#CAN YOU DIE LATER SIR ITS JUST NOT A GOOD TIME RIGHT NOW

[verpineshatterrifle]

omega are nice to each other because they were initially coworkers

delta, an intact pod, never had the coworker stage and have invented new ways to bully each other

[sukioyakio]

Saw some gojo drawings of him being a cowboy.Just wanted to share my thoughts on it. (Femreader)

might not be well edited 😭✌️

Cowboy!gojo,Who lives his whole life in his little sort of town, where it had enough food and water but enough for people to be able to use electricity. And its where he works as a cowboy in one big ranch. He just as well know about everyone in the little town, and they know him I mean who wouldn’t.The handsome white headed cowboy, the cutie that the girls would die for to be his wife, and the gorgeous blue eyes cowboy.

Cowboy!gojo,Who immediately knew when he saw you that he didn’t ever see you before. But you had this glow around you that brought him wondering. Probably that city girl glow he said to his mind, he cant say that he never went to other places or travel the world in which he did he pretty much enjoy it to top to bottom. But he prefer his little town he knows from the bottom of his heart.

He just had to come to you and he wanted to have his first appearance with you to be good. But it just happens that a car drove by a mud puddle.

“Helloooo there I hadn’t se- A red car drove by hitting the mud puddle and perfectly aimed on Gojo’s body and hair. You had no idea what just happened but you couldn’t help but laugh at his blanked expression. You hadn’t even heard what he had said before but you waved him off. Before saying. ”You might need a shower of a hour or two, see you later sir” You added with a sly smirk walking off with a sarcastic tone. He saw everything he needed to know that you just obtain his cowboy ass heart. He who is smiling like a dork after seeing a crush. Walking around with mud on his body like it’s nothing.

I just know that cowboy!gojo, who would have his signature smirk on every time he’s playing with the other cowboys. But he puts that smirk more widely when your around.(I don’t know if cowboys do races)

Cowboy!gojo, Who purposely trying to do anything to grab your attention. Sitting on his horse while they walk or jogging balls while the horse sprints. Wanting nothing more than to see you smile at his stupid shenanigans. It just bursts his ego with such warmth that he would have such a dorky grin on his face that his best friend playfully nudged his shoulder and ask him why he’s smiling like that.

“Gojo what the hell are you doing right now”Shoko stated as she sees him sitting on his black horse four beer bottles in air as he juggled them up and down. Gojo who didn’t hear shoko at all. Shoko couldn’t see who he was doing that for from the view she had and so she walked towards him. ’What is that idiot doing with my beer.’ She says but she stop when she see you rolling your eyes playfully and huffing a bit of laughter at his tactics. Shoko looks at you and knew immediately that she never saw you before and she looks at Gojo and sees that Manchild smiling like a highschool boy after their crush saying hi to them.And she knew that he was absolutely in love with you. “What you didn’t think I can juggle,huh” He says with a large smile on his lips. And beautiful blues eyes that were aimed towards your attention. “Definitely not on your horse I didn’t,your pretty talented guy that I can tell”You replied to him with a cheeky smile,looking at him with your arm crossed.The sarcasm in your voice wasn’t that hard to not notice.

Cowboy!Gojo,Who loves Fucking with you,He just like seeing if he can get to see how many adorable expressions can be on your face. Especially if he finds you reading a book on the grass field right next to the ranch house,in the quiet silence.In which he would purposely scare you with his loud voice. (edited)

It was pretty uneventful at the ranch.Which meant that he had more time to relax or catch up with you,his pretty princess.Ever since the last time he visit you which was like yesterday he had called you that nickname ‘pretty princess or princess’. and then you heard you mutter 'what a annoying knight’. And so he decided to call that every time he see you.He’s walking by the forest part of the park where it just outstanding beautiful, with the view of the green trees and perfectly shaved grass.He instantly see you and notices that didn’t see him or even hear him. Which hurt his little cowboy heart.But then a thought come up. I wonder what she does when she alone. He walks towards you with such ease that you didn’t even notice that.And Then BANG A gun shot blow up right next to you, making you jump up like a cat in fear.You quickly turn to your side to only get jump on by a white headed and all dessed cowboy. “Oh my fucking god!!What the hell was that For!” You yelled at him as your chest going up and down due to shear panic attack you almost got. while You could hear his laughter through the whole time.He just smiled and ruffles your hair.You groan quietly. ”Your alright,I’m right here princess.But woah are y’all city girls like this,pretty looking and addictive scary cats but don’t worry your knight in shining armor is here” You were so ready to punch him for doing that,but didn’t fell like doing that and so instead you just grumble and rolled your eyes,and huff out breath. “Oh yeah,I forgot to learn that I now have a knight in shining armor,that works at a ranch how lovely are you- -Satoru Gojo” god how he love the way his name rolls of your tongue.It like hearing the beautiful morning breeze.He lips can’t help but smile and laugh softly after seeing your cute frown on face.And then he already forgot what he wanted to came here to do.

Cowboy!gojo, who tried so hard to focus into something else but can’t seem to find anything,because you got him acting like a coward when he supposed to be a confident cowboy.After he saw you in some chaps (here links of the outfit- here ). You got him walking around with a half hard on.

Cowboy!gojo, who hear you laugh at him after his lovely horse kick him off her back while training,and even laugh more at the fact that he tried to act like that didn’t happen.He would just rolls his eyes and pull out his tongue.Like a man child his is.But cant help to put his hat on your face to cover his fluster face,chuckling really loudly.

THAT ALL I HAVE THERE AND I HOPE LIKE IT

also here I FINALLY FOUND WELL SORT THE ART of cowboy Gojo, But it not the one I saw.

The artist link Here go check them out

[frodo-with-glasses]

More Reading Thoughts: Three Is Company

Frodo calling it “Our Birthday” is making me feel things. Oh would you look at the time, it’s Crying About Bilbo and Frodo O’Clock again TT~TT

It’s honestly such a mood that Frodo says to himself “I’m following Bilbo!” so he doesn’t have to think about “I’m carrying a thing of great evil into danger and unseen ends”. Me too, Frodo. Me too.

“And see that Sam Gamgee does not talk. If he does, I really shall turn him into a toad.” 🤣

“Bilbo went to find a treasure, there and back again; but I go to lose one, and not return, as far as I can see.” OH WOULD YOU LOOK AT THE TIME—

Also “and not to return” is so heartbreaking, especially knowing that by the time he gets to Mordor Frodo is fully expecting to die at the end of his journey TT^TT

“It may be your task to find the Cracks of Doom.” JUST DROP THAT FORESHADOWING RIGHT THERE LIKE IT’S NOTHING, HUH, TOLKIEN??

Also teehee crack

Yes I am a twelve year old boy on the inside, moving on

The local shade towards the Sackville-Bagginses is HYSTERICAL

“Ah yes Merry is looking out for a house for me in Buckland.” INSTANCE #2 OF MERRY BEING ORGANIZATIONALLY GOATED

I’m honestly very impressed by how neatly Tolkien crafted Frodo’s backstory and interwove it into the story. The idea that he’s going back to Buckland where he grew up really does seem credible! None of the hobbits would suspect a thing! I almost have to wonder which came first in Tolkien’s mind, Frodo’s backstory or the fact that he’d need a good excuse to go East. It’s so well-crafted and it makes my writer brain happy.

F in the chat for Folco Boffin; we know your name and nothing else about you

Frodo draining the last of the wine like “lol at least the Sackville-Bagginses won’t get THIS!” is very funny to me

I have said it before, I’ll say it again, Frodo looking in the mirror and going “geez I’ve gotten fat” will NEVER NOT BE FUNNY

“Frodo did not offer [Lobelia] any tea.” I hereby name you Frodo Sassville-Baggins.

Aww, the Gaffer agreed to Sam going to Crickhollow to work for Frodo!

If only he knew just how far he was really going

“…though it did not console him for the prospect of having Lobelia as a neighbour.” o7 for the Gaffer, everybody

And they had tea by themselves and left the dishes for Lobelia 🤣 FRODO SASSVILLE-BAGGINS

“‘Coming, sir!’ came the answer from far within, followed soon by Sam himself, wiping his mouth. He had been saying farewell to the beer-barrel in the cellar.” LOL

Also I can’t blame him, knowing what he’s walking into

“He waved his hand, then turned and (following Bilbo, if he had known it) hurried after Peregrin down the garden-path.” OH WOULD YOU LOOK AT THE—

Frodo, whining: "My bag is so heavy" Sam, lying: "I could carry more, sir!" Pippin: "Oh no you don't, let him suffer"

Honestly the dynamic of this trio is super underrated LOL

I'm honestly not sure whether "well, we all like walking in the dark" is meant to be sarcastic or genuine—the way it's repeated later on makes me think it's genuine, but I can't be sure—so just to be safe I'm bringing the Frodo Sassville-Baggins score up to 2.5

I'm taking the time to read the walking bits slowly now, and honestly, the way Tolkien describes the countryside of the Shire is so beautiful. I want to go there, and I want to walk there, and I want to see what the hobbits are seeing. Every little piece of nature and topography elicits an emotion; from the enclosed safety of Hobbiton, cradled in its cozy little valley, to the great fir tree standing guard over the hobbits as they sleep, to the road winding endlessly on before them, promising still more work and beautiful scenery and adventures to come. Is this slow reading? Yes. But I love it so much.

Frodo wakes up and the first thing he does is grumble to himself about his back and neck. He really is an old man. I love him.

Honestly this entire scene is comedy gold

Frodo: "Wake up, hobbits! It's a beautiful morning." Pippin, a literal teenager: "What's so beautiful about it?" ROFLOL

Pippin, literally out in the middle of nowhere: "Sam, draw a bath!"

And for that, Frodo steals his blankets and makes him roll over. Frodo Sassville-Baggins score: 3.5

Pippin: "Water! Where's the water?" Frodo: "I don't keep water in my pockets!" SASSVILLE-BAGGINS SCORE: 4.5

And then he makes Pippin come get the water with him, since he wants it so badly. I love Exasperated Older Sibling Frodo and I wish we got to see so much more of it.

Pippin, after Frodo randomly bursts into poetry: "Wow, was that Bilbo's poetry, or yours? It's kind of a downer."

I'm so glad they kept the "it's dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door" line in the movies, because it really is so good.

Sam's canonically good hearing returns!

Frodo suggesting they prank Gandalf for being late is honestly so cute lol

Twice in this chapter we get the eucatastrophe of Frodo just barely not putting on the Ring, right at the last second. The first time, the Black Rider just walks off on his own, and the second time the Elves show up and scare him off. I will praise Frodo's virtues 'till Spring turns into Winter, but I think this is clear evidence right from the beginning that Frodo was not, and could not, be saved from the temptation of the Ring by any virtue of his own. He is saved; he does not save himself. All of which is honestly very Christian of Tolkien.

Pippin, to Frodo: "All right, keep your secrets!"

I love the walking song. I might do a revised recording of it, if you guys will tolerate my singing voice again X-D

Can we just acknowledge how bad*ss it is that Frodo sneaks up and spies on a Black Rider, just out of curiosity?? Like, I know this is more a feat of stupidity than it is of courage, but given everything we know about them by the end of the book, that is honestly WICKED cool.

Sam, having to be dragged back by his arms: "ELVES! ELVES!"

GILDOR!!

GILDOR MY UNDERRATED BESTIE

I can't wait to draw Gildor. He's gonna be so PRETTY

"But we have no need of other company, and hobbits are so dull" is so funny tho

The Elves, with all the love in their hearts: "You can't sit with us, you're boring!"

FINROD MY MAN

I have not read the Silmarillion, but I know enough about it to know that Finrod is the G.O.A.T.

The Elves: "You're being followed by Black Riders?? Okay you're coming with us now"

Frodo speaking the High-elven tongue like a NERD

I love him

And Gildor immediately like "LOL y'all watch your language, the babies can understand us!" I love him dearly

....Okay wait I have a thought about the hobbits walking with the elves until they nearly fall asleep on their feet. A thought about soldiers and Tolkien's experience in war. Wait. I'm gonna have to make a post about this.

Eyyyy it's the Turin constellation!

Something about the Elven hall did indeed become a core memory for young Lady Glasses. I spent quite a few years building a fantasy world that would capture that sense of mysticism and wonder. Just like Sam and Pippin, I never really remembered the details, but the emotion stuck with me, and it enchanted my imagination.

The Elves bringing out a Thanksgiving feast and saying "sorry we don't have better food" is like going over to your friend's immaculately cleaned house and them saying "sorry for the mess"

Frodo speaking the Elves' language and charming them all is so cute

Sam falling asleep at Frodo's feet as he talks to Gildor is SO CUTE

“At last Frodo asked the question that was nearest to his heart: ‘Tell me, Gildor, have ever you seen Bilbo since he left us?’” OH WOULD YOU LOOK AT—

"My faithful Sam" UGH THE FEELS

Gildor: "But it is said: 'Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.'" Frodo: "And it is also said, 'Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes.'" HAHAHA GETTIM FRODO

SASSVILLE-BAGGINS SCORE: 5.5

Gildor saying "you don't need to understand the Black Riders, just stay away from them" is honestly very Christian of Tolkien too. The best spiritual warfare advice I've ever heard is "don't try to understand demons; just get as close to your Protector".

