#Jingti

[nivenus]

Something I've been working on for awhile and finally finished:

HAIDIÀN

Located on a small volcanic island near the equator, Haidiàn is the capital of Qingxing, also known as Gliese 105 A.02, as well as its largest city, though it posseses a population of only 70,000 permanent residents. Divided into five main districts, the city is composed of a mix of prefab colonial structures from the early settlement to larger buildings constructed in the decades since. Most buildings in the city are designed to float in case of flooding and many residents use amphibious vehicles rather than gyrocars for this reason.

Although Haidiàn isn't a major vacation spot, the tourism industry has been growing for some time and as a result there are a number of amenities available for visitors, from hotels to five star restaurants to mid-priced brothels.

PLANETARY INFORMATION

GLIESE 105 A.02 (QINGXING) Location: Outer Veil, Taotie Sector Affiliation: Independent Core Systems Colonies, Jĭngtì Lóng Classification: Terrestrial planet (oceanic) Climate: Breathable atmosphere, tropical weather, typhoons, mildly acidic oceans Temperature: 20°C Terrain: Vast oceans, atolls, volcanic islands Colonies: Haidián, Dàdao, Tamaki Hou, Kaoh Veng Population: 500,000 colonists, roughly 30,000 transients Key Resources: Aquaculture, mariculture, fossil fuels, bio-research

First settled in 2104, Gliese 105 A.02, also known as Qingxing, is an ocean-covered planet interspersed with a series of small to large islands, where the vast majority of settlements are located, though some are built directly on the sea floor or as floating habitats. Most of the planet's islands are barely over 100 meters above sea level, which makes flooding a constant risk even in settlements with a firm foot on "dry" land. Complicating matters is the fact that the planet's ganglial net formations have rendered the surface of the ocean mildly acidic, making construction and even transportation difficult. As a result the colony has experienced consistently slow growth, despite its otherwise very high habitability.

Before the Dog War, Jingti Lóng established Gliese 105 A.02 as a Chinese colony under the administration of the China / Asian Nations Cooperative or CANC. During the War, however, Jingti Lóng split from the Cooperative and defected to the United Americas and Three World Empire, pulling control of the planet and the rest of the Gliese 105 system away from China. Not long after this, Jingti Lóng and Hyperdyne Systems established the Independent Core Systems Colonies. Today, the system is almost completely under the control of the Jingti Lóng Corporation itself.

Qingxing is most notable as a scientific research site, the center of a major Geholgod Institute investigation into the ganglial nets, an unexplained xenobiological phenomenon that has been located on a handful of ocean worlds throughout the Middle Heavens. In addition to this, Qingxing is the center of a major petroleum extraction operation under one of Jingti Lóng's subsidiaries and a growing aquaculture industry, primarily for local consumption.

[unforthfantranslations]

Page 10

Chinese text:

Top box: 诸天仙神此十分警惕害怕再遭贬谪的谢怜会心魔大起报复苍生，

Bottom box: 可谁知这一回，谢怜认真地在凡间讨生活，

My translation:

Top box: These gods and immortals were certainly vigilant. They were afraid that the banished Xie Lian would be lost in his passions and retaliate against the common people,

Bottom box: but who would have known that this time, Xie Lian would conscientiously seek a living drifting through the mortal/secular world?

New-to-Me Vocabulary:

警惕 - jingti - on guard against, vigilant, watch out for

心魔 - xinmo - "the mara-robbers of the mind," about equivalent to "the passions" in English (according to Pleco, anyway, this isn't my editorializing, it's theirs)

大起 - daqi - older/old (I have no idea what this is doing in this sentence or what it means *sweat drop* )

报复 - baofu - make reprisals, retaliate

苍生 - cangsheng - common people

凡间 - fanjian - mortal world/secular world

讨生活 - tao shenghuo - to seek a living, to drift along aimlessly - the two meanings are separate in Pleco, but given how Xie Lian is, I think the implication of both is important in the word choice, so I tried to get that into the English.

-

Introduction | Prev. Page | Next Page (coming 6/29)

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 18/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Series: Part 1 of Mao Mao: The Hero Without an Arm Summary:

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

 Jǐngti didn’t know what to do. Mom would be coming soon; he should be stayed back at his dad’s, so she could find him. It was the right thing to do. Maybe that was why he wasn’t doing it. The infinitely tall pines loomed overhead, blanketing the sky with green needles as they did the same to the floor. He wandered, unsure of what to do, or where to go. Its said that felines have some sort of homing instinct, canine too, out of all the things he could have inherited from either of his parents why wasn't it something useful? I would be more useful than his magic that was (just like everything else about him) half-baked.

 What was he going to do?

 Jǐngti stopped walking. He pulled back, crouching down low. Like a spring he shot into the air, latching onto the tree’s thick bark. He didn’t need to use his claws.The tiny crevices fit his fingers snugly. It was easy, almost second nature, to start climbing up and up and up. The pine brush above wasn’t as soft as the carpet below.

 He crashed through the green shroud, his eyes stinging more than usual at the bright light. The sky was dark with hues of deep purple and orange painting the sun half-hidden over the horizon. Was it night? No, the air was too cold. The night was ending, and now it was warming thanks to the dawn.

 At least it made it easy to tell directions. The sun rises in the east, so the distant town would be in the west, and the mountain where his father lived would be past that in the mountains. He knew where he was, now he just needed to know where to go. He waited, and waited, and waited, expecting the answer to come to him naturally, but everything seemed to flee.

 All this freedom and no idea what to do with it.

 He sighed. A deep disheartening feeling enclosed around his chest. He shoulda just sucked it up and stayed, or maybe he should’ve headed back to the junkyard. He grabbed onto the trunk and slid back down the upper brush of pines, siting on a thick branch. Moving over he grabbed onto the truck again, but when he looked towards the forest floor he realized that it was actually pretty far. Climbing up was easy enough, but who’s to say he wouldn’t make a mistake on the way down? Always landing on your feet didn’t matter when you'd break your legs anyway.

 He sat back down on the branch, unable to find the will to try and get down.

 Time blended together until the sun was dead overhead. It was now noon And there was no way to get back down. Until he heard something. It was weird. Kind of like a fwoosh-like thing. It kind of sounded like an aero-vehicle nearby. His first thought was it was his dad on the stupid motorcycle thing. Instead, he shielded his eyes from something flying overhead.

 His eyes stung from the flyby alone, and it only got worse when it doubled back around. He shielded his eyes again and looked away from the break in the canopy; he didn’t notice the thing flying down towards him until it was right in his face. Despite looking right at it, it took a second for his vision to come back. His first reaction was to move back down the branch, pressing his back against the tree’s trunk.

 The first though to run through his mind was what was his father doing here? Then, he realized his mistake. It wasn’t his father. His face was a bit more angular, lies and wrinkles a bit sharper, and his fur greyed with age. Donning a suit of armor that was golden as his eyes, was a cat Jǐngti didn’t recognize. He looked down at him with the same way one might a pitiable, albeit disgusting stray.

 Which, to be fair, Jǐngti was.

 “Are you okay?” The stranger’s voice was deep and familiar like he heard it somewhere before.

 Jǐngti kept quiet.

 The stranger didn’t repeat his question. He titled his head, looking at him quizzically. “How old are you,” he asked.

 Jǐngti still said nothing.

 “Are you stuck,” he asked.

 Jǐngti looked up and away from him.

