#HAHA WOW anyway I'm in danger :)

[zillychu]

woke up from a dead sleep last night realizing I could make soroku flavored pitch pearl and no one could stop me

edit: you know what? I'm feral and I won't apologize. more under the cut bc this is my house

I slammed this out all at once so I apologize for the quality but I'm having EMOTIONS

so imagine. bc of the way Danny was quickly resuscitated, his ghost only barely started forming. With the excess blast of ectoplasm from the portal being created, that little whisp was given form even after Danny's soul returned to his body.

except this ghost (Phantom) slowly comes into consciousness while trapped in Danny's body. they're separate entities sharing one body, but Phantom doesn't really have a sense of self right away. he pieces together vague fragments of Danny's memory to get a basic understanding of the world, and is mostly just observing like a backseat passenger.

Phantom starts reflexively protecting Danny, his powers and instincts bleeding through when his emotions are high. Danny doesn't really transform, and his personality doesn't totally shift that much at first because Phantom’s mind isn't complex yet. but as time goes on, and Danny has tense conversations with ghosts, Phantom realizes that's what he is. he's a ghost, somehow trapped in his old body. and even now, this early on, he already feels separate. he doesn't have all the memories Danny has.

this slowly turns into horror. into rage. sorrow, mourning a life he never got and will never get to have. forever trapped behind the eyes of someone else, never able to interact with the world. Phantom's rage eventually boils over until it allows him short bursts of taking over Danny's body. it starts out small–a stray hand moving without his consent, knees locking up, ghost abilities going awry. Danny can start feeling emotions that don't belong to him. get vague impressions, almost hears a voice inside him.

and eventually, Phantom is able to fully take over. this is when Danny “transforms". at first, Danny blacks out because his consciousness isn't used to being shoved into the back seat. but eventually, he's awake for these “episodes", trapped in the back of his mind while Phantom controls his body. this only happens when ghost stuff is happening, when Phantom feels threatened enough. he's not protecting Danny, he's protecting himself. Phantom knows instinctively that if Danny dies, he dies too. he's not a normal ghost, he wouldn't be freed. he'd simply disappear.

at one point after a fight, Phantom can feel Danny struggling to take back control. and he talks to Danny for the first time, acknowledges he's there. asks how it's fair that Danny is the one that gets to exist. but Phantom is tired and weak, he slips back into the passenger seat.

over the next few days, he's able to start talking to Danny even while he's not driving. though he's not chatty, it's only when necessary. and Danny knows, can feel it across the link between them–Phantom hates him. the ghost he created is desperate to find a way to take over completely. and as time goes on, Danny realizes with horror that it might actually be possible for Phantom to do that. he grows stronger every day, can stay transformed longer, controls Danny's body with much more ease.

it's only through a chance meeting with Frostbite that Danny and Phantom fully learn what happened to them. Danny feels sympathetic towards Phantom now. this isn't a malevolent ghost, it's a person who was never given the chance to live. who's trapped. who has to watch someone else live a life they're just as deserving of.

and Phantom feels that emotion from Danny. is so shocked by it, he doesn't know how to handle it at first. it takes him a while to contemplate, to talk to other ghosts like Frostbite. until one day, Phantom realizes… he feels sympathy for Danny, too.

neither of them asked for this. both of them deserve to live. Danny didn't do anything wrong. they're both villains to each other's story. and if anything… doesn't Phantom owe his life to Danny in the first place?

Phantom takes over less often. Danny doesn't feel hatred from him anymore. anger, yes–but not aimed at him. in fact, Phantom starts controlling their body in little ways in order to protect Danny from things that aren't even dangerous. just to avoid pain that would only affect the human tethered to him.

it isn't long before they're separated, either thanks to another ghost or Danny's parents. they're thrown apart in the middle of a horrific fight, and when Danny sees Phantom's equally shocked expression, he's terrified.

this ghost that hated him for so long–at best, Phantom would leave him defenseless. at worst, surely some part of Phantom still wants to kill him for stealing away his chance for autonomy.

and yet, when fire rains down on them, Phantom risks it all to grab Danny and get them both to safety. they're still both shaken and stunned this is even happening, but Phantom is able to nervously be like shit shit shit okay stay here don't go anywhere or I can't protect you, okay?

after the fight is over and dust settles, Phantom offers Danny his hand. they stare at each other and god if this isn't the weirdest thing. like, uh, okay, what now? they decide to go see Frostbite, who confirms that they're fully separate now. they ask if there's any chance of merging again and Frostbite assures it's impossible.

Phantom asks, even if I overshadowed Danny? or stay real close? yes, it's nothing to worry about. they leave, and back in the quiet of Danny's room, they talk. Phantom isn't sure what to do. now that opportunity is in front of him, he feels paralyzed. Danny does his best to let Phantom know that… they might be separate now, but if he ever wants help or even just a friendly ear, he's here for him.

Phantom is quiet for a while. then says maybe he just needs to rest first. he'll think about it tomorrow. they're both exhausted and injured. Phantom asks quietly… if he could rest in Danny for the night.

Danny's shocked, and–really confused. Phantom blushes and is like I don't know what my haunt is yet, I don't know where to go, but I know… you're kind of my home. now that I know I can leave whenever I want, it's not something bad anymore. I miss feeling your heart next to my core, just a little bit.

and Danny is just as surprised when Phantom overshadows him, then quietly nestles into the passenger seat again. he didn't realize how he got used to feeling Phantom with him. it's a feedback loop of contentedness, and Danny sleeps easily. (they also find out while sharing a body, Danny gets to reap the benefits of Phantom's supernatural healing)

anyway that's all I got for now thank u for coming to my ted talk

[birchbow]

Something about troll reproduction is that everyone alive in the empire had to have gotten some fuck at some point. And that makes me look at The Behemoth and wonder if the other participant has to be alive by the end of the ordeal because Wow Look At It. I'm so morbidly curious about the type of troll that it would decide was good enough and if they walked away with something broken or not.

y'all the fact that as I got this ask I was lying here in bed musing to myself about how. There is a universe where the scene of Gamzee meeting the Behemoth that I'm writing ends up with them fucking nasty in some kind of very spur of the moment hookup largely unrelated to quadrants haha. Because Gamzee's down to clown with people who are way too big and not used to being gentle. And actually the fact that he's going to get real bruised at best and injured at worst is a perk. I don't,,, think the scene will go that direction, but it's a diverting thought lmao. Anyway, perfect timing anon thank you.

....I do wonder. If you're enough of a deadly motherfucker that you can and would rather kill a drone than bother with finding some kind of Beauty And The Beast romance situation. Would the drones smell/see/sense a troll covered in the blood and death/distress hormones of a drone and go "well, this one passes muster" and keep moving. Could you look at this situation and just go "well obviously I'll kill my way out with brute force." What then.

[beesorcery]

google how do i tell my dad that the reason i keep bringing up elon musk's transphobia isn't that i've got gen z political tunnel vision that makes me blind to his "innovation" in electric cars but because i am desperately crying out for you as the father of a trans child to feel just as outraged and angry as i am that that man has so much power

[brettsgoldstein]

can we please talk about woman of the hour because holy shitt oh my god dude. its actually so good and not even in the sense i was expecting it to be like i originally didnt wanna watch it bc i dont love indulging in serial killer media that can romanticize it but this wow. it does not do that at all like watching anna kendricks snippet of her interview with stephen colbert fr convinced me oh she gets it and well she really does. so many details down the the way its written wiith the back and forth and the way its shot really emphasizing the abuse women have to deal with. and the very first shot isnt even of this fucking guy its of one of his victims but it's thru a camera lens a literal objectifying lens. "people dont want to be seen, stop performing" *sheryl nods, like an authority figure is speaking to her* all the different ways women have to make themselves feel small at the sake of a man to ensure their safety and protection. when sarah experiences a very weird, very dangerous, gesture she laughs it off awkwardly because what else is she to do? that shot with just her in the frame head on clearly contemplating the truth of her situation figuring out if its worth it to even try and run. cut to a scene of sheryl doing something very similar but shes not in danger, right? but she sleeps with him anyway. laura no one is going to believe you not even your boyfriend are u really sure its the same guy you have to be 100% certain sure honey just wait right here ill get the studio exec for you since the cops didnt do anything oh yeah the guard at the desk sorry yeah hes such an asshole right? the men encroaching in the frame of the women make urself small no one's going to believe you he's not taking the hint just leave just leave im so stupid for letting him in everythings a risk, i don't date much haha, oh that's just la, dear. it's okay, baby, i'm just so embarrassed, don't look don't look believe me believe me okay now run. "stop performing" because to perform is to survive and sheryl doesn't want to survive she just wants to live.

[rockingbytheseaside]

Hi! It's me ya girl! And I'm here to deliver some incorrect quotes to you about our favorite Pierro Piętro Harbinger ( yes that is his true full canon name because I said so)

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: I have feelings for you.

Reader: Why? What's wrong with you? Are you sure you're okay?

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: As top in this relationship, I think we should-

Reader: I can't believe you're pulling rank on me.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: Sorry I’m late, I was doing things.

Reader: Hi, I’m ‘things’.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Reader: Fight me!

Pierro: *gets on one knee and pulls out a ring*

Pierro: Fight me for the rest of our lives.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: The first time I saw you, you stole my heart.

Reader: But I'm a kleptomaniac, so that doesn't mean anything.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: Look, last night was a mistake.

Reader: A sexy mistake.

Pierro: No, just a regular mistake.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Reader: I like your new pants!

Pierro: Thanks, they were 50% off!

Reader: I’d like them better if they were 100% off. *winks*

Pierro: The store can’t just give away clothes for free.

Reader: Thats’s… not what I meant.

Pierro: That’s a terrible way to run a business, Reader.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: Just a minute. I need to go take out the trash.

Reader: Oh. We're going out?

Pierro: Wh...

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: Are you trying to seduce me?

Reader: Why, are you seducible?

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: *seductively takes off glasses*

Pierro: Wow...

Reader: *blushes* Haha... what?

Pierro: You're really fucking blurry.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: Okay, I’m going to get the wedding cake.

Reader: Perfect, while you do that I’ll check on the ring bear.

Pierro: ...

Pierro: You mean ring bearER, right?

Reader: ...

Pierro: Look me in the eyes and tell me you are not going to bring a dangerous wild animal to our wedding.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: Ugh, crushes are so dumb.

Reader: I know. Whenever I’m near the person I like I just start acting stupid.

Pierro: But you’re always acting stupid?

Reader: ...

