#a bystander makes cosplay

[thatrandombystander]

:)

THEY WORK BABEYYY

Eight months or so of on and off work and I can finally confirm they are in fact functional! I didn't fuck up any measurements!

Next step will be making the fabric sleeves and ties that cover the aluminium frame arms

But that's a step for another day. I'm going to go do some repairs on a different cosplay :)

[mimeparadox]

If there’s one complaint I can get behind when it comes to this season of Doctor Who, it is that it has not done especially well by Ruby.

It’s not, strictly speaking, that we haven’t learned things about her.

She’s got abandonment issues, stemming from being left behind by her mother, and also, more subtextually, from being part of a family unit with many foster children who come and go. 

She has an extremely close relationship with her mother.

She’s had impactful interactions with some of her mom’s significant others (“The Devil’s Chord”).

She’s a musician.

She enjoys the cosplay element of traveling with the Doctor (“The Devil’s Chord”, “Rogue”), but will step out of character without compunction (“Rogue”).   

Her dynamic with the Doctor is “best friend to hang out with.” 

She’s adjacent to multiple queer communities, if not necessarily queer herself.

She speaks her mind in a way that is unconcerned with other peoples’ egos (“73 Yards”, “Rogue”.)

She can think on her feet (activating battle mode in “Rogue”).

She can remain calm and courteous even when being insulted ("73 Yards", “Dot and Bubble”). 

She’s persistent and can play the long game, to the point of sacrificing others to do so. (“73 Yards”).

She can handle permanently life-altering hardships—at least those relating to loneliness and abandonment—without losing the ability to take care of herself. (“73 Yards”).

She does not appear to have any specific or defined ambitions (“Church on Ruby Road”, “73 Yards”.)

In theory, there’s enough here to build a character around, but I don’t feel this is what has happened. So far, the season is missing a sense that all of these things build up to a cohesive person, or that these qualities exist in order to tell a specific story. While it is possible for her to be written out of character, it feels much more difficult to write her in character in ways that don't make her come off as "generic companion". And, so, we’ve had episodes where she’s a bystander even when she’s ostensibly the focus (“The Legend of Ruby Sunday”), and episodes when she suddenly turns into someone else (“Boom,” where Moffat writes her as Clara, but under the circumstances it’s hard to fault him for doing so).

And this is all especially odd, given that most of the season has been written by Davies, who, if he can do something at all, is be able to define a character. It speaks to a season that, while quite enjoyable in terms of individual episodes, has been somewhat lacking in the meat-and-potatoes of character development. "Boom" had Ruby largely reacting to a single situation before temporarily dying; "Dot and Bubble" is largely the same, except for the dying bit. "73 Yards", I feel, came too early for audiences to really appreciate the specifics of how Ruby dealt with her situation, and the structure of the episode by definition requires some rather broad strokes. As mentioned "The Legend of Ruby Sunday" gives her shockingly little to do. Even "Rogue", the most meat-and-potatoes episode of the season, fails to take full advantage of the opportunities the story and its themes present. Individually, this wouldn't be a problem. Collectively, though...

Not being abreast of the details shared about the next season, my current fear is that this is all we get of Ruby, and that she'll be written off in this episode or the next without ever having the opportunity to truly shine. And that would be a damn shame. While I have issues with the writing, I really do like Ruby, and adore all the things Millie Gibson has done with the character, and wish we could have more of those alongside with the things that made previous companions truly shine.

[olderthannetfic]

In just the past week alone, I've seen multiple asks from Black cosplayers and other cosplayers of color about horrific racism they've experienced while cosplaying. I never knew it was that bad. I'm a convention goer, and this makes me so mad! So this ask is a general call for information/resource links for what convention goers as a community can do to make spaces safer for cosplayers of color. Initial thoughts are: general convention harassment policies, bystander training... thoughts, guys?

--

[firjii]

what she says: i'm fine what she means: the extreme proliferation of corporate advertising and commodification in social media spaces has critically harmed creatives who are trying to carve out a living by using niche skills to make art, writing, crafts, music, gifsets, moodboards, and cosplays. bystanders are understandably so fatigued and stressed from constant ads that they reflexively ignore or avoid anything resembling a request for money and this may be a significant reason why the culture of not interacting with posts/tweets/etc has become so normalized and widespread. creatives are equally exhausted because not only do they struggle to be seen but also they feel guilty about adding to the constant background noise of advertising even though a few individuals are a disproportionately small voice compared to the PR power of international megacorps.

[sepublic]

            As her default method of attack, Tamara is armed with throwing knives and darts, which she ‘drops’ onto targets by changing the direction of gravity’s pull to aim towards them, and letting go. Because gravity has been altered, the knives and darts Tamara launches will keep falling until they hit something, and build up speed and force until they reach terminal velocity.

        Tamara can likewise throw her weapons as she lets them fall in the direction of her target, to add more immediate force, and not have to wait as long for terminal velocity to build up. Whatever Tamara ‘throws’ basically has infinite range and will remain flying until it hits an obstacle, so sometimes a missed weapon will cause trouble for some poor bystander, far far away… RIP.

         (I’ve already jokingly compared Tamara to DIO; Blondes who can fly and push an entire steam roller into someone from above, but throwing knives as well? At this point, I may as well let Tamara freeze time, and give her a stop sign to wield as an impromptu axe! And I’ve mentioned that her power allows Tamara to wield some heavy weapons, so that last bit is arguably already a thing...!)

         Additionally, Tamara can selectively apply a change of gravity to parts of a person or object, rather than the whole; For example, causing someone plenty of discomfort and strain by changing the direction of gravity for their head, while it remains unaffected for the rest of their body, as their neck struggles to support the difference. This has been applied in torture but also as an unconventional chiropractic method.

         Tamara has even applied this to herself in combat, changing gravity’s direction for her limbs to point towards her target; Adding just a bit of extra force, not much but something, to Tamara’s blows before she removes the effect and begins anew. After striking a target, Tamara can reverse gravity to pull back a fist or leg with just a bit more speed as well.

         I should add that there’s a limit to the size of objects that Tamara changes gravity for; She obviously can’t do it for an entire building! Though I suppose for things fairly big but not TOO big, Tamara could apply this partial gravitational effect across multiple sections of the body, to achieve the same effect; Not as immediate or efficient, but still possible, and thus making Tamara even more terrifying for those not as fast or maneuverable, who are too big a target to miss.

        For a more mundane application, Tamara has also used this partial effect to pull off some literally gravity-defying outfits and cosplays! And probably to hold some difficult poses, for not much reason other than sheer fun, and knowing she has the potential to do that, so Tamara may as well exploit it. Constantly changing gravity’s direction on a knife she’s trying to dislodge has also helped Tamara pry it loose from whatever surface it’s been impaled in.

[the-firebird69]

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - All Along The Watchtower (Official Audio)

And Jimi Hendrix is really Garth Myers and he is singing about several people. Businessman came and drink his wine and take his herb that's Mac and he thinks he's taking the businesses over. He is taking some. And this thing is our son too it sort of is but really he's not really saying that much he just says he's a bystander kind of. Trying to do things that are helpful I might not work out then he says that the wild cat growled and They say this is part of our plan and is going ahead as our plan was and said Max enjoy it to try and break people down when they lost the first time and it's their psychology. Then they say it's our psychology and they doubt it it's not exactly what they think like and it really isn't. In the watchtower was yesterday they saw Ken move it was up in Philadelphia and it went around a little now it's gonna go around a lot. The three riders are not going towards the watchtower no they are they had a watchtower set up look in Georgia they're on rooftops and they said the riders approached and they told him about it and it started to become worse instantly almost and they detected that they're around and trying to interrupt their messaging. The Civil War time. After the War of 1812 which is after the Revolutionary War of course but the dates are by the month at this time and they are annually and they are getting bigger and bigger. This year is the biggest they're all going to evacuate the Midwest and middle areas and there's going to be some kind of conflict. And we're getting ready for it and we're the whole time. This is a very significant event in Philadelphia which is where the watchtower was and it is that of the riders and Morlock they heard the discussion on the radio that said they're dead already. Go get them. They ran and it was Gareth and it was Trump and BJA and they got out of there and they said we're in trouble. And Ken is turning evil completely and we're in trouble and he's pounding around with him and we don't know what to do and they hear a voice but it's you we don't know exactly who you are they said I'm Dave but I don't partake and they got it. Now this is going to be a huge deal he says I have my ticket here it gets the stress off from Washington and it's that I'm GW george WA so they went to hear the news when they're scooched over it says it's funny and stuff but I can go to like some sort of recreation or cosplay event and they said that's freaky right there. But I'm gonna keep my real teeth they start to giggle a little and I wonder what kind of wood they were so now they're curious and we are going ahead and we're starting to look into what's happening there and get ready there are several battles that happen in Philadelphia at the beginning of the Civil War it's very significant and the chronology is not completely linear but it does make sense how it happens and why in this current day and age and back then in the civil war actually stretches on as the Revolutionary War comes to a close The Declaration of Independence and the constitution. Going to have him shortly we know when and why it's because these guys keep telling them what to do and they're sick of it so they tell them a few things about what they're doing and they're being attacked so they don't listen to it they have the right to defend themselves and form their own nation and so forth and they say it again and they meet it again and the civil war is heating up the Revolutionary War goes on in New York the very heavy for a few weeks trump is kicked out and they're kicked out of Florida around the same time and then they have some sort of comeback and they have partial rule like look at his now sort of and then they are approaching the civil war and a lot of them are pushed out and it is approaching the modern day wars and the wars are the same except the Morlock are losing much worse ways their islands are shrinking they're getting pushed out of the mainland but that happened during World War 1 and World War 2. The wars in Asia cause them to be confused and weekend and they had more resolve to come back at the empire. at that time they decide to start fighting and to do something and during that time. 70s and they started to talk to and negotiate with foreigners and they end up doing that even though their version is small and you can see it in movies they start to team up with them as superheroes and in squads and teams all over the world and they're fighting pseudo empire and Mac proper eventually pseudo empire joins the rebellion and not a ton of them most of them have died and this sends here comes before entually pseudo empire joins the rebellion this last one. It's kind of a brief synopsis but it's triggered by a massive event in Philadelphia and we're going to show you what it is

Thor Freya

Olympus

Zues Hera

[raspberrylix]

3 times this year, I've crossed paths with two of cosplayers that I really like and respect and couldn't say hi or anything, all in like a bit over a month. two of those times I was working, and this third time, it was all post factum, after going to see haikyuu my friend with who i went sent their stories where they were at the same screening and at least one of them was in kuroo cosplay, so just my luck then

need to make a cosplay and find a con fast, I can't just be a bystander anymore

[discet]

Not sure if or when you’ll see this, but I know you’re busy so no pressure to bother with this one. With that being said, figured I’d throw my hat into the AU ring. Ever played Fire Emblem Three Houses? If so, I raise you an AU where the girls wind up in Fodlan, with Anne in the Kingdom, Marcy in the Alliance, and Sasha in the Empire. This thought was originally inspired by the fake Sasha in All In cosplaying Edelgard, but in general it’s a pretty interesting scenario to me given the surprising amount of parallels between the two series’ main trios. Insofar as “Dysfunctional trio containing one angry red short canonical bisexual with big ambitions and daddy issues who betrays everyone to forge her own path, one deeply empathetic blue paragon who presents as always friendly and approachable, but is actually just really good at hiding their deep seated trauma and at any moment is 5 seconds away from snapping and going apeshit, and one upbeat and chipper super smart and tactically adept archer who is actually quite sneaky and duplicitous, willing to use very underhanded methods to get what they want without running it by their friends first, but when the chips are down has a good heart and intentions, and is also a mostly a bystander to the blue and red characters conflict and really just wants them to knock it off already, and also is an *epic gamer*.” I feel like each of the girls would have a good bit to talk about with their respective lords, and that there’s a lot you could do there. Plus, a lot of the deeper lore of Three houses (spoilers) revolves around an alien entity who came from the stars to save or destroy the world, depending on who you ask, so there’s definitely something there.

Hey Cynda! this is a pretty interesting premise. I played most of a campaign of Three Houses and was having a blast right up until the orbital magic death laser threw me out of immersion so hard that I never went back to it. So please take any insight I have here with a grain of salt.

