#I literally just want to see Chrono

[princesspeach5]

twitter adding a massive amount of completely random (and often negative or upsetting) tweets to the for you page and removing the context for why relevant tweets are there and instagram actually removing posts from your feed after you've seen them so it can say "you're all caught up" and show you posts from people you don't follow have rendered both almost unusable

[goatsandgangsters]

how to find literally any post on a blog in seconds (on desktop)

there are so many posts about ~tumblr is so broken, you can’t find any post on your own blog, it’s impossible, bluhrblub~

I am here to tell you otherwise! it is in fact INCREDIBLY easy to find a post on a blog if you’re on desktop/browser and you know what you’re doing:

url.tumblr.com/tagged/croissant will bring up EVERY post on the blog tagged with the specific and exact phrase #croissant. every single post, every single time. in chronological order starting with the most recent post. note: it will not find #croissants or that time you made the typo #croidnssants. for a tag with multiple words, it’s just /tagged/my-croissant and it will show you everything with the exact phrase #my croissant

url.tumblr.com/tagged/croissant/chrono will bring up EVERY post on the blog tagged with the exact phrase #croissant, but it will show them in reverse order with the oldest first 

url.tumblr.com/search/croissant isn’t as perfect at finding everything, but it’s generally loads better than the search on mobile. it will find a good array of posts that have the word croissant in them somewhere. could be in the body of the post (op captioned it “look at my croissant”) or in the tags (#man I want a croissant). it won’t necessarily find EVERYTHING like /tagged/ does, but I find it’s still more reliable than search on mobile. you can sometimes even find posts by a specific user by searching their url. also, unlike whatever random assortment tumblr mobile pulls up, it will still show them in a more logically chronological order

url.tumblr.com/day/2020/11/05 will show you every post on the blog from november 5th, 2020, in case you’re taking a break from croissants to look for destiel election memes 

url.tumblr.com/archive/ is search paradise. easily go to a particular month and see all posts as thumbnails! search by post type! search by tags but as thumbnails now

url.tumblr.com/archive/filter-by/audio will show you every audio post on your blog (you can also filter by other post types). sometimes a little imperfect if you’re looking for a video when the op embedded the video in a text post instead of posting as a video post, etc

url.tumblr.com/archive/tagged/croissant will show you EVERY post on the blog tagged with the specific and exact phrase #croissant, but it will show you them in the archive thumbnail view divided by months. very useful if you’re looking for a specific picture of a croissant that was reblogged 6 months ago and want to be able to scan for it quickly 

url.tumblr.com/archive/filter-by/audio/tagged/croissant will show you every audio post tagged with the specific phrase #croissant (you can also filter by photo or text instead, because I don’t know why you have audio posts tagged croissant) 

the tag system on desktop tumblr is GENUINELY amazing for searching within a specific blog! 

caveat: this assumes a person HAS a desktop theme (or “custom theme”) enabled. a “custom theme” is url.tumblr.com, as opposed to tumblr.com/url. I’ve heard you have to opt-into the former now, when it used to be the default, so not everyone HAS a custom theme where you can use all those neat url tricks. 

if the person doesn’t have a “custom theme” enabled, you’re beholden to the search bar. still, I’ve found the search bar on tumblr.com/url is WAY more reliable than search on mobile. for starters, it tends to bring posts up in a sensible order, instead of dredging up random posts from 2013 before anything else

if you’re on mobile, I’m sorry. godspeed and good luck finding anything. (my one tip is that if you’re able to click ON a tag rather than go through the search bar, you’ll have better luck. if your mutual has recently reblogged a post tagged #croissant, you can click #croissant and it’ll bring up everything tagged #croissant just like /tagged/croissant. but if there’s no readily available tag to click on, you have to rely on the mobile search bar and its weird bizarre whims) 

[corkinavoid]

For @mysterious-messages, to 'Bless the child' by Nightwish

DPxDC Long Time No See

The crow was incredibly persistent. Which, of course, made it ten times more annoying in John's opinion, because he was trying very, very hard not to pay attention to the pitch-black bird with blood red eyes that was perched right outside the window.

Can't he have one single night where no impossibly powerful force of nature interrupts his attempt to drown himself in liquor? Honestly.

The crow knocks on the window again. Three perfectly timed knocks; this bloody bird sure knows how to draw attention, but it also definitely knows Constantine is avoiding it. Which is why it's insisting on making itself a nuisance, no doubt.

To be fair, John is not even entirely sure who's crow is it. Morpheus has a crow at his disposal, but his crow is a bitch. He wouldn't have simply sat on the windowsill and enjoyed annoying Constantine for the sheer spite of it. Death has her crows as well - very thematic, if you ask John - and then there was that one asshole raven that claimed itself belonging to Apollo.

And then, of course, there was-

Actually, maybe he should see what the crow wants. Might be important, after all.

Constantine sighs and puts his whiskey back on the bar before standing up. The world tilts to the side a bit - he might have had a few too many drinks, yeah. But then maybe it's just the side effect of the messenger crow being here, who knows. Constantine would rather put his money on the latter for the sake of his dignity. Not that he has much of that left.

He makes his way to the window, looks at the crow for a long moment, making his last internal debate obvious, and then opens the window.

"The hell do you want?" He asks, but quickly realises it was in vain.

He is not at the bar anymore.

Instead, he is standing in the middle of a graveyard, surrounded by tombstones, fog, and eerie silence. 4/10 on the creepy effect, John has definitely seen this shit done better.

The cloaked figure sitting on the nearest tombstone stays silent, watching him with unblinking, blood red eyes. John sighs again, pinches the bridge of his nose, and reaches into the pocket of his trenchcoat for cigarettes. If he ended up out of the bar anyway, he might as well use it for a smoke break.

"I'd rather you not," the cloaked being says, not a demand but a request by the sound of it. Constantine grimaces, but puts the pack back in the pocket. Arguing with this one will get him exactly nowhere.

"What's this all about, then?" He vaguely gestures around himself, at all the death, decay, and other things that start with the letter 'D'. "I never knew you're into this kind of thing. Very Mary Shelley of you," he raises an eyebrow.

The being - the Dead God, the Ghost of Time, Clockwork, Chronos, and any other name he likes calling himself - huffs a deep, low and breathy laugh. Then, he stands up, his feet firmly planted on the ground for once. He looks different to how John is used to seeing him, all sharp edges and monochrome colors, shiny leather oxfords and loose sleeves with tight cuffs.

Honestly, he kind of reminds Constantine of vampires. He really hopes this is not actually some kind of a new kink of his because John so didn't count on that kind of night. Despite what he's said before.

"No," Chronos shakes his head, his appearance shifting from young to middle-aged. Constantine blinks; if there's anything he learned about the Dead God through their various get-togethers, it's that his age usually reflects his level of seriousness.

But he doesn't have time to ask, nor does he get a moment to prepare, when a child, a literal goddamn child no older than ten steps out from behind Clockwork.

It looks like a boy, dressed in jeans and a blue hoodie with a NASA logo on it, and- He does look like Clockwork. Same pale skin, same eerie, unblinking eyes, same unearthly air around him.

Only, his eyes are a faint blue, like ice and winter skies. Like Constantine's eyes.

The unholy fuck. And he means it literally.

"Is that-" he starts, his throat suddenly dry, pointing his finger at the boy before he even thinks about it, but the Ghost of Time laughs again, a dirty grin on his lips.

"Yours? No, thank the Ancients," he says, making sure to sound just a tad bit offended even if John can see the mirth on his face. Bloody wanker. Constantine lets out a slow, loud breath through his nose.

"Amen to that," he agrees and looks at the kid again. And, as soon as the initial shock wears off, a sneaking suspicion starts to form in his mind. He narrows his eyes. "I don't want to ask, I really don't, but I'm going to anyway. Why?"

Clockwork's face looks distant for a moment, his features shifting into old.

"A child blessed by time has no home in his own life. A child blessed by death has no place among others," he says, and John hates when they speak in riddles, but he thinks he might be getting this one right. "I am only loved when I'm gone, the moments being held dear in memory. But a child does not deserve that," Clockwork's voice sounds almost sad, and, while John does understand it's supposed to be a metaphor, it doesn't feel like one.

But then, he is the Time itself. Maybe for him it's not really a metaphor.

He looks back to the kid, and catches the boy looking away with a grimace. Seems like they have at least one thing in common - they both hold a great distaste to Cronos' solemn way of talking.

Constantine is so going to regret this, but he knows where the Dead God is leading.

"Yeah, okay," he rubs his face with one hand, and, before he has time to ask or say another word, the whole graveyard is gone, and he is standing back in the bar, the low murmur of nightly crowd and warm light around him. Just like before he opened the window to the blood-eyed crow.

The only difference between then and now is the kid standing by his side, looking at him like John is the stupidest man he'd ever seen. Oh, he is already regretting this.

Constantine drops his hand down and goes back to the bar, where he left his drink.

"Want a beer?" He asks, and the kid rolls his eyes, trailing after him.

"I'm twelve," he deadpans, and, yeah, okay, he's got a point.

Fuck it, he is calling in a favor from Bats. That man has, like, twenty kids, he should have some parenting advice.

~•~•~•~

Yeah, the song really reminded me of Clockwork for some reason. Why am I loved only when I'm gone? is really stricking me as a line written for him because you only cherish the time after it's gone, you smile at your memories and pictures, but you rarely ever pay attention to it in the moment.

Also, I did my best with the Gothic aesthetic there, and here's the additional vibe.

Clockwork, just dropping a random ass kid on his occasional one night stand and vanishing into the night, knowing that John Constantine has a soft spot for kids and won't just fuck off to who knows where: it's for the greater good the better timeline

Danny, left alone with a clearly too drunk to think magician whose soul looks like a jigsaw puzzle: the fuck it's not

[suzukiblu]

Day thirty of “obligatory sugar baby Kon” behind the cut, the final day!! Eyyyyy, gang, we did it! Full month of daily updates for this one, haha. Ended up writing about 24k, give or take a few hundred words. prev: (( chrono || non-chrono ))

The alert on his communicator goes off again, and then again a few seconds later. Tim represses another frown. Nobody double-texts him on Tim Drake’s phone. The only people who ever would are Dick and Steph, and Dick never texts Tim Drake’s phone outside of emergency situations where Tim’s not suited-up and Steph doesn’t have Tim Drake’s number at all; they just use burners and the occassional dead drop. So who . . . ? 

