#** not my dress design ** i got it from the portal

[coolcoolcoolbutwtf]

Don't ask me, honestly don't know either.

This was supposed to be just a simple sketch :(

[demonic0angel]

Anger Management prompt where there is a car accident, except it's in space, between Team Phantom and The Outlaws.

(Lmaoooo this is so freaking funny bc my sister got into a car accident just a week ago. She’s fine tho, dw)

Part 2

“Fuck you!” The teenager immediately screamed. “Where the hell did you learn to drive?! Go back to school, fucking dumbass! You can’t even drive, you piece of sh—”

He was then pulled back by one of his friends, who grabbed him and dragged him back to their normal looking, definitely not broken spacecraft. A girl, dressed in a very distinctive style of goth, then made an awkward face, popped her gum, and said, “Sorry about him. He has really bad road rage.”

Jason’s eye twitched. “I can see that. So what’re we going to do now? You crashed into our spacecraft!”

“Well, you don’t have spaceship insurance, do you?” The girl drawled.

Jason was suddenly reminded of why he hated Tim Drake and Damian Wayne. They were goddamn insufferable, obnoxious, annoying, irresponsible teenagers.

Jason suddenly felt like he aged 20 years in an instant and wondered if this was what Dick felt like, being so old.

Roy patted him on the arm. “Want me to take care of this?”

Jason gestured for him to go ahead, already feeling a headache. Roy walked forward and smiled charmingly. “Hey, kiddo! So, it’s not a big deal that we got bumped into— happens all the time! But we just want to know where your parents are! And why you’re out in space! And how we’re going to get back to earth, since our shipped is now wrecked. You know what earth is, right? Earth is—”

“We know what earth is,” the same cursing teenager from earlier said with a snide tone, “We live there too.”

Roy and Jason blinked.

Then Jason spat, “Well, that doesn’t do us shit! We still have a wrecked spacecraft and we’re stuck here on this moon until you fix it! Don’t think you can just fly away! We’re stranded because of you brats!”

Kori then appeared out of the spacecraft and flew down to them all. The kids all immediately stopped, eyes wide in awe. She smiled and said, “Hello, children! Is there anyway you can help us? You did wreck our spacecraft after all.”

Immediately, in the most respectful tone Jason had ever heard, the two-faced brat from earlier then said, “I’m so sorry, miss. We didn’t think that anyone would be exploring this part of space out here, so we weren’t looking! We’re sorry. We don’t have the tools to fix it either.”

Jason’s entire face suddenly wanted to break out into the nastiest glare he could muster. So not only did this kid blatantly show favoritism to Kori (even if she was definitely super cool), he also couldn’t help at all despite the fact that he completely stranded them in space after being careless with a spaceship?

Kori frowned and they all shared a look. Now what? Jason could feel the migraine get more annoying and he almost wanted to pull out his gun just to kill some kids and feel better about his shitty fucking day, when the other teen, who had pulled away the feral brat, spoke up and said, “We can call Jazz!”

“Oh yeah! Jazz! Quick, Sam, call her up!”

Roy narrowed his eyes. “Who’s Jazz?”

“My big sister,” the brat said, “She’ll fix this.”

Great. Another annoying person who would only make his headache worse and possibly piss him off even further. However, just as he finished thinking this and sharing another annoyed look with Roy, a green portal opened up and a goddess stepped down.

She was tall, with a curvaceous figure wrapped in black and blue robes, as well as a fluffy cape around her shoulders. Her hair fell down over her back, colored red like fire and sunsets and tiger lilies, and her face was that of a statue, carefully designed, crafted, and admired by all. She was so beautiful and picturesque that the air around her seemed to glow like a halo.

Just looking at her made Jason’s sorrows disappear.

She blinked her fluttering eyelashes over her turquoise eyes and then asked, “What seems to be the problem?”

Her voice was so angelic that Jason didn’t even feel his headache anymore.

“Nothing now that you’re here,” Jason said dreamily.

“Oh my god,” Roy said, hand over his mouth as he stared at Jason in shock. Even Kori looked shocked and amused.

The boy with black hair shared a disgusted look with his friends. “I thought that would’ve been my line.”

[talekinesis]

I need Stan and Ford to see their mom again

Like let's say she's still alive and in her 80s, she's in a wheelchair (ambulatory, she has customized canes) she still lives in their old home because a part of her hoped Stanford would come back, and she didn't want to leave their home, so he'd know where to go back to.

She wanted to stay put in case Ford came back.

So imagine her shock when both her boys come back home to her

Obviously Stan immediately starts apologizing for faking his death, putting her through grief, her arranging and attending his funeral, but she stops him like "I'd much rather it be fake than real." That's her baby boy, back from the dead, something most people don't get, so to her it's a miracle.

Her Jersey accent is thick, and it actually brings out the twins' accents that had faded over time (Stan's sounds natural to him since he always retained it a little, but everyone finds it funny when Ford's accent comes back because he just doesn't seem like the type to speak like that)

THEY MOVE HER INTO THE SHACK

The boys wanna take care of their mama and keep her around since it's been so long, and Caryn is delighted to be moved out of a loud city with rough memories and into a quiet little town where the people are odd but nice. Ford and Stan both work together to make the Shack accessible for her. Ford actually sat in her wheelchair to test everything and make sure she could get around on her own.

They catch her up on everything, and at first they don't think she'll fully believe them but she's like "Stanford built an international portal and got lost for 30 years? Stanley took his place and turned his home into tourist trap? Yeah, that seems like something my boys would do."

When she learns Stan taught himself engineering to re-build the portal, she's obviously very proud of him. "You were never dumb, Stanley, ya just learned different. Honestly, I always thought ya had A-D-H-D but Pa never wanted ya tested. But look how smart and creative ya turned out, son! I think ya did good." And Stan is definitely not crying.

Personal headcanon: Caryn was also really smart and picked up on things quick. The boys had to have gotten it from somewhere, and it wasn't Filbrick. He just took the credit because 1) he was the worst, and 2) times were different back then and no one would have really taken her seriously. But she's the one who would fix things around the house since she taught herself how to keep the place together and running since Filbrick wouldn't pay anyone to come and repair anything.

Imagine little Stan standing behind her with a flashlight while she fixes the wiring in the wall because an outlet stopped working. Both of the boys helping her while she fixes the car for the third time that week because it keeps breaking down. Mama Pines taught herself how to keep things up and running because no one else would or could.

Caryn meets Mabel and Dipper when they come back in the summer, and Mabel is THRILLED

She's technically met them before but they were still newborns at the time so they don't remember her, and she hadn't gotten a chance to see who they'd become

Mabel makes her a sweater and she wears it with pride. And I really think it would go like that scene from Elemental

Caryn: You made this?

Mabel: Oh, yeah, it's nothing-

Caryn: Nothin? Babygirl, my designer dresses were made by 'nothin.' Oh sweetie, you have got to do somethin' with this skill. And to think, I have an original 'Mabel Pines.'

And don't think I'm leaving Dipper out of this, he gets his great-grandma's attention too. She loves talking to him and listening to him tell stories about the monsters they've encountered in the past. She sees a lot of Ford in him, but she also sees a lot of Stan in him in other ways.

I think Dipper's love for "girly" music is something Stan used to share before Filbrick "disciplined" him for it. Child Stan used to sit in the kitchen with his Ma and sing along to the radio, usually listening to whatever she had put on.

Now all three of them sit in the kitchen and listen to the radio while Stan cooks.

Ford feeling like a failure for putting everyone in danger, and Caryn just goes, "Come talk to your mama." And he does. He goes and talks to his mama, like he always has in the past. She's in her 80s and they're grown men in their late 50s, but she's still their mom, and you never really quit being a mom.

I might actually write a short fic about this, I love it so much.

[hrrtshape]

　　　　　　　　　　　3 nights in the in-between

hi. i shifted to my waiting room and obviously everything was devastatingly adorable. so here’s the lowdown before my soul bursts out of my collarbones from trying to contain the serotonin . .

　　shift length : 3 days but like… biblical. i was alba on day one. alba on day two. and then alba again on day three. except in this essay alba is a state of metaphysical blondeness and not a roman martyr. i was soft-lit. i was god’s favourite jpeg. i woke up like i’d been cured of every disease i didn’t know i had. i woke up honey-glazed and airbrushed. i woke up as if lana del rey herself had kissed my eyelids and whispered, "no thoughts, just frosted roses."　

　　place : the cinderella manor and no like. this is not an architectural joke. this place is disneycore™. not tasteful-italian-villa pinterest-core. it’s birds and rococo staircases that creak when you giggle too loud. it’s baroque-but-make-it-fairytale. like if sofia coppola directed a sleepover. you blink and suddenly your reality is being scored by harp strings and pink icing.　

　　　　　　　okay so ,

there’s a private cinema hidden behind a copy of the divine comedy. push it like a girlboss opening a portal to hell and BAM!! letterboxd-core viewing experience unlocked. i watched actual movies (auteur realness) AND got to view curated top-ten-most-deranged moments with coryo. it was like a highlight reel of my delusions. i was giggling like an orphan seeing snow for the first time.

kitchen stocked with marie-antoinette-adjacent snacks. like petit fours. sugar-dusted things that don’t exist in the waking world. i had a raspberry macaron. it knew too much. it was watching me.

lucifer was there btw. the lucifer. devil of hell. morning star. slay incarnate. jk the cat. he’s a literal infernal entity but he cuddles like a plushie possessed by the spirit of a golden retriever. we watched a noir movie together and he fell asleep on my shoulder. duality of cat etc etc.

my wardrobe was pinterest-core to the point of hallucination. like it was curated by an algorithm that knows my blood type. little bows. embroidered stuff. silk things. pretty dresses. i dressed like i was haunting an opera house.

my bedside table knew me biblically. it had whatever i needed before i even wanted it. a book. a journal. rosé. a phone. a lip balm.

i also had a telescope. like. capital-T telescope. i could see the stars. constellations were making a groupchat just for me. i saw venus doing a twirl.

back garden = eternal picnic. gingham blankets. dewy grass. someone always playing the cello in the distance. i ate strawberries and i was being filmed in soft focus. not really, at least i hope not.

also… scripted tiktok edits of my dr selves. narcissism... yes. therapeutic.... also yes. i was literally watching someone edit ME in final cut pro to hozier songs. i saw my fame dr on a red carpet and got secondhand butterflies.

there’s a lake. didn’t go in. was too pretty. too sacred. it glistened like the inside of a pearl. i stood there for ages like a protagonist mid-season arc. it changed me.

coraline door moment!!!!!!! it exists. it's small. gold-trimmed. do i know where it leads? no. did i script that? also no. is it ominously glowing sometimes? slay

i did script a small town nearby. never entered. cowardice won that battle. but its little cobbled streets were visible through the manor windows and they looked like plotlines waiting to happen. maybe next time.

have i mentioned the massive teddy bear. like. he’s just sitting there. coryo-sized. plushie of the void. i’ve sobbed into him twice and he took it like a champ. emotionally supportive king.

the AIR. smelled like… warm vanilla. roses. post-cry clarity. a scent that makes you feel forgiven. girl i don’t even know what the molecules were doing but they were in sync.

the manor isn’t like… photogenic. it’s animated. i live in a disney animated original movie but with higher stakes and better set design. the floorboards squeak narratively.

library includes painting zone. one night i stayed up tracing brushstrokes and the moonlight was literally bending to make me look artsy. it was like painting inside a poem. cried a little. obviously.

now. mirror. the mirror. i looked into it and saw every version of blonde me. honey blonde. platinum. 90s supermodel blonde. messy juliette lewis blonde. soul left my body and came back.....i need to bleach my hair.

my teapot brews based on my subconscious. i woke up to vanilla-rose-lavender earl grey with tiny sugar cubes that giggled when i stirred them. it’s fine. it’s normal. it’s called being built different.

also. trunk of film cameras. every one records me in a different genre. my tuesday was shot like a wes anderson girlhood docu-comedy. thursday had horror lighting. friday was soft focus teen romcom with slow fades. i am my own filmography.

anyway. it was perfect. 3-day slay. i’m in mourning now. but i’m also planning my next arrival. maybe next time i’ll open the coraline door. maybe i’ll dive into the lake. maybe coryo will show up and ruin my life in a cute way. who knows.

ok love you bye.

[sweetbunpura]

Rollo tries to propose to Yuu but everyone tries to sabotage him 😈

LMAO, Rollo has to get through so many people just to propose to Yuu!

Rollo vs NRC

The fourth year had come, gone, and they NRC students had returned to the school to graduate. Rollo had spent his apprentice in Fleur city, learning about all he could with his new found interest in volunteer work and planning for his future... in more ways than one. He had purchased a ring, intending to propose to the love of his life at the graduation. Him and Yuu had only grown closer in the time apart, which was a surprise to Rollo, for he had heard how many couples had struggled with long distance relationships.

Outside of phone calls, Rollo had not see her for a year, so had had no idea how much she had changed. Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the portal and into the Mirror Chamber. Other 4th years were in there and chatting among one another, most paid him no mind....but he halted as a call of his name sounded.

"Roll-kun!" Cater waved him over.

Rollo approached him and took in the ginger's new looks. Cater had stayed the same height but his hair was different, he had dyed red locks on top of his longer hair. He wrapped him up in a hug and smiled.

"Look at you! Your hair has really grown out! Yuu-chan's gonna love it."

Rollo gave a soft smile and dragged his fingers through his long gray hair. "Thank you, Cater."

"And a smile too? She really changed you~"

"Indeed." Rollo patted his pocket and felt the box against it. "Now if you'll excuse me-"

"Going to see Child of Man with that ring?"

Rollo jolted and sighed as he turned around to see a smiling Malleus. "Malleus...."

"Hello, Flamme." Malleus gave a small bow. "Am I right in assuming you plan on asking her to marry you?"

"Wait, no kidding!?"

Rollo sighed and nodded. "I am. Now, I'm off to go find her. Farewell."

He left, complete unaware of Malleus and Cater smiling at each other. From there, Rollo could not find Yuu anywhere, and everyone he had asked had pointed him in various opposite directions. Idia and Ortho had straight up lied to him, stating that Yuu wasn't even here to begin with. Silver and Sebek just shook their heads and said that she might be else where, just not on campus. And yet everywhere else had wielding the results of "I don't know"

He was getting frustrated at this point, but before he could even think of where else to go, the announcement for the graduation started. With a sigh, he went to the podium and waiting for eveything to start.

Once the ceremony ended, he departed the stage and was about to start looking for her again, he got tackled.

"Enough of this!" Rollo glared at Deuce, Ace, and Grim. "Why is everyone so hellbent on stopping me!"

"You can't ask her to marry you." Ace grumbled.

"Yeah!" Grim added in. "She's my henchhuman and I don't want you macking on her!"

"By the sevens... We're already dating!" Rollo growled and pried the three off of him. "This is getting absurd!"

"You can't blame us..." Deuce said. "She means the world to us."

"I understand that, but she means the same to me." He sighed. "And I haven't seen her all day. We've only been communicating through calls... And I miss her terribly."

