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pandaponderart · 4 years ago

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Underrated Anime Part 1:

Hello my fellow Weebs, I’m back for some more Anime blogging, this time to talk about so not so well known ones. Some that have got forgotten with time, some that new Anime fans have maybe never heard of and the ones that I feel deserve more love and recognition. I’ve been watching Anime for about 13 years so I’ve seen a lot so this will be in at least 3 parts, so hopefully you like this and look forward to more. Til then enjoy, hope you can find some new anime you’ve never heard of thanks for reading and look forward to part 2!.

1. Azumanga Daioh(2002)

Starting off with an older Anime, and one of the best and earlier comedy, slice of life Anime that paved the way for a lot of other Anime in the same genre like Nichijou and Daily Lives of High School Boys. Off the wall and highly unrealistic, this comedy is completely over the top in the best way possible. it’s old but gold and should be crowned as one of the best comedy Anime to exist.

With the most lovable cast, you have Chiyo the 5th grader who is so crazy smart she gets placed in a high school class, then there’s Osaka, who’a real name is Ayumu Kasuga who’s named that because she‘s from Osaka. Osaka isn’t the smartest and neither is her other classmate Tomo Takino who will do anything to avoid studying. Then to balance out the cast is Koyomi Mizuhara aka Yomi, the smart one who keeps everyone in line and Kagura the sporty one. Then of course can’t forget to mention the teachers Yukari Sensei who is anything but the normal responsible teacher and to balance her out Minamo Sensei the responsible one. There’s no real plot with Azumanga Daioh but there’s not meant to be it’s just an over the top comedy slice of life, with moments that will make you laugh from your gut. It’s all about the characters and the ridiculous situations their put in and each one is a lovable idiot that really drives the show. Give this one a shot if you want a show that will put a big smile on your face the whole way through.

2. Eden of The East (2009)

Another older Anime, not everything on this list will be older Anime but there’s so many good ones like this!. Eden of The East is an action, mystery with elements of romance with one of the most unique stories I’ve seen in Anime. It’s a short watch being only eleven episodes with two movies following after which I recommend watching because they continue the story. I’m really surprised not more people know or talk about this show but it need to be talked about more!.

With one of the funniest and most bizarre starts to an Anime, our lead charcter Saki is on a trip to Washington D.C, when she gets in trouble for throwing a coin in the White House’s fountain she’s saved by a naked man who claims to be a terrorist. Not only is this mysterious man naked and claims to be a terrorist, he also has amnesia and is carrying a phone with 8.2 million dollars. Saki befriends this strange man and throughout the story they try to uncover more of his past, his involvment in an incident called careless monday and a dangerous death game with other players. They must also spend all of the money as instucted by the mysterious voice in the phone Juiz as well as try to save the world.

3. R.O.D The TV( 2003)

Ok I know I said this list wouldn’t only be older Anime but I guess the older Anime just has my heart and this one has a special place in mine. One of my all time favorites and one of the earliest Anime I saw and it still holds up to me til this day. It is hands down probably the most underrated show on this entire list and if you only watch one of these Anime please make it this one. The story is completely original, the characters are complex and endearing, there’s action, heartwarming moments, comedy and mystery, I wish there was more Anime like it, it deserves to be a classic.

It‘s a one of a kind show about the paper sisters Michelle, the oldest bubbly bookworm, Maggie the seemingly intimidating quiet giant. Then you have the youngest sister Anita who unlike her sisters hates books, she’s a bit rough around the edges but loves her sisters. Although they aren’t actually sisters they have a detective agency to help find lost books to help pay for rent while also doing odd jobs like being body guards. Their first assignment is to protect the author, Nenene Sumiragawa who is being threatened to be killed at her book signing. The paper sisters aren’t called that just because of their love of books, they can turn paper into weapons and whatever else they please, but each having their speciality. Nenene finds out they‘re paper sisters just like her friend who ‘s missing, Yomiko Readman and asks them for help finding her. They try to help Nenene find her friend, while solving other cases and saving the world with the power of paper.

4. Baccano(2007)

Probably the most well known but also I think one of the most under appreciated Anime, from Durarara’s creator, Baccano. I feel like most newer Anime fans won’t know this one and although it’s a beloved series by many, I still feel it’s underrated. Also another bias opinion shocker, it’s one of my absolute favorites but that’s why it’s here. It’s once again a shorter anime with only 13 episodes but it somehow manages to combine all of the storylines cohesively, it’s a wild ride full of mystery, murder, and magic that will keep you on board the entire time trying to piece everything together. Also warning it jumps around a lot so make sure to pay attention everything pieces together!.

Based in the 1930’s in the prohibition era you have several stories involving different characters going on but they‘re all connected to one thing the transcontinental train, the flying pussyfoot. Yes that’s actually the name of the train, why, still no idea but all these characters from different walks of life end up here somehow. Now to introduce some of these crazy characters, first off the goofy thieves in love Isaac and Miria, who aren’t the brightest but can steal just about anything. Lad Russo the sadistic hit man who loves to see people die, including fantasizing about killing his fiancé one day. Then you have the ones involved in gangs, all In different ones, but nonetheless involved in some sort of crime. First there’s Firo, the youngest of the Martello family and one of the immortals in the show, then there’s Jacuzzi Splot and his partner Nice, Jacuzzi is a big wimp and crybaby but will protect his loved ones with all he’s got and Nice is a bomb expert and his childhood food. Those are some of the main characters it’s such a large cast it’s hard to name and explain them all. This one is a must watch especially if you liked Durarara, jump on the hype train of this wild show.

5. Black Cat (2005)

Now quick disclaimer before I begin talking about this one, I haven’t watched this in years so it may not hold up as well as I’m remembering but when I watched it I really enjoyed it so that’s why it’s here. This was one of the earlier Anime I watched I’m pretty sure my friend showed me it but it caught my interest from the beginning. It’s not the most groundbreaking show to exist and I’ve heard that the manga is apparently better but that’s for almost every show. It’s got cool action, funny moments and a great cast of characters, plus not gonna lie I had a crush on train when I was younger. its just a fun show and definitely worth giving a watch!

Train Heartnett is an infamous cold blooded assassin who works for the organization Chronos, and because of his lack of empathy for killing he’s named Black Cat. But after a chance encounter with a bou hunter named Saya Minatsuki, they become friends and Train decided he wants to leave Chronos to pursue an honest living as a bounty Hunter. However chronos and particular his fellow member Creed Diskenth are not pleased with this and try to get Train to rejoin Chronos. Along the way Train teams up with fellow bounty hunter on the brink of broke Sven, the bio mech weapon and little girl Eve and master thief and seductress Rinslet Walker. Together they try to escape from Chronos and get enough money for their next .

6. Arakawa Under The Bridge(2010)

Where do I begin with this one first off, this is one of the weirdest Anime I’ve ever seen but just like Azumanga Daioh that’s what make it so good. Beautifully animated by Studio Shaft with some of the most colorful and visually appealing animation I’ve seen, it’s pure eye candy. it’s equally as strange as it is hilarious and it’s just a fun time that’s not meant to be taken seriously. So if you want a good laugh and something thats truly one of a kind in story and characters give this crazy show a shot.

The show begins with one of our main characters Kou Ichinomiya getting stuck by his underwear on a bridge by some kids, he falls into the river and is saved by a mysterious girl. Kou is the son of a wealthy businessman and his life motto is to not be indebted to anyone, so when he’s saved by this girl he asks what he can do. He finds out that her name is Nino and what she wants is to fall in love, so she asks Kou to be her boyfriend. At first Nino seems like a regular girl but she claims to be an alien from Venus and lives in a box under the bridge, not wanting to be in debt Kou agrees and begins living under the bridge with Nino. However Nino isn’t the only one who lives under the bridge there are many other strange characters like hoshi, the aspiring musician who wears a star on his head, and the captain who’s a human in a kappa suit. I highly suggest watching this strange sci-fi romantic comedy for something different and fun to watch.

7. 91 Days (2016)

The newest Anime on this list so far, see I told you it wouldn’t be only old ones!, this is also the darkest Anime on this list so far. This has been highly overlooked since it’s release in 2016, it reminds me of baccano and in parts like death note. If you like mafia movies or just a dark gritty story with some light hearted moments, it s short show but nothing is rushed and it’s solid from front to back and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Just like Baccano, 91 Days takes place in the prohibition era in a town called Lawless where crime is rampant and illegal alcohol sales are thriving. In this town our protagonist Aviicio‘s family is killed by one of the mafia families, The Vanetti Family. He receives a mysterious anonymous letter telling him to return to lawless to infiltrate The Vanetti Family. He tries to befriend the families son Nero, to find an opportunity for revenge, the story keep you constantly guessing if they’ve truly become friends or if he’ll kill him. Please watch this wonderful mafia crime drama of friend vs foe.

8. Yamada Kun and The Seven Witches (2015)

This is one of the ones that I still really want to read the manga for because I just couldn’t get enough of it! i’m still hoping for a sequel one day! The premise of body swapping has been done many times in Anime and cinema as a whole but this one adds a unique enough of a twist to keep it fresh and interesting. I looked forward to watching this weekly each week meeting a learning about each new witch and learning what power they had.

Ryuu Yamada is a high school delinquent who wants a fresh start at a new school, despite the intention to start with a clean slate he soon falls into old habits of laziness and getting into fights. One day he trips on the stairs which leads to an accidental kiss with fellow student Urarara Shiraishi which causes them to switch bodies. Another student Toranosuke Miyamura learns that they can switch bodies and recruits them to his Supernatural Studies club. There they learn about the other seven witches that all have different powers

9. Arslan Senki (2015-2016)

The second to last of the list comes from the creator of my all time favorite Anime Fullmetal Alchemist, while it’s a very different series and not quite as good as FMA it’s still deserves a spot on this list and deserves your time. It’s hard not to compare it to FMA but it really is it’s own thing, and it actually came out before Fullmetal, it’s a historical drama about war and strategy and a character growing into his potential. Just as Hiromu Arakawa is known for there’s still some comedic moments and some great character development and a well done story, Plus if you like this there’s two seasons so there more to enjoy.

Ok I promise from this point forward I won‘t say anything more about Fullmetal Alchemist this is about Arslan Senki, here’s the story. In the year 320 the Kingdom of Pars is at war with the neighboring kingdom Lusitania. Pars is ruled by the ruthless king Andrangoras III who has a son who’s the complete opposite of him Arslan. Although he doesn’t know how to fight Arslan tries to prove his worth by joining the battle, but things take a turn for the worst when one of the kings officials betrays him. The once prosperous Kingdom of Pars is seized, and since Arslan is the kings son he must flee to avoid capture. So he sets off with his loyal bodyguard Daryun to find allies to help take back the kingdom. Knowing that Arslan is still alive he is still faced with pursuers from other kingdoms and the head of the Lusitania army, a mysterious man with a silver mask who knows a secret that could jeopardize Arslan‘s succession to the throne. Arslan is a gentle, kind person that doesn’t enjoy fighting, he must learn to fight and protect himself and gain the courage to lead an army to regain his home.

10. Shingeki No Bahamut: Genesis (Rage of Bahamut) (2014)

Leaving one of the best for last, not to be confused with the popular series with a similar name Shingeki no Kyojin(Attack on Titan) this show is just as good. One of the first shows from one of my favorite Anime studios, Studio Mappa. I had low expectations when I heard this was a card game adaptation from a new anime studio but I decided to check it out despite that and it was the best decision. This has all the elements of a great anime, the beautiful animation, the unique characters and the compelling story and all the cool action scenes are just a plus. There is a second season too but I’ll leave that for another time, ok time to stop gushing about this wonderful show, time for the story!.

Years and years ago the ancient powerful dragon Bahamut reeked havoc on Mistarcia, a land where gods and demons lived harmoniously with humans. The gods and demons manage to seal away Bahamut with the god key and agree to split it to keep him sealed. Now that the the peace has been restored we meet the main characters and one of my favorites the orange Afro haired bounty hunters Favaro Leone. Favaro is constantly on the run from his adversary and fellow bounty hunter Kaiser Lidfard who‘s main purpose in life is to get revenge on him. One day both of their lives are thrown into chaos when they meet the mysterious girl Amira who holds half of the god key sealing Bahamut and wants help reaching the land of Helheim. I also can’t forget to mention my other favorite character and the fourth member of this unlikely crew Rita the zombie necromancer little girl she is just the definition of cool. Then there’s the characters that want to steal the god key the demon Azazel and the knight Jean D’Arc who are constantly in the characters way but you’ll find out more about them in the show. These unlikely heroes must face the threat of the battle of gods and demons, the pursuers of the god key and incoming threat of Bahamut awakening.

#anime #anime gif #anime blog #blog #art blog #blog post #new blog #azumanga daioh #manga #baccano #91 days #eden of the east #arakawa under the bridge #black cat #yamada kun to 7 nin no majo #R.O.D the tv #r.o.d #digital art

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nighttimepixels · 4 years ago

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TALK TO US ABOUT MASS EFFECT I HAVE BEEN AN INSANE MASS EFFECT/SHAKARIAN TRASH PERSON SINCE 20-FUCKING-11 AND LEMME TELL YOU THOSE FEELINGS HAVENOT TARNISHED A SINGLE FRACTION IN THOSE TEN YEARS OH MY GOOOOOOODDDSSSS!!!!!!!

I DEMAND A PLAY-BY-PLAY UP TO THE MINUTE OF YOUR REACTIONS TO EVERYTHING!!!!

you are so valid and I totally see why everyone I've ever mentioned it to loves the hell out of it

aksdjlsdfj I meannnn if you want to hear my rambling about it then hell yeah

Okay, gonna put this below the cut to save everyone else XD also- since I'm not leaving this Mass Effect obsession anytime soon, if you're not interested in seeing occasional posts about it, please feel free to block the tag "night plays ME"~

(mild spoilers ahead??)

((also for real I mean it when I say this is rambling as hell lol, apologies and no stress if absolute no one reads all this))

OKAY SO Mass Effect 1-

Stars help me, I was honestly hooked right from the start?? Like even in Legendary Edition (the combined trilogy just re-released in one "can play it on one system + minor improvements", for anyone who doesn't know) where it's smoothed out, of course it's obvious that ME1 is a decade old... but the foundation for these relationships are all there and gods I love them already.

Like - Kaiden right off the top is a delightful good fightin lad, what the hell. I've heard that he's viewed as 'bland' by a good portion of the fan community but I dunno, he's a delight and even more complex by the time 2 rolls around and you encounter him on Horizon, it was honestly Ashley I was way more meh about - mostly because before you can learn about her family history/etc, she comes off as hella xenophobic and I was immediately offended for my growing space family that she didn't like/trust all the aliens around, pfff.

(she gets redeemed a bit through further actions/evolving thoughts, but I thought in retrospect it was a bummer that they didn't flip the order there, give her a chance to be liked before the complicating factor of being so rude about aliens >:c that then she could grow from... ah well. Apparently she has a good arc but uh, let's just say I chose Kaiden at the "key junction" in the latter part of the game so I won't be seeing anymore of Ashley uh... anytime soon, haha.)

Garrus??? Is??????? The ABSOLUTE best???????????

I liked him from the start, I'm always a bit of a sucker for a rogue-detective "the system won't bring this bastard to justice, so I've got to" type and all their moral shadiness XD But he just gets better, honestly, and where I'm at in ME2 (right before the Reaper IFF mission, as of typing this, with everyone's loyalty!) I am only digging myself deeper into this hole-

-*wheezing* okay anyways -

Wrex is AMAZING I love fightin' middle-aged krogan bastard, gods. Liara is great too, I'm a sucker for a wlw relationship (playing fem!Shepard, so) - buuuut I'll admit she's a bit more one-note in ME1. Last week while I was still on ME1 I remember hearing (while trying to dodge spoilers) that her arc is really good, though. I think they leaned a little hard on the 'innocent but sexy' sterteotype on her (so despite the yikes aspect of a few of the things I've learned in ME2, lol, I actually really like the complexity that's been added to her character.)

Saved Liara first, so by the time I got to Noveria and had the standoff with Benezia there was the chance to have emotions over Liara having to face her TwT and of course, I made the questionable but quality decision to free Queen Rachni heheh. no ragrets

More than a blow-by-blow of my choices though I totally wanna take the chance to say that even in the mild jankiness of ME1 (goddammit, the Mako.... please..... please just go up this impossible cliff I just want to resource hunt-) the way that the lore, both obvious/key to main plot and the lesser/filler/background/world-building kinds... I just love it. It incorporates it well, you can go ham in the codex learning more, or just dive into the basics - it's clearly a complex galaxy (and they do an even better job in 2 of fleshing it out further), and it never really felt overwhelming. It was pretty natural figuring it all out-!

