#I really need to finish this XD

[krysmcscience]

It’s finally done, guys – five whole pages of Narilamb AU comic AND MORE be upon you! (If you have trouble reading any of the text, view the full-size! These pages are huge!)

Yeesh, this took forever. <:)

There’s probably a ton of inconsistencies and anatomy/perspective wonkeries, but this was mostly just comic practice, so Oh Hekkin Well, Lol <:D

(Yes, I am aware the Gateway’s door isn’t present in the Afterlife, and the actual way in is just a pentagram portal. Yes, I put the door in there anyway because Artistic License, i.e. it felt more impactful for there to be a prison door of sorts to walk through to freedom, rather than just a bland boring portal on the ground. 😠)

anyway, i hate backgrounds so much lmao

Alternate ending and a buttload of bonus art under the cut, followed by goofy AU rambles and headcanon stuff:

I’m calling it the Revival AU. It’s not all that creative a title, and someone else has probably used it already, but I am too lazy to really care, LOL

Alternate ending page, which you will Definitely need to view the full-size for, Whoopsie Daisy:

The alternate ending was actually the first ending I finished things off with, because I had a brief badbrain moment where I forgot the emotional beat I initially wanted the comic to end on, and I tend to write comedy, anyway. I later remembered and drew out the proper ending, but I preserved and finished this one, too, because it still makes me giggle.

They had to go back for the followers off-screen in the AU’s real ending. And by ‘they’ I mean just the Lamb, because they weren’t about to ask three newly freed cats to go back into what used to be their prison. The Lamb DID spend some time watching Narinder and the bois enjoying the outdoors first, though:

In other news, here’s the Lamb and me making fun of my anatomy-drawing ‘skills’:

Meanwhile, if you’re wondering why the Lamb is just a-okay with how things went down vis a vis Their Murder, this bonus comic should answer at least some of your questions:

Ah, yes, also this is how they get engaged outside of the alternate ending. Forgot to mention that bit. XD (I already refuse to believe that Narinder is capable of flirting normally, so why would his initial marriage proposal be any better???)

Oh, and before any of them get a chance to actually head back to the cult grounds, there is one potential problem:

And by ‘problem’ I mean something Narinder intends to ignore for At Minimum a thousand years. Cuz he’s a petty bitch like that. :D

what do you mean i drew the lamb too tall compared to the background? clearly they’re standing on top of baal and aym lmao, why else would you think those two aren’t in this one??? (aym and baal got way too excited about finally being outside, you see, and their silly modes are nothing to sneeze at)

And, speaking of heading back to the cult grounds, I’m sure y’all would love to know how the Lamb’s followers felt about the brand new change in management:

It all went better than expected. <:D Tiny ramble now, feel free to skip down to the next comic.

Before you ask, no, the Lamb does not have any actual powers anymore, other than the immortality Narinder definitely grants them. The Red Crown just thinks it’s funny to suggest otherwise, and Narinder does nothing to discourage this. Also, the Lamb and Narinder aren’t actually married here yet, but, uh. Pretty safe to say that particular ritual directly follows the events of this comic. XD

Given how quickly he mellows out in canon, Narinder probably chills out a lot in this AU once he’s in charge of the cult, too, if only because 1.) He’s finally free, and 2.) He’s equally smitten with and distracted by the Lamb. He’s definitely in charge at least 95% of the time, though, because the Lamb never actually wanted to be a cult leader and, now that their time as a vessel is done, they just want to be a normal(ish) sheep who’s wholly devoted to their hot new divine husband.

Some followers do still have some valid concerns about these two being together, though, which I’m sure at least a few of you might share…

Unfortunately for any such concerns, the Lamb is a bonafide masochist in this AU. :D

They’re also 100% a sub, obviously

Anyone at all: Your relationship is problematic and potentially toxic

The Lamb: fuck yeah it is, it’s so hot~ OuO

Here’s just the last panel, made transparent for whatever nefarious purposes y’all might have for it:

Additional exchange Narinder and the Lamb have at some point, probably after the Lamb does a fatal whoopsie while out on a mission trip or in response to things getting a little too sadistic in the bedroom, ahaha:

Look, there is a very important distinction between life and death, and if you don’t understand that, then you’re probably not worthy of being the God of Death, anyway. (At least, according to Narinder, and ONLY Narinder.)

Last but not least, have these shittens:

~Such creative naming conventions I have utilized, lololol~ :D Anyway, there's a few deets on them in the rambles down below.

The rest is all ramble, so before I get to that, I’ll just say – likes and especially reblogs are very much appreciated!!! :D If you happen to really really REALLY like my stuff, meanwhile, I do have a link in my bio to my ko-fi page, where I’m accepting commissions and donations if you’re especially generous… ÓuÒ

Now, BE FREE IF YOU AIN’T DOWN FOR READING MY GOOFY RAMBLES

First ramble is re: Baal’s question of ‘Did it really work?’, since I didn’t feel like expanding on it in the comic proper, and it’s arguably pretty vague? He doesn’t ask because he doubts Narinder or his capabilities, exactly, but because neither Baal nor Aym have ever actually seen their god at full power before (he’s still technically not at full power here, either). It’s not expressly stated how soon the brothers were brought to Narinder after his imprisonment, but whether it was early on or after a length of time for Shamura to (somewhat) recover from his attack, he must have already been weakened, since I have no doubts that there was a huge battle that accompanied the Bishops working together to trap him. So, between that fight with all four of his siblings, sharing his power with a variety of vessels over time, and being chained immobile for a thousand years, he must have been severely weakened by the time he lent the Red Crown out to the Lamb, which would have only weakened him further.

I like to think this is how the Lamb is able to defeat him if they refuse to be sacrificed, despite how it took all four Bishops working together to subdue and chain Narinder in the first place.

All that aside, the three cats have been trapped in the Afterlife for so long that Baal also wanted verbal reassurance that they are all, indeed, actually able to leave it now – something that I headcanon isn’t possible without a significant amount of power (i.e. the Red Crown’s cooperation with its bearer/vessel).

(On a semi-related note, I don’t headcanon Aym and Baal as twins. I like sweetheart big bro Baal and snarky little goth bro Aym too much to have them be that close in age.)

Ah, teeny thing: If you noticed I switched up the art style for Narinder on the second page, that was intentional. It's sort of a visual indicator that there has been a Big Change for him - that being, how much power he has after sacrificing the Lamb. As for why I changed up his arms in the grass rollin' pic, I don't really subscribe to the notion that his arms are spooky bones because they're horrifically injured (beyond chain-chafing scars, that is), but rather just because he's the Bishop of Death, so he can change how normal-to-spooky they look at will. At some point I might doodle out how I imagine his appearance to range between least to most eldritch... 🤔

Next ramble, regarding Narinder’s feelings towards the Lamb...he was initially too focused on being freed from his imprisonment to form any real attachment to them. They were a tool for his use, first and foremost, but he did notice their intense devotion towards him. It was impossible not to notice, because the Lamb was always very happy to see him, even if it was because they died during a crusade (yet again). He wasn’t originally planning to revive them once he was freed, either, because he saw no real point to it – after all, they were already dead when they first met him, just as any other mortal would be when meeting him in the Afterlife, so death has very little real consequence in his eyes. But, once the chains were off, and it really sank in that he stood to lose the most devoted follower he’s ever had, he decided…why put their soul to rest for good or leave them stuck in the Afterlife when he could just as easily revive them again? And why not reward them for their hard work, anyway? Not only would it cost him nothing by comparison, but the future devotion that could come of it would surely make up for his (bare minimum) effort in reviving them.

He wasn’t expecting to get a full dose of that devotion and a smiling face so soon after killing them, though~ :3c (because the Lamb is a bonafide freak, and not-so-secretly into the fucked up power dynamics going on here, lol)

I should mention here that I am firmly of the belief that any non-god/vessel who crosses through the Gateway and into the Afterlife just straight up dies. So, Aym and Baal? Also straight up dead, from the second Shamura brought them through. Their souls were just never put to rest so that Narinder could have some company – if only according to Shamura. Narinder kept the two around mostly out of bewilderment, because honestly, who are these kittens, and what is Shamura’s game here, anyway??? They never even explained anything, they just tossed these kittens into the Afterlife and LEFT!!! At any rate, Aym and Baal being dead is how I explain why their souls apparently become lost in the void if they’re killed, along with the added complications required to revive the two because of it.

