#Plus this Shadow isn’t afraid to crack a joke or laugh so there’s that

[welcome-to-green-hills]

How do you think SCU!Sonadow would work? Reading some of your posts, it seems like it would be a fluffy slow burn ❤️

Hello, my dear!❤️✨

I think SCU!Sonadow could work either way for them. They could go the fluffy slow burn as suggested, or they could do skinny love. Either dynamic could work very well if this is your favorite ship😊

[kaalamarii]

Settle Down (DiaLuci)

Heyyy long time no write.

Wanted to try something a little different, so hope it’s good. I’m a bit rusty. Might expand on this a bit more in the future.

I have been listening to nothing but The 1975, so this is loosely based on one of their songs. Check it out if you have the time!

No warnings!

Diavolo’s eyes flickered quickly over to Lucifer, who was focused on what he was working on. It had been a long day and an even longer night and though their meeting was over, they still had a lot of paperwork to go through and plans to make official, so Lucifer had stuck around. 

The demon lord didn’t fail to notice how tired Lucifer looked. Not just now, but always, and he felt a pang of guilt and wondered to himself if he worked the other demon too hard. Lucifer’s eyes drooped and his head fell forward slightly before jolting back. He rubbed his eyes and furrowed his brow, an attempt to stay awake and focus. Lucifer’s hair hung in his face, the only time Diavolo had ever seen it out of place. He couldn’t help but smile.

“Lucifer, we can finish this tomorrow.”

“No, no,” Lucifer said, brushing the stubborn hair out of his eyes and looking up to look at Diavolo. “I mean, if you don’t mind, Lord, I have a busy day tomorrow so if we can just get this done now, that’d be appreciated.”

Diavolo let out a chuckle. “You’re always so busy. When do you sleep?”

“I don’t,” Lucifer answered and Diavolo couldn’t tell if it was a joke or not. He assumed not, as Lucifer wasn’t usually one for jokes. 

“Why don’t you stay the night here?” Diavolo offered, and instantly Lucifer tensed up. 

“That’s probably not a good idea.”

Diavolo stared at Lucifer, unsure of what to say. 

“Uh, my brothers...need me.”

Diavolo nodded. “Oh.”

“I appreciate the offer though,” Lucifer added, careful as always not to offend the demon lord. 

“It’s no problem. You’re always welcome here, Lucifer.”

He didn’t catch the small, subtle tug at the corner of Lucifer’s lips.

They sat in silence as they both continued to work on their own things, each of them taking turns glancing up at the other, unbeknownst to the other. 

Lucifer stopped for a moment as he heard Diavolo softly snoring. He looked over to find the other demon slouched in his chair, a peaceful look on his face, his fingers laced and hands resting neatly on his stomach. Lucifer grinned. He admired Diavolo, for sure. Not to mention, he was completely and utterly grateful for what he did for him and his family all those centuries ago. He had to admit to himself that he actually enjoyed Diavolo’s company for the most part, even if he did find working with him a bit demanding at times.

Lucifer finished his paperwork, finding an odd sense of comfort in Diavolo’s sleepy sighs and snores. He got up, smoothing down the wrinkles in his shirt, and made his way over to Diavolo, lightly shaking him awake. 

“My Lord.”

Diavolo yawned and stretched.

“I’m going to head home.”

“Oh,” Diavolo said with a slight frown, standing up to be face to face with Lucifer. “You sure you don’t want to stay? You might get more sleep. I worry about you not getting enough rest.”

Though Diavolo had never said it, Barbatos had before alluded to the fact that the demon lord was lonely. It didn’t surprise Lucifer at all. He picked up on the small hints that Diavolo gave off; frowning when he had to go, coming up with excuses for Lucifer and his brothers, and sometimes even the angels and the humans to stay longer. But he especially seemed to love the times spent with Lucifer. And Lucifer felt the same, honestly. They had become close enough to consider each other friends.  

But there was something else there, it often seemed. His brothers definitely seemed to pick up on it, cracking jokes and making fun of him. Even Barbatos and Simeon occasionally flashed him knowing looks when Diavolo and Lucifer shared a friendly moment. Lucifer didn’t know what it was. Simply a friendship with an odd power dynamic, he figured. 

“My apologies, Lord, but my brothers…”

“Your brothers will be fine,” Diavolo promised. “They have MC after all.”

Lucifer let a rare laugh escape his lips. 

“Can I ask you something?” Diavolo asked. 

“What is it?”

“You and the human...you have...a bond?”

Lucifer stared at Diavolo, not knowing why this question or how to feel about it. As well, not really knowing the answer. “A bond?”

“I hope this isn’t crossing any sort of line. I’m only curious.”

Lucifer thought hard before answering. “I suppose I do feel a sort of closeness with MC.”

“That’s good.”

“Is it?”

Diavolo shrugged. He sighed, hesitating, before asking his next question. “Would you say you and I have a closeness as well?”

The question caught Lucifer off guard and he coughed. “Sir?”

“It’s just us, Lucifer. You can call me Diavolo.” 

For possibly the first time, Lucifer noticed how much taller Diavolo was than him. He knew he was taller, of course, but right now, he seemed almost intimidatingly tall, the shadows from a lamp behind him enveloping Lucifer.

“You and I are friends, aren’t we?” Diavolo questioned again, his voice, for once soft and meek. 

“Of course.”

Diavolo stared into Lucifer’s eyes, seemingly wanting to say something else, or perhaps waiting for Lucifer to speak. Lucifer noticed but didn’t mention that the two were somehow slowly inching closer and closer. Diavolo reached a trembling hand over Lucifer’s and leaned in, until Lucifer could feel Diavolo’s breath on his face. 

“At least let me walk you home,” Diavolo muttered.

Lucifer nodded slowly before moving away, afraid of what would happen if he stayed still a second longer. He grabbed his coat and spun to face the door, and before Diavolo could say anything, the other demon was gone. 

Their walk home was quiet. Lucifer kept his gaze forward, eyes narrowed and focused a bit too hard on the scenery. Diavolo looked down at the ground beneath him, occasionally looking up at Lucifer. 

They paused as they reached the front door to the House of Lamentation, Lucifer hovering over the keyhole with the key ready. He looked back at Diavolo, who was standing, still looking at the ground. He had never seen Diavolo like this, and he couldn’t help but feel guilty. Plus, he understood how lonely it can be to be in charge. 

“So, I’ll be over tomorrow to sign the rest of the documents?”

One of the corners of Diavolo’s mouth lifted into a small smile. “Yep.”

“And we can go out to Ristorante Six, if you want?”

“I’d like that.”

“It’s a date.”

😈🖤😈

Obey Me Masterlist

[strange-lace]

Did you think I was joking when I said my Monkie Kid, Nagi, becomes a pseudo therapist for the team? FOOLISH, SHAPESHIFTING MEANS FREE THERAPY! But I have no idea what this is, I just started writing for some hurt/comfort (I think) post episode 9 and wanted to post it without editing because why not? Plus I just wanted to do some more with Nagi since it’s been a hot minute since I talked about her.

Enjoy and hopefully you get some chuckle worthy mental images like it did for me!

It was an odd sensation to Nagi, shapeshifting that is.

The closest way she could describe it is like that of her body becoming clay, free to be morphed into anything that she desired as long as she had a clear image in her head and enough practice. Hair length, color, height, weight, vocal cords, all were free for her to change and allow herself to fit into any setting like a chameleon. Or more accurately, like a snake camouflaged into its surroundings, waiting for the perfect moment to strike at its prey.

The sensation of always feeling like she was hiding among others was one Nagi had felt since birth.

It had only gotten worse with the sacrifices forced on her that made her shapeshifting even stronger.

Some days, she felt like her ability to become anyone was more trouble than it was worth.

But this was certainly not one of those days.

“Are you sure about this kiddo? Remember, the moment it becomes too much for you, all you gotta do is say something and I’ll shift into something else. This is meant to help you above all else, got it?” Nagi lectured for what felt like the third time, wanting to hammer in the point to MK before they began. When the little guy had entered her cave at the crack of dawn asking for a favor, this was certainly not what she was expecting.

Then again, Nagi was still a sluggish mess when MK had shaken her from her slumber in a frantic desperation.

“Uhhh, what’s goin’ on kid? What time is it?” She slurred, noting the faint rays of blue, pink, and orange barely providing a break from the darkness in her cave. The last traces of sleep snapped away from her eyes once she took notice of MK who, to put it bluntly, was an absolute mess.

Dark rings circled his eyes, hair a tousled mess without his signature headband, and clothes rumpled as if he had slept in them. Though Nagi genuinely questioned if he had even slept throughout the night. Wait, were those bruises?

“Nagi can you… can you shift into someone you’ve never met before?” MK asked, completely ignoring her questions. He seemed almost tense as he stood at the edge of Nagi’s nest, a giant cluster of pillows that she had collected over the years.

“That depends bud. If you give me a detailed enough picture, then sure. No guarantee I’ll have the voice right, but it can be done. Why do you ask? You need my help with something?” She pulled herself out of her nest, letting out a groan as her stiff bones cracked yet kept her eyes on MK. He seemed almost relieved at this answer, heavy shoulders relaxing the slightest bit before pulling out one of his many sketchbooks from his jacket. Pages were flipped through with frantic speed before he found what he was looking for, practically shoving the book in Nagi’s face.

At first she had thought it was a drawing of Sun Wukong until she took notice of the dark fur and, more importantly, the almost sadistic smirk on his face. He was surrounded by shadows that seemed to sprout from the ground at his feet, all with matching grins and empty purple eyes. Overall, it was certainly an ominous picture of an individual that Nagi hoped to never have the misfortune of meeting.

But evidently, MK did.

“Would that work?” Okay, now MK was starting to make her worried.

“Uhhh… sure, yeah. And not that this isn’t a wonderful art, but you mind telling me who this guy is? A friend of Sun Wukong’s perhaps?” Nagi asked and internally winced when he seemed to flinch at the question. MK was silent for a moment, as if debating with himself whether to tell her, before simply giving a sigh.

“That’s Macaque. I… I’ll tell you more later, I promise. I just need you to do this important favor for me.” She was starting to not like where this was going. But the demon could never say no to the kid, the heavens help her.

“Alright, you already know I’m willing to kill for you so out with it bud.”

“I need you to shift into Macaque and just… I don’t know, whatever with me. I just want to not be afraid of his face anymore,” MK mumbled, his knuckles white at how tight he was holding on to his sketchbook. All sorts of alarm bells were going off in Nagi’s head at this and a part of her wanted to push for more information now, so she can find this Macaque and skin him alive. But that wasn’t going to help MK right now, so she pushed that heat in her chest down.

“Alright, that I think I can do bud. Let me go get my rollerblades and KO!”

And that led to where they were now, at the outskirts of the city with Nagi wanting nothing more to ensure that MK was comfortable.

“I know, I know Nagi! Just… do it before I chicken out, please?”

“Alright, alright, as long as you’re sure.” With that, Nagi closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She focused on the image MK had given her and felt her very being soften like clay to be molded. Her hair morphed into thick, black fur which spread over her body, clothes shifted to match the armored garments in the drawing, and she gained a familiar tail and large ears. It felt none too different to when she shifts into the Monkey King himself if she were to be honest.

Yet the look of uneasiness and fear Nagi was met with when she opened her eyes made her want nothing more to shift into anybody else.

“You still with me MK?” She asked tentatively, remaining perfectly still despite her wanting to scoop him up in a hug. MK gave another flinch, this time at hearing Nagi’s squeaky, hissy voice coming out of what looked like Macaque yet at the same time he couldn’t help but chuckle at the bizarre contrast. It quickly became a full on laugh as Nagi gave him an expression of exaggerated offense, the demon quickly catching on to the best idea on how to make this face less terrifying.

“I’m- I’m sorry, but hearing your voice come out of Macaque’s mouth is too funny!” He stuttered and the ache in her heart started to lighten up, just relieved to see the young man not as tense.

“I’ll have you know I have the voice of a goddess, young man!” Nagi said with an over-the-top huff, hands on her hips and a pout on her face. That only caused another bout of uncontrollable giggles from MK and she couldn’t help the smile on her face before taking the opportunity to put on her rollerblades. She was completely aware of how ridiculous she looked since said rollerblades were bright pink and decorated with numerous stickers courtesy of Mei.

Oh, Nagi was going to have so much fun ruining this Macaque’s reputation, whoever he was.

“Now, do me a favor and push me. I’m gonna skate down this entire hill backwards!”

“Isn’t that, I don’t know, kind of dangerous?”

“Oh it is, which is why I’m doing it and not you.”

Despite the look of skepticism on his face, that was enough for MK as he gave her a hearty shove. Nagi didn’t bother to hold back the scream of both terror and joy as gravity pulled her down the hill, frantic giggles punctuating the air. MK merely watched the spectacle with amusement as Nagi continued on into the city streets. She practically flew past confused pedestrians at the speed she was going, a number of those did double takes to be sure of what they saw.

