#Oh and uh...sorry for the cliffhanger XD

[marcyvamp1re-blog]

ᶻ 𝘇 𐰁  ! ⺌ . ⸺  NPE! 

PART ONE! | Volume I

Synopsis; "So, you’re an alien, huh?" Yeah, sure, maybe you’re a little... different. But honestly, who isn’t? The earthlings think you’re weird? Nope. It’s just that they’re a bunch of clueless humans, totally missing the point. You, on the other hand, have a higher calling. A mission to discover the meaning of life—you know, the whole ‘why am I here, and what am I supposed to be doing’ thing. Simple, right?

Except, uh... there’s a small hiccup. You don’t even know what species you are, because someone forgot to leave the alien instruction manual. Oops. So, while you’re out there doing some random side gig (you know, the one that might help you find out more about your roots and, oh yeah, pay the rent), you accidentally get tangled up in the lives of two earthlings.

Of course, you swear to protect them because, well, you kind of owe them. Maybe. Or maybe not. Who’s to say? Either way, your purpose might get a little... distracted. But hey, priorities, right?

Pairing ── Dan Da Dan x Alien! Fem/Neutral? Reader.

Content. MDNI ── Manga Spoilers, Violence/Death, Blood, Invasion of Privacy, Invasion of Mind, Abduction, Kidnapping, Angst, Murder, Disturbing Content, Corruption, Isolation,Paranoia, Manipulation, Unintended Time Travel Mishaps, Alien Romance Tropes, Sudden Existential Crises, Unexplained Tentacle Appearances, Turbo Granny's Sass, Breaking the Fourth Wall, Gravity-Defying Physics, Psychic Overload, Ambiguous Yōkai Allegiances, Excessive Hair-Related Powers, Sudden Dance Battles in Crisis, Outdated Alien Fashion Choices, Malfunctioning Spacecraft Humor, Intense Staring Contests, Time-Dilated Cliffhangers, Overwhelming Amounts of Sparkles, Overwhelming Amounts of Sparkles, Polyamory, LGBTQ+ Content, ¿Gender-fluid or Non-binary Character? (Not with respect to pronouns, but to their genitals xd), Unconventional Relationship Dynamics, Consent Issues in Alien Interactions, Mind-altering Love Spells, Extreme Jealousy, Existential Dilemmas on Love and Identity, Mind-Controlling Aliens.

A/N ── English is not my first language—Spanish— Oh my god, how did this happen 😱 sorry to everyone (@flwes & @redberrysstuff) who saw the incomplete story, I feel SO embarrassed. Ugh, I swear, autocorrect and my clumsiness are going to kill me one of these days. :"(( But seriously, I promise the full version is coming, just give me a second to fix it.

"Idiot! Moron! Squid! Tuna!" Momo Ayase shouted from the ground, her face flushed with rage as she watched her now ex-boyfriend walk away with that annoying mix of guilt and annoyance in his eyes. "Never call me again!"

"Momo? Are you okay? Or should I sign up for the next round of sea insults?" asked a familiar voice behind her.

Momo turned around, still frowning, but the sight disarmed her a bit. There was Y/n Seigai, with that carefree energy that always seemed straight out of a movie. She wore a short plaid skirt and a white blouse that highlighted her figure, complemented by long socks and platform shoes with a puma print that screamed confidence. Her makeup was simple yet striking, enough to make anyone turn to look at her. And, as always, she had something in her hand: this time, a frozen yogurt popsicle that she licked absently as if nothing in the world could disturb her calm.

"Late again, huh?" Momo huffed, crossing her arms and standing up, her gaze as severe as a frustrated mother.

"What? Was that a 'thank you for coming to the rescue, Y/n'? Because if so, your tone needs a little work," Y/n replied with a cheeky smile, making an exaggerated gesture to offer her a lick of her popsicle. "Want some? Frozen yogurt cures broken hearts. It's science."

"I don't want your stupid popsicle, idiot! And stop changing the subject! You're late to school again! Do you know how many times I've been asked why you can't arrive on time? I feel like your babysitter!"

Y/n theatrically sighed, placing a hand on her chest as if Momo had wounded her pride. "Oh, Momo. Always so responsible, so punctual... except when you decide to sleep in on Mondays. Remember last Monday? Because I do; you were running out with a toast in your mouth."

Momo opened her mouth to retort but quickly shut it, blushing a little. "That was different! And don’t change the subject!"

"Okay, okay, sorry, mom," Y/n said with a mischievous smile, raising her hands in a sign of surrender. "But in my defense, it's not my fault that the coffee at that corner is so good it makes me lose track of time."

"You have a watch on your wrist, Y/n! And a phone with alarms! ALARMS!"

"Well, my alarms and I have a complicated relationship..." Y/n murmured as she took another lick of the popsicle.

Momo couldn't help but let out an exasperated sigh, although her lips curled slightly into a smile. That was the dynamic with Y/n: serious and responsible when necessary but with enough chaotic moments to drive her crazy. And even though sometimes she wanted to give her a good lecture, she couldn't deny that Y/n always knew how to lift her spirits, even on days like today.

"Come on, Momo. Let's get to class. I promise we'll make it before the bell rings... probably," Y/n said, offering her the popsicle as a peace gesture.

"Probably isn’t good enough! And I don’t want your silly popsicle," Momo shot back, but she couldn’t help but chuckle a bit as they started walking together.

As they crossed the school gates, Momo and Y/n couldn’t help but draw attention. They were, without a doubt, a striking pair: Momo, with her natural charisma and perfectly polished gyaru style, walked with purpose while continuing to rant about her now ex-boyfriend; Y/n, on the other hand, exuded a magnetic nonchalance, her skirt swaying with each step and a yogurt popsicle still in her hand, as if school were just another runway in her day.

"And then he has the nerve to say I’m playing hard to get! Can you believe it?" Momo gestured dramatically, as if still arguing with her ex.

"Mm-hmm," Y/n murmured, not stopping her slow lick of the popsicle. "Sounds like someone needs a 'How Not to Be an Idiot' manual. Should I mail him one?"

"Not even that! He’d probably lose it, like he loses all common sense," Momo shot back, rolling her eyes.

As they made their way down the hallway, students stepped aside to let them pass—some admiring their style, others whispering comments among themselves. Momo was so engrossed in her complaints she barely noticed the stares. Y/n, however, threw the occasional wink or offered a carefree smile, as if she were used to being the center of attention.

"Can you stop flirting with the entire hallway? I’m having a crisis here!" Momo snapped, giving her a light nudge.

"Flirting? I’m just being friendly. But if you want all my attention, Momo, you only have to ask," Y/n replied with a mischievous grin.

"God, you’re unbearable!"

Finally, they reached their classroom, where their other two friends, Miko and Muko, were waiting.

Miko was seated by the window, her small bow perfectly in place and her uniform impeccable, though always with her personal touch. Her beige sweater and loosely tied ribbon gave her a relaxed vibe, but her bright smile showed she was ready for a day full of energy.

Muko, in contrast, was impossible to ignore. Her tan skin stood out against her blonde hair styled into pigtails, and the manba makeup she wore proudly added a bold edge to her look. Her uniform followed the same pattern as the other girls', but on her, everything seemed a bit more daring—from the slightly oversized sweater to the way her loose socks fell perfectly over her sandals.

"Wow! Took you long enough," Miko said with a smile as she saw them walk in. "I thought you’d actually be on time today."

"Tell that to Miss 'Coffee is More Important Than Punctuality,'" Momo replied, giving Y/n an accusatory look.

"Me? I arrived just in time to make this spectacular entrance," Y/n said, spinning dramatically before flopping into her seat.

"Jealous, Miko?" Muko chimed in as she adjusted one of her pigtails. "They walk in, and the whole hallway stares. People only look at us when Miko shouts something ridiculous."

"Hey! That was one time," Miko retorted, crossing her arms with feigned indignation.

Momo let out a sigh, but a smile began to form on her lips. Being with them was always like this: chaotic, fun, and somehow reassuring.

"Alright, girls, now that we’re all here, I need advice. How do you get over an idiot who just wants you to pay for everything and only cares about sleeping with you?"

"Easy," Y/n said, raising her popsicle as if it were a trophy. "You get over him by being yourself: brighter, more fabulous, and completely out of his league. Like always, Momo."

"Amen," added Muko, lifting her phone for a quick selfie with Miko, who automatically struck a pose.

Momo rolled her eyes but couldn’t help laughing. Yes, her group was a mess in its own way, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything.

"Okay, seriously, what happened? Why are you so upset? We know it’s not because of Y/n, because when you’re mad at her, you yell louder than a megaphone," Miko said, raising an eyebrow with that teasing attitude she always had when she wanted to get under Momo’s skin.

Momo let out a heavy sigh and flopped onto the desk. "Nothing... that idiot dumped me, and then I started insulting him... using fish names."

Y/n, who was lounging back in her chair with her feet on the desk as if she were at home, couldn’t hold back a laugh. "Fish names. Like ‘Tuna’ and ‘Squid’. Because I’m sure that hurt his feelings a lot. Wow, Momo, terrifying. Do you really think that’s going to change his mind?"

"Ha, I’m dying," Muko said, testing a bit of her makeup while laughing. "Fish names aren’t insults, Momo. What were you expecting, ‘Shark’ or ‘Piranha’? Now those might be scary!"

Momo frowned, looking at her friends as if they were aliens. "You’re supposed to comfort me! He was my first boyfriend! My first, girls!" Momo waved her hands dramatically, as if she had lost something truly valuable.

Muko looked at her with a mix of sympathy and exasperation. "We told you to forget about him, Momo. It was obvious he wasn’t worth it."

Y/n nodded with mock seriousness, though her eyes still sparkled with amusement. "Yeah, can you remind me what was supposed to be so great about him? Was it the guy who always wore shirts two sizes too small? Or was it his talent for making you feel bad every time you talked about your dreams?"

"It’s just... he looked like Ken Takakura," Momo replied, as if it were an irrefutable justification, throwing her hands up as if there were nothing more to say.

The three friends sighed in unison, a sound so synchronized it could have been rehearsed.

"There she goes again..." Muko muttered, shaking her head and placing a hand on her forehead in a dramatic pose.

"Ugh, here we go," Miko said, glancing at Y/n and raising an eyebrow. "The story of the guy who ‘looked like’ Ken Takakura. Momo, are you sure you don’t have a poster of him at home?"

"She doesn’t just have a poster, let me tell you," Y/n said, remembering the time she stayed over at Momo’s house while her grandmother was away for a few days.

Y/n, who had just finished her popsicle and was now grinning mockingly at the others, tossed the stick out the window with perfect precision. "Here we go with your nonsense again, Momo. First it was ‘Ken Takakura,’ then it’ll be ‘Tom Cruise,’ and next you’ll tell me you fell for some guy who looks like an anime character. Stop idealizing guys, seriously."

Momo shot her a glare. "It’s not the same, Y/n! Ken Takakura is an icon, a real man!"

"Yeah, a movie man probably under contract with boredom, because guys like him don’t exist in real life," Y/n said, striking a dramatic pose as she crossed her arms.

Momo shrugged. "I don’t know what it is about him… but there’s something, I swear."

"What he has is that he’s in movies, not real life," Miko replied with a somewhat philosophical tone, as if she’d just imparted a profound truth about reality.

"So what, huh!? I like tough guys, like Ken Takakura!" Momo shouted, raising her hand as if she’d just made a worldwide announcement about her love for cinematic men.

Miko and Muko exchanged glances and, with almost perfect synchronization, replied, "Momo, we’ve got a surprise for you… those men are extinct."

Momo immediately dropped her head, as if someone had dumped a bucket of cold water on her. Her shoulders slumped, and her smile vanished in an instant. "What? Extinct? That can’t be true!" she muttered, as if she’d just taken a direct hit to the heart.

"Sorry, Momo," Miko said with a mischievous smile. "Men like that don’t exist anymore. All we’ve got now are guys in sweatpants with cat wallpapers on their phones."

Momo let out a deep sigh, an exaggerated expression of sorrow crossing her face. "So what?! What am I supposed to do with my life? Settle for guys who don’t even know what a good hairstyle is?!"

With the theatrics worthy of a telenovela star, Momo stood from her seat, leaving the others watching as she exited the classroom as if she’d just lost the most important battle of her life.

"Did what we said hurt her feelings?" Miko asked, a faint smile on her face, though she already knew the answer.

"No," Y/n replied, standing up without looking back, her eyes sparkling with a mix of amusement and concern. "It hurt because it’s true."

Momo, on the verge of stepping into the hallway, didn’t notice Y/n following her. As Y/n caught up, she saw Momo walking with slumped shoulders, as if she were on a farewell mission for her love life.

Y/n walked up to her side and, with a playful smile, nudged her shoulder lightly. "Come on, Momo, don’t be like that. There are still guys out there who aren’t complete disasters."

Momo gave her a sad look. "I don’t know, Y/n. Maybe tough guys are just a fantasy. Like Ken Takakura. A legend of the past!"

"Well, if you ask me, the real tough guy is standing right here!" Y/n said, pointing a thumb at herself with a cheeky grin. "Forgot about us? We’re the tough ones now."

Momo glanced at her sideways, a flicker of humor returning to her eyes. "The problem is I don’t have time for girls who make bad jokes."

Y/n followed her, chuckling softly. "I’m the best company you could ask for, and I’ll prove it!"

The two walked down the hallway, leaving the classroom behind, Momo still a little down but starting to relax, with Y/n beside her as always—joking, stylish, and promising that there was always something better than a movie fantasy.

"Let’s go, Momo," Y/n said with a sly smile. "Tough guys may not exist anymore, but we’re unstoppable!"

Momo couldn’t help but smile, even if just a little. Maybe it wasn’t all that bad after all.

As Momo and Y/n passed by the nearest classroom, they couldn’t help but notice a group of boys throwing paper balls at a smaller, scrawnier boy with a hairstyle clearly modeled after Nobita from Doraemon.

Momo frowned immediately, spotting the bullying behavior. Y/n tensed beside her. Both of them hated bullies, and they weren’t about to stand by and do nothing.

One of the boys, grinning stupidly, picked up a paper ball and said loudly, "Stick a magnet in it! That’s gotta hurt!"

As he prepared to throw it, now with a magnet inside, a shadow loomed over him. Turning around, he found Momo sitting in front of him, her expression unimpressed. Behind him, Y/n stood with her arms crossed, her gaze so intense it could’ve melted anything in its path.

"Hey," Momo asked, looking at the boy with a mix of curiosity and disapproval. "What are you reading?"

"Uh… this…" the boy stammered, glancing nervously between the bullies and the girls.

The boys throwing the paper balls didn’t seem to realize what was happening. They turned back to their antics, ignoring the two girls who weren’t about to stay quiet.

Momo quickly stood up, shooting the bullies one last look. "What a bunch of idiots," she said, rolling her eyes. "It’s like this world is full of losers."

Y/n sighed, observing the chaos with a smile that hid something deeper. She was about to leave with Momo until her eyes caught the title of the magazine the boy was reading.

"The Occult," she read aloud, raising an intrigued eyebrow and smiling faintly. "Interesting…" she murmured before stepping toward Momo, leaving the minor chaos of the classroom behind.

"Come on, Momo," Y/n teased as she walked alongside her. "You look like you just had to pay taxes or something. Relax."

"You’d feel the same way if you were surrounded by idiots!" Momo snapped, crossing her arms indignantly.

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice thundered behind them:

"MOMO AYASE! Y/N SEIGAI!"

"Huh? Now what?" Momo said, turning around with a frown.

It was the nerd from earlier. He was running toward them with all his might, gasping for breath as if he’d just escaped a marathon. When he reached them, he stopped so abruptly he almost fell over.

"I KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE!" he shouted, hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

"What?" Y/n asked, visibly confused, glancing at Momo with a raised eyebrow.

"I KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE!" he repeated, louder this time, with an oddly intense conviction. "That’s the only reason someone like you would talk to someone like me!"

Momo blinked slowly and then let out an exaggerated sigh. "You’ve already said that. Can you switch up your dialogue? You sound like a broken record."

Y/n put a hand to her face, muttering, "Have you lost your mind? Where did you even get that crazy idea?"

The boy looked at them with desperate eyes, as if he was about to reveal some cosmic secret. "I’m talking about this!" he exclaimed, pulling something out as if presenting irrefutable proof.

Both girls tilted their heads simultaneously, trying to figure out what he was holding.

"Is that... a magazine?" Momo asked, squinting.

"Yes! A limited edition of The Occult! I know you’re into this because I saw how you looked at it earlier! President Obama has already been to Mars! This is the full story of the Pegasus Project! You’re into the paranormal!"

Momo closed her eyes and ran a hand over her forehead, clearly trying to summon some patience. "Look, genius, we’re not planning to be your best friends or start a paranormal book club with you. We don’t believe in UFOs or aliens."

"They’re not UFOs, they’re UAPs! Unidentified Aerial Phenomena!" the boy yelled enthusiastically, holding up the magazine like it was some sacred manifesto.

He began talking again, with a passion that seemed endless. Y/n listened with a half-smile, entertained by the chaos he brought with him. But soon, she felt Momo’s hand squeeze hers—a clear sign: Momo was about to lose her temper.

And then, she exploded.

"WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP ALREADY?! MY HEART’S BEEN BROKEN, AND I’M NOT IN THE MOOD! AND YOU’RE SO ANNOYING WITH YOUR NERD STORIES THAT NOBODY CARES ABOUT, OKAY?! THAT’S WHY YOU HAVE NO FRIENDS!"

The boy froze, his mouth open and his eyes wide like saucers. Even Y/n, who was used to Momo’s outbursts, raised an eyebrow. "Ouch. Low blow," she murmured, mostly to herself.

Still fuming like a volcano, Momo pointed at the boy. "Don’t even think about talking to us again! Let’s go, Y/n!"

But Y/n didn’t move. She looked at the boy with some pity, her eyes softening. She stepped toward him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey... she didn’t mean it, okay? She’s upset because she had a bad day. Don’t take it to heart," she said calmly, trying to diffuse the situation.

Momo stopped and turned around, clearly picking up on Y/n’s accusatory tone even though she hadn’t said anything else. With an exasperated sigh, she rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine! I’m sorry, dude! I went too far. Happy now?"

She picked up the magazine that had fallen to the floor and handed it back to the boy, though her lips were still pursed. "But don’t get excited. I don’t believe in aliens. I’m more into ghosts and spirits, got it?"

Out of nowhere, the boy started laughing—not a polite chuckle, but a full-on belly laugh that echoed down the hallway.

"Don’t tell me you actually believe in spirits," he said, still laughing as he wiped a tear from the corner of his eye.

Momo froze, her frown deeper than ever. "Are you making fun of me?!" she shouted, stepping toward him with clenched fists.

Before anyone could react, the two launched into a heated argument. Momo insisted that spirits were real, while the boy passionately defended his UAPs. Y/n, stuck between them like a referee in a wrestling match, glanced toward the hallway. There stood Miko and Muko, watching the scene with amused smiles as they whispered to each other.

"These two are hopeless," Y/n muttered under her breath, feeling her patience wear thin.

Finally, she snapped.

"ENOUGH! YOU’RE DRIVING ME CRAZY!" she yelled, pushing them apart with a hand on each shoulder. Her voice was so loud that even Miko and Muko stopped laughing to peek in with curiosity.

"Here’s the deal," Y/n said, crossing her arms authoritatively. "If Momo proves that spirits exist, you’ll become her personal errand boy. But if you prove that UFOs—sorry, UAPs—are real, then she’ll be your errand girl."

