#*Jack Black voice* I. Am the Masked Gentleman

[layton-heritage-posts]

the only way I'd accept a live action adaptation of a Layton game featuring Jack Black is if it was an adaptation of Miracle Mask and Jack Black was cast as the Masked Gentleman/Randall

》 wacca-heritage-posts (sorry for flooding your inbox)

We have. Very different opinions on who would make a good actor for Randall.

[bonnixd]

Another avenger?

Summary: Apparently end, bianca and Eugene also know about your plan. In addition, you meet the first victim and his liberator…

You're standing by Xavier's bedside, it's 9:00 p.m. and it's already dark outside. "What are you doing here?!" Xavier asked in panic. You can see the fear and panic in his eyes. "Who brought you here?" you ask menacingly. "I...I don't know." Xavier says in a shaky voice. You realize he's not lying. You walk slowly towards the door, you realize that Xavier's panicked eyes are still following you. You turn around one last time. "Listen Xavier, you may have escaped me. However, I won't stop until I get my revenge on your family.” You leave the room without hearing an answer. You go to your dorm and when you arrive you see Ajax who is already in bed. But when he looked at you, you noticed something. He looks at you with fear. "Anything?" you ask Ajax. "No...no" he said with a trembling voice. You realize that for some reason he is afraid of you. Was he someone who freed Xavier? You look at him for a moment and then you go to bed. You fall asleep fairly quickly, even though you know you're going to have nightmares again.

It's the last lesson over. The whole day passed quite normally, but you noticed something. Bianca, Enid and Eugene are watching you all the time. But they all have something in common, you recognize fear in them. Apparently Xavier told them you kidnapped him, but why doesn't he tell the teachers. And what about Wednesday, she was present but you didn't notice her being afraid. You're racking your brains as you walk to the old Gates mansion. You're about to open the front door. "You're back," someone said behind you. You slowly turn around and see Tyler standing behind you. Barely 10 paces behind him is Mrs. Thornhill. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon, I thought you'd hide for now." You said calmly. "You're going to die," Tyler said menacingly. "Of course but you two won't be the killers." You answer. "Why aren't you scared?" asked Mrs. Thornhill "Tyler is a weak Hyde. He only killed normal people and he had the element of surprise. And when it came to a real fight, he lost. And you Mrs. Thornhill, you resurrected a zombie and he didn't even manage to kill a Nevermore student. Although he could use magic. Your zombie couldn't do anything. And you had a pistol and instead of shooting Wednesday or Bianca, you shoot bees.” You explain. “What am I supposed to be afraid of?” you asked calmly. "Before me." Tyler replied angrily. "Didn't I just tell you how weak you are?" you asked him. "I lost to a werewolf, you're just a human in a mask." He said menacingly. You take a syringe of green liquid from your pocket. “There are other ways to defeat a Hyde. Even if you have a human body.” You point the syringe at him. "I can prove it to you." "You!" Tyler said angrily. "That's enough Tyler!" Said Mrs. thornhill. Tyler glares at you one last time and heads back into the woods. You put the syringe back in your pocket. "You are not wrong in what you said." said Mrs. Thorn Hill. "I know you don't Mrs. Thornhill.” You said. She looks at you in surprise. "How do you know that?" she asks you. "You have one blue eye and one brown eye. The real Mrs. Thornhill had 2 brown eyes." you said. "That means you're a shapeshifter. However, a shapeshifter can only transform into the other person 99.99% of the time. That means every shapeshifter has some trait, with you it's your black eye. "Hm, I guess you can't be fooled," said Mrs. Thornhill, changing into an elderly gentleman. "Is that your correct form?" you asked. "Yes, my name is Jack," he replied. "Why did you free Tyler?" you asked. "I want to get revenge on someone too. And he's a good weapon.” He said. "To who?" you asked. "Bianca Barclay." You slowly walk past him. "Listen Jack, as long as you support Tyler, we're enemies. And Nevermore is under my protection.” You told him and slowly walk to the gate. "Then why are you kidnapping other Nevermore students?" Jack shouted at you. “Xavier is a target of mine. But not Bianca. If you just want revenge on the family then take someone else if Bianca is your personal goal. Will you have to pass me first! And as long as Tyler lives, we're enemies.” You shouted back at him. You turn around and go back to Nevermore.

so i'm still a beginner but i hope you like it anyway. I'm looking forward to your criticism and wish you a nice day ;D

[writerrachelspangler]

Wife Goals

I started this Tumblr to talk about how Gentleman Jack was helping me get back on the writing track, but then Gentleman Jack actually got me back on the writing track, and I spent all my time actually writing the novel, more on that later.

But now that the first draft of the novel number 18 is done I’m back on the GJ Tumblr train, and I realize that Anne Lister is not just helping me be a better writer it’s challenging me a better wife. Example:

Do you remember that one episode of Gentleman Jack where Ann Walker is having a mental health crisis and she thinks that the horrible voices in her head were coming from inside the clock in the hallway?  

Ann Lister doesn’t argue with her. She doesn’t try and convince her it’s not happening.  She doesn’t make her feel bad, or get her to exercise self restraint or logic. She responds by saying she’s going to fix the clock.  And by fix the clock you get this real sense that she might be about to break the clock.  To be clear Anne Lister knows full well there’s no demons living in the clock, but she also know that being right about that doesn’t mean jack shit in that moment. She knows this moment is not about logic, it’s about the woman she loves feeling unsafe, and instead of trying to convince her those feelings are unwarranted she affirms them and offers to break the fucking clock.

First of all, that’s not totally a sane response either, but it’s the right one, nonetheless. Life is weird, and hard and complex. The world is stacked against them. Mental health is complicated. There’s so many things in life we can’t control, and instead of arguing about things way beyond her comprehension she’s going to fix the thing she can and affirm the woman she loves.

In one of the great sadnesses of my life I am not Anne Lister. 

The other day my wife told me we were almost out of sugar and I was like, “Naw, we’re good.” She expressed again that she thought we didn’t have enough to get through to our next shopping trip and again I disagreed. She sort of wrung her hands a bit and I was like, “Seriously, tell me what you’re going to make with that much sugar?” And she was like “Pancakes, and um maybe scones.” Me: Then we’ve probably got plenty of sugar.  At that point she was like, “Yeah, you're right, I was probably just being silly. I was probably over reacting because I’m nervous. I’m sorry it’ll be fine.”

And the thing was for a few minutes I thought I handled that shit. Logic wins. My logic. Nailed it.  But the thing was my wife still seemed kind of sad. Maybe even sadder than before. Also she’d just admitted she’d been nervous about something much bigger than sugar, and instead of understanding/affirming that I made her feel silly about it.

Well, fuck. We are living in the middle of a global pandemic. We have been in lockdown for 51 days.  I don’t want to be the logic wife during the absurd times. I want to be the passionately, over the top action wife. I want to be the wife who says, “No worries, I’ll fix it.” I wanna be the wife who gets some more fucking sugar. I want to be the wife to calls every one of my neighbors and asks each one for a half cup of sugar until I refill the whole bag. I want to be the wife who puts on a mask and gloves and buys black market sugar at night in a dark alley. I want to be the person who Robin Hoods sugar from the rich ass hoarders. I do not want to be the wife who tries to logic and police emotions through this crazy ass moment in history. I want to be the wife who gets up at two am and breaks the fucking clock! 

That’s my new pandemic wife goals.

[talesofsonicasura]

Thief's Ambition

Velvet Dilemma

Every thief needs the right tool for any sort of job. But what would happen if one of your resources isn't what they seem to be? Long post. Warning: Suicide Attempt, and mentions of abuse

They say reality and imagination are two sides of the same coin. Reality being ruled by laws and sciences to present what one calls 'normal', a limited perspective. Imagination however, is without restrictions if someone has the willpower to create or dream, limitless potential.

Information or to be specific, Digital Code' held both treats of reality and imagination. Rules to stabilize the unlimited potential of someone's creativity and what could be created is endless. Sometimes, one's design could break those boundaries. The results are determined by the creator. Whether it will lead to paradise or pure ruin. Only they can decide.

Le Blanc, a small but humble shop located in Yogenjaya, Japan. This cafe owned by Sojiro Sakura, is quite famous for their delicious curry, extraordinary coffee and friendly atmosphere. It is also the temporary home of a specific teenager. A young man whose choices can affect the world around him in large ripples. His name was Ren Amamiya.

The boy was around 15 years old, hair was a pitch black nest of curls, eyes a mysterious obsidian that shone brighter through the lens of his false glasses, a soft balance built with some growing muscle to his form, and stood about 5'7 in height. A pure black gakuran fitting snugly on the young man's body paired alongside black pants and nicely made boots as he carried his slightly large gray school bag over his shoulders.

His destination was Le Blanc, taking his time by walking down the sidewalk and glanced around to take in any important details. It didn't seem that anything would catch the boy's eyes since Yogenjaya was more of a rural area. That was until an abnormally tall structure crossed his line of sight.

Not too far from where he was, Ren could make what had to be a hotel. Around 5 stories in height and from how clean it seemed, the place was obviously new. Halfway down the large infrastructure was a soft magenta sign that read: Hotel Nexus. The name rings some bells in his head.

It was a new hotel that recently opened up before he came. Great service, fair prices and quite a selection of accommodations for anyone's price range. He heard some of the teachers and even students at his school raving about it.

Ren didn't really notice that he entered his destination until his nose was greeted to the bitter scent of coffee beans and spice of curry. His caretaker Sojiro Sakura, a rough looking older man with dark brown eyes, black hair in a man bun and beard, was in the middle of serving a few customers. Thus, the teen walked up to his room which was in actuality, a spacy attic.

Placing his bag on the bed, the raven was about to start on his homework when a voice spoke out. "Thy trickster." A soft, suave yet slightly distorted male's nearly made the boy jump if he didn't know who this voice belonged to. Not even the first few days in Tokyo did the teen come across the path of the supernatural.

"We need to have a discussion. Thee might have a problem." The voice explained much to Ren's utter confusion. If by instinct, the raven took off his glasses and held it out. Blue flames suddenly manifested on the frames, sparks spewing out to the attic floor in 5 different spots before the fire extinguished.

Each spark burned brighter as they grew in size but didn't spread across the wood surface like any normal fire. The smallest stood barely a foot in size while the largest being a shocking 15 ft all around. Suddenly, the fire sputtered out as five different creatures now sat before the young boy.

A large black horse that had two long teal horns, crimson eyes and white mane, a small brown haired pixie with butterfly wings wearing a blue one-piece and gloves, pink skinned imp with small wings and wore a belt with a large stinger positioned at an inappropriate place, and a jack-o-lantern headed creature wearing a dark blue robe, witch's hat, and white gloves holding a lantern.

The last being was not only large but vastly different from the others. Sitting slightly uncomfortable on the floor was a dapper gentleman-esque black and crimson demon.

Black leathery hide, pitch black mask for a face as fire highlighted the long spindly devil horns than just painting fiery eyes or the wicked smile, razor sharp black claws and angelic ebony wings that spawn from his lower back. The demon's clothing consisted of a black corset tuxedo held tight by red strings, white fancy cravat, a short crimson coat with long sleeves, collar and coattails, red armor mimicking dress pants covered the legs which ended with knife blade heels, and a tall black top hat stitched at the back with red strings.

Despite the five demons sitting before him, Ren wasn't afraid of their presence. After all, why would he be scared of his own Persona and one of the reasons he is still alive? From the information given by various sources, these beings were born from thoughts of man and assist those who awaken or earn their power.

His current Persona team consisted of Bicorn, Pixie, Incubus and Jack-o-Lantern. Ren couldn't forget his main Persona either, the one who answered his call and shared the same rebellion in his soul, Arsene. Seeing all five here meant there was something going on especially from the looks on their face.

Bicorn looked very irate, well, more than he usually was, Pixie was a mixture of concern and worry, Incubus had his arms crossed alongside a large scowl on his face and Jack-o-Lantern looked like he wanted to disappear. The only one who didn't seem upset was Ren's dapper devil, the flames of the mask were in a soft simmer, almost if he was sheepish. Things had to be wrong if the Legendary Phantom Thief didn't have his signature grin.

"Is everything ok? Arsene said you guys wanted to talk about something." The raven politely asked, it may not look like it but Ren did care for his Persona. Although, not all of them were on the same level as his rebel heart but… Out of the bunch, it was Incubus who spoke up.

"Here's the problem boss, none of us are getting fused!" And the teen's train of thought came to a stop like a broken record. "What?" The word just came out of his mouth as if he was on autopilot. Quite a reasonable reaction for when you considered Ren's current situation in full.

Stuck on probation in a foreign place, his future walking towards a foretold path of ruin, the twisted desires of his gym teacher manifesting as a cognitive place and these very creatures before him holding a key to his salvation. That also included fusing them to create a more powerful Persona.

"Normally we don't have any opinions when it comes to fusion. Previous Wild Cards before you had done the process thousands of times. However, this time there's two issues that we cannot accept! And no amount of bribery will change our opinion!" Bicorn huffed, scraping a hoof across the ground.

That actually convinced Ren even more to listen to their problem, especially when he considered the new information given. If there had been others like him, why wasn't he notified? And what was different about the process of Fusion if Persona used to not have an issue?

"Alright. Can you tell me these reasons for omitting fusion from the Velvet Room?" His inquiry seemed to relieve some of the tension for the group of Persona. The teen could only guess it must be rare for Wildcards to tend to their needs. Or it must have been quite a long time since a Persona User like him appeared.

"Sure dee-doo, bossman! First off is the Fusion Methods! Persona are fused in many different ways, some by dancing or even tarot cards. Executions aren't one of them. Despite some Persona being created from evil legends, the fusion tools were always humane and fair for all participants." Jack-o-Lantern spoke up, the fire in his lantern burning brighter with each word.

Ren easily agreed with that reason. His first time actually being able to use the Fusion was a very unsavory experience. At that time, he only had just Arsene and Pixie. To see Igor and his assistants unveil those large guillotines made him feel like he was back at that Palace thing.

Seeing shadows of people being tortured like slaves already made him a bit uncomfortable but the 'Fusion Tools' were enough to leave the room with a poker face just to hide a grimace. "Yeah, I can see your point. Don't know how a guillotine isn't even supposed to do that."

That also raised another question as he had a feeling what the second reason really was. Pixie only solidified that very thought. "Our second reason is the Velvet Room itself, to be precise, Igor himself. You see, out of many Personas, I am usually the one Wildcards tend to acquire first." A look of nostalgia sparked in her eyes.

"This means that I am often fused quite a lot so I've been around Igor. Despite looking a bit crooked, the man has an aura of a gentleman and has this mischievous but kind air around him. Something that makes the Velvet Room comfortable for both Persona and Wildcards but…" A nervous and saddened look was quick to mark the fairy's face.

"...that isn't the Igor we know. This one is cold and has this aura of cruelty hidden underneath. And it's not just him but both Velvet Room attendants feel off too. It's almost if both girls are like broken dolls, scraps of a toy remade into two different copies."

The room went silent for a bit as Ren processed all this information. Persona who's been summoned or recruited a lot, Veteran he'll call it, could feel when something is off with the Velvet Room. It would explain why Arsene didn't seem that bothered unlike the others, since he was new to the whole thing.

Now that the teen thought about it, Igor and his attendants seemed very quick to introduce the Fusion mechanic… too quick. If something was indeed wrong with the Velvet Room, then it would be best to limit his usage. Ren couldn't just stop using it altogether and none of them had issues with the Register/Summon option.

"Alright. I won't use the Velvet Room for fusion. If you guys think the place is off and Igor can't be trusted, then I'll trust your judgement. Problem is, how can I perform Fusions now?" The Persona he had now, excluding Arsene, can't really grow powerful enough to deal with any future Palaces.

Stronger Personas were needed if he was going to avoid this 'ruin'. His main Persona then spoke up. "How about you search for a mage? Thou passed one earlier today." Wait what? Ren looked at the Curse Type with a mixture of disbelief and surprise.

There's a mage, someone who practices actual magic, in bloody Tokyo. Pixie spoke upon her User's look of befuddlement. "Practicers of magic do exist, master Ren. They are rare and tend to stay hidden amongst the locals. You can easily guess why. Some even treat Fusing or Summoning Persona like an exam to know if one is ready for the next level of magic."

The raven haired teen let out an intrigue hum from the explanation. If he can find the mage Arsene sensed earlier then they should be able to help with his Fusion problem. "Where did you sense them anyway?"

Ren couldn't believe the stroke of luck he got. Apparently the person he was looking for happened to be in Yogenjaya, specifically the new Nexus Hotel. Once school was over for the day, he quickly made his way towards the place. It was honestly bigger in person than seeing it from Le Blanc.

Various trees with interwoven branches formed a path to the hotel similar to a green red carpet, two fountains paired with benches on each side of the fountain and the centerpiece was a peculiar statue. An 8 meter giant of scrap metal carefully melded together to form a lizardman wielding a large microphone stand like it was a guitar and on the plaque it stood on read: Welcome to Hotel Nexus.

There are even a few stalls set up for local vendors to rent and sell merchandise. 'This hotel feels like a homey place to stay in. No wonder a lot of people Shujin talk about it.' Ren thought while looking at the large statue with intrigue. He could see a lot of work was put into it from the V shape horns, beak like snout and even intricate design on the stand.

Even a non-artist can see all the work, effort and dedication put into it. "What do you mean it ain't for sale?!" A brutish shout immediately ripped the boy's attention. Obsidian eyes soon look at a scene forming to his side between a large portly man and someone around his age.

The girl had cyan hair with a silver frohawk at center, emerald green eyes bearing black v shaped marks underneath, and a thin elegantly curved body around 5'6 in height. Her clothing consisted of a black shirt, short red long sleeved jacket, dark blue cargo pants and white high tops.

What got Rens attention was the peculiar device hanging around her neck, it looked like one of those pocket pet toys but merged with a walkie talkie. Pure silver with red buttons and a black strap for string. She honestly looked very annoyed.

"It's like I said to your boss a million times before. Hotel Nexus isn't for sale! My family and I worked hard to make this place so no way in hell we're giving it up. I don't give a damn how high the food chain your boss is, the answer will be no!" Ren could practically feel the venom in her words from the fifteen distance.

Something that amused Arsene since the Curse Persona was laughing. 'It seems that fiery young lady is the mage that thou been looking for. Such strong rebellion radiating brilliantly alongside her magic.' The raven continued watching the scene unfold.

He had to agree with Arsene on the fiery term since the girl literally growled at the man before her. "Get outta here and tell your boss he can choke on his own balls!" The poor employee went running off in seconds with his tail between his legs. Adjusting his fake glasses, Ren decided to approach the cyanette once she took a few deep breaths.

Now that he was closer, the young man could see flecks of gold and silver in those emerald eyes as the girl saw him. "Hey there. Sorry if ya saw the commotion. I'm usually more professional but guys like that tend to grind my gears." She then put on a polite smile.

"My name is Hokuto...Shoutmon! One of the owners of Hotel Nexus. What can I do for you?" Ren couldn't lie, that was the oddest last name he heard in his life. Or the fact that her teeth were razor sharp just from the smile given. Knowing it was rude to stare, the raven haired teen spoke.

"My name is Ren and I happen to be new in the area. I was hoping you can answer a few questions for me." Best to have some honesty if he was going to even get the cyanette's trust. Hokuto merely kept a polite look on her face and stayed professional to even her posture.

"Sure, what questions do you have? Need any help finding a room or are you interested in renting a stand? Or is it more personal?" Childlike curiosity brimmed in the emerald eyes of the Nexus' heiress that made Arsene laugh in his human partner's head. 'Might as well answer her, dear Trickster. Can't keep a young lady waiting~'

Ignoring the obvious flirt, Ren decided to be a bit straight forward in his response. "Can you help me with a little school project of mine? I'm supposed to ask people a set of words and how they felt about each one for my psychology class." He even pulled up a pen and paper to make it more convincing.

If she was really a mage, then he had a feeling Hokuto would be more comfortable with masking a risky topic such as this. Plus one class did ask for a Do-Your-Own assignment for homework today. The Shoutmon woman tilted her head a bit, mild confusion crossed her face before shrugging. Didn't seem that bad to her so why not oblige the boy?

"Sure, I don't mind. It's honestly a bit refreshing but I get to choose a few words too. That way it'll be more like a game, and who knows, ya might get some extra credit." Ren nodded his head and had a smirk on his face from Hokuto's unexpected reply. He even had a good word to start with.

