#I'M GONNA CONQUER THIS MOUNTAIN

[jackredfieldwasmyjacob]

What's your PhD about?

I haven't started it yet cause I'm looking for funding first so this might change (also I've altered the PhD propossal depending on the professor that would be my supervisor) but basically I want to study the Muses through the lens of Cultural Memory.

The ideal thing would be to study them and their evolution throughout ancient Greece, but that's impossible so for example my current PhD director suggested I should focus on the Archaic Era (also the Dark Ages, so around the 10th to 6th centuries BCE more or less). I am very interested in the relationship between identity, literacy, and religiosity, so the Muses are perfect for it, as they were used by the Greeks as a sort of fact-check for aoidoi and poets, which were the preservers of Cultural Memory.

Most stuff that's been written about the Muses has always been very philological and especially related to the 'invocation of the Muses' so prevalent in Greek literature. I want to open the scope to new angles, something never done before, and I have experience working with Cultural Memory from my Master's Thesis, so I thought it would be a cool approach :) It's gonna be much more theoretical than you would expect, but I love that sorta thing. Also it's impossible to separate the Muses from literacy so I'll be looking at written sources for sure, my good pal Hesiod (whom my Undergrad Thesis was about) will occupy a good chunk of the research I'm afraid.

So yeah, that's it. This won't happen if I don't get funding tho, so I could just never write this Ph.D. Who knows.

[jonathan-samuel-smith]

Lord Jon and Prince Damian is a funny combination because just imagine Clark never managed to conquer all earth because magic and magic user, Talia basically built a huge kingdom to protect her people from the Lords and also accepts some others who are fleeing.

Years past and Jon has always been curious about that place and laughs when he faces Talia's youngest soldiers. He falls in love deeply hard about that boy with green eyes, then Jon starts to try to seduce that cute and smol boy (and Damian hates him deeply)

Just imagine:

Jon: *throws a body at his door like a cat*

Damian: ... Some guys bring flowers

Jon: I'm not 'some guy'

And also

J: "i've killed for you. how many other people can say that?"

D: "... Multiple, actually"

Basically: Lord Jon's love language is being annoying

Took me a while to figure out how I'd write the Super Lords, but eventually I was inspired by another work. I might write a sequel to this but we'll see. Fic under the cut.

Jon was scrolling on his phone, looking to find people talking negatively about him or his father so he could send them death threats. He could probably find them easily and make good on those threats, but then he'd have to get up, and he was comfortable where he was. He was getting a little peckish though, so he might run through a couple if he got up to eat.

His dad came into the room looking flawless. “Jon.”

“Hey dad, can you get me something to eat?”

“What? No. Get it yourself, or better yet, ask Kelex.”

“I thought you took away my voice commands after I killed the wrong general last week.”

“Oh, right. Have the knowledge crystals not taught you how to hack yet?”

Jon groaned ”I hate the knowledge crystals dad, they take so much time. I don't see the point in them.”

“The point is they would teach you how to solve problems, like how to reinstate your voice commands in Kelex’s code. Now get up, I have something important for you to do.”

Jon got up and stretched. “Oh I'm way hungrier than I thought. Hold that thought, Dad.”

“Jona–” Kal started sternly as a gust of wind blew past him. He could hear Jon ferociously consuming junk food from the pantry in superspeed. When he was done, he ran back up to his dad.

“Hey Dad, I'm back. What's up?”

“What do you know about Talia Al Ghul?”

“Oh that's easy. She's like, your archnemesis. Her family's got really strong magic so she can kill us if she gets close enough. She controls the last stronghold of human resistance. She's older than you so she's, what, a million?” He grinned cheekily “Just kidding, Dad. You don't look a day over 500.” He laughed. “Kidding! You should see the look on your face.”

“Jon, I'm being serious here.”

“‘kay.”

“She's just crowned her heir, Prince Damian. He's your age.”

“Oh?”

“He's an even more powerful mage than his mother, and trained in martial arts. He is a serious threat, one that needs to be neutralized.”

“Ok, but how am I gonna do that? You said he's more powerful than his mom, and you can't kill her.”

“He takes his group of soldiers into the Himalayas every month to train privately. I want you to ambush them.”

“Kill them, right? How do you want them dead?”

“Doesn't matter.”

“Alright. I'll be right back.”

Kal grabbed his arm and dug his fingers in hard enough to bruise. “You could die today, Jon. Take this seriously. Run away if you need to. You're no good to me dead.”

Jon nodded. “Got it.”

Jon flew to the mountains and looked for them with his heat vision. He found them fighting each other and flew down and started snapping the neck of the closest person to him. Unfortunately, this was slow enough to draw alarm from the other assassins, who all knew magical attacks. Still, Jon was quick and he fought dirty, letting out a deafening shout and causing an avalanche. The teens fought him with martial arts married with magic, sacrificing their lives so that the final assassin could defeat Jon and place him in magical bindings.

He spat blood. “You're lucky they can be brought back to life, or I wouldn't have spared yours.”

“I didn't ask you to. But thank you– not for sparing my life, but for beating me. I've never lost before. It was exhilarating! Can you do it again?”

The boy looked at him strangely. “What?”

Jon grinned manically. “You're a great fighter. I want you to defeat me again. And again and again until I get bored. What's your name? I never even lose to my dad.”

“... I am prince Damian Al Ghul.”

“Oh no way! I came here to kill you! Well, I'm not doing that anymore.”

“Clearly not.” Damian said, gesturing to the chains around him.

“Oh no, not cuz of that. I meant cuz like–” Jon cut himself off as Damian took off his mask and piercing green eyes met his own. “Wow, you're really pretty. I've never seen anyone as pretty as you in my whole life. Definitely not prettier. I think I was saying something?”

Damian blushed. “Tt. You were saying why you're not going to kill me.”

“I think I'm in love with you.”

“What?!” Damian squeaked.

“That was so cute! You're so cute! You're so small you look like you'd fit just right in my arms!”

“Go back to the ‘I love you’ part because I'm not understanding!” He shouted.

“I'll say it as many times as you want! I love you, I love you, iloveyouiloveyouiloveyoui–”

“Stop! You can't love me, you just met me, and your dad is superman!”

“Um, I'm pretty sure I can. Love at first sight is a thing, and I've known you for longer than that already.”

“So what, just because you think I'm pretty and I beat you for the first time, you're in love with me?”

“Is that not enough? Ok well, I really like the color of your eyes, and you're really powerful, and you make me feel so many feelings I have never felt before! Fear, excitement, curiosity, admiration, respect, awe, happiness, arousal–”

“Stop talking.”

“Whatever you want, gorgeous.”

“That's talking.”

“Oh, right. Sorry.”

“Still talking.”

“I don't know how you want me to stop talking if you keep talking to me. Oh but uh, don't stop, I like it.”

Damian facepalmed. “I'm taking you back to my mother.”

“Oh I hope she doesn't decide to kill me after you went through the trouble of sparing me, that would be really embarrassing for you.”

Damian was quiet for a few minutes. “...You've never felt curious? Or excited, or afraid or happy? Really?”

Jon shrugged. “Maybe once. But nowadays I'm always either bored or bloodthirsty. Except right now, I'm neither. You're the most interesting person I've ever met and I just killed 5 people. That's like, 1 more than I usually do in a day.”

Damian set his jaw hard. “Why do you kill so many people?”

“Why do you think, assassin Prince? To feel alive.”

“...Who do you usually kill?”

“Dissidents and criminals. My dad's okay if they're dissidents or criminals. There's not, like, a ton of those out there anymore, though, so I've taken to scrolling back really far on Twitter. Oh, and jaywalkers.”

“Tt. Typical.”

“Who do you usually kill?”

“Political enemies, soldiers, criminals.”

“I guess everyone's a political enemy when they're aligned with us and not you. That's a lot more people you can kill. I kinda wanna join your side now.”

“We don't kill frivolously.”

“Why not?”

“Because we value human life.”

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why? Why does your father care about order if not to preserve human life?”

Jon laughed. “My dad doesn't care about humans! He just wanted to tidy things up. He gets mad when I kill other people because it messes with his system. It's one of those dumb parent rules, like keeping your socks in the sock drawer, or cleaning the fortress on Sundays even though we have robot servants.”

“... You're completely insane.”

“Do you want me not to be?”

Damian furrowed his brow. “Why are you asking me that?”

“I want you to get what you want! You deserve to get anything you want, way more than my dad does. I bet you could with your magic! Cast a spell on me, make me sane for you. If you want that, I want it.”

“It's Jonathan, isn't it?”

“Yeah, or you can call me Jon. Or you know, whatever you want. Even if it's mean, I can take it.”

“...Jonathan. I don't want to take your agency away with my magic. That wouldn't be right.”

Jon shrugged against his chains. “If you say so, my prince.” Damian was quiet for a while, and Jon slipped free of his chains to help Damian cart back all of the bodies. “You should let me carry this.”

“What– Jon?! How did you escape my bindings?”

“Magic interacts completely unpredictably with me.”

“I don't– why are you even still here?”

“Why would I leave? It's not as if there's anything more interesting on TV. Twitter says all the shows are boring cuz of Dad. Well, you know, the dead side of Twitter. God do you know how perfect you look? From every angle?”

“Jon, I think you should just leave.”

“Well, my dad is expecting me home soon. What do you think I should tell him about you not being dead?”

“... Is he going to hurt you if you go back?”

Jon shrugged. “If I let him. Which I probably will, so I don't get grounded. But I might be grounded anyway since this meant a lot to him. If I don't get grounded, can I see you again?”

“It's best if you don't.”

“I'm going to be honest, I don't like that answer. If you want me to stay away you'll have to use your magic to harm me.”

“Tt. Do you have a death wish?”

“No. My biggest wish is for you to spar with me and win.”

“What if I lose?”

“Then we'll go again until you win.”

“...Hm. You're very… persistent.”

Jon grinned. “Thanks. Wow, it feels really good when you compliment me. Do it again.”

“Um… you have really unique eyes?”

Jon beamed. “This is great, keep going!”

Damian blushed. “I'd rather not.”

Jon pouted. “Pleeeeaaase? I'll do anything.”

“Will you go home?”

“Fine, yes, after… 3 more compliments. Then I'll go home, for now.”

“Tt. Your curls look very nice, your hair makes a nice contrast against your skin tone and you– ah… you… that is, you're very strong.”

“I already knew that last one.”

“I meant muscular.”

“That's not a compliment, that's just a fact.”

Damian’s ears burned. “...I like it. I like that about you. I like that you're muscular. It looks… visually appealing.”

“Oh, I'm definitely in love with you. I'd love to stay and compliment you back, but I said I'd leave, and I want you to trust me! If you ever need me, or just want me, all you have to do is call. I'll come.”

Jon flew back home. “Dad? I ambushed him, caused an avalanche, and killed his squad, but he still beat me.” Jon called out.

Kal walked out to see his son. “You look unharmed. Why did he let you go?”

“Honestly? I think I annoyed him too much. But I'm going back tomorrow.”

“I see… an ambush didn't work, so you'll have to gain his trust and then betray him. I was going to punish you but your tenacity and cunning deserve a reward, so it is simpler to do nothing.

“Oh, yeah, psh, that's totally why I want to go back. I totally want to murder him in cold blood. I mean, you know how much I love murder.”

Kal frowned. “I do know. It gets in the way of your studies. However, this time I approve.”

“‘kay. Thanks. See ya.” He went back to his room to watch Damian with his X-ray vision.

The next day, Jon went to Nanda Parbat and watched Damian from the sky, waiting until he was alone to approach him.

Damian’s hair was slicked back with sweat and he was flushed and panting.

“Prince Damian. You look somehow even more incredible than last time.”

“Spare me the mockery.”

“What? I'm not mocking you. The way your skin flushes and glistens is as enchanting as any of your spells, my lord.”

“Hn. You know most humans find sweat repulsive?”

“I'm only half human. Also, you smell great. Musky. Can I lick you?”

“Definitely not.” Jon pouted. “Do you want something?”

“Yeah. Can we spar?”

“After lunch. Would you like to dine with me?”

“Can I? Won't the servants see me?”

“I cook for myself.”

Jon gasped. “I get to try your cooking?! Yes!” He pumped his fist in the air.

Damian chuckled good naturedly.

Jon leaned against the island as Damian cooked. “What did your dad say about you failing to kill me?”

“Oh I told him I was going back today and he thought I meant that I was going to gain your trust to kill you.” Damian stiffened. “So I'm going to let him think that so I can spend more time with you.”

“Try this.” Damian said, handing Jon a spoonful of sauce. Jon tasted it.

“Hm, that's pretty good! I've never had this before.”

Damian tasted it himself and nodded. “It is good.”

Jon ate at his usual impatient pace and spent the rest of the meal talking at Damian.

“Alright, Superboy, follow me.”

“Anywhere.”

“Tt.” Damian led him to the training courtyard. “Here we are. Remember to be quiet.”

Jon rushed to tackle Damian but he predicted it and dodged, casting a spell to slow down Jon’s movements. It was a lot stronger than the spell Damian intended to cast, and he moved like a sloth. “Wow prince…” he began as Damian took his time pinning Jon to the ground and immobilizing him with a spell. The first spell wore off quicker than expected. “...Damian you're so fast! Oh, it's already over!” Jon giggled. “You did even better this time! I suppose it's to be expected since it wasn't an ambush. You're really impressive…” Jon sighed dreamily, looking up into Damian’s eyes with a lovestruck gaze.

Damian coughed and looked away. “...You wanted me to beat you. Did you go easy on me?”

“I can honestly say that didn't even occur to me. I don't know why I would do that. Would it have made you happy?”

“Hell no. It would have made me angry.”

Jon smiled. “I'd like to see you angry. Maybe I will next time. Though I don't know if you'd even notice, considering how well you beat me this time.”

Damian looked confused. “Why would you want me to be angry?”

Jon raised a brow. “‘Cause I wanna see how you look when you're angry. I've never seen it before. I wonder if it would make me angry, too. I never get angry anymore.”

“You're… impossible.”

Jon grinned toothily. “Is that a good thing?”

“... I haven't decided.” Damian got off of Jon, much to the younger teen’s disappointment, and did a nullification spell on Jon before helping him up. Jon smirked and flipped Damian over his shoulder as he stood, but Damian landed on his feet and cast a sleeping spell on Jon. He woke him up with a water spell, sitting on his chest.

“You got me again! I love you.”

“You're weird.”

“Is that bad?”

“I haven't decided.”

Jon smiled, crinkling his eyes. “Wanna go again?”

Damian laughed. “Sure. I've not even worked up a sweat yet.”

The next time he came to Nanda Parbat he threw down a corpse in front of Damian, face still splattered in blood.

Damian sighed. “Most guys bring flowers.”

“I'm not ‘most guys’”

“Who was he?”

“He criticized your looks so I killed him for you.”

“Jon, I don't care what anyone says about me.”

Jon's eyes flashed red. “I care that he said that. Now he can't say anything like it ever again. What do you think of my technique?”

“Messy, but efficient.”

Jon smiled “Thank you. Do you want to spar?”

“Jon it's 11:38 at night.”

“... Is that a problem?”

“I was sleeping.”

“Oh. Can I join you?”

“Tt. No. Go home.”

Jon pouted. Damian held firm.

“Okay. I'll miss you.”

“Tt. You say such embarrassing things. Goodnight.”

Jon smiled, then quickly leaned in to kiss Damian’s cheek. “Good night, my love.”

Damian slammed the door in his face.

It became somewhat of a pattern for Jon to ambush Damian when he went out on missions, and Damian learned to expect it. Jon was getting faster at killing Damian’s compliment.

“I killed them, so we can be alone!” Jon said cheerfully, gently touching Damian’s cheeks with his bloody fingers and looking at him adoringly.

“Jon. Keep your hands to yourself before I cut them off.” He said, drawing his rune-encrusted sword slightly out of the scabbard.

Jon pouted but removed his hands. “As you wish, my lord. So, what are you out here for today?”

“I was planning on retrieving a magical relic from a temple to the east of here, until you showed up. You’re like a gnat.”

“I can get it for you!”

“Tt, I’m sure you can’t, there are magical booby traps.”

Jon pouted. “I want to do this for you. Please?”

“Jon, I am certain that if you were deathly injured my mother would not permit me to put your body in the lazarus pit.”

“Not even if I died saving your life?”

“Likely not. I shouldn't even be talking to you, you are the enemy.”

Jon grinned. “I guess we both like to do whatever we want.”

“It is human nature to desire freedom.”

“Well yeah but I'm not human.”

“You are as human as you are kryptonian. I wonder, did your father have the same disregard for your mother as with the rest of humanity?”

“I dunno. I was cloned from her dead body and my dad. I never saw them interact. But I know he loved her, and I know he misses her. He's told me it's the only reason he puts up with me.”

“It does not sound like you are very close.”

“We aren't. But he's the only other kryptonian other than Kara Zor-el so y'know, he's important. Not as important as you, of course, but he was previously the most important person in my life.”

“We're here. Don't follow me.”

Jon floated after him. “But I wanna keep you safe! Let me carry you.”

“No– Jon, put me down!”

Jon grinned and flew Damian in. “What's it look like? I can look through the walls for you.”

“Unneeded, I have a map.”

Jon swiped the map from him and read it. “I have a great sense of direction, don't worry.”

“You are infuriating.”

“We cause strong emotions in each other~ how lovely. Okay, hold tight.”

Jon flew quickly down the halls, before being knocked into the wall by a magical hammer. Damian rolled off of him as Jon groaned in pain. “You idiot. Where are we?”

Jon grunted and pointed to their location on the map.

“I can’t even cast a healing spell on you as I have no idea how it will effect you.”

“Don't worry… I have super healing… so the side that hit the wall will be fine. The wall isn't magic, right?”

Damian checked. “Luckily for you, it is regular stone.”

Jon grinned. “Help me up? I wanna help you finish this.”

“It's a bad idea. We need to get you out of here.”

Jon shook his head. “I'm not going. I'll be right behind you. You can handle the magic traps, and I can fly in front of an arrow for you or something.”

“And what if it's a magical arrow?”

“I'll die for you. Did I not mention that?”

“Tt. You're dangerous to have around. But if you're not leaving…” Damian got out a rope and tied them together by their waists with a length of rope in between them. “Stick close to me.”

Jon floated to his feet. “Mkay. Let's go!”

Damian sighed and pulled along a floating Jon. He disabled the traps as they went until they reached the chamber with the artifact. Damian picked it up and the room shook with a deep voice.

“To get out of trouble, face your double. Return the staff to the rack and it will end the attack.”

Smoke billowed out of the air vents and coalesced into shadow versions of Jon and Damian. Damian sighed and took out his katana.

Jon and Damian fought back to back as their shadow versions worked independently. Damian took out his double and Jon defeated his own. The smoke dissipated and Jon cheered.

“We did it! That was awesome! They didn’t stand a chance against our teamwork! Imagine if you came in here with your whole squad! That would have been so much chaos, I really did you a favor by killing them.”

Damian growled and pressed his sword to Jon’s throat, backing him up against the wall. “No. Killing.”

