#CASSIO LOG CASSIO LOG

[ivanttakethis]

Cassio’s Log: Vol. 3

————————————————————

A sizable crowd had gathered in the lobby of Cassiopeia’s largest design studio the following morning.

Photographers, journalists, reporters, a few film crews, and lots and lots of Stargazers — Tov’s fans.

Some held homemade posters. Others had stars painted on their faces.

The room was abuzz with anticipation and hushed excitement.

Cassio had kept the content of the press conference purposefully vague, knowing that the media would take the bait and speculation would run wild, drawing the public’s attention.

It worked flawlessly.

They checked their watch.

One minute till the hour.

Almost showtime.

Cassio squared their shoulders, head held high, and stepped out on stage.

They smiled magnanimously as dozens of camera lenses shuttered, flashing bright lights in their direction. Their years on the runaway had successfully desensitized them to the overwhelming sensation. They’d learned to embrace it.

“Good morning, everyone.” Cassio said once they reached the podium.

They took a moment to angle the mic upward to account for their full height.

“I’m sure you’re all wondering what became of my pet-human Tov after she collapsed during the final round of Alien Stage Season 39.”

Cassio smothered the bitterness of the term pet and pressed on, “I am happy to announce that — by the blessing of the Great Anakt — she is still alive and currently recovering in the medical center downtown.”

Cheers erupted from the back of the room, surging forward.

More cameras shuttered and flashed.

Cassio ignored the din of the crowd as gracefully as they could. They had a script in mind for this event, and they weren’t going to deviate from it.

“As for what took place during Round 30, Tov unfortunately suffered a heart attack.” They said, tone solemn. “We decided to keep this information private as the competition progressed, but this is her third cardiac event since the season began.”

A chorus of gasps ripped through the audience.

“After both the first and second scare, I asked Tov if she wanted to withdraw from the season altogether. But she was adamant about continuing.”

A boldface lie.

Contestants couldn’t withdraw, even if they wanted to.

The only exception was medical emergencies, and those had to happen during a round to count.

It was all buried in the contract every contestant and guardian had signed ages ago.

The public wasn’t supposed to know.

But Wren did.

She must’ve read the exceptions and worked within those bounds to disqualify Tov.

Clever girl.

Just like her sister.

“Her heart has always been weak, ever since she was a child, and it simply gave out at the end.” Cassio said. “While this is not the outcome we’d hoped for, our focus is on Tov’s recovery and her future now that Alien Stage has ended.”

They took a deep breath and braced themselves against the solid weight of the podium.

Now came the hardest part of any press conference: questions and answers.

“I will now open the floor for questions.”

They could barely get the words out before reporters armed with film crews and microphones rushed up to the front of the stage, shouting over one another.

“Guardian Cassio, how did you feel when you learned that Tov survived?”

“When will she be released from the hospital?”

“Is Tov going to model for your fashion house again, Guardian Cassio?”

“Will she ever return to the stage?”

“Has Tov spoken with Cirrus yet?”

Cassio waited a moment for the roar to die down before answering.

“I was relieved when I heard Tov would survive.” They said. “I didn’t want her to suffer in death. The Great Anakt does not ask for suffering. Nonetheless, I am grateful that I can continue to care for Tov as her guardian.”

“As for her release, it is still unclear. Her heart attack was rather severe, so she still has several hurdles to clear before she can return home.”

“My hope is that Tov can return to modeling as soon as she is able. At this time, she is still one of Cassiopeia’s brand ambassadors.”

“However, whether or not she returns to singing will be her own choice.” Cassio looked to the back of the room where Tov’s fans were huddled together. “But I know she cares a great deal for her Stargazers. I have no doubt they will ultimately influence her decision.”

“And for Cirrus, while Tov has not had the opportunity to speak with them, she wishes them a warm congratulations on their win.” They round off their words with a gentle smile, rich in sincerity.

This was wholly true.

Before Cassio left the hospital yesterday, Tov had asked about Cirrus; how they were doing, if they seemed happy.

They couldn’t tell her much.

Cirrus hadn’t been paraded around in public and in the media as often as previous winners were.

And the one picture of them Cassio had seen, they looked far from happy.

Cassio kept that part to themselves.

“Any other questions before we wrap up for today?” They asked.

A pink, slender segyein with three green eyes pushed their way to the front of the crowd and held out their microphone.

“How does Alien Stage production feel about Tov’s survival?” They asked.

They can feel however they like.

Cassio didn’t say that.

It wasn’t very diplomatic.

They still needed public sympathy if this campaign was going to work.

So instead, they swallowed their words, smoothed out their facial expression, and said:

“Our discussions with the production team have only recently begun.”

They paused to look directly into the nearest camera, an unspoken challenge, “Aside from that, I cannot comment any further on the matter at this time.”

———

After saying their goodbyes to the last straggling reporter, Cassio was eager to return to their office.

The press conference should be on a broadcast or two by now, hopefully being received well.

As they headed for the stairs, a familiar voice called out to them.

“Cassiopeia.”

Cassio would recognize that voice anywhere. In this lifetime and the next.

It was the only voice they didn’t mind calling them by their full name.

They turned around and saw Ra’eon standing near the front entrance. She was wearing a white dress embroidered with red flowers.

Clematis flowers.

Oh, my Clematis…

Hope bloomed through the abyss…

That had been one of Ra’eon’s favorite songs. It was also the first song the Anakt Garden children learned to sing.

When Cassio heard Tov sing those lyrics for the first time in her clear and light voice, no taller than the back of a sitting chair, they almost fell to their knees.

It was painfully bittersweet to hear the words again, sung in the innocent voice of such a young child.

Ra’eon smiled and came closer, drawing Cassio out of their thoughts.

They shifted their form to be closer to her in height.

“Hello again.” She greeted with a slight dip of her head.

Cassio cleared their throat, their answering smile a bit shaky, “Hello to you too. Did you come for the press conference?”

“Not initially, no. I planned to come by today to see if you had some free time, since I’d be in the area.” Ra’eon said. “I know we have lunch scheduled for next week, so I understand if you’re busy.”

“No, I’m not busy at all.” They said, a little too quickly. “I have some time before I’m expected at the hospital this afternoon. Perhaps we could go for a walk in the park? There’s one not far from here.”

The broadcasts could wait.

They would wait.

———

The walk to the park was quiet between the two. But it was a comfortable silence, a familiar one.

Even still, Cassio was on pins and needles.

Where do I even begin?

They’d spent so much time thinking, over thinking, and then thinking some more about everything they would tell Ra’eon if they ever got the chance to see her again.

But now that the chance was here — sitting in the palm of their hands — they didn’t know how to start.

Ra’eon, as if sensing their hesitation, broke the silence first, “How is Tov recovering?”

Good, a topic Cassio knew they could talk about without issue. “She’s healing well, though her heart is showing signs of permanent damage.” They said. “The doctors aren’t sure if it was caused by this heart attack or the previous one. Thankfully it’s only minor.”

“Ah, that’s good to hear. I’ll have Wren bring her some treats next time she visits. I believe she mentioned vanilla candies were Tov’s favorite?” Ra’eon glanced over at them.

“Y-Yes, they are. She’s loved them since she was a child.” They said, stumbling through their answer.

Cassio could handle a room of hungry reporters and overzealous fans, sleazy producers and nameless lackeys, and yet a floral dress and bright grey eyes had them tripping over themselves.

How embarrassing…

“Those are Wren’s favorite too.” She chuckled. “It’s interesting how similar they are despite growing up separately.”

“Did you raise Wren yourself?” Cassio asked.

It was the first thing that came to mind, though they’d been wondering about Wren’s background since they first met.

Well, since Wren came up to them in the lobby of the hospital after Round 24 and introduced herself as a “friend” of Tov’s.

They hadn’t had the chance to ask Tov about her either.

“Yes, from around the time she was eight years old. I was working for Anakt Garden then and they asked me if I would like to care for a human without a guardian.”

Cassio smiled, their heart warm at the thought. “So you finally got to become a guardian after all.”

Ra’eon had always wanted to adopt a pet-human. But back then, no segyein would sell to her.

They all deemed her appearance to be too “humanoid” to properly establish a master-pet relationship with a human child. It was devastating.

She left not long after that.

“Well, not quite.” Ra’eon said. “I’m technically Wren’s guardian, but I don’t have legal ownership of her. The Anakt Group became her legal guardian when she was enrolled in Anakt Garden. Then, after she graduated, her ownership was transferred to ZYNE Entertainment.”

ZYNE Entertainment? The pet-human talent agency?

I thought they only poached Anakt Garden graduates who didn’t qualify for Alien Stage.

“I see… That’s a rather interesting relationship.”

“On paper yes, but Wren refers to me as her guardian for simplicity’s sake. And I treat her just as I would any human I legally adopted.”

The pride in her voice was clear as day.

“I have no doubt about that. You’ve always been very maternal.” Cassio hesitated for a moment, before pressing on. “But if you’ve been caring for Wren since the girls were eight, that means you’ve been back for quite a while. Is there a reason why you didn’t reach out to me before now?”

Ra’eon’s smile faltered, and she looked away for a moment.

“After how we left things, I didn’t know if you would want to see me again.” She said quietly, “Especially because I couldn’t tell you why I was leaving or where I was going.”

Of course I’d want to see you. Cassio thought.

“You can tell me now. Only if you want to, of course.” They rushed to add.

“I do, and you deserve an explanation anyway.” Ra’eon slowed her pace near a park bench and sat down, patting the space next to her for Cassio to follow.

She turned to them once they were seated and took a deep breath. “You know my relationship with my mothers is very…”

“Complicated.” Cassio finished.

Dumpster fire would’ve sufficed as well.

Ra’eon gave them a thin, knowing smile, “Yes. Complicated.” She said. “When I was much younger, before I came here and went to school and met you, I enlisted in the armed forces on Thali to be independent of them. But there were stipulations.”

“What kinds of stipulations?” They asked, frowning.

“If the force was ever called upon, I would be required to return home for deployment.”

Cassio blinked, mouth slightly agape, “A-As a soldier?”

“No, no! As a medic. Not a soldier.” She said quickly. The shock and panic must’ve been clear on Cassio’s face.

“The deployment was classified. I couldn’t tell anyone what was going on without breaching protocol.” She continued. “I worked mostly with civilians in the hot zones, segyein and pet-humans. The younger humans took to me well because of my human-like appearance, so I ended up caring for them full time.”

“And that’s why you chose to work for Anakt Garden when you came back?”

Ra’eon nodded, “It was one of the only positions I considered.”

I’m sure it fit you well.

“I was worried for a long time, about how you were fairing.” She said. “But then I saw you on a television interview once, right after I got back. You looked so at ease, and I realized you were doing just fine without me.”

Ra’eon said those words without malice or sorrow or regret.

Only peace.

Only relief.

Cassio wanted to crumple in her arms.

I was a mess after you left. They wanted to say. I was absolutely miserable.

But that felt too personal, too intimate after so much time spent apart. Even if that time was nothing in comparison to both of their lifespans.

Maybe it felt like longer because of their humans.

Maybe Tov and Wren had grown and changed so much in such a relatively short period of time that it warped their sense of scale.

Maybe that was okay.

They have time now.

———

Tov was expecting Cassio to be at the hospital soon.

They’d spent longer than intended talking with Ra’eon at the park, skipped lunch, gotten pulled into an emergency meeting about next season’s photo spread, and now they were running late.

Cassio fished for the car keys in their bag as they quickly made their way through the parking lot.

“Guardian Cassiopeia!” A voice shouted over the traffic.

It sounded nothing like Ra’eon’s, but it was unfortunately familiar.

Cassio stopped mid stride, turning on their heel.

Their lofty mood curdled at the sight of Agent Pol behind them, arms folded, looking far too at ease for their liking.

Even behind the dark lenses of her sunglasses, Cassio could feel Pol’s gaze pierce their skin.

There was no sign of her partner.

A rabid dog off her leash. Oh joy.

“Agent Pol,” They nodded in lieu of a proper greeting, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I suppose a congratulations is in order.” She said, stepping closer.