The alert goes off a fourth time. Tim definitely doesn’t panic, but also definitely turns his wrist in his lap underneath the fall of his cape and taps the little armored pocket where he hides one of his micro-receivers for situations where he can’t pull the full-sized one out of his utility belt without being obvious about it. Cissie’s distracted with whatever’s distracting Cassie and neither of them can see his eyes behind the lenses of his mask, so it’s not difficult to slip it into his palm and out from under his cape to glance down at as he thumbs it open to wake up the tiny little screen. Four text alerts, and the caller ID is scrolling “UNKNOWN NUMBER” across the screen. 

Okay, so his civilian number is getting spam texts now. Jesus, he was worried, that’s so–

The actual number of the unknown number scrolls across the screen after the text. Tim . . . blinks. 

. . . that’s Kon’s number. Specifically, the number of the phone he bought Kon. Who is literally right outside, according to Cassie, and . . . texting somebody. While he’s out there. While he’s out there, and Tim is in here, and is being Robin. 

Tim has literally no idea how he feels about this situation, and honestly neither does Robin.

He opens the text log, and there are, in fact, four texts from Kon in it. 

so like 

superweird questin 

liek uh rly superweird tbh but uh 

cn u wish me luck babe??

Tim stares blankly at the messages. “Wish me luck”? That’s–what? 

Good luck, Kon, he texts back after a moment, figuring it’s the logical response anyway and assuming that using the other’s real name will help him feel better about whatever he wants the aforementioned “good luck” for. He’s going to have to try and get a read on him when he comes in, see if he can’t work that out. If it’s something to be concerned about . . . 

thx, Kon sends back with a blue heart emoji and literally nothing else. 

Blue, Tim thinks, yet again having to repress a frown. What the hell does a blue heart mean? Does that mean anything? 

He barely bites back the question, because it’s way too risky to ask even if if anyone knows what different-colored heart emojis mean it is definitely a teenage girl and if he texts Steph with a random question with no context attached and then doesn’t stick around to talk she’ll get annoyed and might leave another glitter bomb in their next dead drop. 

He really doesn’t wanna have to explain glitter in his cape to Bruce again. Or worse, explain glitter in his cape to Alfred. Alfred did not appreciate the glitter tracked all over the cave last time. Very, very much did he not appreciate it. 

Maybe Kon just picked it because he likes blue. Or maybe red seemed like too much to him? Or maybe– 

“I’m back!” Suzie announces excitedly as she spills into the room, and Bart bolts through her smoke trail a moment later and stops on a dime right next to the kitchen table. 

“What’s going on?” he asks, wrinkling his nose down at Cissie and Cassie. “Are you crying? Is it because your wig looks weird? It’s not that weird. I mean, kinda.” 

“That HeroWatch magazine thinks it’s your real hair!” Suzie offers brightly. “So it can’t be that weird.” 

“I am not crying and HeroWatch thinks what?!” Cassie demands, whipping her head up to stare at them both with a horrified expression. “It’s not even real hair! It’s like, synthetic! I buy the stupid things off Amazon!” 

“You should stop doing that,” Tim advises reflexively. There are so many ways for that to end badly for her secret identity. Genuinely so many that he doesn’t even know where to start, in fact. 

“And do what instead, exactly?” Cassie asks with a sullen scowl, leaning back just enough to fold her arms. “I can’t just clear out Spirit Halloween every–” 

She cuts herself off and stiffens, then jerks to her feet very quickly and straightens her wig and jacket even quicker. Tim has half a second to remember that while Cassie’s hearing isn’t super, it’s definitely enhanced, and then Kon walks into the room. 

“Yo,” he says, half-waving a hand at the table and then making a face. “Shit, I’m the last one here? Figures.” 

Tim . . . blinks. Blinks again. Cassie looks downright agonized, and Suzie and Bart both tilt their heads in opposite directions. Cissie raises both eyebrows and looks him up and down. 

“Jesus Christ, Kon, that is borderline indecent expo–” she starts incredulously, and Cassie immediately claps a hand over her mouth and leans down to hiss into her ear: “Cissie, you are my best friend and I love you and shut the hell up right the hell NOW.” 

Tim attempts to make his brain work. It needs to, like–do things. Be usable. Functional. Brain . . . able. 

The problem with that is the fact that Kon is currently wearing the tiny little jean shorts that first made Tim aware of the existence of the other’s thighs and the S-shield crop top that people really should have more respect for Superman than to have made and sold commercially with his usual leather jacket and sunglasses and a pair of heavy black boots that Tim also bought him, plus the sapphire stud earring from their last date with a little bit of eyeliner and chipped black nail polish and . . . thighs. Just–thighs. Kon is very, very much wearing thighs right now. 

. . . thighs.

Tim suddenly understands literally everything about the way Cassie came in acting and literally everything she’d said on top of that. Also, he isn’t sure, but he thinks maybe this is worse than the changing room was? Like, this might be worse than the changing room was. Because Kon’s not posing to show himself off like he was there, and “Tim Drake” isn’t here for him to be showing off for. So Kon is, presumably, wearing this outfit just because he wants to be wearing it. 

Tim needs a minute. Or a year. Or maybe a hard reboot and a new identity and a new reality to move to. Not permanently or anything, just until he can remember how to function like a reasonably-normal person again or he needs to send Kon his allowance, whichever comes first. 

It’s going to be the allowance, he already knows. It’s definitely, definitely going to be the allowance. 

“Huh,” Suzie says, looking a little perplexed. 

“Oh, is that what hormones are?” Bart says, looking surprised. “Weird.”

[jinjeriffic]

DCxDP Persephone 2.0

(Somehow, even when I come up with an angsty scenario it turns into zany comedy hijinks. Send help.)

Cassie, Tim, Kon and Bart are hanging out, just chilling, when a glowing green minotaur pops out of nowhere and yoinks Wonder Girl into another dimension.

Obviously, Cassie is so not down with the whole kidnapping thing, so she starts beating up all the Greek mythological monsters in sight. Soon enough, Pandora pops out of the woodwork and orders everyone to stand down.

Pandora: *sigh* I ordered you to escort her here, not drag her kicking and screaming. Ugh, it's impossible to hire competent help these days. Come child, we have much to discuss.

Cassie: Uh, it's an honor to meet you ma'am, but why am I here?

Pandora: It's quite complicated I'm afraid. To make a long story short, a few years ago the tyrannical ghost king was defeated by a young ghost hero, and by right of conquest the crown passed to him. However, since he has not yet reached the age of majority a regency council was put in place until he is old enough to be formally crowned.

Cassie: What does that have to do with me?

Pandora: You see, your father, Zeus, wishes to make an alliance with this new power...

Cassie: Oh no

Pandora: ...and so he has offered your hand in marriage to the young prince, as he once did Persephone's to Hades.

Cassie: That fucking asshole!

Pandora: And the regency council has accepted on the prince's behalf.

Cassie: *cracks knuckles* So, what's your opinion on patricide?

***

When Cassie meets Danny, she fully expects him to be some pompous asshole.

Danny: I am so fucking sorry!

Cassie: Huh?

Danny: *wrings hands* I'm sorry you got dragged into this mess! This was not my idea! But the council are a bunch of stuck-up jerks who think this is for the good of the realm and...

Cassie: So the wedding is off?

Danny: Well... unfortunately Clockwork is the one who floated the idea? And he only gets directly involved if it's like, end of the world kind of stuff...

Cassie: Who's Clockwork?

Danny: The Master of Time. He uh, helped me prevent a potential future where my soul got merged with that of my arch-nemesis and I miiiight have wiped out all life on Earth. But uh, that timeline is gone and you don't have to worry about it!

Cassie, muttering: Chronos?

Danny: So I think we might be stuck with each other, unless you have an idea on how to get out of this?

Cassie: Well my friends are bound to come rescue me, so...

Danny: Stall?

Cassie: Stall.

Queen Dora, popping in with a dozen handmaidens, a measuring tape and hundreds of dress and fabric samples: ~ Who's ready for a makeover? ~

Cassie: Oh gods just kill me now

***

Cassie and Danny both go full Bridezilla in an effort to delay the wedding, nitpicking everything from the clothes to the flower arrangements.

Cassie: I am not wearing some poofy monstrosity to my wedding. I want a tux! If anyone's gonna wear a dress it's gonna be him.

Danny, posing in front of a mirror: What do you think, can I pull off a mermaid cut?

***

Eventually, they can stall no more and the day of the wedding arrives. Zeus is there to give her away as the father of the bride. Cassie tries to stab him with the cake topper.

The wedding proceeds, they are standing in front of the Observant who is officiating. Cassie is glaring murderously at Zeus. Danny just looks resigned. Suddenly, there's a loud screech and a bang. The team has arrived to crash the party...!

...by literally crash landing the stolen Specter Speeder on top of Zeus.

*smash cut to a flashback of Tim reading the Drs Fentons' research and breaking into Fentonworks*

Tim, Kon and Bart pop out of the smoking wreckage.

Tim: We object!

Observant, outraged: On what grounds?!

Kon: Wonder Girl can't marry the ghost prince, because... because I'm marrying her!

Tim and Bart: Wait what?

Danny: Oh thank fuck *rips off his veil and dress and chucks it at the Observant* Cassie, do you want to marry Superboy?

Cassie: I do!

Danny: Then by the power vested in me by the Crown and Ring, I now pronounce you Super and Wonder. You may kiss the bride or whatever.

Cassie dip kisses Kon in front of the assembled ghost citizenry. Tim and Danny disappear into a broom closet during the wedding reception. Bart demolishes like 90% of the buffet by himself.

***

In a dark room, Clockwork is repeatedly watching Zeus get pancaked in slow motion and chuckles to himself.

Roll Credits

[the-witchhunter]

DP x DC: Clockwork

I’ve been seeing “Clockwork is Chronos” popping up, and I don’t hate it, it’s a good way of connecting Danny to Wonder Woman, but there’s some baggage that comes with him being the literally mythological Chronos that I don’t think most people really want to deal with. AKA him eating his children and the war between the gods and the titans, which probably wouldn’t endear Danny to Wonder Woman

Also there’s a Villian named Chronos in DC comics, with time powers and that confuses things further

An alternative, if I may suggest, is have clockwork just be Time...

Time as in Father Time, the primordial embodiment of time, and father of the Endless from the Sandman series. Not to be confused with Father Time of S.H.A.D.E.

So Time is time and also controls his domain which is time. Time is constantly changing from a young boy to a middle-aged, then an elderly man in a random pattern. Sounds pretty darn familiar, right? Almost as if that describes Clockwork to a T. Time and his partner, Night, or Mother Night, hooked up and the result was the endless. Time and Night are no longer together, though Time misses night.

For those who don’t know, the Endless are embodiments of aspects of reality, beings above mere gods. They are described as “inconceivably powerful” There may be gods of the things they represent, but they are literally the thing they are. The Endless are Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair, and Delirium(formerly Delight). They’re a dysfunctional family with Death being the one that gets along with everyone and the one that most has her shit together.

