#The Dark Future Trio

[crossroads-of-the-raven]

The Dark Future Trio (if no-one has done this yet)

You know about The Celebrity Trio

You know about The Secret Trio

But do you know what binds them together.

Kur whispers in the back of Zak's mind as the Human Cryptid King works to enjoy his down time introducing Wadi and Ulraj to Ben and Rex.

Danny has perfected his false smile as he does his best not to grab Valerie, Tucker, Sam, Jake, and Randy and fly as fast as he can away from The Nasty Burger.

But these two boys are not alone in their suffering.

Jade Chan is an anomaly.

She's famous due to her Uncle Jackie being the leader of The J Team.

She's a secret and her missions with Section 13 are written in reports that only the highest clearance will ever see and fewer will ever believe.

She was eleven when she made her worst mistake.

It wasn't a real Tattoo, really it was only an ink rubbing, a rubbing taken from off the cover of one of her elderly Uncle's old books - she had placed the face of Tarakudo on her ankle and the shadows came to life.

The Shadows came to life and slowly, she lost control.

Slowly, she lost control but her elderly Uncle is clever.

He's clever and made a potion (He's clever and made extra)

With the potion, the face of Tarakudo disappeared and soon The Queen of Shadows disappeared.

The Queen disappeared and Jade Chan returned.

Time passed and Tarakudo's spirit was released.

His spirit was released and he greeted the once Queen.

Jade escape but his words remained.

He would see his Queen again and he was patient.

[scribz-ag24]

pmd x paradox future pokemon

i just like violet's paradox pokemon, man

[nebulousbren]

Keyblade Quotes pt 3 - Wayfinder Trio + Vanitas

[jinlong-golden-dragon]

Progress on my newest project, the comic Morning Sun! It takes place roughly 2 months after Special Episode 5 of Explorers of Sky and features the future trio meeting again and reconnecting as they find a new purpose in this world together. READ HERE

[alterchaos]

A HIDDEN GEM

(cw: cuteness overload...viewer discretion advised)

With Knuckles away from Angel Island, Rouge seizes her opportunity to steal the Master Emerald for herself. Though, she would discover a far greater treasure that fateful day...

PREVIOUS CHAPTER: CALL OF A HERO

NEXT CHAPTER: ???

“My my…Leaving the Master Emerald alone are we?”

The sly bat watched from a distance below as the echidna joined his friends on their journey. She grinned deviously, unwilling to let such a perfect opportunity go to waste. 

It took only half an hour to make her way to the floating island in the sky thanks to her large, strong wings. Each flap caught the wind gracefully beneath, pressing against the cool air and pushing her higher into the sky. With the countless times she’d attempted such a heist, she was used to breathing in the thin air in the upper atmosphere. Each time, however, she was thwarted by the- admittedly handsome- emerald guardian’s watchful eye. 

This time was different though.

This time, she knew he couldn’t stop her.

Rouge landed on the island’s soft grass, brushing herself off as she folded her wings behind her. She walked towards the altar ahead, stepping up onto the stone steps as her eyes sparkled with glee.

“I must say, Red, I’m quite surprised. Did you really think I wouldn’t take advantage of this little-”

She froze at the top, her eyes falling on the empty altar before her.

“Eh?”

At its center lay a note scribbled crudely with a bright, red crayon. Rouge walked over, picking it up and reading in confusion.

Bet you didn’t think I was smart enough to hide the master emerald, did you, Bat Girl? Ha! You should see the look on your face! 

Anyways, get off my island.

~ Red

Rouge crumpled the paper in her grip as she gritted her fangs, her eye twitching in annoyance.

“Oh you think you’re SO clever do you…” She opened her wings, flapping them hard as she launched herself off the ground, flying deeper into the island, “I’ll show you who the smart one is, you handsome jerk…”

She failed to notice the glowing eyes watching her from behind. 

—----------------------------------------------------------

“Ugh! Where is it!!?” 

Rouge stared up at the endless expanse of blue peeking out from behind the viny ruins above. She was lying on her back, exhausted and frustrated from her fruitless flight through the massive sky sanctuary.

Had he really bested her this time?

Maybe it was all pointle-

“Mmm…Mmmm…”

“Huh?”

Rouge sat up, taking in the sight of a dark, baby chao trying to jump up and reach a bundle of grapes hanging on a tall vine. Its wings weren’t fully developed yet, rendering it helpless in its hunger. Despite its surly nature, its eyes began to water in the same kind of frustration the bat felt as well. She sighed, pushing herself up onto her feet and walking over to the little chao. It looked up at her, eyes wide and expectant, as she reached up to the vine and plucked the bundle of grapes free. 