Plus the interesting implications of resource hunting amongst the sapient races, and the little side missions you better bet I did every one of- there's so much rich depth in the story if you do 'em!! (And that lead with that Keeper side mission...? Looking back, damn, clever foreshadowing-!!!)

And oh my gods, Ilios??? hell yeah. I loved that mission so much, especially having Garrus & Kaiden with me when talking to the hologram/computer, and more than anything, that last sprint in the Mako trying to get to the jump before it closed-???

yeet the boi-

Also mannn I love a good setpiece, and having to go up the side of the elevator, space-side?? such a cool setup!!

Plus it felt good having been Paragon enough (as simple as the good v bad vibe system is, I don't hate it, lol) to avoid one of the Saren fights, ngl. And the er, "second fight" with Sovereign-Saren.... hell yeah

... I'll admit I had to double check my choice re whether to save the Council. I did in the end, but I swear, sometimes the way they phrase things I'm like ".... okay but Garrus is right, defeating Sovereign is more important than these few leaders??????" woops. Listen, priorities, is all I'm saying..... (￣ヮ￣|||)ゞ

'Course later they emphasize (in ME2) that there were 10,000 people on that same ship and I was like well I wouldn't have second guessed if I'd known that, I mean c'mon-

Also I did indeed romance Liara in this one, so I got that scene ;Dc But,,,, I also knew by the end that I was totally gonna romance Garrus in 2 since he's an option then finally,,,,, lemme tell you the guilt as I waffled over whether to romance Liara bc of it. hahaha.

Aaaaand Mass Effect 2-

So I'm only up to right before the Reaper IFF Mission, so I don't know the ending, etc etc lol. That said, I've just finished every side mission I've found with the exception of the Shadowbroker Quest and the Arrival Quest (I've heard the latter basically leads into ME3, and the former is best either right before the Omega 4 jump or in postgame).

So from the start - fuck yeah fuck yeah what a high adrenaline start Shepard noooooo but also yes save Joker aH-

The motion comic too hot damn nice job

I loved this setup, seriously - especially forcing Shep into this situation, having to work with/for Cerberus, and the compelling reasoning given behind "why" they do what they do (I especially found it a good point that the Salarians have the Task Force, the Asaris the Commandos, the Turians the- etc... like, true, when you put it like that, having a similar group advancing human interests/solving human interstellar problems is pretty reasonable...). That said, I love too that it really isn't shied away from how Cerberus is nonetheless fucked up - or its at least done fucked up stuff.

Listen, I still think some messed up stuff is gonna be revealed in 2's endgame......... after that Horizon mission and the Collector's ship???? TIM I SEE YOU YOU SHADY MF-

aaanyways lol...

I'm so so glad on a gameplay level they nixed the Mako style exploration. A few Hammerhead missions are fine and a lot more focused than the slippery ass navigation in that glorified ATV, pfff. The probes are a neat way of getting after similar resources - and more importantly, having good levels and some good hubs (the Zakera Wards, Omega, Ilium, etc) is way way more fun than having a more 'sprawling' space that is.... a lot of empty nonsense, lol.

Then there's the fact that we get Joker right off the bat and you can interact with him so much - and him and EDI??? Get out gods I love them. Kasumi is so right when she says they sound like a bickering old married couple lol. I have a terrible feeling that some shit is gonna happen with EDI..... but I don't think she's evil as-is, at least.

Side-eying the hell out of those "access forbidden" parts of her that she doesn't even know.... and the fact that her AI core has a locked door access................... something's gonna happen gdi LEAVE OUR ADOPTED AI ALONE.

(Also Joker pls stop fracturing your thumb on the mute button)

Also please save me there are so many hot aliens in this game,,,,, the xeno/monsterfuckers really comin' through strong in the sequels............... doin' the lord's work........................................

In general, I love how many levels ME stepped up in two with complexity and interwoven narratives!! Like, to the point it'd be almost a drag to replay ME1, even though it was fun going through it (if occasionally a bit tedious with the cookie cutter rando planet science/mine facilities, lol). Like, just from how fun and interesting ME2 is, mostly! more of all the pre-introduced races, plus new ones, plus more filling in of intragalactic politics, and more interesting implications of all these space-faring races mixing....

Also gods WREX and his planet holy shit,,,,, fuckin' hell yeah my man get their shit together and also adopt Grunt yes good-

And Mordin??? My singing semi-evil scientist best friend forced to confront his choices more than he thought he ever would have???? With some of the best ongoing general report chatter of all the companions??

(when I tell you I choked on my coffee when I talked to him after confirming romance choice w/ Garrus and that 'pamphlet' and 'anaphalactic shot if ingesting-' kajsldkfjsldfjk)

Like, fuck, the fact that they actually dive into the mixed morality and horrors of the genophage, and you can confront Mordin on it, for good reason, yet he still stands his ground, until finally some bits of his loyalty mission seem to... affect him, and I'm guessing might set up things for 3 with him? Unsure, but either way, damn, the fact that they start to dig into it...

And Taliiiii my beloved forbidden alien wife TwT her loyalty mission was SO GOOD. I love how varied they all are?? Getting to defend her and discover what she'd unwittingly been a part of-!!

Zaeed is a bastard but tbh I love that he is and that he's unapologetic in him - and Kasumi omg, best thief. A heist?? Gods, yes- I love our couch lounge chats XD

Samara is..... illegally.......... she's an illegally powerful and beautiful and eloquent MILF...........................

(.... listen I'm sapphic as hell and I'm kicking my own ass for picking her up last aksjdlfksjdfl - but her loyalty mission, damn. And seeing how there's this interesting cultural subset, and the struggle with the Asari in that they unquestioningly accept/respect justicars, but also know that the impact outside their culture is a diplomacy nightmare waiting to happen-)

,.,,,,,T,,, Thane,,,,,

I am weak for morally implicated murder dads okay?? And that voice??? His mannerisms?????? How you first see him, and that prayer after assassinating her...???????? And his history/his people's history with the hanar, gods I love how messy it is, it feels so much more real!

Also Jack is a mess and I love her (and want to get her some therapy, omg), and her and Miranda nearly duking it out after you've done both their loyalty missions??? so good and makes a lot of sense-! Honestly I would love more interactions between teammates on the ship, but there's already so much the devs had to balance I can't blame 'em for minimizing, heh. But suffice to say I also love Miranda and Jacob, even if I'm softest for my alien crew XD Hell yeah Jacob, we'll get loud and spill drinks on the citadel indeed TwT

.... I could write a whole essay on how much I love Garrus oTL Perhaps because he and Tali are the throughlines from 1 on your 2 crew, I have some of the strongest feelings about them... but genuinely, he was one of my favorite companions in the first game, and how you find him as Archangel in two? Getting to help him fight his way out after he's gone nearly 48 hours straight fighting off three gangs alone, jfc. His vengeance quest and what can happen there.... That line? fuck me, that line -

It's so much easier to see the world in black and white. Grey? I don't know what to do with gray...

How DARE you come for my heart like this, devs holy shit

(also, some other choice faves so far from the series from him include We can disobey suicidal orders?? and This wasn't in my training manual... [in 1, if you have him with you @ th Thorian fight] and his whole.... pop the heat sink - in his romance ;Dc)

asdasdfksadjfkl like I said I can write an essay on him PFFF suffice to say I'm very looking forward to his romance scene and where things go in 3

But yeah gods I'm just gonna keep rambling if I'm not careful lol. Gods I don't even know what to talk about it's all so good and while I can understand people roasting the obviousness of Paragon V Renegade (v neutral) choices/alignments, I think they do a pretty damn good job in 2 of pushing it further - to the point that there were some times that I accidentally got renegade points and I wasn't that mad, haha. There's so much fun in the interactions that I just have a good time anyways~

I have so many thoughts about TIM (The Illusive Man) and Cerberus.... theories evolving galore............... and like, what the hell!! Omega 4 going to the center of the galaxy is such a cool twist, goddamn - though my heart still breaks at losing Kaiden (his line if you haven't romanced him?? about feeling like he lost a limb when he lost you??? holy shit.... but I also can't blame him for not trusting Cerberus to the point of it affecting his ability to trust Shepard... like fuck Shep go after himmmm) I'm really excited to see where that goes since he comes back in 3, and what the fuck happens with Cerberus bc while I love the fact that obviously there are a lot of people in it for the right reasons, doing good work, there are those that are doing the opposite, and I have a very bad feeling about where TIM will end up landing....

All that said though I need to do the Reaper IFF mission (where I'm lightly spoiled as to getting That Boy, but not how/what happens to make it so - just that it's apparently wise to have all your side missions done before getting him...) and the actual Omega 4 jump. So we'll see what happens and what I think about it from there heheh!

.... major kudos and genuine props if you made it here to the end, I am so sorry for not editing on condensing all this, and appreciate you so much ;w;

#night answers #night plays ME #(yes that's a purposeful pun lol)#((i sure have played myself by starting this series its so good aksdjflskjfd))

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bagadew · 3 years ago

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The Great Ace Attorney Playthrough: The Adventure of the Great Departure (Part 1)

So it’s finally here, The Great Ace Attorney! I know practically nothing about this game, except that it’s a) set in Victorian London, b) has the themes of racism and xenophobia you’d expect from a game where you play a Japanese immigrant in Victorian London, and c) features Herlock Sholmes the himbo detective! (Also I think there might be a cereal killer plot, but I’m not too sure.)

Right away I’m being given a lot of very useful information regarding the historical setting for this game. Unfortunately I’m unable to fully process it because two seconds in and I’ve already been accused of murder!

Oh Ace Attorney how I’ve missed you.

Hello Kazuma! I like the way your headband billows even though there’s no wind, and I hope you have a much longer and fuller life than my last Ace Attorney mentor.

Ok so it seems like we’re both students at the same university, but Kazuma is the protégé golden boy, who’s about to be sent abroad because he’s just That Good. Fortunately I (Ryunosuke) am his beloved best friend, and will therefore be allowed to tag along (which is a really damn good job because I’m the one front and centre of the box).

Say what you will about incredible aura, but I’m pretty sure Kazuma’s just set up some sort of fan mechanism under there.

Hello Pink Lady from the box!

As a seasoned Ace Attorney player I am immediately suspicious of anyone from the first case who isn’t a main character. I’m watching you professor!

Ok so from what I can gather from our exchange the Professor Mikotoba is the forensics pathology professor at the university (I wonder if his daughter, or whoever the pink lady is, will be our Ema Skye), and if Kazuma the golden boy takes our case an loses he won’t get to go fulfill his dream of studying abroad.

Frankly, from all their idealistic chatter about jolly old Britain, I feel like these boys might be in for a bit of a rude awakening once they actually make it to London. And I’m not sure Ryunosuke, with all his beautiful naïve innocence, is going to do too well.

And speaking of beautiful naïve innocence...

No Ryunosuke! Don’t agree to things like that!

I’m beginning to suspect Ryunosuke’s just being used as bait for Kazuma. Like someone out there really doesn’t want Kazuma to go abroad for some reason, and so they’re using his less good best friend to trap him in the country.

Oh Ryunosuke...

In all my years playing Ace Attorney I have never been more torn by a suggestion box. On one hand, the first time I play an Ace Attorney game, I try and play it in the way it should be played. And so, even though this is an UNBELIEVABLY STUPID DECISION, I feel like Ryunosuke, a man who doesn’t seem to have the words ‘Set Up’ in his dictionary, would not even hesitate to bellow I do because Professor Mikiller told him to.

On the other hand this is an UNBELIEVABLY STUPID DECISION and Kazuma should clearly be in charge.

Ok, I’ve decided I’m going to press it (partly because I think the game might punish me if I don’t) but I will have my head in my hands as I do so.

See Kazuma agrees with me.

Oh fuck, the victims John Watson Wilson!!!

Ok, so I’m re-evaluating my assumption that I (Ryunosuke) was simply bait for Kazuma, it looks like I was instead the poor expendable mug who can be pinned with causing an international incident. Is it bad that I feel like I’ve been promoted?

My god, everyone must have had a heart attack when Kazuma the Golden Boy stepped up to defend me. No wonder they didn’t want him involved!

Ok let’s bring out Professor Mikotoba the witness, so he can explain how he’s played us like a damn fiddle-

WHO THE HELL IS THAT!?!

I would like to take this opportunity to apologies to Professor Mikotoba, who is I can only assume a beloved recurring character. I’m very sorry sir but I did not see you on the box. Yes I understand that, as someone who’s favorite character is Gumshoe, this was no excuse. Please forgive me.

Side note though: Satoru’s whole *hacks up blood* ‘It’s nothing, this just happens sometimes, please ignore it and continue’ thing is the most relatable thing I’ve seen so far. As someone with a chest condition whose lungs sometimes just bleed, this is literally the response you develop. I know this guys probably a murderer and that’s probably Crime Related Blood, but for now the two of us understand each other.

Ok, so from that cross examination we’ve got one mysterious lady the waiter says he never saw, one unwillingly received Buisness card from Satoru Hosonaga, and one coughing fit my lungs started after watching Satoru wheezing away.

WHAT IS THIS!!??!!

MORE WITNESSES!!??!!

ON A FIRST CASE??!!!

DO THE SACRED LAWS OF FIRST ACE ATTORNEY CASES MEAN NOTHING TO THIS GAME!?!??

This is a neat mechanic though, and one I’ve been hoping would make it to a cannon Ace Attorney game since the Professor Layton crossover. It seems like we’re just sticking to standard testimony listening for now, rather than checking between reactions, but I’m very happy to see it’s return.

GET HIS ASS KAZUMA!!!

(Kazuma’s quickly becoming my favourite, it’s a lot of fun to have the Edgeworth over your side of the courtroom for once)

Ok, so Kazuma (who’s name my iPad now autocorrects into all caps) has shown me how to examine evidence, meaning that if I had, shall we say, a receipt with the word Maya written on it, I could turn it over to see what was written on the other side.

So, while I now know that Dr Watson Wilson wasn’t able to have tucked into that big juicy steak behind him, I just want to check that business card Satoru was so unhappy to give away...

Interesting...

I don’t know what this means, but it sure is interesting...

Now back to slamming an old man with a stolen coin (that was probably taken by the penniless guy next to him)

I’m not sure how he’s managed it, but Auchi has somehow become the most slapable of the Pains.

GET THEIR ASS RYUNOSUKE!!!

(I like how his desk slam’s changed as he gets more confident)

DAMN STRAIGHT WE’D TAKE ON THE GOVERNMENT!!!

So there’s been a coverup! Well that explains the detective posing as a waiter, but it still leaves a huge question mark over the identity of the woman in question. Other than possibly Satoru, who I can’t see as having any reason to dress up, I don’t feel like any of the current witnesses could fit the bill. Whoever she is, though, it must be someone who’s involvement could cause more problems if she was found out, which would mean that she’s either someone with a lot of political influence in Japan, or she’s someone who followed the good Dr from England (and might well have a lot of influence there).

Either way I’m beginning to suspect that, in great break from Ace Attorney tradition, NONE OF THE WITNESSES COMMITTED THE CRIME!!! (Or at least not this one.)

Don’t worry Kazuma, I turned the receipt business card over this time!

Screenshots don’t do this justice.

I don’t know what makes this better, Ryunosuke’s cheerful mile wide supposition, or the speed at which Satoru cut him off.

...are they Satoru? Are they really?

At this point I would apologies to Satoru Hosonaga, however I feel like he might have been using me as the scape goat for this murder, so I’m going to say that I’m not sorry. (We still have a weird blood related understanding though, and for that reason I am not as hostile as I might have been)

Yeah, that’s fair Ryunosuke.

WAIT WHAT!?!

Oh, it’s just a flash back gunshot. I thought someone had just whipped out a gun and shot the detective before he could say another word!

Oh dear, this goes all the way to the top doesn’t it?

Poor Ryunosuke though, he’s not even made it to the stinky rainy streets of London and already his illusions about justice are being shattered. Given that this is effectively the prologue case, I dread to see what comes next.

HELL YEAH JUGE, WERE GETTING THE KILLER LADS!!!