“For what, exactly?”

“Your pet managed to survive the competition, even though she didn’t win. A heart attack right before she got her head blown off. Convenient, don’t you think?”

The smug curl of her lip aggravated Cassio’s temper.

“Has anyone ever told you that you have a habit of running your mouth without getting to the point?”

“That’s awfully defensive for someone who I haven’t accused of anything.”

They rolled their eyes, “You’re implying quite a lot. Now out with it.”

Agent Pol was smirking now, “I’m looking into the… suspicious nature of Tov’s incident during Round 30. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

“I’m afraid I don’t.”

“So you wouldn’t mind if I took a look in your car for anything out of place?”

They narrowed their eyes at her, “Do you have a warrant for the search?”

Agent Pol huffed a laugh, as if Cassio’s question was funny.

“There’s that defensiveness again. If you have nothing to hide, it shouldn’t be a problem.” She shrugged. “This only raises suspicions.”

“I simply know my rights, Agent Pol.” They said. “You need a valid reason to get a search warrant signed.”

“My valid reason is your sympathy for pet-humans. It’s clouded your vision; made you act irrationally.”

Irrationally?

Cassio forced a scoff, “Do you really think I would risk everything I’ve accomplished — everything I’ve built over the entirety of my adult life to save a pet?”

Another boldface lie.

No one needed to know that.

“You seem quite fond of her.”

“And you seem quite fond of your job.” They snapped, their patience worn thin and brittle. “If you continue to harass me or my human without the legal authority to do so, I’ll make sure you no longer have one. Have the day you deserve.”

Cassio flashed a fake, tightlipped smile and continued walking toward their car.

“It’s only going to get worse from here.” Pol called out to them after a few paces.

Okay.

That’s enough.

They stopped, turned around, and stalked back over to Agent Pol.

Now at their full height, they loomed over her, blocking the sun. Their shadow stretched long across her frame like bad omen.

They hoped there was fear in her eyes.

“Worse for who?” Cassio asked, low and foreboding, “Me? Or you?”

————————————————————

Super long log this time, but I had a lot to cover/set up for the future.

The AREPH isn’t done with Tov and Cassio yet, but Cassio isn’t going down without a fight.

Anyways, I love my big tall wife (gender neutral) and their ex-wife (not really) and whatever kind of segyein yuri they’ve got going on 😁

Shout out to @rockwgooglyeyes for coming up with “Cassiora” as a ship name for Cassio and Ra! So cute!!

Cirrus belongs to @cirrusoftheclouds.

Tagging: @chevalperd @apple8ees @lookatmysillies @neverforgetyou

[frankensteincest]

Cassio being given full reign over Iago to enforce judgment and torture. Iago who said he retains the right to keep his thoughts to himself because he is ‘not bound to that all slaves are free to’.

[lookatmysillies]

A Follow-Up to Tov’s Round 3 Log: Himei’s Perspective of the end of Round 3 to the end of Round 4

"Tov!" The scream was ripped from somewhere deep in Himei's chest, and still it couldn't be heard over the raucous roars of the crowd. The world seemed to rip apart at the seams around her. Contestants, viewers, guards, and guardians alike swirled around her like a raging storm. A group of gamblers in the back of the overlook were spitting in rage, crying out how the competition was rigged, it's rigged! He had it! Someone had thrown up at the sight of the gore on stage, and others around them pushed and crowded against each other to get away from the foul odor. An alien nearly trampled right over Tov's head in the crush, and Himei cried out in indignation and panic, dropping to her knees to try and shield Tov's unconscious form.

"Tov?" She shook her gently. Nothing. Cursing, Himei wrapped one arm around Tov's shoulders and hooked the other underneath her knees. If there was one good thing about Tov's genes in this situation, it was how light she was. And if there was one good thing about Himei's modeling career, she didn't lack in muscle mass.

Faintly, Himei could hear her company for the night, Guardian Iquia and Halo, calling for her in the frantic crowd. She didn't care to try and find them. She had more important things to do.

Cassio was difficult to find, but when Himei finally came across Tov's guardian, it was obvious Cassio had been tracking them down, too. Himei was briefly baffled by how Cassio knew where to look before Tov's metal wristband glinted under the light when Himei adjusted her in her arms.

Then she had an inkling.

"Help," Himei wheezed, arms trembling with exertion. Tov might've been light, but hauling her up and down several flights of stairs in search of Cassio was no easy task. "Help her. Get her out. Don't let her come to see the next round."

If anyone had overheard that, Himei probably would've been laid out into a similar state as Tov. Humans shouldn't order aliens around. Ever.

But if it bothered Cassio, she didn't say anything. The situation at hand was too urgent for that.

"Get..." she repeated as Cassio took Tov into her long, pale arms, a mimicry of a human's. "Get her out of here. Please get..."

"Thank you," Cassio interjected, calm but firm, "for your help. I will take it from here."

Cassio disappeared as fast as she'd come to stand before Himei, and Himei trailed after her uselessly. She tried to see them over the crowd, but she was too short and the crowd was too thick.

The last glimpse she caught of Tov were her limp feet dangling over Cassio's arm, adorned in black fit for a funeral.

Tallis was with her the night before her round, having snuck over. He peered at Himei from behind his uneven braids, deep green eyes round and observant.

"What?" she eventually asked. Red indents were pressed into her arms where they rested on the little kitchen island.

Tallis scratched his bare shoulder awkwardly, legs criss-crossing where he sat on Himei's (temporary) bed. "It's just been a hard day."

She smiled ruefully, though the bitterness wasn't directed at him. "Every day of this has been hard and it's only the beginning." A pause. "But I know what you mean. That was... hard to watch."

She said it like she was disturbed by it just the right amount. Not so disturbed that she'd come back to her quarters feeling ill, bursting into tears the second she closed the door behind her. When they were kids, she might've been more vulnerable with this sweet, honest boy she loved so much.

But they weren't kids anymore.

"He was my friend," Tallis murmured, his hands fidgeting in his lap. "I really thought he was going to win. I thought I'd get to talk to him again. Or... something. I don't know what I thought."

A sad laugh bubbled up in Himei's throat. "I liked him too. And Moran. Sweet Moran." She covered her sweaty forehead with her hand. "Everything feels so real all of a sudden. Before, I didn't... I just, I didn't... I didn't think."

Tallis nodded, mouth open in a slow inhale. "Neither did I." His eyes had a sort of shine to them now. "Now I might lose you in a day."

"Hey." Himei pushed herself off the counter and sat on the bed next to Tallis, bumping his arm with hers. "You're not going to lose me. Not now." She smiled. "Worry about your round, not mine." It was said in a joking tone, but she meant it. She did.

Tallis sank onto his side to rest his head on her lap, his face twisted in anxiety. "I think I'm gonna lose, Himei."

The very thought of it made her gut plummet like a stone. "No. Tal, of course not. You're more talented than I am, you won't lose. Don't even say that." She picked at the elastic in a loose braid and started to redo it to keep her shaking hands occupied.

Tallis was silent, which meant he disagreed but didn't want to tell her. He never even disagreed with her outright. Not once. Sometimes she wished he'd stand up for himself more with her.

Min was cold. Always cold.

Until the very moment she wasn't.

For a few minutes, just a few, Himei forgot where she was. The performance came alive beneath the flashing lights. Min, for the first time Himei had ever seen, came alive. Scathing looks and tense, sharp moves turned to bright, unpracticed grins and free steps and spins. Something about her suddenly seemed almost shy as she sang and danced her way right into hopeful, unfamiliar territory.

Min was alive for just a few minutes in her life.

Then the life left her eyes in a second, as if it had never been there in the first place.

Himei stood, stunned, her hands still gripping Min's. She let go in a panic when she tasted blood in her mouth, and she spluttered, barely registering the thunk of Min's body hitting the ground. She stood rooted to the spot. There was blood clumping her eyelashes. Droplets of blood had splattered onto her arms and hands. There was blood in her mouth.

She coughed and gasped, dark eyes stuck wide open. She barely registered the sounds of the crowd that seemed so deafening during every round she'd seen so far, or the click of a collar around her neck.

Being escorted back to the contestants' quarters was a blur of red-tinted vision and ringing ears. Only when the guards led her down the hall and towards the washrooms did she register something other than the taste of metal.

Tov stared at her with wide, shocked eyes. She was still wearing a patient's gown. She could have been aimlessly wandering with nothing to keep her mind off the round.

Himei made a choked sound and spit for what must have been the third time to try and get the taste out of her mouth. Red stained the spit that stuck to her lower lip.

"I won," she said blankly. The guards gave her a nudge into the washroom, and before they could close the door, she uttered once again, "I won."

The door shut behind her.

Round 4: Himei Win

Featuring Tov (@ivanttakethis) and following up Tov's log during Round 3, and Min (@starry-skiez)

[blogwetandwood-blog]

Cassio Kokubo

Nome: Cassio Jody Kokubo 

Cidade Natal: Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro - Brasil

Data Nascimento: 21/06/1977

Reside : Balneário Camboriú - Santa Catarina - Brasil

Profissão: Professor de Educação Física e Nutricionista

Me formei primeiro em Nutrição, e posteriormente em Ed. Física. A escolha da Educação Física tem muito a ver com o meu gosto por esportes. Desde pequeno, e com grande influência do meu pai (que foi um atleta de atletismo), fui ligado a esportes. Quando meu pai abriu uma loja no inicio dos 80´s na Barra da Tijuca - Rio de Janeiro, foi a primeira vez que eu pude ter contato diário com a praia. Aos 8 anos (1985) vi alguns meninos surfando com pranchas de isopor, ficando em pé, dropando as ondas. Foi o início de tudo. Dos 8 aos 12 anos, meu irmão Kleber e eu, passávamos o dia inteiro na praia, inicialmente dividindo uma mesma prancha que meu pai comprou usada para nós (uma fish twin de kneeboard. Alô Steve Lis!!). 

Após esses primeiros anos no surf, acabei parando de surfar por cerca de 23 anos. Aos 35 anos (2012) resolvi comprar uma pranchinha e voltar a surfar. Foi como uma volta à infância! Eu estava, de novo, fissurado em surfar! 

Um ano depois me mudei para Florianópolis, e em 2016 vim para Balneário Camboriú e tive o meu primeiro contato com o surf de longboard, graças à minha namorada Fernanda Ikert. 

Ainda lembro da sensação após aquela primeira onda surfada em um pranchão: queria mais! Queria um para mim! Desde então dividimos os nossos "logs" - uma comunhão de bens :D -, e muitas horas envoltos pelo oceano. Minha relação com o mar tem uma íntima ligação com o surf. Os momentos em que estive mais próximo do oceano, foram os momentos da minha vida em que o surf esteve presente. O hiato de 23 anos sem surf, me afastou um pouco do oceano. No entanto, sempre foi claro para mim que a presença do mar por perto é essencial para o que eu considero uma vida com qualidade. Seja para surfar, seja para um mergulho, seja para simplesmente olhar as ondas se espalharem na areia.Surfar é o que eu mais gosto de fazer, portanto, o oceano é o lugar em que eu mais quero estar.

[procurarcurso]

SÓ ASSISTA ESSE VÍDEO SE VOCÊ DESEJA TRABALHAR PELA INTERNET com computador celular e internet.