So, with those deets in mind, and given a bit of time, if Narinder hadn’t chosen to revive the Lamb, and also hadn’t chosen to put their soul to rest, they still would have woken up at some point, despite being as straight up dead as Aym and Baal. Who, don’t worry, were also properly revived while Narinder was waiting for the Lamb to wake up. Because I am also firmly of the belief that, first, the dead cannot leave the Afterlife without the use of a ritual/relic (and can't stay in the living world for long regardless), and second, dead followers’ devotion isn’t anywhere near as potent as that of the living, given how much more the living stand to lose.

Final ramble, regarding the Lamb’s feelings towards Narinder, and why they’re so devoted to him…

Well, you don’t spend most of your life on the run with your steadily-dwindling herd, trying to evade the ongoing genocide of your species, without becoming a little fucked up in the head. Maybe a lot fucked up in the head. Life is suffering, so might as well have fun with it, right? Maybe start finding death and pain to be kind of hilarious, even a little bit hot, once everyone you know and love is dead and gone, leaving you all alone? And maybe after that, there’s something comforting in how, despite the cold, cruel uncertainties of life, at least you can always count on the inevitability of death, patiently waiting for you until your very last breath? Who knows. Either way, as soon as the Lamb was killed, and they learned that the literal God of Death was offering them a second chance at life and vengeance via effective immortality, they were 100% ride-or-die-devoted all at once. Turns out death is kinder than life – go figure. (Of course, it helps that Narinder is 100% their type.)

They weren’t put off by Narinder’s thinly-veiled sadism or manipulations, either – they’re not too different in those regards, albeit opting for vastly different methods. It’s a very ‘two sides of the same coin’ sort of deal. In order to stay alive once they were made the last of their kind, the Lamb had no qualms with using others to their advantage, and that did not change once they were revived and expected to run a cult. They didn’t care for the position of authority, though – being a sheep and all, they’re much more of a follower than a leader, and thus greatly appreciated Narinder’s need for control. With how they had to keep on their toes for so long, the Lamb was also pretty good at reading people by the time they died, so they could recognize that a lot of Narinder’s posturing was just that – posturing. Dude’s 95% bluster and only 5% bite. He could obviously be vicious when he wanted or needed to (the Bishops' injuries were clear proof of that), but underneath his outer layer of cruelty was a generous layer of tsundere, and underneath all THAT was a soft squishy middle sibling velcro cat in desperate need of attention and affection.

(Which, for the record, he Did Not feel comfortable getting from Aym and Baal – Narinder still has no idea why the fuck Shamura sent them to him, beyond acting as keepers at best or trying to sabotage his attempts to escape at worst. Which, he thought HE sabotaged in turn, by guiding the kittens into being his devoted disciples instead. He thought he was very clever for it. ‘I outsmarted Shamura!’ he thought, despite that there was never anything there to outsmart. ‘What do you mean, Shamura sent your kittens to me for company?’ he demands of Forneus later. It may or may not lead him to pull Shamura out of Purgatory just so he can shake them and scream about how they should have Fucking Explained that!!!)

But, getting back on track as to why the Lamb was so willing to be sacrificed, I cannot stress this enough – if you pay even a minimal amount of attention to what he’s saying, Narinder is REALLY NOT SUBTLE about his intentions. ‘Death is of little consequence.’ ‘Followers are for you to use to your advantage.’ ‘Sacrifice a follower to absorb more power.’ So, yeah, the Lamb knew exactly what would be expected of them once the other Bishops were dead. They knew Narinder would expect them to die for him one last time. But, after all, death is of little consequence (not to mention hot), so when the time came, they wanted to see him freed, even if it meant oblivion for them in the end.

He’d given them a second life, and the ability to avenge their kin, and they felt indebted to him for that – so, while they were still pretty glum about the possibility that they might not get to see him free of his chains, nothing beyond their devotion and debt to him mattered. They never wanted all the drama and expectations that came with the Red Crown’s power, anyway, so, better for Narinder to have it back so that he could deal with it. What he did with the Lamb afterward would be up to him, and seeing as he was their god, they’d accept his decision gladly.

Were they in love with him by that point? Oh, obsessively so, but only in the devotional sense – romance was nowhere on their mind nor radar. That is, until he unexpectedly revived them again, told them he still needed them, and then offered down his hand to help them up.

The Lamb fell HARD for him in that moment. :3c

And now, a tiny shitten ramble. Lu and Li are twins, because sheep tend to have those a lot, and are conceived not long after the Lamb and Narinder’s marriage ceremony. Lu is the minutes older one, but Li is much more mature. I have put no further thought into these two, other than that they are utter menaces, birthed by the Lamb, cling hard to both their parents but especially Narinder (who spoils them rotten), and they are both genderfluid, using whichever pronouns/names they feel like at any given time. They are also both intersex, same as the Lamb, who was initially infertile up until Something Something Vague Magic, which I have also put no further thought into ¯\_(シ)_/¯

oh, and before anyone tries to suggest i headcanon this AU’s lamb as trending more female due to them giving birth or whatever, no, no, a thousand times no, they might have a vag, but they've also got a dick, and even if it's not as big as they'd like, they still know how to use it

Finally, the very tentative name for the Lamb in this AU is Yazdi, which is really just another name for the Baluchi breed of sheep XD (Not that the Lamb is this specific breed, I just didn’t like any of the other sheep-related names I found, ahaha...)

THAT’S ALL FOR NOW (collapses into an exhausted pile of goopy limbs)

[daydreamerwonderkid]

So fucking tempted to redraw this with Jason .....

Update: I did the thing! :D

[j3nnix]

this year I couldn't do anything special for pride month, but it doesn't matter because everything I draw is already gay so that counts I guess xp

happy gay

[mayhemspreadingguy]

Beautiful Nightmare 🖤

[redwinterroses]

No matter what my current fandom is, there are certain things that I will always tumble right back into like a magnet to a metal wall.

Narnia is one of those things. I have explored so many fantastic worlds -- hundreds, if not thousands.

But nothing will ever quite compare to being five years old, curled up with my dad on the couch with his arm around me, the golden light of our living room lamp shining down on my mom's beat-up paperback copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and hearing him say,

"Once... there were four children, whose names were Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy..."

There is magic in our world, and in my heart all of that magic can be traced back to a land of snow and lanterns and castles by the sea and one great, glorious Lion.

[yuriyuruandyuraart]

DARK CREAM WEEK: day 5- punish/reward

idk man i think your threats would work a lot more often if you stopped being so handsome about it fdrgbegh<333

dark cream week and comic are by @zu-is-here

[xx-sketchy-xx]

How are ya doing? I haven't spoken to you in a while! Btw I'm loving your new art keep up the great work!!

I’ll keep trying ❤️

how are you?

[amethystina]

Hi, I hope you're doing better! I was wondering what your take would be on Yohan's reaction to Ga On if he slipped into a coma after a serious attack or something. Because obviously there would be some abyss shenanigans, but do you think he'd be split into wanting to hover and protect Ga On while he's asleep or just getting revenge? Which do you think he'd prioritise and what do you think he'd be thinking?

I also just wanted to let you know that I find your work amazing, especially Who Holds the Devil and The Gentle Light. You mention how you're worried about letting us down with it, but I think you forget how much you've already given. It's not that we're expecting something and that you could disappoint us, but it is what you do that makes us love it more. The way you think and write are incredible, as is your perspective on the characters and their interactions. Thank you so much for all your hard work and effort!

Oooooh! That's a really interesting question! I think my answer, at least when it comes to the finer nuances, would depend on a) when this happens (i.e. during or post canon), b) if they know who might be behind it (because during canon it would be easy to assume it's Jung Sun Ah or the like) and c) what their relationship is at the time (i.e. are they still just coworkers or are they in a romantic relationship).