"Aw."

Rollo jolted and turned around to see Yuu standing behind him with Cater and Malleus in a headlock. She smiled warmly at her and her hair had gotten longer, they were worked into brains with hair ornaments in them.

"Love."

"Heard you been looking for me and everyone sent you on a wild goose chase." She shook Cater ad Malleus. "Thanks to these two."

"Guilty as charged~" Cater laughed.

"It was all in good fun." Malleus huffed.

"Now." She dropped them as they landed on the ground face down. "What's up?"

"I wanted to ask you something." He reached into his pocket and before he could get down on one knee to begin, the others started gathering around.

"Aw~ Snapping Turtle's gonna propose~" Floyd.

"How beautiful!" Rook.

"I'll be the one designing the dress no doubt." Vil.

"About time." Leona.

Rollo sighed as the chatter started up around him, Yuu tugged him forward by his robes.

"I know you had this all planned out, but you know how these guys are." She kissed him. "Put the ring on, the answer's gonna be yes no matter what."

Rollo opened the box and slipped the ring on her before placing his forehead on her shoulder.

"I hate them."

"No, you don't.

[junkydoodle]

Very long very stupid wordy ramble about this pyramid steve Au I came up with

(Based off my Twitter)

If you don't like reading please scroll 🥹 I'm not much of a writer myself

--------------

[ALL IMAGES TAKEN FROM MY TWT ACCOUNT]

We're sarting with the main protagonists, "Jimbo" and "Merble Evergreen". These are the names Alex Hirsch had given to the (younger) Pine twins after he made a post about dressing up as 'Pyramid Steve'

And then I thought; "Hey, what the heck, a little au designs won't hurt right?!?!?!" So I came up with Jimbo and Merble's designs

Then I got carried away and made more HWHAHAHA

---

Lore (?)

Stephen's (Ford's counterpart) the disappointment and Stapler (Stan's counterpart) is the succesful one!!! How the tables have turned 😈😈😈

*I named Stanley Stapler because I thought it was funny, just like how Bill was named Pyramid Steve

Stephen's more of an artsy student here and Stapler's got a good boxing gig going on

---

Jimbo's a lot like original Mabel (the scrapbooking, the art, etc.)

Merble on the other hand loves to do math and packs a punch, she will NOT hesitate to beat the shit out of you for hurting her brother (just like her grunkle Stapler)

Fiddlee Mcbucket is honestly.. still the same?? Except he's been paranoid since the start... idk I'll work on it, I didnt really gaf about his design LOL

They never made a portal btw.. I have an idea that it's a lot more.. cultish (??) Like they make use of pentagrams and shit cause yk they draw and stuff.

[idkplzhalp]

What do you know about Caroline in full? /genq

Some background for those who don't know, Caroline from Portal 2 is my favorite character as of 6 years and at some point I started keeping a big list in which I document everything such as info during development, things from devs/voice actors, debunking theories, literally any of her appearances anywhere and other silly stuff too. I also made an image folder with any potential reference or appearance to her in the series/behind the scenes, which i started to upload to a google drive folder and i need to finish it. When I finally make the entire Caroline post & drive folder, I'd wanna post it to my Valve fact blog @thatvalvefanatic. I'm super into getting canon/official facts about things and Caroline is the funnest for me to do as she's so obscure.

So here's some facts (know I have way more but this is already long enough..) since it'll be awhile since I do the big complete analysis post (or the Caroline lore bible, as I call it) that I've been promising for like 3 years lol!!!

Her heels are red! (This is her face model, Laura Dubuk, when she was at SDCC 2012 with Bill Fletcher, Cave's face, for the Neca booth)

Caroline's name was taken from Jay Pinkerton's (the writer's) mother. Erik Wolpaw says the name also means coincidentally "free man/woman". It's also a variant of the name Charles/Charlie (which is a coincidence to Aperture Desk Job's character Charlie (who is likely more of a reference to Chell)).

She has Argentinian and French roots as that is her face model Laura Dubuk's ethnicity (she's stated she's Argentinian, her last name is french, though).

The brand of her dress is "Daniel & Rebecca", an Italian brand made in the 80s/90s. Laura got the dress specifically for Caroline from a thrift store.

Caroline is referenced by Jerry the Nanobot. If you slow his audio down and reverse it, you hear "his injury is not expected to end but she's in charge instead". Hearing is subjective here but that's what I've seen as widely accepted. Though Portal 2 has done similar before with the Ghost of Rattmann track, which was just cut up audio of Marc Laidlaw reading an entirely unrelated paragraph. Or like the Dinosaur_fizzle audios from the radios in Portal 1 that people theorized was Caroline screaming from the radio, when it wasn't that at all as that update came before Caroline was created.

Unlike popular belief, Ellen Mclain did not refuse any of Caroline's lines. People spread rumors that the deleted GLaDOS related lines made her cry and that JK Simmons refused to say his lines due to how they sounded like SA, but that's not true at all.

Also, Caroline is NOT Chell's mother. She's too old and too white to be her mom! GLaDOS' arc towards Chell has been confirmed & implied to be queer/romance-esque. You can see some of that in my LGBTQ Valve post, though I need to update it, and I will be making a singular post just for queercoded GLaDOS since there is SO much. One of Valve' employees, Makani, confirmed Chell was not her daughter.

Cave and Caroline aren't married, confirmed by the Portal 2 guidebook. Though they were still likely good friends, based on some of Cave's cut lines, in which he trusts her to do a lot more.

Cave wanted Caroline to be taken care of and respected as CEO/GLaDOS! That part of his GLaDOS speech had been cut though. Those lines are, "Treat her just like you’d treat me." and "Just make sure she’s taken care of."

Portal RTX has a bunch of hidden codes you can find. There are some you use to change the design of the companion cube. Inputting Caroline's name changes it to the pillow cube!

According to Josh Weier, Caroline wasn't added to the game until one month before its release. Originally she wasn't a part of the story and Cave's assistant was a man named Greg. They didn't want to hire an actor for just a couple lines, so they decided to reuse Ellen Mclain, thus creating GLaDOS' human backstory. Though Greg was reused for Perpetual Testing Initiative and the Cave Johnson DotA announcer pack.

Caroline appears in the spinoff/tech-demo Aperture Desk Job, though only as her portrait. This confirms that she can be in other universes just like Greg, though we don't know what happened to her in this one. She's potentially dead, as Aperture Desk Job had Cave live long enough to be put into the machine. The machine was started and he killed some of the scientists. Also Caroline's portrait there is partially covered, covering her side.

I personally believe Caroline to be biromantic asexual! This one isn't a confirmed fact but more speculation. I think the "she's married- to science!" bit could indicate not being apart of traditional straight relationships, also knowing she was never married to Cave either. We already know GLaDOS is biromantic due to her liking Chell (and in spin-offs liking Claptrap and Batman for a time), and she could be considered ace to her cut line in co-op mode saying she found human reproduction ridiculous. Presumably the same would apply to Caroline.

The "Say goodbye, Caroline!" / "goodbye, Caroline!" Bit is a potential reference to The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950) or Rowan and Martin's Laugh In (1968) as both had bits similar to that, and would make sense for Caroline and Cave to reference due to when the shows aired. Some people interpret that line as Caroline being dumb, though that's not true at all! We know she was intelligent from Cave's high praise of her, and if she was actually making a reference to a TV program then it would be even smarter and show that Caroline probably had inside jokes or references with Cave.

Want You Gone says Caroline and Chell are similar (“She was a lot like you”). If true then Chell, as officially described from the Collaborative Disposition Test, “Resolute and tenacious, you won't quit until a puzzle's solved. Your inability to give up against impossible odds makes you a bad match for cooperative test partners who give up against any odds at all, racing to the internet for answers” Could give insight into Caroline’s personality. The Collaborative Disposition Test could give even more insight into her from Cave’s description “You don't see crises - only challengitunities. you choose to scale like mountains. You're a can-do, shoot-from-the-hip, silver-tongued self-starter. You're a good match for any cooperative test partner, providing they shut up and listen.” Caroline didn’t have much dialogue and we know she did the majority of what Cave asked of her/they worked together for at least 30 years. Caroline may very well be Cave’s testing partner who will “shut up and listen”.

Caroline was in the Steam 25th anniversary artwork! Art by Claire Hummel. It is her and Cave drawn over this meme:

okay that's it for now but I did find an iceberg chart I made a few months ago about her so I'm including it even tho some things gotta be adjusted because it's not 100% correct. It's the same as this but I wanna share it anyways. Happy Caroline Portal 2 lore learning. I'll make a part 2 with more stuff later.

[hauntedbythefanficsofmypast]

Past, Present and that of Space

Masterlist

Dead-ends and Surprise Visits

“Alrightie, Duke your classes don't start for an hour right, LightBrite?” Duke snorted, nodding as he got comfortable pulling his blanket tighter around his shoulders. “Good good, should be enough time, ehhhh maybe we'll see, anyway!!” 

Harley snagged a cookie munching on it before she began. “Sooo years ago before I was a doctor and your daddio a crime-fighting college drop-out vigilante, we went to Gotham Uni. Bruce had been studying to be a Doctor like your granddaddy, so all of us had the same base classes. We actually had a study group and we'll as a ‘Fuck Professor Tanner’ club.

We met in advanced Calculus, I sucked and Brucie was my seat buddy along with Vladdie. After a bad failed test on my part and Professor Tanner purposely marking the others down, we formed a spite study group. I dragged Crane into it and Vlad pulled Jackie and Mads in! It kinda cemented our friendships a bit!” Harley snorted, shaking her head while reminiscing on the old days.

“Jackie, Mads, and Vladdie we're going for Doctorates in Science and Engineering. Jackie was more towards Engineering that was his crazy strong point while Mads and Vladdie were genius to boot. Would've fit in very well with your bunch now that I think ‘bout it! It grew a pretty decent friend group between us. Of course Brucie dropped out after that year, but Crane and I stayed pretty close with them. It was our final year when a lot of drama happened.” Harley sighed before grabbing her Tea cup downing it.

“The three of them were convinced that another universe lay parallel to ours. Called it the Ghost Zone, they'd been attempting to make a portal to it for months. Then the accident happened, it exploded and Vlad got carted off campus, didn’t see him again after that. He transferred out and last we heard he went to Wisconsin. Jackie and Mads were heartbroken, they’d been friends for a while at that point and losing Vlad made them a little unstable. Not ya know, rouge unstable but they started designing weapons to hunt ghosts. Caught some attention shortly before graduation and got a couple grants, they were really ecstatic. They left soon after we graduated, Jackie proposed and Mads said yes, went back to Mads hometown for the wedding. I got invited but at that point I was already at Arkham and well, you know my story already.” 

Tim stopped his note taking, looking up at Harley, who seemed slightly trapped in thought. He coughed slightly, breaking her out of her remembrance of who Harleen Quinzel used to be. 

“Ghost Zone? Huh? Weird niche of all things but ya know, we dress up and go fight crime nightly.” Duke elbowed him teasingly as he ate a cookie, and Tim rolled his eyes. “Right, right I forgot one of us is  a weirdo and patrols during the day time!”

“Oi! At least I don’t have an ugly ass cowl, owl head ass.” Tim gave him the dirtiest look, already calculating how far Duke dropped on his favorite sibling list.

“Congrats Duke, Damian has officially passed you on my favorite siblings list. It’s a sad day when two siblings drop below the one that has stabbed me multiple times.” Duke went to respond but was cut off by Harley’s barking laughter. Harley was bent over holding her stomach laughing so hard Duke contemplated running to get a cure for Joker Venom, but seeing the satisfied look on Tim’s face calmed him. Tim’s plan to distract her clearly worked, besides he had enough to work on now.

Of course Danny had contact with the Realms, his parents succeed in making their portal after all. 

Alfred hummed lowly to himself as he entered his bedroom for a short break. He set the tea tray down before pulling out both his chairs and sitting down.

“You were cutting it close you know, old friend.” He sipped his tea slowly before looking up at the person now sitting in the chair across from him. “You’ve set my charges into a protective mode that will lead to less sleep. Honestly the extra stress you’ve added to my plate with this stunt.”

“Apologies are in order for that, you know I should not interfere too often. Their eyes weren’t on me for only a few seconds, talking with Young Timothy was not possible.” His form shifted and Alfred hummed taking in the appearance of the elderly man in front of him.

“Your form has changed. I see you added to your family circle, congratulations.” Clockwork chuckled knowing he had taken some aspects from the kids he had practically adopted when they were fourteen.

“Indeed, not as many as your brood, but I am content. They have fine futures, fine futures indeed.”

“I see, and their futures are now intertwined with my charges.”

“Yes they are, we will be seeing more of each other in the future. Young Timothy will get along very well with my Phantom. They will be a force to be reckoned with.”

“Dear Clockwork, I believe they are on their own, together they could rule the multiverse.” Clockwork and Alfred were silent for a while, simply enjoying tea together. However he was the first to break their silence with a chuckle.

“I believe you are quite right Alfred. Quite right indeed.”

Dani typed silently on her phone as she sprawled across Danny’s back. The other Halfa too busy editing a video to pay attention to her. The others in their family were in varying places of Fenton Works but the two self-proclaimed siblings had holed up in Danny’s room. At first they simply sat staring at the ceiling, or rather staring into space, literally. After discovering Danny was the new Ancient of Space came even more power training that had Danny wish to rip his hair out.

Danny had discovered the ability to make a rift that could remain open until he willed it away, it was unlike portals that he needed to concentrate on to keep open. No those portals were Dani’s expertise, able to portal them to any place and even universes. Danny’s rifts allowed him direct access to space, and since discovering it his ceiling had been a constant show of the different galaxies that graced their universe. So often the others would come to call them for dinner and find the two’s eyes locked on their stars.

Val often joked that Dani’s love for space came from her template. Of course Dani wasn’t as crazy about space as Danny was but she still loved it. Dani paused her typing looking up at the ceiling for a moment before grinning.

“Danny, I have a great idea. Our next video should be in space.” Danny stopped editing mind racing between different ideas before his core was vibrating so hard in excitement that he was purring. Dani’s mirth couldn’t be contained as her body took flight lifting off him and towards the rift. “We could do so much!”

“Visiting other planets!”

“Space fights!”

“A day in the life with off-world species!”

“Jumping universes! People will lose their minds if we go to the ‘Futurama’ universe!”

“Oh my crown Dani! The possibilities are endless!!” Danny laughed as he took flight playfully taking the girl out of the air, both phasing through his bedroom floor and bouncing off the couch as they began a mini fight. Wes watched them amused as he paused his show, thankful he was sitting fully to the left of the couch and not in the middle. “Black holes! We can explore black holes!!” Danny announced laughing as he got Dani into a headlock only for her to phase out and land a hard elbow to his gut.

“Yes! Oooooh I want to kick you into a black hole so bad!!” We can cut the video there and the next one can be you in the Futurama Universe trying to find your way back!!” The two cackled together as their fighting amped up. 