Anyway Gildor complimenting Frodo is very cute and that is all

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

my favorite scully moments from s4

in episode 1, she cracks encrypted messages, commenting that “you say ‘a twenty letter code’ to any scientist and they immediately think ‘protein amino acid sequence code’, which is what this turned out to be” <- and that is genius at work right there!!

skinner pulling her aside to ask “do you realize what you are promoting?” when she puts together there's a whole international smallpox conspiracy, and she cuts him off with a clear “i am a SCIENTIST, sir” <- that is right!! you tell him!!!

trying and failing to come up with a theory for how the photos in episode 4 became terrifying: “plus, the film is two years out of date” “oh” “the-the photographic chemistry could have changed” “uh-huh” “the-the dyes fade… they… alright, that’s your theory?” (had me absolutely giggling)

we also learn in episode 4 that she took german in college <3

in episode 6, she spends a great deal of time explaining the science behind sleeping pills and their controversial effects

(and i also loved her fury that such an advanced facility was being used for plastic surgery rather than life-saving care)

tearing into the culture of lawlessness while testifying in episode 9; talking about how she left the medical field to protect the innocent and punish the guilty- such an excellent moment, more of that good old fashioned scully righteous rage combined with inherent optimism- and her continuing to read her statement despite the council repeatedly cutting her off (as she should!)

choosing to be jailed rather than reveal where mulder was located, because she will do the right thing no matter the consequences (and is also just a really great friend)

((and bonus points for skinner checking up on her: “you holding up alright?” “i’ve got plenty to read”, she says, as she flips through medical texts))

“it is my natural inclination to believe they are acting in the best interest of the truth… but i am not inclined to follow my own judgment in this case” (casting aside her own optimism in the face of such corruption, understanding her personal bias and objectively putting it to the side… i admire her ability to do so)

((but still. after all she has been through, it is natural for her to believe that the government means well. it's incredible))

this exchange from episode 12: “where could he hide an adult body where it wouldn’t be found?” “i’ll show you” (cut to them sorting through the medical waste, mulder looking horrified as she casually says she needs his longer arms to sift through the body parts)

((but isn't it just great that she knew the answer to that question instantly?))

in episode 12, when she realizes that leonard betts trying to kill her means she has cancer, she responds to mulder saying she should be proud of stopping him with a quiet “i just want to go home”

(we get another "i'm going home" moment in episode 22, after their confrontation in the hallway about her fears, and the exhaustion contained in those few words could make me weep)

in episode 14, she writes letters saying goodbye to mulder, trying to convince him her inevitable death was not his fault: “and if the darkness should have swallowed me as you read this, you must never think there was the possibility of some secret intervention, something you might have done”, she wrote, knowing how he would blame himself, trying to spare his feelings of guilt even as she knew she had so little time left

later on, her nose starts bleeding while they're making an arrest; “quit staring at me, i’m fine!”, she says in the voice of someone who is deeply not fine, her helplessness inspiring a fury that thrashes about and digs its claws into everything inch of her

how she told mulder she was going to die, but insisted to her mother that she was fine- her mother is furious she didn’t tell her she was sick, shaking in fear, giving her a kiss and a hug, and saying that she is her only daughter now as they hold each other. while she can tell mulder the truth, she can't find the words to tell her mom how bad things really are

writing in her journal that she needs to draw strength from mulder, needs someone to lean on, even though she works so hard to be entirely self-sufficient; “i need to know you’re out there if i’m ever to see through this”

(contrast this with her earlier attempts to do absolutely every single thing by herself and bask in the character growth)

((but then she REJECTS what she wrote in the journal, saying that she isn’t giving up, and she has so much to prove to herself and her family- they have the conversation in the hallway that made me cry and cheer and yell and experience every emotion in between as she realizes that she is something worth fighting for))

in episode 18, she tries her best to save pendrell, telling him that “we still haven’t celebrated my birthday, pendrell; i’m not gonna let you off the hook like this” - it's the way she spent his last moments on earth trying to make him smile that gets me so emotional

later, she's having this very tense face off with skinner until he notices she was trying to hide her nosebleed; he grabs her hand and says “i have a responsibility for the safety of the agents under my supervision, agent scully. i’m not going to put another agent’s life in jeopardy just to keep her out in the field”, and she assures him she’s okay with tears in her eyes (the way he pierced through her best attempts at a stony exterior… i'm emotional)

they visit max fenig’s trailer again and she still HATED it lmao, she says “i remember being amazed at what some people will call a home”

(and then she disses the very bare hotel room they visit in the next episode, saying “i’m not sure if ‘living’ is the word i would use to describe this space” - give her all of the blankets and throw pillows, she wants a cozy house)

((this, combined with her saying "i want to go home" when she is experiencing moments of earth-shattering grief, made me realize how important to her it is that she have a nice, comfortable, safe space for herself))

smirking at her own stupid joke in episode 19; “what was he wearing, a long black robe and carrying a scythe?”

she knows the lowest temperature a human body has ever reached and survived (70 degrees) and also uses the phrase “nuclear magnetic resident spectra”, both of which made my heart skip a few beats

“okay, so this photo that was never taken, when was it never taken?” <- SEVERELY underappreciated line!!!!

in the opening of episode 20, she starts reciting facts about babies born with extra appendages in incredible detail, and i want to know so badly why she is educated on the subject. scully, please give us the story time video

she also mentions her plans to write an article on “diminished acetylcholine production in recidivist offenders” when she goes home from work. because that is how she spends her evenings, very casual. no big deal (said with great sarcasm)

her realization in episode 22 that the killer had been switching around the rings on each victim’s fingers, based on some blurry photos (it was a very good catch!)

talking to her therapist, admitting she struggles to talk about her fears, and that mulder’s passion has been a source of strength during her sickness

(we then, very briefly, see her praying in her nightgown in her apartment, before mulder knocks on the door to ask for her medical opinion. i find that shot so compelling, especially when you contrast it with her saying in the finale that she is not ready to return to the church- it must be too personal to talk about, god must be something she wants to experience on her own at this point in her life)

((and she grapples with the revelation that everyone else who had seen the spirits had been dying, knowing what it means for herself))

the way she shoots the evil nurse in the shoulder not to kill her, but to incapacitate her… scully, your aim is legendary

fun facts with scully, episode 23 edition: dostoyevsky had waxman-geschwind syndrome!

VERY FIRMLY telling mulder that he NEEDS to get to the hospital, and when he continually refuses, instead asking to go on a road trip, she agrees... ONLY on the condition that she drives!!!!

and when his terrible trauma ketamine trip culminates in him almost shooting her and himself, she manages to talk sense into him, before she rests her entire body on him, shielding him, not letting him move, weighing him down like an anchor back to reality

(her being the one taking charge in this episode even while she feels she is losing so much of her agency in her life makes me so emotional)

when mulder interrupts her family dinner in episode 24 to go on a quest for alien answers, she reminds him that this is his goal, and not hers. when he tries to convince her, she refuses to budge- it was frustrating to watch him put her in that situation, but amazing to watch her stand her ground

(and the fact that she wasn’t able to tell him her cancer was getting much worse is also so fascinating to me- why couldn't she bear to break it to him? would saying it aloud make it real?)

and of course, her tracking down the dude that shoved her down the stairs and nearly hitting him with her car (it was deeply satisfying)

[pearlywritings]

Okay, BUT

Just imagine a reader with mannerism of Shellsea from Fish Hooks in Fontaine

(Tik tok did it to me)

Written before Fontaine's release

First of all - she is some kind of sea creature but under human disguise - pretty much like Neuvillette. She can be a Genshin lore-accurate mermaid if they have one for all I care, but currently with legs and residing in the nation of Hydro.

Trendy, flashy, yet classy. Works as an attorney in the Court - which she is actually good at. But mostly her role is entertaining Furina with her wit and way of advocating, which gradually reduces the number of executions, and gains her a bit of unspoken gratitude from the Chief Judge, even though sometimes his eye twitches from some of her comments. Which the Archon also finds hilarious.

Like, listening to the defendant’s case, and then just going “wow, ma’am, I think you just dropped something. My jaw. Now to the evidence…”

Or “Neuv, relaaaaax. I wanna do it this way, and if I am wrong, I don’t wanna be right.”

Just causing manageable chaos and being iconic.

Feel like being besties with Navia is a given.

And the blondie is so pretty that she probably gets asked out at least once a week.

“Oh, this man is gonna have his heart smashed in a minute. I wanna watch it.”

Also going all “Girl, you’re craaaaaazy. I like it!” the moment the reader learns that she wields a hecking claymore.

No matter what probably spends quite some time in the Chief Judge’s office, reviewing some of the cases and actually coming up with ideas on how to keep Focalors content.

“Ew, this man’s case is actually concerning. He is so dead, this little creep. You know, that’s actually what I’m gonna tell him. And then smack his head with one of these books on your shelves.”

“Y/n, you can’t hit him.”

“When did that stop me? Which volume 5 of Fontaine laws is heavier - the 23th edition or the 35th one? Both look so thick.”

“sigh”

Most likely wears a new attire every single hearing. One time Neuvillette even questioned her after seeing the report of her spendings where the big portion was dedicated to clothes. It was just a few decades ago, after her decision to permanently stay on land and take over what she is so good at now. He won’t admit it, but maybe he was a bit concerned about her having a hard time handling her budget.

“Listen, Sir. I got those pretty walking legs to dress them up nicely as the rest of my body. Speaking of which, now I am craving a Natlan lava hot dress with ¾ sleeves, off-the-shoulder, a fixed box pleat skirt and embroidery on my girls,” casually motions to the chest.

As shameless as she is, nothing shocked the poor man more, than when three days later she arrived in exactly that dress. After this he almost never questioned her abilities.

Speaking of abilities, probably good at gathering intel. Unintentionally.

Also so chill, that when Furina threatened to turn her into water, she just stared at her point blank and went “Loooook, milady, it’s nothing personal, but I had to stop you. I read it in Neuv’s eyes, he was pleading for it. Don’t turn him into water though, I like him. Besides, Fontaine's waters might turn sour if he replenishes its volumes.”

She is Furina’s personal favorite.

When shit starts further down the Archon quest and everyone is panicking, reader, standing next to Neuvillette and Furina, just smacking her lips and exclaiming “we’re all gonna die! And if some of us actually do, Neuv, I’m stealing your coats,” not taking it seriously enough.

Would be so funny if she and the Chief Judge got together at some point lol. But staying sarcastic colleagues borderline a different kind of besties is also hysterical. But they do unintentionally "parent" Furina.

[getcuboned]

The hardest thing for a show to do without absolutely Destroying its audience's belief in stakes is fake out deaths. It happens all the time during a season or even series finale: A main character dies, but then is revealed to be mildly/moderately/extremely hurt (throw a dart).

All the emotional payoff a character dying is immediately followed up with a cathartic return of a beloved figure. When its done right, it's Effective. That's why it was so popular, that and another reason.

The other reason is that its relatively Easy. It doesn't require the writers to change the status quo. Silly fun adventures with the gang go on as always without any real changes. This is so Cost and Idea effective, that it got overused and now everyone is jaded.

Now there's good ways to do this of course. AtLA comes to mind: Genuine threat of death, maguffin from last season finale which has been haunting the previous episodes comes into play, and the status quo changes: Aang is recovering from a serious injury for weeks, is furious that he died and failed Again when the world needed him, and he can't tap into god mode anymore.

So what's this got to do with the tags? Well if you know you know. Otherwise spoiler warning so gtfo already.

Sir Pentious, and I suspect Adam, did die a fakeout death, but the death part was genuine. Sir Pentious was not found in the rubble of the Hotel. Sir Pentious didn't respawn and explain that Adam's divine energy beams weren't angelic steel. Sir Pentious was Genuinely dead and the status quo has genuinely changed.

But! The show's premise is that the Hotel can help sinners redeem themselves. Redeption isn't a reward you seek. Its a condition that one meets on a personal, individual level. Sir Pentious came to the Hotel as a spy, and when he was shown that Charlie was willing to forgive him, it changed his understanding of the world. He realized that he could improve, it just starts with one good sorry.

Sir Pentious put aside his self loathing, his shame, his anxieties. He used his inventions to put himself on the line rather than keep himself out of danger (I mean that's what the airship is all about isn't it?). He fought for the people he cared about. He died to protect the ones he loved. And that transformation: from a paranoid worm of a human being (slimy? Snakes are not slimy), to an actualized individual willing to put himself on the line, earned him salvation.

Now Sir Pentious is an Angel! He's in Heaven! Even more so he bypassed the Pearly Gates and functionally respawned In the Seraphim's boardroom. Frankly He was one of the older sinners to be around so it doesn't surprise me the implication that he's powerful enough be worth the notice of the Seraphims.