Reader: Yeah, don’t think about that too hard.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Reader: Since we're in a relationship now, your clothes are my clothes too. Don't ask me why I have your shirt on, this is our shirt.

Pierro: Fine, but when I come strutting in with your fuzzy socks I don't want to hear shit.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: We both look very handsome tonight.

Reader: You know, if you'd just said that I looked handsome, I would have said, "So do you."

Pierro: I couldn't take that chance.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: Is something burning?

Reader, leaning seductively on the counter: Just my desire for you.

Pierro: Reader, the toaster is literally on fire.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Reader: Are you ready to commit?

Pierro: Like, a crime or a relationship?

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

Pierro: Hey, random question, what are your favorite flowers?

Reader: Peonies, why?

Pierro:

Reader: Were you going to get me flowers?

Pierro:

Reader:

Pierro: ᶦᵗ’ˢ ᵃ ᵖᵒˢˢᶦᵇᶦˡᶦᵗʸ

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

That is all... For now anyways I will come back and hunt you with these.

Finally, a true Pierro Piętro Main

Also, omg buddy, these are hilarious. You need to post your own tidbits of Harbingers with Reader. But Pierro x Reader who is mutually stoic as him, only for them both to be immortally stupid once they're together is my favorite genre. Like Heavenly Principles be damned, we're both dense, what do we do after courting each other?

[kumasakka]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ❝ 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐁𝐔𝐊 ! ❞

⋆.˚ 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆. johan seong x reader .

⋆.˚ 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘. what are you seeing right now? is johan bullying kids right now — oh never mind those kids were asking him to lend a hand.

⋆.˚ 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓. ~0.7k words .

⋆.˚ 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓. lowkey plantonic. f!readers. established relationship. lookism x questism crossover. safe for minors! crappy writing. johan may seem ooc. I have no plan what this is.

　“—I'M begging you, so please help us one more time! At this rate Gangbuk will fall into Choyun's hands!"

The boy who stood infront of Johan and shut his eyes tightly. But you completely misunderstood — in your eyes, you watched how Johan was bullying a kid who seemed to be around your age, maybe even younger. Or maybe Johan was giving them a lesson. But it still looked wrong from where you stood and you probably weren't the only one who thought wrong.

You didn't hesitate to take action, stomping towards their direction. And with that volume of your loud stomping, their heads turned to you. Two confused, one troubled. "[name]..." Johan muttered, taking some steps back as he sweatdropped. Your expression already said everything — you were giving him an earful for something he did. But he doesn't even know what he did wrong.

And he wouldn't dare to ask since that would result in your earful getting dragged into the length. So no, Johan will not ask what he do wrong even though he knows you couldn't stay mad at him for a long time. He will not take advantage of this fact. Okay sometimes he does, but only if he really needed it. "What are you doing here?" he asked, a sweat bullet formed on his cheek

"Mister, I need to ask you! What are you doing to these poor kids?!" you huffed, accusingly drilling you finger against his chest. Hard chest.

As soon as you turned your head to the other two, they flinched a bit, only relaxing after seeing your gaze soften. "Hey, you good? Did he bully you or was he being mean? Just tell me and don't worry about him." you said, worrying a little that they wouldn't tell you the truth for his sake. "Don't need to lie, I will beat him up for you. Really, I don't look that strong but I am."

"You misunderstood—"

"Lies." you glanced at your boyfriend next to you, your glare sealed his lips.

"I-It's alright, noona." the girl spoke up first — noona? Was it a he or she?

"Yes..! We were actually asking Johan hyung to help us!" the boy added.

Silence took over you four.

"Help you?" you raised an eyebrow. "He and help? With what."

"Erm... It's a long story." he sweatdropped.

"Long story short, we want to unite Gangbuk or else someone else will! And that someone else is the definition of evil." the girl, or boy? explained.

You blinked. "Oh..." you blinked again, closing your mouth before a laugh escaped your lips, "you're joking, right?" You shook your head with a small grin. But the silence proved otherwise. "Wow. Unite Gangbuk. Haha... Haven't heard those two words for a while. Erm, you weren't joking? You two are being serious?" you commented, just to get nods from them. "Sorry for interrupting..."

"Please help us one last time." the boy bowed down again. "I can't explain, but it'll be dangerous for everyone if I lose! I want to protect everyone dear to me!"

Your eyes went to your boyfriend next to you, your elbow nudging him. "Come one, help him. He seems to really need it." you whispered. "Even though I don't know them. They deserve it, don't they?" you smiled innocently as your eyes met and you knew he was still annoyed because you didn't believe him. It wasn't your fault anyway. It's not like it's his first time bullying — beating some people up.

"It doesn't matter what happens to me! However, I can't let the people around me get hurt!"

"...just this once?" your eyes lit up as Johan questioned this.

　　　　　　　　─ ⊹ ⊱ ☆ ⊰ ⊹ ─

"I'm sorry okay?" you apologized, trailing close behind Johan. "I'll believe you from now on, okay? I'm sorry!"

"Yeah sure..."

"Sorry, okay?! Johan!"

Haru and Suhyeon watched from afar as you two walked away after Johan agreed to lend them a hand for one last time. "He had a girlfriend?" Haru muttered under her breath, blinking several times. Well it was kind of hard to believe to be honest. "A pretty one at that." Suhyeon added with no shame, his eyes lowered and lowered — "ow! Hey, what was that for?!" he cried out, just to see how Haru was furrowing her eyebrows.

"Sorry!"

"Please refrain yourself from letting your eyes wander..."

"I couldn't help myself!" Suhyeon whined before turning to the lone figures again, "do you think she was strong?"

"Based on her looks no. But never judge a book by it's cover I guess." Haru answered and followed his gaze.

"I believe she could've helped us too to be honest..." he mumbled.

"Really?"

"Mhm."

After all, her stats were unmeasurable.

© 2024 kumasakka — do not plagiarize , copy , modify , translate our work !

a/n's note — ngl I have no idea what I just wrote. this is so random, I just wanted to read a little oneshot where yn appears in questism too alongside johan.

[queenofapeacefuldawn]

SPY × Family: Chapter 94 analysis unhinged thoughts

hello hello! i am back with my thoughts for the latest chapter! please note that there are spoilers ahead for chapter 94! (Long-ish post incoming?)

Okay, so I loved this chapter. I'm a person who loves locked room murder mystery type stories, so this definitely scratched that itch for me. Obviously, I'm biased.

Analysis (of sorts?):

Right off the bat I can say that this chapter isn't really oriented on emotions or certain character dynamics. It is pretty plot heavy (but. not to the main plot. this chapter in itself has a plot to its own, but I really really liked it).

So the chapter starts with Bondman facing off an enemy in a snowy mountain...

which, of course, inspires Anya to have an adventure of her own. She asks Loid to take her skiing, only to be flatly denied...

BUT! Agent Anya has tricks up her sleeve (threatening to cry), and that works on our dear, super-spy Agent Twilight (he's so weak and stupid y'all.)

side note:

he thinks he's soooo cool. he's not.

Anyway, we get Twilight trying to explain skiing to Yor, which... fails, kinda. we also get gymnastics from Yor, (SHE's the cool one), and a half-baked explanation from her about learning all that from a gymnastics teacher.

The Forgers are trapped in a snowy blizzard, which leads them to take refuge in a lodge. They meet a group of young college students, who regale them with a tale of a bloody snowman who kills people in the dark.

Might just be me, but this design reminds me of Type-F from the new Code White movie (note: this isn't exactly a spoiler, I haven't seen the movie, but this is what's on the wiki and in the trailers). The snowy backdrop + this Type-F-esque design might be a homage to the movie? Probably just me, though, haha.

Anyway, onto the main focus of the story (kidding, it's not):

WE COULD'VE HAD IT ALL..... YOR AND LOID SLEEPING ON THE SAME BED.... WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN....

(jk, it probably wouldn't have happened, but a girl can dream)

"Eh, why not?" Certainly, these words CANNOT exist in the vocabulary of THE Agent Twilight! Perhaps.... no, it can't be... he's finally RELAXED for once? Feeling secure enough to ASSESS THE LAYOUT FOR POSSIBLE ESCAPE ROUTES WITH HIS YOUNG DAUGHTER? No... it can't be possible....

(Sorry, I know I'm unfunny. I don't think that'll change)

But, genuinely, this just shows how at ease he is with his wife and daughter. He might not know it yet, but I know it (← somebody whose opinion isn't worth shit).

Finally, onto the main crisis of the story:

the would-be murderer.

There's something to be said about how he jumped into action to save the guy's life, (as one does), BUT. BUT

OHOHOHO. The minute Yor's in danger (see: the man reached out to grab her but Loid just grabbed his hand) he decides to find the killer to prove her innocence. (You know his adage? A spy should never draw attention to themselves.) The minute his WIFE was in danger he resolves to find the killer and prove Yor's innocence their guilt. HMMMMM. Agent Twilight, you ain't slick. I think you momentarily forgot about about your #1 lesson to never draw attention to yourself just to prove Yor's innocence. OHHHHHH. The fanfiction is fanfiction-ing

(I'M SORRY I'LL TRY TO BE FUNNY FROM NOW ON)

To summarize the rest of the chapter: Anya realises with her telepathy that the killer is the lodge owner, and meddles in the investigation to nudge Loid in the right direction, and the police arrive to the lodge to find the incident resolved. Everyone's happy, right?

Not... really.

Anya's excited because, "Wow, I solved a murder! So cool, best trip ever!"

But Yor and Loid aren't that happy. Loid is worried that this kind of meddling will get Anya in danger... and he's more worried that she isn't really grasping the gravity of the situation.

Which. She kind of isn't. A man was almost killed, but she's not showing any signs of shock? Remember, he was this worried even after the hospital visit where she makes a mess of that sand-model thingie, and after the bus hijacking arc, when she's hyped about the Stella, and he tells her that the Stella was "not for the reckless way you defied those hijackers."

Which.... is a lot of character development from the man who was A-OK with leaving her alone in the apartment, to now how he constantly worries about her wellbeing. Growth.

Also, another tidbit:

I feel like this chapter showcases another facet of his personality. Not Agent Twilight's, or Loid's, but [REDACTED]'s.

[REDACTED] always wanted to help. Even in the War Arc, when, in Luwen where he was staying at his great-uncle's house, we can see that he wants to catch fish for his and his family's dinner, while, in the backdrop, children are laughing and playing. It's always been in his character to help, and, hell, it's partly the reason he is who he is today. Agent Twilight wants to think that he left [REDACTED] behind after that fateful bombing in Luwen, but [REDACTED] is hanging around him like a ghost, and some of his character bleeds through the facade that is Agent Twilight, which is masked by the facade that is Loid Forger.