“That is a pretty good idea.” Wes hummed, blinking as mischievous eyes locked on him. “Don’t even think about it you two.” He warned as they started grinning, he threw himself to the side flipping over the arm of the couch as they lunged at him phasing through and landing on the other side in a crouch. “Damnit!” Wes yelled as he scrambled up taking off up the stairs. The two grin as they jumped flying up through the floor to the hallway waiting to ambush him, only to be surprised when the front door slammed shut.

“Did he just?” Dani asked as she stuck her head through the wall Danny followed a second later as they watched Wes booking it down the street.

“He just juked us. Oh we gotta get him now!” The two flew through the wall, not even transforming as they rushed after him, waving to a few people who called out to them. Jack and Maddie watched them go from where they were unloading groceries from the Fenton Ghost Assault vehicle.

“Oh I hope they have fun hunting Wes!” Jack said with a laugh as Maddie slid a fifth bag onto his right arm. “Ah these kids keep up young Mads!” Maddie laughed leaning up and kissing his cheek as she grabbed the last four bags and locked the assault vehicle.

“Those kids of ours they really do, and they’re all growing up and breaking my heart! I wish we could have more.” Maddie said with a small laugh as Jack wiggled his eyebrows at her, Tucker opened the door for them as they approached and Maddie kissed his forehead in thanks as they walked to the kitchen. “Thank you Tucker dear. Are Sam and Val here?” Tucker nodded following them after he took some bags from Jack.

“Yes, they’re in the kitchen waiting to help with groceries. I was gonna let the other three know but Danny and Dani were having one of their bonding fights, then Wes got dragged into it.” Jack laughed as he put the last bags on the counter.

“We saw that! If it wasn’t for the groceries I had I would’ve ran after to join them! It's that Fenton blood after all!” Maddie chuckled, sharing a look with Sam before she moved over to the fridge starting to clean it out.

“And the fact that ghosts literally bond through fighting, it's like another language to them.” Val said with a chuckle as she unpacked some bags. “How about spaghetti tonight?” Moving aside the needed ingredients as agreements rang out from the room. “Sweet, is it alright if I invite my dad? He makes some mean garlic bread.”

“Of course Val! You’re our kid now and that makes him a Fenton too! The more the merrier!” Jack said moving over to pull out the needed cooking utensils. Sam was quick to take them from him, shooing him away while waving a spatula.

“I’ll invite my grandma over too. She made cookies yesterday and wanted more people to try her new recipe. I’ll make dinner with Tucker, you two aren’t allowed to make food anymore after those hot dogs took over the town.” Jack held his hands up defensively with a laugh as Maddie didn’t make eye contact with anyone.

“In my defense we didn’t know they were hot dogs from the Infinite Realms!”

“We came back to them trying to sacrifice Lancer, Dash and Kwan to their god.” Val said deadpan remembering the return home from their senior trip. “I smelled like hot dog water for weeks. I couldn’t look people in the eye anytime they questioned the smell.” Maddie couldn’t hold back her snort as she continued to not look at them. He shoulders shaking as she remembered the look on their kids faces the moment they stepped through the portal in front of City Hall. Laughter finally burst from her lips as she shook her head sitting on the floor in front of the fridge.

“Your faces that day!! You all, you all looked so done!” Soon everyone joined in laughing with Maddie as they remembered that day and the fight that followed.

“What's so funny?” Danny asked from the doorway Dani standing next to him with a slightly bruised and pouting Wes slung over her shoulder. Everyone turned to them laughter pausing for a second before they just laughed harder remembering when the biggest hot dog attempted to eat Danny.

Universe Hopping and Reunion Trip Planning

[twipsai]

god, this took me DAYS to make, but i finally finished my interpretation of Dedf1sh and Paul throughout the years!!! some notes under the cut lol

2015

Ahato and Marina are childhood friends, Marina was even there for her when her parents passed. Marina helped her take care of Paul when they were growing up to the point that Paul considered her a second big sister. this, of course, changed when

the two worked on music together when Ahato wasnt working (which she got increasingly busier up until she left to go to kamabo), and the melody for Chopscrewey and Crush were made by them during this time!

while Paul was a musical genius, he did struggle in school quite a bit as his creative drive often overwrote his working drive :P

the skull/octo logo is a logo they made for themselves for when they got to the surface and formed a band together

Ahato dropped out of school to work full-time to support her and Paul (which,,, isnt very uncommon for octarian families)

2017

the Kamabo sanitization program (tm) requires patients to remove strings such as shoelaces and hoodie strings from their clothing to reduce the risk of them trying to strangle themselves or each other, which is why Ahato doesnt have shoelaces

Paul didnt go to the surface until he was recruited to Sashimori, and started living with the three of them

Ahato has amnesia, she knows she had a family, but cant quite remember who they were or where she even came from. most of her memories are muscle memory, which is why she remembers how to make music and such

Ahato cant hear anything around her-- she wont become out-right aggressive when approached like most sanitized octos are, but she will be a little jittery and on-guard

2022

im not really prepared to say too much about Ahato/Acht here bc of how little we know about her role in side order as of writing this (1/7/2024)

Paul has mostly moved on from trying to find Ahato, while he does wish they could be reunited, a lot of his memories of that time have become fuzzy... he wouldnt be able to recognize her face if he saw it.

Ahato's dress got ripped when she first left kamabo (which was a few months after octo expansion)-- she found some red thread to stitch it up and lace up her shoes! :D

on that note, the addition of more red in her design is to symbolize how more and more memories of her life are resurfacing-- same thing with being able to see her eye on her visor

also her eye is supposed to look like a turret from portal lol

Paul regularly commutes from inkopolis to splatsville-- i think he went crazy for the alterna tracks when they were first recovered lol

andddd,,, thats it!!! if you have any questions about my headcanons for these two, feel free to ask in my inbox!!! though i dont have EVERYTHING fleshed out yet, im still waiting for side order to release before i figure it all out ^^;

[that-weird-thing-in-the-woods]

I have drink the brain juice again and just watched the haunted mansion so this is very much inspired by that

The Haunting of the RoseWall manner

So Danny leaves amity (you all know the drill at this point that I don’t really need to explain) and destroys the portal so his parents and the GIW can’t get to it and run or well flys away as fast as he can and flys for days straight without taking any breaks so he crashes into a giant garden and when he wakes up he is meet with the faces of two small children ( The little girl who well call Rosalyn and a little boy named Aspen they both look like their around 5-6 years old) and as they see that he is awake the leave the room that now that Danny looks at it looks like something you would find it a old victorian house that looks untouched anyway the two came back with a girl who introduces herself as Noa she looks to be around 9-10 and she introduces the two as her little siblings and that one of old Bobbie’s hounds found him and when Danny ask where he is Noa says that he is in the RoesWell manner and that it is inhabited by 99 spirits that’s when a very pretty woman who looks like she’s in her late 30s and wearing and introduces herself as Mother no name just Mother and asks Danny how he got into this situation and that’s when the water works start and Danny just tells this woman everything so let’s just say she has a healthy hatred of the Fentons and the GIW and her mothering instincts kick in and she just goes

Mother who just heard everything this poor child has gone through “Ok your my child now you have no choice in the matter”

Danny who’s freshly parentheses and newly traumatized “ uh ok just don’t shoot me pls”

And after that Mother along with his new siblings… he guesses leave the bedroom and make their way to the giant ballroom where there are all the ghost in the manner are to meet the new guy and Mother makes Danny and the siblings go with one of the teenagers to a different room/ and or the garden and tells the rest of the adults about what Danny has gone through and let’s just say Danny now has a army of aunts and uncles and grandparents who really want to murder the people who hurt him and after a few months of staying there it starts to change him but not in a bad way ( and also all the residents of the manner have a rose somewhere on their person or it is something on their clothes) and the younger ghosts of the manner like to play dress up with Danny so he most often hanging around some of the younger residents while wearing a dress or other outfits from different time periods that some of the older ghosts like giving him

And now to the JL but so Constantine gets a heads up about a place with 100 spirts and decides to go check it out and as he does he finds Danny and some of the younger residents first and that’s all I can think of for the DC part of this I might add more later

And I won’t be adding a design part because of the outfits the older ghosts give him and I’ll probably add more in later posts 

And that’s all I have for that the moment ( sorry if it’s a bit scatter brain this is really a last minute thing) byeee

[tea-the-not-understanding]

My god, this too a while designing the last and the big brother out of the moons

This is Penumbra, Literally known for the strongest moon in the universe and highly skilled in combat style in both physical, weapons and magics. He still continue to train everyday, just to become stronger so he can protect his little brothers and sister. They are like a world to him and he would do anything for them.

He may look so cold, cruel and look like he can snap your neck at any minutes, but when you get to know him very well, he can be a gentle giant and calm since he only attack and kill as self defense.

He also have many forms, but this is his main form since it helps him fight and defend very effective then the rest. But sometimes he can went into a normal form with legs like his brothers to blend in and walk around with them to hang out sometimes. And it also lowered his size too so he can enter some places easier. He is very big after all....

yeah when in battle or argument, he's mean business and killed the person who started it. He also known to be ruthless and merciless when fighting against his enemies.

He's also specifically the dad favorite (which is bad) due to how strong he is in combat and magics. So he's the one who got the most beating and training then the rest. Even with all the problems he went through, he still went out of his ways to protect his brothers and sisters. Taking the blame, taking the beating for them and do the chores for them so they can have some chance to rest or breath.

With all the abuse and forced training, it no wonder how he able to fight and kill millions of lives and shattered a whole moon and stars. He earn the title as the "Planet Destroyer" from his own father and been forced to kill more lives and destroy hundreds of armies along side with his brothers and sister for years. When the golden opportunity comes to escape from their own hell, they took it and Penumbra were the one who fights off his own kind and armies from his kingdom where he live, Just to buy enough time for his brothers and sister to run and create a strong portal that help them escape as far away as possible and a strong portal that unallowed anybody to be able to track them to their location.

Until this day, even in the safe place in Twinkle star world. He still keeping his heads up, fearing that their father might return to hunt them down... But now he also trying to learn to relax and calm down and do little hobbies like his dear brothers and sister do.

He like to paint and play guitars. :D

And the fun fact about him, his mane may be cloudy and smokes, but he can shift it into hair so his little brother, Petite, can braids his hair from time to time since Petite love to do make over or dress up. And he joins Petite sometimes just to make Petite very happy.

He play instruments to help Lunar sing more better with musics from instruments or have a small band, he got 6 arms and he can play a lot of instruments with it after all

He also reading books and novel together with Bloodmoon and sometimes in their freetime, they brew potion and do alchemy stuff.

Usually Lunar is the one who bring Snoopy on a walk but Penumbra do that sometimes when Lunar is too sleepy.

Anyways, I love this man and my god, I am already scared for future me if I planning on modeling him into the game idea I had. fak :I

[rainwingmarvel7]

Teenage Wasteland/My Ordinary Life - Chapter 4

Tags: @weltsarchives @sikudastoner (lmk if you want to be added)!

Just fyi, this one is crazy long!!! But it’s got plenty of father-son bonding and some serious angst, so enjoy!

Chapter 4 - Make Me Part Of Your Design

      Fenrir followed C-20 and the rest of her squadron through the portal, emerging into a fairground in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the year 1985. There had been another Variant report, on this point on the Sacred Timeline, and Mobius had sent Fenrir to deal with it, even though C-20 was technically leading the mission, while he helped Loki settle in.

      “Hi!” one of the fair-goers, an attractive woman dressed as a maiden, greeted. “What’s going on? You guys aren’t dressed right.” She chuckled awkwardly, as C-20 and the other hunters ignored her. “I…So…”

    “Oh, sorry,” Fenrir apologized, using magic to change into a prince costume. “Is that better?” The woman gawked at him, while C-20 rolled her eyes.

    One of the Minutemen held up the TemPad on her wrist, scanning the area for the Variant. “Variant detected, Commander,” she reported to C-20. The signal was coming from a blue and yellow-striped tent, a few yards away.

    “Let’s move,” C-20 ordered, and the group started forward across the fairgrounds. She pointed at Fenrir. “And you, change back. We’ve got a mission to focus on, it’s not dress-up time.”

    “You’re just upset I didn’t make you the princess,” Fenrir responded with a smirk. She glared at him. “Alright, fine.” He changed back into his uniform as they walked, easily keeping up with her.

    “Some of us need this, you know,” he heard the woman call after them with a sigh.

      C-20 took the lead as they entered the tent, Fenrir at her heels. It was almost completely dark inside, aside from the lamps and small fires that dotted the room, and Fenrir immediately sensed that something was off.

     “No Nexus energy yet, ma’am,” the Minuteman with the TemPad said.

      “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Fenrir muttered, just as loud music began blaring over the speaker attached to one of the wooden posts holding up the tent.

     “It’s a trap,” C-20 warned. “Watch your backs!”

     Fenrir activated his pruning stick and took a step back, senses alert. “My lords, my ladies, welcome and thank you for joining us, here at the castle,” the announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers. The Minutemen stalked around the tent, alert for any possible dangers that might be hiding in the shadows, waiting to pounce. “Please, settle into your seats for a great battle is about to commence. The prize? Our princess. Will evil prevail, or are we holding out for a hero?”

     At that, Holding Out For A Hero promptly started to play, and Fenrir felt a sudden shift from behind him, and turned to see C-20 removing her helmet, a blank look on her face. “C-20?” he asked cautiously, taking a step towards her.

      She ignored him, moving almost mechanically over to one of the other Minutemen, who didn’t notice her approach, and kicked him in the back of the leg, and he fell to his knees with a pained grunt, then she grabbed him by the neck and twisted, breaking it and killing him instantly. Fenrir’s eyes widened in horror.

     One of the other Minutemen turned her head to see what was going on, confusion written on her face. “Commander?” C-20 gave her a look, then turned around and grabbed a jousting pole that was resting on a crate, and approached her menacingly.

      The hunter saw the attack coming, and readied her baton to defend, but C-20 remained unfazed, smacking her in the head with the pole, and then struck her in the chest, and the woman grunted, doubling over. It was then that Fenrir noticed a hooded figure appear behind her, and before he could do anything to stop them, they had stabbed the Minuteman in the back, and she collapsed, dead.

      C-20 exchanged a look with the cloaked figure, whom Fenrir immediately knew was the Variant they were looking for, and he tensed. “Oh, shit.”

      The speaker continued to blare music as C-20 turned her gaze over to the remaining Minutemen, and started towards them.

     Where have all the good men gone

     And where are all the Gods?

    C-20 abandoned her jousting pole and advanced towards the last remaining Minuteman besides Fenrir, who threw a punch at her that she easily blocked. She punched him in the face, then grabbed him by the arm and dragged him in a circle as he tried to resist her, then punched him in the face again.

    Where’s the streetwise Hercules to fight…

    “What are you doing?” the Minuteman gasped as C-20 proceeded to press his baton to his throat.

     “Having some fun,” C-20 responded with a wicked smirk, her eyes flashing an unnatural green.

     Isn’t there a white knight

    Upon a fiery steed?

