#' the difficulty scales with their strength '

[amoirsetpacis]

@light-imperfected

★ --;; Vash is keenly aware of the weight of the extra bullets he has on him as well as the weight of the colt in his hand and how many rounds are still inside as he ducks for cover beneath an outcropping of rock. He knows for a fact that he doesn't have a lot of time to stay hiding here, knows for a fact that the fucking dragon that had spotted him and had refused to let up on his trail had definitely seen him scramble inside from above.

Memories of the last time he had been in such a situation flare up brightly in the back of his mind but are gone just as quickly as they appear-- it had been different, then, having chosen to help those in need and having made a plan of action, and he had had help. Now, this thing seems to be hunting him as if he's a toy to play with, and it makes the situation that much worse.

A line of fire scorches the grass just outside his hideaway and the seconds feel as though they're only capable of ticking by faster and faster as Vash desperately tries to think of a plan. There are no buildings to hide behind out here, no alleys to slink through. He's completely out of his element.

He can hear the great beating wings of the beast circling above him, of it slowly lowering itself to the ground, and knows that if he doesn't get out of here quick he'll be turned into some rather tough barbeque.

[ghostlyferrettarot]

🎲🖤Chiron in the signs🖤🎲

❗️All the observations in this post are based on personal experience and research, it's completely fine if it doesn't resonate with everyone❗️

✨️Paid Services ✨️ (Natal charts and tarot readings)Open!

🎲If you like my work you can support me through Ko-fi. Thank you!🎲

🗝Masterlist🗝

🗝Chiron reveals where we possibly have wounds, what hurts the most in each of us. With that, this influence guides us through a journey of suffering and liberation throughout life.🗝

���Chiron in Aries: is a more individualistic, impetuous and impulsive energy and such influence can "hurt." is affected by a possible feeling of worthlessness. These are people who may not value themselves (or may not know the exact measure of their value). Therefore, he should not fear his initiatives nor his own strength. At some point in life, the native must embark on a journey of self-discovery to overcome any feelings of helplessness that arise during life.

🎲Chiron in Taurus: can give rise to some problems related to insecurity or self-esteem. They may resent not considering themselves attractive or for some physical attribute that they dislike. Insecurity can also be due to the scarcity of some material good that he considers essential. It can be money, property, in short, anything he needs to feel safe and stable. Once he achieves such achievements and goals, insecurity will tend to decrease. People with this positioning have to learn to value themselves more in order to heal.

🎲Chiron in Gemini: May indicate a need to find your own voice. They can be very imaginative and creative but can have some problems expressing themselves. They relate more to their outgoing and spiritual side, some seek time for seclusion, introspection, and reflection. Individuals have difficulty learning rigorously, mechanically, but they still acquire knowledge by paying attention, capturing the deeper messages.

🎲Chiron in Cancer: Those with this positioning are more likely to feel out of place, sometimes thinking that they are not loved or that they do not receive enough love and attention. These are people who are more inclined to care for others, but they also need to be cared for. Learning to take care of their own needs is the key to balance, so they can feel complete. Opening your heart and accepting the love of others is also essential to healing any inner pain that may arise.

🎲Chiron in Leo: It can influence some feelings of dismissal, which eventually causes these people to feel unrecognized or not feel creative enough. These natives may think that their talents are or have been neglected, they may feel that they never had the opportunity to shine. The difficulty they demonstrate in expressing their own talents may be due to a repressed childhood or other various situations. To help overcome it, the individual needs to find a way to get closer to her inner child and awaken her creativity.

🎲Chiron in Virgo: may indicate possible changes in health or the feeling that personal problems are never definitively resolved. This influence can give the person a different way of dealing with the body, healing and health, in addition to work and routine. It can make the individual overly critical. It is recommended to learn to face imperfection, something that can be very difficult for them. . The fact is, since they tend to naturally be a perfectionist, they could use this trait where it is most welcome: in the spheres of healing and work.

🎲Chiron in Libra: May suggest possible problems in relationships with people. Relationships with some individuals may be more difficult and you may constantly have to deal with someone who is rude or rude. Or someone selfish or unfair. It may also indicate that this person is more likely to feel hurt or rejected in a relationship. You need to contain your impulses to achieve everything that the Libran scale means. The solution may involve better communication, more harmonious relationships, and the use of logic and common sense.

🎲Chiron in Scorpio: may suggest resentments or losses, material or symbolic throughout life. may, in some ways, suffer losses at an early age. Or feeling like a part of yourself has died due to irreparable losses. He may be afraid of his power to "dive" into the hearts of others, just as he may feel helpless. You are advised to enjoy life more lightly, because even when we lose something or someone, our life goes on and we can still become richer and more experienced with what we have or achieve.

🎲Chiron in Sagittarius: may suggest a certain lack of incentive in life or possible ruptures in your beliefs and values. In the sign of Sagittarius it may suggest wounds in the person's structure of faith or natural enthusiasm, which may have been discredited or missing. had no incentive. This positioning may suggest a break with spiritual traditions or teachings that may cause pain. People with this positioning may feel confined to a mundane existence. When you realize that there is wisdom in your own heart, your healing process begins.

🎲Chiron in Capricorn: May suggest some difficulty achieving goals in life and dealing with authority. It can suggest the difficulties that an individual may have in satisfying his or her greatest desires. From an early age, his ambition may have been restricted or he may have encountered many obstacles that were difficult to overcome. Perhaps you have lacked incentive from family or friends, or you have encountered inflexible bosses, etc. To overcome this, these natives must believe in themselves again, because then they will have more energy to pursue their ambitions.

🎲Chiron in Aquarius: can suggest wounds in collective concepts, freedom or personal originality. It may suggest feelings of inadequacy and social rejection. Aquarius brings a desire for freedom, originality, and the collective good, and such positioning can undermine such things, making the individual eventually feel uncomfortable dealing with people, groups, and tribes, and more likely to feel disconnected or isolated. To find the path to healing, they must learn to be themselves and appreciate their differences. This can be a difficult lesson, as some are not as comfortable in their own skin.

🎲Chiron in Pisces: may suggest wounds in beliefs, intuition, and the willingness to help those in need. People with this positioning in their birth chart may have been wounded by being wrong about others, suffering disappointments or betrayals. It suggests possible existential crises. This individual may eventually suffer a religious or spiritual crisis or lose faith in the world and others. They must balance their feelings and understand that there are disappointments along the way, but they can be overcome. That way, they will be able to find a cure for their problems.

[felassan]

BioWare Blogpost: Accessibility

"Journal #10 Accessibility Spotlight A look into Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s Gameplay Accessibility Options --- Hey everyone! Today, we want to share many of the Accessibility features in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Regardless of skill level or ability, we want everyone to be able to enjoy the full experience and story of our game. There are several features and settings to customize the game to meet your individual needs; so let’s dig in!"

"First off, let’s discuss combat and the difficulty settings. During Character Creation, players can select from one of five curated difficulty levels or create a completely customized experience: Storyteller - Here for the story. Keeper - A balanced combat experience that emphasizes party composition and equipment choices over reaction times. Adventurer - A balanced experience that places equal emphasis on combat, party composition, and equipment choices. Underdog - Here to be pushed to the limit, requiring strategic planning and tactical decisions. Nightmare - Overwhelming battles that give no quarter. Requires a mastery of combat, equipment, skills, and game mechanics to survive. - Selecting Nightmare cannot be undone without starting a new playthrough. Unbound - Customize all settings. - Settings impact numerous aspects of gameplay. If this is your first time, consider a curated preset instead. Even after selecting a difficulty, there are more combat options available in the Settings Menu if you wish to make further adjustments. For example, you can adjust elements like parry timing, aim assist strength, or even how aggressive enemies are. See below for a full list of combat settings."

"UI and HUD elements are also customizable. Many elements of the HUD can be conditionally hidden or turned off entirely. For example, you can fully hide elements like Rook’s health, the objective tracker, or the Mini Map. There are also options for the text size in the UI."

"There are some accessibility aids for interface elements. For example, subtitles are fully customizable allowing you to modify things like the size, opacity, speaker names, and color. Other settings add audio aids to visual-only elements like incoming attack indicators. For anyone with vision deficiencies, there are full-screen color filters to improve visibility."

"Beyond the UI and HUD, there are a few more options regarding the game’s visual effects. For anyone who deals with motion sickness, there is a Persistent Dot Option and Motion Blur can be fully turned off. The in-game Camera Shake can also be adjusted from 0-100%. Additionally, there’s an FOV slider in the graphical settings."

"As discussed in the PC Features Blog, all inputs are remappable for gameplay in Dragon Age: The Veilguard on both controller and keyboard for all platforms. Input sensitivity and deadzones are also customizable with sliding scales. There are some UI interactions that require an input to be held for a short period of time, but this can be changed to tap instead. All of these options allow you to play the game in whatever way is most comfortable. These settings and more are available in Dragon Age: The Veilguard! See a full list below to check out all of our Accessibility settings and check out our Accessibility Portal. Interviews and coverage of our Preview Event will be released  on September 19th; so watch out for that. Chat soon!             — The Dragon Age Team"

"Audio - 3D Audio - Accessibility SFX - Glint Ping SFX - Mono Audio - Speaker Type - Volume Sliders Controls - Ability Wheel Controller Activation (Hold or Tap) - Disable UI Hold Inputs - Input Remapping - Invert Axis (X & Y available) - Swap Left & Right Sticks - Stick Deadzones - Trigger Deadzones - Vertical & Horizontal Sensitivity - Vibration Intensity GAMEPLAY Combat - Aim Assist  - Aim Snap  - Combat Timing - Enemy Aggression  - Enemy Damage - Enemy Health  - Enemy Resistances  - Enemy Vulnerability  - Prevent Death Exploration - Frequent Auto-Saving - Library (Codex, Glossary, Missives) - Object Glint Distance - Object Glint Visibility - Objective Marker Visibility - Pause at any time - Waypoint Visibility - World & Local Maps available at all times Visual / UI - Camera Shake - Depth of Field - Full-screen Colorblind Filters - Hide-able HUD Elements (Abilities, Damage Numbers, Hints, Mini Map, Objective Tracker, Player Health, Tutorials) - Low Health Screen Effect - Motion Blur - Persist Dot Option - Ranged & Melee Threat Indicators - Subtitle Advanced Options (Background Opacity, Speaker Names, Speaker Name Color, Subtitle Size) - UI Text Size - Vignette"

[source]

[0xstarzx0]

𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 | ONE-SHOT

Princes Rafe Cameron x Witch Readers

{OPEN COMMAND}

[English is not my native language❗️❗️]

SYNOPSIS: During a trip, Rafe is ambushed. Fortunately, a beautiful woman gets in his way.

TW: smut, plush, mention of murder, sex in V, caresses, sex vaginal , masturbating, unprotected sex, penetration.

______________________________________________

In 1600, witches were feared by all, feared like the plague. In a series of large-scale killings, no witches survived. Survivors were forced to live in the shadows, forced to hide their powers for fear of a being burned at the stake.

Rafael Ward Cameron, the first of his name, was on the verge of becoming king. His father had recently died, and as the eldest of three children, the position was now his.

He was beloved and supported by his people, despite his reputation as a womanizer, Rafe was involved in the future of his people.

On his way south to sign a peace deal with the Country, Rafe's carriage was attacked. His guards were savagely killed as he fought against his enemies.

That was the last thing Rafe remembered.

You carefully pour the mixture on his chest, trying not to wake him. His injury is deep and could be fatal if not treated properly.

Your eyes are drawn to the faint line of hair that descend beneath the covers. Your hand moves slowly towards his body, unsure of what you are doing.

Rafe starts to blink his eyes as his senses sharpen as he feels fingers touching his skin.

He looks around and spot you, your hand moving beneath the covers.

He can see an obvious uncertainty in your demeanor that Rafe hates.

With a quick movement, he grabs your wrist firmly, causing you to let out a frightened gasp.

"Stop it."

He growls weakly, feeling exhausted, as if someone is pounding his head. He uses all of his strength to sit up.

Once he has fully recovered his senses, his eyes properly observe the room, taking in the herbs, candles, grimoires, precious stones, crystals, and potions. The sight makes him uneasy, but the mirror piques his curiosity the most. He feels a sense of uncertainty building within him.

"You're... a witch" 

he manages to say, his voice cold but with a hint of menace.

You were about to respond, but then he grabs you roughly and pushes you onto the bed, straddling you and choking you. His eyes are filled with anger, but you can see a flicker of fear within them.

