#ahs s07e01

[oftincturedwords]

Title: Fighting Chance Chapters: 3/14 Fandom: Star Wars : The Bad Batch / Star Wars : The Clone Wars Rating: T+ Chapter Warnings: Mild Blood , Nosebleeds , Implied Bullying & Prejudice , Explicit Language , Mentions of Decommissioning , Mentions of Reconditioning , etc. Characters: Crosshair , Tech , Original Clone Trooper Characters , Hunter , Wrecker , 99 Additional Tags: Hurt / Comfort , Angst , Tech’s Goggles , Sibling Bonding , Battle Simulations , Whump , Brotherly Affection , Team as Family , Backstory , Pre-Canon , Military Training , Mando'a Language , Caretaking , etc. Timeline: Set prior to Star Wars : The Clone Wars s07e01 ( The Bad Batch ) Pairings: Gen. None. Word Count: 5657 Summary: Growing up is already difficult enough, especially for genetically engineered clones, but when the odds are stacked against you since the moment you were created, it is all the more rough. Or, how Clone Force 99 was formed. A/N: I apologise for taking so very long to update this story. I have not given up on it nor abandoned it ! I love this story too much to ever leave it entirely. I just needed a bit of time for muse to build back up as I visited other fandoms. No beta so all mistakes are mine. Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Star War : The Clone Wars & Star Wars : The Bad Batch. Neither am I associated with Lucasfilms , Disney+ , nor any of the actors who portray these characters. I make no money off any of my stories , this is purely for entertainment purposes. Read On : ao3 | under the cut part one | part two

The barracks were alive with quiet chatter and the noise of those taking some rec time before light outs. Most seemed to be talking with fellow batchmates or other clones, a few were combing through their gear to ensure it was inspection worthy, and less were engaged in games of their own devising with those brave enough to play them so close to rack time.

Crosshair kept to Tech’s right to ensure none of the regs came near enough to catch on the smaller clone’s crutches. Despite the other’s dexterity in using them had grown in the short time it took for them to arrive here from the medical bay, he wasn't going to risk it. Not when a few di’kute looked to be playing a modified form of flag capture in the middle of the karking barracks using a pair of socks.

Coming up to their designated section, Crosshair saw that Snap was seated in a bench near them, apparently awaiting for them since he watched his brother’s head rise from where it had been rested in the heel of his hand at their approach. Snap smiled at seeing them, jumping up to his feet and coming over in an instance.

“Ah Tech, wondered if you'd be back with us tonight.” Snap spoke to the younger clone first, his initial eye contact Crosshair having told him enough to know his brother was all right, “Though it seems you’re still injured.”

Tech nodded, “It is minor, however it does require this healing sheath for tonight and use of crutches, but it should be healed by tomorrow.”

“I knew you were tougher than you look.” Snap’s smile pulled up more fully at the corners, “Wasn't worried for a second that you'd bounce back.”

“Oh yes, that's why you were sitting here all alone. Waiting up for us, were you?” Crosshair asked, his tone leeched a mocking sarcasm that seemed to be becoming a brand for the younger of the pair.

“The others have gone to the showers, told them I’d wait up for you both, yes.” Snap answered easily, not rising to his brother’s teasing, his head tilted towards the direction of this section’s refreshers.

“I was advised to not shower until the med - patch I have is removed,” Tech relaid that bit of information to Snap, not clarifying that it had been not to take a hot shower because he would rather skip a shower than suffer through a cold one, it's benefits be damned, “but that does not mean either of you cannot go. I will be up in my bunk when you return.”

Crosshair glanced over to Snap to see his brother looking at him, seeming to come to the same decision as him in that single instance.

“We’ll stay as well.” Snap said, speaking the same thoughts between himself and Crosshair, “Showering tomorrow won't hurt anyone.”

“And you’ll need someone to hand up those crutches to anyway.” Crosshair added, stepping around the others towards the ladder access to their racks since his was one of the top most, might as well head up first.

Grabbing ahold of the ladder, Crosshair gave a small leap upwards and climbed towards where Tech’s rack was to depress the button needed for it to extend outwards from the wall. Then up further he climbed to do the same to his own rack before descended down a few of the rungs, low enough to reach out his hand to snatch one of the crutches that Tech had come over to raise up towards his grasp.

Taking it, Crosshair climbed up a bit to lay it on the far side of Tech’s rack, then down again he went to repeat the process whilst Snap offered a steadying shoulder to the smaller clone. Crosshair came back after the second one was placed to coordinate with Snap and help Tech up onto the ladder, Crosshair reaching down to grab Tech’s hand and lift up whilst Snap offered his hands to boost him up at the hips.

Working together as they did, it easily allowed Tech to grasp the ladder and ascend upwards once he was balanced. Doing so with only one foot was awkward, but after a rung or two, he found a rhythm to it until he was able to reach out and push off with his good leg to leap onto his rack.

Ignoring the hissing sound he heard from Crosshair at the risky action, Tech gave a thumbs up towards Crosshair then shifted over to flash the sign over at Snap who he guessed was still on the ground before he sat back once more.

Staring a moment more, Crosshair then turned to head upwards back towards his own rack and got onto it once he reached it. Shifting about for a minute to find a comfort position before he settled, arms folded up earth his head since the pillow was too flat to actually give any elevation or cushion to the back of his head.

He saw Snap come up a few moments later, opening his own rack and getting comfortable in it as well. Readying for bed far earlier than they usually would have, but he didn't mind doing as much as he would have thought. Especially when it was for someone so new to their squadron, not a batchmate, but more so a kin than any of the regs were, no matter that they were all clones. Experimental ones were always segregated against by the regular clones.

Hardly a few handful of minutes later, Crosshair nearly startled at seeing Tech’s head pop up beside his rack. Interrupting his thoughts, his internal musings and natural tiredness at the end of the day having veiled his senses somewhat. In his own rack and with his brother near, he'd fallen for the facsimile of security it proposed. And had been caught unawares.