Both of them stared at her in disbelief.

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" they shouted in unison, their faces a mix of shock and panic.

Y/n smirked, her tone daring as if she’d just announced the rules of a reality show. "It’s a bet. Take it or leave it."

Momo opened her mouth to protest but then glanced at the boy with a competitive glint in her eyes. "Errand boy, huh? That doesn’t sound too bad."

The boy blinked, clearly trying to process what had just happened. Finally, he raised his chin, determined. "Fine! But get ready to carry my stuff when I win."

Momo narrowed her eyes. "Me? Carry your stuff? Dream on, loser!"

From the hallway, Miko and Muko started laughing again.

"This is gonna be good," Miko said.

"I’m definitely not missing this," Muko added.

Y/n sighed, looking at the two challengers with exhaustion. "Great, now you’re both committed. But if you waste my time, I swear both of you will end up being my errand boys!"

They both nodded, though they still exchanged defiant glares. Y/n couldn’t help but smile. This was either going to be very interesting… or completely chaotic.

⊹ ・・───・・・・───・・ ⊹

"What is this place?! I’M GONNA DIE OF FEAR!" screamed Momo, clinging to you like a lifeline in the middle of the ocean. Her grip was so tight that you seriously considered whether you’d pass out from lack of air or from the creepy atmosphere of the hospital.

"Relax, Momo," you sighed, trying to wiggle free while scanning the surroundings. Nagi University Hospital didn’t disappoint: graffiti-covered walls, broken windows, dark hallways, and that classic feeling that something was watching you from the shadows. "Though… yeah, this place is pretty unsettling."

"UNSETTLING?! THIS IS STRAIGHT OUT OF A HORROR MOVIE!" Momo shrieked, practically climbing on top of you.

On the other end of the phone, the guy sounded thrilled. "Stop whining! Nagi Hospital is one of the prime spots for UFO sightings! They say if you’re on the rooftop, you get abducted!"

"What’s abduction?" Momo whispered in your ear.

"It’s when aliens kidnap you and experiment on your body," you whispered back.

"Hey, genius, why the rooftop?" you asked, frowning as you tried to keep Momo at a reasonable distance. "What does the rooftop have to do with UFOs?"

"Because UFOs can’t land in the basement, OBVIOUSLY!" he replied triumphantly, as if he’d just solved a universal mystery.

"Are you kidding me…? WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND BUILDS A HOSPITAL WHERE YOU GET ABDUCTED?!" shouted Momo, clearly on the verge of throwing the phone out the window.

"And who in their right mind goes willingly to an abandoned hospital for fun? Oh, wait... you two."

"THAT’S IT!" Momo yelled, red with indignation, and if you hadn’t stopped her, she probably would’ve smashed the phone against the nearest wall.

"Okay, okay, enough, both of you!" you interrupted, rubbing your temples. "Listen, Nobita of the UFO fandom, you focus on your tunnel and tell us if you see anything weird. We’ll try not to die or get abducted, deal?"

"Perfect! And record everything! This could change history!" he said excitedly, as if already drafting his speech for NASA.

"Sure, sure. If aliens take me, I’ll make sure to Facetime you," you muttered as Momo tugged at your arm.

"YOU GO FIRST! I’M NOT GOING ALONE!" Momo demanded, pointing at the dark hallway leading to the rusty elevator.

"Me first? I’d rather we just go home and call it a day. We’ve done enough for one evening."

Momo huffed but then crossed her arms and stared at the floor, thoughtful. "If we leave now, that idiot’s gonna laugh at us all week."

"What do you prefer? Him laughing at us, or us getting abducted? Because I know where my priorities lie, and aliens don’t make the top 10."

There was a brief silence as you both weighed your options. Finally, Momo sighed dramatically, like she’d just decided to climb a mountain. "Fine, but if anything weird happens, you handle it. I’m just gonna scream and run, deal?"

"I wouldn’t expect anything less from you," you replied with a tired smile as the two of you ventured into the dark hallway. The echo of your footsteps bounced off the empty walls, while the guy on the other end of the phone kept rambling about "electromagnetic phenomena and alien microwaves."

"By the way!" said the guy, as if he had just remembered something. "If you see strange lights, don’t get close. They’re a sign of imminent abduction."

"Great," you muttered, rolling your eyes. "Anything else we should know before we get abducted?"

"Yeah, if you get abducted, ask them how they travel faster than light. I’m really interested in that!"

"WHAT KIND OF PSYCHOPATH THINKS ABOUT THAT AT A TIME LIKE THIS?!" Momo screamed, and this time, you couldn’t help but laugh. At least the strange humor was helping to calm the terror a little.

"Hey, kid, let’s be honest... you’ve never seen a UFO in your life, have you?" Momo asked, crossing her arms and looking at him with a mix of disdain and curiosity.

The guy adjusted his glasses, clearly offended. "DO YOU KNOW WHAT REGRESSIVE HYPNOSIS IS?"

"DON’T CHANGE THE SUBJECT!" Momo snapped, pointing at him with an accusing finger. "I asked you something very simple."

He raised a finger, completely ignoring her while striking a dramatic pose. "THE QUESTION ISN’T WHETHER I’VE SEEN A UFO..."

"Uh-huh, sure," murmured Y/n, rolling their eyes.

"WHAT MATTERS ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE THEORY!" he continued, in such a serious tone that it sounded like he was giving a lecture on astrophysics.

Momo sighed, clearly losing patience. "Again with your nonsense, oh my god. Don’t you ever get tired? Or do you recharge with solar batteries?"

"THIS ISN’T NONSENSE! IT'S SCIENCE! IT’S TRUE!" he protested, with an almost comical intensity.

"Yeah, sure. And how’s it going there, huh? Anything interesting besides your ‘theories’?" Momo said, looking around with feigned indifference as she tried to change the subject.

"I’VE ARRIVED... TOO SHY... SHY... TO THIS MYSTERIOUS PLACE..." the guy shouted on the phone, his voice echoing in the dark, damp tunnel. "WELL... NOW IT'S TIME TO PROVE IT!"

Momo frowned, not as convinced by his enthusiasm. "Please, do you really think this place is special? It’s all dark and super creepy!"

"YOU’RE SCARED! YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE INTERNET, HAVEN’T YOU EVER SEEN A GHOST?!" the guy yelled, his voice strangely echoing in the tunnel.

"Not at all," Momo replied with a nervous laugh, though her gaze darkened a little.

"WHAT WAS THAT RANT ABOUT EARLIER?!" she shouted, pointing at the phone. "TAKE BACK EVERYTHING YOU SAID! How can you believe in spirits if you've never even seen one?"

"What's so strange about that?" Momo shot back, crossing her arms. She lowered her voice a bit before continuing: "I told you... my grandmother is a medium. She raised me because... well, because I don’t have parents."

There was a brief silence. Even the guy on the phone seemed to be lost for words. Y/n looked at Momo, noticing an expression they rarely saw on their friend: nostalgia mixed with sadness.

"I didn’t know..." murmured the guy on the other end of the line.

"Yeah," Momo continued, trying to appear indifferent. "My parents died when I was little. So my grandmother took care of me. But of course, my grandmother wasn’t a normal person. She always talked about spirits, spells, energies. Before going to school, she’d make me do a ritual to protect me from ‘bad vibes’ or something like that. And if I didn’t do it, she’d get mad at me."

"And did you do it?" Y/n asked with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Momo sighed. "At first, I had no choice. But... it was horrible. The other kids would laugh at me. Even the guy I liked... one day he saw me doing one of those rituals and, well, he thought I was an idiot. From that moment on, he started avoiding me. It was the worst."

"That sounds tough," Y/n commented, with a more serious tone.

"Yeah, it was," Momo admitted, shrugging. "I got really angry with my grandmother for that. I think I even said things I shouldn’t have. I felt really alone. But... now that I think about it, it wasn’t so much the ritual that bothered me. It was seeing how they laughed at my family, how they didn’t understand what it meant to us."

"It must have been hard," Y/n said.

"It was," Momo repeated, looking down. "I didn’t regain trust in my grandmother until recently. I realized that, even though her ideas were strange, she did it because she wanted to protect me. And... well, it's all I have left of my family. So, even though it’s frustrating sometimes... I guess I understand her."

The guy on the other end of the phone cleared his throat, breaking the mood. "Well... I don’t know much about spirits, but your grandmother sounds... interesting."

Momo laughed a little. "That’s a polite way to put it. But yeah, she is."

"My grandmother..." Momo began, her gaze fixed on the darkness of the hospital, as if she were speaking more to herself than to anyone else. "Her work as a medium... I don’t know if it’s real. I’ve never seen a spirit. Never. I don’t even know if my grandmother can really perceive them. But you know something? I don’t care. Because, at the end of the day, she raised me alone. She accepted me as her family, even when I didn’t understand anything she did or said. And, in some way, I believe in her."

There was a silence in the group. Even the guy on the phone seemed to have fallen silent for a moment, as if Momo’s words had struck him.

"That’s why I believe in spirits," she continued. "Not because I’ve seen them, but because I believe in my grandmother. And that’s enough for me."

Y/n looked at her with a mixture of surprise and admiration. It was rare to hear Momo speak so sentimentally, but somehow, the sincerity of her words hit like a punch to the chest.

"And you?" Momo asked, turning back to the phone. "Why do you believe in aliens, huh?"

"That... that’s different," the guy replied, somewhat uncomfortable. "You don’t have to see something to know it exists. There’s evidence, theories, data..."

Momo let out a short, bitter laugh. "Oh, sure. Evidence and theories. But tell me something, genius: have you ever seen an alien with your own eyes?"

"Well... no," he admitted, somewhat hesitantly.

"Then what makes you different from me? Why do you assume that yours is more real than mine?"

"Because it’s science," he quickly responded, defensively.

"Science?" Momo raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You call science looking at forums on the internet and reading conspiracy theories from people who’ve probably never left their basement?"

"It’s not the same!" he exclaimed, clearly frustrated.

Y/n decided to intervene before the conversation turned into an argument. "Okay, okay, both of you, calm down. Look, I think Momo has a point. But you do too, mysterious guy. At the end of the day, if you like something, you don’t need reasons to believe in it, right?"

They both fell silent, though their expressions showed they still had a lot to say.

"By the way," Momo added, slightly changing the subject, "you talk about aliens like you know everything about them, but... you have the voice of someone who doesn’t leave the house much, am I wrong?"

"What are you implying?" he asked, clearly offended.

"That you probably haven’t talked to another person in months, other than us on the phone," she replied with a teasing smile.

"That’s not true!"

"Uh-huh, sure."

Y/n chuckled softly while observing their dynamic. Even though they argued constantly, there was something strangely entertaining about their interactions.

"Anyway," Momo said, returning to the previous topic, "I don’t know if aliens exist, but one thing I’m sure of: we don’t need evidence to believe in what matters to us. That includes my grandmother... and I guess your aliens too."

"I guess you’re right," the guy admitted, in a somewhat resigned tone.

"Of course I am," she responded confidently.

"Well," Y/n interrupted, looking around, "before we continue to philosophize, can we just focus on not dying here? Because this place still gives me the creeps."

"I'll second that motion," Momo added, adjusting her hair. "Come on, Y/n. And you, kiddo, keep looking for your evidence. We'll do our thing."

"Don't forget to record something if you see a spirit!" he replied.

"Sure, and if we see an alien, we'll introduce you to it in person," Momo replied sarcastically as she walked with Y/n into the darkness of the hospital.

The boy moved slowly through the tunnel, his flashlight wobbling with each step. The place was dark, damp, and had a strange smell, as if time had stopped there. The echoes of his footsteps made him think he wasn't alone, although he tried to convince himself otherwise.

Suddenly, something stopped him.  A few feet in front of him, a figure appeared out of nowhere.

It was an old woman, hunched over, dressed in worn clothes and a hat that looked like it was from another era. Her face was covered in deep wrinkles, but what stood out the most was her twisted, almost grotesque smile.

“What the…?” he muttered, trying to back away.

The old woman looked up, and her eyes shone with an unnatural intensity.

The old woman took a step forward. “I’ll let you suck my… tits,” she said with a twisted grimace, “if you let me suck your dick.”

“WHAT?!” the boy shouted, jumping back. His flashlight shook in his hand, and, in his panic, his phone almost slipped from his grasp.

“Momo! Y/n! It’s a ghost!” he shouted into the phone, although he didn’t know if they were still on the line.

From the other side of the tunnel, Momo looked up, irritated.  “What is this idiot saying now?”

The boy ran as fast as he could, not daring to look back. Each step echoed like a drum in the tunnel, and his panting was deafening.

“This can’t be happening!” he shouted, stumbling slightly but staying on his feet. “It’s just an old exit! YES, THAT’S WHAT IT HAS TO BE!”

He reached his bike, parked at the entrance to the tunnel, and began to wobble as he tried to mount it. His hands shook so badly that he could barely grip the handlebars. “Come on, come on, come on!” he muttered frantically as he tried to pedal.

At that moment, the cell phone in his pocket rang again. It was Momo. With clumsy hands, he pulled out the phone and answered, still panting.

“AYASE! THAT THING IS FOLLOWING ME!”

“Don’t stop, you idiot!” Momo shouted from the other end of the line. “If it catches up with you, you’re done for!”  “It’s the curse of the Old Turbo! If you lose the race against her, she curses you!”

“WHAT!? WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME BEFORE!?”

“Because I didn’t think anyone would be idiotic enough to provoke her!”

The boy looked back as he pedaled, and his blood ran cold. The old woman wasn’t running… she was floating towards him, with terrifying speed.

“NOOOO!” he shouted, pedaling even harder.

“Don’t look back!” Momo exclaimed, almost hysterical. “Just keep pedaling!”

Suddenly, the tunnel was filled with a strange echo.

Momo, who was still shouting into the phone, noticed something strange. “Hey, wait a minute! Y/n?”

The silence on the other side made her stop. She turned her head and realized that Y/n was no longer there.

“Y/n!? Where are you?!”  he screamed, looking around in panic.

The boy’s cell phone began to crackle with static, and the call was abruptly cut off. He was now alone, the echo of the Turbo Old Lady’s laughter filling the tunnel as he pedaled madly towards the exit.

Momo, still holding his own cell phone, felt a chill run down his spine. “This isn’t right… Y/n? Answer!”

Momo made his way down the hallway, the light from his flashlight shaking with each step he took. The air seemed colder with each meter, and darkness enveloped everything around him. “Y/n? Are you there? Please answer…” he muttered, gripping his cell phone tightly.

Suddenly, a strange sound echoed in the distance. Footsteps.

Momo stopped dead in his tracks, his breathing quickening. “Boy? Is that you? Answer!”

But what emerged from the shadows wasn’t Y/n.  They were three tall figures, oddly proportioned. They wore human clothing: buttoned-up shirts with collars, tucked neatly into their pants. The pockets of their shirts were filled with small items, such as pens and a notebook sticking out of one of them. They wore perfectly fitted belts and shiny shoes, as if they had just left an office meeting.

Their heads, however, were anything but human.

They looked like grotesque humanoid masks: expressionless faces with motionless eyes and thin mouths that curved unnaturally. Their movements were stiff, but their eyes followed her with chilling precision.

Momo took a step back, her body trembling. “Who… what are you guys?” she stammered, trying to maintain her composure.

One of them took a step forward, his head tilting slightly, as if he were studying her. Momo didn’t wait any longer.  She turned on her heel and began running down the tunnel, quickly dialing Y/n’s number on her cell phone.

“Y/n! Please answer! There are some weird guys here and—!”

She couldn’t finish. One of the men appeared out of nowhere, blocking her way. Momo screamed and backed away, but she collided with something hard. She quickly turned around and found another one of them, who had appeared behind her without making the slightest noise.

“Leave me alone!” she screamed, throwing the flashlight at one of them in a desperate attempt to escape. The flashlight bounced harmlessly off his chest, and he showed no reaction.

Before she could do anything else, she felt an icy pressure on her arm. One of the men had grabbed her, his grip firm but inexplicably cold. “No, no, no! Let me go!”

The cell phone fell from her hands and hit the ground, illuminating for a moment the expressionless face of one of the men.  “Y/n! Help!” was the last thing she managed to scream before she was dragged into the darkness of the tunnel.

The phone was left there, illuminating an empty, cold hallway. In the distance, the echo of the men’s footsteps carrying her away could be heard, but soon, even that sound disappeared.

⊹ ・・───・・・・ ───  ⊹

Momo opened her eyes in shock and confusion. The room was cold, with metallic walls illuminated by bluish lights, and in front of her were three disturbing-looking figures. With elongated heads, greyish skin and large, dark eyes, they looked like something straight out of a science fiction movie. One of them stepped forward and spoke in a monotonous, metallic voice:

"Greetings, human. We are Serpoians. We are called that because we come from the planet Serpo."

"Aliens?" Momo frowned in disbelief. Her mind struggled to comprehend what was happening. However, the evidence was undeniable: she was facing something that surpassed any logical explanation.

"Do not be afraid," another of the Serpoians continued with inhuman calm. "We are a peaceful species."

Momo, far from calming down, gritted her teeth. Her eyes frantically scanned the room as she tugged at the restraints holding her wrists.  “Peaceful? Nice guys don’t kidnap girls! Where are my clothes?”

One of the aliens pointed to a nearby table where his clothes lay, in tatters. “Your belongings were handled with care. The damage was… accidental.”

“Accidental?! This isn’t cheap! You’re going to pay for this! And I demand that you return me to my home right now!” he shouted, his voice filling the room.

Despite his protests, the Serpoians seemed immune to his fury. “Our species is entirely male,” one explained in a mechanical tone, as if he were reciting a lesson. “For millennia, we have reproduced through cloning, but this has led to the loss of our emotions and genetic diversity. We seek to regain our biological capabilities… using your genetic code.”

“My what?” Momo looked at them with a mix of confusion and disgust. “You’re completely insane! I will not be a part of your Frankenstein experiments!”

Before she could say anything else, the sound of a sliding door interrupted the tension. A tall, sleek figure strode into the room. His futuristic suit gleamed in the light, form-fitting and full of metallic detailing. His face was hidden behind a sleek helmet that reflected his surroundings like a liquid mirror. His presence was imposing.

“Where is my payment?” he demanded in a firm, authoritative voice.

The Serpoians turned to her. One of them held up a black suitcase. “Here you go. However, it is less than agreed. You delivered late.”

The woman crossed her arms, her posture conveying palpable disdain. “My mentor accepts no excuses. Neither do I. This deal was for a larger sum.”

“The delay justifies the reduction,” one of the aliens replied coldly.

The woman clicked her tongue, visibly upset. Meanwhile, Momo, though still terrified, could not take her eyes off the newcomer.  There was something in her voice, in the way she moved… Something that felt strangely familiar.

Her eyes widened as she connected the pieces. “Y/n?” she muttered, almost breathless.

The woman stopped. Slowly, she turned her head towards Momo. Although the helmet still obscured her face, the slight shift in her posture made her discomfort clear.

The room fell into a tense silence following Y/n’s words. Momo stared at her in disbelief, her lips trembling as tears threatened to fall.

“What are you doing here, Y/n? What is this? Why are you with them?” she asked with a mix of rage and desperation.

Y/n let out an audible sigh, placing her hands on her hips. “It’s not personal, Momo. It’s just work. You… were the target. I was paid to bring them what they needed. Nothing more.”

