#GUH Thanks guys for being patient with me

[thehelltingvilleclub]

Matt Montgomery - Closet Geek & Closet Freak

An Adult in Eltingville that actually acts like an adult???? WHAT???

Matthieu "Matt" / "Mattie" Thomas Montgomery [02/16/1978] Not Affiliated with TEC - Known Tournament winner amongst Jerry's MTG players. Cosplayer and College student in Manhattan. AOL / Online Users: [MTM_cosplay] | [GoblinHoarder] Theme Songs: Talk talk - Charli xcx | Move Along - All American Rejects | Somebody Told Me - The Killers

Favorite Shit: Trading Cards, Puzzles, Sports cards, Cosplays, X-Men, Monsters, Kaiju, Robots/Mecha, Dr. Who, Rubicks Cubes, Hard Cover books, YAPPERS, Movie Marathons, Beast, Wolverine, MTG, D&D, Cosplay Contests

I don't know how tf to describe this man other than tired and done with everybody's shit and he hasn't been awake more than an hour. He's three years into his bachelor's degree, essentially has 3 full time jobs between cosplay, tournaments, and all of his school work PLUS TUTORING, homie barely has enough time to breathe let alone deal with the TEC. However, that doesn't mean he won't find a way to weasel himself in-- even if its.... by unconventional or rather... *unexpected* means.

Guys I have like no art of him SORRY

Mattie generally only gets introduced very sparingly during 1999-2005, essentially in passing by Jerry or Josh, but he's still present and alive during this time, obviously. Him being friends with Jerry is what gets him to recognize Josh later.

Matt is studying for a Bachelors in English Comp, specializing in Journalism.

Speaking of, Josh and Matt work together at the editors office for the Comic Book News site in the epilogue. It's how they find each other again after Matt graduates and moves back home.

Matt is from northern Vermont, around the Canadian border, and has a bit of a Canadian accent because of it.

Everyone picks on him about it except for May and Jerry, (yes, even Josh, but it eventually becomes endearing to Matt.)

MATT. LIKES. YAPPERS. He doesn't talk much, he doesn't have much to talk about. Books and papers and trying to explain gymnastics routines isn't exactly the most interesting thing in the world, y'know.

He also doesn't have the time to really subject himself to the extreme absorption that Josh and Bill can get with their comics and shows, so.. Tell him about them!

He didn't get access to a lot of the more nerdy, pop culture side of things because of his parents. They had a significantly stronger iron grip on what he and his sister were exposed to, so he never really...

well, he didn't get to express his love for the more geek-y side of life until he moved to NY for college.

He became a professional cosplayer via his roommate forcing him to post, invited to events and photoshoots for his live floor routines he'll do in character, though he almost always wears a full-face mask or enough make up that you can barely tell who he is.

he can't have his sister finding out he dresses up as a blue demon freak in his spare time, yknow? (god she'd bully the shit out of him if she did--)

He's been in gymnastics since he was in middle school, and he's actually quite good; he's on a scholarship at his university, for pete's sake.

unfortunately a bad fall broke his clavicle and made it so he can't do vault anymore, but he enjoys his time doing floor routines and fucking around on the pommel horse from time to time.

Matt also.. is weirdly envious of TEC's... closeness? The fact they barely get along and yet they're all still together, they all still try and see each other or keep in touch..

He's never had that, and it makes him horrifically jealous, but he keeps it to himself-- smile and wave, swallow it down like normal, hm?

please subject him to a movie marathon. Infodump on him everything about whatever you're fixated on. He likes listening to people's voices, so please, just do it. It doesn't bother him at all.

This man has a TEMPER. His mother and his sister have this too, and it is BAD. Matt, however, learned ways to keep his temper at bay and calm down. to an extent. Bill, however, always manages to get his blood to boil by just the mention of him, so maybe... don't

Also, Matt and Pete absolutely bicker. A lot. Matt is constantly showing off that even though he's only an inch taller, he's able to do soOOSOooo much more! and Pete is convinced that Matt isn't actually gay and is trying to steal May away (guys Pete is such a fucking jealous goober I hate him)

Meanwhile literally the only person Matt wants is Josh. Pete should open his eyes maybe but like it's fine.

HOLY SHIT GYUSY

Okay UHM Hi Matt probably won't be talked about much but if you see me Vermont Honey posting it's because I need my comfort ship back okay THanks Also the NSFW cut is coming guys It's gonna have em all And I'll draw Jane and Matt's little sister soon, as they go to school together (Jane absolutely hates her guts OOPS unfortunately she's a bitchy cheerleader so you bet Jane has a voodoo doll of her somewhere in her room).

[hearsthephone]

His smile remained firm, glad that Finn was here even if that was selfish of him. He was grounding. A reminder that there was a world outside of Derry. One that they might be saving if they were successful. Although he didn’t know why IT hadn’t expanded IT’s reach outside of this place, there was always the possibility that IT could. And eventually would. Maybe. 

Bill hadn’t thought about how strange this must be for Finn. The Losers had this ability to seemingly know what each other was thinking. Some of them --- like Bill --- knew what others outside of his friend group were thinking. And feeling. And some of what was to come. It must seem like they were all on a different page than he was and that made sense. Bill just hadn’t thought about it from Finney’s point of view before.

“I’m s-sorry,” he murmured, holding the other just a little closer. “I-I know it must suh-seem like we juh-j-just know what the other’s think-thinking. And it’s k-kinda be-because we cah-can.” Like Finn could talk to dead people through equally dead electronics, they had their own abilities. “The buh-bonding will happen,” Bill agreed with a soft, apologetic, smile.

Finn had heard about Robin, he seemed like a great guy and irrationally Bill hoped that he liked him. That he would approve of what they had developed beyond just being roommates and friends. 

“Guh-guess IT really n-n-needs that nap,” he quipped with a breathy laugh. They reached the Townhouse and Bill pulled open the door for the two of them to pass through hoping that maybe at least one of them would be able to get some sleep. “Did R-Robin say anything eh-helse?” 

"I'm fine, Bill. Don't worry. I get it, honest." He did. Most people didn't stick around him and Gwen long enough to slot themselves into their dynamic, the bond between the siblings so uniquely shaped by what they went through at the hands of the Grabber it took time and care to allow new people to fit in. He imagined it was the same way with the Losers; Finn was patient, though. He could wait long enough to see how he fit in.

He smiled thanks and walked through the door. "Guess so. I'd be hungry and cranky if someone woke me up from a heavy sleep like that, so I theoretically couldn't blame IT." In practice though, he was looking forward to getting rid of the clown forever.

Remember Finn: forward, back, forward, swing. This thing isn't from here, but that doesn't mean IT can't bleed like the rest of us.

"He reminded me of how I got out of the basement." Finn kept his voice low as they walked to their room. The smile was gone, replaced by a firm line. He could joke about a lot, but the last year and a half in Denver wasn't one of them. "It was him that helped me get out. I never told you that, did I? Robin gave me the tips on how to fight that I still use when I need to. Guess I might be needing to again soon."

Finn opened the door to their room, and once they both were inside he all but draped himself over Bill's shoulders. There was a lot to process from the day, and he was still tired from traveling.

"I wish you guys could meet him, he's great. Really funny. Bruce too, but we don't talk much. Vance might give Eddie a heart attack so maybe wait to introduce him..." He grinned into his roommate's shoulder. "Haven't heard from Billy and Griffin in years, so you guys wouldn't be able to meet them unless they reached out. And that's not even guaranteeing that they'd be visible to anyone. But who knows? Maybe one of you has a secret talent you've never gotten to use until the new kid who hears ghosts showed up."

His smile remained firm, glad that Finn was here even if that was selfish of him. He was grounding. A reminder that there was a world outside of Derry. One that they might be saving if they were successful. Although he didn’t know why IT hadn’t expanded IT’s reach outside of this place, there was always the possibility that IT could. And eventually would. Maybe. 

Bill hadn’t thought about how strange this must be for Finn. The Losers had this ability to seemingly know what each other was thinking. Some of them --- like Bill --- knew what others outside of his friend group were thinking. And feeling. And some of what was to come. It must seem like they were all on a different page than he was and that made sense. Bill just hadn’t thought about it from Finney’s point of view before.

“I’m s-sorry,” he murmured, holding the other just a little closer. “I-I know it must suh-seem like we juh-j-just know what the other’s think-thinking. And it’s k-kinda be-because we cah-can.” Like Finn could talk to dead people through equally dead electronics, they had their own abilities. “The buh-bonding will happen,” Bill agreed with a soft, apologetic, smile.

Finn had heard about Robin, he seemed like a great guy and irrationally Bill hoped that he liked him. That he would approve of what they had developed beyond just being roommates and friends. 

“Guh-guess IT really n-n-needs that nap,” he quipped with a breathy laugh. They reached the Townhouse and Bill pulled open the door for the two of them to pass through hoping that maybe at least one of them would be able to get some sleep. “Did R-Robin say anything eh-helse?” 

"I'm fine, Bill. Don't worry. I get it, honest." He did. Most people didn't stick around him and Gwen long enough to slot themselves into their dynamic, the bond between the siblings so uniquely shaped by what they went through at the hands of the Grabber it took time and care to allow new people to fit in. He imagined it was the same way with the Losers; Finn was patient, though. He could wait long enough to see how he fit in.

He smiled thanks and walked through the door. "Guess so. I'd be hungry and cranky if someone woke me up from a heavy sleep like that, so I theoretically couldn't blame IT." In practice though, he was looking forward to getting rid of the clown forever.

Remember Finn: forward, back, forward, swing. This thing isn't from here, but that doesn't mean IT can't bleed like the rest of us.

"He reminded me of how I got out of the basement." Finn kept his voice low as they walked to their room. The smile was gone, replaced by a firm line. He could joke about a lot, but the last year and a half in Denver wasn't one of them. "It was him that helped me get out. I never told you that, did I? Robin gave me the tips on how to fight that I still use when I need to. Guess I might be needing to again soon."

Finn opened the door to their room, and once they both were inside he all but draped himself over Bill's shoulders. There was a lot to process from the day, and he was still tired from traveling.

"I wish you guys could meet him, he's great. Really funny. Bruce too, but we don't talk much. Vance might give Eddie a heart attack so maybe wait to introduce him..." He grinned into his roommate's shoulder. "Haven't heard from Billy and Griffin in years, so you guys wouldn't be able to meet them unless they reached out. And that's not even guaranteeing that they'd be visible to anyone. But who knows? Maybe one of you has a secret talent you've never gotten to use until the new kid who hears ghosts showed up."

[shiro-hatzuki]

Transcript 2: Welcome to Milgram

Description:

They stirred, waking up at last only to be greeted by a bizarre sight: For some reason or another, they found themselves in a prison cell with a horned rabbit talking to them. To make matters worse, they couldn't remember how they ended up here or even who they were. Who could blame them for being on edge when they heard the prison guards coming down the hallway?

A MILGRAM AU in which the roles are reversed.

[Can be read below the cut or on AO3! Warning for mild flashing at the end.]

---------------

[They softly stir, as if awakening.]

Es: “Mmnh… ?”

Jackalope: “Yo! You awake, Es?”

Es: [groggily] “Nn… A rabbit’s… talking…?”

Jackalope: “Haah? ‘A rabbit’s talking…’ Oh, right, your memories. Oh well.” [Clears throat.] “My name’s Jackalope. See my super cool horns? I’m not a rabbit, and don’t you dare call me one! Anyway, you can just think of me as your caretaker.”

Es: “Those horns are real? Am I still dreaming…?

Jackalope: “Snap out of it! You’re wide awake!” [Stomps his bunny foot.]

Es: “Guh! Okay, I got it, I’m awake! But why…?” [They trail off as they shift slightly]

Jackalope: “You probably have some questions, but it’d be a bother to try and explain everything to you right now, so just be patient.”

Es: “Some caretaker you are.”

Jackalope: “Hey, don’t make me out to be some useless guy! I’m only saying that because the guards will be doing the explaining anyway.”

Es: “Guards?”

[The two pause their conversation as footsteps belonging to a small crowd of people can be heard approaching from down the hall.]

Jackalope: “... That sounds like them. There are ten of them. Most of them look pretty average, but they’re the ones in charge here.”

[The two wait a few moments, the sound of footsteps growing closer still. Es shifts to hold Jackalope, against which Jackalope briefly struggles.]

Jackalope: [Angrily.] “Oi!”

Es: [Gritting their teeth.] “Put up with it just this once. Please.”

Jackalope: [Huffing as he stops struggling.] “... Fine.”

[The footsteps come to a halt in front of Es’s prison cell.]

Mahiru: “Ooo looks like they’re already awake~!”

Kotoko: “Looks like it. Kazui?”

Kazui: “Of course.” [He clears his throat before speaking clearly.]

Kazui: “Good day, prisoners. We’re the prison guards of this place -” [He waves a hand] “- the Milgram prison. It exists to judge your sins. We don’t know much about you yet aside from one thing: you are a killer. From now on, you’ll have to enlighten us about yourself. Once again, welcome to Milgram. Have a nice life in prison.”

Es: “... Eh?”

Fuuta: “Oi, don’t give us that clueless look now.”

Es: “Prisoner… Killer? Me…? I…”

Yuno: “Hmmm… Hey, Kazui-san, are you sure we have the correct person? Something about their reaction doesn’t feel right.”

Kazui: “The prison shouldn’t be mistaken…” [He scratches the back of his head.]

Amane: [She takes a step towards the door.] “Prisoner-san, you’re ‘Es,’ correct? Don’t you remember murdering someone before you came here?”

Es: “Murdering someone… Did I…? I could have… But who…” [They gradually grow more distressed.] “That’s strange… What… where did I… who am…?”

Shidou: [He holds up a hand.] “That’s enough, thank you. You just woke up, so perhaps you still need to get your mind in order.”

Muu: “But… what now?”

Kazui: “Hmm… We might as well get on with the tour and introductions. Can you come out here, Es-kun?”

[There is the sound of a prison door opening. Es hesitates before slowly standing, making their way across the room towards the prison guards (presumably with Jackalope still in hand.)]

Mikoto: [Jokingly] “Should our leader go first?”

Kazui: “No no, don’t call me that when we’re all technically equals. Let’s just go in this order here.”

Mahiru: “Then… Haruka-chan goes first! Please give us your name and age~!”

Haruka: “Huh? Me…? A-alright…”

Haruka: “Uh… My name is Sakurai Haruka. I’m 17 years old… I think. I’m not interested in my own age… I’m sorry…”

Yuno: “My turn next! I’m Kashiki Yuno, but you can just call me ‘Yuno.’ I’m 18 years old and still a highschool student. And… I like spicy foods!”