“What are you doing?” Crosshair asked sharply, more concerned at the smaller clone having climbed the ladder up to the third level racks without a spotter than being caught off his guard, “You're supposed to stay off your leg.”

Tech seemed to take pause at that, his mouth, which had opened to give an explanation no doubt, hung ajar without any sound for coming for a handful of seconds before he closed it and nodded, “Whilst you are correct, I wanted to show you something.”

“You couldn't have asked me to come down there?” Crosshair questioned, an edge of incredulity in his tone for Tech’s rack was directly under his thus it wouldn't have been very far to go nor any great feat to call up to him about it.

“Given the subject I wish to share with you has greater interest to me than you, it only seems fair that I come to you.” Tech gave in way of reasoning, which had Crosshair rolling his eyes.

“Then get up here and stop putting weight on your leg.” He retorted, it lacked any true venom to his tone, but the inkling of concern for the other’s injury had hardened his words.

Scooting back and drawing his legs closer to his body, he made room enough for Tech to crawl up onto his rack and over to sit on the other end of the thinly padded mattress. Crosshair didn't miss the softly emitted hiss of pain from the other either when Tech had dragged the leg still encased in the healing sheath across the mattress before turning to sit on his arse with his legs bent at the knees with his heels on the mattress. Somehow the other managed to not drop a single thing he held clasped in one of his arms.

Crosshair was quick to cross his own legs and gesture towards Tech’s still mending leg, “Here. Stretch it out and put it up using mine.”

“Are you certain?” Tech asked, tone appearing tentative and hinted with a genuine surprise at the offer.

“I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't.” Crosshair pointed out with less bite than he usually would have at being asked that question, but enough to have it wipe the mildly stupefied expression from Tech’s features.

“Right. Yes.” Tech seemed to say only to fill the silence left quickly in place of a proper reply as he folded his unaffected leg to him and slowly moved his still tender leg and extended it out to rest it on Crosshair’s thigh, who placed the chill-pac back along his shin.

A quiet sigh of relief came from Tech then, followed by a sincere, “Thank you.”

Shaking his head to brush off the gratitude, Crosshair motioned to the bundle Tech had brought with him, “What's that?”

“I will show you.” Tech set the bundle down and began to unpack the contents from the folded cloth, laying out each piece with reverence and in an orderly manner that seemed to only be identifiable to Tech himself.

As each one was taken out and placed down, Tech brought them up to his face to examine them closely before launching into details about them as he placed them out on the mattress between them. Explaining what they were and what purpose they served, or rather would serve once he repaired and adapted them.

Following along with the base mechanics of two different processors that was being spoken of, Crosshair as well ensured he took note of the bits that Tech offhandedly said he still needed or tools that would be required to achieve assembly. Wondering idly how the other even gathered this much material and how he could help procure the still missing essential materials.

But in hearing a brief noise of surprise that turned into a sound of frustration from Snap’s bunk, Crosshair looked up from the device innards that Tech was showing him to glance over towards his brother. At seeing him lean forward and shove a sequestered fold of hygienic tissue under his nose, which had already bled past his lips and down his chin, Crosshair’s brow furrowed all the more, adding an edge to his usual scowl. In contrast Tech, beside him, eyes widened near comically wide after he had squinted a moment in an attempt to focus his sight enough to catch what had altered Crosshair’s mood.

“I’m fine.” Came the quick assurance from Snap, though it was muffled and held a slight nasally quality to his voice, “It’ll stop soon.”

Crosshair’s frown deepened, “Oh yes because nosebleeds are a sign of perfect health.”

Snap’s glare wasn't hampered much by the fact he had a wad ofhygienic tissuepressed against his face, but at seeing red begin to seep through and stain the white a brilliant red, Crosshair gave up on the battle of wills before it began. He huffed irritatedly to show how he felt about the situation, then shifted to throw his legs over the side of his rack and reach towards the ladder.

Turning back towards where Tech was still seated, Crosshair gingerly wrapped his hand around the other’s ankle to lift the appendage off his own leg, mindful of its tender state, and lower it to rest on the mattress pad, adding a vague explanation thereafter, “Make sure he doesn't faint before I get back.”

“Cross!”

Was all Crosshair allowed Snap to gripe before he set his stocking-clad feet on the sides of the ladder and relaxed his grip to give way to gravity, sliding down the length of the ladder until he dropped to the ground. Bending his knees and following his momentum into a crouch, Crosshair hardly felt the impact and stood a moment later to make his way towards the refresher.

Although his and Snap’s racks were on a third level, he could just make out Snap reassuring Tech of his well being. Despite Crosshair’s words having not really been a lie, ( it had been one time , but he wasn't going to let Snap forget it ) he didn’t dare risk shouting any refute back. Best only a select few, meaning he and now Tech, knew about Snap’s nosebleeds.

It’d only be new ammunition for the regs to lob at them. And once word spread enough, the Kaminoans wouldn't hesitate to cart his brother off to their labs to begin a whole new regiment of experiments and exams of all sorts. With the professional cover of those tests being medical in origin there'd be no stopping them. Least not in any way that wouldn't land Crosshair in brig, which would be further counterproductive.

Gritting just teeth against those thoughts, Crosshair ducked into the communal refresher to grab a few lengths of hygienic tissues. Ensuring he did so quickly yet efficiently, taking the amount of time needed to fold it neatly so he could hide it underneath his shirt without anyone noticing he had something there. Though it wasn't exactly contraband, he’d rather be careful and forgo having to explain ( or come up with ) a reason as to why he was carting around a random small pile of tissue.

After making three fairly thickly-folded yet still concealable wodges, Crosshair tucked them away under his shirt to take them back to Snap. If pattern followed, two could be used to help stop the nosebleed now and the third could be hidden away in the stash Snap usually kept in his rack or on his person for whenever one of his nosebleeds may strike unawares. Thankfully, all had happened when a convenient excuse could be used, such as a hit taken in training or overenthusiastic ‘sparring’ match having caused them, or whenever out of sight of prying, ever-watchful eyes.

