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phoenixyfriend · 4 years ago

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Anakin and the Jedi Babies: Names and Faces

Context: Anakin and the Jedi Babies, chrono

Word Count: 6,477

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It goes like this:

Nobody wants to separate Anakin from the children in his care until they know more about why he’s here. The gamble paid off, to some degree, and he thanks the Force that it did.

He hasn’t felt that cold in years.

He knows the logic of why the Mandalorians he’s fallen in with aren’t doing anything yet. He’s an obvious Jedi, and they don’t know why he’s here or what he’s doing. Hedging on the Mando’a and the cultural obligation to childcare hadn’t been anything close to sure, but it was... enough. He got lucky that these Mandalorians leaned on those obligations, at least to the point of keeping them all in the same room. He can sense that much, even before he opens his eyes, and he has to be grateful.

The looming hypothermia had probably nudged things in his favor.

Anakin opens his eyes to a guest room of a cell, something well-furnished and cozy, but definitely not meant to be something he can escape from. His saber is gone, and there are Force-nullifying cuffs on his wrists, and he’s pretty sure they’ve taken his--yep, vibroblade’s gone.

Fuck.

His body doesn’t want to move, and he’s still shivering a bit, but he’s mostly back to normal. When he sits up, he notices that there is, in fact, only one Force-nullifying cuff. They detached his arm.

He closes his eyes and breathes deep and tells himself it was probably medically necessary. Large pieces of metal aren’t great for maintaining homeostasis. He’ll get it back.

Probably.

“Ah!”

The voice makes him jolt, and his eyes fly open.

Two cribs, one much bigger than the other. Both are occupied. The larger one has bars, and through it...

“Snips,” he breathes, lurching to his feet and then crashing to his knees, about as graceful as a newborn eopie.

“Bah!”

“Just--just one second,” Anakin grits out, grimacing as he tries to pull himself to standing again. The fact that he’s down an arm doesn’t impact him much, but the shakiness of his legs is... a problem.

“Owwww,” Ahsoka coos with an exaggerated grimace, reacting to his pain with the innocent sympathy of a toddler. She looks, what, two? Maybe? He’s not sure if there’s anything particular about how Togruta babies age. She’s too young for words, clearly.

“I’m fine,” Anakin assures her, even as his heart sinks. She’s Ahsoka, clearly, he knows her in the Force and it can’t be anyone else, but her memories...

She recognizes him, but that’s not saying much.

He manages to get over to the chair next to the crib, but doesn’t trust himself to take her out right now. The snow and the mess of a fight before that haven’t been kind to him. Instead, he just sticks his hand through the bars and lets her grab at his fingers.

He can’t help but smile, really. She’s adorable, and she’s so damn happy to see him.

“Skyguy!”

“Oh, so you are talking,” Anakin says, part of him relaxing just a tad. “I was worried.”

“Mine,” she stresses, patting at his wrist.

“Yeah, your Skyguy,” he says. So she remembers... some things, at least. “And you’re my Snips.”

She squeals and yanks on his hand, just enough that the Force-suppressing cuff clanks against the bars of the crib. “Sky, Sky, Sky!”

Oh, she’s precious.

“You having fun?” he asks, filling the air with words faster than his head can fill with doubts. “Has everyone been nice?”

“Mmmmm,” she grumbles, falling to her butt with a huff. “Doc!”

“Oh, a doctor?” he asks, wondering at his own tone. He never expected to be one for baby-talk. “Was the doctor mean?”

“Cold!” she tells him. “Cold here!”

She taps at her chest, right where someone might check her heartbeat or breathing; the metal would be cold, and also necessary. He doesn’t fault anyone for it. Considering how poorly Anakin had fared, he’s just happy they’re all alive and mostly fine.

He doesn’t know what year it is. He knows he’s not in the year he should be. He’s vaguely aware of the name Jaster--one of the Mandos had said it while bringing him in--but he doesn’t know when Mereel’s reign ended and Fett’s began. He does know both are supposed to be dead.

Has Anakin been born yet? Has Ahsoka? Hell, has Obi-Wan?

Can he give out any real names?

A series of small, upset noises start coming up from the other, smaller crib.

He stands, but Ahsoka clings to his hand and refuses to let go. He can’t pry her off, not without his other arm, but he pulls away with quiet reassurances that he just has to check on... on...

Her brother, he says, aware that there’s more than a slight chance someone has the room bugged. He’s a Jedi in Mando custody. They aren’t stupid, and neither is he.

Obi-Wan’s the most likely to have already been born. Having the same name and face will draw attention, will cause questions, but... he can’t just rename his master like a recently-adopted pet. That’s just... wrong.

Anakin’s less shaky than when he first woke up, but he still has no way of safely picking up the kids. He reaches into the small crib, something twisting behind his sternum, and tickles under Obi-Wan’s chin.

The baby--the infant--looks up at him with wide eyes, too blue for the Obi-Wan he knows, but full of wonder and--

Love, the Force whispers through the cracks in the effects of the cuff.

“Love you too,” Anakin whispers, though he wonders if Obi-Wan would really feel like this as an adult again. Babies love easily, he thinks, and he’s the only adult that Obi-Wan knows right now. Maybe it’s just chemicals.

He stands there for longer than is probably a good idea, with the state of his body, but he can’t help it. Obi-Wan keeps grabbing at his finger and kicking with tiny legs, and sticking a tiny, tiny fist in his mouth as he tries watches Anakin.

It’s all Anakin can do to mutter a stream of meaningless nonsense as he struggles not to cry. He’s always had too many emotions, and right now he’s the only person these two can rely on. He’s the adult.

The door whooshes open.

“The medic said you were awake.”

He knows that voice. He closes his eyes and doesn’t turn, because there are a million feelings in his chest and he’s not sure which one is going to come out first.

“Sky?” Ahsoka questions, likely feeling his worry. “Issokay! Good!”

No, she wouldn’t have the mind to recognize why this familiar face she knows as friend is quite the opposite.

Anakin turns away from the crib, and smiles. “Mando.”

“Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker,” the teenager in the door says. He’s not wearing his bucket, but the rest of his armor is in place. Anakin would peg him as younger than Ahsoka was, before. Not by much, but... fourteen, maybe fifteen. The face is painfully familiar, and stays utterly neutral as he answers the question Anakin didn’t ask. “We found your Ident card after you passed out.”

Cool, so, Anakin definitely can’t change his name.

“Are they yours?” the teenager that will one day create an army says.

“They have no one else,” Anakin tells him. It’s true enough. Still, he gets the feeling that’s not what Fett’s asking. “They’re family.”

Jango squints at him. “I was told Jedi can’t have families.”

Anakin’s mind flashes to Padme and the fantasies he’d long harbored of children born free, and tears himself away. He can’t think about that right now. He can’t think of who he’s--

“Jetii!”

Anakin’s head snaps up, and he realizes he’s shaking. Fett’s not neutral anymore, just... concerned.

“I’m fine,” Anakin spits out, and leans on the crib behind him. He can hear the little ones whimpering. He has to pull his thoughts in and bundle them up into something that won’t hurt the incredibly Force-Sensitive babies behind him. “I’m--I’m all they have. They’re all I have. Are the exact words important?”

Fett doesn’t grimace, exactly, but his expression isn’t pleasant. “I guess.”

Anakin waits to see if there’s anything else coming, but no. Just an awkward silence. He holds onto his frustration, but it still gets the better of him.

“What are my chances of getting my arm back?” he asks.

“Hm?”

Anakin waves what’s left of that arm, the tied-off sleeve flapping about. “My arm. If you don’t want to give me mine back, can I at least have some kind of placeholder? I can’t pick up the babies without worrying that I’m going to drop them.”

“I can ask the medics,” Fett says. He stares at Anakin for a little more, and then asks, “Aren’t you going to ask about our plans for you, or...?”

“If you wanted to kill me, you already would have,” Anakin mutters. “Right now, these two are my only priority. I’m more likely to keep them safe and alive here than I am if I try to break out. I can be patient. I would also assume they wouldn’t have been left in a room with me, alone, if any of us were in danger of medical complications.”

Fett flushes and turns. “I’ll tell buir you’re up and active. There’s a nurse droid in the hall, I can have it handle feedings until you get an arm.”

“Thanks,” Anakin drawls, aware that he’s a little bitchy right now, but not in any mood to temper himself.

He settles himself on the floor next to Ahsoka’s crib, lets her play with his hair while the nurse droid feeds Obi-Wan, and then feeds Ahsoka herself. Anakin thinks he could probably pull the droid apart for an escape attempt if it came down to it. He hopes it won’t be necessary. He’s barely existing in the moment as it is. The droid asks Anakin if he needs anything, and he... shrugs.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Perhaps some non-perishables,” the nurse droids suggests. “Ration bars, for if you are hungry before one of the Mando’ade returns.”

Anakin shrugs again. “Alright.”

He ignores the droid after that. He’s only mostly cut off from the Force by the single cuff. He can’t blanket his Master and Padawan in his own Force presence, try to make them feel safe and calm with the fact that he’s here and ready to protect them, but he can monitor them. He can meditate, even if it’s not the way he prefers to do it. He doesn’t have the strength for moving meditation right now, but a regular meditation... he can do that.

He needs to do that, because no other stress relief option is available to him right now.

Anakin lets himself feel the babies fall asleep, the two of them radiating contentment and warmth. He lets himself trust that, for the moment, he doesn’t need to worry. He lets himself sink into an absence of thought, and then the Force guides him deeper still.

“Anakin!”

His eyes fly open.

This is not the real world.

This is not the room-cell in the Haat Mando’ade base he’s managed to stumble across.

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan says again, a smile hidden in a beard and worn laugh lines about his eyes. The right age, the right size, reaching for him and--

There’s only a moment’s hesitation for Anakin to process, and then he sprints forward and yanks his Master into a hug.

“You’re good,” Obi-Wan mutters to him, rubbing his back as they both sink to their knees. There’s a click of bootheels against the empty white not-space that they’re in, and Ahsoka buries herself into their sides. Anakin pulls her in a little closer too.

They stay that for longer than is maybe necessary, but Anakin’s stress levels are sky high right now, and he needs this. A hug, even one that’s technically only taking place in his head, is important.

“Sorry, Skyguy,” Ahsoka whispers. “Thinking in the real world is... really hard right now.”

He pulls away from the desperate hug he’d started them off with, rearranges things so he’s leaning against Obi-Wan, lets Ahsoka lie down with her head in his lap, on her back and legs stretched out across the white nothingness.

“I don’t know what happened,” Anakin says. “I mean, Sith stuff, probably, but... we’re in the wrong year.”

“I’d wondered,” Obi-Wan admits. “I thought it odd that I couldn’t feel the clones, but I only have so much energy to think right now...”

“Please tell me there’s a way to fix it,” Anakin begs. “I can’t be the adult, Obi-Wan. I haven’t even been born yet, that’s how far back we are. I don’t know what to do, and I can’t just bang around making bad decisions without you there to pull me back and--”

“Breathe,” Obi-Wan tells him.

“We’re in the Force,” Anakin says, just a little hysterically. “We don’t need to breathe!”

“Actually, I think we’re in your head,” Ahsoka says. She’s pointing and stretching her feet like a dancer, but looks up to grin at Anakin like the little shit she is. “You’re the only one whose brain is big enough right now.”

“Hey,” Anakin complains, putting his entire palm over her face as revenge. She giggles and swats him away. “That any way to talk to the guy who taught you how to kill five guys in one move?”

She sticks her tongue out at him. He rolls his eyes and runs a hand over her montrals, smiling when she wriggles and makes a little chirruping noise.

“She’s not wrong,” Obi-Wan says. “Though the phrasing was unfortunate, it does stand to reason that as the only person without the brain of a toddler, you’re hosting. Our minds can’t handle the strain of our own selves, let alone sharing space.”

“Infant.”

“Hm?”

“Ahsoka’s a toddler. You’re an infant. Maybe six months.” Anakin grins, just this side of brittle. He doesn’t want to joke about a problem he can’t fix, but what else is there? “You’re the literal baby of the lineage now.”

Obi-Wan sighs over the riot of Ahsoka’s laugh. “Of course I am.”

“It’s okay, Master,” Ahsoka assures him. “Skyguy’s gonna take care of us until we can fight again.”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan says, grimacing slightly. “I am sorry for you being put in such a position, Anakin. It’s certainly not an easy one.”

Anakin wishes he could say that his immediate reaction isn’t a sense of hurt, a you don’t trust me, a you don’t think I can do this, a you’re disappointed someone else wasn’t here to handle things instead.

He wishes he could make that claim and have anyone believe him, but they are in a shared meditation, and in this moment there are very, very few secrets. He does not make the effort to hide his reaction in time, and Obi-Wan catches it.

Anakin turns away as Obi-Wan’s face fills with surprise and horror. “Anakin--”

“Can we just pretend you didn’t feel that?” Anakin asks, and flinches when Ahsoka pops up from where she lies and scurries around to hug him like a vise. “Can we just pretend I’m not--”

“Dear one, there are very few people I would trust as much as you in this,” Obi-Wan says. “Those who match up are largely the people who helped me raise me when I was actually this age.”

“Being completely reliant on your padawan isn’t--”

“Anakin,” Obi-Wan says, cutting him off there. “I can trust you to care for me in ways that don’t just come down to making me a useful general again. I already trust you to risk your life and safety and freedom to see us survive, given what little I remember of that storm.”

“You handed yourself over to Mandalorians you knew nothing about so we’d be safe,” Ahsoka mutters into the fabric somewhere over his ribs. “That could have gone really badly, and you still did it because you were worried about us.”

“We trust you, Anakin,” Obi-Wan says, pulling Anakin to his chest and resting his chin on Anakin’s head. “We know you.”

“You don’t even know what happened in the storm,” Anakin mutters. “You were asleep.”

“I caught enough listening to the doctors,” Obi-Wan says. He runs a hand over Anakin’s head and through his hair. “You did well, Anakin.”

Anakin wonders why they don’t do this in real life. Obi-Wan doesn’t usually hug him, let alone cuddle. Maybe it’s because they’re all stuck in too much truth in this shared meditation, and the other two are currently stuck in child bodies that crave physical affection in ways they don’t realize they’re expressing in here as well. Maybe it’s the stress.