“Nothing more?” Momo raised her voice, her tears finally overflowing. “Is that what I am to you? A job? We were supposed to be friends! I was supposed to be able to trust you!”

Y/n’s helmet reflected the cold lights of the room, hiding any emotion that might have been on her face. But the stiffness of her shoulders gave her away. She tried to stand her ground, looking at Momo from a distance. “This isn’t about you or us, Momo. It’s about… surviving. You don’t understand how my world works. No one survives without making sacrifices.”

“Sacrifices?! Is that what I am to you? One more sacrifice to keep you going?” Momo screamed, struggling against the restraints that kept her immobilized. “You were my friend, Y/n! I trusted you like no one else! I always thought you would understand me!”  But here you are, giving me away like I'm... like I'm a thing!”

Momo's words hit like a hammer. For a moment, Y/n stood still, unable to respond. Something in Momo's voice, in the broken sincerity of her words, touched her heart.

“Do you remember what you told me when you picked me up that night?” Momo continued between sobs. “You said that no matter what, you'd be there for me. That friends never betray each other. And look at you now... giving me away like I'm worthless.”

The tension in the room was almost palpable. Even the Serpoians fell silent, watching the confrontation.

Y/n lowered her head slightly, her voice sounding lower, almost unsure. “It's not that simple, Momo... I—”

“Don't give me excuses!” Momo interrupted her, her voice cracking. “Look at me! Tell me that all of this is worth it!  “Tell me you’re okay with what you’re doing!”

Y/n stood still for a few seconds that seemed like an eternity. Then, she took a step back, clenching her fists at her sides. “I’m sorry,” she muttered, barely audible. Without another word, she turned to the Serpoians. “The deal is done. I’m leaving.”

“Y/n!” Momo screamed, her voice filled with desperation. “Please! Don’t leave me here! Please don’t do this to me!”

But Y/n didn’t stop. She headed for the door without looking back, her bright figure disappearing into the dimness of the hallway. Just before the door closed, Momo, her voice cracking, let out one last scream that echoed in the silence:

“I would never have done this to you, Y/n! Never!”

The echo of her words hung in the air, and for an instant, Y/n stood on the other side of the door.  Her shoulders shook slightly, but she didn’t turn around. With a quick movement, she disappeared, leaving Momo alone, her sobs filling the room as the Serpoians turned their attention back to her.

“Why…?” Momo whispered through her tears. “Why did you do this to me?”

The Serpoians had run out of patience. One of them approached with cold, calculated movements, a strange humming sound emanating from his device.

“Let us prepare to extract the necessary organs. Your resistance is irrelevant,” one declared in a metallic voice.

Momo struggled uselessly against the restraints, her face drenched in tears. “Get away from me! You cannot do this!”

The alien lifted the probe, slowly bringing it closer to Momo. “We will begin the procedure now.”

Suddenly, the sound of a ringtone broke through the air, Momo’s mobile phone began to vibrate on the nearby table. The Serpoians paused, staring at it curiously.

“External interruptions are not acceptable,” one of them said, reaching out a hand to take the device.

Before she could touch it, the phone’s screen lit up in a deep red.  A deep vibration filled the room, and suddenly, a figure emerged from the screen: Y/n, holding a strangely designed pistol.

“Did I interrupt something again?” she asked in an icy tone, pointing directly at the Serpoians.

Beside her, staggering, appeared the boy possessed by Turbo Granny. His body was bent at impossible angles, and his eyes shone with a mix of fear and rage.

“Ayase!” Ken shouted, struggling to stay on his feet as Turbo Granny seemed to control his movements.

The aliens took a step back, observing the scene with a mix of shock and wariness.

“How did you get in here again, Agent Jean Jacket?” one of the Serpoians demanded, raising his hands in a defensive stance.

Y/n let out a dry laugh, though her gaze remained fixed on them. “Let’s just say I have my ways.”

Momo, still trapped in the chair, stared at Y/n in disbelief and rage. “Now you decide to show up?! After everything you did?!”

“This doesn’t change anything, Momo,” Y/n said without looking at her, her voice strained. “This is still not personal.”

“Please don’t give me that again!” Momo screamed, tears sliding down her cheeks.

For an instant, Y/n hesitated, but didn’t respond. Instead, she pulled the trigger on her gun, firing a beam that struck one of the Serpoians, knocking it to the ground.

Turbo Granny, controlling Ken, let out a terrifying shriek and launched herself at another alien, biting it ferociously on the torso.

“Momo, take cover!” Y/n screamed as the remaining aliens began to respond to the attack, their suits glowing as they prepared to fight back.

“I can’t! I’m tied up!” Momo screamed in desperation, pulling at the straps with all her might.

Ken screamed in desperation, his body still fighting against Turbo Granny’s possession. Tears fell from his eyes as the words filled the room, his voice cracked from years of repressed pain.

“No matter how many times I called you, you never came!” He exclaimed, fists clenched, body tense under Granny’s control.  “There I was bullied by children, ignored by aliens… children paid me to beat them up!”

Ken’s words were desperate, but the fury and pain seemed to give him the strength to keep fighting. “My life sucked! And no one cared if I was alive or dead… but (Y/n) and Miss Ayase were the only ones who stood up for me! So get your filthy hands off her!”

At that moment, a spark of control seemed to surge within him. His body trembled, but his mind struggled to take back the reins, preparing to attack. Anger fueled him, his will finally regaining some strength.

Momo, from her position, screamed in desperation, unable to do anything but watch as the fight raged. “Hidden-kun! Do it! We need you!”

But amidst the chaos, the aliens began to move, aware of the growing threat Ken posed. One of them, still reeling from Turbo Granny’s impact, gave an order. “Get those humans! They won’t let this end well!”

The tension rose, but the worst seemed yet to come. A Serpoian, with cold, calculated movements, approached Momo, holding her by the shoulders tightly. “If you don’t give us what we ask for, you’ll regret it,” he said in a monotone voice, while his companion watched Ken, who was still trying to break free from Granny’s influence.

“Gross!” one of the other aliens commented, watching the scene become more and more chaotic.

Momo looked at Ken, fighting against his own body, knowing that control was fragile. “Ken! Don’t give up! You can do it!” he shouted, his voice filled with desperation.

“Enough of all this!”  The voice, firm and full of power, boomed through the room.

It was Y/n. Her presence was imposing, the helmet reflecting the light from the screens, but behind it, her expression was determined.

“I won’t let them hurt you anymore, Momo!” she said, as she raised her gun towards the Serpoians.

One of them tried to react, but a direct shot to his torso stopped him dead in his tracks.

“Hmm?”

Momo briefly looked away at Ken, but soon returned her focus to Turbo Granny, whose teeth were still piercing her calf.

“I’ll eat your cock!”

“What?” Y/n stepped back, horrified, but still trying to understand the situation.

“I… it’s not me! It’s Turbo Granny!”

“Are you really the only ones who can save me?” Momo thought, as her eyes focused on Ken. The situation was becoming more and more chaotic.

The alien and Momo watched the conflict in silence. Finally, the alien turned his gaze to Momo, noticing the chaos between the humans. “Now I will begin with the excitement.”

He extended his hand over Momo, who closed her eyes, feeling a growing pressure. Her face twisted in disgust as, for a moment, she thought she could no longer get out of this situation. It was then that, in her mind, an image from her childhood began to emerge: an important memory of her grandmother.

“Release your chi.”

“I don’t want to...”

Momo, as a little girl, found herself at the entrance of her grandmother’s house, long before she met you or Ken.

“The other kids always make fun of me for that. I look stupid.” Momo explained to the older woman, as her grandmother knelt in front of her with a calm smile.

“No, it’s not like that… When you release your chi, you will never get hurt or sick.  It will also help you keep evil away.” Grandma placed her hands gently on Momo’s shoulders, before taking her small hands firmly.

“Now, tense your abdominal muscles and imagine your chi rising from the top of your head.”

Momo, with effort, tried to follow the directions. Immediately, a painful memory flashed through her: the children laughing at her when she tried to do that pose.

“I hate it! I won’t do it again!” Momo screamed, shaking her head as her eyes widened in fury.

Her grandmother, still patient, held out her hand, asking for calm. “Momo! Wait!”

“I hate you, Grandma! You’re an imposter!”

That moment of anger made the memory flash through her mind in a distorted way. However, deep down, Momo knew she didn’t hate her grandmother. She only felt ashamed, something she was now beginning to understand.

Then, he began to imagine his grandmother’s words, remembering the technique she had taught him. As he visualized the flow of her chi, something inside him triggered, and, in that instant, the chair containing her broke under her energy.

The fight between Ken and Momo stopped at the same time, both of them staring in amazement as Momo began to levitate.

“What?! She never said she had psychic powers!” Ken exclaimed, his eyes wide as Momo floated.

With a slight bend in her legs, Momo raised her hands, looking at the two men around her in surprise. “I… I didn’t know I had them either.”

The alien who had tried to attack extended his hands towards Momo, but she, now fully focused, stared at him. “My psychokinesis is being repelled by a higher force. What’s going on? Maybe the human’s brain waves were overloaded, allowing her to access her chakra.”

Momo, fascinated by the piece of metal floating above her hand, turned her gaze towards the alien with a determined smile. “She’s not an impostor! My grandmother is a genuine medium! Thank you, Grandma!”

Meanwhile, the boy tried to bite Y/n and in the process, ripped off her helmet, revealing Y/n’s pastel blue skin and the dark blue glowing antennae emerging from her head.

She tried to defend herself, trying not to shoot him with her gun, but he scratched her skin, making fissures that healed automatically.

Momo stood up and, with her newly acquired powers, launched a powerful kick at the alien. However, he raised his arm and stopped her with force. “Now I have the power to face these monsters! And make them fly!” Momo shouted, full of determination.

With a last effort, she kicked the alien, sending him through the walls. The explosion that followed was deafening, and the lights in the room began to flicker violently.

Momo screamed as she felt her body collapse, as she watched the destruction falling around her. “We are inside a real UFO!” she exclaimed, surprised, looking around for Y/n and Ken, and finding them on the ground fighting, she was horrified. “(Y/n)! Occult-kun!”

Swiftly, Momo approached Granny Turbo. Suddenly, her body began to glow with a clear light, while her hair flowed wildly. At that moment, the curse that weighed on Ken disappeared.

Suddenly, the room darkened, turning red. Before them, Granny Turbo appeared, her gaze fixed and malicious. “Who the hell are you two?” she said, her voice cold and challenging.

Turbo Granny curled her fingers, causing Ken to pull away from Y/n, his body arching as a painful gurgle came from his lips. Momo watched, eyes wide, recoiling slightly as she saw how Ken was still under Granny’s control. “Granny is out of her body!” she exclaimed, alarmed. “But he is still under her curse!”

“This child belongs to me,” Turbo Granny said with a mocking smile. “As long as I have him, the curse will not be lifted.  I can't stay here for long, but if you want me to free him, go to the tunnel. If you want to fight me, come to me. Damn classless bitches!”

“Who are you calling a bitch, you filthy old woman?! Give him his penis back!” Momo shouted at the ghost that was walking away.

Y/n, seeing Momo so worried and determined, quickly approached her and, with unexpected strength, lifted her into her arms. Momo blushed at feeling so close to her, her cheeks turning red as she couldn't help but look down, avoiding Y/n's eyes, which were shining with determination.

“Don't worry! We're going to get out of here,” Y/n said firmly, beginning to quickly climb the walls of the UFO with the agility of an expert. Momo clung to her, the warmth of her body comforting her, but her mind was filled with chaos. In her chest, a strange feeling was born, something she had never felt before.

Ken, still disoriented from the curse and the explosion, was on the ground, slowly recovering. Y/n, still moving, lifted him up with one hand, placing him on her back as she continued to ascend.

“Come on, Ken! You have to get up, we have to go now!” Y/n shouted, and Ken, his eyes still somewhat clouded, nodded weakly.

The room was crumbling around them, and a dark energy filled the air. The walls were beginning to shake violently, and the lights flickered desperately. Momo, her face still flushed from the closeness to Y/n, looked down as they ascended, unable to stop her heart from beating faster than normal. What was this strange feeling that was invading her?

Suddenly, a loud boom shook the UFO, and a gigantic explosion went off behind them. The walls began to give way, and the ship seemed to be on the verge of total destruction. Y/n, not losing her cool, leapt forward, bringing Momo and Ken with her in her leap, escaping just before the UFO exploded into a ball of fire.

With a deafening bang, the UFO disintegrated behind them, and in the air, Y/n, Momo, and Ken flew through space, jumping out of the ship's reach, completely safe but on the verge of despair.

Momo hugged Y/n tightly, no longer caring about the blush, as the wind whipped at them, and Ken's body rested on Y/n's back.  The scene was chaotic, but it had all happened so fast, and the only thought running through Momo's mind was how she felt so strangely calm in Y/n's arms, as the ship crumbled behind them.

"Are we safe?" Ken asked, his voice weak, as he watched the distance between them and the exploding ship.

"Yes," Y/n answered, without hesitation. "We're safe... for now."

But as they floated in the air, Momo couldn't help but wonder how they could have survived all of that. And even more so, how her feelings towards Y/n seemed to have changed in a matter of seconds, and what it all meant to her.

⊹ ・・───・・・・ ───  ⊹

Near Kamigoe Prefecture, a curious pastel-green being walked casually through the crowded streets of the city. It had the appearance of a puppy dog, though its size, its long antennae that glowed faintly in the daylight, and its tail that swung like a whip of jelly made it clear that it was no ordinary dog. In one hand it held a burrito wrapped in silver paper, and in the other, a large soda that made gurgling sounds with each step.

The little alien eagerly bit into the burrito, spilling some of the sauce on the ground. It paused for a moment, sucking its fingers before continuing to walk. Its attitude was that of someone who belonged there, though it didn’t bother to hide the strangeness of its appearance. People watched it in awe, but the alien seemed immune to the curious glances.

“Mom, look! A puppy!” exclaimed a little girl with braids, pointing at it with joy.

The being stopped dead in its tracks, its ears (or what seemed to be ears) perking up at the sound. It slowly turned its head towards the little girl, its eyes shining like a pair of tiny green suns. “Who are you calling a puppy, kid!?” it shrieked in a high-pitched voice with an accent that seemed to be from another planet… literally.

The little girl’s mother froze, tugging on her daughter’s hand as she tried to process what had just happened.

“Speak, Mom! The puppy is speaking!” the excited little girl shouted, tugging on her mother’s arm.

The alien, offended, snorted and raised his donkey towards the little girl, as if it were some sort of weapon. “Hey, on my planet, insulting someone by calling them a puppy is a declaration of war, you know? But I’m too busy today to respond to your taunts.”

The mother, now completely terrified, dragged her daughter away from the little being, muttering something about “moving to the country.”  The alien pup shook his head as he took a long sip of his soda, producing a clattering sound that drew even more stares.

“Humans…” he muttered tiredly, his antennae twitching in slight annoyance. “You can’t just walk around town without someone mistaking you for a pet.”

He continued on his way, dodging the crowd with surprising agility for someone with a burrito and a soda in his hands. Every so often, he would stop in front of a store to admire some product, though he quickly grew bored and kept moving.

A man in a suit saw him pass by and frowned. “Is that… a dog in a costume?”

“I’m not a dog!” the alien shouted without even turning around. “And stop looking at me like that or I’ll throw my burrito in your face!”

The threat seemed to have an effect, and the man walked away muttering something about “needing more coffee.”

The little creature finally reached the entrance to the town, where the lights were beginning to fade and the shops were turning into open fields. It stopped and looked out at the horizon, its antennae leaning forward as if it were sensing something. It took a last sip of its soda, letting out a loud burp that echoed through the air.

“Fine…” it said, wiping its mouth with the back of its hand. “Now I just need to find that damn ship before someone else calls me a puppy.”

He continued walking towards the end of the city, his half-eaten burrito still in his hand. Behind him lay a line of perplexed humans, and ahead of him a fate awaited him that, as always, would be anything but boring.

The little alien continued to walk with a sure step, enjoying his half-finished burrito, when suddenly, his antennae began to vibrate intensely. A slight buzzing sound went through his head, as if he had tuned into a distant frequency. His expression tensed, and his eyes, which used to shine with indifference, now narrowed with seriousness.

“What the…?” he muttered, looking around as if searching for the source of the phenomenon. His antennae continued to vibrate, and the buzzing sound grew higher. Then, looking up, he saw it.

In the distance, a thick column of black smoke rose from the old university hospital, followed by an explosion that lit up the sky as if it were a misplaced fireworks display.  The alien dropped his soda, which slowly rolled to a stop in a sewer.

“No way!” he screamed, bringing his hands to his antennae as if trying to stop the humming. He looked back at the hospital, frowning in a mix of disbelief and exasperation. “Y/n did it again?!”

The small being began to walk faster, then trotted, muttering under his breath. “I told you not to go soft on the merchandise! But no, you always have to play the heroine, dammit!”

He paused for a moment, as if he had remembered something, and shook his head in frustration. “And you sure left a mess behind, like always! By all the rings of Saturn, you’re really going to listen to me this time!”

With one last glance at the burning hospital, he let out an annoyed growl.  “I hope you at least saved something valuable, because if not…”

The little alien ran off on his short legs, leaving his donkey forgotten on the ground. His pastel green silhouette was lost in the shadows, while the smoke from the hospital covered the horizon, promising chaos and answers in the distance.

A/N ── Oh, hey, it's me again.

First off, let me tell you something: I'm in love with Dandadan. Seriously, I can't even explain how much I was hooked on this series from the moment I found out how it went. It was like a cosmic crush. Each chapter left me more hooked, more obsessed, and obviously I couldn't resist. I ended up buying the ENTIRE manga set that was available so far. I literally couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen with Momo after those last chapters that left me with my heart in my throat. This series is pure magic and chaos, and I can't get over it.

Now, let's talk about my baby, or Y/n. Let me tell you that her spacesuit is directly inspired by Smart Lady from a Japanese series (if you know which one, you're one of mine). I wanted something that screams alien but with style, and I feel like I nailed it... sort of. But, here comes the kicker: her personality is still not well defined. She's a mess, I admit. But that's the whole idea. Because she's an undercover alien, her personality changes depending on the environment she's in. It's like she's constantly adapting to fit in, but at the same time, that lack of consistency is part of her identity. Existential drama at its finest!

And here comes the tricky but interesting part: the character doesn't have a defined gender. Visually, she could pass for a woman, and she identifies as a woman because that's how she feels, but here's the plot twist: she has no defined genitals. Yes, you read that right. She's neither biologically male nor female. She's something beyond that, something that she may not even fully understand. For now, she treats herself as a woman because that's what feels most comfortable and natural to her earthly experience, but... does it really matter? I want to explore how that ambiguity affects her, how it influences the way she sees herself and her interactions with others. It's a key part of her story that I hope to develop little by little.

Oh, and regarding the technical chaos... I know this first part had its problems. It was published by itself, the dialogues were poorly arranged, it was very long, blah, blah, blah. But now, it's all well and good. I think.

[highfantasy-soul]

Quick list of things I particularly loved from NATLA Episode 3 - Omashu before my in-depth overview

The whole rebellion inside the Fire Nation - love seeing EVERYONE fighting back

"I think that's what they said - I never listened." ^_^

"What makes you think we're outsiders?"

"We ARE Fire Nation, even out here"

"Irrigation, am I right?" :D

Aang darting through a crowd messing up everyone's day - just straight from the animated!

And the first tease of the cabbage merchant!!!