So what does Clockwork being Time give Danny? 

It would make him the adopted grandson of a cosmic force, as well as give him a bunch of dysfunctional aunts and uncles, one of which is Death herself, who is actually a really cool person. 

This gives him ties to beings that are functions of reality embodied, that even if they are somehow destroyed, only that aspect of them is dead and they Reform as a different aspect, which has only happened twice.

Any member of Justice League dark would shit their pants finding this out about Danny. Hell, this might through some of the regular justice league for a loop. Martian Manhunter has met and recognized Dream before. Wonder Woman might know about the Endless already. Hell, Dream was allowed to waltz right into hell and met up with Lucifer, like it was no big deal, and that was after being incredibly weakened and lacking his tools

So yeah, let Danny be the adopted nephew/pseudo sibling to the Endless. His name even starts with a D so it works on multiple levels

[effable-as-f]

God I really hope the game doesn't End with Mel reuniting her family because the adjustment period is going to be SO messy and I want to see all of it

I want to see Zag have to come to terms with the fact that the sister who for all he knows was a newborn just moments ago has grown into her own woman and he wasn't around for any of it, like literally she was just a baby and now they're practically the same age how does that work

I want to see the angelic, idealized vision Mel has of her older brother clash with the reality that he's a mouthy little shit, a bit of a slacker and a goofball if you will, I want to see her actually have to share a space with him for the first time and get pissed off at how disorganized he is, maybe even snap and lose her temper at him before finally realizing that, good and bad, this is what it means to have a family, THIS is what Chronos took from her

[phantomwitch16]

With getting to know more about Melinoe and the general feel of the story, I've been wondering about the what would occur after beating Chronos. Especially when it comes to brainstorming the potential family dynamics between them after she sets Hades, Persephone and Zagreus free.

Given the context of the game, with Mel only holding a vague sense loyalty to them, I can imagine that their early interactions are going to be uncomfortable for her. She's only heard stories about them, knew that Hecate was a close friend along with some other details but not much else.

It going to be difficult for them to grow their relationships with her, especially for Persephone and Zagreus who for them, literally saw Mel as a baby a few moments before they were frozen. Knowing the events of the first game, you know that they are going to be devastated.

It took Persephone less than a second to recognise Melinoe and realise what happened. It didn't take much consideration especially when looking around the room or even the rest of the house.

As for Zagreus, I have the feeling that he would be in a brief case of denial upon first getting set free. Which is reasonable because what do you mean his literal baby sister killed Chronos and set him, and everyone else who was in the house free? He saw her two minutes ago!

I think the whole situation would be tough for them, especially if Mel is probably going to deal with the fallout of Chronos rule, tracking the more threatening beings still under his rule. Because, just because Chronos is vanquished doesn't mean that everything becomes okay right away. I think it would be an 'all hands on deck' situation with everyone on Olympus, the Underworld and at the Crossroads working together to deal with the traitors still working under Chronos.

Every once in a while, Mel would come back to the Crossroads to see a roster of characters there and away during each night. Each time, we see her slowly understand how much she meant to her family before the house was sacked.

Hades would make occasional visits there to see how she is. Even to talk to Hecate on occasion to talk about her childhood.

Persephone would be up at the Crossroads, more often than Hades would be, being the more active participant in trying to get to know her and learn more about her life.

Zagreus would come too, not as often as his mother but more than their father, sometimes found talking to talking with some of the other gods and shades around the camp or sometimes looking exploring different parts of the camp before he has to make his eventual return to the Underworld.

(Mel has offered to do the same spell for him and Hades to remain on the surface but they refused. They have jobs to do, much like everyone else and doesn't her waste her magic on them. At least not for now.)

And although happy with her family's return, things are still...odd. She doesn't really know what to talk or interact with them about that isn't about the war. Similarly, no one really knows how to really interact with her as well. in the quiet moments when they don't show up, Mel is grapples with the fact that she is relieved that no one showed up because she doesn't have to put up with the awkwardness.

It's during their visits to the Crossroad is when the foundation of their relationships are made.

Hades is the easiest for her to talk to. They talk about her studies, training and her exploration throughout the realms. Even discussing Hypnos at some points. There are some mentions of some happy childhood memories, but sometimes he would get a little bit upset. Hades would talk with her about if she will be taking the time to develop some hobbies now she has more free time. Mel hasn't and frankly wants to keep herself busy before she gets to that point.

Persephone meanwhile, is a little more difficult to interact. Her mother wants to discuss about to everything about to life, wanting to make more of an effort to establish a relationship with Mel. It isn't as smooth with her as it is with Zagreus but with Mel being similar to Hades, the two of them eventually find some common ground. Hades encourages her to give Persephone more time while Zagreus offers her hint to help with figure out what to talk about.

Zagreus however, she has the hardest time to understand. He's like their mother and father, but not... He's chatty, always smiling like their mother, making friends with so many others. But in the moments where he is alone, she sees more of a resemblance with their father. Quiet. Even melancholic.

He takes the time to learn about Mel, while letting her come to him on her own time. When she does, he shares combat tips with and even fighting her on an occasion too whenever she wants to fight with someone one-to-one. He also give ideas on what hobbies to explore whenever she want to go ahead a pursue them. E.g. fishing (mainly to feed her animals). He doesn't know whether or not he's please to know how much she takes after their father. If she does make it to Tartarus, like with Than, he makes it into a game.

Although initially seeming fine about the whole situation, in the more quiet moments, their true feelings about the situation are revealed.

Hades muttering to Hecate about wanting Mel to not have to deal with Chronos or his war. She shouldn't have to deal with this, fates and other Gods be damn. Melinoe should've had a childhood, not raised to deal with his familial mishaps. It reminds his own mishaps as a parent and being chained up for so long gave him ample opportunity to do so.

Persephone whispering to Nyx about being upset for missing another one of her children's lives. She had always wanted to be a mother to children, and while she is eternally grateful for Nyx raising Zagreus, she never got to be there for him as Nyx. With Melinoe, she thought she had her chance to be there for her, to at least one of her children to grow up. And then, in a matter of moments, her little nymph is now a fully grown goddess. Persephone was denied the chance of motherhood not once but twice. It reenforces some feelings that destiny seems to be against her. Though, in reality she knows its not true, with Nyx telling her so, Persephone can't help but feel that way.

Zagreus while not as affected as their parents, is just disappointed. He was really looking forward to being an older brother to her, even though he knew from Meg and Than that siblings could be complicated, he was still excited to have her at the house. Because he promised himself that even if things got complicated, he would be there for her even if their parents weren't. But now that Mel is fully grown and he kind of doesn't know how to navigate it. But he will be there, along with their parents for her develop their bond and says that to her.

This would be a turning-point for Melinoe and how she evaluated her familial relationship. To be more open minded to her father's advice and develop more hobbies when at the Crossroads, more initiative with Persephone and a chance to spend time with Zagreus to figure out where they are. It's not smooth by any means but its appreciated.

Along with this, Nyx and Thanatos are reunited with their family, talking about what happened since the house was captured with Hypnos essentially being in a comatose state since. Plus, learning what Eris had been up to since.

At the moment, we don't really know what's happening with the other Furies, at least i don't think so. With Tisiphone and Alecto not allowed in Tartarus, its likely the two of them escaped upon hearing the house was conquered, serving either as intel for the Crossroads or as its guards and defenders. Fighting for their captured sister.

[briebysabs]

“This story is for just that one reader.”

I have finished orv. I consumed all of orv in 3 weeks. And while I have so many thoughts and I thank you all for watching my mental breakdown.

I never want to see a subway again.

When you reach the end of “the main story” you’re teary-eyed, you feel like man this journey has been amazing. But the epilogue is what elevated orv to being a masterpiece for me. I don’t think orv is a perfect series. Such a thing is kind of impossible imo. Obviously there are arcs I was more invested in than others. Fortunately, orv gets better and better the deeper you go. But for the message it wanted to convey, it did so many things right. Literally I have only a few “complaints”, most which are me wishing we got more of certain stuff. I wish Hayoung’s presence was a little stronger, I really like them but I feel they were sidelined. Orv does give you somewhat of an explanation for that since KDJ didn’t want them to join kimcom. But it still sucked I thought Hayoung would end up as like the Heewon of the group y’know.

Same with Mia, she’s more recurring in the later parts but for 400 chapters she occasionally pops in and out like a ghost. I know she can’t do much in the scenarios anyway but every scene she’s in is great so it’s a bummer I wanted more Mia. The whole Chronos stuff with Lycaon and co. during the Catastrophe of questions I didn’t really care for. They’re introduced as “guides” forced to help scenarios but we never meet guides like them ever again (from my memory). In fact we never bring up Lycaon and co. after that, to be fair him and the mosquito queen did die. But that whole thing went down in the 70s-80s chaps.

I just think that whole plot point existed solely so KDJ can get Way of the Wind. And finally, my biggest gripe, I NEEDED KDJ TO GIVE YJH BACK THE WATCH after the divorce arc I was waiting for it y’all why didn’t that happen?????

[toushindai]

quite significant Hades II spoilers in this one--

every now and then in the feedback channel I see people who feel that Chaos having been deceived by Chronos reduces the moral ambiguity of Chaos's character, and I think that is... not correct? Look, Chaos is as morally shrimp colors as they have always been. In literally the exact exchange in which they confess to having revealed the Fates' location to Chronos, they state that their reason for doing so was to verify whether such choices could be made without the Fates' influence, and then they point out, "Yet they are not so powerful as they appeared." Which is an incredibly petty point to make as they are confessing their own culpability!

Even having been deceived by Chronos, I think, complicates them rather than reducing their complexity. Because look... I don't think that Chronos is a particularly sneaky character, right? Even eg towards the beginning of the game when he's trying ferret out who Melinoe is and what she's up to, he's offputtingly condescending. In what we've seen of him so far, I don't see the capacity to not leave an incredibly slimy impression. But that apparently went entirely over Chaos's head--despite their observation of their creation--despite their concern over Nyx's and Zagreus's absence, which is implied to predate Chronos's approaching them. This doesn't reveal them to be a poor widdle victim, in my opinion; it reveals them to be startlingly and dangerously naive.

The impression I'm getting from every aspect of Chaos in this game, from their design to how they factor into the plot, is that they appear more like their creations, but they aren't so. Their appearance is dramatically closer to human, but they are still an entire void in the chest area and have oozy faces on their shoulder (and that's not even getting into the blatant violation of time their outfit demonstrates, which, all things considered, feels tremendously pointed). They feel guilt about their role in the Fates' capture but also still want to give those old biddies the middle finger at every opportunity. Their eagerness to shove an Origin Seed into your hand as soon as you need it to defy the Fates is honestly hilarious. Don't you think so? Just because their sense of having been wronged aligns them with our mission, that doesn't mean that their morals align with ours. This is what those feedbacks miss, I think.

