#From the same thing as that robot I posted a while ago as well as Marcel and others. you might know him or not lol

[frascospecimen]

Btw I think people on this website might enjoy my funny computer. Lol

[nekovmancer]

Hello, I was wondering if you could make zenyatta and ramattra with Cyborg!Reader like genji, but their body glows if they have too much energy.

overwatch headcanons: cyborg!reader with Ramattra and Zenyatta

warnings: mentions of violence, trauma and such, a bit platonic and… ye, pretty much fine, nothing graphic

a/n: my love for Zen is 100% dear and platonic yet- well, you guys know. RAMATTRA!!! 

will do them separately in the present game timeline and then together back in the monastery and… it’s past midnight here, my eyelids are heavy, but there’s no sleep in between me and writing fanfiction so, sowy for the mistakes ahead, I will correct them tomorrow!! anxiety kept me awake and obligated me to post as soon as I’ve finished, you know

btw!! thanks for requesting. I love to write it and I hope you also enjoy. (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)

OPEN FOR HEADCANON REQUESTS! Send yours here, but read rules first

Ramattra

A Ravager was responsible for your body’s destruction, so it’s only natural you’re shaking on its presence

Back when it happened, omnics were still under Anubis’ control, so it’s not like you blame him or any other R-7000 for their doings

Still, you got these chills running down your spine now that you stand face to face to Null Sector’s infamous leader

But the thrill is even stronger when he proves all your believes to be wrong, being to one to extend a helping hand to prevent your body to overheat

As Genji, your parts were substituted with cybernetics: flesh, muscle and metal bounding into one thing to keep your alive

Though, you weren’t lucky to be shaped by doctor Ziegler’s careful hands, which lead to several problems, including the overheating itself, caused by your frenetic running while trying to escape Toronto during the Invasion

Ramattra saw you and couldn’t help but be… fascinated 

You were not an omnic, so his helmets were useless, still you’re shaped in metal, no sight of skin showing. A human, without humanity’s resemblance 

He caught your heartbeats, their rhythm more and more violent, growing exponentially as the glow from your cybernetics, a flashing red of warning

He’s so intrigued he founds himself kneeling in front of you, one hand reaching out while you press your back to the wall behind you; no way to run out of this

“Hush now. If I was to hurt you, why the ceremony?” 

His words had logic, true, but fear was devouring you

The last time you were this close to a Ravager was the last time you still had much of your organic body parts

“I may be of help, if you let me” 

What choice did you have anyway? If he didn’t kill you, your body would do the job alone 

 Ramattra escorts you to safety, and ironically it means the very ships vomiting killing robots a while ago

You stay in his workshop as it takes little time for him to figure out how to cool down your body, and the glow is long gone by the time he’s done

“Not an omnic, yet not fully human…  where do you find a place for one as yourself in this doomed world?”

Here’s the thing: you don’t

That’s why you accept his offer to stay, despite all of your fears

In the end, the hands who once destroyed you were the same who saved you from death

Zenyatta

Omnics and humans coexisting peacefully was a metaphor to your own state: both human and machine sharing the same body, trying to not repel one another

A heart of flesh habitating a chest of metal, you tiptoed the lines between the two worlds, but you didn’t felt as part of any of them

Still, you find solace in the words of a monk by the name of Mondatta. He spoke of hope and understandment, of peace above the conflict. Without even knowing, he brought balance to your turmoil; past and present

But hope was a dangerous thing for the ones like you, if there was anyone else sharing the burden of a dreadful existence as yours

And you’re quick out of reasons since Mondatta’s death

You weren’t welcome among the omnics, and humans saw you as a freak. Any chance of normality was eradicated 

As a last act of faith, you did Aurora’s peregrination to Shambali. You didn’t know what to expect, but surely the villagers near the monastery left a very bad impression

Along with the exhaustion, you entered the sacred halls with your cybernetics glowing red, a flash of the eminent chaos that would erupt if you’re not stabilized quickly enough

A monk comes to your aid, and by staring at his faceplate alone you can feel something different stirring within you. A long lost calmness tossing your circuits errors aside

You wouldn’t forget his name not even in a million lifetimes: Zenyatta, the one who offered you a place to rest after your journey, and the very first to be interest in you

His genuine interest, plus the care, was touching. No one ever did anything similar to you, not after Talon decided you could still be a soldier even without most of your body

Which led to you running away, not soon enough to prevent Doctor O'Deorain  from damaging your body though. Another monster carefully constructed to be Talon’s pawn, no matter how much pain came from it

But you’ve already paid the price for your mistakes, and one thing is for sure: you’re no monster

Among the monks, you could feel that familiar peaceful feeling lingering under your skin, resonating through the circuits of your cybernetics

For once, you did not felt cast aside, most thankful to Tekhartha Zenyatta

His harmony orbs helped to regain a balance you thought to be long lost, and not only: the chaos within you, something you tried to ignore, was embraced as it should be also cherished 

“No living being is completely pure, nor completely evil. We’re both our strengths and flaws: to deny one existence in detriment of other is to deny yourself.”

Even the worst of you was forgiven; by him first, and you last. Where you felt shame for your wrongdoings, Zenyatta pathed a lesson that erased your doubts

Through meditation, you found not only peace with your inner self, but with the world surrounding you

The balance of energy through your body presented you with a new glowing: not the crimson red of tiredness and rage, but a warm yellow that irradiates warm as a small sun; the energy of the Iris found you

“My dear friend, I bathe in the light of your soul. May it keep us sheltered during the dark times ahead of us.”

Ramattra & Zenyatta

When the brothers found you, they first thought you were an omnic

Judging by the people screaming around you, tossing stones, displaying the worst of their violence and, of course, the fact your whole constitution was pure metal

It’s only when they take you to the monastery that they knowledge the other side of your face, the one that’s still flesh 

No questions were asked, but none of them are naive. Being a cyborg meant something, and this something tiptoed around the lines of violence

And despite it all, cyborgs are quite rare. Especially ones glowing as you did, with your joints pulsating with energy

It was easy to distinguish your humor by the light radiating from your body: usually soft, it could be oversaturated when your humor reached peaks, transiting through a rainbow of colors depending on what you had in your mind

At first, a light tone of red flashed whenever they approached. Despite being your saviors, you still felt a bit of distrustfulness towards them

Humans saw you as an aberration, and you did not have too much time with sentient omnics to put their behavior to test. Not that you felt inclined to do so. To deal with humanity’s rejection was enough

Zenyatta was patient, but Ramattra… no metal in this world could undo the fact you were a human. And he also had his share with humanity to know how incredible terrible they can be 

That’s why, maybe, it’s easy for you to approach him 

Ramattra resented humanity, despite his best efforts to find harmony through his want for peace and his desire for revenge. Not that you had the guts to do anything but lament over your own dismay, but… you could relate

Zenyatta, on the other hand, touched your deepest cravings for being a better person, standing above those who abused you. You did not wished for violence, despite your rage: to be comprehended was your key 

And both of them did it, in their own way

Through your days in Shambali, you felt part of their brotherhood. Not exactly as such, but… cherished. Each of them bonded with you in their own unique way, understanding your pains, your dreams, your wants. Piece by piece, the three of you found a way together

Now, whenever you meditate with Ramattra, concentrating the energy flow in your body, a glowing purple flashed through your cybernetics. But with Zenyatta, a deep golden color showed itself

And that’s why you could never choose. Your love for them was measured equally: if cut in half, one part would still be of Ramattra, and the other would belong to Zenyatta

So when Ramattra leaves from Shambali, and both you and Zenyatta decline his offer to follow his path off the Monastery, there’s no way from you in the opposites side, but through the middle-term

You still dream of the day you three will meet again. For the good or for the bad, you missed them for a lifetime, and to be separated brings up this feeling all over again

Now, whenever you concentrate your energy, it’s grayish: devoid of color, deepness and light

[0mysteiarchives]

“One day, we'll have a place to call home.” Firefly x GN!Reader

"If we ever get out of this alive, we'll be together, right?" a/n: might post this on ao3! just because :3 enjoy!! <3

this fic contains: platonic or romantic firefly!! , reader stays gender neutral for this , mostly based off firefly's trailer with a few tweaks ^_^

"The battle is over."

The forest went in flames, smoke could be seen in the air with flags mounted into the ground all ragged.

"Command, this is AR-26710, please respond."

"I don't think they'll respond" You replied despite not being the respondent. "I tried contacting them a while back but no response."

"What should we do? We're the only survivors around."  A robotic voice rang behind you, another mech pushing off a rock as they took a glance at the two of you.

You stay silent for a while, figuring out what to do while all comms are currently offline. It's not often all soldiers get a moment of fresh air like this.

However, in a quick moment, you had an idea.

"No matter what, we have to get in touch with the others-"  They watch as you transform out of your mech, confused. "Huh?"

"If that's the case.." You bring your arms behind your back. "It'll be faster this way, right?"

"Hey, you-" As they spoke up, another had also done the same thing as you.

"I understand." The young girl in front of you stares into the pond water. "Article 4 of Glammoth's Military Regulations: Leaving the cockpit is strictly prohibited."

This way, we'll be discovered very quickly! Even though we'll be punished.." You let out a sheepish laugh, scratching your cheek in embarrassment.

"That can't be helped." She turns to you with a warm smile.

Fireflies danced around the two of you, as you both watched them dance around the dark night, illuminating the sky. It felt relaxing to see scenery that are not brought to ruin by the ongoing war.

"How many times is this for you now?"

"Hm?"

You snap out of a trance, turning to her with a confused expression.

"Leaving the cockpit like this.." She stretches her arm out, a firefly landing on her finger as she stares at it with fascination. Soon it flies away.

"Well-" Before you could answer, the ground shakes slightly with metal clanks are heard behind you.

A trail of fire came from behind a mech with red accents as they spoke in a deep voice. "Article 2 of Glammoth's Military Regulations: Remain on guard." They cross their arms and continue, "Article 4: Leaving the cockpit is strictly prohibited."

A long, disappointed sigh is heard, "Do you have a death wish?"

"A Fyrefly Type-V escort model..very nice." You comment with a soft sigh in return, as the third member of your team also leaves their cockpit.

"Hah, you're the odd one out now." The woman lets out a playful scoff as you let out a giggle.

"You can't connect to command either.." You trail off before giving an offer. "Why don't you..join us?"

"No thanks." Their answer was quick. "I'll just pretend I didn't see anything."

You only let out a sigh at your failed attempt, as the young girl beside you places her hand on your shoulder in reassurance.

.

.

.

You pull out the trinket you found earlier, inspecting it in silence as the girl from a while ago spoke up.

"What's this?" She points to the camera you currently held, staring at it with curiosity as you give her a smile.

"I picked it up on the battlefield.." You bring it up to your eye, staring into the lenses. "It seems to be a civilian device.."

"Even if it's no longer working, and the lens is scratched.." you zoom into the clear water. "If you look through the lens, it feels like looking into a whole different world!"

"Lens? No wonder you wear those weird goggles." You hear another speak as you pan the camera towards her, capturing her within frame.

You let out an embarrassed laugh "I have other reasons too!" Holding onto the rim of the goggles around your neck, you give a soft smile "If everyone looked the same, how would we tell each other apart?"

You soon move the camera to the young girl labelled "26710" on her neck. "Your hair is also very unique!"

It seems you've caught her off guard, a small blush forms on her cheeks and turns to you.

"Thank you, I've been growing it out.." She flashes you a warm smile, to which you reciprocate.

"The length is also proof of your experience!" You add as she lets out a hum and turns to the side, showing the length of her hair.

"But sometimes it gets in my eyes..i'm not sure if I should put it up.."

"I think you should keep it down! I think you look prettier that way." You immediately respond to her question, both of you stare at each other and erupt into gentle fits of laughter. Soon the three of you all laugh.

Finally you pan the camera towards the only one still in the cockpit, you could only see them stare at the lens.

"Your turn! Are you really not going to say anything?" You urge them to, at the very least, say something. It seems to work as they put their arms down to their side.

However the moment is interrupted by a noise. Everyone seems to notice that.

"Comms are back up." You bring your hand up to your earpiece, the lines are indeed back up and the order flashes in front of you on a digital screen.

"Article 8: Surviving knights should immediately return to their units."

"The moment was so short, but it felt so long." Your 3rd member transforms back into their mech, as you prepare to do the same. Yet at the very edge of your eye you catch the girl rip off the fabric from the ragged flag. She uses the water as a mirror and tries to tie it around a lock of her hair, to which you felt obliged to help.

You move closer and gently grab the fabric from her hand, tying it into a small ribbon.

"Looks nice. It really suits you."

She stares at you with her mouth agape, before letting out a content hum whilst you give her another smile. It seems you two had been staring at each other for a while as your 'leader' let out a cough, snapping both of you out of your trances.

The other already blasts far off before the rising sunset, to which the both of you take a moment to relish the sweet scenery before taking off as well.

"One day." Your thoughts fill the silence within the silent sky.

"When the war ends, we'll all have a place to call home."

-

might make a part 2 of this in a few days ngl

anywys this might be a bit different from how i write bc it's been so long and i got caught up with pgr and wuwa :sob:

as for requests it might take a biit longer than expected, especially after JUST recovering from a writing block :P

however other than that i'll see yall eventually when i proofread this when i wake up cus im tired asf ^_^ (will link to pt2 when i finish it :3)

[fiddler-on-the-starship]

Spoilers for Transformers One.

On the one hand, I do think Orion was right when he said "rebuilding Iacon cannot begin with an execution" (they'd just thoroughly trounced Sentinel in every way, he wasn't a threat anymore, there wasn't an immediate need to kill him beyond the desire for revenge).

On the other hand, on a purely visceral level I do not have a problem with Sentinel getting ripped in half because fuck that guy lmao. Get your revenge, Dee, you deserve it.

But on the other other hand, I do believe that Orion's actions were motivated not by any desire to save Sentinel, but by concern for Dee. (I think these posts make a good point about that; it doesn't seem that Orion was even deliberately trying to sacrifice himself when he got shot, I think he just wanted to get between Dee and Sentinel so he could talk to Dee.)