Acesse aqui para saber mais http://bit.ly/2oiuD9M

SÓ ASSISTA ESSE VÍDEO SE VOCÊ DESEJA TRABALHAR PELA INTERNET com computador celular e internet., trabalhar em casa, como ganhar dinheiro na internet, ganhar dinheiro, como trabalhar em casa, trabalho em casa, marketing digital, ganhar dinheiro na internet, ganhar dinheiro online, internet, celular, ecommerce, ganhar dinheiro em casa, como ganhar dinheiro em casa, como ganhar dinheiro, renda extra, fórmula negócio online, pelo celular, android, como ganhar dinheiro na internet pelo celular, ideias para trabalhar em casa, como ganhar dinheiro trabalhando em casa, trabalhos em casa, trabalho em casa pela internet, quero trabalhar em casa, formula negocio online, alex vargas, empreendedorismo, alex3718vargas, como ganhar dinheiro facil, como ganhar dinheiro rapido, como trabalhar pela internet, ganhar, como, tutorial, wifi, ecommerce na pratica, vender na internet, vender, ganhar dinheiro na net, como vender na internet, como vender online, pc, futebol ao vivo, futebol ao vivo no celular, futebol online, google play, 2019, teteu tutors, %teteu0132458132244tutors, tech, tecnologia, smartphone, smart tv, tv, televisão, conectar celular na tv, conectar celular na smart tv, conectar smartphone na tv por cabo usb, cabo usb, usb, conectar android na tv, conectar smartphone na tv, conectar na tv, dicas para smart tv, como ganhar dinheiro na internet pelo celular gratis, como ganhar dinheiro na internet pelo celular 2019, como ganhar dinheiro online pelo celular, como ganhar dinheiro pelo celular app, como ganhar dinheiro na internet usando o celular, cassio canali, negócio de 4 rendas, dropshipping nacional, sem estoque, ios, iphone, como ganhar dinheiro pelo celular android, n4r-c-18-ecom-100-drop-nac-dep, maicon rissi, joba, trabalhando em casa, dicas para trabalhar em casa, empregos para trabalhar em casa, romulosousa919841293*, wev2802, como espelhar o celular no pc, espelhar a tela do celular, como ver o celular no pc, como gravar a tela do celular, nucleo expert, afiliados, 08 ideias para trabalhar em casa pela internet, como trabalhar na internet e ganhar dinheiro, youtube money – curso youtube money funciona |youtube money vale a pena? youtube money weriques guga, youtube money funciona, youtube money weriques guga, youtube money curso, youtube money weriques, youtube money por dentro, youtube money guga, youtube money resultados, youtube money funciona mesmo, youtube money vale a pena, curso youtube money, curso youtube money funciona, curso youtube money funciona mesmo, curso youtube money weriques guga, curso youtube money vale a pena, trabalhar em casa pela internet, trabalhar em casas pela internet, afiliado hotmart passo a passo, afiliado hotmart iniciante, hotmart como funciona, hotmart como ganhar dinheiro, camila guimarães, 26skem{‘k@u0026’gao, trabalhar em casa pela internet no hotmart, trabalhar em casa pela internet 2019, 2bskpbdxjqj1is4ze4rp, marketing digital descomplicado, patricia angelo, como conseguir dinheiro, como ganhar dinheiro extra, ideias para ganhar dinheiro, o que fazer para ganhar dinheiro, trabalhar pela internet, trabalhar em home office, emprego, vagas de emprego, dinheiro em casa, blogueiro empreendedor, claudio oliveira, empreendedorismo digital, trabalho home based, trabalho remoto, encontrar trabalho, home agent, gol linhas aéreas, trabalho em home office, desemprego, ticket log, voran home based, profissões, locaweb, assistir tv no celular sem internet, tv quantum go, antena de celular, celular rodando tv sem internet, redmii pro rodando tv, como assistir tv sem internet, assistir tv com antena no celular, quer ganhar dinheiro pela internet, quero ganhar dinheiro pela internet, quero ganhar renda extra pela intenet, quero ganhar dinheiro online, fiquei sem crachá, luana fanco, eu.luanafranco, 0f59mwovdo2x, como postar vídeos no youtube do jeito certo, como postar vídeos, como postar vídeos no youtube, como publicar vídeos no youtube do jeito certo, como publicar vídeos, como publicar vídeos no youtube, como subir vídeos para o youtube, seo no youtube, como fazer seo no youtube, fazer vídeos no youtube, jeito certo, qual, passo a passo, dicas para afiliados, drivers, sem internet, sem conexão, cabo de rede desconectado, rede não identificada, como vender no mercado livre, vendas online, mercadolivre, vender no mercado livre, como começar no mercado livre, ualison do nascimento, como anunciar no mercado livre, comprar no mercado livre, qual nicho para começar, ualison, mercado livre, como vender no mercado livre 2018, como vender no mercadolivre passo a passo, como vender no mercado livre gratis, formula negócio online,

The post SÓ ASSISTA ESSE VÍDEO SE VOCÊ DESEJA TRABALHAR PELA INTERNET com computador celular e internet. appeared first on Cursos Online.

from WordPress http://www.buytravelhotel.com/so-assista-esse-video-se-voce-deseja-trabalhar-pela-internet-com-computador-celular-e-internet/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=so-assista-esse-video-se-voce-deseja-trabalhar-pela-internet-com-computador-celular-e-internet

[campaignsoftheworld]

Tramontina - Flavor of Songs, the first synesthetic algorithm - to turn music into flavor

Tramontina presents The Flavor of Songs: Spotify and JWT Brazil create the first synesthetic algorithm that transforms music into flavor What does music taste like? J. Walter Thompson Brazil and Spotify are exploring this question by launching a new campaign called the Flavor of Songs for Brazilian cookware brand Tramontina. The project is driven by an algorithm that can turn any song from the Spotify platform into a different recipe – and which is capable of generating 44 million possible gastronomic combinations. The concept is based on synesthesia, the phenomenon where the stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to a similar experience in a second sensory or cognitive pathway. One sense involuntarily influences the other. In this case, sound informs taste. The Flavor of Songs is the culmination of a six-month-long study, where Tramontina – one of Brazil’s leading brands of cooking utensils—Spotify and J. Walter Thompson Brazil brought together neuroscientist Dr. Marcelo Costa, Head of the Neuroscience Department at the University of São Paulo, conductor João Rocha from the University of Kentucky, and Renato Carioni, chef and coach of team Brazil in the Bocuse d'Or, to give flavor to songs and create a dish for each of them. With the aim of using innovation and pop culture to inspire people to cook more – showing that stainless steel is much more than just pots and pans. How does it work? The six-month process started with neuroscientist Dr. Marcelo Costa and conductor João Rocha. They used the principle of synesthesia to classify the millions of songs available in Spotify’s database. "If you consider a samba school with its various instruments, that really dense part in terms of sound, you can relate that to dense food," explains Rocha. Thus, Spotify’s parameters became ingredients; dance music was associated with temperature; energy as density/texture; positivity became bitterness/acidity, and musical notes became harmonization. Based on these parameters, Chef Renato Carioni classified all the main culinary ingredients by assigning notes to each one of them. "If a song is not at all positive, its taste is bitter," says Carioni. This entire database was put together and originated an artificial intelligence that has the same technology used in financial systems, to "match" Spotify's classification parameters and the different combinations of ingredients cataloged by Carioni. Thus, it was possible to come up with different dishes. Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, for example, became a Foie Gras Terrine with Salmon caviar and Cold Barley. "Our brief was from Tramontina was to appeal to a younger and more techy audience and get them excited by its stainless-steel line of products. We didn’t shy away from a technologically complex route, which has resulted in a project that appeals to all senses.” says Rodrigo Da Matta, ECD at J. Walter Thompson Brazil. The campaign is featured on Spotify, via display banners and audio spots, always with a simple message: if this song had a flavor, what would be? And via a website which gives not only the gastronomic match for each song but also the ingredients, the cookware and the entire recipe, divided into simple and clear steps, so that the user can cook it at home. All that users have to do is log in with their Spotify account, type the name of the song or artist they want to discover the flavor, choose the track and see the result. Credits Creative Agency: J. Walter Thompson, Brasil Client: Tramontina Title: Flavor of Songs CEO/CCO: Ricardo John ECD: Cassio Moron e Rodrigo Da Matta Copywriters: Rodrigo Da Matta, Kiko Borger, Heinz Boesing Art Directors: Gustavo Rates, João Mendes, Marcus Prado, Cristiano Schein Designers: Gustavo Rates, João Mendes, Marcus Prado Creative Technologist e Creative Data: Sergio Costa e Tom Corral Editing: Marcus Prado Motion: Marcus Prado Head of Production: Maisa Delgado RTV: Carolina Pivato Digital Producer: Sergio Costa e Tom Corral Photographer: Régis Fernandez Head of Client Services: Felipe Giacon Operations Director: Thiago Segundo Executive Director: Renata Dall Onder Account Management: Fabricio Soares, Ricardo Montezuma, Rochele Pahs Media: Giovana Venturelli, Maria Fernanda Galetti, Carolina Lopes, Ana Paula Rotta, Nathalia Silva, Luisa Maia Planning: Stella Pirani, Marcus Pesavento Client Approval: Darci Friebel, Rosane Fantinelli, Joice Patzlaff e Josiane Lamera Toazzi Technology Producer: Casion PR: Andrea Assef, Vivian Zeni, Livia Martins, Jessica Hartley Extra Credits: Chef Renato Carioni, Maestro João Carlos Rocha, Doutor Marcelo Fernandes da Costa TEASER Production: Landia Director: Aline Lata Executive Production: Carol Dantas, Sebastian Hall Assist Executive Production: Larissa Delfini Head of Production: Camilla Bastos Photography direction: Erico Toscano Production: Natalia Petrechen Editor: Wellington Post-production coordinators: Elton Bronzeli, Rafael Malavazzi Post-production/Finishing: Landia, M&A Color Grading: Marla Colour Grading AUDIO Production: A9 Audio Soundtrack: Apollo 9 e equipe A9 Account Management: Renata Schincariol e Guta Lima Tags: Latest Tech News, Best Innovative Campaigns, Innovative Technology ideas, Best Technology Campaigns Read the full article

[ivanttakethis]

Post Season 39 - Cassio’s Log

————————————————————

Cassio had been dodging calls and messages from Alien Stage production since they left the complex to go to the hospital with Tov.

It was a struggle to simply decline the calls and swipe away the messages rather than tell them all to fuck off, especially when Tov coded again in the emergency room.

But they were just delaying the inevitable.

Production wanted a meeting, and Cassio knew it would be about Tov.

The only thing they hadn’t anticipated was that members of the production team would commandeer a conference room in the hospital and mandate a meeting so late at night.

No matter.

Cassio didn’t need to prepare.

As they made their way to the conference room, Wren’s words about Tov echoed through their mind.

“All you can do is be there for her now.”

I plan to. They thought. That much I can promise.

Cassio pushed open the double doors and all eyes turned to them. Some they recognized well, others they’d only seen in passing.

Enok, the lead producer, sat at the head of the table, with three underlings flanking him on each side. Six in total.

A seven to one fight, if things got ugly.

He smiled at them with all three rows of his teeth, cheap and plastic. “Cassio, thank you for joining us on such short notice. Please have a seat.”

Enok’s insincerity was almost as potent as his cologne.

Cassio swallowed a gag.

The only open chair was at the other end, opposite him, forcing eye contact.

An intimidation tactic, no doubt.

“Good evening, Enok. Everyone.” They said with a nod, taking the seat without hesitation. “So, what is this meeting all about? The message you sent was marked as urgent.”

The six underlings looked to Enok, expectant.

He sighed and stippled his hands, “Well, there’s no easy way to say this, Cassio, but you need to pull the plug on that pet of yours.”

Cassio kept their face placidly neutral, tilting their head slightly to one side, “And why would I do that, exactly?”

“It damages the brand and reputation of Alien Stage as a competition.” He said. “There can only be one winner each season.”

One survivor, is what he meant.

“Tov didn’t win. Her medical emergency during Round 30 disqualified her.”

“Round 30 was over at the time of her… event.” Enok said, because he was too much of a coward to call it what it actually was.

“The round isn’t over until the loser is shot dead. That’s not what happened here.” Cassio countered. “Besides, it’s rather hard to pull the plug on someone breathing on their own.”

What they wouldn’t have given to take a picture of Enok’s beady eyes wide with surprise and confusion as his plan unraveled, “S-She’s awake? So soon?”

A drop of blood in the water.

Cassio grinned, canines flashing, almost predatory.

“Yes, Tov is still very much alive. Her prognosis is very positive. The only way to kill her now would be euthanasia, and that’d cause quite the controversy. Wouldn’t you agree?” They asked. “I’m sure the pet-human rights activists will take that kind of news well.”