“What even can you hear?” Anakin mutters, still in Obi-Wan’s arms. Ahsoka giggles at him, nuzzling into his side in a way he doesn’t think she’d ever let herself, normally.

“We can’t really think in the real world right now,” she muses. “Only when we’re sleeping, and probably when we’re meditating once we’re bigger. If I try to think too hard, my head hurts worse than that time Ventress got me in the head with the back of her saber.”

“Everything takes up more space than it should,” Obi-Wan adds. “It’s... all of my senses are bigger and brighter and take up more of my attention, but they aren’t very clear, really. They’re just more. I can’t focus on anything, either, except... well, the feedings.”

Ahsoka makes an annoyed noise. “The whole diapers and bottles thing is really embarrassing, by the way. Only here, though, I barely notice when I’m awake because...”

“Because you’re a toddler,” Anakin says drily.

She huffs. “How would you feel if you were stuck like that?”

That’s fair.

“I don’t remember much,” Obi-Wan says carefully. “But part of me recognizes familiar things, even if I can’t quite make the connection.”

“Was that Fett, earlier?” Ahsoka asks. “Because I thought I saw a friend, and I pretty much forgot the face as soon as they left, but--”

“It’s Fett,” Anakin confirms. “But I guess that’s good to know? You saw his face and your baby brain just assumed it was one of the clones?”

“Pretty much.”

“And we know we trust you,” Obi-Wan adds, and tightens the hug when Anakin stiffens. “Anakin, I can barely understand the world around me at all right now. It’s like being on the painkillers that don’t knock you out but leave you saying only the most ridiculous things that come to mind. You have a general understanding of what’s going on, but all your emotions are too much and the room spins, you can’t stay on one track mentally, you can’t remember what you’ve done and what you haven’t--”

“You can’t control your bladder,” Ahsoka mutters, just a touch spitefully.

Obi-Wan grimaces and nods. “An unfortunate commonality in the experiences, yes. What I was aiming to address, however, is the fact that I only remember a very few things with any reliability. Most of my adult mind, so to speak, appears to be stored in a stasis form in the Force itself, because the infant mind can only handle the barest edges of who I am. But what that infant mind knows, and what I remember thinking once I have some sense of my full self in sleep, is that there is no one I react to as positively as you, Anakin.”

“What he’s trying to say,” Ahsoka interrupts, “but can’t because he’s trying to be a serene Jedi Councilor who definitely doesn’t break the code, nosiree, is that we don’t remember much about ourselves when we’re awake, but we remember you, and we know that we love you, Skyguy.”

Anakin stares at her, and then twists around to look at Obi-Wan instead.

“Master Kenobi,” Ahsoka croons. “Stop being emotionally constipated. We’re literal babies right not, which sucks, but we’re like 90% emotion. Tell Skyguy.”

“Yes, er, Ahsoka was not incorrect,” Obi-Wan says, stroking his beard and refusing to meet Anakin’s eyes. “I, that is to say, we...”

“Master Kenobi,” Ahsoka says, a touch sharper than she might have dared if not for the reversal of their ages.

“I do love you, Anakin, and it’s one of the only things my child mind knows consistently.”

The Force does, in fact, sing with the truth of this. It circles them like a delighted tornado of emotional reality, pulsing like a coat of positivity.

Anakin buries his face in Obi-Wan’s shoulder and hugs him as tightly as possible.

“Oh! Oh dear, I--Anakin, really, this isn’t news.”

“Master Kenobi, you’re allergic to actually talking about your emotions. Let him hug you.”

“Anakin, I’ve raised you since you were nine, it would be nearly impossible for me to not care, why are you--”

“Master Kenobi, stop questioning him!” Ahsoka whines. “It’s affirmation time.”

“Ahsoka, have you been spending time with the mind healers again?”

“I was a teenager in a warzone and also Barriss bullied me into it for my own good.” Ahsoka shrugs. “I learned some stuff. You two should have gone, too. You were more karked up than I was.”

“Ahsoka,” Obi-Wan scolds.

“What are you going to do, spit up on me? You can’t exactly make me run laps, Master.”

“Both of you shut up,” Anakin mumbles, and tries to push as much of his own affection as possible into a little ball of feelings that he can just drop on the two of them while he’s still in his own brain and not somewhere he can’t touch the Force. “Just--just shut.”

Apparently, Anakin’s feelings are a lot, because Ahsoka bursts into tears and Obi-Wan zones out so hard Anakin starts worrying about him.

They’re in a mindscape, a thing that he didn’t really think happened, but does. He shouldn’t have to worry about his--

“Oh, Anakin,” Obi-Wan says, pulling him in tighter. “Why did you...”

“Skyguy, I don’t think you planned on putting in the part where you worry about nobody loving you back as much as you loved them,” Ahsoka says, raw and uneven. “Because, uh, we got that? Skyguy, that’s really wrong!”

Oh shit.

“No, you were... you were not supposed to get that,” he says, just a little strangled. “I am so sorry, that wasn’t--”

“Be our dad.”

Anakin stares down at his Padawan. She stares determinedly back.

“What?”

“Fett asked if we were yours, and you edged around the question by saying we were family, but he was asking if you were our dad. I’m guessing you didn’t want to claim that when we couldn’t agree to it, so I’m telling you now: do it. Adopt us the Mandalorian way or whatever. You were already my older brother, basically, this is just a step sideways in how we talk about it.”

He stares at her a bit more. He doesn’t have words, and his emotions are such a cyclone of conflicting thoughts that he’s surprised the Force hasn’t tossed him out.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be born, but if I am, then I need a name so I don’t have the same one as future me,” she says. She takes his hands, holds them tight and leans in close. “You’re going to be raising us anyway. The Force already made it clear there’s no fixing this, we tried asking while you were unconscious, it wants us to grow up the long way. You’re going to be our dad. Just make it official. Make me a Skywalker.”

Anakin sits up straight, looks her up and down, the determination and affection and--

He turns to look at Obi-Wan. “Master?”

“...yes, Anakin?”

“I know she said ‘we’ and ‘us,’ but I’m not letting anyone speak for anyone else. Not for something this important.”

Obi-Wan blinks at him, and then rearranges himself to something a tad more formal. He takes one of Anakin’s hands in his own. “Anakin, we’ve been family since you were nine. This is just redefining the terms. We can adjust as we go forward, but for all intents and purposes, the majority of the time, I will be that youngling in the cot. For all intents and purposes, I will be your child, and... and I would be honored for you to make that official.”

“Even if it breaks the Code?” Anakin presses.

“All is as the Force wills it,” Obi-Wan says, almost but not quite overriding Ahsoka’s, “This doesn’t break the Code.”

They both turn to look at her. She shrugs. “What? You guys are always arguing about it and Skyguy was married. I went and did some digging about what is and isn’t allowed. This adoption would be skirting the edges of some rules, since we should be taken to the creche to be raised in a communal manner, and official adoptions are discouraged for reasons relating to later padawan stuff, but since the Force is also insisting we stay with the Mandalorians, I think it qualifies as an exception and will be treated as such, retroactively, by the Council. You also won’t be able to take either of us as Padawan once that time comes. It does not, however, violate the Code in and of itself.”

“What the hell, Snips?”

“I’m impressed, young one,” Obi-Wan says, with a smile Anakin can feel. “I could have expected to see you in court in a few years, with an argument like that.”

“You knew I was married?” Anakin squeaks.

“Rex isn’t a very good liar,” she says. She then droops. “Or, he wasn’t. Wouldn’t be. He tried, at least, but I caught on. That was against the Code, though. Just so you know.”

Anakin runs a hand over his face, tries very hard not to think about what and whom he’s left behind. He can save that breakdown for later.

He chances a look at Obi-Wan.

He gets a raised eyebrow in response.

“You’re not mad?”

“I knew you and the Senator were close, considering all the kissing you did in the Arena,” Obi-Wan says drily. Anakin isn’t stupid enough to ask how he knows it’s Padme. “I didn’t know you were married, and am a little disappointed you didn’t at least tell me, or consult me before you did it, considering you were still a padawan... but no, I’m not mad. Even if I were--and I am not--we’ve time-traveled, so I’m fairly certain that qualifies as annulment. It’s a non-issue.”

Anakin pushes down the tidal wave of grief for people who haven’t been born yet, and just breathes instead. This is important. This is too important for him to just kriff it up.

“Names,” he says.

“I still want part of it to be ‘Soka,’ if you don’t think it’s too risky.”

Obi-Wan shrugs with a smile. “Almost every time I’ve posed as a Mandalorian, since my first mission with Satine, I’ve gone by Ben. It would be fitting that, now that we’re here and apparently staying, I take the name for real.”

Anakin nods. He closes his eyes, and breathes deep, and thinks that they may be among Mandalorians on a world of snow, but he has the desert in his bones and will never forget it.

“Ahsoka Tano, sister of my heart,” he says, hoping he’s getting the words right, and takes her hands in his. It’ll have more meaning here and now, where they’re both of full mind. He holds her gaze. “You ask to join my family, to be of those who walk the sky. You shed your old name as you shed the chains of your past. You become my daughter, not of blood, but of love, loyalty, and survival. My wells are your wells, and all I own and earn is to set the path of your freedom. I name you Sokanth Skywalker, she who slips through every hunter’s trap, and you are my child.”

She smiles brightly at him, and looks like she might cry. He presses his lips to her forehead. He turns to his Master. He hesitates, because it’s one thing to redefine his little sister, but...

“Obi-Wan Kenobi, father of my heart,” he says, his voice catching where it shouldn’t. He can do this. It’s weird but he can do this. “You ask to join my family, to be of those who walk the sky. You shed your old name as you shed the chains of your past. You become my son, not of blood, but of love, loyalty, and survival. My wells are your wells, and all I own and earn is to set the path of your freedom. I name you Ylliben Skywalker, he who hunts the monsters of the darkest nights, and you are my child.”

The man before him almost laughs, well aware of how absurd it is for Anakin to be the one adopting him, but keeps it limited to just a twinkle in his eye and a quirk to his lips. Anakin presses his lips to his teacher’s forehead.

He pulls both of them in close. Padawan and Master. Ahsoka and Obi-Wan.

Daughter and son. Soka and Ben. His.

“I’m still gonna call you Skyguy,” Soka says wetly. “But Mas--um, Ben. Ben can call you buir, all the Mandos are gonna love it.”

“Fine by me,” Anakin says. “I’m going to be telling you Tatooine bedtime stories, by the way. You’ll remember creche stories as you grow, but these’ll be new.”

“I do believe that would be appropriate,” Ben says, laughing just a touch. “I also think we should perhaps disband this, unless you have something else to address. You’re going to be dealing with two very cranky younglings soon.”

“Wait, what?”

“Yeah, we’re gonna have headaches after this,” Soka laughs, rubbing her face against his shoulder. “But it’s okay, we got what we ne--”

“No, shut up, what you do mean, headaches? You said that was only when you were awake!”

“I mean, we’d be sobbing after like three minutes if we were awake,” Soka says cheerfully. “This way, it’s been like... an hour or whatever between all the talking and the hugging and the crying and the feelings, and we’re just gonna be grumpy.”

“Oh my--wake up!” Anakin growls at both of them. “I’m responsible for you now, wake up.”

He ignores Soka’s laughter and drags himself back to wakefulness. Behind him, he feels slight confusion and pain mixed with love and delight. Ben starts fussing.

Anakin drags a hand over his face and groans. He gets to his feet, nods to the nurse droid, and steps over to the cribs.

“Can we put them in the same one until I get my arm back?” he asks. The droid obliges, moving Ben to Soka’s crib. She immediately crawls over to him and envelops him in a hug. She pouts up at Anakin, eyes going watery, and he drops into the chair next to her and offers his hand through the bars. She grabs it.

“You’re going to be trouble for a long, long time, huh?”

She sticks her tongue out at him, and he smiles at her. Yes, trouble in spades, his Snips.

He starts telling her one of the fables of Tatooine, the really sanitized ones meant for children her age, before they got to the slave stories and haunt-tales. She falls asleep for real, no Force Shenanigans, shortly after. Ben is dead to the world by that point, making small snuffling noises whenever the blanket tickles his nose.

Anakin knows he’s got the galaxy’s dopiest smile on his face. It’s fine.

It’s a few more hours before someone stops by. He’s used the fresher by that point, helped the nurse droid coax Ben through a feeding, and helped Soka play with the little stuffed eopie they’ve given her.

“They got names, aruetti?”

He looks up and over. “Yes.”

The middle-aged man ambles over, arms crossed. “Jango said you claimed to be all they had left.”

He is. “They’re family. I’ve had a few hours to think it over, now that I’m not getting shot at or dying in the snow. To any system that allows it, I’ll be their father.”

“No chance of returning them to their people?”

Anakin shakes his head. “Soka has none who would recognize her, and I already--I already babysat her regularly, and she thought of me as a brother. It’s an easy next step.”

“And the human?”

“I... the master-padawan relationship is often one that is compared to that of parent and child,” Anakin says carefully. “My own master was like a father to me, and Ben is... Ben is all I have left of him.”

There. Not quite the truth, but... technically not lying.

Ben makes a small noise in his sleep, fussing, and Anakin reaches through the bars to brush his thumb across the infant’s chubby cheek. He smiles helplessly as Ben whines and curls in tighter on himself, pressing a tiny fist to his mouth.

“You’re good,” Anakin whispers. “We’re fine, Ylliben.”

“I don’t know what you’re hiding,” the Mando says. “But I do believe you’re doing what you can for those kids.”

“That’s all that matters,” Anakin agrees, finally looking away from his... his son.

Mine, the greedy krayt in his chest whispers.

“When are you planning on going back to Coruscanta?”

“I’m not,” Anakin says, standing and looking the man head-on. Anakin’s taller than him. That’s usually useful. “I don’t know why, but the Force wants me to stay here, or at least with the Mandalorians.”

“You want me to believe that you support my cause?”

