#ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME GAME??????? ARE YOU JOKING???????? WHY MUST YOU HURT ME?????!!!?!??

[xbraveheartx]

“At least the wooden puppet’s father was kind.”

[obsessedwrhys]

𝘐'𝘓𝘓 𝘞𝘈𝘐𝘛 𝘍𝘖𝘙 𝘠𝘖𝘜𝘙 𝘓𝘖𝘝𝘌 𝘐𝘕 𝘈𝘕𝘖𝘛𝘏𝘌𝘙 𝘓𝘐𝘍𝘌

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ angst, death, cursing, no happy ending, reader is female (shes for the girls 😼💪)!! Tommy is sort of replaced by reader in some scenarios. Did no proof read this again (im lazy)!!

ᯓ★

From as long as you knew, the two of you were inseparable, having knowing each other for almost 6 years. When Marlene needed some smugglers to smuggle Ellie out of the city, you happened to be one of the three and that's how you guys first met. However, on the journey of finding the Fireflies, it seemed to be full of surprises.

Just when you thought it was the end, more just show up to throw you off guard.

Going from Ellie's lame dad jokes to having to look after her when Joel was in no condition to do anything. You barely had the chance to catch your breath. In a way you were like the older sister since you were one year bigger than her. That's why when it was revealed the doctors needed to kill her to create a vaccine, you were game with the idea of massacring the whole hospital.

After escaping from the Fireflies, in a way, it's like you guys were able to build a new life at Jacksons.

As you two grew older, you found yourself developing feelings for her. You hated yourself for letting it happen but at the same you couldn't stop the crush from growing.

The more time you spent with her, the more you start to notice the little details about her.

How she bites her lips when she's shy.

How she'll look away when she receives a compliment.

How she would share her collection of cards with just you.

... and the way her eyes seem to always sparkle when she spots you amongst the crowd.

All these things just made you fall for her harder. But even in this new lifestyle, it still seemed to come with a box of surprises.

You were in your own house, inside the kitchen preparing a cup of coffee for yourself. It was almost the evening but you couldn't deny your needs. Before you could even take a sip, your front door was slammed open and you turned to see who it was. Your cup still in hand.

To your surprise, you came face to face with an angry expresson on Ellie. However there was more to it, she looked upset, betrayed. That was when you heard a voice telling you inside your head that she must have found out about the truth you and Joel agreed to keep from her.

"You fucking knew" She said. A blank expression remained on your face as you took a sip of your coffee, still trying to maintain your image at this time.

"I don't know what you're talking about" You gently place your coffee on the kitchen counter. Your words having her scoff out of disbelief.

"Don't play dumb with me! I'm not a fucking kid anymore!" She took a few steps closer.

You let out a sigh as your eyes trailed off to the window, looking at the outside. Your lack of response just pissing her off even more. Suddenly, she rushed forward and grabbed you by the shirt. Her actions getting your attention instantly.

"Look at me!" She shouted.

"Look at me and tell me!"

"Tell you what? That I killed all those people for you? That I saved you from those doctors? Is that what you want to hear?!" You raised your voice.

It was the first time she ever see you this angry and this was the first time you see her direct her anger at you. She glares at you before letting go of you, shoving you slightly against the kitchen counter which made several of the kitchenware dangle on the rack.

"How could you...?" She said, her expression now full of hurt.

"It doesn't matter anymore. It already happened. Ellie, this is your life now..." You took a step forward but she ended up taking a step back.

"My life could have meant something"

"Your life would have ended that day! Fuck... listen... Ellie... there was no way that vaccine was gonna work anyways. They were just basing it off a bunch theories. You have to understand" You said but it didn't change her mind even in the slightest. Within seconds, the hatred returned back on her face as she looks at you.

"I never wanna see you again" She said and before you could say anything else, she stormed out the house and left you all alone to your thoughts.

You sigh as you ruffle through your hair out of frustration. How could this happen? How did she find out? Did Joel tell her? Fuck... you rest both your hands on the counter top. Your cup of coffee already growing cold.

Just when you thought your life was hell, a bunch of people from somewhere had ambushed you and Joel when you guys were out on patrol.

The blonde girl you had thought was just another survivor being the one smashing his head open with a golf club and you couldn't do anything as you were knocked out. It was Ellie's cries that had awoken you moments later.

Your eyes fluttered open to be met with the sight of Ellie holding Joel close to her chest, tears streaming down her face while her clothes were dirtied with his blood. She was clinging to him like she was hoping being closer to him would bring him back. But it never happened. During his funeral, you couldn't even show up. The guilt was killing you.

You could have stopped it...

Why didn't you stop it?

Restless nights drove you insane. Apart from the checkups from Tommy, you felt like you were truly alone. You hadn't think this feeling would come to haunt you again after moving to Jacksons. Which led to your rational decision to set out on your way of finding the blonde girl behind this. Nothing but a note left on the kitchen table just for anyone who happens to look for you.

It was hard, you didn't only have the infected to deal with but also a cult. You survived and work your way closer to the location marked on your map.

But in the end, all of it didn't matter because when you finally came close to getting your revenge, you blew it, the girl's physique was larger compared to yours so she easily won over the duel and knocked you into the ocean. It was a miracle you made it to shore.

You felt numb.

Your ears ringing.

In a way you felt that you had failed Ellie.

Because you knew you were never gonna be the girl she looks up to anymore.

You will forever be known as the girl that broke her trust.

The girl she hates.

God sometimes it feels like no matter how hard you try it was never enough...

With your back on the sand, you couldn't help but chuckle a bit. It was silly but you always thought that maybe you'd have a chance with her. What a world would that be?

"(Y/N)?"

You look over your head to see Jesse standing there, your perspective upside down as he rushes over to you. Once he was sure you were okay, he started to fill you in with the things that happened after you left.

As it turns out Ellie had also set out for the same exact goal.

After you were gone, she was confronted by Tommy in hopes she knew where you were headed. To his surprise, she had no clue since the last time you guys spoke was the argument in your house.

Despite the fact that part of her journey was for seeking revenge, she was also worried for you. She had to admit. She was scared. After losing Joel, she didn't want to lose you too. However in the end when she had to choose between finding the girl behind the death of Joel and finding you, she had picked the first one.

Luckily, Jesse was able to take you to where Ellie was at. When you rushed in the aquarium, you found her hunched over and vomiting. Close-by there were two dead bodies, one of them being a pregnant woman. Almost like it was an instinct, you quickly moved to where Ellie was. A hand placed on her back and the other her shoulder.

"Hey... Ellie... its me..." You said, your tone gentle. The sight of you somehow made her relax a bit.

"I...I just... oh god... I didn't mean to..." Her eyes constantly glancing over at the body of the pregnant woman as she stutters but you quickly grab her by the side of her face before she could again.

"It doesn't matter... we have to go..." You told her but she was still hyperventilating. With your arm around her, you ended up dragging her away from the place.

Eventually on the way to the theater they were using as hideout, you guys decided to rest for a while and set up a small camp inside an abandoned book store. Jesse took notice that you two needed time alone and volunteered to keep watch somewhere else. There was tension in the air but you tried to ignore it by making sure the fire didn't die.

"You shouldn't have left without me" Ellie blurted out and you chose to put aside the twig to focus on the conversation.

"You said you didn't want to see me again... so I didn't" You said. The sounds of the fire crackling filling up the quiet night.

You were curious at her silence.

Is she thinking right now?

Did you just piss her off even more?

"You're right" She got up and suddenly began walking over to the other side of the room. You didn't say anything but just watch her rest at the corner before looking back at the fire.

Great job, you fucked up again.

The next morning, you guys continued on your way to the theater while also looking for some supplies inside the buildings nearby. You ended up checking on a small convenience store by yourself while Ellie and Jesse tried to get in the huge supermarket. You walked down the aisle and was able to find several snacks still edible. Then you saw a door.

Staffs Only.

That room has to be crawling with supplies. You twist open the doorknob and began exploring inside, checking every lockers to find it rich with medicines and bandages. It's a miracle this place wasn't looted by that cult.

After your bag was filled to the brim, you started to head out but the second you take a step forward, something grabbed you by the foot which made you fall on your face.

You grunt when you felt a sharp pain on your ankle. You looked down and to your horror you found it was an infected grabbing onto you, the bottom half of its body was missing but that didn't matter right now because its grip was already digging deep into your flesh. Quickly, you took out your gun and shot it multiple times in the head until it goes limp.

"Shit..." You sigh as you rest your head on the ground to process the adrenaline, your feet kicking the infected corpse off you.

Sooner or later, you made it to the hideout with the two. You found yourself settled inside a room to rest. Your bag placed against the sofa while you ran your hands across the face. You felt tired. Suddenly when you tried to lift your feet up to lay down, you felt a sharp pain, rolling up your pants you found a bite mark just inches above the bruises.

For a moment, you thought that your heart had stopped beating. Oh shit shit shit shit this can't be real. You can't be infected. Fuck... Your panic was interrupted when there was a knock on the door. You looked up in a panic.

"Hey um... you got a minute?" She asked. It was Ellie.

You were scared and you sure as hell didn't want her to come in so you remained quiet because inside your head, it felt like there was a red alarm sounding off. You've been infected. You could turn in a few hours from now.

"I'm sorry for the other night" She said which had you look at the door, imagining it's her you're looking at.

"I just figured it'd be easier to hate you than to forgive you"

"But after what happened to Joel... I can't let that happen to us too..." You could hear her sigh on the other side.

"It'll take some time for me to forgive you for what you did but... I'm willing to try... we can start over" She said.

Damn it... this moment could have been perfect... this was everything you had hoped for but at the same time, you knew you weren't going to make it out of this room alive. No matter what you do or say, it won't matter.

"I understand if you're still mad at me. I just hope that you'll also try" You quickly looked away while trying to wipe the tears from your face.

"Maybe after this we can try living together? I mean... your house is pretty big so I thought it can be kind of lonely sometimes. We can keep each other company... start a farm maybe..." She said and you could sense she was smiling a bit from her tone.

You felt your chest hurt. Is the infection spreading already? You can feel your teeth loosening like they'll fall off. Your silence had Ellie take the hint you wanted to be alone which had her smile faltered a bit.

"Look... You're still my best friend and I still care about you so I'm sorry for always making you feel like shit. You know I love you right?" She said and you closed your eyes in hopes of stopping the tears from pouring out.

"I love you too" You mouthed the words but you couldn't bring yourself to say it because even if you did, she'll never be able to understand how you truly felt about her.

"Just promise me you won't do anything stupid again. I can't afford to lose you..."

You clear your throat, feeling it go painfully sore. How could you keep a promise like that? Just then you could hear her walk away with the sound of her footsteps growing faint.

The second you were sure you were now left alone, you hurried to your feet to look at yourself in the mirror. You panicked. Why does this have to happen?

Why did it have to be you?

You pull on your hair out of frustration but then you felt several strands of it easily ripped out just from your grip. Your eyes widened as you felt like your heart was beating from your ears.

You were worried about what Ellie would think.

She just lost Joel... now she's gonna lose you...

Fuck fuck fuck...

You sobbed almost pathetically to yourself. Not because you knew your life was over but you knew what you had to do.

It's the only thing you can do right now.

You went over to your bag and took out your gun. Maybe... shooting yourself instead of letting yourself turn could be less painful. You'd do everyone a favour.

You took a deep breath as you slowly start to point it at your head. Fuck you were actually gonna do it now.

Tears welling up in your eyes once again as snot filled your nose. You had so many regrets... so many things you never got to try.

Maybe in another life, an outbreak never happened. Maybe you and Ellie would still meet in that world. You guys could have gone to college together, maybe have coffee dates or staying up late together to have deep conversations like you two always did. You closed your eyes and let out a long shaky breath.

Maybe you guys could have been in love.

BANG

Your body falls on the ground like a sack of rice. All of your senses drowned out by the heavy smell of blood. As your body slowly started to die, you could hear the sound of the door being slammed open. A figure running over to your side to pick you up.

"Oh shit... nononono... wake up! You fucking idiot! Why'd you do that?!" Ellie cried as she hold you in her embrace.

"Fuck! Jesse! Get the med kit!" Ellie shouted but the light in your eyes were slowly dimming.

"No don't you fucking leave me! Not you too! (Y/N)!"

Her voice was now gone. It was quiet and hauntingly in a way it felt comforting. Almost like all of your problems were washed away.

There was no more surprises you had to worry about.

You could rest now.

[yuujispinkhair]

Winterrrr~~~

I just had a thought!

Yuuji who’s roommates with his gfs and his brother Sukuna

Imagine poor Yuuji dealing with his gf recently buying a dating sim and she spending alll of her time on it, only responding to him in under ten words when he tries to talk to her

The poor baby would be quite literally laying his head on her lap trying to get her attention like a puppy, saying just about ANYTHING to make her set down her game

Sukuna bullys him for it, telling him he’s losing his gf to game just for entertainments sake. Then Yuuji breaking point is when he sees the guy she’s romancing in the game is all cool and tatted up like his brother Sukuna and he’s like “DO YOU LIKE SUKUNA BETTER THAN ME”

Which gets Sukuna’s attention and he decides to add fuel to the fire for fun and starts flirting. So you got two guys fawning all over you for ur attention just like in the game🤗

Was it intentional? Who knows~~~

BABE I AM GOING INSANE OVER THIS 💗💗💗💗

Oh, how Sukuna loves this! The devilish smirk on his face as he flirts with you just to rile his brother up. All the casual comments about how you must really like his tattoos. Walking around shirtless all the time. Being a sexy, charming tease who shamelessly flirts with you every chance he gets.

The thing is, Sukuna doesn't really want to steal his brother's girl. Of course not! He loves Yuuji and wouldn't hurt him like that. This is just a little fun. A joke. Just some typical Sukuna stuff to tease his bro and then laugh about Yuuji's angry scream or the fist connecting with Sukuna's face. Sukuna isn't really trying to get with you! This is just some harmless little game.

That's what he tells himself, at least.

Until it isn't anymore, and Sukuna feels a strange fluttery feeling in his chest anytime he play-flirts with you. And it's even worse when he walks in on you and Yuuji kissing in the kitchen. It feels like his heart got stabbed. And Sukuna realizes he has a huge problem.