"Alright. My first word or to be precise, words is 'Velvet Room'." The cyanette hummed a bit hearing the word. An inquisitive look on her face as she mulled the two words over in her head a bit. It took a few more seconds before she gave an answer.

"Intrigue and wonderment comes to mind but oddly also caution. Something as fancy as 'Velvet Room' has to have something dark or sinister in the undertone. Kinda like the story of Hansel and Gretel with the witch's house being made of sweets." The teen and Persona understood the reason behind that, even if the 'caution' part sounded more instinctual.

Not everything that glitters gold meant was good. "Alright, my turn. The word I choose is Tamer." Hokuto said with a cheery tone. It was his turn to tilt his head at the suspicious pick. Being a Wildcard did fit with the word since Ren had to befriend or 'tame' multiple Persona than just one.

"Adventurous, enlightening and carefulness. Being a tamer means you are potentially risking your life at befriending a living creature that can do harm if you aren't careful. Achieving a bond is also a reward in itself from how much you learn and grow with the experience." The raven haired teen could feel the warmth of his Persona's happiness and admiration blanket his heart.

Hokuto also seemed really happy about his response too, almost if checking something off in her head. "That's one way to say it. Now it's your turn again." Ren already knew what he was going to ask for this round. "Okay. My next word is Persona with a capital P." The cyanette mulled over the peculiar word in her head.

Something about it felt odd, like a primal instinct of sorts but she couldn't really guess why. Placing a hand on her chin, the young woman gave the boy an answer. "Since it sounds like a living creature, I would say wonder and bewilderment. Unknown life tends to bring tons of questions alongside the possibilities of their uniqueness."

Ren hummed at the answer while writing it down on paper. He would admit that he didn't see the next word coming though. "Your next word is Digimon!" Confusion immediately covered the raven haired teen's face. Did he hear that right? Digimon? Was it short for something like 'Digital Monster'?

"Taking a random guess here but the only thing that comes to mind is curiosity. I've never heard of a term like Digimon before and it makes me wonder what the concept truly is. A game or maybe a brand series that's focus is around collectible creatures under the same name."

It was the only reasonable Ren could actually think of. He'd never heard of 'Digimon' before and would have done some research later on. The teen was ready to ask his final question when the sound of a ringtone went off. Hokuto had pulled out her phone, a look of mild horror crossing her face in seconds.

"Seriously?! I'm sorry but I have to cut this conversation short. Got to close off one of the guest bathrooms and call for a repairman!" She quickly turned on the heel of her feet before taking off into the hotel. All Ren could do was blink as his objective was now out of reach.

'An unfortunate setback. However, thou at least have the mademoiselle's location. We would just need to visit another time.' Arsene whispered in the raven's head, the young man let out a sigh. He'll have to make do with the Persona he had for now.

The next day… Ren was sitting in his seat like usual. Getting stared at by most of his classmates and teacher with the appeal of a convict. An irritating normal when you had your criminal record and reason for being transferred thrown out to the entire school as if it was a newspaper.

It also sucked that his teacher, Mr Uchimaru, was an asshole who likes to harass others when they answer one of his surprise questions wrong. Ryuji texting him in the middle of the class and Morgana talking in his bag either. Even if no one could understand the not-cat, they could still hear his meows.

His mind however went to a grinding halt upon the words of his classmates. "There's someone on the roof! Is she going to jump? Suzui Shiho?" Dread immediately filled his heart upon the name. Suzui Shiho was one of the upperclassmen who was being sexually harassed by his current target, the gym teacher Kamoshida.

He was out of his seat in seconds and ran straight for the hallway window for a better look. A better view was needed to see if it really was Shiho. Obsidian eyes widen in absolute horror upon the sight of the brown haired teenager standing at the ledge of the building.

'No… Dear god, please don't…!' The girl jumped off the roof, Ren's heart dropped to his stomach while his classmates screamed. Shiho was about to hit the ground when familiar light blue hair came into sight as someone caught her falling body in time. Ren immediately ran down the halls of the school, to get outside and see if his senpai was alright.

The teen caught sight of Hokuto Shoutmon holding the girl tight to her chest, Shiho was nuzzled into the hotel manager's neck in tears. "Shh. It's alright. Just let it all out. I don't know who hurt you but there are people in this world that still care about ya. Think about them, not ya tormentors."

Hokuto's strong upbeat voice was now a soft comforting whisper while she rubbed the suicidal girl's back gently. Emerald eyes looked into Ren's obsidian ones with mild surprise. It was probably the fact she didn't know he went to school here either.

"Shiho." The raven turned his head to see one of his classmates running towards the two girls. Ann Tamanaki, the platinum blonde girl with green eyes and her hair in two ponytails who was also Shiho's best friend by what he saw from their interactions. The hotel manager turned her head over to the blonde.

"I'm guessing you are a friend of hers? Do you know her parents' numbers? This poor girl needs all the support she can get right now and I need to call the suicide hotline. We were lucky enough that I was able to catch her in time." Hokuto let Ann hold Shiho but not before the pigtailed girl said a grateful teary 'Thank You'.

The cyanette then looked at Ren. "I don't know who broke that poor girl's will but I do know one thing. If that fucker shows their face, I'll do everything in my power to knock em off their pedestal. No one deserves this for another bastard's sick pleasure. They say eyes are the window to one's soul, her eyes are that of a victim on their last string."

Shiho's parents immediately came over along with an ambulance and a few cop cars to check on the frazzled brunette. Hokuto had left after they questioned her on how she even found Shiho. Apparently the hotel manager was heading towards one of the markets nearby, a coincidence that managed to save his classmate's life.

It also meant that Kamoshida needed to be dealt with before someone else breaks. There is the expulsion deadline too, since confronting the man in righteous anger was a dumb idea. Whatever the case, the perverted PE teacher needed his heart changed. And the only solution was the man's castle, nestled in the school's Metaverse.

The Metaverse was a physical plane created through the unconscious cognition of people, a place between reality and imagination. Palaces were an area created from the large distortion in a person's heart, something that reflected a dark mindset. Kamoshida's Palace was that of pure unadulterated lust.

A medieval castle filled with statues of himself or various girls around the skin that displayed their innocence in a perverse manner, echoes of male students were seen as slaves that were beaten meticulously, and the distorted version of Kamoshida flaunt through the castle as it's disgusting lustful king in nothing but a crown, heart shaped boxers and a fluffy red cape.

Through these halls was the key to stopping this man's twisted heart and the consequences to follow if they failed. Within one of the hallways, a large cluster of knights were gathered in a tizzy. Empty blue masks staring at a pile of molten gold, various statues of the Palace's Ruler melting into a golden soup in front of the culprit.

The suspect's body was shadowed by the large blaze behind them. "How dare you destroy the visage of our King Kamoshida?! You'll pay with your life wench!" One of the knights howled as all brandished their large blades. Feminine laughter came out of the figure alongside their appearance, emerald eyes glared down at the mass.

Ren was running as fast as he could, the teen helping a tired Ann with assistance from two others. The clothes the four of them wore were very different from what they wore in the real world, an attire created through the power of their Persona and rebellious souls.

The raven had a white domino mask bearing a black flare around the eyes, long black leather jacket paired alongside a bulletproof black vest, crimson gloves, black Italian leather pants, and black leather boots. Ann's entire was a full red leather blend suit that displayed her elegant lithe form, a red mask with cat ears, red stilettos and even a fake cat tail that seemed to move on its own.

Then there was Ryuji Sakamoto, a spiky blonde with brown eyes and Ren's first ally he made. His outfit was a metal skull shaped mask, a black suit bearing a metal spine plate along his back, red tie to a black bulletproof vest, black Italian leather boots and red gloves bearing metal knuckles.

Ren couldn't forget their odd party member Morgana either. A 1'6 ft tuxedo cat-like being with a form comparable to a bobblehead. Slightly large head with black fur on the top half of the head imitating a mask to the white bottom part, a yellow bandana scarf around the neck, a black body with white paws, white feet and white tip tail, and a brown fanny pack around the waist.

The two males were helping keep Ann steady, the platinum blonde was exhausted from summoning her main Persona. "We're almost at the exit, just need to go past this hanger." Morgana stated, his childlike male voice stern and strong. Smell of burning metal hit everyone's nose, all eyes were on the growing smoke that began to seep from an adjacent hallway.

"What the hell? Is someone else here because I don't think Kamoshida's knights are stupid to burn the castle to the ground?" The blonde was right but who was it. Getting into the Metaverse, much less a Palace, required the Metanav app. Without the mysterious phone app, no one could enter this place unless brought here by accident.

A familiar voice then reached Ren's ears. 'Thy Joker, that sounds like young Hokuto. It appears our acquaintance is making good on her threat to Madame Shiho's abuser.' Arsene spoke within the raven's head. It was an odd coincidence that the hotel manager was in the same corridor leading to the exit.

The group of four turned into the hall to see an army of Kamoshida's knights cornering Hokuto. None of them were blind to the gold statues of the Palace ruler burning behind the young woman, a sight that made Ren's main Persona purr in delight.

"Ain't that Shoutmon-san?! Did she get dragged in by accident like I did?!" Ann couldn't help the worried tone within her own voice. The not-cat of the group whistled at the destruction. "That girl isn't normal. It takes extreme heat to melt solid gold like that."

Ryuji guffawed at the amount of damage that the cyanette did by herself. "Talk about a one woman demolition crew! Maybe she can help us after we help her." The group was taken aback when Hokuto began to laugh at a guard's execution threat.

"A King you say?" The cyanette scoffed, her hand grasping the device around her neck. Morgana quickly notices the peculiar device. "I'm getting weird vibes from that gadget. Whatever it is, that thing is letting out a lot of power!" All three humans looked at their smaller teammate in surprise before facing Hokuto.

Something big was about to happen. "All I see is the evidence of a pervert who loves to harass those more innocent than him. It's time these trophies of sin burn and I'll light them ablaze with the fire of my soul!" A light purple aura circled around Hokuto's opposite hand.

The peculiar sparkled and moved in an inhuman but familiar to digital code if given a physical shape. The next words Hokuto said proved to Ren and his friends just how unique she was. "Let's do this Shoutmon! Biomerge!" Pure gold fire burst forth upon Hokuto swiping her hand across the device.

All of the guards had to jump back upon the massive blaze that now engulfed the teenage girl, her shadow growing amongst the wall of flame. For a second, the masked raven saw something familiar move within the fire. The visage of the Hotel Nexus Statue crossed Ren's mind.

"Hope you're ready!" Hokuto's voice boomed from the blaze but it was very off. There was a mechanical tone to it and all of Ren swore he heard another voice overlap, a scratchy, growlish young male one. A large gold armor leg and boot with a silver stripe going down the center alongside a back spike heel stepped out from the blaze.

What followed was a giant 16 ft armored beast, a golden dragon man that looked vaguely similar to the statue back at the hotel. Giant V shaped horns adorn the head alongside the golden tusk on the cheeks to form a pseudo helmet to the silver beak like muzzle of the dragon, a rounded chest plate that held two holes on opposite sides of the flat front, curved pauldrons leading to black wire hose that connected the slimmer arms bearing three fingered hands.

On the upper back was a helm very similar to the statue and that gold alloy went down the slim waist except for the silver circle on the stomach. And the part that showed this was once Hokuto was the bright emerald eyes burning with righteous fury.

"Cause OmniShoutmon is going to bring the house down!" Hokuto or OmniShoutmon bared her two fists in a boxer's stance as she let out a battlecry. Her eyes then flitted over the group of four, a look of surprise crossing the dragon's beakish muzzle. Something one of the guards noticed as he turned around to see the small group.

"The intruders are still here?! This rebellion will be squashed before it can grow!" Every knight began to shudder in an unnatural manner, their bodies immediately collapsing into streams of black and crimson shadow. The shadowy streams immediately rose up to form various Jack o' Lanterns, Incubus, Bicorn except for one.

One had transformed into a large knight in silver armor, ruby red angelic wings sprout from the back, their red skin face held a solemn stare as they held a large broadsword in front of them in a religious manner. Ren recognized that type of Shadow from a previous encounter, it was an Archangel.

"Mona and Skull, protect Ann!" With a flair, Ren pulled off his mask as blue flames swallowed it and Arsene materialized from the fire. The sight of the Curse Persona made a wild smirk run across OmniShoutmon's muzzle. "Knew there was something special about ya! Let's get to know each other after we toast these suckers with the melody of our burning souls!"

Orbs of pure sun yellow flame ignited the draconic being's claws, emerald eyes burning bright with something akin to passion. "Hard Rock Soul!" Both small suns doubled in size and with a howl OmniShoutmon tossed them with incredible force as if they were baseballs.

A large blast of fire exploded forth upon the two projectiles hitting one of the smaller Shadows, the intense heat burning groups of the ones that held no resistance to ash. Ren took the opportunity to strike the twisted monsters with their guard dropped by the blast.

His boot struck an Incubus from a high jump kick, he used the Shadow to spring towards a Jack O' Lantern stabbing his razor sharp straight into the pumpkin demon's skull. The raven then spun midair to send his hooked opponent straight into a small cluster of Pixies and quickly turned to a group of Bicorn.

"Eiha!" Red tinted black energy manifest between Arsene's claws, the Curse Persona morphing it into a short lance. The personification of the gentleman thief quickly threw into the head of one of the black stallions. The beast let out a painful neigh in response before exploding into a redfish black bonfire that grasped a few other Bicorns.

Some enemy Jack o' Lanterns lob multiple fireballs with a swing of lanterns, Pixies shot out bolts of lightning from their fingers and a herd of Bicorn went into a stampede covered in harsh wind magic. All of them were aiming for OmniShoutmon, who smiled maliciously at the attack.

"I am an inferno born of passion, baby!! You can't extinguish my soul that easily!" The draconic being leapt off the ground, arms spread out whilst her golden body flew through the air almost if riding on an invisible current. Hokuto swept past the lightning in a barrel roll, weaved through the onslaught of fireballs before going into a condor dive whilst bearing her horns.

"Mach Rush IV!" She picked up more speed as OmniShoutmon went straight to the herd of Bicorn with the intent to run them down. Looks of shock crossed the horn horses as every single one quickly found themselves bouncing off of the dragonoid then crash disgracefully to pieces. What was worse were their green horns easily shattered then sent off into rapid fire sharpnel, whatever wind magic on them now struck down multiple allies.

The only three non-combatants watched the scene in utter shock. "Holy shit! Hok- I mean OmniShoutmon completely wrecked that stampede like it was nothing!" Ryuji remembered how much of a pain those specific Shadows were but to see them being wiped out so quickly was insane.

"I think it's because of that weird armor all over her body. Doesn't seem like any kind of material that can be found in the Real World or even the Metaverse." The not-cat has seen very peculiar things in the metaphysical plane before but he didn't think whatever material that armor was made from one of them.

"It's not just that. Before she changed, she said 'Let's do this, Shoutmon.' What if Hokuto-san wasn't saying her last name but someone else's?" Ann's words hit her two companions like a truck. Joker had also caught what the platinum blonde and things started to click in his mind.

The thought swirled in his mind whilst sliding under the large blade aimed for his head from the boss Archangel. She wasn't really alone when they had conversed earlier. Hokuto had someone or something alongside her, a Persona perhaps? Could it be…?

Joker glanced at the once human, his eyes widened in mild horror when he saw the Archangel spread out their wings. A warning signal for a powerful attack. "Look out OmniShoutmon!" The dragonoid immediately spotted the aforementioned threat and her response was surprising.

OmniShoutmon stood her ground, a burning yellow aura burst from the brilliant gold armor. "Hamaon!" The angelic shadow pointed his blade at OmniShoutmon, a large blast of bright light erupted the steel straight at her. It was at this point that the observers realized an important detail about the former human's armor.

There was a purpose to those two holes on the chest. "Flamethrower, yeaah!!" Fire burst forth from the chest holes alongside OmniShoutmon's war cry, large golden streams that clashed with the blast of light. Both attacks struggled to swallow the other, a battle of attrition in physical form. Letting out a loud roar, the fire from OmniShoutmon doubled in size as she put more power into the attack.

In seconds did the two blazing streams engulf the light in its entirety before swallowing up the Archangel and their allies in a massive bonfire. With the last bits of fire out of her chest, OmniShoutmon fell to her knee panting roughly.

"*pant* Damn did that asshole have some power. Using Flamethrower like that just takes the air out of your lungs. *whistles*" The dragonoid pants, her eyes now settled on the group of familiar faces. Ren had run up to the former human with Arsene offering his hand so the Persona could help her up.

OmniShoutmon took the assistance without hesitation, a smile on her beak like muzzle. "Thanks big guy. I have a feeling you aren't a Digimon, but I do know that I like those knife heels." The Curse Persona raised a non-existent eyebrow before letting out a hearty laugh.

Ren couldn't help shaking his head albeit agreeing with the statement. That definitely solidified this was indeed Hokuto among some other things. "As much I love to continue this chat, I believe it's best to move it to outside the confines of this castle." Arsene's suggestion didn't go unnoticed to everyone.

It made no sense to stay any further in their current state, plus there were a lot of questions that needed to be answered about their draconic ally rather than just their next possible move. Ren did know one thing, he had a feeling his life was about to get flipped over once more. For good or bad was up to debate.

And that's it. Felt Digimon would suit more into this considering DNA Digivolution, Biomerge and Spirit Evolution is a thing. Hokuto's last name isn't Shoutmon if you hadn't noticed. Last name is undecided at the moment. I did add some personal headcanons than just giving the Persona actual personalities. Persona is in personality after all.

Until next time folks!

[huffle-dork]

Curosity Killed the Cat (Part 7)

Desperation

Chapter 6: [x] Read from the beginning: [x]

———————————-

Henrik ushered Jackie into a private room and Jackie was quick to deposit his comatose brother on the bed. But, without wasting a beat he turns to Schneep and grabs his shoulders, his face displaying pure desperation.

“Hen- I need something to restrain him, now!”

Schneep shoved off his brother with a look, brushing off his coat. “Jackie what are you talking about? You must explain all these things before demanding things of me! What exactly is going on?”

“I promise I will explain,” Jackie pants, but he grabs his brother’s arm again with a tight grip, “But not until he’s restrained. I don’t know how long he’ll be out but he can’t get back out there until we figure this shit out. Just trust me!”

Henrik still looks skeptical and looks over to the knocked out magician, as if gauging how dangerous he really was. Jackie wanted to scream.

“Henrik!!”

The doctor covered his ears against Jackie’s shrill voice and finally threw up his hands. “Fine, fine!” He travelled up to Marvin’s bed and reached underneath, producing two lengths of straps. He wrapped the belts around Marvin’s middle and his legs before looking back to the hero and raising an eyebrow.

“Better?”

Jackie visibly slumped and nodded his head, finally allowing himself to flop into one of the nearby chairs and push his mask up on top of his head. “Y-Yes.. thank you doc.”

Dr. Schneep watched him deflate with a worried expression. Soon, he’s kneeling by Jackie’s side and rubbing his arm. “Jackie… what the hell happened?”

Jackie opens his mouth to start explaining when the door bursts open, revealing Chase rushing in. Jameson follows behind with a confused expression.

“What’s happening?! Is Marvin okay??” Chase asks with hysteria. “The news- there was all sort of shit on the news! Saying- there was a supervillain on the loose? Are you both alright??”

Jackie raised his hand to stop Chase’s rant, then throws a thumb in Marvin’s direction.

“...He’s the supervillain.”

The brothers’ eyes all widen in shock.

“What…?”

The red clad hero raises tired eyes and sighs, curling in on himself.

“...It was Marvin. He… I don’t know what happened. I should have told you all earlier… but I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt- that maybe this was just trauma from being kidnapped by Anti… but he kept getting… worse. He’s been holed up in his room- and using freaky purple magic. Chanting and reclusive and…”

The hero closed his eyes tight and shudders.

“One night… I saw… I saw him holding what looked like a Jack doll… and- he was saying… d-disturbing things. Talking about being… the one pulling the strings.”

Now it’s Schneep’s turn to shiver, his eyes showing fear at those words. He looks back to Marvin with a tight worried frown.

“What happened tonight?” Chase asks just barely above a whisper.

Jackie sighs heavily and holds his arms, as if it will protect him.

“He was… angry that I wanted to take a break from crime fighting. It’s been too much for me. But, he was insistent that we both needed to get back out there. He met me at work- and we had a huge argument. I… told him the truth. About how he’s scaring me- how I’m scared to get back out there so soon. How everything still hurt- and I was confused about how he was doing so well. He… was so determined though. Kept mentioning Anti.”