“I don’t know your cause,” Anakin admits. “But I don’t like Death Watch, and I know you don’t either. Nobody on Coruscant is going to know to miss me, and the Force is warning me away from trying to go back. Whatever it is that needs doing, I’m supposed to be doing it here.”

The man steps forward. “Anyone tell you who I am?”

“No.”

“I’m Jaster Mereel.”

Good for you, Anakin thinks, and doesn’t say. “I’m pretty sure you already know my name.”

“I do,” Mereel says. “Wanna tell me how a Knight with a seemingly valid ident card claims nobody will know to miss him?”

“No.”

Mereel doesn’t even blink. “Try that again.”

“It means exactly what I said,” Anakin says. “The ident card is real. My training and rank are earned and deserved and bestowed by protocol. All of it was done at the Temple in Coruscant, but if you phone up the Temple with my name and face, nobody will know who I am.”

“And you’re not going to tell me why,” Mereel grouses. “What’s stopping me from calling them up anyway and asking them to come fetch your hypothermic ass?”

“...the fact that I already offered to help you?” Anakin manages. “I... I did say that part, right? That I’d help?”

“What’s stopping you from wanting to go back? And don’t give me any of that ‘will of the force’ banthashit.”

“I broke the Code,” Anakain says. The words sit heavy in his mouth, but one of his violations is lesser than the other, and-- “I married, and we’re not supposed to do that. She’s... not around anymore, but it still stands that I did it.”

The Tuskens weigh on his mind, suddenly and intensely. He hasn’t thought about them in ages, has always pushed those memories down, down, down, but--

“And they won’t take you back?”

“They might,” Anakin admits. They probably would, with his full title and everything, especially if he told them about the future. “But they wouldn’t let me keep the kids.”

Understanding flickers. “Not allowed kids?”

“It’s not... technically against the code,” he hedges. “But they’d find out about my marriage while investigating my past--” maybe, he’s not sure what kind of investigation they’d justify for a complete stranger of a knight, especially to confirm the future, but if they had a psychometric so much as touch his saber or arm, once he gets those back, there’d be a risk, “--and after already breaking the code by marrying, they’d be far less willing to bend the rules about the babies.”

He doesn’t realize how likely the risk is until after he says it, because he’s just been focusing on staying alive and following the Force, but.. they’d want the kids in the creche. He’s broken the code enough that any investigation they set to prove he’s legitimately a Jedi Knight that isn’t recorded and isn’t in the system is going to uncover something through the Force. They might not let him keep his family.

“What are their names?”

“I already--”

“Jango kept his last name,” Mereel cuts him off. “Did yours?”

Anakin looks the man in the eye, and then attempts to cross his arms in response, to mirror the pose and hold his ground. Unfortunately, he’s forgotten that he’s only got the one arm, which is really kriffing irritating.

“I gave them my name,” he says. “They’ll know where they came from, but they are mine.”

Yeah, no shit they’ll know where they came from.

Mereel’s face twitches, but the man is unreadable in the Force. Still, there’s something in the air... “So, those names?”

“Sokanth and Ylliben Skywalker,” Anakin tells him. He spells it out when the droid asks. He assumes it’s just for the medical data their droids are collecting.

“How well can you fight without your laser sword?”

“You mean unarmed?” Anakin asks, and then smiles brightly and tauntingly and waves his empty sleeve around. Mereel does not appreciate the humor. “Pretty well, but I do better when I have the Force, and am not still recovering from hypothermia. And I’m a fair shot with a blaster, but no specialist.”

Mereel eyes him for a moment, and then nods. “One of my snipers is Force-Sensitive. Never was enough to get more than some basic training in mental shields and the control to not hurt herself, but when we mentioned bringing in a Jetii, someone asked her what she thought. Came by the room while you were unconscious and said she thought you felt sad, angry, and desperate... but that she had a good feeling about where you’d be going.”

“Sad, angry, and desperate?” Anakin repeats, a little offended.

“You act like a veteran, kid,” Mereel says. He shrugs. “Damn near everyone that goes through some kind of war has all that going on. S’normal. You got Kamira’s approval, though, and that means a damn sight more. Keep your secrets for now. We’ll get there eventually.”

No we won’t, Anakin thinks. Out loud, he asks, “So, how much of what kind of work would I have to do to borrow a ship to Tatooine and earn enough to free a slave girl?”

#disaster lineage #anakin skywalker #obi wan kenobi #ahsoka tano #jango fett #jaster mereel #time travel #mandalore #tatooine #de aging #babies #phoenix files #Anakin and the Jedi Babies

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hitchell-mope · 3 years ago

Text

(Third film. After “rescue me”. The clocks in the school and palace all chime midnight. Id!Ben doubles over in pain then stands up straight in the traditional nuwho regeneration pose as several waves of purple, black and green magic violently emanate from him. When the chimes stop he looks like he’s just run a marathon without training)

Ben: she’s in trouble. (He teleports back to Mal’s subconscious). What’re you doing here? You’re supposed to be back on the island. She defeated you. What the hell are you doing here?!?!

(There’s a smash cut back to the cottage. Real!Ben is set free from stone first. He roar/yawns and stretches)

Ben: Mal? (He doesn’t see her). MAL? MAAAAL?!?! Oh god. Oh GOD!!!! Where is she?!?! (He rounds on the Uma statue) WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!?!

(There’s a crackling sound to his left and he manages to catch Carlos before the younger boy falls on his face)

Ben: you okay?

Carlos: yeah. What happened?

Ben: we got turned to stone. And Mal’s missing.

Carlos: ah fuck. Ooooh. I like your horns.

Ben: thanks. I like yours too. And those are some adorable little bat wings you have now

(Carlos reaches behind him, feels his new wings, then laughs)

Carlos: whatever Maleficent did must’ve accelerated whatever it was that unlocked my demon magic. Gimme a sec. (He retracts the horns and wings then conjures up a handheld mirror and sighs happily). There I am.

Jay: eh. Demon Carlos is just a little bit cuter. But I guess you’ll do like this

Carlos (overjoyed): JAY!!!!

(He runs up and hugs Jay. Completely ignoring Evie who falls on her face the moment the stone falls away)

Evie: owwww.

(She gets back up and walks off in the direction of her house. Ben follows her)

Jay: where are guys going?

Evie: to find Dizzy.

Ben: to find Mal.

Evie (getting out her phone): Ah dammit. There’s no signal.

Ben: I don’t care. We continue on foot.

Carlos: Uh dad? Somethings come up.

Ben: Hm? (He sees that the Pirates have also gotten set free from the stone). Eh.

(He continues walking away)

Jay: oohoo boy. Now she’s done it.

Carlos: ooooh yes. Yes she has

Uma: d-done what?

Jaylos: let down the only guy in Auradon who’s ever believed in you.

Carlos: tell us?

Jay: how does it feel?

Uma: Ben! (She jogs after him). Ben! Ben Ben Ben Ben! Ben! Look. I know I screwed up. But in my defence. How was I to know she wouldn’t do your dad said she did?

Ben: go away Uma. I don’t have the time for this.

Uma: “go away”? That’s it? “GO AWAY”? What kind of call out is that? Hit me. Yell at me. Do something!

Ben: you’re not worth it.

(Uma looks like she’s being shot point blank in the chest)

Uma: what?

Ben: you heard me. I’m not going to repeat myself.

(He continues walking away from her)

Jay (appearing next to Uma): WOW!!!! You’ve really stepped in the horseshit now.

Uma: why won’t he do anything to me?

Jay: because he doesn’t care about you anymore. You don’t mean anything to him anymore. You. Are. Nothing. Have you go that? Good. Hey Ben! Wait up

(The Hybrid and Genie walk past Evie who’s smirking at Uma)

Uma: what?

Evie: he offered you a job. An incredibly high profile and lucrative job. A job that would give you say in any and all meetings to do with the isle. But you just HAD to believe his father over us. All because you’re still in thrall to a one sided feud you’ve concocted in your head for ten years. You threw everything away because you couldn’t swallow you’re pride and fall into line. Was it worth it cousin? Was it worth it, throwing away everything you could’ve achieved just because you can’t—or don’t want to—admit that Mal isn’t out to destroy your life? Trying chewing on that when you’re alone with no one but those assholes for company.

(She walks away to join the boys. Almost immediately after. Hades bursts out of the cottage and makes a violent beeline for Uma. He corners her against a tree)

Hades: you should’ve believed her

Uma: what’re you gonna do then? Kill me?

Hades: no. This is much more fitting than any other punishment I could’ve devised. Living with your own failure. It’ll eat away at you. Until there’s nothing left but despair and your own self hatred. Now I’m going to help find my daughter. You stay here and think about what you’ve done. Have fun with the consequences of your own actions my dear.

(He teleports away in his trademark electric blue fire. Carlos walks up to Uma, chuckling viciously)

Uma: are you gonna threaten me too?

Carlos: ehhhh....half threat. Half warning. You see. They’re good people. Mom and dad. Mal and Ben. They’re good people. And so am I. And I hated doing it to animals when Cruella ordered me to. BUT. If they hate you enough after this and they give me the go ahead. I will skin you alive. And the best part. With demon magic. I bet I can keep you awake throughout the whole process. So there’s you’re warning. And there’s your threat. And—

Elsa: Carlos come on. You know that will never happen.

Carlos: I know Gran. It’s just wishful thinking.

(He teleports to the others in a burst of white smoke)

Uma: you can talk some sense into them. I know you can

Elsa: no, Uma, I won’t be doing that

Uma: what? Why not?

Elsa: because you hurt my daughter intentionally in a way that’s exponentially worse than anything she’s done to you by accident. It wasn’t an eye for an eye. It was a hanging for a paper cut. And I don’t blame Ben for cutting you loose. Frankly it’s a far kinder fate than you deserve. Now you can stay there and think about what you’ve done. And I’m going to look for my daughter

(With that she teleports away in a flurry of snow. The Hook’s catch up to Uma)

Harry: ah don’t worry. We don’t need em

Uma: no. We really do.

(She teleports away in the usual turquoise smoke)

Cj: she’s weak. And a fool.

(Harry whips around and punched her in the throat)

Harriet: what the hell was that for?

Harry: I dunno. Just felt like it. Want the same?

Harriet: not really no

Harry: then drag her along behind ya and c’mon

(At the parapet Ben’s desperately trying to locate Mal in the reflecting pool)

Ben: why can’t I find her?

Jay: I don’t know! I don’t know!

Elsa: guys. Look up

Hadie (barely audible due to how high up he is): WE USED LIQUID IRON TO EXORCISE CHAD FROM MALEFICENT!!!!

Hades (confused): WHAT!?!

Persey: oh for pity’s sake

(They grab Hadie and chad then teleport to the ground)

Hadie: we used liquid iron to exorcise Chad from Maleficent.

Persey: and she flew through Mal.

Hadie: which caused her to fall

Persey: right into the reflecting pool.

Everyone else: ohhhh

Ben: so how do we get he out?

Persey: you dive into the pool and—off he goes

(Ben’s shucked off his coat and shoes and dived into the water)

Persey: he does this a lot doesn’t he?

Carlos: yeah. Water is kind of their thick and thin. Oh and by the way. What is actually the bad part of thick and thin?

Persey: no idea. Oh! Here we go!

(Ben teleports out of the water, soaking wet and holding Mal in a bridal carry. He sets her down on the ground and starts giving her the Heimlich. Which very quickly revoked into TLK)

Ben: it’s not working. Why isn’t it working

Persey: you know what? I bet it’s something Uma did. Or Calista. Or Harriet. Or Harry. Eh. Best to chain the prick and his sisters up now so my cousin can sing like a canary.

(With that they click their fingers and the Hook’s are bound in metal chains from neck to ankle and all three promptly fall sideways onto the ground)

Uma: LET THEM GO!!!!

Persey: not until you tell us what you did Captain!

(The twin I tie like this as Ben is pulled pulled away by an unseen force. It pulls him to a nearby tree and materialises to reveal Id!Ben’s face)

Id: she didn’t fly through her. She flew into her

Ben: what?

Id: Maleficent. She didn’t fly through malb she flew into her. Into her brain.

Ben: what do we do?

Id: kiss her again. I’ll take it from there.

(Ben goes back to the small crowd, kneels beside Mal, kisses her and immediately falls unconscious with his head pressed against hers)

Carlos: WHAT DID YOU DO?!?!

Uma: DON’T LOOK AT ME!!! I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!!!

Jay: AND THAT’S THE PROBLEM!!!!

Persey: EVERYONE SHUT UP!!!! Hadie. Ember. Now. Thank you. (They use the ember to scan the royal couple). Okay then. Good news is. They’re not dead. Bad news is. I have no idea how to wake them up. I have a feeling that’s something they need to do themselves.

Jay: with a little help of course

Perry: what are you saying?

Jay: Uma. You want to fix this right?

Uma: well obviously.

Jay: good. Gimme your hand

(He doesn’t wait for an answer. He just grabs her wrist, drags her to Ben and puts her hand on Ben’s shoulder which immediately knocks her out)

Carlos: hey. Where’d Evie go?

(At the starter palace. Evie’s walking up to the front door. Nothing looks wrong. But she can sense something off)

Dizzy: hurry hurry hurry. She could be back at any mo——mom! Hey. We didn’t think you’d be back soon.

Evie: evidently so. Since if I was back later you could’ve covered up that crack in the kitchen usjand properly

Dizzy: heheh. Whoops?

Evie: it’s alright. It can be fixed. What about you two?

Dizzy: we’re fine.

Celia: we did get a scare a little while ago. Sykes started a fight, which is why the island is cracked, then Maleficent showed up and whisked him away.

Evie: ah

Celia: you know. In hindsight. We really should’ve known he couldn’t be trusted.

Dizzy: way too smarmy

Evie: mhmm. Wait. Hahahaha. My phone’s buzzing. Hello? DOUG! Oh thank god. Video chat? Why? Ahhh. (Aside to Dizzy) they’re using the video phone at the museum. (Back to the phone). What? Okay.

(She activated the video call feature and puts the phone on the floor)

Evie: it’s ready!