But, in broad strokes, I think Yo Han would prioritise getting revenge. Not because he doesn't feel a need to hover — he definitely would — but because he's a pragmatic, efficient, and goal-oriented person down to his core. Meaning that as soon as it's established that Ga On is in a coma and that there's nothing Yo Han can do to help him, Yo Han will admit that his time is best spent elsewhere.

After making sure that Ga On has the best care money can buy and bodyguards to protect him, of course.

The thing about Yo Han is that he can look past his own emotions and focus on what needs to be done in a way — and on a level — that few are capable of. Which at times makes him look rather unsympathetic, sure, but is honestly one of the ways he shows concern. Like, to him, just sitting there waiting for Ga On to wake up would probably feel like an insult to Ga On and Yo Han's devotion to him. Yo Han's instincts would tell him to DO something about it instead but, since he's not a doctor, his presence in Ga On's hospital room makes no difference whatsoever. Which means he'd decide it's better for him to focus on trying to catch and punish those who hurt Ga On.

That's not to say that he also won't spend as much time as possible hovering — especially if they're in a romantic relationship. This also depends a little on where Elijah is, but I wouldn't put it past Yo Han to — after a long day of chasing the culprit — make a habit of sleeping in Ga On's hospital room instead of going back to the house. Because Yo Han HAS to sleep eventually and so he might as well do it where he has Ga On close by.

What little time he doesn't spend chasing leads and making plans, he'd spend with Ga On.

And yes, this definitely means Yo Han wouldn't really be taking all that good care of himself, neither physically nor mentally. Like, if this is post-canon and he and Ga On are in some kind of relationship? Just IMAGINE how lost Yo Han would feel. It's clear, even in the drama, that Ga On's presence reminds Yo Han to be kinder and gentler, not just to those around him but also himself. Ga On often mentions how much Yo Han grounds him in Who Holds the Devil, but he doesn't seem to realise that it's the same for Yo Han. The only difference is the way they need to be grounded and what behaviour that grounding is preventing.

And a post-canon, lovestruck Yo Han who suddenly finds himself without Ga On's gentleness and kindness to soothe and calm him?

Yeah, that won't go well.

Not in a way that Yo Han would necessarily care about, though. Or, maybe more accurately, he'd decide it's worth the sacrifice to find whoever hurt Ga On. Even if he, deep down, would know that, no, Ga On would NOT agree with that. Ga On wouldn't want him to put himself or his humanity at risk. But that's not the same as actually having Ga On there to tell him to stop.

Like, to be honest with you, I think Yo Han might even end up being extra reckless and violent because some part of him hopes that means Ga On will come back to him sooner. As if he can force Ga On to wake up simply by doing the thing he knows Ga On hates. Maybe he's even punishing Ga On a little?

"Look at what you made me do, Ga On-ah, when you're not here to stop me."

"If you don't wake up soon, I'll do something even worse."

"This is what happens when you leave me."

Which isn't reasonable (or healthy) by any means — especially for such a calm and collected person as Yo Han — but he's also a frightened, abused child who never got to develop his emotions and social skills in a good way.

He's never been in love before.

He'd be so scared.

And desperation makes us unreasonable, especially when we're afraid we might lose someone we love. He'd grasp for whatever stability he can, especially since his usual anchor isn't there anymore. He'd look fine on the outside but, on the inside, he'd be a mess. There would be fear and pain and anger and helplessness and sorrow and hope and longing. And he wouldn't really know how to deal with all of that since, at that point, he's probably gotten used to processing most of his feelings with Ga On's — knowing and unknowing — help.

Yo Han, like many children with his history, is very adept at regulating his own emotions, mainly because he had to as a survival tactic. He probably learned from a young age which ones he was allowed to show and all the other ones were suppressed until he was out of his father's reach. He's also good at reading a room since that, too, is necessary for survival in a violent household. Granted that Yo Han now mostly uses those skills to manipulate and intimidate people, but he is well aware of emotions, how to curb them, how to influence them, and how to use them to his advantage.

What he doesn't know is how to process them in a normal and healthy way. But, in the drama, we see him begin to test the waters when it comes to using Ga On as a sounding board. He says things, sees how Ga On reacts, and gets clues on how a more well-adjusted person would process that information. And I think that's something Yo Han would continue doing, bouncing his emotions off of Ga On to see what's actually a reasonable reaction.

But, more importantly, to get validation. To see, with his own eyes, that his fear, hurt, anger, pain etc. is valid. Ga On feels it too, just from hearing of Yo Han's trauma so, clearly, it mustn't be wrong for Yo Han to feel that, too. It doesn't make him weak. He's allowed to feel that way.

I think that Ga On would become Yo Han's emotional lodestar. Which I wouldn't call healthy, exactly, but what about their relationship is? x'D

ANYWAY. The delicious consequence of this is, of course, that Yo Han is left directionless and adrift, with no way to properly handle all the very intense emotions he's feeling. And that probably means that when Ga On finally wakes up again (be it weeks or months later) Yo Han will be in such a state that the moment Ga On hugs him, he'll break.

Or, well, as close to breaking as you can get when you're Kang Yo Han.

All the emotions will come rushing to the surface since his brain just recognised that the person who usually helps him deal with all of that is back and so now it's safe to let it out, right?

Yo Han vehemently disagrees, I'm sure, because he's got a reputation to uphold! And he can't just suddenly break down in his sugar baby's arms! Especially since said sugar baby just woke from a coma and is still weak! This is so inconvenient!

Unfortunately, he doesn't have much of a choice.

Sucks to be you, Yo Han.

But at least he has Ga On there to hold him, kiss him, and make it better?

SO YEAH. Something like that, I guess? I think Yo Han would be HELLA worried but is also too goal-oriented not to choose to focus on revenge. He'd probably become incredibly restless if he didn't.

Thank you so much for your kind words 💜 To be honest with you, I often forget what I've already written. Not literally (I remember it with surprising accuracy a lot of the time) but it's sometimes difficult to remember that I've already written 400k when I always have to focus on posting the next chapter and then the next chapter and then the next chapter. I rarely get the time to sit down and just revel in what I've already written? Especially since I want the story to continue just as much as the rest of you.

And while the majority of the comments are absolutely lovely, I do sometimes get ones demanding new chapters or ones questioning the choices I make in the story (especially the length). They're definitely in a minority so far, but that doesn't stop the fear that, sooner or later, they'll become the majority.

And, more than anything, I fear the moment when I'll write a bad chapter. I don't even know what would constitute a bad chapter or what I would have to do for it to become one, but I'm still afraid of it.

Which probably isn't reasonable, but since when are our anxiety brains reasonable?

So I try my best not to think about it, and receiving such kind messages as yours definitely helps. Thank you 💜 I'm so very glad to hear that you like my works, especially my takes on the characters since that is (perhaps not so surprisingly) something I put a lot of effort into and take a lot of pride in, too. I LOVE these characters and want to do them justice by writing them as best I can, even if that means the fic ends up being the behemoth it now is because they cannot move faster than a glacier x'D

So yeah. Thank you so, so much. Both for the fun question and the encouragement. It means a lot to me :)

[blackjackkent]

Open Your Eyes and It Will Blind You - Chapter 4

Pairing: Jaheira/Rasaad Characters: Jaheira, Rasaad, OC Bhaalspawn, Aerie, Imoen, Minsc Rating: G Warnings: None Descriptors: Angst, Avoidance, Almost Kiss, Moving On, Fix-It, Slow Burn, Romantic Tension, Canon-Typical Violence, Cliffhanger, Fake Character Death Fic Word Count (Thus Far): 21.5k Chapter Word Count: 7.9k Setting: Several years after BG2 TOB Summary: Years after the defeat of Irenicus and Melissan, Jaheira and Rasaad are both still haunted by the things they have lost. Neither of them is much good at opening up, despite the burgeoning feelings between them. When Rasaad decides he must travel to Calimshan to face up to his brothers in Sun Soul, and she and their friends insist on accompanying them, the pair is forced to start to come to terms with their emotions, and what they want from the future, while uncovering a deep darkness that has infected the place Rasaad once called home. (Chap 4/?) Chapter Summary: After escaping the guards at the city wall, Jaheira and the others bring Rasaad safely to the Monastery of the Moon to plead his case - and then things go terribly wrong. read on ao3 | send me fic requests!