 The stranger didn’t ask another question. He grabbed onto Jǐngti and slowly descended to the forest floor where he let him go. Jǐngti knew he probably should have said thank you, instead he avoided looking at the stranger’s face some more. There was something wrong with this guy. Something he didn’t like. Sure, the golden armor was gauche, his voice sounded like a magistrate with infinitely better things to do that extend a child’s sentence, but there was something more he knew he just didn’t fucking like.

 “Excuse me, but are you lost?”

 Could he tell how old he was? Jǐngti shook his head.

 “So you know your way around here?”

 Jǐngti nodded his head.

 “You wouldn’t happen to know where someone named Mao Mao lives, would you?”

 His head snapped up, and he looked at the stranger again. Who was this? Who on earth would want to speak with      him?    “Who are you,” he asked.

 “Me?” The stranger put his hands on his hips, striking a confident pose.”I’m Shin Mao.”

 Jǐngti felt like he got punched in the stomach. He had to put his hands on his knees as he coughed and gasped for breath.

 “Are you okay,” Shin Mao asked, although Jǐngti barely heard it.

 “Okay, so you wouldn’t happen to be related to Mao Mao, right,” he asked.

 “I am.”

 “How!” Jǐngti cleared his throat and repeated in a more measured tone. “How?”

 “I’m his father.”

 Another punch to the gut. This was his grandfather! How weird was that? He couldn’t ever remember his dad speaking about. He kind of assumed Mao Mao was an orphan, but this… he could work with. He stood up and straightened himself out, running his hands across his face to wipe away his expression and put on something a bit more clean, appealing even. Something he imagined that fox Rufus would use when pulling a scam.

 “You needed help finding Mao Mao, yes?”

 “Yes,” Shin Mao said, despite the obvious apprehension.

 “I was heading there anyway. You can come with me if you like.” It was phrased like a question, but Jǐngti had grabbed his grandfather’s hand to lead him away.

 * * *

       Evidently, Shin Mao could fly, but he didn’t. He walked behind with heavy, thumping, metallic footsteps. It wasn’t hard to find his way back to the town. A little before noon, and they were already at the fountain plaza. Despite the Sweetipies usual aloofness(maybe it would be better to say vapid) selves they took interest. They crowded in corners and shadows. There was a strange and unnatural silence to everything. They were looking a little too high for it to be him. They were looking at Shin Mao.

       Even if they weren’t looking at him, he didn’t like it. Not one bit. Ominous eyes, watching them from the seemingly vacant streets. Staring. They were all just staring. It's why he stuck to the back roads and far away from the main streets. The way they so garish showed the whites of their eyes at him made him feel...

       He just didn’t like the stares, even if he should be used to them.

       Shin Mao leaned down over to him as they walked. “Are they uh… citizens okay?”

       “They’re always fucking weird so...” Jǐngti shrugged to finish his sentence.

       They continued walking for some time. Jǐngti pretended that he simply got turned around on the way (which ironically did happen halfway through) as he mulled a certain question over. Should he ask Shin about his father? He’d never even thought about his family past his parents. There were vague memories of questions. A curious child’s poking and prodding at his mother and his father. His mother glossed over the question telling him about the family in details he could no longer remember. He couldn’t remember what his father said either, but he distinctly remembered his reaction.

       He was young, little more than a kitten who even Mao Mao managed to tower over, barely used to speaking in a voice he had no confidence with. They were by a river. His father was doing something while he splashed away in the river like a child. Inevitably, he got wet, cold, and worst of all, bored.  He stopped splashing moving back to the bank where his father was washing clothes.

       Maybe it was because he was washing clothes that he didn’t mind it when he hopped into his lap despite being soaking wet. He watched him do chores before getting bored of that, too. Eventually, he flipped over and looked his father in the eye before asking a single question.

       “Do you have any family?” He wasn’t used to speaking. The words tumbled out, tripping over his lips.

       “I have you and your mother,” he said.

       “What about like, brothers, sisters, fathers?”

       Jǐngti won’t forget the way his father stopped. Rigid, like a stone, he stared off into space without blinking. He watched  a piece of clothing slipped from his hands and down the river. Still, his father didn’t move. He stayed like that for what seemed like forever, and right when Jǐngti was getting worried his father snapped back to reality.

       “What was that,” he asked like the conversation didn’t grind to a halt.

       “Nothing,” Jǐngti said.

       He never asked his father that question again. Why would he when that was how he reacted? It made it oh so tempting to just go ahead and ask about it now. Jǐngti turned to Shin Mao who was still walking beside him.

       “So, uh, you’re Mao Mao’s dad, right?”

       Shin eyed him weirdly. “Yeah.”

       “What was he like,” he added for clarification,” when he was younger, I mean.”

       Shin frowned, eyes turning up, and he scratched his chin. “Well, he was… very quiet. One of those kids that was almost always seen and never heard. He was super reserved, too. Well together and composed. I don’t think he ever made a scene, not even a tantrum when he was a toddler.”

       Jǐngti surprised the urge to laugh. The thought of Mao Mao -the walking, talking shit show of a person- not causing trouble seems like a bad joke. It wouldn’t have even been so funny if Shin wasn’t saying it with his whole chest. Jǐngti swallowed the laughter down, listening to Shin go on and on about someone Jǐngti had never met. It was funny at first, but quickly became significantly less so. Shin Mao described someone who was clam and levelheaded. An apathetic isolationist who you could forget even existed.

       Jǐngti was able to entertain the idea that his father had somehow changed since he left home. It was a perfectly natural thing for people to do. However, as they crossed the crest of the foothill, Shin Mao said something that made him trip.

       “I never expected him to leave home when he did,” Shin Mao said,” I remember when I heard nearly spitting out my drink when I heard Mao Mao left to be an adventurer He never partook in family trainings or anything. I never would’ve thought he wanted to become a hero.”

       It reached a point where Jǐngti had to say something. “I think we might’ve gotten our wires crossed.”

       “What do you mean?”

       “I think we’re talking about two different people.      I’m    talking about Mao Mao. Short black cat, one arm, wears a stupid cape all the time.”

       “So am I -wait, stupid cape, what does that- you know, what? Never mind. We’re talking about the same Mao Mao, and you’re still leading me to his home, right?”

       Jǐngti didn’t know what would happen when Shin and Mao Mao finally met. Maybe they’d hug. Maybe they’d fight. Regardless, he knew it would be a shitshow.

 * * *

       They crossed the crest of the hill and home was right in front of him. The sky was gray and clouding over. He could smell the rain on his nose and feel the lightning in his fur. He’d have to find someplace to stay after this was over He stood back and watched Shin Mao clomp up to the building in that heavy metal suit. He stopped just short of the porch before turning around.

       “I can’t do this,” he said.

       “What?” Jǐngti protested,” Why not? You’re already here, so just go ahead and knock.”

       “I can’t do that.”

       “Yeah you can. Just make a fist, and punch the door.”

       “You know damn well that’s not what I meant.”

       “Then what did you mean?”

       Shin welled up, bringing up his shoulders and his chest, like he was going to shout something. Instead, the tension left him like someone had pulled the plug. H breathed out a heavy sigh and sat on the steps to his son’s home.

       “It isn’t that simple,” he said.

       “Why isn’t it?”

       Shin was about to say something, but a pained sigh came out, instead of words. “It’s… we… aren’t exactly on the best terms. It's like every time we meet it just devolves into arguing.”