The sound of a crash caused him to wince and quickly use the staff to pole vault over to where the demon had come to an unfortunate stop.

“You okay?!” Despite being covered in trash and hit a dumpster hard enough to make a dent in the metal, Nagi looked giddy as a child.

“I’m all good bud, thankfully I didn’t break my spine so it was totally worth it!” She said, prying herself out of her dumpster crater and happily brushed herself off. Seeing such a toothy but genuine smile combined with Macaque’s face was strange to MK, but he managed to not flinch as Nagi rose to her full height so it was a start. “Want to hit the arcade next? Or are you too afraid of your big sister beating you at all your favorite games?”

That certainly perked him up.

“Oh you’re so on!”

“That’s the spirit! Race you!” And like that, Nagi was off again though at a much more controlled speed and MK wasn’t too far behind.

“Hey that’s not fair, you’re on rollerblades!”

Up above the streets on his nimbus, Sun Wukong watched the two with an unidentifiable expression.

“No way, you absolutely cheated!” MK repeated for the third time, being carried on piggyback by Nagi as the demon skated down to Pigsy’s Noodles. It was now dusk and the both of them were still riding the high of spending a whole day goofing off for therapeutic purposes. 

“I don’t know, that sounds like sore loser talk to me. But… did you have a good time bud? How are you feeling?” Nagi asked, tone turning completely serious. MK was quiet a moment, tightening his grip around her shoulders the slightest bit before speaking.

“Yeah, yeah I had a great time. I feel… weird. Because a part of me knows that I spent the day with you, not… him. But at the same time, I’m gonna remember you crashing into a dumpster if I ever see his face again and possibly die from laughing.”

“Then it sounds like my work here is done, ruining reputations is my forte after all!” She came to stop in front of the noodle shop, ears downturned in disappointment. Yet the demon still put MK down, knowing that Pigsy would have her head if she kept the kid out after dark when he had work the next day. “But I’m glad I could help you out kiddo. You get some good rest, alright? I’ll be around to bother you and Pigsy tomorrow.”

And Nagi thought that would be that, until she found herself pulled into a tight hug by MK.

“Thank you.”

She returned the hug without hesitation.

“Don’t mention it.”

Nagi stayed put until she was sure MK made it inside his apartment safely before turning around to return to her cave. After such a busy day, she was ready to curl up in her nest and finish that book Tang had loaned her weeks ago. Maybe brew some tea while she was at it.

Or that was the plan, until she caught the scent of peaches and mischief on her serpentine tongue as she stopped at the entrance of her cave.

“Oh no, not him,” Nagi groaned, secretly hoping that was just the remnants of MK’s scent. Unfortunately that was not the case as she walked inside to find the Monkey King lounging about her home like he owned the place and eating her apples. Resisting the urge to lose it for that alone, the demon took a deep breath and forced a smile that was all teeth.

“Sun Wukong, to what do I owe the pleasure?” She said as if it were anything but a pleasure to be around him. Despite the venom in her tone, the Monkey King continued to lazily chomp on an apple as he finally faced her. Her displeasure quickly evaporated once she noticed how tense he seemed despite the forced nonchalance.

“Hey Nag, took you forever to get here! Saw you hanging out with the kid today.” And despite his attempt to sound serious, Nagi could only blame hanging out with Mei and MK for what she said next.

“R-Rebecca it’s not what you think!” 

“I won’t hesitate bitch!” Seems the Monkey King has been around the kids too long too.

They were both silent for a moment in an attempt to process what happened before the tension broke as they both giggled.

“I don’t know what to tell you man. He just woke me up this morning, asked me if I could shift into this guy called Macaque, and we just did dumb, fun stuff all day. Went out of my way to make the kid laugh until I was sure he’d lose a lung. But he never did tell me why he was so afraid of this face…” Tea. She really needed tea right now. So tea she began to make, not even realizing she had grabbed two cups and was making peach tea until it was too late.

“Oh he didn’t, huh?” Nagi gave him a silent nod, tail twitching in agitation as silence took over again.

“What did this guy do to the kid Wukong? What happened?”

“It’s a long story but let me say you don’t need to hunt him down because we beat him up plenty, it was mainly the kid though.” His pride in MK was infectious as she found herself smiling at that, handing Sun Wukong a mug of warm peach tea as she sat down next to him.

“Good, saves me the effort of doing it myself. I won’t push if either of you don’t want to tell me. But… listen, I’m not just here to help the kid and the others. You annoy the hell out of me but I’m here for you too Wukong. That’s what family does, right?”

The Monkey King was silent at that yet leaned in when Nagi wrapped her tail around his shoulders to gently pull him closer.

“Thanks Nag.”

“You’re welcome.”

[kittymaverick]

Mystery Case Files 21: The Harbinger commentary and review, part 2.

outSpoiler free review first: Holy SHIT GRANDMA studios, talk about knocking the ball out of the park. Not only was that a solid good MCF game to start off with, you’ve now set up the expectation for the next game so high, I’m honestly a little afraid for you. Like... do you know how high the bar is now that you’ve hinted about the content of the next game? Right, coming back to Harbinger for a second. Barring one tiny little slip up which I think was just something that got lost in translation (English is like that), the lore of MCF managed to stay intact, which needs to be applauded. At one point, I almost questioned if there might be almost too many references, especially with that happens to the references in the game itself. (Yes, I, the MCF nerd and fanatic, actually had that thought). I still flip-flop a bit on whether this was a good execution, or a good but shaky execution. For one thing, the way it’s executed... wow, that’s some heavy stuff emotionally. Which is why I’m questioning if that’s “good”, because I suppose there was a line of emotional heaviness I didn’t expect we’ll cross in MCF, but GRANDMA took it there. And so far... part of me is guiltily okay with it, but wow... The studio’s art style does suggest that a detraction from from MCF’s usual Elizabethan English Horror Story with a side of Soul Steampunk and Celtic Druidism would not necessarily be a bad thing. That GRANDMA chose otherwise though, and stuck with a very, very MCF story (albeit more limited to the Celtic legends part), takes guts. What I do wish we’ll get, after the next game, is a story line that’s a GRANDMA original, sort of like Eipex’s the Black Veil, because I think the studio has potential in creating something that’s more them without pulling away too much from MCF. Anyway, that’s the spoiler free review part. Back to my spoiler filled commentary!

Aisling: I know I act suspicious, but I’m just a psychic! MD: I know I’m just a detective, but people keep dying around me, so hey, we’ve got that in common. Aisling: James gave me this cube by the way-- huh? *Emblem of MD appears* ...I’m sorry, that ancient celtic emblem... has a bloody hat. It has a bloody hat. I’m DYING.

Realized I jumped back too far to do this retroactive commentary. Oops.

MD: Okay, well, maybe he isn’t dead yet. We could probably dig him out-- *Nigel turns to bone* MD: ...Never mind. He’s beyond saving. Someone get the coroner!

Six thousand mirrors in the room, and not one shows your face. MD: A technique I have perfected over the two decades of my career. Didn’t save you from getting married to a homicidal madman though. MD: ...I don’t think he picked me because of my looks to begin with.

...Hey MD, I know paper work wasn’t exactly involved and all, but did you actually divorce Charles, or did you just betray him? MD: *DEATH GLARE* You know what, pretend I never asked. MD: You’d better.

MD: Let’s see what skeletons Nigel has in his closet. You know, the last time you found skeletons in a closet, quite literally... MD: Shut up, I was trying not to think about that! (This happened in Key to Ravenhearst. The Skeleton was Charles and Victor.)

Okay, so James was a MCF fanboy, Marge you met on one of your American trips, Nigel was a Fate Carney, John worked on a restored Ravenhearst. I don’t want to say her Majesty might have under exaggerated the number of keywords there were going on here... MD: Oh no, she definitely made it out to be less important than it seemed. She also definitely sent me in because the report she’s going to get out of this is going to be spectacular. The idea that HRM might be the ultimate MCF fan in-universe tickles me with delight. MD: And fills me with utter dread.

Nigel’s shadow puppet theatre: I got fired from the carnival! Boo! MD: Nigel, getting fired from Fate’s Carnival probably saved your ass. Temporarily, until whatever is going on here got you. MD: .................... What? Oh... MD: Yeah. Oh geez I’m looking forward to the case after this now! 8D MD: Why is it that the more I’m tortured, the more gleeful you are?

*Telephone rings* MD: Hello? Marge: HELP ME SOMETHING IS HERE AAAAHHH Well shit. MD: Yeah, she’s done for. Let’s go see the body.

*Gibs collects collectibles before going to body* *I die laughing because that’s my priority too*

MD: Oh no Marge I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you in time... ...Yeah right, says the person who doesn’t want to get their hand on the black stuff. MD: Look, my sorrow doesn’t in anyway override my desire for hygiene, okay? Reminds me of that one time I called some detectives from the last century dandies for refusing to stick their hand into a barrel of rainwater...

MD can I point out how you’re making detailed sketches of MARGE’S BODY in your journal? MD: Look it’s this or pyromania, okay? Don’t judge me. Also, I’m starting to think people that meet you on your cases shouldn’t bother locking their diaries. You always manage to crack them open.

Marge: Oh James is such a darling, I should get him to marry my daughter, then I’ll be such a happy mother-in-law. .............................. MD: ...................... Well, um, I guess Marge was a cougar on the inside, maybe? MD: Yeah, let’s phrase it like that (Restrain desire to make crude NSFW jokes...)

Marge: DAMN THAT GIRL FOR STEALING MY BOY. Marge, seriously, there’s officer Davis. I’m sure he’s just as nice! MD: And not on anyone’s death list. For now. MD: Don’t say that...

Davis: Well, I guess that’s one more evidence against Aisling. HOLD IT! MD: This note here shows clearly that Marge intended to frame Aisling for an attack on her! And the diary entries clearly document how much she hates the suspect. Therefore, the evidence shouldn’t be permissible-- Davis: Yeah, but Marge is dead, and there really isn’t anyone else in town left. *Record scratch* MD: ....It could be... you? Davis: Harhar, look here’s the evidence, go talk to Aisling. MD: Urgh, fine. It’s okay, MD, I was rooting for you there at least!

Aisling: Death, death is all around us! *Flees* MD: Okay, Aisling, that’s really not helping and only making you more suspicious! But since you’re away, I’m going to rifle through your trailer. Um, now who’s suspicious???

Hm, you know, this place would have been great for a holiday spot. MD: I don’t know, given my records with holidays... ...True, you’ll probably end up doing exactly what you are doing now. MD: That said, I think I’ll take a slice of apple pie since no one’s looking. Does the agency pay for your food on your cases? MD: They’d better because I’m giving the recipes to Her Majesty if they don’t...

Aisling: I came here to save John but he’s locked upstairs, please help! MD: Um, if you had let me come with you... maybe some time could have been saved? Aisling: But what if I get killed first then? MD:........ She’s got a point. MD: Dammit, fine...

Hm, so John’s ancestor worked on the original Ravenhearst... We’ll probably need to open up the original game to see if that was the guy that fell from the construction site. (My guess is it’s not, because that carpenter was originally meant to be Rose Summerset’s husband, so it should have been Summerset. Plus Rose’s kids were the twins and Victor.)

Oh damn, a model of Ravenhearst-- MD: Hm, it’s missing a weather vane. ........... MD: Look, just because I burn the place down several times, doesn’t mean I don’t care what it looks like, okay? Can you point out the window that you escaped out of by any chance? 8D MD: *sighs* This one...

Aisling: John, NOOOOOO. MD: Right, gotta cut him down quick! He might still be alive. *Proceed to spend over minutes solving puzzles* MD: I swear, this happened very fast in actuality... Never as fast as the plot demanded though...

*Puts weather vane on model* *Model turns into a raven* MD: ???????????????? Okay, I need to take points off for THAT ridiculous transformation and animation. XD

Aisling: I can’t take this anymore! MD: I know this is hard, Aisling-- Aisling: Here’s the next slab, btw. ....This mood whiplash... I’m dying.

Um, so apparently the banshee wasn’t trying to destroy the world, but was trying to restore herself, which... you disrupted. MD: Look, Allison and her friends needed rescuing okay? I couldn’t just sit idling by. ...If that was disrupted, then how DID Aisling turn human then??? MD: .....Let’s save that mystery for another time because I feel a headache incoming... (Fix edit: It seems to imply that the ritual was only disrupted, not failed, so Aisling did get her skin back, though now she doesn’t remember being a banshee...)

Aisling: I’m a banshee? That’s... That’s impossible. MD: Well, I’ve been through a lot to say most impossible things are actually probable in reality, though if you somehow don’t remember me shoving you back into the cave, um, then I’m grateful. Once you do, please don’t kill me. BTW, your turn on the cube of mystery!

Aisling: Well, if I’m a banshee, I guess I should go back to Dire Grove. We can catch the next ferry. MD: You know that’s a really long trip right? It might take us the better half of a day-- Or a single puzzle’s worth of time. MD: ...Where was THAT kind of fast travel all these years??? I do like how it’s implied that you guys had a huge detour with picking people up and dropping them off though.