[pastorfutureletthembe]

X

I have honestly so many questions, my artist heart is bleeding for you, sir.

Also, I'm aware that this is not canon and was created according to s1&2 impressions, but this object's design is similar to the one in LULL.

I wonder what it is and how it works 👀. The threads remind me of greek mythology.

I know it's purely fanon at this point but, just for fun because I'm always hungry for timey saucery:

If this kind of object existed in universe, what would the implications be?

It takes the threads from timelines or each timeline is a thread, and it makes all of it into a tapestry, right? That would be logical.

In the literal sense, a tapestry is a huge, often complicated picture woven out of cloth. So there are many many threads woven together in complex ways to make up a bigger picture. It is often used metaphorically to describe something complex with many parts, pieces, ideas, woven together.

But if so, it means the tapestry itself would already be done, and each timeline would be a pattern. The big picture would be key events common to each of them.

Or. If what we see is actually ropes made from threads and each rope is a timeline, the machine would undo and redo these ropes infinitely. Taking parts of each timeline and basically making a medley for the next one.

Would only one timeline be made at the time?

A complex machine like that would mean every batch would be made from several timelines. So there would be, for example, 12 timelines playing simultaneously and the machine would prepare the 12 following timelines using the current playing ones.

Fanon aside, the idea of an actual machine, concrete or liminal, in canon is an interesting concept to toy with.

Would it be a machine created by man or pre-existing in the cracks between time and space? Can it be controlled? Can it be influenced? Can it be broken? Why would certain people be able to connect with it through powers like Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang?

I still think their powers are about the impression of light in time and space, and if so, the machine would basically be like the sun, and those people would be gravitating around it. On a smaller scale, this idea is close to the Saturn imagery too, with its rings of dust. Saturn is the planet associated with time.

The position of Saturn's festival in the Roman calendar led to his association with concepts of time, especially the temporal transition of the New Year. In the Greek tradition, Kronos was sometimes conflated with Chronos, "Time," and his devouring of his children taken as an allegory for the passing of generations. As such, the Roman Saturn had similar associations. The sickle or scythe of Father Time is a remnant of the agricultural implement of Cronus-Saturn, and his aged appearance represents the waning of the old year with the birth of the new.

Mythology goes in this direction: using the old to make the new, transitions, destruction for construction, chaos to order.

Also, I hope they don't go there, but what if these powers were hereditary and came from a time when a group of rich and excentric people who created a machine to time travel? And this machine somewhat got connected to this liminal object like the one we see in the PV? And that's how they get extra.

Going back to headcanon territory more than fanin theories but what if one of these guys stole this machine to save his wife's life when others really just wanted to get richer and kill opponents? Haha

Anyway, all very interesting things to think about in a pure recreative context. I'm not saying that's what Link Click will become, again. I'm just saying GUYS WHAT IF THEY ACTUALLY WENT THERE? haha

Moar design explanation please, that's so interesting!! 😍✨

My brain is currently on fire. Thank you Link Click for feeding my tetris mind lmao

[daretolovemyrambling]

Runeterra Multiverse PART 1

In Arcane we are introduced to two alternative timelines in episode 2x7, the worst timeline and the the best timeline, but this isn't a new concept to Riot, their business model is selling skins of their Champions, usually by giving them new outfits and lore in an alternative Universe.

Today I want to introduce you to some of those interesting Universes, who knows, maybe they even scratch a creative itch and you are inspired to create a fanwork or make headcanons ;).

It's nice to see some universes that aren't extremly traumatic like arcane...

1. VALORAN TOWN

Valoran Town is a modern au of the Runeterra Universe, the chinese branch of Riot released a mini series last year that follows Lux, a rich young girl, as she moves to Valoran Town to escape her overbearing brother, Garen. She becomes the roomate of her best friend Jinx and various other Champions like Ezrael and Miss Fortune.

There is even an Ekko cameo in one of the episodes! It's a fun watch and has a very short runetime, I highly recommend it if you want to see a happy Jinx. No prior League knowledge is needed as it's a modern au. I noticed some Arcane references in the background as well!

I don't think there is an english dub, but someone subbed it in english on youtube:

2. STAR GUARDIAN AU

Star Guardian is another modern au of the Runeterra Universe, this time set in Valoran City. It follows a group of highschoolers as they become cosmic protectors and fight enemies that threaten their Universe. Yes, this is quite literally a magical girl au. I love it so much.

In case you were wondering, yes, there is a magicial girl Jinx!

There are quite a lot of animatics and Star Guardians has many different skin lines, so here is a youtube playlist:

3. K/DA

Likely the most well known League AU, so well known in fact, that a lot of people don't even realize it's related to League. K/DA is a virtual band and kpop AU of several League characters.

Here is a playlist of all their songs:

4. ODYSSEY AU

Odyssey is an AU set in space. It kind of gives me Guardians of the Galaxy vibes. Various groups are in pursuit of ora—a mysterious golden essence that serves as the lifeblood of all civilization, and promises untold power to those who can wield it for themselves. One Crew that will be especially interesting for us Arcane viewers, is the Morning Star Crew, a ragtag group that is also searching for Ora. There is a familiar face on the crew, their pilot, Jinx.

Here is a fun animatic to go along with it:

5. <3 AU

The <3 AU is an alternative Universe of Caitvi, Cait is part of the Heartthrob Clique and Vi is part of the Heartache Clan. The two groups are opposites of eachother, but the two students seem to have taken a liking to eachother. In a mini game named Cupcakes 4 Heartaches Cait bakes her secret Cupcake recipe with the help of Vi.

They even wrote letters adressed at eachother:

I hate the way you walk around, like you're Princess Caitlyn of the mall, and I'm just some gutter rat. I hate the way you look at me when there's no one else around, but wouldn't be caught dead with me in town. Maybe our whole thing was just a huge mistake. So if you want me to go, I'm gone. But ask, and I will stay. -Vi

Shall I compare you to a rose? Your spikes like thorns against my side. Like a vine, you've coiled through my dreams, trellising my mind. Wild like the violets that thrive beyond the garden's bounds; Life's simply better now that you're around. Will you go to the dance with me? XOXO, Caitlyn

6. PULSEFIRE

Pulsefire is set in a dystopian future, after discovering time travel several champions are chased by chrono-enforcers through time and space and take their technology with them. There is an alternative version of Cait who is such a chrono-law enforcer, she is feared in all sorts of eras. Ekko is one of the fugitives, in a companion story he crashes in the hide-out of his (boy)friend Ezrael. (yeah, their relationship is censored sadly. If you pick up vibes while reading this story, it was on purpose)

You can read it here:

I will probably post a part 2 soon, but I have to read more into all these other universes before I start to write another part!

[justacopollolover]

I always have wondered why TOA is such and underating saga even if it concludes the 'camp half-blood chronicles'. Like, is it the lack of Percy Jackson? People got tired after heroes of olympus? Is it because Piper and Jason? When TSATS came out, I realized that there are a lot of PJO fans that haven't read TOA.

I really like it, I loved Apollo as the main character, see the world of PJO through the eyes of a god. The characters from HOO have a really good development, I loved Piper in this books because she realized what she really wanted after Hera messed up her memory and after the war. Then we have Leo and Calypso, not all romantic relationships have to be perfect or something, I understand why Calypso is pissed off, she just got out of the island where she was trapped for like thousands of years, it's really difficult to meet the real world, even if you really want to. And then we have MEG MCCAFREY, LIKE I really don't understand why people don't like her, she is and amazing traumatized character, she is annoying because she was ment to do that, she was abused and because of that she doesn't know how to show her emotions and how to treat people, It's normal from someone like her.

And let me speak about the villians, they are like the best villians Rick Riordan has come up with, Luke is a little above of them (I consider that Luke Castellan is the best villian of the whole riordanverse, he was right after all, and TOA just confirms that). I don't think Gaea was a bad villian, she was a really good one, I was scared the shit out of her, BUT in blood of olympus she wasn't as scary as in the other books, the fight was so rushed and I think that Leo should have died for real, even if I really like his character in TOA, because his dead would have made Gaea more reliable as the ultimate villian after Chronos (remember that the war took a lot of lives during the five books, but in HOO only took Octavian, and he commited sucide so...). BUT the Roman emperors take all the good things Gaea had and all the good things Chronos had and made up three wonderful villians with stories in relation with the characters, more human and not supernatural, and they took the lives of characters we loved, they did horrible things to Apollo and Meg, and their final was amazing, it wasn't rushed and they killed characters we loved (my god Caligula).

And then, we have Python, I think that we couldn't have a better villian and only because of this reason: in the whole PJO and HOO we use prophecies as a way to start a mission, without prophecies there aren't missions and without missions our heroes can't save the day. SO, who is better villian than someone who can literally take control of the prophecies and the future itself?

So, what is the reason to not read TOA?

[suzukiblu]

Third 1k of the thank-you 5k I promised y'all behind the cut; “YJ packs up and gets pupped”. (( chrono || non-chrono ))

“I can inquire as to her willingness to attend,” Red Tornado says, and Kon ducks his head a little more; half-hides his face against the collar of his jacket. God, he’s being so weird and pathetic about this, but . . . 

“I mean, like . . . maybe,” he says. “If she’s not . . . busy, or whatever. I don’t wanna, like . . . not if she’s busy.” 

He has literally never in his life cared if someone was busy–

( the whole stupid WORLD needs Superman. so he can’t. and he DOESN’T, but–but he just can’t. 

couldn’t even if he actually . . . DID. )

–but like, it’s just–it feels like such a stupid thing to bother her over. They’re not even pack or anything. Like–they’re on the same team, sure, but Young Justice isn’t even a tertiary pack or, like, any kind of pack at all. They just punch bad guys together and talk shit about supervillains and particularly asshole-ish Leaguers and have the occasional team sleepover. They don’t, like–they’re not–

They’re not a pack, is all. 

But Suzie also–she’s stray too, and really sweet and takes basically everything in stride, so if anyone wouldn’t be annoyed by this . . . 

At least, he hopes she wouldn’t be. He doesn’t actually need, like–attended to or whatever, but if she’d just come hang out with him for a while . . . like, not even the whole time or anything, just maybe a couple hours . . . 

He really wants that, he thinks, and swallows roughly. He really–he really, really wants . . . 

“I will ping her communicator while I source nesting options and provisions for you,” Red Tornado says. “Is there anything else you require at this moment?” 

