graduate?”

“I think those cadets will deal with more obstacles later down the road then most others.” Alpha says meeting his eyes again. The cadet nods but Alpha wonders if he really understood what he meant. Alpha clears his throat deciding to turn the conversation to a brighter note. “Do you watch everyone’s mannerisms then?”

“Yes, it’s become second nature now.” 1010 crosses his arms with his back to the glass now mirroring Alpha.

“So, what are mine?” Alpha arches a brow at him. CC-1010 pauses with eyes staring forward. At that moment Shaak Ti approaches making 1010 stand up straight.

“Sir, I see you and the General have business to discuss and I should really get back to blaster training.” He says before walking quickly down the corridor.

“Hey wa—never mind.” Alpha shakes his head with a chuckle. Shaak Ti gives him a look, but he just shakes his head.

“Something wrong?” She asks.

“No… well? Possibly. I have good reason to believe that two of the bounty hunters here are selling Kaminoan genetic secrets.” Alpha says pointing out the female bounty hunter below.

“That is quite a claim. And what reason do you have to support this?” she asks.

“I have on good authority that it is so. If it’s not, then I will personally apologize for any damage done.” Alpha insists. This surprises Shaak Ti.

“Alpha, you have never apologized for anything.” She says eyeing him slightly. He gives a nonchalant shrug.

“Times are changing.”

“It appears so.” She chuckles softly. Alpha notices a datapad in her hand.

“Did you need something?” He asks.

“Yes, I’m afraid there has been an incident with two of your cadets in hanger bay three.” She hands him the datapad. He reads the CC numbers and groans. He immediately takes off for the hanger bay.

When he arrives to the bay he finds CC-8826 and CC-1138 sitting handcuffed on the floor surrounded by a group of troopers.

“These are my cadets. What’s going on?” Alpha has to hold back his anger. 8826 and 1138 look nothing but bored while sitting at the feet of the troopers.

“Sir, we caught these two trying to steal a ship.” The trooper shoots a look at 1138 when he yawns. Alpha felt his anger boil in his chest.

“Sorry for any damages or inconveniences. I’ll take it from here.” Alpha squeezes his hands into tight fists already running through every exercise and drill he was about to make them run through and then he contemplated if he should just fail them and put them on sanitation duty. The cadets are uncuffed and follow behind Alpha.

“We weren’t trying to steal a ship.” 8826 says breaking the tension between them. Alpha whips around to face them. They still look unfazed by Alpha’s furious face.

“Then what pray tell were you doing?” Alpha shouts. His voice echoes through the corridor. He hears someone scurry out of the hall.

“I just…” 8826 starts but stops. Alpha shakes his head.

“No, go on. Explain yourself!”

“I just wanted to know how it works.” He says at last. Alpha shifts his weight taking in his words. He must not answer in time because 8826 goes on. “The ship. I’ve studied the design like everyone else but when it’s put together it looks nothing like the holograms. I wasn’t trying to steal the ship I just wanted to see what the inside looked like and how it all connected.”

Alpha felt his anger begin to simmer. He looks to 1138.

“He couldn’t lift one of the panels.” He shrugs. Alpha feels himself chuckle a laugh. He rubs above his eyebrows.

“You really weren’t trying to steal the ship?” Alpha feels like he just experienced a crash landing.

“No.” they both say. Alpha studies their faces. They didn’t appear to be lying but both boys have always been hard to read in the past. Of course, neither boys would be his first to suspect of desertion. Alpha lets out one final sigh releasing the anger he had only moments before.

“Very well.” He says turning away. He leads them away from the hanger by to one of the distant larger storage rooms near their barracks. He has to find 99 to open it for him. inside they cough and cover their noses from the dust collecting on all the items inside. Most were outdated gear and weapons with some obsolete spare parts here and there. 8826 and 1138 walk around taking in all the things while Alpha follows 99 to the back. He helps 99 pull a tarp off an old speeder bike. 8826 and 1138 stare at it intrigued.

“This is an old speeder bike left here by one of the Mandalorian bounty hunters. It’s rundown and needs a lot of work. You want to know how things work? Start by taking this apart and putting it back together.” Alpha places his hands on his hips watching 8826 squat in front of the bike inspecting it. He gets the same crazed look in his eye that he does when he’s in combat. Alpha leans against a crate glancing over at 1138.

“You interested in building the bike too?” He asks. 1138 has always been silent and calm. He only ever showed real anger when he lost and continued to fail at something. Every other time it’s the same blank expression. 1138 crosses his arms and nods. Alpha leaves it at that not forcing a conversation. 99 helps them clear a path to push the bike back to their barracks. Alpha didn’t want the kids let loose in this room to often. When they reach the barracks they walk in at the same time CC-4477 does. Alpha pauses. He had almost forgotten about the cadet.

“CC-4477,” he calls over while 99 leads 8826 and 1138 to the back wall with the bike. 4477 walks up to him. “Where have you been all day?”

“Sir? What do you mean? We passed each other in the corridor several times today.” He says plainly. Alpha frowns trying to think back. Did he really walk right past one of his cadets and never notice? He almost wants to ask more questions when the doors open and CC-1010 walks in with CC-1004. CC-4477 walks over to greet his brothers leaving Alpha feeling odd. He would have to keep a closer eye on 4477.

When the rest of the cadets return, the quiet barracks become loud with chatting cadets that prepare for the night. Alpha stays in the room helping 1138 and 8826 dismantle the bike and providing what wisdom he could all the while keeping an eye on the others. 1010 and 4477 sit on their extended racks chatting about their day and what they noticed while 7567 and 2224 sort through their gear. 99 shuffles around cleaning up here and there before getting pulled into a conversation with 3636 and 1004. Alpha feels a sense of peace wash over him. A feeling he hasn’t felt in a long time. If ever.

When the night drags on he leaves the cadets to bathe and get to bed. He walks back to his room to find Shaak Ti watching one of the cadets practice battles. He walks over to join her at his table. She smiles at him while sliding a data pad his way.

“What’s this?” He asks while examining it.

“It seems you were correct about that bounty hunter. She and her accomplice have been detained. It seems the Kaminoan she manipulated had no idea. Still, he will face his own punishment from the Kaminoans.” She leans back in her chair.

“That fox.” Alpha says softly to himself. He puts the datapad down wearing a proud smile.

“It seems taking an off day was good for you.” She smiles warmly at him. He rubs the back of his neck.

“What can I say? You were right. Each boy is very different and has their own set of skills.”

“Now you must find a way to utilize those skills to get them to work together.” She rests her arms on the table leaning forward slightly. Alpha nods before reaching over to turn the holovid off. The sit in silence enjoying the peace.

“Thank you.” He says suddenly. She tilts her head. “For helping me.” “Your success is all of our success.” She says making him roll his eyes slightly. After a pause she adds. “You have changed Alpha.”

“I believe you’re right.” He nods with eyes falling on the table where his hand rests. He looks up to meet her eyes. “You have changed as well. From the first time we met.”

“That is the nature of time. It changes us. For better or for worse.”

His eyes drop to the table again this time staring at her hand resting on the table.

“Do you think it’s for the better?” he asks staring at her hand resting loosely on the white table. She takes this time to stand, pulling his eyes towards her face again. Before she walks out of his room she pauses and says.

“I hope, Alpha. I hope.”

Read full story HERE on AO3

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hoseokslefteyebrow · 4 years ago

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You've Met With A Terrible Fate, Haven't You? || BEN DROWNED

Pairing : Yandere! Ben Drowned X Reader

Genre : Fluff, Angst, Yandere

Summary : Appears as a normal dude, but plot twist he's really not.

Wordcount: 4k lol

WARNINGS : This is fic is labeled as Yandere, for those who don't know what it means: "Somebody who is sweet and kind at first glance. But when it comes to their love (crush)they will act obsessive and violent." - Urban dictionary, poorly (but still disgustingly) described dead people, I know Ben originally doesn't kill but in the story he does, idk? Shit written¿

Also disclaimer this is my first time I've tried doing a yandere and it's obviously not my strongest point. Hope you enjoy either way.

You glance at the abandoned game console which your friend had dumped at your place earlier this day.

According to him, something was very, very, wrong with it. The Nintendo 64 was old, of course, but your friend mentioned not being able to pass the boss battle. He mentioned something along the lines of 'it keeps glitching and Link keeps dying'. In other words ' I know you're a hacker and I suck at this game, please hack it for me so I can feel less like a loser'.

You keep writing the email you're supposed to sent to your boss for another thirty minutes, before letting your curiosity lead you.

Before you know it, you've plugged in the old console with more cables than originally planned because of how old it is, and with how modern your tv is. The first odd thing that strikes you is that there's only one account on it, and it's not labeled with your friend's name.

Instead of 'Noah', it's labeled with 'BEN DROWNED' in bold passive aggressive letters.

Simply pushing it to the back of your mind, you start playing.

The second odd thing about the game is that the game has a specific date and it mentions how far BEN, or well, Noah is in the game. Yet when you click it, you have to start all over.

You shrug that off too, simply noting it as the game being old.

Before you know it, several hours pass, and you're finally at the boss battle Noah mentioned. Deciding to see if you can beat it first, you do not plug your laptop in at the Nintendo 64, and opt to play instead.

However just like Noah mentioned, you die as soon as you're close to winning and the game starts glitching.

It takes you barely ten minutes before you're fed up with it, and soon enough you plug your laptop in. You start up some programs and open up a few sites, quickly starting to work. Your fingers glide over the keys of your laptop as you type in the codes in order to hack the game, however after a few minutes, the game starts glitching heavily, and suddenly there's a sentence in bold red letters on the screen of your tv.

' YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT'

It says before the glitching becomes way too much, and some weird kind of red circle appears. Your eyes widen before unplugging the tv and game console, forgetting that your laptop is connected to it.

You miss the small glitches on the laptop screen.

- - - ᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ - - -

He gritts his teeth as the access to his portal is suddenly denied, the power cut early enough to avoid him.

His red eyes wander in the green coded space, looking for an exit, something that'll make sure he can get his hands on whoever this is. Lucky for him, there's a small white space what'll lead to the outside of it.

Once he's trough, he realizes he's still close to his victim. In fact, he's even closer now.

He smirks as he realizes.

Killing her is fair game now.

- - - ᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ - - - ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ᓍᘉᘿ - - »

You tap your chin as you look as the items on the shelf.

" Should I get the red one or green one?" You mumble to yourself.

" I'd recommend the green one. Green is always better." A voice from behind you startles you.

You whip your head around to look at the stranger who's talking to you.

Behind you is a male you don't recognise from anywhere. And as you start to study him, you realize he's quite handsome. He's got blonde hair, blue eyes and a rosy skin colour. He's wearing black ripped jeans, a dark green shirt, along with a black zip up hoodie, which is left open, he's got a few black ear piercings in his right ear, and has a gold chain around his neck, which disappears beneath his shirt, weighed down by a charm hidden away from your eyes. To top it all of, he's got a matching dark green beanie on top of his messily styled bangs.

" What? Did I say something wrong?" The blonde boy suddenly sweats.

You smile and shake your head.

" No, you didn't. I just tough I was alone here." You smile at him.

ØⱧ ₴₩ɆɆ₮ⱧɆ₳Ɽ₮, ɎØɄ Ⱨ₳VɆ₦'₮ ฿ɆɆ₦ ₳ⱠØ₦Ɇ ₣ØⱤ ₳ VɆⱤɎ ⱠØ₦₲ ₮ł₥Ɇ ₦Ø₩.

" I take that you talk to yourself then?" The male spits at you.

You're not sure if that's meant offensive or not.

" Um, yeah? I tend to do that sometimes yeah." You say, looking down at your hands who're still holding the red silk scarf and green silk scarf.

Đø₦'₮ ฿ɇ ₳₣ɽ₳łđ, ł ₩ø₦'₮ ⱨʉɽ₮ ɏøʉ. Øɽ ₩łⱡⱡ ł?

The unknown male's eyes soften subconsciously, looking at you with an emotion you're not familiar with.

" My name is Ben. What's yours?"

Ben? Haven't you heard that somewhere before?

You smile at him, oblivious to the fact that you're talking to a killer.

" I'm Y/N. Nice to meet you Ben."

- - - ᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ - - - ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ᓍᘉᘿ - - - » ᖽᐸᘉᓰᐺᘿS ᓍᖇ ᕼᘿᗩᖇᖶS ? ¿ »

His mind flooded with ideas.

There's so many options on what he can do to her.

Should he mess with her laptop?

Should he just kill her now?

Or should he become closer?

Maybe he should.

He looks at her trough the screen of the laptop, which is almost always open, today not being any different.

He watches her as while she watches something behind the laptop, from the sounds he can hear trough the mic, she's most likely watching tv.

Perhaps he should become closer to her.

Pull her closer only to have her blood staining his hands.

Oh yes, her blood shall soon become his.

- - - ᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ - - - ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ᓍᘉᘿ - - - » ᖽᐸᘉᓰᐺᘿS ᓍᖇ ᕼᘿᗩᖇᖶS ? ¿ » - - - ₭₦łvɇ₴

She doesn't realize it when her laptop suddenly starts itself up, nor does she know that there's a figure crawling out of it.

He stared at her with deciphering eyes, silently wondering how she isn't dead yet.

If this was anyone else, he'd had them killed already. Their blood would already be staining his face and she would already be screaming in pain and dispair.

Yet here she was, laying peacefully on her bed. Asleep, obviously not dead.

He wonders exactly what he should do next. She doesn't know that he's standing right next to her. It almost makes him laugh.

She doesn't even know that he exists.

She doesn't know that he's here.

He glares at her before moving back into the world of codes and technology.

For now, she lives.

- - - ᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ - - - ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ᓍᘉᘿ - - - » ᖽᐸᘉᓰᐺᘿS ᓍᖇ ᕼᘿᗩᖇᖶS ? ¿ » - - - ₭₦łvɇ₴ - - - ᖴᗩᓰᒪ

" And then it suddenly started glitching and stuff. Weird isn't it?" You finish off your story as you look at your new friend, Ben.

After meeting in the grocery store, he had suddenly texted you.

Not knowing how he got your number, you got concerned, and asked him. According to him, you had given it to him yourself. At first you didn't believe him, until he told you to check the time of his first message, which somehow was indeed around the same time you were in the grocery store. After that you just shrugged it off as that you forgot it yourself. After all, you knew yourself to be a person with the memory of a goldfish.

Today the two of you met up again, for the fourth time this week.

" Odd indeed. What did you do after that?" Ben asked, acting as if he's interested, even tough he's really not.

" I unplugged it. I think I'm gonna lay off hacking for a while." You shrugged, taking a sip of your drink.

Before he could even think of a response, there was an unknown woman at your table, also holding a cup of coffee.

" Y/N? Long time no see." The new woman greeted you with a smile, sitting down beside you on the booth.

Ben scowled at the newcomer.

Ⱨø₩ đ₳ɽɇ ₴ⱨɇ ₴ł₮ ฿ɇ₴łđɇ ₩ⱨ₳₮'₴ ₥ł₦ɇ ₩ł₮ⱨøʉ₮ ₥ɏ ₱ɇɽ₥ł₴₴łø₦

" Hey, Sara. It's indeed been too long. How are you?" You started chatting with Sara.

Meanwhile Ben's anger only grew.

" My names Ben." Ben suddenly dryly joined your conversation as he slammed his drink down onto the table aggressively, looking straight into Sara's eyes.

" Sorry. Didn't see you there. I'm Sara nice to mee-"

" Yeah, yeah, whatever. Leave. We didn't invite you to come sit with us." Ben spat at her, looking at her with an intense look in his eyes.

Both you and your friend turned to look at him in confusion.

" Is something wrong with me being here? Did I offend you?" Sara asked, genuinely concerned.

Ben was fuming now, on the inside. Who does this girl think she is? First she comes to sit at their table uninvited, then she's capturing the attention of his new favorite plaything, and now she's questioning him? She has to go.

- - - ᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ - - - ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ᓍᘉᘿ - - - » ᖽᐸᘉᓰᐺᘿS ᓍᖇ ᕼᘿᗩᖇᖶS ? ¿ » - - - ₭₦ŁVɆ₴ - - - ᖴᗩᓰᒪ - - - ᖇᘿᗷᓍᓍᖶ SᖻSᖶᘿᘻ

He heard her conversation with a male he certainly doesn't know trough her phone, using the microphone without her knowing.

According to what he knows, they're on a date. And according to her contacts, his name is Jaime. He can't find where they met, nor did he know why they met up.

But now that she's checked her reflexion one too many times, and made a pic of her full outfit to send to him, probably to mock him for not having her, ɏɇ₮, he realizes that she's on a date.

After some research by surfing quite literally trough the internet. It turned out this 'Jaime' person was Mexican, and had a soft persona. On his facebook page were pictures where he's working with animals or doing volunteers' work or overall just something where he's helping others. He found the black haired male pathetic, weak even.

In all honesty, even he himself didn't really find him a threat. Not when he looked like that and was overall just kind and bambi looking.

However, all his expectations are thrown out of the window when he hears them say their goodbyes.

" You know, I had a lot of fun tonight. You're really a nice person. In fact, I'd like to go on another date with you again." This voice was definitely that of a male's, probably Jaime.

" I agree. I had a lot of fun too." She said.

₣Ʉ₦? ⱧØ₩ ₵₳₦ ��₮ ฿Ɇ ₳₦Ɏ ₣Ʉ₦ ₩Ł₮ⱧØɄ₮ ₥Ɇ?

" Good. Do you have a ride or would you like me to drive you home?-" He blocks out the rest of their conversation.

It appears that the good guy needs to go too.

- - - ᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ - - - ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ᓍᘉᘿ - - - » ᖽᐸᘉᓰᐺᘿS ᓍᖇ ᕼᘿᗩᖇᖶS ? ¿ » - - - ₭₦ŁVɆ₴ - - - ᖴᗩᓰᒪ - - - ᖇᘿᗷᓍᓍᖶ SᖻSᖶᘿᘻ - - - ᖇᘿᗷᓍᓍᖶ ᑢᓍᘻᕵᒪᘿᖶᘿ - ᓍᕵᘿᘉ ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ∆

" We should spend more time together." Ben says randomly as the two of you snuggle on the couch.

You giggle, your ears tinting red.

" We're already together all the time tough." You tell him softly.

" I know, but still. By the way, did your stupid date reply yet?" He asked, eyes focused on the tv in front of the two of you.

" No, and don't call him stupid." You pout, softly scolding him.

₲ØØĐ

He grins at you with mysterious eyes.

You shrug it off, knowing it's part of him. The two of you have been hanging out for a while now. Almost three months to be precise. And you two have gotten very close. What used to be keeping distance and keeping the line between acquaintances and friends, had turned into friends or something more. You two almost hung out every day, you were basically attached to each other's hip now.

After a few peacefull moments, you excused yourself to the bathroom.

Right as you left, your phone rang.

He turned to look at the disturbing sound his eyes widening at the name which is appearing on the screen.

SARA

He stumbled over the couch to pick it up, an unpleasant feeling of suprise rising whitin him.

" Y/N?! You have to listen to me! Ben is not who you think he is! He's this-"

" I'm this what?" Ben smirked.

Damn you were taking a long time in the bathroom, not that he minded.

The other end of the line was dead silent.

" Don't worry. You don't need to say anything. I'll come home soon. And trust me, once I am, you will never be able to speak a word again." He spoke, an eerie calm in his voice.

" Goodbye, Sara." He said before hanging up.

" Sara called?" Your voice suddenly startled him.

" What? Oh, yeah. But she was in a hurry so she said she'd call you later." He smiled innocently.

You nodded and the two of you resumed watching the movie.

" Isn't there a way, that we could spend more time together?" He suddenly wondered out loud.

You sighed and turned to face him.

" I'm sorry Ben, but I have a job and I like spending time with other people too. So I'm afraid not." You told him softly.

An idea coded itself into his mind.

JɄ₴₮ ₮ⱤɄ₴₮ ₥Ɇ, ɎØɄ'ⱠⱠ ฿Ɇ ₥Ł₦Ɇ ₴ØØ₦

- - - ᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ - - - ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ᓍᘉᘿ - - - » ᖽᐸᘉᓰᐺᘿS ᓍᖇ ᕼᘿᗩᖇᖶS ? ¿ » - - - ₭₦ŁVɆ₴ - - - ᖴᗩᓰᒪ - - - ᖇᘿᗷᓍᓍᖶ SᖻSᖶᘿᘻ - - - ᖇᘿᗷᓍᓍᖶ ᑢᓍᘻᕵᒪᘿᖶᘿ - ᓍᕵᘿᘉ ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ∆ - - - ᕲᓍᘺᘉᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ

You sighed in dispair in the night air as you walked home. Once again, you were rejected in a job interview.

A few days ago you were fired from the job you actually liked. You couldn't understand why either. You didn't do anything wrong, you were quite hardworking and always finished the documents in time.

Your supervisor looked afraid, terrified even when he told you to immediately pack your bags and leave, and ever since you just can't seem to get in anywhere. Not even the gas station wanted you in charge.

" Well hello there. What do we have here." A creepy voice suddenly sounded from behind you.

You turned around only to be greeted by a man with a creepy smile and even creepier, eye lid-less eyes. He was holding a knife, making his intentions obvious.

You didn't need to think twice about his intentions and whipped your phone out of your pocket with the intentions to call the cops and running.

The killer sadly isn't stupid, and has you on the ground under him whitin seconds.

Your phone's screen crack and slides to the other side, the dialed number not pressed on call yet.

" Don't cry sweetheart. It doesn't suit your pretty face. Don't fret, I'll make sure, you'll smile forever. " The killer tells you happily.

Both of you don't realize that your phone screen suddenly lights up in a green colour. Nor does either of you realize the figure crawling out of it.

The both of you don't realize, until the killer is off you and tackled down on the ground beside you.

" I've told you before. She's fucking mine. Go bother someone else." Ben's voice sounds suddenly.

You turn your head to look at him.

This time he does not wear jeans and a sweater. No this time, he looks like he came straight out of a... Video game? He looks like Link, the main personage of the game which your friend Noah had dropped off at your place around six months ago.

Ben never told you he was into cosplaying.

Your ears suddenly tinted pink as you realized, he called you his. Suddenly you felt a little giddy, the guy you like so much might actually like you back.

The killer underneath Ben growls out something you can't hear before throwing the shorter off him and leaving.

" Are you okay?" You ask him.

He turns to you with red eyes.

Red. Fucking. Eyes.

And that's not the only thing about his eyes that changed.

Instead of the usual white eyes have, his are now black.

And even there it doesn't end.

There's blood running down his eyes onto his cheeks, as if he's crying blood.

You take a step back.

What the fuck is this?

" Don't be afraid! I know I look a little... Weird, but it's all just part of my..... Cosplay." He explains.

You ponder over it.

He's never gave you a reason to not trust you right? Or did he?

You ignore the instinct to run away from him, instead choosing to calm down and follow your heart, which is telling you to trust him.

" Come with me. You can stay at my place tonight." Ben tells you, holding his hand out to you.

You take it.

₲ØØĐ ⱠŁ₮₮ⱠɆ ₱Ʉ₱₱Ɏ

- - - ᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ - - - ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ᓍᘉᘿ - - - » ᖽᐸᘉᓰᐺᘿS ᓍᖇ ᕼᘿᗩᖇᖶS ? ¿ » - - - ₭₦ŁVɆ₴ - - - ᖴᗩᓰᒪ - - - ᖇᘿᗷᓍᓍᖶ SᖻSᖶᘿᘻ - - - ᖇᘿᗷᓍᓍᖶ ᑢᓍᘻᕵᒪᘿᖶᘿ - ᓍᕵᘿᘉ ᖴᓰᒪᘿ ∆ - - - ᕲᓍᘺᘉᒪᓍᗩᕲᓰᘉᘜ - - - ᕲᓍᘺᘉᒪᓍᗩᕲ ᑢᓍᘻᕵᒪᘿᖶᘿ ›

It took longer than expected to reach his house. The whole road to his house is creepy. Ben appartly lives in this supermodern house in the woods.

Which is off already, the woods are known troughout the whole town as mystery. According to urban legends, there's creatures loving in there who shouldn't exist. Because of that, there's barely any people there. According to Ben, everything is all clear and safe, and you trust him with your heart.

You don't question him after his answer and instead follow him into the,indeed very,modern little house which is situated hidden behind the trees.

You get directly hit in the face with a copper scent as soon as you step foot into his house.

" Would you like something to drink?" He asks you as you enter his house, neither of you bothering to take your shoes off.

" Just water please." You tell him as you study the place.

The inside of the small house is more modern than the outside, with a big living space and an open kitchen. There's also three doors in the hallway.

One to the bathroom, one leading upstairs and one leading into the basement.

" Here you go." Ben returns, handing you a glass of water.

" Thanks, aren't you going to take off your make up and lenses?" You ask him.

His smile fades a bit, and for a moment you think you've accidentally offended him, but he nods with a pout before you can think about it twice.

" Yeah, that's probably a good idea. The livingroom is at the end of this hallway, feel free to make yourself comfortable." He smiles before going upstairs.

You stand still for a moment in the hallway as an eerie feeling suddenly starts crawling up your spine.

You ignore it, and instead start walking towards the livingroom.

Until the sound of something falling reaches your ears.

A sound that is directed from the basement.

Your first idea is to call for Ben, to alert him that you two probably aren't alone.

You don't do that however, because it could just be something falling off a shelf, right?

And so you decide to investigate it yourself.

As soon as you open the door to the basement, you're directly hit in the face with a very prominent copper scent. The same on you already smelled when you entered his house, except it's way too strong and there's something eerily familiar about it which you just can't pinpoint.

You silently push the door open, and turn on the lightswitch to the basement. Behind the door is a stony staircase, the rest of the basement is hidden away behind a wall. Curiosity takes over you, and you make your way downstairs before you can think about it twice.

As soon as you near the bottom, you spot blotches of red. The deep red substance is spread like a trail from he bottom stairs onto the rest of the room.

And then it clicks in your mind. It's blood. That's also the smell in the air. Was the intruder injured?

You step down the stairs while following the blood trail with you eyes.

You stumble back in fear and unpleasant suprise at the sight that greets you.

There's dead people down here. Most of which you don't recognise, but a few you do.

You gasp as you look into a pair of wide blue eyes.

Sara.

She's sitting there, eyes wide open, with cuts all over. There's big ones in her rib case and near her organs, you can even see Intestines spread over the floor.

She's obviously dead.

But how come she's here?

Ben didn't do this? Did he?

Next to her is Jaime, who's eyes are closed but his chest is rising and falling.

He's alive.

You run over to him and shake him awake, not minding the blood that's now on your hands.

" Jaime! Please! Wake up!" You say desperately, tears now escaping your eyes.

" Y/N? Y/N! You have to get out of here. Ben, he's not who you think he is!" He tells you desperately.

" I'm not leaving you! Can you walk?" You ask him trough your tears.

" I'm chipped Y/N, you have to go. Get help. Ben's insane. He's a de-"

" Demon? Mass murderer? Failure? Dead? Is one of those what you wanted to tell her? How dare you lie to her! I'm none of those!" A voice suddenly booms trough the air.

You turn around while starting to shake. Jaime tries to hold you close to him with the little strength he has left. There Ben stands, still with red pupils and black eyes, dried red streaks still on his cheeks.

" Don't fucking touch her." Ben screams angrily, ripping you all but gently away from the male, causing you to tremble against him.

" Don't be afraid my love, he won't touch you again." Ben sushes you.

Is he really thinking that you're afraid of him?

" N-no. Let me go. Do-don't touch me." You tell him, pushing away from him.

He looks confused by your behavior.

" What's wrong baby? Please don't believe whatever lies he told you.-"

" What lies?! That you've killed my friend?! That you've killed these innocent people?! That you've chipped him?!" You yelled.

" They all deserved it Y/N! They're all in the way of our love!" Ben yells back desperately, stepping towards you.

" I don't even know these people!" You say, stepping back into the wall, knocking into a shelf.

You turn around to see what you knocked into.

Wait, is that the Nintendo 64?

" They all stared at you with sick twisted ideas! They really do deserve it." He tells you.

Suddenly it clicks in your mind.

" You're Ben from the game." You state.

He nods.

" Yes bu-"

" How?.."

" You clicked my game onto your computer remember."

" It was you wasn't it? You're the reason I've lost my job. You're the reason my friends all turned their back to me." You wishper, eyes now gathering in your eyes.

You've been so incredibly fucking stupid.

He's the reason your life has turned down the drain.

" Yes. But it's good right. Now we can finally be together." He says like a crazy man in love.

Which he is.

You start sobbing as you fall onto your knees realizing, all these people here. They've all died because of you.

" Hey, don't worry my live. We can now finally be together."

ɎØɄ'VɆ ₥Ɇ₮ ₩Ł₮Ⱨ ₳ ₮ɆⱤⱤŁ฿ⱠɆ ₣₳₮Ɇ, Ⱨ₳VɆ₦'₮ ɎØɄ?

ᘜ ᗩ ᘻ ᘿ ᓍ ᐺ ᘿ ᖇ.

#creepypasta fanfiction #creepypasta #creepypasta x reader #ben drowned x reader #yandere creepypasta #yandere #angst #creepypasta one shot #jeff the killer #jkjk #first time lol #idkeitherman

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hs-analyzing-and-theorizing · 4 years ago

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Fan Classes - The Corrupted/Corruption Classes (Plague & Rot)

So we all know that Sburb/Sgurb is a game, a game with a lot of ways it can get corrupted (Like Bec Noir, dancestors game, so on) so here’s a fanon idea for a different type of corruption. (A note is that my inspo for this is kinda based of the sims and how easy they corrupt)

So these classes were programed into the game but due to some type of error they have became corrupted, in a normal game there is no way for these classes to come into play and anyone who fits the class is assigned a different class, possibly some kind of default class (but that’s for another post). But by cheating (Like Rose did), editing the code (Like Sollux did or some form of glitch (likely a glitch tied to the Doom Aspect).

(under the cut due to how long this is)

If these class appear within a game then it is likely there will be no way to win the game, if the players with these classes die then it’s likely for the dream bubbles to become corrupt, and if they reach godteir the corruption will get worse and start to become much more noticeable, as before godteiring the glitches and corruption will be smaller, things like a few missing items, land(s) not loading right for the effected player(s) and smaller things related to their aspect, but after godteiring the corruption will get worse: Game ending glitches (like planets being randomly removed, someone becoming stuck in place, enemies that are unable to be killed, stuff like that), glitches that effect parts of the game (items not working right, npc’s acting differently, godteir beds not working) and in bigger ways tied to the aspect (Boy you are in for a bad time if the effected player is a space or time player).

The way the effected are picked can be very random, sometimes the player who messed with the code will become a Plague or Rot but other times it might end up being a player who had nothing to due with the game becoming corrupt at first. The only clear to identify way of someone gaining these classes is by someone going into the code and editing someones class value/file.

Now a basic over view of the classes themselves

Plague: Their Aspect is Corrupting/They corrupt others ( active)

Personality:

The Plague has a different true class, that would’ve been theirs had their game not be corrupted, said class could’ve been any of the active classes so it’s likely for them to have a personality that fits an active class,

Powerset:

The Plague’s powers are a bit more controllable to them then their counterpart, though they still lack overall control due to the poor programing of their class, in short their aspect is able to corrupt other things, as an example a Plague Of Heart would be able to turn other people into basically copies of themself (if you know PnF then think of the doof zombies).