“Here, kid.” She knelt down, placing the grapes before the hungry chao, “Be sure not to eat it all at once. I can’t promise someone will be here to help once I leave, you got that? You’ll have to learn how to take some things for yourself if you want to surviv-”

She froze, eyes flying wide in shock as the baby chao raced over to her leg, hugging and purring contently as its antenna popped into a heart.

Rouge blushed, glancing to the side, “So cute…” She gently pried the chao free from her leg, nudging it towards the food it so desperately wanted, “Okay, tiny. I have to go now so you enjoy your grapes, alright?” 

The baby stared up at her with big eyes, “Chao?”

“Take care!” Rouge smiled before taking off once more. Seeing the little chao’s determination gave her the strength she needed to continue.

The master emeralds would be hers yet.

She couldn’t give up no-

“Chaoooo!”

“Uh!!?”

Rouge turned, lifting her hands suddenly and catching the small chao from before as it half-flew, half-fell into her chest. It purred once more, rubbing its cheek against her fur as its antenna became a heart yet again. 

She began to sweat, “No. NO! I am NOT in a place to adopt a baby chao!”

Too late. 

She was theirs now.

Rouge’s eyes flew wide as a few more chaos spotted her, calling over their friends in joy. Before she knew it, the jewel thief was swarmed by an endless wave of happy, cooing chaos, all wanting a piece of the boundless love she had to give. 

Shit.

Rouge attempted to fly away, only to be chased relentlessly like some kind of queen followed by her loyal subjects, “Trust me, I am NOT the nurturing kind! Doesn’t that clueless dummy take care of all of you-”

Rouge paused, an idea crossing her mind as a few chaos tugged at her ears and cheeks affectionately.

She grinned deviously.

“Say…since we’re all friends here, did any of you happen to see where your precious guardian hid the master emerald?”

The chaos all floated in place, looking between one another before all raising their hands simultaneously, chaoing in unison. 

Perfect.

The chaos, as one, began leading her through the sky sanctuary towards a hidden chamber she’d never explored in her many trips to the echidna’s home. She had to take an isolated teleporter there, something she hadn’t accounted for whilst searching earlier. No wonder she couldn’t find it.

Honestly, she couldn’t help but be impressed.

Knuckles was actually much smarter than he seemed…

It was…attractive…

Rouge shook her head, snapping herself out of such embarrassing thoughts. 

“Y-Yeah right…Attractive my-”

She paused, realizing she was thinking out loud. The chaos all stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to finish that statement.

Rouge blushed again, “...w-wings…”

Saved it.

The baby chao in her arms, pointed excitedly at the room ahead, “Chao chao!!!”

“Huh? What is it, Tiny?”

The other chaos followed suit, “Chao chao chao chao chao!!!”

“Oh! Is that where the master emerald is?”

The chaos all nodded.

Rouge grinned, “Great job, everyone!” Her eyes flew wide as the chao hoard all swooped in for a group hug. She began to sweat again, “Alright! Alright! I get it! Get off!” They listened, waving happily as they flew back towards the sanctuary’s open skies. Rouge shook her head as the lingering baby chao crawled onto her shoulder, opting to stay with the bat, “Guess I can’t get rid of you, huh, Tiny?”

“Mmm…” The chao hugged her neck affectionately.

Rouge sighed, “Fine. I guess having a little partner in crime wouldn’t hurt…”

“Chao!”

Rouge continued down the dark hall into the room ahead. Each stone wall was covered from top to bottom in a chaotic entanglement of vines. Fireflies flew about, offering a soft glow to the otherwise dark expanse. That didn’t matter though as Rouge was skilled in both night vision and echolocation. With even the faintest sounds of her footsteps, she was able to make out the various piles of relics and treasures stored away near the far wall alongside what seemed to be a sort of stone pillar or throne. She whistled, taking in the spectacle as she moved further into the room. 

Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Hmm…By my account, it seems that most of these relics are prehistoric if not ancient. What do you think, Tiny?”

“Chao chao…” Tiny curled up in fear, hiding themselves within their owner’s snow-white hair.

Rouge patted the baby chao’s head, “There there, Tiny. Mama Rouge won’t let anything happen to you, alright?” She winked, eliciting a small purr from the baby chao as it nestled in deeper for comfort.

She continued onward, “Let’s see…if I were a massive emerald, where would I-OOP!” Rouge tripped over something, flapping her wings frantically to regain her balance. Once she had, she breathed a sigh of relief and looked down to the source of her near-accident. She picked it up, curiosity lining her features as she turned it over in her hands, “A…gear?” 