       Jǐngti crossed his arms. “Why?”

       “I don’t know!” Shin’s voice carried over the rolling hills. An echo that fell into the silence. He crumpled back down, holding his face in his hands. “I just don’t know. Things just go to shit every single time.”

       “He doesn’t even want me to visit him in the hospital. Did you know he even attacked me once?”

       “Did he ever tell you why he did that?”

       “He said it was something like, not paying attention to him. That I knew nothing about my own son, but-”

       “You don’t.”

       Shin turned to Jǐngti. “What are you-”

       “You don’t. You know nothing about him.”

       “Yes I do!”

       “You really don’t. The Mao Mao you described to me is nothing like the real one. Do you even know he’s missing an arm?”

       “Of course.”

       “Did you know that before or after you visited him the first time in his adult life?”

       Shin Mao went quiet at that. Jǐngti threw his hands up in the air and turned around. Things were beginning to sound familiar. Too familiar for Jǐngti’s taste. Like it was a giant fucking joke. Puzzle pieces fit together to from one grotesque family picture.

 He turned back around when he heard the door open. Not surprising considering they were yelling on the front porch. Badgerclops stood there. He had an uncharacteristic frown on his face that only deepened when saw Shin. Jǐngti thought he could hear someone ask,” what’s going on?” from inside but Badgeclops slammed the door shut behind him.

       “What the hell are you doing here,” he asked.

       “Me or him,” Jǐngti asked in return

       “Both of you.”

       “I don’t know about the gold motherfucker over there, but I was going to bring I’m to meet Mao Mao and enjoy the chaos, but goddamn even I’m above      this    .” Jǐngti turned around and started walking. “I wash my hands of this shit because I am fucking done.”

       “Hang on.” Badgerclops hurried from the porch to scoop Jǐngti into his arms.

       “Nope. Stop.” Jǐngti wiggled and wiggled but couldn’t break free.

       “Relax,” Badgerclps said,” I’m only holding onto you until your mom comes to pick you up. Besides, you’re way too young to be on your own.”

       “And you.” He turned to Shin,” you’re not welcome here. Leave before I arrest you for trespassing.” Badgerclops didn’t wait for Shin to say anything. He just slammed the door behind them.

       Inside was dark enough for Jǐngti to see without light blinding him. The TV  dimly glowed with some meaningless program. His father lied on the couch like an equally meaningless thing.

       “What was that,” he asked.

       “It was nothing,” Badgerclops said,” no one at all.”

[thedailycampix]

That darn @welcome-to-limbo mod spammed my dear Animal Crossing Campix to a bunch of people in the community

like a nuisance

SO I DID THIS AS PAYBACK

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS ISN’T PAYBACK IT’S DEFINITELY PAYBACK

[flame-shadow]

I love this spoopy gengar, so here’s some fanart!

@welcome-to-limbo

I turned off the body layers and

awesome.

[gregnas-the-grouch]

i throw you Stevens for the meme :V

Subject: Inquisitor Candidate

Person of Interest: Jingti de

To our most honorary Exemplar

As you're no doubt aware, fresh recruits are always welcomed. But few rarely pass the qualifications. Able in body, but their enthusiasm surpasses their wit and observational skills. However, I noticed one notable individual. Jingti de. A Scrafty of notable intellect and shrewdness. She has no Bone Grinder heritage to speak of, a family from the Stone Cutter Clan several generations ago. Integrated into our clan for safety. A bit on the small size for our usual standards. As far as corruption goes, she's as clean as a whistle.

We're both aware of the danger necromancy and the Ethereal Clan posses to us. The last attack from them came at an inopportune time. With the wet season having just passed, we were still licking our wounds from the Flesh Ripper Clan, only for the curs to attack at our weakest. It's a wonder our first line of defense still held. Especially given the long line of sabotage from within the kingdom. Which is why I propose Jingti de's induction into the organization. She's a survivor from when the Ethereal Clan first made itself known, so her survival skills are already exceptional. Plus her hatred towards them could be honed into a finely tuned weapon. Blind hatred is all fine and good, but refining that into a purpose, a sense of direction, that is what really counts.

Plenty of blades to point out of the walls. But do we have enough eyes on the inside to snuff out the taint of undeath? I leave that to your discretion.

Sincerely,

Jue

[oldadvertising]

Take a firm stand, never forget class struggle-Raise battle awareness, hold the revolutionary gun tight in one's hand by chineseposters.net

Designer: Zhang Xueyin (张雪茵) 1969, March Take a firm stand, never forget class struggle-Raise battle awareness, hold the revolutionary gun tight in one's hand Zhanwen lichang, bu wang jieji douzheng-tigao jingti, jinwo geming qianggan (站稳立场，不忘阶级斗争-提高警惕，紧握革命枪杆) Call nr.: BG E15/149 (Landsberger collection)

More? See: chineseposters.net

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 16/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Mao Mao/Tanya Keys, Mao mao/badgerclops

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

Direct AO3 Link: XXX

The chilly wind rolled over the grass and blew through Mao Mao’s fur. Maybe living out in the middle of these hills wasn’t the best idea. The lack of vegetation meant no heat was locked in making night terribly cold. Mao Mao didn’t mind. It was like the cold chill of eating a mint wrapped around his entire body. He could focus on that instead of the thoughts swimming in his head.

Mao Mao sat himself down on a grassy knoll, far, far from home. From here, he could see the entire kingdom. The forest stretched on like an endless sea of trees. The junkyard was dark and quiet as his enemies slept.  HQ was just a tiny yellow dot he could barely see. The city slept quietly with the sweetipies. The Ruby Pure Heart itself, sat atop the spire emanating a perverse pink glow.

Strange. It didn’t always do that, did it? He scratched his chin wondering if it was also glowing during the day. Regardless, it was certainly bright as shit tonight. Speaking of light pollution Mao Mao looked up. It was easy to forget that the night sky was not actually black. It sang in hues of deep purple and blue. It was beautiful. Just not beautiful enough.

Terrible thoughts kept intruding on his peace. They whispered in his ear how much everyone hates him. How he hurt Tanya and Jǐngtì: his own family. How he was irresponsible and irredeemable. Given enough time he was sure he’d hurt Adorabat too. It's not like he can do anything else.

Maybe it was time to move on. He could pack his things and hit the road again, leave his problems here and see what else he could screw up in other parts of the world. He couldn’t stay here. The guilt was just too much to bear; it was physically painful. He clutched the severed stump of his arm from the fiery pain, pulling his hand black to see if it was bleeding despite it long being healed. The fresh wound in his stomach hurt with a nauseating pain that felt like it was bleeding again.

Maybe he deserved the pain. No. He definitely deserved the pain. It didn’t compare to half of the things he’s inflicted on others. Mao Mao fell back, lying in the grass as he pondered. What is justice? If he hazard a guess he would say wrong actions being punished . But what is wrong? Stealing is wrong, and thus deserves to be punished, but what is punishment? It's apparently not straightforward. Stealing is wrong, but you can’t apply the same punishment to two different people, otherwise, justice becomes wrong, and… what then? Who or what becomes justice?

Maybe his father was right not to keep him out of it. He couldn’t even wrap his mind around the basic concepts, let alone do his job well, although it's not like he has the skills to do anything else. Maybe that’s why everything he does goes wrong. Because he is wrong.