What corruption in this case means that the Aspect is changing other things it’s not meant to and making things act in ways they’re not meant to, so another example would be a Plague Of Void would likely allow the Horror Terrors take more control a game, meanwhile a Plague Of Light would likely make things with no meaning or use become very important to the point of people fighting over a bottle of pop, or they might cause some people (like void players) to have the spotlight put on them more not allowing the other players to get things done.

To take it back to game corruption, this class is kinda of like the sims 3 doll virus, a class that itself is okay but will cause problems for everything else, with there being too much of an Aspect, in short: The Aspect is the force of the corruption.

Rot: Their Aspect is Corrupted/They are corrupted (passive)

Personality:

Like the Plague the Rot has a true Class that their personality fits, though in their case it would be one of the passive classes.

Powerset:

The Rot has no control over their powers, as their class is more like their Aspect is getting a paper shredder set to it then anything close to having controllable or cool powers, their class’s coding makes the class act almost like a rotten apple, it only takes one Rot for their whole Aspect to start decaying within their version of the game and any game the class interacts with.

To go more into more detail of their “powers” let’s use an example: A Rot Of Light would make the luck in their game unreal from rare items & events spawning to making common items never drop from imps, basically slowly making anything tied to Light aspect unplayable, another example is that a Rot Of Space’s whole universe would start to have errors, like the universe data would corrupt and their universe, the fog would start to slowly die.

To take it back to game corruption, this class is like what happens when a file goes missing, or like what might happen in the sims 2 if you delete a sim, at first it’s only noticeable things that are connected with the missing file which then spends to the rest of the game.

#fanteir #fan teir #godteir #classpect #fan class #fanclass #Rot #Plague #mod rage

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adhdeancas · 4 years ago

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Sunset Sound: God is Dead?

I might start updating twice a week because I am writing this story at BREAKNECK speed. this is my favorite chapter so far. enjoy! (special thanks to @friedchickenangelwings once again for sticking with me and my incessant rambling about this story at all hours during holidays)

Fic Summary: Everything is the same up to the end of 15x20. Chuck has been “defeated,” but it was all a farce. When Jack absorbed Chuck, Chuck easily took over the 3 year old’s body and acted as if he were defeated. Chuck!Jack then had the Rusty Nail placed in the barn where Dean died, and with Cas gone, Dean didn’t fight it. Chuck did reimagine Heaven, but he’s fed the same lie to them all: that everything is perfect, they are free, they are in real paradise. Except it’s all an illusion insulated by blue skies and endless horizons. Because, just like the Good Place, people make Heaven into Hell for each other. And there’s nothing Chuck loves more than the natural order of tragedy. He “let it slip” to Bobby that he brought Cas back, when he really left him to rot in the Empty. Dean has to find his best friend before it’s too late, and he has to keep a happy face for everyone else, because Chuck is watching. Always watching.

“You know?” Dean shakes his head. “What’s going on?”

Charlie leans back against the bar. “Well, after Ash and I found each other-” they give a cute little nod of the head in sync, dorks, “through the frankly shitty wifi they’ve got up here, we got to talking.”

“Yeah, we realized some shit just didn’t add up. Like angel radio.” Ash spins around and ducks into his backroom, coming back with a laptop that’s way more advanced than it was last time. Dean raises his eyebrows at it. “Yeah, man, it’s sick, right? Charlie upgraded my systems, it’s bitchin’.” he reaches past Dean’s shoulder to give Charlie a fist bump (enthusiastically returned) and Dean backs off.

“Yeah, bitchin’,” Dean repeats with a grin. He’s too dumb for these people. But he sure is glad they’re on his side. “Well, hey, show me whatcha got.”

Ash nods and taps his temple. He mutters to himself and pulls the system toward him while Dean watches anxiously. Ash pauses and looks at him. “Dude. Gimme a second? This setup is a lil’ more complicated than your blackberry.”

Dean snorts and gives him space, followed by Charlie. “Dude. you’ve been dead too long. Blackberrys haven’t existed for like… ten years.”

Ash gives him a genial middle finger and Dean grins. Charlie sits up on the pool table and Dean leans against it next to her. “Listen, Charlie, I gotta. I gotta say sorry, again, for…” He clears his throat.

“Dying?” Charlie asks lightly.

“Uh, yeah.”

“Not your fault, Dean.” She shrugs, and she actually manages to look cheerful. Damn, Dean loves this chick. She puts her hand on his shoulder and shakes her head. “Seriously, Dean. Let it go! I have! Seriously, I got to spend a few years with my high school girlfriend watching Lord of the Rings - she was a cheerleader - and sneaking out to design some fucking world-altering programs with Ash! Being dead, for me, it’s kinda amazing.” She smiles at him. “Guessing you don’t feel the same though, huh?”

Dean swallows. He doesn’t know how much he wants to say about that, but being dead… it definitely sucks. And not in the good way. “Guess it just feels like I got more to do. Now, at least.” Now that Cas is… and heaven is…

Charlie looks like she doesn’t know what to say. Luckily, they’re interrupted before she has to think of something.

“Eyo! Sorry, amigos,” he leans over backwards to look at them. “Found it.”

Charlie jumps off the table and grabs Dean’s hand. After a few steps she shoves him with her shoulder until he bumps into Ash’s back. Dean bounces off his soft form and clears his throat. “Sorry,” he mutters, throwing a death glare back at his surrogate sister. She flashes him a smug grin before focusing back on the computer screen.

Ash recovers from getting jostled in time to point. “Yeah, so, we got word on Angel FM that this Jack kid is goin’ real Jim Jones over here.” He holds a finger up at several paragraphs as he’s flipping through them. “Preachin’ all kinda love and peace and hippy commune shit, but if somebody even questions it, he snaps. Naomi no-likey,” He smirks up at Dean and points to a group of cuss-words even Dean barely uses. “Rough translation.”

Dean shakes his head. “That doesn’t sound like Jack.” Jack, especially Jack-with-a-soul, almost never got mad. I mean, he’d spent quality time with Lucifer without blowing up. The kid is level-headed to a fault. “Anything else?”

Ash frowns at him. “Y’know, going through angels’ personal phone calls is a lotta work.”

Dean rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, you’re a genius. Got anything else?”

“Ash, what about the human rumors?”

Ash looks at Charlie and they have a silent battle of wills, but Dean’s too impatient to see who wins. “What human rumors?”

They pause and come to an agreement. “Fighting. People fighting. Couples. Families. Friends. All over, since the reboot. People are happy, but… it’s like earth. People can talk - people can fight.”

“And?” Dean raises his eyebrows. There’s something they’re not telling him, and he thinks he knows what.

Ash raises them right back. He’s not about to divulge. “Hombre, this ain’t earth. People are supposed to be happy. If they ain’t… like a glitch in the matrix, y’know?

Dean grunts. “Anything else weird on the radio? Anything at all.”

Ash’s sigh sounds labored. He leans back in his chair and wobbles, obviously sorting through all the enochian bullshit he’s read over the past… whenever. “Meh… I got… I don’t know, God was singing?”

“Singing? Singing what?” Dean leans in, intent. If it was Taylor Swift, Beyonce, maybe Lizzo…

Ash cocks an eyebrow. “Folk shit. Indie music.”

That’s what Dean was afraid of. “Shit.”

“Why? What does that mean?” Charlie grabs onto his arm.

Dean’s worst fears, that’s what. “It means that ain’t my kid. It’s Chuck.”

“Who the hell is that?” Ash stands up as Dean walks away, cursing every stupid atom that had decided to make this dumb universe. Although, he guesses, that was Chuck’s purview too.

“He’s god! God before the reboot I mean, the dick who up and left and only came back to screw me and Sam over. Fuck, I thought we’d finally gotten out from under his thumb! Now, apparently, he’s just using my kid for his meat-suit.” Dean takes a deep breath. This is bad. Worse than bad-bad.

“So… what do we do? How do we nuke God?” Charlie asks the question like it’s normal, just another Saturday afternoon.

Dean thumps his forehead onto the nearest table. Sure, sure, good, great. They were back to square fucking one. “I don’t fucking know,”

“Alright, break it down. We need more mojo, right? How do we get more mojo?”

“Well, angels are the next best thing, right? Maybe if we get them all together, they’re obviously not psyched about folk-God, or whatever,”

Ash points at her like she’s a genius. “Alright, yeah!”

“Guys, there aren’t enough angels left to even try.” Dean feels hopeless. There’s nothing to do. They are literally out of options. There’s no hope.

“Well, where can we get some more angels, then?”

Dean stands up. “I know a place.” His heart feels like it’s being squeezed like a lemon. It’s a crazy idea. It’s practically impossible. And probably suicide. And he’s gotta find a way. “We gotta break open the Empty.”

“The Empty?” Ash looks skeptical. Dean smirks.

“Yeah, angel/demon afterlife. We punch our way in there and we’ve got juice for days, man.” He spreads his arms out, asks the question.

Ash glances at Charlie then back at Dean. He sniffs and nods. “I’m in.”

Dean looks to Charlie, who scoffs. “Duh. Of course. So what, we get in and say pretty please help us kill your dad?”

A warm feeling spreads through Dean’s chest. “Well, we’ll have a little help on the inside. Cas.”

“Castiel? The angel dude?”

“He’s dead?” Charlie’s voice has much more concern than Ash’s. Dean nods in response to both questions. It still makes him feel like he’s swallowing glass to think about it. “What happened?”

Dean looks down at his boots. It’s only the scene that keeps playing on repeat behind his eyelids. Cas crying, holding onto his shoulder, telling him… telling him goodbye. Telling him that. “He saved me.” he starts, expression guarded. “He made a deal.”

Ash grunts and nods, ready to drop it. Charlie stays quiet too, but she clearly wants to say something. Dean’s thankful for the drop. He doesn’t know what he’d say if they asked more. All he knows is that he needs Cas back. And he needs to talk to him. He needs to tell him that - that he wants him to just stay fucking put, damn it. That he needs to stop dying on him. And that he can’t just go and say something like that and then leave. It’s a bitch-ass move.

“Yo, Deano?”

Dean jerks his head back up. “Yeah. Sorry.”

“How do we jail-break ‘em?”

“Guessing we’re gonna need some serious magic shit. And since we can’t get to Rowena…”

Ash breaks into a wide grin. “Pamela? I’ll give her a call.”

Pamela is “busy,” so they have to wait for her to finish up with Jesse before she can come by. Dean has to hand it to her, it’s just about the most Pamela thing in the world to put off their realms-saving work for a heavenly hookup. Dean hangs around talking for a bit, filling his friends in on the latest on Earth, but he can’t concentrate. Ever since they’d decided the next thing is to get into the Empty, he can’t relax. He takes his beer and goes outside to wait, settling down on the Roadhouse’s front step to watch for Pamela.

After a bit, Charlie plops down next to him, a soft grin on her lips. He returns it half-heartedly before looking out across the clearing. She leans her head against his shoulder. A few minutes pass in comfortable silence before she turns into him. “So we gotta get into the Empty.” she sighs. Dean nods glumly. Just his fucking luck. Even heaven is ruined. But at least… at least they’ve got a shot. “And get Castiel.”

Dean frowns and pulls away to look at her. Maybe it’s just his paranoia, but he hears some deeper meaning in her voice. “The guy died for me. I gotta,” he presses his lips together, hating himself for the half-lie he’s telling. Cas deserves better. Charlie just nods and watches, like she’s waiting for him to keep going. When he manages to talk again, his voice cracks. “We gotta get him, Charlie.”

Charlie pulls him into a side hug. “I always said he was dreamy, that angel.” She points out. Dean snorts. He remembers. He’d blushed like an idiot after she said that the first time.

“Yeah.” He mutters. Okay, so she knows. That he and Cas are… that Dean’s… good. Cas deserves recognition. He deserves someone to talk about him. For Dean to talk about him. But then Charlie just hasn’t spoken, and he feels like he needs some explanation. “I… there were other guys, before him.” He continues, clearing his throat. His mind wanders to Benny and Lee, Crowley. “But he’s… he’s it.”

He risks a look at Charlie and she is just staring at him with a fond smile. She surges forward and kisses his cheek, squealing. “Yes, I fucking knew it, you bisexual dumbass! Bi, right?”

Dean laughs. “Yeah, I guess- wait, you knew?”

Charlie looks around, like Dean’s a dumbass it was so obvious. “Well, yeah, dude. Game recognize game.” She motions between the two of them and he scoffs. That’s right. Gaydar. That would’ve been nice to have for the last, oh, 12 years? “We’ll get him back.”

Dean pulls Charlie in for another hug and leaves her tucked under his arm until a motorcycle pulls up and Pamela gets off, shaking her hair loose like a blind slow-motion model in a porno. She grins at the pair on the steps like she can see them. “Take a picture, you two. It’ll last longer.”

“How did you-”

She throws a hand out in dismissal. “Please, I can feel ogling from a mile away.” She pauses, laughing at the embarrassed silence Charlie and Dean are sporting. “Nah, I’m just joking. I do the hair-shake for a reason. I deserve a good stare. Hell, it’s half the reason I own this motorcycle.” She throws her helmet in the general direction of the motorcycle and greets her friends. Dean can’t decide whose hug is more flirty, his or Charlie’s.

“Alright, bitches. Let’s séance some shit.”

tag list: (ask or dm to be removed or added)

@dochunterwitch @justonecitizenoftheearth @gnbrules @purpe @castiel-is-a-cat @alienapparatus

#sunset sound #god is dead?#chapter 3 #fanfic #deancas #destiel #my writing #dean winchester #castiel #charlie bradbury #pamela barnes #ash

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noirwritingtime · 4 years ago

Text

r e a l i t y ?

So I use different fonts for this, and I'm not sure what the best way to put an easier translation for that would be... I will reblog with translations in that post !! If you have any ways that others do this to make it easier to read lemme know, please! Thanks! :]

Also! I don't know proper coding terms so,, please don't harass me for that xD I just want stuff to sound cool and get the point across--

I'm quite proud of this one, even though there are scenes that make me go why??,, but I like this one.. It is longer than what I can usually pump out so :D

TW: self-doubt, strong(?) language, pain, torture, drugs, syringe usage, implied death/suicide --------

He's done it. Finally... All of the egos are in his hands, trapped under his control.

His chest pounds with a feeling of pride and yet- a sense of unending panic. He's never had something quite this large of a scale work before. He takes quick breaths, still trying to process what is going on.

He did it. All of them..trapped. Trapped inside his computer.

He's not entirely sure if this will keep working like it is- but! He got them all inside, so that's a start.

After letting his head attempt to wrap itself what he's seeing, he finally takes a seat and messes with the program he designed specifically for this. With quick, shaky fingers, he types in the deciding code. Starting the simulation for all of the egos inside.

He did it.

The glitch takes a moment to just listen to the computer work, hearing all the pings and the low hum it emits. It relaxes him a bit, and he sighs against the wood of his desk.

P̺͆r̺͆o̺͆g̺͆r̺͆a̺͆m̺͆ r̺͆e̺͆a̺͆d̺͆y̺͆... --e̺͆g̺͆o̺͆s̺͆.e̺͆x̺͆e̺͆

A̺͆l̺͆l̺͆ s̺͆y̺͆s̺͆t̺͆e̺͆m̺͆s̺͆ w̺͆o̺͆r̺͆k̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆. -n̺͆o̺͆ e̺͆r̺͆r̺͆o̺͆r̺͆s̺͆.

After a moment, he stands up. He grins wildly and stretches before leaving his room- needing some food after starving for weeks.

A̺͆l̺͆l̺͆ s̺͆y̺͆s̺͆t̺͆e̺͆m̺͆s̺͆ r̺͆u̺͆n̺͆n̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆... s̺͆y̺͆s̺͆t̺͆e̺͆m̺͆ c̺͆h̺͆e̺͆c̺͆k̺͆-

..... N̺͆o̺͆ e̺͆r̺͆r̺͆o̺͆r̺͆s̺͆.