     “Mind if I join in?” Fenrir spoke up, grabbing her from behind and pulling her away from his fellow hunter. She glared at him, and tried to attack him, but he managed to deflect her blows, until she grabbed onto his baton and swung around so that she was behind him, bringing his baton up to his neck like she had with the other Minuteman and pulling, hard, so that Fenrir could barely breathe.

       He struggled against her, trying to free himself, but her grip was surprisingly strong, especially for a human. “You know, if you weren’t trying to kill me, this would all be really hot,” he choked. She pulled harder, grunting with effort, and Fenrir gasped, no longer able to breathe at all as the stick was pressed further against his throat, blocking his airways. He fought against her, thrashing wildly, but she still didn’t let go. Spots began to dance in his vision, and he felt his grip on the baton begin to loosen as he started to lose consciousness. And then suddenly, the pressure on his neck vanished, and he collapsed to the ground, a hand unconsciously going up to his throat as he began choking violently and gasping for air.

     Late at night, I toss and turn

     And dream of what I need.

     He looked behind him to see C-20 now lying unconscious on the ground behind him, and turned to exchange glances with the other Minuteman, who had moved to crouch beside C-20, before their attention was caught by the same hooded figure from before. The Variant.

    I need a hero.

    The Minuteman stood up and turned to face the Variant, clutching his pruning stick tightly.

    I’m holding out for a hero

    Till the end of the night

    He moved to attack them, but he was met with a blade to the chest, and he too, was killed.

    He’s gotta be strong

    And he’s gotta be fast

    And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight

    The Variant leaned down to grab the reset charges off of the dead hunter’s back, then stepped over towards Fenrir and C-20. Fenrir stood up to face them, grabbing his baton from off the ground and getting into a defensive position. “What did you do to her?” he demanded.

     I need a hero

     The Variant didn’t respond, instead going to attack him with their dagger. He dodged out of the way of the first strike, then blocked the second with his baton. He kicked the Variant back, then spun his baton before attacking again, this time aiming for their head, but the Variant grabbed it and flipped him over, so that he hit the ground, landing on his back, baton flying out of his hand.

     I’m holding out for a hero

     ‘Til the morning light

     He grunted at the impact, then quickly rolled back onto his feet, narrowly avoiding being stabbed, and threw a punch at the Variant. They caught his fist and slashed their dagger across his leg, just above his knee, and he gasped in pain as it buckled beneath him, giving the Variant an opportunity to slice him across the face, leaving a long, bloody gash across his cheek.

     Gritting his teeth, Fenrir attacked again, kneeing the Variant sharply in the stomach so that they released him and scrambling to retrieve his pruning stick again.

      He’s gotta be sure and it’s gotta be soon

     And he’s gotta be larger than life

    “Alright, enough play time,” he said, pointing the stick’s glowing orange tip at the Variant threateningly. “You’re going to tell me what you did to C-20, and then you’re going to come with us.”

      The Variant remained silent, standing completely still, and he began to advance. Then they reached out a gloved hand, and Fenrir was sent flying backwards by a powerful burst of magic. He slammed into one of the wooden posts, hard, and slumped down, as everything suddenly went dark.

     I need a hero!

     “Fenrir.” Fenrir was still swimming in blackness when he felt something - or rather, someone - gently shaking his shoulder. “Hey, kid. Come on. Wake up.”

     His eyes fluttered open, and he realized he was laying on the ground of the tent, Mobius and Loki standing over him, both looking concerned. “Looks like you took quite the beating,” Mobius continued, keeping his hand on Fenrir’s shoulder to support him as he sat up. He groaned, every inch of his body aching with pain. “I’m glad you’re alive.”

      “Me too,” Fenrir responded weakly, putting a hand to his head, noticing there was blood trickling down from one ear from hitting the post. “The Variant ambushed us. It-it was a trap.”

     “I know,” Mobius replied. He sighed, glancing down at the ground, as if dreading what he had to say next, before looking back up at Fenrir. “We think the Varaint took C-20.”

    “No,” Fenrir murmured, his heart dropping in his throat.

    “I’m sorry, kid,” Mobius muttered quietly, his tone sympathetic. “Now come on, let’s get you out of here, and we can continue the investigation.”

    Fenrir shook his head. “No, I’m not going anywhere. Not when the Variant has Cee.” He smirked weakly. “Besides, I’m your protege, you guys are stuck with me anyways.”

    Mobius chuckled, while Loki scoffed in amusement. “Alright then, come on, get up,” Mobius said, helping pull Fenrir up to his feet. He winced slightly at the stabbing pain in his leg from the dagger wound, but otherwise, he could stand. “We’ve got work to do.”

     They turned to face the other Minutemen, who were busy looking over the scene. “So he’s taking hostages now?” B-15 asked, staring around at the dead Minutemen.

     “The Variant’s never taken a hostage before,” Mobius remarked.

     “Maybe he’s upping his game,” B-15 suggested.

     “Or he pruned her,” one of the other Minutemen said, and Fenrir bristled.

     “Don’t say that,” he hissed, and Mobius put a hand on his chest to hold him back as the Minuteman shrank back in fear at his sudden outburst. Loki stood off to the side, silently observing his newfound son’s reaction. “She’s still alive. She has to be.”

     “A Loki couldn’t have gotten the jump on C-20,” B-15 agreed.

     “I think you underestimate, actually…” Loki spoke up, moving to stand behind the hunter.

     “Fan out and search for her,” B-15 ordered, pointing to her Minutemen, then looked down at her TemPad. “And hurry up, we’re at three units until red line.”

     “Let’s go,” one of the Minutemen said. “She’s right.”

     “Come on,” Mobius said, walking past Fenrir and his father. Fenrir was about to follow, when his father suddenly spoke up.

     “Wait…” he said, and Fenrir and Mobius both turned to look at him. “If you leave this tent, you’ll end up like them.”

     “What do you see?” Mobius asked, coming back over.

      “I see a scheme,” Loki responded. He looked up at Mobius. “And in that scheme, I see myself.”

      “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Fenrir asked.

      “We have a saying on Asgard,” Loki explained. He leaned down over one of the bodies. “‘Where there are wolf’s ears, wolf’s teeth are near.’ It means to be aware of your surroundings.” He glanced up at Fenrir. “Surely you remember it, Fenrir?”

     He nodded. “I do, and if I remember correctly, they usually said that about you.”

     Loki chuckled. “I suppose that’s true.” He got back up to his feet. “Which is absurd, because my people are, by nature, gullible fools. A trait that I, the God of Mischief, exploited time and time again simply by listening.” He sank down into a crouch again. “My teeth were sharp, but my ears even sharper.”

     “We’re running out of time, Mobius,” B-15 warned.

     “Hold it,” Mobius said, gesturing for her to be silent. “Just give him a chance.”

      “You remind me of them,” Loki remarked. “The Time Variance Authority and the gods of Asgard, one and the same. Drunk with power, blinded to the truth.” He began to walk towards B-15. “Those you underestimate will devour you.” B-15 tilted her head at him. “You underestimate me, just as you underestimate this lesser Loki. Which is why, you walk into one wolf’s mouth after another.”

        B-15’s TemPad beeped. “Two units. He is wasting our time.”

        “Okay. Come on, Loki,” Mobius said, making a twirling motion with his finger to signal Loki to hurry up and get to his point. “Make long story short.”

        “We need to look for C-20,” B-15 insisted and Fenrir nodded.

         “I agree,” he spoke up. “We’re wasting time.”

         “That’s exactly what the Variant wants you to do,” Loki pointed out. “It’s a trap. He’s waiting for you outside this tent.”

         “I don’t care,” Fenrir said. “As long as the Variant has C-20, I won’t rest until I find her.”

          “I’d be cautious if I were you, Fenrir,” Loki warned.

          “You’d do the same thing if it was Mom,” Fenrir argued. Loki went silent for a moment, his eyes searching Fenrir’s for something he couldn’t pinpoint.

         A Minuteman came up behind B-15 as she stared at him. “Should I secure the reset charges?”

        “No,” Loki said quickly, broken from his trance, holding a hand out to stop him. “He wants me. I’m the key to his plan.” Fenrir scoffed, rolling his eyes. “He knows that I’m stronger.”

        “Almost one unit,” B-15 reported, checking her TemPad again.

        “And he rightly believes that together we can overthrow and rule the TVA,” Loki continued. “But that’s not what I want. I have a new purpose. I’m a servant of the Sacred Timeline.” He winked at B-15, who regarded him with disgust. “And knowing what I know about his tactics, I can deliver you the Variant.” He moved to stand behind Mobius. “But I need assurances.”

       “Yeah?” Mobius asked, turning his head towards him without actually looking behind him, hands on his hips.

      “Assurances that I won’t be completely disintegrated the moment the job has been done,” Loki said.

      “I think that’s fair,” Fenrir commented. He had only just met his dad again, after years of never seeing him in person, and he didn’t want him to be pruned as soon as this was over.

      “Right…” Mobius muttered.

      Loki leaned forward to whisper, “We’ll need to speak with the Time-Keepers at once. They’re in graver danger than we’ve realized.”

      Fenrir rolled his eyes again, letting out a sigh. There it was again. His father was still trying to swindle his way out of eternal servitude to the TVA, and while Fenrir admired it, he knew it wouldn’t work. The TVA wasn’t as blind to his deceptions as Asgard was, and certainly not Mobius either, especially after having Fenrir around for so long, in addition to his extensive study of Loki’s life.

      B-15’s TemPad beeped again, and Loki glanced between her and Fenrir and Mobius, as the man considered Fenrir’s father’s words. “He’s lying,” Mobius said after remaining silent in thought for a moment. “Just playing games.” He turned to face B-15. “There’s no one out there.”

       “Reset the timeline,” B-15 ordered her Minutemen.

       As one of the Minutemen came forward and set the reset charge, Mobius whispered to Loki, “You had me for a second.” He pointed at Loki’s chest. “My ears are sharp too.”

       Mobius started to walk away, back out of the tent, and Fenrir followed closely behind. Loki hesitated for a few moments before he came hurrying after them. You didn’t want to be on a timeline branch when the reset charge was set, or else you would end up pruned with the rest of the branch, as Loki had no doubt realized.

       As soon as they arrived back in the TVA, a Minuteman approached the three men. “Mobius, Fenrir, Judge Renslayer wants to speak with you.”

      “What about my father?” Fenrir asked, gesturing to Loki, who was standing behind him, hands shoved into his jacket pockets.

      “I promise to behave myself,” Loki said.

      “Sir,” the Minuteman said, catching his attention. “She wants to see you now.”

       “Okay, okay, we’re coming,” Mobius responded. “Come on, you two. We better not keep Ravonna waiting for too long.”

        Fenrir sighed heavily. “Yeah, you’re right.” He followed after Mobius, Loki trudging along behind them, clearly not excited for this meeting. Once they reached Ravonna’s office, Mobius told Loki to wait inside, while they went in, since Ravonna had no interest in seeing him just yet.

       Ravonna was waiting for them when they arrived in her office, standing up from her desk as they entered. Theremin music played softly in the background from the radio on one of the built-in wooden shelves that lined the walls of the room. “Please, have a seat,” she said, gesturing towards the sunken couches in the center of the room. Her expression fell from its cool mask to one of concern as she took in Fenrir’s appearance. “Oh my god! What happened to you?!”

       She hurried over to him, putting her hands on his face, twisting his head so she could examine him more closely. “I’m fine, Ravonna, trust me,” Fenrir assured her. “Ow.” He winced as her hand grazed over the cut on his face.

       “You’re most certainly not fine,” she said. She sighed, shaking her head and taking a step back. “You should have gotten medical attention as soon as you got here. You have to stop doing this.”

       “I’m Asgardian, I’ll be fine,” Fenrir waved her off. “I heal fast.”

       “You’re still injured pretty badly, kid,” Mobius pointed out from where he was lounging on a couch.

       Ravonna nodded, glancing from him back to Fenrir. “Exactly. Now sit.” Fenrir obeyed, sitting down next to Mobius on the couch, sinking into the orange fabric with a defeated sigh. Ravonna pointed a finger at Mobius. “And don’t think you’re getting out of this either, Mobius. You should have sent him back as soon as you found him.”

      “He wanted to stay,” Mobius argued, spreading his hands out innocently.

      “He’s still your responsibility!” Ravonna snapped back. She waved a hand towards Fenrir. “Look at him! He’s bleeding out all over the place! He should have already been attended to before he got here.” She sighed, shaking her head. “Honestly, you two can be such a handful.”

       “I take that as a compliment,” Fenrir remarked. Ravonna rolled her eyes, going over to the alcohol shelf behind them.

       “Is it just me, or does this office keep getting better and better?” Mobius asked, trying to make conversation. Ravonna uncorked the lid of a bottle of alcohol, pouring three glasses. “Where’d you get that one, the snow globe?” He pointed at a lone snow globe sitting on one of her display cases filled with artifacts taken from different branches in the timeline, most of them given to her by Mobius. He said they were just friendly gifts, but Fenrir suspected they meant a little more than that. It was obvious that their relationship ran deeper than friendship, even if they never actually acknowledged it. “I love those. I don’t remember bringing back that case.”

       “You’re not the only analyst working for me,” Ravonna pointed out.

       “But, would you say, maybe, I’m your favorite one?” Mobius asked, as Ravonna finished pouring the drinks and made her way back over to the two men. Fenrir rolled his eyes. Their flirting wasn’t discreet at all. “And why do you get to keep all the trophies from my cases in here? You don’t think I’d love having that roller skate there sprucing up my cubicle?”

       “Because I approve the missions,” Ravonna responded.

       “And because you always give them to her anyways,” Fenrir mumbled.

       “Good point,” Mobius agreed with a nod. “Both of you.”

       “Speaking of which,” Ravonna began, stepping over towards them. “Let’s talk about the one you just botched.” Mobius groaned, shifting around in his seat, as Ravonna handed him one of the alcohol-filled glasses. “You might need this for our discussion.” She passed another one to Fenrir. “Same for you too.”

       “I hope it’s a double,” Mobius remarked, raising the glass to his lips.

        “This Variant is…‘Insubordinate, stubborn, unpredictable’,” Ravonna said, reading off of the file in front of her as she sat down on the couch across from them. “Sounds like someone else I know.” She glanced over at Fenrir. “Actually, two someones.”

        “I was just thinking it sounds like someone I know,” Mobius responded. He took another sip of his drink and set the glass down on the wooden bench beneath the couch, which already bore worn rings where un-coastered drinks had rested before.

        “Mobius?” Ravonna spoke up.

        “What?” he asked. “Those rings were already there.”

        “And they’re all from you,” Ravonna said. Amused, Fenrir took a sip of his own drink, the sharp, smoky-sweet flavor dancing on his tongue.

        “Maybe it’s from your other favorite analyst,” Mobius said, reaching across to the table in between the couches to grab a coaster to sit under his drink. “Listen, Ravonna, I’m sorry. I realize that my, you know, methods with this Loki are controversial, but…”

        “Towing a dangerous Variant into the field is controversial,” Ravonna cut him off.