Fuuta: “Why the hell are you giving all that?”

Yuno: “Oh hush. It’s your turn next, Fuuta-kun!”

Fuuta: “What a pain…” [Scratching head.] “I’m Kajiyama Fuuta, 20 years old.”

Yuno: “And occupation!”

Fuuta: “Tch… I’m a college student. Happy? Now let Muu go next already.”

Muu: “Um… My name is Kusunoki Muu. I’m 16 years old… and I’m in high school. Or… was, before this.”

Shidou: “I suppose it’s my turn now. My name is Kirisaki Shidou. I’m 29 years old. My current occupation… is being a prison guard here.”

Mahiru: “It sounds sad if you put it like that, Shidou-san~”

Shidou: “Does it?”

Mahiru: “Yes! Oh well, I guess it’s true for me, too.” [She gives a small laugh.] “Hi! My name is Shiina Mahiru. I’m 22. It’s nice to meet you~! And next…”

Kazui: “My name is Mukuhara Kazui. I’m 39. I guess from your perspective, I look like your average middle-aged prison guard… Ah, that does sound sad…” [He shakes his head.] “Amane-chan?”

Amane: “Yes. My name is Momose Amane. I am 12 years old, and I am in 6th grade. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Es: “12?!”

Amane: “Yes, I’m 12. However, I am still a prison guard here, so I will be carrying out my duties here diligently.”

[Es gives a small hum, but does not speak further.]

Mikoto: “Ah, I’m up. I’m Kayano Mikoto, 23. It’s nice to meet you, and… make sure you behave yourself here, alright? Well, not that I’m one to punish you even if you do misbehave, but… yeah!”

[A small sigh can be heard from Kotoko before she speaks up.]

Kotoko: “I’m Yuzuriha Kotoko, 20 years old.”

Mikoto: “That’s all you’re giving, Koto-chan?”

Kotoko: “For now, yes.”

Kazui: “Well then, I suppose we’ll move on to the layout of the place since you’ll be living here for a while. Don’t worry about getting too lost, though, since the prison is fairly straightforward. Firstly, that cell across from yours is Jackalope’s.”

Es: “There’s a small door.”

Yuno: “There’s one on yours, too! Every door that you two can go through has a normal sized door and a Jackalope sized one. Cute, aren’t they?”

Es: “Hm.” [To Jackalope.] “That’s convenient for you, huh?”

Jackalope: “It is. Otherwise, there’d be no door small enough for me to use. Who’re you calling small?!”

Es: “I didn’t say that.”

Muu: “Hm? Are you talking to Jackalope?”

Es: “... Huh? Did you not… Nevermind.”

Kazui: “Come. There are more things to address.”

Es: “Ah, alright.”

[Footsteps, now including Es’s, make their way down the hall.]

Kazui: “... That door over there is a storage room. As long as you get permission from one of us, you’re free to go in there. Just don’t make it any messier than it already is.”

Mahiru: “And that door over there is the shower room. We posted times when you can use it as well as the times when we’ll be using it by the door. Don’t go in at the wrong time, or we’ll be mad. Just kidding~! We actually have our own showers, so we don’t mind when you use it~”

Es: “... You speak as though I’m able to move freely through here.”

Mikoto: “Yeah. There are ten of us and only two of you prisoners, so we didn’t really see a need to be too restrictive.”

Jackalope: “Even though they’re like this, these chums determine how Milgram is administered. It’s their call if they want to make this place heaven or hell, so don’t try to get on their bad sides.”

Es: “Got it.”

[The group continues walking.]

Kazui: “Here’s the dining hall. We’ll usually be having meals here.”

Es: “We?”

Fuuta: “You’re eating together with us. We make the food, so eat gratefully!”

Es: “I didn’t expect to be eating together with the prison guards.”

Haruka: “It’s… less complicated this way, right…?”

Kazui: “It’s certainly easier than trying to separate us all the time. Anyway, that’s all there really is for you to know about living here.”

Es: “What about those doors at either end of the hall?”

Kotoko: “You’re a curious one, aren’t you?”

Es: “... I just want to know, since I’ll be around them.”

Kazui: “Well, there’s no harm in it. That door over there leads to our rooms. You can go in there with our permission. I believe some of us wouldn’t mind you visiting, anyway. As for the door closer to your cell, that’s the courtroom. We’ll explain exactly what’s going on with that and your judgement later, but for now, we’ve talked your ears off enough for today. Any questions?”

[Es gives a hum, considering, though likely to not come up with anything on the spot.]

Amane: “... Prisoner-san, can you remember your crime now?”

Es: [shifting] “... No, still nothing. My head feels foggy.”

Shidou: [sighing] “Well, it’s to be expected. That’s all we have for you today, so you can go rest up, Es-kun.”

Es: “Alright. Excuse me.”

[Now, only Es’s footsteps make their way down the hall.]

Jackalope: “Oi, put me down already.”

Es: “Ah, right.”

[They pause, setting Jackalope down, before the two continue on down the hall.]

Jackalope: “It seems like you already accepted being a prisoner.”

Es: “Yes, it’s strange. I can’t remember anything - not who I am, or even who I killed. Yet being a prisoner here… being labeled a ‘murderer…’ Somehow, it feels right.”

Jackalope: “Es… How pitiful.”

Es: “I don’t need pity. I don’t think I do. I’m here as a prisoner, and though I don’t know who or how I killed, I do remember that I did kill. The feeling of taking someone’s life is familiar to me, at least. I’m a ‘murderer,’ and the truth behind my crimes…”

Jackalope: “You’ll learn it in due time. That’s how it’s supposed to go. It’ll be tough once things kick up.”

Es: “Are you talking about the ‘judgement’ the prison guards mentioned?”

Jackalope: “Heh, you catch on fast. The prison guards will judge you in that court, and they’ll be the ones deciding whether or not you can be forgiven for what you’ve done.”

Es: “Forgiven… or not…”

Jackalope: “It sounds harsh, but that’s just how it is.”

Es: “I see.”

Jackalope: “If they do their job right, then they’ll uncover the truth behind your sins whether you want them to or not. Scary, isn’t it?”

Es: “It is, but it’s also compelling, too. I… think I want to remember.”

Jackalope: “We’ll see how long that lasts. Well, we’re here. Enjoy this time while you can.”

[Es slows to a halt.]

Es: “... Judging my sins that even I don’t know… ‘Welcome to Milgram,’ huh?”

[kanjukucompany]

【A3! Translation】 Settsu Banri SR: Half-up Prisoner (2/2)

PART 1 / PART 2

(translation under the cut)

Lacking Training

Lacking Training

*bump*

Sakyo: ....!

Sakyo: Oi, watch where you're going.

Banri: ....Gh, this sucks. It's hard to see on this side, sorry.

Sakyo: That's right, you're role building aren't you.

Sakyo: It's refreshing to see your clumsy side, Settsu.

Banri: ...Jeez, don't be so amused.

Banri: Sigh...

Izumi: Ah, Banri-kun. I've heard you've been having problems. Are you okay?

Banri: Well, about that. It's really annoying. I just parted my bangs, but it's hard to judge how far away people are from me.

Izumi: So that's it.

CHOICE 1: It's refreshing to see you with a new haircut.

Izumi: It's refreshing to see Banri-kun with a new haircut.

Banri: I got a lot of reactions from the guys in the dorm and at university.

Banri: Do you like my hair like this, Director-chan?

Izumi: Yeah, I also think it's cool.

Banri: Thank you.

Banri: I'm happier hearing you say that than anyone else.

Banri: Since I've been praised by Director-chan, I think I can get used to this hairstyle.

CHOICE 2: You look good with any hairstyle.

Izumi: Banri-kun looks good with any hairstyle.

Banri: Thank you. Just hearing Director-chan say that makes me happy.

Banri: The other guys are gonna have different hairstyles in the play too, changing your hair really changes the atmosphere.

Banri: I might as well get a new haircut or something too. I'll have to talk to Azami.

Banri: Well, I should probably get used to this hairstyle first.

Izumi: Oh, that's right. Why don't you get some advice from 'that' person?

Banri: 'That' person?

Hisoka: Snzz....

Banri: Oh, found you.

Banri: Oi, Hisoka-san.

Hisoka: Snzz....zz.....

Banri: Hisoka-san. I'll give you some marshmallows, so will you listen to me?

Hisoka: Mm.... What is it?

Banri: I'm rolebuilding with this hairstyle at the moment. I'm not used to one of my eyes being hidden, though.

Banri: Is there a trick to it or something? Like, how do you even walk?

Hisoka: Forward, I walk forward.

Banri: (That's not...)

Banri: Sigh. Once I notice it blocking my view, I can't stop noticing it.

Hisoka: You can't just part your bangs, Banri. You're playing a role. Be patient.

Banri: You're right...

Hisoka: In the meantime, let's think of ways you can get used to your hairstyle while eating these marshmallows.

Banri: 'Kay, should we head to the living room?

Hisoka: Yeah.

*bump*

Hisoka: .....!

Juza: .....! I'm sorry, are you okay....?

Hisoka: Sorry, Juza. I bumped into you.

*bump*

Juza: ....!

Banri: ....guh! My bad.

Juza: Watch where you're going, asshole.

Banri: What the! Apologize! What's with the difference between me and Hisoka-san!

Juza: I don't owe you any apology. Look when you're walking.

Banri: That's why I was walking straight ahead!

Hisoka: Banri lacks training. Let's work hard together.

Banri: That's not advice...

[djchika]

RNM fic: 5 Times the Malex Squad tried to intervene and one time when Kyle Valenti, self-proclaimed best friend to Alex Manes, had enough.

1.  

Kyle hadn’t been too proud to admit he was hurt Alex hadn’t said he was playing at the Pony. He’d stared at Alex all wounded and betrayed when Greg had gone on and on about how Alex’s song made him cry.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Alex gave him a look then mockingly repeated, “I really hate Open Mic Night.

“I meant country music and crappy spoken word poetry. I don’t mean you!”

“For the record Forrest is an organizer and he does spoken word. Maybe don’t say that around him if you’re serious about coming next time.”

Kyle had grimaced. Someday he was going to stop inserting his foot into his mouth, but it had not been that day. He did however, concoct a great plan to make up for missing Alex’s performance and accidentally dissing Alex’s new boy wonder and that was grabbing a table front and center during the next Open Mic Night.

He was even there early which was nice cause he was able to hang out with Alex and Forrest. What was unfortunate was that they had to excuse themselves the moment the program started – Forrest to host and Alex to do whatever musicians do to pump themselves up before a game. Unfortunate, because Isobel arrived dragging a surlier than usual looking Guerin and commandeered the empty seats.

“Um, someone’s sitting there.” Kyle pointed out.

“We’ll move when they get back,” Isobel said, “We’re just here for one song.”

Kyle scowled. Fine. He could just ignored them. He was gone after Alex’s anyway. There’d already been one guy singing about dusty roads and pick up trucks and that was already one song too many.

The moment Forrest said Alex’s name Kyle hooted embarrassingly loud grinning brightly when Alex rolled his eyes at him. He didn’t miss the softer smile Alex aimed at Guerin.

Kyle also didn’t miss Isobel’s soft “Oh no,” when Alex called Forrest up to perform with him.

It was a new song. One about hope and new beginnings. Alex sang and played the piano with Forrest reciting bits of poetry during the refrain. It would have been cringe-worthy if Alex’s music didn’t turn Forrest overly dramatic words into something heartfelt and beautiful.

Kyle could almost say he was enjoying it.

What he was not enjoying was the furious whispering between Isobel and Michael.

“This is stupid,” he heard Isobel hiss. “You should be the one up there singing with him.”

“We’ve talked about this.”

“Yeah, yeah. That was before you spent the last month and a half moping. Tripp and Nora never got their chance at happiness. I don’t want you to lose yours too.”

“You know what would make me happy? If you two shut up while Alex is singing,” Kyle interjected quietly. He trained a glare at Isobel. “Regardless of who’s up there with him this is a big deal for him singing with a guy and you’re ruining it."

Isobel huffed, but stayed silent.

Michael stared at him for a second looking like he’d swallowed curdled milk, before finally gritting out the word “Thanks.”

Ah. Apparently, that sour look was him experiencing gratitude towards Kyle. Figures.

2.  

“Your doctor said you can go back to work slowly. That doesn’t mean jumping straight into a 12-hour shift.” Kyle gave Maria his sternest doctor face, but Maria just brushed him off.

“It’s been two months. I’m not doing anything excessive. I was doing paper work, but Max needed a break.”

The fact that Max was now a bartender still broke Kyle’s brain sometimes. Not because there was anything wrong with bartending, but nerdy Max Evans was no bar hound.

“I said I could watch it for him,” Guerin grumbled from where he was brooding like a gargoyle on a bar stool.

“If I left you to watch over the bar, I’d be out of business and your liver would be one big alcohol rag.” She paused, then whispered low, “Wait, do you have a liver?”

“They do,” Kyle confirmed. He’d been intimately acquainted with Noah’s for a while.

“And we all know you really have a heart,” Maria said, poking Guerin in the chest. “Although why you enjoy breaking it, I have no idea.”

Kyle turned when he saw that Michael was no longer paying attention to them and was in fact, staring across the room where Alex and Forrest were alone in a booth.

Nope.

He gave Maria another stern look, this time coming from the guy who was fast considering Alex Manes as his best friend. “Your doctor definitely advises against meddling in other people’s affairs.”

Maria rolled her eyes, but didn’t press further. The pained grateful look Michael threw at Kyle was still hilarious.

3.  

“Valenti.”

“Evans. Guerin.” Kyle said, eyebrows up to his hairline. The two of them showing up at his doorstep at any time of day meant trouble.

“We need your help,” Max said, pushing Michael gently forward. The two of them showing up at his doorstep with Michael’s hand wrapped around a bloody shirt definitely meant trouble.

Trouble in this case was thankfully not of the alien variety. More like Guerin was apparently a genius who turned into a clumsy idiot around Alex. Kyle had known that for a long time now, but he’d figured after half a year of the whole tortured unrequited love schtick, Michael would at least learn to be less self-destructive.

“I didn’t do it on purpose!” Michael said, when Max pointed out the same thing.

“You’ve been fixing cars for how long?” Kyle asked as he wrapped a proper bandage around Michael’s hand.

“Since I was thirteen.”  

“And you accidentally slammed the hood of your truck on your head then on your hand because?”

