#IO I’M GOING INSANE HE’S SO FUCKING PRETTY……….

[gothsuguru]

@neptuneblue @starlitsawamura

[livelaughlovesubs]

Following up my other ask I send, my mom has been mad at me for the past 4 days, I had the worst response to a serious interview, I accidentally said ‘venti’ while I was ordering at a another coffee shop, I’m on my period, I’m more suicidal, school has been ruined, my phone is going to get checked and looked through by the teachers at my school, I had cheer practice and almost passed out and to top it all off I’am on my period. FUCKING HELL!!!!!!!!

I’ve been so stressed out to the point of changing my typing style…

- 🎀

Warning: long rant

It’s alright, you can vent to me whenever you want and feel like it. And I’ll listen, as long as you need to. When the parents are mad at one it’s the worst feeling ever, and it always hurts so much. Have you tried talking with her? Though, if that’s not a possibility, I’d suggest you take a bath in the bathtub or a long shower to calm yourself. It’s very relaxing to have warm water run down your body or soak in it.

Eat something nice. Chocolate and sweets does help with bad mood, fruits too. I’d suggest you eat bananas or smt, I heard they make good mood. Who cares about weight or calories, the most important thing is that you are happy, and as long as you are happy you are the most beautiful version of yourself.

I used to write a journal when I was having a huge fight with my parents, and it really helped to write down every bad thought I had. Like how I hated everything, how sad I was. Now looking back, despite how often I wrote that, i don’t feel that way anymore.

Or, try out something new. Like a new game, read a new manhwa, a new show, listen to music… whatever it is. I’ve started playing dol and it’s really funny! I like Bailey the most :] dunno if you’ve played it before and know about it, though give it a try if you haven’t. If you don’t know how to install it on iOS I can help (it’s a bit complicated)

It’s alright to make mistakes or get turned down. That only means you have to look for other opportunities and learn from your mistakes. No one is perfect, there will always be hardships. But hey, there’s always an exit, whenever you hit your lowest point and everything feels shitty, just remember one day you can and you’ll climb high.

Being on your period is so shitty as a fellow woman I detest it too. The hormones going wild and making me emotional is driving me insane. But, it’s fine, being vulnerable is totally alright. There’s also nothing embarrassing about crying oneself to sleep, no matter what gender. Be honest with yourself and do what you think helps you to most, it’s alright to be egoistic at times, it’s okay.

I don’t know why you said schools not going very well. If it’s because of your grades, don’t be too harsh on yourself. School has just started, there’s enough time to improve. Making notes and writing them down all prettily turned out to be quite fun, it also helps with studying. Or going over the learned stuff with friends. Even if it’s less effective than learning alone, it’s better than hating it. And if it’s because of other people, we’ll, I gave you an answer a long time ago

I also don’t know why your phone is getting checked, and I know for a fact it is illegal except for special occasions (?) here in Germany. That’s simply outrageous. Your phone is something private to you and you only, that’s really horrible. I’m not sure how to help there, but if it were up to me I’d rebel or try and hide everything. Sorry for not having any advice on that one

Anyhow, about the passing out, dw. I went running today again and I also almost passed out. Cuz I went running even though it’s 31 Celsius- now I’m fine again, and by the looks of it, you are doing better too. I’m glad. If you are worried about it being embarrassing, no need to be. I can share an embarrassing story of me so that you don’t feel alone. One time, I thought a guy liked me and he was pretty cute, so I tried to flirt with him. Getting close to him and being a bit touchy. Then he outright told me, “can you keep some distance?” Guess I was picking up the wrong hints… haha… (I was so fucking delusional)

Oh god that was a ramble. Well, if you want to talk about it without other people knowing, you can always write a message to me. I hope you’ll do better after getting a good rest. In order to be in high spirits, it’s also important to take care of your body. Your soul and body is connected, your mind knows when you aren’t feeling your best and it affects your mood too. So eat and drink enough, also sleep well <3

[melissa-titanium]

ive already decided all the weapons for the bkids but i am unsure if i should go for 5thgen ONLY for the specifics or just . EVERY MH GAME  which would defintieyl expand my options a bit but theres like........ 500 MILLION Monstesr and therefore 500 M IL L IO N  AR MOR SE TS  and i wouldnt know whatto choose :(

but for the bkids weapons:

egbert: hammer. duh! don’t think i really need to explain this one, but shes the type to go utterly berserk once the monster’s been downed from a stun. has cleared the entire area of mizutsune, theyre all too afraid to fight her (hehe.. me) she lands a LOT of ko’s and is infinitely frustrated by the fact that you need to SHARPEN a HAMMER. WHO NEEDS TO SHARPEN A HAMMER??! ITS A HAMMER GOD DAMNIT

dave: longsword. again, duh! dont think i really need to explain this! anime loser boy, it feels appropriate. he’s the type to waste his gauge on helmbreaker in world and didnt learn till iceborne that theres more than one charge level on it. i haven’t played longsword much so i wouldn’t know a lot of the specifics but i think he would deliberately always go hit the head just to knock everyone else over cause hes a bitch like that :heart:

rose: this one is really tough, im stuck between dualblades, cb, and ig, but i think i have to go for db!

come on. shes totes a db user.

funnily enough she reminds me a lot of the stealth dango dualblades in rise ! i would say she’d use those but i have a feeling she would think they’re too silly.

again i havent played much of dualblades but i think she would be one of the More Sane dualblade players, she doesn’t roll down the backs of monsters that often and makes sure she gets the ACTUAL  most damage out of an attack rather than doing whats cool (same thing with IG cause i know aerial attacks aren’t that powerful! atleast from what ive heard)

jade: lbg and hbg! but dabbles in other weapons (especially hunting horn) as well. she’s one of those insane motherfuckers that sets down an affinity booster and goes ham. decimates the monster in 10 seconds flat then carves like nothing happened. great to grind with, but when you’re really just trying to have fun i feel like she would end up going too fast

anddd for the alpha kids cause i just thought of them

jane: gunlance or greatsword! gunlance is known for poking and.. i guess that’s like forkkind? i LOOOVE gunlance and even though im not really good at it its very fun to play and it reminds me of jane :D AND GREATSWORD!!!!!!!!! it feels like almost every greatsword user (except me im not cool) is either SUPER DERANGED or SUPER CHILL or like... BOTH but not in themiddle. like a combination AND SHE TOTALLY FEELS LIKE IT.  she would fucking KILL with strongarm stance in sunbreak she is the one person in the hunt to land SO MANY KO’S AND PARTBREAKS that it honestly becomes concerning. takes a long time to charge up (she thinks focus is an un necessary skill) but its always worth the wait!

dirk: again with the anime longsword boy. except he’s like..really good atit unlike dave. hes pretty humble about it for the most part but GOD FUCKING FORBID he knocks anyone over (which he does) (alot) . he never says anything but anytime theyre all grinding for decor he is telepathically urging them all to get flinch free just so he wont screw up their attacks. his favorite monster is scorned magnamalo and i should kill him for that but i wont. im nice

jake: hmm hes a toughie! i’m stuck between lance and sns (bowguns go without saying duh) lance is totally a Page weapon but sns is a Jake weapon...... maybe he switches between the two who knows! he tends to over-judge a monsters attack and block too early or too late half of the time and is a corner healer (i think thats the term. the people that huddle off into the corner to heal from an attack while everyone else is in the middle of the battle) but he means well! he does a pretty decent amount of damage but most of his skills are health/defense oriented and he DEFINITELY has earplugs.

Roxy: SWAXE, INSECT GLAIVE OR LIGHT BOWGUN. she hasd so many fucking mods i think either her pc blew up 3 times or she got banned from multiplayer even tho im p sure mods r allowed in multi  . shes specil. she totally got introduced to the series via stories 2 and is the MOST into it out of everyone else on this list. she probably knows how to hunt in every single weapon but just so she isnt flexing she only plays swaxe and ig most of the time.......... she is SUUUPER fun to hunt with

[sophiamcdougall]

EXPLAINING SANREMO

(PART 1) Last week I was swept away, helpless, by the avalanche that is the Sanremo Song Festival and I am still recovering. For your safety, I’ve tried to keep the insanity contained on my Italian side blog. But I want to try to offer you a rough summary of what I’ve learned. Sanremo inspired the Eurovision Song Contest. Over five nights, 24 acts, each with a brand new song, compete at the Ariston theatre in Sanremo for a tacky little golden lion, and the glory of being the year’s Song for Italy. 2020 marked the 70th Sanremo, so depending on who you ask, it’s a venerable national treasure or it’s stale and embarrassing (Many Italians are sick of it. Or say they are, but see below.) It is also an EPIC STRUGGLE between THE FORCES OF GOOD AND EVIL FOR THE SOUL OF HUMANITY Let’s meet some of the protagonists: 

AKA: host Amadeus, entertainer and comedian Rosario Fiorello, il Bel Paese, and competitor Achille Lauro.

Amadeus got things off to a bad start before the show even began by praising his various female co-hosts - all seasoned TV professionals - for their beauty and their ability to stay “a step behind a man.” Outrage ensues, Amadeus claims he did not mean it like that, but keep this in mind for later. Also competing are Morgan (below, left) and Bugo (below, right.), who are performing a duet.

Going in, the one thing I know about Morgan is that on more than one occasion, he trashtalked my beloved and blameless Fabrizio Moro. So I hate him and want him to suffer. And apparently he has quite the reputation for throwing tantrums, picking on fellow-artists and sabotaging events he’s part of. But hey. He’s supposedly talented and Bugo clearly thinks he deserves another chance.  And we’re off!

Irene Grandi kicks things off with  “Finalmente Io” (“Finally Me”). But I’m starting with her not so much because she’s the first to sing as because I don’t think the song’s  got enough attention -- either for the fact that it bangs or for what it represents in the drama that’s about to unfold.

Finalmente Io is what, in the business, we call foreshadowing.

There’s a magical thing that happens to women with when they turn 40. The  develop Not-Giving-A-Fuck superpowers. The song is basically about that. It’s about freedom, and self-acceptance, and being 100% done with male bullshit. (It's also a bit of an ADHD anthem but let’s leave that aside for now.)  “I’ve lost all my patience, and all my fragility,” she sings. 

And, “If you want sex, let’s do it now. Heeeeeeere.”

Irene is the portent everyone misses, a harbinger of what is to come. 

Think of her as John the Baptist.  Onwards. So the first thing one discovers about the Sanremo Festival is that just because we have to get through 24 “big” acts AND 6 (?) new/junior artists, and they all have to perform multiple times, that doesn’t mean there’s any RUSH. Guest singers wander on and perform a song or ten. There’s comedy. We can stop everything to talk about football.  A lady comes on and talks for a million years about how her granny taught her that True Beauty is Found Within. There are also speeches about important subjects like violence against women. In fact, we are going to talk about that a lot, but also a bunch of competent and experienced female TV personalities are stuck taking turns at playing Amadeus’s Glamorous Assistant of the evening and he can’t shut up about how beautiful they all are while they cringe and lean subtly away from him. So it’s ... slow, and awkward, but within its own cheesy terms, things are normal. Too normal. Enter Achille Lauro. 

Softly, almost whispering, he begins to sing a song called  “Me ne frego”  (”I don’t care” - but with an edge of “fuck you”). This is both an everyday Italian expression and a fascist motto. Well, it was till now. 

A nation is convulsed. Right-wing Italian boomers are screaming because YOU! CAN’T! DO! THAT! AT! SANREMO! THERE! ARE! CHILDREN! WATCHING! Italian Tumblr, which like the rest of Tumblr is feral, thirsty and gay, is screaming for different reasons entirely. 

Achille, you scandalous creature, what have you done? What have you got to say for yourself?

Something strange and magical  has released and it cannot be contained. On with the songs. Good songs, bad songs, blah songs. I like “Tikibombom” by Levante - a love letter to weirdos and rebels, “Rosso di Rabbia” (Rage Red) by Anastasio about being, well, angry but scared you can’t do anything useful with it, and “Eden” by  Rancore, about... the nature of sin?? touching on everything from September 11 to the mafia to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.   However, this contest is being judged (mostly - it’s complicated) by an industry jury of FOOLS, COWARDS, and TRAITORS who KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO, so virtually all of the above artists are so far languishing towards the bottom of the provisional rankings. Achille ends up in 17th place and  Rancore at 22.

Truly, the light hath shone in the darkness and the darkness knoweth it not.

LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE TO RANCORE. 

Rapper down, repeat RAPPER DOWN. SEND HELP.

However, for people who went in implacably biased against Morgan, it’s not all bad news. "Sincero” (Sincere) by Morgan and Bugo is in last place. Whether this is anything to do with the song or because Morgan is a nightmare of a person who has systematically alienated everyone in the Italian music industry except the trusting Bugo ... we can but ponder.  Sanremo grinds on. Days blur into each other and I’m not even going to try to cover events in exact order. Sanremo knows no order. Sanremo is like the universe, linear time is a construct that doesn’t really exist, and chaos happens very, very slowly.  But meanwhile, somewhere on the astral plane:

At least that is what I deduce must have happened.

The competitors and guests look deep within themselves. Do they have what it takes? Are they ready to answer the call? 

Let’s see! It’s Covers Night! Which is also Duets Night!

That’s Elettra Lamborghini (yes, that Lamborghini) and Myss Keta.

 Are they in tune? No. Does it matter? ALSO NO.

Meanwhile ... something strange is brewing between Amadeus and Fiorello...

 But wait, PLOT TWIST.

Enter Roberto Benigni.

The beloved actor and director is the latest avatar of the Dionysian frenzy that has chosen Sanremo 2020 for the place of its birth. He is the One who will unite the electric queer mayhem and the impossible grinding tedium  of Sanremo. In him, the two strains will fuse and become unstoppable. He is going to talk about sex for twenty-six minutes

He reads from the Song of Songs, which ... I knew it was sexy, and all, but is it really like that? Do you ever think about NAKED BODIES? Roberto does. Do you believe in PHYSICAL LOVE? Roberto wishes you would. Anyway, just think of all the sex we could all be having, literally right now, right heeeeere, whether we are  “a woman, and her man. Or a man and his man. Or a woman, and her woman!” He is awful. He is magnificent. He is excruciating. He is spellbinding. We are hanging on his every word and we are considering chewing our own arms off to escape. He proposes an orgy in the orchestra pit. 

Hand on heart, all of that happened. Italian Tumblr, bear witness.

And what of Achille Lauro? He unleashed this madness upon us all,  is he just going to sit back and let everyone else do all the work? Of course not. Achille Lauro came to bring not peace, but a sword, to the world of toxic masculinity and gender in general and his work is not yet done.

”I too was once a little girl,” Achille sings.

Dressed as Bowie-as-Ziggy, Achille duets with Annalisa on “Gli Uomini Non Cambiano” - “Men Don’t Change”. It’s a heartbreaking song by Mia Martini from 1992 about male abuse of women, and not a single word, or a single pronoun has been changed.

However, although he’s the one in the competition, and the one dressed to dazzle, he leaves Annalisa the spotlight. It’s like she’s the tortured protagonist of the song and he’s a voice in her head, a sympathetic spirit who can’t swoop in to rescue her but can quietly affirm that she deserves better than the the hellish treatment she’s singing about. in fact, he pointedly stays a step behind her at all times. And she’s majestic. 

Of course, he’s not fucking DONE

He’s still got to sing “Me Ne Frego” again. Can he top the cape-drop? You be the judge.

So Italian Tumblr,  is now writhing on the carpet,  making a sound only bats can hear, and shitposting itself into delirium, but has it all been ENOUGH?

NO.

Poor Rancore has died again. Toxic masculinity still exists. Amadeus is still pretty gross. Everyone is going to have to GAY HARDER. CAN THEY DO IT? This post is, like Sanremo itself, getting insanely long, so ... STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO, in which Fiorello’s true nature as a chaos being is revealed, Amadeus faces his Calvary, and the gun on the stage goes off.  ----- UPDATE: Part 2 is here

[dianaburnwood]

HITMAN 3: First Impressions

This post is full of SPOILERS. Also, it is LONG, so.... yeah. Be prepared lol 

HITMAN 3. Also known as: Diana’s Game. 

Dear GOD I am in love. 

I’m going to do my best to make this coherent. But. I am still freaking out. And I have SO much more to explore!!!! This won’t be very in-depth because I played each map exactly once so far. There’s so much left to see, conversations to overhear, opportunities to exploit - but, I DO have some first impressions, oh hell yes. 

Menu: 

That menu music!!! I was not expecting that at all. It was a mix of choral and classical with previous themes intertwined, and it reminded me of Blood Money. Speaking of Blood Money, this game is Blood Money. 

Dubai: 

Very, very beautiful. Kinda thought Grey made it all about himself lol of course he wanted to say “in your face” to the partners, but it was like 47 was just there to pull the trigger, like he’d not been hurt by them too. But, I really liked it. Trapping them in a room and watching them freak while Grey watched me kill them?? Helloo??? Popping off HARD from the start and I love it.

So - here’s the thing. I don’t get the timing. Diana tells them then that Edwards escaped. Did he escape just before the boys got to Dubai? Or were they unavailable to reach until then? It seems that the message Grey got at the end of HAVEN was after Olivia hacked the HAVEN servers, and then the boys were out of reach so after Diana discovered Edwards was gone, she couldn’t tell them until Dubai? And it was shown to us in a different order to leave us hanging? I dunno. Maybe? It seems weird. 

THE CUTSCENE here omg - once again establishing that 47 and Diana are ride or die. “Diana will make it right, she always does” - BABE. BABE. SWEET BOY. His little face when Grey doesn’t trust Diana. OMGGG.

Dartmoor: 

I went the murder mystery route, of course. I figured it was Emma from her conversation with her husband, but I got all the clues after just to be sure. Can’t believe Carlisle just handed 47 the file on Edwards and then went out alone on the balcony like I wasn’t gonna kill her??? Bitch????? do you forget who i am?????? Anyway, the murder mystery was SO much fun, but I can’t wait to infiltrate this manor in other ways. Lots of Beldingford vibes here.

THE CUTSCENE bdsfgafhlsjfah WAHT????? Ok so HOW did Edwards know where they were? And - ok, so it made for an amazing scene, but Grey is a badass. He is a mercenary genius that duped the ICA and brought Providence to its knees. How did he get himself surrounded in the woods by CICADA? But he did, and it was beautiful, and he literally only shot himself to save 47, and the LOOK in 47′s eyes on his balaclava face - I just bfjKSFasad. I can’t believe he died so early tho. I was very sure he’d die somehow, but SO early. WOW. 

Berlin:

fucking hell. Berlin. fuck. fucckkkk. 

I wanna shout out to Mini (not gonna tag you in case you’re avoiding spoilers) but hot damn girl if you’re reading you were BANG ON about 47 wearing Grey’s coat. I really didn’t think it was his. It was. It is such a beautiful way for 47 to express his emotions about this death without actually saying anything. Omg. It was perfection. I’m crying thinking about it.

BERLIN was where this game really upped its... game. Like WOW. 5 targets, and it’s the ICA. Clearly Edwards went to the ICA board at this stage and was like uhhhh so you need to take these ppl out. HOWEVER I am amazed that the ICA is like “oh, ok”. DO you not remember what happened in SOUTH DAKOTA. 

But going after the ICA is a fucking trip and I love it. I love how 47 says each agent’s name to himself. I love how he listens in and the team handler realises it. I love how she pulls the rest of her team out once you get 5. I love that the ICA agents use disguises too!!! This is truly APEX PREDATOR and I love that they named it that. Y’all think you have the balls to go up against 47??? bitch?????

But the fact that you have to find the targets and none of them are marked is so fantastic. I found 6, but I have no idea how many are actually available - but I’m gonna find out!!! The club is HUGE as well, and lots of throwbacks to Contracts, especially with the biker gang. Amazing. Amazing level. I’m so excited to replay it. 

Also they really addressed the elephant in the room with the ICA agents describing 47 as a caucasian male, bald, average height and ppl being like uh that’s every man here, and then he said yeah but he’s got this big tattoo lmao 

Chongqing

ok this is where I started to think this game was my fanfiction. Inside the ICA? Showing off how truly international it is, and high tech. Hidden in plain sight. Ready to dismantle in 12 hours if needed. SO perfect. This lore builds on Absolution and Blood Money ICA lore in wonderful ways. 

Also, I don’t know why the IOI and DK of the logo looked different in the trailer, they must have been just hard to make out. Cos in the game, the ICA logo is the same as all previous games. 

Also, analysts do client vetting? Intrigue. Always assumed that was part of the handlers’ job. I take it all back Diana, you have never done anything wrong in your life, ever 

I killed Royce by firing the ppl she recommended so she’d get trapped in the data core cleaning. I killed Hush (what a name I love it) as his patient. 

Working with Olivia is really fun. I missed Diana, but Olivia brought a whole fresh perspective. I also really like how neither Grey nor Olivia are as good as Diana - they both fucked up while guiding 47 at least once. 

47 saying “...I will leave you to prepare” to Olivia, I yelled fdagsfa

Also I love how 47 decided to expose the ICA exactly like Diana did in Absolution. Those two. One of a kind. My heart. And his desire to protect her. I love that the files showed their start together. Olivia saying “I can see why you...” and then she stopped herself. We all KNOW what she was gonna say. 

AND AND AND AND 

the cutscene - I screamed

“47 has one weakness. Me.” 

I swear to fucking GOD, IO has seen into my soul. I’ve said all along that Diana is 47′s weakness, and he is hers. But to hear it said, aloud, by my girl? WHAT???!!!!!

Mendoza

Ok. OK. OKKKKKK. OK. I can’t even write about this one. This was where I was pretty sure I was hallucinating the entire level. This is my Diana and 47 dreams come true. This is insane. This is EVERYTHING.

So we have OUR MOMENT IN THE SUN. She puts her HAND on HIS HAND and he looks in fucking wonderment at it. ahugarhiewEG;FEJGHEFlejlhsgfes;gjrsgt. I can’t. I can barely get through writing about this. 

Diana - the dress, the Jolie thigh slit, the jewellery, the hair (they finally fixed her fucking hair), SASS. “I have tango fever” omg. 

How do these ppl not have a pic of 47 by now lol 

I followed Diana and Vidal around cos I was entranced by my girl. Diana was fucking amazing each time. So much sass. Little did I know I interrupted them enough times for Vidal to say “ok son let’s talk”. I saw the tango and I was like omg imagine if I could dance with Diana. 

well.

WELL. 

Anyway, got to kill Vidal via her own setup for me, and that was amazing. I wasn’t expecting it at all. I snuck into the house to kill Yates, and overheard him calling Edwards’ voicemail. Also, it is April 2021?? So, yeah. My previous dates were way wrong lol. 

And then, ALL MY DREAMS CAME TRUE. Diana and 47 fucking dancing the tango? I was pissed that I was in a security guard outfit, next time I play he will be in his tuxedo baby. 

Diana’s comments to 47 when he’s in disguise tho, I was freaking. As security “you look like a true professional. I feel so much safer with you gentlemen around” aaahhhh

UH HE FELL TO THE GROUND COS OF POISON fngjfagfljgnsdfa

I am so glad I was right about my baby girl tho. She even told him “you didn’t have a choice” about her parents. Good. I’m so glad I was right about that. But omg it broke my heart to have 47 so, SO, SOOO sure of Diana all along, defending her to Grey and Olivia, knowing, KNOWING that she was on his side, and then, he eventually started to doubt it. 

I was screaming at my screen - this is BLOOD MONEY! SHe is doing what she did in BLOOD MONEY!!!!

But, for a second, 47 wasn’t sure anymore. And Diana played her part well. 

Carpathian Mountains

Ok, what I love most about Contracts was how it gave us an insight into 47′s psyche, and this game upped that tenfold. Him seeing all his targets surround him? Him imagining Diana and the Constant dancing together? Him imagining her say terrible things about him, things he’s thought about himself deep down, always, omg, but he finally snapped out of it. Ironic that thinking about Grey snapped him out of it, when in life Grey had not trusted Diana. But 47 came to the realisation on his own. Diana would never betray him. 

opening that door and finding out you’re on a fucking train?????? I screamed. 

I am a bit disappointed that it turned out Romania wasn’t significant, they just happened to be passing through. But omg the fact that you are “subject 47″ again. I freaked. This is 47′s worst nightmare. 

I love that you have a free pass to kill everyone in this level. I did it in stealth anyway, cos it felt wonderfully tense to sneak through that train. But wow. This is another BIG risk that IO took. The train was straight out of Uncharted, and crafting a silencer for your pistol??? Hello The Last of Us????? But I don’t care. They used those elements super well. 

I think some people will be angry at this game because parts of it (especially the last level) were a departure from how HITMAN and HITMAN 2 worked. But I love it. I love that they took risks to tell the story they wanted to tell, and those risks paid off. 

47′s undying loyalty to Diana, omg. Telling Edwards bye bitch, I’ll never forget who I am again, and Diana thinks you suck. <3<3<3<3<3

ENDING

OH MY GOD. ONE YEAR LATER????? 47 obviously took some time off cos he fucking needed a break. But he’s back, baby. Ending on “it’s good to be back” was wonderful. The game ended where the 2015 trailer for HITMAN started, and I’m crying. He’s ready to continue with Diana, and not because it’s what he was made to do, not because he doesn’t know what else to do, but finally, because he CHOOSES to do that. 

But one year later? What does that mean? Has Diana rebuilt the ICA like in Blood Money, or will she and 47 work together without anyone else? They’ll need the infrastructure that an organisation like the ICA has though. Diana said she would dismantle Providence from the top down once Edwards was gone, but how? Does that mean dismantling what’s left of the ICA? They were one and the same by the end of the game. All that didn’t just disappear. I’m left with so many questions. 

I was disappointed Diana wasn’t in the cabin when 47 got there. And I wonder why she wasn’t. She knew he was coming, but they are clearly still on good terms. Maybe she wasn’t sure what to expect. But does that mean they hadn’t spoken in a year since??? But she didn’t sound surprised to hear him, and he had coordinates that he was following, so I think they arranged to meet. But her phone was in there when he arrived, and she wasn’t. Maybe he was tracking her phone? Did she come back there to him after????? 

BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT 

the game 

ended

with 47

smiling 

And for that I will be forever grateful. 

Ok bye, I need to play it again. RIP work tomorrow lol 

[a-gromova]

Berlin long-post

Guys, this will be a very long post. VERY. Perhaps it will be something like an essay.

For the first time in many years, I can clearly say what level I like in the game (I can just as clearly name my favorite location only in the first season). Yes, I want to talk about Berlin (are there people who were left indifferent to the level?). I just want to express my thoughts, which came to my mind during the walkthrough. This is partly an attempt to piece together a puzzle of information about the characters (47, Grey, Olivia, Diana), which is diluted with screenshots. I would be glad if you read it and express your opinion. Maybe you will correct me or, on the contrary, supplement my words, because the stream of thoughts can take me completely in the wrong place.

Spoiler territory begins, so be careful. Well, in general, everything is the same as always: if you are too lazy to read, you can look at dicks pics, they are pretty good (I think).

For me, Berlin is Hieronymus Bosch in its purest form. The level is disgusting inside and out (and I say this in a positive way). This include the oppressive atmosphere of emptiness, the behavior of agents, dialogues, the very environment of the club. It's all so nauseous, so... unnecessary. But it attracts. Bosch. Bosch in its purest form. This captivates me. This is the dirt you want to plunge into.