       “Yeah, it didn’t go exactly the way I wanted it to today,” Mobius remarked, voice rising in irritation. “But here’s what we did find out. The Variant likes to stall for time, and eventually, we’ll catch the other one doing the same thing. Because understanding this Loki helps me get closer to the one we’re chasing. Right?”

       “Which is already why- one of the reasons why, we have Fenrir here too,” Ravonna pointed out. Fenrir didn’t miss the fact that she corrected herself. Clearly, he had grown on her since he had first arrived and been saved by Mobius. “Look, I know you have a soft spot for broken things.”

        “I don’t think so,” Mobius objected, shaking his head slightly.

        “Yes, you do,” Ravonna said. “That’s why Fenrir is still here.”

        Fenrir nodded. “It’s true.”

        “But Loki is an evil, lying scourge,” Ravonna continued. “That is the part he plays on the Sacred Timeline.”

        “Well, that’s not entirely true,” Fenrir objected. “Otherwise I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t even exist, and neither would my sisters.”

        “Exactly,” Mobius agreed as Fenrir took another sip of his drink. “Maybe he wants to mix it up. Sometimes you get tired of playing the same part. Is that possible? He can change?”

        “Not unless the Time-Keepers decree it,” Ravonna responded, readjusting herself on the couch so that she was leaning against the back of it. “And then, it shall be so.”

        “And how are the old Time-Keepers?” Mobius asked, and Ravonna sighed, glancing over at her desk and the Time-Keeper statues looming behind them, shaking her head, before looking back at Mobius.

       “How do you think?” she demanded.

       Mobius chuckled. “I don’t know. ‘Cause I’ve never met ‘em.” Ravonna ground her jaw, looking irritated. “Thankfully. Although, I shouldn’t say that. That one looks…”

      Ravonna suddenly sat forward, her voice severe as she spoke. “The Time-Keepers are monitoring every aspect of this case. I’ve never seen them more involved.” Mobius dipped his head, thinking. “They want that Variant caught.”

      “So do I,” Mobius said.

      “And this is the last chance you’re gonna get with this Loki,” Ravonna warned, pointing her pen at him, having swapped her drink for it and the files that had previously been sitting on the center table.

     “Great,” Mobius remarked. “That’s all I’m gonna need.” He sighed as Ravonna furiously scribbled something onto the file, then handed both it and the pen over to him, both of them standing up, so Fenrir took it as his cue to stand as well, quickly downing the rest of his drink and slamming it down on the table as he stood up with them.

     “Thank you, R Slayer,” Mobius said, observing her signature on the file. He signed his name on the line above hers, his signature consisted of three large Ms, the handwriting much less elegant than Ravonna’s, which was more loopy and professional.

      Mobius paused for a moment after putting down his signature, studying the blue pen in his hand, which had the words “Franklin D. Roosevelt High School” written on it, along with a wolf head. “I don’t remember this,” he murmured, showing it to Fenrir, who frowned, not recognizing it either. “This must be from that analyst you keep on the side.”

      He handed it back to her as she stared at him with an amused, although somewhat indignant expression. “Stay focused.”

       “Eyes on the road,” Mobius remarked. He started walking to the door, and Fenrir moved to follow him, but Ravonna called out before they could leave. “Mobius?”

      Both men paused and turned to look at her. “I was almost gone,” Mobius said.

      “You really believe in this Variant?” Ravonna asked him.

      “Mmm…” Mobius hummed noncommittally. “Luckily, he believes in himself enough for the both of us. And, hey, if it doesn’t work, I’ll delete him myself.” Fenrir whipped his head around to stare at him, eyes wide in surprise. Mobius pulled open the door, not seeming to notice. “He’s really arrogant.”

       Loki was waiting for them outside, evidently not having anything else to do, and Mobius whistled for him to follow as they kept walking past him. Loki jumped up to his feet, watching them go. “You’re probably wondering what happened on that mission,” he began, flashing a smile, and Fenrir turned to shrug at him as Mobius kept walking, not paying him any attention. Realizing Mobius wasn’t going to stop for him, Loki ran after them, until he managed to catch up. “That was your first lesson in catching a Loki. Expect the expected. Half the fun of being a trickster is knowing everyone knows your a trickster, and then, many of your tricks can come from exploiting the fact that you know that they know…”

        “Okay,” Mobius cut him off. “Just shut up! Please. What happened to the guy I met on the elevator? Who didn’t like to talk. Remember him? Now I’m stuck with this guy who won’t stop yacking away about what makes a Loki tick!”

        “What? Isn’t that precisely why I’m here?” Loki asked.

        “No,” Mobius said with a shake of his head. “I don’t care what makes you tick. Fenrir could have told me that. You’re here to help me catch the superior version of yourself, because even your son can’t do it. That’s it!”

        “Hang on,” Loki objected. “I’m not sure ‘superior’ is actually quite the right word.”

        Mobius stopped in front of a golden elevator, forcing Fenrir and his father to stop as well, and spun around to face Loki, pointing at him. “See? There it is. Right there.” Loki spread his palm out, blinking at him in confusion. “I believed, stupidly, that the insecure need for validation would motivate you to find the killer. Not ‘cause you care about the TVA mission or bein’ a hero, but because you know this Variant is better than you and you can’t take it.” He whispered those last words in an almost sing-songy voice, and if it were Fenrir he was addressing instead of his father, he knew it would have gotten under his skin. Loki, on the other hand, simply stared at the man, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jacket, then gave him an entirely fake, almost pitying, grin.

        “Very nice,” he remarked. He reached forward to readjust Mobius’ tie. “I mean, it is adorable that you think you could possibly manipulate me.” Mobius rolled his head to the side as Loki spoke while adjusting his tie, annoyed. Once he was done, Fenrir’s father stepped back, smiling, arms spread wide. “I’m ten steps ahead of you. I’ve been playing a game of my own all along.” He nodded, affirming his claim.

        “Sure, you have, Dad,” Fenrir muttered, raising a hand to touch the cut on his cheek, where the blood had begun to dry. “I’m sure it’ll work too.”

        “What, charm your way in front of the Time-Keepers, hustle them, and seize control of the TVA?” Mobius asked. “Am I getting warm?” Loki’s mouth parted and ducked his head, and Fenrir knew Mobius had guessed his plan spot on. “A double cross by history’s most reliable liar.” Mobius moved to push a button on the elevator, then started to walk back to where he had been standing in front of Loki before.

        “Okay,” Loki said. “Why are you in there sticking your neck out for me? I mean, it’s obvious that Fenrir is doing it because I’m his father, which is still a shock to me, since I’ve only seen him as a stillborn infant, by the way, but why are you?”

        Mobius came back over to him, pointing at him again. “I’ll give you two options,” he said. “And you can believe whichever one you want. A, because I see a scared little boy, shivering in the cold. And you kinda feel bad for that ice runt. Or B, I just wanna catch this guy, and I’ll tell you whatever I need to tell you.”

       “And if he hadn’t done it, I would have, like you said,” Fenrir added. The elevator dinged, announcing it was ready for them to enter, and Mobius led the way inside, followed by Fenrir and his father.

       “I don’t need your sympathy,” Loki said as soon as they were all standing in the elevator. “Not even from you, Fenrir.”

       “Good, ‘cause I’m running out of it,” Mobius responded. “And if you ask me, Fenrir’s got too much of it.”

      The elevator ride was silent, with Mobius being too frustrated with Loki to talk, and Fenrir not knowing entirely what to say either. He was starting to realize just how badly he had been hurt during the ambush at the fairground, and he knew he really should be checked by a medic. He had been too distracted with C-20’s disappearance and the meeting with Ravonna to care, but he couldn’t ignore his pain for much longer.

     The elevator finally came to a stop, and Loki immediately started talking as soon as the doors slid open once again. “What is this?” he demanded as the three men stepped out of the elevator. “Next step of your manipulation…”

     “This is your final step,” Mobius replied, cutting him off. “Your last chance.”

     “Oh, and what does my desperate last chance require?” Loki asked sarcastically.

     “Work,” Mobius responded simply.

     “Work?” Loki echoed.

     “Yeah, and Fenrir, Ravonna’s right, you need to go see a medic, now,” Mobius ordered.

     “Fine,” Fenrir responded, and Mobius blinked at him, surprised.

     “What, you’re not gonna argue with me?” he asked incredulously. “Insist on staying until we find C-20?”

     “Normally, I would, but I’d rather not bleed out before we find her,” Fenrir replied wryly.

     “Alright, then go get yourself patched up and meet us in the library,” Mobius said. “We’ve got some research to do.”

     After being patched up for the second time that day (the first time having been after the incident in the Time Theater, when C-20 had found him stumbling into the locker room and insisted on helping, which he of course hadn’t objected to), Fenrir went to the library, as Mobius had instructed, to find his father pouring over the Variant’s case files, looking incredibly bored and unimpressed.

     He looked up as Fenrir approached. “Oh good, you’re back,” he remarked. “Now we can endure this torture together, as father and son. Have some proper bonding time.”

     “Where’s Mobius?” Fenrir asked, ignoring his father’s remarks as he took a seat across from his father and picked up one of the file folders.

      “He said he was going to get something to eat,” Loki responded, rolling his eyes. “Left me to do all this by myself. And now...” He gestured to Fenrir. “You’re here. To help, I presume.”

      Fenrir sighed. “Unfortunately, yes.” He opened up the file in his hands, skimming over the details of the case. “Mobius used to make me do this whenever I misbehaved, which was often. I mean, what else was he expecting? I’m your son, after all.” He flipped through the papers enclosed in the file, shaking his head at the memories. “I always hated it.” He glanced up at his father. “Still do.”

      There was silence for a moment, before Loki looked up at him, a question burning in his mind that he had wanted to ask Fenrir since he had revealed himself as his son from another timeline. “What was I like, in your world?”

     Fenrir thought for a moment. “Pretty much exactly how you’re supposed to be on the Sacred Timeline,” he replied.

     “So, I… I still die in your timeline?” Loki asked hesitantly.

     “I didn’t watch it happen myself, but I saw the ship explode, and I’ve seen the videos of your life enough times to know that you do. The TVA found me not long after that.”

     “So, you were just a boy when they took you?” Loki asked, eyes wide.

     “Yep, only ten years old,” he responded. “Apparently, Gullveig was supposed to disappear in the Blip caused by Thanos with my other sisters, but obviously, I survived instead of Gullveig, and my life was spared in the Blip. That’s when the TVA came. I’m lucky Mobius saved me, otherwise I would have been pruned like the rest of my reality.”

     “Hang on, you said you have sisters?” Loki interjected. “As in more than one?”

     Fenrir nodded. “I have two, at least from you and Mom. Idun and Skadi. You already know Idun of course, but Skadi wasn’t born until several years after the Battle of New York, so you wouldn’t know her.”

     Loki sat back in his chair, taking in the information. “Wow, I’m missing out on a lot now, aren’t I? I have another daughter I’ll never get to meet, a woman I’ll never get to see again, and now I’m stuck here doing all this stupid research to catch some lesser Variant of myself for the equally stupid Time Variance Authority.” He left out a huff, looking down at the paper in his hand, then cleared his throat before scanning the contents of the file, as Fenrir went back to looking through the file he was holding. “Oh, my goodness,” he murmured sarcastically. “Don’t tell me the Variant ambushed and killed another team of Minutemen.” He faked a gasp of surprise. “And stole their reset charge as well.” He slammed the paper down on the table with flippant annoyance.

      “Shh,” the woman sitting behind them, hissed, putting a finger to her lips for emphasis.

      Fenrir grinned in amusement, as his father paused for a moment, brow furrowed, before turning around to face the woman and shushing her back. Fenrir chuckled as his father moved back around to face him, rolling his eyes. “This is ridiculous,” Loki murmured. He stood up from his chair and started to walk away, back the way Fenrir had come in.

     “Where are you going?” Fenrir called after him.

     “To get some information,” his father responded, stopping to look at him. “Care to join me?”

     “You don’t have to ask me twice,” Fenrir remarked, setting down the file in his hands and standing up to walk over to his father.

     Loki aimlessly led the way over to the librarian, peering around at the massive library all around them as he went, who didn’t even look up from the screen of her bright orange box-shaped computer as they approached, too concentrated on her work to notice or care. It made sense to Fenrir. He had bothered her enough already, when he had inevitably ended up getting bored with studying and C-20 was busy, and now it seemed it was his father’s turn.

      “Hi,” he greeted casually, slipping a hand into his jacket pocket. The librarian continued typing on her computer, ignoring him. Loki exchanged glances with Fenrir, who shrugged, crossing his arms, waiting for his father to continue as he looked back at the librarian, ducking his head slightly to study her. “Hello?”

     She still didn’t respond. It was then that Loki noticed the old, antique bell sitting on the top counter of her desk. Fenrir smirked. Ah yes, the bell. He was surprised the librarian still had it, considering how many times he had used it to mess with her. Cautiously, Loki rang the bell, as it gave a small, crinkly metallic ding. The librarian stopped her typing and turned to look at him.

      “Can I help you?” she asked, her voice neither cold nor friendly. Her gaze slid over to Fenrir, and she sighed. “Oh, great, it’s you again.”

      He gave her a playful wave. “It’s good to see you again, ma’am.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes, turning to look back at his father.

      “Yes. I’m on some important TVA business,” he informed her. “Follow-up on a field mission. You know how it goes.” He moved forward to lean on the desk, doing his best to look casual, but kind of overdoing it, if you asked Fenrir. “We red lined near the apex, and…Well, it’s never good.” He chuckled softly. He paused for a moment, realizing she wasn’t going to react. “Um, I’d like all files pertaining to the creation of the TVA, please.”

       Oh, that’s what he was doing. “Uh, Dad-” Fenrir started to say, but the librarian interrupted him.

       “Those are classified,” she responded simply.

       Loki thought for a moment. “Okay. I’d like all files pertaining to the beginning of time then,” he tried.

       “Those are classified,” she said again.

       “Okay, the end of time.”

       “Those are classified.”

       “Okay, what files can I have?” Loki demanded, irritated. The librarian gave him a long look before getting up from her desk and motioning for the two men to follow her.

        “This way,” she said as she began leading them through the rows upon rows of shelves. They ended up at a shelf Fenrir was very, very familiar with, having visited it many times before, even when he wasn’t supposed to. The librarian reached in and grabbed a handful of files, passing them to Loki. “Happy reading,” she said, and Fenrir could have sworn he heard some sarcasm in her voice. She turned to point a finger at Fenrir. “And no more mischief in here, young man. If I catch you causing trouble again, I’ll be sure to have you punished.”

       “Yes, of course,” Fenrir replied. “No more mischief from me. You got it.” The librarian glared at him for a moment, not trusting his word at all (which was fair, considering it was a lie), before deciding there was nothing more she could do and turning back around and walking away with a huff.

        He turned back around to look at his father, who was staring down at the label on the top file in the stack that had been given. Fenrir knew what it was before he saw it himself. It was his father’s name. The librarian had given him his own file. Loki sighed, shifting the file around in his hands, looking annoyed.