“Mhn, so it's fine if you kill me but not if I kill your squad, who as we've previously established can come back to life whereas I will not?”

“I will kill you if I have to.”

“I would expect nothing less, my prince.” Jon smiled slightly. “So this is what you look like when you're angry. I love the intensity in your eyes.”

Damian narrowed his eyes. “Are you really trying to de-escalate the situation by flirting?”

Jon shook his head as much as he could. “Just saying what I think, my lord. And I think you look beautiful.”

Damian sighed and withdrew his blade. “You're an idiot.”

Jon smiled cheerily and let Damian drag him along by the rope still attached to his waist. Damian escorted Jon back to the entrance of the temple and cut the rope. “You need to stop killing my team every time I leave the palace. It makes me look incompetent.”

“Do you get in trouble?”

“Not exactly, no–”

“Then it's fine!”

Damian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Listen to me carefully. I am telling you that I want you to stop killing my team. Did you not say that I deserve to get what I want?”

“You're turning my words against me! I just want to be with you. Your assassins would never allow it. If I don't defeat them, I'll die.” Jon whined.

“Then learn non-lethal techniques of taking people down. Practice on those criminals or whatever.”

“You want me to… not kill a criminal?”

“Yes.”

“I can try… can I still be violent?”

“I would appreciate it if you did not scar my team too badly. But outside of that, you can be as brutal as you like as long as they do not die.”

“Okay. I will practice not killing and come back to you. Farewell, my prince.”

“Farewell, lord Jonathan.” Damian said as Jon lifted off into the sky, the cut rope rippling in the wind with his cape.

Jon stormed through the palace towards Damian, knocking people out of the way like flies. “Prince Damian! I came back, as I said I would.”

“Yes, I can see that. Are you here to kill more of my people? You know I cannot allow that, Lord Jonathan.”

Jon cocked his head. “Why would I do that? I don’t care about humans.”

Damian quirked a brow. “I am human.”

“You’re better than everyone else, though.”

“Is that so?”

Jon giggled. “Yeah, I think you could even kill me if you tried. That’s so hot. Look at you, not attacking me right now… so romantic...” Jon sighed.

Damian tutted. “I’m beginning to regret that.”

Jon giggled. “Some days I think I love you so much I'd just let you. Would you like me to do that? Or would you want a fight?” He came closer.

“What kind of question is that?”

“A genuine one. Oh… If I tried to kill you, I hope you’d try to kill me too… maybe we could die at the same time. If I am going to die, I want it to be by your hand. And no one else deserves to take your life away but me, and only if you asked me to.” He giggled, twirling his hair. “I really like having you around, so you would have to convince me first, or else I wouldn’t even let you kill yourself.” Jon hummed. “But I don’t see you convincing me that this world is so terrible as to deserve to be ridden of such beauty.” He stroked Damian’s cheek with a gloved hand, and Damian smacked it away. Jon sighed. “I love you.”

“You don’t know what love means. Your father never showed you.”

“I don’t? Well then, you’ll have to teach me. No one else will do.”

Damian tutted, before sighing as if greatly put upon and offering his ring for Jon to kiss. He did so gladly, kneeling at his feet.

“My prince.” Jon held Damian’s hand by the wrist and turned it over so he could nuzzle into his palm. Damian allowed it. Jon locked his violet eyes on Damian’s emerald ones. He kissed his fingertips one by one.

“You are so devoted to me. It’s perplexing.”

Jon kissed his wrist. “It’s simple; the whole earth should bow to you. You are perfection. Every moment you spend with me is pure gold; my greatest treasures.Or maybe it is that I can take anything in the world that I want, except for you. You are the only thing I could ever rightfully earn. The only goal worth pursuing. Everything was meaningless and dull until I met you, my Prince.”

Damian cupped his cheek. “And what if you got me? What then? Do you truly believe that to be love?”

“I would work to keep you and to serve you, to make you happy.” He smiled. “To annoy you, to pester you, to laugh with you, to see you cry. To hold you. To learn everything there is to know about you until you’ve changed so much that I have to learn you all over again.” He sniffed Damian’s wrist, at the cologne there, and deeper at all the smells that made up Damian. “Intoxicating.” Jon puffed out a laugh. “I don’t know what love is supposed to be like. Have I got it wrong? Do you think it matters? I ask out of curiosity, ‘cause even if it were really something completely morally unacceptable to you, I wouldn't care. It feels better than anything ever has. It’s what I live for.”

Damian’s lips parted in surprise. He schooled his features to ask his next question. “How many people have you killed since I last saw you?”

“None.” Jon smiled. “I’m learning, see? I can do better. I must be of some use to you, haven’t I?”

Damian got a strange look in his eye just then, and Jon became excited at the prospect of learning that expression. “Get up.”

Jon wilted. “Have I offended you, my Prince?”

Damian shook his head. “Stand up. Don’t. Float.”

Jon bowed his head obediently and stood up. Damian stepped close and put his hand on Jon’s shoulder, pulling him down into a slow and gentle kiss. Jon did not know his heart could race so fast. Damian pulled away with an unreadable look in his eye. “Alright, Jon. I accept. I will teach you how to love.”

Jon beamed. “Oh, this is so much better than murder.” He whispered.

Damian smirked. “It is, isn’t it? A lot of things are.” Damian took his hand off of Jon’s shoulder and put both behind his own back.

“Could you excuse me for just one moment? I feel the urge to go fly.”

Damian nodded, and Jon flew off, laughing brightly like a child.

Jon returned a moment later. “I love you! It feels so triumphant!” Jon gasped. “Does this mean we are dating? Boyfriends?!”

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. My mother will not be pleased.”

“I can kill her for you, if you wan’t.”

Damian glared at him. “No. No Killing.”

Jon looked at him for a long time. “Okay… Okay. But if someone tries to kill you, I won’t spare them. Even if you get mad at me. Even if you don’t believe my explanation. Even if you can take care of yourself. I promise, I won’t let you die.”

Damian scowled. “Just…kiss me, you idiot.”

Jon flew to his side in an instant, but was much more apprehensive about actually kissing him, so Damian grabbed his head and dragged their mouths together. Jon purred and pulled him closer. Damian nibbled on Jon’s bottom lip and he gasped. “Damian!”

“Yes?”

“You’ve done this before! And I can’t kill whoever you did it with!”

“You don’t have worry, they are already dead.”

“Woah, do you kill people instead of breaking up with them?”

“Tt, no. They betrayed me. I made an example of them.”

“Wow, I can’t imagine killing you if you betrayed me.”

“Hm. I can’t say it was pleasant, but— we are supposed to be kissing right now, Jonathan.” He pulled him in for a few more smooches.

“Is this part of learning how to love?” Jon asked dazedly.

“No, this is for me. I’m just glad I found a way to shut you up.”

“Dami! That’s–” More kissing. “That’s mean. I love it when you’re mean to me.”

They had their arms wrapped around each other by now. Damian rubbed between Jon’s shoulder blades. “You really shouldn’t.”

“Nobody is ever mean to me but you! How could I not like it? I love when you give me attention.”

“To have everyone afraid of you, your whole life… Let’s change that, hm? You are terrifying in the way that you move, talk, smile, laugh, and behave… But we should be able to change at least two of those.”

“Am I so scary, even to you?”

“No, not to me. You’re even… cute.”

“Isn’t that a bad thing?”

Damian furrowed his brow. “No, why would it be?”

“My father always told me to stop acting so cute, that it was distracting.”

“Everything about you is distracting. You’re currently distracting me from my work. I didn’t think you cared.”

Jon smiled. “You’re right, I don’t. And like I said, you can be mean to me, as long as you don’t ignore me. Well, even if you tried to ignore me, I’d cover your eyes until you had to acknowledge me. Or… maybe I could bite you, like Krypto used to do when I was little and I’d ignore him. Hm… come to think of it, you did just say I was distracting, I’m sure there are lots of ways I could get your attention. I like being distracting.”

Damian arched a brow. “Surely you’ll allow me to get my work done.”

“Well, that’s not ignoring me ‘cause you’re mad! So it’s fine. I can just watch you.”

“Do you watch me when you leave?”

Jon nodded. “And I strain my ears to listen. I love the sound of your voice, my prince.”

“Oh Jonathan, your life cannot only be me. I want you to stay in the palace so I can show you other things you might find meaningful.”

“Like what?”

“Friendship, learning to cook, making art. Things that are worthwhile because of the struggle. I think you will enjoy pottery.”

“What's so interesting about making pots? Plenty of people can do that.”

“They can do it because they put in the work, and they are better than you at it. Don't you want to impress me with an excellent piece of pottery?”

“You would like it if I gave you something I made?”

“Jon, the only person who can make the art that you would make is you. If you do not make it, it will never be known. You can give me something no one else can.”

“Who cares? Everyone will say they love it so I don't singe their eyebrows off…”

Damian arched a brow. “I won't.”

Jon blushed and smiled at Damian. “That's right, you're not afraid to tell me what you think. You're my equal.”

“I may even decide to encourage you with kisses.”

Jon rumbled a purr. “I love you. I'm going to make you the best pot ever.”

Damian kissed him again. “Good. I eagerly await it.”

[arieswritez]

HII! i just wanna start out by saying I absolutely adore and love your mark fics so much, I’ve been eating them up 🫶. but i wanted to ask, in your yan! mark alphabet, you said mark would be more rough if you’re on the masculine side. do you think you can go more into that?

hi :v!!!

i think mark would be rougher w a 'partner' (partner in quotes cause he's holding you hostage 🤭) who's masc because of daddy issues. . basically LMAOO.

if we're talking about alternate!mark, despite the fact that they took over the planet: he still feels the need to prove himself to his dad.

he may not show it but he still holds a lot of anger towards nolan. if their fight still happened in that timeline, mark finds himself having nightmares about his dad above him, pummeling him into that mountain and he wakes with a start before his dad can deliver the last fatal blow.

it causes friction.

maybe nolan and him bump heads from time to time. heated arguments and icy glares in which mark is always the first to back down on. because the truth of the matter is that mark is afraid of his father. and sometimes he wonders if they're real partners or if what they've got is more of an uneasy truce.

regardless, conquering earth is something mark is letting his father do because he wants his approval.

he wants to be just like him.

of course, that insecurity - that resentment - bleeds into his other relationship w men or masc!presenting individuals. it's an ego thing. a need to puff out his chest and show that he's stronger than said person. that he's better. that he can bring them to their knees.

he's going to take out his frustrations and do to you what he couldn't do to nolan.

sigmund freud would have a field trip with alt/yan!mark i'm telling you.

it gets him so, so hard to see someone who's supposed to be strong reduced to whimpers and tears. he loves to tear them apart and watch as they try to pick up the pieces, only to fail in doing so. to watch them become an empty shell of what they used to be. he wants to be the reason you wake up in a cold sweat at night.

he really is his daddy's son 😞🫶🏽

also good luck if you're taller or just slightly bigger than him in any way. . let's not even mention if you're older. . it's NOT gonna be fun. for you, anyway.🤭

[thelreads]

I've been taking notes on the spypocalypse so I can keep my thoughts in order and actually I ended up noticing something:

First, a lot of other slice of life sitcoms don't have character development because they need to keep the characters the same for the format. But as a result the characters can end up feeling stale because they don't develop and thus the creators fall back constantly on the same jokes. But what I like about spy x family is that the characters are slowly growing, even if that means sacrificing the jokes. Like, Endo is letting Anya slowly get better at studying and Yor slowly get better at cooking, so even though we still have jokes about how Anya is not the best at school or that Loid is a better cook than Yor, we also get to move past it so the jokes don't become old.

Second, in other manga that have serious and funny moments, I find that there isn't often a lot of crossover, character-development wise. Like, in SxF, Fiona running off to the mountains to train in tennis is a gag... And then it saves her life during the mole arc. Likewise, there's gags about Yuri being indestructible because of Yor, and then during the Yuri v. Twilight showdown he is actually really able to keep getting up.

So that probably means that the next time Twilight and Yuri go up against each other, we'll see a return of Yor-fu.

And last thing: even though there haven't been a lot of chapters that let us see it, I think Yor is definitely getting a lot more feelings for Loid. When she first moved in, Yor didn't even know if she and Loid would be sleeping in the same room. She was a bit bashful around him, but it was really only when she was super drunk that she went tomato-face mode (when Yuri told her to kiss Loid, when Loid tried to honey trap her, and then later the welcome home kiss). However, when they went to the murder ski lodge, even though she was completely sober and Anya and Bond were *right there*, she went super blushing flustered mode at the idea of sleeping in the same room as Loid. Ah, yeah, it's all coming together.

Ok for real last thing: also I think the reason why Sigmund's tutoring worked better than Yuri or Loid's is because those two focus on one thing and get through it. They're both determinators who have no problem with snapping into focus on one thing at a time. Meanwhile Anya's mind has a tendency to wander. However, look at how Sigmund deals with it: when Anya turns Yuri's "whole enchilada" into the "swole Chihuahua", Yuri tells her to forget it and go back to focusing on the grammar. But when Anya takes Sigmund's "eureka" and turns it into "eucalyptus", Sigmund encourages her ("oh, you know so much about koalas! You'll ace your biology test!" And she may not have gotten a Stella star for it, but given that her only bolt was from math, she at least passed her bio quiz). Sigmund works with her wandering train of thought while gently pushing her back to the task at hand. Anya is a force of nature who conquers all in her way; Twilight and Yuri don't stand a chance trying to fight against her head on, but Grandpa Siggy knows how to work with the Lord of Storms.

Grandpa's are great, I'm gonna be so sad when it turns out Sigmund is a founding member of the Apple Project.

Oh, I like that slow development. It's so subtle and gradual you don't really notice it until something major happens and it all clicks together.

Yor is definitely getting more feelings. Yeah, she was not as embarrassed at first because she didn't really liked Twilight the way she does now. He was a handsome man and she was bashful, but now that she does like him like that, now that she's getting aware of her own feelings, oh now the fun begins...

And Sigmund there was definitely the right choice to teach Anya, and he does manage to get in her head because he has a lot of experience on the subject, he was a teacher for years, he understands the human brain because of his work as a researcher. Also because he knows how to handle test subjects from project apple after all.

[yanderelmk]

Hellouu 😄 How are you? I love your proposal headcanond! If it's possible do you think you could do Wukong next. Please?

Oh he's an absolute nervous wreck

Wukong isn't good with his feelings, this is gonna wrack his nerves for weeks and he's gonna doomsday so hard

Eventually gathers his courage!! He's faced many demons already and conquered them all, surely the Great Sage Equal to Heaven can handle a marriage proposal!

So you are invited to Flower Fruit Mountain one night to see the stars with him

The little monkeys are chittering in excitement but you're not quite sure why

Wukong's sweating bullets and you're concerned he has a fever but he assures you it's not that

You try to ask again but he directs your attention to the sunset! Isn't it beautiful?

As he fumbles trying to get the box out of his pocket without dropping it and looking like an ass in front of you

Hides it behind his back right as you turn around

Clears his throat like five times looking like he's about to go into cardiac arrest

"Hey, Y/N? Can I...I gotta ask you somethin'."

You tell him to go ahead

"Look, I've been on my own for a while. And I mean a while. Like a loooooong time. During that time I kinda see mortals go about their lives, and I gotta wonder to myself what keeps them going? During my journey west, I found the answer, but in the past few centuries I'd started to forget. It wasn't until I met you that I found the answer again, and I only knew for certain because I realized that what kept me going was you. Being with you, laughing with you, having fun with you, and just being able to be myself for once without having to worry about what other people will think of me. I know I'm "the Monkey King" but I'm also just Sun Wukong, you know? I think you're the only person in the world who remembers that, and I want to show you just how much that means to me. So- and if you say no and never want to speak to me again I completely get it- will you marry me?"

[starsfic]

Statue Seal- What Happened?

Summary:

Wukong has questions. Wujing is only willing to answer a few. Somewhere else, Azure wakes up.

AO3/Ko-Fi

-_-

"Here we are."

Sun Wukong looked around what Sha Wujing called a houseboat. It was nice and homey, with a comfortable looking table and couch, Wujing's scent lining everything. What also lined the place was the smell of cats. That was probably because of the mass amount of cats staring at him.

"Um..."

"Don't worry!" Wujing patted him on the shoulder. "They aren't gonna bite. They'll just need some time to get used to you and," He nudged him with a chuckle. "With your rap sheet, that won't be too hard!"

Wukong chuckled. His love of animals and children was well-documented. Originally, their master had been nervous about the latter, scolding Wukong whenever he was "too rough." At least, he had until one little girl had burst into tears and told her mother about the "mean monk."

Sanzang had promptly shut up after meeting the angry mother.

"...where are they?" Wukong couldn't smell them on Wujing. The faint scent of incense, the stench of mud, the tang of the sea, none of it was on Wujing. "Where is Master and the other two?" His second brother stiffened. Dread shot through him. "Wujing?"

"Well..." The river demon sighed. "I'm gonna make some tea. Make yourself comfortable."

Wukong nodded and watched as the river demon headed over to a space that reminded him of a kitchen. He sat down on the couch. It felt strange, but it was still comfortable.

"Meow." He looked down. A blue cat with an orange mohawk (weirdly looked like Wujing) eyed him before leaning over, batting his head against his shoulder. "Meow." He glanced at his other side, watching a little orange cat hop up and nuzzle his hand before he started to pet it. A few more "Meow, meow, meow..." signaled more cats drawing close and Wukong couldn't help but chuckle.

He missed his monkeys.

"How's my mountain?" Hopefully, that was less of an issue. "Are my monkeys alright?"

"Yeah!" Wujing sounded much more cheerful. "We started visiting every other week to make sure everything was going alright. I think Ao Lie moved in at one point and fixed up your manor." He headed over with a tray. "Right now, the fruit trees are blooming."

"Aw, that's one of my favorite seasons." Wukong took a cup and smelled it. Hmm, jasmine. Wujing settled across from him and chuckled, taking a deep breath of his own tea's scent. They sat there, Wukong eyeing his tea and petting cats, and Wujing simply seeming to take everything in.

"...Azure was executed."

Ah, so they were gonna start talking. Although that nearly made him drop his tea. "What?"

"They tried to conquer Heaven," Wujing explained, his face eerily blank. "Just the three of them. I mean, they almost succeeded, but we stopped them."

Wukong nodded. "Okay. What happened to them?" Azure had been executed?

"Peng and Yellowtusk were confined to the Scroll of Memory, under the guard of the ten kings and the Zodiac," Wujing said. Something had snuck into his voice, just for a second. "And Ao Lie."

Wukong blinked once. Twice. Trice. The words sank in. "What?"

"The...the Samadhi fire- it wasn't your fault-" Wujing grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "It wasn't your fault," he said again, as if Wukong could believe him if he said it enough. "It started acting up. We figured that the scroll could calm the flames if Ao Lie was trapped there. He volunteered."

The scroll was almost a death sentence. Wukong didn't know much about the Scroll of the Memory, but he knew enough. "And Master? Bajie?"

Wujing looked away. Okay. Sore subject. Wukong's mind began to work. "What about Azure?"