Ais: Okay, we’re here in Dire Grove-- AH! MD: Wow, even nature is saying NO to you. Ooooooor it could be a certain immortal druid-- MD: Please don’t. It’s fine! We have a banshee. MD: All she does is predict death! Oh yeah, forgot about that...

*Aisling gets “kidnapped” by green energy* Gibs: That can’t be healthy. MD: That’s honestly pretty normal at this point for us. At least she didn’t get dropped down a tube.

Um, what’s with the Chinese incense in a Druid’s domain? X’D (I’m going to pretend they traded that...)

(I honestly don’t have a lot of stuff to comment on in the section in Dire Grove, because there isn’t much to snark about. Which, I guess, comes to show that 99% of silliness comes from MD dealing with PEOPLE, alive, dead, revived, or otherwise not really a human.)

*Aisling goes back to banshee form* MD: First, no hard feelings about last time, right? Aisling: *stares* MD: Please, thank you, and I’m sorry??? Aisling: You did help me out, so I guess it’s fine. MD: *sigh of relief* BTW, four people technically did DIE though in the process. Aisling: Um, that wasn’t me, if you recall your lore correctly. MD: True enough, but STILL. Just pointing it out. You want her to scream in your ear? She’s still got time for that.

Aisling: BTW, this energy is still floating about. And I think I know why. Will you accept this energy and use it to save the world? MD: Oh hold ON a minute. You want ME to do WHAT? Aisling: Save the world. You heard what I said. MD: Okay, listen. I started this detective job mostly because I thought it was cool... (MD’s going to be at this for a while. Are you going to listen, Aisling? A: To be honest, I’ll probably stop around the part where MD apologized for shoving me back into the cave... By the way, want to hear my part of the story on how I turned back into a banshee? Sure!) *****************************************************************

HOW AISLING BECAME A BANSHEE, AGAIN. Aisling: To make a long story short, there was a lot of puzzles Puzzles which you had to personally solve, without MD’s help? Aisling: It really makes you appreciate how hard MD has had it for the last 21 years...

Did... did you just KILL four people to restore your spirit? Aisling: I just helped their soul cross over! I swear! Aisling, you’re being really SUS right now and I’ve practice how to spot a liar lately! Aisling: I only predict deaths! And then find the souls and tell them where to go. I swear that’s my task. EVERYONE VOTE AISLING AISLING IS THE IMPOSTER

Is one of your abilities literally “summon joyride”???? Aisling: it’s a carriage A carriage can be an awesome joyride if you use it irresponsibly Aisling: How does MD tolerate you? They don’t, they’ve just had worse company and I’m a lesser evil. 8D

Aisling (actually Gibs): *suffers through the last giant super puzzle* ...Yeah, REALLY makes you appreciate what MD goes through. Aisling: Is it always this bad??? Sometimes. I’ve seen worse.

Gibs: THAT CARRIAGE IS BADASS. See, I told you it was a joyride. Aisling: You know, I think I’ll float back to the MD. No joyrides. Awwwwwwwwwwww... Okay, now let’s rewind back to when MD started their rant. **************************************************

Aisling: BTW, this energy is still floating about. And I think I know why. Will you accept this energy and use it to save the world? MD: Oh hold ON a minute. You want ME to do WHAT? Aisling: Save the world. You heard what I said. MD: Okay, listen. I started this detective job mostly because I thought it was cool, and it was for the first couple of cases where all I had to deal with was bust the criminal organization STAIN and recover the Hope diamond for the Queen. But then that’s where all my trouble started because she sent me to this creepy manor which turned out to be a prison to not one, not two, but FOUR ghosts. What’s even worse is the first time I went, I thought I only had to rescue Emma. I was wrong, and for the longest time, I thought Fate Carnival folks were dying from my mistake. Turns out later it was completely personal. This was everything that happened before I met YOU. (Again, really sorry about kicking you back into the cave and getting you stuck in the situation you were in in the last who knows how many years...) Afterwards, I went to the Louisiana which got me on the bad side of a certain ghost pirate, who turned out to be the grandfather of the guy killing the carney folks from his mother’s side. Which was why he was killing them by the way. She sold him to Fate’s Carnival. Anyway, after figuring out that I’ve dun goofed, I went back to Ravenhearst manor, which turned out there was a WHOLE OTHER SECTION I didn’t discover last time, which was somehow a very personalized and twisted marriage proposal that I didn’t notice until too late. I burned THAT down for good measure before taking a break in some place near a lake. But then that guy’s FATHER took up issue with what I did, which I didn’t even started, to be honest. He tried to kill me for whatever grudge it was that he had. I had to stab his horocrux with my badge to get him to stop that time. But then it turns out that father ALSO has some offspring here in Dire Grove, and I had to come back to prevent THAT from going down in flames as well. Thankfully, I think they remained sane. I can’t say the same for the twins, who turned out to be the evil guy’s kids. They most definitely went insane, and REMADE Ravenhearst, which I had to burn down for THE THIRD TIME. All that plus the jump I took landed me in an asylum, which turned out to be the one where both the evil bald guy and his dad was imprisoned once upon a time. Of course, the guy’s father tried to kill me, AGAIN. Took care of that, and also removed the shard that was driving me bonkers. It only gets worse from here though. I got chased around by an woman with a clock for her heart who I had to defenestrate out a clock tower. She didn’t stab me, but then the guy who probably ENGINEERED MY ENTIRE LIFE did, because apparently he wanted to use my soul’s virtue to anchor death to the mortal world or something. I got an immortality feather out of that, I guess, so it wasn’t too bad, but I basically DIED. And then afterwards there was that undead guy who was really hung up about his biker jacket. Next was the evil guy’s ancient youngest son nearly destroying the world (4th wall break: THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT) trying to revive him which thankfully DIDN’T HAPPEN BECAUSE OH GODS I WOULD HAVE DIED FOR REAL ON THE SPOT IF IT DID, FEATHER OR NOT. Then a creepy woman in a mirror had to be locked back into the mirror dimension. And that’s when my agency had a fucking SECURITY BREACH which turned out to have been in the making for YEARS. And then the pirate guy came back and nearly enslaved me. I had to blow up his ship and exorcise him from this world. And AFTER all of that, I was finally sent to Blackmoor, where I met YOU, and also saw a bunch of people marginally related to me die from a cause we still don’t have any answers for. *DEEP INHALE*

Aisling: Okay, so your point is.... MD: My POINT is.... out of ALL the sane and wholesome people in the world who don’t have ANY BAGGAGE whatsoever, why do I, the Master Detective, have to be the one to save the world here-- Charles: Hello. MD: *SCREEEEEEECH*

CHARLES IT’S BEEN FOREVER-- wait, you’re not here to serve the divorce papers are you? Charles: Of course not. I’m asking MD to come back home with me. MD: WHAT?! Charles: Where else would I welcome you back to? *Evil cackle* ......... 8D8D8D8D8D8D8D8D Aisling: ........... :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| :| MD: .................D:< D:< D:< D:< D:< D:< D:< MD: Aisling, hand that energy over, I’ve a WORLD TO BURN.

I have to point this out... the last time we saw Charles IN THE FLESH in game, was Escape from Ravenhearst, which was NINE YEARS AGO, likely TEN by the time Crossfade comes out. Happy Tenth Anniversary of your wedding, Master Detective? 8D

MD: AS IF.

[screamingatanemptyroom]

Baby’s First Revenge Part Seven (Final)

Here it is, the last part to the Baby’s First Revenge story! I hope you guys enjoy it! 

links to Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 can be found here. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll always be here for you.” Charlotte grabbed Brandon’s hand in her own, smiling gently

“AND CUT! That’s a wrap!” Stepping closer, the director’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “That was fantastic, guys! Great job!”

Everyone in the cast and crew broke out in cheers, hugging and high-fiving each other as it spread that they had successfully filmed the last scene.

Charlotte and Brandon sighed with relief, their hands letting go as they grinned.

“Not too bad, Edith.” The boy chuckled. “Given a few more years of experience, you might even be as good of an actor as me one day.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes. “Be still my beating heart.” Standing up, she started to walk away, looking for her parents.

“Hey, wait!” Brandon reached out, his hand hesitating and hanging in the air as if he had wanted to grab her arm to stop her, but changed his mind. Despite the pause, she heard him and stopped, staring at him with a curious expression.

“What is it?”

“It’s just… “ He swallowed uncomfortably, shifting his weight from foot to foot. “You really nailed this… I mean… It’s not even like you are Edith. It’s more like… Edith is like you.” He shook his head. “That doesn’t make any sense. I mean, the character in the book was great, but you seem to make her a person, a real person with hopes and dreams. Until it seems like she’s more based off of you then you off of her.”

Charlotte smiled. “Maybe she is based off of me.”

“Funny. The book would have just been published around the time you were born.”

“You never know.”

“I guess, I just wish…” Brandon frowned, growing more uncomfortable. Looking frustrated at his pauses, Charlotte let out a long sigh.

“No offense, but get to the point.”

“Sorry. This is just going sound really stupid.” His face turned slightly red as he spoke. “I just wish that I could have done the same, and made the character Jordan real. I wish we could have been friends in real life like that, growing up together, looking out for each other, protecting each other.”

The smile slipped from Charlotte’s face, leaving a blank expression. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not.” A slightly distressed expression took the place of his previous embarrassed one. “I promised not to lie to you anymore, remember?”

“You want truth?” Charlotte’s voice was cold, almost unrecognizable. “Let me tell you the truth.”

Her hand reached out and grabbed the boy’s collar, pulling him closer.

“This story was based on true people. A little boy and girl. Growing up together, protecting each other. The ideal friendship you’re imagining.” She was whispering now, her eyes shining with a pain she couldn’t hide. “But that was a lie. She was the only one getting hurt to protect him, the only one who was trusting, helping, all while expecting nothing in return. The boy just took everything, giving nothing. And do you want to know what happened when he had taken all he could, and she was no longer useful?”

“… What?” Brandon’s voice cracked on the word. He didn’t want to know. Didn’t want to hear the rest of the story that was making tears form in his friend’s eyes. But he knew she needed to say it.

“He killed her.” A single tear tracked down her cheek, but she ignored it, never looking away from the boy’s frightened gaze. “He murdered her, and watched her die, a smile on his face.”

Charlotte released her grip on Brandon’s shirt, and stepped back.

“How do you know… ?” He trailed off, unsure of how to ask the question, afraid of the answer.

Charlotte walked off without a word.

 “Great job, Sweetie!” Charlotte’s parents met up with her outside her dressing room. Her father swept her up into a big hug, a large smile on his face. “We’re so proud of you!”

“Thanks!” Charlotte hugged them both, enjoying the feeling of being with family. The conversation with Brandon just then had brought up the feelings of despair and regret from her previous life, and time with her parents was just what she needed to move past that.

“The director told us about the party to celebrate finishing filming tonight.” Her mom chimed in. “Do you want to go?”

Charlotte frowned. “That’s not something you typically invite kids to though, right?”

“Well, he said you would be more interested in the early half of the party, where there will be good food and a chance for everyone to tell you how wonderful you did. We can leave before your bedtime.”

Charlotte thought it over. “I guess that would be fine, as long as I don’t miss out on too much sleep.” She shrugged. “I need plenty of sleep if I’m going to grow up healthy.”

“…” Her parents passed a look between them and shook their heads.

“Remind me who the adult in this relationship is?”

Charlotte ignored her mother’s muttering, and looked up at her father, confused. “Wait, why are you off work today?”

Her parents had taken turns taking off of work to drive her to the studio, and today should have been her mother’s day.

“Well…” Her father looked slightly embarrassed. “I may have taken on a special… project at work.”

Charlotte raised an eyebrow. “A project?”

“Tell her.” Her mother sighed.

“It’s not a big deal, just was sitting around with my coworkers, and happened to tell them about the terrible things the internet people had said about you…” He shrugged. “They were horrified, of course, and so we came up with a group project.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask.”

“Your father and his coworkers have turned into a rabid dedicated PR team on the internet, promoting your movie and going after anyone spreading rumors about you. It’s basically a fan club.” Rolling her eyes, her mother continued. “Imagine my shock when I stopped by his workplace only to see a group of middle-aged men and women waving banners with your name on them, hunched over computer screens, celebrating catching Internet trolls.”

“…”

“Don’t worry sweetie.” Her father tapped a silver pin on his chest with a proud expression. “I’m the club president.”

“That… was not what I was worried about.”

“It’s okay.” Her mother whispered in Charlotte’s ear. “He’s just all fired up after those reporters cornered you in your dressing room the other day. He and his friends at work should calm down shortly.”

“What if…”

“Otherwise I’ll take care of it.” Her tone was final.

“Dad…” She smiled, looking up at the worried parent hovering over her. “You’re an idiot.”

“…”

“I love you!” She threw herself in his arms, hugging him tightly.

“I love you too.” He hugged her back. 

For the second time that day Charlotte cried.

This time… they were tears of relief. 

This life, this new life. It isn’t wasted. I have a family.