I think your right that there are some good parallels going on between the girls and the main trio of 3 Houses and the overarching lore. However while I feel they would all vibe with their respective counterpart, I don't really know where to take it beyond that. Even if you aged the girls up so that they weren't being trained as child soldiers(Even Cyril is 14 in the academy phase), I don't know if any of them would have much motivation to enlist at Garreg Mach.

Anne wouldn't go for it both because she wouldn't want to kill anyone or do that much work. She'd probably sign up for kitchen duty if anything if they had to stay in the monestary

Sasha wouldn't unless there was some clear reason maybe if Rhea had a way to transport them home? But then what's Rhea's motivation to keep them there?

Marcy honestly might enjoy learning strategy and the magic creatures of this world (and magic and archery). I think she would be hesitant of the 'murder bandits' curriculum and more so would only join if Sasha and Anne were up for it.

Like I think there's enough here for just some fun chat fics but I'm not sure isekai'ing the girls into Fodlan would make for a super compelling story.

I think the approach I would take if it were up to me would be to have the girls be born in world, replacing their respective parallels as leaders of the 3 houses. Edelgard and Demitri were already childhood friends, so you'd just need to tweak it so Marcy was also in their little crew. (Maybe Anne and Sasha ran to the alliance rather than be split up?)

Definitely would have them reconnect at the school and maybe Sasha would bring them in on the plan? I'm not sure, since I don't have all the context for Fodlan needed to fully flesh out this AU

[petrovna-zamo]

I am currently contemplating going to the yard sale- on one hand, I live like 40ish minutes away so it’s a quick drive and I might find something really cool; on the other hand, I don’t have anyone to go with and I’m not sure if I can afford anything. I’m also not sure if it’s ok to go as a fan (if that makes sense?) like I’m not a super fan or a creep and if I were to go it truly would just be to find something cool but I worry that my appearance as a 22 yr old girl would come across as psycho stalker fan. Any advice? (I might just be overthinking)

I say you should go! As a fellow 20 something year old resident of Los Angeles, I’m not too far off from you in age and distance so I can relate to a lot of this, especially the social anxiety and a tendency to overthink things lol. So you came to the right place! I’m going to break down all the reasons why I think you should go. Hopefully I’ll dissuaded some of your fears and won’t add to them!

I totally get why you might feel weird about going, especially as a fan, but considering they gave the address out to everyone, when they said all are welcome I think they really do mean it! Katya may cosplay as a communist but ultimately at the end of the day she just wants your money too lol. I think that’s why she and Andrew opened this up to the general public with the full knowledge that fans can and will come. They’re trying to make a buck!

I know in the past Katya has done this type of thing with Willam and from what I can recall, a lot of fans showed up and they were prepared for that so you’ll probably be in similar company! You’re also approaching this more as a consumer/buyer than as a fan which is kind of the most normal of interaction to have? Especially when going alone. Just think of it as shopping! Also it’s super close to that 8000 Sunset Strip shopping plaza right around the corner so I’m sure they’re going to be attracting bystanders as well, not just fans so there will be normal amount of “regular” people that will be there. I think it will be half their artsy porn friends and half fans aka us regular folks. Ultimately I think at the end of the day it doesn’t matter much to them, they’re happy to have everyone and again, they just want your coin lol.

As far as cost goes, I think things will be priced from all other the place too so don’t let that deter you. I know Katya really bumps the price up for items on her depop because she can as a famous person selling sweat soaked personal belongings, but I get the sense that this is for items big and small that can’t be easily sold online. It’s a moving/everything must go type of deal. So there will be furniture like bed frames that I’m sure are costly but I bet there will be less expensive knickknacks as well like face masks that are more affordable. Also Katya is very thrifty herself so while she may over charge in some areas, I don’t think everything will be entirely unreasonable. I remember from the drag sale with Willam, they sold stuff in every price range. Some fans said that while they may not have been able to afford the more expensive clothing items, there were plenty of little things like accessories that were cheaper so they felt they were still able to purchase something special.

Also, I totally relate to the social anxiety of going to something alone! I don’t know if that’s a big hang up for you in this instance but I will say as time has gone on, I’ve felt more comfortable doing things solo (and sometimes even prefer it!). Have you ever gone to something with a friend who wasn’t as into it as you and it almost ruined the experience because they didn’t share the same level of enthusiasm? Maybe that’s just me lol. I will say every time I’ve gone to something on my own that I really wanted to attend, I’ve always ended up enjoying it. I never regretted not going in those situations, you know?

And lastly, I will say the fact that you care enough to not push boundaries and appear “stalkerish” means you have more social tact than most and the other fans that will undoubtedly show up and definitely act that way. Idk how much fan interaction Katya is planning on doing, but again at the Willam thing she was down to take pics and chat. She’s pretty amenable to that stuff because she likes meeting people. This might be all business though so who knows. But if you’re not expecting anything on that level then you’re already approaching it in a more respectful manner and can’t really disappoint or be disappointed in that department!

If it seems like I’ve really thought this through it’s because I definitely have! If I didn’t have another commitment that I can’t really get out of this Sunday, I would seriously consider going myself. Since we’re both Angelenos, if you feel comfortable and ever want to come off anon and chat about it some more, I’d be happy to talk! I also understand maintaining your privacy, especially online. But if there’s ever future LA related Katya events that you’re considering going to and wondering if anyone else is, you can bet that I probably am as well! I will admit part of me is rooting for you to go to this so that we have someone on the inside to let us know how it went and report back lol. Hopefully if you do decide to go, you buy something cool or at the very least have a fun shopping experience. Anyways, good luck either way!

[thatrandombystander]

Oh hohohohoho OOH HOHOHO someone has made and put up what looks like a decent sewing pattern for a CLASSIC Vash coat since I last looked for one. A hundred Stampede Vash coat patterns and ONE classic coat pattern

Fantastic. I won't have to pick some random coat pattern and try to adapt it with my minimal sewing experience. Watch out coat pattern, I'm coming for you soon enough.

[dhaaruni]

I actually don't think the Democratic Party should scale back on its beliefs in progressive views. I just think Progressives should shout things like Stop Police Brutality and Fire Corrupt Cops (and scold rioters who loot and burn down shopping centers for hurting innocent bystanders) instead of Defund the Police and Abolish the Police and write thinkpieces on why looting's okay because Capitalism!

I totally agree with you, but that's the crux of the issue: activists and elected officials who cosplay as activists (albeit with $174,000 salaries) are unwilling to employ even that level of moderation.

The fact is, after George Floyd was killed, over 90% of Americans, including many Republicans, believed Derek Chauvin deserved to be brought to justice for murdering him! Former president George W. Bush and Laura Bush literally issued a lengthy statement condemning Chauvin and offering their prayers for the Floyd family like it wasn't a niche liberal thing to support Black Lives Matter, which is objectively good because building widespread support for social justice movements allows to bring about enduring social change.

But, after the defund/abolish stuff got going in earnest and people started looting things and writing long pieces supporting looting things, support plummeted and for a number of reasons not least of which is Republican obstruction, ending qualified immunity and really, getting any substantive federal police reform is off the table entirely (not least since Senator Tim Scott accused Democrats of wanting to defund the police when literally none of them wanted to do that).

The issue is first of all that activists yell things that are hugely unpopular and everybody from Joe Manchin to Mariame Kaba is associated with the Democratic party by the media. But also, when elected officials embrace activist slogans (like the Squad does), it makes it all the easier for the media to immediately and permanently tie that stuff to Democrats! And, it's almost impossible for Dems to extricate themselves from the slogans, even when they disavow them like Biden and the majority of non-Squad Democrats did.

Like of course, the tuned-in voter knew perfectly well that Biden and most Democrats didn't want to defund the police but the median swing voter in Iowa or whatever who saw 50 million ads on cable news about how Biden and Congressional Democrats all wanted to defund the police aren't well-informed and have the most arbitrary positions much of the time, and the statement that Democrats are embracing something something crazy unpopular like that immediately swings them to the other guy, which is why we just really need to put a sock in elected officials embracing extremist activist lingo (at least until we have the votes to abolish the Senate lol).

[hjazysol]

Chapter 12: Snake & The Fire

Summary:

Hokori & his small group of runaways find a place to stay for a while. The bounty hunters are also on the move.

_______

The same night after the Okashi Incident. The scene of the action was currently still in the process of getting cleared out. The collapsed rubble of the abandoned Hero Creation Facility entrance began rustling about. Wildly. Emerging in a quick burst of speed shot out the top half of a rather portly male figure roaring out in excitement and bliss.

"ARRRRRGH! I'M ALIVE! HARGHHHH!" It was the Self Proclaimed Protector of Dreams & leader of Star Allies. Dan Aotori. Yanking out alongside him, both Kumo & Taro his subordinates. Both extremely lost of all strength. Well mostly Kumo, Taro was basically fine.

"Dedede sir? What happened?"

The King crossed his arms triumphantly. Softly chuckling to himself. "Ah. Dee my boy...I have no idea, but it's fine we lived! ... ...I remember that girl jumped us. When I woke up. The stone around us collapsed. How we made it out? I don't know. Probably luck."

"I feel sick." Taranza weerily spoke the spider quirk user beside them. Falling into his bosses arm.

"...Hm. Well. I have a job to do. So I'll just go at it alone for now. You can go... You've been spared!" Dan stared forward to the bright sunlight dramatically. His colleagues weakly holding out their hands reaching out to him "No Great King Dedede!"

"...I'm sorry."

"What are they doing?" Some bystanders crossed by the scene viewing Dan & his gang from the moment they emerged. "Must be some crazy street performance."

"They might actually get people's attention if the big guy cosplayed an actually good hero."

".... ...." The King looked down to his subordinates awkwardly smiling. "Go get a taxi back."

______

Sunday Afternoon 2 PM

"The attack on Eusha outside the Pyramid Shopping centre was stopped yesterday by a runaway student of the previously hidden class in UA, 1-S, the boy's name is Hokori Hi- hmm." The reporter had her attention pulled away in a split moment of time before getting to say the full name, shortly after she was covering her own mouth surprised. "Oh that's right! Forgive me. Ahem. But anyway. According to some boys who were involved with the event." A news report following the situation yesterday was being broadcast on tv around Japan. This one in particular was positioned in the top corner of a bar.

The man sat there was listening in to what was being shared. "The attack in question was done by a creation gone rouge after resurfacing 7 years later, one made by Professor Akira Kamijiru. The same man responsible for the incident involving his illegal projects in the Hero Creation Facilities. Leading to it's eventual eradication. "

"Eh really? That quack again?" The man began to get a bit restless at this revelation. "Of course one of those things caused this. They weren't even human."

"Couldn't even survive without their dear old Professor nearby. And those monsters were meant to become greater than today's heroes? Haha! What a joke! Just a madman's failed fantasy."

An elderly but well built man picked up their empty glasses before reaching to wash them out with water. "Ah wait hang on. Kat-Ya One more fill there." The man jiggled around in their pocket reaching out a few yen for another drink. "What about you Kat? What do you think of the scientist?"

The old man Kat-Ya, began topping it up, all while watching the news himself. "Heh? That fogey?" They slid the drink back over to them collecting his pay off the counter infront. "He had ambitious goals that's for sure...It ain't easy ta make someone greater than All Might. And as you said. They ain't traditional human beings either... As proven yesterday, the rats are dangerous unchecked- 7 Years Alone that one was l, as they've been saying... And one small trigger, the thought of being replaced drove em, bizarre."

"If you ask me they should just kill the thing."

"That would be a solution I suppose. Either way they end up more civil than yesterday." Kat continued to scrub at his dirty glassses nearby. "... However, Zen my friend...I do see the craft...Heroes these days have more than just 'save the day' in their minds these days stuff like, fame & status end up being acknowledged more & more. The mad man just wanted heroes who had the fundamentals etched in their minds."

"...I guess I can get behind that. According to what they showed earlier though that clown will give all the quirks that they took back by today...They're smart just like the techy bastard."

"Sir please stop!" The sound of a woman shouting shot through the building alerting Kat-Ya and Zen. To look behind them. A kid dressed in black & white, with the attire of a rough old-school delinquent was setting fire to a table that they sat at in the restaurant portion of the building. They appeared to have a Quirk that solidified fire to make Green Lantern styled structures.