So what about Adam? Why do I mention him? He was killed by a filthy janitor. Well. As another post mentioned: In the 10,000 years that Adam has been in charge of killing his own descendants because Lilith and Eve (where the fuck is she anyway?) screwed him over with the assistance of a short, dumb, naive angel (poor guy just wanted to share his ideas, look at him. 10,000 years later and he's hardly got a drop of malice in him that isn't put there by someone else), Adam has become Prideful, Slothful, Lustful, and Wrathful. Even one of those is enough to make you fall. Yet he was tolerated by heaven, most likely due to his extenuating circumstances.

Adam has died. He died full of Wrath, and Pride. He died because he was unmotivated to come up with a better solution, and unwilling to keep himself in shape. He died because of his Blood Lust.

So I think that very early on in season two, we will get to see Adam's demonic form.

Two fakeout deaths! But not really. Both characters have provably died and both (theoretically) will create a new status quo not just by dying, but by reincarnating across enemy lines.

[loudblonde]

Day 1: Race against the clock: Simon Riley X Male Reader (vaguely)

warnings: Thallium poisioning being vaguely described, frost bite being described, hypothermia being described

Words: 2356

tags: author regrets looking at images of thallium poisoning, Arthor should have used his chemical database instead, thank you CDC for being a good source of information, Pythagoras theorem was actually helpful for once, author hates mathematics, Author could not be bothered to find the right military code word for polluted air, author did try and find but the PDF file was over 900 pages long and its late, Names have meaning

Date: REDACTED. Location: 141 Headquarters. Time: 0945. Personal Present: Classified

“Aerosolised thallium powder is dangerous. Though it is dose dependent. Acute poisoning occurs in 3 stages. Depending on the amount ingested it may take anywhere from 8 hours to 48 hours before symptoms show.” Kate Laswell stood in front of Ghost, Soap, Gaz, Price, (C/S) and the decoy squad.

“What makes it a priority of us?” Soap asked.

Kate showed another photograph of a known terrorist. “We have been hunting him for years now, he finally resurfaced. I had assumed he would play around with anthrax, but it seems he is not ready for that sort of commitment yet.” She said.

“Lucky us. Anthrax is a pain.” (Y/N) said and grimaced.

“Thallium is no laughing matter.” Kate said. “Its acutely toxic, a dose as low as 8 mg per kilogram of bodyweight can be lethal. But its cumulative.” She said.

(Y/N) nodded slowly. “Is there a way to undo the damage?”

“You will be issued Prussian blue tablets, both for before, during and after.” She said. “Your gas masks will stop the worse but not everything.”

4 days later

Location: Classified

The air was shimmering light blue, his eyes widened behind his mask as he pulled his gas mask out, aware of the particles gathering inside it. “Do not enter!” (Y/N) screamed into his radio. “Dust in air!” He yelled before taking the gas mask on, aware it wouldn’t stop everything. He hurried out as guns fired at him, one knocked his shoulder, and he screamed out in pain just before getting out of the building, he hurried away from the blue powder in the air. He blinked as he fell down into the snowy field.

Someone removed his mask and chuckled darkly as they sprinkled more in the air. He heard a voice speak and heard it clear.

“Poison is such a wonderful thing, some of them you can taste, like cyanides bitter almonds and then some are tasteless, odourless and entirely painful to die from. You are not as lucky, my friend.”

30 minutes later.

(Y/N) leaned against Ghost who carried him. He blinked his eyes awake and looked towards Price, everyone was saying something, yet it was all muddled and entirely unwanted. He grunted and looked back at that familiar mask, the mask which (Y/N) swore as not actually bone but he couldn’t be certain. Not at all. Especially not now. White breath came out from his mask, it diffused into the air of the abandoned factory.

He blinked as Ghosts mask warped weirdly, some parts of it drooped down while others spiked, it was almost comical. “Sir, your mask is melting.” He said with a surprisingly loud voice. Everyone looked over at him. “Like melting melting.” He clarified. The whole room smelled funky, everything around them was swimming with fish. It made a giggle creep up into his throat.

Ghost held onto his vest more, keeping him, upright. “Just hang in there.” Ghost said.

“Smells like fish in ‘ere.” (Y/N) muttered to him.

Ghost, despite the situation, huffed out an amused sound. “Fish?”

(Y/N) nodded. “Fish.” He said and looked around. Fish was everywhere. Swimming in and around. He glared at some of them. “Fishies. Fucking hell this stuff is worse than anything else I have taken.”

“Have you taken much?” Ghost asked. Keeping his voice slightly amused though only to hide worry in his voice.

“Nahh, just once or twice as a teen.” He said and giggled again. “Ghost. The fish have really sharp teeth.” He said without realising he was being hoisted up and hauled out. He blinked again as he felt the cold evening air on his body. He whined and leaned against his LT. “Ghost, its so hot out here.”

“Its bloody cold.” Ghost said and motioned for the snow. There was a hint of worry now much more present his voice. “Capn’t?” He said roughly.

Price walked over with a raised eyebrow. The snow crunched underneath his boots.

“He says its too hot.” Ghost said.

(Y/N) whined again, everything was swimming. He felt hot and like his skin was going to fall off. He reached up and ran a hand through his hair, he looked down at it and frowned as he tried to make his eyes focus.

Price took his glove off and felt (Y/N) forehead. “Christ, he is burning up. We need to get to the extraction point soon.”

“Sir?” Orion said.

“Yes?”

Orion looked up and showed his gloved hand which had a fistful or hair in it. “I don’t think that supposed to happen.”

Price cursed and grabbed his com unit. “Kate, his hair is already falling out.”

Orion vaguely heard frantic words around him before his whole world turned black and his head fell back.

Ghost shook (Y/N)’s body. “Sir, he isn’t responsive!”

“Kate says the only extraction point is 4 miles away, Ghost give your pack to Soap, you will be running with (C/S) over your shoulders.” Price ordered frantically.

The exchange was quick and smooth, Ghost hoisted him over his shoulders. “4 miles? That’s over an hour away, with the amount of thallium he has ingested…” Soap said.

“No, we must remain hopeful. It should take up to 8 hours before a lethal amount is absorbed.” Price said as they began running.

Ghost grunted as he ran with a grown man slung over his shoulders, though if anyone of them could handle the brunt of the well-trained man, it would be Ghost. His eyes focused on the ground ahead as he followed Prices feet.

It only took 10 minutes to make the river crossing, the bridge was heavily guarded but with them having an unconscious man with them they couldn’t risk the river currents. Ghost and Price shared a look. A look they knew far too well. Weighing the pros and cons of a terrible situation. A silent debate. Their minds linking for just a few moments as time slowed down. Prince nodded and turned to the team, he motioned them to detour, walk up the river, to a shallower place to cross.

Rather risk death by hypothermia then certain death by gunfire. Their race against time just became two races. One for (Y/N) and one for themselves. Price grabbed his radio again. “We are crossing the river, Kate, further down, we will be an hour if not more delayed, the bridge is even more guarded.”

“Just don’t be stupid. Get back safely, I am having medics prepare treatment for hypothermia.” Laswell’s voice said.

An hour passed before they passed the river, they were drenched in water and cold to the bone. (Y/N) looked worse, his skin was red, both from exposure and the thallium already showed its grab of his system. Orion was still unconscious though breathing.

They had run approximately 4 miles away, had the bridge not been guarded they would have already been in the extraction point, though now they had between 5 or 6 miles of forest to run through, while wet and worried. It was a recipe for disaster.

Ghost looked at the others as he shifted the man on his shoulders. Price spoke up. “We have trained for worse; we are not going to let some bloody cold water and hypothermia get to us.” He spoke. Though no one was certain he cheered them up.

They ran for 20 minutes, their gear was heavy and their clothes even more so, yet no one dared to expose their skin and risk death earlier. Soaps lips were already turning a slight tint of blue. Price showed a pocket heater into his hands, and everyone continued on with laboured breaths.

Soldiers are built for endurance.

Soldiers are trained for this.

They are soldiers.

This mantra repeated inside repeated inside Ghosts head as he kept running and running and running.

The forest blurred together as trees. They were fine, everything was fine. Surely so. Ghost blinked his eyes open and looked at the others. He glanced towards Gaz who had wrapped his hands in his dry scarf. Ghost nodded to himself. Sensible. Keeping his hands free from frostbite. If they all made it out of here alive and whole he figured he might have to buy a round of drinks… might.

Ghost slapped himself and kept running. His eyes glued ahead of him as he ignored the way the edges of his vision were blurring together worse and worse by the second. Ghost glanced to Price. “You hangin’ in there?” he asked

Price huffed out and nodded. “Yeah, I’m hanging in, don’t worry.” He said though the tip of his fingers were frost nipped already. “We have handled worse, Simon.” He said.

Ghost huffed. “Ain’t so sure Simon survive this.” He commented.

Price huffed out a chuckle. “I am sure he will.” He said without hesitating.

Another 20 minutes or so passed before they took a stop for a breather. Price looked around at them all. Hopefully the decoy team had found a much safer route out. “Soap, what year is it?” He asked.

Soap looked at him sluggish but told him what year it was with very little trouble. His lips were getting bluer by the minute.

Price nodded and looked to Gaz, who seemed the most alive of them all. “And who is the Prime minister?”

Gaz, who wasn’t nearly as effected at this point caught onto what was going on and said the name of the prime minister.

Price smiled, a smile that reached his eyes at that. He then turned to Ghost. “Can you tell me how to spell the word Cracker?”

Ghost looked to him, his grip on (Y/N) was tight. “C-R-A-C-K-E-R.” He said. “Can you tell me the name of your sons’ dog?” Ghost couldn’t feel his nose at this point.

Price huffed out. “Bastard nickname… his real name…. Gods….” He shook his head and slapped himself. “Charles.”

Ghost nodded. “We need to hurry up then,” he said, taking point as he was better off then Price at this point. Price and the others nodded.

By the next 10-minutes Soap had to be carried by Gaz and Price together.

Another 10 and they had slowed down significantly, Soaps lips were blue, and his nose was darkening in colour, Gaz had wrapped his scarf around Soaps lips loosely to give some warmth and starve off the hypothermia. If Soap survived this Ghost was going to get him a mug that said, ‘a Brit outlasted a Scot in cold weather’. He sure as hell hoped Soap would survive it. He didn’t want to bury anymore friends.

Finally, after some 20 minutes, Ghost, Gaz and a mostly conscious Price dragged themselves into a semi small plane where a decontamination team removed their clothes, everyone warped around as the plane took off, they were all separated, washed and they were being heated up slowly, or Ghost was, he didn’t know how bad they others were. He grumbled from where he was sitting, his mask was off, and his nose felt funny. He didn’t care much. Though secretly, deep down, he hoped he wouldn’t lose his nose.

When Simon woke up in the hospital bed, he hadn’t even been aware he had fallen asleep. He looked over at a heavily bandaged Soap, though at least his fingers seemed to all be attached… maybe not. Simon’s head was swimming. He didn’t know what where or when.

A doctor walked in. “You are the second to wake.” She said as she walked over. She grabbed his chart and noted that he had woken up. She took his oral temperature and wrote it down before looking to him. “You are lucky, you only had superficial frost burns. Your nose looks all black but that’s just from it being reheated and blood rushing back in. Expect it to peel like a sunburn. I will give you the cream for it.” She said.

He nodded numbly and then looked over to Soap. “What’s the damage on the others?”

She thought for a moment and her eyes glanced to Soap. “He is getting treatment. We may need to amputate a toe and a pinkie finger, maybe more, depends on how he response. Gaz never fell asleep, his scarf kept the brunt of the damage off on his hands, he is still ordered to take it slow….” She said. “As for Price…. Still hasn’t woken, he was worse then you but better then soap, I hope he waked today or tomorrow.”

He nodded and then frowned. “(C/S)?”

She shook her head. “Unknown, we aren’t keeping him on base, he was taken away immediately, his exposure was through the roof. Which reminds me.” She walked over and took a pill box out. “Prussian blue tablets.” She poured him some water and walked over.

Simon grunted but took it. “Thanks, Doc.”

She chuckled. “Not a problem… Now. Do you have any pain anywhere?”

He shook his head. “My nerves are shot, so I wouldn’t know.”

She nodded slowly and then looked towards the chart again, noting it down. “Alright.” She said and nodded slowly again. Her mind was considering more things then Simon could comprehend. “I’ll let you know what we know more about (C/S).” She said.

Weeks went by, Ghost knew nothing about (C/S).

His worries were soothed over by rehabilitation training and doing paperwork to pass the time.

He walked into rehabilitation and saw a familiar face. “About time you showed.” He said gruffly.

(Y/N) looked over and chuckled. His face contorted before he coughed a lung up. He drank some water. “Finally, no longer in a coma. Though my job is over.” He said. “Thallium fucking sucks ass.”

Ghost chuckled a bit. “Sounds like it.” He walked over and regarded him. “You safe though?”