This pleases the glitch as the program had been online for a full twenty-four-hour period and there had been no mess ups so far. He runs a hand through his hair and laughs breathily.

"It's working! I did it and no one realizes it! Haha!" He smiles and his chest feels light, is this what success feels like? He likes the feeling. "No one can stop me-"

O̺͆n̺͆e̺͆ e̺͆r̺͆r̺͆o̺͆r̺͆.

... T̺͆h̺͆r̺͆e̺͆e̺͆ e̺͆r̺͆r̺͆o̺͆r̺͆s̺͆. R̺͆u̺͆n̺͆n̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆ s̺͆y̺͆s̺͆t̺͆e̺͆m̺͆ c̺͆h̺͆e̺͆c̺͆k̺͆...

E̺͆r̺͆r̺͆o̺͆r̺͆ i̺͆n̺͆ s̺͆y̺͆s̺͆t̺͆e̺͆m̺͆- -e̺͆g̺͆o̺͆s̺͆.e̺͆x̺͆e̺͆

His eyes widen and his body lights up with sparks. "What!?" He is at his desk in a flash, his quick hands searching for the problem.

"No no- Not today pesky magician!" His eyes flash as he runs one of the emergency codes. "That should keep you out of it-" He looks at the program overview, a sigh escapes his mouth.

A̺͆l̺͆l̺͆ s̺͆y̺͆s̺͆t̺͆e̺͆m̺͆s̺͆ w̺͆o̺͆r̺͆k̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆.

He shakes his head and grips it, muttering curses of relief. "I knew he would be trouble."

His body shudders in a wave of glitches, a result of adrenaline. He waits out the adrenaline attack before doing a quick virus check, finding nothing for now he decides to take a breather.

"God fucking dam- stupid bitch!" He screams in frustration, dealing with yet another reoccurring problem.

It has been one month, and at one point all of the egos had found out- he did a mass memory wipe. This was good...until their character files started to break under the buildup of commands. The room has not been quiet for a long time, the glitch making noises of frustration or rambling about one of the egos.

Right now, it is extremely loud. Anti does another memory wipe and hits his head with his wrists. "Just- stop breaking already!"

The doorbell rings.

His eyes snap open wide before he remembers he ordered pizza. He stares at the computer for a moment.

S̺͆y̺͆s̺͆t̺͆e̺͆m̺͆s̺͆ o̺͆p̺͆e̺͆r̺͆a̺͆t̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆... .. r̺͆u̺͆n̺͆n̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆ e̺͆g̺͆o̺͆s̺͆.e̺͆x̺͆e̺͆ c̺͆h̺͆e̺͆c̺͆k̺͆u̺͆p̺͆

... ....T̺͆w̺͆o̺͆ f̺͆i̺͆l̺͆e̺͆s̺͆ c̺͆o̺͆m̺͆p̺͆l̺͆e̺͆t̺͆e̺͆. F̺͆o̺͆u̺͆r̺͆ f̺͆i̺͆l̺͆e̺͆s̺͆ b̺͆e̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆ w̺͆i̺͆p̺͆e̺͆d̺͆- P̺͆r̺͆o̺͆g̺͆r̺͆a̺͆m̺͆ S̺͆t̺͆a̺͆b̺͆l̺͆e̺͆.

He decides the break to get pizza is fine and leaves his room.

"Here you go sir, sign here.." The deliverer eyes the glitch a bit, curious- but doesn't say anything.

Anti gives them a fake smile. "Thanks for the pizza." He takes the box after paying and shuts the door, his face immediately dropping into a tired bitch face.

I did it...

He chants this to himself under his breath, in another crisis with the egos stuck in his computer. Weird how much trouble they're giving him considering the situation. Stuck in a computer, odd.

Anyways, the glitch shakes and runs a hand through his hair, some of his hair coming with his hand from the amount of unhealthy stress- completely brought on by himself.

He notices and breaks a little. "No... no- I'm fine and I'm not breaking! I'm not!" He slams his hand down onto the desk, trembling at this point. "I did it! So- That means nothing is wrong!" The strain on his voice just gets worse as time goes on.

The computer makes a noise, something else gone wrong.

He holds his face for a moment, breathing shakily.

...

S̺͆y̺͆s̺͆t̺͆e̺͆m̺͆s̺͆ f̺͆a̺͆i̺͆l̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆. e̺͆g̺͆o̺͆s̺͆.e̺͆x̺͆e̺͆ c̺͆o̺͆r̺͆r̺͆u̺͆p̺͆t̺͆..

S̺͆i̺͆x̺͆ s̺͆u̺͆b̺͆j̺͆e̺͆c̺͆t̺͆s̺͆ w̺͆a̺͆i̺͆t̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆ t̺͆o̺͆ b̺͆e̺͆ e̺͆j̺͆e̺͆c̺͆t̺͆e̺͆d̺͆, e̺͆j̺͆e̺͆c̺͆t̺͆ s̺͆u̺͆b̺͆j̺͆e̺͆c̺͆t̺͆s̺͆ ?

P̺͆r̺͆o̺͆g̺͆r̺͆a̺͆m̺͆ u̺͆n̺͆s̺͆t̺͆a̺͆b̺͆l̺͆e̺͆.

...

"N̸O̸!" He panics, his voice breaking down into its base mode. Glitching and staticky. "Y̸o̸u̸r̸e̸ n̸o̸t̸ g̸e̸t̸t̸i̸n̸g̸ o̸u̸t̸ t̸h̸a̸t̸ e̸a̸s̸y̸!!" He types in some commands and tries getting egos files working again. His hands shake and he almost mistypes every word.

He breathes erratically. "I̸m̸ n̸o̸t̸ f̸a̸i̸l̸i̸n̸g̸ n̸o̸w̸!" Static fills the air, surrounding him and near choking him. He blinks hard to focus, his eyes twitching and trying to shut.

P̺͆r̺͆o̺͆g̺͆r̺͆a̺͆m̺͆ u̺͆n̺͆s̺͆t̺͆a̺͆b̺͆l̺͆e̺͆.

R̺͆e̺͆b̺͆o̺͆o̺͆t̺͆?

He shakes his head, trying to fix this before it decides to take all of his work away and boot the egos out of the computer.

"Don't you dare- don't do it! I have c̸o̸n̸t̸r̸o̸l̸!" The glitch races to fix the errors and build it up better, keeping an eye on the egos files.

P̺͆r̺͆o̺͆g̺͆r̺͆a̺͆m̺͆ r̺͆e̺͆s̺͆t̺͆o̺͆r̺͆e̺͆d̺͆. e̺͆g̺͆o̺͆s̺͆.e̺͆x̺͆e̺͆ r̺͆u̺͆n̺͆n̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆ p̺͆r̺͆o̺͆p̺͆e̺͆r̺͆l̺͆y̺͆..

S̺͆y̺͆s̺͆t̺͆e̺͆m̺͆s̺͆ w̺͆o̺͆r̺͆k̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆ a̺͆n̺͆d̺͆ o̺͆n̺͆l̺͆i̺͆n̺͆e̺͆.

He cries in relief and laughs. "ⁱ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʸᵒᵘ" His body nearly collapses, but he keeps himself up and awake. He can't relax now, it got too close to breaking for him to rest.

The room is quiet again but with a low static buzz, the glitch still on edge.

S̺͆y̺͆s̺͆t̺͆e̺͆m̺͆s̺͆ w̺͆o̺͆r̺͆k̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆.

P̺͆r̺͆o̺͆g̺͆r̺͆a̺͆m̺͆ S̺͆t̺͆e̺͆a̺͆d̺͆y̺͆.... e̺͆g̺͆o̺͆s̺͆.e̺͆x̺͆e̺͆ r̺͆u̺͆n̺͆n̺͆i̺͆n̺͆g̺͆.. - n̺͆o̺͆ e̺͆r̺͆r̺͆o̺͆r̺͆s̺͆.

The tired glitch can't believe the words on the screen, it had been two weeks since the last breakdown and there had been no problems since. It was almost too good to be true.

He sits back and exhales, tired and starving. His eyes burn from strain and there's a low-hanging headache permanently wrecking him. Did it even feel like he was winning at this point?

A voice interrupts the static room. "So, this is what you've been doing?"

Anti glitches up into an aggressive position, ready to attack- or so he thinks. He stops seeing who was there.

"Why aʳᵉ you heʳe?" His voice cracks from the excessive screaming and lack of hydration.

The intruder chuckles lowly, folding their hand behind their back.

"Oh Anti, did you think I wouldn't notice the lack of activity?" They smirk. "You take the role of idiot effortlessly."

Anti twitches and glares in response. "SHᵘT ᵘP, DᵃʳK." He swears internally from the voice cracks.

They hum and step inside, taking a quick look around to be condescending. "Where have you been keeping them?" They raise a brow.

He snarls and goes to push them out. "Gᵒ awᵃʸ-!" His throat tears slightly and he is stopped by a cane at his chest.

"Tsk..that's not a good answer, glitch." They put their cane to the floor, stretching their neck. "I'm here with curious intentions, not going to ruin whatever low-grade scheme you have." Of course, that last part is always debatable. Dark loved messing with him, taking away whatever footing the glitch manages to get.

He rubs his chest and glares, not trusting Dark. "It's nᵒt for ʸᵒᵘ to knᵒʷ...ʸᵉt." He twitches and points to the door. "ᵒᵘt."

Dark chuckles and shakes their head. "Stubborn as always. I will find out, by any means. Why don't you make this easier for your tired, strained, self?" They raise a brow with a slight smirk, knowing the glitch is on his last few straws.

His eye twitches as he glitches heavily. "Yᵒᵘre smᵃʳt. Fiᵍᵘre it oᵘᵗ." He points at the door again, keeping his gaze off the computer as it is on and displaying the codes and programs running.

Dark tilts their head, looking Anti up and down. "I should have known, obvious isn't it?" They smile and look at the computer. "Your computer is overheating and I know you quit your.. unnecessary habit long ago."

Anti storms over and blocks them from getting to the computer. "Gᵉt ᵒᵘt. Thᵉʸ'rᵉ gᵒⁿᵉ nᵒʷ." He shakes with glitches as he tries to keep up a barrier.

They smirk and pat his cheek. "Was that so hard? Though, I'm shocked at your ability to do this. That requires planning and the ability to get the job done.." They give him a condescending look. "I would never use those words for you."

He sparks and grabs Dark by the tie. "ʰᵒʷ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵍᵒ ᶜʰᵉᶜᵏ ᵐʸ ʷᵒʳᵏ?" He surges with heavy glitches, and lines of code start wrapping around Dark- rendering them immobile. Their eyes widen slightly as the glitch's abilities work much faster than anticipated, but due to their current state of being- they are able to halt the coding and glitches.

"You forget. I am in better standing than you." Their body pulses with reds and blues, breaking the thin lines that Anti was able to conjure at such short notice.

He shakes and leans against the desk to stay upright. He just watches, too tired to do anything else.

Dark fixes their suit and holds their cane, standing powerfully in front of the glitch. "You're weak, out of shape, and a failure. I don't know how you've managed to keep them trapped, but I know that it is a waste." They grab his chin and force him to meet their gaze, smirking.

Anti glares tiredly in defiance, but too weak to do much else. "ⁱᵐ ⁿᵒᵗ ʷᵉᵃᵏ" His voice wavers.

They chuckle. "Keep lying to yourself." They stand back up, releasing his chin. "Free them or I will."

He glitches and shakes his head. "ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿᵗ! ⁱᵐ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵈᵒⁿᵉ ʸᵉᵗ, ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿᵗ ˢᵗᵒᵖ ᵐᵉ!" I've come so far, I just need to perfect it- His thoughts are interrupting Dark clearing their throat.

"Anti. Make this easier for yourself and just give it up, you were never made to succeed." They come closer, trapping him against the desk.

The words and thoughts break his confidence slightly, cracking his tough shell once again. He stares at Dark.

"ʸᵒᵘ ᶜᵃⁿᵗ ᶜᵒⁿᵗʳᵒˡ ᵐᵉ-" He didn't expect the hand squeezing his throat and he grabs at it weakly.

Dark sighs, disappointed with Anti. "You never learn your place, do you?" They choke the glitch with ease, keeping him down.

The glitch feels himself start to slip into unconsciousness. "ⁱ ᵈⁱᵈ ⁱᵗ..!" I'm not a failure... He falls limp in Darks grasp, weakly glitching.

After a few days, Dark figured out how to free the egos and they did so. They'd rather have pawns to mess with than let the glitch feel any sense of control. More entertaining that way.

The glitch had stayed unconscious, with the help of Dark drugging him. They've dealt with unruly egos many a time.

They smirk, overhearing the egos deal with Anti's unconscious body and talking about what they will do.

My job here is done. They disappear, leaving the glitch to his punishment.

[ 'torture' starts ]

Anti wakes up, finally, and squints his eyes open- sensitive to the brightly lit room. He tries moving but is stopped by straps. Straps? He wakes up a bit more as he realizes he can't get up.

"Looks like someone finally woke up to face his crimes." Who- Jackie. That was Jackie's voice- how is he speaking to me? Anti struggles a bit, not wanting to accept that Dark let him out.

"You can't escape, your glitching is useless and ve're all vell rested." Henrik- No, no no- NO!

"No-" His voice cracks from inactivity and he thrashes under the bindings. "You didn't stop me! This is just a setback!" He pulls with all his strength to escape the table he's restrained on, with no success.

"Just give it up Anti! You lost and you're going to pay for your crime!" Jackie slams his fist down by Anti's head, stilling the glitch by shock.

Anti looks up at him with fury and determined madness in his eyes, unwilling to accept that he failed.

Jackie looks down at him, enraged and ready to hurt the glitch. Just waiting for the time to do so. "You're going to pay. You hurt us all and for what? To feel good about your pathetic self?" He snarls a bit.

"You can't hurt me!" He screams, glitching from the outburst.

"Oh but I can, Hen has been perfecting some drugs." He leans down, gripping Anti's hair. "You'll be in pain for a long time, Anti."

He glares at the hero ego, still thinking he'll just get out of this. "You wouldn't."

Jackie shakes his head, slamming the glitch's head down. "We will, and are going to." He walks over to Henrik, looking at the doctor's work.

Anti winces and bares his teeth, watching Jackie. When he sees the counter, he feels his heart stop.

He now feels the tubes.

He now feels the incisions.

He remembers what the doctor is willing to do.

He feels fear.

"You cant! You guys wouldn't do this to me-" He thrashes again, watching Henrik set up a syringe.

Jackie sees the glitch panic and doesn't hate how seeing him scared feels good, for now at least. He nods to Henrik and leaves the room.

Henrik turns and smiles at Anti. "It's going to sting, a lot." He approaches Anti. And with the doctor's strength, holds Antis's head down as he injects the drugs into the glitch's neck.

The glitch gasps and pulls against the straps, his skin starts to feel like it's on fire and stinging. He bites down on his tongue, holding back his noises of pain.

The doctor makes sure to get it all in the glitches system before taking the device out, smirking at how quickly the drug takes the first effects.

"I'll be back tomorrow to give you the next dosage." With that, he leaves the glitch to writhe in agony alone.

[end for that part ]

Jackie was waiting outside for Henrik, his arms crossed. When he sees the doctor leave the room, he moves to follow him. He was having his doubts now that it was actually happening.

"Henrik, what if this.. is the wrong thing to do?"

The doctor looks to Jackie and shakes his head. "Don't vorry about it. He needs to know what he did is vrong, zhis is vhat vill get zhrough his thick skull."

Jackie frowns a bit but nods, seeing sense in the doctor's words. And conveniently forgetting that Henrik has his moments as a madman as well. Sometimes the only difference between him and Anti is their name.

"Makes sense.. thanks Doc."

Jameson holds himself with his arms, it's been a couple weeks and Anti is still being tortured by Jackie and Henrik. His thoughts are interrupted by someone holding his shoulder.