They were currently bashing at nearby tables with a fiery bat. "SHUT THE HELL UP BITCH! I'VE BEEN WAITING TOO LONG HERE WHERE'S THE DAMN SOUS CHEF!? I NEED TO KICK THEIR HEAD IN!? Where I'm sitting, the little ring table I'm in right now? This is where they works for reals ya hears! Another thing I'm annoyed about. How shit the food was here! What're you tryna do poinson me?"

They very briefly pressed the hot bat onto the girls leg burning her skin, she barely reacted though. " Heh... I'm Fightin' em and you ain't doing shit til they shows!" They wacked the sous chef's station leaving a mark on it. "They're lucky this things fire proof. I'd destroy it to set an example. NOW STEP OFF OR I'LL BURN YOUR UNIFORM TO! Heheh! "

Zen wistfully whistled with a smirk on his face, looking over to his old friend. "Well Kat-Ya. Your brats gone and brought a monster home?"

"...Damn rats! ...Kids these days have no respect!" They stepped over the bar counter removing their black vest. "Oi! Kozo!"

"Eh!?" They started eyeing up the slowly approaching old man. "....You... ...You ain't the Sous. Gets lost."

"Oh you'll wish I was lost... It's unfortunate for you though."

______

About an hour Later.

"We're almost there now guys." Having been on a constant walk for about a day after stopping Okashi's attack on Eusha, Hokori's group were still following by Shebi's lead, waiting to see where she's taking them. Everyone except her was tired.

"Shebi we've been travelling for a day straight! My legs are suffering back here." Takaishi was stuck in the back skulking as close as possible as not to be separated from the others. "I need to hear more than cars driving around!"

"Damn... It's really busy today... (sigh) Ok. Here we are get in." The building they were dragged all the way over to wasn't anything like what they'd expected. It was sort of 'adult looking' for someone as obsessed with looking beautiful as she was. "...Oi. What are you dawdling for? Get in!"

"This is Err... Where we're hiding out?" Kageyama said glaring skeptically at the place. "That's a club."

"No that's a restaurant...I have a job here."

"... ...How old are you again?"

"Sixteen."

Kageyama laughed to himself in amusement. "Heh well that's good seeing you in one of those sexy outfits would make the customers ill."

"What!?" Irritated she yanked the boy by his ear pulling him in closer. "I just said it's not some horny ass Club! You're lucky I'm even letting you guys come here. This is a top class restaurant. You barely fit the bill!"

"Alright alright! (Top Class? There's like three broke windows upstairs)"

"Hey Shebi?" Cut in Hokori. "You said you worked here right so what do you do, beat people up if they're too rowdy?"

"I serve food when it's ready." She said with a large amount of pride in herself. And unexpected on her behalf, everyone else wasn't really that impressed, serving plates of food? How boring.

"B-B-But yes. I do also beat up rowdy guests much to the disappointment of my boss, says it's bad for reputation. But the thing is." She pushed open the double doors making the entrance and flying out the doorway came a massively beaten body of a delinquent startling Shebi's guests', she sighed aloud. "He's no better than I am."

"Damn punk. If you have an issue with the food..." Coming up to the doorway with a grey grizzled beard and placing a pair of circle lenses glasses over his eyes, walked out Shebi's boss and the Executive Chef "...You don't harass my waiting staff. You come up to the kitchen & talk crap to our faces!"

~Executive Chef Katsoden Yasuden aka Kat-Ya by friends. Works the bar when he has nothing better to do.~

"If you couldn't beat me you'd never beat the sous chef, now fuck off & good riddance. You're never welcome here again, even if you want to just take a piss and leave!" The door was slammed back & shut on everyone's faces. Leaving everyone shocked mainly by his build. They all expected a nice young man who'd be extremely welcoming to others but what they were facing ended up looking like a foul mouthed bear defending it's territory.

A few seconds later he reopened the door. "Ah... *Hebi Shojo. You showed up."

*Young Snake

"Heh." Shebi looked away from the old man somewhat in disgust. "Well I do still like getting paid you know."

"At this time? You're 1 Hour Late."

"You old crone. I told you to check your damn phone! I said I'd be late!"

The old man grabbed Shebi by the hair lifting her up from the ground. "I've already told you multiple times you damn snake you shouldn't be showing up late to work idiot! You're lucky I even let your shift start so late."

Shebi returned the feeling by pulling his cheeks apart from one another. "And I told you I've been in a bit of trouble recently!"

"YOU'VE SHOWN UP LATE EVERYDAY SINCE I FIRST HIRED YOU!"

"Tch... If you read your messages you'd know I can't think about that even more now... ..."

"..." Katsoden put the kid back on the ground this time, letting go of the hair instead gently patting her on the head. "Listen you brat..." Shebi stayed silent keeping her eyes averted. "...Hey look at me kid..." With that bit of coaxing she timidly turned & tilted her head to look at him. "Listen... ...I'm glad you're ok. But you need to start being even more careful. They're gonna come after you for who knows how long. You always were a loner. But that shouldn't be a reason for ya to get reckless."

"It's just a bit pressuring is all... It's fine...I don't need your pampering."

"... ...Come on, it's time to get to work, snake-" He finally noticed the others guided to this place. "Oh. You runts are the guys who are being tracked down by the Heroes?"

Still bewildered by the massive man's presence they just calmly nod without breaking eye contact. He sighed. "Honestly now! This is a restaurant not a help shelter, you all get lost. Go bother some other guy."

"Y-Yeah we'll go!" Said Kageyama, badly hiding how afraid he was of the man. "A restaurant isn't really a very good place to hide out anyway. Your unsightly Employee over there brought us here!"

"Unsightly?" Shebi murmured giving an intense side eye.

Katsoden responded with a few seconds of uninterrupted silence, til his eyes began to fixate on Hokori for the remainder, his eyebrows now raising with interest. He eventually held the doors open for them all to come in. "Go on then. You're all welcome."

"Eh?... I-Is this a trap?"

"No." He silently glanced over to Hokori. "(That kid. It really is isn't it?"

He pointed to Hokori, Shuri & Takaishi. "Altogether you three are starving... I can tell. Come in I'll make you something but after that you all lea- ... ...Oh?"

After being teased with free food the three were already gone. Nobody even noticed how fast they moved. Kageyama worried about the other customers seeing them followed in after them. "Those idiots! Are they trying to get me locked up!? Stay hidden!"

Once Shebi followed in however absolutely none of the customers made a comment about her being a 1-S runaway. They in fact all cheered from her arrival. "Huh? They're excited by the Gorgon?" Kageyama said murmering with a shade of jealousy.

"Of course they're excited. They could care less if I'm on the run. After all I'm the star of this restaurant! Everyone wants to see me. It's only natural no one can ignore beauty."

"Star?...Tch. Let's hope their eyes don't burn away at the sight of you today."

"My looks & style of fighting aren't the only beautiful things about me Kageyama."

"You're not beautiful. You don't even wear glasses."

Loud clanging pans & dishes could be heard dropping and crashing from the kitchen. Alerting both Katsoden & his right hand girl. "Wha-? Are they fighting in there!? Bah. You get started, Hebi Shojo. I can deal with whatever is happening."

He stormed off to the kitchen door leaving Shebi to her own devices as she stepped passed multiple tables, eventually reaching a horizontally long podium-like structure at the centre of this velvet coloured hall. She didn't utter even a single word. Only grabbed a bandana on the platform next to her, which was tied round the head and had her hair tucked inside.

"Is she getting that stuff out ready for the chefs or something?" Yatsua asked in interest.

"Bit of an odd set up don't you think? Right in the middle of the dining hall." Replied Kageyama.

Finally, to cap off this sequence she pressed a button under the stage-like structure. And surrounding her at that moment popped out a bunch of kitchen equipment. As if on queue all the guests exploded into an eruption of cheers and whistles.

"Well she's definitely popular here."

Meanwhile in the kitchen. "GARAH!? WHAT DO YA MOOCHERS THINK YER DOIN' DAMNIT!?" Katsoden had just cracked open the doors catching Hokori stuffing his mouth full of pre made dishes and ingredients. "YOU! RED HEAD! You've gone and bled my shelves dry!"

Not even uttering the slightest word Hokori raised his hand all before sinking it inside a cake right next to him. That he slowly shovelled into his mouth.

"DO YOU THINK I CAN'T SEE YOU OR SOMETHING!?"

"OWNER OWNER!" One of the chefs in the kitchen yelled out from the pantry.

"Gah! So much in just a few minutes. First a loudmouthed idiot, then she comes late again, now I have food moochers & yet there's another problem! What!?"

"Well i-it's the food. I was going to say it's all gone but err." The employee pointed over at Hokori still stuffing himself with food. "That boy ate everything."

"EVERYTHING!?"

"You said I cou-" The giant man grabbed Hokori by his face, with it still full of food.

"I! I Said I would make you something! Not that you could steal my stuff! Get outt of here!"

"EH!? I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY!" While Hokori was being scolded Takaishi & Shuri had hid themselves behind a wall of crates, now empty because of their food searches.

"Honestly! ... ...("That's the last of the ingredients. I was gonna ask Zen to grab today's shipment... but...") It's fine kid. But you've gotta do a favour now ya hear?"

"O-Of course it's only fair!"

Katsoden pulled out a highly detailed map from a drawer a secure drawer. "I want you to go..." He circled a section of it with a marker. "...Here. Seeing as ya cleansed my place ya can go get the new food and ingredients. Now!" They handed the map off to Hokori. Throwing him out the back entrance of the kitchen. "You better not take too long damn brat. Shebi can make do with her kitchen's ingredients in the meantime."

"Shebi? Hmm. Ah well...This is 3 Miles away... ...I could probably take... No forget it. On foot will do." And off he went on his own.

____

"Shebi-Aneki! You're ok."

"Huh?" Shebi turned from the work station in front of them after being called out to. "Ah! Kyo!"

~Kyo Oyagashi is the female waiter who confronted the delinquent earlier.~

"...Hey?" She lifted up her the skirt of her work clothes. "What's with the bandages?" She pointed at their colleagues bare thigh noticing the mummy wrap of bandages around it just below the pair of short spats they wore. "You hurt that soft skin of yours again?"

"O-Oh that i-it's fine I just had a slight burn is all. ("If she found out, forget hospital that kid would be in a morgue if I told her what happened")"

"Speaking of... The table has a burn as well..."

"Oh that was the guy Kat-Ya threw out. It's fine though. No major damage. Eep! (So much for that.)"

Shebi stayed fixated on the burn marks temporarily seemingly bothered before smiling generously at Kyo. "They burnt you!?... ... ...Well if you say it's just that burn then it'll be fine. Kat already thrashed him anyway. Just as long as you're ok....But get ready. The snakes are gonna come out to serve the dishes real soon! Oh...You have the orders right?"

"Oh!? Of course!" Frantically rummaging round a small bag Kyo removed at least over 200 notes with multiple food orders on each of them, it was a big place. She handed each and every one over to Shebi. Skimming through everyone of them before placing them on a pile up front.

"Tch. Ok! This'll be easy." She kicked up a leg. Following up behind it flew a tube and nozzle. It was a soda gun. But she wasn't finished she kicked up at least 5 more. "Ok Kyo! Just leave me with the glasses. I can handle the rest now... Ok so the most popular dish today... ...Sushi & Sashimi? I can do that first...But there's also orders for varying bowls of ramen, and... oh, just one Curry. Hm?"

She read the order for the Curry again. Next to it was a drawing of a skull & a hot pepper- Well drawn. "Woah! This person's looking to die today I see heheh. Either that or they want to be stuck in the bathroom all day."

And with the orders read she pulled out glasses & alcohol just before the first soda gun could touch ground. "Now the show can begin." Off it went the second it landed into her hands, Shebi set fired different flavours of cola, lemonade and other soft drinks into the glasses set up earlier. Following up the first, the remaining 5 guns swiftly followed down. And Shebi stretched her arms out to form a T shape.