The superhero drew in on himself again, eyes starting to widen- like reliving the story could cause him to panic. The other boys looked at each other in concern- Jackie never shows fear like this… he’s the bravest one of the bunch.

“Marvin ran off- and a burglary happened downtown. When I got there… I ran into a panicking boy. He was so terrified and I thought it was because the robbers took him as a hostage to get away. But, he was scared of someone else.. someone in a cat mask.

Then… I found him in an alley- and...and-!”

He starts to hyperventilate and Chase comes over and holds his hand, kneeling down by him.

“Breathe Jackie… you’re not in danger right now.”

Jackie shuts his eyes and laughs breathily, eyeing the passed out body on the bed behind him.

“I’m...not so sure about that.”

He tries to breathe slower before starting up again.

“When I found him… he had… killed them… He killed the robbers!!” Jackie finds himself shouting. The others all gasp- well Chase and Schneep. Jamie… was sitting on the hospital bed next to Marvin and was strangely quiet. More so than usual. He seemed almost indifferent. Or, not present at all. But, he does flinch at Jackie’s shout.

“What do you mean… killed??” Schneep asked in a panicked voice.

“That...doesn’t sound like Marvin…” Chase whispers, holding a hand to his chest.

Jackie nods solemnly. “I know… I know- but… I know what I saw. The… the criminals… they were drained of all color… yet tinted dark purple. They had purple veins crawling up every inch of skin.. and their eyes were milky white. And… black smoke was coming out of their mouths… but they weren’t breathing.”

“How do you know that was Marvin though- maybe it was someone else and Marvin-!” Chase tries to interrupt but Jackie holds up a hand, looking haunted.

“I saw him do it…” Jackie whispers, shaking. “I saw him drain the life out of the last robber… then drop him to the ground like it was nothing…. it was him.”

There’s a heavy silence in the room. A pressure from the weight of what Marvin did.

Eventually, Chase tries to speak, voice choked and confused as he shakily lowers himself to the floor to sit. “I… don’t understand. Why… why would Marvin do this? He- He just got kidnapped! When… when did he change so suddenly…? Is it Anti?”

Jackie sighs, messing with his hair. He looks a mess still, after fighting Marvin. “That’s what we need to figure out…” He pushes his bangs back out of his face, looking at the ceiling. The poor hero seems so exhausted. He knits his eyebrows together as he tries to think. “He… started to seem strange… right before Jamie told me he was quitting hero work…”

“He what??” Schneep asks, eyes wide. Chase looks shocked as well. Jackie blinks in confusion.

“You didn’t know?”

“No…” Chase mumbles, “I haven’t seen you all since we got Marvin back. I heard you all were heading back to work and… that was it.”

Henrik nods, “And I, of course, am always very busy here…”

Jackie still looks unsettled and he looks back to look at the quiet ego, “J- why didn’t you tell them…?”

Jameson, however, isn’t looking at any of them. As if he hadn’t heard any of their conversation at all. He’s staring at the floor, at nothing.

There seems to be a purple tint in his eyes.

Jackie stiffens then lunges to grab Jamie’s arm. The teal haired ego jerks and looks at Jackie with wide eyes, trying to scramble away.

“Jackie, what are you doing??” Schneep stammers.

Jackie’s face darkens and the gentleman shivers, curling in on himself. “Marvin, did something to you, didn’t he?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Jameson signs shakily.

“You haven’t reacted at all to the news… aren’t you worried at all?” Jackie asks. Jameson looks away, dipping his head. His irises reflect purple again as he signs. “I… figured it was hero stuff. It’s not my business.”

“This is about Marvin, J! Not hero work!”

Jameson signs faster, a desperate look in his eyes. “I can’t be bothered with this- I can’t listen to hero work- I can’t-“

“And why can’t you?!” Jackie shouts, feeling anger burning in his stomach.

“... because I’m weak. I have no real power. I’m nothing.”

The room goes quiet at Jameson’s confession. Jackie can see it though- there’s a blankness in his expression, a reflection of purple light. He doesn’t really believe those things. He was made to believe it.

Jackie’s eyes flare with power as he grabs Jamie’s shoulder and turns him towards him. The gentleman hardly reacts now. Jackie fishes out his phone and flips the camera towards JJ and shoves it in his face.

“Bullshit- you don’t really think that J… Marvin made you believe that- look at your eyes.”

Jameson stares at the mobile device with a dull expression. But- slowly, the light comes back to his eyes and the purple flickers. His eyebrows raise and he shakes slightly. Unable to move his hands, one of his speech slides shakily appears by his face.

“What…? I… don’t understand-“ He grips at his head, wincing slightly. “My.. head hurts-“

Jackie sits down next to Jamie now, even as the other ego flinches and almost scoots away. But, now he hesitates, looking confused.

“J… when you last talked to Marvin.. what do you remember?” Jackie asks softly.

Jameson closes his eyes, trying to recall. Slowly, his hands start to work again so he can sign.

“He… found me with my hero’s uniform… he- helped me realize that.. heroing was too much for me.”

“He didn’t help you do shit!” Jackie snarls, slamming a fist on the bed. Everyone jumps.

“Jackie, dude- maybe you should calm-“ Chase warns.

“No!” Jackie shouts, going to grab Jameson by the shoulders. His expression is caught in between something desperate and scared.

“Jameson remember… remember how happy you were joining me- remember how confident you felt. You have a talent for something more than working at a clothing store- than just doing your puppet shows. You have a compassion for helping people- you wanted to help save the city like me and Marvin did… please- please tell me you remember that…”

Jameson looks confused, lost, terrified. “I… I-I…”

Chase suddenly scrambles to his feet, back knocking against their bed. “Uh- g-guys??”

Behind them- a purple light is filling Marvin’s now opening eyes. The pressure in the room turns suffocating as dangerous dark energy sparks and crackles from the trapped magician’s body. Jackie wastes no time- he grabs Chase, then grabs Schneep’s coat to throw him back before throwing his body over Jameson.

The room explodes with terrifying power.

As the dust clears, the thrown egos are covered in teal light- Jameson’s hand is thrust out and pulsing with power despite his scared expression. They are all surrounded by a shield, embossed with a pocket watch symbol on its surface.

And before them, broke out of his bonds, is Marvin.

He looks odd, and terrifying. Power has his hair and cape whipping around in an invisible wind. His eyes are empty sockets filled with pulsing violet energy. His skin.. it’s littered with purple glowing veins. Black and purple electricity sparks off him as he takes a step forward. His footsteps seem to char the tiles under him black.

“Where is he-“ Marvin starts to snarl, “Where’s Jack?” His eyes snap to the trembling doctor in the shield.

“M-Marvin… b-buddy…” Jackie tries to stammer. Marvin’s head snaps to the hero, and with a thrust of his arm, purple fire rockets towards the hero. It bursts through the shield like it was sugar glass and Jackie is thrown against the wall with terrifying force. He wheezes brokenly before crumbling to the ground in a heap.

“Don’t you dare speak to me, you traitor!!” Marvin growls dangerously.

Chase crawls to the hero’s side and cradles the passed out hero, tears lingering in his eyes. “J-Jackie!”

Marvin again looks towards Schneep, starting to walk towards him. The doctor scrambles back, heart threatening to beat out of his chest.

“I’m not a patient man, Henrik…” The walls of the room are being burned by the dark power whipping against them. “Where. Is. Jack?!” Marvin commands.

Schneep can hardly breathe. How is this his brother? “M-Marvin, please, l-let’s talk…? You do not need to-“

Marvin bursts more with chaotic magic as he bares his teeth ferally. He lifts up a purple coated hand and Henrik is lifted into the air, hands caught around his neck as he chokes. His legs flail wildly as he tries to get away. Marvin’s hand clenches and Schneep sobs, his throat closing up more.

“Why must I repeat myself? Tell me where Jack is Schneep- do not impede my plight for justice.”

Schneep’s face is now red, almost purple as tears run down his cheeks.

“I… d-do not… w-want you… to… h-hurt him-!” Schneep squeaks breathlessly.

Chase shakily gets to his feet, pulling out his green and orange gun and aiming. The bullets… he changes them to lethal ones with a flash of orange. His hands are shaking.

“Marv… l-let him go- you’re hurting him! Let him go, dude!!”

Marvin cocks his head towards Chase, and with another flick of his head, the gun goes flying out of Chase’s hands.

“You don’t scare me, Brody.” Marvin hums, turning back to Schneep. His magic flares stronger and Schneep gasps wetly. His eyes are now filling with the same purple light as Marvin’s. And he starts to scream bloody murder.

Marvin’s lips curl into a terrifying smile. He closes in on Schneep and brings the man close to his face with his magic. “If you won’t say Hen… then I’ll just take the information from your mind-!”

Schneep sobs and screams, his head flickering with images and words too fast for him to comprehend, like flipping through television channels. He can’t fight- He can’t do anything against the magician!

Jameson finally seems to wake up, watching Marvin’s deeds with new eyes. He furrows his brows, courage once lost to him now flooding back through his veins. He tries to think, then pulls out his pocket watch.

With a flash of teal eyes- the air in the room stills. Henrik freezes mid-scream, Chase mid-run. Yet… it doesn’t affect the corrupted magician. He looks confused then looks to Jameson with darkening eyes.

“Jameson Jackson…” He hisses. He lets go of Schneep, who still floats in his power outside the paused time bubble. He strides towards the gentleman, power flickering dangerously at his fingertips. “I thought I took care of you already…”

Jameson stands tall, his own magic flaring back.

“Marvin… you know this is wrong. I know you do. Please… remember yourself and come back to your family. Please, I’m begging you.”

Marvin’s expression seems unreadable but he does pause. His head tips to the side, his eyebrows slowly furrowing in thought. A blue light seems to flicker in his eyes- revealing his normal ones. But, it’s short lived.

“Your bravery is wasted, Jackson.” Marvin whispers, “You can’t stop me, none of you can. And I’m going to burn the glitch out of our useless creator and end our suffering once and for all.”

Jameson flashes out his magic, teal knives now posed around Marvin’s head. Jameson’s hand shakes.

“Marvin, my friend- brother, please! Don’t make me do this- I don’t want to hurt you!”

Marvin pauses then grins wolfishly. “I knew you didn’t have the guts. Just a useless, pathetic mute-!”

Jameson’s eyes flare in anger and with a pulse of teal, all his knives dive to strike Marvin. The bubble keeping time from moving bursts and Marvin goes flying into one of the wall, a knife driven into his shoulder and pinning him there.

Schneep wheezes as the magic breaks and he falls heavily to the floor. Chase blinks in confusion. ‘What the- what just happened?”

Jameson looks scared of what he just did. But, soon his resolve strengthens and he walks towards Marvin, readying more magic weapons to strike him.

“How powerless am I now, Marv?”

There’s silence from the bleeding magician. But then his shoulders shake and quiet giggles escape his lips. He grabs the magic knife and it cracks with purple veins before turning black and crumbling.

“Completely…” He laughs, flashing up normal eyes at Jamie but tinted that terrifying purple. “I got what I needed.”

With a snap, Marvin bursts into pure smoke and disappears.

Jameson’s magic bursts as his stomach drops and his blood runs cold. No- did he actually get Jack’s location from Schneep’s head after all? He quickly runs to wake all his brothers, helping them to their feet with urgency.

“Wake up- hurry! We’d must hurry!! Marvin is gonna try to kill Anti!”

[theyanderespecialist]

Maximilian's Obsession: Maximilian X Secretary Reader

[Hello My Sexy Readers, I am here with a new story and yes it is another Omnic base one, you all know I love the Robot Dick. XD I am pro Robot/Omnics rights :D Anyways please enjoy this!]

(Name's POV)

Today is my first day, I am working as a play boy bunny at the biggest Casino in the country. It is run by one of the most successful Omnics. My boyfriend said I would do great. He did not want me to work at such a shady place but he knew once I made my mind up to something I would not change it. So he told me to be safe, hugged me and I left for work uniform was there waiting for me. I was going to do my best to keep this job.

-Small Time Skip, Brought to you By: The Uniform showing off them titties!-

I made it in my uniform and head out worried the girl would pop out at any time. I worked hard and did a good job that is when I am approached by the waitress who hired me.

"(Name)." She says. "The Boss Regular waitress called in sick and he has an important meeting we need you to take over for it."

"A-Alright." I say and walk over to the private room where their was three gentleman com in. I got their drinks and took their orders. I was to be seen not heard. I stood and listen and what I heard shocked me they were talking about Talon.

I was not a fool I knew who Talon was, my father once was a commander of Overwatch. I work hard and fast and I swear the voice of the man in the bone mask sounded familiar in a strange way. That is when I saw him take off his mask it was Gabriel. I dropped the glass in shock.

"Your supposed to be dead!" I blurt out and they freeze... Shit.

They all looked at me for the first time. "What do you mean girl." Gabriel says.

"Gabriel Reyes former Commander of Black Watch, from the super Soldier program." I say knowing this is my own way to dig my way out. "You probably don't remember me... I am (Name) Morrison, Daughter to Jack Morrison."

He looked at me. "Kid what would your dad think of you if he saw you." He says and I blush.

"Sh-Shut up!" I say covering my chest. "I am a grown woman and not the one who works for Talon now. I rather sell my body than betray everything I stand for!"

"What do you want to do with her Reaper?" The man I now recolonize as Akande say I did not know why I did not notice.

"I would say just kill her get rid of loose ends, but the kid is my Goddaughter, I would not feel right." Gabriel says. "Besides she is Max employee. What do you think Max?"

I looked over at the Omnic who has been staring at me for a while now. I do not know why but suddenly I feel so freaking naked. I shift uncomfortably.

(Maximilian's POV)

I had notice her since I walked into the room. She is so stunning and perfect and stunning I never seen someone as beautiful as her. I felt my circuits go crazy when I saw her and I was ready to kill Gabriel when he said we should kill her.

"She will work here as my private waitress and secretary." I say. "You will have firm rules to miss Morrison."

She nodded. "Yes sir."

"Please Call Me Max." I say and she nods.

"Max."

Yes I like the way she says my name, in this moment I knew she is mine and mine alone and I will not loose her I will be damned if I do. She belong to me and only me.

[I wanted to add a twist and with Reader as the daughter of Jack it will add to a big conflict later one I hope you all enjoyed and stay sexy!]

[thebryanandsilvergarbage]

19th Annual Bryan Awards - The Technical Categories

Winners will be announced on the Weekend of September 13-15.  Nominations were announced on July 18, 2019.

Picture Editing:

(Comedy) Barry (HBO) The Big Bang Theory (CBS) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime) Mom (CBS)

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix) Will & Grace (NBC) (Drama) Better Call Saul (AMC) Game of Thrones (HBO) The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) House of Cards (Netflix) Ozark (Netflix) This Is Us (NBC) (Daytime) The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS) Days of Our Lives (NBC) General Hospital (ABC) The Young and the Restless (CBS) (Reality) The Amazing Race (CBS) Intervention (A&E) Naked and Afraid (Discovery) Project Runway (Lifetime) RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) Survivor (CBS) (Limited Series/Movie/Special) Chernobyl (HBO) Escape from Dannemora (Showtime) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce (Netflix) Sharp Objects (HBO) When They See Us (Netflix) Cinematography (Series) Better Call Saul (AMC) Game of Thrones (HBO) The Good Fight (CBS All-Access) Succession (HBO) This Is Us (NBC) The Walking Dead (AMC) (Limited Series/Movie/Special) Black Mirror - Bandersnatch (Netflix) Chernobyl (HBO) Deadwood the Movie (HBO) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) Homecoming: A Film By Beyonce (Netflix) A Very English Scandal (Amazon Prime)

 Technical Direction: (Daytime/Live/Variety) The 61st Annual Grammy Awards (CBS) Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons (ABC) The Oscars (ABC) Rent Live (Fox) The 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (HBO) Saturday Night Live (NBC) The Young and the Restless (CBS) Art Direction/Production Design (Comedy) At Home With Amy Sedaris (Tru TV) The Big Bang Theory (CBS) Black Monday (Showtime)

Drunk History (Comedy Central) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime) Saturday Night Live (NBC) (Drama) Game of Thrones (HBO) Gentleman Jack (HBO) The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) Outlander (Starz) Succession (HBO) This Is Us (NBC) (Daytime/Live Program) The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS) Days of Our Lives (NBC) General Hospital (ABC) Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons (ABC) The Oscars (ABC) Rent Live (Fox) The Young and the Restless (CBS) (Limited Series/Movie/Special) Chernobyl (HBO) Deadwood the Movie (HBO) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) Maniac (Netflix) My Dinner with Herve (HBO) A Very English Scandal (Amazon Prime) Hair and Makeup: (Daytime/Live/Variety) Days of Our Lives (NBC) Drunk History (Comedy Central) Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons (ABC) Saturday Night Live (NBC) Tracey Ullman’s Show (HBO) The Young and the Restless (CBS) (Comedy/Drama Series) Fear the Walking Dead (AMC) Game of Thrones (HBO) GLOW (Netflix) The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) Pose (F/X) The Walking Dead (AMC) (Limited Series/Movie) The Act (Hulu) Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (Netflix) Deadwood the Movie (HBO) Escape from Dannemora (Showtime) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) My Dinner with Herve (HBO)

 Costumes: (Daytime/Variety/Live) The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS) Days of Our Lives (NBC) Drunk History (Comedy Central) General Hospital (ABC) Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons (ABC) Saturday Night Live (NBC) The Young and the Restless (CBS) (Comedy/Drama Series) Game of Thrones (HBO) GLOW (Netflix) The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) Outlander (Starz) Pose (F/X) This Is Us (NBC) (Limited Series/Movie) Catch-22 (Hulu) Deadwood the Movie (HBO) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) Maniac (Netflix) My Dinner with Herve (HBO) When They See Us (Netflix) Sound Mixing (Comedy) Barry (HBO) The Kominsky Method (Netflix) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime) Modern Family (ABC) Saturday Night Live (NBC) Veep (HBO) (Drama) American Horror Story: Apocalypse (F/X) Better Call Saul (AMC) Game of Thrones (HBO) Pose (F/X) Succession (HBO) This Is Us (NBC) (Daytime) The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS) Days of Our Lives (NBC) General Hospital (ABC) The Young and the Restless (CBS) (Reality) The Amazing Race (CBS) American Idol (ABC) The Masked Singer (Fox) RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) Survivor (CBS) The Voice (NBC) (Limited Series/Movie/Special) Black Mirror - Bandersnatch (Netflix) Chernobyl (HBO) Deadwood the Movie (HBO) Escape from Dannemora (Showtime) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce (Netflix) Sound Editing (Primetime Series) American Horror Story: Apocalypse (F/X) Better Call Saul (AMC) Game of Thrones (HBO) Outlander (Starz) Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All-Access) The Walking Dead (AMC) (Daytime) The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS) Days of Our Lives (NBC) General Hospital (ABC) The Young and the Restless (CBS) (Limited Series/Movie/Special) Chernobyl (HBO) Deadwood the Movie (HBO) Escape from Dannemora (Showtime) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) I Am The Night (TNT) When They See Us (Netflix) (Reality) The Amazing Race (CBS) Intervention (A&E) Naked and Afraid (Discovery) Survivor (CBS) Top Chef (Food Network) The Voice (NBC) Music Achievement: (Daytime) Carmen Sandiego (Netflix) Days of Our Lives (NBC) General Hospital (ABC) The Young and the Restless (CBS) (Primetime) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW) Game of Thrones (HBO) I Am the Night (TNT) Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Netflix) Succession (HBO) A Very English Scandal (Amazon Prime) Yellowstone (Paramount Network) Main Title Design: The Cool Kids (Fox) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) Gentleman Jack (HBO) Pose (F/X) Whiskey Cavalier (ABC) Casting Director: (Comedy) Barry (HBO) GLOW (Netflix) Kidding (Showtime) The Kominsky Method (Netflix) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime) Veep (HBO) (Drama) American Horror Story: Apocalypse (F/X) Game of Thrones (HBO) Homecoming (Amazon) Pose (F/X) Succession (HBO) This Is Us (NBC) (Daytime) The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS) Days of Our Lives (NBC) General Hospital (ABC) The Young and the Restless (CBS) (Reality) The Amazing Race (CBS) The Bachelor (ABC) Project Runway (Lifetime) RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) Survivor (CBS) The Voice (NBC) (Limited Series/Movie/Special) Catch-22 (Hulu) Chernobyl (HBO) Escape from Dannemora (Showtime) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons (ABC) When They See Us (Netflix) Screen Couple/Duo: (Comedy) Johnny Galecki & Jim Parsons/Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory, CBS) Anthony Anderson & Tracee Ellis Ross (black-ish, ABC) Ilana Glazer & Abbi Jacobson (Broad City, Comedy Central) Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin (Grace and Frankie, Netflix) Julie Bowen & Ty Burrell (Modern Family, ABC) Allison Janney & Anna Faris (Mom, CBS) (Drama) Kit Harington & Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones, HBO) Lena Headey & Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones, HBO) Caitriona Balfe & Sam Heughan (Outlander, Starz) Sterling K. Brown & Susan Kelechi Watson (This Is Us, NBC) Milo Ventimiglia & Michael Angarano (This Is Us, NBC) Lauren Cohan & Scott Foley (Whiskey Cavalier, ABC) (Daytime) Scott Clifton and either Jacqueline McInnes-Wood or Annika Noelle (The Bold and the Beautiful, CBS) Gayle King, Norah O’Donnell, & John Dickerson (CBS This Morning, CBS) Chandler Massey & Freddie Smith (Days of Our Lives, NBC) Marci Miller/Kate Mansi and either Tyler Christopher or Billy Flynn (Days of Our Lives, NBC) Jon Lindstrom and either Maura West, Genie Francis, or himself (General Hospital, ABC) Hoda Kotb and either Savannah Guthrie or Kathie Lee Gifford (Today, NBC) (Limited Series/Movie) Joey King and Patricia Arquette (The Act, Hulu) Patricia Arquette and either Benicio Del Toro or Paul Dano (Escape from Dannemora, Showtime) Michelle Williams & Sam Rockwell (Fosse/Verdon, F/X) Emma Stone & Jonah Hill (Maniac, Netflix) Jamie Dornan & Peter Dinklage (My Dinner With Herve, HBO) Hugh Grant & Ben Whishaw (A Very English Scandal, Amazon Prime)