Wujing relaxed, subtly. "He went through a trial." Anger lined the words. "He didn't say a word, especially when Master insisted on being part of the questioning party. He only spoke when Master asked if he was sorry."

Azure was never sorry about things. It was something Wukong had learned the hard way. "Was he?"

Wujing's mouth shut. He silently shook his head. 

"His only regret was not convincing you."

And that was it, huh.

The rest of the night was spent in silence. Wujing led Wukong to his bedroom, where a comfy-looking nest sat, and Wukong practically collapsed. He didn’t sleep, though, not even when Wujing joined him and several cats curled around them.

Guilt and regret sat heavy on his chest.

-_-

"Azure, it's time to wake up..."

"We've spent a week running through the celestial realm putting down rebellions, my jewel..." Azure rose up and patted the cheek of that sweet voice. "Come back to bed," he groaned, moving to wrap an arm around that warm body.

His arm wrapped around nothing. "I'm sorry, but this is important..."

"I'm sure Yellowtusk or Peng can handle it. Maybe even Macaque." Azure groaned. He just wanted to sleep and cuddle his husband. "Come back to bed."

"I'm sorry Azure..." Sun Wukong's voice shifted and changed. "But it's time to wake up."

Azure's eyes opened.

Darkness met his gaze. He blinked and slowly, the darkness cleared. Faint sunlight was...somewhere. The main source of light was blue-flamed candles that didn't seem to give much light. Only enough to see the black-robed figures that surrounded him.

"Who...?" He managed to sit up. His entire being throbbed, centered on his heart and stomach, and Azure nearly fell back down. He managed to stay up, looking around to confirm that they seemed to be in the back of some cave, and glared at the robes. "Who are you? What...what happened to me?"

"What do you remember, Azure Lion?" one spoke.

The monk. Tang Sanzang. He stood at the center of a table, silently staring him down.

"Are you sorry for what you have done?"

"The monk..." Azure grunted and managed to stand. "What happened?"

"You were banished for crimes against the Heavenly Court," the main speaker, the leader possibly, said. Something about that felt off. "Your brothers were confined to the Scroll of Memory for aiding you. You have been unaware for a very long time."

If he was calmer, Azure would've questioned this. Banishment wasn't what the Jade Emperor did, unless someone spoke up. Execution was more likely. However, Azure was not calm.

“We have felt something. Sun Wukong will rise again-”

Only one thought ran through his mind.

Wukong.

He had left the topaz statue on the little altar he had made. Azure had filled it with beautiful flowers, richly decorated silks, and even glamorous jewels. He hadn’t wanted Wukong to be bored.

Now, however, he regretted that decision. “Where is Lion Camel Ridge?!” he managed. “Where is my home? Golden-Winged Peng and Yellow-Tusked Elephant?!” My brother, my beloved, my Wukong.

“Azure-”

“It’s over there.” Several hoods turned to a small figure, seeming to be some kind of servant. The servant nodded to the entrance of the cave. “That way.”

“Thank you,” Azure managed, barely holding onto the politeness. Out came his sword and the world seemed to crack. There was a shout but he was already racing through.

He aimed for the top of the palace, the throne room, where he and his brothers would look down upon their Heaven. Mortals and demons alike lived together in peace below, offering tributes and tithes. Their safety and joy had been enough for Azure in the center throne.

The three thrones were still there- his center throne, Peng’s throne carved out with space for their wings, Yellowtusk’s throne larger to accompany his bigger size. However, they were covered in dust and dirt, eroded by time. Azure’s heart crawled into his throat, and he turned and looked out.

Camel Ridge was a silent ruin.

“WUKONG!”

Azure sprinted down the stairs, heart racing. His city was in ruins, little more than the remains of columns and floor. What finery there had been was gone, worn away or looted. He turned the corner and his heart skipped a beat. No, this section was still intact. The hallways that led to his personal chambers were intact. Hope rose in his chest as he stumbled through, right through the doorway that led in.

And then the hope died.

Like the rest of the city, his room was little more than ruins. A good portion of the wall and ceiling were gone, collapsed on the floor, exposing what had been his chambers to the blue sky. Azure bit back another wail of his beloved’s name and marched in. Surely something had survived? He dove in, pushing rubble and rotting remains of furniture aside.

And there was the shelf. His little shrine had faced the years- the fine silk had rotted away, the flowers were little more than dust, and the jewels were gone. And finally, the centerpiece itself, the topaz statue of Wukong Azure had made sure looked exactly like the king, was gone.

His knees felt shaky.

He collapsed. Azure wasn’t sure what this feeling was, whether horror or relief, but he knelt there, staring at the shrine. 

He could remember the final few weeks before the attack on Heaven. Azure had been busy, preparing for the fight that they knew was to come, but he had tried his best to spend some time. He hadn’t been sure whether or not Wukong could hear him, but Azure had wanted him to feel less alone. He had admitted his hopes, his dreams, his fantasies to that little statue.

 “Baba!”

“Aw, hello, my little one!”

Wukong in beautiful blue robes cuddled a small baby close, kissing over their adorable face. As the baby laughed and cooed, those beautiful golden eyes turned towards him. A sweet smile formed as he reached up with a hand in offering. “Hello, my love…”

He had to find Wukong.

He had no idea how long it had been- long enough for his home to look like nothing but a massive amount of rubble- but longer than he intended. He needed to find and free Wukong and then make a plan to free the others. He needed to remove the Jade Emperor before he could come for them again.

He tried to pull out his sword again but his muscles screamed, hard enough that Azure stopped.

First, however, he needed to rest.

[pokesmashorpokepass]

Gen IV, Complete!

Yes, it's true! We've trekked our way through snowy Sinnoh's glorious mountains and come out with a consensus on the most smashable of Gen IV's Pokemon!

As such, it is time to look at this generations...

Sultans of Smash!

(Which is just a fancy way of saying they got more “Smash” than “Pass” votes)

So lets get right to it and have ourselves a look at this Gen's selections! Our Smashables are (under the Read More because oh man this gonna take a while, though admittedly Gen IV has slimmer pickings than some other generations...):

1. Staring us off is... a water starter? Yes, it seems we've finally only got one starter who could make it to a majority Smash in the form of Empoleon! But at 62.5% Smashable, they've certainly made it by a fair margin. Guess this penguin made like their namesake and conquered! (In this case, conquered the polls) Also, fun fact, 5ft7 was pretty close to the historical Napoleon's height! And no, that wasn't short for the time. If you're wondering where the stereotype of him being short comes from, the answer is British Political Cartoons.

2. This next entry is a familiar sight to many, I'm sure. After all, who didn't see Shinx and think "Oh sweet, Electric Type cat!" and evolve it into one of the world's most kickass lions? Not many of y'all I suspect, because Luxray, said kickass lion, has graced this list with a fine 66.7% Smash rating! They say a Luxray's eyes can see through anything, and apparently that includes seeing through the complexities of people so they can charm their way into the hearts of many.

3. You may remember a certain rose themed Pokemon making their way onto the list back in Gen III, so I'm sure many of you will be pleased to hear that their evolution, Roserade, has made it in! At a 69.1% Smash rating, it seems there's no masking the love many feel for this rose.

4. Many of us here on the tumblr claim to be Anti-Monarchist, but it seems there's one queen many have made an exception for. That's right, that most royal of queen bees, Vespiquen! Winning a solid 57.5% Smash rating, seems this queen rules more than just her beehive.

5. I have to admit, I'm pleasantly surprised by this next one. Floatzel, everyone's favorite water weasel/otter hybrid, has made like an Aqua Jet and quickly propelled themself to a 59.2% smash rating!

6. There's no two ways about it, I think we all saw this one coming as much as we did Gardevoir's. They've been an internet favorite since Diamond and Pearl were first released, so it's only natural Lopunny would make the Sultans of Smash! Her Standard Form, at an impressive 77.5% Smash rating, is a classic in the world of Pokemon Smashing. But special mention has to go to her Mega Evolution! While yes, Mega Lopunny technically got a smaller rating than Standard (61.8%), it must be said that this is 61.8% of more than 3,000 votes (3,366 to be precise)! Thanks to the reblog of tumblr user tamamita (who I don't @ because I'm not sure he wants to be bothered), we have so much data on the smashability of Mega Lopunny! But most importantly, we have confirmed that many who see this lapine angel agree that it is time to le.

7. How do you feel about... magic? I must assume many of y'all like it, since next on the list is Mismagius, at a 70.6% Smash rating! Seems this mage makes more than one kind of magic.

8. This next one has made quite the impression! Maybe it's the fact that they're one of the few pseudo-legendaries in the series to be catchable at a reasonable point in their game if you know where to look. Maybe it's the fact that beloved Sinnoh champion Cynthia kicked so many of y'alls asses with them. Or maybe it's just because you have eyes and good taste. Whatever the reason, Garchomp has made their way into the Sultans of Smash, smooth as (memes about) sharks skin with a 69.7% Smash rating in standard form and a 54.5% rating as Mega Garchomp! Yes, smooth as sharks skin. Everyone knows sharks are smooth! :)

9. Ok, smoothsharking aside, this next one was also someone we, shall we say, had reserved parking for. Everyone's favorite Jackal Fighter Pokemon, Lucario! With an excellent 77.6% rating in Standard Form and a 75.6% rating as Mega Lucario, there's little for me to add about this legend of Pokemon Smashing. All I'll say is welcome to the club, brother!

10. I know a secret: many of y'all are weak to a cocky smirk. Oh, think I'm wrong? Well, I think Weavile and their 58.4% Smash rating would beg to differ! But should be we so surprised? Weavile are some of the best thieves in the Pokemon world, only natural they steal hearts as well!

11. I have one word for all y'all: Tentacles! Well, no, I also have one statement to make as well: Damn, Tangrowth's poll was a lot closer than I expected! Considering how previous tentacle having Pokemon went, I expected way greater than a 50.4% rating! Still, they're on the list and that's what counts.

12. Another even numbered generation, another batch of Eeveelutions! And first of the two, we have Leafeon at a 55.2% Smash rating! I'm gonna be honest, I don't think this is what they meant by eating salad, but who am I to judge?

13. And of course, right behind Leafeon is Glaceon! Well, I say behind but really, having also been voted 55.2% Smashable, I think it's more like "Right beside". At any rate, I suppose I should also just say I hope Glaceon has enough body heat to prevent a, shall we say, tongue on a frozen flagpoll moment!

14. There is a certain charm to the art of the sword. Whether it's the more elegant and graceful fencing, or the brutal crushing blows of wielding a zweihander, there's something for everyone. And so, some of that charm comes to the Ralts family with the sword-armed Gallade! Unsheathing a powerful 62.4% Smash rating in Standard Form and an improved 64.2% rating as Mega Gallade, this Pokemon also clearly knows the art of seduction...!

15. On the surface, one of the creepier ghosts pokemon has come up with! But deeper down, simply a psychopomp who simply guides lost spirits home! And even further into the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games, A Capital-B Bastard that fans none-the-less can't help but love! Regardless of how you see them, Dusknoir is on the list with a 53.6% Smash rating! Maybe my call to the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon fans worked...

16. Elegant. Beautiful. Inspired by one of the more dangerous youkai in Japanese folklore. This and much more perfectly describes the next member of the Sultans of Smash, Froslass! With a cool 67.9% Smash rating, seems some of y'all are solid for a reason that doesn't involve being frozen.

17. When it comes to time, it just always feels like there's never enough. Never enough, unless you're Dialga, the next name on our list! Clocking in at a brilliant 62.2% rating in its Standard Form and at 51.6% in Origin Form, It seems many of you always have time for Dialga.

18: Are you someone who feels like you never have enough space in your life? Well then maybe you need a little more Palkia in your life! Shining brightly with a 61.6% Smash rating in Standard form and a 53.3% rating in Origin Form, it is apparent that there is always space in your hearts for Palkia.

19: Can't you feel it? The love creeping through your veins-the eldritch presence warming your heart? If the answer is yes, then you may be one of the many, many people who voted for Giratina! Altered Forme alone would have been a major player in the Sultans at an impressive 72.1% Smash rating. But that pales in comparison to Origin Forme's overwhelming 80.2% Smash rating! Puting Giratina in place as only the third Pokemon to have a form match or exceed 80% smash! Very impressive.

20: The moon. Since before history was even written, there have been many qualities associated with our celestial sibling and figures associated with it, and one of those traits has been "Very Attractive", especially where the crescent moon is involved. And according to 54.8% of the votes, Cresselia has definitely inherited that trait! Plus, who wouldn't want to sleep with a bringer of good dreams?

21: But crescent is not the only phase of the moon. Every once in a while, the moon obscures itself, cloaked in the shadows of the new moon phase. And emerging from that shadow is Darkrai and their 71.9% Smash rating! Seems many of y'all are gonna be having a different kind of nightmare... Related, do you think Darkrai would count more as an incubus or a succubus?

22. Last but certainly not least, we have The Alpha of Alphas. The Creator. The Thousand Arms That Built The World. The Pokegod themself, Arceus! With a 74.6% Smash rating and the highest BST of any untransformed Pokemon, Arceus has created a space for themselves in the Sultans of Smash. And yes, we have a reliable source of art for Arceus's other types, polls for them will follow... uh... eventually?

And with that, we have brought the Gen IV Who's Who of Smashing to a close and raised ourselves to a total of 88 Sultans of Smash! Stay tuned, we'll be making more polls sooner than you think!

[sleekervae]

Past Lives [1.9]

Masterlist

A/N: Happy almost Friday, babies! And Happy Last Day of Summer but summer's still sticking around for now so. Also, I'm gonna start a tag list for this story so if you want to be added, just shoot me a message!

Warnings: tiny bit of angst, emotions, cardio

Word Count: 4,102

@richardslady121

--

The salt carried by the cool morning breeze tickled Austin's nose, as he and Jade made their way through the forest. The gentle rustling of leaves and babbling creek filled his ears, relaxing and invigorating his mind. He couldn't help but be drawn to the natural beauty surrounding him; the vibrant green canopy above, the distant white-capped mountains, and the lingering patches of snow adding contrast to the landscape.

As they paused on the path, Austin reached for his camera, eager to capture this picturesque moment. Jade stood behind him, trying her best not to let her fatigue show. Hiking was not her usual activity, but she didn't want to miss out on spending time with Austin.

"Did you get a good shot?" she asked softly, not wanting to startle him.

He showed her the preview of the photo he took, seeking her opinion. She smiled at him in awe.

"It's beautiful," she said sincerely.

As he watched her study the photo with genuine interest, Austin couldn't help but admire how she glowed in the February sun. He could see the signs of exhaustion creeping onto her face, but also see her determination to conquer this hike with him.

"What?" Jade noticed his gaze and chuckled lightly, "Do I have dirt on my face?"

Austin shook his head, a fond smile playing on his lips, "Just thinking..."

"Yeah?" she prompted with a hint of curiosity.

"About how you clearly don't hike enough," he teased playfully.

She rolled her eyes with a sigh, adjusting her shorts, "Is it that obvious?"

"You're doing great," he reassured her. "Just a couple more miles."

"She woke up and chose violence today," Jade muttered under her breath. Austin couldn't help but laugh at her remark.

"What else are you going to take pictures of?" she asked playfully.

He shrugged nonchalantly, "Whatever catches my eye."

Austin fiddled with the settings on his camera, giving Jade a bit of a head start. Despite his longer legs and greater experience, he let her gain some ground, confident he’d catch up in no time. The wind played with her ponytail, strands of light dancing across her olive skin. His heart thudded in his chest, a wild urge to capture the moment. He lifted the camera, his finger deftly pressing the shutter. The first click framed Jade perfectly on the trail, and he zoomed in, trying to steady his excitement. Switching to burst mode, he held the shutter down, the camera firing off rapid shots. He glanced at the results.

The colors were achingly beautiful. Austin couldn’t tear his eyes away. It was like gazing into a clear brook, where shades of river stone grey mingled with flawless cerulean skies, flecked with liquid amber and fresh leaf green. As he flipped through the images, he watched her dark lashes lower, the hues of her eyes deepening with every frame. The final shots showed her eyes closed, face serene, pale pink lips slightly parted.

Jade had heard the rapid clicks from a distance. She decided to let him be, for now. A small smile curled at her lips as she called out.

“You coming, Attenborough?” she jolted him from his reverie, “We’ve got a couple more miles to go!”

Austin quickly stowed his camera, “Yeah, yeah, right behind you—Little Miss Bossy.”

She shot back a smirk, “Oh, shut up. You sure Callum didn’t want to come?”

“Said he had a thing…”

Austin soon caught up, and they climbed together. He snapped shots along the way, capturing light filtering through trees, glinting off streams, though his lens often found its way back to Jade. Nature’s beauty was well-documented, with Jade featured just as frequently to meet his personal quota.

Finally, they reached the crest of the hike, and the crystalline lake spread out before them.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…” Jade huffed, her exhaustion giving way to awe at the lake’s tranquil beauty. She felt a humbling sense of insignificance, her worries dwarfed by nature’s vastness. She and Austin exchanged awestruck glances, their fatigue forgotten in the face of such splendor.

She was glad she’d come along.

As Jade began to unpack her backpack, Austin forced himself to take a few superficial, thoughtless photos of the area, capturing its natural, still-life beauty. The click of the shutter felt like a forced distraction, a way to keep his eyes and mind busy while his thoughts wandered elsewhere.

“So?” he turned to her as he capped the camera lens, a teasing smile on his lips. “Did I do good?”

Jade offered an unsure expression, glancing between him, the lake, and the trail they had emerged from. Her lips curled up as she continued to pull out their picnic supplies.

“On the view or trying to kill me?” she chuckled, the sound light and melodic.

“How about both?” he replied, his tone cocky.

She tossed a cold cut sandwich at him, and he caught it against his chest with a grin. “Sit down, I’m hungry.”

They settled on a dry log of driftwood, spreading sandwiches, crackers, and dried fruit between them. The aching burn in Jade’s body slowly dissipated, allowing her to fully enjoy the moment. She took in the scenery, relishing the silence, the shared space that felt intimate and uniquely theirs.

Jade could recognize her growing dependency on Austin, a mix of guilt and longing swirling within her. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to give him everything he needed from her. What started as a way to have fun, blow off steam, and reclaim her power had morphed into something deeper, something that felt like it belonged in another universe.

They sat beside each other, the air comfortably quiet and warm as they rested. Austin closed his eyes, listening to the gentle lapping of the water against the shore, a rhythm that matched the beating of his own heart. He knew that if he looked at her, if he opened his mouth, he might say something he shouldn’t. His left hand rested next to hers on the driftwood, mere centimeters apart. He marveled at her dark locks; seven months ago, her hair barely reached her chin. Now, it brushed her shoulders. So much had happened in those seven months, yet time between them felt like it was passing too quickly.

This was the intimacy they had always craved—so much silence intertwined with so much power, unspoken words climbing and clawing from her gut. Jade’s heart sobbed silently. She loved him too much. And he wasn’t ready for that. It was easier to hide her feelings behind excuses, fussing, and silence. She was lying to herself; the silence was unbearable.

“Can I ask you something kinda weird?” she spoke suddenly, breaking the tranquility.