Walking back towards their racks, Crosshair leapt up onto the ladder once he reached it and proceeded up the rungs. Hearing the wisps of conversation between Tech and his brother, one clear toned and the other a slight sniffled. He interrupted it however once he was level with his rack and Tech caught sight of him, seeming to physically cut through the question the younger clone was aiming to ask Snap and work to scuffle about the thin bunk until they found the same position they had sat in before.

“How often do these nosebleeds occur?” Tech asked once Crosshair was again seated in front of him criss-cross on the mattress of his rack and he had situated his foot to rest back on one of Crosshair’s intertwined legs.

“I already said.” Snap interjected before Crosshair had a chance to take a breath to answer.

Tech glanced towards him with a narrow look, “Yes, but there is a chance you wouldn't be entirely honest in your answer regarding your own health, whereas I know Crosshair will be.”

Crosshair smirked at hearing that, his attention turning to Snap to teasingly ask, “So what was your answer? Did you lie to our youngest squad mate, Snap?”

“No.” Snap levelled a glare at Crosshair, not appreciating the humour at his expense over this because he knew he had been caught, “I said they happen occasionally, but are no big deal.”

A snort came from Crosshair at that, “You do know the definition of ‘occasionally’ right?”

“‘Something that occurs at infrequent or irregular intervals’.” Tech supplied readily, looking between the two silver-haired clones with a squinted look, “Judging by Crosshair’s words, I would surmise these do not happen as seldom as Snap claims.”

“They don't.” Crosshair confirmed, side-eyeing his brother, “More like every few days now.”

“Fine, they happen a lot,” Snap admitted begrudgingly, having to pause to refold the hygienic tissue to a clean portion before it bled through onto his fingertips, “But the barracks is not the place to talk about this.”

“Whilst you are correct in that, this should be something that is discussed between us, if only to ensure our operation as a squad isn’t compromised.” Tech relented a fraction, appealing to the logic of the matter since it seemed Snap wouldn't likely bring it up solely for the purpose of his health.

Snap sighed, defeated, but nodded slightly, “We will.”

Tech returned the gesture, although he still hadn't met the other’s gaze, “If you should require any assistance though, do not hesitate to ask.”

“Don’t you start with the clucking too.” Snap groused heartily, his voice muffled by how he angled the bundled tissue against his nose when he leant forward in remonstration.

The most bewildered expression came to the other's features at those words, the baffled confusion seeped through to colour Tech’s tone when he spoke, “Clucking?”

Crosshair gave a scoff of a laugh as he rolled his eyes, exasperated with his brother yet couldn't help the mirth he felt at the younger clone’s reaction, “He’s telling you not to be a ‘mother hen'. He heard it from Instructor Nei once and now thinks it applies anytime he has a nosebleed around me.”

“It does. I already have you hovering, no matter how much you try to act otherwise,” Those words were said pointedly along with the sharp look he sent towards his brother before turning back to Tech, his words weren't spoken unkindly, firmly but no trace of malice, “I don't need another over my shoulder.”

“That was why I said for you to ask, I will not interfere should you not wish me to.” Tech plainly attested, then clarified, any and all inflexion having left his voice.

“See, he said for you to ask.” Crosshair chimed in, a larky, sardonic edge lining his words, “He gives you the space you want and you verbally attack him. That's cruel.”

Snap blinked, taking the implied seriousness behind his brother’s derisive words and Tech’s sudden retreat into account, “Wait, no. I wasn't. Crosshair, stop, I’m not thinking clearly.”

“Oh, so now you want to claim sympathy because of your nosebleed.” Crosshair continued, unwilling to relent just yet.

“Wasn’t Tech telling you his plans for all those parts he laid out before all of this? Why don't you go back to that conversation.” Snap sought to divert the topic, a subdued frustration creeping into his cadence.

“As time sensitive as it is to keep these components out in the open,” Tech interjected, “the conversation will keep if you wish to continue the current one.”

“No, I think I’ve talked to Crosshair enough.” Snap began to swap out the folded hygienic tissue against his still bleeding nose, a physical sign he had ended the conversation.

“So kind.” Crosshair mumbled with one last flat look at his brother before turning to face Tech, seeing the other fidgeting in uncertainty from where he sat on the end of the rack, the sharpshooter took the initiative, “You were telling me about the internals workings of a 6A processor versus the 4B ones. How the Kaminoans should allow you to test with the 6A rather than the other one since it has the power to run multiple decoding softwares and replicate the data cracked at the same time.”

Tech’s jaw had dropped open at hearing Crosshair recite exactly where he had left off in his explanation from earlier, staring a touch wide-eyed at the other clone, he stammered, “I-I, that is, yes. Yes, that's precisely where I left off.”

Crosshair nodded pointedly in a gesture for Tech to continue on then, listening with keen attention as the younger clone picked up the line conversation swiftly after that and launched into a full analysis of the processor he planned to build for the datapad he was going to assemble from the parts he was collecting.

The next several minutes were consumed by Tech talking, continuing his previous thread about the processor then trailing into identifying the pieces he had laid between himself and Crosshair. Going into detail on how they would come together to build his very own datapad. One that would be up to his standards and unknown to the Kaminoans with several terabytes of storage if he could manage to scavenge the correct parts needed.

“I have managed to salvage this partially complete circuit board from dismantled parts in the maintenance bay.” Tech pointed to a long segment of internal electronics that was dotted with a multitude of colours and pieces of various shapes, “So once I acquire the other components I need, I will be able t—”

“Who let you into maintenance?” Crosshair interrupted, his gaze darting up from the hardware neatly strewn across his rack.

“Ninety-nine did.” Tech answered after a moment’s pause, fiddling one of the sensor modules between his fingers, not looking up at Crosshair, “He was clearing the training grounds again and asked if I would be so kind as to assist him in carrying the fragmented droid parts back to the maintenance bay. I did, and he allowed me to peruse the pile of circuitry deemed too damaged for repair.”