He holds onto you tightly, using his weight to pin you down on the bed. His jaw was obviously clenched, and his breath came in ragged gasps that mingled with yours, his face so close that you could see the obvious mix of anger and pain in the way his body tensed.

He keeps you pinned there in silence, his hands clenched around your throat, almost as if testing your limits.

You say nothing, too scared. You can feel how angry he is, and if he wanted to, he could easily break your neck.

He held your gaze for a few more moments, his grip still firm around your neck. But slowly, his own body started to relax as the mixture you hadapplied a few minutes ago began to take effect. His eyes started to droop a little, and the anger in his expression started to soften.

He slowly blinked, his grip on your neck loosening slightly. He tried to speak, but the words came out with difficulty and confusion.

"W-What.. did you.. do.. to me."

You move away from him, readjusting your dress and carefully covering his bare body under the sheets.

He watches you move away from him, his eyes still foggy and confused, as the mixture slowly but surely makes its way through his system, making him feel weak and disoriented. He attempts to protest, but his words come out clumsy and confused.

His limbs were heavy and uncooperative, making it difficult for him to move, a wave of immense frustration crossed his face as he was forced to remain lying down.

"What did you do to me...?"

✩✽✩

The pain and tension seemed to melt away from his body as the mixture took full effect. His breathing began to slow and even out, and his eyes slowly closed, fighting to stay open. His body became limp and he quickly slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Rafe began to slowly regain consciousness. His eyes opened slowly, and he grimaced as the sunlight passed through the thick window curtains. His body still felt heavy and fatigued, but the pain had significantly lessened.

He sat up at the end of the bed, his hands running over his chest, feeling the bandages wrapped around his chest. He took a deep breath.

You are in the main room, keeping an eye on the soup boiling over the fire. The clothes of the stranger you saved a few days ago are drying outside, they seem to come from a royal family. 

You hear grunts and heavy noises.

Rafe slowly exited the bed, his body still feeling weak but stable. He stumbled over to the window, his eyes scanning the forest. He noticed the clothes drying outside, recognizing them thanks to the colors of the kingdom.

He ran a hand through his hair, feeling frustrated. The memory of the attack came back to him, and he winced as he touched a bruise on his ribs, those assholes did not hold back.

A loud noise echoed through the house, and you turned to see the handsome stranger staggering.

You quickly got up to help. In order to stabilize him, he slammed you against the wall and grabbed the knife that was sitting on a nearby table.

He looked at you as if you had tried to assassinate him.

Rafe was indeed kind but he could not bear the idea that a witch had cast a spell on him to calm him down - even if you had only done so to help.-

"Why am I here?"

You are unable to speak, paralyzed by his eyes which are filled only with rage.

His grip on the knife tightened and his eyes narrowed even further.

He spoke again, his voice dripping with hostility.

"I asked you a question. Where am I and how did I end up here?"

You look at him, he moves the knife closer to your eye. You finally open your mouth.

"I found you dying, near here." You swallow.

His expression softens as he listens to your explanation, but his guard is still up.

He slightly backed away, giving you some space to breathe, but he still held the knife tightly in his hand.

"Why did you save me?"

You catch your breath, unaccustomed to human contact, and especially, you were certain he was going to kill you.

"You weren't completely dead, I just wanted to help... Your loved ones would have probably cursed me if I hadn't. If I could have, I would have saved the others too." You avoided his gaze.

His eyes narrow again as he listens to your answer. He can sense the honesty in your words, but something about the way you look so gullible disturbs him.

"So you just happened to come across me and thought, "Why not save this stranger?" Do you usually save princes , because if so, please consider reconsidering your approach."

Tu laugh. "Lucky you're not one then." Rafe frowns and crosses his arms across his chest, avoiding touching his wound.

Seeing how truly unaware you seemed, he let out an humorless laugh, his grip on the knife loosening slightly.

"Well, I suppose I should introduce myself then. Rafael Ward Cameron the first, Prince of the North"

"My name is Y/N." You offer him your hand, which is dirty. You quickly clean it on your dress and offer it to him again.

Rafe raised an eyebrow at the sight of her dirty hand, typically women would curtsey to him. They wouldn't offer him their hands to shake, especially not if they were dirty.

But he took it anyway. Your skin was rough, clearly accustomed to manual labor. Feeling the contrast between his smooth, immaculate hand and your calloused one.

The contrast made him confused. You were a pretty girl, despite your height and slightly too generous curves. you have perfect legs for childbearing.

"Y/N," he repeated, testing the name on his tongue.

"Are you hungry?" you ask. "I made some soup."

You help him walk over to the table, clearly unbothered by the fact that he is naked.

He sits heavily on the chair. He watches you move your things off the table. The aroma of the soup is tantalizing, and his stomach growls, reminding him how long it's been since he's eaten.

You hand him the bowl, which he takes carefully. His fingers brush yours briefly, sending an odd sensation through you. He sips the soup carefully at first, but once the hot, savory liquid hits his tongue, he can't help but devour the meal with relish.

You sit down next to him and smile. Enjoying the fact that he's devouring your soup.

"There's plenty more."

✩✽✩

 It had been a few weeks since Rafe had been with you, he was almost fully healed, it was only a matter of time before he would leave, perhaps even days or hours.

You read your book, trying to figure out why witches are portrayed as heartless creatures. Rafe stands behind you, reading the artifacts he holds in his hand.

He is close enough to feel the warmth of your body. He had strangely become fond of your presence, you didn’t treat him like a prince, but like a friend. He liked the fact that he was alone with you.

He moves closer to you, his breath caressing your neck. Without thinking, he leans in and gently presses his lips against your skin, trailing a path towards your ear.

"What are you reading?"

You freeze, it's the first time anyone has ever acted this way with you. You turn and look at him.

Your faces are only inches apart. Excuse me...what did you say?

"I asked you what you were reading." He repeats, his voice low and heavy, triggering something inside you. He lifts his hand and brushes a strand of hair away from your face, his fingers remaining on your cheek. 

You turn your gaze away and show him the book.

"I'd like to know why witches are considered the most evil and terrifying creatures, so I stole this one." You say casually.

He smiles slightly, amused by your response.

"Witches are feared because their powers are considered an affront to nature and society." He explains, his eyes scanning your face.

"How do you know?" You ask, turning to face him. 

"The army." He shrugs. "Witches are nice though..." You say that but you don't know any apart from your mother.

"I know." he says quietly. "You've only shown me kindness and compassion these past few weeks."

You smile, he slowly leans closer. Your lips connect but they don't kiss.

After a few seconds of hesitation, Rafe closes the space between you, his lips gently caressing yours. It's a soft, hesitant kiss, he can feel his breath mixing with yours as he deepens the kiss, his hand moving to rest on your waist.

Your lips make the same movements as his, he gently runs his large hands under your dress.

He can sense your inexperience, the way yours touch is hesitant and uncertain. He gently pushes you down onto the bed, his body covering yours. His hands roam over your curves, mapping unfamiliar shape as he explores your innocence with a tender and reverent touch.

"Don’t worry," he whispers, his lips hovering above your neck. "I’ll show you"

You wrap your legs around his, closing your eyes as you experience something new, a blend of pleasure and desire.

Rafe groans at the sensation, your body heat pressing against his. He kisses your neck again, his hands sliding upwards to cup your breasts, his thumbs brushing against your hardened nipples through the thin fabric of your dress. 

You let out a series of uncontrollable moans from your mouth, they may sound obscene but the feeling is so good. 

Rafe feels a primal desire to claim you as his own. He grinds his hips against yours teasingly, both of you reacting to the stimulation.

You moan looking at him, his chest is so magnificent that not running your fingers over it is challenging. 

Rafe growls low in his throat, your chest too large for him to fully cup, he grinds against your palm.* "Touch me," he whispers, guiding your hand downwards to encourage you to explore his abs. "I want to feel your hands all over me."

"Are you sure?..." you ask timidly.

Rafe nods, his eyes darkening with desire as he watches you touch him. He grabs your wrist, guiding it towards the belt of his pants."Yes."

You touch him hesitantly, his face changes into an expression you don't recognize. You stop touching him, unsure. His eyes narrows as a flicker of impatience passes through them. "Why did you stop?" he asks.

He reaches out to take your hand gently, bringing it back to his chest. "Don't stop," He whispers softly.

You feel his hand moving up your thigh. You gently pass your fingers over the bulge in his pants. "Am I hurting you?" you ask, concerned. He shakes his head, biting his lip as he pulls you closer. "No, don't stop. Keep going,"

Rafe lets out a shaky breath as your fingers trace the prominent bulge of his erection. It's hard as a rock, throbbing at your touch. "Oh that's incredible," he moans, his hips moving involuntarily. "Please don't stop."

You do as he says without hesitation. He groans softly as you continue to touch him, his body reacting to your touch. "You're so good at this," he praises, his hands roaming over your body as he deepens the kiss.

Rafe gasps as you start to unbutton his belt, your fingers fumbling slightly with the buckle. He reaches out to help, his own hands trembling with anticipation. "That's it," he encourages, his voice stretched taut with need. "Take it off."

You slowly remove his pants, revealing his tight underwear that bulges with a large lump. "Are you okay?" you ask with concern. He nods, a hungry look in his eyes as he watches your every move. "Yes, I'm more than okay,"

"I need to be inside you," he say, his voice husky with desire. You takes a moment to understand what he were asking for, then his eyes light up as you finally understands.

"How?" You asks, excitement coursing through your veins. "Like this."

The smile on Rafe's face widens as he lifts you up, positioning you over his throbbing cock. He teases your entrance with it, rubbing it against your wet folds, which seems to be working. "Tell me you want me inside you, Y/N,"

Your voice trembles with need, your breath hitching with every passing moment."I want you... I want you..."The words spill from your lips as you arch your back, trying to seek out his touch.

Rafe groans, pushing deep inside you with one powerful thrust. He remains still for a moment, allowing you to adjust to his size before starting to move. "I could give up an entire kingdom for you." he moans, his hips smacking against yours as he fills you again and again.

You moan, pressing your forehead against his. "It would be unfair to you." The words are mumbled against his lips, your mind hazy with pleasure and desire.

Rafe moans, his thrusts becoming more insistent as he demands more from you. He grabs the back of your neck, pulling your chest against his as he kisses you deeply. "I don't care what it costs, Y/N. I want you."

You moan in pleasure, the sound so loud that you worry about hurting his ears. 

But the desire coursing through your body is too intense and you find yourself unable to control it.

Rafe's thrusts become more desperate as you cry out with passion. He reaches between you, rubbing your clitoris as he pounds his dick deep inside. The sensations overwhelm you and you arch up into the touch."AH!"

You moan desperate in pleasure, refusing to let it stop. Rafe looks at you with pure passion, his thrusts becoming more urgent, as if driven by some primal need. "Y/N, I need you to come..."

Rafe groans, his movements becoming erratic as he feels your body clench around him. He knows he's close, his balls tight as he drives into you with increasing desperation.

"I don't want to go back to the castle but  if I have to," he growls, rubbing your clit faster."I want you to be my queen." His words are a dark promise, his hips thrusting wildly as he chases his climax.

You cry out with greater intensity, closing your eyes as your breath becomes ragged and your body trembles. The combination of his rough thrusts and skilled fingers has pushed you dangerously close to the edge.

Rafe's hand works feverishly as his groans fill the room. His fingers dance over your sensitive clit, pushing you closer and closer to the brink.

He can feel your walls pulsing against his cock, pushing him over the edge. With a final, hard thrust, he growls as he releases inside of you.

Your body goes rigid as you feel Rafe's cock pulsing deep inside, milking out every last drop of his seed. "You've got a kingdom to rule, Rafe...I can't come, it would be.-"

He whispers against your hair, his voice thick with emotion. "You are worth more than any crown." He slowly begins to pull out, letting out a soft sigh at the sensation of your walls gripping him.

"Don't say that." 

Rafe can't love a witch, Rafe must love someone from a good family. Someone whom he knows his empire will prosper with.

You will always be faithful to him, but a witch in command of an entire kingdom? That would be a disaster. "I’m a witch Rafael.."

His eyes search yours, his hand gently gripping your cheek as he looks at you with an intensity that makes your delicate porcelain heart skip a beat. "Y/N, I'm not afraid of who you are," he says softly, his thumb caressing your skin. "I'm afraid of losing you."

Your heart shatters, you feel as if the fragments are echoing throughout your being, your hands shaking. "You'll be leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow. I'll send animals to help you not get lost." You put as much space as possible between you and leave the room.

Rafe's heart aches as you walk away from him, his body remaining still as he watches you leave. He feels the distance between you growing with every step you take and it is tearing him apart inside. "Y/N, wait."