----

The crowd of the market district envelops them as they flee the amlakkar checkpoint and disappear into the city.

Rasaad takes the lead, sure-footed on the roughened sandstone street. In the distance, they can hear shouts as the amlakkar begin to call out, alerting each other to the fugitive menace loosed into Calimport. They are quick, the lawkeepers of this city - quick and cold, more so than Jaheira remembers. Luckily, though, they have entered the city at one of its most populous, chaotic areas.

She has been here before. "The Khanduq Ward," Khalid explained on their last visit, his light, clipped tone barely audible under the chaos around them. Here on his home ground, his voice held only the slightest hint of his usual stammer. "Khanduq is m-m-'market', in Alzhedo. The city's b-beating heart."

Leading them away from the gate, Rasaad plunges without hesitation into the tremendous, swirling crowd. The khanduq is no grid of ordered city streets but instead an enormous open bazaar, lined in all directions with shops and stalls draped in colorful cloth. Cheerful shouting voices split the air, calling greetings, sales pitches, offers and demands of coin. A few figures on horseback or camelback, loaded down with goods in sacks and saddlebags, pick their way carefully among the hundreds of pedestrians, freely mixing Alzhedo profanity in with the general tumult. The smell is an indescribable combination of spices, cooking meat, and sweat, which might be more appealing were it not punctuated with a liberal note of animal dung.

It’s enough to make Jaheira's head spin. At the best of times, she is most comfortable in the wilderness, and has only with difficulty tolerated the crowded streets of Amn and Baldur's Gate. This wall of noise and color is overwhelming beyond anything she has seen in either city; it is pandemonium. She feels constantly on the edge of slamming into someone or clipping the edge of a stall, toppling it over and sending the whole house of cards crashing to pieces.

Rasaad, though, moves like lightning. She has never seen him like this before, dodging through the crowd with practiced, agile steps. His boots scuff adroitly into the dusty streets, pivoting him in rapid turns, finding and opening barely-visible pathways through the ever-shifting mass of people. It is all she can do to keep pace with him, and she finds herself fascinated, watching the ripple of quick-moving muscle under his tunic as he darts side to side. 

For a moment she can see a hint of the boy she has never met, the boy he once was. This is Rasaad as he was before the Sun Soul - the street rat in the Calishite shadows, native to the desert heat. He still carries a lurking piece of that boy inside him, and that boy remembers these crowded streets and noisy stalls, slipping naturally back into the maelstrom.

Would I walk so easily in Tethyr? she wonders.

"This way!" Rasaad hisses sharply, wresting her from her thoughts. Grabbing her sleeve, he tugs her down a side alley and glances behind them to see that the others are following. "Take care where you step."

read more on ao3 

[longagoitwastuesday]

I am liking Jujutsu Kaisen, way more than I imagined I would, but I foresee it will let me down and it's keeping me from enjoying this as much as I could haha

I think the characters and dynamics are well set, and I think many of them have an incredibly good and deep potential, but I would be willing to bet they'll not get a proper development, enough for them to really hit. A well assembled set of gears is not enough to make the movement go, you have to wind the clockwork.

I think Gojo and Megumi have a fascinating and very complex dynamic, but I doubt it will be given the time and care that imo it needs to actually work. And it is going well enough for now! One could see the intimacy between them was deeper than the one Gojo had with, say, Yuji and Nobara ever since the very first few episodes despite the fact Fushiguro too was a first year. But the pieces forming what they have are extremely complex, and it just wouldn't be realistic if it doesn't show, even if in a not showing way, or if it doesn't have consequences or implications.

It's one of those dynamics that shape one's life, the way one regards the world, the way one establishes or not relationships with other people. It's one of those dynamics that could be full of fondness, gratitude, resentment, admiration, trust, and that imply intimacy, the good kind or the bad, even if in just the knowledge of someone who's been a constant through your life. It could, and would, imply a myriad of feelings, and probably in such a mix it could imply contradictory feelings too. Even the nothingness would weight, even the nothingness would be significant and meaningful.

Gojo took Megumi and his sister under his wing, the son of a man who murdered him, because of both selfish and selfless reasons. Megumi looks like Toji. What does Gojo feel about this? How does Gojo deal with this? How does Gojo go about taking care of Megumi? Would he walk him to school? Make him breakfast? Celebrate his birthdays making him blow candles? Did he take him to the zoo? Does the relationship between them feel professional or is it something more? Gojo appreciates his students, but is Megumi to him just another student? When Gojo faces Sukuna in Megumi's body, did he see the kid he raised, or does he just see Sukuna in one of his students' body? Did he have one faint wavering instant? And how does Megumi feel about this? Is he resentful of him? Resentful of the situation? Of the selfishness behind his actions? Does he feel like a pawn? Is he grateful? Does he resent feeling grateful? Would he rather not? Does he love Gojo? Does he feel nothing about him other than what he could feel about a teacher that sort of annoys him but knows he's reliable in his strength? Does he think it unfair, cruel or unfeeling that Gojo is close, closer perhaps, with Yuuji or Yuta, considering their story? When Sukuna slices Gojo in two, does the remnants of Megumi's soul tremble?

And not just Megumi and Gojo. Yuuji and Nanami, Gojo and Nanami, Yuuji and Fushiguro, Nobara and the boys, or Nobara and Maki, Todo and Yuuji or Yuta, Gojo and Yuta, Megumi and his sister. Gojo and Geto, even! If the pieces are well set, the dynamics are intriguing, interesting, and have potential to be deep, but then the characters have like two plot relevant scenes that punch you hard, but little more, it's not nearly enough. Especially not nearly enough for the enormity that is shonen dynamics and situations. And the potential existing at all, and then not delivering, makes it all the more frustrating when you're left with something mediocre that could have been so good.

The development of dynamics through not only a few plot relevant gut wrenching moving scenes, but also the smallness of life, is important. The friend who recommended this to me said that those things were just unnecessary filler, but I disagree. I think there's a big difference between a large amount of anime-only filler episodes whose existence is based on the fact they had run out of manga chapters to animate, and moments of quietness. The low stakes character-driven moments of quietness can be so telling and so insightful, and they are so satisfactory when brought back later in higher stakes situations. My friend teased me there was no scene of Gojo making breakfast to Megumi, that it would be an idiotic idea, but it would be so telling. How he makes breakfast, what they eat, if he tries hard or if it's all mechanised, if they have personal bowls or if they use whatever, if he just buys them some pastry on the way to school, if the way they have breakfast changes through the years, or if he doesn't make them breakfast at all! All that would be very insightful on their dynamic and its evolution. All that would give a glimpse on how they regard each other and why, even in the present. All that could become meaningful in tense situations and high stakes scenes.

These moments also let the plot breath; if a lot is happening all the time, if every character is always experiencing trauma after trauma, the entire story is so emotionally draining that at some point you don't even care all that much. Besides, these nothing moments or low stakes plot arcs, besides deepening and developing dynamics, also let some in-world time pass, which would make the intimacy and bond between characters more believable imo; between Yuuji eating Sukuna's finger and their last confrontation in December how much time has passed? A few months? Am I truly to believe these characters are so everything to each other in only a few months?

Without some smallness, some repetition, some daily life, some low stakes not plot-centric development, the dynamics don't hit, they don't truly feel fleshed out, and dynamics as complex as the ones Megumi and Gojo have, or as supposedly meaningful as the one Megumi has with Yuuji or his sister, should be fleshed out if they're going to exist at all. Otherwise they'd risk making the writing feel awkward and fake. Besides, if the dynamics felt well fleshed out and realistic, they would shape the way the characters interact and act, and how they deal with situations, thus being plot relevant.

The shonen genre has so much happening all the time, the stakes are so high, the dynamics are so rooted in big events and the relationships carry enormous weight and implications. Yet they barely get developed, and it feels so stupid, so plain, the absence of something so important noticeable like a constant void, a shapeless nothingness present in every scene. It makes the characters feel like cardboard figures. Jujutsu Kaisen is already getting a better job than many, but I doubt it will do enough for what I've heard, and I fear I am bound to feel let down, and bound to feel unmoved.