Final thoughts:

Loved the chapter. It's probably just me reading into it too much, but... that scene where he grabs the guy's hand who was trying to tie up Yor. Hm.

This entire chapter might have been a locked-room murder mystery type chapter, but I genuinely think that it showcases how much of an effect this family has had on Agent Twilight. What with taking Anya on a sweep of the premises to look for escape routes, to trying to prove Yor's innocence that definitely betrayed his number 1 rule as a spy... this man is truly so oblivious, I wanna cry.

(Also: did he not stop for a moment to think that him performing first-aid on the victim, or trying to build a radio from scratch OR playing detective to prove his wife's innocence IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF OSTANIAN PEOPLE would raise suspicions? Obviously, it was all overshadowed by the discovery of the would-be killer, but... at least one person had got to have been suspicious of Loid.)

(Also also: He's so weak. One look at her crying face and he's gone.)

This was just my thoughts from a preliminary read of the chap, so if I get more thoughts, I'll probably add onto it in a reblog or a new post. Tysm for reading! Hope you liked it, and have a great day/night! Remember to stay hydrated!

[journey-to-the-attic]

I had a prophetic vision.

as a disclaimer this is all so OOC- I get really worried about my random brain junk because I know that I mischaracterize them quite a bit but it's junk for a reason I guess 😅

so I was daydreaming about JTTA while listening to music as per usual and a specific song came up (idk the song it was classical music) and it was very dramatic and it planted this whole SCENE in my head of like. IK in some extreme danger in front of a Big BadTM or something and she's tweaking out because she knows she's about to die *again* and there's nothing she can do to stop it and she just has this moment of complete and utter pridefulness where her thoughts are like "Oh c'mon like seriously? I was killed by one of the seven deadly sins and now I'm gonna get wiped out by this lowlife? I'm so above this"

and so naturally my brain said "hmmm what if IK but cool pact magic???"

So THEN I had this vision of like. when she's having these moments of like, drowning in their respective sins, she goes Magic Girl ModeTM and kind of snatches their powers if that makes sense.....the one I saw specifically was the pride thing with Lucifer, and there's this like huge outpouring of *something* from somewhere in the Devildom, and everyone rushes over to see IK with huge, black raven wings and pitch black hair, and her irises have gone red and everything. she's EMO NOW guys she means BUSINESS. and she's flying over this Big BadTM with a ball of purple magic nonsense in her hand (AKA what Lucifer used to doink her hand!!! CALLBACKS PEOPLE) naturally she passes out from the whole thing because she's only a tiny human and Lucifer's amount of pride has the same effect as a tranq that you'd use on a rampaging elephant butttt the others are like "whoah did you guys see THAT"

anyways yeah. thought that was pretty cool, also high-key just an excuse to make IK look even more like her father

top 1 thing that make me want to draw WHAT THE HECK!!! in a more ambitious timeline i would immediately undertake drawing a Superpowered IK for each sin/brother because but for now..... i will marinate in this idea......

obviously lucifer is very worried but i feel like a part of him is also doing the pleased dad thing where he's like "haha of course my daughter would be able to wield colossal demonic power despite her mundane human body, she's just that talented"

(i think ik taking on his appearance would also make him reconsider some things about himself, because he knows he has a parental sort of affection but he still tries to convince himself that he's just being a big brother sometimes. this fully makes him go yeah i'm a father now)

i feel like the other brothers would also tease him like "wow you're SO full of yourself that ik's body literally couldn't handle it" lol

[moratcha]

Wait wait wait, the dadchuck au is amazing!

Now I'm wondering if falin and laois know they're siblings (if they still are in this au) and how they find out. I can imagine how the two would infodump to eachother about eachothers interests and everything.

Also with chilchuck being the one eaten- the angst of Falin wanting her dad back ;-; ooooh I love that, maybe Falin and Laois know they're siblings by that point and laois is determined to make his sister feel better.

Anyway I will happily continue eating this au up cause I love it

(HI THERE!!!! first of all, i’m so glad you like my au— it means a whole lot! i’m insane about chil & falin in specific and so something with them as the sole focus was clearly overdue……….)

Second of all, Falin and Laios do eventually figure out that they’re siblings, yes. This is where it gets a little bit confusing tbh LOL.

Falin still attends Magic School when she’s old enough to be on her own (around 15ish up until around like, 19?) albeit it’s not a result of her parents forcing her out because she’s off-putting and not good for social standing, but rather that Chilchuck + Chilchuck Wife encourage her to pursue her talents because they think it could lead to a successful career/stable life for herself in the future. (That and because they’re good parents. However during Falin’s time at school this is when Chil & his wife end up Separating LOL)

During Falin’s time at Magic School, Laios passes through because he’s working for the caravan. Coincidentally, the two run into each other (and they totally geek out about the authentic naturally-formed dungeon nearby…) and in typical Touden nature the two go “wow! we look super alike! isn’t that neat. would be weird if we were siblings or something lol”. but anyway. the two hit it off and falin learns of his plans to traverse to Melini.

(this intrigues her especially because of the dungeon that’s said to exist there and, in this AU, there’s some Haha Uh Oh! between Marcille + Falin because with a traditionally shorter lived race as a father Falin is way more apt towards Marcille’s “i need all the races to live as long as me” plan.)

So falin leaves with laios (tells marcille she’s going on a research-based expedition) and white boy has a lightbulb moment when he remembers that he apparently had a sibling who was said by his parents to have been taken away at a young age. in typical touden fashion AGAIN they have an “omg�� maybe we’re long lost siblings…” moment.

This is also how Chilchuck joins the party because a few years down the line his daughter writes a letter to him basically saying “Dad! I found a guy who might be my long lost sibling! We’re going into a highly dangerous dungeon together with little to no skill! With love, Your Daughter” and he has a heart attack on the spot and goes My Alcoholism can wait i will NOT let my daughter be scammed into poor finance-based decision making. And literally writes back going “DON’T GO ANYWHERE I’M COMING.” and shows up to Melini like the next day. (He has especial beef with Laios in this AU for a hot minute)

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

s5 episode 18 thoughts

post episode thoughts: raaaaaughhhh. foaming at the mouth. raving, even. chasing my tail like a mad dog. barking. howling.

it was so good. this was a FANTASTIC episode. i cannot get over scully seeing through all of mulder's nonsense and refusing to take no for an answer. truly a scully-centric episode, even if they tried to frame it as mulder being an action hero. wow. love is real. and it is stored in the pinky finger of your coworker.

anyway, back to past me, reporting from the ground- as if i can ever truly return to a world before this episode!!!!

reading the episode description... mulder is going undercover today!!! this is a rare and special treat!! i look forward to seeing his improv skills in action!! can he be put to the test??

and this group has a deadly pathogen. which is not good. i wonder if scully will be involved in doctoring. probably not, though. this will probably be a mulder alone episode. very sad. i would be happy to be proved wrong, though.

(I LOVE BEING WRONG SOMETIMES... i am clapping my hands and singing like this is a church... HALLELUJAH!!!)

boy, i haven’t watched an episode in what feels like forever. no reason to delay!

aww, pretty man mulder is running beneath the cherry blossoms. how washington dc of him! wonder where they found the cherry blossoms in canada…

or did they shoot one scene in washington and then dip? lmao

(were they still filming in canada at this point? when is the infamous switch to LA? has it already happened and i had no idea? if i had to guess, i would say the switch starts in s6... feel free to tell me if i'm right or wrong; i don't count knowing the filming location as a spoiler, haha)

who is watching him???

oh, it is not a leisurely jog! scully and skinner are watching him through cameras!!!

scully finds whoever it is they're watching coming off of the bus! average scully noticing moment. she is very perceptive. 

so they’re following this guy (later revealed to be named haley, and who will from now on be referred to as such)… scully notices haley looking at something. he’s watching mulder!!! he gives the dude sitting next to him an envelope. skinner says to wait wait wait. 

mulder is stretching like a real runner…. but the dude the suspect gave the envelope to keels over!!!!

did the envelope have some sort of pathogen in it that haley was immune to somehow??? like a princess bride poison sort of situation??

scully sees haley is on the move!! she’s yelling at mulder to follow him!! RUN, LONG-LIMBED MAN!!! MAKE ALL THE HORSES JEALOUS OF YOUR GALLOPING SKILLS!!

“maintain your position on the downed beta” <- hmm. words that have a very different meaning post the invention of the omegaverse

AUGH the sick guy is getting his FLESH eaten away!! as much as i like seeing scully yelling for answers (“what? what? what? what are you seeing!”), that is NOT what i expected visually!!! GAG!!! nasty!!

it looks like bugs?

so the bad guy is named haley? okay.

but where did mulder go? “mulder was on him, there’s no way he couldn’t catch him” says skinner, aware that the man is a track star 

scully needs to find her mulder NOW. 

ohh she’s PISSED (when she slams things and yells “damn it” because he is in danger and she is watching… this is one of my favorite scully mannerisms)

NOOOO, SHE’S BREAKING FREE (she was in a van for all of that?) and skinner is yelling after her!!! queen, you cannot outrun him!!! 

mulder’s chased him into the woods, but haley got in a car and got away 

she finds mulder and she’s gagged the bad guy escaped him LMAO “what happened?” “i lost him” “what do you mean?” “he got away” <- SHE WAS IN DISBELIEF LMAOOOO noooo, is he aging out of his track star status?! 💔

she looks after him, deeply confused, and we get our intro

(why did my boss just email now… don’t piss me off)

scully is here in the office watching the tape of haley running… she came early and wants to make sure she isn’t crazy. damn. you know it's serious when she comes in early.

she thinks he may have helped the bad guy escape!!! and he’s denying everything.

“i expect you to give me an answer. i expect you to tell me the truth” “we’re late for the hearing” <- what is this man hiding……?!?!?!

oh, she is PISSED off!

so this guy haley is second in command of a militia called the new spartans… and the operation to catch him failed. 

ohhh, mulder isn’t even sitting next to scully during this hearing… what is going on? i will NOT ask again.

the guy who died at the scene was an arms dealer, and haley got away with $50,000 worth of weapons!!!!!

what kind of disease did he die of, you ask? great question. cue scully. it seems to be genetically engineered. she’s gonna tell you about its effects on the dermis. some other guy says that maybe it was stolen from siberia.

scully is explaining the procedures taken when there is an unknown disease floating about and someone asks her how she knows it’s not contagious… mulder chimes in with “we’re not all dead”, which gets some nervous laughter, but WHAT is this man thinking?!?!