We begin the level in a ringing void, in which the beating of the heart is heard like a bell. I still haven't decided for myself whether it's a heart beating of 47 or not, but MY heart seemed to be beating in unison with it. And as soon as the club appears on the horizon, the beat of the heart flows into a musical beat. It's great. I don't know about you, but I'm delighted.

During the first walkthrough I immediately wondered: who killed this poor fellow? And now it seems to me that it was Olivia. Especially when you consider that the corpse is close to the gas station and in the phone conversation she, shivering, reports that she SEEMS to have killed one of the agents. Why ''SEEMS''? Because, obviously, the injury was non-lethal. We can ''read'' it on the corpse: the knife is stuck in the left shoulder. Sloppy, as if in a rush /chase. The injury is not lethal, but the guy had a hard time. Perhaps he died of blood loss much later.

I was obsessed with an idea that we need to find targets ourselves. Previously Diana did it for us, but "she can't help us now". First, I was confused. But later my mood was like ''HOW COOL IT IS''. I don't know why some ppl consider ICA agents as not remarkable. Guys, c'mon, I didn't even immediately realize that there are more than 5 of them, and they are all different! Each has its own position, undercover role, manner of speech. The agents are amazingly described, and for me they stand in the same rate with Tamara Vidal now (an insanely smart and interesting woman).

Have you ever seen Montgomery??? It's just FDIFSDJFKJFDKFLDKFLJSL. Such a DICK. Too bad 47 just kicked the table. It could be a way better if 47 low the table on agent's head and jump on the top of it. Smth like a control shot jump. Such a disgusting character... I hope that he just compensates his small penis with his speeches, because I just wanted to break his face for what he'd say.

I think you've already understand what exactly pissed me off in his speech. Yeah, the mention of Grey.

Aaaaand let's smoothly move on to this. Now I want to step back a little from the discussion of Berlin itself and say something to everyone who had a hard time going through the scene after Dartmoor. Yes, Lucas was my light, my sunshine and my motivation to play over the past years. Yes, his death was a shock (such a shock that I said "fuck" and turned off the game after 47 appears near the gas station). But I do not like being sad for a long time. Like... SAD.

Listen. Listen. It would be bad if after death the character disappeared from everywhere forever. THAT would be crap. It would be bad if there was not a single mention of him in the game after his death. But... Berlin, Mendoza, that fcking train. We learn A LOT of information about Grey here, which complements his portrait. C'mon! Chechnya, guard's and agent's whispering. Yes, damn it, they are afraid of him. If 47 is a legend, almost a myth, then Grey seems to be the real incarnation of the devil for them. I repeat, they are afraid of him. Otherwise I don’t know why a huge well-armed group was send to capture him (which walks on the train in sapper armor). I just listened to all these dialogues with a malicious smile and was like hehehe dats mah boiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

After all, the character is still in the fandom, the fandom has no end, everyone in it is alive and happy. So, Lucas, lie down, do not twitch, and I will bring hydrogen peroxide and a first aid kit.

If you don't call me the best psychologist after that, just don't talk to me ever again.There is so much shit in life, no need to be sad in such a good fandom. Just DON'T.

Let's return to Berlin. Or rather to Rolf, the owner of the club. From the dialogues we understand that he knew Grey for a long time. At first I even thought that it was Rolf who gave 47 and Grey motorcycles. These ones:

But then I quickly realized that I had problems with geography, and there was simply no point in bringing bikes from Germany to England. By the way, an interesting point: in my mind bike doesn't fit 47. Any expensive and stylish car - yes. Lucas is the opposite. The bike fits him, but the car is not.

I don't know what kind of "business" they had there. But if you consider that Grey already had experience working with the Delgado's drug cartel (and Rolf, for a moment, has a cocaine warehouse in a club), this "business" could be is somewhat similar to a mutually beneficial partnership with Rico.

And the very dialogue between Montgomery and Rolf hints us what could have happened if the one man didn't die, you know. And that's cool too. "To help him and two friends out to... well, slip away". As I understand it, this is about the so-called "Team Grey" (Lucas, 47, Olivia). And after Dartmoor everyone was supposed to meet in the safehouse in Berlin. It was an ideal plan, if the Constant hadn't found Diana and Grey. The only question is what would they do next. Planning to capture Edwards again, based on the dossier we've took from Carlisle?

Hell, I love IO because they leave a huge part of the plot just in the dialogues, which makes the game extremely replayable. And every time you pass a level you just oh. OH! This allows players make their own guesses and put the puzzle together. Not to mention the little things that are just scattered around the location. At first I THOUGHT I saw Florida Man. Then I realized that it is not my imagination. This guy is generally the best flexer:

I will end the essay with a comparison of 47 and the club logo. 

I love that the mission is called "Apex Predator" and the bikers' emblem bears Fenrir, an alpha predator from north myths that devours the sun. It is he who begins Ragnarok - the end of the world. It seems to me that this is a direct allegory to 47. It is in Berlin that his bloody procession begins, which puts an end to this story. But damn it, how nice to watch this end of the world.

That's it, I've already said a lot. Let me summarize briefly: 47 - alpha predator Lucas - lie down and don't move, I'm already going with a first aid kit Olivia - keep it up Diana - queen Montgomery - dick

[everygame]

Cinco Paus (iOS)

Developed/Published by: smestorp Released: 12/02/2015 Completed: n/a Completion: 33 games, 632 points. Trophies / Achievements: n/a

So, Cinco Paus, then. It’s a game I’ve resisted playing for ages and ages largely because I wasn’t that into Michael Brough’s previous games (I somewhat liked 868-Hack, but I didn’t find it very compelling somehow?) but we got to a point where Metanet’s Raigan Burns just bought it for me so I decided to give it the old college try.

Cinco Paus is incredible. It’s also frustrating, unfair, probably taking the piss when it comes to time investment, and yet something that I managed to lose more time, more intensely on, than any game I’ve played in ages. Like legitimately losing 14 hours to it within the first three days.

It’s an easily misunderstood game, so I’m going to outline (first of all) that you absolutely should play it, unless you’re easily addicted to rogue-likes, in which case you probably shouldn’t. Basically, it goes like this:

You’re a wizard.

You have five wands that you don’t know the behaviors of; each wand does five things. Your goal is to compete FIFTY sets of five levels, which are five by five, by getting to the exit on each level.

Wands do a variety of things. You learn by shooting them (drag them to your wizard and point them in a direction; you can’t use them directly against a wall.) They don’t tell you what the thing they do is unless they do that thing so you can’t tell if it hurts an enemy unless you hit an enemy. But you also can’t tell if it does something good that requires it not to hit an enemy (the “buried treasure” ability) unless it doesn’t hit an enemy!

All the explanations are in Portuguese, so ignore them and just look them up here.

You can pick up items.

Books teach you one thing one wand does.

Gems. Collect five gems and you can unlock an artifact (you can have five) which do one (powerful) thing.

Keys. Collect five keys, which you can only do via wand shenanigans (there’s one key per level, and that always gets used up to unlock doors) and you can find a secret level (a hidden door on a wall that doesn’t contain an exit/entrance already) which will upgrade an artifact. Each artifact can have five upgrades. They’re extremely good.

Potions. Heal you one point. This is valuable, but if you’re at full health you can ignore or transform these.

Treasure. It’s just points! If you’re going for score, these are high risk because they give you nothing else. Transform ‘em early if you can, I say.

After a set of five levels, everything resets except for your gems, keys, score and artifacts. So you “keep” some progress.

If you die: you lose everything and start again.

Oh, and every set of five levels is basically the same; the layouts are close to random, but the selection of enemies you face are consistent; level 3 in your fiftieth game will have the same possible enemy selection as it would have in your first game (recounted in this excellent guide).

You die if you lose your hitpoints; you will generally die because an enemy hit you.

Enemies move after you do, semi-randomly.

If you walk into a space next to them, they will hit you. Do not do this! Make sure they move next to you, and hit them.

There are shrimp, lizards, toads and roosters. You don’t want to slug it out with the toads and roosters.

There are also Ghosts, who are weird; they will hit you if you move next to them, but if you are next to them and you move towards them, they’ll move away. That means you can’t kill them without a wand, but is also means that you can move and not get hit by them even if you think you’re trapped!

That’s… a lot. So you might be asking, what the hell am I doing?

Try and learn as much about the wands as soon as possible each run. If you can, track all the big things a wand can do (did it hit a wall, an enemy, etc).

Don’t get hit, and especially never ever get cornered (two enemies next to you) unless you have a big power that will pay off and kill them. On the first level, if you’re deep in a multi-game run, carefully slug it out with lizards if you would otherwise have to fire at point blank range. There are too many ways for things to go wrong on that first level and taking a couple of hits is more survivable than turning a lizard into a rooster, and then having the beam bounce off corners and duplicate it several times (and then teleport you in the center of them. Which could happen.)

Do whatever you can to get as many gems as early as possible; if you can dupe them, do so. If you can use transform on books/potions/treasure to try and get a gem, do it. 

Do whatever you can to get as many extra keys. Upgraded artifacts are so important.

Above all: survive. If you’re fucking up a level, just do whatever to get to the exit. Don’t get greedy. There’s always the next level, or at worst the next set.

Right. So that reads as insanely complicated, I think, but the beauty of Cinco Paus is that it’s actually extremely simple. While there’s a lot of things a wand can do, the things you can do are limited, so the play-space is always extremely understandable (the map is always 5x5; you know you’re getting a particular set of enemies next time, etc.) It’s actually extremely elegant.

The thing about Cinco Paus is that it’s the closest I think I’ve come to truly seeing genius at play in game design. Like, ok, maybe that sounds absurd, but I mean like when you think about a piece of art or music where you think “oh, I could do that” and you probably could, but it’s the idiosyncrasies of the artist that make it something far more interesting and unique and you sort of second guess any critique of that.

I mean listen. This game looks like shit. Just shit. It’s disgusting to look at. I hate it. But maybe that’s totally still necessary to what it is. And I honestly think the decision to make all the text in Portuguese is… problematic? I know it came from a genuine interest in using the language (Brough is, or was, learning it) but that it’s used to make the game more mysterious and alien (for everyone except people who can speak, as he admits, the sixth most spoken language in the world) is kinda… I just don’t think it’s good. 

And the thing is, for me it doesn’t add anything. This game could, I think, look crazy polished and feature some brilliant UI and be in English; like it could track all the things you’ve learned in a big database; fuck it could even cross off all the things you’ve tried. The game would still be extremely challenging, and if anything, more enjoyable as a puzzle.

But… would that actually be better? I’m not sure. I really can’t tell, because it’s a bit like saying Van Gogh should have just drawn normally.

So, you know, here’s to the iconoclasts. Fuck knows I’d probably have been a better games journalist if I didn’t put my best writing in a printed zine, you know? I still did it the way I wanted to.

I suppose the question might be though: why have I stopped playing? Well, I died frustratingly in the middle of my greatest run ever as it turns out Roosters had unlocked a way to warp me three runs ago and, despite being well prepared, I was warped by one where I was surrounded and literally couldn’t survive (some people might quibble.) I didn’t feel any rage, I felt pretty proud of getting that far, but the idea of starting the grind again made me really bored.

You see, in order to get to the point where Cinco Paus is really fun, you have to put up with the “starting grind” where with no artifacts yet you have to play loads of times trying to get a good start and get a few artifacts going. That’s potentially hundreds of games, and after bumping up against that for a few days I just said fuck it.

I know, you can’t question genius by my own parameters here, but I think about a similar genius (uh, actually not similar) Jeff Minter, and how he came up with that genius “high score save” where it just saved the game at your highest score each level and you could restart there. You could always restart too. Here I wish I could just pick a random artifact or two and start at level 5 or 10 with less score, even. Because it’s the getting of those that are the ball-ache when you’re so weak and shitey.

But look. It’s probably good. I kicked my habit. But I’m glad I played it. I’m better for it. I’m still not watching the Wire though.

Will I ever play it again? Maybe if he updates it, which I think has been rumoured. I’m taking a big break from Brough but I’ll be back for Imbrouglio though. Actually excited.

Final Thought: There’s no daily seed here, which might have kept me playing, but I realize that he can’t really do that because one person could just tell you what’s coming, plus doing fifty levels is, what… 8 hours or something? It’s wild that I want a game where everything is so restricted to five of anything still maybe streamlined a bit more. But as I said, what do I know? I’m not a genius.

[lanamemories]

hLO itsa me nai-io!!!!! (read shrieked in a high voice like mario if he buckled his dungarees too tight around the crotch)...... im sad i missed opening bt i had a pretty busy past 2 days so i didn’t hav any chance at all to b online bc i ws staying at a friends bt. anyway. excited to b here nw regardless of my Fashionably Late entrance. i’m 22 n live in manchester (the u freakin k Bay Bee) n cackle a little too mch like a witch fr supernatural suspicions nt to arise. thts all u rly need to kno. like this or hmu fr plots!! 

p.s. this is her pinterest for those of u tht like tht kind of thing

「 bridget satterlee. cis-female. 」have you seen lana jameson around yet? i hear SHE decided to be in ALPHA NU for their JUNIOR year as a DANCE major. the 21 year old SHEEP is known to be vivacious, alluring, childish and impulsive. ➨ the muse is written by nai. she is 22, in the gmt.

some random aesthetics: a red water pistol topped up with caribbean rum and covered in stickers of cartoon pin up girls, a vinyl record whirring silently because you got too distracted by a stranger’s hands to reach over and flip sides, giant inflatable flamingos floating in the aftermath of a pool party, smudgy lipstick kisses left like an autograph on someone else’s mirror, seventies platforms covered in bowie inspired lightening stripes, fanning the flush in your cheeks with a bright red flamenco fan in the back of a crowded lecture hall, michelangelo reminiscent statures clasping at their stone in suggestive places, bopping stranger’s on the forehead with heart shaped lollipops, a bumper sticker on the back of a convertible cadillac that says ‘SCRAPPY DOO IS A FILTHY SLUT’, lighting a paper lantern and saying “aw, how pretty,” only for the whole party to shriek as it crashes into a children’s tent in the next garden over, a ball point pen that turns a woman naked when you click up the nib, cackling so ferociously that you almost throw up and your ribs ache.

ok im a Lay Zee gorl n dnt wna waste any mre time redoin lana’s intro so im pastin in her old one so i cn hop right to interactions. the only thing i can think tht needs to b added is the stuff abt danny nielsen (an evil npc of mine bc im a sadist) who recently beat up zeke van doren (full name this is Official feel like im writin a journalist article) bc he found out him n lana slept tgether n her n danny were kind of dating if....u can call his idea of romance tht. danny is in custody nw bt its a whole Thing like.... is prob... known around lockwood bc it ws a pretty intense..... thing tht happened n danny ws quite a popular senior

grew up in a big house in albany, NY, bt also spent time all over the place n was in the city a lot

okay so her mum is an old money socialite / three time campaign model way back when n her dad is a big record label mogul. he owns a label called jameson records n they repped a few big rock bands back in the eighties, altho they’re mostly known for ‘poppy injects’ whose lead singer had a big heroin scandal tht brought down his career. lana p much grew up around musicians snorting lines instead of spooning down cereal fr breakfast n her parents were v much absent her whole life

they’re pretty well off obviously n bc of her relation to such a big music industry figure she’s hung out w a fair few relatively high rep ppl thru her teens. she amassed kind of an instagram following mainly fr her style (v penny lane-esque in some aspects aka lots of fur cuff trimmed jackets bt then also jst…. a wild combination of everything honestly. pastel faux fur coats, seventies style platforms, flame red cowboy boots, pink fishnet tights n glitter used like highlight Everywhere) n bc she’s undeniably very pretty

her parents always kind of jst… didn’t like her. it was v clear that she was an accident after her older brother caleb n that even when they just had him alone they weren’t cut out for parenthood. they always kind of jst… ignored her n hoped she’d go away. she had to mke herself microwave meals when she ws only like 12 bc they’d forget to get her anything. once she went like 6 days without her mum even looking her in the eyes once

despite this tho!!! she’s always been insanely close w her brother caleb. he’s her whole world. thts why when he decided to sign up to the army she ws understandably scared bt supported him after initially bein mad tht he ws leavin her all alone. bt then he wound up getting discharged under grounds of severe ptsd when he witnessed his best friend die in an explosion tht took place in a shock raid. caleb returned home n he was never the same n lana kind of felt like he’d died out there too. he’s in n out of hospital a lot n it’s rly hard on her bt she doesn’t tlk abt it to anyone rly

growing up lana was always a huge social butterfly. jst literally…. knew everyone n everyone definitely knew her. she ws one of those girls tht ws kind of impossible to ignore or forget. very animated, always made u feel like u were the centre of the universe whenever she spoke to u, always made it feel like u were best friends even if ud only spoken to her once. she has this magnetic way abt her tht is kind of hard to find in real life. it’s something ud only rly expect out of a movie character n she like. deliberately puts tht on sort of. kind of.... is always playing A Role of the person tht she wants to b seen as

she’s always been insatiably spontaneous n adventurous. always doing something weird n wild every weekend. she has ten thousand stories tht always earn a laugh or a gasp over how ridiculously absurd they r

anyway so after caleb got back he was rly withdrawn n depressed. he shut lana out n was kind of harsh to her a lot of the time, always telling her to leave him alone or pushing her away. it didnt help either tht lana had a rly traumatic experience w some of her dad’s colleagues at the label when she ws 16 n he was away n she cldnt even tell him abt it once he was bk bc of his own traumas. she kind of jst shut it all in n kept it to herself

this obviously?? made her spiral a lot. she was already a girl tht loved sex (she’d only rly done foreplay before tho) but since her trauma it got…. completely out of hand. it got to a point where she couldnt rly go 2 days without it, probably not even 1. her lowest point has probably been scrolling thru craiglist for anonymous encounters n meeting up w strangers on there fr a quick fuck jst for the thrill even tho it’s insanely dangerous n she cld wind up getting herself killed. it’s v clear at this point tht she has a sex addiction whether she’s ever admitted it or not

she also currently? is working as a cam girl. she found this website bc she trawls… porn stuff a lot n she wound up applying to work as one bc she thought it’d b fun n wld earn her some disposal income (even tho she frankly doesn’t need it bc she’s already well off). the guy tht manages all of the girls on the site is kind of suspect n it’s a whole plot i’m gna unravel where it’s actually like the front for a cult or something wild so. stay posted ig. kgjdkgjh

personality/some fun facts: uncontrollably flirty. boundlessly confident. cld make a joke out a paper bag n her comedy is sometimes surreal / absurd. she tends to laugh when she feels like crying n has a smile brighter than a ray of texas sunshine. always dapples her fingers thru the breeze when she’s driving in a car w the window down. her fav book as a child used to b alice in wonderland n she’d fantasise abt having her own little wonderland too where everyone knew her name n asked her things n took her on adventures. at the time it didn’t rly strike her how evident it was tht that was bc she was so lonely. she almost always has some sort of sweet on her, whether it’s strawberry laces or gummy bears or cherry lollipops. she adores david bowie n prince n madonna n anyone tht’s a vintage style icon w little care fr what ppl think. wildflowers r her favourites bc they’re the brightest and u can’t buy them. she’s had like 8472493874 ‘relationships’ n none of them hav lasted beyond a month / hav been terrible / hav seen her being treated badly / she’s cheated on them. i dnt think she’s actually been w anyone she hasn’t cheated on in some form or another

plot ideas: exes tht lana’s fucked over hideously. she’d probably cheat a lot and it’d be a whole…mess. mayb someone tht flipped the switch and cheated on her? a cousin plot cld b fun too. a friend tht lana fel out w bc she slept w their significant other. someone tht’s getting lana into drugs?? she’s kind of impressionable/down for anything so tht’s a likely scenario she’d get into tbh. an unrequited crush!! (either way is cool). someone tht is just hanging out w her/using her bc she has a lot of instagram followers or they want to b signed to her dad’s label. someone in a band!! she’d probably make like penny lane n b their groupie/sleep w them all fgjkshgkh. umm a good influence too mayb? oh and a past summer romance/fling tht cld either have meant a lot or not have meant anything at all. bonus points if both of them hav a diff viewpoint on it. honestly?? anything is fine i cld ramble for days

[closetofanxiety]

Show Review: NXT Presents, A Beyond Wrestling Reunion

It had been a long time since Mark and I had seen an NXT show, since the not-so-great experience in Amherst. Would this experience be different? Well, Io Shirai was there, so yes. But how was the show overall?

The show was held at the Ryan Center on the campus of the University of Rhode Island, which is in Kingston. I’m going to be charitable: Kingston is “pastoral.” It has “rustic charm.” It is “in the middle of nowhere.” We struggled to find a restaurant after the show, and ended up at some grab-n-go sandwich place heated entirely by those infrared space heaters that don’t work. The venue was nice, though, and it was crowded. I’d guess there were around 3,500 or so people there, and they were very excited about the show. 

Once again, we ran afoul of NXT’s erratic and unpredictable policy on cameras. The website said “personal cameras” were fine, but the security guards did not. The security guards are going to win that every time. During the show we saw another fan with a camera exactly like the one Mark had been prohibited from bringing in. The camera policy is about as consistently enforced as the rules of tag team wrestling, folks,,,,,,

Anyway, the show:

Matt Riddle vs. Dominik Dijakovic

This was a real Beyond Wrestling matchup, something that would be a theme running through the evening. The former Donovan Dijak seems like he got hired just before they started letting people keep their names, and so he ends up with the Shelbyville version of his name. This was a good match, with the crowd being extremely excited for Riddle. He’s already got a t-shirt, and people love chanting “Bro! Bro! Bro!” at him. He is a Star In The Making.

Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner vs. Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch

Barcel and Aichner are two wXW stalwarts recently signed to NXT, working the “evil foreigner” gimmick as cold, arrogant Germans. Lorcan and Burch are both Beyond Wrestling veterans. It was surreal, throughout the night, seeing people familiar from nights in tiny bars getting huge ovations from thousands of people in a basketball gym. I was particularly happy for the “Let’s go Danny” chants for Burch. The dude is pushing 40 and came up during the lean years of British wrestling, and now he’s finally getting the rewards for his labors. Lorcan and Burch win. GO BACK TO GERMANIA, GERMANS. I think Aichner is technically Italian, actually. He’s from South Tyrol, though, which has a lot of ethnic Germans. Italy’s a surprisingly (to me, anyway) heterogeneous country like that: there are Greek-speaking parts of the country, German-speaking parts, Albanian-speaking parts, etc. The more you know.

Deonna Purrazzo vs. Bianca Belair

The Beyond/WWR alumni parade rolls on with Purrazzo, who is now sporting an extremely ill-advised blonde dyejob and ring gear that makes her look like a background character in “Barbarella”:

This match was not great. I’m not exactly in the Sam Roberts camp on Belair, but she looked slow and clunky. The crowd really liked her, though, and in wrestling, that’s a big deal. 

Mansoor vs. Jackson Ryker

The only match of the night that would not feature a Beyond Wrestling alum. I am not familiar with Mansoor. Ryker is part of that faction they created, The Forgotten Sons, whose gimmick is like, “We’re the leftover guys.” The WWE loves doing this. Remember the Social Outcasts? “Hey, we have a great gimmick for you guys - you’re the Factory Seconds. You’re the Day-Old Baked Goods. You’re the Sucky Guys Who Suck. You’re the Fucking Losers. Get that over with the fans, and maybe you’ll get a t-shirt.” This was kind of a showcase for Ryker, who won.

War Raiders vs. The Forgotten Sons

After Jackson Ryker’s big win, his pals in the Overlooked Nobodies UNWISELY run their mouths about the NXT tag champs, who then come out with a hilariously over-the-top Viking entrance. You’re in for it now, Expendable Generic Male Wrestlers! This should have been a squash for the War Raiders, who were insanely popular with the crowd. They should have come out and stomped a mudhole in the Afterthought Gents. Instead, for some reason, this turned into a 15-minute back and forth. It was fine, and the crowd really came to life during the home stretch, when the War Raiders got to go berserk, but this was more than I needed to see.

INTERMISSION

Kayla Braxton came out to promote an EVOLVE show in Melrose, Mass. next month. Behind her on the jumbotron was the poster for the event, so for a few brief moments, Darby Allin and Priscilla Kelly were being promoted to a WWE audience on WWE resources. What a time to be alive. I haven’t watched an EVOLVE show since the FloSlam fiasco. Is it any good these days?

Kassius Ohno vs. Ricochet sort of

The former Chris Hero, a Beyond Wrestling mainstay, comes out to berate the crowd. He is mad that we are roasting him online for losing to Matt Riddle in six seconds at the last Takeover. Well, the Knockout Artist is not going to lose in six seconds again, you can bet! He issues an open challenge. Ricochet comes out and beats Ohno immediately after the bell with a roll-up. Kassius Ohno has become a figure of fun.

The Sky Pirates (Io Shirai and Kairi Sane) vs. Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir w/Shayna Baszler 

YES DAMN IT YES. Finally a chance to see Io Shirai in action. This is the reason I bought a ticket to this show. I was not disappointed. I mean, it was a tag match and the Two Horsewomen are still pretty green (although not nearly as bad as some people like to say), so it wasn’t like watching a Stardom match or anything, but it was fun. The crowd was madly in love with Kairi, properly annoyed at the Horsewomen, and jazzed for Io, especially when she broke out some of her signature stuff. Some doofus tried to start a “U-S-A!” chant, because there are two wrestlers from Japan in the ring. Another doofus tried to start a “You can’t wrestle!” chant at Duke. Two doofuses (doofi?) in the night, calling out to one another, in the dark of a crowded gym. 

Johnny Gargano vs. Velveteen Dream

This was great. Gargano has a legitimate claim to being the best in-ring performer currently in the WWE and Dream is now wrestling at a level that justifies the hype he had when he started on TV. The crowd LOVED him. There was one near-fall toward the end that looked like he might win, and the place almost came unglued. Ciampa ran in to help Gargano and the bad guys eventually won, after a ref bump and an overbooked finish that, nevertheless, did not lose the crowd. I once saw Johnny Gargano wrestle in front of maybe 50 people in Stratford, Conn., and he put as much effort into that as he did wrestling in front of 3,500 people last night. 

[chaoticlamphoagietaco]

Struggling with quitting tobacco this morning

Wanting to start a dance journal to process my trauma a

Today is Sunday, so process and breakfast with the bf,

Plan on becoming a personal trainer next month,

This month is DUI well really next month

I can feel myself opening up to the dance world, but it small little parts

I still don’t feel vulnerable enough to trust anyone besides my bf, but how how many ppl feel this way?

As Louis from Bobs burgers reminds me, you can’t keep yourself locked to yourself, or you won’t find your people.

My rebuttal is that no one has people, and people are selfish, we all care about our selves and will easily trade up with something better comes along. I wish I just had a dog.... I’d be set! No new friends! Only dogs! Hahahahahahaha hahahahahahaha

Adoption came for my bfs niece which is insturmental, I just with isn’t was plagued by corona, boredom, and STILL WANTING A PS5 I’m not mad or anything, totally not mad..... FUCK U SONY!