       “I would say I’m surprised, but I’m not,” he remarked as they made their way back to the desk they had been studying at before. “She’s always been like that. A real piece of work, that woman.”

       “You’ve got that right,” his father grumbled, glaring down at the files she had given him. “I’m growing quite tired of the stupidity of everyone here.”

       “You get used to it,” Fenrir assured him with a shrug.

        “I should hope so,” his father remarked. “Otherwise, this place is going to drive me mad.”

       They continued looking through files for what felt like hours. Fenrir was growing incredibly bored with the seemingly endless stack of files, and he was about to give up and go find Mobius, when he noticed something had caught his father’s eye. “What is it?” he asked as his father stared down at the paper. On it, he could see the words “DESTRUCTION OF ASGARD” typed out in large red letters. Loki held up a finger to silence him, reading over the incident file.

        As he read, something in his expression changed. He shifted in his seat, and Fenrir wondered if he was imagining tears in his eyes as his mouth parted slightly as he saw what was on the file. “Dad?” he murmured quietly, but Loki didn’t seem to hear him, his attention caught on something he had read on the file. After studying it for another moment, he set it down, and Fenrir could tell there was an idea forming in his mind.

       “Hold on,” Loki said, scrambling to grab the files in front of him, getting out of his seat. “I think I’ve just realized something. Come with me.”

      He started to lead the way down the hall, then apparently seemed to realize that he had no idea where he was going. He paused, spinning on his heels to face his son. “Uh, you wouldn’t happen to know where Mobius is, would you?”

      “I think I have an idea,” Fenrir replied. “Follow me.”

      As Fenrir had expected, Mobius was in the cafeteria, enjoying yet another salad. Loki hurried out of the elevator as soon as it slid open, over to where Fenrir’s mentor was seated, enjoying his lunch.

      “I found something,” he announced, moving to sit down in the seat across from Mobius, as Fenrir took the seat between them.

      “No,” Mobius objected, holding up a hand to stop Fenrir’s father. “I said, ‘Don’t bother me until you’ve read all the files’.”

      “I have,” Loki responded.

      “He has,” Fenrir agreed with a nod.

      “Every file?” Mobius questioned.

      “Yes,” Loki replied, desperate to explain whatever he had discovered.

      “Pertaining to the Variant?” Mobius continued to ask.

      “The answer isn’t in the files, it’s on the timeline,” Loki explained. Fenrir tilted his head, curious at the point his father was trying to make. Mobius day back, allowing him to continue. “He’s hiding in apocalypses.”

      “Which apocalypse?” Mobius asked, spreading his hands out in question. “Any time in history? There’s, like, a million of ‘em.”

      Loki reached for the files, shuffling around the papers before looking back at Mobius and Fenrir. “Ragnarok. Are you familiar?”

      “Yes. The destruction of Asgard and most of its people,” Mobius responded, nodding. “I’m sorry.”

      “Yes, very sad,” Loki murmured, not sounding all that sad about the event at all. “Anyway, it got me thinking…”

      Mobius stared at him for a moment, as did Fenrir, surprised by his father’s dismissal of Ragnarok, before saying. “Go ahead.”

      Loki paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “Nexus events,” he began. “Happen when someone does something they’re not supposed to do, right?”

      “Well, it’s a little more complicated, but, yeah,” Mobius replied.

      “Great,” Loki remarked. “And then that thing they’re not supposed to do, cascades into a whole range of other things that aren’t supposed to happen. And so on and so forth, until eventually, a new timeline branches. Yes?”

     “Chaotic alterations of a predetermined outcome,” Mobius said.

     “Exactly,” Loki exclaimed. “So, let’s just say…”

     “Mmm-hmm,” Mobius hummed, as Loki reached forward to grab his bowl of salad. “What are you doing?”

     “…You salad is Asgard in this scenario,” Loki continued.

     “No, it’s not Asgard,” Mobius argued. “That’s my lunch.”

     “It’s a metaphor,” Loki responded. “Just hang in there.”

     “I want my salad,” Mobius complained. Fenrir just sat back with his arms crossed and smirked in amusement.

     “And I could go down to Asgard,” Loki continued, ignoring his protests. “Before Ragnarok causes its complete destruction and I could do anything I wanted. I could, let’s say, push the Hulk off the rainbow bridge.” He sprinkled some salt into Mobius’ salad. “There he goes.”

     “The salt’s Hulk?” Mobius asked.

     “And I could also…” Loki trailed off, grabbing the pepper shaker and holding it up. “Set fire to the palace.”

     “No, just stop,” Mobius protested. “Don’t set fire to the palace.”

     “Okay?” Loki questioned, aggressively shaking both the salt and pepper into Mobius’ salad as he looked on, annoyed. “I can do whatever I want to do, and it would never matter. It wouldn’t go against the dictates of the timeline because…” He paused, setting the shakers down, and reached for Mobius’ Josta can, only to realize that it was almost entirely empty, and after a moment of looking around, considering, he held up a finger to signal for Mobius and Fenrir to wait, before getting up from his chair to approach the TVA worker seated alone at a table behind them. “Excuse me?”

     “Oh, God!” Mobius murmured, exchanging glances with Fenrir, who shrugged. Loki tapped the man on the shoulder, and as he looked up, Fenrir realized it was Casey.

     “Oh shit,” he muttered, sinking further into his chair. He wasn’t exactly Casey’s favorite person, especially not after all the pranks he had pulled on him. He covered his face with his hand, hoping Casey would be too busy with his father to notice him.

     “You!” Casey exclaimed, glaring at Loki.

     “Nice to see you,” Fenrir’s father responded, not at all bothered by Casey’s tone, too focused on his theory. He grabbed a juice box off the table and gave him on the shoulder as he returned to his seat. “I just need this for a second. Thanks.” He sat down again, holding up the juice box. “Because the apocalypse is coming. Ragnarok, Surtur-” He gestured at the juice box. “Will destroy Asgard no matter what I do.” He turned the juice box upside down and let the liquid pour out into the salad.

       “No, don’t do…” Mobius started to protest, then gave up with a sigh.

       “There’s the apocalypse,” Loki said, as the juice continued to spill out into Mobius’ lunch.

       “That’s the apocalypse?” Fenrir’s mentor asked.

       “Ragnarok obliterated the salt,” Loki explained, the last of the juice dribbling out into the bowl. Finished with his demonstration, Loki grinned, proud of himself for his theory. Fenrir had to admit, it did seem pretty convincing. “Ragnarok.” He set down the juice box and gestured to the ruined salad. “There it is.”

        “What am I lookin’ at?” Mobius asked, shaking his head, confused and annoyed at the loss of his lunch.

        “Okay, it was a clumsy metaphor,” Loki admitted. “But you see what I mean. It doesn’t matter. It could be any apocalypse.” He began listing off with his fingers. “It could be a tidal wave. It could be a meteor. It could be a volcano, a supernova.” He held up the salad bowl. “If everything and everyone around you is destined for imminent destruction-” He set the bowl down again, and instead picked up both the salt and pepper shakers and began aggressively shaking them once again. “Then nothing that I say or do will matter, because the timeline’s not gonna branch. ‘Cause it gets destroyed.” He stopped shaking and set the shakers down again before continuing on with his point. “Hence, the Variant could be hiding in the apocalypse and do whatever he wants, and he wouldn’t know!”

       “Not mad,” Mobius remarked, nodding thoughtfully.

       “Makes sense to me,” Fenrir mused, nodding as well.

       “Take me to a real apocalypse, to Ragnarok, I’ll show you,” Loki exclaimed.

       Mobius chuckled. “Yeah. So you can run away back to your homeland? No.”

       “No, I’m not going home,” Loki responded. “We can go anywhere.”

        “I’m not taking you for a stroll along the promenade, much less an apocalypse,” Mobius said.

         “Oh, Mobius, come on!” Loki complained. “What could possibly go wrong? We gotta properly test this theory.”

        “Well, here’s a fun theory,” Mobius said. “You lure me out into the field and then you stab me in the back. And that’s a theory I don’t wanna test.”

        Loki sat back in his chair, spreading his arms out wide and mouth falling open as if he couldn’t believe what Mobius was saying. “I’d never stab anyone in the back,” he protested indignantly, his voice rising. “That’s such a boring form of betrayal.”

        “But it is effective,” Fenrir pointed out.

        “Loki, I’ve studied almost every moment of your life,” Mobius said, ignoring his comment. “You’ve literally stabbed people in the back, like, fifty times.”

        “He does have a point, Dad,” Fenrir remarked, and his father glared at him.

        “Whose side are you on?” he demanded. Fenrir just shrugged. Loki turned back to face Mobius. “Well, I'd never do it again, because it gets old.”

        Mobius chuckled again, wiping his nose with one hand as he did. “Okay,” he said.

        “Okay, look, you don’t trust me, but you can trust one thing,” Loki responded, holding up a finger. “I love to be right.” He grinned.

       Mobius glanced over at Fenrir. “Well, kid, what do you think?”

       “I say we give him a chance,” he replied. “I think he could be right.” Mobius sighed, ducking his head, then nodded.

       “Alright, fine, we’ll test out your little theory,” he yielded.

       “Yes,” Loki cheered, pumping his fist in the air. “You won’t regret this.”

       “I hope not,” Mobius remarked. “It already cost me a perfectly good salad.”

       Pompeii was peaceful. For the moment. People were simply going about their usual day, completely unaware of the danger-the apocalypse-that was about to hit them. A distant rumbling could be heard from Mount Vesuvius, looming ominously above the city, but the people paid it no mind, aside from the occasional glance.

       Fenrir was hidden in a shaded alcove, along with his father and Mobius, out of sight of most of the citizens. Loki glanced excitedly at the mountain and then back at Fenrir and Mobius. “Here we go,” he whispered, grinning.

       “Shh, any minute now,” Mobius shushed him.

       “Until this entire town is wiped off the face of this planet,” Loki added cheerfully. Mobius mimed an explosion with his hands, then stuffed them in his pockets. “Imagine. All that volcanic ash…”

        Mobius nodded. “I know. We don’t want to get too giddy.”

        “Oh, come on!” Loki scoffed. “It’s cool.”

        “No, it is cool,” Mobius said. “But it’s just not in good taste because…”

        “They’re all gonna die anyway,” Loki interrupted indignantly, gesturing towards the oblivious citizens.

        “I know,” Mobius responded. “Now listen, I’m gonna watch the TemPad for any variance energy.”

        “Okay,” Loki replied, and Fenrir murmured in agreement.

        “Okay, because we gotta be careful,” Mobius stressed. “If you’re wrong, and there’s a good chance you are, anything we do can create a huge branch.” He pointed at Fenrir. “That goes for you too.”

        “I know, I know,” Fenrir grumbled, rolling his eyes.

        “Oh, Mobius!” Loki exclaimed. “You make even the end of the world sound boring.”

        “Listen!” Mobius whispered harshly. “Okay, we’re not supposed to be here. Okay?”

        Loki sighed heavily. “Okay.”

        “Anything we do can impact the course of history,” Mobius continued, holding his hands out towards him as he expressed his point. “Do you get that?”

        “Yes,” Loki responded, looking down at his feet. “Yes.”

        “Okay, so we’re gonna start with very small disturbances,” Mobius said.

        “Very small,” Loki agreed, and Fenrir nodded as well.

        “Can you make bird noises?” Mobius asked.

         “Bird noises?” Loki repeated, sounding both confused and unimpressed.

        “Yeah. Bird noises,” Mobius responded. “Like some, like, whooshing noises.” He began to mimic the cooing sound of a bird.

         “Oh,” Loki murmured with a groan, before suddenly turning and running off into the street.

        “Loki!” Mobius exclaimed, trying to call the god of mischief back over to the two men.

         “I can make bird noises,” Fenrir volunteered  half-jokingly. Mobius glanced at him and shook his head before calling out to Loki again.

        “Loki!” Loki ignored him, running over to a cart sitting on the side of the road, loaded with several goats. Loki pulled down the back of the cart, and the goats bleated at him.

       Fenrir watched with amusement as his father climbed the side of the cart. “Go!” his father cheered, yipping at the goats as he ushered them out. “Be free, my horned friends, be free!”

     “Hey, Dad, wait for me!” Fenrir called, stepping out into the street as well.

     “Fenrir!” Mobius warned, and Fenrir turned around to face him with a mischievous grin so similar to his father’s.

     “What? It’s not like any of this matters anyways,” he pointed out, kicking over a fruit stand with one foot so that its contents spilled out onto the street in a bright sprawl of color.

     He looked over as his father started speaking in Latin to the citizens all around him. “My name is Loki,” he said, as a man started chasing after the goats he had freed, trying to catch them again. “We are agents of the Time Variance Authority.” He gestured towards Fenrir and Mobius. Mobius sighed and threw his hands up in defeat. “I bring you all dark tidings.” He gestured around at everyone gathered before him. “All of you! You’re all about to die.” He turned and pointed towards Mount Vesuvius still rumbling behind them all. “That volcano is about to erupt!” He used large gestures as he spoke, smiling widely. “I would know, because I’m from the future.” He looked over at Mobius and Fenrir, who had climbed up onto the other side of the cart with him, and asked in English, “We are from the future, right?” He used his hand to smooth back his hair. “What is the TVA? I mean, it’s from the future. It sounds from the future. It’s pretty future-y.”

       “Technically, it’s outside of time,” Fenrir responded. “But I don’t think that’s something they would understand.”

       “Probably not,” Loki agreed, and as he did, the volcano rumbled, shooting a pillar of dark smoke into the air, and everyone began screaming. “Right on cue!” Fenrir’s father exclaimed, then chuckled to himself as he hopped off the cart and pranced over to a bread stand, picking up the loaves and hurling them at the crowd. “Enjoy your last meal while you can!” He grabbed food from another stand and hurled it into the air, throwing his hands up with a wide smile. “Nothing matters!”

      “Wooo!” Following his father’s lead, Fenrir jumped off the cart as well and twirled his finger, sending the fruit from the stand he had knocked over flying everywhere, not caring who or what they made contact with. “Nothing matters!”

      “Nothing has any consequence!” Loki continued, still grinning. “Dance while you still can! Whoo-hoo!”

      Both men stopped in front of Mobius, who was studying his TemPad closely, as the distant rumbling from the volcano grew louder, and dark, superheated smoke filled with pumice and ash poured down the mountainside towards the fleeing people of Pompeii.

     “How’d we do?” Loki asked him, panting slightly.

     “I don’t believe it,” Mobius remarked, sounding surprised. “Zero variance energy. No branching in the timeline.”

      “The TVA would never even know we were here,” Loki said, as ash and pumice rained down on the city from behind, the dangerous smoke growing closer by the second. “If it were me, this is where I would hide.” He tossed the piece of wood he had been holding into the air, and spread out his arms to gesture all around him, grinning triumphantly at the fact that his theory had been proven correct.

      “Point taken, now let’s get out of here!” Mobius exclaimed, and Fenrir glanced back to see the cloud of volcanic destruction rushing towards them.