“Alex was out jogging shirtless,” Max said when instead of answering Michael huffed petulantly. “Which I still don’t understand, man. You’ve seen him shirtless before.”

“You wouldn’t happen to have some acetone, would you?” Michael asked Kyle, completely ignoring Max. “And another bandage to cover his mouth.”

Kyle ignored the second request, leaving to grab a bottle of acetone from the stash he’d started keeping for alien emergencies.  

When he got back to the living room, Max still seemed to be ragging on Michael. “He doesn’t even know how you feel.”

“He doesn’t need to know. Not right now.”

“You keep saying that. It’s been more than ten years of waiting for the right moment.”

“Then what’s a couple more?” Michael snarked back.

Jesus. This again. His friends needed more hobbies aside from going after alien murderers and prying in people’s love lives.

Kyle thrust the bottle of acetone at Michael then told Max, “The patient needs to rest. You need to leave.”

“I drove him here.”

“You can come back for him after a few hours when I’m sure he doesn’t have a concussion,” Kyle said, practically pushing Max out the door.

“Thanks,” Michael said, resting his head against the back of Kyle’s couch and grimacing slightly.

He wasn’t sure if that face was because of Michael’s injuries or because he had to thank Kyle again.

"I’ll get you some ice for your head,” he stopped halfway to the kitchen and turned to Guerin. “You know whose side I’m on in this, right?”

Michael gave him a small lopsided smile. “I still hate you for what you put him through, but you’ve been a good friend to him lately.”

Kyle nodded. Yeah. It took him a long time to stop hating himself for that too.

4. 

True to her character, Rosa didn’t even try being subtle.

She gave Alex the stink eye when he walked into the Crashdown with Forrest in tow. “Wait, I thought Isobel said you were soulmates with Gu—”

“—Guh-regory.” Kyle blurted out, then backpedaled quickly when all three of them gave him confused looks, “and she said service mates, not soulmates. Which is wrong because Greg was in the Navy.”

Rosa raised her eyebrows then proceeded to sip noisily from her milkshake.

When Alex and Forrest moved on to their own booth, Rosa eyed him suspiciously. “Are you trying the protective older brother thing on Alex too?”

“I’m not trying to be anyone’s older brother. And you’re both older than me. Technically,” Kyle added. “Besides, Alex doesn’t need protecting. He’s happy. People should just let him be happy.”

“Whatever,” Rosa said with a roll of her eyes. Then she grinned. “You’re totally on Team Malex though right?”

“Malex?”

“It’s what Isobel calls them.”

Kyle shook his head. “People in this town have way too much time in their hands.”

5.

The last straw was Liz literally lifting a straw from Alex’s leftover milkshake.

She had barely arrived back home updated on all the gossip thanks to Maria and Rosa and had apparently not changed one bit.

“No,” he said, grabbing the straw from her and grimacing at the sticky mess now in his hand.  

“Rosa said Isobel mentioned a cosmic connection. If I checked for proof then maybe—”

“No,” Kyle repeated bringing the straw with him when he left the Crashdown.

Seriously, was he the only adult amongst his friends? This was getting out of hand.

+1

“What’s the big emergency?” Isobel asked the moment the three aliens arrived at their newest secret bunker. Maria, Rosa and Liz were already sitting there, waiting impatiently for the reason Kyle had called the meeting.

Michael looked around, then froze. “Wait, where’s Alex?”

“Oh god, did he get kidnapped again?”

“No, he’s safe!” Kyle clarified quickly when six pairs of stricken eyes stared at him.

“Then why are we here?”

Kyle paused then said gravely, “This is an intervention. You all need to lay off Guerin and Alex. I know lately he’s been more sad, pathetic cowboy than angry cowboy, but he did the right thing walking away. It would have been a dick move rejecting Alex then going after him again just when he started going out with someone else. He’s right to wait until they’re both ready. So leave them alone.”

“You called us here to tell us to mind our own business, but aren’t you also technically minding their business by telling us to mind our own business?” Isobel asked, obviously faking confusion.

Maria and Rosa giggled, while Liz tried looked like she was trying not to smile and failing miserably.

Kyle crossed his arms, mustering his dad’s patented disapproving look and giving them all a good dose. “Alex has made his choice. If it’s the wrong choice then it’s his wrong choice to make. If we’re really his friends we need to respect that.”

Pulling out the friend card quickly sobered up Maria, Rosa and Liz who looked at each other guiltily. Max just sat there quietly seeming unsure why he was there in the first place, while Isobel finally huffed then finally nodded.

“Good,” Kyle declared. “No more pushing. No more meddling. Now we’re all going home, and Guerin is going to drown his heartbreak at the Wild Pony.”

“You really think Alex is that into Forrest?” Isobel asked, when everyone else had left and it was just her and Kyle.

Kyle let slip a small smile. Now that he had her word she wouldn’t interfere; he had no qualms in telling her what he knew. “Alex said it’s been fizzling out for weeks. They finally called it quits a few days ago.”

“What? Why didn’t you say anything? Michael could have rushed off to wherever Alex is and declared his undying love, black cowboy hat in hand.”

He gave her a look because 1.) they just went through this and 2.) Isobel was clearly watching too many soaps.

“Right. No meddling,” She pouted, then brightened immediately. “Doesn’t mean we can’t still watch in the sidelines. Where did you say Alex was again?”

“I didn’t,” Kyle paused and then added casually, “But we’re supposed to have drinks at the Pony tonight.”

Isobel gasped seeming to remember Kyle directing Michael to the same place. “You are such a hypocrite.”

“It’s not meddling if they just happen to be at same place at the same time at the right moment.”

She grabbed his arm, dragging him towards the door. “You and I are going there right now. We deserve to see this pay off.”

Kyle didn’t resist. As cheesy as all this was, he’d love to see Alex’s epic happy ending too.

[haro-whumps]

Group Whumpees: 1. Start

Inspired by this post by @whumping-every-day​ and @justtorturewhump​ about a group of whumpees. I’ve been thinking about it on and off ever since I saw it but I finally got the giddyup to actually write for it

CW: Modern slavery, implied + referenced abuse, death of a minor character, multiple whumpees, transphobia (brief), aftermath of torture/conditioning

--

Galo settled himself into the hospital chair, perfectly comfortable and positioned at a thoughtful angle to the side, opposite the door so physicians could easily enter. He’d intended for this to be a quick visit, but clearly his aunt had other ideas, so he might as well take a seat.

“Here I am on my deathbed!” Auntie Bethany raved, flinging her arm about wildly, and Galo internally winced each time she got too close to jerking on the IV, “Only ONE person comes to visit me! In my whole family!”

To be fair, your whole family is made up of jackasses, Galo thought privately, raising his hands in placation. “Auntie Bethany, please, you were just admitted today. I’m sure plenty of people will show up tomorrow.”

“None of them want to visit me, even when I’m going to die!” she persisted. To be fair, Galo didn’t really want to visit her either. He just… well, she was family. And she was in the hospital. And even though his family was estranged and largely filled with self-centered, arrogant individuals that made any kind of holiday event a stomach ache and a half, he tried not to be. So here he was. 

“You’re not going to die, Auntie Bethany,” Galo said patiently. “You’ve had this surgery before, remember? And you made it through just fine. I bet the same surgeon still works here, even!” Galo tried for a positive tone, cheerful. 

“Ah, you’re such a good niece for your dear old aunt, sweetheart.”

“I’m your nephew, auntie, we’ve been over this,” Galo said through grit teeth, smile significantly more forced now. This is why no one likes you, Galo thought.

“That’s why I’m leaving you all of my estate, darling,” Auntie Bethanie continued like she hadn’t heard him. Galo blinked twice.

“I’m sorry, what?” Galo asked nicely, sticking his pinkie finger in his right ear as though to clear it out. “You’re…”

“I have my lawyer coming to the hospital,” Auntie Bethany said, “Go get me a pair of socks. They keep it so damn freezing in here.”

Galo rose and went to the cabinet, pulling out the soft yellow cloth and helping the socks onto her feet.

“I had planned to split my estate between everyone who showed up, but you’re the only one! So you get the jackpot, you’re welcome!” she said, well, nearly-shouted, as Galo tugged the socks on over the socks she was already wearing, struggling with the tightness. He was strong; daily visits to the gym had his arms thickly muscled, his chest broad, but he wasn’t exactly trying to break his elderly aunt’s foot here, so he couldn’t just shove.

“Thank you, Auntie Bethany,” he said, trying to sound actually grateful and not just tiredly patient. So this was her newest passive-aggressive ploy. After Galo told the rest of the family there was money involved, the others would show up with their plastic smiles and loud voices and then she would get to gripe at how they were only in it for the money, but change the will up anyway to keep them visiting. She liked to play “games” like that. Galo tried very, very hard not to sigh. 

It’d probably keep up after the hospital stay, too, Galo mused as he sat back down in the chair. People showing up to her home with flowers and wine and “earnest” attempts to make sure she was recovering just fine. Honestly, who knew how long she could drag this out? Her poor lawyer. He hoped she was at least paying them well.

The lawyer did, in fact, arrive, and Galo quietly apologized each time his aunt criticized or scolded the poor man.

“You’re uh, gonna need to use my legal name,” Galo said, handing him his driver’s license. “Not the uh, childhood nickname she keeps calling me.”

The lawyer gave him a sympathetic pat, and it was hours after Galo had planned that he finally managed to get out from under his aunt’s endless conversation and go home already. He sighed, dropping his coat on the floor of his small apartment’s entryway. For all that he was competent, intelligent, and good with organizational skills and the like; Galo had not been particularly successful in his life. He was good with people and good with life skills, he just. 

Bluh!

Bluh bluh bluh! Now was not the time for a pity party, or else he’d turn into his aunt. He played an hour of his most recent video game, an open-world with a semi-voluntary plot, before turning in for the night. He should think about investing in a rabbit or something. He could eek out the money, and his apartment got awfully lonely, with just him, a computer, and a potted plant.

In the morning, he knew he should email his family and let them know Auntie Bethany wanted visitors, and she was messing around with her will. He should. A good son, nephew, brother, and cousin would. But then his dad would call him, asking for specifics (it never mattered how many specifics Galo put in the email. His dad would always call and ask for more), and that would mean talking to his dad and he really, really wasn’t ready for that, at the moment. Or at all. He could do it later. It wasn’t like Auntie Bethany was actually dying, after all, she was just up to her hysterics again. And god, if Galo’s sister or brother decided they wanted more than just an email… if they decided to “pop in” after visiting their aunt and gloat to Galo about how now it was their names on the will…

Oh and don’t even get Galo started on what Uncle Mike would do. He was a bigger attention whore than Auntie Bethany.

So he just… didn’t write. Didn’t call. Nothing that big was happening, they could afford to wait a few days before feeding into Auntie Bethany’s weird games. She could probably use a little disappointment for the first time in her spoiled, nasty life anyway.

Galo took a deep breath and covered his face with his broad palm. He shouldn’t think like that. That was uncalled for. Auntie Bethany was a fine person, she was just rude, and loud, and inconsiderate. But she was family. He should be polite. But, still, it would be fine if she had to wait a little while for everyone to get in on her weird ploys.

So imagine Galo’s surprise when the hospital called him after work, letting him know his aunt had, unfortunately, not made it through her surgery.

--

Her mansion (and that’s really the only word that could describe it, though “castle” was more fitting, in Galo’s opinion (it had an estate garden, who has an ‘estate garden’?!?!)) was huge. Galo had made that observation before, of course, every time he’d spent the weekend as a kid and the couple of times he’d visited during a family gathering. He couldn’t really believe it was his. The castle, the pool, the garden, all of her badass furniture he’d been warned to keep off of as a kid, her hella entertainment system that he honestly couldn’t wait to hook his game consoles up to. Didn’t she also own slaves? He wasn’t certain; he tended to get as drunk as possible as fast as possible at family gatherings, in order to survive said family gatherings, but he was pretty sure she’d mentioned putting away her servants for the evenings since they were “eyesores” or some shit. And he definitely remembered her having one when he was a kid, a glass-eyed guy only about a decade older than Galo himself.

Whatever. He unlocked the front door with her keys, attached to his keychain now, and took in the familiar foyer. He should go upstairs and check if her turquoise guest room was the same as when he was younger. It had an en suite bathroom with a bath the size of a hot tub, and it could definitely serve as his new master bedroom. Auntie Bethany’s had been the size of a ballroom, and he really didn’t need all that space (or to sleep in the same bed his dead aunt had slept in, guh).

“Mistress, w--” a thin woman with pale hair and over-wide eyes entered swiftly, then flinched back, grinding to a halt when she saw Galo.

“S-Sir, I’m sorry sir, but our mistress is out at the moment. You will have to visit her at a later time.”

“Oh, uh, I’m, not a home invader,” Galo assured, setting his little potted plant down near the antique vase his aunt had boasted about so frequently. The poor lady was trembling visibly, though he had to give her credit for not screaming and calling the police upon seeing a stranger enter her home. He probably should’ve called out and introduced himself when he let himself in; he’d just been thinking about how Auntie Bethany had kept slaves. “My aunt had a relapse, recently, and was admitted to the hospital yesterday. Uh, her surgery didn’t go so well,” Galo said, rubbing at the back of his neck. He needed to shave down his undercut, he thought rather inanely. “She didn’t make it. I uh, I’m sorta the sole inheritor of her estate? For the time being; at the funeral I’m sure we’ll get into plenty of arguments,” he said with a forced chuckle. 

“My name’s Galo,” he greeted, extending his hand to the woman.

He was a little taken aback when she genuflected and kissed his palm, dropping fluidly and with unexpected grace. “Oh, uh, okay,” he said, cupping her face and stroking a thumb over her cheekbone. Except, whoops, that was the wrong thing to do, he realized, since her face contorted and her whole body locked up.

“Shit, sorry, didn’t mean to hurt you,” Galo said, pulling his hand away immediately. She went down on both knees and pressed her forehead to the floor, further confusing Galo, her movements still fluid as silk.

“I apologize, Master. I reacted poorly.”

“No, no,” Galo rushed to reassure, his words making her flinch. “You’re good, you’re fine, it’s alright,” he tried, and that went over a little better. 

“I apologize if I have angered you, Master.”

“You--didn’t. I’m just, surprised is all.” He bent down and touched his fingers very lightly against the back of her hand, and he noted that she flinched again. Okay. Probably a trauma response. His aunt had likely picked her up from somewhere bad, but that was alright. He had significantly more emotional intelligence than Auntie Bethany; he was better suited to help this kind of person than she was. Would have been.