I want a cute dog to start with, but me and my bf may take his family dogs. I’m a. Little worried because their house is bigger than the apartment we’re moving too, and although we will have guests, the dogs won’t have as much human interaction as they did in the past if they move to my apartment. Although the family is almost giving these dogs to us, I worry if the dogs will acclimate well. I mean granted, most, if not all my work is online, so the attention part for at least the first few months shouldn’t be too much of an issue. However what I also wonder is how trinabale these dogs are. I know gray already trained them, so they know certain things, but what will I be able to add?

At the very least, the companionship for me will be everything. I'm the dog owner that wipes my dogs ass since all of my dogs will be clean from too to bottom. Yes I will be brushing their teeth and combing their hair, and giving them all the love in the meantime. For me, is go ok a hike anytime if my doggy is with me. Plus, with these dogs there isn't a fear of abandonment or of running away. These dogs seem as clingy to each other as they are to humans, so if I needed to call them, or wanted them in a certain place, I feel like it wouldn't take much for he to do so, unless somebody is distracting them with food. Ugh there gonna get so fat.

Just figured out voiceover on iOS it's pretty nifty how do you know if the touch the Siri button to do anything but I do want a new HomePod definitely not needed but definitely something that sounds fun control the lights so I can control the TV I could probably control the heater as well if I wanna do I just have to get the right products for all these things but I definitely think that whatever microphone I think voiceover for this is pretty good because I could record and then do voiceover yen then I'll be up sweetie cool

Yeah you yeah you yeah you yeah you who is Bella available available available hi I like cheese oh wow so I don't even have to press anything oh wow that's insane

Soo BF and in another fight, he said some hurtful things and left, and walked home. I'm collecting myself, trying to see where I could done better and trying to communicate with him rather than at him, are all these efforts for nothing?

He stated, much like the last fight, the I'm acting brand new, screaming at my iPad early in the morning, I was doing too much and didn't spend time with him....

Hmmm I find his viewpoint interesting considering no was about to make coffee,, changed my Sunday routine so that it's more accommodating for him, asked him if it was ok to master bath, and he was also on his phone as well. I'm wondering if the volume for him on the iPad was the issue? He also stated that he didn't want to live locked in this room, which I can definitely understand. I am a home body, however I cannot differentiate when he seriously wants to go Outside or he just wants to for fun, obviously your not gonna go outside everyday , much like we don't spend our time in the house everyday, plus I mean pandemic, maybe the pandemic is getting to him... Regardless I'm not to sure when he really wants to go outside and just wants to go for fun, it's like cuddling theirs no middle way there is only one way, and that whenever he wants it.... Which doesn't suffice for both us, for me i think he hides behind his spontaneity so he can remain indecisive and not deal with consequences, however there still are when you have expectations for you bf.

He has so many stories in his head about me not wanting to see him or not about his family, does he think I'm cheating on him? I'm not at all, that breaks my integrity. Idk, what the issue is....but were coming onto serious issues. Which is. Double edged sword, great because if we get through this we will be stronger than ever, but awful because these are reacurring issues with no resolution, and at some point one person is gunna give. What will happen to us by May? My hopes, aspirations, and intentions will be the obvious continuation of the relationship, we work on and conquer these issues we have now, and hopefully can create some type off system that works both of us.

But I'm pretty reluctant, actually pessimistic but also because he mocked my original document. I'm always the one typing and writing, creating systems, creating organization, and I'm the youngest one in the relationship? Like wtf? I know my maturity level is low, but we match because he can't organize anything, including his life. As a husband, will he just follow his on historic footsteps that clearly didn't end well? Will he actually listen tome in other topics with children? Will we be able to have an actually conversation on research and theory, rather than tv and shows? This paragraph is more on the edge of breaking up, or seeing the flaws, and finding it hard to find the medium, idk I don't have time to just wait and wonder. I'm getting old, and I don't want to waste any more time, is GRE really the one for me?

[buzzmemes]

I hate this

I hate this : Memes

your passport photo and copy of passport At my school, the homework was to color the picture. So very true... In my school it’s so bad, the teacher projects it on the whiteboard ah, nightmares Soo true XD They say that because you cropped it out. And that is a fact They use plotters I get it! Lol that’s good shit Im sory Toad The homework that steals your time and your lunch money 99% of sane teachers shows u the color image on smart board No teachers want to show u crappy print Just understand it. Color printer is expensive. You’re telling me that teachers give out free black children? Bet, already got three in the basement itsa me, Noir-io Facts tho It'sa me, a-Copyo! We all make mistakes in the heat of passion, Jimbo. Come back in ten years And they pop in a “do you see the ... in the picture” question Why mario on the right looks like he's about to wake me up at 3 am saying with deep demonic voice It's time for me to turn you into my spaghetti Is this the new "We have ____ at home" ? Since im in school this is to relatable The math graphs were the worst though 30 years of saving princesses, 30 years of smashing brown mushrooms. And for what? Cake? Mario!? Why does this remind me of the fearsome Llapp Goch Master. There's a good chance this is unique! I checked 103,921,185 image posts and didn't find a close match Whenever I got bad copies I'd always split the best copies around the room so every student was at least near a good copy and keep a bad one for myself... Remember when you were the chosen one to go out of class and get em papers wonderful If Mario was in Papers, Please AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA printer companies: see you little shits? this is why your printer needs colored cartridges! My name is paublo Yes Is that pablo It's supposed to be not centered Based on a true story Itsa me, Marijuanio! he looks so sad:( NVM took a secound look he looks like he bout to ask me if i wanna buy WEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDD Kinda looks like Hitler though Noah get the Death Star. My kindergarten teacher wife has to print shit at home for this reason. Effectively costs $300/year in paper/ink and another $100 to replace whatever broken down color ink printer we have in a given year. I want her to transition to laser, but haven't been able to convince her. More like the board of Education, principal and superintendents wanting another raise so the kids get B&W copies. At our large school we have 1 color copier, the rest are black and white. More often than not, kids are not getting color copies. Budget. Why is this too true Don't you be knocking LaserJet. Those things were a tank whose toner lasted a long time. DeskJet is what you are looking for. Made with HP LaserJet 100 color MFP Same Mario on the right side looks like sleep paralysis demon, ngl. Mario and Noireio. Top 10 hollywood stars ruined by drug addiction. It looks like if he ran into me he'd try to stuff me into an animatronic suit where I belong Mario looks like he's going to go on a mugging spree Too true Me looking at my paper: HERE WE GOOOO One more gram common u can do it is fentanyl the new drug to go? i only appy the fentanyl patches on them cancer patients at work, so they don't suffer 24/7. a couple of months ago there was a problem at our elderly home, bc some crazies tried to dig them used patches out of our trash..have fun with patches which are covered in shit and piss You should have done 64 or 69 Bro youd die before you even got through half a gram of fentanyl wtf do you even know what fentanyl is lmao A true epic gamer moment God I wish I had some pure fent Issa me, Black tar heroin Mario! Come with me and meet my gang of druga dealers! I really Was expecting a rickroll lmao And this is probably what he's listening to on his alone time https://youtu.be/ijBrulQXE2U It me mrio I jst snrted one mre grm and I jst deid DO IT FOR THE GRAM Go ahead and do another gram just one more gram Legendary The homework that steals your time and your lunch money............... Luigi says: do the coke to get the smoke Betta tell your moms your dads your ministers... WOOOMP WOOOMP WOOOMP!!!! Justa what me the Doctor Mario prescribed Mama mia I a need a more of that a shit YAHOOOOOO!!!! And remember kids - when you do drugs, you go to hell before you die! It’s a me druggooo Mario! I have snorted 68 grams of pure fentanyl and I am going to die. Itsame itsame I’m literally studying for an exam right now and my professor put that on his own notes... like bro nobody gives a shit about your stats notes I had a professor just say “don’t waste your money on the book. Just google book name pdf and it should be the first link.” Then he did in in class go show us And then you have the ones that sell their own 40 page notes in 2 sections for €20 each at the college book store. Or the ones that make class notes and give them out in the first class. Even better are the ones that accidentally send a pdf of their own book that they make no money on due to a shitty publisher to one or two people in the class. my favorite kinds of professors A full commitment is what I'm thinking of A lot of emulators come with a warning like "Use a bios file from your own console. Do not download one for free from the Internet!" I saw something on TIL a while back, during the prohibition era of the United States, some companies sold grape concentrate. They had a warning on them that said something to the effect of "after adding the concentrate to water, do not let it sit for two weeks as it will ferment into wine." As if...they wanted you to do it! That's a pretty calculated statement for them to make. *mobile errors I had calculus profs who would tell us 'I legally cannot advise you to steal copywrited material so under no circumstances should you go to this website and torrent the textbook for free instead of buying it from the overpriced book store and wasting your money' I always love those blank pages that just have in like size i font "Do not write here" for no fucking reason. Then the teacher tells you that they didn't see it I like when it’s in huge, WHITE print in the middle of the fucking page so half the assignment is cut off I like when it says on the side of the paper COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL DO NOT PHOTOCOPY OR DISTRIBUTE BY ANY MEANS Or the "here's a form that was made in Excel, if you could fill it out so that we can input the information back in Excel that would be great." "yeah..." "But the image gets worse!" Work in Japan. Teachers give me a copied paper. "just copy it. They have the file on their damn computer. Which is where we are sitting. -20 points. I can’t even read the damn question At my school, we get lectured for printing a class set rather than just a master. They say it’s about toner being cheaper and the copier cartridges are much much bigger. There are also a lot of places where teachers don't have access to a shared laser printer like that and don't have any option but to make photocopies, so stuff like the OP can be unavoidable sometimes. Genuinely not a problem in my school - we have a fleet of MFDs for bulk printing. We have an admin assistant in charge of the reprographics room who can interrupt jobs if needed as well. It's just an old mindset that they can't get out of. Yeah but then you have to be the asshole that released a print job with 200+ pages while others are waiting to use the copier since this is the only one you can print to. What is full sending? huzzah, a man of quality Have you tried full sending it? From an IT perspective, usually it's not that they want you to know what triggered the problem, they want you to provide concise information on what exactly you were doing up until the issue occurred. Though I do understand that IT technicians are notoriously unsociable lol I'm sure thats a great suggestion but that's the thing is that IT acts like its up to the enduser to already know whats causing the issues and what needs to be done to fix it. Also this doesn't solve his/her issue of getting staples on the copies. Have your IT reinstall your driver and you can select the options that your printer has. likely you are on a global driver, or it wasn't installed correctly! Or if I want staples. We can only select staples on our copier itself. It would be easier if the print queue thing was reliable. But I can't keep running back to my room if it didn't send it, so I make extra copies from my first one. Or if I need front/back from different originals I work in IT support for a school - teachers, for some fucking reason beyond my understanding, seem to print one copy of something, then photocopy it for their classes. Telling them that just printing it for everyone keeps the quality better doesn't sink in. It costs the same, comes out of the same device, and it's less work, but I'm the insane one. Th s rin er se ms o æ run ing lo n ink To the knee And my axe! And my sword! Take mine too! Fuck off take a useless arrow Actually it seems this printer is low on incas. Damn u incas "I'm so sorry kids, our ancient printer is not working properly again" Read the full article

[secretsofthemasquerade]

WoD Prelude: Vampire end-game review

World of Darkness Preludes: Vampire and Mage on steam, ios and google play store

This review is about the game in a vacuum. I will make another post about the authors, the meaning behind it, and WWP as a whole. This is, let’s say, a drama-free, spoiler-free review of the game as a game, ignoring everything else.

Thanks to @abadbadman (whom I can’t tag for some reason… thanks again so much <3) I’ve been able to play the VtM/Mage preludes. This is a spoiler-free game review now that I finished it! I also recommend this very well made, spoiler free steam review. 

I have liveblogged it and with the tag “secrets liveblogs” you can avoid spoilers. I try and put the most heavy stuff under “read more” but sometimes shit happens sorry :p

What kind of game is it?

It’s a choose your own adventure text-based game. You’re texting your contacts and have, sometimes, options to “fill in the blanks”.. So you have “some” leverage to how you “did” things as you tell them to your contacts. So your game system is just your mouse (or your finger if mobile version) to choose the options. No QTE, no skill involved. There’s no stats, you don’t know what you’re good at, or bad at, and you don’t really choose who you text or what you choose to not tell them. You cannot rewind, but you can restart any chapter.

Except there’s little to no “choose your own adventure”, and more of “pick the right choice”, which can be incredibly frustrating. I died so many times xD

So, it’s a very linear game. Which in and out of itself defeats the purpose of licensing a RPG... 

The music and sound effects, which I didn’t mention in my first review, were fine and nice. I usually play soundless, this is why I didn’t mention it previously.

The characters. Some of them are really well developed, but the protagonist (Case) is just uninteresting af, is it a self insert by Zak? And for many, my question is “why are they even here?”. They’re all insane, though, nobody texts “like a normal person”. I mean, it’s full of rambles and trips all the time, there’s only very few people who have a normal, believable text conversation (even taking into account the vampiric aspect of it). Everyone’s drugged out of their minds, how am I supposed to sympathize, feel a connection, or get into the character’s mind? Nothing anyone does is remotely rational (again, even taking into account the whole vampiric stuff). Why isn’t there a block option? Or ignore? And the “high end characters” just.. lack elegance, to say the least.

The art. the whole aesthetic of the game, I just don’t like it, I dislike modern art, I hate how sometimes the author(s) added in a “oh, I drew this” to jerk off and show off their artz. They serve no purpose, they give no clues that can be read and tbh they’re just useless for me as a player. If they were more accessible and not just a splash of ink on paper, I’d actually be able to have them be “in game” and use them. Most of them are sent from the other main character, who has “dreams”, they are supposed to be important! But I can’t even read them. Am I that dense? Am I not working hard enough to get in the artsy mood? Blah. What I really did like, was the interface of the mobile, the name, the color coding. That was really well done. So, good job on UI!!:)

The story. It’s not a terrible story; it’s just pretty nonsensical, some decisions are very out of character, or at least out of context; so you know you’re being hunted down, but you accept an invite to a random high society house for a drug-party. Why do I want to go there? Why am I not doing X or Y instead? Why didn’t I keep contact with whatever? But there are moments where your “battery is dying”, that’s nice. Too bad that’s the only thing i can really salvage. There is a hint of a Bloodlines character being there, though! And a few real names are used as well.

The writing. There’s clear research on wording, phrasing, and characterization through dialogue; I can differentiate most characters easily. There are great lines in there, but overall it’s drowned in the clusterfuck of spam that gives me no real information to make any decision, everyone uses weird non-factual wording, and you just go along with the drug-high. Maybe, again, I’m too dense to “see the vision of the author(s)”? I had a few laughs, and I really enjoyed most of what wasn’t a drug ramble of random stuff (”and this is how I’m here in the gutter dying but I wanted to say goodbye” for instance, or “but I’m weak and an idiot and now [killer] has a new shitty phone”), but there are really a bunch of misses “but he was too strong I knew it would fail” while you’re being killed is just bleh. What I absolutely cannot accept is that “hey, use voice to text to be stealthy” few aspects that happen mid-to-late-game. Do these people know who voice to text work? Also, the writing of those texts is terrible (they really look typed, instead of “computer heard and typed for you”, aka, there’s no “god damn autocorrect” moments, cuz you all know how voice to text, hushed and fast, can do shit). That’s just poor research/work, or at best, it’s plain laziness.

Mechanically speaking.

The game is sometimes broken because when you “retry”, you often have no choices in your options (like there’s only one option and it kills you), which means you need to restart the full chapter (which is long sometimes). 

Unlike Princess Makers, where you really need to restart the FULL GAME at each death (no rewind, but considering how short and easy to skip these games are, it’s only enhancing replayability), this ability to “try again and pick the right option ;)” is a bit annoying; not because I get to try again, but because of the god damn dead ends that force me one way, which is shitty for a choose your own adventure game. Being able to read back the texts and so is nice, though.

Sometimes the game goes black “you died” before you even had the time to read what happened. That’s poor coding as well.

Choices were sometimes weird; just “turning around the corner” gets you killed without any explanation, but other totally random shits nope. Why? I mean, there’s no reason. At least Ming Xiao explains you stuff and while you’re fucked, the ending feels satisfying to the player (you had it coming though lol). What about non-death end-games ? Like “And you finished as a slave of [person] while texting lobotomized shit to your friends”. That would have been fine. But no, nothing like that.

The fact that I knew almost nothing about my character and what they know of other characters is just stupid. There’s also no instance where I can choose who to text, the game forces me one way and tough luck, I fucking hate that when I’m being told it’s a game about choices and agency. I felt I had almost none. I felt railroaded to the “right choice” all along, and because the game didn’t carry on despite my failure (like a good visual novel does 95% of the time), it was a frustrating experience.

As a game, it’s a failure. As a story, it’s a failure. In terms of progressiveness and bringing something out there, it’s a failure, it’s worse than that, it’s a step back. There are far better choose your own adventure games, and apart from dropping some names, this has almost nothing to do with VtM ; many twists of the lore, way too many exceptions... Everyone’s a special snowflake and I hate that. No surprise there.

I felt I was playing Damsel (in a very, very bad way). “Fuck off” or “you’re disgusting!” isn’t a choice, you dense assholes.

You might not want to buy it because of the controversy about the authors. I say don’t buy it because it’s bad. We deserve better.

[undesired-attention]

okay, i have a little bit before i want to go to bed so ig ill write about whats been going on

my dad found out i smoke weed, but he hasn’t tried talking to me about it or brought it up to me. he told my mom he knew because i ordered this pretty pipe to smoke from that is a crystal, but i had it accidentally shipped to my house and my dad found it in the mail. it was shipped from china so it had what it was on the package, but he still left it with my ipsy bag to get when i woke up the next day so idk. he’s found out i was doing stuff like that before, maybe not pot but cigarettes and would scream at me and stuff but he didn’t with this, and since he hasn’t yet i know he won’t at all (unless relevant in his eyes in a future fight, always possible). he basically told my mom to tell me not to get caught with it in my car, which i wont. 

these next two things are both things that happened yesterday so these are what sparked the slight urge/interest in wanting to type it all out,

so first i came back from lunch yesterday and my roommate was standing in our kitchen and said “you just missed the craziest shit” and i was like lol, okay what. she broke up with her boyfriend over the weekend and had sex with another boy (what a life, right? whatever tho) and he was in our room with her yesterday just hanging out because they are really good friends and are going on a group trip somewhere and were looking at plane tickets. so she heard the front door open and close then heard nothing, so she got up and opened her bedroom door and her ex was right there screaming at her to open her door and talk to him and she was holding the door closed screaming at him to leave and the boy in the room was helping, but apparently he had ACL surgery recently and couldn’t really help, so her ex eventually got in. he shoved my roommate into the closet, knocking her curtain down (we don’t have closet doors in our dorms here) on her face, then started screaming at the boy “you fucked my girlfriend” because he had hickeys on his neck from the previous night with her, and he just made up a lie that he had a gf and whatever. so they got into a fist fight, it moved out into our kitchen, then out into the dorm hall and my roommate was screaming and calling the police and the RA down the hall. 

so at this point her ex runs out of the building with my RA chasing him telling him to stop, 5 cops show up, and it was 12:30 and she had class at 1 so they only talked to her for a few seconds and then she had to leave for class then go to the police station after. (this is when i came back, there was no cops and she was literally walking out the door) well her ex was texting her saying “im on campus, im not telling you where i am, and im not leaving until you talk to me” so she had a bunch of bigger boys walk her to class, and basically her friends ended up seeing him just off campus at a wawa and chased him here into the police station (where she was at this point, after class) and she didn’t press charges and neither did the boy he fought, but the police banned him from campus. 

--okay next story 

also yesterday, i went to my clinical. i really wasn’t in the mood, i was tired. our prof. showed up 40 minutes late and said the boy in our group who was assigned to go to the children’s ER (special experience for our peds rotation) called in sick so one of us needed to go in his place, so i went because we don’t have to fill out any paperwork due the following week so that just made my life slightly easier at this point in time. so i got down there and talked to the charge nurse and she said they were getting an emergency trauma in ~5 minutes so just to hang around and watch (usually we are assigned a nurse, nothing exciting usually happens, just respiratory infections usually or accidents like broken bones and burns) so they got this 17 yo girl unconscious from a suspected suicide attempt and i got to watch in the room as like 20 people total were talking and running around getting stuff for her. it really was exciting, i got to watch them insert an IO (im assuming thats how you use the abbreviation) which is an IV they drill into the bone in the leg when they can’t get peripheral IVs in (happens in IV drug users, this girl was very dark skinned though and it was hard to see veins) so they draw her blood, get her on a vent, insert foley, several epi drips, several narcan attempts (antidote for heroin) and nothing was reeeeally helping, so the lab work came back and she had a blood sugar of 1400, which is AMAZING because that’s INSANE i’ve NEVER EVER EVER heard of blood sugar over 600-700 range from when i work in the ICU as an aide and i take blood sugars there, but this was basically BEYOND critically high. i didn’t even believe the nurses when they told the doctor in front of me, i thought they had to have been talking about a different value. her creatine was also SEVEN, for an ADULT female it should be under basically 1, she isn’t even an adult yet and it was 7x that.

basically, her Dx was diabetes, DKA to be specific. she didn’t have a known diagnosis of diabetes, so this wasn’t expected at all. the nurse told me this girl must have been sick for months and nobody really noticed. so because her creatine was 7 and BS 1400, her kidneys were basically destroyed. she will be on dialysis for the rest of her life because of this. another doctor came in to insert a dialysis catheter so they could start her STAT because that was the only way to lower her levels at that point and i was just like a lil mouse squeak “can i watch?” and he was like “yes please! that would be great, as a nurse you’ll assist in these and it will be really educational.” so i was like iight then, i had to basically scrub in and then he talked me through (along with a med student) how it all worked, it was really cool actually and there was a LOT of blood, which doesn’t bother me but i’ve just never in person experienced that before. it was pretty neat, the whole experience was not expected. at one point a nurse asked me”do you have any questions?” and i was like “oh god, not that i can think of,, i wasn’t even supposed to be here today!” so i got really lucky. i won’t be able to follow up with her, but hopefully she is okay and can recover. 

the last thing i wanted to mention that was shocking:

i was sitting at my window last thursday and it was a really really nice day so my window was left open (i open it to smoke cigarettes out of it, not allowed but i’m just a rebel whatever) and i heard a girl sobbing and screaming into her phone below my window and i looked down and there is a little table hidden in an area where you can’t really see it, the main lounge in my building protrudes from the rest and there is all picnic tables around it and it’s just a little corner where people go to smoke weed and stuff, so i just took a picture of her and sent it to my friends saying there was a girl screaming at her boyfriend on the phone crying below me. so about 5 minutes later i look back down because she’s still crying and she’s just clearly (from my angle, directly above her) cutting herself. she kept looking around to see if anyone could see, but she never looked up. i was SO SHOCKED at this point that i texted one of my friends who has gone through a lot of the same things as me (past history of self harm, to a pretty “bad” extent) and asked if she was in her room (my building) and she wasn’t, she was still in class so i told her what was going on and so she told me when she was leaving and a minute or so after she started walking back the girl got up and left. i just didn’t know what to do, i just know i’m the type of person that when i’m upset or even when i used to hurt myself and if i ever did again, i don’t like talking about it. if someone tried i’d just shut them down or walk away. but i didn’t know this girl at all, so i didn’t know if she was going to flip out, run, try to hurt herself/me so i didn’t go down. it all happened so fast so i didn’t call anyone else, and she hasn’t been back since.

it was just surprising and like blood-chilling to look down and see a girl hurting herself because i’ve never WATCHED someone else do it, i used to do it really bad, i have scars from my wrist to my armpit on my right arm (left handed aye), some on my left upper forearm, my thighs and stomach so i can really relate to self harm, but i just have a hard time relating to people because my friends in high school were just complete opposites of me, they were/are just such happy people overall and none of my close friends ever were depressed or self harmed so i just never really had anyone to relate. so i didn’t know what to do. 

okay, so that’s all of it. i feel really bad it’s so long, but it’s been about a weeks worth of stuff built up. 

[ecotone99]

[NF] Autismo

Be me, 11 or so years old.

You've gotten your hands on a computer fan somehow, you're don't remember, but your father doesn't seem to care that you have it for some reason.

You're holding it out of the side of the Truck and it's spinning at an insanely high speed. You love the sound of the "whirrrrrrrRRRRRR^RRRRRRRRR^rrrrrrr" that revs up as you change the angle of entry into the feedback do-nothing electric turbine you invented

You've loved planes ever since your mom helped you make one out of hot glue and cardboard with her when you were 4 years old. You modeled it after something she found on the internet probably, and you flew it down the stairs but it dived because we used too much glue (I'm hard on things, she probably wanted to compensate but didn't know about the rocket science of center of gravity vs center of pressure/propulsion.) You wish you understood why the plane didn't fly like a plane

You see a fly TRAPPED on the dash of the truck because it won't risk flight in this turbulence. you don't know why but you can't imagine what it's like to be a fly since your mom got you a book about flies and other insects that you loved because insects scare you but the pretty book told you which ones are scary and which ones just look scary, so it's okay. Mom is gone now, but she told you lots before Dad started yelling at you every day. It's going to be okay, he tells you that he loves you. You don't have to be scared of the medicines, just look them up on wikipedia and try to understand. Someday you'll realize it wasn't okay and you'll cry even more, but that's okay. right?

The fly is only alive for like 4 days. Sometimes people call it a fly, if there's a bunch of them it's called flies and all you know is that they're bad for food. You don't want them on your food, for some weird reason. The book didn't tell me about that.

I can't see the fly's whole life, but I can imagine it, mostly because the book talked a lot about flies because that makes sense when you see so many flies, that's what you'd want to know about the most so that's what people know the most about.

It's boring to be a fly. You just go, "OH SHIT I'M ALIVE BETTER FIND FOOD", then you master the food thing and you go "F*** B**** GET MONEY" and then you die, like that's the whole thing and it takes like 4 days. No time for questions.

*3.5 years later*

A psychologist with a funny last name sits across from you at a hexagonal picnic bench under a gazebo at the end of a red hexagonal cinder block trail in the courtyard of a nursing home where the smell of cleaning products reminds you of the stuff in the hospital when you watched your dad dying.

He tells you that you're very smart and you should believe in yourself, and that he wants you to understand your own psychology so that you have an understanding of what's going wrong and you can short-circuit the thought into another thought about how that doesn't matter or it's okay, you can just keep going.

But all you want to talk about is what that fly thought about time, you don't know why. What you don't know is WHY. HOW? WHAT? 4 days. You'd rather distract yourself than continue crying and telling a stranger about all the ways and things and times that make you suicidal.

"there's an INDY gene in those flies" he says. "You flip one gene (set/expression/phoneme?) from dominant to recessive and they live for 8 days instead of 4."

You sit there, dumbfounded.

Autismo part II: Redux

be me, 10 years later (24 years old)

You realize that concurrency is not A, but *THE* mental capacity solution to a reduction in time.

You listened to a set of books for fun on the drive to and from your University while you were living with your grandmother, a 45 minuted drive. First, Too Big To Fail, Andrew Sorkin's exhaustive journalistic account of the collateralized-debt-obligation (CDO) securities leverage and insurance, then bubbling and pop-type failure leading up to the week's events in 2008 that cause Lehman, Bear Stern, AIG, and (bank of america, maybe?) into liquidation positions.