Her intrigue as a treasure hunter got the better of her. Rouge brushed away the dust, her eyes widening as she took in the sight. Blue, wire-like markings lined the relic, an inscription carved below in tiny lettering. She squinted as she leaned in, using her night vision to make out what it said.

“Hmm…it seems to be written in ancient text…I wonder what it-”

At that moment, the gear began to glow a brilliant, bright blue. Rouge shielded her eyes, Tiny following suit, as the throne along the far wall began to glow in a similar hue. The entire room lit up, blinding all who bore witness. 

Then…

BZZZRT!

The glow subsided.

Rouge unshielded her eyes, “What the…What just-”

She gasped, eyes flying wide.

Now, sitting limp upon the throne was none other than…

“...Shadow?”

The ebony hedgehog remained still, unable to respond while in his peaceful sleep. Rouge dropped the gear, the stone clambering against the floor upon which she fell to her knees in shock. 

“How-?”

“ENGAGING. HEDGEHOG. PRIORITY. ONE.”

“-!!?!?”

Rouge turned, catching sight of the massive E-Series Eggbot as it cocked its arms into position, prepared to fire at the sleeping boy. Shit! It must have followed her in order to steal the master emerald for the doctor! And now-!!

How could she be so clueless!?

“NOOOO!!!!”

She leapt up, racing towards the robot in an attempt to stop the inevitable.

SHAZAP!

Before she had a chance to react, he was already there, lifting her in his arms as he drew his arm back. Energy crackled, a few chaos spears emerging as he aimed for the killer robot in defense. 

“AAAARGH!!!”

He shot his hand forward, the spears launching as he teleported backwards with the bat safely in his arms. The robot drew its arm before its face, creating a shield to block the weak attack. Rouge watched in shock as a few beads of sweat formed along the young hedgehog’s brow, his eyes swimming with fatigue. He dropped his head, catching his breath from the strain of having just woken up. 

“Shadow!”

“N-Nngh…”

“Chao chaoooo!!!”

Tiny flew from the bat’s shoulder, crying out in determination as they pushed their developing wings to their limits. The chao charged towards the robot, ready to defend its owner.

“TINY!!!!!”

“ENGAGE. TARGET.”

The robot’s blasters came online.

“Chaoooooo!!!”

“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!”

The baby chao flew close, its arm outstretched as a sort of fist. Once it got close, however, its wings grew tired. Tiny faltered, fluttering downwards before the massive robot’s glowing, red eyes. Rouge leapt up, ready to attack when something unexpected happened.

The robot…it caught the baby chao…

It held them…

Gazed upon them…

…

…

Then…

“NO. THREAT. DETECTED. ALL. BATTLE. SYSTEMS. OFFLINE.”

Rouge froze, holding her breath as she watched the robot put away its guns. It remained still, observing the tiny chao as its AI ran millions of calculations. Tiny, having believed to take out the bad guy, smiled and nuzzled into the robot’s hands for a nap.

“ERROR. DID. NOT. NEUTRALIZE. HEDGEHOG. YET. SYSTEMS. ARE. OFFLINE. ERROR.”

It turned to face the bat.

“TELL. ME. WHAT. IS. THIS. PROTOCOL.?”

Rouge softened slightly, “Protocol?”

The robot looked back at the chao, “ERROR. I. WAS. NOT. DESIGNED. TO. DO. THIS. ERROR. WHY. IS. THIS. HAPPENING.? ERROR. WHAT. IS. THIS. CODING.? ERROR. DOES. NOT. COMPUTE. ERROR.”

Shadow rose from the ground, stepping next to the curious treasure hunter as he began summoning another set of spears, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this thing and save your tiny friend.”

Rouge leapt in front of him, “Wait, Shadow! I think I can reason with it!”

“Reason with it!? It nearly killed us!”

“I know that but…” She turned back towards the robot, “I think it’s trying to grow past what it was created to do…”

“What it was…” Shadow jolted, a distant memory of the girl with the golden hair playing in his mind. 

“I’m such a failure!”

“No. That isn’t true.”

“But no matter what I try, it still isn’t enough! I was created to house all manner of medicines…to cure you, Maria!” He slammed his fist into the ground as tears sprung into his eyes, “I’m supposed to be the ultimate life form…What value does my life hold if I can’t even do something as simple as that?”

She hugged him tight.

“Shadow…Don’t say that. Your life holds incredible value. You are so much more than what you were created to do.”

“And what’s that?”

She smiled.

“My brother.”

“Shadow?”

The hedgehog jolted again, his mind returning to the present. He turned away, hugging his sides, “...Just do what you need to do so we can get going.”