And by “well”, Cassio meant they would firebomb anything and everything tangentially related to Alien Stage.

Truthfully, they couldn’t care either way.

Watching Tov grow more and more devastated with every loss over the course of Season 39 had radicalized them, for lack of a better word.

As much as they still loved their job as head costume designer, a new sense of resentment toward the machine behind it was metastasizing.

The condition was likely terminal.

Enok quickly composed himself, plastering on a smile that was somehow even faker than the last one.

“Oh, come on Cassio. Her recovery doesn’t have to make it to the news.” He said, his drawl slick like oil. “We can just say that your pet was checked out of the hospital so she could pass peacefully with you at your home.”

We? They almost laughed.

The fact that this cretin thought Cassio was going to do anything he suggested was hilarious.

“I’m afraid that won’t be happening.”

Enok’s face fell, as did the temperature in the room. “And why is that?”

Because fuck you, that’s why.

“I have big plans for my human.” Cassio said instead.

“Big plans?” He chucked humorlessly. “Your pet is a loser, regardless. And once Season 40 starts, she’ll fade into obscurity just like the rest of the losers did. She is of no value to you.”

No value? Cassio bit back a sneer.

Enok was practically begging for a fight.

But he wouldn’t get one.

Not yet, at least.

“As Tov’s sole guardian, I am the one who decides when she is no longer of value.” They said, as measured as they could manage. “And that day hasn’t come yet.”

They pushed away from the table and rose to their feet, “Now, if we’re done here, I have a comeback to plan for.”

Without waiting for a reply, Cassio pushed open the doors and strode out of the room.

Vultures and cowards, the lot of them.

I don’t need their support or approval for Tov to live.

Against all odds, she’s still here.

As long as she’s alive and fighting, I’ll fight for her too.

We’re not going anywhere.

And if Alien Stage wants to get in our way, then so be it.

————————————————————

“Cassio: That's right motherfuckers that's right you bitches my fucking competitor is still alive you cant defeat me the house of cassio and tov is impenetrable to the forces of the shifting tides

The Alien Stage PR team currently panic damage controlling in the wake of S39: shut the fuck up” — a summary by @lookatmysillies

Basically, Cassio has had enough.

It’s been building over the course of the season, but Alien Stage production telling them to kill Tov to protect the competition was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

They’re about to learn why you should never get between Cassio and their human.

The impenetrable House of Cassiopeia will not be taking this lightly lol

Tagging: @starry-skiez @rockwgooglyeyes @chevalperd @apple8ees (if you want to be tagged/removed from the tag list lmk!)

[ivanttakethis]

Before Round 7 - Cassio’s Log

Daiki (?) vs. Tallis (?) - ??? Win

————————————————————

The knock at the door came early the next morning.

Dawn had barely broken the horizon. The sky was a lovely shade of pewter and the brightest stars were still visible.

Cassio slipped on their silk robe and forced a gentle smile onto their lips as they opened the front door.

Two AREPH agents stood shoulder to shoulder, dressed in all black with their trademark silver badges.

The agents looked more like mercenaries than investigators.

They recognized the taller one on the right as the agent who interviewed Tov back in Anakt Garden following Solei’s disappearance.

“Oh, hello.” Cassio injected surprise into their tone, as if they hadn’t been expecting them for several hours.

If anything, they were late.

“Guardian Cassiopeia?” The unknown agent on the left asked. Although they spoke Aurusian, Cassio could immediately tell they were not.

They cringed internally at the use of their full name, but nodded. “Please, just Cassio is fine.”

The unknown agent nodded once in return. “Very well, Guardian Cassio. I’m Agent Irin, and I believe you’ve met my partner Agent Pol before.”

“Ah yes, from that interview back in Anakt Garden.” They looked to Agent Pol. “How can I help you?”

“We’d like to speak with Subject-020547—”

“Tov.” Cassio interrupted. They abhorred anyone calling Tov solely by her ID number. “Her name is Tov.”

Agent Pol looked shocked for a fraction of a second, before returning to her neutral expression. She tried again. “We would like to speak with Tov. Is she available?”

“She’s still sleeping. The events of last night’s round were very hard on her heart.” Cassio knit their brows together, an imitation of concern and confusion. “What is this all about?”

“The security breach at Alien Stage caused by Subject-030718, leading to the escape of Subject-028812.” Agent Pol said.

Of course.

“We understand that Subject— pardon me, Tov, was close to Subject-030718 prior to their disappearance from Anakt Garden. Given their reemergence, we hope Tov could answer a few questions for us.”

So you want to interrogate her?

Cassio’s smile tightens. “As I told you before, Agent Pol, Tov doesn’t know anything else beyond what she’s already shared.”

Agent Pol didn’t seem to like that answer. She pressed her lips into a thin line, “And you’re certain of this?”

“What are you implying?” They asked, eyes narrowed.

“If the AREPH finds out that your pet has been withholding information — about this attack on Alien Stage or Subject-030718’s escape from Anakt Garden — she will be imprisoned for aiding and abetting a terrorist.” She said. “And if it is revealed that you knew she was hiding something, you would face the same charges.”

Cassio scoffed. “I’ve worked for Alien Stage for years. If I thought for even a moment that my human was withholding information about an attack on the competition, I would’ve turned her in already.”

“So you hold no pet-human rights sympathies?”

These questions grated on Cassio’s nerves. They resisted pinching the bridge of their nose to ease the blooming headache. “No, I do not. I wouldn’t have bought Tov if I did.”

“A lot can change in 20 years.” Agent Pol said. Cassio did not appreciate her tone.

“Is this going somewhere, agent?” They asked tersely. “Because if not, I have to prepare for Round 7. Time is money in my industry.”

“Just a few more questions.” Agent Irin interjected. Cassio turned the full force of their glare on him.

He’d said so little in the conversation, they were beginning to wonder why he even came along at all.

“Get on with it then.” They said, their tone dangerously clipped.

“What does Tov’s day usually look like?” He asked.

“Most of the time she’s either with me at work or at home.” Cassio said.

“Does she go out alone often?”

“No.”

“Has she ever expressed a desire for more freedom than what she currently is allowed?”

“No.”

“Has she recently been in contact with anyone unknown to you?”

“No.”

“And where has Tov been during the Alien Stage rounds?”

“Round 1 and Round 2 she was at home, as was I. For Round 3, she accompanied me to the competition to get a feel for how the production of her round would play out.” They said. “Unfortunately, she suffered a cardiac event while there and I had to bring her home. She’s spent Round 4, 5, and 6 here while I was working the production.”

“Do you know for sure that Tov was home during Round 6?”

Cassio nodded. “I do. When the power was cut, the broadcast stopped as well. Tov called me from the house phone to make sure I was alright.”

“And final question, do you trust Tov?”

“Yes, absolutely.” Cassio looked to Agent Pol with a raised eyebrow. “Are we done here?”

Agent Pol visibly bristled. “We are.” She ground out. “Though I would suggest having your pet’s trustworthiness tested, just to be safe.”

Cassio smiled, flashing their sharp, canine-like teeth. “And I would suggest the AREPH focuses on finding the two contestants it let escape Alien Stage instead of harassing me and my human about its failures.” They said. “Have a good day.”

They shut the door before either agent could say anything else.

Come back with a warrant next time.

————————————————————

Oh ho ho, a bit of a twist this time! I wanted to write from Cassio’s POV at least once and this was the perfect chance to do it 😁

I’m currently working on a log from Tov’s POV as a follow up for this one.

She’ll be heading back to the competition for the first time since the end of Round 3!

The Agency for the Recovery of Escaped Pet Humans (AREPH) belongs to @lookatmysillies!

[frankensteincest]

I think there’s something in Iago (almost certainly) lying about Cassio coming onto him in his sleep as he dreams of Desdemona -> Iago and Cassio being the only ones left alive at the end of the play, especially with Desdemona’s body being cast in the typical necrophilic light, but idk what.

[ivanttakethis]

End of Round 30 - Tov’s Log

Cirrus (57) vs. Tov (43) -> Cirrus Win

————————————————————

Hope is not enough.

Love is not enough either.

Not even something as sacred as faith is enough to survive.

To be reborn.

Tov never wanted to win Alien Stage.

She just wanted to live for her loved ones.

Maybe that was why she was here now, at the end of Round 30, staring up at a 14 point loss.

57 - 43

She didn’t want the right thing.

Thinking she could love or hope or pray her way into winning was foolish.

And she would pay the ultimate price for it.

Tov didn’t believe in the Great Anakt, even as a child. She always hoped that when she died, she’d somehow be returned to the stars, rather than to the heavens that supposedly lay beyond them.

I suppose I’ll know soon enough…

She tried to clear her mind. To settle into something more peaceful.

But it was hard with so many things crowding her thoughts, vying for the last of her conscious attention.

Nyx’s smile.

Dian’s teasing.

Tallis’s eyes.

Solei’s light.

Aurien’s steadiness.

Wren’s laugh.

Cassio’s last words to her.

“No matter what happens tonight, I’m proud of you, Tov.”

It was hard not to think of everyone she loved.

Everyone she would leave behind.

She couldn’t change anything now though.

Her fate had been decided.

All she could do was embrace the end and wait for the silence.

Tov steadied herself, took a deep breath, and looked up at the stars.

She wanted them to be the last thing she saw. Before whatever came next.

Tears pricked at the backs of her eyes.

Her heart wedged itself in her throat.

Is this how you felt, Himei?

When you were up on stage and saw the final scores and knew you were about to die?

What were you thinking about as you took your last breath?

What did you see when you looked up at the sky?

Did the stars show you something?

Tov hoped that wherever she was going, she would still be able see them.

If she could, then maybe everything would be okay.

Her eyes landed on a constellation.

The slightly misshapen star.

The one Himei named after her.

Please…

She prayed.

Let this be a swift and painless death.

I don’t want to suffer anymore.

This is my last request.

It all came to an end so quickly.

The bright and blinding death of a star.

A loud crack like a lighting strike.

A searing pain carved its way up her right side.

Tov’s world tilted on its axis.

And then.

Nothing.

“Tov?” A familiar voice called through the fog.

Something nudged at her side.

“Tov? Hey, wake up.”

It — a hand, she thought distantly — nudged her again, harder and more persistent this time.

Tov grunted at the unwanted contact, already missing the deep sleep she’d been abruptly awoken from.

Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings.

I’m… back in Anakt Garden?

Tov blinked away the bleariness clouding her vision and looked up.

A canopy of broad, green leaves stretched out above her, branches swaying gently in the wind.

Sunlight danced across the grass in pinpricks, like stars in the night sky.

Eden. She thought.

I’m under Eden Tree.

The realization felt comforting, in a way.

Eden was safe. Nostalgic.

An encapsulation of her childhood.

But how did I get here?

“There you are.” The same familiar voice teased, much closer now than before.

“You’ve been out for a while. Did you sleep well?” Himei asked.

Tov opened her mouth to respond, before clamping it shut with an audible click.

Wait—

Her heart skipped a beat. Maybe two.

She definitely wasn’t breathing anymore.

Slowly, she lifted her head from where it had been resting on a shoulder and her gaze met a pair of dark brown eyes and long lashes that she’d only ever see again in her dreams.

“Himei?”

Himei smiled at her, “Of course. Who else would it be?”

A deep ache took root in the soft tissue between Tov’s ribs.

Her voice trembled in its wake, “H-How… how are you…” How are you here? How are you alive? How is this happening? “…feeling?” She settled on.

Himei tilted her head slightly to the side — a question all on its own — and a few short curls of her hair fell in her face.

Brief memories of Round 24 flashed before Tov’s eyes.

Her new haircut.

Her struggle to survive against Cirrus.

Her desperate smile right before it was all over.

Himei is dead.

But if I’m here with her, that means I’m dead too.

Right?

The mere thought was paralyzing.

She died on live broadcast, in front of thousands if not millions, including the people she loved.

They would suffer in the aftermath of her death just as she had suffered for the ones lost before her.

She was just another trauma to them now.

“I’m fine.” Himei said, oblivious to Tov’s unfolding spiral.