"Hey bro..you doing alright?" Chase speaks gently to him, knowing that the mute was not as accepting of the doctor and hero's plan.

He shakes his head. 'It is so wrong.. yeah he trapped us but does he really deserve this?' He looks at Chase, showing how uncomfortable he is. Jameson was never one to believe in hurting those that could change.. and Anti is someone he believes could. With the proper help, of course.

The dad sighs and nods a bit. "I know. This is what we think will get to him, and he's done more than this, you know that."

JJ shakes his head. 'It's inhumane! Cruel! You guys are no better than him now!' He tears up a bit, he had been holding back his feelings since the others were so upset at the glitch. Rightfully so.

Chase seems to finally get how JJ feels and he slowly wraps him up in a hug. "Oh my god...I never thought of it like that. I'm sorry James.."

[brief 'torture' start]

Anti cries dryly, having run out of tears, and gasps, his head burns and he lost his sense of feeling beyond the fires of drugged-up hell. The glitch had been so tired and pained, even before being tortured. And for what? He wanted to feel control... Why? Was it some instinct, coded deep within him that makes him do this or is it something else that brings up a whole dilemma of what trauma explains his actions? He's not sure he could ever answer that. Especially not now.

He hears the doctor return and he pleads with his eyes, even with knowing that this won't stop.

The doctor readies up another syringe, with a different substance, and comes over to Anti. "You deserve zhis. Zhis is your fault, Anti."

Anti nods, having lost his will too. "Hen..." He whimpers, feeling his head be pushed down.

"You vill never be forgiven and you deserve every bit of pain you get." Henrik's words sting into the glitch's mind, ingrained itself deeper into his thoughts. The doctor injects the new drug and watches for the glitch's reaction.

He whimpers and breathes heavily, his body going still against his will. "I know... I'm sorry.." He cries out, unable to move his hands or any other part to deal with the pain.

[end]

"Enjoy zhe new-" He looks to the door, seeing JJ come in. "Jameson? Vhat are you doing?"

The mute silently gasps, seeing Anti for the first time since he was taken away. 'Stop..you're not a monster Henrik' He signs even though his hands shake.

Henrik frowns and glances at Anti. "He's a monster, he needs to learn his lesson."

JJ shakes his head, looking at Henrik with hurt and almost fear in his eyes. 'He's confused and he needs to be guided- not this! You're better than this!'

He looks at JJ for a moment before sighing. "He.. vhat do zhe ozhers zhink?"

'He..we're going to do something different. No more drugs.'

"Alright... I'll take him off of zhem." He doesn't want to, but Jameson is the sound of reason now.

The mute moves closer, looking at Anti. He stares eye to eye with the glitch, seeing his pain clear as day. He touches his face and holds his cheek, hoping to reassure him. Anti whimpers, not able to move into his cool touch.

"I need to go there, Jameson."

The mute hesitantly pulls away, watching as the doctor administers something to stop the drugs and get the glitch to normal. He hears the doctor mutter under his breath, but he doesn't care. He focuses on the glitch.

The way he starts calming down and closing his eyes, ready to die. How he seems to be barely holding on anymore. Just wanting the pain to stop.

Jameson frowns a bit, going to have a stern talking with them all.

Henrik watches Anti as he slowly sits up, his muscles had atrophied and his health nonexistent at this point. He notices how the glitch, shrinks in on himself but doesn't hold himself. Perhaps he didn't want to heat up?

The doctor leads the way out for Anti. "Don't try anyzhing funny."

Anti nods and looks down, following him slowly. He can't help that, no muscle and all that jazz. He doesn't dare look around. Pathetic. Can't even fight back.

They get to the living room, where the others are waiting- besides Robbie. They decided to let the zombie rest and not be involved as long as he wanted. And honestly, who would blame him?

Henrik gestures for Anti to sit down and watches as he does so shakily as if he was the one abused. Oh, wait. Henrik shakes his head as he crosses his arms, looking to the others.

"Right. Jameson, do you vant to explain to Anti vhat ve'll be doing instead?"

Jameson nods and looks at Anti, the glitch just barely looks up at him. Enough to see what he's signing. 'You wont be given drugs..instead, you will just be under house arrest. And your computer will be taken away.'

Anti seems to lift his head up more. There's a certain look in his eye, something wrong. "No- I want my computer.."

Jameson shakes his head. 'No can do. You used it to trap us.'

He nods slowly. "Okay.." He glances at Henrik. "Can I go..?" Something is wrong.

Jameson looks at Henrik before nodding. The doctor sighs and nods. "Yes-" Before he can lay down more rules, Anti glitches away. "Shit-" He rushes up to Antis room, thinking that's where he went with JJ and the others following behind.

Anti appears in his room and he rushes to his computer. "I can't stay here I failed I'm weak-" His voice is just above a whisper, cracking from the emotions he is going through. I won't make it. He looks at it, runs his hand along the side before finalizing a decision.

"Anti! Vait!" Henrik bursts into the room and eyes the glitch down.

Slowly, the other turns around. His eyes showing a determination within them despite his worn down exterior.

"I'm not staying." He says quietly, the shake strong in his voice.

Henrik shakes his head. "That's not-"

"Goodbye." He disappears before the doctor can finish his sentence.

He frowns and looks around. "Vhere did he go?!" The others move to look around the house, and some go out into the city. None of them noticed the computer.

D̺͆e̺͆l̺͆e̺͆t̺͆e̺͆ A̺͆n̺͆t̺͆i̺͆s̺͆e̺͆p̺͆t̺͆i̺͆c̺͆e̺͆y̺͆e̺͆? ....

.... ..

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kinetic-elaboration · 3 years ago

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June 25: 2x24 The Ultimate Computer

Belated notes on my watch of The Ultimate Computer yesterday.

Kirk’s definitely in Captain Mode today. You can tell when he’s on edge and suspicious and serious.

Yet another old Kirk friend. Does he know everyone in Starfleet?

War games lol. But it’s “not the military.”

Spock is super into this computer.

A-7 Computer Expert Certification.

The crew’s not needed? Wow, okay, this is going to end badly.

“This gadget.” How do you really feel, Kirk?

And there’s Spock literally making faces behind the Commodore’s back. He is soooo that type. He’s like “Jim, are you hearing this? Can you believe this guy?”

I’m insulted on Kirk’s behalf right now. Replacing people with machines so blithely is offensive.

Of course Bones doesn’t like it.

Oh yeah triumvirate walking scene. I love them. it takes so little for me to think ‘what badasses.’ S2 is really stepping up this dynamic in particular.

And Spock is comfortable enough around Bones to be sassy around him

Oh no, the computer is already glitching, and there is no backup and no plan B.... Bones is completely right in his assessment. This is essentially a Titanic situation: way too much hubris involved. Nothing can go wrong so nothing will go wrong so we’ve planned for nothing going wrong!

McCoy has BFF Clearance. He can go wherever he wants.

“It’s the M-5? What happened to Ms 1-4?” Channel #5.

Ahhhh little gratuitous touch to Spock’s arm. They’re In Love.

“There are certain things men must do to remain men.”

“The right computer finally came along.” Damn Bones.

Jim’s suspicions about the computer coming right after that line make it look like he’s jealous that Spock likes it so much.

He’s getting a “red alert right here.” Computers don’t have that kind of intuition.

Jim’s so thoughtful and self-aware. He really cares both about his instincts and about interrogating those instincts for bias and unreasonableness. This is giving me real S1 vibes: the quiet, intelligent, idealized hero Captain at the fore.

This whole scene is perfect, eminently quotable, and sounds exactly like something that could have been written about automation in 2021. You’re okay with it when it’s happening to someone else but then the computer comes for YOUR job....

Uh-h, M-5 is turning off all the lights...

Space merchant marines... good to know.

HOW are the Captain and CMO “non-essential personnel”? The first sign that M-5 is illogical. They should bring some doctor on the landing party mission given that uh humans are going on it and might get injured.

Anyway I can’t wait for Kirk to destroy this bitch and save the day.

Lol it turned off the lights on Bones in sickbay.

Damn, now it’s trying to take Uhura’s job too!

Chekov is so bored.

Spock wants to serve under one man and one man ONLY. Loyalty to one man... sounds like a wedding vow... and Kirk looks so soft...

So, if Spock has to describe to McCoy what that (unnecessary bitchy and catty) “Captain Dunsel” remark means, by saying that it’s a phrase that “midshipmen use at Starfleet Academy,” is this to imply Bones didn’t go to Starfleet Academy?

He’s never felt so at odds with the ship.... a lover’s quarrel...she’s cheating on him with another man...

Jim Kirk, certified Poetry Nerd. He’s such a romantic.

So glad Bones got him a drink so he can return to the bridge and a possible emergency with just a little bit of a buzz going.

Spock in the chair...

Huh, an automated ship with no crew. Interesting concept.

Oh no M-5! She’s got control of the ship and she won’t let go!

Kirk’s face when Enterprise attacks.. the betrayal... his beautiful lady used for mindless destruction.

“Only a robot” ship--! Bones is insulted.

Kirk orders the computer turned off but we’re only halfway through the ep so...

....And the computer is sentient now.

That was the shortest Captain’s Log ever. “The computer has taken over the ship the end.”

Scotty’s like, “...Well what if we just unplug it?”

Okay so now they only have 19 crew.

Spock and Bones are on point today. “Don’t say it’s fascinating.” / “I won’t. But it is... interesting.” This bitch knows exactly what he’s doing.

The computer isn’t a child, guys!

We need powerful computers “so men don’t have to die in space”--like uh that man your computer literally just killed?

I don’t get Daystrom’s logic at all. He talks as if people, like, needed to do work in space, to survive or something. We don’t need to. We want to! We want to go out and meet cool aliens! This guy is no fun.

What is the thing “greater” than fact finding in space that the robots are going to free us to do? Like what is more impressive than SPACE? I don’t even get that.

Time to mix up fake sci fi world-building references with real references! The Nobel and Zee-Magnee Prizes. Sitar of Vulcan.

A theory emerges... the computer acts illogically...Daystrom won’t let Spock near it... I know this isn’t where this is going, but it kind of sounds like they’re implying it’s a scam, lol. He sold an idea he didn’t have so it’s like.. not a real computer.

Spock’s little protege, Chekov.

“We have been pursuing a wild goose.” Aw, bb’s trying so hard to be colloquial. (Also he 100% learned that phrase from McCoy in The Gamesters of Triskellion and now he’s trying it out on Kirk...when McCoy isn’t around.)

“Not to offend you by using the h-word, but... could it be... human?”

Kirk’s really mad at Daystrom now.

The Commodore really set up that dramatic turn to camera there.

Poor Kirk. His ship is being used for evil.

“They can’t destroy the ship, what would happen to the computer?!” Yes, the computer. And the other 19 people and himself but mostly the computer. Daystrom really has lost it.

I love the actor who plays him, though.

“You are great. I am great.” Nothing weird happening here.

Spirk attack! (Spork it out.)

Spock’s way too sure Commodore Wesley is about to die. “He was decent, it’s a shame the ship I’m on is gonna kill him.”

And now another round of Kirk versus the computer and Kirk’s logic wins.

M-5 should argue that it did not commit murder, it committed homicide in self-defense. But then Daystrom didn’t program it with a lawyer’s brain.

It’s uh just gonna leave? Not turn the lights back on?

Kirk is so smart! I know I say this all the time, but it’s true! He knew what to do to save the ship because he knew Bob Wesley. He had formed connections, he had experience and knowledge that doesn’t come from logic. He is not replaceable!

McCoy’s like “Spock, fight me. Debate me Spock. Fight me. I’ll be fun.”

Spock HAS answered the computers versus humans question--he likes humans. He wants to be surrounded by humans.

That was really good! One of the better S2 episodes. Great Kirk, great triumvirate--as a trio and all three sides of the triangle--great sci fi concept, great guest star, great social commentary--still 100% relevant today.

i definitely have to think more about the ‘human computer’ concept. I liked that they specifically went out of their way to explain why the computer was human, how that was part of its design, and then tied that into its creator, his background, his belief system, and his insecurities. I feel like most ‘sentient computer’ or ‘advanced AI’ narratives just assume a computer that’s powerful enough will eventually be alive, which is not something I believe. The scariness of advanced AI to me is the incredible power it has to act quickly, but in a complete black-box way: you can’t literally see the logic string of its thought processes, and nor can you figure them out easily or completely using the creators’ intentions or logic because the machine has ‘learned’ since its inception, and its learning processes are not human. There is a real alienness to them that I find scary. And I do think this ep captured that nuance in M-5: it has the speed and abilities of a super computer, the “human” qualities of its creator for well-explained reasons, and the unpredictability of a mechanism that is NEITHER human nor human-controlled tool. And of course the ep’s ultimate thesis--that humans cannot be completely automated or replaced, and that we should not want to automate or replace humans--is comforting and of a morality I can and want to agree with.

This was also one of those eps that made me curious about the differences in AOS and TOS Kirk--in other words, an ep that relied on his history with Starfleet and his experience, on the reality that he’s a 34 year old man with 15+years of experience in the Fleet. Time, experience, connections, these aren’t things you can replace no matter how smart you are, and I feel like it would have been interesting to see AOS!Kirk deal with some situation that is trickier for him because he’s a Captain with a startlingly small amount of institutional experience. It’s not just about being young or generally inexperienced, in other words--it’s about NOT knowing every Captain, Admiral, and Commodore in the service, it’s about NOT having friends across the galaxy because he just hasn’t had time to make them. Even in deep space, that matters. And I think it’s something that I appreciate more as an adult myself, with actual real world experience of the importance of connections and experience and time, especially in sort of insular or smaller work communities.

Anyway, next is Bread and Circuses! Another great ep for the triumvirate. I can’t believe we’re almost through S2!!

#the year 2021 #2021: star trek #star trek tos #2021: fandom thoughts

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cosmic-conundrums · 3 years ago

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Coscon Intro: Characters Pt. 2

Cabaret Staff

Eilyf (he/him) - plays the violin in the cabaret. does not know his own last name. grew up on a planet constantly at war, was forced into a program by the government that would help his side win the war. he betrayed his side, and was punished for it. he won't talk about what it did to him except to people he trusts deeply, but whatever it was it causes his brain to 'glitch' on occasion (these 'glitches' can range from him spacing out for a minute to him clutching his head and screaming for an hour). He has an odd knowledge of fucky time stuff, which makes him fit in quite well at the hotel. He's Tash's bff. red hair, green eyes, snake tattoo curving just over his left eyebrow and across his temple, covering up a jagged scar.

Vivenne Dumort (she/her) - singer. her songs tell stories in a way that make you feel like you're there, and always take an emotional toll on you. no one knows exactly where she came from or who and what she is, she gives a different story to everyone who asks. the one thing she does say is that she's on a mission, and intends to see it through to the end no matter what it takes. says friends can call her Enne, but whenever anyone tries to she glares at them and informs them that they are not her friends. She's 6'9, jet-black skin, hair that appears silvery-white at first but becomes every color of the rainbow when the light hits it right. she's constantly shadowed by a collection of miniature swirling voids that she refers to as the Voidlets. They act as backup singers, emitting strange otherwordly hums to accompany Enne's singing.

Sasha (she/they) & Swan (he/they/she) - twins, dancers. Once co-captained an exploration vessel sent out to previously unexplored sectors of the galaxy, often tasked with investigating unexplained phenomena such as planets disappearing and appearing out of nowhere. Their ship had a run-in with a weird black hole, and the twins were the only survivors. Now both of them have semi-insubstantial bodies that look normal when they're standing still, but twist into liquid-looking ribbons when they move. They're nearly identical, somewhat translucent skin, white hair, opalescent eyes, but Sasha is slightly taller.