Rouge watched Shadow in sadness for a moment, “Alright.” She turned back towards the robot, “H-Hey there, big guy…It seems like you have some empathy underneath all that programming…”

The robot looked back up at the bat, “ERROR. I. DO. NOT. UNDERSTAND. WHAT. THIS. EMPATHY. IS. YOU. SPEAK. OF. ERROR. I. WAS. CREATED. TO. DESTROY.”

“Maybe so…but it seems as though you want to be more than that.”

“WANT.? ERROR. I. DO. NOT. WANT. ERROR. WHY. DO. I. WANT. TO. NOT. DESTROY. THIS. CREATURE. YOU. CALL. TINY.? ERROR.”

Rouge smiled, “That’s because you value life. Deep down, you care about adorable, little Tiny…about us…”

“I…CARE.?” The robot looked back down at the chao in its hands, “I. DO. NOT. UNDERSTAND. ERROR. WHY. DO. I. CARE.?”

Rouge placed her hands in the robot’s, “Because you have a heart…”

“HEART…” The robot looked back at the bat, “BUT. I. WAS. NOT. CREATED. WITH. FLESH. AND. ORGANS. SUCH. AS. YOURSELF. ERROR. HOW. CAN. I. HAVE. A. HEART.? ERROR.”

Rouge chuckled, “I don’t mean literally.” She leapt up, flapping her wings to reach the robot’s shoulder and sit upon it, “It just seems that you went beyond your programming and developed emotions…feelings…”

The robot swiveled its head to face her, “EMOTIONS…FEELINGS…”

“You’re choosing who you want to be. Isn’t that amazing?”

“...” The robot swiveled its head to face the sleeping chao in its hands once more, “CHOOSE…I. CAN…CHOOSE.?”

“Yes. Do you like it?”

The robot looked back up at her, “HOW. DO. I. KNOW. IF. I. LIKE. WHAT. I. CHOOSE.?”

Rouge smiled again.

Almost there…

“Hmm…I guess you feel…a bit warm inside? Oh! It’s like that feeling when you complete a protocol! I think…”

“HMM…” The robot looked back down at the chao before its glowing eyes closed happily, “YES. I. LIKE. THIS. OVERWRITING. ERROR. CODE. NEW. PROTOCOL.: I. WANT. TO. PROTECT. TINY. CREATURES.” It then turned to face the brooding hedgehog, “YOU. HEDGEHOG. ARE. A. TINY. CREATURE.”

“Hmph! Maybe to you…”

Rouge leapt down, grasping both the hedgehog’s and robot’s hands and joining them together, “That’s so sweet! Now we can be an official team!”

Shadow jolted, “WHAT!!? I DID NOT AGREE TO THIS!!!”

The robot’s eyes smiled, “I. LIKE. THIS. TOO.”

“Awesome! From now on we are…” Rouge thought for a moment before raising a triumphant finger in the air, “TEAM DARK!!!”

“AND I DEFINITELY DID NOT AGREE TO THAT NAME!!!!”

“I. LIKE. IT. I. THINK. IT. SUITS. US.”

“YOU’RE NOT HELPING!!!!”

Rouge ignored the fuming, emo hedgehog, turning back towards the giant robot who now placed the sleeping chao on its head to free its other hand, “So…You got a name, handsome?”

“MY. SERIAL. NUMBER. IS. E. 123-”

Rouge held up her hands in surrender, “Woah there! I was thinking something more like what we have. You know…’Rouge’...’Shadow’...”

A flap clicked partially over the robot’s lenses, giving its eyes a frowning appearance, “I. DO. NOT. HAVE. A. NAME. THIS. I. DO. NOT. LIKE.”

“Well then…” Rouge nudged its side with a wink, “We’ll just have to pick you one, won’t we?”

The robot smiled, “YES. I. WOULD. LIKE. THAT. VERY. MUCH.”

Shadow folded his arms with a scowl, though he couldn’t help but feel somewhat for the self-actualizing robot.

In a way…it reminded him of himself…

Rouge put a hand to her chin, “Hmm…how about…”

“Omega.”

The bat’s eyes flew wide, both she and the robot turning towards the antagonistic hedgehog.

“Omega?”

Shadow glanced to the side, “Yes. It’s a symbol used in math to represent a function…you know…like how this robot wants to find his function in life…”

Rouge snickered, “Oh my- Did you just make a math pun!?”

Shadow growled, “Don’t test me, nurse.”

“OMEGA…” The robot paused, taking in the name with a smile, “I. LIKE. IT. FROM. NOW. ON. YOU. CAN. CALL. ME. OMEGA. DESTROYER. OF. ALL. WHO. WOULD. HARM. ADORABLE. TINY. CREATURES.”

“That’s the spirit!”