      “Oh shit!”

      “Doomsdays,” Mobius said as soon as the elevator doors to the office opened, moving at a brisk pace as Fenrir and his father hurried after him. “The Variant’s been ambushing our soldiers and hiding out in doomsdays to cover his tracks.”

       “You’re welcome,” Loki remarked, smirking and giving Fenrir a wink, pleased with himself.

       “Yeah,” Mobius responded, going over to his desk to retrieve a pile of folders stuffed with files. “For this theory to hold, the disasters have to be naturally-occurring, sudden, no warning, no survivors.”

      “How many could their be?” Loki asked as they started walking again, this time back in the direction of the library.

      “I don’t know,” Mobius replied. “We’re gonna find out.”

     They were in the library for what felt like hours. Fenrir’s father had fallen asleep looking through all the files, exhausted from the events that had previously taken place and the countless hours of research, and Fenrir himself was close to doing the same as he sat flipping through the file in front of him, one arm propped up on the table so he could lean his head against it in his fatigue.

      Mobius yawned, rubbing his face as he studied the file resting on his lap, before looking up at Loki and realizing he was asleep. He leaned over and smacked his arm lightly with the file folder. “Hey?” Loki looked up at him. “Come on, let’s take a walk. Both of you.”

      Loki reached across to the back of Fenrir’s chair to grab his jacket, smacking Fenrir over the head with the fabric, and hurried to join Mobius, Fenrir only a few steps behind him.

     It turns out, by taking a walk, Mobius really meant returning to the cafeteria for another break. It was largely empty, with most people being busy with their work.

     “By the way,” Loki began, addressing Mobius. “At your desk, that magazine?”

     “Yeah,” Mobius remarked. “The one with the jet skis?”

     “Yes,” Loki responded.

     “Oh yeah, the jet ski magazine,” Fenrir said with a grin. “That’s a good one.”

      “Why do you have that?” Loki asked curiously.

      “Because they’re awesome,” Mobius responded, and Fenrir nodded in agreement.

       Loki chuckled. “I suppose they are.”

       “Oh, they definitely are,” Fenrir said. “Those things are totally sick.”

       “Yeah,” Mobius agreed. “You know, some things… Actually, most things in history are kinda dumb, and everything gets ruined eventually. But in the early 1990s, for a brief, shining moment, there was a beautiful union of form and function, which we call the jet ski, and a reasonable man cannot differ.”

     “You ever been on one?” Loki asked.

     “No…” Mobius replied sadly. “No. I think a TVA agent showing up on a jet ski on the Sacred Timeline, that would create a branch for sure.”

     “It’d be fun, though,” Loki said.

     “Yeah, it’d be a hell of a lot of fun,” Fenrir chimed in.

     “Yeah, it’d be really fun,” Mobius agreed wistfully, staring gloomily at a spot on the floor.     

     “So, why read about them?” Loki asked, and Mobius looked back up at him.

       “Just helps remind me of what we’re fighting for,” he responded after a moment.

       “Gotta fight for the jet skis,” Fenrir murmured, picking up the orange coffee cup in front of him and taking a sip.

       “I mean, you really believe in all this stuff, don’t you?” Loki asked, looking all around the room before returning his attention to Mobius.

      “I don’t get hung up on, ‘Believe, not believe’,” Mobius replied. “I just accept what is.”

      “And what about you?” Loki asked Fenrir.

      “It’s what I’ve been taught to believe,” he said. “I’ve never questioned it, never really had to, until you showed up. I just accepted my fate, I guess.” He shrugged and took another nonchalant sip of his coffee.

      Loki stared at them both for a moment. “Three magic lizards…” he began.

      “Time-Keepers,” Mobius corrected him.

      “…created the TVA…” Loki continued.

      “Right,” Mobius agreed.

      “…including you?” Loki asked.

      “Including me,” Mobius agreed.

      “But not me,” Fenrir reminded his father.

      “Right,” Loki remarked with a nod. He turned back to Mobius. “You see, every time I start to admire your intelligence, you say something like that.”

      “Okay, who created you, Loki?” Mobius countered.

      “A Frost Giant of Jotunheim,” Loki responded.

      “And who raised you?” Mobius asked.

      “Odin of Asgard,” Loki replied, starting to get irritated with the line of questioning.

      “Odin,” Mobius repeated. “God of the Heavens. Asgard, mystical realm, beyond the stars. Frost Giants. Listen to yourself…”

      “It’s not the same,” Loki argued. “It’s completely different.”

      “No, no, no, no,” Mobius tried to cut him off.

      “It’s not the same,” Loki pressed.

      “Actually, it’s exactly the same thing,” Mobius said. “Because if you think too hard about where any of us came from, who we truly are, it sounds kinda ridiculous. Existence is chaos.” Loki sat back in his chair, thinking, as Fenrir continued sipping from his coffee, silently watching the exchange. “Nothing makes any sense, so we try to make sense of it. And I’m just lucky that the chaos I emerged into gave me all of this…My own glorious purpose.”

       “While I lost everything in mine,” Fenrir remarked over the rim of his coffee cup. Both men glanced over at him at his comment. “But hey, at least I got this now.” He held up his cup to gesture towards the rest of the TVA. “At least I got this.”

      Loki scoffed. “‘Cause the TVA is my life,” Mobius continued. “It’s our life.” He gestured between Fenrir and himself. “And it’s real because I believe it’s real.”

      “Fair enough,” Loki said, spreading his palms out facing the ground. “You believe it’s real.” He looked over at Fenrir. “And you sort of believe it’s real.”

      “Yeah,” Mobius responded, while Fenrir simply nodded.

      “So everything is written,” Loki reasoned. “Past, present, future.” He used his hand to indicate each one as he spoke. “There’s no such thing as free will.”

       “Well, I mean, you know, it’s an oversimplification…” Mobius started to say.

       “So, in fact,” Loki cut him off. “In a way, you and Fenrir and I here at the TVA, we’re the only ones who are actually free.”

       Mobius tilted his head and gave him a doubtful look. “Where are you going with this, Loki?”

       “How does it all end?” Loki responded simply.

       “That’s a work in progress,” Mobius replied.

       “Oh, those lazy Time-Keepers,” Loki remarked, taking a look at his watch as he spoke. “What are they waiting for?”

      Mobius chuckled. “Au contraire. No. Because while we protect what came before, they’re toiling away in their chamber, untangling the epilogue from its infinite branches.”

      “Ah, I see,” Loki said sarcastically. “So, when they’re finished, what happens then?”

      “So are we,” Mobius responded. “No more nexus events. Just order. And we meet in peace at the end of time.” Loki made a face. “Nice, right?”

      For a moment, Loki said nothing, shaking his head lightly. “Only order?” he asked dubiously.

      “Mmm-hmm,” Mobius hummed, bobbing his head in a slight nod.

      “No chaos?” Loki asked. “It sounds boring.”

      “Where’s the fun without chaos?” Fenrir agreed, and Mobius gave him a look. “What? He has a point! It sounds incredibly boring.”

      “I’m sure it does to you two,” Mobius said.

      “You called me a scared little boy,” Loki said.

      “I called you a lotta things,” Mobius defended.

      “You did,” Loki agreed. “You’re wrong though. You see, I know something children don’t.”

       “What’s that?” Mobius asked.

       “That no one bad is ever truly bad,” Loki replied. “And no one good is ever truly good.”

        Mobius stared at him, considering his words. “Scared little boy,” he murmured after a few seconds, still staring at him.

        “Yes, it was quite patronizing,” Loki remarked. “I thought it was a bit too far, actually.”

        Mobius said nothing for a long moment, continuing to study Fenrir’s father closely, thinking. “You’re very clever,” he said, quickly getting up from his seat. Loki watched him go, then exchanged glances with Fenrir, who was equally confused.

       “I know,” Loki responded, although Mobius was already walking away, in a way that almost sounded like a question. “I guess we should follow him, then?”

       Fenrir nodded, taking one last sip of his coffee before setting it down on the table. “Yeah probably.” He stood up with his father, and the two men hurried after Mobius as he made his way back to the library.

      “The Variant left something behind at an old crime scene,” Mobius explained, leading them over to a row of shelves. “A cathedral. A candy box. An obvious anachronism.” He retrieved a key from his pocket and unlocked one of the dull gray chests lining the shelves, where evidence was kept. “I gave it to Analysis, but they couldn’t find anything real.”

      “Why does that matter?” Loki asked.

      “‘Cause now we have two variables,” Mobius responded, glancing up at him and then back at the chest. “Apocalyptic natural disasters and…” he paused, opening the chest and reaching inside to retrieve a bag of evidence, which contained a blue-striped pack of chewing gum. “Kablooie.”

      “What’s that?” Loki asked.

      “Candy,” Mobius replied as if it was obvious. “Do you have candy on Asgard?”

      “Yeah,” Loki said. “Grapes, nuts.”

      “No wonder you’re so bitter,” Mobius remarked, scooting past him to return to the desk they had been reviewing files at earlier.

       “Okay,” Mobius said, setting down another stack of files on the desk. “Kablooie was only sold regionally on Earth from 2047 to 2051. We need to cross-reference that with every apocalyptic event. I’m gonna give you two half to split. Have a competition, see who finds it.”

       “Sure,” Loki responded.

       “Sounds good to me,” Fenrir agreed.

       “You wanna bet something?” Mobius asked.

       “Yeah,” Loki replied.

       “I’m in,” Fenrir said.

       “Gentlemen’s bet,” Mobius remarked. “Yeah, let’s play for pride. Okay. May the best man win. Go.”

       “Oh, you’re so on,” Fenrir said with a laugh, accepting the files Loki passed to him after he had been handed them by Mobius.

       “Anything?” Mobius asked after they had been searching for a few minutes.

       “Uh…” Loki murmured. “It’s not the climate disaster of 2048. Or the tsunami of 2051.”

        “It’s not the earthquake of 2046 either,” Fenrir added, flipping through the files and scanning each one closely.

        “Let’s go. Let’s go,” Mobius said. “Come on.”

        “2050,” Loki said quietly. He looked through the files set in front of him. “The extinction of the swallow… Is that a thing?”

        “Completely screwed up the ecosystem,” Mobius responded, and Fenrir nodded in agreement.

        “Krakatoa erupted in 2049 as well,” Loki continued. “No Kablooie.”

        “God, it’s just one damn thing after another, isn’t it?” Mobius remarked, growing more and more frustrated. He began sifting through the files furiously, reading off each disaster as he went. “Cyclone, famine, volcanoes, floods…”

        “Got him,” Loki suddenly said, and both Fenrir and Mobius looked up at him, the older man cut off from his annoyed rant. Fenrir’s father turned the file he was holding for Mobius to see, and Fenrir stood up and leaned across the table, craning his neck so he could see as well. “That’s where he is.”

        “Alabama, 2050,” Mobius read off. All three men looked at each other, realizing they really did have a lead. “You’re gonna take my job if I’m not careful.”

        Loki sat back, pleased with himself, as did Fenrir and Mobius. “Nice one, Dad,” Fenrir said. “But now comes the hard part.” He looked over at Mobius.

        “Convincing Ravonna that this is a good idea,” the older man finished.

        “I’m sure it can’t be that difficult,” Loki reasoned. “I am right after all.”

        The two other men exchanged glances, then Fenrir looked back at his father. “Oh, you’d be surprised.”

         “You want me to approve deployment of a fully-armed task force to…”

         “Yeah,” Mobius murmured as Ravonna kept talking.

          “…the Variant’s potential hiding spot?” the judge finished dubiously. Fenrir was standing beside Mobius in her office, where they had gone to immediately after Loki’s discovery in the library, hopeful that the woman would understand their realization.

        “Haven Hills, Alabama,” Mobius responded. “Corporate town owned by Roxxcart until it’s wiped out by a hurricane. All the food and supplies you need. If he likes it, there’s no reason he can’t keep going back and just camping out, over and over.”

       Ravonna stared at him as if what he had said was the most absurd thing she had ever heard. “And this is all based around the theory from the Variant who just blew your previous mission?”

       “Yeah, he’s doing great,” Mobius replied.

       “Mobius, as your friend, I have to tell you that trusting this man is not a good idea,” Ravonna said.

       “No, no. I know,” Mobius responded. “But maybe he’s worth the trouble. I mean, he just uncovered a massive hole in our security. Right?”

       “That’s what concerns me!” Ravonna exclaimed.

       “I can handle him,” Mobius insisted. “Trust me. This is where we get our guy. And if I can’t handle him, I’m sure Fenrir can. He’s his son after all.”

       “You two, I trust,” Ravonna said. “Mostly.” She glanced over at Fenrir at that, then looked back at Mobius. “But him.” She pursed her lips and sat back in her chair, clearly not liking the idea of trusting Fenrir’s father with anything at all.

       “Listen, Ravonna, every instinct is telling me this is where we nail the Variant,” Mobius pressed. Ravonna stared back at him, leaning further back into her chair with a look of concerned displeasure. “Come on. You don’t usually see me this worked up, right?” Fenrir couldn’t help a small snort of amusement that the older adults didn’t seem to hear, too caught up in their argument. “I’m-I’m-I’m excited. I’m chomping at the bit.”

       Ravonna gave Mobius a dubious look, then looked past him, at Fenrir. “And what do you think?”

       “I think he’s right,” Fenrir said. “And not just because this is my father we’re talking about. All the evidence lines up. This has to work.” He paused, swallowing a wave of guilt and fear. “Because if it doesn't, I don’t know if I’ll ever see C-20 again, and I can’t live with that. I have to find her. I have to.” He raised an eyebrow at Ravonna, his usual mischievous swagger returning once again. “And for the good of the TVA, of course.”

       Ravonna stared at the two men a moment longer before begrudgingly giving in. “Okay.”

       “Yes,” Mobius cheered. “Okay.”

       “But Mobius?” Ravonna put in.

       “Yeah?” he asked. He leaned in closer, and she sat up in her chair, pulling herself closer to him as well. If Fenrir hadn’t been there, he wondered if they might have kissed.

       “There’s not much I can do if it doesn’t work out,” she informed him softly.

       “For all time,” Mobius said instead of actually giving a response to her warning.

      “Always,” Ravonna whispered.

      “Okay,” Mobius remarked with a grin as he stood back up and turned to go.

       Fenrir went to follow him, but stopped when Ravonna called his name. “Fenrir.” He turned around to look back at her.

        “Yes, Judge Renslayer?” he asked.

        “Good luck,” she responded, and Fenrir could tell that she was being genuine. “I hope you find C-20. I know how much she means to you. Just try to be safe, alright?”

        Fenrir nodded, offering her a grateful smile. “I will be. Thanks, Ravonna.”

        And with that, he turned back around and left, following after Mobius to where his father was waiting outside. “We’re on,” Mobius announced as soon as they left Ravonna’s office, and Loki quickly got up from his chair, pumping his fist in the air in triumph as they made their way towards where they would meet the rest of their task force. “We are doing some good work today.”

        “I though so too,” Loki said.