It was a sobering thought. It felt kind of like a cold splash of water, or maybe a punch to the face he didn’t stop. He was wrong; he was the Villain of this story, but if that were the case, then who's the Hero?

There was something hovering in front of his face, or maybe it was someone. It was a face, but it was blank and featureless, masterfully crocheted out of pink string or twine. Despite this, Mao Mao never moved. Was this sleep paralysis? He hadn’t had it happen to him since childhood, but it would be disgustingly on brand for it to show up now, and he supposed that this was his sleep paralysis demon. To give credit to his own mind, it was rather unsettling. The stings shifted as it pulled back its arm and brandished its claws, five fingers that ended in needle fine points.

The claw came rushing at him, judging from the trajectory, it was going for his neck. The masochist in him welcomed this, he folded his arms over his chest and waited for the hallucination to be over. The claw came rushing at him, judging from the trajectory, it was going for his neck. Sleep paralysis rarely lasts more than a second, after all, but Mao Mao noticed something odd.

How’d he move his arms?

This was supposed to be sleep Paralysis . He wiggled his ears just to be sure, and yep, he could still move. If he could move then that means that this wasn’t sleep paralysis and if this wasn’t sleep paralysis then that thing wasn’t a hallucination, and the claw coming at his neck was very real.

The claws cleaved the dirt where once was. He had rolled to the side, springing to his feet with a sword in his only hand. It was only a graze, but he could feel blood dripping down his neck. The monster followed him with its eyeless face, it cocked its head to the sides, as if confused, before standing up on the spindly spikes it called legs.

It stepped forward to take another swipe. Mao Mao pulled at Geraldine, finding her stuck in her sheath. He neglected to take care of her, and now he was paying for it. The demon swiped again, but Mao Mao stabbed Geraldine into the ground and tugged with a step forward. Geraldine cleaved a golden arc across the monster’s chest.

Instead of being sprayed with blood, Mao Mao was met with strings like he cut into a pillow. The monster stumbled back, but the string moved of its own accord. They moved like worms, knotting themselves together and wrapping themselves back up. The monster fell forward, whatever damage he’d done was already gone.  Was the wound too shallow?

The monster kept swinging, Mao Mao blocked high, he blocked low. He parried at his midsection and stabbed forward. His sword went straight through, he could see the frayed string, but something was wrong. There wasn’t a change in feel. He didn’t break the skin, bite into muscle, pierce through organs, and back out the other side.

It was just more string.

The frayed bits of string began to mend. It was healing around the sword! Mao Mao jostled his sword, wiggling it free, and falling back. He scrambled back to his feet away from the claws that raked the dirt. It was hard to move. So hard. His fur stood on end, Geraldine shook in his hands, and there was a searing pain in his side. He’d heard that rain could aggravate old wounds, but the stars were almost as bright as the Ruby Pure Heart. The only other reason an old wound would be aching was if the one who gave it was nearby, but that… might not be totally impossible.

Mao Mao squinted, trying to get a good look. He might’ve seen it before. The only things that came to mind were vague half-drunken memories. He’s been blackout drunk many times, but the fact the aching hole in his side did give Mao Mao a clue. Badgerclops did hint at something else happening that day. First, he fought Jǐngtì. After that, he fought Shin Mao. Finally, he fought this… thing.

What was standing in front of him now was an indescribable existence. What was he supposed to do? Every time the strings would sew themselves together like God was stitching it himself. The monster stepped forward and Mao Mao stepped back. What else was he supposed to do? His hero training had no advice, and even if it did Mao Mao was sure he’d fuck it up like everything else. He kept backing away, stumbling over his own tail. What was wrong with him. Sweat pooled inside his gloves, he could hear his heart thundering in his head, and it was getting hard to breathe. Was this a stroke? Was his wish coming at the worst possible time?

No. This was a primal childish urge that made his teeth chatter, his pulse rise to the heavens, and heart sink to the depths.

It was fear.

Mao Mao was used to soldiering through things with balls bursting with bravado, and if that couldn’t work then anger usually sufficed but this... He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t fight this. This featureless creature shambling towards him wasn’t a monster. It was something out of those scary stories he read under the blanket at night. It was something out of a Mr. Din Danalin horror movie. It was an unkillable demon that belonged in nightmares. He wanted to lash out. To strike this thing down, but he could barely stand.

All he could do was hold his sword in his mouth, get down on all fours, and run.

* * *

Badgerclops sat on the couch. There was nothing odd about that; what was odd was what he was doing. He didn’t have the controller in his hands. The TV wasn’t even on. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, resting his chin on clasped together hands. He was thinking about what to do. Jǐngtì was sleeping in the other room and he didn’t know what to do with the boy next. Probably wait for Tanya to get him, but getting him to stay one night was a task and a half. Then there’ Mao Mao. Badgerclops rubbed his temples and groaned. What to do with that dumpster-fire? Jǐngtì wouldn’t tolerate being under the same roof as him, so Mao Mao couldn’t stay at HQ. On the other hand, Badgerclops really didn’t want to let him out of his sight. That was a problem waiting to happen.

The front door slammed shut. Badgerclops looked up to see Mao Mao scurrying into the bedroom. Badgerclops extended his arm with a sigh, picking the cat up and holding him out in front of him.

“You certainly took your sweet-”

Badgerclops stopped himself short. There was something off about Mao Mao.  More off than usual, at least. His fur was puffed up, he stank of sweat, and his chest was still heaving. His arms were clutched close to his chest. He held his sword in one hand, but the sheath wasn’t at his hip.

“What happened,” Badgerclops asked.

“There’s a demon outside,” he croaked.

Color him surprised, Mao Mao came across a monster he couldn’t kill. It would’ve been funny if the idea of something like that wasn’t so viscerally terrifying. Badgerclops got up from the couch to peek through the curtains. It was oddly pink outside, which was weird, but there was nothing there. He checked the window near the door and the checked backyard kitchen window. At that point Badgerclops was confident enough to step onto the porch and look around.

Still pink. Still nothing.

“I don’t see any monster,” he said.

“Not a monster. A demon,” Mao Mao corrected.

Badgerclops folded his arms. “I know that you know there’s no such thing as a demon.”

“What? Demons exist. There was literally one outside.”

Badgerclops huffed a sigh. He knew the cat was a lot of things: depressed, violent, traumatized, horrible for starters. Might as well add superstitious to that list.  He leaned closer to Mao Mao, looking at the side of his sclera. There were frazzled red veins poking out from the side.

“I think you just had a nightmare,” Badgerclops said,” don’t sleep outside, dude.”

“What? I didn’t have a nightmare-”

Badgerclops thrust a finger to his lips. “Shhh, your son is sleeping in the other room.”

Mao Mao slowed to a stop, quickly diverting his eyes to the floor. Badgerclops pulled away only to reach for Mao Mao when he tried to poke his head into the bedroom. “Don’t go back there! I barely got him to go to bed.”

“He’s not there.”

Badgerclops head snapped up. “What?”

“He’s not there,” Mao Mao repeated.

“What do you mean he’s not there.”

“Jǐngtì… he’s… not here.”

Badgerclops pushed Mao Mao out of the way. The blankets on the bottom bunk had been thrown aside; a cold draft blew through the open window. Badgerclops slammed it shut with a loud Slam! . A mistake. He forgot Adorabat was still sleeping. He could hear the child mumble, but Mao Mao scratched her behind the ears and lulled her back to sleep.

