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audioaujom · 1 year ago

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Day Thirteen, Zac

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Hello hello! Welcome back and welcome to when shit finally hits the fan! I hope the wait for this was worth it, as things only really go further downhill from here ;-; lol (Minor disclaimer: If any of the science stuff sounds bullshitty, it may very well be. If I’m so unbearably wrong that it’s distracting, please let me know and I’ll do my best to fix it o7) Enjoy everyone readjusting to their (awful) reality ((:

Word Count: 2383

Chapter TWs: Non-consensual drug use, human experimentation, psychological torture

On the first day he didn’t hear from Emily, Zac just assumed she was tired.

Murph and Brennan were a little more wary, but they were all distracted by the fact they had to leave Lou out of any games they played without her connecting them. It was harder to be enthusiastic when they weren’t all together.

On the second day, Zac understood Murph and Brennan’s worries a little better. It wasn't unmanageable by any means, but it still wasn't pleasant.

By day three, Zac couldn’t stand the worry anymore.

“Have either of you heard from Emily?” Zac called through the wall after ten minutes of pacing, trying to be loud enough they both could hear him without drawing too much outside attention. “Like… at all?”

“Not lately.” Murph answered first, Brennan humming in agreement. “...you don’t feel good about it either?”

“Not in the slightest.” Zac admitted, sitting down by his and Murph’s shared wall.

“You know how it is in here.” Brennan sighed, Zac hearing the way Murph nodded. “Maybe they didn’t like us chatting.”

“Yeah…” Zac trailed off, leaning his head back against the wall. “I just hope she's okay.”

None of them bothered to speak much after that, the mood pretty ruined by their collective stress. The tense silence was by no means unfamiliar, but the time they’d all spent in it wasn’t full of any sort of pleasant memories.

The silence broke the following morning after a rough night of tossing and turning from Zac, who immediately sat straight up as he heard authoritative footsteps marching down the hall past his door.

He heard a door slide open with a quiet hiss, and some brief yelling—something along the lines of “hurry up” followed by an aggressive “fuck off”—that blurred together in his exhausted state of mind. He paused and listened to the footsteps drag someone off the way they came, completely on edge.

“Murph?” Zac asked hesitantly as the noise died down, unsure which of the two was taken but inclined to think it was Brennan based on the distance.

“Yeah, I'm still here.” Murph answered after a moment, Zac slumping a little in relief. “They took Brennan.”

“Oh.” He breathed out quietly, anxiety churning in his stomach. “That's not good.”

“We’ll just have to see if he's in a state to tell us what's up when he gets back.”

It wasn’t quite silent after the conversation died down, since Murph was pacing quick lines back and forth across his room for the entire time Brennan was gone, Zac nearly ready to tell him off for all the noise before they heard the footsteps return and waited for them to disappear again so they could worriedly check on their friend.

“Brennan! Are you okay?” Murph asked, stopping his pacing.

“Yeah, I'm fine.” Brennan replied, his voice a little rough. “I found out what’s up with Emily.”

“Is she okay?” Zac asked immediately, sitting up straighter.

“Is she okay?” Murph repeated, Zac realizing his voice must not have been loud enough to carry. “She's in trouble, right?”

“Yeah, they’ve basically put her on superpowered probation.” Brennan huffed, anger twinging his normally level voice. “I don’t know any more than that, but she’s probably not very okay.”

Murph was silent for a moment before hesitantly asking, “Did they take you because of the stuff with Emily or are the old rounds resuming?”

“Neither. They were just looking for an update on my developed abilities.” Brennan said immediately, Murph’s relief audible as he sighed.

“Ah. Means I'll be next up, then.”

“Um… what are you two talking about?” Zac awkwardly cut in, confused.

“I don't understand the technical jargon too well…” Murph started awkwardly, coming up to his and Zac’s wall to take a seat. “But in trying to understand how our bodies can have these abilities or whatever they are, they’ve started trying to see if they can artificially replicate them.”

“Yeah, that's about it.” Brennan confirmed, raising his voice a little. “From what I've heard, this whole mess is genetic. Under enough of certain types of stress, we develop abilities that regular people don't have.”

“Oh.” Zac nodded, glancing down at his hands as he vaguely thought about the first time his powers appeared and shuddered. “That makes sense.”

“That's what they're trying to replicate.” Brennan continued, not really having heard Zac’s reply. “To see if we can do it again.”

“So… can we?” Zac asked, louder.

Brennan answered with a simple, “I did.”

Murph was quiet for a moment, before he too answered, “I did, kind of.”

“Oh.”

“You're saying that a lot today.” Murph commented, his attempt at a joke not really lightening the mood but also not completely failing as Zac smiled to himself.

“Well, I guess I'm just processing a lot today.”

“I'll see what I can find out when they take me.” Murph promised, before the three lapsed back into the silence that had taken back over in the previous few days.

This time it didn’t last long, footsteps thudding down the hall and this time stopping in front of Murph’s door—given both the proximity of the footsteps and the mumbled expletives from his neighbor. Zac and Brennan didn’t bother trying to communicate after Murph was gone, just waiting nervously for him to come back—hopefully in one piece, and with more information.

Murph was gone quite a bit longer than Brennan was, and he returned much more steamed. He barely waited for the scientists to head back down the hall to begin raging, surprising the other two.

“Ugh! This fucking place, man… burning it down to the ground wouldn’t be enough.” Murph was pissed, Zac jumping as he heard Murph kick hard at—presumably—his cot at the back wall, the metal reverberating loudly in the normally still air. “I hate these assholes!”

“Murph?” Zac interrupted tentatively, hearing Murph sigh and sit down on the floor.

“Sorry, I just… hurting Emily for trying to make a human connection in a hopeless situation makes them monsters.”

“What?” Zac exclaimed awkwardly, nervously running a hand back through his hair to try and calm down. “What did you find out?”

“They're checking in on us because they had success with her.” Murph spat out, the words a kind of bitter that bordered on hateful as he continued, “That means they've been testing non-stop! Not to mention they've got some limiter that goes wild if she uses too much of her powers.”

“Damn. That’s a new low.” Brennan commented, Murph not directly replying and instead mumbling various curses under his breath until the footsteps in the hall came back for a third time a while later.

He did his best not to put up a fight when the scientists came into his room, ignoring the way Murph and Brennan both tensed and offered near inaudible wishes for his safe return as the scientists escorted him out and down the slightly familiar yet indistinct hallways of the lab.

You can do this. It can't be that bad, right? He psyched himself up as they walked, repeating the phrases in his head over and over again until they reached the usual testing room.

It felt like he was suddenly in a doctor’s office since they took his temperature and blood pressure, alongside a few other vitals as he tried to steel himself for what he wanted to say.

His courage finally mustered itself all the way up as the main doctor in charge of the lab came in—a woman only referred to by the other scientists as “Dr. S”. With cold eyes and dark brown hair that loosely fell around her shoulders, there was no doubt in his mind that she knew exactly what she was doing.

The two made eye contact as Zac was laid down on the cool metal of a table that had been set up in the middle of the room, him letting out a deep breath and blurting, “The stuff with Emily. The communication.” Even with how long Zac had been practicing the words to himself over the last few days, he still had to awkwardly force them out over the hardened ice of fear the scientists gave him. “It was my idea. So whatever else you want to do to her for it… I’ll take it.”

“And you really mean that?” Dr. S asked sharply, blue eyes searching Zac’s anxious face for a moment before nodding at the sincerity she found. “Okay. Fine, then. We’ll treat you as the perpetrator.”

Zac immediately felt relieved, willing himself to take whatever it was they had to dish out in the unlikely scenario they’d leave Emily alone—even just for a moment or two. Still, it was difficult to stay calm, closing his eyes as they finished the prep he’d already grown accustomed to in just under two weeks. The straps that held him down were tightened until they were snug, Zac taking one last calming breath before he felt the pinprick of a needle poking into his neck and his grasp on his body began to wane ever-so-slightly.

Whatever they injected him with never had him fully pass out nor did it actually block any pain, it just helped to keep him still. Presumably it would help keep someone calm, but since he could feel the chill of the strange drug circulating under his skin—it only served to make him more anxious.

“Subject #7, Test log 16. No secondary abilities have developed yet, so this log will cover several stress tests to try and determine the minimum level of stress required for secondary activation.” Dr. S paced a lap around the table as Zac opened his blurry eyes, her gaze not leaving her clipboard as she ordered, “Begin Test 1.”

A new needle poked into his upper arm, an uncomfortably warm tingling starting to slowly spread out first down his arm and then out into his chest. It grew warmer by the second, whatever it was becoming hot enough he felt sweat starting to bead on his forehead as the uncomfortable tension the drug brought with it took all of his attention.

“Subject is ready, Doctor.” One of the other scientists said timidly, Dr. S nodding over to a rolling machine another one was bringing over.

“Start with 5 mA, to be sure it's working.”

Zac’s vision was entirely unfocused, the first shock delivered to his chest surprising—but not immediately painful. He tried not to hyperventilate as one of the scientists upped the current on the machine, trying to will himself out of his head to make however painful this would become more bearable. Each tap was harder to handle than the last, everything made worse by the intense tension he couldn't get rid of from the heat spread throughout his body.

The last number he clearly heard from Dr. S was around 85, his brain shutting off as he tried his hardest not to scream. The warm pressure in his veins heated uncontrollably with the electricity and left his entire body numb and reeling, not quite blacking out but close enough his eyes slid closed as he barely twitched—except when he was shocked. They stopped eventually, Dr. S murmuring about how this test was also a failure and leaving in disappointment.

Truthfully, Zac barely remembered anything of the whole ordeal, coming back to himself as a few of the scientists were walking him back through the hallways to his room. He took the small amount of time during their walk back to steady himself, almost feeling like himself again—the lingering pain was just a part of living here—before one of the scientists stopped him in front of the door.

“We made some… adjustments to your accommodations as a punishment for acting out.”

“What?”

They didn’t pay his question any mind, sliding the door open and pushing him inside. He ignored the sounds of them leaving as he stared at the uneven foam covering every surface of the room, his head pounding with the sudden intense rush of his own blood as the door closed behind him. Proper silence was… unfamiliar.

“Oh.”

His voice thundered in his own ears around the ringing of nothingness, him reaching up to grab at his head with both hands as he could hear his own heart rate slowly increasing. Blood was pumping faster, his heartbeat suddenly so loud he lost his balance, toppling to the not-very cushioned floor in what sounded like all of his bones shattering on impact.

He strained his ears for anything, even the footsteps in the hall that always foretold terrible things, longing for anything to break the strange cotton that stuffed itself so far into his ears his brain began to pulse and ache.

Then, as abruptly as it began, it was over.

Zac’s head shot up as something started to quietly crackle from in the walls, a low hum that reverberated in his body and—

Oh. Oh shit.

The static wasn’t loud, but it was constant. He laid down on the floor, the coolness that normally chilled him a refreshing sensation to the ache of his brain exploding out from his skull, staring up at the ceiling in an attempt to distract himself even a little.

He lasted approximately three minutes.

It felt like an hour had gone by when he finally started screaming, hoping to cover up the constant thrum in his ears, wishing desperately his body would just shut down so it would stop hurting so damn bad. He covered his ears; he paced in circles; he tore at the soundproofing on the walls. He knew what they wanted to accomplish, but it was hard to see himself not inevitably giving in if this lasted even a minute longer. It ached in his head, in his chest, in his hands. He pounded on the door, but he knew that if he couldn’t hear anything from outside there was no way they would be able to hear him from within. He checked every few seconds to make sure his ears weren’t bleeding. A part of him hoped they would.

Eventually he laid back down, closing his eyes and covering his ears even though it barely muffled the static still pulsing in the walls and in tune with his heart.

I just hope Emily’s okay now…

#collegehumor #fanfiction #cross posted on ao3 #fanfic #writing #whump #angst #zac oyama #brennan lee mulligan #brian murphy #emily axford #lou wilson #powers au #dropout tv #dimension 20

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hamatoclan76 · 4 years ago

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Rise Splinter isn´t a very good parent and that´s okay.

Look, before someone starts throwing tomatoes i want to clarify something: I like Splinter from Rottmnt and i really like Rise of the Tmnt. People who have followed me for a while know i enjoy the series and i´m sad about it how was cancelled. I also want to say that i don´t think other Splinters are 100% perfect and they have their own issues too.

What i don´t like is how the Rise of the tmnt fandom often overlooks Rise Splinter´s character flaws and pretends that he is a perfect father figure because this is not something supported by both by the narrative and his character growth.

So, what i´m going to do in this post is to examine his character flaws, his role as parent and character arc in the series. The point of this is to bring up this flaws to light, this is not a ¨character critical¨ or whatever you want to call it. It´s supposed to be character analysis, okay?

Let´s start with the short Turtle Tots short:

Link to the short:

https://www.facebook.com/teenagemutantninjaturtles/videos/626074331524980/

This short is when the turtle brothers are still very young. We see that Splinter is trying to train them but he keeps watching a show he likes on TV. This short shows Splinter didn´t care about training his sons enough even when they were younger. He also leaves them with very dangerous weapons they don´t know how to use.

Splinter was already quite neglectful and careless since the start. He spend too much time watching TV rather than training his sons. It would more understandable if he was too busy working with something but here he is only watching a TV series. Later in the short he admits he should have paid more attention to the turtles and isn´t a good Sensei.

I have to say i didn´t like this short too much. I didn´t find funny the jokes of how Splinter ignores his sons for the TV series and leaves every 30 seconds. However, it provides some context for the characters and their relationship.

Now let´s talk about his characterization at the start of the series. (Season 1)

Splinter at the start of the series is usually seen watching TV, whatever is his old movies or shows that he likes. He is rarely seen training the turtles or talking to them. Sometimes their interactions are the boys trying to ask him about something while he is watching his series. Splinter either answers them or ignores them.

He is usually so caught up in his own world that he doesn´t seem to be aware of who are the turtles fighting against until it starts biting them back. The boys usually don´t tell him about their adventures on the surface. One could argue that he assumes that they barely get in trouble and they are just playing.

In the episode ¨The Fast and the Furriest¨ Splinter ¨steals¨ Turtle Tank and takes it for a ride without Donatello´s permision. The turtles go through a lot of trouble to get the Turtle Tank back. By the end of the episode its Donatello, his son,is the one who is putting a punishment on Splinter, who is supposed to be their father, for taking the Tank.

While Donnie getting angry at Splinter is quite funny,this episode shows that Yoshi can be very inmature at times, if not childish. He doesn´t ask his son to allow him use the tank, puts them in danger and is scolded like a child at the end instead of him being the ¨responsible adult figure¨.

Parents being cocky or careless isn´t something very new. There are parents that act as inmature or worse than Yoshi and would never admit they did something wrong. So, i take this episode as one of the examples that Splinter does this kind of things. He isn´t this selfish and reckless all the time, just sometimes.