“Will you tell me your name?” Galo asked, voice intentionally calm and reassuring.

“...” He watched her swallow, his brows furrowing. Did she… not know her own name? “Whatever pleases Master best,” she eventually answered.

“Oh,” Galo said, voice soft and pitying. “No, that’s alright. You can tell me what you’d like to be called.”

“I--wouldn’t, be presumptuous, Master, and put words in your mouth.” Man, she was shaking like a leaf. He would definitely be stuttering, if he was that scared.

But a direct approach clearly wasn’t going to work, here, he couldn’t just do it over and over again and expect different results. He’d come at this from a different angle.

“You’re so obedient,” he praised, stroking a finger down her fingers and along the back of her hand, light as a feather. “You’re very good, you were trained to answer just like that, weren’t you?”

“Yes Master,” she said, sounding relieved. Good. 

“But right now, what I’m asking for is your name. If you don’t like the one Auntie Bethany called you, that’s fine, you can pick something else, but I’m not going to think of one for you, okay? I need you to do that, now,” Galo said patiently, feeling a little silly for talking to a grown adult in the same tone he might take with a crying child, but, well. Trauma response.

“Nyla, Master.”

“Good girl, Nyla.” He heard her breath of relief, and tapped the backs of his knuckles against her hand. “Stand up for me?” he asked, slipping his hands underneath her palms. He rose, and she stood with him, again with that eerie grace, pretty much none of her weight against his hands, although he had intended to help her up. 

“So, is there anyone else here I should meet?” Galo asked, smiling patiently at Nyla who did not meet his eyes at all. “That other guy. Gr… G-something.”

“Greyson, if it pleases you Master.”

“That’s it! He still around?”

“Yes Master. I can fetch the others for you, Master, and bring them to wherever you’d prefer to inspect us.”

“Uh,” Galo blinked twice. Okay. Nyla was clearly going to require a lot of delicacy, and while he was definitely equipped to do that, he wasn’t fast. “Sure, how about you get the others in the--” No, not the living room, the furniture in there was all tiny and mostly just for her weird 60’s aesthetic, “--den.”

He mentally added “den” onto his brand new list of things that made Nyla lock up. He should probably turn it into a physical list, at some point, since he was going to live with her now, and it was important to make note of things like this.

But the damage was done, and maybe this would be a good way to show her his aunt’s den wasn’t like… whatever it was, that she’d experienced before here.

His den. It wasn’t his aunt’s anymore. Auntie Bethany was dead.

It was a weird feeling, he thought to himself as he grabbed his potted plant and went upstairs to the guest bedroom that was, in fact, still just as cool as he remembered it. He set it on the windowsill of his house. It was a weird feeling, a really weird feeling, that someone he’d known all his life was suddenly… gone.

He didn’t miss her. He didn’t like her, and they certainly hadn’t been close. He wasn’t mourning her. But. Hm. His grandparents had all died before he could remember them, so he hadn’t really had a death in the family before. It was strange and almost-melancholy, thinking that his aunt would never again walk through this place. Would never hassle him about his hair at family gatherings ever again, or complain about the TV being too quiet, or eat cantelope with her mouth open.

He shook himself. He had other people to say hello to and introduce himself to. He gave his cheeks two smart pats and left the room, mentally plotting where he would put his own personal effects. And ugh, he had to get rid of that weird hall painting. Actually, why not just do that now; he was there and it was large, but if he gripped under the frame on top he could sorta-shoulder-carry it down the stairs. The weight wasn’t much of an issue. He was a particularly buff stud, after all.

“Oh, there’s more of you than I expected,” he mentioned offhand, reaching the den. Five slaves stood at strict attention, ignoring the human-sized furniture he’d intended them all to sit on, including a girl who couldn’t possibly be older than twenty. He stared at her, a muted horror not quite breaking past the shock. She was absolutely covered in bruises. Some were purple, some yellowing, some bright red and fresh, hardly older than two or possibly three days.

“Oh god,” he breathed, very, very deliberately reminding himself to move slowly as he approached her. Poor thing! Had she fallen? The bruises differed in age too much for that. He reached out a hand to her, slowly, well within her field of vision, but she still flinched.

“Master!” Nyla interrupted before he could touch. “That one is Lilah, she’s the gardener for the estate.”

A little thing like her? The whole estate? Using the machinery needed to keep up with a yard this big, no wonder she was covered in injuries! She was way too small to be handling stuff that could hurt her like this!

“Nice to meet you, Lilah,” Galo said gently, extending his hand again, just as slow and careful as the first time. Lilah sank to one knee, almost as fluid as Nyla, and kissed his palm, which. Alright! Cool! Sure! Maybe Auntie Bethany had gotten Nyla and Lilah together? 

Galo gave her a single, quick pat on her head, not wanting a repeat of whatever distress he’d caused Nyla in the foyer. Lilah was tan and freckled, with sunbleached brown hair, and wow, yikes, she was so small. Galo swallowed and turned to the next person in the lineup.

“Greyson,” Galo greeted with a smile. He looked a lot like he had when Galo was younger, just sorta gaunt now. Reddish-brown hair that was only just starting to sprout a handful of gray hairs, tall and skinny with knobby hands. “Remember me?”

“I do, Master Galo,” Greyson said with a bow, hand raised to his chest, and Galo chuckled.

“Good to see you again, dude. It’s been years,” Galo said, leaving his hands in his pockets. He’d already met this guy, however long ago that it might have been.

“It has, Master, I am delighted to see you again,” Greyson said, monotone and still bowing, but Galo was inclined to believe him. Greyson had always been like this, as near as he remembered.

“Look a little different than last time, huh?” Galo asked with a proud grin. Greyson lifted his head and quirked a very, very small smile of his own.

“I believe you’ve put some weight on, Master.”

Galo made note of how everyone else in the room tensed up at Greyson’s words, but he also laughed. “You bet I have,” Galo bragged, flexing an impressive bicep, before taking a mental red sharpie and writing DON’T DO THAT around the action in big letters. Lilah looked like she might cry.

He’d have to catch up with Greyson later. Or, well, get to know the guy? He hadn’t had much interest in the man when he was a kid, more preoccupied with the pool and old movie collection. He turned to the next person, a man closer to his own age.

“What’s your name?” Galo asked, calm, friendly smile that he used during work on his face.

“Evan, if it please you.” Evan had fluffy dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and strong, handsome features. 

God, everyone here was really formal. Greyson, he got. Again, the man had always been like that, but man. They sounded like they all came out of those weird books Auntie Bethany was always reading.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Evan,” Galo said, doing a little wordplay, and Evan lowered his eyes deferentially. Galo lifted his hand to maybe clap him on the shoulder or rub at his own hair or something, but Evan knelt mid-motion and kissed Galo’s hand and okay! Maybe his aunt had been the one with the hand-kissing-thing after all. That was weird as hell to think about, and Galo was gonna try not to.

“This is Sasha, Master,” Nyla stated when Galo turned to the last person in the room, a woman with thick, curly, dark hair and wide blue eyes. She was pale as a ghost. “If you will allow it, she does not speak very well, and I am capable of speaking for her, Master.”

“Okay, sure,” Galo said, not going to push too hard for information on that. And he wasn’t, like, gonna tell them no, either. If this was what made them comfortable, then alright, he could deal with that. “Nice to meet you, Sasha, you don’t need to kiss my hand.”

Sasha nodded tensely, and ugh, maybe he should have let her? Now she was the odd one out. Well, Greyson hadn’t either, so…

Nope, don’t overthink it. Galo could tell there was going to be plenty for him to overthink, moving forward, and he needed to get into the habit of cutting that in the bud right now.

“Alright, so, nice to meet you all,” he already said that. “I’m new, and I’m gonna be honest, the fanciest thing I’ve ever owned is my computer rig, so I’m probably gonna make a couple mistakes in the whole… running an estate, thing, at first. You’re all allowed and encouraged to make suggestions or tell me if I’m doing something stupid on accident, okay?”

It didn’t look like that was okay at all, but Nyla nodded with a “Yes Master” anyway so eh, Galo would take it.

What should he say now? Telling them they were dismissed would make him feel like a hoity toity jackass, but it also felt kind of lame to just… leave it at that. “I’m also a little slow,” he warned, “so please be patient with me. Sometimes I need an extra couple of seconds to think things through.”

“Understood, Master,” Nyla answered again, Evan swallowing nervously at Galo’s words. Yeah, he was definitely going to have to make physical lists of weird observations. Everyone here looked like they had trauma they were processing. Yikes. His aunt was hardly a philanthropist; why would she take in this many skittish people?

His stomach ended up saving him from further floundering, gurgling loudly. Lunch had been so long ago...

“Master, may we prepare dinner for you?” Nyla asked, swaning down to her knees and bowing her head low. 

“Yeah, actually, that’d be great. I’m allergic to mushrooms so nothing with those, please.”

“Yes, Master. Is there anything you’d prefer tonight?”

Hm. They seemed to like direction, and giving them a solid lead would probably be kinder than forcing them to think for themselves and worry about what he did or didn’t like. But at the same time, he had no idea what his aunt kept stocked.

“How about pasta with white sauce?” he suggested. Open ended, basic ingredients that they were pretty much guaranteed to have, and easy to make. And relatively quick; he was hungry.

“As you wish, Master.”

“Cool. I’m gonna start going through my aunt’s stuff. Lemme know when it’s ready.”

Galo left the den with a “Yes Master” chasing his heels, and rubbed at the back of his neck. Goddamn, these people were not having a great time. But that was okay. Galo was confident he could help.

Next

[prometheanglory]

Leyna (twisted wonderland oc): Hey there everyone, My name is Leyna and I love to spend time with friends and planning parties *took out her party canon and pulled the sting and confetti came out of it* How would your twst wonderland cast get along with me? Thank you for your time Sensei *gives you a polite bow with a smile before handing you a plate of your favorite dessert* (The oc Leyna for twisted wonderland belongs to Kaiyahna Meeks).

guts: ah. yeah, thanks. er... have fun, leyna.

he’ll eat the dessert, but he’s not much of a party person. he’s pretty flattered, but just give him some time to get used to things. he’s an adaptable guy, but he’s also a little bit of a lone wolf type, just be persistent enough and he’ll be sure to welcome her into what he considers his ‘circle’! she seems like a very sweet girl, so there’s no doubt that he’d take care as to not hurt her feelings unintentionally, especially considering his rather... blunt and aloof demeanor sometimes. he'll come to the parties, mainly just to make sure things don’t go haywire. consider him something like the big-brother type friend!

lola: woah, seriously? i love you already! i seriously gotta show you around, i know the best places for this stuff, no kidding!

lola loves party people and she loves food — she’d definitely get along well with leyna! she’s happy to hang out with a fellow party girl! leyna seems like a very polite girl, so it'd definitely be interesting to see the two running about! lola will definitely encourage any antics that leyna may be planning, be it parties, surprise party cannons, and more! lola is incredibly extroverted and sociable, so expect for her to go hunting for leyna often when she wants to have fun!

nik: eek! h-hu, uh... t-thank you for the food, leyna...

he’s very skittish by nature, confetti party cannons are bound to startle him... and parties... and surprise deserts, everything startles him. give him some time to come out of his shell, he’ll come around! especially if she's offering him a treat, he’s very easy to convince sometimes. after that, it’ll be a very sweet friendship! she doesn’t seem to be too forceful or overbearing, so nik will definitely learn to like her, even if he can’t really go to parties.

penn: woah woah, don’t set that off inside? ah, wait— wait, sorry. thank you for the um... the food, i appreciate it a lot.

he’s quite shy and cautious — but he appreciates her gestures! he’s not much of a party person either, but he’s happy to chat with her if there’s not too many people around! it takes him some time to warm up to her, he's a little weary to his own concerns, such as, 'am i being bribed...?' you’re not, penn. that there is friendship! he’s a little too reclusive to go to parties or spend extensive amounts of time with other people, but he appreciated leyna’s friendliness very much!

sarge: oh, that was quite the display — hehe, i’m flattered... consider me thoroughly impressed, care to show me more?

he loves the attention and he loves the party, and he’s quite fond of the desert too! he’s been won over. unfortunately he’s still a flirt, so don’t expect to be safe from that. ‘i can show you a party trick’ don’t let him show you the party trick. nonetheless, he may be eccentric but he’s not a bad friend, he’ll definitely make sure she always has a fun time! he’s a bit of a bad influence, despite his politeness and his... princeliness. be careful with him! he likes to spend time with friends too, however he does have the tendency to vanish out of nowhere — just be patient, he’ll be back soon enough! he’s like a cat, really.

ulysses: ueh, what? oh. you. listen, i ain’t— what? cake...?! ....guh, fine.

he’s a jerk that needs... a lot of warming up to do. granted! leyna has definitey won him over some with the cake! afterwards (give or take, a few hours, days, or even weeks later) it’ll be a tsundere-extravaganza with him, he’s a fiercely loyal friend in his own special ulysses way, even if they didn’t get along spectacularly well at first. he doesn’t like parties but he'll come for leyna if she really wanted it. maybe. (he’ll be tsundere and huffy about it).

vinh: oh, thank you. that’s very thoughtful of you, miss leyna.

vinh is a very polite person, so these two would probably get along on sheer virtue of business like formality, it sounds impersonal, but that’s just how vinh is — but leyna's fondness of parties and her earnesty would most definitely earn her some warmth from vinh! she does appreciate the dessert, even if it seems like she’s just saying it out of formality. she most definitely would instinctively take leyna under her wing, vinh would be an incredibly reliable friend who would be happy to help her with planning any of her parties, even if she’s not really one for events! leyna’s politeness reminds vinh of some of her younger sisters, so she’d definitely also become a bit of a big sister friend for leyna!

[cutepresea]

1-3 Titan Symphony: A Moment’s Respite

Again, apologies for the spam.

If you want to blacklist these, you can use either the tag #titan symphony for just this event, or #xdu event scripts for all these posts in general.

Reminder that these are copied straight from XD Unlimited itself, so any grammatical weirdness, mistranslations, and/or mischaracterizations are not my doing.

Eren: "Mrf! Dish ish... sho good!"

Armin: "I can't believe it! This is meat! Real meat!"

Mikasa: "Mrm, really!"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Wow... They're, uh... Really going at that meat, huh?"

Chris Yukine: "Guess they just really like meat... I can't even hear myself think over the racket they're making."

Tsubasa Kazanari: "They must be starving after all the fighting they've been through."

Chris Yukine: "Even that wouldn't explain these meat maniacs...Hey, where's that Levi guy?"