“Ugh…”

—----------------------------------------------------------

By the time Team Dark left the hidden room, the sun was already setting against a crimson sky. Shadow shielded his eyes, not yet accustomed to the light of the planet below. 

“Hey…Shadow?”

The hedgehog overlooking the darkening planet turned towards the girl, “Hm? What is it, Maria?” 

She smiled, “Do you know why the sun sets red?”

His eyes widened. He looked back towards the planet, “It…doesn’t seem red to me…”

She giggled, “No, silly! On Earth! Apparently the sun turns a deep red on Earth as it sets for the day!” She smiled with glee, “It’s amazing, isn’t it!?”

Shadow paused before looking down in remorse, “I…wouldn’t know…”

He looked back up with determination.

“But I’ll find out for you one day, Maria. I promise.”

The hedgehog watched the sunset, his face just as determined as it had been that day aboard the Ark. 

“Maria…I haven’t forgotten that promise…”

Rouge’s ear flicked, “Maria? Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long while…”

Shadow’s eyes popped wide, having not realized he’d been talking out loud. He turned away, hiding his face, “And what’s it to you? You’re a government spy, are you not?”

“Was, honey. You’ve…been gone for a pretty long time…”

Shadow turned towards her, “How long exactly?”

“Depends on which dimension you’re referencing.”

Shadow jolted, “D-Dimension!?” His face grew stern, “You mean to tell me we aren’t on Earth!?”

“No, darling. We aren’t.”

Shadow’s eyes widened in horror, “W-Where-”

“Mobius.”

“Mobius?”

“Yes, a world that exists in a dimension parallel to Earth, yet is home to an entire population of people like you and me.”

Shadow continued staring at her in terror before pulling his gaze away sharply, “Tsch!” He closed his eyes, his clenched fists trembling as he found his next words, “Then this is where you and I part ways.”

He took a few steps forward towards the edge of the sanctuary’s cliff as Omega joined Rouge, Tiny still fast asleep on his head.

“Wait what!?” Rouge gritted her fangs as she reached out to grab the young hedgehog’s hand, “No way!! You just happen to appear out of some mystic portal alive and well on a planet you know nothing about and you expect me to just let you walk away all alone!? I don’t think so, mister!! You’re coming with me!!”

Shadow stayed turned away, “I have a mission to fulfill first.”

“And that is?”

Shadow opened his eyes as crimson as the setting sun.

“To see Maria home safe at all costs.”

CHAPTER END

Fun Fact: "Tiny" is the name of my hero chao in my SA2 save file. Ajax is my dark chao. I could have kept it accurate, but just thought "Tiny" would make for a cuter name and could be incorporated more naturally since, you know, Rouge comes up with all the nicknames based on physical characteristics lol.

I'll have to update with a pic sometime.

[clownakai]

"Dance with me."

Shuuichi very nearly chokes on his drink. "Pardon?"

Scotch smiles beatifically back at him. Definitely tipsy, at least a little bit. "Dance with me."

"I can't dance," he blurts out, the lie slipping past his lips as smooth as breathing.

Silence falls over the flat, only broken by the sound of Mochi's hissing from inside Scotch's bedroom; Hana has probably been bothering him again.

"That's fine," Scotch eventually replies, "I'll just have to guide you." With all due respect, fuck that.

"Why?"

"Well, I obviously can't let you lead if you don't know how to dance." Scotch leans back against the couch, looking for all the world like someone who just cracked the Twin Prime Conjecture or some other equally convoluted math problem (thank you, Shuukichi).

Shuuichi scowls, bringing his drink to his lips only to realize that the glass is already empty, again. "Why would I want to?" he clarifies.

"Ugh." Scotch rolls his eyes, muttering something about all workaholics being the same. "Live a little, why don't you? We can even turn the lights off if you're that embarrassed."

Way more than slightly tipsy, Shuuichi corrects his previous assessment with a sigh. "I'd be stepping on your toes the entire time if we did that."

"You'd manage it even with the lights on."

Shuuichi's eyes narrow. For the sake of his lie, he doesn't correct Scotch's claim. Let the guy believe what he wants, so that proving him wrong will be that much— hm.

He glances critically at his empty glass. He'd better cut back on the drinking for tonight, lest he want to end up embarrassing himself for real.

Then again, if he doesn't dance at all, those chances will inevitably drop to zero, thus allowing for more drinks to be had. Who knows, he might even get something mildly useful out of his flatmate in that case.

Scotch shifts in his periphery, successfully drawing Shuuichi's gaze to himself. He knows exactly what he's doing: it's in his posture, so loose and relaxed it can be nothing but studiously arranged; in his hands— long, calloused fingers loosely holding up a crystal glass (and petting Hana and chopping vegetables and dancing on bass strings and carding through Shuuichi's hair); in his eyes, so very blue and positively smoldering (there's a sliver of ice in them, ready to pierce and tear and sink: Shuuichi pretends he doesn't see it).