Our Gaang wasting NO time after the explosion to run in and help

Bloodthirsty Teo ready to recruit Aang to carpet bombing the Fire Nation - yet another example of children's morals and sense of self being warped by this war

How proud Teo is of his father!!

Sokka being able to show his interest in tinkering and engineering!!!

And did I spy some ECLIPSE glasses????

Aang's "no, I'm not going to just leave people in trouble, I'm going to stay and help them any way I can" moment

"He's done the impossible" in the most mocking voice imaginable! XD Adore that Azula isn't afraid to mock her father

And Mai and Tylee cameos!!!!

And the Yuyan archers! So many hints to the future here

Katara practicing her waterbending forms even in the background - really showing that she's taking every opportunity to hone her skills - she's not just perfect immediately

JEEEEETTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!

Honestly first thought cart-boy might have been Haru, but once he caught the Mechanist meeting with the spy, my Jet senses started tingling

Jet's combat - perfect! Katara's skills - growing!!

LOVE how there's such a marked upgrade in Katara's control from her single ball of water and big splash of last episode to her controlled twin water ball attacks

Jet's bird-whistle signal

I started giggling maniacally, knowing what was coming!!

And that DAMN piece of straw XD

Sokka saying 'No, my role is to be a warrior and protect the village' with the most heartbreaking look on his face as he sees the skills he truly loves being devalued (or the perception that their devalued) and then Sai reassuring him and his frown turning into a hopeful look on the verge of a smile. Seriously, my heart, guys

Chills every time Smellerbee throws up her hand and shouts "Freedom Fighters!" and the whole camp cheers - really you see how they're a family, a community, healing together the best way they know how

Honestly, everything with Jet is great - him actually giving GOOD advice to Katara, making him a real person rather than someone who only cares about himself - I believe this Jet actually cares about Katara the person, not just Katara the weapon

Also the fact that there's only the small hand-brush as a romantic gesture, the rest of Katara and Jet's interactions keep strictly platonic - nowhere near as charged as all Sokka's interactions with Suki and Yue

Katara's mom smiling in the sunrise D;

Zuko's annoyance at Iroh loving the city XD

And Lotus tile reference!!

Sokka's paper bird!!!

And oooohhh here comes the fighting!

Such a great choice to pit the Mechanist (Sokka) against Jet (Katara) where they're BOTH bad! This isn't a one sibling is right scenario - both their new allies are doing bad stuff! Very juicy and great plot thread/theme weaving

"To prove you're a jerk!" "Oh yeah, well I don't need proof of that!!"

Cabbage merchant tease #2!!

SSCCAARRRFF ZUUUTTAARRRAAAAAAAAAAA

"This guy - again?" *rolly eyes*

Sokka's first mad plan!! Riding the crates to the palace!!

The Zuko/Aang fight - beautiful, stunning, stylized, classic

Zuko being beaten by a woman furious that he's hitting a child

"YOU READ MY DIARY!!!!!!!!" sorry, "YOU HAVE MY NOTEBOOK!!"

MY CABBAGEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!

Water HAWHIP!!!!

Iroh's first firebending in the show is him using it to draw attention to him so Zuko can escape :( not to harm anyone, but to protect

Aang's little "Uh oh o.o"

This was the first episode where it ended and I thought "I HAVE to watch the next one RIGHT NOW"

Damn you cliffhangers

[Masterlist of my NATLA thoughts]

[ladytauria]

hey liv sorry in advance i am nosy

🍓🐇🧃🪐🍬🦷🦋🦴🪲

dont be sorry! i enjoy nosy uwu

🍓 ⇢ how did you get into writing fanfiction?

hmm

i was 12. my favorite tv show at the time was this old disney cartoon, "super robot monkey team hyper force go" (abbreviated as SRMTHFG or SRMTHG. i prefer the first but plenty of people use the second.) it was canceled after its 4th season and, uh. the ending was SO bad. like, major major cliffhanger.

anyway, i was looking up... i don't even remember at the time. and i discovered deviantart, and i discovered this person's OCs. read a lot about them, including some fanfic, and then eventually discovered fanfiction.net

i didn't realize what it was at first; i thought it was just a writing in general site? and i was like oh! i can share the book i'm working on! (i have been trying to write a novel since i was 10). and then as i was looking into where i would post it, i realized what it actually was. (no, the title didn't give it away. idk why.)

so then i was like oh!!! this is really cool actually!!! and i wrote my first fanfic xD

that was in 2011? so i was 12, almost 13.

and i've been reading & writing fic ever since~

🐇 ⇢ do you prefer writing original characters, reader inserts, or a mix of both?

okay so this is a tough question

bc like

i love love love love love second person.

like.

*adore* it.

second person, present tense is my absolute fave, but past tense is good too. (i have written an entire sapphic little mermaid retelling [12k words i think] in second person. uh, it needs revisions but it's a full draft. i opened it it the other day and im still so proud of it uwu)

howEVER. outside of writing second person w/o ever explicitly naming the pov character i have not actually written a reader-insert? so for that reason alone i will have to say 'prefer writing oc's'

🧃 ⇢ share some personal lore you never posted about before

uhh

hm

i'm a chronic oversharer (mostly in the tags) so that's kind of tough!

ah! since my grandmother's memory issues started, i've been doing about half of the cooking (it's been a bit of a battle, as she keeps trying to do everything xD) and i've cooked a lot of new things this year!! i've gotten very good at cooking pork chops. which 🤔 now that i bring that up, i might make friday! or tonight, but they're still in the freezer, so...

🪐 ⇢ name three good things going on in your life right now

my grandmother's memory situation has improved a lot!! it's still not great, but like. strides ahead of where we were 7-8 months ago!

my anxiety has been much kinder to me this year <3 i've made some very lovely friends this year~

mmm, oH, my energy levels have been fantastic this year. i didn't realize just how bad they had gotten until i started these new meds, and now i'm just. <333 much better.

🍬 ⇢ post an unpopular opinion about a popular fandom character

hm

idk if i have any unpopular opinions...? i mean. i'm sure i must, but... nothing immediately comes to mind ^^;

🦷 ⇢ share some personal wisdom or a life hack you swear on

hmmm

recently been trying to get in the habit of summarizing what i want to do before i start writing. it makes the process much easier, if ik a bit about what i want to do before going in?

🦋 ⇢ share something that has been on your heart and mind lately

i am much better at being patient than i ever gave myself credit for in the past <3

🦴 ⇢ is there a piece of media that inspires your writing?

i can't think of one piece in particular, as the places i find inspiration are. all over the board?

🪲 ⇢ add 50 words to your current wip and share the paragraph here

picked a wip from my open tabs at random! funnily enough this is also the one i ended up doing for the emoji ask xD

it's also almost triple what this asked for but once i started writing i couldn't stop <3

He swallows, staring up at Tim. Jason has had plenty of practice reading people through a domino, but. He has no reference for the look Tim is giving him now. Only that it— That the feeling it gives him is… is new and strange. He has no name for it, the way his stomach feels fluttery and tight, his scalp and fingers tingling. His mouth opens—but all that escapes is a stuttery puff of air. That’s okay. He doesn’t know what he was going to say anyway. Tim hooks a gloved finger under his chin; tipping his face up. He leans in, slowly—so slow that Jason— There’s nothing keeping him there. He could run. Turn away. But he feels caught, feet anchored in place. Tim’s mouth touches his, and all thought leaves him. Jason has never been kissed before.

[ writers truth or dare ask game ]

[grigori77]

Critical Role, Campaign 3 Episode 44

Happy New Year ... and what a strangely subdued table ... ah, I see ... what the hell is THIS msd shite? The camera perspective is WEIRD and Ashley is giving me motion sickness ... Travis: "Why do you keep calling this a drift?" Sam: "Because it sounds cooler!"

Laura: "How did you get changed so fast?" Indeed ...

MERCH!!! Apparently ... XD

Matt: "I wanna feel a pocket too." Laura: "Well you can't! You should have done it before the shoe."

TLOVM is SO CLOSE!!! Yes it is! Squee!

So what's happening in the cellar? Solve the cliffhanger! Solve the cliffhanger!

Laudna:"FCG, SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!" FCG: "I like to do the sound effects for people."

Chetney wants to turn this into an orgy to make them uncomfortable ... FCG: "I could use my tongue!" The rest (ESPECIALLY Matt): "NO!!!"

Working out the mechanics of blocking the door ... Liam: "Well I think that's the SECOND step of the orgy."

Yes. 11 is better than 10. By ONE, in fact.

Matt leading them to how to jam the door with the rod through the handle ... why do I sense a trap?

Meanwhile Chetney is STILL preparing for sexy times. This episode is getting horny already ...

Frog? Huh?

Laudna's going to use Shapechange on Pate and turn him into a spider ... that is CREEPY ...

Half-elf ... handlebar moustache? That's impressive, I thought D&D elves couldn't grow facial hair.

Living whirlwind weirdness ... WTF is THAT shit?

Uh-oh ... they're busted ... that's not good ...

The spider's physical strength? For real? Negative 2? OH REALLY?!!! Pate! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Laudna's clearly getting a mental eyeball swirl ... Matt: "Make a Constitution saving throw." Laura: "Don't throw up on me." She does ... oh boy ...

FCG: "EVERYONE wants to talk. It can help your insides AND your outsides."

And they're determined to get fucking! Fearne's stripping off already ... here we go ... XD

Roll for initiative!

Sam: "Maybe this is a super horny air elemental."

The idea of FCG underlighting Fearne's underboob is sending me ... XD

ROLLIES!!!

Travis (as Chetney): "Taliesin we miss you!"

Liam: "Plan fucking? You want to fuck in initiative order?"

Orym: "Invite only!" Like a badass!

Travis: "Our son will see this one day!" Laura: "Don't say that!"

All the dirty talk is getting a bit much ad the group are still pretending the orgy I'd still happening while Liam us congratulating Matt on creating all that "DEEP LORE" in the last episode. Now NOBODY can keep a straight face ...

This whole combat is completely imploding because the innuendos have taken over and everybody's just pissing themselves ...

The Gil dice DID NOT fuck Marisha but it's too late to contest it now ...

Werewolf Chetney pornstar dialogue routine ... oh boy ...

I just cannot take this seriously any more, I swear ...

Travis (werewolf Chetney voice): "I'm a big bright shining star!"

Naked Fearne is doing an interpretive fire dance ... and holding her action ... Matt: "Make a deception check." Sam: "Danception!" Ashley rolls a 15.

The thing is CONFUSED. Ashley: "Then my work is done." Oh boy ...

FCG: "No touch no touch no touch!" The group descends into giggles.

I'm sorry, is Orym now BLUFFING?

Werewolf Chetney: "Can you just wait until the scene is done? I get performance anxiety."

Orym uses his vine attack from the sword to yznk the half-elf down the stairs ... yeah, here we go, then. Whoa, Ofym is stabbing him in the side of his gut while he's down and trying NOT to be lethal? Really?

Another one ... ooh, this one sounds more dangerous ... oh, Chetney AND Orym both take hits! Meanwhile she is weirded out by the scene in general ... of course she is!

No! Not a crossbow! Not good! Argh!

Matt's getting hits but keeps rolling so shitty on the damage! XD

So they ARE committed to fighting in a basement? Oh wait, here we go ... Imogen trying to bluff them out of this now ... this deception check is SO vital ... FUCK!!! Crap roll!

Yeah, that really didn't work ...

Imogen Misty Steps into the kitchen ... and Matt's goy ANOTHER combat map prepared!

Laudna: "My scene partner!"

Naked Laudna form of Dread! And Spiderclimb! That is WILD!!! And clearly MOST unsettling ... Mirror Images TOO?!!! Yeesh!

Matt: "This got really weird really fast!" Marisha: "Yes! It did!"

A naked werewolf leaping right at you WOULD be scary, wouldn't it?

Sam: "Whoo! THAT'S a blowjob!" Oof ...

Yay! Mage Armour for the win!

Half-elf: "What is even happening here?" Laura: "Indeed!" Werewolf Chetney: "Physical expression!"

Fearne: "We're done, we're done, we're done with the bit?" FCG: "That's a cut!"

She turns into a Clydesdale! Oh boy ... Laura: "How are you gonna get out?"

AND now she's wedged in what's left of the door ... oh boy ... this is just a MESS again ...

Sam: "I can change that!" Matt: "Players make the creative choices they choose!" Sam: "I don't want to subject our viewers to that image!"

Travis: "Vigorous masturbation! Just furious!"

Gods, it's all pure filth again ... I just can't ...

Liam, determined to bring the serious tone back in order to get them out if this mess now ... yes, Action Surge! Noyce! And halfling luck to reroll 1s is so sweet ... 24! Excellent! Acrobatic Orym for the win!

The bad guys are still so confused! XD

Athletics Check for a horse kick ... NO!!! Damn it, that would have been SO cool ...

Silvery Barbs! Ooof ... but it doesn't work, bugger ...

Matt: "Enemies can multiclass too!"

FCG: "Me? But I'm just the sweet cinematographer!"

Psychic Lance at BOTH OF THEM?!!! Oof ... SEVEN D6 of Psychic damage? Ow ...

Laudna's casting Bane! Cue Tom Hardy in the Bane mask muttering noises from half the group. XD Travis (as Bane): "Gravity has BETRAYED you!"

Turmoil! Nice! Fire sickle! Double nice! And the rogue is incapacitated ... oh this is gonna be NASTY ...

Marisha doing a weird Laudna nude shimmy action is hilarious ... XD

Wow, the Elementalist really doesn't have a clue what he's doing here, does he? FCG: "You're doing great!"

The situation in the kitchen is so much worse ...

Yes! The horse kick works this time! Nice! And they fall on FCG. Oof ...

Horse Fearne BURSTS through the door into the kitchen ... oh boy ... pure fucking chaos in here now ...

Chetney is NOT getting out of the way, he us STANDING HIS GROUND!!! Oh boy ... he is CONTESTING the horse! Ashley: "WHY?!!!" Chetney, WTF are you doing?

Horse Fearne is now going APESHIT.

The guy hasn't been touched. Sam: "Banishment!" Travis SCREAMS in gleeful astonishment and he's not the only one impressed by Sam's audacious BALLS.

Travis, describing what FCG sees when they come up: "Tits everywhere." XD He gets the jitters. Marisha: "Oh really?" FCG: "I'm going jnto the red, guys!"

Orym tries to dart under Fearne's legs but it's just TOO crazy for him ... or not? Oh, so Matt has to CHECK THE RULES now! Holy fuck, Liam sctually GETS THE PASS because the rules are on Orym's side! AND he gets a sweet attack on the rogue on the other side! HE GETS THE HDYWTDT!!! And then he just keeps on going into the front room!

It's the mage's turn ... he decides to just FLEE!!! Of course he does! XD but he has a parking gift with the orb! Lightning attack! Eep!

Ouch ... okay, Laudna is FUCKED UP, and Horse Fearne is destroyed, leaving only a naked Fearne stood in the middle of the kitchen!

Mage full clutzes CLEAN through the window and he's FUCKED UP but STILL manages to maintain concentration on the elemental?

Does Inflict Wound even work on a Wind creature? 6 D10 of Necrotic damage? Holy fuck Imogen you can be TERRIFYING sometimes.

Wait, Pate was still trapped inside the vortex? XD Anyway, he got YEETED ...

Laudna sends him BACK INTO the elemental and casts Shocking Grasp through him into it! Boss move! 10 Lightning damage! Fuck!

It is now SCARED of her and I am NOT surprised ...

Chetney jumps through the window and MAULS the mage in the alley while he's down ... oof ... that is NASTY. And he KILLS HIM!!! Of course he does ... AND he just chucks the corpse back through the window !

Oh fuck ... now the elemental is UNFETTERED!!! That may have just backfired on them ... yup, it's just flailing like crazy ...

Fuck! Imogen's now unconscious? Fuck ... oh! No! Phew ... whsy a fucking SAVE!!! Laudna saved her with Silvery Barbs!

FCG casts Spare the Dying on the mage. And they zre now in A murder scene in a residential area. Matt: "And that's where we're gonna take a break!"

Stay, run or hide? Who's good with religion? What? There's no time,this guy's coming back already! Ashton has the Hole! (Because it's funny.) They grab the mage and BOLT right out into the street.

Guy's back in the kitchen but they're already gone ... phew ...

Pate really enjoyed that, apparently. XD

Somehow Ashley rolling 26 saves the group's collective Stealth. XD SO far away from the old days ...

Ashley's just being Fearne being a horse again. XD Imogen is being a horse girl going along with it. It's really quire adorable.

Looking for parks, then. Or not? Now looking for DOCKS. A warehouse? Now I'm confused ...

Oh, right, for an interrogation. Yeah, makes sense. Yeah, maybe FCG isn't the best choice for this. Yeah, Imogen is better for this.

Uh-oh, he's waking up ... and now they've brained the poor bastard. FCG casts Spare the Dying again. Matt: "Just to be safe."

Matt: "Are you looking for anything in particular with this warehouse?" Laura: "Something shadowy and abandoned-y."

FCG: "We really don't wanna give him brain damage."

Lock picking! Okay, here we go, Chet, roll nice ... 25 on stealth ... AND 25 for the lock picking itself! Bloody hell, Travis!

Guy tries to bolt and Matt rolls SCARY well, everybody scrambles to stop him! Miniature initiative! It's chaos! Oh nice one Imogen! Perfect, that's it. Game over.

Wow, this guy is weirdly smug all of a sudden.

Imogen: "Oh yeah, well it's a porn-gardening business." FCG: "Trimmed Hole Productions."

Wow, dude is LOADED!!! Nice.

Laudna Banes him snd FCG casts Fast Friends. Chetney: "Suppose that's better than me pulling out his fingernails."

FCG: "We are sexual deviants, it's true." Chetney: "That's our LLC Name."

Laudna: "Do gods not like sex?" Imogen: "I think some if them do."

Fearne: "How do you make a fresh start?" By siding with Predathos and killing the gods, sounds like.

Oh fuck, they totally hot him to admit that they're working with Thull! Nice one, Imogen!

Who is this HIM?

Oh, so this is an enemy of Ira's ... an older elf gentleman? Intriguing ... seriously, who IS this guy they're working for?

Wait ... is he some Unseelie dude running that operation from the Feywild?

Creepy ruins! That's intriguing too!

Bracers of Defence ... so they're DEFINITELY gonna kill him, then? Ooof ...

Yeah, clearly these guys are seriously FUCKED in the head. They're just gonna doom the whole world if they get their way.

Orym: "What did Zephrah have to do with any of this?" Liam rolls HIGH for an insight check znd GETS A WHISPER! Sam: "From hardcore porn to hardcore lore!"

Yeah, no, this is NOT a conversation that they're actually having in front of this guy. I kind of got that already.

24 on a persuasion check ... Nice!

Imogen just TOTALLY gets to this guy through his hubris. AND bullying. Da'leth? Here we go. You total moron. XD

"You have terrible taste in friends, you know that?" FCG: "You just have to get to know them. Biblically."

Sam's flask this week is an FCG self portrait with ACTUAL TONGUE!!! Urgh ... XD

What to do with him, then? Oh, yeah ... the Grim Verity would be a good choice, they might have questions for him, message Ryn.

The mind-numbing task of working out where the hell they even are. Tricky ...

She literally just goes right over and KNOCKS ON THE DOOR!!! Ryn, you awesome lady ...

Oh, she knows who Da'leth is ... oh boy ...