Flerby (she/her) - Flerby is an 8-armed mechanical spider-thing that plays every instrument that isn't the violin. She's very sweet and lovely, everyone enjoys talking to Flerby. She also acts as a doorman, taking people's luggage if they have it alongside her fellow mechanical spider-thing Tim. Tim and Flerby can't lie. They have a very specific set of rules that they have to follow programmed into them, and if they go against that they will self-destruct. They're also HUGE. Well, not super huge, but almost 5 feet tall. So quite large. I love them.

#ocs #my ocs #original characters #coscon #coscon intro #pt 2 of 4 of character intros :)

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toysoldiers-rwby · 4 years ago

Text

[CS] 7. Intermission

Cutting Strings

Characters: Team APCX, Winter, May Word Count: 4k

A small break before Atlas Academy starts.

Read on Ao3

PREV - NEXT

Error: File Protected. Reason: Intermission.

General Ironwood called a meeting with his most trusted leaders. Penny stood next to her father and the pair was mostly silent. Winter and Clover did a wonderful job reasoning with General Ironwood. But, must to Penny’s pride, it only took one line and a serious look from Winter.

"You paired Aurora and Xanthic together, sir."

The room was silent for a long time. Everyone was tense, even her own father. Whatever history that brought up seemed to subdue the General a little. He passed Team APCX to the Specialist Schnee under two conditions. The first is that Xanthic will continued to be tightly monitored. Winter agreed. Penny watched her carefully, trying to separate the lies and the truth. She had a small tell, a micro twitch of her jaw when she lied.

“I guarantee Xanthic will have no unauthorized form of communication.” Winter said.

She kept the backdoor Scroll a secret.

Aro and her father redesigned the gravity cuffs to looked more like normal bracelets. Xanthic requested some thickness to be returned to it for a ‘punk’ aesthetic. Aro increased it by a few millimeters and added unnecessary studs and lights.

Winter had Military Technicans outfit Xanthic’s home with surveillance equipment with the exception of the bedrooms and restrooms. A member of the Ace-Ops or Robyn’s team would be with her at all times.

Over the past week Penny learned it was formal talk for ‘hanging out’ as Joanna had put it. Everyone seemed fond of her garden and the rare patch of grass on Atlas. During one visit with Winter, they had found Xanthic lounging outside, basking in the rare sun while Elm and Joanna argued about the correct methods of eating a tomato growing in the garden. Joanna bit into it like an apple much to Elm’s cringe.

In the mornings she’d work on Billy, who now had more than a headbutting function and could understand simple commands such as sit and stay. Afterwards she’d visit Xanthic then return to the facility together to train. Aro and Ciel’s schedule varied due to work and school, but they were there for at least an hour every day.

Penny greatly enjoyed her new routine. Until it became routine for her to fail. She was an engineering marvel of software and hardware, yet all members of the Ace-Ops, Winter, and even Fiona had beaten her with ease.

Today her opponent was Aro. It felt like a downgrade even if reason told her the usual elite graduates were just away on a mission. Penny wasn’t as confident as she should be. Her algorithms calculated a 0% chance of losing. It was the same software that provided an inaccurate of assessment of Winter’s summons. Still Penny was determined not to fail.

But the mechanic was nearly impossible to hit.

No matter the angle Penny attacked from, Aro was able to dodge like she was a fish in the sea. Gliding left, skidding right, hovering in place when idle or flying like a bullet during attacks.

Penny pulled back Floating Array and deleted her previous assessment and calculations. They favored in a normal civilian. Not one with a stylish audio and Aura sensing instrument that acted like a 360 camera.

Aro grinned. She stopped floating, Penny could hair the faint clicks and other mechanisms in her legs as it ejected empty Dust cartridges. She opened a vent to release the built up steam. Penny was instantly on edge. Her own systems weren’t as sophisticated as Aro’s sensory horns, Penny heavily relied on visual analysis. If Aro used that as a smokescreen…

“If you figure out a way to look any cuter I’ll consider forfeiting,” Aro said. In a voice that didn’t sound winded, like it was effortless. Like the elite graduates. Penny didn’t smile but she could feel her Aura warm her systems and the air in her chest. She huffed out air almost visible in Solitas’ cold atmosphere. Then alarm flickered across Aro’s features. “Down!”

Penny instintively listen, diving as low as possible. A powerful arc of hard-light dust flew above them. It stressed against the barrier for half a minute before finally shattering.

The pair looked at their teammates. Xanthic was sparing against Clover. The man took a few hits, proving Xanthic’s accuracy was not luck but also not a refined skill either. On the far end of the room was Marrow and Ciel. In front of them was a few Atlesian Knights they were using for semblance training.

Penny heard a loud explosion. Hard-light blades and metal took up nearly all her vision. Aro’s unsmiling face focused on attacking. She tried to lean back and bring up her arms or bring down Floating Array to block but Opponent Aro was too fast. Another loud explosion pushed those blades hard against Penny’s Aura and sent the metal women flying back a few meters.

Several blades dug into the metal tiles, immediately stopping Penny’s slid. Two guns fired at Aro while other components, both swords and guns, hovered close for defense. It was both a deterrent and precaution.

Mostly a deterrent.

Aro must have realized it. The swift hit and run pattern was thrown aside. She charged forward again. By now Penny was familiar with Aro’s speed. She was visually aware of her opponent but her analysis programming was searching for something unfamiliar. Sudden movements or an unnatural bend in Penny’s lasers- as if it a comet just escaped orbit.

Of course! All that gravity Dust!

Direct attacks would be ineffective. Penny could swing Floating Array in from the sides but Aro was too agile. The only openings were when her opponent attacked and Penny was forced to defend.

Again, Aro broke through her defenses. Her velocity was unhindered by gravity, boosted by combustion, with a weight of a heavy women and metal limbs thrown into the attack. Penny bolstered her Aura, this time taking the hit with open arms and closed them tight around Aurora. She leaned in, fired Floating Array in a constant stream to counter balance the momentum.

“H-Hey!” She squirmed. It may have been sheer luck that had Aro’s arms pinned in the bear hug but ten blades and four guns pointing down at her defeated opponent was calculated.

Penny grinned looking up at Aro. “I win!” Aro seemed to… growl in effort? Her sensors and systems couldn’t quite understand it. Was this a Faunus warning or was Aro’s gravity Dust causing a minor glitch again. Aro wiggled in her grasp and carefully kicked her legs as if she would find purchase in the air. It added many new sensations Penny would try to understand later but right now she focused the feeling of accomplishment and success.

Aro let out a whine, Faunus ears peeking out as they lowered and her posture deflate. Finally Focus flickered off. Penny was rewarded with those unmasked sea-green eyes. The glow hid many things, mostly the embarrassment Penny saw now. She giggled and grinned, cuddling into her soft and temporary trophy.

“Wait!” Fiona’s voice echoed through the entrance. She was covered in dirt and mud, boots tracking in the outside environment as she skidded in. Winter was right at her heels, and barely manage to dodge the tiny Huntress when she finally stopped. “Aurora- Aura. Ah!” Whoever was following them didn’t see Fiona. May and Joanna collapsed onto their teammate. "Get off me, you gigantic assholes!!"

“Sorry!”

Elm quickly ran in and picked the pair off. Winter helped Fiona onto her feet, a bit clumsily as her eyes was looking at Penny and Aro.

“So,” Winter tried to level her voice, “You’re training is… going well?” She asked.

“I won!” Penny said with a large smile. Floating Array folded into her pack and she jogged towards Winter. Aro grumbled and wiggled. Penny didn’t let go but loosened her trophy enough to be comfortable in her arms. Her voice took on a serious and honest tone, “Civilian Aurora fought valiantly!”

“But you won,” Winter said slowly. She and May looked at each other, over Fiona who held up a middle finger at her teammate. May scoffed at her and pushed it away while Winter gave both Penny and Aro a skeptical look. “By… a hug?”

Penny looked at her arms still around Aro. By now the women wiggled one arm free and used it to slightly brace herself against Penny’s shoulders. Penny’s grin went back up to Winter, “That is correct!”

“It works, just not for everyone.” Joanna said with a shrug. “She has all those swords and Winter has her summons-”

“I don’t like this conversation so I’m awkwardly changing it,” Aro declared, voice very blunt but still very embarrassed. “HHZT (Hazelnut) and SGME (Sigmarite) finally broke the tie?” Their elite group of Huntsmen and Huntresses had an unfinished competition back from their Academy days. As part of the Accelerated Program, the Academy would rearrage them for certain missions. Or maybe it was an unoffical team? Like Robyn and the other freelancers.

“HHZT, won. Of course.” Fiona said hands on her proud chest with an grin that was far too innocent and confident. Penny recalled Xanthic using the term ‘shit-eating grin’ which Penny was greatly opposed to. Ciel explained the phrase as smug.

The other members of Team HHZT trickled in. Harriet and Vine raised a brow at Penny and her trophy while Robyn gave a smile.

“I’m guessing you won? Congratulation, Swords.” The leader Mantle’s happiest Huntress team said.

“Thank you ma’am!”

“Can I- down? Please?” Aro asked softly. So softly Penny was tempted to ignore it. The tone of voice was new, too high pitch and nervous. Unsure if it was a positive or negative response, Penny decided that caution was better and set Aro down. She took a deep breath, as if it would help the blood rushing through her cheeks and neck.

“Sorry if I held you too tightly!”

“Apologize for something you actually do,” Aro said in a very Xanthic-like drawl. Complete with a roll of her eyes but it was so much softer. So more like Ciel when she was sleep deprived. Maybe a tad softer. Penny couldn’t help but to respond with a bigger smile. It was after Aro flustered and floundered that Penny decided she liked this new behavior.

"Goddess curse your fucking fishing rod!!" Xanthic screamed. Clover laughed slightly, not a true laugh but still a sound of enjoyment and amusement. Like a fish the hacker was dangling off the string, body awkwardly tangled in the wire. While this was a common sight over the past week, Penny wasn’t aware of how flexible Xanthic was. “How is this a weapon anyway?!”

“My semblance and skills are pretty consistent.”

“Don’t let Ironlimp rub off on you. Just spit it out-”

“You’re talented, not skillful.” Clover said. Xanthic’s jaw snapped shut and she muttered curses under her breath as she tried to free herself again. Elm and Harriet chuckled. “Marrow and Ms. Soleil are almost finished. How’d the search and destroy mission go?”

“Xanthic’s drones were accurate.” Winter said. No matter how many times Winter needs to slip back into work mode, Penny still haven’t grown to like it. “All essential and optional targets were eliminated.”

Clover smirked and raised a brow. “Who won?” All team members of SGME; Winter, Joanna, May and Elm, either scowled or pouted. “Congratulations HHZT.”

“It feels so nice to finally settle that score.” Fiona said grinning up at SGME. May groaned and playfully shoved the troublemaker away. She then gasped, fist landing in a palm. “Oh right! Aro you are projecting an Aura. Right?”

“Uh… haha,” Aro couldn’t even formulate a lie without Focus. She huffed looking extremely guilty as a green shimmer covered her body-

“Aurora!” Penny gasped while May yelled. She could feel her power unit both decrease in performance yet go into overdrive. She hadn’t hold back during training. If Penny had taken a different approach for to win- Her simulations were vivid in her mind even as Penny grabbed Aro’s upper arms. General Ironwood requested Penny knew the outcomes of failure, she was preprogram with the knowledge of death and dying but not the emotional connections of loss until now.

“You- What if you got hurt!” Penny said.

Aro held steady eye contact, “You didn’t land a hit. The only time you touched me was the hug.” It wasn’t a challenging stare but not the lively glowing one Penny was used to. Easy to fluster but possibly even more brash without her semblance? She didn’t backdown but the defensive tension melted a little. Aro wasn’t a different person with Focus off but it was still a shift in personality. “I’m sorry.” The words quickly tumbled out of her mouth and seemed to surprised even Aro.

The silence in the air was so thick it nearly shocked Penny.

“Oh.” May blurted out in quiet surprise. Aro frowned, glaring at May who fumbled a little more. “W-What? You’re one of the most arrogant and narcissistic person I know!”

“Because I deserve to be.” Aro said quickly. Organic defensiveness quickly resorting to a bit of aggression.

May took a deep breath, pinching the bridge on her nose. “Focus on the Aura problem, we can talk about the other stuff later,” She muttered quietly to herself. Of course Aro heard it and she tried to relax. “Please, promise me you’ll actually try with the Aura stuff?”

There was an instinctave and resistant growl-like whine.

“Aurora!” Three people yelled. Penny was much softer compared to May but Winter’s was the sternest. Aro flinched. She took a deep breath. It took a little bit for the mechanic to meet May and Winter’s gaze. Her eyes flickered to Penny who still looked worried and guilty.

“I’m sorry,” Aro blurted out again. “I’ll take this Aura projection thing seriously.”

“We’ll add Aura training to your regimen.” Winter said with a sigh. “Both you and Xanthic are far from adequate-”

“I’m what now?!” The two genius yelled loud enough for it to ring around the trainng room for a few seconds.

Winter tried steeling her features, but her brows kept twitching together in frustration. She coldly stared at Xanthic as the hacker yelled and Aro’s furious eyes glowed bright with Focus. The mechanic’s body went taunt, the fabric across her shoulders and chest straining. "You’re talking to the pair that made the world’s smallest portable hard-light printer and scanner you piece shit-"

“And that’s our cue to leave,” Marrow said smoothly walking past the large group while Ciel reluctantly stood next to her teammates. The Ace Operatives that weren’t already filing out of the room sneered. Only Marrow and Clover gave their superior officer good luck wishes as they left.

Robyn gave Winter a pat on her shoulder, “I’ll be sure to write 'Death by Iron-Knee’ on your grave.” Fiona and Joanna chuckled safely from the exit.

“Ugh. Get out,” Winter said with a tight jaw. Her hand suddenly shot out, a tight grip around May’s wrist. “Not you.” May glared at her. With a look they came to an unease agreement and faced the furious pair.

Aro glowered, almost intimidating with her bright eyes and sharp horns. “We did survive encounters against the White Fang and Grimm!” Her cold tone almost sold it.

“You two are talented, yes.” May said slowly. That did little to calm Aro and Xanthic down. “But… this is not… your area of expertise?”

“You two are highly unprepared.” Winter correctly flately. Penny watched as frustration boiled over both Aro and Xanthic’s wounded ego. Winter gave May a sharp glance, “Don’t coddle them.”

“I grew up in Menagerie where we don’t have the luxurious kingdom defenses.”

“Aro, it’s not the same.” Winter tried to reason.

“Perhaps, ma’am,” Ciel spoke up. The group turned to the officer-in-training. Penny stepped closer to her, a little protective with a smile that almost defused the situation. It worked on three, Xanthic seemed to grow a little more furious. “Glade and Xanthic would respond better to a demonstration. The Atlas’ Welcoming Fair is focusing on the third and fourth years this week.”

“Oh! Good idea,” May gasped.

“No, bad idea,” Aro said nose wrinkling in disgust. “Atlas Military and Hunts Associations are scouting for recruits. Business companies are looking for a new face to slap on their product. It’ll be filled with people trying to make connections with people like me.”

Aro was right about one aspect, she did deserve to be arrogant- “Oh!” Penny gasped, eyes wide. She looked at her Faunus, “Does ‘Aro’ stand for arrogant?”

Ciel’s professional demeanor completely broke beside her. She coughed on air, trying not to laugh but still somehow managed to murmur, “Holy shit.” May just immediately crackled, head thrown back in laughter while the last three stared with disbelief for a few seconds. It broke around the same time Penny tilted her head in confusion.

“Now it does,” Winter mused with a smile. She cleared her throat, trying to calm May down. The Huntress only squatted, hands clasp over her mouth with tears pricking her eyes. “Aro,” Winter’s professional demeanor cracked with a brief smile. The Faunus softly growled, a weak show of teeth and ears poking out low. “Would draw unwanted attention.”

“Like your white as fuck hair wouldn’t,” Aro quickly shot back.