        “I’m telling you,” Mobius continued. “You help us catch this Variant, and who knows my friend.” They stopped at Mobius’ locker, and he pulled off his jacket, getting ready for the mission at hand.

        “What, good enough for a face-to-face with the Time-Keepers?” Loki asked.

         “I didn’t say that,” Mobius objected. “One step at a time.”

         “All right,” Loki murmured. “One step at a time.”

         Mobius reached into his locker and pulled out a pair of daggers, handing them over to Loki, who accepted them with a look of mild surprise. “Just in case.” Loki stared at the blades, inspecting them closely. “Yeah, don’t those feel…”

        “Absolutely not,” B-15 remarked as she walked by, grabbing them from Loki’s hands and shoving them into her own locker. “Gather around for a briefing.”

       “Ooo, tough luck, Dad,” Fenrir said quietly, clapping his father on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, she was like that with me when I first got here too. Once she trusts you, maybe you’ll get them back. Maybe.”

      Everyone in the squadron, including Fenrir, Loki, and Mobius, who was now wearing a protective chest-plate and a rain jacket, gathered around the lead hunter as she explained the details of the mission, like she always did. “Roxxcart is a vast superstore common to the era,” she began. “It consists of a series of sprawling sections, including a large warehouse. This warehouse is being used by civilians as a shelter tryin’ to ride out the storm. Remember, this is a class ten apocalypse. While the Variant shouldn’t know we’re coming, he could be hiding anywhere and should be considered hostile. So stay alert. Every time there is an attack, the Variant steals a reset charge. He’s planning something. We just don’t know what. So keep an eye out for the missing charges, and if you see a Loki, prune it.”

       “The bad Loki, preferably,” Fenrir’s father put in with a tight-lipped grin.

       “Alright,” B-15 said. “Let’s move.”

      The squadron emerged in the parking lot of the Roxxcart superstore, weapons ready, approaching as carefully and cautiously as possible through the hurricane that would soon claim the building as its next victim.

     “Anything?” Mobius asked as soon as he had emerged from the portal, Loki and Fenrir at his heels, practically having to yell over the storm.

     “Nothing yet,” B-15 responded. “Move out!”

     Once they stepped into the inside of the superstore, bathed in eerie greenish-white light, Loki stopped and sighed, while Fenrir kept walking, and now outside of the magical restriction inside the TVA, used magic to dry himself off.

      B-15 looked his father up and down. “The hell was that?” she demanded.

      “That was my using magic to dry my clothes,” Loki replied. “So I don’t announce myself with every squeaky footstep like the rest of you.” He glanced over at Fenrir, who had stopped a few feet away, having realized that no one else was following him. “I’m surprised you hadn’t thought to do the same. Can you even do that much magic?”

      “There’s no time to worry about drying off,” Fenrir said sharply. “We have to find C-20 and the Variant.” He started walking again, his shoes squeaking loudly on the linoleum floor, then paused and turned around to add. “And yeah, I can do magic.”

       As he said this, Loki tilted his head at his son from another timeline, and in a flash of green magic, Fenrir was dry. He hung his head with a sigh, then looked back at his father. “You didn’t need to do that,” he said in a low voice.

      Loki shrugged with a grin. “Perhaps not,” he remarked. “But I had a feeling you weren’t going to, and I thought maybe I should start showing some of that ‘fatherly affection’ to my only son.”

      Fenrir rolled his eyes, as thunder rumbled overhead. The lights flickered in response, and everyone glanced up at them, mildly alarmed, before B-15 turned to one of the Minutemen said, “Take both teams and sweep the storm shelter.”

      “Yes, ma’am,” the Minuteman responded, leaving with the rest of the squadron to do as they had been instructed.

      “Loki, Fenrir, and I are gonna check out the Green House,” Mobius said. “We’ll meet back at the…”

      “No,” B-15 interrupted.

      “No?” Mobius echoed, confused.

      “You and Fenrir go with D-90,” she responded. “He stays with me.”

       “What are you talking…” Mobius sputtered. “He’s under my supervision.”

       “This is my field op, Mobius,” B-15 snapped. “If he’s not a threat, then it won’t be a problem…”

       “Of course he’s a threat,” Mobius replied. “Do you not remember the Time Theater?”

       “He does have a point,” Fenrir put in. “He did split my head open in there, and I’m his own son.”

       “Mobius…” Loki muttered.

       “I want him with me,” Mobius insisted.

       “You are welcome to go back to the TVA and litigate with Renslayer,” B-15 responded. “But right now…”

      “We’re here,” Mobius shot back, growing irritated. “We’re not going back. The Variant is here.”

       “Mobius,” Loki interrupted. “It’s fine. It’s fine. You can trust me.”

       The two men stared at each other for a moment, before Mobius remarked, “Why is it the people you can’t trust are always saying, ‘Trust me’?” Loki opened his mouth to say something, but Mobius ignored him, turning back to B-15.

       “Okay, try to hang on to your Time Collar this time,” he said, referring to the incident in the Time Theater.

       “We’ll see you in the showroom,” D-90 said, following Mobius as he walked off.

       Fenrir hesitated, casting one last look at his father. He wasn’t so sure it was a good idea to split up, but he had to trust that his father would be true to his word and behave himself. “Fenrir, come on!” Mobius called impatiently.

      “Coming,” Fenrir responded, tearing his gaze away from his father and hurrying after D-90 and his mentor.

      “Something is wrong,” Fenrir murmured as he followed Mobius and D-90 into the back of the superstore, where civilians were desperately seeking shelter from the storm. “Magic is being used here. I can feel it.”

      “Which means the Variant must be here,” Mobius concluded. “Keep an eye out boys.”

       “For the past hour we have seen winds intensifying,” the frantic voice of a news reporter was saying over a radio someone must have brought. “Again, if you’re just tuning in…”

      Fenrir tuned the rest of what the reporter was sayingout, already knowing the details of the disaster that was about to strike, instead focusing his attention on searching the area for any signs of C-20 or the Variant.

     “Check the bags for the reset charges,” D-90 ordered the other Minutemen.

     “You guys FEMA?” a large, older man wearing an electronic name tag and wearing blue coveralls, suggesting he was an employee of the superstore, asked. “National Guard?”

     “Could be any one of them,” D-90 continued, ignoring the man.

     “Well, hey, if you got a ‘copter or other transport, now is the time to use it,” the old man continued. “We got women and kids, and that weather ain’t playin’.”

      “No, I’m sorry,” Mobius responded. “We don’t.”

      “Well, how the heck did you get here?” the man demanded. D-90 stepped over to him and put a hand on his chest, forcing him back.

      “What are you doing?” Mobius asked the Minuteman as he began rifling through civilians’ bags. The man didn’t seem to hear him, so Mobius put a hand on his shoulder, forcing D-90’s attention back to him. “Hey! These people are scared.”

      D-90 stood up, looking Mobius dead in the eye. “They’re about to die,” he responded, without sympathy. “They should be scared.”

      “Okay. Not of us,” Mobius replied. “Take it easy.”

      “Yeah, chill the hell out, man,” Fenrir said, shoving D-90 in the arm. “What’s your problem?”

       “Sir!” another Minuteman interrupted.

       “What is it?” D-90 asked, shooting Fenrir a loaded glare.

       “We found her,” the Minuteman said, his gaze sliding over to Fenrir. “We found C-20.”

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #5

They're so cute...

OH, she set them up!! Here we go!

Wanda making squeaky toy noises when Cosmo hugs her is all I've ever wanted.

"We're real, all right! ... Real fairies. Not real humans."

BUDAWHAAAAAAAA-? Thank you Cosmo for just confirming elastic skin, which has been one of the most important headcanons in my worldbuilding. I did not expect you to do that for me, but... thanks?

Pfft, Wanda changing her legs.

ERG??? Is that you?

Okay, there's that "We've been retired for 10k years" implied time travel bit; I think I remember that from the story bible + early convos with my friends, so at least I came prepared to expect that.

This is either time travel - which plays perfectly into my established "Cosmo ate a time key during dinosaur times and has been running around through time unsupervised for ages" headcanon anyway, LOL - or they're flat-out lying to Hazel, seeing as the audience already knows Timmy is confirmed as a recent godkid, so... Hm.

SLDKFJSD I love how the guy who accidentally sent his baby stroller down a steep hill is wearing a #1 Dad hat. "My expensive stroller! ... I mean, my baby!" - Yeah, we're still in FOP. All the parents are terrible here.

Setting her up as loving french fries and then turning her into a fly who found french fries was clever.

Cosmo once again being so close and yet so far to his mark. Good to see him back!

Me when I return my would-be murderer's daughter, who is a bug.

I AM SO GLAD that even in 10,000 years, Wanda's small talk skills have not improved far beyond "I'm Human McRealPerson" and "My husband is a grilled cheese sandwich" from back in the day, sdlkfj. That's my girl!

oh no, the Venus flytrap gift they brought over is about to go so wrong.

Yep, she's still goin'. Talking about the carwash.

GIRL check your fingers.

OH MY GOSSSSSSH, he's dressed for a classy party in Fairy culture. Cosmorella? We thought you were dead!!

... That's an ant? I would've guessed tick.

It's a guy ant? Buddy, are you sure you're supposed to be foraging?

Let's go!!

SDLKFJSDKLFJSLKJF noooo... No, no, no, no, no... Not the thing I use to symbolize memorials for the dead, c'mon!

It IS an accurate item for a Fairy house- these were all over the place in Fairy World during the old show, AND in that color, though you usually see more than one "wand" per pot.

I'm super impressed the artists studied the old interior design customs. Huh.

Cosmo lives here. Also, BABY!!

OOH, I'm excited that Cosmo and Wanda's window overlooks Fairy World because it's kind of a portal. I did something super similar with a rat cage in an upcoming Frayed Knots scene, where Anti-Cosmo and Wanda are godparenting together during school. Nifty!

He even confirmed it's a spell on the front door! Wow. Somehow, Past Me nailed that.

"We can choose which world we go out into!" -> /Me with my 'fic where Kevin Crocker is confused that Shirley's Pizza Parlor has an exit on the other side that goes to Retroville.

Cosmo: We lived in Timmy's fishbowl for 20 years. Wanda: It was 7.

You are both wrong- it was like 68 <3 But honestly, I forgive you for not wanting to tell Hazel time was frozen for 50 years. I don't think she'd like that. Actually, I don't think she was born yet, because my vision is time freezing at the end of Season 4, and Dale was rescued in Season 2, so... Yeah, she wasn't born. Still, you don't wanna just drop that on someone.

That's actually very funny that Cosmo and Wanda are struggling because they're out of practice during their retirement.

THERE'S THE SIGN!! Way to go.

Oh, and the credits are done in a similar style to the old ones? Even the colors? That's so cute! That's also nice that Hazel's VA was a story editor too- That probably helps with the passion and vision.

That was cute. I liked it. Huge relief to see something well-researched and made with love after "Fairly Odder" was a struggle for me.

I've got a little more time tonight, I might be able to get one more episode done before bedtime.

[artisiumstudios]

Alright poll time please chelo me choose… cause I’m indecisive and have too many idea but this is for my reverse portal au lol.

Some info:

These are labels potential designs, my au take place in 2013 rather than 2012 making Mabel and dipper 13 about to be 14.

13a Mabel is constantly trying new styles especially with her hair cause it’s really long (like to her knees long, also this could lead to a mulan moment later in the story if yk what i mean lol) and she matches her hair ties to her sweater’s color pallets. STICKERS EVERYWHERE. Made her shooting star sweater

13b Mabel well let’s just say don’t mess fire breathing squirrels. Her hair got burnt off the summer before (like really really short) and she now rocks her natural curls. Her latest craft are earrings and just knitting her own clothes (like literally everything from shirts to dresses ect) and in this version Stanford is the one who gave her the shooting star necklace

13c Mabel straightens out her hair after she meets rapunzel irl (well more her her decaying corpse version but she is still rocking that hair), she also knits most of her clothing in this version but overall she would be the closest to Canon Mabel (or the prime universe)

Please help me choose and I’ll probably post dippers and Wendy’s later tonight or tomorrow idk

[hierophantmeme]

I attempted to make the Stray Sheep from Catherine: Full Body in Animal Crossing Happy Home Paradise! Since I dressed Fauna as Rin, I tried to make the 2nd floor look like Rin’s apartment. I found the dress design on the custom design portal so that one isn’t mine but I did make my own stray sheep logo. I also have designs for Vincent and Erica’s clothes and I want to make some for the rest of the characters that don’t already have clothes designed for them. I started of with Jonny. Once I have all of them, I want to dress different villagers as each character and take pictures.

I have more designs for other fandoms, too, just haven’t had the energy to post them all. You can look at the rest on my Happy Home profile if you have the DLC.

Might post videos on my YouTube once I figure out how to use the capture card I got recently.

[storm-angel989]

Outside The Office Chapter Forty

Hi all,

Thank you for your paitence! I'm sorry this chapter is short, I just couldn't manage to squish it into the next section. Enjoy!

<3 Mandy

Back on the base, I perched myself in a tree above Adam’s office and waited as silently as I could. The hours passed slowly and even with my detour, I still had several more to go. Thankfully, with all that I had been taught patience was the most sacred of virtues. Something my now husband seemed to struggle with.

I smiled to myself as I leaned against the tree trunk. Husband. The word seemed strange, surreal almost. In heaven weddings were big affairs- parties that lasted for days at a time. As a child, I had dreamed of the day. Of a white dress and my family surrounded me. Hard to believe our marriage was confirmed in seconds, a contract between two beings from two totally different worlds. Valentino had promised a traditional wedding when we got back. I wondered- what did that look like in Hell? Did the bride wear a white dress? Do they have a first dance?

As the hours ticked by, I kept my body perfectly still and my brain busy. Jumping through color swatches, design choices, locations and decorations. Bridesmaids? I didn’t exactly have friends in hell. Would Velvette be the maid of honor and Vox the best man? Where would the celebration take place, and who would attend? Would this wedding turn into a political affair, or simply be a celebration of love? And the cake- what kind of cake did Valentino want? I was a chocolate and strawberry girl myself. What would happen if I shoved a piece into his face? Would he laugh or get mad? I had just begun to imagine the decor when the door to the office swung open. My attention fell to him, solely to him as wedding thoughts melted away.

Adam.

“Yeah, I fucked that cunt, right in the pussy. It was bangin” I heard him say loudly to the group of exorcists that surrounded him. “Bet you never had pussy like that pussy.” 

“Sir, we need to move. The final hours are upon us,” a voice said firmly.

My heart pounded, and anger pulsed through me. I knew that voice. Adam’s on again off again fuck toy, Lute. Under my fathers reign she had faced punishment for inappropriate behavior on a number of occasions. Of course it made sense that she served as his second in command now that my father was gone. I waited until they were just out of eyesight before I began to follow them, silently as I had been taught to. Within moments, they took their place at the black portal that had let me through hours ago. 

“Go time, bitches!” Adam yelled as he yanked down his exorcist mask. 

I watched as he and his army vanished through the portal and slowly counted down. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. 

Showtime.