Austin nodded, opening his eyes. “I don’t think much is off limits with us,” he replied. “Shoot.”

“When I was on my… dare I call it a date – what were you doing that night?” she asked, her voice tentative. “Before I called you?”

Austin glanced at her from his peripherals, the act of his chest rising and falling suddenly feeling heavier. “I was going through the script James had sent me. I have a table read in a couple of weeks.”

“For the sci-fi movie?” she asked, her interest piqued.

“Mmhm,” he confirmed.

She turned her gaze to him, visually tracing the line of his profile. “Suppose you have to keep that to yourself for a while?”

He raised a brow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “You’re curious?”

“I’m always curious, and I wanna support you,” she nodded, sincerity in her voice. “I like all your projects.”

He stifled a laugh. “All of them?”

She hesitated, then blurted, “Okay – I mean… ‘Yoga Hosers’ was kinda weird,” she shrugged, feeling her face heat up. “But you make a cute fuckboy.” She cringed the moment the words left her mouth. God, get yourself together, girl. “Wait, that sounds so stupid.”

To her immense relief, Austin laughed. “It’s okay. I had fun on that set – despite the fact I died via bratwurst,” he mused, turning to meet her gaze.

“Yeah, they lost me way before that,” she admitted, fixated on the sparkle in his dark eyes.

When he looked at her like that — and he did a lot — she felt like she was his whole universe. It was the kind of look he’d give a significant other. She saw it whenever he talked about his mom. Jade always figured she was just doing some wishful thinking when he gave her that look.

“I think my favorite song is ‘Roman Holiday’,” he said suddenly. “From your discography.”

She visibly shuddered. No, there’s no fucking way.

Nevertheless, she strove to keep her composure, turning her eyes to the lake. “Why?” she asked.

“Because it’s beautiful, and you sound incredible,” he shrugged. “And young love, foolishness, and self-reflection tend to go hand-in-hand.”

She simpered quietly. “Did you know the term 'Roman Holiday’ refers to when someone is happy that someone else is suffering?” she asked.

“I didn’t. Thought it was just a movie,” he replied.

“In Roman times, it referred to the bread and circuses era. There was so much death and barbarity, but spectators showed up time and time again to watch someone get slashed to death. Today, it refers to pleasure or advantage gained from someone else’s discomfort or suffering. I read a lot about it,” she chuckled at the end.

“Were you the happy one or the suffering one?” he asked.

“Both,” she sighed. “I don’t know. I’ve been reflecting on my place in the world and what I’ve created. I’m gonna be thirty before I know it, and I don’t know if I’m fighting for relevancy anymore so much as fighting for my own peace of mind.” She laughed again, nervously this time. “Sorry, that’s a lot.”

“No, no, it’s okay,” Austin assured her. “If it means anything, I’m still dealing with all of that. I was scared for so long that I would turn thirty and fall into obscurity, not know myself as an adult. It was even scarier when I came back from Australia; I had such a skewed sense of who I was. It’s why I’m always looking for things to keep me grounded.”

“And what’s keeping you grounded these days?” she asked.

He paused momentarily, mulling it over. “This is one—just being in nature. Good music, talking to my dad maybe two or three times a week. Cooking is a big one; I need to improve on that.”

Jade chuckled. “You’re a good cook, Austin,” she assured him.

“Not as good as you,” he pointed out.

She tossed some hair behind her shoulder, her smile widening. “Well, it’s an acquired skill,” she mused. “Anything else?”

He sighed quietly, looking down at her. “I’m reading a lot more. It helps take me out of a heavy headspace. And I’m trying new hobbies.”

“Like what?”

“Pottery.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Really? When did you start doing pottery?” she asked.

“A couple weeks ago. I wanted to wait until I got better to show you,” he admitted shyly.

“Like I’m a clay critic. I’m biased; I think everything you do is cool,” she replied.

“I know,” he nodded, smiling. “But I like impressing you.”

“You already do.”

“How?” His lips curled further, his expression curious.

Jade could feel her cheeks heating up. She broke away from his gaze, smiling bashfully. “How do you impress me?”

“Yeah.”

“Is this some sort of ego trip for you, or…?”

His laugh was music to her ears. “I just wanna know what the coolest rockstar on the planet likes about me, is all,” he replied.

Her smile faltered a little. “I liked you long before I was a rockstar, Austin, come on,” she admitted, her heart thudding heavily in her chest as she mulled over her next confession. “… I wrote you a song, actually. Before—like… ten years ago.”

“Really?” He shifted his position on the log, looking down at her. “Did you… release it?”

“I did.”

“Which one?”

“… it was about swimming pools,” she said, averting her eyes between his and the dirt and rocks below their feet. Fear rippled through her like an icy chill, yet she was anxious to see if he would get the hint. Austin wracked his brain, flipping through her song titles, lyrics, the little metaphors he’d read into and loved so much. And then it hit him, the tidal wave realization, the memory washing over him, awe-struck and feeling utterly foolish.

“Roman Holiday?”

Her soft nod was his answer. What were the odds?

What were the odds of their whole relationship?

Jade wasn’t sure if she should speak, if he should speak—what was she even supposed to say at this moment? But she never answered his question before.

“I’ve always been so impressed with your low-key sense of humor, your natural charm paired with your clumsiness, how gentle you are even though you tower over almost everybody. And back there—you’re clearly better at hiking, but you slowed down to walk with me,” she gave a shaky sigh. “And ten years ago, when we were younger and stupider, I wanted to do crazy shit like break into city property or smoke weed on the roof. You indulged my bullshit but also reined me in when I needed it. I never listened to a lot of people, but I always listened to you. I always wonder if my life could’ve turned out differently if I had kept you.”

The more he thought about it, the more it began to make sense. The clues and hints had always been staring him in the face, glistening through his ears whenever he listened to the song. Only then did Austin clue in to just how highly she thought about him, how much she needed him. He wanted to go back through her first album to see if he could pick up any more clues.

Much to her chagrin, Jade thought she had made another mess.

“How come you never said anything?” he asked tentatively.

She scoffed. “What was I supposed to say, Austin? You fell in love with somebody else, it wasn’t my place. Evidently, it was my place to fuck up someone else’s relationship—”

“Hey, don’t do that,” he urged. “Jade, you don’t have to keep that burden on yourself.”

“I know, but I can’t help it. And I deserved everything I got. I know my head is messed up, and I talk too much and do stupid things. I say dumb things and most times they don’t make sense, and I shoot myself in the foot—”

“Don’t berate yourself like this,” he cut her off swiftly. “You’re a sensitive young woman. Kind and smart and very private about your emotions, but you’re so passionate. Of course, I can’t understand what you’ve been through, but I want to.” He reached to cup her cheek with the palm of his hand. “I think I’ll learn to ask you how you feel. I can ask you more often if you want me to. And I’ll keep nagging until you elaborate,” he laughed at that, even though her cheek felt wet. “How do you feel right now, Jade?”

She shook her head, debating whether to retreat into or away from him. Her mind was on high alert as it battled it out for what she wanted versus what was the right thing to do. Her words came out shaking, “I feel like myself,” she paused, “—first time in two years… I owe that to you.”

Austin bit his lip at that. He had managed to show her even though he had desperately tried not to, when he thought he shouldn’t. He feared his love for her intensifying lest she didn’t reciprocate. But she was always thinking about him, his body, heart, writing about him then and now. She wanted to keep this relationship.

“What would you do if I asked you on a date?” he asked, terrified. It was worth a shot. If it went wrong, she would leave and both of them would nurse their broken hearts separately. But if it went right? It was a leap of faith.

She was stunned, at first unsure if she’d misheard him. Jade finally met his gaze again. “Do you… you wanna date me? Actually?” she asked, wide Bambi eyes shining in marvel. “Not just for sex, like actual go out on dates, be together, do couple stuff—like grocery shopping?”

All he did was nod.

As his silence prolonged, she took some space, old insecurities gnawing at her from within. Jade buried her face between her hands, a muffled groan escaping her. She never thought she would be here, still incredulous that this was reality. The paradigm shift between her disaster date—disaster life, more like—and being here was the most intense whiplash she had ever experienced. She was terrified, but she was happy.

It felt as though a massive weight lifted from Austin’s chest, though he was still nervous as she hadn’t given him a response. “I don’t want you to think I’m pressuring you into stuff. We don’t have to do anything. I just need to have you close, in any way you’ll allow me,” he confessed, trying to reassure her.

Jade bit her lip and caught his hand in hers, looking for reassurance. She looked at her shoes. “You’ve had a lot more leeway with me than most people,” she popped her lips out of nerves. “I don’t know where this is going to lead us, specifically,” she took her time, toying with his fingers.

Austin brought their joined hands to his mouth, kissing the back of her palm. “I really like you. I really fucking care about you and I think you’re smart, beautiful, passionate, and dedicated—all traits that I admire and respect and that I could fall for easily,” he explained, leaning his forehead against hers. “I just need to know where I’m standing with you.”

She closed her eyes and inhaled his scent. His cologne and simply his skin always smelled so good. She remembered hiding her face in the crook of his neck during their last rendezvous. How he’d held her there, close, his hand cradling the back of her head. Domestic and blissful.

“I’m attracted to you. Mentally. Physically too. I’ve always been. I— I don’t know if you’re ever going to love me, or if this would be suitable for both of us,” she led his hand behind her back, around her waist. “Honestly, I… I’m freaked out.”

“Mh. What is it that scares you?” he traced the shape of her spine under his finger.

“I’m needy. I’m impulsive, and I can’t—I won’t be able to deal if you get hurt because of me,” she explained, breathing with difficulty.

He cupped her cheek. “You couldn’t,” he assured her, “You couldn’t hurt me even if you tried.”

“And if this doesn’t work?” she doubted, tentative. “What if I’m too clingy, too needy, or we get too busy for each other?” her words faded, old insecurities, old trauma re-emerging to the surface.

His thumb rubbed against her cheek. “That’s when trust comes into play, Jade. You need to trust yourself, and trust me too,” his mouth came to hers. “Can you do that for me?”

“Austin—”

“I don’t want a no-strings thing anymore,” he admitted, voice low but firm. “And if that’s too much for you to handle, then I understand.”

“It’s not. I don’t want a one-time thing with you,” she murmured, leaning in as he started to withdraw. “I should’ve said something. Last time I was at your house, I should’ve,” she reminded him, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I wish I had,” he sighed. “I would have done stuff we weren’t ready for. Maybe even stuff we’re still not ready for now. But I don’t ever want you to feel like you’re a burden or too much.” He slipped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. “I can’t promise that nothing bad will ever happen, or that we won’t hurt each other. But I trust you. You’re worth the try.”

Jade took a deep breath, fearing she might cry as her throat tightened. Austin had told her over and over how special she was, how she deserved love and forgiveness and kindness. Only now, she started to believe him. He wouldn’t have gone to all this effort if he wasn’t serious. He had taken her up a mountain, for crying out loud.

She nodded with confidence, “Yes,” she whispered.

“Yes?”

“Yes,” she decided, her voice steadying. “Yeah, I’ll… I’ll trust you. I want to try this.”

Austin nodded, despite her clear joy he could see the reservation, the fear peeking out. She was nervous, and he didn’t blame her. She had been through hell, and he empathized with her. It might speak poorly of him, but he was feeling a little selfish. He wanted to show her, teach her that she could have something good, even if she felt she wasn’t worth it. He would take good care of her.

“Really?”

“Really.” She smiled, genuinely smiled, her dimples poking into her cheeks and her eyes regaining their sparkle. She smiled that way just for him, and he felt his heart might burst in his chest.

Austin nodded, even as her smile lit up her face, he could see the reservation, the flicker of fear in her eyes. She was nervous, and he didn’t blame her. She’d been through hell, and he understood that. Maybe it was a bit selfish, but he wanted to show her that she could have something good, something real. He wanted to take care of her.

“Really?”

“Really.” Her smile was radiant, her dimples appearing, and her eyes sparkled with a new light. She smiled that way just for him, and he felt his heart swell.

He leaned in and kissed her gently, his lips brushing against hers with a tenderness that spoke volumes. JJade's lips tingled as she pressed them against his, their bodies melting into each other. She could feel his warmth radiating through her clothes, and she rested her head on his shoulder, savoring the moment. Her fingers trembled with anticipation. Austin wanted her to trust him, to trust herself, to allow herself to be happy. She knew she needed that just as much.

She glanced around at the landscape, the zero-point horizon, the rustling silence of the trees, the still lake, and the tranquil beauty surrounding them. Somehow, Austin managed to make everything feel right, and she didn’t even know why.

It must be the Leo energy, she wondered. Perfectionist.

By the time they'd arrived back in the city, the sun was beginning to set. Pastel pinks were beginning to stain across the skies. Despite the ride back home, the ac blasting and the wind whipping through the open windows, Jade was still hot. Hot, sore -- and incredibly dirty. She took two steps into Austin's house before she kicked off her shoes, pushing fronds of loose hairs from her face as she's started for the backyard.

Austin hadn't noticed at first, his first instinct was the stick his head in the fridge for something to eat. Of course, his ears perked up when he heard his backdoor open. One bite of an apple in, he followed her, curious as she stood at the edge of his pool -- still in her hiking clothes.

"What're you doing?" he asked, voice muffled through his chew.

Jade glanced at him over her shoulder, smiling coyly, "Cooling down,"

And with that, she threw herself into the water.

Water splattered across the tile surface, rippling heavy as the refreshing cool enveloped her burning body. And it felt fucking fantastic.

Austin laughed from the doorway, striding over to the edge of the pool. He crouched down as she emerged, folding her arms on the tile as she stared up at him with starry eyes.

"Hi,"

"Hi,"

"You cooled down?"

Adoration flooded her gaze, her lips curled into a satisfied smirk as she spoke, "Only from the hike,"

He cocked a brow, "Oh, is that all?"

"Mhm," she nodded, "I have an idea for our first date,"

"Do you?" his lips curled at her offer.

Jade bit your lip, trying to hold back a shy smile. Focus, "You joining me in the pool?"

Another bite from his apple; Austin averted his gaze from her to the pool's surface, and back again. His decision was a no brainer.

After all, it sounded like a fun first date...

[alexibeeart]

apropos of current events here are my top picks for a Prince song in Our Flag Means Death:

Nothing Compares 2 U "it's been 7 hours and 13 days / since you took your love away"

Diamonds And Pearls "if I could I would give you the world / but all I can do is just offer you my love"

The Most Beautiful Girl In The World "when the day turns into the last day of all time / I can say I hope you are in these arms of mine"

Mountains "but I say it's only mountains and the sea / love will conquer if you just believe"

Erotic City "we can fuck until the dawn / makin love til cherry's gone"

I Wanna Be Your Lover "I ain't got no money / I ain't like those other guys you hang around"

Purple Rain "I never meant to cause you any sorrow / I never meant to cause you any pain"

some more thoughts under the cut to save your dashboard from a long(er) post 💜💜💜💜💜

Nothing Compares 2 U "it's been 7 hours and 13 days / since you took your love away / I go out every night and sleep all day / since you took your love away / since you've been gone I can do whatever I want / I can see whomever I choose / I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant / but nothing, I said nothing can take away these blues" yes surprise if you didn't know this is a Prince song, anyways I could just copy + paste the entire lyrics trust me, cut to Ed in the captain's cabin having his daily cry sesh

Diamonds And Pearls "this will be the day / that you will hear me say / that I will never run away / I am here for you / love is meant for two / now tell me what you're gonna do / if I gave you diamonds and pearls / would you be a happy boy or a girl / if I could I would give you the world / but all I can do is just offer you my love" again? perfection. Stede pledging his love and loyalty to Edward, THE PEARLS, they both need it, it's happening

The Most Beautiful Girl In The World "when the day turns into the last day of all time / I can say I hope you are in these arms of mine / and when the night falls before that day I will cry / I will cry tears of joy cuz after you all one can do is die" not ironically i need this used in 100000% sincerity and it is absolutely being sung about Edward Teach no i will not be taking questions at this time

Mountains "once upon a time in a land called Fantasy / 17 mountains stood so high / the sea surrounded them and together they would be / the only thing that ever made u cry / you said the devil told you that another mountain would appear / everytime somebody broke your heart / he said the sea would one day overflow with all your tears / and love will always leave you lonely / but I say it's only mountains and the sea / love will conquer if you just believe / it's only mountains and the sea / there's nothing greater you and me" this song just makes me so happy it's very joyful and I can picture them sailing out over the horizon together hand-in-hand it's beautiful! could be a fun callback to The Jam Room gag with the whole crew playing together as Frenchie leads, Roach on ye olde pirate trumpet, Lucius on tambourine

Erotic City "we can fuck until the dawn / makin love til cherry's gone / erotic city can't you see / fuck so pretty you and me" CMON LIKE you can't tell me this would not be hilarious and very sexy at the same time which is the correct tone for Our Flag Means Death, the thumping beat could be used for like quick cuts of clothes hitting the floor, hands gripping bedsheets, fullbody silhouettes behind the curtains of [redacted] ... also it could easily be like a montage cutting between things happening around the ship with say a certain Lucius and Pete, Oluwande and Jim, Edward and Stede, etc etc

I Wanna Be Your Lover "I ain't got no money / I ain't like those other guys you hang around / and it's kinda funny / but they always seem to let you down / and I get discouraged / cause I never see you anymore / and I need your love babe yeah / that's all I'm living for yeah" this one's just fun classic early Prince singing about wanting to be your lover! a certified toe-tapper!

Purple Rain "I never meant to cause you any sorrow / I never meant to cause you any pain / I only wanted one time to see you laughing / I only wanted to see you laughing in the purple rain" THE emotional climax power ballad, PURPLE as the color of Ed's love blossoming, the potential to get the most over-the-top dramatic and romantic scene ever filmed in a rain storm? under a purple fucking sky? hello? it's got a lot going for it but I will be extremely surprised if they manage to both a) get the Estate's permission, and b) be able to pay the $$$ royalties for this one

[romance-of-three-memes]

Anyway there are relatively few things that'll make me throw your book in the trash faster than you leaning into the 'Aztecs were violent savages who piled up mountains of corpses from their wars and sacrificial victims and the Inca were peace loving hippies who never did anything wrong'.

I mean, don't get me wrong. The Aztec empire was violent and expansionist, as all empires are. It's literally the whole point of having an empire, taking everything you possibly can for yourself at the expense of everyone else. The main reason why Cortes et al were able to take over was because they knew they could take advantage of the malcontent among the Aztecs' subject states, so they went 'hey we're new around here but those guys sure do seem like they suck and make your lives a lot harder than they have to be. Man, that's soooo unfair, isn't it? How about you team up with us so we can all take them down together?' Conquistadors did that a lot.

And the Aztecs did perform human sacrifice, yeah, duh they did, you'd have to be a nutjob conspiracy theorist or something to seriously argue that they didn't, but the thing is human sacrifice has been performed just about everywhere in the world at some point or another. Not that that justifies it, but it's very inchresting how they're the ones who always come up when that gets mentioned, and it's because the conquistadors massively exaggerated it in the historical record in order to make themselves look better for conquering them.