SATURO HOSONAGA YOU’RE BACK ON THE CHRISTMAS CARD LIST (but on thin ice)

‘So it won’t be a problem?’ Ryunosuke, weren’t you listening, it’s going to be a massive problem! Fortunately everyone else in this courtroom has just decided that you know what fuck the government actually, and so we’re doing it anyway!

Hosonaga’s trying really hard to win me back over folks, and I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t working.

I like this hardass judge! I’ll send him a Christmas card too.

MADE IT TO THE FIRST HALF!

#tgaa #the great ace attorney #the adventure of the great departure #tgaa spoilers #ryunosuke naruhodo #kazuma asougi #john wilson #satoru hosonaga #japan judge #yuujin mikotoba #again I'm very sorry for wildly accusing you professor

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steak-n-popotoes · 3 years ago

Text

FFXIVWrite ‘21 - 7

“Say Inspector, why do you suppose Beef is always playing with that toy?”

“Of which toy might you be referring to, my faithful assistant?”

Nashu rapped her knuckles gently along her cheek, apparently needing time to consider her reply. “The little feathered one?”

“Ah, but of course!” Hildibrand’s face lit up as his muscles contorted into a revelatory pose of their own volition. “Those avian appendages of his certainly did not escape my notice. You see, my dear Nashu, individuals blessed with such a brawny build as you or I may fail to appreciate the struggles that plague the lives of those of a more minuscule musculature,” he explained, further flexing for emphasis, “and I would stake my status as a Manderville Man that you have also deduced that our darling detective is rather... diminutive!”

Nashu followed the train of thought as it jumped the rails. “You mean to say that his talons aren’t weapons, but a pair of mobility aids?”

Hildibrand grinned disarmingly, having arrived at the truth of the matter. “Precisely! After all, who could not benefit from having a pair of larger, sharper hands with which to handle more clues more handily! I must hand it to him, he employs a truly awe-inspiring accommodation.”

“Beef is rather hands-on when it comes to investigation, isn’t he?” Nashu said, putting her hands together to applaud Hildibrand’s reasoning. “So then, what is the toy for, Inspector?”

Hildibrand all but toppled from his statuesque celebratory stance. “W-why my dear Nashu, I’ve only but just finished explaining! Could some mystery yet remain on which to speculate further?”

Nashu powered through Hildibrand’s disbelief without noticing, once more lost in thought. “I do believe he calls it Gale?”

Again Hildibrand’s face lit up as he prepared for another bout of expository rambling. And flexing. “Of course! I’m afraid that you may be laboring under a miscategorization, my faithful assistant. Gale is no mere toy, but rather a tiny primal!”

Nashu jumped up in shock!

“You see, just as our dear friend Greg once deigned to summon a large green bird to call his feathered friend, Beef has fervently followed in his footsteps. And before we had so much as met Greg ourselves!”

Nashu was taken aback!

“Now, none would deny that Greg is a large lad, and thus brought forth a large companion. With that fact in mind, one may deduce that our beloved Beef, being a summoner of small stature, would bring forth a comparatively compact companion!”

Nashu snored lightly.

Hildibrand twisted and contorted as he shed light on yet another curious case. “In conclusion, Gale is no toy, but rather Beef’s closest friend - in both proximity and size!”

#FFxivWrite2021 #Nashu Mhakaracca #Hildibrand Manderville

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fineillsignup · 5 years ago

Text

Unreleased Rumors and Secrets: Minor’s Memory Book

There was a scandal for the drop rates of the first wish tree event in China, and those cards were never released for any other server. Some of those cards had Rumors and Secrets attached. Some people have translated some, but Gavin’s don’t seem to have been so, and I was asked in the R18 Discord to translate the R&S from our beloved Minor.

Minor’s Memory Book

I got beaten up.

This morning, I was super bold and stuck an “evil begone” sticker onto the school bully’s lunchbox as a challenge. Well, I stuck a bunch on, and that guy suddenly came with five other guys to corner me in the alley. I straightened my back, but I felt a chill. And the result was those four words I started this entry with... I got beaten up. With a bloody nose and a swollen face, I suddenly felt that this era really has no heroes... even a strapping young lad like myself must undergo such suffering...

Suddenly, a pair of white sneakers stood before my eyes. I lifted my swollen face and struggled to focus my eyes, only to see a fierce figure. He extended a hand and grasped the bully’s neck, with steel in his gaze!

“Holy crap... it’s actually Bai! Qi! Xue! Zhang! [Bai Qi is Gavin’s Chinese name. Xuezhang is an honorific used for male seniors in school, similar to Japanese -sempai or Korean -seonbae. I will translate as Gavin-sempai for ease of understanding by a Western nerd audience.]

Today I truly got to see with my own eyes the genuine 1v5. Gavin-sempai reduced them to ashes with his hands. He glanced down at me and was gonna leave, but I grabbed onto his pant leg.

Sempai is as cold as the legends said, all he said was one word: Scram.

What a man!!!

So now my heart has one goal: I want to learn the skill of going 1v5 from sempai!

I keep trying to look for Gavin-sempai, but he heartlessly ignores me... he just keeps drinking his water or sleeping or whatever... I need to go on the attack! So I'll make a plan for perfect understanding!

Ahem. Just "following" sempai is a dull life. Every morning at 7:30 sharp he's at the school gate, with a totally flat schoolbag. I don't know if it has any books inside it... wait, is this important to write down? No, whatever, move on.

The first thing he does is go to the snack kiosk on the north side of the school! Break! Fast! Time! Could it be that Gavin-sempai eats an ordinary breakfast just like us puny mortal men? Oooooh~ it looks like sempai really likes to eat fishballs? This is the third day in a row he ordered them. Maybe it's bad to switch up what you eat?

I made a special effort to go to the floor with the seniors, and went by the window of his class. Of course, usually he wouldn't be there, but!! Today he was there!!��

As I expected, he sits in the very back row, so he can go to sleep without hesitation.

Isn't anyone paying attention to him? Oh no, what is this feeling of admiration??? [you're gay honey]

Sempai is tricky, I dunno where he goes after class, but he goes to the library eventually. I can't help thinking, sempai really does whatever he wants.

Huh?! Wait a minute, why would a delinquent like sempai go to the library?!

But even more than that, what made my jaw drop is: I saw sempai get down a book from the top shelf for the prettiest girl in the school! And he was smiling! Smi.... ling..........

I got beaten up again... it really pains my heart to write those words y'know. Why did I try to save that four-eyes who seemed so foolish and helpless but turned out to be a scoundrel? But, isn't that a hero? The times need a hero like me!

Although maybe the times don't need a weak little chicken hero like me...

When I was knocked to the ground by that school bully, that's what I was thinking. My faith was in tatters, but I thought again of the steely eyes of Gavin-sempai, how great it would be if he was there...

Maybe God happened to hear my prayer, because sempai appeared out of the blue! With his cool left hook, he knocked the other guy to the ground. I was so moved my vision was blurred with tears.

Sempai asked me, why are you always making trouble for yourself? I said with passion, because I wanna be a hero, I can't stand to see school bullies bullying the weak. Then sempai said, don't you know they all say I'm a school bully?

In my heart I said yeah I know, but with a firm resolution I shook my head. When he looked at my eyes, the light in them suddenly took on a mysterious glint... as if he was seeing a... what? An idiot?...

Sempai is really hard to get on with. He spoke to me about what real heroism means, but this went so far beyond what I expected from sempai, for him to actually speak to me! I can't remember it I can't remember it...

Anyway! In my opinion, heroism is rushing to the rescue when there's trouble!

Today I am! a! hero!

I don't know for how many days I've been sneaking after sempai, but today I suddenly came across sempai in a real jam! It was all the school bullies who he saved me from before! Altogether there were ten of them! Damn! Using an unfair advantage! How could I, Minor, let something like this happen!

Without thinking much, I rushed out to help sempai! Of course, I was once again immediately beaten up... but I discovered that sempai does 1v10 like he's nuclear powered! So hot, so hot, I think he's hotter than Superman or Ironman! Sempai is a god in my eyes!

But sempai is really cold, he said just two words, like a dagger through my heart: "you trying to die?" [Zhao si “looking for death” in Chinese.]

I could only tell him petulantly, I'm not trying to die, this is my heroism.

Sempai snorted coldly, and said don't sneak after me anymore, it's annoying.

Hahaha? My perfect plan has already been unmasked huh?

I don't even know why I said one more thing then: Sempai, I saw you help the prettiest girl in our school get a book... won’t you...

This is the first day that I've become sempai's—no, Bai-Ge [Big Brother Bai, Gavin-Bro, Gavin-nii-san]'s little brother, hehe, suddenly I feel like I'm floating. Today I can openly walk at Bai-Ge's side. Even though I'm walking on the ground I feel like I'm on a burst of wind, wahahaha! I saw people looking at me and my expression was like that! Just like that.

But I never realized that Bai-Ge would be so strict... I was just chatting idly, mentioning that even more people were giving our school flower [the prettiest girl in school] a love letter, and Bai-Ge suddenly got a weird vibe, and made me go collect those people.

Collecting people is really tiring y'know. I had to run around to a bunch of different classrooms, and getting them to come was annoying. I don't want to do this kind of work anymore.

Bai-Ge just stared at those guys without saying anything. Was it time for me to save the show??? Remembering something I had once been told by a senior, I repeated it for them verbatim, scolding them like: Young people should put their minds on learning, and not rush into romance.

Seeing how they were all trembling with fear made me even more excited.

After I scolded them happily, Bai-Ge walked over, and just said one line: Go take your love letters back. If you scare her, don't blame me if I get rude.

Damn, Bai-Ge is so cool! But saying that, did I just disocver a little secret that I wasn't meant to discover?! Bai-Ge's feelings for the school flower are actually...

I think Bai-Ge [Big Brother Gavin] is probably, sorta, definitely in love. Lately I have become Bai-Ge's private detective, but only specializing on our school flower [MC]. Maybe I should start calling the school flower "sis-in-law"... ah, in olden times heroes also loved beauties, right!

Bai-Ge is acting so different from Bai-Ge now~

Everyday he's at the library. If you wanna know where Bai-Ge is, just ask about where the school flower is and you'll know... he doesn't get in fights, he doesn't go to the track, he doesn't play ball. Like a shadow of his former self, I even saw him using test prep books... it brought me to tears.

In the afternoon when we were in the same gym class, I excitedly told Bai-Ge that Sis-in-Law chose to do basketball! I was thinking that thinking that Bai-Ge would want to grab a basketball court near her.

But he said, this is fine. Fine? Fine??? What about my basketball plan... I wanted to be cool!

But then I found out, hehe, Bai-Ge is super sly...

The volleyball court is actually closer to Sis-in-Law's basketball court than the other basketball courts are! One time I was a little careless in my aim and the ball almost hit Sis-in-Law in the head, but Bai-Ge came out of nowhere and slammed it away... how did Bai-Ge do that?!

How could he move so fast to the opposite end of the gym?!?! Is this some kind of superpower? It was instant! But Bai-Ge is so unromantic...

Sis-in-Law thanked him, but his face was even colder than when he looks at me... and just when I had been careless to try to push them together! And my thanks was that he stalked back looking at me like he was going to kill me, it hurt me down to my soul...

No good deed goes unpunished, boohoohoo...

Today I saw another Bai-Ge [Big Brother Gavin]! And that's the Bai-Ge in a sports competition! What a man what a man what a man!!!!

In the 10 laps race, Bai-Ge actually got first! He was way ahead of the guy in second and he wasn't even out of breath!

What kind of amazing skill is this? Before I only thought he had superpowers at fighting, it looks like I have much more to learn from Bai-Ge!

Today I finally learned, even though Bai-Ge is so fierce and everybody says he's a delinquent, but when they see him running all the girls' eyes were glued to his body~

Oh, drooling.

Bai-Ge looks like he's in a pretty good mood, but when I asked him to teach me about fighting 1v10, he made me go be his private detective again.......

He was really concerned about Sis-in-Law's [MC] performance in her sprint. I don't know why he's being such a tsundere, not going himself, but making me go! And he gave me his cell phone? Why? To take creep shots? Am I, Minor, that kind of person?

I called out to Sis-in-Law, she turned her head, and luckily I was able to take a beautiful shot. It was really good looking, so Bai-Ge will definitely teach me how to 1v10 right?

Result, he! Didn't!

So Bai-Ge is "hos before bros"! [In Chinese the phrase is not so negative towards the woman; it's literally "heavy on sex light on friends"]

What could I say? All I could do was squat there watching Bai-Ge staring at the pictures in his phone, from time to time letting a silly grin show.....

Damn, Bai-Ge's smiling again! How terrifying! Love makes people lose their minds!

Bai-Ge looks so depressed recently. If I called him a sad sack before, right now he's not even a sack..... Lately it seems like all he does is stare broodily into space from love.

After brooding by the piano room, he goes to the library to brood. He keeps staring at the empty place where Sis-in-Law was sitting. I dunno what he's thinking about.

But I really never thought that a guy who slept through class would actually spend the whole afternoon staring into space in the library... could it be that Bai-Ge and Sis-in-Law had a fight?

I asked around out of curiosity. I discovered that, who knows why, but lately as soon as Sis-in-Law gets out of class she rushes away, not going to the library or the piano room. I heard she goes straight home from cram school too... could she be hiding from Bai-Ge?

God, I have such an imagination, I should write soap operas. Who can say, it might be a-ok again soon!

But getting back to the topic... should i tell Bai-Ge about this? If Bai-Ge thinks that Sis-in-Law is hiding from him, won't that break his heart?

Sigh...

Bai-Ge disappeared for such a long time, but today he was finally back! But he came back all covered with wounds, how could somebody not be worried! He gave me a letter in an envelope, and said it was for Lil Sis-in-Law. The envelope was intact, but it was stained with blood.

Bai-Ge must have gone to do something really dangerous, to lose so much blood! I wanted him to go to the hospital but he wouldn't go... Bai-Ge is really too stubborn!

But he was really different today. Why do I have this kind of misgiving feeling about what's going to happen? Brrrr!

He said I need to wait longer for him to teach me 1v10... damn!! If Bai-Ge wasn't injured, I really would have thrown myself on top of him and given him two cheek smooches! Bai-Ge is the handsomest! Bai-Ge is the coolest!!!

That reminds me that Bai-Ge is gonna take the gaokao [college entrance exam]. The seniors in the graduating class are all acting sentimental lately. Is Bai-Ge's goodbye for summer vacation? Hehe, I just had an idea!

While Bai-Ge isn't here, there's only me to protect Lil Sis-in-Law from would-be Romeos!

Other men, don't even think about getting near my Lil Sis-in-Law!

She! Is! Bai! Ge's!

#10

The whole summer vacation... I never saw Bai-Ge...

#mlqc #mr love queen's choice #mlqc gavin #mlqc minor #my translation

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pidayforpi · 4 years ago

Text

“Mis-mister Rockerduck?”

Steelbeak and Black Heron looked in awe as the ice prison finally melted.

Past a century, the yellow chrysanthemum had only lost its colour.

(Mild profanity.)

Rockerduck stumbled, falling onto the metal flooring when the ice gave way. Steelbeak instinctively held out his hand, helping his new comrade up. Rockerduck sat up on his knees, looking at the reflection of what seemed to be himself.

Actually, he didn’t need his reflection to tell him how much he had aged. The fact that he couldn’t see clearly was enough.

Rockerduck gazed upon his wrinkled hands, and his sickly, thin arms connecting them to his equally frail body. His eyes opened as wide as those damn eyelids could, their inelastic lenses trying to focus on the images in front of him.

“Jeeves...?”

Rockerduck called out, before being surprised by his now coarse voice. His childlike tenor voice had changed to a low, rumbling bass. Just like his butler’s.

“He...He’s behind you, sir.” Steelbeak replied sheepishly, still confused and shocked at how the once glamorous bandit king had deteriorated to the pathetic old man in front of him.

Rockerduck turned around, detecting his partner with his hands and eyes. His fingers touched something cold, hard, lifeless.

“This is not Jeeves.”

Rockerduck concluded.

“Where is he?”

He who never leaves me. He who never abandons me.

“This...This is Mister Jeeves, though...” Steelbeak meekly retaliated, not wanting to cross the old duck.

“No. This isn’t. This is a robot. Jeeves isn’t a robot. He-“

“This is Jeeves, John.”