Every tube connecting the gun fell round her arms wrapping around them like flowing water & coiling themselves safely round her body. "Stick those glasses high!" With a click of the trigger more drinks came firing out into the nearby glasses garnering more attention and cheers from the crowds. Kageyama & Yatsua however were still beyond confused.

"I-Is she? The entertainment or something?" Questioned Yatsua his 4 highest arms both on his head & hips respectively.

"I don't know but however she's doing that all at once is freaky."

Jumping up from behind them rolled in Kyo. "Oh you mean sister Shebi?"

"Eh? Err sure...She's just throwing stuff around."

"Oh it's fine! This is your first time here right, well Shebi is the youngest of the working staff. But she is strong and a star." "A star? But I don't work here?" Kageyama scoffed playfully. "Her ability when cooking & serving is beautiful just like herself. Kat-Ya would much rather die than give up the kid. Especially since she's the Sous Chef."

"...Wha- She's the Sous!? I thought she just served the food. She never said anything about making it..."

"You see the rows of marble paving along the ground?" Separating the already massive amount of tables from one another were shimmering line of marble. Kageyama knelt down to look at his reflection.

"I sure am incredible today...Why are these so special though. Besides my reflection."

"Well that's where Shebi has the snakes come out."

Both the boys continued being enamored with the ground they didn't fully understand. When they looked back to Shebi there was an abnormally sized pot on the workspace infront of her filled with boiling water & multiple smaller ones with some boiling eggs. And all the pop & alcohol was already served and a crowd of roaring cheers followed.

"WHA- She got to so many people already? Did she even leave her own table!?" Yatsua was overwhelmed by how much happened in such a short burst of time.

"Ah. You missed them."

"...Them?"

"Believe it or not Shebi herself is no faster than a professional runner right now. Even if you turned away that's not fast enough to serve out to drinks to every table in this place. For our restaurant that's around 250 down here then the upstairs section takes up an extra 200."

"HUH!? OVER 400!"

Kyo pointed back over to her superior as they were talking Shebi had finished adding the other ingredients for the first massive pot of ramen. But already behind her were several plates of sushi & sashimi.

"SHE DID IT AGAIN!"

"Shh. Now watch."

"Queen..." The fast working Sous Chef raises her foot above her head stretched out at a straight 180 angle. "...Giza!" Slamming down her food deep into the marble with ease the impact seemingly caused it wave round as if it had become the ocean.

The Snakes were here. The shining stone waves rose up from the ground becoming far more tube like in shape with a head at the front.

"A-A-Ahh! S-So...These are the snakes you were on about?"

Kyo nodded- a smile on her face. "Now pay close attention this is the final part."

Swiftly, piling up each plate of both sushi & sashimi Shebi had stuck them ontop of the newly arriving stone snakes and under her control she had them slide around the restaurant at otherwise dangerous speeds. But she was still in control, as much as they do seem independent, as long as they're connected to the ground she can maneuver them mentally.

It was like an express train but for food. "Amazing...she does this everyday?" Yatsua asked, his head locking onto the constantly moving stone reptiles.

Kyo unnervingly laughed at his question rubbing at the back of her own head, a bit embarrassed to say. "She only comes in when she wants money."

"...That's not how jobs work."

"For her it is. He'd never admit it but Kat-Ya tends to spoil her a lot."

A loud masculine sneeze came from the main kitchen. Shebi's snakes sank back to the ground while she separated noodles from the giant container into multiple smaller sized ones. "It's time for the home stretch now"

___

On the way back from getting more ingredients & resources. After following Katsoden's map. Hokori was stood in place extremely puzzled. "Hmm... Despite following the map...I'm lost... ...Hm!? Who's there!?"

Loud bellowing footsteps crept up towards him as he distanced himself slightly back. They were heavy steps. The silhouette peering through the dimly lit alley was massive.

"Oh. How lucky... ...I got to you-" The voice was cut off. And the figure was suddenly gone. Surprising the Bandana wearing boy greatly.

Until. "I really did didn't I?" He felt a widespread grip atop his own shoulder. "I really ended up finding you first? How lucky."

Hokori looked behind to face the man- A hulking man in a purple trench coat. And straw hat. "... ...Hi there! Do you mind moving you're kind of in my way?"

"Unfortunately for you, my friends and I are in the middle of a game. My boss believes you might end up evil. So I'm here to kill you and be the first to claim the head of the strongest in your team...Being you...Hm?"

The small boy circled around his much larger soon to be assailant. "Ah. You definitely train. You must be really strong then right? But I'm sorry I'm not a villain."

"As far as things go that is also correct. So I'm watching you..."

"Wha-... Wa-Watching?"

"I refuse to attack unless you genuinely do bad things. Smiler said to just attack and have fun but I'd rather wait and see for myself."

"Ah... ..." Having met this seemingly relaxed individual Hokori handed over one of the crates he had been wheeling back to Katsoden's restaurant. "Can you help with these then please?"

"...Sure."

"...So how did you get that tall anyway?"

"Milk."

Across the alleyway behind them was Dedede watching from afar. Dumbfounded by this encounter. "There's no way? A boy like that!? With Itaimo?" Clutching his shoulder he knelt down. "...Relax. I'm sure it's just a coincidence. If I reach the boy in time then absolutely nothing bad will happen. I'll beat the big guy then I can ask him what his goals are...I'm sure he's a good kid. I need to help him now."

The big guy, Itaimo suddenly stopped turning around to the exact location that Dedede was hiding from. This behaviour confusing Hokori. "Huh? Hey why'd you stop?"

His glare only intensified. "(...Found...Already?...The boss is right then...I need to work on my stealth.)" He raised a hand... "Lady Metal... Stop him please."

"(SHIT! She's in there to!?) He must have noticed me." He stepped out into the light with Hokori & Itaimo watching. "H-Hey now. Relax. I'm here. No need to call her out!"

"Hmph. Well that's good... Their are plenty of bounties on your head Sir Dan. "You're lucky you're good at heart. Ignoring the less likeable aspects."

"Erm." Hokori spoke up again to the much taller adults. "I really need to get back now... Can we leave please?"

"... Sure. The King can join us. Can't you Sir Dan?"

Aotori didn't say anything he just watched. A skinnier more female shaped arm stretched out of Itaimo's back several massive spikes were inbetween the frail looking fingers on that hand. They approached Hokori slowly with his back turned and walking away.

"OK OK! I'll go jeez." On the immediate command of his shouting the hand retracted back into the hat wearers bulky back. "Good dog."

"...What do you even want with the boy?..."

"Don't worry King... We won't kill him... Yet. We're only here to see whether he does good or bad... ...It's a game you see. Whoever wins gets paid by every person who lost. And at Kastoden's place we will finally know the answer."

"Katsoden's?" The robed man chuckled to himself grinning with a mildly puzzled look. "You'd risk taking me someplace where I get the advantage?"

"Perhaps..."

"... ...So if he's good then you'll just leave?"

"...I will...But my Lady & The Smiler? I can't tell you...They're more thorough when it comes to baring fruit a true personality."

"Tch. Dirty hunters."

"What you call dirty is just buisness."

____

An hour passes once again.

"Queen Giza!" One final snake erupted from the restaurant floor charging straight forward with the last plates of food and any drinks before sinking back down. Shebi decided to take the one plate of Curry to the table herself. It was just one girl sat alone tapping her foot impatiently. "(Hmm? What's her problem? Well whatever... She must really hate her organs if she wants to eat something this hot... Why's the old man even sell this stuff)"

Her friends had sat themselves down at a table. "Woah really! We missed all that?" Yatsua & Kageyama had just finished telling Shuri & Takaishi about Shebi's quirk and how fast she made it move.

"Yeah. It's funny Hokori doesn't even know they have such a strong quirk. But still is so friendly with her." Kageyama's statement confused the others.

"Wh...Why does that matter?"

"If she actually trusted him she'd have said...Fighting as a team would be hard if we can't cover our strengths and weaknesses.... ....But then again."

He turned to his peers giving them a sly smile with a punchable face. "Me & Hokori would be enough as it is. You guys are just deadweight for us. Ahahhahahahah!"

"So obnoxious."

Shebi's angered voice came from the final customers table. The plate of curry was smashed and spilled all over the floor.

It was loud enough to silence the whole establishment. Even the outside the outside ambience was practically non existent. "Oh no!...Not again!" Kyo tried to get as close to Shebi & the customer as possible.

The one who ordered the food poked her finger against the blonde haired girl's forhead aggressively. "Maybe you weren't paying attention then? Your cooking skill is non existent! You call this curry hot!? It's about as cold as you will be in a second! If you don't sort this out!"

"(THREATENING SHEBI!? DOES THAT GIRL WANT TO DIE!?)" Still sat over at the bar breathed through their teeth. "Well shit. Hopefully it doesn't end too badly."

"What's happening out here?" Katsoden stepped out from the kitchen. Burying a cleaver into the bar table next to him.

"Erm. Well your Sous Chef had her cooking insulted. I don't know who that girl is confronting her but..."

"Huh?...O- Oh no!... What's that girl thinking! Grah! Kyo! Stay far away from them and you stop engaging right now Shebi you damn brat! ... ...YOU HEAR ME!?"

She didn't hear a word Katsoden said she was annoyed greatly by her statement. At this moment in time she was only thinking how badly she could hurt the girl that mocked her.

This dark-red haired girl smirked with a lollipop stick poking from her mouth. She was far from done picking on this short tempered cook, staring her down in rage.

"My apologies. You must be the one who serves the food then? If this restaurant relies on a waiter to cook then no wonder this places crap is barely even palatable. Your leader should be ashamed to even live with that."

"You think I'm just a damn waitress huh!? ... ...Krrk! A burial in stone... ...Is what you want then!... RIGHT!?" Shebi took on the red head's taunt she had gone redder that the tomatoes she had lay across her working station.

"Shebi! Drop it already." Droned Katsoden desperately trying to get to Shebi's ears. "It's fine! What happened wasn't in your control, it never was! I don't care about what she's saying! Don't act rash!"

"..."

"..."

Neither girl said anything for a while. They just stared at each other with equally intimidating faces, ignoring the background noise. "GET LOST!" Shebi reacted first swinging round her right leg for a kick. But it missed they had jumped backwards to avoid it.

"Hm. It seems you're as bad as fighting as you are cooking? What was a slow flimsy kick like that supposed to do to someone like me?"

Ignoring the taunt Shebi shot out another kick faster than the previous though it was blocked this time.

"Tch. I guess you're not as fast as you thought!" Shebi immediately answered back with a gruesome spinning kick to her opponents face. 

 The kick was strong enough to send her flying into the bar. The resulting crash breaking multiple bottles on the shelves, & knocking Zen's drink out his hand. "Oi! Leave me out of this!"

"... ... ...Show your chef some respect idiot... ...("She's wearing that same black and white outfit as that sword guy that attacked back then? She's here for us I suppose...It doesn't matter anymore now though.)" Fixing back her long bangs, Shebi stylishly walked away back to her station. Leaving the other customers and more importantly her allies in awe.

"She's... Terrifyingly strong." Whispered Shuri looking at the aftermath from the fight.

However, in spite of the fact Shebi dared assume the fight was over. They got back up removing an emptied wine bottle from their mouth. Various glass shard from the bottles pittering across the ground like a violent storm of knives. "*Hic* Wh-what's yhat huuuuuuuuuuuh!? Respect did you say? Me showing a gorilla like you the strength given to me by my father!"

"...Are you drunk!? It was just one bottle... ...Besides I never asked about you showing your Quirk. Get it together dumbass."

"*Hic* I Kayrya Zuki, daughter of justice do not get drunk. Damn snake! Never! Never!"

"... ...Well what do you want me for."

"*Hic* W-Well you are one of those 1-S students I think. You're kind of blurry right now. I can barely tell~ You are ugly though I can tell that much..." The dark red haired girl raised both her arms. "I don't know if you saw my brother outside there. He got beat by your leader."

Shebi laughed at that proclaim. "Leader!? Kat-Ya? What's with all this formal bullshit!?"

"Kayryu and I, have similar abilities to our father."

"I could care less! Now apologise for what you said already. I won't tolerate disrespect to me. Even less so, to this restaurant as a whole."