But on the other other other hand, Orion really did not choose his words well in that scene. "Don't be like Sentinel" was the WORST thing he could've possibly said, all things considered. A while ago I saw a post that described it as "telling a victim they're just as bad as their abuser" and yeah, I agree with that assessment. That probably wasn't how Orion intended that to come off, but there's no way it wouldn't have sounded like that to Dee. Maybe it wouldn't have been possible to talk Dee down from killing Sentinel in that moment, but if it had been at all possible, that was definitely not the way to do it.

However, while this leads to a horrible outcome for the characters, I'm not sure it's such a bad thing for the narrative. It's painfully realistic, actually. Sometimes, people who have nothing but good intentions will say stupid, hurtful things. Sometimes, when someone is in a state where all they can feel is pain and rage, they will lash out without thinking of the consequences, and in doing so they might hurt someone they love. Obviously in the real world this does not usually involve a giant robot shooting another giant robot with a laser cannon, but that's one of the great things about sci-fi and fantasy; a laser cannon can be a metaphor for the horrors we face in real life.

Also, based on Orion's behaviour up until that point in the movie, it's pretty in-character for him to say the worst possible thing at the worst possible time to someone who is clearly suffering. You can tell he has a lot of compassion and generally means well, but that doesn't stop him from being an insensitive dick at times. And I like that. I like it when characters have Layers. (Orion and Dee both have a lot of Layers, and I am fascinated by the way some of the same personality traits manifest very differently in each of them, but that's not what this post is about, perhaps I'll ramble about that another time.)

Basically what I'm saying is:

I think Orion was both right and wrong (right about it not being necessary to kill Sentinel, and right that a public execution was a bad fucking idea; very, very wrong in the way he expressed that to Dee),

I'm not going to say Dee did nothing wrong, but I completely understand where he is coming from (and I'd be lying if I said that when he killed Sentinel there wasn't a part of my brain screaming YEAAAAH, YOU GO GIRL, RIP THAT FUCKER APART),

I think that Optimus Prime should have flaws and fuck up sometimes, because that makes him more interesting as a character, and in the case of TF1, because having him inadvertently contribute to Dee's downward spiral adds to the tragedy of it all (and I do think this movie can rightly be called a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions),

and, above all,

FUCK Sentinel Prime. Seriously, fuck that guy SO much.

[lunaekalenda]

Kento Nanami is well-known for being the head of the most important business of Tokyo. A cold, strict, workaholic man who seems angry to the world. The newspapers talk about him and the media roast his attitude. Although he's handsome, well-ported and polite in extreme, all the social media influencers that like to rant about him as a way to earn money ask the same question:

Who would be able to date the Cold King?

"Who would be able to date? Goddess, I'm not a robot." Kento sighs, taking both cups of steamy tea from the kitchen counter and walking towards the couch. You put the phone down, receiving the tea and a forehead kiss from your husband as he surrounds the sofa to sit by your side, arm opening for you as you snuggle up against his body.

"It's true that you barely smile on pics or meetings" You agree with the post, making your man sigh and drink a long sip.

"Most of the times I don't even wanna be there." He says. He puts his cup on the coffee table, that shines with the reflections of flames, consuming wood on the built-in fireplace. You copy his movements, only to be able to hug your husband with both arms, leaving a kiss on the spot his unbuttoned shirt leaves naked near his chest. He sighs, his hand caressing up and down your back, fingertips dancing on your hips and back to your waist.

"Hm? You don't? Do you have better places to be at?" you tease him. His hands grip your waist stronger, taking your body to his lap, making you laugh.

"So funny, my love." he murmurs. Your legs rest on both sides of his, and his eyes and hand travel to the anklet he bought for you less than a month ago. Embodied with tiny pearls and a "K" in a large fan of colored gems. His lips curve on a smile. "This might be the cheapest jewelry piece I have ever bought you, and still, you don't take it off." You smile at him too, your hands on his cheeks, your thumb caressing his bottom lip sweetly.

"Maybe because it has your letter." you whisper. Kento smiles widely. You know that anklet wasn't cheap. As any other thing he ever bought for you. "And, really, I don't need all those gifts." His lips press a chaste kiss on your thumb, his hands going back to their original position on your waist.

"If I work non-stop and I can't gift my most loved one everything they deserve, does it even worth all the work?" You hit his shoulder slowly, making him laugh. "You deserve a lot more, my love. I'm sad I'm unable to give you everything." His right hand travels up to yours, taking the one you placed near his lips, tangling his fingers with yours before kissing the back of your hand. Your wedding ring shines when he places your hands on the couch.

You don't like public attention, and Kento doesn't want to expose you to the shitty world of gossip magazines. That's why he has paid so many paparazzis so they don't follow him, how his trips and dates are always invisible to everyone, how his enterprise has bought the silence of almost all the newspapers and magazines, but still, some of them are hungry for an exclusive.

His lips touch yours softly, just a caress, before he leaves a peck on them. None of you move for a second when he parts, before you find him smiling back at you. "I love you." He whispers. You peck his lips this time. "I love you too."

Time passes by while you spend the evening by his side on the couch, in front of the fireplace, head resting on his thighs while his hands caress your body. Your expensive pajama, another of his gifts, shows under the velvety blanket he put on top of your body half an hour ago. He keeps reading his book, humming for himself and taking notes on the margins while he reads, but taking his hand back to your body once he's done.

"Love, what do you wanna dinner?" he asks, closing the book and directing all his attention towards you. "Should we cook? Do you want to have delivery?"

"We have all the time of the world. And your food is better than any delivery so... Could my perfect, handsome, talented husband move the action towards the kitchen?" You whisper. Kento rolls his eyes before slapping your ass jokingly. Then, he stands up, taking the blanket away from your body before standing up, taking your body sweetly against his. Your arms get tangled on his neck as he lifts you easily, your lips finding his as he walks towards the kitchen, blindly walking around your exclusive apartment, reflecting yourselves in the clean marble floors and the huge windows that show a panoramic of Tokyo. Kento easily finds the kitchen, leaving you on the counter, stealing another kiss from you when he parts with a smirk.

"Time to cook, my love."

You pout towards him. After all, he's the one that took private classes with that five-star chef to impress you on your very first date, so his cooking always taste like a piece of heaven.

"Can't I just sit and look how you do? You look really really hot while cooking, hm?" Kento smiles again, rolling his sleeves up as he gets close, a brow raised in a silent joke. "And I'll make sure to reward you for your amazing work." His lips curve in a side smile when he pecks yours again, unable to let you go, in need to press his lips against you until he needs air.

"I'll be waiting for that reward."

"We'll see if the cooking deserves it." You tease. He points at you with a wood spoon before talking.

"It will, my love. Of course it will."

a little drabble for @dreamcastgirl99 <3 i hope you like it!

[rosakuma]

Soooo….I have a theory about MonoTV based off of @a-star-that-burns-brightly’s post about MonoTV regarding to Teruko(link below right here, give it a read, it is very good ^^) :

Had this on the back burner for a little bit, but here we go.

So the theory I have is a bit silly and might be far fetched, but what if MonoTV is Mai Akasaki? Or alternatively somehow created or influenced by her?

As crazy as this sounds, I have a feeling thanks to the recent/last ep of ch.2 that this might be more possible.

For starters, while we know what that most likely XF-Ture is behind in some of the creation process for MonoTV in term of this line

But that doesn't mean that they created it. For all we know, MonoTV could’ve been created by someone else. Even they don't know who is their creator is.

MonoTV: All the decisions I make were already decided by whatever entity created me, because I am a robot.

This reminds me how in DR2, Monomi(a.k.a Usami) and AI Chiaki was created by Chihiro Fujisaki, but is used by the future foundation as observers over the NEO world program in regarding of rehabilitating the remnants of despair. Created by someone else, but used by a group/company.

Throughout this chapter, we seen MonoTV interact with Teruko a lot. Having her help it with the chalking, while stating not out of well concern for her being it still advised Teruko to be careful with her stab wound, offering her Monocredits to get away from others, and now with its conversation with Teruko at the end of the ch.2 trial.

When a-star-that-burns-brightly noted how it trusts Teruko to remain with it in the empty trial room despite her being responsible for trying to kill it with having Ace punch the lights out of them resulting in their broken screen and tries answering Teruko with a sense of both giving advice and confiding in her…it got me thinking, could MonoTV have remains in its data to have a sort of connection towards Teruko?

The only person we know confirmed via flashback that either knew or had connections to Teruko pre killing game as of right now is Mai Akasaki. And we definitely know Mai is important to the plot and possibly this killing game too. So what I feel that strengthen this is MonoTV’s secret quote and Teruko’s quote about Mai.

MonoTV: Her name is Mai Akasaki.

Teruko: Some years ago, she was searching for someone named ‘Teruko Tawaki.’

At some point of the story, MonoTV will tell us about Mai Akasaki since the secret quotes from the cast is mentioned or alluded to in the main story and bonus episodes. Same goes to Teruko’s which probably will happen if Teruko gets her memories back about Mai.

So regardless if Mai, Hope’s peak, or XF-Ture is behind the killing game. I believe one of two things happen:

Theory 1# Mai created MonoTV

We yet to know her ultimate talent and whether or not that could come into her creating MonoTV. But for the heck of this theory, let’s say Mai has knowledge and materials for how to create a robot. Mai created MonoTV whether for whatever the intentions were for and added her connection or her relationship with Teruko into it. Actually now talking about it, perhaps Mai created MonoTV to find Teruko? Regardless the intention, XF-Ture either A. Stole MonoTV from Mai to reprogram it for the killing game or B. Mai actually worked with XF-Ture to create MonoTV for the killing game. Thus why despite it being program to run the killing game regardless of its guilt or regrets it can feel and supposedly should not be able to care for any of the participants here, it somehow cares or trusts Teruko thanks to Mai’s connection to her. Plus some speculate that maybe the killing game was to withheld or kill Teruko, and we know Mai is searching for her thanks to Teruko’s secret quote.

Theory 2# Mai IS MonoTV

Yep, that’s right. We’re going full fnaf here with the possession of a robot. A lot of people in the fandom think that Mai might be dead and that can be likely since she’s well…not here. But what if she was? Essentially for whatever reason XF-Ture or Hope Peak if they’re involved when creating this killing game, they decided Mai was going to run it. So they A. stuff her into MonoTV against her will since she refused to run it alive or B. MonoTV needed a soul to run it, so they killed Mai and stuffed her into it to be able to make it work. It could even explain why MonoTV can feel pain or guilt if there’s a human soul trapped within it.

I get possession is a little off here in terms of why a tech company needs to kill a high schooler to run their little mascot, but I don't think it's abnormal for this series.

Plus remember, drdt takes place in canon Danganronpa timeline with DR1, DR2, UDG, and DR3(not V3, the anime). In which Ultra Despair Girls proved the existence of ghost is real thanks to Komaru being able to see(and got possessed by) Monaca Towa’s dad. Not to mention Chiaki in the NEO World Program was inspired by the real life Chiaki who was classmates with people in Class 77-B. So regardless if Mai is a ghost possessing MonoTV or she created it, its not far fetched to believe in this world that possession or creating artificial intelligence based off a real person can happen. Also I know this is a reached too since they both have different VAs, but I swear to you, unnamed student(who we assume is Mai) and MonoTV after being decked by Ace with its voice change sounds similar to me. Maybe that’s just me though.

Either way, if this is true, then its a sad fate for this little machine on whether its being forcefully reprogram to override its original creator’s intentions, was program this way despite being given the ability to feel remorse, or is a trapped soul being forced thanks to orders in it to kill its old friends against it's will

[lolitakirstein]

Hey Neighbor Pt 9

Part 8

WC: ~1.5k

AN: I'm so worried about writing longer chapters in case they are too boring. but I hate splitting things up when I'm on a roll. ha

You watched as the man you had run into exited Toji’s house 30 minutes later. Unable to hear what the two were discussing you relied on their body language to give you some hint as to who he was. The men seemed formal towards each other yet relaxed; Toji with his hands in his pocket or across his chest, the other guy casually lighting a cigarette while showing his back to toji. There must be some level of trust between them, then. Before the man leaves, you notice him gesture towards your house. You draw back further from the window, afraid of being seen.

Once the car is out of sight and Toji returns to his house, you let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding. Should you ask Toji who he was or was that being too nosy? Not like i’ll get a straight answer, he refuses to tell me anything, you think, settling on being nonchalant about it.

Fortunately, you had work to keep you focused. And most fortunately, your hangover was minimal. Nothing more than a slight throb thanks to the pain meds Toji had offered you. You become robotic as you scan, sort, and shelve books and answer the same boring questions from customers. 

Before you can notice, it’s your lunch break. You sit in the small cafe that the bookstore offers, downing a hot chai latte and checking your phone. One message from the work group chat and one from Toji that was sent a few hours ago

Toji: You ok?

You fight back the urge to send, “I can’t tell you right now, it’s not the right time,” instead, pocketing your phone and playing hard to get. You clock back into work, ready to start the second half of your shift. 

 Wait, am I wanting him to chase me or something? This guy who knows things but won't tell me? Why am I trying to act like this is a dude i’ve swiped on Tindr? This guy has secrets, deep ones. Ones I probably don’t wanna know—

“Excuse me,” a soft voice snaps you out of your internal monologue. You spin around and are met with a man. His dark auburn hair is close-cropped at the sides while the top fashionably brushes just above his deep brown eyes. A soft shadow of stubble peppers his strong jaw. 

“Oh, hello. Can I help you?” you quickly revert to the robotic motions of a customer service provider.

“Yeah, I was looking for your classical section.”

“Are you looking for anything in particular,” you ask after leading him to the designated section of the store. 

“What would you recommend?” 

A question every worker hates. “Well, can never go wrong with Doestrevsky.” 

“Ah, yes, I read Crime and Punishment in school. Incredible prose,” he responds. 

Your heart lifts at finally being able to discuss books with someone. “Indeed, if you like that, you might like The Idiot. Same themes of human nature and society.” You grab a copy off the shelf and hand it to me. 