Tipsy, but no less dangerous because of it: Shuuichi had better keep that in mind. He should tread carefully, play it safe— turn down the offer once and for all.

Oh, who is he kidding?

"Fine." He puts his glass down with a clink. "Show me how to dance."

Scotch looks, for lack of a better descriptor, absolutely delighted. Shuuichi suddenly regrets more than a few of his life choices.

The other man stands up with remarkable grace for someone who has been drinking for the past hour and a half; he waits for Shuuichi to do the same, and at no point does he stop looking at him— through him, digging and searching and for a weightless moment Shuuichi wonders—

"I set the music up, you get the lights?" Scotch asks, blinking it all away.

Shuuichi valiantly holds back a grimace, but nonetheless moves to comply. "If we fall and break something, do me a favor and shoot me before Bourbon comes back."

Scotch snorts, and Shuuichi's stomach most definitely does not do a little victory dance. It doesn't.

He flips the light switch, plunging the living room into darkness: the only remaining light sources are Scotch's phone and a stray ray of moonlight feebly peeking past the mostly-closed curtains. Shuuichi takes advantage of those to orient himself, smoothly padding past the couch with nary a sound; he's sadly not fast enough to catch a glimpse of Scotch's screen, instead finding himself being led to the emptiest part of the room as the first notes of a simple waltz begin to fill the air.

"Right. So, the first thing you want to do is—" Shuuichi only has an inch or so on Scotch, height wise; it's certainly not enough of a difference for him to successfully pretend not to be taken by the moonlight striking the man's features, only barely reflected in his eyes.

(There they are, those shards of ice. Primed and ready, a hair's breadth away.

Ever the fool, Shuuichi inches closer.)

"— even listening to me?" Scotch asks, sounding torn between amusement and mild annoyance.

"My right hand in your left," Shuuichi absentmindedly parrots, "my left on your shoulder. You go left foot forward, the other to the right, close with the left, then right foot backwards, the other to the left, and close with the right. I just mirror you."

"... Okay, good." Scotch doesn't sound baffled, but Shuuichi is pretty sure he went a little overboard and recited something the other hadn't said yet. God fucking dammit.

"I know what a waltz is," he tries to salvage, "I've just never tried dancing it." For his own sake, Shuuichi prays that all the drinks he had tonight will help him sell the beginner act he talked himself into.

Scotch gives him no verbal answer; nonetheless, the silence feels as loud as a blaring horn to Shuuichi. Then there are hands on him, one coaxing his own upward while the other slips under his arm and comes to rest on his back, miraculously avoiding getting caught in his hair at it splays right beneath his shoulder blades, and Shuuichi almost forgets to let Scotch guide his hand into the correct position rather than doing it himself.

Right now, he might hate his own shirt more than anything.

"Alright." Scotch is... close. Not quite chest to chest, but still enough for Shuuichi to smell a hint of alcohol when he speaks. "Waltzes are in three quarters, so we're just going to— one, two, three."

Shuuichi doesn't even need to pretend: he stumbles through the first few rounds, the hand on his back burning like a brand. He wonders if Scotch can feel Shuuichi's heart jackrabbiting beneath his fingers, a caged beast in its own right.

(It sure feels to Shuuichi like it's trying to claw its way out of his chest.)

The waltz eventually gives way to a slow song Shuuichi doesn't recognize but is still aware enough to know how to adapt to: he doesn't startle when all of a sudden Scotch is everywhere, chest pressed against his and arm dipping to Shuuichi's waist and face so close the tips of their noses almost touch— yet he's deafened by his own heartbeat, a relentless drumming in his ears as Scotch meets his eyes and smiles.

"So you did lie to me," Scotch murmurs, smile widening when Shuuichi freezes. "This one's in four quarters, so it's no longer a waltz. But you didn't need me to tell you that, did you?"

Shuuichi swallows dryly. With how they're standing— with how Scotch is holding him—, the flush he can feel creeping onto his cheeks is just about the only thing he can feasibly keep to himself; everything else is fair game, from twitching hands and shallow breathing to faltering steps and a heartbeat so loud he struggles to convince himself that the other still can't hear it.

"No," he admits, and watches the ice spin in Scotch's eyes. "I didn't."

Shuuichi almost expects the operative to let go, to step back and put a healthy distance between them; what he gets is Scotch's fingers drumming a silent tune on his waist and one of the guy's legs moving forward in a tacit bid to keep dancing. Shuuichi obligingly follows, happy enough to let the other lead while he gets his shit together, although he puts his foot down the moment Scotch tries to raise their clasped hands above their heads.