Kayrya's hands began glowing a bright orange and made a bubbling noise. As she did this Shebi's breath became visible in the air. "What the? It's cold? ...!?!?" She looked back at Kayrya she was now glowing with orange colours and steaming. "(This looks bad...) Hey! All of you get the hell out of here! This bitch is gonna blow!"

All the customers in the restaurant began a crowded dash towards to entrance. However, Takaishi's hearing noticed a small flickering noise like fire come from under the doorway. "W-WAIT STOP DON'T OPEN THAT!" He yelled out to late the first person to reach opened the doors wide. And flooding in. Was a massive wall of flames.

"A-A backdraft!?"

"*Hic* Now now Snake. Did you forget? My stupid little brother's outside. He's burning things right now. So you see right? There's no escape. I've gained all the heat necessary and with my brother's fire outside I'll never run out."

~Kayrya Zuki. Quirk: Heat Steal. She can take away the heat from anything nearby and apply it to herself. She can then make small explosive bursts that serve as projectiles and can increase striking power. And obviously she's really hot.

"If I apprehend you, father will let me be one of his top guards at the prison." She charged at Shebi, an arm held low for a punch to the body. A tiny explosion triggered just behind her elbow as they threw a fist forward. Shebi, not expecting it to come so quick, was nailed directly in her stomach. Her skin sizzled and burned the second they touched.

"TITZZZZZZ! THAT BURNS!" Before Kayrya followed through too much. She had the marble below trap her feet. And backed off from the fist. After a short while the heat Kayrya absorbed melted the marble away.

"Childish games... Now then. Let me show you just how good I am at cooking."

[eulaties]

MYSTIC MESSENGER FIC RECS ★ YOOSUNG/MC ★ #5

fics that have an asterisk (*) in front of them are my personal favorites! also, all of the fics listed are completed unless otherwise stated.

NOTE: fic recs for all the yoosung simps <3 majority of these are sfw!

this list was last updated on 12/29/20.

if you want general mysme fic recs click here

if you want yooseven fic recs click here

if you want yooran fic recs click here

if you want juminv fic recs click here

*on the other end of the line • one-shot

SUMMARY: “fights and misunderstandings happen in any relationship, especially under stress. whoever suggested to get matching phone cases was corny enough as it is but ultimately a genius who unknowingly helped get messages across each side.”

TAGS: takes place post-yoosung route, established relationship, misunderstandings, arguments that eventually get resolved, fluff, soft fic!!

*finally • one-shot

SUMMARY: "this is a bit naughty but...i'm thinking about where i'm going to kiss you first." a fic based off of this voiceline.

TAGS: hickies, nothing too explicit happens, takes place during the rfa party

sickeningly sweet • one-shot

SUMMARY: “you and yoosung are too cute and so genuinely sweet to one another that it was almost gross to witness.”

TAGS: fluff, so much fluff, tooth rotting sweetness, short but cute fic

kiss the cook • one-shot

TAGS: yoosung cooks for mc, picky eater!mc, fluff, super cute

*hallelujah, i believe • one-shot

TAGS: takes place post-yoosung route, mc pov of yoosung through the years, fluff, gender neutral mc, falling in love, so cute omgg

i’m not upset • one-shot

TAGS: proposal fic, fluff, humor

convenience store romance • multi-chapter (5/5)

SUMMARY: “mc bumps into yoosung in a convenience store after a week of joining rfa, but doesn’t have the guts to tell him who she is. she decides to just hide from the boy, scared of her own growing feelings, but he’s a lot harder to shake off than mc thinks.”

TAGS: slow burn, first meetings, misunderstandings, mutual pining, first kiss, canon divergence, friends to lovers, fluff, light angst

*bystander • one-shot

SUMMARY: “yoosung passes by timeline after timeline until he gets to you. hints of his feelings come through the phone calls.”

TAGS: reset theory, mutual pining, one-sided pining, angst, mild fluff

*eleven layers • one-shot

SUMMARY: “yoosung shows you his skills as a part-time barista and you’re impressed at the rate of improvement he shows as well as the cheesy things he can incorporate in your drinks. you lowkey may be suffering from coffee overdose.”

TAGS: coffee shop au, barista!yoosung, established relationship, fluff

as luck would have it • one-shot

TAGS: fluff, first date, yoosung has really bad luck lmao, awkward but cute yoosung, takes place post yoosung-route

*a memory reflected • one-shot

SUMMARY: "i remember practicing how to ask you out to the mirror.”

TAGS: fluff, established relationship, timeskip, yoosung and mc are married

*truth, lies, and the in-between • yoosung-centric, one-shot

SUMMARY: “v was in a coma, rika was the head of a cult, and yoosung wasn’t sure what was true anymore, and what was a lie.” what if the true ending happened after yoosung’s route?

TAGS: hurt/comfort, angst, closure, post-canon

changes • one-shot

SUMMARY: “sometimes, it was still hard for yoosung to get used to change. not that he would complain.”

TAGS: gender neutral mc, post-canon, fluff

perfectly imperfect • one-shot

SUMMARY: “mc goes through a lot at the rfa party, but nothing compares to the feeling she gets the first time she meets yoosung.”

TAGS: first meeting, first kiss, fluff, yoosung route good ending, takes place during the rfa party

*fumbling in love • multi-chapter (2/2)

TAGS: fluff, kisses, flustered yoosung, established relationship, post-canon

*healing words • one-shot

SUMMARY: “life with chronic pain isn't simple, but having her by his side made it a little easier.”

TAGS: angst, hurt/comfort

CW: eye trauma

movie night • one-shot

TAGS: fluff, watching movies, established relationship, kisses, cuddling, flustered yoosung and mc, super soft and cute!

*the moment he fell for her • one-shot

SUMMARY: “his heart was racing non stop since the moment the new girl had joined the rfa. after a long time, that had felt like an eternity, he felt genuine joy and excitement. he was so happy and cheerful and everything seemed brighter, all the colours seemed more intense. the blue of the sky was like a promise, the green of the grass like a new vision of optimism."

TAGS: angst, healing, fluff, falling in love, pining

CW: mentions of depression, grief

staring • one-shot

TAGS: established relationship, post-canon, fluff, just mc admiring their husband, soft fic

wish • one-shot

SUMMARY: “you help yoosung make a wish on a shooting star.”

TAGS: fluff, established relationship

good night kiss • one-shot

SUMMARY: “—yoosung,” you say, interrupting his line of thought. “it’s… okay to give me a good-night kiss, you know.”

TAGS: fluff, flustered yoosung

dreams • one-shot

SUMMARY: “yoosung calls you in the morning just to tell you he dreamed of you.”

TAGS: fluff, takes place during yoosung’s route, phone calls, established relationship

never again • one-shot

SUMMARY: “now then...make your princess some dinner, daddy." you thought it might have been sexy, but instead, it just made yoosung faint.

TAGS: fluff, humor, nothing explicit happens

of course • one-shot

SUMMARY: “with a smile on his face, he reaches for his phone, positions the camera, and snaps a selfie. the picture is perfect, with him smiling softly, his one arm around you, and your own expression gentle as you lay there quietly.”

TAGS: yoosung good ending, post-canon, established relationship, fluff

stealth (?!) mode • one-shot

TAGS: seven being a little shit (and we love him for that), cosplay, anniversary, humor, fluff

joining in • one-shot

SUMMARY: “want to play lolol but only one chair? no problem.”

TAGS: fluff, established relationship, gender neutral mc, soft!!

in love with a stranger • one-shot

TAGS: yoosung pining for mc, summer vacation with the rfa, fluff, confessions, first kiss

*dwelsinge • one-shot

SUMMARY: “on his bad days, yoosung finds it hard to count his blessings.”

TAGS: nightmares, post-yoosung’s after ending, angst, hurt/comfort

*wake with you there • one-shot

SUMMARY: “yoosung finds out that being sick (and a little bit loopy) isn't all that bad when you wake up to the one you love taking care of you.”

TAGS: sickfic, fluff, humor, comfort, established relationship

*a day of firsts • one-shot

SUMMARY: “yoosung's first day working at rika's coffee shoppe. he meets a special someone.”

TAGS: coffee shop au, barista!yoosung, fluff, humor, 707 being...707, saeran is just vibing

*never ending • one-shot

SUMMARY: “sometimes ten years will contain so much, yet feel like no time at all.”

TAGS: post-yoosung’s after ending, domestic bliss, fluff, humor, yoosung through the years

*compromised operation • one-shot

TAGS: domestic fluff, humor, mc trying to surprise yoosung for his birthday

*all the lights • one-shot

SUMMARY: “yoosung contemplates the different types of wishes he's made throughout his life so far.”

TAGS: wishes, fluff, post-yoosung’s route

*sleepless nights and amber lights • one-shot

TAGS: angst, nightmares, hurt/comfort, happy ending

CW: ptsd

[ask-marcus-cally-and-ari]

Only Human

Chapter 12: Welcome to Hell

Two weeks had gone by since the hunt for three teenagers began- two weeks of being hidden by two Freaks and eating small rations to make money stretch out and last longer.

Eggs had become a luxury to Marcus, sausage a meal fit for a king. He wolfed down a plate of toast like he hadn’t eaten in weeks.

“What I wouldn’t give for some pancakes,” Ari remarked as she ate their third biscuit in a row for breakfast that week.

Cally ate her cereal, looking around. “I mean, we’ve saved enough to go to McDonald’s for lunch. Spyper, do you think it’s safe?”

Spyper briefly scanned the area, then nodded. “Yeah, I think so. I don’t see any Freaks around.”

Marcus whooped. “Meat, here I come!”

The trio and the two Freaks that accompanied them stepped out of the van and headed towards McDonalds. Intelligent and Spyper stood on either side of the teenagers, acting as a buffer between them and any Freaks in hiding.

Marcus kept his hand on his gun until he was sitting at the table, and even then, he looked around, ready to pull it out if anything moved wrong.

“Once we’re at HECU, we won’t have to worry about rationing food,” Spyper said, glancing around. “They have this huge cafeteria there and the food is really good. Last time I was there I had a philly cheese steak, potato wedges, and a chicken sandwich.”

“That’s awesome,” Ari beamed. “So how’d you meet them?”

“Me and Intelligent actually saw them in action when we met them. They were trying to contain a dead Freak called Friendly Scout. He got away, and we went up to them to see what was going on,” Spyper explained. “Granted, we haven’t had the best relationship with them since. Pure wrapped us up in this scheme to kill a demon a few years ago and HECU had me and Intelligent placed under house arrest for putting people in danger.”

“Wait, the f@ck?!” Marcus squawked. “How did you do it if it was this Pure mofo’s fault?”

“We were accomplices,” Spyper said. “That, and I kinda helped him escape from HECU when they had us cornered in an apartment…”

“And we lied to an HECU officer so they would help us,” Intelligent added, wincing.

Cally nodded. “Yeah, that would sour relationships. I remember Marcus lying to a teacher to cover for me when I was stuck at home once.”

“I still think I should have told her from the start. Your parents not letting you go to school because your room wasn’t clean isn’t even fair.”

“Yikes. Your parents sound horrible,” Spyper frowned.

“Eh, they tried,” Cally replied. “I- hey, check out that guy. Is there a cosplay convention around?”

The group followed Callys gaze and saw a guy in a Jason Vorhees costume sitting at a table nearby.

“What the hell…?” Spyper whispered, raising an eyebrow.

Marcus put his hand back on his gun. “Don’t look at him.”

“Please tell me there’s not a Freak who looks like that,” Intelligent winced, averting his gaze from the costumed patron.

“How would I know?” Spyper asked.

“There isn’t,” Cally replied.

“So either that’s someone who’s way too into cosplay, or we’ve got a Team Killer wannabe on our hands,” Spyper winced.

Ari shuddered. “Team Killer?”

“A pretty infamous Freak. He kills anyone who wears red.”

Marcus looked at his clothes, took off his red sneakers, and put them in the garbage.

“Good call,” Spyper said. “I have an extra pair of brown boots in my van if you want them.”

“Thanks. I-” Marcus froze. What was he feeling? Nothing was touching him, but there was warmth he could feel. Body heat, to be specific. Body heat and the cold, sharp blade of a… oh, no. “...Ari, sit still and close your eyes.”