“Well I’d be an idiot if I didn’t take the advice of such a beautiful, well-read woman,” he says coyly as you walk to the counter.  You internally groan but also can’t help but blush at the compliment, though the joke was indeed awful.

“Let me know how you like it?” you say after ringing him up and bagging his purchase. 

“How about we discuss it over dinner sometime,” he cocks an auburn brown.

“Oh,” you stammer, thrown off by the sudden offer. It’d been so long since you’d been on a date you forgot what it was like to be asked out. “Sure!”

“Great I’ll keep you posted on my progress,” the man who you now know as Connor pockets his phone after you exchange numbers. “I look forward to discussing it with you and hearing your beautiful thoughts.”

Ok, he was laying it on a little thick but you don't mind. The only interaction you had had with a man for the past few months had been with Toji. And those interactions were hardly civil, much less flirty. Though Toji tended to tease, it was mostly to throw you off the topic of his secrets. 

The rest of your shift goes by quickly and you arrive home before the sun goes down. As you get out of your car, you notice Toji sitting on his porch steps. You try to ignore him but ignoring him is like trying to ignore a bear about to devour you. You give a wave, walking fast to your house. 

“You ok?” Toji asks, still sitting on the steps. Damn, he either can’t take a hint or is just stubborn. 

“Yeah, thanks,” you respond fumbling your keys out of your pocket. You drop them. Cursing yourself for being so easily intimidated by him you stoop to pick them up. Toji’s feet appear in your line of vision. You look up at the giant man standing over you. You want to feel afraid, but you can’t deny the absolute feral part of your brain at the sight of him standing over you. 

“Why didn’t you text me back?” the possessive tone didn’t help dampen the submissive part of your psyche. Damn, why do I have to be such a whore for crazy men?

“I was working,” you squeak out, picking your keys up and walking to your front steps. 

“I wanna talk,” Toji says behind you as you march up the steps and unlock your door. 

“It’s fine Toji. Nothing to talk about,” you turn around, Toji is standing at the bottom of your porch steps. 

“There is,” Toji huffs a breath. “A lot, actually.”

You were not in the mood for this. Your day ended on a good note and you intend for it to stay that way. “Look, whatever it is. I don’t care.”

“Yes you do,” Toji takes one step up. 

You shake your head, even though you were screaming yes in your head. You will not let him win. “Nah, I’m good. I really couldn't care less what your little secrets are. I don’t even know you.”

“It’s not that, it’s just—”

The notification on your phone interrupts the moment. You reach into your pocket for it and notice a text from Connor. 

Connor: I hope you had a good rest of your day. I must say, you made mine :) 

Oh, the cringe was off the charts with this guy. But you can’t keep the stupid smile from appearing on your face. Followed by a giggle. Shit I’m giggling over a guy. I need laid 

“Who’s that?” Toji asks sharply.

“No one,” you shake your head.

“No one huh,” Toji takes another step up, finally standing in front of you. “���No one’ got you smiling like a goof?”

“You have your secrets, I have mine,” you shrug.  

“You don't blush like that for just no one,” Toji teases, he steps so close you can feel the heat off of him. “Now who could possibly be making sweet little y/n blush so much besides me?”

You crane your neck up to look at him, refusing to show he’s affecting you. “I can’t tell you. It’s not the right time.”

Finally, you manage to knock him off his game by throwing his words back at him. He steps back, putting some distance between you. A scowl wrinkles his brow and his jaw ticks as he clenches his teeth. You smirk, pleased with yourself. “Good night toji.”

Toji

Toji stares at the door you slammed in his face, stricken dumb by the sass you dished out. He had expected this to be a moment of confession, finally getting it all out in the open. Now standing at your closed door, Toji has no choice but to retreat back home.

After dinner and tucking Megumi into bed, Toji collapses onto his king-size bed. He turns his head to the window, towards your house. The lamp on your bedside table creates a soft glow from your window. He watches as you enter the bedroom. Your eyes on your phone, smiling. 

Toji clenches his jaw. Here he was ready to start having an honest conversation with you, and you were too busy with this mysterious ‘no one.’ He hated being this way, but he couldn’t deny that he felt a sense of protectiveness over you. 

He watches you throw your phone on the bed, the giddy smile still on your lips—perfect lips, soft delicate lips he’s thought about kissing on multiple occasions. With your back to the window, you remove your shirt and toss it to the chair before you begin sliding your pants down. As much as Toji would love nothing more than to watch, he has enough decency to look away, he’s not THAT much of a pervert. 

He reaches into his back pocket, depositing the contents beside him. 

First is his cellphone which he text Shiu–I need to borrow a few of your tech geeks.

The second, is a sealed envelope. No address, no street names or numbers. Just 3 words written in delicate script:

il mio agnellino

[atopfourthwall]

Tbh you lament what people say about you and bemoan "harrassment and bullying". Yet you told RLM to "eat a bag of dicks" unprompted. You said Oneyplays "Are assholes, fuck them!". You'll constantly lecture your own fans, angrily yelling at them for asking when new Power Rangers are out, or for giving you simple, solid advice like below. You say youve calmed down in reviews yet still yell at the comic creators over minor stuff. The comments you complain about getting seem tame in comparison.

Okay, first of all I did not tell RLM to "eat a big of dicks" unprompted. What I said was "Eat a dick, jackass" while talking about the Plinkett Reviews in regards to how parts of them have not aged well, in particular the line that I felt was a bit racist - "Black people don't like Star Wars" (to be clear - I don't think anyone at RLM is racist [AFAIK]. The remark itself feels like it is, though, but that's also emblematic of edgier, wince-inducing internet humor from the time - we're all guilty of awful jokes like this to some degree, myself included). Now I ended up removing this line from the Star Wars Prequel reviews compilation because I realized it was needlessly inflammatory towards them and some perceived it as me attempting to star a beef with them… when of course I don't want to start a beef with ANYONE, much less someone much, MUCH more popular than me.

And no, I did not say Oneyplays "Are assholes, fuck them" (unless I said this on Twitter a long while ago). I'm assuming this is in reference to a part of the Fallout: New Vegas streams. Someone in the superchats asked a question relating to them and my other guests didn't know who they are. I proceeded to spend all of 40 seconds calmly explaining (though admittedly with a bit of light irritation) "They're other streamers, one of whom apparently does a GREAT impression of me. They're also responsible for popularizing calling me Lightbringer, soooo… screw 'em." That was it. But apparently "screw 'em" was TOO MUCH for a lot of people, because I got flooded with hate from that - videos made about how I was "TRIGGERED!" and "HAD A MELTDOWN!" Because that was one of the first public times I ever talked about how I wasn't okay with the nickname. We'll circle back around to this in a minute.

"You'll constantly lecture your own fans, angrily yelling at them for asking when new Power Rangers are out-" Aaand right there you prove that you don't actually watch my stuff. You're just repeating the same garbage from people who ALSO don't watch my stuff, but assume I have not changed at all, that I am the same person forever whose opinions don't change, whose attitude doesn't change, never gets better, etc.

Because I haven't been angry at people asking when the next History of Power Rangers is out in ALMOST TEN YEARS.

And the reason I know that number in particular is because I started my Patreon in 2014. The question annoyed me so much because I didn't have an answer for them and it seemed like they didn't care about anything else I did. But then I started my Patreon and one of the Milestone goals was actual release dates for HOPR. And thus since then I've been able to answer when new ones are coming out.

You want to know how NOT angry I am about the question I am now? I put it on t-shirts.

You can buy them at https://atop-the-fourth-wall.creator-spring.com/listing/when-is-hopr?product=2 and https://atop-the-fourth-wall.creator-spring.com/listing/when-is-hopr-03?product=2 (I was going to post pictures of them but Tumblr keeps breaking when I try). There's a third one, but I don't think I put that one back up because it was intended for Shark Robot where colors are limited and it didn't do very well.

But this is a thing that's brought up by people who hate me - my irritation at the question as if it was still something that bothered me because, again, they cannot conceive that maybe I've changed. No, I am cringe forever and there is nothing I can say or do that will satisfy them.

But no, I "lecture people constantly" evidently. People say I'm obsessed about this topic, about the bullying, that I just talk about it soooo much and I can't move on from it and it haunts my every waking moment and that such "simple, solid advice" like "Be okay with being bullied" is met with unreasonable hostility and my mind fixated on it constantly.

Unless of course you actually look at what I post, what I reblog, what I tweet about and then you discover "Oh, he actually only talks about it when people bring it up to him. He only made that thread because he said the harassment is starting to rise up again and that was days and days ago and hasn't said anything about it since. In fact, on this very Tumblr he's only bringing it up again because somebody ELSE is bringing it up, allowing him a chance to further break down why asshole behavior is still asshole behavior.

So let's bring this back to the "screw 'em" thing. You'll notice that in none of these longer rambling statements I've made have I brought them up. Sure, in that 40 seconds during the stream I did… but that was in the middle of the first wave of it where it really WAS affecting me psychologically hard… and I have not talked about them on stream since then. I don't talk about them in these threads. I don't tell my fans to harass them. I don't make up some nickname for them or mock them or do anything other than maybe some frustration at them during the thread a few years ago (and I am explicitly telling my fans not do so - if you want to be an asshole to them, you can fuck off from my fans). Because I don't WANT to talk about them. They can do whatever the hell they want on their streams. They can call me Lightbringer there, make weird memes about me. It's THEIR space to do with as they please.

The problem is entirely that their fans come to MY space to be assholes. To repeat those memes, to bully me and call me the name. Some do it innocently, thinking I'm okay with it (which, again - is who that thread was directed towards)… but there are others who are being assholes about it. And I'm going to call them assholes about it and block them. And I'm still not going to talk about Oney because I don't want to - they're not the ones who are spamming Lightbringer in my chat or comments or trying to find some way of sneaking it into the comments past my comment filters to try to get a gotcha on me. Hell, I've gotten some people who have said they discovered me and love my stuff now BECAUSE Oney talked about me.

And I'd really like to know which recent review you saw where I was specifically attacking creators in the manner you seem to think I did. Because being angry at a plot point or a narrative decision is not the same thing as attacking a creator. I'll freely tell you about the ones I HAVE specifically called out for shittiness - the racist, the homophobic, the sexual harassers, the transphobic, the one that spread misinformation, or just the greedy assholes. But just looking at the list of the last 50+ episodes I've done that maybe… once or twice? And even despite ALL those horrible things, I STILL tell my fans to leave them alone - to not start fights with them, to not send my videos to them, etc. Because I don't want my fans to be bullies, either.

I will end this with one final thing: "The comments you complain about getting seem tame in comparison." Yeah, well, that's because you're you and I'm me. Something that seems innocuous to one person may be deeply triggering for someone else. Something that seems like an innocent joke might actually be really fucking with someone mentally, as it was for me. And that's why I've tried to tell people "Hey, please don't do that." Maybe I do it aggressively. But sometimes that's the only way people will listen. If people are still doing it even after I've expressed how much it harms me - telling me that I should just "get over it" or "let them do it and respond with a laugh" even though I keep saying it DOES affect me, then those people are assholes and I don't see why I should give them the time of day.

Hopefully this lengthy response (I really am a windbag) helps people understand or it clears up some bullshit. And if it's still not good enough for you, then nothing less than complete capitulation to being called Lightbringer is the only thing that will satisfy you… well, fuck off.

[maespri]

like a dog

hi i'm just joesara posting. that's all this is. like. man i love joesara. i can see them both romantically and platonically and either way their relationship is just. so beautifully devastating.

like here is sara, who is always doubting herself. and then joe, who's always countering her self-loathing. sara, who thinks she's too intense and hurts people too much. joe, who tells her that it isn't always a bad thing. sara who can't forgive herself for his death, who blames herself for pointing out that he wasn't the sage, who begged miley to let her switch places with him. and joe, who just tells her she's his best friend and he loves her when he's about to die. who tells everyone they're his friends, that he doesn't blame them.

joe, who carried around a dog keychain sara got him in his pocket for ages, who has accessories with bones on them, who tells sara he will stay loyal to her, "like a dog." who walked back to school after going on a date with her best friend, a date during which he just talked about her, because he knew she was scared of her stalker, who went to the fair with her in her minisode because of the same reason. this guy who sees her "flaws" as her strengths and supports her in whatever she decides to do.

i think the fact that she doesn't realize just how important he was to her until after he's gone is what gets me. he was always telling her she's his best friend, but it's not until she's talking to a robot version of him that she finally gets to reciprocate that, and i just know she'll always be carrying around so many "i wish i told him"s in her heart. but what i think is also so beautiful about her overcoming some of that grief and moving toward acceptance (at least in the emotion route) is that she realizes joe wouldn't blame her.

and i don't think it's entirely because of his AI. it's because she knew him.

sure, it's his AI that tells her that- but sara is well aware that isn't him. what she does finally realize in that moment, however, is that the real joe would forgive her. that he wouldn't be mad at her. that he doesn't blame her because that's not the kind of person he is. she forgives herself because of her own internal strength and memories. she forgives herself because he loved her no matter what.

and she keeps going. she lets go of the blame, but she doesn't lose those good memories she had with him. she lets what she learned from him strengthen her rather than hold her back. she internalizes the same things he always said to her and uses it to become better herself, to uplift the people around her who are still alive. she decides she's going to do everything she can to keep everyone alive because she doesn't want anyone to go through the same thing she did after losing joe. he's carrying her, he's carrying the narrative, long after he dies. spreading goodness.

they're eternally devoted to each other, even beyond the grave.

i Just played her minisode for myself (after watching it some time ago) and i was struck with all these thoughts about them once again. i think what especially gets me is the fact that i think sara did have a crush on him and just. didn't have enough time to sort through her own thoughts, or tell him. there are so many moments, both in her minisode and in the game, where i think it shines through. and that's just another "what-if?" she may not realize for a while, but will always be in the back of her head.

i don't think grief is nearly as... "simple," for lack of a better word, as it's kind of shown in your turn to die. i do love the portrayal of it for what the situation dictates, but if/when sara ends up getting out of the game, and all the survival instinct wanes and she has time to fully process it... i feel so bad for her. there's nothing that won't remind her of him. there's nothing she won't miss. there's nothing she won't wonder about. all of that, it just. god it all makes me so sad.

i don't like when people say "move on" when referring to grief. i think that implies leaving it behind, and if you ever really love something, i don't think it's possible to just put it down and leave it there. but i do hope it gets easier for her to carry it around with her the same way it briefly began to in the death game.

anyway. in the end, it really just comes down to a very simple tragedy; two best friends who would do anything for each other only having the option of doing nothing.

yeah i'll be thinking about them for a while

[cybertroniannugget]

Pangea and mt Vesuvius

Not what I originally intended to post here, as I'm writing some spice at the moment but THIS is what my mind was occupied with all freaking day... The whole desaster takes place somewhere in the first movie or between 1 and two. Some details are changed up Which I did on purpose. I know all the movies from start to finish because the hyperfixations are hyperfixating real hard right now.