Another aspect is that Splinter struggles with remember his sons´ names. He calls them by their color bandana instead of their real names. This sometimes can be funny but on the long run it becomes quite disturing,Imo. There is difference between ¨calling your son with an affectionate nickname¨ and ¨not remembering your sons´ name¨. There is a point that this it becomes sad.

The tmnt wiki describes Rise Splinter´s personality as a ¨Extremely flawed (albeit loved) father figure¨. This means that he has tons of flaws but he cares about his family: One clear example is when he helps Raphael with fighting his fear in ¨Mrs. Cuddles¨. He protects the big turtle a few times from the giant puppet monster and they defeat the monster together.

Splinter cares about April O´Neil like she was part of the family too. In episodes like "Always Be Brownies" he is seen hanging out with her and helping her. He also encourages April to believe more in herself since she has tons of doubts in that episode. (Season 2).

Hamato Yoshi / Splinter´s backstory

Lets say that Yoshi didn´t have the best childhood. His biological father was missing and he is not mentioned in the flashbacks. Splinter´s mother, Atsuko, left Yoshi when he was still a kid so she would be able to perform her family duty as protector in the Hamato family.

This terrible loss made Yoshi grow bitter with his Hamato duties and martial arts. He didn´t want anything to do with his family legacy since it was the reason that his mother was forced to left him. He had an argument with his maternal grandfather and sensei, Sho, and decided to use the skills he learned in during his training to become a superstar.

After many shenanigans involving his crush on Big Mama, a very powerful yokai, and Baron Draxum, Hamato Yoshi mutated into a humanoid rat and adopted the turtles, who were about to be used as soldiers by Draxum, like their own sons.

Splinter´s backstory explains a lot of his behaviour in the series: It´s implied his father died/left him, his own mother also left him to perform her duties and he has a very strained relationship with his grandparent. The reason of why he has so many problems when it comes to being a good father it is because he himself lacked good family support. It makes sense that he doesn´t seem to know what he is doing or why he is messy when he is takeing care of the turtles.

Speaking of that, this explains why he isn´t very involved in his sons´ training. Maybe he just doesn´t want them to carry the same burden that he did as a child or just dislikes the idea of training them because it reminds him of bad memories about his grandfather and his mother.

He also watches his old movies since it reminds him of the time he was living his life at his fullest and was doing something he enjoyed. It implies he has his mind stuck in the past, perhaps wishing he could still be human and live like superstar.

Splinter´s Character growth

Like i mentioned, Yoshi wasn´t very interested in training his sons at the start of the series. He was negletful and spent too much time watching his movies... This aspect of his character isn´t ignored.

When the turtles asked him to train him ¨The Evil League of Mutants" he put Lou-Jitsu films for them to watch, this made their sons think he wasn´t taking them seriously and decided to go out on their own. While Splinter´s intention was to show them the basics by them learning the moves from the movies, he came off as he only cared about watching said films to their sons.

After noticing how his sons lack experience and need his help, he begans training them. Splinter gets more involved with his Hamato destiny and starts being more honest to the boys about his past as human and protector.

One episode that´s really worth of mentioning is ¨Turtle-dega Nights: The Ballad of Rat Man¨: Splinter tricks Donatello and Mikey into going to a demolition center since he missed the old days he used to be a champion in the Battle Nexus. Donnie is very hurt when he finds out about this because he really wanted to spend more time with his father. By seeing this Yoshi realizes how his sons would like to do things together with him like hanging out. He apologizes to Donnie and tellshim that he may have lied but it is truth he wanted to spend time with him.

Along with getting more involved in his sons´s lives by teaching them and spending time with them, he lets Mikey hang out with Draxum because Mikey considers him part of the family too. (Draxum created them). He didn´t trust Draxum due to their mutual past but decides to give him a chance for Mikey´s sake.

In conclusion: In Rise of the tmnt, Splinter starts as somewhat a neglectful parent figure, sometimes acting childish and not being the best role model for their sons. Overtime he begins to understand the consequences of not training his family and gets more involved in their lives. He tries to be a responsible father despite he had tons of issues with his own family growing up. While very flawed, he has good intentions and cares deeply about his sons.

#tmnt #teenage muntant ninja turtles #rottmnt #rise of the tmnt #Rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #splinter rottmnt #hamato yoshi rottmnt #rise turtles #character analysis #rise fandom #i think i´m going to get flamed for this #anyways if anyones wants to discuss send me ask or DM me

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gunterfan1992 · 4 years ago

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Episode Review: ‘Together Again’ (Distant Lands, Ep. 3)

Airdate: May 20, 2021

Story by: Jack Pendarvis, Kate Tsang, Hanna K. Nyström, Christina Catucci, Jesse Moynihan, Adam Muto

Storyboarded by: Hanna K. Nyström, Anna Syvertsson, Iggy Craig, Maya Petersen, Serena Wu

Directed by: Miki Brewster (supervising), Sandra Lee (art)

Across Adventure Time’s ten season run, the show explored a bevy of “mature” themes and story ideas—topics, like love, sexuality, depression, and grieving. The show also touched upon death, but the emphasis was usually placed on the emotional toll of a loved one dying, not really what happens when you die. We knew there were Dead Worlds and Death. We knew that there was reincarnation. But how does it all fit together? What does it mean? How does it work?

With “Together Again,” we finally have many of the answers.

This special opens with a marvelous fake-out episode simply called “Finn & Jake,” that sees the two steal a magical cartoon of 50-flavor ice cream before rescuing Turtle Princess and LSP from the clutches of the villainous Ice King. This is all deliberately anachronistic and over the top. Ice King is back to his season one ways, Finn has both arms, and he is still wielding his golden sword that he lost in season two’s “The Real You.” There’s lolrandom dialogue and silly monsters; it’s like a parody of seasons 1-2. But then, this adventure starts to get all wonky, and in time Finn realizes that he is in a some sort of trance or illusion: one that ends with Jake being buried in the ground. Suddenly, Finn awakens from his reverie. He’s an old man. And he’s dead. We’re then presented with a new title card that lets us know the episode is actually called “Finn & Jake Are Dead.”

Holy Glob! They actually went there.

Turns out Jake died years before Finn, so naturally Finn is super excited to see his best bud. But something’s wrong—he cannot find Jake!! They planned to spend eternity together. But all that Finn can find is his very own psychopomp, Mr. Fox (voiced by Tom Herpich, whose purposefully stilted line readings are the epitome of delightful). Finn rightfully assumes that Jake is in a different Dead World, and so, being the ball of spunk and energy that he is, he demands to meet with Death, only to discover that there’s a New Death in town (voiced by Chris Fleming). The episode eventually explains that New Death was the son of Death and Life, and after New Death killed his father, he became the sovereign of the afterlife. New Death hates his job and decides to just blow up all the Dead Worlds so he doesn’t have to deal with it all. (I won’t get too much into the details here, because there would be a lot of story to parse out.)

Finn soon learns that Jake has reached nirvana in the 50th Dead World, where there is nothing but peace and serenity. Finn nevertheless tracks down Jake, pulls him from paradise, but in doing so, accidentally lets New Death in, who promptly obliterates Elysium, sending all the enlightened souls—including those from different levels of the afterlife—to the 1st Dead World. This gronks up the afterlife, temporarily halting the reincarnation process.

Well, Finn and Jake are rightfully ticked, and so they haunt the material plane looking for Princess Bubblegum. She’s not home (more on that later), but Peppermint Butler is! After Ghost Finn and Ghost Jake explain the situation, Peppermint Butler tells them what to do: They need to find Life and explain the situation. The duo manage just that, and Life is rightfully angry that her kid has stopped the transmigration of souls. After Life gives Finn a McGuffin sword that can hurt Death, Finn and Jake return to his abode. A brawl ensues wherein we learn that New Death has been possessed… by none other than that spirit of the Lich.

That’s right, it’s the Lich! He’s back, and boy is he evil.

The Lich explains that by possessing Death, he can destroy the afterlife, thereby destroying a key aspect of reality. Naturally, Finn and Jake are not cool with this, and they engage in combat. After Mr. Fox grabs the McGuffin sword and uses it to annihilate the Lich and New Death, he is proclaimed the New New Death and sets everything right. Finn is slated to be reincarnated, and Jake is slated to return to the 50th Dead World where he and Finn will one day be reunited. As Finn is pulled into the wheel of souls, Jake suddenly decides to go back with Finn, too, “Just for fun.” The episode ends with a card letting us know that the episode is neither called “Finn & Jake” nor “Finn & Jake Are Dead.” Instead, it is “Finn and Jake Are Together Again.”

As they say, “And there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.”

If you were to tell me several years ago that the last episode to star Finn and Jake would revolve around them dying, I think I would’ve been upset. Not simply sad, but rather frustrated because “they all died” can feel like a cheap ending. But with “Together Again,” it all works. And a large reason that it works is because the show goes all in with their ideas. Finn and Jake don’t magically leap back into their old life (no, no, they very much do bite the dust). Instead, the special emphasizes the cyclical nature of life through the transmigration of souls. The episode ends with a beautiful scene of Finn and Jake, bound together as soul-brothers, being reborn into a new, mysterious (possibly Ooo 1000+?) world. It’s both aesthetically and emotionally pleasing; it doesn’t feel off the way over finales might. This is right. This is the way life works. “Round and round as nature goes,” and all that jazz.

I loved the series explanation of how death works. It seems that souls land in a specific Dead World, where they ‘marinate’ for a bit, presumably being rewarded or punished based on their life in our meat reality. After a time, they are then reborn. This process repeats, with each soul reaching higher and higher levels of enlightenment until they hit nirvana, which is the 50th Dead World. So in a sense, Adventure Time has a roughly Buddhist cosmology with a dash of Greco-Roman mythos thrown in for flavor. (As to what happens after a soul stays in the 50th Dead World for a long period is anyone’s guess, but I’d speculate that when all the souls in the multiverse have been purified and land in the 50th Dead World, they will all collapse into one another and form one perfect Monad. Perhaps this is the sphere of perfection that the beings who merged into Matthew thought they were connecting to? Who knows! It’s anyone’s guess!) I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get to see who Death, Prismo, Life, etc.’s boss was, but perhaps that’s a mystery better left up to the imagination!

One minor thing that I loved about this special was the number of characters who made cameos as well as all the callbacks that were made to previous episodes. Regarding the former: Finn and Jake’s canine family show up (including the oft-forgotten Jermaine!), as do Tree Trunks and her myriad husbands. Tiffany plays a major role in all these shenanigans as a “death cop” of all things. There is a delightful rogues gallery stuck in the 1st Dead World (including, among others, Maja, Sharon from “The Gut Grinder,” and Wyatt). In the 50th we find Ghost Princess and Clarence happily at peace next to Booshy, the weird spirit mentioned in the Pen Ward classic “High Strangeness.” As far as callbacks go, perhaps my favorite is the clap (from “James Baxter the Horse”) that Jake taught to Finn in case they ever do get separated in the afterlife. And of course, there are myriad references made to “Death in Bloom,” the episode that planted the seed for what this would grow into.

Going into the special suspecting that it would involve Death, I was curious how they were going to handle Miguel Ferrer’s character. (In case a reader is not aware, Ferrer played Death in episodes like “Death in Bloom” and “Betty,” but he sadly passed away a few years ago). The producers’ choice to feature him in a non-speaking cameo—despite playing a relatively significant role in the story—was wise; I’m not sure if I can articulate the exact reasons, but something about his role felt appropriate and not gross, as some post-mortem memorials can be. Speaking of which, the wonderful, lovely Polly Lou Livingston was featured for the last time in this episode as Tree Trunks, happily in heaven with her literal harem of husbands. It was funny, it really was, and I’m sure that Polly Lou would’ve gotten a kick out of seeing it on screen. (Also, this is a pro-Tree Trunks safe space. Any Tree Trunks haters will be chucked into the 1st Dead World with Wyatt.)

The biggest mystery in this whole thing, for me at least, is the question of Princess Bubblegum and Marceline. Several years ago, I wrote an essay about what could’ve happened to them in the Ooo 1000+ universe. I speculated that they peaced out and left Ooo behind. In this special, neither Bubblegum nor Marceline are to be found in the Candy Kingdom—Peppermint Butler seems to be the one in charge, given that he is now wearing Bubblegum’s crown. Likewise, the duo aren’t anywhere in the Dead Worlds either. Maybe the two of them skipped town and got a duplex in the Nightosphere? Who knows… I just want my favorite gals to be OK!

All things considered, “Together Again” was a marvel: An episode that managed to feel like a series finale even more than “Come Along with Me” already did without taking away from the series itself. An episode that managed to make the idea of dying funny. An episode that brought back the Lich in a way that wasn’t forced. An episode that made Mr. Fox the New New Death. An episode that gave us a beautiful ending to Finn and Jake’s story… as well as the beautiful beginning to a new one. I said it on Twitter, and I’ll say it again here: “Together Again” was the end of a sentence in a book with infinite pages. Truly, the fun will never end.

Mushroom War evidence: Everything takes place in the Dead Worlds, so not really. Perhaps a more eagle-eyed viewer can inform us...

Final Grade: That’s right, I’m gonna do it...

Post-script, I actually messaged Jesse Moynihan to ask about his writing credit. He told me that it was for an unused story idea that he had developed. I’m not certain, but I’ll bet it was a part of the cancelled TV movie they were trying to make during season 5, since that would’ve seen Finn and Orgalorg journey to the various Dead Worlds.

#adventure time #adventuretime #atimers #at #atdl #distant lands #adventure time distant lands #finn the human #jake the dog #together again #togetheragain #dead worlds #hanna k. nyström #Hanna K #adam muto #jack pendarvis

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siren-of-redriver96 · 4 years ago

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Yusuf’s discovery (theory)

Hi there :)

I’ve been theorizing already about Yusuf moving to London and becoming close friends with the group, plus starting to work as and auror and joining the hunt for Grindelwald.

But I think I finally came across a very important role he may play as a reasearcher of family trees in the next movie ...

Enjoy :)

Tales from the Crypt

The most about Yusuf’s history and his motivations we learn at the Lestrange crypt - but in this scene, we also get the only solid evidence about Credence’ origin.

We now know for sure that

he was born in europe

he was born around 1901

(from IMDb) the woman with him was his aunt

he was given to Mary Lou Barebone in Corvus’ place

But at the same time, Yusuf learns, through Leta, that he is not the man he’s after ... and there’s several witnesses to this testimony. So, the next step for him, especially if he starts working with Tina and Dumbledore, would be to start research on who Credence actually is.

New plans

I believe, once starting his research, he’ll start with the aforementioned aunt and research shipwreck files from 1901. The Lestrange party likely was on board under the same names, or at least ones known to the family in Britain for the case that someone goes missing on sea - but I’m pretty sure aunt wasn’t.