The next day, in the early hours, you felt the bed empty next to you.

When you woke up a little later, Rafe had disappeared. He had taken one of your necklaces, the one with your initials and left one of his cuff links along with one of his medals as a symbol of eternal loyalty.

He’s waiting for you. He’s waiting for you to come so you can live the life you deserve.

✩✽✩

.

.pt2?

.

.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Maybe we simply underestimate how difficult and complicated a mind can be. Perhaps, diving into other people minds requires a lot of energy. Naturally, each person hides secrets that they don’t want to be found by others.

We can say that the UM of Jade is like opening a chest with a padlock. Some codes are very difficult to found and some are easy. We can even say that some codes are just too cryptic for Jade.

It remind me of Nagi’s power in the World ends with you NEO. She can dive deep down other people mind but the operation is not easy. We have multiple steps before reaching the truth.

Maybe the difference with Silver is that he enter other people minds when they are sleeping. Jade use his UM when they are conscious. That increases the difficulty.

[Referencing this post!]

This would be easier for me to believe if Jamil’s UM didn’t exist. There seems to be very few limitations on his Snake Whisper despite it being very similar in design to Jade’s. For example, Jamil’s UM will physically hurt those who resist his spell until they finally cave in. He can basically brute force what he needs while Jade can’t—Jade has to be careful how much he presses for information and he gets saddled with the caveat that he can never use his UM on that person again.

It can’t simply be a matter of skill because that would imply Jamil is always craftier (or I guess “better at lock picking”) than Jade, which isn’t true in all cases. (Octavinelle pulled one over Jamil in book 4.) Not sure if lock picking is the best analogy here though, since neither Jamil nor Jade’s UMs are described as them literally delving into someone’s mind and being made privy to whatever is in there 🤔

I do want to note that the complexity of the spell also seems go involve number/scale. Jamil’s UM is stated to result in rapid blot generation if he casts it over a wide range. This is why we typically see both him using it on one person at a time, maybe two. This is the case for other UMs as well, such as Cater (who is limited on the number of clones he can produce at a time and how long he can sustain each of them). In this case, Jamil and Jade are usually only using their UM on one person each—thereby expending roughly the same amount of energy—and making commands of them. Put like this, there’s still very clear disparities between their power levels.

As I said in my original post, I understand that there will naturally be variance in UM and strength among students! There isn’t anything wrong with that. I just find it highly unbelievable and inconsistent with other lore (ie Fellow having “weak” magic/not getting into any magic school but his UM being way more useful than Jade’s, Jade telling Floyd off for sharing what his own UM does, etc.) Silver being able to use his UM multiple times in a short span of time also seems like something written for plot convenience rather than for actual lore reasons, given how repetitive book 7’s dream hopping segments are. It doesn’t feel totally cohesive to me, if that makes sense.

[anghraine]

Hi! Can you explain what really the power of foresight was with Faramir? I read the books earlier this year and I don't really quite understand it. He could predict the future? Like he would see it in his dreams? But how did he found out from Gollum that he was taking frodo and sam to cirith ungol and that he had committed murder before?

No problem, it's one of my favorite topics!

The concise explanation: I think Faramir's foresight/aftersight in terms of visions is a largely separate "power" from his ability to bring his strength of mind and will to bear on other people and animals, and to resist outside influence. The visions seem more a matter of broad sensitivity, something Faramir doesn't appear to have much if any control over. The second power is (in our terms) essentially a form of direct telepathy, limited in some ways but still very powerful, and I think this second ability is what Faramir is using with Gollum.

The really long version:

In my opinion, Faramir (or Denethor, Aragorn, etc) doesn't necessarily read thoughts like a book, particularly not with a mind as resistant as Gollum's. Faramir describes Gollum's mind in particular as dark and closed, it seems unusually so—

"There are locked doors and closed windows in your mind, and dark rooms behind them," said Faramir.

Still, Gollum is unable to entirely block Faramir's abilities. In LOTR, it does not seem that Gollum can fully block powerful mental abilities such as Faramir's, though his toughness and hostility does limit what Faramir can see. (Unfinished Tales, incidentally, suggests iirc that Denethor's combination of "great mental powers" and his right to use the Anor-stone allowed him to telepathically get the better of Saruman through their palantíri, a similar but greater feat.) I imagine that this is roughly similar to, but scaled down from, Galadriel's telepathic inquiries of even someone as reluctant to have her in his mind as Boromir, given that Faramir is able to still see some things in Gollum's mind, if with more difficulty than usual.

(WRT Boromir ... ngl, if I was the human buffer between Denethor and Faramir, I would also not be thrilled about sudden telepathic intrusions from basically anyone, much less someone I had little reason to trust.)

Disclaimer: a few years after LOTR's publication, Tolkien tried to systematize how this vague mystical telepathy stuff really works. One idea he had among many, iirc, was that no unwilling person's mind could be "read" the ways that Gollum's is throughout LOTR. IMO that can't really be reconciled w/ numerous significant interactions in LOTR where resistance to mental intrusion or domination is clearly variable between individuals and affected by personal qualities like strength of will, basic resilience, the effort put into opposition, supernatural powers, etc. And these attempts at resistance are unsuccessful or only partially successful on many occasions in LOTR (the Mouth of Sauron, for one example, is a Númenórean sorcerer in the book who can't really contend with Aragorn on a telepathic level). So I, personally, tend to avoid using the terminology and rationales from that later systematized explanation when discussing LOTR. And in general, I think Tolkien's later attempts to convert the mystical, mysterious wonder of Middle-earth into something more "hard magic" or even scientific was a failed idea on a par with Teleporno. Others differ!

In any case, when Gollum "unwillingly" looks at Faramir while being questioned, the creepy light drains from his eyes and he shrinks back while Faramir concludes he's being honest on that specific occasion. Gollum experiences physical pain when he does try to lie to Faramir—

"It is called Cirith Ungol." Gollum hissed sharply and began muttering to himself. "Is not that its name?" said Faramir turning to him. "No!" said Gollum, and then he squealed, as if something had stabbed him.

I don't think this is a deliberate punishment from Faramir—that wouldn't be like him at all—and I don't think it's the Ring, but simply a natural consequence of what Faramir is. Later, Gandalf says of Faramir's father:

"He can perceive, if he bends his will thither, much of what is passing in the minds of men ... It is difficult to deceive him, and dangerous to try."

So, IMO, Faramir's quick realization that Gollum is a murderer doesn't come from any vision of the future or past involving Gollum—that is, it's not a deduction from some event he's seen. Faramir does not literally foresee Gollum's trick at Cirith Ungol. His warning would be more specific in that case, I think. What he sees seems to be less detailed but more direct and, well, mystical. Faramir likely doesn't know who exactly Gollum murdered or why or what any of the circumstances were. Rather, Gollum's murderousness and malice are visible conditions of his soul to Faramir's sight. Faramir doesn't foresee the particulars of Gollum's betrayal—but he can see in Gollum's mind that he is keeping something back. Faramir says of Gollum:

"I do not think you are holden to go to Cirith Ungol, of which he has told you less than he knows. That much I perceived clearly in his mind."

Meanwhile, in a letter written shortly before the publication of LOTR, Tolkien said of Faramir's ancestors:

They became thus in appearance, and even in powers of mind, hardly distinguishable from the Elves

So these abilities aren't that strange in that context. Faramir by chance (or "chance") is, like his father, almost purely an ancient Númenórean type despite living millennia after the destruction of Númenor (that destruction is the main reason "Númenóreanness" is fading throughout the age Faramir lives in). Even less ultra-Númenórean members of Denethor's family are still consistently inheriting characteristics from their distant ancestor Elros, Elrond's brother, while Faramir and Denethor independently strike Sam and Pippin as peculiarly akin to Gandalf, a literal Maia like their ancestress Melian:

“Ah well, sir,” said Sam, “you [Faramir] said my master had an elvish air; and that was good and true. But I can say this: you have an air too, sir, that reminds me of, of—well, Gandalf, of wizards.”

He [Denethor] turned his dark eyes on Gandalf, and now Pippin saw a likeness between the two, and he felt the strain between them, almost as if he saw a line of smouldering fire drawn from eye to eye, that might suddenly burst into flame.

Meanwhile, Faramir's mother's family is believed to be part Elvish, a belief immediately confirmed when Legolas meets Faramir's maternal uncle:

At length they came to the Prince Imrahil, and Legolas looked at him and bowed low; for he saw that here indeed was one who had elven-blood in his veins. "Hail, lord!" he [Legolas] said. "It is long since the people of Nimrodel left the woodlands of Lórien, and yet still one may see that not all sailed from Amroth’s haven west over water."

In addition to that, Faramir's men believe he's under some specific personal blessing or charm as well as the Númenórean/Elvish/Maia throwback qualities. It's also mentioned by different groups of soldiers that Faramir can exercise some power of command over animals as well as people. Beregond describes Faramir getting his horse to run towards five Nazgûl in real time:

"They will make the Gate. No! the horses are running mad. Look! the men are thrown; they are running on foot. No, one is still up, but he rides back to the others. That will be the Captain [Faramir]: he can master both beasts and men."

Then, during the later retreat of Faramir's men across the Pelennor:

At last, less than a mile from the City, a more ordered mass of men came into view, marching not running, still holding together. The watchers held their breath. "Faramir must be there," they said. "He can govern man and beast."

Tolkien said of the ancient Númenóreans:

But nearly all women could ride horses, treating them honourably, and housing them more nobly than any other of their domestic animals. The stables of a great man were often as large and as fair to look upon as his own house. Both men and women rode horses for pleasure … and in ceremony of state both men and women of rank, even queens, would ride, on horseback amid their escorts or retinues … The Númenóreans trained their horses to hear and understand calls (by voice or whistling) from great distances; and also, where there was great love between men or women and their favorite steeds, they could (or so it is said in ancient tales) summon them at need by their thought alone. So it was also with their dogs.

Likely the same Númenórean abilities were used for evil by Queen Berúthiel against her cats. In an interview with Daphne Castell, Tolkien said:

She [Berúthiel] was one of these people who loathe cats, but cats will jump on them and follow them about—you know how sometimes they pursue people who hate them? I have a friend like that. I’m afraid she took to torturing them for amusement, but she kept some and used them—trained them to go on evil errands by night, to spy on her enemies or terrify them.

The more formal version of the Berúthiel lore recurs in Unfinished Tales:

She had nine black cats and one white, her slaves, with whom she conversed, or read their memories, setting them to discover all the dark secrets of Gondor, so that she knew those things "that men wish most to keep hidden," setting the white cat to spy upon the black, and tormenting them.

Faramir, by contrast, has a strong aversion to harming/killing animals for any reason other than genuine need, but apparently quite similar basic abilities. He typically uses these abilities to try to compassionately understand other people or gather necessary information, rather than for domination or provoking fear. Even so, Faramir does seem to use his mental powers pretty much all the time with no attempt to conceal what he's doing—he says some pretty outlandish things to Frodo and Sam as if they're very ordinary, but it doesn't seem that most people he knows can do all these things. This stuff is ordinary to him because it flows out of his fundamental being, not because it's common.

It's not clear how much fine control he has, interestingly. This is more headcanon perhaps, but I don't feel like it's completely under his control, even while it's much more controlled than things like Faramir's vision of Boromir's funeral boat, his frequent, repeated dreams of Númenor's destruction, the Ring riddle dream he received multiple times, or even his suspiciously specific "guess" of what passed between Galadriel and Boromir in Lothlórien. Yet his more everyday mental powers do seem to involve some measure of deliberate effort in a lot of the instances we see, given the differing degrees of difficulty and strain we see with the powers he and Denethor exhibit more frequently and consistently.

This is is also interesting wrt Éowyn, because Tolkien describes Faramir's perception of her as "clear sight" (which I suspect is just Tolkien's preferred parlance for "clairvoyance"). Faramir perceives a lot more of what's going on with Éowyn than I think he had materially observable evidence for—but does not see everything that's going on with her by any means. He seems to understand basically everything about her feelings for Aragorn, more than Éowyn herself does, but does not know if she loves him [Faramir].

I'm guessing that it's more difficult to "see" this way when it's directly personal (one of the tragedies of his and Denethor's relationship is that their shared mental powers do not enable either to realize how much they love each other). But it also doesn't seem like he's trying to overcome Éowyn's mental resistance the way he was with Gollum, and possibly Frodo and Sam—he does handle it a bit differently when it's not a matter of critical military urgency. With Éowyn, he sees what his abilities make clear to him, is interested enough to seek out Merry (and also perceive more than Merry says, because Faramir has never been a normal person one day in his life) but doesn't seem to really push either of them.