You illegally ripped the CDs, not your CDOs, because you're poor. Except you're cash poor because you have $383,000 but your uncle in control hates his life and thinks that's why he works hard. He's a manufacturing infrastructure engineer with a 2 year degree, and that was hard.

So he wants you to hate your life until you get a job too, because that means you'll make a lot of money and be an engineer or something probably. But you already got a job. He made you. He told you that you only get to spend $10 a week on things you don't need unless you get a job and make the money yourself. You like computers and Jobs at the local theme park hurt your back. No good reason, they just want you to stand there to use a computer that you could totally use while sitting down because you're at the end of a buffet and you don't have to touch or move any food.

That job, your love of computers, your family all seem to make you happier and it also makes you ate life even more. At church on Sunday, the Pastor rips into you personally "PORNOGRAPHY IS THE DEVIL", "THINKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS AS IF THEY ARE MORE INTERESTING THAN GOD IS THE DEVIL", "SCIENCE IS EVIL", "PEOPLE WHO QUESTION GOD ARE WORSHIPING SATAN" he shouts through complex analogies that are aimed to keep you from hearing the actual fascism in the words. You're just the idiot savant kid sitting in the back running all of the audio equipment the entire time.

I tried to tell the pastor that he could put the sermons on a format of more dense form like a hard drive in a computer, and back it up to another hard drive, but every few weeks an 8 GB SD card would fill up and we'd just use a new one. THAT'S WRITE, WRITE ONCE, CATALOG DATA IN FLASH STORAGE LIKE A FUCKING NINTENDO, THIS MAN LIVED IN THE DARK AGES IN 2013. Oh, but the kid in the back thinking about how to jail break his iPhone and download the Golden Master release of the first iOS with multitasking, yeah, he's worshiping SATAN by not listening to you repeat the same fear mongering over and over.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in God now, my God, not yours, let's not talk about it right now. Yes, pornography is bad, but not why you think, it's because it's actually bad, like, a psychologist can prove it to you. No, thinking about other things isn't the devil, but thinking about how to make a thing or improve on a thing to make yourself like God, well that is, and I'm looking at you Mark Zuckerberg. Science isn't evil, it's an effort to understand things from first principles that sometimes leads to atomic bombs, that just means that we shouldn't make or use atomic bombs, not "DURR SCIENCE DA DEVIL". And those people questioning God are called lost sheep, great job welcoming them into your church pastor.

Anyway, you got the CDs ripped onto your Android phone and turned in the audio book CDs in time and deleted your copy because you knew there were internet services for libraries to do that and your library just doesn't have one yet. I probably should have told them about that. Your android phone sorted the numbered tracks generated by windows with a slightly out of order algorithm by comparison

You realize numbers are sorted differently by the alphabetic sorting in the file system on an android Samsung Galaxy S3, apparently. I was getting a degree in computer science but couldn't tell this was the case until the end of the book was not the end of the book, the end of the book played and then the book kept playing. The problem is that windows sees "track 1"->"track 2" and Linux (the heart of Android) sees "track 1"->"track 10"->"track 11"->...->"track 2"->"track 20", so it was mostly in order, until the end of the book was track 2 because it wasn't 19 apparently. Stupid fucking sorting algorithms, let's all just agree on standards! Oh wait, you just ignored the RFCs? cool. Let's just use CDs and listen to nothing but the CDs so we can get the audiobooks back on time, I'm not re-writing the Android Kernel. Bon voyage, NPR and news about the baboon running for president!

Then, A biography of Nietzsche by who know which author. His Uber-Mensche (super man) idea of how mankind was rebuilding itself in the imagined image of his "Gods" hardens your heart and doesn't make sense. The idea that you would even want to try sickens you. You just want to understand, not own the world. Screw owning anything, you wanna make things, help people, be someone.

Then, the most audacious pick you could because PBS Space Time on YouTube showed you that you can understand the physics without knowing the math, a book on how string theory works by a guy who actually works on that stuff, way out there past the words and into the Greek symbols for things I don't understand.

Then, I moved to Colorado because I wanted to smoke weed without fearing my record and harassment by the police, and a door opened because tech is a booming market, even in the back room of rinky dink flower shops in a small farming town where you live.

Autismo part II: Redux

be me, 10 years later (24 years old)

You realize that concurrency is not A, but *THE* mental capacity solution to a reduction in time.

You listened to a set of books for fun on the drive to and from your University while you were living with your grandmother, a 45 minuted drive. First, Too Big To Fail, Andrew Sorkin's exhaustive journalistic account of the collateralized-debt-obligation (CDO) securities leverage and insurance, then bubbling and pop-type failure leading up to the week's events in 2008 that cause Lehman, Bear Stern, AIG, and (bank of america, maybe?) into liquidation positions.

You illegally ripped the CDs, not your CDOs, because you're poor. Except you're cash poor because you have $383,000 but your uncle in control hates his life and thinks that's why he works hard. He's a manufacturing infrastructure engineer with a 2 year degree, and that was hard.

So he wants you to hate your life until you get a job too, because that means you'll make a lot of money and be an engineer or something probably. But you already got a job. He made you. He told you that you only get to spend $10 a week on things you don't need unless you get a job and make the money yourself. You like computers and Jobs at the local theme park hurt your back. No good reason, they just want you to stand there to use a computer that you could totally use while sitting down because you're at the end of a buffet and you don't have to touch or move any food.

That job, your love of computers, your family all seem to make you happier and it also makes you ate life even more. At church on Sunday, the Pastor rips into you personally "PORNOGRAPHY IS THE DEVIL", "THINKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS AS IF THEY ARE MORE INTERESTING THAN GOD IS THE DEVIL", "SCIENCE IS EVIL", "PEOPLE WHO QUESTION GOD ARE WORSHIPING SATAN" he shouts through complex analogies that are aimed to keep you from hearing the actual fascism in the words. You're just the idiot savant kid sitting in the back running all of the audio equipment the entire time.

I tried to tell the pastor that he could put the sermons on a format of more dense form like a hard drive in a computer, and back it up to another hard drive, but every few weeks an 8 GB SD card would fill up and we'd just use a new one. THAT'S WRITE, WRITE ONCE, CATALOG DATA IN FLASH STORAGE LIKE A FUCKING NINTENDO, THIS MAN LIVED IN THE DARK AGES IN 2013. Oh, but the kid in the back thinking about how to jail break his iPhone and download the Golden Master release of the first iOS with multitasking, yeah, he's worshiping SATAN by not listening to you repeat the same fear mongering over and over.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in God now, my God, not yours, let's not talk about it right now. Yes, pornography is bad, but not why you think, it's because it's actually bad, like, a psychologist can prove it to you. No, thinking about other things isn't the devil, but thinking about how to make a thing or improve on a thing to make yourself like God, well that is, and I'm looking at you Mark Zuckerberg. Science isn't evil, it's an effort to understand things from first principles that sometimes leads to atomic bombs, that just means that we shouldn't make or use atomic bombs, not "DURR SCIENCE DA DEVIL". And those people questioning God are called lost sheep, great job welcoming them into your church pastor.

Anyway, you got the CDs ripped onto your Android phone and turned in the audio book CDs in time and deleted your copy because you knew there were internet services for libraries to do that and your library just doesn't have one yet. I probably should have told them about that. Your android phone sorted the numbered tracks generated by windows with a slightly out of order algorithm by comparison

You realize numbers are sorted differently by the alphabetic sorting in the file system on an android Samsung Galaxy S3, apparently. I was getting a degree in computer science but couldn't tell this was the case until the end of the book was not the end of the book, the end of the book played and then the book kept playing. The problem is that windows sees "track 1"->"track 2" and Linux (the heart of Android) sees "track 1"->"track 10"->"track 11"->...->"track 2"->"track 20", so it was mostly in order, until the end of the book was track 2 because it wasn't 19 apparently. Stupid fucking sorting algorithms, let's all just agree on standards! Oh wait, you just ignored the RFCs? cool. Let's just use CDs and listen to nothing but the CDs so we can get the audiobooks back on time, I'm not re-writing the Android Kernel. Bon voyage, NPR and news about the baboon running for president!

Then, A biography of Nietzsche by who know which author. His Uber-Mensche (super man) idea of how mankind was rebuilding itself in the imagined image of his "Gods" hardens your heart and doesn't make sense. The idea that you would even want to try sickens you. You just want to understand, not own the world. Screw owning anything, you wanna make things, help people, be someone.

Then, the most audacious pick you could because PBS Space Time on YouTube showed you that you can understand the physics without knowing the math, a book on how string theory works by a guy who actually works on that stuff, way out there past the words and into the Greek symbols for things I don't understand.

Then, I moved to Colorado because I wanted to smoke weed without fearing my record and harassment by the police, and a door opened because tech is a booming market, even in the back room of rinky dink flower shops in a small farming town where you live.

submitted by /u/AspiENTP [link] [comments] via Blogger https://ift.tt/3c3XwuQ

[elliotthezubat]