This is just a random story of how I get idk let's say teleported into the bayverse movies and how I'd probably handle that.

While I sprinkled in a bit more confidence than I actually got, I think it's an accurate representation of what kind of person I am: always cracking jokes, overthinking EVERYTHING, random useless knowledge that turns out to be somewhat useful.

About this fic: sfw, implied romance with OP, trans ftm character, no reader just Alex, confused Autobots they still need to learn so much about earth and everything, I also don't know okay?

This is just me struggling while simping hard for Optimus.

But we still ain't know what fucked up big M's navigation system when he crashed. Infact, why are all of our navigation systems useless here?! ", Jazz adressed, arms crossed over his chassis. "We all be getting lost all the time.

"I think I know why"

Oh please, why did I speak up just now...

All optics and eyes were fixed on me as I said that, making me immediately regret opening my mouth in the first place but here we are now.

"What? Maybe your systems think you're on Pangea.", I said, taking in the same position as Jazz by crossing my arms over my chest.

Optimus leaned closer, one servo on the railing, blue optics studying me thoroughly as to look for any signs of lie in my attitude.

"Pangea? May you elaborate?"

Hearing this deep voice so full of interest made me feel things honestly.

"The supercontinent. Wait, Imma show you."

I take out my phone, careful not to reveal the background, because I couldn't find the time to change it yet.

"Here, this is earth today. You see everything, Europe, Asia, South and North America, Autralia, Greenland and all the islands in the oceans."

"And this is Pangea, it broke apart into the continents as we know them today about 200 million years ago. This is probably what Megatron had in mind. See? When you look at a map of earth today you might think, if you turn south America around and snug it up to north America, they fit like a puzzle. It's because they were together as part of the supercontinent. Or push it up to Africa, same thing. Just squish it all together"

"That human is incredibly well educated.", Ratchet chimed in.

"That human has a name and thank you."

"But why did that happen? It makes no sense.", Ironhide complained, lifting one servo as to show his frustration in what I just said.

"If I may...", I look at Lennox, awaiting some kind of approval to continue. He nods and so I proceed with my explanation.

"Well, I don't know how to explain it scientifically, but I'll try to make it understandable."

Optimus nods, listening carefully. How do these highly educated space robots not know about that? But who am I to judge, they aren't from here so I can't expect them to know everything about earth.

"I think it probably started because of something called mantle convection. That means the heat from earth's interior rises up to the hardened crust. That caused it to break open, creating a volcanic rift zone. The cracks went further, the tectonic plates drifted apart. The rifts filled with water over time and while the plates drifted farther away, the oceans were formed. Or something like that I don't know but today we've got 6 continents."

Always undermining everything I say, great job on trying to act confident...

"And Greenland, I don't discriminate.", I added as some people eyed me.

"But I don't know if Pangea is what your systems used as the base to calculate. There were other tectonic combinations even before that, but it's a wild guess I'd say. I am certain it was one of them."

As I was explaining, Optimus' gaze changed to a warmer tone and I could feel my pulse rise to my ears. He was just so beautiful, and seeing him for the first time in person made my heart flutter uncontrollably. I wish I could tell him how I feel,

But this is real. No scenarios, no daydreaming or fanfiction. It was as real as it could get. Damn it, I wanted to shift here, not get teleported or whatever caused me to end up here with all of them. I hope we can atleast become friends. No need to get my hopes up though.

"Alexander?"

The baritone voice of the Prime pulled me out of my thoughts about him.

"Hm?"

"What kind of heat were you talking about?"

"Oh that. Well, starting at earth's core, it's liquid magma. It's really hot, like 5.200 Celsius hot. 9.000 something Fahrenheit for the Americans here..."

This was met with laughter and I continued with my lesson or whatever you might wanna call it I don't care, I'm struggling here okay?

"The further you go up, the 'cooler' it gets.", I say, underlining the word cooler with my hands in a joking matter.

"They probably got fancy scientific names but don't ask me which. Anyways shit's really hot. And it's what shoots up from volcanoes.", I finish as I look into a round of confused optics and a few tilted helms.

"Volcanoes? When tectonic plates crush against each other, or built up pressure is released, no?"

They all look at eachother, chuckling coming from my fellow humans around me.

"Okay here, that's mt vesuvius, big ass volcano."

"Sometimes these mfs shoot lava from this hole up there, pretty fascinating and scary at the same time.. It looks like this.", I add as they look at the pictures, not knowing whether to be amazed or afraid.

"The glowing stuff you see here is the lava. When it's still underneath the crust it's called magma."

"Are there many on earth?"

"Yup, don't get too close."

Optimus' optics widen at that statement of mine

"Don't worry bossbot, not on this island. The closest from here is next to Madagascar, Africa. Unless you decide to swim a few rounds up there there's no need to get worried."

The Prime relaxes, shoulders dropping while optics still focused on me.

Why is he looking at me like that? I mean I ain't complaining but if he continues like that Imma internally combust.

"You explain everything so well Alexander."

"Please, call me Alex. Alexander seems so long."

The Prime nods understandingly. "Very well then, Alex."

Oh god make it stop. I love you so much Optimus please...!

"His heart rate just shot up exponentially.", Ratchet mentioned and it was right then and there that I wanted to vanish, dissappear, sink into the ground, never to be seen again.

"Haha yeah, chronic Tachycardia, no need to worry."

That was a lie. Yes, my pulse is through the roof right now, but I've got no heart disease.

As I was met with confusion from every bot except Ratchet I explained before any questions could be asked.

"It's a general term to describe an elevated heartrate. You know, the thing in a human's chest that pumps blood through our body."

"Blood?"

"Oh come on. Okay, well then I can explain that to you guys later. And answer any questions you have as it seems no one else here cares about your education on earth and it's inhabitants.", I say grumpily, looking at Lennox, who raised his hands in defeat.

"I can see us becoming friends Alex.", Jazz laughed.

"Looking forward to it!", I said, pointing fingerguns at the silver bot, which is met with more laughter.

"Okay, class is over, what are we gonna do now?", Ironhide asks into the round of bots and humans.

I just shrug, looking at Optimus, who was still looking at me. But when I looked at him, he quickly looked away to Ironhide.

Cutie~

"Alex seems to know so much, why not ask her?."

That statement of a bystanding soldier was met with a glare from Optimus.

"Alex is a he, you better make sure to remember that!"

They went to protest, but Optimus wouldn't let them. "Unless you wish to get what humans call fired."

Oh shit he's really mad...

"I will make sure of that if you continue your unreasonable behavior."

As he said that I could swear I saw the soldier shrink right then and there infront of my own two eyes.

He looks at everyone. "This counts for everyone here. You will respect Alex."

Oh god, he's standing up for me I can't please marry me Optimus, like right now!

"Okay, lessons aside.", Epps put a hand on my shoulder, smiling. "You were great by the way. I think we can use that for good."

He looked between everyone, a stern expression replacing the warm smile, hand leaving my shoulder. "As much as of a crucial hint this is, we can't know for sure what's exactly causing the malfunction. Better dig people."

True honestly, but HOW is anyone supposed to figure it out without cutting someone open? Megs maybe...?!

"Something's on your mind again, I can see that.", Bumblebee said with snippets over the radio.

"What, me?! It's nothing."

"Nothing?!", Jazz protested. "You just gave us the best clue we could ask for. I'm no Optimus Prime but I can say that I wanna hear ya out my man."

He looks up at Optimus, who was looking at me again after listening to his lieutenant.

"I must say, that you have given us great insight on your mental capabilities Alex."

He leans closer and it took everything of the mental capabilities he just mentioned to not kiss him right here right now.

"Well uh, it's just some kind of impulsive thought. You know, the ones you can't really control...",I said nervously, one hand behind my neck, avoiding everyone's gaze.

But he didn't budge, only blinking once while awaiting an answer.

"Okay, you're not budging I see. Fine."

Taking a deep breath and regretting every life choice I had made up until that point, I went on. "Look, I don't know anything about Cybertronian culture and how things are handled. Especially this right here. Us humans, we always wanna know what exactly caused certain events. For example death here. So we came up with analyzing the body of the dead by cutting them open and stuff, it's called autopsy. Maybe, just maybe we could find something. I know Megatron ain't dead but he's in some sort of... Stasis? Someone could check his navigation system and maybe find the cause for the disruption."

I lower my shoulders, trying to be as small as I possibly could infront of Optimus, who's gaze I couldn't quite interpret.

"On Cybertron, there is quite a similar practise."

"So you're saying it's worth a shot, Prime?", Ironhide asks, unsure of what to think of the situation. "But he's not dead, as Alexander pointed out correctly.", Ratchet added.

Optimus turned around to face his Autobots.

"This may be our only chance. We must take it. For the sake of both worlds. This war has been going on for so long, we cannot let this hold us down. And now it seems there is a way to find out why this is happening. We will fix it, together."

Now it was on Lennox to speak up again.

"So we gon' dissect Megatron? I'm all in honestly. That fucker did enough damage."

My eyes widen at that. "They're not gonna kill him!" Unsure of the righteousness of what I just said I looked at Optimus, who nodded.

"See? They're just gonna take out the navigation system and leave."

"Ooh, big M is gonna be SO mad when he finds out."

"He won't.", Optimus retorted with an absolute certainty in his voice.

"Alright then, it's settled. Prepare people and gather as much information as possible for this mission and await any orders from Big O!"

And with that final order of Lennox the soldiers scattered around, leaving immediately.

Okay great, I'm gonna go be useless again wohoo.

"Alex?"

I look toward the sound of the voice I already grew to cherish. "I know, I know. I ain't accompanying you. I'd die if I did, already know that."

The Prime nods.

"I am glad you understand."

I love you so much I wish I could tell you...

As he remained standing there I grew nervous, fidgeting with the strings of my hoodie.

"Is there something you need?"

"Wha- me? No! Just... go be a hero.

You know you're good at it."

I clear my throat, pretty sure Optimus could hear my pulse. "But remember to take a break sometimes. I always see you up and about."

Did I overstep? I knew it. Chance blown. Goodbye earth. No romance.

"I highly appreciate your concern Alex."

He's always saying my name help. Is he just being polite or what does this mean?!

"There is this human saying. What was it again? I grab it with my heart...?"

Please he's so cute I can't~

"I'll take it to heart was it probably. It means to honor someone's wishes as you see them important."

He tilts his helm in question. "The person or the wish?"

That is when I think all the 5 liters of blood inside my body went up to my face.

Keep calm, stay cool Alex. Don't embarrass yourself.

"It's up to the person saying that."

Whatever higher power there is, please help me!

"You deem my wellbeing as important and so do I"

Phew, that was close...

"Can it be both?"

WHAT

"Eh, sure. There's always room for interpretation."

I guess...?

What has my life come to? They probably think I'm a know it all person. I gotta keep my damn mouth shut from now on.

"Very well then Alex, I look forward to working with you."

I only nod, trying not to get lost in those beautiful blue optics.

"I'm sure it's gonna be great Optimus!"

Unless I unsubscribe from life because a Deception squishes me...

[heyheydidjaknow]

Heyo it’s Bug!

I love those Anon posts with L being observant and learning every little thing about s/o, but what if they did the same to him? I’m in a 5 year relationship, and for a while I had something in my notes app where I’d write down his preferences, likes/dislikes, quirks, etc. (it initially started as a way to help with holiday shopping but evolved into more). I just think returning the favor and pleasantly surprising L when you remember little tidbits about him would make him happy.

When you get a bag of candy, you set aside all of the strawberry flavor because they’re his favorite.

Maybe when the nights grow long and everyone has gone home, you stick around to help him piece things together and offer a new perspective.

You know how he takes his tea, bringing him a fresh cup when he appears to be growing tired.

Sometimes Light or Misa say some blatant lie and the two of you exchange unimpressed side eyes.

You know all of his little tells and nuances, picking up on them fairly quickly, the way he does with you. Because at the end of the day, he’s not some deity or robot. He’s a detective, and he’s human too.

The way that I’m imagining it in my head is it being in the same vein as that one ask I did a while ago— the walk-in thing— where you don’t have a super firm grasp on the whole situation but through some total fuck up you ended up in the crossfire anyhow. You’re just on the floor making your way through a bag of starbursts or whatever and just absentmindedly set the pink ones in front of him because that’s just something you do whenever he’s at your place and after the group disperses a bit there’s quiet mumbling about how odd it is that after all he did to vet them and make sure they weren’t trying to kill him that he just took candy from someone he does not know all that well. If asked what you’re doing in a language you understand you just shrug and say that those are his favorites and he goes on talking as if nothing happened. You watching the task force work and mumbling into L’s ear that the teenage one gives you just the weirdest vibe and him quietly nodding because at least you can identify that there is something wrong with him, and his gaze just gets a little bit colder if he notices Light looking for too long as he puts two and two together. He hates that you’re there— he wishes you’d never come— but there is something satisfying about the way you blatantly glare at Light and his synthetic smile and absolutely adores the fact that you know him enough to pick up who in the room he has repore with and who he thinks is just that little bit off when nobody else in the room seems to see what he sees. To know that you care that much about him and trust his opinion to that degree is comforting to say the least.

[lendeah]

UNBOUND

Chapter 2: The Thunderstaff Legacy

series masterlist

Summary: After months of separation, Neri reunites with her family, and the burdens of her responsibilities as the Heir resurface. Her sole escape appears to be through her magical research, which Gale, due to a mysterious illness, has been neglecting.