Fuck. How did he get himself into this mess?

He tries to stay away from you. Even asks around if someone is looking for a roommate. He knows he should keep his distance and fuck off. But it's so damn hard! Especially because Sukuna has never felt that way about anyone before. But why does it have to be his brother's girl?

Sukuna knows he has to stop. He would feel like shit if he really ruined his brother's relationship. He has to make these feelings disappear somehow!

Or is there maybe a way to make everyone happy? Lately, you seem to initiate situations where all three of you have to spend time together and are really close. Yuuji may be oblivious to it, but Sukuna can see that something is going on. Clearly, you still love his brother just the same as before, but somehow, you seem to be a lot more affectionate toward Sukuna, too.

And so Sukuna makes up his mind. Maybe it's time to have a talk with his little brother. Didn't they manage to share their toys when they were still little kids? What speaks against doing the same thing now?

(I really hope one day I will have time to finally post my wip where Reader is roommates with the brothers and starts dating both of those fine pink-haired men!!)

[yandere-sins]

Ya playinnnnn DOL? Ashhshshshs

What do you think of the shady bastards of the town? Like Bailey, Remy, Briar… Wren, Avery~

Yessssss, thank you so much for asking me about them ♥ DoL is currently helping me through my depression phase, lol!

To be fair, I somehow managed to avoid Wren until now, idk how, but they probably weren't relevant in my playthroughs, lol. Can't say much about them, though! That said, I like all the characters in the game, but I do have some thoughts and feelings about them, I hope I get to write some in the future!!

So, the shadiest PoI in town from most to least favorite for me:

Avery

Love, love, love them! Absolutely always unlock them because... duh!! Good money, too, lol! Jokes aside, I love saving money all week just to dress up for them and play a nice trophy darling at their events! And the hotel room scene? I love it! And they are always so happy when you impress them with dancing or your English, and I'll be happy to play along with them. Yes, of course, my love, anything you say, my love (and anything you pay for, lol)! I think their title is such a farce; they are probably a trust fund kid, let's be honest, but I'm not complaining, lol! I have seen almost all of their events by now, and I am really looking forward to how their storylines will continue in the future since there's so much still unexplained and baffling, but I'll keep dating them; they are absolutely my favorite, and one of the few PoI that seem to actually care about you despite being fishy.

Harper

Listen, I got sent to the Asylum only once, and I've been avoiding it like the plague ever since. But I found myself quite intrigued with Harper afterward. What is their motive? Why are they doing what they are doing? Is it just scientific interest? Their encounters say otherwise, especially those at the check-up and underground farm! I know there must be more behind this doctor, and I need to find out, no matter what! They really have the "innocent" look down to a T, and then you land in the Asylum or the underground farm, and BOOM! Scumbag! Either way, good character, very fishy person, and the questions are eating me alive.

Briar

Oh, I hate them! But I love them. But I hate them. This could go on forever. Look, they are helpful. They have a good purpose if you want that fake ID. And you can make very good money relatively early on with Briar's help. But no matter how hard I try, raising their love is so damn hard I always give up. The opportunities are too small, and then you sign up for a show and get kidnapped or something, and they'll be so mad again. Also, it feels like you can do nothing without their permission, and it's annoying (kinda possessive, eh?). I just wanted to see Landry, why am I getting kidnapped in broad daylight from the Pub??? (I have not forgiven Briar for that, it really hurt my ego!) However, with Briar, there's a lot to do at least, and they possibly play a lot of roles in your daily life in DoL, and that's why I think they are quite entertaining, but I wish we could do more with them.

Leighton & Quinn

I didn't mind them a lot until I saw their endings for the Avery Event, where you are invited to poker night, and they intrigued me! Since then, I have gotten pretty close to Leighton, doing both the Blackmail Leighton and Get Blackmailed by Leighton events, and I have unlocked the archeology site with Quinn. They are both ultimately really fucking shady, but much like with Avery, there is still so much unexplained (although hinted at), and I wish we could have more interactions with them (and maybe actually make a change, like when we blackmail Leighton or rat them out to the police that it actually has consequences and punishments). So yeah, not my favorite PoI, but I am still really invested in them.

Bailey

Honestly, Bailey is pretty unlikeable. I hate how they want 4k every week; I mean, it's easier in the later game, but man, I'm trying to save to renovate a fucking farm; cut me some SLACK. (Also, can they stop dropping hope in the orphanage all the time?? I am working so hard to build it up!!!) Then again, Bailey saved me a few times from events, and I felt really thankful for that. There's so much going on with them. I hope we can build a relationship that will lead to better co-existence or partnership with them in the future. I feel like they could become a more important role with more direct events in the future. Still, their personality is, yeah, unlikeable and the scummiest of them all, really. Probably feels like that since you really can't escape them either without harsh consequences, so yeah. It's complicated.

Remy

In the beginning, I really liked Remy. Liked visiting the Ranch and riding horses, I thought they were pretty nice. Then I passed out in the moor, and ever since then… they've become really dull. It feels like they are one of the more involved PoI, at least, but the interactions and all just became so repetitive with them that it's no fun anymore. I'd like to know more about their involvement in these strange parties you can go to with Avery and what that's all about, but otherwise, I just try to avoid them these days. I already escaped 3 times from the farm, and although the game isn't programmed like that, I feel like there's no coming back from it for our relationship, lol. Maybe in the future again, hahaha.

[ghostiiess]

[NSB HEADCANONS] - them taking care of you when you’re pregnant!

synopsis: title says it all!

warnings: mention of morning sickness, vomiting, pregnancy stuff… some mistakes here and there

type: fluff

members: everyone

wc: around 200 by members? i think? so around 1.4K

not feeling 100% great atm, so im sorry if theres mistakes :((

reblogs and likes are very appreciated!

OLIVER MOY - the one who would support you by doing the tasks / giving you compliments during that period

The sweetest man

He would literally be the best dad, fr

LIKE HAVE YOU SEEN HIM WITH KIDS??? (Talking abt the members rn 🤣)

He would do all the tasks for you

And compliment you!

Oli would make sure that you eat food and drink your water

« And here’s for you, my love!!! Your favorite pasta! »

he would be soooo supportive 🥹

« Hey baby, I’ll take care of it! Go rest yourself, alright? »

« c’mon my love. Go take a break, I’ll do the chores! »

He’s literally the man we all wish we had in our life

« You look so beautiful with that baby dump »

« our baby will be so pretty »

« Do you think they will have my eyes or yours? Gosh, i hope they will have yours.. yours are so pretty »

OLIVER MOY, STOP BEING SO DAMN CUTE LIKE???

He would literally be the cutest man alive during this time (as if he wasnt enough sweet like that)

like tell me if im wrong (im not)

(Others members under the cut!)

SEBASTIAN MOY - the one who would try to make you laugh / smile

Listen…

This man would try to make the time less crampy

less painful too

Remember the video where he took the pregnancy test? He was screaming.

He knows you’re strong enough, and everything… but he hates seeing you in pain (even though its normal since ur literally pregnant lol)

So, obvs since he know it hurts, he would try to make the time less hard for you :( bc he know that the test and the pregnancy state is two completely different things

he took the pregnancy test and it hurted him so bad... he can't imagine it must be for you

But if he can make the time less painful by making you laugh / smile, he would do it

This man would buy flowers.

I just see him walking in ur house and being like « hey, here’s flowers for the future mommy »

Also, he would try to crack jokes here and there

Pregnancy jokes, even!

« Why did the pregnant woman go on a picnic? Because she was craving a little something extra! »

thank you seb for this joke 😐

He would also bring your favorite food / drinks 🥤

He would search them on google and he would be so proud

"im gonna be the funny one in this family"

He’s the energetic member of the group, but for you, he would try to rest and not move too much 🥲 like this man would, surprisingly, be calm (only for you, babe)

Seb would be such a good supporter too, although affirmations is not his first love language, he would be super cute. i promise you :)

RYAN NGUYEN - the one who would help you with ur cravings / the one who try to make you relax

He would judge you so bad for ur cravings

But he would buy them for you

Why? Bc even though he thinks its weird, he knows it could make u happy and make you smile

And him seeing your smile can easily make his day 😚

« babe, i love you with all my heart, i truly do, but… why are you putting bananas in apple sauce and yogourt…? »

But he loves you! (sometimes hes giving you a side eye)

Also… he would literally take care of everything

A bit like Oliver would do :)

« Babe, don’t worry abt it! I can take care of it »

« Need help? Alright, wait a sec »

He would quit his game for you in like 0.3844843 sec

« What the fuck just happened?!?!- baby? Need help? Yeah, one sec… alright boys, im heading out » (he would say smth like that)

« Go relax, my love. I can do it »

« Baby… stop overworking yourself! I know you can do it, but i want you to relax… you’ve been working all day »

Also, even thought it doesn’t look like it, he would be super supportive

He’s just more an ‘actions’ than a ‘word’ kind of person

JUSTIN PHAN - the one who would send you voices messages during your day to make sure ur taking care of urself and not overworking / help you with your morning sickness

Justin would be the type to grab his phone during a really important moment and just text you / give u voice messages

Although he know u love helping around in the house and doing ur tasks, he make sure that you don’t get overworked

« Hey baby, im with the boys at the store… do u need anything at the store? »

This man’s would also help you during the morning sickness

He just want the best for you 😁

Jp look like the person who knows when there’s a problem without you having to say it

« Hey baby, is everything okay? »

Like idk why but he look like the type that would read faces lol

he has this gut feeling, what can i say?

« Hold on, drink that glass of water, okay? Deep breath, baby… »

« Yeah, just like that »

If he see you vomiting, he would take ur hair up and pat ur back

« it’s okay baby, let it all out, everything's gonna be fine»

«  if anything happen, wake me up alright? I want to be there for you »

Like for sure, seeing vomit is not the most aesthetic thing he saw, but he knows that it’s normal

KANE RATAN - the one who would massage you and listen to you

this man would be so cute.

I literally said that to everyone 💀 but it’s true

We all know how kane give good massages

This man know what he’s doing!

He probably took massages classes when he was younger, bc this man would give u the best massage ever

« come here, i will give you a lil’ massage, baby… let me knock out the stress away! »

Also, during the massage…

He would literally let you talk about your pregnancy, how the cramps are, how is it… or just random stuff haha

In others words: let you vent abt what ur going through during that time, because he knows its not always easy

« Tell me if it hurt, okay? I don’t want to hurt you »

Also, i feel he would be the type to ask this question:

« Do you think we’ll have a girl or a boy? »

« if im being honest, i don’t really mind if its a girl or a boy… as long as they’re happy, im happy »

« Do you think we could play anime music? Do you think it would make them a fan of AOT? Or we could play one piece!! omg baby, do you think they would like aot or one piece more? »

Not Kane wanting to make ur future baby (not even borned yet lol) a fan of AOT… such a relaxing and childish anime, wow!!!

DARREN LIANG - the one who would cook for you and kiss ur cramps away

We all know how Darren is a great cook

So I’m sure he would love to cook for you :)

« hey babe, i just cooked ur favorite meal! »

Isn’t he so cute? 🥹

The con is that he would judge your cravings.. like Ryan.

BUTTTTT he know it can make you happy, so he would obviously make them for you if it can make you happy!

Also, he would kiss your cramps away

To me, he looks like such a sweetheart when it come to pain or smth like that

« Hey baby, are you okay? »

« Do you want me to help you? »

A bit like Kane, dar’ would give you a little massage

« You’re so cute baby »

And he would kiss you 🤭 bc it’s Darren we’re talking abt!

also, if ur in the mood... its ur lucky day!! bc this man's always in the mood!

« Are you feeling a bit better? »

« Come and rest next to me, alright? »

He’s such a sweetheart, woah

REGIE MACALINO - the one who would go shopping with you for baby clothes / decorations

He would be the best dad ever, no joke

He would buy soooo many decorations and clothes, like we all know how regie has style, like there’s absolutely no way his son / daughter won’t have style too

And even if regie says « i put whatever i want » like okay maybe he do, but like it is styled in a way that i can’t explain lmaooo

I’m sorry, he just seem to be the type to search a bit in store, then on pinterest to see what would look good lol 🫢

I’m sure regie would be the type to search on Pinterest some baby decorations

Btw, your baby's room would be sooo messy, im so sorry

Regie would only look for cool bedsheets and fun decorations, but not for organizer bc have you seen his room?? Guys, it’s a bit messy im sorry

So regie wouldn’t be the type to buy organizer, BUTTTTTT he would make sure to let (try) the piece clean with his kid if it can make you happy

Regie seems tough, but he’s indeed a big sweetheart

He has sm love for us the star (his fan) so imagine for his kid-

He would be the cutest dad ever, like I’m sure regie would be there for his kid in all the ways he can

He would take care of you so so much too

He would be like Oliver haha

Sing for you, make you food, do the tasks (look how gentleman he is)… also, he would def make the baby like him more.. im sorry

taglist! (open! send an ask if you’d like to be added) : @nsb-rkive @kentisbaby @firebenderwolf @hyuneee0 @yawnzzznnn @ghostyycat7

Olegie has my heart 🤭

100% recommand this man!

Bold can’t be tagged.

[cmyk-anaglyph-honeycomb]

Helluva Boss S2E9 blind blogging

[did the minimum about of editing and half of it was done while I was at work, so please excuse any grammar mistakes.]

(Mostly relating to the last episode)

Again, Stolas refuses to just talk. He was walking away and teleported Blitzo out of the building but now, after ignoring texts, he gets pissy cuz Blitzo wants to talk. 100% of this is because Stolas doesn't want a conversation. Blitzo misunderstands his intentions and jumps to conclusions, but when at least 3 opportunities to talk are given, Stolas shuts down.

Also where was this desire for a real relationship months ago after Blitzo admitted that he didn’t see their relationship as anything other than Stolas wanting to sleep with him. THAT is when they should've had an honest talk not mouths of avoiding each other.

(Okay now this ep)

God they made Blitzo so obnoxious to prove a point.

Veronika is a famous popstar, wtf does she care enough to throw an anti-Blitzo party? They have barely interacted in the show, never once in this season, why is she suddenly so pissed at him? How does she know Stolas is an ex, that happened recently.