OHHHHH is mulder undercover and that is why he helped the guy get away…? but he’s so undercover that he cannot even tell skinner or the CIA…? bro is gonna get in trouble if this is the case!!! biiiig trouble!! you should not hide things from skinner!!!

(while i am only speculating here, i am often wondering how he wasn’t fired before this moment in time)

the head guy of the new spartans is named bremer, and he might be fighting with haley for control. civil war time

“the media gets a sniff, we disavow”, says this dude from the CIA. HMMMMM. DO NOT LIKE THAT.

the absolute SECOND the hearing is over, scully calls for mulder and he walks away... WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!? they’re divorcing 💔

she looks mad as hell… and skinner sees this…. he is going to be drawing conclusions

haley is now in ohio buying a movie ticket. he’s gonna watch die hard with a vengeance. okay. sure.

he’s making this poor girl make fresh new popcorn for him… i can see her die inside. NO, DON’T MAKE HER *ACTUALLY* DIE!!

mulder is rolling up to delaware. is this the same motel where he tripped out on ketamine that one day? SCULLY FOLLOWED HIM!!! ohhh, she is deeply suspicious of his antics….

he gets in another car and drives off. his phone is ringing in the motel room.

OH SHIT!!! IT’S HALEY ON THE PHONE!!!!

“you set me up” “i saved your ass” WHAT… mulder, you are going to get in BIG TROUBLE!!!

“look, i believe in your ideals and your goals, but the only reason i tolerate your methods is because the government’s are worse” <-lmao, get him again for me. he may be pretending to be on his side, but that doesn't mean he has to be nice to the guy.

so this guy contacted him?? and he knows scully is suspicious. cue angry hanging up the phone.

back at the movie theater, these boys are sneaking in….  OH MY GOD THERE’S A MELTED CORPSE IN THERE?? MULTIPLE OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT!!!

meanwhile, scully is angry. she’s telling the motel worker that he gave her keys to someone else (LMAO)

well, her lying skills seem to have improved!!

“who are you?” “who am i? who is he?” <- LMAO, that made me giggle 

“mr. kaplan” <- OHHHHH, HIS FAKE NAME!!!

“are you the wife?” “not even close” (angry door slam) LMAOOOOOO SHE HAS HAS ENOUGH!!!!

(i was giggling about this all day at work. not even close. yeah, you keep telling yourself that babe. oh, she was PISSED!!!! i'm howling)

mulder comes out from the room and she has to hide from him!!!! some guys are taking him in their car….. 

how did he not notice her, bro…? she is better at stealth than he is!!!!

so she’s gonna go after him. 

still laughing at “not even close” lmaoooo

(angry scully driving) 

oh shit!!! she’s trapped!!! by men in suits in front and behind her!!!! 

they’re taking her hostage and not saying anything!!! 

WHAT IS SKINNER DOING IN HERE????

“what the hell is going on?” “i apologize for our methods. they may well have saved agent mulder’s life” “what about my life? i don’t appreciate being run off the road” <- LMAOOO GOD I LOVE HER because i too would be absolutely and utterly FURIOUS 

but when they accuse her of being suspicious of mulder, she immediately says “i don’t know what you’re talking about” AND THAT IS BECAUSE SHE IS THE REALEST MOTHERFUCKER ON THIS PLANET. god, scully is a ride or die, huh? she wants to know wtf is going on with him, but don’t YOU dare bring it up that he is being weird as hell. i love it.

so! the whole council was a front to make the new spartans unaware of his complicity!!!

(reading my notes back, i think it is so funny that i immediately assumed he was doing this whole undercover thing without skinner's knowledge. i just kind of imagined it was the outcome where mulder broke the most rules. because, let's face it: it usually is)

OH........ AND SHE IMMEDIATELY WANTS TO KNOW WHY THEY PICKED HIM FOR THIS MISSION!!

the new spartans found him from that UFO panel in boston, where he was talking about the evils of the government!!! damn. i knew that was a terrible idea.

“you’ve put agent mulder’s life in danger by not telling me”, she says, her tone biting. and skinner says “agent mulder came to me. i advised him not to tell you” <- OHHHHHHH, THIS IS SO JUICY!!!

god, the skinner/scully/mulder dynamic is JUST. MWAH. it's always shifting. i want to study it under a microscope. they spit and they claw and they fight and they die and kill for each other and there's an aura of unspoken devotion and just when you think it's settled, they come to blows again. and they always come back. and do it again. incredible.

she asks, what about the bioweapon!!! they might eat mulder's flesh!!!! which is a very valid concern!!!

and in comes some other guy saying they used “it” in a movie theater in ohio.

man, you better not melt my boy’s skin off.

honestly, it is so funny that he was so easy to read. baby boy, you’re lowkey trash at being undercover. your partner is too in sync for you to do anything funny.

these strange men who took him in their car have his face covered and his hands cuffed. “ooh, is this the pepsi challenge?” oh, his dumbass quips.... <3

he’s so cute. even as they grab his pinky fingers and are about to break them

“you might wanna put that hood back on me, unless you want to see a grown man cry” <- well maybe i do. some of us like hurt/comfort. weep.

AUGH they do something to his pinkies. and again. he says he did not set them up and despite this being the truth, this guy seems to enjoy hurting others.

“augh, i’m gonna kill you! i’m gonna kill you!” <- yeah tell them!!! tell them!!!

(good to know that he reacts to torture with fury. storing that information for future reference)

OHHH he headbutts the guy he calls “a nazi piece of shit” OHHH AND THEN HE COMES BACK AND SAYS “YOU TOUCH ME AGAIN, YOU BETTER KILL ME” AUGHHHHH

AUGHHHHH THE DUDE WHO GOT HEADBUTTED SNAPPED HIS PINKIE AND THEN HALEY SAYS HE BELIEVES HIM??!??

so what was that all about!!!!! to scare him??? well hell! it sure did work on me! i'm spooked!!!

(still need a moment to contemplate mulder being tortured and screaming in equal parts agony and fury and terror. wow. please take a moment to hold space. imagine that i am gesturing frantically but vaguely as i try to articulate a point and i cannot do it. and that there are tears in my eyes)

and now that space has been held, we may move on

at the movie theater, there are 14 victims!!!! it's like the skin melted right off of them!!

scully looks absolutely horrified, like she might start crying, as her and skinner look at the bodies wrapped in bags. just coworker bonding activities. those two boys who snuck in managed to survive, and that fact is going to help them figure out what happened.

she says the contagion has to be something everyone touched… it must be the tickets!!

poor mulder is back in his apartment, holding his broken finger :(

and scully is here in the dark!!! “don’t be alarmed”, she says, alarming him <- lmaooo god i just love her 

HE YELLS AT HER TO GET OUT OF THERE??? and when she says skinner told her everything, he denies knowing what she’s talking about 

GOD the low and breathy “oh, mulder, what did they do to you?” as she examines his hand… and he’s wincing… absolutely 100% going in my favorite moments for s5 list. 

(still thinking about this. and my stomach and heart are doing flips)

“it needs to be set. you’re in pain” oh my god. oh my goddddd. AND his whiny “yeah, if you keep pulling it around like that” ...... woah

this feels illegal for a hurt/comfort freak like me. this feels like something i would read in a fic and go "YEAHHH" and then leave a bunch of comments on about how it should have happened in canon. but it DID happen in canon. and it was perfect.

who wrote this episode? i didn't pay attention. whoever it is, we elope at dawn.

let her hold an ice pack on your hand.

she breaks the news that the new spartans killed 14 people in a movie theater, probably as a test, and they’re testing him too. but it seems they’re listening to him!! NOO!! HE DOESN'T KNOW THIS!!! AND THEY KEEP TALKING!!!

THEY HAVE A RIFLE ON HIM??? it’s the other guy, bremer!!!!

poor baby is coming into the FBI at 3 am with his fucked up hand :(

time to talk with the CIA guy and skinner. the new spartans want a bunch of money.

ohhh, skinner is scared. he’s trying to buy time and he wants a tail on mulder!! but this other guy from the CIA says no tail!!! 

(still thinking about this, too. gnawing on it like a bone)

this other dude from the CIA does not give a single fuck if mulder lives or dies. i guess they don't have time for love in their hearts over at that agency.

CIA man was prepared with fake files for them. weird...

“if you don’t hear from me by midnight… feed my fish”, mulder says to skinner before leaving. amazing last words to tell your boss.

skinner watches, filled with feelings, indescribable like usual

scully is here to look at the virus! “it’s bacterium”, she points out. yeah it is baby <3 

but it wasn’t on the ticket!! so how did it get in the theater??

“it looks like a streptococcus” she says. and i have heart eyes. hey. hiiiiiii.

“but strep wouldn’t be able to survive any kind of exposure to the environment” <- absolutely giggling over here as she does her science talk. also nodding along like i knew that for sure (i did not, which is what makes this so enjoyable)

somehow it was covered with a protective covering??? and the other scientist says it’s NOT from russia. who did this….

mulder is rolling up in his sunglasses. but the lights in his room are cut!!! it’s the muscle guy who messed up his pinkies earlier!!! and haley!! he tells haley to get that man who beat me up out of here. and then he gives him the files.

but haley is suspicious of the files… he says to put the hood on. where are they taking him???? mulder says he won’t do it!!!!

scully’s calling skinner… but he’s on speaker and she won’t talk unless she’s off speaker!!!

weird for him to answer on speaker, but okay. “my research indicates that it was almost certainly developed domestically”, she says about the pathogen. and i'm blushing. and kicking my feet.

OHHHH she says she found that virus being developed in the 1960’s as a bioweapon!!! you cannot out research her!!! but the CIA guy is here too… is he hiding that??

she thinks the bioweapon program was continued in secret and mulder is on a suicide mission!!!!

“right. thank you” says skinner. and he tells the CIA guy she is merely concerned for her partner.

where is this dude taking mulder…? the answer: to a barn filled with endless amounts of guns while tense music plays!!

mulder is meeting with bremer, the head fellow in charge of the new spartans, now. 

“you a believer?” “i have my beliefs” “you willing to die for them?” “i prefer it didn’t come to that” <- a measured response

they make him wear a dracula mask… this is so humiliating!!!

scully is sleeping in her car at 6 am… wake up, sleepy scully!

“the money… oh my god, the money” SHE IS REALIZING THINGS!! and she speeds off!!

they’re making HIM break into the bank?? as dracula?? this is so unfairrrrr!!!

so they cart him off to the bank in that sad rubber mask.