People look at how the Inca generally avoided violently taking over other civilizations and they think 'wow, they didn't want to fight, they were so diplomatic and ~peaceful~, they just gave everyone everything they needed and they were all happy' but the thing is that if nothing else worked, if push came to shove, they weren't above bloodying their hands to get what they wanted. There was often an understood implication of 'we can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way' when the Inca were bringing new peoples into the fold. It wasn't a friendly suggestion. They would get your stuff one way or another. They actively kept a large army that they could easily grow or replenish since every man of what was considered the appropriate age could be conscripted at any point.

They also conveniently forget to mention that the last Inca king, Atahualpa, fought a whole civil war with one of his brothers over who would be king, and it's often thought that that was part of why it was relatively easy for Pizarro et al to come in and take over, Atahualpa had inadvertently done a lot of the work for them.

Basically this all comes down to 'I think it's stupid and unhelpful to broadly label entire civilizations and cultures as being inherently peaceful or violent and I'm tired of inadvertently coming across books that do that specifically with the Aztecs and Incas, Jesus, at least get a bit more creative if you're gonna try and make me look at this'.

[trial-by-yuri]

👀 i mean, u can talk about honeylocke if u wanna

Heehehe hi you have given me permission to go batshit insane.

so Honeylocke is my silly little Friendlocke I have going on with my friends. The first season (which is still ongoing) is set in Johto (Soul Silver to be exact) and Season 2 (Which hasn't started yet but it's still heavily planned out because we're all abnormal about it) takes place in Unova (Pokemon White).

But me and my friends have taken this Friendlocke as permission to basically treat all the characters as our own ocs with varying results.

Season One has the fun main cast of Honey (Protag. Me), Ag (Rival. Get it. Like the periodic symbol for Sil-) and Stringed Instrument (Or Lyre as a nickname). this group is very goofy and I love them deeply. As you can see season 1 is where we went a little silly with it. Also Honey and Ag are a romantic couple in what I like to call Dollar Store Precious Metals

The season 2 cast consists of Syrup (Protag again) Bianca, Cheren, and Harmony. The fun thing about Syrup Bianca and Cheren is they are a queer platonic polycule and also Moon sun and star themed respectively (Which is why I tagged that one post as Cheren Honeylocke). Harmony is also here but she's like the mentor that the other three look up to

Yeah I could go way more into detail about this but the lore gets deep and honestly I'll probably try posting about it more eventually

I'm gonna start streaming season 1B of Honeylocke on YouTube so if you wanna see some idiots conquer the Kanto region and get severely traumatized by some guy on a mountain that will be happening sometime in October (I'll probably post about it eventually)

but yeah here are the sillies. We really do just use this Friendlocke as an excuse to treat these characters as our own ocs and it's very fun. We also do funky stuff with their genders which is very very fun I love it so so much

Special thanks to my friends for helping me make this silly little things real. Ily <3

[yanderelovlies]

Ok! Scene for the actual sunny time crew show because....yes!

The sunny time crew is climbing a mountain to get to the tippy top the only problem...jack is petrified of heights....so the crew decides to sing him a little song to help him conquer his fear

Knackadan drizzle:we're high up in the sky!🎵

Cloudy bell sue:so don't lose your grip!🎶

Knackadan drizzle:we don't have far to go-o-o🎵

Rory rainberry:so be careful you don't slip! And fall! And crack your head open! there's gonna be blood everywhere! AND THEN YOUR GONNA-

Cloudy bell sue and knackadan drizzle:RORY!!

Rory rainberry:what?

Sunny day jack now clinging to the mountain:NOT HELPING! NOT HELPING!

Juniper💙💛❤

I'm vibing with this episode

[popculturebuffet]

Clone High President's Day Special Review: (Escape to Beer Mountain: A Rope of Sand and Episode 2: Election Blu-Galoo) (Comissioned by WeirdKev27... wesley)

Tonight, on a special presidents day review of clone high

(Clears throat)

WAY WAY BACK IN THE 2000'S TWO FUTURE SUCCESFUL COMEDIANS TOOK SOME FAMOUS GUYS AND LADIES AND MADE THEM INTO A CULT CLASSIC COMEDY

NOW THE SHOWS GETTING A REBOOT NOW IT'S GONNA MAKE IT IF IT TRIES BUT UNTIL IT GETS RELEASED IT'S TIME TO LAUGH SHIVER AND CRY WITH THE ORIGNIAL CLONNNE HIGGGHHH YEAHHHH…

Honestly i'm suprised it took me this long to clone high, nor that I did our presidents say special last year and never even thought of this as an option.

In case the intro wasn't clear enough, for presidents day we're looking at one of the best shows MTV ever made, Clone High, a 2002 animated comedy about a bunch of clones of famous historical figures made into clones back in the 80s who are now teens living through a giant parody of teen dramas both at the time and in the past, with most of the episodes modeled after your various teen drama tropes which having watched a few (Degrassi, 90210 (both versions), Secret LIfe of An American Teenager) made it hilarious to me, as it matches the genre point for point while also adding in it's own zany looney tunes humor.

Naturally such a wholly weird premise.. didn't really take off and MTV canceled it the first excuse they got, but it's spot on humor, great voice acting, fun animation and brilliant premise and satire meant the show got the cult following it desreved.. and eventually came back by popular demand as it's creators ended up becoming two of the biggest names in animation, making the lego movie, the lego batman movie and Spider-man INto The Spider Verse into massive hits. While it's return is still cooking, and sadly coming to HBO Max, which at the time was a big HELL YES from me, now has me worreid they may prevent us from getting more than two seasons.. though given Paramount is both behind the series and could easily bring it to plus if it's popular enough, i'm not too worried. So while we wait , we can celebrate with the clones of two dead presidents mr. b, as we dive into the first two episodes of the show: Escape To Beer Mountain: A Rope of Sand and Episode 2: Election Blu-Galoo. So come under the cut with me for some angst that's entertaning.

Escape To Beer Mountain: A Rope of Sand

From the outset what the series is is clear.. not just from the throughly kickass themesong that perfectly fits the ti me, but from it's characters, who are easily recognizable both to anyone even casually aware of history.. and anyone whose seen at least one teen drama or movie: You have Abe Lincoln (Will Forte who would show up in pretty much everything this duo made after this), as our bland protaganist who wants to get with the popular girl Cleopatra (Christa Miller), your standard rich bitch popular girl and his only friends: Joan (Of Arc) (VA Legend Nicole Sullivan) , a moody goth who hides her fairly obvious crush on him, and Ghandi (Micheal McDonald), a wannabe party animal whose desperate to fit in. Basically the David Silver of the group. Rounding them out is macho jock rival JFK (Chris MIller himself doi) who genuinely thinks his clone dad was "a super macho stud who conquered the moon".

To get the elephants out of the room quick.. yes casting the white Miller and McDonald was a mistake and one the reboot hopefully avoids, though I would like to see much like say central park or x-men 95, the two actors get other parts in the series. They just don't need to play these two. I accept it to a point as of the time and the industry, as we're only three years out from it being standard to match a characters race to their va every time, but it's still something to not dance around either: They screwed up, their not doing it again in the reboot decades later, so I won't be that hard ont hem.

Speaking of the reboot while it has leaked.. I haven't watched it. I saw a screencap or too because people reblogged it without being considrate that you know.. not everyone WANTS to steal from creators who have waited for this a long ass time, and woudl rather wait. I'm fine if say HBO Max fucks up and puts it on the platform itself early (as it did iwth the first ep of close enough ) or the creators air the episode at a public event for consumption (As seen with owl house and again close enough), but I won't cover something nor talk about it till offical release and won't watch it unless it has been released in some offical capacity.

Now that's out of the way, the episode is dammingly spot on and it's telling teen dramas haven't changed THAT much. I mean I still hope for that degrassi reboot but this show shows the only real change would be diffrent music, though the use of music of the time, while likely why it took till this year to finally stream on paramount+, really helps sell it. It had been a while since I watched these two eps, having not watched the series since breaking out my dvds a few years back. And yes I got that lucky as I found it at fye for only 15 or 20 bucks nearly a decade ago and have held tight to those two discs ever since. It's even the canadian dvd complete with teletoon ads. It's glorious.

But from the "sexy teens' moniker flaunting sexualizing teens despite the characters being underage (though most teen shows sidestep this by hiring older actors and actresses it's still weird and creepy), to the music, the delviery is spot on, with most of the deliveirs sounding just like a teen drama's overdramatic yet whispery way of doing things.. yet saying rediculous shit. It's essentailly the animted euqilveant of airplane, taking a dramatic overblown genre and throwing all sorts of weird shit in, in this case from the premise down. While the plot of Abe and Ghandi trying to get beer for a party so Abe can take his shot with Cleo is pretty stock the fact it's abe and the party dude clone of Ghandi of all people trying to have genghis kahn fake his way into buying beer… and failing horribly that nails it, or having JFK Boiled down to his most embarassing and sexist traits, being mad at cleo for kissing abe later.. while making out with someone else. The cast is all time greats, so it's no shock they pull it off great.

The plot itself is again pretty stock and by the num bers teen pilot: Abe and Ghandi try to get beer but end up getting nonalcholic, Joan tears up at Abe kissing cleo but ultimately tries to push her towards him, Cleo ends up with JFK but hints she still clearly likes abe, and now you know the plot. Oh and Joan tasers Ghandi for ignoring the teen ine she set up. It's just mixed up with various clones from two elvises one pre addiction and svengaling by col parker, one post, a teacher whose half sheep and voiced by a literal and figurative dick, and the local nerd being george washington carver who made his own little peanut sidekick, along with just general madness such as the principal sending Cleo to the maze of death, Ghandi going out a 30 story window and the two best characters in the show.

They are Principal Cinnamon Scudworth, voiced by Lord and his best friend/possible husband and robot butler Mr. Butlertron, played by Miller, and while everyone else does well, Lord and Miller steal their own show as these two are essentailly the Perry the Platapus and Dr. Doofensmirtz of the early 2000s': two scene stealing characters squared away int heir own wacky subplots that rarely seriously impact the main plot, or more Doofenschmirtz and Norm but semantics.

Scudworth is the principal employed by the board of shadowy figures to make these clones into super soldiers… a plan that dosen't quite work as each clone has baggage from their original, a nicely implimented bit that adds some depth: Abe feels stuck in the shadow of his far more confident clone father, Joan became a goth entirely because she isn't sure she can be hers, Ghandi became a party animal because he's entirely sure he can't, and JFK and CLeo are stuck on the suprfical beauty of their selves. i'ts nicely done. Scudworth meanwhile plans to make a theme park.

Really though Scudworth's just there to be thrust by the board or his own stupidity into various shenanigans while Mr. B helps him out and it is glroious. I could watch a whole show of these two alone but honestly they fit perfectly here, their weird over the top antics perfectly fitting the world and contrasting how straight everyone else plays this very stupid world. Scudworth is a cartoon villian in a teen drama high school and his out of placeness just makes him that much more delightful.

For this episode Scudworth has to write a report on being a teen and after a failed interview with joan and sending her to the maze of death, which again everyone is so used to Joan getting dropped in from it dosen't even faze Ghandi, inflitrates the party.. and ends up beaten as a pinata as "Cloney Student'. It's just a taste of what he'll get into, but it's one of the best parts of an already stellar pilot. Escape to Beer MOutnain is hilarious, nicely paced and just PACKED with jokes with most having aged well. Only one or two didn't really work like Joan calling a masculine elanor rosevelt "him" and her oggling joan as she walks away, which is just.. eugh…. but overall the episode is fantastic and if you haven't watched the show, go check it out.

Episode Two: Election Blu-Galoo

And the second episode.. is even better as with the premise out of the way, the comedy ramps up further. It also gives JFK more to do. He was funny enough in the first episode, coming back to wash his hands, grappling with gay dads, and after Cleo leaves to decide who she wants he offers Abe a nacho for no real reason. But this episode really lets him shine as the oversexed idiot we know and love.

In this case Cleo wants to still be Student Body President, but for some reason Clone High has term limits, so she enlists JFK as her maleable pawn to shadow govern the school. Abe runs because he thinks Cleo is into JFK because he's a good leader, and runs on the issues before that sputters out entirely in the face of JFK campaniging soley on his abs.

This one has a scudworth plot impact the main plot a bit more than usual, as Scudworth , hard up for cash for his evil plan since the board outright refuses to give him money( Just for fun i'm going to keep saying no until you hang up…" ). Enter the X-Treme Blu Trio, three totally rad execs who spend the episode screaming nonsense..e xcept for their third and best member X-Treme Bob who instead says things like "I HAVE NO SELF ESTEEM!" and "MY SON WON'T EVEN LOOK ME IN THE EYE ANYMORE!". Their played by the Scrubs trio of Zack Braff, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke, who all did this for a free as a favor to producer Bill Lawrence of Spin City, Scrubs and Cougar Town fame. And as a fan of Spin City and Cougar Town I love his involvment and most of these actors. Faison in paticular did a LOT of rolls for the show, including George Washington Carver.

At any rate Scudworth gladly sells out and naturally blows it all having only seen 2/3 of MC Hammer's behind the music and concluded money is endless, while the three sellout goons approach abe to do stunts and promote their brand. He and joan fall out, he eventually comes around after extreme blu (just blue housepaint and pancake batter) nearly kilsl Ghandi, it's all pretty great.

Naturally what makes the episode are the jokes, with some all timers. Some I can't really recitie here but one that really gets the teen drama and is clearly parodying dawsons creek has Abe and Joan on seperate docks starring compelatively.. only for it to reveal their on docks right next to each other, with Abe leaving with an utterly nonsense speech on their friendship ending that Will Forte somehow gives as if he were a teen hearthrob "You know what hurts the most? This nail I stepped on". It's pure poetry and if you want to get someone into the show, this is the easiest way.. that or showing them any second of scudworth, but this gets the point across more.

We also.. get a song from Marilyn Manson which at the time was a funny way to bend his image.. but now comes off as "Yikes we accidently had a sexual preadator on our show! ", ditto for Andy Dick but he mostly plays smaller characters while Marilyn Manson's role is a pretty big cameo and thus sticks out more and is harder to overlook. It makes the once utterly hiarious gag of JFK calling him "Scary Andgogyns White Guy" far less funny.

Even with this unfortunate cameo that is no way the shows fault, this episode is still spectacular and that goes for the series as a whole. If your remotely intrestd in this series go watch it, it's on paramount+ and if you don't have that i'ts on mtv.com for free. So check it out before the revival, the series is well worth it and is easily one of the funniest shows i've seen. I forgot just how constant and excellent the jokes were since i'd seen the series last but it's comic genius and was a sign of things to come from this duo. Thanks for reading.

[echantedtoon]

Love Doesn't Do Encores Ch14 Battle Gym Leader Bea

You two had found yourselves out of Hammerlocke by sundown that day. But not before you went back into the town and stopped by that cafe you both had passed earlier, and each gotten a free piece of cake and small cup of tea from those coupon things that Applin Boy had given to Gloria as thanks for helping him. Cake and tea weren't exactly what you would call dinner but you weren't going to complain about free food. Your drizzilie sure tried sneaking it from you but settled for the small bag of fruit you tossed at it after you told him no. 

"So," you asked Gloria after taking another sip of the tea you received, "You mentioned challenging Bea next right?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Remember how I told you there was four gyms that gave the same badge?" You nodded. "The Fighting Type and Ghost Type gyms give the same badge. While the Ice and Rock gyms give a different badge from the Ghost and Fighting gyms, they give the same one as well. So either someone can just chose the Fighting or Ghost type gyms then move on and chose either the Ice or Rock type gyms. But I plan on stopping by both. The closest one just happens to be the Fighting Type Gym run by the Gym leader Bea. Not only is she the top fighting type pokemon trainer, but she's been the winner of the Galarian Martial Arts Championship seven years running undefeated. They say she can go bare fists with her machomp and win."

"Wow. She sounds really strong."

"She is. Which is why I think that's why Hop's going there too." She frowned stabbing at a piece of her free cake. "He said he wanted to become stronger. Challenging another strong gym leader right after defeating Kabu but loosing to Bede sounds like he's trying to conquer another hard challenge to prove he's strong. ...I'm worried about him."

"I know, but don't worry," you assured with a smile. You remembered enough about the game to know Hop would definitely bounce back, and after hearing him speak the other day, you knew he'd be fine. "He's a strong and has enough determination in him to move a mountain if he felt like it."

...She smiled at you. "Thanks Y/n.  I knew I made a good choice in my traveling buddy."

You paused a moment...before blinking. "That reminds me. Why did you want me to come along with you back in Postwick? I mean it's not that I mind, but we were practically strangers then."

She shrugged. "I really don't know. I know it's gonna sound weird, but there's a really good atmosphere around ya. Like...You just give off good vibes, and my gut feelings are usually spot on anyways. An' I wasn't wrong!" She smiled. "You've been a great friend ta us!"

You smiled. Well that was strange. It was almost like what Sonia said about your 'good aura', but you weren't going to complain about the nice compliments. 

"You're one of the gym challengers endorsed by Leon, aren't you?" Both of you looked up and blinked at the sight of an older woman, who looked older than Kabu, dressed in a blue and pink outfit with accessories, an umbrella in one hand, was pretty tall for someone you'd expect, and aquamarine eyes looking at Gloria curiously. Stunned that you two hadn't noticed noticed her walk up to you before now, both you two looked at each other before Gloria looked back to the old woman and nodded. She hummed for a moment before suddenly holding out something to her you recognized right away. "My name's Opal. If you want to know more, have a look at my league card." Gloria's brown eyes stared at the card for a moment before taking it from the lady. "I'll keep an eye on you, Child. I want to see what you can do when you go all out."

Both of you watched silently as she silently just...turned around and walked right out of the cafe. Like nothing had just happened. Leaving the two of you sitting there looking after her blankly before looking at one another with blank faces wondering if that actually happened.

Eventually you blinked as Gloria looked at the card handed to her. "Who was that?"

"According to this..she's Ms. Opal." She looked up to you holding up the card in her hand, "And the Fairy Type Gym Leader from Bellonlea!"

"What?" You held out your hand as she offered it to you. "Lemme see that." And true to Gloria's word, it was an official League Card with the picture of the very same elderly woman you just spoken too on it. "Huh." You handed it back to her. "I wonder what she was doing all the way here in Hammerlocke then?"

She shrugged before pocketing the card. "The same thing as Lee? Like maybe she's seein' the Chairman too? Or maybe traveling since I don't think anyone would challenge her yet. March is almost over so it's still pretty early in the year for anyone to gather many badges."

Wow. Almost three months had passed already? You must've lost track of time from traveling so much. You weren't too sure but shrugged. "Who knows? C'mon. Let's finish eating and hit the road before it gets too dark outside."