And Kon feels–Kon feels weird, and maybe like crying some more, and–and it’s stupid, he’s asking too much already, but–but Red Tornado asked. Like–he literally doesn’t even know what else he could ask for, what else do presenting omegas even need besides, like, heat snacks and whatever and somebody around. Like, is there anything? 

“Um,” he says. “No. I–no, that’s . . . no thanks. I’m . . . I’m good, man.” 

( Superman didn’t ask him that. just–he CAME, and he asked if everything was alright, and he asked if he could . . . could get himself “home”, but . . . 

but he didn’t ask him anything like THAT. )

“Very well,” Red Tornado says, and then he turns to walk out of the garage, and Kon sees his back and the light sway of his cape as he turns and–

And he feels–weird, again. 

“Can I have your cape?” he blurts without even thinking, and Red Tornado . . . pauses, and turns his head just enough to look back at him. Kon boils in embarrassment. He didn’t–he didn’t mean to–“I–s-sorry, I–” 

“You may, yes,” Red Tornado says, turning back around as he reaches up to the braided collar that keeps his cape fastened and tugs it apart, and Kon immediately forgets literally every ounce of embarrassment he’s ever felt in his life. 

Red Tornado comes over; holds out his cape to him; doesn’t hold it out far enough to cross over the side of the Super-Cycle, like . . . like if he were being polite about not . . . not coming into an omega’s nest uninvited, or . . . or something like that. 

Like he thinks–like he really is giving an omega something for their nest. 

Kon has this weird second of thinking that if he tries to take the cape, Red Tornado’ll just take it back, but–but– 

Fuck, he is way too oversensitive and just–just weird right now. 

He swallows, and then he shifts to the side of the Super-Cycle’s nesting pit and reaches out to–he means to just, like, snag the cape and toss it into the nest with everything else, but what he actually does is, like . . . just . . . 

He takes it carefully, is what he does: takes it with both hands and pulls it to himself . . . carefully, again. Just–carefully. 

It’s weird. He doesn’t know why he does it like that. But he’s also–he’s also kinda–like, he’s a little–

Kon can’t stop staring at the cape, for some reason. It’s just lying in his hands and all spilled down over the side of the Super-Cycle and into his lap, long and a bright, saturated blue with gold trim and a heavy collar. He doesn’t–get it. Why he’s–staring, he means. Just  . . . 

Red Tornado gave him this. And like, it’s not, like . . . a “packmate’s bequeathment”, or whatever the girl in the video called it, but . . . but Red Tornado still–still gave it to him. For his nest. Gave it to him on purpose, knowing what he was gonna do with it, and . . . and . . . 

Kon maybe wants to cry a little over that, in that weird, gut-twisting, elated way again. 

“Um,” he manages, and swallows a lot harder. Can’t really bring himself to look up again, for . . . for some reason. “Um–thanks, Reddie. For, uh–thanks.” 

“It is nothing,” Red Tornado says. “I did offer to provide you with additional nesting material options.” 

Kon feels a flash of embarrassment again and finally glances back up at him, his face feeling hot and probably wearing a stupid expression. Red Tornado’s own face is exactly the same as always, because, like–obviously it is. He looks a little weird without his cape on, though, which makes Kon realize he’s never actually seen him without it before. So that’s, like . . . a thing. 

Red Tornado gave him the cape he always wears. Never takes off. Just–always has on. So maybe–so maybe Red Tornado doesn’t think he’s a bad omega, if he . . . if he’s okay with letting him borrow his cape for this. 

Kon’s chest feels–tight, for some reason. Really, really tight. 

Not in a bad way. 

“. . . thanks,” he repeats lamely, because he doesn’t really know what else to say. Red Tornado looks at him for a long moment, then just inclines his head. 

“I will return shortly,” he says, and then turns back around and walks away and out through the garage door.

[stillness138]

where are characters from the first Hades game now, and some other character-centric theories:

inspired by this post by @thebuttsmcgee

so from the technical test gameplay stream we learned that Chronos straight up took over the underworld and kidnapped not only Hades, but Zagreus and Persephone too. out of the underworlders from the first game, Charon is still doing his thing in secret, Skelly returns in a new coat, the Wretched Broker is back too, and Hypnos is the only other guy from the House who's hiding at Hecate's hub, but he's also fast asleep...

personally, i think Hypnos might be cursed or something like that. Chronos using Hypnos's schtick against him? lose time by sleeping through it all? or maybe he just wakes up a bit later. hell, maybe he's always asleep during the test but not the final game because he would've dropped a spoiler or something.

so what about the rest?

assuming they're not all imprisoned somehow,

-Nyx and Thanatos: they could've fled to Chaos. a narrator's note at the Crossroads says that it houses 'those still loyal to lord Hades', but doesn't necessarily say 'all of them'. Nyx visits Chaos in the first game once their relationship is mended, and like the post i linked said, Than would've probably tried to protect the family and the House for as long as he could. but in the face of no other option, i think Chaos would be a viable place to flee to for the two of them, out of Chronos's reach similarly to the Crossroads. Than also visits the surface though, so maybe he'll show up at the Crossroads at some point? maybe in a plot point, trying to help Mel free Zag and the fam? both of them are important enough to warrant an appearance.

-the Furies: my idea is that all three of them were forced to serve Chronos. they're a very important part of security and upkeep down there, i think he would've wanted the realm's employees on his side. i don't however think they're going to be the bossfight between Asphodel and Tartarus. they, or Meg alone, should have some presence however.

-Sisiphus: it would be kinda cute if the furies went behind Chronos's back and helped to tuck Sisiphus away somewhere safe, given that he is loyal to Zag/the family and maybe that'd mean they were ordered to torture him again. depends on what Chronos's rule over the underworld looks like for the different shades there, but Melinoë speaks to the few that hang around at Crossroads in an almost comforting manner, so i imagine Chronos is trying to rule by fear and get shades on his side that way. Bouldy's gonna be sad, but fine. i hope. but at least a mention would be nice.

-Achilles and Patroclus (and Theseus&Asterius): ...they're probably separated again, aren't they... brainstorming now, i like (pain and) the idea that they're both in Elysium, just not together. because i think Elysium would've risen up as an army of sorts trying to oppose Chronos, given it's all warriors and heroes. separated by war. Nemesis having Stygius with her makes me believe Achilles could be wielding Varatha. additionally, Theseus being forced to step up and put his vanity aside, delicious idea i think. also, Mel arriving to this supposed paradise only to find it in a desolate state. all of them, i think, should be at the very least mentioned too.

-Orpheus and Euridice: they could be both hiding or imprisoned or forced to serve, but. what if this time it's Euridice who's looking for Orpheus. he's at the house and at Chronos's whim, while she makes it to the Crossroads and asks Mel for help. it'd be a shame if they were never heard from again.

-Cerberus: probably locked up with the fam :( orrr he's running wild all around the realm and Chronos is literally incapable of taming him. that would've been fun. Cerberus bossfight tho... nah. no way he wouldn't see something familiar in Mel. but it could be fun too if done right. he definitely has to reappear.

-Dusa: wild theory time but she's hiding in the rafters, spying on Chronos. :D. if the situation is much more dire, she's either also forced to serve, or even banished into Asphodel to be with the other gorgon heads. either way i think she'll pop up again in some capacity.

-House Contractor, Head Chef, Resource Director: probably unwillingly continuing their jobs under Chronos's rule. although the chef might've lost his job, depends if Chronos like, eats normal food. well mostly onions and fish but still. alternatively, the chef will also show up at Crossroads like the Wretched Broker does.

-THE GOOD SHADE from Elysium: okay war hero good shade arc when? i'm sorry, but i love them.

some other ideas, theories and wishes:

-the obvious one is Hera, like many others i also hope she will appear as a major boon giver.

-i have a feeling, however, that Hermes might not. it seems a bit that Artemis and Selene are filling up his role as the little bit specific boon giver, but maybe i'm wrong. Artemis provides crit boons just like in the first game and Selene has a bit more of a Chaos vibe to her. let's see.

-i do think, or would like it if, Chaos shows up, but not as a boon giver. but i believe they would definitely have something to say about Chronos's actions.

-back to Hermes though... there's that sealed staircase that leads upwards from the Crossroads. people have already been theorizing this, but there might seriously be a section of the game taking place on Olympus, or at the very least somewhere under it. still, i don't think Hermes would be a boon giver either if he does appear. i would however like to see him interact with Charon.

-the Fates will, i think, remain obscure, even if Moros has more of a connection to them. maybe they'll be mentioned and explored a bit more, but i wouldn't count on them appearing by themselves.

-i would however like to see at least one more of Nyx's kids. originally, i also hoped Erebus himself ever shows up personified, but i like what they've done with it as a place.

Eris is i'd say the biggest contender, given that she's namedropped in the first game through a weapon aspect and a purchasable item. maybe she's even boss material (again, if Nemesis has the sword, Eris may wield the rail).

-same thinking can be applied to Ariadne (she lives with Dionysus on Olympus, does she not?), Talos (giant robot made by Hephaestus, how cool is that), and Lamia (snake lady with personal history with Zeus and Hera, would even make for a cool boss too i think, although i always viewed her as a more melancholic figure. but i'm just spitballing here). there are also Atlas, Prometheus and other names on Charon's many items, those are less likely to make an appearance imo.

-Talos also obviously has a weapon aspect in the first one, and then there's Chiron. in myth, he is the son of Chronos. the juiciness of that situation, given he has a relationship with Achilles and Patty as well... perhaps he'll be Elysium's miniboss in the spirit of Asterius? or straight up a main boss? or actually a friendly? i really hope they did something with him, the potential is so very there.

-i think Daedalus will remain present just in name and spirit.

-now that i'm on the weapons though, for all we know there might not be such a thing as weapon aspects (at least not tied to specific figures) in Hades 2, but if there are, including hidden aspects, i'd like to see nods to more of other world mythologies/histories/cultures, like Egyptian, Japanese, pre-columbian American or Slavic.

-this brings me to keepsakes and companion plushies, if they're in the game at all and if so, who gives them out.

keepsake-wise, beside the olympians, Hecate is obvious, as well as Odysseus, and Nemesis and Moros are too. Arachne and Skelly also. Charon seems likely, so does Dora. maybe Hypnos if/when he wakes up. Selene, probably.

i'd say, if companions are a thing, it's also up to Nemesis and Moros, Odysseus, maybe Hecate, likely Arachne, and if there's 6 of them like last time, the final one will be from either Dora or someone we haven't seen yet. or Hecate doesn't give one (she's pretty op for a summon) but Skelly does.