 The party was in full swing by the time Charlotte and her family arrived.

“And here’s our star!” Mark Tuttle grinned and pointed at their entrance, leading everyone in a round of applause. Charlotte smiled at the director, waving her hand slightly until the attention turned away from her. Breathing a small sigh of relief, she was about to move towards the table with the drinks and appetizers on it, when she was stopped by Lacy.

“Charlotte!” The young woman shook her hand enthusiastically. “I was looking for you!”

Shaking her head slightly, Charlotte chuckled, taking her hand back. “Well you found me.”

“I wanted to talk to you! I’m the casting director for a new project, one that requires some talented child actors.”

Charlotte stepped back, shocked. “I’m not…”

“It’s obviously a very different project than ‘Searching for Silence.’ Less action and drama more of a fantasy adventure. But given your talents I know you could bring the film to a whole new level.”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something.” Charlotte held up her hand. “I was good in this movie because I fit the role well. That doesn’t make me a professional actress.”

“Really?” Lacy’s grin widened. “A five year old…”

“Five and three quarters.”

“…Almost six year old who can portray complicated emotions at the drop of a hat, including hatred, guilt, anger and grief?” She rolled her eyes. “You’re a freaking goldmine to any director.”

“I…”

“Just think about it.” Lacy patted her back. “Plus, you’d get to work with your friend.”

“Friend?”

“Brandon is being considered for one of the main roles as well! Wouldn’t that be great?!”

Charlottes gaze drifted over to the corner of the room, where Brandon was standing next to Peter, talking. Neither of them had a pleasant expression.

“Yeah…” her voice trailed off as a new unease took root in her chest. “Great.”

Brandon hadn’t planned on confronting Peter at this party.

He had just been standing nearby, pouring himself a cup of punch, when he heard the author complaining loudly.

“I know I wrote it, but I wish I had given the story a different ending.”

He gulped down the drink in his hand, slamming the cup on a nearby table with a frustrated expression. “What a stupid scene. Jordan and Edith getting along and having a happy ending!”

Brandon thought about the words Charlotte had said earlier, the pain in her eyes as she talked about how the boy Jordan had been based off of had murdered his friend. A sense of disgust took over him and he stepped closer before he had realized it.

“And how would you end it instead?” He interrupted, his sarcastic tone at odds with his innocent face. “Have Jordan betray the one person who has sacrificed everything to protect him? Now that’s a stupid ending!”

Peter’s face turned pale. “No one would want to live in the shadow of a girl like that forever. Perfect at everything she does. Mature, even as a child.” He snorted. “Anyone would snap eventually.”

Brandon thought about Charlotte. She was smart, talented, and much more mature than she should be for her age. He had always been used to being the center of attention, but whenever she was around, she outshined him. Should he resent her? Be jealous? 

But then Brandon laughed. “No one is perfect, even if they seem like it. 

And she wasn’t. 

She was awkward at making friends, trying to talk about the weather and political climate with other five year olds. She tried to solve every problem by threatening it, and if that didn’t work by beating it up. She always jumped ahead without thought, without fear, never even considering the possibility of failure.

She wasn’t perfect.

“So, doesn’t change the fact that Jordan would be better off without Edith.” Peter argued back, a strange light in his eyes.

Brandon rolled his eyes. “Of course, who would want a dedicated friend who cares for you and supports you in everything you do?”

“Supports you in living in her shadow!”

“WHO CARES?!” Brandon threw up his hands. “Even if you’re in her shadow, at least you’re by her side! And if she’s stronger, smarter and faster… well I’ll just find the things that I can do, and help her the best I can. Because that’s what friends do!! They don’t worry about who’s better! They become better together!”

Peter’s expression grew cold. “You’re just a child.”

“And you’re an idiot.”

Brandon stomped away, not paying any attention to the threatening glare at his back.

“Here.” Brandon put a cup of punch on the table before Charlotte, who had been resting on the couch, lost in her thoughts. Her eyes flickered quickly towards him and then towards the drink on the table.

“What’s that?”

“It’s punch.”

“Why did you put it there?”

“So you can drink it?” Brandon shook his head. “And they told me you were smart.”

“Umm… thanks.” She reached out to grab the glass. “What were you talking to the author about?”

“Just stupid stuff.” He smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”

Charlotte stiffened, a memory from her previous life overwhelming her.

“Why are you grinning so much?” Charlotte asked, sitting down with a tired expression.

“Just stupid stuff.” Peter kept smiling, setting a coffee cup in front of her. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Ugh. Thanks.” She took a sip of the coffee, making a face. “This tastes terrible! What did you do, make it with your feet?”

Peter scowled. “Sorry I’m not a world class barista.”

“I forgive you.” She chuckled, taking another sip with a wince. “If I wasn’t so tired and needed the caffeine…”

“You should get some rest. You’ve been working too hard.” The right words were coming out of Peter’s mouth, but something seemed… off. 

Charlotte shook herself slightly, trying to focus on his question. “I can’t go to sleep yet. I need to check and see if there’s been a response from the publishers.” She grinned. “This book I wrote is pretty great, I think someone will buy it.”

“…” Peter stared at her silently. A headache started pounding at her temples. She took another drink of coffee, setting it down half-finished to rub her temples.

“What did you do today?”

He showed her a letter in his hand. Her head hurt worse, she had to struggle to read it.

It was a publishing offer.

Charlotte would have jumped up and cheered, thrilled to see a reward for all the late nights, all the hard work she had done. She would have given Peter a hug, thanking him for the terrible coffee again and the surprise of revealing the letter.

She would have…

There was just one problem.

The name on the letter was not hers.

Peter McAllen.

“You… you stole my book?” It was hard to talk, her lips were slightly numb.

Peter looked defensive.

“It wasn’t my fault!”

And so started the last argument she would ever have with him. The one that ended with her dying on the floor, while he looked on with a satisfied expression.

CRASH! The glass slipped through her fingers, splintering into multiple pieces as it hit the floor. Punch spilled out over her shoes, staining them red… 

“Charlotte, are you okay?”

She looked over at the boy who reminded her of Peter, her face curled in a snarl. “Leave me alone!” 

He stepped back, startled. He looked genuinely worried. Charlotte’s heart softened, and she was about to reach out and apologize, when her eyes caught on the broken glass at her feet.

Had she really been about to take a drink from a glass he had handed her? Was being poisoned once by someone she trusted not enough for her? Had she learned nothing?

Charlotte pushed past him, ignoring his hurt expression as she quickly found her parents. 

“Take me home.”

Without asking questions they bundled her up and took her out. As she was being whisked away, she saw Brandon’s face.

Pain. 

Confusion.

Fear.

Charlotte turned away, ignoring him, and let her father carry her out of the party.

Later that night, Charlotte sat on her bed, staring down at her hands. She felt slightly guilty at how she had left Brandon without a word, but it was hard to ignore the memories he sometimes invoked.

He’s not Peter. She told herself quietly, rocking in place. We’re friends.

Yes, but you thought Peter was your friend too, didn’t you, and look how that turned out. A awful voice in the back of her mind whispered back. Charlotte had no answer, and sat there silently, confused.

Tap, tap. A sound of something hitting her window.

Charlotte looked outside. There was a note taped to the window sill. Picking it up with trembling hands, she read the scrawl across the page, an all too familiar handwriting.

“I’ve taken your little friend. If you don’t want him to die then meet me at the secret base. Come alone.”

“Shit.” Charlotte whispered, the paper crumpling in her hand. “He knows.”

She always thought Peter might recognize her one day. They had grown up together, knew everything about each other. So many little signs, clues, only the fact that it seemed so impossible seemed to argue against him realizing the truth.

But he knew. 

Otherwise why else would he tell her to meet him at the “secret base”? It was their secret growing up, an abandoned shed in the middle of nowhere, where they used to hide during the worst times growing up.

Straightening out the paper, she read it again, her eyes staying on the words “little friend.” Her stomach sank even further.

“Brandon.” She was surprised at the pain in her voice. Charlotte looked around her room with a defeated expression. All over the walls were pictures. Pictures of her smiling with her parents. Playing, laughing… living a new life.

She could lose everything. All the wonderful things she had gained by being reborn. Her childhood, her family, her home.

But she couldn’t let him die.

Silently she opened her window further, crawling out and running into the night. She didn’t hesitate, she knew this location better even then this house she was currently growing up in. 

“Okay Peter.” She smiled , a humorless expression. “I’m coming home.”

“Charlotte.” His voice was the first thing she heard as she entered the shack.

“Peter.” She responded in kind, forcing herself not to react to the terrible seen in front of her. In the five years since she last saw this place, it hadn’t changed much. The sagging couching, the chipped tables. The barely functioning generator powering a small tv and a coffee maker. It looked exactly the same it had the day she died, in the very spot she was standing now.

Charlotte shivered, both from the cold draft and from fear. 

Peter stood in the back, his eyes fanatical, staring at her with a triumphant expression. He held a terrified Brandon in front of him, who was too scared too move. He also held a gun to the young boy’s head.

“Let him go.” She spoke calmly, not wanting to startle him. “You want me, not him.” 

“CHARLOTTE NO!” Brandon screamed out. “JUST RUN! I’LL BE OKAY!”

Peter started laughing, a disturbing sound that echoed through the cabin. Shaking his head slightly, he sighed, gesturing with the gun as he spoke.

“How cute. He’s actually trying to protect you. You of all people!” Peter snorted. “You and I both know you never needed anyone’s protection.”

“Let him go.”

“No.” He smiled. “He’s my insurance that you won’t do something stupid.”

“Seriously?” Charlotte spread her hands, sweating nervously as the gun swayed back and forth, keeping an aim on Brandon. “I’m five years old, how much damage could I do?”

His eyes narrowed. “Nice try. I might even believe you if you hadn’t shown off your skills with the stunt men. Besides, even if I hadn’t seen that… I know you’re perfectly capable of taking down me and anyone unlucky enough to go against you. I used to make money on you taking down guys twice your size in fights, remember?” 

“Charlotte, what’s going on?” Brandon’s eyes darted between the two of them. “What’s he talking about?”

“Yes, Charlotte, why don’t you tell your little friend that despite his desperate attempts to be honest with you, you’ve been lying to him all along.”

“Peter…” Charlotte’s voice held a warning tone, but he ignored her, continue to talk.

“That you’re not the little five year old Charlotte that he thinks you are.” He laughed.  “I can’t believe that you would actually play the part of the character based on yourself. ”

She watched carefully as he ranted, hoping for an opening.

“You’re the street trash Charlotte. The fighter Charlotte. The criminal Charlotte.”

“The Charlotte you murdered.” She whispered. “The Charlotte you poisoned when she trusted you.”

“MY CHARLOTTE!” His enraged scream filled the small cabin. “You deserved it! I did what I had to do!” 

“Wait!” Brandon’s eyes widened. “That story you told me today, the one about the boy who betrayed and murdered the girl… YOU’RE that girl?! That means that he…” He trailed off, looking up at the man holding a gun to his head. “He betrayed you after you had spent your life helping him out, protecting him?”

“Showing off! Making me feel worthless!” Peter snapped back, but Brandon wasn’t listening.

“Oh no…” He turned pale. “The drink today, did you think… Plus, when we first met, you called me Peter.” He shook his head, his eyes sad. “Do I remind you of him?!”

“At first.” Charlotte admitted quietly. “Not anymore.”

“That’s a relief, I just...”

“SHUT UP!” Looking obviously frustrated at being ignored, Peter dug his gun into the boy’s head. “We’re getting off topic!”

“Hey! You’re ruining this important bonding moment in our friendship!” Brandon argued.

“I am holding the gun!”

“Still!”

“What do you want, Peter?” Charlotte interrupted. “I’m assuming you didn’t call me out in the middle of the night to tell Brandon that I reincarnated.”

“You are a perverse existence. A curse on my life.” Peter hissed, putting more pressure on the weapon in his hand. “I took care of you! You were supposed to stay dead! But you’re here, taking over my project from MY book!”

“That you stole.”

“And making me look like an idiot again!” He sighed. “I won’t do it. You have to be gotten rid of.”

Charlotte smiled at him. “Good. Let go of the kid and let’s try to kill each other.”

“I’m not that stupid. There’s your answer.” He looked down at the table in between them, and Charlotte’s breath left in a rush as she saw what he was looking at:

A coffee cup.

“No.” Her voice was filled with pain. “Not again.”

“Again.” He grinned. “We’re going to repeat the past, but this time, you’re going to stay dead.”

“Wait! What?!!” Brandon looked down at the cup, panicked. “Is that poison?! You can’t do that! Run away!”

“Oh, you little fool.” Peter tightened his grip on the boy. “I know her better than anyone else alive. She’s nearly unbeatable, but she had two weaknesses: First she was too trusting.” He shrugged. “My betrayal took care of that, but she still has the second weakness: She needs to save everyone.”

“…” Charlotte stared silently at her former friend. 

“She has only known you for a short while, and she already can’t stand to let you get hurt. Not if she can save you.”