Black Heron cut him off, impatient at the “geezer”’s denial. “Jeeves is now a robot. We turned him into one.”

Upon hearing that, Rockerduck lashed out at the voice behind him, only to fall flat onto the ground. Even a trip felt like a near-death experience. Steelbeak lightly shoved his colleague for her harsh demeanour, before helping their guest up.

“Mister Rockerduck, do you remember what happened? Around a century ago?”

Of course he did. How could he forget.

That cursed Fountain of Youth on the mountain.

And that blasted outlaw Scrooge McDuck.

———————————————————————————————

Only one could have the blessing. Not because there was only one gift, but because the blessed child wouldn’t want Santa giving present to another lad.

And surely, Scrooge McDuck was always the winner. He bested him once in Gumption. Why couldn’t he best him again at the Fountain of Youth?

Rockerduck fell into a lake, silently crying for help whilst submerged in the icy water. His tears mixed with the liquid around him, as he paddled frantically yet fruitlessly for the surface.

In the muffled environment, however, he could hear someone diving into the lake. How stupid could someone be to jump into a body of water at absolute zero?

How brave could someone be, to risk their life for their beloved one’s?

Rockerduck sensed his surrounding solidifying, trapping him in a glacier prison. Was the ice floating to the water surface, or was a certain someone pushing him towards salvation?

The last view Rockerduck remembered, was the first sunlight of dawn.

Not even the sun can free me from this prison of ice. Just like how all the glaciers of the two Poles cannot quench the flames of hell.

“Mister Jeeves tried every method to free you. You see, this...ice...is magical. Unbreakable, cannot be melted, cannot be dissolved...”

Steelbeak touched the melting ice, still fascinated by how the sphere just disintegrated in front of his eyes.

“He was the only one with you. You have no business partner. No family. No friend.” Black Heron continued. “He rushed from cities to cities, countries to countries, willing to pay anything just to get you out. And there’s where we met you.”

“Jeeves tried to find an underground criminal organisation for help. That’s how desperate he was.” The Fowl agent crossed her arms, leaning back onto the support of the building.

“I was still a rookie at that time, and Jeeves already looked as old as you are now. He must had devoted his adulthood to finding a panacea. Of course, even we had our arms tied. When his eyes grew lifeless and a frown formed on his face, I could tell he was at his wit’s end.”

“Mister Jeeves spent the rest of his life here, looking after you. Even without a cure, he decided to at least protect what was left of you.”

“Yet, at the end of his line, ol’ Jeeves couldn’t see a single droplet forming from the ice. He...” Black Heron paused, visibly uncomfortable with this surge of emotions.

“...He requested us to transform his body into a robot, so that he can continue to protect you after he passed. So yeah, that’s Jeeves. That’s...Jeeves, Johnny.”

Rockerduck looked at the metallic brute triple his height, caressing the copper arms and the iron body. The robot responded, gently patting his head. It was expressionless. Just like how Jeeves had always been.

His body may leave. His soul may perish. But he is always by my side.

“But...”

Rockerduck took off his hat. Scratched it might be, it was still intact.

“...But how did I survive? It was a century...! I...”

Even someone as well-built as Jeeves succumbed to old age. How could Rockerduck possibly push against the flow of time?

Black Heron looked down at the ground. “You tell him, Steely.”

Steelbeak let out a soft sigh, accompanied by an unwilling nod.

“This.” Steelbeak took out a small transparent jar from a box, showing it to the duck.

“During your...incident at the Fountain, Jeeves managed to take a few drops of the magic fountain water. He had been putting them in this jar, waiting for the moment you can use it. But...he couldn’t wait to this day. Not only his body was failing him, but yours was failing you too.”

He believed in hope, hope that I will once again see the light of day.

“He gave...all of them to you. He didn’t want to risk sharing them, lest the effect was not long enough. He poured the water onto the sphere, hoping you can receive his parting gift. And it seemed his wish really was heard.”

———————————————————————————————

The room turned silent except for the rumbling of machineries.

Black Heron closed her eyes. Steelbeak looked at Rockerduck worriedly. And Rockerduck blankly stared at whatever might enter his field of vision.

The sound that broke the quietness was the clenching of fibres.

“You want me to help kill Scrooge, right?”

Even though that was the aspiration of Fowl, the two agents did not intend to ask Rockerduck for help. But it seemed Fowl was not the decision-maker in this case. This was not an offer to help. This was an order to help.

He didn’t need a reply. He gave himself the reply. And it was surely an affirmation.

Rockerduck held his hat in his fist, nearly breaking the worn-out cotton. Cold as he might feel, the ray of sunlight ignited a blood-chilling flame in his veins.

The same ray of light he had seen in the lake, now brighter than ever, burning a glacial fire of vengeance.

Fuelled by the sense of loss. The loss of something valuable. The loss of someone irreplaceable. Not even all the coins and treasures in the Money Bin could redeem that bloody Scottish duck.

“YOU HEAR ME, SCROOGE! I WILL MAKE YOU PAY! I WILL MAKE YOU FUCKING PAY! EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING!”

(19-9-2020)

(This story is written before the episode “The Forbidden Fountain of the Foreverglades!” (S03E11) is aired. Therefore, this story is purely my imagination based on trailers.)

#john d rockerduck #rockerduck #jeeves #ducktales #ducktales 2017 #Steelbeak #black heron #story #storyteller #short story

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ladykeane · 5 years ago

Note

Bertie and Reg dress up for Halloween at Dahlia's!! and the party!!!

To the lovely Nonny who sent this, I profusely apologise if you’re not the massive weeb/animation geek that I am. But this idea stuck, and I couldn’t help myself!

Fair warning, it’s quite silly, most definitely cracky, and completely self indulgent…

There was a lesson given to me by my drama teacher at school, Mrs Irving, that has always stayed with me. The gist of her teaching was that a good actor must have a sort of dual consciousness. I suppose what she meant was that a chap should have the power to transform his mindset into that of the character he plays - and then just as easily slip back into his usual mental space, once the curtain falls. There must co-exist a Bertie-the-Wooster and Bertie-the-Prince-Hal within a single animal. Well, I suppose I have put this lesson to good use in my adult life, as I can attest that Bertie-the-Drone, Bertie-the-obedient-nephew and Bertie-the-seducer-of-certain-Jeeveses manage to be conjured at the drop of a whatsit.

A particularly surprising example of this dual consciousness wheeze occurred just recently, on the night of Aunt Dahlia’s annual Halloween bash. I suppose the lifted veil to the spirit world aided this shift of the Wooster disposish. (Well, the costume probably helped too, not to mention my dear auntie’s insistence that her party guests never drop out of character for the whole of the evening. That can make certain things a tad awkward, such as bathroom ablutions. One must ask: does Superman use the lavatory at all?)

I was given the scoop on the event by my ancestor over the phone, as I sat digesting a fourth-or-fifth slice of Reg’s birthday cake. (This year he had requested a Black Forest, and I have to say that I outdid myself. The leftover kirsch was also a boon.)

‘Super-groups?’ I asked. ‘You mean like the Travelling Wilburys?’‘No, young clot, I mean super-groups like the Avengers, Justice League, and their lycra-clad ilk. The group with the best costumes and most convincing delivery will receive a prize from your Uncle Tom and myself.’‘Ooh! And what is that?’‘For one, a cooking lesson with Anatole. Apparently he owed Reg a favour, and your man generously donated said favour to me.’I glanced an appreciative glance at my beloved, who sat perusing the W.H. Auden anthology I had given him.‘Secondly, a near-pristine Nintendo Gamecube, complete with controllers and a collection of best-selling game cartridges.’‘You mean the one you confiscated from Angela and myself? I still think that was an unfair punishment.’‘I say, it was entirely fair! Do you forget that I got stuck with the bill to clean your old headmaster’s office!? I am told that the stench of baked beans can still be detected throughout the school halls, to this very day! Anyway, I would advise you to get cracking. The competition will be stiff, I hear Angela’s little friends have been working on their costumes since August. Perhaps you and Reg could go as Batman and Robin!’‘Perhaps, auntie.’‘Well, pip-pip then. I’ve got many a fake tombstone and skeleton to haul down from the attic.’

As I hung up, Reg raised his head from his book. ‘I believe Mrs Travers has briefed you on this year’s Halloween festivities?’‘Indeed. She’s never offered a prize for the guests before. They’re real plums, at that. I reckon it would be well worth the splurge to get some first-rate togs.’‘May I ask what this year’s theme is?’‘Super-groups. By which I mean, groups of superheroes. She suggested we go as Batman and Robin! We’re already quite the dynamic duo, anyway. What d’you think?’

As I uttered these words, the Jeevesian brow began sinking south, until the look on his face chilled the lukewarm cup of tea sitting at my elbow.‘I should say not, Bertram.’‘Oh. Well… what about Danger Mouse and Penfold? You could be DM, of course.’‘I regret that I shall be unable to attend this year’s festivities. I have much to do to complete the Earl of Rowcester’s living will.’

Of all the paper-thin excuses! ‘Oh, don’t give me that Reg! What is it? You don’t care to be in the same room as all that brightly-coloured spandex? You fared just fine at last year’s “Stranger Things” soiree, and we were surrounded by a multitude of eighties fashion, at that!’(He made quite the dashing Steve Harrington, actually. Aunt Dahlia cast this Bertram as Dustin, so while I was able to tag after him all night there was an unfortunate dearth of snogging.)‘I am afraid I must insist. I do not care to be dressed in the bright, garish apparel that is requisite of superheroes.’

Given that it was the lowly rotter’s birthday, I held on to the flames that should have escaped from my nostrils. ‘Oh, very well, Reg. Have it your way.’ To ensure that none of my internal invective against him slipped past the Wooster lips, I left the flat for a sullen trudge about Mayfair.

***

That very evening, Bingo Little summoned self and several other Drones to dinner. He was in town with his husband Randy, to look for a property where they could spend their Winters. While the reports given indicated that all was spiffy within their NYC townhouse, Randy wanted to ensure that his paramour did not lose touch with his British roots. And I think I remembered him saying that his next novel was to be set in South Kensington, inspired by the likes of Richard Curtis and Hugh Grant. All rather convenient, no?

‘That Gamecube and cooking lesson with Anatole is as good as ours, lads. I have the perfect idea for our super-group.’ Here Bingo took a long sip of tea, leaving us in a state of eye-boggling suspense.‘Christ and his disciples?’ suggested Stinker.‘The Bloomsbury Group?’ queried Boko.‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?’ asked Gussie.

‘Better,’ Bingo finally replied, a rivulet of tea dribbling down his chin. ‘Do you know “Sailor Moon”?’

‘Sparkly schoolgirl with the pigtails? Yes, I recall watching the English language version with Angela sometimes. Quite a cheesy romp, that.’‘Oh, you ought to read the original manga ,’ said Boko. ‘A perfect blend of costumed superhero action and romantic high fantasy!’

For the next half hour, we were subject to Boko and Bingo giving us a full synopsis of the dratted space opera, complete with character studies, mythological references, and feminist overtones. Now, I have known my fellow Drones to sometimes possess hidden depths, but I was unsure whether this encyclopedic grasp of a Japanese super-girl-group was more of a mild pathology instead.

‘So,’ Bingo announced, ‘I believe I’ve figured out the perfect casting for each of us. I shall be Sailor Venus, of course, the soldier of love. Randy does call me his golden love god, after all.’ (Pause here for requisite retching.) ‘Gussie can be Sailor Mercury, given his general… wateriness. Boko’s love of house plants is perfect for Sailor Jupiter. And due to his spiritual calling, Stinker will be Sailor Mars, the shrine-maiden.’

I was trying to picture each of my chums kitted out in a colour coded schoolgirl costume. Perhaps we would score points for comedic effect, if nothing else.‘And what about me?’ I asked.‘Well, you’ll be our Sailor Moon, naturally.’‘Golly! I must say, Bingo, I’m quite chuffed to be given the starring role. I assume that it’s due to my former experience with drag, not to mention my theatrical prowess and general heroic gravitas.’‘Well… I suppose. It’s also because Sailor Moon is supposed to be a ditzy blonde crybaby.’‘Ah.’The judicious nods that the others gave were a tad insulting.

‘Does this mean that I’ll have to wax? ’ asked Gussie.

***

Now, if you’ve ever seen the much-celebrated cartoon, you’ll know that one of the highlights of every episode is the spangly transformation sequences, where each heroine morphs from humdrum schoolgirl into celestial warrioress. Our first go at donning the famous fuku was much less glamorous.

Boko knew a chap who knew a lass who worked at a highly-regarded fancy dress company. Apparently, many a masquerade-goer and cosplayer has raved about their beautifully crafted goods. As we trundled our way out their HQ on the tube, we were all in high hopes of scoring the perfect outfits. As it happens, the fitting session that followed made me appreciate just how inadequate the standard sizing of womens’ apparel really is.

Bingo and I had the best luck, but the costumes closest to fitting us were narrow in the shoulders and wide in the hips. Gussie managed to squeeze into one of the larger sizes, but resembled more of a wrinkly chicken sausage than a cute superheroine. (The skirt was appallingly short on him, and when he bent over to grab his phone from his bag I was quite traumatised.) Stinker, who is built akin to a silverback gorilla, utterly utterly destroyed the costume he attempted to yank on. I offered to foot the bill for that one, as a vicar’s salary can only cover so many breakages per month.

‘It’s no good, boys,’ sighed the seamstress who had patiently assisted us, ‘you’ll need to get these custom-made.’‘And how long will that take?’ asked Bingo.She put on a brave face. ‘I’ll do my best to get them ready for Halloween, but bear in mind I’ve already got a backlog of orders to finish.’‘Chin up!’ I replied. ‘I can probably ask a favour of the drag queen who did my costuming for “Legally Blonde” - Reg cut her a sweet deal with a new agent at the time. I’ll ask if she can source the shoes and wigs and things.’

A level of relief washed on to the girl’s face at this. I’d feel the same, if I were freed from the task of cobbling a pair of Stinker Pinker-sized red pumps.‘Even so, we’ll be cutting it close with this order. I doubt I’ll be done before the morning of the 31st.’‘Send me the bill for your energy drinks,’ I offered.‘It’s a deal.’

***

Time ticked on, and All Hallows Eve drew near. While I did my best not to harbour any full-on wrath against Reg at his blowing-off of the party, I couldn’t help but act a tad pipped towards him. Were lurid leotards and shiny accessories really so horrid?When he snuggled close to me on the sofa, I scooched away. When he dropped a kiss upon my map, my only response was tight-lipped disinterest. The blighter refused to compromise, so wherefore should this Wooster succumb to his entreaties? I took a lot of cold showers that week.

The big day came, and still nary a costume was yet received.‘5pm, she said,’ Boko told me, ‘and we’ll have to go and pick them up ourselves.’‘Hm, that is cutting it close. Well, bear up, old fruits! Leather Smalls will be along this arvo to do our make-up and hair.’‘Leather Smalls?’‘Didn’t I tell you? She’s part of an all-drag M People tribute act.’

If I can impart to you the experience of tubing it across suburban London in a long blonde, pigtailed wig, a full face of makeup, and masculine civvies, accompanied by four other similarly styled blokes, you probably wouldn’t doubt my claim that it was one of the more surreal experiences in my life. Halloween is not quite the big deal here that it is across the pond, so we got quite the share of wolf whistles, disapproving auntly glares, and ‘yaaaas, queen’s from our fellow travellers.

At last, at last, we arrived at Brinkley Court, freshly finished costumes in hand. The coloured lights, costumed crowd, and strains of ‘Monster Mash’ from within indicated a party already in full swing.As we entered the front door, I grabbed for the first bowl of sweets I could find, given my lowered blood sugar.‘That’s it!? Gawd, Bertie, you could have at least made an effort!’

Angela had grabbed one of the sweets from my hand and popped it in her mouth. I wasn’t quite sure who she was supposed to be, but her costume was really quite the thing.She was caked head-to-toe in light purple body paint, with a long wig in a paler shade of the same colour. A brilliant gem was affixed to her chest, and she wielded a long double-headed whip. I did not feel inclined to backtalk her.‘So who’ve you come as?’‘One of the Crystal Gems, obvs. Anyway, you need to go easy on those. Mum says that some neighbourhood bullies have been stealing sweets from the trick-or-treating kids, and she’s promised to recompense them.’‘What!?’My blood was now boiling - what lowly cad felt the need to scam helpless rugrats out of their jelly babies and smarties?