If Stolas is that ‘done’ with Blitzo why doesn’t he just teleport him off the property again?

"Im UnCoMfOrTaBlE wITh HoW yOuRe SpEaCkInG tO mE nOw" fuck off. You had no problem going on a rant about all the dirty shit you wanted to do to him while he was being fucking gun down but now that shits uncomfortable. 

Stolas said whatever he wanted to Blitzo whenever he wanted and the second he doesn't feel like it, talking like that is breaking a huge boundary. Jump off a bridge.

Where did he get the impression that Blitzo and Striker were friends? Besides the games he never saw them around each other. Gives of the ‘these kids are near each other so they must be best friends’ energy. Like, no, they just met.

"You knew someone was trying to assassinate me?" 🥺 Yeah your wife was screaming about it two feet from your face. If it wasn’t important then, it isn’t important now.

I'll give Stolas the Striker thing and immediately take it away cuz it wasn’t like Stolas sounded afraid or even concerned during the phone call. How tf was Blitzo supposed to know royals could get hurt? Striker only had one angel weapon as far as IMP knew.

"Why would I allow everyone to see how much I like you? How I’ve tried to try so fucking hard to show I like you, to support you."

Fucking when? Where? Name literally one time. That shit at the harvest moon festival doesn't count because if Stolas actually cared he would've paid attention to how uncomfortable Blitzo was with him shouting pet names directly into the microphone. He’d know that him and Striker aren’t friends. Blitzo using the book was an arrangement for sex that Stolas offered. That is not support.

The one and only time their relationship was called out by others Stolas hid his face. Anything after has been in private and not where anyone, not even Blitzo was a witness. Ozzie is the only other person Stolas has openly confessed his feelings for. And he's with his own imp, so of course he isn't going to make a big deal about it.

“That was still the gayest thing I’ve heard all day!” Ignoring the actual line, why is he going feral? Wtf is this scene for? It's so out of place for what’s going on. This is something Loona would do.

“I don’t own you dick.” He’s right tho. Stolas tried to change the relationship without giving Blitzo a heads up or even communicating properly and then got butthurt when he didn’t get the answer he wanted and that was before Blitzo went off on him. And that’s after months of avoiding each other. This talk about changing their arrangement should’ve happen after Ozzie’s. Or at least hinted in Seeing Stars.

Why is the murder family wife getting an apology like she didn't try to kill IMP too ?Why does Blitzo know where she lives. DHORKS shouldn’t get apologies either, kinda ruins the point of Blitzo doing this ‘my name is Earl joke’ if he's apologizing to these people he had the right to hurt. I wonder if Moxxie got an apology.

The party has no music, making it the funniest scene in the series.

I knew they were going to make Veronika the bad one but good lord what is this. Are she and Stella drinking the same crazy juice? That made her Lute levels of crazy. 

You're telling me that ALL these people are Blitzo's exes? That insufferable ass? Is he supposed to drop dead gorgeous and the crew didn't tell us?? cuz no way this annoying man can pull that many people.

How did Blitzo get that far into the party and no one, all of which are there because of how much they hate him, didn't notice? Did he sleep with that many people or just date them? Why are any of these people wasting their time like this? Blitzo isn't important, he doesn't do anything. He is another asshole in hell, a place filled with assholes. Wtf is Blitzo's shitty behavior so out of place?

Oh look another situation where Stolas being in a relationship with an imp is not given any levels of importance or notice. 

So Tex is just mouthing the words right, cuz no way his voice is just blending in like that. Why is he here? 

Did they recast Stolas's singing actor? This song is bland. The singing is okay, but the music might as well not be there.

He's whining about still wanting Blitzo but refuses to speak with him or attempting to get him to have a serious conversation. He has no idea what Blitzo wants and has never asked once.

Stolas is drunk now? He only had a few drinks. In the circus he downed an entire bottle and was fine. Now a few drinks of spiked punch and he's wasted?

They throw this party every year!? You are shitting me. Why? He has signs posted everywhere. His crew is three other people, just kill him if he's that big of a problem. 

The creators cannot convince me that all these people care more about Blitzo than the oppressive society they live in, a member of which Stolas is.

Stolas's drunk rant kinda reveals that he wants to be loved and less that he wants to be in a loving relationship with Blitzo specifically. Interesting.

Seconds later Stolas is flustered by some random guy just asking to dance. Interesting.

How does Verosika know about the apology tour? He walked out on her when she said I love you, okay that's bad, but after spending so much of the episode making her look like a crazy ex, it gives off the impression that he dodged a bullet. At the very least Blitzo is actually in the wrong and it isn't some misunderstanding like with Fizz.

Glad they addressed that Blitzo being bad at relationships is a weird thing to focus on but it isn't explained. Unless he is extremely abusive, many people should not care about him / still be angry. These people live in an environment where they can be murdered at any time and almost no one would care / do anything to help. Compared to all that, a shitty boyfriend is kinda nothing.

I’m glad Verosika wasn’t completely shat on during this episode, especially in the last bit. We probably won’t be seeing her again but at least she got to leave with grace. 

I like the ending song.

Final thoughts. This episode worked overtime to make Blitzo the bad guy. It pulled maybe 100 people out of nowhere to justify Stolas’s anger and for what? The way he was so quick to hook up with another guy, shows he doesn’t care about Blitzo, he cares about the idea of a good relationship. That’s fine on its own, but the first part of this episode and the end of the last was about Stolas making his shattered pipe dream Blitzo’s problem.

Out of all the episodes that do not have a B plot why is it this one?

[bleue-flora]

Hi! For the wip Game: Only The Best Dream’s Come True

Oooo I don’t know if I’ve talked about this fic much. Basically it’s part of the Sweet Dreams series and it’s a compilation of nightmares Dream sucks people into while in prison. So it starts with Sam and ends with Sapnap camping outside the prison waiting to kill Dream… I’d post some of it but unfortunately I don’t have the chapters that come first written and I think I should post is in order. Anyways, here’s some of Sapnap’s chapter.

He’s not sure how he ended up standing, he could have sworn he was laying down a minute ago. And yet here he is and he feels exhausted as an ache encumbers his body.

Every part of him hurts like he’s standing on hot coals and his brain is telling him to get off of them, but he doesn’t. He continues standing on his legs that feel on fire.

“Why did you get out?!” An angered voice startles him.

It’s his voice.

He looks up and sure enough two brown eyes meet his.

And he finds himself peering at his own face like a 3D mirror. Except it’s obviously not a mirror, more likely a dream but he’s never seen himself in a dream before.

He feels his lips move in response, “Oh, you want me to rot—I was getting tortured. You want me to rot in prison forever?!”

The incredulous sound isn’t his voice though, it’s Dream’s. The all too recognizable tone he wishes he could forget.

Nothing in the situation makes sense. It’s all so inverted almost like he’s not in his mind but an outsiders.

Why is he Dream?

Shouldn’t he be himself?

The only answer he receives is his own words delivered callously back to him, “You’ve been tortured?… Who is torturing you?… You were getting tortured?” Despite the question the tone doesn’t sound curious just skeptical, like a disinterested parent indulging their kid’s wild story.

He never thought his voice would sound so indifferent and hardened in his ears. But facing it now he feels numb.

Did he really sound like that?

The contents intensifying the senselessness of the tone, the heinous words like poison to his ears. The words making it obvious that it’s the memory after the prison break.

“Yeah, Quackity was torturing me.” His own mouth answers definitively and bitter, a shiver spreading through his body as the name leaves his lips.

And if he could laugh he would. He almost laughed back then too. He still can’t believe Dream tried to used his exfiancé as part of his manipulation. It’s actually so fucking ridiculous he wonders how Dream even came up with the idea. Prison must have made him insane because the idea that his cuddly warm fiancé tortured Dream and Sam allowed it is ludicrous.

Unsurprisingly, his reflection voices back the same disbelief, “Quackity was torturing you?… What do you mean he was torturing you? Like literally torturing you?”

“Yes!… He was trying to get the revival book and so he was torturing me.” His body huffs sounding furious as he crosses his arms across his chest.

Playing the other side of the memory feels odd in many ways. For one, his body seems to be playing the part so perfectly that actual desperation tightens his muscles in false affliction and betrayal. It’s like his body is in on the joke and Sapnap is the oblivious audience. But in reality the only hurt Dream felt then is that Sapnap didn’t fall for his lies.

They were lies right?

Right?

It was all a ruse. A play for pity to get his armor back so he could wreak havoc on the server. They were lies.

As if to counter his conviction entirely, he suddenly finds himself strapped to a chair. Where decorative stone was is now dripping obsidian. Where Sapnap was standing dressed in Nightmare, Quackity now stands with a hammer clutched tensely in his hand and blood stains soiling his typically pristine shirt.

“Give me the revival book Dream. Give me the fucking book or—or I swear I’m gonna break every tiny fucking bone in you hand one by one! Do you want me to do that Dream? Huh? You want me to do that? Then give me the goddamn revival book!” Quackity threatens and he feels his heart pound ecstatically in his ears.

An internal pain pulses in him, like every crevice of his body is soaked in liquid pain to the point of utter woeful weariness. Unimaginable suffering would be a tame description and yet apparently his brain has conjured the fantasy despite never having felt such agony in his life.

Through the torment taking the attention of his senses, he meets the scarred face of who’s most likely responsible given the context of his nightmare. At the sight, his mind goes wholly blank as he stares into the luscious chocolate eyes of his exfiancé and sees nothing but violent rage and malice. There’s no spec of love in them. No contagious joy. No life, just a soul eating darkness promising pain.

A strong desire curls in him, to hide. To yell. To crawl into a hole and cry. To clasp Quackity in a hug and fix what has been broken. Anything to avoid having to see those irises of oblivion again.

But he can’t move. He can’t do anything, all he can do is experience it with no control over anything, not even his own body. Well he supposes not his body anyways, but Dream’s body.

[margareturtle]

I haven’t seen this in a fic yet (pls send me links if you have!!) so I’m doing it myself:

How Jeremy+Cat+ Laila find out about the 80% deal (set after the news about Jean’s family has already been released) (pt 1)

The gang is in the kitchen:

Jeremy: Jean, I’m telling coach to bench you for just this one match! You’re sick (or minorly injured). Just take a break and you’ll be back next match!

Jean: No! I’m fine! There are scouts for Court coming to this game!

Jeremy: yes and you’re just getting over the flu (or a twisted ankle idk)! Just take a rest, the Court scouts will be back next year!

Jean: I’m good to play! I need to play! I need to sign to court!

Jeremy: And I’m sure you will be! Kevin was just signed, no one doubts you will be signed as well ! What difference does a year make?

Jean: what difference does a year— I need to prove myself or they’ll think I can’t and— I can play! I will play!

Jeremy: no— I already told the coaches you aren’t playing— they’re in support

Jean: YOU WHAT? *panicking* they’re gonna kill me they’re gonna kill me

Jeremy: *softening* oh Jean it’s ok. You’re with the trojans remember. You’re not at the nest. You’re safe. Riko is dead. Tetsuji is gone. Everyone respects your right to a break. You’re free of the Moriyamas now.

Jean: You insolent fool! I will never be free of the Moriyamas!

Jeremy: ok Jean, I know it may feel like that sometimes. But you are free with us now. There are no more Moriyamas that will hurt you.

Cat: *thinking* well there’s Ichirou

Jeremy: *glares at Cat*

Cat: what? As smart as you are Jere you still haven’t learned to take the things Jean says at face value. He just said “I will never be free of the Moriyamas”

Jeremy: yeah but that’s not— Ichirou is a business man, all he cares about is money and his new fiance!

Laila: yeah but what really is the Moriyama family business? I haven’t really thought about it before but Ichirou looks rich af so it’s gotta be smth good…Jean you must now what it is.

Jean: *doesn’t respond to non questions*

Jeremy: Come on, this isn’t related to why Jean is so freaked out he can’t play today!

Cat: judging by his silence rn it def is! So what is it Jean? What’s the Moriyama business? You must know!

Jean: *stressed* it’s not important

Laila: clearly it is, now you can tell us or I’m happy to start guessing!

Jean: don’t—

Laila: let’s see it’s prob smth shady if you won’t say. Let’s see, do they deal in exotic Animals? Is Ichirou secretly tiger king?

Jean: No?! Just stop!

Laila: Or is it some business offensive to french culture? Oh no Jean, is their business in wine? Do they sell prosecco and call it champagne?

Jean: it’s not—

Laila: Oh or it has smth to do with why you learned so many languages while you were there? They’re secretly in the spy industry training to be spies??

Jean: of course not! Now stop asking I won’t tell you.

Cat: oh jean 😭 way to get us all more intrigued.