So, he’s probably going to take the following steps:

find out the right shipwreck from 1901 (again: this was 25 years ago, it’ll take some time to find it) - including which harbour the Lestrange party ported from and which port they were going to, and which other harbours the ship went to along the way

find the passenger list

find out the cabin Leta, Irma and Corvus were in, find that the other baby was across the hallway (this one’s easy) and research who was with him

probably find a name - which seems like a track first, but (likely) turns out to be an empty alias

research staff of the ship or other passengers who survived and can remember the woman

eventually manage to get a phantom picture/memory from one of them, much like Dumbledore got one from Hoakey and Morfin

try to find her picture in archives/talk to ministry officials in other european countries the ship ported in

So, yes. That’s a whole lot of work, which he probably only can do aside his job as, likely, an auror and member of the hunt for Grindelwald. Not impossible that after the next time jump, he’s still talking to people who may know something about her.

just gonna leave this here

I wouldn’t even put past that he, unluckily, comes across a secret follower of Grindelwald who sets him up with a false memory of her supposedly being a Dumbledore.

And this may not be the only thing in his way - perhaps some of the followers even get orders to, despite Credence being unlikely to believe him or anyone from their side, to try and take him out before he can make a discovery which is dangerous to their cause. Although, considering his current work with the ministry, this would be dangerous on itself - it could set the entire hunt and the circle of friends around him by this time up against them, and/or onto what he was researching.

I don’t know yet how he’s going to come across the final conclusion - I believe the tracks have been covered up very well, but that he will have collected almost all evidence until Rio. Perhaps he’s found which country she’s from, perhaps even a first name she gave someone, some details on what she talked about with strangers ...

And then, (we dive into headcanons now, buckle up) in my mind, he comes across Queenie...

... who recognizes the woman he’s been thinking about for the last few years - as a relative of her parents, a sister, whom they never spoke to her and Tina about ... but she kept seeing a scene in their minds of a woman, including one of her saying goodbye to them and porting a ship with a baby, which she assumed was a cousin of theirs who died along. Only she was very little when she saw all of this, and couldn’t properly understand or remember what was said before she left.

And shortly after, her parents died and she didn’t pay much more attention to the memory of this woman, whom she knew was dead as well anyway - until seeing Yusuf’s memories, she had practically forgotten her face.

This could be her epiphany JK has foreshadowed, the final almost coincedental puzzle piece Yusuf requires to complete the picture, the answer to Credence’ identity. And it would be a great moment of teamwork for the aspiring group, maybe even one that begins to bring them all together to reveal Credence’ true identity to him.

How the rest of his identity is going to surface I’m still working on, but so far, I’m convinced Yusuf is going to continue to find out some way too.

Anyway, what do you think? Could this be Yusuf’s role in the next movie, kind if foreshadowed by his arc in the second one?

Thank you very much for reading .)

#fantastic beast and where to find them #FBAWFT #fantastic beasts #fantastic beasts series #fantastic beasts yusuf kama #fantastic beasts theory #the crimes of grindelwald #fantastic beasts c=g theory

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nctvrnal · 4 years ago

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hey y’all this is not a full character intro but a rundown to get some quick plotting going!! i’m vee and i use a lot of exclamation points i can’t help it but also i can and yet i can’t!!! find me on discord @ baby límon 🍋🐸#6632

first up there’s ivy!

[ SOOYOUNG / JOY, SHE/THEY, GENDER APATHETIC ] — [ IVY MOON ] is a child of [ HECATE ] with the power of [ MYSTIOKINESIS ] . they were born in [ 1996 ] and have been in nemean lion since [ 2013 ] . with the change, they [ HAVE GRADUATED FROM ] the [ AMBASSADOR ] role which makes sense since they’re usually [ INTERACTING WITH FANS & BAKING ] .

click here to go to her page!!

really any sort of connections work to her since she’s messy and annoying! hook up, ghost hunting buddy, animal crossing friends, coworkers, anything really!! just know that she will not shut up so someone who doesn’t like her works too please

and then marcus!

[ AVAN JOGIA, HE/HIM, CISMAN ] — [ MARCUS JOHNSON ] is a child of [ HADES ] with the power of [ UMBRAKINESIS & SHADOW TRAVEL ] . they were born in [ 1995 ] and have been in nemean lion since [ 2007 ] . with the change, they [ ARE TRAINING IN ] the [ STANDARD ] role which makes sense since they’re usually [ STUDYING & TAKING CARE OF THEIR BABY ] .

HE’S A DAD!!! his daughter is two and his wife died in a recent monster attack ):

so he’s back at nemean for protection and some training

he got adopted by the johnson fam when he was 14 so he’s siblings with astrid, miri, pax, and juniper!

he needs friends pls uwu

listen about trevor he’s so funny please

[ SEOKJIN KIM, HE/HIM, CIS MAN ] — [ TREVOR AHN ] is a child of [ APOLLO ] with the power of [ HEALING ] . they were born in [ 1993 ] and have been in nemean lion since [ 2011 ] . with the change, they [ HAVE GRADUATED FROM ] the [ MEDICAL ] role which makes sense since they’re usually [ RUNNING THE INFIRMARY & TEACHING ] .

sooo before nl went public trevor would travel around and perform “medical miracles” and heal people. he’d only charge rich ppl tho the rest he would do for free

he had some fame and did tv appearances and really milked the whole miracle thing

he would even be like the pOwER Of GOd hEaLS YoU bc he’s a dick

anyway he’s actually smart and studious but hates being serious it feels awk

now that it's out that he's a demigod ya boi doesn't want public blacklash so he's pretending he just find out too and he's like :O who would've thought, huh

he runs the infirmary so if your chara works there or is studying that track they should know each other!!

also he’s dating miri <3

now on to drew!

[ TAEHYUNG KIM, HE/THEY, NON-BINARY ] — [ DREW SUH ] is a child of [ NIKE ] with the power of [ ENHANCED SKILLS & CERTAIN VICTORY ] . they were born in [ 1995 ] and have been in nemean lion since [ 2010 ] . with the change, they [ HAVE GRADUATED FROM ] the [ HERO ] role which makes sense since they’re usually [TRAINING & STUDYING ] .

tbh i think at some point all my charas had a crush on drew he’s just minds his own business and vibes

he’s been training hard since arriving to nl so he’s super advanced in combat and overall skills

nl’s perfect poster demigod and tbh idk how he feels about it

has completed many missions so drew sped through the hero track and was one of the first ones to graduate

will do 1 on 1 training if he has time!! drew loves to help out those new to the demigod stuff and give out advance for combat and wielding weapons!

joonho is also vibes but also chaos

[ SEHUN OH, HE/HIM, GENDER APATHETIC ] — [ JOONHO KWON] is a child of [ TYCHE ] with the power of [ META PROBABILITY MANIPULATION ] . they were born in [ 1996 ] and have been in nemean lion since [ 2016 ] . with the change, they [ ARE TRAINING IN ] the [ AMBASSADOR ] role which makes sense since they’re usually [ VIBIN’ ]

u kno when ppl are like teehee i’m not just a pretty face

well joonho IS just a pretty face and wouldn’t have it any other way

anyway with his power he riggs stuff and will enter contest/giveaways for funsies

if you’re his friend and ask him to win something for you he’ll do it no hesitation!

oof, daphne. this one is a little longer than the rest

[ DAVIKA HOORNE , SHE/HER, DEMIGIRL ] — [ DAPHNE SAENGMAI ] is a grandchild of [ HECATE & ATHENA ] with the power of [ MAGIC ] . they were born in [ 1993 ] and have been in nemean lion since [ 2004-2015 & 2020 ] . with the change, they [ HAVE GRADUATED FROM ] the [ BUSINESS ] role which makes sense since they’re usually [ IN HER OFFICE & BOSSING PEOPLE AROUND ]

she’s a grandchild of hecate & athena.

one thing u gotta kno about daphne is that she just doesn’t care!!!!! alright well she does care a little but mostly doesn’t! everything reflects back on her so she has to pretend she does.

so back in the day her mom lou had a half sister (also hecate) and she died but her ghost/spirit whatever stayed roaming the earth and lou kind of trapped her bc she was p vengeful n angry! then daphne as born and named after her aunt and then lou agreed to let ghost daphne stay in babie daphne’s body if she dedicated herself into protecting lou’s daughter and ya so alive daphne has a ghost named daphne living inside of her and she has random knowledge and memories that aren’t hers and if you hear daph talking to herself she probably actually isn’t lmaooo

also her magic is stronger than it’s supposed to be bc of it.

anyway ok so daphne got the call from her mom that it was time for her to take the ceo position at nl and let me tell u!!!! she cried for like 10 min on the phone and then her mom was like r u done being dramatic and she was like ya but also i want an ice rink (she did figure skating growing up and wanted to persue a career but :/) and i’ll go quietly and her mom was like ok deal. she’s been gone the past 5 years so if your chara has been here longer feel free to assume they know each other p well or hmu!! either way everyone should know daph even if it’s a new acquaintance bc she’s in charge and she’s good w names and faces. i can’t explain her daphne is j daphne have fun teehee

ANYWAY that’s it really i will plot anything with anyone uwu

#nlintro #don't look at me but also look at me

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stellar-imagines · 5 years ago

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HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: ❝How long have you been dead?❞

[ Fandom: Boku no Hero Academia ] [ Characters: Shinsou HItoshi ]

「#4 ❝How long have you been dead?❞ ❝50 years. ❞ ❝Damn. Guess I missed the funeral then.❞ with Shinsou Hitoshi.」

SHINSOU HITOSHI

"This is dumb." you had said to yourself, holding your phone that acted as a flashlight as you trudged through the bushes. It was night time and if it weren't for your cat who decided to walk away, you'd be home.

"He's not here." you stepped out of the bushes and kept away your phone. You had assumed that your cat might be nearby but you guessed wrong. There was no signs of him, leaving you no choice but to walk around to find him.

"I hope he's alright."

It was night time when Shinsou when he woke up. He was dressed in clothes that suited the season, coats to protect himself from the cold. It has been years since he died, his memories were still vague but he was glad that he knew a few people who were in a similar situation as he was. Stories of creatures that you thought only existed in fairy tales and storybooks, they're actually lurking in this planet, keeping themselves hidden for many reasons. As for him, he had died and there's no one seemed to be able to pick up his odd aura. The scenery was dull and all he could see were tombstones.

He stood up stretch a bit. Arms above his head, raised like he was reaching for the sky. The male stopped when he heard a small meow. It was a Ragamuffin with white and gray fur. The cat had a black collar around its neck which indicated that he or she is not a stray. Shinsou crouched down to its level, reaching out his right hand. A quiet purr erupted from the cat as it rubbed its cheek against the palm of his hand, seeking for warmth. The male picked up the cat who instantly curled itself in his arms. His hands stroke through the fur and grasped at the collar. It was made of nylon with a small moon pendant and an identification tag that was silver in color.

The cat squirmed in his arms a bit, acting like they were uncomfortable and itching for freedom. A name was engraved.

"Muffles?" With the address attached engraved underneath the name, Shinsou thought about bringing this cat―Muffles to his home. It wasn't too far from where he currently was and he assumed that the cat must've escaped when it saw a chance.

After wandering around the graveyard, you spotted Shinsou sitting underneath a tree you were dressed in a sweater and a pair of shorts. Your eyes scanned his entire appearance before landing on the cat.

"Ah, Muffles!" you beamed brightly. Shinsou handed the Ragamuffin over who instantly melted into your touch.

"Thank you so much. I was looking for him."

There was something odd and you could feel it. You glanced at Shinsou while petting Muffles who was busy trying to keep himself warm. He looked like your average guy, just dressed in clothes that covered almost every inch of his skin. He was peculiar. The bags under his eyes told you that he hadn't been sleeping that much. There had been rumors of vampires, shifting werewolves, witches and whatnot. At first, you thought it was just one of those fake rumors to get people scared. But there were actual sightings. As you let your finger thread through Muffles' fur, you glanced at Shinsou a few times.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?"

"N-No! It's just that you give off a different vibe, I guess?" you said out loud. Shinsou looked a bit surprised to hear you say that while you were worried.

"Ah, I didn't mean to offend you!" In response, Shinsou shook his head.

"Do you know what I am?"

"You're.... um, how do I put this....You're not human, are you? From the way you're speaking....." you mumbled.

“Well, I was supposed to be dead but here I am, alive and kicking.” he shrugged. You stared at him, seeing that he didn’t seem like a dead person. Maybe it wasn’t in the appearance but more of on the inside? At any rate, you had a lot of questions that you wanted to ask.

"How long have you been dead?” you questioned. Out of anything you could’ve asked, that was the first thing you just had to ask.

“50 years.” Shinsou muttered with a shrug.

“Damn. Guess I missed the funeral then.” you chuckled. Shinsou smiled a bit at the joke you cracked.

"You're taking this quite well. I mean, you're not acting like you're scared from seeing a dead person wandering around the city." the purple head said, rubbing the back of his head as he watched you slowly sit on the ground next to him.

"Well, I've seen a lot of people like you I guess. Maybe it's because I have the sixth sense or something." you said.

"Don't you think I'm a dangerous person?" Shinsou asked as Muffles jumped from your hold and leapt onto his lap.

"I guess Muffles doesn't think that you're dangerous. He can detect hostile intent, by the way.”

“What a weird cat.”

“You're in no position to decide what’s weird or not when you’re weird yourself.”

Total: 856 words Published: 10.10.2019

We’re open for some limited edition prompts featuring Fall and Halloween! Read more here!

Thank you for requesting! *｡٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و*｡ Our brains just stopped working for this request and this was really bad? Because we had no idea in which direction we wanted this request to go. But we hope you enjoyed it, anon! ― author Hibiki/Lou

Thank you for requesting! We had no idea what we were writing and had been watching some cat videos before working on this. We hope you liked it, though. ― author Natsuki

Please do not mind the grammar mistakes and typos.

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zombiesarita · 5 years ago

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Cracked Ivories and Broken Dreams

Angsty Clouis oneshot

Words: 3014 (Because I don’t know when to quit)

Ship: Clementine X Louis Platonic Clementine X Violet

Genre: ANGST. Angst and platonic fluff.

Warning: Graphic depictions of walker-eating. Heavy grief and mourning.

Description: Another sleepless night due to nightmares, Clementine trudges her way along the school's corridors, always leading to the same room. It'd had been the fifth time that week, and although she hadn't kept count, the other kids at Ericson's could definitely tell whether they wanted to listen to it or not. They'd often overhear as she woke up in fits, screaming his name. They'd also hear the soft clunking of Clem's crutches leading to the music room, the timid chime of the keys being grazed as she tried to hide her whimpers, and the sudden bang of Clementine collapsing onto the piano's keyboard in broken sobs, begging for the same thing, night after night. Hoping that things will change, but they never do. Pleading that somehow, he'll miraculously come back to sing to her again. But he never does.

READ ON A03. Or continue reading below.

"Get across! I'll help Tenn!" His voice thundered in her head, taunting her like he always did.