Tov’s eyes snapped back to hers, stunned to silence.

Himei’s gaze held no deceit, only the kindness Tov knew better than the back of her hand and missed more than anything.

Something in her core cracked.

Fine.

Himei was feeling fine.

Himei was feeling fine.

And Tov…

Tov wanted to scream.

Tov wanted to scream and cry and laugh until she made herself sick.

She wanted to rip at all of her seams.

She wanted tear something apart with her teeth.

But she didn’t do any of that.

In the face of her best friend, her first love, happy and alive and safe—

Tov crumbled.

Her resolve broke into a watery mess.

She was tired.

So, so tired.

She just wanted to be held.

She just wanted to rest.

Tov closed her eyes again and leaned against Himei’s shoulder.

Her throat constricted as she pressed closer to her warmth.

The ache in her chest worsened.

“I missed you.” She said, holding back tears that threatened to choke her.

Himei hummed at the admission, warm like the Sun. “I know,” Her hand gently smoothed down Tov’s braids and she sank into the feeling. “I missed you too.”

“But it’s time to wake up now.”

————————————————————

It’s not fucking over yet!!! TRUST!!!

Tov may not have won the season, but I’ve had some ideas for her beyond Season 39 for a while now.

Her loss just forced me to get my ass in gear and make those plans a reality!

I also need a Tovallis reunion, so Tov can’t go anywhere yet 😁

Everything will become a bit more clear in the next log. Stay tuned!!

Himei and Tallis belong to @lookatmysillies.

Nyx and Dian belong to @rockwgooglyeyes.

Solei belongs to @solei-eclipse.

Aurien belongs to @aurienneirua.

Cirrus belongs to @cirrusoftheclouds.

Tagging: @billwasnot @sotogalmo @junebluues @4listr @geospiral @starry-skiez @tsukacchako @pwippy @waterydream @daiki1k @season39

[ivanttakethis]

End of Round 24 - Tov’s Log

Cirrus (61) vs. Himei (38) -> Cirrus Win

Follow up to Round 24 - Himei’s POV by @lookatmysillies.

————————————————————

Tov knew she was in a hospital before she even opened her eyes.

The strong smell of antiseptic.

The pinch of an IV needle in her arm.

The steady tone of the heart monitor beeping faster than normal, even with her barely conscious.

A thick fog filled Tov’s mind and muddled her thoughts.

She could feel someone’s presence at her side, a warm arm pressed against her leg.

Slowly, she forced her eyes open, squinting at the bright, white lights that greeted her.

Through her hazy vision, she could make out the familiar furnishings of a standard hospital room.

But when she looked down, it wasn’t Cassio resting at her bedside.

It was—

“Wren?”

Tov’s voice was weak and rough from lack of use; her throat dry from whatever sedative anchored her limbs to the bed.

But Wren still stirred at the rasp of her name, grey eyes fluttering open as she lifted her head from her folded arms.

“Oh, you’re awake. How are you feeling?” She asked around a yawn hidden behind her pink mask.

A flurry of questions crowded to the front of Tov’s mouth, writhing and desperate to be answered. She forced them back with a thick swallow and asked the first thing that came to mind.

“What are you doing here?” Her tone came out accusatory, but Wren didn’t seem to notice or care.

“I was leaving the hospital when some medics brought you in from the contestant dorms.” She said.

Tov frowned, “Brought me in? For what?”

“Well, uh,” Wren averted her eyes for a moment, before looking back at her.

The nervousness in her expression was clear, even with the mask covering half of her face. “Your heartbeat spiked too high and you passed out. A guard found you unconscious in your room.” She said. “The doctor said you suffered a minor cardiac event.”

The bottom of Tov’s stomach gave way.

“A heart attack?” She asked faintly.

“Something like that, yeah.” Wren’s voice sounded far away. “Cassio went to speak with them a few minutes ago.”

Tov closed her eyes and leaned back, letting the bed support her. As the fog in her head lifted, static rushed to take its place.

A heart attack?

I’m only 24. Aren’t I still too young for one of those?

Even with my condition, I’m still healthy. Well, as healthy as I can be…

“You’ve been under a lot of stress since the season started. It could’ve put more strain on your heart.” Wren said.

Tov didn’t respond.

She didn’t know what else to say.

Her head was still a mess.

Wren’s next question lanced right through her skull, “Do you remember what happened last night?”

Round 24.

A song that sounded too much like a goodbye.

Dark eyes gazing heavenward.

The echo of a single gunshot.

61 - 38

Tov could barely breathe.

“Himei’s gone…” She said, her voice broken into as many pieces as her heart.

Her eyes stung fiercely as she tried to hold back a sob.

The heavy weight of grief pressed down on her chest, threatening to cave in her rib cage and splinter the bones.

Tov’s whole body began to shake.

“Himei’s gone, and so is Tallis…” The tears came quicker, blurring her vision and shaking her already fragile voice, “And Azure and Moran and Stasya and Flor—” And Minori and Lark and Noora…

And on and on it went.

“They’re all gone and I can’t— I can’t—”

I can’t get them back.

I can never get any of them back.

And it’s so lonely without them here that it kills me.

She tried to dry her cheeks, but it was all in vain. The sobbing just got worse.

Somewhere inside of her, a dam had broken irreparably.

It was like reliving each and every death all at once.

All of the stars she’d named were gathered in her hands, burning through skin and muscle and nerve.

She couldn’t hold Himei’s too.

A hand reached out to rub her shoulder in comfort.

Wren…

Tov didn’t want to look at her.

She was afraid of the pity she’d find reflected back.

“I’m sorry about Himei, Tov.” Wren said quietly, “I know she meant a lot to you.”

A humorless laugh caught in her throat.

If that wasn’t an understatement.

Tov loved Himei.

She was in love with her.

She kissed her.

And now she was gone.

Dead.

It was just like Tallis all over again.

She’d kissed him too.

She told him she loved him too.

And he died on the same stage Himei did.

Tov had cursed them both.

She’d cursed everyone she believed in, really. Her blind faith had left a trail of bodies in its wake.

She was a black widow.

A harbinger of death.

Not a star, but a black hole, unraveling everything that got too close.

How am I supposed to keep going?

How do I stop this from hurting so much?

How am I supposed to look at the stars without apologizing for everything I’ve done?

Tov’s bones ached.

Deep in the marrow, the stardust she shared with Himei had been hollowed out.

Why do I feel like I’m dying?

“Tov…” Wren murmured.

“Stop. Please.” Tov sighed, resting her hand in her hands.

Wren’s hand dropped from her shoulder.

Silence filled the room, pressing into every nook and cranny.

Tov thought Wren was going to get up and leave.

She didn’t.

Instead, she leaned forward to rest her head on her folded arms again and waited.

Tov could feel her stare burning a hole in the side of her face, but she said nothing more.

Once the tear tracks began to dry and the sobs slowed to sniffles, Tov spoke again.

“I don’t want to do this anymore.” She croaked.

Any fight left in her had drained away a long time ago.

All she wanted was for this nightmare to be over.

“So what, you’re just going to give up then?” Wren asked.

There was an edge in her voice that raised Tov’s hackles immediately.

It was pointed, almost mocking.

Her eyes snapped up to Wren’s with a start. The warmth that had been there when they first met was gone. A sharp, steely glint had taken its place.

The air around them seemed to chill.

“I beg your pardon?”

Wren’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly, “I asked if you were giving up.”

“…I don’t know.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“I said I don’t know!” Tov snapped.

“Would Himei have wanted you to give up?” Wren asked.

Something hot like rage flared to life under Tov’s nerve endings.

“Fuck you.”

“It’s a simple question.” Wren shrugged, far too even and composed for Tov’s liking. “And it’s one Alien Stage will force you to answer.”

She grit her teeth, “Leave Himei out of this.”

“But she’s at the heart of it, isn’t she?” Wren asked.

Tov huffed and looked away, unable to argue.

Wren took her lack of response as confirmation. “This competition is win or die, Tov. Do you want to die?”

“No.” That much she knew for sure.

“Then win.”

Tov rolled her eyes, “You make it sound so simple.”

“It won’t be hard for you.” Wren’s voice softened back into what Tov had grown used to hearing.

“You could win this whole thing if you wanted to.” She said. “But you have to want it.”

Tov looked back at Wren, “How?”

“Think of all the people you’ve lost. Who is going to remember them if you die?” Wren asked. “Not the audience. Not production. For most, not even their owners.”

Tov knew she was right.

To the aliens, humans were disposable. Interchangeable. Easily forgotten and quickly replaced.

History would only remember whoever won the season.

The rest were nothing more than a pound of flesh for sacrifice.

Wren looked Tov in the eye then; her gaze strong and steady. “Do it for them. Do it for all of the stars you named in their honor.” She said. “As long as you’re alive, you carry their memories with you and they live on too.”

A lump welled up in Tov’s throat. Her eyes burned anew, but she was all out of tears. “But I… I don’t know if I can be “the Star” anymore.”

“Then become something brighter.” She could tell Wren was smiling by the change in her voice.

“The Sun is a star too.”

————————————————————

This was by far the hardest log for me to write. Himei was Tov’s first friend ever.

Without her, Tov probably wouldn’t have opened up to and formed relationships with everyone else she came to care for.

Now Himei is gone and Tov has yet another person to grieve. It’s even harder this time because Himei is the reason why Tov started naming constellations in the first place.

She’s definitely at her lowest point right now. Hopefully Wren’s… unconventional methods helped a bit.

It did give me a chance to callback to the graduation message Tov wrote Azure ( @azureitri ) (aka the original curse victim).

Anyways, sorry this is so late! I wanted to take my time writing because Himei is so vital to understanding Tov. I really loved her as a character too 🥲

Rest in peace, Himei. Or go fight Daiki ( @daiki1k ) in hell, idk.

Congratulations @lookatmysillies, you have broken both my heart and Tov’s heart yet again.

[ivanttakethis]

End of Round 6 - Tov’s Log

Vermillion vs. Aurien - ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR

————————————————————

Solei had been the sun to Aurien’s moon for as long as Tov could remember.

Their light illuminated every fiber of Aurien’s being. She shined because they shined.

But after Solei disappeared, after Aurien’s daylight gave way to endless night, she let the darkness swallow her whole too.

She was never quite the same.

Even the way she sang was different.

It was haunting.

To the audience, it probably sounded beautiful.

But Tov knew the ghost behind Aurien’s voice was real.

Vermillion sounded haunted too, though in a slightly different way.

His ever present charm had melted away, raw emotion flooding his voice as he sang.

Tov knew right away that this round would be close. Aurien would have to give everything and then some to avoid a repeat of Round 3.

She couldn’t watch another friend die.

She couldn’t.

But Vermillion was Aurien’s friend too, right? Tov didn’t know if Aurien would ever betray a friend in the way that was necessary to win.

She ground her teeth.

The song finished, and the scoreboard totaled the points.

Vermillion 54. Aurien 46.

Her heart thudded once, hard enough to bruise. She stopped breathing altogether.

The moon would crash to the planet’s surface, and the tide would rise wild to meet it.

Tov thought of Solei. For the first time since they disappeared, she hoped they were dead.

If only so Aurien could reunite with them sooner.

“Vermillion Win” was projected in big letters on the scoreboard.

Then the screen went black.

“What the—”

A gun fired.

An emergency alarm started blaring.

Then the audio cut out too.

No! Aurien!

Something fast and sharp shot through Tov’s system, seizing her still weakened heart in its brutal grasp.

It wasn’t adrenaline, she knew that chemical reaction well.

No, this was something different. This was something worse.

Cassio, her mind screamed, I need to call Cassio now.

Tov fumbled for the phone and punched in her guardian’s number with a bit more force than necessary.

She held her breath as the line rang.

As soon as Cassio picked, Tov was assaulted by the panicked cacophony in the background.

Aliens were screaming, guards were shouting orders that fell of deaf ears, and that damn alarm was still wailing too loud to think.

“Tov?”

“Cassio.” Tov never thought she’d be relieved to hear their voice. “The broadcast lost the video feed and then there was a gunshot. Is everything alright?”