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 22

with death, comes new life. also bachelor auctions

Kid: "...I'm sorry." -later- Patty: "..." (falls back face first into bed's pillow) -knock knock- julie: patti? c-could i come in? Patty: (sits up immediately, wipes tears, puts on smile) "Y-Yeah! Of course! Come in!" julie:....*hug* i dont know much about auntie....but if you want...i can share my mommy with you and liz... Patty: "..." (starts sobbing) "Julie!" (hugs her tightly) julie:....*hugging* roxanne:....mind if i come in too? Patty: (still crying) "Uh huh..." (holds out a hand) roxanne: *she hugs patti and julie* Patty: (keeps crying) "I'm sorry..." roxanne: you didnt do anything wrong, patti....it's ok..... -outside- lord death:.....................................*remembering how kid cried after his mother's death* Kid: "Stocking?" stocking: yeah? Kid: "I wanted to see how you are. After what you experienced..." stocking: a little nauseous.....but i'll live. Kid: "How was the medical examination?" stocking: i'm ok physically... -later- lord death: you ok, kiddo? Kid: (shakes his head) "It's...bringing back bad memories of...of...loss." lord death:......*hugs him* (young!kid: its my fault father.....mother.....she's dead because of me....i killed her.....) Kid: "And I don't...I mean, Liz was willing to kill her own mother, and I-I should have offered...She was going to do that, and I didn't stop her...And if Liz holds it against Stocking..." lord death:....*rubs his back*... Kid: (shakes his head) "I never should have brought Liz and Patty here...I feel like I just bring death wherever I go." lord death:....... Kid: "Father...when you have outlived so many people...what do you do to not go insane?" lord death: ......i knew i had a duty to this world....i wanted to protect these people.....its part of what led me to create death city... -elsewhere- medusa: *cradling baby neian* neian: guu.... Ponera: (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ "Yay!" medusa:....... Ponera: (blushes) "Oh. Sorry! Did you want to be along with you little one?" medusa:.... neian: muu? Ponera: "Medusa? Are you okay?" medusa: y-yeah....just....a little tired from labor....(thinking: why? why do i keep seeing their face....??) Ponera: "The doctor said you needed more rest...And Neian looks like she can use sleep, too." neian: *yawn* medusa: *she nods*....keep shaula away from her. she's a bad influence. shaula: ruuuuuude! Ponera: "On it. Grimmy, please lock Shaula in her room." grimoire: *lifts her over his shoulder* shaula: i didnt do anything! this is crap! i know my rights dammit! D:< Ponera: "We'll give you whatever you want to preoccupy your time! Just ask Grimoire or Nals!" -elsewhere- Rekka: "..." maki: they should be here soon..... Rekka: "And then what happens to me? You think you can imprison the will of God?" iris: *iris chop* down boy. Rekka: T_T "Some people just do not like God's Word." shinra: *looking around* any sign of them, commander? Akitaru: "They should have been here ten minutes ago..." (spots someone approaching) "I think that's them..." shinra: *squiiiint* Akitaru: "Yo!" (waves at the group) dia:....*she gives him a look* Akitaru: "So...We have this prisoner here who kind of has been burning a lot of people, and we need him transferred into police custody." dia: commander? *she looks at leo, waiting to see what he has to say* Burns: (inhales) "Rekka...What happened to you?" Rekka: (chuckles) "Fulfilling what you would want me to do, sir." dia: *fire claws aimed at rekka's face* the commander gave you no such order to burn innocent civilans. Burns: "..." Rekka: "I was simply doing what he intended to but was too humble to request directly." maki: ?? Rekka: "There is only one logical interpretation: why should us Flame Beings be the minority of this world, when we should share our gift with all? Right, Commander?" Burns: "...You're insane." iris: how can you say that? HOW CAN YOU ACT LIKE THEIR LIFES MEAN NOTHING?! shinra: (thinking: you dun fucked up hoshimiya, you dun fucked up!) Rekka: " 'Nothing'? I don't think their lives are nothing. I just think I can let them reach their full potential." (he sneers) "It is not my fault your sisters did not earn God's favor." shinra: YOU SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH BEFORE I KICK YOUR DAMN TEETH IN!! Rekka: (laughs) "Oh, you fail to see how ephemeral this world is, Shinra. I am here to show you the light behind these shadows..." shinra: why you- Akitaru: (holds Shinra's wrist) "Enough. Leo, get him out of here." Burns: "..." (nods to Dia) dia: come along now, hoshimiya... Rekka: "..." (sweeps leg under Dia, knocking her to the floor, snaps off handcuffs with flames and seizes Iris by the neck) dia: !!!! iris: grk- Rekka: "I give you ascension..." (heats up his fingers) "I convert you..." shinra: IRIS! *he jumps in to kick rekka across the face* Rekka: "Arg!" (kicked in the face, losing his grip on Iris's neck) iris: *scrambles to her feet and backs away, coughing* shinra: iris! are you ok? iris: *cough* i-i think so.... Rekka: (slams hands along the ground, igniting flames around himself to form a cross) "I am giving you ascension! Accept it!" dia: *she charges at him with flame claws* Rekka: "Fire Fist!" (dashes at her, ready to punch into her face) dia: *jumps back, tail whips 3 fire balls that take the form of wolf heads* CERBERUS STRIKE! Rekka: (tries to dodge, but the third fireball knocks into his knee, sending him to the ground) "Damn you!" Burns: (fire crackling behind his eyepatch) "Stand down, soldier. You're finished." dia: *she nods* Rekka: (struggling to get up, but his knee is too burned for him to stand) "Damn you all..." Rekka: (blasts his hands with fire to propel himself, burning his skin along his knuckles as he sails to burn Iris and Akitaru to ashes) "Die!" iris: !!!! shinra: *shielding them* LIKE HELL!! Rekka: (flames burst along his arms to his shoulders, burning the skin across, as he does not stop running) Akitaru: "Rekka! Stop!" Burns: "..." (flames shoot from the ground trying to block Rekka) shinra: *braces for impact* *SLICE* *SPLURT* Rekka: (frozen in his tracks, as he shakes and coughs blood) shinra: *opens his eyes*.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!! iris: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! maki: !!!!!!!!!!!!! dia: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rekka: "Damn..." (stabbed) "That's...not it..." gabriella: i heard noise whats-......EEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!! Hibana: "Oh my God!" (approaches Rekka, trying to administer medical aid) Rekka: (choking on his blood) "The Priest--I have to--Why do this to me?!" (choking) foien: call the paramedics! Rekka: "Foien? Karim?" Karim: "Do something! He can't die!" (looks around) "Who the hell attacked?!" Rekka: "I-I'm sorry..." -elsewhere- Spirit: "Sachiko! We have an emergency!" sachiko: ?? !!!!! Spirit: "Fire Brigade prisoner! Stabbed in the heart!" sachiko: on it! Hibana: (bringing in Rekka) "Here!" (her dress has Rekka's blood on it) sachiko: mother of god....get him to the ER, stat! Nurse #2: "On it!" *Nurses get Rekka onto gurney and into ER* -elsewhere- Kid: (holding Shiori) Patty: (asleep, Julie napping on her lap) liz: ....*smiles* Kid: "Liz..." (looks to her) liz: hmm? Kid: "Thank you being in my life...and I only hope I can repay you..." *sniffs* "...and Patty." liz:...i should be thanking you....for all you've done for us. *she smiles* Kid: "...I never think it's enough..." liz: ?? Kid: "I want to give you and Patty so much for what you have done for me..." liz:...... Kid: "I...I want you to know that this is your home, as long as you want it to be. No matter what." liz:.....thanks.... Kid: (blushes) "O-Of course..." -elsewhere- NoFix: "Jeez, I thought this Brooklyn thing would've worked out better than this. Now those DWMA find out what is going on inside the operation?" scientist: fortunately, they dont know _we_ are here...just the failed experiments... NoFix: "Maybe we should make sure they don't know we are here...Come on. Let me go top-side and kill off people getting too close. A few cops. Maybe some people at the hospital. I'll even bring you some hamburgers~" -at the hospital in death city- Hibana: (in a new set of clothes...purchased hastily at the hospital) -_- (the black shirt says "PRETTY KITTY" in rainbow letters) "Any report on Rekka?" sachiko:....i'm sorry.....there wasnt anything we could do.... Hibana: "..." (stunned) Akitaru: "...Damn." ("Not another one." Burns: "..." (hangs his head down) Karim: "Oh God..." dia:...... -later, at the first- Karim: (lighting the candles in the cathedral before bowing his head) ruby: hmm? !!!! this looks bad.... pearl: a funeral procession?....commander? what happened? Burns: "...We lost Rekka." pearl:............. dia:....pearl- -pearl only replied with an anguished scream- Karim: (tears falling as he continues the hymn to give solace to the departed) ruby:....*hugging pearl* Burns: "We send our departed brother Rekka Hoshimiya to Sol. May his ashes reunite with our lord and find peace." dia: ashes to ashes.... --All of the congregation completes the prayer-- pearl:...... -a few days later- saki: *screaming* Tuhl: "I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING OR HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS!" chie: CALL THE DAMN HOSPITAL OR SO HELP ME I WILL SKIN YOU AND WEAR YOU AS A COAT!! D:< mana: 0-0;;;; Tuhl: "I'M DOING IT! WHY CAN'T YOU HUMANS JUST LAY EGGS AND BE DONE WITH IT?!" Shotaro: "So...Saki, you doing okay?" saki: i-i think s-AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! j-just in labor, no big deal! ^^ Yohei: (gathering belongings and "Saki's hospital adventure package" of clothes, materials, etc) Shotaro: "Oh...Does it hurt?" -later- Shotaro: (giant bump on his head) T_T "It hurts. It totally hurts." mana: *fist still steaming* saki: *holding baby io* io: *crying* Yohei: "...So beautiful..." Tuhl: (studying Io) "Um...Looks fleshy." chie:.......saki.... saki: ?? chie:..........she's got your eyes. *she smiles* Yohei: (smiles at Io) io: *baby noises* giguu... Shotaro: (looks at Io) "Wow..." io: *she looks at them and yawns* muu Shotaro: (squeeing internally) "So cute." Tuhl: "Um...yeah." io:...!!! *reaching for tuhl* buu! Tuhl: "?!! Um...What is she doing?" io: buu! buu! ^0^ Tuhl: "She's making noises. I don't know what those noises mean. o_o; " mana: probably baby talk...but i think she thinks your her dad! XD Tuhl: o___________o Shotaro: (opens his mouth to say something--) Yohei: (slaps hands over his mouth) Yohei: "No. Whatever you were going to say, do not say it. Ever." chie: ???? Shotaro: -_-; mana:....does that make tuhl a....pappa? Shotaro: (laughing behind Yohei's hands) Yohei: "Get out." Tuhl: o________________________________________o chie: that chilled me to the bone... -_-; *The window pops open* Assi: "Hey! That's my line!" Yohei: "...We're on the fifteenth floor..." Assi: "I climbed!" mana: *SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAM* -PUNCH- *Assi falls fifteen floors* io: *crying* Shotaro: "...Maybe he can fly?" *CRASH* Yohei: (looks out window) "Nope." Tuhl: "Well, if you're going to crash on the hood of a car from 15 floors up, at least do it at a hospital." Yohei: "Congratulations, Mana--you put another man in the hospital." chie: who even was that?! Shotaro: "He looked familiar..." mana: ^^; i should....get him admitted.....*flees* Yohei: (to Chie) "That was that guy that we did the thing with at Fear Factory awhile ago. Good guy. I think his name was 'Ass-y'?" chie: *snerk* did his parents hate him or something?...sorry.... Tuhl: " 'Assi.' Short for 'assistant.' And yes." chie:....thats.....really stupid. Tuhl: "We've had some stupid adventures. Tends to happen around this guy." (pats Shotaro on the head) Shotaro: "Ow! Watch the bump!" io: ??? -later- Yohei: "Mother and child are getting rest now." chie:...say, yohei... Yohei: "Yeah?" chie: you ever think about...i dunno....sorry if this comes off as sudden........having kids of our own? .////. Yohei: "...Yeah." (scratches his cheek, blushes) "I mean, if our kids had your beauty and brains, they'd be the best kids ever." chie: aww, jeez. >///< Yohei: (chuckles, hugs her) "I'd like to have children...and..." chie: ?? .////. Yohei: (whispers) "I look forward to trying with you..." chie:.........*NOSEBLEED* Yohei: (chuckles) "So cute and sexy." -elsewhere- Kid: (rubbing Stocking's back as she lies down) "Do you feel better?" stocking: *she nods* a lot better.... Kid: (small smile) "Okay..." stocking: you? Kid: (small shrug) "I still feel sad..." stocking:....*she rubs his back* Kid: "...I was so scared what would happen to you when..." stocking: ...... Kid: "...I don't want to lose you. I already lost my mother, again..." stocking:....??? kid? Kid: "...Yeah?" stocking:....nevermind....*she snuggles up to him* Kid: "..." (holds her) "Do you want to talk about something?" stocking: do you? Kid: "...Nothing I haven't said before: I love you, I love our families, and I don't want us to be hurt." stocking:....did you want to talk about your mom? Kid: "..." (nods) "I miss her." stocking: *she hugs him* Kid: "I worry that there will be a time when I forget so much about her...including my love for her." stocking: do you have anything to remember her? stocking: you still have the video tapes, right? Kid: (nods) "I do." -the next day- Kid: (sorting through videotapes) "I really need to convert these to digital." -at school- Patty: "..." (staring blankly at her book) -at another table- shinra: i heard dia would be taking up hoshimiya's position at the 1st... Arthur: "Hmm...Do you think that's wise? I mean, after what Burns was up to, and Tamaki's...departure, now Rekka turning against everyone? Something seems suspicious." shinra: to be fair, she seems to be pretty dedicated to her job......but yeah....something does seem off.... Arthur: "If only we could figure out what they were up to in the 1st...Something else they are hiding." -later that day- Patty: "..." (hugs Liz) liz: *hugs back* feeling better? Patty: (small shrug) "I don't know..." liz:....say, why dont we have some sister bonding time? Patty: "Okay...What did you have in mind?" liz: how about meowkies? Patty: (small smile) "Okay." -and so- Patty: (playing shoot-em-up game) "Sis! The one in the back! Get it!" -pang!- game: nice shootin' tex! Patty: "Woo! Good job, Sis!" (twirls gun) liz: *she smiles* i've had practice~ ^^ Patty: (giggles) "Let's see what we can get with the tickets!" liz: *she nods* -elsewhere- Shotaro: "Hee hee...She really likes you, Tuhl!" io: buu! buu! ^o^ Tuhl: (holding her carefully) -_-; "Why?...I guess she's cute. Sort of. Her babbling isn't that annoying." io: zzzzz.... Tuhl: "...Good. She's asleep. I can put her in her crib..." Shotaro: "Aw, you like having a baby around, admit it!" Tuhl: -\\\\\\\- saki: i'll take things from here if you wish... Tuhl: (hands Io carefully to Saki) "Here you go." saki: hey sweetie, mama's here now~ io: *yawn* muu... Shotaro: "How long before she's talking? And walking? And going out on patrol with me to do good deeds?" chie: speaking of which, why dont we do that now, kiddo? Shotaro: "Yay! Let's go!" -elsewhere- Gopher: "Here is the volume, sir." eibon: ah, thank you, my child. *he smiles* Gopher: "I hope it is helpful, sir! From what I heard about Brooklyn, I...I want to help!" (bows) eibon: *he nods* -elsewhere- Yumi: "I'm almost done with dinner. Kirika, please set the table." Yumi: "I'll bring out the salad." -at the 1st- ruby: say, father fulham, who were those paladins behind the bushes the other day? Karim: " 'Behind the bushes'?" (looks concerned) "Which day? Yesterday?" ruby: during father hoshimiya's funeral, these people in paladin uniforms were watching...they kinda looked like this. *she holds up a crayon drawing...it's very detailed...* Karim: "I've never seen these men before...Who are they?" Burns: "Karim? Ruby? What's going on?" Karim: "..." ruby: i saw these guys in the bushes during father hoshimiya's burial...its this detailed because of my photographic memory~ ^^ Burns: " 'Soldiers of Light'..." Karim: "S-Sir?" ruby: ?? Burns: "Ruby, give that description to our chief investigators. Karim, get all members of the 1st here, immediately. Send a message to the heads of the other Brigades..." -elsewhere, someplace dark.....- Mad!Kid: "I brought it..." pandora: *yaaawn* brought what? Mad!Kid: (drops a bag full of candy) "My present for her..." (He has glass sticking out of his knuckles) pandora: *a tiny pandora head pokes out of of the wound* did you have to punch the window so damn hard? Mad!Kid: "They make it so thick here...I'm used to smashing through paper, not glass." pandora: yeah, i forgot what it's like outside a book.. Mad!Kid: "...Will she like it? Should I get more?" pandora: well, may as well give her a sampler, eh? Mad!Kid: "Darn, I should have gotten more then...I'll pick some up on the next trip...Oh, I also brought you what you asked for..." (Removes a book from his bag) pandora: *peeks at it* (The pages inside the book reveal diagrams of machinery, anatomical studies of beasts...) pandora: is this-?? pandora: 'from the notes of Aano Zepar'..... Aano Zepar....an ancient romani scholar, technician, and mage. he worked along the lunarians, and directly served Enoch. Mad!Kid: "So..." (blushes a bit) "You like it?" pandora: good job, little fragment. Mad!Kid: (sneers--his form of a happy appreciative smile) "Thank you..." pandora: shall we make your little delivery now? Mad!Kid: (scoops together the candy) "Yes...." -later- stocking: *nuzzling next to kid on the couch* hehe~ Kid: "Aren't you cuddly..." stocking: you're just too adorable you know~? Kid: "You're too sweet, you know that?" (kisses her cheek) stocking: mmmm~ -outside, out of view- Mad!Kid: (shaking) "H-He's with her..." pandora: how unfortunate.... Mad!Kid: "His hands...all over my precious angel...What do I do?" pandora: it'd be a bad idea to go in there now... Mad!Kid: "Why not?! I could rip him apart and take her now!" pandora: easy there little fragment. Mad!Kid: (clutches the bag of candy to himself...and sobs) stocking: hmm? kid? what's wrong? Kid: "Did you hear something?" (his eyes are welling with tears...He wipes them) "Wh-What is this?" stocking:......*she hugs him* it's ok kid.... *she kisses him gently* Kid: "I'm sorry...I guess I just felt like crying..." stocking: *she holds him close* if you need to let it out, i'm not stopping you... Kid: (shakes his head) "I don't know...I felt...jealousy? I don't even know of what..." stocking: *stroking his head* maybe you're just tired? Kid: (nodded) "Will you hold me?" stocking: of course kiddo~ Kid: (smiles) "Th-Thank you...You have been here with me for so long...I only want to be there for you." stocking: *she smiles and kisses his forehead* -outside- Mad!Kid: "I-I need to leave! Get out of here..." pandora: very well then.... -the sound of a large bird taking off could be heard outside- stocking: ??? Kid: (looks) "What was that?" stocking: ..maybe it was a raven or something? Kid: "Or a bat?" (inhales) "I...feel a bit better." (smiles, holds her hand) stocking: bedtime? Kid: (small smirk) "Time for bed...although I'm not tired now..." -a few days later- Patty: "Jeez, another box of candy at the doorstep? WTF?" stocking: is there a note? Patty: "Oh, yeah!" (smiles, opens it...then her face gets pale) "Oh my God..." stocking: ??? whats up? Patty: " 'LEAVE HIM OR I WILL MAKE HIM LEAVE.'" stocking: ????? who's it for? Patty: "It's candy left here at this house--I think it's for you. Oh, and they drew a picture of you..." stocking:......*her blood runs cold* *It's a stick people drawing of Stocking and someone else...standing atop what looks like Kid with x's over his eyes* stocking: !!!!!!!! the hell.....? Patty: "I'm calling the cops!" Kid: "Patty! Stocking! What is going on?" stocking: *she rips the note and picture up before he can see* nothing, just some candy that got delivered to our house by mistake... Patty: (opens her mouth...) stocking: *covers her mouth* there wasnt a return address on the package...what should we do? liz: *she eats one.................and promptly gags* Kid: "Why would you even do that, Liz? It could be poisoned, have razor blades in it, or...be made with artificial ingredients!" liz: *spitting something out...something greyish* IT TASTES SALTY WHY THE FUCK DOES IT TASTE SALTY?!?! t-tastes like...........*horrified* EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!! Patty: D: Kid: D: stocking:.................*she almost collapses* w-what the hell....? Kid: (helps Stocking stay up) Patty: "Epicat and mouthwash for Sis, now!" -later, after stocking explained what she saw in the letter- stocking: i didnt want to worry you kid....i'm sorry.... Kid: (inhales) "My god..." stocking: i'm sorry, i know you have enough to worry about....now this?.....*she whimpers* i'm scared kid.... Kid: "I am, too...I want to try to locate this...this freak." -elsewhere- Mad!Kid: "I put in so much work..." pandora: i'll say....*excalibur face* Mad!Kid: "Where did I go wrong? I just wanted us to bond..." -later- Mad!Kid: (looking through the Book) "I will make him leave..." pandora: via murder? Mad!Kid: "I will break them apart!" (points to a page in the Book) pandora: poisoning, eh? pandora: 'The Karoma blossom is a highly toxic flower which could even bring a shinigami to extreme levels of illness....' Mad!Kid: "Yes..." (sneers) "But if I prepare the concoction, will it affect me? Am I technically shinigami?" pandora: you'll be fine as long as you dont ingest it. Mad!Kid: "Then let's proceed...Where may it be acquired?" pandora: those flowers bloom in the karoma cavern near the gilgamesh ruins... Mad!Kid: "Had best begin our travel..." -later- Yumi: (to maids) "I want the Mansion's security measures fortified. Understood?" maid: understood. Yumi: (nods) "Thank you. I will get back to reviewing recent criminal reports." ??? maid: we'll ensure lady pheles is protected. Yumi: "Thank you. Please pass along our thanks to Stocking's parents as well." pheles mansion maid 2: no problemo~ Yumi: ._.; "Okay..." -in another room- Kid: (pats her back) "It's going to be okay..." stocking:.....*holding him* Kid: (continues to hold her) "You'll be safe." stocking:...... Kid: "Stocking...Maybe we can do something? Go somewhere else?" stocking: maybe take a vacation with the others? Kid: (nods) "I think that may be a good idea." -at the 1st- Burns: "..." (pulls out folder, with photos of Sun Knights) dia: anything? Burns: "You are aware how long these Knights have been recorded in history? I thought these heretics disappeared long ago..." dia: hmmm.... -outside- pearl:....... Karim: (in his room, looking at photographs of him and Rekka) pearl: e-excuse me......*ahem* hello father fulham! *seems she cut her bangs, showing her eyes* Karim: "...Hi." (sets down photo album) "How are you?" pearl: *ahem* i'm doing good. and you? Karim: "...I'm trying to get through this." pearl:....i know grieving all day wont help matters....so i decided to try becoming more assertive...maybe... Karim: (" 'Assertive'?") "Oh...Um, you got your hair cut?" pearl: *she nods* i thought it would help. Karim: "Ah. Yes, it should help in combat." pearl: i hope so...i-i'll do my very best from now on, ok?! Karim: (small chuckle) "I have no doubts." -elsewhere- Shotaro: "Ouch..." lady: thank you so much young man for helping us there. Shotaro: (weak laugh) "Yeah, no problem...Just didn't expect so much heavy-lifting..." *Yawns* "Man, why am I so tired?" mana: you did a lot today...maybe you should take it easy now? Shotaro: "Good idea!" (promptly collapses on the floor) -at gallow's manor- soul: italy huh? Kid: (nods) "Thought it would be a change." soul: so what's the plan, getting the whole gang together for a trip? Kid: "Interested? We'd love to have you." soul: sounds like fun. Kid: "Excellent! That just leaves Black Star and Tsubaki..." ("Should I invite Wes, or leave that to Liz?") -it would be all of A team, plus stocking and chrona- Kid: "Please ask Crona as well if they would be interested in joining us." soul: sure... Kid: "I'll finalize the hotel reservations, then finish the flight arrangements once we are confirmed." soul: alright then Patty: "Kiddo! I got the travel brochure pulled up!" (slams laptop down in front of Soul) "See! When we get there, we're going to make that Leaning Tower go the right direction!" Kid: "..." (imagines perfectly erect Tower of Pisa) "Symmetry~!" Kid: (ᗒᗨᗕ) stocking: hehe~ so cute~ Kid: o\\\\o "Th-Thank you..." Patty: (smirks a bit) "Oh, Soul, help me pack for the trip! We'll let the lovebirds alone." soul: 7-7; Patty: (closes laptop, swings Soul over shoulder, marches up the stairs) Kid: o_o; "Um..." (smiles at Stocking) "Hi." -a few days later- Kid: "Everyone's passports are in order. Tickets are here. Just about ready to head out." stocking: it'll be nice to get out of the house for a while... Kid: (nods) "Yes." Black Star: "I can't wait to get to Italy! I'm eating all the pasta I can find!" Crona: "..." (remembering Italy...and fighting Maka and Soul there...) soul:.....*pats their shoulder* you ok? Crona: "Just thinking..." *sniff* "Sorry...Italy kind of...um...'triggers' me?" soul:.....you sure you want to go? Crona: (shakes, then tightens their fists and nods) "C-Can we buy flowers while we're there?" soul:....of course. Crona: (blush, small smile) "Th-Thanks..." -and so- Black Star: -_-; Kid: -_-; tsubaki: ??? Crona: "Does it usually take weapons this long to get through metal detectors?" soul: -//////////-;;;;;; *covering himself* Patty: "Looking good, Soul!" soul: can i please put my underwear back on?......please? people are STARING! Patty: (in her underwear) "Could be worse. At least you remembered your underwear." (smirks at Liz) Kid: (head in hands) "Oh, God, why..." girl: mommy what is that? mother: that's a dick honey. girl: the guy or his penis? soul: Q////////////Q kill me Crona: "I am so confused right now...Don't weapons have some special permit to get past these searches?" -later- Kid: "_Now_ can we move past these shenanigans and depart?" soul: we're in the plane, arent we? Kid: "Yes, but now we are sitting through these interminable safety regulations...in four languages...I know how to buckle my seat!" Patty: (struggling to buckle) "I think I got two of the same ends..." -one plane trip later- Crona: "That was fun! I never saw an in-flight movie..." Black Star: "Zzzz..." Kid: (smiles at Stocking) stocking: *looks out the window* Kid: "???" Kid: (looks out the window as well) -seems they arrived- Patty: "Hello, Italy! We have arrived!" Black Star: (sits up) "What?!" (throws his arms out--smacking Kid and Soul in the face) soul: oof! Kid: "Ow!" (holds his nose) "Could I go with one flight without a nosebleed..." -after landing- liz: *checks her map* Black Star: "Which way to the hotel?" liz: hmm...should be this way. Patty: -_- "Florence..." Kid: -_- "Pisa...We have arrived..." Patty and Kid: "To straighten that bastard Leaning Tower and make it upright!" liz: oh boy. tsubaki: should i stop them before they hurt themselves? Black Star: "Nah, I want to see what happens..." stocking: ^^; Kid: "Put your back into, Patty!" (pushing) Patty: "I'm trying! It's like the goddamn thing is cemented into the ground!" civilian: <what are they doing?> stocking: <pushing the large shaft> civilian: O-o; Patty: "Move, damn it! Stop leaning like this and be erect! ERECT! ERECT!!!" liz: *hiding her face in shame* oh my god. Black Star: "Bet Kid pushes the large shaft all the time, huh, Stocking?" stocking: *grabs him by the neck* ever wonder what it was like to lose a finger? stocking: or a limb....or even a kidney? tsubaki: (thinking: i dont think he wants to try dying once....) ^^; Black Star: o_______o; "I'll be good." (hides behind Tsubaki) Patty: "AAAAAAAAAH!" (falls to the ground) Kid: "Damn it, Patty! You barely moved it an inch!" -later at the hotel- Patty: (lying on bed, ice on her back) liz: you ok? Patty: "Sore..." -in kid and stocking's room- stocking: mmmmmn~<3 Kid: "You sound pleased..." stocking: i am~ *she's still smooching him* Kid: (returns her kiss) "This is such a comfortable room...especially this couch..." stocking: y'know, when you were pushing that tower, i was kiiiiinda imagining you shirtless~ Kid: "Oh~?" (starts to unbutton the top one of his shirt...) stocking: mmmmm~ *blush* Kid: (pushes her down onto the couch as he kisses her, then continues unbuttoning and finally removing his shirt) -in the other room- soul: do they have to be so damn loud? Black Star: "Figures they would be: they get out of Death City and away from whatever is going on there..." soul: i guess.... Black Star: "Unless you want to put on some loud TV, maybe we should go out? Get something to eat?" soul: sure. hey chrona, you want to go take a walk with us? Crona: (small smile) "S-Sure..." -and so- Crona: "I-I never got to see much of Italy before..." Black Star: (smelling the food being prepared at nearby restaurants) "Smells good." soul: *looking around* Vendor: (waves) "How about some flowers? They brighten up any room!" soul: *looks at chrona* Crona: "Um...They are pretty flowers..." soul:....... Crona: "I-I'll take some, please." (looks at Soul) "We can keep them in the hotel room...then get more in Florence if we need to..." soul: ok. Crona: (pays, takes the flowers, smiles and thanks the vendor) -later, a presence is felt in a familiar place- Crona: o_o "D-Did you feel that?" soul: yeah....*he looks to the church* ............. Crona: (shuddering) "Oh no...Wh-Why is someone th-there?" soul: .....it's going to be ok chrona... Crona: "..." (nods) Black Star: "You guys want to check it out?" soul: .....may as well. Black Star: "I'll follow..." Crona: "..." (walks with them) soul:.....*opens the door*.........???????? (thinking: kid? what is he doing here?) "Kid": (chuckling at the altar) "I think this will be the perfect venue...She won't refuse me..." soul:.....??? (thinking: the hell? something....something seems really off about all of this....) "Kid": "Mother, she will accept my proposal here, yes?" (turns to see...) "Oh! The guests arrived early..." soul: !!!!!!!!!! kid? w-what the hell?! "Kid": (sneers, the stripes appearing along his face) Crona: "!!!" Ragnarok: (pops up) "Jeez, is he that fast to be in two places at once?" soul: i dont think thats actually kid...... "Kid": "I'm not...?" (summons blood and sends it at Soul to attack) "I AM KID!" soul: !!!! *blade block* BLACK*STAR WE COULD USE SOME HELP IN HERE! Black Star: (runs inside) "What? Is it that hard to lay down flow--Kid?! What the hell are you doing here?!" Mad!Kid: "Mother! I'm going to need more blood!" (another blood attack at Black Star and Crona) soul: kid! what the hell are you doing? -bloody blade- soul: ooooh thaaaat aint good. Ragnarok: "Crona! Wake up, stupid and block! Block! Block!!!" Crona: "R-Right!" (transforms Ragnarok into Blade) Mad!Kid: "Stay! Kick up your feet--and DIE!" (rushes at Soul) soul: !!!!! ???: fufufufu~ -the blood blade is talking?