She nodded, foolishly believing him as she grasped at the bloody hatchet for support on her feet. Her leg was on fire but she limped to the crack of the bridge anyways, throwing the axe before regrettably jumping across the ravine. She screamed in pain as her injured leg hit the bridge's wooden boards.

She screamed even louder when the only boy who could always make her laugh was devoured in front of her. He choked in his own blood as walkers ripped at his throat, tearing flesh from his body as he looked her in the eye, agony carved into him.

____________________________________________

"NOO! LOUIS!" Clementine screamed herself awake once again, hurling herself forward in the bed. Her hair clung wetly to the sides of her face. Beads of sweat and tears fell down as she forced herself to breathe. In and out. She suddenly let go of her blanket, realizing she wrung her hands around the fabric so tightly they went numb. She looked dead ahead, exhausted. She couldn't sleep. She couldn't close her eyes. Because she'd see him again in the darkness. She always sees him.

She rarely slept at all for days, nearly weeks. And when she did, she was always awoken by the sound of Louis gargling, spitting out thick red liquid as he collapsed onto the ground.

She turned to the neighboring bed in tears, empty again. AJ frequently slept over with Tenn since the incident. Since the nightmares began. She would involuntarily wake him. It was slightly disheartening, but she understood. He needed rest.

Little did she know they could still hear her every whimper through the thin, broken walls.

It was her fault, after all. She didn't trust AJ to make the call. She didn't trust AJ to spare him. To take Tenn's life instead.

_____________________________________

"HOW COULD YOU?!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, not caring if she drew walkers into the school because she was seething with rage and misery. "HOW COULD YOU KILL HIM?!"

"Leave him the fuck alone alone Clementine, he didn't do anything!" Violet protested in front of Tenn, cleaver drawn as she protected him. Panicked faces circled around the endeavor, not really knowing what to do. Clem was still recovering from the loss of her leg, sure, but she always managed to surprise with what she was capable of doing.

"Bullshit!" Clem spat, pointing a finger at the panicking 12 year old boy, "Louis would be alive if he didn't try to stop him!"

"It's not his fucking fault!"

"IT'S COMPLETELY HIS FAULT!" She screamed, collapsing on the ground in tears. Her crutches fell with her, knocking dust into the air.

"It's... It's..."

_________________________________

"It's my fa-fault..." Clementine sputtered between sobs, digging her face into her knee as she hugged her leg tightly, "...It's all my-my fault."

How she missed the encapsulating sound of her boyfriend's voice, singing sweetly to her as he keyed an enchanting melody on the mahogany piano. The way his whiskey eyes sparkled at her when she laughed at his silly jokes. How she missed staring at each of his freckles, trailing from his forehead to his cheeks as he gave a dimpled smile with his soft lips.

She gave a shaking sigh, knocking herself out of her own thoughts. She placed her legs down, and sat on the edge of the bed, staring at her stump grievously as she pulled her boot over her right foot.

Clutching the dresser for support as she pulled herself up, she looked onto the wooden surface and realized her blue baseball cap was still missing. No longer a part of her. She hasn't really felt the same without it. Though, Clem can admit, she doesn't really know what it's like to feel like 'herself' anymore.

She mentally mocked herself, grasping her crutches and pulling them under her as she started hobbling to the exit. She gave a grim sob, before drawing a large breath and opening the door with trouble.

_____________________________________

"Louie~" Clementine purred, a light sing-song voice that she knew the boy loved all too well. He held her hand, trailing her along somewhere. Where? She didn't know. He had asked her to keep her eyes closed, 'Because it's a surprise," He told her.

"We're almost there, Love," He responded softly, brushing her knuckles with his thumb in assurance. He only called her that sweet, simple name in seclusion, so they must have been alone. Thankfully, as Clementine would have died of embarrassment if the other kids knew how she chirped to him in private.

"I swear, I'm gonna trip," Clem banted, feeling the glass and pebbles being kicked away by her two feet, "And when I do, I'm bringing you down with me."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," He chimed, obviously brandishing a smile from the way he said it. She gleamed as well.

The sound of a door creaking open perked Clementine's ears to attention, "Are we here?" She asked, still pressing closed her eyes.

"What's today's date, Love?" Louis ignored her question and asked his own. He brushed a thumb lightly across her jawline, making her flush.

"Um, I-uh..." She stammered at her partner's touch, squeezing her eyes closed even more. She heard a light chuckle escape his lips at her trouble. "I checked last week, and it was the 19th," She started, struggling to compose her thoughts until the sudden realization hit her. "Oh, Lou-" "What's the date?" He repeated bubbly, much more excited.

"October 26th." She chirped, grinning widely.

"That's what I thought," Louis said happily, hooking Clementine's chin and burning his lips into hers. Clem could feel his lips tugging into a smile and couldn't help doing the same. "You can look now," He affirmed, pulling away much to Clem's dismay. Clementine fluttered her eyes open and gaped in awe at the room they stood in. It was the music room, because what else would she have expected from her Louis? The room glowed in flickering colored lights, candles in mason jars littering every surface, most on his piano. Louis lightly tugged on her hand again and drew her to the center of the room, placing his hands on her waist and spinning her around with a goofy flourish.

"Consider this our second date," He beamed, pulling her closer. He lowered his head, inches away from hers, and softly held her face in his hand.

Louis breathlessly muttered onto her lips, drawing a flush to rise in the girl's cheeks that he couldn't help smiling at, "Happy birthday, Love."

_________________________________________

Clementine crutched her way into the miserable music room, once filled with so many happy memories she desperately clung onto. Blown out and dead candles speckled the room, reminiscent of days gone by. She shuffled to the piano's stool and slowly rested, leaning her crutches against the wooden instrument. She didn't know why she always came here when the nightmares rattled her brain. Some sort of melancholic comfort, one would assume. But she always left feeling even more broken than she would arrive. The girl would sometimes refuse to leave until morning, dark circles and dead eyes as she crutched back to her room, refusing to meet anyone's gaze.

She grasped at a mason jar on top of the piano, and lit it with the match she kept in her pocket. The wick burned smoothly, lapping up the oxygen around it to keep it's flame alive. The small flame gave her barely enough light to perceive her surroundings clearly. The light quickly reflected the carving of a heart- No, a 'potato', Louis would always call it, drawing an aggravated moan from the girl.

God, what she wouldn't do to just be annoyed by him one more time.

"Oh, Louis," Clementine cracked to the night sky, pressure emanating in her throat. "I miss you. So fucking much."

She allowed the silence to envelope her once more, before drawing a sharp breath and letting out a deep sob.

_____________________________________

"Again?" Clementine groaned in faux irritation.

"You don't have to help if you really don't want to," Louis called her bluff, knowing full well she loved helping him, "I just like spending time with my girl."

His last sentence fluttered around her heart, making her blush. His girl.

"You remember which one the A key is, Love?" He asked, smirking as he shot up and led her to the piano's seat.

"No, I don't," She lied, gently sitting down and pretending to be confused.

"It's this one, right here," He knowingly played along as he held her from behind, gently grasping her hand and pointing to a specific key.

"This one?" Clem playfully coyed, shifting her hand to the next key and lightly pressing it.

"No, this one," Louis grinned, trailing his hands to her sides and peppering her exposed neck with kisses. A frail squeak escaped the girl's lips and she chuckled heartily.

"Okay, okay," She laughed, pressing the correct note this time, "You win, Lou."

"You know it," He pridefully remarked as he slowly let go of his girl, walking to the back of the piano to make his repairs. Clem have a sad glare at the loss of his warmth, slightly pouting.

"Press it for me?" He asked kindly, and she happily obliged. The note bounced in their ears, slightly shrill. Still not done tuning, after all.

"Good, now the pedal." She pressed eagerly, tapping the A once more. A little better, but not quite perfection.

"Now-"

"Blow on the strings," The girl said with a smile, lifting herself up and blowing steadily at the piano's wires. Once started as a joke, it quickly became their personal good luck charm. It seemed to be working so far.

"You know, I've been thinking..." Clementine started, her honey golden eyes trailing warmly to his earthy brown.

"Yes, Love?" The boy inquired, meeting her eyes only briefly before returning to the back of the instrument.

"Maybe you could, I don't know," She rambled, regaining his confused gaze, "Teach me piano? Only if you wanted to, of course."

"Clementine!" Louis chimed ecstatically, shooting up and rushing towards her to smother her in a large kiss.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to hear you say that."

____________________________________

"You know, Louis," Clementine managed to croak into the empty room, "I've been practicing for you."

"I haven't been sleeping well... So I've had a lot of spare time."

She could practically hear his potential responses, sitting next to her as he traced intricate shapes onto her back.

Of course, enthusiasm about her wanting to play. An ecstatic exclamation. A silly joke, maybe. Probably. Then concern to hear she hadn't been resting. She would joke about it being something she's used to by now, watching as he would give her warm eyes that would only show genuine compassion and care for her well being.

Wiping her pained, wet cheek with the back of her sleeve, she sighed before placing her right hand onto the board. 'For him,' She thought. It was always for him.

Three consecutive C notes pressed, followed by a G. The noise was shrill and ugly. It hadn't been tuned in quite a while. You need a second person, after all.

"Oh my daarlin'..." She could still hear his voice sing to her, clearly like a toned bell.

Three Es. Then another C note.

"Oh my daarlin'..."

Another C key hit by her thumb. An E. Two Gs. F. E. D. Pressure emanated from her eyes.

"Oh my daaarlin' Clementine..." He would sing, making her smile longer than she ever had in years.

D. E. F. F. E. D sharp. E. C. Tears rolled down her face. A knot formed in her throat she couldn't swallow.

"You are lost, and gone forever..."

C. E. D. G. B. D. C... She stopped. She couldn't play anymore, even if she wanted to.

"Dreadful sorry, Clementine..."

For the fifth night this week, Clementine broke down. She crumbled right onto the cracked ivory keys, her chest wracking violently against herself as she let out timid sobs. She tried her absolute best to muffle her cries, but horribly failed as her throat burned like it was on fire.

Visions replayed in her head of her horrific nightmares. Louis's ragged breaths, only to be met with blood filling his lungs. His violent trembling as he laid there in agony. His dark eyes looking straight at Clementine's in fear, the life slowly draining within them. She was riddled with these nightmares for days on end, gradually losing herself in them. Except they weren't just like her regular nightmares.

It actually happened.

And she let it happen.

She just watched. Watched as Louis held down Tenn for his own safety, completely disregarding his own. She watched as she was unable to do anything to help, her leg slowly bleeding out. She watched as AJ held his finger on the trigger, and pulled back at the last second. All because she didn't trust him.

_________________________________________

"Louis!" Clementine yelled in relief, running to greet her partner as he walked out of the thick vegetation. He welcomed her affection with open arms and breathed deeply in solace at finding Her, AJ, and Tenn relatively okay. He rubbed her back as she buried her face into his chest. "You came to look for us."

"Thought I lost you," The teenage boy grinned, attempting to choke back his words but failing, "I love you too much to lose you."

The girl looked up in surprise, taken aback, "You... You love me?" She stammered, quickly flushing.

He audibly sighed, his cheeks turning a pinkish haze under his dark skin, "I think I do, Clem. I really, truly do."

"I... I love you too," Clem breathed, a small smile tugging on her face that Louis imitated.

"This is amazing," Tenn halted, smiling at the scene.

"This call's for celebration!" Louis gleamed, throwing his hands into the air, "When we get back, we're totally throwing another party!"

"Naturally," Clem fazed, walking hand-in-hand with Louis into what would inevitably be his demise.

___________________________________________

"God," Clementine sputtered, heaving, "I'm so sorry Louis. I'm so sorry." "It's all my fault." Her body shook with every vicious word she threw at herself.

"Clementine?" A rusted, feminine voice echoed through the music room, footsteps stopping short at the door. The sudden intrusion made Clem jump, splitting her sobs in half.

"I'm fine," She darkly croaked, swallowing herself into her own lie, "Leave me alone, Vi."

"I didn't even ask yet," Violet interjected, stepping towards the girl. She was the only person other to walk into the music room since the incident. "And that's a blatant lie."

"What do you want?" Clem asked sourly.

"I want you to know that we care about you, Clementine." Her voice rang out softly, "You've barely spoken to anyone for days. Have you been eating?"

"Yes, I have," She lied. She couldn't remember the last thing that touched her lips, except for someone that never will again.

"Then what did Omar do for dinner tonight?" Violet quizzed. It wasn't her normal snarky or composed attitude. It was of genuine compassion as she slowly stepped towards the piano. She leaned lightly on the lid and felt the vibration's of Clementine's ragged breaths.

"Why are you here?" Clem spat back, leaning up and wiping a face with her sleeve. Violet noticed her question being tossed aside with a sigh.

"Because despite as much as you say, you're not okay, Clem."

The girl scoffed, turning away despite knowing she shouldn't.

"Can I... Sit with you?" Vi asked lightly, gesturing to the bench. Clem returned with an apprehensive nod, scooting over to allow room. As the girl slowly rested, she drew a large sigh, looking into Clem's vacant, wet eyes. She looked terrible, but of course she wouldn't say that.

"I understand how you feel, you know," Violet started, lifting a slender hand and rubbing the girl's shoulder. Clem melted into the touch, despite her mental protest.

"When I thought I lost Minnie... A piece of me died with her," She muttered lowly, looking away, "I pushed everyone away as well."

"Then Louis pulled me back in. He put my pieces back together," A glint of a smile perking on her face, "Now, I think it's about time I return the favor."

Clementine's breath hitched at the mention of his, hiccuping. Violet prepared for what was about to happen, as if she already knew. Sobs wracked Clem's body despite her protest, falling into Violet's warm embrace as she just let her emotions consume her.

"It's okay," Vi consoled, rubbing the girl's shaking back, "Let it out. This'll stay between us."

"It hurts," She croaked, whimpering into her arms, "It hurts so fucking much."

"I know it does," Violet murmured, "It fucking sucks. But you'll get through it. And I'll be here for you."

They sat there, for god knows how long, just listening to the night's silence over Clementine's sobs. Violet stayed with her, petting her hair and murmuring soft encouragements until she couldn't physically cry anymore. She just laid there, resting into her friend's warmth in silence, the occasional hiccup escaping her lips. And that was okay.

"You can sleep with me tonight, if you want." Violet suggested warmly, a comforting grin accompanying her face, "I know you haven't slept well. I could wake you up whenever the dream starts again."

The girl gave a small nod as she lifted her head, wiping her face with her sleeve. "I... I'd really like that. But you don't have to do that for me."

"Clem, I want to," Violet glinted, slowly standing up and grasping at her friend's crutches. She led the girl's crutches to her, helping her rise and collect herself.

"I'm here for you," she muttered warmly, trailing her out of the music room and into the dorms.

For the first night in weeks, The girl wasn't racked with her nightmares.

And for the first time in weeks, Clementine didn't feel alone.