Hibiki Tachibana: "He's with Elfnein-chan in the lab. They're fixing up the omni-directional mobility gear."

Chris Yukine: "Oh, yeah. They've gotta replace the blades and refill the gas canisters, right?"

Tsubasa Kazanari: "That equipment could be the difference between life and death. I'm sure he'd want to be there himself to oversee the repairs."

Chris Yukine: "These guys seem way more concerned with meat than with life and death, that's for sure..."

Armin: "Sorry about that... It's just that in our worlds, meat is so valuable that we rarely ever get to eat it."

Hibiki Tachibana: "There's plenty to go around, so eat up!"

Mikasa: "I'll have seconds, then."

Chris Yukine: "Sure, coming right up."

Eren: "Looks like you two are fast friends already..."

Armin: "Oh, that's right! I got so caught up in my food that I completely forgot! Eren, I have to tell you something."

Eren: "What is it?"

Armin: "After you transformed, all the other Titans circled you and started attacking, right? Well, she saved you."

Eren: "Huh?! What?!"

Mikasa: "You don't remember?"

Eren: "My memory's pretty hazy. You tend to get me out of trouble, so I just assumed it was you, Mikasa."

Eren: "...Why did you save me?"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Like I said before, if someone's in trouble, it's only natural that I'd want to help them."

Eren: "......"

Chris Yukine: "Don't waste your breath. At this point, saving people is basically her hobby."

Eren: "Her hobby, huh? But to put her life on the line for a stranger like that... She must be kind of an idiot."

Chris Yukine: "Well, yeah. We've all sorta figured that out by now."

Hibiki Tachibana: "Hey!"

Armin: "I wouldn't be so quick to judge, Eren. You and her seem to be two of a kind."

Eren: "Oh, come on, I'm not that much of an idiot!"

Mikasa: "No, he has a point. You're quite reckless."

Eren: "Seriously? What are you, my mom or something?!"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Ahahaha!"

Tsubasa Kazanari: "Each group of friends has its own reckless fool, it would appear."

Chris Yukine: "Are your friends back home all like this, too?"

Eren: "Well, they're... odd. One's a freaky researcher, and one goes crazy if she sees meat."

Armin: "Come to think of it, if Sasha ever finds out about these meals, there'll be trouble..."

Eren: "Yeah. Let's tell her all about it when we get back!"

Mikasa: "Not unless you want her to kill us, Eren."

Tsubasa Kazanari: "They really do sound like strange people."

Armin: "How about you? Are there any more of you?"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Of course! Now, were to start? Well..."

Levi: "...I should get back to getting ready."

Levi: "It was generous of them to offer us shelter, but I have to wonder... How often is this place cleaned?"

Genjuro Kazanari: "Good morning! Did you get a good night's rest?"

Eren: "Yeah, thanks. I feel much better now."

Genjuro Kazanari: "Make sure you're completely prepared before going out to fight again."

Genjuro Kazanari: "Before you head out, though, Armin had a suggestion that I'd like you to run by the wielders."

Hibiki Tachibana: "A suggestion?"

Armin: "Yes. During yesterday's battle, we ended up being surrounded by Titans.[1]

Armin: "The main reason for that was because we were fighting on flat ground, and couldn't use our ODM gear properly."

Chris Yukine: "Yeah, you're right."

Armin: "So, how about you Symphogear wielders combine your power with us Scouts, and fight together?"

Chris Yukine: "Easier said than done. Our fighting style's totally different, that's just obvious. How do we make it work?"

Armin: "Your Symphogear has the power to create large objects, right?"

Tsubasa Kazanari: "Yes. My blades, for example, and Yukine's missiles."

Armin: "I think that if we shoot our ODM gear's anchors into them, we can gain altitude even on the flat plains."

Chris Yukine" Wait, so you'd be shooting your anchors in our direction? Isn't that strategy a little unreasonable?!"

Tsubasa Kazanari: "Actually, it's rather ingenious. Combining our strengths will leave us with fewer weak points."

Eren: "Those two seem like they'd be fine, but what about you? Do you have the same sort of weaponry as them?"

Hibiki Tachibana: "Not to worry! I have a technique that lets me flip the ground. I can make a wall for you guys."

Eren: "Well, I wasn't expecting that..."

Hibiki Tachibana: "Anyways, I look forward to trying this plan out!"

Eren: "Yeah, let's hope it works out."

Chris Yukine: "Just don't throw off my missile speed."

Mikasa: "Of course. There'll be no issue there."

Levi: "I'll be counting on you for those walls."

Tsubasa Kazanari: "You mean blades, not walls! Although, I suppose I can try and use my power to form a wall for you to use."

Genjuro Kazanari: "Looks like we're joining forces. Good suggestion, kid."

Armin: "Well, the strategy works in theory, but I'm a little worried about putting it into practice..."

Genjuro Kazanari: "Don't worry about it. They're used to learning on the job."

Tsubasa Kazanari: "He's right. We won't stop until we've downed that Colossal Titan."

Eren: "Then let's do this!"

Chris Yukine: "Can we hurry this up already?!"

Levi: "Be patient. This sort of thing takes time. If we end up surrounded, we'll be completely helpless."

Hibiki Tachibana: "Yeah, we shouldn't just run blindly into the fray. If we rush in, we could end up at a disadvantage!"

Tsubasa: "Guh?!"

Levi: "Looks like they're not going to make this easy for us. There's far too much distance between  us all."

Mikasa: "Perhaps we should split up and head for the cliff."

Chris Yukine: "Good plan. That way we can split up some of these Titans, too!"

Armin: "Pair up, everybody! One Scout and one wielder to a pair, just like we strategized!"

Levi: "We'll join up again to take on the Colossal Titan. Stay alive until then!"

Eren: "Yes, Lieutenant!"

Notes:

[1] Yes, the quotation mark was missing in the game’s text here and wasn’t a mistake on my end

[rough-and-whump]

Hi!! Whump prompt for whichever OC you want: trying to do something with a broken arm/wrist?

Sure!

Let’s do Dr. Kieran Fainleaf from The Agency, our resident tall, lanky, andro, caretaking doctor.

Post-writing note: fuck this got dark. Please note this contains death.

---

As the din from the explosion died down and the dust slowly settled, Kieran groaned and blinked, trying to clear the dust from her eyes. When it wouldn’t clear, she went to scrub at her eyelids (she knew, it wasn’t a good idea). 

“Ah!” 

Searing, electric pain shot through her body and Kieran dropped her head onto the cool ground and (unsuccessfully) fought off a sob. When she regained a bit of her composure, she looked at her left hand.

“Nghn...” She groaned, grimacing as she saw the damage. Her wrist was badly bruised, beginning to swell and judging from the electric pain shooting up her arm and seemingly straight behind her eyeballs? She’d broken it.

“Nagh!” The lanky woman gasped in pain, her eyes clenching shut as she tried - and failed - to move her fingers. “Dammit...” She hissed through gritted teeth, hiking her shoulders up to her ears as she braced against the pain.

“Guh...” Kieran swallowed, breaking into a clammy sweat as a wave of nausea washed over her. The pain was intense, dizzying, all-encompassing. “Ahn!” The doctor grimaced as she slightly tensed the muscles in her left hand, jolting herself just enough to snap out of a spiral. 

Come on, doctor, pull it together. You’ve seen this every day. These guys see this every day. Now’s not the time for you to be a pussy.

Growling at herself, the doctor clenched her teeth and maneuvered herself into a sitting position. She cradled her arm to her chest and took as deep a breath as she could get her aching sides to take. Then, she looked around.

There was still enough dust in the air to make everything a washed out, clay red colour, Maybe it was because of that that Kieran felt like she wasn’t actually seeing what lay in front of her. Or maybe it was because it was just too hard a sight to see.

Bodies lay everywhere - and somehow, it didn’t matter if some of them were the enemy, there were just too many. Some of the bodies were stirring, darker red pools spreading across their clothes. Groans, screams, cries for help started to push into the soundscape. 

“H-help m-me...!” A hoarse voice nearby startled Kieran into turning, straining her heavily bruised (fractured ribs, at least) side. But her pain took an immediate back seat to the smothering, frantic concern that overtook her.

A young soldier lay on the ground, desperately and blindly reaching for her. His eyes were shut, likely against the blood flooding down his face from a deep gash on his forehead. Kieran immediately began crawling over to him, desperate to save at least one person from this mess. She ignored her pain, pushing it into a tiny corner of her mind that she promised she’d address later, and pulled herself close enough to inspect the soldier.

“Hey,” she said, as soothingly as her shaking, shallow voice let her. “Hey, I’m here, I’m here.” She lay a weak hand on the man’s shoulder, trying to move him a bit so she could see more of him.

“Augh! St-o-agh!” He screamed, openly sobbing. Kieran sucked in a breath - a deep red pool of blood was spreading on the soldier’s chest. He’d sustained a significant injury to his right side and was bleeding out, fast. 

He’s not gonna make it.

“S-sorry...!” The doctor breathed. Her overwhelmed brain reacted on instinct and she braced herself with her left hand by instinct while she lowered the man back to the ground. “Ugn!” She flinched, screwing one eye shut and baring her teeth against the pain. Keep it together, you fuckwit! “Fuck!”

“D-Doct- hahk!” The soldier tried to check on her, but he doubled over and coughed up blood. Wide-eyed, he stared into Kieran’s eyes, fear written all over his face. 

“I-I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...!” She breathed. 

‘I’m sorry I can’t save you.’ ‘I’m sorry, I’m so useless.’ ‘I’m sorry, I’m worthless.’

All those thoughts ran through mind, each more real than the last, until finally she blurted out-

“I’m sorry to make you worry, I’m fine.” She breathed, her voice tense but reassuring, her expression - albeit a bit drawn - gentle and warm. 

With hands way too steady for how broken she felt, the doctor started pulling out emergency supplies tucked away in various places on her many-pocketed uniform. She used both her hands, as she would if she were treating any other patient, back in the safety of the med bay on base. 

Somewhere deep in her mind, hidden behind a desperate sort of haze, her broken wrist seared with pain and a part of her begged to stop moving it. But she ignored it, easily compensating with her other hand when her hand shook or was too weak to manipulate something. It was slow going and clumsy, given that her dominant hand was fucked, but Kieran finally managed to clear the blood out of the soldier’s eyes.

“There,” she said, softly. 

“Mm, thanks, doc.” The soldier replied, opening weak, half-lidded eyes to look up at her. He was fading, fast. The doctor gave him a warm smile that failed to reach her eyes, but that, too, faded fast as the young man grimaced and coughed up more blood.

“H-here, let me-” Kieran reached into her breast pocket with her good hand, extracting a small metal tube. It took biting the cap off, but the doctor produced a small syringe filled with a clear liquid. “Morphine, for the pain - I can’t patch you up right now, but I can at least ease the pain a bit.”

Her voice sounded foreign in her ears. Doubts swirled in her mind, ethics and morals clashing with the part of her that had seen too many people beg her to end their suffering. No one was around this time. She was in the field. He would die even if she could use her left hand. She could do nothing for him...

Nothing but this.

“Do you want me to...?” Fuck. She swore at herself, unable to even finish the question.

“P-please, please, doc. It hurts!” The soldier’s strained plea flipped the switch.

“Just hold still, okay?” She smiled at him, and it felt like another part of her broke as she found a vein and injected him with the solution. “Just breathe, it’ll kick in soon, okay?”

“Mmnh!” She wasn’t sure if he was grimacing or nodding.

“Hey, just breathe, focus on my voice, just breathe,” the doctor repeated, feeling like an observer in her own body. She could feel her right hand lightly stroking the soldier’s head as his eyes drifted shut and his breathing slowed. She could feel a dull and pulsing pain from her left wrist radiating through her left side. 

She could feel the life leaving his body.

When all was still, it was like a thick, heavy blanket of silence fell over the world for a moment. She knew somewhere in a logical, rational part of her mind that there was noise - gunfire, spells, distant explosions, screams, cries, yells for help - but she couldn’t hear it. She couldn’t even feel any pain, or sensation. 

All she could hear was the oath she’d sworn to save lives, repeating in her head. As it grew and grew and grew in volume, Kieran’s shoulders began to shake. Her whole body shook, waves of pain pushing into her awareness from her broken wrist.

She heard her name being called out somewhere behind her. 

She curled in on herself, cradling her arm to her chest, crying so hard no sound came out of her despite how desperately she cried. When she finally was able to breathe a word, she did. It was quiet, eerily steady, and it sounded nothing like she remembered her voice sounding like.

“fuck.”

[curupiracue]

The Beginning

“...we’re going to use the fact he is around to our advantage.”

“By looking through the eyes of others using the Mental World?”

“No. Sure, that’d be the easy way to get a look at his face… but he’d notice. We’ll be quietly observing his Mental World from the outside, and feeling his power. Thus, should a battle come...”

“Got it… Say, Nim, why don’t we attack him right now?”

“We certainly could, but… gathering info and then launching a surprise attack seems like a better plan. We don’t know his constructions: sure, one of them is an utility type without any offensive capabilities, made for erasing his tracks… but what if he has combat types as well? We’d better wait it out.”

“What if he attacks us first?”

“Well… we won’t be caught completely off-guard, thanks to my construction...”

...Oh dear.

It seems that I, Ienorb Yenruoj, have been detected. I guess even with the help of one of my constructions, my inexperience has been the fall of me… or perhaps they have an utility of their own to counter mine? That man mentioned his construction as a means of warning for incoming attacks… depending on how broad it’s applications are, it could also be used to warn him of potential stalkers… but, I mustn’t theorize too much.

I grab my things and walk away, keeping a close watch on their Mental Worlds, but though they became alerted, they didn’t move after me.

Still… speaking about this in the open, even in an alley, seems a bit suspicious. All I had to do was to transmit what a nearby black bird was hearing to my ear, and done. Could it be that they’re attempting to trick me?

(Time… Uh… Un-passes? I ‘unno man...)

“So, about the plan.”

“Yes?”

“Basically… we’re going to fake having an interest in him following us so that we can gather info, when in reality, since kore wa muri desu, we’re actually going to be counting on him being around listening through some means”

...For a simple plan, this is so needlessly convoluted that only Nim’s “Look at what I can do!” mind could possibly generate it.·

“Ok… And I’ll assume that there is a reason beyond you just hating her for us to not ask Wims to keep a crow around us to watch.” I thought he might get angry, but he was surprisingly calm in his answer

“There is indeed. Since that bitch is probably going to kill him on sight. I mean, stopping the serial killer is all well and good, but I’m not here to help people! I wanna’ conduct my interview!”