(The phone screen starts glowing. It glows brighter and Brother until Doug, Lonnie, Gil and Jane are standing in front of the girls with the cauldron and misshapen objects covered in wrapping paper. Evie immediately runs up and glomps Doug who spins her around and holds her tightly)

Doug: come with me

(He leads her outside to the gazebo and Jane closes the blinds after them)

Dizzy: what was that about?

Gil: we have a body count.

Celia (grinning like the Cheshire Cat): really

Gil: please don’t do that. It was awful. Grimhilde. Tremaine. Shan Yu. Gaston. They ambushed us at the museum. They left us no choice. We had to kill them

Dizzy: you killed Lenore?

Jane: I did. I uh I aged her to dust

Gil: I snapped Gaston’s neck

Lonnie: I threw Shan Yu off a platform

Dizzy: and Grimhilde?

Jane: Doug cut her in half with Excalibur

Dizzy: poor dad

Celia: wait this means Dizzy’s the princess of Camelot. Right?

Jane: technically yes. It depends on whether Doug wants to keep the sword or not.

Dizzy: I need to go to him. It must’ve been awful

Gil (blocking her path): I uh. I think your folks want some alone time

Dizzy: my dad needs me. And you can’t stop me Gilbert

Gil: full name is a bit of a low blow but I’ll allow it. In all seriousness. You don’t want to go out there right now

Lonnie (looking through the blinds. A slightly horrified and impressed expression on her face): Gil’s right. None of us want to go out there right now

Jane: tell you what. Why don’t I make us some breakfast. Bacon omelettes all round?

Gil (covering Dizzy’s eyes and carrying her to the living room): YES! And we can eat them on the couch!

Jane: yaaaay!!!!

Celia: zoo’s?

Lonnie: what?

Celia: I’m not an idiot. I’m from the island and I’m thirteen. It’s a zoo out there isn’t it?

Lonnie: they’re just happy to see each other again.

Celia: if you say to

(At half past one in the morning. Evie and Doug finally come back inside. Wearing each other’s shirts)

Lonnie: swap the shirts

Evie: dammit. Again?

Lonnie: yup.

(Evie switches the shirts around)

Doug: well?

Lonnie: better. Needs ironing. But better.

Evie: good. Where’s everyone else?

Lonnie: living room.

(In the living room)

Celia: so what happened when you left?

Evie: it is a really long story.

Gil: we’ve got time

(Back in Mal’s subconscious. Uma’s still falling. She eventually lands, painfully, on the top of chessboard. Right when Id is filling Ben in on what’s happening with Mal)

Id: what in the names of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dickens and Grimm is she doing here?

Uma (getting up and dusting herself off): Jay. He practically threw me in here.

Id: Ahhh. Forcible penance. Anyway. As I was saying. Mal is up there. But she’s sort of. Trapped.

Ben: how so?

Id: by her worst impulses.

Ben: like last year?

Id: yes. Okay not this time. I’m not enough. She’s needs you.

Uma: what do you expect us to do?

Id: oh cousin. I expect you to do nothing. You’re not even supposed to be here. You’re intruding upon where you don’t belong. But Jay wants you here. And I used to look like him. So, sadly, you’re staying.

Ben: where’s Mal.

Id: up there. But I don’t know what door. You’ll have to look. And please. For Mal’s sake. Don’t let her throw you off from what’s most important.

Uma: I’d never turn his attention from the island

(Id flies over to her and gets right in her face)

Id: this is not about the island. This is about Mal. It’s always been about Mal. You and your wants don’t qualify for attention. Understand?

(Uma nods, absolutely terrified)

Ben: what door do we start with?

Id: first on your left. Then first on your right. Continue like that until you find. Unless of course mr and the others manage to find her.

Ben: right. Wait. We’re you really with her last year? Throughout everything?

Id: yes oof!

(Ben’s pulled him into a tight hug in gratitude)

Ben: thank you. Thank you for being there when I couldn’t be. Thank you for being there for here.

Id (returning the hug): that’s what I’m here for Benny. And besides. When you have magic, your never actually alone.

Uma: really?

Id: shut up.

Ben: really? What do you mean?

Id: magic kind of anthropomorphises your psyche. That’s why you see Mal just before you go in for a high pressure meeting. It also helps when you’re alone in, other, situations.

Ben: other?

Id: why do you think I’m wearing your tempest costume

Ben (chuckling slightly): because after the play Mal and I snuck off and had a bit of a “tipple” in the—OH! Oh. Ooooh. Interesting.

Id: innit just?

Ben: yuh-huh

(They keep looking at each other. Slowly weirding Uma out)

Uma: you want me to start searching so you can be alone or....?

Id: huh? OH YEAH! No! No. I don’t trust you. Where Ben goes you go. Capisce?

Uma: what?

Id: oh yeah. You’re danish not Italian. Hold on....Forstå?

Uma: Ja.

Id: good. Right. Now. Ben. Up the stairs. First door on your left. Okay?

Ben: mhmm.

Id: oh uh. I should point out. The others aren’t like me. Ego’s a bit okay but Superego’s an obstinate prick. That’s what morals get ya. I’m pure instinct. In every sense of the word. (He winks at Ben who smiles in return). And they aren’t dressed like me. But they mean you no harm. So just keep an eye out and you’ll be fine. Kay Kay?

Ben: yes yes.

Id: heheh. Oh you are so very, very, cute. Shame we can’t get to know each other better

Uma: oh I think you know each other very well.

Id: they mean Ben no harm. You, however, are under no such protection. So watch where you tread.

(With that he disappears leaving the king and the Captain alone on the chessboard)

Uma: well he was creepy.

Ben: god he was hot.

Uma: are you seriously attracted to your fiancés psyche right now?

Ben: are you seriously attracted to Harry. Period?

Uma: touché.

Ben: yah-huh. Come on. Mal doesn’t have all day.

(They go through every door they find. They don’t see Mal antes here. Until they get to one with streamers on it)

Uma: what the hell is this?

Ben: April 1st.

Uma: what?

Ben (smiling happily): Mal’s eighteenth birthday

(Without thinking he enters the door. On the other side he finds himself in a garden party with Lonnie, dressed like a 1920’s flapper girl, up on the stage addressing the audience)

Lonnie: as the appointed emcee. Now that the adults have gone to their 6pm bedtimes I have just this to say. Happy birthday Mal!

(This is when “monster mash” starts. After the song. Ben’s smiling tearfully at the memory before him)

Uma: you look happy

Ben: we are. It was her second birthday in Auradon. Two months ago. Luckily, unlike her seventeenth, I had the day off. And I asked her to move in with me that night WOAH!!!!

Uma: what’d you say AAH!!!!

(They’re both pulled back through the door and are confronted with a very teed off Ben in an Auradonian suit)

Superego: what in the Lord’s name are you doing here?

Ben: uhhhh. Hah. Ummmm

Superego: you are supposed to be looking for Mal. Cherished memories have no place in the mission.

Id (appearing next to him): well now, if you had your way, Mal would’ve ran herself into the ground trying please little miss eight over there

Superego: it is the right thing to do. And you know damn well why. After all. You are the reason she needs to make amends.

Uma: what?

Id: and you should know that appeasing that rum soaked faux altruist is a pipe dream of the highest magnitude

Uma: WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!!!!

Id: don’t you get it cousin? I’m the one who had her dump you in shrimp a decade ago. I’m the one who killed those fucking journalists. I’m the one who gave Ben magic to save his life. I’m the one who tore Gil’s heart out in the restaurant. I’m the one who kept her alive in her downward spiral. I’m the one who freed you all from being statues. I’m the one who keeps Superego at bay so she doesn’t drop dead from exhaustion in the service of others. I’m the base instinct she needs to enjoy life.

Superego: it cannot always be about her.

Id: well it can’t always be about everyone else either.

Superego: to live morally

Id: is to be a fool.

Superego: better a fool than a hedonistic thrill junkie

Id: better a hedonistic thrill junkie than a

Ego: okay boys. That’s enough. Back to your corners. I’m sorry. As you can see they both have rather set ideas on how Mal should live her life.

Uma: I after with morals man.

Ego: oh I knew you would. That’s why Id and I don’t like you.

Uma: ah.

Ben: so Id wants Mal to be happy all the time, Superego thinks she needs to be Mother Theresa on steroids and you are....?

Ego: the reason she decided to seek therapy. I’m the one who strives for realism. A happy medium if you will.

Ben: right.

Ego: keep going. Oh and. A little heads up. There is a high chance Mal will be changed when you wake her up. Wether she’ll be broken beyond repair or more confident than you’ve seen her I cannot say. But you all better hope to her father that it’s the latter

(With that he disappears and the two rescuers continue their trek. Until, that is, Superego once again crosses their path)

Superego: they’re not gonna like this

Ben: not like what?

Superego: what I’m about to do

Uma: so don’t do it then.

Superego: I have to. It is the quickest route to reach the moral conclusion

Ben: that doesn’t even make any sense!

Superego: I’m sorry my love

(You pokes Ben in the forehead and sends him flying into a darkened void. When he lands he’s in the middle of the island. Superego’s standing there. Waiting for him)

Ben: why did you send me here?

Superego: you need a clue.

Ben: a clue? For what?

Superego: just listen.

(This is when “heavy is the crown”happens. After the song. Superego pokes Ben’s forehead one last time and they’re back in Mal’s subconscious)

Ben: that wasn’t very nice

Superego: I’m not here to be nice. I’m here to do my job. Now you’ve got the clue. So I’ll be off. Mal’s fate is in your hands

Uma: well that’s not fear inducing at all

Ben: shaddup and let me think. Maleficent was in the vision he sent me. Maleficent was in the vision he sent me. DARGH!!!! Why can’t I solve this?!?! I wasn’t allowed to be detective on the murder mystery weekend cause I knew how everyone would choose to kill Chad! So why can’t I solve this?

Uma: because you’re too close

Ben: heh?

Uma: you love her. You share magic with her. You could see her subconscious outside her body. You’re engaged to her. Of course you ain’t thinking. So I’m the only one who can think logically. That must be why Jay sent me after you

Ben: no it was because he hates you.

Uma: thanks

Ben: welcome

Uma: okay then. Let me think. Lemme think. Lemme think. Lemme think. Who was in the vision he gave you?

Ben: Mal, Jay, Carlos, Evie, Gil and you.

Uma: me? Really? Oh. Hahah....

Ben: don’t get a big head alright? I put you last for a reason.

Uma: right. Okay. Anybody else but me and the other five?

Ben: Superego was the ringleader. Uhhhh. Oh! I fought Maleficent towards the end just before he woke me up.

Uma: omigodthat’sit! HAHAH!!!!

Ben: what’s it?

Uma: think about it your majesty

(This is when “bring me to life” happens. After the song. Maleficent disappears and Ben’s attention is once more on Mal)

Ben: are you alright?

Mal: I. I think so. What is she doing here?

Ben: Jay thought she had to perform penance

Mal: just keep her away from me.

Uma: but—

Id: put a salt crystal in it you walking nematode. We’ve got bigger fish to fry. Now. You need to get out of here. Fast.

Ben: right. Any ideas?

Id: no. Or I wouldn’t be asking you now would I?

Ben: that’s fair. Ooooh....(imitating Gru). Light bulb....

Mal: yeah?

Ben: the mirror

Uma: what?

Id: I mean, theoretically, it could work. But Mal would have to go first

Mal: WHAT?!?!

Id: you’d have to go the same way you arrived. You. Then Ben. Then Uma. And if course. This means I’d throw Uma after you. Which I’m more than happy to do.

Uma: what?!?!

Id (smirking happily): you heard me

Uma: gah I hate you

Id: I know. I just don’t care

Ben: are you alright?

Mal: no. I um. I don’t think I can do this.

Ben: okay.... hmmmm. You two. Over here

(Id and Uma follow him to a far corner)

Uma: what’s the plan?

Ben (cheerily): I have absolutely no idea.

Uma: what?

Ben: I literally do not know how to convince Mal to go through the mirror

Uma: so what? We’re all just gonna stay here forever? Am I gonna be forced to watch you and the hippie here make ages at each other for all eternity?

Id: as tempting as that is. I have an idea

Ben: mhmm?

Id: we’re in a musicale aren’t we?

Ben: yeah?

Id: so we sing. Trust me hon. I’m the narrator. Now listen

(This is when “through the looking glass” happens. After the song. On the isle. Maleficent has just, literally, dropped into the restaurant. She looks aged and grey. And supremely pissed off)

Ursula: so. How’d ya do?

(Maleficent looks unimpressed)

Ursula: no no wait. Don’t tell me. Don’t tell me. You won and Mal is dead? No. Okay. My mistake. The kings love for your daughter vanquished you and now you’re gonna turn tail and run?

Maleficent: I am not going to run. Anywhere.

Ursula: I shoulda known you wouldn’t take the hint.

Maleficent: what hint?

Ursula: that you need to rest. Remember the last time? Sixteen years of insomnia purely because you wanted to make sure a newborn would die.

Maleficent: find the princess. I do not care if you have to tear the island apart. Just find the girl.

Ursula: oh I will. I’ve got our best numbskulls working on it as we speak. But first. You need to rest

Maleficent: I can rest when Auradon is MINE TO COMMAND!!!?

Ursula: oh for pity’s sake

(This is when “complicated” happens. After the song. Maleficent looks like she’s about to lean in for a kiss. But instead she throws Ursula at the nearest wall)

Maleficent: find the girl. Bring her to me. Because if you fail. Rest assured my dearest Ursula. You will be the one I wear next. And this time? Necromancy will be involved. Do you understand?

Ursula: yes’m.

Maleficent: then go and find her. Use your sister if you just. But find the girl. NOW!!!!

(Ursula scurries into the back room. Back in Auradon. Mal, Ben and Uma are awake. And Mal’s reading Uma the riot act).

Mal: I’m not going to compromise my own personal mental health just to appease you any more.

Uma: but——

Mal: QUIET! I’m talking. I’ve spent most of today trying to make things up to you. Last year I tried to sacrifice myself on the off chance you’d let Ben live. But every time that I try to make things a mite bit better between us. You pile on the guilt that I’ve felt for ten. fucking. years Uma. I try to help. You accuse me of trying to take centre stage. I take a step back. You accuse me of avoiding responsibility. Nothing I can ever do will ever absolve me in your eyes. And I’m alright with that. You’re not on my radar outside of being my second cousin. And I’m done feeling guilty for something I did in a fit of rage when I was eight. I’m done. Have a nice life with your petty vengeance schemes. I wash my hands of you

(She stalks off. Swiftly followed by the rest of her group. That’s when Doug’s faction turns up)

Celia: ohoho. You’ve really fucked up now.