Pairing: Gale x OFC!Reader

Tags: Slow Burn, Mentor/Protégé, but everything is healthy I promise, Eventual Romance, Eventual Smut, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Soft Gale (Baldur's Gate), Gale Needs a Hug (Baldur's Gate), Professor Gale (Baldur's Gate)

Word count: 4.8k

AO3 LINK

Chapter 2! Everything is starting to come together in my head. This chapter is especially background plot filled, but I promise from this point on things will start to get more dynamic! Also there will be more Gale and Neri interactions as they delve into the research :)

"The Karsus Weave!? Are you completely out of your mind!?"

But Neri merely rolled her eyes and focused on her work, undisturbed by the reaction. She was jotting down notes as Corlin poked at the burnt robotic piece on the table with different magical instruments, filling the laboratory with a strong smell of sulphur. Eiruk stood beside her, amazed by Neri's calm demeanour despite his disbelief.

"You know Vanja wouldn't approve of this research, right? How in the nine hells are you even going to locate those stones?!" Eiruk continued rambling.

"Vanja is no longer my mentor, so everything will be okay," she said as she continued lazily scribbling on her page. The piece they were working on seemed to combine a necrotic curse and a fire spell, causing it to decay while simultaneously burning. Despite its deteriorating state, the piece somehow managed to continuously repair itself, suggesting there probably was something hidden within it.

"Neri, you know how dangerous it is to meddle with the weave and its godly power," Eiruk exclaimed frantically. "Your new mentor will only lead you to your death, right before graduation! And then who will choose my suit? Corlin? He can't even tie his own shoestrings!" He gestured wildly to the other student sitting next to them.

Colin gazed up at her, his gold-trimmed glasses precariously balanced on the tip of his nose, and gave a gentle smile.

"Well, I think it's a thrilling opportunity. You have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the weave and magic itself. Not everyone gets that chance," he remarked, pointedly disregarding the other boy. Eiruk sulked in response.

"Indeed, Colin. And it is not about seeking godly power, Eiruk. Think of the implications this research could have on the field of magical study!" Neri exclaimed passionately.

"But we're discussing the Karsus Weave... Do you recall what happened to Karsus and his empire? It was decimated! All because they got involved in matters that should have been left alone!" Eiruk worriedly rambled, running a hand through his black curls in agitation.

Colin rolled his eyes, "Of course, but that was thousands of years ago Eiruk. That doesn't imply the same is going to happen now."

"Exactly! And besides, Gale wouldn't have chosen this path if he thought it was too dangerous." She smiled at Corlin, as he nodded in agreement, green eyes sparkling as he returned her grateful smile. "He's smarter than that."

Eiruk seemed unimpressed by her optimism. "Well, the road to the Nine Hells is paved with good intentions," he muttered, crossing his arms.

Ignoring Eiruk's negativity, she turned to Corlin again. "Corlin, I need your assistance with something."

The younger boy immediately perked up, "Yes! What do you need?"

Eiruk huffed in frustration and left them to go retrieve something from the bookshelf nearby.

She pointed at the robotic piece on the table. "This piece seems to be enchanted with some form of self-repairing spell. Can you use your magic detection tools to analyse its composition?"

“Yes, mam!” Corlin eagerly grabbed his tool kit and got to work. As he did so, Neri found herself thinking about Gale once again. After their first meeting a few days ago, he hadn't called for her again, leaving her feeling slightly anxious. Maybe he regretted choosing her as his apprentice? Or maybe he was just busy with another research?

Just as she was about to dive even further into her thoughts, a gentle tickle on the back of her neck snapped her back to reality; someone was sending her a message. Her heart raced with anticipation, hoping it was her long-awaited mentor reaching out to her. A deep voice spoke inside her mind:

"Lady Neriyra Thunderstaff, you have been requested for a meeting with Lord Baerom Thunderstaff II. A carriage will arrive to collect you before the clock strikes noon."

Ice ran through her veins as the message ended. She hadn't expected this summons so soon. It had been months since she last saw her family, and it was never a pleasant experience. She realized it must have been at least half a year since she left the Estate in a whirlwind, hoping she didn't have to return until after her graduation. Their relationship was always tense, to put it mildly. She constantly clashed with their expectations for her as the heir, and she was sure this visit would be no exception.

"Neri? Are you okay?" Colin's gentle voice brought her back to reality. The blonde boy was looking at her with concern in his eyes.

Neri took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "I'm fine. Just... a little distracted." She forced a smile, hoping it was convincing enough.

But Corlin wasn't fooled. He knew her well enough to know when something was bothering her. "Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked sincerely.

Neri shook her head. "No, thank you. I just... need to take care of some family business."

Corlin's expression turned sympathetic. He knew about the strained relationship between Neri and her family, and he could sense that this sudden meeting was causing her distress. Eiruk, who had just returned, raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Leaving so soon? I might have to report this to Vanja."

Neri smirked at him. "I'll just tell her about what happened last night, then we'll be even."

With that, she excused herself from the group and headed out of the laboratory. As she walked, she tried to calm her nerves and conjured a dimensional door that led directly to her room; she didn't want to waste any more time climbing all eight flights of stairs.

After entering her room, she unlocked the closet, which was magically designed to appear small but held all her clothing and more. She located one of the red and black floor-length dresses that she had been gifted for these events and reluctantly put it on. With a sigh, she released the messy black braided bun she typically wore for work and fashioned her hair into a tidy crown of braids. She added some silver chains and earrings to complete the look. But the most crucial part was concealing her pointed ears within the elaborate braids - a skill she had mastered since childhood.

As the sun began to set and evening descended upon the bustling city, Neri took a deep breath and pushed all doubts and fears aside, putting on a façade of confidence as she greeted the carriage driver on the marble stairs of the academy. The grand carriage was adorned with opulent red and black velvet and intricately woven silver trimmings, every detail paying homage to her prestigious house. She settled into the plush seat and gazed out the window, watching as the passing streets slowly transformed from the middling academy district to the more refined North Ward where her family's estate awaited her arrival.

As they approached, Neri could feel her anxiety rising again. The grand mansion stood tall and intimidating against the rolling hills of green grass. The carriage came to a stop in front of a massive iron gate adorned with intricate silver weaponry patterns, signifying the Thunderstaff family crest. Neri's mind raced with conflicting emotions - fear and nostalgia clashed within her as she stepped out onto the familiar gravel drive, leading up to the entrance of her childhood home. She wasn't sure if she was ready to face what awaited her behind those doors.

Neri walked up the familiar marble steps that led to the grand entrance of her family's mansion. Two guards bowed at her arrival; they must have been new, as she didn’t recognize their faces. They opened the massive oak wood doors, revealing a lavish hall adorned with gold and silver décor and opulent crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings. Neri walked through the grand entryway, passing by familiar paintings and statues that she had grown up seeing. Memories flooded back, of two children running around the granite floors, throwing cantrips at each other, laughter reverberating in the tall walls. A wave of nostalgia washed over her as she walked towards the dining room, where she knew her family members would be gathered. The sound of their low chatter could be heard from outside, filling her with dread.

She took a moment to collect herself, before stepping into the grand dining room. A hush fell over the space. The only sound was the soft rustle of fabric and the shuffle of feet as she made her way to the centre. Her head bowed in respect, and she took in the scene before her. Her grandfather was just as she remembered; sharp features and piercing hazel eyes, as he stood at the head of the long table. To his left was her aunt Marle, her chestnut curls tumbling down her shoulders in perfect waves, a small smile on her lips. Neri's uncle, a tall man with broad shoulders and a thick beard, sat next to her aunt, his eyes locked on Neri. Neri's heart skipped a beat at the sight of her father sitting on her grandfather's right side, his expression as stern and unyielding as ever. Her mother Lynx was seated next to him, radiating beauty and elegance in a deep red gown embroidered with silver thread and adorned with glittering jewels. Her mother's dark hair was swept up into an intricate updo, hiding her pointed elven ears from view, just like she had hid hers. Neri couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as she glanced at the empty seat where her sister Lila should have been, but she quickly masked any sorrow with grace and poise.

"You are late, Neriyra."

She slowly raised her head to meet her grandfather's gaze.

"Please forgive my tardiness, Lord Baerom," she spoke calmly and without falter.

Her grandfather's sharp gaze seemed to pierce through her very being, but Neri held her ground and refused to look away. She was well aware that he was testing her, as he always did. Despite their complicated relationship, a part of her had always yearned for his approval, even if it came in the way of glancing duels.

"You are fully aware of the importance of punctuality in our family," he said icily. "But I doubt you have any concern for our relatives or their affairs. You have always been a disappointment as an heir after all."

Neri winced as his words landed with a familiar sting. She had heard this same criticism too many times before. Ever since her sister Lila vanished without a trace, she had felt even more like an outsider in her own family - a feeling that seemed to only intensify with time.

"On the contrary, Grandfather," she replied calmly. "I am fully committed to our family and its legacy. I understand the importance of punctuality and I apologize for my delay."

Her grandfather's expression remained stoic, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

"Excuses, Neri. You always have an excuse," he retorted. "Your father was the same, always making promises he couldn't keep. I had hoped you would be different, but I guess I should've known. You are of another kin, after all."

Neri felt a flash of anger at her grandfather's words, but she quickly schooled her features into a neutral expression. Her grandfather constantly reminded her that she was the sole potential heir to the Thunderstaff House, much to his dismay. He had removed his own father from the will when he married her mother. In contrast, her aunt was unable to conceive, which had been a source of criticism from their grandfather throughout her entire life. And her sister Lila...

Neri spoke confidently, "Grandfather, I want to assure you that I will do everything in my power to keep my promise to both you and House Thunderstaff. I am determined to prove myself as a worthy heir."

Her grandfather's expression softened slightly at her words, but his tone remained stern. "That remains to be seen, Neriyra," he said. "Take a seat."

As Neri settled into her seat next to her mother, she couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. It had been far too long since they had been together in the same room. Her mother's smile was warm and comforting. She squeezed her hand tightly under the table, a silent reassurance that everything would be okay. As for her father, he remained stoic and distant, not even sparing a glance in her direction. Not that she expected it anyway. She guessed he would probably stay silent for the whole affair, as he always seemed to do. A familiar ache settled in her chest as she realized how much their relationship had deteriorated over the years. But for now, she pushed it aside and focused on the comforting touch of her mother's hand in hers.

Her grandfather cleared his throat, bringing everyone's attention back to him. "Now, shall the dinner begin."

The servants brought out familiar dishes that she hadn't tasted in years - spit-roasted fowl, glazed root vegetables, and a crystal decanter of their private reserve wine. She watched silently as her mother served the food onto her plate, avoiding eye contact with everyone. She couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between her and her parents. Her mother, who still looked young and radiant because of her elven nature, could easily be mistaken for Neri's sister with her silky black hair and eyes like deep pools of onyx. Her father, on the other hand, had the typical Thunderstaff features - dark brown hair, tanned skin, sharp features, and hazel eyes.

It was crushing when she was born, as Baerom's last glimmer of hope had been for her to resemble a Thunderstaff despite her origin. However, she inherited moon elf traits from her mother. Another reason for him to despise her, she supposed.

The air was thick with tension and unspoken words. The silence was broken only by the clinking of silverware and occasional small talk from her aunt Marle and her husband. Neri picked at her food, lost in thought.

"Have you been keeping up with your studies?" Her grandfather's question cut through the hum of conversation like a knife.

"Of course, Grandfather," Neri replied smoothly, receiving an approving nod from her mother. "I have recently mastered appertaining Ravenous Void."

"That is...adequate for a woman," he conceded after a moment. "However, you know our family expects you to complete your studies quickly and follow in the footsteps of your father and myself by joining the military. Theoretical knowledge is nothing if you don't put it to good use."

Neri felt her stomach drop at the mention of the militia. It was a topic that had been constantly drilled into her since she was old enough to understand. As the first child and heir to the Thunderstaff legacy, it was expected of her to continue the family tradition of mastering evocation magic and serving in the Waterdhavian military as a general or high-ranking official. For so long she had wanted to shout, to demand to be heard about her true desires, but she knew it would be futile. They had had this conversation over a hundred times, all of them with the same outcome.

So instead, she offered a polite smile and nodded obediently. "I will do my best to uphold our family's reputation, Grandfather."

He nodded curtly before resuming his meal until he spoke up again. “I spoke with Stedd Moonstar recently. Your union with Helion will happen earlier than anticipated."

Neri paused mid-bite, her fork hovering in the air as she processed her grandfather's words. So that was what this dinner was really about. Neri's heart began to race as she looked around the table at her family. Her parents remained stoic, keeping their eyes trained on their plates. Her aunt Marle looked worried, her brow furrowed in concern. But it was Grandfather Baerom who held her gaze, his piercing eyes locked onto hers.

"What do you mean, Grandfather?" Neri asked, trying to keep the panic out of her voice.

Baerom took a sip of wine before answering.

"Although we planned to wait until your graduation for the formal ceremony, the Absolute's destruction of our ranks has left us in urgent need of an economic and power alliance. We must solidify it immediately."

Neri's hand tightened around her fork as she tried to process the information. She had always known about the arrangement between their families, but she had managed to delay it until she finished her studies with the pretence of having to live in the tower. She had hoped she would find a way out by then.

"I-I understand," she managed to choke out, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother reached over and placed a comforting hand on hers. "We know this is not what you wanted, but it is for the good of our family and Waterdeep," she said softly.

Neri forced a smile, trying to hide the turmoil inside of her. She knew they were right, but it didn't make the situation any easier for her. It wasn't even because she wanted to get married for love, she just wished she had been given the freedom, the possibility to choose.

Her aunt pointed out, "Lord Moonstar is the only suitable candidate. You two have a similar background, after all."

What she meant was that Helion, like her, was half-elven, and thus the only suitor willing to marry her despite her origin. Her uncle smirked knowingly.

"When will the union take place?" Neri asked, steeling herself for the answer.