Badgerclops pinched the bridge of his nose. It was late, he was tired, and he was letting frustration win. He looked up when Mao Mao placed a supportive hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

Badgerclops slowly turned to face him. The frustration he just forced down was boiling back up. He stood up, took a deep breath, and was this close to yelling before he caught himself. He grabbed Mao Mao and dragged him out of the bedroom, into the living room, and into the kitchen where he was sure he wouldn’t disturb Adorabat.

“What’s going-”

He cut Mao Mao off. “What the hell is wrong with you,” he hissed,” it doesn’t matter how capable you think he is! He’s still a child! You don’t just let them do what they want! You don’t let him room with criminals, you don’t let him wander off on his own, and you don’t put him in jail. He’s barely old enough to play outside without adult supervision. You can be as weird and fucked up as you want, but don’t push the same shit onto your kid.”

Mao Mao stepped back, finding himself trapped in between a corner and an angry badger. Badgerclops didn’t know what to expect from Mao Mao. It certainly wasn’t for Mao Mao’s emotions to boil over and leak out in the form of tears. Immediately, Badgerclops felt like shit.

“Listen, Mao Mao,” he started, but couldn’t finish.

“No. No. It's fine… I’m… I’m…”

Mao Mao stepped past Badgclops. He trudged his way to the couch and listlessly fell onto it. He grabbed his cape and pulled it over his head like it was a blanket. Mao Mao stayed there, a little curled up dough ball, quietly crying itself to sleep.

Badgerclops sat at the kitchen table and put his hands on his face.

What to do? What to do?

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 8/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

AN:  Ho boy, this chapter was longer than I expected (again) so this is again going to be split into two parts. So, the title won't make the most sense. I've been putting off uploading it for.... reasons. Regardless, this chapter has very little Mao Mao in it, instead I focused a bit more on comedy. I feel that we need some light-hearted fun after Mao Mao's nonsense. The song recommendation here is Queens of The Stone Age - Go With The Flow. As always, follow @spookylovesboba on Tumblr/twitter/youtube, and enjoy the chapter.

Direct Link to chapter 8 on AO3: XXXXX

What happened?

That was the only question in Badgerclops mind as he picked up the broken pieces of wood. Headquarters was a wreck. The front door had been smashed to pieces, along with a large part of the wall. The TV was broken, which sucks. What doubly sucked was that their couch, Sofia they called it, had fluff flowing like blood. The destruction went through the entire HQ. Not even the dojo was spared. Axes, maces, spears, swords, knives, and arrows sticking out of the walls and floors like the spines on a porcupine.  

And it was all on Badgerclops to clean it up. He didn’t even have Adorabat to help him. She wouldn’t leave Mao Mao’s side, besides, he didn’t want to bring a hyperactive 5-year-old to this tetanus factory. At least his metal hand couldn’t get splinters. It made gathering all the broken pieces of wood much easier. What wouldn’t be so easy was the repairs. The windows were broken, and duct tape might fix the sofa. Duct tape wouldn’t fix the broken equipment in the garage. He couldn’t even salvage any tapes because those were torn apart, too!

What the hell happened?

Badgerclops didn't have time to wonder because the monster alarm began blaring throughout the house. Fine by him, he hated cleaning up. He slid down the pole to the garage, hopping onto the aerocycle. It roared to life despite the damage. Riding the adrocycle alone, Badgerclops couldn’t help but think that it seemed… bigger. He ignored the feeling. Badgerclops revved the engines and slammed right into the garage. His face left a nice imprint on the metal shutters.

“Oh, come on! How did you manage to break the fucking garage, too!” he screamed, clutching his bloody nose.

He blasted a hole in the garage with his laser-cannon (he was going to need to fix the garage anyway) and rocketed towards the valley.

* * *

Badgerclops landed in the valley plaza. Sweetipies were in a panic, running around like chickens with no heads. Muffins was hiding in her bakery, Pinky was throwing bricks through the windows of said bakery. Pinky may be worse than smallpox, but he couldn’t cause this much chaos. At least, not often.

Badgerclops thoughts were cut short, quickly stepping out the way of a laser bolt that left a black stain on the ground.

“Fear me!” Orangusnake yelled, firing a laser tool at the valley. “The Ruby Pure Heart belongs to the Sky Pirates.”

Where’d he even get a piece of heavy artillery?

The entire group stood on one of the roofs with their laser cannon. While the piece of artillery was concerning what was sitting next to it made him open his right eye. The cybernetics zoomed-in, identifying Jǐngtì with a yellow danger outline. If he was half as strong as his father he’d be trouble. More worrisome was that fighting Jǐngtì could anger Mao Mao, and that man had earned his red danger outline.

Badgerclops didn’t think he’d be trouble. Jǐngtì looked less than thrilled. He sat down with his feet dangling over the edge, the purple bandana over his face as he looked off into the distance. Badgerclops hoped it stayed that way.

Badgerclops turned his hand into a megaphone. “Attention all Sky Pirates under the authority of the Pure Hart Sheriff, please kick yourselves out before we do it for you!”

“Like you have that authority! You aren’t the sheriff,” Orangusnake yelled back.

“What! Of course, I do. I’m the sheriff!”

“No. Mao Mao’s the sheriff. You’re just a… cop, I guess.”

“I can be the sheriff, too!”

“I don’t think you can.”

“Listen, I’m not gonna take this from someone who can’t tie their own shoes.”

“Actually,” Jǐngtì spoke up from the sidelines,” Orangusnake’s right. There is only one sheriff per county, which considering Mao Mao’s head law officer of this entire kingdom it would make more sense to call him police commissioner or maybe chief of police. While he is right in saying there can only be one sheriff, it doesn’t make sense to call Mao Mao a sheriff.”

Orangusnake raised an eyebrow,” where’d you even learn that?”

“Learned a lot of law stuff in prison, but fun facts about law enforcement doesn’t matter. We’re here to take the Ruby Pure Heart not shoot the shit with a cop,” said with a roll of his eyes.  

“Right, and their precious, little sheriff isn’t here to stop us!”

“That’s because he’s in the hospital,” Badgerclops answered.

“Oh, is he going to be okay?”

“Camille said he should be out in a week.”

“Tell him I wish him well.”

“You do know that your villains and he’s the sheriff, right?”

Orangusnake squinted his eyes. The gears in his head slowly turning as he realized the problem. “Uh… I hope he stays in the hospital?”

“Wow, going to say that you hope he stays in the hospital when his son is right there? That’s so mean. I think you owe him an apology,” Badgerclops said, exaggerating every expression with a thespian flare.

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

Jǐngtì rubbed his temples. “Orangusanke, for the love of God, don’t listen to the cop.”

“Okay, geez… don’t have to be so mean about it.”

While messing with them was fun Badgerclops figured it was time to move on. He charged his arm cannon and pointed it at the group. “Hey, Jǐngtì can you move to the right.”

“Fuck off.”

“...Hey Sky Pirates, can you move to the left?”

“Okay,” they said in unison.

As soon as they moved away from Jǐngtì Badgerclops took the shot. The blue energy blast taking them -and a sizeable chunk of the roof- flying over the horizon.

“What did I just say,” Jǐngtì screamed at the speck flying over the horizon.

“Give it a rest Daddy-Issues.”

“Yeah, I know. Banging my head against a brick wall," Jǐngtì muttered, "why aren’t they in prison?"

"They are surprisingly stubborn,"

“We’re okay,” was heard echoing over hills, right one cue.