After all, if not enough time and care has been given to develop a dynamic, I am not going to feel pressured by the high stakes; if not enough time and care has been given to develop the dynamic between Megumi and Yuuji, as good potential as it has I am bound to feel little for this last confrontation between Sukuna and Itadori, and his effort in getting Megumi back.

[we-dont-talk-about-potato-nonono]

Kaia from Motorcity! 💚 im not sure if anyone remembers her but she could always use more love. wish this show didn't get cancelled so fast.

[phoenixiancrystallist]

Month 6, day 12

New material! Nacre this time, better known as mother-of-pearl :)

I'm sure I can find a good use for this somewhere :D

[sergeantnarwhalwrites]

Lol would you believe me if I said Fucked at Five wasn't intended to be a horror story and that I still don't consider it one? XD Anyway I gotta figure out how fucked up I should make Ian and Elliot. Cause even though I based their concepts sorta heavily on what inspired them I took my own liberties of course. So I've got Ian's deer as a red stag (massive fucking herbivores let me tell you that shit) and Elliot as a white tailed deer like he is in Open Season. It'll make his runt appearance even more shocking beside Ian I think.

Now I'm gonna have their like weapon/form of attack mostly be their antlers. But they're genetic anomalies. It's not like they're actual deer so I wanna fuck with their appearance a bit like I did Julie's. Will this make me miserable when I attempt to draw this some point in the future, most likely.

[thedeafprophet]

I'm really not entierly sure if Reese's portrayal in Scarlet Hollow is activly harmful towards chronically ill people (the way it presents symptoms of actual chronic illness and then immediatly jumps to 'Oh its so clearly fake' definitly comes... close to reinforcing harmful perceptions) or if I just found it hit far too close to home as someone with actual chronic illness and some overlap in experiences that it felt dismissive to me 🤔

maybe if there were other chronically ill characters in the game (unless im forgetting someone?) it'd hit less strongly

[ravensilversea]

Hi! This is for the wip guessing game. Let's see, do you have anything for Embrace, Shadow, or Interrupt?

Damn I thought this was going to be a three-for-three, but I only found Shadow in my WIPs atm. So have a snippet from the Grimm/KHR crossover I didn't finish in time for rarepairweek this year!

“Shishishi, so you are, peasant.” Bel graces the man by stepping out of the shadows into a puddle of moonlight, allowing his victim his first and soon to be last glimpse of his killer. “Do you make a habit of walking into traps, or is the Prince just lucky, Nicholas Burkhardt?”

Fanfic WIP Guessing Game

[huffle-dork]

Swap Across the CrystalVerse Chapter 8: PW Timeline

Read Swapboys | Crystal’s AUs | Read the PW Timeline

Read SITCV | SATCV Masterpost | AO3 Link

It's an awkward drive to Marvin's house, as Chase and Jackie are still silently digesting the idea of alternate universes, but thankfully, it's a short one. Chase soon pulls to the side of the road in front of an average-looking one-story blue suburban house. "Here we are," he says. "Alright. Out we go." 

Marvin is looking out his front window when they arrive. "Hey Alt? Are those your friends getting out of the car? I mean, I hope they are. If Chase and Jackie ended up picking up strangers it'd be fucking weird."

Alt almost glitches over to the window but restrains himself and peeks through it. He relaxes as he sees Bro and Jackie getting out of the car. "Y-Yeah that's them! Thank god..."

"Nice." Marvin walks over to the front door. "JJ, keep the cats distracted." 

Marvin doesn't need to tell him twice, as he's already busy dangling a cat toy on a string for Luna to play with. Ragamuffin sits in the chair nearby pretending to not be interested, but his eyes are following the toy. 

"Great," Marvin says, and opens the door. "Hey!" 

"Hey!" Chase waves. "Fucking crazy, right?!" 

"Fucking wild!" Marvin keeps the door open long enough for everyone to come inside and then quickly closes it.

Bro waves once inside, "Yo! How's it going?" 

"Thanks for letting us come over, makes this all easier-" Jackieboy says with a timid smile. 

"No problem," Marvin says. "Well... I don't usually like people coming over, but when the fuck am I gonna have the chance to talk to people from a parallel universe? This is probably, like, a one in a million years chance.  "Also, hey Jackie! Good to be out of the hospital?" 

"Oh god yes," Jackie says. "I was losing my mind in there. But I'm all good now!" He notices Alt, then. And he just... stares at him.

Alt blinks at Jackie's reaction and then finds himself glitching a bit around his shoulders. He hunches in his hoodie and then sheepishly waves. "Uh... hi? I'm Alt."

Jackie jumps a little at the glitching. Then he suddenly laughs. "Wow, you don't look anything like Anti. Hi, I'm Jackie." He smiles and holds his hand out for a handshake. 

Alt brightens quickly and grins, going to shake Jackie’s hand. Jackie can feel a bit of a buzz underneath Alt’s skin when they shake hands- like touching a recently on LCD TV. “thank god for that…” 

"Uh, I dunno if that comes across how you mean it to," Chase mutters. 

"Oh, uh..." Jackie’s hand wavers for a second. "I just mean that you're clearly not a bad guy. Does that make sense?" 

Alt laughs lightly, “no I got it. That actually… means a lot. Thanks.” 

"No problem." Jackie looks at his hand after they're done shaking. "Wow. You're... buzzing? That's weird. That's so weird." 

Alt flushes slightly and quickly puts his hands back in his pockets. “Uh… y-yeah I’m… k-kinda electric. Sorry I-it’s weird-“ 

He's very nice, JJ says from where he's sitting on the sofa. He looks at Bro and Jackieboy. He whistles You really do look just like Chase and Jackie. 

"I'm flattered that you think I'm as buff as this guy," Chase says.

Bro laughs, “It’s probably more in the face. I guess!” 

Jackieboy grins, “We’d look even more alike if I remembered my glasses.” 

“Dr. j is gonna scold you so hard for forgetting again.” Bro snickers. 

Jackie rolls his eyes. 

Marvin blinks. "Dr. J...?" He looks at JJ. "That... wouldn't happen to be... an alternate version of you, would it?" 

I can't imagine being a doctor, JJ says, frowning. Too much pressure. I always wanted to be an actor, actually, but stuff happens. 

"Oh, grand, maybe I can put in a good word for you at the theatre," Marvin says excitedly.

“Oh yeah! Dr. J’s our JJ!” Bro grins. 

“Henrik’s our actor,” Jackie smiles. “He’s very good too- despite being deaf.”

Chase's eyes widen. "Wait wait wait. You have a Henrik, too?" 

JJ blinks. And he's deaf?

Jackie nods, “Yeah! There’s… a reason for that but that might be a bit much to get into.” He smiles nervously. 

JJ nods. I understand. I'm similar. Not deaf, but still. The sign language probably gives away some stuff. 

“Where’s your Henrik?” Bro asks with a head tilt. “I don’t think I heard you all mention him yet.”

Chase coughs. "Bit of a sensitive subject. He's... in a hospital called Silver Hills. It's, a, um... special hospital..." 

"It's a psych ward," Marvin says bluntly. 

"Marvin!" Chase gasps. 

"What? You were getting nowhere tiptoeing around it! And everyone in the city knows Schneep's there, these guys might as well know, too." 

"It's not even a psych ward," Jackie mutters. "That's a department attached to a main hospital. Silver Hills is an... institution all its own." 

The swaps eyes all widen slowly. 

“…oh…” Bro says quietly. “Is he… okay?” 

“…sometimes going to a place like that is a good thing?” Jackie adds. 

Alt holds his arms, looking uncomfortable.

"He's, um... getting better," Chase says slowly. "H-he's had some problems for a while, but, uh... a year ago—two years ago now, actually—" 

"Seventeen months," Jackie corrected quietly. 

"—things got... a bit worse, a-a-and then he got..." Chase is noticably not looking at Alt. "...he disappeared... for a while... People thought he was killing people, b-but he wasn't. When they found him again he was... really out of it. A-and a whole bunch of stuff has happened since then that hasn't... helped with that." 