"In three months time," Baerom replied firmly. "Lady Moonstar has already begun making preparations."

Neri felt her heart sink as her grandfather's words echoed in her mind. Three months. In just three months, she would be married to a man she barely knew and expected to fulfill her duties as a wife and noblewoman.

The rest of dinner passed by in a haze for Neri. Her thoughts consumed her, making it difficult to focus on the conversations happening around her. Her family discussed wedding plans and political strategies, but Neri found herself unable to contribute. Instead, her mind was filled with schemes and ideas of how to escape her impending marriage. Perhaps if she completed her research ahead of schedule, she could impress Vanja enough to finally secure the title of Blackstaff Heir. In Waterdhavian society, this position held great prestige and influence, particularly among the upper class, even more than the House Heir title. But there was more than just social status on the line. If Neri became the Blackstaff Heir, she would gain enough independent power to potentially change or even break her betrothal agreement with Helion Moonstar. Additionally, securing this position would mean escaping her future in the militia and establishing herself as a respected scholar in the Academy. Excelling in her research with Gale was her last hope for breaking free from a predetermined destiny.

At that moment, her sole objective was to stay focused and keep her family unaware of her true intentions. A fierce determination surged within her, igniting a burning desire to achieve her goal. So, she remained silent and finished her meal.

🔮

Two weeks had passed since Gale had summoned her to the Blackstaff Academy, and still, there was no word from her mentor. Neri found herself growing impatient, constantly checking her sending stone for any messages, or summoning. At that point, she had read every available book about Karsus and the Netherese Empire in the Academy library, studying the rise and fall of the powerful mage who attempted to become a god, spent countless nights practicing her conjuration spells, as Gale had deemed them essential to their investigation. She couldn't help but wonder if his sending stone had broken or if he had met an unfortunate end. The thought sent a chill down her spine – if that were true, all her plans would be thrown out of the window.

Every time she woke up to no word from the wizard, Neri had to resist the temptation to sprint to Gale's tower. Time was slipping away, urging her to take action before it was too late. Her anger and frustration simmered, bubbling with each passing day until it reached a boiling point. Unable to bear the uncertainty any longer, she threw caution to the wind and snuck out of her room in the dead of night. With fire burning in her eyes, she made her way to Gale's tower, determined to confront her mentor.

As she stood at the doorless wall of the tower, bathed in moonlight, Neri hesitated for a moment. But then she thought of all those sleepless nights and days of waiting, and her hesitation turned into determination. She pressed her hand against the symbol, demanding entry with her name, hoping that this time it would open as easily as the first. And fortunately for her, it did. The hidden door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing the familiar interior of Gale's tower. Neri wasted no time and stepped inside, marching up the stairs to Gale's study, ready to unleash her pent-up rage on her mentor. How dare he forget about her? Did the man not understand the urgency of the research? Of course, he didn't know, but her life was on the line!

She finally reached the top of the stairs and entered the room with her chest heaving. The sight halted her movement completely. If the room was a mess the last time she had entered, now it looked as if someone had broken in, attacked both Tara and Gale, and exploded a bomb in the process. Yet, upon closer inspection, she noticed that Gale was sitting on the floor, seemingly meditating, and muttering to himself. Her blood boiled in anger, realizing that this is probably how he had spent the past week while she spent all her time studying and waiting for him to summon her.

"Excuse me, Master Dekarios," Neri exclaimed, hands planted firmly on her hips.

Gale's head snapped up at the sound, his eyes wide with surprise. He quickly scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping over his own robes in the process.

"N-Neri!" he exclaimed, clearly taken aback by her sudden appearance. "What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" Neri repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I came here to see what was taking you so long to contact me."

Gale's brow furrowed in confusion as he looked at her. "Contact you? For what?" he asked, genuinely perplexed.

"For our research," Neri snapped impatiently. "I've been waiting for days for your call, and all this time you were just sitting here meditating? Do you even realize how much time we're wasting?!"

Gale's face fell in realization, and he let out a deep sigh. "Forgive me, Neri. My mind has been preoccupied with myriad affairs. There is much transpiring at present."

"That's no excuse," Neri snapped back, unable to control her frustration any longer. She also had so many things going on in her life, yet she was dedicating her precious time to investigate, not meditate.

Gale held up his hands in surrender. "You're right, it's not, and I apologize for neglecting my duties as your mentor."

Neri took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. It wasn't like her to explode this way, much less at a superior. However, Neri's anger slowly dissipated as she finally took in Gale's exhausted appearance. The man looked about to faint, with his skin sickly pale, purple bags under his eyes, his cheeks hollowed, and his clothes rustled and stained with ink.

"Master Dekarios... Is everything alright?" she asked, concern evident in her tone.

Gale tried to maintain a composed facade, but it was clear that he was struggling. "Merely a minor setback," he replied weakly. "But rest assured, I shall endure. And please, feel free to call me Gale. Only Tara insists on calling me Master Dekarios, much to my chagrin."

Neri hesitated for a moment before taking a seat on the floor next to him.

"Please forgive me for saying this, Mas- Gale, but you don't appear to be doing well," she said softly.

He winced in response, and she noticed a subtle purple aura emanating from his chest that she hadn't seen before. "The truth is, I have been struggling with a certain ailment since I returned from my journeys. However, you can rest assured that it will not impede our research from this point forward."

Was he dealing with an illness? And where had he been before his return? With every passing moment, the man became more of an enigma to her.

She sighed and told him, "How about I start tidying up while you gather all the information you have about the research, and then we can work together to figure out our next steps?"

Gale stared at her for a moment, looking as though he were trying to process her words. He finally nodded, some of the tension leaving his face. "That - that would be appreciated, Neri. Thank you."

For the next hour, Neri busied herself cleaning up the room while Gale tried to organize the mess of papers on his desk, floor and... everywhere, really. She occasionally glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, noticing how he seemed to wince every time he moved too abruptly. Her heart ached a bit at the sight, but she forced herself to focus on the task at hand. She picked up a wooden box that had fallen and placed it back on its shelf. As she put the books and other items back in their places, Neri couldn't help but feel guilty about snapping at him earlier. She had never done so to Vanja in the ten years she had been her apprentice. But then again, Vanja had never been neglectful of her duty as her mentor.

As Neri finished cleaning up the mess in the room with the help of her magic, she couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The formerly disorganized and cluttered room now had a pristine appearance, complete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and large windows offering a stunning view of the sea. She turned to look at the wizard, who was now sitting back in his chair, staring intently at a thick tome.

She walked over to him and stood next to his desk, "Gale," she began tentatively, "if you don't mind me asking, where were you before you returned to Waterdeep?"

Gale's hand paused mid-motion as he was flipping through some papers. He took a deep breath before answering. "I was... at Baldur's Gate, fulfilling some unexpected duties. Believe me, you don't want to hear about it right now."

She could sense that there was more to the story, but she didn't press any further. Instead, she gestured towards the stack of papers on his desk. "Shall we begin with our research then?"

Gale nodded and Neri sat down in the chair next to Gale's desk, her quill and notebook in hand.

"As stated before, I will need your help with a location spell. However, for this specific research, I need you to come up with a completely new spell. The usual location spells won't suffice for this matter."

She frowned."How so?"

"The spell I need you to create is a combination of a locating spell and a gate spell. We need to find the exact location of the magical artifact we were researching, but we also need to be able to reach it in order to retrieve it safely."

While Gale went through the intricacies of the spell with Neri, she furrowed her brow in deep concentration. She had some experience with divination magic, and location spell was basic enough. Magic Door on the other hand was known to be one of the most challenging conjuration spells, requiring intense focus and precise execution in order to open a safe passage. One mistake could result in being transported to an unknown location, perhaps even the depths of another plane of existence.

"So essentially, we need to both locate and create a dimensional door to the location of the stones at the same time, right? But why not simply try to physically detect them instead? The locating spell can reveal their whereabouts, and it's much less dangerous than attempting to create a portal."

"Yes, however, I am afraid my condition doesn't allow me to travel long distances anymore" Gale confessed. "Also, we are under borrowed time. Anyone could find the stones before us and that would make matters worse."

We are under borrowed time because I have to stop my engagement, Shethought to herself, but instead said, "I'll do my best to create the spell you need. But I may need to consult some of my colleagues at the Academy for their expertise."

Gale looked hesitant for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Of course. And whatever resources you need, I will provide."

With that settled, Neri turned her attention back to her notebook and began jotting down notes and ideas for the spell. She had never attempted something like this before, but she was determined to succeed to get a hold of her future.

Both the illness and his departure from Waterdeep are references to the game's canon events! Hope you enjoyed this character and once again let me know any mistake or feedback you want to share:)

[nickmaghighlights]

Nick Mag Highlights - Nick Mag Presents: Danny Phantom (Fall 2005)

Well, well, well, fancy meeting you here. Welcome back to my blog and the words that inhabit it. Today, Halloween comes early this year when we read through another exciting issue of Nickelodeon Magazine Presents, this time all about Danny Phantom. Boo! Trick-or-Treat! Deck the halls!

And not only is this edition of Nick Mag Highlights spooky, it’s also… pretty chill. Y’know? Just takin’ it easy, reading a handful of comics and probably a crossword puzzle or something. As much as I love researching the kind of stuff Nickelodeon Magazine includes in its articles, sometimes it’s nice to sit back and take things at face value and just see what the state of Nickelodeon was like at any given time, and these short-and-sweet issues of Nick Mag Presents are the perfect venue for just that.

But why exactly am I tackling this purportedly Halloween-themed issue in August? Well, mainly it’s because that new Danny Phantom graphic novel just came out… two weeks ago (oops). And I really enjoyed it! So I’ve since been in a big Danny Phantom mood lately. I even ended up re-watching the whole first season and had a blast doing so. This show was a real obsession of mine as a kid, so maybe this blog post is also a way for me to give it its dues.

This issue can be found online here, read along… if you dare!

Another Nick Mag Presents, another humorously wordy introduction. If you’re unfamiliar, basically all these Presents-styled issues have a panel on the first page with a character essentially advertising the book to you and talking about all the comics and activities included inside. This one here features Danny and an understandably perturbed ghost, for example. 

Since these issues were usually sold in stores as opposed to through a mail subscription, I suppose this is the issue’s way of hooking you in and explaining to you why you should buy it. I think a kid would probably be more inclined to just flip through the book and arrive at the same conclusion, but I guess this approach doesn’t hurt anybody.

But anyway, let’s see here… aw, only two wholly new comics? The Fairly Oddparents-themed issue I took a look at previously had five original comics. That’s a bummer, but at least we’ve still got variety… SpongeBob, My Life as a Teenage Robot, and The Wild Thornberrys, oh my! Even Tak makes an appearance here, two years before the premiere of his actual Nickelodeon cartoon, meaning this was an attempt to interest readers in the then-recently released video game: Tak 3: The Great Juju Challenge. Not sure if that worked.

And if you’ll take a look at that yellow, spiky bubble with words on the right there, this September 2005 issue is meant to coincide with the then-upcoming two episode-long Danny Phantom special, “The Ultimate Enemy”, which featured Danny taking on a more powerful version of himself from the future. Seems like the included removable poster is even themed around that very episode! Let’s just hope that poster is still left intact, eh?

So first up, we’ve got a page to get you up to speed on the main cast if you’re new to the show. It’s even got some new factoids for the already familiar superfans! For example: Did you know Sam is into anime? I sure didn’t.

Oh, and if you’re wondering where series villain Vlad Masters is, don’t worry, they go over him later on in the book.

On the right you’ll find an easy if not slightly amusing word puzzle, which tasks you with solving questions where each answer contains the word boo. Simple enough for a kid while still being worth the time, methinks.

Although all the stock ghost art on the page gets me wondering, how come most of the ghosts in the show manifest as typical-looking cartoon ghosts while others manifest in a human form? I guess maybe it comes down to the strength of your spirit. Who’s to say?

You’ve met the characters, now it’s time to meet the voices behind them! I’ll always take a side of interviews with my Nickelodeon Magazine, and this is no exception. The questions are cute, and I had fun reading them. Not much to say.

So we’re finally here at the first comic of the issue, and… not really a fan of this one! Yeah, sorry to start this retrospective off on a sour note but this isn’t really doing it for me. The main villain of this one is Youngblood, who already isn’t exactly one of my favorite villains from the series. But here they’ve got him and all the other characters stuck in a pretty by-the-numbers plot where Danny and co. get stuck babysitting the brat while he tries to maim them, with them of course unable to fight back lest they face the wrath of his parents (who are humongous lizard monsters, for some reason). 

If you’re even a little familiar with cartoons you’ve probably already seen quite a few takes on this formula already. And even if you like Youngblood as a character they don’t have him doing his usual pirate shtick he’s remembered for, so I’m not sure what anyone is getting out of this, really. What's especially not helping is that this goes on for ten pages, further dragging out an already tired concept. 

So there you have it, I guess. Done-to-death story with accordingly done-to-death jokes, a lame villain, and about two pages of action. I will say though, Danny and Tucker’s babysitting poster on page 2 did get a smile out of me, at least.

You’ve met the characters, and you’ve also met the voices behind them, now it’s time to meet… the rest of the characters! The villain ones! These guys really made the show for me, cause the team behind the show really just seemed to understand the assignment and made all of them really unique and memorable.

So we can see they’ve been ranked in terms of how dangerous they all are, which is a fun idea. ‘Course you’ve got Vlad at the top of, but then there’s Technus just behind him? I can’t say I remember him being notably more dangerous than any of the other baddies, I’m fairly certain he gets swept up at the end of his specific episode just like all the rest. I’m pretty sure Valerie gave Danny a bigger run for his money, and she’s down at #3.

Woah now, I’m starting to scrutinize the power levels of cartoon characters. Cartoon characters from a show I haven’t even fully watched all the way through since I was a kid, no less. Better put a stop to that before it gets ugly.

Cool little cartoons on the left there, that one on the top right is properly devious and I’m all for it. All the art is quite lovely too.