-this also ties into romance! it's been deduced a long time ago, right when the trailer came out, that Nemesis and Moros are very likely romanceable. i also see the appeal and potential of romancing Dora, and from the technical test, i like Melinoë's friendship with Artemis. Hypnos's presence at the Crossroads is interesting from this point too, but i wouldn't guess he'll be romanceable if/when he wakes up.

there are more details to speculate about, especially in gameplay and resources (boss room rewards! the equivalent of nectar/ambrosia to give characters!) but i wanted to keep this mainly about the npcs.

honestly curious what other people are saying!

[timeclipsed]

4 socially maladjusted orphans go to a mall, what happens next will shock you

Word count: 5649 Google Docs mirror: here! Summary: Literally what the title says. Strive and Nikki try to be good older siblings to their asshole little brother Tails Chronos who's trying to be a good older sibling to his asshole little brother Kit. Crack taken seriously. Crude humor, Kit with abandonment issues, cheesy cringe. Wonky perspective, it jumps to the inner thoughts and feelings of each character at some point.

ft. @hiswrlds, @sorrowfulsidekick and @vandalizedheart. Merry Christmas.💙 Notes: Characters may be OOC, I don't have a completely accurate grapple on Strive, Nikki or Kit yet, but I tried to ask as many questions as I could to get a good study.

Sorry if it's not that good. I worked on it for about 3 weeks because I really wanted it to be decent. I hope this is something! Or maybe it's just nothingburger... but I had fun writing it.

There are some vague allusions to each character being traumatized and having emotional issues, so you don't have to read it if you aren't comfortable with that!

Swinging open callously enough to threaten spiderwebs onto its adjacent window, illuminating those in the nearby vicinity to wafting pomades and clacking gears from within, the shop’s front door reveals the third member of the afternoon’s impromptu party. Grumbling about something or other, straightening out the creases in his ratty pilot’s jacket. Inky circles that line clear sky eyes accentuate the proverbial “I really wish I weren’t here right now!” button that might as well be slapped onto the antecedent lapel as they turn to face their company.

“Hi,” insipid as ever, Chronos only gives the simplest of greetings.

Wholly unfazed by his lack of joie de vivre, however, Nikki hops to her feet from the curbside she and the accompanying Strive had been lazing on while in wait, speeding over to wrap an arm around his neck and pull him into a mirthful headlock, delivering a well-overdue ruffle of the hair since their last meet.

“Heyyyy, lil’ bro!” Oozing a moxie obverse from the other, a grin spread wide across her face, she holds nothing back in greeting him with the warmest arms possible. Cracking the tiniest of smiles, Chronos (surprisingly) allows the display, although it goes unreciprocated.

“Brought a friend,” she adds coyly as they separate, pointing over her shoulder with a thumb, “hope you don't mind?”

Quiet for the majority of the greetings, Strive makes his way up behind Nikki. “Hey, buddy.”

“Oh,” creasing brows seem to annotate a train of thought towards the last-minute addition, but only briefly, as he shrugs his shoulders. “He's around here all the time as it is, I'm more surprised he actually got invited instead of crashing things.”

Scoff. “Hey, c'mon! What's that supposed to mean?”

“Three days ago I woke up in the middle of the night to you in my kitchen eating our cereal directly from the box. With your hands.”

Mouth hanging open, creasing into a wide smile, Nikki roars with laughter of which only gets deeper as she notes the way Strive's ears twitch and his face tinges with the slightest hint of a rosy hue.

“Can we go?” Hastily speaking over his mirror's uncontrollable guffaws, he tries to change the topic as fast as it had been laid out.

“Just a minute,” waving a hand, aloof as ever whilst laughter dies down, Chronos goes to light up a cigarette, “we're waiting on one more person.”

Noting the way they ogle him at the statement, he folds a rising brow, taking a long drag. “What, you can invite someone without asking me but I can't do the same?”

“Touché.”

Mimicking its oscillation from minutes before, albeit much more mellow, the door opens again, and seeing the individual who emerges, Strive sucks in a breath through clenched teeth. Shorter in height than the initial triage by a notable amount, cerulean fur standing out against the achromatic surroundings, tiny hands grasp at the xanthos backpack strapped around his shoulders. Immediately rushing towards Chronos, a wobbly, pencil-thin smile on his lips.

“Ready to go…!” He utters, intonation barely above a whisper.

Allowing a smile, completely genuine, to take over his consistently phlegmatic expression as he tosses his cigarette, Chronos crouches down and ruffles his hair. Compassion he's decidedly rarely capable of. Turning to look at Nikki and Strive as he keeps a hand placed on the other’s head, he stands up.

“I’ve told you guys about Kit, right?”

Noticing the additive of bodies, especially their appearances, Kit clings to Chronos' leg tightly, half-hiding behind him with a deep scowl lining his face, practically burning through their skulls with the sheer amount of disdain alone.

Clearing his throat, glancing away to allow his eyes to be anywhere but on the broiling glower willing him to drop dead, Strive lets his shoulders shrug up a bit. “...We’ve met.”

“Dunno him,” coolly swaggering up to the little fennec, crouching with hands on her knees, Nikki looks him over with a red-lipped smile. “You got yourself a little sidekick of your own, huh? I guess that checks out.”

Closeness prompting Kit to retreat further behind Chronos, he clasps on tighter, fuscous fuchsias unrelenting. “Do they have to come?”

Realization hitting him like a ton of bricks, he makes the palm of his hand the home of his face, groaning into it. “Right… you have a thing with Sonics too.”

Turning to face the boy, knelt on a single leg to get to eye level, he clasps one of his in both of his own larger ones. “If this isn’t something you wanna do, I won’t force you, lil’ buddy. I’m gonna go on ahead, but you can hang out, and I’ll be back.”

Relinquishing the grip slowly, wide-eyed dread blooms over Kit’s expression as he watches. Watches Chronos start to stand, watches him prepare to turn away, to disappear with Strive and Nikki, to leave him behind.

Two-handedly clutching onto Chronos' wrist, he squeezes tight.

“No!”

Jolted by the usually meek voice raising into a desperate cry underlying the spiraling attachment festering within the boy, Chronos looks down at him with open-mouth consternation, brows knitting together. Casting a wayward glance back to Strive and Nikki, who stare back somewhat awkwardly and with concern, he clears his throat and gives something of a vague smile, attempting to lasso in the precarious situation.

“O-Okay,” nodding his head slowly, he offers a pitch with benefits to sell the idea, “how about we all go, and then you and I can go solo for a bit? We can grab lunch, and then— you can pick whatever store you wanna go into and I'll come with? Just the two of us?”

Contemplating, grasp still not loosening, Kit looks down at the ground. “...W-Where are we going?”

“Ever been to a mall before?”

“Mm-mm,” the smaller fox shakes his head, which Chronos takes as a cue to scoop him up, holding him to his chest as he starts to stride off.

“You'll love it, lil’ bro! The variety this one has is crazy— tons of different kinds of stores, I can't even name ‘em. And when you walk in there's this huge fountain—”

“A water fountain?”

“You know it! Thing shoots up like 10 feet in the air or somethin’, and it's got all these levels…”

Rounding the corner, with Chronos raving over the experience to entice Kit, Strive and Nikki follow side-by-side, abaft to the pair. Fists latent within denim pockets, she observes the two with smiling eyes, a certain warmth pooling in her chest that travels down to her tummy. Induced by a kind of wistfulness at the display of siblinghood, she fights back a few forming tears.

“He's different,” she notes in a hushed voice, “around the kid. Kit.”

Strive nods, “kinda like…”

“Us?”

“Mh.”

Hardships and painful traumatic memories aside, the last few months had allowed Chronos the necessary room to grow, to open his heart a little. Surly and unapproachable as he'd been initially, recently the faintest of sunlight had moved in, finding ample reason to spread its golden rays to make something good out of the seemingly eternal rainstorm that raged.

Hopefully, a rainbow could bloom one day, even if its array of iridescence was only tangentially visible.

Still, the mystique of the specific events that led him down such a dark and lonely path are mostly unknown. Perhaps he'd be ready to tell them a ways down the road.

Peregrinating the vestigial trek to the mall is done mostly in comfortable silence, aside from Chronos hyping up the trip to Kit. Glass doors, illustrious under the winter sun, automatically slide open to greet the group, the sounds of vivacious clientele and their footsteps from all around filling their ears. Piqued immediately by the display of spritzing aqua, Kit tugs on Chronos' hand, pointing towards it.

“Chronos! There’s the fountain!”

Chuckling, he uses his free hand to ruffle the top of Kit’s head. “Wanna go see it, lil’ buddy?”

Ardently nodding, looking up at his surrogate brother, Kit allows himself to be led towards the watery apparatus. Obviously, Strive and Nikki keep their distance, although the sight ameliorates the experience all the more regardless.

“We should go into the back of Spencer's,” abruptly, Nikki suggests, piping up as she turns to stare at Strive, whose brows crease in confusion.

“Why? What's in the back of Spencer's?”

Simpering silently instead of offering an explanation, it takes every ounce of self-control to keep her expression for the bit as his own face contorts into something uneasy and awkward.

“Miss me with that shit,” he murmurs, shaking his head. Wheezing, she slouches forward a bit, hanging her head.

“No, no! Listen,” she starts, hands in front of her, “listen. I can't tell you, but—”

“Why not?!”

“S-Stop—” Increasingly growing more tickled by his reaction, Nikki slaps a hand over her mouth, “I'm trying to say you just gotta experience it blind!”

“What are you guys bitching about over here?” Making his reapproach just then, Chronos joins the pair. Behind him with a slight, and previously unforeseen bounce in his step, Kit also frolicks up. Seemingly reasonably content, clasping onto his big brother's hand, he allows his eyes to roam the surrounding areas.

“The back wall of Spencer's.”

Chronos snorts.

“I don't get it!” Strive cries. “What's the joke?!”

“You've never been in a Spencer's before?” Smirking amusedly at Strive's belligerent confusion, Chronos rests a hand on Kit’s head. The sight is too funny, but he'd rather not explain it to his little brother.

“No?!”

“We gotta show him,” Nikki states, “he has to know the lore.”

“What lore?! Just tell me already!”

“Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy,” Chronos answers, somewhat ominously, as he turns tail to start off further into the mall. Toddling after like a duckling, Kit trails his heels.

“I would! Come on!” Dashing after, he joins the pair, with Nikki not too far behind.

Thankfully those pleas for knowledge to spread and be shared don't go unanswered for much longer, the antecedent location being the first stop on the trip. To the grand merriment of Nikki and Chronos, Strive makes a beeline for the back of the store before they so much as even step through the entrance.