Yes, destroy the keys ... The Malleus Keys? Oooooh ...

Ah, so the one in the Feywild is potentially in trouble ... well you're gonna be going there anyway, so ...

Yeah, this guy is just a complete MORON. XD

Cheesesteak. Yes. Sounds GORGEOUS. And Ryn continues to be amazing.

Laudna, you got A BUNCH of friends now!

Laura (exasperated): "Why am I rolling so many ones today?"

Only midafternoon? It feels SO LATE ...

STAT!!!

Ashton's response ... Matt: "Is where we'll pick up again next week!"

Travis: "You know who I blame for this? I blame the Mighty Nein for not finishing the Cerberus Assembly when they had the chance!"

We're really just going through a memory lane of all the crazy shit they went through in the first 2 campaigns now, huh? And Sam gets a sneaky little 4-Sided Dive plug in too ...

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

AAHHH hey bestie :')) is that a suit I see :')?

Oof lol

?

We ain't getting married now it's ina few days right xD

Ahh no, dress (not a suit)

So getting ready?

OOP WAIT NO

Y'ALL AIN'T IT LIKE THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT O.O XDD

AWWWW 2 AM :'DDDD FOR THE BAR-

AWWW AND SHE KNOWS :')))) 😭😭🥺❤️❤️🥰

AAAAAHHHHHHH Y'ALL THEMMMMM :'DDDDD!!!

I love them so much guys 😭😭😭❤️🥰🥰🥰🥰

Aww oope :'( :')?

:'o she didn't take it did she :')?

Awww :')?

Good honey, that's so good <33

AWW YEAHH LIKE YOU HELPED DR. MURPHY 😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️🥺🥰

Or were there for or whatever

AWWWW yeahh :'))

Yeah Glassman you got this :'D x'D

AWW y'alllll :'))

I hope we see a flash forward next episode where she's doing well <33

Although y'all I'm scared because there's 7 minutes left and there's been no cliffhanger yet xd

Just thought of a heartbreaking idea that it could be for a dramatic finale that it better not be lol

AAAAHHHHH WEDDING TIME

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH 🥰😭😭😭😭❤️🥰🥰🥺🥺🥰

Awwww those are such sweet vows :')))

Lol my brother heard my squeaking o.o (little high pitched scream since I'm trying to be quiet xD) XDD

They're so cute y'all stop 😭

Friendly reminder she loves musical theatre 😌😌

AAAAHHHHHHH :'DDD :'))

Everyone showing up here at 2 am xD but also, doing it for them :'DD

LOL yeah girl xD

Because wait yeah they had to tell them all so they could get there 💀 xD

AWWW honeyyy :')))

Also

Hi Jerome 🥰🥰!!

Sorry (not) saw him anyway :'))

AAAAHHHHHH 🥺🥺🥰😭😭😭❤️🥰

Aww LOL xD :'))

That is kinda y'all's thing though :'))

AWWWW AAHHHHHH JUST NOTICED LIM'S OFFICIATING :'DDDD 🥰🥰😭😭😭😭❤️❤️🥺🥰🥰🥰

AWWW and Shaun and Lea have the rings :')) they're probably the best ones for it <3333

Just gonna watch for a second now

AAAAHAGHHHHHHHHHHGHH

AAWWW

Those g's were because I wasn't looking lol just glanced at the A lol

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH Y'ALL

Anyway backlog there: "now smooch" AWW xDD 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥺🥺❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😭🥰🥰

AAAAAHHHHHHH Y'ALLL WHOOOOO THEY'RE MARRIED 😭😭😭😭🥺❤️❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰🥰

AYYYY O.O OKAY DOM?? OKAY DOM GO OFF :OO :DDD

AYYY JORDAN TOOOO WHOOO YEAH GIRL GO OFF :DDD

AYYY they're eating it up :')))

AWWWW stoppp they look so happy :'DD

AWWW y'alll I love them so much 🥰🥺🥺🥺🥰🥰❤️

Ayyy they're slaying :'D

Being a little bittersweet about Jasher right now but loving the wedding <333 :'( :'))

OOP o.o y'all gonna kiss at their wedding 👀 :O?

AYYYY OOPP O.O Okay y'all go off :D

O O P Jordan has feelings about that o.o 😳👀

Girl I know you him and Perez are always weird almost off and on situationships but let the man chill xD

Put em in a quadruple lol I wanna see it

Aww y'all :'))

Still Tequila Stat :'DD

Aww yeah <33

PHEWW they're taking her :'DD

That's so good :'))) <333

OOP

I

Uh

w h a t

Oh no- he doesn't want that does he :((

OOPE OH NO

No

No y'all :'((

Y'ALL 😭😭

This is why I don't trust this show o.o 😭😭😭😭😭💔💔

Y'all what the frick xdd

I better not have to see it, but also I deserve what closure xdd especially if we see a flash forward to after his death yk xd?

And I'm more talking about his funeral than death but

ALSO WHY ARE YOU TELLING HIM NOW 😭😭😭

Y'alllll :'((( xdd

Oop hey guys o.o xdd

Oop sldjhds is that Jordan xD

Probably not lol probably like their ride- ? Oh yup lol

Was confused by the name for a second xD

OOHP Okay girl o.o go off xD

Hmm?

Ay? AY okay 👀👀?

Awww y'all :')) :'D

I'm happy for you guys :'))

Ope

Ahh nah

Ohhh nah oh no oh heck nah

NAHHHHH

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T FEEL GOOD

GIRL'S GOING OUT LIKE HER FIRST LOVE

Maybe not first BUT MY POINT IS MELENDEZ xdd 😭😭😭💔😳

Nahh nah nah

NAHHHH

HE BETTER BE FEELING A PULSE RIGHT NOW O.O 😳😤😤 IK HE'S JUST CHECKING BUT HIM HAVING TO FEEL FOR ONE 😭-

Y'all what's with you and late night spontaneous weddings xDD (as I was gonna say earlier), interrupted by a tragic event 😐😑

Imagine bro thinks he drugged her xD

OOP okay o.o

Kinda looked like he was just gonna leave for a second xD I know he wouldn't but yk lol

This guy Amir is probably way confused

Also an ambulance would be able to speed but would also have to get here so eh I get it xD

AUAGHHH NOOOO Y'ALLL 😭😭

Ending just like season 6 😭 xd except at least we've got one more episode left

Y'ALLL I'M STRESSING

Of course that's the end xd

At least they're setting me free from more torture lol

Y'all I can't 😐

Why couldn't their headline making finale be because everyone is good and happy and everything after some drama ends up fine 😭😭😭😭💔💔💔😤❤️🥺

It better be xdd

Y'all I love this show so much 😭😭😭😭💔💔🥺❤️🥰

But they're so cruel to me xD

Nah I still love it <333

[alphawave-writes]

Evil actions and good intentions chapter 12: Earthshine

Synopsis: The newly reformed Overwatch and its new recruits, Harold Winston and Sigma, 

Read it here on find it on AO3. You guys can find me on twitter or in my Sigma/Harold discord server. If you want to support me, buy me a ko-fi or commission a work from me

-

Harold never thought he’d be back here, but here he is, staring at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center again. It hasn’t changed all that much since the last time he saw it, back when he was to board Chang’e 50 to get back up to the moon. It gives him a strange sense of nostalgia as he watches this new, smaller spacecraft, aglow with a million lights, engineers and technicians preparing it for its flight. News crews are all here with their cameras pointing at the spacecraft, waiting on bated breath for the moment it launches up into the sky and disappears from sight. Everywhere Harold looks, everybody is talking about it. The world’s first lunar rescue mission. A race against time. A historic moment in the making.

And he has to go up there and literally steal the spacecraft for himself, the very man they think is trapped on the moon.

As people watch Hou Yi 1 get prepared, Harold sneaks in through the engineer side. He taps at his temple, briefly getting an x-ray glimpse at everybody else’s position. Genji and Symmetra are making their preparations at the side of the building while Tracer and Lucio are in the crowd, hiding in plain sight. Brigitte and Reinhardt and Lucio are waiting on the airship with Winston, ready to help in the charge if needed. That just leaves him and Siebren to find a way onto the spacecraft.

Harold tugs uncomfortably at the cap on his head. “I hate hats,” he grumbles.

“I know you don’t like hats, but you have to keep it together. We cannot afford to blow our cover now.”

For the purposes of infiltration, Siebren and Harold had to get disguises. For Harold, all it took was a change in his hairstyle, but for Siebren they had to go one step further. Apparently, Mei had a lot of fun putting make-up on Siebren, hiding his wrinkles and making him look younger. A cheap wig was considered, but it was ultimately decided that he looked less like himself with his bald head. Siebren, of course, had no idea how to respond to such a comment.

“Sigma, are you there?” Harold hears Winston’s voice crackle from his ear piece.

“Sigma, present and in position.”

“Good. Charon?”

Harold can’t help but smile a little. The codename is probably unnecessary, but he has to admit, he can see why Siebren’s so attached to his own. It’s another life to breathe beneath his skin. Another little mask to hide behind. “Charon here, with Sigma,” he said.

“Everybody is in position,” Winston says.” If all goes absolutely well, you might be able to get into the spacecraft without any trouble, but the chances of that are unlikely at best. Most likely, you will have to fight some guards off. We still don’t know what Talon has in store.”

“Talon has resources, but even they have difficulty in acquiring resources when it comes to space travel,” Siebren says. “I only rescued Har—Charon on their behalf because they managed to scrounge up the necessary parts for an abandoned spacecraft and secure a private air yard, and apparently that took well over a year’s worth of effort. I very much doubt they have the resources to get up to the moon by themselves. They need this mission to go smoothly.”

Winston hums in thought. “Symmetra, do you think Lucheng might have connections to Vishkar or Talon?”

“I cannot speak for Talon, but I can assure you that we have petitioned to collaborate with Lucheng Interstellar on numerous occasions, and each time we have been turned down. They have been unwilling to see the true potential of hard light in space colonization.”

“So the answer is no,” Winston says.

Satya lets out a quiet sigh before saying, “Correct. There are currently no ties between Lucheng and Vishkar. None that I am aware of.”

“Ladies and Gents, the show is starting,” Tracer announces. “Everybody ready? We gotta time this distraction perfectly, and then the show is on!”

All around him, men and women and omnics in identical uniforms do their final checks on Hou Yi 1. Each person is designated one specific thing on the spacecraft to double-check. Nobody seemed to glance twice at Harold or Siebren, to his relief. Disguising themselves as Vishkar guards was definitely a stroke of genius on his part, even if he has to force himself to wear a hat throughout the ordeal.

Harold’s eyes catch on the walkway above him, where the astronauts will enter. Through the ear pieces, Harold can hear a smattering of polite clapping. In the reflection of the glass, he can see Lucheng Interstellar’s presentation for himself, projecting through the news cameras. Within seconds he sees a projected portrait of his younger self. The CEO was speaking now, making some grand speech. Unlike last time, neither Moira nor Sanjay Korpal could be seen behind him. Instead, it was the small crew of astronauts chosen to pilot the space craft.

His eyesight still wasn’t that good even with the nanobots partially correcting his vision, but he could vaguely make out the astronauts’ faces. They were all young, wide-eyed Chinese men and women who looked like they’d rather be anywhere but at the press conference. It wasn’t too different from his own first mission up to the moon, nervous as hell, just waiting for everything to hurry up.

By Harold’s side, Siebren frowns deeply.

“What’s wrong?” Harold asks.

“I don’t have a good feeling about this,” he murmured. “Something is wrong.”

Harold is about to open his mouth to ask how, but then he heard a terrifying sound. It isthe noise of the universe, the gaping maw before the black hole threatening to swallow the world whole, the calm piano arpeggios before the storm. He stares at Siebren wide-eyed, lips tight in morbid understanding.

And then he hears the screams.

Behind him, he sees the omnic workers jolt and jitter, their eyes shining red in warning. They grab the workers and beat them up or throw them away. Siebren begins to float up, toeing away his shoes, hyperspheres forming in his hands before he flings them at the nearest omnic. Almost immediately, the omnics all turn not to Siebren but to Harold himself, red lights sparkling with resolution.

“Jade Hare…” they say in unison.

Harold takes the jet injector out from its hiding place, switches it on, and pulls the trigger. Bolts of lightning flash and flicker, zapping at all the omnics who dare come close, making them fall down one by one. With a grunt, Harold tosses his hat away and runs away before the cameras can pick up his face.

“Change of plans,” Harold calls into the communicator. “Omnics are on us. We have to break for the ship now.”

“We’re on our way,” Winston cries. “Everyone, they’re on the attack. Change to plan B: we have to hijack the spacecraft.”

“I should be able to hack into the computer systems from here, but I’ll need help,” Symmetra says.

“I will watch her back,” Genji says.

“People haven’t noticed yet, but the omnics are acting real fishy. Me and Lucio’ll cause a distraction, Tracer style,” Tracer says.

Harold almost doesn’t see the omnic rushing straight at him, but it explodes before his eyes with a well-placed volley by Siebren. His lips curl into a frown. “Pay attention,” Siebren says.

“I will, don’t worry,” Harold says.

As he runs, he shrugs the Vishkar uniform off to reveal the Overwatch uniform underneath. With a grunt, Harold connected the jet injector to his backpack, sighing when he felt the nanobots begin to activate, flowing out of his veins, into the backpack and filling the vial of the jet injector. Siebren shrugged his own uniform out, the heavier plates of his armour floating over his shoulders.

There’s a smaller contingent of omnic guards in front of them. They outnumber them, but Siebren summons a barrier in front of them to block the bullets. Harold runs forward, letting the lightning rip through their systems while Siebren launches volleys of hyperspheres as cover fire. When a bullet grazes Siebren’s armour and draws blood, Harold switches the mode of the jet injector and points the trigger at Siebren, a stream of nanobots healing Siebren’s wound in an instant.

When the final omnic guard falls to its knees, Harold’s earpiece crackles again. “We’re on-route to your position,” Winston cries.

“The press sure is loving us,” Tracer cries. The sounds of gunfire and more screams can faintly be heard. Some up-tempo nu-techno song is playing faintly in the background.

“The spotlight loves us as well,” Lucio laughs.

“Where do we go, champ?” Harold asks Winston.

“You’ll have to go to the main hall and backstage. The stairs up to the spacecraft is there.” The comms crackles off.

“Let’s hope this distraction goes as planned,” Siebren grumbles to himself. “This mission is ruined if people realise who you are.”

“They won’t,” Harold says as his eyes begin to glow gold. “I’m not the man I used to be.”

“No,” Siebren laughs. “You’ve got just the right amount of him.”

They enter the building and go through the winding hallways of the staff areas. It’s fortunately empty, apart from the few fleeing staff members, but they are too busy escaping to give them any heed. When they get to the end, Siebren uses his powers to shove the doors open. Harold stops in his tracks at the sight before him. Everybody has already fled, leaving only Tracer, Lucio, and their attackers. Reaper and Moira are here with an army of omnics supporting them, launching their own offensive. The giant screen that used to show Harold’s younger face now displays a very familiar sugar skull icon.

It’s a nightmare come true. Talon is here.

Tracer and Lucio are fast, trying their hardest to fight, but no matter how many hits they can dish out, it all gets healed up in an instance by Moira’s biotic orb or by Reaper’s abnormal healing. But Reaper and Moira are too slow in trying to fight them. It’s literally a battle of speed versus attrition.

“We have to help them,” Harold says.

“We can’t. We don’t have much time.”

Above their heads is a few smaller screens, each connected to a different news channel. On the corner of each of the screens is a countdown for the spacecraft’s imminent launch. One by one, the countdown decreases dramatically from one hour to ten minutes. On screen, the astronauts are hurriedly putting on their spacesuits, making their hasty final checks.

In front of him, Tracer and Lucio are slowing down, losing their speed. Reaper and Moira also look tired, but not nearly tired enough. Moira’s blackened hand reaches out for Lucio, sapping the life away from him. They’re distracted. He can slip past, get to the spacecraft, and finish the mission. This will all be for nothing if Harold doesn’t get on the spacecraft. But he also wants to help them. He sees Siebren’s jaw clench, the same thought going through his head.

“I’ll see you in hell,” Reaper growls, pointing a shotgun square at Lucio’s face.

The blast goes off but Lucio is still standing and alive. Siebren is in front of him, absorbing the energy round and dispersing them into dust. Harold quickly moves to join him, a small stream of nanobots healing Lucio before he flicks the gun back to attack mode as Tracer escorts Lucio out. In the corner of his eye he sees Siebren give a fleeting little smile before staring down his new foes. Harold does his best not to smile too wide.

“You two have been a real pain on my backside,” Reaper growls.

“Dr. Winston,” Moira sneers. “I shouldn’t be surprised you have picked an organization such as Overwatch to protect you, but I am surprised with you, Sigma. I thought you were more intelligent than that.”

“The purpose of my work was always to build a better future,” Siebren declares. “Giving myself up to this cause is not injudicious.”

“And you think you did not have a purpose with Talon? We saw who you really are, that is why we set you free. We’ve cultivated your mind, your abilities. Overwatch has undermined brilliance in the past, and they will do it again. It’s a place of stagnation, where great minds go to die. Do you honestly think a change of leaders will not bring up the same issues?”

Siebren doesn’t speak, the hyperspheres flickering slightly, growing darker. His lips dip for just a second.

“You don’t belong with them. You belong in a different environment, where you can grow without restriction, where no one can judge you for the way that you think.” She glances coldly at Harold. “Where you are not led astray by those who don’t know what your best interests truly are.”

Harold can hear the hitch in Siebren’s throat, quiet but unmistakable. He feels those ocean blue eyes upon his body, breaking down his body molecule by molecule, trying to find the nonexistent needle in the haystack. He doesn’t dare turn his head and give Siebren the benefit of the doubt. He can’t hesitate now. All he can do is keep his weapon trained on Reaper and Moira.

“Dr. Winston doesn’t speak because he knows it’s the truth,” Moira continues. “He’s using you. You just don’t realise it.”

“And you didn’t use me?” Siebren spits.

“Perhaps, but we never mislead you. We’ve always wanted to help you develop your research and your abilities.” Moira turns to Harold. “Can you say the same, Dr. Winston?”

“All you care about is what he can do, not the person himself. You don’t care about his well-being. You don’t care about how he feels about this violence.”

“You’re not answering the question,” Moira smirks. “Might as well be an admission of your guilt.”

“And let you twist my words even more?” Harold asks.

Harold turns his head just a bit only to find Siebren stare blankly in front of him. He’s glancing between Moira and Harold, eyes wide, a myriad of emotions flickering and scintillating. Then, they narrow, and those ocean blue eyes turn cold as ice. With a wave of his hand, he lowers the barrier and floats forward.

“Siebren?”

He does not react as he joins Reaper and Moira’s side, his head ducked in submission. Moira’s smile is wide, a curious mix between glee and cruelty. Siebren only spares a single knowing glance in Harold’s direction. Harold’s eyes widen.

“Perhaps we should restart your mental conditioning. For now, I’ll let you decide if you want to fight or not.”

“I think I will fight,” Siebren utters, his expression growing cruel, “but not for you!”

Siebren raises his hand and breaks the shackles of gravity, taking him and Reaper and Moira high in the air. He’s floating above them, the universe’s song playing for deaf ears, the back of his head glowing as he summons the hyperspheres into fruition. One hits Reaper in the side while the other barely misses Moira. Siebren grits his teeth as he slams their bodies down, but they both turn into mist just before they land. Siebren floats down to the ground beside Harold, summoning the barrier once again as a volley of shotgun pellets flies.