"But it's getting better," Marvin adds firmly. "I'm sure everything will be alright soon. The police just have to do their job." He huffs a little. "Competently, ideally."

“Oh man…” Bro whispers. “I’m… so sorry.” 

"Thanks, other me," Chase says. Then laughs. "God, the absurdity of saying that really does undermine the moment for me." 

“At least he’s getting better!” Jackie tries to add cheerfully. 

"Yeah, he's getting much better," Jackie agrees. "It's great to see, actually." He smiles a little. 

Alt, of course, noticed that Chase isnt looking at him. He grips his arms tighter and squeezes his eyes shut, trying to not let this random guilt eat him alive. He didn’t hurt this world’s Schneep- he wouldn’t. So why does it still feel like this…? 

JJ notices Alt's expression. He walks over and taps his arm, gently getting his attention. It's not your fault, he says. Aneirin is his own person who makes his own choices. Just because you are related to him does not make you the same. And it does not make you responsible for what he does. There's a fierce light in his eyes as he signs this.

Alt slightly glitches anyway, even if JJ is gentle. He watches his signs and feels his vision get a bit fuzzy as he wipes at his face. "...thanks... It's just hard seeing... so many versions of you do horrible things... universe after universe." He grips at his jacket over his heart and takes a shaky breath, "...but I'm trying to remember... I'm not him. I just... can't help... feeling bad. It's like hearing your twin did a killing spree and now you.. have to live with looking like him. Seeing the... fear in people's eyes." He shakes his head, "S-Sorry... that's probably too much... I..."

JJ smiles gently. No, it's fine. I know exactly what you mean. That's literally what happened to me. I mean, Aneirin is older than me, not my twin, but still. The first time I met Schneep, he thought I was him. But I'm not. And you're not, either. 

Alt returns JJ's small smile after a beat. He nods, "... yeah... Thank you JJ... that must be... really hard." 

"Oh shit!" Marvin suddenly shouts. He looks around. "Sorry. I just realized. Don't you guys pop up near, uh, parallels of people you know? That's what you said, right? Does, uh, does Schneep count in that list?"

Alt startles slightly and glitches, looking over at Marvin. Bro and Jackie look at each other. 

"...uh yeah? Probably-" Jackie says slowly. 

Bro goes pale, "...Mag-" 

Alt's eyes widen.

"YeahexactlythatswhatIwasworriedabout," Marvin says, voice squeaking. 

"What, uh, what sort of stuff does your 'Magnificent' guy do?" Chase asks nervously. "H-how worried should we be?"

"Very worried-" Alt says quickly. "He... He does mind games, hypnotism- he might try to-!" 

"Fuckkk that is not something good you should do to a psych ward patient!" Jackie squeaks. 

"Jesus fucking christ!" Jackie goes pale. "Yeah, no, other me is right, S-Schneep's not good with that sort of stuff." He shivers at the memories that come to mind. "A-and that's--that's without all the weird magic bullshit you guys have." 

Bro starts to race to the door.

"Whoa, hey, Chase!" Marvin shouts. "Other Chase! Do you know where you're even going?!" 

"No! But we should hurry! I could fly there and-" 

Jackie quickly grabs Bro and pulls him back , "You can't go flying here, Chase! You'll cause a panic!"

"I-I mean, go ahead and fly there if you want to be all over the news!" Marvin stammers. "But I don't think Chase wants to deal with the fallout of that, considering you two look so much alike." 

"Oh yeah, no, I don't even want to think about the drama that'd happen from that," Chase says. "I'm a, uh, semi-public figure." 

Bro pauses then nods, "Yeah I... I wouldn't want to do that to you... Okay."

Chase, do you think we can all fit in your car? JJ asks. 

"Uh--if you all squeeze in, probably. It won't be legal, but fuck it."

Alt then suddenly glitches as his phone starts to ring. He blinks and then looks down at it with surprise. 

Jackie and Bro give him a wary glance. 

When Alt checks the number- it's just static. He almost feels- drawn to it for a second before he shudders and tosses the phone to Bro. He nods. "...You know who it is." 

Bro nods gravelly and answers the call. It's a video call- of course and soon Mag's face appears. He frowns when he sees who's answering it. "Fantastic. Where is my cub?" 

"Not here, Mag, so just-" 

"Don't~ lie to me hero~! That's not in your moral handbook now, is it?" The mad magician cackles. 

As soon as the guys hear Magnificent's voice, they all cluster around Bro, trying to get a look at the screen. "What the fuck?!" Marvin gasps. "What's wrong with your fucking eyes?" 

"You have Schneep, don't you?" Bro spits. 

Mag gets very quiet at the other end before he sighs dramatically, "Why must you always ruin my fun, Brody?" 

"Fuck your fun!" Jackie bites at the camera. 

"Oh yes- you're here too." Mag drawls with a bored eye roll.

"Where's Schneep, you motherfucker?!" Jackie demands, pushing his other self aside. 

JJ studies the screen, trying to figure out what details he can gain from the background. A warehouse? he says, glancing at the others.

"Yeah that's like- one of his m-o's" Jackie mutters. 

"Oh hello, new kittens! Are you worried about your poor doctor? Well don't worry~ He's right here." He shifts the camera to show he's gripping up Schneep by his hair as he dangles entranced between his claws.

Jackie cries out, all his bravado instantly disappearing. "No! Schneep, no!" he screams. "H-hang on! Okay?!" He starts reaching for the phone but Chase pulls him back, knowing that there's nothing grabbing the phone will do. 

"What do you want?" Marvin asks. "People like you always want something." 

JJ steps out of sight of the camera. There's only one place in the city that has warehouses, he says. We can find him if he won't tell us where he is.

Jackie nods to JJ and Alt seems to pick this up as well- even if he stays away from the screen. 

Bro's eyes glow with anger as he yells out, "What the fuck, Mag! The people here have no magic! Nothing! Why are you doing this?" 

"Because there’s nothing here, hero! So- I want to leave and I need you goody-two-shoes not to get too chummy with your other selves so my cub can come here and take us somewhere better already!" Magnificent giggles. "As fun as it is to see this one so docile and helpless... there's not much here. It wouldn’t even be fun to kill my other self… way too easy. So- Alt, I know you're listening~ You should hurry on down here quickly... before I get bored of this snack of mine." 

Alt pales and curls his hands into fists at his side, shaking slightly. 

"Or you know what? This world's Jackie's screams were so delightful just now~! Why don't I get this started early and-" 

Alt yells and glitches to be in front of the phone, grabbing it from Bro, "Magnificent let him go or I swear I'll-!" 

But, Alt only sees Mag's smug face on the screen for a spilt second before the phone fills with spiralling magic. And Alt is caught right away. His angry expression falls scarily blank as the magic fills his eyes. 

"That's it, kitten. Come here." 

Alt's shoulders buzz with glitches and his hands start to turn to pixels, sinking into the phone- "NO!" Bro yells and tackles Alt to the ground, making the phone go flying. 

The guys from this world all reel back, stunned by what's happening. Chase scoops up the phone, covering the screen with his hand. "Y-you bastard!" he shouts, glaring at the camera. "I-I don't know anything about your magic shit but I know a dirty trick when I see one!" 

JJ crouches by Alt, shaking him, trying to snap him out of whatever this is. 

"You're gonna get what's fucking coming to you!" Marvin shouts.

Alt is weakly trying to fight Bro off him, trying to break into pixels but Bro keeps grabbing him before he can start to glitch. The static is so loud. 

Magnificent laughs loudly from the phone. “You’re only making this harder for Henrik, kittens! Come now, let’s not delay this hm?” 

“S-Shut off the phone!” Bro tries to shout, “Break it if you have to!”

Chase nods. He tries turning off the phone but it won't just shut off with the power button so he slams it against the wall until the screen goes black. He stands there, breathing heavily. There's a crack across the screen but it seems intact otherwise.

Mag’s laughter and the accompanying static cuts off and the room falls quiet. 

For a scary beat, Alt stares out with another blank expression. But then the magic stutters out and he quietly gasps before breathing heavily, looking around in panic. 