“Oh my God,” carried by the general lack of other presences in the shop concurrently, his voice reaches their ears. Whilst Kit has lost himself in the chromatic display of lava lamps, mouth open in astonishment, the remaining pair scuttle into the back.

“There it is,” Nikki states, faux-galvanized by the sight as she wipes away a single, nonexistent tear, “it's beautiful.”

Chronos, the mature teenager he is, begins snapping photos. “The place of legends. Only told in stories.”

“A fucking dildo wall?” Strive puts his hands on either side of his head, seemingly initially distressed by this information.

“Take a pic of me with them!” Jumping into frame, Nikki strikes a pose. Obliging, Chronos takes another photo.

“What… how am I supposed to feel about this?”

“I mean, happy? You are the fruitbowl blue bastard. This is your home.”

Turning wide-eyed befuddlement onto Chronos after his comment, Strive proceeds to lock an arm around him, holding him down.

“ACK! MAD BECAUSE I'M TELLING THE TRUTH!” Flailing and punching, struggling, he tries fruitlessly (pun intended) to escape his older brother's grasp.

“Don't fight the gravitational pull of Spencer's. Just accept it, get your picture taken in front of the dildo wall.” Chiming in, arms slung around Strive's shoulders from behind, Nikki starts wrastling him back, effectively freeing Chronos from the brotherly hold.

“I mean,” glancing towards the lascivious wall, then back, he finally shrugs his shoulders.

“Yeah, aight. Lemme get in on that.”

Getting into a stance in front of the wall, he strikes a pose of his own, causing Chronos to wheeze as he takes the photo. Proceeding to have an entire photoshoot with the dildos, the three rotate between photographing and being photographed for at least 3 and a half minutes, ignoring the workers staring at them.

Until the softest call of, “Chronos…?” rouses them. Perking ears twitch and instantly Chronos is swept away, scanning the store to find the direction the utterance had come from. Right outside the store, Kit looks frantically every which way, tears beading those puce eyes as he looks for his brother.

“Kit,” coming up from behind, a hand stretches out to rest on his shoulder, “what are you doin’ out here, bud?”

Startled by the sudden touch, Kit whips around with wide eyes, immediately, he throws his arms around Chronos’ waist.

“Where did you go?!” He cries.

“Woah, woah, hey!” Returning the desperate embrace, he hugs Kit close. “I was just in the back of the store. I didn't go anywhere.”

“I-I didn't see you,” tears threaten to spill freely as he stammers softly, wavering the cadence of his voice, “I didn't hear you. I thought…”

“I would never,” cutting that train of thought in half before it finishes, he kneels down to get onto Kit’s level and hold him. “Not in a million years. I'm sorry I scared you, buddy. I won't do that again.”

Sniffling, looking at Chronos, he wipes his eyes. “Promise?”

“Promise,” lifting him into his arms, he sets Kit onto his shoulders, “now c'mere.”

Giggling as he's pulled up, arms wrap around his brother's torso and he clings. Reconvening once they've left the shop proper, Nikki holds a bag at her side, Strive with arms resting behind his head.

“Everything okay?” Nikki asks.

“Yeah. We're just taking a minute.”

Floppy ear drooping against Chronos’ head, Kit turns his eyes to glare at both of them. He'd be cute, sitting up there how he is, if it weren't for the way he stares at them as if to will them to drop dead.

“Tough crowd,” Nikki murmurs to Strive, who nods.

“Hey kiddo, how about we grab something to drink?” Chronos suggests, raising his eyes slightly as they all start walking again, “you ever had a slushie?”

“No… what's a slushie?”

Momentarily pondering the answer, he lets out a hum. “It's kinda like… flavored ice?”

“Sounds icky.”

“No, no! It's actually really good,” he assures, lifting a hand slightly amidst explanation, “basically, they make the ice real soft, like snow. Then they add sugar and flavor… like uh…”

“Cherry, Coke, blueberry… y'know, soda or fruit flavors,” Strive finishes, to which Chronos nods.

“Oh, if they have fruit flavors then it's the perfect drink for y—”

“Nikki.”

“Okay, but I had to!”

Snorting into a fit of wheezy chuckles, Chronos can't help but to snicker somewhat at the quip. To be fair, Strive should've seen it coming from a mile away. Poor guy.

“Um… okay, I guess I could try it.”

“Cool! Then we can grab some real food later.”

Seemingly satisfied by this, Kit nods, pressing his face into the back of Chronos’ head again, nuzzling into the soft fur. Aside from the shit-eating grin Nikki is giving and Strive staring back at her with endeared mild annoyance, things start to quiet down again, but only for a moment or so.

“Sorry,” Chronos pipes up suddenly, addressing his older siblings without looking behind him, “if this hasn't been super fun so far or anything. I'm not exactly the take the day off and have fun type.”

Quick to reassure Chronos’ rising anxieties, Nikki answers. “Hey, this has been plenty fun so far, little bro!”

“We haven't been here a long time anyway, and there's still the rest of the afternoon to do whatever.” Coming up beside him, Strive claps a comforting hand onto his shoulder.

“Mm,” turning his eyes to study the patterned marble floor beneath, it's clear there's still a level of thought plaguing his mind. The kid just can't seem to relax.

Clearing his throat, Strive tries to make idle conversation. Chronos may not have been his little brother, raised by his hand, but he can typically discern what Tails is thinking about.

“How's he adjusting?”

Ears perking a little at the start of the topic, shoulders shrug diffidently. “Dunno. He's been a little more open with me lately, which is good— but he's still so nervous. I just hope I'm making headway with him.”

Peering at the dozing fox, clung tightly to the older, he gives a soft chuckle.

“I'd say he trusts you, if the way he's huggin’ on tight is any indication.”

Those words bring something of a relieved glimmer to his eyes, but he doesn't comment.

“How old is he?” Strive questions, noting the youngest’s small demeanor.

“I… actually don't know,” Chronos admits, brows knitting. “I'm not even sure if he knows. I can tell you that he's young young, though. Can't be older than 10.”

“10,” he repeats, voice softening a little, “God, that's awful.”

“It's wishful thinking,” the other starts as they all make their way into the food court, “but I'm hoping it'll all just start to feel like a bad dream the older he gets.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Most you can do is just try to be there for him. Let him know he's safe with you. He'll come to you on his own eventually.”

Surprisingly, Chronos actually cracks a smile.

“Thank you,” he replies, albeit rather impassively. Strive decides to count it as a win anyway.

Making their way up to the counter, Strive leans against it, elbow resting comfortably.

“What'd you say you're having?”

“I didn't,” Chronos answers with that same smile, now growing slightly, “cola.”

Like a movie, or a stageplay, with the pair firing off their lines rehearsed to the ear, picking up their cues so naturally. The flow of which they cut up together seems meant to be— a look into another life, with a happier duo.

“Hey, Kit, you can share with me. Give this a try,” Chronos urges, holding the cold drink up to the drowsy fennec. Lifting his head, he eyes the large cup with some hesitation, but accepts it, dwarfing his two little hands.

Reluctantly, but nevertheless obediently, he takes a sip. Immediately, those ears, appearing permanently pinned down in a meek way of being, prick straight up, and a moonstruck kind of expression paints his face. Tail wagging vigorously, a slightly open mouth plunges back down onto the straw, swiftly consuming the contents of the cup. Amused and endeared, the others share a chuckle.

“Or… I guess you can have it.”

“I-It's good,” murmuring abashedly, Kit shrouds his flushed face behind the cup, “sorry…”

“I'm more of a coffee guy anyway,” Chronos assures, reaching up to ruffle Kit's head again.

“Hot or iced?” Nikki quizzes.

“We usually only have hot coffee at the workshop, but I always vibe with a good peppermint mocha.”

“Interesting. And have you kissed a man before?”

Strive chokes on his cherry slushie, forcing down laughter. Chronos takes this in stride, however, barely emoting as he snatches Nikki's wallet from her pocket, combing through the available coinage.

“Well, sure,” he answers. He then fails to elaborate. This only makes Strive laugh harder, the joyful sounds fading as Chronos makes his way towards the coffee stand.

Strive sighs, “what a great kid.”

Nikki just pouts. He can't tell if it's because her curveball fell flat or because Chronos stole her wallet. 

Coming hours prove just as comical and active. Between Nikki running up to every Victoria's Secret poster and throwing her hands over the womens’ thinly-garmented bosoms and getting scolded by Chronos (hypocrite he is, as everyone knew he'd be doing it too if Kit weren't present), to Strive having to drag everyone out of Hot Topic after 45 entire minutes of marveling and making excess purchases, to the ceaseless “top surgery at Claire's” jokes in the namesake store leading the group receiving a request to leave from making the other patrons uncomfortable. Now toting multiple bags and vociferating both tawdrily and jovially, they make their way through the long strip.

Pausing in their stride, Kit tugs on Chronos’ hand, who instantly turns his attention to the younger.

“What's up, lil’ bro?”

Staring into the window of the nearby shop, his trained stoic eyes fixate on one of the displayed attractions in particular; a larger, plastic water gun, coated in gaudy hues of lime and aqua and orange. The thing couldn't measure much taller than the boy himself standing up, he'd probably have to carry it two-handed everywhere— a mental image that makes Chronos’ ears flick and his heart leap. So cute…!

Despite his discernable desire for the toy, Kit makes no attempt to speak up to request it, merely pressing gloved palms against the glass longingly instead. Chronos feels his heart melt into a puddle, and quickly calls out to the others.

“Hey, I'm stopping in here real quick,” he announces, causing them to turn and gander at the sign.

“A toy store?” The query is more curious than judgmental, but regardless, he huffs and turns his nose up, revolving on heels with tails flicking as he makes his way into the store. Defensive in the telltale I’m about to do something nice, so don’t perceive me kind of way that he does sometimes. Toddling after like a baby duckling on its mama’s heels, Kit is of course, right behind.

Dramatically clutching his chest, Strive swoons in feigned distress. “So heartless!”

“A black hole where his heart is, exactly like he says!” Nikki cries, falling over the top of him, sending the two hedgehogs tumbling to the floor in a crumpled pile of azure spines. People stare at them before just stepping over and around.

“Get up,” insisting through a voice stifled by the floor, Strive blindly manhandles Nikki, limbs flailing to grasp her.

“Nah.”

“Get up!” Raising his head, he repeats himself. Firmer, but still playful.

Challenging his patience, she instead lounges on top of him, resting on her side with head propped up onto a hand, supported by the elbow driving into Strive’s calf. Brilliantly, the latter just begins crawling into store Chronos and Kit had gone into, instead of attempting to buck Nikki off himself. 

“Carry me into battle!” She hollers, pumping a fist out.