Badgerclops gestured for Jǐngtì to come down. Jǐngtì simply gave him the middle finger. Badgerclops crossed his arms and gestured again. Jǐngtì turned away, refusing to look him in the eye, but Badgerlcops kept staring at him. The silence stretched on for five minutes before Jǐngtì relented with an exasperated sigh. He pushed himself off the roof, dropping to the ground with deceptive grace. He certainly was more dexterous than his mother, perhaps his father, too. Badgerclops’ cybernetics made note of that.

“What do you want,” he spat.

“Nothing, I just wanna check on you,” Badgerclops said in a white-lie.

Jǐngtì seemed to notice something was up. He cocked his head to the side and looked Badgerclops up and down, ear twitching while he thought, his paw dangerously close to that golden dagger. Was he going to attack?

Badgerclops jumped when Jǐngtì suddenly crossed his arms. “Why,” he asked.

“Cause your father would be devastated if anything happened to you.”

Another half-truth.

“Fine. What do you want to ask?”

“Nothing, just come with me,” Badgerclops said.

Jǐngtì gave him a dismissive wave of the paw but followed behind Badgerclops anyway.

First, Badgerclops had to do the normal formalities and procedures. He normally the official nonsense to Mao Mao. Shame the bootlicking stickler wasn’t here. First was the piece of artillery. Badgerclops could tell it was old and those idiots probably couldn’t modify any cannons the airship had. Could they?

“Hey, Daddy-Issues! Know where they got this?”

“In one of the trash piles at the junkyard.”

What the hell was this doing in the junkyard? Questions for later. Right now, he should take a page out of the SKy Pirates book and salvage the trash. Badgerclops went to work with his metal arm, disassembling it, quickly packing it up, and then tossing it all the way back to HQ. With any luck, he could use the parts to fix the garage.

Next was examining the damages. There was the torn roof which he’d blame the Sky Pirates, and that was about it for damages. Oh! And that soot mark on the ground. Badgerclops turned his hand into a hose to wash it off but stopped when he noticed something was off. The black spot wasn’t a scorch mark. It was a hole.

Badgerlcops kneeled down and peered into it. The hole was deep, dark, and dangerous. A hollow space under the plaza was a massive sinkhole risk. He was also sure that some sweetiepie would fall in sooner or later. He was fine with Pinky disappearing into the abyss, but God forbid anything happens to Muffins.

Badgerclops went to patch the hole when he heard Jǐngtì call out,” Hey, fat man.”

“Call me Badgerclops.” You rude little bastard.

“I refuse to believe that’s your actual name, but whatever. You know what this pink, disgusting thing is?”

“That’s just Pinky. Ignore him and he’ll go bother someone else.”

“It’s not the rhino. It's another pink, disgusting thing.”

“Please don’t describe our King like that?”

“I’m not talking about the lion, although he is also pink and disgusting.”

“Then what are you talking about?”

“Just see look over your shoulder.”

“What do you want me to… see..,” Badgerclops words droned off when he turned around.

A blob the size of a house sat in front of them. At least Jǐngtì was right to call it pink and disgusting.

“You know what this is?” Badgerclops asked.

“Why would I know? I got here last month, and I’ve spent most of that hanging with a group of idiots.”

“Just don’t mess with it,” Badgerclops said, taking a few steps to get a full picture of the creature.

It was pink, a semi-liquid, Newtonian fluid… What was Jǐngtì doing?

Jǐngtì stood next to the blob, staring back at Badgerlcops with petty defiance in his eyes. He reared back and kicked the blob as hard as he could. Badgerclops tensed up, expecting something to happen. The blob did nothing except shake like a mound of jello.

“Be careful! If you get hurt your father’s going to hold me responsible.”

“It’s always about my father-”

The blob lashed out. Landing a swift strike to the stomach that sent the boy sprawling across the pavement.

“Jǐngtì!”  

Badgerlcops rushed to Jǐngtì’s side, holding him in his arms. Is he okay? Badgerclops didn't know what to do. The kid made a strange hrrrk, hrrk, noise from the back of his throat. What was it? It couldn’t be good, right? Suddenly, Jǐngtì pushed away from Badgerclops. He stumbled to a stop before emptying the contents of his stomach all over the ground. When he was done vomiting Jǐngtì stumbled back, almost falling until Badgerclops caught him.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Jǐngtì said even though the lie was as plain as the nose on his face.

Badgerclops lead Jǐngtì to a nearby bench for him to catch his breath. “How does this feel,” he said, kneeling down to gently touch the bruise on Jǐngtì’s stomach.

Jǐngtì winced in pain, which was enough of an answer. Badgerclops robotic eye revealed that the kid didn’t have any ruptured organs, but they were definitely bruised. He made a mental note to take him to Camille before remembering Mao Mao was there. What to do? What to do? He wasn’t going to leave without making sure Jǐngtì would be okay.

“Hey, Jǐngtì…,” Badgerclops said, looking up to see Jǐngtì wiping tears from his eyes.“You know, I don’t care if you cry, right?”

Jǐngtì waved Badgerclops away, making Badgerclops chuckled before he cleared his throat. “Hey, Jǐngtì uhh… do you need a place to stay? Cause your dad’s not going to be home, and I figure you need a place to stay.”

“Don’t you need to do something about the blob?”

“I’ll set up some tape around it and maybe it won’t hurt too many sweetipies.”

“It already ate the pink rhino thing.”

Badgerclops looked up to see that Jǐngtì was right. Pinky was floating in the mucus. Unfortunately, he wasn’t suffocating.

“Well, I’ll also give it a medal or something.”

“You can stand, right,” Badgerclops said, helping Jǐngtì to his feet.

Things have really gotten out of hand haven’t they, he thought to himself. Badgerclops wearily eyed Jǐngtì. He was a criminal; there was no dispute about that, but Jǐngtì needed someone to watch him, not arrest him. For the time being, at least.

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 7/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

AN:  This chapter took a while to come out. Mostly because it's kind of long and I had to reorganize and outline it twice before actually getting into it. I had to cut two big scenes out, otherwise, the chapter would be like 20 pages, and I'm saving all of us that trouble. This chapter is definitely the most morose. I'm probably going to need to add the depression and alcoholism tags after putting this chapter up, aren't I? Let's celebrate reaching a major milestone in the series! YAY!!!!! As always follow @spookylovesboba​, and enjoy the chapter.

Direct link to chapter 7 on AO3: XXXXXX

MissingArm!AU Chapter 7: In Death Life Flashes Before My Eyes 

Mao Mao sat alone. Drinking and thinking. Thinking and drinking. Something about today had brought out his masochistic side. He placed his hand on one stove hot memory after the next. Some were arguably good ones. Some were practically nightmares. He was sifting through his own memories like a gold crazed idiot panning a riverbed.

However, Mao Mao was looking for anything but gold. He needed to know what went wrong.

Maybe he shouldn't have gotten with Tanya in the first place, or maybe he shouldn't have had a child in the first place. He had just turned 18, Tanya was only a year older than him. They were still kids. They were too young, too immature. An 18-year-old teenager isn’t ready for the kind of responsibility it takes to raise a child. He knew that then and he definitely knew that now… yet he did it anyway.

Why did he get with Tanya in the first place?

Mao Mao took a bottle of brandy to his lips, disappointed to find it empty as he began to remember.