NO, they burst out and grab the poor money guy… and then everyone in the busy bank is forced to put their hands up!!! and mulder is planning something… but someone shoots!!!!

and mulder has to finish the guy off!!! can he aim well enough???? to hit right NEXT to his head???

they’re taking the money in bags…… and mulder still has to kill the guy… 

someone else is spraying the pathogens on all the money that they are leaving behind!!! if this gets out... a terrible outbreak!!

at the last minute, someone else comes in and kills the guy for mulder, because his weapon was traceable!!! oh my god!!!!!!

he looks back at the poor guy :(

now he’s burning his mask and looking very pensive :( 

bremer is burning some of the money, saying the bills can be traced… 

OH NO! the bank heist was a decoy so they could contaminate the OTHER money!!!! the money that they didn’t take!!! 

NOOOO, how can scully save the day?!

bremer pulls out a gun and OH! haley gets in the way! saying he already knows bremer’s secret!!

haley says that mulder gave him a report, explaining that bremer has been leaking information! but bremer says mulder knew a false report would feed haley’s ambition to take over!! SO WHAT IS THE TRUTH? will they fight it out??

NOOOOO!!! bremer finds the audio from when mulder was chatting with scully about him being undercover!!!! he is furious!!! 

scully finds skinner, saying the new spartans put the biotoxins on the money, and that they need to find mulder NOW. 

bremer has haley and mulder sat execution style. oh, he lets bremer go, tossing him the keys to an escape car. very interesting.

and they take mulder to kill him…. he’s plotting… man is always plotting…. handsome and plotting…..

bremer says to get down and mulder waits a very long time before doing so… what is going on…….?

they’re gonna kill my boy….

NO!! bremer instead shot the pinky torturing guy!!! and saved a car for mulder and said to run!!!!

a great question is posed: who is this dude??

he’s running back to the bank!!! and scully is here too!!!!! the cash supply is being isolated!! 

OHHHH...... SHE RECOGNIZED HIM ON THE SECURITY TAPE FROM THE BANK ROBBERY, EVEN WITH THE MASK ON, BECAUSE OF HIS FINGER.... OH MY GODDDDD

he makes a little motion over his face to indicate the mask, and oh my god. the intimacy of recognizing someone without seeing their face because you tended to their wounds…. someone hold me.

bremer is working for the government. and before mulder goes any further… scully wants him to know it might have been a set up

enter CIA guy. 

“agent mulder, our government is not in the business of killing innocent civilians” “the hell they aren’t” <- GET EM FOR ME 🔥🔥

OH SHIT, SCULLY IS ON HIM TOO!!!!

“you knew about this all along!!!” FIVE ISH FEET OF CONCENTRATED FURY IS BEING SET UPON YE

she is SCREAMING in his face, and mulder straight up accuses CIA guy of killing civilians as a test operation

skinner is just watching both of his unruly agents scream at this dude’s face. probably thinking that they are right, but hoping they could make 20% less of a scene.

damn. the CIA guy says that if they do whistleblow, they’ll just turn the people against the government, exactly like the new spartans want. 

what the fuck? all of that happened so the government could kill innocent people in a movie theater? so they can kill other people later when needed? just melt em down to the bone?

this is beyond evil.

scully and mulder need some time to start at the wall and unpack that for a bit. 

the episode ends with haley driving off into a ditch, his flesh melted from contact with the keys bremer gave him!!

holy fuck. so this episode was awesome, but that twist was absolutely crazy. 

damn. maybe *i* need time to sit and stare at the wall.

the government testing bioweapons on its own civilians… it isn’t unheard of. but to make the agents do it themselves is fucking twisted. they’re both going to be eaten up by that for the rest of their lives. 

if we can manage to put that aside, i feel like this was really a scully episode. highlighting her attention to detail, her intense loyalty, her brilliance, and every other amazing aspect of her character. she has a hell of a temper when she needs to, but it is matched in ferocity by her compassion.

still giggling at "who am i? who is he?!" because she really sold that scene LMAOOOO

oh mulder, needing to be all noble and mysterious and shut scully out because he thinks it will keep her safe. but he is entirely incapable of doing this because she clocks him instantly. he really did give it a go.

i also think it's very interesting that he gets down on his knees and doesn't run when bremer is going to kill him. it's as if he is surrendering. that is really significant to me, even if i cannot quite articulate why that is at the moment.

god, i'm going to need sedation after her 1) tending to his wounded hand and then 2) recognizing him faceless by the wound. hey? can anyone hear me? is this a dream? did i imagine this whole episode?

can we get more episodes like this? please? please please? a great mix of MSR angst with overtones of skinner/scully/mulder angst and comedic angry scully and whiny broken pinky baby mulder? of knowing someone so entirely they cannot keep anything from you? if another episode like this one also wants to grapple with the inhumane acts of the government perpetuated by those sworn to protect and serve, hey, i'll take that too. it only made a good thing better, even if it would be satisfying to get a real bad guy in jail for once in this show.

man. i am deeply pleased. i feel that there is little else i could ask for in an episode. allow me to now drift into sleep thinking of the romanticism of tending to your beloved's wounds. and the romanticism of letting your beloved touch the most injured parts of you. yeah.

[littlelegoman]

LMK NINJAGO CROSS OVER, BUT IT'S JUST LLOYD AND MK SWITCHING PLACES FOR A WEEK

Tang (possibly Pigsy, too): Wow, that sounds like a lot to go through as a child. And you bodily became 18 when you were 12? I'm so sorry, they shouldn't have done that to you..

Lloyd: Well-- it was to save the city--

Tang: What did that city ever do for you? I mean, your whole life is just one tragedy after another; your mother abandons you, your father is locked away, you get sent to a boarding school to make you evil and you still get bullied there. You're manipulated multiple times by adults, and sure, you tried to do that once to them, but you were a child. They were adults. That's not fair.

Lloyd: It was destiny, I had to because of the prophesy...

Tang: No, you had a choice. You didn't have to do all that, and even if you wanted to, you could've waited till you were mature enough to understand the severity of it. Your uncle trains you-- actually, he forcibly takes you, which legally would happen anyways as your only relative, but the law was never involved, not to mention you were under the impression you'd be hurt.

Tang: It's not your fault either. You were coerced into it. The prophesy never said when you had to defeat your father, right?

Lloyd: Well, I don't entirely remember....

Tang: You needed an adult who wasn't going to use you, and you never got that. You never got a childhood, and that's terrible. I'm so upset that this happened to you because no kid deserves this. I'm not completely okay with MK being the Monkie Kid; I mean, look at all the danger it's put him through - but at least he was an adult, old enough to make his own conscious choice.

Lloyd: I...

Lloyd: Thanks, mom.

Tang: It's no pro-- wait what?

MK: And you have elemental powers?! Oh, that's so cool! I don't have any of those, really. I mean, I can do a lot of things that the Monkey King can do, but I don't think controlling elements was one of them.

Zane: It is awesome, of course, but we have years of years of unpacked trauma.

MK: Same!! :D

Red Son: Your father... was okay with you becoming a hero?

Lloyd: He wasn't the best, but it's not completely his fault. The whole venom and oni thing really messed him up. He knew what he was, and he... deep down, he wanted a safe world for me, and fhst meant a world without him.

Red Son:.... I see.

Lloyd: So, uh, you want to be like your father?

Red Son: Well, of course I do! I'm not some a simple-minded peasant like Noodle Boy or Dragon Girl! My father's legacy is one to behold with pride.

Lloyd:... but?

Red Son, sighing: but my father barely recognizes my greatness; and Noodle Boy and his peasant friends do....

MK: Why is... why.. (MK, trying to talk about Garmadon)

Wu: Ah... My brother and I share Oni and Dragon blood... when he was bitten by The Great Devourer, it caused his blood to turn cold.

MK: Does that mean you can become evil too?

Wu, caught off guard: Oh. I..

Wu, sighing: Yes. That is a possibility. I trained my students the best way I knew how... I.. admit I wasn't the best

MK, smiling brightly: HAHA, yeah, you weren't!

Wu, offended:

MK: Wait-- you ABANDONED your son to an evil school?!

Misako: I-- I did.

MK: Why not send him to a normal school?! Or with Mister Wu?! If you knew he was gonna beat up his dad, wouldn't it have helped if he grew up with morals???

Lloyd: I mean no offense, Sun Wukong, but I don't know why MK still likes you.

Wukong: Honestly, I don't either

[bodycountgame]

Hello! I was a big fan of the series a while a go and it is lovely to see that you are back. I'm terribly sorry that other anons put you through a lot with the voting aspect of the game. Absolutely no one deserves death threats for a story that they are bringing to us for free. However, I am not going to lie, I always feel a bit worried when a fandom majority vote is what has long lasting effects on character life/death. It was ok when it was everyone voting with an equal effect. Now there will be a wealth gap to vote. Only people that pay can contribute. And at least where I'm from wealth looks a certain kind of way.

Since you have characters that are in a minority it feels... Bad. Maybe I'm projecting how racist and transphobic my home country is on the vote for this game. I also don't want you to feel like this is an attack on you because that is not my intent at all! I love the diversity in the love interests and it was what brought me to the game initially. I am worried that if you do a majority vote on Patreon that characters that aren't white/cis will face a harsher vote. Trans lives are in danger and I was not surprised when a nonbinary character died first. I was part of the fandom and people treated them very grossly (it actually made me step away for a bit as well). There were many options but the vocally out and proud person got the boot first. What I'm saying is I trust you more than your Patreon supporters. If the people can't all vote as one, due to the actions of some terrible people, then maybe we shouldn't vote at all

anon, i totally understand your concerns because i absolutely shared them. to be completely honest with you, i had totally misjudged which characters i thought were popular or not and watching the three non binary cast members struggle through that first vote felt Bad. my personal disappointment about ellis being the character to receive the least votes in the vote contributed in no small part to the twist in chapter 3 and their revised arc (which was Not planned when i set out writing body count hahaha). howeverrrrrr, i did learn a lot from the process.

my main motivator behind making the vote patreon exclusive was that the voters would be genuinely invested in the game and that the polling would be much harder to game or manipulate. selfishly, i also think it will reduce a certain amount of the absolute barrage of wild anons from the first time around haha!

in addition to that, though, i think its important that i reaffirm what i have said from the start: i am acutely aware that in interactive fiction in general and particularly on tumblr there is a strong preference for white male characters, and i am not here to write some kind of gross POC/women/nb slasher. as much as i want the audience to have a say in the direction the story takes, i ultimately have final say on what happens in the story that i am writing.

the main way that i intend to have oversight of the voting process is by who appears on the polls in the first place; the first poll was the last time the whole cast will be available for a vote at the same time. since ellis, one of three NB cast members, was the first character to die, i've said that neither of the other NB cast members will appear on future polls. if it's women and POC suffering in the next vote, then i'll be applying similar logic. if that means we get towards the end and we need a white boy only poll then so be it!

that said, if people cannot behave then i will simply take away their toys. although i consider the voting mechanic to be one of the things that makes body count unique and fun, i'm absolutely not above doing away with it if there are Shenanigans that spoil it, ya know?

anyway, i hope that assuages some of your concerns! sorry for another giant wall of text wow i simply cannot answer a question concisely atm

[rising-volteccers]

So, have this self indulgent take of Friede's POV in HZ044 ft some dialogue and scenes I wished he had. Why is it when I'm sick that I have the motivation to finish WIPs. At the very least it gave me a reason to rewatch some episodes haha

Anyway, hope this is an enjoyable read still! Spoilers for HZ044.