- Crona: "Wh-Why is that blade talking? Blades don't talk." Ragnarok: (reverts to humanoid form) "That's my shtick! Who's ripping me off?!" -something bursts out of mad!kid's back...an inky looking humanoid female- pandora: well, seems we got quite the band of misfits in our midst~ Black Star: o_o Crona: o__o Ragnarok: (●♡∀♡) "I'M IN LOVE!" soul: what the fuck?! Mad!Kid: "Mother! We'll give their corpses to her! She'll love them!" (rushes and tackles Soul) soul: !!!!!!!! Crona: "Let go of him!" (battle roar as they slice Mad!Kid in the back) Ragnarok: "You're little black blood woman inside you may be hot, but I can't let you beat up Soul--THAT'S MY JOB!" Mad!Kid: "Arg! You bastards!" Black Star: (grabs Mad!Kid by the ankle) "Let's talk..." (swings him into a wall, knocking him down) Ragnarok: "What're you lying around for, Soul?! Call for help!" soul: doing that! *sends a message to kid and tsubaki* -At the hotel- Kid: "Mmmm..." (hears phone ring) "...Really? Now? Sorry, Love..." (looks at phone) stocking: it's fine......kid? you ok? Kid: (shaking) "Oh no...Stocking, stay here!" (in a flash, he is already dressed) "I'll explain later!" (leaves, bangs on Liz and Patty's door) "Emergency! We're heading out, now!" stocking: ????? Patty: *yawns, comes to the door* "What is--?" Kid: (clutches Patty and Liz by the wrists, forcing them to transform) Patty: "Hey! What the hell, Kid?! You don't just transform us without permission!" liz: what the heck?? tsubaki: ??? Kid: "Tsubaki! Hurry along! Black Star will need you!" tsubaki; ah, right! Kid: (summons Beelzebub) "Flying will be faster..." (opens window in the hallway...) "Tsubaki, hang on!" tsubaki: >-< stocking:...... Kid: (flies Tsubaki and his weapons towards Santa Maria...leaving a sky-trail behind him that is easy to follow...) stocking: *sigh* *follows very discreetly* Kid: (lands at Santa Maria) "Tsubaki...Do you remember, inside the Book, what you faced when I was...corrupted?" tsubaki:......you tried to rip my throat open... Kid: "...I'm sorry, Tsubaki. But now, you are about to face that threat again. If Soul's message is correct, inside is...me." tsubaki: ???????? liz: huh? Kid: "Somehow...that mad form of me from the Book has become incarnate...And what I sense inside is pure madness. Whoever is in there is me, only pure madness..." stocking: *from the rooftops* !!!!!! Kid: "Be prepared to use lethal force...even if it has stolen my face." liz: right.... Patty: "..." (squirming in her weapon form, afraid) Kid: (steadies his breath, approaches the door...puts a hand along it...) -inside- soul: hyeeeah! Black Star: "Ah!" (punched in the face) Mad!Kid: (grips Soul's leg--and squeezes) soul: *wince* Mad!Kid: (chuckles) "Weak...No wonder she died..." Crona: (panting, face down on the floor...but hearing Mad!Kid...) soul: *he kicks at his face with the other foot* dont.....you DARE laugh about that!! Mad!Kid: (chuckles as he is kicked) "Cute...That almost tickles..." Crona: "This won't!" Mad!Kid: "???" *Crona uses Ragnarok to slice through Mad!Kid's neck--cutting off his head* Crona: o_o; Ragnarok: "...Shit! You took off his fucking head!" soul: holy- Mad!Kid's body: (chokes Soul's neck) soul: grk-! Mad!Kid's head: "Ha ha ha! You only separated my head from my body! I still got fight in me!" Crona: "Soul! Hang on! I'll--" Mad!Kid's head: *CHOMP* Crona: "..." (screams) "He's biting my head!" Mad!Kid's head: *chewing at Crona's head* Crona: *waves arms* "Aaaaaah! Gross! Gross! Gross!" Black Star: o_o; "What the hell...?" Mad!Kid's body: (slamming Soul's head into the floor) tsubaki: *punches the head* HA! Kid: (kicks down door) "Enough! Unhand them, now--" Kid: o_o; "...His head...is off his body..." (serious eyes) "DISGUSTING!" (fires at the body) Mad!Kid's body: (bullet holes ripping it apart until it lies on the floor) liz: WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL!? Crona: (Tsubaki is removing the head, tearing off some of Crona's hair) "Ow, ow, ow!" Mad!Kid's body: *twitching* soul: *cough* chrona! you ok? Crona: "My head feels like a baby alligator ate it...I've been better." (collapses on the floor) Ragnarok: "Weakling..." (looks at Mad!Kid's body...) "Um...Guys? The body is getting up..." *Female voice comes from Mad!Kid's body* Mad!Kid's head: (chuckles at Kid) "Well, hello there, sexy." pandora: fufufufufu~ good to see you again, kiddo~<3 tsubaki: that.....that's just creepy. Kid: "...I know that voice...Oh, no...Pandora..." Mad!Kid: "Mommy, the bad people cut off my head...CUT OFF THEIRS." pandora: *picks up the head and places it back onto the body* now now little fragment, lets not lose our head~ Mad!Kid: "Nice one, Mother..." (summons bloody blades all along his shoulders, arms, and back) "But they will lose theirs..." Kid: (aims Liz and Patty) "Black Star, Tsubaki! I'll cover you! Get Soul and Crona out of here!" tsubaki: right! Black Star: (swings Soul over his shoulder) "On it!" liz: this is bad.... Mad!Kid: (rushes at Kid, swinging blades--but Kid keeps dodging) Kid: (smirking, huffing, but keeping his pace and avoiding hits) "Cheap imitation...The genuine article can handle these weak attacks with ease..." (slams his fist into Mad!Kid's chest, knocking him down) Mad!Kid: "Ha...Yes...But while I am fixated on one person...you love far too many..." Kid: "???" Mad!Kid: (snatches at Kid's hand, slicing at it and pulling Liz, in weapon form, away from Kid's hand) Patty: "Sis!" liz: !!!! Mad!Kid: "This won't do..." (zaps his soul wavelength through Liz, forcing her back into human form) liz: *screaming out and collapses* uuugh.... Kid: "Liz!" Mad!Kid: (chuckles, as he picks her up by the neck and summons a new blade) "You took off my head? I. Take. Off. HERS!" Patty: "No!" liz: !!!!!!! ???: WHIRLWIND DANCE! -generation 2 edition- Mad!Kid: "?!" (knocked back, losing his grip on Liz) liz: *cough* huh? Kid: "Was that...?" stocking: hey. what'd i miss? Patty: (in human form, picking up Liz) "Some crazy bastard with Kid's face and none of his charm! Fucking kill him!" Kid: "No! Stocking, get out of here!" stocking: kid! *she goes over to him* you ok? Patty: (getting Liz out of the church) Kid: "You shouldn't be here...He's insane! He'll try to--" Mad!Kid: (blood blade slaps Kid across the face, knocking him into a wall) Mad!Kid: (looks at Stocking) "My love...I've missed you so much." stocking: kid!!! *she glares at mad!kidd* i dont know what you want, but i came to this country for a simple f***ing vacation, not to be fighting a half-baked knock-off! Mad!Kid: (blinks, blushing) "Oh. I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disrupt your enjoyment. Um...Did you not like the candies I sent to you?" stocking: *holding out her blades* .........i'm going to cut you down to ribbons...... Mad!Kid: "Darn. I knew I should've gone with the caramel candy. You like caramel more than chocolate, don't you? Or do you prefer fruit candy? Chocolate? Help me out here--I simply want to please you, my love." stocking: you want to please me? *she slashes at him* then drop dead. Mad!Kid: "Wh-What? But I only want to share my love for you?" (slices hit along his arms...then he frowns) "Stocking! You will listen to me and my love for you! I demand you stop trying to kill me and join me in matrimony!" stocking: ..............................nah. *kick to the face* Mad!Kid: "Ah!" (kicked in the face--but grabs her ankle, chuckles) "Oh, that felt good..." (looks at her leg) "And looks good, too." stocking: !!!! ew! *tries to kick him away* Mad!Kid: "We will be married here! This will be where we sanctify our love!" (clutches her ankle, digging in his nails) "Let me make love to you! Right here! You can kick me as hard as you want then!" stocking: !!!! Mad!Kid: (pulls her leg closer to him, as he looks up her leg) "I'm so close, my love! Let me put my seed in you! Let me claim you!" (He fails to notice the trail of his own blood at his feet...and how slippery it is there) stocking: *kicks down there* whoopsie~ Mad!Kid: (slips and falls onto his back, knocking blood up from the floor) "Ouch!" (smiles at her) "Oh, babe, you make the pain feel so good~" stocking: *she went over to kid* kid, you ok? Kid: "Stocking...I told you not to come here..." stocking: i know...but i'm not made of glass... Kid: "H-He could have killed you...and I...I didn't want you to see...me like...like that..." (looks away, ashamed) stocking: .............*she holds him close* Kid: (holds her) "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to make you worry." Mad!Kid: (squirming on the floor, trying to get up) stocking: all is forgiven~ *she kisses him* Kid: (blushes a bit and smiles) "That means a lot to--" (sees something) "!!! Stocking! Move!" (throws her off of him--) *SPLURT* Kid: "!!!" (coughs up blood) Mad!Kid: (his bloody spear through Kid's chest) Mad!Kid: "Heh heh heh...Now you are gone...She will love me..." stocking:.........ah...........*her eyes go demonic* *she releases a demonic scream* Kid: (struggling to breathe) "Stocking...No...Stop..." Mad!Kid: (looks up at Stocking with a perverse smile) "Yes...My Angel...My Demon...I knew I'd free you..." (stretches out his arms) "Come to me, my love!" stocking:........*she slashes at him* hehehehehe......AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! i'm going to cut you up till nothing's left~<3 Mad!Kid: "And I'll reform myself! And you'll get to slice me all over again! It'll be neverending pure bliss!" (lets out a moan) "Oh, babe, yes! Yes! Cut me again!" stocking: damn you...just stay DEAD ALREADY!!! -dark slash- Mad!Kid: "Urk!" (grabs her wrist) "Just a little kiss, babe~" (kisses her hand, his bleeding lips coating her wrist...it burns) stocking: *screams and pulls back, slapping him* Mad!Kid: (chuckles) "It hurts, yes? Mother made sure of that...Now, let's continue..." (blades emerge along him) "I'll pin you down and make it official~" stocking: !!!!!! Mad!Kid: *mad dashes at her, trying to knock her down* "You already have your socks off! Let's take the rest off~" -impale- stocking:...fufufu~ Mad!Kid: *coughs blood* "I-I was supposed to penetrate you...Not that I'm picky~" stocking: just stay down boy. *slash* Mad!Kid: *pinned, can't get up* "I can't stay down...Not when you are so attractive. Oh, Stocking, my love...Do you think about me when you are with him?" stocking:......*stepping on his head* *SQUISH* *Mad!Kid's head collapses under her foot...his eyes bulging up* stocking: ?? Mad!Kid: "I like seeing up your skirt..." -squelch- stocking: no. Mad!Kid: (one eye falls out of his head) "That'll take time to regenerate..." pandora: now she's just being rude Mad!Kid: *sighs* "I guess this is a loss...Mother, get us out of here..." -dark wings- Mad!Kid: "Fly away now! I will return to you, my love! And if you won't have me then, I will kill EVERY LAST THING YOU LOVE UNTIL I AM THE ONLY THING LEFT FOR YOU TO LOVE!" stocking: .........*ready to kill him* Mad!Kid: (tries to flap--but she won't let him leave) "L-Love? No! Don't!" Kid: "St-Stocking?" stocking: !! *she looks back* k-kid....!! *she runs to him* Mad!Kid: (loud sigh of relief as he flies away) "I'm too injured to kill anyone else here...Mother, get us to safety to recuperate..." -after they left- stocking:................. Kid: (shudders, seeing Stocking) "I'm sorry..." stocking:....*she hugs him and cries* Kid: "I'm so sorry. I let that beast out...It was me. And I'm so sorry...Forgive me." stocking:...........all is forgiven..........c-can we go back to the hotel now? Kid: (nods) "The police will be here soon, so they'll be asking us for a statement...but we should be able to get some time away from them for awhile..." -later at the hotel- Kid: *having showered to get off blood, now in bathrobe, holding her* "Thank God you are here..." stocking:..........*in her underwear and laying in his embrace*....i'm scared.... Kid: (nods) "I am too..." (holds her close) "As long as we are here, however, there is hope...I love you, Stocking." stocking:......i love you too kid..... Kid: (smiles, small kiss on her forehead, as he hugs her) -later that night, after a tender love making session- stocking: zzzzzz..... Kid: (in the nude, next to her...and he cannot sleep. He looks out the window at the Moon..."Why does that thing laugh, anyway?") stocking:.....*snuggles* mmmmn..... Kid: "..." (smiles at her, holds her) "I love you." stocking:...... Kid: "I trust you with all of my soul, and I am sorry for everything..." stocking: *still asleep* Kid: (smiles) "Please don't leave me, Stocking." (hugs her and tries to fall back to sleep...) -the next morning- Kid: *kitten yawn* stocking: morning kiddo~ -seems she's wearing kid's shirt- Kid: o\\\\o (sits up in bed, with only the bedsheet over him) "How do you manage to look sexy in anything?" stocking: same way you do it~ Kid: (blushes more, but smiles) "Th-Thanks..." (clears his throat...) "You do look wonderful in it..." (sees the shirt around her chest and down to her thighs) stocking: getting turned on~? -she has on her white kitty panties- Kid: (looks down at the bedsheet) "Evidently. Not surprisingly." (smiles at her) "I don't remember--do you own a bra that goes with those panties?" stocking: in my luggage, yes. Kid: (nods) "Good to know..." (he stands, holding the bedsheet to him strategically as he walks to her) -later after that quickie, the group decides to check out the town- Patty: (holding her neck) liz: so what did you want to see first? Kid: "The statue of David is on display at the Galleria dell'Accademia. Or if you want something Gothic, there is Giotto's Campanile monument. Or the Fountain of Neptune." stocking: lets check out the galleria academia... Kid: (nods) Black Star: "Heh heh...'David.' The naked statue." soul: grow up. Patty: "Heh heh...Soul and David can compare sizes..." soul: OH MY GOD! Patty: "Ha ha ha!" Kid: -_-; "Can we please go?" -and so- Kid: "So many works of classic art..." (smiles at stocking) "You've always wanted to see them firsthand, yes?" stocking: it's amazing... Kid: "Thank you for suggesting this trip." stocking: no problem....(thinking: even if last night wasnt so great....) Kid: (notices her concern...holds her hand) "How about after this tour, we get authentic gelato?" stocking: sounds lovely~ Kid: (smiles, holds her hand) "I wonder what other artwork we will find here..." Kid: o_____o "Oh no..." (Patty is doing something stupid on a pedestal) liz: patti get down from there! Patty: *in only gold paint and a toga* "Shh! I'm a work of art..." Patty: (struggling to keep frozen in the pose) -later- Kid: -_-; "Well, seeing as Patty is not barred entry from the Gallery for the next 50 years..." Patty: "Tch. At least it wasn't 60 years..." Kid: "Let's get the gelato now." (smiles at Stocking) -and so- stocking: mmmm~<3 Kid: (smiles) "Very tasty..." Black Star: *nom nom nom* soul: this is pretty good. Patty: "Yummy!" Kid: -_-; "You're still golden, Patty." Patty: "Thanks!" (wipes her mouth on her toga) stocking: ^^; -elsewhere- shiori: *crawling on her play mat* Yumi: "Come to Mommy! Come on!" shiori: mumu! *crawling* Yumi: (giggling) "That's it! Come to Mommy, Shiori" shiori: *she made it!* guu! hehe~! lord death: daaaaawwww!!! Yumi: (holds her, kisses her forehead, brings her towards Death) "Mommy and Daddy are so proud of you, Shiori" shiori:....*looks* kid? Yumi: (sad frown, shakes her head) "No, your big brother is in Italy." (smiles) "But he'll be home soon." shiori: *frowns* Yumi: "Aw, it's okay, sweetie. When he gets home, I'll make sure he has a souvenir for you." shiori: ...... Yumi: (studying Shiori) "Death...I think she really misses him... lord death: i worry for him as well.... Yumi: (nods) "We all do...That...thing that attacked him..." lord death:....i should have been there...... -elsewhere- Mad!Kid: (sobbing) pandora: you've been whining about it all day.... Mad!Kid: "B-But she didn't return my love! And that freak of hers is still alive!" pandora:.....you still have the doll..... Mad!Kid: "One that cannot even breathe...Is there a spell to make a doll come alive?" pandora: you could try creating a homunculus if it helps, it's what enoch's son did... Mad!Kid: "..." (sneers) "What will we need?" pandora: *she grins* -elsewhere- Kid: "That was a tasty dessert." (spots something) "And since Patty is going to need a change of clothes, anyone up for shopping?" liz: oh heck yeah! Patty: (claps her hands) "Yay!" Black Star: "Can try on some fancy suits, too! Nice threads!" stocking: neat! -And so- Kid: (white suit) "So comfy~" Black Star: (pinstripe) "I look all professional and shit!" soul: *blue suit* it's nice..... Crona: (blushing in the sundress and capris...) soul:....(thinking: too cute for words -_-; ) *imagines maka in the same outfit* TT////W/////TT Patty: (shorts, shirt, and jacket with a hat and sunglasses) -_- "I miss my toga..." Crona: "Wh-Why are you looking at me like that, Soul?!" stocking: *in a nice cherry print dress* soul: nothing. Kid: (smiles) "You look lovely, Stocking...Very sweet attire." (whispers) "I could eat you up..." stocking: hehe~ Kid: (smiles at her) "I think everyone likes their outfits...Worth a purchase I would say, yes?" -later- Kid: (in lighter attire for the sunshine) "This is nice..." (spots a fountain) stocking: ^^ hehe~ Kid: (sees a sign) "I think it says, 'Rest your feet in this water'? Is that even sanitary?" stocking: i dunno....*shrug* Kid: "Hmmm...Does the hotel have a pool?" stocking: i think so. Kid: "I think a swim may be in order before we depart." (smiles) "And the snack bar by their has some of the most delicious desserts~" stocking: *shiny eyes* Kid: "When would work for you, Sweet Tooth?" -later elsewhere- Hibana: (taps the fan) "Maki, don't you have air conditioning in this decrepit building?" maki: *trying to fix it* Hibana: "Tch. Why don't I have my chief mechanic stop by? He could install the latest A/C system...Far better than whatever that dumb gorilla can do..." Akitaru: -_-; "You snide, superior, holier than thou son of a..." iris: i think that might work. we'd really appreciate it. Hibana: "I'll call him up! Just...don't make fun of his head." -later- shinra: O-O;;;;;;;;;; Professor: "Hello, I am here to install your new air conditioning." (spots Shinra) "ARE YOU STARING AT MY HEAD?!" shinra: CEILING! (thinking: smooth shinra.) Professor: "...Oh." (looks up) "Yes, that is a ceiling. Quite lovely. The vents can go in there...Well, Hibana told me she would provide capable gentlemen to help me with the installation." (smiles at Shinra and Arthur) Arthur: *beaming* -later- shinra: 'ceiling' what the hell is wrong with me? why did i say that?! Hibana: "Shinra? Oh! Did you help the Professor like I asked?" shinra: yes ma'am. Hibana: (smiles) "Good! Think of it: soon, you will have cool air in every room in this rickety old building! All thanks to me." (poses) iris: ^^; Hibana: (frowns) "Gabriella? I'm not hearing applause!" gabriella: *clapping really hard* maki: um....gabs? gabriella: hmm? *she clapped so hard her hands are beginning to bleed* Hibana: "Th-That's enough!" (grabs her hands) "Stop that!" gabriella: s-sorry...*frowns* *wince* Hibana: (pouts) "Don't hurt yourself for my sake. I don't know what I would do without you." gabriella:..... Q/////w/////Q maki: awwwwwww!!! Hibana: "Let me tend to your injuries." (picks her up) "Off to the infirmary..." -elsewhere- Meme: (shriek) mio: meme?! *she runs to her side* ???? Meme: (standing with a large book in her hand--broken) "Mio!" (cries, hugs her) (A boy knocked out at her feet) "S-Sorry...This boy broke in and...Oh...Wait...Isn't this Anya's old boyfriend?" Anya: -_-; "Arthur..." mio: um... o////o tamaki: what's with all the no- *trips and faceplants into the floor* *holding her nose and groans in pain* fuuuuuuuck.... Anya: "...Graceful as usual..." Arthur: "Ugh...Where am I?" Meme: (clutches Mio harder) "KILL IT! KILL IT!" tamaki: nnnnnmmm... >/////< owie... mio: awawawawawawa @-@ Arthur: o_o; "T-Tamaki?" Meme: (hiding behind Mio) mio: um....im confused. tamaki: arthur? w-why are you here? Arthur: (pops up, salutes) "I am here on unofficial business to make sure you are safe..." (sheepish) "You are safe, yes?" tamaki: y-yeah... Arthur: "...May we speak in private? Just in the salon?" tamaki: yeah, sure. Arthur: "Okay." (follows her to the salon) "You may want to sit down..." tamaki: if this is about rekka, i already know..... Arthur: "...I'm sorry." tamaki:..... Arthur: "..." (holds her hand) tamaki:.................*hugs him and whimpers* Arthur: (holds her) "I'm sorry." -elsewhere- Gopher: "Hmmm...'Homunculus,' sir?" eibon: indeed my child. my wife was very ill, and was unable to have children, so i created inori to raise as our own. though it is not a process to be fooled around with...if not handled correctly, the results can become, for lack of a better term, messy. Gopher: (nods) "...Sir? I think I can relate to that given..." (looks at his hands) "...me." eibon: ....i understand your concern, however i noticed a slight anomaly... Gopher: "???" eibon: namely your grigori soul. normally homunculi souls are small, even smaller than a grown adults, but your soul....perhaps there are other factors involved? *muttering to himself* Gopher: D: "Um...Are you saying my soul is abnormal? Is it tiny or something?" eibon: the fact that you have a grigori soul.... usually such things dont happen amongst homunculi.... Gopher: "...Oh. Um...Never? Wh-Why would I have a Grigori Soul, then, sir?" eibon:...it's difficult to say... -elsewhere- Patty: (in swimsuit) "About ready, Sis?" liz: yep! Crona: (in traditional one-piece) "I-I have the sunscreen...Don't want to get burned..." tsubaki: thanks chrona. Black Star: (whistles) "Looking good, Tsubaki!" Kid: (in black swimtrunks with white stripes along the sides) "Hmm..." stocking: cute~ *she's in a purple bikini with black details* Kid: (blushes, smiles) "Same to you, cutie." Black Star: "Yo! Soul! Hurry up!" soul: ok ok! *he has shark print swim trunks* Crona: "Those look...nice, Soul." Black Star: (giggles) soul: 7///7; Patty: "Aw, aren't you just cute in those?" Kid: (looks at the pool--and the slide) "Wow. Impressive." stocking: brings back memories, huh? Kid: (smiles) "Yes..." (holds her hand) "Ready?" stocking: *she nods* Kid: (walks into the pool's shallow end, then holds out a hand to Stocking) Patty and Black Star: (at the deep end, cannonballing) stocking: it's a nice day out today, huh? Kid: (guides her into the water) "Yes. Sun is out, no chance of rain, and the pool isn't too crowded." Crona: (dipping toe in tentatively) "Um..." soul: its ok chrona, it wont hurt you *smiles* Crona: (inching by centimeters into the pool...) Ragnarok: "Ugh! Hurry up!" (pushes Crona into the pool) Crona: "Eeek!" soul: dude, come on... stocking: you ok chrona? Crona: (now in the water, up to their neck) "Y-Yeah? It feels...weird." *Crona is sitting on the pool's bottom* liz: want me to show you how to swim? Crona: (nods) "My last lesson wasn't...very helpful." *Flashbacks to Medusa dropping them into the middle of the ocean* -after liz gets a boogie board to help them out- liz: here, like this. Crona: "Oh!" (smiles) "This looks cute...Um...Hi, Mister Boogie Board...Ha ha...'Boogie.'" (holds on--loses a bit of balance, but manages to re-align again) liz: easy there. *she smiles* Crona: (nods slowly, starts light kicking...) liz: there you go. Crona: (laughs a bit) "This is fun..." -later, back at the hotel- Crona: "That was fun!" soul: way to go. did you want to skype mami and tell her? Crona: (blushes, nods) -elsewhere- Hibana: "Ah...Air conditioning..." shinra: *filling up balloons with water* Takehisa: (noticing Shinra, but saying nothing) shinra:.....hey arthur....? Arthur: "Hmm?" shinra: HYAH! *tosses water balloon* Arthur: "Wh-What?!" *SPLASH* Arthur: (soaked) "..." (fuming) "DREADED WATER VIPER! PREPARED TO BE BEHEADED!" shinra: eek! haha! XD Arthur: "Raawr!" (runs after Shinra, but he's took wet to summon flames) Takehisa: "..." (calmly goes to sink...) iris: *watering flowers* Arthur: (runs past Iris, dodging Shinra's balloon...) iris: ?? -splash- iris:.............. shinra: iris! iris:.............*calm smile....and sets the hose to turbo* Arthur: (giggles as he tries to run--and gets a bucket of water dumped atop him...then the bucket) maki: owned. Arthur: "I-I am fine! This is simply the helmet befitting a knight as he runs into combat--" *Two more water balloons to his "helmet," knocking Arthur to the ground* shinra: ha! -later- Hibana: "I go to all that trouble to install air conditioning, and you all get wet?" Takehisa: "Please try not to get the floor wet. I just cleaned." shinra: *shivering* Hibana: "Takehisa! Show a little more sympathy to these shivering cold children..." (hands them towels) "Arthur and Shinra, go warm up in the locker room, and Takehisa will bring you a change of clothes." -elsewhere- Kid: (taps Skype) "Father?" lord death: hello kiddo~! how's italy? Kid: (smiles, a bit nervously) "Okay, S-Sir..." (holding his hands) "I-I'm sorry for not contacting earlier after...that." lord death:....do you need anything? any extra security from the DWMA italy branch? Kid: "We're okay for right now, thank you. I think we'll be fine. Given how...severely Stocking injured him, and how long it has been, I don't think he will return. However, he does seem to have a connection to whoever was stalking Stocking in Death City, so I would like increased security there." lord death: all right....and those two demons? Kid: "...Father...He was me." lord death: ??? Kid: "That demon looked as I did...acted as I did when I was inside that Book...and I recognized the voice of the woman with her...It was Pandora." lord death: *he tenses* ...........................where have they gone? Kid: "I was too weak to follow, and Stocking was in no condition to go after them. I have tried to sense their location, but...Father, Pandora's presence felt like an entire world, and now it's just--" *snaps his fingers* "--gone." lord death: this is very serious. i'll send an alert. any defining features to this entity? Kid: "He looks exactly like me, but with lines along his chin. She...looked like a mass of Black Blood emerging out of this...doppleganger's body." Kid: "His soul looks like my own...just...the opposite. Like, white, a void." lord death: hmmm..... -later- Kid: (sitting on edge of the bed) stocking: kid? everything ok? Kid: (nods) "I spoke with Father and Mother." (small laugh) "Shiori says hi." (frown) "Kirika said 'Fuck off.'" stocking: *sighs and chuckles* classic her. Kid: (holds Stocking's hand) "I told them about..." (shakes a little) "That doppleganger." stocking:........*she hugs him* maid: am i interrupting? Kid: o__o "...No?" maid: just checking. Kid: "...I appreciate that. Thank you." maid: *exits* *turns to the other maid* a half-blood and a reaper. pretty weird, right? Maid #2: "Shall we give them their privacy?" maid: good call....ever think about the guys back home? Maid #2: "A bit..." (small smile) maid: i can remember these two girls in my sector. real hard asses, always going on about rules and sh*t. amazing they werent from arcadia. i've heard about how strict they are up there, especially that one with the crop. *shudders* i dunno 'bout you, but fighting in wars just aint my style. Maid #2: "I can take or leave fighting, but what can you do? Seems to be the way of this life. Still, I'd rather make love than war." maid: like those two in there, haha XP Maid #2: (chuckles) "I didn't mean it _literally_, but sure. Better than the alternative." maid:...soooooo what do you wanna do right now? Maid #2: "Hmm...Well, the world isn't going completely nuts at the moment...Think Lord Pheles would be upset if we checked out the pool?" maid: i got kommy here *holds up a strange creature* Maid #2: "Hmmm...Does Kommy need a walk? Could do that while touring the city." maid: he's on guard dog duty. you butt. -n- kommy: WARK WARK! stocking: what was that?! Kid: (sits up) "Hmm? Sounded like a dog..." Maid #2: o_o "Um...I think they heard us..." -elsewhere- Yohei: "Hmmm...WASHU? GET? I told you to change those diapers..." io: zzzzzz... WASHU: ^0^ *thumbs up* Yohei: "Good..." (pats WASHU on the head) GET: 눈_눈 Yohei: "..." (taps cigarette ashes into GET's receptacle for "food") GET: ^o^ chie: how's everything here? Yohei: "Looks like the diaper-changing robotics protocol worked well: Io is sleeping peacefully, no damage, these two robots are satisfied." (smiles) "How are you?" chie: doing good. *she sits down next to him* Yohei: (kisses her cheek, hugs her) "Work go okay?" chie: *she nods* Yohei: "Any plans for this weekend?" chie: how about checking out a movie? Yohei: "I'd like that." (pulls up a schedule on his phone) "Hmm...Sequel after sequel..." chie: *sigh* usually they're either bad, a cash cow, or both. Yohei: "Oh! How about this one? It's kinda of a low-budget indie film..." chie: hmm...seems interesting. Yohei: " 'Death's Holiday'...Hmm...Of course that would be the title to a film showing in Death City." chie: neat. Yohei: (smiles) "I'll order the tickets..." (taps his phone, then puts an arm around her) -elsewhere- NoFix: (smoking) "I just think that Mickey D's is better than Burger King. I mean, who has the better milkshakes, right?" luka: ......*silent, but visibly annoyed* NoFix: "...Hey, Doctor Hottie? What do you think? Or are you more of a Wendy's girl?" luka: i think you need to take your smoking outside. NoFix: "..." (puffs, then exhales in her face) luka: could you not? NoFix: (smirks) "Could you?" (offers a cigarette to her) luka:.....no. NoFix: (snatches her wrist) "Then I'm demanding. Smoke." luka:.................................may i see the lighter? *reaches for an orange* NoFix: (chuckles) "That a girl..." (puts a cigarette in her mouth, then pulls out the lighter and ignites it...) luka: *sprits the orange's juices at the fire in his direction* *FWOOOOSH* luka: *grins* NoFix: (skin charred, leaving an eerie fleshless skeletal smile) "...That was hot. You're a special kind of crazy. You ever up for a threesome with my special lady, we'll leave a spot for you." luka:....................................*grabs him and tosses him out of her office* kinuta: *whistles* damn, what's biting her ass? NoFix: (skin slowly regenerating) "Not us, unfortunately. Maybe my flirting skills are off...Hey, you hungry?" kinuta: i guess. NoFix: "Cool. Help me up, we'll get burgers and a milkshake, then you can have my burger and I'll have your milkshake..." -elsewhere- kim: *shudders* Jacqueline: "You okay?" kim: yeah....mom's just being a whore somewhere. Jacqueline: o_o "You...can sense that?" kim: when you've lived with that b*tch as long as i have, you develop a 6th sense about these things. *excalibur face* Jacqueline: o\\\\\o ("Hate to imagine what sixth sense she's developed about _me_...") "Um...Okay, then!" kim: yeeeeeah. Jacqueline: "I will now get snacks! Would you like any?!" (nervous smile) -elsewhere- Kid: *kitten yawn* stocking: you tired~? Kid: (nods) "I feel much more relaxed now..." stocking: hehe~ Kid: (kisses her cheek) "How about you?" stocking: doing a little better now...