After the meal the two of you headed back out on Route Six as the sun nearly set in the sky making everything lightly darker but had enough light to still see. The lights of Hammerlocke shining out as the two of you left the dragon town. You were a bit nervous about running into Raihan or that Mr. Rose again, but you ran into neither as you left the town. Thank goodness. You and her then fell into the familiar routine of walking, camping, and more shaking of berry trees as you passed by them by chance. Only this time Gloria seemed to pick back up her hobby of taking pictures for her dex challenge again. The photos Victor had given her had filled up a good sizable amount of the book already but there was still more photos needed for it as well as for that curry dex challenge book she needed. It was a bit random but you were glad she found something to keep herself occupied on the way there, and photography was a pretty neat hobby. Although she didn't seem to be as into it as Victor was. If she wasn't doing that, she battled a pokemon here n' there as you either watched or gathered food or some other needed thing to be done and like before you traveled past a few small towns, houses, or other travelers heading in the opposite direction. No signs of the boys, but you were glad not having any more run ins with those Team Yell grunts as days passed as you two slowly made your way towards Stow-on-Side.

"So how long until we reach Stow-on-Side?," you asked one day while walking.

Gloria hummed for a moment before whipping out her phone and flipping through the screen once it turned on. Lately the region around you had started to get rockier with more and more hills and cliffs jutting out of the earth until it slowly consumed both side of the path the two of you walked. "According to Rotom we should be there sometime tomorrow if we keep on goin' down this pathway." That was great news! "Also accordin' ta this, there's another historical wonder protected by the Galarian Conservation Society! ...Hmm. I wonder if she'll be down here too??"

You rose a brow at her. "Her who?"

She looked at you. "When I was chattin' with Sonia at the vault I showed 'er some old pokemon fossils I picked up. Useless really. Ye find 'em sometimes and see 'em in your science classes n' museums and the like. I was gonna give 'em to Hop as a gift since he's into that kinda stuff but she told me an old scientist friend of hers was in Stow-on-Side trying out this new fossil restoration or somethin' like that. But she couldn't find any fossils to try 'em out on."

......You blinked. "Since when did you get fossils??"

"I found two by accident back when we 'ere in the Wild Area. Y'know. When I fought that wild diglett in the cave." You groaned remembering that experience. "And then some bloke traded me two he didn't want at the pokemon center for the applin I was gonna put back when the red-headed bloke didn't want it. I completely forgotten I even had them til I remembered just now."

"That reminds me. Whatever did you do with those other pokemon you were given? Especially that baby toxel. It looked pretty young."

"Ah! I sent it to Mum to take care of! She mentioned being lonely without us there so I thought she'd like raisin' the wee tyke!"

You rose a brow. "Can she handle a toxel??"

"She sent me pictures of the lil thing sleepin' with Munchlax so I think they're doing just fine!"

"If you say so."

The both of you traveled until the sun went down and you set up camp under a shady ledge before quickly packing up the next day at day light and going to travel again. Until coming to a bunch of bright stony ledges and cliffs in a dead end where the path ended just a few yards in front of the cliffside. .......Which left the both of you confused looking around.

".....Does this mean we're at Stow-on-Side?," you asked pressing you hand against one of the rocky hills before yanking and waving it back from the heat of them sitting in the sun all day. Speaking of which it was hot as you traveled. Must be entering summer territory. Your f/c eyes scanned up and down the cliffs surrounding you all and a hand pressed above your brows to block the sun. "Or did we make a wrong turn somewhere??"

"Can't be! We followed nothin' but Route Six all the way here!" Gloria had already brought out her phone giving it a little shake. "Accordin' to this Stow-on-Side's just up ahead!"

"So either your phone's broken or we have to suddenly learn how to rock climb." Your eyes scanned the ledges more. They looked a little too dangerous to just be climbing without any professional gear or unless you were a rock climbing expert. To which you had neither...."What about that corvisquire you have?"

"It's not big enough to fly either of us up these mountains!...*sigh* We might have ta just call a flying taxi at this rate."

Yeah. That might be the best option either of you two had at this point. ....Your Drizzilie, which had taken to fully putting itself into your pack with just his head peeking out from under the lid to avoid the sun, suddenly gave a look towards something shiny. Before it's eyes widened and it gave a loud chirp poking it's head out fully to the both of you. You looked over your shoulder as it continued to make noises at you. "Whoa! Hey. What is it boy?" It's arm popped out and he pointed his hand towards the other side of the dead end you were at. You both looked over and you blinked at something against the cliffside shining in the sunlight. "Hey! What's that over there?" You pointed and began walking towards it...Gloria blinked, before putting her phone away and quickly following after you. You approuched the shining thing and soon discovered it to be a- "It's a ladder!" Walking forward more it was indeed a metal ladder. Secured and bolted to the cliffside and going up until it ended at the very top of it. "....What's a ladder doing here?"

"That must be how people get ta Stow-on-Side from 'ere," Gloria reasoned. "Ya think they'd actually make this more easier to get too."

"You'd think so. Good Boy!" Drizzilie gave a huff before returning to it's spot inside your bag. Ok be tsundere. Pausing to look at it for a moment you grabbed it before immediately letting go from how hot it was. "...You really think this is the way?"

"There's no other way around here other than a taxi, and what do we have to lose? The worse case scenario is that we'll hit another dead end or just climb to the top and hail a cab like we were thinkin' anyways."

She had a point. And if you did end up just going to the top of the cliffs here you could get a better look of your surroundings. So reluctantly you nodded. "Alright. But let me go first to make sure it's safe."  Slowly and with a sigh you grabbed the metal ladder wincing in pain when the hot metal stung your hands lightly, and began to climb up. It wasn't too hard or high of a climb, and you were fast to release the ladder as hard as you can also considering the weight on your shoulders, it made it a bit more difficult. Once you reached the top however and climbed up all the way, you noticed there was nothing but more ledges, dead grass, and...another ladder leading somewhere ahead of you. Standing up, once you deduced it was safe, you carefully looked over the edge to Gloria looking up at you and waved. "It's safe! And I found another ladder!"

Gloria didn't even hesitate after that. In her excitement you weren't sure if she just didn't notice the pain or bared it to climb up but you were there to offer a hand and pull her up with you once she was there. And you two wasted no more time and got climbing. Not baring to stand in this heat anymore. The second ladder you climbed up lead to the top of one of the larger clifftops, a small pond of some sort, and another much longer ladder leading you further and higher into the mountain sides and you two went. Your muscles were sore and tired from the extra weight of your Drizzilie who peeked out and down from your bag every so often, and your hands burnt under the ladders' metal. You were sure it wasn't enough to be badly hurt for a long time, but it sure stung, and you were paranoid that at any moment you would fall. But luckily you didn't and by some miracle forced yourself NOT to look down before making it to the third ledge and ..another ladder. Gloria right on your heels. Rinse and repeat. Climb, pray to whoever heard you that you wouldn't fall, get to the top, and then do it again. The both of you must've been on your seventh or eighth ladder and ledge at this point and you were resting on your knees exposed to the hot sun tired, breathing heavy, and shaking your sore hands. Gloria doing the same with her hands before reaching up to wipe her brow and look around ...Before spotting and pointing to yet another ladder.

"Hey look! It leads up to a tunnel of some kind!"

You looked to the giant black whole that the ladder lead into and groaned. "Oh PLEASE tell me this isn't going to be another mine."

"Only one way to find out!" She happily bounded towards the ladder, and with another groan, you slowly forced yourself to stand and followed after. Where does she get so much energy? And in this heat? She was already half way up the ladder by the time you got there and began slowly climbing, grip so hard your knuckles turned white to keep yourself from falling. Gloria making her way right into the tunnel and disappearing from view as you got closer to the top yourself. "Y/N!!" She suddenly shouted echoed by the tunnel. "Ya gotta see this!!"

"I'M COMING!!," you strangled out in a shout still making your way up.

Gloria was waiting for you when you finally got to the top, letting her grab your arm to pull you with a grunt into the shady tunnel with her. With a sigh as your sore hands touched the cooled floor of the cavern, you twisted your legs around, and just sat there breathing and wiping at your forehead from the long trip you two had suffered. Gloria was kind enough to let you catch your breath, considering it must've been harder for you with your Drizzilie being no help, for around five maybe ten minutes before you turned your head..and blinked at the light coming from the other side of the short tunnel. Gloria went ahead and started walking towards it...and you again forced yourself up and walked after her. But slower this time considering how tired and sore you were. She stopped by the cavern opening and once you caught up, your eyes widened.

"Holy smokes!"

Carved into the cliffside was the BIGGEST statues you had ever seen! The stone digletts stared out blankly onto the horizon and were blocked off by a chained fence embedded into the stone ground below it. Was this the historical landmark Gloria spoke of yesterday? She started walking forward and after a moment you followed staring up at the massive stone beasts before you. A flash of light going off as she snapped a picture of it while passing....Before she turned and with a gasp that had you snapping forward pointed excitedly. 

"Y/n! Look! We found it!" What was unmistakeningly a stadium shone brightly in the sunlight as you looked and blinked, and before it was a couple small buildings, one including that classic pink pokemon center. You two wasted no time in jogging towards it past the statues and up a small flight of stairs carved into the stone floor, past under a wooden gate of some kind and over to the buildings ahead. Where you saw people. PEOPLE!! Walking around doing their everyday lives as usual! You two had successfully found Stow-on-Side! The tall two story buildings were all carved from stone as well with a couple small tables in the pathway you two walked that had a few people yelling at passerbys to come and bye from them as they sat under umbrellas from the hot sun. As you walked past everyone Gloria took out her phone again and after a few taps on it nodded in glee. "This is Stow-on-Side alright! Apparently the diglett statues we saw are part of some famous ruins including an ancient mural up the path by the stadium! We should go check those out once I'm done with the battle here!"

"Once we rest first!" You sighed and again reached up to rub your temple. "I'm beat from all that walking and climbing! And it doesn't look like this place has any inn or public place besides the center we can rest up in." 

You both turned right still walking along the path towards the stadium. 

"Yeah? Well I can check on my regional map of Stown-on-Side. It should tell u-" She stopped. Freezing like someone paused her on tv. Her face suddenly drawing a blank. Curiously, you stopped too and turned around to give a raised brow at her suddenly blank expression. Before you turned to look where she was looking. A whine coming from your backpack as your Drizzlie poked it's full head out. And you under stood why she stopped. IT WAS THE BOYS!! Both were talking to each other walking down from the stairs leading to the big stadium, until they happened to look down towards the both of you and stopped. The four of you staring at one another in surprised silence...Before Gloria straight up BOLTED towards them both! "HOP!!"

"Glori-AH!!" The poor boy didn't even get a chance to finish talking before he was glomped by the brunette nearly knocking the both of them over in the process. 

"I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!! YA PURPLE HAIRED LOONEY PONYTA!!," she shouted with a smile. "YA HAD ME SO WORRIED!! DON'T DO THAT!!"

"N-Nice to see you too!," he forced out strangled by the crushing hug, "M-Miss Y/N help!"

You walked on over but didn't need to pry them apart thankfully as she let go and let Hop breathed and clutch at his chest by the time you got there. Victor looking annoyed opening his arms. "And what am I? An invisible Sobble?" Gloria giggled before giving her brother the expected hug he wanted.

"We thought we'd miss you guys here by how long it took! Were you here that long?"

"Sadly yes," Hop answered rubbing at where Gloria nearly crushed him to dust. "Turns out there was a few people here itchin' to battle Bea before going on to harder gym leaders like Kabu, so we had to camp out for a bit for an opening."

Gloria paused...slowly retracting her hug from her brother and turning to him, face concerned. "Does...D-Does that mean you didn't win?"

...He smiled. "Took me two tries! But I managed to get my fighting badge!"

"You did!! Hop that's amazing! I told you, you could do it!"

He chuckled....before his face turned back to a neutral one. "But...Glory." His hands came to stuff themselves into his pockets. "I'm still not too sure what I should do about all that stuff I told you before. About me being weak and dragging down Lee's good name and all, yeah? "..He smiled again. "But the only thing I can do is get stronger right?"

With a sigh Gloria gave her own determined smile, reached over, and made him blink as she flicked his nose. "That's what we've always told you, Hop. I never lost doubt in ya."

He paused for a moment gold eyes blinking and looking cross eyed at his nose, before his face went pink again and he chuckled. "Y-yeah! A-Actually I was hoping for a b-battle with ya the next time I saw you." Your Drizzilie whined more. "Vi-Vic's been battling me and helping me build up my team and come up with new s-strageties on how to battle upcoming gym leaders. So I'm gonna try out all kinds of different things against you and see what works!..If you wanna battle that is?"

"Do you really need to ask? You're on!"

"Then let's do this! I bet an all out battle with my true rival will help me get my head on straight-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH-"

A screech that pierced your eardrums interrupting Hop from saying anything else. Immediately all your hands shot up to your ears and you all made some kind of cringed face or closed their eyes from the scream that came from directly behind you. You forced yourself to turn around at your drizzilie's head poking out from your bag. Mouth open wide and yelling at the top of his lungs before he abruptly stopped upon noticing you had looked at it in utter shock.....How could such a small thing make such a noise!! Slowly, the others uncovered their ears as well giving the three back and forth looks, before also looking in the direction of your bored looking drizzilie.

..........Victor blinked and pointed at your backpack. "What the absolute Arceous was THAT!?"

"I......have absolutely no idea." You eventually managed to get yourself to talk. "I've never heard him make a noise like that before."

"Could there be something wrong with him?," Hop asked rubbing one of his ears, "It is pretty hot and he's a water type. Maybe he's gotten dehydrated from lack of water or something?"

You jumped. YOU HADN'T EVEN CONSIDERED THAT WHILE TRAVELING!? WHAT THE HECK!! YOU WERE AN AWFUL TRAINER!! "I...." You swiftly turned nearly nailing Gloria in the side with your back pack in a panic. "I-I gotta get him back over to the center just in case! You two go ahead and have your battle!"

"I'll come too!" Victor stepped forward. "I meant to stop by anyways to grab some potions from the center."

If you heard him you didn't pay him much mind as you practically stumble-ran your panicked self back down what few steps you had climbed up towards the stadium and RAN towards the center with Victor right behind you. You nearly tripped and slammed in your haste turning the corner and RUNNING past the vendors calling out towards that bright pink building. The people inside jumping and looking on in surprise when you practically ripped the doors off their hinges bursting inside and without missing a beat flew to the wide eyed nurse joy standing behind the counter, swiftly turning your back where your drizzilie still bored looking despite everything that was happening right now, and in panic DEMANDED she'd take a look at him NOW!! Surprisingly no one moved, too shocked to really know how to react. It took Victor coming in and explaining calmly to the startled Nurse Joy what the drizzilie did and politely asking her to look him over did she finally react accordingly. She took her sweet time in the next ten minutes pulling your water pokemon from it's hiding place, making it sit on the counter as you watched a nervous wreck with Victor assuring you he was ok, and slowly and carefully examining him as a doctor would a patient during a physical....All to just smile at you and tell you essentially......Your Drizzilie...Was throwing a tantrum akin to that of a moody angsty teenager during puberty. ....You blinked and had to be explained to again as, even though Drizzilie was a little dehydrated from the hot weather, he was actually throwing a tantrum because he was hungry. So you, worried you might have let something bad happen to your pokemon without knowing, had panicked over nothing and rushed him over here to be told he was acting like a toddler not getting their way because he was hungry......WHAT!?

"He's perfectly healthy, you probably just haven't fed him today yet and he was just expressing that to you in what way he thought you'd understand. Although in this heat he is naturally a little dehydrated, and you yourself look it too and exhausted. My advice to the both of you is to rest here for an hour or two out of the weather and have you both drink some water. I'll lend you some and some pokemon food so it doesn't happen again. After all we don't want anyone dropping from the heat."

You sighed. Relieved Drizzilie wasn't really hurt, but annoyed he had scared you for no reason. You shot a scowl at the pokemon standing next to you and as soon as it made eye contact with you looked embarrassed to the floor. Nurse Joy was nice enough to give you some bottled up water and a small bowl of pokemon food for the two of you and you thanked her before Victor was nice enough to help you carry them over to the table and chairs in the corner. You gladly plopped yourself down in one chair exhausted, sighing as at last your muscles got a chance to rest among the cool ac of the center. Victor sat across from you as your drizzilie plopped itself on the floor by your feet with it's newfound food and water to make it happy. 

".....Hey. Y/n?" You hummed from where you had laid your head against the table. "Are you ok?"

".......Yeah."

".......Would you like some water?"

".....Yeah."

He was nice enough to hand you a bottle of water which you chugged down before resuming your position of laying against the table silently resting. Even when the other two finally caught up to you and entered the center.

"My strategy goes right to the pot when I've got all these bad thoughts running through my head," Hop's voice came as you heard the door open just didn't look up.

"Yeah. But I also barely won. I blame the heat. 'Sides you're gettin' better!," Came Gloria's voice right after him.

"Hrmmm. I tried switching my team members in and out to max out their potential in every match up but we just couldn't get it together somehow. Maybe that's why I'm still so weak?"

"Call yourself weak again n' I'll drag ya ta Lee myself kickin' n' screamin' and have him talk ye out o' that crazy mindset!"

"Ok! Ok! I won't! No need to go all charmander on me, Mate. .......Oh! Y/n! Hey!"

"......Hi," you mumbled to Hop.

"So how'd it go? Is everything ok?"

"Oh yeah. Turns out he was just throwing a big whiney fit cuz he was hungry like a big baby, but he should be fine now. How was your battle?"

"OH! That's good to know he's not hurt or anything. It was fine thanks. I got to see how my tactics work on the battlefield and what to improve on. In fact I think we're ready to move on. Are you ready to go, Victor?"

"What?! You mean you're both leavin' us again?!" This time you did force yourself to look up. More out of concern than anything as Gloria stared at the two boys, and you noticed Victor had stood up from his seat. "B-But we just caught up with you!"

...Hop sighed. "I know, and I don't really wanna split up either but I still have some things I need to work out myself. And I wanna make more good choices when it comes to battling and strategies for them. .." He smiled. "But Lee really is the greatest trainer, and I don't want people laughing at him all because his little brother is rubbish. It's not enough. I've got to try harder and harder and hard 'til no one's laughing!"

"But....you're not rubbish to me."

Hop paused again before sighing again. "I know...That's why you make such a good friend and rival, Glory."

"............Hey Hop." The three looked at you and you hesitated for a moment. Would this change the game's story events?? Well it wouldn't hurt to give him some words of encouragement like you gave Sonia. "Listen. You got the Fighting Type badge right?" He nodded. "Then you're not rubbish! You said it yourself that there was a few other gym trainers were here because they didn't want to challenge Kabu yet. But you did. And you won against the guy that supposedly makes their numbers drop."

He blinked wide eyed, not really expecting that. "Yeah...But just barely. And not exactly how I would've liked."

"So? That didn't stop you from winning on your FIRST try either way. How many trainers besides you two have those bragging rights?? The dude's so powerful he personally says congrats to anyone who does beat him. A guy doesn't do that unless only a few actually manages to get past him. Sure Bede may have beaten you. Sure he said a bunch of stuff about you and your brother, but he's just doing it because he's trying to get under your skin. He's trying to make you doubt yourself. He's trying to make you lose." You pointed to the wide eyed looking boy. "Hop. You CAN'T just be calling yourself weak. Leon and you are both strong. Just in different ways and Leon sees that in you. Why else would be agree to sponsor you in the first place? Haven't you seen what you've been able to do so far?" You gestured to his back pack. "In there somewhere is four badges ok? Four badges that you won on either your second or even first try. Do you think I could have done that? Absolutely not. You have four badges and you just need eight to compete at the end of the year! It's been three or four months and already you've come farther than most of your rivals in the challenge." You smiled. "That's not rubbish or weakness Hop. That's your true strength plain and simple."