Uma: you think I don’t know that?

(She teleports away)

Gil: hey Janey. Follow me. I have an idea

(Somewhere deep in the forest. Uma’s pacing back and forth, trying to figure out what to do. Eventually she screams in frustration and flips a tree out of its roots)

Ego!Harry: there is a way to fix this you know.

Uma: I know I know. It’s just. I, I, I, I feel trapped.

EH: then find way way to escape the trap. Like you did with your mother.

(He disappears leaving Uma alone staring in the direction of the island. This is when “it’s not too late” happens. After the song. She gets pulled out of the water by Gil. Who looks supremely unimpressed with her)

Gil: what the hell do you think you’re doing?

Uma: what does it look like?

Gil: it looks like you’re gonna steam roll onto the island without a contingency plan

(Uma doesn’t answer him)

Gil: oh my god. You’re not planning on getting outta there are you?

Uma: what’s it to you anyway? Why do you care?

Gil: you were my first friend, Uma, of course I fucking care.

Uma: but you left

Gil: I’m not going over this again! You know why I left and you would’ve done the same thing if you had the chance

Uma: okay fine sure whatever. You gonna let me go or not?

Gil: no! Not if you’re gonna be stupid about it

Uma: why is wanting to kill my mother me being stupid?

Gil: oh that’s not stupid. That’s incredibly brave especially after what she put you through over the last year. But you need a way to get out of there no matter if you win lose.

Uma: it doesn’t matter. I’ve disappointed the only three people who could actually tolerate me besides Harry and the nutters.

Gil: me, Ben and Celia?

Uma: mhmm. Ben won’t even look at me.

Gil: well you did try to immolate the love of his life after getting easily led by his crazy ass father. So it’s to be expected really

Uma: thanks.

Gil: you’re welcome. You know what?

Uma: what?

Gil: this reminds something. Something someone told me once.

Uma: what was that?

(This is when “if today was your last day” happens. After the song. Uma looks at very fancy, very ornate stick)

Uma: what’s that supposed to be?

Gil: only the thing you’ve coveted since you were sixteen.

Uma: you stole it?

Gil: what? No! I asked Jane if I could gift it to you and she said yes.

Uma: but why?

Celia (melting out of the shadows): because she’s a good person and the wand deserves to be used for good after 24 hours of forced dark magic. So come on then

Uma: what? Ohhhh no. You’re not going

Celia: but why?

Uma: I’m going to confront our mother. It’s too dangerous

Celia: oh come on. She’s old. How dangerous could she be?

(On the island. Morgana’s just been thrown out of the restaurant, beaten, bloodied and bruised. Ursula steps out after her sister, grabs her by the hair and whispers in her ear)

Ursula: if you ever get in the boss’s ay again. Then I’ll kill you myself. Savvy?

(She throws Morgana to the ground and walks away. In the arcade. There’s been a bit of a snag in the whole “keep Audrey away from the coven” plan)

Facillier: how. Do you lose. A PRINCESS?!?!

Anthony: to be fair she is rather short.

Anastasia: lemme guess. You ran across one of your fellow disciples, handed her off to him and he lost her?

Anthony: yup.

Facillier: perfect(.). Absolutely fucking PERFECT!!!!

(He kicks one of the tables over and stalks off to back room swiftly followed by Anastasia)

Facillier: I failed. Again

Anastasia: we didn’t fail Antoine.

Facillier: I failed, Stasia. The one thing I could do over here to help my daughters, protect a royal they both hate, and I failed

Anastasia: one of Anthony’s friends have her

Facillier: and how strong willed are they in the face of torture?

(Anastasia doesn’t answer him)

Facillier: I knew it. Why couldn’t I have helped them more?

(Back in the alley)

Morgana: what’ve I done?

(Back in Auradon)

Uma: I don’t know what to do.

(This is when “who am I” happens. After the song. Uma still hasn’t moved from her spot)

Uma: will it work for me?

Gil: the wand? Yes. It’s a gift. Willingly given. It’s partially sentient remember?

Celia: just point and think. Oh. And say the words

Uma: she’s terrified me unlike any other/help me go back and face down my mother/bibbidi bobbidi boo.

(There’s a burst of turquoise light and a hole opens in the barrier. Uma turns to Gil hopefully)

Gil: no. This is something you have to do yourself

(Uma dashes up and hugs him gratefully. Then she turns back around and walks to the island. This is when “I stand” happens. After the song. In the arcade)

Uma: hi

(Facillier immediately rushes up and starts fussing over her)

Uma: dad, dad, dad, I’m fine. I’m fine. I just. I’m fine.

Facillier: good. Tha-that’s good.

Uma: but you’re not. What happened?

Anthony: I uh—heheh-kinda lost the princess

(Uma slowly devolves into raucous laughter)

Anastasia: I don’t think she’s cut up by it

Celia: she tried to kill her in a mirror yesterday

The Tremaine’s: ohhhh

Uma: ohhhh that’s just what I needed

Facillier: because....?

Uma: I did something horrible. And now I need to make up for it.

Facillier: how do you propose to do that?

Celia: she’s gonna kill mom.

Anastasia: what?

Uma: I’ve got the wand. I can do it. I want to do it. I need to do it. And it needs to be done

Facillier: yes I understand that but um——

Uma: oh god not you too. She didn’t think I could do it either you know

Anthony: yeah, and as we saw from the tv. Ya couldn’t. That’s why you were awol for was it not?

Uma: I don’t like

Anthony: likewise

Facillier: okay. Enough, enough. We need to be smart about this. She manipulated you and kept you in a grotto for a year in case you’ve forgotten

Uma: yeah and I’ve just gotten manipulated a bastard I’ve never properly met and they all hate me for it. And as well they should after the way I reacted

Anthony: what did you do?

Celia: Adam made a fake confession out of Mal’s voice on a tech device thing, a tape recorder I think it’s called, Uma flew off the handle, because of course she did, tied Mal to a tree and tried to roast her alive

Anthony: whew. And Jay didn’t immediately kill you for it? Tch. Genie boy must be slipping.

Celia: they all got turned to stone by Maleficent almost immediately after

Anthony: Ahhh. Stay of execution by execution. Clever. And lucky. Although. Since you were all freed. I might have to take the uh heh “lucky” back, you know, so to speak.

Uma: do you ever shut up?

Anthony: nope.

Facillier: enough. Both of you. We need

Uma: it’s always the plan’s with you. Can’t I just go?

Anastasia: Uma, we all know you can handle it. It’s just. It’d be much more prudent if you had a——

Uma: go on. Say it. You think I need a contingency plan.

Celia: well we’re not wrong. Are we? You’re impulsive. Reckless. Foolhardy. Entirely too cocky for you’re own good

Uma: SHUT UP!!!! SHUT. UP!!!! None of you think I can do this. NONE OF YOU!!! But I’ll show you. I’ll show you all.

(She quite literally storms out of the arcade and heads to the restaurant. This is when “speechless reprise” happens. After the song. Ursula claps sardonically)

Ursula: very well done dear. Tell me. Did you practice that? Cause I don’t believe for one second that was all off the cuff

Uma: shut up.

Ursula: excuse me?

Uma (voice breaking): shut up. Please. Just. Shut up. Listen. Please just listen.

(This id when “listen” happens. After the song. Ursula looks highly unimpressed)

Ursula: well now that’s over

(She uses magic to slam Uma into the wall and bind and gag her with some of the decorations on the wall)

Ursula: you made a very big mistake coming back here. Well. You’ve always been making mistakes haven’t you? Going after the king to spite someone better than you. Trusting me to keep that pirate alive for a year when you knew I’d never let you out of my sight again. And the original sin. Talking to the pirate in the first place. But no matter. If we cannot find the princess. I guess you’ll have to do.

(Uma’s muffled screams echo through the island. Loud enough to be heard all the way to the arcade)

Facillier: I knew she’d be outsmarted

Anastasia: what do we do now.

Facillier: go to the one person left in this hellhole who still means anything to Uma

(He teleports away. In the Speakeasy. Morgana’s stitching herself up)

Facillier: need any help with that?

Morgana: not from you. Why are you here

Facillier: she has Uma. Surely you must’ve heard her scream.

Morgana: just came from there. Funny thing I should note. I helped you smuggle a princess out of the restaurant and away from the Fae. And got beat to hell for my trouble. And where is she? Evaporated. Into thin air. How’s that for a basket of muffins?

Facillier: what was that last part?

Morgana (pinching the bridge of her nose): I’m not entirely sure. I think I may have a concussion.

Facillier: right....are you going to help her or not?

Morgana: of course I’m going to help her. She’s the only thing we’ve done right in our lives. And even then I managed to scare that up.

Facillier: that wasn’t your fault. You tell Uma not to do something and she digs her heels in.

Both: she gets it from her mother

Morgana: I know. I know. But it’s because of me she has turquoise hair.

Facillier: yeah. It’s looks better on her than lavender did.

(Morgana chuckles. They both lean in. But then Facillier pulls away)

Facillier: I’m sorry. I can’t. I’m sorry

Morgana: yeah I kinda figured

Facillier: it’s just that

Morgana: I know. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.

(This is when “let me go” happens)

#disney descendants #zendaya!mal

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mysteriouslyhopefulstranger · 4 years ago

Text

The Final Test

((My Secret Santa FanFic gift for @solitaria-fantasma. You asked for Lewis to undergo a sacrifice test in a forest, so I placed the crew into the universe of the horror indie game, “The Cursed Forest.”)) @msa-secretsanta-2020

“How are you holding up, Lew?” Arthur asked.

“Much better now that the deadbeats offered a few hands.” Lewis straightened his posture as he carried as much as the sacred stones he could. Not that they were heavy for him; it was just that his arms could only wrap around so much.

“I just hope that this stone doesn’t grate my prosthetic too much.” Arthur looked down at the stone he was holding and huffed. “But better the stone than the skeleton.” He cringed as he looked over at the deadbeats carrying parts of the child’s skeleton. “Son of a bitch. It was supposed to be a simple investigation! An exorcism is one thing, but a fetch quest?! And while avoiding her ‘impulses!’“

“Again, it’s not her fault.” Mystery reminded him. “Corrupted souls barely have control over themselves.”

“Anyway, we’re almost done, right?” Vivi piped up, also holding a stone.

“Yep.” Mystery nodded. “Now we just wait-”

The ground rumbled as the trees cracked and groaned. Vivi and Arthur nearly lost their balances as roots and vines burst from the ground to block the path in front of them. The trees around them shifted and moved to form a new path.

“Ah, there we go.” Vivi smiled. “Onward!”

With Mystery leading the way to keep an eye out for traps, the team headed down the newly formed path.

It only took them about five minutes to find the stone altar. It seemed as though it was made rather shoddily. Normally, altars were hand made; this one was just a giant flat boulder with imprints, possibly for the sacred stones. Vivi came closer to get a good look. “Oh! They have numbers etched into the slots! This should be easy!” She carefully placed her stone down to check the bottom. “Ok, mine’s #3, sooo...” She searched the slots for her assigned number.

Arthur checked his. “Seven.” He scanned the altar and saw that his stone was to be placed at the top center. He set it down. “Phew! OK, LeWAAUUGH!!!” He screamed as he fell back. Arthur had looked up to see a black cloud of a skirt and feet, leading up to more black and a pair of glowing white eyes. The little girl showed up again; the very child whose soul was corrupted by a ritual gone wrong; the very child who called them over by crashing the van; the very child who trapped them; the very child who ordered them to perform this exorcism;

The very child who had also tried to kill them while they searched for the pieces they needed to do so.

Vivi and Mystery backed away from the altar and got close to Arthur, ready to defend each other. Lewis looked stern.

“You’ve got everything?” A white streak appeared below the eyes of the cloud, and moved about as the girl’s voice echoed out of it.

“Yes.” Vivi said. “Now we just read what’s written in the paper, right?”

“Yeeesssss,” The ghost girl lilted with a smile. “but there’s one more thing that needs to be done.”

“Oh God!” Arthur groaned, looking like he was going to cry. “ Don’t tell me we missed something!”

“Nope!” The corrupted ghost’s smile got bigger. “This is just a liiiittle test!”

Mystery sighed, “Let me guess: we have to figure out which object is truly needed, or something like that. And if we pick wrong, we die. Yeah, already did this shit.”

“Nnnnnope! ~ Nothing like that!”

Arthur opens his mouth to ask, only to feel his next words being choked in his throat. Along with any air that was trapped along with it. In fact, when did the skin on his neck feel this...constricted?! He put his real hand up to his neck; there was a vine wrapped around it.

Mystery heard his restricted protest and turned to look at him. “Arthur, what-?”

CRMBLE CRMBLE SHK SHKKKKKKKK!!!

It happened so fast. Vines shot out of the ground, hoisting Vivi, Arthur, and Mystery off of the ground. They grabbed at their limbs, pulling them away from their bodies as if to rip them off of their sockets. Vines wrapped around their torsos, right where the ribs were. Mystery didn’t even have time to react and snap at the vines, for one had wrapped his muzzle tightly shut.

“NO!!” Lewis screamed, dropping the stones he was holding. In a flash of anger, his hands burst into flames. The deadbeats dropped their loads and prepared to attack. The corrupted ghost teleported in front of him, her finger wagging in front of his nose. “Ah, ah, ahhh! ~ You try anything, and I’ll kill them instantly.” She giggled and looked up at Mystery. “And if YOU try anything, I’ll rip your tails off!” Cue more vines shooting up from the ground and snagging each white tail. Mystery whined in pain.

Lewis shot his hand at the girl. She teleported out of range and cackled, “You must really want them to die! Well then, here goes!~”

Arthur let out a strangled cry as the vine around his neck tightened. Vivi screamed out as she felt the vine constrict her ribs and limbs, threatening to break bones. Mystery still could only whine as every limb he had was slowly being pulled apart.