“Lost 3 toes, bit of a finger and almost lost my nose.” (Y/N) said. “But otherwise, I am good, military rehabilitation because of Price.” He said.

“He is a good man.” Ghost huffed out.

“Aye, he is…” (Y/N) said. “… You up for drinks as soon as my body stops retching up?”

“Yeah,” he said. “I would like that.”

[juniperss]

Band of brothers medieval au ,that's just a thought...

anon, your mind….lets take this a step further if you don’t mind me doing so:

knights of the round table au. Now I’ll be honest and admit that my knowledge on King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table is entirely sourced from BBC’s Merlin so you’ll have to bear with me BUTTTTTTTTTT

“We would fight a thousand armies with our bare hands for you. We are never alone. We stand together." -Elyan to Arthur

In this AU I clearly picture Richard as Arthur. Just as in Band of Brothers, we see how quickly Easy Company (led by Lipton and so on) admit they would rather be transferred (or even killed) than to have to serve under Sobel. It’s clear from the beginning who the loyalty of the Company belongs to and that is Winters.

Now there aren't enough Knights of the Round Table to have each member of Easy Company, so I'm going to divide Easy into the Archetypes of each Knight that they most reflect in either all or most aspects (in my opinion!) -Sir Gwaine Archetype: "I think we have no chance. But I wouldn't miss it for the world." Bold, seeing the best in others, flirtatious, confident, fiercely loyal, humorous, throw hands first and ask questions later, and believed that people should be defined by what they did rather than who they were [Guarnere, Toye, Speirs, Talbert] - Sir Lancelot Archetype: "It is not just his deeds that we'll never forget. It is his courage. It is his compassion. His unselfish heart." Kindhearted, compassionate, courageous, humble, loyal and self sacrificing. [Lipton, Roe, Malarkey] -The Sir Elyan Archetype: "He's [Elyan] just one of those types of people, never settles down, never thinks about the future. Just follows his heart wherever it takes him." Affectionate, adventurous, loyal, brave, kind to others, cunning and quick on their feet, giving. [Muck, Skip, Nixon, Liebgott, Luz] -The Sir Leon (THATS MY MAN!) Archetype: "I have fought alongside you [Arthur] so many times, there is no one else I would rather die for." Steadfast, loyal, sensible, knew the difference between courage and foolishness, outspoken, humorous, good natured, self sacrificing for the greater good [Martin, Buck, also Lipton] -The Sir Percival Archetype: "Your enemies are my enemies" Quiet, man of few words, skilled, brave, gentle and softhearted, decisive, mischievous in the right company. [Shifty, Bull, Babe, Skinny]

Prince Richard presents his plan to stop an evil that has grown so powerful and destructive that he isn't sure he can actually succeed but he vows that he will try anyway. He doesn't ask his friends for help, but one by one they pledge their aid to him.

The Knights that Richard chooses aren’t all nobility nor are they approved by the King. They are simply men who have shown unwavering loyalty and love to him, they are men he trusts. And they are there when he has no one else, and they commit themselves to his cause knowing full well that they might not survive. Their numbers aren't many (only 5 Knights with any skill in battle and 3 honorary members) but they are steadfast and skilled.

After Richard establishes the Knights of the Round table, he would later abolish The First Code of Camelot that states that only men of noble blood can be Knights. After all, blood does not make the man. It's his actions and loyalty that do.

I do absolutely adore the idea of the Knights (Easy) wearing red cloaks and armor like the Knights do in Merlin. It's so dramatic and I think it should be allowed *bangs gavel*

Something something the Knights were so deeply loyal to one another that it bordered on something more than platonic something something the dedication to one another that after the death of their leader there was too much grief to continue on something something.....

While the Knights are meant to be a symbol of the realm and its power, I also see them as representative of the common people, especially in the BBC Merlin version after the Round Table is established. These are men who have come from varied backgrounds and experiences and there's not a way that they wouldn't be seen as what could be for the future.

watch this video and tell me i'm wrong (pls don't tell me i'm wrong)

[eternalera]

Some problems i had with the finale in hazbin hotel

now before i start i just wanna say that i absolutely love and adore this show with all of my heart but with that being said i can still recognize its flaws and god does it have some

🌟

lets get one of the most obvious things out of the way first. charlie did literally nothing. she hit adam once or twice and he beat the shti out of her which was just a dumb excuse to have lucifer show up nad beat the shit out of him.

but more on that later. charlie is the main character and she only gets the motivation to go full 'god mode' when sir pentious dies? even then she didnt do anything. dazzle ends up dying but oh well its fine (or razzle i cant remember). she stabs adam once and even then he beats her up more than anything. hes powerful yes but charlie couldve put up more of a fight

she even has a song in episode 7 about taking charge but honestly... she doesnt really do that. actually sir pentious had a better arc than her and we hardly see him throughout the entire show

🌟

sir pentious' death was fine we see him gearing up and it was kinda leading onto the big scene where he would take on adam but...

bro got obliterated in less than like a second and then adam made a joke off of it. tbh at this moment i started laughing so hard because goddamn was it hilarious but then you have charlie and the hotel mourning it like not even five seconds after- like half a second after the joke.

the tonal whiplash of that scene was just... ugh-

like i didnt care about it being serious because guess what? im already laughing at the joke like everything that i cared for about him just thrown into the gutter because guess what? haha funny :)

but for that to be what makes charlie go into her full form still makes me mad- ugh

🌟

adams death was fine. he was killed by nifty so like- okay i guess. honestly i didnt really care for it. it was funny but then ONCE AGAIN you have lute cry over him and actually i cared more for that than nifty-

but its just like- nifty?

dont get me wrong its funny asf but... nifty? they treated both of what was meant to be serious deaths in this show as a goddamn joke and expect me to not call them out on it? like okay nifty shes a funny character but her killing adam just made me go though 3 different stages in the span of like- five seconds

bro just got stabbed wait what-

omg its nifty thats kinda funny

actually i dont really care for nifty so wtf-

like huh?

the death just kinda felt like... nothing to me. like i get thats its funny misogynistic asshole gets stabbed by crazy straight small bug woman. but i didnt really care for it. nfitys fine but i dont care about her enough for me to laugh out loud at this moment

🌟

lucifer's entrance was horrible. bro can open portals, he knew what they were doing, he knew what was coming yet he comes in like- halfway through the fight only when charlie's getting hurt

all im sayin is that if he was in it at the start the final episode wouldve been like half the amount of time it actually was...

oh yeah and pentious would be alive, but no they needed him to die to show that the hotel works so why not just hold him off.

im sorry but lucifer stole all of charlies glamour in this scene like charlie was getting choked after hitting adam once and then boom. daddy to the rescue ig

like are you kidding me? at least make it fucking vaggie or smth. not lucifer and why was he late? we've pretty much established that man doesnt do shit so like-

its fucking pointless it a quick and pretty damn cheesy ending. if he wasnt there at the start we dont need him at the end. or at least have him arrive earlier not at a convenient ass time

🌟

going back to the fact that NOT A SINGLE DEATH WAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

i know that sir pentious was coming back so its fine to make it a joke but like adam? bro thats your main villain right there. a show is only as good as its villain and honestly his death just wasnt satisfying (as i mentioned before)

like seriously wtf?

🌟

this all being said though i really enjoyed this show with my whole heart and i do love it and some of the things that it did. the fact that this show even got out is a goddamn miracle <3

[arxxq]

"TREAT MY DAUGHTER/SON LIKE THE PRINCE/PRINCESS THEY ARE.." ♡

"I'm way ahead of that sir...I've already treated more than that"

≡;- ꒰ Where Mikage Reo meets his lover's family lovely family꒱

ׂׂૢWhat could go wrong right? [PURE FLUFF] [WRITING ON MY TABLET] [MISTAKES WILL BE FIXED LATER ON] [IF I ACCIDENTALLY DID SMTH WRONG WITH THE PRONOUNCE I APOLOGISE]

A/N: its been a while, sorry its just my pre exam or smth has been bothering me but I'm doing good so far, I hope you enjoy this :) I'm sorry if its bad I'm getting rusty

Mikage Reo, a rich boy who loved you so much. He loved you alot because well you never saw him for his money but you loved him for who he is. The boy loves you so much that sometimes he wish he didn't have to leave your side. He loved how you supported him for every decision he makes and that includes his dream in football.

You see you loved him too, yes you absolutely did but there was a slight problem. Although you have been in a relationship with him for so long now...you never told your parents nor anyone in the family and well you never told him how well known you were actually. But you're glad that Reo never cared of so.

Now back to original topic, you absolutely avoid talking about relationships with your parents. Why you ask? Well your parents are okay their absolutely the best but your father, he well isn't the best to talk to when it comes to romantic situations. After all your mother and him fell in love due to an arranged marriage.

Your father is also quite over protective of you. You don't mind but it can be a bit embarrassing from time to time. He still sees you as the princess/prince he raised from when you are little.

Your mother meanwhile, she's great to talk to about these but you know she won't be able to keep it in from the family, she would most likely be the one to tell everyone and your father would look at you dead in the eye.

Your brother? Nah he is not the best person to tell it too, man you would probably die from his teasings and you will never get the end of it. Lastly your sister. No absolutely not. That sounds like an even worser nightmare. Your sister is just as overprotective as your father and knowing her she'd probably some sort of loyalty test by trying flirt.

So yes, no one in the household was there for you to tell this too...well maybe there was. Your personal maid. She was the person you told everything and she even suggested you that you should probably just ask them and well you were quite hesitant but you did it. It went sort of like...

[FLASHBACK]

Everyone were just eating on the dinner table as normal and well it was very very awkward. There was nothing but silence and well you were intimidated and you were thinking to tell it another day until your maid interrupted.

"Uhm madam I'm sorry to interrupt but I think your son/daughter has something to tell you all," everyone looked at you now and you were starting to get anxious since your brother was smirking, your father and sister had a confused face and your mother looked well delighted as always.

"Really..Why didn't you say that earlier honey?" Your mom asked and you sighed. "Sorry mother..but I'll just get to the point," you apologised. You are completely frightened but you knew you can't keep it for too long. "I'm in a relationship with someone and I'd like you all to meet him.."

The sound of your mother's fork dropped and the way you can feel your father and sister's eyes practically piercing into you soul. Your brother meanwhile kept cooing "oooo"

"Sure love we'd love to see him right (d/n).." now there's a thing about your mother, she may seem sweet but everyone has a dark side and currently your mother was giving the face that says "you better say yes"

Your father sighs in defeat. "Fine..we'd love to meet him at 7.00pm sharp tomorrow right in the living room,"

Based on his tone it was not going to go well.

[BACK TO THE PRESENT]

You were now pacing back and forth in the kitchen of your house that is until you heard the doorbell. You wonder who it could be afterall it is still 6.30pm in the evening and Reo wasn't supposed to be here till 7.

You opened the door and it was none other than your beloved. "Reo...you're early," you were mesmerised, you told him he didn't have to wear such formal attire but he did and he looked absolutely beautiful. Reo chuckled. "You like what you see love?"

"Like it? No I love it dear, I'm so glad you're here," "well I knew you would like it if I came early than told..heh,"

So for the whole 30 minutes you and reo managed to spend it together alone. It was now 7.00, your mother entered the house along with your father and your mother was absolutely surprised.

"My my you must be our prince(ss) lover, you came very early early than told I'm sorry if we kept you waiting !"

《TIMESKIP》

Sadly your brother couldn't make it so it was just you, your sister, your father and mother. While you can't help but notice that your mom had already loved reo so much so you weren't worried about her but your sister and father it wasn't going to well.

"Mikage reo..as in the heir of the mikage corporation?" Your sister added on. Reo looked at her and smiled. "Yes ma'am,"

Your father than joined the conversation. "That doesn't but what matters is that is that have you treat my daughter/son like the Prince/Princess they are?"

This question stunned everyone in the dinner table but reo seem unfazed by it an laughed and you were really scared. "Are you mocking me young sir?"

"No no not at all, with all due respect sir I have never treated them in that way," your father was about to burst out but reo continued. "Wait before you get mad you should let me finish, that's quite impolite you know.."

"I've never had the need to treat them like you say so because..."

"I've already treated them like a Queen/King they deserved to be."

You were absolutely shocked with his response and you weren't the only one. Your father looked speechless along with your mother and sister.

"I had doubts but I guess I was wrong...what do you think father...do you accept it?" Your sister questioned. You held in a breathe very afraid. "I approved of this relationship...from now own I trust that you will treat her right like no man will ever do so, not even me her own father could do so.."

And you burst into joy while embracing reo in a hug full of joy and relieve. "See I told you didn't I..I goy it all under control" he whispered..softly.

This was one of the happiest moment's of your life especially since it was with the love of your life.

Reblogs are highly appreciated

Do not plagiarise any of my works without permission

All works of Arxx/Hasinah

[exoticalmonde]

It's Time for CC12

And apparently, I was not too well prepared for this.