“According to the search algorithms, her defining traits are sharp gold horns and glowing eyes.” Xanthic said. She rubbed her chin eyes glancing upward in thought. “I think I erased or edited a lot of her old photos. So if she uses her old horns and manage to keep her semblance off she might be okay.”

“I think the average person would connect Winter and a women with green hair,” Penny said steadily with a raised brow.

“Average person,” Xanthic gestured to Ciel. Her teammate huffed and rolled her eyes though she gave no verbal comment. Ciel did have excellent marks but compared to the elite huntresses and geniuses in the room she did fit the definition of average. “See? We can use Ciel for a test run.”

“My father has your previous model for research purposes! I’ll get them.” Penny said walking off. Winter called Fiona to deliver something from her room.

Out of sight but not out of hearing, Penny heard May gasping for breath, “Oh that settles it, I love her.”

It took longer than expected. Without daily and meticulous organization their storage was in minor disarray. Penny wondered if Xanthic would permit her bots to help her father out. The AK-200 had mistakenly placed Aro’s previous sensory equipment under weapons.

“Of course Fiona would choose this outfit,” Winter’s murmur came from the kitchen.

When Penny returned to her team and supervising Huntresses she nearly dropped the military grade case. The two most noticeable members of their group underwent minor physical changes. It was simple clothing and hair alterations but Penny’s visual analysis struggled to link the names Winter and Aro to their appearance.

Seeing Penny’s reaction, Winter immediately stood up, “I’m changing back into my uniform.”

“Nope!” May used one hand to shove Winter back into her chair. Then she went back to braiding Aro’s hair. Penny stared at Aro for a moment and the women just raised a brow. Without her horns May was free to run her fingers through wavy pale green locks uninterrupted. She brushed them behind her heavily scared Faunus ears that twitched around with a giggle. “The entire point of this is to look different.”

“I can’t believe she found this…” Winter murmured. Penny had perfect memory. Just a glance was enough permanently capture the leather shrug tight around Winter’s arms and shoulders. Some odd code in her programing told her to double check the metal buckle that clasp the collar of the shrug snug to her neck.

Luckily Aro’s sign language was a good distraction. Xanthic interpreter what Winter and May was saying, her expressions mimicking the individuals. Aro sneered and giggled. Penny was surprised she could at least differentiate interpretation from a conversation.

“Penny, would you like to enter the betting pool?” Ciel asked.

The metal women jumped slightly with a small gasp. She turned to see Ciel raise a brow slightly but much more focused on her scroll. “Fiona is betting no more than four of them will be able to find Specialist Schnee and Ms. Glade at the Fair.”

Penny set the case containing Aro’s outdating cybernetics down and tilted her head in thought. “Hm… I think I’ll pass. Betting and gambling doesn’t seem like a positive habit.” She remembered the tense conversation Ciel had given Penny after losing to Xanthic.

“I agree with Ciel but I’m pretty confident that no one will recognize us even if we are together.” Xanthic interpreted. Aro continued signing, this time with a large grin and finished pointing to May who smirked. “We do have a spymaster with us.” The hacker finished, voice surprisingly faithful to Aro’s fluctuations.

May tied the braid and walked to the front to admire her handiwork. It was a much more roguish appearance than her usual gentle or business persona. The top fluffed out like a Mohawk while the sides were pulled tight and flat, revealing scars and cybernetics that glowed under her skin or on the surface. Aro popped open the case. Instead of sharped angle and shining horns this was a matted metal with ram curls that framed her ears and taper to safe round tips. May stepped around to help guide then into the ports and lock them in. Even the cybernetic glow was muted.

Though Ciel was there for the transformation she stared hard and squinted at Aro. Her ears fluttered and she nervously shifted. “Huh…” Ciel muttered. Then she gave Winter the same cold calculating stare. The soldier didn’t flitch but Penny had the time to confirm the metal buckle around her neck. Winter’s hair was long enough brush past her shoulders and due to the constant bun had some waves imprinted into her locks.

“Yeah, I’m betting they won’t recognize either of you.”

“Really cute,” May pointed to Aro, “Almost illegally hot.” She smirked at Winter who glared.

Penny looked between Winter and Aro. Her programing was drawing a blank. Visual analysis was focused on identification and injuries, though she could feel an odd glitch triggering a reaction in her power unit and her aura. A systems check was telling her that her temperature was higher than normal but well within functioning range.

Error: File Protected. Skip Intermission?

#Penny Polendina #fic #cutting strings #pre-fall of beacon #APCX #Aurora Glade #ashley xanthic #ciel soleil #winter schnee #may marigold #qued

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moonchildsaurora · 5 years ago

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The social butterfly of a Tech Genius

»»—— Crew Member #6 of Space Pirates ATEEZ ——««

all aboard The Perihelion, welcome to the co-pilot’s log system! here you’ll be able to access the crew’s profiles should you wish to read about their journeys: (no nsfw content)

[CAPTAIN] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

an underestimated intellect with huge love for the cyber world and technology

you hear him before you see him in a crowd

a Drex’un who was born and lived his life in the technology-thriving city of Vollurn up until he was invited to join Hongjoong and Seonghwa on their journey

[database file: Drex’uns are often described as demon-borne even though not all bloodlines are derived from infernal ancestry. Purely for the fact that prominent horns protude from their heads, a prehensile tail that’s used for grabbing things and will coil around their legs when upset/nervous, sharp canines and eye colours that cover the entire sclera. Depending on bloodline, some Drex’uns have elemental abilities]

Mingi isn’t sure about his bloodline as he never knew his parents, though his intelligence goes far beyond that of an average being’s. Not only does he process knowledge extremely fast, his memory is remarkable; able to recall even the tiniest details and his ability to analyse/break codes allows him to have free reign in the cyber networks

his teal-coloured horns and tail have onyx gradient tips, adorned with a few gold jewellery (his actual ears are also pierced with hoops) to complement his molten gold eyes

making heads turn, be it for his energetic presence or fashionable attire; “just because I grew up on the streets doesn’t mean I have no pride for my looks”

learnt to be resourceful and street-smart at a young age, knows all the short cuts and side alleys of the city like the back of his hand (he’s had a lot of time to wander around). Also found out that he had a knack for by-passing security systems whenever he needed shelter for the night

frequents the ‘Merripalace Arcade’ where it’s both an underground hangout for tech whizzes and the cyber battlegrounds for competitive players. The first visit gave him a taste of a different kind of freedom and an introduction to the world of hacking. It’s probably one of the few places he’s felt a part of a community; no judgement of your species nor your background but rather your digital reputation is more valued and the sort of technological talents you bring to the network

if there’s one thing Mingi is a natural at it’s socialising, he could walk into a club alone and come back out later with a new social circle if he so wishes

“ok who DON’T you know here?”

“just look at that face, how can you say no to him?” – Mingi is walking proof that Drex’uns can pull off the puppy-dog face and get away with it

he was gifted a second-hand mirage drive by Einux, a Nagzoid [database file: a reptilian humanoid being with serpent ancestry so they tend to have more snake-like features] who became a shot-term mentor figure after Mingi unintentionally helped crack a system code for a database Einux was commissioned to work on (because Mingi thought that guy was just really bad at math on first glance)

[database file: a mirage drive is pretty much a miniature tablet with a hologram touch-screen and every tech whizz would protect theirs with their lives; especially when were layers of secret activities and programs stored into it]

“you remembered to wipe clean the data trail and replace the originals with the dud files right?”

“yeah of course...does planting a virus in the system that will cause ‘Time Warp’ to play every time they try to click open a file counts?”

“Mingi, I…….”

Einux introduced Mingi to his network of contacts and helped set him up with his first commission, safe to say Mingi was at a loss for words when he got his first pay up front (and that was just the deposit)

by the time Yunho had come across Mingi at the Tech Institute, he had been in the cyber scene for 4+ years already and never once had to deal with someone catching him in the act

Mingi.exe has stopped working

he’s met a couple of Sheirzois before but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t lowkey checking out the blue-haired giant whilst panicking on the inside, he’d argue there’s always time to appreciate beauty

two options popped into his mind then and there; either he bribed his way out (as his mentor taught him) or he attempted to maybe throw some punches and then make a getaway

(expectation) looks like he’s intimidating & can fight vs. (reality) he’d probably cry if he hit someone & is just a soft boy all-round

extra trivia: ironically for an infernal being, Mingi doesn’t deal well with anything supernatural/ghosts-related. Once Woo and Yeosang pranked him, Yunho helped a little but he doesn’t need to know, and convinced him that the basement storage hanger was haunted after totems started appearing in odd places along with ominous noises. Mingi was so ready to abandon ship before Hongjoong did damage control & Jongho promised he’d fight all the ghosts for him

was already metaphorically weeping at the thought of having to empty his money pouch but turned out that Otis (his multi-coding bot) had somehow manage to win the Sheirzoi over along with an invite to drinks

“I’ve got many questions for you regarding your efficiently adorable bot”

“…and I to you as well, BUT first do you have a name? And secondly have you been to ‘Le Apollon’? Coz if not they make some really mean Northern Drops there!”

Yunho turned out to be one of the most chilled individual Mingi has met and he didn’t mind the other’s enthusiastic discussions about all technological inventions, and was even just as enthusiastic to share with Yunho about his own passion for cyber tech

one too many drinks later Mingi was accidentally spilling secrets he definitely wasn’t meant to and even ended up dancing on the table at some point, all while Yunho hyped his new friend up on the side

was forever grateful that Yunho never ratted him out to the authorities and consider him shook for the 2nd time in that day when he was offered a roof over his head, a more permanent one too

“do you want to be the big spoon, or is it my turn? We can rotate!”

thus the bromance of all bromances was born

living with Yunho not only meant Mingi would wake up to good vibes, but more than often would wake up to either the screeching of the smoke alarm or “HOLY SMOKES WHERE ARE THE WATER PODS? DID WE RUN OUT OF THEM? AGAIN?!”

putting out accidental fires became second nature to Mingi, initially he’d aggressively fret over Yunho but now he’s come to accept such is the life of a chaotic bright inventor and this is fine

in fact when Hongjoong and Seonghwa came across their humble abode (thanks to Yunho’s cleaning bot) it was an iconic first meeting over smoke. Yunho did most of the talking when Hongjoong pitched his desire to recruit a crew for space voyage, Mingi too busy sitting there staring at the two new-comers with shooting stars in his eyes and hearing about the prospects of an adventure. Within that day the crew had gain 2 more members, because Mingi and Yunho are a combo package deal

“oh has the system be glitching? If you don’t mind, would you like me to have a look at it?”

Hongjoong did a happy dance on the spot knowing that not only did he now have a talented inventor on his ship but also a gifted tech genius, he put Mingi in charge of managing the mainframe systems along with intel collecting this decision that Hongjoong would later semi-regret because (at times) the word “self-control” doesn’t seem to exist in Mingi’s vocab

Seonghwa adopted him and Yunho pretty easily and space mum’s cooking is Mingi’s fave, occasionally using his puppy-dog face he’s perfected over the years to his advantage in gaining extra midnight snacks (being everyone’s baby, no one’s really immune to this)

“Hwa you’re supposed to be the one disciplining the kids!”

Mingi and Yunho were known to be the chaotic fun duo, but with Wooyoung is just chaotic – not to mention he got his Yunhogizer confiscated by Hongjoong for almost a week after, “I thought we were all comparing assets, Wooyoung sent his to the group chat so I figured this was some kind of crew bonding”

also was one half of the reason that the ‘whatever happens at the Tav/clubs, stays at the Tav/clubs’ rule got implemented and one-night sexytimes were banned aboard The Perihelion after Jongho witnessed a random still semi-nude humanoid trying to sneak out of Mingi’s room without being noticed (Hwa went on parent-mode and panicked yell whilst covering Jongho’s eyes)

Jongho avoided Mingi (out of sheer embarrassment) for a few days and that was pretty devastating, considering how close the two became in their friendship that Mingi was one of the very few people in the crew whom Jongho was openly clingy with at times

no one can argue about Mingi’s loyalty to his crew/new family, and under his care-free flamboyant exterior he’s a genuine listener and will not hesitate to offer his shoulder for his family to lean on whenever they need it

recently he’s created new software to enhance Seonghwa’s cybernetic lenses (as a birthday gift) that’d allow him to see clearly miles ahead, in the dark and lock-on tracking function. What Mingi failed to let Hwa know was that he still hasn’t disconnected the sync link to his mirage drive and therefore if, for example, an image was sent through it’d appear in the other user’s field of vision

“wait for it, wait”

“what exactly are we waiting for Mingi? And why are you giggling over a screaming pink…starfish?” (that’s Patrick Star by the way)

seconds later there was a clamouring from the bathroom, the solid sound of someone falling before, “MINGI!”

“that my good lads, is what we were wa-oh whoops gotta go!”

(moodboard made with love, by @s1ardusk ♡)

#ateez headcanons #atzinc #atinyforatiny #aurorateeznet #ateez scenarios #pirate ateez #pirate ateez au #ateez au #ateez imagines #ateez drabbles #ateez blurbs #song mingi #ateez mingi #ateez writing #ateez fic #Perihelion Crew #pyx writes

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nellied-reviews · 4 years ago

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The Sound and the Fury Re-listen

Well, I've reached episode 7 in my Wolf 359 re-listen, which means it's time for:

The Sound and the Fury

In which Hera and Minkowski are fighting, Eiffel gets caught in the middle, and Hilbert just wants them all to submit to the biologically superior will of the Blessed Eternal.

Straight up, I should probably admit that I forgot about this episode, or rather I didn't link the episode title to the episode's events until I was listening to it. And then I was like "oh, yeah, this is that episode" all the way through. For whatever reason, I thought, in particular, that the plant monster didn't come back until Season 2, with The Paranoia Game. That said, I love the plant monster to a possibly unreasonable degree, so its return here was more than welcome, and the rest of the episode was also fun!

We open in the middle of an argument - and for once, it's not Eiffel's fault. In fact, Eiffel isn't even involved, except insofar as he's trapped in the middle between Hera and Minkowski, and is forced to be the voice of reason as the two of them have it out.

And look, that is always going to be a funny set-up. Hera and Minkowski are both incredibly stubborn personalities, and not at all shy about asserting their opinions, so there's definitely potential for a comically drawn-out, petty argument there. And casting Eiffel as the reasonable, level-headed peacekeeper, in contrast to the two of them, is perfect. It's in character - Eiffel always has been the most pacifist crew member - but it's also a role he's just totally unsuited to, because faced with the combined stubbornness of Hera and Minkowski, he's outmatched, and he knows it.

In an effort not to get involved, then, Eiffel briefly runs through the week's schedule, in a section that isn't really linked to the rest of the episode, but is full of little oddities that remind us just how weird the Hephaestus is. They have a compulsory chess tournament that Hilbert always wins. They have movie night, but only a VHS of Home Alone 2. "On Friday we'll have mustard." It's so weird, and I love it.

We're interrupted, at this point, by Hilbert, who sounds very strange, even for him. And naturally, Eiffel ignores it completely at first, focussed as he is on the unfolding Hera-Minkowski conflict. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, for such a pop culture-savvy guy, Eiffel falls into literally every horror movie cliché. He's so oblivious!

For the rest of us, it's obvious that something's wrong, and our suspicions are confirmed when we learn over the course of his conversation with Eiffel that Hilbert went looking for the plant monster, which now seems to be mind-controlling him, to the point where he's convinced that it's "the most evolutionarily competitive lifeform on this station, the most deserving of life."

And okay, I love the plant monster, but that's very alarming, and is made even more so by the fact that it's something that Hilbert might conceivably have said anyway? I mean, it's cold and Darwinistic and smacks of eugenics, yes, but it also has a callous ruthlessness to it that's totally Hilbert's style, as well as that trademark lack of concern for human life. It's like the plant monster just exaggerated what was already there, turned the mad scientist dial up to eleven. In other words, it made Hilbert even more Hilbert-y.