Moira tries to go forward, but electricity crackles from Harold’s jet injector, making her keep her distance. Reaper rushes forward, looking for an angle, but Siebren flickers the barrier in and out, tilting gravity to keep them away.

From the main entrance Harold hears the heavy thud of Reinhardt’s armoured footsteps approaching. Reaper turns to Moira, his voice tinged with annoyance. “We can’t stay.”

“Very well,” Moira huffs, and the two of them disappear in a cloud of smoke. Siebren tries to chase after them, but it’s far too late. They are gone without a trace. There’s no way they can catch them now.

Harold glances up at the countdown. Five minutes left. “We have to get to the spacecraft quick!”

Siebren grumbles to himself but nods sharply. He has stopped floating now, bare feet running on the floor as they head backstage and up the staircase. When they get to the top floor, the elevator next to them chimes. Winston, Genji, and Symmetra are there, rushing out behind them. There’s a new wave of Horizon guards in front of them, but together they cut them down to size easily.

“What’s the situation?” Harold asks.

“Reinhardt and Brigitte are at the front, distracting everybody,” Winston says. “Echo tried to hack into the spacecraft but she couldn’t. Athena tried as well and failed. We’ll have to launch it manually.”

“You know that’s impossible for Gen IV Lunar spacecrafts. I can’t fly it with Siebren alone.”

“That’s why I am coming along,” Winston says. “We’ll need all hands on deck.”

“You will require my assistance as well,” Symmetra adds. “I will not allow any more chaos or disruptions to this plan.”

“I’ll make sure no one gets into the spacecraft,” Genji says.

“But we need to get into the spacecraft ourselves and make sure they don’t activate the emergency kill switch from the control tower,” Harold says.

“Then we’ll just have to make sure we’re quick enough that they can’t activate it,” Siebren says.

They run through the hallway and into a giant room lined with glass windows. The astronauts are there, waving to the cameras but they stop in their tracks when they see them. They shout their orders in Mandarin, but Siebren curls his fingers and suspends them in the air like they’re ragdolls. They can’t do anything but speak, a litany of foul words escaping their mouths. “Bàoqiàn,” Harold smiles nervously as he rushes forward.

From the room he walks down the small runway to the spacecraft. In front of him he can see the interior of the spacecraft, which should lead up to the payload, where he can pilot with Siebren. For a moment, time is in slow motion as the lights of a thousand cameras flash onto him. As he turns his head to the glass walls, he sees his reflection staring back at him. Except it’s not really his reflection. There’s a trace of the man the public know as Harold Winston, but it’s overshadowed by someone else. A man he knows has been residing in his bones for decades. It is this man that is control, this hero that lives and breathes strength. The real Harold Winston.

He heads inside and makes his way to the payload area, getting into the front seat. The buttons and dials and switches are second nature to him, his hands moving fluidly as he gets everything prepared.

Outside he hears the sounds of a fight erupting, of bullets and blades dancing in a deadly ballet. Winston comes in soon, then Symmetra, taking their positions near the rear. Faintly, Harold hears Reinhardt’s sharp laugh of joy, and the unmistakable sound of a mace hitting a metal body.

“Where’s Sigma?” Winston asks.

Harold’s about to ask the same question when suddenly the controls all turn red. “Get him in here now! They’re already starting the emergency kill switch.”

“The guards have him trapped!” Symmetra calls. “We have to go now.”

“I literally can’t survive the trip without him. The G-force will kill me! We need him here!” Harold taps at his communicator. “Sig, you need to get yourself over here.”

“I’m…trying!” There’s a loud huff, as Siebren scrambles in, shutting the door behind him. There are rhythmic thumps as people try to hit and shoot at the door, but it remains stable. He quickly flies over to the seat next to Harold, strapping himself in. His fingers dance over the dashboard, his expression stoic in thought. “Engine temperatures?”

“We don’t have time,” Harold says. “We have to launch now before the emergency kill switch grounds us for good.”

Siebren begins to go through the motions, but is repeatedly stopped by a klaxon alarm. “It’s too late,” Siebren grumbles. “There’s nothing here that can stop it. We’ve failed.”

Just as Siebren says this, the red screen suddenly flickers in and out. In its place, a purple sugar skull appears. From Harold’s communicator, Harold hears a nasally, abrasive laugh. From the way Siebren jumps in his seat, it seems he’s the only one who can hear it.

“Ground Control to Major Tom. You really made the grade here.”

“Sombra?” Harold gasps.

“What? You thought I wouldn’t help you out? Shame, Dr. Winston, shame. Hey, can I call you Harold? Harry? I like the ring of Harry.”

The sugar skull symbol fades and the controls are back to normal. The roar of the engines is almost deafening. A computerized voice is counting down from twenty. Amidst the noise Harold laughs shrilly in relief.

“I’ll let you call me whatever you want if you can get us to the moon and back. I assume you want a favour after this?”

“Perhaps,” Sombra says, in a voice that made it very clear what her true intentions are, “but way later. You wanna pay me back now? Get back down alive and take some photos for me. Oh, and keep Sigma alive too.”

Harold turns to Siebren and smirks confidently. From his vantage point he can see everybody watches the spacecraft in morbid fascination. The countdown is ticking down. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven.

“Ready to head back to the stars?” Siebren asks.

Five. Four. Three.

“You know what?” Harold says.

Two. One.

“I think I finally am.”

The spacecraft rattles and bobs. The engine gushes as it propels them upwards towards the sky. As they break through the atmosphere, the gravity engines kick in, the outer shell breaking away. As they get higher, the G-force gets almost overwhelming for Harold but he sees the plate behind Siebren’s head glow as he keeps the gravitational forces at bay. But even with Siebren’s help, it’s still a bit too much for his fragile body. He gets a glimpse of the Earth, wide and blue and glorious, and is able to give a weak smile before he falls unconscious.

When Harold finally wakes up, the spacecraft is already docking itself in Sector 06, right next to the Observatory. By his side, everybody else are preparing for their departure. He’s groggy, but it quickly fades away when he sees the Earth, once so near, now far away. Winston approaches him, nervous but trying his best not to appear it.

“We’re here,” he says.

Harold lets out a small smile as he grasps him tenderly on the shoulder. “No,” Harold replies. “We’re back home.”

They go through the standard decontamination process—Harold first, followed by Siebren, Symmetra, and finally Winston, who took the time to explain the process to her. The rooms are fortunately still sealed properly, as intel suggested. The number pad for many of the doors are malfunctioning and damaged, but the one to the Observatory still works. Harold places his hand on the scanner, and it opens with an audible swish.

Harold can’t help but gasp as he takes in the sight. It’s almost pristine, like it hasn’t changed at all. The Observatory doors are slightly open, the telescope facing directly at the Earth. While Winston shows Symmetra the telescope, Harold moves further ahead. Far on the other side, Harold’s office sits untouched, fake plants still green as ever, files in the same place he left them all these years ago. He walks over to his desk, his fingers catching on the framed photograph of himself and a baby Winston. His thumb trails over his younger face. He looked so innocent and naïve back then.

“I can’t even recognize myself,” he whispers.

“Harold?” Siebren asks.

He shakes his head lightly and places the photograph down. “Sorry. It’s just…it’s a lot. Being back here.”

“In a good way, or a bad way?”

“In a lot of different ways,” Harold utters. “This place was my home away from home, the stepping stone paving the way for the future of space travel. It’s tragic, seeing it all in ruins like this.”

“You are not the only one. I always thought this place was beautiful, and it still is, but it’s now so cold and empty. A husk of its former self.”

It’s more than that, Harold thinks, but if he says that out loud, Siebren will expect clarification, and Harold doesn’t think he can give Siebren clarification. He takes his old files and tucks them under his arm. The four of them meet up and they head out of the Observatory.

As they walk through the empty hallways, Harold can hear the faint noises of the apes and chimps, muttering behind closed doors. Outside the Observatory, he sees the extent of the rebellion’s destruction. Appliances in the Commissary are broken and rifled through, the peanut butter jars empty and smashed onto the ground. Furniture blocks many of the doors to the other sectors, while most of the personal rooms for the scientists have had their number pads smashed beyond repair.

He doesn’t know how to feel about seeing all this. He thought he was prepared, but it’s another thing altogether to see the gorilla paw prints on the door to Hammond’s room, schematics lying haphazardly on the floor. If he was any weaker than he was, he might cry, but he’s got a mission to complete and loved ones to support him. His hand reaches for Winston’s, squeezing softly.

“Where do we need to go?” Symmetra asks.

“The Hangar,” Harold says. “We need to shut down all the data and monitoring systems, so we need to get to the servers. From the Hangar, we can get there easily enough.”

“A little bit too late for that,” a voice says.

In the Training Facility, smiling cruelly, is a man that looks almost identical to Harold himself, but with some differences. Their clothes are the typical Horizon uniform with a lab coat on top, the sleeves rolled above their elbows—a complete contrast to Harold’s own Overwatch uniform. Their hair is in a similar haircut but slightly darker, giving a salt and pepper look. A rectangular pair of glasses framed the imposter’s face, no cybernetic implants or scars or tubes to wreak havoc over his skin. Even the eye colour was wrong, a dark blue rather than Harold's dark brown eyes. It’s like someone has used an age filter on a younger picture of Harold. This imposter is too clean, too perfect, but it's not an omnic or a robot. Only a human could ever smile like that, condescending and innocent all at the same time.

Harold doesn’t even hesitate raising his jet injector at the imposter, who immediately throws their hands up. He’s confused as to their weird actions, until he sees it. A camera, hidden in the corner of the room, red light blinking on and recording.

No, not just recording. Broadcasting. Thousands, if not millions, are probably watching this right now.

“Who are you?” Harold seethes.

The imposter smiles. “I’m Dr. Harold Winston,” he says, “and I believe you have been trying to steal my work, you imposter.”

Wide eyes fall on Harold's body but he ignores them all. He stares at his mirror image, an unspeakable rage clamming his throat shut, golden eyes staring down fake blue eyes.

[mxliv-oftheendless]

Twist of Fate, Chapter 6

Yeah, yeah, I know I left y’all on ANOTHER cliffhanger last time XD that’s the last one, I promise. Buckle up, because things happen this chapter! Tagging @cosmicrealmofkissteria and @tanookiroxx as always. Enjoy!

In which Starchild learns something Tomaziel has been hiding from him...

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Starchild had to stop and stare at Tomaziel as he moved through a training course. Lightning crackled all around his hands and his body had a faint blue glow. His movements were practiced, yet Starchild could tell he was throwing himself wholeheartedly into it. He threw and directed his lightning, knocking down targets one after the other. He was moving his whole body, dodging and twisting and jumping.

For some reason, Starchild just couldn’t stop staring. He was dumbfounded, watching him almost in awe. He had never seen Tomaziel fight before; he didn’t seem the type to even like fighting. Perhaps learning combat was part of how he was learning to control his lightning. But he looked… and Starchild couldn’t believe he was thinking this… he looked incredibly attractive. The way his black hair whipped around his face, which was drawn into a look of intense concentration, and the way his body bent and moved was the most captivating thing Starchild had ever seen.

Suddenly he wondered what it would be like to kiss Tomaziel, to press his lips to Tomaziel’s black ones. Would they be soft? They looked soft. How good would the kiss be? Had Tomaziel ever kissed anyone before?

There was a crack of lightning and Starchild suddenly realized a lightning bolt was flying straight at him. He yelped and jumped out of the way, just in time for it to pass him and hit the wall.

“Oh no!” came a panicked shout, and he turned to see Tomaziel looking at him with a mortified look. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea you were there. I just—”

The moment suddenly struck Starchild as wildly funny, and he smiled and began to laugh. He looked up at the considerable burn mark on the wall. “Could you imagine what would have happened if that hit me?” he guffawed, gesturing to the burn mark. “It would have singed all my hair off!”

Tomaziel looked incredibly confused. “Why are you laughing when I almost hit you?”

“I don’t know!” Starchild laughed, shrugging. He calmed down and sighed. “But it’s fine. I jumped out of the way in time. So, what brings you here? I thought you were making preparations for that ball.”

“I was; we were able to finish making initial plans rather quickly, so I decided to come here to practice. How, er, how much of it did you see?”

“I saw quite a bit,” Starchild replied, smiling. “You were doing very well.”

A faint blue tint appeared on Tomaziel’s cheeks, and oh merciful Gods how was it so adorable? “Thank you… Do you know combat, Starchild?”

“I do,” he nodded. “In fact, that was why I came down here; I haven’t exercised in a while.”

“Oh.” Tomaziel quickly moved to the side and picked up a towel off a nearby bench to wipe his face. “Be my guest.”

Starchild stepped to the side to stretch out a little first. Lucky for him the outfit he wore was easy to move in. He moved to the center of the room and took a deep breath. He blew it out, and looked over his shoulder. “How does it start?”

“Oh, let me,” Tomaziel went over to a panel on the wall and placed his hand on it. The panel glowed an icy blue.

The targets began to move, and Starchild got into a fighting stance and focused. Clear your mind, leave all your worries and thoughts at the door… focus. Concentrate. His body began to glow purple as he felt his powers rushing through his veins.

He opened his eyes just in time for a target to swing at him, and released a Starbeam. It hit the target right in the center. And with that, he launched himself into the simulation, rolling and diving and attacking. Purple energy burst from his fists, hitting the targets and training dummies. His mind forgot to focus on anything else, in favor of getting through the course. He punched and kicked and shot, running through the training simulation fairly quickly. It felt good to move around like this.

Finally, he flew up into the air and conjured up three small purple stars. The stars connected together to form an upside-down triangle, and it glowed brightly with purple energy. He aimed it at the last remaining target and opened his mouth. A single, loud musical note burst from his throat, and it pushed a pillar of energy from the purple triangle straight at the target. It exploded into fragments, scattering along the floor.

Smiling, Starchild floated back down to the ground and wiped sweat from his brow. He felt much calmer now; his torrent of emotions had settled.

When he turned, he almost laughed. Tomaziel was staring at him completely dumbfounded. His look was almost awestruck. Starchild let himself grin. “So, how did I do?”

Tomaziel blinked. “How—How did you do?” he repeated. “That was… incredible!”

Starchild chuckled modestly. “I wouldn’t say that…”

“No, really! Those targets are made of the strongest metal in our galaxy. No one’s ever been able to destroy them like you destroyed that one!”

Glancing down at the fragments of burnt metal, Starchild laughed sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to do that… sometimes I get overexcited.”

“No, it was incredible! And the way you used your voice… I’ve never heard of anyone using their voice like that before.”

“If I sing loud enough, I can create deep fissures in rock,” Starchild said as he went to sit down on the bench. “I’ve done it before.”

“I wish I could have seen that… Here.” Tomaziel went to hand him a cloth. “So you can wipe the sweat off your face.”

Smiling, Starchild extended his hand. “Thank you,”

But when his fingers touched Tomaziel’s as he took hold of the cloth, he froze.

There it was again; the static shock. It sent Starchild’s heart racing, because this time it couldn’t have been Tomaziel’s lightning being out of control. Or had it just been that?

“Is everything all right?”

Starchild blinked and realized he’d been staring at Tomaziel without saying a word. “U-Uh…” He wanted to tell him—all of a sudden he so wanted to tell him. But how could he? What would happen next? What if it had just been a slip in Tomaziel’s control?

“Tomaziel,” oh Gods, why did he want to say his name over and over and over again, “could you… could I try something?”

He pulled his hand away, and Tomaziel moved to sit down beside him. “What is it?”

Starchild used the pause he’d given himself to wipe sweat off his face to gather up his courage. He set down the rag and turned to Tomaziel. “Could you touch my hand?” He held it out.

Tomaziel looked down at his hand. “Touch your hand?” he repeated. Was it his imagination, or was Tomaziel blushing?

He nodded, trying not to show how nervous he was. “Yes,”

There was a pregnant pause. Then Tomaziel lifted his hand to reach out for Starchild’s. For a moment, he faltered. But then his hand lowered, until they met.

And there it was yet again; the jolt of electricity. Starchild’s hand tingled and his heart raced even faster. This definitely wasn’t a slip of control.

“Tomaziel,” his voice had gone quiet. He looked up, into the aide’s dark eyes. “Are you… attracted to me?”

“I-I…” Tomaziel stared back at him. “… I don’t know if I should say it…”

Oh, but he looked like he wanted to. “Say it,” Starchild whispered. “Please… I want to know.”

“I… Yes… Yes, I am. I…” Tomaziel took his hand away before Starchild could stop him. “I know I shouldn’t be, and that it would never work between us, but… but I am. I just can’t help it. I—”

Without warning, Starchild suddenly grabbed him and pulled him forward. But a millisecond before their lips touched, his mind screeched to a halt and he froze. For a moment that seemed to last forever, they were completely still, just the shortest of distances between them.

Starchild’s mind was whirling. Every relationship he’d ever had started with a kiss, deepening to more passionate ones. It was what he’d been about to do, overwhelmed by Tomaziel saying he was attracted to him and this static shock he kept feeling whenever they touched really being the Spark and the sudden realization that he liked Tomaziel back and the sudden, intense desire to kiss him… but then he froze, forcing himself to stop. He was moving too fast. He had always gone too fast. Not this time… this time he wanted it to be different.

“… What’s happening?” Tomaziel said aloud. His voice was quiet.

“I… Tomaziel…” oh, it felt so right to say his name. “I don’t know… but if you would have me… we could figure it out together.”

He pulled away and let him go so he could think. After so many years, all the times he’d been left heartbroken… could this be it? He almost didn’t want to believe it.

“You…” he glanced up to see Tomaziel had a shocked look on his face. “You are attracted to me too?”

Starchild nodded. “Yes. Would you… want to see what happens?” His heart pounded nervously. What was he going to do if he said yes? What was he going to do if he said no?

Finally, Tomaziel gave him a hesitant smile. “I would like that… very much.” He placed his hand over Starchild’s.

And they both felt the Spark that shocked through them at the touch and jumped in surprise. The unexpected spark seemed to break whatever tension was there, and it made Starchild smile and laugh as he took hold of Tomaziel’s hand. Tomaziel laughed himself, smiling brightly.

“I’m glad.” And he really was. “Will you join me for lunch tomorrow? Just the two of us.”

He was going to do this differently. He was going to slow down and let himself explore what he was feeling. He was going to give himself time to think. This would be different.

“I would love to,” Tomaziel squeezed his hand, smiling.

Starchild’s heart felt lighter, and with it returned the urge to kiss him…

Sudden footsteps made him turn his head, and he saw two guards marching up to their bench. They bowed, and one of them spoke. “Begging your pardon, Prince Starchild. But you have been summoned by the Elder.”

Starchild nodded. “Of course.” He rose and brushed down his clothing, then turned to Tomaziel regretfully. “I have to go now, but I will see you tomorrow. Is 11:30 a good time?”

Tomaziel nodded. “Yes,”

“Excellent. I’ll see you then.” He turned to follow the guards out, then turned back to grin and wink playfully at him. “Don’t be late!”

Tomaziel laughed. “I won’t!”

As Starchild followed the guards out of the training hall, he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He felt so giddy he wanted to laugh and twirl around right there in the hallway. Where would this take him? He didn’t know. But maybe he didn’t have to know; maybe he just had to be willing to experience it as it happened. And he was. Tomorrow couldn’t come any faster.

That night when he fell asleep, his dreams were filled with blue, crackling electricity and the raven-haired Jendellian that controlled it. The scenes made him smile in his sleep as his hand tingled.