Series: Pokemon Horizons

Characters: Friede, Spinel, Cap

--

Aside from the wild Pokemon that quickly dispersed upon spotting their little group, Friede couldn't shake off the uneasy sensation that settled over him at how quiet the island was. Granted, confronting the Explorers on their turf wasn't ideal but they had little choice if they wanted to stop them from catching Rayquaza. Even a formidable Legendary could fall prey to whatever the Explorers had in store for it.

Eventually, Friede and the others reached the odd building. Once again, the lack of any lookout sowed further uneasiness within him. 

Surely the Explorers were alerted of their presence, or at least knew that they knew about their plans to capture Rayquaza. If Friede was in their shoes, he'd at least place multiple guards to protect the area.

Seemed like they did so with Magneton and Beheeyem hovering around the place earlier. 

A pair of Pokemon that he was very familiar with. 

Friede had a score to settle. Not only for that ambush back in Levincia but for putting Liko through an awful experience. Memory tempering was a downright deplorable act in the first place but to inflict it on a child?

Certainly a dangerous opponent that he can't underestimate. 

After a quick dash towards the singular door, Friede raised his hand for the others to stop. The other went to test the handle.

“It’s open? That can't be right,” he muttered. From what they knew of the Explorers that went in here, this felt suspiciously sloppy. With no lookout and conveniently unlocked door…

“You wait out here. If anyone shows up–” he began but Roy quickly interrupted him.

“We battle them!” Liko too nodded in agreement to Roy's response.

Friede gazed at the kids. He wanted to say that they should run and hide but he found it hard to say otherwise, not when they looked so determined. Didn't he allow them to join because he believed in their strength?

(A smile subconsciously formed on his lips. Murdock was right. Kids really do grow up quickly). 

“Gramps, you look after these two.”

“Mmm-hmm, these two are in my care,” Ludlow replied.

Assured of their safety, Friede turned towards the door. “Alright, time to get in there!”

Slowly, Friede opened the door. Light spilled into the dark room, and from what little that he saw showed a completely emptied space. Cap jumped off his shoulder after a few steps in, scanning the area just as he did. 

They barely had time to react when the door swung shut. Within seconds, Friede heard Roy pounding on the door, calling for his name. He hated distressing the kids but his suspicions were proven true. 

“Heh, seems like the others missed out on your little trap,” Friede spoke into the darkness. 

“No matter,” a smooth voice responded. Friede's eyes swiftly trained onto the light emitted from an Umbreon’s rings. “Mere children are no threat to us once we've set our minds on something.”

While Friede couldn't get a proper look at the guy standing next to Umbreon, he recognised that voice all too well.

“That voice… so you finally show your face, Mr Awfully Shy.”

“Welcome Professor Friede. I've been waiting for you.” As pleasantly polite as his smile and tone was, Friede knew there was zero respect to the title he called him with. 

“I anticipated the possibility of Coral leaking our plans. This place was built to imprison you.”

“So you also anticipated I'd come here. Wow, I feel special to get such preferential treatment,” Friede replied with a small huff, lips set into a smirk. At the very least, he was the only one trapped here, sparing the kids and Ludlow from the same fate.

“Liko! Roy!” He began, eyes never once straying from his opponent. “This is the wrong place! Keep looking around!”

Initially he heard Roy's protest but that quickly died down. Good, he trusted Ludlow to keep the kids calm and guide them elsewhere. The longer they lingered, the higher the chances of the Explorers’ plans coming to fruition. 

Once he could no longer hear them outside the door, that was when Friede released a tiny exhale. With the kids hopefully far away from here, he could now fully focus on finding a way out of his predicament.

“So, just the two of us–well, I guess four if you count Cap and that Umbreon of yours. What, not bringing Beheeyem and Magneton into the mix too?” Friede drawled, one hand settled on his hip. His first course of action was to scope out this guy, see if he'd divulge in the exact nature of the Explorers' plans.

“They’ve performed their part well. I simply need to keep you here, Professor. I've determined that my Umbreon here is enough.” 

“I'm surprised. I thought you were the sort to play dirty, press whatever advantage you have.” Friede's previously light tone took on a hardened edge, feelings that he had over his first encounter with this man bubbling to the surface. “What, memory wipes are off the table now?”

“There is no such need to use that method when the present situation is sufficient.”

Friede didn't think he had a temper, rare as it was for him to get angry in the first place but he can't deny the hot surge as he snarled out, “But you'd do it to a child?”

“Oh? My, I see what it is now,” came the infuriatingly calm response. “I did not harm the girl, no? I could have approached her like I did with you but I chose to go about it in a peaceful way. If anything, you should be grateful for it.”

To his still adjusting eyes, Friede spotted the faint smirk. Briefly, he entertained an uncharacteristically violent fantasy. The sheer audacity of his lacking remorse in what he subjected a child through…

“Pika.” Cap’s brief call snapped Friede out of his thoughts. His eyes flickered to his partner, who shot him a quick glance in return. 

Right, Friede needed to remember his position. Losing his cool would simply put him at a disadvantage. If anything, this was probably a part of that man’s plan to get a rise out of him so that he'd make mistakes.

Friede took in a subtle breath, then exhaled quietly. He shoved down the bubbling anger until he slipped on his usual confidence once more. His own smirk returned, mind racing to choose his next words. 

“I'll show you how grateful I really am,” Friede steadily replied to the provocation. “Still, there's one thing that I'm trying to wrap my head around. Don't think you can answer it, do you?”

“Seems like you saw through it,” he uttered, not sounding put off in the slightest. “But I suppose I can. What's on your mind, Professor?”

“See, Rayquaza’s appearance is unpredictable in the first place. Even if you can narrow down where it'll appear, not many mons can get close to it unless they're able to fly. Even then, it's powerful enough to repel most attacks.”

Friede briefly recalled the battle Amethio’s Ceruledge had with it a while back. Even with Phantom Force in its arsenal, it still couldn't land a strong enough hit to take Rayquaza out of the sky.

“What makes the Explorers so confident that you're able to capture Rayquaza?”

“Hmph. Well, it's because we'll lure Rayquaza out using a resonance generator.”

“A resonance generator?” Friede had a vague idea on what such a device could do from its name.

“Yes. I analyzed the accumulated data and recreated the energy Terapagos emits when calling to Rayquaza.”

“Even if you can call it, do you really think you can beat it?”

“Three skilled Explorers are on the job. They will bring it down,” came the confident response.

“That's a surprise. Didn't peg you as the type to ask for help,” Friede replied. He filed away everything he learnt for future consideration. To think that the Explorers were able to replicate the energy Terapagos let out. They truly were a formidable enemy.

“Don't be ridiculous.” The scoff wasn't unexpected considering what Friede gleaned from this guy's personality. “I am simply using them. I shall acquire the black Rayquaza without even fighting it.”

Once he called out for Umbreon, Friede knew casual conversations were over. It was time to battle.

“Not if I can help it!” Friede instinctively pulled out Charizard's Pokeball before he realized a crucial fact.

“In this confined space, you cannot make use of Charizard's flight. Not let it go on a Terastallized rampage.”

“So you anticipated all of this, huh?” Friede had to concede that in this particular room, he was at a disadvantage with Charizard. His partner's strength lay in its maneuverability within the field,  allowing it chances to gain the upper hand against a grounded opponent. Not to mention, its Fire-type moves could be a bit too dangerous within an enclosed room. 

“Pika.” 

Friede's eyes went to Cap, who threw off his hat as his readiness for battle. Right, he had another strong Pokemon that could face off against the Umbreon. 

“A Pikachu? You're toying with me.”

“Heh. I've heard the same thing from someone else before.” What was it with his opponents underestimating a Pikachu? “You're gonna regret it.”

“Umbreon! Use Snarl!”

With a growl, Umbreon released red rings of energy from its mouth that hit Cap straight on.

“Don't let it faze you, Cap! Use Double Team!”

Cap swiftly jumped out of the Snarl’s path, creating multiple clones of itself to confuse Umbreon. 

“Thunder Punch!”

Cap alongside his clones surged forward towards Umbreon, his true self charging up a Thunder Punch. It almost hit the Umbreon if not for the sudden Reflect it threw up, halting the Thunder Punch in its tracks.

“Keep it up! Double Team!”

Cap once again made multiple clones of himself but the Umbreon retaliated by an exceptionally speedy Quick Attack that took out all the clones.

“Cap, meet it with a Thunder Punch!”

Still in mid air, Cap turned with a lightning encased fist towards Umbreon. It looked like the punch connected but it seemed that Umbreon used its tail to block the move. Before Cap could recover, Umbreon got behind him.

“Foul Play!”

Umbreon flipped around and used its back legs to kick Cap away with tremendous force. Friede watched his partner fly halfway across the room to hit the wall behind him, causing dust to kick up from the impact.

“Cap!” Friede called out. Thankfully, that wasn't enough to take his partner out. With a nod, he muttered, “Now, what to do next?”

“Pi Pika.” Cap drew his attention again. It was a subtle shift but Friede spotted the crack on the wall’s joint. He quickly understood what Cap meant. 

“Wanna try for it?”

“Pikachu!”

Right, with a vague plan in mind, it was time to carry it out. Friede will put his trust in Cap's endurance for them to overcome this situation.

“Cap, Double Team and get up close!”

Cap once again created multiple clones of himself to surround Umbreon. While it tried to find the real version, all of the Pikachu rushed forward with their fists raised. Friede hoped that without calling for the move, it would catch Umbreon off guard with its timing to block.

Though, the Explorers simply called for another Reflect that just about blocked Cap’s Thunder Punch. Cap was speedy enough to get away before it could retaliate with Foul Play. It certainly was foul in the way it used Cap's strength against him.