Kill him on sight? Wouldn’t she want to make news out of this? ...No, but then again, she has standards. Hearing that there was serial killer living in your midst without you ever even knowing there was one, let alone who, and that many members of your family have actually died already, you just can’t remember them… I wouldn’t mind it much, but I’m not everyone.

“I see… I guess it’s guaranteed that he will be listening...” We went to all sort of places where he wouldn’t be able to follow, but Nim apparently felt him around even during those circumstances. If he is tailing us, then he must have some means to do so, otherwise, why bother? Besides, we lose nothing if this part fails. On the other hand… “But what if he listens and gets the wrong idea?”

“? So what? If he fights us, we lose nothing. And if he decides to continue tailing, we can fight him right then and there. It’s a draw-win. Worst case scenario, he continues tailing us but is more careful and vigilant. That would be bad. But this is the guy that makes sure to completely erase someone’s records, so I’m guessing he likes to play safe a bit. Besides this plan is too insane. I bet he will think: “Nah, this is way too crazy to be their plan”.”

(Resuming the present...)

...No, this is much too mad to be their plan. What if I didn’t eavesdrop? What if I decided to attack them while they lacked information? I did well in running away… Though I do need to think of my next ste-

“(Yo~)”

!? A psychic attack? But it’s not theirs! This incredible power… It surpasses them both! I-I’ll have to enter the Mental World and defend myself! I’ll have to… I’ll have to but…

But my body will go limp…! And I can’t waste any time at all! Because if those two see that I’m fighting someone, specially of this caliber, they will join the fight, and then I’m doomed, even if they do so after it has ended! So I need to resolve this fight before I cross the event horizon equilibrium, before it becomes impossible to avoid falling into the ground! If not, the precious seconds I’ll have to waste getting up will be my certain demise!

Alright… Breathe… I, Ienorb Yenruoj should have approximately half a second before this occurs. I’ll surpass this obstacle! I can do it!

(Going to the nowhere of importance. Wait patiently, if you will?)

Thankfully, I can keep my identity a secret here thanks to my construction, Fog’s Mask, that allows me to hide my identity, location and mind in the Mental World. Though, it’s far from my strongest construction, and this assailant’s power should allow them to so through it if I’m not careful… Problem is, I’m not sure how much time it would take with that level of power...

One thing’s for certain though. If I am to finish this quickly, I’ll have to use The Arm.

(0,5 seconds left according to Ienorb’s estimation)

(The prism spins, and senseless light is reflected with a different sense)

That stupid brat… What did he pull of, anyway?

Thankfully, Secret Police Force Karasu can warn me of particularly interesting events from far away, even if I have to get the crow close to get the details. Although, I’m not a 100% happy with this arrangement right now… I’d be better informed of what’s going on with Nim and Novalue, as well as the overall circumstance and the killer’s identity if I could get the info stored in that crow’s Mental World.

Well, not like it matters, I guess. Just gotta’ do some murder on the murderer and call it a day, yeah?

“Hmm. He’s far away, covered by some sort of fog, and examining with Psychic sense allows me to realize he’s wearing a mask. No doubt a construction of his to disguise data about himself. Now, the problem is… Though I could pick apart and see through the barrier, I doubt he’s going to just stay still and let me do so… Hm. And speaking of time, Nim and Novalue should be arriving, and though I abhor their participation...”

I summon Reminiscence and point the camera at him while posing dramatically:

“Stop right there. Or else… I’ll take a photo of you.”

Now then... I don't actually expect him to adhere to my warning, but it's all the better if he doesn't, really. Because the power of my camera is-

Swiiiiiin... SWON!

“!”

What appeared behind him… An arm...? And it threw a…

(0,4 seconds left according to Ienorb’s estimation)

“Damn!”

Click! Phhooooo!

Bloooshu!

“Guh!”

Pam!

(The prism spins, and senseless light is reflected with a different sense)

The power of The Arm… The ability to manifest a Shadowy Killer’s intent, copying my arm and whatever it carries, and summoning said copy anywhere where it can come out of cover and be seen… Just like a murderer, that can come out of anywhere, precisely when and where you’d least expect to, and the only thing you’ll know of him is his actions, not his identity! Of course, as said description matches myself, it grants it much more power.

“Hahah. And this power goes a long way in ensuring The Arm’s overwhelming combat capabilities! Hurting my real arm in the Mental World will affect the summon, yes, but the reverse is not true. That, added with it’s ability to turn intangible and it’s speed make it quite sneaky… And it’s destructive power is unmatched! This woman has managed to resist it thanks to being overall more powerful than me, but I can see even from here that heavy damage has been inflicted...”

“Now, I’ll use her body as cover, with my vision covering her front! So long as my gaze meets that area unblinkingly, I’ll be able to make The Arm appear from behind her! And since it will stab her directly, that damage will definitely put an end to this!”

(The prism spins, and senseless light is reflected with a different sense)

That thing he threw... Because it was so very fast, and because it dissipated and exploded in the oddest manner when coming in contact with me, I couldn't see it very well... But I did manage to take a photo of it, and through that, I was capable of "seeing" it... As whatever was caught in that photo was now part of my mental world as well, naturally.

And thanks to that, I knew that it was a knife...

“Well... Not gonna' lie, that was a simple, but strong move…” I said, while getting up... And picking a photo sticking out of the camera. “But... I managed to photograph it…”

“...?”

(0,3 seconds left according to Ienorb’s estimation)

“Mm mm mm...! I can sense your curiosity and doubt, and am thus going to explain what my power is... See, any photo I take with this camera... Becomes a copycat of reality. It's a copy of the very past itself. I can effortlessly summon this past to the present in it's form as a copy. And, might I remind you…” I swinged the photo.

Floop. Donw!

“I took a photo of that knife you threw at me.”

“!!!”

Swoooon!

Blooshu!

“Seems it hit... I can't see it very well from all the way across here, but you're looking pretty damaged. What a fucking weakling.”

I pause for a moment, reusing the knife photo to stab to now confused and fragiled arm that he summoned to stab me. After I do so, the photo fades completely. Bah. No souvenirs, I guess…

(0,2 seconds left according to Ienorb’s estimation)

“The copies of my photos don't have the full power the original one had. For practical purposes, I'd say it's 80% for knowledge and memories specially, 40 to 60% for abilities and other things and 20 to 30% if we're talking emotion... Given that that knife was practically dripping with schadenfreude, I'd wager it was mostly emotion... So you can't even tank 30% of your own power, huh?!”

(The prism spins, and senseless light is reflected with a different sense)

S-She’s much too strong! I’ll be defeated! I can’t face her, and even if I could, my time’s ending, and escape is impossible while I’m hurt like this! …!

No, wait… I have an idea. It’s true that I, Ienorb Yenruoj, am a very passive person. But whenever I face any sort of problem that I simply can’t get through, I evolve and reach a new level! And I think I just thought of a new way to use The Arm…

I jump forwards, observing my chest and summoning the arm using my body as cover… and then having it hold my body… to FLY!

“I’ll run for now! There is no disgrace in admitting when you’re outmatched!”

(The prism spins, and senseless light is reflected with a different sense)

“What the-!? ! Film Tape! Grab him!”

Snip!

…

…

...Or not.

“Damn, he went outside of my range way too fast...”

(0,1 seconds left according to Ienorb’s estimation)

(The prism spins, and senseless light is reflected with a different sense)

These presences…! It must be those two that I was tailing before! It’s a miracle they took so long, but now is not a good time either! I’m surrounded!

“Damn!” I think, as the fake wind of the Mental World blows my hair and suit “I’ll just have to make a break through them! If I can’t, then I’m not called Ienorb Yenruoj!”

…

…

…

(No time left according to Ienorb’s estimation)

…

…

I… I made IT THROUGH! I should be far away enough in the Mental World now, that they can’t track me!

But the time I wasted… I need to get back to my body!

(And now, may reality torture us once more...)

! Oh no!

This is bad...! I’m not sure I can do it! And if they’re giving up chase on the Mental World, they ought to be pursuing me in the physical one! Maybe they can’t catch me, but they might identify me if I fail!

“I have no other choice… but to pull through! UWOOOOOOOOOOOH!”

Tum.

!

“I… I DID IIIIT! I DIDN’T FALL HEAD-FIRST ON THE GROUND!!! THIS IS THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT OF MY LIIIIIIIFE” I yell as I run, and then jump while gesturing dramatically with my arms: “YOOHOOOO! GWAHAHAHAHAAHAAAAH!!!”

[kounfetti]

[Diabolik Lovers: Lost Eden] Kou Mukami Maniac Prologue Translation

(TN// This is another long translation!   Please don’t put this translation anywhere outside of tumblr- link back to this post only. I don’t mind this being translated into other languages as long as you link back to my blog and ask for permission before hand\\\)

Kou’s Monologue 

Because of the Vibora clan’s king, Reiji sent a letter to him. But, I am alone in going to rescue Yui.

But I dont know if I should leave, because of my lack of strength.

......But, I would hate to see that even a finger of her was hurt. 

However, I believe that in myself, I have enough strength to save Yui.

The familiar of the Sakamaki family is flying to where Ruki and the others are, but it seems confused and can’t see them because of the dark night. 

-----And so, Its my turn to go into the forest. 

Scene: Forest 

Kino and Kou are together in the Forest

Kou: ...hahh...

Kou walks away

Kino: Ah! Hey you better wait!

Kino pulls him back

Kou: What? Do you need something?

Kino: I didn’t say that. Are you going to save Eve? I’ll help you.

Kou: And do you want something out of that?

Kino: Fufu, of course. 

Kou: I can clearly see that you want something. I have nothing to offer you. I dont have Subaru’s power. 

Kou: And because of that, the only thing I can give you that I’ve ever earned is  money...

Kino: Money? Thats fine. I’ll help you out.

Kou: ...Ha?

Kino: I’ve said it before? I love playing smartphone games.

Kino: In the underworld, I’m a little low on bills for my house. So I dont mind getting money in return. 

Kou:.....Alright. If you’re doing it out of your own will then. 

Kino: Hahah. Thank you. It seems interesting too, so, I’ll follow behind you. 

Kino: Alright lets go, together, to the Vibora clan! 

Kou: .....

Kou: (I wonder if its ok to let him tag along with me....)

Different area in the Forest

Kou: (...Where is the Vibora clan?)

Kou: I’m gonna go explore around. Kino, you stay here. 

Kou leaves

Kino: .....

Kino: Yuri, where are you? You’ve been following us right.

Yuri comes out of some bushes

Yuri: ....Sorry.  I was doing this to monitor your behavior and see if you were doing alright. 

Kino: I’m going ot keep up with Kou until he has the heart to forgive me. I think that it will be ok. 

Kino:  I’m going to try to win him over, since I’ve gotten on bad terms with him. 

Kino: And going together, it will take me straight to Eve, which is a great bonus. 

Yuri: I understand. You want to find out Eve’s location in the underworld and use it to your advantage, right?

Yuri: ....And on that, I’ll leave that to you. I will stay following you to check up on your stat every now and then. 

Scene Change: Vibora Clan Castle’s Dungeon

Azusa: ...haa....uhhh..ha...

Azusa: Hurry up and.... rescue Eve....

Someone enters into the Dungeon

Azusa: Who.. is.. that?

Vibora Maid A: ----Hey, did you hear about the rumor? 

Vibora Maid B: Of course. A girl called Eve is to be engaged? 

Vibora Maid B: It was so sudden, I was surprised.

Vibora Maid A: Apparently that girl has the heart of the princess and daughter of the demon king, Burai. 

Vibora Maid B: Aahh. Thats why. I congratulate them.

Vibora Maid A: Eeh! We will be busy for a while now. 

Azusa:...uh... Eve, is to be engaged? Could it be...!

Azusa: ... S-Someone---

Azusa is taken out of the Dungeon

Scene Change: Guest Bedroom in the Vibora Clan’s Castle

Azusa: ..guh.. Let me go!

???: ..Uh ouch...

Azusa: eh..ah.. Kou? Why...?

Kou: Maa-- Thats awful! I’m not an enemy~

Azusa: So-Sorry.... Could it be you came here because of...

Azusa: Hey, Kou. Who is that other person here with you? 

Kou: Ah---....He is Kino-kun.

Kou: Uh lets see, You know the vampire who attacked the Sakamaki family? This guy is him. 

Azusa: Eh...?

Kou: I have a reason for allowing him to tag along, I’ll tell you later. 

Kou: Anyways, Right now, its more important to go rescue M Neko Chan. 

Azusa: ...uh... Oh yea, about, Eve....

Azusa: Just now... I overheard....something really bad!

Azusa: The Vibora king and Eve, they are to be engaged!

Kou: Huh?! Why!

Kou: I definitely can’t allow that! I’ll never forgive him! Allowing something like that to occur....!

Azusa: Ye-Yea... So we should definitely do something....

Kino: Well... I dont know if we can do anything? 

Kou: What did you say?

Kino: Right now, in the Underworld, everyone wants Eve. Her very existence is rare and precious. 

Kino: The word of her having the heart of the daughter of the demon king because of Karlhienz is spreading. 

Kino: Kou, just like how you are a celebrity in the normal world,  your girlfriend is just as famous in the demon world. 

Kino: Every man here wants your girlfriend’s hand in marriage.

Kino: It seems that she is a suitable person for anyone of status in the demon world. 

Kou: ...uh...!

Azusa: So.. Kou seem to really care for Eve...

Azusa: This is going to be dificult...with all those people who want Eve...? 

Kino: Hmmm... since its practically impossible, we shouldn’t even try. 

Kino: Unless of course, we are able to recieve the power and strength. 

Kino: Having her doesn’t mean anything unless you have power. 

Kino: ....Kou, even you can understand that, right?

Kino: Eve can only make someone Adam if he is something close to one of the demons. 

Kou: ......

Azusa: ...You dont need to listen to what Kino is saying....

Kou: ....I’m not worried. Sorry for taking your time. 

Azusa: ...Kou...

Kino:  Well, you cant be worrying about this forever. We cant go help if you are undecisive yourself. Hahaha.

Kou: ...ugh...

Kino: I dont care if you’re angry with me, after all, shouldn’t you guys go save Eve? 

Kino: Its not like I know where she is or anything~

Kou: Huh?! Reallu?!

Kino: Its something like that. If you just look for signs, its easy. 

Kino: The Vibora king, Tsbaik, inside his room, there’s a balcony. It seems like theres something there. 

Azusa: Is... that true...?