So I tend to imagine that with someone like Faramir, Denethor, Aragorn etc, we're usually seeing a relatively passive, natural form of low-grade telepathy that simply derives from their fundamental nature and personalities (as we see in Faramir with Éowyn, possibly Faramir with Aragorn). That can be kicked up to more powerful, forceful telepathy via active exertion of the will (as described by Gandalf wrt Denethor's ability to "bend[] his will thither" to see what passes in others' minds, and seen with Faramir vs Gollum, Aragorn vs the Mouth of Sauron, more subtly Faramir vs Denethor). At a high point of strain this can be done very aggressively or defensively (Denethor vs Gandalf, Denethor vs Saruman, Denethor vs Sauron seriously is there a Maia that man won't fight, Faramir vs the Black Breath given his completely unique symptoms that Aragorn attributes to his "staunch will", possibly Aragorn vs the Black Breath in a healing capacity...).

Anyway, I hope these massive walls of text are helpful or interesting! Thanks for the ask :)

[demonfamilytherapist]

MC Teaches the Brothers to Pole Dance

Inspired by me taking pole lessons. No real warnings - some of them are a bit suggestive, but that’s it.

Mammon

Most likely to injure himself. Not out of lack of strength - he’s just way too eager to impress you, so he tries more showy moves without getting the technique down first.

He also tends to throw himself into the spins more, which works fine when the pole is static (fixed), but when the pole is on spin he ends up with way too much speed.

Can get frustrated easily, but is also pretty quick at picking it up.

Tends to prefer moves that look impressive, regardless of their actual difficulty.

To show off, he sometimes shifts into his demon form mid-performance to stretch his wings and show off more interesting shapes.

Levi

Most nervous to start out with.

Needs a lot of encouragement to even give it a go. Won’t practice in front of his brothers - luckily, private lessons with you are a pretty good selling point.

He actually practices mostly in his demon form because his tail makes him feel more stable.

It actually does add a pretty good grip point to the pole. His scales are naturally inclined to hold on.

The more revealing clothing that’s kind of necessary for pole is another thing that makes him uncomfortable at first, but again, seeing you in just as little or less is another good selling point.

Once he gets past his initial nerves, his tail actually gives him a lot of flexibility on what he can do.

He tends to do variations on moves that allow him to rely more on his tail, since it’s his strongest limb.

Beel

Beel’s a natural and dedicated athlete, so he takes to pole very well.

He does need a few reminders on his technique - he can brute force his way through most things with sheer strength, and is often more focused on completing the move rather than performing it.

He sees it as a great way to bond with you. Once he figures out what muscles are most important, he’s really eager to discuss other ways to strengthen them so you can both improve.

He’s a really good doubles partner, since he can take the extra weight of you half hanging off him.

Prefers arm-based moves - while he can grip with his legs, he never feels as comfortable.

His wings don’t help too much with anything, but they can look very nice in the right lighting for a performance.

Asmo

Asmo is way ahead of you.

Well, sort of.

He has a good idea of the basics, but he’s generally only used it for fashion photoshoots and… private shows… neither of which really focused on a variety of moves.

That being said, he’s really enthusiastic to learn more with you!

He buys a lot of cute, very expensive pole outfits. He’s really eager to shop with you, too. Would love to match.

Asmo is a very fast learner. He’s stronger than he looks, so he’s able to physically do most of the moves right away. Mostly he just needs to refine his technique, and Asmo is a natural performer.

Anything that shows off his best angles is a good move in his book. He likes to have one arm free to blow kisses.

His wings are a wonderful accessory, and they’re also small enough not to get in his way.

Satan

Satan doesn’t really understand the point… But he’ll go along with it. It’s a good opportunity to learn more about you, and human world art forms.

It takes him a while to get the hang of it. His analytical mind is a blessing and a curse, helping him understanding the techniques and moves but often leading him to overthink in the moment.

Most likely to study up outside of your interactions - he’s the least thirsty guy following a bunch of pole dancers.

He tends to prefer slower routines that allow him to plan ahead and show off both technical skill and artistry. He’s also a surprisingly decent choreographer, probably only behind Asmo (with Levi being the other pretty good one).

He is banned from demon form on the pole. His tail is too hard and sharp, and could end up scratching it.

Belphie

It’s too much effort. And if it’s something Asmo’s that into, it can’t be worth much…

But if it’s that important to you, sure, he’ll give it a go.

Belphie is almost annoyingly good at pole once he starts taking it semi-seriously. He’s a fast learner, and keeps a cool head even when in weird and uncomfortable positions.

The biggest risk is when he falls asleep while on the pole and just… drops.

For this reason it’s best to avoid moves that are too stable or horizontal. He ends up being really dynamic just because otherwise he risks dozing off.

While putting this much effort into anything isn’t his usual style, he’s glad he gets to show off for you.

His tail isn’t grippy enough to be all that helpful, but it can be useful as a little extra support for some of the weirder positions.

Lucifer

Lucifer will not go to a group class with his brothers.

He will scoff and roll his eyes at the suggestion of a private practice.

But every time you’re with his brothers, he’s taking a close look at the moves.

In the evening, he returns to his room and summons a pole from the human world.

He practices every evening, sometimes giving up sleep. He keeps watching you practice, picking up more ideas and refining his skills.

Then, one day, while you’re trying to teach one of his brothers a certain move, he’ll walk up.

“It’s simple. Like this.”

He will do it perfectly. First try. And somehow in gloves and a full suit.

He is going to be smug about it for weeks.

[ramshacklefey]

No but serious. Dungeons & Dragons is one of the least flexible systems out there. So whenever I hear someone asking, "Why can't I do X in DnD?" or "How would I do (thing that the system is totally ill-suited for)?" my first response is just "GURPS."

For those of you who aren't familiar, GURPS stands for "Generic Universal Role Playing System." I always say it's like the Linux of ttrpgs, in the sense that it's less a system and more a framework that you can use to do whatever you want with.

And I really do mean whatever you want. You want high fantasy? Done. You want gritty realism in a dystopian world? Got it. You want superheroes? Good to go. Super tech space opera? Oh boy we got you there. You want magic systems that aren't based on spell lists? Go for it. Horror games where character death is a constant and very real threat? Sure thing.

You can set up your game to be anything from a complex data driven grinder to a cinematic rules basically optional flight of fancy.

You can play characters who are anywhere from realistically squishy humans to god-like super beings.

Characters personal flaws and strengths can have a direct impact on mechanics. Character species can have a direct and serious impact on mechanics.

The existence of so many options can make GURPS seem overwhelming at first glance, but if you are willing to put in a bit of effort, it's actually a very simple system to play. Most of the hard work is front-loaded into setting and character creation. Once play starts it runs as smooth as can be.

It's totally possible to play it with just the two core books, BUT there are dozens of books that are nothing but tips and advice for how to build a particular type of world or a particular flavor of campaign.

And the books, while not nearly as pretty as DnD books, are laid out in a way that makes it incredibly easy to find exactly the information you want.

Some more mechanical things that I particularly like about it (under the cut):

Characters are created on a point-buy system, but you don't just buy your basic stats, you also buy your skills, advantages, and secondary stats. And you can gain points back by dropping stats below average or taking disadvantages.

The advantage/disadvantage system. This is sorta the core of the character building, and it is *so* much fun. See, rather than pick out a class or species, you have a list (selected by your GM from a much larger list) of things you can buy that will have mechanical impacts on you in the game. Basically, an advantage is anything that opens up more possibilities for you in-game, and a disadvantage is anything that closes off possibilities. They can be superpowers, species traits, cinematic plot armor, personality traits, or things like chronic illness, bad temper, physical or mental disabilities, or being doomed by the narrative.

Simple dice system. To play a GURPS campaign you need three d6. That's it. All checks and saves are done by rolling 3d6 (low rolls are better than high). This has an additional advantage over the d20 system in that there is a probability curve. You're more likely to roll numbers in the mid-range, which makes both critical successes and critical failures rarer, and therefore more satisfying.

Your target roll is adjusted, rather than adding/subtracting from the roll itself. Say you're trying to, idk, hack a computer. Your skill level doesn't affect your dice roll, it affects the number you need to roll in order to succeed. This makes things a lot simpler on the player's end, imo, because there's less they need to keep track of. (You're trying to roll under the skill check, so whatever the base difficulty is, the GM just adds or subtracts your skill level from that).

The basic stats are on a much tighter scale, and they make a lot more sense. Human average is a 10 in everything. When you make your character you can buy higher stats or take lower ones and get more points to spend on other things. All stats cap out at 18, because that's the highest number you can roll. At a 10 strength you are a normal person. At 18 you're basically Superman. You'd have to roll a critical failure not to succeed in a strength check, and remember: critical failures are far less common than in a d20 system.

I could keep going ad infitum here, but instead I'll just close with:

Come with me boy, play my games! We'll have cowboy times in space!

[everytimewetouch-dot-mp3]

general svsss omegaverse yapping ahead, with a note that this is all specific to the context of svsss and ofc there are different cultures which value different things etc etc:

first of all, the “real world” is the real world. there are no alphas, betas, or omegas. PIDW is a stallion novel about the alpha-est alpha, luo binghe, and most of his wives are omegas bc sexism or whatever

now. in PIDW, most humans are betas. maybe 1 in 20 people is either an alpha or an omega. (originally i went on a long tangent about the social evolution of the demographic division but i am Controlling Myself and trying to keep this short lmao)

alphas of any gender are seen as strong, powerful, capable leaders. omegas with single-purpose birth canals are seen as the ideal spouses and parents, able to more easily cope with pregnancy, carry multiples, and keep a home organized for the wellbeing of their clans/packs/families. while omegas with multi-purpose birth canals (i mean they get butt pregnant okay. they get butt pregnant) are also (generally) instinctually inclined toward keeping an environment suitable for pups, they tend to have far more difficulty becoming pregnant, and their pregnancies are almost always high-risk.

in the sense that the hegemonically prized/privileged/idealized familial makeup in the us is ‘father, mother, and a number of children,’ the hegemonically prized/privileged/idealized familial makeup in PIDW is ‘dominant alpha, chief omega, and their pups; other alphas/betas, their omegas, and their pups.’ clans/packs/families are far more communal. the cultivations sects, for example, are treated as large packs.

among demons, the scale is strongly tipped toward alphas and omegas. hierarchies are established very directly, with displays of power/strength/violence determining the explicit pecking order (as opposed to humans, who are generally indirect with implicit hierarchies). everyone knows who is above whom, and to rise in that order, a challenge must be issued and won.

this got too long and i haven’t even gotten to the point, which is. actually extremely on par for me, if you’ve seen my main blog (@omegaverse-anthropologist). i yap and yap abt background before i get to the point. so. i will be inflicting another svsss omegaverse post upon you shortly

[owl-with-a-pen]

From the second Brainy had turned up to the DEO that morning, he’d been in one hell of a bad mood. Confrontational didn’t even cut it – to Alex, it was like he was on a goddamn war path.

It had started out tame enough, maybe that was why she’d let it get as far as it had, but as well trained as her agents were against interrogation scenarios or an alien threat, no one was invulnerable to the inescapable pain of workplace microaggressions. Brainy had been subject to them himself in the past, but today he was the all-out perpetrator. It seemed he had something negative to say about everyone; mostly degrading remarks on their various intellects, going as far in some cases to mark them out on a scale from one to one-point-three. That was hardly news to Alex, although she hadn’t seen this kind of behaviour out of him in a very long time.

It had all come to a head not even a couple hours into Brainy’s shift. All it had taken was one too many poorly veiled insults targeted at one of her newer agents. By then, Alex could tell the difference between Brainy’s unintentional habit of being improperly blunt and whatever the hell he was seeking to achieve here.

It wasn’t like Brainy to act so purposely cruel, even on some of his darker days. He’d often experienced difficulties navigating his own intellect against his regular-minded co-workers, especially since the inhibitors had come off, but he’d never been openly hostile to them. Not like this. This was something else, like he was itching for a fight.

He got his wish when his goading finally hit the mark and the new hire stood from his chair. Alex knew the signs, but when their bickering exploded into a full-on argument, her voice was lost beyond the commotion.

Things escalated far too quickly, and she was much too late to stop the first punch from being thrown. Expectedly, Brainy dodged expertly out of the way, but the fire in his eyes was unmistakeably one of challenge, enough that Alex realised he had absolutely no intention of sticking to his usual evasive manoeuvres.