“NO!” Brandon started to scream, but Peter’s hand clamped down over his mouth.

“Now here’s the deal, Charlotte: You drink the poison, and I let the kid go. You don’t drink?” He tapped the gun against Brandon’s head. “Your friend dies.”

“You’ll never get away with that.” Her voice was flat, expressionless, her eyes never leaving the cup on the table. 

“Probably. But he will still be dead, and you will never be able to live with yourself. Almost worth not killing you.” 

“How do I know you’ll let him go?”

“You don’t.” His tone was cold. “But you absolutely know that if you don’t, he’ll die. It’s your only chance to save his life.”

“…” Charlotte reached out slowly, holding the cup between her hands. It was slightly warm, the weight unfamiliar to her. She hadn’t held a coffee cup since she had been reborn. Her head started to hurt, a phantom of a memory from a different life.

“Drink it.” Peter ordered, his eyes almost glowing in the dim light in the cabin. Brandon’s eyes were as wide as they could go, he desperately was trying to shake his head from side to side. Clearly he was trying to tell her to run, to save herself.

Charlotte smiled. She had definitely made a better friend in this life than her last. She looked down at the coffee, the bitter scent reminding her of her death, the anger, the frustration, the loneliness.

 I don’t want to die.

She had a home in this life. Parents who loved her. A friend who would sacrifice himself to save her. She wasn’t the same Charlotte who died helpless on this floor, betrayed and alone.

She was more.

“OUCH!” Peter’s hand flew up, blood splashing through the air. Brandon had bit the hand covering his mouth, his teeth tearing through skin. Peter recovered quickly, regaining his composure and grabbing Brandon again to aim the gun at his head. His lapse had only lasted the briefest moment.

But it was enough.

CRASH! 

The cup went flying through the air, striking Peter on the forehead as it left Charlotte’s hand at full speed. She lept forward, jumping on the table in front of him and kicking him in the chest, knocking him backwards. He tried to sit up again, but she had already grabbed the coffee mug, slamming it down on his throat. He choked falling back, his hands clutching his neck as he struggled to breathe. Charlotte knelt on his chest, her face grim, and reared backwards, her small fist clenched around the ceramic.

BAM

She broke his nose.

“That’s for kidnapping my friend.”

BAM

A tooth was knocked loose, flying through the air and rolling under a nearby chair.

“That’s for trying to poison me.”

BAM!

“And THAT’s for stealing my book and killing me in my last life.”

He was unconscious.

Charlotte found a rope in a chest nearby, and tied him up. She then began searching his pockets.

“What are you doing?”

She held up his cell phone. “Bingo.”  She dialed a number.

“Hello? Me and my friend were kidnapped.” Her voice on the phone was a frantic sob, but her face stayed calm. “We knocked him out, but I don’t know how much longer we’ll stay safe! Please send help!”

She paused, listening. 

“Yes, we know him, he’s working on the movie we’re in. His name is Peter McAllen.” She winked at Brandon. “He said I reminded him of a girl he knew growing up, and that he had stolen his book from her and poisoned her. He said because my name was Charlotte too that I was her reborn to curse him and wanted to kill me and my friend. Please send help! The address is…” She rattled off the address and then hung up, ignoring any attempts to keep her on the line.

Brandon shook his head. “You’re getting pretty good at this ‘acting’ thing.”

“Can you keep my secret?” She ignored his comment, asking the question anxiously instead.

Brandon smiled, grabbing her pinky finger with his own.

“What are friends for?”

They sat together on the front step outside, watching the stars and waiting patiently for the police to arrive. Charlotte couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What’s so funny?”

“You know, I’m glad I got this second chance.” She stared up at the stars, slightly blurred through a vale of tears. “I thought I had a family in my first life… but I had nothing. This time, I have parents, friends… and that’s everything I could have ever wanted.”

“Plus you got revenge on the guy who killed you!” Brandon pushed the angry, gagged Peter who laid helpless on the ground in front of them with his foot. The man glared in return, but was ignored by the two children. “And you’re only five. What are you going to do now?”

Charlotte shrugged. “I don’t know… I hadn’t planned that far ahead.” She looked over. “Tell me about this new project you’re going to be acting in.”

“Did Lacy talk to you?!” Brandon looked excited, “You should try out for the part! Then we can keep working together and hanging out…” He trailed off, slightly embarrassed.

“I’d like that.” She smiled. “Acting was kind of fun.”

They both stayed silent after that, listening to the sounds of sirens in the distance. Charlotte let out a slow, sigh of relief.

She was alive.

And this time, she would live a life filled with friends and family.

This time, she would be happy.

[axelsagewrites]

Foster Kid PT2*Magnus Bane

A/N: 1st thing 1st, I know I posted pt 1 ages ago. I'm sorry. It was after a comment asking for part 2 I realized how many 1 parters I have. 

So...2nd thing is if there is anything that doesn't have a part 2 or isn't a completed series that you want completed comment the name under this chapter and I'll do them next. 

And thirdly I, for the time, no longer have word meaning no spell check meaning errors. I tried to use Grammarly on tumblr but it isn't great. I also only learned to spell because when I was 14 so I'm sorry for any idiotic mistakes.

Part 1

Masterlist HERE

Wattpad HERE

Magnus X Platonic reader   ----   Mentions of Malec

"Ah shit," Magnus mumbled, looking over the mundane. No serious marks that he could see but that wasn't the issue. What was the high warlock of Brooklyn meant to do with a half-dead mundane who'd already been exposed to the shadoworld? The sound of an alley cat made him jump but also pushed him into action. After all, it could've been a shadowhunter who would assume the worst. Thank the lords for magic, Magnus thought as he summoned a portal. He pulled the mundanes arm around his shoulder and dragged her up. She groaned lightly and her head lolled to the side. It was a pitiful sight. Magnus clicked his fingers to make the bag beside her follow them through the portal. Once home Magnus dragged the mundane to the sofa, clearing his makeup he'd left there off with magic. Chairman meow gave Magnus what he could only assume as a questioning look before walking away. He couldn't be distracted though. The only thing worse than having a half-dead mundane is having its corpse on your couch. They were a teen after all. Someone had to care about them surely. Sun shining across (Y/N)'s face woke her up the next morning. The first thing she felt was confusion as she stared at the chandelier but it didn't last long as an aching pain took over her body. Her limbs felt heavy and her head stuffy. Despite the pain, she propped herself up on her elbows. The blanket that had been over her slipped down. Blanket? She wondered. Looking around the room didn't help her confusion. Elaborately decorated with ornaments that by themselves cost more than her foster parents home. Not to mention antiques carelessly scattered across the place. A meow made her jump. Along with the blanket, she'd accidentally pushed a cat off her stomach. It meowed angrily at her, moving down slightly to lay down on her lap, falling back asleep. "I see you've met chairmen," A voice made her jump. The cat scurried off her lap, sending a quick hiss, before settling on an armchair. "Ignore him, darling. How are you feeling?" "Okay?" It came out as a question. The man came into view and (Y/N) took in his appearance. A tall Asian man dressed in turquoise skinny jeans, black shirt, and more rings than fingers. He had on a better cat eye than she could ever achieve and several earrings on. "Magnus?" "Indeed," He sat on the armrest of the sofa by her feet. (Y/N) sat up, pulling the blanket to cover her "I'm afraid we'll need to check your wounds before you go," "Wounds?" Magnus looked down for a moment "From the monsters," he looked back at her, "the ones that you saw before. Looks like they want a clean job," "Monsters?" she questions. Her brain felt like it was unraveling "Their not real. Thugs killed my parents. Monsters aren't real." "Who said that?" "Miss Claudette. And all my other therapists." Magnus summoned a coffee, knowing this would be a long day. (Y/N) flinched slightly but didn't seem completely shocked, "Well these shrinks would say that. Shadowhunters aren't too keen on mundane relationships," "Shadowhunters?" "This is gonna be a long morning," Magnus muttered. Realising all his plans for the day were now not optional he called to cancel his appointment with the queen. He could extend her life tomorrow anyway. "So shadowhunters are the ones with tats, vampires are very stereotypical but don't sparkle, and wolves run the precinct?" (Y/N) tried to clarify. "Pretty much," Magnus shrugged "The faes are the trickster and the warlocks the queens of the downworld." "Course you'd think that," Magnus shot a fake glare, "What about me? What am I?" Magnus looked the girl over with pursed lips "A headache," he decided. He got up from his spot on the couch and headed to the kitchen "I'm making eggs want any?" "Sure, but-" she jumped off the couch, following him, "what do you mean a headache?" Magnus sighed as he started cracking eggs "I don't know. I'm a warlock, not a psychic. Probably either a mundane with the sight or your mum was friendly with the milkman," (Y/N) glared at Magnus. Her mum was no cheater "All I know is that if you were a downworlder by birth it would've showed by now. Maybe a half but the clave would know and you wouldn't be with mundies. Speaking of which would you like to call anyone?" "No one to call." "Really?" He asked. (Y/N) shrugged "What will your fosters parents say when you don't come home?" "Yay free cheques no kid. Win-win for them." Magnus looked back to the frying pan. Some people. "What's your plan?" "At first it was to crash at a schoolmates house but I'm not even sure where they live. Figured I'd try being homeless. Heard its a great diet," She tried to joke. "I'm not letting you be homeless," he deadpanned. (Y/N) shrugged "Then call it backpacking," Magnus magicked over some plates to serve the egg on "I've got a spare room. If you want you can have it." "I don't want to be a freeloader," She insisted. Magnus handed her the eggs with a smirk "Never said it was free darling. You can have the room if you clean and look after Chairman. After a long day of appointments, I cannot be bothered cleaning the place. Magic or no magic." "So you want me to be a live-in housemaid?" "Sure, call it what you want. If not I'm sure cardboard is a comfy bed. How're the eggs?" "Good," (Y/N) thought about it "Sure. I mean thanks really. I don't get why you're being so nice though," "Treat people with kindness," Magnus shrugged. "Besides I know what its like. Being exposed to the downworld with no clue. Its only right you have someone to help guide you through it." "Thanks. Really. I don't think anyone's ever so nice," Magnus' heart broke a little. All he'd done is give her a job and eggs. "Hey wait?! Isn't treat people with kindness what Harry Styles says?" "Wise man, great body." The full day was spent helping (Y/N) recover and explaining more about the downworld. And shadowhunters. It was still gnawing at Magnus. How would he explain the mundane working for him? With Valentine seemingly coming back and the Lightwoods persistence, how would he hide it? How could he potentially date Alec and harbor (Y/N)? Unless she wasn't mundane. "How would you feel about doing some tests? Finding out what you are possible," Magnus asked while they were flicking through TV channels. "Id love it. Can we? Like is it possible?" Magnus nodded hesitantly "It is but... it is Complicated. If your potential shadow or downworlder side hasn't shown yet then your probably a mix. Which means more intense tests. Mm taking a lot of magic, blood tests, and spells. Maybe a couple rituals here and there. It could take a while but...you'll get your answers." She was silent for a few moments "Do you think it'll help with my parents? Like, find out who they were?" Magnus nodded "Possibly. What do you think?" "Whats with the sudden interest?" She asked "not even an hour ago you were telling me it wasn't that important right now? Whats with the change of heart?" "You remember the shadowhunters?" She nodded "Yeah well they're sticklers for rules. If they find out I'm harboring a mundane they'd send me to the silent city which is a whole other lesson. Plus I'm kinda curious, aren't you?" "First of all, of course, I'm curious. It's my blood. Second of all why would they find out? Do they do house checks or something?" "Only if there something suspicious. But theirs this shadowhunter who might be around sometimes." (Y/N) seemed to realize "Oh! Your dating one of them, I get it." "Not yet. Maybe, probably. I don't know. But for now, you need to lay low." "Okay. I'm down with that," They settled on a channel but neither really cared. It wasn't until "Magnus and shadowhunters sitting in a tree," (Y/N) mumbled with a sly grin. "What have I got myself into?" He muttered. Chairmans meow caught their attention. Magnus picked him up to sit him on his lap but he scurried out of his lap to sit with (Y/N) "Betrayed!" Magnus cried. (Y/N) laughed lightly, petting the cat who purred. It was nice seeing her smile. Not in the way Magnus lit up when Alexander did it. More like...brotherly?...parental? Magnus almost shivered at the idea. Him, a dad?

Part 3

[snowpeawritings]

8. Yukiko's Castle

Philemon seems to enjoy seeing his Wild Cards live on with their lives…

insp.

Persona 4 Golden X FeMC!Reader

———————————————————————————————————–

"What the...? A castle!?" Chie exclaimed. "Y'think this is the place they showed on TV last time?" The castle looked exactly like it was shown from the Midnight Channel, with the line of horses and everything. But somehow seeing them up-close made it look eerie.

"You're positive that no one's behind a camera for that bizarre midnight program?" Yosuke asked Teddie.

"Program...? I don't know. Maybe people on your side can see stuff in this world. It might be that. And I told you before! There's only me and Shadows here! There's no 'camera' stuff going on. This world has been like this from the beginning."