‘Oh, it’s awful,’ said Aunt Dahlia, swiping the remaining sweets from my hand and depositing them back in their bag. ‘I just saw Captain America crying his poor little eyes out, being comforted by Bucky Barnes. A whole evening’s worth of trick-or-treating swag, stolen from them by three nasty teenagers!’‘She means Thos and Edwin,’ Angela translated.‘What teenagers?’ asked Stinker.‘Some of the nastier upperclassmen from Eton, apparently. Captain America tells me that they have a reputation for bullying even the house masters and head teachers. Great brutes.’‘Rum,’ I said. ‘But, Aunt Dahlia-’‘Who?’I took in my auntie’s costume.‘But, Catwoman, hasn’t anyone tried to pull them up for it?’‘They’ve been too wily. I was told that they also egged the Emsworths’ place, running off onto Ham Common before anyone could catch them.’‘Travesty!’ cried Boko. ‘They can’t get away with this!’‘Too right!’ I said.‘Well? You lot are supposed to be the Sailor Senshi, aren’t you? You fight for love and justice, yes?’‘Er…?’‘You must transform, and thwart the damned villains!’

The Drones and I shared a look askance. ‘Um.’‘May I remind you, Sailor Moon, of the video games and French cuisine that are up for grabs for the group who best embodies their chosen superheroes?’‘Right ho. Moon Prism Power Make Up, then!’

***

We stampeded upstairs, bottlenecking on the landing, and Stinker stumbled noisily upon the top step. Into my old bedroom, and our everyday trappings were cast off in favour of our splendid, sparkly sailor ensembles.It was a bit of a muddle - the others needed help donning their padded brassieres, not to mention adjusting their skirts to preserve modesty. But after a few fumbling minutes, we were ready to go, as resplendent a team of magical girls as Brinkley Court had ever seen.

I allowed myself an indulgent linger before the full-length mirror. I really did look cute. The big pink bow was quite flattering to my proportions, and the blue skirt and collar set off my eyes nicely.‘Come on, Sailor Moon! We’ve got a contest to win!’With a flick of my pigtails, I was off.

Bursting out of Brinkley’s front door again, we charged into the gloaming. The place looks directly out over Ham Common, and on the great stretch of lawn, it did not take us long to spot the perps.

A juvenile, quivering Wallace and Gromit were surrounded by three of the largest, most grotesque teenage boys that I’d ever beheld. Though a good decade younger than myself, they looked to be twice my height and about four times my body weight. Most ghastly of all were their choices of costume: the ringleader was dressed as Pennywise the Clown, with his two lieutenants cast as Thanos and a zombie version of Napoleon Dynamite. I admit that the hint of rotten green brain showing through his blonde afro was an impressive use of make-up, but it did turn my stomach a tad.

Just before they could rip the trick-or-treat bags from the youngsters, I put a solid, heeled boot forward.‘Leave those beloved icons of childrens’ entertainment alone!’‘Hurrr,’ slurred Thanos, ‘check out the anime drag queens.’‘Wanna come party with us, girls?’ said Pennywise. ‘We got heaps of sweeties for the sweeties!’I puffed out my padded chest. ‘Never! I stand for love and justice! And… by the Code of the Woosters, I shall punish you!’

And so it began. We swooped upon them. Wallace and Gromit scarpered, and we were met with a barrage of large humbugs. When thrown with enough velocity, those things can leave a bruise.

Behind me, Gussie boldly came up bearing a large garden hose. He turned the nozzle on the head, but instead of dousing the monsters, the force of the spray was a bit too much for him, and he clung on for dear life as the hose thrashed about in his arms. He quickly went down in a self-inflicted mud puddle.

Stinker managed to plant a shiner of a right hook on Thanos. The brute staggered away, doubled over in pain. He threw off his plastic infinity gauntlet, upon which Stinker tripped magnificently, going pumps over skirt into the turf as well.

Boko fearlessly leapt upon Napoleon’s back, wrapping his noodly arms about an equally noodly neck. Napoleon bucked about like a bronco with a bad itch. Boko did his best to hang on, but the slippery satin gloves ultimately betrayed him, and the poor soul was flung off into a nearby rose bush.

The three monsters continued running from us. It was just me and Bingo now. We exchanged a silent glance of Sailor Senshi solidarity, as we pursued them towards a clump of oak trees.With a well aimed stomp, Bingo got Pennywise right in the oversized foot, with the heel of his pump. However, before I could back him up, the two lieutenants grabbed my chum and snatched his wig by its red ribbon, hurling it up into the branches of one of the trees.‘NOT MY VENUS WIG!’Abandoning the skirmish, Bingo pathetically began clambering up the branches to try and retrieve the thing. (I mean, it was a nice wig. And if it came back damaged, I would be owing Leather Smalls big time.)

And so, the beasts turned their attention to me. Three cruel grins bore down upon me like vultures on a dying wildebeeste. They looked like they could easily pummel me into a boneless mush, and not even feel it the next day. I’m not too proud to admit that I quivered in my heeled boots.‘What was that about punishing us, sweetie?’‘Let’s hang her from the branches by those stupid pigtails!’‘Yeah! And then we’ll-’

All of a sudden, something sleek and sharp came whistling through the night air. It popped Pennywise’s balloon, and struck Thanos right between the cheeks of his ample bum.‘Ow!’‘What the…’It was a fine, thin blade, attached to a deep red rose.

The four of us whipped our heads towards the source of the floral projectile. Imagine my total astonishment to perceive, perched upon a high stone wall before the radiant moon, none other than Tuxedo Mask. Gosh, he was splendid, with his billowing black cape and aura of general rakishness.‘How dare you blackguards steal from innocent children and assault these brave soldiers. Sailor Moon, I know you can defeat them.’‘But how, dash it!?’

He tossed me a bright pink plastic object. It took me a moment to discern that it was an external hard drive. It bore a little decal of one of those colourful cartoon pony characters.I looked back at the monsters, to find Pennywise agog.‘Wh… WHERE DID YOU GET THAT!?’‘Uhm…’‘Dude… is that what I think it is?’ said Napoleon.‘GIVE IT BACK!’ cried Pennywise.

Tuxedo Mask and I shared a single silent, meaningful glance, and I dropped the thing to the grass, raising my heeled boot above it, primed to smash.‘Well… I might, if you agree to apologise to every last child you terrorised, AND return their sweeties.’‘But we already ate some,’ said Thanos.‘Alright… maybe just give them a few quid, in that case. AND you’ll be cleaning the egg off Mrs Emsworth’s front stoop.’‘Anything, ANYTHING!’ begged Pennywise. ‘Please just give me back my-’‘NIGEL!!!’

A robust, sour-faced Jean Grey was stomping across the grass, her fiery gaze fixed on Pennywise.‘You have a lot of explaining to do, young man!’‘But Mum-’‘I should confiscate your little pony stories this instant!’‘No! Please…’‘Instead, you will do exactly as Sailor Moon says, and apologise to all the people whose Halloween you have ruined! You too, Cyril, Edgar! Don’t think I won’t be telling your mothers what you’ve done!’

The clown was dragged off by his ear to begin his penance, but not before he could snatch up his pink hard drive. Now that the leader had fallen, his two henchmen slunk along in his wake.

The Sailor Senshi had regrouped, and Angela, Thos, and Edwin (sorry, Amethyst, Captain America, and Bucky) had also dashed up to join us.‘You know who that was?’ said Angela, ‘Little Nigel Belfry. I went to St George’s with his big sister Diedre. Rotten little punk. One of the worst trolls in the online “My Little Pony” fandom too.’‘He bullies us all the time,’ said Thos.‘Well, dangle the name “Eulalie” in front of him. That’s his username on all the major MLP forums. Not sure he’d like that info getting out at Eton.’ Here she thumped me on the back. ‘Well done, Sailor Moon, you gave him the punishment that he sorely needed.’‘Oh, but I couldn’t have done it without…’I turned towards the stone wall. Of course, Tuxedo Mask had already biffed off. Probably to go hunt down the Silver Imperium Crystal or something.

***

Now that the drama had wound down, we finally had a chance to mingle. I got to take in the costumes of Angela’s group: Honoria was some sort of giant magenta woman with sunglasses and boxing gloves; Florence looked lovely and delicate in a gossamer tutu, and gleefully swung about a rather frightening spear; while Madeline was surprisingly dressed in drag - some charming little chap by the name of Steven, I think. The craftwork of their outfits was simply matchless, and they were clearly the ones to beat for the contest.

After Time-Warping and Thriller-ing and Caramelldansen-ing the night away, as well as quaffing some questionable looking cocktails with names like Chemical X and Radioactive Sludge, it was time to announce the winners of the costume competition.Uncle Tom (sorry, the 4th Doctor) killed the music, and tapped a fork against his glass of Chemical X to call for silence.Dahlia-or-Catwoman hopped up on the coffee table, to better survey the throng. ‘The door prize goes to Winnie the Pooh, who clearly misunderstood the assignment.’Spode-the-Pooh shuffled up to grab his bag of humbugs, and Madeline-or-Steven applauded wildly.

‘The runners-up are Wario and Waluigi, who regrettably stayed true to their despicable characters all evening!’Claude and Eustace collected their swag of Quality Street and Jack Daniels, fighting over who would get to carry them.

Angela and I exchanged a tense side eye. Could one of us really have been left out?

‘And the first prize… is a joint win, between the Crystal Gems and the Sailor Senshi! Come on down, ladies!’Well, everyone pooh-poohs nepotism until they benefit from it. Angela and I joined hands, and led our respective groups to their shared moment of glory. (And after a little bartering, we agreed to let the girls take the cooking lesson, while we scored the Gamecube. I know that Angela has long been an avid fan of Anatole’s show ‘Cuisine Inferno’.)

***

After a little more merrymaking, the music changed from novelty festive monster songs to the cheesy fodder of slow dancing. As couples began to pair off and pitch woo, a thought occurred to me: where the devil had Tuxedo Mask gone?

At the very least, I wished to thank the fellow. It was anyone’s guess as to how he had picked up on Nigel-or-Pennywise’s little secret, but he had truly been my saviour.

I squeezed through the waves of slow dancers, trying to keep my eyes peeled for a top hat or a black cape. Alas, the only capes I could spy were of bright and garish hues.

I escaped to the quiet of Brinkley’s large, rambling back yard, in the hopes of getting a little air. As I ankled along the gravelled drive in my heeled boots, I couldn’t help but let a little melancholy sink in. Despite my search for Tuxedo Mask, I well knew who I really wanted to spend this night with.I reached the fountain, ornamented by Aunt Dahlia’s favoured statue of Artemis, and plonked my sorry self down upon its edge.‘Sailor Moon… we meet again.’

He emerged from behind the shadow of the trees, and I leapt right up.‘Tuxedo Mask! Ah… I really did want to thank you for your help back there. Awful solid of you, old chap.’

He did not come closer. ‘You are most welcome. I had been charged with organising the family affairs of the Earl of Rowcester. I encountered his youngest son, who proved to possess a most malicious and scheming temperament. I felt the temporary acquisition of the lad’s most prized digital information would prove a useful bargaining chip at some juncture.’‘And right you were, Tuxedo Mask! What a bally stroke of genius you…’

He stepped forward, and removed his eyemask.

‘Bertram, I am sorry that I was so intractable about tonight.’‘Oh… Good Lord… Reg, I hoped so dearly that it was you!’

I flew to his arms. And Angela, the sneaky brat, managed to get a good number of happy snaps of Sailor Bertie and Tuxedo Reg locked in a passionate embrace.

‘Reg?’‘Yes, my moonbeam?’‘Keep the cape.’

#jeeves and wooster #bertie's blog #fanfic prompts #seriously tho this is total crack

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justwritingforfun · 5 years ago

Text

Answers...but at what cost(part 3)

Tori pov:

Ophelia's grip on my arm tighten and I feel her tense up, I quickly put my hand on hers as we watch.

"WHO DID THIS?! It certainly wasn't me. No, no. Somebody, NOT ME, must have moved it between the time I was the last person alone with the body in the room and then stepped out for a few minutes to take care of some personal business- that you don't need to know about. Could have been anybody... Except me" younger Tori just rolled her eyes at Abe

people started to fill the room.

"What the hell happened here?" asked the butler

"The body's been moved" Abe answered

"On its own?"

"No, of course not. Unless it did, in which case we've got way bigger problems than a simple murder"

As Abe said that the chef walked in and asked "What the hell happened here?"

"The body's moved" the butler answered this time

"On its own?" Chef looked confused

"We haven't quite ruled that out just yet, but let's not forget we've got a murderer" Abe said

Wil walked in "Bully! Quite a storm out there, eh chaps? What are you doing huddled here in fear?" he asked

"We have a zombie problem" Chef answered him, Ophelia hugged up to Tori.

"Ah! Homonecrosis. The most dangerous game. Well, if someone needs to put the old lad down again, I'm well up for the privilege"

"What do you mean by again, and what do you mean by privilege?" Abe asked at what Wil said

"I'm just saying, I've got plenty of... experience" Wil answered

"So do I"

"Yeah, that just raises more questions"

"Well, I'm off to the grounds to see if I can catch a whiff of the old bag of bones, eh?"

"Weren't you and Mark the same age?" the butler said, Wil laughed as he walked out

"Alright, I don't trust him. Then again, I don't trust anyone. Alright, lock this place down. Secure the front gate"

"Locks won't keep people from getting out, sir"

"Locks won't, but Chef will"

"Look, you're a real smart son of a bitch. Handsome too, beautiful even, but we don't have time for this. I think we forgot the most important question of all during our arousing game of whodunnit. Why? Why? Come walk with me." we followed Abe "Why did he invited us all here? Why tonight? He said we were celebrating something, but he never specified what. It's almost as if this whole shindig of a hootenanny was just a ruse. Mark was my friend- had been for years, then he went quiet. I knew something was wrong, I just never figured out what. Now I guess I never will. Look, I'm gonna level with you. You're my new partner. I've been working with them for years. Now I've been doing this for a long time, and I know something is wrong. There is a murderer-"

Thunder clap

"-here amongst us, and we need to find it, and you look like a trustworthy... somebody. I know we just met, but I am an excellent judge of character. Excellent like a fox" Abe stopped for a moment to think "I smiled and fed 'em a line of bullshit. The truth was, I couldn't trust them any more than the other skuz around here. But like my late partner said right before he died, best to keep your enemies close. Wink wink"

Abe quickly got in Tori and Ophelia's faces, Tori when to punch him but Ophelia stopped her "You don't look like you have any reason to kill him, and if you do..." Abe said with a laugh "Best to keep your enemies close, eh? Wink wink. So the real question we should be asking is: who stood to gain the most from Mark's death? Now, in my thorough analysis of the corpse's anal cavity, I discovered that in addition to being stabbed 37 times, he was also poisoned, beaten, strangled, drowned, and shot. In that order. Now if you ask me, that's a lot of trouble to go through to knock off one guy and it sure as shit is no accident. No. No, my friend. There's gonna be no simple candlestick in the library solution to this whole puzzle. So, we're gonna have to do the detectively thing and go through the victim's most private and personal possessions. Well, after you. Oh. It looks rough, but I don't think he was killed here. Take a look around and see if you find anything, but BE CAREFUL. I've lost three partners before to bedroom booby traps. Make sure you don't tamper with any evidence. Let me know if you find anything" we where in some room as we watch Ophelia find a picture of Wil but the glass was broken

"You find a clue?" Abe and Tori asked, out of no where Wil popped up

"You're quite on the care, aren't you? Say, detective, may I borrow your friends here?" he asked pointing at Tori and Ophelia

"Yeah, sure. Don't worry partner, I'll handle it from here" we walk out with Wil

"Bully. Take a walk with me. I thought it was about time that we got to know each other. Someplace far, far away from the prying eyes of... anyone else. Come with me. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but you and the Mayor know each other, right? He's a good man, that one. We've been fast friends for as long as I can remember. Now, there came a time when I could have said the same thing about Mark, but... Well, best not to speak ill of the dead. Oh! The pool hasn't aged a day" we had some how ended outside, Tori and Ophelia looks away and back and Wil is now in swimwear

"GERONIMO!" Wil yelled as he jumped in the pool

"Have you seen the Colonel? I thought I heard him. I need to speak with him. I may have been a little short at our last encounter." Damien came quickly around the corner " Well, if you see him, let me know" and like that he was gone.