Shit. He wasn’t on the defence at all. And, when Brainy stepped into the agent’s space, ring-hand closed into a tight fist, she knew she couldn’t let it get any further.

Before Brainy could make his move, Alex shot into the fray, grabbing for his shoulder. The second she touched him, he tensed all over. Alex could feel the muscles in Brainy’s arm grow taut beneath her fingers, a strength building inside of him that scared her more than she would have ever admitted.

Kara’s powers had been a part of her life for so long that Alex often believed herself immune to the kind of fear seeing that sort of raw ability might inspire. Brainy wasn’t on a Kryptonian’s level by any means, but there was something unnerving about his strength that didn’t hit quite like Kara’s. It was a quiet sort of power, one he mostly kept hidden. A formidable ability that crept like a sleeper cell inside his implants and every shred of data that he had stored within his AI core.

She could feel all that and more brewing inside of him now, and when Alex tried to pull him back, he didn’t budge. She might as well have been trying to move a ten-ton statue.

Despite the panic pounding in her chest, Alex kept her cool. She waited a beat, measuring her movements, before trying again. This time, thankfully, Brainy relented. Although his body was still coiled tight, he let himself move with her momentum, stumbling a half step towards her.

Alex disguised her relief with anger, hissing into Brainy’s ear, “What the hell has gotten into you today?”

Brainy rolled his shoulder easily from her grip, righting himself in the process. “I’m fine,” he muttered tersely, his voice so rigid that she could barely see his jaw move.

Alex eyed him sharply. “I’ll be the judge of that,” she said, before raising her voice so that everyone could hear, “Agent Dox, with me!”

Any agent caught gawking at the scene quickly turned back to their work. Alex dismissed the string of apologies coming from her new hire, instead instructing him to cool off before returning to duty.

A senior agent like Brainy wouldn’t be getting off quite as lightly.

As Alex marched Brainy down the corridors of the new DEO building, she could feel him crackling at her heel like a storm cloud ready to strike. She bristled, preparing herself for the worst at every turn.

“Where are we going?” Brainy asked instead, his tone indifferent. As though he hadn’t tried to incite a war at 9 in the freaking morning.

“Somewhere private,” Alex returned, pushing open the door to one of the medical science labs. Today was her lucky day, it seemed, because the room was totally deserted.

She ushered Brainy in behind her before he could argue, directing him to the closest chair. He followed her instructions begrudgingly, taking the chair and swivelling it backwards before collapsing into it, folding his arms across the backrest with a scowl.

Now they were alone, Alex allowed herself to relax just a little, shedding some of the status that came with her rank. Her team had always been like a family to her, but Brainy was family, and now that she had him in a controlled environment, she could see his anger for what it really was. A tumultuous cover-up that was starting to crumble from the moment he’d sat down.

His frustration was plain in his body language, the way he wrung out his ring finger with his other hand like it was his only lifeline. She’d seen this behaviour before; it wasn’t hard to guess where it had come from. The why, though? That was a lot harder to pinpoint.

“What’s going on, Brainy?” Alex asked gently, folding her arms. When he glanced at the floor, twisting his ring even harder, she sighed. “You know you can’t just explode on your co-workers like that. I really thought we were past this.”

Brainy ruffled in affront, his mood souring even further. He glared up at her. “Past this?”

“You know what I mean,” Alex snapped, rubbing the bridge of her nose in frustration. “The point is, I haven’t seen you this riled up since—well, since ever. Something’s going on with you.” She narrowed her eyes, pressing her hip against the workbench at her side. “How have your talks with Kelly been going?”

Brainy leaned back in his chair, folding his hands across one another with a definitively neutral expression. “Confidentially.”

Alex could already feel her jaw begin to tense. It was times like these she really wished Kelly wasn’t so damn good at her job. She took her clients’ privacy incredibly seriously, even when it came to her friends. Especially when it came to her friends. Even as her wife, Alex was none the wiser on what she and Brainy discussed behind closed doors, other than the few small updates like he did well this session or I think we went back more steps than we took forward today.

“Alright,” Alex decided, lifting her chin. “We’ll do this the hard way, then. Stand up. I need to perform a full body scan.”

Brainy’s mouth fell open in outrage. He scoffed indignantly. “I’m fine,” he repeated through clenched teeth, an air of superiority creeping into his voice. He held his shoulders high. “Do you really think I wouldn’t be aware if something was impairing me?”

“Stand up,” Alex repeated. “Now.”

Brainy rolled his eyes but stood on her instruction. He remained still while Alex ran her equipment over him; too still, she thought. Whatever he was trying to hide from her was starting to surface, they both knew it.   

Alex’s worry only grew stronger for him.

Once the tests were done, Alex watched the results roll through on her tablet. His temperature was fine – his implants checked out, too. In fact, according to her equipment, nothing was running abnormally where the techno aspect of his physiology was concerned at all.

When her focus shifted to organic functions, however, Alex’s eyes widened in surprise.

Brainy’s heart rate wasn’t just through the roof, it might as well have been hanging out in another galaxy.

Alex hefted the tablet in her arm, throwing it out for Brainy to see. “You call this fine?”

Brainy scanned the results, shying in on himself defensively as he absorbed their meaning. He shrugged, folding his arms. “Kelly tells me that fluctuations in heart rate are normal for the emotional stressors I have experienced.”

“Well, yeah,” Alex nearly laughed, “but not all the time, Brainy! Something triggered this.”

When he refused to meet her eye, Alex bit her lip, carefully placing the tablet back on the counter. “Brainy,” she tried again, hesitating before taking a step closer. “Paired with what I know about your biology, this has all the tells of an anxiety attack.” She smiled sadly. “I don’t need to be a therapist to know that’s why you lashed out today.”

Brainy scoffed again, but his fingers tightened around his biceps. Alex had a feeling that if he’d been squeezing anything else in the room, it might’ve just snapped in half.

She scanned his face again. He didn’t wear his image inducer as often since the installation of the new DEO, but Alex wondered if he sometimes used it covertly to alter certain smaller features. Like the tell-tale bruising of someone who’d been avoiding their bed one too many nights in a row.

She frowned. “Have you been sleeping?”

Brainy froze. “O-of course.”

For a twelfth-level intellect, his lying game was about on par with Kara’s. Alex tried not to smile at his expense. Instead, she not-so innocently tugged at her jacket pocket. “So, if I texted Nia right now, she’d tell me the same thing?”

“It’s not that,” Brainy hastened, straightening his back. “My functions are running within normal parameters; my sleep is… is fine. Nia would corroborate.”

“Right,” Alex said slowly, raising a brow. “So, just today, then?”

“Why is this so important to you?” Brainy muttered. He was clearly tiring of their little back and forth. Maybe that was her way in.

Alex took another step forward. “Because you’re important to me,” she said, before glancing at the ceiling, “and because you’ve kind of pissed everyone on the day shift off so far. And it’s not even ten o’clock. That might be a new record.” She took his arm again, smiling when he reluctantly met her eye. “This matters, Brainy. I can’t put you back on duty like this. In fact, I think I have enough justification from these readings alone to put you on a mental health day. Even if your sleep is fine, it might be a good idea to take it easy.”

Brainy practically baulked at the suggestion, staggering out from under her hand. He shook his head vigorously, turning away. “Alex, that isn’t necessary. I don’t need to take it easy. I-I can’t.”

His voice nearly broke on that last word, enough to make Alex’s heart twist. “Why not?”

Brainy ducked away from her, and though she could only see half of his face, she knew he was trying to shut her out. She reached for him again, catching his elbow. “Brainy—hey, please.”

Maybe she’d broken through, or maybe he’d run the calculations on the likelihood of being let out of this room without telling her something. Either way, he finally relented.

“I can’t take it easy,” he told her through his teeth, his voice dangerously low. “Because… because, today is difficult for me.”

Alex’s brows knitted together worriedly. She squeezed his arm without thinking, trying instead to remember what day it was today. Had she missed some kind of anniversary? Naturally, she thought of the first day Brainy had arrived in this century, but that date had been and gone with nothing close to this sort of an emotional upheaval.  

Worse, then.

Then, Alex caught it. Brainy’s free arm shifted as his hand passed across his forehead, knocking a few blond strands away from his eyes. His fingers lingered for just a second, agitating across invisible surface scars.

Alex’s heart plummeted into her stomach. She felt nauseous. “Brainy,” she asked slowly. “Is—is today the day your father…?”

Brainy’s eyes were far away, reviewing the lab’s floor tile by tile. He didn’t say anything for a while; his chest was locked tight, as though he’d forgone the need for oxygen at all. Alex held her breath along with him, long enough that her lungs started to burn.

“Time,” Brainy muttered eventually, “dates… they’re all different on this planet, in this century.” He bared his teeth into a pained smile, his arm winding around his centre. “And yet, no matter what changes, I always know that day. I can feel it.” He shrugged, biting the inside of his cheek. “Call it a burden of a Coluan’s physiology.”

Alex squeezed him again. “Oh—Brainy…”

“Don’t,” he said tersely, wrenching his arm from hers. His eyes were wide, his expression open. “Don’t treat me like I’m… wounded. I—I only wish to keep my mind busy. And-and ever since my inhibitors came off I-I find that there’s never enough to occupy it. There are always spaces that are left empty, where-where those memories, those emotions resurface.”

Alex sighed. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but that’s exactly why I can’t let you work today. You understand that, right?”

Brainy gritted his teeth, lowering his head into a tight nod.

“Have you told Nia about this?”

“She knows,” Brainy croaked, looking sheepish. “I told her I-I needed space.”

“And then you came here.” Alex’s smile felt strained. “She doesn’t know you went to work today, does she?”

“I thought it would be easier.” Brainy sniffed, swiping at his face. “To be somewhere that no one knew. But that doesn’t matter if I can’t control this—”

“Hey,” Alex said gently, taking his hand. “Anniversaries can be tough. You know, when we were kids, Kara could never stomach her Earth birthday, either.”

Brainy’s breath stuttered past his lips, and he looked at her in confusion, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. His hand clenched uneasily around hers, willing her to continue.

Alex smiled. “She hated it, actually – her words, not mine - because it reminded her of everything she’d lost. My mom… she tried to turn it into a sort of celebration, to make it a happy day, but focusing on it in any way just sent her over the edge.” She winced. “You should’ve heard the screaming matches.”

Brainy huffed out a surprised laugh.

Alex grinned. “So, one day, I told Kara, suck it up for a second, you’re coming with me. And…” she chuckled, the memory flooding back all too easily, “I made her walk. For hours. Through the woods. No flying allowed. And we kept going and going until eventually, we came across this little creek. I told her to listen to the water. Just— put every one of her senses into that one thing. The bubbling of the water, the fish whipping their little tails, the smell. It wasn’t a magic cure-all, but for that moment, it helped.” Alex wound her hand tighter around Brainy’s, drawing them closer together. “You don’t have to put your focus into work, Brainy, you can pick something simpler. One sound, or one thing that makes you feel at peace.”

Brainy narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. “Yes…” he considered slowly, “that does sound pleasant.” He cleared his throat, shifting his tone. “Running water is one of numerous nature-specific sounds that are utilised for relaxation of the human mind. Nia has several of the ocean’s waves on her white noise app, although, I had never considered using it myself.” The furrow to his brow deepened. “But if I were to draw all of my processing power into one singular stimulus, it may be… beneficial.”

“What were you thinking?” Alex prompted.

Brainy glanced at her quickly before looking away again, a private smile twitching the corners of his mouth. “Flying… often clears my head. Perhaps I should try to find something up there. Above the noise, as Kara once put it.”

Alex nodded her encouragement. “That sounds like a really good place to start.”

Brainy returned her nod confidently, letting go of her hand as he made to leave. No hesitation, no debate. Just one direct thought leading onto the next action. Alex couldn’t help but smile.

Before he could make it out the door, she called out to him: “And, Brainy?”

Brainy paused, turning back to look at her.

“Thank you for sharing this with me.”

Something passed through Brainy’s expression before he lowered his head into a dutiful nod.

Fondly, Alex watched him go. He was certainly less tightly wound than he’d been before, though she knew he still had a way to go yet. At least this was a step in the right direction.

She supposed, in quite the literal sense, it was only up from here.

[someweirdoreblogger]

When you ask Hades for piercings, don't expect normal clips.

That dramatic motherfucker always aims to impress in the most ridiculous methods possible. Damn him to oblivion if Hades doesn't aspire to give his beloved, only upmost, perfect quality gifts. You will burn brighter than any star by the time Hades is through with you.