The right is… well, it’s Mad Libs, there’s no other way around it. Y’know the Mad Libs website refers to itself as “the world’s greatest word game” but I seriously think they need to take that up with Scrabble, or hell, even Hangman. Yeah I was never a big fan of this kind of fill-in-the-blanks stuff, but I guess it’s a pretty inoffensive activity to include.

Check out Danny’s dad rocking that emo hair.

And now we’ve made it to the second and last new comic for the issue, and unfortunately it’s only a two-pager. But hey, if my thoughts on the previous ten-page comic said anything, it was that I prefer quality over quantity. And this one is… okay. It’s funny enough, does what all it needs to with the concept, and it definitely doesn’t overstay its welcome. I’m again surprised by the lack of action in both of these comics, considering Danny Phantom is an action show, after all, but it’s not like the show wasn’t a comedy either, so it’s not that weird.

I guess while we’re here I could nitpick it a bit. The lineart here courtesy of series creator Butch Hartman* is a bit wonky at times. There’s the aforementioned emo hair Danny’s dad is wearing, but my main gripe is that dog robot just doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the artstyle. It being the only new original character design for this comic as well doesn’t seem like a coincidence to me. I guess the team was fine with whatever Hartman drew because he made the show after all, so surely he knows what he’s doing, right?*

*Insert obligatory comment about how much of a loser Butch Hartman is here.

Just want to give a shoutout to this pretty creative puzzle here. It actually stumped me a little when I first read it! Those monster designs are pretty entertaining too. Solid activity overall.

Next up it’s an installment of Sam Shade, which was a short-lived recurring series in Nickelodeon Magazine. Apparently the series ran from 2002 to 2005, so this may be one of the last times a Sam Shade comic was ever printed in a Nick Magazine. 

These comics mainly consist of the titular Detective Sam Shade trying to solve some mystery, sleuthing around the area in a series of detailed, wordy scenes. Likewise, you as the reader are as well tasked with scouring the pages for clues to help deduce the culprit. Each panel here smoothly moves into the next, making for something like a Where’s Waldo puzzle but with an actual narrative. It’s a really good idea! A shame this series didn’t last longer.

Hey, is that Carl from Jimmy Neutron on the bottom right there?

Pretty nice My Life as a Teenage Robot comic here. Although that’s kind of unfortunate in a way, since that means I haven’t got much to talk about! It’s pretty much a 1-to-1 translation from animation to comic here. The artstyle and writing are both on point, it’s all just in a shorter, more paper-y format.

I wonder why the aliens’ speech bubble has flowers in it. Is that a theater reference, maybe?

The design of these fiery aliens are particularly awesome - simple but effective. I’m surprised they used such a cool design in a comic that was going to be seen by way less people as opposed to using it in the cartoon. Man, this show is so cool, even its supplementary media is stylish!

But anyway, do you want to know how this story ends? Read it yourself!

Ohh man, I distinctly remember this comic. I don’t remember what issue of Nickelodeon Magazine this one is sourced from, but whichever one it was, I had it. The story’s nothing to write home about really, It's another take on the age old tale of “Squidward yells at SpongeBob and Patrick for doing something annoying, so they inadvertently ruin his life”. Squidward must have a really good lawyer for him to be able to bounce back from all the crap SpongeBob and Pat get him into.

This version of the usual story has S. Bob and P. Rick making a cake in Squidward’s image. Mr. Krabs ends up mistaking it for the real Squidward, bringing it to the Krusty Krab, and having it run the cash register, obviously to disastrous results. It’s all pretty par for the course, and there’s some funny lines to be had.

Weirdly though, unless I’m blind, I can’t seem to find any credits for this one. Not in the comic itself or at the back of the book. I’m pretty sure the artist(s) behind this one did more SpongeBob SquarePants comics though, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the same writing team had a hand in them too. I distinctly remember one where all the characters turn into desserts. Or maybe it was an alternate universe where they’re all desserts? Something like that. Maybe I’ll find it and cover it on this blog someday!

And up next, it’s a Wild Thornberrys comic of all things (said with feigned surprise, having read the table of contents moments ago). And I’m just now realizing none of these comics have anything to do with ghosts, or horror, really. Quite the magazine you’ve got just in time for October, Nickelodeon!

But hey, it’s not right to judge a piece of art specifically by the context in which it is presented. Especially when it was originally published in a magazine that likely came out years earlier, probably not even around the month of October. Desperate times call for desperate measures and all that, even when it comes to filling the pages of a magazine.

This comic is especially cool, anyway, as you can no doubt tell from its distinct shakeup in style!

The story has Eliza receiving some gifts from her Japanese friend, Mayumi (who was probably in the show, presumably), one of those gifts being a homemade manga. And while I’m not exactly an expert on the Japanese arts, I certainly find this art convincing and really appreciate the attention to detail. I bet any kids that were fans of manga around this time must have felt pretty seen to have one of their hobbies referenced in a rather unlikely place, and with such attention to detail no less.

One thing I can also appreciate is that this story really isn’t something they could have pulled off in the show itself (unless they studio really wanted to have an anime-themed episode and go through the undertaking of doing an episode in an entirely different, foreign animation style all on their usual budget), so overall this is a really fun idea done quite flawlessly. My only gripe is we don’t get to see a manga-styled Nigel Thornberry, but what can you do?

Oh boy, the Tak comic, cool. Now, I know these games have their fans, but I can’t say I’m one of them. I did watch the show a bit though, but I’ve heard it has nothing to do with the games, so I guess that makes me rather unprepared to tackle this two-page comic on an intellectual, researched level. I will say though that I think the Sam Shade comic from earlier pulled off this style of free-flowing, no-panel storytelling to a much greater effect. The amount of Taks they threw around the page makes it feel really busy and cramped, and they had to essentially remove the second character Tak is traveling with from the story since I guess they were strapped for page space.

But yeah, the colors are nice at least, and Tak media is especially hard to come by nowadays, so I suppose if I were more into the property, I might be more into this.

Last comic of the day, and it’s Jimmy Neutron. At least this one kinda fits the theme, I mean, aliens are almost in the same horror-league as vampires, zombies, ghosts, and all that. This is a pretty quality one to end off the book with, and in regards to Jimmy Neutron, this is one of the better ways these characters have been translated to 2D. Although the incredibly warm colors and harsh shadows throw me for a loop. Pretty good overall!

Before we wrap things up, I would like to mention that advert for The Nicktoons Film Festival on the right. I totally forgot these used to be a thing! From 2004 to 2009 Nickelodeon hosted a film festival and let viewers vote for their favorite animated short, along with letting proper animation people who know what they’re talking about vote on their favorites, too. Lots of great up-and-coming cartoonists took part in these festivals. This one in 2005 actually featured a short by J. G. Quintel that eventually was used as a basis for his own Cartoon Network show, Regular Show! You can check the short out below:

Neat bit of history there, yeah?

Even though I’m still a bit disappointed this issue didn’t include more original content, I still think this ended up being a fairly entertaining walk down memory lane. And hey, I hope you had a good time too. I’m doubly disappointed, however, that the archive of this issue didn’t come with that tear-out poster! Now we’ll never see it in its full hi-def glory.

As always, thanks for stopping by and checking out another bit of Nick history with me. Have yourself a good one, and I’ll see you all next time!

[24-7-testing]

For The People Who Are Still Alive...

Hey Portal Friends and Followers,

I hope you're all doing well! Lately, I've had something on my mind that I think it's time to share with you all. Over the past year or so, my life has taken some significant turns! Major events have included graduating from college, starting my career in Design Engineering, and getting married! Life has been an exciting roller coaster, and I'm enjoying all the fun new things.

However, among all the changes, I've also been contemplating my relationship with the Portal games and the Portal Fandom. Some of you may have noticed that I haven't been active on this blog for quite a while. The Testing Queue still goes out daily but, beyond that, I haven't been sharing new artwork or engaging as much. My YouTube channel, where I used to make Portal videos and build robots and props, has been on a long hiatus too. Everything Portal-related in my life just doesn’t seem as captivating as it used to be.

These days, when I think about Portal and all the things I used to do in the fandom, it conjures a strange feeling in me. On one hand, I still hold the story and characters dear, and I fondly remember all the fantastic fanart, interactions, and stories that I’ve seen as part of the fandom. But on the other hand, the fervor and eagerness I once had seem to have softened. It's like my passion has transformed from being a passionate superfan to a calmer and more passive enthusiast.

Has anyone else experienced this kind of transition in their fandom journey? If so, I'd love to hear how you dealt with it and any insights or suggestions you might have for me. Feel free to reply or DM.

These feelings have left me with a dilemma: what to do with my blog. I don't want to abandon it or delete it, but even refilling my queue is starting to feel tiresome. Plus, without active effort I'll eventually run out of posts to queue from my archive, so maintaining the queue alone is only a temporary solution. I've been toying with the idea of inviting someone who’s more active in the fandom to become a Moderator for the blog and keep it alive with fresh content, but I'm still uncertain about this option. If you have any feedback on that idea, please reply or DM.

So that's where I stand now. My life has taken me in a new direction and, while I still love Portal, I don't have the same time and energy to invest in the fandom as before. I'm eager to find a way to keep this blog alive in a way that feels authentic and will keep the content you all followed for going for the foreseeable future.

If any of you have encouraging words, suggestions, ideas, or thoughts, I'm all ears! Your support has meant the world to me, whether you've followed 24-7-testing since its inception in 2016 or if you just followed a few days ago. Please don’t be shy about replying or DMing me. I'm genuinely grateful for each one of you!

Rock On Portal Fandom!

- 24-7-testing

[dykesville]

bechdel test failed (aka your only friend is your enemy)

happy truce @renvy-art!! of course i’m that bitch about valerie so of course of course i had to go with prompt 3: “sam and valerie talk after valerie finds out about danny.” so here it is, and i hope you enjoy it!!

six hours in a robot fursuit would be enough to stoke the homicidal tendencies in anyone, but valerie gray ran hot to begin with.  even so, she hadn’t meant to do this to danny.  well.  not to this danny.

[cross-posted to ao3]

she’d got him fucking good, for what it was worth.  he wasn’t dead, any more than was apparently his usual, but his breathing skipped and stuttered like a scraped-up cd.  his heartbeat was uneven, and he dripped thick and blackening blood across the mercifully vacant pavement.

the trip across town gave her time to look at danny, at the gentle and boyish look his pale face held when he wasn’t at school shrinking away from bullies or in the streets punning at ghosts.  it gave her time to wish she hadn’t beamed him with a sniper blast in the open wound.  or that she’d recognized that zigzag path as his lurching escape from the aftermath of a battle that he – heroically – had resolved.  or that she’d gotten closer before she hit him – or that she’d talked to him before she targeted him – or that she’d looked into those green eyes and recognized how the curve of phantom’s lids belonged to the same boy who’d been her ill-received crush in chemistry class a year ago…

the trip across town gave her time to realize, truly and acutely in the depth of her soul, that there was no world in which this would have ended any differently.

fucking fenton.

valeries’s fists slammed against the panes of manson’s window.  she was setting up some macabre display in veneration of the dead, which seemed to valerie like overki – like a stupid thing to do in a town where literal ghosts made merry in the streets.  heavy metal blared all the way to the neighbors’, a good distance since the mansons’ property was immense.  valerie extended her metallic suit over her elbow and smacked it against the glass – wham wham wham wham wham until sam looked up.

to her credit, it took only a second of widening eyes for sam to jump up, cursing in pantomime, and throw the window open.  “pass him in.”  valerie slid her hoverboard, danny dangling across it, through the window and climbed in herself.

she was prepared for cacophony, but she realized immediately that sam’s public disturbance speakers were focused outward, not just soundproofing the room from sam’s parents but providing an alibi.  valerie could hear every syllable sam muttered under her breath as she whipped the tablecloth off her desk, her goth trinkets wrapped inside it.

it turned out sam’s desk doubled as an operating table, and beneath that desk were six first-aid kits labeled in ghost script.  while valerie manhandled danny onto the table and cut his shirt off him, sam laid the six containers out on a side table and clicked opened each in succession.  a stethoscope.  trauma shears.  a set of awkward asymmetrical needles, no two identical, and thread that looked like fishing line.  bandages whose dyed-black tint didn’t mask their glow.  a defibrilator.  each tool was so acid green they almost triggered valerie’s automatic gun mechanism.  and in the penultimate case, jar upon jar of differing viscosities of glittering ectoplasm.

sam snapped on latex gloves and valerie let herself be jostled out of the way so doctor manson could take a look.  sam prodded gently at the leaking wound, opening it wider while antiseptic light beamed from a carefully disguised desk lamp.

valerie felt like her body was grounded in place.  she could not take her eyes off this wound.  penetrative trauma on his right side, twelve centimeters deep, piercing straight through his liver.  to top it off, third-degree burns in a radius of six centimeters wide and some four centimeters deep at the same point of incision; his entire side was charred and exposed and sloughing sooty viscera.  she’d done that, that last part.  that one was from her.  sam prodded it at the injuries with her gloved fingers and a silvery tongue depressor and valerie stayed out of her light.

a moment later, sam sighed.  she tossed her head to throw her fringe out of her eyes.  “oh, danny,” she muttered to herself, tracing one press-on nail over her first-aid kits and selecting items with crisp precision.  “this was not what i meant when i said you should get a stick-and-poke.”

valerie’s eyes slid to the girl at her left, incredulous.

sam didn’t seem to notice her simmering, humming along with her music and inspecting danny’s wound.  she snorted.

“geez, valerie.  couldn’t you have shot him somewhere other than where skulker got his hooks in?”

“sam, don’t fucking start with me.”

fuck.  fuck, okay.  she hadn’t meant to go there, right, not while danny was losing his guts on manson’s worktop.  but also fuck it.  valerie’s subconscious knew her better than she did, and it knew that there was shit that needed to be aired out.  if danny was going to be okay, and sam’s demeanor communicated that he was, then why hold onto ‘till tomorrow what you could blow the lid off today.

sam seemed to be of the same mind.  she huffed an irritated breath and threw a look in valerie’s direction.  “and what is that supposed to mean?”

valerie pointed to the ashen boy on the table.  “it means that this boy let me chase him up and down the city for who remember how long.  and he never ain’t told me he was human?  and somebody i know?  someone i thought i was friends with – ”

“oh, so you’re mad at danny when you’re the one who just tried to kill him.  when he is bleeding out on my desk – ”

“how’s i supposed to know i could have killed him when he ain’t never told me he was alive?”