"'From the beginning'...? That's what we don't understand!"

"Izanami." You said to your Persona, straying from the others conversation

"Yes?"

"Did you already have a conscious when you still weren't summoned or were you just in, like, a hibernation state?"

Izanami pondered, bringing her clawed hand to her chin. "I don't think... Maybe. But it is rather hard to explain. You could say I was conscious but somehow I can't move at all."

"Like a coma?"

"If that's what you call it, then yes. However my mind is like a newborn child; undeveloped and fragile. If taught well it will blossom into a beautiful, intelligent, being."

"Is that your ego I hear?" You joked.

"No. It was just to describe the human mind. The mind is much more powerful than you think." You felt someone push and saw Chie running inside the castle.

"Chie!" You called out.

"Geez! We better follow her!" Yosuke said. You, him, Teddie, and your Personas ventured inside the castle. That is until Teddie tugged you back.

"Um, Sensei. I want to give this to you. I gathered all of this stuff so I thought I might give them to you." He handed you three colorful beads, five peach seeds, and five vials full of something.

"Thanks Teddie." You stuffed them all inside a bag you brought and caught up with Yosuke. Teddie following behind.

Castle Floor 1

"Garu!" Yosuke smashed his card and Jiraiya created gusts of wind from his palms. The fish-like Shadows had gotten dizzy and wobbled.

"Now's your chance, Sensei!" Teddie called out.

"Cleave!" You crushed your card and Izanami swept them all away with her naginata.

"Bear-rific job, Sensei!" Teddie praised. You three ran inside the castle, attacking any Shadow that gets close.

"Man, it feels great to be back on the job." Jiraiya said.

"I'm pretty sure you didn't have these powers back in the day." Yosuke said.

"Yeah. Well, it sure feels like it."

"Teddie, is she close?" You asked him.

"She went up a few floors but she's close. It's too dangerous to be on her own. She might get seriously hurt!" He whimpered.

"Don't demoralize the mission, Teddie. You said so yourself that the Shadows only attack us, right? So they probably won't even notice Chie."

"But we still have to hurry up! You saw what happened to me. I don't want that to happen to Chie!" Yosuke yelled.

"Shh! Yosuke! I know you're worried but we have to deal with what's in front of us first!" You pointed at a group of Shadows.

He sighed. "Alright. Let's go!"

Castle Floor 3

"Guys! I sense her behind this door!" Teddie pointed to a double door.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Yosuke was about to open the door but you held his arm.

"Yosuke, don't rush into things. We should at least prepare."

He shook off your hold and pointed at the door. "But Chie is just behind that door!"

"Yosuke." You said sternly, making him fall silent. "You used up all your soul to conjure those wind spells. Look at you. You can't even stand straight." It's true that he spammed his wind spells against those monsters. You would've helped, but you don't have a Persona that can use wind spells. His figure shook and took a step forward but he collapsed. Luckily you caught him in time.

"See? You can't even stand. Here..." You took out a Soul Drop and squeezed the bottle, letting the drops fall on Yosuke's head. Jiraiya complained about Yosuke having his head near your chest but Izanami jabbed him on the side. He seemed much more better than before. You helped him up and he stood on his own.

"Thanks. So can we go inside now please?" He pouted when he heard his Persona still complaining about him near your chest. You giggled and nodded. You pushed open the doors and saw Chie...

With another Chie.

"Oh no..." Yosuke muttered.

"Yukiko's so good looking... so fair-skinned... so feminine... She's the one all the guys drool over." Shadow Chie said. "When Yukiko looked at me with such jealousy... Man, did I get a charge out of that. Yukiko knows the score. She can't do anything if I'm not around... I'm better than her... Much, much better!"

Chie shook her head vigorously. "No! I have never thought that!"

"Wh-What should we do!?" Yosuke asked. You gripped your naginata tighter.

"Obviously stop her from saying-"

"YOU'RE NOT ME!"

"Aw, crap balls." 

Shadow Chie started laughing like a maniac. The aura around her grew stronger as it filled her with the suppressed emotions Chie has for Yukiko. The smoke died and a tall, feminine figure sat atop three faceless female students who stood on top of each other. It wore a ridiculous yellow hat and matching yellow bra, panties, and boots. It's long black hair cascaded on the floor with a few strands of it sharpened like a knife. She held a whip in one hand and a rope in the other.

"I am a shadow... The true self... What are you guys think you're doing? Trying to defend the 'real' me? Then you're gonna pay the price!" She used her whip to attack Chie but Jiraiya quickly grabbed it.

"Wh-What the-!?"

"Don't worry, boyish-looking girl. Jiraiya's here to-" He was cut short when Shadow Chie whipped him away. He was sent crashing at the chandelier and just hung there.

"I'm okay." He said with a thumbs up. You groaned in his idiocy and smashed your card.

"Zio!" Izanami thrust her palm as an arc of thunder hit Shadow Chie, making it dizzy.

"It's weak to Electricity. Do it again!" Teddie yelled from afar. You did so and another lightning blast hit it. It managed to regain itself and cackled.

"You think you can win 'those' puny skills? I'll show you what REAL skills are!" It cracked it's whip and lightning struck across the room. It didn't affect you, since Izanami is resistant to Electricity but you remembered Jiraiya still swinging on the chandelier.

"Izanami! Protect Jiraiya!" She flew in front of Jiraiya in the nick of time. She took the hit.

"You better start doing something, Yosuke! I'm not the one in pants here!" You yelled. Yosuke nodded and smashed his card.

"Garu!" Jiraiya summoned a blast of wind and it made Shadow Chie stumble but regained its composure.

"It's weak to Wind too! Hit it with a combo!" Teddie yelled.

"Don't even try!" Shadow Chie cracked its whip and a green force field protected it.

"It's raised it's defenses against Wind. Try using a different method!"

"Bash!" Yosuke smashed his card as Jiraiya flew towards Shadow Chie. Before he could, Shadow Chie kicked him in the... nads. Jiraiya screamed an octave higher than usual and fluttered down on the ground like paper.

"Get a hold of yourself, Jiraiya!" Yosuke yelled.

"Now I know how you feel when you fall on your bike..." Jiraiya groaned through the pain. Simultaneously, you and Izanami face-palmed. Shadow Chie taking that as an opening, used her sharp hair to stab Yosuke. Quickly, you thrust your palm as Izanami reverted back to her Arcana.

"Valkyrie!" A swordswoman riding a horse appeared behind you. She galloped in front of Yosuke and blocked the attack. Just when you returned Valkyrie, Shadow Chie cracked her whip as the temperature grew colder.

"Forneus!" A manta ray-like creature blocked the ice attack, however it spread across the room. Luckily, you didn't hear Teddie's ridiculous bear pun when the temperature dropped.

"Ugh, seriously? Quit blocking my attacks!" Before you could move, Shadow Chie raised her whip plus her hair with. "Just die!"

"NO!" Yosuke pushed you aside but he got hit by one of the hair knives. Yosuke managed to get under you so he took all the pain. You two skidded across the floor until Yosuke hit the wall. He groaned in pain and clutched his arm. It was bleeding.

"Are you okay?" His voice felt like it was forced.

"Yosuke... your arm!" You sat up and gently held his bad arm. He yelped. The cut wasn't bad. It only cut through the surface.

"It's not that bad! I can still fight!" He stood up but wobbled a bit.

"But Yosuke-"

"(Name), I'm fine. Let's just beat this thing and save Chie." You pursed your lips. But nodded. "Alright. But if it gets too rough, stay back." His lips formed that amusing smile and grabbed his nata.

"Guys! It's defences are low. Now's your chance!" Teddie yelled. You brought back Forneus and Izanami appeared in it's place.

"Alright. You're back. I was beginning to miss you." Jiraiya cooed.

"This isn't the time to be sentimental, Jiraiya." Izanami hissed.

"Guys, let's focus here." You yelled. "Yosuke, use Sukukaja on yourself. I'll use Izanami's attack spell on you. After that, fire a wind spell when I say so." He nodded and smashed his card.

"Sukukaja!" A green light shone as Yosuke became nimbler.

"Tarukaja!" You smashed your card as a yellow light shone. After that, you changed your Persona to a little green demon with a flaming spoon.

"Eh, get behind me." Ukobach said in a nosy voice.

"Are you done yet? I was afraid you'd chicken out!" Shadow Chie laughed as she raised her hair. You two dodged it as her hair strands was stuck on the floor.

"Now Yosuke!" You yelled. He fired a wind spell together with the fire spell you did with Ukobach. The two spells combined to make a fire tornado that struck Shadow Chie. She screamed as the flames consumed her. Making sure Chie wasn't in the fire, you ordered Ukobach to defend her. The girl that held Shadow Chie collapsed along with her as she evaporated into black mass, leaving the limp figure of the original Shadow Chie. Noticing the battle was over, you summoned back Izanami and helped Chie up.

"Are you alright?" You asked. 

She clutched her head and groaned. "Y-Yeah, I am..." She noticed her Shadow who was silent. "What's the matter...? Got nothing to say anymore?"

"Stop it, Chie. It's all right." Yosuke said.

"B-But..."

"Everyone has different masks, Chie. It's all right. We understand." You said.

"She's right... I went through the same thing." Yosuke said. "So I can understand... I mean... Everyone has a side like this..." Chie looked down and turned so she was facing her Shadow.

"I kinda get it now. You are me... A side of me that I couldn't forgive... That I tried to ignore...  But you still exist. You are a part of me..." Just like Shadow Yosuke, Shadow Chie nodded and smiled as she glowed from her counterpart's acceptance. She glowed blue and, in a glimpse, you swore you saw a womanized version of Bruce Lee. Her Persona turned into her Arcana as it disappeared. You and Yosuke went to her side and the embarrassment quickly flooded over Chie.

"Um... It's true that a part of me feels that way... But I wasn't lying about being friends with Yukiko!"

"Like we didn't know that already." Yosuke joked. Suddenly Chie dropped on the ground, probably due to fatigue. Luckily you caught her on time.

"You alright?" You asked. She nodded weakly and stood up straight again. "Right... You just got your Persona. We need to take you back home so you can rest."

"But... Yukiko...!"

"-Will be all right as long as the fog doesn't show in our world. You really need to rest." Yosuke said. "Come on. We're going back." You, Yosuke, and Teddie led her back to the studio where Teddie will procure a way home. Again.

"I... I'm feeling even worse than the last time I came in here..." Chie muttered. "My head feels like it's gonna split open... Are you guys okay?"

"Only you?" You questioned.

"That's right, you're not wearing the glasses." Yosuke said. Chie looked at you two closely and finally realized that you two wore glasses.

"Oh yeah... What's with those glasses? Did your eyesight go bad?"

"Man... you didn't notice until now? How panicked were you?" Yosuke winced. Not from his wound, but from her innocent stupidity.

"Come on, she was worried about her friend. Of course she didn't realize them until now." Jiraiya said.

"Please, you didn't realize they had glasses." Izanami said. Soon they went bickering again like a mother scolding her child. You two ignored them as Teddie whipped out a pair of glasses.

"Ta daa! I got a pair ready for Chie-chan, too!" Teddie said happily. "Here you go!" He gave her the glasses. It was rectangular and was colored yellow. She put them on and her eyes widened as she looked around.

"Whoa! What the-!? This is awesome! It's like the fog doesn't exist!"

"Why didn't you whip those out earlier if you had them?" Yosuke asked.

"I made them right now! You didn't tell me she was coming! It was all so sadden! I mean, sudden!" Teddie said.

"Huh... so that's the trick. I was wondering how you guys could see where you were going. Hey, is it alright if I keep these?" Chie asked.

"Fo' sho!" Yosuke winced. Not at Teddie, but at his arm. You gasped and rummaged through your bag to find the first-aid kit you packed before coming in here. You grabbed Yosuke's arm and moved his sleeve up. You opened the kit and grabbed a bottle of alcohol and cotton balls. You dabbed some on the cotton ball and gently dabbed it on his arm. He winced and recoiled his hand back.

"Don't move, Yosuke!" You scolded.

"It hurts!" Yosuke whined.

"Just suck it up!" You continued to dab the cotton ball on his arm as he winced every time. When the blood was cleaned, you grabbed the gauze and wrapped it around the wound. You noticed there was a scrape on his cheek, so you grabbed a bandage. It was a cute little cartoon bandage of the 'Phoenix Ranger Featherman R' series where Feather Owl is shown. You placed it on the scrape.

"Do you feel any better?" You asked. Yosuke touched his arm gently.

"It hurts a little, but I think I'll be all right."

"Aw man, I feel terrible about this. I'm sorry, Yosuke." Chie said.

"Heh. Don't worry about it. But promise us you won't go alone next time, okay?" She nodded. "If we don't work together, we won't be able to solve this case or save Yukiko-san... right?"

"I agree." You smiled.

"Me too. I promise as well." Chie said in determination.

"Let's save Yukiko!" You said as everyone nodded.