“Alright” definitely wasn’t the right word to describe the lead up to Aurien’s execution, but she couldn’t think of anything else.

“Everything’s gone to shit.” They hissed. “Someone cut the power to the whole complex and triggered the emergency alarms. There’s a stampede of aliens trying to get out of here and I’m currently stuck in the middle of it. We’re all trying to get to the backstage tunnels now.”

Tov’s mind was spinning. Was there an attack on Alien Stage? If so, what — or who — were they after? The judges? The audience? The contestants?

Himei and Tallis were still there.

What if something happened to them?

What if something already had?

She would have no idea until the lights came back on and someone sorted through the carnage.

Tov’s medical band beeped.

“This place is swarming with AREPH agents.” Cassio muttered, yanking Tov out of her spiraling thoughts.

AREPH. The Agency for the Recovery of Escaped Pet Humans.

Tov remembered a few AREPH agents showing up at Anakt Garden the morning after Solei disappeared.

The agent who interviewed her wore a silver badge with the agency’s seal. She could still recall what it looked like; how it gleamed when it caught the light.

Tov frowned.

Why would AREPH agents be there?

“Oh fuck—” Cassio’s voice shook.

“What? What is it Cassio?”

Their tone turned grave, “Tov, I need you to listen to me very carefully. I’m only going to say this once, and then I’m going to hang up.”

“What’s going on—”

“JUST LISTEN TO ME TOV!!”

Tov recoiled from the receiver. Cassio had never so much as raised their voice at her before. Her medical band beeped again.

They took a deep breath to compose themselves, then spoke in a very deliberate and deathly even voice, “Lock the doors. Turn off all of the lights in the house. Draw the blinds.” They instructed. “Don’t make any noise. Don’t pick up the phone. And don’t answer the door for anyone. Stay put until I get back.”

Tov finally had a name for the emotion that had a vice grip on her heart.

Fear.

She’d felt it so infrequently in her life that it was hard to identify amidst the chaos. But she felt it now.

Strong. Overwhelming. Terrifying.

A chill ran down her spine. Ice surged through her veins. She couldn’t move.

“Why?” Tov could barely get the words out. “Why do I have to do all of this?”

Cassio took pity on her.

“It’s about Solei. They’re here.”

And the line went dead.

————————————————————

Round 6, amirite?? <- (is definitely failing to cope)

Shit got real this round. Lots of chaos. Lots of blood. Lots of thoughts and feelings. Honestly I’m still processing most of it.

It’s a good thing Tov stayed home for this round too because the ensuing panic probably would’ve given her a heart attack (not joking btw).

If you’re wondering how Cassio knew it was Solei at the competition, they passed by a monitor backstage that had the emergency message from this post flashing on it and recognized Solei’s ID number.

They tell Tov to act like she’s not home because AREPH agents could come looking for her since she is thought to be withholding information about Solei’s Anakt Garden escape.

Aurien belongs to @aurienneirua and Solei belongs to @solei-eclipse.

Himei, Tallis, and the Agency for the Recovery of Escaped Pet Humans (AREPH) belong to @lookatmysillies!

[ivanttakethis]

Post Season 39 - Tov’s Log

————————————————————

Tov was not a morning person.

Wren, however, was a morning person.

As evidenced by the fact that she came back to Tov’s hospital room as soon as visitation opened the next day.

She’d barely given Tov twelve hours to process everything, let alone sleep.

“Rise and shine, Stargazer!” Wren chirped as she entered the room.

Tov groaned.

“Not much of an early riser?”

“It has to be nighttime to see the stars, so no.” She said flatly.

Wren chuckled, “You really haven’t changed much at all. You and Prem were always night owls, even back then.”

She threw open the curtains without so much as a warning, flooding the room with the rich yellow sunlight of the early morning.

Tov shielded her eyes, pulling the thin sheets over her head. “Could you not?”

“Nope!” Wren’s tone is far too cheery for her liking. “Cassio said they wanted you up early today. Not sure why, but I was already coming by, so it was no big deal to drop in early.”

Great, Cassio is up to something.

Tov couldn’t complain, she needed to talk to them about the deal she made with Dian sooner rather than later.

As of now, they were fake dating.

Though they still needed to figure out how to announce their “relationship” to the public… and to Nyx.

Tov had no idea how he’d take it.

Hopefully not too poorly, considering Dian was very much gay and very much in love with him.

Pathetically so, Tov had said once.

She hoped Tallis would react to the news similarly. Even if he didn’t have the context that she and Dian’s relationship was explicitly fake.

Tov emerged from her cocoon under the sheets, “Did Cassio say what time they were coming?”

“Nothing specific, just ‘in the morning’.” Wren said, making an air quote gesture.

She pulled up a chair right next to Tov’s bedside and tugged gently at one of her braids, “In the meantime, we can take these diamonds out of your hair. I’m sure they’re worth quite a bit of money.”

Oh, that’s right.

Tov’s hair was still done up from her Round 30 performance.

That felt like so long ago, even though it hadn’t been a full day yet.

Her life could now be split into two halves: Before Alien Stage and After Alien Stage.

She didn’t think she would ever see the after part.

But while the competition was over for her, it was just getting started for Wren.

Soon, all of her classmates would run the same gauntlet as Tov’s did, and only a few would come out alive.

Wren knew about the people Tov had loved and lost to Alien Stage, but she didn’t know anything about those close to Wren, aside from Elias and Prem.

How do I even start this conversation?

“Do you have friends?” She asked, before immediately regretting her choice of words.

Wren barked out a laugh, bright and joyous. She didn’t seem to mind Tov shoving her foot in her mouth. “I do! I have lots of friends, actually.”

Tov grabbed one of her braids and busied herself with detangling the small diamond woven within it, “Tell me about them.” She said.

“Hmmm, where to start… Oh! Cindy.” She can hear the smile in Wren’s voice. “Cindy was very, very sweet. She always made an effort to talk to everyone in our class. One time, she made everyone flower crowns from flowers out in the Garden. I still have mine somewhere; dried, of course.”

Was? Tov’s mind catches on the tense. Did something happen to Cindy? Did she die?

Wren didn’t elaborate, already on to the next person.

“Then there’s Toki. He’s a really good dancer. He can be pretty… intense sometimes, but we’re cool. As long as you’re chill, he’s chill too.” She said. “And he’s really into this guy named Innamorati — Inna for short — who’s very outgoing and big into theatre. We get along well for the most part, but he can also be kind of a bitch sometimes. I guess he’s more of a frenemy than a straight up friend.”

Tov chuckled to herself. That dynamic sounded a bit like her and Dian.

“Aster was kind of crazy when we were kids, but in a silly way. Tons of fun to be around.” Wren’s hands never stopped moving, even as she continued to speak at length. “Even though they’re much more calm and mellow nowadays, I still like spending time with them. They’re also blind, so if we hang out it’s usually just talking.”

“Sometimes the best connections are mostly hanging out and talking.” Tov said, thinking about her relationship with Nyx.

They spent a lot of time in each other’s company just talking. And he was one of the closest people to her.

“They’re close with this guy named Clove. He’s very vibrant, like the Sun. It draws you in so easily.”

Sounds like Solei.

Always smiling.

A light to others.

You can’t help but gravitate toward it.

Is Clove hiding parts of himself like they did?

“Zhuli is with Aster most of the time, kind of like a guide, though he doesn’t talk much. Kinda shy. He says I have a sisterly vibe, and I think he has a brotherly one.” Wren hummed, setting five diamonds on the side table. “Oh, Zhuli isn’t competing in the season, by the way. He’s actually going to be an announcer with another classmate of ours, Faisal.”

“Faisal?” Tov repeated.

Why does that name sound familiar?

“Yeah, yeah, his sister was that girl from your season. Flor.”

Tov’s heart ached.

Now she remembered.

Flor once mentioned that she had a brother named Faisal.

Maybe one day I could meet him.

But what would I even say?

“Sorry about your sister. She was like a sister to me too, but I never got the chance to tell her that.”

No. Absolutely not.

“Fai can be prickly, and distant. But he’s just got a lot of walls up. I’m wearing him down though.” She chuckled.

The pain in Tov’s chest eased a bit.

Just like you wore me down.

“And Yumi, of course! She’s about your height and is just the cutest thing ever.” Wren cooed, like she wasn’t the same height as her. “I think her and Cindy may have been separated at birth. They’re both sweethearts who love flowers. Yumi is actually the one who taught me how to preserve the flower crown Cindy made, plus the rose she gave me for my birthday one year. She’s also really good at acting.”

It sounded like Wren had the same sisterly fondness for Yumi that Tov had for Flor.

Tov could only hope things wouldn’t end as tragically.

Wren’s tone changed to something more affectionate, and she sighed wistfully, “Then there’s Naz.”

Just by the way Wren said the name, Tov knew Naz was different from the other friends mentioned before.

It sounded a little familiar too.

Tov couldn’t place it.

“Naz is like a firecracker. Like a rocket in a bottle.” Wren said. “She’s so passionate and expressive with her emotions that when you look into her eyes, it’s like watching a supernova.”

Ah.

Wren is in love with that girl.

Tov knew without a shadow of a doubt.

Even if Naz didn’t.

Even if Wren didn’t.

It reminded her too much of her and Himei to be completely platonic.

“And Asuka. I met him through Naz.” Her inflection changes slightly, and it catches Tov’s attention. “He’s… complicated, or at least comes across that way sometimes. But I know he’s been through a lot, so I don’t judge on that. He can be easygoing most of the time and I think he understands me a bit more than some of the others.”

Maybe Asuka wasn’t complicated. But rather, Wren felt complicated about him.

That would explain her change in tone.

She was conflicted.

Tov could relate.

When she first started to realize Tallis saw her and understood her in a way that made her feel vulnerable, she was uneasy about it.

Having someone understand you, maybe even better than you understand yourself, and coming to terms with that can be complicated.

It’s even worse when you love them too.

Tov had seen this story play out before.

She’d lived it.

Tallis was to Tov what Asuka was to Wren. She was sure of that.

Please, be kinder to them than you were to me.

There was a brief knock at the door before Cassio swept into the room with a shrewd smile, “Good morning ladies.”

“Good morning.”

“Morning!”

“Apologies for running a little late, I had some last minute things to finish up in preparation for the press conference.” They said, gracefully settling down on the small sofa.

“What press conference?” Tov asked.

Cassio practically beamed at the question, “The press conference announcing your recovery, Star Child. It’s the start of your media campaign.”

“What media campaign?” Tov felt like she was stuck repeating everything.

“You are a rare breed, Tov. I don’t know of any previous Alien Stage contestants who’ve survived like you did.” They said. “This is a chance to show the public and the competition that contestants still have value even if they don’t win.”

“So I’m a test case?”

Cassio nodded, “For lack of a better term, yes.”

“I see…” Tov frowned, thinking it over.

If we can show Alien Stage that losers are still valuable, does that mean the killings will stop?

Can I help bring about a time where no human will ever have to go through everything I did?

It was hard to say.

They were in completely uncharted waters now.

But Tov knew she had to try.

If she was going to live, she couldn’t do it passively. She couldn’t sit back and do nothing.

Her health was too fragile to escape and join up with Nyx and the other rebels. It would only hinder their plans to liberate more pet humans, adding another liability they didn’t need.

But this media campaign, this “test case” Cassio had planned, she could do that.

Even if she could only alter public perception fractionally, that was still something. It was still a step forward.

Then maybe, one day, someone much stronger than her — but just as hurt and heartbroken — would take the final step in burning Alien Stage to the fucking ground.

Tov met Cassio’s gaze, determined. “I’ll do it.”

“So cool!” Wren gushed from behind her, “I’ll help out in any way I can.”

It couldn’t hurt. She thought.

“What’s the plan?”

Her guardian looked pleased with themselves. “First, is the press conference. But you don’t need to worry about that as I’ll be the one speaking.” They said. “Then we’ll set you up for some interviews, do a magazine spread or two, attend a few private events, you and Wren can reveal you’re twins to get some additional buzz and sympathy, and we’ll finish with a surprise.”