 Choreography: Dancing With the Stars (ABC) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) Rent Live (Fox) So You Think You Can Dance (Fox) Visual Effects: American Horror Story: Apocalypse (F/X) Game of Thrones (HBO) Marvel’s Luke Cage (Netflix) Marvel’s The Punisher (Netflix) Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All-Access) The Walking Dead (AMC) Stunt Coordination: Game of Thrones (HBO) GLOW (HBO) Marvel’s Daredevil (Netflix) Marvel’s Luke Cage (Netflix) Marvel’s The Punisher (Netflix) Marvel’s Runaways (Netflix) Reality Show Judges: America’s Got Talent (NBC) American Idol (ABC) Dancing With The Stars (ABC) The Masked Singer (Fox) The Voice (NBC) The World’s Best (CBS) Most Missed Series: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN; 2013-2018) The Big Bang Theory (CBS; 2007-2019) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW; 2015-2019) Game of Thrones (HBO; 2011-2019) House of Cards (Netflix; 2013-2018) Veep (HBO; 2012-2019)

[a-heist-of-words]

Secret Septic!

So, yes, I am your Secret Septic. I'm also not an artist, so the sending you your present via DM wasn't going to happen. Have a short fic about the Egos instead! Happy New Year!

Marvin’s room was dark. Curtains shut, lights off, only a few candles on his desk gave any illumination. They barely reflected off the spines of his spell tomes or various pieces of equipment, but he didn’t need them for that.

Currently his hands were steepled over a map of a city, elbows resting on the table and head ducked down to look below his hands. From his fingers a pale pink crystal hung from a leather cord, swinging lazily. The crystal itself was long and thin, tapering into a sharp point.

It had taken him months to get to this moment, to have it narrowed down to a single city. He was so close to finding Schneep he almost couldn’t stand it.

That kind of thinking wouldn’t help him find the good doctor.

He took long deep breaths, ignoring how the candles flickered and cast shadows on his deep blue walls. His eyes zeroed in on the crystal, which was still spinning lazily, and he held Schneep’s face as best as he could in his head. Marvin hadn’t seen him in nearly nine months, but it wasn’t hard.

It shouldn’t be, the doctor’s face was similar enough to his own and his brothers, but there was this sharp professionalism to him that everyone else lacked. Everything about Schneep was crisp and neat and so done with everyone’s bullshit.

His eyes flicked to the picture on his desk, for when he felt sentimental or needed to remind himself. A group photo with them all, Schneep looking irritably amused (if that was possible) as Jackie and Chase pulled stupid faces, Jack was laughing his ass off and Marvin had given them all finger bunny ears.

Marvin felt a twinge of unease at Jack’s face, before focusing on Schneep’s and going back to the crystal. Jack was a problem to be solved after they got Schneep back.

Mental image crystal clear, the magician stared at the crystal as it continued to move, swinging back and forth.

Time blurred and extended into nothing as the crystal continued to swing. Back and forth, back and forth. Almost hypnotic.

The swinging slowly transitioned to circling. Large circles, covering the entire city, but slowly, agonisingly, getting smaller.

There was no clock on Marvin’s room, but hours must have passed by the time the circles were so small it had almost pinpointed an exact location.

Marvin’s breathe caught in his throat in anticipation. Almost there, almost there...

The crystal stopped moving, pointing to a point at the back of the map, to the north and on the outskirts of the city. Marvin gingerly stood up, not daring to move a single muscle in his hands. He read the address, then carefully he put his weight on one foot and lifted his other leg up, his socked toe pushing record on a nearby tape recorder. He read the address out loud to make sure he got it before stopping the tape recorder and finally relaxing.

He leaned back in his chair, cord still tangled around the fingers of one hand. An address, he had an address. Schneep was almost home free.

Almost.

Marvin breathed out hard through his nose and stood up in a fluid motion, pushing his chair away from the desk. His mask and cloak were already on so he pulled open the door and looked outside, blinking rapidly in the sudden bright light.

The hallway in front of him was lined with three doors, mirroring the three doors on his side of the hallway. Two of those rooms were currently empty and that fact now gnawed at Marvin like a wild animal.

Without waiting for his eyes to adjust properly he left his room and jogged downstairs, popping his head around the door of the living area. Chase was playing video games, sat on the floor while JJ read in his recliner, feet propped up on a foot stool and toes occasionally wiggling within his socks.

Sadly, neither of them was who he was looking for.

“Have either or you seen Jackie?” he asked.

“Nope,” Chase didn’t look away from the screen, his fingers a blur of button mashes as he reached a difficult section. JJ looked up from his book, and seeing that Chase wasn’t going to elaborate, put his book down and began to sign.

“Jackie went out on patrol about an hour ago. May I ask what you need him for?”

Marvin gritted his teeth, Jackie was the best person for a rescue mission, but this couldn’t wait!

“Wanted his opinion on something. I’ll ask him when he gets back.”

JJ furrowed his brow and scrunched up his moustache. “Are you sure? You seem aggravated my friend.”

“A little annoyed,” Marvin allowed. “Probably just need caffeine. Thanks JJ,” he left the room before he saw JJ’s reply, rushing back up the stairs.

No Jackieboyman. Not great, but Marvin was powerful, he could handle this. He just, couldn’t sit on this information. He knew where Schneep was! Finally! After months and months of nothing he knew where Henrik von Schneeplestien was, and he was not going to wait!

He flicked on the light properly in the room, revealing the organised chaos of his spell casting equipment. Paper runes, chalk, lumps of wood and their carving knives, and piles upon piles of books.

In a whirlwind of movement, cape billowing, but miraculously not knocking anything over, Marvin got his equipment ready. His wand, stereotypically black with white tips, was tucked into his belt within easy reach. A bag of rune stones was tucked into a pocket in his cloak, since magicians had to have a lot of pockets. In another pocket in his cloak went some defensive charms; shields, smoke bombs that sort of thing, for a quick escape. Finally he collected damn near every protective talisman he had, and there were a lot. He’d made a habit of carving new ones whenever he hit a dead end.

Some of them he hung around his neck, there was one in every pocket he had and make extra sure he found some ink and began to daub markings on his arms and under his mask.

This was Anti he was dealing with, you couldn’t be too careful.

Each marking glowed green and went dark when it was done, as they were all separate charms. He could make a big, complicated charm that would take hours to break, but trying to get through a hundred simpler ones would probably take longer. He hoped.

Adjusting his jumper he finally paused, and took a deep breath. This was it. He played the tape again to make sure he had the address right, adjusted his mask and sleeves to make sure the marks were suitably covered, and went downstairs.

He paused outside the living room, where the sound of Chase’s video game was blaring, was he playing Spyro again? Marvin cast that question from his mind and focused on a better one. Should he tell Chase and JJ what he was doing?

...No. No he shouldn’t. They would only worry, and get their hopes up. And JJ, JJ had never met Schneep, the man wouldn’t know what to expect. No, best they didn’t know.

He leaned his head around again, getting JJ’s attention.

“I’m heading out,” he informed, and JJ raised his eyebrows. “If Jackie comes back, tell him to look in my room.”

“Whatever for?” JJ asked.

“The thing I wanted his opinion on.”

“And, that is?”

“He’ll know when he sees it,” Marvin assured. “I’ll see you later!”

Once again, he left too quickly for JJ to respond. The gentleman actually got up and made to follow him, but Marvin had already left the house, slamming the front door behind him.

He held the address in his mind before thrusting his hand out in front of him and making a motion like turning a door handle. There was a click only he heard and a rush of warmth only he felt, and he pulled open the door into space and stepped through.

There was a few seconds where he felt weightless, like if he failed to concentrate he would float off into space, never to return. He kept the address clear in his mind, ignoring the whispers to let go, to leave.

Schneep needs me.

Another door opened, and Marvin stepped through.

  It was dark on the other side, late evening perhaps. Marvin stepped out into a street lit by the sunset and turned to face the lair of the beast.

A house.

That was it. A house, two stories, a garage, driveway and well tended to garden.

Marvin did a double take and doubted whether he’d remembered correctly. Or, maybe there was an issue with the divination; that discipline tended to fail if you weren’t completely focused.

Frowning and irritated about his wasted preparation Marvin placed his hand on the gate. Then snatched it back as if he had been burned.

That buzzing under his fingers, either a colony of bees lived in the wooden gate, or that was the buzz of static.

A second try to touch the gate gave him a static shock. Which shouldn’t have been possible on a wooden gate.

This was the right place, but when Marvin looked up at the building, he still felt a disconnect. This was not what he had been expecting. A decrepit house perhaps, abandoned warehouse, heck, even the added cruelty of an abandoned hospital or surgery was what Marvin was expecting. A normal house? That was, actually unnerving in its normality.

Wincing at the uncomfortable buzz under his fingers, Marvin pushed open the gate. Nothing happened.

Cautiously he stepped through and closed the gate behind him with a soft clunk. He padded up the path with the grace of a cat until he was at the front door. It was painted black, and Marvin tried to take a cursory look through the peep hole. Seeing nothing but darkness he crouched down and poked at the letter box. It didn’t move, so Marvin stood up, reflexively straightened his jumper, and gave the door a gentle push.

It opened without a sound, revealing solid darkness behind.

A voice in the back of Marvin’s head told to wait for Jackie. For any kind of backup. It was ignored, and Marvin pulled out his wand, holding it aloft as he stepped inside.

The door slammed shut behind him of its own accord and he could feel reality shift around him. The darkness flickered and split into lines of red blue and green, revealing a long hallway that would never have fit in the house.

There was a light burning sensation on his arm and Marvin gasped lightly, rolling up his sleeve to take a look. The ink on his left forearm was pulsing green and disintegrating.

Marvin shoved the sleeve back down and started to walk. The hallway was lined with doors, and when he came to first one he shoved it open.

Inside was a kitchen scene of people he didn’t recognise. A woman with dark hair pulled back into a bun, an equally dark haired child with Schneep’s piercing blue eyes, and a tall red haired man.

Curiosity getting the better of him, Marvin stepped inside the room.

The people didn’t move, eyes glassy and faces frozen in smiles. Marvin stepped in front of the man and his hand in front of his face. No reaction.

“What the hell?” he muttered, before shaking his head and leaving, going on to the next room.

This was a hospital scene, nurses and a doctor operating in fact. Marvin entered this one as well, but got the shock of his life when he saw who the frozen doctor was.

“Schneep!” he cried, leaning his head in front of the German’s, the doctor’s arms over the operating table and preventing Marvin from standing in front of him. “Schneep! It’s me!”

Schneep didn’t respond, still eyes fixed on the person on the table.

“C’mon!” Marvin tried shaking his shoulders, but Schneep barely moved. With a huff Marvin observed the rest of the scene. The nurses looked panicked, and the EKG was spiking badly. No one’s pulse was supposed to be that fast.

Realisation began to dawn on Marvin. This wasn’t the real Schneep, this was, a memory, a vision of sorts. Of one of the times where Schneep had failed to save someone. And the last one? His ex wife perhaps?

The things that would torture Schneep the most, which meant he had to be here!

The magician speed walked out of the room, wincing at the light burning moved to another of his protection marks. Pushing it to the back of his mind he power walked down the hall, pushing open doors to glance in them before moving on.

Now that he knew what they were he didn’t want to look too closely. If these were to specifically torture Schneep, then there was a severe personal element to them, which he didn’t feel comfortable looking into.

He only paused at the door where the interior was a replica of their kitchen.

He swallowed hard when he saw that it was a frozen happy scene of him, JJ, Chase and Jackie. All getting along fine without Schneep. Or at least, that’s what Schneep would probably think. Heck he didn’t know about JJ, he must have thought he’d been replaced!

Steeling himself, Marvin moved on.

The markings on his skin had disappeared and he could feel light heat from his pockets as his physical talismans began to crumble away. He still had time, but he didn’t want to think about what would happen if he ran out. However, he had reached the end of the hallway.

This had to be it. It was the only door that didn’t look like a normal door. It was metal, with a slit in the top for looking through.

Marvin quickly looked around him before looking through the slit in the door. He couldn’t see much; he seemed to be blocking out most of the light. As he looked he saw movement, what looked like a head looking up wearily before dropping down again.

Swallowing hard Marvin stepped back a little. Just in case he grabbed the handle and tried to open it, but as he expected, it was locked.

Taking another step back he pointed his wand at the lock and muttered the spell under his breath, wand tip moving back to move the latch back into the door. There was a soft click and Marvin rushed forward to open the door.

Schneep flinched as the door was flung open, and made an achingly pathetic attempt to crawl away in the cupboard sized room. He wasn’t restrained in anyway, but he looked so skinny and weak that it seemed like it would be pointless.

His clothes were ragged and torn, with his once white doctor’s coat grey and stained brown in places. His wrists were thin and bony, and his face, his face looked like a damn skull wearing cracked glasses.

“Schneep?” Marvin asked quietly, trying to keep his impatience at bay. “Schneep? It’s me.”

Schneep whimpered and put his hands over his ears, muttering in German.

“Du bist nicht echt,” he murmured, voice rough and husky. “Du bist nicht echt.”

“Scheep? C’mon, we have to go!”

“Nein, nein! Du bist nicht echt!”

“I have no idea what you’re saying man,” Marvin took a step forward, one hand holding the door open, and Schneep pressed himself against the wall, hands in front to ward off an attack.

“Es tut mir Leid, es tut mir Leid! Bitte!” he screamed, and Marvin had had enough.

“Schneep, Henrik! It’s me!”

The doctor looked at him and Marvin’s heart nearly broke. His eyes, behind his cracked lenses, his eyes looked broken, like shattered glass.

Getting an idea, Marvin grabbed a few of the charms from around his neck, which thankfully hadn’t started eroding yet, and pulled them off over his head.

“Hold still,” he told Schneep, who fearfully obeyed. The magician lowered them over Schneep’s head and let the wooden charms thud onto the doctor’s chest.

Schneep’s breathing instantly wasn’t so harsh, and he looked up at Marvin, then around him, seemingly surprised about where he was.

“...Marvin?”

“Yeah,” the magician smiled, relived that had worked. “I’m here man.”

Scheep stood up properly, wincing as he put weight on his left leg. “You’re real?”

“Pretty sure I am.”

Schneep cautiously shuffled over, and poked Marvin in the shoulder. He relaxed when he realised Marvin was solid.

“Mien Gott,” he breathed. “Oh mien Gott Marvin...”

“I know, I know,” Marvin wasn’t really sure how to deal with the fact Schneep looked like he was about to cry. “Let’s get out of here, okay?”

Schneep’s already pale face somehow got paler, but he nodded. “Okay, okay mein freund.”

He seemed to have trouble walking on his left leg, so Marvin draped Schneep’s arm over his shoulder, trying not to wince at how skinny his arm felt. He could feel the German’s bones.

They began to make their slow trek up the RBG corridor, Schneep pressing himself closer to Marvin at every door they passed. Schneep’s injured leg made it take three times as long, and the charms were still eroding.

Marvin had to replace Schneep’s halfway down, getting rid of all of the charms around his neck. He could still feel the charms in his pockets, over half of them were gone now.

“We need to go faster,” he muttered, looking around. So far no sign of Anti, and it didn’t seem like him. For all he knew, the glitch could be watching them, giggling to himself before yanking escape from them at the last second.

That really wasn’t helpful thinking.

“I know Marvin, I know, I’m sorry,” Schneep was oblivious to Marvin’s thoughts and tried to move faster, but only tired himself out.

“Nevermind,” Marvin quickly rectified, “I’ll be slower carrying you, I’m no Jackie.”

“There is not much to me now,” Schneep chuckled weakly, and Marvin felt some relief that he could tell a joke in this condition.

“True, but let’s not find out my physical strength now,” was it Marvin’s imagination, or was static creeping in on the red blue and green colouring?

Schneep didn’t seem to notice so Marvin kept walking. The door was getting closer.

“Is it true?” Schneep asked quietly, clearly not sure if he wanted Marvin to hear. Sadly, other than the sounds of their shoes and breathing, the hallway was dead silent.

“Is what true?” Marvin sighed, not too fond of the vague question.

“Have you replaced me?”

“What? No!” Marvin shook his head. “Of course not! JJ just kinda showed up, like we all did. You’ll like him, I promise.”

Schneep didn’t respond to that, and Marvin let it drop.

They continued to walk, and Marvin tried to ignore the buzzing of static on the edge of hearing. He still hand charms, he could make it. It would be tight, he would make it.

Mores charms eroded burned on their slow trek. Almost there, almost there.

Almost within touching distance of the door Marvin glanced at Schneep. He had one whole charm left. Meanwhile, Marvin could feel his last one crumbling. Turns out, he wasn’t going to make it.

He had to get Schneep out. That was the whole point. Jackie should be back by now, he’d know where to look.

“Hey, Schneep, reckon you can walk on your own for a bit?” he asked, smiling sheepishly. “My shoulders ache.”

Schneep slid his arm off Marvin’s shoulders wordlessly and hobbled towards the door, both of them were in reaching distance. Static buzzed and flared in between the red blue and green, and Marvin was certain he could hear high pitched giggling, but he kept his eyes on Schneep.

“Sorry about this,” Marvin said, and before Schneep could respond, Marvin shoved him hard, making the door fling open and Schneep flew through it, his mouth open in shock.

“Marvin!” he started to yell, a flash of red appearing behind him. Marvin’s last charm disappeared, the door slammed shut, and reality warped into a spaceless mess, static shrieking and colours blinding.

“MARVIN!”

[burntotears]

Title: Meet Cute W/C: 1987 Summary: Ryan had always been looking for his place with a good crew and he knew how to take advantage of a situation. A/N: When criminal!husbands first meet, it isn’t mutual attraction. AO3 Link or read under the cut

Ryan’s first run-in with the Fake AH Crew went almost nothing like he’d expected it to. He’d been profiling them for a while, intrigued by the way they handled their business - notorious throughout Los Santos but still five ghosts with no names. They had resources and contacts that Ryan could sorely use and while being a lone wolf had some advantages, the luxury of someone watching your back was an undervalued commodity in this business.

So imagine his surprise when the infamous five men flagrantly blew into the bank (a bit over the top if Ryan was the judge), waving guns around while announcing they were there to rob the place. The bank that Ryan was currently standing in, a backpack full of money he’d just cleared from that very safe.