“Stop, STOP!!! PLEASE!!!” Lewis begged. Their cries subsided as the vines slackened.

“Good boy!” The girl chirped. “Now, for the final test...you must choose which member of the team shall die!”

“Are you serious?!” Lewis roared, his hair glowing and whisping.

“Since when was this part of the ritual?!” Vivi grunted.

“Shut it, you!!” The ghost snarled, tightening the roots. Vivi squealed in pain.

“VIVI!!!” Lewis cried.

“Now pick!! Or I’ll kill them all! Ten, nine....” The roots slowly tightened again. Lewis panicked. Even the deadbeats were just flying around, screaming.

“...eight, seven, SIX....”

He can’t burn the roots without risking burning his loved ones, or without the risk of the spirit killing them by other means....

“...five, four, three....” Arthur’s face was turning purple, and Vivi and Mystery were tearing up as they continued to cry out.

....Wait. “a member of the team.” huh?

“TWO....”

“Myself!!” Lewis yelled.

The ghost stopped counting, looking surprised. “....What?”

“I choose myself!”

“Nnngggh, Lew...” Arthur gargled.

“Hey! I said..” The ghost started.

“That I should pick which member of the team should die. I’m a member! And in case you haven’t figured it out...” In a flash of fire, Lewis dropped his human façade, revealing his skeletal form, suit and all. “I’d like to see you try kill me, since I’m already dead!”

The ghost paused before smiling again. “I can just destroy your anchor!” She grew more roots, aiming at him.

Lewis flinched for a moment. But only for moment. “That would just make me disappear. You said that one of us had to die, not disappear.”

“B-but you...That doesn’t...!” The girl sputtered.

Lewis laughed, “Aren’t loopholes just fun?”

The corrupted ghost looked like she was about to explode. With an angry grunt, she slammed the rest of the team down onto the ground, releasing them from the roots. “Alright, alright! I’ll call it a pass!” She faded away. “You’re no fun!” Her voice echoed as she pouted.

Lewis and the deadbeats rushed over to the team. “Are you all ok?! Anything broken?!”

Arthur was too busy coughing and gasping to answer. Vivi on the other hand, “Owwww.” She moaned, rubbing her ribs and limbs. “I’m gonna have bruises for months!”

Mystery curled up and rubbed his muzzle with his paw. “This was humiliating.” He growled. “This exorcism better be super painful. Let’s get this over with before something else happens.”

Arthur finally caught his breath. “God dammit! If I get bruises too, Uncle’s gonna have a stroke and a hernia before I do!”

Lewis lit a flame near Arthur to investigate his throat. “Yeeeah, a bruise it already forming. But other than that, nothing broken?” He put his free hand on Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur slowly stood up and moved his limbs around. Vivi and Mystery did the same.

“We can still move,” Vivi responded. “but it hurts a little.”

Lewis sighed, “Either way, the deadbeats and I will do the arrangement. You guys rest.”

“Fine, but I’m still reciting the words.” Vivi crossed her arms...and then winced since her arms rested on her ribcage.

“By the way,” Mystery laid back down, “that was some incredible quick thinking back there for someone of your attention span.”

“Ha.” Lewis rolled his eye sockets as he picked up the ritual stones one by one. “If there’s anything that I picked up from every horror movie I watched with Vivi involving deals with the devil, is that there is always a loophole in the contract based on certain word choices or in the fine print.”

“See?” Vivi turned to Mystery, smugly. “There ARE some accuracies in these stories!”

“But, what if she didn’t mix up the words or didn’t care about word choice. Would you have stood by your decision?” Arthur asked.

Lewis put down a stone in the assigned imprint. “...Yes.”

“But why would you-?!” Arthur started. Lewis turned around and glared at him. “Let me guess, you would’ve wanted me to pick you, right? Because you ‘deserve it.’ I’ve accepted that it wasn’t you back at the cave! Why can’t you?!”

Arthur lowered his head. “It...preyed on weakened feelings, right? So...if I had said something...”

“This was completely out of your control.” Mystery interrupted, sternly. “Hell, it took over me, remember? And I’m equivalent to that of a god!”

“And why should I pick someone that I love?” Lewis picked up another stone and put it down. “Why should I choose any of the ones that I love? Isn’t that obvious?”

Vivi smiled. “And you know that I would never, ever forgive if you did choose him.”

“That too.” Lewis chuckled. Arthur smiled as tears threatened to trickle down his face.

“If anything,” Mystery mumbled, “I should’ve-”

“Aaaaahhhhh!” Vivi pointed a finger at the kitsune. “Noooo! Don’t you dare go there, too! You’re my precious guardian pooch, and I’ll be damned if I lose you!” She scratched his ears. Mystery opened his mouth to protest her remarks, but succumbed to the blissful ear scritches and let it be.

“Aaaand done.” Lewis and his deadbeats floated back to examine their work. The little girl’s small skeleton laid in the center, surrounded by the ritual stones. Seeing her small frame made the team somber.

“God, looking at this now made me realize that I forgot this was just a kid who was dealt with the worst hand.” Arthur said.

“Yeah, poor thing.” Vivi sighed. “Lewis, you still got those instructions?”

Lewis fished out a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to Vivi. Vivi scanned through it until she found the proper incantation. She recited the words as carefully as possible, making sure she doesn’t mispronounce anything.

There was a crash of thunder and an ear-piercing shriek, as a black mist hovered over the skeleton. The team stumbled back and ducked. Winds howled as the clouds above them formed a vortex high above the altar. It sucked up the black mist, leaving a small, glowing white orb. The orb began to rise up into the sky, and the cloud vortex dissipated.

Silence.

Then rumbling from the ground and the cracking and creaking of the trees; they were moving again, clearing away the dead ends and opening a path to the way out.

Silence once more. The atmosphere felt lighter. Lighter enough to take a deep breath and savor it.

The curse has been lifted. The gang was free.

“....We did it. We did it!!!” Vivi laughed and hugged her boys.

“Oh thank God!” Arthur rolled his head back in relief.

“Now let’s scram. I’ve had enough of forests.” Mystery said.

The gang ran up the nearest path, with the living members fighting back the lingering pain in their legs, and they didn’t stop until they saw their bright orange van. They piled into it, collapsing into the back or onto the seats.

“Oh, vehicular transportation I’ve missed you!” Arthur almost cried, burying his face into the upholstery fabric.

“Another successful mission!” Vivi giggled.

“Alright, everyone settle, because I’m driving. You all still need to rest.” Lewis said.

“Ok daaaad.” Vivi teased before she leaned over from the back to give Lewis a kiss on the cheekbone. Arthur followed through after Vivi as he gave his keys to Lewis. Lewis blushed as he turned the ignition on.

As they started to drive away, a young voice echoed into their heads:

“Thank you.”

#solitaria-fantasma #msa-secretsanta-2020 #((I hope this suffices))#lewvithur #the cursed forest #msa

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springmagpies · 4 years ago

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My Uncle Reacts to AoS Season 4

So, instead of getting chores done this morning, my uncle and I finished Season 4 of Agents of Shield. Here are his reactions! Enjoy! Fair warning, it is a long post because Steve had a lot of feelings.

4x01

Before the episode: I’m guessing Coulson was like “I got too close to the situation and could no longer be impartial.” And then he passed over the title of director to May or that general guy. Talbot! That’s his name.

He’s like ghost rider is all. Holy crap he is ghost rider! I didn’t realize he was marvel.

Why’d they have to break up the band?

I am concerned about the robots.

Well, ghost rider is badass.

4x02

“You’re an engineer Mack. And a small tank.” Bwhahahahahaha, that’s so true.

The director is Talbot. Ooooh, not Talbot. Someone new.

Oh, Daisy has a picture of Lincoln. I miss him.

May is not okay. May needs a nap.

I still can’t get over Mack offering that maybe they’re just ghosts. Fitzsimmons faces were amazing.

Mace is such a politician.

4x03

*Lincoln is mentioned* Owwwwwww

I love the Phil, Mack, and Fitz team up.

Wow, Fitz is badass this episode.

Okay, so Elena is amazing. That shot with the light was awesome!

4x04

Fitzsimmons moving in together, count me in.

I see where Daisy is coming from, but not awesome that she’s using her friends and then leaving.

Come on Daisy! Come home.

Heylo? Hahahahaha

Radcliffe, I don’t think telling the android it’s okay to lie sometimes is a good idea.

What’s that face she’s giving? Oh shit, is she feeling things? Is she feeling things for Fitz. That’s not good.

I don’t trust James. *moments later* Called it.

Yes, Mack, two fire dudes just fell into fireworks.

Jemma for sure knows she’s an android.

“I prefer a classical beauty myself.” Awww, Fitz.

4x05

Oh, Fitz, a high five will not fix her being mad at you. Trust me.

“I’m sure they have it under control.” *cuts to chaos* Okay, that’s the best transition of the whole show.

Robbie, please don’t go after that guy. Just keep going please. Dammit. Why can no one just follow instructions in Shield.

Way to go Jemma! But what happened with Mace?? What did he do?

May had a heart to heart with her and she’s still leaving? Is Daisy really going to leave after all of this? She can’t, right?

Robbies uncle is going to get sucked into that book. Yeah, look at his expression. That’s not good at all is it.

Well that senator sucks.

4x06

*Mace mad at Coulson* Daaaang

Fitz is so smart. He would be a millionaire if he was an inventor or something. But he just wants to help people.

Wait, shit, Eli is bad!

*Fitz, Coulson, and Robbie disappear* Oh no!!!! Wait, that’s how the episode ends! Noooo!!

4x07

Shit, where are they.

Oh, so that’s where they are. That’s not good.

“I have to phone Simmons to tell her... I’m in another dimension.” Bwhahahahaha oh no.

That’s not Mack. Holy shit!

“Oh Mack’s the ghost rider no big deal. But you can’t hear us.” Oh my god, these lines are amazing.

The dialogue this episode is fantastic.

No!!!!! Don’t give the darkhold to Radcliffe. He’s already so morally grey!!!

Fitz is going to hit Mace

Aww, Fitzsimmons

There’s some flirtation with Phil and Melinda going on.

Have we seen who’s in that photo Mack is looking at? Hope?

Oh hey Robbie, how was hell.

Ummm, is Aida building a brain? Is she corrupted. Yep. She’s corrupted. We’ve got a corrupted android. Great.

4x08

Coulson’s comedic timing is everything.

Oof, Robbie is not having a good time.

“Oh yeah, Fitz solved that” Of course he did. He’s Fitz.

*Badass Fitzsimmons duo scene* They truly are a dynamic duo aren’t they. That shot was awesome!

*Daisy looking at Robbie’s car* well, you’ve got a sweet car.

*Mackelena finally kiss* gasps. There it is!

*Aida kills Nathanson* Oh dears.

*Reveal that May is an LMD* Wait wait wait. Holy shit. Oh shit. Damn.

4x09

Aida’s so sweet to May. And she sweetly killed Nathanson like it was nothing. Not creepy at all.

Once again Mack’s lines are amazing.

Yeah, don’t attack the android guys. Not a good idea.

“Why would you want to hurt me Leopold.” Aaaah haaaa, umm. No.

“Well, Simmons has only been kidnapped twice on this planet.” Hahahahahahaha that’s hilarious.

Smart people are stupid. That’s amazing.

*Aida freezes may* AAAH, she doesn’t even know she’s a robot!

*Radcliffe reveal* O. M. G. He’s corrupted. He played them. Asshole. Dammit he read it for just a second! No!

This is a good part of the show! I’m really enjoying this.

4x10

What the heck’s in that brief case?

And Radcliffe is now super creepy.

Poor Fitz, he doesn’t know his friend totally betrayed him.

“I did this to protect you.” Awww, Fitz. I mean, let’s not make robots, but that’s still really sweet. He just wanted to protect Simmons and everyone.

*May wakes up* Jesus, god May. She’s a badass. Imagine waking up like that! God! That’s terrifying.

“I can’t help feeling like somethings off.” Yeah, May, you aren’t real.

Mace isn’t an inhuman! Oh damn.

*Fitz analyzing Aida’s head* Uh oh Fitz.

“Is it weird that I found that attractive?” Hahahahahahahaha. Fantastic.

*Coulson back in charge* hell yeah!

*May finds out she’s an LMD* Aaaaaaah! Well, that’s an existential crisis.

4x11

Does Radcliffe have more of them? Because he just happened to have May.

*May waking up over and over again* Feels like I’m watching The Good Place.

*Aida breaks a glass* That’s concerning that a robot would make a mistake like that.

*Hope reveal* Oh that’s awful! Poor Mack.

Whose the other LMD?

*Radcliffe LMD reveal* Ohhhh noooo. Poor Fitz.

4x12

Hey! I was wondering where the lanyard guys were!

“You’re going all Gollumy again” bwhahahahaha that’s amazing

“I’ve lost too much already, I’m not losing you.” Awww, Phil.

*Robo Radcliffe talks about Fitz’s past* Oh my gosh, that explains so much. Oh Fitz! Screw Fitz’s dad.

How many Koenigs are there?

Awww, baby Fitz!—Maggie

I bet that’s his real mom too!—Steve

Fitz and Simmons are cute!

*Philinda kiss* Noooo! She’s a robot!

“Sorry, you weren’t meant to last” Radcliffe you ass. You evil ass.

4x13

*Agnes reveal* Eeeek, creepy. That’s who she’s based on!

Wait, is she really Australian? Damn, she does a great American accent.

Mace really got the short end of the stick in a lot of this didn’t he.

*Shockley gets turned into an inhuman* Oooh shit.

Did they just put Shockley on the plane. The dude that blows up? Well, damn.

*Fitzsimmons realize Shockley is the bomb* Way to go dynamic duo. Now gooooo! Oh, they’re going. Simmons pushing Fitz is amazing.

Aaaaaah! Fitz! Fitz and Mace!

*Fitzsimmons hug* Awww. I know I’ve said it before but they’re cute.

Noooo! Mace! Shit they kidnapped Mace!

*Aida takes put on Agnes’s necklace* Ewwwww, creepy. Creepy creepy creepy! Aaah.