She narrowed her eyes, “Why do I get the feeling that you’re not going to tell me what the surprise is?”

“Because I won’t be.” They said.

I should’ve seen this coming.

Cassio and Wren were more alike than she wanted them to be, which was not at all.

Tov let it go for now, only because she had her own agenda to add to the mix.

“I have one condition,” She said. “We have to announce that I’m dating Dian.”

“What?”

“What?!”

Wren’s shout was too close to Tov’s ear.

Cassio simply gaped at her.

“Dian? As in model Dian? As in Dian who you said was in love with Nyx? That Dian?”

“It’s a fake relationship.” Tov explained, “Guardian Teneb is trying to pair him off with someone for networking purposes, so I agreed to help him to avoid that.”

Cassio scoffed, “Of course! I should’ve known Teneb had a hand in this.”

“Uh…” Wren started.

“Industry rivals. Bad blood. I’m surprised they haven’t tried to kill each other yet.” Tov said.

“Ah, got it.”

“The relationship benefits us both.” She continued. “He gets Teneb off his back and I can improve my value by dating a high profile public figure.”

Tov wasn’t going to tell Cassio or Wren about Nyx and Tallis yet. Maybe she never would.

“Plus you guys have done a bunch of modeling shoots together and you’re already friends!” Wren added. “Your dynamic will come across as more organic to the media and your fans.”

If I even still have fans.

She didn’t say that thought aloud.

“Hm, I suppose that could be helpful in getting more eyes on you.” Cassio said, mulling the idea over. “As long as I’m not forced to converse with Teneb any more than absolutely necessary, I’ll incorporate Dian into the plan.”

“Then it’s settled. I’ll tell him to come to the hospital.”

“We can turn this into paparazzi moment; the two of you walking out of the hospital together when you’re released.” Wren said. “It might even get you on a broadcast.”

A broadcast, huh?

Maybe Tallis would see it.

Tov turned to face her sister, “How do we make that happen?”

Wren grinned, eyes gleaming, “Tell him to bring a bouquet of Easter lilies.”

————————————————————

Easter lilies represent rebirth, hope, and new beginnings btw 😁

TovDian is an in-universe ship and an in-universe ship ONLY!! He’s gay and Tov is engaged (Tallis just doesn’t know it yet)

Also, Tov spotting the Wren, Naz, Asuka polycule in the making is funny to me.

She’s caught on to the Himeitovallis vibes from those three lmao

Tallis, Himei, and Naz belong to @lookatmysillies.

Dian, Nyx, Yumi, Faisal, and Asuka belong to @imperfectnothing.

Cindy belongs to @tsukacchako.

Toki and Clove belong to @zerostyrant.

Inna belongs to @alien-til-i-stage.

Flor belongs to @sotogalmo.

Zhuli and Aster belong to @apriciticreveries.

[ivanttakethis]

Before Round 30 - Tov’s Log

Cirrus (?) vs. Tov (?) -> ??? Win

————————————————————

Tov scrapped all of the outfit designs she and Cassio spent weeks drafting.

The production staging was scrapped as well.

None of it felt right anymore.

She needed to start over.

Tov couldn't be the Sun like she wanted.

If you cut her open, she'd bleed the night sky and all her stars.

Constellations were her birthright, etched in her eyes and veins and bones.

Her heart belonged to them just as much as it belonged to Himei.

It always would.

She couldn’t run from the truth forever.

The last two rounds had shown her that.

So she would be a star.

Not the “Star of Season 39.”

No.

The North Star.

A beacon in the night, burning bright enough to be seen from both heaven and earth.

Himei would be able to see her too.

———

Elias and Prem escorted Tov through the complex to the dressing rooms.

This time, she’d been assigned Tallis’s old dressing room on the right.

She took it as a good omen.

“Good luck.” Elias whispered, patting her on the shoulder.

“Knock ‘em dead out there!” Prem said.

Tov nodded a thank you to both of them as the door shut.

The room was furnished sparsely; only a pair of sitting chairs, a large vanity, and built-in cabinetry filled the space.

Rather than the usual fluorescent lighting in the complex, warm tinted lamps lit up the room; much easier on her sensitive eyes.

There was a letter sitting on the vanity, accompanied by a bouquet of orchids wrapped in white parchment paper.

Her name was written across the envelope in sweeping script.

She didn’t recognize the handwriting.

Inside, it read:

“Good luck, Stargazer. We will meet at the End of Round 30.”

Words of encouragement from her benefactor. It sounded like they planned to finally show themselves.

Yet another reason to keep going.

She tucked the letter back in the envelope and turned to the clothing bag with her outfit hanging on one of the cabinet door handles.

Tov's new dress was strapless, all black, and form fitting, with a slit cut up one side to her thigh.

Cassio made her a custom pair of black velvet gloves to match.

No jewelry.

Light makeup.

Only eyeliner to draw attention to the stars in her irises.

She traded in her signature silver hair clips for small diamonds woven into her braids, a meteor shower frozen in time.

Simple, but elegant.

Strip everything else back. Let her voice be “The Star” of the show.

If grief is what the audience wanted then they would get it, mourning in black and all.

A moonless night.

A single star.

She slipped on one of her gloves, keeping Wren’s good luck ring hidden underneath.

Tov hadn’t spoken to her since she came over the other day. They hadn’t left off on the best of terms.

Once this was over, she knew she needed to apologize.

Please, let me live long enough to apologize.

A knock at her dressing room door pulled Tov from her thoughts.

“One sec!” She called out.

————————————————————

Intermission

————————————————————

Dian was the last person Tov expected to see. But in truth, he was probably the person she needed to see the most.

Where Wren was blunt, Dian was sharp.

He knew how to cut through the scar tissue to get to the heart of what troubled her, even if it drew blood in the process.

Tov gave as good as she got. Every action had an equal and opposite reaction.

It was the foundation of their somewhat antagonistic relationship. Though they were adamantly nothing less than close friends.

They kept each other in check, called out any bullshit the other thought they could get away with.

And sometimes, they told each other not what they wanted, but what they needed to hear.

Their conversation this time had been no different.

For all of the losses Tov suffered during Row 1, losing Tallis was the worst.

After all, she’d just realized she was in love with him.

Of course it was going to hurt.

Of course it was going to be traumatic.

But like Dian told her, just because he was still alive didn’t erase the pain of his loss in the first place.

Nor did it make up for the fact that Himei was gone now too.

Grief could not be patched over.

The heart was not one for logic or reason.

From the look in Dian’s eyes she could tell Nyx had the same devastating impact on him as Tallis did for her.

He could understand.

Maybe that’s what she needed out of all of this.

Someone to listen and understand.

Tov promised him that they would talk more about it if she won.

She hoped she could keep that promise.

———

Some small part of Tov knew the season would end this way.

Her and Cirrus facing off in the finals.

She knew during the second interview she gave.

She knew after they beat Azure in Round 1.

She knew as soon as the Season 39 brackets were announced.

It was a complicated feeling, really.

After all, Cirrus was the reason Azure and Himei were both dead.

But Tov couldn’t blame them, no more than someone could blame her for the deaths of Minori and Akane.

The truth was, they were all dead the moment they stepped out on stage.

Each round of the competition was just a matter of deciding who was more worthy of revival in the eyes of the audience.

Tov didn’t know why she was thinking this all over now, on the brink of a swan song that would end in her destruction or resurrection.

But Cassio arrived to put that train of thought to rest.

They smiled as they looked her over, palms pressed together in prayer against their mouth.

She could feel the emotion bubbling up and out from them. It was… nice.

“Ah, my Star Child. You look beautiful.” Cassio said.

Their wistful tone pulled at Tov’s heart strings, just a bit.

She managed a small smile, “Thank you, Cassio.”

“Three minutes ‘til showtime!” A crew member shouted.

“Alright, let’s get you set up.” Cassio said, leading Tov towards the side of the stage by her shoulders.

It was dark beyond the curtains again, just like in Round 10.

Cassio wanted her to look at the stars.

“One last check.” They said, turning her to face them.

Tov stood still as Cassio made sure nothing was out of place.

Once satisfied, they squeezed her upper arms and spoke in a rare, gentle tone.

“No matter what happens tonight, I’m proud of you, Tov.”

Tov blinked in surprise.

Cassio was… proud of her?

Have they ever said that before?

She couldn’t remember.

A warm, fuzzy feeling wholly foreign to her bloomed in her chest.

She looked up to find the milky whites of Cassio’s eyes glassy, as if they were on the verge of tears.

When was the last time Cassio cried?

Can Aurusians even cry?

Tov didn’t have time to dwell on it any longer as her guardian nudged her closer to the edge of the curtains.

She paused, just for a moment to breathe, before stepping out onto the stage.

Tov didn’t allow herself to look up until she reached her stage marker. Only then did she give the night sky her full attention.

It was a new moon.

The stars hanging overhead seemed to burn brighter in the absence of its steady glow.

Tov never failed to be amazed by the sight, even after all these years.

From the North Star, her gaze tracked eastward, until Himei’s spider lily constellation filled her field of view.

A strange sense of calm washed over her at the sight.

If she focused long enough, she could almost see Himei’s face in those stars.

Mei.

Are you up there?

Are you watching?

This is for you.

This is how I grieve.

A single spotlight shone down on her from above.

As the instrumental built up to her opening notes, Tov drew her hands up the microphone stand — caressing it like one might touch a lover — and leaned in to sing.

“This is the end. Hold your breath and count to ten…”

————————————————————

Remember how I said a while ago that Tov mothered before Ivan did? Yeah, she Black Sorrow-ed before he did too.

The all black fit, the caressing of the mic, the outstretched hand for a love you can never have. He learned it from her 🙂↕️

And the song Tov’s singing is Skyfall by Adele, which is a great fit thematically.

Tov knows she has to bring the house down to win the final round. This song showcases her vocal abilities, but also gives her the chance to pour all of her emotions into the lyrics. She’s singing for Himei, one last time.

Dian belongs to @rockwgooglyeyes.

Himei and Tallis belong to @lookatmysillies.

Cirrus belongs to @cirrusoftheclouds.

[ivanttakethis]

Wren’s Log - Entry 1.0

————————————————————

Wren was surprised Tov had taken everything so well.

The twin sibling reveal.

The pseudo-sibling reveal.

The “surprise-you’re-a-year-younger-than-you-thought” reveal.

Even Tov’s reaction to the shock ring was tamer than the call for security and restraining order Wren was expecting.

Granted, she was still recovering from a heart attack and heavily medicated. It could take a few days for her to fully process through all of what she, Elias, and Prem had shared.

Maybe Wren would get the restraining order in the mail, or maybe Tov would follow through on her threat to wring her by her neck.

Naz is gonna get a kick out of that.

As soon as she and the boys left Tov’s hospital room for the night, Elias took Wren aside as Prem led the way down the hall.

“I didn’t want to alarm Tov, but I found something on the stage.” He said in a low voice. When Tov was shocked, goes unsaid.

“Oh?” Wren couldn’t resist the chance to mess with him. “You’re speaking to me so soon. I was sure I’d get the silent treatment for being ‘out of my fucking mind’.” She said.

Elias leveled her with a withering look that fell flat on its face, “I’m still mad at you for that. It was a batshit insane idea and if I knew about it, I would’ve stopped you.”

“Which is why I didn’t tell you. Besides, it’s not like you had a better idea.”

“Not the point.” He said.

She took that as a concession, “Yeah, yeah. What did you find?”

“The bullet.”

Wren stumbled mid-stride.

A shot was actually fired?

The crack she’d heard over the broadcast, right before she sent the electric shock through the ring, had been pinging around in her head since Tov collapsed.

That must’ve been the shot.

The shooter just missed.

“What kind of bullet?” She asked.

“Not any kind that guards would have easy access to.” Elias said. “This bullet had a paralytic tranquilizing agent inside of it. Whoever planned to shoot Tov wasn’t trying to kill her, they just wanted it to look like they did.”

So someone else wants Tov alive? How interesting.

“Any thoughts on who could be behind this?”