Crosshair hmmed lowly, the noise a considering one that seemed to placate Tech’s sudden nerves over how he gathered these parts. The smaller clone actually glanced up to Crosshair’s face for a breadth of a moment before the minuscule line of tension that had came to his shoulders eased and he looked back towards the array of technology set between them.

“None saw us, I assure you.” Tech had correctly guessed at the heart of the issue Crosshair had taken with the other’s venture, which had Crosshair’s brow twitching up a notch, “It was after my slicing lesson with Chief Avuc, which as you know are private, thus no other cadets were present when he dismissed me, and no one was about the corridors when I was returning here. I took precautions to ensure I would not be caught.”

“Seems you thought of everything.” Crosshair quipped, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

“Indeed, I did.” Tech agreed, which pulled a congested sounding scoff from Snap, who’d given himself away just then in eavesdropping on their conversation despite the barracks being one of the absolute last places privacy would be expected. The very little that was afforded to clones to begin with.

Crosshair still aimed a flat glare over towards his brother for the verballess remark. Snap still had a wad of tissue pressed to his face yet was grinning behind it, and Crosshair had to smother his own lip from upturning at the corners. He was unable to suppress the twitch that came to his lips and gave his internal humour away.

“You find it just as funny as I do.” Snap didn't miss the expression, nor the opportunity to comment on it.

“No, you just look like a di’kut smiling with that tissue stuck up your nose.” Crosshair amended, allowing a corner of his mouth to quirk upwards, to which Snap’s features immediately became unamused.

“Has anyone seen my left boot?”

The called out question reverberated throughout the barracks from a clone stationed near the entrance, the sentence was immediately followed by the muffled sounds of rapid scuffling and shifting as everyone present scrambled to hide any contraband they had before the door opened.

Crosshair uttered a quiet curse as he turned back and fumbled to shove the datapad parts Tech had strung out on his rack underneath the thin mattress with the other's help. They succeeded in making it look as natural as possible, and Tech was quick to shuffle past Crosshair, who drew his knees to his chest to let the smaller clone by, to the ladder and descend down to palm open his own rack and climb into it. A glance over to Snap’s place, revealed his brother to be wiping his face one last time and shoving the used tissue that he frantically wrapped in some clean ones underneath his blanket to deal with later.

Snap looked across the gap to Crosshair, asking as he indicated himself, “Any blood?”

The door admitted its telltale automated swish just as Crosshair shook his head, “No. You’re fine.”

Stretching out his legs Crosshair lounged, appearing nonchalant as he could and to cover the slight lump his thin mattress pad had taken on from having Tech’s mismatched collection of electronics underneath it. He hoped nothing would be damaged or broken by the weight of his legs, but it was better than having it all confiscated if it was found.

Snap too leant back on his own rack and propped up a leg whilst the other hung off the side, he swung it idly and struck up a random conversation with Tech beneath them about having seen a creature crest the surface of the endless ocean that was Kamino. Tech immediately latched onto the topic and began reciting a stream of information on saberjowls, which seemed to capture an edge of Snap’s genuine attention despite the circumstances.

Crosshair could tell by the slight tilt that came to his brother’s head whenever he was acutely listening to someone when they spoke. And whilst the conversation would have caught Crosshair’s attention as well, even if he didn't verbally participate in it as his brother did with Tech, his attention was more so on watching from his peripheral as Nala Se and one of her assistants, Alna Zhi, turned the corner and ambled down their row of racks.

Rapping a knuckle against the metal side of his rack twice in a patterned session, one that sounded accidental to those who didn't know it, Crosshair signalled to Snap and Tech that they were headed for them. The system they had worked out for warning whenever the Kaminoans showed even the briefest interest in them varied for what activity they were doing, even if it wasn't much of a warning, a few moments to prepare to be taken by the scientist or to correct a behaviour so as not to gain any further attention from them could make a difference.

He saw the other two sniffen fractionally, still trying to carry on without seeming affected, but there lay a fragility to their poise. It shattered entirely, replaced by the placid stoicism of a soldier at attention when the Kaminoans angled their walk to approach their section of racks. Crosshair moved as one with the present members of his squad to sit up and swing their legs over their racks to climb down by the ladder.

The progress was slower than their usual promptness due to Tech being the first one on the ladder due to his rack's location and the only one of them injured, but soon Tech dropped down first, wobbly but he managed to stay upright.

He was followed by Crosshair, who had snatched one of the crutches for Tech then Snap, who had grabbed the other, rung after rung until they could each drop down onto the floor and the latter pair to pass off each crutch to Tech. The other having balanced on one foot with a handhold on the side of the ladder until he could accept both crutches and stand to the side.

All of them came to proper attention then before the head scientist.

“At ease.” Nala Se’s serene voice slowly enunciated, waving a three-fingered hand towards Tech, she addressed Crosshair and Snap, “We only require CT-9919, the rest of you are free to continue with your preparations for the sleep cycle.”

Angling her head down to eye Tech, Nala Se dismissed the other two experimental clones without need of words, ordering in the same passive voice, “Come, CT-9919.”

Neither Crosshair nor Snap dropped from their parade rest, only glancing at each other once Nala Se and Alna Zhi turned around, both of the Kaminoans expecting Tech to follow without need for further command or guidance. Which is exactly what Tech had begun to do, but he threw a backwards glance to the others, the look of trepidation was clear upon the smaller clone’s pinched features. Eliciting Snap to offer a tiny smile and give an encouraging nod, whilst Crosshair merely stared hard and ground his teeth until Tech had to turn back round.

“You’re going to have no teeth left if you keep that up.” Snap said once they disappeared from sight, he leant over to bump his shoulder into Crosshair’s.