4x14

*The superior walking* He must have this ‘I’m so cool face’ on at all times.

Aww, is Radcliffe in there to be with Agnes. That’s so sad.

*Flashback with Phil and May* Aww, May is all playful. It’s before the sad times.

*Mace chained* that’s not great for your circulation.

They’re going to kill Mace. No, don’t kill Mace.

“Morales, you’re with me.” Uh oh, Morales. More redshirts with names making me nervous.

“You’ve enhanced yourself with alien technology.” Actually Fitz built his hand.

“Cool origin story, bro.” Okay, that’s incredible.

“Concern only slightly lessened.” Davis is just like ‘thanks dude.’ Fantastic.

Mack doesn’t need super powers to be a badass.

*LMD reveal* Holy shit. Holy shiiiit. They switched out all four of them??? All four??? Holy shiiiit. Fitzsimmons are all alone. Aaaahaaa.

“Even filth has a purpose.” Ewwww, and she’s leaning over him like that. So creeeeppyyy. Eewwww.

“He’s a shrink.” Oh awwww. It’s Andrew. She falls in love with him.

Well I guess Phil and Melinda’s robots can be together. Kind of weird but okay.

Oh my god, this is stressing me out!!!

‘Even filth has a purpose.” Gaaah, ewww. I’m still thinking about it.

So is Radcliffe even in control anymore? Or is he too preoccupied with the framework to care. Like, is Aida just doing whatever the heck she wants now because that’s unsettling.

4x15

Where are all of them? Oh they’re in the framework. Uh oh.

Ewwww, Aida is evil! He’s (Ivanov) alive and she’s cutting into him.

Aaah, they’ve got them surrounded. It’s so creepy.

This is some body snatchers shit.

*fitzsimmons LMD scene* *Steve biting his nails with wide eyes* oh my god that was awful.

*Steve rewinds to rewatch the LMD scene* they’re so good. And it hurt so much to see Fitz go so cold. Owwww. Because it was him and how he would act and then it just shuts off. Ugh, they’re so good.

*Jemma stabbing Fitz scene* Oh he’s thought about getting married. Oh my god, that’s so awful. So disturbing. That hurts. They’re so talented.

*Daisy LMDs* Ohhhh that’s so disturbing. This is all so disturbing. Oh my gosh.

*Daisy and Jemma scene* Awwww, they found the only other person to trust. That’s so sweet. Gosh, that was also a brilliantly acted scene.

They’re all such good actors. All of them.

God, this is all so disturbing.

*Aida kills Radcliffe* oh shit. Aaaaah. That’s so creepy.

“Because you and Fitz belong together.” Thats the truth.

“Their poor base” -Maggie

“And they just retiled the bathrooms.” -Steve

Ooh, quake jump, that’s so cool.

*Slow motion quake* That’s sooo badasssss!

*Davis flying the Zephyr* Aah, Davis. Careful. He just started training.

*LMD May blows up the base.* oooh ho. Damn.

“Lincoln?” Oh noooo. That’s awful.

*Ward reveal* Whaaaaat?

*Coulson reveal* Whaaaaaat?

*Mack reveal* oh nooo, he’s got his daughter.

*Fitz reveal* Whaaaaaat? But, damn.

*Jemma reveal* Whaaaaaaaaat? She’s in a grave? Who’s in the car with Fitz?

*May reveal* is she an avenger? *Hydra logo appears* Waaaaait. Whaaaaaaaaat?

What the hell is going on. What the hell? What is this place. Are they all evil? Some of them evil? Mack isn’t evil right?

*Ivanov’s head* Ewwww creepy.

Whaaaat the helllll. As Fitz would say *does Fitz impression* what the hell?

Dammit why do I have to put the kids to bed!! I want to watch the next episode!! Gosh dang it.

That’s disturbing count: around 15

4x16

“Skye?” Skye??? Skye!!!

*Logo* ooooh, agents of hydra

“You’re on another planet this morning.” Yeah, she is. No shit Ward.

*Daisy looks up Lincoln* Awwww. Owwwww.

*Jemma jumps from the grave.* Lucky she was in a shallow grave.

They’re having a bad week.

Vijay isn’t real. He’s at the bottom of the ocean.

*Ward punches Vijay* wait, did he want him to stop talking? Hmmm.

*Coulson class scene* Aaaahhaa that’s not awful at all.

*May Bahrain reveal* oh shit, it changed that much! Shit.

“We’ve got him doctor” Radcliffe? *Fitz reveal* Ooooh nooo! Noooo! Shit, noooo! Jemma died and he went all dark. Nooooo.

“It’s a magical place.” Oh damn!

“My father used to say...” Shit, does Fitz have his dad’s influence?????

*Ward double agent reveal* Ooooooh! Shiiit. That’s so interesting!!

“This isn’t the framework this is hell” Jemma’s so pissed.

“Drones, Dwarves. Whatever.” Awww, Jemma’s heart just broke right there.

Are they stuck in the framework! Well shit!

*Fitz and Aida kiss* Ewwww. I mean it makes sense in this world because of course she’s using Fitz but ewww.

She replaced Jemma with herself. That’s not creepy at all.

“Daisy?” Aaaah! He remembers!

This place is messed up! Interesting, but messed up!

4x17

“I make my own soap now.” Bwhahahahahaha. That’s amazing.

Aww, Mack has his daughter. And she’s adorable. Oh no!

Ophelia? Oooh, she’s got her own name.

“I’d cross the universe for you.” Ewwww! Noooo. He literally crossed the universe for Jemma.

*Fitz and Aida make out* *Maggie screams and Steve shivers* But why is Fitz so hot in the framework though—Maggie *Steve nods*

“The soap made me do it.” Bwhahahahaha

*Mace reveal* Aaaaah! Mace! He’s all gruff now and an inhuman! He got everything that he ever wanted.

“And we’ll make our society great again.” Ewwwwwwwhewe!

This is so interesting! I’m really liking it!

*Mack and hope get taken by Hydra* that’s so awful! That is so disturbing!

Coulson is so nerdy, I love it.

“You’re Daisy Johnson. We’re agents of shield.” Mack remembers.

*Revealed that Mack doesn’t remember* No! Shit.

*Fitz kills Agnes* *sharp intake of breath, Steve stays silent for a very long time.*

*Mack joins Shield* Good job Mack.

“How do you feel?”-Maggie.

Steve quietly: “sick.”

4x18

I love how Mace is all scruffy and his suits all scratched.

Aaah, evil Fitz makes me sad.

*Jemma seeing Mack and Hope* Yeah, it’s an oh shit moment.

“Tell your old man all about it.” *Steve gasps* Oh no.

“I don’t know the kind of man I’d be without you father.” “That’s why I’m here.” Yep, to brainwash him.

TRIP!

*Brainwash room* Oh no! It’s the other kid too! No!

MACE! Noooo! Why would Aida do that. She’s so evil.

That’s so messed up.

*May used Terrigen on Daisy* Yes. Good job May. And hopefully it’ll heal her in the process.

4x19

Ha, Bakshi has a tv show.

Aww, mace is dead. He was a good man.

*Daisy quakes Aida out a window* *Steve laughs* That took her by surprise didn’t it.

“It’s like sipping poison...” Mmm, Fox News.

“You’re the new head of hydra” Yikes.

*Ward throws remote* Umm, you guys have limited remotes!

*Steve pauses show* I don’t like any of this. It’s interesting but I hurt inside. It hurts that Fitz is evil. Mace is dead. Agnes is dead. Radcliffe is in prison. May was evil. I’m sad.

Aww, Coulson all of a sudden became that paternal leader.

Wait, so she totally used Fitz in like every way. What a jerk.

Trips the best.

Sorry Ward. She wants to feel bad for you but she can’t.

So much Scottishness this season. I love it.

*Radcliffe yells at Alistar* yep, because you’re a worthless asshole ya jerk. Oof, he just throat punched Radcliffe.

Aww, Coulson is coming into his own.

“When this is over-“ Do I get Skye! “Do I get my Skye back?” Called it!

I liked that scene with Grant. It was the redemption that the other Ward didn’t deserve but this one did. It was nice. Also really well acted.

“Hydra giving alternative facts.” Ooooh, they’re calling them out. They are so not fans of Trump and it’s amazing.

*Coulson on the news* This is Shield’s please vote! Please vote.

That was amazing.

4x20

Yeah, I hate all of this.

This all hurts.

*Fitz talks to Radcliffe* Come on Radcliffe, please don’t betray us. Please.

*Jemma kills Alistair* Well, that’s not going to help us.

“I’m sure everything is fine.” It is not. Simmons killed Fitz’s dad.

I hate this. It’s fascinating and I hate it. She’s just made him mad. God, no.

*Trip saying goodbye* Awww, this hurts. He’s goneeee in our world. Whyyyyy.

Is Aida trying to build her spine *body being built on the other side* Ohhh. Damn.

*Coulson gets shot* SHIT

*Coulson wakes up* You’re going to have to fight a killer robot, Phil.

*May wakes up* Awww she did it! She followed him!!

*Radcliffe redeems himself* Yes! Radcliffe! Yes! Thank you!

*Fitz falls through* Thank God!

Thank you Radcliffe.

*Mack not coming with* Maggie, I really don’t like this.

Oh gosh, Fitz is so freaked out. They’re all so freaked out. Aaah, Aida!

*Aida and Fitz teleport* Well that was unexpected.

I feel really ill. Like, this hurts a lot. I hurt a lot.

It’s like The Red Wedding but drawn out over 4 episodes and I hurt.

4x21

Before the episode: I came into the framework so optimistic and it crushed me. Like I thought May was an avenger and then it was like hahaha pain.

Oh yeah! And then she teleported with Fitz. JERK!

Fitz really got screwed by the framework didn’t he.

*Coulson kills Robo Ivanov with a shield* WOAHHH!!! That was amazing! ...and disturbing.

*Coulson recounts what happened with Robbie Reyes* BWHAHAHAHAHA. It sounds so ridiculous when you recount it but it’s so amazing watching it.

Will she stop teleporting Fitz! He already feels sick!

Yeaaaah, giving Fitz his abuser back and replacing the woman he loves with yourself is not what would make him happy Aida!

“If he wanted to kill us he could just flood the place. Why is he stalling.” TO FLOOD THE PLACE, PHIL!

“I drank the bottle of Haig” “you piece of—“ *Steve can’t stop laughing*

*Mack almost drowning* Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. OH SHIT.

*Fitz and Aida rescuing mack* THANK GOD.

*Jemma shoots Aida* well, yeah.

*Jemma shoots Fitz* Love ya Fitz, sorry man.

“What do we do with Fitz?” Talk to him!!

“I’m just like Ward.” Oh ho, that hurts.

“There’s only room in my heart for her.” YES! Oh shit, Aida’s not happy.

OH SHIT!

NO DAVIS! DAVIS!

*Toddler starts crying IRL over a toy* Now imagine if we gave her powers.That’s what’s happening with Aida.

*Fitzsimmons pod scene* oww

*Yoyo plugs herself into the framwork* This is a mess.

*Aida throws bottle in anger* His vodka!

*Aida and Ivanov scene* Aaah! Inhuman robot sex. Oh. Nope. Murder.

*Robbie comes back* Welcome back buddy! SHIELD shit has hit the fan.

4x22

“How do we kill Aida?” Hell chains? I’m thinking hell chains.

*Robbie waiting for Shield* Hello, back from another dimension? No way, us too!

Well Radcliffe is screwed if the framework is falling apart.

“I’ll talk to him. He’ll remember me.” No he won’t Elena. Wish he would though.

*Robo!Daisy shoots Talbot* *Steve sits with his mouth open* NO!! I mean, he could be annoying but he was a good man! And he’s been around since season 1!

“There’s a pulse.” How? Yay! But how?

“Once you say you can’t stop me. Well—“ it’s like when you say you feel safe on Survivor and then get voted off the island.

*Daisy & Robbie team up* Boom bitches!! That was super cool!

Mack’s not going to leave until Hope de-materializes. And that sucks ass.

“Robot May was much more supportive.” HA! That’s amazing.

EVERYTHING’S A MESS AND EVERYONE IS HURT AND DIE AND PAIN AND OWW AND THINGS.

Maggie: “What?”

Steve: “You heard me.”

*Aida kills LMD!Jemma* WHAT! What the hell? I feel so sick. Oh thank god she’s an LMD! But I feel ill.

Eeeewwwww the kiss Aida gave Fitz on the cheek is so disturbing.

*Jemma shoots Aida* YES! AWESOME!

*Coulson ghost rider reveal* HOLY SHIT THAT’S AMAZING! I FEEL SO MUCH BETTER!

*Aida dies* Well that was awesome and terrible and poor everyone.

They really do a great job of making you feel sick don’t they.

*Mack and Hope scene*

Maggie: “you okay?”

Steve: *wipes away tear* no.

Wait, is there more to Coulson’s deal with the Ghost Rider?

“Gave me a glimpse of the life I could have here.” Oooh! Mack and Elena! She did almost die for him. They’re in love.

*Robbie having to leave* He and Daisy couldn’t like kiss before he left? No? Fine.

*Daisy speech to Fitz* someone hug him, please!

*Diner scene* Whaaaat?

We’re in space next season!!?? Whooo!!

They’re all so messed up after all of this. I feel messed up after all of this.

#steve reacts to aos #personal nonsense #agents of shield #season 4

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mysymestash · 5 years ago

Text

RFA + Saeran accidentally injuring MC

I FORGOT JIHYUN LIKE A BIG DUMB MAYBE I’LL UPDATE LATER WITH HIS

Yoosung

LOLOL had launched a special campaign, only available for a limited time

Seeing as how the reward for completing it was rumoured to be a brand new skin for one of Yoosung’s favourite characters,

of course he was going to spend three sleepless nights in front of the computer to be the first one to get it

Normally, you wouldn’t let him stay up for so long playing- but finals were over and you figured he deserved to blow off some steam

You were relaxing on the couch one day when you heard a loud commotion from Yoosung

You went over to his desk to check on him-

“Yes! Yes! I got it- oh my god, I got it! MC come over here and check it out-!”