Jeremy: yeah let’s return to the topic of—

Laila: *who’s been thinking for a sec* pfft I know *sarcastically* Ichirou is secretly a mob boss too who has been in kahoots with—

Jean: *flinches*

Laila: your dad and neil’s dad which means—

Laila: Wait what the fuck?!! I was joking—I know the Moriyama’s business is just some boring corporate shit! But you just—What the fuck? WHAT THE FUCK!! You only flinch when I land spot on I—

Jean: *lunges for a knife with one hand that Jeremy catches. Lunges for his throat with the other that Cat gets a hold of first*

Laila: holy shit. No way. What. You’re kidding— I can’t. I wAs jOkinG !! Do the foxes know? Kevin must know if you do—

Laila: *picks up Jeremy’s phone he left in the kitchen counter*

Laila: *calling kevin*

(Pt 2 call with kevin coming soon)

[hyunsvngs]

Juno Juno Juno, my love, my light

I lost a nail, I fought with my boyfriend and my cat clawed my gaming chair so I had five bottles of soju now I’m terribly terribly hungover 😭

If you’re feeling up for it could I bother you for your skz helping with a hangover headcanons

chan: honestly idk why but my brain went INSTANTLY to u and the kids having a wild night of drinking and he’s got to look after u ALL the next day. he’s just giggling playfully like “they lured my girlfriend into sin…” but he lowkey loves that you guys get on so well!! definitely has painkillers and water waiting by your bedside and cooks breakfast <3

minho: makes fun of u. what a weakling, u have a hangover? r u joking? probs screams louder just to make ur head hurt but then kisses u when u dont find it funny. “sorry, that wasn’t funny.” runs and gets u soonie doongie and dori for some cuddles.

changbin: he, too, is hungover. if u’ve been drinking, so has he and i get the vibe bini can put back A LOT of alcohol. u die in bed all day and order takeaway, watching shitty movies and whining every now and then that ur dying. it’s the end of the world until u wake up after a nap and suddenly feel fine

hyunjin: seems like the type to walk off hangovers so when you feel so fucked up after drinking he’s like oh?? worm?? and he’s so dramatic about it. keeps saying “are you sure this is a hangover? i’ve never seen anything like this before!” and you’re like no hyune, it’s really fine. insists on taking u to a&e and u have to stop him

jisung: i am so sure he was hungover in that one skz code, passed out in his puffer jacket. so i think he would also be hungover too. u guys would wake up, makeup still on, clothes from last night n just look at eachother and groan simultaneously. minho would have to come over to cook u food and tend to u bc u’d be positively dying

felix: helps with ur hangxiety. ur like “no seriously, felix, i backflipped over the bar last night.” and he’s all “yeah but did i tell u abt that one time where i ___.” he has you laughing so hard about it by the end of it you’ve forgotten you’re hungover. he just plays everything off as the lil sunshine he is. he’s just a little schweetie

seungmin: oh he’s so father coded abt it. all “you did this to yourself. you must face the consequences.” and ur like yes but i am dying?? tend to me?? and he begrudgingly does it. brings u water and pretends he hates looking after you but so secretly loves it really.. but adds it to the list of things u owe him for

jeongin: oh he’s so unknowingly evil about it. while felix is comforting, jeongin would be like “LMAO DO U REMEMBER ___?!” and you’re like oh my god please let me die. he definitely finds it SO funny and takes pictures of u at ur worst and when u ask why he’s like ?? ur cute?? LIKE HE GENUINELY DOESNT GET IT!! HE DOESNT GET HOW EVIL HE IS

[decadentworld]

※ Sub Bottom Eddie Munson/Dom Top Steve Harrington.

※ 1,224 words.

※ Personal work (not request).

※ Both characters are canonically 18 or older.

※ Content & warnings: Daddy kink. Mating press. Virgin Eddie. Unnegotiated kinks (but they’re very into it). Very short fic.

Something something Eddie finally catching up to everyone treating Steve like the ‘mom’ friend in the group. And he’s amused. But secretly immensely supportive of Steve on this one.

Like, how couldn’t he be? He knows it’s gotta be exhausting at some point.

Dustin’s amused, “Okay, mom.”

Or Mike’s irritated, “You’re not my mom.”

He’d be rolling his eyes and snarking all the time. He’s impressed by Steve’s patience nowadays. So he decides to poke at it just a little bit.

“Oh, Harrington,” he sing-songs, stomach swooping hotly at the annoyed look on Steve’s face; he knows he can joke around with Steve. They’ve gotten sort of close after everything they’ve gone through.

Only, Eddie has no idea if Steve’s lingering looks are just a figment of his imagination.

The counter at Family Video kind of needs a cleaning, but Steve’s leaning on it anyway. “…I thought you had to pick the kids up today? After all, you’re like the mom of the group.”

“Jesus, dude. Not you too,” comes Steve flippant response. “It’s Billy’s turn. I’m making this a brat-free day.”

“Sooo, what I’m hearing is… Steve Harrington doesn’t like to be treated like a fretful mommy?”

“Would you cut it off?”, answers Steve, though it’s not an entirely mean response.

“Okaaay.”

To Steve, it sounds like that would be it, but nothing good ever comes out of that playful little smile of Eddie’s, because he’s absolutely not ready for what he says next:

“Then does that mean we have to call you Daddy?”

Oh, ha-ha. It must be so funny to Eddie, seeing that he can’t stop snickering behind his hands after saying this.

It’s not that funny to Steve, who just stills, turns around, and starts walking straight into the employee bathroom. All with the deepest blush Eddie’s ever seen on anyone. Oh. Eddie fucked up, didn’t he.

Robin comes out of her break. Sees Eddie, alone at the counter, now covering his mouth. He’s not laughing anymore.

“Oh my God.” She looks in the direction of the bathroom, knowing Steve must be there. “What did you say to him?”

“Nothing! Why do you think I said anything to him?”

She gives him the stink eye. Eddie just leaves.

Later in the evening, some time after a thorough play with himself with images of pretty boys and hairy chests and pink faces in his mind, Eddie receives an unexpected visitor in the form of Steve Harrington, on the steps of his trailer.

Neither of them are saying anything. Steve’s face is unreadable. It kind of makes Eddie want to bite his nails. But he lets him in, and closes the door behind him.

A tense silence takes over the place. That is, until…

“Can you— Can you say it again?”

The croak in Steve’s voice is somehow delicious to Eddie; it sounds like Steve’s throat is dry.

“Wh-What?” And he has to chuckle nervously. He feels the pull of his hand, wanting to take one lock of his hair to hide behind it.

“Today, you… you said something. Called me something. And…” Steve’s face is an enigma. He looks like he wants to flee at any second, but still keeps going. “I kind of haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”

Oh, he’s got Eddie where he wants. He knows Eddie’s the queerest guy in town, but what he’s asking of him… Surely, this is just him taunting Eddie, is it not? A good old game of chicken between guys never hurt anyone.

But Eddie is weak.

Giving in to his impulse, knowing he’s probably sporting the darkest blush ever known to mankind, Eddie pulls on his own hair. Puts it in front of his face, covering everything but his eyes. And mutters:

“Daddy.”

The reaction is stronger this time. More visible, unconcealed. Something about the heavy breath Steve releases sounds, to Eddie, like a grunt, and he just has to avert his eyes.

“Louder.”

Now wide eyes return to Steve, pupils unable to stop widening from pleasure. Steve walks closer, and it’s Eddie’s instinct to take a step back in return, but he forces himself to stay where he is.

He gives in, like any weak man would.

“Daddy.”

It’s only slightly louder, and Steve comes even closer, until he’s in Eddie’s space. Takes Eddie’s hands in his, noticing the hitch in his breath as he’s forced to release his own hair.

Grabs his wrists. Puts them to his sides.

“Look at me when you say it.”

They’re sharing the same air. Eddie feels himself faint from it.

“Daddy.”

Steve closes what little space was left, making Eddie tremble and sag against him in his first kiss. Pushes Eddie back until his back collides with the wall next to his bedroom’s door, all the while giving Eddie a new succession of firsts: first kiss with tongue, first heavy petting, first dry humping. All until Eddie has to withdraw with the most erotic gasp Steve’s ever heard.

“You’re fucking unbelievable, you know?” Steve’s voice already has Eddie weak in the knees. A hand finds Eddie’s long hair and pulls, and Eddie’s so sure he’s already close. “A fucking brat.”

Eddie moans, pulls himself together long enough to say: “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

The big imprint of a cock against his pelvis tells him he’s not the only one affected. “Yeah, I bet you are. Teasing me in public like that. Bet you were looking for a spanking.”

There’s an obscene moan now, so loud Eddie has to hide in Steve’s neck from the embarrassment of being so needy. “Fuck me, Daddy.”

And a groan next to his ear carries a lot of promises.

Eddie loses his virginity to a man he calls Daddy in his trailer bedroom, music blasting as an afterthought to conceal the loud moaning he knows he won’t be able to quiet. Steve makes him cum an impossible three times in a row. Puts a twist on missionary that leaves Eddie’s insides so thoroughly fucked out he cums a first time, just from that. Makes Eddie ride him, aiding his trembling thighs by pushing up into Eddie, and as if that isn’t enough, spanks Eddie like he said he would, receiving a chestful of shaking, orgasming boy who somehow says he still can’t get enough, so he turns him around, puts him on all fours and presses his face into the pillow. Puts an arm around his windpipe. Envelops him so wholly it almost feels suffocating, pounds into him so hard Eddie would be screaming by this point if it weren’t for the small pressure against his throat, feet kicking to the sides of Steve’s legs on the bed. Makes Eddie cum a third and final and convulsing time as he too does.

“What the hell, Steve.” Robin points at something Steve can’t see on his neck. “Did you get mauled by an animal?”

Both Steve and Eddie blush in the gentle lighting of the Family Video store.

“Wait…” She looks between them two. “You.” She points at Eddie. “What did you say to him yesterday? And how did it lead to that?” And then, as if that wasn’t the most important thing to her, as if Eddie and Steve weren’t on the brink of passing out from embarrassment, Robin says: “Ugh. Great. I owe Billy five bucks.”

Work available only on Tumblr and under ArchiveOfOurOwn pseud of the same name (DecadentWorld). Do not repost, edit, or redistribute. Do not use for TikTok or YouTube videos.

[irusanw4]

Uhhh pinned time ig? I see it a lot so why not

Yo! Call me IrusanW4, mutuals can call me Iru but please don't if we're not mutuals. I use strictly they/them, and I'm asexual and aromantic. I'm autistic and I love things A Lot when I love them, so... fair warning? Read more has details on me n stuff. Don't wanna clog dashboards or anything :3

I don't have a specific DNI but like. Don't hurt people. Don't have a joke for that just don't hurt people. But! DO interact if you are strange, peculiar, freakish, cringe, or otherwise throw social norms to the wind!

I'm always open to civil good-faith discussions about what I've done wrong!

Things I care about too much for my own good: Death Note, My Hero Academia, Chonny Jash, Dungeon Meshi, Pokemon, Digimon, Slay the Princess, the Stanley Parable, Warriors, Wings of Fire, Risk of Rain, Slay the Spire, Portal, psychology, animals, linguistics, space, my place in the universe, death as something to be studied, and much much more.

While I won't do much acknowledging sex (as in the act) myself due to personal discomfort surrounding the topic, I do support the right of people to have sex and have fun so long as all members consent to it!

Also, I do art and writing! I'm IrusanW4 on ao3 too, so feel free to be nosy! I don't share much art outside of Discord, sadly, but yknow! I'm always open to questions about my writing and art, be it original or fan content!

Social justice:

Abortion needs to be accessible to everyone with a uterus. The death sentence shouldn't exist in any way shape or form. A criminal justice system focused on punishment rather than reform should not exist. Capitalism is by existence a system of oppression and must be replaced. The American education system is thoroughly fucked. The genocide of anyone is inexcusable, no matter their origin, and those who fund the slaughter and/or exploitation of Palestinian, Congolese, or any other people are further beyond immoral than I have words for. All cops are bastards.

Miscellaneous:

Vehement supporter of found family. Indie game lover. Indie music lover. Example of gifted kid to burnout who's somehow still gifted just deeply exhausted pipeline. Cat owner. Lover of music. Noodle enjoyer. Asker of questions. Furry. Therian. Mediocre Pokemon player. Registered member of the Satanic Temple. Believer in improvement as a person as a necessary part of life. Friend hoarder. More always to come.

I'm a bad tagger but here's notable tags:

#blorbo street, where I put all my favorite characters together to interact.

#ouroboros universe, a collection of my writing that's all technically within one continuity. I might add more tags specifying which instance, but so far, it's all lumped together.

#scrunchy friend <3, most of my @therewillbenoromance interactions bc he's scrunchy to me.

#blue friend <3, most of my @nevermeanttoknow or @mapleejay (same person diff blogs) interactions bc. he's blue. yeah that's it

#the whole world au, a cccc x warrior cats crossover au

#summer solstice au, a cccc au where heart dies in apathy

Other blogs: @different-picture-daily and @gimmick-sniffer

[sspidrwebz]

so theres this spidergwen fan song and let me fucking tell you guys

it goes. so fucking hard. oh my god. bloody fucking hell.

yapping under the cut

Where are the people whose love is unconditional Let family down, and they want me gone a criminal

holy shit?? family issues is a huge part of the reason im a gwen kinnie and just.. hit hard

Dropping the ball so much, it's wild, I'm in the game Then I remember multiverses know my name, uh

slay.

Not a photo, I'm a Ghost, go find me up in the air I'm a kid pro, I get in your head, there a big joke, never catch me yet

flow goes hard. lyrics go hard.

Tell me I'm wrong when I hear y'all say a hero is a person you want dead Moving so slow, when I win go next, saving all those who give no respect

the bullshit she goes through and nobody even thanks her or anything. spiderman is loved. miles is loved. why cant she be??

Demonize me in your mind Just one truth, it's yours not mine When I leave it's 'cause it's time To heal

this applies to so many communities in real life, its insane the discrimination. queer people, poc people, neurodivergent people, the list goes on. i think the last line is in reference to when she runs away, that hurt.

The hurt I've dealt with all these years To you must seem like teenage tears The ones I loved have so much hate For this side of me

ohhh god right in the heart. the biases between generations. the homophobia/transphobia coding...

I'm done with all the fear and pain, the sorrow, the sorrow I'd slam the doors and scream until you'd follow, but there's no lifeline I know I've made my choices, my mistakes over and over, over But I'll fight until I can't see a tomorrow to do it differently this time

its me its so me. such a common sentiment for any queer teenager honestly oh my god.

Doing my best all the time, and it ends up with them falling Always guessing does it count if I'm lost at my true calling

oh gwen baby... me too, relationships and trust issues it sucks ass

Maybe it changed along the way am I delusional? Bad for everyone, my actions always prove it all

this song reminds me of just how much i relate to her :[[

Let me sink 'till I'm too deep Keeping warm in memories If I go, one day you'll see What you've thrown away

its giving sad teen poetry, feels like she genuinely wrote this. i feel like ive written something very similar before.