All the other doctors in my chat were literally talking about what they are preparing for CC and who they are going to be maxing and E2ing and all the good preparation that a good doctor would be doing so they would have an easier time. Lundi's list looks very reasonable. The only one I actually have prepared better than her is Spectalter and Chongyue.

How far would all of them go to be prepared for something I don't even know about?

Far enough.

Not me, I was busy sitting on my hands and not paying attention until the actual day I came back home and Kryo/Pinkie asked me if I am ready for CC12 later that night. I didn't even know the map. I didn't know the enemies.

Which wasn't THAT big of a deal because Pinkie is kind and good and wonderful and explained exactly how the boss works. I didn't expect to be back in CC2 but the Bladesman now is coming for vengeance for something I didn't even do. Or for it to be an AI of some sort that is locking onto my operators.

I guess Mountain is due for a level up. I had 4 dual chips and I don't even know what I was saving for on that one. Anyways, you're doing great, sweetheart. I'll act like it didn't take a year and more of you being E1 lvl 80.

Looking away from Ch'en who is E1 lvl 65 and she was the first I ever got.

Day 1 went well. As well as getting Risk 10 on the permanent map with 2 challenges and the daily. Got the skins. Unfortunate I don't have Astesia but I have her sister.

---

Me: "What do I buy now that I cleared out the shop?" Pinkie: "Get the skins." Me: "I have them." Pinkie: "All of them. Get the flags." Me: "I cleared the shop." Pinkie: "Screenshot." Me: "I HAVE everything." Pinkie: "Provide me a screenshot." Me: "I JUST HAVE CHIPS LEFT" Pinkie: "SEND PROOF"

---

I began pulling on the MountainRock banner because I really want Mudrock, I've really wanted her ever since CC10 because she speaks like she's about to die any moment and came to accept it, she's sad, needs a hug and she's one of Pinkie's wives, but I swear I will be very nice to her and get her skin whenever I can. Whichever one I can.

She's level 30 E1 right about now. I have a list I should be going down on but E2ing Penance, GG and Ifrit are still higher on the list.

During my pulls I got a

Terminally redhead.

I got another Mountain.

And last night I GOT MUDROCK AFTER CRYING AND WHIMPERING LIKE A DOG KICKED INTO THE CURB THANK YOU FOR COMING HOME I AM AN ALLY AND A FRIEND AND ITS OKAY YOU'RE BEING PROMOTED BY THE EX ENEMY MEANS IT'S ALL GOOD.

Day 4 of CC12

I'm so tired.

I want to not deal with him anymore, please sir stop being a menace.

Thank you Lumen, I think I will accept that offer.

Day 5 of CC12 and I had flashbacks from CC10 because I never managed to get all the medals.

To hell with you Milfred.

I'M GOING TO GET RISK 18 EVEN IF ITS THE LAST THING I DO

THESE ARE OPERATORS

THIS IS LUNDI'S HORSE

THANK YOU FOR COMPLYING WITH THIS SITUATION I SHALL PAY YOUR SALARY LATER MR MLYNAR

KRYO IS GUIDING ME

I WILL GET THE MEDAL LET ME DO IT

Stop being difficult.

[extinct-fish]

Chapter 2 of Pay The Price

just a little preview. I thought you guys would like this.

Back to your job. You glanced at your list: Steven Rudboys, Francis Mosses (you still couldn’t tell if you should pronounce it Moss-es or Moses.), Mia Stone, and Albertsky Peachman. Seems to be a light list today. 

The first person steps up, and you take a good look at him: a man with green eyes, a gray suit with a white-collar shirt and a red tie, combined with a long face, scar on the right chin, a big-ass nose that could be compared to a minecraft villager, a unibrow, hatless. Wait, hatless?

“Umm, sir, where’s your hat?”

“My hat?”

“Yes.”

“I ate it because I was hungry.”

“Okay, that’s a doppelganger.”

You press the button right as you hear the doppelganger protest:

“DAMN YOU- LET ME IN!”

Banging on the glass could be heard. You were so glad that it was bulletproof this time around. You could hear his voice morph from human-like to monstrous as you made your call. Now that you thought about it, you have wanted to see what doppelgangers really looked like, and well, that’s what you did: lifting up the cover ever-so-slightly just to get a peek.

The doppelganger has morphed into a beast with sharp claws, his arms long and spider-like, just like the Hoon lady. His teeth were quite sharp and his head now took a slightly more angled shape, his mouth slightly reminiscent of an owl’s hooked beak. You could see the D.D.D. agents shooting at it, his hissing at the pain.

You shut the cover, having seen enough. From what you could hear, it seemed to be significantly weaker than the Hoon Lady, which you were relieved by the quick cleanup. Once the alarms were turned off, the agent confirmed that everything was taken care of. 

“Next,” you said.

A woman came into view. She had long blonde hair, a small rounded nose, freckles, an oval face and thin eyebrows, and she was wearing a red dress accessorized by the pearl necklace and round silver earrings. The only thing that you noticed was… wait- Is her head rotating?

“What’s with your head?” you laughed.

“My head?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“I’m sick.”

You let out a laugh as she continued:

“I have a head flu-rotation.”

You had to compose yourself as you pressed the button, but you still couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of seeing a rotating head. After making the phone call, you then went ahead and waited, hearing no sounds of the doppelganger fighting back. You decided to peek at the scene to see the doppelganger a little saddened by the fact that you laughed at its rotating head. You would’ve felt bad if it was one of those friendly doppelgangers, but seeing as how this one insisted that it was human, you just had to let it die.

After the mess was cleaned up and the D.D.D. Agent confirmed that things were taken care of, you managed to calm down. You then saw him again: Francis… except there was… blood.

“Uhhh, what’s with the blood?” you asked.

“Mmmm, Blood?” he pondered.

You nodded.

“It’s not blood. It’s a new kind of milk. Scarlet Milk.”

“Sure…”

You reached for the button when you heard his voice:

“Don’t.”

“What?”

“Don’t. Just let me in.”

Oh damn, he was leaning against the glass with his arm above his head, the blood getting on it. He had quite a sinful smirk, almost like he knew he would woo you over. Of course, you were warned against being wooed by the Milkman, with quite the emphasis. However, against all reason, your heart wanted to have him. This was when you came up with something so stupid that you’d get killed for it.

“Hey. You do have to leave, but if you promise not to kill or eat me, then I can meet up with you after my shift.”

The doppelganger seemed to be taken aback by the sudden proposition. However, since it was a compromise, he couldn’t help but smile, revealing sharp barracuda-like teeth.

“Of course, my sweets. I’ll leave you to it,” he purred, “can’t wait for later tonight.~”

Curse you and your dirty mind. This could either go really wrong or really kinky, and frankly, you didn’t care which one it was. You watched as the man just walked away, and oh god, you couldn’t help but stare as he looked back with those cursed eyes. Your heart just skipped a beat, and you felt yourself getting a little hot and bothered.

“What the hell was that?” You heard the milkman’s voice.

Oh god. The real Francis asked, now tired and confused.

“What?” you asked.

“You did not just ask out a doppelganger of me,right?”

“Mayyyyyybeeee.”

“Good god, whose turn is it for the funeral? Mmmm, is it mine? That’ll be the third ‘Death by Milkman Doppel’ in a week for crying out loud.”

“Wait- you know about the milkman doppelgangers?”

“Yeah, because those cases have been so common that the D.D.D. is giving the residents these pamphlets!”

He took out a pamphlet, which advertised the dangers of the milkman doppelgangers. You couldn’t help but stare at the pictures, seeing how many of the cropped-out images of the people who died by having a good time before having their insides eaten. You wouldn’t wish that on anyone… but on the other hand, you’d thank the doppelganger.

“Wow. well, if that’s an indicator of anything special,” you muttered, admiring Francis.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

And so, work continued as normal, except you were eager and scared for what’s to come later tonight. You continued with examination and after a while, most of the residents, including the real Francis got in, while other lesser doppelgangers were taken care of.

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Chapter 4: Revisit

Narrated by Lingwu.

~Content Warning: animal abuse~

Narrator: I travel around in Cloud after leaving Yue Prefecture City.

Narrator: I listen to policy debates at Cloud Capital Academy, and I work alongside farmers in the countryside.

Narrator: The distant desert of Lor River carries in its depths beautiful legends, and the smoky rain of Zither River plays like a piece that never ends.

Narrator: On my trip, I run into disasters and epidemics, and I bear witness to peace and celebrations...

Narrator: Just when I think I have grown more worldly, I find myself still clueless when I'm back at Yue Prefecture City.

Narrator: It is New Year's Eve when I return. There aren't many people out on the streets because most people are enjoying their time with families at home.

Narrator: Snowflakes fall on the renovated streets, and people's homes are shining with warm lights. The years that have passed seem to have healed the wounds of war.

Narrator: It's then that I see a man lying on the roadside... right in front of a clinic. Strangely enough, nobody knocks on the clinic's door for him.

Narrator: I help him stand up and knock on the clinic's door, and out comes a child. When the child sees the man, he immediately wears a disgusted frown.

Child: Sir, please just leave him alone! He's done all the bad things you can possibly imagine, and he's just going to keep harming people if he's back on his feet!

Lingwu: But he needs help, and your family runs a clinic...

Narrator: The child, however, looks more upset now. He doesn't seem to want to hear any excuses.

Child: You can't treat a person who's rotten all the way down to his core!

Child: You see, this man broke into our clinic a few days ago when only Grandfather and I were at home, and this man broke my dog's legs when it caught him red-handed!

Child: My poor dog... Anyway, this man won't be getting any treatment from us!

Narrator: The boy slams the door shut.

Narrator: Looking at the man I'm trying to help, I grow hesitant.

Narrator: He reminds me of the young man I saved years ago... and the young man's devilish face and the faces of all those innocent people who died by his sword.

Narrator: Those innocent people died all for a deed I thought would be benevolent, but what about this time? Should I save this man?

Narrator: Would he end up inflicting pain on people again if I save him?

Narrator: I stand for a good few moments in the snow... until the man starts mumbling.

Narrator: He's trembling as his face grow paler by the second. Apparently awoken by the pain, he raises his head to look at me with imploring eyes.

Narrator: But I can't just leave him to die.

Narrator: I clench my teeth together and decide to carry him to a different clinic.

Narrator: Guess I'll just keep tabs on this guy and school him when he crosses the line again!

Narrator: The man wakes up two days later. I wasn't there when he woke up, but I'd asked a staff member there to tell the man what I expected of him.

Narrator: A few days later, I see the man personally going back to the first clinic to apologize to the family.

Narrator: His apology doesn't sit well with the family, however, but the man isn't upset. He even chops firewood and leaves it at the clinic for the family to use.

Narrator: He finds a daytime job and spends his very first salary buying rice and noodles for the orphans living at a local temple.

Narrator: When I see him praying to the Buddha statue, it seems to me that he's really learned his lesson.

Narrator: I'm observing him from the temple's hall, showered in the fragrance of sandalwood and the cozy sunlight. It's a moment of relief.

Narrator: This reminds me of the old monk.

Narrator: We were never able to communicate through language, but I still learned a great deal from him during the 10 years we spent together.

Narrator: On cozy afternoons filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, the old monk would caress me again and again. His wrinkled hand had a shallow scar on it.

Narrator: I wanted to lick it for him because the scar reminded me of what I had done to him. With a smile on his face, he carried on stroking my head.

Monk: Don't let the past bog you down. Let things happen naturally without asking what's going to come out of them.

Monk: It's only when you are able to do so that you're truly free.

Narrator: I didn't know what he meant then, but having come full circle, I finally understood what he was trying to tell me.

Narrator: That was a nice, cozy walk down memory lane. It feels like I'm still standing in the hall, listening as a monk knocks on a temple block.

Narrator: I never thought about what would happen when I saved the chick from falling out of its nest, nor did I expect the mountain cat to give me anything in return.

Narrator: When the old monk saved me in the snow, he had no idea what would become of me down the road.

Narrator: Nobody can tell what's going to happen, so we should do what we think is right instead of letting trivial worries stand in our way.

Narrator: The fluttering of birds' wings is so light and soothing that they put my mind at ease.

Narrator: So the answer has been with me all along.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 5

[wench-and-jezebel]

Dark Angel Reaction: The Kidz are Aiight

Jezebel (@typicalopposite) reacts [with occasional asides by Wench (@scripted-downfall)]

Oh god😕ew [What a way to start]

LINTLICKER!!! ITS BEEN A WHILE

JEEZ

Seee this is the part where he seems to not care.  Like oh I love them …. But I’ll also let them die to find the others

[btw um.  Remember how I've mentioned the whole.  PsyOps thing.  That I've mentioned.  Occasionally.  because... this is PsyOps.]  OH SHIT not the laser to the eyeeeee!?!?  Blech

Is this a different Zach?  Like a recast?  [No, I don't think.  He's just.  Ragged]  He looks different 🤣

Is this real or is he losing it?  Or is this part of what they’re doing?  [Do you really think I'm gonna tell you that?  :)]  Rude

Ah, I see

Ew, creepy smile

[I like her pants]

Ma’am.  That.  Doesn’t seem… Sanitary.  