[keruworld]

Kamen Rider Zero One ep 23 - Things that i don’t like... yes... always (sorry but im not feeling Zero One)... but i think it was a fun ep, a filler ep... a FILLER ep... but fun. Felt very Sentai like, even has Sentai alumni cameos. Now if you don’t want to read any form of critic to this show, just ignore this post please.

I think is pretty obvious that the writers of Zero One don’t have idea what to do with the plot... because here we have a filler episode. A fun one... yes... but it’s a filler... we forget about the competition, we forget about Metsubourinjai Bou (well this guy/girl have been forgotten by two or three weeks already). Still Metal Hopper problem is in the ep... but they don’t use it as plot device.

But ok...we start the ep with a worried Aruto... because he can’t use the other progressive keys... only the bad one.

I still wonder if HIDEN have other human employees? They don’t have programmers or something? I could love to watch Aruto active as a boss... he doesn’t feel like a boss at all. You could say that the boy is still learning... but come on... we are 23 eps in. -__-

I really hate how this filler ep thrown to the trash the prev arc in the most stupid way.

Oh look, the only human employees of HIDEN. Where have they been? Have been lost since long time ago. X,D Zero One keeps forgetting characters because bad writing!

They have not appear in the show from so long that i have forgotten the name of her. XD

Good that this matchmaker Humangear have a good common sence.

It was funny that Gai was there... looking for a bride. X,D Stupid and weird yes... but guess that’s ok. X,D

Poor Yua... still wonder why she is with Gai... the benefits are good with Zaia? XD It could have been so good that Aruto offers her a job in HIDEN... she is the technical engineer that Aruto needs.

Im starting to love Aruto’s expressions. X,D I think Fumiya is a little more comfortable with Aruto... but i can’t blame him... his character is so bad writen that the actor must feel it!! X,D

It was... so nice to see Yua laughting!!

And later transform! Valkirie... we have missed you girl.

The look: You meanie... because of you i can’t transform! X,D Good Fumiya, good, im starting to like your expressions. 23 eps in... but it’s something. XD

Even Izu... she is starting to have better expressions! This could mean that the actors have been more comfortable with their characters?

Aruto decided transform even with the risk... you know... if they use Metal Hopper in the ep... were not better to have a more dangerous situation? A situation where Aruto don’t have an option... i mean Valkirie was there, she is strong... i bet she could defeat the monster.

Beautiful Valkirie! It’s a big shame that we could not see her suit often.

Very intelligent Aruto, thinking that you could control it! X,D This just made Aruto looks... stupid?! It could have been better a “no option’ situation.

Beautiful Yua... it’s a shame her character have been reduced to be Gai secretary! U_U

2 minutes of Horobi... well it was better than nothing... (where is Jin Toei? TTATT)

How do you know Izu?! Uh?!

Aruto talk so casual with Humangears... i could love to see him talking to more humans.

Yua programmed it right? Can just Aruto ask for help to Yua? And make them interact for god sake!

Where this person took the ZetsumeRiser?!

Ahhh the humangear actor.

Because this is a Sentai trope and they are Sentai alumni right!! X,D The problem here is that this is not Sentai... is Kamen Rider! But ok... it seems that in reiwa era will have no distintion?! X,D

Where Izu learn bad words?! I wonder... it can be the ark? X,D If i where Aruto i could be worried about it.

She, with reason, slapped him after being insulted and just by that the humangear became mad.... is for real?! You know... Gai is right... humangears are dangerous if they will go mad just with a slap.

Like how Izu shows more emotions, took her 23 ep to show more emotions. X,D

Gai just want to get beaten by the Ark!! XD

Well... Aruto is trying hard to contain it. (probably the next episode he will... but because Izu... again... -___-)

such a bad cliffhanger... but... ok...

The episode was... some how fun... and thats was ok... but the plot... where is the plot?! X,D It’s lost with Jin. TTATT Really... Zero One is trying to win the most "wasted potential" Kamen Rider of all the time position. X,D At least... for me.

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Two Hundred Fifty-Five: A Beautiful Choice ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Suigin Ryū ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

For once in his life...Uchiha Sasuke has no idea what he’s doing. For the most part, his decisions and actions since he was seven years old have been rather...simple. While he ran into many an obstacle on his journey for justice in the name of his clan, he could typically improvise, drawing on what he’d learned as a shinobi to move forward.

But this...this is completely outside of his element.

And he’s not even sure who to go to for help.

Naruto, he knows, is about as well-versed in this as he is. And the last thing he wants is the blond in on his business. Because as soon as Naruto knows anything, half of Konoha will know what’s going on. And he’s trying to be discreet.

Sakura...gods, he’d rather take a kunai to the gut than ask Sakura for advice. Sure, she’s a woman...but also one he’s had one of the most annoying relationships with out of anyone he’s ever known. She might be going steady with Naruto, but he doesn’t want to even hint at this topic with her for any reason.

Kakashi is just...no. He’s possibly the only person beyond himself that Sasuke can think of who would be worse to consult. Never married, never dated, and reads porn in public.

Itachi has already been coy enough about the whole thing. He doesn’t want his brother to have any more reason to tease him than he’s already got. And Shisui? Might be worse than Naruto. It’s a close call...but either way, a definite no.

The only person left he has to consult...is his brother’s wife. Which, honestly? Makes the most sense out of anyone he could ask. She’s a lady, has a suitable temperament...and happens to be friends with the person otherwise involved in Sasuke’s latest predicament.

He’s going to propose to Hinata.

But there’s steps to this process, and he’s...rather unsure about how to get from point A to...whatever letter the actual proposal ends up being. At the very least, he’s sure about it. He’s never been more sure about anything in his life. But this is also his first relationship...let alone one that’s ever gotten this far.

So, he just...needs a little help.

“Can I...ask you something?”

Glancing up from the bed of herbs she’s tending, Sasuke’s sister-in-law sits back on her haunches. “Of course. Is something wrong?”

“No. I just…” He sighs, rubbing at the tense muscles in his neck. “I need some...advice. About...girls.” Gods, can he sound any more like a clueless genin?

She blinks at him, and then smiles, expression free of the taunting her husband would be giving him. “I see. What in particular do you want some help with?”

“...I want to propose to Hinata.”

Greys go wide. “...oh! Sasuke, that’s wonderful!”

“I just...I dunno how to go about it. I thought maybe you’d...have a better idea.”

For a moment the woman is silent...and then she laughs a bit into a hand. “I’m sorry, dear...I’m not laughing at you,” she explains during a breath, seeing his expression. “I just...well, you know well enough your brother and I had far from a...typical courtship. So honestly, I’m not sure I’m the most knowledgeable about the...traditional means. But...I’ll offer what I can.”

Abandoning her task, she stands and dusts some dirt from her clothes. “...first thing is first, really: you’ll need an engagement ring. One that suits both your feelings for her, and her. After all, she’ll be the one wearing it.”

“Suits my...feelings?”

A nod. “Something that, when you look at it, reminds you of her. A testament to your love for her for her to wear and sort of...display! Your wedding bands will be different, of course. Think of it as…” She pauses, pondering for a moment. “...a symbol of your courtship. Your offering to symbolize your affection, and your intentions to make her your wife.”

“...I guess that makes sense.” A few ideas are already eddying through his mind. “So...what should I do to...give it to her?”

“Well...that part I can’t really help you with too much. A proposal is very personal. Some people go to places that mean a lot to them both, like...where you had a first date, or a first kiss. Or some make it very...theatrical. A fancy restaurant, or a public display. Though personally, I would avoid the latter...it adds unnecessary pressure for her answer.”

Sasuke blinks. “...good point.”

“Otherwise, it’s mostly up to you, dear. This is a moment you’ll both remember for the rest of your lives - how you want to make it memorable is up to you. Of course, on that note, don’t be nervous,” she advises gently with a smile. “Mistakes can and do happen. But just remember that this is the person you hold dearest, and who loves you regardless of the circumstances. Hinata won’t judge you if something goes awry.”

Glancing aside, Sasuke mulls that over. “Yeah, you’re right...she’s too kind for that.” In his mind, he can still see how she’d giggle, and then apologize for laughing, all smiles and pretty pink blushes. Just that alone brings a soft smile to his face.

“...otherwise...that’s really all you’ll need,” his sister-in-law then says, noting his reverie. “Find a good ring, and a good time and place. And I’m sure it will turn out perfectly. You two are so good together, everything will work out just fine.”

Head full of thoughts, Sasuke goes quiet for a moment. “...thank you. And, uh...don’t tell anyone, okay? Last thing I need is aniki giving me crap.”

She laughs into a hand. “Of course, your secret is safe with me, dear. And good luck! Not that you’ll need it. I can’t wait for Hinata to tell me all about it!”

He nods. But before he can go, she calls out his name.

“She wears a size seven, by the way,” his sister offers cheekily.

“...how do you know that?”

“Let’s just say I was...thinking ahead. I told her I had some old jewelry she could have, and asked her her size. I had a feeling you’d need it one of these days.”

Sasuke blinks in surprise...and then gives a soft huff of a laugh. “...thanks.”

“You’re welcome, dear.”

Confidence much higher, Sasuke abandons his brother’s yard and makes his way back into the village proper. A ring that reminds him of her...that symbolizes his affection...can he really find something that will fit?

Meandering toward a jeweler, not wanting to be spotted, Sasuke makes sure he senses no familiar chakra before slipping into the store. Behind the counter is a middle-aged woman, who smiles pleasantly as he looks around curiously.

“Good afternoon, young man! What might I do for you?”

“I’m, er...here to buy a ring…?”

Her face alights. “I see! Congratulations! We have quite a few styles to choose from, and can custom make a band for you, of course. Have you any ideas?”

“Not yet…”

“Well, feel free to browse, and I’ll answer any questions you might have!”

Feeling a bit sheepish, he approaches the counter, eyeing the stock behind the glass. There’s...a lot. More than he’d ever think up, that’s for sure. Jewels of all cuts, colors, and styles are almost overwhelming. How is he supposed to decide?

Something that reminds me of her… Eyes trailing over the choices, he pauses at one that nudges something at the back of his mind. A shining pearl sits in a silver band, a small diamond nestled along either side. There’s a bit of flare to the metal around them, but otherwise the rest of the ring looks fairly simple, yet elegant.

A pearl...it looks like...her eyes…

A feeling blooms in his gut. That’s what he wants. “...can I look more closely at that one?”

The employee fetches it from the display, letting him look it over in more detail. The pearl is even prettier up close...it’s perfect.

“I think...I’d like this one.”

“A beautiful choice, sir! Do you know the lady’s ring size?”

“Seven.”

“Perfect! We keep all of our rings in stock in several sizes, so I have it here and now for you, if you’re ready.”

Sasuke sets his jaw. No going back now… “I’m ready.”

“Wonderful. Let me just get the order written up, and as soon as we have the ryō, you can have the ring, sir.”

All throughout, Sasuke stares at the little box she slips the band into, a heavy feeling in his chest. While he’s satisfied with his choice...this seems like the easy part now that it’s done. The real challenge...will be asking her.

He’s sure she’ll say yes. She...she has to. But the nerves remain, that sliver of doubt like a canyon in his mind. He has time to plan...he’ll just...take this slowly. Everything has to be perfect. Perfect like her...the pearl he never expected to find.

Handing over the money once the receipt is done, he accepts the box. “A pleasure doing business with you, sir. And I wish you luck with your lady!”

“...thank you.” Slipping it into his pocket, he sweeps the street again before heading out.

Now...it’s time to plan.

                                                           .oOo.

     OKAY FIRST before you come at me with pitchforks and torches for the cliffhanger: I AM going to do a sequel to this TOMORROW - I peeked the prompt and it'll work perfectly for a follow up! I just didn't want this to get monstrously long, so I cut it there! I'm sorry xD      Anyway...here we go, guys gals and nonbinary pals! We're FINALLY getting a chance to look into how a proposal might go between these two. The ring, at least, I've had in my mind for a looong time - a pearl is just such a perfect fit, imo! It's what Hyūga eyes have always reminded me of, tbh. And Sasuke seems to agree!      But yes, tomorrow we'll see part two to this, so I hope y'all can be patient with me xD And hopefully I can live up to this hype, haha - but for now, I need some sleep. Thanks so much for reading! See you tomorrow n_n

[sunshine-woozi]

안녕~:) I’m not sure if you’re currently taking requests, but if you are can you write me a Joshua or Vernon one where the reader is an extra or a love interest in one of their mv and they start a real relationship after that? (I’m not sure if I’m making any sense here sorry lol) Cute and fluffy please XD Thanks in advance! xx Love your blog btw (Low key stalking hahaha k up shut up now lol)

~

A/N: I posted this earlier but I accidentally deleted it so I’m reposting hahah. I’m sosososo sorry this took so long omg. it’s almost finals week and I’ve been so busy. I️’m also thinking about making this a bit better, extending it, and turning it into a series?? I’m not sure yet but I’ll let you guys know :) tysm for waiting💓

Pairing: Vernon x Reader

Genre: fluffy

Type: v v short, bulletpointed

Summary: You’re an actress who got the role of Vernon’s love interest in a seventeen music video. Little did you know you’d fall in love with him off-screen.

~

you were super excited to book your first acting job overseas

you somehow booked the role of a love interest in a seventeen music video

so you have no clue who seventeen is and go in expecting nothing more than your usual role.

finishing up your hair and makeup, you see Vernon- your love interest

“t-that’s the guy I’m working with?” you muttered

WOW HE’S HOT

you make eye contact and he approaches you

“hey I’m Vernon, it’s so nice to meet you” he says

“holy shit he speaks English too?” you thought

“oh hi Vernon, I’m y/n. I’m so excited to be working with you!”

you talk for a bit longer

but strangely, it feels easy

it’s almost like you’ve known him forever

you could’ve talked for hours if you weren’t dragged to the set

right off the bat you’re filming flirty scenes

you both can’t stop blushing and smiling

between scenes, you walk over to your manager

“jesus christ you’re sweating like a pig” she says, handing you a cold water bottle.

“shit how am I supposed to work like this” you reply, looking at Vernon who seems to be in the same state.

before you know it, it’s time to film the final scene where Vernon kisses you.

your mind races as you walk to the set “ohmygodohmygodohmygod”

barely able to look him in the eye without blushing, you start the scene

Vernon takes your hand in his and pushes your hair behind your ear

he cups your face in his hands and looks into your eyes

slowly, he pulls you in and kisses you gently

you swear you can feel a spark go through your body

it feels like a movie

you’re half expecting fireworks to go off in the background

the music dies down and you hear the director yell

“that’s a wrap”

Vernon pulls away and you’re almost disappointed that it didn’t last longer

“oh wow” you say simultaneously

Vernon’s still cupping your face in his hands but he realizes and quickly pulls away

“uh s-sorry” he stammers

“n-no it’s fine” you say, rubbing your palms together

“let me walk you out?” he smiles

you nod and he takes your hand, leading you to your car.

“so y/n, would you want to maybe go out sometime?”

~

A/N: I’m sorryyyyyyyy :( I know you probably hate me for leaving this on a cliffhanger but I really wanna turn it into a series. I have a ton of ideas for upcoming posts so you’ll just have to see ;)

[theodosia-cipher]

A New Family

↠Chapter 2, Getting comfortable↞

Lily rushes up the stairs, only to see Ford standing at the doorway watching the four kids chasing each other around the room playing tag.

"Well, what's this all about?" she said, giggling.

"They're just having a game of tag. To be honest, I'd like to join in.." Ford said as the stepping into the room only to be hit by Mabel and the other 3 falling on her and all 5 of them─Mabel, Dipper, the two sisters and Ford─ fall on the floor laughing.

"Woah, you guys better be careful!" Lily exclaimed as she rushes over to help them up.

"Heh, sorry about that, sis," Lola said as she jumped back onto her feet.

"By the way, I found a room just below the stairs. I don't think you, Gloria, Ford and I can fit in there too..." Lily said as her voice trailed off, her head hanging low in sadness. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Dipper. He gave her an encouraging smile to make her happy. Lily then returned the smile to him.

"I can set up my lab as my bedroom, ya know?" Ford said as he began walking down the stairs. Lily gave him a good nod and followed him down. They then stopped in front of the vending machine. Ford put in the code, and the vending machine opened and both went down. They cleaned up the place a little and went into the room where the portal was.

"This room is actually big enough for all of us to stay in! But I'd be glad to stay here with you, dad," Lily said, emphasizing at the word "dad" and giggled. Both of them laughed and decided that they will stay with Gloria and Lola until they finished cleaning up this room. They went back up the stairs silently. As they closed the vending machine behind them, they didn't notice someone creeping up on then.

[Okay, guys. From now on, there will be povs. There will be moments when it is narrated but most of it will be POVs :T enjoy!]

⋯⋘Gloria's Pov⋙⋯

I snuck up on my sister and her... Um... Teacher or something as I had heard the vending machine open up just now, and when I had arrived here at the gift shop, they were gone and the vending machine was back to normal. I just waited for them and when I heard them coming up the stairs, I hid near the vending machine.

"BOO!" I screamed at them, only to be returned with both of them turning around and Ford taking out his gun, and Lily taking out her crossbow, both pointing at me. Lily had yelped a little and jumped, then turned at me with Ford. I backed down and landed on the ground as they got closer looking a bit scared at my action. I was shivering, thinking that they may kill me. I still found it funny that I scared them.

⋯⋘Lily's Pov⋙⋯

After I realised who I was pointed the crossbow at, I stood there frozen and dropped the crossbow, only to see the arrow shoot at the figure. It moved away, and the arrow was shot at some rack of clothes in the gift shop. Ford struggled to hold his gun and he almost dropped it, but he managed to catch it. I then went to over to the figure and gave it a hug.

"I-I'm so sorry, Gloria... I didn't mean to..." I stammered while hugging her. She hugged me back and pats my back, reassuring to me that it was okay. I then pulled away from the hug and gave her a face of why-did-you-scare-us-like-that in a glare. She smiled sheepishly then started to giggle, i suppose, at my face. I then realised that she was looking at my second birthmark, so I quickly put my fringe over it, feeling embarrassed. We then stood up and the 3 of us went back up into the attic, only to see concerned faces from Dipper, Mabel and Lola. I smiled at them as a signal that nothing happened and Dipper looked at me like her knew that I was lying, but he let me go.

"Wait a minute..." I said, thinking back at what happened. "My crossbow!!" I yelled as I ran back down to get it back. I heard them snickering a bit as I ran down. I quickly got the crossbow and went back upstairs, to see all of them huddled together on the floor, while catching up on what had happened when my father and I had disappeared. I shook my head and smiled, while sitting down in between Dipper and Ford. I quickly found out that they were playing truth or dare or don't.

"OH HEY, LILY!!!! Truth or dare or don't?!" Mabel screamed excitedly while waiting for an answer. I looked at all of them uneasily and then I looked at Ford, who was signalling me to do a truth as it would be the perfect time to explain what had happened.

"Uh.... Truth, I guess?" I said as I turned my gaze from Ford to Mabel.

"GREAT!!!! TELL US THE TRUTH!! Why did Grunkle Ford asked you to call him dad?!" Mabel screamed, seemingly excited at my answer. I was shocked as I had guessed that she would've asked me that.