[chorus] Think you'll stop me? Good or bad, it haunts me Past the point of caring, they see someone that's long gone in my face

fucking try to tell me gwen isnt trans when that latter line exist, tell me right now. i relate too hard to that one [im cis, i just mean it in a diff way]

Take the rules and bend them 'till I shatter them all Can't help it because

fuck the awful fucking rules man do what you need to, thats beautiful

[chorus]

-

anyways yeah im so in love with this song, thanks @halacg for this absolutely lovely and powerful piece

[dyvimwhitehart]

wizblr game. any of the Heroes of Lemuria (your pick :3 )

send me an npc and i'll describe my wizard's relationship with them!

heroes of lemuria my BELOVED!!! ill be going with the hero each of my wizards are closest with (:

dog tracy and amber: can someone say father figure alert??? i think at a time in the story where amber is really missing cyrus (who she views as her "main" father figure, if you will), dog tracy is someone she warms up to quickly and sees a lot of herself in. while she's normally very annoyed with being called "kid" or anything of that nature after saving the spiral three times, when he does it, she can tell it's not in a belittling way. he respects her and what she can do.

there isn't a lot of time for them to actually get to know each other. like amber, tracy is very focused on what he considers to be his lot in life- scrubbing heap of the mob bosses. amber's lot, saving the spiral, sends her down similar pathways of neglecting her own needs and pushing away loved ones (like tracy does with tessa/shadoe). that being said, because they operate in similar ways, they work like a very well-oiled machine with little need for a warm-up period. watching him ease up towards the end of the questline and allow himself to let tessa in spurs a moment of self-reflection in amber, who can't remember the last time she did that.

it hurts her heart a little bit at the end to have to fight him, along with all the others. but by that point, she's so worried about dasein and the spiral that she forges ahead. i like to think upon seeing how distressed she is when dasein is absorbed by the synthesizer, tracy is the one who leads her back to the main hall, looking after her.

i must add that the bantam absolutely bewilders her. she does not know what to do with this guy. she never learns how to interact with him

the shadoe and genevieve: i don't think anyone but the shadoe has so swiftly knocked genevieve on her ass like, ever. at first, when tessa is just monologuing from rooftops and such, vivi thinks she's something of a joke and a real nuisance. that being said, she doesn't expect the reveal of her real identity at all, and is pretty bewildered by that. bewildered enough, in fact, that she gains some respect for tessa.

the real bonding, though, comes when the shadoe uses her mind talisman to read the haughty, icy, gung-ho "im a god-hero" genevieve like a book. she breaks down all those traits i just mentioned and lays bare why genevieve is the way she is- highlighting her perceived lack of autonomy over her life (from her upbringing as a high-society lady to her tenure as bartleby's scion), her hatred for her home world of marleybone, and other insecurities. with these out in the open, vivi doesn't quite know... what to do with herself. at first, she acts indignant, but then shies up a bit like we see the mob bosses do after they've been read by the shadoe.

i think that respect she had for tessa then transfers to the shadoe as well. genevieve realizes she would rather not be at odds with someone who is able to see inside her head. she feels absolutely incensed when the heroes keep her from the synthesizer, though, seeing it as a deep betrayal. i think, by the end of lemuria, tessa actually scares her. and that's not an easy feat for someone to achieve with vivi.

sidenote mandar and her have crazy beef

solomon crane and primrose: prim loves absolutely all the heroes, but she has a real soft spot for solomon! hearing everyone in the night forest bully the hell out of him right off the bat when all he wants is to protect them and prove himself... she feels so deeply for him. she immediately tries to hype him up, highlighting his bravery and dedication, and telling him that even if his skills don't match up yet... he'll get there. because the same thing happened to her as bartleby's scion!

that being said, they become friends very quickly. even though the malughast makes prim shake in her fucking boots, she leans on solomon for strength, and he does the same for her. it's a real buddy-cop kind of vibe- especially because of the more old-timey culture of the night forest. she tries to talk like him (using words like "thou" and "cad," much to his amusement) and her optimism and sweetness combined with his perseverance becomes unstoppable. when she defeats lucien, she reems him out a little extra at the end for how he's made the town go against solomon.

prim outright refuses to fight the heroes at first. she cries and begs them, particularly solomon, to hear her out. it isn't until one of them makes the first move to keep her from the synthesizer that she fights back. it's a very, very emotional exit from lemuria for her- and i think she apologizes to them all (particularly solomon) for hurting him. of course, she gets her own apologies back, and makes sure to stay in correspondence with him.

she has a big lesbian crush on duck savage as well fully can't speak a full sentence around her...

[skaruresonic]

I know that what I say will probably make little difference but for what it's worth:

You're one of the most level headed people I've seen around these parts, a trait that is rarer in fandoms than water in the desert

You always try to explain your points as best you can. Are there snide remarks here and there? Even mean ones? Maybe. But nothing too serious and honestly everybody makes them when talking about stuff that ticks you off. You've certainly never gone off to harass anyone as far as I can tell

You shouldn't feel bad about your fandom feelings because you really haven't done anything wrong

Thank you. I mean that sincerely. I know I could probably stand to be nicer, but at the same time I feel like life has beaten all the fluffiness out of me and I'm just. Done.

Incredibly sick of fandom continuing to push these one-sided narratives despite every effort to explain and clarify. We're always brushing up against this double standard and it just becomes sickening after a while.

Again: I am not perfect, and I do admit I say negative and mean things pretty regularly. But in that, I also strive to be level. At the bare minimum, not to stoop to the level of shit they fling at me. I feel like I'm already trying to uphold my end by drawing a boundary where I do not engage, since IDW staff have crossed that line in the past, and frankly, I don't trust them, much less IDW stans, not to cross that line for me. You wanted zero engagement from me and you got it. What else do you want from me? Now you're trying to tell me what not to say? On my own blog? Do I come onto your blog and say you can't shittalk Pontaff games? Do I imply you must be mentally ill for being frustrated at all the finger-wagging?

So someone criticizes a book on their own blog, so what? Who cares? Does it impact IDW's sales? Why are you so emotionally invested in it to the point where you have to whisper to your friends about the freaks you'd never be caught dead conversing with?

You'd think actions speak louder than words and my no-engagement rule should prove I'm not going around hurting people and twirling my mustache over it. But no, the fact that I chose to forgive someone who made a joke that I did not condone - I even unfollowed Random for a while due to it; he can attest to the conversation we had - means more than the fact that I do not ever talk to IDW staff (how can I harass people I don't talk to?) and thus this makes me a horrible person.

The irony of saying all this when fandom insists Sonic is oh-so-merciful towards his enemies despite their crimes is absolutely not lost on me.

No one honestly speaks up on our behalf, and it's enough to make me wonder if we're really that rancid or if perhaps something else is rotten in the state of Denmark. The people who do agree with our points stay silent or otherwise risk intense ostracization. No one (and I don't blame them, they'd get crucified) ever says to the other side, "It's fucked-up of you to keep wagging the finger at people who are already harangued by trolls, and your silence means you're just as culpable, especially if you're going to hypocritically lump them in with extremists."

Once again, I don't expect to be treated with kid gloves. But the fact that they can't be honest about what we say bugs me immensely.

[wolves-etc]

thoughts on The Last Of Us episode nine - the finale - largely in the order I had them:

[thoughts on: 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.8 | X ]

— "actively about to give birth and running from zombies" is a fucking horrible situation to be in what the fuck

— the fucking RUNNING UP THE STAIRS NOISES I DON'T LIKE THIS

— we had a whole episode without infected where ellie was the only infected, why did they have to do this to me

— honestly kudos to the supreme fucking terror of "the thing you can't see, only hear, that the characters are fucking terrified of," I forgot how effective that can be

— and here's the countdown. she's infected and she needs to get her kid somewhere safe.

…feeding that baby is gonna be difficult in this setting.

— "yeah, you tell 'em." <3 <3

— "you fuckin' tell 'em, ellie." !!!!!!!

— I MEAN YEAH THAT'S ELLIE ALRIGHT! yeah that sounds like a person who'd be ellie's mother alright!!

— this must be why ellie's immune. either some cordyceps went through the umbilical cord before it was cut (I notice it was cut with the knife that was used on the infected, too) or if she breastfeeds, through the milk maybe? would it be different if it's in milk?

— they found a very tiny angry baby for this and it's perfect

— whatever difficulties I experience in my life I'll never run for my life, fight for my life, give birth, realise I'm doomed, save my baby then realise I need to find a way to keep her safe all within ten minutes. she must be experiencing emotions only known to shrimp right now.

— (…is it stem cells in umbilical cords that are a little bit magic, biologically speaking? I'm not sure why else infection via that could be different.)

(that or it's that she only got the teeniest bit infected - it depends whether we think ellie's actually the first, or whether others have, for instance, touched infected with a papercut and ended up immune. maybe never found out, or maybe got bitten after and assumed they were doomed and got killed before they would turn. maybe a few, like ellie, realised and kept it quiet - or maybe they told people and that's how the rumours of potential cures started.)

— I'm told that ellie's mother voiced ellie in the video games and marlene voiced marlene (HI MARLENE <3) which is SO cool. she looks and sounds so much like someone ellie might grow up to be, it hurts a bit.

— holy shit she's made of steel. singing and holding a knife to her own neck and, what, planning to kill herself when she starts slurring? when she almost can't hold the knife steady anymore?

— "I cut it before I was bit," and marlene just tilts her head a little, and anna says again "before."

that's really good acting to subtly convey a thing - that marlene suspects she's lying, that anna maybe knows she suspects it but reckons she can safely stick to that story for now.

— anna having to beg to be killed. fuck.

— this fucking long pause here

— honest to goodness the emotional impact of "cover her ears."

— BUT THEN HE DIDN'T EVEN COVER HER EARS. did he think cloth tucked loosely around her was enough. is he already deaf from gunshots himself. has he never been around a baby before.

— CHEF BOYARDEE, HECK YEAH

— his grin there. he is such a dad.

— "if you wanna beat me at something, it would be this." <3

— "take this for me" and he trusts her with the gun!!! growth!!

— "do you wanna learn how to play guitar?"

he's- fuck. fuck. he's offering to stay with her after all this. THAT'S what he's doing. right there as they're approaching the hospital where she'll hopefully be the source of a miracle cure, he's finding a way to say "I'm gonna stick with you after this, I'm not gonna say it but I will make it clear."

mister "not good at this [talking about feelings]" finding another way.

— (bad screenshot because that unhappy face graffiti struck me as SO video game, I couldn't explain why)

— ellie correctly guessing joel's modus operandi, joel straight-facedly joking about using dynamite instead <3 <3

— joel trying the feelings talk, ellie apologising, joel really softly saying "no, it's fine," AUGH

— ellie you'll give the old man a heart attack.

— OKAY THAT'S A FAIR REASON TO RUN OFF ACTUALLY

— ellie's whispered "don't scare it," joel's promise that he won't. this is so unspeakably tender.

— sometimes it's so clear that ellie's a child, you know?

— I've heard this comment about studio ghibli films, that they have a lot of… empty space for things not happening, just space for wonder and beauty and peace, and it's something I really appreciate. I never thought to see it in a zombie show.

— I want to cradle this moment in my hands like a baby bird.

— joel just resigning himself to the fact that they're following a giraffe now

— offering her that option of just, leaving and living a life, fuck. and it's her choice to keep at it. that's so good.

— "it was me. I was the guy who shot and missed." joel

— "so time heals all wounds I guess." "it wasn't time that did it." they're really not beating around the bush with this father-daughter thing, huh

— they talked about their feelings I'm so proud of them both

— PEOPLE ARE MAKING APOCALYPSE JOKES LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW

I cackled <3

— ...okay. the moment we saw marlene I knew this wasn't going to be good and, well, she proved it.

— the awful thing is I believe that she does understand what joel's feeling right now. and I don't know what's right in this situation. but this is joel and ellie's story and I care about them both and the fireflies are sacrificing a child on a possibility of a cure based on one doctor's theory. no smaller measures first, no biopsy that she'd probably survive, she gets put under immediately to have her entire brain removed.

excuse me for being very callous for a moment (I am also very angry don't you worry) but that is an awful use of resources. if they're wrong they won't have any more chances. if they lose this lab like they lost the others they won't have any more chances - and nor will anyone else with the ability to work on this, as much as I wouldn't trust fedra to distribute the cure to everyone they can. the fireflies are gambling with the death of a child, and if they lose, well, they're doomed anyway.

maybe I'm being overly harsh. I really shouldn't keep the show paused for twenty minutes just to feel things.

— honestly cannot tell if giving joel ellie's knife is meant to be kind or cruel. (okay, probably kind. but fuck.)

— joel yes

— this quiet, grim, inevitable music while joel's just going around shooting people, fuck. he's gonna wipe out the last of the fireflies to save her.

— using ellie's knife to kill one of them. shit.

— tragic musc as befits a tragedy - all the deaths, of course, but also the death of the goal he and ellie set out to achieve.

— and the vibe to all of this, really, but especially the moment the presumably-doctor picks up a scalpel and refuses to let ellie go, it's that the doctor's bravely facing a villain, it's that joel has changed just a little in this decision to get ellie out no matter the cost (was it even a decision?) and now he's something else, something awful, that he has been all along.

— (during that murder spree scene, though, he sure moves like he had formal training. I'm not sure what to think about that tbh.)

— marlene you're saying ellie would want to do what's right but you didn't even fucking ask. you were unwilling to ask her and risk having to actually overpower and murder a scared teenager instead of an unconscious one. you didn't know, so you'll never know, so don't imply it's ellie's call and then pretend you didn't have to bother with asking.

this is tapping into a mess of IRL stuff for me, feel free to skip, where I think that people who kill other people from a distance with deniability and respectability could do with facing their victims more often. for an easier example: someone who wants to launch nuclear missiles should have to face someone they know and cut into their heart to get the launch codes.

and the clean and mannerly murder of a sedated teenager by people who honestly looked a bit guilty when joel stopped them is just too easy.

...but still, I could justify it if I were sure about the results.

— oh. oh, joel.

— she's fourteen. it wouldn't have been fair to ask this of her. it isn't fair to hide this from her. but I don't know which one's less fair and this one leads to her alive and not blaming herself, so long as he does this right.

— but the way ellie's eyes just snapped to him when she said "were people hurt?" and he said "yes," I… do wonder if she suspects something.

— this is selfish of him though. as selfish as killing dozens and potentially dooming so many more just to save one.

— "I'm taking us home." now I'm the one having emotions only known to shrimp

— "well, she was a lot more… I wanna say girly, and I'm not sayin' that you're not girly…" "I'm not." "yeah, you're not." good display of tact from the father of two daughters, here.