"Alright, so from tomorrow on, we'll try and come here as much as we can after school... And that includes days off." Yosuke looked at you. "Hey... Would you mind being our leader?"

"Huh?" You blinked.

"You were the first to get this power, and you're way better in a fight than either of us. I think it's best for all of us if you set the pace of the investigation, and we follow your lead. I'm cool playing second banana."

"Ehh..."

"I agree with him, (Name). You have a lot of power inside you. I can feel it." Izanami whispered to you.

"Alright. I'll do it."

"I knew you'd say that. I mean, I'm more the adviser type, y'know? An ideas man, not an executive."

"I'm with Yosuke. If you're the one calling the shots, I'd feel a lot more comfortable about this." Chie said.

"I'm with Yosuke. If you're the one calling the shots, my pillow will be a lot more comfortable at night." Teddie chirped in.

"Teddie, would you please stop talking? I'm really on edge right now..." Chie mumbled. Somehow you felt the same sensation when you teamed up with Yosuke. But this time, it felt way more stronger, almost as if you felt the hearts of both Yosuke and Chie.

"Okay. Let's get some rest for today so were ready from tomorrow on." Yosuke said. "And don't forget to check the weather forecast. It gets foggy after a lot of rain, so let's keep an eye out. Also let's make sure we gear up for next time." You three went back to Junes after Teddie conjured the TV stack and went home.

Evening

The three of you were eating dinner while watching the news. Izanami sat on the couch, watching you three intently as well as the TV.

"What an amazing object. It shows people talking while showing real-time images." Izanami said, fascinated about the TV.

"Hey. Mind if I ask something?" Dojima suddenly asked you. You blinked but shrugged. "You're not getting involved with any strange businesses, are you...?" You blinked yet again, only a little more surprised. "What happened at the station this afternoon... it's still bothering me. Is there... anything you're not telling me?"

Izanami overheard the conversation and instantly went behind Dojima. She sent signals, despite being invisible to your other relatives, all saying; 'Keep quiet!'

"Of course not." You said simply.

"... Is something bothering you? Believe me, I do feel bad that I've been too caught up with work for us to have time to talk..." Izanami slouched in relief.

"What's wrong? Are you fighting...?" Nanako interjected. You and Dojima nervously shook your heads.

"No... We're not having a fight." Dojima said.

"This isn't the police station..." Nanako said.

Dojima grumbled and then turned to you. "I agreed to look after you. So don't get yourself involved in anything that could get you into trouble." He said then he ate again. You three ate together while the weather forecaster pronounces that the weather on will be sunny.

Persona time

"I bet you're happy, huh?" Jiraiya said as Yosuke changed to his pajamas.

"What are you talking about?" Yosuke asked.

"Well, (Name) was your temporary nurse when we were in the castle. You were near her chest before the battle with that tomboy. And she fixed your arm, in which you were really near each other."

Yosuke scoffed as he went to the bathroom to toothbrush. "You can't get some serious wounds. And if it weren't for (Name), you wouldn't be here."

"My point still stands. You enjoy her being your nurse."

Yosuke spat the toothpaste foam as he wiped his mouth with a towel. He then noticed the yellow bandage you placed on his cheek. His fingers lingered there for a moment as he stared at his reflection.

'Yeah. I guess I kinda do like it.'

a little bit of a note here. For those who are curious about the talking Personas, I got the idea from Kisdota-The Freak Gamer on fanfiction.net. Go check out their fanfiction! It’s such a good read!

[beingmad2017-blog]

Online Dating Photo Tips - 8 Rules To Have A Great Photo

New Post has been published on https://beingmad.org/online-dating-photo-tips-8-rules-to-have-a-great-photo/

Online Dating Photo Tips - 8 Rules To Have A Great Photo

Online dating photos are important, but you know that already. You know that a profile with a photo gets opened 8x more than one without. You know that an email with a photo attached gets read first.

There’s no question about those things anymore, that’s old news. What I really want you to understand is the power of having a GREAT photo.

Everyone has photos these days, but fortunately, most people still use bad photos. A bad photo can make you look terrible, no matter how hot you are in real life. A great photo will attract people, no matter what you look like.

Amongst the adventures I’ve had in life, one of them was working as a professional photographer. I now shoot only for sport but am happy to be able to share with you some rules of having a great photo for online dating.

Rule 1: Be well lit

A well-lit face jumps out of the picture, a face in shadows hides from the viewer. Believe it or not, this has a huge different on how people interpret your character. If you post a photo of yourself taken in a dark basement without using a flash, you’ll come across as a low energy/low-value person. If you are well lit and bright, you’ll come across as high energy/high value (read: FUN) person. No one looks good when they are so underexposed you can’t even see their eyes.

TIP: Use a photo taken outside with natural light, but force your camera flash on (called fill flash) so that it fills out any shadows on your face made by the sun.

Rule 2: Use a real camera

A common trend I see in younger online daters is self-portraits taken with cell phone cameras in front of bathroom mirrors, and “at my computer” shots taken with webcams. There are two problems. One is that these settings usually aren’t well lit. The other is that cell phone cameras and webcams produce terrible picture quality. They are grainy noisy pictures that in general make you look bad. To someone who reads between the lines, they make you look too cheap to get a real camera.

TIP: If you don’t own a real digital camera, you have a friend that does. Tell them you need some photos, most people are happy to play amateur photographer with their toys.

Rule 3: Pay attention to the background

People look at everything in your photo, not just you. If your house is a mess, it reflects poorly on you. Women especially notice details, so pay attention guys. If you’ve got a couple empty bottles of vodka in the background, it looks like your party too much. If there are other people in your photo, who they are is going to reflect on you. For women, this means that you might want to reconsider posting photos with your scantily clad girlfriends. For guys, you might want to reconsider posting photos of you and any girl who looks like a girlfriend.

TIP: Since people read into every detail in your photo, you can increase your value by using a photo taken somewhere interesting or cultural. Photos in museums make you look cultured, photos in exotic locations make you look adventurous.

Rule 4: Dress well!

This rule is hugely overlooked. You are judged by your appearance and that includes your clothes. Plus the fact that the right clothes can make someone look considerably more attractive, while improperly fitting or poorly matched clothes will make you look worse. Remember, keep some congruence with who you are. If you never ever wear a suit in real life, you might not want to represent yourself as a suit wearing guy. Girls, if you don’t want guys to think you are promiscuous and easy, don’t post party photos of you wearing revealing clothes.

TIP: Dress to impress. You basically can’t overdress (within good taste) and the better dressed you are, the higher value you will appear.

Rule 5: Eye Contact

Regardless of the setting, one thing you must be doing in your picture is making eye contact with the viewer. If you are getting your picture taken specifically for online dating, look directly into the camera lens every time (unless for artistic reasons the photo absolutely demands otherwise). You’ve heard this before and it’s definitely cliché, but… your eyes are a window into your soul… even over the internet. People need to make that connection with you in order to be attracted to you. When they can’t see your eyes, there will be a level of intimacy lacking in your picture, and that is something that is crucial for building attraction.

TIP: Make sure your eyes are visible and not in the shadows. See Rule 1.

TIP: Take off the sunglasses for your photos. You aren’t Bono or Jennifer Lopez and as much as you believe it does, it doesn’t make you look cool or famous. At best it blocks that critical eye connection, at worst it makes you look insecure.

Rule 6: Smile!

The human smile is one of the greatest communicative tools we have. It conveys our intentions, our sincerity, and our passion. It is absolutely key whether you are looking to make new friends or lovers. So why do I scan through so many pages of online dating profiles, and see so few smiles? Maybe it’s because we think we look so cool, so dangerous when we give our best badass pose. That’s my excuse anyway…

However, when someone sees you scowling, frowning or pouting, the don’t think “wow, he’s cool!” They think “ugh, he looks miserable.” Someone who has nothing to smile about isn’t a person most people want to date! So smile! Let people see how fun and friendly you are! You will be surprised at how quickly and deeply people will become attracted to someone who is smiling and sharing their joy… even through a photo.

TIP: A sincere smile is hard to fake for a camera, and people subconsciously can tell the difference. Instead, when you get your picture taken, try to laugh for the camera. Get whoever is taking it to tell a dirty joke or otherwise get you to crack up. When the photo is taken, it will freeze a moment of you displaying a great, wide, sincere smile.

Rule 7: Include Your Photos

Despite how common it is, we are all still a little afraid of being recognized internet dating, and thus we never want to send our photos out first. But the people who let their photos be seen by all get the best responses. When you don’t send a photo the only thing you get is ignored! One of the most common things people write in their profiles is “no pic, no reply,” and yet they haven’t even posted a photo of themselves first!

You are going to have to get over this if you are serious about meeting people. Really, what’s the worst that can happen? If someone is emailing you, they are looking for the same thing you are and aren’t likely in a position to talk about it to anyone themselves!

TIP: Why just send one photo? If you have several (make sure they have been shrunk down to manageable file sizes) then send them! The more photos someone has to look at, the better image they will have in their head of you and your life, and that’s a good thing!

Rule 8: Hire A Photographer

This isn’t a rule, but consider it a very strong suggestion.

If you are serious about meeting people online, nothing beats hiring a professional photographer. A good photographer can make you look thinner, sexier, classically handsome and friendlier, just with the right lighting and right pose

If you can’t afford a professional (and arguably you don’t need a high-end portrait photographer for this) look for a serious amateur or photography student who is looking for practice. It may cost you a quarter of what a professional will charge, or they may do it for free, simply for the experience and the addition to their portfolio. Make sure you tell them what you want it for. If you explain that you need an interesting photo that will stand out from the competition or a sexy headshot that will grab people’s attention, they will most likely jump at the challenge. Before you choose one, get a look at their portfolio or previous work to see if it is inline with a style that suits you.

TIP: Great places to find serious amateur or student photographers cheap:

-Craigslist, under the Services – Creative category, or by placing an ad

-Ask at the local camera store, see if they have a message board

-Email the photography department of the local college

-Find a local camera club on the internet

And that brings us to our conclusion. With those rules in mind, go through all your current online dating photos and toss the ones that break the rules. You may find yourself starting from scratch, but the effort you put into it will pay off for years to come… or until you meet that dream girl.

[kittymaverick]

That Time of the Year Again (tm): Get ready for MCF 21: the Harbinger commentary!

It’s that time of the year yet again! Mystery Case Files 21: The Harbinger commentary. If anyone has been waiting for the hilarity that is my commentaries, I’m sorry I’m late this year. I actually started working as a freelance writer, and projects are coming in hot. Plus a recent family matter (not COVID-related. I’m thankfully in one of the safest places from it.) meant I had to put this on a back-burner. And then I guess I left it there for too long and triggered the smoke alarm, and people entered my inbox going “Are you okay???” So without further ado, let’s get this started. *cracks fingers* I have DUAL MONITORS NOW which means I can see my commentary AND watch the playthrough at the same time. (Yet, I still DON’T have a credit card. This is the new running joke.) I’m going to be watching YouGib’s playthough. Pazu also has his playthrough up. Spoilers below the cut as usual!

First, Grandma? A new studio? (A quick google shows they have done quite a bit of HOP titles and series.) Welcome to the MCF family! I hope you’re ready for the roasting that’s ahead. 8D MD: You mean the roasting they’ll let me do, right? I don’t know if they would be so nice as to grant you such catharsis right away. MD: Damn… It’s Grandma though. There’ll at least be cookies, right?

I like how “The” is in a place where you can almost read it as “The Mystery Case Files”, which MCF honestly deserves at this point. 21 years! That’s old enough to drink in the US!

(MD: Hm, old fashion building and clothes? Are we having some anachronistic adventure again--) CAT. Black cat. This is Isis. (MD: Not all black cats are Isis…) Yes they are. They are to me--

*Crystal ball* SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT.

Captions: (Otherworldly scream) Why yes, yes game, thank you for describing my exact reaction to seeing that darn crystal ball. I love this self-awareness and I hope it stays.

Oh nooooo, green beam of light… (Green was the color of souls used in old Ravenhearst games, and also the type of light that the Archivist from Moths to a Flame evaporated into, iirc.)

MD: Hm, a harbinger usually means something worse is coming up. So who’s harbinger to whom I wonder? Well you could say Emma, Madame Fate, or Victor was the harbinger to Charles, and then Charles himself was a harbinger to Alistair, who apparently was harbinger to the twins, who were also harbinger to Alistair again-- MD: Yes, I know, thank you, please stop. --and then he was harbinger to a Lord Ravenhearst who we never saw again, and then we picked it up again somehow to Phineas Crown though that was much earlier and the pirate was a harbinger of himself in a sense. In fact, I guess in a metasense, you could say each MCF game is a harbinger of the next-- MD: You haven’t even gotten past the opening so PLEASE STOP.

Hm, game difficulty settings-- no Master Detective level. Ten marks off. :( MD: Okay that’s unfair. Also Hardcore is one word. MD: Hey, I’m the pyromaniac, okay? Chill! (Me at recording: pick helpful messages, pick it! PICK IT!)

OH, a CHOICE?! Oh, wait, it’s just the main game and extra content.