#TWDG #Clouis #Louisentine #TWDG Fanfiction #TWDG Fanfic #Fanfic #TWDG Louis #TWDG Clementine #The Walking Dead Game #TWDG Season 4 #Mourning #DEATH #TWDG Violet #Any tags I've missed? Maybe #My Writing #Oneshot

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1dshortficfest · 6 years ago

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2019 1D Short Fic Fest Round Up

Down Memory Lane by flicker_album Harry and Louis have known each other since they were five. Now they’re in their senior year of high school and still best friends. Harry, as sentimental as ever, keeps anything Louis gives him in a box under his bed. He doesn’t anticipate Louis finding the box.

A Way So Familiar by yeah_alright Liam squeezes Zayn’s hand and presses a light kiss to his fingers. He freezes when Zayn stirs, worried he’s woken him. He’s not ready to wake him. He’s enjoying being held as he wades through the memories of that first night he’d held Zayn. Held him so properly and thoroughly that he had fallen asleep still holding him tightly. That night of pizza and beer and unadulterated flirting, when their playfulness had taken on a greater significance. It had felt revelatory. Like it was all finally – fucking finally – happening. Liam wakes up in Zayn’s arms and reminisces about some of their “firsts.”

an honest mistake by disgruntledkittenface “You look different when you’re not covered in come,” he blurts out, immediately regretting each and every life choice that has led to this exact moment. Elevator Guy is going to hate him. Louis has ridden the elevator with his neighbor all week. The first time they speak, there’s a misunderstanding.

nothing breaks (like a heart) by thelouistiti Such a good time, Louis believes it this time.

Heat by jacaranda_bloom Louis was smitten from the moment Harry had arrived a month ago. Long, curly hair which he mostly keeps up in a bun, and a sinfully deep voice. Cheeky too. Louis likes that the best. He gives good banter and laughs at Louis’ dumb jokes, adding his own woeful puns. When Louis had asked him why he was in this godforsaken dust bowl, he’d said something about a ground crew traineeship and fulfilling his visa requirements while experiencing the real Australia. Louis had been momentarily distracted by Harry’s plush, red-bitten lips so the salient details may have washed over him. OR Drinking beer in a blow-up pool, in a backyard, in stupidly hot temperatures, in outback Australia should be ridiculous, and it would be, if Louis didn’t have a curly-haired workmate to keep him company.

Fistiana by yesisaworld They met in the center of the ring and bumped their bare knuckles together.

All I See Is You, Lately by runaway_train Harry noticed him for the first time three months ago. He couldn’t not, really, what with the man being so pretty and all, and Harry remembers it well because it was three days before his birthday and he had joked to himself that seeing someone so gorgeous for three days on the trot must be an early present from the Gods. Or The one where Harry has a crush on a fellow commuter.

we’re right here in this room by flicker_album Shawn goes to the same cafe every Sunday. After he meets Niall, a friend of a friend, he can’t stop thinking about him.

Insomnis by FullOnLarrie Harry’s been having trouble sleeping. Louis makes everything better.

The Truth Of It or The Day That Changed Everything by Larryhasmyheart You are Louis, the son of a wealthy horseman. Your father has been trying to ingratiate you into his circle of friends and set you up with their daughters, but you just aren’t feeling it. Instead, ever since the new stable hand smiled at you, you have been drawn to the barn. Today, you come to understand why.

it’s only your imagination again by wreckingtomlinson “So,” Louis begins, curling up in one corner of the sofa. “Guess my secret’s out.” Harry nods. “The cat’s out of the bag,” he says with a completely straight face. ~ Or, Harry’s pretty convinced his new neighbor has a cat.

Pals and Confidantes by yeah_alright The Guys sit around the kitchen table sharing cheesecake and stories of bad dates. Golden Girls AU.

Soju (소주) by gettingaphdinlarry After a spectacular breakup he’d like to forget about, English language teacher Niall Horan finds himself in starting anew in Seoul, South Korea. He’s perfectly content being single, but when his friends try to set him up with Shawn Mendes, well… Maybe it’s time to give love another shot.

Was Sort Of Hoping That You’d Stay by Sasparella76 Last night, Louis Tomlinson hooked-up with a drop-dead gorgeous man who, right now, is sleeping contentedly in his arms. Sure, the sex was good - really good, in fact - and the guy was charming and funny, but it was just a one-time thing. The thought of having to engage in some awkward morning-after chit-chat with the lad makes Louis shudder. He needs to get up, get dressed and get out before his one-night stand wakes up.

the pain’s only temporary by wreckingtomlinson They call him The Phantom. He’s something like a myth in the industry—almost everyone knows of him, but real information is few and far between. But the one thing everyone seems to be able to agree on is that anyone who dares to make a deal with him becomes untouchably, irrevocably, successful. ~ or, Harry seeks out the help of a mysterious figure referred to only as The Phantom for help getting out of a contract, but is he prepared to pay the price?

Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by allwaswell16 Louis is having a personal crisis, a third Valentine’s Day being single. Unless he meets someone this week at the high end department store he works at, he’ll be stuck going to Niall’s Valentine’s Day party–again. Or the one where Harry mistakes Louis for a mannequin.

please forgive me if my lips quake by disgruntledkittenface Hi ! Got your number from your cat Lou. Just want to make sure they’re not lost, only visiting Harry’s pet cat wing-womans her into a date.

sunbeams by ohsailor Harry is the new neighbour suffering from insomnia. Louis is the night nurse across the hall trying to find ways to help him sleep. They find one that works.

honey (you’re familiar) by hazkaban harry had always thought that if he stumbled into the wrong date, somehow, it’s just like him, honestly, he would come clean instantly and go find his real date. that is until he’s face to face with louis, who is very pretty and not at all the man he’s supposed to be meeting.

Fluro by silveredglass Doesn’t matter where you go to help you forget - symbols, and reminders, and good old heartache is always neon bright.

Screamin’ At My Face, Baby, Don’t Trip by runaway_train He’s been waiting at their table in the restaurant for thirty minutes now, already deep into his second large glass of Shiraz, when he checks his phone. No new messages. He clicks onto WhatsApp to check when Louis was last online; 3.34 p.m today. That certainly doesn’t bode well. Louis was always late, yes, but he had promised, he had sworn to Harry that he wouldn’t be late tonight. But he was. By thirty one minutes and counting. Or The one when Harry’s anniversary dinner plans don’t go quite how he hoped they would.

She’s Got Particular Taste by Miadotfi They eventually change topics but it’s still in the back of Harry’s mind. So naturally, as soon as they get home, Harry drops her coat on the living room floor and gets naked from the waist up. With her bra in her hand she turns around to face the door. Louis enters the room and freezes in the middle of taking off her beanie. Her gaze slides down in a heartbeat, mouth hanging open. Harry waits. And waits. She doesn’t know what she expected. She shouldn’t have just stripped down first thing when they arrived home. Harry has nipple piercings and she’s more than willing to show them to Louis.

Ticket To L.A. by Tomlinsontoes Fun little airport fic based on the song “Ticket to L.A.” by Brett Young. Harry is a musician who meets Louis in an airport when all of the flights are delayed. After accidentally hitting him with his guitar case, Louis agrees to get a drink with Harry as long as he doesn’t start playing “Wonderwall”

Back To Life by Laziam (MItCheLlInE) When a fun day out turns into a horror scenario for Zayn, a kind stranger turns his entire world upside down.

The Bet by jacaranda_bloom Louis Tomlinson never reneges on a bet. Ever. He may be many things - a joker, a sometimes-wayward student, a loyal friend, a Tony Award winner in the making, and a card-carrying member of the Chad Michael Murray fan club - but never, ever, a welcher. Louis makes good on his promises and does it with flare. OR The one where Louis misjudges Harry’s ability to do TLC’s Waterfall rap and finds himself having to put on a one-man show for his viewing pleasure. If Louis decides to go all-in and dress the part, then that’s just a bonus for his (very appreciative) one-man audience.

Calling out for somebody to hold tonight by cristalrush “I saw how you kept looking at me. I’m Louis, nice to meet you.” The raspy voice startled Harry. There he was. The guy he had been watching. He looked around discreetly to make sure Louis was actually talking to him. But there was no one facing them, so Harry thought it must be him. He offered his hand to Louis, “I’m Harry, nice to meet you too.” Or Harry has almost lost hope to ever finding his soulmate and just wants to have a fun night.

A Snapshot by haztobegood That one time Harry’s photo was uploaded to Louis’ instagram.

Drunk on summer by sweetsumerstyles Zayn and Louis are on a beach stargazing with a bottle of wine and a blanket wrapped around them.

Size Difference by FullOnLarrie Harry avoids confrontation until he can’t anymore.

Angels in the Airwaves Tonight by shiftylinguini Louis is between jobs. Niall is always along for the ride.

Beautiful Disaster by FallingLikeThis Harry is broken. Maybe Louis can help with that.

Harry’s Love Song by writcraft Harry calls Nick to let him know he’s coming back to London.

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of Cheese (who am I to dis-a-brie?) by EmmyLouWho The first time it happened, Harry had assumed that it was an honest mistake. The second time it happened, Harry thought it must have been a coincidence. Perhaps if he hadn’t been such an eternal optimist, the possibility that someone was stealing his food might have occurred to him a bit earlier, but Harry had a great deal of faith in the goodness of his fellow students, and so he continued to believe that it was an accident. But by the third time he had returned to an empty microwave, Harry was starting to realise that someone was stealing his mac & cheese on purpose.

A True Love of Mine by myownspark Niall’s peaceful afternoon at the beach with Shawn is interrupted by a group of strangers. One man in particular reminds him of someone special from long ago.

sweet, sweet fate by bottomlinsons Harry’s lived with a NSFW soulmark for almost twenty-five years now. When he finally meets the man responsible, he gives him a little piece of his mind.

As Luck Would Have It by Justalittlelouislove We’ve all experienced the trials and tribulations of technology. Louis is sabotaged by a bit of unhelpful autocorrect, but maybe luck is on his side after all.

It Could Be Sweet (like a long forgotten dream) by Harryskiwiposes “You did all this? For me? Even after I ignored you all week?” “I know why you’ve been ignoring me. If you had given me a chance to explain.” He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, “I was never going to set up a dating profile. That was all Niall’s idea. He thought he was helping, but…it’s…it’s you, Louis. I just want to be with you. I was going to ask you out before Niall burst in and -” OR - the one where a miscommunication and a blackout lead Harry and Louis to admit their feelings for each other.

#1d short fic fest #round up

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flightfoot · 6 years ago

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Memories of Godly Selfishness Ch.4

So I meant to get this out by April Fool’s Day. Clearly I missed that deadline. Still, maybe it’s for the best. I ended up having more to say than I thought, and it’s more angsty than funny.

“Why did I agree to watch this again?”

“Because it’s a marvelous educational film directed by and starring moi.”

Meg stared at me. I relented. “...and because you lost a bet.”

We’d arrived at Camp Half-Blood a few days ago to recuperate and sort out our next move. I’d been delighted to see my children again. If they tell you I blubbered like a baby and couldn’t string three coherent words together though, they’re lying.

The Demeter Cabin welcomed Meg with open arms. She hadn’t had much chance to get to know her siblings due to... ah... circumstances, but from the tears in the corners of her eyes, I could tell she was happy to see her family too.

We’d each sat and ate at our respective tables and got to talking. I’d mentioned to my kids how proud I was of the orientation film I’d made, and how Meg had deprived herself of it. They had some weird screwed-up expressions on their face after I said that, which I still haven’t figured out what they meant. Austin came up with a brilliant idea to get Meg to watch it; have a small capture the flag competition between just the Demeter and Apollo Cabins. If we won, anyone who hadn’t already seen the Orientation film would have to watch it (both cabins insisted on that condition. Apparently both had seen it recently and didn’t want to rewatch it for some reason) while if they won, the Apollo cabin would have to muck out the Pegasus stables.

Naturally we won, because my children are brilliant and wonderful. The Demeter cabin put up a fair fight though. It took me half-an-hour to pick all the burrs out of my hair.

For some reason, the Campers acted like Meg was about to die. They all said that they’d work on making a shroud for her. I still can’t understand why. Sometimes I think I understand demigods, and then they do something like that. Perhaps it’s an inside joke?

In any case, the demigods had helped us set up the viewing equipment and then hastily left before the film could start, leaving just me and Meg.

The movie started with darkness, as all good movies do. A spotlight turned on, illuminating my divine self.

I nearly cried. My long, golden, flowing hair! My cheekbones! My flawless skin! My eight-pack abs! Oh, the cruelty of Zeus knew no bounds! He couldn’t have let me keep my hair at least? The medium-length hair I was now sporting was no good for flipping dramatically, or waving majestically in the breeze! Ah, and that chiton I was wearing. I could never pull it off in my current form, but it showed off my muscular godly thighs so well!

On the screen, I held out a book. I cleared my throat, “A poem by Apollo, recited dramatically by... Apollo:

O Immortal Chiron, Centaur wise and true, Trainer of our heroes, Just remember who taught you. “

Speaking of heroes....

I glanced at Meg, gauging her reaction to seeing my divine self. Her eyes were wide with shock, her mouth slightly agape. “That’s YOU?!” she exclaimed, looking back-and-forth between my appearance on-screen, and now.

“Yes,” I said wistfully. “That’s what I normally look like... mostly. I change things a bit, sometimes appearing older, sometimes younger, changing eye colors and hairstyles too, but that’s a pretty typical look for me.”

She studied me some more, looking less shocked and more inquisitive now. “You look nothing like that now.”

I groaned. “I KNOW.”

She looked back at the screen with some trepidation, as I gave narration. “You’re not gonna bend over, are you? I don’t wanna see your butt.”

I huffed. “I’ll have you know, my butt is perfect.”

“Don’t care, don’t wanna see it.”

I grumbled a little, but secretly I agreed. I’d seen enough of my butt when the gigantic statue of me - with Nero’s face plastered on it - rampaged around Camp Half-Blood.

The next segment started up a few minutes later. This time I was dressed in a glittery suit and my hair was slicked back. An a cappella choir of demigods stood behind me, all dressed in suits. I pointed to the boys and then the girls side, directing them to start singing the background tune I needed. In the present day, I appreciated their ability to harmonize. Clearly none of Hermes’ children were in this segment. I still remembered Cecil’s complete inability to follow rhythm when we needed to appeal the Mama Myrmekes.

After they were properly warmed up, I announced:

“Ladies and Gentlemen... the Lyre Choir!”

As the choir sang a soft, slow background melody, I began singing.

“Marble may be marble-lous,

And wood might be good.

Stone’s a sturdy choice,

for this half-blood neighborhood.

But for my children’s cabin,

I demand something more divine.

so give me precious metal,

and make it GOLD every time!”

I hummed along to the melody. I’d forgotten I’d put in musical segments, but I was glad I did. Nothing could make an educational film entertaining like music!

[Everyone sings]: Gold, gold, gold, gold - there’s nothing quite so bright!

Gold, gold, gold, gold - it reflects Apollo’s might!