This somber-ass bitch personally walks to the sixth layer of Hell, effortlessly ripping an obsidian scale off the gargantuan, spiked spine of one of Typhon's numerous monster childern and calling in a very personal favor to Olympus's famous blacksmith, Hephaestus-to forge him a very specific relic.

Earrings.

Hades gives every material needed, brought personally if need be. Regardless of how difficult to obtain and far more than what should be required, each object is just as increbily valuable as the last if not more;

A collection of infernal fire donated directly from Hell's demon Lords, lit forever til the dawn ends. It can burn the world's most stubborn of metals and the strongest of wills, a merciless torture of immeasurable heat. Life taking breath, a saltless tear from the sun's very own core. In other words, it is an unbreakable temperature for binding countless parts, God made or otherwise.

Black glass from Hades' own castle, clean and not too crisp. There's an unease sealed into it, a looming call to the dead. Sizzling sensations overcomes you and guides your fingers across the smooth surface, a temptation bleeding silk through the pitch black lens. Not quite a spark, but threatening to be, tingles dance furiously against weak mortal flesh and bows to the natural will of the gods who sculpted it. The trapped whispers of olden kings and queens and long gone gods, still in an accursed dream. Transparency shimmering blind in the darkness, guiding lost souls to their ruling god like cavern crystals for awaited judgment, void deep as a black star.

Anicent irons melted from fallen weapons, no longer bond to their respective masters, carefully collected off the immortal corpses of the ferocious Titans. Irreplaceable, priceless in fortuide, and pure strength. Indeed, diamonds in the collection of any invested exploration.

Hades waste nothing without a second thought, but these-

They live on now as a far more useful, suitable foundation miles away from their recent decaying forms.

Quite a long journey to craft these special earrings for you. These earrings saw glorious sights amany. Traveled to the very ends of the world; melted into a divine star by the roughest, most careful hands of Heaven, molded by Hades' most destructive calamities in the deepest, darkest nether.

And here they are, the Underworld's newest god-kissed relic, solely for you alone. Although Hades opposes the mere thought of difficulty-always the sincere one.

How could Hades complain when everything you wear shines like the Earth's finest jewelry-majestic, is it not?

Hera pales in comparison. Aphrodite will weep jealousy, in complete, utter awe of your wonderful accessories.

Do not fret over the details, Hades acts like it was the easiest thing in the world.

All Hades could ever want is to spoil you, the least he could do is make up for lost time, Helheim grows evermore busy every passing century, and Hades intents never abandoning his responsibilities. But of course, one of those beloved responsibilities is you.

The cheerful smile you answer in return outweighs Apollo's own boundless radiance. And while Hades strictly insists no payment back, who can't help but bite the apple from the tree?

[lets-try-some-writing]

I have a Crack idea for the Sparkling of Unicron AU. Basically, Jack's dad is Unicron, who ghosted June to avoid paying child support. When Team Prime comes to Earth & meet the kids, Jack & Optimus team up to track down their dad and get the child support payments by force.

Jack here is still fleshy & has the same personality, but can basically do what a resurrected Megatron could do in Canon, just on a smaller scale. He can't control Megatron though, his will is too strong. Also, his blood is infused with Dark Energon.

When asked as to why she would date the literal God of Chaos, June states that he "had a winning personality". (We all know you like robots, June.)

I'm just going to answer yours and this anon's request at the same time since it will make my life easier. Previous part here

Little Siblings

After the whole debacle with being exiled for a time, Optimus began to heal. It was a slow process and it was not easy by any means. He had been abandoned, treated poorly, and left for scrap by everyone but his creator and the children. Thus it took time, a great deal of it. However during this healing process, Optimus noticed something new in the children.

Firstly, they fought bitterly in his defense if one of his team so much as looked in his general direction wrong. Secondly they often refused to leave his side, emitting a strange set of waves that were so similar to EM fields but so foreign. Then lastly Optimus felt a vague... connection between him and the children. It shouldn't be. They weren't Cybertronian and couldn't have spark bonds. And yet the closer he grew to them and the more he came to see them as kin, the stronger this heretical and impossible bond grew.

Not only that, but when he was around them, he felt more stable. His form didn't flare and break apart as often. His spark remained more controlled and he could keep his physical form together with less difficulty. They made him feel safe in a way that was not too dissimilar from how Unicron wrapped him in love and care. At the same time, the urge to protect them with every fiber of his being was just as strong as their desire to protect him. They were young, they were small, and they were fragile. He thought perhaps all the emotions he was feeling and the connection that seemed to be there might be because he had been away from his team for so long and was out of touch. He almost questioned his father, wondering if Unicron had anything to do with it, but he didn't, not while he was still upset with his maker.

Then the children had to go behaving weirdly.

After his little flare that left the children incapacitated and led to his exile, there were little things that were off about them. It wasn't much so the team wrote it off and Optimus didn't even notice as he worked to restore his broken bonds and the trust between him and his team. But as the wounds healed and Optimus reconnected with his team, the children's differences became more obvious.

Rafael had an aura around him. The team couldn't sense it, they weren't attuned to Unicron's power as Optimus was. Rafael's entire being radiated strength of spirit in a way not too dissimilar from Optimus. It was almost like he too was struggling to keep his being in line, doing everything in his power to keep his form held together. The child even began to speak in the same way Optimus did when his body was too shattered to form words. He didn't seem to know he was doing it, but his emotions were clear as day with how freely they flowed from him. It was startling, especially when not long after that Rafael's eyes began to glow a startling blue whenever his emotions were projected, often becoming clearer in intent.

Miko was partially similar in that her eyes began to glow whenever her emotions got strong enough to warrant concern. At those times she would gain an aura of fear around her. It didn't bother Optimus too much considering he projected the same aura naturally when he wasn't trying to blend in. However it made him more and more concerned when Bulkhead began to shy away in terror whenever Miko got particularly mad. She didn't understand why the team were suddenly so wary of her, nor did the team know why they kept so clear of her on instinct.

Optimus knew, or rather he had an inkling, one he was growing more prevalent within him as Jack showed signs too.

It had been small and hardly noticeable amidst the flow of battle, but in a moment of stress Jack had seemingly controlled a Vehicon Optimus had been near certain was dead. The boy didn't seem to notice as he fought to keep his fellow humans safe, but Optimus noticed. How could he not? The waves of his father's power were far more intense than anything he had ever felt from an organic.

Thus after a few additional weeks of watching the children project these odd abilities, he reached out to his maker with an inquiry.

Optimus: The children are showing abilities that have your touch evident in them.

Uniron: Impossible. I have no heralds among the humans.

Optimus: Are you sure Creator? They are not like me, that is certain. However the feeling of your power is unmistakable.

Unicron: I haven't made a herald since Megatron, and I have no memory of-

Optimus: Creator?

Unicron: It seems I forgot something rather important.

Optimus: Speak plainly Creator, what did you do?

Unicron: It was during a waking sleep, one I hardly remember. However I for a time walked this earth in an organic form in a mixed delirium of emotion.

Optimus: You didn't.

Unicron: I may have ended up creating three lifeforms by accident, two by throwing around burst of power and one from a one night stand.

Optimus: Primus... you can't be serious.

Unicron: I am dead serious.

Optimus: Frag.

With the knowledge that his Creator had gone out of his way to do things while only partially aware, Optimus hurriedly moved to confirm these claims. First he went straight to the children, his frame flaring and coming apart partially in his hurry. The team were worried and watched on in growing concern as he questioned Rafael, asking for the circumstances of his birth. Rafael quickly confirmed that he had been found as a baby and adopted by his current family and that he had no real issues with it. Then upon asking Miko the same question, he received a similar answer that left Optimus terrified to ask Jack what he needed to.

It could all have been coincidence and a bad case of Optimus's outburst affecting the children in odd ways. He had seen stranger things, perhaps it was all just one big mess up. However that hopeful wish was blown directly out of the water when June was called into base and Optimus asked her a question he feared the answer to.

Optimus: Mrs. Darby, would you by chance be willing to tell me who Jack's father is?

June: Oh? I don't mind, but I couldn't really give you an answer. He was a nice guy who told me his name was Uni Cron. Odd name and pronounced very strangely, he also had some trouble with memory, but he was sweet and treated me well.

Optimus: Why is he not here assisting in raising Jack?

June: Honestly I don't know. He lived with me for a few months, we got to know each other, we spent a night together, and then he was gone the next day. I never heard from him again.

Optimus: ... I believe you may have possibly had relations with my Creator.

June: What? Last I checked, you were a giant robot and your Creator was Unicron-!

June: ... Oh.

Optimus: ... If it is any consolation, I was unaware I had a brother.

Not a soul or spark could utter a word as everyone stood there dumbly for a long moment. Then Optimus put forward his whole theory, to which the children stared at him with wide eyes but said nothing. It was silent, deafeningly so and everyone just.... scattered to think about it for a while, leaving Optimus, June, and the children alone.

There was plenty of nervous staring involved, but slowly and with a great deal of caution, Optimus began to talk with the children and June. He told them of his own creation and his experiences with thier Creator and in turn he told them what he could of their abilites. He offered to teach them and guard them, while also warning of possible side effects such as long life or even partial immortality. It was a very strained discussion even though Optimus was bound to the children by what he now knew to be siblings bonds, but after a while they figured things out.

June insisted on being called mom as soon as she figured out that Optimus had been left to fend for himself so soon after his creation. It didn't matter to her that Optimus was millions of years old and had watched the rise and fall of civilizations, he was a child who never knew the love of a parent and she intended to rectify that especially now that her son and Optimus were confirmed to be related. He initially tried to object, but June reaching out to pat his cheek in a comforting manner left him bewildered but strangely pleased.

Jack was left more startled than anything else and doubting his reality. Optimus attempted to soothe him with calming words and the touch of his field, but Jack wasn't having it. He needed time, and that was acceptable. Miko was on board with the thought of being siblings almost immediately and took to being related to Unicron without issue. She called it her "hero arc" or something along those liens and proceeded to make a show of pretending to have magic powers. It made the tension in the room lessen, especially when Rafael merely adjusted his glasses, looked up at Optimus and murmured.

"So what if I'm related to Unicron? So are you, and you are one of the best bots out there. Besides, we are family now"

Family. It was a word Optimus had difficulty pinning after all that had happened. Bumblebee was family, he was Optimus's sparkling even if their relationship was still a little iffy. Ratchet was family, he had been family for vorns. The team were family, but mainly because they needed to. Optimus had no family by blood aside from his maker. His "siblings" were of Primus, not of Unicron. They were cousins that he treated like blood kin. He loved all his family, but there was something so very novel about having blood related kin right before him.

Of course then when he reached out to his Creator, he found their bond silent. He sent question after question, wondering why and asking for answers, but he received nothing. Unicron was not heeding him, quite likely because he didn't want to deal with his newfound creations.

Optimus was a special case, he was intentional, he was the one and only creation Unicron had poured all his attention into. He was loved form day one, but the children? They were accidents, and Unicron had never been quick to love when it came to those not bound to him. Optimus knew this well, he could read his creator's spark just by letting his base nature take over for a moment. However he had no intention of letting Unicron go without at least speaking to his children. The children needed their father. Optimus had been denied his creator his entire existence up until earth, the children deserved better, or if nothing else the the chance to see where they came from.

Thus he began spending every waking moment hounding his creator and digging around to find another way to Unicron's core if his creator saw fit to continue to remain silent.

[gallium-spoon]

Disclaimer: I've only read Stormlight and Mistborn era one, but I'm sensing a pattern in Brando Sandos strengths and weaknesses as a writer (people who've read more of the cosmere than me feel free to tell me if I'm on to something or talking nonsense)

Sando is really strong when it comes to writing internal conflict (Kaldins struggles with depression or Sazeds crisis of faith) and small scale interpersonal conflict (Vin and Elend 's insecurities in their relationship or Adolins resentment/hero worship of Dalinar)

But, where he tends to drop the ball is in handling the large scale social conflicts. For instance, Kaldins arc about structural classism gets less and less page time each book. The singers/listeners and the whole plot line of their enslavement and near total genocide often feels like set dressing to the main conflict of the books. And of course all the hand wringing about how the Lord ruler meant well and was good deep down actually (despite engineering multiple genocides and instituting wide scale slavery)

It kinda feels like the larger scale the problem is, the more difficulty Sando has writing about it proportionally

I'm still looking forward to reading Mistborn era 2 and the next Stormlight book because I love the characters and world building in these books but I'm nervously watching for this trend now

[crimson-and-clover-1717]

The inn - it is a bit of a shit-hole.