He shook his head, “Not yet. But if I had to guess, it’s someone who can afford to pay off a guard.”

Or a guard themselves…

Wren kept this thought to herself.

They rounded a corner toward the elevators, passing by floor to ceiling glass windows looking out onto the bustling city street below.

Even deep into the night, the buildings were still brightly illuminated and cars clogged the roads.

“Could it be Tov’s guardian, Cassio?” She asked.

“You know them better than I do,” Elias said, shrugging. “What do you think?”

It wasn’t a secret that Cassio was extremely wealthy. Their fashion house Cassiopeia was a well-regarded luxury brand these days.

And Wren knew Cassio cared a lot about Tov, more than enough to orchestrate her “death” to keep her alive.

The amount of money to bribe a guard would’ve been pocket change to them.

But still, Wren wouldn’t say she knew them “better”. More exposure, maybe.

As the group came upon the elevators, Wren glanced through a glass door leading out to a balcony.

A tall, pale blue figure stood alone out at the railing.

Cassio.

Speak their name and they appear.

“I’m gonna go find out.” Wren said, nodding toward the door. “Don’t wait up on me.”

Elias followed her line of sight, “I see. Be careful.”

She smiled and clapped him on the shoulder, “I’m always careful.”

They both knew Wren was joking.

———

“Evening, Guardian Cassio.” Wren greeted as she approached the balcony railing.

Cassio tucked their phone back in their pocket and nodded to her, “Good evening, Wren.”

Curt, but polite.

Not many words.

I see where Tov gets it from.

“Tov woke up not too long ago.” She said.

“I know,” Cassio said. “I suppose I have you to thank for that.”

Wren frowned, “How so?”

“The heart attack was too well timed to be a natural occurrence.”

Ah, well.

There was no reason to deny it now.

It wasn’t like Wren was ashamed of what she did either.

The only person who had to live with the morality of her decisions was herself. She would sleep just fine.

“Guilty as charged.” She said with a shrug.

Cassio hummed, “I can’t really blame you. If Tov were my sister, I probably would’ve done the same thing.”

Only now did Wren realize she wasn’t wearing her mask or her contacts.

She chuckled to herself, “Also guilty.”

“When were you going to tell her?” They asked.

“I wanted to tell her when the Season 39 contestants came to Anakt Garden, after Round 12.” She said. “But then I saw her face… when that Flor girl died… I could tell she cared for her a lot. She didn’t need anything more to worry about on top of that.” Wren shook her head, “And every time after that was an even worse moment to bring it up.”

Round 17? Wrong.

Round 24? Wrong.

Round 26? Wrong.

Round 29? Wrong.

Wrong wrong wrong.

It was all wrong.

“I should thank you, truly.” They said, drawing Wren out of her thoughts. “You’ve given me the chance to make things right with Tov… eventually.”

She glanced over at them, eyebrows furrowed. Their gaze was still fixed on the cityscape ahead.

There was a somberness laced in their tone of voice.

“I don’t get it. Aren’t you going to see her soon?”

Cassio sighed, long and suffering, “How am I supposed to face her? After everything I’ve put her through? She lost so much and it’s all my fault.” They said. “If I hadn’t enrolled her in Anakt Garden, none of this would’ve happened.”

That’s true… but…

Wren turned to look out at the city too, thinking.

If she could go back in time and reject the Anakt Garden scholarship, would she do it?

Most of her classmates would probably say yes, but Wren hesitated.

Without Anakt, she never would’ve been placed in Ra’s care. She never would’ve met Cindy, or Toki, or even Inna. She never would’ve fallen for Naz either.

If Wren hadn’t gone to Anakt Garden, she wouldn’t have become Wren.

And she quite liked herself and her life, even if it wasn’t always pretty or easy.

Only Tov could answer if that was true for herself.

But if those stars in the sky named after her friends held as much meaning to Tov as she said they did, Wren already knew what her answer would be.

“Did Tov tell you that?” She asked.

Cassio blinked at her, “What? No, she hasn’t.”

“Then ask her.” Wren said. “She might surprise you.”

“I hope you’re right. I don’t want to fail her any more than I already have.” They said. “When Tov was younger I… wasn’t there when she needed me, and I regret it every day. I don’t know where to even start trying to make it up to her.”

“You can’t change the past. All you can do is be there for her now.”

“Is that enough?”

Wren could only shrug, “It has to be.”

We don’t have any other choice.

“You’re off to a good start.” She said instead.

Before Cassio could respond, the shrill ring of their phone cut through the low din of the night and startled them both.

Their lips briefly curled into a snarl as they read the caller ID.

“You’ll have to excuse me, I’m being summoned by Alien Stage producers for an ‘emergency meeting’.”

It’s definitely about Tov. She thought, nodding.

“Good luck. I’ll come back some time tomorrow to see Tov again.”

Cassio smiled, genuine, before turning to leave.

“Oh, by the way,” They started, stopping themselves short and looking back at her, “I wanted to ask how you did it. How did you trigger Tov’s heart attack?”

Wren held up her right hand — with the good luck charm now on her ring finger — and pointed to it, “Electric shock.”

They chuckled in surprise, looking mildly impressed. “That was better than my idea. I just made Tov’s dress out of bullet resistant fabric, requested they shoot her center mass, and hoped for the best.”

Oh.

Oh shit.

Wren forced herself to smile as she waved them off, waiting until they returned back inside the hospital before letting it drop.

Cassio didn’t bribe anyone to shoot Tov with that paralyzing bullet.

If they weren’t behind the bullet, then that meant someone else was involved.

An unknown third party.

But who were they?

And what did they want with her sister?

————————————————————

Huh… I wonder who else wants Tov alive? (I say, knowing full well who it is)

Anyways, I’m finally doing Season 40 stuff! Tov will still have her logs, but I’ll also be doing some for Wren too.

Next up is a log from Cassio’s point of view. That emergency meeting for Alien Stage should be interesting 👀

Naz belongs to @lookatmysillies.

Cindy belongs to @tsukacchako.

Toki belongs to @zerostyrant.

Inna belongs to @alien-til-i-stage.

Tagging: @starry-skiez @rockwgooglyeyes @chevalperd @apple8ees

[ivanttakethis]

End of Round 29 - Tov’s Log

Tov (50) vs. Jae (49) -> Tov Win

————————————————————

Tov only saw the final scores for a fraction of second before the lights cut out.

50 - 49

She won.

Barely.

Again.

Emergency sirens blared to life.

The crowd, consumed by the darkness, began to panic.

Two guards rushed the stage, barreling past Tov and snatching Jae up by both his arms.

One of her heels snagged in a groove on the stage and she stumbled back, but someone caught her before she could fall and a gloved hand took hold of her arm.

She flinched at the unwanted contact, trying to pull away.

“Tov, we need to go. Now.”

Familiarity prickled at the back of Tov’s mind. She stopped struggling.

As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could make out a medic patch faintly glowing on the guard’s sleeve.

Elias?

She bit her tongue to keep from saying his name aloud, drawing blood.

Another guard took Tov’s other arm and quickly led her off stage. They were shorter than Elias, with a smaller build.

The slope of their shoulders was a dead giveaway.

Prem.

“What’s going on?” She shouted over the ensuing chaos.

“Not sure yet, but we need to secure your safety first.” Prem said, cutting through the throngs of frightened backstage staff.

He ushered her and Elias to a door that led into a stairwell. The same stairwell Tov had used to get to Himei and Tallis before their rounds.

How long ago was that?

She shook free of her thoughts, forcing herself to stay in the present as they exited the stairwell into the tunnels.

It was quieter underground, the wailing of the sirens above them muffled by the thick layers of concrete.

After a few turns left and right, the number of aliens the trio passed grew fewer and fewer, until they turned onto an empty hallway that deadened.

Prem stopped and looked over his shoulder behind them before locking the set of doors they just came through.

“Okay, I think we’re far enough away now.” He exhaled like he’d been holding his breath. “Find any new info, Eli?”

Tov turned to Elias, who was tapping away at a device with a small screen attached to his left sleeve.

“The alarms going off are meant for intruders, but I don’t see any alerts about security breaches.” Elias said, removing his helmet. “Something’s off about this whole thing. I don’t like it.”

“Whatever it is, we should be safe here.”

Prem pulled off his helmet in turn and shook his curly hair loose.

It was Tov’s first time seeing what he looked like.

He was a bit paler than her and Elias, dark hair and dark eyes, with a scar running from the bottom of his right eye to his chin. It looked old and somewhat faded, likely from his childhood.

Based on his youthful appearance, she guessed he was closer in age to Nyx than he was to her.

Prem noticed Tov’s assessment of him and flushed at the tips of his ears, “Oh, yeah, I guess we haven’t really met before.” He let out an awkward chuckle before extending a hand to her. “I’m Prem, Elias’s junior.”

“Nice to meet you, officially.” She said, shaking his outstretched hand in the formal manner Cassio taught her. “I assume you also know my benefactor?”

“Yep! Not as well as Eli, since I’m younger, but I know them all the same. I offered to help out with delivering the messages.”

If Prem also knows this person, they’d have to be rather young, right? Maybe around my age?

But how would they know Alien Stage guard medics?

Are they a medic too? Or perhaps another guard?

“Shit.” Elias hissed.

Both Prem and Tov turned to face him as he furiously tapped the screen, his expression pinched.

“What’s wrong?” Prem asked, a slight edge in his voice.

“Subject-010625 escaped.”

Tov inhaled sharply.

Jae escaped?

“What?!” Prem’s voice pitched upwards. “How?”

“The announcement said he was taken by two rogue guards.” Elias said.

“Those must’ve been the guards that rushed the stage.” Tov said. “I thought they were taking him someplace safe like you two did.”

Prem groaned, running his hands down his face. “I thought so too.”

“It’s being reported that the guards are highly violent. They think it’s the same pair that took Subject-010420 after Round 11.”

Evon?

The room started to spin.

Tov stumbled over to a wall to brace herself.

“Evon is still alive?” She asked faintly. “She escaped too?”

There was a pressure building in her chest.

Something wanted out.

Elias nodded. “Yes, we believe that’s the case.”

A loud bark of laughter punched its way out of Tov’s diaphragm and echoed off the concrete walls, startling the two guards and herself.

Before she could open her mouth to explain or express concern, a stream of thready, hysterical giggles bubbled up from her chest and strangled the words halfway up her throat.

Tov laughed until her sides hurt, until she couldn’t breathe, until tears blurred her vision and the laughing became crying.

She sunk to the floor on weak knees, doubled over from the emotional overstimulation.

Relief. Joy. Envy. Anger. Grief. Sadness.

All caught in a swirling storm racking her blood and bones.

Tov expected questions.

What’s wrong? Are you alright? How can we help?

She didn’t have any answers.

I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.

But the questions never came.

Instead, strong but gentle hands guided her to rest her back against the wall.

Elias sat down next to her on her left and Prem sat down on her right.

Neither said anything as she struggled to pull herself together.

The sirens continued to blare in the distance.

Tov felt wrung out.

Her head was too heavy to hold up on her own, so she leaned over to let it rest on Elias’s shoulder.

He didn’t seem to mind.

Prem handed her a tissue from his side pocket kit.

She wiped her nose as best she could.

A few more moments passed in silence before Tov spoke.

“What now?” She asked, her voice thick.

“Now, we wait.” Elias said. “It’ll all be over before you know it.”

As Tov closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, she couldn’t help but think he meant more than just the lockdown.

————————————————————

Tov won and Jae escaped!! Everything should be good now, right?

… Right?

Well, Tov has some complicated feelings about it. She’s relieved Jae escaped and that Evon is alive because she really doesn’t want anyone else to die.

But part of her is almost envious that they were saved when so many others weren’t, including some of the people Tov was closest to (Himei, Moran, Flor, etc.). She’s also angry that any of them had to be in this position to die like this in the first place.

At least Elias and Prem were there to comfort her. I think Tov would’ve spiraled even worse if they didn’t stay with her. I lobe my boys 🥹

Jae and Evon belong to @kofeedoggo.

Nyx belongs to @rockwgooglyeyes.