“What, why?” Ari whimpered.

“Because my sense of touch is now bullsh@t levels of keen, and the world won’t let us rest,” Marcus replied- then pulled out his gun and fired.

A scream filled the restaurant and a Spy decloaked behind the Trio, collapsing to the floor in a bloody heap.

Cally gagged. “WHAT THE F-”

“SH_T WE GOTTA GO!” Spyper screamed as the entire restaurant was sent into panic. He and Intelligent Heavy grabbed the Trio and ran out the front door to the van, leaving the masked figure to follow them.

Cally slammed the door once they made it, locking it. “DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE-”

Spyper jammed the keys into the ignition and slammed on the gas, sending the car lurching forward. “Ok, who the hell was that!?”

“I don’t know!” Marcus replied. “I just felt him come closer!”

“You felt him?! The hell does that mean?!” Cally shouted.

“It’s like I could feel... like my sense of touch got way keener.”

“It’s the power of the Body,” Intelligent said, watching the restaurant from the rear-view mirror. “The Body enhances all human senses.”

“I hate this power so much,” groaned Marcus- and then something shot out Spyper’s tires. “OH, THAT’S BULLSH@T!”

“GAH! What just happened!?” Spyper screamed, jerking the wheel to stay on the road.

Cally looked out the window. “Guys, we got company!”

“Who is it!? I can’t look away from the road!” Spyper shouted, fighting against the pull of the blown tire.

“I see at least five people.” Cally squinted. “And one of them is pointing a rifle at us.”

“Oh sh_t, it’s Brutal!” Intelligent hissed. “Since when is he still good with a rifle!?”

Marcus scowled. “Do you guys have a rifle?”

“Check in the compartment under my bed! My old rifle should be under there!” Spyper grunted as another car slammed into his van.

Marcus pulled out the weapon, loaded it, and headed to the top of the van, where he opened the trapdoor and came out, aiming for the drivers of the closest car. “EAT LEAD, MOTHERF@CKER!”

He fired into the car and the front windshield shattered on impact before the car began veering off the road, its driver out of commission.

Ari whimpered in the back, and Cally went to go hold him.

“Hang on to your hats!” Spyper shouted, reaching for the clutch. “We’re about to go airborne!”

"SH@T!" Before Marcus could go back in, he found himself in a struggle for the rifle with Brutal. "Get lost, you son of a b@tch!" he snapped.

“Not until you get lost first!” Brutal hissed, trying to kick Marcus off the van.

Marcus, deciding the rifle wasn’t worth it, let it go and ducked back into the van, only for the Sniper to prevent him from closing the door.

“You’re not getting away that easy!”

Ari screamed, and Cally panicked, reaching for the nearest knife.

“Get the hell OUT!” Intelligent screamed, trying to slam the trapdoor shut to keep Brutal out.

The back door to the van opened, and a Scout with a hole in his chest, no eyes, and chains coming out of the hole hissed at the Trio, grabbing Marcus with the chains and trying to pull him out. “MOTHERF-”

Quickly slamming the trapdoor in Brutals face, Intelligent ran to the vans back door and tried to rip the chains off of Marcus’ leg. “Let him go!”

“Get off me, 2 Chainz!” Marcus squawked.

2 Chainz hissed and yanked Marcus out of the van and on to the open road where their fight continued.

“MARCUS!” Ari screamed, running to the door.

Marcus got up, holding his side, then looked at his knife. “You wanna go, weirdo?!” he asked challengingly.

2 Chainz snarled and the chains from his chest angled towards Marcus, tipped with razor sharp blades.

Marcus didn’t back down. “COME ON!” he shouted. “You want some so bad?! Come get some!”

2 Chainz lunged at Marcus, slashing at him with his claws and bladed chains.

Marcus caught one chain and tried to wrap it around 2 Chainz’s neck, ready to strangle him.

As they brawled in the road, traffic was eventually jammed and several people got out of their cars to begin recording the whole fight.

It didn’t take long for people to begin watching, including HECU.

“COMMANDER! WE GOT A LOCATION! ONE OF THE THREE KIDS IS FIGHTING A NEW FREAK!” cried an intern.

Rudra came barreling down the hallway to see the feed. “What the - Who’s recording this footage!?”

“Multiple people! I’ve got a squad on the way!”

On the screen, Marcus turned to whoever was holding the camera. “AYO! YOU ENJOYING THE SHOW?! HOW ABOUT YOU BE IN IT AND HELP ME?!” he snapped.

“What!? I can’t fight!” The bystander cried.

“YOU GOT A CAR, DON’T YOU?! GET IN IT AND RUN THIS F@CKER OVER!”

The bystander dropped their phone and ran back to their car to do exactly that. Cranking their car, they drove through the traffic and barreled straight for 2 Chainz as Marcus leapt out of the way.

As 2 Chainz found himself occupied, Marcus dropped the knife and took a breath as Spyper doubled back to pick him up.

“Marcus! Marcus, come on!” Ari shouted in fright. He was leaning out the back of the van, holding out their hands to catch Marcus.

The teenager ran to meet her, reaching for his ticket out when Brutal leapt from the top of the van and tackled him to the pavement.

“You’re not going anywhere!”

“HEY!” Marcus snapped. He rolled onto his back and kicked Brutal off before quickly leaping back to his feet. “That’s my ride!”

“Not while I’m here!” Brutal grinned, brandishing his shiv.

“You’re sooooo tough with that knife, aren’t ya? I dropped mine, now drop yours! Fight me like a man!”

“And risk you getting away? Not a chance, bloke,” Brutal hissed, charging at Marcus.

Ari gasped. “We gotta get over there!” she cried. “Marcus isn’t gonna win this fight!”

“Hang on! Road safety laws, prepare to be IGNORED!” Spyper shouted, jerking the wheel back. His van veered sharply to the left and began careening straight for Brutal, only for a Medic in a mask to appear and call up giant spikes to block the van’s path. Spyper screamed in surprise and slammed on the brakes, narrowly avoiding crashing into them.

“Marcus! We can’t get through!” Spyper called.

Marcus scowled. “Well, I guess I’m throwing hands,” he grumbled, cracking his knuckles.

“Soon enough, you won’t have any hands to throw!” Brutal bit back, pulling yet another blade from his vest.

“Another knife. Coward,” Marcus sneered, then charged.

Marcus quickly grabbed Brutal by his wrists and forced the Sniper back, keeping Brutal from swinging the knives. Brutal hissed and kicked Marcus in the leg and shoved him back towards the spikes. Marcus staggered, but managed to dig his heels into the road to keep his balance.

Marcus, having taken a knife, grinned. “Now it’s fair.”

“Not for long,” Brutal grinned, producing yet another blade from his vest. “I can do this all day!”

“THE F@CK?!”

Brutal chuckled and swung his blades, slowly closing the gap between him and Marcus. “You should have paid more attention to my entry in HECU’s database.”

Meanwhile, the person who’d gotten said database was running scenarios in her mind as Spyper drove, trying to avoid the new Medic Freak. “Alright, so what are these spikes made of?”

“You asking me? Cause I sure as hell don’t know!” Spyper grunted, trying to find a way through the spikes to reach Marcus.

“If I knew that or could figure out a pattern, I could figure out how to take out the spikes and this new guy. Speaking of, do you know him? Because HECU’s files don’t.”

“No, I’ve never seen this Freak before!”

“They sent new ones under the assumption that I’d know all the old ones,” Cally hissed as Ari wrapped a blanket around himself, terrified. Then an idea hit her. “Alright, let’s see. Start driving like crazy. Don’t think, just go.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice!” Spyper grabbed the clutch and jerked it forward, causing his van to go airborne. “Hold on to your a$$es! This is gonna be a bumpy ride!”

The Medic threw spikes as the van flew, and Cally turned to Intelligent. “Your pot. I need you to drop it on his head.”

Intelligent glanced out the window and nodded, taking the pot off his head. “Got it.”

Cally called up to Spyper, “Give Intelligent a clear shot!”

“Already on it!” Spyper spun the wheel and started heading straight for the Medic before sharply pulling up. Without a moment's hesitation, Intelligent leaned out the passenger side window and dropped his pot, shouting triumphantly when it landed squarely on his target's head.

As the Medic clawed at his face, the nightmarish images filling his head, Cally grinned. “Alright. That takes care of him. Now we can get to- MARCUS!”

Marcus, though still fighting valiantly, was squarely on the other end of a beatdown, if the rips in his clothes and visible injuries were any indication. Didn’t seem like he wanted to show it, though; he picked up a broken spike and shouted, “That all you got?!”

“I could do this for eternity!” Brutal cackled, not relenting in his assault on Marcus.

“SH@T!” Cally cried. “Do you have a rope or ladder here, Spyper?”

“Under my bed, there should be a foldable ladder there!”

Cally pulled it out. “Ari, help me throw this to Marcus!”

Ari got up and ran over, grabbing one end while Cally grabbed the other. Then they tossed it to where the fight was happening. “MARCUS! COME ON!”

Marcus immediately dropped the spike and ran to grab the ladder. Leaping for it, he narrowly managed to grab on while avoiding scraping his legs on the spikes below.

Grinning down at Brutal, he held up a middle finger before climbing up and into the front seat.

Marcus smiled in relief once he was in. “Thanks!”

“You ok?” Intelligent asked, already getting out the first aid kit.

Marcus paused, then decided, “Everything hurts.”

“Alright, just hang on.” Intelligent opened the glove compartment and pulled out a small first aid kid. “Uh...I’ve got some bandages and some alcohol wipes. Any chance these will help?”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Alright, where’s it hurt at?” Intelligent asked, sitting Marcus up beside him.

“I think it’d be easier to know what doesn’t h- Ari?” Marcus looked over his shoulder to the living quarters of the van. Ari was leaning against the wall and holding her side, his hand red with blood. A knife was laying on the floor nearby covered in blood.

Marcus gasped, all his injuries forgotten. “ARI!” He leapt over the front seats and grabbed Ari as they went down. “Ari, what happened!?”

“Brutal threw a knife,” Ari gulped, gripping Marcus’ arms.

Cally grabbed a first aid kit and went to work, panic written across her face. Ari sucked in breath as Cally set about cleaning the wound with alcohol and wiping away excess blood.

“That stings,” Ari winced, gritting their teeth when Cally stuffed gauze into the wound.

Marcus scowled. “Okay, now I’m p@ssed.”

“Same,” Cally said, a dark coldness in her voice. “It’s personal now.”

“Is Ari ok back there?” Spyper quizzed, flying away from the scene on the road.

“He will be. One of Brutal’s knives that he threw while on the car hit her.”

“It’s not deep, is it?” Intelligent asked worriedly.

“Kinda. They’ll need stitches, but it's not fatal,” Cally said, wrapping up the wound with a clean bandage.

“Do we know anyone who can do stitches?” Marcus asked, wrapping a bandage around his hand.

“Uh...I kinda know how, but I don’t think you want me doing that,” Spyper said, gesturing to the fact that he was still driving.

“Yeeeeah…”

Cally sighed. “I can do some. I need the practice.” Cally poked around in the first aid kit and found a needle and surgical thread inside. “Now hold still, this is probably gonna hurt…” She warned, beginning to sew the wound shut as gently and as steadily as she could.

***

That night, the group had taken up residence in an abandoned shack with just a power outlet. The kids sat watching Marcus’s miniature TV, and Intelligent sat beside Spyper, writing notes.

“Cally seems to be really good on her feet,” he mused. “She came up with that plan to take out someone we didn’t even know about in, what, half a minute?”

“You think part of that's coming from her powers?” Spyper asked, glancing over at Cally.

“Maybe. It makes me want to run tests, but I’m pretty sure Marcus would turn me into a pencil with all the lead he’d put in me if I tried.”

“I think we should leave that to HECU,” Spyper remarked, taking a sip of his drink. “Not that Marcus would let them do that either, but still.”

“He’s incredibly protective. And he looks more p@ssed now than he did when he was the one being threatened or getting the sh@t beaten out of him.”

“That’s true for anyone who’s close to their friends. I mean, if I got threatened, you’d be pretty p_ssed too.”

“Yeah,” Intelligent nodded. Spyper lit a cigarette, then noticed his phone ringing.