— "she had a killer smile. again, I'm not saying that you don't." <3

— it's nice to hear him talking about sarah, but it's strange. I think it's the high of finally getting ellie safe. I think he's talking to cover the awkwardness, ellie's quietness, the big secret being kept from her, not spoken but still partly felt.

...I think he's taken the last step in his mind towards accepting and keeping her as family, and she didn't see it happen, so she's kind of a step behind.

— I figured riley was the first one ellie killed, but it doesn't make it any easier to hear.

— there are a lot of moments in this that I'm not sure if I'm reading too much into or not, but they've all seemed solid so far, so I'm gonna go ahead and guess ellie knows joel is lying to her, she's just… not gonna call him out on it.

— maybe it's a trust thing. maybe she's sensing that whatever it is is so much bigger and worse than what she's faced before - and joel knows that - that she doesn't want to face it. not if it means going against joel. not now they're safely together again. maybe it's just wanting to keep him and sensing this might drive them apart.

— yeah. okay. yeah. that "okay" on the end, that's an agreement to let it go for now.

hoo boy.

so my friend tells me that the ongoing debates in the community are a) whether the fireflies were right to try to do what they did and b) whether joel was right to do what he did then lie to her. I've already reached as much of a conclusion as I can about the first, without knowing more about the situation.

the second? I don't think there were any right decisions to make there. I don't like, on reflection, that joel's motives were probably more selfish than about trying to do right by ellie, and I almost wish the chance of a cure had been a certainty just so this would be simpler. I kinda wish that the fireflies had given ellie the choice, even if they'd planned to kill her anyway, which is making me think I'm not being entirely rational about this.

and what a moment to end on. it's uncomfortable - what I've largely been watching for is the relationship between joel and ellie, and that's been strange and strained for this entire episode, with them finally approaching ellie's goal and then joel keeping things from her after. I think things between them are going to return to some sort of normal now. I think ellie at the end was willing and planning to set this down and stop dwelling on it so much, if joel didn't budge at all.

and I don't like the tacit betrayal in that, the fact that ellie didn't at any point get a choice, and maybe joel could have safely ensured it once he'd gotten to her but maybe not, and it's not like I don't respect a character who leans into salt-the-earth vengeance in defence of a child...

it does feel like by the time he and ellie were taken by the fireflies, the story had pushed them onto a path they couldn't escape from. joel wouldn't have done anything but what he did, except perhaps fail. I don't know for sure what ellie would have chosen - my friend's in slight disagreement with me about that, but he's drawing on the game canon too, and I haven't seen enough of ellie yet. not with how much she clearly cares at the end, and not with her being so angry and so much a survivor.

I'm wrapping these thoughts up four days after finishing the episode and reaching absolutely no firm conclusions, folks. just the faint and horrible suspicion that I might have preferred joel as a character when he was still twitchy and uncertain, when he hadn't yet committed to protecting ellie tooth and nail, no matter what it took.

maybe I'm struggling to see where all that trauma went. maybe I'm not entirely comfortable with the sheer and total starkness of his morality. maybe I wanted to see the comfortable, sassing-back-and-forth joel and ellie just once before the end.

this show was a rollercoaster.

[sofiamantegafan110]

NEW X-MEN SEASON 3, EPISODE 3

EPISODE 3: HOUSE OF DOOM

WE OPEN ON A DARK LANDSCAPE WHERE TWO NINJAS – ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE – ARE LOCKED IN COMBAT. THE MALE NINJA FIRES A BLAST OF LIGHTNING AT THE FEMALE, BUT SHE DUCKS AND FLIPS OVER HIM. HE LANDS A PUNCH TO HER GUT, BUT SHE ULTIMATELY HITS HIM BEFORE DECAPITATING HIM WITH HER SAI.

WE THEN ZOOM OUT AND SEE SANTO AND CESSILY IN THE LOUNGE WITH CONTROLLERS IN THEIR HANDS. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS WAS SIMPLY A MORTAL KOMBAT-ESQUE VIDEO GAME.

CESSILY CHEERS IN TRIUMPH AS SANTO EXPRESSES HIS DISAPPOINTMENT OVER BEING BEATEN FOR THE FIRST TIME. CESSILY SCOFFS AND TELLS HIM THAT IT’S JUST A GAME. IT’S NO BIG DEAL. AS SHE DOES, SANTO’S EXPRESSION LIGHTENS AND HE GRABS THE GAME CARD BEFORE IT CAN PROCESS CESSILY’S WIN, PROUDLY DECLARING THAT HE’S STILL MASTER ASSASSIN. CESSILY YELLS AT HIM AND THEN PROCEEDS TO CHASE HIM AROUND THE ROOM.

AS THIS HAPPENS, WE SEE A FRAZZLED-LOOKING CLARICE SITTING AT A TABLE WITH THE OTHERS WHO ARE LOOKING OVER THE SCROLLS LAURIE FOUND. CLARICE GROANS, SAYING THAT SHE KNOWS SHE JOKED ABOUT HAVING KIDS, BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT SHE MEANT. JULIAN LAUGHS BEFORE LEVITATING BOTH CESSILY AND SANTO AND DRAGGING THEM OVER TO THE TABLE.

CLARICE: THANK YOU, JULIAN. NOW, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THIS SCROLL LAURIE FOUND. OBVIOUSLY, IT’S SOME SORT OF DISTRESS CALL TO APOCALYPSE FROM SOME OTHER PLANET WHERE ANOTHER GROUP OF MUTANTS ARE. OUR BEST OPTION NOW IS TO FIND SOME WAY TO GET TO THIS… WHAT WAS IT?

LAURIE: AMENTH.

CLARICE: AMENTH. RIGHT. AND GET THE MUTANTS OF…

LAURIE: ARAKKO.

CLARICE: …ARAKKO TO HELP US. AND IF THIS CHICK… UH… *SNAPS FINGERS*

LAURIE: GENESIS.

CLARICE: FUCKING GENESIS! THANKS, LAURIE. ANYWAY, IF THIS GENESIS CHICK IS MY ANCESTOR, MAYBE SHE CAN SMACK SOME SENSE INTO APOCALYPSE IF WE HELP BEAT THESE DEMON GUYS!

THERE’S A BRIEF PAUSE AS CESSILY SAYS THAT THIS PLAN HAS MANY HOLES IN IT.

SUDDENLY, MONET TOUCHES HER TEMPLE BEFORE TELLING THE OTHERS THAT SHE JUST RECEIVED A PSYCHIC MESSAGE FROM THE CUCKOOS. THERE’S SOMETHING THEY NEED TO SEE.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE TEAM APPEARS ON THE FROM LAWN, AND GASPS AT WHAT THEY SEE. APOCALYPSE IS ON HIS KNEES, IN PAIN, HOLDING HIS BLEEDING STOMACH, HIS HAND REACHED OUT.

APOCALYPSE: PLEASE… PLEASE HELP ME.

CUE INTRO AND CREDITS

A FEW MINUTES LATER, WE’RE BACK IN THE LOUNGE WHERE JOSH HAS HEALED APOCALYPSE’S WOUND. CLARICE, MEANWHILE, REPRIMANDS JOSH FOR HEALING THEIR SWORN ENEMY, BUT JOSH SAYS THAT THIS GUY SEEMS SERIOUSLY HURT. AFTER WHAT HAPPENED WITH LAURIE, HE’S MADE A VOW TO HEAL ANYONE IN NEED. CLARICE GROANS BEFORE ASKING MONET TO SCAN APOCALYPSE’S MIND AND SHE SAYS SHE ALREADY DID. THERE’S NO SIGN OF ILL INTENTIONS.

APOCALYPSE: THANK YOU, GOLDEN BOY. NOW LISTEN, WE DON’T HAVE MUCH TIME. WHERE ARE THE X-MEN?

CESSILY: AS OF RIGHT NOW, YOU’RE LOOKING AT THEM.

APOCALYPSE: WHAT?

TJ: THAT’S RIGHT. THEY GAVE US THE GO-AHEAD TO DEAL WITH YOU AND YOUR GROUP OF FRIEND-KIDNAPPERS.

APOCALYPSE TRIES TO STAND UP AND TELLS THEM THAT THEY HAVE THE SITUATION ALL WRONG. HE IS NOT THE ENEMY. BUT SOMETHING FAR MORE SINISTER WILL COME FOR THEM IF THEY DO NOT ACCEPT HIS HELP.

ALANI: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

APOCALYPSE: SHE CALLS HERSELF ANNIHILATION; A GODDESS OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION FROM A PLANET CALLED AMENTH.

LAURIE: WAIT… ANNIHILATION?

APOCALYPSE LOOKS AT HER, ASKING HOW SHE KNOWS THAT NAME. IN RESPONSE, LAURIE SHOWS HIM THE SCROLL, AND HE LOOKS AT IT, SHOCKED. HE THEN SAYS THAT ANNIHILATION’S DISAPPEARANCE MUST BE COINCIDENTAL TO THE EXACT MOMENT THAT SHE POSSESSED HIS BODY. HE EXPLAINS THAT ANNIHILATION NEEDS A HUMAN HOST AND FOR A WHILE, SHE HAD CHOSEN HIM AS THAT HOST.

MORPH: SO WHY AREN’T YOU WEARING THE MASK ANYMORE?

APOCALYPSE SIGHS AND EXPLAINS THAT SOFIA CHALLENGED ANNIHILATION TO A BATTLE FOR HER FREEDOM. SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT SHE WAS UP AGAINST, AND WHEN SHE HAD BELIEVED SHE HAD WON, ANNIHILATION POSSESSED HER, BANISHING HER SOUL FROM HER BODY.

CLARICE: NO… NO! YOU’RE LYING! SHE CAN’T BE GONE! SHE CAN’T BE!

APOCALYPSE: I AM SORRY. AND I AM SORRY THAT I LET THIS GO ON. I BELIEVED ANNIHILATION WOULD LET ME SEE MY WIFE AND CHILDREN AGAIN.

CLARICE: YOU SELFISH BASTARD!

CLARICE IMMEDIATELY STARTS HITTING APOCALYPSE’S CHEST, SOBBING HYSTERICALLY. CESSILY WRAPS HER ARMS AROUND HER AND HUGS HER BEFORE TELLING HER THAT IT’S OKAY. THIS DOESN’T MEAN SOFIA’S DEAD. SHE BELIEVES THAT IF THEY DEFEAT ANNIHILATION, MAYBE SOFIA WILL COME BACK.

CLARICE: WHAT IF YOU’RE WRONG?

CESSILY: IF I’M WRONG? THEN WE KIDNAP DOCTOR STRANGE AND THREATEN TO CUT OFF HIS WRINKLY GONADS UNLESS HE FINDS A WAY TO BRING SOFIA BACK.

CLARICE LAUGHS, AND CESSILY TELLS HER THAT SOFIA’S A FIGHTER. SHE’D NEVER GO DOWN QUIETLY. THE GIRLS HUG BEFORE CLARICE STANDS UP AND FACES APOCALYPSE.

CLARICE: I DON’T TRUST YOU AND I SURE AS HELL DON’T LIKE YOU. BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON. WE BOTH WANT TO SEE OUR LOVED ONES AGAIN. SO, WHAT’S THE PLAN?

A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE TEAM GATHERS IN THE WAR ROOM AS APOCALYPSE EXPLAINS SOMETHING INTERESTING HE SAW WHILE POSSESSED BY ANNIHILATION.

APOCALYPSE: ANNIHILATION SEEKS A MYSTIC ITEM CALLED THE CODEX. ONCE, IT WAS ABLE TO BRING HER ARMY TO EARTH, WHICH IS WHEN ARAKKO AND KRAKOA WERE SPLIT IN TWO. ONCE I FOUND OUT WHAT CAUSED THIS, I SMASHED THE ARTIFACT INTO FOUR PIECES, AND SCATTERED THEM ACROSS THE PLANET.

SANTO: SO LEMME GUESS. ANNIHILATION WANTS TO FIND THIS MAGIC MACGUFFIN SO THAT SHE CAN BRING HER ARMY BACK AND CONQUER EARTH AGAIN.

APOCALYPSE: WELL DONE. CLEARLY, YOU’RE THE SMART ONE.

AT THIS, EVERYONE STARES AT APOCALYPSE, AND THEN SANTO, IN DISBELIEF.

MONET: SO WHERE ARE THESE PIECES LOCATED?

APOCALYPSE: THE FIRST ONE I HID HERE IN WHAT WOULD SOON BE KNOWN AS XAVIER’S. WHICH MEANS THAT WE MUST PROTECT IT, AND BE READY FOR WHEN ANNIHILATION COMES FOR IT. FOR THE OTHERS… WELL, IT’S HARD TO EXPLAIN. DOES ANYONE HAVE A MAP?

ALL OF A SUDDEN, MORPH AND TALIA COME RUNNING IN WITH A MAP THAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD COME IN HANDY. TALIA DOES EXPLAIN THAT THEY HAD TO FIGHT OFF A FEW ANGRY BAMFS TO GET IT THOUGH. APOCALYPSE THEN PUTS THE MAP ON THE TABLE AND THEN MARKS THE COORDINATES OF TWO OTHER FRAGMENTS.

ALANI: HOLY SHIT! THAT’S… I THINK THAT’S THE MORLOCK TUNNELS, WHERE MARROW IS FROM! AND THE OTHER ONE… IT LOOKS LIKE GENOSHA!

SANTO: SWEET! ROAD TRIP!

SOORAYA: SO WHERE’S THE LAST PIECE?

APOCALYPSE SIGHS AND SAYS THAT THAT ONE WILL BE A BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO REACH.

MORPH: C’MON, TACO LIPS! OUT WITH IT!

APOCALYPSE SIGHS AGAIN.

APOCALYPSE: I GAVE THE LAST PIECE TO MY WIFE, GENESIS. IT IS ON AMENTH WITH THE MUTANTS OF ARAKKO.

JAY: OH SHIT.

CLARICE: WELL, I GUESS WE’RE GOING TO ARAKKO!

CESSILY: OMG THIS IS SO COOL! I GET TO GO TO ANOTHER PLANET! SO HOW DO WE GET THERE?