He gripped the straps tightly as he dropped to the floor with the other patrons. He tugged his cap a bit lower over his eyes and watched as the men scattered to different areas of the bank, every person performing his own job with efficiency. He needed a chance to cut and run. When they found out that the money was gone, he didn’t want to be there to catch the blow-back. He valued his life more than he admired these men.

Sneaking out of the side door was his best bet, but the man clad in a brown leather jacket and fitted jeans was casing the lobby with well-trained eyes behind a dark grey wolf mask. This wasn’t going to be easy, but even as the fear coursed through him, the excitement pumped through his veins alongside it. Ryan lived for challenges like these.

He made his movements slow, making sure to keep himself as inconspicuous as possible while he inched closer to the exit. His moment came when men started to shout from the back rooms - no doubt they had found the money missing. The wolf was temporarily distracted which allowed Ryan to fully slip from view and into the dark alley. He was pleasantly surprised when he felt a gun press into his back just as he was rounding the corner to the backside of the bank. At least they lived up to their names.

“Get against the wall,” the voice commanded and he did as he was told. The man ripped the backpack from his shoulder and yanked the zipper open, a low whistle escaping his mouth. “Well, well… seems someone already did our job for us.”

Ryan heard the quiet crackle of a comm in the other man’s ear, but he still couldn’t see who had caught him. The curiosity was killing him, but it seeped out quickly with his consciousness when he was hit over the head with something. The last thing he heard was the man saying, “got a problem” before he blacked out completely.

“You actually think we should just let him go?” an incredulous voice admonished, ripping Ryan out of the cold dark and back into reality. His hands were bound behind him, unsurprisingly, and the room was too bright for his eyes to focus immediately.

“I didn’t say that,” a woman’s voice responded. “I said we have no reason to kill him just because he outsmarted us.”

“Outsmarted is a bit much. Luck and convenience seem more appropriate here.”

Someone laughed derisively. “There’s no fucking way he managed that by being in the right place at the right time.”

When his eyes finally adjusted to the light, Ryan saw the five men standing around a table where his backpack sat like a trophy. He was bound to a chair at the head of the table like some fucked up guest of honor.

“Morning, sunshine,” a shorter man clad in gaudy purple and orange said, tapping Ryan on the shoulder with a baseball bat. “We were just talking about you.”

“I’m flattered,” Ryan replied, finding his voice was hoarse from disuse. “I certainly hope my good looks were the focal point of the conversation.”

“I don’t like this fuckwad.” Ryan’s eyes swiveled to meet a set of light brown eyes that frowned at him from behind a wolf mask. A pile of brown curls poked out atop the mask and he had the stupidly dopey thought of how he liked curly hair. He was probably drugged.

“You don’t like anybody, boi,” a man with a British accent responded, surprising Ryan. He was learning more about these men in five minutes than he had in the two years he’d followed their crew.

There was no way they were going to let him live.

“I can understand your current antipathy. After all, I did manage to pull off your heist single-handed and in mere moments before you. That would make anyone a bit irritable.” His self preservation had not kicked in yet, it seemed.

The wolf mask mimed slapping him on the head, his eyes betraying a fiery fury that Ryan had only ever seen staring back at him in a mirror.

“Chill, Mogar. He’s cocky, sure, but he’s also right. We shouldn’t have been outplayed by one dude with the fashion sense of a middle-aged dad in the suburbs.”

Ryan frowned. “There’s really no reason to make such low blows, even in a situation such as this. I’ll have you know that when I’m not undercover as a normal civilian bank-robber, I am actually a nefariously well-known criminal in Los Santos.”

A few of them started to laugh. He shouldn’t have been too surprised at that reaction. He probably seemed terribly non-threatening in his faded jeans and t-shirt, baseball cap, and long blond hair pulled back into a quintessential I.T. ponytail.

“What? You don’t believe me?” he looked at each masked man in turn. If he told them the truth, they might just kill him. If he didn’t, they might just kill him. His options weren’t looking stellar at the moment. He bulked up his shoulders and summoned all the confidence he could muster. “Ok, here’s what is going to happen. I will tell you who I am, you’ll be considerably impressed, then you’ll invite me to join your crew. Call it a trial run? If I don’t prove to be useful then you can kill me and you won’t have to worry about me ever again. What do you think?”

“Is this tosser serious?” the Brit laughed, though he was only one of two who did. He looked around in surprise. “Uh… you’re not considering this, are you?”

The female shrugged. “I am. He outplayed us. I want to know how.”

The man in formal attire spoke up. “How about you tell us who you are first and then we’ll consider whether you get to live or not.”

Ryan shrugged. “I feel like my chances aren’t great in any scenario here, so it’s best to play to my strengths. I’m Vagabond.”

There was a wolf whistle, a laugh, and a cough of surprise. “Bullshit!” the shortest man blurted out, shaking his head. “He’s fucking full of it!”

The man in the wolf mask was stock still and serious as he continued to stare Ryan down. “He’s telling the truth. It isn’t like lying would keep him alive longer.” He was no fool, Ryan would give him that.

“Okay, and what do you gain by joining us?” the formal man asked.

“Resources, power, connections, reliability, a name for myself. The list is fairly extensive.”

“You’ve already made a name for yourself as being fucking insane. How will that benefit us?” the woman asked.

“How will it not? I’m known as being insane because I will do anything to get the job done. I’ve risked my own life for it. How is that not an asset?”

The wolf mask looked personally offended by the statement, but Ryan wasn’t certain why. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut over by the suited gentleman. “Okay, Vagabond, we’re going to convene to another room to discuss this. You sit tight.”

Ryan snorted in contempt. “I won’t go anywhere.”

He sat there in that chair for at least thirty minutes before they returned. When they entered the room again, they were maskless. Ryan stood up immediately, his bindings falling to the floor uselessly and the blond with the British accent threw his hands into the air. “You’re having a laugh!”

The woman laughed in earnest, though, and extended her hand to him. “I’m Jack. You could call me the babysitter around here.”

“Nice to meet you, Jack. I’m Ryan.” He took her hand in a firm shake with no surprise when she gripped his hand firmly.

A man with a mean looking mustache approached him next. “Geoff. I tell everyone what to do.”

Next was the short man in the appalling assortment of orange and purple. “Jeremy. It’s cool to meet you, Vagabond. I’m just muscle really.”

Ryan nodded and turned his attention to the Brit. “How did you even?” he asked, still looking at the bindings on the floor. “I’m Gav. I make everyone else look good.”

“Right.” The only person who hadn’t stepped up to greet him was the brunette with the wild curls. He was perched against the wall with his arms crossed, staring Ryan down petulantly. The fullness of his face contradicted the fire that lived in his eyes.

“This prat is Michael, my boi. He’s a bit grumpy.”

“Shut it, Gavin,” Michael responded, though his eyes were still trained on Ryan.

“Alright then,” Geoff clapped his hands and leaned on the table. “Now that the introductions are out of the way, we want to know how you pulled off that money grab.”

Ryan didn’t make it two steps from the high rise apartment complex before he was being shoved up against the concrete wall by a forceful arm. He lifted his hands up in surrender, looking at Michael in earnest. Whatever problem Michael had with him was apparently private and he was interested to hear about it.

“Look, Haywood. Just because you’ve got the rest of them eating out of the palm of your hand doesn’t mean that I’m fooled.” The fire behind Michael’s gaze had returned and Ryan found he was unable to tear his eyes away from it. This man was untethered in a way that sent heat broiling inside Ryan’s chest. He wanted to know more.

“And what about me is it that you think you know better?” Ryan replied steady, though he might have betrayed his curiosity.

Michael eyed him with suspicion, but continued. “You with your gaudy vocabulary and your overblown ego. You’re a narcissistic, overconfident, deranged asshole who is only looking out for himself. That’s not what this crew is about. We’re a family. And nobody fucks with my family, Vagabond.” The brunette pressed his forearm more harshly into Ryan’s chest for emphasis. “Do we understand each other?”

Ryan nodded slowly even as his heart began to beat like a drum in his chest. Michael was threatening him, but he felt exhilarated by it. “You never hesitate and while it might look like you’re just reckless, you actually have a fire inside of you that you haven’t been able to satiate. Your hate is cruel, but your love is even more ruthless.” He thought a moment before adding, “You’re an enigma.”

Michael’s jaw dropped slowly as Ryan spoke about him before he finally pushed hard against the man’s chest and backed away. “Who the fuck are you to tell me who I am? Stay outta my way, Haywood. I mean it.” The shorter man walked off without a second glance.

“I know you do. Goodnight, Michael,” he responded, still pressed against the cool concrete. He banged his head back lightly, waiting for his heart to settle to a normal rhythm again. “Fuck,” he breathed quietly.

This was exactly where he was supposed to be and he would be damned if anything separated him from the Fake AH Crew now.

[ryokiowriter]

pho·bi·a

noun an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.

To say that Darkiplier was angry would be a very, very grave understatement.

Not only had he tried to be a gentleman the last two times he and Anti had met in the dreamscape, he’d actually experienced Dream Death the last time ‘round. Tonight was going to be different, a crackle of thunder announcing his arrival into the Dream. Pitch-black eyes were narrowed in annoyance, brow furrowing even further and mouth pulling into a scowl when he saw the scene before him.

It appeared he was in an operating theatre, and not the kind he liked. His favorite theatre involved film and thespians, and his operating rooms were preferably splattered with crimson. There wasn’t near enough of the latter going on here. Instead, it appeared that Anti was in full doctor’s apparel: white coat, scrubs, even the damnable surgical mask and cap atop his green mop. He appeared to be working on some unconscious sap. Looked a rather lot like Anti, minus the grinning features.

“You!”

The sound of surprise that left Anti at being grabbed shocked Darkiplier more than anything. The Anti he knew didn’t yelp like that, but he knew that Anti was good at acting. He’d seen how he’d manipulated Jack, after all. The Anti that dangled from the white labcoat in his grasp, however, was glaring confusedly at him.

“Put me down, you imbecile! Who vill save zis muzzafuckah if I do not?!”

Well. The German accent was new. So new that Dark couldn’t help but drop the other man, staring at him quizzically. “I never pegged you as one for playing doctor,” he remarked, one brow remaining lofted. Anti snorted, shaking his head.

“No time for games! I do not play around ven it comes to medicine! Go bother the nurses!” Busying himself with his patient once more, the doctor-clad Anti proceeded to ignore his guest. Said guest wasn’t about to have that.

Circling ‘round the operating table, Darkiplier squinted at the nametag that dangled from the lapel of the lab coat.

“…forgive me, ‘doctor,’ but I can’t read your nametag. Pray tell, what is your name?”

A scoff left the masked man, a shake of his head.

“Vhat, can’t you read?” A pause, before a quick glance down revealed that the aforementioned tag was splattered with blood. “…oh. I suppose you can’t. No mattah! I am Dr. Schneeplestein, and as I said, you need to bother somevone else!” The title and name alone was enough to make Darkiplier groan.

“‘Schneeplestein’? Really? What, was the name ‘McCoy’ taken?” Much to his annoyance, the doctor had the gall to shush him, waving a scalpel-equipped hand in his direction.

“Stuff your nonsense Star Trek quotes! Zis man is dying! If you vill not help me, kindly fuck off to the vaiting room already!” Another shake of the head, an irritated click of the tongue sounding. “Zis muzzafuckah... thinks he can just jump ze line. Vhat an idiot.”

Wrong thing to say, really. In an eyeblink, Darkiplier had reappeared next to the good doctor. “Will this help?” Snatching the scalpel from Schneeplestein’s hand, he then jabbed it into the man’s eye, burying it all the way up to the handle.

The scream that followed was decidedly not one he’d heard from Anti. Not yet, anyhow. Dark didn’t flinch as he was shoved by the good doctor, watching the man recoil and start to pull at the handle.

 “FUCK! YOU MUZZAFUCKAH!!!”

Slowly, as he watched the other man successfully yank the scalpel out (with a great spray of blood to boot), he began to doubt. What if this wasn’t Anti after all? Just the thought alone was enough to pull his lips into a frown. There was no way that he got lost on the way to Anti’s dreamscape, not with everyone looking just like him..

All of a sudden, the signature laughter sounded, starting softly as a mere chuckle. Unsurprisingly, it started with Schneeplestein, but what surprised Darkiplier the most was the fact that his visage didn’t change. There was no glitching, no twitching, nothing of Anti but his laugh. Schneeplestein straightened up, giggling madly, opening his damaged eye to reveal a mass of bloodied sclera, though the pupil was bright, glowing green.

“You’re not as stupid as you l̘̼̫͈͠o̴̤͓̼̦̩͈o̝͇̹͇̙͍k.” More laughter, the doctor looking more and more unhinged by the second. Something similar to triumph flitted over Darkiplier’s features, the moment fleeting and allowing annoyance’s return.

“I look stupid? At least I’m not dressing up as some fool with a scalpel,” he replied, upper lip curling. “What sort of name is ‘Schneeplestein’ anyways?” Anti’s expression didn’t waver, at least not the look in his eyes. “The German sort, o̞̪̫̠̞̩͙f̤̹̭̗̞ c̝̝̞͟ͅo҉̜̯̳̺ͅu͎͠r̩̤s͍̜e .”

There was still something off. Anti’s voice was distinctly off, and damned if Dark wasn’t about to get to the bottom of this. “Take this idiotic disguise off, you’re looking stupider than usual with it.” Without any further warning or explanation, he snatched at the cloth that covered the lower half of Anti’s face.

Had he not been made of darker stuff, he would’ve likely ran for the hills once he saw what was underneath the surgical mask. He’d been expecting that maddening grin, stretching his face to the point of breaking, maybe even a smile carved into the very flesh. Instead, he was greeted with the sight of smooth flesh. There was a nose, yes, but there was no separation, no sprouts of facial hair, nothing.

This Anti didn’t have a mouth.

Black eyes were fixed on the lack of Anti’s frequently flapping trap, brows knitting together in a deep furrow as he puzzled over the implications. “You’re not Anti,” he finally concluded, reaching forward, as if to touch the absent stretch of skin. 

Just before he could actually make physical contact, there was a jarring shift in the dreamscape. The room around them darkened, all lights but one going out, blood starting to run down the walls as well. Most importantly, the figure before him was gone, replaced instead with an intricately-carved mannequin, poseable limbs outstretched and reaching for Darkiplier. The expression of boredom was replaced with shock, eyes widened with horror as he moved back a few steps, creating some space between him and this new wooden adversary.

"̴̦̞̞̲T̝̱h̩̫̺̦͚a̼̦͍̙̥͈t̵̻̱̘̯ͅ'̯͖͖s̜̮̬ͅ ̶ŗi̠̞͎̠͟g̯̻͕̪͖̯̕ͅh́ͅṯ̲̟̺.̢͙͓̬̯̪ ͓͕Y̵̖̖̙̼͕o̙̤̥̖̫u̙͇r̙̖̤̘͚̙ ͉̯̖̻̻͉s̝̼̥̙t͙͇̬̻͠u̸p͠i̴͍̦̞d͓̤̺̠̟̘ͅ ҉͓̝h͕̫̮̳ͅo͖͙̭͙̫s͕͙̜̲̖̞ṱ͍ ̼͔ͅd̥͔o̱͞e̫͓̖̦͙̻̯s̤͍̤̩͉͚͜n̰͓̟̫'̫́ṭ̩͎̫͇̤ ̨̭̝̙ l̹̩̲̮i̴̬k̳̩e͙̲̳̦ͅ ̴̥͍̪͎̦̻t̶̬̮̠̩͇̮̠h̥̼̲͓͟ͅe̵̯̭s͕̮͙̖͘e,̙͙̠̥͇ ͈̦̣̗̭͙͡d̷̟̪͇o̰̪̗͇̝è̖̩͖s̡͇̼ h̜e̱͍͉̰?͙͎̗̰͎̕"̛͉̮̹̙̤̣̮

Dark’s head snapped to the source of the voice. While the mannequin went limp, a familiar green glitch flickered into existence, that damnable grin present on his features as always. Holding up one hand, he let his eyes glow, a venomous green racing from his fingertips to the dummy. 

"O̭̩͍̯͇̖͜ͅh̼ ̱̰y̸͉̭̹e̗s̤̺̱̻̟͓.̯͚ ͎͕̟̮͎͡D͏̦̪͈o̤͍̳n̘̹͔̦͠'t̞ ͏̫̯̳̯t̷̫̰̰h͍͍̘̪̺̖̦į̼̯̫̖͓ͅn̞͈̜͕̗̻k̢̘̘ ̺́t̲̟̟ḩ̣͔̘̳͍̠͕a̮̞͎̺͖t ̬̱I̮͇͉'̫͕̰͕͠v̙e͏̺ ̪͖̠̭̭͘b̲̺̹̪̮̜́ḙ͕̺e̲̗̻̟̞͉͇n̼̩̫ i̜̘̺d̢̗̯̻̠͖l̫͡e͇̺̰̻͍̦ ͞ ̧͔̭͍̤s̵͔̹̗̝͍͈͎iǹ͕̬̖̣̮̼̗c̴e҉̪̰̻ ͍̻͠y̥͉̱̥͇̦o͏͎̯͈̼u̳̯̻̺̰͜'̳͍ͅͅve̴̘͎̰ ̷͙͓̞̮̻̘̮k̷̠ͅͅͅi̖̥̗̠̥̝ͅl̳͠l̮e̫̼͉̱ͅd̷͙ͅ ͢m̱̝e̟͙̩͓̱̯.͏̳͚̺̱̲̳"̵

A pause, before he giggled.

"͠I͎͖͙ ̵me͈͝a͘n,҉̲̜̹̫̼̖͓ ͉͍͎͓̪s͔͚̗͞i̞̰̩̱͇̟n̸͇c̳͖e̡̗̦̻ ̵̹̻͇͙̦̻y͖̱̩̪̪̫o̜̪̼̲u̠̲̲͖͓͉͕ ̥̦̭͍͕͚t̢͖̟r̯͇͙͉̼̭̰i̶͍̫̤͙̤̰͇éd̸ ̤̟͖t̵̜̟o̰̻͟ ̛̮͈k̺̯͓̬̥̼͉i͙͝l̙̫̘͓l̻̜̹̬ ́m̭̤̭e̖̦̙̱̺̥ͅ.̶ ̱́W̴͍̬͉ͅḥ̛o̴̹ops͇̰͉̹̭̖!"͇̺̹̳̗

Darkiplier was only half-listening at this point, gaze still fixed on the inert wooden figure. He had felt something that had lie dormant in his form, something he did’t even think possible: he had felt the icy cold hand of fear. That soft-hearted fool, Markiplier, he had a particular aversion to this sort of thing. But he was different, he wasn’t limited by such things as morals or even mortality! 

It was while he was deep in thought that he was ambushed, having forgotten himself completely. Several sets of wooden hands grabbed him from all directions, numerous mannequins keeping him locked firmly in place. He could feel his barely-existent heartbeat in his ears now, a quick glance around telling him he was very much trapped. Even so, he wasn’t about to give up just yet. He could still verbally lash out.

“You.. now I see why they called you a glitch bitch.”

Very big mistake. Anti’s grinning features dimmed into a very blackened anger. Yanking hard on the invisible strings that controlled his new army, he promptly disappeared from sight. Darkiplier could feel several sculpted hands grab his head, articulated fingers winding into his hair and stationing themselves at the sides of his face. Two separate hands, attached only by what looked remarkably like suspended piano wire, went to his eyes, prying the lids open so Dark was forced to look up.

And what should he be gazing up at but Anti’s grinning visage.

"͎͡A͘t̵̮͖͈̼̥̣̺ ̙̺͇̦̯̞͍͜l͈e̗̠̞͓͔͟ͅa̫̰̖͙̟̜̗ṣ̼̥̼̫ṱ͖̦̲͜ ̻̕t͕̘̞̻͚̹h̢̩̻͓a͓̝̦͇t̫͉͍͚ ͍̙̻m҉̳̙̘̙͓e̲̮͚̬͙a̳̫̩̰̗̰ns̩̟͖̩̖̱ I̠̠̫̝͎͔'m̯͚ ̶͍͕̼̳͉̹̺s̶̲̱̺͎̪̰t̵i̞͖̝̰̙̠̟͝l̲l̘͇ ̱̟̜c͍̜u҉͚̯̘̰͕r̼r̨e̘͢n̥͙̞̤̥͘t̹̦̬̻͚̠̜. ͔̰̹̗̭̦Y̳͉̳͕͇̗̫o̷̠͚̘͇͓ͅu̗͖͉͈̩̕'̦͍͔̣͉ŕ͎̼̞e̴̥ ̟͇̥g̩̲̟e̦̖͞t̠̕ţ͕̘i̥ṋg͠ ̥͡o̵̫͙̣̥̯̝u͔t̖̤̗́d̶̩̦͎̝̺͈͕at̶̺eḍ̷,̛̹͈̞̳̥̮ ̭̞͔̕yò̫u҉̗̭̯̜͍ ̴̞̥̜̺̲͉ͅs̤͓̬̯̝tu͔̫̳̥̭͈̱p̛̰͇̜̜̱̗i̞̰̘͙͕̯d͙̖̗̮ ͔͈͞V̥͈͎͖̣͔H͞S̤͢ ̙cu̞̣̺n̯͕͖͖̺̕t̘͈̜̳ͅ.̗̕"̼͈̝̀

Darkiplier didn’t even have enough time or spare thought to give to the rather profane nickname he’d apparently garnered. He was suddenly all-too-aware of the scalpel that was now in Anti’s hand, as well as the fact that bright blues were fixed on his, watching his every movement.