Shifting away from the touch with a scowl on his face, Crosshair reached up to rub at his shoulder despite the blow not having hurt, biting out in a harsh tone, “He didn't do well in our last sim or any sim we've done, now Mistress Nala Se comes with Alna Zhi to take him, and all you could do was smile and nod at him?”

“Oh so glaring at him is the better option?” Snap quipped back, matching Crosshair’s venom, “That's certainly the last thing someone wants to see before you-know-what, Cross…. If that's even what they took him for, it could be a check up for all we know.”

An abrasive scoff came from Crosshair then, as he turned to ascend up the ladder once more, however his tone had lost its sharp edges when he spoke next, “You're not that naive.”

“No, but unlike you I can hope for a better outcome.” Snap shot back, again mirroring the easing of Crosshair’s tone in his own, as made to follow his brother back to their racks, “Besides Tech’s brain is too useful for them to just you-know, the Kaminoans aren't wasteful, especially not of any asset that they can exploit.”

Crosshair merley hummed in reply, not wanting to place any stock in his brother’s hopeful words, despite his reasoning and logic making sense. The Kaminoans cared about the clones insofar that they could profit from them, either through work here on Kamino or by the large sums the republic was paying for the creation of their army. Every investment was utilised, only when they were truly lost causes with no worth nor ability were they decommissioned. Reconditioning however was a more prevalent solution, costing more time rather than more credits.

But it was no comfort to Crosshair, for the affliction harming Tech’s field work scores wasn't something that could be fixed by mental or physical reconditioning. The issue with his eyes would persist even if the Kaminoans tried to recondition him. So unless Nala Se, and more importantly Lama Su, thought Tech was worth eye surgery or cybernetic replacements that's bring his vision up, decommissioning seemed the only outcome. Or diverted from field cadet rosters to planet-based, likely rendered to maintenance or perhaps intelligence if his vision didn't continue to worsen to the point words became impossible to read.

That knowledge had Crosshair’s stomach twisting, an odd dark feeling settling deep within his centre. Even if Tech wasn't to be decommissioned, he would be reassigned. And that still was little consolation if whatever was causing his vision to fail ended up worsening.

Settling down onto his back on his rack, Crosshair placed his hands behind his head and crossed his legs at his ankles. His features were pinched, his thoughts growing increasingly pensive and, if he was being honest with himself, worried for their youngest squadmate. Growing up as they had, unique amongst physical carbon copies and experimented on even before they held proper shape within their growth tubes, had left the concept of trust a tentative, fragile thing between anyone but him and his batchmates. Which was continually being chipped away at with all the tension that continued to increase between all of them.

To accept an outsider, another clone from a different batch who they hadn't spent the last four years coming to know seemed an impossibility. But Tech hadn't been some reg they decided to plop into a random squad, the smaller clone had been an experimental clone just like the rest of them. Tested on since before he had a proper heartbeat when his coded DNA had blipped an anomaly on the Kaminoan’s screens, a deviant from the very beginning with exceptional skills just like them.

Feeling a tap on his thigh, Crosshair was pulled from his internal musings by abrupt poke and turned towards where Snap had his leg stretched out to poke Crosshair in the leg again. The gesture had him glaring at his brother in annoyance.

“You're thinking too loud.” Snap said in a way of explanation, a tense smirk uplifted a corner of his lips, “Someone had to intervene before you started smoking from your ears.”

“Jagyc.” Crosshair growled, which only caused Snap to chuckle, unaffected by Crosshair’s sour mood.

A moment of silence reigned between them after that, until Snap spoke up again, softly yet with surety, “He won't be reconditioned either, Cross. They wouldn’t risk his mind like that. He's too valuable, even at his age.”

Crosshair huffed and flipped over onto his other side, his back facing his brother. Unwilling to admit that his brother’s words had wormed their way into his chest, allowing the seed of hope to take root, replacing the hollow feeling that had taken residence there when Nala Se had escorted Tech away. Although every instinct was warning against the wisdom of expecting a good outcome, as he listened to his brother shift to lay back onto his own bunk and settle down to sleep, Crosshair figured if he could trust anything in this world, even on chance things such as this, it'd be his brother.

“‘night, vod.” Came the quietly utter sentence from Snap behind him before the hydraulic hiss of his rack retracting into the wall was heard.

Waiting a few moments more, until he was able to pick out the sound of the rest of their batchmates returning from the showers, before Crosshair too turned to depress the button on the wall that would retract his own rack into the wall so he could sleep. There was only eleven minutes before official lights out anyway, so none would question his nor Snap’s earlier turn in.

Thus shifting further down into the thin mattress pad, he pulled the standard-issue blanket up over himself and closed his eyes to wait for sleep.

TBC.

[stuart-townsend]

EVAN PETERS as KAI ANDERSON in AHS: CULT ( 2 / ∞ )

↳  Ep.01 – “Sorry, man.”

[hippygirl14]

American Horror Story - Election Night (7x01)

[rewatching-supernatural]

s07e01

THE ROAD SO FAR

Ah yes, God!Castiel

No one's gonna bow down to you, Castiel

Oh, well, Bobby will apparently

*****

right, we went from Hate Sam season to Hate Cas season

excellent

*****

Genocide is not a good look on you, Castiel

*****

I love how Dean doesn't hesitate to apologize to Bobby for raising his voice

Sorry, I'm upset, I shouldn't take that out on you

It's very refreshing to see a man character that admits when they're wrong without being forced to

just out of desire to make things right by the ones they care about

*****

Castiel calling out the homophobic shit

"And he who lies in my name" okay, I gotta agree that Cas punishing homophobes is nice

*****

Random woman calls Cas sexy

-> Dean rushes to turn off the TV

*****

Crowley hiding from Cas 😂

what do you think you're doing, man

*****

poor Sam, honestly

I don't like him any more than before but those hallucinations/memories are horrible

*****

Crowley's so pissed 😂😂

*****

Jimmy can't hold all the souls there, God

*****

They're gonna bind Death, because they're fucking suicidal

*****

Dean you little fuck

"Because we said so" 😂 you idiot

*****

Leviathans

yes

finally

Castiel you hungry hungry hippo

*****

Death and God!Castiel arguing

this is great

*****

Castiel you don't look great mate

*****

Death is so cool, have I ever said that before?