"You're not turning me," he huffs, then curses himself for speaking up when Scotch's breathy laugh warms his lips.

"Next time, then." The weight around Shuuichi's waist disappears, and this time Scotch steps away for good, leaving him cold, adrift and hungry for something he can't quite place.

Shuuichi stares at his retreating form— what little he can distinguish of it in the dark, at least—, then sets out to distract himself by clearing the low table of all evidence of their drinking. It'll certainly not be enough to fool someone like Bourbon, but it'll knock 'leaving a mess for others to clean up' off the list of complaints he might receive tomorrow.

He knows what this— all of this— was. He's been taught how to do the same himself and he can't afford to fall for it.

(He thinks of those eyes, dark waters waiting to drown him.)

He really, really can't.

(Scotch took his phone with him, but Shuuichi still hears something: one-two, three-four; one-two, three-four. It's nothing like the all-encompassing drumming from before, and it makes him wonder...

Maybe his heart had felt so loud because it wasn't the only one he'd been hearing.)

[vee-vee-the-starchild]

I'm still waiting on a PMD:EoT/D/S fan fic where the player character is a vulpix that is given permission to evolve into a ninetails. The angsty would be tasty because player char Will outlive the partner

BUT!

Consider this; Player forming their own guild far into the future and it attracts three certain pokemon...

Give me a player Ninetails reuniting with Grovyle, Celebi, and Dusknoir.

Give me a fanfic where the player!Ninetails forgives Dusknoir after centuries of thinking and maturing.

And he begs them not for he feels unworthy but is given aways.

[fierykitten2]

I may actually need Pokémon Sleep. These are adorable

[agentkirin]

Random thought about Paradox Musketeer Trio

So, the original Musketeer Trio (and Keldeo) are partly Fighting-type because of the heroic connotations that make it super effective against the "evil" Dark type, right? But the future paradox versions replace Fighting with Psychic, of all things. Weak to and ineffective against Dark.

But it does have an advantage against Fighting...

I'm probably overthinking it (it's almost 11PM as I'm typing this), but the implication of "bad guy makes robot version of good guy to beat good guy" now lives rent-free in my brain. And maybe yours too now. You're welcome.

[defendglobe]

seeing the ending of special episode five for the first time was literally one of the most impactful experiences of my life

[malkaleh]

“No one could live up to your parents - the world knows that, your majesty. Be you, cousin - do not try to live up to that which only comes in rare millennia.”

“Cousin? You haven’t been so formal with me in an age, Nanette - shall I persuade you to use my first name at least?”

Nanette mimed throwing a pebble at him, as though they were children again - not the King living in the shadow of legendary parents and his spymaster cousin.

“Turhan then. I will tell you something like I tell Marianne, only more so for you, because it would be impossible to be your parents and they would tell you the same - it is not a failure to merely be a good king when you are following a legendary one who was all his legend and more besides.”

Turhan/Thomas II who is Mihrimah Sultan and Prince/King Thomas I (aka my fictional oldest son of Anne Boleyn in my OT3 verse) and who struggles with living up to the fact that his parents were in fact genuinely perfect progressive rulers of legend and more (and loving and good parents) and Nanette (Anne) Tudor-Dudley-Cecil aka Elizabeth Tudor and Robert Dudleys oldest daughter and her cousins spymaster/advisor.

(Marianne/Marian is Nanettes much younger sister who struggles with living up to her parents as well)

[damnprecious]

WIP game: Together is short and vague a title - what is it about?

I wish I knew my friend, I wish I knew

Here's what we have for it:

Fuck. 

Breathe. Remember to breathe. 

If it were up to them, the crew would never have found out. 

Breathe.

Breathe.

That's it.

I know it's a part of my Crescent!verse, and I know it's for one of the main trio (Crescent the captain, Fennel the joy and Fernis the medic) but I have no memory of which of them it was for :''D It might be about the crew finding out that Crescent's parents are the main villains of the story, but for some reason I feel like I might have intended to write something for Fernis where they're the one to break down when their secrets get revealed as they're usually the rock of the group. Fennel is the least likely option out of the three but there have been some ideas that would make this suitable for them too.

I do remember that the intention behind the title was to write a story that begins with a character breaking down as their secrets are revealed, afraid of judgement and/or pity, and ends with their crew family rallying around them with the sentiment of 'we will get through this together'.

I'm quite fond of short, simple titles that can be used at the end of the story for some sort of emotional impact. This particular one mirrors a pair of completed stories I've written for the same set of characters titled 'Alone' and 'Alone again', although the latter story the title is repeated in the middle of the story rather than at the end.