“Hey Intelligent, can you get that? I’m expecting a call from Madic.”

Intelligent reached over and picked up the phone, holding it awkwardly in his large hands.

It was an unknown number. Weird. Intelligent swiped to answer and held the phone to his ear. “Hello? Who is this?”

“Hello, Intelligent,” an all too familiar voice greeted in a cold tone. “Enjoying the peace and quiet?”

“Gentle. What do you want?” Intelligent hissed, pulling out a laptop and hooking it up to the phone.

“Just wanted to catch up. Give you a little grief for screwing Brutal over earlier today.”

“I didn’t do that. Marcus did. I’m proud of the kid for lasting as long as he did.”

Marcus, noticing the call, had gotten up to come over and listen. When he heard his name, he cut in. “Someone call my name?”

“It’s Gentlespy,” Intelligent replied, focusing on his computer screen. “Keep him talking, I’m trying to track his phone.”

Marcus hissed. “You motherf@cker. If you were here I’d-”

“I saw your fight with Brutal. I know exactly what you would do if I was there.”

“Then thank whatever god you pray to that you’re not. The hell are you even after?”

“Haven’t we already made this clear to you? We want you three gone.”

“You wouldn’t even have to deal with us if your stupid @sses hadn’t come after us. We knew jack sh@t about this whole thing.”

“Oh well. Hindsight is 20/20.”

“Yeah. And regret is a nasty feeling.”

“Is everything okay over there?” called Ari nervously.

“Considering who’s on the other line? Probably not,” Intelligent replied.

Ari came over, still holding their aching side. “Who is it?”

“Gentlespy.”

Ari tensed. “What does he want?” he whined. “Is the other guy with him?”

“I’m not sure. Just try to relax. You don’t want to pull any of those stitches out.”

Marcus hissed. “If your pal is with you, put him on. I got something I wanna say to him.”

“I don’t see why not. Once you and your friends are out of the way, you won’t be saying much anymore.”

Marcus grunted and cracked his knuckles. “Just put him on, I don’t want to listen to your pretentious-@ss voice anymore.”

A scoff came from the phone as it was handed off to the Sniper Freak. “What do you gotta say?” Brutal hissed.

Marcus spat on the ground. “Well, pal, listen. I’m not a hard guy to p@ss off. Really, you could throw a rock at me and I'd get mad. And I was content to just run my @ss off to avoid you f@ckers. That said, I am a hard guy to make an enemy out of. It takes you trying to kill me or the ones I love. And you did that. Like, way beyond that. When you put your disgusting hands on Ari. So now that we're enemies, I am gonna rain unholy hell down on you, your friends, and your entire plan,” he growled, eyes flashing with the blood-red power of the Body.

Intelligent looked up and silently gestured to his computer as a location popped up. “I’ve got Gentle’s location. They’re about five blocks away from here in an old warehouse,” He said quietly.

Marcus cocked his gun and hung up. “Then let’s go.”

“What are you doing? We still need to head to HECU and Ari needs to recover. We can’t go after them,” Spyper warned. “Especially not when they could have backup.”

Marcus huffed. “We can’t stay here! They’re five blocks away!” he snapped. “If they figure that out, Ari won’t have time to recover!”

“Then let's get out of here!” Spyper said, grabbing his keys and starting for the door.

[whitherliliesbloom]

✿ stories you want to write

Tagged by: @earthlystar, @fistsoflightning, @stars-bleed-hearts-shine​, @windup-dragoon​ THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Tagging: idk, whoever wants to do this lmao. just say I tagged you!

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a bundle of unfulfilled ideas / headcanons. I have a lot of stories / AU ideas I want to write.. but either don’t have the time or energy to write them... Or you know, I’m just plain lazy.

I’m also kind of leaning more towards Genshin Impact now than FFXIV oops

1) More time travel AU

I KNOW!! I’m the only one who cares about this au okay but 

TIME TRAVEL STORIES ARE ALWAYS SOME OF MY FAVORITE STORIES??? ADDING TO THAT ANYTHING INVOLVING LIKE.. META COMMENTARY AND POSSIBLE 4TH WALL BREAKING??? STEINS;GATE??? MADOKA MAGICA??? CHARLOTTE??? UNDERTALE??? The ability to stop time and rewind time is just such a COOL ASS concept to me?? I won’t shut up about wanting time mage in ffxiv just so I can OFFICIALLY make her a canon overpowered time and space manipulator. Maybe then, time travel au won’t just be an au anymore.

On top of that I just really like Cronus. The idea of an Illya who is so damaged and broken she becomes an entirely different person. I just don’t really have a set plot planned for this au or have any idea on how to resolve the conflict between Cronus, present timeline Illya and Alphinaud... or if I even wanna give Cronus a happy ending iafnioafas. But whenever there’s an opportunity to talk about time travel au, you bet your gil I will.

2) More Nier Automata AU

I kinda lost steam for this AU really really quickly for some reason but.. I had pretty ambitious plans for the plot of this which I really hope I’ll find the inspiration to write out some day.. because I really don’t like just.. reducing my ideas to simple bullet point headcanons. 

Some brief idea of what I had in mind though:

 bad ending depending on illya’s actions at one of the climatic scenes

different ‘good’ endings depending on her last dialogue choice which would lead to her ending up with different love interests. 

love triangle, of course

side plot for alisaie and ryne involving an escort mission

really really meta writing about the meaning of an android’s life and who 2C feels like she really is

scene of 2C regaining memories of alphinaud’s death and losing her shit

Like I said. I’m a bundle of lots of ideas that are almost always unfulfilled. I still really like this au though and I don’t want it to go to waste...

3) More Modern AU

Oops another AU. At least this one isn’t depressing or something that might give you an existential crisis. I have A LOT of headcanons for modern au ffxiv characters... not to mention different versions of the modern au concept. There’s Youtuber Illya AU, there’s highschool AU, there’s that AU where Illya works at a coffee shop and Alphinaud is a university student. 

I just love how laid back and Slice of Life-y modern au can be and I just... really love the idea of Illya living a normal happy life that doesn’t involve her having to kill gods every other day as much as i do love to torture her, yes. 

Some ideas for modern au fics i had:

Highschool AU Ryne asking her friends to cosplay sailor moon characters for a cosplay convention. Laurelis as Sailor Moon and Haurchefant as Tuxedo Mask. Ryne herself as Sailor Venus. Gaia as Sailor Mars. Illya as Sailor Saturn. 

Youtuber Illya attempting to vlog outside her home for the first time while she’s on a date with Alphinaud because her viewers requested it so much. Just pure fluff and the dorks being dorks. 

Highschool AU Illya working on a set of mini terrarium jewelry to sell at the school fair to raise money. The jocks at the school sort of laugh and lowkey bully her for the idea but she ends up making a ton of money.

SOL comedy AU where alisaie and alphinaud both have a crush on Illya sort of compete for her attention. She’s completely oblivious to all of it. 

Cafe AU where Illya has raised enough money (and with Alphinaud’s generous donation) to send in an entry to university. Alphinaud helps her study for the entrance exam. 

More double dates? :eyes:

4) To Aru Majutsu no Index AU

LOOK SOMETHING I HAVEN’T TALKED ABOUT ON MY BLOG BEFORE. I just really like the premise / setting of this anime. ARE YALL READY FOR WORD VOMIT???

Academy city, a city that houses many schools, and research intuitions devoted to the study and advancement of science. Espers are individuals who use scientifically based supernatural powers, all of whom gained and trained their powers artificially under the system of Academy city. However, there is another underground side to the city - a small organization of people with supernatural abilities that cannot be explained by science. They are called magicians - and due to the rarity of magic, and how Academy city is so repulsed by the idea of abilities that defy the laws of conventional science and their understanding, some people even believe that magic is simply a myth or urban legend. 

While espers typically specialize in only one or two types of ability, magicians are often able to wield a variety of different abilities that take time to train and nurture, making them so frightening to the science side of academy. Some magicians even end up dabbling in the occult or black magic.

Alphinaud, a level 4 esper with the ability to physically see energy waves emitted by other espers. Couple that with his high intelligence, he is able to analyze the movements and abilities of other espers and even pin point the weak points of their abilities. His twin sister Alisaie is also a level 4 esper who is able to teleport herself and one other person she touches a certain distance in a radius around her current location. 

Alphinaud comes across Illya on his home from his training program one day, beaten and exhausted on the side of the road. He wants to call the hospital, but she begs him not to, saying she’s afraid that ‘they’ will find her. He takes her back to his home and nurses her wounds. Not seeing any energy waves being emitted from her, he assumes that she is simply an ordinary citizen. He asks her where her home is and how she ended up injured on the side of the road, but she refuses to tell him.

One day, a fight breaks out on the streets near his home, where a level 5 esper has gone rogue and is attacking innocent bystanders. He asks Illya to stay behind while he and Alisaie takes care of the situation. They are outmatched however, and Illya, watching the situation from the balcony of his home finally decides to step in. She easily incapacitates the esper using a variety of magical abilities the twins have never seen before, draining the man of his energy before returning to heal Alphinaud and Alisaie. 

They question Illya later, and she finally confesses to being a magician who is on the run from an organization who had been keeping her captive for the past few years. She has the ability of perfect memory - being able to memorize spells from any grimoire she reads and utilize the powers for herself, though often at some debilitating cost. The more powerful the spell, the more dire and painful the side effects.  She has been forced to read a total of more than 500 grimoires by now, and only managed to narrowly escape thanks to a mysterious man who took pity on her. 

Due to the side effects of her ability, and also having done nothing but be chained up and forced to read grimoires for the past few years, Illya is physically frail and cannot fend for herself beyond using magical abilities, which she is often hesitant to do.

5) Pokemon AU...carmela im looking

Waiting for @windupnamazu​ to provide more details on her pokemon au buttttt i’ve already been working on illya’s sort of backstory, her pokemon team, alphinaud’s pokemon team and other headcanons regarding this au. Also.. working with an artist regarding illya’s design for this au, which i’m very excited to be able to share =3c Not the time yet tho

I actually talked about a pokemon au with Jam as early as June of last year. I made a pokemon team for illya aaaaaand only half of her original team I had for her over a year ago is still in her current team oops. It’s okay, the retconned ones can stay at home and relax with Lachlan. 

6) More amaurotine stuff

Oh finally something relating to canon. I’ve been thinking about Chloris x Apollo from time to time and honestly I.. really love their dynamic.. despite how sad and lowkey awful Apollo can be towards her. But I think that’s part of the charm of what makes alphinaud and illya’s relationship later so sweet, being able to acknowledge that they had their flaws and learn from them ;w;

I had an idea for Chloris inventing a type of flower with the unintentional suggestion of Apollo, and it later makes an appearance where Alphinaud discovers the flower and asks Illya about it. 

7) The twins... no, not the Leveilleur twins

I think everyone’s talked about their lovechildren more than I have and I’ve already kind of explained why I haven’t made any screens or talked about them at length but.. I really do love them so much ;;;; I wanna find the opportunity to write a fic of them maybe spending a day inside with their army of carbuncles... Also @ancientechos​‘ OC Esme (son of haurche and laurelis) developing a crush on one of them =3c 

Also another idea I had involving them is being taken to the site of some of Illya and Alphinaud’s adventures...

8) Butler AU...hey, anyone remember this? 

Remember when I did several comics back to back and was super motivated for this AU? I do. I miss being motivated and inspired and not like.. wrecked with depression. I have plot points... ALSO INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER OCs WHO JOINED THIS AU???? Maybe one day I’ll find the drive again. At least I was able to finish one plot arc!! Which is more than I can say for most of my other AUs. Someone get me back in the shoujo manga mood!!! please!!

9) Idol AU 

Hey idol AU anon where are you.... WHERE ARE YOU?! YOU STILL HAVEN’T TOLD ME YOUR EXTRA HEADCANONS PLEASE COME BACK

10) More Alphinaud and his interactions with DRK Illya

I’ve already written a good number of fics about this, but I still... wanna do more... Acceptance, unconditional love, Illya learning that he won’t leave her despite all her insecurities and flaws... ILLYA FINALLY LEARNING TO IDK ACCEPT HERSELF. HELP.