*****

Oh no, Cas, what the fuck did you dooooo

the Leviathans are bad

send them back

*****

Dean just giving up

"I'm gonna drink and watch hentai because the world is about to explode anyway"

*****

Cas is in bad shape

and he's much less arrogant now that he needs help

what a fucking ass

*****

"I feel regret" no fucking shit there, genius

*****

Ooh, Lucifer, long time no see

*****

Sam, stop listening to Lucifer

*****

"I'm sorry Dean"

*****

Dean not wanting Cas to be dead even if he just spent so long trying to kill them

*****

Misha 😂

what

this is going to be so much fun

*****

also, bonus gif of Misha being so beautiful

[guionistasinpasta]

American Horror Story. El juego del equilibrista.

Ryan Murphy es un creador hiperactivo –lleva en cartera, ahora mismo American Horror Story (AHS), American Crime Story (ACS), Feud, las futuras Pose, 9-1-1, Ratched y el film One Hit Wonders– y como tal en ocasiones acierta el disparo y en otras sus balas son de puro fogueo. Junto a su fiel equipo de guionistas ha parido maravillas como The People V. OJ Simpson y Bette and Joan –las primeras temporadas de ACS y Feud respectivamente– pero también ha demostrado que en ocasiones es capaz de cruzar la línea y perder la coherencia creativa en su obra. El mejor ejemplo de ello es American Horror Story, la serie que le dio una segunda juventud al creador. Su naturaleza de antología le da la libertad de resetear cada temporada y tratar temas distintos con resultados totalmente opuestos. Asylum –la segunda temporada– permanece como la más inquietante, divertida y redonda; Freak Show –la cuarta– sigue siendo un Frankenstein de temas y tonos que no mereció haber salido de la Writer’s Room. En este rango, Cult –la séptima y última hasta ahora– se sitúa más cerca de Freak Show. Llena de ideas, historias e, incluso, temas interesantísimos que se le han escapado de las manos al creador y a su equipo.

Cult, al igual que la obra en general de Murphy, es un juego de equilibrio en el que intenta mantener un humor propio –irónico y cínico–, un desarrollo de personajes alejado de cualquier cliché –pero partiendo de ellos, sin duda–  y, sobre todo, tratar temas de rabiosa actualidad –mostrando reflejos de un pasado del que no hemos evolucionado, o un presente que se asemeja a una mala tragicomedia– y mezclarlo todo en un producto en el que el Horror del título ya apenas aparece sino como elemento argumental. Porque esta temporada, además de otros varios tema que toca el creador –como hablo más adelante–, trata sobre el miedo; las fobias –realmente inquietante el tema de los agujeros, que me ponen los pelos de punta–,  el miedo derivado de la incertidumbre, el miedo a la inestabilidad, el miedo al futuro o el miedo al propio miedo. Y sin embargo es de las temporadas que menos miedo da; porque aunque las temporadas anteriores tampoco se caracterizaron por causar terror, la relectura e ironía fina del formato found footage que fue esa gozada sin complejos de Roanoke –la sexta temporada– parecía indicar que Murphy volvía a los orígenes de su idea de analizar los distintos subgéneros del terror en clave moderna.

La idea de partida de Cult no podía ser más actual: el clima de miedo e inestabilidad derivado de las pasadas elecciones estadounidenses ganadas por Donald Trump. Para ello, Murphy & Co. nos dicen que la política no es sino una forma legal de sectarismo, mediante el cual se aliena al individuo, se alecciona y adoctrina con el fin de que el falso idealismo continúe –o más bien, se propague–. Es evidente que a Murphy se le ve el plumero, mostrando a uno de los protagonistas –Kai Anderson, un Evan Peters a la vez divertidísimo y cargante– como un cruce entre Trump y Charles Manson –mezcla literal dentro del contexto de la propia serie– que es capaza de usar y abusar de la inestabilidad política, social y mental para extenderse como un parásito y manipular a aquellos que ven en su mensaje el único grito coherente entre el mundanal ruido. Aquí sí es capaz de brillar la ficción, aunque tenga la misma sutileza que un papel higiénico hecho con lija. Murphy nos da momentos brillantes como el «A Lesbian George Zimmerman» en el que el personaje de Ally Mayfair-Richards –una Sarah Paulson en su papel menos brillante– consigue librarse de la cárcel tras matar accidentalmente a un trabajador mexicano gracias a leyes neoliberales como el Stand Your Ground que la absurdamente idealista Ally desea eliminar (s07e03). Esa fina ironía que Murphy sabe muy bien cocinar debería haber sido el plato principal del menú de Cult, aunque el creativo termina creando platos más zafios y obvios, como ese «We are the wall» –el inquietante comienzo del s07e06 que tuvo que ser recortado a última hora por la matanza de Las Vegas– espejo del  «Build the wall» que tanto espetaban los que apoyaban a Trump en la carrera presidencial. Está claro que Murphy no pretende esconderse en este caso pero el resultado desestabiliza bastante el conjunto.

Sin embargo, este no es el único tema que Murphy toca en Cult. La última parte de la temporada ha venido siendo un alarde al empoderamiento de la mujer mediante la caída y ascenso de Ally. También patina la temporada aquí, mostrándonos el triunfo de una mujer en un mundo de hombres solo cuando utiliza las mismas armas que ellos y dejando por el camino los mismos cadáveres –literales–. Sí, la ironía es más que obvia, Ally consigue vencer a Kai utilizando sus mismas trampas, tejemanejes y atajos, lo que no ayuda mucho al mensaje evidentemente feminista que tratan de mostrarnos. Porque vencer a una dictadura imponiendo otra distinta no es vencer, es dar un golpe de estado. Otro traspiés temático que aumenta el desequilibrio.