"Bully! Oh, life needs a bit of madness, eh, chap? Now, what were we talking about? Oh, yes, the grisly business inside. Well, I'm sure I'm not the first to say that our host had a great deal of enemies as of late. My prying eye might suspect that the people who worked for him might have reason to stab him in the back. God knows he's a tough son of a bitch to work for. Oh! The old golf course! I-I'll fetch my clubs!" Wil has some how get out of the pool and back in his clothes and started to walk, then he saw the old golf course and ran off.

"Colonel? Damn, I thought I heard him... no matter. Would you like to accompany me?" we nodded at Damien as he walked up to us "There's something that I would very much like to discuss with you. Now, I know you've been assisting our... Intrepid detective with his investigation, but... I have to bring some concerns of mine to the forefront. If we look at this situation logically, we can only assume that the killer who struck down our dear friend Mark was with us last night. And while I would stake my life on the innocence of the Colonel or yourself," we blush at that "can we really say the same of our beloved detective? Or worse yet, mayhaps our counting skills aren't as good as we assume to be. And mayhaps... In the shadows of this manor, unseen to any of us, lay hidden... a murderer"

Thunder clap

"Dami-" Tori was cut off by the sound of arguing, they quickly run to the sound to see Abe and Wil pointing a gun at each other.

"I don't know what you're playing at but you better lower your weapon, you murderer!"

"I bloody well won't, you're the one that assaulted me! For all I know, you could be the murderer!"

"What the fu-OH!" the Chef just walked in and sees what is happening

"Last chance, drop your weapon!" Abe yelled

they break a vase "Master's prized vase!" the butler said with sadness

"Everyone, please! I know we're all on edge, but can't we resolve this amicably?" Damien tried to calm the men down, Tori push Ophelia behind her.

"On edge?! This PSYCHO tried to shoot me!" Abe yelled

"That's a bold-faced lie. I was merely doing some light target practice" Wil said back

the butler was shocked "Inside?!"

"Well, yes, I couldn't go on the ground now with that bloody chef in my way, could I?" Wil answered

"Damn right you should remember that, Private! Besides, you're not my boss anymore"

"It's Colonel, you know"

"Enough of this horseshit! You knew I was onto you and you were trying to whack me off before I could finger you... As the murderer!"

"I will not be called a murderer in my own home!" Wil yelled

then the front door was push open "stop!!" yelled a woman

"The bitch is here" I said as I saw her....

#markiplier egos #the viewers #wkm DA #wkm #jacksepticeye egos

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thegreenfairy13 · 6 years ago

Text

Dog Sitter - Prologue

I wrote another Gobblepot fic because it seems I have zero self-restraint. It will be mostly fluffy, maybe a bit cracky too. Hope you enjoy! You can also read it on Ao3.

“You did what?!”

Oswald Cobblepot’s high-pitched voice cuts through the silence like a knife. He’s standing in the middle of the Iceberg Lounge, exactly where its centerpiece - a frozen Edward Nygma - once used to be, a quivering employee kneeling at his feet.

If the situation wouldn’t be so serious it would almost be amusing. Once again, the Penguin finds himself in the situation of shouting frantically for his Edward to be returned to him immediately. Once again, he’s worried sick, half out of his mind from fear for his best friend in the world.

A twisted sense déjà vu creeps up Oswald’s spine as he’s losing his patience. His composure is - even on good days - at best tenuous. And today is decidedly not a good day.

The young man in front of him is shaking like a leaf on a stormy day, expecting imminent death.

“Where exactly did you see him last?” Grabbing the young man’s lapels forcefully, the kingpin starts shaking his subordinate like a ragdoll, doing an impressive imitation of the good Captain Gordon in the process.

“I...I...I don’t know,” the thin boy stammers out, brown eyes darting across the room pleadingly. “I only turned around for a second and then he was gone.”

“You had one duty!” the crime lord hollers, right hand already tightening around the kid’s throat. “And you failed me!” he screeches, slamming the lad’s face against the counter.

“How hard can it be to keep an eye on my dyspneic, short-legged, docile friend!” he screams, slapping the useless fool forcefully.

“It’s mating season for badgers and foxes,” Zsasz supplies unhelpfully from the door. “Makes the little fellows go crazy,” he adds, an evil little smile playing around his lips as he approaches his boss and the unfortunate child sprawled out over the counter.

“He could also have been kidnapped,” Butch chimes in, entering the room one step behind the bald-headed assassin.

“Mr. Cobblepot, Oswald, Mr. Penguin, Sir!” the boy screams frantically. “Please! It was only a dog, I’m sure…”

The boy has no chance of finishing his sentence before the King of Gotham knocks him out cold.

“Zsasz,” the Penguin snarls, wiping a drop of blood from his paper-white cheek, “Show Michael to the door and make sure he never finds a job in Gotham again.”

Turning on his heel he leaves it to Butch to clean up the blood. Flopping down on a sofa in his private rooms, he starts chewing his fingernails frantically.

It’s happening all over again. Once again, he’s losing what’s most important to him. Once again, he has failed to keep a cherished being safe and sound. The Penguin might be able to build an empire from the ashes time and time again, but when it comes to protecting his beloved ones, he’s utterly useless.

It doesn’t matter that his entire army of hired muscle, goons and thugs combs through the city in search for Edward. He’s already sure they’ll come back empty-handed or worse: with only a bloody collar.

And what if Butch had been right? What if Edward had been kidnapped for ransom? Or for more devious plans? His empire might be in danger again. What if, whoever has Edward, threatens to torture him? And who would be as barbarous as to torture a dog?

Oswald starts hyperventilating as his mind conjures one horrible scenario after another in which his dog is being held captive in a cold, dark room without food or water. In the more favorable settings, Ed is roaming the streets of Gotham, confused and scared while being hunted by dog-catchers.

With trembling fingers, he picks up his phone and starts calling each and every dog shelter in Gotham himself. He’s describing Ed over and over again, trying to be thorough and objective and failing miserably. When calling the seventh shelter he already sounds like a raging lunatic and can’t even blame the lady on the other end of the line for hanging up on him.

Needless to say, he doesn’t get much sleep that night. He misses his furry friend deeply as he twists and turns in his empty bed, unable to close his eyes. Edward had always been there for him.

Whenever Oswald would feel sad or agitated, the little guy would shuffle closer, nudge him with his cold nose and draw his attention towards him. Whenever he would get a cramp in his bad leg, he would lay down on it and keep it warm until the pain became bearable again.

In the morning, he would wake him up and force him to get out of bed, uncaring how bad his previous day might have been. During meetings, Ed would lay at his feet, keeping him grounded and preventing him from leashing out. Ed doesn’t like it when Oswald is shouting.

And now the only true friend he ever had is gone too. Just like his parents. Just like his boy Martin. Everyone always seems to leave Oswald or is being ripped forcibly from him.

Curling in on himself, the crime lord cries himself to sleep. He should have killed that stupid kid for daring to tell him Ed was only a dog when in fact he was so much more.

Despite offering a tremendous reward, it takes his men an entire week before relocating his beloved pet. And to his utter surprise, it’s Gabe - stupid, thickheaded, recently revived Gabe - of all people, who makes the breakthrough.

“And you are sure it’s not another imposter?” Oswald demands to know carefully. After the reward managing to attract all kinds of scammers taking complete collections of bulldogs to his home, the kingpin has become wary and doesn’t try getting his hopes up too high.

“There’s a website for people who found all kinds of pets,” Gabe elaborates proudly while pushing a tablet into his employer's impatient hands. “See, there,” he carries on while showing the Penguin various photos of a dog that is without a single doubt Edward.

For a moment, the Penguin is rendered speechless and immobile from joy.

Ed looks healthy on every single picture. He can’t make out any injuries, his fur is clean and he’s lying on a seemingly comfortable, yet cheap, pillow. On another picture, he’s playing with a ball on a lawn, looking happy and relaxed.

Whoever has found his dog, must have taken good care of him. Oswald vows to pay the reward even if the person in possession of his Ed obviously has no idea about it.

When checking the date on which the ad had been placed, the crime lord groans in frustration. He could have found Ed not even five hours after losing him had he just discovered this webpage earlier.

Snapping out of his stupor, he turns towards Gabe. The man is still hovering above him, a goofy grin plastered all over his face.

“What are you still doing here?” Oswald grumbles. “Go fetch my dog!” he adds, already reaching for his cane. It’s the one made of ebony, decorated with a penguin’s head and one his least threatening looking devices - just in case the lucky finder is a nice, elderly lady.

From the corner of his eye, the mobster can see his thug’s smile fading and his shoulders slumping slightly. An uneasiness creeps into the once self-pleased posture when Gabe takes the tablet from him again. The man starts fidgeting with his collar as he looks over his shoulder at Zsasz who, to Oswald’s endless displeasure, looks incredibly amused.

“What?” he grumbles, looking at his men. “Gabe, I swear, if we aren’t on our merry way to retrieve Ed in five minutes, I won’t hesitate to stab you 48 times again!” he growls menacingly, meaning each and every word.

After all, killing your staff isn’t a big deal in Gotham. Once you get sentimental, there’s always a possibility for revival. Well, if the person in question has been bad enough during his lifetime. For whatever reason, it doesn’t seem to work on the pure and innocent.

Arching his eyebrow expectantly he waits for Gabe and Zsasz to jump action, yet neither of them seems able or willing to move.

Finally, Zsasz clears his throat only to reveal with barely masked glee, “your dog has been found by the good Captain of the GCPD.” The Hitman then grins wickedly when what little color Oswald possess drains from his already pale face.

Barely withholding a crude curse, Oswald rises from his seat. Of all people in Gotham, it had to be Jim Gordon who found Ed.

Who else indeed, the kingpin thinks, almost chuckling hysterically when processing the news. It seems, there’s one cosmic joke the mob boss isn’t in on. However hard he tries staying away from the unruly detective, some kind of wicked karma forces him back on the other man’s path and vice-versa.

But here goes nothing. Retrieving Ed and taking him to safety is his first priority - even if it means dealing with James Gordon all over again.

#Gobblepot #fanfiction

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justanoutlawfic · 7 years ago

Note

For once not an a very angsty Detective Snowing AU (largely based off me realising Colin was in the Tudors) - Killian, Snow, and David are all Royals (2 princes and a princess) abused by their parents, they fall in love with each other and run away together to explore new realms on the Jolly Roger ship and try to find one which feels like home

This ended up being angsty, because it’s me, but I love this prompt so much!

Trigger warning: Mentions of child abuse and rape.

Also on AO3

Snow White was considered the fairest of them all byeveryone in the realm, but it was a name she despised. Her father had ruined itfor her, just as he had mostly everything. She had been helpless ever since theday Regina escaped with Daniel. She had thought it was good, that it was all inthe name of true love. Through her adulthood, it wouldn’t be something thatbrought her regret, because if this was how Father treated her…she had no cluehow he’d treat his wife.

She pretended to be asleep most nights when he snuckinto her chambers, she’d dance with as many different people as she could atballs. Yet, he’d somehow find a way. His fingernails digging through the finefabric of her dress. The way his hot breath would go down onto her neck.

She shivered at thethought, but as she packed her bag, she knew she was finally free. She had mettwo men that shared a similar life to her own. Two men she had fallen madly inlove with and was determined to spend forever with. They had bided their time,but as it seemed, that was quickly running out. Her fingers laced over her stomach,shutting her eyes. Soon, she’d be free.

“Snow!” Her father’svoice carried from outside her chambers and she quickly closed her suitcase,throwing it under the bed. A moment later, he walked in. “You have paperwork.”

“Coming, Daddy.” She forcedout the nickname just as she did her smile. Looking out the window one lasttime, she let the breath escape her nose and thought of the message Killian hadsent to her by bird.

Meetme at the docks at midnight, my love. XOXO.

In just a few hours-time,their lives would be forever changed.

David looked around the palace he had spent half hislife in, holding his breath. His mother had taught him to be good, to be noble.Yet, in that moment, he was doing something that was neither of those things.

He was stealing from his step-father.

The ends justified the means, he had to do it. Snowwas stealing from her father, just as Killian would steal from his own. Theyhad managed to get a ship, but that would mean nothing if they had no moneyonce they got there, wherever it was they were actually going.

He hadn’t always been a prince. He and his brother hadbeen born to two poor farmers who could barely keep their farm afloat. Still,even the days of poverty had been better than those in riches. At least then,they were happy. They were a family. Then Robert died and Ruth knew that she couldn’tkeep it up. So, she revealed something to her sons: she had once been aprincess. When she fell in love with Robert, her parents had given her a choiceand she chose true love. She urged them to never be as foolish as she had.

Her parents didn’t welcome her back with open arms,but her plight caught wind of King George. He couldn’t bear any children of hisown and his beloved wife had also passed away. He made Ruth an offer:everything she could ever want for her sons in exchange for her hand in marriage.She accepted and he adopted the boys, turning them into fine princes. She hadno idea of the abuse and torture that would be in store for her or her children.

David didn’t know the exact circumstances surroundinghis mother or brother’s deaths, but he had no doubt that George played a handin it. James, especially, had been rebellious, he had made plans to run off withSir Maurice’s daughter. Then days later he had died in a “cart accident”. Heknew that his mother had plans to leave but she had gotten caught up in an “arrowbattle”. David wasn’t stupid, so he played the role of the perfect son. Hebided his time. When he fell in love with Killian and Snow, he had to becareful. George wanted him to marry Princess Abigail, knowing that her fathercould offer the kingdom nothing but gold. David loved his significant othersmore than life itself, but he had to be careful. George could end his life.

Things were different now, however. Snow was pregnant.Not that it mattered either way, but a fairy’s magic had told them that thechild was his. He couldn’t allow King Leopold to find out the truth nor couldhe allow his child to grow up in such straights.

So, while George was awayon diplomatic mission, he’d disappear…along with some of his finest jewels.

Killian could hear his father’s snoring down the halland he knew that meant it was go-time. Walking into the hall, he had his duffelthrown over his shoulder and he snuck down the winding staircase to the mainfloor. Men stood guard of the door and it pained him to know what he had to do.These men had been nothing but kind to him and now…well, he told himself it wasn’tpermanent.

“Your majesty,” one of the guards spotted him in thelight of their lantern. “Where are you going?”

“I’m afraid that’s none of your business, lads.”

He threw the dust at them and they became paralyzed onthe spot. According to the Dark One, they wouldn’t be frozen forever, just longenough for him to escape. He rushed out the door and headed through the woodson foot. His kingdom was the closest to the docks, so he knew that he wouldarrive first.

Much like David and Snow, his early life hadn’t beenfilled with darkness. He too had a mother, a kind and gentle queen who had oncefallen in love with a pirate by the name of Brennan. She made him a prince andgave him two sons. They were once a happy family, a family Brennan treasured.Then the plague took Alice and he turned to drinking. The abuse started notlong after and by the time Killian was 14, he had lost his hand and his fatherhad forced him to replace it with a hook.

“It’sall your worth anyway.”

The breaking point for him had been losing Liam, hisolder brother, his protector. Even he couldn’t take everything and had escapedin the middle of the night to join the navy. Two of his fellow men showed up atthe castle months later to report that his ship had gone missing at sea, they didn’tpredict many survivors.

Killian turned to drinking himself not long after thatand would’ve nearly given up on everything…until he met Snow and David. Twomisfit royals that were abused and needed an escape. They slowly fell in loveand spent many nights hidden away together. They knew it couldn’t last forlong.

Until Killian found out that his brother had left himsomething: a ship. It wasn’t just any old ship, though. It had the ability tocross realms. Together, he and his true loves could find a new home, far awayfrom the kingdoms that plagued them. Especially now that they had a daughter onthe way, it was time to be proactive.

He had a tiny stop to make first, however.

When he reached the tower, he climbed it in recordtime. He found his dear child asleep on her bed and let out a small hiss ofpain knowing what she had been through. Brennan hadn’t been the only one tohurt him, an evil witch had tricked him into sleeping with her and his dearAlice was a result. Brennan had agreed to not give the girl away, but lockedher in a tower so no one knew of his sons “indiscretions” (because he refusedto believe that a man could be raped). He made sure Alice was cared for, butshe couldn’t be known.

“Alice,” he whispered. “Love, wake up.”

Her beautiful blue eyes flickered open and looked upat him, a tiny yawn escaping her lips. “Papa?”

“Come now, we’re going to go see Mommy and Daddy.”