If Cap can't connect with close ranged attacks, perhaps it was time to switch it up.

“Cap, keep your distance and use Thunderbolt!”

Cheeks sparking, Cap quickly fired off a Thunderbolt towards Umbreon–only for it to dodge using a Quick Attack. Umbreon solidly connected against Cap to send him flying back, and due to Cap's position, he went straight towards Friede.

Instinctively, Friede braced himself to catch his partner. The force knocked the wind out of his chest, though he remained on his feet. Cap quickly jumped out of his arms to look up at him, concern swimming in his usually confident eyes. 

“Heh, don't worry about me Cap. You know I've taken much worse from you before,” Friede assured his partner. While he did feel twinges of pain from his torso, it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. He had taken harder, electric fueled hits from Cap back during their first meeting after all.

Cap nodded once and turned his focus back to the battle at hand.

“My, you're quite hardy, Professor.”

“Comes with the territory of studying Pokemon,” Friede quipped. Before he could say any further, loud explosions were heard from outside, strong enough that he felt the vibrations within the room.

“Seems the black Rayquaza has shown itself.”

If that was truly the case, Friede had to escape as quickly as possible. He trusted Ludlow to look after the kids, and while they've grown to be capable battlers in their own rights, the likes of Rayquaza were still too much for them.

“Cap!”

Cap quickly charged up another Thunder Punch but Umbreon swiftly countered it with Foul Play. After a quick block with its tail, Umbreon kicked Cap away, sending him flying towards the wall again.

Friede gritted his teeth from the impact. It was hard to watch but he trusted Cap. His partner dashed past him with a Thunder Punch charged up, one that Umbreon once again responded with Foul Play.

“We’re not done yet!” 

This cycle repeated itself, ending with another hard crash against the wall. Cap took a moment to stand up this time, the damage clearly taking its toll.

“Are you just stalling for time? This battle's going nowhere.”

“Correct. You are powerless here,” was the confident reply, arms spread in grandiose. “You cannot even hope to escape.”

Friede certainly hated that infuriating smile of his. As much as he wanted to wipe that off, they can't stray from the plan.

“Don't give up, Cap! Keep at it!”

Thunder Punch met Foul Play once more, resulting in another crash from behind him. Friede clenched his fists, casting a quick glance over his shoulder. Just a little bit more.

“Your struggling will amount to nothing.”

Friede noticed that something in his tone changed. Perhaps in response to the smirk he gave, now confident that this plan will succeed. He won't give the guy time to ponder.

“That should be enough, Cap! Use Volt Tackle!” Friede ordered.

With Cap’s body encased in electricity, he rushed towards Umbreon with all the power he could muster.

Instead of using Foul Play, Umbreon used Reflect just as Friede hoped it would. Volt Tackle was just far too strong to effectively counter with Foul Play.

Friede watched as Cap turned mid rush, feet connecting solidly with the barrier. He used it as a springboard to fly towards the wall with all the momentum of Volt Tackle behind it. 

The small crack formed from all the previous crashes blew wide open from the tackle. Friede felt himself smirk as he said, “Sorry for wrecking the place.”

Without waiting for a response, Friede swiveled on his heel to make a dash towards the opening. As he took out Charizard's Pokeball, he heard from behind him: “My Foul Plays, meant to turn Pikachu's strength against it…”

“Yeah, I turned em right back at you!” Friede shot back.

He tossed out Charizard's Pokeball. His partner wasted no time in lowering itself for easy mounting, and after Cap hopped on, the trio flew to the skies.

Once they put some distance from the building, Friede took out Cap’s hat and put it on his head. 

“You showed some real grit, Cap.” Truly they wouldn't have succeeded if not for Cap's endurance. 

Now that they were past that obstacle, it was time to turn their attention to the black Rayquaza. 

“Is that the place? Hightail it, Charizard!”

With a mighty flap of its wings, they were off towards Rayquaza. Hopefully the kids were able to avoid too much trouble.

[iturnlemonadeintolemons]

hi firstly love your one-shots and drabbles if you are still taking requests i would love to see one where kluas and caroline meet somewhere and he annoys her predictably haha but he grows on her but she doesn't want a relationship (reason known or unknown) and they go their sepertae ways only to see each other again where they fall for each ohter. thank you!

“This is a complete waste of time,” Caroline hisses, her phone in danger of being crushed by her grip. “I hate this.”

“So you’ve said, Care,” Bonnie’s voice comes through the phone, pots clanging behind her.

“You better not mess up my system, Bon,” Caroline warns her, handing money to the barista. “I'm already in a bad mood, so I will kill you when I get home.”

“Oh, you mean when you get home in a few…weeks?” Bonnie asks innocently. “That sounds about right.”

Caroline growls. “You're a menace and I hate you.”

“Liar,” Bonnie says cheerfully. “Bye, Care!”

She hangs up and Caroline irritably shoves the phone in her purse, mutters a thank you and grabs her coffee.

She’s only managed a few steps before it’s knocked right out of her hands. Coffee flies out of the cup (not literally, but enough to look like it’s in slow motion) and lands on her shirt, and the suit of the man before her.

Caroline stares at the shirt of the man before her in shock, unable to process her current predicament.

Then she’s reminded of her task for the day, and finds her voice.

“You…you klutz!” she shrieks, clenching her fists. “Are you incapable of looking where y—”

Her voice dies at she looks the man in the face.

And, really, she scolds herself for that later, but not in the moment, because wow.

Curly blonde hair. Eyes bluer than any sapphire she’s seen. And cheekbones that look like they were carved from freaking stone.

It’s all ruined, of course, by the arrogant, slightly annoyed, but at the same time, smug look on his face.

The nerve of this man.

Caroline finds her voice again, and draws herself up to her full height. “Well? Are you going to apologize?”

The man raises an eyebrow. “Apologize for what exactly, love?”

Caroline should be given an award for not melting at the accent, because turns out the guy is freaking British. How does that even happen?

“Are you blind? Can you not see my blouse?” she retorts snippily.

“I am not the one who bumped into someone clumsily—”

“I'm sorry, are you insinuating that this is my fault?”

“Well, you were looking elsewhere—”

“You were on your phone!” Caroline spits. “It is literally still in your hand!”

The man looks at his phone, confused. “Oh,” he says dismissively. “Must’ve been distracted. Terribly sorry, I was in the middle of a very important email. I'm sure you understand, given that you seem to be a…” He trails off, trying to make sense of her outfit.

“Model,” Caroline supplies sarcastically.

His eyebrows tick up. “Well, I wouldn’t be surprised, honestly.”

“You're a dick,” Caroline seethes. “Get out of my way.”

She’s two steps away from the door before he’s in her way again. “What?” she asks irritably.

The man smiles. “My sincerest apologies, love. Allow me to acquit myself.”

“Don’t call me love.”

“Can I have a name?” He dimples at her. The guy has the gall to freaking. Dimple.

“No,” she says shortly, pushing past him, striding out the door.

The ass has the nerve to follow her. “As I previously stated, love, I do apologize. Profusely. I was in a hurry, and I—”

“Great. Apology accepted. Now leave.”

He stops her, coming to stand in front of her. “What can I do to make it up to you?”

And he sounds earnest, so Caroline frowns. She sighs, setting the nearly empty cup of coffee down on a counter. “Nothing,” she grumps, grabbing a bunch of napkins and dabbing at her blouse. “Not much you could anyway. My shirt is ruined, and I have a very important thing I need to do—”

“That’s not an issue,” the man interrupts. “We’re on fifth avenue, love,” he smiles. “Do take your pick, I'd be happy to replace your clothing.”

Caroline eyes him warily. “Okay, I know you're a guy and all, but you have to know fifth avenue isn't a regular—”

“Anything you want.” He’s grinning, and Caroline closes her eyes in frustration.

“Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

.

.

.

It’s amazing how patient he is.

It’s been forty-five minutes since they’ve been in one store, and the guy—Nik, he tells her—follows her wherever she goes, holding her purse as she browses through the racks.

Caroline itches to tell him to look at the price tags, because she’s in freaking Gucci and the stuff here is not cheap. She has two pairs of designer clothing, at most, in her closet at home, one of which was a gift, and this guy is letting her parade around in the store like she owns it.

“Are you sure—” she starts again, whirling to face him.

Nik smiles at her, cocking at eyebrow. “My answer is the same, as it was the last four times you asked.”

Caroline rolls her eyes, unable to keep a smile forming on her face, turning away to hide it. “You're very good at this, you know,” she informs him, looking at him through the rows of hangers.

Nik looks at her bemusedly. “Good at what?”

“The whole shopping thing. You know, where a couple is on a date, and it was the girlfriend’s turn to pick, and the guy just drags her bags around while trying not to collapse of boredom. You're very steady on your feet.”

Nik’s grin broadens. “So we’re on a date?”

A flush spreads across her face. “I didn’t say that.”

“But you implied it,” he replies cheerfully, his lips twitching when she glares at him.

“Opinion,” she orders, ignoring his last statement, holding a pretty red shirt against her chest. It’s modest and cute enough for jury duty, and the price range is affordable enough that Caroline would consider buying it for herself.

Nik surveys it, cocking his head to the side. “It’s nice,” he says finally. “But it would help if you told me the occasion of where you wanted to wear it.”

“Jury duty,” she answers dismissively, folding it over her arm and eyeing another blue blouse that’d go great with her jacket.

Nik freezes behind her, and Caroline frowns, turning around to face him. “What?”

“Nothing, love. Which case are you on?”

“I'm not supposed to tell anyone, actually. Even if I did, I don’t know yet, but I do know they're taking us to Boston for a couple weeks.”

Nik nods slowly. “I see.”

Caroline narrows her eyes. “Why are you being weird?”

“I'm not,” he laughs. “Have you chosen what you're buying, then?”

Caroline hesitates, looking the two shirts in her hands over. “The red one,” she says finally. “It’ll look nice with my skirt. I just think you should check the price—”

Nik turns the label over, barely giving it a glance before handing his card over to the cashier. Caroline’s mouth drops as he takes the bill, handing her the shopping bag. “There. Do you want to go change in the dressing room? I'll wait outside.”

“Uh, I..” She’s stuttering, reddens when he smirks at her. “Yes,” she manages, whirling into the changing room and locking the door behind her.

She finds Nik outside the store when she comes out, checking his phone, typing something out. He grins when he sees her, pocketing the phone immediately. “Thank you,” she bursts out before he can say anything. “I didn’t…I never expected you to actually go through with it.”

Nik shrugs. “I did ruin your blouse, love. It was an easy fix.”