We all know the shack is a symbol of their relationship. Stede, ever the optimist, says it has good bones. He’s right. There’s a core strength to their relationship despite other concerns.

There are though some issues in their would-be inn that do need attention.

Broken Windows Theory - within the sociology of crime, broken windows are a metonym for wider issues. One broken window on a house often leads to more broken windows.

There are two broken windows within the shack. One Ed, the other Stede. Both must be fixed, and they are both responsible for both windows. If one is fixed and the other isn’t, the house isn’t secure. And if one is whole and the other broken, the other too will break in time. Windows are often representative of eyes as well. If windows are broken, reality is distorted, the picture unclear. Windows communicate ideas, and broken communication is no good to anyone. Mend your windows, boys.

The Madwoman in the Attic - Female Romantic writers made attics all about the health of the mind (I’m suggesting that has to be a potential attic else they’re living in a toolshed). Stede is a work-in-progress like any human being, though I do feel he needs to open up his attic secrets a bit more. Ed is still in recovery on a bigger scale, still working out what’s in his attic. He needs to learn not to jump at shadows. They’ve both got to sort that space out within themselves: keep it clean, sweep out the dirt, not store too much junk.

Either way, there’s two great holes in that roof that need fixing. If they don’t, they won’t weather life’s difficulties. A fixed roof helps create a warm, comfortable home just as healthy minds help sustain healthier relationships.

They will fix and mend the shack. They have to. And as they fix their home, they will fix their minds and communication. Because they have to.

And it will be a home, with an inglenook fireplace and chintzy furniture. They’ll add a new-build and a patio. Ed will grow vegetables for the inn, and Stede will grow a flower-garden for Ed.

And Ed will have a small petting-zoo out back. And Stede will talk Ed easily into letting him get a pony with kind eyes.

[jadeazora]

When you find an interesting ROM hack that teases RR getting center stage AND incorporates a more villainous Paul (sounding like he had maybe tried to be better, but losing to the player pushed him over the edge and reinforced his "only strength matters" mentality again, which I think would be an interesting angle to go with him.)

Only to peek ahead and find out the hack gets pretty brutal later (I'm not a fan of difficulty hacks. I might tolerate more difficulty for more story tho, but from what I heard, it's not appropriately scaled to not be annoying), and that the actually interesting bits are locked behind an untranslated postgame 😵‍💫

Yeah... Think I'll pass... It might be worth it if the story gets translated eventually, but I'm not holding my breath.

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: November 7, 2024

Reworked Character #7: Ralf Jones

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to divorce, death, and crime.

Real name: Rafael Paul Jonesbury

Esper title: Avatar of Flaming, Renewal, Controlling Quietus, and Physical Destruction

Aliases: One-Man Army and Marauding Lupine Carnivore

Occupation: Colonel of the Ikari Warriors

Retirement plans: To open his own fighting tournament and experience all thrill-seeking activities that society has to offer

Special skills: Driving military vehicles, close quarters combat, orchestrating stress relief programs, proficiency in all weapons, and training recruits

Esper abilities: His go-to esper ability is the Vulcan Punch, a rapid-fire series of punches capable of obliterating everything from humans, riot shields, bulletproof armour and glass, cars, all known Slugs, small to medium-sized tanks, and smaller helicopters. His second go-to esper ability is the Galactica Phantom, which he activates by leaning back, rearing his arm, and then flinging himself forward to unleash an incredibly powerful and explosive haymaker.

Despite his belly being constantly bloody and inflamed, he experiences surprisingly little pain due to his exceptional pain suppression, increased blood vessel density, resistance to extreme temperatures, and rapidly regenerating organs. This unique combination, coupled with a secondary esophagus lined with razor-sharp, spiky hairs, enables Ralf to harness the inflammation and blood to vomit a controlled stream of scorching, burning red liquid that incinerates his enemies. The sole drawback of his perpetually bloody and inflamed belly is impaired digestion, leading to difficulties in processing food, which in turn causes persistent vomiting and diarrhea.

The skin on his torso, arms, and legs can harden into diamond-hard scales, providing impenetrable protection against bullets, blades, small bombs, and weaker cannon blasts. He can move at incredible velocities, effectively achieving infinite speed, allowing him to move indefinitely while time appears to stand still around him. Ralf can manifest up to twenty invisible arms composed of solidified telekinetic energy, which can be utilised to move around easily as well as bludgeon and slice through people and objects with precision. These arms appear to be malnourished and exhibit constant, erratic movements, reaching up to 20' 5" (622.5 cm) in length. He possesses the hearing and smell of a dog as well as the ability to manipulate red and orange flames. He can also induce explosive blasts with his punches or a mere touch of any of his fingers.

He has the ability to split his arms into six parts, exposing his coppery muscles and a gaping, organic muzzle that fires ten tentacles with sea lamprey-like mouths. These tentacles can insert themselves into the spine or brain of deceased enemies, injecting a tar-like orangish-black substance to reanimate them. In the process, they augment their physical strength and render them obedient to Ralf's commands. Whenever Ralf is killed, his body rapidly transforms into a cocoon adorned with serrated shell plates, as his corpse dissolves into a mushy, visceral substance. This cocoon then violently pulsates before rupturing, giving birth to a new, fully formed Ralf, covered in bloodied slime and emerging stark naked, with no visible injuries or scars on his body. Whenever this occurs, he experiences temporary blindness, dizziness, and intense, bitter coldness.

Hobbies: Baseball, participating in the biennial fighting tournaments that the Ikari Warriors host, taking his friends to carnival rides, camping trips, and science and art museums, rewatching his favourite anime movies and shows, and playing arcade games and iconic riffs on the electric guitar

Likes: A medal awarded from the President of the United States, the natural sounds of the jungle, collecting blades that look cool in his eyes, alebrije sculptures, and Clark

Dislikes: False rumours, venomous snakes, abuse of power, children being killed, and people hurting and insulting those he considers as “family”

Favourite food: Intestinal sausages and bubblegum that taste like watermelon and blueberry

Favourite drink: Root beer floats and brandy

Sexuality: Biromantic asexual

Gender: Male

Age: 25 (in 2022), 31 (in 2028), 33 (in 2030), 35 (in 2032), 37 (in 2034), 44 (in 2041), 46 (in 2043), 47 (in 2044), and 50 (in 2047)

Blood type: A+

Weight: 243 lbs. (110 kg)

Design: He's a 6' 2" (187.96 cm) American mesomorph of Latino, Ojibwe, and British descent with a robust build, decently chiselled musculature, broad shoulders, and a bit of a beer belly. He has almond skin, sunburst amber-sage green eyes, toes tipped with black wolf claws, and bear-like teeth. His hair resembles Ralf's from KOF XII and KOF XIII, but it's slightly tousled and a shimmering ash brown, and often tied into a long braid that falls to the middle of his back. His back and armpits are covered in golden brown otter fur, accented with streaks of olive green and tan. Additionally, his back features distinctive white spots outlined in black.

On his left deltoid, he has a tattoo of a stylized red otter playfully escaping the jaws of a black-furred wolf with piercing yellow eyes, clutching a ball of purple fire in its forepaws. On his right forearm, he has a tattoo of an alebrije with undulating cerulean horns, an orchid purple eagle head, languid lavender eyes with aquamarine pupils, a fiery mane, a forest green elk body, and a hot pink salmon tail with red-orange tiger stripes. Sprawled across the right side of the creature in a vertical line is a Spanish phrase in silver: "La sangre nos fortalece", which translates to "Blood strengthens us" in English.

Ralf's military gear consists of a chrome orange bandana with shaky rifle green spots and cinnabar fingerless driving gloves with four ivory spikes on the knuckles. He wears a waterproof dark green vest with the Ikari Warriors logo emblazoned on the back, and a coyote-fur trimmed collar. He wears cargo pants with an army green, brown, and silver-grey camouflage pattern, which aren't tucked into his beige jungle boots. He wears a grimy asparagus-hued sleeveless shirt paired with a yellowish-tan belt featuring four black pouches for bullets and a holster for his handgun.

Attached to his belt are two swords: Harpe, a khopesh-like sickle sword with a flint-encased adamant blade, and Yawarakai-Te, a double-edged katana featuring a green-grey hilt and a hardwood sheath adorned with iridescent crow feathers. When the air gently blows past Yawarakai-Te's blade, it produces a soft hissing sound. Yawarakai-Te's blade is unnaturally frigid, able to cut a leaf in half with ease, and compels its user to spare the innocent and undeserving from attack. Ralf dons a cardinal red waist pack that holds two cans of root beer as well as black elbow and knee pads. He also wears a black drop leg sheath for his Zantetsu sword, which features two pointed silvery stripes that form a triangular pattern.

Over his shirt, he dons a Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) with a MultiCam pattern, which carries around his walkie-talkie and ammo for other firearms. Above his belt, he has a dark brown bandolier for holding sticks of dynamite. Ralf carries around a yellowish-tan load-bearing backpack that contains camping equipment, tactical explosives, portable ammo boxes, a canteen full of water, maps for all continents, an extra pair of clothes, and a bag of THC-infused box gummies in light orange (mango peach), red (strawberry), and pale yellow (pineapple). His backpack also contains a faded photograph of him and Clark in their twenties, an army Medal of Honor, a silver milagro charm in the shape of a fiery heart for good luck and protection, a bottle of his chosen brandy, an empty spotted turtle shell, and a dreamcatcher adorned with a grey web design, song sparrow feathers, and colourful beads in red, white, yellow, and black.

He occasionally brings his copper-hued electric guitar and goldenrod-coloured pick holder, containing a rainbow of guitar picks (he jokingly says that he dislikes the purple one the most), on deployments and during downtime in the field. He wears hook earrings, each featuring three porcupine quills tipped with gaspeite beads, and a Jocla necklace made of alternating white wampum beads, copper beads, and raven feathers.

Thanks to Tarma, he owns a key to access his red-violet Matchless G3/L motorcycle, which has a purplish-black sheen. The gas tank features a sky blue fish scale pattern with malachite green dots at the centre of each scale.

Super Devil form: He's a 15' 7" (474.98 cm) draconic entity with a grotesque musculature and scaly rifle green skin that shimmers with a vibrant hot pink iridescence. He has a cerulean coyote-shaped head with sunburst amber-sage green eyes, hot pink slit pupils, a cardinal red nose, and a wispy ash brown goat's beard. Ralf also has horse ears, an orchid purple snout, two rows of olivine shark teeth, and a slimy, pointed tongue. His arms and legs are enveloped in a thick layer of otter fur, matching the tufts found in the armpits of his human form. He has undulating cerulean horns, a fiery mane, spiked knuckles, eagle-like feet, and razor-sharp wolf claws that tip his fingers and toes.

Three rows of symmetrical, deadly sharp, conical spikes are positioned on his back, running from the base of his neck to just before the start of his tail. He has two massive bat-like wings, boasting an impressive wingspan of 21 ft (640.08 cm). Despite being dull and tattered, the wings' membrane displays silvery spots and a striking gradient from grenadier red to flush orange to selective yellow. Additionally, Ralf has olivine thumbs tipped with copper claws, and his forearms, wrists, and five fingers are dark green. He has a long, winding, serpentine tail, twice his height in length, with fur and colouration matching the fur on his human back. The tail culminates in a silver arrowhead-shaped tip.

Character summary: He's a rowdy, sassy, outgoing, stubborn, and honest individual with a strong passion for action and thrill-seeking ventures. However, he also values his leisure time and ensures others take regular breaks to rest and recharge. He strives to maintain an optimistic outlook and is frustrated by pessimism and cynicism, wishing others could focus on the positive and appreciate life's blessings. After forming a new connection, he rapidly becomes emotionally invested and starts to regard the person as a close family member. He's extremely protective towards new recruits under his command, comrades, and friends, viewing them as family. Ralf is willing to go to great lengths to ensure their safety and the security of innocent lives, even if it requires taking bold action or putting himself in harm's way. However, he harbours a deep-seated hatred for betrayal, particularly among those in the Regular Army or whom he considers family.

He often enjoys teasing Clark, playfully poking fun at his serious nature while showing him brotherly affection, but also treats him with great respect and compassion. The thought of potentially losing his brother-in-arms, Clark, through unfair circumstances is unbearable to him. He secretly resents being scolded for harmless fun, but Clark's disappointment stings the most, filling him with remorse. Ralf is captivated by Hyakutaro's enigmatic past, pioneering status as the first known esper of contemporary history, and his free-spirited nature. He finds Tarma and Nadia to be absolutely hilarious and has a soft spot for Trevor's nerdy and laid-back demeanour. He deeply cares about children, recognizing their importance to the growth and future of humanity, and is appalled by those who abuse and harm them. The thought of inadvertently causing harm to a child or being forced to do so is utterly devastating to him. Whenever possible, he enjoys connecting with children through entertaining storytelling sessions and lively games of baseball.