"̡͔̩͎͚̱Á̝̥ẁ͎͖̣͇̜̙w͎͜,̙͖̼̳̲̱ ͚̺͈̲́l̷̪̥̩o͖͖̳o̻͈͔̼̼k̥͙̖̙ ̩̲̪͓̻̣a͙̟̙̞͉t̸ ̷̘͖y̰̼̰̫̟̳͍͞ǫ̻͈̖̲̺̩̤u̝̠̪̳.̧͖̗̱̹̟̤ ͢Y͙̪̝o̥͙͚͍͠u͍'̳͇͈̯̪r̼̪͖̕ͅe̱̲̤̕ ͔̳̪ͅa͓̭̬͈͎̗c̼͇̘̘͡t̤̻͓̻͞u̷̳͙͍̠̫̖͎a͕̲̰l̙̀l͈͉̮̀y̮͢ ͝sc͈̳͕̹̭̜̭̀á̩̪͇̠̞̝͔r̖͍ͅẹ̼̗̻ḍ̯̦ ͎͈̪̠͈̭͘n̛̫o̤͙̮͚͞w̧̹.̳̺̹̺̙͙"͕͞ One calloused hand joined the wooden ones on Darkiplier’s face, thumb brushing over the angle of his cheekbone.  "̤̣̭͙͜W͏̤h҉̞̝̦̙̲o ̻̗̝̟͕͞wo̮̩̘̦̗̼͎u͎͈̹̣̱l͔̲̲̠̗̰d͈͓͔̻͈̝'̮̟͡v̖̜͈e̘͉͟ ͏t̢̬̰͙h̗̱̤͚̞̫̬o̙̱̦͇ͅṷ̰͍͔̱͕g̙̱̟͓͓̕ͅh̟͕̪t̸͙̪͕͎ͅ ̮͚͍t͖̞h͓͉̫̭a̝̭̫̝̮͈͙t̥̩͎͇̘̻ͅ ̠̱̣̺͉͈y̜͖̰̞̺͟o̰̮͎u̧̘̳͚̹̥r̘̙̘͖͕̣ ̻͍pr̛̠̪̯̲͇e̼̤̬c͘i͍̦̕o̲̝u̧̜̻͇s͕ ̜̣h̜̞͇ọ̶s̝͎͕͓̦̀t͚̹̹–͎̩̟̀"̠̫̬̘̭͠ As he spoke, he began to press the tip of the scalpel into his rival’s eye, watching as black began to ooze from the site of incision. Darkiplier’s jaw set, clenched tightly against the pain that flooded his system. He wasn’t about to give Anti the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain, not if he could help it.

"͇̼̤̞–͔͔̭̻̲w̙͚͠o̼̳͞u̷l̪̲d͙͕͓̞ ̟͖̘̰̜̬̝b̸̩̗̭͇̜̞ͅȩ̰̦ ̦̳̖̪̩̬͚y̥̝̥̺o̲u̪͓̤̫̖͖͍r͔͕̰̲̤̘ ̖̰͔͉̙̼w̸̤̤̥͉̤e̮͕͚̮̳̫͝a̷̠͇̻ͅk̟͟n̙͜e͇͉͎̮ͅss͔͘?̵͚"̳͙̯̰͕̘ What started off as precise movement dissolved quickly into Anti’s usual tics, a shrieking laugh following the scalpel’s insertion into the eye. His hands were a blackened mess when the shadowy man finally forcequit the dreamspace with a howl of pain, leaving Anti sitting on a now defunct pile of mannequins, cradling an onyx lump in his hands. Thumbing some of the mess away, Anti gazed down at the mutilated object, simply smiling at it.

"̗̝̳̰̣Go̸̱t̠̳̹c͢h̫̗̘͟a̛̘̬̲͇͍,̼͚̘̮̤͟ ҉b̺i̺͟ͅt̠̫͎͚̼̳ͅc͎̲̣̩̯̺̞h҉̺͔.̯͔ ̢̩̼̫̹̳̥̝I̷͓͖̰̮ ̵w̰̗̭̤͈̮i͖̺̤̟n̛̬̹͎͔͓̭ͅ.͔̥͔̺̫͕̩"̩͕̮̳ The object? Darkiplier’s very eye. 

Oh yes. He’d definitely won this round. He was one step closer to being king.

[mrevaunit42]

Youth in Rebellion (working title/au

hey everyone Mr.E here back from month long break. I didn’t mean to be gone so long but i realized after writing for 2 years, that despite the fact there were moments i didn’t write for periods of time, I never actually took a real break from writing and while I didn’t mean to miss Starco week (and I’m trying to catch up) i think i needed it. so I’m back, almost done with the bad boy au. but first I needed to get this out of my head.

So I am a huge fan of the whole gentleman thief archetype. Katio Kid or the Phantom thief kid is my favorite anime character of all time and any time he comes out, it’s always my favorite episode. 

The second half to this idea was the fact one of my favorite game series Persona has finally released the 5th game *i waited 9 years people and no persona Q doesn’t really count * and what do you know it’s all about thieves doing good. 

So I’m hooked but i’m fusing the two concepts because I am not even going to try to explain persona (and it’s a rated M game so yeah) I decided to simplify it.

So in this AU, Connor is a new student who finds an ancient mask that grants him supernatural powers. He decides to rob and teach lessons to those who abuse their power and their positions. Marco is a private Investigator asked to look into this sudden rash of thefts and Nova is suspecting Connor. (they are not friends in this version)

So here’s a small preview. I’m still working things out but i wanted to get this out of my head so i could finish starco week. Let me know what you think, any of your favorite parts or any ideas you have. Italics means flashaback have a great week and I’ll have a story up soon. a special thanks to @artgirllullaby who helped me with the idea and @hains-mae for drawing a really awesome Nova pic that inspired her outfit here

@hipster-rapunzel @isolated-frequencies

“Where were you four eyes?”

Connor raised an eyebrow at the accusing tone laced in her voice as the crowded and chaotic noises of the student bodies trapped in the narrow halls faded away, muted and dulled.

He sighed tiredly, wiping nonexistent dirt from his black school blazer, turning to face the one person he had no desire to see

“What?”

there she was red hood under her black blazer, blue and white leggings tucked into a pair of thick boots as always.

“I know you're up to something four eyes!”

Connor gave a cocky grin, pushing up his glasses in a single elegant motion.

“Look princess, I don't know what you're getting on about.”

“Don't call me that.”

“You call me four eyes”

“Because I know you hate it!”

“Likewise. Stop playing detective. Not everyone can be your dad.”

Her electric blue eyes widened in a mixture of shock and pride.

“Look, I don't care what you do.”

Connor rolled his eyes “Yet here we are”

“You've been acting weird four eyes”

“I'm surprised you noticed”

Nova huffed impatiently “What are you hiding?”

Connor shrugged apathetically “Nothing”

“Oh yeah? How come you're so tired?”

“You don't get to be top of the class by ignoring your studies”

Nova's eyes narrowed angrily

“Where were you last night?”

Connor closed his locker quietly before turning towards her, his face set in a relaxed yet stony indifference

“I was at home...”

The air was deathly still, an unnatural silence that was only broken by the tap, tap, tap of smooth well polished shoes against the squeaky clean museum tile. The dim lights did nothing to bat away the thick, shifting shadows that claimed the building for its own.

“...Studying”

A figure appeared from the darkness, lips locked in a smug, self-satisfied smile. His long, black coat swaying despite the stillness of the room. He approached the display case carefully, his body seemingly loose though prepared to tense at a moment's notice.

“Studying four eyes?”

“Studying Nova. Some of us actually like to study.”

“Lies! No one likes studying! Even you four eyes.”

“Very well then, where do you think I was princess?”

Nova narrowed her eyes in suspicion

“Well you seem thinner lately”

“Thank you, I've been working out”

Nova flushed in embarrassment.

“That's not what I meant!”

Connor couldn't help but chuckle “sure princess.”

A red gloved reached out for the sealed treasure despite the gut feeling that something wasn't right here....

“I'm not playing around!” Nova stomped the floor, clearly irritated by Connor's evasive answers “You look, I dunno, leaner?”

Nova playfully poked at Connor's chest only to find some firm muscle under her touch.

The teenage girl pulled away quickly, her cheeks burning despite herself.

There was a subtle click, a noise that would've gone unnoticed to the average thief but he was no average thief.

He pulled back, skidding across the smooth tiling effortlessly before vaulting into the air.

The dimness of the exhibit was briefly illuminated by a crisscross of thin, web-like red beams of light that covered every possible inch.

He landed safely in a clearing in the middle of the grandiose room, pivoting on his feet to ensure he was as far away as possible from the glowing formless trip wires.

Connor shifted his backpack over his shoulder guiltily “I'm hoping to become a gymnast. I'm pretty good at it”  

Nova scoffed in disbelief “Right, sure four eyes”

Connor gave sheepish, modest smile.

The sounds of clacking footsteps thundered from all directions gave the impression the building itself was caving in on the young thief.

The harsh museum lights flooded the room, banishing the shadowy shades under its bright glow.

The rolled down shutters barring the entrance rose, the laser flickered in and out of existence before disappearing without a trace as dozens of guards flooded the room, guns drawn, eyes alert.

“FREEZE!” they shouted as one, aiming their firearms towards the thief that taunted them, lounging on the display case as if he was relaxing on some beach, the jewel encrusted crown spun lazily in his hand.

The thief appeared young though it was hard to tell. He had wild wavy black hair. His face was covered by a silver domino mask that gave him a menacing gaze. He wore a long riding coat that was dark as the night with a faded collared shirt and vest with dark blood red gloves.

“Gentleman” the thief greeted the security team, rising to his feet and lazily stretching “it's a fine night, isn't it? I was feeling restless myself to be honest. Went for a stroll.”

“You did not study all night! No one studies all night”

“You're right princess, I went for a walk”

Nova shook her head “No one goes for walks anymore”

“Then how do you get to class?”

Nova remained her mouth to retort only to notice Connor's playful smirk.

“Shut it four eyes.”

“Shut it you punk! Hands up and carefully place the crown on the...umm...fl....on...on the case!”

“Sorry” He gave a cheerful wink, placing the crown not on the floor but rather his head “I'm not good at following the rules.”

“You're not getting out of this one kid!”

“yes” he replied, his eyes glowing a deep red “Yes I am”

“You're not bothering my fiancee, are you Novy?”

Nova and Connor turned to the new voice only to find Jack staring at them, a knowing twinkle in his eyes.

“Don't get the wrong idea Jack. Besides, fiancee?” Nova asked quizzically

Jack threw his arm around Connor's neck, bringing him closer while tossing Nova a cheeky smile

“Of course, we're getting married.”

“Really?” Nova was unimpressed.

“yeah” Connor confirmed “We're thinking of a June wedding. Should we put you down with a plus one?”

Nova shook her head “Whatever.” and with that, took her leave of the teenage boys.

Silence remained in Nova's wake. Connor let loose a tensed breath he didn't know he was holding.

“Does she know?”

“Nobody knows anything” Connor answered “But she's really good at guessing.”

Connor broke Jack's grasp on him and opened the locker once more. There, amongst the books and notebooks was the silver mask, gleaming in the darkness.

[miyeonswritings]

Call me Suga

Ok, I love this request. And I think is’t 

Requests and Confessions? Send it here.

Words: 1,3k, but it contains full lyrics, so.....

This drabble contains the lyrics to Feeling Myself by Nicki and Bey.

Genre: fluff maybe?

Masterlist

Your best friend and you strolled at the park. It was a funny day, perfect to relax. You both were pretty busy in the last week and barely saw each other, which was very unusual for you. So you walked, hand in hand, and complained about your life.

Suddenly you heard the penetrating voice of a moderator, which blasted through a microphone. 

“Hello ladies and gentleman and welcome to our exciting talent show. We want you, yes you. everyone can come onstage and show us his talent. The winner will get the appreciation of the audience and a cash prize of 500$.”

“Oh my god. Who knows how many idiots will show their “talent”. Let’s go and watch this.” your friend said. You arrived at the small stage in the center of the meadow. Many people already already placed thereselfs on the soft grass and watched the show. It was a releaxed mood and you and your friend also sat down. The first contetestant made his way onstage and started to sing with a shaky voice. Time passed by and you and your friend started to feel bored. 

“Y/f/n, I’m bored. I thought there would be someone funny or outstanding, but no.”

“Uhmm-””And this was the last contestant, now I ask YOU guys, who wants to come onstage and try his best? You have nothing to lose!”

“WE WANT!” Your friend literally jumped up.

“Are you crazy? I wont make myself an idiot in front of strangers!”

“Ohh, come on y/n. Don’t you remember our karaoke-evening? We rocked it.”

“Thats not-””.....so come upstage and show us your talent!”

Your friend didn’t listened to you and made her way straight to the stage while dragging you behind her. She shortly talked with the DJ, who gave the both of you microphones. You both walked over to the moderator, who awaited you with a bright smile.”

“Come on, don’t be shy! So...here we have some beautiful and young ladies, let’s see what they’re going to present us.”

He walked off stage and the intro started to play.

“Relax and just look at my. Let’s rock!”your friend whispered. 

*Okay Y/N! Relex! There’s just you and Y/F/N. No audience. You can do it* you tried to calm yourself.

It started.

Yo B They ready? Let's go!

Your voice wasn’t as strong as usual, but than you saw your friend.

I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' myself I'm feelin' my, feelin' myself I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my, feelin' my, feelin' myself I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my, feelin' myself I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my

She seemed more than confident. And her moves made some man whistle. Suddenly, all nervousy was washed away. And now you started.

I'm with some hood girls lookin' back at it, and a good girl in my tax bracket Got a black card that'll let Saks have it, these Chanel bags is a bad habit I-I do balls, Dal Mavericks, my Maybach, black matted Bitch, never left but I'm back at it, and I'm feelin' myself, jack rabbit Feelin' myself, back off, cause I'm feelin' myself, jack off He be thinking about me when he whacks off, wax on? (Wax off) National anthem, hats off, then I curve that nigga, like a bad toss Lemme get a number two, with some Mac sauce, "On The Run Tour", with my mask off

You moved your body perfect to the beat and shot some glares to the audience.

I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' myself I'm feelin' my, feelin' myself I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my, feelin' my, feelin' myself I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my, feelin' myself I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my Changed the game with that digital drop Know where you was when that digital popped I stopped the world Male or female, it make no difference I stop the world World stop... Carry on

During that part, you and your friend moved your bodies together.

Kitty on fleek, pretty on fleek Pretty gang always keep them niggas on geek Ridin' through Texas, feed him for his breakfast Everytime I whip it, I be talkin' so reckless He said "Damn Nicki it's tight," I say "Yeah nigga you right" He said "Damn, bae, you so little, but you be really takin' that pipe" I said "Yes daddy I do, gimme brain like NYU" I said "Teach me, nigga, teach me. All this learnin' here is by you" (Uhn!)

You saw how some of the people started to move to.

I'm whippin' that work He diggin' that work, I got it 36 of that real Panky full of that bounce baby Come get you some of that bounce baby I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' myself I'm feelin' my, feelin' myself I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my, feelin' my, feelin' myself I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my, feelin' myself I'm feelin' myself, I'm feelin' my

Cookin' up that base, lookin' like a kilo He just wanna taste, biggin' up my ego (Ego, ego, ego, ego, ridin' through Texas, ridin' through Texas) Smoke it all off, talkin' bout that high-grade Baby hold up, I can kill your migraine (Migraine, migraine, migraine, ridin' through Texas, ridin' through Texas)

Now no one didn’t moved his body.

Bitches ain't got punchlines or flow I have both and an empire also Keep gettin' gifts from Santa Claus at the North Pole Today I'm icy, but I'm prayin' for some more snow Let that ho ho, let that ho know -- he in love with that coco Why these bitches don't never be learnin'? You bitches will never get what I be earnin' I'm still gettin' plaques, from my records that's urban Ain't gotta rely on top 40, I am a Rap legend Just go ask the Kings of Rap, who is the Queen and things of that Nature? Look at my finger, that is a glacier, hits like a laser Drippin' on that work, trippin' off that perc Flippin' up my skirt and I be whippin' all that work Takin' trips with all them ki's, car keys got B's Stingin' with the Queen Bey and we be whippin' all of that D Cause we dope girls we flawless, we the poster girls for all this We run around with them ballers, only real niggas in my call list I-I-I-I'm the big kahuna, go let them whores know Just on this song alone, bitch is on her fourth flow

The music stopped and it was quiet for one second before the audience started to freak out. You earned plaudit and whistle’s from them. You looked at your friend and she laughed at you.

“It wasn’t thaaat bad, wasn’t it?” she laughed.

“Shut up” was your answer.

“Well, well, well. I’m glad we were able to hear that. And you know why? You were A.W.E.S.O.M.E. I think Im not wrong when I say that we have the winner’s of our small competition. What do you guys think?”. The moderator came back and holded his microphone towards the audience, which clapped and screamed again.

He handed you the money and you made your way down the stage.You still couldn’t belive it. The people slowly started to disappear, but some still looked at you, glances full of admiration.  

“Okay babe, I don’t now what you wanno do, but im going to talk with this hot guy over there.” your friend smirked. You just laughed while she made her way to the tall guy.

“You were pretty good.....for an amateur.” a husky voice spoke behind you.

“Excuse me?!”you replied while turning around, just to face a handsome boy with a pale and soft-looking skin and a pretty face, surrounded by black hair.

“And you are who to judge about my, admittedly amateurish, rapping skills?”

“Min Yoongi, but my friends call me Suga. But I need to say that you have talent.”, he explained while his lips turned into a smirk.

“Did i understood it right that the genious Min Yoongi wants to teach the small Y/L/N Y/N how to improve her rapping?”

“Interpret it the way you want and as I said, call me Suga.”

“I can’t remember that we’re friends!?”

“I think we will.”

Obviously the 500$ we’re the smaller part of the prize you won today.

[coffee-n-bagels-comic-universe]

Blood & Roses or Strawberry Milk

Quick Tag List: @kuruumiya @spacelizardtrashboys @enigmaticandunstable @nattinngrst @amyofaquitaine

This passage contains potentially: swearing, blood, whump and fluff content and violence.

Summary: A continuation of the previous chapter but more specifically, within this chapter Kirby and Roddy get to know each other better before splitting up for a while.

Kirby's POV:

Roddy stopped, realising what he had just said, "Sorry, I got overexcited."

"It's okay, just don't get a stiffie, alright?"

Roddy laughed, "Alright. I should get going, … unless you want to get breakfast together."

"Sure, you need a new shirt, unless you're planning on spending today in just the kilt."

"Maybe I will."

"Roddy, don't."

He shoots me a reassuring glance, "I think, my hotel room is the floor above."

"You're telling me this now?"

"let me check if I still have the key," He opened the pouch of the sporran and got the key out, "Room, one-hundred and fifteen."

"I believe that's actually down the hall."

Roddy left for a couple minutes, coming back wearing a black t-shirt covered by a blue plaid shirt and a pair of jeans.

"Oh wow, I almost forgot you were Scottish for a second, Piper."

"Ha, so very, very funny, Kirby. That reminds me of something."

"What?"

"Where does your name come from?"

"Old Norse, originally it meant 'Church Settlement'. However, my parents named me after the artist Jack Kirby, I think."

"Norse, as in, Vikings?"

"Norse as in I'm a quarter Norwegian."

"So, you're Scottish, Norwegian, anything else I should know about you?"