I stared at my hands for a moment at that one. I certainly didn’t feel mighty now. And not just because I’d lost my power. I hadn’t been able to protect my children. They’d been kidnapped because of me. Jason had died because of me. The Emperors were still out there, still intent on subjugating all the demigods, like how Nero kidnapped Meg. And Python, my old nemesis, still waited for me, plotting my destruction.

But even if I’d still been a god, what would have changed?

I would have gone after Python, scared as I was of him. I would have defeated him or died trying.

But not much more than that.

Maybe I would have intervened when my own children went missing - if they went missing. That had at least partly been to bait me. I could see leaving a hint to their location, assuming I knew where they were.

I wouldn’t have intervened prior to that. Demigods go missing? Who cares! They go missing or die all the time.

The battle at the Waystation? The struggle against Caligula on the boats? Maybe I would’ve watched. But I wouldn’t have intervened. For all my supposed might, for all the difference in power between my godly self and my mortal self, My mortal self had done more good, made more of a difference than my godly self would have. Just because I was more powerful as a god, didn’t make me mightier.

It reminded me of a story my old friend Aesop told me, about a miser and his gold.

A miser had acquired some gold and buried it in the ground. He visited it for years, digging it up to stare at it and then re-burying it. One day it was stolen. Grief-stricken, the miser cried and wailed, making such a fuss that a traveler stopped by and asked him what was wrong. The miser confessed that someone had stolen the gold he’d hidden. The traveler had asked why he put it in such an inaccessible place, where he’d have difficulty getting it out when he wanted to spend some. The miser, affronted, replied that he’d never even think of spending his gold. At that, the traveler had tossed a stone into the hole, and told him to cover it up, that it had just as much worth to him as the gold he’d lost.

I had not appreciated the moral when I first heard the story. After all, the gold was lustrous and valuable. The stone was not. Even just possessing that gold made the miser feel powerful and rich.

Now I had another view on it. My divinity was like the gold, hidden away, jealously guarded, to be obsessed over, not used. Even as a god, an Olympian, I had done little good for my children, or the people I now counted as my friends. I had power, but I’d hardly used it to help, even when the problems plaguing the demigods were divine in nature, not mortal.

Now... now it was like the gold was stolen, and replaced with a handful of drachma. Not nearly as valuable as the gold, but every piece was actually being used to better the world, instead of being merely stared at.

I was mightier now, as a mortal, than I had ever been as a god, because I was willing to try my hardest to help - something I would either not do as a god, or not do much of.

[Divine!Apollo cuts off the choir, restarting his solo]

Silver suits my sister,

But unattended, it can tarnish.

Roofs of thatch are fine, I guess,

But why not add some varnish?

Vines of wine are creepy,

Meg snorted and rolled her eyes at that one, giving a look as if to say ‘Really? you said that’? Out loud, she said, “Wine isn’t a vine. And grapevines aren’t creepy.”

And abalone smells like fish,

As my divine self continued singing, I replied, “I needed a rhyme. And they are creepy. Why, I remember this one time with Dionysus...”

She shushed me. On the one hand, I was annoyed that she didn’t want to hear my story. On the other hand, it meant that she wanted to hear my singing.

Hah! She could claim she didn’t like my singing as much as she wanted, but I knew the truth.

Red’s too strong a color,

And gray is boring-ish.

That’s why my children’s cabin,

Is made of something more divine.

I’m worth that precious metal -

So make it GOLD every time!

[All] Gold, gold, gold, gold...

I saw Meg mouthing along to the last line. I tactfully did not mention it.

Another segment started up. This time, I wore a white T-shirt, jeans, a leather jacket, and some awesome-looking sunglasses. I lounged on a throne beneath a neon sign proclaiming “Fortunately Apollo’s Here!”

I frowned. What was this segment about?

On-screen, my godly self shouted, “Next!”

A female camper entered and asked, “O, Great Apollo, god of prophecy, tell me, will I ever find love?”

“Find love? I didn’t know it was missing?”

Beside me, I heard Meg groan as she buried her face in her hands.

Meanwhile, I winced at the reminder of my being the god of prophecy... or rather NOT being the god of prophecy.

Back on the film, I cried out, “Next!”

A male camper entered this time.

“O, Great Apollo, god of prophecy, tell me, will I ever be rich?”

“What’s your name, child?”

“Albert, Great Apollo.”

“Well, Albert Greatapollo, I foresee only one way for you to be rich...”

“What is it?”

“Change your name to Richard.”

At that, Meg let out an even LOUDER groan. “You make such dad jokes.”

I didn’t know what that meant exactly, but I had the feeling I’d just been insulted.

A second male camper entered and asked, “O, Great Apollo, god of prophecy, will I ever discover who my godly parent is?”

“Dear child, the answer is right in front of you.”

“Really? Where?”

My divine self stood up and spread his arms, “Right in front of you.”

“I don’t get it. Am I missing a clue?”

“You’re missing a clue alright. One might even call you clueless!”

Meg frowned slightly as the segment ended. “You hadn’t claimed him before that?”

I frowned, hoping I could remember the child. Luckily, my memory felt like cooperating. “I’d claimed him years before that. This was all scripted, he just pretended not to know I was his father.”

Meg nodded, the frown disappearing from her face in favor of a thoughtful expression.

In another segment I jogged backwards across the beach, shooting arrows from my favorite golden bow, campers in full battle gear jogging behind me in military formation. I flashed a blinding smile at the camera as my golden hair flowed behind me. In the present, I bit back a sob.

My godly self began a rousing military chant, the campers repeating each line:

“I don't know but I've been told!”

“We don't know but we've been told!”

“The sun god's got a bow of gold!”

“He's the best shot in the land!”

“ He's the best shot in the land!”

Suddenly, my godly self tripped and landed on his butt. Meg erupted into giggles. I couldn’t help joining her. At the time it was kinda embarrassing, but with what I’d been dealing with the last few months, I was kinda used to that now. And it WAS pretty funny.

“ Augh! I've fallen in the sand!”

No longer being able to follow my godly self, the campers improvised, jogging n circles around me instead.

“ Augh! He's fallen in the sand!”

“ I meant to do that, so don't laugh!”

I snorted. Like anyone had actually believed that.

“He meant to do that, so don't laugh!”

My divine self attempted to get back up. Key word being ‘attempted’. He fell back down on his butt.

“Ow! I hurt my godly calf!”

At this point, both Meg and I were guffawing so hard our sides hurt. I couldn’t BELIEVE I left this in, but I was glad I did. I needed a good laugh, even if it was at my own expense.

“Ow! He hurt his godly calf!”

My godly self glowered at the campers and started to glow. The laughter died in my throat. “If you want to live another day ...”

“ If we want to live another day ...”

My godly self glowed brighter. I sat back heavily, mirth forgotten. Meg had also quieted down, choosing to glare at my past self. I joined her. REALLY? There just HAD to be an appearance of stupid murderous Apollo. I highly doubt I would actually have hurt those campers, but THEY didn’t know that, and I wasn’t COMPLETELY sure I wouldn’t have. Gods I was a jerk.

“STOP REPEATING WHAT I SAY!” my divine(ly stupid) self shouted.

“STOP - um... “

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least they knew better than to purposely antagonize my godly self. I really, REALLY wished I could reach through time and smack myself. A lot.

Meg was quiet.

I looked over at her, worried.

"I shouldn't have said those things."

Meg looked back at me. "Yeah. You shouldn't have. It was stupid."

"I won't do it again," I promised.

Meg's face softened slightly. "I know."

New segment, this time with myself as a game show host. I stared longingly at the open shirt, bright gold lamé jacket I wore. Oh how I wished I could wear some of my old attire! Alas, glittery golden lamé anything had fallen out of fashion for some inconceivable reason. I’d tried to convert Meg to the lamé side, but she kept misunderstanding and thinking I was saying “lame”. ...Or she was teasing me. I honestly wasn’t sure at this point.

I (by which I mean my godly self) opened up the segment:

“Welcome to our first annual Camp Half-Blood quiz show! Please give a warm welcome to our contestants. From Athena cabin... Bea Wise! From Ares cabin... Arnold Beefcake! And representing our cloven-hoofed friends... Ferdinand Underwood the satyr!”

Wait, what?

Underwood? Like GROVER Underwood?

I perked up, listening intently.

Meg leaned towards and whispered, “Is he related to..?”

I whispered back, “Probably. Shh.”

I was still talking on-screen. “Contestants, you know the rules. I ask a question. If you know the answer, ding your bell. Are you ready?”

Wise tapped her temple. “I think, therefore I am.”

Beefcake flexed. “Do your worst!”

Ferdinand, meanwhile...

“Um, I ate my bell.”

Meg giggled. I smiled. Ah, satyrs and their insatiable appetite. That’s one thing Grover had in common with his maybe-relative!

On-screen, my godly self cried, “Excellent! Then let’s begin. First question. Name the serpent I slayed.”

I sat back and scowled. Really? Did I HAVE to remind myself of Python? It’s not like he occupied my nightmares enough already. Nope. He HAD to crop up during the day too. That serpent, always popping up when he wasn’t wanted. For a moment I fantasized about asking Hephaestus to make some sort of serpent-killing machine. Alas, there was no way it would be that easy.

*Ding ding*

Bea hit her bell. Of course she did. Athena’s kids were usually the most knowledgeable of all the demigods. She had this in the bag... right?

I frowned. That didn’t seem right... I couldn’t think of what happened though. I stopped trying to remember and just watched. It’s not like I’d have to wait long for answers.

“Wise?” my divine self called on her.

“That’s not a question.”

I snorted. That also wasn’t an answer.

My past self agreed. “Sorry, ‘That’s not a question.” is incorrect.”

“No, wait, I meant-”

*Ding, ding*

“The serpent was Python!” Beefcake declared.

“Correct!”

Beefcake flashed two thumbs up. “Ayyyyy!”

“Next question-”

Ferdinand chimed in. “So should I just say ding-ding if I know the answer or-”

My godly self ignored him. “Who falsely accused me of flaying him alive after a music contest?”

Really? WHY would I bring that up? Especially since it was my fault I was ‘falsely accused’ of that anyway. I spread that rumor in the first place! I hadn’t wanted people to think I was ‘soft’. Nowadays I regretted it and had been trying to quash it.

Ferdinand’s eyes went wide. He withdrew slightly, looking freaked out. Scared.

I felt terrible. I should’ve known that would freak him out. Why did I include that question, KNOWING that I would invite a satyr?

Of course I knew the answer to that. I hadn’t cared. A satyr was scared. So what? Why should I care about his feelings?

Heck, even AFTER I’d turned mortal, I didn’t care much for a while. I’d freaked out Woodrow. I hadn’t meant to, but me being in his class, playing music, caused him to beg me to not flay him. I’d reassured him at the time that I wouldn’t, but I hadn’t really absorbed WHY he’d been so freaked out. Now I did. I was the satyr’s boogeyman. I didn’t want to be. Not anymore.

What could I do to change that?

Maybe I should ask Grover. I was planning on apologizing to him for that Celedon business anyway. Now I had two more things to add to the list. Ask about Ferdinand so I could apologize to him, and come up with a way to put the satyrs fear of me to rest.

Ferdinand blanched, “Blaa-blaa!”

My godly self ignored Ferdinand’s freak-out. Of course he did. “I’m sorry, ‘Blaa-blaa’ is incorrect. Also, you didn’t ring in. The correct answer is Marsyas the satyr.”

Wise was indignant. “Hang on! I knew that! You didn’t give me a chance to answer!”

“He thought he was so great on those stupid twin pipes, but I sure showed him.”

I glared at my past self, wishing I could shoot lasers from my eyes into the past. Sadly, nothing happened.

Beefcake cheered, “Yeah, you did!”

Wise was annoyed, “I thought you were falsely accused.”

Ferdinand continued freaking out, “Blaa-blaa!”

I felt a pang of guilt. I REALLY hoped this part wasn’t dragged out much longer.

Mercifully, my past self gave me a break. “Final question: Do you know what time it is?”

*Ding-ding*

Wise looked at the sun’s location, clearly using it to tell time. “Two twen-”

“It’s dancing time!”

My godly self ripped off his jacket and shirt and started Hula-hooping.

“Hit it boys!”

Satyrs danced in, flailing ribbon sticks, playing reed pipes, and cavorting around my divine self.

Meg stared at the scene. “This is SO stupid.”

I just grinned.

Beefcake was thrilled “Oh yeah!” He ripped off his shirt, twirling it in the air. “Now it’s a party!”

Wise rubbed her temples, thoroughly exasperated. I’d seen that same look on Athena’s face several times, along with her descendant’s faces. I had long been convinced that it was as much an Athena trait as overly detailed plans were. “I can’t believe I studied for this.”

“Ding-ding?” Ferdinand chimed in as the segment ended.

“That was awful.”

“Well the style was a little... dated, I admit, and maybe it COULD have been more informative, but...”

“Nope. Don’t try to save it. That was horrible.”

Okay, yeah, I could see where she was coming from. Looking back on it now, it wasn’t really the BEST way to present the info. I winced. Especially since most of it came off as an ego trip for me.

It wasn’t just the style of the video that was outdated anyways. Between Thalia’s tree, the Golden Fleece, all the additional cabins and the new rules regarding gods claiming their kids (I winced slightly, thinking of that one. It REALLY shouldn’t have taken a young demigod FORCING us gods to claim all our children and to give recognition of non-Olympian demigods), the Athena Parthenos, and the Grove of Dodona, there had been a LOT of changes. Not to mention the existence of the Roman camp.

Hmm... if it needs an update...

“Well... when this quest is over, if I survive, why don’t we make a NEW orientation film?”

Meg looked over at me cautiously, though her eyes glinted slightly. “This won’t be an excuse to stroke your ego this time, right?”

“Why, I never!” I cried dramatically, clutching one hand to my chest. “I am the pinnacle of modesty, I would never dream of it!”

Meg giggled. I grinned.

Still smiling, she warned, “I’m not sticking around if you rip off your shirt.”

“But I pull it off so well!”

She stared at me.

“Fiiiiine,” I crossed my arms and pouted. Secretly I was happy we could relax and banter like this. The past few weeks had been stressful. We needed to decompress.

“Maybe we should get everyone’s help with the new video?” Meg suggested.

“I was planning on it,” I replied, slightly more seriously. “Being mortal has shown me that there are some things you don’t realize are important unless you’ve been in that situation. The demigods will probably have a better idea what sorts of things other demigods need to know, the sorts of things they WISH they knew when they started camp.”

Meg nodded.

I grinned, adding, “We’re keeping the Hokey Pokey border song, though.”

She groaned, “It was TERRIBLE, no!”

“Oh, come on! I saw the way you smiled while I and the demigods were singing it. ‘It lets the demigods in! It shuts the monsters out! It keeps the half-bloods safe, but turns mortals all about! It’s Misty, and it’s magic, and it makes me want to shout: the border is all about!”