Bro slumps and sighs in relief. 

“God…” Jackie kneels down by Alt and pats his shoulder. “You okay?” 

“Y-Yeah… yeah I… fuck-“ Alt breathes.

JJ sighs once Alt comes back to himself. Take deep breaths. In for four, hold for seven, out for eight. 

Alt nods dazedly and follows JJ’s encouragement to breathe. His heart starts to calm down.

Marvin stares at the phone in Chase's hand. "Well. That whole thing was uh..." He hisses. "...bad." 

Jackie laughs. "Understatement of the year. We have to go get him!" 

Chase nods. "Um... Alt?" He holds the phone out to him. "S-sorry." 

Alt looks up at Chase and his phone and then he smiles had shakes his head. “No it’s… it’s okay. You helped me- mag would have…he was g-going to-“ 

“That motherfucker was gonna strand us here in this universe and just take you!” Jackie yells, throwing up his arms. “God he’s such a slimy bastard!!” 

Bro gets up and helps Alt up too, “…I guess we gotta drive to the warehouse district now… we gotta help Schneep.”

"Let's not waste any time then!" Jackie snaps. 

"No, let's waste some time so we can find stuff to beat that motherfucker to death with," Marvin says. 

"Not literally, right?" Chase says. 

"Course not." 

"Okay, in that case I have a tool kit in the trunk of my car, there's definitely a hammer, a wrench, and a tire iron in there." 

Are knives fair game? JJ asks. Can we use the knives from your kitchen, Marvin? 

"Hell yeah. Normally I'd be upset with people using my stuff for what it's not supposed to be for, but this is a special case." 

"JJ, you sit in the front and give Chase directions," Jackie says. "The rest of us gotta figure out places to fit."

The swaps all look to each other and nod. “We have to be careful though…” Alt says quietly, “Mag isn’t above trying to kill someone if he doesn’t get his way.” 

“Well… we’ve faced the threat of death before,” Jackie says. “Unfortunately. So we can deal with that.” 

“Who knows… maybe this’ll be over fast,” Bro shrugs, “Seems like he just wants out of here.” 

“Let’s just focus on getting to Schneep fast- being controlled like that is not easy on the mind…” Jackie mumbles. 

Alt perks up, “Oh- to fit and so… mag can’t get to me right away, I could hide in one of our phones. S’not the most pleasant but probably better than being squished in a car…”

“You can hide in… okay sure, guess this might as well happen,” Marvin says. “This day is already so god damn weird.” 

Alt looks almost embarrassed as he hunches in his hoodie. 

“Ha- John Malaney nice.” Jackie snickers.

“You can use mine, Alt,” Chase says. “Since I’ll be driving I won’t need to look at it. The other four of you can probably fit in the back seat.” 

JJ had briefly disappeared down the hallway and now returns with a pair of chef’s knives from the kitchen, which he shoves in his bag. 

Bro watches JJ and hums under his breath, “It’s always the JJs with a knife- maybe we need to teach Dr. j that…” 

Ready to go when you guys are. 

“Great,” Chase nods. “To the car, everyone. On the way there, tell us everything you know about this guy so we can prepare.” 

Alt nods, “We’ll catch you up.”

———— 

In the warehouse, Magnificent yells in frustration as he loses contact with the others and almost throws his phone but thinks better of it. He sighs dramatically then hangs on the stack of boxes he’s sitting on. “Godddss! It’s so dull here!” He whines. He eyes Schneep and hums in thought then slinks towards him. “Say, Henrik- I saw a most peculiar figure in that head of yours… the man with the dual colored eyes. Why don’t you tell me about him, hm?”

Schneep shudders. He doesn’t want to talk about him, but the hypnotism makes him do it anyway. “A-An… ti,” he whispers. “H-he tricks me, lied to me, pr-pretending to be more powerful than he is. F-forced me to take the blame for him hurting people. Or making me do it. J-Jackie… Jackie was… I-I didn’t want him to hurt Jackie. Or that other man, Jameson. How cruel is it, to hurt your own brother…? Th-they say Anti is gone now, i-is that true? Sometimes I do not remember…”

Magnificent hums in slight interest, “Really? Huh… so my cub is also not extraordinary here… just a delusional killer. Pity.” Mag shrugs, “I don’t know anything about your Anti. Cruelty is often a useful tool against the weak. At least he seems to use that well.” Mag sighs dramatically again. “Maybe I’ll just start taking life forces from sure boredom…”

"Not... extraordinary? S-so many people have died, that is u-unusual." Schneep pauses. "But not like you..."

Magnificent makes a flippant gesture with his hand, “Death means nothing. Human lives are just collateral. Power is the thing that matters most. But, I’m sure I’ve taken more lives than a lowly human has- if we must measure by lives.”

Schneep blinks. "Really? I... only know of the thirteen th-that he made me help with. But I know there were many more. S-Since he was very young." Fear flicker in his eyes. "He told me once he killed Marvin. That was a lie, but Marvin says he did try..."

“Hm- amusing.” Magnificent chuckles, “I’ve lost count. Could be more than that… could be less. Not that many of them mattered. They just got in my way.” He laughs, “The humans at least. Magicians I spare… in a sense, at least.” He eyes Schneep and hums, “I wonder if it would be worth it to kill you- or your friends. Maybe it’ll spare you all this pitiful existence.”

Schneep's eyes flicker, the magic hesitating. "I-I like my existence, I don't want to--please don't--"

Magnificent laughs, and with a quick flick of his finger, magic catches the front of Henrik’s shirt and pulls him closer. “Oh… it is always fun to hear you things beg.” He giggles madly. “But, tell me, Schneeplestein…. What is it that makes you want to continue, hm? You’ll been ostracized, villainized for something you didn’t do. Institutionalized. Deemed crazy. Sure, you might get out soon, but your mind is forever sullied. Is that worth it all?” Magnificent hums with false sympathy.

Schneep breathes heavily. "I-it is not just for me. I don't live just for me. I have friends--and more to do. More to give. I-I don't care what the world thinks, if I know the ones I care about are safe, I-I cannot leave them. If I have hurt them, I must make up for it. I can make a new life. I can make a new life."

Magnificent growls and pushes Schneep away. “Blargh. You’re as bad as my own annoyances. Such human attachments. Disgusting.”

Schneep stumbles backwards and falls to the floor. "Human... attachments? You are not... human?" He shivers. This is all too much. He can't handle this. His mind drifts off and he goes silent. 

Magnificent laughs, his burning green eye lingering in Schneep's mind as he drifts. 

"Oh no child, I am so much more~" 

----------- 

"All these warehouses look the same," Chase mutters. 

There are about six of them, and he drives down the road dividing them into two rows. "How are we supposed to know which one he's in? Not like this evil fucking magic guy has a car." 

"I don't know, do you guys have magic shit to help find him?" Marvin is understandably stressed out by this whole thing. Not only is their friend in danger, but four grown men sitting in the back seat of a car is very crowded, and he doesn't like being close to people.

"Mmm we might...? Honestly we kinda just- stumble into him usually." Jackie mumbles. 

"Or I fly around to look for signs of him. Like- green glowy shit-" Bro comments. 

Alt is lurking in Chase's phone, the screen buzzing with green and blue glitches as he listens. He tries to feel out for Mag's presence- "Maybe... nearer to the edge." He voices calls out, like he's on the other end of a phone call.

"Alright, got it," Chase says. "Near the edge. Hang on." He pushes the gas down, speeding up. "We'll start there. Other me can look around for stuff. I don't think people come out here that much so flying probably wouldn't attract that much attention." 

Soon, the car pulls to a stop and Chase parks it so everyone can get out. 

"You said you had a tool box in your trunk?" Jackie asks. 

"Yeah, go crazy."

"Ah- I hope someone gets Mag right in the face." Jackie laughs. 

Bro chuckles and hurries out of the car, hopping into the air to look around. He seems almost relieved to be back in the air. 

Alt buzzes anxiously and then glitches out of Chase's phone, his shoulders hunched as he tenses up in anticipation for danger. Where could Mag be...?

The others all pile out of the car, too. 