"I'm also Welsh and Irish. I grew up in Cardiff and my mother grew up on the Isle of Skye."

"Where exactly on the Isle of Skye?"

"Uig, I believe, near Kilt Rock."

"Wait, Kilt Rock?"

"Yes Roddy, There is a place called Kilt Rock."

"Well then," He adjusted his collar slightly, "Shall we." He tries to sound as suave as possible.

"Nice try, Romeo, it's not going to make me like you any more."

I grabbed my old leather jacket from within my suitcase and we started walking and, eventually, reached a small diner, we settled into a corner booth and I started scanning the menu for something to please my appetite, my wallet secure in my jacket pocket, I slid my mask into the opposite pocket, it stuck out slightly but wasn't noticeable.

"Good morning. My name is Debbie, I'll be your server today. What can I get for you two lovebirds?"

"I'll have," Roddy began, clearly either avoiding correcting the young waitress or not caring to correct her, "the 'Power Breakfast' with toast and a regular latte."

"And the lady?" she looked over from Piper to myself, before doing a double and take fully taking me in.

"I will have, the 'Tropical Waffle' with a side of 'Canadian Bacon' and a strawberry milkshake, please Debbie."

"Y-yes, Miss. So, that's the Power Breakfast and toast with a latte for the gentleman and the Tropical Waffle with a side of Canadian Bacon and a strawberry milkshake for the lady?"

"Yes." We said in unison, watching the waitress walk away.

"Roddy."

"What?" He scoffed

"Oh I don't know, perhaps you should have clarified that we," I gestured to him and then myself, "Are not 'lovebirds'?"

"Oh come on, you know if I let her know that she would've pried into our lives, y'know."

"Really now, Piper?"

"Yes, and stop calling me Piper, it's too formal, we know each other better than that, it's Roddy, or Rod, not Piper from now on, alright?"

"Alright. Roddy."

When the food arrived the waitress seemed to want to get the food to us and get out quickly.

"How's the leg?" I inquired before shoving a forkful of strawberry and waffle into my mouth.

"It hurts a little, but I've been through worse."

"Like bottling yourself." I mumbled through the mouthful of sugary bliss.

"Exactly." Roddy said through a mouthful of toast and turkey breast.

"You really should stop doing that." I warned him.

"Why, you care about me getting brain damage or somethin'?"

"No, I just, I can't stand the idea of you getting hurt, not after last night." I tried to keep my concerned tone to a minimum.

Roddy reached out to grab my hand and ran his thumb over my knuckles, "I'm okay. you made sure of that."

I know I should listen to him but I shrugged him off and went back to my meal, finishing it all as Roddy was around 3/4 done with his meal. Sipping my drink and gazing at Rod's beaten up face, focusing on his hairline still tinted a dark red with blood.

"You alright Kirby?"

I looked away quickly, "You're hair, it's …"

"Brown, I know. It's boring, why?" Sarcasm rang clear in his tone.

"No, Roddy, you're hair is tinted red, from the blood."

"Still, I thought I washed all the blood out." He was clearly joking but it stung me slightly and I don't know why.

"Y'know Kirby, Schultz was right about you."

"Really, how?"

"You're a fighter, a real tough guy, uh, gal, but you're nice, sweet even. You care about people, regardless of who they are."

"You were bleeding to death in a hotel corridor, right outside my room. I heard you get thrown against a wall. Would you rather I let you die?"

"I'd rather you'd left me and ran after the asshole who hurt me."

"It would have resulted in your death, Roddy. I couldn't let you die."

"Why not?"

"Because … because. I don't know okay. I chose to save you and that's that, alright."

"Alright, we should pay and get outta here."

"Already ahead of you." I pulled out my wallet and placed $35 on the table, calling the waitress over with my hand.

We paid and left, with me swiftly placing my mask back over my face. I caught Roddy staring at my face out of the corner of my eye.

"Kirby?"

I hummed in response.

"Why do you wear a mask, you're not hideous."

"I think every wrestling commentator I've ever met would disagree with you."

"what d'ya mean?"

"They call me 'The Ogress', Roddy. They call me a female Ogre."

"Then, they're wrong, you're not a hideous beast."

"Just because I saved you, doesn't mean I'm like that to everyone."

"How bad could you be? Sure you've made some dumb decisions in the past but the past's the past."

"Yeah, last night is also 'the past' Roddy."

"Look, all I'm trying to say, is, well, thank you and, don't listen to people, half the time they don't know what their words mean to the people they're saying them to."

"So, we are we headed, Roddy?"

"I don't know, maybe back to the hotel."

"Sure."

The rest of the walk back to my hotel room was silent, until we were inside the hotel room.

"So, who's better at conversation, me or André?"

"Well, Drey's got a natural charm to him, he's kind and knows the troubles that someone with gigantism goes through."

"Wait a second, 'Drey'?"

"Yeah, Drey, Why?"

"That's a pretty unique pet name. What is he, your boyfriend?"

"No, no, just an extremely close friend."

"Close, as in?"

"Close as in, we are just pals, you sound awfully jealous Roddy."

"Me, jealous. Ha! never."

"Never, really?"

I was trying to rile him up, and by the way he shifted his weight from one leg to the other before quickly shifting back, I could tell it was working.

"I'm not jealous, alright. It's just been a really long time since I've had a female friend as, nice, as you."

"Rod, come here a second," I got closer to him, to check the graze on his forehead, gently moving his hair away from his temple to get a better look, "Hold on, don't … don't move."

He held still and let me check the wound, it was healing, slowly but definitely healing. I changed my focus to the cut on his eyebrow on the other side of his face, gently placing my thumb next to the cut to hold his head still.

"Hey what are ya- Ah!" Roddy pulled away.

"Come back here."

"At least buy me dinner first." His tone once again became jovial.

"Roddy." I glared into his eyes.

He glared right back, as if to show how quickly he could switch his moods and making my breathing catch in my throat for a second.

"I think I need a moment" I whispered, turning to head to the bathroom before Rod grabbed me by the arm.

"I'm sorry," His voice soft and caring, "I didn't mean to scare ya."

This was new, a much softer and mellow version of Roddy.

"You didn't scare me that much, Roddy."

I continued to the bathroom and closed the door, undressing and getting ready to shower. I had been in the shower for only a few minutes when I heard the door to the room open and close suddenly, stepping out of the bathroom I realised that Roddy had left, leaving a note on the same page of the sketchbook that I had left a prior note to him.

"Thought I should get some rest in my own room. Thanks again. Roddy." I murmured as I read.

I hope he gets some proper rest, and heals quickly but I can't help but feel lonely without him here. God what am I saying, I don't like Roddy that much. Almost as if I love him, I don't for the record, I'm still not fully over Erik. God, I miss Erik. His kind smile, his flaming ginger hair, his goatee and the way any shirt would hug his muscles if he worked up a sweat. An extremely handsome man with the balls, or guts, to wear a kilt and not care what people thought about him because of it. There's no way I could give him up if the opportunity were to present itself ever again. I looked at the digital clock next to the phone and, realising how late it was decided to strip down to my underwear and get some rest.

I woke up to rapid knocking on my door and the door handle being jostled around from the outside. I hurried to get dressed and opened the door, my hair flowing over my right shoulder in loose waves. I swung the door open to Roddy, with a worried look on his face.

"God, what time do you call this?"

"I don't care what you're gonna say next, listen to me."

"Roddy," I looked over at the clock, "It's four in the morning."

"I know, but I could nae get ya off my mind." He stepped in, obviously stressed and closed the door behind him, "Listen ta me, just listen ta me."

"I'm listening Roddy" I huffed as I sat on the edge of the bed.

"How about you and me go out on a date, no one needs to know. Just you, me, perhaps a diner like yesterday, or a coffee shop?"

"Roddy, I fly back to Cardiff tomorrow, I haven't got time to have both a social life and a career involving another Scotsman, alright. I," I paused, "I'm still not over the last time I had my heart broken."

Rod dropped to his healthy knee, placing a hand on my cheek and looking me in the eyes, "I won't break you're heart, I promise, even if it takes a while for us to be near each other every single day. I won't give up on you. I swear on God above."

"Roddy, I … I guess it's worth a shot, I still have to fly back to-"

Rod cut me off by pressing his lips to mine, my eyes widened before I relaxed into the kiss, slipping one hand under his chin and the other around his back as he slipped his arms around my waist to lift me up to my feet, Rod having to lean up slightly as I leaned down into the kiss.

For the first time, in a long time, I felt at peace with the universe, the same feeling I had felt whilst visiting my aunt on the Isle of Skye.

Rod pulled away, breathing heavily, "I've wanted to do that ever since our first sparring session," He breathed a deep sigh, "Ever since I saw your face without that mask on," he took another breath, "It's funny what almost dying will do to you."

"Shut up, Roddy, just shut up." I pressed my forehead against his.

Then I woke up.

I woke up on the morning of January the eleventh, to silence, I looked at the clock, 5: 50, no signs of Roddy, I felt sick, like I had pushed my own boundaries too far. I rushed to get into the shower and clean myself of that dream, fantasy, whatever you want to call it.

I cleaned up the hotel room, got dressed and got to packing my things into my suitcase and duffel bag, before walking to the hotel lobby, leaving this hotel for hopefully the last time and heading to my truck. My dad had bought me a 1974 Dodge D200 when I was twenty.

A trustworthy vehicle and and a truck I could, albeit with a slight amount of discomfort. I packed the truck and planned on heading out to the next place, Queens, New York.

END OF BLOOD & ROSES or STRAWBERRY MILK.

[djbcadventures]

The 19th Annual Bryan Awards - Program Nominees

New Series of the Year: Black Monday (Showtime) Gentleman Jack (HBO) Kidding (Showtime) The Kominsky Method (Netflix) The Masked Singer (Fox) A Million Little Things (ABC) Pose (F/X) Russian Doll (Netflix) Succession (HBO) The World’s Best (CBS)

 Comedy Series: Barry (HBO) The Big Bang Theory (CBS) black-ish (ABC) GLOW (Netflix) The Kominsky Method (Netflix) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime) Veep (HBO)

 Drama Series: Better Call Saul (AMC) Game of Thrones (HBO) Killing Eve (BBC America) Ozark (Netflix) Pose (F/X) Succession (HBO) This Is Us (NBC) Daytime Soap: The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS) Days of Our Lives (NBC) General Hospital (ABC) The Young and the Restless (CBS) Limited Series: Catch-22 (Hulu) Chernobyl (HBO) Escape from Dannemora (Showtime) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) Sharp Objects (HBO) When They See Us (Netflix)

 Variety Sketch Series: At Home with Amy Sedaris (Tru TV) Drunk History (Comedy Central) Saturday Night Live (NBC) Tracey Ullman’s Show (HBO) Who Is America? (Showtime) Whose Line Is It Anyway? (The CW) Late Night Talk Show: The Daily Show With Trevor Noah (Comedy Central) Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS) The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC) Live Special: Bill Maher: Live from Oklahoma (HBO) The 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards (NBC) The 61st Grammy Awards (CBS) Live In Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons (ABC) The Oscars (ABC) The 72nd Annual Tony Awards (CBS) Pre-Recorded Variety Special: Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney (CBS) Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce (Netflix) The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) Real Time With Bill Maher Anniversary Special (HBO) 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (HBO) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Desde Puerto Rico (NBC)

 Reality Competition: The Amazing Race (CBS) American Ninja Warrior (NBC) RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) Survivor (CBS) The Voice (NBC) The World’s Best (CBS)

Structured Reality Program: Antiques Roadshow (PBS) Bar Rescue (Paramount Network) Lip Sync Battle (Paramount Network) Live PD (A&E) Queer Eye (Bravo) Shark Tank (ABC) Traditionally Unstructured Reality Program: Born This Way (TLC) The Employables (A&E) I Am Jazz (TLC) Intervention (A&E) Naked and Afraid (Discovery) United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell (CNN) Daytime Talk Show: The Dr. Oz Show (Syndicated) The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Syndicated) Live with Kelly and Ryan (Syndicated) Steve (Syndicated) The Talk (CBS) The View (ABC) Game Show: Family Feud (Syndicated) Hollywood Game Night (NBC) Jeopardy (Syndicated) Match Game (ABC) The Price is Right (CBS)

Made for Television Movie: Black Mirror: Baldersnatch (Netflix) Brexit (HBO) Deadwood the Movie (HBO) My Dinner with Herve (HBO) O.G. (HBO)

 Animated Program: Bob’s Burgers (Fox) Ducktales (Disney XD) Family Guy (Fox) Our Cartoon President (Showtime) The Simpsons (Fox) South Park (Comedy Central)

Children’s Program: Arthur (PBS) Carmen Sandiego (Netflix) Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (PBS) Fuller House (Netflix) Muppet Babies (Disney Junior) Sesame Street (HBO) Song of Parkland (HBO)

 Special Class Non-Fiction Program: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN) The Circus: Inside The Greatest Show The White House (Showtime) Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Netflix) Vice (HBO) Wyatt Cenec’s Problem Areas (HBO) The Young and the Restless: A Tribute to Kristoff St. John (CBS)

Most Missed Series: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN; 2013-2018) The Big Bang Theory (CBS; 2007-2019) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW; 2015-2019) Game of Thrones (HBO; 2011-2019) House of Cards (Netflix; 2013-2018) Veep (HBO; 2012-2019)

[huffle-dork]

Curiosity Killed the Cat (Part 6)

Enticement

Part 5: [x] Part 1: [x] CKTC Tag: [x]

(Parts of this chapter are inspired by this idea by @septic-dr-schneep ! You can find the concept here [x])

Jackie’s shift at the store goes by way too fast. He watches the clock tick by faster and faster and feels a cold sweat drip down his back. This is the first time ever Jackie had wished he had a longer shift. He was even ready to go around asking if anyone needed him to cover before remembering, he was closing. There were no more shifts to cover.

“Welp, Jackieboy!” boomed a voice behind the hero, with a broad hand clasping down on Jackie’s shoulder. The brunette man jumped about 3 feet in the air. “Time for ya to head home!”

Jackie’s manager, a kindly older gentleman named Kenton, gave the younger boy a concerned look. Kenton removed his hand from Jackie’s shoulder and instead pushed back his mop of brown out of his rapidly paling face.

“What’s the matta, son? You look like ya seen a ghost…”

Jackie shook his head and gave Kenton a shaky smile, adjusting his polo shirt as he shifted restlessly. “Nah man, I’m good… Y-You sure you don’t want me to stay later?”

Kenton gave a good hearty laugh and clapped Jackie on the back, “Not unless you think the game systems need to be babysat while I lock the doors!” The manager then studied Jack’s stiff stance and his face softened. He lowered his tone and knelt down by the hero.

“What’s gotcha so spooked, Jackie?”

The Irish man hunched smaller, a scowl coming across his face. “I-I’m.. I’m not scared.” Jackie mumbled, rubbing his arm. “I just… I don’t…” He sighs heavily and massages his neck, “I don’t want to go home and deal with my… roommate is all-”

“You mean your brother? ...Green hair? Weird looking cat mask?” Kenton said.

Jackie looked back to him in surprise, “Uh, yeah? How did you know?”

The older man winced slightly before steering Jackie around and pointing out the window, “‘friad you’re gonna have to deal with him a lot soona than ya thought.”

Jackie felt his blood run cold as he saw Marvin smirking at him through the store window, waving a gloved hand his way. He was dressed in his crime-fighting attire: a shorter cape, gloves and a black vest over a blue collared shirt rolled up to his elbows. Jackie bit back a tired sigh, his eyes burning with concealed anger. Kenton gave him a wide berth.

“I’m gonna fucking kill him,” Jackie growled as he scooped up his backpack and marched up to the window. Kenton called after him, “Don’t get arrested Jackieboy!” Jackie would have laughed at the irony if he wasn’t so caught up with wiping that smug ass grin off Marvin’s face.

“Well hello, Jackieboy-”

“What the fucking hell do you think you’re doing?” Jackie harshly hissed at Marvin, cutting off Marvin’s greeting. The cat masked magician blinked innocent eyes at the hero behind his mask.

“Well, Jackie! I was only trying to make your choice a little easier! I’m here already, so we should go crime fighting, right?” Marvin explained, sounding almost offended. Jackie felt his blood boil. He stepped closer to the magician, his brother, fire in his eyes, and bared his teeth and the other man.

“That’s not a decision you get to make for me,” Jackie growled.

Marvin hardly flinched. Instead, his eyes flickered to look at the backpack slung over Jackie’s shoulder before sending a cold apathetic stare back up to the hero. “I know for a fact you brought your super suit with you. So why push it off? You let your emotions get the better of you, Jackie. People need you. Need us.”

Jackie sputtered, a retort dying on his tongue as Marvin’s cobalt eyes bore holes straight through him. He quickly fumbled to grab onto his backpack strap, stumbling backward. Marvin continued to step forward though, getting closer to Jackie with a dead-eyed stare as if reading Jackie’s very soul. And with how he was acting lately, he very well could be.

“Why are you still so upset over Jameson, Jackie?” Marvin nearly whispered as he neared the hero’s ear. Jackie flinched once again, but Marvin kept going before the brunette could reply, “How much use was he really? You and me have been partners for far longer… didn’t you feel guilty at all for replacing me?” The magician growls this last line like a feral cat, eyes flashing sinister purple before the fire disappears and he straightens, fixing his hair.

“Still… I’m willing to look past… all of that Jackie. We are partners, we should work together no matter what.” Marvin gives the hero a coy smile before letting it fall. “But…. You let your emotions get in the way of it all. You have a duty, Jackie. We have a city to save. You have brothers to save. What if that glitch is out again-”

“JUST SHUT UP!” Jackie finally screams, pushing Marvin away from him. The cat masked brother stumbles back a few feet, blinking bewildered at Jackie while the hero sucks in deep angry breaths.

“You think I don’t know all of this?!” Jackie shouts, hiding his face behind his hands as his body starts to shake slightly. Marvin still looks shocked. “I know I’m being emotional, and moody a-and withdrawn! I know i’m letting people down! I know i fucked up! I didn’t think about how teaming up with Jamie would make you feel! I just knew i was- everything hurt Marv! Y-You were gone! A-and the last thing i did was scream at you! C-cuz i can’t control my anger or emotions!” Marvin sees Jackie’s lip quiver under his hands. “I-I was so racked with guilt…. I was the reason you were alone when he got you. I-I needed someone to help me search and Jamie wanted help with his magic. I-it just fit. I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

For a second, Jackie bends into his hands, his shoulders shaking, small hiccups escaping him. Marvin doesn’t respond, he doesn’t know how. He’s never seen Jackie like this before.

Eventually, Jackie speaks up again, “I’m just… all sorts of fucked up from this Marvin. From everything. I still can’t sleep cuz of Phantom. My muscles still ache and my bones still hurt…” He closes his eyes and sighs, “Everyone’s still hurting from this. And I… I’m just tired, Marvin! I’m so exhausted, how are you not? Is it so bad for me to want a goddamn break from it all? Can’t we just wait for things to go back to fucking normal?!”

Jackie finally meets his brother’s gaze again. Silver blue meeting dark.

“And If anyone should be fucked up over this… it should be you, Marvin. You should crying, screaming, angry! You got kidnapped, tortured, mind controlled! If anyone has any right to be overly emotional it’s you! But… you’re not. You’re anything but? You’re so calm… i-it’s freaking me out man.” Jackie takes another step away from Marvin, holding his arms tight against his body. “You’ve… you’ve been freaking me out since you got back Marv. S-So much so I don’t think either of us should be crime-fighting right now…. I-i don’t trust myself enough to be on the scene when I’m like this.” The hero then swallows thickly, having difficulty looking at Marvin again, before he adds quietly, “ And… with everything that’s happened… I’m not sure how much I trust you right now either…”

Then he smiles at Marvin, though it definitely doesn’t reach his eyes. “The city isn’t gonna fall apart without us for a few days, Marv. It hasn’t fallen apart yet!” He tries to laugh, “We should… really take the chance to recover and get better, don’t you think?”

There’s tense silence between the boys once Jackie finishes and waits for Marvin to respond. The cat masked brother stares at Jackie, seemingly at a loss for words. Jackie can’t tell if it’s a trick of the street light or not but Marvin’s eyes seemed lighter like they did before this whole thing with Phantom. He looks conflicted. But after a while, the magician’s eyes darken as his gaze draws back up to Jackie’s.

“Jackie…” Marvin’s voice almost sounds close to breaking for a second before it drops deeper, “you’re a fool.”