Sneakers, hued a color similar to the two of them, obstruct their pathway a quarter of their jostle into the store. Akimbo, eyebrows woven together to complete a look of irritation, Chronos stands with two different freshly-purchased water guns under either arm. Noticing his stance, next to him, Kit quickly mimics his older brother, curled fists on his hips and a disapproving expression painting his face.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Looking for you,” Strive answers casually.

“Oh my God,” grumbling indignantly, he grabs Strive by the ankle, and starts dragging both him and Nikki along, ignoring the stares of those around them yet again in embarrassment as they leave the store. Seizing the opportunity, Kit snatches both the toy guns, clutching them to his chest in a hug.

“PLEASE,” practically shrieking in exasperation, helplessly flailing his limbs, Strive cries out, “THIS IS CRUELTY!”

Pausing, contemplating, Chronos slowly turns his head to look back at them both.

“Is this what they meant when they said Down With Cis bus?”

Nikki shrieks.

Continuing to pull them along whilst they’re both losing it in two different forms of the term, Chronos looks Kit’s way, smiling a little at how he bounds along after, the littlest bounces in every step. Noting the attention on him, Kit quickly becomes shy, half-hiding behind the boxed toys.

“Um… t-thanks,” he murmurs, “f-for the… water guns.”

Ineffably endeared by the sight, he has to resist the urge to coo and scoop the boy up, spinning him around. Instead, he opts to just chuckle. “Anything for you, squirt. What’cha hungry for, huh?”

“Ah, um…” Lowering his head, cogs turning in his brain as he attempts to discern an answer for himself, Kit falls quiet. Eyebrows clashing, eyes squinting, the thoughts all start to jumble together, and the expectation of being made to choose something on his own isn’t synonymous, and—

Resting on his shoulder, Chronos’ free hand pulls him close to his side, snapping him out of his intrepid trance. Instantly, he’d noticed the signs of panic and offered comfort; a series of motions he’d become quite eloquent in since the evening Kit found a place by his side. 

“Or we can just let our appetite decide when we get back there?”

“O-Oh!” Nodding quickly, giving his prognostic agreement, he nuzzles against Chronos’ jacket.

Undeniably, he feels guilt deep down; being so consistently troublesome must be adding a whole new layer of stress for his older brother to deal with on top of everything else. Despite all of his issues though, his tantrums and screaming nightmares at all odd hours, his attachment issues and aversions, nobody had ever looked at him as patiently as Chronos had. Doting that he's still wholly unused to, but a type of loving kindness he's glad to have.

He just hopes that she isn't looking down on him for it.

“Excuse me,” piping up, a gruff voice from ahead catches their attention. Uniformed, trying far too hard to maintain the felicitous stance, one of the security guards stands in their way.

“We've received multiple complaints about the four of you disturbing the peace and acting as general nuisances during the last few hours. I'm going to have to ask you all to lea—”

Abruptly and without either thought or warning, in a single swift motion, Nikki chucks the remainder of her drink at the guard. She freezes.

Kit freezes. Strive freezes. Chronos freezes. The security guard freezes.

He moves first, baffled and soaked with cherry slushie, making to grab for his walkie-talkie off his belt. Instincts kicking in, Strive leaps to his feet, hoisting Nikki (who lets out a shriek of surprise) over his shoulder, chucking his own drink at the wall.

“SCATTER!”

Snatching Kit and Chronos, both held under the opposite arm, he races out, bursting through the front doors and maneuvering through the capacious parking lot. Sunshine gleams off stainless vehicles of reds, blacks, blues and whites, nearly blinding emerald eyes as they scour the metallic maze, following his fuzzied line of sight to the gateway exit.

Screeching to swift halt close to the streamside, he loses control of his compadre cluster as Chronos wiggles his way out and drops face-first to the ground. Nikki and Kit also go tumbling, the first cluttering painfully onto her little brother’s back and the latter landing in her lap with a gentle fwump!. Clambering up briskly, he tries to shove Nikki off.

“Get off— you’re hurting him!”

“Shit!” Toppling over, nearly tripping on her own feet, Nikki jumps up. “Sorry, sorry! You okay, bud?!”

“L-Let me help you! Don’t move…” Rushing to Chronos’ side, gingerly clasping one hand with both of his, Kit tries to lift him up. Face popping out of the ground, having left a distinct vulpine indent, he lets out a groan, allowing himself to be pulled up into a seated position. Crowding around, the three look down on him curiously.

“You alright?” Nikki asks again.

Soothing a newfound stinging headache with the pads of his fingers, Chronos gives a deep, vexed sigh.

“I’ll tell ya somethin’,” he starts, wobbling to his feet with Kit and Strive’s assistance, “I’m gettin’ pretty sick and tired of all the dumb things that go on around here…”

She smiles sheepishly. “Did you at least have fun before we got kicked out?”

Ludicrous! After the spectacle their collective presence alone had made? Imprinting permanently on the minds of others as that gaggle of stupid kids with no social awareness? Asking something like that in spite of how they had looked the whole time? Ludicrous! Absurd, so absurd that—

—That it’s funny.

Running fingers through bangs stained blue at their tips, the softest smirking chuckles turn into clamoring laughter. Ethereal, jubilant, a sound he’s not made in the presence of anyone, or even to himself, for a long, long time.

Within moments, he’s stricken with a pain deep in the gut, coiling arms over his stomach, tears from the physical exhilaration plaguing his squeezed eyes. Balance lost, he wobbles, swaying back to the ground.

Given pause, the triage stares in stunned silence.

“A-Are you okay?!” Kit asks, instinctively.

“Are you having a panic attack?!” Nikki cries.

Kneeling next to him, Strive tentatively holds his hands out, grimacing. “Hey, buddy…”

“You two are so dumb!” Chronos exclaims suddenly, voice loud but lighthearted, grinning wide at Strive next to him, “what’d you think— w-what’d you think would happen when you started crawling around on the floor?!”

Wheezing hysterically, forehead leaning against Strive’s chest, he fully collapses under the weight of his own cachinnation. Momentarily surprised, the other’s expression softens, allowing himself to be leaned into.

“And the slushies!” Thumbing tears from his eyes, he throws his arms up. “Why would you throw it at him?!” 

Snorting, posture loosening, Nikki quickly counters. “Hey, I panicked!”

“So your first instinct was to throw something at him?!”

Now Nikki is laughing too, shoulders shaking in quick succession with the rhythm of her sounds, which prompts Strive to start chuckling too, rubbing a finger under his nose. Everyone with the exception of Kit has erupted into a fit at that point. Aggregating the discarded shopping bags from all around, he makes over to sit next to Chronos on his knees, who turns a lambet smile onto him.

“I’ve never heard you laugh before,” Kit states quietly. The others nod.

“It’s nice,” Strive notes, winking at him. Nikki just gives a thumbs up.

At that, Chronos pauses. Momentarily after that revelation being spoken into the air. Mimicking a gesture he’d caught from earlier, he rubs a finger under his nose, turning his gaze away to look out at the ruralish structures just across the stream.

“I can’t remember the last time I did.”

“Ah,” posture tensing, Nikki slowly nods, “same.”

“Yeah.”

Wrapping back around, just like that, a solemnly somber atmosphere plagues the present. Laughter dies down into giggles and hums, smiles wane into half-bright looks of sympathy, and a dawning remembrance of all that’s wrong in the world washes over everyone. They sit, silent, for the longest time, not much for speaking or otherwise offering anything further. Comfortable, but harrowing all the same.

Sensing the shift, a pang of urgency in his chest druthers Chronos to act. Repressed for a long time, a sort of social awareness that he hadn’t cared to preserve in all his days and nights of loneliness. Something that now felt tangible; precious, that would perhaps tick away like identical grains of ivory sand falling within an hourglass, becoming latent in the myriad of similarly dreary days.

Looping his arm around Kit’s shoulders, he pulls the fennec closer, nuzzling their cheeks together.

“I just realized, I never treated you to that lunch I promised,” he starts, resting the side of his face atop Kit’s head, “I guess we got into a little too much trouble this time around, huh?”

Kit doesn’t speak. Chronos swallows.

“Just like we always do.”

That triggers a small, wobbly smile— thin, almost drawn-on by sharp pencil.

“I-I guess so.”

Beaming, he jumps to his feet, holding the younger under his arms, high up in the air. “Tell you what! How about… we get all this crap back to the workshop, we kick Dr. FatFuck out for the night, and then big bro can make dinner for us? I’ve been told I’m pretty proficient in the kitchen!”

Looking into his eyes for a moment, that rattletrap smile grows, and between clenched teeth, Kit starts to chuckle. From behind, the others giggling along makes him jerk around.

“Wha–” head rapidly turning back and forth, he scoffs, “what’s so funny?! I can totally cook! It’s easy!”

That does it— this time it’s the others’ turn to burst into untamed, boisterous laughter all around him. Quiet, initially, an instinctive tongue-lashing at the ready to fall from suffused lips at the audacity, a particularly effervescent bubbling in his stomach hushes that urge. Memories of being surrounded by people he trusts most, cutting up and slinging playful insults at one another, flood in through his being, and he finds something familiar in being alive in that present moment.

The feeling of home.

Cupping his forehead with a hand, smiling and shaking his head fondly, Chronos puts a grin on his face, pointing back at himself with a thumb as he tucks Kit under an arm, playing into the apparent humor of the situation (which he’ll promptly rip into them about the next time it’s appropriate).

“I think we brought fresh salmon home from the market this weekend, could be good in the spaghetti I’m making tonight.”

“Wah?!” Squirming, wide-eyed, Kit’s hands rest on Chronos’ wrist, “fish in spaghetti?! That’s awful! Please don’t! Chronos!”

Strive and Nikki laugh harder, until the point Chronos slings his free arm out, toting each individual purchase from the mall in their respective bags.

“And I’ve got all my sick new threads ‘n’ shit to do it with!”

Gasping, Nikki teeters to her feet. “I JUST BOUGHT THAT EVANESCENCE T-SHIRT!”

Strive does the same. “Not my Snoop on a Stoop!”

“Your what—”

Turning tail, Chronos takes off down the road, Kit hollering under one arm and the bags ruffling audibly on the other.

“Bye!”

“Come back here!” Crying out, hands outstretched, Nikki gives chase, with Strive not too far behind.

“Chronos! Think about what you’re doing, buddy!”

Clouds having cleared up sometime during the afternoon, the evening gradient of twilight blankets the cold, vast sky, twinkling in vivid pinks, yellows and oranges. For just a moment, even amidst all the squawking and commotion, something about sempiternal reality feels welcoming again. Maybe it could always be like this.

Maybe, Chronos thinks to himself, chuckling tenderly, as long as you just stay close to me.