WAIT!  Is this the gif?!  [Yes.]  ISSS THE GIF!  [*sigh* you’ve found another mouse, I see]

This is sweet  [This is true!  The cane thing was kinda cute too]  I KNOWWW 😭😭

[Bruh, the first thing he's gonna have to do with the feeling in his feet is clean the grit from between his toes laksdjf]  🤣🤣🤣 so true

☠️☠️☠️☠️

Again. KENDRA WHYYY

[They both pulling the 80s romcom obsess-over-the-outfit montage]  I’m loving this

☠️☠️☠️ the what is what sir

[Oop- leg shaving?!?!?!  Damn]  🤣🤣🤣  [Things are serious]

ACK I KNEW THAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN

["Friendship" Bruh, Logan, you lie]  ☠️☠️☠️

Zach ded

WOT?  THE TOMBSTONES!  THE DISrespect

See this is why I don’t like you Lintlicker

Nope! Ack!

Oh.  That-  [Digging himself out of the grave went better for him than it did for Dean ngl]  That was easier… yeah

Is the dr helping or is this a set up  [Nah, I think he was helping?]  Okay good  [I think we saw him hold Zach's hand earlier]  Awwww  [I don’t know for sure though]

You know what this means… Dr gonna die

Friends don’t need candles Logan  [:)))]

Aww  

“So.” Awkwarddddd  🙂

When are we doing another NCIS!?!  I need someTony now lollll  [asdlkfjasldkfj we can do it soonnnn]

Poor Logan  [Getting stood up for incest vibes]  Logan: Zach?!? 💕💕

[Y'all, I'm not liking this parallelinggggg]  

Oh hello (annoying) Max. I was wondering when you'd show up

Bet Max is thinking “well shit… maybe Logan was right”

[Okay, sorry, but... Acting = 3/10, film staging = 1/10, overall judgement = bad]  “Oooooowuwuwuuuwuu”  That’s the noises that face makes.  Like… Suck it up ☠️☠️☠️  [And did I mention the incest vibes suck]  Yea.  They do

Yes, let’s get in this cave and scream.  Genius

["It's different with you" Ummmm See?!?!?!]  Um  ["How could I forget-" oh god]  Huh.  [“-one single thing about you”]  Ewwwww

– – –

Jezebel: *sigh* Aight, let’s see… We got another not much has happened yet episode.  Except I met PsyOp, or however it’s spelled

Wench: PsyOps.  And it's a department, not a person alksjdflkdsajf  

Jezebel: You shush! I know

Wench: But yeah

Jezebel: And the whole laser in the eye is *sigh*

Wench: So recall that I've told you that Alec's been there a good three times :)

Jezebel: Poor doctor guy tho! Like he did not deserve that… just to help the guy in love with his own sister (and maybe her “not boyfriend” too… it’s complicated)

Wench: I'm still not fully certain whether doctor guy was aboveboard btw.  I can't remember, sorry.  And I wouldn't spoil if I did anyway, so hah!

Jezebel: But alas Max and Logan were being cute and I finally got to see the waterside scene irl 💕💕

Wench: I swear, we're gonna find out later that you've actually watched this entire show through gif form.  It's just two seasons of the Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme

Jezebel: The “not” date was adorable, but, also, I’m sorry Logan…  if that chicken sat in the oven (while it was off) long enough to have cooked fully…. She’s spoiled.  Manticore ain’t gonna be able to get Max if she dies from Salmonella

Wench: lkasjdf

Jezebel: And then its all thwarted by pre-Zachinator ‘cause he nneeeeedsss Max

Wench: Ugh. Like... it'd be different (maybe) if they were in different units, but, as it is. No. She and Zach are too fraternal to be anything but incestuous. It's about the vibes and theirs are. nop.

Jezebel: And, of course, anything for Zach. So I got a good heaping taste of the Max I hear so much about 

Wench: This is true!  You get proof @witchy-writer-lady and I aren't insane!

Jezebel: 🤣🤣🤣

Wench: Thoughts on their... *cough cough* dynamic?

Jezebel: Yes.  EW.  And that’s it!  That’s the thought. 

Wench: And that’s all for midpoint!

– – –

[Once again, btw.  WHAT IS IT WITH FICTIONAL CHARACTERS GETTING TO LOOK DISHEVELED]  🤣🤣🤣 This is fair

The flashback thing tho

[“It’s been a long time since I let my guard down long enough to sleep”  Buddy, you slept for two seconds wtf you mean]

Sooo i thought he was just a physical therapist  [I think he is?]  Oh.  He sometimes seems to be more  [alksjdf idk for sure, sorry]

Also, buddy has horrible timing

[Poor Logan, competing with his brother-in-law for romantic attentions... betcha he never expected to have to deal with that]

The cane looming in the background like the serial killer, scary music and all

Twassss a set up

[Real subtle there, undercover guy]  Yeah, lol… Like y’all know they’re senses are heightened

The doctor’s alive!  You dog!

[Y'all.  Why are you sending Ordinaries after two transgenics alsdkjf  They're begging to get their asses kicked]  🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Zach looking over at Logan like "shit, he's got his legs back; now I've got no chance!"]  Zach’s like oh hello  [Oh, shit, "no chance" with which one?!!? Askdjf] 🤣🤣 [See, normally, I’d make a joke about “Logan has two hands” but the incest is keeping me from being able to]  ☠️☠️☠️ True.  Solution: Alec’s gonna come and he’s gonna be like… Welp, I’ve run out of hands… sorry, Zach.

☠️☠️  [The bitchiness is a family trait]

Poor Logan   [I knowwww.  But at least she apologized this time]

[Oh, no, not Normal's excessive patriotism showing up already]  ☠️☠️☠️  He called him a weenie

Sir, you don’t get to call them your kids, you bastaddd.  Lintlicker!

[Um, I'm sorry, that does not qualify as hair that looks "like she hasn't cut it since we escaped" aslkdfj]  🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Very true  [I swear that looked, like.  Shoulder-length]  Maybe it grows slow

[Okay, a little past shoulder length, but still.  Not nine years or whatever]

Does she die?  [Not answeringgggg]

Lintlicker’s Angels over here

Long gaze

[I find it kinda funny that her s2 mantra is "don't lose track of your family because I did and I regretted it ever since" and yet she legit Does Not Stay With Them despite many opportunities to do so]  ☠️☠️☠️☠️

Your “kids”

[Be concerned about this committee btw.  And about who this "she" is]  Ooooof  [They're not talking about executing the order]

[Um.  "She looks just like I remembered"  BITCH WOT.  Y'ALL WERE NINE]

That. Was.  *sigh*  Really adorable  [I knowwwww]

[She's kinda clueless missing that tbh.  Thought she was a supersoldier with keen senses alkdsjf]  Right  [How tf are you missing this]  Like… Ma’am  [THE VEIN IN HIS FACE IS HIGHLY VISIBLE]  *sigh*

Oooooop let me go talk in circles  [Not the monologues aksdjf]  On the skyscraper

[“Maybe it’s something in the way I’m made or something”  IT'S NOT IN THE WAY YOU'RE MADE, MA'AM, IT'S YOU!  YOU SUCK]  🤣🤣🤣🤣

– – – 

Jezebel: The ending had less happen then the beginning.  Minus the rescue, but like… We should have met the sister way sooner.  That was so rushed.  Like oooop here’s a new sibling!  Who you shall see for .05 secs!  Then she’s off to Canada!

Wench: Accurate assessment

Jezebel: But poor Logan

Wench: You're starting to see the Big Drama btw

Jezebel: Back to candle lit transfusions

Wench: Nom: dinner-I mean, what?

Jezebel: 🤣🤣🤣

Wench: Also, Max looking so annoyed at him was so funny.  Like, ma'am, he is literally holding onto the counter for dear life to stay upright.  And you're bitchy about him not letting you stay for salad.

Jezebel: I KNOW!  And like after the cute little see for yourself, why would he just switch up like that???  Ma’am.  How can you be so genetically enhanced.  And so stupid.  At the same time?

Wench: And it's not even answering nature vs nurture because they "nurtured" the observant side of her but clearly that paid zero dividends lakdsjf

Jezebel: 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Wench: Max legit just goes: yeah, no, nature and nurture have got nothing on my particular brand of sheer stupidity #girlpower

Jezebel: 🤣🤣🤣 I just don’t understand

Wench: You haven't even met Alec yet *sigh*  He puts her so far to shame.  ALSO.  To be fair!  s2 has a whole host of different transgenics and they're literally all better than Max.  Joshua is amazing, Mole is great, and BIGGS.  I love Biggs.  He's in one episode but he and Alec have chef's kiss camaraderie.  

Jezebel: Also!  For my final point of the reaction: that is not how you look at your sister.  And done!

[valgregory]

Chapter 1

My name is Val. 15 years old, high school student.

I've lived in a church for as long as I can remember.

I never knew my parents...

Val: Hi~

I heard that I was found abandoned in front of the church as a baby.

The only thing I had on me was a necklace, with my name carved on its' pendant.

People sometimes pity me for being an abandoned orphan...

But I'm alright...

Val: Good morning, Father Gregory!

This is Father Gregory. He's been taking care of me since I was little.

Father Gregory: Good morning, Val.

Father Gregory: I heard you had a test yesterday? How did it go?

Val: Huh?!

He’s like a real father to me.

Val: Uhhh… it was… (hehe)

Val: Oh!

Val: Look at the time! I’m gonna be late!

Val: I gotta go now. See you later, Father!

Father Gregory: But he doesn’t even have a watch…

---

*ding dong*

Val: (phew)

Jay: Yo, bro! You’re late!!

Val: !!! You scared me…

Jay: Sorry~~

Black-haired student: He’s not late. We were just too early.

Jin: Morning, Val.

Jay: Boo!! Killjoy.

Jay: By the way…

Jay: Have you heard the rumors?

Val: No… what rumors?

Jay: That this school… is actually haunted.

Jay: It all started a few days ago…

Jay: A senior in our basketball club went to grab a book that she left in class.

Jay: Suddenly, she heard some weird sounds from the window…

Jay: And when she turned around,

Jay: She saw a monster crawling upside down on the window…

Jay: I heard a lot of people have seen it too…

Jay: The end~ (what do you think?)

Val: (Hmm…)

Jin: Only idiots would believe that… (oh right, you are one…)

Jay: What?!

---

[Cut to lunch break]

Jay: Lunch break! Finally!! (Yeah!)

Jay: CAFETERIA CAFETERIA CAFETERIA CAFETERIA CAFETERIA CAFE-

Val: Let’s go!

Jin: You sure are fired up…

Jay: Rich kids like you will never understand the greatness of cafeteria food! (I only go to school for the food)

*clack*

Teacher: James Rhone and Val Gregory, please come with me to the faculty office.

Val and Jay: ?

---

Val and Jay: Whaat??!

Teacher: You two got the lowest scores again. (sigh…)

Teacher: Keep this up and you’ll have to repeat a year.

Teacher: Or do I need to call your parents-

Val and Jay: No!!

Jay: Sir! I’ll do anything, just please don’t call my parents! (I would die!)

Val: Please don’t!!

Teacher: Then…

---

Jay: He tricked us!! (Aaaargh!!)

Jay: I did say I’d do anything, but not like this…

Teacher: Anything? Then clean the school’s corridors. That’s better than playing games after school. (Hehehehehehehehehehehehehe)

Val: I can’t let Father know about this…

Val: He’d be so disappointed…

Jay: Val, don’t just stand there! Get to work!!

Val: O-okay!

---

*caw caw*

Jay: Haaah...

Jay: Finally done, my back hurts so bad… it’s gonna break…

Val: What are you talking about? I did all the mopping, all you did was lift the bucket around.

Val: Hey…

Val: I’m gonna use the toilet for a bit…

Jay: Sure, but make it quick…

Jay: Watch out for ghosts~

Val: Shut up!!

Jay: What a scaredy cat… (lol)

Jay: Man, I’m hungry… can’t wait to go home.

---

(monster crawling)

---

*flush*

Val: Much better…

Jay: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

*SLAM!*

*flinch*

Val, wiping his hand: Was that Jay? (He’s so noisy)

Val: Hey, stop playing aro-

Val: …und.

[To be continued...]

Previous chapter | Chapter 1 | Next chapter

[dreamhous3]

Sierra 2100, Chapter 2 (2nd Draft)

Just need to do chapter 3 now and I can finally start working on chapter 4, yay!

Enjoy!

2.

There was an unwarranted silence between them. Angela’s eyes shot from left to right. Vinny raised an eyebrow at her while swapping the plate in his vest. His focus disconnected from his hands. Sophie’s heel tapped vigorously, trying to keep her eyes ahead. She noticed Vinny's odd glare poking at Angela.

'Why are you looking at her like that?'

'Like what?' Vinny looked back at Sophie but his head didn’t move. ‘Your hand’s still covered in glass by the way.’ 