Meg covered her ears, steadfastly ignoring my existence as we exited the Big House.

A few hours later, I stood near the Woods, watching Grover chat with some dryads. Meg had offered to come with me for this, but I’d turned her down. I wanted to have a private chat with Grover. Besides, I didn’t want to eat into her time with her siblings. She hadn’t gotten to know them very well last time, and I didn’t know how much longer we’d be here this time.

Whatever chat Grover was having with the dryads appeared to be winding down. I approached him.

He turned around. “Apollo? What is it?”

I sucked in a breath and slowly exhaled. No need to be nervous. I was just apologizing to a friend.

“Grover? Can we talk in private? Please?”

He looked confused and a little worried. “Um... okay. Where do you want to go?”

“My kids are all out right now, so we can use the Me cabin... if you’re okay with that.”

Silently he mouthed ‘the me cabin’, looking confused. Realization slowly dawned on his face. “OH. Oh right! That makes sense. Yeah, that’s fine.”

We walked over to the cabins. I fidgeted slightly. Come on, I apologized to Percy, and he’s MUCH more intimidating! This shouldn’t be so hard!

That had been more natural, though. I didn’t have to go out of my way to make it happen.

I closed the door behind us and turned to face Grover.

“So Apollo, what’s going on?” he asked.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted out. Yeah, that seemed like a good way to start.

He looked confused. “Um, for what?”

I rubbed the back of my head. “You know how I sometimes had flashbacks, re-experiencing the past?”

“Yeaaaah...?”

“Well lately, Meg and I have gotten sucked into flashbacks together, sometimes with others. First time it happened, we were sucked into my memories, and I saw how I acted as a god from an outside perspective. One of the things I saw was that quest I sent you and Percy on. You know, when you got back my Celedon for me?”

“Oh. Oh yeah, I remember that. Heh. It’s only been two years, but so much has happened...”

“Yeah...” they’d been through so much... “so I... just wanted to apologize for... you know... forcing you to go on a quest on your birthday.... and forgetting it was your birthday... and forgetting your name... and threatening to kill you if you damaged my lyre.”

Awkward. This was SO awkward.

He grimaced. “I was scared at the time. I really thought you might incinerate me. That was the WORST birthday I’ve ever had.”

I avoided his eyes, a lump forming in my throat.

“Still,” he continued. “It wasn’t that bad, as far as quests go. At least you made sure to choose people who could definitely do it without dying. And it’s nowhere NEAR the worst thing that a god’s thrown at us.”

“I’m... I’m not going to do that again. It wasn’t right to make you endanger yourselves when I could have done it just as easily. She was my responsibility, not yours. I’m going to try to stop other gods from doing that too. Endangering mortals unnecessarily, I mean. If I can’t stop them, I’ll try to help as much as I can. I... I’m sick of people dying needlessly.”

Grover blinked and studied my face, as if seeing me for the first time.

He exhaled, smiling slightly. “I am too. Thanks.”

I suddenly remembered the other revelations I came to while watching the orientation video. “Do you know where Ferdinand Underwood is? I rewatched the orientation video I made recently. I really freaked him out when I talked about Marsyas, and I wanted to apologize to him too.”

“Oh, uh... he’s not around anymore. Percy, Annabeth, and I stumbled across him years ago. Apparently he’d stumbled into Medusa’s lair and been turned into a statue.”

“My condolences.”

An long pause followed. How do you continue on from that?

Eventually I decided to just plow on through with what I was saying.

“I didn’t flay Marsyas. I just made that up to sound scary. You know that, right?”

“I wondered. After traveling with you for a week, I couldn’t imagine you doing that.”

“I want to put that myth to rest. Stop satyrs from thinking that I’ll skin them if they offend me. And REALLY put it to rest, not the mixed signal thing I was doing before. Will you help me?”

He thought for a minute. “...Okay. I think I know how to do that. We can start now, if you like.”

Now?

“How do you propose I do that?”

He smiled. “Being a Lord of the Wild has privileges. The satyr school is having classes right now. We can talk to the teacher about allowing you to be a guest speaker. I’ll warn you, though. A lot of the kids will probably be scared of you. The Marsyas story is used to warn us about the consequences of getting on the wrong side of a god, starting from an early age. Some of them might freak out a little.”

My chest tightened. For a minute it felt like I was being squeezed by Python. I was used as a warning to kids, to tell them that they had to be good, or else the big, scary god would kill them slowly and painfully. I really WAS the boogeyman. I didn’t like it.

“I don’t... I don’t want to freak them out. I’ve caused them enough distress. Any advice?”

“Be gentle. Don’t get angry or upset. They’ll calm down when they realize that you won’t hurt them. Nowadays, you’re nothing like what we were warned of. They’ll realize that too.”

I breathed out, relaxing slightly. This was fixable. And I could start fixing it NOW, on my own. I could make things better even BEFORE I regained my godhood.

“Thanks.”

As we exited the Me cabin, Grover looked back at me. “I know I didn’t say this before, but... Apollo, you’re a good friend.”

A warmth filled my chest as Grover walked towards the Satyr school.

‘You’re a good friend.’

I never thought those words would matter to me so much.

I’d change things with what little power I had.

I’d do my best.

But I didn’t have to do it alone.

I had friends to help me.

#trials of apollo #lester papadopoulos #meg mccaffrey #memories of godly selfishness #grover underwood #fanfiction #apollo #camp half-blood confidential #the trials of apollo #toa

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jq37 · 6 years ago

Note

okay so I meant to send this on anon and I think I might have accidentally done so off but then I tried to cancel it and idk if it worked?? anyways! the point is, I’m the anon who doesn’t have dropout rn so! what’s the tea on the new ep? what did I miss? :)

**spoilers for arcade ambush**

Now, I know I use the word wild a lot, but don’t let that take away from the fact that this episode was truly wild.

Biz had such an interesting power set. He has the wings so he can fly, he has all the weird mesmerization type powers (I was picturing that old bager, badger, badger, mushroom video when he was multiplying himself to trip up Fig). Fighting him is like being stuck in Toon Town but in the worst possible way. Then there were the game cabinets sucking people into them and the ghosts possessing people and forcing them to flee. It was really a brutal fight.

(Sidenote, are we to believe that the ghosts that he raised were nerds who died in arcade? Morbid, if true. Also it would have to be a different arcade since that one was new.)

Anyway, this def was an ep full of frustration. They were constantly getting frightened and forced to run or trapped in games or whatever. It’s a good think Ally casted Guardian of Faith before the fight because they were, once again, a life saver. I was a little surprised the arcade game fights were one and done Box of Doom rolls but I guess there was a lot going on.

“Well I’ll just shoot him.” Riz getting a nat 1 trying to shoot Biz point blank was so painful.

Riz: Hey guys, Biz is a bad guy./Adaine: Yeah, no duh!

Everyone making the most mediocre rolls to check out the prizes in the prize cabinet. And Brennan just getting more and more like, “Come on y’all.” I wanted someone to pick up the sneakers. I felt like they were gonna be some kind of stealth bonus item.

Gorgug got a nat 20 charisma! My boy!

Oh, side note, they updated Adaine’s mini with her boss new jacket which is super dope.

Fig and Kristen actively antagonizing the corn god who’s saving their ass.

“Fucking nerd.” Adaine, who has been pretty savage the past few episodes.

Fabian who has never been denied anything in his life looking at the million credit sword: I’d like it.

Trevon

Everyone being furious at Riz being stuck in the game but also impressed by the design of the set.

Gorgug calling his parents mid-fight! Which seems wild but actually is the SMARTEST THING ANY OF THESE LITERAL CHILDREN HAVE EVER DONE.

I feel like Brennan def read up on his philosophy quotes after the last fight because he was back in business this ep.

Cleric is an underrated class y’all. Ally is really rocking it.

What a bad time for Adaine to finally fail a panic attack roll. She’s had a really long run without them though.

I love that Lou always curses as Fabian by saying, “Christ,” completely ignoring that doesn’t make sense in this world, but like. That is what Fabian would say, you know?

Fabian getting stuck in DDR instead of Punch Out is personally offensive to him.

“Hell yeah I take a disengage”

Sidenote: Divination is a really cool ability.

Ugh, Riz. What a terrible time to fail an investigate check. HE GOT PALIMSESTED.

Aww at Lou giving Murph the, “Hang in there, buddy,” shoulder rub after that happened.

Gorgug getting trapped in whack a gnome is MESSED UP. Also, the fact that whack a gnome is a game that exists in a world where gnomes also exist is SUPER MESSED UP.

Adaine: Fuck, I’m fucked!

PROTECT YOUR WIZARD BETTER.

Fabian having to have a dance off in the middle of the fight.

The girls getting downloaded periodically throughout the fight was so freaking ominous.

“I’m under the influence of two ghosts.”

Fabian and Adaine both terrified and running into each other and yelling like freaking Scooby Doo.

OK, while Fig was possessed, Brennan made her read a card that said “Wow. A lot of strong feelings to process here.” And I am told (but can’t confirm) that that’s a line that was said in ep 1? Maybe by the guidance counselor? And then it’s not resolved in this episode. So that seems important.

Emily upon hearing that Riz is stuck in the crystal: Piss in it.

“Do you have any clue about how to get out of here, I mean, clearly you don’t.”

What would Fabian do without that bike, man?

I love that Emily uses Kristen’s full name for no apparent reason half the time.

Kristen channeling the power of friendship to turn undead.

Gorgug is a bottomless pit of HP.

Ally: Is it good to get in the game?/Literally everyone else: NO.

“A tasty walk?”

The philosophers going, “Verily,” to Fig’s base playing and then her moonwalking away.

Siobhan immediately irl cringing at being called a lovely lady by Biz.

HELLISH REBUKE. HELL YEAH FIG. HELL YEAH EMILY.

Penny’s scene with Riz in the palimpsest was like legitimately touching.

But again, Murph gets the nat 20 at the most story appropriate time! Just like last week.

OK, so the girls’ downloads are getting sent to the AV room in Aguefort. Not necessarily suspicious considering that Biz is involved, but interesting to note.

Gorgug pulling an Odysseus and cranking his tunes to ignore the games.

Also his, “Sup nerd?” to Biz.

Kristen absolutely crushed this fight y’all. She basically got out without a scratch.

Siobhan saying sick like Brennan is hilarious to me.

Gorgug being so mad at Biz’s pronunciation of meme.

“Hot topic nerds hate AV club nerds.”

Nothing bothers Emily more than not being able to take an action.

The gang actively mocking and taping Biz as he tries to mesmerize them.

Aww man Murph failing that roll before Penny was downloaded. Heartbreaking.

Everyone visibly recoiling every time Biz talked.

Zac reminding Brennan about advantage and then him picking up every dice he owns. “LIE NEXT TIME DUDE!” He has a cool ass shock of white hair now though. Like, not good but kinda rad.

I feel like Ally has gotten really comfortable with the game mechanics as we’ve gone on.

Kristen hugging Gorgug to protect him is such an adorable image.

“I’m still full health because God exists!”

Shoutout to the SFX guys. They were especially on point this ep.

“Can I just use mage hand to plug the machine out?”

Kristen as Fig getting is her ass kicked by the doppelganger Figs: KISS ONE OF THEM.

The guardian that killed Biz throwing down his cig like a true French philosopher.

FABIAN.

Kristen was the MVP of the fight but Fabian was the MVP of the episode y’all. Like I said, all that promo yelling was either gonna be a TPK or the raddest thing ever and it was option 2!

Shoutout to Siobahn for getting Lou that advantage roll because that saved his ass.

Lou just pretending to get up and leave because game over y’all.

Brennan starting to just narrate assuming failure.

Zac being like, “Well at least try.”

Lou doing them 1 by 1 for the drama of it all, just like Fabian would want it.

Getting a ten first, exactly half of what he needed.

Then the absolute CHAOS that erupted from the table at the 20. By this point, I was pretty sure he was gonna get it because that shot from the trailer hadn’t happened yet and it was near the end of the episode but DAMN it was satisfying. Moments like this are what MAKE RPGs.

Being showered with gold coins sounds extremely painful but that’s beside the point here.

Fabian coming back and lying that he was fighting ghosts outside and everyone totally buying and being like thanks for having our backs man.

I love how much Fig loves her two dad situation now.

Emily and Ally evil mischievous smiling at each other when Emily requests to kill Biz.

Everyone Else: NO.

Brennan: He’s dead, bruh.

Ally like Grinch smiles when Brennan announces that Biz is dead.

“Would she be able to casually get him out of a palimpsest?”

“I still have these handcuffs.”/”Where’d you get those?”/”Uh, nevermind.”

Every time this group has to interrogate someone they escalate all the way immediately.

But MAN Riz was doing some serious drug cartel interrogation on Biz, shooting off fingers and stuff!

Adaine REFUSING to feel bad about bullying Biz (she’s right and she should say it).

“If I were to have a morsel such as yourself stuck in a palimpsest–” IMMEDIATELY slapped by every party member. Bro, you GOTTA stop perving on Adaine IN FRONT OF HER.

Brennan full on RPing unconsious Biz.

“I’m not a bad guy.”/”YES YOU ARE!”

“Fucking Aelwen again!” Same, girl.

OK, so Biz has false memories of coming up with this idea, but what does that mean exactly? Was he manipulated Inception style or actually forced? Because I come up with bad ideas every day. Doesn’t mean I act on them.

“Blow your fuking nose!”

“You see his dick glows for a second.”

Nice of Adaine to ask for permission to do her brain jitsu, even though she didn’t have to and she had all the extenuating circumstances in the world to just break in.

Biz speaking to Penelope on the regular. Hmm.

Siobhan/Adane’s look when Biz says, “I’m cool too.”

So his memory was cut out the day before the Hudol party. Interesting.

Adaine getting a clear threat on her family’s life: THEY CAN BURN MY FUCKING HOUSE DOWN I DON’T GIVE A SHIT.

AND THEN IT ENDS THERE

So two things:

1) Siobhan keeps getting KILLER end lines.

2) I threw a lot of plot info at the bottom without analyzing it because I’m going to look at that and the promo in another post (prob tomorrow) so stay tuned!

#fantasy high #asks #anon #spoilers #Anonymous

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champagnesupermama · 6 years ago

Text

I'm ending a toxic relationship with my parents and sister

On Sunday, September 23, my mother very deliberately started an argument with me. Or, at the very least, chose to tell me that a Facebook post I made about Brett Kavanaugh w toas wrong simply because I used the word fuck in it. She was aggressively contrary and nit-picked everything I said up until she found the opportunity to bring up my Facebook post.

Here is the Facebook post:

When I said it was un-American to believe that a sitting president is above being investigated, she did what all Fox News Watching Trump Fans do: Cry Obama. She complained about how he never got investigated and when I pointed out that he never did anything illegal and that Republicans had the chance to do it for school years she reverted to crying and asking when I became a hater. SECONDS after that, my dad yelled out that Obama is a Nazi N******.