I just really like DRK Illya okay, and you can pry the symbolism of her duality with her dark side from my cold dead hands. 

[ask-de-writer]

THE  GOD’S FANGS : Fantasy :  Dirkhan in the Desert

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THE  GOD’S FANGS

by De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

2225 words

written 2008 © 2016 by Glen Ten-Eyck

All rights reserved.  This document may not be copied or distributed on or to any medium or placed in any mass storage system except by the express written consent of the author.

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Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may reblog the story. I will further allow the use of printed copies for educational use in school classes. No charge of any kind may be made for this use, whether paper, ink, binding, packaging, distribution or any other charge whatsoever.

Fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions are actively encouraged!

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Dark it was, a night of wind, torn and racing cloud wrack, and biting chill.  A grim moon showed all with a ghastly waning gibbous glow.  Only those with desperate errands or, of course, thieving rascals were out, braving the gloom and frigid breeze.

The cold gusts found every chink  in Uman’s tight pulled cloak.  He was making his way up Vintner’s Row.  Clutching the still precious but now empty date wine flask close, he muttered, “”Just the night for a warm drink.  Old Cormag always gives a man a free drink in return for a bottle to fill and sell.  A copper fluket or a drink is the standing offer and tonight, the drink it is.”

The wind was swirling dust and grit over the wall of Dirkhan in the Desert.  “This wind might as well be the spirits of those who’ve died of thirst in the desert of Skrald Iden jealously trying to keep an honest man from getting his drink,” thought Uman.  He barked a small laugh at the ridiculous notion of himself as an honest man.

The laugh drew the attention of two of Dirkhan’s City Watch.  “Who goes?” they called  out, hoping for a stray dog or a desert cat.  Instead, Uman stepped boldly from the shadows.

He greeted the guards, “Mowat, Celdor, a vile night to be out on duty or for any other reason.  Some of us truly appreciate your efforts and dedication.  Here, a fluket each for a warm drink to share with me up at Old Cormag’s.”  Fishing in his pouch, Uman produced and offered two of the small coins.

Eying Umans’s flask, Celdor asked bluntly, “Why not a sip from your bottle instead?”

Smiling sadly, Uman shook the offending flask and replied, “You could.  You could indeed, but you will get more with my fluket.  This is an empty that I’m taking to Old Cormag for his standing offer of a drink for a bottle to fill.”

Mowat made up his mind, saying, “We’ll take you up on the drink, Uman.  Unfortunately, we have to arrest you anyway.  Somebody broke into the Temple of Motar and stole the god’s golden fangs tonight.  Magistrate Jumpar thinks that it was you.”

Uman’s eyebrows rose in amusement.  Grinning broadly, he asked, “What?  Pulled in twice in one night, Mowat?  Do you like Magistrate Jumpar?”

Celdor’s face twisted in anger and he spat at a roil of dust whirling down the lane.  “Not one bit.  The Highborn bastard always pays us with coins so worn and clipped that they ain’t worth but a part of what we’re supposed to get.”

Nodding in sympathy, Uman agreed, “Such has been my experience with Jumpar also.  If you would like to pay him back and yet still do his Written Will, come up to Cormag’s for that warm drink while we discuss the matter.  I will come with you freely after it.”

A short while later, in Magistrate Jumpar’s dingy Court Room, Uman was hustled into the prisoner’s wicket.  A pair of cressets flamed fitfully, one to either side of the Magistrate’s bench, showing walls of the same dull tan mud brick that most of Dirkhan was made of.  Celdor shut the prisoner’s wicket firmly.

Mowat faced the balding, sallow faced Magistrate and stated, “According to your Written Will, we have apprehended the miscreant Uman the Fat.  For this Service of Justice, we are due a silver Djal.”

Negligently waving a hand that reminded Uman of a vulture’s claw, Jumpar declared loftily, “I will pay you presently.  At the moment I have only a golden Djaballa.”  He squirmed a bit on his magistrate’s bench as he tried to straighten hastily donned Magisterial robes.

Celdor promptly began to open the prisoner’s wicket.  Mowat watched in approval, stating clearly, “You’re learning, Celdor.  No payment, no Service.  Sorry to inconvenience you, Uman.  We will have to arrest you another time, when the bench has the proper money for its Services.”

Grinning, Uman held up a hand.  “Not so swiftly, my friends.  I have the correct change right here.  It would be a shame indeed for our good Magistrate’s Justice to fail for so small a thing.”  Uman fished in his pouch and produced seven silver Rilks and five silver Djals, all of pristine, unclipped, unshaved coins.

With an innocent smile, he offered, “I’ll just take that Djaballa and you can use this money to pay our good watchmen for their Services of your Written Will, as necessary.”

Sourly, Jumpar handed his golden coin over to his prisoner who courteously gave the  Magistrate the handful of silver.  Ostentatiously, Uman tested the Djaballa against a tooth, observing, “Can’t be too careful.  Somebody might have cheated our honest Justice Jumpar.”

Glaring at his prisoner, Jumpar demanded, “Uman the Fat, do you know why you are here?”

Leaning negligently against the side of the wicket, Uman replied, “According to your Written Will, I stand accused of stealing the Golden Fangs from Motar’s idol this very night.  I have cooperated with the guard in every way because of this specific crime, I am innocent.”

Eyebrows raised almost to his non-existent hairline, Jumpar sneered, “Of this crime?  You?  Innocent?”  Sternly he went on, “It is not possible.  You were seen in the Temple of Motar today.  Clearly you were casing the temple for this night’s burglary.”

Turning on his bench to face Mowat, jumpar demanded, “Was the search required by my Written Will carried out?”

Looking up from cleaning his fingernails with a a small dagger, Mowat replied, “It was, Magistrate.  For this Service of your Written Will we are due a silver Djal.”

Sighing in exasperation at having to let yet another good coin out of his grasp, Magistrate Jumpar handed over the money.  Celdor promptly gave the Magistrate a stout sack well filled with pointed objects.

Baring his yellowed teeth in triumph, Magistrate Jumpar declared, “So!  Innocent are you?  Behold, the missing Fangs of Motar, stolen impiously from his Idol this very evening!  Your guilt is obvious even to a child!  There can be no defense against this evidence!”

Uman put his face in his hands to hide his smile while he composed his features into a proper look of despair.  Glumly he said, “And yet, I must try.  It is my very life that is forfeit if I fail.

“I will readily own that I was in Motar’s temple earlier today.  I prayed for eloquence before Motar’s Mouth.  After I prayed, I went to the Temple Blessing Shop.  There, I purchased a complete set of the Fangs of Elocution.  You have just most impiously dumped them out on the Bench without so much as a ‘bless me Motar’ for it.”  Rummaging in his pouch, Uman produced a small slate streak plate, used to try the purity of gold and silver.  Along with the slate, he produced a small slip of parchment.

Proffering both items to the Magistrate, Uman went on, “If the heft of those Fangs alone does not convince you, try their purity with this slate.  Those are my brass Fangs of Blessing from the Temple Blessing Shop.  This parchment is my receipt for a donation of two golden Djaballa.  It is signed by junior priest Bulgulla.

“My gold was well spent, for my business went to my advantage.  About sundown, I went to the Garden of Red Lamps to celebrate my success.”

Turning to the watchmen, Uman offered a silver Djal.  “For your Service of Justice, this coin.  Please tell Magistrate Jumpar where I spent this evening.”

Celdor shrugged cheerfully as he took the money.  “You were in cell sixteen.  We picked you up in a sweep after a brawl at the Garden of Red Lamps.  After two and a half hours, we let you out because we determined that you were a bystander and not a part of the fight.

“We escorted you to Cormag’s Inn and left you there.  When we received the Magistrate’s Written Will, we went back towards Cormag’s in the hope of apprehending you.  We found you in the street, returning to the Inn for another drink.”

Celdor faced the furious Magistrate and proceeded, “This prisoner has cooperated with us in every possible way.  He guided us to his lodgings and we found the evidence that was specified in your Written Will.  We brought both the required evidence and the prisoner here.  His degree of cooperation is demonstrated by his providing the necessary Price of Service to enable you to inquire into this heinous crime.”

Jumpar screeched, “If you knew all this, why didn’t you tell me about it?”

Mowat shrugged expressively and stated, “We have been upbraided before for speaking out.  You have demanded that we not try to correct the Highborn.  You know more and are wiser than we commoners, you have said.  We simply assumed that you knew something that we did not.”

Glaring down from the Bench, Jumpar demanded, “Return the coins of Service.  You should never have been paid them.”

Uman shook his head so vigorously that he made his head-cloth flip about.  “Not so, Your Justice.  These good watchmen have fairly done all that your Written Will required of them.  It is no fault of theirs that you failed to check the evening’s arrest docket.”

Pointing  a claw-like finger at the door, Jumpar screamed, “Get out of my Court!” Imperturbably, Uman stepped from the now open prisoner’s wicket and approached the Bench.  “I’ll go when I have my Blessing and the receipt for the two Djablalla that they cost.”

Angrily, Jumpar swept the brass Fangs and receipt into the sack.  Sighing, Uman offered, “Bless him, Motar, even if he is too angry to ask for it himself.”  He took the bag and his leave.

/////////////

Presently, Uman was shown into the private audience chamber of the Merchant Prince Grabit.  That worthy offered, “Palm heart wine, Uman?  It is from the oasis groves of Palidor.  How went our business?”

Uman sipped his wine while lolling back in the comfortably padded chair and took in the luxuriously appointed room.  At last he replied, “Well and ill both.  I got them, as promised.  Here they are.”  He handed a bag to Merchant Prince Grabit.

Grabit’s pudgy fingers expertly extracted the fangs and the parchment.  Frowning, he examined them with a glass.  Looking puzzled, he pronounced, “These are brass.  A Blessing Shop set … No, they are too large.”

Eyes opening wide, he exclaimed, “Oh, my!  The Golden Fangs of Motar are a fraud!”

Uman, leaning forward intently explained, “No.  Motar’s Fangs are golden.  Only this idol’s fangs are false.  I know, because at one time or another, I’ve met and spoken with all nine of the True Gods.”

Grabit corrected, “Eight.  There are only eight True Gods.”

“Nine,”  stated Uman with authority.  “Just because neither the Eight True Gods nor their priests like Ranton, patron of Theft and other disasters, doesn’t change the fact that he’s a True God.  The Eight simply hate to admit it, that’s all.”

Sourly, Grabit agreed, “Being one of the Rich, I can understand their reluctance.  So, when did you find that the fangs were false?”

With a wry smile, Uman replied, “As soon as I saw them up close.”

Puzzlement writ large on his plump face, Grabit asked, “Then why did you risk stealing them?  Why not just report the fact to me?”

Relaxed, Uman answered, “I felt sorry for Motar.  I told you that I’ve met him.  I like him.  By this, you can earn the very real favor of a True God and gain absolute power over his greedy priests at the same time.

“Just have these Fangs copied in real gold and return them to the Temple with a tale of your great risk and expense in finding the missing Fangs.  Motar is sure to be pleased and reward you well.  As long as you keep these originals, you can blackmail the priests to your heart’s content.”

A flunky in fine livery came into the chamber and whispered into Grabit’s ear while handing him a sheet of parchment.  The flunky cast weasel like eyes at Uman and his lip twisted up into a derisive sneer as he left.  The Prince informed Uman, “Maggit says that you cannot have done this deed.  This is the record of your arrest for a brawl, earlier this evening and again later you were arrested, tried and acquitted of this very crime.  I do believe that you did it, but how?”

Uman thought carefully of how much to reveal and said judiciously, “Misdirection, My Lord.  I knew, from the routines of the priests, that the idol’s false fangs would not be missed until late.  It is a common misconception that burglars must work after darkness falls.  Even Magistrates who should know better believe it.  I simply stole them earlier, in broad daylight.

“Provoking a brawl took care of the evening for me.  All that I needed to do was help Magistrate Jumpar to keep the night in mind and he drew the same conclusion as Maggit.  It gave me the best possible alibi.  An official one.”

Pausing thoughtfully, Uman added, “Since you are putting a substantial amount of real gold into the Temple, you really should do something about the Sanctuary lock.  I think that a poorly trained monkey could open it.”

                                                —THE END—  

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