Alice smiled, sleepily. “Really?”

“Yes, Starfish. It’s timewe start a new adventure.”

Snow and David climbed upon the ship, hand in hand. Thesalty air floated into their nostrils and the wind blew through their hair.Killian came up from the lower deck, wrapping an arm around each of them.

“I just tucked Alice into the bunks below,” hewhispered.

“Is she okay?” Snow asked.

“She’s fine, she’s excited to go on adventure.”

Snow pulled both of them closer to her. “Where shouldwe go first?”

“I have friends, in Arendelle,” David said. “It’s farenough away that we’ll be safe there for a bit.”

“Do you think it could be home?”

“I don’t know, but let’s figure it out.”

They were in Arendelle by the following evening,welcomed by Princess Anna and her husband, Kristoff, an old “friend” of David’s.(Killian and Snow weren’t stupid, they knew from the looks the two exchangedthey had once been lovers.) Anna showed Alice around, letting her devour allthe chocolates that she wanted, while Queen Elsa assured them they’d be safethere as long as they needed.

They stayed through Snow giving birth to their youngerdaughter, Emma Ruth. It was only then that King Leopold caught wind of wherethey could possibly be, so they boarded the Jolly once again. They traveleddifferent realms, caring for their two young girls and making love in themoonlight. The trouble was, no matter where they went, nothing quite felt likehome.

One night, after finally getting Emma to sleep, Snowsat on the top deck, a magic bean between her fingertips. Killian and David saton either side of her.

“Where’d you get that?” David asked.

“I traded for it.”

“Why would you? This ship can take us to any realm.”

“Any realm in this world.” She gently smiled. “When Iwas a child, my mother used to read to me a story of a place with no magic.Some countries have kings and queens, but it’s not quite like here. Things aredifferent. People are free…they’re happy.”

“That’s where you want to go, love?” Killian tiltedhis head. “A land with no magic?”

“I had this bean enchanted. It’d give us a life there,jobs, a home…we wouldn’t have to run anymore. These beans are so rare, noneof our fathers could ever get one and find us.”

“Is there a catch?”

“We could never come back here. Like I said, it’s aland without magic. Once we were there, the Jolly wouldn’t work like it does.It’d just be a normal ship.”

David and Killian consulted one another. These landshad been their home. They had allies, people that could protect them with magic.Yet, that only went so far. In this new land, they’d be able to protect theirdaughters, they’d truly be free.

“I think it’s time we stop running,” David whispered,stealing a kiss from his wife. “Let’s find our new home.”

In the new land, they wouldn’t be royals like they hadas children nor pirates like they had as adults. Snow would be a teacher,Killian a detective and David was a farmer/stay-at-home-dad. Alice went toschool and Emma was cared for by her father during the day. There were nomythical creatures chasing them about, in fact they learned that their storieswere told in a different way in this realm.

None of that mattered. The misfits had found an islandwhere they finally fit in.

#detective snowing #detective snowing au #captain snowing #captain snowing au #knightrook #knightrook au #daddy charming #daddy charming au #mama snow #mama snow au #tw: rape #tw; child abuse #charming family #charming family au

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bagadew · 3 years ago

Text

The Great Ace Attorney Playthrough: The Case of the Unbreakable Speckled Band (Part 2b)

Last Time: It turned out that my man Hosonaga hadn’t been kidding when he said he’d lay his life on the line for us, and was beaten up by the killer captain for letting us have a look around first class. As if that wasn’t enough, he then stood before us looking like the Knights of Ni, and gave us Kazuma’s autopsy report, revealing that Kazuma died of a broken neck. Now I (Ryunosuke) get ready to inveterate, and I (Eleanor) get ready to take the captain out!

OVER MY DEAD BODY YOU WILL!

So it shall be.

Susato’s pointing out that it might be a while before we’re all back in Japan, to which I say: It will happen, I can wait

Now on with the actual investigation.

Out in the corridor Biff Strogenov the 1 ton sailor has finally left his post, meaning that we’re free to look for cute animals investigate my beloved Kazuma’s death in cabin number 2!

Wait, that voice? Could it be? Has he returned to us?

Yeah boy!

Oh... he’s not in our immediate vicinity and we actually do have to go in cabin number 2, so I guess we’ll see him again later!

THE CASE OPEN!!! THE PET!!! GONE!!!

Ok game, I get it! I have to remember why we’re really here and not get immediately sidetracked by the faintest wiff of an animal.

Wait...... does she finally believe in us?

WHOO LETS GO TEAM!!!

Right we’ve got a saucer on the floor, meaning that whatever Nikolina keeps as a pet eats off of it. This seems to make my snake theory less likely, but it does back up the idea that the ‘speckled band’ Kazuma saw could have been the tail of something like a tabby cat.

The books in the bookshelf have toppled over, just like they had in Kazuma’s cabin. I wonder if the ship made an emergency stop to let Nikolina onboard and that’s why they were all thrown to the left?

Again Susato, I’m pretty sure Strogenov realised Nikolina had a pet with her the second he helped her on the ship and saw her suitcase wiggling.

Everybody comes for Ryunosuke...

Hang about... the bolt pulls to the left, the same direction the books fell in!

If someone new Nikolina was coming on board (*cough*The Captain*cough*) they could have killed Kazuma and left the door unbolted, safe in the knowledge that when the ship stopped the bolt would slide into place!

(This is how I felt when Kazuma bought up Curare in the last trial.)

Ok, due to my being a bad influence on Susato, she gave the cabin bell pull a good tug, but fortunately it seems that none of them work (which is very odd).

Finaly both the teapot and bin are empty, which could mean anything or nothing at all, you never can tell with Ace Attorney.

Other than that, I think that’s it for the cabin. I was expecting to be interrupted or something, but I’m pretty sure I’ve looked at everything. Now let’s go into the corridor and see if there are any Himbo Detectives knocking about out there!

Hell yeah!

I agree Ryunosuke, the man’s a glorious Jack in the Box!

Go an tap his back Ryousuke, I want to see if he jumps!

Come on everybody, clap along!

TAP HIM RYUNOSUKE!!!

HE FELL OVER!!!

(Editor’s Note: AND I MISSED SCREENSHOTTING IT!)

So tell me Susato, hows that image of the Great Detective holding up?

Because mine’s doing great!

Looks like Herlock’s been looking at the Ships log, and he’s picked up on the fact that it’s practically blank from 2am onwards, which interestingly is just after the time Kazuma’s diary says he was killed. I’d also imagine this is when Nikolina arrived onboard.

Also Ryunosuk actually payed Herlock a complement!

Something’s happening? What’s happening???

HE WAS DRUGGED TO!!!

(Though I don’t know why I’m surprised. I already guessed the rest of the ship was drugged so they wouldn’t see Nikolina while she was being smuggled onboard)

Has Susato realised too?

And off he goes! Singing all the way!

What a wonderous man you are Herlock

I think she’s worked it out!

As expected of the daughter of the Professor of Pathology!

You know I don’t know if I’ve ever really taken the time to appreciate the level of detail Ace Attorney has sometimes. Like this is exactly how I’d describe the sort of headache you get after being knocked out by drugs.

Susato’s left it for now, and I can’t work out if she’s already worked it out, or if she’s still puzzling it out. Either way, I think she’s got this.

(Ok, I’ve clearly missed something here...)

Or no, I haven’t!

The alarm’s going off!!!

ANOTHER SHIP!?!

DAMN NIKOLINA THE BALET COMPANY ARE SERIOUS HUH!??!

(Clinging to each other Susato and I (Ryunosuke) managed to not die when the ship crashed to a halt.)

Now’s the time to see if the bolts slide closed though!

YES YES!!! LOOK IT’S SHUT!!!

LOCKED ROOM MYSTERY SOLVED BABY!!!

HERLOCK SHOLMES EAT YOUR HEART OUT!!! THERE’S A NEW GREATEST DETECTIVE IN TOWN!!!

(I’m talking about me, not Batman)

Shit! We’ve been rumbled!

HOSONAGA!!!

Hosonaga cares for us so much

I care for you to Hosonaga!

(Honestly I’m surprised the sound of me lowering a crown onto my own head didn’t somehow reach the game world.)

Yeah Naruhodo-san, let Hosonaga in so I can show him my unbearably smug face!

That’s not a very nice way to talk about Hosonaga Ryousuke!

(Sorry I couldn’t resist that joke)

So we have indeed been rumbled lads, and with at least one more part of this case to go it’s not going to be plain sailing

(I’ll see myself out...)

#tgaa #tgaa spoilers #the great ace attorney #the adventure of the unbreakable speckled band #ryunosuke naruhodo #susato mikotoba #satoru hosonaga #kazuma asougi #(I am still trying to avenge your death Kazuma)

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winterbaby89 · 7 years ago

Text

Dark Hook Comes to Storybrooke - Chapter Ten

A Captain Swan, Season 1 Canon Divergence Collaboration by: @hollyethecurious, and @winterbaby89

Beta’d by: @ilovemesomekillianjones

Amazing Artwork by: @xhookswenchx

Rated M for language and dark themes (and maybe (probably) some sexy times… later ;o)

Summary: Moments before the Evil Queen’s Dark Curse whisks our beloved fairytale characters to Storybrooke, Captain Hook finally gets his revenge on the Crocodile. Twenty-eight years later, Killian Jones awakes in Storybrooke expecting just another ordinary day, that is until a number of abnormal occurrences disrupts his otherwise scheduled life. The greatest of which is a new face in town. A young woman by the name of Emma. Emma. What a lovely name…

Disclaimer: Canon dialogue and scenes from various episodes will appear within this fic. To Adam, Eddie, and the OUAT writers goes all the credit.

Line breaks indicate change in POV or Scene.

Also available on ao3, my fic page, and Hollye′s fic page And if you want to catch up on the last chapter.

Chapter Ten

Emma sat uncomfortably in the Nolan foyer feeling every bit as awkward as poor David had appeared when he’d come through the door. Fortunately she had Henry to keep her company, and she was glad to see him in such good spirits after the scare at the mine the day before. Surprised that Regina hadn’t locked him in the house after he’d run off in the first place, he and Emma tried to keep a low profile by the front door as they watched the party goers mingle. Emma also kept a firm watch on the front door.

It wasn’t that she was expecting Killian to show, or hoping for it either, but she couldn’t help the flutter of excitement that hovered in her chest as he sauntered into the Nolan home.

“Killian!” Henry exclaimed

“Evening, Henry. Swan.”

A feeling of disappointment that Emma was unaccustomed to washed over her; he’d called her Swan. Her mind traitorously jumped into overdrive, he had finally called me Emma… I thought it meant something, that I meant something. This is SO not the time… She was pulled from her thoughts as she noticed both Henry and Killian were looking at her expectantly.

Unable to come up with a better response, Emma blurted out, “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I’m wondering that myself, love,” he confessed as he scratched behind his ear. “The fair Mrs. Nolan requested that I attend.”

“Really?”

“Aye, said something about wanting to thank me for being a part of the search team that found David.” Killian glanced around nervously, clearly out of his comfort zone. “How is he, by the way?”

“Recovering,” Emma answered as she sat back down on the bench she and Henry had occupied, inviting him to do the same. Killian gave her a grateful smile and settled himself next to Henry, relaxing a bit now that he wouldn’t be forced to mingle, and Emma pressed on with her answer. “He still doesn’t remember who he is, but Dr. Whale seems to thi-”

“You know why he doesn't remember?” Henry interjected in a whisper, well, as much of a whisper as an exuberant ten-year-old boy was capable of. “The curse isn't working on him yet.”

“Henry, David has amnesia,” Emma replied.

“Which is preventing the curse from replacing his Fairy Tale story with fake memories.”

“Right, because everyone here has fake stories that prevent them from remembering who they really are.” She looked over at Jones, hoping for some assistance before Henry’s imagination ran away with him again, but found that the leather clad man had gone stiff and tense once again.

“Right, and now is our chance to help him,” Henry responded enthusiastically. “We just have to get him to remember that he's-”

Emma cut Henry off, finishing his thought for him, “he's Prince Charming.”

“We just have to jog his memory by getting him and Ms. Blanchard together.”

“Didn't we just try that?”

“And it woke him up,” Henry practically sang with ten-year-old smugness.

“Hey,” a voice called out.

Speak of the devil… er, prince.

David approached them tentatively and asked, “You're the ones who saved me, right?”

“Oh. Yeah, I-I guess,” Emma stammered as the three of them stood to greet him.

“And, uh, you're also the only ones I know here,” he said in a lower tone, not wanting to be heard as a server approached with a tray.

“You can hide with us, mate,” Killian offered as he pulled a flask from his pocket and saluted the man before taking a long pull from it.

“Fantastic. Thank you,” David replied as he stabbed at a carrot from the proffered tray with a toothpick.

“So, you ever use a sword?” Henry asked, causing Killian to choke on his drink.

“I'm sorry?” David responded with an amused chuckle.

“Subtle, lad. Subtle,” Killian sputtered softly as he cleared his throat.

Emma offered David a soft, apologetic smile, hoping the man would excuse Henry’s strange question as simple childhood fantasy. Which he seemed to do given his change of topic.

“Emma, you live with Mary Margaret, right?” Emma nodded her response before he asked, “Do you know if she's coming tonight?”

“No, she couldn't make it.”

“Oh.” David’s disappointment was palpable, but they were all saved from responding further by an overeager Dr. Whale who stole David away to go and introduce him to some more friends.

Moments later they were approached by Mrs. Nolan, inquiring as to whether or not they had seen where David had gone. After they’d explained that Dr. Whale had taken him into the living room, Katherine continued her search and Regina arrived.

“Henry, it’s time to go. Grab your coat.” Regina strided past their little gathering and waited expectantly by the door without so much as a glance or word for either Emma or Killian.

“Remember,” Henry whispered to them as he took his time getting his coat on, “We have to get David to remember who he truly is. Operation Cobra depends on Prince Charming and Snow White getting their happy ending.”

With that, he was out the door, leaving Emma and Killian on their own in a house full of people they neither knew, nor wished to mingle with. They shuffled awkwardly next to one another, casting furtive glances in each other’s direction as they assessed the party goers. Emma wondered if she should invite him to sit back down and talk, or ask if he wanted to leave.

Not that I want him to leave, or want him to think that I want to leave with him. Sure, I wouldn’t mind leaving with him, but what would we do? I mean, I know what I want to do, but that could get very complicated. Not the doing, but after. After the doing. We’d have to talk, and see each other around town, and he’s Henry’s best friend, and damn he smells good, and…

“Well, I should be getting back to the loft. I’ve got work in the morning,” Emma said as she made her way to the door, suddenly feeling overwhelmed by how hyper aware she was of the man she’d like nothing more than to leave with.

“Swan, wait,” Killian called out after her, catching her by the elbow before she made it to the door. “I noticed your charming yellow contraption isn’t parked out front. Might you allow me to walk you home?”

“Did you just disrespect my bug, Jones?” she accused, a smirk playing on her lips at the gesture he’d offered.

“Of course not, love. To do so would be bad form indeed. Just as allowing a woman to walk home alone at night would be.”

Why does he have to be so thoughtful? “Did you forget I’m deputy? I carry a gun, Jones.”

“Noted. Perhaps you’d just like the company then?”

Emma considered him, and her racing pulse, for a brief moment before accepting, “Alright, Jones. Escort away.” Killian offered her his arm and she threaded hers through it with an eye roll as they made their way down the Nolan’s front steps and off towards Mary Margaret’s loft.

They approached the building and heard indistinct voices causing Emma to grip Killian’s arm in a silent entreaty to slow their pace. As they got closer to the courtyard they heard David talking to whom Killian could only assume was Mary Margaret. So this is where the prince disappeared to.

“Was it me?” he heard David question. “Because of what I told you, about how I felt, about you. Come on. Don't tell me it's one-sided.”

Emma pulled Killian into the alley next to the building, trying to avoid detection. Killian could see the guilt on Emma’s face at the prospect of listening in on a clearly personal and private conversation. Emma pressed him further against the wall as they heard movement coming from the direction of the voices, clearly believing that being noticed and interrupting their moment would be worse than listening in. Killian was happy to go along with a bit of eavesdropping if it meant having Emma pressed into him as they hid.

“You're married. It should be no-sided.”

“What it should be doesn't matter. Whoever married Katherine... it's not me. I didn't choose her. I'm choosing you. I know you feel it. I can tell.”