Hop continued to stare at you with those bright gold eyes for a long moment, before the biggest smile you had ever seen on him came through. "...Yeah...YEAH!!" He pointed at you. "You're absolutely right! ...I...Still need some time to think about a few things, but I appreciate the words."

You smiled and nodded. "You'll figure it out eventually. Until then, just keep calm and work hard and you'll get there. Don't worry yourself over what Bede said because Gloria's right about him being wrong."

With a nod, Hop turned back to Gloria who blinked back at him. "I'm off, mate. Off to find the kind of pokemon that I can really draw the strength out of."

She frowned. "We'll meet up with you later tho...Right?"

"Oh you know we will! I still have to beat you sometime. I'll see you around. Ok?"

....Gloria nodded and the two of you watched as they bid farewell and after a moment they were gone. You two looking after where they left....before you looked over at Gloria's sad face. "Hey. Are you alright?"

After a second or two she nodded. "Y-Yeah." She inhaled. "Yeah I'm good. It's just a bit unfair y'know? Gah!" Her hands came up to grip her head. "I wish I could just get my mind off all this!"

You opened your mouth to speak- "That child." And practically yelped, jumping up, as the both of you whirled around face to face with....Opal. The elderly woman staring at where they boys left. "Gym Challengers should battle for the sake of their own pokemon. Why worry about saving the Champion's name? We all know he's unbeatable."......You exchanged a look with Gloria. "Anyway, here's a little something for letting me watch your battle." To your surprise what she handed out (more like put in Gloria's stunned hand-) was another league card. "Now on you go, Child. You're headed to the Stow-on-Side Gym next, no? The Gym Challenge is about having fun."

You both watched silently as she once again appeared out of no where, before ignoring anything she just did, and just...Left! Gloria finally blinked before curiously looking down at the card in her hands. Slowly turning to you as she rose a brow. And looked up to you. "..This is Bea's League Card."

....You blinked. "You mean the gym leader from this gym?" She nodded. "Why on earth would she have that?"

"I'm more confused on why she's here too."

"I'm more impressed she managed to do all that climbing required to get here. Wouldn't be surprised if she did the smart thing and grabbed a taxi....But she's got a point." You pointed to the card in Gloria's hands. "We came here so you would challenge Bea. If you want to get your mind off things, then a battle against her would be the best thing to do just that."

Gloria stared at you a moment. Before looking down to the card in her hands a determined look coming over her as she inhaled and pumped a fist into the air. "You're right again! I came here to challenge the fighting type gym and it's leader! I didn't spend days travelin' and climbing an unholy amount to just quite now! Hop plans on challengin' me 'n the finals! I owe it to him to at least try my best to get there with him! If he can do it then so can I too!" She turned, her mind dead set and seeming to forget you. "Look out Bea! Cuz 'ere I come to get that badge!!"

"You can do it!," you called after her as she suddenly ran out of the center, fist still high in the air. And leaving you sitting there by yourself. After a moment you sighed and leaned your cheek back down against the table. You were too tired and sore to move at the moment and your back could use a rest from days of lugging that troublemaker aro- The chair in front of you creaked as Drizzilie climbed onto it, before pulling itself onto the table and sat there next to your head, careful to not sit on your hair spilt over on the table behind you. After a moment it gave off a questioning sound and tapped your head as if expecting an answer outta you. You blew out a breath. "I get you're used to being carried around by now, but now you're bigger and heavier. And it's starting to strain my back out." It made another squeak noise. "That means you're a big boy now. One day you're gonna be taller than ME!" You were right that Inteleons were genuinely taller than most humans if you remember right. "What then? You can't expect me to piggy back ride you everywhere. It tires me out. So after today, how about you start giving walking a try?" Your answer was a few pats to your head. "I'll take that as a yes. Because there's NO way in heck I'm trying to carry you back down those ladders."

It was...mostly a blur right after that. It was almost embarrassing how fast you were to fall asleep sleeping half way on a table, but you must've been more tuckered out than you thought. You weren't even too sure how much time had even passed. All you can remember was waking up to a flash of light from behind your retinas making your sleeping body flinch....And your hearing picking up giggling from a far distance. And the feeling of something pressed against your neck. It felt like a cool water balloon just laying again your neck, not that you didn't mind being inside from the heat and all that, but you definitely shied away from the something that was shaking and as COLD AS ICE sniffing at your cheek. With a groan from being deep in sleep for so long, your eyes slowly blinked open to blurry yellow-....Yellow?? You blinked back more in your sleepy stupor as your drizzilie laid lazily like a cat in the crook of your shoulder and next as you yawned. Reached a hand up to rub at your eyes. And looked at the yellow dinosuar as it tilted it's head at you curiously. Blank faced you sat there and stared at it. ......It blinked and gave a small noise. And you yelled up immediately shoot up to your feet as the thing gave a scared sqawk like a parrot and dove itself to cower behind Gloria shaking. Drizzilie chirping in annoyance at being disturbed from it's spot of rest on the table next to you! Everyone in the center was either hiding behind the counter or like you pressed against the walls away the scary looking pokemon who looked like a giant yellow dinosaur trapped in a blue upside down acorn. The thing gave a sad noise as you stared at it, body pressed against the wall, your chair knocked over in the process of getting up. Gloria was already cooing at it soothingly and patting it's head, camera slung around her neck and a picture in her other hand........You pointed.

"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT THING!?"

"Calm down, Y/n. Ya gonna scare Arctozolt even more than the wee babe already is," she said calmly patting it's head.

......You blinked. "I SCARED HIM!? Gloria what IS that?!"

"Oh this?" She gestured to the thing glancing around nervously. The only ones not so freaked out about it was apparently her and your Drizzilie who looked more annoyed it's nap was cut short. "Remember that scientist las I mentioned before? Well I found 'er wonderin' around with the weird contraption in hand. You were still sleepin' when I went back out for food so I figured why not give it a try? This is only one of four new wee ones I've got....But I wanted to come to you straight away because...well..." She looked nervously at you with a strained apologetic look. "I think we might have ta make a run for it."

.........You blinked. "....Run from what?''

She hummed making a rolling motion with her now free hand. "That scientist lady may be lookin' 'round for me cuz I ran off with her 'research'." She gestured to the pokemon who pressed it's nose against her arm curiously. 

......"Gloria." You peeled yourself from the wall finally. "PLEASE tell me you didn't steal those pokemon."

She scowled stuffing the picture into her pocket. "I nay stole anything! Especially since it was mine in the first place! They were my fossils she just did some science whatcha-may-callit to 'em. It's not my problem she throws a fit once she sees me flee with 'em. 'Sides. Do ya really want them cooped up in some lab being studied like statues?"

....Well...You couldn't argue with her there. So with a breath in you breathed out calming yourself and held up your hands. "Right." You quickly moved to grab your bag, Drizzilie taking the hint and hurrying to climb off the table to join after you. "Ok then. Let's leave. And put that thing in it's ball-" You paused. ".....hey. What about Bea?"

"I told you I came for the Fighting Badge didn't I?", she asked pulling out a pokeball, in a flash of blue the light the thing was gone. "And I walked out with it as well! No need to worry ye head off!"

You nodded already going to the door. TIME TO LEAVE!! The last thing you wanted was to be arrested by a scientist for tampering with her research or stealing or-...Or whatever Gloria did while you were out cold. Darn it you had to stop being such a deep sleeper! You should've went with her instead of sleeping in! "Which is the fastest way out of Stow-on-Side?" You asked speed walking to the doors with your pokemon at your heels easily keep up with Gloria in tow behind you.

"The fastest way out is the back path leading behind the stadium." She said pointing as you sped walked out into the hot sun. "It's up that long stairway past the mural!"

You nodded. Sounded good to you! And your body was well rested from that powernap so you had the energy now to spare. Footsteps slapping against the stone pavement the three of you sped walked past people who looked like they'd seen a ghost. Oh no. Don't tell me Gloria paraded whatever ancient thing that was on the way there! Looking around, you peeled your eyes out for any sign of an angry scientist with a machine or anything the like. And you did run into a scientist. Just not the one you were fearing. As you two made it up the first flight of steps that lead to the stadium and path to the mural, a dash of yellow side lined you.

BARK!!

WHOA! You yelped and swung your arms out as you stumbled a step, only saving grace was Gloria who thanks to her quick reflexes grabbed onto your pack and pulled you back upright. Catching yourself back onto your feet as the yamper culprit wagged it's lightning bolt tail and panted happily at the both of you before giving off another loud bark. ....Wait a second. A yamper?? What was a yamper doing all the way up here? That could only mean one thing.

Footsteps rapidly approuched. "I'm so sorry!" You both turned. "Is everyone ok?"...Yep. It was Sonia. You both sighed in relief to see her. Thank goodness! It was just her. The red headed scientist quickly approuched scowling at the happily panting pokemon before wagging a finger at it and placed one hand on her hip. "Bad boy! You know better than to run off and scare people like that!" The dog pokemon tilted his head at her but otherwise didn't change it's expression as she turned to you two apologetically. "I'm so sorry about that. He can get easily excited. But it looks like my yamper really likes you, huh?"

"Sonia." A hand on your chest as your headed tilted back with a smile of relief, "Thank goodness it's only you."

"What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to come examine the ancient ruins and mural around Stow-on-Side after flipping through all those history books in the Hammerlocke library." They had a library?? "I thought maybe something was here. Anyway, we've run into each other at a good time." She happily turned and gestured up the way towards the stairs you two were about to run up anyways. "You know the mural here in Stow-on-Side I just mentioned? It's said to tell the story of the hero of Galar as well. Though what's there today is actually a replica of the ancient art that used to be here."...She paused...and you blinked as she turned to Gloria with seemingly a bright new idea in her mind. "Say. You tend to have surprisingly sharp eyesight, so I was wondering what you might think when you see the ruins?"

Gloria blinked..her hand coming to rub her arm embarrassed. "Uh..Actually I haven't see the ruins or m-mural yet."

She blinked taken a back. "Oh really?,'' she asked surprised. Gloria nodded embarrassed and Sonia held up a hand in assurrance. "Hey that's alright. There's a first time for everything. Since you haven't see it yet, how about we go together since I'm heading there anyways?"

"Would we!?," Gloria beamed and you coughed to gain her attention.

"Aren't you forgetting we're supposed to be leaving town for something?," You pressed raising your brows.

"Yeah. We're still going the same place anyways. But don't ya think running would make us look more suspicious?"

You opened your mouth...but closed it. She had another point. It's make you both look suspicious if either of you just ran outta here like a ghost was chasing you, it'd make you look like you were fleeing the scene of the crime. Acting along with Sonia like tourists would probably help you both blend in here a little better with the other people walking up and down the stairs...You nodded. Alright. You'd do that but then you two had better skedaddle while you had the chance too. Sonia looked please at your answer and would've probably expressed it too, if it wasn't for the earth rattling KA-BOOM sound that went off like a bomb somewhere above all of you. The echo of it boomed across rattling the sky, and you and the other two girls, and a whole bunch of other people looked up in alarm at the frightening sound. Which had come in the direction of the very place you were about to head off too. Sonia's yamper made a distressed bark sound and scampered behind the woman's legs. Drizzilie too seemed mildly surprised at the sound. The best you would describe it as a far away grenade or a firework going off, but who'd have either of those around here!? 

"Wha...What in the world was that!? What's going on up there?!," Sonia managed to asked out before another ka-boom noise had you all more startled. "Sounds like it came from the direction of the ruins, too!"

"Maybe some of the old things are collaspin' in on themselves from age?", Gloria suggested.

That made a worried look come over the young scientist and a hand came up to her cheek. "Oh no! That's not good! Those are historical sights we're still studying!"She gave a look to the pokemon still cowering and shaking behind her heels. "Let's have a look! Come along, Yamper!" Her heels left loud footsteps in her wake as she turned and ran towards the stairs the yamper whimpering like a scare dog before quickly running after it's owner. 

You yelped as Gloria suddenly grabbed you too and yanked you into a run after her. "Come on! We gotta see what's goin' on too! That's are way outta here remember!?"

You didn't argue with that. Only willed yourself to ran with Gloria after Sonia who was already ahead of you running up the flights of stairs as fast as her legs could carry her. Without the extra weight on your shoulders anymore it was really easy to keep up with them as you all ran past people who were looking with concerned, confused, or scared faces up towards the top of the stairs. One little boy even gripping the pants leg of who must've been his grandmother sobbing in fright. Sonia was the first to reach the top of the hot weathered stairs and stop facing what must've been the source of the sounds because ANOTHER giant boom noise echoed throughout the sky. Your heart raced in your throat, and your lungs heaved as you picked up the place. The second one to get there was Gloria and then a minute later you right behind her and then your Drizzilie who had resumed to running on all fours just to keep up with the lot of you. And the source of the noises were laid at your all's feet. No it wasn't a grenade. Or fireworks. Or even ruins collasping in on themselves from old age. It was a HUGE elephant looking pokemon who must've been the size of a large soccer mom's mini van who had it's trunk halfway stuck inside the cliffside where this strange but beautiful looking hand painted mural was drawn onto the cliffside. A giant hole was in the mural sadly disrupting it's beauty as many spiderweb cracks surrounded it as the elephant thing forcibly pulled it's trunk out of it scattering rock dust and tiny fragments at it's base. And the white haired boy encouraging it on as he pointed. 

"Yes! Destroy it! Destroy it all!," he shouted to the elephant pokemon in absolutely frustration, "We're going to find those Wishing Stars!" Your eyes widened in absolute SHOCK. Holy heck!! It was BEDE!! What in the world was he doing!? The others must've been in shock too because they didn't react at all staring in horror as the thing raised it's trunk again and with a sickening crunching gravel sound slammed it's trunk back into the whole it created. More cracks slowly forming across the pretty painted picture. "We've got to bring the chairman more wishing stars if we want to please him! Copperajah! If you're truly the chairman's pokemon then you should feel grateful for this chance to help him find wishing stars!" The thing gave out another elephant sound and repulled it's trunk out from the now slightly bigger hole it made.

"BEDE YA BLOODY KOOK!!," you both jumped as Gloria finally found her voice, hands flying to grip her head as she stared horrified at the destruction before her. At the sound of her scottish accent Bede let out a high pitched wail of surprise and whirled around back pressed to the pokemon's side as his wide purple eyes stared. Surprised no doubt to see Gloria there. She threw her hands at him and his mess. "WHAT IN THE WHOLE STUPID HAIRBALL BRAIN SCHEME OF YERS ARE YE DOIN' NOW!?"

Bede continued to stare at her wide eyed for a moment, before instantly righting himself and dusting himself off. "Oh my. You again." He was WAY to calm for this to be normal. "So you think that you can start collecting wishing stars now and get in the chairman's favor? That's the way of things, is it?!"

Gloria blinked and looked at him like he was stupid for accusing her of something so...so...Well stupid too. "Have ye stumbled and hit your head on somethin' or is your head so stuffed full of that fluffy hair ya can't see what you're doin' right there!?" She pointed even more at the destroyed mural. "And what are ye goin on about wishing stars for!? Like I give a ratatta's arse 'bout lil rocks when I already have the one I need!"

"I see. So you have some cunning in you. But I won't have it!," he growled pointing back at her in anger. "I won't allow anyone to stand in my way! I have to win this for the chairman! Do you really think I'd let you keep me from everything I want!!"

"Did ya even hear what I just said!? I don't want ta git in your way! I want ye ta stop damagin' that thing! Are ye deaf!?"

He chuckled without any happiness. "Oh yes. My partner's move is simply splendid, wouldn't you say?" He held up his hand and with a snap the copperajah as he called it gave a giant elephant roar before lifting it's trunk back up and striking back into the same place it had been before hand. "Now leave me be until I can figure out what to say to you officially!" He turned back around. "I have work to do."

"What do we do!?," you turned to Sonia in a panic as she as panickedly looked back to you as you helplessly pointed at the GIANT elephant thing. "I can't take that thing on with Drizzilie! I can barely beat my own sleep time!!"

"I-I-..." She stammered looking around panicked hands lightly shaking not sure what to do herself before whipping to the stairs to everyone there. Sweat on her face. "SOMEONE GET THE GYM LEADER!! SOMEONE GET BEA NOW!!"

Good idea! Bea would absolutely be able to stop this but by the time she got up here that mural would've been nothing but rubble- ?! "GLORIA NO!!!" Your hand snapped to stop the girl but she was too fast as your hand grabbed empty air. 

Gloria had dropped her bag to the ground. Her hands gripping her camera so hard her knuckles were white as she charged forward with speed you hadn't seen her use before. The copperajah pulling it's trunk back again to slam it for the hundredth time back into place in the crater it made in the rock as Bede persisted in barking at it to do so. It's trunk lifted high to the point it was about to slam it back down, when Gloria slid her way between them and the mural, before holding up the camera- "SAY CHEESE!!" And a flash of bright white shot out. The copperajah gave out a pained wail as it turned itself away from the flash quickly shaking it's head. The trunk that was raised to strike the mural more instead coming to it's own body to rub at it's eyes. Bede himself flinching back with a angry cry followed by a growl and gritted teeth as he was stopped.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?," he cried out angrily to her arm wiping at his eyes before blinking wide purple eyes full of confusion at the scowling girl. "I'm doing this for you! I'm doing this for everyone in Galar!!"

"What you're doin' is destroyin' Galar! Not helpin' it ya dummy! Why would I want ya doin' this for me!?" Bede stopped seeming stunned and...it might've been your panicked mind but he looked a little hurt at her words as she glared and held up her camera at him like a weapon. "Now stand down before I get more evidence of yer crimes!"

"...I...But why? How can this be?" ..He numbly pointed at her. "How could someone like you get in my way? I was the one chosen by the chairman! I was the one to defeat the champion!" He cried out at her. "I'm one of the elite! Someone who can shoulder the future of the Galar Region!" He pointed at her. "YOU EVEN AGREED WITH ME!!"

"Since when did I agree with destroyin' ancient sights for bloody sparkly rocks!?"

He didn't get time to anwer. In fact none of you did as a group of footsteps made their way from from behind you and your Drizzilie chirped in surprise before diving in front of your legs to avoid being swarmed by a few people in police suits like you'd often see Officer Jenny wear, a few gym staff people in white suits, and at least three pokemon that you supposed was to help restrain the culprit. You and Sonia looked around yourselves surprised but relieved to see the police coming FINALLY, and Bede suddenly looked even more panicked hands at his sides and lookig around widely as he was affectively surrounded. 