THEY GAVE YOU YOUR BUGGY BACK. THEY GAVE IT BAAAAACK. AAAAAHHH. MD: Interior’s a little different, but yes, I HAVE MY CAR BACK AND NOTHING CAN STOP ME NOW. MWAHAHAHA-- Queen: Something strange is happening in Darkmoor. MD: *Does a 180 and goes back home* [The end.] Just kidding. :P I love how all the names of the places we’re going to immediately screams DANGER. MD: If I turned back every time I heard a name like that, I would be a very different person today. Probably saner, less salty, and generally happier.

It took me a while to see clearly, but the bobblehead looks like default MD (the costume seems to be inspired by the Fate Carnival collectibles)! We can now safely assume that MD is either really afraid of the cold, or very, very desperately trying to hide their identity. MD: Don’t tell anyone… but the getup is like a security blanket. ...One that you wear?! MD: Shhhhhh not so loud…….

Queen: Several keywords related to your previous cases-- What keywords? What are they? MD: Ravenhearst? Souls? Pirates? Skulls? Crystal Ball? Madame Fate? Dire Grove? Death herself? Queen: I’m not revealing this mystery… it’ll give the whole plot away! ...Okay, I’m putting ten on Victor, twenty on Charlotte, thirty on Alistar, and a hundred on Charles-- MD: You CHEATER you were spoiled while GOOGLING. --actually, I should do a bingo board instead. Yeah, I’m gonna do that. (And then she spends ten minutes wasting time on that, before giving up. We are at… 2 minutes in of the playthrough. This is normal.)

Queen: We’ve detected a possible energy anomaly-- MD: I’m sorry, we have DONE WHAT?! You guys have technology for that??? MD: Where was this technology for like…. The past ten cases? I really could have used some of that before heading in! (Somewhere in the world, the Mystery Tracker detective hides his gadgets…) (Post video edit: Speaking off, he seems to have gone UFO now.)

*Radio fizzes out* MD: That’s not good. Um… UP AHEAD. MD: THAT’S REALLY NOT GOOD. DETECTIVE TAKE THE WHEEL!!!! MD: THIS BUGGY IS STILL ON MORTGAGE NO. (And the MD, the bobblehead, literally lost their head, lol.)

Gibs is definitely feeling the stylistic difference. I personally don’t think it detracts from the game right now, and if anything, it can open new avenues for MCF to explore. Also, awwww it’s not our old buggy, but hey, I like the red!

MD: Okay… agency device. Better use this to scan for creepy crawly energies. I’m so sad it’s not something you can get attached to… MD: I’m pretty damn attached to my new car, thank you very much. Well, the windshield is already broken, so I think it’s been marked as “readily expendable” emotionally. :P (Machine sort of reminds me of the old machine from Huntsville, actually… which did appear again in… Rewind?)

Wow, that royal decree is like… a permission slip from mom. XD MD: Enough to get people’s attention, but not enough for them to treat me seriously. You would think with lives at stake, they would send something more official? MD: If they did, I might just be out of a job, because half of my job seems to involve waiting for people to get in trouble. Also, marking this officer Davis down as “guy who might get into trouble later and need rescuing”.

...Okay, you know what the device could have been? A portable TV head. MD: I will PUNT that metal box so hard if they handed me one! Missed moment of creepy, honestly.

“The agency never ceases to amaze me”??? MD: I meant that in both the “wow, I can’t believe this is what you used our money on!” and the “wow, I can’t believe this is where you used our money instead of that other really important thing we could have had” sense. Never cease to amaze you in how disappointed you are at them, then. MD: After our last security breach, yes.

Solved Case Files, omg. And you carry it on your car.XD MD: The therapist said I needed to “express my outrage” more healthily than arson. And you made the WORLD NEWS???? Whatever happened to being the most secretive person in the world?! MD: Shhhhh let them keep guessing… (Also, Bobblehead isn’t our MD, it seems. A case of mistaken identity. Awww….)

Guy in purple: I didn’t do anything wrong! Hm, this guy is sus… also, we’re in the UK, confirmed? MD: ...As if the name didn't’ give it already. Also, SIR, SIR, YOU DROPPED YOUR purse……. Well I guess it’s my purse now.

Tarot cards as collectibles! More Madame Fate coming up?

Wow, that police station entrance was a time machine. We’re back in modern-day old town England! MD: ….pattern on floor, sus… Aaaaand power outage. Cue bars. Policeman trapped. Oops. MD: Number of people that needed rescuing is now one, and is exactly as I predicted.

Police: Um, can you come closer? I dunno man, you behind bars, pretty sus. Maybe you’re not a real police. Police: Oh please. We talking real? How about your prove you’re the real Master Detective-- MD: *Hands Queen’s note* Police: Right that’ll work. (We didn’t get to flash our badge?!)

Wait, you’re in a ROYAL AGENCY??? Did you.... change agencies or something??? MD: After the last game, can you really blame me if a headhunter came asking? Me: No but… you work for the CROWN???? MD: Hey, if me collecting stories for Grandma Queen wasn’t obvious enough, I don’t know what else to say.

Wow, an ACTUAL FLASH DRIVE. We’re actually in modern day society. XD Albeit one with really industrial looking computers. (Now I need to go and check if the old games used floppy disks…)

Witness 1: It’s not like she has a crystal ball! Suspect purple: Yeah, I’m a fair owner. Girl Aisling is a fortune reader. ...Madame Fate, Madame FATE, MADAME FATE. MD: Okay, maybe that cat WAS Isis after all. Guy: She likes watching ravens. MD and I, simultaneously: FUCK.

I have to say, the puzzles are quite refreshingly different from ones that have appeared in the past. Me likey.

Gibs sees victim photo on autopsy table: What a handsome devil he is! Me: *Dies laughing and fails to make comments for a while*

Oh wow, you can write coherently again! Actual journals! Clear sketches! (Actual cutscene replay???? TWENTY POINTS.) MD: Therapy can be a wonderful thing sometimes. ...Please tell me you’re talking actual therapy and not “I got to explode a ship and the pirates on it” therapy. MD: Well, that counts as therapy still, right?

Okay Madame Fate, if you have a daughter, or this is your granddaughter, please just descend from heaven and let us know right now. (...wait, didn’t Madame Fate have a son? The really big eater guy? Franco!) That said, it says the veil of time, which might be an allusion to the Dark Veil too.

Omg a FAX MACHINE.

Davis: Right, good luck heading into town to the victim’s home! MD: Yep! Thanks for being a rare competent soul in this universe! Really appreciate the help-- [Rose street.] MD: ...Is it too late to turn back? Yes, yes it is entirely too late. 8D Let’s gooooooooo! MD: *sighs*.

SHADOW IN JAMES’ HOUSE! SHADOW! MD: Probably Nigel. He was sneaking around already.

MENTION Of CAT. CAT. MD: ...are you broken? ...Yes. (It’s nearing 1 am. So Kitty commentary might be retroactive below.)

Huh, HOP has sections that unlock objects like in Dark Parables. Neat!

Well, well, well, what do we have here? Small town drama as usual. MD: The predictable disappointment of human nature. Why can’t I just have cases that deal with that? No supernatural stuff, just little town murder mysteries. Little Town Mystery Case Files, coming to a store near you soon! (I’ll be honest, Grandma, I would play that once, just to have MD be completely paranoid over nothing actually supernatural.)

Santa Claus Beard Guy: I hope I didn’t scare you. MD: I’ve had undead grip me through the window. A little shadow doesn’t spook me. A family whose last name begins with a D though rattles them. MD: Please don’t give away my weaknesses so quickly...

Santa Guy: So the cat kicked my ass. Can you get me some medicine? MD: Sure thing. BTW, where is this cat, and how can I recruit it to kick the asses of my enemies?

Eeeeehhhh complex door puzzles are back! Except they are now complex cupboard puzzles.

WOOOOOOOOOW that’s a LYNX if I ever saw one! MD: Hey, remember how I say I’m not good with animals? Too bad, grab the pet carrier, you’ll need it. MD: ...please don’t scratch me. Cat: *Roars* MD: *flips shit, runs and hides*

James has visited the Museum of Mysteries… And what’s with the MCF crest in his diary??? MD: Wait… Allison? ALLISON THE REPORTER??? Omg, James is her BROTHER. THEY HAVE THE SAME LAST TIME EVEN OMG. MD: ……….. I’m NOT going to be the deliverer of this bad news. Hey MD, does that curse that surrounds people associated with you extend to their families? MD: Thank you for going where my brain didn’t want to, now kindly proceed no further. Just morbidly wondering…...

MD: They… they visited all the places that my cases took place. EVEN A HOUSE I REPORTED BURNED DOWN AND EXPLODED. AND THEN CAMPED OUT IN DIRE GROVE. MY GODS ALMIGHTY YOU TWO!!!! ...These siblings don’t have a lot of self-preservation sense, huh? MD: There are some things that should NOT run in the family. This is one of them. (I’ll be honest. Just… HOW can the MD process this kind of guilt??? Kudos to you, Grandma Studios. This is possibly the most evil story choice ever, and you went there. Slow, claps. Seriously. That said there is a small plothole here with James saying he was there when MD rescued Allison. I think that might be a translation/grammar error though.)

Journal: Oh btw John worked on the Ravenhearst manor restoration. MD: *grabs John* WHY. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO ME AND TO THE WORLD?! John: Um….. it was work? MD: SOME PLACES ARE BETTER OFF GONE. Hey, look on the bright side. You can burn it down again as therapy! John: Oh btw, I made the elaborate locks-- MD: *Begins to strangle John* NO HOMICIDES MASTER DETECTIVE! You investigate them, not commit them! MD: TELL ME THAT AFTER I’M DONE.

MD: Okay, John. Let me be clear on one thing. You are now number one sus on my list of “The person that’s gonna betray me in the end” right now, and probably staying there. If you turn out to be one of the Dalimars or their crony in disguise, I will END YOU. Are we clear? John: ………… MD: What? John: You’re more terrifying than James’ cat--

*Another prevention of homicide later…* MD: Alright, fine. Containers, opened. Toy, fixed. “Cat”, got. Now take it and get out. John: Thanks, here is the final piece to that closet door that I totally have been keeping from you this whole time. ….Seriously???? MD: ….Like I said, top of my shitlist. *Reads the closet puzzle poem* On second thought GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE I HAVE QUESTIONS!

James is the greatest dork. He locked his special diary entries with a lock. I’m so sad we didn’t get to meet him in person. Though that said... MD: My gods, some common sense is really missing from this family’s mind. Seeds from the carnival?! A cube from probably dire grove??? How does it feel knowing you contributed indirectly to his demise? 8D MD: ...It’s like seeing someone win the Darwin award and feeling bad that you are the one handing the trophy to them.

Davis: Oh hey, a cassette? Let me go and get the camera for it. We’ll meet later! MD: Wait a second, you’re gonna end up dead if you do that! Davis: No, I’m gonna be fine! Here’s a ticket to the night market! Have fun! MD: …… ...More Darwin award nominations? MD: No. Awww….

Marge: Oh hi detective! Thank you for saving me and my daughter so many years ago! MD: …. Who are you again? *Goes to google* Oh, she’s that woman from Reverant’s Hunt…. MD: Ah, the gossip hen. My gods what’s with this town and its inhabitants… It’s like all the people connected to you which fate has yet to kill are all showing up again for a chance of going to the afterlife! 8Db MD: That would be the worst lottery ever. All in the life of being Master Detective’s friend! Forecast for percent of death: high! MD: *curls up in a corner to be depressed*

Nigel: What do you want? MD: Here are your seeds. Nigel: Okay I’m gone! MD: Right, now Aisling-- WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING. Crow: Caw-caw! MD: You, you’re not Crowlister, but if you are responsible, I will make you one very bald bird.

Okay, soooooo what do we do? MD: Removed what the device can. Guess we’re down to brewing this… tea... ...I think you need this tea more than her, honestly.

“I expect these MCF references now.” XD I think the 4th wall has just been shattered into oblivion.

Aisling: I see death all around you Master Detective! MD: Thank you for stating the obvious that has been made abundantly clear by the past hour and a half of plot. Davis: Hey waddap? MD: ….*breaks down sobbing* YOU’RE STILL ALIVE THANK GOODNESS! *hugs Davis* Davis: Um… what’s going… anyway, you should look at the video.

MD: Nigel! This video here suggests something. Want to talk before I make you? Nigel: This proves nothing! Now go away, I have preparations to-- Noooooooooo! *Nigel is swallowed by the earth* ……...MD? MD: NOT IT. WASN’T ME. DEFINITELY NOT ME! You saw that right, Davis? Davis: Oh no, he’s dead! Guess we’ll need to exhume him. MD: Now hold on, that reaction is just WAAAAAY TO BLAND.

(Watched a little bit ahead. I have some theories on who Aisling might be, since Gib’s thumbnail does appear to hint at it. We’ll see where it goes!)

(Aaaaand I was right!)

[Here ends entry one. Part two is going to be even more retroactive...]