*she snuggles up to him* Kid: *snuggles back, holds her* "You are so energetic, so compassionate...I love you." stocking: love you too kiddo~<3 Kid: (smiles at her) "Italy was a great choice...I can't wait to see where our next vacation is..." -after a few days, the group returned home- Patty: (chuckling as she looks at photographs) mami: you guys sure had a lot of fun, huh? Crona: "Y-Yeah! It was! The pool was so big! And there were museums and--and I wish you had been there..." mami: *she holds their hand and smiles* maybe next time... Crona: (smiles at Mami) liz: *she brings in snacks* Black Star: (tries to take more than one cupcake...) tsubaki: thanks ^^ Black Star: o_o; "Oh...Um, yeah! Sure!" (hands one to Tsubaki..."I was going to have both for myself...") Kid: (hands one to Stocking) stocking: mmmmmmmmm~! Kid: (smiles..."She's so adorable and full of life...") "These are delicious cupcakes..." Crona: "Soul?" (offers him a cupcake) soul: sure...*nom* mm, pretty good. Ragnarok: "Frosting ain't half bad..." Patty: (has some chips) "So, what's everyone up to this week?" soul: not sure yet. Black Star: "Training! I want to see how many duels on campus I can win!" -the next day at school- Kid: "Ready to get back to classes?" liz: yeah. Patty: "Yes!" (opens the book...stares...frowns...) "Crap. I didn't study at all." kim: hey guys! great to see you're back! ox: salutations everyone! Jacqueline: (waves) Kid: "Hello, Kim, Ox, Jacqueline." Harvar: "..." soul: so what's new? kilik: a lot of stuff. midoriya was sent to the emergency room for one thing... Patty: o__o "The precious cinnamon roll?" kilik: yeah. it's kind of a long, yet weird story. -in class- Patty: (frowning..."Flowers, maybe? Candy? What do you get for someone recovering in the hospital like that...?") kirika: *resting her feet on the desk* *whistling* Gopher: -W- Kid: (twitch) "TAKE YOUR FEET OFF THAT DESK." kirika: *ignoring him* Kid: "I said, take those feet off that desk now. It is against the rules." kirika: alright fine....*she gets up and sits on the desk* Kid: (╬ Ò ‸ Ó) *Tiny explosion off the top of his head* "Grrr...." kirika: >:3 Ilda: "BUTTOCKS BELONG IN SEATS, NOT ON DESK!" kirika: the fuck? Iida: (waving his hands with emphasis on key words) "These are the desks that once served our predecessors on their road to learning how best to manage their abilities in the service of humankind! Your behind defiles their service and is an insult to all that they stand for! In contrast, placing your backside in that chair is a show of respect!" (bows) "I humbly ask that you seat yourself in the chair and not on that desk!" Kid: "..." o(*>ω<*)o kirika: nyeh? i know you're talking, but all i heard was 'blah blah blah i'm a fucking nerd blah'. Iida: "WE DO NOT CURSE IN CLASS! PLEASE, STOP WITH SUCH VULGARITIES! THEY ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR A HERO!" kirika: *grumble* jeez, you're such a damn hardass... *she gets up off and sits back down, propping her feet back onto the desk* Iida and Kid: "FEET OFF THE DESK!" Patty: "Take off that hat!" (does so, but she's now holding a cane) "Put down that cane!" (puts on hat again) "Take off that hat!" kilik: can we just get on with the class already? Stein: (eating popcorn while watching Iida and Kid slowly going insane) "...You're no fun, Kilik. Detention for you." (puts away popcorn, stands, stretches) "Today's class will be about Soul Force attacks, sent through the body but also your weapon partner." tsuyu: neat. Stein: "You'll need to be careful, meisters, or else your Soul Wavelength may rip your weapon apart." Ragnarok: D: Fire and Thunder: T_T Patty: "Cool!" tsubaki: o-o; Patty: "Sis, stop crying. You're embarrassing yourself." -after class- liz: thankfully no one died. Patty: "My tummy hurts..." Harvar: "I am dead. Bury me. Ox, pour the dirt over me here." *Desks are on fire* -at lunch- Kid: "I thought that was successful...except now the classroom looks like a barbeque pit. An asymmetrical one at that." (bites into BBQ lunch) "Hmm...Tasty." liz: thankfully one of the substitutes hosed things down. Patty: "A super-cool substitute you mean! So neat! Can we have him host our Slip and Slide Summer Pool Party, Sis?" liz: i'll consider it ^^; Kid: (offers Stocking a peanut butter chocolate s'more cupcake) stocking: mmmm~! Kid: (smiles at her) "You're so cute when you find a sweet treat." stocking: every bit as cute as you are around symmetry~ Kid: (eyes sparkle) "You divine symmetrical person, how can I not be cute around you?" stocking: hehe~ Kid: (sparkles appear around him...) Patty: "???" (picks one sparkle out of the air, smashes it, and uses the dust to coat her cupcake) "Hmm...Tasty!" liz: i'm not even gonna ask. Kid: (looks a little more serious) "But...Stocking, you do know about the math test coming up next week..." stocking: *siiiiigh* Kid: "Tutoring?" stocking: yes please. Kid: (smiles) "Let's begin after school." -later that day, in the gallows manor den- Kid: "For parallel lines with another line intersecting them, opposite angles are of equal measure to each other. So, in this diagram, which angles are the same measure?" stocking: *squints* A, B, and D? Kid: "Correct! You get a cookie." (hands her a tiny one) stocking: yay! ^^ Kid: "Next question..." stocking: *she nods* Kid: "Question Number 9 on Page 10: Find the area in square units of Trapezoid ABCD." -elsewhere- Arthur: (smiles) "Air conditioning..." shinra: *standing in front of the fan* aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Akitaru: -_-; "It's alright, I suppose." Hibana: (smirks) "I'm simply providing what some commanders fail to." Akitaru: (twitch) maki: easy there. Takehisa: "Hmmm...Gabriella, won't the air conditioning increase our electricity bill?" gabriella: *checking the numbers*.....then have a fundraiser? Takehisa: "Sounds like a plan. Which kind of activity can we have for a fundraiser?" -and so- shinra: WHY?!?! Arthur: (adjusts his suit) "Stop complaining. I'm sure you'll fetch a high price...at least $5. Maybe $10." shinra: Q-Q Kishiri: "I'm happy Commander Hibana talked us into this fundraiser for you 8th Brigade losers. Man, I'm going to make so much money. I'll probably sell for a million dollars." takeru: o-o; Akitaru: (in a suit) "This is so itchy..." Takehisa: (suave as fuck) "I know, sir. But don't worry: you'll be able to change out of it during the swimsuit competition." shinra: Q~Q Hibana: (as MC) "We bring out our first candidate—Takeru Noto!" takeru: ..............................................*sweating* Hibana: "Now, Takeru, I have a set of questions that your audience would love to hear your answers...Question #1: What is your ideal social gathering?" takeru:......... *SCREAAAAAAAAAAAAM* Hibana: o____o "Um..." (nervous laugh) "He's definitely a screamer, ladies!" (more nervous laughter) "Let's give a round of applause for Takeru!" (half-hearted clap) Patty: "10 million dollars for Takeru!" Hibana: -_-; "The auction hasn't started yet..." Kid: "I AM NOT PAYING THAT MUCH, PATTY!" takeru: *shaking* shinra: *gulp* Hibana: "Next up is one of my best men from the 5th, Kishiri!" Kishiri: (winks at the audience, blows a bubble, snatches the mic from Hibana) Hibana: "Hey!" Kishiri: "Hello, ladies. I'm here to rock your world..." maki: i could make a bet....but then i realize, i could use that money for food, clothes, first aid, things i actually _need_ vivian: 2,000 DOLLARS! Kishiri: o_____o (whisper) "Oh no..." fang-hua: well i'm not shocked. Hibana: -_-; "You know what? Fine. We have to finish by 10 PM, so I'll start taking bids...$2,000! Do I have $2,500!" Kishiri: "$2,500!" Hibana: "The person being auctioned can't bid on himself! And I know you are too damn poor to have that kind of money!" ryuuko: what an idiot. Kishiri: "Help me! Someone, bid on me!" -silence- Hibana: "$2,000! Going once...going twice..." shinra: i'm sure as heck not going up there next....one of you guys go, please? Arthur: "What do I get in exchange?" Hibana: "Sold for $2,000!" (picks up Kishiri and tosses him into the audience at Vivian) shinra: i'm begging here come on! Kishiri: T_______T "Ah!!!" Arthur: "...Okay. But you owe me..." (smirks) "And I get to set the terms..." (marches onto the stage) Hibana: "?!" (whispers to Arthur) "Shinra was supposed to be next!" mio: hey anya is that your ex? Arthur: "Change of plans..." Anya: "I never dated him! So how can he be my ex?!" mio: *whistling* Meme: "You did kind of go out with him--" Anya: (slaps hand over her mouth) "Shh!" Hibana: "We'll start the bidding at $25!" Arthur: "?! I'm worth more than that!" Meme: (smirks at Mio) "Want to wager on him?" hime: i kinda doubt that... -_- Hiro: "Heh...Imagine bidding on Arthur, then just torturing him the entire time..." Anya: (overhears Hero, shiny eyes) "5,000 dollars!" hime: that's really messed up bro! Arthur: o__o "Oh crap..." Hibana: "..." (shrugs) "Sold!" (picks up Arthur, throws him at Anya) liz: well at least patti- Patty: "Hey! I want to bid! Kid will pay $10,000 to torture Arthur!" Anya: (holding Arthur) "No fair! I want to dress him up as a maid and make him clean up the dorm!" liz: PATTI NO! Patty: "I was going to do the same, but have him also whistle showtunes!" *Anya and Patty engage in a tug of war over Arthur* Arthur: "HELP ME!" gabriella: *smacks them both* ENOUGH! Anya and Patty: (faceplant, twitching) Arthur: (hides behind Gabriella) "Thank you, oh worthy knight!" gabriella: *cough* carry on princess~ *pushes arthur away* Hibana: "Um...We're going to hold both Anya and Kid for those bids totaling $15,000--" Kid: "DAMN IT!" Hibana: "And now, Shinr--" Akitaru: "Yo." Hibana: -_-; "Seriously?" Akitaru: (awkwardly takes the mic) "I am not used to dating...I haven't dated since my wife passed away..." shinra: *looking around* liz: Q_Q Akitaru: "But I'm a good conversationalist...Um...I can lift stuff, so I can move things around your house. I'm great with kids...I lost my child, too...I miss them...Um...So, thank you for coming out. Your donations go to help the 8th continue to serve you, Death City. Thank you." (backs away shyly) Hibana: T_T (wiping tears) Hibana: "I'll start bidding for Commander Obi at $50..." dia: he's honestly pulling the sympathy card now? how shamefully shameless....or would it be shamelessly shameful? Burns: "His family died. He deserves some sympathy." dia: right...my apologies sir. Hibana: (bidding kept going up for Akitaru) "$2,000 for Akitaru...Going once...twice..." marie: I'LL BID!! Akitaru: "???" Hibana: "Your bid, Death Scythe Mjolnir?" marie: YES PLEASE!! <X3 justin: *sweatdrop* Akitaru: o\\\\o Hibana: "Um...for how much money, Marie?" -on to the next contestant- Iida: "I LIKE FOLLOWING RULES! Make sure that your bids are in increasing order! We would have a lovely dinner! I will pay for the meal and the tip! Thank you!" -and the next- Mineta: "..." (staring up at Hibana) Hibana: -_-; "..." (STOMPS Grape Juice repeatedly) -next- Bakugo: "I am fired up for a date! I will make everything explode!" Hibana: -_-; "They can treat that STD, you know..." Bakugo: o\\\\\\o girl: PHRASING! Bakugo: "Shut up, nerd!" -and the next- Aoyama: (Can't Stop Twinkling) "I just want to see the smile on your faces light up." Hibana: (shiny eyes) kirika: *excalibur face* how about no? Aoyama: (leans down to Kirika) "Would you be willing to bid on me, fair princess?" Gopher: :< kirika:.... -one punch later- Hibana: (back stage) "Great...We lost Aoyama, so that cost us money...That leaves Deku and...Shinra..." (looks around) "Where are they?" izuku: *scoots onto the stage* um.....hi? *awkward wave* Audience: *silent* Hibana: "So...Deku! How did you get that name?" izuku: because.....because i can do it! *brave smile* ochako: *smiiile* Hibana: "..." (happy applause) "We'll start the bidding at $75." -later- Giriko: "...I don't know why I'm here. I can't have liquor, I can't smoke, and I can't be allowed more than 50 feet from my apartment." (shows ankle bracelet) "Thanks a fuck lot, Justin! Nark!" arachne: *sweatdrop* ^^; -and the next- Excalibur: (dancing on stage) Hibana: -_-; "It's been ten minutes already--get off the stage, or I will crush you." Excalibur: "Fool! I haven't done my striptease yet!" -next- Tsukuyomi: "I keep my feet wherever I want to--" Iida: "NOOOOOO!" -cue horde of fangirls bidding- -next- All Might: "I can only be out for two hours! That's all the time I can set aside in between my superheroing!" Hibana: o\\\\\\o Akitaru: -_-; "That's just too many muscles..." -next- Aizawa: "Hello. My name is--" Kid: "KILL THE KISHIN!" liz: kid thats-.....thats not.... -_-; Aizawa: -_-; *zaps Kid, immobilizing him* Kid: (collapsed onto Liz) -next- Present Mic: "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Who will bid on me?!" Hibana: "...What? I can't hear now BECAUSE I'M DEAF!" -silence- -next- Stein: "I will need to examine your skin. Trust me, I'm a doctor." sayaka: *sneaking to the exit* nopenopenopenopenope Hibana: (looks around, slips card into his pocket) "Call me. I think we could work on some scientific experiments I have in mind..." -next- Spirit: (dancing to "Love Machine") sachiko: .//////.; *Out of nowhere, a book falls from the rafters above, knocking Spirit out* lord death: ????? Yumi: "You did not want to auction yourself, Death?" lord death: nah, i could be with anyone but you~ ^^ Yumi: (smiles) "I probably would have outbid everyone else..." (holds his hand) -next- Harvar: "I am not paying for anything, I will treat you like dirt, and I will never return your calls." -someone throws a dog treat at him- Harvar: "..." (picks it up) "I deserve that..." (eyes it--then bites into it) -next- Ox: (holding up sign: "Kim! Pick me!") kim: *she holds up a sign that says 'no'* sachiko: *GLAAAAARE* Ox: D: -next- Shotaro: "Does this count as my good deed? How can I do a good deed for you all out there? Um...What services do you need?" mana: DAMMIT SHOWTARO! >////<; chie: ^^; Yohei: (chuckling) "I knew my advice would help him..." -next- Tuhl: "Humans smell." -next- Akane: (says nothing, just smiles and puts his hand through his hair) tsugumi: o/////o -cue fangirls- tsugumi: D:> Hibana: o\\\\\o "Um...Any bids?" -next- clay: looks like i'm up.... shinra: *gulps* (thinking: just a few more left till i'm-) *something pulls him into the darkness* Hibana: "Now, Clay Sizemore! A round of applause!" -next- benimaru: hey. *wave* Hibana: "OH MY GOD SO PRECIOUS!" benimaru: um... o-o; fang-hua: *sweatdrop* Hibana: "I'll pay $4,000, you adorable cinnamon roll!" benimaru: o-o;;;; -next- Aaron: "..." Presenter Mic: "!!!" ("I found my sidekick!") -next- Sid: "I wasn't the kind of man to stand up anyone on a date..." nygus: i'll bid dammit! -next- Free: "If you don't mind hairy guys--" eruka: *tugs free by the ear and pulls him away* no. Free: "Owie owie owie!" -next- Hao: "What up?" reid: ladies~? Anya: "Boo!" Meme: "Get off the stage!" -next- Takehisa: "..." (awkward wave) "Hello. I am Takehisa. I like to keep my records organized, I am adept at numerous office and organizational tasks, and I like kittens." maki: *double thumbs up* Takehisa: -\\\\\- Hibana: "We begin the bidding!" (smirks at Maki) -and finally- shinra?: hey everyone! shinra kusakabe here! ready to be your hero, yeah! *'shinra' seems shorter, and is wearing sunglasses* Akitaru: "?! Man, we need to give Shinra more milk: he's shrinking on us!" maki: wait a second.... WE HAVE AN IMPOSTER IN OUR MIDST! Takehisa: "Maki? What do you mean?" maki: *removes the sunglasses, revealing......* sayu:....um......hi? *her hair is poking out of the wig* Akitaru: "...Shinra is a girl? Oh, man, I feel bad now for misgendering him--her..." miwa: SAYU?! what the heck?? sayu: ummm.....RUN SHINRA RUN! *shinra takes off* Akitaru: "!!! Where is he running?!" shinra: *running* Bystander #1: (looking at newspaper on a bus stop bench) Bystander #1: (looks up, sees Shinra in his underwear...looks back at newspaper) shinra: *running as fast as he can and trips over the stairs.....onto someone below* (thinking: oh! oh no!) tamaki: !!!!!! shinra: (thinking: OH FRICK!!) -squiiiish- tamaki: ^^ *grabs him by the shoulders and screams* shinra: *SCREEEEEEAM* -what happened next i will leave to the imagination.....but shinra ended up in a trashcan- Garbageman: "Oh crap...Bill! We got another person trying to throw away a kid!" Bill: "Aw, crap! Don't people know humans are recyclables, not trash!" shinra: *cough* ow..... Bill: "Ah, kid, why are you naked? That ain't right..." shinra: wha-..........*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!* Garbageman: "Hang on, Bill! I got an extra garbage bag for him to wear..." -later- shinra: *whimpering as he arrives home* Hibana: "Shinra! Oh, my baby!" (picks him up...*sniff*) "You...Oh, God! What happened to you?!" shinra: i dont want to talk about it. Hibana: "..." ("I'll make him talk later...") "Come on, I'm drawing you a warm bath, then getting you soup..." -the next day- Akitaru: "We paid for the electricity bill for a year...but damn...Poor Shinra." shinra: ........ *sneeze* geh... -elsewhere- soul: happy birthday chrona! Crona: o\\\\\o "Um...What is happening?" mami: we're not sure when you're birthday is, so we decided that we'd celebrate your birthday today. *she smiles* Crona: "Oh..." ("...No one ever celebrated my b-birthday before...") "..." (cries) mami: it's ok chrona...*she hugs them* it's a happy thing. soul: you get cake, presents, and all kinds of neat stuff... Crona: *sniffs* "Presents?" Ragnarok: "CAKE?!" liz: yep. Patty: "Happy birthday, Crona!" (hands hastily wrapped present to them) Crona: "..." (smiles) "Thank you..." -elsewhere- Shotaro: "What do people do on dates, Mana?" mana: *slow-mo spittake* um.....well uh...... *sweats* Shotaro: "??? Because that auction event still has me trying to figure that out. I mean, I see people go on dates: boys with girls, boys with boys, girls with girls...Have you gone on dates?" mana:....*fist clentch* TTwTT -elsewhere- Ponera: "I'm worried about her..." shaula: who, medusa? Ponera: (nods) "Childbirth is a challenge, but she seems...depressed. Post-partum" shaula: the baby's alive, aint it? grimoire: raising a child as a single mother is no easy task. Ponera: (nods) "...Do you think she would accept...help?" shaula: be my guest. *shrug* -elsewhere- christa: *watching cartoons* Akitaru: "So...How old is your daughter? A year?" marie: *she nods* Akitaru: "She looks so happy...She has your smile." marie: *she blushes* it's amazing how she resembles me... christa: *turns* hi! *wave* Akitaru: (giggles, waves back) "Hi, Christa!" christa: hehe ^^ Akitaru: "How many words does she know?" -elsewhere- NoFix: "You know what I want to know?" scientist: i-i'm afraid to ask... *she looks away* NoFix: "What color are your panties?" luka: stop that. NoFix: -_-; "You're no fun...So, what did you need me to do for today's experiment?" luka: just...*sigh* try to behave yourself today. your libido has gotten out of control, if this persists, i'm going to have to put you in cold storage, understood? NoFix: "It's not out of control! I can keep cool! I just, you know, have to get off now and then...It's not easy when you're the King of Spin and you can regenerate just about anything so quickly..." luka: we're still in the process of scraping poor cheryl's remains off the walls after your...*ahem* orgy.... -elsewhere- Arthur: (in maid's uniform) -\\\\\\- tamaki:.......i'm not even going to ask. Arthur: "Anya won the auction, so...And by the way, what did you do to Shinra?" tamaki:........i dont want to talk about it. *scary face* Arthur: "Eep!" (stumbled back--and falls on the floor) -elsewhere- kyouko: *delivering groceries* Black Star: "I bet I can totally carry more groceries than you!" kyouko: i got two whole cloth bags full! so where's the next stop? tsubaki: hmmm lets see.....ah! seems mifune's place is next. Black Star: "Hmph...Hope his attitude is better today..." tsubaki: *she knocks the door* angela: who is it? Black Star: "Grocery deliveries! Open up!" yuma: *she opens the door* kyouko! *hugs her leg* Black Star: (eyeroll) kyouko: mind if we come in? Black Star: (still holding the groceries, looking inside wondering where Mifune is) angela: mifune's out by the hill. Black Star: "???" angela: the big hill with the cherry blossom tree... he likes to go there a lot. Black Star: "Hmph. Not the best day to be outside. Not even all that sunny." angela: he'll be back soon though... Black Star: "Hope so...Delivering these groceries, I want a big tip!" tsubaki: ^^; Black Star: "So...Squirt, what've you been up to?" angela: practicing my magic ^^ Black Star: "Oh yeah? What can you do?" -kyouko puts her bags on the table and walks out into the garden. she can see a large hill with a tree not too far from the property- kyouko: ?? Mifune: (under the tree, eyes closed...then they open and he stands up) kyouko: ??? *squints* Mifune: (wipes his sleeve over his eyes, then holds a hand to the tree...and says something) kyouko: ??? *she slowly walks up, trying to remain quiet* Mifune: "...miss you everyday. I only hope I am the person you wanted me to be...and I don't think I am." kyouko:....*she doesnt say anything* Mifune: "I made a lot of mistakes...and I'm trying to get better. I wish you could see Angela...She's growing up so fast, and...I think you would have been a great mother to her." kyouko:....... Mifune: "..." (wipes away more tears) "Please be here tomorrow, and let me have the will to live another day until I can see you again beyond this world. I love you." kyouko: *she walks back to the house* Black Star: "Where the heck were you, Kyouko?" kyouko: just getting some fresh air.....*she seems a bit teary eyed* Black Star: "...You got something on your face..." (hands her a tissue) kyouko: thanks...s-summer allergies, i guess... Black Star: "...Yeah." (smiles) "I hear ya!" Mifune: "Oh...I didn't hear you come in..." (enters the house) tsubaki: we brought some groceries for you. *she smiles* Mifune: (smiles back) "Thank you." Black Star: (whispers to Kyouko) "He said he didn't hear me come in...See? I am getting better at stealth and stuff!" kyouko: *gives him a look* -_-; Mifune: "Would you like to stay for tea?" tsubaki: that would be lovely, thank you ^^ Mifune: (smiles) "Angela, please set the table." (pulls out kettle and teabox) angela: ok! yuma: i'll get the snacks out. Mifune: (heats up the water...thinks he can feel someone staring at him...) kyouko: *looks away to another room* Mifune: "..." (small smile as he finishes heating water) Black Star: "Yuma, need help with snacks?" -and so- Black Star: (holding up his pinkie while sipping tea) Mifune: (pours tea for Kyouko) kyouko: thanks. Mifune: "You're welcome." (passes cookies to Tsubaki) tsubaki: anything new happen to you recently? Mifune: "...No." (sips his tea) tsubaki:.....well we went to italy for a vacation, right black*star? kyouko: really? did mami come with as a translator? Black Star: "Nah, but Stocking did a bit of translating. She seems to know the language." kyouko: ah. Black Star: "Crona went swimming, too!" kyouko: ah, that's neat. Black Star: "Yep! But...Um...Other things happened...Some sad things...Oh, and Soul got strip searched at the airport." kyouko: oh...really? *covering yuma's ears* Black Star: "...What? Kids can handle hearing that stuff." Mifune: (sword now pointing at Black Star's nose) "Watch your mouth." kyouko: o-o; tsubaki: settle down everyone. ^^; Black Star: o____o; (backs away) Mifune: "..." (lowers sword) -later- Mifune: "Thank you for the groceries, and for staying for tea." kyouko: no problem. we should be heading home now. see you around then. *she waves* Black Star: "Later, Samurai. Witch. Tiny girl." -after that, the trio head on home- Mifune: (quiet at the table) angela: mifune? are you ok? Mifune: "Just...sad, a bit." angela:...*hug* Mifune: (holds her) "Thank you." angela: ........ *remembering her mother* Mifune: "...Angela...I hope that, when I screw up, you are comfortable letting me know." angela: ..... Mifune: "I'm not the best...father. But I want to give you the safety and the childhood anyone deserves." yuma: *hug* angela:....ok {takane: say, mifune, will i be a good mother when the baby's born?} Mifune: "..." {Mifune: *smiles* "Of course you will." *kiss*} Mifune: (hugs both Yuma and Angela) "Yuma, Angela, I love you both..." -on the road- Black Star: "Mifune seemed more pissy than usual." tsubaki: really? i didnt notice... kyouko:..... Black Star: "Yo, Kyouko? You okay?" kyouko: yeah... just a bit tired. it's getting pretty late, and we have school tomorrow so... Black Star: "Want us to walk with you home?" kyouko: i can handle it, really...'sides, if uncle shiro saw me walking home with you, he'd hassle me about it the whole night, haha. Black Star: o\\\\o; "Oh..." tsubaki: ^^;; kyouko: *smirk* just kidding, you're way out of my league, haha! Black Star: -_-; "Jerk." kyouko: hey, come on, i'm trying to have a little fun here. Black Star: (small punch to her shoulder) "Don't get eaten by werewolves or something on your way home--'cause if I have to save your ass, I'm going to never let you forget it!" kyouko: dont worry, i think i could handle it. Black Star: "Later, dork!" (fist bump) -at school the next day- Kid: "How are you feeling, Shinra?" shinra: a little better. *sniff* still kinda out of it though... Kid: "You sure that another day off from class wouldn't help?" shinra: maybe, i dunno, i've just been really out of it since-....nevermind. Kid: "Is someone at the 8th tending to your health?" shinra:.......*excalibur face* (thinking: hibana is going to kill me with motherly affection...and i use the term 'motherly' very loosly.....and that nightmare about being sacrificed to a demon cat that looks too much like tamaki doesnt help matters...) -_-; Kid: "??? Maybe you need a vacation..." shinra: yeah...haha...*ahem* feeehhhh... Kid: "Well, if you need any help, please ask. Even a good night sleep can help. We always have room at our home--" Patty: "SLEEPOVER!" shinra: t-thats fine, but i'll keep a mental note of it... Kid: (nods, opens his book for today's class) Patty: "How about you, Tsubaki? How are you doing?" -in gym, they were playing 'capture the flag'- Kid: "..." (adjusts the flag) "Is that better?" Iida: "Hmm...Still looks crooked." Kid: "Ah! You are right!" (adjusts it) Kid and Iida: "ABSOLUTELY PPPPPPPPPPPERFECT!" kirika: ...........fuuuuuuuuuck.....my liiiiiiife -is stuck on their team- Gopher: -W- "We will protect this flag very well, won't we?" kirika: eh, may as well....or we could let it get captured just to annoy kid. Kid: "Hey!" Gopher: "Whatever pleases you, my love!" Kid: "Hey! Hey!" kirika: cool. Bakugo: (glares at Stocking) "We could just blow up their side now and get the flag..." stocking: just cool your jets...we have to use strategy....and i think i know of one...*smirk* Bakugo: "???" Patty: (smiles) "Oh, I like that smirk...What's your plan?" -and so- stocking: *sneaking up to the flag, within kid's vision* Kid: -_-; "Really, Stocking, you're not even trying. I have keen eyesight from years wielding twin pistols, not to mention my shinigami eyesight..." stocking: *makes a run for the flag and trips* eek! Kid: "!!! Oh no! Hang on, Stocking! I'll help you up!" Iida: "?! B-But we must protect the flag! Yet as a hero we must help her...I AM SO CONFLICTED!" (hand gesticulations) stocking: *blushing and covering herself* oh no! i didnt wear underwear today! >/////< Kid: "..." (symmetrical nosebleed) "Wh-What?! I-I-I-" stocking: >//////< kirika: and that's why i wear shorts underneath. Kid: "I-I-I'm sorry! Um...Oh! I know! You can cover yourself with the flag!" stocking: r-really? o/////o Kid: "Iida! The flag!" Iida: "Right!" (covers his eyes as he hands the flag) "Protect the young lady's modesty!" stocking: thanks.....for handing me VICTORY!! HAHA! FLAG OBTAINED!! >:D Kid and Iida: o____o; "CURSE YOUR INEVITABLE BUT SUDDEN BETRAYAL!" stocking: hehehehehe~ *grin* liz: yeah! high five! girl: using her own sex appeal to win? that's just diabolical. Kid: -\\\\\\\- Iida: "..." (clears throat, extends hand to Patty) "Congratulations." stocking: sorry kiddo, can you forgive me~? Patty: "Right back at ya, handsome!" Kid: "..." (leans in, whispers) "Depends..." stocking: oh? Kid: (smiles, whispering) "I may need your help with something, given the thoughts you just gave me..." stocking: oh....oooooh! .///////. Kid: (smirks, backs away) Iida: "???" Gopher: (whispers to Kirika) "What were they talking about?" kirika: dont get any ideas. *she drags him away from the scene* -NEXT ROUND- Bakugo: "Tch...I still wanted to blow something up. Want to make a show of strength SO THAT I CAN GET THAT NERD DEKU TO SEE HOW AWESOME I AM!" Patty: "...Deku isn't _in_ this competition..." Bakugo: "Shut the fuck up!" Patty: "No, you shut the fuck up!" liz: ok settle down, we're up against the next team. tsugumi: *inhale* ok, i'm ready to give it my best! Aoyama: "So exciting! What is our strategy for getting their flag? Perhaps someone stays here and others go the opposing team's flag?" shinra: *examining the field* hmmm.... shinra: hmm, hey, aoyama, think you can provide a distraction? Aoyama: "Oui! Which direction should I fire my cannon?" shinra: um...... that way? Aoyama: "Just say when!" shinra: *making sure no one is in the way* ....now! *fire feet* Aoyama: (fires) stocking: ack! *dodge* tsugumi?: *runs to the flag* Bakugo: "Oh, you think you're getting this flag, girlie?!" (throws blasts at Tsugumi[?]) tsubaki: tsugumi! tsugumi: spring bird JUUUUUUUMP!!! -she made it!- girl: she actually did it! girl 2: i knew she had it in her, the little rascal! Bakugo: "Grr...Goddamn it! Why didn't any of you protect the flag?!" -later- Kid: "Good game, Love. Disappointed about Laser Boy and Shinra?" stocking: eh, good game over all. Kid: "Well, I lost fair and square...mostly fair. Not fair at all. That was a dirty, rotten trick." (pouts) stocking: awww... Kid: "You know I can't resist you...You're too lovable and sexy." stocking: hehe~ Kid: "But I am a bit of a sore loser..." stocking: aww, poor kiddo~ *hug* Kid: (accepts the hug, smiles, purrs lightly) stocking: *whispering* do you plan on punishing me for that~? Kid: (blushes a bit, but smirks) "Only if you ask me to..." -at lunch- Patty: *NOM NOM NOM* "Need to refuel after that Capture the Flag exercise!" shinra: *nom nom*.....