“An expensive fix,” Caroline corrects him. “Can I buy you coffee?”

Nik smirks. “Are you asking me out?”

Caroline scoffs. “I am not. I'm asking you if you want to get coffee after you so rudely spilled mine.”

“Ah, excuses,” he says breezily, tugging her towards the coffee shop. “The lengths to which you go to, sweetheart, when you could easily have me without even asking.”

She hasn’t blushed this much since ninth grade when Matt asked her to the Valentine’s dance.

“Cocky,” she replies haughtily, letting herself be led. “This is not a date, Nik. I'm not interested.”

“Keep telling yourself that, love.”

.

.

.

He's funny, she realizes, and in a way she actually gets. He gets her jokes and nods and makes remarks at the right times, meaning he's actually listening. He's ridiculously charming as well, flirting with her in between all their stories. He's witty, and smart. And it's not like he's not good-looking generally, but—

His smile.

God.

He looks so handsome when he smiles.

Is it really her fault she kisses him when he slides the last piece of his cake over to her?

Nik's eyes are dark when she pulls away, and her face reddens. "I—I'm sor—"

"Don't you dare apologize for that," Nik murmurs, surging forward to take her lips with his again, making her apology die on her tongue.

His lips are swollen when he pulls away. "Have dinner with me."

Caroline smiles. "No."

No relationships for a year. She doesn't have time for a relationship with her new job, and certainly not with a man who makes her forget every coherent thought she has when he kisses her.

He frowns. "Why?"

"It's complicated," she answers, and he doesn't press further, just pouts.

"How am I supposed to kiss someone else after this, then? You're a glorious kisser."

She snorts. "You have a memory, then."

"I'll make sure it lasts. Just two kisses, though, I feel deprived."

She grins at him over her coffee. She means it, though. Not the part about him being an idiot, the part about a relationship. She doesn't even have time to hang out with her friends lately, a boyfriend is more than she can handle.

However...

"Well," she continues, biting her lip. "That depends."

"On what?"

"If you think I'm trashy if I tell you I want to take your clothes off in the bathroom."

She pretends his smirk does nothing for her.

.

.

.

For a split-second she'd thought she'd regret this.

The thought is quickly snuffed when Nik locks the stall behind them and presses his lips to her neck.

Normally, she'd be worried about getting attached. But she’s going off to Boston soon, and she never has to see him again, so what's the harm?

“Well, you could come to dinner with me when you get back,” Nik answers her question between lazy strokes of his tongue against her clit while she grips the marble countertop hard enough to break it.

“I'm still not going out with you,” Caroline gasps out, fisting her hand in his hair.

Nik clicks his tongue. “One excellent fuck on the counter it is, then.”

Caroline sighs when he surges up to kiss her and unbuttons her blouse. “I don’t usually do this, you know.”

“What?” Nik asks between kisses as she pushes the suit jacket off his shoulders and shoves down his pants.

“Have quickies in bathrooms of coffee shops.”

Nik looks delighted. “So I'm your first, then?”

“God, you're insufferable,” she groans, pulling him by his tie. “Are you ever not annoyi—”

She’s silenced by a quick thrust of his hips when he claps a hand over her mouth to stifle her moan.

.

.

.

“How’s the hotel?” Bonnie asks her as she’s getting dressed the next day.

“It’s nice.” Caroline runs a brush through her hair, frowning when the back puffs up. “I have to be at the courthouse in an hour. Luckily it’s only twenty minutes away. I might grab a coffee or something.”

“Well, good luck. Have fun jury-ing.”

“That’s not a word.”

“I'm going to go mess up your pots and pans now. Bye!”

Caroline mutters something unflattering under her breath, then grabs her purse and her room key, walking out the door. Stupid jury duty. She’s definitely going to be ranting at Bonnie when she gets home. Her best friend has the patience of a saint, she’d handle it.

Her cab’s late, predictably, but she reaches the courthouse with ten minutes to spare. She finds the courtroom quickly, and takes her seat just in time to see the judge sit down.

“All rise,” the judge drones, and everyone stands up, the defendant nervously looking at the jury when the bailiff swears them in. “Department one of the superior court is now in session, please be seated. The court calls to order Case 12389A. Prosecutor, opening statement, if you will.”

“Yes, your Honour,” says a voice from the far end, and Caroline’s brain stutters to a stop when she sees Nik stand up, his hands in the pockets of his suit.

Her eyes widen comically and she lets out a squeak, clapping her hand over her mouth. The juror next to her sends her a concerned look, which she brushes off. Nik’s still talking, but she’s not even paying attention. She’s on the jury on his case? Is this even ethical?

He doesn’t notice her, his eyes fixed on the judge, but Caroline’s fuming.

She’s going to kill him. She’d mentioned she’d be going to Boston for jury duty. Had it just conveniently slipped his mind to inform her that he was a lawyer who might be on the case she was on?

Maybe it’d be better, though. He’s probably forgotten her by now.

Nik sits back down, done with his opening statement, and with a quick sweep of the room, sends her a wink.

Her mouth actually drops.

“Potential juror thirteen.” A stern voice snaps her out of her trance to see the defence glaring at her. “Is there a problem?”

Caroline closes her mouth, gritting her teeth. “I have a conflict of interest.”

“By what—”

“It’s a personal—”

“Your Honour—”

The judge doesn’t even bat an eye. “Potential juror thirteen, you're dismissed.”

Well, at least something she’d seen on TV was true. Americans were really terrible about jury duty.

She storms out, ignoring the way Nik’s eyes twinkled when he laughed silently at her fit. Oh, she’s going to kill him. The nerve of him.

The fact that the guard outside tells her she can't leave the hotel they’ve been sequestered in because she was part of the case for however a short time doesn’t help her mood.

Neither does the knock at her door that night, which reveals the prosecutor himself, grinning at her, flashing her his dimples.

“Hello, love,” Nik smiles. “How about that dinner now?”

She slams the door in his face.

He wins her over eventually.

A year later.

[kotegiris]

[Event Story] Cage of Black Raven

I'm just an amateur and it's my first time translating something this long, so there may be mistakes, but please enjoy! I recommend reading this while having the event story open on your device!

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Chapter 9: The Black Raven’s Doubt

Rondine - Center of Town

???: Hey, look… It’s the Devil Butlers…

Bastien: …Hm?

Turning towards the direction of the voice, there was a couple who seemed to be nobles.

Lono: Hm…? It feels like I’ve seen them somewhere before.

Bastien: Are they nobles from Espoir…?

Muu: But… Even the coachmen didn’t want to come here because it’s so eerie, so why are they in a town like this…?

Boschi: Well today is the day of a festival held once in a hundred years. It’s not odd that some nobles would come.

Boschi: But… They just had to spot us today of all days…

Noblewoman: We came all the way to Rondine and ran into the Devil Butlers here… How ominous…

Nobleman: Truly unpleasant.  They’re all just tools for hunting angels anyways.

> (“Tools”...) > (The way he talks…)

Boschi: Hah?

Nobleman: Hiiie!?

Before I could do anything, Boschi glared at the nobles.

Nobleman: H-Hey! Let’s go!

Noblewoman: V-Very well!

Lono: Geez… It’s not like we wanted to run into you either!

Yuhan: Liberta-san, are you alright?  Were you scared?

Liberta: ………

> Liberta…?

Liberta: Hey, Boschi… Are all “nobles” like that…?

Liberta: Do they all don’t like you? Boschi, Lono, the Devil Butlers…

Muu: W-Well….

Boschi: Not all of them, but…

Boschi: Most nobles don’t like us.

Liberta: But why? Before…

Liberta: You told me about how angels are dangerous… and that you hunt them right?

Liberta: Those people are alive because the Devil Butlers work hard, so…

Liberta: Why are they saying bad things?

> Liberta…

Lono: Haha… Thank you, Liberta.

Lono: You don’t think like them.  It’s thanks to you that we can keep doing our best, no matter what the nobles say.

Bastien: That’s right.

Liberta: ……

After that, we took Liberta around the festival.

Liberta was smiling and laughing, but… it felt like he was forcing himself to.

Gradually, the sunset and the end of the festival drew closer.

Liberta: Wow…! Seeing the sunset from the outside is so pretty!

Boschi: Yeah, it feels like the sky’s huge, doesn’t it?

Liberta: Yeah! The sky’s big… the town is also super big!

Lono: Hehe… In just one day,  we went all over the town!

Bastien: Aruji-sama, Liberta, are you tired?

> I’m alright

Liberta: Me too!

Liberta: I’m alright, but…

Yuhan: Liberta-san…?

Liberta: Hey, Boschi… For just a little longer…

BEEP! BEEP!

> This sound is…!

Lono: It’s the angel siren! Damn it… why now…!

Liberta: B-Boschi…

Liberta looked uneasy as he clung to Boschi’s clothes.

Boschi: …It’s okay, Liberta.

Boschi: We’ll be done taking care of the angels in a flash. There’s nothing to worry about.

Boschi roughly patted Liberta’s head.

Scared People: It’s the angels! There are angels in the east side back alleys!

Scared People: In the north too! Everyone, stay away from the north side!

Boschi: Tch…! We’ll split up and take them down!

Boschi: Aruji-sama! Release mine, Lono’s, and Bastien’s power!

> Got it…! > Leave it to me

Yuhan: Boschi-san, what should I…

Boschi: We can’t let you fight the angels yet.

Boschi: This is what Berrien-san and the others decided beforehand. Follow orders. Got it?

Yuhan: Understood.

Boschi: Aruji-sama, please release them.

> Okay

You: “Come, sworn friends of the darkness. I summon thee.”

You: “By the Devil’s Contract, release the powers of Boschi, Lono, and Bastien”

Lono: Alright…! Let’s go hunt some angels!

Boschi: Lono! Bastien! Head north! I’ll head east!

Lono: Got it!

Bastien: Understood.

Boschi: Yuhan! Take them southwest!

Boschi: And don’t forget to help guide the panicked townspeople to safety! 

Yuhan: Yes!

Yuhan: Aruji-sama, Liberta-san, Muu-chan, this way!

> Okay!

[flodaya]

Just scrolled the tarot readers page. wow WOW. Timdayas having a meltdown

Did Pauline tell Armie she was pregnant🤯

She didn't, by the way😂

I dont think that's how tarot readings work😂

Noon doesn't like Tom because he was running away😬

Anyway a reading on Tom's future spouse is in the works😂

She's actually dangerous, I'm a non believer(haha) but she's just gaslighting vulnerable people, it's very wrong what she's doing

“I am not saying all this sexist biased bullshit, the cards are telling me 😇”