Notably, he shares a surprisingly close bond with Heidern, with many speculating that he views him as a father figure. This connection likely stems from Ralf’s gratitude for the opportunity to train under Heidern after being accepted into the Ikari Warriors. He regards Leona as a younger sister, frequently joining her in playful pranks and good-natured teasing of their friends. He goes out of his way to lift her spirits and offer comfort during her most challenging moments. He’s close friends with Nathalie Neo, and relishes the opportunity to work alongside her on missions. He holds her in high esteem as a skilled and proactive member of the Peregrine Falcons Squad, admiring her willingness to boldly take initiative in battle without hesitation. After discovering that she was the daughter of 2nd Lieutenant Cook, he made a promise to protect her and keep her safe from harm. This was because she was the only thing left that reminded him of one of his deceased superiors and best friends.

He strongly disapproves of Gimlet's misogynistic behaviour and objectification of women as well as his aggressive tendency to provoke physical confrontations with Tarma and Marco. Ralf has a tendency to speak passionately about his interests, which range from his favourite anime movies to his admiration for Marco's team and Division 6. As a confident, self-sufficient, and resourceful individual, he thrives on hard work, deriving a profound sense of fulfillment from completing challenging tasks. When not fuelled by excitement or anger, he exudes a calming presence, often serving as a mediator to resolve disputes among friends and comrades as he detests conflict. His insatiable curiosity drives him to explore thought-provoking questions and his surroundings, usually alongside those close to him.

Similar to Marco, he has a habit of concealing his deepest emotions, particularly those related to the many people he has lost during countless wars and terrorist attacks. Instead, he often tries to drown his sorrows with a few drinks, seeks comfort in the company of friends or indulges in reckless activities. Whenever he gets drunk, he exhibits forgetfulness, clumsiness, mild paranoia, excessive joviality, and loquaciousness. He has a habit of frequently mistaking people's names, often using similar but incorrect variations (e.g. calling Marco "Mark" and Fio "Fia"), which greatly embarrasses him, prompting him to profusely apologise for the mistake. He tries his best to avoid water activities like cruising and canoeing as they make him prone to seasickness. He's a deep sleeper, periodically punctuated by soft snores, but his restlessness is evident in his frequent tossing and turning.

He believes that immortality is unattainable for espers and humans, reserved for the psyche and most powerful deities. He's an animist who believes everything is interconnected, and everyone has a vital role in stewarding the earth. He's a devout believer in manitou, which represents the mysterious power of life and the universe. He loves participating in Talking Circles as it gives him an opportunity to connect with his friends and comrades through sharing stories. Surprisingly, Ralf is a skilled storyteller, often recounting his past experiences and sharing entertaining moral stories his father once shared with him. Although he's a fun-loving, hot-headed enthusiast of arcades and classic anime with a great sense of humour, he possesses remarkable wisdom and generosity. He's not fond of the false rumours that surround the goings-on of the world and his personal life.

Backstory: Rafael Paul Jonesbury was born on August 25, 1997 in North Dakota, United States. His father, Gabriel Jonesbury, was an Ojibwe shaman and owner of an arts and crafts shop with a spirit name of Kechewaishke. His mother, Javiera, was a British-Latina mercenary who served in the Regular Army. Like Ralf, she was an esper with the esteemed title of the Avatar of Physical Decay, Luminosity, and Fogginess. Gabriel would often share moral and entertaining stories that connected various figures from Ojibwe spiritual beliefs, such as the Thunderbird, Great Serpent, Mishipeshu, and Nanabozo. He also taught him about other important beliefs valued among First Nations peoples, including the Grandfather Teachings and the Medicine Wheel. He sparked Ralf's love for nature and encouraged him to fearlessly explore his identity and interests.

Javiera taught him numerous Latinx cultural values, the importance of family, and how his faith in God would be greatly rewarded. She often crafted wooden alebrije sculptures for him when she was away from home. She usually encouraged him to be proud of his cultural heritage and not let others bring him down for being different. While she appreciated his fondness for nature, she found his love for arcades and anime perplexing. She would unknowingly spark his interest in the military, particularly the mercenary lifestyle, through her stories and experiences.

At age 7, his parents decided to get a divorce due to their differing spiritual beliefs, which were starting to clash more and more. He lived with his father for the most part but was allowed to visit his mother whenever she was between assignments or not away on mercenary work. He also began to take up baseball, which became his favourite sport to play and watch on the big screen. He also developed a passion for extreme sports, often watching them on TV. Meanwhile, Gabriel would take him on extensive trips across the western, northern, and midwestern United States, exploring America's natural wonders, visiting First Nations communities, and attending conferences focused on Indigenous issues.

At 12, with the support of his father and his Ojibwe community, he embarked on his spiritual quest. Due to the extreme fasting, it put relative strain on his body, which activated his esper abilities. Ralf recalls that it produced visions of his future life as a great warrior and storyteller, revealing that he's an esper and teaching him how to harness his powers and access his Super Devil form. After a period of isolation and fasting, it revealed the spirits of his ancestors and his three guardian animals: the wolf, turtle, and otter. Through this experience, he developed his survival skills, gained maturity, and strengthened his connection with nature and the divine forces of life.

At age 14, before embarking on a mission against mysterious terrorist cultists, Javiera gave him her silver milagro charm for safekeeping, telling him it would bring him good luck and protection. Tragically, that mission proved to be her last, as she was captured and tortured to death. When Ralf received the devastating news, he struggled to come to terms with it and felt overwhelming guilt, as if her fate was his fault because he possessed her milagro charm. Although his parents were divorced, Gabriel was deeply saddened by the news and did his best to support Ralf through his emotional turmoil.

Contrary to rumours, Ralf didn’t drop out of high school and become addicted to LSD after losing his mother. Instead, he channelled his energy into his education, using it as a focus for his future. During this time, Ralf briefly explored dating, going on a few outings with both women and men, but eventually stopped searching for love when he couldn't find the right match. Ralf did experiment with LSD once, but the intense anxiety and hallucinations dissuaded him from ever trying the drug again.

When he turned 20, his father was killed during a robbery at the arts and crafts shop he owned. To make matters worse, he was facing financial difficulties at the time and struggling to find a stable job. In his desperation, he turned to an illegal fighting ring, drawn by the promise of cash prizes likely funded by other criminal activities. He participated in numerous fights, both in the ring and on the streets, for profit, eventually becoming the most skilled fighter among them. Ralf also discovered a fondness for THC-infused gummies, which provided relief from his emotional pain and served as a pleasant indulgence.

All of that changed when the Ikari Warriors discovered the famous street fighter's true identity as an esper after he joined their biennial tournament. With little convincing needed, Ralf joined the Ikari Warriors, driven by a desire to carry on his mother's legacy and explore the world. He excelled in all aspects of the military training he received, particularly in utilising his esper abilities and mastering hand-to-hand combat. The news that the Ikari Warriors had recruited another esper caught Clark's attention, but he was hesitant to approach Ralf. However, after a mission against a corrupt politician attempting to seize control of Brazil, Ralf and Clark became fast friends. During his time with the Ikari Warriors, he formed close friendships with several comrades, including General Kawasaki, 2nd Lieutenant Cook, Eikichi, Leland, and Byron. Leland gifted Ralf his copper-hued electric guitar, complete with a pick holder, as a birthday present and a symbol of respect—a treasured keepsake Ralf still holds dear.

Ralf has been on numerous missions for the Ikari Warriors, rising through the ranks to become a colonel due to his natural leadership skills and courage on the battlefield. He and Clark played a crucial role in defeating a secret society, referred to as the Serapion Fellowship, that had infiltrated and influenced much of Latin America's political and religious landscape, a group that would later evolve into the Ptolemaic Army. During a battle against the Serapion Fellowship on Ilha da Queimada Grande, Ralf narrowly escaped being bitten by a venomous golden lancehead viper. Later, in the Ecuadorian Andes, he had a harrowing encounter with a fer-de-lance, but in a panic, he managed to deflect it towards a group of Ptolemaic Army guerrilla troops. These two chilling incidents instilled in him a deep-seated aversion to venomous snakes.

Rumours have spread that Ralf and Clark might have battled a group of invading Martians in the Baja California desert and emerged victorious. However, they haven't addressed these claims publicly, despite knowing they're entirely false.

In another notable operation, Ralf, Clark, and a few comrades successfully rescued Elise, the U.S. President's daughter, from a massive criminal organisation that had planned to exploit her to gain access to the President's funds and harvest her organs. Ralf fondly recalls this mission, as it earned him a Medal of Honor from the U.S. President. He acquired Harpe during a mission in Greece where terrorists had raided a recently discovered catacomb. Additionally, he obtained Yawarakai-Te during a separate mission in Yamagata, Japan where a cult with illegal weaponry had taken over an old village, intent on instigating a nationwide war.

Ralf has endured numerous tragedies, fueling his determination to improve and protect the innocent. He witnessed the devastating loss of General Kawasaki during a battle against a cartel in Mexico, where he was tragically crushed and burned alive by flaming debris from a missile strike. 2nd Lieutenant Cook fell victim to a traitor within the Ikari Warriors, who ratted them to a bioterrorist group during a mission in Czechia, resulting in her assassination. While investigating a town ravaged by a guerrilla army in Saudi Arabia, Byron was horrifically devoured by a swarm of Man Eaters. Leland met a brutal end during a mission on a stolen submarine, where he was fatally gutted by a criminal. Eikichi suffered a terrifying fate when a Mutated Soldier latched onto him while investigating an abandoned laboratory, promptly exploding shortly after.

During the Great Morden War, Ralf made a name for himself as he single-handedly successfully defended the United States against the Rebel Army's invasion. Notably, he destroyed a massive Rebel aircraft that had been using captured men, women, and children as hostages and human shields. However, upon destroying the aircraft, Ralf was met with devastating news: there were innocent civilians on board, and they had all perished in the attack. This heroic yet tragic act caught the attention of the Regular Army's high command, who subsequently approached the Ikari Warriors to propose a strategic alliance. The offer was readily accepted, and as a result, the Ikari Warriors were integrated as the elite mercenary branch of the Regular Army.

Following the Great Morden War, Ralf was deployed on a mission to assist Nathalie Neo, a new recruit from the Peregrine Falcons Squad. Their objective was to track down and eliminate a rogue cell of Rebel Army soldiers planning to spark chaos for unknown reasons. During a nighttime operation in a dense forest, they discovered that the Rebel soldiers they had neutralised were, in fact, robotic and biomechanical in nature. Upon inspecting the bodies, they noticed a suspicious logo on the necks of each one, which Ralf recognized from Clark's accounts of being experimented on by a notorious organisation. This revelation led them to realise that the Amadeus Syndicate was behind the sinister operation. They promptly reported their findings to the Regular Army and continued to combat the rogue cell, aiming to disrupt the Amadeus Syndicate's plans.

After Ralf's Vulcan Punch and Galactica Phantom obliterated the Hellfire, their battles raged on through treacherous landscapes. He and Nathalie navigated a jungle waterfall, where they clashed with the Arachnid Bot. They raided an underground base containing numerous cargo crates of trafficked weapons and drugs to launch a daring assault and destroy the Cyclops. Taking to the skies, Ralf and Nathalie eliminated the Mega Laser Turret, cleverly disguised as a Rebel Army plane. While Nathalie fought soldiers on the wing of the plane and attacked the aircraft's weak point, Ralf broke into the aircraft and battled cyborg Rebel Army troops. He stole classified documents, but they turned out to be decoys, containing only basic information on genetics and brain psychology in serial killers and soldiers. This made the reason behind the Amadeus Syndicate's operation a mystery. After destroying the Mega Laser Turret, Ralf swiftly rescued Nathalie using his own Slug Flyer because hers had been obliterated by the aircraft’s laser beam.

As a way to support the Regular Army and show his respect, Ralf frequently trains new recruits to hone their melee combat skills. Due to his mercenary work, he rarely had the opportunity to meet members of the Regular Army's other special forces. He had always heard heroic stories about Hyakutaro and the elite members of the P.F. Squad and S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., especially those from the Great Morden War and the Extraterrestrial Alliance Clash. He initially hoped to meet them in person, fascinated by their tactical prowess and teamwork. This dream eventually became a reality during a mission against the Invaders.