Before you could even respond to tell him you were already right beside him

He threw his hands up in the air while he was celebrating, one connecting directly with your nose

When his shocked face whipped around to see you cradling your now bloody nose he almost screamed

Apologizing incessantly- and god forbid you shed some tears at the pain because he will reciprocate the tears tenfold

He tries to get you some tissues but he’s panicking so much that he just- grabs a fistful and shoves it in your face

Just wants to stop the bleeding as soon as possible

Will want you to hit him back as revenge

If you take him up on the offer, he will cry again

Jumin

You two were relaxing at the end of the day, just enjoying a glass of wine together

But Elizabeth was feeling especially needy that day

She was cuddling up to you, walking across your laps, etc..

She refused to sit still, wanting you to play with her

Jumin’s just watching you suffer with amusement, you trying to drink from your glass but can’t since Elizabeth keeps pawing at it

Thinks your frustrated face is adorable

In fact, so adorable he wants to keep a permanent record of it

So he pulls out his phone to capture the moment- fully intending on sending it straight to the messenger

But my man forgot his flash was on

Mind you, this is in the late evening and you two are outside on the patio- so this flash is bright

Scares the everloving shit out of Elizabeth too and she jumps ten feet into the air out of your lap, knocking your glass out of your hand

On reflex, you reach out to catch the glass but it shatters on the ground before you can fully reach it

You can’t quite see what’s happened but damn can your hand feel it

Feeling the sharp pain, you quickly pull back your hand and put it to the light- bitch is bleeding

You’re a little in shock but he’s already called five paramedics, 12 different ambulances, a neurosurgeon- Jumin stop why would I need a neurosurgeon for my hand

Even after he confirms with all the doctors that you’re fine, he will be paranoid for a long time

Invests in shatter-proof everything

Jaehee

It was a busy busy busy day in the cafe

Both of you were rushing around trying to take all the orders and seat everyone in time

Neither of you were expecting today of all days to be so busy- and some of the other workers had called in so you were already running short on people

You were at the front, taking orders and providing extra chairs for everyone filtering in

Jaehee called you from the back for help getting all the extra batches she had just made out to the front

Ngl she was really rushing you along- urging you to hurry up before you missed anyone new coming in

You were feeling so rushed, in fact, that you weren’t really paying attention to what Jaehee was handing you- more focused on just getting it out as fast as possible

Without warning, she finished handing you the muffins that had been cooling for the past few minutes and had swapped to the cookies fresh out the oven

You were not wearing your oven mitts

As soon as the pan made contact with your skin you screamed, dropping it on the floor

She was on you right away,, pulling your red hands under the cool tap water

Doesn’t stop apologizing;

Her actions are swift and confident- bandaging your hands with incredible proficiency

But her words are something else completely lol— she’s stammering out “I’m sorry”s and asking if you’re okay like fifty times in a row

Insists you stay in the front and that she does the kitchen work on her own- even if you refuse

At the end of the day she’ll still be apologizing and offers to bring you to the hospital to make sure hands are okay

You have to calm her down by kissing her

But yes please take me to the hospital I still hurt

Saeyoung

You and Saeyoung were playing hide and go seek tag like a bunch of CHILDREN

Jk it’s adorable

Saeyoung was it this round which is honestly an unfair advantage in all regards

You, like the hide and go seek pro you are, we’re strategically moving your hiding spot every few seconds- never staying in one spot for too long

You’re a lot harder to track down than he first anticipated

Resorts to using his cameras to find you

“It’s not cheating, MC- it’s using your tools to your advantage.”

Finds you creeping down the halls and hatches a plan to take you by surprise

The hall you’re in happens to connect back to the kitchen

When you finally make it into the kitchen, he takes the chance to pop out right behind you screaming like a banshee

Your heart drops

You scream and try to run away but socks on slippery tiled floor don’t offer too much traction

You make it half a step before you are launched backwards and crash onto the ground head first

His screaming turns into half screaming half laughing as he rushes to your side on the floor

Recites some dramatic made up poetry about his fallen love- ala Romeo and Juliet

You’re fighting back tears while you’re holding your head

“Saeyoung stop making me laugh it’s making my head hurt even more”

When he hears you saying your head hurt he calms down

Legitimately worried now that your injury might be serious

Rushes you to a doctor right away who concludes that you probably just have a mild concussion

Permanent bed rest and cuddles until he decides you’re better

Expect him to don the maid costume while he’s taking care of you and “forget” to close the door letting Saeran walk in and see everything

poor Saeran

Zen

He had just gotten casted for what was essentially his dream role

This boy was Romeo fucking Montague

So psyched he wanted you to help him practice lines- obviously for the balcony scene as you read for Juliet

But he was

really into this role

He had you climb up on top of this ladder as he supported you from the bottom to act as the ‘balcony’

You just went along with it despite how ridiculous you felt because you didn’t want to be the one to rain on his parade;;

Besides you thought it was cute seeing how invested he was getting into the character as you peered over him from your position on the ladder

Well- it was cute until his focus gradually shifted from keeping you stable on the ladder to reciting his monologue

“Uhh, Zen? Are you sure this is stable enough?..”

You doubt he even heard you over his reading, not taking his eyes off of the script

Before you could try and catch his attention again you unceremoniously toppled down as the ladder suddenly fell away from under you

He heard the crashing and reached out, script being thrown away and forgotten, to catch you before you landed

Technically he succeeded but it didn’t stop your leg being caught in the mess of the ladder falling

Leading to your very sprained ankle

Doesn’t even stop to ask if you’re okay,, all but throws the ladder away and carries you all the way to the hospital

After you guys get back, you’re pouting and he’s basically begging for your forgiveness

Will ask you to push him from a real balcony so he can understand and experience your pain

Obviously not Zen wtf

Will “kiss your ankle better” and curse the gods that his beast-like healing abilities was not given to you also

Saeran

You’ve probably been hanging out with Saeyoung a little too much tbh

He gives you the idea to prank Saeran

For SOME reason you think it’s a good idea

He was sleeping in this morning and you think it would be hilarious if you hid behind the door before he woke up and scare him as he came out

You’ve definitely been spending too much time with Saeyoung

When he wakes up and doesn’t feel you in the bed with him he lowkey freaks out

He thinks you’ve probably just left to go to the bathroom or something so he calls your name

Obviously you don’t respond

Cue actual panic for marshmallow boy

Starts thinking of all the worst case scenarios that could have happened to you

He basically leaps out of the bed, calling for Saeyoung

You hear him coming to the door and get ready to scare him

But before you can even jump out of your hiding spot behind the door- it swings open full force getting you right in the nose

“Owwww...Saeran...”

He hears your whining and pulls back the door to see you holding your bloody nose

“What the hell are you doing back there? Why didn’t you respond when I called you?”

“I was trying to prank you...”

A moment of silence for Saeran’s patience

“Bye.”

Steps back into your room and closes the door

Honestly really relieved you were okay, just embarrassed about how worried he was

Will come back out when he hears you in the bathroom taking care of your nose

“You’re not allowed to talk to my idiot brother again.”

“But Saerannnn”

Surprisingly very gentle when patching you up

#mysme #mystic messenger scenario #mystic messenger #mystic messenger headcanon #mystic messenger imagine #mysme imagine #mysme headcanon #mysme scenario #mysme saeyoung #mysme jaehee #mysme saeran #mysme jumin #mysme zen

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lonestarbabe · 5 years ago

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I was thinking while rewatching the scene where Owen saves TK in 1x10 that the words in the song they used during the scene (Unsteady by X Ambassadors) really fits that flashback scene at the start and the pieces of canon we're trying to fit together with this discussion over what happened with the Strand family after 9/11. Makes that scene feel extra powerful/impactful.

You are very right. I didn’t think of the lyrics before when I watched. I was too in the moment at the time, but going back, I see exactly what you mean. I definitely felt the emotional energy of the song right away because I went through a phase a bit ago when I listened to it on repeat because I felt Unsteady™️ and I connected to it. But now 🤯 I’m losing it as I think of the lyrics as they apply to the show because they fit so well, and you’re right it adds so much to an already emotional moment. 10/10 song choice.

Because my mind is in gear, let’s take a look at some of the lyrics:

“Hold onto me cause I’m a little unsteady” this one is the most prominent lyric and obviously fits the scene because of literal unsteadiness and literal holding on involved. Still perfect fit just not the galaxy brain moment because it’s so overt while the other lines are more subtle and therefore, kill me more as I listen now (omg the scene will forever be more powerful)

Now for the next lyrics. (Hold on I’m a little unsteady)

“Mama come here, approach, appear” well we don’t know much about TKs mother but it’s interesting because now that he’s an adult, she’s the distant one. She’s abroad for business and we didn’t see her at all while TK was in the hospital. I’m fact, we saw another woman in Owen’s life (which hmmm makes me think). This lyric is one sign of the complex and dynamic family situation TK and Owen had. Things have clearly shifted in the times since TK was a kid. TK’s dad is the one that is holding onto him in this time of his life, but I think as a kid his mother was much more present and so maybe he wants the maybe distant relationship between his mother to be not so distant while the relationship with his father still remaining close.

“Daddy, I’m alone cause this house don’t feel like home” that is a direct attack on my heart and ouch that feels exactly like the family dynamics we discussed. This lyric represents TK’s fears of his father letting him go and the abandonment he felt as a kid. As he played with his fire truck in 2001 (which connects to his dad, himself and the little boy who shot him in interesting ways), he was surrounded by his family but as his parents fought, he felt alone and like his home wasn’t really home because it lacked stability and probably shifted dramatically post 9/11. We see this echoed in the scene with the kid who shot him who has become isolated and quiet because of the trauma. The boy blames himself for hurting TK and maybe TK relates to that feeling. Maybe he blamed himself for the chaos in his house which is why he goes out of his way to reassure and uplift others because he doesn’t want them to feel the same unsteadiness. TK certainly felt lonely as he played by himself (it must feel good for him to have new siblings in the 126 😉). Back then it was just TK and his fire truck. He wa lacking a team to make the fire truck fully meaningful to him. The toy fire truck was then a way to keep his dad close, which reflects TK’s career doubts. He wonders if maybe he just wanted to be a firefighter so his dad would hold onto him (and maybe also so he could hold onto his dad even when his dad was on calls and in dangerous situations because he probably feared his dad’s safety and increased distance would make those feelings harder).

Or “if you love me don’t let go” owwww. This lyric shows that there’s still some part of TK that wants proof that he is loved. He still has doubts even as an adult. He wants his dad to hold onto him instead of walking away. I also am reaching too much with this, but it’s interesting that TK thanks his dad “for saving us” because the life of the woman in the bus was just as important to him as his own life. In many ways, saving the woman was also holding onto to TK because saving lives, particularly hers, is so intergral to who he is and losing that woman would have shaken him to his core. She was, to him, a test of whether saving lives was his calling. When he’s out of the us, TK’s dad physically embraces TK and holds onto him, which matches the lyrics, but he also lets him follow the woman into the ambulance, which metaphorically allows TK to hold onto himself and reconnect with the firefighter inside, the little boy playing with the fire tuck, and the person he’s always been but felt detached from after he was shot. By helping to save the woman and having his father be there to save him, TK is ultimately able to hold onto himself.

“Mother I know that you’re tired of being alone” this sounds so relevant too because TK’s mom basically had to take on the parental responsibilities completely because Owen detached from the family and thrust himself into work while TK’s mom tried to provide her son a sense of safety and stability. 9/11 must have been terrifying for TK so I imagine his dad dealing with mental health issues (probably) and working so much would have been incredibly hard for any child to face. It was altogether an awful situation where no one in the family was to blame but they are all part of the dysfunction. His parents were doing there best. They were trying to hold onto their family and their marriage, and I think in this case, divorce was the way to hold onto some semblance of happiness even if they had to let go of their nuclear family (which is no doubt hard to do and makes TK want to hold onto to what he has even more). His mother wants Owen to at least show up to TK’s birthday party, but again, she’s left alone in that respect. She was abandoned by Owen too, which would be hard as a presumably working woman trying to keep a whole family afloat while everything cracks around her. She’s desperately holding on but it’s left her feeling alone.

“Dad I know you’re tying to fight when you feel like flying” Owen is facing demons after 9/11. He probably has survivor’s guilt and is pushing himself to rebuild the fire station in a way that seems unhealthy and results in neglecting his family to some extent. He is fighting his own grief and trauma but he’s also trying to bring things back to normal by rebuilding. He fights TK’s mom at home and is filled with personal conflict but then as a firefighter he “flies” like a super hero and saves lives, which he can’t do again until he has healed. He can’t reach the high he feels when saving lives until he fights all that stands in his way. He builds something from nothing but the conflict remains. Owen wants to fly again so much that he focuses on his works. He wants to be back to his normal self but the ghosts of 9/11 are dragging him down. He must first work through his trauma before he can truly fly for his family and save them from their dysfunction because until he does, he’s only adding to the problems (even though again he’s not to blame fully because there are no villains in this). This lyric also plays into the present circumstances because Owen is fighting cancer, another wound of 9/11 that shows how enduring the attacks are in Owen’s life. He keeps a piece of the one tower as a reminder and we see him looking to it througout the season especially during times he’s challenged to fight some kind of personal or professional struggle. He hasn’t fully let go (nor should he) and there’s still this thing that keeps him down. He doesn’t want the cancer to get him down, but he struggles to do things that used to be easy. Again, he wants to fly, but sometimes it is better to be grounded. He has to learn when to not fly and instead fight his struggles on the ground because flying all the time won’t make him better. It won’t get rid of his sickness.

We can see the reflection of Owen in TK in this way. TK is an addict who wants to break through the gray and see colors that are the high and make him feel like he’s flying. He holds onto that need but like Owen did when TK was a child, TK is still sorting out what can give him those colors without destroying himself. He’s trying to find things to hold onto so he doesn’t get lost in the dark abyss of self-discovery.

TLDR: this is why I should not be awake at 1:54 am. I’m really sorry for this likely nonsensical ramble.

#911 lone star #asks #Strand Family Dynamics #strand family dynamics #💖💖💖#omg i am actually insane #el rambles #911 lone star takes #long #Season 1 #meta

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