(thinking: i should visit izuku after school..) Kid: (offers two cinnamon buns to Stocking) stocking: aaaah~ Kid: (brings the first one to Stocking's mouth) "Open wide..." girl: *cough* phrasing *cough* Kid: -_-; -after school- Kid: (waves goodbye to Shinra) shinra: *looks at the notes* ok...it should be.....ah, there it is..... -soon, he arrives at a door and knocks- mrs midoriya: hmm? yes? shinra: hey, is izuku here? mrs midoriya: yes, he is, and you are? shinra: shinra kusakabe, ma'am. mrs midoriya: ah i see. izuku! you're friend shinra is here! Izuku: (comes down the stairs with an arm cast, smiles at both) "Thanks, Mom! Hi, Shinr--" (tries to wave with his injured arm) "Ow! Heh...Forgot I injured it..." shinra: easy there... how're you holding up? Izuku: "I-I'm getting through things...with some difficulty. But I'm getting through them." (smiles) "H-How are you, b-buddy?" Izuku: (" 'Buddy'? I sound like such a nerd...") shinra: been doing ok...i brought your homework over so we could cram if you want. Izuku: (nods) "I'd appreciate that..." -later- shinra: "Hmmm...Mrs. Midoriya, these cookies are delicious!" mrs midoriya: made them fresh this morning ^^ Izuku: (has another cookie) "Thanks, Mom!" shinra:...*nom*.....*sad smile*... Izuku: "??? Shinra? You okay?" shinra: hmm? y-yeah...it's just.....memories. Izuku: "..." (nods) "Um...Would you like to play a game? I got All Might's new video game..." -elsewhere- tamaki:....*staring up at the ceiling* Kana: "Tamaki?" tamaki: oh.... hey kana. what's up? Kana: "May I sit with you? The other residents in this building are being stupid." tamaki: sure thing.... Kana: (climbs up onto the couch and looks up at the ceiling) "..." tamaki:....say, do you ever feel scared of doing something, even though you know you have to do it? Kana: (nods) tamaki:...what do you do? Kana: "I make a list of what's the worst that could realistically happen, see whether there is another way or how I can respond to the worst...then I draw a card to let it guide me." (flicks a set of tarot cards out of her sleeve, offers Tamaki to draw one) "Want to try?" tamaki:...sure.... *Tamaki draws the Star Card, facing upward* tamaki: ....... Kana; "Oh, you're lucky. The Star Card means you have endured a difficult trial and are ready to move forward." tamaki: *she gulps* yeah.... Kana: "..." (takes Tamaki's hand) "I believe in you." tamaki: *she nods* Kana: "What will you do now?" tamaki: .......prepare myself for what happens next.... Kana: "..." (nods, lays her head in Tamaki's lap) -elsewhere- Kid: "Like it?" stocking: *panting* aaaahhhh.... Kid: (smiles) "I thought you would...It's quite a fascinating new toy..." stocking: *she looks down and blushes* Kid: "...You're beautiful when you blush...Do you want to adjust the vibration?" stocking: y-yes please... Kid: (hands her the vibration control) -elsewhere- Shotaro: "Diaper changed, good deed completed!" io: shuu! Shotaro: "??? Are you saying 'Shuu-taro' or 'Shh, be quiet'?" io: shuuda! Shotaro: " 'Shoo-dah-roh'? io: shoodawoh! Shotaro: "Hee hee! Yeah! Shoodawoh! Shoodawoh!" mana: ^^; Shotaro: "Hey, Man! Can you hold Io? I want to wash my hands." mana: oh, sure.... Shotaro: (hands Io, goes to sink) Yohei: (enters, sees Mana and Io) "Hey, Stinky. Oh, and hi to you too, Io." mana: *glaaaaaaare* Yohei: "Heh heh...So, Io giving you two any trouble?" Shotaro: (shakes his head "no") mana: no Yohei: "Cool. I can take her for a bit." mana: thank you. Yohei: (takes Io from Mana) "So, what are you two up to for this afternoon?" -elsewhere- Izuku: "Feel free to stop by again, Shinra! I promise to be back at school Monday!" shinra: see ya. *he heads home* Izuku: (waves with his good hand and shuts the door) "...Mom? Can Shinra come over again?" mrs midoriya: of course, i wouldnt mind... it's really nice you can have people come over again... Izuku: "Th-Thank you..." (small smile..."I never have gotten to have many friends visit...") -on the road home- shinra: *whistling* ???: "Well, aren't we chipper..." shinra: !! *he turns to see*... ah! Karim: "Yo." shinra: hey karim...whats up? Karim: "Saw you walking and thought I'd say hi. Commander Obi gave you the afternoon off?" shinra: i was at a friends house studying. i was actually just heading back. Karim: "...Mind if I tag along?" shinra: you sure? Karim: "I could use some time away from the 1st, to think about some things." shinra: alright then, i guess it'd be ok... Karim: (smile) "Thanks...So, how's life at the 8th?" shinra: it's been....well same as usual, i guess... Karim: "Is that good? Or bad?" shinra: depends on perspective i guess? Karim: "The 1st seems so...disciplined. Your division seems more...homey." shinra: i guess so....during the training camp, i could feel the difference....and the 5th is........*shudders* Karim: "Hmm...I suppose someone from the 1st would feel at home at the 8th, then." shinra: maybe.......*shrug* -someone is listening in, but they exit before being spotted- Karim: "...Hmm..." (pats Shinra on the shoulder) "How about we get a Slurpee? My treat!" ("Need to throw off the scent...") shinra: for real? Karim: "Sure..." (pushes him into convenience store) shinra: *he looks around* hmm, *he also gets some DIY candy kits for later* Karim: "What are those? 'DIY candy'? What is that?" shinra: it's pretty cool, you mix these powders and water, and it makes little food and stuff. Karim: "Hmm..." (picks one up) "I could try..." -later- Karim: "Take care, Shinra. I'll let you know how the candy comes out." shinra: see ya. *waves and heads home* -the next day at school- Kid: (smiles at Stocking) stocking: *studying hard* Patty: (whispers to Liz) "Stocking seems focused..." liz: yeah, we have a test today, remember? Patty: o______o "Um..." -in another class- Arthur: "You seemed pleased." shinra: hmm? how so? Arthur: "Just...you aren't all mopey. And you're smiling without it looking all nervous." shinra: hey! D:< Arthur: "So, you make a new friend or something?" shinra: i was visiting a friend and met up with another on the way home. i guess the fresh air did some good for me. Arthur: (nods) "Good. You work better when you're in a good mood." shinra: speaking of mood, your birthday is tomorrow, right? Arthur: "...Um, yeah..." shinra: any plans? Arthur: "...I don't know...Maybe family will have something...What I really want is--" (stops himself, blushes, looks down) shinra:....yeah. iris: *she smiles at them* shinra: .////////. Arthur: "...I need a bathroom." shinra: *scoots far away from arthur* Arthur: "...I need a bathroom." shinra: *scoots far away from arthur* kyouka: O-O;;;;;; ew. just....ew. Arthur: "..." (awkwardly leaves the classroom) shinra: (thinking: YOU REALLY DIDNT NEED TO SHARE THAT!!) Arthur: (walks down hall to restroom. "Stupid, stupid, stupid...") Iida: "He did not even ask the teacher for permission..." -elsewhere in the school- Jacqueline: "Why do you need to copy my homework? Didn't you finish your own?" kim: 7/////7 i forgot, ok? Jacqueline: "...Fine. Here." (slides it to her) kim: thaaaaanks ^^ Jacqueline: "But you owe me!" kim: that's fair.... -the sound of a lot of papers falling onto the floor is heard outside- Jacqueline: "??? Someone must have dropped something. Let's see who needs help..." -a lot of letters fell out of tokoyami and todoroki's lockers- shouto: well....this is rather awkward... Tokoyami: "Hmph. What an annoyance." ochako: need some help guys? Tokoyami: "Yes. Please bring me a garbage can." ochako: geh! that's mean tokoyami. *she uses her gravity on the letters* ox: how do they have so many admirers already? Harvar: "People love bad boys..." kim: yeah, chicks dig the dark, mysterious types. ox:......!! hmmm. *idea* Harvar: -_-; ("Oh, no...") ox: say kim, want to meet up after school at the park later tonight? i'll pay you. kim: the fact it's _you_ turns me off, but the promise of money has me intrigued. Jacqueline: "D-Did he just offer to pay her?!" kim: now now, jackie, lets hear him out. Jacqueline: o\\\\\o Harvar: (preps first-aid kit) -that night- ox: they should be here any moment now... Harvar: "This is going to end badly..." kim: this is the place. -ox steps out from the shadows- ox: *in his batman costume* hi kim. Jacqueline: D: kim:.............*she breaks down laughing her butt off* OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL?! HAHHAHA!! Harvar: "I told you that you should have gone with the Fonz." ox: I DONT HAVE A FONZ COSTUME! D:< Harvar: "LIKE IT'S REALLY THAT HARD TO GET A LEATHER MOTORCYCLE JACKET AND JEANS!" Jacqueline: "..." (snaps pic of Ox) ox: !!! eek! HARV TOSS THEM THE DOLLAR AND BAIL! kim: like christian bale? Jacqueline: "Corny, but cute." (keeps snapping pics) Harvar: (tosses dollar bills at Kim) "So demeaning..." kim: make it rain, boys, haha! -down the road- ox: *pant pant* phew....what was i thinking? *takes off the hood and sighs* Harvar: *pant* "Surprisingly for you...you weren't thinking. Shocking..." *SNICKER SNICKER SNICKER* ox: oh shut up! AND STOP LAUGHING! Harvar: "...You know I don't laugh. I thought that...was you..." ox: it wasnt........... 0-0; did the girls follow us? Harvar: (looks behind him) "I don't see them..." *SNICKER SNICKER SNICKER* ox: ok i'm getting creeped out now! *FLAME BURST* ox: EEK Harvar: (reverts to weapon form) "Ox! Get to cover!" ox: *takes the spear* alright, s-show yourself! ???: "Please, Batman, don't run." *FIRE BLAST* "I'm here to send a message..." ???: "Even if I have to use your corpse for that message..." ox: it's just a costu-..uhhhh.......harv? options? ???: *SNICKER* Harvar: "Electrocute the ground! Should be pipes under here!" ox: HYAH! *electro shock TO THE GROOOOOOUND* *Water pipes explode* ???: "Gah! I'm soaked!" ox: *turns and exits* ???: "Shit...Every Batman needs his Joker..." Harvar: "He's not following! Be on the lookout! Someone might be with him..." ox: right! ???: woooow really? that kusakabe brat's gonna be jealous. Harvar: "Ox! Above you!" ox: ?! *he looks up* Harvar: "Ox! Above you!" ox: ?! *he looks up* -BANG BANG- ox: *running faster* OHFRICKOHFRICKOHFRICKOHFRICK!!! Harvar: "Hang on!" (tries to blast electricity at the target) -eventually, ox and harvar ran into one of death city's residential areas and hid out in someones back yard- ox: *cough cough* oh my god that was terrifying... Harvar: (tapping mirror) "DWMA...Emergency...assassins chased us to Lenore Estates..." ox: *looks around* i think they're gone now.... Harvar: (collapses on the lawn) "This can't get any worse..." *Sprinklers go off* Harvar: -_- ox: aw come on! ???: "What the hell are you brats doing on my lawn?!" ox: *SCREEEEEEAMS* *the neighboring house's lights turn on* sachiko: *yaaawn* what's all the noise out here? Neighbor: Sachiko! Call the cops! I need someone from the DWMA to-- Spirit: *Yawn* "What is--" o_o "Ox? Harvar?!" Harvar: "...Sir." ox: hi mr-....MR ALBARN?! sachiko: *death glares at ox* ox: *gulps* Spirit: "Um..." (waves to Neighbor) "I can vouch for them! I'm with DWMA! I'll take them into custody! Heh heh..." (Death glare at Harvar and Ox. "I was being intimate!") ox: D: WHY ARE _YOU_ GIVING ME THAT LOOK?! Spirit: "S-Sachiko? I'll drive them back home..." sachiko:....thanks. -and so- ox: and that's basically what happened... Spirit: "Hmmm...More assassins. I already called DWMA security to guard your building and--" (pauses as he pulls up to their building) "...You live in Soul and M--...in Soul's apartment building?" ox: ....yeah.... -thunder rolls in the distance- Spirit: "??? Storm coming..." ox: yeah...well, we should head in now...goodnight mr A Spirit: "Be safe, kids." -inside- Harvar: "This was troubling..." ox: but we're safe at home now...damn, what a way to spend a wednsday night... Harvar: "Next time you want to be a bad boy to Kim, try breaking the rules in the classroom..." ox: are you nuts?! Harvar: "So, dress up like Batman, then 'make it rain' dollar bills at Kim, that's fine. But break one rule in class is too much for you? Ox, you need to be flexible if you want Kim: she is not interested in someone who can't compromise with her." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: "31, 32, 33...34 dollars." kim: nice! Jacqueline: "Don't you feel some guilt?" kim: i wasnt the one who made ox dress up like batman! Jacqueline: "Hmm...We may have to give him back this money..." (smirks) "After we put it to some good use." kim: oh? Jacqueline: "Remember how I told you you owe me?" kim: D:> Jacqueline: (opens up catalog, points to a picture...) kim: O-O you wouldnt. Jacqueline: "I would. I will." -elsewhere- Patty: T_T "I bombed that test, I know it." liz: at least you tried. Kid: "How did you do, Stocking?" stocking: a little better i think. Kid: (smiles) "That's good. Grades should be available before the weekend." stocking: so what are the weekend plans? Patty: "Cry. Cry forever." T____T liz: *hug* Kid: "..." (hugs Patty too) stocking: *also joins in on the hug* Patty: "WAAAAA!" (loud sobbing) lord death: is everything ok?! Kid: "J-Just contending with post-test stress, Father..." lord death:...i see...need some snacks? Patty: "ALL OF THEM." -and so- Patty: *NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM* liz: *turns on the tv* Kid: (sneaks snacks away from Patty to give to Stocking) stocking: *quietest nom* Patty: (turns dramatically, mouth full of snacks like a chipmunk) "Mah muh magr blah!" (Mouth full translation: "Who took a snack from me?! Stocking?!!") stocking: OwO Kid: "Patty, now just wait a --" Patty: "ROWR!" (leaps) -later- Kid: (whipped cream stuck to the side of his head, a donut shoved under his armpit, chips down his pants) "Never come between Stocking and Patty over snacks..." stocking: *bandaged* Kid: "I'm sorry, Sweetness..." stocking: it's ok. ^^ Kid: "...I need to have these clothes cleaned and shower...and I think I have a cinnamon bun shoved down my pants." stocking: but you already have sweet buns. Kid: (blushes but smiles) "Well, I have another one..." (unbuttons his pants) "You know, before, I would be panicking over this. Now, it just feels typical around here." stocking: *she hugs him* awww.... Kid: (chuckles) "You're going to get frosting all over you..." liz: do you have to say that out here? Kid: O____O (his pants are unbuttoned) "I forgot where I was..." julie: why's there food- liz: *picks her up and takes her away from that area* long story! Patty: (licking pudding off of the ceiling...which she somehow climbed up to...) -the next day- Patty: (offers donut to Stocking at breakfast) "Sowwy." stocking: *nom* all is forgiven. Kid: (smiles at Stocking) Patty: *giggles* -at school- Arthur: (looks around corners..."Okay...No surprises...") shinra: *at his locker* Arthur: (sneaks around the corner, trying to pass Shinra..." shinra: ?? Arthur: "Just ignore me, Shinra...Just avoiding any...surprises..." shinra: oooook? Arthur: (peaks into his locker) "There's no birthday cake in here, is there?" shinra: why would there be cake in there? -_-; Arthur: "Because you are hiding it for the surprise party you and the 8th are obviously planning!" (grabs Shinra by his collar) "ADMIT IT! ADMIT IT!!!" shinra: um..... 0-0; sayaka: happy birthday art- Arthur: o_o Arthur: (swings around--and his fist collides with her face) sayaka: *smacked and falls over in slo-mo as ave maria plays in the background*...ow Arthur: D: sayaka: i'm good. i can heal. shinra: o-o; Arthur: "...I'M SORRY! IT IS MY BIRTHDAY!" sayaka: i know, i just told you happy birthday ^^; shinra: dude, what is with you and your birthday? Arthur: "You don't know what happens to members of my family once they reach this year of age!" Arthur: (whispers) "The change..." shinra: ???? i'm confused. Arthur: "My family is a noble race of dragonslayers!" (dramatic pose) "But at this age, there is one challenge we face: a dragon will come upon us today and attempt to slay _us_! We become the hunted, Shinra! That is why I am afraid that, at some surprise birthday party, a dragon will be waiting for me!" shinra:........ sayaka: maybe give it a steak? Arthur: "Human sacrifice! Yes! Great idea, Sayaka!" (lifts up Shinra over his head) "Consume this heathen, oh dragon of the North!" shinra: ARTHUR PUT ME DOWN!! D:< *ROWR!* shinra: ??? kim: *runs up and kicks them with both feet in slo-mo as 'brave song' by aoi tada plays in the background* Arthur: (slow-motion) "Omph! Whaaaaaaaaat the fuuuuuuuuuuuuu--????" (collapses on his back) K O sayaka: *wince* oooh that has to hurt. *DING DING DING* Jacqueline: o_o "Um...Good show?" shinra: ow.....*he looks to see him and arthur in a rather *ahem* awkward position* o/////////o;;;; Arthur: (groaning) "Oh God..." shinra: O///////////////////O ARTHUR PEOPLE ARE STARING!! >/////< -several girls and a few guys are taking pictures- Arthur: (dazed) "Wh-What? Shinra? Why are you lying on me?" shinra: uhhhhh..... IBLAMEKIM!!! Arthur: (looks up, sees Kim upside down) "Who let that ugly Tanuki into this school?" Jacqueline: "..." (inches back) kim: *throws him into a wall in slo-mo as 'brave song' plays again* Arthur: (slow motion) "Nooooooo--" (Head slams against locker door, smash it open) shinra: *wince* ooooh that has to hurt. sayaka: i wonder who's locker that is...? *A stuffed toy falls out...a dragon* Arthur: (too weak to fight, just screams in terror) sayaka: no really, who's locker is that? Patty: "Who broke my locker?!" kim: arthur did it! Patty: "...You ruined your birthday gift, Artie! That dragon was for you!" shinra: .... -in class- Harvar: "So...How long does Kim have to wear that outfit?" kim:....all day. Harvar: "..." (phone pic) kim: french seal you. Harvar: "...Vas te faire encule retour, vous sorcière bestiale." ("Fuck you right back, you beastly witch.") kim:...jackie you mind translating? Jacqueline: -\\\\\- (whispers it in her ear) kim: *glares at harvar* Spirit: "Hello, students! Who's excited for a day of learning and fulfillment?" (shiny sparkles) -and so the class begins- Spirit: "When you are resonating with your partner, sometimes animosity can get in the way between you, compromising your wavelengths. This is even worse during chain resonance between multiple meisters." kim: ...... Spirit: "Maybe it's something immediate, like momentary irritation, which is why you have to take care of your body as well as your mind and soul. Get some sleep, eat well--" (spots Kim's outfit) "Um...try a new outfit?" kim: *middle finger and glare* Spirit: o__o "M-Moving on..." Harvar: (whispers to Ox) "You think Kim's even wearing anything under that?" -elsewhere- Yumi: "Look at her move!" shiori: mugu! ^^ Yumi: "You're doing great, sweetie!" shiroi: ^^ Yumi: "Zoom! You're going so fast!" shiori: hehe ^^ Yumi: "Come to Mama! It's almost time for your nap!" shiori: *crawls over* Yumi: (picks up Shiori, kisses her) "Good girl!" shiori: hehe~ Yumi: "Still full of energy before your nap...I guess you're growing up...Well, let's see how long it takes before you get sleepy. I can read to you..." shiori: ^^ -at school- Kid: "Test grades are posted...Ready to see them?" liz: as ready as i'll ever be, i guess. Patty: Q~Q Kid: "Hmmm..." (sees his grade) "A 98?!" ("That's hardly symmetrical...") stocking: thats a pretty good grade though... Kid: (smiles, blushes) "Th-Thanks...How did you do?" Patty: (struggling to force herself to look at the grade--then stares shocked) "Sis...I got a B-? WTF?" liz: that's pretty good. stocking: if it helps, i got a B- too. Patty: "...HIGH FIVE, STOCKING!" Kid: "And how did you do, Liz?" liz: B+ Kid: "That's great!" -at lunch- Jacqueline: "Would the tanuki like an omelette?" kim:...*nom nom* TnT Jacqueline: (giggles..."So cute.") kim: 7////7; Jacqueline: "Relax, you'll get to wear your usual clothes after class." kim: thank god... Jacqueline: "But you have to admit, the outfit is comfortable, isn't it? Like one big blanket." kim:...it is warm...not good for the summer. Jacqueline: "Hmmm...Good point, I hadn't thought of that. Well, at least it's air conditioned inside the academy." kim: yeah.....wait. its summer, dont we get summer break? Jacqueline: "A few weeks, yes, then summer courses." kim: yeah, but in the middle of july?? Jacqueline: (shrug) "Maybe I'm forgetting...That could just be for NOT students." kim: maybe. *shrug* Jacqueline: "Any plans for summer?" (smirks) "Knowing you, you'll try to set up a lemonade stand to con children out of their allowance..." kim: hey! *pout* i was actually thinking about working part time at the zoo. Jacqueline: "Oh! That would be fun." -at another table- Arthur: (breathes more relaxed) "I faced the dragon...it was a stuffed animal, but the omen has passed..." shinra: yeah, now we can get on with our lives. Arthur: -_-; Harvar: "Like how you and Arthur were getting it on in the hallway?" shinra: OH SHUT UP ECLAIRE! D:< Arthur: -\\\\- ("I'm just glad Tamaki didn't see that...") Arthur: (clears throat) "So, when is my surprise party?" shinra: if i told you, it would kind of defeat the purpose of _suprise_ party, wouldnt it? Arthur: "...I'll pay you five dollars?" shinra:.........*eating his ramen* Arthur: "I'll be your best friend?" Harvar: ("More like _only_ friend...") -at another table- Crona: o_o; "Why are people looking at me?" mami: ?? is everything ok? Crona: "Th-They have been following me today...with t-shirts with my face on them..." mami: oh...them....it's ok, i'll handle this, ok? Crona: (small smile) "Th-Thanks..." -elsewhere- Tool: "Need anything, Saki?" saki: i think that's everything... io: zzzzz...... Tool: "Okay, I'm going to pick up groceries. Anything to add to the list?" saki: some baby food and diapers... Tool: (nods) "Anything for you?" saki: i'm good... Tool: (nods) "Call if you need anything..." (goes out the door) -elsewhere- Ponera: (pacing) grimoire: ponera? you seem tense. Ponera: "Ah!" (jumps a bit) "Oh...S-Sorry...Just worried." grimoire:...need something to drink? Ponera: (nods) "What would you recommend?" -after the tea is made and served- Ponera: (sips, exhales) "Aw...That hits the spot. Thank you, Grimmy." grimoire: *he nods* what seems to be troubling you? Ponera: "...I'm concerned about Medusa and her child." grimoire: oh? how so? Ponera: "Medusa seems depressed. That has me concerned, not only for our goals against the DWMA, but also the sake of the child." grimoire: hmmm, i see.....should i speak with her? Ponera: "I would appreciate that...but I also worry how she would react, seeing as you look like...him." grimoire: ....... grimoire: *knocks on the door* medusa? may i come in? Medusa: "...What?" grimoire: there are matters we need to discuss, particularly your recent behavior. Medusa: "..." (throws open the door) " 'Behavior'?" grimoire: you've been very melancholic as of late. i wont sugarcoat it but, it's not helping the rest of us in the slightest. Medusa: "...Really? It's not helping _you_, huh?" grimoire: .....you've just had a child, i'd expect you to be a little...i dont know....happier? this is your first child, is it not? Medusa: " 'Happy'? Do you know...what I have had to put up with from the first one?" grimoire: oh? so this isnt your first then? what did they do, shit all over the place? *SLAM* Medusa: (holding Grimoire by the neck against the wall) "Watch your tongue...or I will rip it out, Noah." grimoire: !!!! neian: mmuu....*stirring in her sleep* Medusa: (hears Neian...sets Grimoire down against the wall and moves to Neian to tend to her) "What is it?" neian: *yawn* zzzzz.... Medusa: (watches Neian...rubs her face and looks back at Grimoire) "That maniac...Noah...He did this to me, again." grimoire: ??? Medusa: (rubs her face) "I didn't think it would happen again..." grimoire:..... Medusa: "Yes, I wanted a test subject...but I again gave into..." (clutches her head) "I'm supposed to be logical, reasonable, not emotional...Then I-I...Fuck!" grimoire:....so the rumors of that child are true then? Medusa: "Yes, alright! Crona exists!" grimoire: ........ *he looks outside at ponera* .... Ponera: "..." (slowly approaches) Medusa: "I gave in like an idiot...twice now..." grimoire:....... neian: *yawn* Medusa: (clutches her head) "What am I going to do...? I made Crona into an experiment...this one..." grimoire: you are in need of a descendant to the title of snake witch, arent you? Medusa: "...What?" grimoire: someone to continue your legacy...like you and your sister carry your mother's legacy? Medusa: "..." (looks at Neian) "...How? I see so much of...him in that child." grimoire: *looks at pandora like 'help me out here'* Ponera: "!!! Um, Medusa? You also can see a lot of yourself in little Neian!" (nervous smile, sweating) "I mean...the eyes! The power! The capacity! Look at hoq awesome your baby is!" Medusa: -_-; grimoire: --; shaula: the fat- Ponera: (slaps hand over Shaula's mouth while the other hand holds Shaula's arm behind her back) (whispering) "Keep talking, and you'll be the world's first one-armed scorpion witch..." (smiles to Medusa) "You are too awesome, Medusa, to back away from making your legacy something the world will never forget..." Medusa: "..." (small smile, looking at Neian) neian: *she looks up at medusa* muu? Medusa: (holds out her arms to Neian) -elsewhere- arachne:....... Giriko: "..." (pats a hand on her shoulder) arachne: i miss our daughter.... Giriko: (nods) "Yeah...I can't think of a day she is not on my mind..." ("As much as I have tried to forget...Thank God I stopped drinking...as much...") arachne:....should we...try for another child? i dont mean replacing eva, just.... Giriko: (smiles back) -elsewhere- Akitaru: (looking at photos in his office) shinra: we're back! Akitaru: (sets down photo, smiling at his wife and child, exits office) "Great! Got everything?" shinra: yep. Akitaru: "Awesome!" (looks around, whispers) "Where did you leave Arthur?" shinra:....with a friend. Akitaru: "Great! It's so good for Arthur to be making friends!" -At Gallows Mansion- Arthur: "GET AWAY FROM ME!" Patty: "Onward, Julie! The varmint's getting away!" julie: *in dragon pajamas* rawr! Arthur: "NOOO!" ("I am both terrified...and having fun...") "That dragon is going to catch up with me!" riley: .....*watching the scene play out* Patty: "Go for the legs, Julie!" (hands Julie a rope) Arthur: "...Wait, what--?!" julie: tackle attack! *tackle* Arthur: (tackled on purpose...mostly) "Oh no! I'm defeated!" Patty: "Tie him up! Riley, want to help?" riley: i'm good thanks. -elsewhere- Kid: (plate of cookies offered) "For you my dearest~..." stocking: why thank you~ Kid: (smiles as he sits down by her side) "May I ask you something?" stocking: hmm? what is it? Kid: "Regarding the future...and the potential of having children..." stocking: *blush* yeah? Kid: "You had said two before, yes?" stocking: i think so, why do you ask? Kid: "I just wanted to check...and say that is still the number I was thinking." (smile) stocking: *she smiles* and if we do have more, then it'll be what it'll be i guess.... Kid: (nods) "We will love them because they are ours..." stocking: *she smiles*....any ideas for names? Kid: "Hmm...If a boy, maybe something with an 'L'? Leo? Lucas? Liam? Lionel?" stocking: *wince*.....Liam works. Kid: (small chuckle) "Okay..." (smirks a bit) "Sure I can't convince you of 'Lionel'?" (hugs her from behing with a small kiss) stocking: *smile with a small shake of the head* liam..the name has a bit of sentimental value for me.... Kid: "You knew someone named Liam?" stocking:...he was a small kitten i had back in private school....he was just a small stray. Kid: "..." (holds her hand) stocking: the girls bullying me eventually found out........and soon, i opened my locker to a tiny mangled body in a shoebox.... Kid: "...I'm sorry." stocking:.....*she hugs him* Kid: (holds her, pats her back) stocking:....what if we have a girl? Kid: "Hmmm...Something soft-sounding...What would you recommend?" stocking: hmm....for some reason, the name 'Hannah' sounds nice... Kid: " 'Hannah'...means 'full of grace'..." (smiles) "Perfect." stocking: *she writes the name down* look. Kid: "???" -on the paper is written 'HANNAH'- Kid: "..." (•‿•) *SQUEE!* (hugs her) "I love you so much!" stocking: hehe~ Kid: (holds her and purrs) "Stocking..." stocking: so damn adorable...*she pets his hair* Kid: (keeps purring) "You're adorable... (holds her at the waist) "I love you." -later- Arthur: (eating a cookie...while still tied up) "May I go home now?" liz: alright, you can head home now. Arthur: "Thank God!" Patty: (frowns) "Fine...Julie, untie the captive." julie: *salutes and does so* Arthur: (stretches) "Man...You ever consider applying to be knights?" julie: i dunno. *shrug* i'd rather be a princess, but i might think about it. roxanne: you could always be a princess knight. julie: really??!! THAT! I WANNA DO THAT! *shiny eyes* Arthur: "..." (small laugh, pats Julie's head) -and so- Arthur: (walks up to the 8th's front door) -it's open- Arthur: (pushes open the door) *yawn* "I just want to sleep for weeks..." -lights come on- Arthur: "Gah!" (shields his eyes) -several people say 'happy birthday'- Arthur: (uncovers his eyes) "Wh-What?" maki: surprise! Arthur: "...A surprise party? ... I really should've seen this coming..." iris: we ordered a cake and everything. *there is a cake shaped like a castle* Arthur: "..." (smiles widely) *SQUEE!* -and so- Arthur: (wearing a party hat and finishing his slice of cake) "So tasty..." shinra: *he's asleep already* Arthur: (looks at the sleeping Shinra...blushes) "And, um, thanks for the gift, Shinra..." ("Thank goodness he can't hear that...") shinra:.......zzzzz.... iris:...*she carries him to his room and places him in his bed before exiting* Akitaru: "I hope you get a lot of use out of that, Arthur! You're arms need a workout!" Arthur: (stares at the big freaking barbells) "Um...thank you, Commander." -there's a box from the girl's dorms- Arthur: "Oh! Um...I'm surprised the dorm sent something..." (goes to open--then stops) "Um...Did you check to make sure this won't explode?" maki: yes arthur. iris: mr hinawa quadruple checked. Takehisa: (nods) "No explosive material, nothing. Just open." Arthur: "..." (gulps...pulls open the box...) -seems to be a gift basket- Arthur: "Oh!" (lifts out the basket, looking inside it) -something falls out from the bottom....a letter with 'T. K.' written on it- Arthur: (" 'T.K.'?") "..." "!!!" o\\\\\\\o (slips the letter into his pocket) -later after everyone else went to bed- Arthur: (under his covers, he opens the letter and holds a small flashlight to it) 'hey arthur, sorry if i havent written in a while. i've just been thinking about everything that's been happening recently...but i know i cant just keep hiding forever...i want to face my inner demons, even though it'll be hard, but i have to try, right? trying my hardest, tamaki. PS give that knucklehead shinra a good whack to the back of the head for me, ok? XP' Arthur: "..." *sniff, cries a bit* ("Keep going, Tamaki...I can't wait to see you again...") *turns off his flashlight, removes covers, walks over to Shinra's bed...and hits him in the back of the head* shinra: mgnh?!? *looks around* geh? what the hell??