Sophie gave him a sharp glare before a crunch interrupted her malice. 

Damn!

‘Ok ok,’ she sighed, ‘I only need one hand anyway.’

‘We sped out of there like ten minutes ago, I told you we can autopilot the rest of the journey. Is this what you go through to get a dart when I’m not around?’ Vinny shook his head. ‘Jeez.’ 

This guy sometimes-

‘I am very sorry sir if my conduct is ‘inappropriate’, but considering our situation, I don’t think the glorified tablet where a cd player should be can compete with the entire police force of Sierra.’ 

‘Oh, that’s it. You wanna bleed all the way home to prove you don’t need help from something that doesn’t. That people like me-’

‘Don’t Vinny.’ Sophie’s knuckles went white against the wheel. ‘Do. Not.’

‘Ok, it always comes up later anyway.’ Vinny shook his head. ‘Want to leak all over my ride? Be my guest. I know it’s not me you’re mad at-I’m not mad at you either.’ His voice went soft. 

Eight years…eight years to become a loose end.

‘I’m cool,’ Sophie swallowed hard. ‘I’m good now, Vinny alright?’ Her hand slipped off the wheel.

‘So, can I-’ 

‘Autopilot activated.’ The console screen echoed in a soft but dead voice. Sophie and Vinny saw a hand quickly slip away from underneath them. They turned to see Angela as still as before, with a small, shaky smile.  

‘Who let this one out?’ Vinny erupted into laughter. Sophie's stiff expression succumbed to his contagious laughter. 

‘I’m going to die here.’ Angela muttered under the smoke of their joy. 

Outside lost its flair of lights and skyscrapers as the shuttle pierced further and further into the clouds. Wet air and rain consumed it. The headlights projected onto a wall of mist. A hollow and dead atmosphere killed the homely Suburbia of Section Three. Eery, empty wrecks rested before them. Fragile, creaking metal and splashes of victorious flora reached upwards. The light coming from the shuttle awoke the long dead beast that were the ruins. 

'Where is this?' Angela slightly recoiled as if reacting to a bad stench.

'It’s got a few names I guess, I call it a shithole. Abandoned properties and land. Sierra lost the population meant to fill it in the civil war. Since then it’s sat here waiting till we get back to the era of ‘progress’ or leave it to die already. The only time we come here is when we’re needed.' Vinny leaned back and looked outside at the desolation.

'For what?'

'Don’t worry about that kid.' He chuckled. Angela’s weariness returned. 

An enormous structure stood defiant of the death around it. Desolate decay disturbed the dull district before them. Spherically roofed towers gouged from a brick walled block. Arches touched the roof with their tips and thick chiselled pillars. Athletic legs running  nowhere. Lights under the shuttle smacked on, painting the vacant colours of the roof. It slowed to a stop, then started its hover downwards. As it lowered, the hum of its engine became soft.

'You have arrived at your destina-.' Sophie twisted the car to sleep, shrinking back into silence. Vinny slipped out and strutted away from the shuttle. The door popped as Sophie opened it. She looked over at Vinny who was off in the distance now, lighting a cigarette. 

What a gentleman… 

She sighed and walked over to the adjacent door. Angela held her knees level with her eyes. Sophie held the door handle but waited. Their eyes met, spotlights in the shuttle's darkness. Sophie’s hesitation tethered them together. Finally, she opened the door.

‘Come on, kid.’ 

‘Why?’ She frowned at her.

‘What?’ 

‘I said, why?’ Angela sniffled. ‘Why am I going with you?’

‘Because I said so, let's go already.’ Sophie waved her over. Angela moved further away and held the seat. The leather made a dull sound between her fingers. Her eyes fell. 

Fair enough honey. I’d get away from me too. 

Sophie slid inside, but still kept a small distance between them. 

Relax. Just talk to her like before. We’re cool now.

‘I know you’re scared of me, of him. I know he’s not the most…compassionate guy, but we need him. I need him.’ Sophie’s eyes fell like Angelas. ‘We’re in as much danger as you right now. People like us are coming to clean up something you weren’t supposed to see. Maybe you were, I don’t know. This has really fucked me around, I’m sure you’ve noticed. But I need you to know,’ She sat up and turned to Angela, ‘I am not a danger to you.’ 

‘So,’ Angela moved back, ‘we’re both screwed?’ 

‘Yea, something like that.’ Sophie chuckled. ‘So, you coming or what?’ With a quick nod, Angela slipped out of the shuttle after Sophie. The door smacked close. 

‘I gotta go talk to Vinny and then we’re gonna go. You’ll wait here for us, ok?’

‘By myself?!’ Angela’s face reached at Sophie’s. 

‘Just find somewhere to hide. Like we said, there’s no one here.’ 

‘Do I get a gun?’ 

‘Good question,’ Sophie chucked her gun to her, ‘happy birthday.’ 

Sophie stepped away from the shuttle into the rusty air. Her shoes crunched against insignificant twigs sticking through cracked concrete. Angela wandered away from the Shuttle soon after. Her footsteps eventually were swallowed by the distance. Vinny was already on his second cigarette when Sophie approached him. He stood a few feet from the edge of the building that looked out from the front. Many wide roads diverged outwards into the expanse of dust.

‘So, I guess we’re fired then, and that witness is, what? Our bonus pay?’

‘She’s a human being, Vinny.’ 

‘Actually, she’s not our problem. She told us what she saw, and we applied that knowledge. That's what witnesses do. That’s all.’

‘We were interrupted.’ 

‘Seemed pretty conclusive to me.’

‘And, she saved us. Would we know we were set up without her?’

‘That’s not the point, Sophie. Think about it, we didn’t see shit, she did. Once we got her talking, they made their move.’

‘Yea, against us. The chief demanded I come with you on this, on my first day back, after-’ Sophie held the bridge of her nose and turned away from Vinny.

‘This isn’t about that,’ He shot a finger at her.‘and you know it isn’t. Don’t get personal now. We’ve been on the other side of this before. That was how we got where we were. I never liked that, I was never proud of it.’

‘Don’t tell me not to get personal and start at me with your bullshit pride.’ Sophie yanked Vinny by his collar towards her. ‘I know what I am, I know what I’ve done-I know what you’ve done. If I could go back, I’d do all that shit over again. But that girl over there? That kid? She doesn’t deserve this mess, our mess. My life started where we dragged her, and I am going to drag her back out if it kills me.’ She shoved him back. 

Fucking hypocrite. 

‘What if they just wanted her, Sophie.’ Vinny called out as she walked away. ‘How have you not at least considered that?’ 

‘Because…’ She stopped in place. The events of the last hour rained in her mind.

No, I am so done with this. ‘I don’t know.’ 

‘You don’t know?’

'I don’t know! Ok?' Her hands reached up to her face as she slumped to the cold ground. Her fingers dragged upwards through her hair. Thin nails slightly crunched the roots. Vinny discarded his cigarette on the ground, and stamped it out. He looked up and down at Sophie with a grim smile, and sat next to her. 

‘I’m sorry. I know we haven’t always been on the same page.’

‘I’m sorry too. Just so…’

‘Pissed off? Lost?’

‘Yea.’ Sophie pressed her head against his shoulder.

‘Tell me about it, man.’ He patted her on the back. ‘What do you want to do then?’

‘We’re going to figure this out.’ 

‘Is this case worth it you think? We can just go, you know. Can’t say we didn’t try. Plenty of ways out of here.’

‘It has to be. I can’t leave, Vinny.’ She looked up at him. The sharpness in her eyes was blunted by tears. ‘My life was in that department, and they tried to end it. What I did for them-for what little is left of me, there’ll be nothing left when I’m done. I need to do this.’

‘Alright.’ He nodded and took a moment to think, looking out at the ruins. ‘Let’s go.’ Vinny rose and reached out to Sophie, standing before her like the statue of a dictator. She took his hand and pulled herself up. She rubbed his shoulder, and they made their way back to the shuttle. The thump of the shuttle doors closed the coffin of their past, buried in the dead world around them.  

Sorrowful clouds engulfed the shuttle as it speared away from the abandoned district. Rain spattered and clawed at the windows. A bright but thin yellow line on the windshield methodically pushed the water to the left. The weather's wrath washed away. Distant flickering lights blurred beyond them. Windows, antennae, advertisements, traffic lights, warnings, the eyes of the city staring back.

‘Ok, let's map this out then:’ Vinny flicked his hands around in front of him, ‘victim worked for vargriff, had the neural link installed by them, must’ve given him a nasty debt for that.’

‘That’s how they get ya.’ Sophie slid a pair of ballistic glasses on. Its frame blinked blue as a simple user interface faded over the clear lenses. When she turned to Vinny, a few holographic pages now glowed in front of him. 

‘Life of a suit I guess, nothing new there.’ Vinny scratched his stubble. ‘But what about the family? I just can’t stop thinking about that. Already a strange thing to see someone willing to have kids here of all places, but their absence…I’m not sure I want to know.’ 

I do, knowing Vargriff, but I wish I didn’t. God I wish I didn’t. 

‘Let’s-we’ll come back to that.’ Sophie looked down at her tensed legs. ‘Could be a leak, corps got a real big problem with that right now. So many big names are headquartered here. Plenty of colonists from Vargriff owned worlds that would kill to be as close as this guy was.’ She poked at a page with the victim's work ID. 

‘It's happened before,’ Vinny shrugged, ‘and it’ll happen again. Always does. Plus, with all the drama around androids right now, probably a nightmare on the inside.’ He swiped the holographic pages around. Graphic images of the victim’s body danced around walls of text, headlines of other corporate murders, failed cover ups. 

‘Maybe a droid did this.’ Sophie smirked.

‘Android, Sophie.’ Vinny poked the side of her head. ‘Definitely not it anyway, what would we have to do with this if that were the case? Let's stay focused here, ignorance will only lead us to a dead end.’ 

‘Ok, sure, whatever.’ Sophie shook her head. "We'll start with the leak theory, see if this guy was talking to someone outside.’  

‘Still have that informant’s address, the smuggler from Section Four. Could shake him a bit. He had plenty of connections with Vargriff, maybe he hasn’t gotten the news about us yet.’

‘Maybe…worth trying at least. Only advantage we have right now. Remember where that tunnel is?’

‘Oh man, do we have to?’ He shook his head. ‘That place is so gross.’

‘You know we’ll just get arrested at whatever gates we try.’

‘Alright, alright.’ Vinny flicked a tab in front of him to the right, and a small map flickered on the right corner of the windscreen. A neon lake flowed through the path to their destination. 

The lightshow of Section Three died behind tall hills. Strong colours held onto rounded peaks only to slide backwards into the metropolis. Sophie and Vinny moved swiftly from the shuttle, locking it without looking back. They strolled towards a pile of rocks that appeared to outline a deep darkness. It sat like an archway into another world. In a way, it was. With a light tap against the frame, green static fuzzed over Sophie’s glasses. 

‘Thought you would have outgrown those by now.’ Vinny looked at her with a blink that made his eyes glisten a green. ‘Optics are really cheap nowadays, definitely cheaper than keeping that antique in shape.’  

‘No thanks, I’m all me.’ She brushed past him. ‘Had these since I started. Still works just fine.’ 

‘Right, your constant frown would probably break them anyway.’ 

‘Or some psycho nerd would make them pop like balloons.’

‘That’s easier said than done. Cyber security has come a long way-’ 

‘You read that off a billboard?’ 

‘Whatever.’ 

Mould festered around the deep stone void. They sunk further with each step forward. Old arches of rusted metal held the warped shapes away. Moisture splat against the ground, watering the ghosts of plants long gone. Posters sealed in glass frames dug into the walls. Faded illustrations of people watched Vinny and Sophie move along. Many were no longer legible, smashed glass was sprinkled over some. One featured a hand holding up some kind of mining tool with a large print above it that read: “For your future, for our fu-” the rest was scribbled over in red with: “LIAR”. Ahead there were broken tools amongst scattered bones. Spiders made homes amongst the remains. An eye of light peeked at them from the distance after an eternity of walking. It came from a small hatch that was cracked slightly open.

‘Finally.’ Vinny sighed. He crawled out the hatch and climbed into the mouth of the outside world. Sophie swung herself up behind him. A dingy alley waited for them. A large dumpster sat discreetly and disguised amongst the decrepit buildings. People walked, jogged and fled up and down the street. Sophie and Vinny swiftly cut through the crowds with calculated movements. Cars brushed their coats with wind. Sophie's tied back hair was flung about helplessly. Section Four swallowed them in its colourful and bloody flavours. Its character spoke to them in distant gunshots, bassy music and gratuitous advertising. Pockets of people in the matching clothes strolled by. Their casual attitudes contradicted the guns in their loose holsters and slung over their backs. Bodies painted with tattoos framed by gold and silver cyberware. One dug their nails into metallic, clicky palms. 

Shiny little monsters.