Luckily, Eiffel realises soon enough that something's wrong, and goes to warn Minkowski. Minkowski, being a mature, rational individual, immediately drops her argument with Hera and goes to - oh, wait, no, she does basically the opposite of that, ignoring Eiffel in favour of continuing her argument with Hera. Great. Good job, Commander.

It's at this point, of course, that we finally learn exactly what Minkowski and Hera are arguing about. And is it petty. Turns out, Minkowski wants Hera to submit reports on the various systems she runs around the station in case there's an emergency, but also just because Minkowski wants to know what's going on behind the scenes. We don't get to hear Hera's side of things just yet, but already, we can see the irony in Minkowski's arguments. Sure, she wants to be better appraised of everything going on onboard the Hephaestus in case of an emergency - but her stubbornness here means she's missing the emergency that's unfolding right under her nose!

Eiffel's attempts to make her see sense don't really help either, at this juncture. Instead, they just get him dragged into Minkowski and Hera's argument. Which I'm sure is that last thing he wants, because those two play dirty. First Minkowski pressures him into saying, to Hera's face, that he doesn't think AIs should be trusted. And then Hera, angry, plays Eiffel's words from earlier back to Minkowski, twisting what he said around so that both parties are angry at him. As a result, Eiffel ends up walking an impossibly thin line, trying to appease both of his friends, while keeping himself out of their argument as best he can and while getting increasingly frustrated with the both of them. It's a painfully awkward situation, and I genuinely feel sorry for him.

That said, the argument that then plays out is fascinating to me, because I think it shines a really interesting light on the power dynamics onboard the Hephaestus, putting the focus on Hera and Minkowski's relationship in a way that we haven't really seen before. Up until now, after all, they seem to have worked in tandem pretty well, with Minkowski giving orders and Hera carrying them out. Here, for the first time, we see a tension between them, stemming from the fact that Minkowski, as the commanding officer, nominally has the most power onboard the Hephaestus, while Hera, as the ship's AI, probably actually has the most power, between her vast sensory array, her huge databanks, and her literally running the entire Hephaestus. Yes, Minkowski is technically in charge, purely by virtue of her being a human. But Hera, on a day-to-day basis, is actually more crucial to their ongoing mission - even though, as an AI, she doesn't get to hold an official ranking position.

That's possibly why Hera takes Eiffel's well-meaning dismissal ("It's just her programming") so personally. It's a reminder of her different, subordinate status, and it reeks of a double standard - she's right that nobody would think to blame a human's erratic behaviours on their biology. That would be patronising, right? As much as Eiffel means well, writing Hera's reactions off as mere programming strips her of her agency - something that comes up again and again in her character arc. How much is Hera responsible for her actions, if she can also be programmed to act a certain way? In what ways has she been "made" a certain way, against her will? And how can she best deal with that while still retaining a sense of agency and control over her life and identity? They're big, complicated questions, and we're only really scratching the surface here, but I do think it's a solid foundation for later developments. At the very least, we get the impression that Hera doesn't like to be reduced to her programming - and rightly so, I suspect. To some extent, at least, she is more than just the code that she is made of, just like humans are more than the sum of their biology. And that's a good thing to be establishing now, buried in the middle of a relatively low-stakes argument, before the more plotty stuff kicks off later on in the show.

And of course, it also bleeds into Hera and Minkowski's argument, which really picks up steam at this point, after an impassioned but ultimately futile speech from Eiffel about how it's a stupid fight to begin with and how making him pick sides is dumb and unfair. Hera, ignoring this, accuses Minkowski of feeling threatened by the big, powerful AI. That, for Hera, is why Minkowski is micromanaging her. It's because she's a typical human, insecure about an AI having more power than her.

Hera's point is almost immediately complicated by Minkowski, who rightly points out that the issue, for her, isn't that Hera's an AI. It's that Hera' unreliable. She keeps breaking down and glitching, and so the crew keep experiencing emergencies that could maybe be avoided if Hera would just give Minkowski the reports she wants. We've seen Hera break down as recently as last episode, and so this does kind of ring true, even if the way that Minkowski brings up Hera' vocal glitching feels like a bit of a low blow.

Both of them, then, have a point, and I think it's also worth noting that it's also, as Minkowski points out to Eiffel, a question of protocol. Whether Hera likes it or not, Minkowski is, technically, her commanding officer, and should be able to just give her commands and demand reports from her. Refusing to do so undermines Minkowski's authority. That said, Hera didn't exactly have a choice when it came to joining whatever weird sort-of military thing Goddard has going on. She never signed up for the whole "commanding officer" thing, so why should she obey Minkowski? Because she's programmed to?

It's messy, grey situation, with no clear answers, and it's worth noting that the argument doesn't really get resolved. Neither Minkowski nor Hera back down at any point. Instead, a combination of Eiffel calling them out for being childish and Hilbert attempting a coup snaps them out of it, reminding them that they have bigger problems right now. There is a time and a place for the discussion they were having. But that time is not now, and so they decide, without really discussing it, to set aside their grievances. It's not that their respective opinions aren't valid. But keeping each other (and the rest of the crew) safe comes first, and so they bond over being annoyed at Eiffel, and they set off to save Hilbert. It's sweet, in a way, and I like how quickly they both just get on with it. And Eiffel's dejected resignation at the end is the cherry on top. Bless him.

And so we get to the end of an episode that, while it's reliably funny, also gives us an outline of the main points in an argument that we probably should have seen coming. It's yet another example of how stress and tension can easily build up in the contained, isolated atmosphere of the Hephaestus - only this time, we don't get Eiffel cracking and hoarding toothpaste, we get Hera and Minkowski cracking and unleashing the titular sound and fury. The points raised get us thinking, in particular, about Hera's status, as an AI, but also just as a member of the Hephaestus' crew. Eiffel, meanwhile, is forced into a responsible, mediating role that he is neither comfortable in nor particularly good at. And at the end of the day, we're reassured that Minkowski and Hera do, at least, have their priorities straight. Arguing over reports is fine and dandy, but it's not worth getting killed over.

And of course, perhaps most excitingly, the plant monster returns. Surrender your flesh, and feed your new master :)

Miscellaneous thoughts:

It doesn't escape my attention that this is the second title that's a Shakespeare reference. Keeping it classy there, Doug

"Umm... that's all it says for Friday."

The schedule bit is basically the Night Vale Community Calendar segment, but in space

Hilbert's voice in this is sooo weird and dull and creepy ugh

I know the science of it isn't really the focus here, and I'm 100% down with that, but also how does a plant mind control people?!? I want to know!

"Our operating system is a tin-headed, insubordinate, feckless fool!"

"Sit your Swiss ass down, and take a side, Doug."

Aww, Eiffel just sounds so confused and stressed-out by the whole situation :(

And finally we get the obvious Little Shop of Horrors plant monster joke :)

I didn't go into much detail about Eiffel in this, but his speech where he finally gets them to shut up and work together again is also great and I love it jsyk

"Shut up, Plant-Hilbert." Bwahahahaha.

#wolf 359 #wolf359 #w359 #wolf 359 relisten #the sound and the fury #nellied reviews #time to overanalyse Minkowski and Hera's argument #also #plant monster!#my not-so-small herbaceous child is back #gotta love it

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signaturedish · 5 years ago

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A question for ur TF fic. What if when Harry gets turned he's like, younger? When it happens I mean (He is 10 right?) Like, five or something maybe? What would change? How would the bots and cons react? How would Harry react?

Hey you! Sorry that took a hot minute.

Yeah, Harry’s ten in the fic.

The way I intended it was that he was clearly ten in his internal monologue right up until he was turned into a robobaby. Then the trauma on top of a completely different set of instincts had him thinking and behaving a good 5-3 years younger than his current age with a gradual upward incline as he got more comfortable and familiar with himself in later chapters. Right now in the narrative, he’s almost back to normal, we’re just waiting on a returning desire for independence which won’t happen until he’s secure in his relationship with Megs.

So to make him five, I think that drop in maturity would come off much more dramatically. He was a pretty independent human ten-year-old, resigned to his treatment as a servant, and capable on his own. A five-year-old Harry would be far newer to his servant status and much more unsure of himself from the getgo- Five-year-olds aren’t built for the kind of independence the Durselys expect from him, we’re right in the middle of those growing pains.

Then we turn him into a robobaby.

(I like the age I chose for Harry but sad baby Harry was so cute I made this a little long for more details, excuse my indulgence)

Appearance-wise he wouldn’t change much. He’s already too small and at the youngest growth stage, his internal programming would probably be more toddler-esque with a stronger inclination to cry for attention, a greater need for positive attention, and more automatic behaviors geared toward inciting those things.

Oh and he keeps his lisp.

The first few days would be a nightmare, like constant crying, deeply distressed at all times, desperately reaching out to the scientists on blind instinct and getting reprimanded for it at every turn. A whole mess, a whole inconsolable mess, the scientists think there’s something fundamentally wrong with him, he’s incoherent past the point of even perceived aggression.

Then Megatron makes his move. He’s been hearing what sounds like a newspark being tortured for hours and hours and now that he can see that it probably isn’t a sleep paralysis-level nightmare driving him to madness he needs to Handle This ASAP.

First problem- Harry isn’t responding to cool, logical instructions to communicate through comm. He’s way past regular conversation.

This is eventually resolved when Megatron very clumsily takes the right stabs at comforting him. It takes hours, some sullen silences, panicking, maybe a soft reboot or two, but he does get there. Crooning lullabies, softer sentences, praise when Harry stops crying, Megatron is flying so blind it isn’t even funny but he’s not dumb, he can see it’s working.

The transformers view PA!Harry as a very gifted and mature toddler. This itty bitty little baby can fit so much serious thought and a burgeoning emotional intelligence in it so they try their best to accommodate and not come off terribly condescending. Success varies.

Younger!Harry acts much truer to his appearance. So in general, how the TF crew thinks of Harry changes very little, but how they respond to him does.

Megatron is as soft as he can possibly be to the point of genuine pain. Harry is so much more emotionally dependant and lost that it’s less easy to drift back into overlord mode around him. You’ll note that Megatron doesn’t have another mode to switch to, just a rusty parental unit protocol set he’s never activated before. Soundwave gets called down immediately, surveillance be damned, he needs someone with caretaking knowledge and he needs them now.

Bumblebee doesn’t really perceive the difference, he couldn’t clock Harry’s age in any au, he was kinda sure the bot was glitched initially. His genuine confusion when Harry kicks and screams and sobs like a very young child who’s thinnest thread of guidance was just ripped away from him by a lying yellow monster easily comes across as cruelty. The mistrust and fear/hatred Harry develops for him does not mellow for far longer than his stay with the Autobots.

On the bright side his meltdown makes the Autobots come to terms with their find much more quickly. They could hear the distress calls a mile from the dam and had a lot of the freakout there instead.

Ironhide rips him out of Bumblebee’s cab while Jazz is split between hovering worriedly and tearing the scout to pieces for allowing him to get so worked up. Similar rough aesthetic and coloring to Megatron and an English accent help a great deal in calming Harry down and the rocking and lullabies do the rest.

Every Autobot has his targeting systems on and a whole lot of automatic aggression coursing through them with the terror and pain of a sparkling still fresh in the air. After Bumblebee is brought to miserable apologies and Bonecrusher is ripped limb from limb they’re still pumped and ready to Throw Down with Megatron. But he just makes that deal to keep Harry safe and assures Harry that he’ll be okay with Optimus and Megs’ll be back soon.

Harry is still distraught Megatron left him with strangers. But he’s there long enough to form those Autobot attachments, primarily with Ironhide, Ratchet and Jazz.

Ironhide doesn’t put him down much at all, even when Harry tries to hide it, he gets anxious all alone on the cot and much prefers the nook between pauldron and helm to cuddle in and listen to growly war stories and life lessons. He sleeps up there whenever possible too. Ironhide can tell all this and happily allows it, staying stock-still for hours and gently rousing him whenever Harry begins to have a nightmare about the dam.

Ironhide’s perception hasn’t logically changed much, but the way Harry behaves ticks every box to drive him into an overprotective rampage, to the point that humans aren’t allowed within thirty feet of him and even the tiniest whimper has him hovering like three thousand pounds of promised death over his charge.

They bond the closest, to the point that Ironhide could plausibly replace Megatron as Harry’s imprinted guardian (but he doesn’t).

Jazz and Ratchet share tertiary ‘older brother’ type roles in Harry’s life. Jazz reads to him, plays games with him, and holds him when Ironhide can’t be there. His playful casualness helps keep Harry calm and gets him to open up, but its not something he responds to as successfully. Camaraderie is appreciated but not something an insecure five-year-old always understands.

Jazz gains the most points correcting Optimus’ treatment of him and handling any humans who get into the hanger before Ironhide does something drastic. Thinks that play up his aptitude as a parental figure and devotion to keeping him healthy and safe.

Ratchet...he really needs Harry’s observational skills and willingness to shoulder some emotional weight in the relationship, unfair or not. Without the ability to deliver the reassurance Ratchet needs, in addition to possessing a much more fragile disposition himself, it can be difficult for Ratchet to interact with Harry. He keeps to himself when Harry doesn’t ask for him or need treatment and they read rejection in each other’s hesitance too often for Harry to pursue the affection fit to burst in Ratchet.

Ratchet would 100% die for him and is right up there with Ironhide as his most aggressive defender, but he isn’t a great source of comfort for Younger!Harry. He wins his points through being the best cuddler, hands down, and praising him most often. Soft moments when neither of them are shy or afraid are where they’re closest.

Optimus is weirdly like Bumblebee here. He has Harry clocked as infant but god knows that that’s supposed to mean. He doesn’t have a mode outside of Prime to switch to for Harry and the stumbling we see in PA is him doing his very best. He’s not dumb, he recognizes that Harry isn’t emotionally mature enough to be spoken to the way he might mistakenly speak to him in PA, but he doesn’t have any other words. There’s a lot of frustrated staring and helpless silences here.

Jazz tries his best to gently encourage some softer interactions and Ironhide is raring to punish his Prime if he dares misstep with his sparkling charge, tensions stay a little high.

With Soundwave planning Harry’s extraction, it goes off almost without a hitch, no sparklings were bitten in the attempt at least. Thundercracker might actually die depending on the plan. He has the most experience out of the Decepticons with immature and young bots via his own casseticons and a paternal disposition under all his cool logic. So he’s bustling around like an expectant mother, training up all the other Cons in grueling exercises and curriculum to get them up to his standards of child rearing aptitude and childproofing the base.

Megatron really does appreciate some tangible, reliable instructions. He’d appreciate it even more if he wasn’t a little bit threatened by how confident and capable Soundwave is when interacting with Harry. Soundwave quickly becomes the second favorite- almost on par with Ironhide.

Barricade is terrified of Harry in that way twenty-somethings are terrified when married friends give them babies and then leave to do something. This is way too important and delicate for him and someone pleaserescuehimitsgettingcloserohmygod-

Thundercracker is much more cautious handling Harry. We haven’t gotten there yet in PA, but he’s kind of the fun uncle who definitely goads Harry into things partially to get under Meg’s skin. Not so when Harry is more openly vulnerable and clumsy, now we’ve got a little baby chick who needs to stay in his nest and be warm and safe. Gliding will happen much, much later. If ever.

Harry was affected by how the scientists treated him to the point of being intensely shy around friendly, good humans and flatly terrified of anyone else. Megatron hunted down every remaining SS agent with Soundwave’s help to finish the job for that.

Eventually, Harry would feel more secure and comfortable and would start wanting to be on the ground and playing with less parental bots instead of carried everywhere by his guardians, but that recovery is achieved at the Decepticon base after some weeks have passed.

Okay and I think that’s it! Thanks for asking!! I had probably too much fun...

#oliverslewty #pa #perfectly alien #baby harry au #anon ask #sd speaks #optimus prime #megatron #barricade #thundercracker #jazz #ironhide #soundwave #harry potter #sparkling au #bumblebee #ratchet

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