Does anyone want the second knife? JJ asks. 

"I'll take it," Marvin says, and JJ hands it over. 

Jackie opens the trunk of Chase's car. "What in here has the most reach?" he mutters, rummaging through the stuff. "Aha!" He grabs the tire iron. 

Chase joins him, taking a hammer from the box. "I wish Anti didn't take my gun," he mutters. 

"We still need to talk about how the fuck you got that into the country," Marvin calls. "Uhhh anyway let's start looking around." 

Alt starts to look around, keeping himself quiet as he prowls forward. Soon enough he shivers and hears static brimming in the air. He points towards the second to last warehouse. “…there. He’s in there-“ 

Jackieboy whistles for Bro who comes down to join them. He looks at the others and narrows his eyes in determination. “Alright- we out number him but let’s focus on getting Schneep out of there.” He braces himself in front of the door. “Ready?”

The others all quickly gather around.

 "Ready," Chase says. 

"Beyond ready," Jackie adds. 

"Let's kick his ass and get Schneep," Marvin says. 

JJ just grips his knife tight and nods.

Bro nods and then goes to burst open the door. 

Magnificent quickly grabs Schneep from wherever he was before and goes to grip him by his hair. “Ah! The Calvary arrives~!”

Jackie and Marvin are the first guys from this world to run in. 

"Schneep!" Jackie gasps. "I-it's going to be okay! It's going to be okay!" 

Schneep's eyes flicker a little. "Ja...ckie?" he croaks out. 

"Let him go you bastard!" Marvin shouts. Chase and JJ run up behind him. "I don't care what fucking magic you have, we'll take you out!" 

"Whoa, h-hey, don't be hasty, Marvin," Chase says hurriedly. "Just, um... just please put Schneep down, uh, Magnificent..." 

Magnificent looks bored as he sees the others file in. He throws Schneep at their feet with a huff of indifference. "I'm not even threatened by your pathetic bravado. Worst universe yet. Is my cub here? I want to leave." 

Bro growls and steps forward with burning blue eyes, "Stop calling him that! He's not just some tool you can boss around!" 

"Yeah and who died here to make you king, Mag, ya pompous asshole." Jackie snarls. 

Alt sees Schneep thrown and quickly glitches over to help him up- and get him away from Magnificent and towards the others. "H-Here- you're okay..."

The guys are not expecting Magnificent to just hand Schneep over, but they're all relieved. "Schneep, over here," Jackie says, reaching out for him. 

"J-Jackie...?" Schneep whispers. He blinks. "Chase? Marvin?" His eyes land on JJ and he stiffens slightly. "A-An--" JJ quickly moves out of sight. 

"No no, Anti's not here," Chase says quickly. "He's not even in the city. You're fine. This is fine." 

Jackie hugs Schneep tightly, glaring at Magnificent. "Yeah, we want you to leave, too," Marvin mutters. "Hurry up and get out of here." 

Alt moves back quickly, letting Schneep's friends help him. Then, a hand reaches out and grabs him and he yells out, squirming in Mag's grip. "There you are, kitten! Trying to hide from me~?" 

"Hey! Let him go!" Marvin shouts as Mag grabs Alt. 

Alt growls and tries to glitch out of Mag's grip but he digs his claws into his skin slightly, canceling them out with his own magical current. Alt shouts in pain and then slumps though he glares at Mag. 

Magnificent giggles and brings in Alt close. "Why are you fighting me so hard here, Alt? Can't you see someone like you isn't wanted here? You're only haunting these poor pathetic humans~" 

"No-! I...!" Alt tries to argue but quickly deflates. He looks at the crew that's surrounding Schneep and feels his heart clench slightly. The past couple worlds... they all started to feel like friends when they leave. But here... they're all too different, aren't they? He's never felt so detached from people who share the faces of his friends.

"Oh you shut the fuck up," Jackie hisses at Magnificent. "Your fucking bullshit word games and your fucking bullshit power plays. There are people like you everywhere, you're not special because you're magic. All that magic does is give you a chance to act out your worst desires." 

"You... i-if you guys want to leave... we won't stop you," Chase says slowly. "But... don't let him get to you, Alt. You're not 'haunting' us, or whatever." 

"And we're not pathetic," Marvin adds. 

JJ sighs. He rubs his eyes, looking tired. It's clear this man isn't worth our time, or yours. Don't indulge him.

"Yeah Mag! Just because they're human, doesn't mean they're worthless! You are not better than any of us cuz you sold your fucking soul to black magic! You're just a sad lonely loser who uses his power to bully people! Just so you have something to fill that empty void in your chest where your heart used to be!" Jackieboy shouts, and then breathes heavily afterwards. 

Bro looks at him with wide eyes. "... that was brewing for a while, wasn't it?" 

"Sooo fucking long." 

Magnificent growls, looking ready to blast Jackie for daring to speak like that to him but Alt grabs his arm and bites him, making the mad magician scream and let him go. 

Alt glitches away and back towards the others. He hesitates then looks to the side, not really wanting to look at their faces. "... I'm sorry for all the trouble we caused. But, thanks for... helping us. Even if it was strange." He says quietly. He looks to Bro and Jackie and tilts his head towards Mag. "...we should go. Before he somehow makes things worse."

The others glance between themselves, feeling vaguely uneasy. 

"Did we... do something wrong?" Chase asks.

 "I-I think it's just weird for them," Jackie says. "Being in a world without all their magic stuff." 

Alt's stomach drops as he looks up and he quickly shakes his head. "No no- you..." He knits his eyebrows together, seeming frustrated. "... I feel... bad. That we exposed all of this to you all. After all the things you went through and not havin' seen it before I... I just hope we... didn't make things worse... for you." 

Jackie smiles at Alt, Bro, and Jackieboy. "It's fine. It was nice to meet you. Worth all the strangeness, hah. Once Schneep gets back to himself he's gonna go insa—get really excited about the multiverse being real." 

Schneep glances towards the three of them as well. His eyes linger on Alt for a second, confused, but that fades away. "Th-thank you." 

Alt looks at Schneep and tries to give him a smile, but it looks sad. 

Bro puts his hand on Alt's shoulder and pulls him in, 

"Hey bro... we couldn't help it. They'll be okay- they're tough guys, even without all our shit. These guys were ready to beat the ever-loving shit out of Mag! Kinda wish we could have seen that-" He laughs. 

"Maybe--maybe you can come back sometime?" Marvin says, laughing a little. "I-I mean, I'd like to hear more about all your magic. But, uh, if you can't, or even don't want to, that's fine, too." 

JJ looks at Alt and nods sympathetically. Good luck. For what it's worth, I'm glad to have met you, if only briefly.

Alt is quiet for a second but does look a bit more hopeful at Marvin and JJ's goodbyes. "... it was nice to meet you all too. maybe... maybe one day we can come back. ...maybe." 

"We'll have to figure that out another day though cuz Mag is gonna have a conniption-" Jackie grumbles. 

"Heh." Chase gives them a small smile. "It's alright. This was... weird, but it's nothing we can't recover from." 

"Yeah, we've recovered from a lot." Jackie nods. "Least this time no one almost-died." 

"I... don't think I-I understand who you are," Schneep mumbles. "But... thank you for your worry. W-we will be okay. W-we are working on things." 

"We'll explain everything to you later, Schneep," Jackie promises. "I think you need to process it first." 

He laughs. "That is fair. I-I think I need to go back. They will be so worried where I went." 

Alt nods and pulls out the TRVLR. He glares at the screen and whispers, "... let's hope this thing actually works..." 

Bro lets go of Alt and goes to grab Mag by the front of his shirt and drags him towards Alt and Jackie. Mag hisses like an offended cat.

Good luck, JJ signs again. And goodbye. 

"See you again, maybe," Marvin adds hopefully.

Alt nods and smiles a bit more. 

Jackie grins, "Good to meet some normal lads, you all stick in there, alright?" 

"Bye!" Bro waves with one hand. 

Alt grabs everyone and then, after checking again, presses the jump button.

And they fall, as they always do. But their troubles are not over. The ripple happens again, and their course is diverted. Like a hand reaching out and plucking a feather from the air.