Sophie’s gaze snapped back towards the path ahead. Stalls rang their bells. The owners' posture dipped in desperate friendliness as they reached out to the uncaring pair. Questionable items were scattered about the tables they leaned over. Street lights struck the space above. Ads for movie stars that didn’t exist, showing off films made by no one, danced around the tall poles. Cars shovelled the thick snow of pixels away as they passed. Overdone paint jobs yelled for impressed eyes, but only cast bait at fishing gangsters. Parking tickets, flyers, discarded but important letters, flew about in the wind. Feathers of an overwhelmed world plucked by its contagious apathy. Enormous apartment blocks sprouted sparingly as Sophie and Vinny strode onwards. Colourful, rickety blocks peeled like mouldy fruit. Soon the sounds of the city shifted to a subtle stir. Residents rivalled, ran and roared in their private boxes. Closing in on the informants building, a brutish voice echoed not far ahead.

‘Timmy!’ A tall tatted and lightly tailored man repeatedly buzzed the apartment intercom. ‘You said, remember, one week. It’s been two, and my pockets are still empty.’ Similarly dressed people huddled around him, flaunting their overly decorated appearances, cyberware and sidearms slouched about.  

Great…

‘Well…I thought it’d be one, I really did, but this guy was not very receptive to my pitch.’ A frantic, timid voice huffed and puffed through the intercom. ‘I’m trying to find more buyers, but you gotta understand, I’m just one guy-’

‘Who left his six angry fucking dogs out in the cold.’ He bashed the side of the intercom. ‘Let us in you already!’

‘Excuse me.’ Vinny walked a few steps closer. ‘Me and my partner need to see Tim as well, and we’d really appreciate it if you let us talk to him for just a moment. 

‘Who the fuck is this guy?’ The gangster swung around.

‘Vinny,’ He grinned. ‘and that’s Sophie. Not a big talker, gets shy around crowds.’

‘You know these two Timmy?’ 

‘Please, Sophie, Vinny, help me out with these guys. I’ll tell you whatever you want, just get rid of them!’

‘Uh uh, not happening.’ The gangster shook his head. ‘We're going to wipe these two, break your goddamn door down, and then I’m charging you extra for making me mow your fucking lawn.’ 

‘Yea, I don’t know about that.’ Vinny’s eyes flashed red and the gangsters all screamed at once.

Finally… 

Sophie flicked her gun out of its holster and shot three. Their heads snapped backwards. One charged her, but tripped over as Vinny’s eyes flashed red again. A red mess spilled out of them as they gutted themself with their own hands. 

Two left. 

Four weapons pointed at each other. Hesitation and shaky hands called for a time out. A machine pistol's blue muzzle flash rang the bell. Sophie ducked. Two shots echoed over Vinny’s. One gangster smacked against the ground. The other painted the apartment building's front door as their back slid down it.  

‘Nice suit man.’Vinny stood over them. ‘What do you reckon Sophie?’

‘Very nice.’ Her eyes waved around the clean, dark pattern of the gangster's blazer.  

‘I’ll kill…’ Blood cried through his fingers as he held his throat. ‘I’ll fucking kill you-’ His harsh guggles cut him off before his face went still. 

Sophie dragged their body away from the door. She chucked it at the ground. 

        Always something… 

The door clicked and buzzed open. 

Bass battered the walls of the informant's apartment. The sound belittled the cramped doors beside his. Its heaviness echoed throughout the block. 

‘Open up, Timmy.’ Sophie battled it with bashes, her fist bounced off the weary wood. Her foot tapped the floor faster than the music's beat. She knocked again, and the door swung open. A short timid man shot a wide eyed look up at Sophie. She raised an eyebrow at him,

Hmm, more friendly than usual.

then shoved past him into his apartment. Hardware of almost every kind you could imagine was splayed about the apartment. Wires rooted the tall trees of tech, wrapped and tangled around each other. Some sagged from ports in strangely shaped machines. Empty bowls scattered around in places that tested the definition of a suitable surface. Graphic posters hid a peeling wallpaper. Their shamelessness stole Sophie's attention. 

‘Thanks for dealing with those goons. It seems like everyday there’s another gang trying to break your front door down, am I right?’ 

‘Sure, sure.’ Vinny clicked off the music, as the front door closed behind him. Silence amplified its click shut. ‘Seen the news lately? Grim stuff, real grim.’ 

‘Uh, which stuff-’

‘A Vargriff employee, fried right outside his house.’ Sophie grabbed him by the collar. ‘His wife and child, missing. No mess, no fingerprints, everything left where it was. Clean.’

‘Wha-’ He tried to shake free of her grip, ‘hey I just found out about that today. Faulty cyberware, it was an accident!’  

‘No. It. Fucking. Wasn’t.’ Sophie smacked him after each word.

‘Ok, ok! Maybe I know a bit, but not much. This is some deep shit guys.’

‘And we love to dive, especially on a day like this.’ Vinny moved up behind him. ‘You like it too, Timmy. Caught plenty of scoops for us in the past. Pretty valuable, ones too. Owe you a lot for that. But just before, outside, we saved your ass. I reckon that should cover our debt, right buddy?’ 

‘I…’ Timmy almost tripped as he squirmed in Sophie's grasp. ‘Alright, we’re even, we’re cool, whatever-just let go of me!’ 

‘Hmm, nope, don’t think she’s done with you. Maybe you can change her mind, if you tell us something useful. Because, well... ’ Vinny swiped images of the victim at the screens lying about. ‘Pretty messy for an ‘accident’, don’t you think?’

‘Jesus christ!’ Timmy gasped. 

‘What was his job? Why’d they off him, but not the family, huh?’ Sophie lifted him off the floor. 

‘It’s not about his job, listen alright. There’s rumours going around, in Vargriff, about some ‘project’. Real top earners are supposed to be a part of it, but no one else. Your victim was in it, but he wasn’t the first cover up. One of my guys inside, we went back years, a real good hacker, looked into it. Me too, we couldn’t help ourselves. I thought it’d just be some marketing bullshit, keep it so secret not even the people working on it know. Use the element of surprise to knock the competition out. Worked with their androids, until now. My guy said he figured it out, but way too late. He’s…well he went out a different way than your case, but for the same reason.’ 

‘What did he figure out exactly?’

‘Sorry, times up.’ Timmy chuckled over the sound of footsteps banging closer and closer. ‘I know you guys aren’t cops anymore.’ 

You little-

The front door exploded. Timmy slipped out of Sophie's grasp. Through the dust, a medley of dings bounced against the floor. Sophie’s eyes cut through it. Metal cylinders lay next to her feet.

‘Get down! Flash-’ A stinging white shut the world off. 

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!

Sophie was whiplashed back into consciousness. 

Shit, my head… 

The pain blurred her focus. With weak blinks, she tried to observe her surroundings. A table sat in front of her. It had a clean finish of shiny waves. Even cleaner were the dark clothes around it. Built men with busts that shoved into their tight suits. Cloth curled and draped over even tighter shoulders. In the centre, one person sat amongst the standing statues.

Wow.

Jewels adjourned and continued between her neck and wrists. Piercings in her face lead the golden charge. Long locks of glistening snow with subtle touches of silver slithered down her body. Luscious waves mimicked the free form of her dress. But her sharp face fiercely claimed these features, both beautiful and brutal. Now, it claimed Sophie's gaze too. 

‘Hi.’ She waved at her, brushing away the tense stillness with the hands responsible for it. She flashed a smile at Sophie, awaiting a response. She stared right through her. ‘Rude, just as I expected. That’s alright. Do you know who I am?’ She waved a finger at the man closest to her. He pulled out an art deco decanter. Whiskey wobbled behind the transparent curves and grooves. Its brown tones blended with the room despite its glass cage. The liquor splashed into a glass hugged by her ringed fingers as the bottle leaned into it. 

‘Maybe.’ Sophie wriggled her wrists, expecting them to be bound, but found them untouched. 

‘I am ‘Miss Cleaver’, and I must say it is a real delight to finally meet you.’ She shook her legs about for a moment, their excitement matched with a grin.

‘Her name is actually Clarissa.’ Vinny said quietly to Sophie, but still mockingly loud enough for the room to hear. Sophie smiled in surprise at his presence, and the information. 

‘Clarissa’. Kinda suits her.

‘She was small fry for a while. Got caught in some sloppy robbery a while ago. Now she’s upgraded to kidnapping,’ Vinny pointed at her. ‘good for you.’ 

‘Yes, that’s right Vinny, you got it! Thank you.’ Clarissa cut at him with a glare, but washed it away with a swig of her glass. ‘However, you will refer to me as ‘Miss Cleaver’, ok?’ 

‘Whatever.’ Sophie crossed her arms and leaned back, the chair creaked carelessly of the silent room.

Uppity cunt.

‘Sure thing, Miss Cleaver.’ Vinny smiled at her. ‘What does this showy little ring leader want with us then?’ 

‘She’d like to offer these two dirty pigs a way out of their own shit.’ Clarissa animated her impatience, planting her decorated arms against the table. 

‘And why would we need your help?’ 

‘Oh darling,’ Clarissa laughed, snorting into her glistening nails, ‘do you honestly think you can do this alone? You were fired, quite dramatically, by your own boys in blue.’ She slumped her chin into her long hands, staring and whining like a needy puppy at them.

‘Set up.’ Sophie shot an angled, stabbing glance back. 

‘Yes, fucked, backstabbed, tricked, toyed with; whatever you want, my most prestigious detectives. And now you’re loose, lonely. No longer taken by the badge. Single, available…’ 

‘We’re very flattered, but happily retired,’ Sophie leaned in with a scowl. ‘Miss Cleaver.’ 

‘That’s good, Sophie,’ she giggled again, ‘that’s my favourite part about you. That stone coldness, that fury. The fucking anger, huh? I want it, I want you.’ Her voice lowered with her body as she locked eyes with Sophie. A soft, sweetness in her stomach suffocated her agitation.

Stop looking at her… 

‘Why?’ Sophie’s eyes darted away from Clarissa. 

‘Much of my little world has been created by you two. The dirty duo daring to dance and dabble with the undesirables of Section Four. Breaking as many laws as they upheld. Besides your, I must say impressive, history of corruption, you also did me a favour. Do you remember what you did, Sophie?’ Clarissa, still uncomfortably close, crossed her low arms. She tilted her head as she looked up at Sophie with a soft and pretty glisten in her eyes. 

‘I…I don’t-’ Sophie’s look lowered as she swallowed her reply. A certain time came back to her, crashing into her thoughts. 

I had barely graduated, and they threw me into the wolves' den. 

‘He was a veteran of a very particular war, a personal one. You built quite a case on him, I hear. What happened to him?’ 

I was a decoy. Bait. And he…

‘That is none of your fucking business!’ Sophie shot up out of her seat. ‘You don’t know shit about me. Think you can scare me? Talk me into a collar? One more step and I’ll hang you with the lead.’ 

Guns swung out from the bodyguards jackets. Clarissa raised her finger and sliced a look at each of them, and they hurriedly holstered their weapons. 

‘Baby, don’t be ashamed. He was a very bad man, hm? He was a piece of shit that you discarded like the garbage he was. But most of all, he was my competition, my worst enemy.’ Clarrisa sat back again, spreading her arms proudly. ‘Look around you, look at this place, at my men. Look at me. It’s all here because of you.’ 

‘I didn’t do shit for you, I didn’t do that for any of you.’ 

‘But you still did it, and now I owe you one. I brought you here to return the favour. You see your…sacking, I know about it. I don’t know who did it, but I know who could have, I know where to look. My network is quite wide, quite loyal, and it’s all yours.’

‘But for that we have to give you…what? A finger, an eye, or some other symbolic bullshit?’ Vinny rolled his eyes.

‘Not sure you have much left to offer, metal man, but as I said, I owe you. As well as my connections, I’m offering you a job. Please, work for me, your talents would be much appreciated.’ 

Desperate eyes darted between them. Clarissa covered her face with childish anticipation. Sophie shook her head and faced away from her threatening audience. That moment kept picking at the rock of her mind. 

We had him. Cuffed, alone, no crew left whatsoever. Nothing. The courts were gonna make him suffer, like he deserved. Just had to hand him over. Why didn’t I…  

Her hands vigorously slipped between each other. Their shudder barely shuttered the window of that memory. The sound his body made as it tumbled, the violent finale of-

‘Sophie?’ Vinny shut her thoughts off and turned the world back on. ‘What do you think? Either take our chances with the feral animals outside or get dirtier than we already were.’

She’s got you right where she wants you, gotten into your head too. Could’ve killed you, but didn’t. And she’s in debt to you. Fine. 

‘Ok, we’re yours.’ The words unwound the rivalry between them all. Clarissa quietly squealed, finally letting go of her face as she jumped about with joy. 

‘Oh thank you Sophie, I can’t tell you how pleased I am!’

‘But let me remind you: we’re here because you know us, you know what we’re capable of, what we do. Screw us over, and I will tear down every fucking thing I gave you.’ The distance between them had been unconsciously closed by Sophie, who was now towering over Clarissa. She gave her another soft look from below, held her chin and pulled her closer.

‘Loud and clear, sweetheart.’