Marvin quickly breaches the distance between him and the hero and grabs Jackie by the front of his uniform. He snarls in his face, sharp canines bared and eyes electric with purple fire. Black smoke seems to escape from Marvin’s mouth as he hissed, “The glitch won’t give us days off.”

Jackie is then roughly pushed aside as Marvin moves past him. Jackie only sees his caped back for an instant before he’s gone in a burst of purple smoke.

The hero stands there a brief pause before a long heavy sigh leaves his mouth. He reaches behind him, his fingers grasping for something in his backpack pocket. His bright blue mask is pulled out and he quickly ducks out of sight before slipping the stiff cloth onto his face. It attaches around his eyes and his once brunette hair sparks to bright neon green. He opens his eyes and they glow with silver-blue fire.

Jackieboy man leans up against the alley wall though and sighs, looking up at the night sky.

“You really can’t get me a break can you, Marv?” he laughs bitterly. Finally, the hero pushes himself off the wall, rolling out stiff muscles before he starts to pulls out some of his gadgets and his super suit to track his brother down. He just hoped the magician wouldn’t get into too much trouble before Jackie got to him.

Marvin zipped from rooftops to rooftop in clouds of dark purple smoke, almost indistinguishable from the night sky. His face was set in a furious scowl, his stomach burning with anger. Why didn’t Jackie get it? What happened to the hero he once knew?

He doesn’t believe in you. In your potential. Celine’s sinister voice echoes in his head. ...show the hero how mighty Marvin the Magnificent can be! Then you can find the power to down that little glitch problem of yours.

The cat masked magician growls to himself, biting on his nail through his glove. “How am i supposed to take him down without Jackie? If Jackie won’t fight…” Marvin stops on the edge of rooftop and lights a purple flame in his palm, letting it dance on his fingertips as he muses to himself, “How can I show him that now, we have more than enough power to take him down for good? I need him… to trust me. I need him to believe in what I can do!”

But suddenly, not even two blocks over, the loud blare of alarm bells began to sound off. Marvin’s head whipped towards the noise as he extinguished his flame. He muttered a quick vision enhancing spell and his eyes glowed as he looked in the distance. Two figures with bags full to bursting were rushing full speed away from a broken shop window. A third figure seemed to hold someone in their arms with a weapon pointed at their head, a hostage? Marvin’s lips twisted in a grin.

“Oh. Perfect.”

Jackie sprinted down allies and vaulted over rooftops with his super jump, panting heavily. God, he was out of practice again. But, he had to find Marvin. He had a terrible feeling in his gut that only grew worse the longer it took to find his brother. He pulls out the tracker clipped onto his utility belt only for the blip that is supposed to be Marvin’s to glitch and spaz purple before disappearing. Jackie grunts in frustration and wacks the device a few times before giving up and dumping it in his backpack.

“So much for that…” He mutters before looking out over the city landscape of Brighton, “C’mon Marv… where are you?”

He prepares another super jump, bending his legs before loud alarm bells ring behind him. He startles back and nearly falls off the ledge he’s on before turning around. Where, where? There! His enhanced hearing could pick it up about 5 blocks to the west. That’s close to the shopping district.

Jackie rolls his eyes to himself, “The city just can’t stay quiet when I need it to can it?” He sighs. Then he stiffens, eyes widening. If there was crime happening, then-

“Marvin!”

The red-clad hero makes it to the shopping district in record time, despite sweating buckets. His heart was beating hard in his chest as he sprints down the street, trying to find evidence of the crime, of where his brother could be. As he sprints, he passes by a broken storefront, with employees being questioned by police. One employee perks up when they see him and shouts out, “Jackieboy Man! They went that way!” Before pointing farther down the street. Jackie nods and gives the citizen and thumbs up before dashing even faster down that way.  

He doesn’t make it that much farther down the street before something starts to feel off. The air...feels wrong. It feels electric, like when you get too close to an exposed wire. An involuntary shiver runs down Jackie’s spine as he starts to cautiously jog down the street, now on full alert. That’s when he started to hear screaming. The hero jolted, ready to run again only to almost slam straight into another sprinting figure. Jackie quickly caught them and saw it was a young teenage boy, crying and terrified.

The hero knelt down and held the boy by the shoulders, “Hey hey, what’s wrong? What happened?”

“”J-Jackieboy Man?” The frightened boy stammered, before looking behind his shoulder and trying to push past Jackie, “W-We gotta get out of here! H-He’s crazy! He’s crazy!”

“Woah woah,” Jackie tried to reason with the boy, holding him back, “Just tell me what happened fast okay?”

“Those thugs! They took me! Took me away to steal the stuff from the store! B-But then he swooped down and saved me! B-But when the guys tried to fight him back-” The boy’s eyes grew wide and he held himself, shaking, “There were these weird lights, and the guy was screaming! Then he just fell, he was all dark- I-I think he killed him! Oh god, they’re dead- H-He’s gonna kill me too-”

The masked hero felt like he already knew the answer as he swallowed the huge lump in his throat but he asked anyway, “What did he look like? The guy with the weird lights.”

“H-He had a white cat mask.”

Jackie’s stomach dropped and his blood ran cold. He quickly pushed the panicked boy farther down the street. “Go, kid, there’s police that way that will keep you safe. Go! Run!” The teen didn’t waste any time as he ran and Jackie quickly turned around and sprinted faster down the street the opposite way.

Another haunting scream echoed down an alley right as Jackie neared it and the hero quickly rounded the corner. He couldn’t believe his eyes at the sight.

Two thugs lay on the ground, faces frozen in what looked like half screams. Their eyes were glossy white, almost as if they were blind. The rest of their bodies looked like they were covered in dark purple dust like all the light had been sucked out of them. Wisps of black smoke leaked off their bodies and seemed to be sucked towards the rising figures behind them.

The third thug was being held in the air tight by telekinesis, grasping at his throat and kicking wildly as he screamed at the grinning magician below him.

“You killed them you son of bitch! You fucking killed them! Y-You’re a sick freak! I thought you good guys didn’t do that!” Marvin cocked his head at that before giggling and tightening his hold on the thief's throat. The pickpocket coughed harshly and clawed at the air before he choked out, “I-I’ll give you the money and the goods back! J-Just let me go!”

Marvin hummed to himself, eyeing the discarded bags of treasures before he turned pure purple eyes back to his captive. “I’m not sure you’ve really earned that mercy. You endangered a small boy. Haven’t you ever heard of ‘an eye for an eye’?” His face split into an eerie Cheshire cat-like grin as the thug’s eyes widened in terror. The cat masked magician’s eyes darkened and the whole of them turned dark purple as he began to chant in that dark language that made Jackie’s skin crawl. The skin around the thief's neck started to burn dark purple like his friend’s, spreading like diseased veins and he screamed, his eyes started to gloss over into a milky white…

“STOP!”” Jackie screamed, pitching forward in panic. Marvin’s head immediately whipped around, dropping the thug to the ground with a sickening crack. Jackie’s heart pounded in his ears as he looked his brother dead in the eyes like he was staring down a completely different person.

Marvin grinned from ear to ear and thrust his arms out like he was back onstage. “Jackie! So nice of you to join us!” Black smoke curled out from the corners of his mouth as he spoke, and from his rolled up sleeves, Jackie could definitely see them now. Glowing purple veins, crawling up Marvin’s arms from underneath his gloves towards his inner arms and then some. Freaky lavender light ringed his normally blue eyes as he grinned down at the stammering hero.

“What… what the hell are you doing Marvin?”

Marvin blinked but his smile didn’t falter, “Why what needed to be done, Jackieboy! The city needs to be saved if you’re taking a break, so I’m saving it in you stea-”

“This isn’t saving it!” Jackie yelled back, throwing his arms out to the bodies of the thugs next to him. The air around them felt frightening cold, “You don’t save anyone by killing people Marvin! You know this!”

The magician’s face changed at this, falling to a more serious one as his eyes flashed even darker. He stepped forward, over the bodies like they were nothing.

“Jackie,” He said, his voice suddenly sounding… strange. Stronger. Distorted. “This is what we could do to the glitch. I have the power we need to end him. Once and for all. Don’t you want that?”

The hooded hero took a shaky step back, shaking his head like he was in a daze. “W-What? N-No! I-I I don’t want to kill anyone! I’m not that kind of hero!” Jackie spat back.

Marvin giggled and pushed forward, his voice slithering through the air, “Don’t lie to me Jackie. Don’t tell me you’ve never wanted him dead. For what he did to me.” Marvin touched his mask over the right eye, leaving behind dark purple stains on the white mask. “Or to Henrik. Or to Jack. We can make him pay for all of that!” The air suddenly felt foggy, it was hard to think… or breathe. Jackie kept feeling himself being drawn to Marvin’s glowing eyes in the fog. The more he talked...the more he started to feel that anger resurface in his head.

But the hero shook it off and held his head, feeling dizzy all of sudden. Why was it so hard to think past this? “R-Revenge is wrong, Marvin! W-We have to be better… than him......” Jackie clenched his teeth together, the anger getting stronger but it felt forced like it was not his own.

The magician giggled darkly as he strode forward, “Oh but Jackie… It would feel so good...don’t you think? Finally… we could win!”

Jackie’s mind was spiraling, he couldn’t think straight. The alley was twisting and turning before him and he felt like he was gonna throw up. His frustration, his anger made him feel hot like he could pass out. He couldn’t lie though… he wanted to win. He wanted to beat Anti so badly. He wanted to punish him for all he had done to innocents, to Jack's fans. What he had done to his brothers….

The hero had to hold his head tight, to block out Marvin’s voice in his head. This… This wasn’t the way to do it...What Marvin was doing would never be the right way!

But, just trying to think that had Jackie’s knees shaking and his throat tight, hardly able to breathe. Why was it so hard to fight Marvin’s words? No...Unless…

Jackie flashed furious sliver-blue eyes up at his brother, “Marv….are..are you trying to influence me?!”

Marvin’s eyes darkened, flashing purple again before he flashed a too sharp grin. He stepped predatorily forward as Jackie scrambled back. His fingers began to reveal swirls of dark purple and lavender magic. He chuckled slightly unhinged.

“You always were too smart for your own good,” Marvin sneered, “Our fearless leader...If I get you to trust me… The others will follow with little resistance. And the glitch will be gone for good!” He raised his hands, letting the magic combine into one massive spiral, the force growing stronger. He laughed even wilder, “No one has to know the thought was not your own!”

The hypnotic pull of the magic was almost too strong to fight, the light caught in Jackie’s eyes. But, the hero managed to duck his head away and turn quickly sprinting back down the street.

Jackie wanted to say it was strategy that made him run, some big plan he had brewing in his head, but no. It was fear. Overwhelming fear that drives his legs to bunch up and flee, leaping onto the buildings behind him as his heart hammered wildly in his chest.

It wasn’t long until Jackie heard Marvin’s laughter follow after him. It only made him jump faster from rooftop to rooftop, almost in a blind panic. Marvin’s magic was too strong right now. Whatever freaky new stuff he learned was too effective. If Jackie got caught in it again…

“Jackie, Jackie, Jackie…”  The red-suited hero skidded to a halt and looked around wildly for the magician. Marvin’s voice cut through the open air around him. It was tinny, echoey like it was on a- There, tucked in the corner of this rooftop was an abandoned radio where Marvin’s voice now slithered from.

“If only the others knew what a coward you were… would they put such faith in you?”

Doubt and loathing started to creep into Jackie’s mind, his limbs feeling numb.

“N-No…” He breathed, shakily stepping backward.

“Perhaps it’s time you stepped down Jackie… You seem so tired….” Marvin’s voice echoed almost gently. Jackie’s shoulders relaxed almost. He had told Marvin earlier he was tired...“I’ll watch over our dear sweet brothers… They need a strong leader, right?”

Jackie almost nodded but quickly shook his head and snapped out of it, “What-No!” He shouted. But he hadn’t realized how close to the edge of the roof he was. His foot slipped and with a strangled yell he slipped off the side.

Luckily, the hero’s reflexes were fast and he grabbed a window sill to slow his descent. But he couldn’t hold for too long and he tumbled to the ground. He groaned as he got up and quickly assessed the damage. Just some tough bruises… no broken bones thankfully.

Jackie looked up to see where he has fallen only to feel his stomach drop. A storefront filled with TVs was to his right and not too far away on his left a game store filled with screens. The hero quickly tried to get to his aching feet but soon the screens buzzed with purple static as Marvin’s voice purred with slight amusement. The static on the screens started to shift into swirls of power and Jackie quickly shut his eyes and tried to cover his ears.

“You really are quite the piece of work, Jackie.” Marvin mused, “You don’t want to do the smart thing and help save your brothers. Yet you won’t step down and let a better leader save them from the monster who wants to torture them….”

Suddenly the light from the screen grew brighter, more intense. Jackie could feel the warmth on his skin and behind his eyelids. The air burned with energy like the street could set fire at any minute.

Marvin’s voice suddenly grew furious as the light flashed, “YOU MUST CHOOSE JACKIE! Either You or I must kill the glitch! It’s the only way to save them!” His voice boomed across the street, shaking the glass of the windows and making Jackie’s knees buckle. The lights of the screens flickered and sputtered before dying. The sound of sparking electronics hit Jackie’s ears as he crumbled to his knees. His own mind felt shaken by the impact.

“N-No!” He sobbed, feeling tears build up underneath his lashes. He gripped his head tight, curled up on himself. Marvin was wrong… he was wrong… he was…

Jackie was having a harder time convincing himself of that, Marvin’s poison words reaching into and digging claws into Jackie’s mind. But, Jackie prided himself on two things. His morals as a hero, and his ability to protect his family.

Eventually, Jackie rose back on shaky feet, face set in determination. He gritted his teeth, pushing Marvin’s corruption out of his brain as best he could.

“I… I don’t have to choose anything- I’m… I’m a hero! I don’t hurt people, I protect, I save people! Jack didn’t make me to kill! Nothing you say will change that Marvin!”

There’s a long disturbing bout of silence as Jackie’s words echo down the street and into the open night air. The hero swallows, bracing himself for Marvin’s next flashy attack.

But, instead, he’s surprised to hear Marvin’s voice start to come from his back. It’s muffled so Jackie has to take off his bag and ruffle through it to find the source. His...tracker?

“Jack…” Marvin spits, his voice spits with malice. “What has Jack done for you and me lately? Nothing! He’s let that glitch run free- And he’s given more spotlight to every other ego more than us! ...isn’t that sad Jackie? Didn’t he once say, you were one of his favorites?”

Jackie swallowed thickly. He… he didn’t want to admit he had felt a little… left out lately. But, he had faith in Jack. He knew his creator knew what he was doing.

But Marvin continued, sounding like he was grinning with uncontained excitement. “Just think Jackie… if we get rid of Anti- the fan favorite. The one pulling the strings. We can be on top! Not just you and me- but all of us! We wouldn’t be pushed aside anymore. Jack wouldn’t forget us anymore- all we have to do is-”

Jackie listened closely as Marvin rambled. He.. He had to admit that did sound nice. To have some content for themselves… But no-If that’s not what Jack had planned-!

Wait- As Jackie almost felt pulled under, movement on the tracker caught his attention. The once nonexistent dot of Marvin’s, cloaked by his magic, now blipped on the screen. It glitched between green and purple as the screen zoomed in on its location. The triangle representing Jackie came into view and… just to his right behind him popped up-!

Jackie didn’t even waste a second. He dropped the tracker and built up power in his fist, his eyes and fist glowing with silver blue fire. He caught the surprise in the magician's eyes, seeing the swirling magic of his ambush right before Jackie’s fist connected with Marvin’s face. His brother collapsed on the pavement like a sack of bricks, out cold. Jackie panted heavily, watching as blood leaked out Marvin’s most likely broken nose.

The air around them finally settled, relieving tension as Jackie sighed and slumped against a nearby wall. He caught his breath and tried not to stare at Marvin’s passed out body cold on the street. With the unnatural glowing veins that invaded his skin and the burned purple marks on his mask. If he didn’t look..maybe he could pretend his brother was alright.

Jackie bit down hard on his lip to bite back a sob. Heroes don’t cry...not now. He still had a job to do. He quickly pulled out his phone from his belt and dialed an all too familiar number.

“Hey Hen… s-something’s up with Marv- we need to get everyone together. Got a spare bed?”

[thebryanandsilvergarbage]

The 19th Annual Bryan Awards - Programming Nominees

New Series of the Year: Black Monday (Showtime) Gentleman Jack (HBO) Kidding (Showtime) The Kominsky Method (Netflix) The Masked Singer (Fox) A Million Little Things (ABC) Pose (F/X) Russian Doll (Netflix) Succession (HBO) The World’s Best (CBS)

 Comedy Series: Barry (HBO) The Big Bang Theory (CBS) black-ish (ABC) GLOW (Netflix) The Kominsky Method (Netflix) The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon Prime) Veep (HBO)

 Drama Series: Better Call Saul (AMC) Game of Thrones (HBO) Killing Eve (BBC America) Ozark (Netflix) Pose (F/X) Succession (HBO) This Is Us (NBC) Daytime Soap: The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS) Days of Our Lives (NBC) General Hospital (ABC) The Young and the Restless (CBS) Limited Series: Catch-22 (Hulu) Chernobyl (HBO) Escape from Dannemora (Showtime) Fosse/Verdon (F/X) Sharp Objects (HBO) When They See Us (Netflix)

 Variety Sketch Series: At Home with Amy Sedaris (Tru TV) Drunk History (Comedy Central) Saturday Night Live (NBC) Tracey Ullman’s Show (HBO) Who Is America? (Showtime) Whose Line Is It Anyway? (The CW) Late Night Talk Show: The Daily Show With Trevor Noah (Comedy Central) Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC) Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) The Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS) The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (NBC) Live Special: Bill Maher: Live from Oklahoma (HBO) The 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards (NBC) The 61st Grammy Awards (CBS) Live In Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear’s All in the Family and The Jeffersons (ABC) The Oscars (ABC) The 72nd Annual Tony Awards (CBS) Pre-Recorded Variety Special: Carpool Karaoke: When Corden Met McCartney (CBS) Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce (Netflix) The Kennedy Center Honors (CBS) Real Time With Bill Maher Anniversary Special (HBO) 2019 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (HBO) The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Desde Puerto Rico (NBC)

 Reality Competition Program: The Amazing Race (CBS) American Ninja Warrior (NBC) RuPaul’s Drag Race (VH1) Survivor (CBS) The Voice (NBC) The World’s Best (CBS)

Structured Reality Program: Antiques Roadshow (PBS) Bar Rescue (Paramount Network) Lip Sync Battle (Paramount Network) Live PD (A&E) Queer Eye (Bravo) Shark Tank (ABC) Traditionally Unstructured Reality Program: Born This Way (TLC) The Employables (A&E) I Am Jazz (TLC) Intervention (A&E) Naked and Afraid (Discovery) United Shades of America with W. Kamau Bell (CNN) Daytime Talk Show: The Dr. Oz Show (Syndicated) The Ellen DeGeneres Show (Syndicated) Live with Kelly and Ryan (Syndicated) Steve (Syndicated) The Talk (CBS) The View (ABC) Game Show: Family Feud (Syndicated) Hollywood Game Night (NBC) Jeopardy (Syndicated) Match Game (ABC) The Price is Right (CBS)

Made for Television Movie: Black Mirror: Baldersnatch (Netflix) Brexit (HBO) Deadwood the Movie (HBO) My Dinner with Herve (HBO) O.G. (HBO)

Animated Program: Bob’s Burgers (Fox) Ducktales (Disney XD) Family Guy (Fox) Our Cartoon President (Showtime) The Simpsons (Fox) South Park (Comedy Central)

Children’s Program: Arthur (PBS) Carmen Sandiego (Netflix) Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood (PBS) Fuller House (Netflix) Muppet Babies (Disney Junior) Sesame Street (HBO) Song of Parkland (HBO)

 Special Class Non-Fiction Program: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN) The Circus: Inside The Greatest Show The White House (Showtime) Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (Netflix) Vice (HBO) Wyatt Cenec’s Problem Areas (HBO) The Young and the Restless: A Tribute to Kristoff St. John (CBS)

Most Missed Series: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN; 2013-2018) The Big Bang Theory (CBS; 2007-2019) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW; 2015-2019) Game of Thrones (HBO; 2011-2019) House of Cards (Netflix; 2013-2018) Veep (HBO; 2012-2019)