*Gollum voice* ask us

[scribz-ag24]

too bad we never got future trio vs darkrai ngl

[ct-hardcase]

missing the phase 1 wave 1/2 polyam firebrand vibes today especially

[hopeless--light]

Dp x Dc Why do I hear boss music?

Drabble or ficlet? Who knows I thought of this and would like to write a short dp x dc

The Joker was walking around gleefully he had escaped Arkham yet again but he hadn't done anything yet. Tim was on strict watching duty to see if he can catch Joker in a scheme before he did anything. Everyone else was either off-world, Jason and Dick, or in the middle of busting a trafficking ring, Bruce and Damian. So the Joker was still a high enough priority to keep an eye on but they didn't have the men to spare to take him back.

Tim knew he was being extra stealthy he did not want to become the next Robin victim he had enough clown trauma thank you very much. But he still swore the maniac had turned towards him with a creepy ass smile he always wears. But after an hour of just mindless wandering in the dark, the Joker had yet to do anything. That was until he turned down an alley toward a kid wearing headphones.

Now who wore soundproof headphones while wandering a back alley in the Gotham? Tim could only assume a tourist on top of the kid was prime adoption bait with black hair and pretty glowing blue eyes. Wait glowing? Tim couldn't tell properly from his vantage point on the roof across the street but it really did look like his eyes were glowing blue. And the Joker had noticed too, Shit the Joker was after a defenseless pretty meta. It's just a plus he had black hair and blue eyes, Joker knew Batman had an adoption type.

Time watched in slow motion as the Joker smiled at him and then reached for the teen. The Joker ripped the soundproof headphones off and Tim was hauling ass only stumbling when he heard boss music?

Danny was the final boss.

It started off as a joke between Sam, Tucker, and him, he was the ghost king after all so that means he was technically the final boss. If this were a game he would be the final showdown for heroes to protect the world. Pariah Dark was literally his final boss and he took that mantle up.

So what did the trio do they made a playlist of all their final boss music whether it was video games or movies and played it anytime Danny was visiting them, as he was now in Gotham working on his college degree. But what Danny never would admit is he genuinely enjoyed that playlist and listened to it when he was trying to amp himself up for what future project he needed to work on. Like now he was wandering the streets trying to get inspiration on his final project for class while listening to some boss music to stir up adrenaline.

Sometimes he forgot he was in the most crime-ridden town and that technically he was a meta so color him surprised when he was amping himself up this Freakshow wannabe ripped his headphones off. Not cool. But the worst part was the cord coming off his phone blasting the music. Now he can get away with listening to boss music but he will forever cringe at what started playing when those headphones were yanked away.

Meglovania

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Adult SFF Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

The Murderbot Diaries series (All Systems Red, Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, Exit Strategy, Network Effect, Fugitive Telemetry, System Collapse, and other stories) by Martha Wells

Endorsement from submitter: "Asexual and agender main character. In later books side characters are revealed to be in poly relationship."

"As a heartless killing machine, I was a complete failure."

In a corporate-dominated space-faring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. For their own safety, exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern.

On a distant planet, a team of scientists is conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid--a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module and refers to itself (though never out loud) as “Murderbot.” Scornful of humans, Murderbot wants is to be left alone long enough to figure out who it is, but when a neighboring mission goes dark, it's up to the scientists and Murderbot to get to the truth.

Science fiction, novella, series, adult

Hunger Pangs series (True Love Bites) by Joy Demorra

In a world of dwindling hope, love has never mattered more...

Captain Nathan J. Northland had no idea what to expect when he returned home to Lorehaven injured from war, but it certainly wasn't to find himself posted on an island full of vampires. An island whose local vampire dandy lord causes Nathan to feel strange things he'd never felt before. Particularly about fangs.

When Vlad Blutstein agreed to hire Nathan as Captain of the Eyrie Guard, he hadn't been sure what to expect either, but it certainly hadn't been to fall in love with a disabled werewolf. However Vlad has fallen and fallen hard, and that's the problem.

Torn by their allegiances--to family, to duty, and the age-old enmity between vampires and werewolves--the pair find themselves in a difficult situation: to love where the heart wants or to follow where expectation demands.

The situation is complicated further when a mysterious and beguiling figure known only as Lady Ursula crashes into their lives, bringing with her dark omens of death, doom, and destruction in her wake.

And a desperate plea for help neither of them can ignore.

Thrown together in uncertain times and struggling to find their place amidst the rising human empire, the unlikely trio must decide how to face the coming darkness: united as one or divided and alone. One thing is for certain, none of them will ever be the same.

Fantasy, romance, paranormal, series, adult