Pero tampoco es éste el único tema que Murphy quiere tocar, que para eso es su serie y va a hacer con ella lo que quiera. Quiere hablar del sexo y de las múltiples formas con las que se puede representar hoy en día la sexualidad, enfrentándolo cara a cara con el libertinaje –esa brillante línea de diálogo de una aterrada Winter tras ver la victoria de Trump, «What if I get pregnant? Where could I get an abortion?» (s07e01)–. También habla de los asesinos en serie, de cómo nacen –no se hacen– y el papel de la sociedad, y del hombre como centro del sistema patriarcal, en ello (s07e07) –con esa histriónica Valerie Solanas interpretada por la no menos histriónica Lena Dunham–. En general, Murphy trata de abarcar muchos temas en una sola temporada, quedándose en todos a medio gas.

Otro gran problema de esta temporada es la deriva de los personajes, marcando unas evoluciones incoherentes entre capítulos. El ejemplo de ello es Beverly Hope, la reportera más dicharachera de esta temporada, interpretada con solvencia por Adina Porter, que al final del s07e05 parece haber cogido a Kai por las pelotas pero que no llega a utilizar todo lo que sabe contra él, hasta el punto de quedar inutilizada durante la segunda parte de la temporada, cuando su personaje empezaba a dar muestras de verdadero poder. La misma Ally, por otro lado, salió de su estancia en el Psiquiátrico con una calma y una sangre fría innecesaria, haciendo que su personaje fuera casi un dios intocable y al que nada le salía mal. El vaivén de personajes y su poca consistencia es casi una marca de la casa AHS, pero en esta temporada es un defecto, no una virtud.

Es el humor, sin embargo, el elemento discordante que hace que esta temporada pierda el equilibrio y se descalabre. Murphy siempre ha usado un humor irónico y cínico pidiendo un gran esfuerzo al espectador para entrar en el juego. Asylum, Murder House y Roanoke no se libraban de esta «fina ironía de trazo grueso» –sobre todo esta última, que aprovechaba para mofarse de la televisión actual– pero en Cult saca por completo de la trama y del tono que intentan imprimirle. Algunas escenas como la que abre el s07e08 en el que intentan hacer un trío para embarazar a Winter usando una jeringa para rellenar pavos pueden ser hasta hilarantes mostradas en otro contexto; pero el equilibrio entre la seriedad que quieren imponerle en algunas ocasiones y la absurdez de otras rompe por completo el conjunto. Y lo peor es que sé que eso es lo que quiere Murphy, porque sino no entiendo cómo es posible que un personaje supuestamente temible como Kai haga que una docena de veinteañeros se pongan el pijama para escucharle contar la vida y milagros de Charles Manson mientras están abrazados a sus almohadas. Murphy quiere que nos riamos, que veamos lo absurda que es la situación y lo cómica que es, pero es incapaz de ver que todo eso rompe el acuerdo tácito con el espectador y la tan temida suspensión de la incredulidad.

Tampoco vengamos a echarnos las manos a la cabeza, que no todo ha sido negativo en esta temporada. Han conseguido crear una cabecera impactante e inquietante, que no es poco. Algunas escenas están muy bien conseguidas, como el ajusticiamiento de uno de los sectarios en el s07e05 con una máquina de clavos después de que Kai diga «The world record for nails in the head before death is 13». El brillante uso de las fobias al comenzar la temporada, sobre todo la tripofobia –fobia a los agujeros– y su plasmación en pantalla hacen que sea una pena que más adelante todo quedara en una excusa para avanzar la trama. El hecho de que no haya ningún elemento sobrenatural en esta historia.  Incluso en ocasiones brilla el humor de Murphy cuando Kai obliga a sus seguidores a arrojar basura que ha sido recogida anteriormente porque no cree en el cambio climático (s07e08). Aunque el circo de Murphy ha tenido un resbalón este año después de haber levantado cabeza el anterior, no llega ni por asomo a las cotas de mamarrachería del esperpento de Freak Show o la absurdez ridícula de Coven. Murphy cuenta todavía con mi voto de confianza, pero debe llevar cuidado porque un resbalón a varios metros de altura puede causar una caída dolorosa. O directamente mortal.

[knifetriick]

under the cut are #36 100x100 icons of EVAN PETERS as KAI ANDERSON in AHS S07E01. please like or reblog if using !!

[luxandember]

Ah, the start of a new season My little Pony: Friendship is magic. So do we get a new epic battle for the fate of Equestria, some new villain, or some other overly convoluted plot? Nope, just two well done episode. Come on in and find out what we thought of these new episodes. And the drawing this time is a colored version of my Starlight Glimmer sketch from last season. My Patreon: http://ift.tt/1QBkKXg My ko-fi link: http://ift.tt/2fH8Xvx More of my art can be found at: http://ift.tt/1xlRSZi http://ift.tt/12uru6w http://twitter.com/lightray And here's links to the episodes on amazon. S07E01: Celestial Advice - http://amzn.to/2ocE8pZ S07E02: All Bottled Up - http://amzn.to/2oxGhIm

[silentlulamoon-blog]

[Análise] My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic S07E01 - Celestial Advice

Ah, finalmente uma estreia de temporada de Friendship is Magic que não se obriga a ser uma aventura super épica com direito a vilões superconfiantes e raios de luz supercoloridos que deteriorizam criaturas vivas! Celestial Advice prefere, ao invés disso, focar na verdadeira força do desenho: A relação e química entre os personagens e as reações ao que acontece ao seu redor. O episódio foca basicamente na neuroticidade da Twilight e como ter tudo sobre seu controle é importante pra ela (embora nunca chegue no nível de Lesson Zero, ainda há umas sacadas bem interessantes, principalmente envolvendo as fantasias e preocupações da pônei).