* * *

It was after he had already lost his arm and began dressing in red. They were somewhere in the kingdom of Queen’s Putland.  He and Tanya were active in that area for quite some time. Tanya was hurting for money and found a contract she desperately needed, but on the way, it started to rain. Instead of spending his birthday camping, Tanya led him to a shady pub hidden in the trunk of a tree. It wasn’t the kind of place he'd like to spend his 18th birthday, but the kind gesture did make him blush.

Despite being hidden the place was buzzing with activity. Every seat at the tables was filled and a sea of people surrounded that. Someone sat down as soon as another got up. Strangers talked freely like everyone was a friend. It was strange. He didn’t know people could be this friendly. Tanya dragged him out of his thoughts, pulling him to the empty stools at the bar.

“Whaddya want,” the Bartender Baboon asked.

“Gimme a vodka buck and- ,” Tanya turned to her side,” Mao Mao what are you getting?”

“What do they have to eat?”

“Its’ no fun to drink on a full stomach.”

“I’m not thirsty, I’m hungry. I don’t even like the taste of alcohol.”

Tanya rolled her eyes before her eyes lit up with an idea. “And virgin will have hard cider.”

“Hey!”  

“And wings,” she added.

“I was objecting to the virgin part,” he said.

“If you don’t like being called a virgin, well… I can help you with that.”

“What,” Mao Mao rebuffed,” no, what’re you-, that’s just-, no.”

Tanya just laughed at Mao Mao, pinching his rosy, red cheeks. “You’re adorable, virgin.”

The bar baboon came back with the drinks and wings. Tanya didn’t hesitate to start drinking; Mao Mao pulled the plate of wings of closer.

“For the love of god don’t eat wings with your gloves on,” Tanya said.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” he snarked back.  

“You’re so weird about your gloves,” she said.

“They’re just gloves.”

“That you never take off.”

“I do take them off.”

“Oh yeah? When?”

“When I get in the shower. When I take a bath-”

“You only take them off when you need to get nakey, is that right?”

“Well, I guess…”

“Does that include sex? Or do you wear them during that too?”

“Well... I mean I guess I’d take them off for canoodling.”

Tanya looked at him, stunned, almost confused before the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile. “Oh my god you call it canoodling,” she said in between laughs.

“It’s not funny!”

“Oh don’t worry, Virgin. It was… cute. Calm down and get drunk with me.”

Mao Mao grumbled and took a sip of the cider. It wasn’t as bad as he thought it’d be. The cider was thick and tasted of autumn apples, instead of alcohol. Although, he could still feel it burn the back of his throat.

The bar baboon had watched all of that take place with some interest. “Did your parents really name you Virgin,” he asked.

“...They had a habit of screwing me over,” Mao Mao said. He didn’t like lying, but what he said wasn’t exactly a lie.

Mao Mao and the bartender continued to talk, eventually, Tanya joined in too. It was odd. Maybe it was the jovial atmosphere of the pub, maybe it was the alcohol, but the walls people put up just broke down. There was no such thing as oversharing. He, Tanya, and the bartender just became part of the crowd. Before he knew it Mao Mao had counted 4 pints of cider. He learned that the Bartender came from a small family and that he was bartending as a way to get money. He hoped to become a musician later.  Despite learning all that about him Mao Mao never actually got to ask him his name.

He could have kept talking, but Tanya had already hit her limit on booze. The glass of water was proof that it was time to leave. Where did he put his wallet? He stopped searching when Tanya placed what little money she had left to cover the bill.

“You didn’t have to do that,” he said.

“Come on it's your birthday. I can’t get you a cake, so at least let me treat you. Happy Birthday, Virgin.”

That simple gesture made something click into place in Mao Mao’s head. H liked Tany; he cared for her too. He just wasn't sure if she cared for him. That gesture proved she did. Mao Mao blinked a few tears out of his eyes, struggling to process the well of emotions.

“You alright, Virgin?”

Mao Mao didn't say anything. He leaned over and gave Tanya a small kiss on the cheek.

The bartender let out a long whistle.

A slow smile formed across her face and she let out a small bark of laughter. “What was that? I could’ve sworn you thought PDA was illegal.”

Mao Mao fiddled with his tail between his fingers. “We… never really celebrated my birthday back home. Thank you for… caring about me.”

“Hey, Mao Mao,” Tanya spoke up,” do you wanna make more of this?”

“Sure.”

Tanya picked Mao Mao up by the arm and pulled him to the bathroom in the back of the pub. She stopped calling him virgin after that. Once she saw him without gloves she gave him a new nickname: Mittens.

* * *

And that’s how Jǐngtì was made. Needless to say, it wasn’t how he imagined his first time would be. It wasn’t romantic. It wasn’t started under the ever blossoms, or started with some grand and fancy gestures. Instead, it was done in the bathroom of a bar that almost definitely didn’t have an alcohol license. He didn’t think it’d be the start of anything. It was supposed to be a one-time thing. They were supposed to stay friends, maybe friends with benefits, not parents.

Jǐngtì...

Mao Mao let out a slight huff in amazement. It's not a thing he should say, but Jǐngtì shouldn’t exist. He wasn’t being mean it was just how biology worked. Mao Mao’s a cat. Tanya’s a tanuki. Their species weren’t even apart of the same phylum or genus. They shouldn’t even be able to have a kid by scientific standards, but Tanya wasn’t scientific. The OB-GYN said it was due to Tanya’s magical nature that the pregnancy was even possible. Her magic was more than skin deep. It was the incredible magic stored in every cell that made the pregnancy possible, even then, the odds of pregnancy were less than 10/1. He only exists due to magic.

Mao Mao never liked magic.

Badgerclops didn’t like magic tricks; Mao Mao didn’t magic tricks either, but genuine magic was something he disliked far more. Magic could be unwieldy at best and a monkey’s paw at worst. At first, he thought Jǐngtì leaned towards being the former, but he was very much the latter. The child did permanently tie Tanya and him together, but it was also the reason they’d permanently split apart.

The reason he and Tanya split apart was an “irreconcilable difference” as marriage counselors would like to call it. Ignoring the fact that they never got married, It wasn’t anything so disgustingly formal, just two people realizing that they’d never see eye to eye, and it was best to split apart. There was no yelling; only mutual understanding. It was an adult’s hell.

Mao Mao rolled away empty cans of beer down the empty hall as the memories came back to him.

* * *

Mao Mao waited in the lobby of an abandoned hotel. It reeked of mildew and mold. The boards had more than rotted through. He sat in an old lounge chair filled with holes and leaking cotton, waiting for Tanya to get back. He bided his time by chewing his claws off, wincing in pain when he went too far. Patience was never his virtue.

Get back from where?

Jǐngtì’s preliminary hearing.

The child had taken the worst qualities of both parents. Tanyas tendency to overlook laws, and Mao Mao’s incessant need to go above and beyond. From the way Jǐngtì told it, he was looking to make quick cash, and instead of asking his parents or even doing something kind of shady, he turned his eyes to glittering jewels and gold on the monarchs’ crown. Even Jǐngtì’s half-baked magic would be more than enough to succeed at his heist. He should have known something was up when Jǐngtì started hurrying them out of the city. Perhaps he should have listened to his child… too late for any of that now. Justice had already caught up and was doing its thing.

He shifted his head up when he heard thumping on the floor above him, following the sound who leaped down the broken staircase to the lobby. She dusted cobwebs out of her fur, muttering something so fast Mao Mao couldn’t understand. He watched her pace in large circles around the lobby.