APOCALYPSE: WELL, IT’LL BE A BIT TRICKY.

LAURA: WHATEVER YOU NEED, WE’LL GET IT.

APOCALYPSE: VERY WELL.

APOCALYPSE THEN BEGINS TO DRAW A DIAGRAM ON A WHITEBOARD. HE BRIEFLY LOOKS ANNOYED AT THE SQUEAK OF THE EXPO MARKERS, BUT HE FINALLY COMPLETES THE DIAGRAM.

APOCALYPSE: IN ORDER TO GET TO ARAKKO, THERE IS A GATEWAY. IN ORDER TO MAKE IT, WE NEED TEN SWORDS. THESE WILL SERVE AS AN ANCHOR TO CHANNEL PURE ARAKKII ENERGY, AND…

ALANI: YEAHYEAHYEAH. WE GET IT. WHAT SWORDS DO WE NEED?

APOCALYPSE: MURAMASA. THE SWORD OF MIGHT. THE STARLIGHT SWORD. GRASSCUTTER. GODKILLER. WARLOCK. THE DOOM SPEAR. THE SCARAB. THE LIGHT OF GALADOR. AND FINALLY, THE SKYBREAKER.

JULIAN: WELL, I GUESS WE COULD TRY SWORDS ‘R’ US.

APOCALYPSE: I DON’T THINK WE WOULD FIND THEM THERE. FROM LAST I HEARD, THESE SWORDS HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY A… COLLECTOR OF SORTS.

SANTO: THEN WE KICK HIS ASS AND TAKE THEM! WHERE IS THIS GUY?

APOCALYPSE PAUSES A BIT FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT.

APOCALYPSE: LATVERIA.

ALANI: WAIT, DOES THAT MEAN…

APOCALYPSE: YES. THEY ARE IN THE POSSESSION OF DOCTOR VICTOR VON DOOM.

IMMEDIATELY, THE ROOM EXPLODES INTO CHAOS. EVERYONE IS SHOUTING AT EACH OTHER AND THE ONLY LEVEL-HEADED ONE AMONG THEM IS DROWNED OUT BY A PINK-HAIRED SPRITE SCREAMING IN WELSH. SUDDENLY, APOCALYPSE STOMPS HIS FOOT AND EVERYONE IS QUIET.

FINALLY, CESSILY SPEAKS UP, ASKING HOW THEY’RE GONNA STEAL TEN SWORDS FROM DOCTOR DOOM. CLARICE GROANS AND THEN STANDS UP, REMINDING THEM THAT THIS IS ALL TO SAVE SOFIA. SHE’S WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES, AND SHE KNOWS THEY ARE TOO. AND IF NOT, THEN SHE’LL GO ALONE. THERE’S A LONG PAUSE BEFORE LAURA TELLS HER THAT SHE WON’T GO ALONE. CESSILY AGREES, SAYING THAT THEY MAY BE WAY OUT OF THEIR LEAGUE HERE, BUT THEY WILL GET SOFIA BACK OR DIE TRYING. AS OTHERS AGREE, CLARICE SIGHS AND SAYS THAT THEY SHOULD REALLY HURRY THIS UP THEN, BECAUSE SHE’S GETTING SICK OF BEING THE LEADER.

EVENTUALLY, THE TEAM GATHERS ON THE LAWN AS APOCALYPSE SAYS THAT HE’LL STAY BEHIND TO MAKE THE GATE, AND HE NEEDS SANTO TO HELP HIM. SANTO EXPRESSES HIS DISAPPOINTMENT AT BEING SIDELINED, BUT IS OTHERWISE IGNORED.

CLARICE: OKAY. SO MERCURY, HELLION, X-23, LOA, ANOLE, BLING!, MONET, AND NOCTURNE WILL GO WITH ME TO LATVERIA.

ALANI: THIS IS SO COOL!

TALIA: WAIT A MINUTE. WE NEED TO FLY TO LATVERIA, AND I DON’T THINK ANY OF US HAS CLEARANCE TO FLY THE BLACKBIRD.

VOICE: MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY.

SUDDENLY, DANI APPEARS ALONG WITH A BLONDE YOUNG MAN AND A STRANGE BEING MADE OF BLACK AND YELLOW TECHNO-ORGANIC MATERIAL.

DANI: WHEN YOU MENTIONED THAT THE ONLY SWORD THAT WASN’T IN DOOM’S POSSESSION WAS THE WARLOCK, I THOUGHT I’D STEP IN. I’D LIKE YOU TO MEET MY DEAR FRIENDS, DOUG RAMSEY A.K.A. CYPHER AND WARLOCK.

CESSILY GRINS AS SHE SAYS THAT SHE’S READ ABOUT THEM IN THE X-MEN ARCHIVES. WARLOCK IS A TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNO-ORGANIC BEING THAT HAS BONDED WITH CYPHER. DANI NODS, SAYING THAT WHILE THE X-MEN GAVE THEM THE GO-AHEAD FOR THIS, SHE THOUGHT THEY COULD USE A CHAPERONE.

ALANI: OKAY, BUT WE NEED A SWORD, AND THIS GUY DON’T LOOK LIKE A SWORD.

DOUG: I THINK WE CAN FIX THAT. RIGHT, BUDDY?

WARLOCK: THAT IS CORRECT, SELFFRIEND DOUG.

SUDDENLY, WARLOCK MORPHS INTO A SWORD THAT LEAPS INTO DOUG’S HAND, AND HE HOLDS IT IMPRESSIVELY. CESSILY LOOKS AT THE OTHERS AND MOUTHS ‘WOW’.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE LATVERIA TEAM IS ON THE BLACKBIRD, HEADED FOR THEIR DESTINATION. INSIDE, DOUG RECAPS THESE EVENTS IN ORDER TO FULLY UNDERSTAND IT, AND VIC SAYS THAT WHEN HE SAYS IT LIKE THAT, IT DOES SOUND PRETTY CRAZY.

CESSILY: Y’KNOW, MR. RAMSEY, IT’S AN HONOR TO MEET ONE OF THE NEW MUTANTS. DANI AND XUAN HAVE BEEN TELLING US SOME PRETTY GOOD STORIES ABOUT YOU.

DOUG: THANKS. YOU KNOW, DANI MAY SEEM LIKE SHE’S BEING IRRESPONSIBLE. LIKE SHE’S PUTTING YOU GUYS OUT FRONT TO DO THE X-MEN’S DIRTY WORK, BUT IN REALITY, I THINK YOU REMIND HER OF US BACK WHEN WE WERE STUDENTS. ALWAYS ITCHING FOR A FIGHT AND GETTING INTO TROUBLE. WE WANTED TO PROVE OURSELVES AS MORE THAN JUST KIDS. AND LOOK AT US NOW. DANI BELIEVES THAT YOU GUYS CAN PROVE YOURSELVES AND THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE X-MEN.

ALANI: DID SHE TELL YOU THAT?

DOUG: NOPE. I READ HER BODY LANGUAGE.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE BLACKBIRD APPROACHES LATVERIA, AND CLARICE DISCUSSES THE PLAN. WHILE DOUG STAYS IN THE BLACKBIRD, THEY’LL DROP INTO THE WOODS. THEN, VIC WILL GO INTO CAMO MODE AND SCOUT OUT DOOM’S CASTLE, AND WITH HIS INSTRUCTIONS, CLARICE WILL TELEPORT THE REST IN AND THEY’LL GRAB THE SWORDS AND BE READY FOR EVAC.

MONET: AND IF DOOM FINDS US… THEN THINGS GET FUN.

WITH THAT, DOUG OPENS A HATCH AND THE KIDS DROP DOWN INTO THE WOODS. CLARICE REPORTS THAT PHASE ONE IS UNDERWAY, AND NOW, THEY NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY BEFORE SOMEONE FINDS THEM.

VOICE: THAT WON’T BE NECESSARY.

SUDDENLY, STANDING IN FRONT OF THEM IS DOCTOR DOOM ALONG WITH FIVE OTHERS; A GIRL WITH ELECTRIC BLUE SKIN WITH BROWN HAIR IN A SPIKY MOHAWK DRESSED IN A WHITE SUIT AND HOLDING A LONG METAL SPEAR THAT CRACKLES WITH ELECTRICITY, A BUFF MAN WITH A BLACK BEARD WHOSE ARMS, TORSO, AND LOWER BODY SEEM TO BE MADE OUT OF HARDENED VOLCANIC ROCK, A SLENDER WOMAN WITH WHITE-BLONDE HAIR WITH FOUR ARMS MADE OF VINES AND FLORA, AND TWO OTHERS IN GREEN TUNICS AND HOODS; ONE A GIRL WITH PURPLE SKIN AND CURLY HAIR, AND THE OTHER A BOY WHO LOOKS RELATIVELY NORMAL, SAVE FOR THE LIGHT PURPLE CIRCLES AROUND HIS EYES, WHICH THE GIRL ALSO SHARES. THE NEW X-MEN LOOK ON IN SHOCK.

DOCTOR DOOM: WELCOME TO LATVERIA, CHILDREN. NOW, LEAVE WITH WHAT LITTLE DIGNITY YOU HAVE LEFT.

MONET: OH, THIS IS GONNA BE FUN.

MEANWHILE, ROCKSLIDE PACES AROUND THE YARD, ASKING APOCALYPSE HOW HE’S GONNA HELP MAKE THIS GATE. APOCALYPSE THEN ASKS ABOUT SANTO’S PHYSIOLOGY, AND HE EXPLAINS THAT ACCORDING TO BEAST, HE’S MADE OF A ROCKY MATERIAL THAT’S ABLE TO SHATTER AND THEN REFORM AT WILL FROM WHATEVER EARTH MATERIAL IS AROUND HIM. THEN, BEFORE HE CAN ASK HOW THAT’S RELEVANT, APOCALYPSE HITS HIM WITH A POWERFUL FORCE THAT SHATTERS SANTO ON IMPACT.

BEFORE THE OTHERS CAN REACT, A NEARBY PILE OF ROCKS MOVES AND MANIFESTS AS SANTO, WHO ANNOUNCES THAT HE IS NEVER DOING THAT AGAIN.

SOORAYA: WAIT, HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT WOULD WORK?

APOCALYPSE: I LISTENED. WHICH IS SOMETHING SANTO APPARENTLY DID NOT. THE GATE WILL MOST LIKELY BE STRENGTHENED IF THE ROCK MAKING IT IS MUTANT IN ORIGIN, SO WE WILL NEED TO DO THIS… A FEW MORE TIMES.

SANTO: YOU’RE KIDDING, RIGHT?! THAT WAS THE WORST! YOU CAN COUNT ME OUT ‘CUZ I’M NEVER GONNA DO THAT AGAIN!

MORPH SMIRKS.

MORPH: SISSY.

SANTO: WHAT DID YOU JUST-

APOCALYPSE PUNCHES SANTO MID-SENTENCE, AND HE REFORMS AGAIN, FROM MORE ROCKS THAT ARE NEAR DOOP, WHO IS CURRENTLY TRYING TO RAKE LEAVES WITH A HOCKEY STICK. APOCALYPSE CONGRATULATES MORPH ON DISTRACTING SANTO, WHO SAYS THAT HE MIGHT AS WELL PITCH IN, EVEN THOUGH HE WON’T LIKE IT.

APOCALYPSE: GOOD. NOW, LET’S SEE HOW YOU REACT TO SOMEONE ELSE HITTING YOU.

SANTO: WHAT?!

MORPH: OOOH! OOOH! ME! ME!

BACK IN LATVERIA, DOCTOR DOOM INFORMS THE OTHERS WITH HIM TO REMEMBER WHAT HE HAS SAID; THE DAY OF MUTANT TREACHERY IS AT HAND. CLARICE SAYS THAT SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT, AND MONET SAYS THAT THESE GUYS ARE PROBABLY MUTANTS, AND TIN MAN OVER THERE IS MOST DEFINITELY FEEDING THEM A BUNCH OF BULL CRAP. THE GIRL WITH THE MOHAWK JUMPS DOWN IN FRONT OF THEM AND SLAMS HER SPEAR AGAINST THE GROUND, CAUSING A DRAMATIC ELECTRIC SHOCKWAVE.

GIRL: I AM VOLTA DOOM. AND YOU ARE TRESPASSING.

CESSILY: OKAY. I SAY WE GET OUTTA HERE. ELECTRICITY PLUS SOMEONE MADE OF MERCURY IS NOT A GOOD COMBO!

LAURA: FORGET THIS!

MONET: LAURA, WAIT!

BEFORE MONET CAN SAY ANYTHING, LAURA UNSHEATHES HER CLAWS, BUT THE SECOND THEY COME IN CONTACT WITH VOLTA’S SPEAR, SHE IS ELECTROCUTED.

MONET: AS I WAS GONNA SAY, I THINK THAT SPEAR IS MADE OUT OF VIBRANIUM.

VIC: HANG ON. WE DIDN’T COME HERE TO FIGHT! WE JUST NEED TO PICK UP A FEW SWORDS FROM YOUR COLLECTION AND THEN WE’LL BE ON OUR WAY!

VOLTA: YOU INVADE OUR TERRITORY AND THEN ASK TO STEAL FROM US?! NOT LIKELY!

DOOM: SLAG, NERIUM, VOLTA, DEAL WITH THESE INTERLOPERS. DREAMER, IRONCLOAK, STAY WITH ME.

THE BUFF MAN AND THE GIRL WITH FOUR ARMS JUMPS DOWN AS ALANI YELLS “SUPERHERO LANDING!” ONCE SHE DOES, CLARICE ASKS HER WHOSE SIDE SHE’S ON.

MONET: Y’KNOW WHAT? LET’S TANGO!

SHE THEN FLIES FORWARD, ONLY TO BE HIT BY SOME LAVA FISTS, COURTESY OF SLAG. THE TEAM THEN CONVERGES ON THE LATVERIANS, WITH BLINK, NOCTURNE, AND ANOLE FIGHTING VOLTA, X-23, HELLION, AND MONET FIGHTING SLAG AND MERCURY, BLING!, AND LOA FIGHTING NERIUM. VOLTA IMMEDIATELY SLASHES AT TJ, WHO NARROWLY DUCKS AND FIRES A HEX BOLT AT HER OPPONENT.