"Well.... I was Ford's apprentice before the portal incident that happened between Ford and Stan. I had realised that both of them were fighting because of some random issue, like they had explained to you, and Stan pushed Ford into the portal. By then, I had already been standing in front of the portal and I watched as Ford was pulled into the portal. I grabbed his leg, attempting to pull him back out, with Stan of course, but instead, I, too, got pulled in. Stan had backed away before he got sucked into the portal and the portal shut down. Ford and I were stuck in between dimensions since!" I replied, shaking my head slightly.

"Wait.. But you said you were there for 4 years... How old are you now then?" Dipper asked curiously. Huh. I guess he noticed it then.. But I don't want to tell them cause it'll be breaking our little secret. I then breathed and decided to tell him.

"Well.. I stayed there for 30 years, yes. But... We were stuck in between dimensions so we... " I hesitated then continued.

"We didn't age... So I lied about being there. No wait, only Ford aged surprisingly. I stayed as a 12 year old" I said.

"Not exactly.." I mumbled under my breath, then looked up and saw everyone starting at me.

"ALRIGHT! Let's continue with the game, shall we?" I said, clapping my hands together to stop the awkwardness in the room.

"Sure.. I gu-" Dipper started but was interrupted by a loud screeching voice.

"OKAY! LOLA, TRUTH, DARE OR DON'T?!?!" Mabel screeched pointing at Lola. We had to cover our ears for this.

⋯⋘Lola's Pov⋙⋯

I just stared at Mabel in awe, and my ears were aching.

"Oh geez Mabel..." I said, rubbing my ears.

"hehe, sorry. So, truth, dare or don't?" Mabel asked without screaming this time, but still excitedly.

"hm..." I thought for a while.

"I'm up for... A dare."

Mabel smirked. Oh no. What's she gonna do...

"I dare you to..." she pauses for a dramatic effect "...tell me what both Dipper and Lily are hiding!!!" she screamed. She obviously knew what Dipper was hiding, but she wanted to know my Guess.

"Uhhh...." I said while looking at Lily and Dipper who were sitting next yo each other. They knew that I had known so the kept shaking their heads. They started panicking as Dipper was trembling and Lily was trying desperately not to remover her coat or flip her hair up.

"They both have b-" i was unable to process my sentence fully before getting my mouth covered by a hand. I saw Gloria looking towards my direction, her hand covering my mouth. She shook her head slightly and I got what she meant. And I did something that she didn't want me to do.

"EWWWWW LOLA!!!! THAT WAS DISGUSTING!" Gloria screamed, wiping the liquid off of her hand on her dress. I giggled. I had licked her hand to get it off of my mouth, heck I even tried to bite it but I licked it instead haha. Both Lily and dipper calmed down, but after that, Lily gave me a death glare and Dipper also shot Mabel and I a death glare each. Haha, I've never seem them this mad!

⋯⋘Lily's Pov⋙⋯

I should've known Mabel will ask her that.. She will pay muahahaha!

I stood up and pulled dad up from his seat. He was talking happily with Dipper after the glare. I tilted my hea, signaling to get him to go to the lab with me. We still had a lot to do. He looked at me confused a bit, then gave a slight nod, showing that he understood what I meant and followed me down. As I closed the door, I saw the rest who were in the room look at us then look back at themselves in confusion. They shrugged then continued to play Truth, dare or don't without us.

"We should get a move on... I don't want to cram with the other two, they also need their own space.." Ford said as the put in the code for the ending machine. After he did, we headed down and started to clean up the room where the portal was. It was until..

AAAAAAAND CLIFFHANGER!! HAHA!! See y'all in the next chapter xD

[blaperile]

Homestuck Epilogues - Meat - Page 14 (Epilogue 3 Page 1)

[after-nine-at-the-oasis]

Ayy she's good :D

Wow that's a lot o.o

Better be careful with that too, yk take it easy and stuff xd

We're gonna pan to Charlie being upset aren't we xd

Yup 😬 :((

Honeyy:(

I'm sorry but it sucks

Hey guys xd

I mean you don't have to hide it from her

Okay yeah she was xd

Aww it's nice she cares :'))

Noo nah honey don't do that-

Yeah :')

It'll still be a little weird for her lol but she wants you to be happy <33

Oop what's she gonna ask about-

Ahh that

Aww honey :'((

I mean true xD but also how could she have known lol

Ahh but yeah lol just ask what's going on

Awww honey :'((

Yeah :')) she just didn't know <33

Awww honey DD': :'((

That sucks Lim :((

I mean I know you're happy with what you've done with your life but still :'(( sucks it might've come partially from that <3

OOPE O.O I was wondering if that's actually what it was 😬😬

Ahh yeegh her mom's not dumb xdd though why were you in the closet girl lol

AWWW Lim 😭😭😭💔❤️

Oh right lol I knew about that o.o

Awww honey :'(((

That sucks honey I'm sorry DD:

Yeah :'(( <3

Aww yeah I'm glad you're okay with that Lim :')) doesn't mean you can't date if you don't want to though

Aww yeah 😭😭😭💔❤️❤️

NAURRR this is destroying me 😭😭❤️🥺🥺

AWW honeyyy :')) ❤️❤️❤️

Yeah she's there for you <33

Aww honey :'))

Oof :(

Shaun I really do think you could figure it out

Okay that's a little far xd

Wait she decided to leave as well didn't she o.o

OOPE yep 😬

Ahh nah complaint o.o

Okay I hope it wasn't about the most recent thing because that was kinda justified, but his behavior overalll? Maybe 😬

Awww that sucks 😭💔🥺

Shaun's face :(((

OOP going to Shul Asher?

Ahh giving him a ride :))

Aww yeah :(

Maybe he'll also go to something though?

Aww yeah enjoyed the conversation :))

A what

Genuinely what did he say lol

OOP

AAAHHHHHH :DDD :)))

AWWWW

AWW he's telling him too :'DD

Awwww 🥰🥰🥰

"And if he doesn't, I will" AAAHHHHHHH 😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️🥺🥰🥰🥰🥰

(bro I'm scared. I am absolutely terrified. I'm already- yk what I won't say it but. Scared y'all. Scared)

Losing my mind <333

Aww yeah mazel tov Asher 🥰🥰

Aww :')) I hope you can reconnect with that part of yourself Asher <32 if you want tk

When I tell you I'm so scared

I mean it

UH OH

W A I T

No

nO

I S W E A R

If they do

What I think

They might so

I will lose

my

mind

NOOO

ASHERR

LET HIM DIEEEE

SORRY SIR BUT ASHER

Uh oh o.o

Okay phew it's vandalism

I mean it's still awful but xd

Uhhh ohhhh

UH OH

I'm scared

I'm so scared

Also this just really freaking sucks in the first place :(( >:(( besides all my fear this is just awful

Tell them Asher >:( :'D

But also

I'm scared

Is he gonna stand with him in that regard or no

I feel like it's powerful either way tbh but I think for Asher he needs to say it

Yeah :')

OKAY NO NEED TO ANTAGONIZE O.O

ONE TYPE OF BIGOT IS ENOUGH AND MAYBE WE DON'T TELL THEM WE'RE CALLING THE COPS?

I'm so scared

It's full circle

I hate full circle

Don't do this to me

OKAY P H E W THEY'RE LEAVING 😭😭❤️❤️

Hallelujah

Still call xdd

Let's not hang up o.o xd

Like there was still a crime

DON'T TURN YOUR BACK

Terrified terrified terrified

ALSO CALL THE COPS

DO NOT

WALK BACK TO YOUR CAR

ALONE

I don't like this music

I'm about to cry

I think I know where this is going

YUP

AUUUAAAHHHHHHHH

Terrified terrified terrified

I'm sick to my stomach I'm about to start shaking

ASHERRR WALK FASTERRR

I know you notice him sir 😭

At least

If it haopens

There's epic music

HUAAAAHHH SECOND GUY

Y'all don't understand how much I'm pausing

I'm legitimately sick to my stomach oh my gosh

Please just leave it on a cliffhanger I'd refer that

HUAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

ALSO IT'S NOT FUNNY BUT I PAUSED AT THE WEIRDEST FREEZE FRAME

1 minute left

No

no

no

No

I DON'T LIKE THAT RINGING NOISE

Shakey breathing genuinely oh my gosh help

NOOO LEAVE IT AT THAAAT

Oh gosh

Oh no

They're not gonna- I mean they probably will but-

NOOOOOO THEY'RE SHOWING ME JEROME

He's gonna think Asher just didn't show up

I am so ill

Literally but not what I meant xd

NOOOOO

STOPPP IT LOOKS SO FANCY 😭😭😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔

DON'TDOITDON'TDOITDON'TDOITDON'DOIT

HE'S GONNA SHOW ME IT ISN'T HE

I MEAN I KINDA WANNA SEE IT BUT ALSO

UAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

IT ISSSSSSS

PROPOSAL CONFIRMEDDDDDDD

Normally I would be so happy but

No

Nope xd

It's such a pretty ring 😭😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔❤️🥺

I'm sick to my stomach my gosh

The bandaid 😭😭😭😭😭💔💔❤️

He's gonna save that band-aid forever :')))

I am. So not okay

SIRRRRR

I PROMISE HE WANTED TO SHOW UP

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

EYES OPEN MOUTH BLEEDING EYES OPEN MOUTH BLEEDING EYES OPEN MOUTH BLEEDING

THE SIRENNNNNNSSSSSSSSS HE HAS NO IDEA

I'm about to start sobbing and I mean that so seriously

Tears are IN MY EYES AND I'M ONLY NOT CRYING BECAUSE I PAUSED

NOOOOOOO 😭😭😭😭💔❤️❤️

He found him didn't he 😭😭

He did 😭😭😭😭

HE'S WHISPERING A PRAYER ISN'T HE OR FINAL RITES

NOOOOOOOOO

Sobbing

Legitimately full on sobbing

I can see tears falling

And they're just gonna make me sit with that

I'm in shock

I'm trying to be quiet because it's nearly midnight

My family is asleep

I

I can't

I'm done with this show

I'm not but. Wow

How could they do that to me

I'm gonna watch the promo and they're gonna say he's dead aren't they

Great wrote dead and the sobs are coming back xd

They're gonna confirm it

I can't take that

I'm glad we're gonna get people focusing on him but 😭. NOT BECAUSE HE FREAKING DIED

Was close to saying the f word there xd

Yk the tears are not helping my chapped lips xd

I

Sorry (no I'm not actually)

I'm hanging around on this already super long post after the episode ended

Just sitting here in silence

I can't

I'm so sorry

Idk about what xd

For him I guess

I

I'm so sorry honey :'((

And for Jerome too

I

am not okay

Gonna go watch the preview and cry my eyes out

[mxliv-oftheendless]

Green Wounds, Ch. 5

So my original plan was to have this chapter be when you guys read... maybe my favorite scene to write out by far, heh. But then I wrote out the stuff that came before it, and I realized: it wasn’t working. So my plan has been tweaked: my favorite scene will come next chapter, and you guys get another FILLER! It’s kinda short, but some stuff does happen, just not a lot. Sorry... lol not really XD. I find cliffhangers are more fun when you’re the one writing them lol. 

Anyway, here’s chapter 5. Enjoy!

With the border guards behind him, Starchild quickly spread his authority across the Moors as its new king. He struck fast and he struck hard, ensuring that none of the Fair Folk would dare try to rebel. None of the Fair Folk thought of rebellion to begin with, though—they were all of them so stricken by the sudden, extreme changes in their protector, and when he wasn’t around they silently mourned the loss of the gentle faerie they once knew.

Meanwhile, after completing his consolidation of power, Starchild once again began to send Peter to Jendell to spy on the humans. He knew above all else that he wanted vengeance for what had been done to him—but he also knew that Ace would be expecting such. He would have to wait until the most opportune moment, the moment when Ace’s guard would be completely lowered.

-*-

Starchild managed to wait until Peter landed on the ground to wave his hand, and in a few quick moments Peter was human, sitting hunched over on the ground breathing heavily. “Well?” he asked expectantly.

Peter kept panting, but managed to answer. “The Queen’s… well, she’s… for fuck’s sake, how the hell do birds do this every day?” Starchild exhaled in annoyance and rolled his eyes, making Peter look up at him. “I’m serious! It’s exhausting!”

“I don’t care if you’re going to die from exhaustion,” Starchild snapped. “The Queen is what?”

Peter sighed, but replied. “The Queen’s pregnant,”

Starchild fell silent. His hand tightened over his walking stick, but other that he gave no reaction. He really wasn’t sure of what reaction to give. “… Is she?”

“Yeah, they announced it today.”

His ensuing silence seemed to put Peter on edge. He stood up and eyed him warily. “You, uh… You okay?”

His fist clenched, and after a pause, he replied, “Fine. That’ll be all for now.”

He turned Peter into a cat and Peter bounded off, leaving him alone with his boiling emotions.

Starchild remained where he was in the forest for a long while after that. But none of the Fair Folk, or even the border guards, dared to check on him—the inhuman screams and the sound of exploding wood made them too afraid to do that. 

-*-

A few months after that, Starchild was walking through the forest once more, when the sound of someone—or something—close by made him stop and look around. When his eyes fell on the source, he immediately frowned. “Do you like following me, or do you just like annoying me?”

For there a few feet away from him was the red fox. The fox, as always, stared at Starchild with a tilt of its head, and once again, the faerie felt like he was under intense scrutiny. And he hated it. Not just that, but the fact that it never seemed to leave him alone, no matter how many times he chased it away.

Starchild glared darkly at it, saying nothing but growling in his mind for the fox to go away. He didn’t care if he had to attack it with his magic, he just wanted it to leave him alone.

But the fox did not leave. It kept staring at him, blinking at him, and its look made Starchild think of when he first encountered it a few months ago, months that seemed like a lifetime ago. He thought of how the fox had approached him, stared at him, then leaned in to sniff at him—

A growled escaped his throat, and he bared his gritted teeth at the fox and held out his hand. Dark purple magic burst from his hand and hit the ground right in front of it. The fox jumped and took a step back, then turned tail and ran off. He scowled after it, not even feeling satisfied that he had driven it away. Knowing that damned fox, it would just find him again sometime in the future.

Starchild glared at the retreating animal until it disappeared, then turned and stalked away. God, he hated that fox.

-*-

Autumn turned to winter, and winter turned to spring, and although Peter was spying on the king almost every day, he was always forced to return to Starchild with nothing. For his part, Starchild never showed any disappointment; although, in fairness, he never showed much of anything. His face remained impassive and blunt, like someone had carved it from stone. Unless he was angry about something—the incident with the wood sprites still made Peter wince a bit in sympathy.

Funnily enough, while Starchild seemed content to wait for something to happen, Peter was actually the one growing impatient. One thing he was learning about humans was that they certainly enjoyed taking their time. He had seen pregnant cats before, and although the memory of the birthing process still haunted his nightmares, cats never took as long as humans did. Queen Jeanette had been pregnant for nine months now, and still no baby.

Peter just wanted something to happen, so he could inform Starchild and end this agonizing waiting period. He wasn’t expecting his wish to be granted so soon, though.  

He was in the laundry room, hidden well out of sight as he watched the maids work at spinning wheels. He had learned the hard way to stay well out of sight after getting a broom swung at him one too many times. He really hated brooms…

But anyway, the maids worked, occasionally talking to each other. One thing that caught Peter’s attention was that the night before, Queen Jeanette had retreated into her chambers and midwives had been called. Peter wasn’t sure what midwives were, but at least that was a bit of news he could tell Starchild.

After a couple hours, Peter was debating flying off elsewhere when the door suddenly opened and a chambermaid ran in, smiling excitedly. “The Queen’s given birth!” she exclaimed. “It’s a boy!”

Peter immediately perked up. Now that… that was definitely news.

The other maids perked up as well, gasping in excitement. “It’s a boy!” they tittered to each other. “It’s a boy!”

As they hurried off, no doubt to spread the news to the other servants, Peter spread his wings and flew off out the window. He would stick around for any other news, but he wouldn’t stay any longer than he had to. Starchild would definitely want to know all about this.

-*-

Meanwhile in the Moors, Starchild stood on a cliff, looking out at the place he was now ruling over. Although he was perfectly still, his mind was turning, as it usually was these days, thinking of many things at once. Some of his thoughts involved the Moors, but most involved Ace and his plan for vengeance.

In truth, even after so many months he wasn’t entirely sure of what his plans would involve. All he knew was that he wasn’t going to be like Ace; he didn’t want to swoop in, destroy everything, then disappear without Ace ever knowing what had just happened, although that thought was a nice one. No, that was too quick, too merciful. He wasn’t sure what exactly he would do, but he did know that he wanted to slowly and painfully dismantle everything, until Ace was left with nothing. Then he would either leave Ace alive, or kill him. But he was willing to leave that detail for when it happened. Although, the thought of himself choking the life out of Ace was enough to make Starchild smile maliciously.

He was willing to wait patiently for the right time to proceed in his plans, and as the days passed he was growing ever more certain that the right time was drawing nearer. Even so, he began to feel a flash of impatience whenever Peter came back with nothing to report. He wondered with some cynicism what would happen today, willing to bet that Peter would once again return with nothing.

Incidentally, the thought had just crossed his mind when he spotted a black shape in the distance, flying towards the Moors. Peter. He silently watched Peter as he flew closer, noting that Peter was flapping his wings to fly faster.

Peter flew over his head with a caw and began to swoop down to the ground behind him. When he was close enough to the ground, Starchild waved his hand and turned him back into a man. Peter stumbled, almost falling, before righting himself. He still had to work on landing, it seemed. “Well?” he asked, not waiting for Peter to catch his breath.

Peter panted slightly. “Well, I didn’t see anything, but I heard the servants. The Queen’s given birth… to a boy.”

Starchild fell silent. He knew enough about humans to know what that meant. With a son, Ace now had a legitimate line of succession, a line he (for some reason) would not have with a daughter. “Oh,” was all he could think of to say.

“There’s more,” Peter continued. “There’s gonna be a christening. They say it’ll be a grand celebration.”

“A grand celebration for a baby…” Starchild repeated, his voice thoughtful. Then an idea popped into his head, and his mouth curled into a smirk. Here, at last, was the right time. “How wonderful.”

-*-

It was the same dream again: darkness all around him, Ace laughing at him, his wings chained up behind him. But this time, when Starchild heard that taunting laughter, anger boiled in his veins, and he furiously wiped away his tears. He was not going to cry anymore. He’d spent too long crying over the loss of his wings and the betrayal of this selfish man. Vengeance, his mind hissed. Vengeance…

“You,” he glared up at Ace. “You did this to me. All so you could get everything you’ve ever wanted. You think I’m just going to let you get everything you want?”

Ace kept laughing at him. The taunting laughter bounced off the walls of his skull. His eyes blazing, Starchild stood up and held out his hand. Immediately Ace let out a choking noise, his laughter dying away as dark purple magic wrapped around his throat.

It should have felt wrong to do this… but it didn’t feel wrong. It felt good, oh so good, to choke the life out of him. The feeling of power surging through him, after so much time spent feeling hopeless, was intoxicating. But this was too quick, even if Starchild drew it out as long as he could. No, he wanted Ace to suffer.

“You took everything from me,” Starchild hissed, watching Ace gasp and twitch, eyes rolling back. “And now, I’m going to take everything from you.”

He twisted his hand, and Ace’s heart ripped out of his chest and into his hand. As Ace fell to his knees, Starchild wrapped his fingers around the heart and crushed it, until it was nothing but a fine powder in his hand. And he watched, with a vindictive smile on his face, as Ace collapsed to the ground, dead eyes still wide with shock.

He was still smiling when he opened his eyes.