Kino: What? You think I would lie?

Azusa: Well I mean, weren’t you the one who attacked hte Sakamaki family...?

Azusa: ....Because of that....I cant trust what you say since you have no credibility to me....

Kou: ...Its ok, Azusa, Here, I can believe what Kino says.

Azusa: B-But....

Kou: Its alright. Since I’ve acted before, and since I’ve been with him for a while, I can tell whether he’s lying or not. 

Azusa: ...Understood. I will believe him on your behalf....

They all leave the room

Scene Change: A Different Bedroom

Tsbaik: Eve, is there any inconvenience here?

Yui: N-No. I’m fine. 

Yui: (...I dont know why but I feel uncomfortable and awful here.)

Yui: (Even though Tsbaik is kind to me, it still strikes me as odd...)

Yui: (I feel like I’ll never be able to leave this room, since I’m still a captive here. But I cant do anything about it.)

Yui: Hey... Tsbaik. Could I go outside for a bit to get some air?

Tsbaik: Eh? Of course. I’ll go with you. 

Yui: (As I thought, he’ll never leave me alone.)

Yui: ( I dont know what Azusa and Kou are doing... I cant understand it....)

Yui: (I’m going to need to make up for lost time the next time I see him...!)

Yui: Uh hey... Before we go outside, I want to change my clothes, If thats alright with you.

Yui: It will only be brief. So, could you please wait outside?

Tsbaik: I understand. But....

Tsbaik grabs her hand

Yui: ...uh! Tsbaik!

Yui: (He squeezed my hand?!)

Tsbaik: I’ll help you with changing. It will be faster, after all. 

Yui: N-No. Thats....

Yui: (I hate this...!)

Yui: (I dont know if I’ll be able to get through all of this....)

Screen goes black

Kou: (Wh..Whats this?!)

Kou: (The Vibora king.... He’s holding her hand...!)

Kou: (When I was just trying check up on her to see how she was, I saw this! This is unbearable!---)

Azusa:----Kou, you’re going to need to be patient....

Kou: Uh! But....

Azusa: It’ll be alright....just wait. Because Tsbaik will have to leave the room at some point....

Scene Change: Yui is alone in the Bedroom

Yui: Haa...

Yui: (Somehow... I was able to get him to wait outside, however, only to buy some time.)

Yui: (Through this time gap...maybe I can try to escape now----)

Door opens

Yui: ---Ah?!

Kou, Kino, and Azusa appear

Yui: Eh...Kou, and also Azusa.... and who is...

Kou: ----Yui!

Kou runs up to her and hugs her

Kou: I finally get to see you...! I’m sorry, for making you worry...!

Yui: ah... It should be me saying sorry, But, I’m glad that you are safe...!

Azusa: ....

Kino: He..y. We’re here too. We should probably leave soon?

Kou: Ah.. Yea thats right. Sorry....

Kou steps away

Yui: (This unknown person... who is it...?)

Yui: Hey, Kou, Who’s him..?

Kou: Uhhhmm... He goes by Kino, But, its a long story! I’ll tell you all of it later!

Kou: We need to get out of here quickly befor the king comes back!

Kino: Well, we’re gonna leave to somewhere far away, cause it would be troublesome to anger the Vibora king. 

Kou: Far away.... Will that work?

Kino: Proabably. I know a place that the Vibora king wont think to look for us in. 

Kou: ...Understood.

Yui: ( Eh? Kou believes what he says..?)

Azusa: Eve. Just now, You know what Kou and him said, right? We’ll do that....

Azusa: Until the circumstances are right, tthats what we’ll do. We'll explain it all then...

Yui: Ok.

Yui’s Monologue

I didn’t quite understand but, All four of us jumped out of the castle. 

On the way, Me and Azusa wondered what kind of person Kino is. I only heard of what Kou and Kino did together. 

Overall, I was surprised. Kino wants to bring despair to Karlhienz. He was the vampire who attacked the Sakamaki family. 

And of all the things I heard about him, when I heard that Kino and Kou worked together I couldn’t hide my shock and what I thought. My face said it all.

But even so,  I listened to Kino’s story of his past. Kou and Kino seem to have felt similiarly.

And then----......

As we escaped, Kino showed us to where he lived with the ghouls in Rotigenberg.

Even though it was desolate, and filled with madness, it was still somewhere to stay. 

It smelled of rot and decomposition, and we were still unintentionally raising our eyebrows in discomfort. 

There was a chronic smell of decomposing trees. But it seemed that Kino and the others didn’t seem to mind it. 

Yui”s Monologue Ends

Scene Change: Field 

Kino: Fufu. Are you all surprised? For a ghoul, this is all their reality. 

Kou: uhh...!

Kino: Demons automatically discriminate against me, I had no other choice but to live here. 

Kino: Either way, this is the safest place you could possibly stay in. Any other race wont want to step anywhere near here. 

Kino: There’s some empty houses around here that you can use. 

Azusa: Well then, Kino...Could you perhaps lend me and them seperate rooms.....

Kino: I dont mind, but you dont want to be together with them? 

Yui: Ok then, But how come?

Azusa: Because you two seem happy to see each other, I dont want to disturb you two. 

Kou: Wai, Azusa! You wont get in the way of anything....

Azusa: Its alright. Now, you and Eve will be able to properly talk to each other.

Kou: ..Yea. Thank you, Azusa. 

Yui’s Monologue

For the first time, thanks to Azusa, I was able to spend time together with Kou. 

Making up for lost time, we cuddled while talking about what happened to us in the time we were apart. 

I found what Kou was telling me very interesting. 

But at the same time, I knew reality was bound to hit soon. And that our happiness would be in trouble again soon, as I got that awful pain in my chest again. 

Now that Tsbaik knows I have escaped, what will Tsbaik do? 

So far, Kino has been showing us around, but I dont know what his real intention could be. 

And also, Ruki and Yuma will be waiting for us in Eden. 

While I’m together with Kou, I want to avoid reality. 

Yui’s Monologue Ends

Scene: Ghoul’s Living Room 

Yui: ....

Kou: ....Whats wrong? You’re silent.

Yui: Hey, Kou. I wonder about what will happen to us. 

Yui: I am glad that we were able to see each other....Since after all, I was so worried. 

Kou: Sorry, I dont understand.

Kou:...ha... But, I’m sure it’ll all be fine!

Kou comes closer

Kou: I’ll definitely never let you go. 

Kou: Because, as long as we’re together, we can tackle anything, right?

Yui: Yep.

Yui: (Thats right.)

Yui: (I can believe what Kou says. I’m no longer going to be alone....)

Dark Epilogue ♥ Maniac 01

[shirtlesssammy]

Hello, Cruel World: 7x02 Recap

Then:

Castiel accidentally swallowed some Leviathan

Now:

Things pick up right where 7x01 left off. Cas is gone, and his vessel is oozing more goo than normal.

He wanders off, leaving Bobby and Dean stunned. Sam, meanwhile, is 100% fruitbat, getting tortured by Lucifer. Dean and Bobby save him from his hallucinations, and all three head out in search of Leviathan!Cas.

Cas, now even more gooey than ever, heads for the water. The others reach the water’s edge just as he descends into the lake, like some sadistic baptism, turning into a vortex of black goo.

o_O uh, no thank you o_O

The good news? The leviathan exploded in in a reservoir that’s connected to the public water supply! Yay!

Dean then notices Cas’s trench coat in the water, and fishes it out.

He gently folds it, holding it close to his body, caressing it with all the pain of loss and words left unsaid (Ha, Boris can’t write. I leave that heavy lifting to the very talented Natasha.) (Natasha: just key smashes in pain.) Long story short: Dean holds that coat like the last memento of a dead loved one, because it is. Bobby and Sam both watch Dean with eagle eyes, and it’s sad. I couldn’t really see through all the water on my face though. Also, when he squeezes the coat briefly before the camera cuts away? Guh.

Sidenote: I can’t imagine being in the fandom this season!! Like, Cas was supposed to be dead, like dead-dead, like really, really, ‘Jared didn’t spoil this one’ dead. Dark times. (Natasha: I wasn’t in fandom but was watching live since season 5. I never believed he was truly dead so I believe I wasn’t terribly bothered. My heart is a lump of granite.)

And the leviathan make their grand entrance into society via a montage set to the Doobie Brothers’ “Black Water”....a little too on the nose show, but I like it.

Back at Bobby’s, Dean turns to what he does best: looking after Sammy. He makes him hydrate and protein-ate, and he checks his stitched up hand.

I’m a shallow son of a bitch, but concerned Dean lit like this is A+ aesthetic.

Sam confesses that he’s not doing well --he can’t tell what’s reality anymore. As Dean tries to wrap his brain around what Sam is going through, we get a better glimpse of Lucifer’s fun torture time for Sam. After all, “You can’t torture someone who has nothing left for you to take away.”

Meanwhile, girl!Leviathan finds an episode of Dr. Sexy and decides she wants to be a doctor when she grows up.

Bobby checks in with Dean on how he’s holding up. (Caring Dad feels everywhere!) Dean deflects.

Bobby calls out Dean with, “You just lost one of the best friends you ever had, your brother’s in the bell jar, and Purgatory’s most wanted are surfing the sewer lines, but yeah, yeah, I get it. You’re – you're fine.” (Their little exchange of yoga and idjit, and their mutual little smiles is just beautiful. #bringbackbobby)

At Stockville High School, the swim team gets a surprise visit from a couple bloodthirsty purgatory monsters.

At Sioux Falls General Hospital, our very own Jody Mills is experiencing her own special kind of torture. While recovering from an appendicitis, she listens to her roommate drone on and on about dubious hospital practices. Dr. Sexy checks in with our favorite sheriff.

Back at Bobby’s, Sam caught the swim team case. Bobby and Sam convince Dean to check it out.

girl!Leviathan and Edgar (listen, I didn’t explain his entrance, but 6 years on, we know who I’m talking about) meet at a playground(!) and talk about the swim team attack. Apparently it was a bit unsightly, but the girl!Leviathan has an idea. Cut to the hospital. Dr. Sexy finds her and she makes quick work of turning into him. Kids grow up so fast these days.

At the high school, Agent Dean notices black goo and instantly knows what he’s dealing with.

Back at the hospital, Jody wakes to see Dr. Sexy secret off with her roommate. I think she’s starting to suspect her doctor is a monster.

She sets to checkout what fresh hell awaits her in her small hell-mouth town.

Dean checks in with Sam (and Lucifer) about the swim team. Goo? Check. Dean asks Sam how he’s doing. Aagh. Spoiler: He’s not doing ok.

Hopped up on gooooood pain meds, Jody continues to track her doctor, but when she sees him play a particular nasty game of Operation by eating her roommate’s liver, she runs, and faints in the hallway.

Jody wakes up in her hospital bed to the ministrations of her nurse. She sputters, starting to ask about Doctor Gaines, when he swans in, patting the corner of his mouth delicately. She quickly spins a lie about itching stitches and searching for a doctor to explain her presence in the hall. Doctor Sexy Leviathan leers at her. The moment they leave she rips out her IV and mutters “Kiss my ass, Doctor Monsterface.” Jody. Never change.

Meanwhile, Sam’s still trying to out-logic his hallucinations. If this is a dream, Lucifer should prove it by showing him the cage. Lucifer tells him that the Matrix only ends when Sam ends it...like ENDS it, ends it. Sam shouts at Lucifer to shut up, which really bolsters his narrative of doing fine when Bobby walks in. “You’ve beat the devil before, kid,” Bobby tells Sam. Lucifer, meanwhile, stabs Bobby in the chest. Not distracting at all.

Jody calls Bobby and tells him that her surgeon is a monster who ate another patient’s liver. “You and I killed zombies that one time,” she reminds him. He can help her. Bobby rolls out to help her leaving delicate flower Sam behind to man the phones.

At the hospital two swim team members and Edgar meet up with Doctor Gaines. Leviathan!Gaines gives them a tour of the facility. They can eat someone every day here since people die in hospitals all the time. The swim team members jump ship and become hospital staff, preparing to feast. Edgar moves on. He’s got other fish to fry.

Sam continues to clean guns when Dean pulls up. Dean grabs the open beer from Sam’s hand (DEAN) and fills Sam in on the status of the hunt. Dean demands Sam’s help while Bobby goes off to save Jody Mills.

Bobby wheels Jody out of the hospital and shuttles her away into a taxi. (After which, I am sad to report, we don’t see her for the whole rest of the episode.) Bobby then heads into the hospital to investigate the leviathreat level. He finds patients rushed immediately from botched minor surgeries to the autopsy table - a.k.a. lunch counter.

Meanwhile, Dean and Sam drive to the hunt, Dean asking after Sam’s welfare. Dean suggests professional help even though, “You are never gonna be okay, Sam.” </heart breaks> Not the kind of BM scenes we like to watch, dudes.

While Sam’s having his heart ripped out in the Impala, the real Dean arrives back at Bobby’s, calling for Sam. Oh thank god. Dean Bean may be going through a long dark teatime of the soul but he’s not so dark that he’s hurting Sammy. Sam is, of course, gone.

Sam and “Dean” arrive at a corporate building where fake Dean scoffs at Sam’s ability to deal. “You think this is an office building, right?” he asks, leading Sam into a nearly empty warehouse instead.

Fake Dean chuckles, then turns into Lucifer. Lucifer tries to goad Sam into killing himself to end the hallucination (always, btw, the most horrifying part of the djinn narrative).

Back at the hospital, Bobby falls into a big pile of nope when he’s interrupted by Doctor Gaines. The leviathan immediately recognizes Bobby - he saw him through the angel’s eyes. (MY HEART) Bobby tries to shoot up the doctor but only explodes his head into recombining goo. It’s enough to let him escape.

The real Dean pulls up outside of the warehouse he tracked Sam to and opens the door. Lucifer turns into a second Dean and Sam immediately trains his gun on the real Dean.

Dean talks Sam down. He reminds Sam that he’s been to Hell. Torture feels different than the pain of the real world. He pulls up Sam’s hand and presses the wound hard. Lucifer begins to flicker. Sam pushes the wound hard enough to make it bleed. “You’ve gotta believe me,” Dean tells him. “You gotta make it stone number one and build on it, do you understand?” Sam nods, still reeling from the experience.