"Make way for the Chairman!" Hey! You recognized that woman's voice. And turned just in time for the Chairman himseld and an angry Oleana part their way through the crowd. But instead of feeling relief anymore, a bad feeling pooled at the end of your stomach. "Challeger Bede!" She yelled and just when you thought Bede couldn't have gotten any paler, his skin turned such a white the bright white of his hair could've been considered darker than his skin tone. "I wondered what you were up to when you asked to borrow Chairman Rose's copperajah.I can't believe you'd try to use the chairman's pokemon to destroy a historical sight!"

Wait wait WAIT! HOLD UP!! They actually let Bede borrow THEIR pokemon without asking what he was doing and surprised about this!? ..A low rumble noise came from the wall as a piece of it slid away between the cracks around it. A few pebbles falling from it and landing right behind Bede's feet. No one noticed but Gloria who was still standing between Bede and the destroyed mural, blinking and looking up at the stone wall. You all were too busy watching the show between Bede and his sponsors to notice. 

Bede had stood there stunned for a moment before scowling and pointing at her, but his tone was obviously scared. "Who cares for some ancient ruin when the next thousand years are at stake!? Did you stand in the path of a pokemon's simple beam or something?" Wrong move. Oleana looked even more angry now. "How do you expect to support the Chairman with that sort of thinking!?"

More pebbles fell down and Gloria looked right up, twisting her body around as she took a few steps back staring at the wall. 

"Bede." Bede Froze. Absolutely. Freaking. FROZE as the Chairman addressed him holding a hand up to Oleana who immediately stood down at his motion. "Young Bede." His hand was slowly returned to his pocket, the chairman's eyes scanning his pokemon who still shook it's head and the absolutely destructon of the once beautiful mural. And shook his head. How was he so calm about this? "It pains me to say this but I am truly disappointed."

".....W-What?"

"It's true that I'm the one who found you, back when you were all alone." He sighed reaching a hand up to rub his head. "I saw talent in you. You reminded me a little bit of myself back when I was young. That's why I sent you to a trainer's school, to give you a chance at success. But trying to destroy the mural, part of Galar's history! You show no love toward Galar!" He looked back up to the boy who by this point was lightly shaking. Just staring at him like a little scared mouth. "You are clearly not a worthy challenger for the Gym Challenge." 

"W-W-WHAT!?," Bede shouted at him. "B-B-But all I have ever done was for you!" He placed a hand to his chest. "All I have ever done was for Galar! Y-You must be joking right!? You're disqualifying me from the Gym Challenge?! But you're the one who endorsed me! T-T-There are a hundred different ways we could sort this out!" He insisted more desperate. "Why are you chosing the worst possible option?!"

Mr. Rose just held up a tired hand again. "I don't want to hear anymore from you, Bede. We will decide what to do with you later. For now you will return to Hammerlocke with us."

"B-B-But-.." He looked around in a blind panic around himself at every staff, policeman, and other adult there watching him. More pebbles falling and Gloria's eyes widened in danger. "I-I REFUSE!! THERE WAS A MISTAKE!!"

"Challenger Bede," Oleana stated firmly, "I'll be taking those wishing stars you have gathered. And you WILL be returning with us to Hammerlocke." 

"I- N-No wait!" He was grabbed by two men in those white gym uniforms and his purple eyes shrank as Oleana walked towards him.

That's when the Chairman turned towards the rest of you and smiled apologetically. "AH! Sonia! And Gloria and her friend too!" You both turned to the Chairman as Gloria paid no attention to you, the Chairman, or Bede's shaking form as Oleana collected what looked like more sparkling gems out of his pockets. "Terrible shame all this." he gestured to the seen before him and you wanted to hurl at how disgustingly calm he could POSSIBLY be about all this! "An absolute disaster." OH YOU THINK!? "I never wish to see us lose challengers for this sort of reason. Yet we do what we must do to keep things fair and sportsmanlike."

"Then why did you lend him your copperajah without watching him?," you found yourself saying with a frown, "Or have a young boy collect stones from possibly dangerous mines?"

He fell silent, giving you a look that could have been surprised at what you said as you still stared at him. The reality of what you had said not catching up to you then and there because on top of what just happened something else struck. The sound of cracking walls and moving gravel made everyone look up as the cracks and wall of the cliffside moved ever so slightly under the weight of the lose boulder as it slipped free and fell down towards the earth. Down right towards the scrambling and screaming people. Right towards the frozen form of Bede as his mouth opened in a silent scream at the heavy rock barraling towards him as he stood in it's shadow- Well the rock did made contact with the ground, shattering into lots of tinier pieces on impact. Everyone yelped and cowered, arms flying up to shield their faces or turning away as the tinier rocks flew everywhere. Bede and Gloria laid upon the ground sprawled out from where she tackled him out of the flying death maker's way. Both groaned out before sitting up. Bede once again freezing at the sight of Gloria being so close and pulling him up into a sitting position with a scowl! 

"Ye alright?"......he slowly nodded. "That's good." Before she began shaking him. "WHAT THE ABSOLUTE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU!? NOW DO YA SEE WHY IT WAS A STUPID IDEA YA DUMMY!? YA COULD'VE BEEN CRUSH BY A STUPID FLYIN' BOULDER!!"

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!?" A loud female voice cried out and if you thought Oleana's loud voice was scary it was nothing compared to the slightly smaller than you woman who stomped her way through the crowd barefoot, angry, and with at least three fighting type pokemon behind her. Just how many people were going to show up here!? And how could she stand walking around barefoot on the hot ground!? The grey haired woman looked absolutely shocked at the state of her town's mural and all the debry around the ground from it, but unlike everyone else who stood around taking a long time to react, her reaction was instant. Anger flooding her features and her face looked like a tea kettle ready to pop as it turned beat red. An accusing hand was pointed at the destruction caused. Wait. She looked familiar. "WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS!?"....Oh right! You saw her on the card Opal had given Gloria! It was Bea the gym leader of this place!...And she did NOT look happy to see what happened. Even more unfortunate for Bede some people around him pointed him out to the angry woman and once she snapped his gaze to himself still half held by Gloria, you could tell he was just one more heart attack away from fainting. "SO IT WAS YOU!!" She pointed right at him. "IT'S BAD ENOUGH YOU INSULTED THE TRAINER I ENDORSED BUT NOW YOU HAVE THE AUDACITY OF RUINING MY TOWN'S SUPPLY OF INCOME TOO!? WHERE DO YOU THINK SOME OF THE MONEY TO KEEP THE STADIUM RUNNING COMES FROM YOU LITTLE PUNK!? I SWEAR BY THE TIME I'M THROUGH WITH YOU YOU'LL BE GLUING THE ENTIRE THING BACK BY HAND WITH NOTHING BUT A LITTLE CHILD'S GLUE STICK!!" By now Bede looked pale enough to pass as a ghost.

"Bea now, now." The Chairman held up his hands to her in a calm manner. "Calm down. I'll pay for all the damages and repairs to be fixed. We'll have an exact replica of the mural back up in no time at all. It'll be like this never happened."

"WHAT?!" She snapped a look towards the chairman. "AND LET THIS LITTLE TROUBLEMAKER GO UNPUNISHED FOR ALL THE TROUBLE HE'S ALREADY CAUSED!?"

"I never said he wasn't going to be punished. We were just about to figure that out just now I assure you."

She huffed crossing her arms. "Oh yeah? Is that right? If you ask me you should take away the gym badges from him-"

"NO!!" Bede gave off an 'Oof' as Gloria suddenly grabbed him to her in a protective manner and his face hit her shoulder as he blinked confused. The adults looking at her in a way that made you nervous just standing there watching.

...Bea got a look of realization over her before she pointed at Gloria. "Hey. I know you. You're the trainer that I just badge the Fighting type badge too. Are you in on this too?"

Gloria shook her head no. "NO!! Are ye kiddin' me?! I'd never do somethin' as stupid as this!" Her hand pointed at her. "BUT YA CAN'T TAKE AWAY HIS GYM BADGES!!" She then pointed at the Chairman who blinked at her. "AND NEITHER CAN YE!! BEDE WON THOSE FAIR N' SQUARE!!" Bede blinked and looked up to her in shock. "YER RIGHT THAT HE SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR DOIN' WHAT HE DID!! BUT GYM BADGES ARE A SYMBOL OF ALL THE HARD WORK YOU PUT IN AS A POKEMON TRAINER JUST TO GET THEM!! ONCE A GYM LEADER GIVES THEM TO YA IT JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH YOU IMPROVED AND GROWN FROM THEN!! IF YOU TAKE THEM FROM HIM THEN YOU'LL BE DOIN' NOTHING BUT TELL HIM HIS WORTH AS A TRAINER IS NOTHING AND I WON'T ALLOW THAT!!" Her grip on him increased slightly. "Punish him for what he did to the mural if you want, but don't you DARE take his gym badges from him!"

You weren't sure whether you wanted to bury yourself under a rock or be proud of her in that moment, but her words got the Chairman to stare at her a moment. Humming and eyeing her protective stance frowning at him before he sighed and nodded. "She's right Bea. I won't tamper with the progress he's already made thus far, but he sure will be answering for the mess he's caused everyone today." He gestured back down towards the stairs. "Come. Lets discuss what we can do about the mural out of the hot sun alright? Ms. Sonia I don't suppose you could stand by until my team gets here could you?"

Sonia blinked."...OH! I-i-...Sure."

The two of you stood there as everyone and their pokemon trickled out of the destroyed area and back down the stairs after the chairman and gym leader who shot a nasty glare at Bede before she left. ...Bede slowly pried hmself away from Gloria falling back onto his bottom as she blinked. He got up shakily, dusting himself off in the process, before looking back to her. The two of them silently staring at each others for the longest time.

"Bede," He jumped and turned to Oleana as she stood there waiting for him expectantly, "Come along. You're aware the Chairman doesn't like to kept waiting." Bede paused for a moment looking between her and Gloria exactly once, before turning and started walking towards her. She turned and walked away from the three of you as Gloria slowly stood herself. Bede not sparing either of you a head glance as he walked past the two of you head down without a word. 

The three of you stood there watching everyone leave down the long flight of stairs silently ...before you finally broke the silence by looking at the mess as the copperajah lumbered past after it's owner. ".....Well I can say for certain that this so fair has been the most eventful day I've ever had in my life."

"Tell me 'bout it!" Gloria grumbled dusting herself off as she walked over to you to which you looked at her.

"Hey. Are you ok? You're not hurt are you?"

She shook her head no to your relief as she still deeply frowned. "I know the show ponyta was a looney but I didn't think he'd have the gall ta pull somethin' like this."

You hummed. ".....Somehow I don't think that was exactly all his fault."

"Whatcha mean by that?"

You went to answer her but was cut off yet again by voice. "Now that I think about it..." Both of you looked to Sonia who hummed. "You know. During one of Bede's matches, I heard the announcer say that Bede has no family. Apparently it was Rose who took Bede under his wing, and so Bede was battling for the Chairman's sake." Gloria looked between you two surprised, but you were more angry than surprised at this point gaining a frown. You had pretty much picked up on that by now. "*sigh* But that's a story for another day." She looked to the destroyed Mural. "Oh poor Bea. What an awful turn of events. I hope the mural survived all that."

"I doubt that." Gloria kicked a decent sized rock away from her at the mention.

And then that's when the rumble started. Just like the sound of the rock that nearly crushed Bede, only there was a lot more of it! The three of you looked up in horror at the cracks in the once pretty mural finally giving away under the strained weight, and it fell apart.

"LOOK OUT!!"

You quickly grabbed Gloria and yanked her behind you as your Drizzilie once again ducked behind your legs for cover as the rocks fell away and crumbled to the ground in a heap. Sending smaller rock fragments and dust everywhere making the three of you cough up a storm. But it's when you looked up however, is when the REAL mystery began. Because when the two of you looked up....your eyes widened. In place of where the mural used to be was a pile of rubble and a hole in the cliffside. But in the hole ..was a couple of statues. Two of which were two GIGANTIC dog looking pokemon holding a sword or shield in their mouths, and behind them were two kings carved into the stone. 

"...Hey." You glanced at Gloria shaking dust from her hat and Sonia walked up wide eyed to the statues. "Are you ok?" She nodded before plopping the hat back onto her head. "Good. What about you Sonia?.....Sonia?" You blinked and looked over to the orange haired woman gaping up at the statues...Huh. Why did they seem familiar to you?

"......Not a brilliant turn of events, but the ruins were brought into the light for us to see!," Sonia finally said after a long moment of silence. "What does this tell us about Galar's legends?"

"Uuuuh." You rose a brow up at the statues. Not really sure if she was talking to you or not. "A....sword and shield?" You guessed based off what the things were holding in their mouths...Hey. Wasn't this whole game's thing revolved around a sword and shield or something??

She nodded. "Right! More than any hero, there's those things that appear to be pokemon that stand out! Not just that, but those pokemon appear to be holding a sword and shield as if they were using them! Anything else look interesting to you?!"

"Uuuuh. ...Those two guys there." You pointed to the two king statues. They're the same as the tapestries aren't they?"

"I didn't notice that! Oh good observation! There really were two heroes. But if that's the case then why only the one statue at Budew drop inn?"

You shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe whoever built it didn't feel like making two giant gold statues."

She hummed. "More than any statue of a hero or old tapestry, these ruins made in truly ancient times must show us the real truth! Which means that....."

"....The sword and shield are pokemon?"

"YUP!!" She snapped with a smile to you making you blink. "I was thinking the same thing! Seems like at some point in history the sword and shield were combined with the two actual pokemon and treated as the same thing!" She hummed looking back to all the rubble. "But then what? They just faded from history? Two young heroes. The sword and shield were actually pokemon. But why would the truth of these ruins be hidden when their stories were depicted in artwork?" 

"...Maybe they had something to do with it?" She looked at you and you pointed to the human statues. "The kings or whoever they are. They went through a lot of trouble hiding this..maybe it was to protect the things that protected them."

She hummed. "Possibly. We won't be too sure until I get Mr. Rose's approval to study it more. Thanks! With your help I really feel like we made a big discovery here!

"Not sure how I helped but your welcome!"

"..So there was history being covered up by all that over stylized artwork. I'm gonna have to look into this some more. OOHH!! IM SO EXCITED!! NO RESEARCHER HAS EVER MADE SUCH A DISCOVERY-" A bark caught both of your attention as Sonia looked down at her feet in time for her yamper to drop something white at them. And she blinked. "Hey boy. Whatcha got there?" Not a bone you hoped. She quickly reached down as you leaned over to look and she stood up with a white mask in her hands. It was covered in does and a bit yellowed with a few scrapes, and had three black holes in it presumably for a person's mouth and eyes. "Well would you look at this. I dont think this is from the ruins. ...It kinda reminds me of the one's Allister wears."

"Who?," you asked trying to see it. Sonia handed it over to you and you grabbed it from her to get a better look. 

"Allister. He's the boy who's in charge of the Ghost type Gym just down the road there." She pointed towards the exit path from Stow-on-Side. "It's located by the Stow-on-Side cemetary, but it'll take a full day just to get there from here. I just mentioned it might be his since the only one I've ever seen with that kind of mask was him at the Entrance Ceremony....But I guess you'll be headed to Bellonlea next, right?"

You opened your mouth- "Y/N!!!" You were nearly knocked to the ground when Gloria ran up to you and grabbed you suddenly. Yanking you forward hard enough to send you stumbling a few steps as she panicked. "It's that restore scientist lady! She's headed up the stairs this way!" She pulled you into a run away from Sonia as she watched bewildered down the path away from here. Your Drizzilie running at your heels.

"Bye Sonia! Good luck in your research!!," you called back.

Guess you'd be able to finally leave Stow-on-Side.

[mew-ya]

your drawing just reality-checked me that Katakuri is a goddamn building, and me being 5´6 is like I'm just gonna reach his knee xD time to do some parkour shit to kiss him

the spikes are like a rock climbing wall on his legs 🦵 let's conquer that mountain

[bardicbeetle]

Characters as Songs!

Tagged by @magnus-s-writes (i hope you’re ready for a lot of music)

Some of you may know that I am, a bit of a playlist whore enthusiast. I have several for Safe in the Dark, as well as individual ones for most characters and certain scene types.

I’ll take after Magnus and do all my characters for Safe in the Dark, and for shoots and ladders I’ll do Antonella + co from That Witch Lives and Breathes, because I wanna talk more about that story.

So, we’ve got a bit of a list to get through, let’s go.

Alex Blackwood (Safe in the Dark)

There is always and forever one song for me that will bring me back to whatever I need to write for Alex.

Shake it Out by Florence + the Machine And I am done with my graceless heart So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart

Daniel Arden (Safe in the Dark)

This is a new addition to Daniel’s list, but it’s been on repeat for three weeks for me, so.

Bleed Out by The Mountain Goats And I will never lose hope, and I haven't lost hope I'm just realistic I will go down punching, but I will go down And my corner man won't bring me back around

Moira Hart (Safe in the Dark)

A lot of this band on Moira’s list, but specifically

Divide and Conquer by Vandaveer When you crash for the evening Do you laugh, do you feel things? Does it cross your mind When you cross the line?

Jesse Addison (Safe in the Dark)

There are so, so many I could give for Jesse BUT

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen Oh, baby this town rips the bones from your back It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap We gotta get out while we're young 'Cause tramps like us, baby, we were born to run

Isaac Raes (Safe in the Dark)

Smoke Damage by Hi I’m Case I'm not about to complain That's too much time and energy Too long a walk to try to turn back And today was the same I nearly dodged a bullet But the universe is going on attack

Carrie Verona(Safe in the Dark)

You’re Not Welcome by Naethan Apollo I don't start fights but I'll handle you just fine Usually I'm very kind to others But I won't think twice if you step to me or mine

Thomas Pianfetti(Safe in the Dark)

Two by Sleeping at Last It's okay if you can't find the words Let me take your coat And this weight off of your shoulders

Eric St. Clare (Safe in the Dark)

Show me how to live by Audioslave Let the stains remind you You thought you made a man You better think again

Madeleine LaRoux (Safe in the Dark)

Love will have its Sacrifices by SOLES There's no way for you to fight this No spell for you to right this No way for you to hide From the demon of the light

Amalthea(Safe in the Dark)

There are tons I could pick for Thea that are more menacing but…

Thought Contagion by Muse They'll never do what you want them to Give it up and watch it break through It's too late for a revolution Brace for the final solution

~*~

Antonella Wilwick (That Witch Lives and Breathes)

Hymn for a Scarecrow by Tally Hall Real is a feeling and feeling is real All of you are flowing through me But you wouldn't know how to fathom or feel When the wind blows!

Fenwick (That Witch Lives and Breathes)

Constellations by The Oh Hellos The shapes that you drew may change beneath a different light And everything you thought you knew Will fall apart, but you'll be all right

Captain Endora “End” Maxwell (That Witch Lives and Breathes)

Hungover in the City of Dust by Autoheart Insolent and out of character We've changed so much I barely recognise our formative lives Hidden deep, deep, deep underground

Leir (That Witch Lives and Breathes)

Ship in a Bottle by Fin Pulling ropes and pulling your head back To see what is breaking the foremast You set sail alone, there is no crew No one on the deck who can help you

And that's all!

I say, as though that isn't a mile long.

Tagging @catchingbigfish @mariahwritesstuff and @pens-swords-stuff