TALIA: OPEN YOUR EYES! YOU’RE BEING USED! DOOM DOESN’T CARE ABOUT MUTANTS!

CLOSE UP ON VOLTA AS SHE CONSIDERS TALIA’S WORDS.

WE THEN FLASH BACK TO THE PAST AS A YOUNG VOLTA’S POWERS FLARE UNCONTROLLABLY IN A LATVERIAN SUBWAY. SHE YELLS FOR THE PEOPLE TO FORGIVE HER, SAYING THAT SHE CAN’T CONTROL HER POWERS, BUT SUDDENLY, DOOM APPEARS. HE HANDS HER THE SPEAR AND TELLS HER THAT SHE CANNOT TAME THESE POWERS ON HER OWN, BUT WITH HIS INTELLECT, AND THIS LIGHTNING LEAD, SHE CAN. VOLTA GRABS THE SPEAR AND THE ELECTRICITY AROUND HER IS CHANNELED INTO IT AS SHE LOOKS AT HIM GRATEFULLY.

IN THE PRESENT, VOLTA HAS MADE UP HER MIND, TELLING TALIA THAT SHE KNOWS NOTHING OF DOOM’S COMPASSION BEFORE ELECTROCUTING HER. SUDDENLY, HER SPEAR IS LEVITATED AWAY AND GRABBED BY JULIAN, WHO DODGES A FIST FROM SLAG. CLARICE YELLS TO THEIR OPPONENTS, SAYING THAT SHE DOESN’T WANT A FIGHT.

LAURA: SPEAK FOR YOURSELF!

WITH THAT, LAURA STABS HER CLAWS INTO SLAG’S BACK. MOLTEN BLOOD POURS OUT AND ON THE SIDELINES, IRONCLOAK REACHES FOR HER TEAMMATE, BUT DOOM HALTS HER, SAYING THAT SLAG IS MADE OF LATVERIAN ROCK, AND HIS TOUGHNESS IS BEYOND MORTALS.

WE ARE THEN TREATED TO ANOTHER FLASHBACK AS DOOM APPROACHES SLAG, WHO IS BEING FORCED TO MINE ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHERS. HE TELLS HIM THAT THE WORLD IS A MORE DANGEROUS PLACE, AND HE ASKS HIM TO MEET THE LATVERIAN MUTANTS THAT HE REFUSES TO JOIN. AFTERWARDS, IF HE STILL WISHES TO THROW HIS LIFE AWAY IN PRISON, THEN HE CAN. SLAG ANNOUNCES THAT HE COULD HAVE FREED HIMSELF AT ANY TIME, BREAKING HIS SHACKLES, AND DOOM SAYS THAT THAT WAS HIS INTENT. SLAG’S PRISON WAS HIS OWN MIND.

IN THE PRESENT, IRONCLOAK REQUESTS THAT SHE INTERVENE, BUT DOOM SAYS THAT SHE AND HER BROTHER MUST LEARN FROM THIS BRUTALITY. ON THE BATTLEFIELD, NERIUM EXTENDS ONE OF HER VINEY ARMS TO WRAP AROUND LAURA. ONE OF HER FINGERS EXTENDS AND PRICKS LAURA’S NECK, CAUSING HER TO BLEED FROM HER MOUTH. SUDDENLY, CESSILY INTERVENES, SLICING THE VINE IN HALF AND FREEING HER FRIEND.

CESSILY: YOU’RE A MUTANT! HOW CAN YOU BE FIGHTING US?

NERIUM: I AM LATVERIAN! AND I AM THE SPIRIT OF THIS LAND!

ANOTHER FLASHBACK ENSUES AND WE SEE NERIUM BEHIND BARS AT A CIRCUS AS A SHOWMAN PROCLAIMS THAT PEOPLE MUST SEE THE “POISON OF THE FOREST”, THE FREAK OF LATVERIA. SUDDENLY, HE IS KNOCKED OUT BY A CONCUSSIVE BLAST AND DOOM RIPS APART NERIUM’S CAGE, SAYING THAT MUTANTS MUST BE FOUND, NOT ENSLAVED FOR AMUSEMENTS. NERIUM THANKS HIM AND HE BECKONS FOR HER TO COME AND MEET OTHERS LIKE HER.

IN THE PRESENT, NERIUM PULLS JULIAN DOWN WITH HER VINES, CAUSING HIM TO DROP THE SPEAR THAT LANDS IN VOLTA’S HAND. SHE THEN POINTS IT AT THE DEFEATED MUTANTS AND ORDERS THEM TO SURRENDER.

CLARICE: PLEASE, WE CAN SET YOU FREE.

VOLTA: WE…

SLAG: …ARE…

NERIUM: …FREE!

CLARICE: YOU MAY BE FREE, BUT SOMEONE I LOVE IS NOT. SHE’S TRAPPED AND WE NEED THESE SWORDS TO SAVE HER. PLEASE HELP US, AND WE WILL LEAVE PEACEFULLY.

IRONCLOAK: I THINK SHE’S TELLING THE TRUTH.

DOOM NODS AT HIS YOUNG PROTÉGÉ, BEFORE TELLING THE MUTANTS THAT HE WILL CONSIDER THEIR OFFER.

DOOM: BUT I AM AFRAID YOU CANNOT LEAVE… UNTIL YOU HAVE DINED WITH DOOM.

LATER, THE TEAM, INCLUDING DOUG, FIND THEMSELVES IN A LARGE DINING ROOM WITH THE THREE LATVERIAN MUTANTS STARING AT THEM OMINOUSLY. AFTER A LONG PAUSE, VIC COMMENTS THAT THIS IS SOME REAL SILENCE OF THE LAMBS SHIT.

EVENTUALLY, DOOM ARRIVES WITH CLARICE, IRONCLOAK, AND THE DREAMER. HE THEN SAYS THAT AFTER HEARING THEIR PLEA, HE WILL GIVE THEM THE SWORDS THEY SEEK. IN FACT, THE SWORDS WERE ACTUALLY GIVEN TO HIM BY APOCALYPSE FOR SAFEKEEPING.

JULIAN: YOU’RE FUCKING KIDDING ME! SO YOU’RE SAYING THAT ALL THIS TIME, APOCALYPSE COULD HAVE JUST SENT YOU A FUCKING EMAIL?!

SLAG: PERHAPS. BUT ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, I HAVE NOT HAD A FIGHT LIKE THAT IN YEARS. ‘TWAS A GOOD SCRAP.

TALIA: AMEN.

DOOM: THERE IS ONE CONDITION. ONE OF THESE SWORDS, THE DOOM SPEAR, IS IN THE POSSESSION OF MY FINEST LIEUTENANT. IF YOU WISH TO TAKE THESE SWORDS, THEN I ASK THAT VOLTA MUST ACCOMPANY YOU TO ARAKKO.

VOLTA LOOKS AT HIM, SHOCKED, BUT HE SAYS THAT HE TRUSTS HER TO HELP THEM COMPLETE THIS TASK. AND AS HIS HEIR, HE EXPECTS HER TO BE AT HER BEST. VOLTA STANDS AND BOWS, TELLING DOOM THAT SHE WILL DO AS HE ASKS.

DOOM: MEANWHILE, SLAG AND NERIUM WILL FOLLOW YOUR OTHER TEAMS TO RECOVER THESE OTHER PIECES.

TALIA: AWESOME! NEW FRIENDS!

NERIUM: INDEED. NOW THAT WE HAVE DINED, WE ARE IN YOUR DEBT. IF YOU NEED US, YOU SHALL HAVE OUR ARMS. AND VINES.

CLARICE: THANK YOU, DOOM. AND I DO ADMIT, YOU’RE NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGHT YOU WERE.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE BLACKBIRD LANDS ON THE FRONT YARD OF XAVIER’S WHILE MEGAN IS SHOWING APOCALYPSE SOMETHING ON HER PHONE.

MEGAN: AND SO THEN SHE PICKS WHICH ONE OF THEM STAYS IN THE COMPETITION AND WHICH ONE MUST LEAVE.

APOCALYPSE: I SEE. SO THIS ‘RUPAUL’ IS BUILDING AN ARMY OF WARRIORS. SHE IS DEFINITELY A MIGHTY BEING WORTHY OF MY HONOR.

THE DOORS OF THE BLACKBIRD OPEN, AND THE NEW X-MEN STEP OUT ALONGSIDE DOUG AND THE THREE LATVERIAN MUTANTS, WHO CESSILY INTRODUCES. SHE ALSO PROUDLY STATES THAT THEY GOT THE SWORDS. APOCALYPSE STANDS AND TAKES THE SWORDS, WHICH ARE INSIDE A DUFFEL BAG. HE THEN GESTURES OVER TO WHERE THE GATEWAY HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

CLARICE: WAIT… YOU DID IT? HOW?

SANTO: DON’T ASK. PLEASE, DON’T ASK.

SUDDENLY, THE DOORS TO XAVIER’S OPEN, AND A GROUP OF STUDENTS WALK OUT. SOORAYA SAYS THAT SHE MAY HAVE SAID THAT THEY NEEDED SOME HELP IN RECOVERING THE FRAGMENTS, SO SHE REACHED OUT TO THE XAVIER’S MESSAGE BOARDS.

MORPH: SO HOW DO WE DO THIS? I MEAN, WHO GETS WHAT SWORD?

APOCALYPSE: WELL, I BELIEVE THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANCIENT RULES, THE SWORD CHOOSES ITS USER. VOLTA AND CYPHER HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHOSEN, SO WE JUST NEED EIGHT MORE.

WITH THAT, APOCALYPSE PICKS UP THE FIRST SWORD OUT OF THE DUFFEL BAG.

APOCALYPSE: THE MURAMASA BLADE. ONE OF TWO IDENTICAL SWORDS MADE BY THE MAD SWORDSMITH MURAMASA. I ENTRUST IT TO YOU, LAURA KINNEY, SO YOU CAN CHANNEL ITS STRENGTH WITH YOUR OWN.

LAURA TAKES THE SWORD AND HOLDS IT PROUDLY.

APOCALYPSE: THE SKYBREAKER. MADE BY THE FIRST FATHER OF WAKANDA, IT CHANNELS AND AMPLIFIES ANY SMALL AMOUNT OF ENERGY. IT IS PERFECT FOR YOU, JULIAN KELLER, SO YOU CAN AMPLIFY YOUR ALREADY GREAT POWER.

JULIAN TAKES THE SWORD, A BIT CONFUSED.

APOCALYPSE: THE LIGHT OF GALADOR. MADE FROM A PLANET DESTROYED A MILLENNIA AGO. ITS POWER IS AS MYSTERIOUS AS YOU, MONET ST. CROIX, AND YET IT POSSESSED GREAT STRENGTH.

MONET GRINS AS SHE CLUTCHES IT, SAYING THAT SHE ALWAYS WANTED A BIG-ASS MOTHERFUCKING SWORD.

APOCALYPSE: THE SWORD OF MIGHT. SAID TO BE FORGED IN THE FIRES OF CREATION, IT IS SAID THAT ANYONE CHOSEN BY THE GODDESS OF OTHERWORLD, ROMA, CHOOSES IT INSTEAD OF THE AMULET OF RIGHT, THEY WILL FAIL THE TEST. THIS SWORD IS UNPREDICTABLE AT MOST, BUT WITH THE RIGHT WIELDER, LIKE YOU, VICTOR BORKOWSKI, IT MAY GROW TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD.

VIC TAKES THE SWORD AND LOOKS AT IT, WARILY.

APOCALYPSE: THE STARLIGHT SWORD. CRAFTED BY UNIVERSAL MAJESTRIX SATURNYNE, ITS WIELDER IS SAID TO BE CHOSEN AS DEFENDER OF THE OMNIVERSE. I GIVE IT TO YOU, MEGAN GWYNN, AS YOUR PURE HEART WILL ALLOW YOU TO TRIUMPH OVER EVIL.

MEGAN GLADLY TAKES THE SWORD AND HOLDS IT UP HIGH IN HOMAGE TO SHE-RA.

APOCALYPSE: THE SWORDS GRASSCUTTER AND GODKILLER. MADE FOR THE GODS ZEUS AND AMATSU-MIKABOSHI IN THE WAR BETWEEN GREEK AND JAPANESE GODS, ONE IS SAID TO BE PERFECT, WHILE THE OTHER IS FLAWED. I ENTRUST THEM TO YOU, CESSILY KINCAID, AS YOU HAVE WALKED PATHS OF BOTH LIGHT AND DARKNESS AND EMERGED UNSCATHED.

CESSILY GRINS AS SHE TAKES THE SWORDS BEFORE BRAGGING THAT SHE HAS TWO.

APOCALYPSE: AND FINALLY, MY OWN SWORD, SCARAB. CRAFTED FOR ME BY MY SISTER BY BIRTH, ISCA THE UNBEATEN, I NOW PASS IT DOWN TO MY FINEST DESCENDANT. I GIVE IT TO YOU, CLARICE FERGUSON.

CLARICE: WAIT, DON’T YOU WANNA GO WITH? SEE YOUR WIFE AND KIDS?

APOCALYPSE: INDEED I DO. BUT I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE A MUCH BETTER WIELDER. BUT PLEASE, SAY HELLO TO THEM. FOR ME.

CLARICE NODS, LOOKING AT APOCALYPSE WITH RESPECT.

VOLTA: WELL? ARE WE GOING TO KEEP STANDING AROUND OR ARE WE GOING TO GO?

THE CHOSEN MUTANTS STEP TOWARDS THE GATE. ONE BY ONE, THEY PUT THEIR BLADES INSIDE TEN HOLES AROUND THE CENTER PIECE, WHICH GLOWS BLUE. AS SEVERAL OF THEM SCREAM IN SURPRISE (*KOFF-KOFF* CESSILY), A BLUE LIGHT ENVELOPS THEM, AND WHEN IT RECEDES, THEY ARE GONE.

APOCALYPSE STANDS FIRM, LOOKING UP AT THE SKY, HOPEFUL.

APOCALYPSE: GODSPEED, CLARICE FERGUSON. AND GOOD LUCK.