“I know you think that we have this connection, but maybe it's because I happened to be the person who saved your life? So why don't we leave it at that?”

Emma and Killian turned from the opening of the alley and pressed closer to one another in an attempt to disappear into the shadows as David made his way back towards his house. Their clandestine activities at an end, they had no reason to linger in the darkness of the alley, but Emma made no effort to move and Killian wasn’t about to let her go.

He could practically feel her thinking. Staring off at a fixed point on the wall next to him, she worried her lip as she contemplated whatever it was swirling around in that brilliant brain of hers. Killian didn’t think he had ever wanted to kiss her as much as he did in that moment. What he wouldn’t give to be the one biting on that lip just then, but it wasn’t the time. She clearly had something plaguing her, and it was enough of a burden that she wasn’t even aware of their continued close proximity.

“Swan?” he addressed softly, pulling her from that fixed point on the wall.

“Hmm?” she responded, lifting her eyes to his and causing his breath to hitch. She was absolutely stunning.

Her eyes widened as she realized she still had her hands pressed against his chest, their bodies practically flush with one another. She jumped back as if he’d burned her and he quickly tried to tamp down his disappointment over her response.

“S-sorry,” she stammered. “I just got… lost in thought.” She tucked her hands into her back pockets and looked anywhere but at him, a flush of red tinting her cheeks.

“It’s alright, love,” he soothed, and playfully added, “I’ve made many a lass’ head turn and lose all train of thought.” He gave her a raise of his brow and a wink for good measure to help lighten the tension between them.

“That’s not what I meant,” she replied, fixing him with a stern stare; one that didn’t bear the necessary weight to make him believe she was truly irritated with him. “I was thinking about David and Mary Margaret.”

Killian further quirked his brow at that statement. Was she starting to come around about the curse? Did she believe, as Henry did, that the prince and princess’ reunion was key to breaking the curse? It was their happy ending that Regina was fixated on ruining above all others. Perhaps getting the two back together was the key to breaking the curse.

“I can’t believe he would come here and pressure Mary Margaret like that.”

Okay… not exactly the response I was hoping for. “What do you mean?”

“He’s married!” she hissed. “You and I were both just at his welcome home party. A party held at his house. A house he shares with his wife. He has no business coming here and saying all that to Mary Margaret.”

“Perhaps. But it’s like he said, love, the man who chose Katherine is no longer here. Why shouldn’t he declare his feelings for Ms. Blanchard if it’s she he wants now?”

“Um… because that road is only going to lead to heartbreak?” It wasn’t really a question, more a statement that Emma vehemently believed as fact, if her expression was any indication. “We are talking about a marriage, Jones. David doesn’t remember who he is. Sure, maybe he wants Mary Margaret now, but what happens when he gets his memories back? Someone is going to end up getting hurt.”

“Why do you automatically assume it’ll be Mary Margaret? Perhaps his feelings for her are true, and he’d choose her even if his memories of Katherine did return. Just because he made a certain choice before doesn’t mean he can’t make a new one now.”

“And what? I’m suppose to let Mary Margaret’s feelings hang in the balance as we wait for that shoe to drop? I think I have a right to be concerned for my friend, Jones.”

“Of course you do. I’m just saying… a man can change, Swan,” he said earnestly. “He can make different choices for his life. Make new decisions about what he wants and who he wishes to be.”

Killian could feel her scrutiny wash over him. Eyes flickering between his own as she assessed the depth of his words and how much of them could be attributed to his own life. Feeling vulnerable at how much his words had exposed, Killian brought them back to the matter at hand.

“You’re right in wanting to protect your friend, Swan. Perhaps you should go in and see how Ms. Blanchard is fairing.”

“Yeah, okay,” she agreed as she turned to leave the alleyway, only to pause at its entrance and add, “it’s not that David doesn’t have a right to make new choices with his life, and I would like nothing more than for Mary Margaret to be that choice, but I just don’t see how, given the fact that David still doesn’t even know who he is, that this ends well for everyone. When the truth comes out, a lot of people will get hurt.” She took a deep breath, and bid, “Night, Jones,” before walking out of the alley towards the loft.

Killian remained in the dark alleyway for some time after Emma departed. Her final words now causing him to stare at a fixed point on the wall before him. ‘When the truth comes out, a lot of people will get hurt’. It was the first time he’d considered how the fall out of the curse breaking would impact others besides himself. Emma was right, people would be hurt once the realization of how they’d been forced to live the last twenty-eight years came to fullness. They were all making choices about their lives without complete knowledge of who they were.

True, Prince Charming and Snow White were meant to be together, but David Nolan and Mary Margaret Blanchard were living separate lives. Making choices as a married man and a single woman, respectively. What sort of impact would their cursed lives, their cursed decisions have on them once the curse breaks? The curse breaking would return their true memories, but it wouldn’t remove the cursed ones. They’d have to live with their choices.

And so would he.

Killian’s thoughts over Emma’s words followed him into the next morning as he sat in Granny’s. He’d thought about her parents, and how they were going to cope with their actions. Everyone in town would have years of cursed choices to sort through, relationships to mend, and trust to earn back in the face of lives that had been filled with purposeful misery and bad choices. Regina would have much to atone for - not that she’d care to.

As he sipped his coffee at the far end of the counter, Killian began to overhear the beginnings of a conversation between the princess herself and none other than Dr. Whale. The man had a reputation of being quite the lothario around town, and Killian had a sudden urge to interrupt their conversation so as to get Emma’s mother away from the lecherous man.

“So I heard that you resigned from the hospital. I hope it wasn't because of me,” Dr. Whale said.

“W-why would it be because of you?” Mary Margaret questioned.

“Well, our date.” Killian’s ears perked at the mention of a social outing between the two. “I never called you after. Yeah, I know. I know. It's not classy, and I'm sorry, but if you could find a way to get over it, you know where to find me.” He tipped his head in a gesture of farewell, as he said, “Have a good day.”

Killian took a page from Emma’s book and rolled his eyes. Dr. Whale had no idea how to go about courting a lady properly. He couldn’t see how he’d become such a ladies’ man with those horrible tactics. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about anything of an unsavory nature occurring between Emma’s mother and the good doctor.

“Ms. Blanchard, may I have a word?” Killian’s attentions were brought back into sharp focus as Regina now addressed the princess.

“Of course.”

“I wanted to talk to you about my friend Katherine, but more specifically, I wanted to talk to you about her husband David.” Killian stiffened and forced himself to remain seated at the counter. “You don't belong together. He's not yours. He's taken. Find somebody else.”

“I haven't done anything,” Mary Margaret protested.

“Really? So he just up and left his wife on a whim?”

Killian almost fell off his stool. He did what?

“He did what?”

“You don't know?” Regina questioned. “Well, I suspect you soon will, so listen carefully, dear, because it's in your best interest. Stay away. He's in a fragile state. He doesn't know who he is or what he's doing, and you're this close to wrecking multiple lives. So before you do something that can't be undone, let him remember who he was.”

Killian remained at the counter as Regina, and then Mary Margaret made their way out of the diner. Trying to reconcile all the information and new perspectives he’d gained, Killian began to sort through the myriad of thoughts.

He was heartened to hear that the prince had made the choice to leave his fraudulent marriage, and felt sure that he would make his intentions to pursue Ms. Blanchard known soon enough. Henry would be ecstatic, and he hoped that Emma would be pleased as well. With the prince and princess’ reunion, it seemed they were one step closer to breaking the curse.

As delighted as he was over the prospect, Killian knew that it would take more to actually break the curse. For one, Emma had a role to play, and he knew not what that role was. It could still take some time before Operation Cobra would see success. Time that Killian had planned to use to gain Swan’s trust, friendship, and possibly… more. Something he hadn’t thought would ever be a part of his life again.

He wanted to woo the Lady Swan. Properly. But he was now starting to wonder if doing so while under the curse would actually be proper. ‘He doesn't know who he is or what he's doing.’ Killian remembered Regina’s words to Mary Margaret, and although he might know exactly who he was, Emma did not. Sure, he was awake and very much himself when he was with her, but he couldn’t fully share all of who he was, or who he had been, until she believed. She didn’t know who he truly was. What would her reaction be when the curse broke and she learned that he was really Captain Hook? A pirate and a villain. What would she say when she learned he was The Dark One?

If he allowed them to grow close to one another, to become more than friends, to become lovers, how would she feel when she learned that he’d been awake this whole time and had pursued her without her knowing the truth? Betrayed? Deceived? Taken advantage of?

He couldn’t do that.

He wanted Emma to be fully aware of what she was getting into with him. Wanted her fully cognizant of her choice. He wanted her to want him - the true him, and he was willing to wait for it. He’d pursue her trust and her friendship, but the rest? The rest would wait until after they broke the curse. He was a patient man. He could wait. After all, he was in this for the long haul.

Emma heard Graham coming down the hallway towards the bullpen, because of the distinctive squeak of his left shoe. Once she knew he was almost to her, she turned slightly in her chair to face him, as he extended a box, and said, “Sometimes the cliches are true.”

Immediately suspicious of why he was trying to bribe her, she asked, “Okay. What do you want?”

“Remember when I said no night shifts? I need you to work tonight. Just this once.”

She tried to not let her annoyance show as she continued to question Graham, “Why?”

“I volunteer at an animal shelter, and the supervisor is sick, and someone needs to feed the dogs.”

“You’re very lucky you brought a bear claw,” she snapped, looking in the box. She was still annoyed, but he was her boss, and so she would accept his olive branch. And it’s just one night shift… Emma was brought from her thoughts at the sound of rushed footsteps coming towards them.

A slightly out of breath Mary Margaret panted out, “Emma, can I talk to you for a minute?”

Sensing the need for privacy, Graham lightheartedly quipped, “I'll just go patrol my office.”

“Thanks,” Emma called out over her shoulder, to Graham’s retreating form.

The moment the door was closed, giving them privacy, Mary Margaret rushed out, “He left his wife. David- he left her. He left Katherine.”

Having a bit of difficulty deciphering what it was her friend just blurted out, Emma said, “Okay. Slow down.”

“He- he did it for me. He wants me to be with him. He wants me to meet him tonight. I mean, I'm trying so hard to be strong, but he just keeps coming. I mean, how do I stop it? You know, how do I let him down? What would you do?”

“I'd go.”

“What?”

“Well, he left her. It's one thing to say that he wants you, but it's another to actually make a choice, and now he has. That's all you can ask for.”

An unexpected sense of longing, that she hoped hadn’t crept into her words, settled into Emma’s chest. She was happy for her friend, she was, but she also couldn’t help feeling just a tiny bit jealous at the woman’s happiness. David seemed like a good guy, and she hoped that things might work out for them. She realized, though, that his action had her hoping another certain gentleman would make a choice. A certain leather clad, innuendo ladened, good hearted, even if he tried to hide it man that she had found herself plastered to in a dark alleyway the night before. A choice that might take them from the flirty dance they were currently engaged in to something… more.

“Given her new friendship with Katherine, I don't think Regina would be happy.”

“All the more reason to do it.”

“Good lord. Is this really happening?”

“You tell me.”

Killian recorded the latest box of inventory into his ledger before setting down his pen to pinch the bridge of his nose. Since discovering he was the rightful owner of the pawn shop, he’d been working to catalogue all the items within, for his own personal interests, and with the intention of opening its doors for business. Perhaps sooner than he had planned.

“Hello?” called a voice as the bell over the door sounded, prompting Killian to exit the back room only to find David Nolan standing in the showroom.

“We’re not quite open for business yet mate. Something I can help you with?” Killian greeted.

“Oh, hey there,” he responded amiably with a warm smile. “Actually, I'm looking for the toll bridge. The mayor said there was a fork in the road by this shop.”

Killian’s jaw clenched. What is that blasted woman up to now?

“It seems Ms. Mills has led you astray,” he stated, and then snarked. “You’d think the mayor would know her own town.”

“One would think,” David replied with a light chuckle.

“A little late to be out for a stroll,” Killian commented pointedly, brows raised with a note of inquiry.

“I’m actually meeting someone, and I’m already late.”

“Wouldn’t happen to be a certain school teacher that lives with the deputy would it?” He could see David blushing up to his hairline which was all the answer Killian needed.

“Ah! I see,” Killian crowed, shooting the prince a wide grin. ��Well, we’ll get you there. Out the door, turn right. Two blocks, you'll find the trail. Can't miss it.”

“Thank you,” David said as he hastily turned to leave, only to stop in his tracks at the sight of something in the display window.

Noticing that David had stopped, Killian asked curiously, “See something you like?”

“Where did you get that?” David asked, pointing to a lawn ornament fashioned as an old windmill.

“Not sure, to be honest. I’m still sorting through the inventory.”

“I think this belonged to me.”

“Really?” Killian asked incredulously. How could he know that if he didn’t have his memories? “Are you sure?”

A ripple of unease rolled through Killian as David reached out and spun the wooden sail. Something wasn’t right.

“Yes. I remember,” David said in an awed, hushed tone, before racing out the door.

Dread came over Killian as he tried to process what just happened. He remembered? Remember what exactly? Killian might have been inclined to hope that he remembered being Prince Charming, but given that it was Regina that had sent him down to the pawn shop in the first place, he found that highly unlikely.

Killian tried to tamp down the swirling uncertainties plaguing his gut as he locked up the pawn shop and headed to Granny’s. He’d stopped going to the Rabbit Hole some time ago, favoring Granny’s as it seemed Emma frequented the diner more than the bar, and because Granny knew how to put him in his place, she didn’t allow him to drink himself into oblivion. Tonight, however, she must have sensed that he required a bit more than his normal amount of libations, if the third tumbler of rum sat down before him was any indication.

Swirling the amber liquid, and hoping against hope that whatever Regina’s scheme had been might have failed, he caught a glimpse of Mary Margaret making her way into the diner as his glass tipped against his lips. Her dejected manner and despondent expression was all the answer he needed.

Damn you, Regina!

One step forward and three steps back. That’s how it had always been with her. He should have known better. Should have known when she’d confronted Mary Margaret that morning that she had some plan up her sleeve.

Killian knocked back the remaining rum and slammed his glass down on the table. Tossing a few bills to cover his tab onto the table, he donned his jacket and headed out of Granny’s. So enraged by the Evil Queen, he did not notice Dr. Whale sidling up to the bar next to a bereaved Mary Margaret.

Emma patrolled the Mayor’s neighborhood, really wishing the night was over already, so she could crawl into her comfy bed. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye, someone coming out of one of the windows of Regina’s house, so she quickly stopped the cruiser, and put it in park. Making sure to be as quiet as possible as she got out, she approached Regina’s tall hedges. She caught the intruder off guard, hitting them in the stomach with her nightstick. As the person groaned on the ground he rolled over, and Emma saw that it was Graham.

“This is volunteering?” Her bewilderment at this situation just continued to grow.

“Plans changed. Regina needed me to-”

“Sleep with her?” Emma felt betrayed that he’d lied to her, and disgusted at the situation she had just stumbled upon.

“No.” Her boss looked panicked because she had called him out on his lies.

“Then why were you sneaking out the window?”

“Uh, because she didn't want Henry to know.”

Emma knew that her voice had taken on a new pitch as she nearly screeched, “You did this with Henry in the house?”

“He's sleeping. He doesn't know.”

“Oh, my God. I wish I was Henry right now. This is disgusting.”

“I really do work at an animal shelter.”

She could tell that Graham was trying to placate her, “You can finish my shift.” Emma threw the keys to the cruiser at Graham’s feet, and called out as she stormed away, “I'm done working nights, and I’m not working tomorrow.”

Emma was seething as she stormed across town to get her bug. In all actuality she would have made it home sooner walking, but she needed the extra time to try and burn off some of her anger, so as not to wake Mary Margaret. Having made it back to the loft, she tried to be as quiet as possible due to the late hour, and the fact that all of the lights were off.

Emma was just snuggling down in her bed under the comforter when she heard the front door burst open, and Mary Margaret giggling. Once the giggling subsided she heard a very audible, “SHHHH! We have to be quiet. We don’t want to wake Emma.” Oh hell! This night just has to get worse doesn’t it? Can I not just go to sleep and forget today even happened? Maybe she and David will actually be quiet, and I can get to sleep.

Chapter Eleven

Tagging some lovelies that have asked to be tagged, as well as some we believe might enjoy. Please let us know if you do, or don’t wish to be tagged.

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