He waited for the small gap when she took a breath to ask his first question. “How did the hearing go?”

“Did you hear anything I said?”

“You muttered.”

Tanya pinched the bridge of her nose. “Jǐngtì clearly lost.”

“Well, yeah. He admitted it to us, and there's a written confession.”

“Are you trying to help or make feel like shit?”

He placed a hand on Tanya’s shoulder,” I know the penal code requires bail be set before the final trial.”

She brushed his hand off,” the bail doesn’t matter.”

“Why? What’s wrong with the bail?”

“It’s 300-million fucking dollars.”

Now the way Tanya was acting made sense. He pursed his lips and began to think. What to do? What to do? $300,000,000 was more than a king’s ransom. He was sure it was worth more than some countries. He’d say they were probably overreacting, but it was probably low-balling the price of the crown. That was more money than he even considered bringing with him when he left home.

Home… His family certainly had that kind of money to throw around.  

No. Mao Mao pushed the thought from his mind. He’ll make the compulsory visits for the holidays, but he’ll be the last to arrive and the first to leave. He wasn’t going to ask for their help. He hated them. He wasn’t going to explain his new family to them. Not Tanya, and certainly not Jǐngtì. This was not the Mao clan’s problem. He’d become a hero and make his legend without them.

He had hoped that bail would give him an out. Unfortunately, his hopes were pointless. He had something to tell Tanya. He hoped he wouldn’t, but...what else is there to do?

“What are we going to do? What are we going to do?” Tanya asked herself, pacing around the room again. “What are we going to do?”

 “Should we even do anything,” he asked.

Tanya stopped, slowly turning to face Mao Mao. “What?”

“I don’t think there is much we can -should- do,” he clarified.

“Explain.”

“Well… Jǐngtì did steal the crown. Putland has every right to be mad and prosecute-”

“So, we’re supposed to let them do whatever they want with him?”

“I know the penal code. He’s too young to be executed and besides they couldn’t do an execution until after the crown was found. We would still be able to visit him in jail-”

“Stop!” Tanya snapped before softening,” Mittens, just stop.”

Mao Mao waited while Tanya put her face in her hands before looking up. “I’m going to need you to make a choice. Are you siding with Putland, or Jǐngtì. Do you care more about your principals or your son?”

“What? How can you ask that?”

“I’m going to need your answer.”

Mao Mao hesitated. “A hero… can’t ignore the law.”

“Then,” she pointed to the two of them,” isn’t going to work. We aren’t going to work.”

Her voice was flat and stern. Something she used on her bounty’s not him.

“Tanya...” he was about to reach out, but couldn't bring himself to.

“I wish you well or whatever. I have things to do,” he said, looking him in the eye,” goodbye Mao Mao.”

She hadn’t called him Mao Mao in years. He was still numb when he packed his things and left. All he could think about was how much he needed a drink.

* * *

Mao Mao writhed on the kitchen floor. He felt sad for himself. He regretted his actions. He was angry at the world. The torrent, swirl, and monsoon of emotion threatened to tear him apart. He could feel it all mixing up inside of him with a scorching intensity.

He needed a drink.

He felt around the bottles and cans surrounding him. All empty. Mao Mao turned his attention upwards, toward where the alcohol was shelved. He climbed onto the counter, reaching into the depths. He gripped the last bottle by the neck. He tried to pull back but tripped over his own feet. Instead of trying to break the fall he hit the floor, holding his saving grace up and out of harm's way.

He crawled his way to the living room. He climbed onto the couch to take a breath. The saving grace in his hands was an emerald green bottle of saké: Japanese rice wine. It was a gift he got from Papa a while back. How disgustingly vapid. He didn’t like alcohol, and he certainly didn’t like his father.

Mao Mao uncorked the bottle and began to drink. It reeked painfully flowers that poorly covered the burning in the back of his throat. It hurt. Everything hurt. How’d he get here? How’d he become such a mess? He was a stupid disgusting mess. Full of mistakes. Full of regrets. He sacrificed everything else to try and become a hero, only to have that last thing run away from him too. He only tried to do what’s right. He was supposed to be building a legend, becoming a hero worth remembering, worth loving.

It was all his fault.

“I wish there was someone else to do it,” he slurred, “I was I didn't have to do any of this.  I wish there was someone else to try and be justice. I wish that there was someone out there to be fighting evil! I don’t want to be the one always trying to do what's right!”

He finished screaming and felt nothing, but embarrassment. “What am I doing? Yelling at nobody, but still... I’d give my heart and soul for that.”

Mao Mao lied down on the couch, barely able to stomach alcohol, and stomach himself even less. Eventually, he blacked out.

* * *

Badgerclops sat in Camille's tower. Adorabat was sleeping in his lap. He wanted to be sleeping too, but worry kept him awake.  

Mao Mao laid on a bed in the center of the room. IV-tubes went in and out of his arms and he was wearing an oxygen mask. Camille and Honey worked quickly, concocting potion after potion, doing something magical. He’d be impressed if he wasn’t so tired. He needed sleep. Worry was the only thing keeping him awake. He watched Mao Mao for any signs of movement, any signs of life.

When Mao Mao opened his eyes, Badgerclops jumped to his feet, startling Adorabat awake.

“Are you alright,” he asked, realizing the answer to that was a pretty obvious no.

“Where- Where am I,” he asked, stumbling through every word.

“Camille's tower, man. We came back. You weren’t breathing. Adorabat was really scared.”

“Oh...I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize, just… why? What were you thinking?”

“I was just… thinking it’d be nice to be loved, for once.”

“I love you, Mao Mao.”

Mao Mao stopped and looked at Adorabat. He stopped to process what she said before sniffling. He tried to blink the tears out of his eyes, but it didn’t work. He threw his arm around Adorabat, tears falling down his face. “Thank you,” he said, over and over again. He had never seen Mao Mao cry before. It was a steady, light, and quiet stream. Badgerclops joined the group hug, scooping them up in his arms. It was a warm and soft hug that all three of them were slow to break.

------

AN:  While angst is fun, its time to delve into lighter tones as we enter the next arc. How long will the happiness last? ...well I can't spoil that now can I? Next Chapters Tile: What I Missed Be sure to leave a Kudos if you enjoyed, feedback is always appreciated and bookmark to stay updated with the series.

[realfuurikuuri]

do you happen to have a drawing of your tanya x mao fan child? I have trouble visualizing when I read and I couldnt find anything on your blog. thank you!

Despite not being an art-blog there actually is a visual, however, there is an issue. The AU and Jingti were actually created by @spookylovesboba and there is yet another problem. 

A while back Spooky’s Tumblr got nuked for no reason and another account was made. Unfortunatnatley that sent all the old drawings and stuff about the MissingArm!AU to the ether. 

I’m not sure if she has backups, but you’d have to ask her. 

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Increase alertness and protect the motherland. Make an all out effort to annihilate the eight invading enemies by chineseposters.net

<br><i>Via Flickr:</i> <br>Designer unknown (佚名)

1970, February Increase alertness and protect the motherland. Make an all out effort to annihilate the eight invading enemies Tigao jingti, baowei zuguo. Quanli yifu, wujian ba qin zhi di Call nr.: BG E35/691 (IISH collection)

From series "People's air defense common knowledge posters", published in Shanxi.

More? See: chineseposters.net