A história abre com a celebração e entrega de medalhas a Starlight, Trixie, Thorax e Discórdia no Castelo da Amizade com direito a changelings, as 2 irmãs celestiais e até Vinyl Scratch entregando a trilha sonora; somos apresentados então ao principal conflito do roteiro: Twilight percebe que sua pupila já está muito avançada para lições básicas de amizade e precisa enviá-la para outro lugar como Celestia a enviou para Ponyville. Spoiler alert: O episódio não acaba com Starlight virando uma mensageira da amizade, mas a abertura da série foi modificada e ela ainda aparece na fotografia da Photo Finish como “uma das protagonistas” então é dedutível que ela não sairá do desenho tão em breve. (E por que ainda não colocaram a deusa Trixie na abertura? Ela já é mais importante e bem desenvolvida como personagem do que pelo menos Snips e Snails, pelo amor).

Não pude deixar de notar o quão estranhamente rápido foi esse arco de personagem da Starlight: Em menos de 2 temporadas ela passou de vilã comunista assumida a pupila novata da Twilight para graduada totalmente e pronta para espalhar a mensagem da amizade pelo mundo, estamos falando do mesmo personagem que alguns episódios atrás se recusava a festejar a Noite da Lareira Calorosa com os novos amigos. Ok, ela salvou Equestria com alguns companheiros, mas Twilight também o fez antes de Magical Mystery Cure (pelo menos 4 vezes). Entendo que as roteiristas queriam fazer a princesa da amizade passar por esse complexo arco de deixar o pupilo se tornar independente, porém acredito que essa decisão foi bem antecipada e deveria ser guardada pelo menos até o final da temporada; pensando bem, seria o season finale perfeito e até explicaria o porquê Starlight não é uma das protagonistas do filme que chegará em outubro e que provavelmente se passará entre a sétima e a oitava temporada.

Voltando à Twilight neurótica, é bem nostálgico ver ela passar por praticamente a mesma situação pela qual passou em Lesson Zero aqui com os papéis invertidos. Enquanto na segunda temporada ela fantasiava sobre o que aconteceria se não fosse uma boa pupila, no presente ela fantasia sobre o que aconteceria se não fosse uma boa mentora. Acompanhamos bem esse processo de desespero da personagem e as previsões que ela tem para o futuro (de longe a melhor parte do episódio) ao mesmo tempo revelam suas preocupações, tornando-a mais relacionável, e divertem o espectador com seu senso de humor absurdista no contexto de que se passam na mente de uma mentora neurótica preocupada. Por exemplo, quando o changeling se transforma na Starlight temos não apenas um humor besteirol perfeito (quando ele evoca a raquete e esmaga os “insetos” eu quase morri) mas também o conceito de que Twilight ainda não confia completamente em seus ex-inimigos apesar das falas de Spike de que aquilo é ridículo (uma opinião um tanto quanto suspeita se tratando do dragão-bebê que cantou uma canção inteira sobre changelings poderem ser do bem).

Dentro dessas fantasias mentais temos também provavelmente já a minha maior decepção da temporada: A cena em que Starlight e Sunburst abrem um portal tipo o do menino do Acre no chão que acaba sugando-os para o vácuo não deveria ter sido usada como material promocional;  esse tipo de coisa cria expectativas e teorias e quando chega a hora, você percebe que aquilo nunca aconteceu, era só o clássico “apenas um sonho glu glu ié ié” e é impossível conter a decepção com os produtores da série. Eu estava especialmente animado com uma teoria de que aquilo era um buraco de minhoca que os levaria para o passado e que Sunburst era na verdade Star Swirl o Barbudo o tempo todo, imagina o quão incrível seria isso.

Outra grande qualidade do roteiro é o tempo passado com a Princesa Celestia e o esforço claro das escritoras Joanna Lewis e Kristine Songco para torná-la um personagem mais “palpável” e tirá-la do patamar de personagem imortal sem falhas quase Deus e nada interessante; talvez nunca tenhamos o tão sonhado episódio focado completamente na governadora de Equestria mas pelo menos pra mim o surpreendentemente tocante flashback mostrado aqui já saciou minha vontade (o momento em que ela diz que precisa mandar Twilight embora enquanto olha para sua irmã na lua é perfeito, tanto do ponto de vista de conceito como de execução) e a cena em que ela não consegue conter a risada porque entende pelo que sua pupila está passando é insubstituível. É totalmente viável o criticismo de que o roteiro não foca tanto no resto das “mane 6″, contudo não é o objetivo aqui e pra mim o arco da relação Starlight/Twilight/Celestia é perfeito.

O flashback da Celestia foi tocante, mas os momentos emocionais da história não param por aí e temos, fechando o episódio perfeitamente, o momento da graduação de Starlight e as reações da pônei às novidades são genuinamente devastadoras. Perfeitamente animadas, é possível passar por todas as emoções junto com ela, da surpresa à alegria e o medo de perder seu contato com a mentora após não ser mais uma estudante como era até agora. Sim, não dá em nada e as duas continuam morando no mesmo castelo mas, como mencionado antes, a decisão pareceu avançada demais e eu acredito que eles a executaram muito bem levando em conta que é um arco que deveria ser explorado bem mais à frente.

Celestial Advice é, pra mim, a melhor abertura de temporada da série até agora; temos não apenas um escopo bem menor, possibilitando uma história mais pessoal e introspectiva, como também o tão esperado foco na Princesa Celestia e até alguns bons momentos protagonizados pela minha personagem favorita Trixie que, mesmo sendo agora “do bem” ainda mantém sua personalidade insegura, desesperada e arrogante intocada. É um episódio com um roteiro bem escrito e fechadinho como qualquer um de “miolo de temporada” sem grandes pretensões mas que acaba alcançando a grandeza através do cuidado dado à relação entre os personagens e suas inseguranças. 

Nota Final: 9

[stuart-townsend]

EVAN PETERS as KAI ANDERSON in AHS: CULT ( 3 / ∞ )

↳  Ep.01 – “What's the thing that scares you the most?”