“how was he supposed to tell you when you’re constantly trying to kill him?”

“he’s a ghost! – ”  valerie strangled her own voice and dug her nails into her palm.  “he’s a ghost.  i’m a ghost hunter.  what else did he think he was gone get?”

“oh, sure,” sam scoffed, rolling her eyes so hard her whole head rolled with them.  “it’s always ‘shoot first, ask questions later.’”

zero to one hundred on a gas-burning stove.  valerie stalked toward sam’s open closet.  “hey, what are you – ”

valerie had clocked the awkwardly-stashed pastel givenchy as a hiding place for something the moment she’d stepped in the room, and soon as she’d shoved it to the side, sure enough, a false wall revealed itself.  she yanked on the panel and out spilled a veritable trove of ectoweapons, bright and bold and garish in fentonworks green.  sam’s protests died on her lips as valerie fixed her with a pointed stare, lips pursed hard enough to bruise.

sam’s expression morphed from startled, to ever-so-briefly shamed, to sardonic.  “point taken, valerie,” she drawled.  “now could you please put my stuff back.”

valerie returned the ectoweapons to the crawl space.  hand-blasters and net-slingers and things she couldn’t quite parse that she set aside to take back home with her.  these were models from some years ago, made well out of date in a relatively sort time.  these must have been stolen from the fentons – who wouldn’t think twice about something being there one day and gone the next – one at a time over the course of years.

sam had kept at her steady work putting danny back together, even while she and valerie had thrown those few jibes.  she’d wiped his torso with a damp towel first, then several antiseptic wipes; now she cleaned it out with what was probably distilled water, if it wasn’t some sort of ghost zone ghost water or something the like.  with the last of the blood washed away, the chunk taken out of danny’s torso was charred and vivid and exposed.  valerie cringed.

sam appeared unbothered, squinting at the wound with intention, but numb to the gore of it.  how many times had she stitched him up like this?  valerie could picture it easily – the two of them phasing into sam’s room through the wall, danny easing onto her desk, making some dumb joke to cover up a wince.  now that it had been exposed to her, it was all too easy to imagine danny’s jokes in phantom’s voice, deployed as a way to distance himself from the pain he was in.  to play the hero.  how many times had it been one of her blasts that had sent him here?

sam replaced her gloves, tossing the old ones into a biohazard bucket by her feet.  she extracted a jar of ectoplasm from first aid kit number four; with the lid unscrewed, the green glow lit her face from the chin.  she applied it thickly onto danny’s injury and there was a chilling suck as the ectoplasm moved on its own, burrowing deep inside that gaping hole within him.  excess fluid leaked away from the site, turned a watery and rancid pickle color.  sam dabbed it away and valerie glimpsed the pink flesh of one of danny’s inner organs, wholly restored.  sam trickled water into danny’s mouth and waited while he reflexively swallowed it.

“y’all could have told me,” valerie said quietly.  “danny’s my friend.  and y’all made me the villain of the week.”

sam paused, for the first time.  she remarked valerie with a look that contained some measure of shame beneath its frosty surface.  “for what it’s worth,” she said in a low voice, “he doesn’t tell anybody.  if tucker and i hadn’t been there during the accident, i doubt he’d have even told us.”

“so it’s just y’all two that know?”

“and jazz,” sam said, “and one other person.”  sam’s tone was guarded, and valerie acquiesced.  she’d poke at it someday, but for now it didn’t matter.  probably.  as sam spread a lotiony ectoplasm over danny, she added, “both of them found out by accident, too.”

“so he just let me beat up on him for months.  i could have killed that idiot.”  she had the feeling she was repeating herself, and she had the feeling it wouldn’t be the last time.

“val, join the club,” sam said, unimpressed.  “every ghost and every ghost hunter in the world beats up on danny.  and you hate phantom more than any of them.  if danny was going to reveal his identity to anyone, he definitely wouldn’t start with you.”

“fuck you,” valerie said quietly.  sam’s head snapped up so quick you could hear the ice in her veins crackle.

“wh – fuck me?” sam asked, aghast.

why did valerie always lash out when she felt hurt?  and then, despite a moment’s shame – that was, a moment’s regret, why was it so easy to justify herself to herself and to settle into righteous anger like a second skin?

“fuck you,” sam was sputtering.  “what gives you the right to be self-righteous when you’re the reason he’s in this condition in the first – ”

valerie shook her head.  “no.  no, if i’m the reason, you’s the reason.  you think ‘phantom’ saves this town – ”

“danny.”  sam was rigid, and holding that wonky ghost needle in her hand.  valerie grimaced; she’d heard the reflexive derision in her own voice at the ghost boy’s name but fuck the details for now because she knew what she was about.  something had become clear to her in an instant, and as the notion dropped into her mind, fully formed as though whispered into her ear, she voiced it.  she stepped up to sam, stopping just shy of getting in her face.

“i save this town.”  sam scowled down her nose, disgust and distaste wrinkling her skin.  “i’m the reason amity park ain’t a smoking crater.  i clean this shit up by myself, but danny brings his ass around to every fight ‘cause he’s got a hero complex and he thinks he’s responsible for every ghost that come through here.  and you,” and valerie clenched her hand into a fist to keep from smacking it against the center of sam’s chest.  “you like that you’re the only one he trust with his secrets.  because it makes you special.”

“oh, fuck you, valerie,” sam intoned, rolling her eyes and shoulders and body.  but valerie didn’t need to see her cheeks color to know that sam knew that valerie knew the truth behind her words.

“you could have told me who he really was.  but you, you, sam manson, you’d rather let me hunt him down like he’s just another ghost ‘cause you like the drama.  you said it’s my fault danny got hurt today.  right?  but now that i know who he is, you think we gonna fight tomorrow?  and if you’d told me the truth last year, you think we’d still be fighting today?  of course not.  so what’s what with that?  whose fault is it we in this situation?”

sam’s expression was almost wonderingly disgusted.  she scoffed, building up some dismissal, seconds away from claiming that she didn’t even know what valerie was talking about.  but valerie’s life was making sense for the first time in a long time.  truths were uncovering more truths.  everything was slotting into place.  she could feel her rage at the world, so long unchecked, coalescing into heat like a forge.  where the fire wasn’t the weapon but the thing you used to cast the weapons.  and sam’s frost was cracking melting under it.

“you fucked up, manson,” valerie hissed.  “how the fuck does it help danny for y’all to leave me in the dark?  so i have to watch him fall a hundred feet out the sky to know that he could even die?  to know he’s a human and that he’s my friend?”

“get the fuck over yourself,” sam breathed.  “you don’t know what ‘helps danny.’  you were trying to kill him.”

“manson, i was trying to kill him,” valerie repeated and gripped sam by the hands, startling her with her ferocity.  “y’all three is playing with his luck.  i – just imagine if i’d actually – ”

valerie flinched so hard it rocked her entire body, and sam’s, too, held in her grip.  her suit, even dormant, automatically tried to check her vitals and she cursed it.  that moment when she’d hit him – it had been a triumph that felt so cruel now painted over by the snap of horror from when he’d dropped and kept dropping.  that flash of light she’d never seen before but that she knew was bad, bad, bad, and she was rocketing toward his lifeless body before she knew what she was doing.  she had just managed to catch him before he’d collided with the ground.  it had been so fucking close to being so much worse than bad.

grief hit her like a shock, and she staggered toward table and the boy laying across it.  reflexively, sam steadied her.

stretched out, pale, skinny, and barely shakily breathing, danny looked so fragile.  so fragile.  valerie loved this boy, whatever that meant, and she had caused him so.  much.  pain.  by the way that she had lived and the malice she’d held in her heart.  the circumstances had been what they had been.  and she had made the choices she had made.

“why didn’t y’all tell me?  any of y’all?”  valerie didn’t let go of sam’s hands.

“there was never a good time,” sam whispered.  she didn’t pull away.  “ghost attacks every day – i mean, you know what it’s like.  and with school on top of it, and then there’s the way his family acts about ghosts, and – it felt like telling one person meant telling everyone, and…”

rambling and unclear and yet crystalline – it was all so familiar.  to think that she and they had been walking on opposite sides of the same road for over a year, and that in that time all they’d managed to do was hurt each other from across that road.

“we didn’t know how you’d take it.”  sam extricated one hand from valerie’s to rub the back of her neck.  their expressions were complementary bitterness as sam admitted, “we didn’t know whether you could be reasoned with.”

so there it was.  danny and his friends had thought, or at least they had worried – enough to let the cat-and-mouse game go on for eighteen months – that valerie hated phantom more than she cared for danny.  that she hated ghosts more than she could honor another human being.

“sorry,” sam mumbled.  valerie, stiff, nodded once.

“yeah.  i’m sorry too.”

inadequate.  all that needed to be said.

valerie surveyed the table.  manson was a piles-on-the-floor type of girl, but she’d kept each item in its place here, a tidy, careful hospital in the center of chaos and gore.  danny in the center of it, cared for, a simple pillow behind his head.

sam came up behind her and nodded toward the modifications to the table.  “tucker designed those little caddies, and we built them in the fentons’ lab.  but tuck is useless when it comes to actual medicine, so it always falls to me and jazz.”

and danny had been relying on half-complete half-human medicine administered by teenagers ever since his – accident.  valerie knew the feeling.

valerie pulled on a pair of gloves.  she held out her hand for the needle and thread; sam handed them to her automatically, compelled by the force of valerie’s will.  though in truth, valerie hadn’t always been great around medicine herself, and to her surprise she found it harder to swallow her nerves in the face of someone else’s wounds than for her own.

“doin’ okay?” sam asked gently.  valerie’s temper flashed – of course she was doing okay, and of course she wasn’t – but she quelled it.

“i’m fine.  what’s a little blood between ghost hunters.”  she mopped up a little of said blood with the sponge, and caught the glistening of ectoplasm in the fluids.  this was real.  this was danny.

she’d done her own first aid, right, stitches and bandages and serums mr. masters had delivered her that she didn’t have the energy to be skeptical of.  but danny was different.  he had ghostly attributes, ghostly needs that valerie’s experience didn’t equip her to accommodate – she had no idea where those other jars of ectoplasm came into the medical care, for instance.

she shifted her weight.  exhaled her frustration.  inhaled the acceptance that this was not going to just be the rest of her night, but the rest of her time in amity park.  the rest of her time as a ghost hunter.  collaborating with sam, and tucker, and jazz, and danny phantom, and with all the ghosts who’d become phantom’s allies whom valerie had pushed away.  since she’d become a ghost hunter, she’d cultivated an animosity – her choices – that would take incredible work and attention to overcome.  she would have to trust the others, and everything that they knew that she didn’t.

and in exchange, she’d get to share the load.  she’d get to lay her grudges to rest, once danny woke up and the two of them hashed it out.  she and danny could work together at school, coordinate it so that one of them could relax from time to time.  they would get trust.  neither of them would be alone anymore with the fate of the city.  in exchange for her humility, valerie too might have sam manson’s careful hands to stitch her wounds.

“alright, manson.  show me what to do.”

[egg-emperor]

I was thinking (my thoughts get a lil morbid at times), given that Eggman is shown to STILL be salty about Maria's death stealing attention from him over 50 years ago, Do you think it's possible that he takes a moment to mentally gloat over maria's death and be smug about how he's still alive and she's worm food (and proclaim himself the superior Robotnik)?

Like would he look down on her for being "stupid" for not ditching Shadow to save her own ass and for being "weak" because she died from a single dinky little bullet, while he has survived things that would have killed an ordinary man 10 times over , multiple times?

Yours and mine both lol you know you've come to right place here 🤝

I mean Eggman is canonically so horrible, self-centered, and selfish that he feels resentment towards his dead 12 year old cousin and felt jealous when people talked about her because it wasn't all about him like he thinks it always should be. And even decades later as an adult, he didn't grow out of it and think "that was wrong, she was an innocent soul who was killed in a terrible way and people talked about her because she was a nice sweet girl and I was just bring a bratty kid demanding attention" like others would. He has held onto it to this day and it suits him very well for how horrible and selfish he is, how he has low empathy, and how he's a manchild.

So I can definitely see him having the most twisted thought process to make himself feel better on the occasion she crosses his mind. Like when he feels that bitterness seeping in and gets agitated again, he turns his nose up and scoffs and grumbles nasty stuff like "Some great, strong, brave girl she was when she died to a measly bullet, pfft" and "If she's so great, why is she long gone while I'm the one still here, accomplishing amazing things and on my way to victory and ruling my glorious empire?" and mentally lists all the amazing things he's done that she never came close to and things he's survived that would've killed a normal man a hundred times over.

I also like the idea that he'd judge like "She really died so he could be saved, what a pathetic waste of life. When I rescued Shadow with a robot when he fell to earth, it was because I was going to make good use of him as a weapon/tool and use him as the blueprint for my androids!" instead of just doing it as some foolish selfless act that ends up getting him killed like she did instead of saving herself! Because he really can't understand doing anything for anyone ever if it won't benefit himself by appealing to his own selfish desires in any way. And it's another way he can blame her and feel like he would've made the better smarter choice.

And because he acts like it was so easy to wipe out GUN himself and like they're just nothing and so pathetic compared to him like I mention in my next post, I can imagine him acting like being killed by GUN of all things is such a skill issue because they're so weak and pathetic too, as yet another way to have a one up over Maria. And yes, by saying that he'd actually also be insulting his grandfather and idol in the process, whether it comes to his mind or not. But with the way he also called Shadow the "so called" Ultimate Life Form and literally just dissed him and his creation like that in the very same TailsTube ep, I don't think that would exactly concern him lol

These are all the things that come to his mind whenever she crosses his mind and gets him grumpy, it will soon put a big proud cheeky smirk on his face and cheer him right back up again. He won't hesitate to put anyone down in any way he can to affirm that he's the superior, even in the absolute sickest of ways like that! That's golden, he's so nasty XD 💜