I told them that I was going to let them take care of themselves the rest of the day, that I still loved them, and that I would talk to them later.

I went and told my partner about it, waking him up to do so, and he was supportive and generally perfect. And I told him then that I was pretty emotionally wiped out and at that point I only feared losing their financial support because I've never had their emotional support or approval. And then the concept came about that if they did withdraw that support, that I would be free in a way I hadn't been before. That all the anxiety I had about talking to them or going to see them would be gone because they would have nothing to hold over me any more. And then I started remembering the emotional abuse I went through with them as a child.

I remember:

Any time when I was talking and then any one of them would just interrupt and talk over me like I was on mute. One day when I was 10 or 12 I snapped and tried to assert myself. I think to Angela. I said that everyone always talked over me and it was rude. I’m pretty sure we were at McDonald’s. Everyone was mad at me and told me that it wasn’t true and to shut up. Angela continued.

She, my dad, my sister, brother in law, nieces, and their husbands are all Pro-Trump.

The only time Dad took me out shooting with him and Angela; I was maybe six or seven, very little, I always was. I was holding the box of bullets and I lost my balance trying to get out of the truck and lots of the bullets fell on the ground and Dad just WENT OFF on me and I had to pick them all up. I didn’t get to practice shooting that day or any other with Dad. He never took me out again.

I remember Mom telling me once when I was in my 20s, after I told her I always felt unwanted and isolated by the family that it was because of me. That even as a young child I “didn’t need [them]” I was not equipped at the time to question either to myself or her how or why or when I knew that I had to dissociate from them.

I remember a time when Mom’s aunt Fleta and cousin Anna Lou was visiting and Mom had recently made Angela and I matching dresses and they told her to go put hers on and when she came out they made over how pretty she was. I would have been 8 to 10 years old at the time so Angela was 12 to 14. I got up and went and put mine on and came out. I even did this exaggerated courtesy when I came out. No one said anything to me. At all. I was so embarrassed. I went and sat down and tried to be really still for a long time so that they wouldn’t notice when I got up and went and changed again.

I remember that Angela could go and make up something naughty that I did and they would believe her and I would be punished.

I remember that Angela’s cat was neutered and mine was dumped in the country.

I remember practicing piano when I was six and Mom sat with me and I was very uncertain and slow about the next note to play and she was singing along and she started yelling at me about how a singer would run out of breath and die trying to accompany me.

I remember Mom telling me that everything I was ever interested in doing as a career was something I would fail at because I wasn’t good at it or cut out for it. I remember showing her things I wrote and it was always inadequate, bad, or generally not good enough. The embroidery I did was sloppy. I was a beginner at all these things but I don’t remember encouraging words.

I remember Angela trying to tell me I was adopted because my hair was so light and I didn’t look like Mom or Dad. I look like my dad's mother who died before I was born.

I remember Angela ranting at me about how she was punished with a belt but Mom and Dad never did that to me. She even insinuated that I saw it and laughed. I have no such memory. And I don’t believe that as a toddler I would have laughed if I heard another person crying out in pain.

I remember Angela telling me when she was pregnant with Kristal (I was 12, she was 16) that the reason she acquiesced to sex with Todd was because she needed the attention that everyone gave me.

I remember that my sister is a liar.

I remember Angela telling me that I was Mom’s favorite and she was Dad’s favorite. I remember never feeling like anyone’s favorite.

I see now and have for years that Mom makes multiple quilts a year for assorted family members and has even donated some to the church but she has made 2 for Kirah and 1 for me in my life and that 1 quilt she made for me was one that DeWayne and I picked out when I was pregnant with Kirah. She finished it when Kirah was 11 years old and was upset that I didn’t want it. She couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t want a quilt that I picked out with a man who also emotionally abused me. I mean, of course she couldn’t. On another sewing project for Kirah she took years to complete it. The prints that Kirah had chosen at the age of 6 were no longer so attractive to her when she was 10.

At their 50th wedding anniversary Dad danced with Mom, of course, and Angela. Not me. It’s true that there were technical difficulties with the sound system and that made it late before we could get to these songs. It’s also true that it was later in the evening and people were drawing Dad off to the side to talk to him. It’s also true that no one seemed to have any expectation that Dad would dance with me, and he easily forgot or dismissed any such attention. That happened just a couple of months ago.

I do remember when I painted flowers on a clear glass plate and entered it into a city wide contest when I was 10 or 11 and and didn’t win that Mom felt that I had been robbed because she thought it was a lovely piece. I do remember when I was 27 or so and Byron Boles had tried to accuse me of stealing a ring and my parents believed in me. I do remember them being supportive of me when the bullying I went through in Holy Name reached its peak when I was in the 5th grade and they pulled me out and put me into Longfellow school. I don’t think they knew it was really happening until the teacher was a participant. But these things are minimal requirements for parents and not enough. After all, I felt compelled to ask Dad if he believed I did it because I never could rely 100% on Dad taking my part in something. He never had before.

I remember never feeling like I was loved just for being there and being theirs.

As of 9/30/18 I’m cutting ties. Dad sent me a text that I would have to start paying my student loans again even though they know it will be financially devastating for us. They know I can't even afford health insurance. He says it’s a hardship for them. I guess I can’t blame them. Except I was unsure about going to college anyway because I had no direction and St. Mary's of Leavenworth provided no career counseling or placement, and when I said I wanted to go to a state University, my parents insisted that I remain at the private school. I didn't even know I was signing papers for a loan that would have to be paid back for the first two years. I thought it was student aid. I signed what they told me to.

For anyone who bothered to read all of this, assuming you are also trying to survive or heal from emotional abuse, don't feel guilty for how you are surviving the fall out of that abuse. Don't let yourself feel tied to your abusers for any reason. I have 43 years of experience that whatever kind thing they may be doing for you is just as conditional as any sign of love or affection they have ever given or withheld.

#long post #tw: emotional abuse #tw: emotional manipulation #tw: emotional trauma #toxic family #this fall let something die

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incorrect-titan-army · 4 years ago

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Hello! I know this might come as a random question to you but I really needed someone else's opinion on this. I don't have much to go on, but I really needed to share this with someone who was still posting about Percy Jackson and who seems really into it?? Sorry, i just dont see much people who really read the series anymore. Anyway, here is my question: Do you think that after the 2nd Titan War Lou Ellen Blackstone, a daughter of Hecate, would maybe join the Hunters of Artemis after losing a lot of her siblings and friends? For me personally, I ship Lou Ellen and Michael Yew together, maybe not in a dating sense but close to that, like really close friends and were thinking about taking their friendship to another level but they never got the chance to because Michael died during the war. This would be one of the main reasons why Lou would join the hunters: so that she didn't have to move on from her relationship with Michael. I also feel like Lou and Alabaster were also very close so to lose her brother after he was kicked out of camp could have also been very hard for her to deal with. Almost like Thalia Grace before she became a Hunter and found where she truly belonged, I would feel as if Lou Ellen Blackstone would feel out of place in a way, not knowing what to do with herself after the war and having all this responsibility in taking care of her remaining siblings since she would be the head of her cabin. In my mind, she would just wan't to take all the weight off her shoulders and find some place where she could find herself and to try and let all the pain fade away, or at least some of it?? Maybe also taking a step back from camp would help her out too, right? Since hunters don't usually come to camp that often?? Maybe Camp Half-Blood would bring back some memories that she had with Michael and her half-siblings who died, along with Alabaster who was kicked out of camp?? Anyway, I'm sorry for bothering you, this might be a waste of time but I really needed to see if anyone could see what I'm seeing?? Like I think Lou would be cool as a hunter, plus the number of hunters Artemis had went down, right?? Since many of them died and the only knew member that they got was Reyna. Again, I didn't have much to go on regarding to Lou Ellen being a hunter but I really needed to see if it would make sense to someone else?? I'm also very sorry if you don't agree with some of my ships, I'm a little horrible at deciding which ones I like, but I really think that Lou Ellen and Michael Yew would be a good pair?? And also, sorry for this long ass ask. I understand if you dont wanna read this at all.

You aren’t being annoying at all! I’m always happy to answer any asks.

I don’t really ship Michael and Lou Ellen, but I love the idea on Lou Ellen joining the hunters.

In ‘son of Magic’ Alabaster said all the other children of Hecate died fighting for Kronos so I always assumed Lou Ellen never met him and wasn’t at camp until after the war.

Maybe she did still meet him because it would be cool if he found her and helped her out and eventually helped her get to camp. She was sad he couldn’t come with her to camp and really missed having him around.

At camp even if Lou Ellen made friends like Cecil and Will she still felt out of place since she was the only child of Hecate.

After the war of Hecate she met Thalia and the hunters of Artemis and they offered to let her join. She immediately said yes. With the hunters she finally had a place where she belonged because the hunters have girls from everywhere all of whom felt out of place at some point.

#percy jackson #ask #headcanon #lou ellen blackstone #michael yew #the hunters of artemis #thalia grace #alabaster c torrington #alabaster torrington #percy jackson and the olympians

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keywestlou · 4 years ago

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SOON.....ON THE ROAD AGAIN

The itch has begun. To leave/escape my home. Now that I have my first shot, I know the end of quarantine is near.

This morning Willie Nelson has been running through my head. Probably his most famous it: On The Road Again.

The first two lines fit my mental state perfectly: On the road again / I just can’t wait to get on the road again.

Three to four weeks from now.

COVID-19. Problems continue in Miami-Dade County. Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami has expanded vaccine eligibility to those “at risk” 16 and up. No note from a doctor will be required to state the “at risk” condition. The note was causing too much confusion. Ergo, eliminated.

Chaos continues in Miami. Jackson Memorial Hospital an example again. Too many people showing up for shots. They are “eligible residents.” However being turned away because insufficient vaccine shots are available.

The problem for Miami ineligibles is that they are not as the rich who live on Ocean Reef. Political contributions talk with the DeSantis administration.

The vaccine shot problem continues throughout Florida. The right hand does not appear to know what the left is doing.

I had to wait 2 months. Signed up twice at 2 different places. Still took an eternity to be called. I qualified with the first batch of eligibles at 85.

I received my first shot 2/27. My second is scheduled for 3/27. I waited roughly 2 months for the first shot on 2/27.

A process involved finally caught up with me today. I received a telephone call. From a pleasant lady who was calling on behalf of the State to schedule my first appointment.

Computers make information and data easy to keep up with. Obviously Florida is doing things half assed backwards and the process is not working effectively.

We are taught from day 1 in school that Columbus discovered America. The year also, 1492. Both facts never forgotten.

We learned a few years later in school that America is named after Amerigo Vespucci. Though I have wondered occasionally why not Christopher Columbus since he was the first to discover the New World.

The matter arises this day because it was on this day in 1512 Vespucci died. A bit of research was in order.

No question, it is from Vespucci’s first name Amerigo that America is derived.

There is also no question Columbus discovered the New World before Vespucci.

Vespucci made several trips to the New World. The first questionable and always referred to as “alleged.” That trip was 1497-1498. His further voyages 1499-1500, 1501-1502 and 1503-1504.

On his next to last trip in 1501, Vespucci landed in Brazil. He realized that Brazil and all the other New World lands he had visited were not islands. They were continents.

Which brings us to “why” America instead of Columbia for the hemispheres and the U.S.

In 1507, 2 men published An Introduction to Cosmography together with an accompanying map.

The Introduction was written in Latin. One of its authors was Ringman. He wrote that the name of the New World should be derived from that of Amerigo, discoverer and sagacious genius. The suitable name should be Land of Amerigo, or America, since Europe and Asia had received women’s names.

The Introduction was a great success. Four printings almost immediately. Considered as the Bible for New World voyages. The name America stuck.

Donald Trump has always been a popular figure in New York City. It does not appear any longer.

Trump returned to New York City sunday night at 9. Alone. I assume Melania in Florida.

When he arrived at Trump Tower, only one supporter was present. The sole supporter had company, however. A significant number of protesters who “attacked” the building. The protesters called for Thump’s arrest monday morning. Signs were carried stating “Florida Man Go home,” “Indict Trump,” and “Arrest Trump.”

Oh, how his popularity has waned. What goes around comes around. The best Thomas Wolfe’s adage, “You can’t go home again.”

Trump was to leave today to return to Florida.

Today a big day in American history! On this day in 1959, the Barbie Doll made its debut. Still going strong in 2021.

A woman was behind the Barbie Doll. Ruth Handler. She had co-founded Mattel, Inc. together with her husband in 1945.

How did Ruth get involved? Note, Ruth purchased the rights to Barbie Doll. It had been in existence before. The first doll was named Lilli. created by another person. Lilli was modeled after a German comic strip character.

Lille was first marketed as a racy gag gift to adult men in tobacco shops. Lilli became more popular with children than adult men.

Ruth noticed that her young daughter ignored her baby dolls to play make believe with paper dolls of adult women.

Mattel began sponsoring the Mickey Mouse Club TV program in 1955. After acquiring the rights to Lilli, Mattel began advertising Barbie directly to children via the Mickey Mouse Club.

By 1961, Barbie Doll had become so popular that a boy friend Ken was added.

Barbie Doll and the other members of her family have been accepted world wide. In excess of 1 billion Barbie dolls have been.

Barbie dolls are not cheap. Most family members sell for excessive amounts. A few are cheap. Overall however, many dolls sell today in the $60 range, new or used.

As I was printing this piece, a question arose in my mind. Why did Ruth notice her daughter was attracted to an adult looking doll rather than the normal baby doll? Could it have been that young kids are daily exposed to adults rather than babies? Ergo that would be what they wanted to play with. My observation. I could be wrong.

A border crisis is developing. In the 48 days Biden has been President. It was to be expected. Biden promised the immigrants would be let in. They believed him. He also said give me time, we are not ready for you yet. They have not given him time. Ergo, the problem.

No one is perfect. He is not a Donald Trump (said with tongue in cheek). He requires more time to get a handle on the problem. In January of this year, 78,000 immigrants tried to get into the U.S. illegally. Seventy eight thousand is double the numbs that tried to enter one year earlier in January 2020.

At this time, 4 thousand a day are trying to gain entry to the U.S. illegally. Many child en. Some of the youngest are not accompanied by an adult.

The White House presently in a quandary as how to deal with the problem expeditiously and fairly. It is expected that the number of immigrants overall will increase by 45 percent since Trump’s last year in office.

Biden’s people deny there is a “crisis.” Refer to the problem as a “challenge.” Three to four thousand a day is not a challenge. Definitely a crisis.

A possible solution is to react to the problem as was done in some areas when coronavirus became overwhelming. Get the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to “overnight” build proper living facilities which also should be operated by sensitive persons rather than the buffoons Trump relied on.

Not as an excuse, but rather a fact of life. Biden has only been in office 47 days. Give him time and your support.

Tonight, tonight my blog talk radio show. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time.

Interesting and fun. Join me for a quick moving half hour. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Enjoy your day!

SOON…..ON THE ROAD AGAIN was originally published on Key West Lou

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