The phone rings. It’s Bobby. He fills them in on Doctor Gaines and the leviathan threat and the boys head back to Bobby’s lot. They’re gonna be okay… And then they get to Bobby’s house. It’s been torched. Nothing but burned books (CRETINS) and no sign of Bobby. They split up to search the junk yard. Dean dials Bobby’s “direct hotline you should not have this number” phone and leaves the following totally okay not at all unraveling voicemail:

“You can not be in that crater back there. I can’t-- If you’re gone, I swear I’m going to strap my beautiful mind brother into the car and I’m gonna drive us off the pier. You asked me how I was doing? Well NOT GOOD. You said you’d be here. Where are you?”

Dean Bean.

Sam and Dean call for Bobby in the junkyard. Sam finds Edgar and Dean shoots Edgar’s head full of lead (but it doesn’t last long for those shifty little guys). Dean drops a car on Edgar just after Sam gets knocked out by a tire iron. Dean’s got a broken leg, an unconscious brother, a dead best friend, and - you know - suicidal thoughts. So season 7 is starting out super great.

Dean calls an ambulance which takes the brothers to - you guessed it - Sioux Falls General. Extra bonus, Lucifer shows up for the ride.

Back at Bobby’s lot, Edgar recombines...

Mississippi Quotes, Won't You Keep on Shinin' on Me?

Why would the devil holodeck you a whole new life when he could just kick your ass all over the cage?

I keep my marbles in a locked friggin’ box.

What am I chopped brains on toast?

We’ve got a whole lot of NC17 Schizz-nickel right over there.

Having a little bag lady moment?

Bobby Singer. My hero.

This discussion does not require a weapon’s discharge.

It’s like a salad, but with pie!

Want to read more? Check out our Recap Archive!

[dreamscript]

HEY IT ME AGAIN-- LITERALLY SAME I GOT SICK AND LIKE IM STILL COUGHING AND I WANT IT TO STOP. LIKE. RIGHT. NOW. I hope you feel better soon! I can only imagine how bad you're suffering! Make sure to get lots of rest and binge watch Naruto hehehehe// I got sick around Christmas so it's kinda just here// But yeah lol just excuse me late responses (; 7 ; ) and yas girl just embrace you're inner otaku its okay xD (i wanna re-read Naruto actually//) OMG YES PLZ I LOVE YOUR FICS AND-

{CONT} YO HOW DARE YOU WRITE THAT JUNGKOOK FIC IM SHOOKED JKSDFNKJD// LMAO IF THAT AINT ME IN ANY MATH CLASS FUKFFKFKKFKF BUT ITS OKAY YOU CAN DO IT I BELIEVE IN YOU! There was freezing rain here a day or so ago. That was fun . u . (sobs) IF YOU COULD TWEEK MY BLOG OMG ID LOVE THAT. But the theme isn’t originally mine and I’d assume the original owner wouldn’t want the original code changed?

{CONT} IDK I wanted to change my theme for a while now // Something not endless scroll but just boxes for previews? Also I wanted a minimalistic theme based with pastel colours and black and white hehe/ ANYWAY NO NO WORRIES SOMETIMES IM JUST HERE WONDERING IF YOONGI SUED BIGHIT FOR DYING HIS HAIR TOO FREQUENTLY AND NOW HE BALD (LOL) BUT YEAH APPARENTLY THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE A COMEBACK IN FEBRUARY AND MY WALLET IS UPSET. I ALSO WANT THE NEW ARMY STICK FOR NO GOOD REASON AT ALL LOL

{CONT 3 xD} I’ve only read Naruto Manga so if you wanna screech with me about that lets do it ahaha/ HECK YES I WILL READ THEIR FIC- I WILL NOT STUDY JAHAJSDSDKJF Shout out to Cat and Fae too like i seriously love their fics- your Christmas series had me shooked!! Anyways I have so much work to do and so i will bother you later :) - Sakura !

IM HEALED AND BETTER NOW THANK YOU I HOPE YOU’RE FINE NOW TOO??!?! but i remember my doctor telling me once that if you’re still coughing like a month later you should get it checked out or something D:

and oh. my. god.

naruto.

LISTEN I LITERALLY CRY EVERYTIME IT MAKES ME SO EMO. I WATCHED NARUTO THE ROAD TO NINJA MOVIE LIKE TWO NIGHTS AGO AND I CRIED LIKE A BABY WATCHING HIM INTERACT WITH HIS PARENTS AND ALL LIKE D’:: highkey still hated on sasuke though

but yeah no it’s okay! i have super late responses as of late…. and it’s really only because i’ve been too emotionally spent by the end of the day or tired or busy or just “not feeling it”

idk, but i hope to get back into being more active. i miss this place. i miss interacting with others, as little of it i seem to be doing right now (guh _ _)

LOL I HAVE SO MANY SEX SCENES ALREADY PREWRITTEN OUT FOR HTE JUNGKOOK FIC AND SO NOW THAT I’VE GOT THE HARDEST PARTS DONE, IT’S JUST DOWN TO FILLING IN THE PLOT AND SUCH. aaaand that’s kinda hard too, but i think i’ll manage. hopefully.

(help)

dude it was rainy and windy and cold today and i had to go outside and the entire time i was walking/running/dying to class i was thinking a) why b) this was a Mistake

ah well in regards to your theme, usually the theme makers are okay with minor changes (sometimes major ones too) as long as you keep the credit and the changes are for personal use (as opposed to commercial use/redistribution, etc). just to be sure, you can just check their rules. they usually have that whole page/pop up or will simply include it in their theme code.

hmm what do you mean by boxes for previews? i don’t think i’ve ever seen such as thing. it sounds interesting, though. are they previews for like posts or…?

YEAH OMG I’M REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE FEBRUARY IS BOTH MINE AND ALSO @taesthetes​‘ BIRTHDAY MONTH SO ITS LIKE A BIRTHDAY PRESENT WOOHOO

thank you for loving our collaboration! i’m still amazed on how quickly we got things put together and everything… honestly… cat and @zephyoongist​ are so talented i don’t know what i’m doing here :’) (or where i would be without them)

and now finally…

(for the maaaain event)…

okaY OKAY I WILL SCREECH WITH YOU ABOUT NARUTO. RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW. just under the cut because spoilers:

I’M SUCH AN EMOTIONAL WRECK OVER NARUTO THE ONLY BEST WAY I CAN TRULY EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS AT THE MOMENT IS JUST THROUGH BULLET POINTS SO:

i love kakashi

i also love gaara. i can’t choose between the two, but lately i’ve been more biased towards kakashi. i blame it on my sister because she’s always had a thing for him

(i still love you gaara its okay my sand child)

kakashi’s backstory had me in tears… like… with obito died and he’s telling kakashi he’ll give him his sharingan (the sharingan that he’d always been talking about that would get him to hokage) to be his eye to see the future…

i just..

fucking broke down man like dude… stop… you’re killing me here… and then how kakashi really changes afterwards

(okay but listen child kakashi was savage as fuck though and it was hilarious)

(also i know it’s a filler but that one episode in which it showed guy and kakashi comparing dick sizes as kids….,,..,.

….,,..i wasn’t expecting that at all but i don’t mind the info heheheheh heh /dies)

OKAY BUT THEN RIN DIES WHY

literally if she hadn’t died a lot of the issues in naruto wouldn’t have occurred but they fucking did

no i’m not blaming her she died for a noble reason okay it just makes me really sad i’m sorry

AND FINALLY MINATO DIES TOO AND KAKASHI IS THE LAST OF HIS TEAM IM EMO

on a side note minato and kushina were cute as fuck

ANYWAYS GAARA OH MY OH MY GOD MY POOR BABY as a kid he was so cute and just wanted some friends and was out helping all those villagers and such but then his damned dad just had to go and screw those things up like STOP IT HE;S MY CHILD

even though i love those two, my favorites are actually the akatsuki

like. they hate each other but istg they secretly love each other like have you seen kakuzu and hidan’s interactions??? they tease and insult and threaten (and have killed) each other but kakuzu is actually patient with hidan’s rituals and such, and hidan will still accompany kakuzu to the collection centers

also, when he sees asuma’s guardian shinobi thing the first thing that comes to mind is kakuzu and how he’d want him for the money and he’s like u gh but like !!!

and AND when hidan at first thinks he’s accidentally killed kakuzu in his fight with shikamaru & co., he has that look of panic ooooh my god I JUST GASHUDFJSDIJASD

also hidan is just hilarious. like when they go to recruit him he’s like “who are you guys, all wearing the same clothes?? are you guys an orchestra or band or something?”

/points at kakuzu/ bet you play the bass

/points at konan/ bet the girl does vocals and keyboards

/points at itachi/ …or do you do vocals…?

and then the first thing hidan and kakuzu do to each other is kill each other

the look of utter disbelief on both of their faces

“what the–why aren’t you dead?”

“bitch that hurt–wait. why aren’t you dead?”

but anyways we can’t forget about itachi and kisame either, now can we?? like. they are actually like the only partner group that openly got along with each other, and they were sad oh my god they were sad upon realizing each other’s death’s

and idk just the way kisame says “itachi-san” does something to me

 i t a c h i

oh boy i have so much to say about this kid

but before i move on i must! address! the others!!

okay so like deidara is actually op as fuck and sometimes idk i feel like he doesnt get enough credit?? idk.

BUT LIKE LISTEN OKAY HE GOES THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS TO SEAL THE ICHIBI AKA SHUKAKU AKA GAARA’S TAILED BEAST and then immediately after decides to take on naruto (and kakashi)

AND HE ONLY HAD ONE ARM AT THE TIME HAVING JUST LOST ONE IN HIS FIGHT WITH GAARA LIKE WHAT IS THIS STAMINA AND HOW DOES HE NOT BLEED OUT THIS KID IS FUCKING AMAZING WHAT THE HELL

and he’s 19 like lol what bye

but anyways, after his “fight” he loses his other arm because kakashi and now he’s armless BUT THIS KID STILL HOLDS HIS OWN though completely on the defense AGAINST TEAM GAI LIKE WHAT THE FUCK HE’S AMAZING and then he manages to create a bomb without using any sort of handseals and fools them all into thinking he’s dead

like

i love this boy give him a metal why did he have to die so early why (yet another reason why i dislike sasuke lmfao)

black zetsu scares the fuck out of me (esp when i learned of his true past and intentions) but white zetsu!! he’s such a sweetie holy shit

I JUST REALLY LIKED THAT TIME WHEN HE BURSTS INTO THE 5 KAGE SUMMIT AND HE’S LIKE “HALLLLOOO!!!!!!” WITH THE ARMS AND EVERYTHING DAW OMG

and also unlike so many others he actually likes everyone and when he saves deidara he’s like “you’re a fun guy to be around” and then and then later when he’s talking to tobi he reveals that he’s sad that so many of the akatsuki members died like D::

let’s not forget when black zetsu called him weak (they had split in two at the time) and white zetsu just kind of D: and wilts a little like ooHH NO oo baby it’s okay it’s okay

ahem

konan is so strong… holy crap… like… her ultimate attack? with the bajillion paper explosive tags disguised as a lake?? that go off for 10 minutes? holy fuck.

yahiko’s pretty damn hot if you ask me (yes i know he’s a cadaver in the main time period but listen)

idk my favorite arc of the entire thing was pain’s invasion of konoha… like from the moment jiraiya’s message arrived to when everyone got revived…. and then kakashi almost became hokage…

it was fantastic

i think it’s mainly because it was a mystery, race against time, battle thing all in one and it was so neat i guess

also you could see everyone in the village working together, fighting their hardest, showing their potentials for like, the first time ever

um um um okay sasori mentally scarred me as a child, and now whenever i hear the rattling puppet noises i immediately think of these scary nightmares i had after watching his fight with sakura… yeah, puppets scare me a lot now

orochimaru is a creep ‘nuff said moving on

tobi! i love this alternate ego of obito/”madara” like idk he’s so jumpy and honestly it’s fucking hilarious watching him because he’s so secretly op certain people underestimate him at first (and then others overestimate him because of his association with akatsuki)

like. when he was warding off konoha from itachi vs sasuke’s fight (which i am still emo about) he was just like playing whack-a-mole with them and then he’s like lemme use this ability! frill-necked lizard!

and they all kinda stand and stare at him intensely execting something legit

but in reality that’s it. the extent of htat ability is just him hanging upside down with the cloack falling behind him to look like a frill-necked lizard

and it’s fucking hilarious

i also thought it was fucking adorable when he and deidara first confront sasuke

and the little bitch goes ahead and slices through him

literally through him

and HE MAKES THE MOST ADORABLE NOISE BEFORE FALLING FLAT ON HIS FACE GAH

but sasuke thinks that he actually killed him and sasuke’s all like “one down”

and deidara just kinda

ugh this kid

and tobi gets up and brushes himself off like wow that was rly fast!!! and sasuke just >:/

URM OKAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE AKATSUKI MEMBERS

sorry i thought i should make this clear but i lowkey highkey have this vendetta thing against sasuke like this little shit

i mean ofc i know the reason for his disillusionment really isn’t all his fault like @ itachi really?

like really when he goes back to konoha and sasuke tries to kill him… he goes and easily breaks his wrist

and he kinda just considers him for a moment like

…hm

how about i….. make his situation even worse…?

and then traps him in a genjutsu that forces him to relive their parents death for 24 hours like why the fuck this is literally all your fault

and also on a side note, fuck danzo. why the fuck did the 3rd not kill him when he was supposed to. why. all the wrong people lived for far too long.

anyways

but yeah no idk i just really don’t like sasuke after he defected and became a Vengeful Teen

AND ITACHI’S STORY MAKES ME CRY EVERY TIME HOLY SHIT IT MAKES ME SO SAD WHY DID THIS BOY HAVE TO SUFFER SO MUCH and then mess up his little brother’s psyche to the point in which he starts killing like everyone wtf

AHEM

another favorite moment arc of mine is the very beginning

like the first 15ish episodes

IRUKA SENSEI

he’s such a blessing. he’s literally one of those crucially important side characters and i appreciate him and i love him and it would’ve been nice to see more of him, but hey, that’s okay too.

(his part in the naruto road to ninja movie had me in tears. like at the end. fucking tears.)

like naruto and kakashi may be super close and stuff, but when he needs someone as a guardian, naruto turns to iruka and idk i feel that says a lot about their relationship and it makes me cry all the fucking time

um anyways yes i also love zabuza

he’s so strong and empowered

AND THAT WHOLE ARC MADE ME CRY A LOT TOO AND THE FACT THAT IT BECOMES SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY MAKES ME SO FUCKING HAPPY

i have a lot more the say probably but it’s getting late and i need to take a shower and sleep and get up early in the morning to make food so i’ll just leave it at that

(i wrote a lot i know i’m sorry)

(hope i didn’t blow you away with any spoilers D:)